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Hits the Funny Bone.
I have several Humorous Quotes books as references but I have enjoyed none of them as much as Judy Brown's new book. Ms. Brown gets her quips almost exclusively from stand-up comics and late-night talk show host soliloquies. It is organized into topics and sub-topics which make it simple to use to find just the joke you want for a speech or presentation. The cross-referencing eliminates much of the searching typical of books of this nature. An excellent choice for anyone doing public speaking or making presentations. | 45 stars
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Sparse, Flat early work of Fante
Ask the Dust, a later novel, is a better representation of what Fante does well: 1st person honest narration that vacilllates between indifference and a consuming passion for the world. Not to say Wait 'till Spring is bad, it just never really comes together. | 23 stars
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Excellent resource
I consider 'The E-Code' to be a rich resource of information. It gets to the meat of the ideas without the fluff added.In the past, I have spent countless hours reading through different resources just to get one idea out of it. Where as, the chapters in the e-code gave ideas, examples and specific instructions for implementing the suggestions.I also like the fact that it has it has several different authours helping with different aspects of the internet business.I would highly recommend it to anyone who has an online business. | 45 stars
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Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
I love this book. Walt Whitman is one of my favorites. this will be perfect for mt collection. | 45 stars
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Wonderfully provocative
Whilst not agreeing with all of Ali's analysis, I admire his courage and his effrontery in dealing with all the taboos, sacred cows and noble lies that you can think of ! Ali has done a good job in providing a much-needed and elegant counterblast to the hypocritical drivellings of Bush, Blair etc. in the context of the "war on terror". I do not agree, however, that institutional Marxism (if it could somehow be implemented) is the answer to the world's problems - in my opinion, this is the most serious flaw in Ali's views. | 34 stars
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One of the great novels of the 20th Century
This is an amazing book, alternatively hilarious and heart breaking.Ignatius is often cited as a reason not to like the novel, and I confess he's a repulsive human. But I don't think it's the lack of hygiene, compulsive masturbation, flatulence or obesity that turn people off of Ignatius. He stands as a question to every social convention and class distinction, every rule and law, across the board. He objects to the idea of blacks becoming middle class, not because he wants to keep them down, but because he is horrified of the middle class. Likewise, his anti-feminist attitudes that are a function of his peculiar notions of sexual morality. For that matter, his sabotage and indolence on the job is a function of the fact that he does not want a job, but is forced into employment. Ignatius irritates people because he requires you to think about some of your simplest assumptions about life and morality.The comparison to Don Quixote is not a bad one, but it is far from complete. He has elements of vejk as well, and is ultimately an original. The dialect writing is on a par with any Southern writer, including Faulkner. The humor is grand, and while I keep hearing that it's being developed for the screen, my stock reaction is that I'm stunned that no one has made it into one already. Virtually every scene in it is almost designed for the screen.Toole's characters are so complete and compelling, and the situations he engineers for them are so clever and amusing, it's easy to take the book less seriously than it deserves. For a book written in the South in the 60's, it deals with a remarkable number of social issues that really didn't break through until after Toole was dead. Gay rights, the sexual revolution, feminism, social responsibility, the anti-war movement, the social safety net, geriatrics/elder-care, it's all in there. Some of it had started to break the surface by the time Toole killed himself, but he was way ahead of the curve on so many things.For that matter, Ignatius ultimately raises the question of whether society has an obligation or even the right to 'help' mental misfits who don't want help. Ignatius has to be outrageous specifically because his legal and benign idiosyncrasies are interpreted from the start as being criminal and menacing. | 45 stars
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Very Useful
I had a 10 year old copy which I used all the time and figured it was time to update to the 2012 edition. The product was in great shape when it arrived and I use it all the time. I really like the "cast index" which will tell you all the movies which some actor was in. | 45 stars
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Strategy For Marriage by Margaret Way (Large Print Mills & Boon Romance)
Description from the book back cover:Gatecrash bride! Cattle baron Ashe McKinnon discovered an uninvited guest at a family wedding - the groom's ex-girlfriend! Acting swiftly to prevent a scandal, he persuaded the gorgeous Christy Parker to become his surprise date for the occasion. Embarrassed by her impulsive urge to gatecrash the reception, Christy gratefully agreed to the pretence. But should she then have been tempted to stay at his impressive Outback home? Ashe had made it clear that any marriage to him would be on a business basis only - and Christy was fast falling for her handsome rescuer ... | 34 stars
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Action, Romance, Suspense ...
"Chasing Demons" has everything a reader could ask for: plenty of nonstop action, a wonderful love story, and breath-holding suspense that will keep you engaged in this story until the end of the book. I've been to Black Mountain, NC and can attest as to how beautiful the region is, so was pleased to see the story is based there. I hated the evil Tony and loved the bad-guy Vincent. I found myself rooting for Kendra and Garth, who are meant to be and become stronger together through their fierce love for one another. The characters felt real, and the dialogue and action scenes are the best. Fantastic book! | 45 stars
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Strengths override weaknesses
You know, everyone has said that Alexander's perfection is a weakness in this novel, but I seeing it as serving a purpose: humor. I can't tell you how amazingly hilarious it was reading about how the perfect boy prince stowed away with peasants and then single-handedly saved the village from barbarians. Or how his poignant heartache leads him to (ha!) "win a race by only two lengths, not three". With pretentious musings like those, who cares if Alexander's perfection is a dramatic weakness?Unless one considers that perfection itself is his weakness - he finds himself constantly removed from other humans. Although friendly and social, with devoted comrades, Alexander has great difficulty being intimate. His striving to "be the best" keeps him self-conscious. It's an awkward, pathetic weakness, but I found it endearing. My only gripe is that his transformation into a more worldly figure was not stretched out more in the sequel. | 45 stars
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No Table of Contents
Please be aware before you purchase this Kindle edition that it DOES NOT HAVE A TABLE OF CONTENTS. If you are reading this book for pleasure, starting at the beginning and proceeding directly, this may not be a problem. If, however, like me, you are using it for a course and/or in conjunction with a hard copy edition, this makes it virtually impossible to locate anything in the book or to navigate from chapter to chapter. You have to use successive approximations of the location number every time you want/need to change locations. Consequently, this Kindle edition is useless to me. | 01 star
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Literature, Theory and Literary Theory
I am a voracious reader and I consider myself to be a lover of good literature. I appreciate literature for all the good qualities that men and women have always appreciated it for: its ability to uplift our spirit, its virtuosic use of language, and its possibility of allowing us to explore vast physical and psychological expanses of the world. However, like most people, aside from an introductory college course or two I have never been formally exposed to literary theory. My idea of what literary theory might be was based on what theories in other intellectual disciplines were meant to do - explain in the most coherent and comprehensive way a vast amount of information. (I happen to be a theoretical physicist.) However, it seems that literary theory is a completely different beast, and has over the last century or so morphed into an abstract and self-serving intellectual metadiscipline that goes by the conceited appellation of "Theory." This short introduction is meant to be a somewhat gentle introduction to this "Theory," and to its credit it spends considerable amount of space on discussing the meaning and function of literature, various literary styles and techniques, and how some of them have evolved over the years. The book also doesn't go into depth with respect to various schools of thought that have developed within "Theory" (deconstructionism, post-structuralism, various gender/ethnic/social approaches to literature, etc.), but leaves them to a small section in the appendix. The book is overall very well written, and once you understood what is meant by literary theory these days, it is a worthwhile and instructive read. However, if you are looking for a book that will make you appreciate literature more, this is probably not the best place to start. | 34 stars
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This book rocks!
Packed with step-by-step instructions for creating drawings more efficiently and effectively. Every technique is illustrated, every tip explained and every chapter summed up in a series of "Quick Tips". I'll be using this book frequently, especially when deadlines are looming. | 45 stars
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Great
It is a short book but full of symbolism. George Orwell has written many other great books like 1984 and his writings are always interesting. | 45 stars
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Catton Follows the Army
The third book in Bruce Catton's history of the Army of the Potomac takes the narrative from the time Grant assumed command until the end of the war. This was the bloodiest period of the army's history, with more than half of all of its casualties occurring with the last year of the fighting. Catton recounts all of the great battles that helped end the war, from The Wilderness through the tragedy of Cold Harbor to the siege of Petersburg and finally to Appomattox Court House. Along the way, he documents the military genius of Ulysses S. Grant, with whom the Army of the Potomac finally had a commander with the ability and the perserverance to win the war. Catton is one of the best Civil War historians, and this is the author at his finest. | 45 stars
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Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen (Minister)
This work is in the character of Joel Osteen's presentations every Sunday. The author sets forth some simple steps to achieveself-actualization within a spiritual context. He asks that weraise expectations and set realistic boundaries. Many problemsin life happen because people don't respect boundaries of allkinds. In Hebrews 11:1, Faith is defined as evidence of thingswe can't see. Non-believers would have faith if they couldverify G-d empirically.Christ asks that we believe as a condition precedent to receiving Him into our hearts and lives. Anyone can believe after seeing materialistic evidence; however, the blessed are those who do not see yet believe. In Acts 20:35, the gospel states that " It is more blessed to give than receive." The act of giving generatesjoy and a general well-being on the part of those receivingthe benefit. At times, the giving may make a difference ina person's life or in the life of a group.A person who donates a vital organ gives life and quality of life back to the recipient. A person who donates time may bring comfort and relief to a party in distress . A party or couple who adopt a child may bring a sense of stability and order into the life of the child. A caretaker brings comfort to an elderly person in the sunset of life.The author demonstrates how the passing of the old heralds thenew. The fall of the Berlin wall brought about freedom forEastern Europe. The turn of the new century brought abouta sharper focus on the global goals for this century bothspiritual and temporal. In the Third World, the Christianchurches are growing at a rapid rate.There are many valuable proverbs and stories contained withinJoel Osteen's presentation. As such, the acquisition would bevery valuable for most students of philosophy and religion.The general public would benefit from the wisdom containedin the presentation. In addition, the work would be perfect forgenerating comparative religious discussions on the interpretation of the Old Testament and comparative theologicalpoints of view.The presentation is very much in the character of the ministryon Sunday mornings. The diction is folksy. There is an emphasison belles lettres literature with sporadic true stories oftriumphs and crises in the lives of the local church-goers.Religion is very much a way of life. It consists of a collectionof beliefs passed down over the centuries by way of the Gospels,Dead Sea Scrolls and other scholarly interfaith documentsand stories. | 45 stars
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Absolutely Magical
Nothing at all like the movie, with a few exceptions. But all in all, a beautifully written novel about love, luck, and pain.I loved the fact that the book had what the movie did not, a love story for Sally and Gillian as well as Sally's daughters. So interesting.It took me a bit to get into it, but by the time I made it to the 2nd of 3rd section I was really interested.Hoffman's use of superstitions and folklore are a nice addition and I really loved characters like Ben who were excluded from the movie. | 34 stars
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Very Entertaining!
Read this book for a book club and really enjoyed it. I never realized that Agatha Christie wrote so many mysteries. In fact, I had never read any of her books before this one. I really enjoyed it and would love to read another one of her books as well. | 45 stars
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A Classic that still reads fresh
Look, lots of 'Classics' just don't hold up over time.CATCHER IN THE RYE is just not one of those books. CATCHER IN THE RYE is the most readable and agreeable piece of angry literature around. If you are young high school or middle school student, and you have a summer reading list from which to choose **CHOOSE THIS ONE.** You will read the whole thing. You will pick it up when you wake and keep reading on the bus.Heck, even if you were just 16 years old once in your life, you will enjoy the heck out of this book.The explicit contrast between the sarcastic and critical mental life of Holden Caufield and his (generally) polite and suburban-style 'mask' with which he integrates with the world highlights the 'phoniness' and hypocrisies of a HOW-TO-MAKE-FRIENDS-AND-INFLUENCE-PEOPLE lifestyle (even if that too is a top-notch book). Without ever tipping his hat, Salinger gives us a precisely accurate view of the possible dysfunctions that evolve in overly 'polite society' when being political - or polite - causes you to not act on your impulses, and not be true to your feelings.If you have ever been frustrated as a teenager, you will enjoy enjoy enjoy the heck out of this delightfully hysterical book. | 45 stars
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Biblical Characters are Mis-represented
I recognize that this is a work of fiction, but it would seem that the author should be true to the documented descriptions of her characters in the Bible. In an effort to tell an interesting story, the author has portrayed many of the characters to be people they never were. If one is going to write a ficitonal novel about this time in history, perhaps one should use fictional characters. Because I have read and studied Genesis, I found it difficult to reconcile the information that I knew to be truth with the story written by Diamant. As I read, I often thought "This is a lie". While the story was well written, I strongly disapprove of the author's inaccurate description of many of her real life characters. | 12 stars
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Disappointed
This book made some good points reminding me others share my situation. It just didn't give me any help in dealing with it. | 01 star
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New Fan/Something Different
What a good read, this book had me wanting to read more. I started with the first Feline Breed and ended with this third book. I couldn't stop reading and had a great desire to find out what happen next. The feline breeds were so good I'm going to continue to read the others. Who know what else is in store for the other breeds, I can't wait to fine out.Updated: 01/23/2012 12:41 A.M. Eastern Time | 45 stars
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A must read for all!
This book is a help all that will introduce topics most have never thought of. It is a must read for anyone i the people business! | 45 stars
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Some old favorites
As a child, I loved Little Women and Little Men, but as I grew older, I also enjoyed some of Alcott's lesser known writing, so I was thrilled to find them all in one e-book. Alcott wrote during a time when people believed in God, thought parenting included teaching children to overcome their faults, and worked on correcting their own personality flaws, so these may not be for everyone. There's no sex, no "colorful" language, no drugs, only a mention of alcohol, and the romance scenes are few and very tame by today's standards. But they're good stories, some better than others, and if you liked Little Women (probably the best known) you'll probably like some, at least, of the others. | 45 stars
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A wonderful book about a compelling time in our history
I was captivated by this book - couldn't put it down! I had read a lot of Civil War history, but this book had so many details that I hadn't read elsewhere. Reading about the condition of the Confederate army in April 1865 and about the graceful way Lee and Grant handled the surrender ... it was awesome. The book gave detailed biographies of Lee, Grant, and all the other officers, and there were so many things I found enthralling about them all that I hadn't previously known. Lincoln's assassination is told in all its heartbreak and sadness. I loved this book and its wonderful story of our nation in April 1865, and will read it again and again. | 45 stars
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This man loves the holy land
With every word, every phrase, Israel Shamir displays his loveof the holy land. I've read lots of books on the Middle East,but this is - by far - the most compelling. I really cannotexpress how important this book is to me, so I'll include aquote from Nick Pretzlick, which I agree with wholeheartedly:"Israel Shamir is in love with the Holy Land. He has apassion for the land and its people; he believes thetwo are umbilically linked. For him there is only oneviable solution to the conflict that has ravaged theregion for so long and that is the one state solution.Shamir is a humanist and although he is scathing aboutPalestine's enemies - the Jewish elite - he takespride in and writes lovingly about the courageousJews, who resist Israeli crimes.Flowers of Galilee is a collection of essays, so fullof affection - such an elegy of love - that, readingit for the first time, I felt impelled to delay theturning of pages, preferring instead to linger overimages - to savour the sentiments.Shamir does not pull any punches. He challengesconventional thinking, but he does so with honesty,affection and such thorough understanding andknowledge that his outspokenness is reasonable andrational. Flowers of Galilee is an eye opener - alearning experience. It is also enchanting." | 45 stars
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My daughter is "hopping and yelling "OLE"
This book is so much fun to read to my 3 year old. She loves the part when Mabel is hopping and yelling OLE. It makes her laugh every time she hears it. This book is well-written, fun, and has bright, colorful illustrations. Bring on more Mabel stories!!! Loved this one! | 45 stars
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What is....is
We all know that if you keep you mind focused on good, you receive back good. I have known cancer victims that would not focus on their sickness but only good, to great benefit to themselves, I believe.That old saying is so true...what is...is. It is as easy as that.Oh the power of the mind. | 45 stars
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Pendergast is at it again!
"Hazen found himself marveling at the geometrical precision with which the circle had been formed. At one end of the clearing stood a miniature forest of sharpened sticks, two to three feet high, pushed into the earth, their cruel-looking ends pointed upward. At the precise middle of the clearing stood a circle of dead crows spitted on stakes. Only they weren't stakes, but Indian arrows, each topped by a flaked point. There were at least a couple dozen of the birds, maybe more, their vacant eyes staring, yellow beaks pointing inward.And in the center of this circle of crows lay the corpse of a woman."Medicine Creek, Kansas is the last place in the world where one would expect a serial killer to show up. In fact, the local police chief refuses to believe that it is one, just as he refuses to believe that the killer is local. Medicine Creek is a tiny town, swiftly dying as farmers slowly sell out to the big corn raising conglomerate Buswell Agricon. The only thing special that Medicine Creek has is Krause's Kaverns, a tourist attraction that has dried up along with the town, and the curse of the Forty Fives.FBI Special Agent Pendergast enters this scene, and it isn't long before he is convinced that the killer is both serial and local. As the murders pile up, he realizes that this killer doesn't have a pattern, or any definable motivation -- the killer is of a type that Pendergast has never seen before. Pendergast, who has already begun making enemies of Sheriff Hazen, makes things worse when he hires Corrie to be his driver and assistant. A purple haired teen whose boredom has lead her to do things like steal an occasional car, she can't wait to get out of Medicine Creek. Despite her practiced "I don't give a ..." attitude, Pendergast soon draws her in, fascinating her with his weird but astute methods of investigation. They make an odd pair...the Goth Chick meets Hannibal Lecter with a conscious, but it works incredibly well. You begin to genuinely care about Corrie, and Pendergast finds himself in a situation that he seems to really enjoy, because he seems to truly respect her. I think both the reader and Pendergast enjoy watching her bloom, going from a rebel without a point to a young woman who sees the positive possibilities of her future.The Hannibal Lecter description may displease some long time fans of Agent Pendergast. I mean no insult...I like a lot of characters, but something about this man has really caught my interest. He embodies all the "good" things that you see in Lecter, the things that draw you in...the incredible charm, the extremely sharp intellect, the powers of reasoning and deduction and the understanding of the darker side of man are all things you can say that both men have...not to mention refined (and picky) palates. Pendergast goes beyond this...he has both a conscious and a quest, and is willing to spend his life tracking down these intelligent maniacs, and in doing this, saving lives. His cool, distant demeanor might come off as inspired by another famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, save that, at least in this book, he's not acerbic. He's too smooth, too elegant to use his wits to cut. At least not too much. In short, he's the kind of person you would like to admire...refined, chivalrous even, and dedicated. You get to spend much more time with him in this book than in Cabinet of Curiosities, another aspect of this book that I rather enjoyed.The story itself is nearly impossible to put down. The murders are quite frightening, the plotting ingenious...and when I discovered the reasoning behind it all, I was very creeped out. There are many amazing scenes, including one at a turkey plant that will change the way you see the food that arrives at your table. This duo really knows how to tell a story, adding in many elements to take it from a simple detective tale to a full blown experience. | 45 stars
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great book - best I've ever read
first rate writing - story remains relevant to today's times - insightful re history of that time. highly recommend even if a long read - didn't want it to end. | 45 stars
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Excellent
I always love Barbara Taylor Bradford books. This one is another winner. I have read just about all of her books at least once and look forward to reading her next one. | 45 stars
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THIS STUFF IS REAL
A FRIEND OF MINE INTRODUCE ME TO THIS BOOK THE NECRONOMICON SPELL BOOK, THOUGH I HAVEN'T DONE ANY SPELLS YET,I HAD IT FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS NOW HIDDEN FROM EVERYONE ELSE ANYWAYS WHEN EVER I GET THE BOOK OUT I GET THIS EERIE FEELINGS EVEN WHEN I JUST PLACE THE BOOK ON MY DESK FOR ABOUT A MOMENT,ONE NIGHT WHEN I HAD THE BOOK OUT THE POWER WENT OUT FOR ABOUT A SACOND. FOR MY EXPERIANCE ABOUT THE NECRONOMICOM SPELL BOOK ITS PRETTY POWERFUL. THIS IS NOT A SCHOOL BOY BOOK THIS STUFF IS REAL. CARFULL OUT THERE TREAT IT WITH REPECT AND HONOR IT. | 34 stars
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Ridiculously enjoyable. Should be illegal.
Witness profundity stunningly aproportionate with length! This treatise boggles the mind with its premise, the plausbility of conceptualizing higher dimensions. With fanatical brilliance, this book elucidates on the transdimensionalism underlying spacetime, superstrings, and other theories central to modern physics. But even more, even more, it's an appealing story. If you read and loved _The Phantom Toolbooth_, or have an even passing interest in mathematics, herein will you find the sublime | 45 stars
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Book Reviews Shouldn't be Political
It's a sad day on Amazon when book reviews become a forum for political grandstanding. "Living History" is a well written first person account of one woman's opinion about having been center stage for eight prosperous, tumultuous and, indeed, interesting American years. Great family photographs, too. A short and good autobiographical history. Mrs. Clinton's book will absolutely, positively and unequivocally outlive her political adversaries. | 45 stars
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"The Skin of Our Teeth" is an amazing play!
I just saw the revival of "The Skin of Our Teeth" for free as part of the New York Shakespeare Festival in Central Park, and I can't begin to tell you how extraordinary it was! I immediately ran out and bought the play, in this edition of "3 Plays," and hearing it again in my head, I'm convinced that this is one of the best American plays I've ever come across. It is crazy and funny and complex; it reaches the heart and asks profound questions, from the meaning of life to the boundaries of theatre. Depicting the resilience and perseverance of the Antrobus family, who, along with their maid Sabina (a great, great part), represent all of humanity, "The Skin of Our Teeth" reminds us that, in spite of war and flood and all misery, "we have to go on for ages and ages yet." An awesome play. | 45 stars
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Absolutely Beautiful
The context of this novel is not nerely as important as the amazing manner in which it is written. Some people find the dialect confusing, and sometimes it can be, but in the end it only served to enrich to the story. The main character, Janie's need to "go to the horizon and back" and her stuggle to find the life she wants is told perfectly, and, unlike other Harlem Renaissance works, it is something that everyone of every race can learn from and relate to. | 45 stars
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An Exceptional Novel
Betty Smit's book, A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN is wonderful! I read the book for the first time eight months ago. Since then, I have read this masterpeice two times, and each time, it gets better! I recomend this book to all people, young or old, or want to read a wonderful book. | 45 stars
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IT'S STILL HAPPENING HERE
A product of the later and less inspired period of Mr. Lewis' creative life. Still, very interesting and surprisingly relevant if seemingly sloppy in execution. Worth the read! | 23 stars
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Fantastic!
This book is veery interesting, funny, and exciting. If you like fantasy books, you'll LOVE this book! I thought this was a great story. I just couldn't put it down. I suggest that everybody should read this. So, if you choose to read one book, read this! | 45 stars
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I don't know what art is, but I know what I am told to like.
Tom Wolfe is the master of cunning expose. With history and humor he describes the New York City Art scene in the 1960s.The politics and posturing of art figures trying to "legitimize" their art philosophy was ripe with hilarity. Art itself was secondary to the press agent. Guru's would write art credos and then hunt down bohemians to fit the bill. Guru's would fight among themselves the real definition of Art. The more outlandish, the more embraced.The art that stirs emotion, brings pleasure, or tells a universal truth will stand the test of time.I've seen the Jackson Pollack documentary and understand that it took a certain skill to produce his many works, but do you want #27 hanging on your wall in the den? | 45 stars
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Spike you have really dropped the ball and let us down
Malcolm X is one of my favorite movies ever, a classic film that puts all of Spike's and Ernest's talents into one enjoyable, visually and stylistically spectacular piece.and then they completely crap on all of it with this disc.THE GREATST FLAW (and fatal flaw) of this disc is to have the film broken up into TWO PARTS! on TWO DIFFERENT DISCS! WHAT IN THE BLUE HELL IS GOING ON?!?!?!?!this is simply inexcusable. if i wanted to change discs, i would be watching a laser disc. in 1985.i can't possibly imagine how this made it past discussion and into production. the movie just comes to an abrubt halt, and then asks for disc 2.yet you have two documentaries and other extras, also split between the discs. has the universe gone retarded, or why did they not put the film on one disc, and the extras on the second?!?! unbelievable, and SO disappointing.the second complaint would be the inclusion of the clothing stylist on the commentary track. she just LOVES to interrupt classic scenes with comments on how she chose a pair of socks for a third level character. rambling on and on. good grief. she did a great job on production design, granted, but i want to hear from Spike and Ernest, the cinematographer. i want to hear about the scenes themselves, about the classic "Spike" touch and technique, and after years of waiting for a commentary track, classic scenes don't have Spike's comments, but some completely irrelevant comments about an antique store that had this lamp, it was a charming store, they had lots of nice items, blah blah blah. ruined.i can only hope Spike has been kidnapped and replaced by a retarded robot, and that someday he will escape his evil captors and redo this disc as it should be done. | 01 star
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Another great one
Truly Maurice Sendak is gifted in writing stories for kids. This one I also read to each of my kids when they were young from the 22 year old to the 2 year old. We love this book! | 45 stars
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The Little Friend disappoints
"The Little Friend" is ultimately disappointing in its lack of plot development and resolution. (Or is it supposed to be about a fifteen-year-old's summer fling with existentialism, in which we probably cannot expect a final resolution?) Harriet is a well developed, understandable character; however, this is not true of the other characters, which seem for the most part to be one faceted. A disappointing read.(It was also surprising to find that the author's use of the verb "lay" would not pass an eighth grade grammar test!) | 12 stars
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Amazing Insights to Urban Life
Took this book due to requirements of a course but found myself very engrossed to finish the book beyond course requirements. Author presents very diverse issues and perspectives to issues in urban life. There is a lot of appreciation to the cityscape in political and economic terms. It just makes you feel like these are things you see everyday in a city but fail to see why before this book. It's like peering into a painting and finally understanding how the artist created it. This is looking at your neighbourhood and realising the forces that shape the way your city look and feels like. Buy it! | 45 stars
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This book does not contain the 1855 edition!
While I adore the first edition of Leaves of Grass, this book is not as advertised. I definitely encourage you to buy it in another edition. I returned mine with a note, so hopefully Amazon will change the description soon. | 01 star
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This Book Makes You Stop And Think!!!
133 was referred to me by a friend, I love a good cop story but this was more than just another cop story. It was about the truth and the darkside of America's underworld. This story was tragic and sad yet it was exciting and it even had a love story. People have told me that it's a true story and that all of the things in the book really happened. If they did I'm glad that there's guy's like Robert Sprueill out there sacraficing everything they have to give us a better life. | 45 stars
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A real classic. Deeper meaning on every page. A must read
This book is so enchanting that once started it can never be put down. There is so much imagery and so much to take at face value. I highly recommend this book | 45 stars
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The story continues...
Some of you readers of "Last of the Mohicans" might be interestested in knowing a juicy little tidbit. I just happened to be browsing through books in the library and came across a book by Sara Donati entitled "Into the Wilderness". What caught my attention was a review by my absolutely all time favorite author, Diana Gabaldon. She has a review on the cover of this book that states "One of those rare stories that let you breathe the air of another time, and leave your footprints on the snow of a wild, strange place". So I checked it out figuring if Diana Gabaldon endorses this book I have to read it. And as I begin this book, imagine my surprise as I'm introduced to the stories characters... a much older Hawkeye and his very elderly adoptive father...Chingachgook! This story, "Into the wilderness" is the sequel to last of the Mohicans and is the story of Hawkeye's and Cora's son Nathaniel. I'm only a quarter of the way through it and enjoying it very much. I can not compare to the book "last of the Mohicans" because I only saw the movie but in my opinion, Sara is a good writer and I am enjoying the continuation of a great story and interesting characters. I understand Nathaniel's and Elizabeth's story continues in a third book entitled "Dawn on a distant shore" coming out in March of 2000. Just thought some of you might be interested. Also if any of you are interested in the best series of books of all time...read Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager and The Drums of Autumn. I can promise one and all, You WILL NOT be dissappointed. I couldn't put them down and eagerly await the 5th book in the series. | 34 stars
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Clarke At His Best
Let me start out by saying that this is the sixth or seventh Clarke novel that I've read and that, with the possible exception of2001: A Space Odyssey, it's my favorite and the one I found most awe-inspiring. I think the secret to Clarke's best work is that he is perhaps science fiction's most gifted minimalist; instead of bogging the reader down with unnecessary jargon and info dumps, he writes in a crystal-clear style that gives the impression that you are looking at his brilliantly-imagined cityscapes and landscapes through a window rather than reading about them in a book. He also has the gift of defying expectations - I knew at the beginning of this book that he was going to take his protagonist on a great adventure; to say that that adventure went far, far beyond what I had expected is a vast understatement.Give this one a go. If you are already a Clarke fan, I can pretty much guarantee you will enjoy it. If you are not, it may very well make you one. | 34 stars
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Just terrible
I read this book with great anticipation because I love crosswords and mysteries. What a horrible disappointment. The characters are poorly developed, the dialogue is not realistic at all and the worst part -- which ironically is the most important part of a mystery -- the slick, and a reader would hope, clever, unraveling of the solution is far from either.Every one of the short stories sputters along and then the "solution" is thrown at the reader like a bag of soggy oatmeal. Clumsy and unsatisfying.Steer clear of this fiasco. The only reason I give it more than one star is because I still like the premise -- I just wish the authors were more respectful of their readers. | 12 stars
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A deeply moving work
This is a rich work whose central theme is the meaning of true humanity. It is the story of a Jew who knows the worst inhumanity in the destruction of his family in the Holocaust( Shoah) and is tested as to the possibility of coming back to life through his meetings in the new world. It is a tightly written and in a way poetic narrative, troubling and moving. A very highly recommended work. | 45 stars
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Wow, this is an amazing book
Lani Garver is a mystery to everyone on the small island. No one knows anything about him; not even if he is a boy or a girl. Claire, the main character, becomes friends with him, much to the horror of her other friends. Soon Claire begins to realize that things aren't always as they seem. Does Lani just enjoy being different? Is he gay? Or is he a floating angel?This was one of the best books I've read in a while. It explores the danger of 'sticking out' and also gay bashing. The ending made me cry because the book was very emotional and written so well. | 45 stars
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COOLEST WORLD EVER
THE ONLY THING THAT SUX ABOUT THIS BOOK IS THAT I REALLY REALLY WISH I COULD GO VISIT ITS WORLD. I LOVE ALL THE FAIRY AND MAGIC STUFF AND THE WRITER IS MAD COOL. READ THIS BOOK - PRONTO!!! | 45 stars
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A Book You Can't Put Down
I read this book over and over again. The author Kenneth Thomasma actually came to our school when I was young, and read this story out loud. I have a signed copy of this book, and I am sharing it with my children now. I highly recommend this book to everyone - young and old! | 45 stars
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So Far THE BEST YET!
I just bought The Brethren right when it hit the shelves, and I have read the first six chapters! It is absolutely THE BEST Grisham Book Ever, and I know that because I have read the other 10. There is a twist in the book that is not in the book cover, and it is worth reading for. I will give you a hint, it has to do with November 2.THIS IS THE BEST GRISHAM BOOK EVERUSA TODAY IS WRONG!BUY IT AND YOU WILL SEE! | 45 stars
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Fantastic!!!!
A wonderful book! Maple has been described as "the force" in CAS with Mathematica described as "the dark force". This wonderful book brings Mathematica into the light. | 45 stars
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Stuart Woods is probably my favorite author.
Great read. Couldn't put it down as with many of his books. Just love Will, Stone, Holly, and the rest. | 45 stars
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You can fool all of the people some of the time...
The people of the Carolina Isles fall into two categories: The elite and the trash from the other side of the tracks. Cousins Ariel and Sara are, of course, refined people of class. Sara temporally lost her social status when her mother made a love match with one of the world's ordinary working schmucks and got disinherited. Now Sara has to actually work for a living. She is employed as the personal assistant to a Donald Trump-type. Many women would kill for a glamour job like this even though it entails long hours. Not Sara. Sara doesn't think it's fair that she should have to work so dog gone hard for the generous salary she receives. The heart rending descriptions of her work--going to parties, meeting the rich and famous, acting as hostess, traveling--had shivers of horror rippling down my spine.Cousin Ariel has her sites set on the Donald-type. It's her idea to trade places with Sara in order to stalk the tycoon up close and personal. What a wonderful idea. Sara jumps at the chance to finally live in the lap of luxury that generations of good breeding have entitled her to. So, the swap is made and not even Mom can tell it's not her own daughter dearest coming home to the family mansion.I am ashamed to admit I got to about page 70 in this book before pitching it in the Good Will bag. What was I thinking? But Jude Deveraux did teach me a few things. I learned Jude is a bigot. And I learned I'm not high society material. Bummer. | 01 star
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Great Book
Couldn't put it down. A biography that reads like historical fiction... only the real deal. (I know, that sounds shallow... but Robert Caro nails that sweet spot between being an accurate recorder of history and storytelling.) I was never all that interested in Johnson... considered him a footnote between Kennedy and Nixon. This book... this series of books... changed that for me. | 45 stars
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Laurie Paige Delivers
This is the first book of the Coltons I have read. Laurie Paige grabs you from the get go and doesn't let go. I finished in a couple hours because I just hade to know. I highly recomend this page turner and any more to come. | 45 stars
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Longers book ever
I think that the movie "War of the Worlds" the new one was not base on the book. Even though the movie was really tense and had some awesome graphics. It had almost nothing to do with the story, I mean I would like the movie to start off with the beginning of the story where they look at a meteor and do not now that they are under attack. And even when they fired at earth, they acted like nothing happen. But the part when the cylinder space ship landed and every one looked and just stood around and, BAAM! The ship just came out of the ground with all the green smoke and starter vaporizing everyone, and the book even explains how the beams of light work. Like super hot rays of light that could turn steel into butter. Everything is so detailed and ever though the book is fiction we might used these ideas for modern plans and how the aliens looked with big eyes and no chin; with pail gray skin. I recommend this book to any one, but don't be surprise if it does not run with the movie. But don't take it from me read it your self... | 45 stars
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A blessing for our family
Though I'm long-since grown-up by now, the serious issues and baggage of coming of age in a blended family continues to haunt all of us. I bought copies of this book and brought them home with me for the holidays, and now family members have been writing to me all month long with ways we can move forward, together, as a family, in the long and involved process of mending old wounds. It may be a healing process via Email, but we're healing nonetheless! Thanks so much, Moe & Paige! | 45 stars
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A Must for NASB Updated Bible Owners!
When NASB first came out, it was widely popular for Bible Studies because of its emphasis on literal translation from original Hebrew and Greek. Therefore NASB has been hailed as most accurate English Bible to date. Now, the NASB has been updated in 1995, modernizing some words and enhancing grammatical structure for readibility without compromising original NASB's accuracy.And Zondervan has been wonderful for providing NASB Updated owners with its excellent Exhaustive Concordance! As many believers know, the value of exhaustive concordance is indiscribable for personal Bible Study. When Strong's Exhaustive Concordance for KJV came out, it revolutionalized the Bible Study and made believers' life much easier. Likewise, for NASB users, this is most valuable asset next to the Bible itself.1. The Strongest NASB Exhaustive Concordance (SNEC) is the ONLY Exhaustive Concordance out there for NASB. Initially, it was published by Foundation Publisher, but they sold the rights to Zondervan who actually made the concordance much better: (a) in more clear typeset. (b) in smaller size and weight than the previous one. (c) in overall quality (of cover design, binding, and the paper).2. SNEC is must have because: (a) It lists ALL the words of the NASB updated in alphabetical order with corresponding Bible references, so that you can quickly find the word(s) of the Bible easily. (b) It also includes the Strong's number for each word of the NASB. This is important for those who use additional Strong's references. You can use Strong's references without using KJV. (c) It includes corresponding Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries for each NASB word [each entry is numbered with Strong's number]. This will help the readers know how the original word is used [and translated] in NASB -- providing insightful shades of meaning of the original. (d) Helpful instructions are given for use of the concordance and dictionaries.In sum, if you own NASB Updated, then you need this tool for serious Bible Study. I love using it and I am confident that you will too. | 45 stars
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land development
This is a thorough and comprehensive handbook for anyone contemplating a serious task in land development | 45 stars
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Blood in My Eye
Fast shipping!! Will definitely do business again!! The book was packaged safetly and was in great condition!! | 45 stars
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Excellent primer and reference
This book does a good job of teaching you servlets. Each chapter's snippets of code are useful as a reference on their own; The pseudo e-commerce example at the end of the book helps tie everything together.I would have liked to have seen more information on JSP, but the fact that the author personally responded to a JSP question I had sums up the quality of this book. | 45 stars
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Fun-to-read book, but it needs to be updated.
I ordered this book and read it with eager anticipation.However, I still haven't made money with it.And I'm planning to use it on FOREX, not on stocks.In the beginning of the book, the author points out mistakes that I actually have made. So that got me interested because I agreed with the author.Then he talks about his box system.The idea is that he abandoned any fundamental analysis and just looked for stocks that (for unknown reasons) happen to be STEADILY (day after day) rising in price. The strength of Darvas'es system is not in some special indicators, but in trading WELL BEHAVED stocks.Here is what I like about the book:1) He doesn't use ANY technical indicators, not even a moving average. He just uses "boxes" - trading ranges, defined by support/resistance lines. No moving averages, no MACD, no Bollinger bands... nothing! Just volume and price ranges ("boxes"). Because he doesn't use indicators, his system is simple.2) It's very humorous that he advises to trade long term, and not trade short term ("don't jump in and out of the market like a grasshopper"). I agree with him. On the short term charts, the profits are smaller and the trader needs to spend more time monitoring the trade.3) I believe that his "box" system can be used in the FOREX market, for example trading the GBP/USD on the 1 hour chart.4) The book is funny and he even talks about his girlfriend Julia, who sometimes is cheating on him.5) In the search engine Google, under the "image search", I found pictures of Nicolas Darvas and his dancing partner Julia.6) In the international movie database imdb, I found information that Darvas and Julia actually star in a 1950's movie called "Toast of the Town". They play themselves. (This is not related to trading, but I think it's funny trivia.)7) The book gives me hope that I too may become rich, although this will not happen soon.Here is what I don't like about the book:1) He doesn't talk about the FOREX market. This is because in Darvas'es time, the FOREX didn't exist yet.2) He is saying that the London Stock Exchange doesn't provide enough info to be used with his system. This is old information, because the London Stock exchange does provide enough information now.3) He believes that volume breakouts can help you find stocks that will go up. However, I don't think that volume is a very strong indicator. (And in FOREX there is no volume data available).4) He states that if you have less than $5,000 you shouldn't get started trading. This is old news. There are mini accounts, both FOREX and CFD, where you can start with only $500, or even less.5) The book is an autobiography, not a trading tutorial.Overall: buy and try this book. But I personally will apply it on the FOREX market, because the FOREX gives me more leverage, liquidity and 24 hr trading. I just "made" more than 700 pips on a GBP/USD long trade. But it is only in my demo account for now. Hopefully, when I'm fully confident, I'll do it with real money.P.S. In case you didn't know, Nicolas Darvas died in 1977. | 23 stars
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review
The style of writing of the 1700's is very difficult for a person of the 2000's. I will finish it. Eventually I will grasp the whole book. He did lead a very interesting life and accomplished a great many things. | 12 stars
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WHAT WOULD HOLDEN DO?
After reading some of these reviews I was moved to write one myself. Many of the reviews are obviously from kids who identify with Holden's confusion and desire to do the right thing. It's a great book, to say the least, but I remember the first time I read it. I came away feeling like Holden, depressed.Holden wants to know what makes people do the horrible things they do. Like Holden I too asked those questions and I see that many of the young people who have written reviews here are asking the same questions.For answers try: HOW TO SAVE AMERICA AND THE WORLD. It was written after many years of asking Holden-like questions in the same nave and innocent manner. Perhaps Holden would agree with some of the explanations for our world's problems!Joseph Francione [author of HOW TO SAVE AMERICA AND THE WORLD] | 45 stars
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Most disappointing
I found this story to be implausible on many levels. It's hard to imagine that a seemingly smart, strong, and savy woman with a secret, that if revealed, would devastate her family, would allow herself to become involved with a reporter determined to uncover the truth, just because he was so good looking. I don't want to say what else I found hard to believe, because to do so would give away too much of the plot. Suffice it to say that the ending was not plausible. | 01 star
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One of his finest
I've read lots of Vonnegut and frankly I thought this was one of his lesser works. Boy, was I wrong. Here we have Vonnegut at his most focused on a long time, tearing off page after page that will make you laugh and stop and think at the same time. The story is basically the autobiography of an obscure artist character in Breakfast of Champions, but here he turns Rabo into someone you might think is real, so does his humor and pain cascade off the page. He bounces back and forth between his past and his present at his mansion where he just wants to be left alone, in the great Vonnegut tradition (and he doesn't need time travel this time out), comparing and contrasting the worst moments of his life with the best and trying to figure out what it all means. To me, this is one of Vonnegut's most human novels, his sense of satire and wit are still apparent and sharp but the entire story isn't devoted to Vonnegut making some barbed point about us and society as a whole, it's there but there's more time put into having get to know Rabo has someone who might live down the street from us. I devoured this book and found myself satisified, even the long anticipated secret of what lies in the potato barn was well worth the suspense (and it really is), this is the most fun I've had with a Vonnegut book in long time. Probably one of his more obscure works, it deserves to be read along with his other classics. It may not reach those peaks but it comes darn close. | 45 stars
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A Great Book From An Important Perspective
Noah Lukeman's book provides a look at writing from a very important perspective, and a number of important reminders for writers at any level. While most of us are fond of sayings like "when you start worrying about getting published, you might as well stop writing", the truth is there's no point in creating a story if it's not going to be shared. And who better to help show the most important things to watch out for than someone who spends his days rejecting manuscripts?Perhaps the thing I like most about this book is that there are constant reminders that writing is an art form. Sometimes we forget that, sometimes we say what we've created is "good enough" when we've only half-revised it. Mr. Lukeman gives numerous little reminders that "good enough" is never, really good enough.The greatest flaw in the story are the examples he gives for each of the flaws you need to watch for. The problem is that he makes the issue far too obvious. If he had spent the time to make a subtler example, it would have served much better in showing how to weed these items out of your own work.Overall, The First Five Pages is an excellent work, and belongs on every writer's bookshelf. | 34 stars
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There's a reason it's hard to get.
I've always enjoyed The Lord of the Rings and when I decided to purchase a new set (because mine had gone missing and I was dying for a re-read) I couldn't find one better than the Millennium Edition. A must-have for true fans in my opinion. | 45 stars
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New Food of Life
Very well written and illustrated. Easy to follow recipes specially for a non native Iranian. Helps you use ingredients that you can find in the USA. | 45 stars
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Laugh and Cry!!!
This was the first book I read by Francine Rivers and I have been hooked ever since. This is a fantastic book that I have shared with many friends over the years. What a delight youth and age-- coming together. I read this while my husband was driving us across country. I could not control my self from laughing so hard! Leota had me rolling with laughter and of course there were some tears. I really wanted a different ending but it was more true to life. It was a beautiful love story, reunion, comedy and current life situations! | 45 stars
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this is a -999999999999999999999999999999999999999 star book
this book was worse than average than average. that is really bad. dont read it. watch tv instead. 1 star was the worst allowed | 01 star
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What I think of this book
Well written, found it hard to put down at times. It really brings out the meaning of true friendship. Also shows that the color of your skin doesn't mean anything nor, does it matter where friendship comes into play. | 23 stars
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Sweet
It's been difficult for me to find I book in a long time that has captured my attention the way this book did. I felt myself rooting for JJ (Jemima) the entire way through!! Although I had some difficulties at first with Jemima being attracted to really over-the-top gorgeous men, I got over it. Atleast Ben was a little more than just a beautiful face.I felt that I could relate to Jemima even though I've never really had a huge problem with my weight. I think we all need to be aware of comfort eating. | 34 stars
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If you could only buy one book on manufacturing .....
This book couldn't have been better if Moses himself had brought it down from the mountain along with the Ten Commandments. I started to highlight the most important and relevant points but, unfortunately, began to run out of ink well into the second chapter. Despite the technical nature of the subject matter, the book is easily read and digested. The formulae and calculations are presented in a manner that is quickly comprehended by both engineers and nonengineers alike. This is one great book!!!...Perhaps five stars are not enough. | 45 stars
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Almost everything you need for TMB
Although you can comfortably carry this book in a larger pocket, it contains almost every information you need while doing the Tour de Mont Blanc. This comprehensive guidebook describes the tour in the both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions. The suggested itineraries would suit most hikers. Since the book focuses on the Tour of Mont Blanc itself, it includes only few side trips. If you have time for more side trips, you should complement this book with either a local guidebook in French or a good topographic map.Maps in the book are simple, but useful. I have found them sufficient for most parts of the tour, but they did not help much in few rather confusing places. That is why I sometimes used a real topographic map along with the ones included in the guidebook. Description of trails could be more detailed, but there is an obvious trade-off between the amount of information and the weight of a book. I think the author chose the most practical solution of this trade-off.The book also offers useful information on accommodation. Both brief descriptions of the "refuges" and the phone numbers (or e-mail addresses whenever available) are up to date. Prices are missing, but you will need to call those places in advance anyway because booking is strongly advised on this popular trek.Finally, the book also covers various interesting topics, from weather to ATMs. My only criticism here is that the author had mostly the British readers in mind while writing about flights and health insurance. Since the book has become the most popular guidebook among the English-speaking hikers, I hope the next edition will be slightly more international.I gave this book five stars because it is the most helpful and comprehensive guidebook about the Tour of Mont Blanc I have ever seen. If you try this trek for the first time, "The Tour of Mont Blanc (Mountain Walking)" will make it much easier and more enjoyable. Given that, the price is ridiculously small. | 45 stars
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He Mele Aloha!
To all the uke players out there beginner or advanced and anything in between, you'll find that this book is pretty helpful and easy to use. If you're into hawaiian music, this is the book for you! I have purchased this book several times as gifts. | 34 stars
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David is the best
Wow! this is just great, I love The Vampire chronicles and this is just one of the best.I think that David Taldot is the perfect vampire to continue on the journey to write the chronicles.Mrs. Rice keep up the good work. Thank you very much for this new adventure. | 45 stars
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Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!! The best ever
I have read all the series of the Diana Gabaldon books they are best time traveling books I have ever read! I would reccomend any and all of these books to anyone to read. She keeps your attention threw the whole book, and makes you want to pick up the next volume as soon as you are done with the first. Had to wait a few years for the last book to come out but it was worth the wait for me. Truly an outstanding author of our times. | 45 stars
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A beautifully written gem
I am in awe of this novel. I did not want to put it down once I began reading it. Not only is it beautifully crafted and elegantly written, it is a story that is incredibly compelling on a subject matter I thought I had very little interest in. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough.I heard the author speak at a local bookstore, and she was as wonderful and eloquent as the book itself. She did an incredible amount of research to make this book as historically accurate as possible. She has led a fascinating life herself. | 45 stars
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Funny, but very very true!!!
Lolita, I could buy you lunch! I thought this book was soo good! I borrowed my sisters, but now I am buying it for my shelf! You and Sheneska Jackson are my Two favorites! This book shed some light on us sistah's with the "untouchable" attitude. This is a must read for anyone looking forward to moving to the "Motherland" (Meaning=ATLANTA) Thank You Ms Files, The book was truly great!!! | 45 stars
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Too Bad...
I loved the "idea" of this book, and after trudging through the beginning, was finally pulled along by some really clever writing...but man o man after "Shiz," it was sluggish and I, unlike the reader who didn't want it to end, could not believe I was still turning pages and the damned thing wouldn't! The same story could have been written in half the words. And it could have been tighter. We still never understood who exactly Yackle was, whether Grommetik murdered the Goat, if Fiyero was still alive. And we were left in the cold with undeveloped characters like Nor and Liir and even Glinda. There were so many questions and allusions that kept me reading in hopes of some resolution, long after I was ready to call it quits. But they were never answered! In sum, this story was like a sieve, the good and the bad all mixed together but in the end falling through the holes like so much sand. | 12 stars
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Astronomer history
The Sleepwalkers I find to be a very useful and informative addition to my bibliography for a presentation on Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton. Highly recommended to those interested in these individuals and their contributions to the world of knowledge. | 45 stars
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Separate the Tent from the Bible
Dinah of the Bible was only mentioned in passing, but Diamant has taken her and given her a face, a personality and the trappings of being human. The Red Tent is a richly detailed look into the lives of Dinah and all those who surround her - from her father Jacob who was almost sacrificed to God, to her brother Joseph who was sold into slavery in Egypt. The familiar stories woven into what might have happened behind them. As a Christian, it was a delight to identify key happenings of the Bible in this novel and visualise the tale from another perspective. Read it even if you are not a believer. Of the hundreds of books I've read this year, The Red Tent is among the handful that will be treasured, recommended and be read again and again. | 45 stars
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Looking forward to Volume 2
I agree with all the other reviews, this is a really good book. Half way through the book, I found myself looking forward to getting some free time to read another chapter, and it was harder and harder to put down as you get towards the end. There are tons of characters, which I found a difficult time keeping track of, but I concentrated on the main ones, at least the ones I thought were important. Come the last chapter I discovered I was duped, and one that seemed unimportant ends up being a Benedict Arnold. I had to go back and see if I missed the signs (I'm not telling you who).I would adives picking this book up for a good story. I know as soon as volume 2 comes out, I'll be in line to buy it. | 34 stars
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Great Book
I recently read this book and and I am very impressed. The book lets you visualize things very well, has a simple but good storyline, and is very touching. I recommend it. | 45 stars
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Robin Light--A Lightheaded Heroine
The basic theme in Barbara Block's Twister is the well-worn "amateur girl detective" storyline. Robin Light, a "...hip outrageous redhead...with a soft spot for puppies, parakeets, bunnies and boas..." and owner of the Noah's Ark petshop in Syracuse, New York, becomes mired in a murder case when she accompanies her rich, stylish friend, Lynn Gordon , to the "wrong side of town" to retrieve something Lynn has given to "some guy." Robin follows Lynn into an abandoned house and finds her kneeling over a dead body--the man from whom Lynn was reclaiming the "something." There are actually two cases in this book that Robin solves, the whodunit of the murdered man, and also a rash of several stolen dog complaints that are plaguing the city. Place the entire story in the sweltering city of Syracuse, New York, and Block has a recipe for what promised to be an engaging novel. However, from the scene where Robin discovers Lynn kneeling over the dead body on, the story only becomes more and more unbelievable. Block attempts to justify Robin's (who seems to be lacking the sense and reason that humans are usually born with) decision not to call the police when Lynn does not answer her repeated shouts in the abandoned house by having Robin inform the reader that "unless it was an emergency--as in shots fired and someone lying bleeding on the ground--I figured it might be hours before a blue and white rolled up." Even when her house is firebombed by a neighborhood thug, Robin acknowledges that "I knew I should call the police. Only I didn't want to. Not yet. I still wasn't up to dealing with them". In the real world, someone who had just had their house firebombed would be dialing 9-1-1 before the flames were even out. Robin, who seems to have absolutely no faith in the police (even though her best friend, George, is a policeman), insists on snooping around on her own and nearly gets herself in serious trouble several times. Block heightens this sense of unreality by conveniently placing Robin in a man's office where she can sneak a peek at the personal file of the neighborhood thug that she suspects of dognapping and firebombing her house. She manages to get the office to herself for five minutes, where she wastes no time digging through the files for "Joe Davis." The only snag is that there is no Joe Davis listed. At that point, many "wannabe" detectives would have given up. Not Robin. After leaving the man's office, she moves directly to the head of personnel's office (who happens not to be in his office) to look at the files there. Robin picks the lock on the desk, and, when her search does not turn up any files, she calmly helps herself to a Nestle's Crunch bar that she finds in the desk. Robin suddenly remembers the fact that she's trespassing when she hears footsteps outside the door. Although her plot is unbelievable, Block has a wonderful knack at fleshing out her characters. We meet not only Robin, George, and Lynn, but a host of other colorful characters: Manuel, a sixteen year old hoodlum who spends most of his time tagging along with Robin and borrowing money off her; A.J., a young boy who keeps his tarantula at "Noah's Ark" because his mom does not want it in the house, Tim, the moonlighting college student who works full-time at the petstore, and Connelly, the arrogant police sergeant, and Robin's least favorite person are only a few of the characters we have the pleasure of meeting in this nonsensical second novel by Barbara Block. | 12 stars
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God in search of Man: a Philosophy of Judaism
This is a must read for those searching for a better understanding of GOD. Most incredible and informative to all who read it. | 45 stars
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An interesting read
This book is a good introduction to the hidden powers of the mind. It's an easy read and goes over several examples of our unconscious at work. If you are looking for something more in-depth on the topic check out "Hare Brain Tortoise Mind." | 45 stars
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Very good and interesting!
Okay I'm only 13 and I didn't find this book confusing at all. So I'm surprised some adults found it hard to follow. I thought it was really good and the ending surprised me. I recommend this book to everyone! | 45 stars
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Sweet if a little too trite
I love Lauraine Snelling...and expected this to sweet Christian fiction, which it was. What disappointed me were the endings. There was all this build up on the "issues"...and then it was over like it was nothing. That was a pretty big let down. Don't pick this up expecting something new and wonderful...but it is an an enjoyable afternoon read. But I think both authors needs to work on their endings. It is like they didn't know what to do so just let it be magically fixed. | 23 stars
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A glance into the fires of hell and the power of love
Tory's Tuesday is a glimpse at a time and place we must never forget and a love that could never die. We've all heard of the atrocities of the Nazi Holocaust, but it always seems to be distant. It's almost unreal to people in the modern age. Tory's Tuesday brings the true horror to life but balances it with a love between two women that overpowers even the Nazi's stranglehold on life and death. This book tells of the horrid conditions, daily slaughters, and evil cruelty that the men and women of the death camps had to endure. The pain suddenly seems all too real, as the two women watch friends and family die in grusome and inhumane ways. It takes the sheer force of their love for each other to survive this hell. It's a love that is unconditional in nature and innocent as a newborn. It's truly humbling to read this and realize that we have the potential for such bloodthirsty actions. I had never read anything by this author before this book, but I will certainly be looking for more of her work now. | 45 stars
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Interesting but flawed
I was recently given "Saints and Villains" by Denise Giardina to read by a friend. I already knew of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor and theologian, who was part of a group working to assassinate Hitler and who eventually was executed after the failed attempt. This book is an historical fiction, not a history. Although it is based on the actual events that occurred, the author introduces fictional and composite characters, changes some dates and includes dialogue and inner thoughts that are clearly fictional.As a work of fiction, I found it rather mixed. It is easy to read and flows quite briskly but there are sudden changes in writing style that can be irritating; particularly the abrupt change to fragmentary sentences in certain parts seems like a clumsy attempt to add pace. A much more effective change is used in the prison sequences where Giardina uses shorter sections identified by the number of days of imprisonment to create both a feeling of the monotony and fear of the prison along with a sense of movement, determination and even hope of these in and outside the prison.The book is structured around sections from Mozart's incomplete Mass in C Minor and possession of the original manuscript of this provides the major motivation for one of the, I believe, fictional/composite characters, Alois Bauer who ultimately becomes SS Judge Advocate. Sections with Bauer are often headed "Doppelgänger", presumably showing Bauer as the opposite of Bonhoeffer but whose paths are inextricably linked. Although the idea is interesting, I'm not sure that either the text in the section coherently linked to the particularly section of the Mass nor was the underdeveloped character of Bauer an effective doppelgänger.Although there are many interesting characters introduced we end up knowing little about them and why they made some of the decisions they did; as I've mentioned the character of Bauer is unconvincing and many of the others come over only superficially. I suspect this is due to a heavy reliance on dialogue and descriptions of events and actions to keep the novel moving rather than a more reflective style that would have developed the characters more fully. Although this is a novel it is based on real people. There is little indication from this book with Bonhoeffer was considered such an important thinker and why he was so influential. Although in the end he dies for his beliefs, he is one of many and actually suffered less than many others who did not have friends in high places - no reason from this book to be considered a modern day saint. | 23 stars
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A good book, but only for Christians
I pretty much second what the reader from California wrote. If you are Christian, I think you will really like this book. If you aren't, don't buy it. | 23 stars
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A great mind of the Faith
I have to laugh at the "reader from California" who babbles that Dr Schaeffers works contain "errors, mistakes and stupidities" and suggests that we Christians "worship" Dr Schaeffer and this shows our stupidity --.No -- it only shows this guys own BIGOTRY and STUPIDITY.Dr Schaeffers books continue to be a PROPHECY of a 20th century and what was wrought by the Left who worship, alas, only themselves.A Brilliant work of FACT and THOUGHT... rare to say the least for any writer. | 45 stars
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Hard to navigate
it is very hard to find where you are in the a Bible. The name of the book you are reading does not appear except at the beginning of the book. Difficult tl navigate through. | 01 star
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