text
stringlengths 29
14.1k
| label
class label 5
classes |
|---|---|
Review of The Secret
I have read The Secret and listened to the audiobook of The Secret and love them both. The message that is being conveyed is exciting and Life Changing! I am practicing the principles of The Secret and I am loving how wonderful my life is becoming. I believe everyone needs to listen to, and read The Secret...it will change your life, not just for the better, but for creating your best life ever!! | 45 stars
|
A Wonderful Pot-Boiler
An adventurous romance in the best pot-boiler tradition; all the clichés are here, and all handled marvelously well. André-Louis Moreau, of unknown parentage, is brought up as the godson of a minor Breton nobleman and educated to be a lawyer. The godfather, naturally, has a beautiful young niece, Aline, who has been brought up as if a cousin to André-Louis. It goes without saying that he loves her but has not yet realized it. Aline, ditto, although she is tempted by ambition to marry the Evil Marquis next door. ('Nuff said.)André-Louis's best friend--a true-believer in all the noblest revolutionary ideals--is murdered by the Evil Marquis for being "dangerously eloquent." André-Louis swears over his friend's body that he will be Philippe's voice and speak out in support of the revolutionary ideals which he himself does not believe in. Of course he turns out to be a natural-born orator, gives a couple speeches in nearby cities, and stirs up the mob sufficiently to advance the revolution another step. Then he runs for his life.Our hero hides out in a cheap travelling theatrical company which performs Commedia del l'Arte in the old Italian style. He ends up playing the part of Scaramouche--the trickster, the trouble-maker, the "little skirmisher." It is only during his theatrical phase that André-Louis is actually called Scaramouche, but he comes to think of the name as emblematic of his own role in real life. He turns out to be a natural-born actor and playwright, and after a complex set of events and entanglements, raises a riot in the theatre from which the Evil Marquis barely escapes being ripped to shreds--which was the fate André-Louis had in mind. "Little Skirmisher" indeed!André-Louis has to go to ground again, this time in Paris. Having taken a few fencing lessons during his acting days, he manages to wangle a job as assistant instructor at a fencing academy where he turns out to be (you guessed it!) a natural-born swordsman. But never mind.Revolution-wise things are getting hotter and hotter. The Assembly are supposed to be writing a constitution for France, but the aristos are interfering through various means, including killing the politicians of the Left in trumped-up duels that bourgeois are not qualified to fight but cannot in honor refuse. And the leader of the aristos is... Anyway, André-Louis does not kill the Evil Marquis in their duel; due to an accident he only wounds him.Soon the Bastille is stormed, the King escapes from Paris, revolutionaries man the barricades, aristocrats are slaughtered in the streets, and the beautiful young Aline (remember Aline?) and another noblewoman (who is secretly Very Important to our hero) are trapped in Paris with no way to escape. André-Louis appears to rescue Aline. The Evil Marquis shows up, running for his life. There's a confrontation! The Very Important Noblewoman reveals a Very Important Secret. What happens next? Find out for yourself. But André-Louis does eventually marry Aline, which should tell you something. | 45 stars
|
The Dangerous Lord
Oh, where do I begin?Bad. This novel was just bad. I actually caught myself rolling my eyes on more occasions than I would like to admit. The plot was ridiculously melodramatic (and this romance for goodness sake), the heroine so whiny and aggravating she reminded me of that screechy girl EVERYONE knew in high school, and the hero, well, he was at best 'okay'. I don't want 'okay' in my romance novels! I want fire and, well, romance. And the dialogue. Oh, for the love of all things holy. Horrendous. If I ever read the words "never fear" again, it will be way too soon. I read about three books per week, and couldn't push through this one. Never fear, though, dear readers, the Penny Royal Green series will have you rebounded in no time. | 01 star
|
great book
If you want to get skinny and be heathy this is the right book for you | 45 stars
|
Boring but informative
I actually have not finished the book yet, so forgive my hypocrisy. From an information and accuracy perspective it is probably the best book on the war. However it is a bit of a tough read, so be prepared. Howard details technology and warfare of the time, along with politics and the like and the book doesn't miss much. However, perhaps that is the reason it seems so long. overall I would say a good book. | 34 stars
|
A worthy read!
Having read all of Carl Haissen's novels, this comes out of the same vein. More gritty, more bizarre characters and same old Florida. I'm happy to have found Mr. Dorsey's novels as I happen to have read all of Carl Haissen's novels. :) | 34 stars
|
Good-old boy outsmarts entire US Intelligence apparatus
This book is pure escapism, and does it very well. Oddly, I had a little trouble getting into it the first couple of chapters, but then it grabbed me and I couldn't put it down. The story centers around two very different but very honorable men, surrounded by bigots, morons, self-serving and uncaring govt agents, incompetent law enforcement officials, etc. In the end, of course, justice is done—decisive and satisfying. It is a great story that kept me intrigued. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys suspense and thrillers. | 45 stars
|
Yummy! A great start to this series
Noah Fisher is one of the three pilots and co-owner of Sky High, a fancy, expensive charter airline. Six months ago he piloted a trip that ended badly. Now, on his first flight since that fateful flight, he finds himself highjacked by no other than Bailey Sinclair, the woman he's been fantasizing about for a long time.Bailey Sinclair is on a mission to find money - a whole pile of money. Her late husband, Alan, swindled a lot of money from some unsavory characters and they expect Bailey to give them the money. The only problem - she doesn't have it and doesn't know where it is. But she believes that the money is in one of the resorts that Alan was developing. The goons who want the money have threatened Bailey - she doesn't have a lot of time, so she needs a way to get to one of Alan's resorts quickly. What better way than to fly?What follows is Noah and Bailey's odyssey of trying to find the money while the bad guys are hot on their heels - Noah and Bailey try to out maneuver the bad guys while falling in love.So how is this book different from all of the other books that have some variation of this theme - the heroine in danger and the hero coming to help? Wonderful characters and terrific writing. I loved Noah (and ok, I did like Bailey, but I really loved Noah!). Great secondary characters - I enjoyed reading about the other owners of Sky High (and each pilot will be a book in this series). No, it's not intense and the mystery is light, but Smart and Sexy is a fun read from page one - I couldn't put it down. If you've never read any novels by Jill Shalvis, this is a great book to start...If you're a Jill Shalvis fan like I am, you're really enjoy this book. | 45 stars
|
It was nicely written, held your attention, a mix of aspects
I loved this book and I could read it over and over | 45 stars
|
Classic story even better
Sense and Sensibility, Insight Edition by Jane Austen is the classic story of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who are different in every way ~ but both discover love. This insight edition from Bethany House provides the original story and include historical details, facts, comparisons to today's culture, themes of faith, and additional comments.In all honesty, I love this insight edition and am planning to also purchase the insight edition for Pride and Prejudice...and sincerely hope that there will be insight editions for Jane Austen's other novels. Aside from the covers being gorgeous, the content is a wonderful help and really adds to the original book. | 45 stars
|
Kindle is best...
I first bought my wife the Sony Reader and experienced numerous software problems with that product. I had to call Sony Tecnical Support in order to get the reader to work properly. It was quite the hassel. Finally, I returned the Sony and ordered the Kindle. The Kindle is extremely user friendly and is ready to go right out of the box.Don't mess around, get the Kindle. | 45 stars
|
Love it, just one thing.....
This is my first Kindle device and I love it. This was my Christmas gift from my Mother-in-law,(Thanks Mom), and I had no trouble learning how to use or downloading the books I had bought for my Ipod. I really like that when you buy a book there is an oops button on the bottom of the screen in case you accidentally hit the button. The only thing I would like to see is the ability to create folders to organize my library. | 45 stars
|
Nuclear Weapons destroy all colors except Gray
The Road is not completely worthless. It nears interest in its pursuit of theme that innocence and purity give you reason to live, but by the point in the book where a revelation would be, you become insensitive to much of what the book is saying at all.They're cold.I don't care.They're hungry.I don't care.Someone got ate.Seen it.They're getting more supplies.Why is a post-apocalyptic grocery trip interesting when before it was not? Now everything is just a lot more gross and gray.I don't know.Shock value just is not what it used to be when that is all there is.It is just after all this dismal gray for 200 pages the subtleties of hope being thrown in your face just seem a little out of place. Strange how McCarthy makes you feel happy to let the protagonist go.McCarthy is a good writer. He can describe the shades of gray like nobody's business. All the intentional punctuation errors though are not some revolutionary style. Any elementary school student cannot use apostrophes and quotation marks McCarthy you rebel. It should be to the writer's purgative to use language to the work and not vice verse, but it is not something that has not been done before by Timmy whose essay got put on the refrigerator. The insights and dreams did have an effect to reevaluate the reader's own view of how things are and what you may take for granted and what may lie beneath.I do however cannot see this as a postmodern epic. It seems just like one of Sinclair's leftovers set after the apocalypse instead of Chicago just that McCarthy can write where Sinclair should stick to political essays. Unless, that was the point to say that bad stuff after the apocalypse is not worse than before it. | 23 stars
|
Take Much of the Guess Work Out of Marketing
As a marketing executive for 25 years, I was always faced with the question - well, did the marketing program yield results? This book is the most comprehensive resource to help any marketing executive answer that question. It covers every metric that one would ever need to use. Each metric is clearly defined, how it is calculated, a detailed example is presented and cautions on using each metric are discussed. I only wish I had this book long ago then I would not have had to invent metrics along the way. This book is an immense contribution to marketing, an invaluable reference resource. | 45 stars
|
Returns are Easy
My son used his Kindle for less than a year. It stopped working and Amazon sent us a new one immediately before even receiving the old one. They even send a mailing label. When I forgot to return the old Kindle, I received a friendly reminder. | 45 stars
|
Sharon
Much of this seemed so familiar to my generation. Persons in their 70's plus would enjoy this most. It got a little tiresome as it progressed. The style of writing was quite plain. | 23 stars
|
Glad to be an early adopter, what an amazing device.
I am reviewing the Kindle 2 as a first time user. I apologize in advance for my poor writing skills, but I have to say how great this little device has been for just a day and a half of owning it.I am currently living at work as I cannot afford a place to live. This obviously means I do not have any furniture like bookshelves. For entertainment my desktop replacement laptop serves me well for games, movies and the web. Luckily, my workplace has a wi-fi network which allows me to watch Hulu and Youtube. Before the Kindle the only reading I ever did was on the great [...] which usually consists of short articles and insightful and witty commentary. But after a while I would get tired of sitting in front of my laptop and my eyes would need a rest from the lcd screen. Reddit serves its purpose but I needed to get into books again. The Kindle has already enhanced my life in that regard. I spent so many hours reading the first day I received it. I could not put it down. I even took it to the gym (24hourFitness) to read while I rested in between sets or walked to my next exercise.The Kindle has proven to me that my reading habits have changed for sure. Since all I ever read was stuff on the internet, like reddit linked articles and commentary, I developed a short attention span for reading. I can not read continuously for a long time without growing weary of the subject matter. When it comes to books I love science and philosophy of science/math books. I can read those for a long time (currently reading Godel's Proof). With the Kindle I can read Godel's Proof and take a break by reading an interesting Newsweek, The Atlantic, or The New Yorker article in less than a few seconds! Or I could read a fiction novel, which I personally have not done since college (7 years ago), like No country for Old Men. I could also get books off of Project Gutenberg for free. This freedom for reading what I want (if available, of course) when I want is remarkable.I also appreciate the freedom of mobility. I don't need to keep the Kindle up to my face or be careful not to lose the page when I set it down. The kindle keeps the last page I read for any book or magazine. I can put the Kindle down flat on the floor or prop it up against something and read while I am laying on my stomach. The Kindle is super easy on the eyes. It is exactly like reading a regular book, but better! I am awaiting the Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Clip-On Light so that I can read with the room's lights out.I do own the Amazon Kindle 2 Leather Cover and it is perfect for me. It holds the device securely and protects it sufficiently well. Whether I work or work out I can open the cover flap all the way back, read a little, then quickly close the cover and set the unit down in a safe place and it is protected from dirt and unwanted attention.The Kindle 2 has got to be the best device I have ever purchased. My laptop is great too, but the Kindle has gotten me into reading books (again) and the magazines I love but without needing a place to store them or having to carry them around. As a pseudo-homeless person, I appreciate the Kindle's mobility and versatility to no end.(oh and I forgot to mention how great it is to have a dictionary definition readily available and a Wikipedia entry slightly readily available. Here is a tip, use google shortcuts like "define: par excellence" or "2 lightyears to miles" by typing them on the same screen you are reading from and press the google tab. The Kindle will take you to the google search page and show you the result just like any web browser. Press the "back" button on the Kindle and you are back to reading where you left off.) | 45 stars
|
Vive la France!
Words in a French life is a fascinating look into the French culture. A vignette for each word! | 45 stars
|
SOA by Erl
I have used this book very successfully in a 4th year level course on SOA and web services. The book provides an excellent overview of principles to be adhered to and current standards and specifications. There are very useful practical examples that can be used to explain complex scenarios. | 34 stars
|
Great for Text Based Reading and Travel
Just got the new Kindle as a gift. I would not have bought this for myself, (which makes it a perfect gift really), but after using it I must admit it is very nice and has some real advantages. The screen is very easy to read with choice of font size and does not seem to have the same eye-strain as a regular computer. For the traveler it is particularly practical because you can carry a large number of books in a small space. It seems robust enough to handle normal stress that is unavoidable when these things are stored and jostled around in carry on luggage, briefcases etc. Another nice feature is that no matter how many books you are reading at one time the Kindle will always keep your place for you. I always read multiple books at once so this is nice. The battery life seems to be very good. On a recent flight home I read for over an hour even though the battery warning popped up and the icon showed a critical battery. Probably a good idea to turn off the wireless most of the time unless you are using it. Another pleasant surprise is that there is a lot of free content for the Kindle, books in the public domain and such. Anna Karina is a little boring so far, but it was absolutely free so I can't complain. I also like the built in dictionary, you can quickly highlight a word and get the definition. I am usually too lazy to fetch a dictionary and do this when reading a regular book. Lastly the wireless access to content means you don't need a computer to download and you can shop anywhere, any time. Downloads so far have been very fast and easy.I only find the Kindle lacking in two respects. First, there is no built in back-light feature. Undoubtedly this was a trade off to improve battery life. Second, there appears to be no way to include any but the most rudimentary graphics or pictures. I have read three books and only one had any graphics, a very basic map drawing, even through there were references to numerous photographs and color plates. Since the Kindle is a B&W; display it might be difficult to render color photos but some semblance should be possible? I can imagine that the application is very limited for certain types of books such as technical books, text books, etc. due to the inability to render photos and graphics. | 34 stars
|
Change Your Life...Read this Book!
I just finished reading Three Cups of Tea and it has opened my eyes to a beautiful and often misunderstood people and what one man can do to really change to world - in a peaceful way. We should all thank Greg Mortenson for his unrelentless sacrifices to making this world, that region and America a safer and better place. Please take the time to read this amazing book. It will change your life! | 45 stars
|
I love my Kindle. .
I have had my Kindle for a couple of months, and absolutely love the convenience of having several booksloaded on it for selection when I am away from home. With the wireless connection, I can download within five minutes new selections even in the airport, or on an elevator for less than $10 a selection. This frees me from lugging around a bunch of books, magazines, and newspapers.I also love the magazine and daily newspaper selection capability, as I can choose a daily paper to be instantly delivered to the device whenever I am out of town. Also the Kindle is new enough that people want to talk to me about it, and I am happy to tell them of my experience.Happily,Linda | 45 stars
|
Beats the Heck outta Grisham...
It has been a looooong time since I last read Turow (One L), but this was too good to pass up. My only fear was that it would be too preachy in regards to the errors that the system makes (Turow has spoken and written at length about his objections to the system). Instead, the book is even handed and focuses on the story. The plot can be a bit convoluted--but the strength of the book lies in its complex (and in Gillian's case incredibly complex) characters. Arthur, Gillian, Collins, Erno, Muriel, and Larry all have made "reversible errors" and Turow takes the time to look at all of them. John Grisham can't hope to ever write this well. Turow is worth the time. | 34 stars
|
Was this book written by Patricia Cornwell?!?
I couldn't find anything to like about the characters and the plot was hard to follow. I am a Patricia Cornwell devotee, but Hornet's Nest and Southern Cross are certainly below her caliber. | 01 star
|
Midnight Eyes
A very good book ,it held my interest,couldn't put it down.I would read it over and over again. | 45 stars
|
"too many words, very little substance"
Tolle's book contains many philosophical errors. His idea about relativism (page 70 is simply wrong.) Tolle's writing is wordy with very little substance. I gave up reading this intellectually empty book at page 72. Best wishes to those who choose to go further. | 01 star
|
Touch of Dark
Loved it, was compelled to keep reading to the very last page and then some, looking forward to a sequel, will there be a sequel?? one will have to check....... but first I must cut up my credit card !!!!!!!!!!!! | 45 stars
|
A Must Read for Conservative Investors
First and foremost, Thomsett's books are clear, compressive, and easy to follow. You'll never find yourself confused or dumbfounded by the hardest topics when master author Thomsett teaches them.Thomsett has written options books for the novice before however in this book he focuses on strategies that conservative investors can employ and which ones to avoid. Often time's equity options are something that are thought and used in high-risk schemes but Thomsett shows their value in how they can be used to reduce risk.While the strategies explained in this book won't and never promise to make you a King's random, (but they could actually save you the same amount). It does provide sound and proven techniques. It will show how you can use options to hedge and protect gains in your investments. How you can produce extra income from the stocks you already own. How you can use your equity or cash balance to produce extra income and buy stocks at a discount. And most of all, how you can reduce stock risk and create steady capital gains and income from your portfolio.You may not get rich quick but you certainly won't go to the poor house as Thomsett shows you can you reduce your risk and increase your profits in stocks. | 45 stars
|
Talk Talk should Edit Edit
While TC Boyle is clearly a talented writer, he needs an editor with a sharp knife to get rid of a lot of repetitive and redundent descriptions of angry men and food being cooked...Boyle is creative and funny but he seems unsure at times whether or not he likes the characters he is creating. The main characters, a deaf woman and her boyfriend seem to careen out of the writers control about a third of the way through the book, and become weak, whiney and two dimensional in the last third.The main scoundrel, gets a lot more of the writers attention during the last two thirds of the book, but with mixed results. While I like California cuisine as much as the next northern californian; there were altogether too many descriptions of the scoundrels' cooking and shopping. Were there old copies of Sunset magazine lying around while Boyle was finishing up the script? It does not take more than a couple of descriptions of the scoundrels elaborate food preparations and purchases to get the lifestyle that Boyle is giving this man. The writer needs to learn the California concept of minimalization. Instead of hitting his readers over the head with his condemnation of consumerism, TC would be better served with better character development of his two victims.There are also multiple descriptions of the perpetrator's rage and his desire to get revenge on those he perceives as wronging him...I never really got it. Sometimes he seemed like an intriguing, even likable scoundral, others times he seemed like a total whack job. It was also confusing that the deaf woman and her boyfriend would be described as experiencing the same kind of rage, in similar terms, and I couldn't figure out what the writer was trying to do with this...That anyone can turn into an irrational roadraging whackjob in the face of minor irritation? Rage as a universal bonding agent bringing us all into the melting pot of contemporary America? I had no idea what he was doing with it and it became tedious and distracting. The tension created by the situations in the book kind of melted away in the confusion.I did read the whole book. Its an original concept and an edgy twist on something contemporary. Overall, I'd say that I liked it..but TC needs to find himself a good editor. | 23 stars
|
Such wonderful writing, you just need to understand some things
Let me preface this by saying: I married young to a man I placed high on a pedestal and he fell flat on his face after one glorious year. I think Laura Lee Guhrke has done an outstanding job of writing the main characters. Remember that when they marry, Violet is all of 16. She doesn't have the maturity to understand men or the physical side of life and her hurt blinds her to everything else. I am shocked at how much readers thought the feelings were so unbelievable. When I read this book, it was like walking into my life (except 200 years ago). I hero worshipped my husband and he failed my expectations miserably. But we worked it out and I love him more now then ever before because I realized that no one is perfect. I don't blame myself and that is not at all what Ms. Guhrke was trying to portray (which another reviewer wrote). She was writing both sides of the story.Also, clearly some readers do not understand this time period. Men had mistresses. Period. The fact that he had one before and not after his marriage (when they first marry) is a testimate to the fact that he was did feel strongly for Violet and was trying to make their marriage work.Contrary to other reviews, I think John is absolutely one of the best male historical characters I have ever read. He is so human! I don't want a hero who is the most handsome, sensitive, caring, Perfect man in the world. How boring! How unrealistic! John was a flawed man who has never learned to love and because of this, he lost the adoration of his wife. So many times I read romance novels that describe the male character and I wonder how, if he is so perfect, how can he still be so pure and not swarmed by women (please). This book is about two real flawed characters and their attempt to forgive and start over in order to carry on the family title (make heirs).Violet was written almost as well as John. She was a stubborn daughter of a Duke who is used to having everything her way. She loved John from nearly the first moment she saw him and is absolutely devestated when he falls from the pedastal she placed him on. Such understanding and insight is given to Violet's character and yet she isn't seen as the perfect wife, either. She has her flaws and her own part in their seperation. Ms. Guhrke is not saying that it is Violet's fault and whoever thinks that is not reading this book thoroughly.Warning: if you are offended by cheating husbands who try to reform, do not read this book. He has slept with other women and freely admits doing so. I know this can sometimes be offensive to women.Usually, I am the kind of reader who will stop reading a book if the hero does not give up his mistress after he marries the heroine. I like my rakes reformed :-) but this book is different. This starts 8 years after the marriage has fallen apart and tells the story of how 2 people who made a lot of mistakes try to put it all back together again.I could re-read the playful bantering as John tries to win back Violet over and over it was so entertaining. For the reviewers who didn't believe he could try to woo her again, what the heck was he supposed to do?! Bringing back the positive memories, the reason they fell in love in the first place is the best thing a man can do. Did you want scenes where he is begging on his knees, crying into her skirt, swearing his undying love forever and ever?! How about a realistic charming man who realizes his mistakes, tries to win back his wife slowly and surely, and makes her happy at the end. I'll take this story anyday over a sweetened love-sick swain professing his un-tested love to some immature young girl. The characters are flawed and I love them the more for it.Anyone can write a story about perfect characters with a light villian and a happily ever after. It takes talent to make a cheating husband and betrayed wife come together and Laura Lee Guhrke does it beautifully. | 45 stars
|
although I am only half-way through...
Although I am only half-way through this book, I am finding it very interesting. It IS a romance, this fact may turn people off, but (as far as I have gone anyway) there is much more to the story! So far, it is very enjoyable, and is teaching me a lot about that time period--what it was like for women in England then. I suggest you read it! Even if you feel that you are a little young. I am 15, I read a lot, and perhaps I'm not understanding everything, but it is enjoyable nontheless! | 34 stars
|
Happy in Minnesota
The Sacred Path Companion is just that: a companion for walking the labyrinth. It is perfect for my friends who ask, "What's a labyrinth?" It is far more accessible than her last book, although I liked that one too. I've been buying this book & giving it to all my friends! I also really like the quotes in it & will put one on my garden bench. It's fun to read the stories of others who walk too, and hear their transforming experiences. Best book on spirituality I've read lately. | 45 stars
|
Medieval Reference - Good Book, Bad Deal
The book is a good reference. Unfortunately, the book is listed on Amazon as a hard cover and another listing is for soft cover. When you order the hardcover for $29.98 (instead of the softcover for $2 less) they send you the softcover. When you speak to the Amazon customer service in India they tell you to return it and they will send you the hardcover. You do, and you still receive the saem softcover. Instead of sending you the correct product or trying to fix their own listing they just let things ride. The book is worth 4 Stars, but becuase of the way Amazon markets it I must pt 1 Star to warn the buyer what type of problems they may encounter with the purchase. | 01 star
|
Looking in the mirror!
QBQ! is the answer to quit fooling yourself. This is possibly the best book I have read that can truly make a difference in our businesses and our lives! In some ways, it is a simple reminder of how you should approach many of life's situations. The DVD/facilitator lead training is the best training I've taken yet. We are training various teams within our organization. Truly on target to the problems facing me in business - and in my home life. By forcing each of us to look in the mirror, QBQ! is life changing. Rarely does one find so many pearls in one 55 minute read (the book). The chapters are short and I return to them over and over. Mr. Miller is so right - repetition is the key. As I have learned to use QBQ! and be more accountable, I find I solve problems more quickly and avoid the classic blame game. Also, by going to www.QBQ.com I've found even more info, some I get by email from QBQ, Inc. and some I can download on to my desk top. Don't miss their "QBQ! Panic Button" which provides pithy content straight from the book that I can put on my desktop and review thoughout the day to help me get through the day. In a word, everything about QBQ! is practical ... and that makes it excellent. | 45 stars
|
There Certainly is No Action in this Book!
This book is nothing like what you would expect from Brockmann. It has absolutely nothing in it that you would buy a Brockmann book for. I to also disliked this book immensely, and had to force myself to finish it! I certainly hope this isn't a new trend that Brockmann is starting to follow. | 01 star
|
Disturbing
I was disgusted that they were first cousins. That they looked alike only made it worse. Nothing else in the book makes up for this deficit. I didn't care for any of the characters and I was not amused. I ended up throwing this book away and I did not buy the rest of the novels in the trilogy. | 01 star
|
Gentle Introduction or Refresher Without The Theory
This is probably a good book for those that have a prior background in linear algebra and are seeking to refresh their memory. However, I've found in reading this book that connecting the dots from one section or chapter to another can be confusing, especially where notation and semantics are concerned. For instance, a system of equations is referenced in terms of "m by n" dimensions, and another as "n by m". The author appears to prefer the approach of not telling the reader of details until he thinks the reader is ready. Some learn better in such manor, I don't; I suspect many refreshing their skills don't. So, it's not a bad book, just could have been better. | 23 stars
|
a good, light, Christian read
Girzone has found a way to write about parables in our daily living today that are used to tell the story of Chrisst. He tells the parable and reveals the messages behind the original prables by putting them into modern circumstances. This is a wonderful way to reread and understand the parables and original teachings.J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'" | 34 stars
|
A good book, an unlikely hero
In the book "Return of the Native", Thomas Hardy created a good premise and characters one can grow quite attached to. It seems, however, that it takes a long time for the book to get into the plot and once it's there it moves very quickly. Once the book reaches the plot, some reader might get lost. The plot seemed to revolve around the love web between Clym, Eustacia, Wildeve, and Thomasin. Seeing the way they treated each other, many readers would probably question the existance of true love between any of those four. Many may feel that the only character who showed true love was Diggory Venn, a reddleman considered scum by the general society around him. He didn't try to have Thomasin when he knew she would not be happy with him. He even helped her try to have a good relationship with Wildeve. Though you may find yourself attached to the characters, the kindest heart beats within the lowly reddleman, who probably was part of the best love affair Hardy created in his book. | 23 stars
|
Passion Parties is RED HOT!!!
When I heard that this book was coming out I thought it would be your typical how to book, and then I thought that it would be a 300 page Passion Parties commercial. All I have to say is that I was SOOOOO wrong!!!!! I saw this book and I LOVE IT. And now I've bought it so I can read it all the way through. Pat does a wonderful job talking to the reader about sex and sensuality. You can almost hear her reading the book to you. It's like having a conversation with a friend. I love the honest and open approach. Passion Parties has a great leader in Pat. Thank you for this book!!!!! | 45 stars
|
Pleasant read!
Although it wasn't as good as The Other Boleyn Girl, it was very good. It gave an interesting perspective to the women following Anne Boleyn. I found it a great read, and enjoyed the characters. | 34 stars
|
A Christmas Carol
I loved it it was fantastic! I would recommend it to anyone who can read! I loved scrooges transformation in charles dickens words | 45 stars
|
Does eternal youth deserve the price of your soul?
This is the question I kept asking myself as I read through Oscar Wilde's book. The narrative is characteristic of the author's flamboyant nature and readers will find certain descriptions a little uncanny. Overall, this is an interesting story, written with purpose and to me this was the most important thing. Although the moral of the story has been copied over by many other authors (with slight variations), the dilemma remains the same - is one willing to sacrifice his internal peace for the price of the eternal beauty? The best answer to this question is a quote from Thomas Wolfe: "The surest cure for vanity is loneliness."- by Simon Cleveland | 34 stars
|
THE SECRET Unabridged 4-CD
I LOVED THE 4-CD I HAVE LISTENED TO THEM OVER AND OVER AT NIGHT JUST BEFORE I GO OFF TO SLEEP. THEY ARE VERY EASY TO LISTEN TO EVERYTIME I HEAR THEM I LEARN SOMETHING NEW, THAT I DIDN'T CATCH THE FIRST TIME. OR I HEAR IT IN A DIFFERENT MEANING, ONE AIMED AT ME. THE BOOKS SPEAKS TO YOU, AND EVERYONE WOULD TAKE SOMETHING AWAY FROM LISTENING TO THE CD'S. IT'S THE BEST BETTER THE THE VIDEO. | 45 stars
|
Intriguing, but falls flat
"Gone" is a more cerebral offering to the Alex Delaware series, with more attention than usual paid to the psychology of actors than the crimes themselves, and yet, in the end, we're left with no real answers, not even anything very concrete as to why the crimes occurred in the first place. Alex seems to be wandering in this one, as he re-evaluates his life, and the changes that take place - with Robin's return and Allison's slow fade - exemplify that. The distance Alex takes makes it hard to care about much of anything except his relationship with Milo. I'll freely admit half the reason I love these books is because of Milo, so getting to see him so much is a joy. It's the interactions between him and Alex in this one that make it readable, not necessarily the mysteries themselves. | 23 stars
|
Great Product
I'm very happy with my Kindle - a great product. I especially like the search capabilities (my current selection has very many character name references). Searching makes it easier to keep them all in perspective. It has good battery life and the downloads from the Kindle Store are fast and easy. I recommend it highly. | 45 stars
|
The best book I have ever read. Its my favorite!
This is one of those books, once you start reading it you just cant put it down. I love the way Scott Smith just tells you the story. You feel like he is talking to you and noone else. The characters are intresting in their own twisted way. The plot is incredible. I loved this book so much that I bought a copy for my best friend and she loved it as much as I did. Thank you Scott Smith for writing such a great, twisted, and entertaining story. | 45 stars
|
Wonderful gift idea.
The Kindle is awesome. I bought this for my husband for his birthday. He loves it. He doesn't like books because they take up space and just end up sitting on the shelf. So now he has the perfect book. It is very portable and he loves it! | 45 stars
|
Great read (listen)
The "in Death" series by JD Robb is terrific! I started with the later titles and recently have gone back to the beginning of the series to enjoy those stories. This was is one of the best I've read (listened to). If you enjoy Lt. Eve Dallas and her crew, you'll like this one. | 45 stars
|
Occasionally vulgar, but very entertaining
I truly enjoyed this book, which blended a detailed description of the Spartan warrior's ethos with a nice narrative about the squire, Xeones. Therefore, I recommended it without reservation to friends, some of whom told me that they liked the book, but were put-off by the characters'occasionally vulgar language. Because of that, I didn't feel like I could recommend it wholeheartedly to everyone. Personally, I didn't find the language to be an impediment to enjoying the book. If anything, the characters' speech added to the book's realism. Under the worst of conditions, you can't expect people to display their best manners. | 34 stars
|
Once you start, you can't put it down
When I first purchased this book, I wasn't sure if it was something I would enjoy reading. The idea of a poison taster in a modern military style medieval world seemed a little out there for me. I was happily surprised by how much i enjoyed Poison Study.Poison study is an easy read book because the characters don't have tons of depth. However, the plot is incredibly addictive. Once I began Poison Study I found it very hard to put down. I found Yelena to be a very likable character who, even though she has been through a lot, persevered and overcame every obstacle thrown at her. It was nice to read about a strong female character when most fantasy book heroes are male.I also enjoyed Yelena's relationship with Valek. At first, I considered him a villain who was going to try and make Yelena's life horrible. As their relationship progressed however, I found there was a very different person hiding inside the Commander's assassin.I would recommend this book for anyone who wants an action packed story line, and an all around enjoyable book. I look forward to reading both Magic and Poison Study as well as any other books by Maria Snyder | 45 stars
|
Child abduction
I can't finish reading this book. The characters are so unlikeable that I can't read on to its miserable? end. I enjoyed the author's writing ability, having admired his story Mystic River, which was brilliant, but all together depressing, but can't get into a story in which I so thoroughly dislike the mother and her TV addicted friend. Losing empathy with the characters make the outcome uninteresting and not worth its pursuit. | 12 stars
|
Best purchase I've made in years
I have had the Kindle2 for a few months now, and don't leave home without out. If you're reading this and considering purchasing a Kindle, either version, let me give you the most important information of all - do you research! There is tons of information online about both versions, both from Amazon and from users, so you should learn all you can about it before buying, to make sure that you aren't expecting something that isn't so.Having said that, I did do my research and have been so wonderfully enjoying my Kindle experience! I seriously don't leave home without it, I have the Amazon leather cover and it fits in my purse and goes everywhere with me. I haven't had any problems with it, except for the fact that there are now over 30 books on it waiting for me to read and there's never enough time! I am primarily a novel reader, and love the portability and size. I also use the web experimental features when I'm traveling and find it an easy (though sometimes cumbersome) way to stay in touch while I'm on the road.I couldn't be happier about my Kindle, and this really is the best purchase I've made in years, not only because of how much I still love it months later, but because it's so much a part of my life now. | 45 stars
|
kindle
love this product, it is truly awesome. so easy to use , it is the best getting new books in a second no matter where I am at. Plus the cost of the books rocks! The kindle really pays for itself in the end as I have already saved so much money in books. Many of my friends have seen it and they are hooked wanting one for christmas. If you read a lot this is your product, I can't believe I lived without it for so long!! | 45 stars
|
A laugh out loud delight!!! Hilarious!
Honestly, I think this is the funniest book I've ever read! I'm amazed more people don't know about it. I made the mistake of reading it on the subway and my I laughed so much that I started spluttering my coffee - people looked at me like I was insane but I just couldn't help myself!Buy this book - but don't read it on the subway, you'll only embarrass yourself.Maybe the publisher will bring out a paperback next Christmas and more people will get to enjoy it. A must-read for anyone who loves to laugh! | 45 stars
|
Mayra Calvani - Armchair Interviews
Talented author Brenda Novak weaves yet another tale of romance, suspense and deception in this the second book in the Stillwater trilogy, Dead Giveaway.After a painful divorce, detective Allie McCormick comes back to her childhood town of Stillwater to start a new life with her six-year old daughter. Of course, it doesn't hurt that her father happens to be the chief of police and offers her a job. Immediately, Allie begins to work on a cold case--the strange disappearance of Reverend Lee Barker nineteen years ago. But the time factor is not the problem. The main problem is the chief suspect, handsome and brooding Clay Montgomery, who everybody in the town hates and believes to have murdered the Reverend.As the investigation unfolds, and Allie falls deeper into her relationship with Clay, she realizes the man she has fallen in love with could not be capable of murder. She decides to help him to the end, even if that means putting herself in danger and fighting the whole town and its most important family. Will she succeed? And what if the famous Reverend, who everyone respected to much, turns out to be the most despicable of criminals?Surprising twists and turns and a couple of interesting sub-plots keep the story moving at a fast pace until the very startling ending. Novak has a keen gift for combining suspense and romance, as well as for creating real, sympathetic heroines and darkly mysterious heroes that beautifully stand out from the typical stereotypes of the genre. The way Allie `solves' the case at the end is smart and unexpected. Dead Giveaway will draw the reader in different levels--both intellectually and emotionally, making this a very compelling read. Highly recommended.***This review originally appeared in Armchair Interviews. | 45 stars
|
Way to much, price gouging
Tried the kindle version, was alright. It was a pain navigating around and also isn't as complete as the print edition. For $120 a year it's just not worth the cost. I'd buy it if it was around $1-$2 a month, but for $10 a month??????? Give me a break | 01 star
|
A reading device for reading addicts
I have had my Kindle for about one month and I am very pleased. It is not my first e-book reader; I have had a Rocket reader for years and loved it. I got a Kindle because there was no longer any support for my Rocket and it is unusable with my Mac. The Kindle compares very well to the Rocket, although each has its advantages.The great things about the Kindle are:1. It is very light and holds a huge amount of reading material. I just took it on vacation and it was like having my library with me.2. It is easy to read. I think I read even faster than with a paper book... and I'm a fast reader.3. The wireless connection has performed very well (Danger Will Robinson!!! Danger!!! You can spend LOTS of money at the Kindle store... I would not worry about content! Mr. Bezos is going to make a mint here...)4. I buy mind-candy detective fiction for plane diversions and I don't have to feel guilty about chewing up more wood pulp just so I don't worry about the plane crashing.5. Battery life is satisfactory... I have not run it to the half way mark before recharging, but that was 10+ hours with the whispernet off. The Rocket has much better battery life and it has a back light, but it is quite a bit heftier.6. Size is very nice... easy to put in a reasonably sized purse...Compared to my old Rocket, there are some improvements I'd like to see:1. Managing content is clunkier on the Kindle... not awful, but clunky2. Making notes/annotations is MUCH clunkier... I like to mark things up3. Adding personal content is a pain the way it is presently managed. I like putting my own Mss on an ebook so I can review/ add notes / edit when I have a fresh thought. The e-mailing bit is a pain here! I should just be able to drag things over from my desktop.4. I do think the buttons for page turning are too big.5. The case is basically fine with the velcro and felt pad additions (THANK YOU early adopters!), but the next version should have these features built in.Bottom line: there is room for improvement, but if you are a hard core reader, don't hesitate to buy a Kindle. It is a grand little friend. | 34 stars
|
Learn To Be Happy
Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert stresses in his book with a scientific explanation, that humans have limited imaginations which steer them in the wrong direction in their search for happiness. According to the author since we err in remembering our past we concurrently err in imagining our future and we will err on imagining what will make us happy. Not only that but you tend to repeat the same errors in imagining what will make you happy. One of our biggest problems according to Gilbert is humans desire to control everything they can. They even try to control the uncontrollable.+ + + + + + + + ++ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Are you a spiritual retard, or are you on the path to ENLIGHTENMENT?+ + + + + + + + ++ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + | 45 stars
|
Very sad and painful to read.............
It was the saddest romance I have ever read. Granted the ending is predictable, but it was a sad journey. It lacked action and passion. There was romance, but not enough of the other two. What I found painful about this story was the main characters having sex as the heroine is suffering from advance uterine cancer, UGH! @. This was a story told in a very Victorian era sort of way. If you have read Kresley Cole or J.R. Ward, this series is nothing like them. I think I'll past. | 01 star
|
Excellent read
The River Knows was an excellent read. I enjoyed it as much as the many other Quick novels I've read. The only criticism I have is that I did not get to know Louisa Bryce or Anthony Stalbridge well enough. There was a great emphasis on the intrigue of the story which worked for me since I love mysteries, but I would have liked more details about who they were. I wonder if she will write other books featuring these characters. I hope so. If she writes another book, I hope she fleshes out the characters more so that we feel as though we really know them. | 45 stars
|
Improvement on international access is required
Kindle works out exactly what an e-book reader I'm expecting. Features such as flawless push-based ebook delivery and highly readable screen is excellent. However, there is only a handful of magazine selection available on international contents. I'm bored by magazine contents which is delivered without graphics. | 23 stars
|
A waste of time and money
If the use of the law of attraction was this effective then every professor that taught quantum physics would be driving an expensive Italian sports car to the campus as proof. Your time would be better spent reading a good book that focuses you in a positive realistic direction like "Who Moved My Cheese". This is by far the worst book I have bought in years. | 01 star
|
Another book about them bad old HMOs
Strange things are happening at Manhattan General Hospital and Dr. Laurie Montgomery is the only one who seems to notice. Laurie is a medical examiner with the Coroner's office. She has become concerned about four seemingly healthy young adults, in the hospital for unrelated procedures, that have suddenly, with no previous warning, had massive heart attacks. Neither the autopsies, nor the associated tests, have given any reason for these incidents. As far as Laurie is concerned, this is a mystery and she suspects foul play. As for her co-workers and superior, they are unconcerned, believing it is a co-incidence, well within the statistical margins for fatalities, in a large, busy hospital.Then two more similar cases appear, again with no perceptible pathology. Then through Laurie's efforts, it is discovered that six similar cases happened previously, at St Francis hospital in Queens, stopping just prior to the incidents at Manhattan General. Now, Laurie's somewhat estranged love interest, Dr. Jack Stapleton, whose interest was slowly being peaked, is solidly in Laurie's camp. She has also gained the interest of a doctor at Manhattan General as well. In the meantime Laurie finds out she is both pregnant and positive for a marker, inherited from her mother which could lead to breast cancer. As I understand it a marker is a defective link in the DNA makeup. Late in the book they (Jack and Laurie) discover the victims, they're investigating also had markers.When the interested doctor, who was interested in Laurie as well and a head nurse get murdered, Laurie and Jack are now positive it was connected, even though there is no discernable relationship. Another suspicious heart attack and then another, then Laurie herself is put in mortal danger as she is rushed to Manhattan General Hospital for emergency surgery.ConclusionIt seems the favorite subject of medical doctor/writers these days are the maleficent health management organizations - HMOs. Marker is yet another story involving these nefarious institutions. In this case the culprit is the large fast growing company, Ameri-care, which happens to own both Manhattan General and St Francis hospitals.The setting for Marker, the Manhattan Medical Examiners Office, was used at least once before, in the book - Vectors. It had the same characters including Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery, who had yet to become an item. Vectors was a pretty good book, so I was happy to see Cook reprise them and their supporting cast for this book. Perhaps because they were in a previous book(s), the author did not feel the need to develop the characters as extensively as he would have otherwise. This would be understandable if it was a series, i.e. Vectors II but it was obviously not. This may be a small thing, but still it would be advantageous to read Vectors first, though certainly not necessary.Doctors obviously have a problem with HMOs as this is the second medical thriller in a row I've read dealing with them. Obviously many in the public sector have problems with them as well as they're (HMOs) on the news quite often, but it seems like these doctors go to extreme lengths to paint the HMOs as evil conniving monsters, which is alluded to in this and the other book I mentioned - The Society.As far as the story is concerned, it was concise and well written. It was written in easily understood language, something doctors have trouble doing sometimes, and in a fluid manner. I consider Cook to be among my favorite authors, but I have read books by him, that I didn't care for. Marker was neither one of his worst, nor his best. Although the end was quite exciting, the story as a whole, never captured my imagination. I give Marker 3 stars. | 23 stars
|
Underdeveloped, but still a good read
Writer Ann Roth ("like Ross with a lisp") has been assigned an undoable task - get an interview with the "big get" - reclusive actor Malcolm Goddard or kiss her job as a celebrity journalist goodbye. After jumping through hoops in order to get an audience with Malcolm at a famous Hollywood eatery, her plan goes awry, making her enemy #1 of the media-hating actor. She finagles a last resort interview after cajoling his publicist, but the two have conspired - Ann is deathly afraid of flying, and he'll only do the interview while piloting his small plane, knowing that Ann won't show. Her phobia gets the best of her and after losing her job, she returns to the mid-west town she grew up in, and into the house that now has three generations of phobic females.A chance meeting with an old friend alerts Ann to Malcolm's presence in the local hospital. She decides to become a hospital volunteer so that she can be in a position to chat with Malcolm, and considering how inebriated he was at their only meeting, she is sure he won't recognize her. And volunteering has transformed Ann completely. Her phobias take a back seat to the needs of the patients she comes into contact with. Malcolm doesn't remember Ann, and for the first time in a long time Malcolm experiences a real friendship. Ann's need to get even with Malcolm suddenly isn't so important, as she starts to develop feelings for him too. What will happen when he finds out her duplicity?Heller's latest has many laugh-out-loud moments, great secondary characters, and an interesting plot. But in an effort to bring more meat to a story, secondary storylines like the hospital's inordinate number of hysterectomies and lawsuits is never fully developed. I kept expecting that this was the moment that Ann would give up her dreams of chronicling other's lives for a more interesting job as an investigative reporter. Didn't happen. Nevertheless, even an underdeveloped Heller novel is well written, making it a "big get" in and of itself. | 34 stars
|
Not So Good....
I started reading this book last week and I couldn't get past chapter 8, if I got that far. The book was all over the place and hard to follow. I bought the book because of the great reviews it received from other readers. Maybe I will pick it back up again when I have nothing else to do on a Sunday afternoon..... | 12 stars
|
Six tales (including perhaps the best story ever written in English) showing how "truth comes in darkness"
The six stories collected in "The Piazza Tales" range vastly in theme and subject, from the allegorical travelogue of "The Encantadas" to the haunting psychodrama of "Bartleby, the Scrivener." With the exception of the title story (which was original to the collection), they each were published in "Putnam's Magazine," where they were well received and widely read. Although the book (like all of Meville's later work) was a commercial flop, the stories are highly regarded--and rarely read--today.Opening the volume is "The Piazza," a charming (bordering on precious) pastoral sketch that frames the collection in much the same way that Hawthorne and Irving framed their collections with a stroll around the Manse or a view of Bracebridge Hall. It provides an almost romantic and (for Melville) rare excursion into "fairy-land" in the daylight of the countryside surrounding his home, but at the close of the story the author warns us that "truth comes in darkness."The best of the five remaining pieces is, surely, "Bartleby, the Scrivener" (possibly my favorite story written in English); it is the most Kafkaesque story not written by Kafka. The narrator, a Wall Street lawyer whose office resembles a claustrophobic dungeon, hires Bartleby, a supremely competent copyist who subverts the safe order and hierarchy of the firm when he replies "I would prefer not to" when requested to execute tasks he'd rather not perform. From the first act of rebellion to the end of the story, the atmosphere resembles Poe as much as it anticipates Kafka; its bleak views of the market, of madness, and of municipal estrangement are unsettling.The other stories vary in quality. The wickedly subversive satire of "Benito Cerenno" is based on a true incident in which a transport of slaves overtook their captors; Melville revises the original narrative to condemn the covert racism of the narrator, a "Massachusetts man" who captains the ship that encounters the mutineers and whose liberal, patronizing opinion of the Africans is so unnuanced that he is unable to recognize that a rebellion has occurred. To modern readers, it all seems ridiculously unbelievable and, while remarkably ahead of its time, Melville's version of the episode sometimes suffers from attitudes and stereotypes which have themselves become unfashionable and uncomfortable.Interesting and clever, "The Lightning-Rod Man" and "The Bell Tower," are ultimately unmemorable, but the only tale that doesn't work for me at all is "The Encantadas," a series of ten travel sketches based on Melville's trip to the Galapagos Islands. Rather than presenting a literary version of Darwin's earlier travels, Melville emulates Dante, presenting an allegorical vision of purgatory on earth, of "cut-throats" and "tyrants" and "cannibals" amidst the dichotomy of the landscape's unforgiving harshness and overwhelming beauty. Of the pieces in the collection, these ten sketches received the most critical attention during Melville's lifetime, and they are still considered masterpieces by academics. There are inarguably brilliant passages and poetic descriptions, but the allegory seems labored and the "tale" as a whole pales in comparison to either Darwin or Dante. | 34 stars
|
A Hat-Trick for Tim Dorsey!
What can I say about "Orange Crush", Tim Dorsey's third novel?I know! How about... I absolutely loved this book. I laughed. I giggled. I chortled. I laughed some more. At one point I laughed so hard milk came out of my nose. This frightened me to no end, as I'm lactose intolerant and haven't had milk in about 15 years. (I will be seeking medical help for this condition as soon as I am done writing this review.)"Orange Crush" was a sheer delight to read! Like several other reviewers, I couldn't put it down, finished it one day and found myself severely disappointed when it came to an end. Once again Tim populates his world with an eccentric bunch of loonies that do not disappoint!I don't want to ruin anything for someone who hasn't read this novel, so without giving away too many spoilers . . . I found the scenes inside Helmut von Zeppelin's private skybox hilarious! I also particularly enjoyed Gomer Tatum's penchant for finger foods...DURING gubernatorial debates!"Orange Crush" is pretty much a stand alone novel. You don't have to have read the other two by Tim Dorsey to get the jokes. But if you haven't, pick up his other two novels immediately! Together these three novels paint a devilishly twisted world that really should be put upon the silver screen!Welcome back, Serge!! Nice to see you again!What else can I say?! It's got a front cover, a back cover and a bunch o' pages stuffed with lunacy and brilliant characters in-between. I loved this one! You made my summer Tim! | 45 stars
|
YOU HAVE GOT TO BUY THIS!
I am an avid reader and let me tell you, this product has changed my life! I have two children that I have to take places (we're talking doctor appts, sporting events, stores...you name it.) A lot of time is spent waiting to be seen for something. Now, I just take my slim, space saving, light weight Kindle from my purse and read while I'm waiting. It's so convenient! Everyone should get one! I love it!! I will be buying these as Christmas gifts this year. Everyone can use one. The beauity of it is you don't have to have computer knowledge in order to operate it. Best buy ever, you won't regret it! Say goodbye to heavy costly books - the Kindle is here to stay! | 45 stars
|
best thing since sliced bread
The selection of books is awesome. Recently went camping and finished a book, went on the whisper net and had another one in less than a minute. I know longer pack 3 or 4 books when on a trip, just my kindle. The only thing I don't like is that it is so easy to flip a page unexpectedly. However, i got over it because all the benefits out outweigh that. | 34 stars
|
A SO-SO BOOK
This waxed and waned as far as suspence went. What seemed an obvious clue, was totally lost on the detectives. I couldn't believe they could be that obtuse. Some parts were fast paced & good, others were slow and boring. I listened to CD on road trip & found myself able to stop listening at any point, unlike others I've listened to. | 23 stars
|
Welcom Home: Coloring outside the lines again
There's something about Easy Rawlins.He's a black man in the United States.There's a misnomer going around that Easy Rawlins books are mysteries. In a way, that's partly true--although I would say they're more like crime stories, or maybe procedurals. Bad Boy Brawly Brown is more of a mystery than any Easy yet.But that's only the least little thing about Rawlins. That doesn't even begin to start to scratch the surface. The thing is that he's a black man in the United States. The books are sociology more than mystery!They don't shrink or hide from it; don't justify it or make peace with it; don't accept it. They don't like it. Instead they look that devil in the eye, grab that trouble by the throat, and wrestle it to the ground. They ride it like the tiger that they can never get off.Mosley gets that feeling right, the feeling and the rhythm. He gets the texture and the nuance right; the odds right. Mosley doesn't put characters on the page; he puts people on the page; black people. Maybe not people you know, but people you recognize, recognize right off the bat. Book after book, page after page, scene after scene, word after word, there is never a misstep, never a mistake about it.Mosley's stories are not the kind in which the characters could just as well be white as black; where the names and locations and language for all intents and purposes are interchangeable with white names, locations, and language; where there would be no change in the story's feel and dynamic if it were white: like Jackie Brown, Shaft, Superfly. Mosley's books, though, are like Spike Lee Joints, only on the page (speaking of which I can't wait for them to collaborate getting somma dese on the screen). The biggest part of that is Mosley relentlessly, effortlessly, puts black feeling, black thought, black voice on the page. Open a Mosley book and you are at home. If you're black. If not you're in a mystery, but that's all good.Now Bad Boy Brawly Brown is not the best of Easy. Mosley's tour de force from Devil in a Blue Dress, A Red Death, White Butterfly, Black Betty through A Little Yellow Dog (and on the heels of those successes, Gone Fishin') would be hard, most likely impossible to match, much less to top. I mean, colors fade, iron and granite wear out, and to ask or expect a writer to be Kareem Abdul Jabbar is to reveal that you don't read a lot.But where it counts and when it counts, Bad Boy's Easy is as strong as he has ever been, most likely stronger. Easy's got a few more years on him now, he's blaming himself for the loss of his best friend Mouse, and in addition to the children he rescued and brought home to raise as his own in earlier books, he's got the love of a sister that's his match. Easy knows what time it is. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. And dammit, Easy does it. | 34 stars
|
Very Enjoyable Read
I am a faithful blog reader as well, and I bought the book because Jen told me too....and thoroughly enjoyed it. Her writing style is crisp, and I'm a sucker for the prolific use of footnotes. From the horrifying beginning to the self-discovery at the end, it was a fun ride. | 34 stars
|
review for dear john by evelia salinas
this book was really amazing.i think it has become one of my new favorite.i bawled all throughout the last half of this book.it was just excellent.great.phenomenal.i loved it. | 45 stars
|
Introduction to the disciplines - nothing new here
Dallas Willard is a joy to be able to bump brains with in book format. No other book has had the effect on me that Divine Conspiracy did, and still does. However, if you have read Willard's other works, you will find little new here. The Great Omission is a collection of essays, which overlap each other quite often, and can get very repetitive. This one is for completists only. Good for maybe picking up and reading a different essay every so often, but reading from front to back can get exhausting. Still, it's Willard, so it gets 4 stars. If you've never read any Willard, this is not a bad place to start. Maybe his most accessable work to date. | 34 stars
|
Book for the ages
This book plants the seed into thinking about the universe and how positive thoughts can change your life. Stop thinking bad things, stop thinking "Why me?" and put that energy into positive things and positive thoughts. When you do this you will find the universe will reward you with personal wealth, and happiness. | 45 stars
|
Five stars not enough
I bought this book because of an article I'd read comparing Bob Lee Swager with Lee Child's Jack Reacher. Oh, boy, it did not disappoint! Bob Lee is an amazing creation, a complex character who you just have to cheer for as page after page turns and dinner goes uncooked, the house goes uncleaned, and the lawn goes unmowed until the satisfying final pages are read. My husband loved it even more than I did. Many stars for this one1 | 45 stars
|
A dropped Kindle breaks easily...
My husband bought me a Kindle for our anniversary. I had never heard of one and was a little leery, (I love books!), but started getting used to it after a week or so. I liked the instant gratification of ordering from Amazon and receiving the new reading material in minutes.I took the Kindle on our annual 2 week vacation on a lake. There was no wireless service there, and I needed to drive into town whenever I wanted to order a new book. One morning, I went down to the lakefront to sit and read a novel I had recently ordered and was really getting into. As I went to sit in my chair, the Kindle slipped out of its cover and fell onto the beach. It probably fell from about 2 feet, but it definitely did not bounce. The screen hit a small stone, shattered, and is now completely unusable. The warranty states that it does not apply to "accidents." This "accident" never would have occurred with a book. I owned the kindle for less than a month. What a terrible waste!In this economy, does anyone need such a frivolous gadget that breaks so easily?I am very disappointed in Amazon and in this product. | 01 star
|
A New Twist on the Spenser Saga
In a twist, Hawk is the center of this story - he's been shot, and Spenser must help him get better and get revenge. There's the piper to pay not only for Hawk's injuries, but also for the family that was destroyed in the process. There's a ton of talk in here about why Hawk is the way he is, why Spenser is the way he is, and how the two women in the story learn to deal with it.I admit that I found this story a bit light. I really do enjoy philosophical discussions, and there were several bits of wit that had me laugh out loud. I love the stuff like Hawk saying "Oui" when Spenser quotes the "All for One and One for All". I also loved it when Quirk was talking about the Ukes and said "He speaks English pretty good."Still, for all that this book claimed to be delving into the psyche of the main characters, it was pretty shallow. There was a lot of pseudo talk, like saying Hawk is the way he is because he's Hawk. Jeez, thanks. Spenser is a lot like Hawk, but different. Hmmmmmm. The Spenser-Hawk-Vinnie situation is great when it just "is". When you try to rationalize what it is by saying things like "it is what it is", then it gets silly. In the meantime, Spenser says "My identity ... is me and Susan". So much for him being an individual. He later says that during his shooting that he was afraid of the grey man - afraid of dying, and of not seeing Susan again.There's a lot of talk about Hawk only needing Hawk, Hawk wanting to be alone. It's OK apparently to need Spenser. There's a bit of resistance on Hawk's part to needing Vinnie but eventually he does ask for Vinnie to join them. Hawk also asks Spenser to talk to Hawk's girlfriend, but Hawk refuses to do it himself. There are several scenes of the Hawk-girlfriend crying interactions. It's fine to say Hawk is afraid, that Hawk needs to do this, but surely a mature Hawk who can talk to anybody can speak intelligently to his own girlfriend, instead of either sending Spenser or just walking out ...It was nice to see Hawk caring for the shopkeeper and his wife, and looking to fund a kid's savings account. But Spenser trots along with the serial assassination plan without more than a quote or two. Talk's cheap, they say, and this story seemed to have an awful lot of talk in it and very little substance to the action.I also found it odd that Hawk only took maybe 6 months to heal to full strength (counting from near-Thanksgiving to early March as his true healing time) while they comment that it took Spenser a year. Surely these two men are in equally good shape, and were equally wounded ...I found it a bit annoying that the "worlds were crossing" with Tony's lesbian wife showing up here, as mentioned in one of the other series. If you hadn't read that other series, you'd be missing out on a lot of backstory here.I do enjoy these stories. But I've been reading the 'top selling books of all time' recently and when I read those, it often takes me 6 or more hours to finish a book. I finished re-reading this one in under 2 hours. It really does seem to indicate that Parker COULD write a much longer, more in depth book - if he wasn't just cranking out one a year to keep the pattern going. It makes you wonder what a Spenser book could be like if he wrote a story as if it was going to be the only one that really mattered, no matter how long it took. | 34 stars
|
Great Book
First book I read in the series. Made me want to go read the rest. My favorite so far. | 45 stars
|
Do you hear the cry and the bell?
Great story makes you want to keep reading, I think the book should have a continuation though , I will be waiting for the rest of the books to come out... Nicole (angelx) author of rainy day poems and more 1 and 2 | 45 stars
|
Fluffy Descriptive About Oil People: A Good Try
Not much really here. Author Margonelli tries to put a recognizable face on the economics and politics of oil, but I'm not sure I want one. She examines how the effects of the business entangle gas station owners, oil distributors, refinery workers, drilling rig personnel. The effort sets out to first-hand experience "Oil Adventures From..." one sector to the other. Presumably, the oil connection among them is important to all of us as drivers; but she leaves us flat as she relates, so often in soft tones and flowery descriptives, the personal side of each of the participants, just as planned. How does she do this?--By visiting actual sites, interviewing, gathering information, taking notes, nosingaround, as a good reporter might...but overall, she comes up with flimsy, rather so-what results.This no in-depth, investigation of how/why oil gets from there to here or how prices actually get set. It probably wasn't intended to be that way, but you don't know that 'till your finished. Instead, it's a quiet, low-ley drama of vague inner turmoil, interpersonal struggles, sob stories, political escapades, emotion, excuses and other personal minutia mostly unrelated to the mechanisms that actually drive oil companies,the government energy offices, auto manufacturers and the consumers at the pump.Expect to read of detailed workings of "oil" and its effect on cultures around the world? Not here. You get instead sketchy current and historical perspectives of distant 3rd-world, oil-rich countries...and, when closer to home, movie-like scripts on the "human side" of the business, presented in a lovely style that would do soap opera writers proud. No doubt the author's got a pleasant, flowing writing style(maybe more suited for a novel), but it's annoyingly out of place in a book designed to reveal what we, as drivers, need to know about oil, oil companies, oil countries and the complex mechanics of getting oil as gas to a nearby pump.She visits Nigeria, Iran, Venezuela in first-hand efforts to bring out her point, ...but by the time she's described her having tea with some high official of Chad, interest is gone. Taking herself and her book too seriously, she puts a useless, literary glow on her travels...as in Iran, where she describes the scene this way:"Below us, the Gulf glistens as if it's made of grayish,green jelly. The rippling waves form unexpectantherringbone patterns, and sometimes the shadow of ourhelicopter appears below. The moisture in the air reflectssunlight so that we seem to be flying through illuminatedcotton. A little fishing boat shaped like a curled slipper,or maybe a melon rind, appears and disappears below us."[Page 219] As reader, this is all quite pretty to imagine...but come on! Green jelly? Lisa, you should have stuck with Sgt. Friday's strategy for getting to the bottom of things: "Just the facts, m'am. Just the facts," please! Instead, the author's facts are forever mixed in with with needless, distracting, descriptives (like the above)...often making the read cumbersome and slow-going.Regarding China (She was there, too.), Margonelli spends her time describing the genius engineering faces she met who raved about new hydrogen-cell cars they're developing, like the Aspire and "a little yellow car shaped like an egg." These will, they say, revolutionize the car industry and put them on the Big Map, making China THE Great World Power. In passing, she mentions how Shell and GM are involved...butdoesn't get past the surface interests of these two stealth players. Incidentally,unlike the chapters on Venezuela, Chad, Iran, Nigeria, author Lisa oddly makes only minor references to China's oil industry. There's nothing about: who controls it, how it controls, whom it effects...topics this reader was looking forward to getting to. --Wonder why "oil," of all things, was almost entirely left out of her China picture....A lightweight read is not what you'd expect from the eye-catching cover title. The book gets high on fancy descriptive, but stays low on purposeful focus. Each chapter seems without conclusion. Awkwardly, too, the chapters together have no unifying theme...as we get no across-the-board reason for all the location hopping she's done to put the book together. What Margonelli was getting at is anybody's guess...other than it's people who work in the business. (!) After expending, by the author's own casual admission, 3000 gallons of gasoline in her travels to discover the human side of the oil industry, she's come up with a faceless yawn. Although occasionally interesting reading, I found I really don't care much to learn about individual oil folk. In this day ofhigh-tide pump prices and slow-moving inflation, this reader'd much rather get to know "why," "how," "where." --Definitely, not the "who."[--But if, on the other hand, the oil "Who" is what you're really after, you might definitely enjoy the read....] | 12 stars
|
Wild Goose Chase
All of that for what???..this book was just all over the place. What???? Did Noire run out of sex scenes because she used the same one like two or three times and I mean the EXACT SAME SCENE only the names changed...come on...if there was some kinda way to get a refund, I'd be in line!!!! | 01 star
|
Confessions led Tess to Heartbreak
A favorite Hardy classic of mine, Tess of the Durbervilles is a haunting look at a lost young woman, who through the harshes of life, including rape and childbirth, is dupped by her husband the day after their wedding has taken place, after they confess to each other of their horrid pasts. | 45 stars
|
Great, easy, uplifting read
This is a great book about loving your body and being happy within your own skin. I recommend it for every woman to read. | 45 stars
|
Judging the Past, Present and Futrure
Scott Turrow is a famous lawyer/best selling author. This book is fascinating since it is filled with plots and subplots and characters that are flawed, memorable and engaging. The current controversy about death row and the death penalty makes this book even more timely. The lead characters Larry, Muriel, Arthur and Gillian intertwine in a plot that leaves you guessing until the end. Perfect summer reading. Can't wait for the movie. What's so fascinating is Turrow's grasp at life and death and the present (where it all spirals together). Are you sure about your future, are you set in the past, do you yearn to create a new today. This is the kind of book that although it's a novel is excellent at spawning some soul searching about life and death and what you do for a living. Easy reading even if it's 400 pages-- you can finish it in a weekend or savor it for weeks. He tackles one of the major social issues of our time with vigor. | 34 stars
|
Most Enthusiastic
Most enthusiastic about this wonderful product. Still learning how to maneuver around, but find the essential elements to be easy. Just by word of mouth, I've convinced three or four people that they must have a Kindle also. One minor suggestion for improvement would be to have the "on/off" button moved to the front of the product. | 45 stars
|
don't bother
Although I agree that a positive perspective on things will allow for more positive overall experiences, I don't necessarily agree that if something bad happened in your life, you "attracted" it (think of all the abuse, poverty, illness, etc around the globe).The Secret basically says you are your own God. THAT'S SCARY!!!!!No, thanks!Mathhew 6:33"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."Seek God's kingdom, not your kingdom. | 01 star
|
Who knew writing a restaurant review was this complex?
This is a fascinating look into what it takes to write a quality restaurant review. Visiting restaurants 3, 4, and 5 times, the disguises, the passion - who knew so much effort went into writing a single review. Most interesting was her depiction of how individuals are treated at high power restaurants... star treatment for those who matter, pot luck for the average person off the street. The book is incredibly entertaining, well written, and hooks you from the start on Reichl's plane ride from LA to New York. It also exposes you to a life of a critic outside of the restaurant. While eating at the best restaurants for a living many seem glamourous on the surface, Reichl provides perspective by exposing the reader to the sacrafices her family must make to accomodate her job, and to the various characters she must deal with from time to time. Her depiction of the "food warrior" was particularly funny. I was not able to put it down and finished it in one day. Great book! | 45 stars
|
WOW!!!!
I LOVE this product. I've only had it a few days and already I'm in love. I have found it very easy to "figure out", the learning curve is small. I usually have several books going at the same time and now I have them all with me all the time. I also don't like it when people see me with a book and then want to know what I'm reading, what it's about, bla bla bla. This thing is very private and discreat. I wasn't sure if I like the over all look of it at first but the coolness is in how it works and that makes it "sweet". | 45 stars
|
Interesting, but not significant.
I was interested in the premise of this book, that we can "know without knowing why we know" and can utilize this hunch in making decisions. Gladwell provides many interesting anecdotes (at times you feel like you're reading the good parts of an intro to psychology text), but that's really all he does. He doesn't leap to anything in the way of conclusions or exercises to further experience this phenomenon. Of course, once we become aware of our "adaptive subconscious," we begin to tread on tenuous territory, muddling precisely on what we focus. So, you really can't fault him for that; he's doing all he can by providing what he does.Overall, I enjoyed "Blink" and would recommend it as a light read. It does make for good discussions and personal revelations. I myself wish I would have several times listened to that "blink" subconscious, intead of opening up the Pandora's box of other options. My only criticism is that Gladwell becomes a little repetitive at times and the book itself begins to drag. But not that big of a deal. | 23 stars
|
A Warrior's Love
Platinum Reviewers Rating 4.5Beverly Jenkins writes a intense story of a man and woman who falls in love against all odds but are determine to beat the odds to be happy only if they can keep their paws away from each other throats.Louis Montague had promised Leah Barnett security in her life after his death with marriage but never did Leah realize all the hate and problems that would come with being his widow. Ryder Damien grew up believing his father killed his mother and therefore he had a great hate towards Louis Montague and everything associated with is late father even his step mother but it doesn't stop him from coming to her aid and falling in love.Beverly Jenkins writes an detail story telling of the Native Americans and African American fights to just maintain a peaceful life while detailing what it was like to live in Denver as a colored person back in the 1800s. Mrs. Jenkins writes with such detail that you can visualize the town and the characters. The story itself captures the readers' attention to the very end. | 45 stars
|
Review on Wuthering Heights
Hello,and welcome to my breif reveiw on Wuthering Heights.If you want to read this book you've made the right choice. Wuthering Heights is a beautiful book of passion,pain,tragedy and love. Although I am only a chid I think that this book is the most touching one I have ever read. Wuthering Heights is about the young love of Catherine and Heathcliff and their struggle to be together. I read this book and had this much admiration for it, so why shouldn't you? | 45 stars
|
Very good contemporary romance
I honestly don't know what attracted me to this book. I do not like modern day stories about royalty, and the `ordinary girl becomes a princess' trope doesn't appeal to me at all. Made-up countries in contemporary fiction are one of my pet hates.Yet somehow the book worked for me.Sebastian was about to inherit his country's throne when - as a nineteen year old - he met eighteen year old Marianne. He fell in love with the English girl though it was not his intention to, and not once gave her any hint of his true identity. But then duty called, and he left her stranded in Paris, with not a word to let her know where he'd gone.Only after a chain of awful events in Marianne's life did she - months later - discover `Seb's' true identity; when she saw a news story announcing his engagement to a `suitable' woman.Ten years down the track they meet again purely by chance. Marianne has so, so many reasons to hate Sebastian, and the now single Sebastian has many, many reasons to believe a relationship between them now would be impossible. This is a relationship that's going to be hard work.Perhaps it was the author's ability to keep things real, despite the outlandish premise, that made me like this story so much. We're not swamped with public royal events, and so the characters have time to show who they truly are. I wanted Seb to have to work hard for Marianne, and he did. I wanted the relationship to be a difficult choice for both of them, and it was. Because I honestly don't believe there're many people in this world who would actually enjoy the reality of becoming a princess. I wanted to see the bad side of it too, and the author allowed us to see this from the outset. It was - as far as fiction books about royalty go - a believable story.Not a premise I'd go searching for on a regular basis, even so I was very pleasantly surprised by this emotional and enjoyable book. | 45 stars
|
Family that prays together stays together
I read this author's book Father Found and didn't really like it. I just couldn't get into it. That happens sometimes. But just because I didn't like doesn't mean the next person won't. However, this one I found to be engaging. The author exposes the inside life of one family--namely the Harris family. There is turmoil, drama, protection and caring in this clan. The author's writing has really escalated from his previous novel. I look forward to reading the Harris Men. | 34 stars
|
Good Book
I have always liked Tami Hoag's books. This one altough graphic at times, was very good. | 34 stars
|
Good reading
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recomend it to anyone who likes south american authors | 34 stars
|
No High School required reading available, no backlight
I got a Kindle for each of my daughters who have low vision and could use the large print capability to read their school books. Alas, none of their required high school or college Freshman level reading assignments are available for Kindle. Couldn't even get them "The Tale of Beedle the Bard" just for fun reading. Wasted a lot of money. Also, without a back light it is so limited. If we could get books to read on it, it might work out for them just fine. There just isn't a selection yet. | 23 stars
|
a conversation starter
After the wives read this book, I recommend the husbands read it as well. That is what the authors are hoping for afterall.For the women: A refreshing read. Can easily be read in a few days if you're sneaking in some time while the kid(s) naps. It wont tell you anything you dont already know or feel, but thats the point. They're trying to tell you that everything you're going through is normal and you're not alone. You'll find yourself nodding your head a lot and hopefully at the end of day things will be in perspective and wont seem so bad. This book offers a lot of sound advice and common sense to help you see things from a different angle - his angle.Which brings me to...Husbands: Read this book. Its not a bunch of women "man-bashing." The authors interviewed many men in their research and have a strong grasp on YOUR side of the story. But lets face it, your wife is tired of being the Head of the House while you selfishly go off and play or whine that she "does it better" so you can get off the hook. This book wont tell you anything you dont already know or that your wife (probably) hasn't already told you - but it WILL give you advice on how to "man up" and take the baton for a run around the track. Being a dad is important..but being a good husband might be even more so. Set an example. After all, you're being watched by little eyes that pick up on more than you know. | 45 stars
|
Powerful
Unbelievable power adapter. You plug it in and BAM, power right to the Kindle. What will they think of next? | 45 stars
|