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Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: La Fuente Mexican Restaurant; City: Sparks, NV; Review: Best Mexican food in town! I love their cheese enchiladas! The salsa is always fresh, sometimes a little on the spicy side but still good! Service is always excellent! Everyone I have taken to eat at La Fuentes loves the food and atmosphere!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Los Compadres Mexican Restaurant; City: Sparks, NV; Review: Service is great! Love the margaritas!!! Chips and salsa are are also very good!! I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because entrees can be hit and miss!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: JJ Sushi; City: Sparks, NV; Review: This was surprisingly good! I m super picky about sushi but this will be on my top 3 list for Reno/Sparks!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BJ's Nevada Barbecue; City: Sparks, NV; Review: I love this place for breakfast! Everything taste so fresh! Huge portions! Which being a light eater means I get the meal twice!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Great Basin Brewing; City: Sparks, NV; Review: I love this place! Great food, great beer, and great atmosphere!! Sitting outside on the patio is my favorite. This place is a little pricey but I have never had a bad plate of food from here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Antonio's Mexican Grill; City: Reno, NV; Review: Carne asana tacos are amazing!!! My fiancé had a burrito which was also amazing. Comes with a large portion of authentic rice and beans! A true gem in downtown Reno! Park in the Silverpeake parking garage and Antonio's will validate!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Michael & Son's Jewelry Company; City: Reno, NV; Review: We paid over $200 for a new head set to be on my engagement ring to replace the other $200 headset that was placed only a month prior! When we returned for our finished ring we were told that we do not get our original headset back unless the paper noted it was to be saved!!! So ridiculous! You should ALWAYS keep your costumers jewelry and you should not assume that it can just be put into your jewelers sweep pile!!! I have had multiple rings worked on from the Diamond Vault/Jareds and I have always gotten my jewelry pieces back, it shouldn't even be a question or request...it's my property!!!!!! If I want to switch out diamonds do you get to keep my diamonds too????? I don't think so!!! Bad ethics!!! Will not be returning to this store since stealing is not above them.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Niko's Greek Kitchen; City: Sparks, NV; Review: We love this place! Good price, big portion! I love everything I have tried here! The service is great, sometimes there is strange people standing or sitting around that talk to the workers, but the actual employees are super polite!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nam Van Noodle Cafe; City: Sparks, NV; Review: They have amazing shrimp vermicelli! The costumer service is always great! If you are a chai tea fan, the hot vanilla chai latte is also amazing!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Michael & Son's Jewelry Company; City: Reno, NV; Review: We paid over $200 for a new head set to be on my engagement ring to replace the other $200 headset that was placed only a month prior! When we returned for our finished ring we were told that we do not get our original headset back unless the paper noted it was to be saved!!! So ridiculous! You should ALWAYS keep your costumers jewelry and you should not assume that it can just be put into your jewelers sweep pile!!! I have had multiple rings worked on and I have always gotten my jewelry prices back, it shouldn't even be a question or request...it my property!!!!!! If I want to switch out diamonds do you get to keep my diamonds too????? I don't think so!!! Bad ethics!!! Will not be returning to this store! -Update- Received a call from the owners daughter? Had a strange conversation about the price of what my jewelry is worth and told it was weird for other stores to give jewelry pieces back (which every other store has with no damage or question) but we were given back the missing pieces (slightly damaged) with the request to take the Yelp review down. A little disappointed to not talk to someone with a little more knowledge as it seemed the daughter was very young and not use to dealing with costumer service. I changed my review to 2 stars (since they did call&returned jewelry), but there is still a lack of response from a person with management or costumer service skills. It seems to me that this store may need a better liaison for customers with issues. An upset costumer should not be addressed by a young girl who borderline insults you and then apologizes and then insults you again, only to finish the call with more apologies. I literally just listened as she was informing me of her perception of what the issue was for 90% of the call...instead of simply asking me what the issue was.... Super interesting business ethics this place has. Needless to say, I will not be returning or referring anyone to this store.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Great Basin Brewing; City: Sparks, NV; Review: I love this place! Great food, great beer, and great atmosphere!! It is a little on the expensive side for pub food but it is worth it. I go here often and have always had great service!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Michael & Son's Jewelry Company; City: Reno, NV; Review: We paid over $200 for a new head set to be on my engagement ring to replace the other $200 headset that was placed only a month prior! When we returned for our finished ring we were told that we do not get our original headset back unless the paper noted it was to be saved!!! So ridiculous! You should ALWAYS keep your costumers jewelry and you should not assume that it can just be put into your jewelers sweep pile!!! I have had multiple rings worked on and I have always gotten my jewelry prices back, it shouldn't even be a question or request...it my property!!!!!! If I want to switch out diamonds do you get to keep my diamonds too????? I don't think so!!! Bad ethics!!! Will not be returning to this store! -Update- Received a call from the owners daughter? Had a strange conversation about the price of what my jewelry is worth and told it was weird for other stores to give jewelry pieces back (which every other store has with no damage or question) but we were given back the missing pieces (slightly damaged) with the request to take the Yelp review down. A little disappointed to not talk to someone with a little more knowledge as it seemed the daughter was very young and not use to dealing with costumer service. I changed my review to 2 stars (since they did call&returned jewelry), but there is still a lack of response from a person with management or costumer service skills. It seems to me that this store may need a better liaison for customers with issues. An upset costumer should not be addressed by a young girl who borderline insults you and then apologizes and then insults you again, only to finish the call with more apologies. I literally just listened as she was informing me of her perception of what the issue was for 90% of the call...instead of simply asking me what the issue was.... Super interesting business ethics this place has. Needless to say, I will not be returning or referring anyone to this store. -Update to owners response- Wow, this is embarrassing for your " facts" as you were the first jewelry store we went to to look for a replacement for the lost ring. So clearly that conversation never happened and we could have found more capable and professional people to work with. Secondly Erica was not the person who helped us with our initial purchase.. But hey so much for facts...So not only will this business steal your jewelry, they are also not below lying to defend a bad review. Well lesson learned apparently you can't be honest about a company on Yelp without the owner lying about the chain of events and complete conversations. Good for you! Removing my two stars back to one, since clearly now the owner who was never present for any transaction post false facts. I have NEVER had an issue with any jeweler in Reno, so everyone should steer clear of these guys.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Alison Westfall, MD; City: Reno, NV; Review: I loved Dr Westfall! I saw her for most of my appointments while pregnant and she was amazing. I always felt comfortable and if I was concerned about something she made sure to get me in that day to see me. She was always willing to answer any of my silly first time mom questions and I never felt judged. My favorite part about Dr Westfall is the smile she would get on her face when she would find the babies heartbeat at my baby check ups. Overall great experience and wish I could use her for my next pregnancy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moda Italia & Tailoring; City: Sparks, NV; Review: I had a great experience getting my bridesmaids dress altered here. It was affordable and very quick! The owner is very nice and listens to what you are looking for. He also gives advice to save you money and is very kind. I will definitely be bringing any alterations that I need done here! Thank you!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bawarchi Indian Cuisine; City: Sparks, NV; Review: So I have to say I love Indian food. I have tried Indian food in any place I love or visit which was why I was excited to see this new place! We ordered from Bawarchi Indian Cuisine on Sunday to give it a try and it did not disappoint. It is Wednesday and I'm currently craving it again. It is in my top 3 favorite Indian places to eat now and has got to have the best flavors I have ever experienced. Don't skip the garlic naan it's amazing! The only thing that caught me off guard was having to purchase rice separately when ordering curry or Tikka Misala. So excited to have Indian food so close to home.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Habit Burger Grill; City: Sparks, NV; Review: Just watched 3 employees take a ten minute break to hot box a car. We ordered food...they told us to park in spot one...employees walked out..locked the dining room....got in a car...got high...got out of the car...went back to the front entrance and unlocked the door. We waited for our food for about 15 minutes while all other spots for food pick up filled up...including the entire drive thru.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000; Brand: Microsoft; Review: This mouse works excellent with my macbook pro. After the initial pairing all i have to do is turn on the mouse and press on the scroll wheel then BOOM connected. It really could not be more simple. It is a small mouse. I am sure people with large hands might not work well with this mouse.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Ringer Universal Shockmount for Ball Microphones; Brand: Blue; Review: i cant say i bought this mount for any other reason then it looks awesome and old school. I bought it at the same time as my blue snowball so i don't know about how much of a difference it makes, but i use the mic alot... lately alot of skype and no one has heard adverse noise come from my end just clear audio.. what i can say is the mount plus the blue snow ball makes it about 1.5 - 2 ft tall so be aware if this is going on a desk; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote with Color Touch Screen - OLD MODEL (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Logitech; Review: So while i am not a person who wants to spend a lot of money on a remote, i bit the bullet after all my "universal remotes" for all my other devices failed to pair everything i own. So i got this remote and while the price still chokes me up, i must say my viewing experience has pleasurably increased. It was easy to pair everything. I plan on buying some IR wall adapters so i can set all my lighting up too. This remote does alot. Only thing that i cant pair is my ps3 but that is not logitech's fault, i blame sony fully on that one... maybe someday soon i will get the add on for that also; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: D-Link 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub including 4 Fast Charging Ports, mini USB 2.0 Port and 5V/2.5A Power Adapter (DUB-H4); Brand: D-Link; Review: This is a great hub but i wish it had more powerful power supply. I have a blue snowball mic and have a 2 portable drives that i use regularly for school and it cant power the mic and the drives at the same time... That is kinda annoying since why buy a powered usb if it cant power everything. Other then that it does what it was intended to do.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Steam Link; Brand: by
Valve; Review: This product feels so alpha, that it should not even be sold.. It has completely tainted my view of steam.. It is a useless device if you want to play over the wifi, also i hope you don't have multiple monitors on the computer you plan on using. Right now when i try steam unless i literally disable the other monitor steam link will show both of my screens on my tv, Its a pain to deal with. finally controller support at the moment is terrible unless you want to use the steam controller; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: ECHOGEAR Full Motion Articulating TV Wall Mount Bracket for Most 37-70 inch LED,; Brand: ECHOGEAR; Review: Wow, i see why this mount has super awesome reviews. It very flush with the wall, has all kinds of motion option and while i did not personally install it, from what i saw it was pretty simple.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Abrego; City: Monterey Monterey County California; Review: We enjoyed our recent stay. Rooms were newly refinished, clean & well appointed. They are smaller than they appear in the picture (very narrow) - not much room in the "Deluxe" 2 Queen - but appreciate that there was enough room for a blow up mattress to accomodate a party of 5. The restaurant serves a very nice breakfast - great value for $10 ($5 for kids). Would be nice if they had a lobby area to spend time in as a family and with others traveling with - as the rooms are small to spend much time in together. Reasonably good location. A quick drive to Cannery Row / Aquarium - would be a bit of a walk. Though it's a short walk to the main downtown street with local dining options. Also a short walk to Dennis the Menace Park - if you have kids it's a great place to play and get out some energy! Friendly staff. Overall, I would recommend and would stay again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Club Med Cancun; City: Cancun Yucatan Peninsula; Review: This was our first trip to a Club Med resort, and first family trip to Mexico. We couldn't be more pleased. It was the most stress-free, relaxing, fun vacation I think we've taken as a family. Initially we were looking at renting a beach home/condo in Hawaii as we've done in the past, but our Travel Agent suggested Club Med instead. Of all the Beach Inclusive resorts she suggests, she recommended this Club Med Family Resort to us specifically because of the Kids Clubs. We have 3 kids (ages 6, 10 and 13) - and there was something for all of them to enjoy. This gave my husband and I time to relax, read a book, and even get in some snorkeling on our own. In our family travels before, we have never used a "kids club" or "babysitting service" - just spent time together as a family. I have to say, the Kids Clubs here are amazing. The staff is so warm, caring, fun and responsible - we felt at ease knowing the kids were having fun & well taken care of. Many thanks to Emelio (Elmo), Adriana, Lorena, Daniella, Hoshi, Chicken Nugget, and all the rest I have missed. The kids are grouped by age - and there are activities from 9am - 9pm, which you can join in. It allowed us to have a nice mix of family time, and time for them in the clubs. Our 6 year old much preferred being with the club! They have all sorts of activities: Circus/Trapeze (the Circus Staff is incredible!), swimming, sailing, snorkeling (8&up), water skiing (12 & up), beach time, sports, crafts, treasure hunts, beach dinner/movie night and even put on an evening show in the theatre, complete with costumes & makeup. All our girls met and made friends from all over. As for us - we had a wonderful time. I loved leaving the room each day, with just my beach bag... a hat, a book & sunscreen. Being all inclusive - I never needed a purse :) Meals (B/L/D) are wonderful, buffet style, with so many delicious options to choose from. Drinks are easy to find at the bar, or will be brought to you at the beach (thank you, Cesar!) Being new to Club Med, we learned about the "GO's". These are the many staff who run the club, from reception, to the kids clubs, to activities, meals & housekeeping. We were fortunate to share meals with several, and learn about their stories - some were new, and this was their first club, while another was a 22 year veteran with many exciting travels to share (Thanks, Patricia). Be sure to take time to share a drink or meal with the GO's - they make the trip even more special and personal. We met such wonderful people... Patricia (head of housekeeping), Dario (Snorkeling), Rodrigo & Pedro (Sailing), Guilia, Lorela, Julie, Anna & Sandra (Reception). Finally a bit about the resort itself. It really has the best location of the hotels along the Cancun hotel strip. It is; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites Kingman Route 66; City: Kingman Arizona; Review: We stayed overnight on the way to the Grand Canyon. We travelled as a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids) and this was one of the few hotels that offered 2 Queens & a Fold Out couch - which fit our needs perfectly. The hotel is new - and both the rooms and lobby area are nicely furnished. We loved the layout of the room, having the Shower/Sink in a separate area from the Toilet/Sink - really helpful with 5 in a room. The fold out couch was part of a little sitting area, separated from the beds with a partial wall - so it gave us a bit more room & sense of separate space. Something nice when you have 5 in a room. The breakfast area was nice & clean - and breakfast was actually quite good with very friendly service. The kids especially liked the front desk, which had complimentary Lollipops when we checked in & out. If our travels take us this way again, we would definitely stay here again. I did think it was a little expensive, but would probably still stay again. It was new, clean, quiet and the space really fit our family well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maswik Lodge; City: Grand Canyon National Park Arizona; Review: We stayed 2 nights at the Maswik lodge and were very happy. I found that of all the lodges in the park, this was the only one that would allow a roll-away bed in the room. In the other lodges our family of 5 would have had to book 2 rooms. The room was large, and even with the roll-away opened up, we still had room to move around. We were in one of the North Rooms, which had recently been renovated (nice new bathroom), and the room was very comfortable. It had a nice balcony, and as we were on the 2nd floor, vaulted ceilings which also made it feel a bit roomier. While we were there, they were having issues with the Cable, so there weren't many TV channels. That wasn't a problem for us as we didn't come to the Grand Canyon to watch TV :) The Food Court at the Lodge was very convenient and pretty good. One night we ordered Pizza from the attached Pizza place and it was quite good. This lodge is the one that is about 1/4 mile back from the rim, not right on the rim as the other lodges are. However, we actually found that to be very nice, as the lodge cabins are nestled into the trees, and it's very quiet. And it's a short walk or Drive over to the rim, or to the Hermit's Rest Shuttle.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Inn At Laguna Beach; City: Laguna Beach California; Review: Found this hotel on TripAdvisor for a mid-week romantic get-a-way. It was perfect! The location is great - right next to Las Brisas Restaurant on the bluff above the ocean, right on the sidewalk path to the Main Beach in Laguna. The room was lovely - we did splurge on the Oceanview Balcony King - well worth the view. There were even a pair of binoculars in the room. Loved falling asleep to the sound of the waves and having our coffee on the balcony. The hotel staff was friendly, and helpful with suggestions of restaurants & nearby hiking. And a wonderful bonus is the evening wine reception on the rooftop bar, and cookies/milk in the lobby in the evening. We hope to return again - both for a couples get away, as well as to bring the family back to stay sometime. A lovely hotel & fantastic location!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fairfield Inn Visalia Sequoia; City: Visalia California; Review: We stayed one night on the way to Sequoia The staff was very friendly, and the hotel clean and nice. Rooms are a little small -but we still managed with a family of 5 in a King/sofa bed room. It's about 45 minutes to the Sequoia entrance, and not far off the 99 freeway. They do have an indoor pool. We didn't use it but it looked clean and nice - several families were enjoying it late I the evening when we arrived. Nice continental breakfast with the basics. Overall a good choice for the overnight we were looking for at a good AAA rate.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lucinda s Country Inn; City: Fair Play California; Review: We had a wonderful stay at this lovely and well appointed bed and breakfast! We travelled with a few other couples, and found this a perfect home base for wine tasting in the Amador and Fair Play area. The Inn has 4 large rooms in the main house (2 upstairs, 2 downstairs), and also a separate cottage next door. All of the rooms are beautifully decorated and comfortable - each with it's own theme. (I think the rooms in the lodge are nicer than the cottage, and are very private and quiet - but if you want a separate "house" all to yourself, the cottage is nice and has a little porch with it's own bbq). The main house is lovely with a beautiful Great Room & Fireplace upstairs. The hosts were friendly and helpful, and we enjoyed visiting with them during the Wine & Appetizer hour, as well as at breakfast in the morning. They made us all feel very welcome. Breakfast is delicious - home made and a nice variety - varied each day. I'd definitely recommend this inn for a couples weekend away, or a group traveling together. If you enjoy wine - ask the hosts for their recommendations! They were very helpful. We hope to return again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hero (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Friday Night Lights (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Collateral (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Village (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Double Jeopardy (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The General's Daughter (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: King Arthur (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ray (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sideways (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Adrienne Vittadini Footwear Women's Tino Boot; Brand: ADRIENNE VITTADINI; Review: Love the shoes. So happy with my purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amy Byer Girls' Big Stripe Knit Dress with Pleated Skirt; Brand: ; Review: My niece loves this dress especially the necklace; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: HOVEOX Women's Plus Size Padded Bandeau Strapless Bras Stretch Tube Top; Brand: HOVEOX; Review: Great product. Love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tommy Hilfiger Big Boys' Stretch Plaid Shirt with Straight Tie; Brand: ; Review: Great shirt for school; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Miusol Women's Retro Flare Lace Split Side Evening Black Maxi Dress; Brand: ; Review: Great looking dress for the Price!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dan Smith Men's Fashion Series Polyester Slim Ties For Husband-5 Slim Necktie With Free Gift Box; Brand: Dan Smith; Review: My son loves these as a part of his uniform.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: French Toast School Uniform Boys Long Sleeve Oxford Shirt; Brand: ; Review: Great uniform shirt; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: adidas Kids' Pro Model J Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Great product. My nephew loves it!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Classroom Big Boys' Long Sleeve Oxford Shirt; Brand: Classroom Uniforms; Review: My son loves the shirt; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Boys' 510 Skinny Fit Jeans; Brand: ; Review: Great fit for my son; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TRURENDI Women's Long Sleeve V-Neck Pleated Bodysuit Blouse Top Classic Shirt; Brand: TRURENDI; Review: Love it. A great fit and quality!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zakka Republic 6pcs Mens Fashion Business Skinny Necktie Tie Mixed Set (BTS-02A); Brand: Zakka Republic; Review: Great ties, my son uses them as a part of his school uniform; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Case Logic Display Sleeve LAPS-113, 13.3-Inch, Black; Brand: Case Logic; Review: Perfect sleeve for a MacBook Pro 13". I keep mine in it constantly, knowing that any minor issues will be taken care of. It's just thick enough to provide protection, but thin enough to easily fit in my backpack and not be a hassle.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SanDisk 8GB Cruzer Force Flash Drive - USB 2.0 - SDCZ71-008G-B35; Brand: SanDisk; Review: Very small flash drive with great storage at a great price. However, the first one of these that I purchased (through Amazon) was defective in size. It would not fit into any of my Macs USB ports, nor my roommate's Lenevo. I returned it and was promptly shipped a new one that fits and works perfectly. While the process of getting it fixed was made as painless as possible, it's still too much work to do for a flash drive.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SanDisk 8GB Cruzer Force Flash Drive - USB 2.0 - SDCZ71-008G-B35; Brand: SanDisk; Review: Very small flash drive with great storage at a great price. However, the first one of these that I purchased (through Amazon) was defective in size. It would not fit into any of my Macs USB ports, nor my roommate's Lenevo. I returned it and was promptly shipped a new one that fits and works perfectly. While the process of getting it fixed was made as painless as possible, it's still too much work to do for a flash drive.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Marshall Stanmore Wireless Speaker, Brown (4090931); Brand: Marshall; Review: I can't turn this thing up past 5 for fear that my ears will bleed. The sound is so crisp and clear and loud, definitely worth the money. I've had zero issues with Bluetooth so far.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aux cable, ITANDA 3-pack 4ft Hi-Fi Sound Quality 3.5mm Nylon Braided Auxiliary Audio cable, Aux Cord for Car/Home Stereo,; Brand: ITD ITANDA; Review: This is a real solid cable that allows for great quality. The little stainless steel lookin parts may need to be screwed a little tighter, but it's not a big deal; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Joia Do Mar Resort; City: Calangute North Goa District Goa; Review: I stayed as a couple here from 8-11th March 2014. I had done the booking via Yatra.com and the best thing I liked was "Pay @hotel" deal and Yatra - Free Breakfast. Since, it was my first trip to Goa with my hubby, I wanted it to be our best one. I called up Mr. Wasim for verification of pay@hotel deal before booking on yatra.com and I must say I got more than what I had expected. The main reason I selected Joia Do Mar is because of its location. It is right on the Calangute-Baga road. So, both the beaches were almost equidistant. We checked in around 11am (before the usual check-in time of 12pm) but Mr. Michael (the manager) welcomed us with his warm hospitality. We stayed in D-23 (on the 2nd floor). The rooms are clean and ambient as shown in the images. The attached balcony is a plus point. The bed linen was clean and the bedsheets were changed regularly. The bathroom was sparkling clean. The room had other amenities like- T.V., phone, small refridgerator, and a wardrobe which were very useful. Our hotel room was situated near the swimming pool. The pool was clean and it has a pool-bar too. Though, it was not live during our stay. We spent the Friday night wandering near the Calangute beach. Not sure about our dinner, My Husband and I decided to dine in at the resort when we returned. So, we called up the resort (while still at the beach) that we might be a bit late for dinner and would like room service. The chef agreed and even though the resort's kitchen was working till 12am they waited for us till 1am. We were very pleased to know the hotel staff cared for their guests and the room service promptly brought us our mid-night meal in no-time when we returned back. The food was good and up-to the mark. The next morning, the buffet- breakfast was good. My Suggestion: Can include a few more items on the breakfast menu. We were all set to explore Goa. So, Mr. Michael promptly arranged for a rented Activa on our request. Also, he guided us about different places we could visit (Churches in South/Old Goa, Aguada Fort, Baga Saturday Bazaar). We were looking forward to go to Tito's and Mambo's but that's when Mr. Michael suggested we visit Club Cabana (as the crowd is good here unlike Tito's/Mambo's). We spent the day visiting South Goa Churches, beaches and in the evening we visited the Baga Saturday Bazaar. We had the best night of our life at the Club Cabana. You must visit this place if you're going to Goa. When we were checking out, Mr. Michael arranged a cab for us to Mapusa Bus Stand as we were getting late to catch our bus. All and all, Thanks to Joia Do Mar hotel staff for making my first trip to Goa the best trip of my life. I will be travelling again to Goa in 2015 and am going to stay; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ruturaj Inn; City: Alibaug Raigad District Maharashtra; Review: After spending quite some time checking various hotels and resorts in Alibaug, I finally found Ruturaj Inn. Great location, great food, great service. We checked in an hour early but were accomodated with friendly reception staff. Overall a relaxed weekend away from the city.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: FabHotel Devanshi Inn Navi Mumbai; City: Navi Mumbai Maharashtra; Review: Decent hotel with free parking space, free WiFi, food is very expensive and additional taxes on top of it. Location not that friendly as its situated in the middle of a truck terminal. No nearby attractions or places to visit. Hence, not recommended for families. They don't provide basic toiletries or clean towels. Room service/housekeeping is very dull. Hence, in the priced paid, it feels your money is wasted. Also, the reception staff is bit unwelcoming and beware they might add extra charges to your bill, so keep a check on it. Overall - Better for solo male travellers or day stays only.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lonavala Holiday Homes; City: Lonavala Pune District Maharashtra; Review: Overall a decent stay but rooms could have been more clean. There were all amenities in the room but the overall infrastructure of the rooms needs improvement. Location is easily locatable if NUSI resort, Valvan is used a landmark. There’s no intercom in the room. For every single thing, you’d need to call up the reception. Food is okay. You can get more options outside. Didn’t use the pool, but isn’t that great. For a price I paid, could have got a more clean room. Mosquitoes are a big problem if you don’t get a mosquito repellent. There are only ground plus one made built-ups. Go for rooms on the upper floor. There’s no view you can get from the balcony. All rooms are facing each other. Overall verdict- go for this only if you’re concerned with budget and not keen on hygiene.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: JK Hotels Delight Foods; City: Mahabaleshwar Satara District Maharashtra; Review: Booked this hotel through MakeMyTrip on last minute. Value for money and great hospitality and customer service. Stayed for a short weekend break. Rooms are clean, maintained and spacious with balcony seating area. Location is perfect as it’s on the main road. Their in-house restaurant serves has delicious veg and non-veg food and is decently priced. Room service is very good. Parking is available free of charge. There’s a small play area for children. Would recommend this hotel definately you’re looking for a short stay with decent facilities. They have indoor board games like Ludo, chess which the guests can use whenever they like. Thanks to Mr. Piyush and the staff of J & K motel for making our stay comfortable and taking care of our requests. Would definately visit next time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Nature's Path Organic Chewy Granola Bars, Sunny Hemp Plus, 7.4 Ounce Box (Pack of 6); Brand: Nature's Path; Review: YUM! YUM! YUMMY! These are so good! We prefer these to candy bars!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Annie's Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks, Variety Pack, 24 Pouches, 0.8 oz Each - Packaging May Vary; Brand: Annie's Homegrown; Review: These are yummy and compared to other gummies much better for the kiddos!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Annie's Homegrown Organic Arthur Loops, 15.0 Ounce Tins (Pack of 12); Brand: Annie's Homegrown; Review: My fave from Annies. They sauce is sorta of tomato soup-like but SO SO yummy!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Annie's Gluten Free Chewy Granola Bars, Oatmeal Cookie Bars, 4.9 oz (5 Count); Brand: Annie's Homegrown; Review: A good option to add to the lunch pail for our kiddo.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Butternut Mountain Farm, 100% Pure Maple Syrup From Vermont, Grade A, Amber Color, Rich Taste, All Natural, Easy Pour; Brand: Butternut Mountain Farm; Review: Tastes great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Spean Lodge; City: Spean Bridge Lochaber Scottish Highlands Scotland; Review: This lovely and spacious period home dating from the 1820s Spean Lodge proved to be a real winner. We were lucky enough to be able to upgrade to the family room instead of the twin room we had originally booked and the additional space was much appreciated for our three-night stay. Glen is an enthusiastic and entertaining host who takes an interest in his guests and we enjoyed our stay immensely. Spean Lodge is close to all the major attractions in the area including the famous Ban Nevis, the Nevis Range gondola, Glen Nevis, Fort William and, for those interested in walking or hiking, many local walking trails. I would highly recommend Spean Lodge to anyone looking for accommodation in this region. Spean Bridge is a nice quiet and relaxing alternative to staying in Fort William and there are a fair number of good eating places nearby. Spean Lodge is definitely a cut-above your average B & B and I would certainly stay there again. Thanks to Glen and Suzanne for a great stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tigh Na Sith Guest House; City: Lochinver Caithness and Sutherland Scottish Highlands Scotland; Review: If there is a B & B in Scotland that is better than Tigh-na-Sith I have still to find it; several have come close but none have bettered our experience at this lovely, modern guest house in Lochinver. I can only repeat what previous contributors have written and add to that my own praises of Nick and Patrycja, who have certainly come up with a winning formula. We stayed for two nights and enjoyed ourselves so much that I was seriously considering cancelling the accommodation I had booked at our next stop so that I could extend our stay! Apart from the lovely, warm welcome we received from Nick and Patrycja and the amazing breakfasts, it was the attention to the small details that made our stay special; we lacked for nothing. In a five week tour of Scotland staying in both self-catering accommodation and B & Bs Tigh-na-Sith stood out as something special and after two nights we left feeling as if we had just spent a couple of days with friends. For anyone looking for accommodation in the Lochinver area this is certainly the place to stay. If I could rate this as 6 stars I would. The extra star is for the hosts!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Broadwater Mariner Resort; City: Geraldton Western Australia; Review: Having never visited Geradlton before it was very much pot luck in choosing accommodation but the Broadwater Mariner served my purpose beautifully. I booked a studio and was delighted to find a well-appointed and spacious room with a patio. While the studio was tucked away in a corner of the complex it proved to be a very quiet spot and I heard nothing of my neighbours in my 4 night stay (which is always a bonus!) I thought the price was reasonable given that a simple double room at a motel in town was going for $110 a night, when for not too much more I could have my own apartment in a secure, gated complex. The studio had reverse cycle air-conditioning and it kept the unit nice and toasty in some very wet and windy weather; also fitted out with a washing machine, fridge and microwave it was basic, but perfect for my needs. If I was planning a longer stay or was intending to cook my own meals I would go for a one-bedroom unit instead. The unit was very clean and the bed was comfortable. The downside to my stay was that there was no wi-fi and the Internet connection was by cable which was useless for my tablet. There were also 2 iPod/iPhone docks, one on the clock and one on the stereo system but they have the old-style connector and are no good if you have an iPhone later than the iPhone 4. Neither of these were huge issues for me but for some people they might be. The parking is a bit tight and on two nights when I got back to the unit I could barely fit my car into the space left to me by my neighbour who happened to have a huge 4WD. I witnessed another guest with a trailer have a very difficult time trying to manoeuvre with a trailer in the narrow space between parking bays. Overall I was happy with the amenities and enjoyed my stay. The Broadwater Mariner is conveniently located just a few minutes north of town and is just across the road from the beach. I would definitely stay there again on the basis of this experience.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Waldorf Geraldton Serviced Apartments; City: Geraldton Western Australia; Review: Six months ago I stayed at this resort complex at the Broadwater Mariner Apartments, and I was a little confused when I discovered that on booking my most recent trip to Geraldton that The Waldorf Apartments had appeared in the same location. To cut a long story short the complex remains the same but some units are managed by Broadwater Mariner and some by Waldorf Apartments and the two are separate entities sharing the same space. This time I booked with Waldorf Apartments as they had an opening special which offered quite a saving on room rates. I stayed in a Premium Studio which was, in effect, a roomy apartment with lounge and dining area, kitchenette with separate bedroom and bathroom. Depending on whether your apartment is ground floor or first floor there is also a private courtyard or balcony. Although this was only a flying visit I would have no hesitation in returning and staying longer. The apartment was beautifully maintained, tastefully decorated, roomy, air-conditioned and supplied with the basics in crockery, cutlery and appliances. While the studio rooms have limited cooking facilities, as there is only a microwave, I believe the bigger apartments have a stove. A combination washing machine/dryer is also a bonus. The only downside for me was the lack of wifi/internet connection. I believe this is going to change in the near future but for my visit I was obliged to connect to the internet using the personal hot spot on my mobile phone. If not having wifi is a deal-breaker for you I would suggest that you check with Waldorf Apartments first to see if the wifi is operational. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Waldorf Apartments. It was quiet and the room seemed well insulated against noise although I suspect that when the resort is full that it could be otherwise. The bed was comfortable and there were plenty of pillows for those who like more than one. The resort is conveniently located on the northern edge of town on the corner of Chapman Road/Mabel Street and is a gated complex with secure parking. Checking in was an automated process via a wall-mounted kiosk and was quick and easy. Key return was equally simple with keycard and remote being dropped into a collection box on exit. I would recommend the Waldorf Apartments to anyone on a short or long stay in Geraldton. It is not the cheapest option but given that a motel room in Geraldton costs almost as much per night as a serviced apartment, I know which I would choose; you certainly get a lot more for your money as well as the peace-of-mind of staying in a gated complex. The Waldorf Apartments only missed a five-star rating because of the lack of wifi/internet connection, otherwise I couldn't fault it and will definitely be staying again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Howe Keld; City: Keswick Lake District Cumbria England; Review: My second stay at Howe Keld was just as good as the first in spite of a change of ownership between visits. The rooms are large, comfortable and impeccably maintained and, although I was on the top floor, the water pressure was fantastic. The hosts are friendly and welcoming and nothing is too much trouble. Breakfast is very well catered and plentiful with both a hot breakfast and buffet-style available. I love this B & B and it will always be my first choice when staying in Keswick.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dirty Bottles; City: Alnwick Northumberland England; Review: Stumbled across this little gem after visiting Alnwick Castle and strolling into town for a late lunch. The menu was inviting enough and with a good selection of vegetarian options to draw us in; the intriguing story of the cursed bottles and the general appearance of the bar/restaurant sealed the deal. We were not disappointed. The food was excellent (and plentiful), the staff were friendly and attentive, and there was a good selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. There is even the option for self-serve beer and cider on tap (via a pre-paid card system) and, for those preferring to use technology to order, there is also iPad ordering on certain tables. We were pleasantly surprised at the cost considering we had drinks in addition to our meal and I would certainly recommend The Dirty Bottles to anyone looking for a great meal in Alnwick.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Billesley Manor Hotel; City: Stratford upon Avon Warwickshire England; Review: Lovely gardens and atmospheric manor house close to Stratford-upon-Avon with friendly staff and an excellent breakfast menu. I recently stayed for three nights having selected Billesley Manor Hotel to be close to Stratford and within an easy drive of Leavesdon and the Warner Brothers Studio. On arrival I was told I had been upgraded to a deluxe room which was appreciated but I would have preferred a standard room if I could have accessed wi-fi! My friend who stayed for one night and had a standard room at the other end of the hotel was able to connect but, until the very last morning when I was leaving, I was obliged to use my phone data. I always check that wi-fi internet is available when I choose my accommodation so this was inconvenient. The bed was comfortable and the room satisfactory but I was rather disconcerted by the obviously placed rodent bait sitting next to the TV; there was also no TV remote so perhaps the rodents ran away with it. The bathroom was huge and had a plentiful supply of towels along with shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. In addition to the tea and coffee, still and sparkling bottled water was also supplied and replenished on a daily basis however there was no fridge. I was also situated above the bar/restaurant area with outdoor tables below my second floor window - the area that smokers and mobile phone users tended to congregate. Fortunately the rain kept them indoors most of the time otherwise I would not have been able to have my windows open at all. I also found it quite noisy and was awakened at 11pm one night by loud voices nearby. The hotel is a rabbit-warren of stairways, corridors and fire doors and it took me till my last morning to find my way unerringly to the dining room! A detailed map would have been a help, or at least a staff member to show the way on arrival. The stairs can be a bit of an obstacle with a heavy suitcase, especially some of the narrow ones. I ate in the restaurant for one of the evenings I stayed and the food was good, the staff friendly and efficient. I had booked a table for 7pm but then was delayed driving back from Warner Brothers Studios and did not get back to the hotel until 7.30pm and had been unable to get in touch to amend my booking. To their credit, the staff were totally unfazed by both my non-appearance at 7pm and my last-minute request to rebook for 8pm and made the change with a smile. My biggest complaint would have to be the parking. There is parking but there is not enough for the amount of people using the car park, as there are not only hotel guests but those using the spa facilities and those who come for the afternoon teas. As a result when I arrived I had to drive around several times before I finally parked in an area that wasn't actually designated; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dakota Edinburgh; City: South Queensferry Edinburgh Scotland; Review: Recently stayed for four nights at The Dakota Edinburgh in South Queensferry at the end of my holiday and simply loved this hotel. It was quiet, with very little noise filtering through even though I was not far from the lifts and part of my stay included the traditionally busy Friday and Saturday nights. The bed was very comfortable, there was a large screen TV with a reasonable selection of channels. A desk and chair, and a comfortable armchair meant there was room to relax without having to sit on the bed. Room service was available but I did not utilise this during my stay, nor did I use the bar and grill or the gym, so I can’t comment on the food, the service or the facilities of the gym. Check-in and check-out were both fast and simple, and as I was checking out at 5.30am it was nice to have reception manned 24 hours. Coffee, tea and other staples (including bottled water and yummy shortbread) was regularly resupplied. The room was spotless and I would definitely stay at The Dakota again should I return to Edinburgh. It is a short drive to the airport and there is a shuttle bus available for booking Monday to Friday; unfortunately this service is not available on a weekend or for very early flights. There is ample free parking at the hotel, and South Queensferry and the three bridges across the Forth are within a short walk of the hotel (much easier to walk into the town than fight for parking in the narrow streets!) For those who wish to visit Edinburgh without taking a car, there is a regular bus service into the city which can be caught from the bus stop in the Tesco car park just a three minute walk from the hotel. Nearby are Frankie & Benny’s, Burger King, with supermarket and fuel at Tesco. I would certainly recommend the Dakota to anyone looking for a quality hotel conveniently near the airport but not so close that you are in the flight path of every plane taking off and landing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rose Crown Hotel; City: Guildford Swan Valley Greater Perth Western Australia; Review: Visited on July 6th 2018 on a day trip from Geraldton. The Rose and Crown was one of the sites participating in the the Wedding Expo that was being held at various locations across the Swan Valley (and, incidentally, the confirmed venue for my daughter’s wedding next year), so I took the opportunity to view the set-up of the reception area before the big day. After checking out the wedding-related displays and the area where the ceremony itself will be held it was definitely time for some lunch. The place was bustling but we snagged a table for our party of five in the outdoor area and ordered at the counter. Drinks have to be ordered separately at the bar. Given that it was a very busy day the service was pretty good although it took a while for our food to appear. One person ordered pizza and that came first, then there was about another ten minute wait before the next two meals came out and a further ten minutes before the last two were served. The food was hot and tasty. I had the frittata and it was just perfect! No complaints from anyone regarding the meals. The price was reasonable and I would definitely eat there again. Not only because of the food but also because of the atmosphere. Wonderfully relaxed and a good mix of clientele from all age groups. Well done, Rose and Crown!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Lily's Dark Chocolate Chips- 1x9 OZ; Brand: Lily`s Sweets; Review: FIRST TIME EVER CHIPS WERE NOT COMPLETELY MELTED UPON ARRIVAL.... ACTUALLY GOT TO USE CHIPS IN MY RECIPE FOR ONCE. THANKS.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anthony's Erythritol Granules, Made in the USA (3lb), Gluten-Free, Natural Sweetener; Brand: ; Review: PRICE IS RIGHT; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Designer Whey Premium Natural 100% Whey Protein, Purely Unflavored, 2 Pound; Brand: Designer Protein; Review: GOOD STUFF; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Designer Whey Premium Natural 100% Whey Protein, Summer Strawberry, 12 Ounce; Brand: Designer Protein; Review: GOOD STUFF; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Designer Whey Premium Natural 100% Whey Protein, Vanilla Almond, 1.9 lb; Brand: Designer Protein; Review: GOOD STUFF; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Red Line (50204) SAE 75W80 API GL-4 Manual Transmission and Transaxle Lubricant - 1 Quart; Brand: Red Line; Review: This was the second time I have used the product in two separate vehicles with manual transmissions. On one, it was a high mileage car that probably never saw a transmission oil change. It made a heck of a difference in the shifting smoothness, and eliminated the synchro mesh noise altogether. On the second car, it was a lower mileage BMW, but the shifter was a bit notchy. It has been about a week since I did the fluid replacement, but there is a significant difference already. I am impressed and sold on Red Line products!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hopkins 11930MI FloTool Heavy Duty Wheel Chocks, Set of 2; Brand: Hopkins; Review: The chocks are lightweight and one would think they are flimsy. I tried to roll back onto them in neutral, on my inclined driveway and they did not budge. So unless you put the car in reverse and drive over it, you are safe!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BMW (99-10) e39 e46 e60 etc Gas Fuel Cap +tether GENUINE oem; Brand: BLAU (CRP); Review: Fits like a BMW glove:); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Robinair (48134A) R134 Brass Manifold, Hose Set and Service Couplers; Brand: Robinair; Review: The quality of the product is great, for the price you get what you pay for. There are much cheaper ones out there, but they have much less functions, such as the valve at both ends of the hoses. The only thing I wish for was that it came with some sort of hard case to keep it safe in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Optimum (NRWW2012C) No Rinse Wash & Wax - 8 oz.; Brand: Optimum; Review: This product, and its predecessor (No rinse wash and shine) are great products. Previously I had the NRWS and I was blown away by the product's usefulness. During a move, the bottle got punctured somehow and leaked out before I noticed. :(((. So I thought I'd try the NRWW, as this was the next generation. So, I do love the product and it works like a charm; gets off a lot of grime and bug residue without any effort at all. My only issue (and its more of a personal gripe) is that depending on concentration mixture of product and water, it leaves a white 'wax-like' residue that needs to be re-wiped. With the previous product I could use the most concentrated mixture for any and all purposes, i.e. a cleaning wipe, engine detail, trim detailing, etc. With this its a bit more sensitive on the amount mixed with water. So with the same concentration I had to go and wipe off the vehicle again. Ultimately I guess I'd have to adjust the concentration mixture for "optimum" results!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FJC 6905 1.5 CFM Vacuum Pump; Brand: FJC; Review: While this vacuum pump worked as it should, I purchased this over others because of the name associated with quality A/C products. When it arrived it seemed to be a generic vacuum pump that I could have picked up from the local HF store. But overall, the pump did its duty and worked great. I just hope it lasts.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Torin Big Red Tool Organizer: Magnetic Caddy Hex Bit Rack; Brand: Torin; Review: This works just like it should. It fits all 1/4" bits. Nice and sturdy. Would purchase again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mann-Filter HU 925/4 X Metal-Free Oil Filter; Brand: Mann Filter; Review: OEM, what else to say!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ACDelco 16ACD Clear Vision Wiper Blade with Wear Indicator, 16 in (Pack of 1); Brand: ACDelco; Review: Has been working great, especially with rain-x.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Punthill Brisbane; City: Brisbane Brisbane Region Queensland; Review: Stayed three days - well maintained - great quality bed linen and everything new that needs to be. They have done a great job here and its small enough to be personal Great location - quiet Great cafe in foyer Jak+Hill Exceptional; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thredbo Alpine Hotel; City: Thredbo Village Kosciuszko National Park New South Wales; Review: I love this hotel - having first stayed here when I was 6 yrs old - Im now 50. It has had many ups and downs over the years and I think it deserves a whole classification of its own. I hear its about to change management which would be a shame to a more groovy hotel operator which could wreck it. Things to consider - its a 1960s fantasy of what an Alpine Hotel should be - all timber and local rock interior/exterior and that Pool what fun - its just for show! With that the rooms are small and crap shower over the baths and small windows. The reception and its classic revolving door and Open bar and Classic hooded fire place (no longer a real fire as it was originally) are also part of the fun. Its run by Rydges which is totally out of their depth in realizing the potential of this property with Crews of staff that work shifts and do all sorts of jobs from reception to waitressing and housekeeping - more attune to operating a backpackers! Nothing personalized here but its friendly and cheerful and they mean well. Some of these staff have great potential but its not their fault they have mediocre management. The atmosphere is more that of a family Ski Club rather hotel and that really works in Thredbo - as half the accommodation in the town is private ski clubs. Its family friendly fun. During my last stay we arrived on a Saturday night to see the rarely used Pool area set up with a DJ and a singer and had a Dance Party Atmosphere. It was sponsored by a Hot Cider Company. The guest where a mix of hotel guests and everyone from the Village as well as numerous Ski instructors who had been given free drink vouchers by the Cider Company - it went from 3pm to 6pm. It was on alternate nights so as to not upset the Hotel Guests too much. The area was furnished with outdoor sofas and Fire pits scattered around as well as promotional furniture from a French Champagne company. Great fun - more of it I say. I could see how some hotel guests might not like this but its not every day and don't be a stick in the mud! Bar service was charmingly hopeless and totally overwhelmed by the free drink vouchers. $4 Marshmallows to toast on the fires a cute idea. The main Bar is OK but could be better managed and i know many people who go there would pay double for cocktails and decent bar food if they could get that together! I have had bad experiences at the hotel restaurants in the past as it utility like other rydges property's and you don't go there for gourmet food. Another lost opportunity but it goes with the ambiance. Only big fail is the inclusive Breakfast - its straight out of the 80s. Lots of mediocre food choices and I have to wonder do people really want that. Hot; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Lindrum Melbourne MGallery Collection; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: I have stayed at the Lindrum on Business on numerous occasions yet this was a personal visit. They changed owners to Accor Hotels MGallery collection and I was concerned that it may have lost its personal touch. Not so - staff were friendly and attentive and the hotel atmosphere of a luxury small hotel has been maintained. I have a drinks in my room and ordered a Charcuterie plate from room service that was of a good quality except the leg ham had be substituted with Soccer Ball Ham. I didn't complain until the following day and I mentioned it at checkout. The senior staff member over heard me mention this and promptly asked about my concern and immediately credited it to my account. I was very impressed with this prompt resolution of a minor problem. Great to be treated like a valued customer so will certainly stay again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sebel Residence Chatswood; City: Chatswood Willoughby Greater Sydney New South Wales; Review: I booked one night at this property on my way back from Europe. My regular apartment was being casually let.The apartments are OK - decor is dated. They had used a smoke smell concealer spray in my room which made me feel sick - why do hotels use this stuff its disgusting, I checked in at 9pm on a saturday and on sunday asked for a late checkout at 1pm. They said emphatically NO. The house keeper was waiting at my door at 11.45. As its a busy time I paid $230 for this room some flexabilty around the check out would have been appreciated. Will not recommend or stay again; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Actual; City: Barcelona Catalonia; Review: This is a very stylish well professionally managed property. I have stayed at this property on 5 visits over the last 2 years. The hotel is charming and really quiet. It is surrounded by much more expensive properties and it shares the same attitude (at half the price) the decor is current and very well maintained. Some of the rooms have views over the Place de Gracias. This is a fun part of BCN surrounded by international stores and elegant hotels and restaurants. The staff are attentive without being over bearing and nothing is too much trouble . Breakfast was simple and fresh - delightful traditional Spanish pastries and all a selection of meats and fresh fruit - very fresh every day. This property has an exceptional standard and a real commitment to quality in everything they do.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury; City: Adelaide Greater Adelaide South Australia; Review: I found the reservation staff at this property to be very helpful - in particular Charlotte who assisted me with the right room configuration for me and save me $400 on what I was going to pay. The property is very conveniently located near the town hall and central market; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Proctor-Silex 26500Y Durable Belgian Waffle Baker; Brand: Proctor Silex; Review: Use this almost weekly. It's great for a few waffles at a time and stores compactly. No need to spend more or buy something bigger.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vidalia Chop Wizard 67366, Large, Green; Brand: VIDALIA CHOP WIZARD; Review: Loved this thing at first but it cracked the 1st week I used it. It still works, but is a bit wonky. Disappointing that it's that fragile.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: AUCH 1Pcs Multifunctional Vegetable/Fruit/Melon Yarn Cutter/Slicer/Chopper; Brand: Auch; Review: Loved this thing at first but it cracked the 1st week I used it. It still works, but is a bit wonky. Disappointing that it's that fragile.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: SONGMICS Bamboo Shoe Rack 4-Tier 12-16 Pairs Entryway Shoe Shelf Storage Organizer, Ideal for Hallway Bathroom Garden Natural ULBS94N; Brand: SONGMICS; Review: Look great, happy with it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Firefly Refillable Liquid Bliss Petite Oil Lamp Candle; Brand: Firelfy; Review: These are great for a small area. Very cute.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: URBANE O2 Insulated Water Bottle,Leakproof 18/8 Stainless Steel Insulated Mug Keep Coffee Hot or Cold for hours，17 Ounce (White); Brand: URBANE O2; Review: Excellent coffee mug. Comes in a cute wine-bottle like cardboard tube. Does not leak. Fits in my car's holder easily. Keeps coffee hot & fresh for A LONG TIME. Good for iced drinks, too. Not usually one to write reviews about mugs but I really recommend this one!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Country music's biggest scandals; Abstract: From Wynonna Judd's husband's arrest to the Dixie Chicks' vent about George W. Bush, relive country's biggest scandals.; Category: music
Title: Celebs turning 60 in 2019; Abstract: See Marie Osmond, Jason Alexander, Emma Thompson, Simon Cowell and more stars who were born in 1959.; Category: entertainment
Title: Candace Cameron-Bure Hit the Red Carpet in a Seriously Sparkly Top; Abstract: This might be the Hallmark star's most dazzling outfit to date.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are taking a royal respite; Abstract: Starting next week, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are going AWOL.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and Prince William Are Set to Reunite This Week!; Abstract: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate, William Reunite for Remembrance Week; Category: lifestyle
Title: The Most Amazing Photos of a Young Dolly Parton; Abstract: The country star's look has evolved dramatically over the years.; Category: music | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Mud Pie Baby-girls Newborn Lily Pad Seersucker Flower Hat; Brand: Mud Pie; Review: This is the cutest sun hat ever! There isn't anything I don't like about it. Looking foreward to taking my baby girl out on sunny days. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aeromax Jr. Astronaut Backpack, White, with NASA patches; Brand: Aeromax; Review: My 5yr old approves and so did the neighborhood! This was part of his costume for halloween and everyone loves it. He used this instead of a treat bag. So far its holding up well and he uses it now to store all of his space play stuff :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fruit of the Loom Little Boys' The Avengers Brief; Brand: ; Review: How much can you say about underwear? lol Having not tried them on myself I can only say that they fit my son well and he thinks the Avengers are awesome!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leveret Men's Fitted Christmas Pajama Set Top & Pants 100% Cotton (Size X-Small-X Large) (5 Toddler, Red & Navy); Brand: ; Review: My son loves them! They are cute, comfy, and fit him perfectly. I have gotten two sets so far and plan to get more I am very happy with this product. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BONAMART Baby Girls Kids Toddler Princess Hair Bands Hairband Lace Accessories Flower Newborn - 8 Years Old S-L; Brand: Bonamart; Review: Its a very cue design but was poorly done with nothing more than a hot glue gun. It arrived on time as shown but I don't think she will get many wears out of it before it falls apart.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Ottolenghi: The Cookbook; Author: Visit Amazon's Yotam Ottolenghi Page; Review: A bit hard to get some of the food stuffs here in Australia, but my husband has been trialing some of there on the family and OMG, WOW. Yummmm...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mrs Fry's Diary; Author: Stephen Fry; Review: I love Stephen Fry's humour and this was no exception. It was a little silly, but I liked that too. When are we going to get installment 2>; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jerusalem: A Cookbook; Author: Visit Amazon's Yotam Ottolenghi Page; Review: There are quite a few simple but tastey recipes in here. A shame there are not list explaining what some of the ingredients are - all internationally sold cook books should have a section on names used around the world as the few I know are : eggplant = aubergine and catelope = rock melon ! However, if you like really flavoursome food, go for it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bill the Bastard; Author: Perry Roland; Review: Well, this was recommended by people we met while travelling and I am so glad I took their advice and bougt it. It appealled to me because I love horses, but also because the account of the war was from such an unusual and personal angle. Normally I would never read 'war stories' but this was so much more. A great read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Witches' Brew; Author: Visit Amazon's Terry Brooks Page; Review: The original three in this series were brilliant - new concept and so well written. This was right up there with the best. I recommend reading the whole series to make the bedt of this even though each book can be read individually.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Tangle Box: A Magic Kingdom of Landover Novel (The Magic Kingdom of Landover); Author: Visit Amazon's Terry Brooks Page; Review: Full of characters you can get into and twists and turns in the 'magic' world Terry created about 30 years ago. One to read, but do it in chronological order for the best effect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Princess of Landover; Author: Visit Amazon's Terry Brooks Page; Review: While it is a good read, it does not have the oomps and story line that Terry usually has in his books. Felt like you were struggling to make it up...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Interlude In Death; Author: Visit Amazon's J. D. Robb Page; Review: I am actually a science fantasy reader, but then was given a JD Robb 'In Death' book for a present and am hooked. I recommend you start at the beginning - in order to understand the relationship between Rourke and Dallas - but then any read order is ok. Just don't read lots of books one after the other or you may become disillutioned about the human race.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad, Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 2; Author: Visit Amazon's Dav Pilkey Page; Review: I have to say I have not read it, but my 10 year old son has become a reader because of these books. I truely don't care how well they are written, anything that gets a non reading 10 year old to not put a book/kindle down, has to be worth the cost!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Book of Elements: Magic & Tech; Author: Inc. Activision Publishing; Review: I have to say I have not read it, but my 10 year old son has become a reader because of these Skylander books. I truely don't care how well they are written, anything that gets a non reading 10 year old to not put a book/kindle down, has to be worth the cost!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mary Stewart's Magnificent Arthurian Saga/Boxed Set; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Stewart Page; Review: As a King Arthue fan, I read these about 30 years ago - until the books fell to bits. I was so happy to be able to buy it (especially so cheap) as a kindle book. Now even my 10 year old son is getting into King Arthur! No wonder they bsased the movie (with Sam Neil as Merlin) on this book. Mary Stewart, I love your books but these are just the best!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Super Diaper Baby 2: The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers; Author: Visit Amazon's Dav Pilkey Page; Review: I have to say I have not read it, but my 10 year old son has become a reader because of these books. I truely don't care how well they are written, anything that gets a non reading 10 year old to not put a book/kindle down, has to be worth the cost!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shop of Shades and Secrets; Author: Visit Amazon's Colleen Gleason Page; Review: Don't know how or why I got this one, but I actually enjoyed it very much. Better than Mills and Boon, but easy to read and good when you just want to escape from the realities of the day. Characters get under your skin.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dog Farts: Pooter's Revenge (The Disgusting Adventures of Milo Snotrocket); Author: Visit Amazon's J.B. O'Neil Page; Review: I am a 10 year old and i fart a lot it is the forth best book in the world !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wayfarers; Author: Mary Stewart Doubleday Cutting; Review: Bought it beacuse I thoufght it was someone else, Couldn't get into it and it was not the first of this author I could not read.... On reflection I would not recommend it...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tongue Twisters for Kids; Author: Visit Amazon's Riley Weber Page; Review: This book has kept the whole family - and many unsuspecting aquantances - laughing for hours. What a great way to get 'non reading' kids reading and families to sha.re something. Worth it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Easy Camping Recipes from The Outdoor Princess: 33 Simple Camping Recipes - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Kimberly Eldredge Page; Review: Have actually trie some of these and they do end up ok (but in Australia, we do not have every vegetable canned so getting some of the ingredients is difficult - I also don't know what some are!) I would not use thes as an every day, but as short turn camping food, it works.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: White Tiger: Beautiful Pictures & Interesting Facts Children Book About White Tigers; Author: Visit Amazon's Deutsche Don Juan Page; Review: bought by my 10 year old son. It has kept him reading and he has even taught us a few facts.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 250 Jokes for Kids! Short, Funny, Clean and Corny Kid's Jokes; Author: Joe King; Review: As a 10 year old boy it wasn't really that good. Some of the jokes were funny but not all of them; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monstrous Regiment (Discworld); Author: Visit Amazon's Terry Pratchett Page; Review: As always, Terry tells a great story,lots of laughts the odd twist and turn and a fun journey through the discworld.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heaven: A Prison Diary Volume 3; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeffrey Archer Page; Review: As always, Sir Archer tells an amazing story. This is even more amazing as it is the truth. He makes you feel the injustice, the fear, the helplessness. A must read - but only after reading the first 2 'prison' books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Five Mouse Brothers; Author: Visit Amazon's Rachel Yu Page; Review: Must have been good as my son asked for the mouse sisters book also. He even read it to me!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Adopting The Minimalist Mindset - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Ben Night Page; Review: While this was mostly common sense, it was good to have some extra tips to help with the clean up - for example, coping when the job is over whelming. There was also a lot of repetition; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Best Kept Secret (The Clifton Chronicles); Author: Visit Amazon's Jeffrey Archer Page; Review: While still gripping, it was the least impressive of the 3 Clifton novels. However, in true Archer bstil he left me hanging out for the next book to find out what happened....; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sons of Fortune (Archer, Jeffrey); Author: Visit Amazon's Jeffrey Archer Page; Review: God I love this mans books. He really gets you in and you can't put it down. I would not have believed I would like his books, but I love them; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Teeth that Looked for a New; Author: Visit Amazon's Jill Jones Page; Review: Bought for my ten year old son, he thought it was a bit ' baby' so it would be good for little people as he actually enjoyed it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Long Earth; Author: Visit Amazon's Terry Pratchett Page; Review: Very different from the Disc World books. The concept was great scifi and it was interesting, but I can't help feeling that too much was unexplained and I was disappointed with the end - unless there is to be book ? Then again, I wouldn't buy any subsequent books as it wasn't good enough to captivate me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Alam Indah; City: Ubud Gianyar Regency Bali; Review: When we first looked at Ubud and the various accommodations that are in the area we didn't originally find Alam Indah (I think it was one of their other properties though). We are glad that we booked with Alam Indah though, it was a great place to relax and escape the business of Ubud. We had two rooms as my wife and I were travelling around Bali with our mothers. They had the Lily room and we had the Lotus room for 2 nights and then moved to the Coconut room for our last 2 nights. The beds were comfortable, the decor was inviting and beautiful. The bathrooms were spacious, though the showers are made for much shorter people. My wife (being 5'8") and myself (5'11") found that we were above the shower head so it was a bit awkward for shampooing our heads. I think we both would kneel in the bathtub to do it. We liked the Lotus room more than the Coconut room. Though the Coconut room does have an outdoor shower so we didn't have the shower head issue, but we found that the room was a bit too big for us. The view from the Coconut room's balcony was nice. We wish we could have stayed in the Lotus room. We did notice that the staff hang out behind the Lotus room so you can hear them washing dishes and chatting throughout the day. All 4 of us agreed that the Lily room was the best of the 3 rooms we utilized. The pool was awesome, and we used it each day after spending time in Ubud. Coming back to a nice relaxing atmosphere with a pool was great. We also ordered afternoon tea by the poolside too! Something we haven't had else were on our 2.5 month travels. Breakfasts were included and were filling. Be sure not to get the jam as you'll be bombarded by honey bees. The staff were always helpful and friendly too! The shuttle (free) from and to Ubud was always useful as were the recommendations for places to eat. We're currently into our 6th week of travel and my wife and I agree, Alam Indah as been the nicest place we've stayed at so far. We've been to Bali, Lombok, Thailand, Laos and are currently in Vietnam. If we ever come back to Bali, we would definitely stay at Alam Indah again! To read more about our stay at Alam Indah, I invite you to read my blog post about it: [url] (Complete with more photos too!); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Felix Hotel; City: Ho Chi Minh City; Review: We stayed here at Hong Thien Loc for 2 nights. The location is great as it's located near a lot of restaurants and little shops. The rooms are tiny, at least the Superior room we had. They seem to have Superior, Deluxe and VIP rooms. The room we had was tiny as I mentioned and the two twin beds (we had pushed together) only allowed us about 1 foot of room on one side of the room and about 2 feet in front of the door into the room. No where really to put our luggage either. The beds were comfortable and we didn't experience any noises like other reviews mentioned. We were also on the first floor. So I am sure the higher you go the less noise there is. The bathroom was clean, though the shower head could use a good cleaning. It sprays in all directions but the water pressure has been the best we've experienced in Vietnam. It would have been nice if they changed the shower curtain though, I haven't seen that much mold on a curtain in a while. The restaurant is on the top floor (9th) and breakfast was good. Probably the best breakfast we've had experienced in Vietnam as well. It would have been nice to have an in-room safe. I read on their website that the Deluxe and VIP rooms have in-house safes but since we're with a tour group (only 5 of us) we had the basic rooms. We didn't feel entirely safe leaving our valuables at the front reception, but it is better than leaving it in your room.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kubu Balian Beach Bungalows; City: Selemadeg Bali; Review: Kubu Balian Beach Bungalows were the first place we (my wife, and our mothers) stayed at when we arrived in Bali. We arranged with our hosts (Ian and Jeni) to be picked up from the airport; which was great because if you have never been to Bali, Denpasar is quite hectic when it comes to traffic. Upon arrival, Ian and Jeni were there to greet as as well as their friendly staff. We booked the 2-storey, 3 bedroom bungalow that overlooks the ocean, which was a great way to start our 2 month adventure. The stairs up to the 2nd floor were a bit steep. Though we found this to be similar all over Bali and even Lombok. The bedrooms were spacious and clean. There is no AirCon, but the ceiling fans to a great drop bringing in the ocean breeze and keeping you comfortable. There is a in-room safe on the 2nd floor. The bathroom is nice and you do get the visiting gecko or two at night. The fulls-sized fridge was always stocked with water, pop and beer. They even have snacks like chips and cookies. Breakfasts were served each morning on the front balcony of our bungalow. You would just have to tell the staff what you wanted and when you wanted it and they would bring it to you. Breakfasts included fresh fruit, Balinese coffee and your choice of eggs or pancakes (crepes) or toast with jam. The grounds themselves are beautiful. The plants, the layout and even the small plunge pool were a welcomed treat after our 24hr journey from Vancouver to Bali. There are a few restaurants to eat lunch and dinner nearby. The beach itself is an 8 minute walk from the property. The village was wonderful to walk around and watch people go about their days. There is no Wifi on the property, but there is at the restaurants nearby. The best spot was the restaurant at the end of the road to the beach. It costs being like $4 for the whole day of access. We highly recommend staying at Kubu Balian Beach Bungalows! When we come back to Bali, we will be definitely staying with Ian and Jeni again. We would also stay more than 3 nights too. If you want to read more about our stay and see more photos please check out my blog post here: [url]; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ford s Cove Marina Waterfront Cottages; City: Hornby Island Comox Valley Vancouver Island Brit; Review: Typically, we've stayed during the summer months in one of the three water-front cabins. This particular trip, we stayed at cabin #3 in late October. This time it was myself, my wife and our 3 month old son. The last time we stayed at Ford's Cove was back in 2010, since then there have been a lot of upgrades to the cabins. They put in a full-sized fridge (with water and ice dispenser), a convection oven with glass-top range. And we were the first to sleep in one of the new king sized beds they put into the bedroom. Previously the bedroom had a queen with a single. With the water filtration upgrades, the water is drinkable. Some people may notice a slight sulphur smell with the hot water, but the water pressure in the shower is better too (perhaps a low-flow shower head in the near future to help?). With the expansion of the decks on each cabin, they also included a covered area. This means you can take that hot coffee or hot tea out on the deck and enjoy any season and the view associated to it. I'm so happy they extended the deck and added a covered portion to it. It means we'll be coming back anytime of the year. I love sitting out with a hot beverage in the colder months watching the sea lions swim by or the resident eagles fly by too. So relaxing! The other nice thing about Ford's Cove is the general store. When the Co-op is closed (due to the non-busy months) you can still pick up groceries in case you didn't plan enough ahead. They also make awesome pizza as well as they seem to have a big selection of espresso drinks (yes regular coffee too). The general store also has WiFi for those who need to be connected. Oh, and the store has a HUGE selection of rental DVDs as well. 1 Bedroom Water-front Cabin Amenities: - King Bed (or 1 Queen 1, Single until they change that). the LCD TV with DVD player and Cable box are located in the bedroom too. - Futon (double) in the living room - Fully functional kitchen (fridge, stove/oven, coffee maker with grinder, toaster, microwave etc, pots, pans, dishware, flatware, glassware) - 3 piece bathroom (shower stall, sink, toilet) - Wood burning stove (great for those chilly months) You can get wood and kindling for $8. - Electric heaters in the living room and bedroom, in case you're not into that wood burning fire sort of thing. Waking up to the views of the front 3 cabins is breath taking and memorable. For us, it is a home away from home and each time we stay, we never want to leave the island. There is a campsite on the property (in the tree'd area behind the three 2-bedroom cabins) and we have stayed there for a couple nights as well. It's nice when you have access to a campers only bathroom. Not an outhouse, but a fully enclosed washroom with toilets and shower.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bali Eco Stay Bungalows; City: Tabanan Bali; Review: It's been bit of time since we were last at Bali Eco Stay, but it was a relaxing and invigorating place to go for our midpoint while traveling around Bali. We stayed in a 2-bedroom room that had a lovely outdoor-style bathroom.shower. The beds were comfortable and the living area over looked the magnificent rice terraces. My wife and our mothers made use of the massage, while I explored the grounds and the on-property waterfall. The food was the some of the best we tasted and did I mention that the water was drinkable? They are so close to the beginning of the water sources that the water can be used without worry! We would LOVE to stay there again, and who knows we might in the near future!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ford s Cove Marina Waterfront Cottages; City: Hornby Island Comox Valley Vancouver Island Brit; Review: We make Ford's Cove a yearly destination for us and even sometimes we've gone multiple times a year (such as off seasons). Our most recent trip was this past July where we stayed in Cabin #2 (water front). They've removed the Queen and Single in the bedroom for a plush and comfortable King bed. They also replaced the LCD TV with a very large 55-inch (or more) LCD mounted to the wall. The water taste is the best we've experienced so far, and we didn't need to worry about bringing our own water as they have a 5500 gal cistern on the property. There are 3x water-front cabins and 3x 2-bedroom cabins. And about 10 or so campsites. The property is quite large and the silly thing is, even though you can see it from the ferry terminal, you need to drive around the island to get to it but because of it's location it doesn't get too busy even if they manage the marina for the island too. The general store is great too, for it's size there is a good selection of groceries in case you forgot something or in case the island's Co-Op is closed. The pizza they make is made in-house and some of the best we've ever had. We haven't done the fish-n-chips yet but it's always busy there. They added more outdoor seating too for people to enjoy the view. The campsites have been redone a bit too since our last visit. There is also now a dish washing station next to the 2 washrooms for the campers to use as well. Wi-Fi is available, and best to used it at the store. Though if you have a Wi-Fi extender/repeater/hotspot, that can help though don't expect much. It is a free service and if you can get a signal it's a good one too! I'd love to redesign their Wi-Fi infrastructure for them, but not everyone needs it 100% of the time right? ;) Hard to book the cabins for summer time, but the off season it's fairly available. I recommend going to Ford's Cove Cabins/Campsites anytime of the year! Feb/March is roughly the herring season too so there is a lot more wildlife to be seen on the island too. Even during the summer I've seen Whales, Eagles, Sea Lions and more from the cabins.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Privilege Appart Hotel Clement Ader; City: Toulouse Haute Garonne Occitanie; Review: I was in Toulouse for some work meetings and was booked into the Appart-Hotel Clement Ader as other work collogues have stayed there before. The front entrance is misleading, but once you get buzzed in the hotel's appearance changes drastically and for the better. You wouldn't expect such a place to be hidden behind a facade of old buildings. I was booked into the 1st floor in the room next to the elevator. I was worried at first but I thought i would give it a try (after 24hrs of flying I just wanted to get settled). I didn't even notice the elevator at all while I was in the room; quite the surprise. I slept well each night. The room itself was good, though a bit on the dark side. The bed was super comfortable, the kitchenette was very handy for making my own breakfasts (you can buy breakfast in the hotel itself if you want to go that route). The bathroom was brightly lit and the waterfall shower head was as treat after a long day at the office. The only thing my kitchenette did not have was a toaster, but I made due with the other little appliances it had (2 hot plates, microwave, bar fridge, single-serve coffee machine). Really my only complaint about the room itself was that I found I couldn't make it any brighter. Oh, the other thing we had troubles with was using our door keys at the front entrance to the hotel property. I think out of the 6 days we were there, we were able to get ourselves in once without bugging the front desk. I guess we just couldn't align he card to the card reader properly? The hotel itself is at most a 10 minute walk from the train station. I understand what other reviewers mentioned about when you come out of the hotel, about what direction to take at night. The night crowd towards the train station can be a bit sketchy but nothing out of the ordinary. I could see how families with children might be a bit alarmed. The hotel is also really close to MANY restaurants too, all within walking distance. If I were to come back to Toulouse for business, I would stay here again for sure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Halifax Downtown; City: Halifax Halifax Region Nova Scotia; Review: 3 of us stayed at the Residence Inn for a 1 week stay. The hotel was comfortable and great value! The free breakfast was awesome and filling. The coffee was also good (yes that is important!) Breakfast foods ranged from do-it-yourself waffles, sausage patties, scrambled eggs, breakfast burritos, hot and cold cereals, bagels, english muffins, bread/toast, fresh fruit and more! There was free homemade cookies each afternoon. The front desk staff is very friendly and helpful. The room was good, though for some reason our room was never made up by housekeeping. Personally, I rarely get housekeeping to make up a room, but the other 2 people I was with were wanting the rooms to be made up - at least to supply new towels or to make the bed. The AC (if you're into that) is fairly minimal even with the electronic thermostat was set to 43F. That should have made it really cold.. but it wasn't. The only opening window was the sliding door, though it only opens about 4 inches. The room would get fairly stuffy. Aside from the room temperature and the lack of housekeeping the hotel is clean and located in the pub district. We would walk everywhere fairly quick without much effort. Their wireless internet was good, though I did pay for their premium service. Their in-room ethernet drop was not working (which I prefer) but the wi-fi sufficed. Would definitely stay at the Residence Inn if I found myself in Halifax again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Homewood Suites by Hilton London Ontario; City: London Ontario; Review: We attended a friends wedding in London Ontario and needed to find a hotel to call home base while we were in town. Our only two requirements were included breakfast and a pool. The Homewood Suites have both and more! Our room was on the 6th floor and it was very comfortable. There was enough room to have the playpen out of the way (our daughter is 6 months old) and we didn't want our movements to awake her, so the spacious room size was nice. Kitchenette was great. Microwave, 2 stove-top elements, coffee maker, full-sized fridge (with ice tray!). All the items to allow us to cook in if we wanted to. The bed was comfortable. The desk was great for my daily photo editing. Climate controls were easy to use and actually worked as intended! The bathroom was good too. The only issue we had in our room was that during the weekend our water pressure on the shower in the morning was a mere trickle (see photo). We had to use a glass to collect enough water to pour on our selves. Though later in the day and the rest of the week the water pressure was great. I assume they were fully booked on the weekend and everyone wanted to shower at the same time. There must of been softball/baseball tournaments going on in London as there were a lot of uniformed kids on the weekend. The hotel staff were always friendly and helpful. We got extra coffee for the room when we needed it or extra food after the regular breakfast times. Breakfast; best I've had at a hotel. Hot breakfast buffet style. Coffees, Juices, Water, Waffles, Bacon, Eggs the list goes on and on! Food being replaced so nothing was old or cold. Definitely try and get down between 6am and 9am for breakfast (weekdays) or 630am to 10am on weekends. We never actually did get to use the pool. Sometimes it was closed due to maintenance other times it was crazy busy. Though our daily schedule also stopped us from really getting a chance to enjoy the pool. Wi-Fi is free it you're a HHonors member (it's free to sign up) though I ended up paying for their premium service ($4/day) while we were there as I wanted the faster upload speeds. The free service was about 2Mbps down and 0.5Mpbs up. Premium was 7Mbps down and at least 7 Mbps up. Overall we were extremely happy with the hotel and our stay. It's positioned in a great stop too (i think so anyway). Easy access to the highway (cant hear the highway though!) and easy access to other highlights of the London area too. We'd definitely stay there again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Madrona Beach Resort; City: Parksville Vancouver Island British Columbia; Review: On our way back from visiting Tofino we missed our ferry and decided we'd stay in Parksville for the day/night. My older sister mentioned something about Madrona Beach Resort so we thought we'd check it out. Upon arrival we were allowed to check out two suites they had, ground level suite or a 1 bedroom upper level one. After checking both out we decided on the ground level one as it had more room for the two pack-n-plays we use for our little ones (3.5yrs and 16 months). There complex is like a converted townhouse complex, which is a pretty neat idea. All rooms look over water. The ground suites have a sliding door into the back common area that each have a 4-chair and table with own propane bbq. Inside the suite you have a queen bed, sofa bed, full kitchen with dinning area and a full bathroom (roomy shower stall, no tub). There is also a fireplace that allows the use of presto-type firelogs. Outside amenities were a tennis court, two children playgrounds, beach access etc. The only downside was that because the rooms are east facing, the sunrise lights up the suite quite well in the morning. Early too like at 6am. It would be nice to have darkening curtains but that would be my only complaint. We would easily come back again and spend multiple nights there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harrison Hot Springs Resort Spa; City: Harrison Hot Springs British Columbia; Review: My wife and I had our first night away from our kids since they were born (a little over 4 years) and I decided on Harrison Hot Spring Resort as I've stayed here at least 18 years ago and remembered it was a good place to go in case the weather was flaky. I eventually booked our room via their website, a 2-queen for $299 which included buffet breakfast, three days before the day we wanted. Okay a bit more expensive than I would have thought but what the hell.. downtown Vancouver hotels aren't much different if not more expensive. Upon check-in, I was glad I didn't get to experience the huge line ups some people have previously mentioned. Though one guy did butt in front of me, but the desk agent was nice and apologized to me for him. Our room was on the ground floor of the west wing. The room was clean and a decent size. The usuals for a hotel room included of course; bar fridge, coffee pot, the beds, bathroom etc. A bit old looking, but the age of the hotel doesn't really affect my view too much. Wi-Fi was a bit spotty and is unencrypted. If you care about those things, bring a travel router with you. There was an Ethernet port attached to the lamp between the beds, it would have been nice to utilize that but it probably wasn't plugged in. The beds were comfy though. The pools of course are great. Recommend starting in the indoor hot tub that's like 104F. Then work your way to the outside pools. There is a bar available for walk up service if you want to get your drink on. We didn't go into the Adult pool as it was crowded. They need to redesign it in my opinion. If they added a seating area in the middle, they would get more people into the pool as everyone just sits around the edge of it. Our door keys had issues for duration of our stay as did a lot of other people we ran into while trying to open doors. They asked if the card was near a cellphone, nope it wasn't but who knows. That just requires you to go to the front desk and have them reprogram it The included Breakfast Buffet was great! Typically $22 per person it was included in our price (think we saved like $4?). Ken (the guy at the omelet station) was awesome and a lot of fun. He's got making an omelet down to a science and an art. Does them like 7 at a time or so! The breakfast food was good and always fresh even up to the last 30 minutes before the buffet was closed (we got there with 30 minutes to spare). So if you're late to the buffet your food experience should still be good! Checkout was a breeze, as the line up at checkout time was doubled on itself (easily 40+ people) we just filled out the little form and dropped it off; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: High Quality All Natural Pet Shampoo & Conditioner with Oatmeal, 8oz - Formulated By World Renowned Veterinary; Brand: Gordon MacIntyre; Review: This dog shampoo is amazing! It smells soooo good and it cuts through the strong dog scent. I was amazed at how good my dog smelled after using this shampoo! And it lasted for days too. It worked great, and rinsed fast which was nice. I hate when it seems like I can't rinse the shampoo and my poor doggie doesn't really enjoy his baths. The bottle is cute, it looks very fancy I just wish it was bigger! It did seem to take less shampoo than usual so maybe that's why it's small. My dog looked and smelled fabulous after using this shampoo and I highly recommend it for anyone who is looking for a shampoo that smells great for days. I received this product free or at a discounted price in exchange for my honest review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grain Free Dog Treats - 10 Calorie, Human-Grade Puppy Training Treats + Glucosamine for Joint Health; Brand: OmegaPet; Review: My dogs doesn't care for the flavor of these dog treats. My not so picky eater eventually would eat them but only after she realized I wasn't going to give her anything else. My picky eater would take them and immediately drop them, not caring if he got anything else or not. Here absolutely refused to eat these. I live the fact that they are so wholesome and really good for a treat. We try to limit or dogs grain intake to a very small amount and these treats were grain free which was perfect for my dogs diet. I'm bummed they don't really like them! I have received these gourmet grain free dog treats free or at a discounted price in exchange for my honest review.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Extra Strength Pet Odor Eliminator & Permanent Urine Remover Spray - Best for Cats, Dogs & Carpet Stains -; Brand: Barker & Pooch; Review: I love this stuff! With five cats and two dogs with sensitive digestive systems I tend to have to clean up stinky, smelly stuff often. This extra strength pet strain and odor remover works great both on carpet and tile. I have had to use it on concrete and it cleared that mess up too! I use it to clean my dogs crates but I always spray with fresh water and wipe out to remove any left over cleaner that may be lingering. My dogs have very sensitive stomachs and I'm not risking them licking the cleaner and jacking their stomachs up for two days! I have received this extra strength pet stain and odor remover free or at a discounted price in exchange for my honest review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tinfiber Pet Toys Dog Toys Rubber Balls Chew Tooth Cleaning Balls Resistant to bite; Brand: Tinfiber; Review: I love the concept of this ball, to slow down a fast eater or present with a treat stuffed inside. It worked well with my fast eater dog, really made a huge difference in how fast she ate. The only problem with it is that it's made with a bitter rubber that has a strong odor and funky taste. (If you smelled the rubber you would understand what I mean by taste without having to actually taste the ball.)She will take the easy for our but will quickly lose interest in finishing and I'm thinkng its because of the bitter taste. She normally will work at a toy until the food is gone but not with this ball. It is durable, it's holding up so far with my two pit bulls but again they don't seem to like it all that much. Because of the smell and bitter taste I no longer use the ball for feeding time, but I will still play fetch with it occasionally. I have received this product free or at a discounted price in exchange for my honest review.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Large Squeaky Dogs Toy For Semi Aggressive Chewers; Big Tough 11" Interactive Pet Dog Toy For Small, Medium; Brand: TufToys; Review: This dog toy didn't last thirty minutes with my dog. Within minutes the squeaker was chewed loose and not to much longer the entire end was chewed off. I can only buy toys made especially for aggressive chewers and I was extremely disappointed with this toy. It is described as a toy for aggressive chewers but it could not stand up to the chewing from my pit bull.this would be great for a medium sized dog maybe but not a large dog. My sixty pounder chewed it up rather quickly and once they get started on a spot they don't stop until it's demolished. I have received this dog toyfree or at a discounted price in exchange for my honest review.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pet Cuisine Dog Training Treats Puppy Snacks Chews, Sweet Potato/ Lamb/ Duck/ Beef Jerky Sticks; Brand: Pet Cuisine; Review: These were a special treat for muy two dogs! They loved these and became very obedient when they knew I was handing them out. There are a lot in the bag, for the price I was impressed. I love the fact that these don't have garbage ingredients that are really bad for our dogs. My dogs seriously love these and I know I'll be back for more! These dog treats are a hit in my home and I know I will have a hard time finding treats this good for my dogs! I have received these dog treats free or at a discounted price in exchange for my honest review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Besieged (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chinatown (1974); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gia (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pecker (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Run Lola Run (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Be Cool (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Arrested Development: Season 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scotland (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What the #$*! Do We Know!? (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Buffalo '66 (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Full Monty (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ordinary People (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Time to Kill (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saved! (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Doctor (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Prince of Darkness (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Soldier (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Corporation (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tipping the Velvet (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Election (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pi: Faith in Chaos (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miller's Crossing (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: October Sky (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko: Director's Cut (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Virgin Suicides (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Team America: World Police (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Leaving Las Vegas (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What About Bob? (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Welcome to the Dollhouse (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Arsenic and Old Lace (1944); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pumping Iron (1977); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Requiem for a Dream (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kiss of the Dragon (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: SE 612FS 12" Stainless Steel Self-Locking Straight Forceps; Brand: SE; Review: I won't contest other reviews being low quality or not working, but mine work great, and the teeth line up just right to fit together. Maybe I got lucky, but mine are great for the price paid.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brush Research FLEX-HONE Cylinder Hone, BC Series, Silicon Carbide Abrasive, 1-1/8" (29 mm) Diameter, 320 Grit Size; Brand: Flex-Hone Tool; Review: Honing my cylinders was a piece of cake (though messy). I used the 60mm hone on a 58.5mm cylinder figuring it;s better to go larger than smaller, and it worked just fine. It slid right into the cylinder once I started the drill and made easy quick work of each cylinder. The results looked excellent afterwards. I'd definitely buy this again if I had to go back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SummitLink 410 Pcs Assorted Heat Shrink Tubing Wrap Sleeve Set Combo Tube 5 Colors 10 Sizes; Brand: SummitLink; Review: The material is much thinner than some of the other heat shrinks I have bought. It's alot of heat shrink for the price, but ti's thin and I wouldn't trust it as much as even other cheapo heat shrinks just based on feel.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uxcell a12050700ux0187 16-14 AWG Female Spade Insulated Flag Terminal Connector, 1/4", 7 Piece; Brand: uxcell; Review: These work well, though you have to have a crimper that has the crimpers at the tip, unlike most wire stripping tools. I like the product themselves though, they seem to work great so far.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SE RFW16100 1-1/2" Reinforced Cut off Wheel with 1/16" Arbor (100 Count); Brand: SE; Review: These wheels are pretty nice, they last a bit longer than I expected, but pretty typical for reinforced wheels. They are not really made for working with dremel though . The hole is too big for the normal dremel cutting wheel bit. I was able to use them with this bit, but they were a bit wobbly because the hole is way too big. They cut well though, and didn't wear down nearly as fast as the stock dremel non-reinforced ones, and t a fraction of the cost.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Industrial_and_Scientific |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Elmhirst s Resort; City: Keene Otonabee South Monaghan Ontario; Review: Rain and fog is not typical January weather for the Peterborough area, but our stay at the Elmhirst made it very enjoyable. Our boys and their friends had the indoor pool and games room pretty much to themselves, and our cottage was very comfortable. We were close enough to Peterborough to pop into town for one meal etc, but didn't have to as the pub on-site was always open and provided us with some great food as well. Staff was extremely friendly. My kind of place! We will have to go back as there was lots to do that the weather spoiled, and it must be awesome during the summer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jay Peak Resort; City: Jay Northeast Kingdom Vermont; Review: Wow, when I last visited Jay Peak over 10 years ago, everything looked very very different. Living in Ottawa, I heard about how it had changed from families returning from hockey tournaments but I never imagined what I saw on arrival there for a two night stay and ski trip. Everything and I mean everything is new (except the tram base, and thankfully, the names of my favorite ski runs) and it is perfectly set up for family vacations. We were located in the main hotel quite close to the waterpark and elevators, yet our suite was very quiet. It was well laid out and spacious. Our boys were obviously taken by the waterpark, but thankfully they were still willing to ski. It made for 2 very full days and tired boys when we left. I can only request one thing as a die hard skier, the main hotel needs a hottub away from the waterpark (maybe adults only). After a long day of skiing, I want to have a beer and let me legs recover. That just isn't possible in the waterpark. Anyways, kudos to whoever dreamed up the modernization of Jay Peak, they did an amazing job that families are going to appreciate for a long time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Napanee Ontario; City: Napanee Lennox and Addington County Ontario; Review: I recently stayed here with our son's hockey team and we had a fabulous time. The breakfasts were above what I am used to in terms of anything complimentary, our kids loved the pool and the lobby where they could hang out. Staff was very good with everyone. Our room was modern and beds were comfortable. I look forward to returning to this hotel next year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aspens on Blackcomb; City: Whistler British Columbia; Review: We stayed at the foot of Blackcomb and had a great stay. It certainly helped that Whistler had a lot of snow this early in the season, but our choice of the Aspens gave us a great spot to ski from and to wander down to the Village for meals. It took 2 minutes to get to the bottom of the lifts on foot. Our room was quite nice and we all enjoyed the pool, hot-tubs and ski valet at the end of the day. We will definitely be returning to the Aspens as this was the best accommodations we've had in our 5-6 trips to Whistler.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chilcoot Conference Centre; City: Vernon Okanagan Valley British Columbia; Review: This was our 3rd time staying at the Chilcoot over the years. We have been to SilverStar many times and have found this hotel to be perfect for us (mostly because a 1 bedroom unit has a Queen and bunk and so we don't have to pay for 2 rooms). Yes, it is an ancient building but we are there to ski and it has everything we want. The location is perfect as it is 30 seconds from the main drag and the ski runs. Full kitchen, decent sized room, fairly quiet except for our room, my kids are loud! If you haven't been to SilverStar, you should try it. The lift lines will kill you because there are none so you will get very very tired. All the Aussies working there are super friendly and make everything fun. The mountain is big enough for avid skiers (like my family) to fill their boots with black diamond runs of all kinds but small enough that you can almost let your teenagers roam freely without fear of not seeing them for the rest of the day.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: HI Lake Louise Alpine Centre; City: Lake Louise Banff National Park Alberta; Review: While a hostel is not for everyone, this one can be for most everyone. The price is certainly right at less than half the cost of local hotels. The building itself is beautiful and nicely laid out. The hostel experience is something everyone should try as well. There has been a diverse range of folks staying there during our visits from retirees to young riders with little money to throw around but who desperately need to ski. And you get to meet all of them through use of the common kitchen and other activities. I used the sauna each day to recover from a full day of skiing. We enjoyed 2 evenings at the campfire with Andrew (staff) stoking the fire and telling us stories. My boys couldn't wait to go back to the fire after the first night. The kitchen and meals are great. You meet people from all over the world and share stories about your adventures. Last year, I found clean dishes pilling up a lot, so I made the suggestion to have a sign saying 'put away your dishes'. This year the sign was up and dishes were being put away for the most part. Great to see action from my feedback. I almost forgot to mention that the food at the in-house restaurant 'Peytos' is great and well priced, a favorite of locals including all the local police it seems. Give it a try, you won't regret it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timberline Lodges by Fernie Lodging Company; City: Fernie Kootenay Rockies British Columbia; Review: We did an impromptu detour to Fernie for 2 days of skiing at stayed at the Timberline Lodges. We had 2 bedrooms at a very reasonable price and had a great stay with our 2 boys. The unit was well laid out and very comfortable. It was quiet and only a few minutes walk to the base of the mountain. Shuttle to the lifts was convenient and of course the skiing was awesome. The hill has changed a lot since I was first there. Very impressive. Fernie is a nice town to visit as well, quiet and not so commercialized.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Stevita Stevia Supreme Powder - 50 Packets - Stevia & Xylitol All Natural Sweetener, No Calories - USDA; Brand: STEVITA; Review: This is a great tasting brand of Stevia. Price is excellent too. Try it very good in tea and decaf coffee.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Community Coffee 100% Pure Chicory Medium Roast Premium Ground 12 Oz Bag (6 Pack), Rich Flavorful Taste Naturally Decaf; Brand: Community Coffee; Review: 03.01.2011 - Update--- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Large thank you to Amazon for their return of Community Chicory to there product line--- This is second order since availability re-instated. Great product! ~~~~~~~~~~ The wording for the description of this product can be confusing but only if you do not read it. Community may need to reword the description, however-- when the package reads 100% Chicory, this should indicate the product is --- 100% Chicory---no coffee. The product does show a short period allowed for brewing. This indicates product is getting to you "on time" and produced freshly. This herb is harvested and roasted to get to us fresh. I keep mine in the freezer and move it to the fridge when am ready to brew. I brew this plain and drink it as I like my coffee cream and Ste-vita. Do not find bitter when consumed this way. Because of misunderstandings here, Amazon has pulled the product and I must go to Community to get my supply. Caffeine elevates my blood sugar thus chicory is my coffee substitute. Have been drinking coffee/chicory blend for seven decades and just chicory for about 2 years.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Great Lakes Select Honey, 32-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 3); Brand: Great Lakes; Review: This is good honey and reasonably priced. Just received my second order last week. Noticed the packaging was much superior to previous time. Packing can still stand some work, and apparently the company is working on this. The increase in orders from Amazon has, am sure, presented challenges. The honey is good. Am on the auto ship program with this and hope the company stays with Amazon. Have blest Holy Days...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nutiva Organic, Cold-Pressed, Unrefined, Virgin Coconut Oil from Fresh, non-GMO, Sustainably Farmed Coconuts, 15-ounce (Pack of 2); Brand: Nutiva; Review: Discussion with my Doctor prompted investigation as to benefits of using Coconut Oil as a part of good health. Among many health benefits and research may be found here [...], and many other web sites, offer comments from users of C.O.. ==== This Nutiva Coconut Oil has provided the following benefits to our family: 1- relieved problem of slow colon action [i.e. B.M.]for my daughters [50 YO/42 YO] and myself[78 YO]. 2- curbed appetite for sweets for daughters and myself --plus curbs my appetite for food 3- improved my energy levels ==== Have listed only those things we have personally experienced, but looking forward to more health benefits. We are using the C.O. in tea and coffee and find it to be pleasant tasting for us. Will be ordering more of this product for sure. Hope the comments lead you to investigate the many benefits of C.O.--- Great product ====; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sea's Gift Korean Seaweed Snack (Kim Nori), Roasted & Sea Salted, 0.17-Ounce Bags (Pack of 24); Brand: Sea's Gift; Review: If you like fish you will like these. I like most Asian foods, and this one is good as a side dish as well as snack. A bit pricey, but a trip to Korea would be too, although delightful. Enjoy, and if you like them sit up auto-ship and save a bit-- I did.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Laffy Taffy by Wonka Banana Flavor 145 Piece Tub, 3.08 LB; Brand: Laffy Taffy; Review: There were not enough of the banana flavored candies in the mixed container, thus had to have another box and some of the long sticks of banana also. This taffy has an excellent flavor, glad i found them here on my favorite shopping place. My daughters like all of the taffy so more will be required very soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wonka Laffy Taffy Assorted 165 Pieces, 3.09 lb.; Brand: Laffy Taffy; Review: This is an excellent taffy and each of the flavors is exceptional. This was the second order and the gnomes slip in each night and eat them..... Keep them cool so they do not get too sticky----yummy stuff. Happy Holidays to all.....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bob's Red Mill Chia Seeds, 16-ounce (Pack of 4); Brand: Bob's Red Mill; Review: These mix well with several other foods, breads, peanut butter, yogurt and oat meal. My dietician loves these too, share with her several of my monthly ships....really good stuff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Washburn Dad's Wrapped Root Beer Barrels ~ 2 Lbs ~ Old Fashioned Flavor; Brand: Generic; Review: These candies are too tasty for me to keep around. Really, they are great, and received Dad's Brand not generic. Hope your experience was as good as mine ......Have very few left of the 2# bag----marvelous.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sheila G Brownie Brittle, Traditional Walnut, 4 Ounce (Packaging May Vary); Brand: Sheila G; Review: Taste - good five stars there. Consistency good, appearance poor. The product was not what I anticipated seeing, not great. I purchased this elsewhere and the price was much lower than the price here. I will try some of the other taste and will purchase more Toffee Crunch, great with coffee.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Frontier Sage Leaf Rubbed, 16 Ounce Bag; Brand: Frontier; Review: Got this to put in small bags and use in cats beds. Fleas do not like the smell. I just grind it down to powder if i wish to put on my cats and then brush off their fur. Very fresh smell to me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kirkland Signature Walnuts-3lbs; Brand: Kirkland Signature; Review: Too good, eating too many---; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chatfields All Natural Premium Carob Powder, 16 Ounce; Brand: Chatfields; Review: Wife can not do chocolate , this is a great substitute. She loves this as a desert drink.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Simple Girl Organic Citrus Ginger Salad Dressing - 16oz - Sugar Free - Diabetic/Vegan Friendly - No Carb; Brand: Simple Girl; Review: This has a great taste on tofu---ginger offers a tongue warmer too.....just enough... Produced with attention to taste, really good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cashews, Whole, Raw, Bulk Nuts - We Got Nuts (1 LB.); Brand: We Got Nuts; Review: We purchase several different nuts from these good folks. Packaging is very good nuts have been fresh and enjoyable. My wife enjoys them ground for easy munching, and cooking with beans or oats. These nuts are very healthy too. Good choice from great vendor.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: We Got Nuts Jumbo Almonds (Whole, Raw, Shelled, Unsalted) (2 Pounds); Brand: We Got Nuts; Review: Great, fresh nuts. I use these to assist in weight loss...but must be careful, so good i tend to overeat. Good packing, good vendor----great combo.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raw Red Skin Peanuts 5 Pounds Bulk Great Price; Brand: The Brittle Box Candy Co.; Review: Really enjoying these nuts-----great taste and soft for me to chew, Will buy again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Viva Naturals Organic Raw Chia Seeds (1 LB); Brand: Viva Naturals; Review: Marvelous with oats or baked potato, and so much more. They help keep you regular too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mexican Vanilla Blend By Molina Vainilla, 33.3 Oz / 1000 Ml (Vanillin Extract) by Molina Vanilla; Brand: Molina Mexican Vanilla; Review: This very economical, personally would like a bit more vanilla in the blend, but this is a good taste regardless.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mujeza Black Seed Honey- (Black cumin- nigella seeds) Not mixed with oil or powder Gluten Free Unfiltered Unprocessed; Brand: Mujeza; Review: This is by far best honey i have ever eaten. I mean THE BEST.....will purchase this again. Love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Quality Inn Colonial; City: Bendigo Greater Bendigo Victoria; Review: No milk for a hot drink in the fridge and when we asked for some we were told it will be in the fridge. Like we are stupid and could not see a tetra pack of milk. No tissues in the wall holder. The TV or TV remote would not work. We did not have a chance to notify staff due to time constraints Heated pool a good bonus; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: BIG4 Borderland Wodonga; City: Wodonga Victoria; Review: WE booked an ensuite caravan site. The facilities were clean and tidy. Staff helpful. Camp kitchen was clean and well set up for a family gathering. Jumping pillow was great entertainment for the kids. We did not use the pool but the surroundings looked neat and tidy . The park was quiet when we were there.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: NRMA Warrnambool Riverside Holiday Park; City: Warrnambool Victoria; Review: We stayed on an Ensuite powered site. Clean amenties. Gardens well maintained and very tidy. Staff very helpful. Very quiet location if that is what you are after. The caravan park is a few kilometres from the town so make sure you have enough supplies if you don't want to jump back in the car, although there is a park shop onsite; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Ballarat Hotel and Convention Centre; City: Ballarat Victoria; Review: Great staff.Clean and comfortable room. Great facilities available on site. Only problem that I had was managing to use the shower as it is over the bath. Difficult for people with knee or hip problems. I spoke to staff about this on checkout and it was suggested that next time I request a room with a walk in shower; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Albury Paddlesteamer; City: Albury New South Wales; Review: Our room was very clean. Bed comfy.. It was a very warm night and the air conditioner worked well. Bathroom modern. I liked the idea of the little kitchenette so you did not have to use the bathroom to wash cups or fill the kettle. Staff welcoming and lovely.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aura on Flinders Serviced Apartments; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: We found the location was quite suitable as we could walk from the train station and then walk over the river to watch our concert. The room was clean and fully equipped. The staff on the front desk were not overly friendly though. Our room had a balcony which was lovely to look out at the night lights of the city. Only downside was the motor noise which ran all night, must have been the air con or similar. Next time I will take ear plugs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Discovery Parks Warrnambool; City: Warrnambool Victoria; Review: We booked an ensuite site for our caravan. Ensuite was older style but clean. Staff were friendly and helpful. Only problem was that we could hear the hoons out on the road but that is out of the control of caravan park; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Knight After Night (Vampire Assassin League Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jackie Ivie Page; Review: I can't say it better than this: Sparks fly when an Old World Scot vampire meets and then claims the woman he calls his mate - the tot in a hoodie. But for Jolie, everything about Thoran MacKettryck is just wrong. It isn't that he's so darn perfect...immense, stirring, jaw-dropping gorgeous, strong, self-confident. It's that ridiculous vampire stuff; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forever Knight - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jackie Ivie Page; Review: I loved Gavynn! --especially how he got manipulated into a position he coudn't retreat from. And I just adored lady Brielle. It's short, but talk about fun! This tale has everything I read a story for: characters I care about, a plot that keeps me hooked, well-crafted writing, and one heck of an ending. I look forward to more from Ms. Ivie.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Together to Join (Vampire Assassin League Book 5) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jackie Ivie Page; Review: In a word--AWESOME. The only sad part about this addition is that I didn't want it to end. Her men are ALWAYS sexy and Garrick was NO EXCEPTION. By the time my reading was over, I wanted him all to myself. Wonderful writing and story line. This book was a perfect blend of action, romance, whit, sensation and plot. I'd go into details but I don't want to ruin it for everyone else! When I got this book It was a struggle--I don't mean I had to find time to read it, I had to find time to get other things done because I couldn't stop reading it. I can't wait for the next book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mortal Death (Vampire Assassin League Bundle, #2) (Vampire Assassin League Boxset) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jackie Ivie Page; Review: SET TWO - Mortal Death consists of four novellas I previously purchased separately. I really like the bundle deal. Now I can re-read them all in one place. Reviews: TOGETHER TO JOIN - Great take on the "vampire finds true mate" theme. In this one, a Hunter gets taken by a vampire and ends up trussed and at the fingertips of an angelic woman with the kiss of paradise to her fingers. The last thing he wants is to be a vampire mate - until it happens. THIS MAN AND WOMAN - This one might be my fave Vampire Assassin League novella. I absolute fell in love with French vampire Jean-Pierre. He is so funny. He thinks every lady who comes across him will be smitten with his looks, his charm, and his physique. He has his hands full with the ninja, Takaiya. That woman is fast and lethal. Their duel is a really fast and fun read as he tries to keep his vampire side from taking over. FOREVER AS ONE - I really could fall for a young, hunky Viking - especially one as gorgeous as Dane. This particular vampire owns a string of clubs where he tends bar. It's the best way to hide out, since he looks barely twenty-one. His mate, Evangeline, on the other hand, is solid class. The last thing she wants it a rich playboy and this lifestyle. Great pairing. SHOULD THERE BE - Vampire Rafael seems to have one thing on his agenda: Taking. He's a little miffed at losing a Type O fix when sent on an assignment, so when he gets a call for help from a woman who just happens to have that blood type - well...Rafael doesn't waste time going to her "aid". Then he tastes her, and instantly everything in his world is different. He even has to find a chivalrous side. Great fun.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vampire Bites: A Vampire Romance Anthology - Kindle edition; Brand: Colleen Gleason; Review: I think I read a different book... I have to admit I got because I LOVE one of the author's work - what happened? I couldn't put it down! I love all of them! I'm hooked. Talk about a great reads/great escapes. If you don't have a copy - download one now! You won't be disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Ellie Shoes Women's 421-Jane-G Maryjane Pump; Brand: Ellie Shoes; Review: I wear a 6.5, but they only had these shoes in full sizes, so I got the size 6. They're a little tight, but wearable, though I know a 7 would have been perfect. It's the question I always want answered about any shoe, so I'm going to give my advice on sizing. These shoes fit perfectly true to size, but if you wear a half size and can only get a full size, order one half size up and they'll be perfect, unless you don't mind a little pinching on the heel when you walk and dance.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Women's Control Top Reinforced Toe Silk Reflections Panty Hose; Brand: ; Review: Hanes always gets it right - size, comfort, good make and quality. These are true to size and feel great, smoothing out the contours of the legs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ellie Shoes Women's 015-Cairo Flat; Brand: Ellie Shoes; Review: I ordered a size 6 in these, though I normally wear a 6.5 in regular shoes since sandals always seem bigger on my feet. Even in a size 6, they fit more like a size 7. Anyone wanting these great shoes should probably order about a size smaller than they actually wear and you may need to add an extra hole in the top strap if you have slender legs. Other than that, these shoes are awesome! Very comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alexander Del Rossa Womens Patricia Cotton Nightgown, Long Victorian Sleeveless Sleepwear; Brand: ; Review: I absolutely love this nightgown. It's extremely comfortable to sleep and lounge around in, and if you don't want it to shrink, wash in a warm/warm cycle and hang dry. No cold or hot water. It's truly a great nightgown!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Snake Arm Cuff Costume Accessory; Brand: Peter Alan, Inc - Costume Mates; Review: Excellent quality! Just warm it in your hands before bending to the perfect fit. It's strong and I see it lasting a lifetime.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forum Women's Egyptian Goddess Costume; Brand: Forum Novelties; Review: If you wear a size medium, this is perfect. The cape needed some reinforcing at the edge seem with a hot glue gun and the armbands and wristbands will need some adjusting with safety pins if you have slender arms and wrists, but the costume as a whole is definitely worth it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: InCharacter Costumes Women's Cleopatra Costume; Brand: Fun World; Review: This costume is great! Everything about it is great! The best part is that the dress can be worn all by itself as a summer dress or evening dress. The velcro on the belt was put at an odd angle, but it can be worked. Greatest purchase I've made in costumes and the head piece is really pretty and put together nicely. For sizing, I'm at the large end of a small and the small end of a medium, so I ordered the medium and it's a perfect fit, but I wouldn't want to be any bigger in this dress. I hope that's helpful for anyone worried about size.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SILKY Wide Lace Suspender Belt - 4 Strap; Brand: SILKY; Review: I'm on the small end of a medium/large end of a small, so I ordered this in medium. It has three available sizes for adjustment, but this up higher around my waist on it's loosest adjustment, not around my hips as this picture shows. And yet, I could still go smaller around my waist, but that's where I prefer things to sit on me anyway. If you want a true hip hugger as seen in the picture, get a size larger, but if you like is around your waist as I do, get your own size. It's soft and stretchy, but it didn't come with washing instructions. I'll do my best with cold water/by hand.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BellyLady Belly Dance Tribal Sequined Bra Top, 34A/34B/36A, Idea; Brand: BellyLady; Review: I am a 34 B/C and this is the perfect fit. It has three adjustable sizes on the black clasp and I'm using the second one. Great quality and beautiful in person!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BellyLady Belly Dance Tribal Fringe Bra Top, 34B/32C, Gift Idea; Brand: BellyLady; Review: I absolutely love this top! It's gorgeous and true to size. I'm a 34 B/C and it fits great. It has three adjustable clasps on the back and I'm using the largest of the settings. This setting is just a little snug, but perfect hold and coverage and no undue bulging.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BellyLady Belly Dance Hip Scarf Skirt Wrap With Paillettes Christmas Gift Idea; Brand: BellyLady; Review: The multi-color paillettes in this are dazzling! The hip scarf is great quality and this could really be used for performing as well as practice. I'm only a beginner belly dancer, but I do know good quality and beauty when I see and feel it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AK-Trading Multi-Row Paillettes Gold Coins Belly Dance Wrap & Hip Scarf, Lively Style -White with Gold Coins; Brand: AK TRADING CO.; Review: While the paillettes give off really nice light play, the chiffon is tough enough to stand up to constant working out, practicing and performing. Nothing's fallen off me yet while shaking things up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Women’s Alive Full Support Control Top Pantyhose; Brand: ; Review: Hanes is hands down the best brand for nylons, period. Support actually supports and smooths out unsightly bulge, making you look at least 10 years younger. Maybe even 20.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Women’s Alive Full Support Control Top Pantyhose; Brand: ; Review: Hanes is hands down the best brand for nylons, period. Support actually supports and smooths out unsightly bulge, making you look at least 10 years younger. Maybe even 20.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Women’s Alive Full Support Control Top Pantyhose; Brand: ; Review: Hanes is hands down the best brand for nylons, period. Support actually supports and smooths out unsightly bulge, making you look at least 10 years younger. Maybe even 20.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Belly Dance Hip Scarf Blue, Gold Coins Lively Style, 100% Handmade; Brand: Kmarine; Review: I got this to match a blue sequin bra top and they fit perfectly together. I couldn't be happier and the chiffon is tough enough to wear this for working out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Multi-Row Paillettes Gold Coins Belly Dance Wrap & Hip Scarf, Lively Style -hot pink; Brand: Expressmart; Review: While the paillettes give off really nice light play, the chiffon is tough enough to stand up to constant working out, practicing and performing. Nothing's fallen off me yet while shaking things up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Simplicity Women's American Flag/Stars Spangled Print Leggings; Brand: ; Review: Not too see through at all. I'm 5'7" and 118 lbs. These fit perfectly. I have really long legs, but these go all the way down to the bottom of my ankle.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: BellyLady; Review: While the paillettes give off really nice light play, the chiffon is tough enough to stand up to constant working out, practicing and performing. Nothing's fallen off me yet while shaking things up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Multi-Row Paillettes Gold Coins Belly Dance Wrap & Hip Scarf, Lively Style -green; Brand: ; Review: While the paillettes give off really nice light play, the chiffon is tough enough to stand up to constant working out, practicing and performing. Nothing's fallen off me yet while shaking things up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flag FR1200 - Frank Allover American Flag Crew Neck Sweatshirt; Brand: American Summer; Review: I wore this on July 4th. It's perfect for Colorado because it never fails to be freezing cold every single July 4th. It's extremely warm for watching fireworks on a miserably cold Colorado night in the dead of summer, and extremely soft! I was really surprised with how warm it kept me since I tend to freeze way too much no matter how much I layer my clothing. I only needed this and something to cover my legs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ollio Women's Faux Suede Point Toe Shoe High Heel Multi Color Pump; Brand: ; Review: Very comfortable, beautiful and practical shoes. Couldn't be more happy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ollio Women's Platform Shoe Ribbon High Heel Multi Color Pump; Brand: ; Review: I really couldn't love these shoes more. Very happy with them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oxford Diamond Co Cubic Zirconia Fashion Promise .925 Sterling Silver Ring Sizes 3-12; Brand: ; Review: I love this ring. It's got that mirror polish finish and the CZ sparkles like crazy for such a dainty ring. It's dazzling in the sunlight and even in indoor light.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pink Lady Ladies Capri PJ Bottoms and Cap Sleeve Pajama Loungewear Set; Brand: Pink Lady; Review: I love this, and it's impossible for me to find capri pants pj's that I like anywhere. They're just right for size. I ordered medium and I'm on the small side of medium and these are a perfect fit, not too tight or loose. In fact, I'm a bit worried that the waistband may stretch out after several washings and be too large, so I'd really prefer this have a drawstring. I'm already ordering my second pair in a different color.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forever Link Focus-33 Women's Fashion Stylish Pull On Over Knee High Sexy Boots; Brand: Forever; Review: I absolutely love these boots. I wear 6 and a half and that's what I ordered and they fit exactly as expected. I can wear the top part of the boot up for mini skirts, or rolled down to wear them over jeans. They look good either way. I'll definitely be buying these in other colors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pleaser Women's Vanity Pump; Brand: Pleaser; Review: I'm a size 6 1/2 and I bought the size 7 to be safe. The 7 is still too snug in the heel area and I would need a 7 1/2 to be comfortable, but the only bigger size up is an 8, which would be ridiculously big. I can put some heel grippers in these to keep the shoes from biting into my heels and put up with a bit of snugness in the toe box, but they can be worn that way. I'll keep them because they're a beautiful shoe and I need them for my wardrobe. So I hope this helps everyone with sizing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anna-Kaci Womens Fringe Sequin Strap Backless 1920s Flapper Party Mini Dress; Brand: Anna-Kaci; Review: I love it! I normally wear a medium (8) and ordered large after reading the reviews. It fits perfect! Definitely order one size up, then prepare to dance!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avidlove Women's Nightshirts Satin Chemises Slip Sleepwear; Brand: Avidlove; Review: I like this nightgown, but the satin is way too think and krinkly, wrinkling very easily and keeping way too much static. I'll be wearing it, but I won't be buying any more of this brand.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: DKaren Luxurious Satin Sexy Long Nightgown Lingerie; Brand: DKaren; Review: I'm size 8, ordered a medium and it fits wonderfully. The material is good, not too thin, not wrinkly and doesn't hold static the way some do. It's very shiny just as in the picture. The color was exactly as pictured too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Brightlings, Interactive Singing, Talking 15" Plush, by Spin Master - Pink; Brand: Brightlings; Review: My daughter is 6. Saw commercial on TV. Asked for it for Christmas. It's a really cute toy. Fun and I was impressed with it. Little loud though. Would recommend; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Imaginext DC Super Friends, Super Hero Flight City; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: Why is this toy so hard to understand and play with!? Unreal. Couldn't get the copter to work. It's top heavy for some reason and just falls straight down. It just doesn't work like all the other reviews said. Way too expensive for the huge toy to do hardly nothing at all. Terrible Christmas gift brought by Santa. This company should be ashamed of themselves.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Our Generation Dolls Sweet Stop Ice Cream Truck for Dolls, 18"; Brand: Our Generation; Review: Great buy. Santa really did it great this year. A ton of tape and zip ties holding everything in was a pain to remove but worth it. Only complaint is the windshield wipers don't work. But not a deal breaker. My daughter is 6 and loves everything about this product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mega Bloks SpongeBob SquarePants Bad Neighbors Playset; Brand: Mega Bloks; Review: Really cute set. My son loves it but why is it advertised as megablocks? They are regular sized Legos. When I bought it I thought it would be bigger Legos for my son. Slightly Disappointed; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: WEP Dog Puppy Emoji Pillow Emoticon Cushion Plush Soft Toy Doll Smiley; Brand: WEP; Review: So cute and it's really big! Good buy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Washable Sidewalk Chalk, 48 Assorted Bright Colors by Crayola; Brand: Crayola; Review: Alot of chalk. So perfect. We love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jungle Gym Kingdom 18" Trapeze Swing Bar Rings 48" Heavy Duty Chain Swing Set Accessories & Locking Carabiners (Green); Brand: Jungle Gym Kingdom; Review: Easy to set up. My daughter loves it. So fun. Keeps her busy for a long time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Top Race Sand Castle Pail Buckets, Beach Pails, Sand Mold Pails, 8" Inch Pack of 4; Brand: Top Race; Review: The buckets are so great!! Amazing addition to our beach trips. Love that they stack all together.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Batman v Superman Batman Voice Changer Mask; Brand: Mattel; Review: My product was delivered missed the door that covers the batteries and no screws either. Can't use. SMH!!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Emojistickers Most Popular Emojis, 288 Pack; Brand: Emoji Stickers; Review: Basically a total nightmare trying to peel stickers off. Save the time and frustration. Go with a different brand.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Galapagos Suites; City: Puerto Ayora Santa Cruz Galapagos Islands; Review: Spent three nights including my birthday which Josy remembered. We were pleasantly surprised to see a cake at the foot of the bed. She made us feel very welcome and it was better than a home away from home. The rooms are clean and spacious and well appointed and the property is very conveniently located. We were a bit unwell and Josy was very concerned about us and looked after us like her own. She spent a lot of time trying to sort out our airline booking. She is a warm and affectionate person. Would highly recommend the place to all kinds of travellers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rahayeb Desert Camp; City: Wadi Rum Al Aqabah Governorate; Review: The VIP tent was more comfortable than we expected and very spacious, with a very comfortable bed and good water pressure in the shower. A torch is a must, as the power is turned off and there was a power outage as well. However, both dinner and breakfast left a lot to be desired. There is no demarcated non smoking area for dining, resulting in staff and guests smoking just about anywhere. The jeep provided for the safari had seen better days. The staff, unlike in the other locations in Jordan, seemed disinterested. As a first time desert experience it was novel, but I am sure, a better experience could be had elsewhere.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saint John Hotel; City: Madaba Madaba Governorate; Review: We stayed here one night as part of a tour. The manager was exceedingly helpful. The staff in general were very friendly and polite. The views over the city at breakfast were great. St John Church is right next to the hotel.The room was clean and the bed very comfortable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Amman; City: Amman Amman Governorate; Review: The hotel was provided by our tour company. It was of the standard one expects from Ibis. There was a slight leakage in the first room, and we were promptly moved to another room. The staff were very courteous and friendly. Breakfast was a very good spread and included eggs cooked to order. The second morning we had an early flight to catch and were pleasantly surprised by the basic breakfast provided from 4.30 am! There is a shopping mall diagonally opposite.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lalco Residency; City: Mumbai Maharashtra; Review: We were pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to spot the apartment from some distance away. The check-in process was smooth and the staff were very helpful and friendly. The apartment itself was clean, comfortable and spacious. Anything that was requested was immediately supplied/attended to. The security is very tight so we felt totally at ease during our stay. We had booked a three bedroom apartment which easily accommodated five of us. It was a comfortable place to return to and unwind after a tiring day on the road. It will definitely be the first place we consider on our next trip to Mumbai.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: A Fighting Chance; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Warren Page; Review: Great enthusiasm. It will take Herculean effort to change the Republican mindset.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: All the Light We Cannot See; Author: Visit Amazon's Anthony Doerr Page; Review: Captivating!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Virtues of Oxygen; Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Schoenberger Page; Review: Beautiful characterization....so worthwhile in many ways.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Life After Life: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kate Atkinson Page; Review: I loved this story. The characters were so real in so many ways. Ursula is remarkable to live so many lives with hardship and tremendous loss and yet remain a compassionate being. Zoe is the gadfly and does it so well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Name Is Lucy Barton: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Strout Page; Review: A poignant story showing the effects of poverty on a family and how it shapes relationships.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Louise Penny Page; Review: Drew me into the rest...now on the third in the series. I am getting to know "these people."; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Armband for Apple iPod Nano 3rd Generation 4GB, 8GB, 16GB; Brand: kingsmart; Review: We looked for this type of band for our 3rd generation ipod and it was exactly what it was supposed to be. Just a little difficult to work the volume through the window.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cmple HDMI Cable, 30 feet; Brand: Cmple; Review: great value for the price; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NETGEAR C3000-100NAS N300 (8x4) WiFi DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem Router (C3000) Certified for Xfinity from Comcast, Spectrum, Cox, Cablevision; Brand: NETGEAR; Review: needs to be reset about every two weeks; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: GMW Earbuds/Headphone with Built-in Microphone Stereo Earphone Compatible iPhone X / 8/7 / 6 Plus and iPad Headset; Brand: GMW; Review: keeps phone safe and secure; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iPhone Camera Lens Kit (Universal) Pro Series HD DSLR Lens Bundle For iPhone & Samsung Galaxy; Brand: Cam Rah; Review: Makes any phone a camera with telephoto or wide angle lens. Fits as expected on an iPhone or iPad; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Wiha 91118 Green Canvas Pouch for Sets, 8 positions; Brand: Wiha; Review: The item does not match what's in the picture. The last pocket is supposed to be wider. I had one like this previously which was ordered straight from the Wiha website that matched the picture which fits the Wiha ESD safe drive-loc handle I use for work. The one I received does not. It also has a Made in China tag on the pouch (FYI Wiha is a German company). I'm gonna go rip off the seam to widen one of the pockets now.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: VIM Tools HBR3 Bit Ratchet; Brand: Vim Products; Review: This is the exact thing I needed to get into those stupidly designed tight spots that won't even allow an off-set screw driver. Coworker was so impressed by this, I ordered him one, too. Yes, you can change the direction on the ratcheting end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: all-sun Digital Multimeter/DMM / Multi Tester Amp/Ohm / Volt Meter/Diode and Continuity Test Pocket Size; Brand: ALLOSUN; Review: Perfect size for stuffing in an already overstuffed tool bag so I don't have to tug around a beast-sized meter. Probe wires are a little short but appropriate length for this meter. Easy to use and has all the basic units you need.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Craftsman 2 Piece 16 Inch Rubber Strap Wrench Set, 9-45570; Brand: Craftsman; Review: I bought these with the intention of replacing the heavy channel locks I use for work. They're much more lightweight than channel locks for sure and they definitely do what I needed them to do. I use the other one at home to open jars and, more recently, to unscrew the kitchen sink aerator. Upon receiving it, the screws that hold the rubber strap onto the plastic handle were loose but that was easily fixed and works fine after.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WEN 2307 Variable Speed Rotary Tool Kit with 100-Piece Accessories; Brand: WEN; Review: Got this for arts and crafts projects at home. Does what I need it to do. Opted for this because I didn't want to drop lots of money on an expensive professional tool for which I have no experience. I think this is a great one to learn with and master before moving on to the nicer tools. I have purchased other adapters/bits and they work well with this tool.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Canvas Tool Pouch, Zipper Bags Offer Durable Storage and Includes 2 Small Tool Pouches For Accessories, 16 oz. Cotton; Brand: ToolAssort; Review: Great for keeping tools organized in my tool bag. Different colors make it easy to color code what sets of tools I'll need for a job. They feel very durable. I have some heavy tools and so far, these pouches have held up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Toy Story (1995); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (a.k.a. ID4) (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sense and Sensibility (1995); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leaving Las Vegas (1995); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Holland's Opus (1995); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grumpier Old Men (1995); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride Part II (1995); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fargo (1996); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rock, The (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sabrina (1995); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dragonheart (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Truth About Cats & Dogs, The (1996); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cable Guy, The (1996); Genres: Comedy, Thriller; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Nutty Professor, The (1996); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Phenomenon (1996); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Postman, The (Postino, Il) (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nixon (1995); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Up Close and Personal (1996); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Godfather, The (1972); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Richard III (1995); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jerry Maguire (1996); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: English Patient, The (1996); Genres: Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jack (1996); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Emma (1996); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Othello (1995); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jane Eyre (1996); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Michael (1996); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Moll Flanders (1996); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mirror Has Two Faces, The (1996); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Preacher's Wife, The (1996); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hamlet (1996); Genres: Crime, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Michael Collins (1996); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cry, the Beloved Country (1995); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Night (1996); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alaska (1996); Genres: Adventure, Children; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (1996); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lost World: Jurassic Park, The (1997); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beautician and the Beast, The (1997); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saint, The (1997); Genres: Action, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grosse Pointe Blank (1997); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Looking for Richard (1996); Genres: Documentary, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Evening Star, The (1996); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Devil's Own, The (1997); Genres: Action, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fools Rush In (1997); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Portrait of a Lady, The (1996); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Selena (1997); Genres: Drama, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chasing Amy (1997); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Meister Contoured Neoprene Weight Lifting Belt 6" Back Support; Brand: Meister MMA; Review: Got one 4 each of my sons. The small fit their skinny waists just right. They are beginner power lifters. The belts are working great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Planet Bike Aluminum water bottle cage; Brand: Planet Bike; Review: well built; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vapur Element BPA Free Durable Foldable Flexible Water Bottle with Carabiner; Brand: Vapur; Review: Took a bunch of these on our family mission trip to Central America. They are awesome. Light weight and they clip right to your belt loop; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pelican 0955-010-110 Micro Sport Wallet ProGear Liner; Brand: Pelican; Review: My son loves this wallet. Everyone asks him - what is that?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Polar Bottle Insulated Water Bottle, Big Bear Black/Yellow; Brand: Polar Bottle; Review: Great product. These bottles really do keep your liquid cold for a surprisingly long time - especially if you add a little ice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wireless Bike Computer Odometer, AllThingsAccessory Auto Wake Waterproof LCD Speedometer - Multi Function: Speed Comparator & Average Speed; Brand: ; Review: Great device for a great price. A little tricky to get working, but most are.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Mr. Holland's Opus (1995); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (a.k.a. ID4) (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grumpier Old Men (1995); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride Part II (1995); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Executive Decision (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eraser (1996); Genres: Action, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971); Genres: Children, Comedy, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rumble in the Bronx (Hont faan kui) (1995); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: River Wild, The (1994); Genres: Action, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nutty Professor, The (1996); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Down Periscope (1996); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Up Close and Personal (1996); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spy Hard (1996); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Phenomenon (1996); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Craft, The (1996); Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eye for an Eye (1996); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Matilda (1996); Genres: Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Very Brady Sequel, A (1996); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jingle All the Way (1996); Genres: Children, Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Anne Frank Remembered (1995); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: It's A Girl Whirls (5/Pkg); Brand: Beistle; Review: Very cute Product and got a lot of compliments. the pack has only five so we had to order several packs. the manufacturer should increase the quantity in the packet or form a complete set insetead of ordering several items for the same occasion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fabulous Hong Tze Collection-Beijing Foo Dogs SM; Brand: Asian Home; Review: I gave one star due to the fact that the tail was broken when i received this item. Packaging was very poor but quality of the product is great. it is not as big as you may think. the seller should be using better packing for the product in the box; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Zen Art Brass Feng Shui Desktop Gong; Brand: Asian Home; Review: I was very excited to receive this Zen Brass Gong until it arrived where I realized how poor on Quality and Packaging this product is. The rope Holding the brass plate was already cut, the packaging is very poor that due to the trip to destination it was scratched and pressured thus looking like it was an old frame that is painted. If you ever care about the advice, DO NOT BUY; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Step2 Write Desk with Red Seat; Brand: Step2; Review: Good quality and captured the attention of my daughter since in Box. There is a small assembly work. I suggest the company should make the holes available instead of just pointing the place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Set of 24 Flickering Flameless LED Candle Light Tea light Amber Yellow for Wedding Party Club Decor in White LD009; Brand: Xcellent Global; Review: Cheap and poor quality; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Order of The Eastern Star Tapestry Masonic Bookmark; Brand: The Masonic Exchange; Review: Really like this product - May order another for a new member; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Home Fashion Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtains - Antique Bronze Grommet Top - Burgundy - 52"W x 84"L -; Brand: Best Home Fashion; Review: Looks lovely in my bedroom. Color is very nice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Home Fashion Wide Width Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtain - Antique Bronze Grommet Top - Black; Brand: Best Home Fashion; Review: These look nice in my living room. Enjoy them daily.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Decopolitan 1-Inch Urn Single Window Treatment Rod Set, 72 to 144-Inch, Antique Silver; Brand: Decopolitan; Review: Looks nice with the curtains. Very nice addition to the room.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Darice 40-Piece Acrylic Pom Pom, 1-Inch, White; Brand: Darice; Review: Pom Poms are used for fundraiser crafts. Thank you for the prompt delivery & quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Darice 100 Baby Pink Acrylic Craft Pom Poms 1/2"; Brand: CraftKitsAndSupplies; Review: Ordered wrong size. That was my fault; however, I will be using them for another fundraiser; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 1 PAIR: OUTSIDE MOUNT Vertical Blind Bracket/Valance clip, Clear; Brand: Arabel; Review: Needed these to hold my vertical blinds. Thank you very much!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Utopia Bedding Heavy Duty Clear Shower Curtain Liner Mildew Resistant 72 by 72 Inches 10 Gauge; Brand: Utopia Bedding; Review: Have been wanting this item for a very long time, Very Happy with the purchase; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Start with Why; Author: Sinek; Review: This is a WONDERFUL book!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Undoctored: Why Health Care Has Failed You and How You Can Become Smarter Than Your Doctor; Author: Visit Amazon's William Davis Page; Review: Wonderful resource!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Grain Brain Whole Life Plan: Boost Brain Performance, Lose Weight, and Achieve Optimal Health; Author: Visit Amazon's David Perlmutter Page; Review: Buy it! It's great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Grain Brain Cookbook: More Than 150 Life-Changing Gluten-Free Recipes to Transform Your Health; Author: Visit Amazon's David Perlmutter Page; Review: Great book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eat Your Heart Out: The Look Good, Feel Good, Silver Lining Cookbook; Author: Dean Sheremet; Review: I thought this was going to be a cry-cry over LeAnn Rimes and it really isn't. I can't wait to try some of the recipes, especially the smoothies. They look absolutely wonderful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Guitar Hero World Tour - Playstation 3 (Game only); Brand: by
Activision; Review: There isn't much I can say about this that I haven't said about the others....a great amount of music for everyone to enjoy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Playstation 3 WarBeast Guitar; Brand: by
dreamGEAR; Review: This is a nice Guitar, the only problem I have with it is the neck of it is kinda wide, wider then some of the other I have used, if you have small hands this may not be for you. Other then that it'd a great product and works very well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Guitar Hero 5 Stand Alone Software - Playstation 3 (Game only); Brand: by
Activision; Review: A very cool Guitar hero game, the tunes offer a little bit for everyone! Love it...Pick it up today and Rock out!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PS3 Band Hero featuring Taylor Swift - Super Bundle; Brand: by
Activision; Review: This was bought for my brother, I have had the chance to play with him and we both love it. The Drums, Guitar and mic give something for everyone to enjoy, note to all...you might wanna put someone on the mic that can sing. Lol all in all a great product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crysis 2 - Playstation 3; Brand: by
Electronic Arts; Review: Love the game play in this game. Keeps ya going for hours and is not as easy as pie, if you want a challenge this is for you.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rock Band 3 Wireless Keyboard for PlayStation 3; Brand: by
Mad Catz; Review: Bought this and was very happy with it. can mount in like a guitar and it's light but not too light. brother is lovin' it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Need for Speed Most Wanted - Playstation 3; Brand: by
Electronic Arts; Review: This game to my brother and I is like the omega of the racing games. How could you not love this game??; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PlayStation Move Essentials Pack; Brand: Sony; Review: I am very found of essentials pack and game bundles, they are perfect for someone who is just beginning to get into the gaming world. the only thing that could have possibly made this better was a second controller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Video_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Utopia Bedding Home Ultra Soft Reversible Down Alternative Comforter Queen-Black/Grey - All Season Comforter and Year Round Comfort; Brand: Utopia Bedding; Review: Feels like nylon, not comfy, size is good, but just not impressed at all..cheaply made and feels cheap; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Z Zoned DOUGH Memory Foam Pillow with Tencel Removable Cover - High Loft - Firm - Queen; Brand: MALOUF; Review: This pillow is AWESOME;). I ordered the highest loft and its going to need some breaking in, but its BETTER than its higher priced name brand counter parts.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Z-Line Belaire Glass L-Shaped Computer Desk; Brand: Z-Line Designs; Review: Bought 2 of these, husband assembled them quickly and easily. They weigh 100lbs each, but they are awesome. Hubby got one, son got the other, and they are very pleased with these. Arrived well packaged, no issues, glass is solid and heavy. These desks are amazing for the price; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Furinno 99811LC/BK Turn-N-Tube 5-Tier Corner Shelf, Light Cherry; Brand: Furinno; Review: Pretty nice, tubes are plastic and scew together. Fits well in corner, lightweight and pretty sturdy considering, thank you:); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Urban Shop Faux Fur Saucer Chair with Metal Frame, One Size, Black; Brand: Urban Shop; Review: Cool comfy chair..kid loves it. Shes 110 lbs and fits perfectly. Quality and affirdable, thank you; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Dynamat 10415 10" x 10" x 0.067" Thick Self-Adhesive Sound Deadener with Xtreme Speaker Kit - Pair; Brand: Dynamat; Review: Performs as claimed by the manufacturer. However think its a very expensive product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ANCO 31-Series 31-20 Wiper Blade -20", (Pack of 1); Brand: Anco; Review: they work ok. A bit noisy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mobil 1 94001 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil - 1 Quart (Pack of 6); Brand: Mobil 1; Review: its mobile 1 ..... nothing more to say.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mobil 1 5W-20 Advanced Synthetic Motor Oil - 1 Quart; Brand: Mobil 1; Review: its mobile 1 ..... nothing more to say.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NGK (3787) ILTR6A-8G Laser Iridium Spark Plug, Pack of 1; Brand: NGK; Review: Great performance spark plug.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: This Controversial Julia Child Recipe Caused Quite a Stir; Abstract: Julia Child has long been one of the most popular cooks in the country, celebrated for strict interpretations of culinary classics. However, her take on a classic Italian dish caused an uproar.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Southwest Airlines flight diverted: Man assaulted flyers, police say; Abstract: The Southwest Airlines flight from Dallas was headed to Los Angeles International Airport when it had to make an unplanned stop in Tucson, Arizona.; Category: travel
Title: 'Habitual stowaway' arrested again at O'Hare, Chicago police say; Abstract: A woman arrested at O'Hare International Airport on Friday night was identified by Chicago police as "known habitual stowaway" Marilyn Hartman.; Category: news
Title: Two teens arrested after Ohio woman is killed by large falling log at park; Abstract: Victoria Schafer, 44, was on the stairs near Old Man's Cave in Hocking Hills State Park when the log struck her.; Category: news
Title: 10-year-old girl dies after falling off carnival ride, police say; Abstract: A 10-year-old girl has died after she fell off a carnival ride in New Jersey, according to police.; Category: news
Title: Teamwork! Silly cat is trapped in toy but heroic dog comes to rescue; Abstract: The hilarious moment of interspecies teamwork is captured when a silly cat with a toy stuck on his head gets rescued by a heroic dog. The cat eventually falls on its back and lets the dog pull the toy off its head, in this adorably collabrative video from February 24 in Lethbridge, Canada.; Category: video
Title: Miguel Cervantes' Wife Reveals Daughter, 3, 'Died in My Arms' After Entering Hospice Care; Abstract: Miguel Cervantes' Wife Reveals Daughter 'Died in My Arms' After Hospice Care; Category: tv
Title: Dutch family found in cellar 'waiting for end of time'; Abstract: Dutch police found a father and six adult children hidden in the basement of a remote farmhouse where they had reportedly spent years "waiting for the end of time", officials said Tuesday. - 'Living in a basement' - Local news station RTV Drenthe, which first reported the story, said the family "have been living in a basement for years, waiting for the 'end of times'."; Category: news
Title: Clever dog tries to hide guilt with hysterical smile; Abstract: You just know when she smiles it can't be good. But you can never be mad at her, look at that face! Oh Maya what did you do today? @maya_the_aussie; Category: video
Title: Mom warned officials son was taking gun to school. Now she faces charges.; Abstract: The mother, whose teenage son died by suicide at a middle school, faces charges that include felony neglect of a dependent.; Category: news
Title: Bill Macy, Bea Arthur's Husband on 'Maude,' Dies at 97; Abstract: Norman Lear saw him choking on a chicken bone and brought him to Hollywood. The actor also appeared in 'My Favorite Year' and 'The Late Show.'; Category: news
Title: Woman Spots Deadly Animal Hiding In Photo Of Her Kids; Abstract: Her unsuspecting children weren't the only ones posing for the pictures.; Category: lifestyle
Title: This Dog Sleeping on His Owner's Prosthetic Leg Years After His Death Will Break Your Heart; Abstract: A heartbreaking photo of a dog lying on the prosthetic leg of his late human shows how much dogs miss us once we're gone.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Man sets pet lion on electrician who tried to collect pay, police say; Abstract: The caretaker of a Pakistani house of worship unleashed his pet lion on an electrician who was trying to collect late payment, local police say.; Category: news
Title: Sotomayor breaks new two-minute rule as Supreme Court hears immigration case; Abstract: Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor broke a new rule for justices Wednesday as the court heard arguments in an immigration and employment case.Jumping in to ask a question, Sotomayor broke the "two minute rule" that allows attorneys before the court to begin arguments for two minutes without being interrupted by a justice.; Category: news
Title: Cartel gunmen terrorize Mexican city, free El Chapo's son; Abstract: Mexican security forces captured one of notorious drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's sons on Thursday, media reports said, after rumors of the detention led to fierce gunbattles in the city of Culiacan, a stronghold of the Sinaloa cartel.; Category: news
Title: Bill O'Reilly said he doubts mom works 4 jobs. She says he 'doesn't have a clue'; Abstract: Gina Giambone says she actually juggles 5 part-time gigs to earn enough for her and her adult special-needs daughter; Category: finance
Title: Body of missing Alabama girl found; 2 being charged; Abstract: Investigators searching through garbage found the body of a 3-year-old girl who was missing more than a week, and authorities are charging two people with murder, police said Tuesday.; Category: news
Title: California sheriff's deputy shot dead, ride-along injured in 'active shooter incident,' officials say; Abstract: A police officer in Northern California was killed and another deputy was injured after an "active shooter" incident early Wednesday, according to officials.; Category: news
Title: 2 charged in murder of Alabama girl Kamille 'Cupcake' McKinney; Abstract: Two suspects have been charged with murder in the death of a 3-year-old Alabama girl who went missing from an outdoor birthday party on Oct. 12.; Category: news
Title: Dad Lied About 4-Year-Old's Role In Double Shooting: Report; Abstract: Authorities say a Milwaukee man blamed a double-shooting on his 4-year-old daughter, then changed his story to the more truthful version once police warned him about the charges he would be up against if he continued his tale.; Category: news
Title: 'Slender Man' survivor's brother: 'I couldn't believe... that kind of thing' happened; Abstract: Caden Leutner was just 10 and in the fourth grade when his sister, Payton Leutner, was stabbed by two friends trying to appease a fictional character named "Slender Man."; Category: news
Title: Birmingham couple charged with murder after abducted 3-year-old's body found in dumpster; Abstract: An Alabama couple have been charged with capital murder in the suffocation death of 3-year-old Kamille "Cupcake" McKinney who was found in a dumpster; Category: news
Title: Sacramento gunman arrested after 24-hour hostage standoff; Abstract: Sacramento police have arrested a gunman who held people hostage inside a home for nearly 24 hours. Authorities say the man surrendered Wednesday afternoon after officers entered the home. Police went looking for the man Tuesday afternoon after talking to a woman who had been injured in a domestic disturbance. Police say they spotted the man in a pickup truck, leading to a two-mile slow-speed chase.; Category: news
Title: Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween Costume Transformation Is Mind-Blowing But, Like, What Is It?; Abstract: You might say she's scary good at playing dress-up, because Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween costume is even more impressive than we could have imagined and that's saying a lot, considering transformative Halloween costumes are kind of her thing. But this year Klum took it up one more notch as she shared her metamorphosis into,; Category: lifestyle
Title: Woman's 21-year-old son accused of stabbing her to death in Vacaville home; Abstract: Police say a 59-year-old woman was stabbed to death Thursday inside a Vacaville home and investigators have tied her 21-year-old son to the crime. Neighbors woke up to a real-life nightmare early Halloween morning when Vacaville police say there had been a deadly stabbing just a few doors down on Rio Grande Drive. "Never expected this to happen in my neighborhood," ...; Category: news
Title: My late sister stole my inheritance and swindled our mother; Abstract: 'While my sister's husband feels bad for me, he will not compensate me for my loss.'; Category: finance
Title: Police: 5 teens shot at vacant house party in Phoenix neighborhood; Abstract: Multiple people were shot outside a vacant home in a southwest Phoenix neighborhood where a house party on Halloween was taking place early Friday morning, according to the Phoenix Police Department. According to Phoenix PD, the call initially came in as a stabbing just after 1 a.m. in the neighborhood near 87th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road. Responding officers found five people who had been shot outside a house. Police said the five victims...; Category: news
Title: 3rd Teen Arrested For Brutal Gang Attack That Left 79-Year-Old Man With Broken Ribs; Abstract: The NYPD says a 14-year-old boy is now facing gang assault and disorderly conduct charges for the violent attack on Oct. 10.; Category: news
Title: The ice used to protect them. Now their island is crumbling into the sea.; Abstract: Shrinking ice, rising sea levels and fierce storms are damaging the Magdalen Islands. Residents are trying to fend off the water in some places, and retreat from it in others.; Category: weather
Title: Amelia Bambridge: Body of missing backpacker found in sea; Abstract: The body of a 21-year-old British backpacker who went missing after a beach party on a Cambodian island has been found, according to the charity assisting her family.; Category: news
Title: Police rescue abducted teen girl; 34-year-old man taken into custody; Abstract: An Amber Alert was issued for missing Virginia teen Isabel Hicks last week.; Category: news
Title: Girl, 7, critically wounded in shooting while trick-or-treating in Little Village on Southwest Side; suspect in custody; Abstract: ; Category: news
Title: 'Bodies flew everywhere': A border chase shows role U.S. citizens play in immigration smuggling; Abstract: The Trump administration is prosecuting the highest number of smugglers ever as U.S. citizens and immigrants try to circumvent a crackdown on illegal immigration.; Category: news
Title: Boy gives a paws up to puppy struggling with sofa; Abstract: Nine-week-old puppy Bo still struggles to get on the couch at home in Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada. It took his young owner Evan (4) to give him a paws up. But the little dog still ended up belly up!; Category: news
Title: Beloved Indian YouTuber Grandpa Kitchen dies. Millions watched him make meals for orphans; Abstract: Beloved Indian YouTuber Narayana Reddy, known for his mega-sized outdoor cooking, has died, his family said. He was 73.; Category: news
Title: Outrage in Spain over verdict in gang sex attack on teen; Abstract: Women's groups and legal experts demanded Friday that Spain's laws be changed after five men accused of gang-raping an unconscious 14-year-old girl were convicted on a lesser charge of sexual abuse.; Category: news
Title: Baby cheetah goes head-to-head with puppy; Abstract: Friends come in all shapes and sizes and animal species; Category: video
Title: Doberman Pinscher throws tantrum for Halloween candy; Abstract: Most trick-or-treaters dread getting candy corn as their treat, but Kruz, a 6-year-old Doberman, loves the sugary confection. This amazing dog has a sweet tooth that cannot be satisfied, so his owner switches him to cricket based dog treats!; Category: video
Title: Video captures terrifying moment woman slips at Grand Canyon; Abstract: Emily Koford was visiting the national park with her mom when a step backward left her clinging to the rocks.; Category: video
Title: Single dad adopts 5 siblings so they can stay together; Abstract: Lamont Thomas spent years fostering children. Even after he decided to stop fostering, he still wanted to help others and made a change he didn't expect. Steve Hartman has his story on the road.; Category: video
Title: This Foster Kitten Smiling for a Photo Will Make Your Friday; Abstract: Blossom the cat clearly loves her new foster family. Photos of the kitten smiling for the camera have gone viral and melted hearts everywhere.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Amazon's Alexa may have witnessed alleged Florida murder, authorities say; Abstract: Adam Reechard Crespo is charged with murder in connection to the July death of his girlfriend, Silvia Galva, in Hallandale Beach.; Category: news
Title: Smugglers are sawing through new sections of Trump's border wall; Abstract: Using popular power tools, cutters are defeating the steel bollards, opening gaps large enough for people and drugs to pass through, agents and officials say.; Category: news
Title: Florida girl, 14, calls abuse hotline over 'deplorable' living conditions, parents arrested; Abstract: Two parents in Florida were charged with multiple counts of child neglect after their 14-year-old daughter made a "desperate call for help" on Halloween due to her living conditions, according to officials.; Category: news
Title: New details on why Meg Ryan, John Mellencamp split, plus more news; Abstract: Meg Ryan and John Mellencamp's marriage plans may have prompted their split. Plus, more celebrity news for Nov. 4, 2019.; Category: entertainment
Title: 13-year-old murder suspect escapes from juvenile courthouse: Authorities; Abstract: A 13-year-old boy charged with two counts of murder has escaped.; Category: news
Title: Before his execution, a death row inmate told his victim's family he forgives them; Abstract: Charles Rhines, who was convicted of murder in the brutal stabbing of a 22-year-old man in 1992, was executed in South Dakota Monday, the state's attorney general said, after the Supreme Court denied a last-ditch appeal of his case.; Category: news
Title: Off-duty Chicago police officer in clown makeup arrested on suspicion of slapping on-duty officer; Abstract: CHICAGO - A Chicago police officer was arrested on three misdemeanor charges after slapping a fellow officer early Friday as she tried to enter a bar in Halloween makeup, officials said. Someone at a bar in the 3700 block of North Broadway called police about 1:20 a.m. - just after Halloween ended, according to Sally Bown, a spokeswoman for Chicago police. The caller said "a 30-year-old ...; Category: news
Title: Man Goes To Adoption Event And Finds His Long-Lost Dog; Abstract: Shannon McCann and Nick Pizio hadn't planned on adopting another dog.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Two week old puppies preciously nap together; Abstract: Yutaki, Yumi and Eugene are 17 days old. Check it out as they take a sweet nap together.; Category: video
Title: Caged puppy is rescued from freezing Illinois lake; Abstract: A small puppy is continuing her road to recovery after being rescued from a freezing Illinois lake. Dory was inside a cage when Bryant Fritz spotted her floating in the lake and jumped in to save her. Fritz says he wants to adopt her.; Category: video
Title: A 13-year-old murder suspect who escaped in North Carolina is back in custody; Abstract: A 13-year-old murder suspect who escaped from officers following a court appearance in the North Carolina city of Lumberton this week is back in custody, officials said Wednesday.; Category: news
Title: Mom of missing 5-year-old in Florida has 'inconsistencies' in story, police say; Abstract: Taylor Rose Williams was reported missing early Wednesday. Her mother, Brianna Williams, has stopped cooperating with the investigation, officials say.; Category: news
Title: Three school workers charged in death of special needs student; Abstract: The student was reportedly restrained face-down for nearly an hour before becoming unresponsive; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Dark Tower (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Dark Tower (Pb)); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: As someone who had read the previous six installments of this book, there was no question that I would read The Dark Tower. The only question was whether I would contribute to the Stephen King income stream or whether I would wait patiently for a copy at the library to become available. I am urging you to do the latter. My review is affected by two factors: 1) I own more than two dozen of his books and view him as one of, if not the best authors of our time and 2) this is his 'quest' and finale to his career. So my standards are higher for this author and higher still, because as his finale it should be the culmination of a lifetime's worth of excellence. A main criticism of this book would be the same criticism that I would have for all three of the last books of this series: lack of continuity. Walter began the series as the main villain. In the finale, he makes what can best be called a cameo appearance. While the confrontation between Mordred and Roland might make sense for other authors, its brevity is very much out of character with Stephen King's normal writing style. King made me suffer through several hundred pages to wait for an end to the Wolves of Calla, but he finishes off Mordred in half a page? Eddie, Susannah, and Jake seem like shells of their former characters. Eddie doesn't seem quite the jokester, but I can't tell if that's because he's tired of the quest or if King is tired of the quest. I suspect that it's the latter. My main criticism is that the book lacks a purpose, which is a necessity for a quest. A quest is typically good versus evil, but that seems to be missing here. King seems to feel that the quest is an end in itself, instead of the means to an end. Roland seems more amoral with every line that I read and by the time of the final confrontation, a part of me is rooting for Crimson King. There are some sparse mentions about the end of the world if the Crimson King wins, but it seems to me that Roland doesn't care about the world, just so long as he gets to enter his tower. King does provide some interesting details about how the Crimson King is breaking the beams and adds some new characters, however the character that should have been left out was Stephen King himself. In the book, the epic of the Dark Tower series is not written by King, but is channeled to him by Ka. In fact, he doesn't want to write about the tower and does so only out of obligation. My overall reaction to this book goes along those same lines. It seems like King is tired of writing and really doesn't want to finish this book, but feels obligated to finish the story for his readers. Or perhaps he feels obligated to Ka to finish it. Lastly, what shall I; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Believing in Jesus: A Popular Overview of the Catholic Faith; Author: Visit Amazon's Leonard Foley Page; Review: We used this book for my RCIA class and I would not recommend it. A main problem with the book is that it is very much on the touchy, feely side of things. There are two significant problems that I had with the book. The first is that in the questions of one of the chapters, the author asks for the arguments for and against the ordination of women to the priesthood. This matter was settled quite awhile ago and needs only clarity, not debate. The second problem is that the author does not use A.D. (Anno Domini meaning In the Year of Our Lord) and B.C.(meaning Before Christ), but instead uses the secular denotions of C.E. (Common Era) and B.C.E. (Before Common Era). For those who have never come across these, they are used predominately by non-Christian historians who wish to indicate dates without a referring to Jesus. Why would the author, a Catholic priest, choose a secular dating convention? Jesus is God. Without God there would be no beginning and time would not have any meaning. Why then, is the book not willing to acknowledge God's place when referring to the year?; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Access Database Design & Programming (3rd Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Steven Roman Page; Review: I first read Steven Roman's book on Access a few years ago when it was written for Access 97. I recently bought a copy of the current version as a reference. What I liked about Steven's books was that he took seriously his coverage of normalization, which is rare amongst books on Access. If you're new to database programming, you need to learn the basics of normalization. In my experiences, I've come across a lot of databases designed by beginners that exhibit a "spreadsheet" type of understanding towards Access tables. The beauty of the relational model is that once you have your database set up, ongoing maintenance is minimal. If you learn how to program Access, but don't learn the basics of normalization and the relational model, you may as well just keep your data in Excel spreadsheets. My complaint with this book is his coverage of ADO. The author clearly prefers DAO for MS Access, and he states as much, and his coverage suffers. He covers the material, but he makes using ADO appear to be very difficult. In an entire chapter on ADO, he fails to show the user the most basic thing: how to generate a recordset for a table in your Access database. Instead, he shows you how to use ADO to query other databases, such as SQL Server and even Excel, but not the Access Database that you're currently using. In DAO one of the fundamental details that you need to know about is the CurrentDB object. Steven gets a gold star, because he not only covers the CurrentDB object, but he spends 6 pages on it. In ADO, an object that is used for a somewhat similar purpose is the CurrentProject object. You won't find coverage on it anywhere in this book - just check the index. Perhaps the author's surreptitious goal of the chapter is to frustrate you so much with ADO that you will return to DAO, his preferred choice. Tsk, tsk Steven. After reading the books section on ADO over and over again, I cannot recommend this book if you plan on owning only one Access book. Instead, I would recommend Alison Balter's Mastering Access Databases. It is the best Access book on the market(as most Amazon reviewers will attest to) and covers nearly ever topic that you'd want to know about Access. Even so, Steven's book covers normalization so much better than the other Access books out there that I would advise serious Access programmers to buy two books: Alison's and Steven's.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thinking Strategically: The Competitive Edge in Business, Politics, and Everyday Life (Norton Paperback); Author: Visit Amazon's Avinash K. Dixit Page; Review: My college professor used this as one of the books for our game theory course. I was instantly taken by the book. It applied the most common game theory examples to very ordinary circumstances. For example, it explains that a baseball pitcher does not always want to throw his #1 pitch in a key situation -- there's a percentage of times that he wants to throw it and the book explains how to get that percentage. It also explains how to outline the various outcomes, think backward and use that to achieve the outcome that you desire. This is not an academic book, but it teaches. If you're looking for serious acadmic work, you'd do better to look to James Buchanan or Mancur Olson. For the average reader, though, this book is outstanding.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hobbit; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: I did not realize what a wonderful job that Ingles had done in this reading until I began listening to other audio books. Ingles manages to give each character a distinct voice and as you proceed, you recognize immediately who it is that is speaking. After many years, Tolkien's work stands alone as the only sci-fi/fantasy story that puts the subtlety of language and culture equal to, if not above, the drama. Ingles interesting voices and care with the language of Tolkien make this a most worthy represenation of the timeless classic.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hobbit; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: I did not realize what a wonderful job that Ingles had done in this reading until I began listening to other audio books. Ingles manages to give each character a distinct voice and as you proceed, you recognize immediately who it is that is speaking. After many years, Tolkien's work stands alone as the only sci-fi/fantasy story that puts the subtlety of language and culture equal to, if not above, the drama. Ingles interesting voices and care with the language of Tolkien make this a most worthy represenation of the timeless classic.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy - (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Return of the Ring, The Two; Author: Visit Amazon's J.R.R Tolkien Page; Review: I did not realize what a wonderful job that Ingles had done in this reading until I began listening to other audio books. Ingles manages to give each character a distinct voice and as you proceed, you recognize immediately who it is that is speaking. After many years, Tolkien's work stands alone as the only sci-fi/fantasy story that puts the subtlety of language and culture equal to, if not above, the drama. Ingles interesting voices and care with the language of Tolkien make this a most worthy represenation of the timeless classic.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Boxed Set of 4 Books; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: I did not realize what a wonderful job that Ingles had done in this reading until I began listening to other audio books. Ingles manages to give each character a distinct voice and as you proceed, you recognize immediately who it is that is speaking. After many years, Tolkien's work stands alone as the only sci-fi/fantasy story that puts the subtlety of language and culture equal to, if not above, the drama. Ingles interesting voices and care with the language of Tolkien make this a most worthy represenation of the timeless classic.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings Part 1); Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: I did not realize what a wonderful job that Ingles had done in this reading until I began listening to other audio books. Ingles manages to give each character a distinct voice and as you proceed, you recognize immediately who it is that is speaking. After many years, Tolkien's work stands alone as the only sci-fi/fantasy story that puts the subtlety of language and culture equal to, if not above, the drama. Ingles interesting voices and care with the language of Tolkien make this a most worthy represenation of the timeless classic.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The One Thing You Need to Know: ... About Great Managing, Great Leading, and Sustained Individual Success; Author: Visit Amazon's Marcus Buckingham Page; Review: 3 1/2 stars is what I would actually rank this. I was a little disappointed by the book. This book lacks anything groundbreaking. His premise that there is "one thing" around success is simplistic and false. Much else of what he writes is fine, but has been said before by him and other authors. The author spends time convincing us to focus on our strengths, not on fixing our weaknesses. Peter Drucker wrote that decades ago. We should spend time reflecting. Didn't I learn that from Stephen Covey when he told me to "sharpen the saw"? In explaining his "one thing" premise, Buckingham makes a reference to the Balanced Scorecard and views it as a good thing, but makes it secondary to the "one thing" that overrides all else. That's fluff. It's also wrong. It is vitally important to know what your mission is. It's also important to know what values that you espouse. But it's not always true that there is "one thing" that can be measured that will guide you to success. Life is often more complicated than that. (Incidentally, Kaplan and Norton's spent years creating the Balanced Scorecard framework, Kaplan and Norton developed a framework that is about as good as it gets in terms of business theories). The examples in the book are overly simplistic. With respect to the team members at Walgreens, a 21st century book on leadership should discuss how to get the best out of a team of college graduates, not a team of store clerks. Can the scientist, the statistician, the engineer, the computer programmer, the stock broker, the salesman and the graphics designer all be motivated in the same ways that a Walgreens' manager leads store clerks? This book relies heavily on anecdotal evidence and that's part of the problem. When you do that, your entire foundation begins to crack when your examples don't fit reality. For example, he identifies Microsoft's "one thing" as its ability to form business partnerships. If Microsoft truly had a "one thing" it would be that they secured an early monopoly over the OS for the microcomputer industry and have leveraged that advantage ever since. Most of the rest of us don't have that opportunity so this example just doesn't work. The Best Buy example is also misleading. Buckingham would have us believe that employee knowledge is what made Best Buy successful. If employee knowledge = aggressive sales tactics, then he is correct. Best Buy successfully figured out how to merge two models: the large price-driven retail store with the small sales-driven electronics store. They beat the smaller electronics stores by offering lower prices and they beat Circuit City, because their sales tactics are much more aggressive (aka successful, if you like that sort of thing) than competitors. Best Buy makes a killing convincing you that you need a $30 insurance policy on a VCR that costs $70 even though all electronics has an implied warranty of 1 year. In hindsight, I shouldn't have been as surprised to feel let down by the book. Most leadership/management authors do; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pro CSS and HTML Design Patterns; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Bowers Page; Review: An analogy for comparing this book to other CSS books: if other books are 2-day seminars then this book is a full fledged college course. This book takes a rigorous, organized approach to teaching you how CSS works whereas most CSS books take a "here's what you need to know" approach. It is not difficult, but it does take time to read the entire book and you cannot skip parts of the book or it won't make sense. First, if you only read pages 70-71, then you will have gotten the value of the price of the book. Michael is the first and at this point the only person that I've seen figure out an approach very similar to O-O inheritance (not CSS hierarchical inheritance). His is example uses a button class and 3 sub-classes, whose rules are written button.square, button.rounded and button.go. This is an invaluable technique. Other sites have always said that "you can't do O-O inheritance in CSS", but he has come up with a simple way to do it. The difference between this book and others is that he organizes CSS into a methodology that no one else has. He organizes it into box model type, box model extent and box model placement. These are the authors categories and not explicit CSS categories (though they can be said to be implied by the CSS standard). He then goes about showing you every combination of how these work together, why each is useful and their limitations, including browser limitations. It's very dry reading, but you get a grasp of CSS that you wouldn't get otherwise. For example, I always had difficulty with centering items in CSS, because it would work sometimes and not other times. In other books and on the web, I would find centering "hacks" that usually involved text-align: center, but never really understood why CSS didn't have a way to center items. It turns out that CSS does have a way to center elements, but you have to know which type of box model that you're working with as well as its limitations ( horizontally shrinkwrapped elements cannot be centered and IE6 cannot center absolute elements). I highly recommend this book, but only if you are willing to commit time to learning it thoroughly. This is not a "get you up and running in 30 minutes" type of book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JavaScript: The Good Parts; Author: Visit Amazon's Douglas Crockford Page; Review: Do you struggle when creating objects in Javascript? Do you find the syntax to be non-intuitive and frustrating? Do you know the difference between using a function as an object vs using an object literal? Do you know how using object literals can simplify your code and create something similar to namespaces? Do you know how to augment the type system -- for example, if wanted all strings to have a trim() method? Do you know why the "new" statement is so dangerous? Do you know an alternative that eliminates the use of "new" entirely? These are some of the topics that the book touches upon. This book is aimed at someone with intermediate programming experience that wants to know the best way to create and use objects, arrays, types, etc. Crockford takes his experience with Javascript to show you best practices coding techniques and styles to use with Javascript. In addition, the book provides insights into what makes Javascript so confusing and what can be done about it. You might ask "Isn't this stuff already covered in other books that I have?" The answer is no. For one, most other books use a psuedo-classical coding style (see below) to explain objects that is a source of confusion. Javascript can be very confusing, especially for programmers who have extensive experience in other C-based languages (like myself). Writing good Javascript that uses objects, methods, etc. is hard. In Javascript, if you want to create objects, use inheritance and create methods, you have several different ways to write your code and it's difficult to know what the strengths and weaknesses of each are. Crockford explains the problem plainly. Other C-based languages use class inheritance (Crockford calls this classical inheritance). Javascript, on the other hand, is the only popular language that uses prototype inheritance, which does not have classes. However, the syntax which Javascript uses to create object is Java-like (Crockford calls this pseudo-classical syntax). It's confusing, because it keeps you in a class-based frame of mind while working in a language that has no concept of classes. Clarifying what's going on with the object model is the best part of this book. Crockford also explains other parts of Javascript that can be problematic and the techniques that he prefers for handling them. I don't necessarily agree with all of them, but the important thing is that he explains his reasoning. To effectively learn Javascript, I recommend that you buy 1) a book that covers the details of the language and can be used as a reference (e.g. Javascript, the Definitive Guide) and 2) Crockford's book. Advanced programmers might also enjoy Pro Javascript Design Patterns, which shows a number of ways to combine Javascript with some of the GoF patterns. I would avoid any cookbook style books on Javascript, because you're better off using YUI, JQuery or one of the other Javascript libraries than writing your own drag-and-drops, calendars, etc. There are a series of Yahoo! videos by Crockford that mirror the material in this book and can be found as podcasts under YUI Theater.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pragmatic Thinking and Learning: Refactor Your Wetware (Pragmatic Programmers); Author: Andy Hunt; Review: I wanted to like this book. I really did. The subject of how to go from beginner to master is valuable information indeed. The problem that I have with the book is the continual references to the "L-Mode", "R-Mode" or left brain/right brain thinking that comes from Betty Edwards book about how to draw and how "brain lateralization" affects drawing. This book takes Edwards writings on L-Mode and R-Mode and then applies them to programming. Unfortunately, Edwards' theory is not science, it's pseudoscience. Edwards' work draws on old research, the newest being 1985, which is very old when you consider how much research in neuroscience there has been in the last 2 decades. Jessy Dorn has published an article on BrainConnection that goes through the problems with Edwards' L-Mode vs R-Mode theory. Pragmatic Thinking presents Edward's theory as science, which it clearly is not. It's one thing to say that you subscribe to a debatable theory, but it's quite another thing to just present it as being scientifically based, when it's not. [...]. The [...] then builds on this [...], which is what gets the downgrades from me. A very nasty side effect, though is that this is a very popular [...] and now a bunch of people are going to repeat this entire "L-Mode/R-Mode" [...] and propagate the myth even further. Do a web search and you'll see that it's already happened.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Get Motivated!: Overcome Any Obstacle, Achieve Any Goal, and Accelerate Your Success with Motivational DNA; Author: Visit Amazon's Tamara Lowe Page; Review: WHAT I LIKED 1) Honesty upfront. The author plainly states that there is no 1 size fits all and you're free to disagree with her framwork. 2) A variety of helpful best practices for getting you motivated, despite what your personality may be. 3) The author does try to shove in as much information as possible. WHAT'S LACKING 1) The study needs to be included as an appendix to the book. I would gladly add a star to my review for this. On page 5, the author tells us that the ". . . system that I am about to unveil is based on an eight-year study that my team and I have conducted with more than 10,000 people. It is a research-based, systematic approach to achievement--and it works." If you're going to claim that an approach is backed up by scientific data, then you have to provide more details about the data and the science that you used. 2) The middle core chapters fail to actually help you "get motivated". There's inspirational stories, lots of quotes, bulleted and numbered listes, but little in the way of actionable steps that help one become motivated. Let me use chapter 9 to illustrate: i) 1 page story on Mother Theresa ii) 1 page describing the temperment of internals iii) 2 1/2 pages on the personal story of Joshua Hanson iv) 1 page on Pat Riley v) 1 1/2 pages of quotes by internals vi) 1/2 page description of the communication style of internals and a bulleted list of how to communicate with internals vii) 1 page description on how internals look at the world viii) a bulleted list of 6 strengths of internals, including "virtuous character" ix) 1/2 page of the weaknesses of internals x) 1 page of what internals want at work xi) 7 bullets on how to work with internals, including "demonstrate interest in their family, concerns, and passions". xii) short descriptive sections (1/3 page or less each) on "internals at play", "internals in relationships", "resolving conflict with internals", and "value to organization" xiii) 1/3 page on what de-motivates internals xiv) 10 point list on what motivates internals xv) 1 page on what rewards to give internals to motivate them xvi) 1/4 page of "Advice for Internals" See the problem here? Out of 16 pages in the chapter, only 1.6% of chapter 9 contained information about what internals were supposed to do to become motivated. Wasn't that the point of the book? The author does include, in chapter 15, 4 pages on how she, as a someone of "variety" motivated herself to get serious about workouts through variety. Then in the Appendix A, there are several (typically 4) questions for each category that are supposed to be used by people to ask themselves in order to get better motivated. Even so, that's not enough. This book should have included instructive lessons on how to get motivated in each of the core DNA chapters backed up by multiple case studies, instead of the descriptions, quotes and bullet points. I want this to be; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: High Fidelity (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boyz N the Hood (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ray (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Mind (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Regarding Henry (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Super Size Me (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When Harry Met Sally (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Whale Rider (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Wizard of Oz: Collector's Edition (1939); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Tuskegee Airmen (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: While You Were Sleeping (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Network (1976); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Broadcast News (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Cousin Vinny (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Collateral (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Terminator (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Breakfast Club (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Usual Suspects (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love Jones (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Antwone Fisher (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Happy Gilmore (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Good Will Hunting (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boogie Nights (1997); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: There's Something About Mary: Special Edition (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: As Good as It Gets (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Civil Action (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: My Best Friend's Wedding (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Jerry Maguire (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Enemy of the State (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Pretty Things (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Naked Gun (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Notting Hill (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mona Lisa Smile (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde 2: Red (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Raw (1987); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Few Good Men (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In America (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Malcolm X (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What the #$*! Do We Know!? (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Thirteen (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bend It Like Beckham (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The American President (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scream (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Planes (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coupling: Season 1 (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Reloaded (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Rain Man (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bringing Down the House (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Seabiscuit (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: It Could Happen to You (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Menace II Society (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Airplane! (1980); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: You've Got Mail (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fugitive (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Control Room (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Primary Colors (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Vacation (1983); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Patch Adams (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Against the Ropes (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Hunt for Red October (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coming to America (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Trading Places (1983); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rwanda (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The West Wing: Season 1 (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Station Agent (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Devil's Playground (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Word Wars (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fly Away Home (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hurricane (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Risky Business (1983); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: You Can Count on Me (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost Boys of Sudan (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Kramer vs. Kramer (1979); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Maria Full of Grace (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Aviator (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Flashdance (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: CSI: Season 1 (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pumping Iron (1977); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Glory (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Touching the Void (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Closer (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The West Wing: Season 2 (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Corporation (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: National Geographic: Inside the U.S. Secret Service (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: National Geographic: Inside the Vatican (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Toy Story (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Born Into Brothels (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Geographic: Inside American Power: Air Force One (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Garden State (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Separate But Equal (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scent of a Woman (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 21 Grams (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cast Away (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 10 (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Revolution OS (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coupling: Season 2 (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Residence Inn by Marriott Fairfax City; City: Fairfax Virginia; Review: Im regular business traveller across the world stayed at the residence innplaceless days in may 2012 I honestly never write reviews but I always read them. This hotel is ver nice cozy place and shall give you a feeling from home away from home. The parking is free, Internet is free in rooms no wifi yet but will be up soon. Excellent housekeeping stayed with my daughters nice neighborhood walking distance from shopping area. I shall definitely come back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Fair Lakes Fairfax; City: Fairfax Virginia; Review: This hotel is rather small and quite near fair lakes, the best part is it has kitchen, housekeeping was excellent, I will definitely come back and stay here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills; City: Los Angeles California; Review: As expected location is assume opposite a shopping mall right in Beverly hills. However the buffet breakfast oops sorry a five star hotel with no buffet breakfast but a la carte. Since I was traveling with my family and kids I asked for hot water in the room they charged me usd 5 for water as service charges it felt like a little crazed not for the money. Overall the place is good; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: San Francisco Marriott Marquis; City: San Francisco California; Review: This hotel is very conviently located, we arrived late from Los Angeles, no body to help with luggage, the front desk was very nice very quick check in also considered my request for higher floor room. I was on 23rd floor nice views , great beds, nice breakfast. I just thought the rooms were smaller. But rest was fine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: JW Marriott Hotel Pune; City: Pune Pune District Maharashtra; Review: I was recently at the hotel for a long weekend. The breakfast was the most amazing especially the fresh juices they served, checkin was smooth. The room was very large and most important the location is very close to the city centre where i work. Its minutes away from the busy Fergusson College road and deccan gymkhana. Overall pleasnt stay and must recommend this property.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Mauritius Resort Spa; City: Flic En Flac; Review: I reached the hotel my check in was delayed ( understandable) then when i asked the check in lady that i was to be given an ocean facing room, the answer i got was very disappointing that since it was done by my company we cannot allocate a higher floor room. Another negative was the breakfast staff was least attentitive and sulking they were never intrested in serving, the cereals were of poor quality being a veggeterian my options were limited was left hungry on all the three occasions. Worst was flies n mosquitoes. Well what added to everytHing was my checkout recieved a letter from GM asking o vacate the rooms by 12 noon sharp or pay 4000 MUR to retain the room untill late bafter requesting the frontbdesk they extended by 30 mins after lots of requesting ( not found at 5 star hotels) usually all hotels allow 2 pm check out. Next when we went to settle our bill we were charged with 12 MUR for phone call which we pointed out the front desk staff was rude and insisted we had made the call, i didnt argue n settled the bills. We were promised shower room at 6 pm However the pluses were the housekeeping staff polite n kept rooms clean, soodesh at coincerge desk was very helpful also the beach activitiesnr nice. Bit i am surely not going to return back hving stayed at best hotels in the world this particular hotel iis truly blot on Maurtian hospitality.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Jood Palace Hotel Dubai; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: Well let me say i reserved a Executive Suite as im regular guest for Taj in India and since was with my family decided to book myself here. I was to be picked up f4om Abu Dhabi, they sent me a nice car with good chauffer, as soon as i reached the check in, there was this guy at reception who said no non smoking room available , since i didnt want to create a fuss, i requested maybe if he could switch rooms next day the answer was a blunt NO, i had to call some one from house keeping, to spry the room with air freshner, very bad start. Next morning when i went to M level where the breakfast was served i was shocked to see the tables were jam packed, i was taken to some ground floor and trsut me not a single person asked for tea/ coffe, i had to walk up each time n ask for it. If you wanna have breakfast be there at 9 otherwise buffet counter r usually finished and they dont replenish it. They are v v poorly staffed and service is almost zero. Food quality is the worst probbaly 3 star grade Thye have large rooms, but very poor service, nice large beds with good pillows to ensure good sleep. The bathroom is always clean good housekeeping. Bad service n below avg food. dec 2013; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sun n Sand Hotel Mumbai; City: Mumbai Maharashtra; Review: Nice hotel i had a chance to stay here recently checked in at 4:00 am direct from a marriage reception event. It looks that the hotel needs a makeover. However no complaints slept well !!! I think there are many other hotels which are around this vicinity, you can get beter choice !!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: This hotel is going to be my long term option in Dubai because of the price I have been offered. When I arrived it was Friday evening, no one came up to get my luggage ( I found On my way who helped me). The breakfast is very average with one indian option in daily basis. I being a vegetarian had limited options. I think even the sweet breads, muffins etc are very average the breakfast for me was included but I thought this was very average. The entrance to the hotel is also complicated all cabbies in Dubai don't know the location. The worst was checkout I had two pieces of laundry included it seems the housekeeping guys goofed up the date in the system and the front desk insisted I had given 3 pieces if laundry instead of 2 finally a manager intervened and she decided to write off 30 dhirams charged. I think they should believe their customer.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Gateway Hotel Church Road; City: Coonoor The Nilgiris District Tamil Nadu; Review: I reached the place very easily from Coimbatore airport ( 75kms) . The hotel is heritage property. I booked this at very last minute, Mr Loganathan was very helpful in organising the rooms. Now coming to the decor of the rooms, its not modern I thought the rooms surely need a uplift. The weather in Coonor was very cold about 15 degrees the room has a bonfire place and that kept us warm along with a heater which was placed in the room. Excellent staff very polite and accommodating We had the breakfast and dinner included. No complaints on food quality they tried to accommodate all my request. It's nice property for short break ... Cons : They don't have swimming pool or good steam and sauna I think they must have this as there is nothing much to do in Coonor.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Vienna; City: Vienna; Review: Hi, This is my third stay at Hilton Vienna. I visit Vienna often since last one year and have stayd at all the three Hilton. Hilton Vienna is best in terms of location. It is opposite StadPark has a train station Wien Mitte which is main station for taking CAT directly two and fro from Airport for 16 euros each way. The check in was smooth had booked a Junior Suite with Long bed with access to Executive Lounge. The Lounge serves free beers and alcohol between 6-8 pm. It also serves breakfast in the morning. I'm a vegetarian hence had limited options the view is fantastic. However being a Hilton property few things were missing - Requested for English newspaper Financial Times reply I got was we don't get these too our Hotel. I said any other English newspaper was OK. The answer I got was we don't have any. - The most disappointing thing about my stay was no turn down service ( when I requested for the same) two ladies from housekeeping did turn up and ask my wife didn't u get room cleaned in the morning??? Since I left when I came back nothing done beds were messed up. I have a call n complained got a reply saying they were sorry and someone would come unfortunately no one turned up. - When I arrived at the property no one to help with luggage as you would expect. I had to go in and call some one is when I got help. - I enquired at the front desk before my last day if I could have breakfast at the restaurant on ground level instead of the Lounge as it gets too crowded. I was told my receptionist I could but next morning when I arrived I was told I would be charged 24 euros extra which I thought was ridiculous I also told him but in vain. Overall disappointing experience at the Hilton Vienna in terms of service.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Arm Chair Protectors Set of 2 Brown Holds Remote Control; Brand: ; Review: does not stay afix to the furniture,did not like the fabric,unless you can figure out a way to keep covers in place, do not buy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rachael Ray Porcelain Enamel II Nonstick 7-1/2-Inch, 9-1/4-Inch and 11-Inch Skillets Triple Pack, Blue Gradient; Brand: Rachael Ray; Review: more than perfect for the price,I have paid much more for other so called nonstick pans,which after use did stick. worth the money highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ottomanson Softy Collection Solid Non-Slip Kitchen/Bath Rug, 20" X 59", Brown; Brand: Ottomanson; Review: ideal color and size,I use it at my entrance door takes alot of wear remains to look new after sweeping.very happy with product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lasko 754200 Ceramic Portable Space Heater with Adjustable Thermostat - Perfect For the Home or Home Office; Brand: Lasko; Review: excellent for a small area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterDesign PEVA 3 Gauge Shower Curtain Liner - Mold/Mildew Resistant, PVC Free – Sand, 54" x 78"; Brand: InterDesign; Review: a little to heavy and thick.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ricardo Oyster Bay Sheer Voile Grommet Panel, 55 X 63, Lemonade; Brand: Ricardo; Review: perfect match for my bedroom decor,inexpensive,i love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics Microfiber Sheet Set - King, Cream; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: did not fit well on my bed,too large not wrinkle free.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Crucial 2GB Kit (1GBx2) DDR2 667MHz (PC2-5300) CL5 SODIMM 200-Pin Notebook Memory Modules CT2KIT12864AC667; Brand: Crucial; Review: I doubled the memory in my laptop without having to spend a lot with this upgrade. Competitive price, works great.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Car Stereo | BOSS Audio 612UA Single Din, MP3/USB/SD AM/FM (NO CD/DVD Player); Brand: BOSS Audio Systems; Review: This radio does everything it says and the price can't be beat. I really like the SD card slot giving you the chance to use it like an mp3 player with out having to purchase a separate mp3 player. I couldn't find a shuffle function for the SD card and my mp3 player doesn't work through the usb, but those are minor complaints for what i do get at an extraordinary cost.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cyber Acoustics 2.1 Powered Speaker System (CA-3001RB); Brand: Cyber Acoustics; Review: Great cheap speakers if you're not too concerned with sound quality. I was kind of surprised that the satellite speakers were very muddy sounding. With the size of the speakers i was expecting more of a higher frequency out put from them. It's almost as if there is no crossover control and the same full range of frequency is put out the satellite speakers and the subwoofer but the satellite speakers end up sounding like they are not E Q'd properly. Also was expecting some sort of separate subwoofer control to dial in how much bass i wanted. However, there is only one volume control for everything. This might have solved the other problem.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Docooler 2.4GHz Wireless Optical Pen Mouse Adjustable 500/1000DPI Handwriting Smart Mouse for PC Laptop iMac Android Tablet Black; Brand: Docooler; Review: The pen works well. I use it with a photoshop like product running on a mac and have the functions of a mouse but more precise control because of the pen like shape. A little bulkier than an actual pen but not uncomfortable. Was plug and play, no setup. I use it on white mouse pad and don't notice and tracking issues.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ASUS MeMO Pad 7 ME70CX 7-Inch 16GB Tablet; Brand: Asus; Review: I do like this tablet very much. The price can't be beat for what you get. Unfortunately the one i received was missing the usb cable that is said to be included. Came with a charger at least. I don't know if someone bought this previously removed the cable and then returned it. Not an "HD" resolution but the screen is clear and well defined. Much better than the poor quality I have seen on other comparable tablets. All in all I am very pleased with this tablet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The English Patient (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lagaan (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 100 Days (1991); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Road to El Dorado (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Clockwork Orange (1971); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stigmata (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Magnolia (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rat Race (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cat People (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Abhimaan (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seducing Maarya (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Notting Hill (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: High Fidelity (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour 2 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Perfect Storm (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The King and I (1956); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shanghai Noon (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy Returns (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Charlie's Angels (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Entrapment (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The World Is Not Enough (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Passenger 57 (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible II (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Swingers (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Enemy of the State (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Asoka (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three Kings (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Graduate (1967); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Face/Off (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clerks (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Emperor's New Groove (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Full Monty (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What Lies Beneath (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Malena (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rocky (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Princess and the Warrior (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Snatch (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: East Is East (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Analyze This (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Keeping the Faith (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Billy Elliot (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The General's Daughter (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Thomas Crown Affair (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 12 Monkeys (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Insider (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Return to Me (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quills (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Few Good Men (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chicken Run (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Beach (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gattaca (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shakespeare in Love (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Pelican Brief (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Others (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Best in Show (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Score (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Heat of the Night (1967); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Monsoon Wedding (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: As Good as It Gets (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Training Day (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Mind (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hurricane (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: America's Sweethearts (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Don't Say a Word (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Serendipity (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Black Hawk Down (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Monster's Ball (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Shallow Hal (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: U-571 (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ali (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Moulin Rouge (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Life Is Beautiful (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cast Away (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tomb Raider (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: XXX: Special Edition (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Zoolander (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blow (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dil Chahta Hai (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Andaz Apna Apna (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Earth (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghulam (1998); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Satte Pe Satta (1981); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jackie Brown: Collector's Series (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Annie Hall (1977); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cube (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Boogie Nights (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Foxy Brown (1974); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bravo Two Zero (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Blazing Saddles (1974); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lion of the Desert (1981); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Skulls (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Arsenic and Old Lace (1944); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Maine Pyar Kiya (1989); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Enough (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wild Orchid (1990); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Ten Commandments (1956); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 1 (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Frida (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bend It Like Beckham (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: About a Boy (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amelie (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chicago (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ring (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lawrence of Arabia (1962); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Speed (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1974); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: End of Days (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rushmore (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Terminator (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Fast and the Furious (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Cop II (1987); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Die Another Day (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Dancing (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stepmom (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: L.A. Confidential (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swordfish (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1972); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Along Came a Spider (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coming to America (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 2 (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dog Day Afternoon (1975); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jerry Maguire (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Total Recall (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: You've Got Mail (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Waterboy (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grease (1978); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Daddy (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Traffic (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rambo: First Blood: Ultimate Edition (1982); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Requiem for a Dream (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghostbusters (1984); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Guide (1965); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tierra (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reindeer Games (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wonder Boys (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cows (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City of God (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maachis (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 5 (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lies (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Flypaper (1997); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Seven (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pi: Faith in Chaos (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Embrace of the Vampire (1994); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: In the Realm of the Senses (1976); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crash (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Spit On Your Grave (1978); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Matchstick Men (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sum of All Fears (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Between Your Legs (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hidalgo (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Last Tango in Paris (1972); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Big One (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Deliverance (1972); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cool Hand Luke (1967); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flesh Gordon (1974); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Roger & Me (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Yojimbo (1961); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bottle Rocket (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Talk to Her (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spirited Away (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Motorcycle Diaries (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oscar (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Barton Fink (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gol Maal (1979); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fiddler on the Roof (1971); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ran (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Emanuelle in America (1976); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rwanda (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dark Habits (1983); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sanjuro (1962); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Player (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quiet Days in Clichy (1970); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Secret Things (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What the #$*! Do We Know!? (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Aviator (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hitch (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Night That Never Happened (1997); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Price of Desire (1996); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Nude for Satan (1974); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Story of O (1975); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Da Ali G Show: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Road to Perdition (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ladder 49 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Very Best of America's Funniest Comedians (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate (1962); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nayagan: Tamil (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Victorinox Swiss Army Pocket Knife; Brand: Victorinox; Review: I had to order this to replace the identical knife that I have owned for 7 years: airport security had to confiscate and destroy it when I accidentally left it in my laptop bag. The Climber II knife is the knife I carry with me every day: even in the office, it always comes in handy. The can opener has a knack for staying sharp, the scissors often trim stray threads, and the long blade is just the thing for peeling a piece of fruit at lunch. I've also used the leather punch to add holes to my belt (thank you, regular exercise!), the corkscrew easily opens a wine bottle, and the bottle opener and screwdrivers get regular use. What's impressed me the most is the durability of the Victorinox steel: I've put all sorts of stress and leverage on the parts and have yet to break one, even prying loose the lid of an old stuck paint can. Some quick tips for you: 1) Periodically clean out your knife: carefully open all parts, blow dust out, clean pocket lint, etc. Check the screw holding the scissors and tighen it. 2) Oil the knife: if it starts to get hard to pull out the parts, a drop of oil at each end and in the middle (for the leather punch/hook handle) works wonders. Let the oil soak in, wipe up the excess, and don't put it back into your pocket until you've had a chance to work the parts back and forth a few times (to get the oil into the hinges) and then let it sit out on a cloth to pick up leftover leakage. In the comments below, people recommend WD-40, 3-in-1, or neither of those. Amazon customer 'Acmewelding' states below that Victorinox also sells its own Swiss Army Knife lubricant, if you want to go that route. Amazon even sells it here--just search 'Victorinox Oil' and you'll get it. 3) Sharpen with care: you should seldom have to sharpen the can opener, but the rest will need periodic sharpening. Think carefully about which angle you apply the whetstone to the scissors: you don't want to have the scissor blades abraded further apart from each other. Do these things a couple of times a year and this knife will last you forever.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shock Doctor Nano Double Mouthguard, Protects Upper and Lower Teeth, Youth & Adult; Brand: Shock Doctor; Review: I can't tell you this Shock Doctor saved my mouth one time, or that it'll prevent any and all possible damage from happening to your teeth. What I can tell you is that after having extremely expensive dental work done, the Shock Doctor Adult Nano Double Fight was the least I could do to protect myself. For that it's well worth the money. The idea behind the Shock Doctor is that the memory plastic inside the lining can be shaped and will hold that shape. It creates a cushion for your teeth that's custom-fit to your mouth. They call these "boil & bite" mouthguards but really you want to use not-quite-boiling water. Follow the very well written instructions that came with it and you should be just fine. My new porcelain veneers didn't feel very comfortable in my mouth and I was worried the Shock Doctor wouldn't set right or would hurt. It set just fine, and on those rare occasions my free-sparring needs protection, the Double Fight is comfortable and protects both my upper and lower teeth while still making it fairly easy to breathe.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Windsor Electronic Whistle Single-Tone; Brand: Tide; Review: This whistle is unbelievably loud. It emits a piercing sound at the press of a button that we only use in short taps. My wife is an archery coach and she uses the Windsor Electronic Whistle to control practices (and I see the people running our tournaments use them too). It's a great way to instantly get someone's attention, but using it indoors in anything smaller than a gymnasium will hurt your ears--it is VERY loud and doesn't have a volume control. If you need a sports whistle, this sounds exactly like the whistle noise atheletes are used to. It's piercingly loud and instantly responsive when your finger presses that button--and I recommend you use it only in wide open spaces.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Under Armour Men's Tactical HeatGear Compression V-Neck; Brand: Under Armour; Review: I love Under Armour products, and I wear these almost every day. The fit is designed to be close to your skin, acting as a second skin but also 'moisture wicking'. What this means is that when you exercise, the purpose of your body's sweat is to cool your skin by catching the air around you. When Under Armour's material absorbs that sweat and holds it, the cooling effect is improved over cotton because the material is much more porous. You should feel the shirt press closely to your skin, but not uncomfortably so, and definitely not in a way that restricts your movement. I've got a 44" chest. I'm 5' 11", 175lbs. (athletic build) and I wear Large.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: U-FIT Swimming Goggles - Swim Goggles For Men, Women, Adults, Youth, and Kids - Best Non Leaking, Anti-Fog, UV; Brand: U-FIT; Review: I love these goggles: I can't think of a single thing that doesn't work as I'd hoped it to or better. For example, I'd expected the band to be no big deal and instead I get an easy-to-use plastic clasp and the adjustment system lets you pull the straps from either side. It easily clicks more or fewer notches for tightness. I've just used them a couple of times now, but the lenses themselves are really clear and on a bright day that mirror tinting helps. They fit comfortably around my eye sockets and don't have to create too much pressure to keep the water out. The gaskets around the eyepieces are probably what solves this problem because they're thick and curved in a way that will probably fit most faces. There have been a couple of times that the lenses have fogged up briefly: both were after swimming in a cold pool and then standing in very hot summer air for a bit--taking them off for half a minute solved the problem. I also like the fact that we have a hard case to protect the googles from scratches: it locks closed with a twist of the plastic knob on the end. My wife and I both have a pair and will be ordering a third for our daughter: for the price, you really get a lot of great details and a good clear view.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aektiv Sports & Fitness Exercise Resistance Bands - Set of 5 Best Physical Therapy Bands Resistance loop Bands for; Brand: Aektiv Sports & Fitness; Review: I needed a set of variable bands for strength training, and these were nicer than most. What I like about them is that each is a closed loop (so I don't need to tie them every time I use them), and that they feel like strong rubber and not sticky plastic like some bands do. Each is also labeled as to how strong they are and they're color-coded, so I can tell at a glance which is which. There are a couple of exercises where I need to tie the bands around a stable source like an exercise machine. I found this was easy to do by using two bands together: put one around the area you need to tie to, then thread the other through it. When you're done, they easily come back apart again. It was a nice extra touch that the set folds up easily into a really small shape, and that they come with a mesh baggie that I use to stash them in my gym bag. All in all, given the low price I'm really happy with the product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ProSource Treadmill & Exercise Equipment Mats, Folding (7’L x 3’W x ¼”T) & Regular (6.5’L x 3’W x 5/32”T); Brand: ProSource; Review: Most of the time I actually use this mat outdoors for an inversion table. It's sturdy, easy to mop up when it gets wet, and holds the weight of me and the table really well without getting ground down or tearing. I also like the cushioned feel it has - it's a bit springy, especially given that I'm laying it on top of a brick patio. Like any PVC product, it's got a plastic smell to it when you first open it, but that went away very quickly. I spend time with my head close to the mat when I'm on the table and never had to worry about fumes. If I thought I could get away with it, I'd try to buy a much bigger one for workouts that require more floorspace. I'd definitely buy another one of these again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MDW Colorful Replacement Clip Holder for Fitbit One- Third Party Replacement Accessory; Brand: MDW; Review: I've had my Fitbit One for two years now, but the clip kept losing its tip, leaving the ugly metal points stabbing into my fingertips and my clothing. I found it annoying to have to pay so much for the exact replica knowing that the tip would probably come off again and not stay glued, so instead of ordering an official Fitbit clip, I took a chance and bought this non-official set form MDW. As it turns out, this is a perfect replacement and really a better deal. It seems like the tip of the clip is designed to stay on pretty well, maybe even better than the original...but if for some reason it doesn't hold up, I got three of these for less than the price of only one from Fitbit itself. The color assortment doesn't matter to me, but what the heck - it's amusing to be able to pick an assortment of colors just the same. I also received some sort of loops that appear to go on the end of the clip, but I'm not sure why I'd need them. And there was a fourth clip in my package, wrapped separately with the words, "your free gift" on it. Bonus! I can't argue with the price. It fits perfectly and works well. Plus the vendor was pretty nice about following up on my order. If I ever needed something like this again, I'd definitely trust the product. I was surprised to have a fourth one in the package. I don't know if that's a temporary promotion or not.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: VidPro 35 inch Tripod Carrying Case with Strap for Bogen-Manfrotto, Sunpak, Vanguard, Slik, Giottos and Gitzo Tripods; Brand: VidPro; Review: This bag was just what I was looking for: a reasonably-priced bag suitable to hold my lightstands and umbrellas. After looking at several options here on Amazon and reading so many favorable reviews for this product, I decided to give it a try. It is plenty long for my lightstands and just barely wide enough--a little tight zipping it up on my 2 lightstands and 2 40-inch umbrellas. Some other reviewers here claimed to get more than 2 lightstands/umbrellas in the bag, but I found it to be a tight fit, just big enough for what I needed to include. I think the bag would be plenty big in width and length for most tripods. Bag is sufficiently padded. I would have preferred the shoulder strap to be detachable. All in all, this bag is a great value, doing just what it needs to do at an inexpensive price point.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Yongnuo YN-565EX ETTL Speedlite Flash for Nikon (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: YONGNUO; Review: I really, really wanted to like this flash with all the features you get for the price. However my copy of this product is faulty, having only worked sporadically, with the rest of the time refusing to start up. I am left with a piece of equipment apparently without warranty and I'm out of the money I spent on it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Model A09E); Brand: Tamron; Review: I highly recommend this lens. It's the sharpest lens I have, next the Nikon nifty 50mm 1.8 lens. I used it with my Nikon D80 when I bought it and now shoot with a Nikon D7000. I bought the lens for the constant 2.8 aperture. I wanted it for taking portraits, but use it for every day shooting. The one thing I don't like is I wish it was 18mm on the wide end. On an APC sensor 28mm feels a little limiting at times, not wide enough. BUT this would be a great lens on a full frame sensor, giving you access to a true 28mm field of view. The lens is not stabilized but I still get sharper photos out of it over my Nikon 18-200mm VR lens. Focusing is slower than the latest generation of lenses, but image-wise you will get pro quality and a lot of bang for your buck with this lens.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lowepro Passport Messenger Black Messenger Bag; Brand: Lowepro; Review: I just recently bought this bag in a different color (gray with red trim) and have got to say I'm happy with it as far as first impressions. I was previously using the Lowepro Exchange Messengeranother minimalistic messengerwhich I really liked, but I was desiring something just a bit bigger. I think I've found the right bag. I am a fan of messenger-style bags and prefer less padding, along the lines of the oldstyle Domke bags, so that the bag hugs your body rather than bouncing off of it with thick padding. This bag provides flexibility in organizing my gear, and after transferring my gear the first time, it appears to do just what I wantedbe much like the Exchange messenger in minimalism, but provide just that bit more of space. I won't be carrying a laptop in the bag, so I use that padded slot for holding guides, filters, step-down rings, and other assorted things that I need but can stay out of the way. And my camera and two lenses, flash, and chargers fit just fine, with room to spare if I needed to throw in an umbrella or wallet or such. And I'm barely even using the front organizer pockets so fartime will tell how best to use that space. I was out this past weekend on some rock outcroppings at the top of a mountain, hopping around and snapping shots. I wore the bag cross-body and was very pleased with how it rode on my side and back hip as I shot and moved around. For the amount of gear, it felt very light, which is one reason I love minimally padded bags. Give it a try. The Lowepro Passport Messenger will give you a LOT of bang for your very few bucks, and provide a lot of flexibility in carrying options for your gear. And hurryI'm not real sure Lowepro is making these anymore!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lowepro Passport Messenger Digital SLR Camera Bag/Case (Grey); Brand: Lowepro; Review: I just recently bought this bag and received it very quickly from seller and at a great price! I have got to say I'm happy with it as far as first impressions. I was previously using the Lowepro Exchange Messengeranother minimalistic messengerwhich I really liked, but I was desiring something just a bit bigger. I think I've found the right bag. I am a fan of messenger-style bags and prefer less padding, along the lines of the oldstyle Domke bags, so that the bag hugs your body rather than bouncing off of it with thick padding. This bag provides flexibility in organizing my gear, and after transferring my gear the first time, it appears to do just what I wantedbe much like the Exchange messenger in minimalism, but provide just that bit more of space. I won't be carrying a laptop in the bag, so I use that padded slot for holding assorted things that I need but can stay out of the way. My camera, two lenses, flash, and chargers fit just fine in the bag, with room to spare if I needed to throw in an umbrella or wallet or suchand I'm barely even using the front organizer pockets so far. I was out this past weekend on some mountain-top rock outcroppings, hopping around and snapping shots. I wore the bag cross-body and was very pleased with how it rode on my side and back hip as I shot and moved around. For the amount of gear, it felt very light, which is one reason I love minimally padded bags. Give it a try. The Lowepro Passport Messenger will give you a LOT of bang for your very few bucks, and provide a lot of flexibility in carrying options for your gear. And hurryI'm not real sure Lowepro is making these anymore!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: New Replaced Remote Control fit for Roku 2500X 2700R Streaming Digital Media Player; Brand: G; Review: Seems, so far, to work just like the original. One difference between it and the original is that is it missing the lanyard. Synced to my Roku 2XD "right out of the box." Workmanship is similar to the original. Not much else to say, it works and the price was good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Top Moda Table-1 Women's peep toe platform chunky heel closed back buckle T-strap nubuck pumps; Brand: Top Moda; Review: I love the look and fit .They were classy and very comfortable to walk in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KIWI RATA Women's Punk Rock Faux Leather Buckle-up Corset Bustier Basque with G-string; Brand: KIWI RATA; Review: I ordered the medium and it fit perfectly !!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KIWI RATA Women's Punk Rock Faux Leather Buckle-up Corset Bustier Basque with G-string; Brand: KIWI RATA; Review: I ordered the medium and it fit perfectly !!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KIWI RATA Women's Punk Rock Faux Leather Buckle-up Corset Bustier Basque with G-string; Brand: KIWI RATA; Review: I ordered the medium and it fit perfectly !!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KIWI RATA Women's Punk Rock Faux Leather Buckle-up Corset Bustier Basque with G-string; Brand: KIWI RATA; Review: I ordered the medium and it fit perfectly !!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 52mm Stainless Steel Gold Mesh Wire Large Hoop Earring for Women, Anti Allergy; Brand: Mealguet Jewelry; Review: Nice size and very classy !!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ancia Womens Active Workout Capri Leggings Fitness Tights Pants Tracksuits Blue Snows M; Brand: Ancia; Review: I love the vibrate colors and the material .The fit was perfect!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FORTRIC Women Sleeveless Fishtail Floral Summer Work Bodycon Party Causal Dress; Brand: FORTRIC; Review: I love how it fits in the right places .This dress is sexy and I love it !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LunaJany Women's Casual Striped Print Wear to Work Office Career Sheath Dress; Brand: LunaJany; Review: Based on reviews I ordered a size up as it runs small. I normally wear medium but ordered large. It was a perfect fit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MBJ Womens V Neck Short Sleeve Wrap Front Drape Dolman Top - Made in USA; Brand: ; Review: Runs large !! Fabric and style were good .Luckly I gave to my daughter whom liked it .; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Kaufman's Delicatessen; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: We came in a couple weeks ago to order a Reuben. I had heard about the size of the sandwiches. Our server brought us complementary pickles and pickled cabbage, which was delicious, and had more of. We then had the matzo ball soup. The matzo ball was delicious and big enough to share, and the soup and broth was very tasty and fresh. Every part of the corned beef reuben was incredible, as was the house Russian dressing (that we had more of on the side). The sandwich was MASSIVE, and was more than enough for both of us to share. I can only imagine how big the large sandwich is. Our check came with two cookies, which were a perfect way to end our lunch. Everything on the menu seems to be sized (and priced) to share between two people or more. Perhaps the best part about Kaufman's is the service. Everyone we met was extremely nice and accommodating, and we were truly wowed just before we left. We saw a gentleman (who we think was the owner) with a big (and I mean BIG) plate of french toast, and Jess commented to me how good it looked. The man then came over to us and encouraged us to take a piece (which was massive) and try it, and he then brought us over maple syrup. The french toast could have been a meal in and of itself, and it was delicious and light and airy...unlike any french toast I've ever had. It seemed to be a cross between funnel cake and challah french toast. We were extremely appreciative, left stuffed and happy, and needless to say will be returning again!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bareburger - Midtown Village; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: We went in early October, on a whim to get a Bison burger. Our waiter was very kind, accommodating, and knowledgeable, and oozed enthusiasm (when he greeted us, he jumped in front of us and said "Boo!") .We sampled the organic soda (which is the only soda option), which we were not fans of, so we just had water to drink. We ordered the fries to begin with, which had a very good texture and flavor, and which came with two sauces. We were fans of the ketchupy one, but not so much the curry (I think it was curry) one. The burger selection was impressive. There are so many different meats, cheeses and toppings from which to choose, and there are 14 burger combinations that you can pick from if you're not feeling creative. We opted for the Grindhouse (Elk meat) and the El Matador (Bison meat with a Mexican kick). Both were very good. I liked the Bison meat better, while Jess liked the Elk mean better...a matter of taste I suppose! The burgers were a little pricey, but the quality and taste were superb. The buns were fresh as well. Would come back again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Savas; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: We are students at Drexel Law, and Savas has become a staple in our diet. We usually get the buffalo chicken pizza, which is exceptional. The take-out pizza is quick, cheap, and good, which is why so many Drexel students go there. The sit-down dining is very good as well, with an impressive menu catering to many different tastes. I have tried the gyro, which is pretty good (but light on the Tzatziki sauce), and the fries, which come in a very large portion and are good and crunchy. Jess had the chicken quesadilla, which was good, but nothing special. She is a big fan of the Nutella french toast, omelets, and bloody Mary's though. While we do not sit down and eat at Savas often, we will continue to be patrons of the take-out pizza and beer for the foreseeable future.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bobby's Burger Palace; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Bobby's Burger Palace is the go-to spot for a bangin' burger and fries. I personally have gotten the topless burger (any burger put over spring mix salad rather than a bun) and the Bobby Bleu burger, crunchified. When I got the topless burger, I got the California and it was delicious and fresh - it's the perfect light meal. The Bobby Bleu is another story. It's piled high with toppings (especially when crunchified) and the bacon/bleu cheese combination is perfect. Jeff was a huge fan of the Philadelphia burger and raved about it quite a bit. He regretted getting his burger crunchified (i.e. with the standard Lay potato chip on top). Really, crunchifying isn't all that and a bag of chips (pun intended). The condiments are great. I'm a huge fan of the chipotle ketchup. The burgers aren't really that big either - you get more toppings than you get actual meat. The fries are mediocre and a la carte. So while the price of the burger seems reasonable (around $7/8 a burger) that includes ONLY the burger, so it's not really a deal. Then, an order of fries includes only a few of them, and they really aren't all that good. To me, they didn't seem fresh, neither did the buns (However, Jeff says his bun was delicious). The sauce that comes with the fries was not very flavorful at all. Overall, go for the burgers, not the fries. We also got a black and white milkshake - also not extremely impressive. It was a little too sweet and it's a pretty small milkshake for the (roughly) $5 price. In sum, we were happy when we left.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: D'Antonio & Klein Jewelers; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I cannot recommend D'Antonio & Klein highly enough. Jonathan made my fiancee's engagement ring and the end result is stunning. I purchased the diamond separately, and Jonathan helped me pick the best one. After I obtained the stone, we then designed the ring from scratch, and Jonathan took care of the rest. The end result is stunning; a true work of art. Jonathan even called me the day after I proposed and asked how it went. Jonathan cared about the ring and my fiancee's and my happiness every step of the way, and we could not be happier.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eimports 4Less; City: Perkasie, PA; Review: We found the exact Mercedes-Benz we were looking for online using Carfax, and called with a couple questions about it. Nathan answered our specific questions over the phone and via text message, and knew the answer to every question we had during the test drive. Their prices are the best around, and--unlike other dealers--we felt that Nathan was completely honest with us in every regard. No haggling (despite our efforts), no nonsense; just clean, quality cars. We have recommended EImports4less to our friends and family ever since we got the car a few days ago. These guys have a business model of buying off-lease German luxury cars and doing everything they can to sell them at the lowest price possible. They do a great job of that, and we can't recommend them highly enough. We have an outstanding "IOU" detailing appointment for our car (since we had to drive it off the lot the day we purchased it), but we have no doubt that they will do a fantastic job at that as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Teeccino Caffeine-Free Herbal Coffee, Vanilla Nut, 25-Count Tea Bags (Pack of 2); Brand: Teeccino; Review: Normally too busy to write reviews, but it was reading reviews that got me to try the product. I have tried other coffee substitutes that were horrible. Only the reviews prompted me to try again. It really is good enough that I can drink it guilt free and actually enjoy the beverage. Thanks to the other reviewers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vege-Sal Spike Natural Seasoning Original VEGESAL 10 oz (283gr); Brand: Gaylord Hauser; Review: As more and more stores get conglomerated, and product choices diminish, it is great to be able to reach out to Amazon and grab a long-time favorite. We have used for years as an alternative to table salt. Not a salt substitute, not fake or phony, yet better if you do not want too much salt in your diet. By adding great vegetable taste through natural foods, it lowers the amount of salt that a normal dose would deliver. I have recently seen scientific results showing that salt phobia is non-sense, not a health risk at all. Still, this tastes better and I would use it even if it did not reduce over salinization.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dove Whole Dried Cranberries Dipped in Creamy Dark Chocolate, 26 Ounce; Brand: Dove; Review: These were and are just as great as chocolate covered cranberries could be, until we discovered their sister product with whole Cherries. No contest.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dove Whole Cherries Dipped in Creamy Dove Dark Chocolate 26 Oz; Brand: Dove; Review: I never liked dark chocolate, but it is just the right balance complementing the cherries. Not cheap, but made from real and good stuff. A relatively inexpensive way to improve the quality of your life, as long as you do not empty the bag at one setting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lindt LINDOR Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Truffles 60-Count Box; Brand: Lindt; Review: Creamy, Premiere Chocolate and Peanut Butter. What's not to like? Surprising to me was to discover how rare it is to find a European quality chocolate confection that has Peanut Butter in it. You can find anything from Hazelnut to any other fruit or nut you could imagine, but not Peanut Butter. Fortunately the Swiss Chocolate maker of this product makes some of its products in the USA and caters to our silly idea that these two things are a candy marriage made in heaven. Thank you Lindt for breaking out and making this edgy departure from the norm. Maybe one day others will catch up to you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Asmyna IPHONE4HPCDM005NP Luxurious Dazzling Diamante Bling Case for iPhone 4 - 1 Pack - Retail Packaging - Phoenix Tail; Brand: Asmyna; Review: This is just what I expected after looking through the advertised information before I purchased it. My wife loves it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casecrown Exo Case for Apple iPhone 4 and 4S - 1 Pack - Retail Packaging - Red/Black; Brand: CaseCrown; Review: It looked good at first but the finish wore off way to soon. I had to turn around and buy another case.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: NOVA CASE Glamour Series 3D Bling Crystal iPhone Case for iPhone 4/4S - Floral Coco Bag (Package includes: soft; Brand: Nova Case; Review: Nice case but I wish it had a small lip edge to protect the screen when it is face down.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bear Motion iPhone 5; Brand: Bear Motion; Review: This case is great. It is made well and fits snug. It has a lip on the front side to help protect the screen. Provides adaquate protection. I like the look and feel of the case. Not slippery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NOVA CASE Glamour Series 3D Bling Crystal iPhone Case for iPhone 5/5S - Floral Coco Bag (Package includes: soft; Brand: Nova Case; Review: Pretty case but it does not have a lip in front to help protect the screen. The glue on part of the bling did not hold long and came off.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Red Rubberized Protector Case for Samsung Infuse i997; Brand: SODIAL; Review: Cheap hard and not really protective case.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: LuettBiden Screen Protector S2; Brand: Sahara Case; Review: Nice case. Slides into my pocket but still protects.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Generic Black Rubber TPU GEL Hard Case Skin Cover for Apple Iphone 3g 3gs 8gb 16gb; Brand: Generic; Review: Nice case. Fits in pocket and still protects well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ringke FUSION Compatible with iPhone 6 Plus CaseAll New Shock Absorption Technology [HD Screen Protector; Brand: Ringke; Review: Fit the phone great. Lokks good and my daughter loves it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: iPhone 6S Case, OBLIQ [Naked Shield][Black][Metal; Brand: Obliq; Review: Love the case. Fits great. pads well and the padded orange is firm enough for the phone to slide easily into my pocket. Love the stand as well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Bistrot La Minette; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Went here for restaurant week a while back and I was impressed! The service was impeccable, the ambience was cozy and the food was, in a word, divine. I had the escargot for my first course, which was nice and garlicky, and the rabbit as the entree. Hoping I can come back again soon to try some of their wine pairings!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tria Cafe Rittenhouse; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Went here for a birthday dinner with my boyfriend and was wowed by the food and wine. I got the truffled egg toast along with the cabernet - both were delicious, and finished with the brioche bread pudding. What a treat. The price was incredibly fair and the atmosphere was bustling yet relaxing - good music and service. I hope to try more off of their wine list the next time I visit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bistro Romano; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Bistro Romano was overall an average Italian restaurant. I wasn't very impressed by the Caesar salad or my veal saltimbocca. The salad didn't seem very fresh and the veal didn't have much flavor. The prices were definitely on the high side - and the food was not worth those prices. All in all, not bad, but I'm not planning on coming back.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Han Dynasty; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Went here with some friends who were visiting the city. We ordered 4 small plates rather than the entrees to keep the price down. The cold sesame noodles were full of flavor and refreshing on such a hot night! I also definitely recommend the scallion style beef and dumplings in chili oil - cooked to perfection and just the right amount of spice. The only thing I wasn't too crazy about was the ma po tofu - very spicy but not much flavor. At the end of the night our bill was only $40, including drinks! Definitely coming here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Yanako; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: The first thing I noticed about Yanako was the beautiful wooden interior that lended a natural ambience to the entire dining experience. It seems to be very authentic Japanese compared to most other sushi places in the Philadelphia area - even the restroom signs were in Japanese. The sushi rolls are super fresh although the portions are small, which is to be expected at any sushi restaurant. I also had the miso soup and the gyoza dumplings, both spot-on. I just wish I had brought a bottle of wine along since they are BYOB. Will be returning soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spice End; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Very dry lamb platter, even after adding extra white sauce. It's probably better to order on grubhub than actually going to the restaurant since the fluorescent lighting and black painted walls make you feel very closed in. I would recommend the mango lassis and wraps they make.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Chabaa Thai Bistro; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Very average food. I had the beef panang, which although the sauce was flavorful, the meat was bland and watery. Everything was very expensive for the quality. However, I liked the fact that it's a BYOB and the service is pretty accommodating.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Olde Bar; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: What a classy place! I am a big fan of their oysters and whiskey drinks. Would definitely go here again. The only reason I took off one star is because the menu is kind of limited and we sat at a high top table, which got uncomfortable after the first hour. Also, try their happy hour specials - oysters are only $1 each and the drinks are pretty affordable for the atmosphere.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar - Glen Mills; City: Glen Mills, PA; Review: Yummy healthy food that doesn't leave you hungry. I love the fact that their menu changes each season so you can always try new things. I recommend trying their seasonal sangria, I always get one whenever I visit. Their scallops are to die for, and their quinoa salad has a lot of flavor, which is not usually the case at many other restaurants. Plus the outdoor dining area is nice, although it is usually difficult to find seating there during the weekends as it is first-come-first-serve. They also have a nice brunch set-up if you are looking to avoid the dinner crowd. This location is a family favorite and I look forward to coming back soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cajun Kate's; City: Boothwyn, PA; Review: I wish this place wasn't only open fridays and Saturdays! The Cajun food here is sooooo good. My family and I usually pick up jambalaya and the gumbo of the week whenever we are having friends over. The people who work here are really helpful and always make suggestions on how to heat up/cook the food we take home. They also sell gator meat...I haven't been brave enough to try it yet but it's definitely something cool for all you adventurous eaters. If you come to eat on site it can be kind of cramped but the workers definitely make you feel welcome and you might even get to try some free food!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nine Ting; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Yum! The food here is authentic and tasty, not to mention affordable! It can get very busy on weekends, so be prepared to wait for a while (one Saturday I waited for over an hour) but totally worth it! My favorite dish so far has been the beef tongue for korean bbq. If you want a more low-key experience come on a week night with your friends. Make sure you get the free ice cream with check-in!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lather Hair Studio; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Location: In Brewerytown, plenty of meter-parking available and convenient to West Philly. Atmosphere: Super-cute and cozy! The staff offers you complimentary refreshments while you are there, and apparently they have a happy hour with free wine & beer. Service: Dena did an amazing job on cutting & styling my hair! At first, I was nervous because I have had long hair for so long, and wasn't sure how the cut would turn out. But after I saw my new haircut I fell in love! I am looking forward to my next hair cut.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ristorante Pesto; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Wow! What a meal. I came to Ristorante Pesto hoping to find a nice Italian place I could go to when I was craving family-style Italian food but ended up getting so much more. First of all, the staff exhibit the utmost hospitality towards their guests - we were surprised by complimentary treats from the kitchen throughout our meal followed by the owner checking up on us. The food was tasty and plentiful. I loved the veal saltimbocca alla romana and would probably order it again. My only disappointment was that I couldn't make room for more delicious food.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sabrina's Café; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Gem of a breakfast place in university city area. It can be hard to get a spot on the weekends but you can use their No Wait app to cut your waiting time in half. You can't go wrong with anything off of their rotating specials menu. I personally love the stuffed French toast but have never had a bad experience with their other dishes - try the steak and eggs!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dim Sum Garden; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: The soup dumplings at Dim Sum Garden are addiction-inducing! I regularly fantasize about their savory broth, doughy exterior, and tangy, vinegary dipping sauce all coming together in a warm burst of flavor. To make matters worse (or better, if you can eat a lot), they are only $5.50, so I always end up ordering more than I can eat. The only drawback is the wait-time on weekends, which can be up to an hour or more! And they don't accept credit cards, so you either have to be prepared with cash or accept a $3 atm charge at the machine there. But if you are willing to wait, you will definitely have an unforgettable chinatown dining experience.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nom Wah Philadelphia; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Meh. After reading the reviews on yelp, and given my penchant for all things dim sum, I was very excited to try the food at nom wah. However, the food was at best, unimpressive. At worst, it was inedible. I ordered a mai tai which tasted like rubbing alcohol. To their credit, the wait service was speedy even on a busy Saturday night, but I can't picture myself coming back again.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: honeygrow; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I love honeygrow! I could probably eat lunch here everyday if I wasn't a broke grad student. Oh wait. I eat here all the time anyway. Very automated ordering setup: you choose what you want and customize your order on a touch screen. I recommend adding an egg to any of the pre-made stir-fries.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ochatto; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: This is my personal favorite for food at a reasonable price in University City. The soups are savory and come with handmade noodles, which you can watch them craft if you eat at the restaurant. The sushi is very fresh and there are many specialty rolls which are well-crafted and tasty. Plus, you can get them for a good price as part of the lunch specials.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Herban Quality Eats; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I'm really happy I finally took the time to try this place. Normally I am intimidated by the lunch-time crowds who frequent this type of place since you dont get table service, which can add up to a long wait in line. Fortunately, I found out you can avoid the wait by coming during dinner time. You can customize what you eat by ordering a build-your-own plate, with your choice of protein, base, and two sides. All of the food is farm-to-table and quite healthy, which helps if you are watching what you eat. I ordered the himalayan red rice, grilled chicken, mashed sweet potatoes and spruce salad w/ mint coriander sauce. My boyfriend and I both agreed that the mint coriander sauce is the best, but were happy that we weren't limited to one option (there is a condiments bar located to the right of the check-out line where you can add any of the sauces to your plate). The chicken was surprisingly chockful of flavor and super-tender, which I wasn't expecting for a pre-cooked meal. The sweet potato is definitely on the sugary side - my boyfriend didn't like his but I finished mine and ate his. The only thing I wouldn't order again is the salad, because it was a little too vinegparp; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar - Philadelphia; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I love Harvest. There, I said it, even amidst the mixed reviews that are inevitable for any restaurant in the city. Let me give you some background. I originally became acquainted with Harvest in my hometown, Glen Mills, where the restaurant was a welcome addition to our admittedly sparce suburban dining scene. In comparison, the Philadelphia location caters to a much different population. In the heart of University City, Harvest offers student-friendly happy hour prices (yay) while serving the same dishes/drinks which I became acquainted with at home. The good: one word - Sangria. It may not be an authentic Spanish recipe, but Harvest offers an original take on the drink which is DELICIOUS. Be careful, though, as they do not skimp on alcohol. They also have great flatbreads, edamame, and other low-cal options. Also, the outdoor patio is great, especially in the summer. The bad: the quality of service really depends on the time of day and who is working on any given day. I have had a few lousy experiences, where servers were rude or service was extremely slow. Thankfully, as time has gone on, I have noticed marked improvement in service. I hope it stays that way :) All-in-all, if you're looking for a solid joint with healthy options, Harvest is a good bet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ochatto Hot Pot; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Ochatto has done it again! I was so excited when I saw that a hot pot place was opening in University City just in time for winter. Very flavorful broth and lots of options to add; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dim Sum House; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Went here for lunch with a group of co-workers and was happily surprised to find such a nice restaurant in the University City area. The restaurant is located on the second-floor, tucked behind two huge doors, which gives it a nice secluded feeling. You can tell that the owners put down some serious money on the interior design, with leather seating and detailing on the floors. The food was good and well-priced, just what we wanted for a group lunch. We were able to share roughly 10 dim sum plates between us for only $70. I ordered the Cantonese pork buns and my colleagues got the soup dumplings, chicken curry dumplings, shrimp shumai, and scallion pancakes. We were all very impressed with the quality of the dim sum, especially since it was some of my colleagues first time trying this cuisine. All of us agreed that we will be back soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Buddakan; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: We came here for our anniversary. Food was good, but as with many Steven Starr restaurants, I found the decor a little gimmicky. My favorite dish was the calamari salad and edamame dumplings. Service was also good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: With No Remorse (Black Ops, Inc.); Author: Visit Amazon's Cindy Gerard Page; Review: This was a good story but there was too much foul language. Perhaps the author was just trying to fill space for lack of decent language?; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Runaway Pastor's Wife; Author: Visit Amazon's Diane Moody Page; Review: Spellbinding. I started it and finished it in two days. Faith and mystery all wrapped in a glorious tale of suspense and victory!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Power of Your Words; Author: Visit Amazon's E. W. Kenyon Page; Review: This will revolution the lives of all who read it and practice it! It is an excellent book and well worth the time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Post: A Byron Tibor Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Sean Black Page; Review: Did not like the ending. After all the trauma he went through, i would have liked to have seen him restored.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Private India: City on Fire (Jack Morgan Series); Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: Not one of the better Private books. Names and places very difficult to have to think about pronunciation; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Power Play (An FBI Thriller); Author: Visit Amazon's Catherine Coulter Page; Review: Dynamic as always!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Amber Room: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Berry Page; Review: I am a history buff so I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My dad fought in Germany during the liberation of the camps with Gen. Patton so I could imagine him in some of those places during WWII.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Romanov Prophecy: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Berry Page; Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I started with the Amber Room and am finding Steve Berry becoming one of my favorite authors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cut and Thrust (A Stone Barrington Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Stuart Woods Page; Review: I like most of his books. Sometimes, though, he has too much gratuitous sex scenes which add nothing to the story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Live to See Tomorrow (Catherine Ling); Author: Visit Amazon's Iris Johansen Page; Review: The pace of the book was fast-moving so that it didn't have any boring spots. Hope to see more of Cameron together with Catherine and see them get married.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Power Thoughts Devotional: 365 Daily Inspirations for Winning the Battle of Your Mind; Author: Visit Amazon's Joyce Meyer Page; Review: Outstanding Bible study and daily devotional.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Columbus Affair: A Novel (Random House Large Print); Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Berry Page; Review: I thoroughly enjoy stories blending history and fiction. Steve Berry takes the past and weaves tales that are believable and I appreciate the fact he uses no foul language or porn. I recommend these books to all who like the genre.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flesh and Blood CD: A Scarpetta Novel (Kay Scarpetta Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia Cornwell Page; Review: At times the book gets a little too technical but I supposed that's to be expected of a medical examiner.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Storm Cycle; Author: Visit Amazon's Iris Johansen Page; Review: This is an excellent book. The mystery intriguing, the possibilities of medical advances postulated as fact excite their possible existence in the near future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Killer Force: A Delta Force Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Dalton Fury Page; Review: I can imagine the tension between the Navy Seals and the Delta Force if they thought one unit was on the chopping block. My solution would be to merge them and cross train them and if you need to pare numbers, do it by attrition.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Killer Force: A Delta Force Novel - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Dalton Fury Page; Review: I can imagine the tension between the Navy Seals and the Delta Force if they thought one unit was on the chopping block. My solution would be to merge them and cross train them and if you need to pare numbers, do it by attrition.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: No Fortunate Son (A Pike Logan Thriller); Author: Visit Amazon's Brad Taylor Page; Review: This is an exciting book from the start to the finish. It was almost too hard to put it down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Night Tales Collection: Night Shift, Night Shadow, Nightshade, Night Smoke, Night Shield; Author: Visit Amazon's Nora Roberts Page; Review: Enjoyed this series immensely. Nora Roberts never fails to deliver a good story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncaged (Singular Menace); Author: Visit Amazon's John Sandford Page; Review: The book was a little slow but midway, it became riveting. I can't wait to get into book two to see how it goes!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rampage (The Singular Menace, 3); Author: Visit Amazon's John Sandford Page; Review: I thoroughly enjoyed these three books. The story is intriguing, fast-paced and keeps you engrossed all the way through the three books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tom Clancy True Faith and Allegiance (A Jack Ryan Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Greaney Page; Review: Another hit by Mark Greany following the footsteps of Tom Clancy writing about Jack Ryan, Jr. and the Campus. Very fast moving and hard to put down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wolf's Bite: A Noah Wolf Thriller (Volume 5); Author: Visit Amazon's David Archer Page; Review: Having read several of David Archer's books, I like his main character Noah Wolf, the type of person I'd like to think moves in the shadows to protect America.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Code Name Camelot - A Noah Wolf Thriller (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's David Archer Page; Review: The beginning of a great series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Make Me: A Jack Reacher Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: Exciting and fast-paced as usual, Jack Reacher finds himself in a weird town just as an ex-FBI agent is being buried in the hog-pen...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The First Deception (Jack Noble); Author: Visit Amazon's L.T. Ryan Page; Review: Having read all of Jacks and Bears adventures, this book took me back in time to fill in how they were recruited, trained, then sent on a trail littered with bodies from Syria to Vienna. Their natural abilities and training give them the skills to successfully complete their mission. In addition, they also dig up a mole. Great read and lots of fun too. Congratulations, Lee, and thanks for writing entertaining books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: OneTooth Activewear; City: Edmonton, AB; Review: One Tooth active wear has exceptional customer service. I bought a coupon and went in on the very last day. Not only that, but I arrived at the store after closing and walked in waving my coupon around asking if I can still use it. The salesperson was very patient and allowed me to find my purchase. She then told me that there will be another coupon sale coming up. I am definitely a fan. I only rated it as a 4 star because I drive in from east of Sherwood Park so its a bit far for me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Prana Holistic; City: Edmonton, AB; Review: I too took advantage of a massage after buying a coupon. This was my first massage and Adam made me at ease and comfortable. It was wonderful! The location was quaint and the atmosphere in the building was calming; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Focus On You; City: Edmonton, AB; Review: I went to Focus On You spa for a facial. It was the first time that I went to a spa to get a facial, usually its at someone's house or at a party. Sylvia was very nice and professional, she kept me informed as what was going to happen and what each product does. the atmosphere was relaxing, the music was calming and my face felt wonderful afterward. It was hard to drive home because I was so relaxed. I went there because I purchased a Groupon. I purchased the cleanser Sylvia suggested and it was expensive. I usually don't buy products form spas because the do seem to be overpriced but I do like the cleanser although I probably won't be purchasing another one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sumo Sumo Sushi Bar & Grill; City: Sherwood Park, AB; Review: Sumo Sumo was recommended by a friend (thanks Graeme). The food was great. dinner portions were huge! Hubby, Shane, had the teriyaki salmon dinner and I had the seafood rice bowl. The salmon dinner was huge even without the 3 included sides! Way too much food for me, glad I just ordered the rice bowl, although Shane managed to eat almost everything except the tempura veggies. And ice cream came with the meal,which he also ate. I couldn't finish mine but all that was left was rice ;) We had the Saketinis drinks which were on special and were good. The restaurant was very busy for Saturday dinner but we were able to sit at the bar and were seated right away. I rated it only a 4 star because the restaurant was a little difficult to find. And the parking was a joke, lots of meridians everywhere and it was hard to tell how to get into the restaurant. We would go again, maybe when its not so busy and ask for recommendations on different sushi's to try.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Keg Steakhouse + Bar; City: Edmonton, AB; Review: Last Sunday was the first time that I had been to the Keg with my family and I must say it was a very pleasant experience. Our server, Dylan Mc, was excellent, he offered great choices and was very attentive. It was the crab fest and I had the Surf & turf combo, the food was great! Dylan Mc even took care of our desserts because he said we were his best customers of the night! Awesome! I would have given it 4.5 stars but that's not an option, the only reason I gave it 4 stars is because the prices were a bit high.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction; Author: Visit Amazon's Jon Stewart Page; Review: Love this book and also Stewart's "Earth" . Both very funny. They are very thick books, but worth the time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Tale of Two Cities (Collins Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Dickens Page; Review: if you really like the story, its great. was just okay for me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Oliver Twist (Penguin Clothbound Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Dickens Page; Review: if you really like the story, its great. was just okay for me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Great Expectations By Charles Dickens - The Franklin Library (Hardcover - 1979); Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Dickens Page; Review: if you really like the story, its great. was just okay for me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mad Magazine #1 eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Harvey Kurtzman Page; Review: I love any MAD, however this issue not as funny as some, to me anyway.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Captain From Castile VHS; Brand: Tyrone Power; Review: Video copy was excellent. Actors portrayed their parts with believable convictions. Scenes were for the most part believable, sound track was totaly enjoyable. Much too bad several of the actors are no longer with us- which makes this movie more to be kept and reviewed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shogun; Brand: Richard Chamberlain; Review: Video is very enjoyable- like the history of early Japan warriors. The copy was very good in color rendition, sound , and of course the actors! Extras made for added enjoyment. Would recommend to any family to gain some insight of Japan's fighting of regional war lords- the samuri coverage was very good and helped explain complete loyalty to the war lords.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avatar Steelbook Limited UK Edition; Brand: Sam Worthington; Review: Totally awesome- full range, all channel surround sound, color reditions of all scenes, makes excellent use of battle sections. Should be on your list of totally enjoyable cinema experience. Also added features, how to made scenes, very helpful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casino Royale/Quantum Of Solace/Skyfall 2006; Brand: ; Review: Very good update / upgrade from regular DVD ( non Blue Ray ). Has all the special features, full surround capabilities, full color reditions of scenes. Should be on any serious Bond 007 inventory. Good performances.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides; Brand: Johnny Depp; Review: Johnny Depp and all cast members up to their previous good work . Color, full theatre sound coverage and a very good story. If you enjoyed any of the previous Johnny Depp POC, this one should be in your library. Maybe another one POC sequel could be in the works- J Depp in perfectly cast- as many of the supporting actors/actresses...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug; Brand: Martin Freeman; Review: Movie follows previous Hobbit series. ALL cast members up to the challenge- scenery and ALL special effects top notch. Sound has full theatre coverage, music when added cover and makes for totally enjoyable experience. Should be in all home DVD libraries. Waiting for the part three of this series- should be very good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Naples Pizza Hostel; City: Naples Province of Naples Campania; Review: Easy to find with the directions given, the location is right in the middle of the historical city center. The place itself is nice and clean, including the bathrooms. However, the beds were a bit worn out and there was no shower head. (It was replaced soon though) The staff were all extremely friendly and helpful and made the stay very pleasant...except for the cleaning lady (described by a staff member as "the worst part of this job"). From 10:30 to 14:00 she locks down the hostel rooms and kitchen area tighter than North Korea and even simple things like getting a fork from the kitchen make you feel like you're Bilbo Baggins trying to steal the dragon's treasure.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Riad Dia; City: Marrakech Marrakech Tensift El Haouz Region; Review: This hostel is in a good location quite close to the main square, the staff are very relaxed, friendly and helpful. The rooms are alright, but the showers and toilets are too few and in a questionable, but usable state. The breakfast was good and the atmosphere was always relaxed. I would definitely recommend this as a cheap place to stay in Marrakech.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hostel Koine; City: Salerno Amalfi Coast Province of Salerno Campania; Review: It's cheap, clean and the lady who runs the place is very nice and helpful. However, the place has a really strange and uncomfortable atmosphere, most of the guests are old people who seem to live there permanently. It also has communal showers and toilets. For one night it was alright, but I wouldn't stay there longer, especially when travelling alone.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Riad Benchekroun; City: Meknes Meknes Tafilalet Region; Review: I went here with two friends. There is no real hostel in Meknes, so we went to this place, since it's quite affordable. The room we got was comfortable and right next to the roof terrace, where we got served the breakfast, which was rich and delicious. Considering the cheap price we paid (~20€ per person), this was amazing and I would definitely recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Diamond; City: Rome Lazio; Review: Basic hostel. The kitchen and bathrooms are alright. The staff are all very friendly and helpful and made the stay very pleasant. There is free dinner in the evening, which is quite nice and worth having. However, the breakfast costs extra and really isn't worth it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hostel Chili Prague; City: Prague Bohemia; Review: I went to Prague for a concert and stayed in this hostel for a night, since it was the cheapest. For sleeping for a few hours and storing your stuff it's alright, but otherwise I would avoid it. The mattresses were completely worn out so that you could feel the bed frame when lying down, and the whole room had a quite unpleasant, stale smell, which was not unlike the smell in a typical subway station.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Peace House Showa; City: Osaka Osaka Prefecture Kinki; Review: This place is hard to find and a bit run down, but clean. Many people there seemed to be long-term guests. The facilities and beds are alright. It's good enough for a short time, but there are better alternatives for the same price in Osaka.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Khaosan World Namba; City: Osaka Osaka Prefecture Kinki; Review: This hostel is brand new (opened in March 2016). It's part of the Khaosan chain, which has several hostels in Tokyo and Kyoto. It's also pretty damn good. It's very close to Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi, which means that both nightlife and shopping are in walking distance. It also has its own bar, which is pretty good and cheap (well, for Osaka standards). The staff is friendly and helpful, and the beds are pretty large and comfortable. Since the place is new, everything's in pristine condition. The only thing I would complain about is that the toilets seem to have been simply left as they were from the previous usage of the building. They're not dirty, but they do look old. Also, on every floor there is only either a men's or a women's bathroom, which is a bit annoying when you have to walk down the stairs every time you need to go.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ML International Hostel; City: Nara Nara Prefecture Kinki; Review: This place is really small (just one room with 8 beds or so), but it has everything you need and the staff is pretty relaxed. I should note that the place looks different now than in the pictures here, the beds are more like closed "capsule" beds with a curtain now.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Counting Kisses; Author: McElderry Books; Review: My little girl loves this book. I got it for her at 1 year and still loves it at age 2. She asks us to read this when she wants to interact with her mom or dad.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daddy Hugs 1 2 3; Author: Visit Amazon's Karen Katz Page; Review: This is the perfect Daddy-Daughter read. My daughter and husband have enjoyed reading this since she was a year old and continues to love it at 2. It is especially great when my little girl wants attention from dad.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My First Truck Board Book (DK My First Board Books); Author: DK; Review: This book is great for girls and for boys. They both like it. It also contains about every truck imaginable. This book is very well illustrated, though it's not really a reading book, but rather a looking book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Over in the Meadow; Author: Olive A. Wadsworth; Review: I actually bought two of these for my neice and nephews becuase my kids love this one. This has been their favorite since they were a few months old and it continues to be a classic. I enjoy reading this one too and i had it memorized after only a few times through. This is great for rhyming and numbers and plain good reading.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ready, Set, Read!: The Beginning Reader's Treasury; Author: Joanna Cole; Review: I bought this for my five year old who is learning to read on her own. She loves this book and goes back to it when she wants to read something fun. She is so excited that she can read (most) of these stories without help from me. Keep in mind, she is an early beginner, but they are not the easiest stories either. They also have a great story line and keep them entertained. My three year old also loves to listen to the stories.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Marriage Bureau for Rich People; Author: Visit Amazon's Farahad Zama Page; Review: I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun read and had some interesting insights into culture. Great for book group and for personal reading.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pirate Treasure Mazes (Dover Children's Activity Books); Author: Visit Amazon's Dave Phillips Page; Review: My five year old loved doing the mazes in this book. He was so efficient that he finished it much quicker than I thought he would. It was challenging and he really enjoyed doing the mazes pirate themed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Holy Bible (Containing the Old and the New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original; Author: Visit Amazon's The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Page; Review: This is a great book that should be read by anyone wanting to know about Jesus Christ. He is all through the book and it is a reminder of the real purpose in life..to return to live with Him someday.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Food Rules: An Eater's Manual; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Pollan Page; Review: Good book and interesting. I definitely agree with many, though some could be expanded.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: English Patient, The (1996); Genres: Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Genres: Action, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seven Years in Tibet (1997); Genres: Adventure, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kiss the Girls (1997); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Game, The (1997); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Contact (1997); Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: G.I. Jane (1997); Genres: Action, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scream (1996); Genres: Comedy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Conspiracy Theory (1997); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Everyone Says I Love You (1996); Genres: Comedy, Musical, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: George of the Jungle (1997); Genres: Children, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scream 2 (1997); Genres: Comedy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dante's Peak (1997); Genres: Action, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Volcano (1997); Genres: Action, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crash (1996); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Saint, The (1997); Genres: Action, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cop Land (1997); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sphere (1998); Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997); Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Boys, Les (1997); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Suncloud Impulse Polarized Sunglass; Brand: Suncloud; Review: Lost them at the burn, found out the manufacturer aint gonna make the shiny lenses so i found this guy and order a pair. He shipped so fast and they are currently on my dome.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nite Ize SBP0-2PK-27 S-Biner Plastic Size-0 Double Gated Carabiner, Slate, 2-Pack; Brand: Nite Ize; Review: I am guessing this is nylon 6, which is one of my favorite materials. The metal ones hold a better load but there is something about the touch and feel of the plastic s-biners. I would love to buy more but shipping cost is expensive on here. I wish someone sold a multi-pack of like 6 different colors s-biners in #4 size. #4 is a great size.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Light my Fire Titanium Spork; Brand: Light my Fire; Review: ; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Suisse Sport Adventurer Sleeping Bag; Brand: Suisse Sport; Review: Very compact and nice, i keep it in my car just in case i get snowed in. It could be warmer but for 40 bucks i mean its awesome. I will use a lot in hostels and traveling. Fits in a small backpack.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Victorinox Swiss Army Pocket Knife; Brand: Victorinox; Review: Order the knife, and my order didn't go through. Then the knife went from 19$ to 39$, price hiked double!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Angel Cola Men's Outdoor Hiking & Climbing Softshell Long Shorts PM5213; Brand: ; Review: These pants are awesome!! The Zippers are not that strong they make amazing cycling pants. Havent tried them climbing yet but for every day wear they rock, will buy other pairs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Suunto Clipper L/B Compass; Brand: Suunto; Review: Love this thing, wear it while i fly and where it while i dive, also great for nyc subway exits; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pro Bike Tool Mini Bike Pump - Fits Presta and Schrader - High Pressure PSI - Reliable, Compact; Brand: Pro Bike Tool; Review: Best Pump Ever!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Motorola Triumph Prepaid Android Phone (Virgin Mobile); Brand: Motorola; Review: I got the phone refurbished for a little over half the original price with a case and screen protector. When it arrived, it had everything needed and activation was extremely easy. Before I purchased the phone, I read some reviews and saw that the phone had an old Android version. No problem, I did some research and I found some ways to make 3G speeds faster and I found some good roots. I rooted my phone to CM9 (CyanogenMod Mod 9, Android Ice Cream Sandwich or 4.0.4) and now it works so smooth and so fast (overclocked). A CM10 (CyanogenMod Mod 10, Android Jelly Bean or 4.1) root is in development for anybody wondering. The battery lasts me through the whole day, but some reviews say that the battery runs out a lot after a while so I bought two 2000 mAh batteries. Now, I have the perfect phone that I've always wanted.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2x Premium Clear LCD Screen Protector Cover Guard Shield Protective Film Kit For Motorola Triumph WX435; Brand: Triumph; Review: It was the perfect size, it fit completely from top to bottom. A couple air bubbles, but I got them out. It was extremely easy and simple to apply. It's a 1-2-3 step process. I'm will be ordering more just in case.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Hard Case Cover for Motorola Triumph WX435; Brand: HRTWireless; Review: The case was very difficult to put on and the side clips broke. Ended up throwing it out and buying a whole new phone all together.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Solid Black Silicone Skin Gel Cover Case For Motorola Triumph WX435; Brand: Motorola; Review: While I had the Triumph, this gel cover worked great! My phone survived through everything until I upgraded and trashed it and everything else along with it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spigen Slim Armor Galaxy S4 Case with Air Cushion Technology and Hybrid Drop Protecton for Samsung Galaxy S4 2013; Brand: Spigen; Review: The case was gorgeous when it arrived, with some scratches on the glass for some reason. After about a week of normal use, something is peeling from the edges.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: CyberTech 6.5 Feet MHL Micro USB to Hdmi 1080p Hdtv Adapter Cable for Samsung Galaxy S3 S4 S5 Note 2; Brand: CyberTech; Review: I loved this cable and the idea of it, but I think I'm going with the Chrome Cast. This cable started disconnecting by itself after a few days and static. Now it doesn't work at all. I'm definitely returning it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Galaxy S6 Edge Screen Protector + Full Body, Skinomi TechSkin Full Coverage Skin; Brand: Skinomi; Review: Out of the box it looks great. However it was quickly noticeable that it would be extremely difficult to peel since the protector was the same shape and size as the thing that it comes stuck to and it has NO PEEL TAB, so finger prints easily got on the adhesive size and all over the place. Spraying your fingertips with the spray doesn't really seem to do anything. The quality no doubt is diminished greatly. It looks greasy with the rainbows and colorful noise but it's only been the first few hours so I will give it time. I guess I'll just rack out the money for a high quality protector next time. No doubt it is a great screen protector, it is just not worth it. It doesn't feel or look natural. Oh yeah, don't use a straight edge to flatten it. Let it settle on its own.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Power Bank RAVPower 26800 Portable Charger 26800mAh Total 5.5A Output 3-Ports External Battery Packs (2.4A; Brand: RAVPower; Review: A little over a month of regular use and 2 ports stopped working. No abuse, I kept it in the protective sleeve at all times. Never even really charged my phone, just held it at whatever it was at or continues to drain but slower. I trusted this product because of the excellent reviews. -- Update -- Best portable charger ever (and truly the best customer service). I had mine replaced with a new one that works perfectly. No flaws. Charges my Galaxy S6 quickly to 100%. A full charge over night lasts me many days. I am so pleased with this portable charger, I recommended it to all of my friends and family and most of them have already purchased one. I think it works even better with the cables provided, they should probably mention that in the product description.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Silver Justice; Author: Visit Amazon's Russell Blake Page; Review: I loved the part that explained the financial crisis of 2008. The fictional account could be very close to the truth and closer to what I would believe than the government's or Federal Reserve's version of the truth. Very interesting!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: W is for Wasted; Author: Visit Amazon's Sue Grafton Page; Review: An acquired taste but I have read most the books. Something about the character is enduring and interesting, I have always loved a who-done-it book and that coupled with a familiar character is inviting. The writer is a detailed scenario painter and reading the A-Z group of work is somewhat repetitious when she updating new readers in successive books on the protagonist character.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery That Holds the Secret of America's Future (Thorndike Christian Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Cahn Page; Review: After into the book, I could not stop reading it. I still don't know if it is true or fiction. Even before reading this book, I have been concern about the direction the US has been going and have feared what the book was warning of. Recommend this to anyone that is not afraid to face the possibilities if changes aren't made..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: S is for Silence; Author: Visit Amazon's Sue Grafton Page; Review: Enjoy the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Source of Magic: A Fantasy Romance (Alaia Chronicles); Author: Visit Amazon's Cate Rowan Page; Review: Love it, good date book, it has a good romance, adventure and flows every quickly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fatal Exchange; Author: Visit Amazon's Russell Blake Page; Review: fast moving, good read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: S is for Silence; Author: Visit Amazon's Sue Grafton Page; Review: She is like an friend with a new story, never get tired of the series. I have read most of them,. just a nice relaxing read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: JET - Incarceration (Volume 10); Author: Visit Amazon's Russell Blake Page; Review: I have read all 10 Jet books, I enjoyed them all. This book was high pace from the start, Jet is a very controled kickass super star and is very cool and professional. Very realistic on the weapons and settings.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Breakthrough; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael C. Grumley Page; Review: Loved the story, moved quick, animal and human characters very interest and fun.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Uluru Code: A Sean Wyatt Thriller (The Sean Wyatt Adventure Thriller Series) (Volume 10); Author: Visit Amazon's Ernest Dempsey Page; Review: Surprise turn at the end that will save the group from a certain death. The story centers around aboriginese and their.god who left them a special powerful treasure. One of the gangs most dangerour advertures, Don't miss it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Killing The Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan (Wheeler Publishing Large Print Book Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Bill O'Reilly Page; Review: The best, learn much that I did not know about World War II and how harsh, and inhuman the Japanese were. help you understand the attitude of our soldiers of WWII about them. Help you understand much better, why we developed the Atomic bomb and why we used it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dragon Teeth: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Crichton Page; Review: If you like Michael Crichton, this is your last chance, this book was found by his family but never published by him, now here it is. I enjoyed the book very much about when the old west, Indians and solders as a back drop and archaeologist search of dinosaur bones, while Custer makes his last stand as the main story line. Great adventure with the perils of death from Indians or a wild west characters, all through the eyes of a young college kid on his own. .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Genesis Conspiracy; Author: Visit Amazon's James D. Prescott Page; Review: Interest scenario; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fourth Prophecy: A Sean Wyatt Archaeological Thriller (Sean Wyatt Adventure) (Volume 14); Author: Visit Amazon's Ernest Dempsey Page; Review: Dempsey did again, love the Sean Wyatt series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dourado; Author: Visit Amazon's David Wood Page; Review: Love a historical fiction with the action and fast pace of this book. The setting is in interesting places also Dane and crew are treasure hunters, who doesn't like a treasure hunt?; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Instructions For Life Dalai Lama 24-by-36-Inch Art Poster Print; Brand: Poster Revolution; Review: This is just a poster However it is elemental in reminding you what is important in life. Product arrived as described, fast and in superior packaging.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Antler Windcatcher Dream Wind Catcher Leather Feathers; Brand: Furniture Creations; Review: Beautiful Piece. I have gotten several compliments from visitors to my home very happy with this purchase.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lasko 4930 Oscillating High Velocity Tower Fan with Remote Control - Features Built-in Timer and Louvered Air Flow Control; Brand: Lasko; Review: Up side This fan cools like a air conditioner. down side This fan makes a lot of noise. In a 100 degree weather I can deal with a blowing noise.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: OXO Good Grips Oil Stopper/Pourer; Brand: OXO; Review: This is the answer to my prayers! Quite nice and very attractive.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OXO Good Grips Twisting Tea Ball Infuser; Brand: OXO; Review: Wonderful tea ball. No leaves escape.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Personalized Photo Mouse Pad for a unique Personalized Gift - Mousepad; Brand: Marvelous Printing; Review: Excellent high quality photo reproduction. Very happy with my item; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sharpie 25005 Accent Tank Highlighters, Chisel Tip, Yellow, 12-Count; Brand: Sharpie; Review: bought as school supplys for grand child. No reported issues, works as described. great value and fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Paper Mate Arrowhead Pink Pearl Cap Erasers, 144 Count; Brand: Paper Mate; Review: bought as school supplys for grand child. No reported issues, works as described. great value and fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ticonderoga Wood-Cased Graphite Pencils, #2 HB Soft, Yellow, 24 Count (13924); Brand: Dixon; Review: bought as school supplys for grand child. No reported issues, works as described. great value and fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avery Glue Stic White, 1.27 oz., Washable, Nontoxic, Permanent Adhesive, 6 Glue Sticks (98073); Brand: Avery; Review: bought as school supplys for grand child. No reported issues, works as described. great value and fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ADVANTUS Polypropylene Pencil Box with Lid, 8.5 x 5.5 x 2.5 Inches, Clear (34104); Brand: Advantus; Review: bought as school supplys for grand child. No reported issues, works as described. great value and fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Five Star 2-Pocket Folders with Prong Fasteners, Folders with Pockets, Green (72361); Brand: Five Star; Review: bought as school supplys for grand child. No reported issues, works as described. great value and fast shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LD Compatible Ink Cartridge Replacement for Kodak 30XL High Yield (1 Black, 1 Color, 2-Pack); Brand: LD Products; Review: Was not impressed at all . Compaired to new manufactuer ink cartridges its the difference between night and day. Color isn't as sharp and bright factory new cartridges. They don't seem to last long at all and I feel they had a adverse effect on my printer. Wouldn't recommend to a friend.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Office_Products |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Animal Farm; Author: George Orwell; Genres: history, young-adult, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Once again, Orwell did it. I knew the story well enough, first because it's a satire of real happenings, and second because when I was a kid (yes, you read that well) I liked to watch a 1960's animation film that was an adaptation of the book (and faithful enough, I must say). There's not much I can say about this that other's haven't said before except, as I saw someone mentioning about his other work 1984, this is a great essay. Maybe it's better as an essay than a story, but it's definitely a must. Basically, we have a farm run by a very bad man named Jones. He doesn't care about his animals, he doesn't work enough and he doesn't fully uses his farm - he spends most of the time drinking and sleeping, instead of ploughing and so on. Sick of this, the animals at the farm decide to make a rebellion. From this on all we have is an obvious satire to the communist regime during Estaline's power. It's very well written, it's very ironic and it's very enlightening. Especially since we can now look back and realise how people were (and in some certain situations still are) too blind to see. I'm sorry if my review isn't very coherent. It has been awhile since my last review and to be honest I'm tired. But this is definitely a book worth reading. It's not even that big (I find it pretty small, to be honest) so it can easily entertain you for a few hours - and then it will make you think. And that is the most important thing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Frankenstein; Author: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, romance, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I LOVED the story and all that but is way too predictable. When you get to the middle of the book you understand they all are going to die. Also, I think Mary Shelley just forgot about Ernest, Victor's brother... Anyway, the story is very nice and it is a good reading.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle, #1); Author: Christopher Paolini; Genres: young-adult, romance, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: 21-25/07/2011: re-read it. Review em portugues aqui. Eragon is on of those books you can read easily and have fun with it if: 1) you are a persistent person who keeps in mind to finish the books you start; 2) you are able to read them no matter how bad the writing is (and, believe me, Paolini's writing is not lovely...); 3) you don't mind the constant alusions to big works such as, say, Lord of the Rings; 4) you don't mind counting it as one of your guilty pleasures; 5) you don't take eveything way too serious. If you include yourself in here, then you will, very likely, enjoy the book enough to keep reading it. If you don't... maybe you should just run away from it as fast as you can.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Jane Eyre; Author: Charlotte Bronte; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: 2.5 stars I really wanted to like this book but for some reason I can't truly like Bronte writing: it is way to sweet for my taste and, eventually, I started to get annoyed of it. Plus, there are several things that make me like the book less than what I thought I would (notice, most part of the transcriptions of the book are from the last pages, not because that's where I found the "flaws" first, but because were the ones fresher in my mind - which makes it easier to look up for them instead of the first ones): 1) I feel Bronte's writing is very typical of women. I may be wrong, but the fact is her style of writing does create that association in my mind. And that makes it hard for me to truly believe in Mr. Rochester's speaches: I always feel they are way too passionate for someone who is supposed to be very stern; I can't imagine someone like Mr. Rochester to speak like this: "[...] 'But I always woke and found it an empty mockery; and I was desolate and abandoned - my life dark, lonely, hopeless - my soul athirst and forbidden to drink - my heart famished and never to be fed. Gentle, soft dream, nestling in my arms now, you will fly, too, as your sisters have fled before you: but kiss me before you go - embrace me, Jane.'" (p. 429) This only makes me think poet, poet, poet. 2) While other people will totally disagree on this, I have a serious difficulty in figuring out each characters' nature. I don't hate any of them, but I don't like Mr. Rochester, I don't really see any importance in Adele, I don't adore Jane and all the other characters are unimportant compared to these three. In fact (SURPRISE!), the character I like the most wat St. John Rivers who is not a great character and whose nature was somehow twisted by poorly planned aims. I don't understand Jane. I don't really care about all the other characters - but, alas, they are not the main ones, so that is not a big problem. But not understanding Jane could be easily surpassed if I would somehow be atracted to Mr. Rochester. I am not. I feel he is sarcastic and ironic in one moment and in the other he get's easily angry but right after he would play some kind of... victim role, for lack of better expression. For example: "'Withdraw then - I consent; but remember, you leave me here in anguish. Go up to your own room; think over all I have said, and, Jane, cast a glance on my suffering - think of me.' He turned away; then threw himsel on his face on the sofa. 'Oh, Jane! my hope - my love - my life!' broke in anguish from his lips. Then came a deep, strong sob." (p. 315) Plus, sometimes I feel like he is mocking Jane, which is very weird: "' [Jane][...] and therefore I see; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 1984; Author: George Orwell; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: I read someone's review saying this wasn't the best literary piece in itself but it was one of the best essays they've ever read. And that is certainly truth. The best thing about this book is not necessarily the descriptions of the world around the characters or the romance or how they do whatever they have to do. The best thing is entering in Winston's (and George Orwell's) mind to understand how they feel what happens around them and what they think could happen. Orwell certainly decided to express his point of view on a society that was completely and utterly controlled by every possible mean and where that could lead us. In fact, the book is perfect to make you think: do we really want to have so much technology around us? Is that really necessary? Is the past something whose existence you can testify? Is it changeable? What about people? Can they be manipulated? Will they submit to a different way of living and thinking due to the control created by some type of government? All of these things are extraordinary and when I got disturbed by this reading was usually not because of the story itself but simply of what such ideas meant to the society, how they could destroy all our points of view, how they could destroy society itself. More than that, it was the ending, after all the torture, after realizing the the worst thing that could happen would be to die or living without knowing the truth, Winston is "cured" by the Party, meaning, all the truth he knew, all the reality, the absolute clarity... is lost for him. So he becomes what he didn't want to be: the person who does not know. And that was the thing that broke me the most; the possibility of something like that ever happening and not being able to see it; a control that could never be broken . This is totally worth reading and worth the thinking.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Última Feiticeira (A Saga das Pedras Mágicas, #1); Author: Sandra Carvalho; Genres: history, romance, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Quando me passaram este livro para as maos ja sabia a historia toda, pois quem mo passou era demasiado obcecado para evitar falar nele. Mesmo assim, o livro prendeu-me de uma ponta a outra e a autora surpreendeu-me fortemente, bem como o livro, ja que temi que fosse demasiado semelhante a outras obras bastante faladas (o que felizmente, na minha opiniao, nao se passou).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: O Guerreiro-Lobo (A Saga das Pedras Mágicas, #2); Author: Sandra Carvalho; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Bonito, bem escrito, original e com desenvolvimentos supreendentes. Sandra Carvalho e, sem duvida, alguem a estar atento.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lágrimas do Sol e da Lua (A Saga das Pedras Mágicas, #3); Author: Sandra Carvalho; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Quando me deparei com as alteracoes existentes neste livro, pensei que acabaria por deixar de gostar dele. Mas tal nao aconteceu, pelo contrario, manteve-me presa a cadeira e vidrada no futuro das personagens.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: O Círculo do Medo (A Saga das Pedras Mágicas, #4); Author: Sandra Carvalho; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Tal como o resto da coleccao, adorei o livro e o desenvolvimento da historia.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Os Três Reinos (A Saga das Pedras Mágicas, #5); Author: Sandra Carvalho; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Cada vez mais me apaixono pelas personagens. Cada vez mais me custa esperar pelo proximo volume.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mansfield Park; Author: Jane Austen; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Finally, I finished this! University is kiling my free time :( A proper review will be here [not so] very soon.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Metamorphosis; Author: Franz Kafka; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: ** spoiler alert ** I totally feel that readint The Metamorphosis was a waste of time. Yeah, the symbology was interesting but the truth is: I would totally give this book to a ten-year-old kid and that kid would understand it perfectly. He wakes up as a coackroach (?) and he NEVER asks why! He just thinks that he has to work and whatever. No one wonders what happened or why he just turns into a bug and lives like a bug until he dies because he has an infection caused by an apple that his own father used to atack him. Plus, which was the bug size? He was small as a bug but still he was able to do lots of noise, stay with apples in its back and push forniture all over the room. I understood the symbology but this book was simply a waste of time.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sputnik Sweetheart; Author: Haruki Murakami; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: ** spoiler alert ** Haruki makes me think. Sometimes that gives me headache HAHA but the truth is that this book talk a lot about some of my personal doubts, fears and feelings. Sumire is a lovely person even if she's different and the ending allows me to dream a lot about several things... :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: South of the Border, West of the Sun; Author: Haruki Murakami; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This made me think about the things I left behind. Made me think about feeling empty because something is missing. I loved this book, and surely I'll be reading more Haruki's books very soon.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Surgeon (Rizzoli & Isles, #1); Author: Tess Gerritsen; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: I have read this book before but I decided to read it again. I maintain my rating. I still think it's a great book, however I don't often read these kind of books.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eldest (The Inheritance Cycle, #2); Author: Christopher Paolini; Genres: young-adult, romance, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: 25-28/07/2011: re-read. Review em portugues aqui. Since it's been a while since I read this book, I will just highlight the most important details. - Paolini's writing improved (which isn't hard, since his writing wasn't that good); - the story becomes more interesting than the first one; - I could feel the characters' development; - although his writing improved, the descriptions remain very weak; - the story is still very predictable; - we can see the connections to other books as well; - Roran, Eragon's cousin, appears as a main character and we follow some parts os the story through his eyes: in the beggining that's very cool. Until you realize everything Roran is planing to do and it becomes boring reading about him... I'm very sorry for this... review (?) but I don't feel like writing it now. I know, however, that if I don't do it now, I never will do it again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lusiads; Author: Luis de Camoes; Genres: history, poetry, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: You know, I don't even care if other people don't consider this a master piece, I don't care I had to study this at school, I don't care people look at me weird in the subway when they realize I'm reading The Lusiads and I certainly don't care about those people that say this is boring and stupid just because they don't understand it. This is a master piece. Period.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, #3); Author: Philip Pullman; Genres: young-adult, romance, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: ** spoiler alert ** From the three books I read this one was the best of them. But still the story of the whole trilogy does not captivates me as some other books did. Also, some parts of the story sound kinda random. And Will and Lyra start a relationship in all of a sudden... Some things could be better. And I still think the book/story deserved an epilogue showing us what happened to them after they got separated but... Well, at the same time the book has wonderful ideas that I truly believe. It is still a nice book to read :); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nos Bastidores de Hollywood; Author: Mario Augusto; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Este livro e interessante e esta bem escrito. E bom para passar o tempo quando nao queremos pensar demasiado naquilo que estamos a ler. :); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Skellig (Skellig, #1); Author: David Almond; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: After taking so much time, I finally decided to review Skellig. This will be one of the hardest reviews I ever made because I just simply, truly, profoundly love this book with all my being. It starts out as a very simple and normal story, of a boy named Michael, whose sister is ill. Obviously, that creates some worries to the whole family and puts them under some stress. And you can see Michael is having some sort of hard time dealing with it - in his own way. And then he finds it in the garage. Now, the mystery is what it is. Almond tell the story in very simple words - the right words for youngsters -, but there is some kind of dark tone to it that creates a really beautiful and melancholic environment. The characters are adorable and interesting and even thought it might seem there isn't much to grow, that is wrong. Throughout the story we will see Michael and his friend, Mina, learning what is love (which, most of the time, is also friendship) and faith. Specially about faith and not giving up, about believing, about persistence. And that is what I like the most about the story. Once I had to present to my class a book for all of us to read. When I talked about the it in the garage, the creature habiting it, a friend of mine asked me "but, wait, what creature is it?" and I answered with a smile "I can't tell you because I think it is one thing, but the book gives you freedom to think whatever you want. You have to read for yourself and then we can talk". And there it is. This creature, this it (whose identity I don't want to give away) is the type of character you can't truly believe to be real in the beginning and suddenly you are already thinking where it would be right now. Plus, you can read the book and get your own interpretation. Sure, there is one explanation that comes right away and that fits properly, but the way it's told, the way it is shown to you, makes it free for you to think what you prefer to think - it actually let's you get the most common and straight forward explanation, and bend it to your own imagination. I wish I could rant amazingly about the greatness of this book. But I love it so much I just can't. My grandmother also read it recently and she loved it as well, she said it was cute and funny and very mysterious. And when my granny likes the books I also read, that usually means they might be good to anyone. If you are asking yourself if you should read or buy this book, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO IT NOW. This is the type of book people will like. I can't believe someone won't. Believe me, it will give you sighs and smiles with the kind of good melancholy feeling.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dracula; Author: Bram Stoker; Genres: history, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I think this book is really good. It's interesting and I was obcessed for it! And obviously it is, for me, the best kind of descriptions of vampires I've read so far.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Atonement; Author: Ian McEwan; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This book is just amazingly wonderful. The vocabulary is simple but yet captivating and the story embraces all your senses. You just don't want to stop. One day this book will be considered a classic! I love the whole story. I love Robbie and Cecilia. And I obviously cried at the end... I cannot imagine how much pain they had! It must be so awful to love somebody and then you just lose him/her!... Still, this books is wonderful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shōgun (Asian Saga, #1); Author: James Clavell; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I loved this book a lot, specially because I am a japanese lover and this book teached me lots of things specially anbout Japan, which was very interesting. But I thought it deserved a better ending...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lollipop Shoes; Author: Joanne Harris; Genres: history, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: I though Chocolat was better and that this one lost a little bit of its magic, but still, it is a great book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Manopla de Karasthan (Crónicas de Allaryia, #1); Author: Filipe Faria; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I've read better stuff. The writing is very childish in my opinion but according to my accounts, Filipe was 15/16 years old when he wrote this, so a lot of it is explained. The background story is okay. It's very similar to other big epic fantasy stories, such as Lord of the Rings, but I guess it is also hard to write something totally unrelated to such a big book. Lot of the situations are predictable and if Filipe wouldn't purposely make some of them a secret, you could guess most of the things. Still, if you really like fantasy and if you really don't mind with his poor writing you will be able to like this book or ate least reading it without hating it totally.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Brisingr (The Inheritance Cycle, #3); Author: Christopher Paolini; Genres: young-adult, romance, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: 28-30/07/2011: re-read. Contains spoilers from previous books. Brisingr gives, just as its predecessor, Eldest , continuity to Eragon's story, in this case, after fighting with Murthag and discovered their kinship. I took a long time writing this review, I must confess, because I fear it will become repetitive about both the positive and negative aspects. This being said, I warn you this review will be smaller than the usual. I think the positive aspects are quite similar to the usual ones: there is a noticeable growth of Eragon and Saphira in a very obvious way, even if they aren't always correct; they are much more mature and start to think in a way that captivates me: everybody has to be happy, so they need to find a way of satisfying all of them without making someone angry. More than that, Eragon and Saphira have to understand when people are trying to manipulate them and how to avoid it graciously. Let's face it, it's not always easy to do so. Besides, nevertheless some curious but unsurprising discoveries (Paolini, I repeat, is very predictable!), the story starts to make more sense. It's like many of the pieces are falling in the right place and the needed solutions are, now, possible to find. Despite all this, the usual critics also deserve a spot in this review: extremely predictable, connections with other works, insufficient descriptions (although, I might add, Paolini's writing improves - or maybe I'm just way too used to it...), and there are some chapters from other character's point of view again (but, being more separated from each other, they become a lot more bearable). The other positive points I would like to add are specific to moments of this volume, but it's not necessary to add them, since you are still able to understand my point of view. As a conclusion, my review about this volume is still very similar to the one made to the second volume, not because I don't know what to say, but because it's a very similar opinion. This is, very likely, my favourite volume so far, but, as I said, that is related to the story, not with any other aspect. Despite all that, there isn't such a big diference between book two and three so, as I did to Eldest, I give this book three stars.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1); Author: J.R.R. Tolkien; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: I saw the movie first and lost of people told me that Tolkien was very, very descriptive and, since I am not very fond of descriptions, I thought I was going to get bored of it and it would, somehow, ruin the excitement I felt everytime I watch the movie. I was wrong. I loved the book as much as I love the movie, I didn't get bored of the descriptions (but I do have to admit that there are lots of it) and I could still feel the excitement I felt in the movie. This is the kind of books I like to read over and over again. However, for those who are now starting it, they must be aware that the way of writing in the book is typical of the 1930-1950, which means the tragedies, broken-heart sequences and adventures aren't writen as nowadays.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Sacerdotisa dos Penhascos (A Saga das Pedras Mágicas, #6); Author: Sandra Carvalho; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: ** spoiler alert ** Este livro esta espectacular. A historia base nao e das mais originais e muitas vezes antecipei acontecimentos. Mesmo assim, a Sandra Carvalho tem a capacidade de escrever tao bem que envolve qualquer um. Alem disso, o facto de simpatizar enormemente com Kelda e de achar que Lysander e, pura e simplesmente, o homem ideal, faz com que adore este livro tanto como todos os anteriores. E achei que o final do livro, onde se da um pequeno dialogo entre o Erebus e a Kelda, foi uma forma bonita de acabar este volume, especialmente devido a ultima frase de todas :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia, #7); Author: C.S. Lewis; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: The end of the book is so, so beautiful to me. Oh, I wish I could go to Narnia!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mensagem - Poemas Esotéricos; Author: Fernando Pessoa; Genres: history, poetry, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I was surprised with this book. I don't like Fernando Pessoa very much (in fact, I only like some Fernando Pessoa poems and The Book of Disquiet) but "Mensagem" was a good surprise. I liked it, it was nice to read and to study.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swapping Lives; Author: Jane Green; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: It's not the best literature book but still it is funny and sweet :); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tales and More Tales from Mountain; Author: Miguel Torga; Genres: fiction; Review: I really liked this books. Some of the stories are very touching, other are more humouristic and there were a few i didn't enjoy very much. Miguel Torga has a beautiful writing, too :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: La esclava de marfil; Author: Almudena de Arteaga; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: This book is okay and the story is interesting but everything is waaaay predictable and almost cliche.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Wilderness; Author: Samantha Harvey; Genres: thriller, poetry, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: This book is very interesting and the story is envolving. My only mistake was to read it when school was a mess and, eventually, I had to make a few breaks, which compromised my complete understanding of the book. I still think this book is beautiful and all the "madness" in it is overwelming - in a good way.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Os Filhos do Flagelo (Crónicas de Allaryia, #2); Author: Filipe Faria; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: This book is better than the first one. The way Filipe Faria writes is much better. The background story is interesting, however is not interesting enough for me to get way to axcited about it. In fact, if Filipe Faria wouldn't end the books in critical situations the interest in reading the next book wouldn't very big for me. If you like fantasy and you really don't mind reading something that remembers Tolkien a lot and is not a great example of literature it is a good read (obviously is also depends of your likes). In the other hand, if you like things that are really well written or if you like a really complex story, it isn't a book for you.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Marés Negras (Crónicas de Allaryia, #3); Author: Filipe Faria; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Devo confessar que a probabilidade de dar mais de 3 estrelas aos livros desta saga e muito baixa. Como ja disse anteriormente, a historia base e interessante e consegue cativar-nos, ao mesmo tempo que nos traz algumas surpresas. Mesmo assim, parece que ha algo que falta na escrita do Filipe Faria, mas pode tambem ser uma opiniao pessoal. A verdade e que eu so recomendaria este livro a alguem que fosse um fanatico por livros de fantasia, pois duvido que consiga convencer alguem a gostar do genero atraves do mesmo.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Essência da Lâmina (Crónicas de Allaryia, #4); Author: Filipe Faria; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Este livro e capaz de ter sido o que achei mais chato de ler, uma vez que eles estavam todos separados. E faco eco das palavras que ja disse nas anteriores reviews.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Vagas de Fogo (Crónicas de Allaryia, #5); Author: Filipe Faria; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Nao sei se gosto muito do rumo que este livro leva em relacao a certas personagens. E ficaram algumas coisas pendentes, alguns misterios, que nao sei bem se me agradam ou nao. Dependem da resolucao final...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: O Fado da Sombra (Crónicas de Allaryia, #6); Author: Filipe Faria; Genres: paranormal, romance, fantasy, fiction; Review: O fim foi surpreendente, mas questiono-me o porque dessa situacao e como e que esta se vai resolver. No fim, eram demasiados os inimigos e demasiados os problemas... Estou a espera para ver o que acontece.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Ilha do Tempo Perdido; Author: Silvana Gandolfi; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: This book is so sweet... And the funny thing is that when I was little I also used to think that when I lost something it would stay in a place until I find it. I loved this book...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Lua de Joana; Author: Maria Teresa Maia Gonzalez; Genres: history, young-adult, children, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This book is really pretty. I read it a few times because we studied it at school and somehow it is always surprising how the things develop through the whole book. Rating updated from 2 to 3 stars on 09/08/2016. Not sure why I added 2...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Marshmallows for Breakfast; Author: Dorothy Koomson; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: This book can be very powerful to some people. I think that, unfortunately, some of the things are very predictable, which takes some intensity to the book. But at the same time, I have a way of thinking similar to the main character - not about everything, obviously. It's a nice reading, but not the best one. Also, I wish the end was diferent. I guess I can "make my own ending" by imagining what happened then after the last words, but still it's only in my mind, which makes me think it isn't entirely truth.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rose of Sebastopol; Author: Katharine McMahon; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: ** spoiler alert ** The only thing I have to say about this book is that I wish the end was more definitive. I like clear answers: what happened to Rose? Max and Mariella get married? What about Henry? Still, I loved all this and, in the beggining I didn't like Mariella's character very much but, at the end, I was in loved by her.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Peter Pan; Author: J.M. Barrie; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I think I always knew this book would be a 5star to me. After all, Peter Pan has been my favourite story since I was a little kid - even thought I only knew the Disney version. There are no words to express how I feel about this book. Everything that happens - all the impossible adventures, conversations, topics - is filled with pure magic. Reading Peter Pan was returning to my wildest dreams from when I was a kid; it was flying over the ocean while stardust embraced my soul; it was receiving kisses from my mom's -those kisses that are in the righthand corner of her mouth; it was pure joy. For moments I was truly happy, believing in fairies, stardust, flying, make believe food, love and childs laughs. It was beautiful and I wish I could stay in Neverland forever.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Baltasar and Blimunda; Author: Jose Saramago; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I couldn't even finish it! I hated it... Oh, just a note, it has no logic that the book is called "Baltasar and Blimunda" in English...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Murphy's Boy; Author: Torey L. Hayden; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, children, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Some people may not like the way Torey writes or what she writes about, but I do like and this book touched me very deeply. I liked the end so much that I almost cried. Plus, it helps me to understand more about the world around me (or at least about the teens and children in it).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1); Author: Suzanne Collins; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: It is part of the boxset. Review em portugues aqui. When I read the first reviews about this I wasn't so sure this would be good. In fact, I was in a never-did-and-never-will-like-any-kind-of-sciencie-fiction-books. But, somehow, at some point, I thought: what's the point of refusing to read something you think you won't like just because it's a different style than the usual? Well, I reflected on it for a while, but my answer was just "buy a damn science-fiction book, you idiot!". So, after a little thought, after noticing some things about the movie on IMDb and seeing so many coments talking about how Joshua H. didn't match Peeta, getting shocked at Liam H. being in this and listening about how good the trilogy was, I decided to buy it. Well, I do have to say Liam H. playing Gale totally ruined my image of the last one. And Joshua H. doesn't, in fact, resembles Peeta very much, but I still like him *stupid teenage sigh*. Anyway, I found this book very interesting and, even though it would look a lot more perfect for 12-year-olds or so, I think adults can enjoy it very much. In fact, the most interesting about this isn't exactly the love story or the characters, it's the background. The way they live and how opressive The Capitol is made me, for some times, roll my eyes, until it hitted me: something very similar happened in the past and probably still and will always happen. So, basically, this book isn't awesome if you're actually looking for a love story (even thought this is, in my opinion, the sweetest book because it's still too inocent - we don't really understand how bad everything really is) or for some incredible characters: the setting is what makes it all, and I think it will be very enjoyable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: False Impression; Author: Jeffrey Archer; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: You know... You can read this book and pass time. But it's not a good book. Not in my opinion. Some things sound random and most part of it is pure luck.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: King Solomon's Mines (Allan Quatermain, #1); Author: H. Rider Haggard; Genres: history, young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: It's obviously a classic: the way of writing, the words and the "lack" of excitement are typical. It is, however, a very nice reading and I enjoyed it very much.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The People of the Mist; Author: H. Rider Haggard; Genres: history, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Pure classic. I love the "lost race" tales so this filled in my attention for a lots of time while on the subway on the way to school or home. It is a very good book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heart of the World; Author: H. Rider Haggard; Genres: history, young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: ** spoiler alert ** After reading King Solomon's Mines and The People of the Mist , and enjoying both of them so much, I thought I would like Heart of the World a lot more, specially because the fisrt two books are settled in Africa and, consequently, based on Haggard's inspiration taken from the african tribes, while this one in particular is inspired by the Maya Civilization - which usually wins in my preferences when we are talking about old/lost/imaginary race tales. However, something about this book didn't corresponded to my expectations. I thought Ignacio a little bit boring; senor Strickland, even though he showed some traces of the typical british gentleman, was a little bit flat; Maya, IMO, was selfish - actually, for someone who lived her entire life in the mythical Golden City, she seemed to be very common, weak and theatrical to me. Overall, I wasn't very happy about this book. I guess it didn't help to be studying to the university exams while reading from times to times, but the first too books got me really interested and this one... Well, I just wanted to be done with it. Also, even thought it's somewhat refreshing - after the "they lived happily ever after" ending from the previous too books I mentioned - that the characters have to face various tragedies, it was annoying to 1) be aware of that since the beggining and 2) the way it happened didn't make me feel pity for them (in fact, I didn't really feel any sympathy by any of the characters).; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Foxmask (Saga of the Light Isles, #2); Author: Juliet Marillier; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Basicaly, the same thing as I thought on the #1, only this is less interesting. It disappointed me after so many good opinions about Juliet Marillier, honestly...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wolfskin (The Light Isles, #1); Author: Juliet Marillier; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I like the book and I can see clearly some things that inspired Sandra Carvalho (a portuguese writer) to write her books. the thing is: I still think Sandra's books are better and in fact I hoped a lot more from this story and this author. Maybe my expectations were too high. However, I liked the way she writes and the story was interesting, which means it was a good reading: unfortunately, not my favourite.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1); Author: Maggie Stiefvater; Genres: young-adult, romance, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Sometimes, after finishing a book, I need to give a break before the "finished reading it" and the "going review it", simply because I tend to get inebriated by the story when I finish it - unless I'm able to set up my mind while reading the book and it doesn't change drastically until the end, or unless it's a complete piece of sh*t since the beggining. That's what happened to this book. And I new since the beggining that if someone would ask me what I was thinking about the book while reading it that I would never be able to give a proper answer (actually, I don't think someone would have the oportunity to ask me such thing since I took a day to read the book because the train guys here decided to go on strike and I had no way to travel to my university). This book was nice. I guess if I was someone who actually loves werewolves and vampires (even though these last ones don't appear in the series - thank you for that, Maggie!), I would be completly in love for this: the story is okay, it's enjoyable, and there is something new because of the way Maggie portrays werewolves; the character's are enjoyable too, although I think Grace gets a little bit pathetic when she is with Sam; Rachel, aparently, is there just because... she is there, you know?; Olivia is a cool character and I wish she was more important in the story but, at the same time, she wasn't the main character; her brother (John? I think that's his name) feels random to me as well, a little bit like Rachel (he likes Grace, and you totally understand that but he doesn't appear enough to actually create some empathy); the wolf pack... some character's random as well, but I think they will get developed; I found Isabel a funny character, in some way; and I thought Grace's parents were a little big exaggerated. I also have some problems with the werevolves transformation: with the cold they become wolves and become humans with the heat; I'm very fond of the old lore. However, it was good enough for me to be able to read it without rolling my eyes everytime, something I know it will happen with Twilight. Maggie Stiefvater's writing is okay and easy to read. There isn't much complexity in her words. If that's a good thing? Only when books are good/okay to read and if the writing matches the story. That is the case, here. To finish, if you are wondering wether you should read this or not... Only if you 1) really like werewolves, 2) like fantasy enough to enjoy werewolves stories that are reasonably argued, or 3) have an open mind/ are basically able to read any kind of genres.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Apprentice (Rizzoli & Isles, #2); Author: Tess Gerritsen; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: I loved this book but the thrill was not as much as in the 1st one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: O Estranho Caso de Benjamin Button; Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I was so disappointed by this. The only reason why I gave this 2 stars was actually because I liked two of the short stories. Besides those (and even those aren't perfect), I didn't like most of this book. It felt way to unrealistic, way too fantastical (and, come on, I love fantasy) and I felt stupid all the time. Was there a metaphor or meaning I wasn't getting while reading it? Was there supposed to be a meaning? I honestly feel so disappointed at this I grew angry at the book. Anyway, "The Weird Case of Benjamin Button" is very interesting and was obviously my favourite. Apparently the film shows a different story, since in it there is a baby with a grown up mind and in the book we have a baby with a baby mind (after an old man with a grown up mind). It might still be interesting and, apparently, a lot of people enjoy Fitzgerald and this book. His writing is good and enjoyable, actually. But the story... not to my taste.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tratado de Direito Civil Português: Parte Geral (Tratado de Direito Civil Português: Parte Geral, #1); Author: Antonio Menezes Cordeiro; Genres: ; Review: Ora aqui esta um livro do qual nunca me vou livrar porque vai acompanhar-me em toda a minha vida profissional. Nao sei ate que ponto isto sera bom. De qualquer das maneiras e um bom livro, se bem que a linguagem demasiado tecnica dificulta um pouco a aprendizagem...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tratado de Direito Civil Português: Parte Geral - Coisas (Tratado de Direito Civil Português: Parte Geral, #2); Author: Antonio Menezes Cordeiro; Genres: ; Review: Semelhante ao que disse no primeiro: interessante, vai-me acompanhar a vida inteira, mas as vezes os termos tecnicos complicam um bocado a vida do estudante...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tratado de Direito Civil Português: Parte Geral - Pessoas (Tratado de Direito Civil Português: Parte Geral, #3); Author: Antonio Menezes Cordeiro; Genres: ; Review: Idem ao que ja disse em relacao ao Tomo I e II.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tratado de Direito Civil Português: Parte Geral (Tratado de Direito Civil Português: Parte Geral, #4); Author: Antonio Menezes Cordeiro; Genres: ; Review: IDEM (Tomo I, II e III).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Teoria Geral do Direito Civil; Author: Pedro Pais de Vasconcelos; Genres: ; Review: Muito mais facil de perceber do que Menezes Cordeiro...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Instituições Políticas e Constitucionais (Instituições Políticas e Constitucionais, #1); Author: Paulo Otero; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Deu-me dores de cabeca, mas foi, sem duvida, uma "boa leitura", tendo em conta todos os livros que tenho de ler. Penso que o Prof. Paulo Otero explica bem as suas ideias e que a linguagem e bastante acessivel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Curso de Direito Romano (Curso de Direito Romano, #1); Author: Eduardo Vera-Cruz Pinto; Genres: non-fiction, history, biography, historical fiction; Review: Fascinante, em particular a primeira metade do livro, que e mais uma critica social do que propriamente o ensino de Direito Romano. Alem disso, a explicacao do prof. Eduardo Vera-Cruz Pinto e clara, permitindo uma facil apreensao da materia.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Age of Fable; Author: Thomas Bulfinch; Genres: history, poetry, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Review em portugues aqui. The Age of Fable, by Thomas Bulfinch, is a work that aims to, in the authors words (translated from the portuguese by me), "popularize mythology and expand the pleasure of reading". If he succeeds in this, I don't know, but I believe it's possible to extend the pleasure of reading. Bulfinch explains, in a very succinct and direct way, the story of many entities (such as Jupiter, Achilles, Odysseus, Aeneas, and others) and relevant events (such as the Trojan War, for example), allowing us to discover the existing connections in other works (such as Paradise Lost, by Milton) and making easier our comprehension of what is shown to us. This is what the author intends to do and, in some way, he accomplishes it. Many times, while reading The Lusiads, I would come across some connections to greco-roman mythology I wouldn't fully understand, due, in part, to nowadays education. It's unusual to study mythology intensively and most of what I know about it was obtained through studying Camoes work. This makes it harder for us to understand and analyse various classic works and, ultimately, helps us running away from them: why would we read something we will not understand? Thus, this book turned out a very pleasant reading: I understand some parts of the story a little bit better, my mental image of the various gods is more solid and I even discovered additional information that turned to be quite useful (after reading the Trojan War chapter I saw the Troy film, with Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom, and I understood it two times better than I would, had I not read the book before; same thing happened with the Clash of the Titans film). But there are, for me, two serious problems in this book. It's true Bulfinch tells everything in the most succinct way possible (and I appreciate it!), but it always ends up looking like a mere account of the events: Mr. Bulfinch is right there telling us a story in a way any of us would tell somebody else. At a certain point this becomes boring and I almost started to wish he would tell those events as an actual story and not a simple summary. Initially, I blamed the gods (how cliche is that?): there are too many of them, too many names, always angry with each other (and I mean always) or with other mortals and it turns out to be a little bit confused. But the truth is Bulfinch is the responsible one for the writing, so my problem is with his writing, not with the gods. But speaking about gods, this reminds me of two aspects that bothered me a lot: in the first place, more than two thirds of the book is about greco-roman poets, gods, mortals or events; is known that mythology is not limited to that region or time. In second place, very likely due to the first point, there were too many gods and their stories, at a certain point, were too much alike: Jupiter would; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Introdução à Economia; Author: Fernando Araujo; Genres: ; Review: Juntando-me as criticas realizadas ja por outras pessoas, tal como o prof. Fernando Araujo refere na nota da 3a edicao, e curioso que um livro de 1000 paginas seja denominado por "introducao". De qualquer das formas, o meu gosto por economia e tao pequeno que nao consigo gostar verdadeiramente do livro, ainda que o professor explique de maneira clara.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Machine of Death: A Collection of Stories About People Who Know How They Will Die (Machine of Death, #1); Author: Ryan North; Genres: romance, comics, paranormal, graphic, fantasy, fiction; Review: The book is interesting and it does make you wonder about many things. However, I have a really hard time reading short stories, for I feel I'm constantly starting and finishing books, without actually finishing them. Also, I own this in e-book style, which creates two problems: 1) I don't have a specific technology to read this and, even though I could upload it to my BlackBerry, it would not be an easy read for me; 2) I don't like and very rarely read while in the computer. And now I just got annoyed to see the book on my currently-reading list, I'm tired of having this pending and somehow I can't stand continue reading it. Not because the book is bad or anything (even though some stories are more amusing than others), but because I'm tired of it. I do recommend people to read it if it's their type of book or if they feel intrigued by it, for it is a very funny (and sometimes sad) way of discouvering what people think it might happen if there was an actual machine able to tell us how we would die - and it is also funny to know what we think.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cemitério de Pianos; Author: Jose Luis Peixoto; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: 3.5 stars This book... Well it's good, for sure. And the aspect of it it's rather interesting too. But I'm not exactly sure if all those little literature-artistic-aspects were important to the story and probably, if it wasn't for it, the book would have just been a regular one. The story is simple and there are lots of deep feelings throughout the whole thing, but I guess the best of the book is not the story itself, but how Jose Luis Peixoto writes it. So, basically, I would read it again and I would read more from him, but it doesn't get to be the best books I've read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cardos Em flor; Author: Maria Verde; Genres: ; Review: Maria Verde looks to me as an unknown poetess, since I can't literally find a thing about this woman. But, oh, well, it's not needed to the review but I'm just simply curious. So, if anyone knows anything about this author, specially my portuguese friends, I would be glad if you pass it to me. Thanks. Now, the review. I don't read much poetry. Indeed, it's not my favourite type of literature. I'm always reluctant on starting a poem book because, most likely, I will grow tired of it and will never finish it - not cool. Still, since this book is so small, I decided to give it a chance. As you can see, it was just okay. I felt Maria Verde was a woman that spent a lot of her time in the countryside, which may have contributed to the simple writing and subject of the poems but gave her a passion for nature and human beings. But somehow that wasn't enough. I think my favourite poet(ess) is Florbela Espanca, who has so much more emotion in her poems that can physically hurt you. The same happens with Fernando Pessoa, also a great poet - and whose poems I loved to study. So, I cannot help but to compare these last two poets with Maria Verde and, suddenly, she sounds way too... simple. Not a bad book, but not good enough either.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Romanceiro; Author: Almeida Garrett; Genres: poetry; Review: UPDATE: review em portugues aqui. I was really interested to read this book because it's a compilation of several medieval portuguese poems/stories/songs that endured several decades through oral tradition. Plus, one thing I noticed when I first looked at it, is that several poems are not only written in portuguese, but also in castilian and english (some of them were late translations (?), others were the same story but in a diferent language). Now, this is probably the reason why I don't give 5stars to this book: when you read the first 15 poems and the translations you feel really cool and clever (specially if you actually understand what they are saying). But after that, it starts being annoying reading a poem in the portuguese version, then the same thing in castilian and, finally, in english - specially because almost all (almost, notice!) are equal and the only thing that actually differs is the language it's written in. This smooths a lot when you get to the 2nd part of the book, where those translations/versions are rare. But excluding that, this book was really nice to read. I found some good jewels here and I even surprised myself: I liked some castilian versions better than the portuguese ones (and I don't like spanish or any variation of it - sorry!). Also, Almeida Garrett does an introduction to every poem/story/song, sometimes explaining what is the most probable origin of the text, others criticising the changes some "genious" made to it, ... So, if you are really considering if you should or not read this, in my opinion you should. Not only is amusing, as it gives you a little insight about the development of portuguese literature. - Nao tomeis, filho, pesar, Pois claramente sabeis Que pelo muito chorar Nao cobrais o que perdeis. Deveis, filho, de cuidar Que nossa vida e um vento Tao ligeiro de passar, Que passa em um momento Por nos assim como o ar. "O Marques de Mantua" in Romanceiro de Almeida Garret, pag. 341-342 (excerto); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Folk Tales from Asia for Children Everywhere (Folk Tales: Asian Copublication Programme, #1); Author: Asian Cultural Center for UNESCO; Genres: fiction; Review: I think this is the children's book I read the most when I was a little kid. Maybe this was the book responsable for my fascination for the asian culture, I don't know. The fact is that I really like these stories and even today, sometimes, I feel a urgency of reading them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Folk Tales from Asia for Children Everywhere (Folk Tales: Asian Copublication Programme, #2); Author: Asian Cultural Center for UNESCO; Genres: ; Review: I think this is the children's book I read the most when I was a little kid. Maybe this was the book responsable for my fascination for the asian culture, I don't know. The fact is that I really like these stories and even today, sometimes, I feel a urgency of reading them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Existentialism Is a Humanism; Author: Jean-Paul Sartre; Genres: non-fiction; Review: I liked to read this book, specially because it was easy to read, but I don't really know how many star give to it because I have never read any philosophy book but this one. So, I will stay with the three stars. One thing I did not like in the book was the fact that at some points it was a little bit repetitive, but I also understand that, sometimes, some critics were very similar and Sartre actually wanted to answer to all of them.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1); Author: Beth Revis; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Do I think this is the best book ever written? No. Did I love it to death? YES.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Burned Alive; Author: Souad; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Okay, I don't want to seem rude, but I don't like these kind of books very much: it's always about a woman who falls in love with some guy, they have sex/run away together, she dishonor's her family acording to the laws of her country, he doesn't really care and disappears, the parents get nuts and try to kill her. All these kind of books seem to say the same thing over and over again. And don't get me wrong: these women really suffer and I actually think this is barbarian and something should be done. But it's always a repetition of this same horrible story. So, I'm sorry Souad, but I will not actually read this book ever again or any other similar, simply because I can't seem to stand it. Oh, by the way, just a little PS: I'm not even going to discuss the recent essays about this being fake or not. If it is fake, then Souad should be ashamed of herself and I can't stand the book; if she did write it herself, I'm very sorry for what she's been trought, but I still can't stand her book.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #2); Author: Maggie Stiefvater; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Linger was one of those books I was excited to read because, for some reason, I actually enjoy the story. There is something about Maggie Stiefvater's writing that makes it sound very melancholic and somewhat dark, but at the same time her writing is really pretty. Simple but pretty. I read Linger basically a year after I had read Shiver - read in portuguese, by the way -, after I bought the book on my trip to London (yes, I'm that chic!). I don't really know what I was expecting but I was really satisfied. I really loved Grace and Sam's relationship. It was sweet but mature at the same time, not extremely melodramatic, just gloomy. But it doesn't mean the characters are always depressed or something. It's just some kind of natural tone of Maggie's writing that fits the environment so well that we can't help feeling close to the characters. That being said, the story wan't that great - Grace's parents became a little bit annoying over time but somehow it wasn't a completly unexpected reaction. And Sam was somehow lost in the middle of all that happened to him, unsure where to go next. But my favourite part wasn't this (even though, again, I really loved their love story: it sounds real. They don't need to be kissing all the time. They just need to hug or to be close. Now that IS cute. [/romantic]). My favourite part was Isabel and Cole. Ohmanohmanohman. Isabel was the character I really hated back in Shiver and eventually grew fond. And now she is my absolute favourite character. She is the kind of "biatch", always sarcastic, always ironic, constantly cold to others feelings, who actually needs someone but can't (or won't) realize it. I guess I identify with her because most times I also act like I can live forever alone, not needing anything or anyone and some people think of me as a rock, sometimes. Which is, like, my best mask ever. Hurray. So, for me, reading Isabel was reading part of me. Plus, I thought she was very witty in some parts and the things she said were so funny I couldn't help myself from laughing. And then there is Cole. When he showed up I had that moment some people have when they read a sequel long after they read the first book: "who the HELL is this guy?" After I realised who he was, I tried to like him. It was really hard. He liked being a jerk way too much. And at some point I decided I really didn't like him and I never would. I guess, as we say back in Portugal, I will have to "swallow the frog", because he became one of my favourites too. Can't really explain why, though. The ending of this book was like a huge cliffhanger but extremely interesting and so I read Forever right away. For some reason, this is actually my favourite book of the series. I just loved how the relationships and interactions between the characters were; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #3); Author: Maggie Stiefvater; Genres: young-adult, romance, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: ** spoiler alert ** So after the huge cliffhanger we get from Linger, I decided to read Forever right away. And I'm not sure what I think. The writing and gloomy tone of it is still there, exactly how I like it. The story is actually good and interesting, the characters are still awesome and the twists are cool. But the ending ruined everything. Why, Maggie, why the open ending? I hate open endings, they never solve anything and if I wanted to solve it for myself I wouldn't spent time reading the story. I would just go look for some random summary and would go from there. But NO, instead we have Isabel in California doing God knows what, Cole staying in Mercy Falls doing God knows what (maybe he's working on the cure!), Grace is still a wolf and we don't even know if the temporary cure works for her. It's like "there you go. After a good book I give you this lame ending with no explanations and no idea to what happens to the characters". THANK YOU, MAGGIE, I'M FEELING SO FULFILLED RIGHT NOW I CAN'T EVEN STAY IN MY OWN BODY. (geez) ANYWAY... Excluding this really lame ending the story was really cool. I loved how Cole became such a huge piece in the game and how we got to see more of the wolves. I loved the character's growth. I loved everything. EXCEPT FOR THE ENDING.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Oblívio: Edição de Luxo (Crónicas de Allaryia, #7); Author: Filipe Faria; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: ** spoiler alert ** UPDATE: Review mais detalhada aqui. Nao que as minhas expectativas fossem muito altas em relacao a este livro final, ate porque esta saga nao era das minhas favoritas e tem, para mim, varios problemas desde o primeiro livro, mas este deixou-me desiludida por diversas razoes, tais como o facto de 2/3 do livro parecem uma introducao de uma saga e so o ultimo bocado e que parecia comecar a contar a historia; depois, o fim da inicio a um novo ciclo e a ideia que temos e que acabamos de ler sete livros e que faltam ler mais sete; nenhuma das personagens me interessava, excepto, talvez o Quesnestil, pelo simples facto de este contar a historia do Deadan, esse sim a unica personagem que me interessava (e ele aparece pouquissimas vezes, comparados com os outros); por fim (e nao falando de diversos aspectos), a capa, que e algo que eu NUNCA costumo criticar porque, apesar de esta influenciar a nossa vontade de pegar no livro, nao torna a historia boa ou ma. O problema com esta capa nao e que seja feia, pelo contrario, penso que os trabalhos mais recentes do Samuel Santos (?) sao lindissimos; o problema e que mostra-nos logo o que vai acontecer numa das mais importantes batalhas do livro (certo, todos sabiamos que de alguma forma ou de outra alguem teria de lutar contra o Aewyre/Seltor, mas ninguem sabia quem iria resolver essa situacao. A capa diz logo: o Quenestil). Enfim, nao percebo muito bem porque razao esta saga e tao falada, em termos positivos, nao so pela internet fora, como tambem entre as pessoas, mas a minha obcessao em comprar livros e demasiado grande e eventualmente comprarei todos os outros volumes tambem. Uma review mais detalhada surgira mais tarde no meu blog, cujo link colocarei aqui.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: John Lennon Nunca Morreu e Outros Contos Fantásticos; Author: Catarina Coelho; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery; Review: Este livro foi-me oferecido pela autora, a quem agradeco mais uma vez :) Vou escrever aqui uma review rapida, pois aprofundei-a um pouco mais no blog. John Lennon Nunca Morreu e Outros Contos Fantasticos consiste num livro com sete contos, todos eles de alguma forma ligados ao fantastico. Sendo eu uma pessoa que nao consegue amar, verdadeiramente, um livro de contos, fiquei surpreendida por alguns deles, sendo os meus favoritos Pequenos Demonios, Espelhos e Espirito da Natureza. Alguns dos contos eram relativamente previsiveis e, inclusive, o conto John Lennon Nunca Morreu acabou por colocar, na minha mente, a propria Catarina Coelho como narradora (quando, na verdade, o narrador e um homem), por se tornar obvia a sua adoracao pelos Beatles. A escrita, na minha opiniao, poderia, em certos pontos, ser um pouco mais elaborada. Sendo os contos tipicamente pouco extensos e nao ser usual terem uma continuacao, penso que a autora teria beneficiado muito mais em utilizar descricoes mais ricas ou uma linguagem um pouco mais elaborada: acabaria por colocar os contos num outro nivel. Por fim, basta dizer que este livro e pequenino mas e muito agradavel de ler. Foi o companheiro ideal em momentos pos-exames, em que precisava de me distrair com algo, mas nao tinha necessariamente vontade de ler algo demasiado grande. Posto isto, basta dar os paraben a Catarina Coelho, uma autora que considero promissora e que conseguiu despertar a minha curiosidade para um outro livro da sua autoria: A fantastica aventura dos Anoes da Luz - Em busca de Sulti .; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children, #1); Author: Ransom Riggs; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Review em portugues aqui. My relationship with this book is rather peculiar (ha ha, got the joke? Not funny? Well... okay.). in the beggining I was sure I would be utterly in love with it. And, in fact, until about half of it, I was totally in love. There was a cool mistery, cool pictures that looked rather odd and sometimes a bit creepy, lots of weird stuff happening and an interesting narrative. However, eventually, the story starts to unfold and some things stop being a mistery - that was when my love for this book subsided. You see, this book is supposed to play out as a YA but it isn't - it's much more appropriate for younger audiences (which isn't a bad thing, mind you), since it's somewhat predictable (a burden I found more common with age and when you're an experienced reader - eventually some things aren't surprising anymore), in a way younger people wouldn't see it coming, but older ones can just guess in an instant. My biggest problem, however, after the big miseries being explained, was to realize the narrative wasn't that great. In fact, although the story is pretty cool and the photos as well, without the photos there wouldn't be a quirky element that would make you look at this book in a different way. The story would be the same but the pictures wouldn't be adding up to the atmosfere - meaning, without them, ot would just be a common narrative. None the less, the story was still interesting and funny; there was a lot of creativity and I can just imagine a younger me being completely drawn to its story and world.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Inverso; Author: L.C. Lavado; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, mystery; Review: This book was read while in Beta mode (the author invited some readers to become Beta Readers, responsible for reading the book and also comment it or correct any relevant aspects of it). Keeping it short and spoiler free: this is the second book I read from this author and I liked it a lot more than O Diabo dos Anjos. More cohesive and interesting, we are able to see the gipsy community in a different and much more mystical light that makes it much more curious to read. The characters are likeable enough and except for a little romance that could be better developed in the beginning and a tweak here and there the book is quite entertaining. It is worth reading, specially if the story somehow "winks" at you!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Republic; Author: Plato; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: This man is a pure genius at argumentation. I mean, sweet baby Jesus, even if I didn't agree with them, his examples were so well made and so well exposed and explained I actually began to feel like the most ignorant person ever - specially because they were always simple example, the kind of examples you don't remember (god damn it, why not?!) but when you read them you have that kind of "what is wrong with you" reaction. I mean, how could I possibly NOT to think about those arguments? And still, I didn't. And still they are awesome. This is definitely one of the best books I read so far. 4 stars instead of 5 because sometimes the writing is not so accessible (because it's not written today and we are pretty much stupidified (?) by today's writing), but mostly because I don't agree with everything he says. I think he trusts humanity waaay too much - I'm a Thomas Hobbes kind of person: we are all bad and we need to be controlled. But besides that, his ideas are quite interesting.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Handmaid's Tale; Author: Margaret Atwood; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Will elaborate as soon as my brain isn't overwhelmed with emotion and Atwood's genious.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mensagem: Edição Fac-Símile; Author: Fernando Pessoa; Genres: history, poetry, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: This is just amazing. Completly amazing. Review em portugues aqui.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Where's Waldo?; Author: Martin Handford; Genres: young-adult, thriller, comics, children, crime, graphic, fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Everytime I check this book I have fun doing it. And the most funny part is that some friends of mine didn't hear about this when they were young, I showed them, and they passed an whole hour trying to complete everything.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Direito Constitucional Português: Organização do Poder Político (Direito Constitucional Português, #2); Author: Paulo Otero; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Certo, nao o li de uma ponta a outra da maneira mais calma possivel, mas eu ja conheco o Prof. Paulo Otero daqui, por isso nao seria nao haveria nada de extraordinario (excepto a materia versada). Independentemente de concordar com ele ou nao, gosto bastante da forma de escrever do prof. (ideal para quem esta a estudar) e do encadeamento das materias.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle, #4); Author: Christopher Paolini; Genres: young-adult, children, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Contains spoilers from previous books. Some parts of this review might give hints of the story, specially if you read many theories. Inheritance was a book I anxiously waited, more because I was sick of waiting for the end rather than being curious about the story (although I have to admit I was a bit curious...). This book revealed itself to be more interesting than what I thought, but, simultaneously, it was the ridicule of predictability. Maybe I was guilty, since I read so many theories in so many forums that turned out to be true, or simply because there was no other path to the characters, but most of the things weren't exactly a surprise. And for me this is always a down in a book: it's not fun when you read something you can guess before the book was even written. Because after the inicial moment of euphoria ("O M G, this being that I am is SO clever"), comes the moment of... disappointment ("well, I guess I already know the rest..."). Nonetheless, Inheritance is one of the best books in the Inheritante Cycle - I say "one of" 'cause the third book still remains to be my favourite, even if I feel the urge to re-read all of them together to firmly state this. This is the book where (almost!!) all the things fit, where all the characters reveal all that is left to reveal (or almost, again), where Galbatorix (finally!) shows up for the party and the faith of all Alagaesia will be decided. The reading felt more fluid than the previous volumes and the story development was better too. I felt there were less moments of despair due to different points of view and Paolini was more straight forward: this is the story and this is what he is going to talk about. There were no random extras. In fact, the loose ends that remained to be explained (because such things happened - and apparently Paolini might write something about those loose ends... I bet it will be published by the time Humanity is coming to an end) came from the previous books and, according to the author himself, had no time to be explained in this book. Although I disagree, some things that happened or some characters are way too peculiar or mysterious for a quick explanation that will fit the book, meaning Paolini was actually clever. My only and big problem with this book (besides the so known predictability) is actually the end. I don't wish to tell you much about the story, so this explanation might sound a little bit incomprehensible, but, basically, the end that was given was necessary, makes sense and it's logic was created since Eragon , but for several moments I - truly - wished it was different (maybe less logical). In fact, the end left me a bit depressed (and I had to use a night of sleep to recover, of course). Basically, it's not that different from the previous three books in the Inheritance Cycle, but the predictability; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Journey to the Centre of the Earth; Author: Jules Verne; Genres: history, young-adult, children, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: When I decided to read this book I knew I was starting something that could either be entirely to my taste or be the complete opposite. More than that, having watched so many adaptations of this story before could have potentially ruined the book for me, somehow. So, imagine my surprise (after the first initial little shock due to the writing, since it was written in a different time...) when I realized the book was actually amazing. David Stuart Davies makes an introduction to this edition I read and he says, at some point, that "these voyages romantiques, as Verne referred to them, were ground-breaking exercises in stretching the imagination, featuring a magical blend of scientific reality, the probable, the improbable and the dramatically impossible. The worlds in which his travellers found themselves were fantastic and unique - and the reader had the privilege of accompanying them along the way. The prose is so vivid and engaging, it is like reading in 3D". Nothing could be more true. The magic behind Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth is the amount of imagination put into it. But although imagination plays a great part, science is the foundation to it all. In fact, Verne adds so much scientific explanation that most of it actually sounds true. It's obvious that most theories he refers to are now completely put away by science, but still it's amazing to sit for a few hours and just... go with the flow. What if indeed there was some sort of pre-historic world hidden at the center of the earth?! It sounds ridiculous at first, but believe me, your imagination will not stop for a minute and you'll end up wishing to be with them in that adventure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plague Child (Tom Neave, #1); Author: Peter Ransley; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, mystery; Review: [url] This story was nice and the historical background was definitely interesting, still the characters or their story wasn't that awesome to be a four star book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Prince; Author: Niccolo Machiavelli; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Review em portugues aqui. The Prince, written by Niccolo Machiavelli (know, in portuguese, as Nicolau Maquiavel), it's a book dedicated and addressed to Lorenzo de' Medici (Lourenco de Medicis, in portuguese), in which the author lectures about various aspects he considers important to the creation of a solid principality. Machiavelli is a controversial author (which explains the emergence of the expression "machiavellian"), many times seen as cruel. The main reason? In my opinion, that happens because Machiavelli gives Lourenzo de' Medici suggestions based only in what would be more or less rational, in other words, it seems he puts the human element aside. Though he mentions the people a lot (for the prince must avoid at all costs to be hated by them, because they could easily beat him), I don't think he looks at them as a group of human beings in the complete sense of the word. As a consequence, we have a very interesting dissertation of how the prince should make his decisions. The most curious thing is that many times while reading this I had the feeling that what Niccolo was saying wasn't completely foolish: we have to understand this was written when the way to control a country went through force and not through legislation (many times scarce, dispersed and inaccessible to laypeople), and while existing the necessity of avoid to lose the kingdom to other princes. Supposedly, it would be of the general interest to maintain it as it was, following a certain group of rules that would allow the prince to maintain his position: he shouldn't be hated by the people, he shouldn't be despised by the army, he should be feared, but not oppressive, he should be able to choose his counsellors, but be clever enough to maintain his independence, etc., etc.. Hereupon, I ended up being surprised by the amount of aspects in which I agreed with Machiavelli (this having in count his time, not mine, obviously). I ended up concluding, with this first read, that there's a big probability Machiavelli has been misinterpreted during all these years and has been used as an excuse of many to their madness, but the truth is we will only be machiavellian if we actually want to be so. Still, my opinion is not as solid as I wished it would be. I have to confess I find myself curious about the opinion I will have when I reread this book: will I keep this perspective? Will it change drastically? As a conclusion, it is important to note the only "negative" (attention to the quotation marks!) aspect of the book, which is the writing: Machiavelli does not write badly or in a boring way, but he does write in the way typical of his time which can, sometimes, difficult the flow of reading (something that a bit of concentration can easily beat!). It will be a very interesting read to everyone interested by politics and/or philosophy, for there is a bit of both, independently of agreeing or not with his opinions and, besides, the small volume; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: História das Ideias Políticas (História das Ideias Políticas, #1); Author: Marcel Prelot; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Se as opinioes contidas neste volume estao ou nao correctas e algo, efectivamente, discutivel (e, atrevo-me a dizer, bastante subjectivo); no entanto, Prelot e Lescuyer escreveram uma obra bastante coerente, clara, bem organizada e simples. A leitura e bastante agradavel e consegue abranger bastante materia das Ideias Politicas.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Memórias de um Vampiro (Trilogia Nocturnus, #1); Author: Rafael Loureiro; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, romance; Review: Review em portugues aqui. Memorias de um Vampiro (Memoirs of a Vampire), by Rafael Loureiro, was a light read that begun "well" and ended up badly. The author gives us a concept of vampires that are way more close to the original ones (thus, I like it a lot more than any other vampire story) and explains us why, how and when vampires showed up, which is not only interesting, as it shows the author planned everything. The thing is, after the first 20 pages or so, doesn't matter how loyal these vampires are to the original or how cool is the "how-vampires-showed-up-on-Earth-story", because Daimon DelMoona, the main character, does nothing else than telling his memoirs. Literally. Like I would tell you how fun was my summer holidays. After a while it gets a little annoying. Plus, Rafael Loureiro's writing isn't that good (not horrible, though), the story and twists are cliche, some things make no sense/are way over the top and the book ends boring. This is a trilogy but if I didn't know that, by the ending, I would think it would be a stand alone book. Maybe people that like vampires will like it a little bit more than I do, but I didn't like it that much.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: História das Ideias Políticas (História das Ideias Políticas, #2); Author: Marcel Prelot; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Semelhante ao que disse para o volume I.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 451; Author: Ray Bradbury; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: Might elaborate on this book later, once I get back on track on writing reviews.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1); Author: Cassandra Clare; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I wrote a review of all three books in the last book (yes I read all three). You can check it out here. It does contain spoilers, however.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3); Author: Suzanne Collins; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: It is part of the boxset. Review em portugues em breve. After reading Catching Fire in one day, I ran to my Mockingjay copy (the name makes a LOT more sense and it fits perfectly, but not as good as the #2, I think). I was a beast reading this series and it has been a LONG time since the last time I read one book so fast, not talking about a serie... Anyway, you may wonder the reason why The Hunger Games and Catching Fire had 5 stars and this one only has 4. Easy enough: I wanted a different ending. This is the final book of the trilogy and it is also the most depressive one. And I mean depressive, not exactly sad. Of course you get sad, but being sad means something like watching Titanic, crying like it's the end of the world, look at Kate W. and yell "HOW DID YOU DARE TO LET HIM GO, YOU B*TCH?!" That is not exactly what happens. This is depressive. Depressive as omg-the-world-sucks-and-I-want-to-die. When I finished I felt... destroyed. That does make sense? It does to me. I don't a book ever affected me in this particular way. I didn't want to cry, I just felt like there was nothing left to do but stare at emptiness. Lots of people talk about how Katniss became a complete annoying victim in this book. I don't think so. How does a real person who has been on war feel after coming home? Does he forget about it? Is there some turning back? Is happiness ahead? Even though this is only answered in the end, what you realize in the last chapters, how everything is concealed and how a war never really ends, is the real reason why it destroyed me so bad. Happy ending? For me is a total "forget about it", but I gess you could argue otherwise. It would really depend how you figure happiness, I guess. [mean Laura] P.S: what about Gale? I was mad they put Liam H. playing him but right now, forget it. You could just put Tommy Wiseau, being is BEST and most famous film The Room. If you don't feel like watching the movie, you can always watch The Nostalgia Critic review - it points everything you need to know about this guy greateness. [/mean Laura]; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2); Author: Suzanne Collins; Genres: young-adult, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: It is part of the boxset. Review em portugues em breve. After taking like AGES to read the first book (one day), I decided to start reading Catching Fire right after. It took ages as well (one day, again... LOL). This book is, IMO, a good sequel to the first and it becomes interesting for something that is not so clear in the first one: what really is the Capitol, its opression, its terrible actions and so on. And, in fact, the title of this book is perfect and says it all: Catching Fire. This is the book where everything starts burning, where uprisings begin, where we see how a war could begin. After that, it just becomes more interesting, as the love triangle exists as a background strong enough to fill the parts where isn't possible to talk about uprisings. Again, that is the main reason why this series is so good. More than that, I dare disagree with some people that say the characters are one-dimensional. I mean, it is true there isn't much space for you to get truly connected with them, you need to use your imagination for that, but who really cares when you have twelve districts being inspired by Katniss, who suddenly became the symbol of a revolution everybody desired for so long? Plus, the book ends in a very interesting way, making you curious about what will happen next. I don't want to get very repetitive, so, since most of the things I said in the first book review fits in here, it would be nice for you to give it a look, if you feel like it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1); Author: George R.R. Martin; Genres: history, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Part of the boxset. A Game of Thrones is a work written by George R.R. Martin that surprised me a lot. I've heard good things about this book (and the series) e, as soon as I could, I bought the four books together (since the fifth came out recently), expecting to like them. But, for some reason, this expectation disappeared with time and I began to fear I had made a huge mistake. I'm glad I thought so, thus I had the possibility of being amazed with the Stark family and all the other characters, that ended up to be all intertwined. A Game of Thrones won't fit everybody's literary tastes, however. It focuses a lot in political and strategic aspects, which I'm interested in, but aren't always appreciated by all. Besides, I had the feeling that in the middle of the book the story was extremely slow (maybe because, one way or another, the story had came to a stop), fact, when combined with a fondness (for me, excessive), from the author, to use sexual references and the several character's as narrators, made me believe I wouldn't give 5 stars to it (believe me, in the exact moment you have a very interesting chapter with a character who is in the middle of the action, Martin will give you another chapter with a character who's doing as much as I am right now while writing this and that you won't probably like - or then it's just kinda random). But, in fact, the book starts is a very interesting way and after the middle of the book many things start to happen, leading to sweeping events (some more than others, since I was able to guess some of them because they were obvious or because I thought too much of them), that will hold us to the last page. George Martin's writing is also accessible and descriptive enough to imagine in a relatively reliable way the several moments and places of the book. It's not boring but I think that at certain moments the voices of the several characters blend together. I thought Eddard, Robb and Jon were very much alike in several moments. It didn't bothered me too much, since the first one is father of the last two, but due to the age differences - and experiences - I wished they were more distinct. Still, A Game of Thrones is a work that deserves to be read with time. You won't be able to put it down and you will get excited with it, sharpening your strategic and logical knowledge, giving a little taste of Tolkien, with a small but nice taste of fantasy, that will suit you very well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2); Author: George R.R. Martin; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Part of the boxset. It did take me a long time to read and write a review from this book. Simply, because I've been lazy, but also because I've gotten tired. Altough A Clash of Kings is in everything similar to A Game of Thrones, the truth is that magic created by the first book disappeared for me. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed the book, specially now that the plot thickens every chapter and each character has to face new challenges that many of us could never guess. The problem is simple, however: every time I start and end reading a George R.R. Martin's book I get very eager to read the rest, but the middle of the books are always so... Slow for me. And this is mainly the reason why I only added 4*. I guess I'm just being very picky, but the fact is everytime I get to the middle of the story I just start getting annoyed at how nothing relevant seems to pass. It is still a good book, and the characters are extremely interesting - even though I still don't like Tyrion, which apparently everybody does like - but for some reason I just feels the story is being dragged trough a bunch of books.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3); Author: George R.R. Martin; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Part of the boxset.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4); Author: George R.R. Martin; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Part of the boxset.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sombras de Morte (Estrela de Nariën, #1); Author: Susana Almeida; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, romance; Review: *sons de exaspero* Review soon.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Where's Waldo Now?; Author: Martin Handford; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, comics, children, crime, graphic, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Everytime I check this book I have fun doing it. And the most funny part is that some friends of mine didn't hear about this when they were young, I showed them, and they passed an whole hour trying to complete everything.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Romeu e Julieta; Author: William Shakespeare; Genres: history, young-adult, poetry, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: There isn't much to say about this. Obviously, as a play, the descriptions are almost non-existant and I really miss that, but that is also part of the fun: imagining all the settings, faces, clothes, everything. Still, I do have to say that now I really want to read this in english. Since I read it in portuguese, some of the poetry originally inherent to the words is lost, basically because some of the old english words cannot be translated into portuguese (how are we supposed to translate "thee" or "thou"? it will basically be the same thing when translated. People that can speak portuguese can understand what I am talking about very well. For the others that do not speak portuguese, notice this: in english you have "I, you, he/she/it, we, you, they". In portuguese we have "Eu, tu, ele/ela/-, nos, vos, eles". As you can see 1) we have a different way to say the informal "you" and the formal "you" and 2) since we don't have a literal translation to "thee" or "thou" (not one that sounds incredible old and erudite, anyway...), we will just have to use "vos" which will sound as the common formal "you". Not cool.). Anyway, it is basically what you expect: a classic with a story written with the lack of emotion typical of nowadays books (or maybe nowadays books are just.. "overreacting"?), the tragic famous story of Romeo and Juliet capable of breaking everybody's heart and since it's so small (my book only has 96 pages and the last 2 are a biographic note), it's a great way to relax and visit a diferent age for a few hours. Just to finish, BIG ADVICE: If you can, read it in english. If your english is okay, read in portuguese and re-read in english. Believe me, it will be a lot better, I know... I also have this edition.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sense and Sensibility; Author: Nancy Butler; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Similar to my Pride and Prejudice review, this was cute, the drawings were pretty and the story seemed accurate enought to the 1981 series I watched. Somehow, I just wished I could read all Jane Austen's novels in comic style. It's light and fluffy and enought to remind you a bit of the story if you wish to.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pride & Prejudice; Author: Nancy Butler; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: It doesn't replace the original, of course, but it's actually pretty good :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Direito das Obrigações - Programa 2010/2011: Apontamentos; Author: Pedro Romano Martinez; Genres: ; Review: Adding this to the 2012 challenge because I only finished it this semester. This book is awesome if you want to get some basics on Obligations Law, but you will eventually need other manuals. Professor Romano Martinez only gives hints of the stuff and are mainly for his students. Basically, the book is a really short synopsis of the classes. However, he giver major bibliography tips that are very useful.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Curso de Direito Administrativo (Direito Administrativo, #1); Author: Diogo Freitas do Amaral; Genres: ; Review: This book is fine, it's fairly easy to read and it's well explained, however it's slightly outdated in some places, plus I don't really like Administrative Law... But I had to read it anyway. Freitas do Amaral is, however, very straightforward and the language he uses is incredibly accessible for someone who doesn't like (or understand much) on the subject (in which I'll have to include myself).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: O Direito da Família Contemporâneo; Author: Jorge Duarte Pinheiro; Genres: ; Review: Read + unfinished because 1) I didn't need to read all of it to the next test and 2) I will finish it to study to exams.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lições de Finanças Públicas e Direito Financeiro; Author: Maria d'Oliveira Martins; Genres: ; Review: I hate public finances ;_; but the book is okay.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: O Diabo dos Anjos; Author: L.C. Lavado; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: This book was read while in Beta mode (the author invited some readers to become Beta Readers, responsible for reading the book and also comment it or correct any relevant aspects of it). Keeping it very simple and spoiler free, O Diabo dos Anjos is a book that has some potential if some of the things were more elaborate. The story is a little bit boring in the first two parts and sounded a little bit common, but the third and fourth parts were indeed interesting and with a few tweaks it can be better. It's not exactly my type of book, which may have influenced as well, but I'm pretty sure a wide public would enjoy it if it was published, specially with all this obsession over young adult books. As a conclusion, it won't be a book for everyone to read, I'm sure of that, but I'm also sure the adventures of Henrique and Amanda will make a lot of people lose some nights of sleep. Besides, by reading it we will be supporting a portuguese writer and we will be helping L.C. Lavado to develop her writing and creative skills, since she is very concerned with her readers opinions.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: O Direito das Sucessões Contemporâneo; Author: Jorge Duarte Pinheiro; Genres: ; Review: This book is one of my subjects manuals and I have been reading it during the semester. I thought I had added this before but I didn't. Anyway, it's a good book. The author explains things very well and you can read it easily - even though the subject itself is not the most interesting one (at least for me!).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tratado de Lisboa; Author: Maria Luisa Duarte; Genres: ; Review: Not added to the 2012 book challenge because it's a collection of treaties - which you use for consultation, not for reading (and which I didn't do lol).; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: O Filho do Dragão (A Saga das Pedras Mágicas, #7); Author: Sandra Carvalho; Genres: history, romance, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: review soon; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Direito das Obrigações; Author: Eduardo Santos Junior; Genres: ; Review: Used only for consultation, so most of it was not read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: União Europeia - Estática e dinâmica na ordem jurídica eurocomunitária; Author: Maria Luisa Duarte; Genres: ; Review: Anyone who knows me a little bit know I am not very fond of public law or this professor. In fact, I'm on the verge of hating her lol The problem with this book (and professor!) is the fact that she is SO obsessed with History (which is important, of course) that this first volume (and a second volume to be publicated, according to Maria Luisa Duarte, not very soon, since she is "displeased with what is happening in the EU eliminating any of her desire to write"...) is basically just History, leaving out really important things such as the decision procedures among the institutions of the EU! So, basically, she puts History in it, some cute metaphors that aren't actually/totally translated to reality and then looks at you and says you have to read Professor Mota Campos's book. Thanks a lot.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Direito Comparado - Introdução e Parte Geral (Direito Comparado, #1); Author: Dario Moura Vicente; Genres: ; Review: This must have been one of my favourite manuals so far. Incredible well written, simple words, easy explanation and sufficiently broad to talk about most law differences and similarities throughout the world.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mulheres de Vida Apaixonada; Author: Maria Pilar Queralt del Hierro; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: I'm not someone who's naturally attracted to these types of books. Sometimes they're too focused on feminist and are on the verge of some... "fanatism" that I'm not fond of. Thus, although the book seemed interesting, I was a bit reticent to read it. At the time I grabbed it I wanted something different from what I had been reading and this seemed a nice choice. And I wasn't wrong. Maria Hierro gives a very succinct but straight-forward text about every one of these women, some more developed than others (since not all the information is available about some of them and some things still sound more mythical than real) and with a point of view objective enough for me to completely enjoy the book. I have only two problems with this book, which is the reason why it isn't a 5 star read: 1) the title, at least in Portuguese (and also in its original version) sounds too ridiculous. Automatically you get the idea she's focusing on a bunch of ladies who should belong to some light romantic novel, rather than real women who had purposes and fought for them. 2) Although she does focus objectively on these women, what they did and why they were treated in a certain way, sometimes she gives this idea that those women were badly treated or described simply because of their condition as a woman. Even though there are lots of moments about it, this isn't always true. Meaning, it's very likely she'll be telling you how some women were described as cold and crazy when, in fact, they were ambitious and intelligent, having such a bad description only because History used to be written by men. Now, don't get me wrong: it's true History has been written by men and women have suffered due to being women, but I hardly think someone who just wanted to be a queen at any costs and did everything in her power to become one, can hardly be "badly described" when they're just being described by men if all they did was bad. Also, I feel like the first and last three women weren't as well "treated" in the book, but that could also be due to lack of information (in the first case) and the tremendous amount of information already available (the last case).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gente Pobre; Author: Fyodor Dostoyevsky; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Poor Folk might be one of Dostoyevsky's worst works. Not that I have read many books written by him (in fact, I started reading The Idiot years ago but never finished it) but what I did read was substantially more complex than this one. This being said, it doesn't mean Poor Folk is a bad book. Its beginning is quite abrupt, it's true, since all we have are letters and not very detailed ones at that, meaning our story doesn't literally begin at the beginning, but more in the middle - I guess you could say, in media res. When you get around page 30, however, things start making more sense and the story seems to have a direction already. In fact, there's not much plot to it. Or, being more accurate, there is but it's never explored as well as it could, simply because these are letters shared by two people talking about events in their daily life. Meaning, sometimes they make references to conversations they had face-to-face without actually mentioning them in detail. Basically, you have to fill in the blanks with the few information you're given and your imagination. I must confess when I started reading the book I though I would not like it at all. "Why would Dostoyevsky write this?", I remember thinking very clearly. But after reading a few more letters you realize the greatness of the book is, precisely, its simplicity. The story isn't more complex because its characters are also simple. They have very sad, miserable, complicated lives, but they're pretty much poor and, to a certain degree, uneducated, meaning their communication is nothing more, nothing less than a reflection of their own lives. Being so simple, one may think there isn't much to gain from reading it, but it's not true. Although it's far from being a favourite of mine (especially because I have a very limited knowledge on Russian culture and History, thus making it difficult for me to understand everything between the lines), it's, firstly, Dostoyevsky's first work - this is reason enough for someone to read it. I dare say you can find his literary identity in here - or at least the very beginning of it. And secondly, it does represent the story of the common people of back then. It can be pretty heartbreaking to see how the characters are happy and fine in one moment, and, right after, something happens destroying every little piece of happiness in their lives. The end of the book is quite abrupt as well, but it's a somehow satisfactory one - considering this is just the correspondence between two people, I guess it can only end abruptly once the writer decides it's the end of the book. But it's a quite enjoyable reading and a great introduction for Dostoyevsky (yes, don't make my mistake: don't read The Idiot when you barely read any other classics first, it can be quite overwhelming).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5); Author: George R.R. Martin; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: 3.5 stars I'm not quite sure how to rate this book. 1st, my reading experience (similarly to the third book) was vastly damaged by the amount of spoilers people around me gave me; 2nd of all, the book mostly features characters I'm not very fond of or I'm rarely excited to read about, with the exception of Jon Snow; 3rd, clearly this book is a continuation of its predecessor. I know, I know, "duh, it's a series, of course it's a continuation". What I mean is that book 4 and 5 are, in a sense, the same story with different characters and in different places. So it felt like a less exciting end to the 4th book rather than a book on itself. It's a bit unfair to rate the book almost as another one in the series when it is, to be more accurate, a part 2 of the 4th book. This being said, the book was slightly less exciting to me than book 4. It's a good book but the pace only picks up in the end. The worst however is now the wait... I wonder if it's going to take more five years...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Contact; Author: Carl Sagan; Genres: paranormal, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Not a review yet but I'm on page 50 and I'm already in love with Ellie. So many things I identify myself with her. My favourite quote so far (not a big spoiler of the main plot, just an understanding of our main character - still marking it as spoiler just in case): "In the seventh grade they were studying 'pi'. It was a Greek letter that looked like the architecture at Stonehenge, in England: two vertical pillars with a crossbar at top - p. If you measured the circumference of a circle and then divided it by the diameter of the circle, that was pi. At home, Ellie took the top of a mayonnaise jar, wrapped a string around it, straightened the string out, and with a ruler measured the circle's circumference. She did the same with the diameter, and by long division divided the one number by the other. She got 3.21. That seemed simple enough. The next day the teacher, Mr Weisbrod, said that p was about 22/7, about 3.1416. But actually, if you wanted to be exact, it was a decimal that went on and on forever without repeating the pattern of numbers. Forever, Ellie thought. She raised her hand. It was the beginning of the school year and she had not asked any questions in this class. 'How could anybody know that the decimals go on and on forever?' 'That's just the way it is,' said the teacher with some asperity. 'But why? How do you know? How can you count decimals forever?' 'Miss Arroway' - he was consulting his class list - 'this is a stupid question. You're wasting the class's time.' No one had ever called Ellie stupid before, and she found herself bursting into tears. Billy Horstman, who sat next to her, gently reached out and placed his hand over hers. His father had recently been indicted for tampering with the odometers on the used cars he sold, so Billy was sensitive to public humiliation. Ellie ran out of the class sobbing. After school she bicycled to the library at the nearby college to look through books on mathematics. As nearly as she could figure out from what she read, her question wasn't all that stupid. According to the Bible, the ancient Hebrews had apparently thought that p was exactly equal to three. The Greeks and Romans, who knew lots of things about mathematics, had no idea that the digits in p went on forever without repeating. It was a fact that had been discovered only about 250 years ago. How was she expected to know if she couldn't ask questions? But Mr Weisbrod had been right about the first few digits. Pi wasn't 3.21. Maybe the mayonnaise lid had been a little squashed, not a perfect circle. Or maybe she'd been sloppy in measuring the string. Even if she'd been much more careful, though, they couldn't expect her to measure an infinite number of decimals. There was another possibility, though. You could calculate pi as accurately as you wanted. If you knew something; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2); Author: Cassandra Clare; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I reviewed the first three books in the last one. You can check my review here, although it contains spoilers.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, #3); Author: Cassandra Clare; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: 1.5 stars - because I actually enjoyed reading this last one in a very masochist sort of way. I read the books a while ago but only now did I notice that I had not reviewed (or rated, for that matter!) any of them. And this is unacceptable because I have an opinion on these books. Problem is, I never really had an opinion per book, since I always looked at the trilogy as something I would have to read entirely. This means my review is, in a sense, the review of all three books. So, basically, although I won't talk in particular to the plots of each book, this review will contain spoilers from all of them, which is the reason I will be adding the tags from now on. If you proceed, do so at your own risk. Also, this turned out quite more acidic than I originally intended so if you actually like the books I won't recommend you reading my review. I first heard about The Mortal Instruments and Cassandra Clare due to all the fuss about plagiarism in her fanfictions/fanfictions-turned-books, plus the whole "this is a bad rip off of Harry Potter". As a Potterhead I didn't really see anything that screamed Harry Potter to me, although, well, everything is in the genre of the fantastic. This being said, before reading any of the books I decided to watch the film (I honestly thought I would never read them), which was only mediocre, and decided to read the trilogy once I felt like reading something crappy. Now, I don't intend to be mean, I really don't, but I don't really have anything good to say about these books except they were exactly the type of quick emotional roller coaster with lack of content I don't take seriously, perfect for those moments in which I feel like reading something I know I'll hate. And I'm sorry if this is harsh but I totally don't get the hype. It might look odd that I read all three books (well, to be accurate I read all six) and I'm actually considering reading the prequel and sequel released this year. But honestly? This is a story about a girl that mysteriously has a power her mother tried to conceal from her that randomly meets the typical too-cool-for-you-but-actually-a-sweetheart type of guy who happens to fall in love with her even though he finds her incredibly annoying at first. And what about the main plot twist of this? Jace and Clary find they're supposedly brother and sister (ooh!) and I totally understand that for younger readers this might come as a shock and like some seriously unsolvable problem but for me it was just a clue as to how we would find, sooner of later, that Jace wasn't in fact Valentine's son (or whatever name the villain had) but someone else's. But, wait, it doesn't end here: no, no, no nononononoooo! Because, you see, Jace is the too-cool-for-you-guy with a very dark and painful past and decides to somehow embrace his evilness ('cause,; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments, #4); Author: Cassandra Clare; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: 1.5 stars If you want to read a bit more read my review on book 6.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5); Author: Cassandra Clare; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: 1.5 stars If you want to read a bit more read my review on book 6.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments, #6); Author: Cassandra Clare; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: 2.5 stars because the author actually improved in her way of story telling, the characters were a bit better and this last book was actually kind of my favourite of the series, I think. As similar to my review at the end of the first three books, I will only review the last of the second trilogy, it will be an overall critique and it will contain spoilers of all the previews books. And I might become acidic as well so if you like this series, don't read it. Just have fun with the books you like. Okay, so, the last three books - the second trilogy, the second part of the series, whatevs, is much better written than the first three, with the characters being a lot more certain of what they want and when. However, the story, although prepared in the first three books, kinda sounds like Clare remembered suddenly "oh, I can actually add a couple more books to this". So, in general, the idea sounds a bit recycled. Add in more characters (some of them highly irrelevant to the story with unnecessary POVs) and yet more subplots to create ANOTHER trilogy and you end up with a bit of a mess. Also, I don't get this: in the first three the characters don't have sex 'cause, you know, brother and sister. Then Jace gets hurt. And now that he is sound and safe they can't have sex no matter the sexual tension they feel because the heavenly fire running trough his veins basically burn people or things and it explodes and he doesn't want to hurt her. Is this a thing? Like, is it some sort of requirement for the characters in young adults to use every single thing as a reason not to have sex? Is there always a reason? Am I missing something here? But okay. This book is not about sex (I mean, they actually do it in the end in a freaking cave in the middle of hell or whatever) but, yeah, recycled material, too many characters... It's actually funny because I think the first three have a better story but the last three are better written. I don't really have anything else to say about these books so I will just stop here. If you actually feel like understanding more of my opinion on these books, check my review on book 3, since it covers my feelings for all six books with the exception of the mentioned above.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: These Broken Stars (Starbound, #1); Author: Amie Kaufman; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: You can find my portuguese review of this book right here. What can I say about this book? 1) I read the portuguese translation. That translation was hell. Lack of words, sentences cut short, mistakes, I don't even know. I'm not even quite sure if I liked the book or not because my biggest problem was the translation was awful. No, I don't think this book is good but at the same time I wonder how much of my judgement towards this book is based on the crappy translation and if maybe I read it in english it wouldn't have matter as much? You see my problem? 2) Tarver is fine (oh, he is) but at the same time... he's too fine. I never quite understood his personality except he's the typical nice guy with muscles and athletic skills and a sad past that we don't really know because it's never truly explored. And Lilac? Oh, "I'm so independent and badass but deep down I'm a sweetheart fighting for survival on this world of fake people". Again, maybe a good translation or the original version would have made me feel better about these things, but they're still there. 3) The sci-fi didn't ring to me. Look, you read the synopsis and it sounds really cool but... they could be on any random island in a forgotten corner of the world running away from some covert operation of some sort of pirates or whatever. You know the Island of Arrow? That's it. And all around they somehow try to convince you it's very space-y but it didn't feel like that to me. 4) This is basically romance. This being said, because of the translation I gave the Trilogy another chance and read book 2 (which I loved way more) and 3. In general these books are nice although not the best thing. I still think Across the Universe is a better book than all of this Trilogy (although the Starbound trilogy, as a complete work, is better than the trilogy Across The Universe).; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Girl on the Train; Author: Paula Hawkins; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Critica em portugues aqui. The Girl on the Train started a bit disappointing for me - I actually felt it took a bit to develop into a thriller. However, after a while, it became exactly what I wanted it to be: a book about a person with a lot more than what you can see, lots of secrets, adrenaline and a gigantic mystery that was actually able to surprise me. Some people I follow on GR were able to discover the whole thing but I was completely NOT seeing that ending. The chapters of the book are actually pretty short so they make for a nice and quick reading which, in my opinion, is a great way to add more suspense to the story, since you're constantly jumping from one moment to the next. This being said, the writing or the content of the book isn't the most amazing thing I ever read but you get what you bought (or borrowed): a thriller, full of suspense, where appearances are very deceiving and that will keep you entertained for a few days (or hours, depends on how long you can resist reading a few more chapters!). I highly suggest you to read the book without knowing much about it and to avoid spoilers at all cost. I assure you it will add up to the whole experince. P.S: as most of you know by now, this is coming out as a film in October with dear Emily Blunt. Not my first choice for Rachel at all, but she's a terrific actress. I wonder how the film will work out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5); Author: Sarah J. Maas; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: 05/10/2016 Still not fully sure of my rating so I might have to come back for that later. Review to come.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: This Shattered World (Starbound, #2); Author: Amie Kaufman; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: will elaborate as soon as possible.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Alvorada dos Deuses; Author: Filipe Faria; Genres: paranormal, fantasy; Review: You can check the portuguese review here. Filipe Faria is a writer I started reading many years ago after discovering Sandra Carvalho's books. Sandra is my favourite portuguese fantasy writer and her books are pretty much the only ones I usually recommend whole-heartedly, although tastes vary wildly from person to person. When I came across Filipe's books I was very disappointed: he started writing his first work at the age of 16 and we were obviously facing a teen full of hormones and lack of maturity writing in the shadow of all things he loved (like The Lord of the Rings. Nothing wrong in that, just everyone seemed to love everything he wrote blindly just... because. It always confuses me when I come across readers who seem to like everything all the time. Makes me wonder if they're being honest. When I realized he had published this book (that seemed to have a more mature theme) I was very curious. And for the first time I found one book he wrote that I actually consider good. I mean, it's not like I would recommend this to many people or that I dream with this or think of re-reading this anytime soon. But it has quality and to be honest I just think it didn't ring a bell with me because I didn't connect with the story and not because it was bad. This time a lot of the criticism I wrote for previous books doesn't apply, for example, the words used actually fit in the portrayed year and education of the characters. It makes sense and it's well written; the "expensive" words don't sound out of place or like exhibitionism. The connections between two different religions (one that is still "alive" and another one long lost except for cool books and History) are also pretty interesting although I don't know enough of the Norse Gods to actually review the accuracy of its representation. The story itself is... peculiar. Picking a Franciscan and forcing him to face all his doubts and fears towards his religion when contacting beings much more ancient than his own God and that defy most of his beliefs, is certainly intriguing. However, I couldn't help but feel Berardo (our main character) was waaaay too passive. Obviously I wasn't expecting a priest to be all badass or have a book packed with crude action but at the same time all he did was sit in the corner and cry (not literally, mind you). He very rarely speaks and when that happens is always to pull the story forward, not necessarily to let us connect to his pain or doubts, or to let us know him. It's just... someone is telling him something and eventually, at least once, he will have to say a few words and that's what he does. Besides that, he gets carried, pulled, cursed at, yada yada, and doesn't really do anything. The ending was slightly surprising albeit expected (at least to me) which doesn't diminish how appropriate it was considering the course of the entire story.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cinzas de um Novo Mundo; Author: Rafael Loureiro; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Review soon.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In a Dark, Dark Wood; Author: Ruth Ware; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Might elaborate soon.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: O Renascer (Estrela de Nariën, #2); Author: Susana Almeida; Genres: paranormal, romance, fantasy, young-adult; Review: I will not be reviewing this book further than the rating. All of my opinions towards this trilogy are mentioned in the review of the first one which will be posted soon.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: O Coração do Mundo (Estrela de Nariën, #3); Author: Susana Almeida; Genres: paranormal, romance, fantasy, young-adult; Review: *sigh* At least the ending was... slightly cute, I guess.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Butcher's Hook; Author: Janet Ellis; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Will elaborate later on the review and the rating. Not sure if it's a 3 or 3.5 rating.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Miniaturist; Author: Jessie Burton; Genres: history, fiction, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Review to come soon (yeah I know, my soon takes thirty years lol); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Filhos do Vento e do Mar (Crónicas da Terra e do Mar, #2); Author: Sandra Carvalho; Genres: history, romance, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy; Review: (not sure I'll review this); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Escrito na Água; Author: Paula Hawkins; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Review to come (eventually).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing; Author: Marie Kondo; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Definetely a technical book but at the same time one with a very direct and clear approach (I don't think I could ever give 5 stars to a technical book but believe me when I tell you this one is great on the subject). Would totally recommend for people who feel like their house and lifestyle needs a change but are too attached to "things" to just learn how to throw them away. I fully intend to use most of these tecniques and see where it will get me. A word of caution, however: clearly Marie Kondo is someone who is also very attached to "things" and looks at them as beings who are able to collect and distribute energy. While this doesn't shock me at all and in a way makes sense to me (I truly believe the way we act towards people and things around us influence the way we experience life) this will lead to moments in the book where she explains how your neglected bag might feel sad or your crumpled socks tired and how you should thank your house for giving you shelter or your shoes for the hard work of supporting you through the day. This is an uncommon perspective that DOES NOT affect her tips at all and that, at least for me, portray an underlying awareness of her relationship with objects. If this type of statement will be too much for you to overlook I would advise you to put this book aside by now. However, if you are someone typically open minded enough to read something that might cause you a what-am-I-reading reaction without clouding your judgement on the rest of the information, I think this book about tidying might be for you.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Seychelles Women's See The Light T-Strap Flat; Brand: Seychelles; Review: I get lots of compliments on these sandals.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seychelles Women's Electrify; Brand: Seychelles; Review: Very comfortable and everyone loves them also.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Northside Women's Corona Sandal; Brand: ; Review: These are great for the price im normally a size 8 but ordered a size 9, Glad i did! the lip that sticks up in the back would have otherwise bothered my heel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: niceeshop(TM) Sexy Fashion Detachable Shirt Necklace Chain False Collar; Brand: niceeshop; Review: Didnt even use it and the chain broke off. You can reinforce it yourself. Great for the price.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dobelove Solid Color Satin Belt for Special Occasion Dress Bridal Sash; Brand: Dobelove; Review: Long enough for what i want it for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BomDeals Women's Classic Plaid Cotton Hoodie Button-up Flannel Shirts; Brand: BomDeals; Review: Thick material, and good looking shirt. only thing is, the sleeves where short on me. Im average size and never had this problem with shirts. Maybe its how its made, i did have to return it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Micosuza Swim Tights Wetsuit Diving Pant 1.5 mm Neoprene for Women; Brand: Micosuza; Review: Besides having a strong odor of chemicals, its perfect! Very comfortable fits great. Im 5'4" 174lbs and the Large fits great. Make sure you wash before using.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 5.11 Men's Recon Trainer-M; Brand: ; Review: True to size, purchased for Boyfriend and he loves them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blowfish Women's Granola Fisherman Sandal; Brand: ; Review: Very cute, if you don't have long toes. Lol; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: CLARKS Women's Flo Cherrymore; Brand: ; Review: Cute shoes! I love Clarks shoes. I have two pairs of sandals and a pair of their clogs. They are not only attractive, but comfortable. I intend to buy more shoes from this company.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dockers Men's Classic Fit Stretch Signature Khaki Pant-Pleated D3; Brand: ; Review: No problem with the transaction or the fit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dockers Men's Classic Fit Stretch Signature Khaki Pant-Pleated D3; Brand: ; Review: No problem with the transaction or the fit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wrapables Stripes and Anchor Nautical Marine Scarf 72" X 42"; Brand: Wrapables; Review: Nice scarf. I got it to coordinate with the Chunky Nautical Navy Blue Anchor Necklace and Earrings. It will make a great statement this summer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chunky Nautical Navy Blue Silvertone Anchor Helm Sea Boat Necklace and Earrings, 20+3" Extender; Brand: HW Necklace Collection; Review: Cute piece at a good price. It will be great this summer. Also got a cute scarf to coordinate :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CLARKS Women's Breeze Mila Sea Synthetic Flip Flop Sandal; Brand: ; Review: This is my second pair. I got white last year and really liked them, so I got these.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clarks Women's Breeze Sea Flip-Flop; Brand: ; Review: I love Clarks. I have many pairs in many styles.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Doublju Womens Long Sleeve Jersey Knit Cardigan Draped Open Cardigan (S - 3XL); Brand: ; Review: Although it wrinkles I really like this and it went well with the dress I purchased it to go with.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Riders by Lee Indigo Women's Ultra Soft Denim Capri Jean; Brand: ; Review: Had to return; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Briggs York Women's Polished Twill-L Pockets Capri; Brand: Briggs; Review: Nice fabric and good fit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Briggs New York Women's Twill Novelty Capri with Knit Waistband; Brand: Briggs; Review: Fit well and are comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ROCO MINIMALIST Aluminum Slim Wallet RFID BLOCKING Money Clip - No.2; Brand: Roco; Review: This is not as convenient as the one my husband had before, since you have to take the band off to access the cards, but it is becoming easier as it loosens up and he likes that it is smaller than his previous one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Steven Harris Holiday Music Staffs and Notes Necktie - Black - One Size Neck Tie; Brand: Steven Harris; Review: This was a gift and the recipient seemed quite pleased.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Allegra K Women's Sheer Long Sleeves Flower Embroidery Lace Top; Brand: Allegra K; Review: This is a nice, comfortable top and looks dressy. It also fit well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Allegra K Women's Sheer Long Sleeves Flower Embroidery Lace Top; Brand: Allegra K; Review: This is a nice, comfortable top and looks dressy. It also fit well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Haggar Men's Work-to-Weekend Hidden Expandable-Waist Denim Pleat-Front Pant; Brand: ; Review: My husband particularly liked the confort waistband and they look nice on him; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Taos Footwear Women's Beauty Sandal; Brand: ; Review: This sandal provides some support and is comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: E LV Armor Defender Protective Case for Samsung Galaxy S4 Bundle with Screen; Brand: E LV; Review: Bought the case, i was worried because all the bad reviews i seen. But honestly if you are looking for a sleek, cute, phone case that actually (PROTECTS) your phone, get this one. I've dropped my phone once with this case and it protected it really good. On my phone yes its a little hard to press the volume up and down button, but its nothing major. I love it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fashion Bonzer Bling Diamond Cristal Bow Bowknot Slot Card Flip Case Cover Skin For Samsung Galaxy Note 2 3 S3; Brand: Hongyada; Review: I was very nervous when ordering this case. Because it didn't have any reviews, and I thought that it might not be what it is in the picture. But oh! I received my case & I freaking love it!!! Its pretty, bright and fits my s4 just right! Not only that I ordered & it said I wouldn't get it till October, but I actually received it a week later! Definitely worth the money. (Highly satisfied); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ailun Screen Protector Compatible Galaxy Note 5,1Pack,Tempered Glass,9H Hardness,2.5D Edge,Ultra Clear,Anti-Scratch,Case Friendly-Siania Retail Package(Clear); Brand: AILUN; Review: Very good screen protectors, mine lasted me for months. The only reason I got a new one is because I had to get a new phone. My last phone had no scratches, dents, or anything when I took the protector off before sending it back in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TISHAA Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Case, Cute Bling Bling Cat Protective Soft Skin Cover Silicone Rubber Cell Phone Case; Brand: TISHAA; Review: Very cute, and stylish.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OMOTON 3322750 9H Ultra-Clear Anti-Scratch Tempered-Glass Screen Protector 2.5D Round Edge for Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Pack of 2; Brand: OMOTON; Review: Great protector. I like this it covers my camera, so it protects it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsung Galaxy NOTE 5 Case, Encased Ultra-thin SlimSHIELD Hybrid Shell4 Cool Colors Available) (Royal Purple); Brand: Encased; Review: Great Sleek, protective, hard case. Covers all the sides, so I won't have to worry about it, if it's dropped. I like the option to switch the bottom of the case with a different color. I don't have my original charger so my charger end is kind of big, and it doesn't fit with the case on, but it's no issue, its actually better cause I can slip the end of the case off without taking the whole case off. Would definitely order one of these again. Thanks!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Best Western Heritage Inn; City: Bellingham Washington; Review: Stayed one night prior to a very early morning flight. We left a 4 am wakeup call and hoped to catch some sleep before leaving for the airport at 5 am. Luckily I was unable to sleep because we DID NOT RECEIVE A WAKEUP CALL.. I went to the front desk where the young lady apologized and blamed it on unreliable technology and said she would deduct $25 from our bill which is a minimal amount considering it could have been a disaster. Received our statement today and she deducted $20 in fact. Basically they offer services only during certain hours - we did not get the breakfast , the morning shuttle to the airport and not the crucial wakeup call. We thought this would be more convenient but in retrospect we wasted our money.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites Bismarck; City: Bismarck North Dakota; Review: We travel frequently and always with our little pug so whenever possible we choose to stay at a LaQuinta because of their easy pet policy. As a previous reviewer has stated, all LaQuintas are not created equal. We have stayed at some that were so unbearably stinky and nasty that just thinking about them still makes me nauseous, but thats for another review. LaQuinta Inn & Suites Bismarck is one of the best we have ever encountered. It is quite new, clean, fresh and they have excellent staff. At first blush it seems pricey until you factor in the excellent Presidents Reception Dinner served several nights per week from 5 to 7 pm. We stayed on a wednesday night and had chicken and fixins from Famous Dave's. They also offered beer and wine that evening. Daily breakfast was good as well. We will be back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Hotel Dnister; City: Lviv Lviv Oblast; Review: We spent 4 comfortable nights at this hotel. It is very modern and could be located in any canadian/us city. Despite being located in one of the most beautiful cities in the world it lacks any old world charm, it is simply an upscale hotel that boasts Hilary Clinton as a past guest. It had good facilities, the breakfast was very good and we could get eggs made to order which was a nice touch. I think that the biggest drawback to this hotel is its location. You have to have access to a car or take a cab to go anywhere. I did the 25 minute walk to Rynok Square and cabbed it back but if you are unable to do that, you are pretty much stuck. Its a nice business hotel but I think tourists would want something better located. Staff were friendly and very helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Ternopil; City: Ternopil Ternopil Oblast; Review: Although I had booked months ago, I requested a room with a lake view and was assigned the most squalid room I had ever been in (see photos). This was to be my home for the next 16 nights. We had stayed at this hotel in 2008 and the decline is shockingly evident. No tissues, no washcloths - oh but they do have a mini bar !! No closet - just hooks on the wall. If you want clean glasses be prepared to wash them yourself. Breakfast was so bad we quit going. It never changed - cut up bananas that had turned brown, cut up and dry oranges, greasy cold cuts, no bottled water. The front desk staff were helpful and we appreciated easy access to internet room. The hotel is well located in the city centre. After spending many nights in the awful room I asked to speak with someone in charge and the "Director" arrived. He offered another room which was much too late. He then offered a discount and I accepted feeling at least somewhat vindicated. There was no discussion of the amount of the discount but I assumed I would be treated fairly. Imagine my surprise when I arrived home and found that the discount I had received was the same small long stay discount that everyone in my party (that had acceptable rooms) received. My advice to anyone staying at this hotel is - be very careful - dont assume you will be treated fairly or honestly - I sure wasnt.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites Coeur D Alene; City: Coeur d Alene Idaho; Review: This is a very nice property with nice facilities - BUT our stay there was pretty much a disaster due to their house dog Dodger. As I relive it, I still feel ill. This property is listed as pet friendly and since we travel with our elderly pug, I made a reservation. While I was at the desk checking in, my husband and Ruby were looking around and had their backs to the large weimaranar and didnt even know he was there. I realized with alarm that he was approaching them but not with curiousity but stalking them like prey. OMG - just as I screamed to pick her up the dog lunged and had hold of our dogs neck.!!!! Everyone was screaming and mercifully the clerk managed to wrestle their horrible dog off our pug. In another second he would have snapped her neck like a toothpick. Just writing of this experience still makes my heart pound. There were many apologies and of course, he NEVER did that before but can you believe that the clerk was quite prepared to charge us the full amount ?? I had to ask for and received a discount. We were just glad that the 3 of us left there alive the next morning. Would I recommend checking in there with a dog or even small children; you are taking a huge chance!!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites Bismarck; City: Bismarck North Dakota; Review: We stayed at this LQ previously and I wrote a very positive review of the hotel overall. We always factor in the dinner that is served several times a week in the cost but on this visit we were very disappointed. Basically it was a pork sausage (hot dog) 3 kinds of fancy sandwiches but they were so dry that the fillings were indistinguishable and cookies. Beer and wine is also available. Unless you really dont care what you eat; you will not feel that you got your $ worth at this hotel. We didnt and we will not return.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Pacific Highway Inn; City: Salem Oregon; Review: This is one of those hotels who feel entitled to charge extra for a pet but then assign you one of the most disgusting rooms on the premises. My little pug does her business outdoors and if some do not then I advise that you go after them. Our first room #111 almost made me barf and thankfully the young lady at the desk switched us to #112 which was marginally better but allowed us to eat in the room. Maybe remove the disgusting carpet like many other pet friendly hotels! I questioned the overall cleanliness of our room. The bedding was discoloured, was it changed? Breakfast was meager. Basically, ours was not a good experience and we would not return nor would we recommend to our friends. Travellers, even those with pets, are entitled to more for their money.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites Grand Forks; City: Grand Forks North Dakota; Review: We travel often and LQ is always our hotel of choice. The staff is very friendly and helpful and we appreciated the early checkin. This was our first stay at GF and it didn't disappoint. Our stay in a queen suite was excellent, our grandkids made good use of the pool and the breakfast was typical of most hotel breakfasts, not better and certainly not worse. We did miss the managers reception that most laquinta serve .. something for management to consider. The only issue we encountered was that the wakeup call we requested did not come. We received a tiny rate reduction for our inconvenience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Wilsonville; City: Wilsonville Clackamas County Oregon; Review: Stayed one nite on points and it was great. I have been diligently collecting points and it's payingvoff. This was a very nice hotel with friendly staff and we will be sure to return. Our only complaint is like all la quinta hotels the breakfast is sorely lacking. In this case there didn't seem to be anyone in charge of replenishing whatever meager food offered. Fake eggs and bacon were not replenished. Plus it was so cold in the breakfast room we took our toast and coffee back to our room.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Suites; City: Salmon Arm British Columbia; Review: My husband and I have the occasion to be in the salmon arm area several times a year and being choice rewards members we always stay at the Comfort Inn and Suites. It costs a bit more but the rooms are comfy and they had a pretty good breakfast. Well, not any more. Several times now we have noticed that the breakfast is not what it used to be. Their breakfast used to include tasty little omelets, potatoes, etc. I think the tasty breakfast is reserved for their tour bus business now. Today we had awful tasting fake eggs and I had to ask for the potatoes to be replenished and when they were I found they were hard little marble like things that I could not penetrate with my fork. I have asked several of the staff members about the decline in the breakfast quality but no one will give a straight answer. I think we would be wise to stay at a less expensive hotel in the community and have our breakfast out with the money we save.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites Fargo Medical Center; City: Fargo North Dakota; Review: We just returned from staying two nites at this hotel. We had asked for a quiet room and that's what we got on the top floor. The room was clean and had everything we needed. A manager's reception was held on Thursday nite, composed of a light supper and beer and wine. We did not attend because we chose to eat out but it appears that it was well attended and enjoyed. Breakfast was much better here than at other laquinta hotels. They included tasty little omelets that are so much better than The usual fake eggs. They had several,other items that were fresh and tasty. The staff were helpful and friendly and we look forward to returning.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: AmeriGlo Pro-IDOT for Glock 17/19 Orange; Brand: AmeriGlo; Review: One of the best sights available. Installed on a Glock 19 and 34 without any issues.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ameriglo Pro-IDOT For Glock 17/19 Green; Brand: AmeriGlo; Review: The best mix between a competition sight and a usable low light sight. The small tritium insert in the rear does not distract at all.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UTG Universal Firearm Chamber Safety Flag, Orange, 6PCs/Set; Brand: UTG; Review: Nice and sturdy and fits all chambers from an AR15 to a shotgun to a 9mm Glock.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: B's Dry Fire Snap Caps - Dummy 12 & 20 Gauge Training Rounds (9 Pack); Brand: B-Unique Enterprises, Inc.; Review: Well built with a good weight to each one. Perfect for practicing quad loading.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Truglo Installation/Removal Tool for Glock Pistol Front Sights; Brand: TRUGLO; Review: Installed Ameriglo sights on a Glock 19 and 34 without any hiccups. Well made and sturdy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: B-Unique Enterprises, Inc. B's Dry Fire Snap Caps - Dummy 9mm Luger Training Caps (10 Pack); Brand: B-Unique Enterprises, Inc.; Review: Great quality and even replicates the weight of a real cartridge.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Handgun Sight Tool Universal for Front or Rear Dovetail Sights , Glock, 1911 or Other Handguns with Parallel Sided; Brand: GAOAG; Review: Installed Ameriglo sights on a Glock 34 and 19 without any hiccups. Sturdy and well made.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Infityle MOLLE Medical Pouch - 1000D Nylon Tactical EMT Ifak Utility Bag with First Aid Patch and Shear; Brand: Infityle; Review: Great quality for the price! Holds an entire gunshot wound medical kit including tourniquet, Israeli bandage, two quik clots, gauze, tape, scissors, and all the smaller bits.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Safariland Glock 34, 35 6378 ALS Concealment Paddle Holster (STX Black Finish); Brand: Safariland; Review: The best all around holster for competition use (ALS is quick to deploy) and secure retention.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Streamlight 69260 TLR-1 HL Weapon Mount Tactical Flashlight Light 800 Lumens with Strobe - 800 Lumens; Brand: Streamlight; Review: Best value weapon light out there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 5.11 SIERRA BRAVO DUTY Tactical Belt Kit, Style 59505; Brand: 5.11; Review: Great belt for USPSA and 3-gun competitions.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wheeler 710906 Engineering Bolt Catch Install Tool Kit; Brand: Wheeler; Review: Worked flawlesly, what a headache saver!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Divota Apartment Hotel; City: Split Split Dalmatia County Dalmatia; Review: Clean, quiet (once the shutters were closed) and well-located within easy walking distance of the Split waterfront. Though free parking on the street is somewhat scarce, we found a spot just up the street as another car pulled out. In the worst case scenario, there is a paid parking lot just up the street (less than 50 meters away). We had a room and not one of the apartments. The room, though on the top floor up a tight spiral staircase, suited our needs well. Since we were on the top floor, the ceiling in the bathroom sloped to follow the roof line, but I did not hit my head, as that area was designated as storage space. I did hear the rain hitting the tile roof that night, but it did not disturb my sleep. With the shutters open, we could hear the street noise, but it was extremely quiet with the shutters closed. Marina (I believe that's her name) at the front desk was exceptionally helpful with getting my cellphone to work on the local network (calling customer support for me and translating SMS messages they sent for support). I think all the guests while we were there spoke English as their first (and perhaps only) language, and Marina's ability to speak to us in English made up for our lack of Croatian-speaking skills. There are bakeries and groceries very close by on the street (in the downhill direction toward the historic part of the city), and even a convenience store right across the street.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Jadran Zagreb; City: Zagreb Central Croatia; Review: We picked the hotel for its location and its free parking (a rarity in the central city). It was a very easy walk to the city center sites. We had a street-side room on the third floor. It was small but adequate. The shower was very small, and the adjustable head wand did not stay up on its own, so we had to prop it up using the adhesive luggage tag. While jetlag may have been a factor (we had just arrived), I could hear trams running on the street outside all night. Breakfast was OK, but the "orange juice" was very watered down. The scrambled eggs looked odd but tasted good. My wife did not like the coffee that came out of the machine. The parking lot is very small, so small that when we went to leave our car was blocked in (as with another group trying to leave. Fortunately, it was only hotel vehicles blocking us in, so the staff could move them out of our way.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Berkeley Hotel Day Spa; City: Dubrovnik Dubrovnik Neretva County Dalmatia; Review: I booked the hotel primarily for its location, price, and its parking. It was close enough to walk to the old town part of Dubrovnik, though we took a bus there (reception sells tickets, and the bus lines are on the waterfront street just a short walk away). We walked back that evening, though the sidewalks were not continuous for the entire journey. It was much more convenient than being out on the Lapad Peninsula. There are some restaurants by the waterfront as well (we ate at one the second night after returning from Montenegro). Very nice room. Ours faced the street, which meant our balcony had a view of the water and sunsets (even from just the second floor). With the doors and shutters closed, it was not noisy, even with scooters buzzing up and down the street. We walked to the nearby Konzum supermarket for some groceries, which we stored in the room's reasonably-sized refrigerator. Breakfast (included with our room) was more than we expected. While they had the usual continental breakfast buffet, they also made eggs to order (fried, scrambled or omelets) at no extra charge. We never attempted to use the hotel's pool. I did not realize parking was paid, but it was not expensive, and we were in a city, after all.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Bernerhof; City: Kandersteg Canton of Bern; Review: Hotel Bernerhof was definitely the most upscale hotel we stayed in during our entire vacation, but the staff never made us feel downscale. The hotel is conveniently located, maybe a 5-10 minute walk from the train station, very close to the Tourist Information Center, and almost across the street from the walking trail to the Oeschinensee cable car. My wife and I headed to Kandersteg for a weekend of hiking, leaving most of our luggage (and our nicer clothes) in Zurich. Arriving long before check-in (in the morning), we were greeted by the owners, who allowed us to both change into our hiking clothes and leave our luggage there as we went hiking. We filled out some paperwork, which we learned was for a Kandersteg Guest Card, which provided discounts on the cable cars (to Gemmi Pass and Oeschinensee) as well as free bus transit to and from the cable car to the Gemmi Pass (Sunnbuel). That was yet another nice touch, that they made sure we had the card even before we had officially checked in. When we returned from a day of hiking, we took possession of our room in which our luggage had already been delivered (another nice touch). Our room was a small suite, with a living room area with couch and television, and a bedroom with another television. Between the two is the bathroom. Off the living room area is the balcony, which offered nice views of the surrounding mountains. (With the hotel being in a valley, all rooms should have mountain views, though I think the best views are from the rooms with balconies on the front of the hotel). From our balcony, we could see the cable car to Oeschinensee. We liked the towel heater in the bathroom, even used it to dry some of our hiking clothes after rinsing them out in the sink. I was somewhat concerned that the hotel's welcome guide had a suggested dress code for the restaurant. When I went downstairs to look at the menu, I told the owner that we did not have the proper dress clothes for the restaurant. He told me not to worry about it, just that we should make a reservation since it will get busy. We did so, and we enjoyed a delicious dinner in a atmosphere of friendly and attentive service. The owners stopped by to speak with us a couple of times during dinner. We checkout out the next morning, but left our luggage there as we went hiking again. When we came back to collect our luggage, we were given friendly good-byes. We hope to stay there again the next time we go to Kandersteg.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Restaurant Rooms Marko Polo; City: Zadar Zadar County Dalmatia; Review: We had the small room on the same floor as the "lobby," which is upstairs behind the restaurant (one goes through the restaurant and up the stairs to the back to get in). The hotel location was great, just a short walk across the pedestrian bridge to the old town. Parking on the street was not a problem - we arrived mid-day and found a spot on the street very close by and later moved the car to almost right in front of the restaurant. The bedroom itself was small, but there was a small side room with a desk which we used as a oversized closet (we did not use the small closet in the entry hallway). There was no minifridge in the room. The bathroom was small but functional. The towels were a bit coarse, but that is because they dry them on a clothes lines (we saw this from the deck upstairs - there are no good views from the deck, as they are blocked by other buildings). As for a night's sleep, it was decent. We had our windows open slightly, but noise from the restaurant was not a problem. We could hear the children who were staying upstairs run up and down the staircase. Also, a neighbor's dog barked late into the night. As mentioned, we were only there for one night, and it suited our purposes.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lakefront Apartments; City: Queenstown Otago Region South Island; Review: We needed a place in Queenstown, not realizing that we planned to be there during the Chinese New Year. This was the only place we could find that could accommodate the four of us. I went in with low expectations because some of the reviews I had read were harsh. My understanding is that the units are individually owned and cared-for, so the quality could very greatly. We stayed in Unit 12. It is in the back area, away from the street, and convenient to the parking garage. The unit consisted of two levels - the main/entry level with the kitchen and living room, and a downstairs with two bedrooms and a full bathroom. The Good: It was quiet in terms of street noise. We had lake views from the main level balcony. While advertised as having one bathroom, there was a second toilet and sink upstairs (main level), along with a washer and dryer. The rental place gave us extra keys and allowed us to check out late. The location was convenient to town. The Bad: The lake view was partially obstructed by the apartments in front of us. The view from the downstairs balcony was of the backs of the apartments in front of us. We could hear noise from the apartments in front of us. One bedroom had a balcony (with a view of the apartments in front of us), but the other did not even have windows. Overall, for two nights, it served us well.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Klaustur; City: Kirkjubaejarklaustur South Region; Review: Good location and good rooms, but it was the staff that made it special. In particular, Joel at reception gave us great guidance on what to see in the area, and Magda and Mihal in the restaurant and bar provided great service for us for during happy hours and the dinner between (yes, they had two happy hours that evening). We felt we were well take care of, which we did not expect at all.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Elegance Vista Blava; City: Cala Millor Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: My friend and I are leaving today, after a good week, food good , but very repeatative, room and hotel in general very clean, staff pleasant and helpful, pool small but ok for us, no children with us, would come back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Congress Hotel; City: Vilnius Vilnius County; Review: This hotel met all our needs, good location, food good, plenty of choice at breakfast very clean, comfortable bed's, friendly and helpful staff, stress free check in, ideal, would definitely stay here again,a must stay for any traveler.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Novotel New York Times Square; City: New York City New York; Review: I found this hotel was in the perfect location, the staff were very friendly and helpful, the room was good, and the bed very comfortable, breakfast was expensive, but very good, and plenty of choice, I would definitely recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sykeside Camping Park; City: Penrith Eden District Lake District Cumbria England; Review: I found the campsite very tidy, quiet and enjoyed the experience, the walk up to the main road very steep, the toilet block was clean, showers clean, and the 3 morning's I went, had hot water, nice little shop on site, Barn End pub good, a Saturday night quiz, pool table and juke box, and the real ales very good, didnt visit the Brotherswater pub, so cant comment, there was a warden on site, a good base when visiting the lakes, I would recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shamrock Apartments; City: Bugibba Island of Malta; Review: Spent a lovely week with 3 friend's, the apartment was very clean and spacious, albeit the 3 beds were very hard, but considering we got a good deal, we didn't let it spoil are break, the lady who owns the apartments was very nice and helpful, I would recommend it. There is a small rooftop pool, but due to the weather, didn't use it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coolcower House; City: Macroom County Cork; Review: Beautiful views, good location, very clean, breakfast delicious, Bernie and her staff team were so pleasant and very helpful, I booked for 4 night's, but only stayed for 1, as my Dad wasn't well and needed to go home, Bernie was very understanding, I would definitely return and recommend Coolcower House Yvonne; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pendulum Hotel; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: Ideal for a overnight stay, small room, very clean, comfortable bed, clean shower cubicle, iron, ironing board, fan, hairdryer and tv, if visiting Canal Street it's a good location, staff on reception welcoming, would recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WORLDHOTEL Cristoforo Colombo; City: Milan Lombardy; Review: My daughter and I stayed for a 3 night break, we loved it, all the staff were very welcoming and helpful, the room was nice, comfortable bed's, there was plenty of choice at breakfast, and was delicious, the location was good, would definitely stay there again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Styles Glasgow Centre West; City: Glasgow Scotland; Review: This hotel is very cool and trendy, very clean, comfortable bed's, nice complimentary breakfast, staff very polite, helpful and very friendly, it's in a good location, would definitely recommend and return here. Yvonne; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Lipper International 8860 Bamboo Wood Adjustable Napkin Holder, 6-1/2" x 3-1/4" x 6"; Brand: Lipper International; Review: Very happy with this napkin holder. The front flap is adjustable to keep the napkins tightly secured and standing up straight. It is also real wood which matches our table and it doesn't look cheap. It looks great and seems like it will last a long time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spectrum Diversified Scroll Coaster Container with 6 Coasters,Black; Brand: Spectrum; Review: These work very well for protecting my furniture and holding my cups and glasses steady. They also fit my large coffee mugs. They don't look cheap and are very sturdy. They look great and seem like they will last a long time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Choice Products Bamboo Area Rug Carpet Indoor 5' X 8' 100% Natural Bamboo Wood New; Brand: BEST CHOICE PRODUCTS; Review: This rug creates a nice look at our front door and keeps the dirt from tracking onto our carpet. The wood texture looks great and seems pretty sturdy, but I would be careful not to wear heavy boots or shoes with heels on it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BLACK+DECKER TO1332SBD 4-Slice Toaster Oven, Stainless Steel; Brand: BLACK+DECKER; Review: Looks great and heats up fast. Cooks evenly and it is easy to clean up the crumbs by removing the crumb tray.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carbonation Cap Carbacap C02 Coupling To Carbonate Soda Beer Fruit Juice Water; Brand: Home Brew Stuff; Review: This cap is really nice. It takes a little muscle and patience to snap it onto a keg coupler, but after that it does it's job well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lodge 12 Inch Square Cast Iron Grill Pan. Ribbed 12-Inch Square Cast Iron Grill Pan with Dual Handles.; Brand: Lodge; Review: This a great pan for grilling on your stovetop. It creates nice grill marks on steaks and veggies, and heats up evenly. Adding salt to the grooves before cooking, aids with later cleanup. Adding a light rubbing of oil to the cooking surface after cleaning and places it in bottom oven rack will season the pan while the oven is in use for cooking.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RSVP Endurance 18/8 Stainless Steel Pierced Wide Rim Sink Strainer (SINK-4); Brand: RSVP International; Review: This strainer is well made and isn't flimsy like other strainers I've tried that rust, clog, and disintegrate. It catches all of the food scraps, drains well, and is easily removed to dump contents. Happy with the purchase!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vitamix Two Speed Blender, Professional-Grade, 64oz. Container, Black (Certified Refurbished); Brand: Vitamix; Review: Fantastic blender & amazing value! Love it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vitamix 6000 Blender, Slate (Certified Refurbished); Brand: Vitamix; Review: Fantastic value & amazing blender. So happy with this purchase; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Allegrace Women Sexy Long Sleeve Autumn Warm Stretch Bodycon Party Bandage Dresses; Brand: Allegrace; Review: i loved this dress it fit me perfectly I got a small and it was the perfect type of strength, I like the material of it feels nice against your skin..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Allegrace Women Sexy 2 Pieces Bodycon Evening Skirt Stretch Party Bandage Dresses; Brand: Allegrace; Review: I finally wore this outfit over the weekend after buying it months ago. But I must say it fit me great it hugged every curve I have and the color looked amazing on me, I'll be orsering again I'm sure of it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jessica Simpson Women's Sasa Wedge Sandal; Brand: ; Review: Love these wedges they're as sexy as they come if you ask me they are a bit high so you have to be careful how you walk but over all very nice shoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bikini Cross Body Link Chain Necklace to Waist Belly Belt Harness; Brand: elegantstunning; Review: Best accessory for the beach but it changed colors on me which is weird to me cause it wasn't worn often.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Allegrace Womens Sexy Long Sleeves Slim Bodycon Party Bandage Club Dresses; Brand: Allegrace; Review: This dress is soo sexy I may get it in white; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PRETTYGARDEN Women's 2018 Casual Summer V-Neck Beach Irregular Bow Wrap Short Dress; Brand: PRETTYGARDEN; Review: This dress was a hit i got so many compliments on it; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Sweet As Can Bee Ceramic Honey Pot with Wooden Dipper; Brand: Kate Aspen; Review: it seemed fine, but I returned it because it was much smaller then expected.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crystal Allies Natural Pink Himalayan Salt Tea Light Candle Holders with Authentic Crystal Allies Info Card, Pack of 2; Brand: Crystal Allies; Review: the pair is not the same size, one is taller than the other. Would be 5 star if they would match them up better into pairs that look similar.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SouvNear Impossible Stone Art – 5 Inch Handmade Soapstone Collectible Figurine Sculpture of Mother Elephant with Baby Inside; Brand: SouvNear; Review: Excellent piece of art!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brimma Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle - Double Wall Stainless Steel Travel Bottle for Hot & Cold Drinks - No; Brand: Brimma; Review: Looks like a go I don't bottle. I returned it because it was smaller than I like.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: URPOWER 500ml Essential Oil Diffuser-Yellow; Brand: URPOWER; Review: Didn't try it because it was larger than anticipated. Needed a small one; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ComfiLife Orthopedic Knee Pillow for Sciatica Relief, Back Pain, Leg Pain, Pregnancy, Hip and Joint Pain; Brand: ComfiLife; Review: The pillow is comfortable and works as expected. Bought 2.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: StoragePro Travel Space Saver Bags 12 Pack Roll Up Compression No Vacuum Needed Storage Bags for Luggage Clothes; Brand: StoragePro; Review: I have at least one that leaks, so, when I pack it, it's OK, but then it leaks and the items insider expand.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Best Western Plus The Connaught Hotel; City: Bournemouth Dorset England; Review: Lovely hotel close to Bournemouth International Centre, beaches and town centre. Slight drawback might be parking as the carpark is shared with the Connaught Lodge (on the same site). The staff were very attentive - even remembering we'd asked for extra butter on the first day and bringing us some with the toast!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Purdy Lodge; City: Belford Northumberland England; Review: A group of us stayed for 5 days. Staff couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. Food is excellent. Breakfast is freshly cooked and although the nine of us ordered different choices each day they never got it wrong. We stayed for dinner two nights both of which were excellent. The cafe, attached, also looked good but we didn't try that. Rooms had everything you needed. Not the most plush of hotels but excellent value. We didn't pay plush prices! Rooms were clean with lovely views across the fields and could just make out Bambrough castle. Better views from upstairs but our friends who were on the first floor said the water pressure in the shower wasn't great. We didn't have that problem on the ground floor. Although the hotel is situated on the main road, traffic noise was not a problem as all the bedrooms are at the back. 5 days wasn't long enough to visit this part of the world so we'll definitely be back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bakehouse B B; City: Seahouses Northumberland England; Review: Lovely property only just out of the centre of Seahouses. Owners are very friendly and helpful, even offering discounts at various tourist places and recommending places to visit and tours. Our room was lovely and the owners had thought of everything including a box of tissues and hot chocolate and lovely biscuits on the hospitality tray. It was very clean. There was also a small fridge in the room for our use and for the fresh milk for tea and coffee. The only downside for us was that the bathroom was really tiny but again it was very clean and unlike some 'posh' hotels there were towel rails even for the washbasin. Breakfast was large and delicious. It was freshly cooked and lasted us all day although packed lunches are also available on request. After our breakfast we didn't consider more than a coffee at lunchtime. Seahouses centre is a very easy walk away as is the harbour where you can book trips to the Farne Islands. We would definitely stay there again if we were in the area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel La Residence; City: Villeneuve sur Lot Lot et Garonne Nouvelle Aquitaine; Review: We were almost put off staying at this hotel. When we arrived we had over half an hour wait until we could check in so had plenty of time to look at the surrounding area which was very run-down. However, I am so glad we stayed. The receptionist was excellent, opening the garage for our classic car to reside during our stay and quickly allaying our fears that, although we'd paid for Dinner, Bed & Breakfast, there was no restaurant but our meal was booked in the restaurant across the road. We couldn't believe the meal we had for the money we'd paid. Excellent and probably the best of our trip. After our meal we took the short walk into the town for a firework display, as recommended by the same receptionist, as it was Heritage Weekend (Patrimoine). Breakfast can be taken at the hotel and again, we have no complaints at all. All in all an excellent stopover.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Musardiere; City: Giverny Eure Haute Normandie Normandy; Review: This is an old hotel just yards from the house and gardens of Claude Monet. The hotel is also a Creperie and has a large car park. Our room was on the second floor and there is no lift but the staircase was lovely. We had beautiful views across the fields surrounding Giverny. Wifi worked fine and there was everything we needed. The only downside in our room was that my bedside light only worked from the main light switch and I like to read after my OH has settled for the night and our floorboards were very creaky making it almost impossible to go to the bathroom during the night without disturbing your partner. However for a two star hotel it was excellent and we were allowed to leave our cars at the hotel whilst we visited Monets house and gardens. We had booked dinner as we arrived on a Sunday and most restaurants in the area were not open on Sunday evening and the food and service were both excellent. Breakfast the next morning was a few minutes late because the baker hadn't arrived with the bread and croissants but this wasn't a problem.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Les Hauts de Montreuil; City: Montreuil sur Mer Pas de Calais Hauts de France; Review: Booked 3 rooms with parking as we were all travelling in classic cars. We were later than we'd planned arriving but I rang en route to explain and it was no problem. A great many English people seem to stay at this hotel and although Madame didn't speak much English she speaks slower than most French people so I had no trouble understanding her. Other staff do speak English and we had quite a long chat with Simon half in French and half in English. He is very good and likes to practice his English while we always try to learn more French! The hotel itself is beautiful - an old building built around a courtyard where we sat for predinner drinks and also breakfast the following morning. It was extremely hot during our stay so lovely to be able to sit outside. Breakfast was good value and plentiful with a good variety of choices. Dinner was taken in Le Patio, the restaurant next door which is part of the hotel complex. We all enjoyed the food and nothing was too much trouble. Everything was done with a smile. Everyone of us said we would return to this hotel. Rooms are a good size and we all had a fridge too. Unusually for a French hotel there was also tea and coffee facilities in the rooms. I would definitely advise to book parking. It was well worth the extra cost and there is not much parking around the hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Novotel Lille Aeroport; City: Lesquin Lille Nord Hauts de France; Review: Booked this hotel for a one night stay en route to the ferry home with a group of friends. We were travelling in classic cars so parking on site was essential. The staff were very friendly and helpful and nothing seemed to phase them. We changed the complete booking once and then had to cancel one of the rooms just before we travelled as one of our friends was ill and advised not to go. Our rooms were excellent and quite large. There was a fridge for our use along with bottled water at no extra charge. The bar staff were helpful when we eventually found someone to serve us but they were also working in the restaurant. It wasn't a problem to us. Food in the restaurant was excellent along with the service. My OH head been worried that we might get noise from bring so close to the airport but this wasn't the case and we all had a good nights sleep. We didn't use the swimming pool simply because we would have had to travel home with wet costumes. We would definitely use this hotel again if in the area and would definitely recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Epinal Centre Ville; City: Epinal Vosges Grand Est; Review: Typical Ibis hotel with parking in the garage or car park. There is a steep ramp to the underground parking so although we had booked this for our group in classic cars we opted for the car park outside on arrival. The hotel is very centrally placed for the town centre but just far enough away for it to be quiet. Food is available at the hotel but our group opted to go into the town centre where we not only found a variety of restaurants but also a festival taking place with music, dancing and even fashion shows! Breakfast can be taken outside on the patio or in the restaurant and there is plenty of choice. We would definitely stay again if in the area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Bristol; City: Fagnieres Chalons en Champagne Marne Grand Est; Review: Hubby picked this hotel for a one night stay en route to the ferry. We were travelling in classic cars with a group of friends so booked garage parking too. We were all very impressed. Thee garage is accessible from within the hotel so it was easy to get luggage between the car and our room. Monsieur is a bit of a joker and doesn't quite have the grasp of English that Madame has but it was more than adequate for those in our party who didn't know French. Madame recommended a number of restaurants in the town and also gave us a voucher for one of them. She also told us of a light show that was on in the town and marked on a map the places we could see it. Unfortunately while we were in the restaurant the rain started and by the time we were ready to leave it was far too heavy to go and see the show. However, Madame had given us a card for the hotel the door code and a card for a taxi firm, all stapled together, and told us if we wanted a taxi to show the waiter and he would organise it for us. No problem there. Two of our friends had left earlier to catch the bus back and because it was raining so hard by the time they reached their stop he ignored the stop and dropped them at the hotel. They didn't dare contact the bus company to say how exceptional their service was in case he was sacked! Breakfast was excellent too. I've never seen such a huge variety in a French hotel before. We had some very fussy eaters with us but everyone found plenty of choice to eat. We all said we would definitely stay again if in the area and would definitely recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel la Truite Doree; City: Vers Lot Occitanie; Review: This is a family run hotel and is currently run by the 5th generation of the family. We stayed at La Truite Doree for 2 nights and had a fabulous time. It just wasn't long enough. We will definitely arrange our next trip to include this hotel again. From the minute we entererd reception we felt we were being pampered. Everyone was so helpful and friendly and if we struggled understanding the French that was no problem either as they would just switch to English. Many of our conversations were half French, half English! Our room was very clean with a separate shower room/toilet and a small balcony overlooking the river. It was very pleasant to sit out listening to the river flowing by and the clink from the nearby petanque game. We had booked demi pension (half board) and were told by another guest within a short time of arrival, how good the food was in the restaurant. On the Saturday night the whole restaurant was packed, not just with hotel guests but locals too. Sunday was only a little quieter. It was no surprise as the food and service were excellent, with a good and varied menu. The surrounding scenery is magnificent and it was great to sit under a tree by the bar with a drink, watching the swimmers in the pool area. The pool can only be accessed by a code so is safe for young families too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Red Lion Inn; City: Todwick Rotherham South Yorkshire England; Review: My OH and I stayed for two nights in January. The weather was very cold but we couldn’t have had a warmer welcome at check inn. The inn was warm and cosy throughout our stay. There are valves on the bedroom and bathroom radiators so you can adjust the temperature to suit your needs. Only two teabags and two sachets of coffee were provided each day but asking for more was not a problem. Our room was clean and large. Sufficient coat hangers were provided for our needs. We were advised to book a table for dinner and the restaurant was very busy on both evenings. The food choices and quality were excellent as was the service and prices. Everyone was very friendly and professional and we will certainly book again if in the area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Farberware 5080445 Classic 17-Piece Tool and Gadget Set; Brand: Farberware; Review: quality. Bought as a gift and my sister loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle Milton - Lightshow DJ; Brand: Uncle Milton; Review: great gift for the price; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney Frozen Lunch Kit, Pink; Brand: Disney; Review: very cute lunch box and has really held up!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney Frozen Kids Room Darkening Window Curtain Panel, 42" X 63", Pink; Brand: Disney; Review: great product, great price; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vandor 15189 John Wayne 13.5" Cordless Wood Wall Clock, Multicolor; Brand: B000J230IS; Review: very cheap quality and does not even keep time; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Rubbermaid 2547CPDIM 40 Gallon Roughtote Jumbo Storage Box; Brand: Rubbermaid; Review: GREAT PRODUCT; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Conair PRODog Pet-It for Dog; Brand: Conair; Review: My dog did not mind this at all. It was cute... gave a little massage and worked the shampoo in good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo; Brand: Earthbath; Review: love this shampoo. My go to shampoo for my pets - I really like the smell of this one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gulpy Jr. Water Dispenser for Pet, 10-Ounce; Brand: Gulpy; Review: Great product ... Everyone should have one of these .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Loving Pets Metallic Bella Bowl; Brand: Loving Pets; Review: Cute bowls but ... if your dog is sensitive to noise. I bought these for food bowls and they just make to much noise when putting food in the bowl. I now use them as water bowls so they don't just sit in storage but I really need a bigger bowl for water. Not crazy about how they are made either. The inside of the bowl seems it's very cheaply made.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Pro Pet Works Natural Oatmeal Dog Shampoo; Brand: Pro Pet Works; Review: Smells great, works great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nylabone Dura Chew X Bone Beef Flavored Dog Chew Toy; Brand: Nylabone; Review: Got this for a small puppy. Very small chew toy. I thought it would of been a tiny bit bigger but it did the job.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grriggles Plush Unstuffies Dog Toy; Brand: Grriggles; Review: Not as good as other un stuffed toys I have purchased. This one has a hole in it already and it hasn't been a month and only has been played with not even a handful of times and that's with gentle play. Disappointing due to this toy was not cheap!; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Out of Control (The Kincaid Brides Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Connealy Page; Review: I bought this book as a freebie. I had not heard of the author, but I am interested in Christian Western Romance novels and it was free, so why not, right? Well, I could hardly put it down. As soon as I finished Out of Control, I had to read the next book in the series. It was engaging, funny, adventurous, romantic and imaginative. I rarely find such scientific interest in historical novels, but it was a good change of pace. The plotline is fun to imagine and the characters interact hilariously together. I was thrilled with this series and highly recommend it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Christmas; Author: Visit Amazon's Diane Moody Page; Review: This is one of my absolute favorite books to read and re-read. It is a feel-good inspirational romance with hilarious laugh out loud moments. I have re-read this book many times just to escape into the fantasy where the teen heartthrob notices an ordinary girl and chooses her over all the others. And of course, if that heartthrob also has high moral standards and Christian beliefs, so much the better. I recommend it to any girl who had a crush on a celebrity and wished to be noticed, appreciated and loved as his chosen gal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Homely Girl (The Bancrofts); Author: Visit Amazon's Brenda Barrett Page; Review: I was hoping to love this book. Sadly, it is a very bittersweet tale. The story includes many difficult memories from April's growing up years. These memories help develop the back story and the relationship between Taj and April, but they are not exactly romantic fairy-tale dreamy moments. And the memories do not fill in all the events of how the Taj and April of the past become the Taj and April of the present story. So I was left expecting somehow the dream would come true and the rest of the story would be fulfilling, told with sigh-worthy romance and a strong inspiring finish, but alas I was disappointed. The story doesn't build in a way that the characters end up at the place in life that I hoped they would achieve. It isn't just a surprise ending with a oddly satisfying end, rather it was a surprise ending with an bewildering and frustrating end.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Memory Jar (Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors); Author: Visit Amazon's Tricia Goyer Page; Review: The Memory Jar is more than an Amish love story, though it includes those wonderful sigh-worthy romantic moments too. It is a story about life circumstances beyond our control, cherished dreams we hope come true, how to cope with struggles and look forward to a bright future, and how loved ones impact who we are. It includes painful memories as well as joyful and peaceful memories. The characters enjoy creating new memories and cherishing old memories. And this story is a fabulous journey of love, loss, joy and heartache, with peaceful resolution. Yes, it is a beautifully told story of Amish people and love. I highly recommend this book for fun reading as well as personal growth.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Christmas Rayne; Author: Visit Amazon's Joi Copeland Page; Review: Grab a cup of cocoa, or better yet a peppermint mocha, and cozy up in your favorite reading spot. This book is a fabulous story about love, loss, heartache and loneliness, forgiveness and peace. I could not put it down. I hope there is a sequel, because I just cannot get enough of these characters. And even though it is August, I am in the mood to decorate my tree, hang white twinkle lights and sing Christmas Carols. This story will get you in the mood for Christmas and Joy to the World!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twice Loved; Author: Visit Amazon's Wanda E. Brunstetter Page; Review: Twice Loved is a sweet holiday story of recovering after loss and healing through peace and love. It has the warmth of Christmas memories and traditions, the history of a country recovering from war, and genuine Christian values for the whole family. Twice Loved is also a sweet love story. It is not an intense plotline or filled with suspense, like some of Wanda's other books. Rather it is a gentle story with genuine characters and real heartaches. Wanda walks us through the healing process and delivers a great story of love after loss and healing after heartache. I also like the extra pages of historical facts and war-time recipes. I look forward to trying many of the recipes. And my Christmas celebration will mean more since I have been reminded that not long ago our country faced Christmas very differently and had to struggle through war-torn Christmas celebrations. Thanks to the soldiers, their families and the country standing behind them, we can celebrate freely and fully. Merry Christmas! And I highly recommend reading Twice Loved as a family Christmas tradition!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: First Date; Author: Visit Amazon's Krista McGee Page; Review: I absolutely love this book. It is a wonderful blend of Queen Esther from the Bible and the fairy tale Cinderella. Every girl deserves to be loved for who she is. Krista McGee tells a dreamy story of Addy, an average Christian girl, who is given the opportunity of a lifetime. Through the story, we follow Addy through the ups and downs of teenage life, romance, becoming an instant celebrity, and being a real Christian in a non-Christian world. I loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Five Unnecessaries: Book 1 of the 27th Protector Series (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Laura Campbell Page; Review: I just finished "The Five Unnecessaries" by Laura Campbell. WOW! I LOVED it. If you like Dee Henderson, I highly recommend this book. It has the action and adventure, with some nice clean romance. It is dystopian like Hunger Games, but it weaves God into the story in a beautiful way. I just loved it. The book does not have a cliffhanger ending. It did engross me so completely that I really want to find out what happens next, and I am thrilled that book 2 is available. I am looking forward to reading the whole series and then reading it again with my kids. As a family, we loved reading Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, the Rangers Apprentice, and Chronicles of Narnia series. This is going to fit into that list beautifully as we dive deeper into action adventure but also tackle tough topics about reality together. I am really looking forward to the rest of the series and the family time that is coming with it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rugged and Relentless (Husbands for Hire); Author: Visit Amazon's Kelly Eileen Hake Page; Review: Rugged and Relentless is a fun mail order bride style novel. It explores the question, what happens when four independent women live in a culture primarily controlled by men? Thankfully, Kelly Eileen Hake adds wonderful humor and loveable personality to each character. She has a gift for taking a semi-controversial topic and exploring it from many angles, while adding fun and adventure. Rugged and Relentless is book 1 in the series. It does not have a cliffhanger ending. It can be read as a stand alone book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hyatt Regency Boston; City: Boston Massachusetts; Review: We stayed two nights at this well located Boston Hotel. Positive points are: cordial and easy check-in, clean room, attractive common areas and comfortable beds and pillows. The negatives: minimal toiletries, no shower caps, etc., no hair dryer in bathroom...found it in the closet, minimal number of towels...2 bath towels ( we were three people in the room), handle on the shower fell off, no free/complimentary wifi in guest rooms only the common area, no mattress pads on beds. If you want a shower cap, mouthwash, sewing kit, etc, you must call guest services. The lighting in the bathroom is not great. I do understand they are using energy efficient bulbs, I do support that, however a lighted make up mirror would be very nice as well as having the hair dryer in the bathroom. As I said, the location is convenient to South Station, the financial district as well as theaters.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Oxford House Inn; City: Fryeburg Maine; Review: We spent two nights in this delightful, warm, inviting country inn. Our room was lovely with lots of windows, comfortable bed, nice couch for sitting and reading, and flat screen TV to check the news! There is WiFi available at no cost. The breakfast room is wonderful with a view of the mountain range and bird feeders to keep you mesmerized as you enjoy a fabulous breakfast. Breakfast is included in your room stay. Choices include eggs, Maine blueberry pancakes, fruit, toast, bacon, sausage, juice and coffee. Local products are evident in most items. If that isn't enough...wait until you try dinner. There are two venues to choose from...the beautiful dining rooms on the first floor complete with gas fireplace and candlelight. We chose to eat in the downstairs pub-like setting called Jonathan's. Exposed stone foundation, lovely artwork by locals cover the walls, comfortable seating and a small bar make this spot most inviting. Now for the food...what a treat. The menu created by chef/ owner Jonathan Spak is amazing. Fresh local vegetables, superb meats and seafood are all available. Educated at the Culinary Institute of America, Jonathan creativity is most evident. The waitstaff is very knowledgeable and can guide diners through the many choices. This spot is not to be missed when in the Fryeburg area. Jonathan and his wife, Natalie have created a top notch inn.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Country Inn Suites by Radisson Kingsland GA; City: Kingsland Georgia; Review: We stayed here on our return trip from Florida. The location was ideal...right off the highway. Check in was efficient enough but the rest of our stay was well below average. The room was not clean. It looked drab and dingy. The door leading into the bathroom had something splashed on it which was dried but I shutter to think of what it was. Our room was handicapped accessible, though we did not require that accommodation it was one of the few rooms available. The bathroom was what you would expect for this type of accessibility however there was virtually no space to accommodate toiletries, etc due to the fact that there was no vanity, not even a low one for a wheelchair. The only thing to put those items on was a shower chair in the corner which did not look particularly clean. I would not recommend this chain based on our stay. Perhaps other locations are better but we would not use this chain again. No comparisons to Hampton Inns or Holiday Inn Express.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Baymont by Wyndham Kingsland; City: Kingsland Georgia; Review: We stopped after a long day of driving only to find that the Hampton Inn and La Quinta Inn was sold out. The Baymont parking lot was empty so I went in to check availability. The girl at the desk was very pleasant. She said accommodations were limited. The only room on the first floor was a smoking room...why in this day and age they would permit smoking is beyond me. Our only other option was a second floor room. No elevator...my husband is handicapped with respiratory disease but I had no alternative but to take the room. Our room was sparsely furnished, the only chair was a desk chair. The room looked worn and very dusty. The linens looked rumpled and the sheets looked a shade of grey. The plastic box that held the tissues was filthy. Breakfast was marginal at best. Cannot compare to the other hotel chains up and down Route 95. The employees smoke right outside the main entrance and the walkway in that area is littered with cigarette butts. I would not recommend this place, though I cannot speak for other Wyndham facilities.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Driftwood Motel; City: Holmes Beach Anna Maria Island Florida; Review: We spent four nights at this little gem of a motel at the end of our five week vacation to Anna Maria Island. Patty, the owner, could not have been more accommodating. The units are immaculate and have every amenity you could need including a full refrigerator, gas stove with oven, microwave, toaster oven, toaster, blender, dishes, pots, pans, silverware, glassware...all look brand new. The beds were very comfortable, the AC unit worked perfectly, plenty of towels which could be replenished daily if you desire. The heated swimming pool was beautifully maintained with lovely umbrella tables and chairs and lounges. There is even a gas grill available for guests to use. This little gem is a step back in time with truly a feeling of home. Thank you Patty for a wonderful stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Hobbit; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: This box set is a GREAT box set, But this box set is being clouded because there are millions of reviews about the WRONG set!!! This is the Houghton Mifflin set with the ALAN LEE artwork! But all these bad reviews are for the BALLENTINE [[ASIN:0345340426 J.R.R. Tolkien Boxed Set (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)] set, Not the HOUGHTON MIFFLIN set so I will set the record straight!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hobbit; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: This box set is a GREAT box set, But this box set is being clouded because there are millions of reviews about the WRONG set!!! This is the Houghton Mifflin set with the ALAN LEE artwork! But all these bad reviews are for the BALLENTINE [[ASIN:0345340426 J.R.R. Tolkien Boxed Set (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)] set, Not the HOUGHTON MIFFLIN set so I will set the record straight!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy - (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Return of the Ring, The Two; Author: Visit Amazon's J.R.R Tolkien Page; Review: This box set is a GREAT box set, But this box set is being clouded because there are millions of reviews about the WRONG set!!! This is the Houghton Mifflin set with the ALAN LEE artwork! But all these bad reviews are for the BALLENTINE [[ASIN:0345340426 J.R.R. Tolkien Boxed Set (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)] set, Not the HOUGHTON MIFFLIN set so I will set the record straight!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Boxed Set of 4 Books; Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: This box set is a GREAT box set, But this box set is being clouded because there are millions of reviews about the WRONG set!!! This is the Houghton Mifflin set with the ALAN LEE artwork! But all these bad reviews are for the BALLENTINE [[ASIN:0345340426 J.R.R. Tolkien Boxed Set (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)] set, Not the HOUGHTON MIFFLIN set so I will set the record straight!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings Part 1); Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. R. Tolkien Page; Review: This box set is a GREAT box set, But this box set is being clouded because there are millions of reviews about the WRONG set!!! This is the Houghton Mifflin set with the ALAN LEE artwork! But all these bad reviews are for the BALLENTINE [[ASIN:0345340426 J.R.R. Tolkien Boxed Set (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)] set, Not the HOUGHTON MIFFLIN set so I will set the record straight!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Captain, My Earl (A Hold Your Breath Novel) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's K.J. Jackson Page; Review: This is my K.J. Jackson book. I like when there are other books written about other characters in the story. I loved the storyline on the ship. I love stories aboard ship and at sea. I had hoped there was a little more of the story of Jason and what lead him to be taken. But maybe some of that was in the other book? Katalin is a very believable character, and even though the romance was early on it was believable too. It reminded me of a Kathleen Woodiwiss book from years ago!! I hope Ms. Jackson writes more like this one. It was emotionally real too. I found myself almost tearing up a couple of times. I did guess her secret pretty early on, but the twists in the story are great!! A great read that is very hard to put down. I loved it!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Stuart Weitzman Women's 5050 Over-the-Knee Boot; Brand: ; Review: comfortable, beautiful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clarks Women's Halia Perch Boot; Brand: ; Review: I like it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nautica Big Boys' Long-Sleeve Solid Button Neck Cable Sweater; Brand: ; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stride Rite SRTech PS Scooter Sandal (Toddler/Little Kid); Brand: ; Review: not goodlooking; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clarks Women's Daelyn Villa Flat; Brand: ; Review: so comfortable; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Otium Bluetooth; Brand: Otium; Review: Not bad quality for the price. They are no BOSE but they are also inexpensive. They work great on a run and don't fall out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Syba USB 3.0 Dual Hard Drive SATA II Docking Station CL-ENC50038; Brand: Syba; Review: Worked on the very first attempt. Plugged in my old hard drive, plugged in my new one and away it went. An hour later I was swapping the hard drives out in my pc. Saved me 100.00 to not have someone else clone it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Strongrr New Premium Multipurpose 38-Piece Precision Tools Kit for Laptop Computer PC Electronics Disassembly Repair Tool Set; Brand: Strongrr; Review: It has everything you need. It has smaller torqes than I knew they made. Great thing to turned out I needed them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mcsher 300pcs Laptop Notebook Screws Kit Set For IBM HP Dell Lenovo SAMSUNG Sony Toshiba Gateway; Brand: Mcsher; Review: This was a great price for what you get. Lots of screws with a legend under the cover. Great deal!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aleph DC-1561 W Surface Mount Alarm Magnetic Contact Package of 10; Brand: Aleph; Review: They work as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bingle Cusions Quietcomfort 15 Ear Pads for Bose QC15 QC25 QC35 Ae2 Ae2i Ae2w Around Ear Headphones Earpads and Inner; Brand: BINGLE; Review: Like a perfect replacement of the original part. My old ones were starting to wear out and would leave black specs all around my ears. I bought these and changed them out in less than 5 minutes. No Tools required.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: StarTech.com Thunderbolt 3 Cable - 6 ft / 2m - 4K 60Hz - 20Gbps; Brand: StarTech; Review: The cable is super fast. Pay attention to get the 40 gHz cable not the 20 like many sellers try and sell. Star Tech is a great company and I have bought many different items from them in the past. There tech support is out of this world!. Cable worked great just like every product I buy from them. The cost is a little high for a cable but worth it. Star Tech had the best price for the cable that I found from Amazon sellers for a 6 Foot Thunderbolt 3 cable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Disney Princess: My FairyTale Adventure - Nintendo 3DS; Brand: by
Disney Interactive Studios; Review: The kids loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Super Mario Galaxy; Brand: by
Nintendo; Review: No issues. Received the item in a timely manner.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JINHEZO Wired Infrared Ray Sensor Bar; Brand: JINHEZO; Review: Works great! The stand works well with my TV set up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SimCity Creator - Nintendo Wii; Brand: by
Electronic Arts; Review: Different from previous SimCity games. Works better on a PC due to having to use the wii controller to make straight lines for roads and whatnot. Sometimes going between screens can take a while and slow the game down even more.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dawn of Discovery - Nintendo Wii; Brand: by
Ubisoft; Review: I love it and the kids love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Video_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Why is Giancarlo Stanton on the Yankees' playoff roster?; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Boxer Patrick Day dies after suffering traumatic brain injury in super welterweight fight; Abstract: Boxer Patrick Day, 27, died on Wednesday after being knocked out against Charles Conwell on Saturday. He had surgery and had been in a coma.; Category: sports
Title: Trump, in Texas, bashes Democrats as 'crazy,' unpatriotic; Abstract: DALLAS (AP) President Donald Trump tried to turn impeachment rancor into a political rallying cry Thursday, using a Texas rally to bash Democrats as "crazy" and unpatriotic as they push forward with their investigations.; Category: news
Title: Freshman Georgia Southern offensive lineman Jordan Wiggins dies at 18; Abstract: Georgia Southern freshman offensive lineman Jordan Wiggins has died. He was 18 years old.; Category: sports
Title: Why Early Sport Specialization Brings Career-Ending Injury for Many Kids; Abstract: With year-round leagues, baseball camps, and private coaching, kids are playing and throwing more than ever.; Category: health
Title: Marine Corps vet who served in Iraq deported to El Salvador; Abstract: Jose Segovia-Benitez, a 38-year-old Marine Corps combat veteran who served in Iraq, was deported to El Salvador - a country where he hasn't lived since he was a toddler - on Wednesday.; Category: news
Title: In A Reversal, Joe Biden Wants A Super PAC; Abstract: Vice President Joe Biden's campaign said Thursday it would welcome help from a super PAC, a total reversal from Biden's stance at the beginning of the campaign and a decision reflecting his diminished standing in the race. Many Democrats view super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited sums and often rely on checks of tens of thousands of dollars from wealthy donors for funding, as a malignant force that represents a big-money era of...; Category: news
Title: Tony Parker to head up sports division of financial firm in new SA office; Abstract: Tony Parker has been recruited to head up the sports, artists, and entertainment division for global advisory firm NorthRock Partners.; Category: finance
Title: Fact check: Trump falsely claims his 2000 book demanded the killing of Osama bin Laden; Abstract: After announcing the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, President Donald Trump on Sunday took questions from journalists -- and made a major false claim about his past statements on Osama bin Laden.; Category: news
Title: Fox News contributor: 'Most likely' outcome is Trump doesn't run in 2020; Abstract: Fox News contributor Christopher Hahn predicted that President Trump will not run for reelection in 2020.; Category: news
Title: Divers Find Giant Mysterious 'Egg' Floating In Ocean; Abstract: A team of divers set off to explore a sunken World War II ship off the Norwegian coast, but what they found was something far more mysterious. While making their way back to shore, Ronald Raasch, Nils Baadness and Brynjar Aarnseth came face-to-face with a giant floating orb. The bubble hovered 17 meters (56 feet) below the surface and appeared to be see-through. The divers turned their flashlights on it and realized that the sphere was filled...; Category: lifestyle
Title: President Donald Trump greeted with boos at Game 5 of World Series, fans chant 'lock him up'; Abstract: President Donald Trump was greeted with a thunderous chorus of boos from the sold-out crowd of baseball fans at Nationals Park.; Category: news
Title: President Donald Trump greeted with boos at Game 5 of World Series, fans chant 'lock him up'; Abstract: President Donald Trump was greeted with a thunderous chorus of boos from the sold-out crowd of baseball fans at Nationals Park.; Category: news
Title: Subtle Signs You May Have Clogged Arteries; Abstract: These surprising clues can point to clogged arteries and underlying heart disease.; Category: health
Title: Napoleon Bonaparte's general believed unearthed in Russia; Abstract: A one-legged skeleton unearthed by a team of archaeologists is believed to be one of Napoleon Bonaparte's generals, Charles-Etienne Gudin, according to a French historian and former soldier.; Category: news
Title: Sessions wins endorsement from key GOP senators; Abstract: Eleven Senate Republicans Friday endorsed former Attorney General Jeff Sessions in his bid to regain the Senate seat in Alabama that he held for two decades, bucking a White House that has frowned on him running again.; Category: news
Title: 19 Silent Signs of Lung Cancer You Need to Be Aware Of; Abstract: From loss of appetite to overwhelming fatigue, here are some lung cancer symptoms that everyone should be on the lookout for.; Category: health
Title: 19 Silent Signs of Lung Cancer You Need to Be Aware Of; Abstract: From loss of appetite to overwhelming fatigue, here are some lung cancer symptoms that everyone should be on the lookout for.; Category: health | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Shooterpads Gel Filled Recoil Pads; Brand: Shooterpads; Review: The gel pad is exactly like the keyboard and mouse gel pads I have in my office. I got one and switched it among my Mosin Nagant 7.62X54R using 203 grain bullets, 12 guage double barrel and 20 guage. None of the guns gave my 8-year old or me any pain at all! It is not heavy-duty, so I wouldn't recommend it for backwoods hunting, but it is a great pain killer at the shooting range!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Umarex XBG 2254804 CO2 Powered .177 Caliber Steel BB Air Gun Pistol; Brand: Umarex; Review: Excellent price for so much fun. Trigger pull is close to actual 40 caliber pistol. Very accurate at 20 yards.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beretta Elite II, S&W M&P & Crosman C11 BB Mag, 19-Shot Stick, 2/Pack; Brand: Umarex; Review: Work just as good as the original.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Terramar Thermasilk Glove Liner; Brand: Terramar; Review: Absolutely perfect for typing in a very cold office environment! The XL is a perfect fit for my over-sized hands and allow for accurate typing at brisk speeds. If your arthritic fingers need a warm-up, these are a great solution!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DESMIIT Men's Compression Running Tights Pants; Brand: DESMIIT; Review: Great for keeping the sun off at the beach.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ohuhu Men's 3D Padded Bike Bicycle MTB Cycling Underwear Shorts; Brand: Ohuhu; Review: Better than plain undies, but not the super-thick gel I'd prefer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: MKS Deep Steel Toeclips; Brand: MKS; Review: Best deal on metal toeclips. First 25-mile ride was excellent!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Disney's World: A Biography; Author: Visit Amazon's Leonard Mosley Page; Review: The book was easy to read and shows the many different sides to this complex man, and it fairly shows both the business side of things and his family side as well. I had hoped for a few more pictures, but was still enthralled with the book. As a member of the Disney Company, I am constantly looking for more information on the man behind this multi-mass-media empire. I recommend the book to anyone who isn't looking for the sugar-coated version of this brilliant man's life.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Disney Version: The Life, Times, Art and Commerce of Walt Disney (Blue Hardcover 1968 Printing, Second Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Schickel Page; Review: The book is definitly an in depth coverage of what happened in the early years of the Disney company, but it's definitly more of a history of the company than a biography of Walt.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: More Mouse Tales: A Closer Peek Backstage at Disneyland; Author: Visit Amazon's David Koenig Page; Review: This sequel picks right off where the first one left off. It's packed with stories of Walt, as well as the many things that we as cast members deal with when "handling" the general public. Don't forget that we as cast members are human, and like to play with the public too! (As more than shown in both of the books.) I loved these books, and being a cast member of the company myself, it makes me smile to think that not only does the average American check his/her brain at the door when they visit us at our site, but they check it when they enter that enchanted wonderland as well!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mouse Tales: A Behind-the-Ears Look at Disneyland: Golden Anniversary Special Edition (Hardcover Book with Audio CD); Author: Art Linkletter; Review: For anyone who is a fan of Disney anything, such as myself, this is a great book. It's packed with stories of the brilliant Walt himself, and all the quirky things he would have cast members do before opening the park for the day, as well as there are cast member stories of all the shenangans that guests would do and rituals that you never get to know when you are inside the "Magic Kingdom". I adored the book and it's sequel, and being a cast member of the company myself, it makes me smile to think that not only does the average American check his/her brain at the door when they visit us at our site, but they check it when they enter that enchanted wonderland as well! The book is a great read and is filled with many humorous moments from the park's history.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Bride (Fox): S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure; Author: Visit Amazon's William Goldman Page; Review: I was first subjected to this movie in Junior High (I'm showing my age now...), and didn't really appreciate it until college when it was (and still is among my friends and I) one of the most quoted movies of all time. The story is great, with princesses, knights in shining armor, a prince who's ego is obviously making up for lacking something in life...revenge, pirates, laughs, the whole nine yards. Truly one of the greatest stories around. Oh, and who knew that the gangly guy who was out to revenge his father's death would spawn one of the best lines in movie history? Hallo...my name is Inigo Montoya...you killed my father...prepare to die... May the Princess Bride live on for generations to come!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Ludlum Page; Review: Matt Damon...need I say much more? In all honesty, my sister is the big Matt Damon fan...I went because face it...he's not hard to watch...plus I had seen the previews with that awesome car chase scene. Granted, I'm sure it's not a amazingly awesome car scene compared to others (as I was told by my brother), but as far as this movie goer goes...it was great. Overall a good plot line, it was definitly funny to see Damon's character over analyze a few things when the girl he's with can get it done a lot faster just by asking. Definitly worth watching.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson; Author: Visit Amazon's Mitch Albom Page; Review: I was required to read this my senior year in college, and was dreading starting the rather large stack required for this class. I started in on some boring book about what I can't remember and decided I needed a break from the monotony. I picked up this book and for the rest of the afternoon, I could NOT put it down. The book shows you how you should learn to appreciate the little things in life, like being able to tie your own shoes, and having control over your day to day bodily duties (ie: showering, using the bathroom etc etc), as well as live your life to it's fullest! Don't let a day go by where you find at least one happy thing somewhere, it doesn't matter what it is...there are bigger issues in life to worry about than if your sweater shrank in the dryer! Imagine having to have someone wipe your butt! (I'm quoting the book here...) Do you think that anyone is really ready for that to happen once we are old enough to do it for ourselves? I have recommended this to numerous people and have given it as gifts to many others. A great book that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Find Me; Author: Visit Amazon's Rosie O'Donnell Page; Review: I actually listened to the book on tape due to the fact that I am in my car waaaay too much. I had the unabridged version, and I just didn't like the way that the book flowed. It jumped from place to place way too much and I thought the book was going to be more about her and her life rather than this fictional character.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Notebook; Author: Nicholas Sparks; Review: I absolutely love to read any of Nicholas Sparks' books, and I have read just about all of them as far as I know. But, this one is by far and away, the best of his work. Now, onto the movie...I loved how the people of Hollywood stayed very true to Sparks' book 'A Walk To Remember' (see my review for that too), and was pleased to see that they did the same for this movie for the most part as well. Without giving away the ending for those of you who haven't seen it, Hollywood left no room for following The Notebook with it's sequel 'The Wedding' at some later point in time. I was very impressed with how they brought these characters to the screen, and how they seemed to be jumping right off the page. This is DEFINITLY a tear-jerker, even if you have read the book. I saw it twice in the theatre with two different groups of friends, and was SOBBING at the end of both showings...and passing out Kleenex to everyone around me. A definite must see and will be gleefully added to my DVD collection the day it hits shelves!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Confessions of a Prep School Mommy Handler: A Memoir; Author: Visit Amazon's Wade Rouse Page; Review: I related to this book a little too well, from the standpoint of being a "handler". After working 4 years of high end baby retail, I can only imagine how much worse some of my clients would have been with pre-schoolers instead of burgeoning preggo bellies. Wade details the daily struggle to find the politically correct way to deal with the ladies who lunch all the while, having to hide who he truly is, and essentially live a double life. I so applaud him for taking the steps to leave "Tate Academy" and stay true to himself and Gary. I love that this book reminded me that "it's just a job" and that it doesn't define you. YOU define you, and you should be happy with who that is, no matter what the paycheck. WELL DONE Wade!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream: Misadventures in Search of the Simple Life; Author: Visit Amazon's Wade Rouse Page; Review: I took up this and 2 other of Wade's books on a recommendation of another fav author, and have not been disappointed! I started with this book, and w/in the first 20 pages, I knew I had found a new favorite author. Wade recounts tales of he and Gary moving to the Michigan countryside along with flashbacks of childhood in the moving tale of how he finally pushed himself to write full time. His stories of how he "helped" Gary in the yard, and in his, ahem, "gardening clothes" is one that will stick with me for a while...and giggle to no end. All in all, finding oneself is definitely the overarching theme, and we all should be reminded that no matter how big or small, minuscule or grandiose, our dreams are OUR DREAMS and you should never forget to reach for them. Thanks for the reminder Wade...; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Star Realms: Deckbuilding Game; Brand: White Wizard Games; Review: While a "fun" game, StarRealms is a far cry from many average+ gamers expectations. Average+ gamers know what I mean. Basically, if the last game you played was Monopoly then this might seem new and exciting. But, to those of you familiar with Magic the gathering, Mage Wars, Netrunner, etc, this game just sucks mechanically (and strategically). Basically, draw 5 cards, tally up the results and draw 5 more. The game practically plays itself. You can purchase new cards as the game plays and add them to your deck but there is NO strategy in doing so as the randomness of your draw (and the randomness of the cards for purchase) pretty much guarantees you'll never be able to truly "build" a deck. The one good thing about the game? It's GREAT for trying to seduce people into "gaming" (I.e. Those Monopoly players I mentioned earlier...); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mage Knight Board Game; Brand: NECA; Review: One of my top 5. I'm an average "gamer" (usually one game a week of anything from King of Tokyo to BattleLore to Lord of the rings LCG, etc) and this I play with the GF who, bravely, took on the task of learning it with me. she's not necessarily a "gamer" but had been a good sport with previous games I'd bought. I knew MageKnight was going to be daunting but she and I went for it. Not only was it not TOO bad to learn but it turned out to be absolutely incredible to play. What I found interesting about the rules is that they were many, sure - but they made sense! For example, how things change at night (when placing new tokens on newly explored hexes you do not reveal them as you would during the day unless you land on them, I.e it's dark and you'd be unable to "case" the place like you would in the daylight). MageKnight combines pretty much any kind of game type you can think of; CoOp, Race to "win"...even PvP, like no other. Mechanically it uses multiple game elements; deck building, resource management, RPG (exploring, leveling characters, etc) and combines them all perfectly. It's the most RPG like BOARD game I have ever played. I honestly feel like I'm on some kind of quest to explore and getting stronger along the way. We've played the game many times since the beginning and it always strikes me as ironic that when we "just wanna play something" we reach for this heffer instead of dominoes, ha! It's THAT intriguing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Asmodee Kemet; Brand: Asmodee; Review: EDIT: updated review. The game utilizes a number of mechanics: - "Deck building" (More appropriately, "Tile building". Red tiles are for attacking, blue tiles for defense and white for resource management or sometimes referred to as "tech" I.e paying less for tiles, upgrading pyramids, etc.). - Area control. Where this game shines however is that it's not simply based on who has the most number of units. Battle cards and divine intervention cards can make the smallest troops victorious. Even if you lose you'll likely go down fighting and take many of the enemy units with you possibly weakening their hold and allowing you to immediately come back in and take over. - "Management resource". Using 5 tokens you take turns assigning actions. Used two of your tokens to move early on in the round and want to move again to attack a weak opponent? Too bad! You'll have to wait until the next round - or maybe they saved up their moves and are coming for you??. You can also pray (acquire prayer points - the one and only currency of the game that allows you to buy things and take certain actions), improve your pyramids, buy tiles etc. All of this and more in order to be the one player with 8 victory points at the end of the day. The game is very easy to learn and the rule book is probably one of the best I've ever seen. Though a few tiles might require some follow up Google searching for clarification, overall you won't need to worry about your first game being a complete, confusing mess.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lords of Waterdeep: Scoundrels of Skullport Expansion Board Game; Brand: Wizards of the Coast; Review: I'm usually quite skeptical of expansions. But, being a fanboy of the Lords of Waterdeep core game (it's one of the best games out there to be honest - if you like worker placement/euro style games) I kind of felt I "had" to buy the expansion. Guess what? You HAVE to buy this expansion. It's absolutely essential. It brings an intelligent and logical series of additional rules/mechanics that make an already good game, great. I never really felt anything was lacking from the core game in the sense that, "oh boy, this is only mildly playable but lacks a lot...guess an expansion will be coming soon..." Which is my main complaint about a lot of expansions (play Lord of the Rings:LCG to understand how a core game lacks key components to fully flesh it out). However, this expansion will make you wonder how you ever got along without it (it's that good - but doesn't feel like "a fix" to the core game). Buy it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Asmodee Jamaica; Brand: Asmodee; Review: Fun, light game. The production value is off the charts. Probably one of the most visually striking games out there (if the island could somehow be 3 dimensional to some extent it would be jaw dropping). My only complaint is that my gaming group wants to play it ALL THE TIME, ha! Getting a little tired of it, actually. No seriously, my REAL complaint is that the game can drag when people are only rolling low #s on the dice. While this may seem like a rare occurrence, I've found that it happens in just about every game at some point. Very very rarely has anyone ever shot forward so far and so fast that everyone waited with bated breath to see if someone could catch up (pretty much whoever crosses the line first is going to win). Instead, everyone always seems to be going around the board at the same pace. Of course this lends itself to many battles being waged and for some that's what it's all about. A game I would definitely add to any gaming library.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Castles of Mad King Ludwig; Brand: Bezier Games; Review: If ever there was a game that NEEDS an expansion, this is it. Would love to see more outdoor/garden tiles but also it needs to expand its max # of players. I would love to see it grow to include as many as 6 players. At any rate, this is a leisurely tile laying game (think Carccassone) that incorporates a sort of bidding function in that you place new values on rooms after each turn. It's not a robust game but that doesn't make it "bad". In fact, it's one of those rare games that satisfies a certain gaming itch; you don't want a short, mindless, filler game (think Zombie Dice) but you also don't want an intense, complicated marathon game either (think Mage Knight). One of the top 5 games we go to and we have a lot of games!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Arcane Wonders Sheriff of Nottingham; Brand: Arcane Wonders; Review: You get from this game what you put into it. Mechanically, it's easy and intuitive. It's a great "party game". However. All of this is dependent upon you, the players. If you play this with a group of introverted people you'll get bored fast. a big part of the "fun" is determined by the interactions of the merchants and the Sheriff. here is an example of when you might think the game sucks; Player - "I have three apples" Sheriff - "ok" Here is an example of when you'll love his game; Player (in loud British accent) - "My good Sheriff!! Another fine day at the market! Chickens didn't do so well for me last week so I've expanded my wares and have entered the apple market! You look famished, good sir! Please, take these coins as payment for your pleasant services and timely acceptance of my passage through the gate (with my 4 apples!), and buy yourself some libation! My treat!" Sheriff - "oh hi ho ho!!! 4 Apples you say then?! I do believe I hear a peculiar clucking coming from your cart???!" And so on. It's a good game. Just don't play with...umm..."sad sacks"? Other then that, my only actual complaint with the game itself are the cheap CHEAP pouches that come with the game. You WILL break the snaps. Period. They'll pull right out. It's a guarantee.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 7 Wonders; Brand: Asmodee; Review: It's not a "bad" game but I have to say I was a little surprised by how basic It turned out to be. It's purely a "card drafting" game in that you choose one card from those in your hand and then pass your remaining cards to the player to your left. You get the remaining cards from the player's hand to your right. THAT'S IT! You do this 6 times x 3 (three stages -or rounds- in the game). You're trying to set yourself up to earn the most victory points (VPs) at the end. This includes "building your wonder" which is simply dedicating resources (and three cards) to the historic site randomly chosen at the beginning of the game. I strongly agree that the satisfaction of "building a civilization" just isn't there. Probably the most upsetting thing about this game is that it's easy to learn...but hard to teach. Games that incorporate symbols as rules reminders are great for gamers but if you dump these cards out in the table at a party with casual gamers they are going to instantly be turned off by it. It "looks" complicated enough to be daunting. Then you learn it and play it and realize that you kind of wish that complexity it appeared to have initially...was there. Personally, I'd go for Seasons instead.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dead of Winter; Brand: Plaid Hat Games; Review: What can I say? It really is that good. The only complaint I have is that the down time between turns can be rather long when/if players start to amass a lot of followers. Of course, being a cooperative game (traitor!), you'll likely have a say in what others are doing and "down time" doesn't necessarily equate to "dead time" (ha! See how I did that?? Get it?? Dead?...never mind...). My initial play through was with four players and it was kind of funny because we had to collect samples (recommended by the rules for first time players) and it started off pretty good. No one seemed to be trying to screw us over and we were all convinced that no traitor even existed. We were getting lucky and rolling well (to determine if we found samples on zombies we'd killed) up until the very end when suddenly we found we didn't have enough food...and Our luck ran out on the rolls...then several were bitten and started dropping like flies... My only other complaint is in how to "win" the game. Basically, just surviving doesn't make you a winner (as a group). You have to survive AND complete your secret mission. Don't complete both? You don't "win". Out of the four of us, we all did manage to survive but only one of is was able to also complete their secret mission and thus the winningest winner (the rest of us only winners in our own minds) walked away truly triumphant. I guess that's not really a "complaint" as it didn't make the game "bad"...it just made us realize that you have a lot to manage as a group and while SOME of us CARE about trying to feed survivors, take out the trash, keep the zombies at bay and just get through it all (!) OTHERS are out to collect books or weapons. Losers! Get the game, it really is fun.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alderac Entertainment Group Thunderstone Worlds Collide; Brand: Alderac Entertainment Group; Review: So what is this game exactly? It is one of many that are defined as "deck builders". What is a "deck builder"? A deck builder generally involves taking a small hand of starting cards and adding to them to make your deck better. In Thunderstone players begin with the same cards. These small number of cards are shuffled and then some are drawn. Depending on what you draw you may either try to slay a monster in the dungeon (need attack power) or purchase items and hire help from the village (need money). Cards that are added to your deck enable you to fight monsters you may not previoisly have been able to or buy things you could not previously afford. That's the game In a nut shell. It's actually really fun and easy to learn. It might look complicated but it's not. If you're not sure about this type of game start with Star Realms. It's a much cheaper & way way WAY simpler version of the "deck building" style of game. If you like that then you'll LOVE Thunderstone (or Dominion, or Netrunner, or...); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Biblios Board Game; Brand: IELLO; Review: A lot like For Sale if you've ever played that. Game has two rounds - the first involves each player choosing to put card/s in their hand, in an auction pile and in the Public pile. The trick is you can only draw one card at a time, making your decision right then and there as to where it goes. Draw something you think sucks and have thrown it in the public pile (where others take it) only to draw something even worse that you end up having to give to yourself - is how it goes sometimes (a lot). In the second round you bid on the cards that were thrown in the Auction pile and this is pretty much where the real heart of the game shows itself. The game revolves around balancing the amount of gold you have with collects cards in certain categories (that each have point values) - person with the highest point value in each of those categories gets a certain number of victory points based on a what value a dice shows (and those dice having been manipulated throughout the two rounds to either be low or high in value). Personally, I love these deceptively simple games. Not 5 stars because it IS a "filler" game. with a large group of more experienced players you'll probably play his waiting for that other person show up so you can start Dead of Winter or something.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mascarade; Brand: Asmodee; Review: This is a brutal game. I taught it to three other players and people actually got a little pissed. They found parts of it "unfair" and/or "nonsensical" (ie, "why wouldn't I know what card I have? Can't I look at it??!"). The answer - Yes, you can. As your one and only action for that turn. Then after they looked I'd "switch" my card with there's. Ha! That didn't go over so well. This is a bluffing, memorization, chance game that's very simple. Basically along the same lines as Love Letter with maybe a little Sheriff of Nottingham and/or Avalon (Resistance, Wereolf) thrown in. 4+ players have one card in front of them face up (2-3 players have a variant where each player will have more than one card) and a couple in the middle of the table. You look around, see what each person has (and what's in the middle of the table) then turn all the cards face down... ...and the making of enemies begins. Ha! After an initial 4 rounds of swapping (or not!) cards with another player (or the center of the table) you will have one of three actions to choose from; swap (or not!) cards, look at your card or declare yourself one of the characters found on the cards. You may actually have that character or not (you probably don't even know what you have most of the time!!!!). People can either call your bluff and say THEY have the card or thy can let you collect the reward for that character. First person to 13 coins wins. I live simple, thematic games like this that have that bluffing element which always seems to get people riled up. It's a great filler game and can accommodate up to 13 (!!) players which is unique. It's essential for gamers with a modest collection of games who need to fill a certain niche with a game like this (# players, play time, simplicity, etc.); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fantasy Flight Games Nexus Ops; Brand: Fantasy Flight Games; Review: A true delight! Gameplay is quick (45-60), rules are simple/intuitive and the strategy is deep! I consider it a must have for those looking for a good two player game. Basically, you use Rubium that you've uncovered to purchase different troops. Eventually, your exploration of the small, randomly generated hex spaces will bring you close to your enemies and to get more Rubium (or take control of the vital Monolith) you'll need to pick a fight. Throughout all this you'll earn victory points through secret mission cards ("occupy more liguifungus hexes then your opponents") and/or battle victories and the first to 12 VPs wins. Hint: taking (and maintaining) control of the monolith (in true king-of-the-hill fashion) is a great winning strategy. Controlling the monolith earns you special cards that can DEVISTATE your opponent/s. If this is your first time playing - RUN TO THE CENTER AND HOLD IT!. This really is one of my favorite games and it gets played a lot. I'm not a fan of "area control games" but I love this one. It's reminiscent of Smallworld to me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Incan Gold: Quest for Riches in the Ruins; Brand: Gryphon Games; Review: Whether this is the game for you is highly dependent upon the type of people you sit down to play games with. The mechanics are incredibly simple ("simple" being a key word here. Read on...); a card is drawn from the top of the randomized deck. Those who dared to "stay" earn a reward while those who decided to "leave" give up on any rewards that might be revealed there after. Quite simply, it's what's known as a, "push your luck" kind of game. Zombie Dice is another example of such a game. Is it good? Answer these question... 1. Are you looking for a short game? (15 mins) 2. Are you looking for a "filler" game? It's by absolutely no means a "main course". But it makes for good times while waiting for other players or when time's short but you want to squeeze SOMEthing in (no pun intended). 3. Is your gaming group...ummmm...simple minded? (Your friends or family playing aren't exactly Terra Mystica material). If you answered yes to these question then you'll find a place for this game. In fact, "filler" games are often like that; place holders. They are the previews before the main feature. If you don't have any games like this then this is a good one to have in that respect. But if you're looking for a two player game to play with a significant other then forget it - this is a party, really. You'll get the most from it with Max players (preferably intoxicated).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clever Mojo Games - Alien Frontiers; Brand: Clever Mojo Games; Review: This game amazes me in a number of ways. The components and art are top notch, the gameplay solid, fun and engaging...but it was the little things that really helped me to understand just how much thought was put into this rerelease of the game. First, the instruction manual is 99.99% flawless. So many games these days fail in the forethought department (or play testing department) and don't realize just how much time is spent by players with their faces buried in the rules book. This game MAKES SENSE! I've played it a number of times now and have not had to go online to find some obscure FAQ in order to find an answer to any questions that might occur during game play. It's ALL in the book! This. Is. Rare. Probably THE best rule book I have ever seen. What a breath of fresh air. Second, they include boxes for the components!! Thank you!! I hate molded, custom inserts (I throw most inserts away and pack components in small plastic bins bought at an office supply store). These guys said, "screw the insert, screw the baggies...let's put in some useful boxes that are labeled and color coded". Thank you!!! Of course, the most important thing is game play. Admittedly, I was excited to get this game. I'd had my eye on it for some time. When we started playing however I was (at first!) a little bummed. Basically, you roll dice and place them where you can on the board based on the results. It reminded me of Lords of Waterdeep (another of my favs) but with some randomness. After a while, colonies made their way to the moon and tech cards were acquired. That's when I was blown away. The game intentionally starts off fairly easy with players trying to acquire ore and fuel but soon becomes quite intense when suddenly someone lands on the Raiders Outpost and steals your crap. "Hey, wait a second..." Or they play a tech card that forces you to return a "ship" to the purchasing pool, "hold on, I need that!". Then there's Burroughs Desert where they purchase the relic "ship" and while they have 7 "ships" to work with, you've somehow been reduced to three. Hold on, hold on hold ON! This is serious bidness! Get. This. Game. It is one of the best ever made in so many ways. I love that those who made this game thought of the players first and didn't just package something with the attitude that "eh, they can just look online for answers to our half baked game".; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dominare Alderac Entertainment Group Board Games; Brand: Alderac Entertainment Group; Review: The game itself is pretty easy to learn and teach but the strategy will take several play throughs. Dominare revolves around two things: your 7 agents in front of you and the board where your influence is measured. You'll play through 7 "seasons". In each you'll read through a small scenario (often times it causes the player in the lead to pay gold), play a new agent card in front of you, collect resources from that (and other) agents, place influence (one of the two resources) on the board and then take two actions. Because you start season 1 with one agent, the game rolls along pretty fast. By the 7th season however, you'll place your 7th guy and you'll distribute influence from it and all other 6 agents thus making the end game quite longer. Two people (and this is a great two player game!) can knock out a game in about an hour. The strategy to the game is in your choice of actions. What I found most intriguing is that you can replace previous agents with one from your hand (best to keep that action in mind). But the single biggest advantage I've found after playing many times, is granting yourself additional actions via agent abilities. ALWAYS go for agents that allow you this. Secondly, ALWAYS inundate yourself with influence by placing agents side by side with matching keyword/s. If you have more influence and more actions then you'll win the game. Also, quick note on a rule that you WILL question: the influence in Dominare is considered to be endless. This means when you run out of cubes (and you will) you'll need to start using pennies or something. This is the only thing I don't like about the game. They could have included twice as many cubes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Rebellion Board Game; Brand: Fantasy Flight Games; Review: My goodness this is a whopper. The GF and I spent many nights playing through one game (usually just one round each night). This is one you'll need to invest some time in. Though we were both loving it I have to admit, towards the end we were kind of anxious to be done with it. Namely because we'd received a new game that I loved (Dominare) and needed the table space! The gameplay actually isn't that complicated. Most of it derives from assigning your generals to missions or to maneuvering things on the board or to challenging the other players attempts at a mission. That's really about it. It looks a lot more daunting then that but it's not too bad. This is a game though where you MUST understand the rules. I found the two (!) instruction books succinct and we didn't come across a problem that either couldn't resolve. HOWEVER, there are key concepts that can completely derail a game if you gloss over them. For example, ALL generals in a system add to the success of the mission you are attempting. Not just the general you assigned to the mission. The hardest thing for us to understand was the influence. I wish they had just done away with "subjugation" and made it so either the Rebels or Imperials maintained total control of any system at one time. Instead, subjugation sort of works as "halfway influencing" with special rules that apply. But that's all in the details! Is it a good game? Yes. But be warned this is not for the faint of heart. It's long, it's huge and while it was fairly easy to stomach the rules, as I said, a mishap only realized in the middle of the game may have swayed who would win to the point that you might want to give up. Don't though. Play through a game start to finish, with mistakes and all. Then let the next one be the "real" game; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Qwirkle Board Game; Brand: MindWare; Review: This game has two rules; same shape but different colors OR different shapes but same color. You'd be surprised just how messed up that becomes when you play it though. It's actually pretty funny to watch some people wrap their heads around those two simple concepts. I put this game up there with Scrabble, dominoes and the like. While maybe not as intense as Scrabble can be but not as simple as dominoes, it does have that similar mechanic and "feel". It's a great game. I would classify it as a "must have". Might want the smaller "travel" version instead, however. Just a consideration.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HeroQuest Game System; Brand: Milton Bradley; Review: Understand, I'm 43 years old and so my 5 stars had a little to do with nostalgia. Honestly, even without that factored in, I'd still give the game 4 stars, easily. The gameplay is actually pretty solid and if I had to compare it to a modern game id say Arcadia Quest is similar. No, it's not like Descent or Imperial Assault. Or Myth, or Mice and Mystics, or... These were much simpler times back then, ha! This game is generally considered a "holy relic" in the sense that it was fun, is now dripping with nostalgia and quite the collectors item. If you're into the collection side of gaming then this is like Action Comics #1 of the board gaming world. In the game one player takes on the role of "dungeon master" while the other players choose Heroes to tackle small scenarios all of which (and their are many!) link together for a grandiose campaign. It's not a complicated game but it does offer a heck of a lot of strategy and having played both the "DM" and a hero I can say that one is just as fun as the other. We use to house rule things like line-of-sight (monsters in rooms and around corners are taken from the board and their movement is recorded in the book - in secret- by the DM). This is a great game. I think it would actually make for a good family game as well, as its light hearted enough to be fun and not so complicated enough to be a real slog. If you can afford it, buy it. It's only going to going in value.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Betrayal At House On The Hill; Brand: Wizards of the Coast; Review: This game is basically comprised of two parts. In the first, you and the other players are explorers randomly revealing room tiles as you maneuver throughout the house. Many rooms will have an Event, Item or Omen associated with it and after you reveal the tile, you take a corresponding card and read it aloud. This furthers the story along and does a great job of giving the gameplay a lot of character and depth. I always love games where thematic, bite sized stories are incorporated into it (I.e. The Crossroads cards in Dead of Winter or the story book in Above and Below). Discovering and drawing Omen cards will move a counter in a track that you'll roll against. Eventually, youll fail the roll and the second part of the game (the haunt) begins. One of the players will become the Traitor at this point. He/she will take a special Traitor book and go into another room to read what they will be trying to do from that point forward. The other players will read from a Heroes book and concoct a strategy based on the details they are given. From that point forward the Traitor works against the Heroes. It's very fun, very engaging and playing with scary sound effect/music in the background is a hit. This is basically one of those "must have" games if you're a board "gamer". It is not without its faults however. First, the components/artwork are probably the worst I've ever seen. You'll need to heat the minis in boiling water and bend them back in place as well as heat the small tracker pieces that go on your characters board and pinch them together as they WILL fall off. I laughed when we played the first time as the "Ballroom" tile is about as ballroom looking as an empty shed. The art is horrendous and everything feels cheap. This is a game that can benefit from a WELL MADE rerelease. Second, the instructions do a fairly good job but they don't cover all situations (no instruction booklet in any game ever does) so you WILL need to clarify some things during game via Googling or through agreements by the players. Is it a "family" game? It does deal with occult topics and has monsters and is intended to be "scary". Cards can reference pentagrams, etc. so if you're offended by that sort of thing (lighten up!) then this isn't one for you and your family.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: CMON Arcadia Quest Board Game; Brand: CMON; Review: Everything about this game is average...except the minis. If you're looking for a huge pile of them to paint then you can't go wrong. You'll not find this many for this price anywhere else. But! Then it comes time to play the game. Now, I'm a product of old school games like Hero Quest and i have to say, this is no Hero Quest. Of course, getting your hands on Hero Quest can be costly but even the AD&D series of games are more compelling (Wrath of Arshadalon, etc.). We managed to go through one scenario and about halfway through the second before I really felt something was missing. Namely, the monster interaction. They are simply road blocks. As a reaction to an attack another player can move the monster towards you but that didn't really seem necessary most of the time and anti climactic when it did. The other thing was that the dungeon is all laid out there in the beginning so there is no mystery. Sure, you don't know exactly what flipping over an exploration token might reveal...but you know where they all are. The monsters are all on the board so you know what's "behind" every door before opening it. So, it's basically you moving around with three explorers trying to be the first to gather up tokens and complet "quests". It became ho-hum pretty quick. This is a great example of the direction many games have gone these days; sub par gameplay with a box full of plastic and a high price tag to boot. If you love painting minis then this game is a no brainer. They have a lot of character and the quantity/quality of them vs price really is worth it. But if you want a good, fun game to PLAY then you'd be better off with other REAL dungeon exploration games.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reaper Miniatures 77075 Bones - Kael Stonekindle, Dwarf Wizard; Brand: Reaper; Review: Incredibly horrible quality and detail. Period. Seriously, it's nothing like the picture.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Bailey Silverbell, Female Dwarf Scout by Reaper; Brand: Reaper; Review: Well defined little mini. A classic. Requires some assembly (sword arm onto the body) with a bit of prep work (sanding flash lines, etc). Well worth the time though of those with a little extra patience and care (you paint minis but don't have patience or care????). Ha!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Salem Board Game (1st Edition); Brand: Facade Games; Review: While this fits that niche of "filler game" quite nicely and is fairly easy to explain and understand... ...it has a pretty big fault to it; the witch card can be found (with luck) immediately. We played several games (with 5 players) where the first card turned over was the witch. End of game. Literally, 1 minute in. The problem here is the rules suggest adding more witches to make the game more difficult but...then everyone might become a witch! Also, unlike Avalon (the absolute best hidden identity game along with Resistance) this one seemed a little "weird". In Avalon you pretty much start making accusations as soon as the game starts and before you know it the chairs are flying and the ambulance is on its way (what? Your games aren't like that??). In this one it felt like we were just piling cards in front of people for NO reason. I think at one point we felt the game was sort of on a roll and the deception was there along with a reasonable amount of fun but of the 10 or so games we played (had just gotten the game and was trying to figure out the "angle" - not to mention 4 of those games were literally about two minutes long) I don't think any of us really "got it"? Probably Shadows Over Camelot is going to give you better deduction/hidden role fun wrapped in some board game play. Otherwise, if you want to get into fights, stick with Avalon/Resistance. Seriously, some people get REALLY mad playing hide games, ha!!!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Milton Bradley Stratego Board Games; Brand: Hasbro; Review: My favorite game of all time. Easy to learn but hard to master (hint: don't put your flag in the back row! Always go one row up). For pure strategy with just the tiniest bit of luck (how your pieces are placed vs your opponents pieces will determine whether or not you'll get "mowed down") nothing on Earth beats this game.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tiny Epic Galaxies Space Board Game; Brand: Gamelyn Games; Review: A solid "little" game. King of Tokyo meets Alien Frontiers. The lid has a graphic on the inside and a label, "dice box", for rolling dice in. I love little details like that. Players take turns rolling dice and "activating" the symbols to move, collect resources, level up...and other actions. While that may seem luck driven you have the option of using the "converter" which allows you to discard two dice to turn one into any symbol you like. Or, you can always reroll. Do so once for free on your turn and then spend energy to reroll again and again. Players are trying to "colonize" planets by racing along a track on each ("orbit"). Planets are worth points. Whoever makes it to 21+ wins. Other players can "follow" every die you activate however (at a cost) so beware!!! Considering the fact other players can "follow" your action, there basically is no real down time as even in other players moves, you're alert to what you might want to do at the same time they do it! This is a really good game that's simple enough to learn but provides quite a bit of depth.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Imhotep Builder of Egypt Board Game; Brand: Thames & Kosmos; Review: EXCELLENT little game. Get it now while it's cheap! ($25 currently). This is a great game if you're looking to play something with the family or just with one other. It's simple enough and fast enough...but it doesn't shy away from strategy. And a little bit of luck ("please please PLEASE don't move that boat yet..."). In the game you, basically, assign stone blocks to ships that will then be sent to one of five different locations. Each location is almost a mini game/puzzle unto itself. Some simpler and easier than others to try and master. Will you just try and build the tallest obelisk or strategically place stones to build a pyramid and gain the most points while doing so? Will you try to link stones in the burial chamber or Collect statues in the market? Need to mix it up a little? On the other side of each location is a similar "puzzle" but different in just such a way as to throw a hitch in your otherwise familiar strategy. The quality of the components and the artwork is top notch as well. The box is a bit grandiose for the pieces included but I think they probably have standard sizes when manufacturing. We just dump all the "stones" in it and use it as the quarry to draw from.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Red Planet; Brand: Fantasy Flight Games; Review: It's simply ok. I would consider it a decent "family style" game in the sense that it's fairly easy to teach and comprehend as games go, also, not overly long, even with max players. The mechanics however are a bit ho-hum even if the art and quality are top notch. Basically, every player has the same 9 cards and in the beginning of the round players choose one of those 9 cards to play face down. Based on the lay of the current board and your "strategy" you'll pick the character card that allows you to move your astronauts on Mars or fill a ship about ready to launch or even blow up a launcher ship. This is the game in a nutshell and every game is the same in that you'll always have the same 9 cards and never swerve from that. While your choice of card is completely at your discretion, a LOT of times people play the same thing as it just makes the most sense no matter what. It's possible that by the time you get to resolve your card the lay of the board has changed completely rendering your card useless (?!). While this seems like it's "part of the game" and something "you should consider before playing a card", it just DOESNT feel that way. It's kind of a bummer actually. Anyway, we've played it several times as it's easy and fast and not Phase 10 (actually, it's about on par with Phase 10 in the "fun" department) but after you've played one game or two games you just get tired of getting dealt the same hand to begin every game. No real surprises arise.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Zombie Dice; Brand: SJG; Review: It's ok. It fills some niches; easy to learn/teach, quick and requires no deep thought. It's the quintessential "push your luck" kind of game - roll dice hoping for a certain result (lots of brains) while trying not to lose (roll shotguns). That's it. Back in the day my friends and I used to play a drinking game With dice where every combination had two possible outcomes (touch your nose-last person to do the same would drink). That was way more fun than Zombie Dice.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ravensburger Labyrinth Board Game for Kids and Adults - Easy to Learn and Play With Great Replay Value; Brand: Ravensburger; Review: A solid classic. Play with the cards revealed for an even more cut-throat game!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: King of Tokyo Board Game - First edition; Brand: IELLO; Review: It's really one of the most fun games out there. Pretty much a "must have" if you're wanting to get into games. It's Yahtzee-ish in that you'll be rolling dice and hoping for certain combinations but beyond that...it's WAY more fun. The theme is PERFECT. Just get it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Orange Battle Sheep Game; Brand: Blue Orange; Review: This is one of those games you buy...maybe for your kids and after you play it a couple of times your like, "ok now. Hold on a second. This actually requires some thought!". It's quick, super easy to pick up but man...you really need to think about what your doing. HINT: set your boards up in such a way that you can easily cordon off 16 spaces at the beginning of the game and then just spread your sheep unmolested (no pun intended) while other fight tooth and nail elsewhere. Good little game if you can get it for around $10 or $15.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: HABA Karuba - An Addictive Tile Laying Puzzle Game for the Whole Family (Made in Germany); Brand: HABA; Review: Draw a tile randomly, other players take that same tile and then everyone places them in grand maze like fashion on their own little boards. Each player is trying to get their explorers to the corresponding temple (by color). Not really any interaction between players. Each is playing their own game as another calls out a tile number in BINGO fashion. If your a fan of Carcassonne you'll probably like this one well enough. If you're looking for an incredibly simple and somewhat tactical, short game then you'll probably like this one well enough. Don't expect much here, though. So many other simple (but VASTLY better) games out there. Splendor, Machi Koro, Sushi Go...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fantasy Flight Games BattleLore 2nd Edition: Dice Pack; Brand: Fantasy Flight Games; Review: Yeah, you'll pretty much need these. Sure, you could SHARE the dice that come with the game but don't you want your OWN dice to throw at your opponent when they win a battle?? Just get 'em.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Onitama Board Game; Brand: Arcane Wonders; Review: It's just one of those delightful little games that has a fair price (try for $20), is well designed, has high end component quality and most importantly, is a nice play mechanic with enough strategy to make it interesting and addictive but not so much it causes "analysis paralysis". Games take around 10-20 minutes and it's painfully easy to learn. Game play hint!: all cards but one only allow you to progress one row ahead! So if you stay back two rows from your opponents forward most piece, you're safe. While not a "winning" strategy unto itself, it is a thing to keep in mind as to keep the game from seeming "overly thinly".; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Terraforming Mars Board Game; Brand: Stronghold Games; Review: Its good. Real good. The game looks fairly robust but its actually pretty straight forward. On your turn you can take up to two actions. Some are open to everyone and spelled out on the playing board as a reminder but others are dependent upon the cards in your hand and those that youve brought into play previously. Winner is the player with the most VPs in the end. The game ends when three trackers have been maxed: Mars temperature, oxygen level and ocean coverage (9 ocean tiles have been placed). The game is basically played in two ways. The first is with the cards in your hand. These cards typically effect your resources (a separate, smaller player board each person has in front of them) but they can also effect other things. Youll be paying Mars Credits to play them (though some may be bought with resources). The second thing youll be doing is placing various tiles on the face of Mars. Tile placement will determine some of the VPs you get at the end of the game (think Between Two Cities). During all of this youll be managing your resources (Mars Credits, ore, energy, etc) in the hopes of being able to afford all this! I have to say, its a solid game. As good with two players as it is 5. This is one I would consider a must own if you're into somewhat thinky Board games (if Yahtzee is your thing then you might want to stay away). I have played a lot of board games and own around 200. This is one of the better ones out there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stonemaier Games Between Two Cities Board Game; Brand: Stonemaier Games; Review: King Domino and Sushi Go had a baby! Its similar to King Domino in that you are trying to lay tiles in side-by-side fashion to better maximize your score. Its score is similar to Sushi Go in that if you have the most of *this* kind of tile then youll score *this* many points (as an example). This game SHOULD be easy to learn (and really it is) but it just doesnt jive with some people. My gaming group especially, made it out to be more complicated then what it was. The scoring is a bit obtuse with a giant scoring board that again, makes it look rather imposing. Overall I do find the mechanic unique and it accommodates a large number of players which is a rare thing indeed. I find it to be an interesting game but I can see where a newcomer to the game might easily feel Left out as the players to either side of them basically dictate what that person needs to do. The working together to build a city aspect can become lost in those situations. When this happens you might have 5 people actually playing and only three are into it while the other two are just picking tiles and letting the other person figure out the best place to lay them down. Its not perfect and to be honest I can see it not working well with many groups. Definitely check Out some videos online to see how its played before purchasing...; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Maybelline New York Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner, Eggplant 956, 0.106 Ounce; Brand: Maybelline; Review: This is my first time trying gel eye liner and it is an absolutely good choice. It's easy to use because you could easily control how dark or how thick you want it to be.The only thing is that if you were sweaty it would be easily shading around.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Duo Lash Adhesive, Clear, 0.25 Ounce; Brand: Duo; Review: I DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS THING.IT IS NOT STICKY AT ALL. I TRIED ON MY FINGER IT FEELS LESS STICKY THAN COOKIE DOUGH. I MEAN SERIOUSLY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: L'Oreal Paris Healthy Look Hair Color, 8.5 Blonde/White Chocolate; Brand: L'Oreal Paris; Review: Probably it is bcs I have black hair so it didnt really show the color suppose to be. But even though my hair did turn lighter which is a kinda dark-brownish color now. And my hair did not dry out or damaged from dyeing so yeah...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: AllBeauty 240 pairs Clear Make Up Double-sided Eyelid Adhesive Sticker Tapes with Fork New; Brand: ; Review: It worked okay.I tried two days and after I took it off I could already see the new double-eyelid line, but the thing is when I applied it on it is too thin to hold my eyelid all the way up so I was like trible-eyelid while I was wearing it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Duo Lash Adhesive, Clear, 0.25 Ounce; Brand: Duo; Review: I DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS THING.IT IS NOT STICKY AT ALL. I TRIED ON MY FINGER IT FEELS LESS STICKY THAN COOKIE DOUGH. I MEAN SERIOUSLY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Duo Lash Adhesive, Clear, 0.25 Ounce; Brand: Duo; Review: I DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS THING.IT IS NOT STICKY AT ALL. I TRIED ON MY FINGER IT FEELS LESS STICKY THAN COOKIE DOUGH. I MEAN SERIOUSLY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Duo Lash Adhesive, Clear, 0.25 Ounce; Brand: Duo; Review: I DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS THING.IT IS NOT STICKY AT ALL. I TRIED ON MY FINGER IT FEELS LESS STICKY THAN COOKIE DOUGH. I MEAN SERIOUSLY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Duo Lash Adhesive, Clear, 0.25 Ounce; Brand: Duo; Review: I DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS THING.IT IS NOT STICKY AT ALL. I TRIED ON MY FINGER IT FEELS LESS STICKY THAN COOKIE DOUGH. I MEAN SERIOUSLY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Duo Lash Adhesive, Clear, 0.25 Ounce; Brand: Duo; Review: I DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS THING.IT IS NOT STICKY AT ALL. I TRIED ON MY FINGER IT FEELS LESS STICKY THAN COOKIE DOUGH. I MEAN SERIOUSLY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Duo Lash Adhesive, Clear, 0.25 Ounce; Brand: Duo; Review: I DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS THING.IT IS NOT STICKY AT ALL. I TRIED ON MY FINGER IT FEELS LESS STICKY THAN COOKIE DOUGH. I MEAN SERIOUSLY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Duo Lash Adhesive, Clear, 0.25 Ounce; Brand: Duo; Review: I DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS THING.IT IS NOT STICKY AT ALL. I TRIED ON MY FINGER IT FEELS LESS STICKY THAN COOKIE DOUGH. I MEAN SERIOUSLY!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: L'Oreal Paris Healthy Look Hair Color, 8.5 Blonde/White Chocolate; Brand: L'Oreal Paris; Review: Probably it is bcs I have black hair so it didnt really show the color suppose to be. But even though my hair did turn lighter which is a kinda dark-brownish color now. And my hair did not dry out or damaged from dyeing so yeah...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: L'Oreal Paris Healthy Look Hair Color, 8.5 Blonde/White Chocolate; Brand: L'Oreal Paris; Review: Probably it is bcs I have black hair so it didnt really show the color suppose to be. But even though my hair did turn lighter which is a kinda dark-brownish color now. And my hair did not dry out or damaged from dyeing so yeah...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: AllBeauty 240 pairs Clear Make Up Double-sided Eyelid Adhesive Sticker Tapes with Fork New; Brand: ; Review: It worked okay.I tried two days and after I took it off I could already see the new double-eyelid line, but the thing is when I applied it on it is too thin to hold my eyelid all the way up so I was like trible-eyelid while I was wearing it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: WAWO 15 Color Professionl Makeup Eyeshadow Camouflage Facial Concealer Neutral Palette; Brand: COKA; Review: I really can't tell what exactly this thing is. It's not powder but a kind of oil-ish pasty fluid. And so far I tried twice but it doesnt really show any color on my face.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: WAWO 15 Color Professionl Makeup Eyeshadow Camouflage Facial Concealer Neutral Palette; Brand: COKA; Review: I really can't tell what exactly this thing is. It's not powder but a kind of oil-ish pasty fluid. And so far I tried twice but it doesnt really show any color on my face.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: WAWO 15 Color Professionl Makeup Eyeshadow Camouflage Facial Concealer Neutral Palette; Brand: COKA; Review: I really can't tell what exactly this thing is. It's not powder but a kind of oil-ish pasty fluid. And so far I tried twice but it doesnt really show any color on my face.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: WAWO 15 Color Professionl Makeup Eyeshadow Camouflage Facial Concealer Neutral Palette; Brand: COKA; Review: I really can't tell what exactly this thing is. It's not powder but a kind of oil-ish pasty fluid. And so far I tried twice but it doesnt really show any color on my face.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: WAWO 15 Color Professionl Makeup Eyeshadow Camouflage Facial Concealer Neutral Palette; Brand: COKA; Review: I really can't tell what exactly this thing is. It's not powder but a kind of oil-ish pasty fluid. And so far I tried twice but it doesnt really show any color on my face.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: WAWO 15 Color Professionl Makeup Eyeshadow Camouflage Facial Concealer Neutral Palette; Brand: COKA; Review: I really can't tell what exactly this thing is. It's not powder but a kind of oil-ish pasty fluid. And so far I tried twice but it doesnt really show any color on my face.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: WAWO 15 Color Professionl Makeup Eyeshadow Camouflage Facial Concealer Neutral Palette; Brand: COKA; Review: I really can't tell what exactly this thing is. It's not powder but a kind of oil-ish pasty fluid. And so far I tried twice but it doesnt really show any color on my face.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Beauty |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Norpro Grip EZ Stainless Steel Compost Keeper; Brand: Norpro; Review: I have bought a lot of Norpro Products in the past year. Each one has satisfied my needs. This one I was worried about because of other negative reviews. I have nothing negative to say about this compost pot. It even looks good sitting on my countertop. After a month of use, no oders are emitting from it. I think the key is to never get the filter in the cover wet. It cleans up easy after emptying. I like the feel of the rubber coated handle that also acts as a bumper guard so the handle won't ding the side of the pot. Now I only go to the compost pile once a week instead of every day. The size is perfect for this 2 person household.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Linx Bagless Corded Cyclonic Lightweight Stick Vacuum SH20030; Brand: Hoover; Review: Surprised at how well it works.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bissell SpotClean ProHeat Portable Spot Cleaner, 5207F; Brand: Bissell; Review: Better than lugging out the big one. Also use it on upholstery. Easy to use.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cuisinart CHM-WSK Hand Mixer Whisk; Brand: Cuisinart; Review: Great for whiped cream.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ceramic Marble Coated Cast Aluminium Non Stick Wok 26 cm (10 inches); Brand: KW Marble Ware; Review: Heats even. Nothing has stuck.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milwaukee 48-22-2000 Bottle Opener; Brand: Milwaukee; Review: Perfect accessory for my Milwaukee tool nut friend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Scots Hotel; City: Tiberias Galilee Northern District; Review: The staff is very friendly. The location is unique. A lot of attention to small details to make one feel at home from the moment you enter the parking lot. Rooms are comfortable (we had the less expensive option in the newer building). Since there are less than 70 rooms in this hotel, it is possible to prepare fresh food. Contrary to larger places, preparation for dinner starts only in the afternoon. What they put on the table at 19:00 is in one word surprising. At breakfast we found out that it is also one of the few places in Israel where a capuccino is served hot and is worth drinking.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Privilege; City: Florence Tuscany; Review: Did not get the river view! Our hearts sank when our backs went down to room 301 at street level lookin out on parked cars and a blind wall. In the future I will steer clear of the city of Florence - just not my cup of tea - but If I have to, I will gladly take the 301... even it it's for a month! Spacious, internet by wire and right next to the garden. Less exposed to the sun than the front of the hotel and a ceiling that must be at least 4 mtr high. The owners are really nice and helpful and for half the price of a parking ticket Emanuel makes your car disappear. You dont need it anyway; 15 minutes walking and you'll find all the Gucci a man could buy. Breakfast fair enough. What else do you need?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees SPA; City: Stresa Lake Maggiore Piedmont; Review: We got a promotional for a second floor room with a garden view. Small room with a tiny balcony. What a garden! They could have put me up in a tent next to the parking garage and I would have happily enjoyed my breakfast on the lawn under trees dating back to 1863! The handout on Stresa Hotels classifies this place as *****L ("L" for luxury??). I would make that an "A" for Aristocracy, or rather "M" for Museum. If you are looking for unique experiences, this is one of the places you should not miss. The staff - as you would expect - more absolutely correct than absolutely friendly although the young lady at the desk did not keep up appearances and was a real darling. Breakfast outside facing the lake was the best we had in Italy. Really 5 stars.. maybe even 6! Beware of the 50 Euro menu for dinner: Nouvel cuisine! Large plates where you need a GPS to locate your "specialite de la maison". A la carte might have been better , but we did not have that kind of cash. We opted for the pizza next door in the (lovely) little village to get at least some calories. The only thing that raised an eyebrow ("nicht aergern, nur wundern") was the fact that the mattresses, though comfortable, were extremely light. Married couples are advised to remain "each in their own territory" to prevent an emergency landing on the carpeted floor.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Eliseo; City: Rome Lazio; Review: Location 2 minutes to Via Veneto and 20 min to Spanish stairs through Via Sistina. It may have been the pluche and what the Italians so euphemistically call "Pianobar" in the street round the back that aroused images of romantic "Off Veneto" alliences in days long past. Entering room 501 it seemed the smell of all that history was still caught in the carpets, but after opening the doors on the tiny tiny balcony overlooking whatever gardens, my wife and I were as cosy as ever. I would go for the 4 star rating only if I had not visited our friends in a room much larger but clearly in need of urgent - even very urgent - refurbishing. Breakfast on the 6th floor was mentioned by others. May I add the triangle shaped balcony at the end of the lounge where the addicted may enjoy their cappuccino WITH a cigarette. Nice view and as fresh a breeze as on the prow of the Titanic! Life doesn't get better that that (even without Celine Dion)!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: CDH Hotel La Spezia; City: La Spezia Province of La Spezia Liguria; Review: Will do as "basecamp" for Cinque Terre. Ten minutes to the left for the boats and 20 to the right for the train station. Fifteen Euro per day gets you a reserved place in the nearby parking garage (only 10 spots available; get one in advance). Free internet. Breakfast in the lounge was..well..maybe we caught them in a bad time, but one advice: bring earplugs or just look for an alternative location in town. My One Hotel has only "My One Elevator" which probably explains the couch on every landing; if you're in hurry take the stairs! Room designed to look clean - no carpets - and if you're the type who sneakpeeks you may leave your telescope at home. Across the vide you have an intimate view of the neighbor's quarters and the opportunity to send encouraging signals to the crowd waiting for the elevator. The personal safe was placed loose inside the cupboard. The deskman promissed to make a note of it. A stylish and well designed toolkit to screw it to the wall myself would have been so much more in line with the overall impression!; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Saving Rachel; Author: Visit Amazon's John Locke Page; Review: This book started out unbelievable, after maybe five pages I wondered why I'd paid for this, but I figured it had to get better...after all, so many had loved it. It just kept getting more and more farcical, it was just too ridiculous. I hate not finishing a book and I forced myself to finish this (I was sick in bed anyway)...but I'm still upset that my $0.99 was spent on this. Wish Amazon had an exchange program for these POS books.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: A World I Never Made; Author: Visit Amazon's James LePore Page; Review: I don't know what made anyone give this 4 or 5 stars...quick pace??? Sure, quick to put you to sleep. Even if it's free, don't bother.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: In Memory Of Greed; Author: Visit Amazon's Al Boudreau Page; Review: certain parts of the story were too predictable and the second half of the book was doing everything it could to justify the nice neat ending it wound up to. too many things just didn't translate to real life for me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Little Death in Dixie; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Turner Page; Review: There were quite a few surprises in this book which made it an interesting read. Though at points it seemed a bit far reaching and implausible, this is a work of fiction and I guess there's some literary leeway granted.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The White Angel Murder (Jon Stanton Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Victor Methos Page; Review: I couldn't believe just how cheesy and cliched this book was. I'd hoped all the cliches would lead to something but alas, there was only more cheese on the horizon. The book felt like a TV movie intended to run in 90 minutes but was stretched to fit 120 minutes. Everything that could have been considered a plot twist was either poorly done or predictable. There wasn't a character that had any complexity and it felt like the story just plodded along. Unless it's free, don't bother.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: I Kill Rich People (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Mike Bogin Page; Review: The book started out well enough but then just seemed to jump around until it got to the end. Not sure what was involved in the editing process but I'm thinking more could have and should have been done. The grammatical errors aside, I couldn't get into the characters and there was just too much going on for me. An interesting premise but the execution was lacking. I wouldn't rush to recommend this book and would certainly be hard pressed to pay for a title by this author.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fifth Avenue; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Smith Page; Review: Should be 2 1/2 stars. This would probably be great if you're vacationing and spending your days on the beach or poolside. Not a great book...somewhere around quarter way through it went from interesting to ridiculous. It just seemed too contrived. I do believe this would make an excellent limited series event for television though.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Profiler's Daughter: A Sky Stone Thriller (Sky Stone Thriller Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's P. M. Steffen Page; Review: So repetitive, too caught up in the the thoughts of the main character (who I just could not like), just too much of everything wrong. I forced myself halfway through because I figured I had to be missing whatever it was that all these 5 star reviews saw...well it's just going to have to stay that way. Reading this was torture. This author is on my "never again" list.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Night Blind; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael W. Sherer Page; Review: I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. But I started reading and was hooked from the first five pages. Would have been nice if the villain wasn't quite so typecast. Also, there were about 50 pages that could have been left out but overall I thoroughly enjoyed the read and would happily recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What You Leave Behind; Author: Visit Amazon's Jessica Katoff Page; Review: I wanted to love this book, but that's difficult when you don't like two of the three main characters. Much as I loved Austin, and wanted him to get the girl, I'm kinda relieved he didn't. Harper was just a mess. I wouldn't rush out and buy another book by this author...Unless its about Austin getting a wonderful girl after Harper and Liam break up and comes looking for him.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Death of a Bankster, a Maddie Richards Mystery; Author: Visit Amazon's David Bishop Page; Review: Liked the story line, didn't like the writing. Some things were predictable and some things just didn't fit. With some effort this could have been a great read but it was just so so.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Playing It Safe; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbie Bohrman Page; Review: if you believe great sex equals love, that insecurity is attractive and or its the guys job to help you get over it, that swearing like a sailor is somehow attractive, sure go ahead. Otherwise, don't waste your time.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Girl Jacked; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Greyson Page; Review: Way too many cliches. This is a story that's been told several times and there's nothing new here. I couldn't love Jack but I didn't hate him either....Replacement though, yeah, she was all kinds of wrong. I'm tired of the computer genius with no social skills, haven't we moved beyond this? I wouldn't recommend this book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: End of Secrets; Author: Visit Amazon's Ryan Quinn Page; Review: To me, the story seemed liked it jumped all over the place. I don't know if this was supposed to make it seem like there was a lot happening at once but it didn't work for me. I felt like the sex scenes were there just for the sake of including some sexuality, it didn't add anything to the story. I found myself not really caring either way what happened, I finished because I always want to give the story a chance to redeem itself. At the halfway point, I should get sense of cohesion in the various plot lines that have been introduced. At the halfway point I was silently fuming at Kera because I couldn't see how she could be so talented and so clueless. That said, I'd give the author another try but it's not on the must read list.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gone Girl; Author: Visit Amazon's Gillian Flynn Page; Review: Just don't. Ridiculously juvenile. Save your money and your time.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Salvation Row (John Milton) (Volume 6); Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Dawson Page; Review: You'll enjoy this installment of the John Milton series. I couldn't put it down until I was done.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City of Echoes (Detective Matt Jones); Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Ellis Page; Review: there were points at which I thought the story could have ended but it felt like the writer just didn't want to let go of Det. Matt Jones. I liked him too, but wow, did he have a rough intro the force. If there are more stories with this character I'll give it a read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Not Sleeping, Just Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Alverson Page; Review: I kinda liked the main character but I'm not really a fan of the bumbling detective who just makes an educated guess as to what happens without letting me in on the clues as well. Maybe it was just me, but it felt like there was very little detecting but lots of snarky retorts. I felt like it was meant to be funny...didn't work for me. I got tired of the main character after a while.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Prettiest One: A Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's James Hankins Page; Review: Didn't like the main character at all. The dialogue seemed unrealistic....and there wasn't even one character that I wanted to root for. About 25% through I stopped reading because I just thought they were all so ridiculous....but the book got 4 stars so I finished it hoping I'd see something of what they saw. I didn't. Too convoluted, I just got more annoyed as I read. By far the worst kindle 1st pick I've ever had the displeasure of reading.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Savage Moon; Author: chris-simms; Review: interesting read, recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Killing Me Softly (Previously published as Live and Let Die); Author: Visit Amazon's Bianca Sloane Page; Review: Actually 2 1/2 stars, started out ok, but then veered into a well written high school essay. Can't say it was a quick read for me, I felt like there was a lot of filler information that didn't add anything. Anyway, not an awful read, but not great.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Brief History of Seven Killings: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Marlon James Page; Review: This has been a difficult read, and with all the rave reviews and high praise, and having paid full price, I expected to at least be impressed with the writing if not the actual story. Epic failure. If you enjoy reading text books that don't attempt to explain anything, have at it. Otherwise, don't bother.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: On Any Given Sundae; Author: Visit Amazon's Marilyn Brant Page; Review: Formulaic. Nothing special but not the worst I've read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bricking It; Author: Visit Amazon's Nick Spalding Page; Review: Hilarious!!!! A quick fun read!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Tracker (Sam Callahan); Author: Visit Amazon's Chad Zunker Page; Review: It started out ok, and then it veered into the fantastic and unbelievable. Premise behind the story is one we've seen before, all of the characters are ones we've seen before, nothing new here. Not bad, but I won't be rushing out to buy anything else by this writer.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (A Rose Gardner Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Denise Grover Swank Page; Review: Started reading, liked Rose, was all prepared to buy the whole set....then I got to about 73% and Rose went from just pleasantly nave to flat out idiot. The book seemed to be going somewhere then out of the blue it clearly forget where and just started to wander about without so much as a clue. It's one of the things I just detest in books, when characters do something so ridiculous, and so against everything that went before, just to get the story to certain point. I always feel like the writer is disrespecting the intellect of the reader. I had to stop at about 90% because I just couldn't take any more.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Remorseless; Author: Visit Amazon's Will Patching Page; Review: Started out well, but after a while it just got to be too much. I mostly liked Doc. But Judy....no, I couldn't stand her. I just wanted her gone. As a plot mechanism, she worked but she didn't actually add anything to the story. Based on this I want to read the next one in the series but if there's more Judy I just may not.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Debt Collector - Reborn (Jack Winchester Vigilante Justice Series) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Jon Mills Page; Review: Quick easy read. Lots of violence so prepare yourself.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Jack Reacher Experiment Books 1-3; Author: Visit Amazon's Jude Hardin Page; Review: I decided to give it a try because I'm a huge fan of Jack Reacher and I was curious. I like the premise but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. I absolutely hated the Tom Cruise version of Jack Reacher, but he could probably make a fine Rock Wahlman. There's no nuance to Rock, and so far all the other characters are stereotypical cutouts. It's like an action movie on steroids...just rolling form one blow up to the next. If that's your thing, have at it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Drained (An Agent Hank Rawlings FBI Thriller Book 1) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's E.H. Reinhard Page; Review: this read like a tv movie. very basic. characters are boring. conversation is dull. and theres way too much filler. despite the fact that @ 35% through I was thoroughly bored I finished it just to see how it got 4 stars. I didn't figure it out.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Mirissa Hills; City: Mirissa Southern Province; Review: Set on top of a hill with breathtaking views over the Indian ocean & artworks through out the classic hotel. The atmosphere was totally relaxing the staff were very attentive Mr Prasanna helping me to arrange a secret birthday cake for my friend I was travelling with on Xmas eve. Nothing was too much to ask. The Sri Lankan food they cooked was fantastic in 3 days i ate from The Sri Lankan menu. I had one western meal and it was avarage the ingredients were of high quality it was just over cooked. The hotel is a few kms out of town so if you need to get supplies(there is no alcohol on the property which is not mentioned on website) it's best you get Thilak to call a tuk tuk for you. This place was pristine peaceful & picturesque. I Stayed 3 nights & I'm planning my return; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thambapanni Retreat; City: Unawatuna Galle District Southern Province; Review: Lovely room & pool /outdoor area. It was so relaxing that I found hard to leave the resort to do the touristy things around the area.there was a yoga class on every morning which was a delightful way to start the morning also a reading area once the class was finished (I'm not normally a yoga person). The staff are very friendly & the local cuisine cooked at the restaurant lovely & good value. I didn't try any Western food. Iresha on the front desk is very knowledgeable about the area & she made herself available to help & offer suggestions with travelling in Unawatuna & also to our next destination. All with a heart warming friendly professional smile & attitude.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ramada by Wyndham Colombo; City: Colombo Western Province; Review: I booked this hotel because it was close to the railway station that I was booked on at 7am. And it had a 24 hour reception desk. I arrived from my flight at 2am and confirmed that breakfast was included & it was open at 6am for a speedy breakfast and a taxi to the train station. Firstly there was a wedding party & music all nights my 3 hours in the room has me tossing and turning to shouts of partying people. Second. There was not hot water in the room. Cold cold water I could not shower. Ringing for service no one came up to check. 3rd and the last straw. I went down to breakfast and that were the party had been broken glassware on floor the tables were still occupied with crockery and plates from the night before by 6.30 am they were still cleaning table & had not set up. I had to check out & ask for some sort of compensation. I had no chance since I was already pre paid on line. The worst experience of my Traveling life; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cinnamon Citadel Kandy; City: Kandy Kandy District Central Province; Review: Our room was large and lush. They showed us 1 room which has a queen size bed. We had ordered a superior twin share room this was rectified quickly and professionally. I found the staff very friendly and helpful. It rained for a full day while there. We stayed in & found it very peaceful to sit around the various bars & lounges reading a book or having a single drink with out feeling hassled to buy more. The included breakfast was amazing. Great quality variety in both local cuisine and Western. There is lots to see around kandy and there are cabs & tuk tuk s available with out having to leave the hotel. Loved my time here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Klong Prao Resort Koh Chang; City: Ko Chang Trat Province; Review: The pool and location of this resort is fantastic. It ls on the beach & the swimming in the waves was great fun &everything I was after on this holiday. Our room on the farest wing of the resort was small & had a old block of a TV that took so much bench space.the were no coffee facilities & the café opened rather late around 11am. So I would walk down the road to get my morning coffee before heading back to do my walk on the beach. Other than being a little outdated it was comfortable & staff were limited in English though very friendly. The island is amazing & love it's low key local feeling.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: River Home Boutique Hotel; City: Phnom Penh; Review: We spend 3 nights in this hotel. The first night I had a shower *it flooded the whole bathroom leaving us in ankle deep water to go to loo & us the basin. Drainage was very slow. Not happy & complained we were moved the following day to a room up stairs & would you believe it also flooded but this time from a pipe in the wall spray across the room. Showering you if you sat on the toilet. The only reason we stayed the third was because we had a all day activity prebooked & we were heading for airport first thing in the morning.. Also buffet breakfast is a basic & unappealing.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Classy Hotel Spa; City: Battambang Battambang Province; Review: It was a very clean large hotel. The staff friendly and spoke English well. The pool area was busy by 4pm once we had returned from our tours though still worth having a refreshing dip.. The best value were the hotel massages which were very professional & well priced.. Our twin share room was very large nice balcony. I would use this hotel again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Doi Inthanon National Park; City: Doi Inthanon National Park; Review: Sunrise at Doi Inthanon is spectacular. Get there early as it is a busy place but well worth the effort. Did I mention it's cold up here about the clouds so wear a little more than you would in Chiang Mai. The nature walk is beautiful and I recommend it to anyone. It is a easy 2.5 km with a guide & many resting spots along the way. Don't leave this part of the world with out seeing this site... Last picture is the crowd when we completed the nature walk. I suggest you do it early just after viewing the Sunrise. Enjoy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mode Sathorn Hotel; City: Bangkok; Review: The room was in shades of grey with modern rocking chair that was novel. Our queen side bed was up against a wall which made it a little difficult getting to the loo with our waking & trampling over my partner. The WiFi was temperamental & cut you off very often. The staff were professional & very polite the pool was clean and relaxing with a bar if you want alcohol or coconut water. The breakfast would get me back next time Im in Bangkok. Gym clean and has a good collection of dumbbells & standard cardio equipment. Roof top bar has amazing views. The hotel suited our needs & location is perfect as it on the railway system that got us from the airport to hotel with NO hassles. I recommend this hotel. WiFi was our only issue.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Plaza Hotel Amman; City: Amman Amman Governorate; Review: I was there in September 2017. The hotel was going through a renovation & transition. There was no equipment in the gym the pool was very tired & in need of a good clean. Though the room was comfortable except that there was no hot water on the first day that I arrived after a long 17 flight. The room was spacious but basic though clean. The hallway smelt of smoke as did the entrance & most of the hotel. I had dinner in the bar & the food was plentiful & good though experience for a mezza I learnt after getting around. The hotel is located in a superb location & it's a good 20 min walk to a buzzing cafe restaurant area. All in all it was ok.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: La Maison Hotel Petra; City: Petra Wadi Musa Ma an Governorate; Review: Lovely spacious room with classical furniture. The sitting area was comfortable which was needed after walking around for over 8 hours. The service was prompt & they had a boot cleaner polisher for those of us who had been hiking the desert. Note thought its a dry hotel if you are needing a alcoholic drink after a day of activity. I would use the hotel again. Central to lots of shops & restaurants etc; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Huan Chiang Dao Resort; City: Chiang Dao; Review: I stayed here 2 nights & also had dinner & drinks. The whole experience was delightful. The rooms are large & clean with fantastic water pressure & good hot water (very important when you return from a hike covered head to toe in mud). The large varander & hammocks are so relaxing that you don't want to leave the resort to do other activities in the area. The staff are lovely & helpful. The first night we were there 8 of us had dinner there & the food was fresh tasty & delicious Thai crusine. I have a low Carb diet and had no problem with food choices. All in all it was a wonderful. Next time I return I'll leave more time just to relax & enjoy the facilities the resort offers; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sapa Dragon Hotel; City: Sapa Lao Cai Province; Review: A great stay in this hotel.the staff friendly and professional.the Room was large and spotless.wifi was Fast and There was a laptop in The Room,very handy. We also had dinner in There restaurant.duck was delicious And Spring Rolls made fresh. I would definitely stay in this hotel again.breakfast was sufficient thought The brewed coffee was terrible And The only thing that let this establishment download.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Piya Guest House; City: Mae Hong Son Mae Hong Son Province; Review: The owners of the guest house are so lovely & friendly. Stopping to have conversation with you you. The pool area is lovely and my friends & i enjoyed spending relaxing days this way whilst exploring in the mornings & heading out for delicious street food in the evening & bringing back to Piya guesthouse & enjoying it at there many out door settings. The rooms spotless & spacious. Perfect location. We are already planning our next trip back. I love the tranquillity of this town & its lovely shan style temples & hiking options.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Peninsula Bangkok; City: Bangkok; Review: We choose this hotel as it allowed for a very early check-in as our flights got in very early morning and also a late night flight out. There was no problem with either these requests leading to check-in or checking out. I found the service excellent & the facilities fabulous. They have activities your free to join. I enjoyed the morning yoga in beautiful surroundings and the stretch class. The pool is well staffed and delightful to relax around. We had breakfast on one of the balconies with views of the river. Affordable and delicious. This hotel was slightly higher than my budget though with all the services and lovely atmosphere I will definitely book this hotel again. A wonderful hotel and experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SO Sofitel Bangkok; City: Bangkok; Review: A beautiful sky bar looking over Lupini Park. Very tasty cocktails at regular prices. You need to get 2 different lifts to get to the bar. Once your there it has a funky seating & very stylish surrounds. Cool place for a drink & catching up with friends; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chengdu Lazybones Hostel Templeside Poshpacker Wenshuyuan; City: Chengdu Sichuan; Review: The first night we stayed in a twin room. It was lovely and clean also large. The WiFi worked fast & the staff were very attentive and helpful the second night we had a early morning start so we moved to a 4 bed dorm. Everything was fine there also. On our return from our activities days later we tried booking here again though they were totally booked out. I really enjoyed this hostel. I would stay here again on my next visit to Chengdu; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: CamelBak Eddy Water Bottle, 32oz; Brand: CamelBak; Review: Bottle is of good quality and can take a beating. The cap however has started to leak.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Russell Athletic Men's Performance T-Shirt; Brand: ; Review: Comfortable shirt. The way the camo pattern is laid out people complain that it looks "blurry" and I often Catholic them squinting as of trying to bring it into focus. Lol; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: CamelBak Eddy Water Bottle, 25oz; Brand: CamelBak; Review: Bottle is of good quality and can take a beating. The cap however has started to leak.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Glacier Point Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle (18oz /; Brand: GlacierPoint Bottle; Review: Excellent bottle and works every bit as good as my Yeti; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CamelBak Eddy Water Bottle, 32oz; Brand: CamelBak; Review: Tough little water bottle.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Under Armour Men's Vital Warm-Up Pants; Brand: Under Armour; Review: My favorite pants. Comfy and not too hot; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CamelBak Eddy Water Bottle, 20oz; Brand: CamelBak; Review: Tough little water bottle.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Generic Pretty Pink Vintage Rose Throw Pillowcase 18 "X18 "; Brand: Generic; Review: This pillow is cheap! And the colors are not what I expected...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hygloss Products Round Paper Doilies - Decorative, White Lace Doilies, Disposable, 8” Diameter, 100 Pack; Brand: Hygloss; Review: great value!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bird's Nest Throw Pillow Case Vintage Cushion Cover Pillowcase Gift 18 18 Hidden Zipper Pillow Cover (18'' 18'', Piillow238); Brand: Piillow; Review: looks very expensive; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Createforlife Home Decor Cotton Linen Square Throw Pillowcase Cushion Cover Pillow Shams Vintage Sunflower Helianthus Annuus 18" x 18"; Brand: Createforlife; Review: The product came all wrinkled because it was shipped in a very small mailer. It was not the beautiful color that the pic showed. I have bought several pillow covers. the first I should of sent back this one I am.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Pellon TWP1818 Decorative Twin Pack Pillow Insert, 18" by 18", White; Brand: Pellon; Review: great price and quality; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ME COO Modern Fashion Watercolor Perfume Lipstick Bottle Flower Styles Pillow Case Throw Cushion Case Cojines Wedding Gift Pillow Covers; Brand: ME COO; Review: The fabric looks like it bled on one side...it is in the photo that way but hard to see,; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: DII Cotton Terry Windowpane Dish Cloths, 12 x 12" Set of 6, Machine Washable and Ultra Absorbent Kitchen Dishcloth-Black; Brand: DII; Review: These are ok...the white of course is less stain resistant.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lang Artisan Recipe Card Album, Color My World; Brand: Lang; Review: Odd shape and size!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Washcloths, 12 Pack, 100% Extra Soft Ring Spun Cotton, Size 13" X 13", Soft and Absorbent, Machine; Brand: Living Fashions; Review: it is what they say!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mybecca [Set of 2] 18" W X 18" L Hypoallergenic Pillow Insert White Polyester, Made in USA; Brand: Mybecca; Review: Great price and quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pack of Four (4) Red Home Store Cotton Pot Holders (2 Sets of 2) (2, Red); Brand: Greenbriar; Review: clean up well but after a couple of washings they are not so great.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: HL HLPPC Sunflower and Bee Throw Pillow Case Oil Painting Yellow Sunflower Cotton Linen Cushion Cover 18 x 18 Inches; Brand: HL HLPPC; Review: elegant and inexpensive!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stainless Steel Manual Juicer Strainer Reamer with Handle and Pour Spout Orange Lime Lemon Fruit Squeezer Maker with Bowl Houseware; Brand: Kassagdin; Review: Just the right size and very effective to keep seeds out of the juice; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DII Cotton Terry Windowpane Dish Towels, 16 x 26" Set of; Brand: DII; Review: They had a lot of loose threads but have held up well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Super Size Me (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Prisoner of the Mountains (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Along Came a Spider (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The General's Daughter (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Talk to Her (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Control Room (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marooned in Iraq (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Salaam Bombay! (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amores Perros (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Good Bye (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: U-571 (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mallrats (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clear and Present Danger (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Licence to Kill (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Negotiator (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Milescraft 8401 Trim45 Trim Carpentry Aid; Brand: Milescraft Inc.; Review: A very cleaver tool that works great when you are working by yourself. It is like having an extra set of hands.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LENOX 21013-TC25/8 Tubing Cutters for Pipes with 1/4-to-2-5/8-Inch Diameter; Brand: Lenox Tools; Review: One of the best cutter's I ever own. It is fully adjustable & cuts without tracking. Stays true to the cut.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OttLite 13 Watt Battery Task Replacement Tube; Brand: OttLite; Review: This lamp is an exact replacement for a desk light that I have had for many years.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Keypad Fix, Clean and Restore Conductivity to the Carbon on the Keys and the Copper PC Board Pads; Brand: American Science & Surplus; Review: Worked really well on my remote control restoring it a fully functional control.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ShowerMaxx Premium Shower Head - Luxury Spa Rainfall High Pressure 6” | Removable Water Restrictor; Brand: ShowerMaxx; Review: I was surprised & delighted to see such powerful water flow coming from this shower head. We have a well that has a lot lower water pressure then city water. Works great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Royal Designs Basic Drum Lamp Shade, Beige, 15 x 16 (BS-719-16BG); Brand: Royal Designs, Inc; Review: The Lamp Shade closely matched our exiting shade in design & measurement.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Flotec FP0012-6U-P2 Universal Discharge Hose Kit, 24-Feet by 1-1/4-Inch or 1-1/2-Inch; Brand: Flotec; Review: Got this for back up use for sump pump and other uses. Can use with hand pumps to move liquid where I want and when I want.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flex Seal Spray Rubber Sealant Coating, 14-oz, Black (2 Pack); Brand: Flex Seal; Review: This stuff is expensive, but works great. Have used on leaky pipes and basement walls. Keep a can in R/V.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ace Plastic Hand Pump Kit; Brand: ACE; Review: Emergency back up to back up. Have used to remove gas from generators, works great. don't like all the plastic.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Energizer CR1632 3 Volt Lithium Coin Battery (pack of 5); Brand: Energizer; Review: They work and good price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HTS 101I0 6Pc 180mm / 40-600 Grit Diamond Flat File Set,Hobby Tool Supply,101I0" />; Brand: HTS; Review: Works great smoothing out actions on guns.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Staged to Death (A Caprice De Luca Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Karen Rose Smith Page; Review: Took a while for me to get involved with characters, but by mid-book, plotting improved and by end I'd decided to buy second in series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rock Bottom (An Imogene Museum Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Jerusha Jones Page; Review: Good complex storyline. Expected a cozy museum mystery, and there was a tiny bit of that in resolution of "The Missing Chamber Pot." But overall a story with untold but hinted at backgrounds and complications enough to be the basis for well written future novels.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Sticky Inheritance (Maple Syrup Mysteries) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Emily James Page; Review: Good start to a series. Interesting locale and characters.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sign Off (Caught Dead in Wyoming); Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia McLinn Page; Review: Well written, twisty plot. You'll figure out the "it must be" relating to Rog Johnson, Jr. early on, and that detail is key, but there are so many other subtle clues that you may miss. And strong characterization of Danny makes me want to learn read more stories about her.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Poison; Author: Visit Amazon's Lydia Kang Page; Review: A twisty period whodunit. At one point I was losing a little interest because I was sure that I'd figured most of what was going on out. And then off the story ran.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Killer Jam (Dewberry Farm Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Karen MacInerney Page; Review: Laid the ground work for potentially good series. Somewhat predictable, but with enough uncertainty and originality that is a good read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fatal Frost (Dewberry Farm Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Karen MacInerney Page; Review: I do like the lead character, and was a bit surprised by who the murderer was. But the idiot sheriff always arresting her friends could get old if that convention continues throughout the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
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