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Refreshing, original, witty and fun! I have to say that discovering Ms. Davidson was a great and happy accident for me! Nonetheless, I am so very happy I picked up this book. I am a huge fan of Anita Blake and J.D. Robb and I am thrilled that I finally have another series to look forward to! Betsy is endearing and hysterical and reminds me of a lot of cherished girlfriends I know and love! I sincerely hope that Ms. Davidson will continue with this fun character and series for a long time to come...I understand that "Betsy" will have a cameo in "BITE" an anthology due out this January and then "Undead and Unappreciated" will be out the following July 2005! I for one can truly not wait!

45 stars

Very nice story! I very much enjoyed listening to this book in the unabridged tape version. The story was interesting all of the way through; I was very curious about what would happen next. For those considering the tape version over the book, I thought it was performed well by Robin Miles. It was more than what I hoped for and I enjoyed nearly every minute of it.

34 stars

boring boring boring took me 4 days to muddle through this. I kept getting so bored I would find something better to do.

12 stars

Mmmmm mmmmm mmmm! That's some good dog. A Gastronomic tour de force. Be sure to buy this book for the chapters where Obama shows his adventurous, multicultural side, as he details sultry days in the jungle dining lazily on grasshoppers, snakes, and...WTF?!?!? DOGS????

45 stars

A nice change of pace As I am used to reading silly books and graphic novels, this was quite a read indeed. There seems to be an omission of detail, leaving one to imagine what terrors the protagonist commits that leads to the life he takes in.

45 stars

Great gift works as advertised and is so much easier to carry that a paperback. It always remembers where I left off and the bookmark doesn't fall out.

45 stars

a bit drawn out and oppresive I don't wish to sound insensitive to Simon's pain and guilt, but "pain & guilt" are so omnipresent in every scene that they become the main characters in the story. Annie and Simon are the supporting characters who make it possible for P & G to do their thing, and that is not a comfortable situation. I'm glad Annie and Simon were able to squeak out a happy ending in the last few pages, but I was exhausted by the time it happened.

12 stars

A classic book worth reading. It seems almost pointless to write a simple review on this book, but I'm going to anyway. I had to read this for my Women in Literature and Visual Arts class, and it was enjoyable. The characters are well developed, and the plot is simple enough to understand. Overall the book was a bit dry for my personal taste, but it was still good. Jane Austen is a superb author, so it is certainly worth reading.

45 stars

Max Brand on kindle This is the first Max Brand book I've read since I was a kid. He was one of the masters of western story telling.This is the classic tale of good versus evil, only in this story they happen to be the same guy. The book starts out strong, with our hero being set up to fail by his adopted uncle. With this failure he then turned out by his adopted mother and starts down the outlaw trail. This is a great story and holds together well, all the way to the end. The story ends rather abruptly, with some unanswered questions and one sentance explainations. It almost seemed like the author just ran out of steam. It is a worth while book, but don't expect a large suspenseful ending.Thanks to Amazon for supplying some free Max Brand books to kindle.

23 stars

A New Favorite I had somehow missed out on reading The Jolly Corner until it was required for a recent class. It is now a new favorite! Much like The Turn of the Screw, it is somewhat of a ghost story as the protagonist confronts his past. One warning - the language is complex (one reviewer called it "labyrinthine"), but hang in there! It would be a wonderful read-aloud choice to get the rising tension and breathless meanderings.

45 stars

Preachy and boring This is not a romance novel, not really. This is a Christian values novel- which is fine in it's niche, but not something I would have chosen to buy had I known that's what I was getting. I don't know how many more times Jesus or God could have been inserted without a total label change, but it wouldn't take much. The author should not be writing for Silhouette.Leilani was a boring goody two-shoes who had, twelve years ago following her only ever error in judgment, lied about the fact that the man her family blamed for killing her brother got her pregnant. She never forgave him and they never forgave him. When they meet again he has turned his life around and become a great Doctor. She is a social worker/saint whose only discernible flaw is being WAY overprotective of her son (if the book was real that kid would be a runaway drug addict sex fiend in three years trying desperately to escape his mother). Their story sounds great but ends up being boring. The sex was boring. The ending was bland.This is great for readers of Christian romance novels. Anyone else should take a pass- like I would have if I had known that's what this was.

01 star

Places the facts squarely in front of us Michael Moore only scratches the surface of administration culpability for 911, but thank goodness *someone* had the decency to break through so much national denial! Maybe too many of us are too close to the forest to see the trees. Michael Moore has placed the facts squarely in front of us in ways that are simple, and easily, though painfully, digested. All of his information is available elsewhere, in places only fools and angels dare to tread. Michael Moore is both. May those in heaven protect him.

45 stars

I enjoyed this book I am glad I read this book for myself and did not rely on the reviews on this page. This was a very interesting, thought provoking book on a segment of society that is rarely addressed. I felt that Graham wrote objectively and there is nothing is this book that suggests that he is a wannabe. On the contrary there are instances where he is critical of some of the practices that go on in this book. There is also not a lot of attention on complexion, though it is a factor, but not as big a deal as some who have reviewed this book has made it seem to be. I have enjoyed all of Graham's books and if you want an enjoyable read, pick this one!

23 stars

Kindle 2 is awesome!! I just received my Kindle 2 today. I never had the original Kindle so I don't know much about comparisons between the two. I can only speak on the Kindle 2. First of all, I was amazed at how easy it was to navigate and to learn how to use. I really like the fact it automatically comes with a dictionary and a user's guide right on it. A couple things that I noticed that I didn't particularly like was the fact that the "ok" button can accidently be "hit" when you are at the kindle store to order something. It might accidently "order" something you don't really want. Thankfully, there is a cancel button. The only other thing (and this may sound a bit strange)is that there obviously isn't the "new book smell" you get with new hardcovers and paperback (I know many others who love the smell of new books)..it would be really amazing if they could recreate this somehow..maybe in K3? But overall, I LOVE it!!! To me, it is well worth the money. I can't wait till when I go on vacation; I won't have to take a lot of books with me that take up space..I'll just take my K2 and go!

45 stars

A good popular history To be sure, this is not a scholarly work. It was not written by a professional historian. It is a pleasurable read for those who would like to gain greater understanding of this war's overall importance in the development of the United States.There are plenty of dry, technical tomes, that for the most part are barely readable, but thoroughly balanced and accurate. Unread books won't educate anyone.While it is "uneven" in it's treatment of events, the casual reader will gain a good understanding of how this war affected the future of the New World.

34 stars

Less Dangly Bits McEwan's story begins with an insomniac neurosurgeon gazing out his London home window and seeing a plane going down in flames at Heathrow. It is 2003 and a huge peace rally is planned for the coming day. The juxtaposition of the crashing plane and the expected peace picketers creates tension from the novel's opening placing all events against the 9 11 scenario. Worried about the plane the surgeon goes down several flights of his 7,000 square foot near mansion into the basement kitchen where he finds his 18 year old talented blues musician son. He tells him what he's just seen. After a cozy cuppa with his son he goes back to bed where he makes love to his wife. There's a slow push pull of domestic harmony against outside menaces that stalks him on his Saturday activities, activities which include a squash match with a colleague that gets ultra competitive, a traffic accident that leads to a dangerous encounter with a thug and his sidekicks, a visit to his loved but memory less mom wandering lost in her nursing home and then back to the bosom of his family for a reunion with his two grown children and his award winning but angsty poet father-in-law. He lets the day's events play at the back of his mind as he enjoys preparing an elaborate fish stew with salad and wine to eat with his loved ones. And then, as always happens in a McEwan novel, things get ugly, really ugly. I don't want to spoil your reading experience so I won't say anymore about that. McEwan ties up his plot threads more neatly than he usually does in this novel, there are less dangly bits. Also, he gives us people who we can like, another departure from his norm. For me Saturday was right up there with "Atonement" and "On Chesil Beach" on the enjoy ability scale.

34 stars

Definitely not at the same level as Kay Scarpetta novels Patricia Cornwell's Southern Cross does not include her famous character, Kay Scarpetta, who did not even make a cameo appearance to do an autopsy. Also absent along with Ms. Scarpetta are all of Ms. Cornwell's creative juices and excellent character and plot development. This novel is a real sleeper because all it will do is put you to sleep earlier than you had hoped.

01 star

What a disappointment Mr. Frank has written many interesting articles, but this is not one of them. There are simply too many assertions and what evidence is provided is incomplete. For example, Frank argues that people really don't value additional wealth once they get past a certain level. As evidence he points to surveys that claim to show that Americans rate their happiness at the same level on a 1 to 10 scale as people who live in poorer countries. Does this really mean that if you took an American who rated their happiness at 8 and moved them to Turkey and lowered their income so that their rank remained the same relative to the rest of the population they would remain as happy? I find this hard to believe.People may accumulate wealth because of what others think of them, but they may also do so because they really like having nicer cars and homes. Frank is correct that taxes will stop people from purchasing luxury goods, but before we all agree to this I would like to have some evidence that he is correct. This book would have been much more convincing if he had some evidence.

12 stars

Kindle (6" Display) When it arrived, I immediately loaded books. I really like the variable font so that if I don't feel like wearing my reading glasses, I can still enjoy my book. It is slim, light, easy to use, and so far an enjoyable way to read. I've downloaded several books so far and while I live in a small town in the middle of wheatfileds, the download is fast and easy. There are lots of books to choose from so I'm going to be busy reading for years to come.

45 stars

Murder! Mayhem! Erotic! Sexy! This is the second book in her Dark series I have read. Cole's vivid imagination give us wonderful, rich characters but each have their own flaws and personalities! The action is exciting and very well described. The action between Katja and Sebastion is VERY exciting, VERY well described and..and..you'll have to read it for yourselves! She also has a great cast of characters: valkyrie, werewolf,vampire,goddesses, dragons. Cole captures everything in these novels and keeps things moving along smoothly. She gives the Valkyrie wonderful personalities and quirks and I found that part of the book also interesting. She really rounds out all her characters flaws and all. I also love the way she teases the sex scenes giving us just a bit more each and everytime until the end. Makes for great impact! Looking forward to her next book dealing with the werewolf.

45 stars

SO interesting LOVED this book. It's amazing what one person can do. And who says that one person can't make a difference??? Clearly Greg Mortensen did and still does make a difference.

45 stars

WARNING - UNAVAILABLE Don't expect to get a new power supply from Amazon. You won't even get a rational response from customer service in response to inquiries/complaints about the lack of availability of necessary peripherals for a $400 device.

01 star

Excellent guide to solar energy at the University level I use this book as a guide in developing material for my classes. It is one of several textbooks that are so good as to stay current. Material is well covered and logical. It is great fodder for learning about solar at an elevated level. Highly recommend

45 stars

One of THE BEST reads ever... I'm not a father but was compelled to purchase the book and read it. From the opening forward to the last page it was a book that I could not put down. Such a touching heartfelt story. A demonstration of how challenges can be overcome and that commitment goes a long way. "Chrissy Paul" deserves a standing ovation for his commitment to his mother and sisters, his children, and most of all to his dream. This book is living proof that it CAN be done!

45 stars

A classic. Don't know why I love it but I do. Always wish things had turned out differently for Heathcliff and Cathy (senior on both).

45 stars

wow A great read for warriors and those who wish to understand them. I highly recommend you add this to your reading library.

45 stars

Trashy Romance Having been forced to read "Emma" for an English Literature course, I feel that I know as much about it as anyone else, if not more so. "Emma" is nothing more than a trashy romance, like the rest of Jane Austen's novels. We all know more or less what is going to happen at the end of the book - of course the hero and heroine are going to fall in love. Austen's use of irony is not exemplary either - is there anyone who didn't realise that Frank Churchill was hiding something, if we weren't sure quite what? Anyone who describes an Austen novel as a "classic", particualy this one, needs their head examined. She is an olden days Jackie Collins, whose fancy language seems to have deluded some into believing that she is something which she certianly is not.

01 star

Smart and Sexy Six months after piloting a plane that crashed in Cabo with horrific results, Noah Fisher decides to head to Mammoth Mountain for a little R and R. He figures some skiing and a ski bunny will go far in helping him relax. When Noah finds himself hijacked at gunpoint while enroute to Mammoth Mountain, it makes him just plain mad. Once he discovers that his hijacker is Bailey Sinclair, a young widow who has been the object of many of his wildest fantasies, he is still angry, but his anger is redirected toward whoever has terrified Bailey enough to push her to take such drastic measures. When Noah learns that Bailey's husband, Alan, wasn't killed in a hunting accident, but was murdered, he realizes how imperative it is that she find the money he had hidden in avoidance of becoming a victim herself. With Alan's killers hot on their heels, the two make jaunt after desperate jaunt in search of the concealed cash. When it looks like they will have to travel to Cabo, the place where Noah crashed, he questions whether he has healed enough emotionally to take them there.Bailey Sinclair wants to kill her husband. Unfortunately, someone has already killed him, after he swindled them out of a ton of money. Bailey gave up a successful modeling career after marrying Alan so she could be by his side. Unfortunately, he was more interested in himself and how much money he could make than being with her. Alan left Bailey with a cryptic clue about where the money is hidden just before he was murdered. She has little choice but to force someone to take her to Alan's resort in order to find the money. She decides on Noah Fisher, one of the three pilots at Sky High Air, because she knew he was the most likely of the three to help her. Bailey has had a bit of a crush on Noah for some time, but has to get past that for the time being, and focus on finding the money that will save her life. After the initial flight, yes, the one where she kidnapped him at gunpoint, Bailey has no intention of involving Noah in her search. Besides, the "gun" was actually a pen, so no harm done, right? Noah doesn't feel that way, and insists that he accompany her so he can keep her safe, and while Bailey dislikes involving him in her personal problems, she appreciates having him with her.Bailey and Noah are both extremely likable characters, and the secondary characters from Sky High Air are equally charming and are practically screaming for their own books. Thankfully, Jill Shalvis will be giving her readers those stories. Noah and Bailey are quick to act on their shared attraction, but it doesn't feel rushed as their long-time interest in each other is covered. This book has fast-paced action, intriguing suspense, and sizzling sensuality. I personally feel that Jill Shalvis' writing gets sharper with each new book, and I highly recommend SMART AND SEXY to anyone who enjoys a romantic suspense that isn't too heavy or frightening.

45 stars

How Evil Takes Root There is much in Norman Mailer's "The Castle in the Forest" that is reminiscent of C. S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters", but I won't ruin for you the reasons why. Instead I will tell you that this story is rooted in the cosmic contest between good and evil. The battle ground is a middle class Austrian family in the late 19th century. Their petty jealousies and bickering, their harbored hatreds, their dying capacity for compassion, and even their positive virtues like love and self-sacrifice are used against them to drive one of their sons into the employ of evil. The family's name is Hitler. While this is most certainly fiction and not history or biography, the reader wonders just how close to fact Mailer is in this telling. At the end of the day Adolf Hitler was no more or less human than any of us, so how was it he became the agent of evil in the 20th century? Mailer offers an important idea of just how it happened.

34 stars

I really like this little gizmo After seeing a friend's original Kindle about 18 months ago, I thought it was a neat little gizmo, but not something I really wanted.When Kindle 2 previewed, I checked it out. After reading the product info and reviews from others who had purchased one, I bought one.I love it. Perhaps it is the convenience of being able to browse, buy and read books with just a few keystrokes. Perhaps it is the ability to read my favorite blogs without being tied down to my computer. Perhaps it is the novelty of the Kindle itself. Whatever it is, I have read more books in the past two months since my purchase of the Kindle than I have read in the past two years. I also like being able to read on-line publications while I'm waiting for my husband in the parking lot of our local home improvement store.It isn't cheap, but I think it is worth every penny.

34 stars

A Great Book for Teachers and Teaching Students My name is Lydia and I read it as part of an assignment for my teaching education classes. I loved this book. Esquith makes the classroom come alive in real life and on paper and his rebuke of traditional teaching is swift and precise. His students are different and think about learning differently because he teaches differently. While his all out style is not for every teacher you can encorporate his passion and energy into any grade being taught. My favorite part is at the end when he aknowledges that sometimes he does let the stresses and difficulties of teaching his kids get to him. Every time that happens he goes back to one student who he really made a difference with and that student helps him regain his passion. The lesson for me is that if you can truly help one child learn in your classroom then it will always be worth the effort of teaching.

45 stars

Kindled with Love I have been struck with Kindle love. I think every reader should have one. I think every tree would appreciate their purchase.I'm off to the kindle store..no gas, no paper, Woo Hoo

45 stars

will not be reading the next ones Have you ever read a book with a great storyline, great potential, and some great elements? But perhaps that book had bad writing, bad literary technique, and just all around poor execution? You may have read The Lost Fleet: Dauntless.And then there are the pages and pages and pages and pages and pages and pages and pages of soliloquies (yes, the repetition was on purpose; annoying isn't it?). It's cliche and played out "burdens of leadership" that no real leader worth his salt would dwell on, and certainly wouldn't spend half his time lamenting "oh woe is me I'm being hero worshiped again by starry eyed soldiers". Trust me, George Washington and folks if his ilk had a lot bigger fish to fry than the issues the protagonist in this book spends his time on.I read plenty of books that are for entertainment purposes. Every book you read doesn't need to be a 1300 page classic, I get that. In fact, I defend "fun books" all the time to some of my more snobbish friends. I read (and enjoyed) the Harry Potter series. I read the Warded Man. Hell, I even read Left Behind (although I'm not proud of it). But this particular book just has way too much wrong to still put it in the "fun" pile. It's in the "bad" pile.

12 stars

A little hard getting used to. After spending my whole life reading printed books, this one was a little hard getting used to. There are some things that you'll need to learn to give up in order to enjoy a Kindle. However, it is the way of the future and is the most economical and ecological solution to books. Go Amazon!

23 stars

Patches on the Old Program The original version would have been better if it documented Brooks failure when he was in charge of the OS/360 Project for one year. Brooks' background is in engineering, not programming. His observations are personal opinion, not Absolute Truth. Those who are impressed with this book appear to have little practical experience. Woe to any programmer who disputes his manager because 'Brooks says so'!This 20th anniversary edition reminds me of an old computer program that has been modified to meet new needs. Chapter 16 through 19 have been added, as if there was no need for any other changes in the earlier chapters. But many of the examples in the earlier chapters became obsolete with virtual programming, faster machines, and bigger memories. The programmers of that Golden Age are now on the beach or have gone underground. The new era of Windows and Intel, with offshore jobs, have turned mainframe programmers into a new version of 19th century whalers and buffalo hunters. As I understand it, the problems of OS/360 were due to: a new machine architecture, a new assembler language, and new people with less experience. In time these problems were overcome. Some might compare the effort to the Union Army in 1861-62,Chapter 16 speaks of the folklore nightmares of werewolves! Is he kidding? Brooks needs to see "Abbot & Costello Meet Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolfman" to update his knowledge. Software costs have dropped rapidly, as the price for Windows 2000 shows. Brooks confuses mass-production with custom work. You can compare stick-built houses to modular houses, more common outside the USA they say. Software entities are complex because they use general purpose programming languages. A specific purpose language should be less complex. Another advantage of a high-level language is fewer typed characters, and hence fewer typing mistakes that can't be found by a compiler. The advantage to time-sharing is to cut delays, it also makes programming more intensive. The rest of the chapter, pages 188-203 can be skipped. There is a "silver bullet": offshore programming where programmers are rented for $30 a day compared to $50 an hour state-side. Cottage weavers were eliminated by factory production, and whaling ships by kerosene production.Chapter 17 has Brooks' comments on replies to his "no silver bullet" concept. A silver bullet is an alleged particular solution to a specific problem. Did anyone do a field test for this solution? Perhaps a better symbol is needed? Chapter 18 regurgitates the original book in outline form with Brooks' added comments. Did you find this educational?Chapter 19 asks about the appeal of MM-M. Perhaps it is due to its counter-intuitive claim that adding more labor to a process makes it take longer? Would removing labor from a process make it finish earlier? More new people who don't have experience reduces the average level of knowledge needed for the job. Usually more people means the job is done earlier, as in barn-raising. Talk of a "second system" implies more experience. Brooks failure to understand this suggests some personal problem. The prevention of "featuritis" is accomplished by following the needs of users according to priority. Brooks admits his advice "to throw one away" is wrong (p.265). Page 266 tells of the problem is listening to unproven fantasies. Brooks' comments on "fluidity" (p.280) seems oriented to entertainment not production ("slide presentations") The coalescence of operating systems seems similar to automotive manufacturing (who remembers marque-specific engines?) Is "software engineering" an a priori fantasy? Other engineering creates rules for mass-production (p.286). Programming practice should be concerned with the rules for efficient creation of programs. There is a picture of Brooks on page 228, another on page i. Do you see what I see? What is the usefulness of this book?[Novice programmers may find Scott Adams' "Dilbert Principle" better for today's world.]

12 stars

Remember that supposed "giant sucking sound" from NAFTA ratification? In the 1992 presidential campaign, Ross Perot opposed the North American Free Trade agreement, saying that American jobs would go south of the border so quickly that there would be a "giant sucking sound," like water sluicing down a drain.Well, guess what? The "drain" backed up and has been gushing people into the U.S. ever since. In "Enrique's Journey", Sonia Nazario has captured the poverty and desperate circumstances of millions living in Mexico and many Central American countries, leaving a significant fraction of those populations with, essentially, a Hobbesian choice. U.S. policies, including NAFTA, have contributed to the problem, and our lengthy economic boom has provided the impetus.Beyond the politics is the drama of the epic journey that hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have made, and continue to make, through the length of Mexico and across the border into the States. Nazario has told this story in vivid terms--without the need for embellishment--depicting both the heroism and gritty determination of the ordinary people who make the journey, the brave and often unlikely sources of support they receive along the way, as well as the shameful perfidy of those who rob, kill, rape and con them.No matter which side of the issue you support--if you are sympathetic to the plight of illegals or if you think they should all be deported--reading this book will be like a slap in the face. It will force you to think carefully about the true nature of the relationship you already have with people like Enrique, his mother, sister, and children.

34 stars

Short & Spoiler Free Review The language is thick, the story structure is thin, but pound for pound, Pressfield's Fire is the standard by which all other historical fiction is measured. A Must Buy Manbook.

45 stars

Insightful This is a must read for every human being that is ready for a change in the way we interact as an individual in society.

45 stars

Al Qaeda from the inside out: a thriller filled with suspense John Wells is the only CIA operative ever to succeed in infiltrating Al Qaeda. Now, after a decade undercover in Afghanistan and Chechnya, he finally appears to have gained the confidence of the group's top leaders. Summoned to an audience with Ayman al-Zawahiri, Wells is dispatched to the USA to play a key role in a terrorist plot to rival 9/11.As the story unfolds, we learn that Wells is no longer trusted by the CIA -- with the exception of his handler, Jennifer Exley, with whom he is in love. Nor is he trusted by the brilliant Al Qaeda agent to whom he has been assigned, known to him only as Omar Khadri. Wells must maneuver between these two poles of suspicion, all the while fighting to survive, preserving his relationship with Exley, and exploring the depths of the Islamic faith he adopted in Afghanistan.The Faithful Spy has all the elements of a best-selling thriller, and so it was. An Edgar Award winner when it was published in 2006, the book rose to #1 on the Times' paperback bestseller list. It was followed by four more novels, all of them featuring John Wells, several of them bestsellers in their own right.Alex Berenson was an investigative reporter for more than a decade for The New York Times, serving for nearly a year in Iraq but focusing largely on business issues. Since last year, he has been working full-time as a novelist. Berenson is not yet 40, so we can look forward to many more adventures with John Wells.(From [...])

34 stars

How I stayed alive... "How I Stayed Alive While my Brain Was Trying to Kill Me" came to me just at the right time for me. I, literally, felt like each breath was work that I had to make, effort that was excrutiating to suffer through. And, yet, it was this book that acknowledged my feelings and recognized that someone who has chronic suicidal thoughts, that act as a coping mechanism, and no amount of hoping it will change that. This book gave me tools to figure out how to deal with it.

45 stars

Devoured it, completely addicted. I love a good mystery! She has the gift! This was the first Hart book I had read. Couldn't put it down. Just enough clues to make you think you know who did what to whom! Ha! What a surprise, it was great. Not an ounce of garbage. Wonderful romance. When I put it down I remembered the story and the plot. Sex did in NO way overshadow the great mystery that this remarkable Lady has spun. Thank you for being out there to give us mysterys that will be Classics to our Children's Children. M. Strong

45 stars

Fun easy read, nothing you haven't heard before I enjoyed reading this book, although it is nothing we haven't heard before, such as have a date night, don't nag, keep the love life alive, etc. It is a short, easy read that helps remind you of the basics of trying to work together and you MAY even get your husband interested in reading it too, but I doubt it.

23 stars

Equal parts Grail Quest and revenge mission I found this slow going. While I like Thomas, I don't love him. He isn't larger than life.Maybe it's the confused journeying around England and France that occupies half the book. Maybe it's the complicated Grail story. I can hardly keep track of the relationship of the Vexille family to the Grail, the Knights Templar, the Cathar heresy, the church and so on. Maybe I'm tiring of the magic bullet that the archers represent, although Cornwell is still inventive with battle scenes and keeps digging up interesting historical battles to refight. (Ones where the English defeat both the enemy and the odds.)Maybe it's that in writing medieval Christians, Cornwell has trouble writing sympathetic ones that, while not overly pious, have a certain baseline of belief, as does Thomas. Thomas worries about his soul, about the afterlife, and believes in saints' miracles. He struggles with the idea of the Grail but ultimately believes in it. Cornwell does better in the Alfred series with Uhtred, whose belief in Norse gods, while superstitious, is just more fun and more in synch with that warrior's character. ("When we get to the corpse hall, we'll wench and revel and fight just like we did here." Now, that's the afterlife I want.)Thomas, back in England after the first volume's victory at Crecy, journeys north to question an old monk about the Grail. Others are interested - anyone who gets a sniff of what they're up to, really, this is the Holy Grail we're talking about - but particularly Bernard de Taillebourg, a torturing Inquisitor with a mysterious black-clad bodyguard.Thomas stumbles into an imminent battle between the fierce Scots, French allies, and the outnumbered English with their ace in the hole - archers, whose long-distance accuracy and killing power trumps even armored knights on horseback. This is one of the only times Cornwell depicts a battle between these two historic enemies. He gets to flesh out the Scots a little more.Afterwards Thomas and Robbie Douglas, a Scottish prisoner released into his custody, journey south, in equal parts Grail quest and revenge mission for various deaths. De Tailllebourg hunts them. So to do other powerful enemies - Guy Vexille, the French cousin who killed Thomas' father; and the vicious Scarecrow, a heavily indebted English lord. Near the ruins of his home village on the Channel, Thomas finds a mysterious book left by his father, and then they head to France.Many characters in the first book are brought back, including Thomas' old commander Will Skeat, now head-injured; Mordecai, the Jewish doctor; Sir Guillaume, the French lord who had befriended Thomas; Jeanine Chenier, the beautiful widow who abandoned him for the Prince of Wales; and Charles of Blois, who took Jeanine's young son, heir to a title and key to Charles' gaining all Brittany - if he can ever drive the British out. Jeanine, too, wants revenge and her boy back. Thomas wants to help her get it, but finds himself up against the Inquisition.Charles has carefully planned an invasion, with a massive force of knights and crossbowmen and, more importantly, a well-reasoned out tactic to defeat the previously invincible archers. The vastly outnumbered garrison Thomas rejoins awaits reinforcements that never seem to come from faraway Calais.Some fine things about the book include the introduction of Douglas, a boon companion whose Scots-English rivalry with Thomas echoes the rivarly of Sharpe with the Irish Harper; the portrayal of the fearsome trebuchets, souped-up late Medieval catapults; a sailing scene where a local trader helps Thomas and his crew outrun pursuers on faster boats; and his portrayal of Inquisition torture. Bernard plays subtle head games with his victims. And who knew they weren't allowed to draw blood?And I must admit I actually like Charles of Blois, a villain from the first book but here a cool military commander willing to sacrifice glory to gain his objective by fighting a defensive battle much more likely to lead to victory. Yeah, he's a jerk, but he's also a grownup.

45 stars

Could Not Put It Down This book had me from when I was reading when it was about. I could not put it down. Will definitely go down as one of my FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIMES!!! If anyone knows any other books like this, please let me know!!

45 stars

classic a classic literary staple of the modern world! a must read for any intellectual. every sentence is brimming with stimulating ideas and paradoxes.

34 stars

Thought provoking Once you understand that memorizing all the names of people and places is next to impossible, you will enjoy the account of this man's mission. His story makes you think of what could be done to help bring real peace to this part of the world.

34 stars

Yay! Best new mother book of all time! It saved my from having to make a phone call every time I had a question.

45 stars

such insight such insight...You can loose "mental weight" heaviness of mind by chapter three.I got the book & cd set. great!

34 stars

A Little Disappointing I had this recommended to me and read many of the reviews before buying. But no where did I find anyone who mentioned the bad language. In fact, there's a whole chapter, listing the words that were said and by whom. Also, I guess I expected the book to be one about survival but the author's family was obviously well-to-do. My parents grew up on farms in big families during the Depression but their lifestyles were obviously much different. I didn't see any cornbread and buttermilk suppers. Also, much of their daily lives were built around the church, something the author has little use for. It's probably the area of the country they were raised in but I read this book, planning to pass it along to the four "girls" still living (2 in their 90s) but I'm afraid it's a little too "high spirited." It frankly sometimes read almost like it was being copied from a notebook and the author wanted to make certain she included everything that was expected in a book like this. A few times the book was entertaining but other times I was left wondering if some of these things really happened or they were just included to "spice" up the book. I sure would have liked to have known the names of the "Big Kids" and "Little Kids", their anonymity leaving the reader wondering. I can't recommend this to my 91 year old mother or my 13 year old grandson because of the language and of the cavalier attitude toward churches, both something that some people take seriously.

23 stars

A timeless classic Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is possibly one of the most beautifully written novels of all time. As one turns the pages of this timeless classic, she is brought into the wonderfully romantic world of Elizabeth Bennet and the rest of the so vividly depicted characters. One becomes familiar with the lavish mansions and picturesque countryside that envelope the setting of this novel, and at once becomes a part of the drama that surrounds the young women on whom the novel focuses.By far, my favorite character in Pride and Prejudice was Mr. Bennet. His quick wit and ability to survive in a household filled with marriage obsessed females are prime examples of the wonderful humor Austen brings to the novel. Another character I became quite fond of was Lizzy, for as a young female myself, I felt that the obstacles and tribulations she faced throughout the novel, especially the pressures put on her by her family and society, were timeless trials that all women go through.The turn of events in this magical novel leaves the reader both enthralled and ultimately satiated with the happy endings for the main characters. The plot is both unexpected and fulfilling at the same time, for Austen's writing is, at times, more gratifying for her characters than one could even devise in her own imagination. As the reader enters the world of the Bennets she gains a new perspective and appreciation of this era that lasts throughout the novel and leaves you thirsty for more at the end.

34 stars

My Kindle This was a Christmas gift which I asked my husband to get for me and it has been the best. I have enjoyed it more than I ever thought I would. The only thing I would change would be for a CD to explain use of the Kindle or a book. I have purchased a book through my Kindle but it is harder to follow on my Kindle. I figure I will eventually learn the ins and outs--- still LOVE IT!

45 stars

Hide by Lisa Gardner I haven't had time to read it ...But I do like her books and will read it as soon as possible..

45 stars

Braun's losing interest in cats - or is it me? If I had bought this book I would have been yowling mad (especially if I paid full price!) But I borrowed it from the library (not being able to afford first editions as Qwill can), and even that was disappointing. There is very little about Koko and Yum Yum - if I hadn't read all the other books in the series I wouldn't appreciate the small tidbits about their personalities here. It was like "been there, done that." Qwill is becoming a bore with his only interests being in homespun activities that even people "400 miles from everywhere" never would think of doing. The one bright spot in the book was the absence of that sickenly sweet, insipid, bookish, and weak-hearted woman-friend, Polly. I personally wish the heart attack a couple books ago had done her in. Ms. Braun. Please return to your beginning allure, mystery, and documentation of the cats. Otherwise I'm switching to Brown's cats.

01 star

Thank you for this work, President Carter. As a jew who feels so hurt by Israeli policies towards the Palestinian people I am most grateful to President Carter to come out with this profound work. I thank him for his courage to name the problem for what it is: apartheid.It does not help to continue a state of denial and hatred. Israel will face dire consequences for it's actions if it fails to recognize what is really going on here. We need thruth and reconsiliation and an understanding in this country that in fact we ( Palestinians and Israeli) are all one poeple or we are going to loose it.

45 stars

Almost everything I hoped for This book is the sequel to Melusine, and that's by way of saying they're more like two volumes of a single tale than two standalone books. Melusine gets Felix and Mildmay to where they were going, but once they're there they have to patch themselves up and then get home...and that's only the beginning.The first book introduced the characters as individuals, and used various adventures during their journey to let you get to know them better. This book is all about the characters interacting--specifically Felix and Mildmay, who remain the two POV characters in this continuing first person narrative.Felix was psychologically damaged in the first book, requiring Mildmay to protect him. In this book, it's turnabout as Felix recovers and Mildmay quickly finds himself out of his depth. A common thief without any magic, he's looked down upon by the wizards who Felix seems constantly surrounded with, and in some cases he finds himself helpless at their hands. What's more, too much has happened for him to return to his old life, and he's cast adrift to find a new niche for himself. He's in over his head with Felix himself, too: the hapless madman from the first book is gone, replaced by a powerful, confident and charismatic man who's used to getting his way through any means necessary.But Mildmay is no pushover, and Felix isn't all-powerful, and the two of them quickly discover how much they need each other--a prospect that doesn't comfort either of these men who're used to living their lives in emotional isolation. But it makes for great reading, let me tell you. This book is saturated with the developing relationship between the two brothers, touching scenes and false starts and sometimes lashing out as they increasingly realize they're in this together.The plot here is more integrated and consistent than in the first book, where it mostly consisted of spurts of activity among a lot of boring travel. This time, Felix has a goal that drives the action: he wants to get home to fix his screw-up, redeem himself, and take vengeance on the man who hurt him. Mildmay mainly follows along and bails the reckless wizard out of trouble. They pick up some new companions and some old ones, including perhaps the only two sane and stable characters in the series. The labyrinth motif deepens in this book into a true theme that echoes on every level from the literal to symbolic, as the characters find themselves lost in actual labyrinths and emotional ones, and even the maze-like turns of prophecy and fate.But don't expect a happy ending. Just when everything seems to be working out alright and the end is in sight, Felix manages to screw it all up royally. He gets what he wanted, but all is definitely not well, to the tune of another two books following to clean up the mess he makes. And poor Mildmay...if you like writers who are cruel to their characters, this is definitely a book for you. Mildmay claims he can find his way through any maze, and he and Felix had both better hope that's true.

34 stars

Brilliantly Dickens To really appreciate the story that most of us know- and to enjoy a story that is truly a masterpiece The Christmas Carol is a must read.

45 stars

Glad I decided to go with the Kindle. I was a little nervous at first about forking out the money for this product, especially with some mixed reviews that I had read. I am on my second novel and I have to say, I wish I had bought one sooner. I researched all of the different e-readers and went on tons of sites to find out which one would best suit me. I'm an avid reader and I wanted something that would provide an easy, economical way for me to indulge in my favorite pasttime. I work a shift that doesn't allow me much time to go out and browse books, and I am also one of those people who wants what I want when I want it, not several days later when it comes in the mail. So the kindle was the perfect solution. Seconds after ordering my first book it was on the home page! I was curled up reading one of my favorite authors just minutes after turning on my kindle. (My better half opened it and charged it for me so it was ready when I got home from work, gotta love him for that.) The how to guide was easy and all of the negative comments I had read were solvable had they taken the time to read the manual. There are multiple ways to find, mark, and navigate the kindle. I played around with the text features, the little navigator stick and the menu until I was comfortable with the operation before I downloaded my first book. After that, it was easy to forget it was not a regular book. I still find myself wanting to actually turn the page before reminding myself with a smile that I can't, I just click the next page button. Several people have mentioned the ease with which you can read in any position. I found this to be true myself. Whether holding it (and it has next page buttons on both sides as well as the navigation stick) or lying it on my desk or propping it up on my knees, the options are limitless. Not like a book which you have to constantly adjust because you're turning the pages one after another. I also love how if I get busy, it just takes a little nap and with a slide of the button on top, I'm right where I left off. My signal at work is non-existent inside the building, but just the faintest signal was enough for me to download my second book. And so far the only complaint I have is I want more time to spend reading on my new Kindle! Even though the upfront investment was enough to cause me a little discomfort (I bought the case, light, protective cover, skin, warranty and the kindle itself) I know that in the long run I will be reaping the benefits for years to come. Not having to drive to the store to buy the latest novel or to the library to check one out, and getting such great discounts on books by my favorite authors (so far I've saved $15 on only two books not counting gas money) plus the ability to read a lot more means I'm getting my money's worth no matter which way I look at it. And no monthly fee for the 3G service is the icing on the cake. Ipad can't offer you that. And there are also tons of compatible ebook sites online where you can buy even more books. I'm feeling like the proverbial kid in a candy store. I will update more down the road if I find any issues that I haven't noticed yet. But for now, I have to say if you're on the fence, take the plunge. You won't regret it. I don't.

45 stars

Helpful, not heady Faisal Hoque's book is a refreshing departure from the heavily academic, "thick" methodologies designed to help organizations change-be it for alignment or anything else. The author makes actionable recommendations for alignment around the way companies actually go through IT project lifecycles. I found his use of stories by people in the field helpful in making the connection between how misalignment occurs and how alignment can be accomplished. This book has something for everyone because it addresses the issues that confront the many organizational players who have a role in getting technology to work for the business. While it tends not to deep dive in any one area, it spares us the exhausting details that would otherwise hold up the reader from seeing the overall "effect" his recommendations can have on aligning technology projects with business goals.

34 stars

Why buy a n expensive gadget to read a book? A good question.One that I asked myself and one that I can answer after taking the Kindle on a 32 hour train ride, a four day cruise and another nine hours spend in airports trying to get back to where I started.Amazon gave me the 30 day trial on the Kindle 2 and that was enough to get my order. Give it a try and if I don't like it I can ship it back. Fair enough.I will not repeat the information that Amazon provides about the Kindle 2 but I will address the concerns that I had about this new way to obtain and read books.How does it feel to read a book on this electronic tablet?After something like 2,000 pages I can say that, for me at least, it was, if anything, an upgrade from reading a traditional book. The Kindle 2 can be held in one hand, weighs just over 10 ounces and has a screen that reads pretty much like a paper page. Except that you can change the font-size to suit yourself. The Kindle does not require any kind of scrolling. Each page is discrete and turning the page involves pressing a button. The process takes about as much time as turning a page in a book. I did not feel badly about the loss of the 'feel' of a traditional book. Reading absorbed me and I forgot about the medium.Usually, when I travel I take three or four different books and a few magazines along. This last trip, I only took the Kindle. It was loaded with about 15 books but still weighed less than most single paperbacks. I liked that.Why not buy an I-Pad, instead?Because the I-Pad is not designed as an e-book reader. It is larger, heavier and it has a back-lit screen which simply is not nearly as good for extended reading. The I-Pad is far better at many things but it does not approach the Kindle as a comfortable and convenient way to read books. The I-Pad really fills a different technology niche and it should not be compared to the Kindle. Kind of like comparing a good carving knife to a Swiss army knife. Both are meant for different purposes. To say that one is generally better than the other, simply misses the point. And yes, I have used the I-Pad. It falls somewhere between the I-Pod Touch and a laptop. But if you are interested in reading books, the Kindle is the better choice. The screen technology of the Kindle shines through. The matte screen is a pleasure. It can be read easilly in any lighting condition but it does require a light source in a dark environment (just like a regular book).Right now, Amazon has almost 10 times the number of titles available as compared to the I-Pad. I did learn long ago that technology is defined by its available content.How about buying books from Amazon?Generally, current best-sellers are $9.99, Most other titles are between $6.99 and 12.99. Downloading titles to the Kindle takes about a minute. In remote areas it might by necessary to use your computer to transfer content.I have found that about 90% of the titles that I have searched are available from the Kindle store.The Kindle includes its own Internet connection (no charge). Go to the Kindle Store, search Title/author-downlad. It is also posbbile to download a single chapter to 'sample' the book before making the purchase. The Internet connection works in all but remote areas-it can be used to check e-mail even when there is not WiFi available although the formatting is not elegant. e-mail can be sent but the keyboard on the Kindle is tiny.Features of the Kindle that I like:-The screen technology is perfect-very easy to read and more flexible than the printed page-Downloading an entire book from the Kindle Store in less than a minute seems almost magical-one of those moments that technology sometimes provides.-Leave a book and you will be returned to where you left off-even if you've read from 10 other books in the meantime.-The screen is excellent for reading text (rock solid stillness and 16 monochrome shades)-Easy to use menu system-Amazon offers 500,000 titles for download-The Kindle can be used to connect to the Internet even when there is no WiFi although the format is not perfect-Classic books are available at no charge (Published prior to 1923)-I can read differnt books without having to carry them with me-Up to 1,500 books can be held on the Kindle at one time-a small library contained in 10 ounces-Titles that have been read can be archived and retrieved from the Kindle Store without charge-Over time, the savings on book purchases will substantially reduce the cost of this purchaseFeatures that I didn't like or don't exist:-Magazines and newspapers are available but expensive-Textbooks are genreally not available-Graphic capabilities are basic-use the Kindle for text-based reading-Books cannot be shared between Kindle users-Titles do not transfer from one version of Kindle to another-The Kindle does not do illustrations well (monochrome)although the monochrome quality is good-The Kindle is not gauranteed against breakage-buy a case or at least a 'skin' to make it easier to hold firmly-There is no way to organize the content that you've downloaded-you have to search for a particular book by scrolling down a list of titles-Publishers are angling to increase the cost of e-books even though the cost of sending an e-book eliminates most of the cost of traditonal book production. (No paper, no shipping, no storing returned copies)Long story short: I really like the Kindle 2. I would not buy the larger version because of its size and decreased resolution. Being able to hold and operate the Kindle in one hand is a substantial benefit. There is a new an improved Kindle in the pipeline but I cannot speak to that. All that can say is that, as a dedicated reader, I like the Kindle as a new way to read and purchase books. Took to it like a duck to water.

34 stars

Not worth it. This book just lost me in the way it is written. Am sure the points are good, but too tough for me to wade through to get them!

01 star

a new American Writer of triller for me. I read a review of Mr. Child's last book in the New York Times by accident.I immediately order the first 5 books from Amazon.I have read 3 so far.I liked "Killing Floor" enough to read the second one as fast as possible, I am now stuck with the third book.I find the use of lurid passages of violence a bit too much.the plot is simple, the main caracter is true blue and very two dimentional.There are a number of great american and English writers in the genre that i prefer.There are no surprises, every action can be expected in advance.

34 stars

This is a novel? I am trying to read the world's greatest novels as found on internet lists. David Copperfield seems to be less of a novel than a long series of episodes that are thinly related to each other. Few of the episodes propel the plot forward. I know that Dickens wrote serially for magazines and it shows. Many of the characters seem like two dimensional caricatures rather than real human beings. The plots seems melodramatic. Still, Dickens can write movingly. I don't think that this is a great novel but it is readable and allows some good insight into what Victorian England was like.

23 stars

Great Message, Poor Writing The Secret really carries a great message. It explains some of the details of how to use positive thinking and has some good quotes. The problem for me was that the writing was actually kind of boring and seemed poorly organized with a lot of filler content. Honestly, this should have been a brief pmaphlet, not a book. But, the message is worth the price of the book. Read it for that and not for the writing quality.

12 stars

$400 is too expensive I would buy one at 100. But it is Much too restrictive. Limits you to only buying books from amazon. Imagine if you could only play songs on an ipod purchased from the itunes music store...that would suck.

01 star

Not exactly... I tried out the New York Times via Kindle on a recent vacation trip. I should by way of background fill in some blanks:1. My wife and I pretty much read (parts of) the New York times pretty much every day2. I read the on-line version3. My wife reads the printed version4. We both feel that the NYT is probably the best US newspaperPreviously, when we traveled out of town, we either tried to buy it (thank you Starbucks) or had someone back home buy it for us. Since we have a Kindle, we decided, this trip, lets just get the Kindle version. Some things, Amazon got amazingly right:Pros:1. Quick Downloads via Cell2. Incredibly easy to move back and forth in sections (much, much better than printed or on-line)3. Much easier to deal with reading (no folding to a new section)4. Articles all are contiguous (no paging through Macy's ads to find the continued on page...)5. Can cut and save articles!6. Fingers don't get black reading it7. Easier to read (no smudged letters, missprints)and some things not so right...Cons:1. Missing pictures and charts2. Missing ads (yes, I know, I liked not having the ads, but then missed having the ads)3. Price (I hesitated to add this one, but yes, with on-line (web), color, for free, Kindle it's too expensive)I guess ultimately it was the cut back in graphics, missing charts, etc., I assume to contain cell download costs, that kept me from subscribing permanently. NYT on Kindle is very close to the real thing, has in fact some really distinct advantages, and I don't really miss color all that much (we subscribed originally when it was just Black & White), but it's a little on the expensive side for what you get. Maybe if the was a version with Color and bigger/more graphics, where the content was the same, we'd switch over, but until that happens, we'll probably stick with the non-Kindle formats, at least when we're not on vacation. So close, and yet, so far.

23 stars

Great story! It's too bad that some of the reviewers retold the entire story in their review. This book, although often repetitive, is a compelling tale that can serve as a lesson about values and community. I loved the way the author interjected the historical context, especially all of the info about Booker T. Washington, the first bonafide "poverty pimp". I highly recommend this book, and after you read it, be sure to share it with your family!

34 stars

Blah. Well-written, but the book is slow and doesn't seem to go anywhere. I was bored.

23 stars

A COMPELLING READ!! I enjoyed this fast paced thriller by first time author, Lee Child. Jack Reacher was a compelling character, and the plot was interesting...Hopefully, Reacher will be @ for many more thrillers

45 stars

Great book Laugh out loud funny, good story, good characters, I didn't want to put it down. The kind of book you pass on to a friend.

45 stars

oh zizek... This is one of the my favorites by Zizek (the other being The Fragile Absolute). Zizek is a master at diagnosing the contemporary game for what it is: synthetic, gnostic, and without meaning (Nietzsche wins?!). Yet, he does so in a way that provides, perhaps theoretically, some sort of intellectual resources for how to go beyond our dual fascination with all things material and, paradoxically, immaterial. Plus, he is just a fun read. He is one of few writers that I genuinely can return to time and time again (even if it is to discover exactly where I disagree with him).

34 stars

My First Psychology Book Well, i can't say that my reason for buying this book is the most convincing. However, going on a 10-hours flight requires a good book to read. And Zimbardo doesn't disappoint. My girl friend majored in Psychology, so this book serves on many levels.Its an easy read, and it really doesn't challenge those of us (me in particular) who have absolutely no background in psychology.The price is just right! the book with free shipment is less than 13$ which is 6$ less than the cheapest price i found in any bookstore. Even with shipment fees for standard shipment which was 16.24$ is still equal or less than most bookstores out there.One last thing not related directly to this book, is that the delivery was really fast. My order was placed on Sunday, Standard Shipment, and i recieved the package on Tuesday. Not bad at all!

45 stars

brilliant... bell hooks does it again. She demonstrates her love of humanity and her community with this gift to Black men. As a man of color, I see how patriarchal notions of white malehood have destroyed this planet and our communities. I hope my brothers of all races heed bell's warnings and embrace feminism.

45 stars

A good saga, but a bit long (to see all my reviews go to beansbookblog.wordpress.com) The narrator of this novel, Will Thomas, is in his 90's and has spent most of his life living among the Cherokee. Timeframe is about mid 1800's, before, during, and after the Civil War as well as before, during, and after the Cherokee removal. This is quite the saga. Frazier's writing is very detailed, and at times I loved the imagery, but sometimes I wanted the story to move on a bit more quickly. I think I liked the first third of the novel best: Will's teenage years when his family essentially sells him into the service of a trading post owner where he is required to work for 7 years. He ends up buying the post, expanding his business to a string of posts and then numerous other businesses and land and spending the rest of his life among the Cherokee as friend, leader, and lawyer. He is essentially one of them but is never of them. Threaded throughout the story, and what in some ways holds the narrative together, is Will's relationship with Claire whom he meets at age 12 but cannot marry because he is white and she is part Cherokee. While the story is fiction, I enjoyed its historical aspects, especially the relationship between the Cherokee Nation and America and the various lifestyles and prosperity (or lack thereof) among the Cherokee. This is a good--but long--read.

23 stars

An intriguing and heartening memoir A Kenyan student at the University of Hawaii meets an American woman who is also a student there, and they fall in love. Never mind that he already has a wife and children back home; to his Muslim faith that presents no problem, and from an American viewpoint there's always divorce. Neither his father in Kenya nor her parents in Hawaii are pleased, but Barack Obama marries his Ann anyway; and his son and namesake comes into the world unaware of a divided heritage. For no matter what they may have thought about their daughter's marriage, Ann's parents fully accept their brown grandson. Their son-in-law chooses a graduate school scholarship that takes him away from Ann and their son, and after that he returns to Kenya. Ann and small Barack do not follow. A few years later, though, Ann marries again; and this time it's an Indonesian student she chooses. She and Barack join him in Indonesia, where they live until Ann realizes how thoroughly her child is being absorbed into a culture where he can never fulfill her dreams for him. Or, as she sees it, his potential. So she sends him to Hawaii to live with her parents, and that is where the elder Barack Obama visits when his son is 10 years old. It is the only time in the future U.S. president's life when he will remember seeing his father.This memoir is just that, the highly personal story of one man's experiences in coming to understand - and, at last, to accept - his heritage. I found it fascinating to follow the development of the man who would become president, the first non-white elected to that office in my country's history. I also found it encouraging, because the boy and young man Barack Obama faced plenty of challenges; and most of them were not at all the conventional ones of past presidents. His overcoming them and achieving all that he has heartens me. This is not a perfect book in technical terms; but it speaks with an authentic voice, and it held my interest from start to finish.--Reviewed by Nina M. Osier, author of "Love, Jimmy: A Maine Veteran's Longest Battle"

34 stars

She lost the charm The author starts out witty and compelling in her description of her search for God in the "I" countries. However, in the end -- she just manages to find herself -- or herself manages to find her. What happened to God??

12 stars

Joy of the rarefied kind for the military historian and serious reader Lazenby's study of the Peloponnesian war is well worth the price. Tons of grist for the mill of any serious scholar; professional in the military sense as well as the academic sense; insightful. The book provides a fresh view of ground I had previously thought well-traveled. Analysis worthy of any published on current military battles. Buy it; put it in your arsenal. Use it when you're researching or just read it for fun.

45 stars

GREAT BOOK! This book was very good - could not put it down. I didn't realize it until I started reading the book that a movie had been made from it. The movie is not as good as the book. If you decide to read this, you should also read "The Ruins" by Mr. Smith.

45 stars

Kindle is Not Ready For Market The Amazon Kindle is not ready for market and neither is the Amazon technical support team. I received my Kindle two days ago and it crashed seven times. I called tech support and they were only able to tell me "I understand your frustration but there is nothing that I can do". I really don't need to say any more. That is enough to put the Kindle in the sucks category.

01 star

Wow...nearly instantaneous reading!!! When my mom saw the Kindle on Oprah last November, she called me immediately and rattled off all it's features. I was a bit skeptical of the hype and checked things out for myself. She hadn't been one to employ the consistent use of electronics with which she'd been gifted, so we weren't about to hop on any ol' band wagon. Well, after doing all the research, I talked to my brother and we decided to order it as a Christmas gift. As many of you know, those orders took until February to come in, but it was worth the wait!!! The Kindle 2 was the automatic upgrade and it is COOL!Today, Mom is constantly telling us of the search-and-read missions she goes on at 3 in the morning. If she hears of an author or book on TV, she can search it immediately. She has been searching out authors she read as a young adult (she's 70, now), and enjoying the re-reads and other offerings with her years of knowledge.Her previous book shopping happened when she'd have an outing, or more often, I would read synopses from the jackets, over my cell phone, and hope they were accurate enough for her to remember if she'd read it.This is such a wonderful addition to my mom's life.

45 stars

Love that kindle Kindle 2: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device (Latest Generation)I absolutely love my Kindle2. I bought it primarily for the variable text size capability. I use it for walking on my treadmill. I know that exercise is essential for life but I think it is boring after about 3 minutes. I was never able to read a regular paperback book. Now the Kindle 2 with the variable text size & easy page turning is quite literally a "life saver" for me.

45 stars

Picture Perfect This series is additive! This is the fourth time I've read Portrait and I still love it. The characters continue to evolve and grow and entertain. The characters are outstanding. Complex, conflicted, enjoyable. The main players are easy to fall for.The suspense runs high and the tension builds to find the killer in this installment. When one of their own is taken, Ms. Robb does an excellent job of portraying the frantic rush of the members of police force to save a young officer from a certain and senseless death.If you haven't read the 'in Death' series, you're denying yourself hours of entertainment and pleasure. Take the advice I was given, though, and read them in order so you meet the main cast members as they come into play and develop into first-rate characters.Thank you Ms. Robb!Shelley Dawn, author ofDark NightsandSweet, Sweet Jessie

45 stars

Couldn't finish this one I started listening to the unabridged book on tape. I had to struggle to listen to the 1st side of the 1st cassette. I stopped after that. There was nothing I enjoyed about the storyline.

01 star

Why the bad reviews? I found this book to be witty, funny and tongue in cheek at times. If you are a strict scholar of the period, you may think that some things are improper. However, this book is a romance novel! One with honestly a lot less smut than current Harlequins. It was a kindler, gentler time period where women and men did not consort together without chaparones. Add in the espionage, and it is a wonderful romance two fold: you are left wondering who you would like to be most, rambunctious Amy, who wants very much to be a spy and restore the monarchy in France or Eloise, a graduate student, attracted to the Hero and Heroine's relation, several generations removed. Oh how I wish I had read the classics! To spar with words and mythical references would be divine! The author's first book is quite well written and very fun to read. I had a hard time putting it down. It was a nice vacation from other books I have been reading of late. So intriguing that I had to get the second book to read as well and am thoroughly pleased to see that her third has been released. This book has it all, intrigue, romance, flirtation, chivalry... everything a woman secretly wants in real life, but doesn't get!

45 stars

awesome escape After seeing several friends with their Kindle--I decided it was a must have. Just love it--I read more often, it's so great to read the very latest or that old classic and you don't have to go thru the library to search for. We travel a lot and I am always ready to go. The long lasting battery is definitely a plus. I appreciate the free books but also the ability to download all my book club selections in a mere minute. Great!! Great!! Great!! Only suggestion for future is the option of a backlight for reading at night, on plane, or out on patio in the evening. Enough said--now back to reading. Suzanne Treece

45 stars

Dark and Edgy- A Page-turner! Lover Eternalby J.R. WardBook 2: Black Dagger BrotherhoodGrade: AThe second book in J.R. Ward's series doesn't disappoint. I purchased this early in the week, intending to save it as my reward for finishing my thesis draft. I made the mistake of peeking into the first chapter, and it was all downhill from there.In the Brotherhood, Rhage is the brother with the strongest appetites for sex and violence. He was cursed over a hundred years ago. If his appetities become too strong, if he becomes emotionally unstable, a beast is released that kills anything in its path. It's a curse he must bear for another 91 years. Enter a human, Mary Luce, who is brought to the Brotherhood as a translator for a mute man who is like them. Her voice calms Rhage's beast, and their attraction is instant, burning hot. Mary herself is unwilling to accept a relationship, as she knows that her time is limited. A leukemia survivor, she knows the cancer has come back and she pushes away from Rhage, who couldn't possibly be interested in her. However, while with Rhage, Mary comes to the attention of the Lessening Society, an organization dedicated to destroying all vampires. She's taken to the Brotherhood's headquarters for protection, which causes a lot of problems, as humans are not permitted to know about their existence, or where the Brotherhood live. (Think of the Brotherhood as a military organization to protect the civilian vampires).Ward layers her book with many stories and a lot of detail and depth. Every interaction between characters is meaningful, and develops both plot and character more deeply. I could buy into the world and the story, as well as the relationships very easily. There are many issues within the book -- issues of loyalty, trust and faith. Their relationship is of protector and protected, yet it reverses and changes through the book. Mary at first came across as a little weak, a little too innocent and naive, but she developed through the book to become a courageous and strong woman, ane more than a match for the alpha male Ward put her with. Rhage himself was alpha to the core, but with a very protective nature, of both his brothers and his woman. It's an interesting role reversal in LOVER ETERNAL, where the heroine constantly pushes the hero away for his own emotional protection, and it's the hero who is often hurt by her refusal to accept him. Yet at the same time, you can see how much it's costing both of them to try and walk away. Keep in mind that this doesn't happen throughout the entire book, and the reasons given for Mary's need to push away is legitimate and doesn't come across at all like melodrama.I have very conflicting reactions to Ward's world. To some extent, while women are cared for in these books, and loved, they come across as being a bit "owned." The women are often referred to as "female" by the males, and it feels a little degrading to me. Yet at the same time, I can buy into a world where the men protect, and the women let them :) And the women aren't exactly weak or useless. My other issue was with the deux ex machina in the end. I had the same issue in Kenyon's book, where Ash comes in and brings everyone to life and saves the day. I don't deal well with those endings, because it's unrealistic and... silly. Fairytale-ish and childish to me. What made it palatable in LOVER ETERNAL was that sacrifices had to be made in order for the "gift" to be bestowed, and the sacrifice wouldn't be an easy one. Naturally, the sacrifice proves the hero's love for the heroine.Ward's ability to tell a great story, and to build some really sizzling sexual tension, is amazing, however. She pushes the boundaries of romance (there is one love scene that I can't figure out if it creeped me out or turned me on) with her edgy heroes, scary evil organization, and heroines with real issues. She has truly dynamic characters that fill the book. Even the bad guys are fascinating, and she spends time unfolding bits and pieces of other characters. The personal issues she introduces into the book are real issues, serioius issues, and are dealt with seriously. None of the superfluous issues that seem to pepper the romance genre -- those issues are easily solved, or solved unrealistically.I definitely recommend Ward's book to anyone who loves this genre, and likes darker, edgier books.

45 stars

"Be a lamp unto yourself"---Last words of the Buddha Shakyamuni A previous reviewer says that His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama is the closest thing we have to Buddha on earth. I think his Holiness would disagree, first because he is an exceedingly humble man, and second because he would say, as the Buddha Shakyamuni did, that we are all Buddhas.HOW TO SEE YOURSELF AS YOU REALLY ARE is a wonderful audiobook filled with wisdom and practical exercises to help us all learn mindfulness and compassion, the two watchwords of Buddhist practice. Six discs in length, HOW TO SEE YOURSELF AS YOU REALLY ARE is a detailed manual of practice. It is read by His Holiness' translator, Jeffrey Hopkins, who manages to work his way through some rather esoteric concepts without losing the thread of the Dalai Lama's lessons. Hopkins is not a theatrical reader, and this is not really an audiobook to be listened to while doing anything else (like driving); it requires VERY active listening.My only negative criticism revolves around the complex, textbook quality of the material. Numbered lists, chapter subheadings, end of chapter exercises, and meditative reflections really require the student to take notes. There's no question that HOW TO SEE YOURSELF AS YOU REALLY ARE needed to be released with an accompanying paperback and a workbook. Fortunately, the paperback is available separately.There's a lot of depth here, and you'll be listening to His Holiness' lessons many times over. Don't go into this audiobook thinking that it is going to be a Snooze Along with the Lama lecture.

34 stars

Finally something different! I'd stopped reading Robin Cook's books because, frankly, one was the same as the next. My sister convinced me to give this a try and I found it very refreshing. I'm sure it dissappoints many loyal fans, but it will probably attract a whole new audience. I found the characters believable and the story alternately gripping and entertaining. I feel the need to address many of the negative comments I saw in readers' reviews regarding the plausibility of the story: This is FICTION. If you want real-life, try a documentary on PBS. Geez.

34 stars

Minor In Possession Review As per her usual JA Jance did a good job with this book Minor In Possession. Suprising to me she took J P out of his Washington presence and dumped him in the desert during monsoon season. Poor guy. It was as usual a great read with lots of factual descriptive of the area. Great work Ms. Jance

34 stars

Interesting findings, Honorable principles I found the book to be easily read and understood. I used it to write a comparison contrast paper; referencing my leadership style with what I learned of Colin Powell's principles. I was pleasantly surprised of the similarities although we have been engaged in vastly different employment scenarios.Colin Powell's principles are interesting. They are simple and follow ethical guidelines. I admire his outlooks. I generally have practiced similar work ethics and supervisory guidelines prior to learning his. However, I look forward to incorporating the principles I had not been utilizing.The service of Amazon was right on the money as well. The purchase was delivered as promised without any "issues".

45 stars

Essential Reading for Re-Thinking Business, Brands, and Careers People change out of inspiration or desperation. Occasionally the two meet in a well-written, provocative, and helpful book like A Whole New Mind.On the desperation side of the equation, author Dan Pink points the reader to more than a few disturbing facts. First, is the peril of abundance. Why would the abundance of our society threaten my job? After the author explains how companies are building brands on great design and experiential savvy (thinkTarget) along with what respected leaders say they value going forward (think GM's Robert Lutz), you quickly get the picture.Next, Pink introduces the reader as to where routine, white-collar work is increasingly being done in large amounts; for less than large amounts of dollars. Hint: It starts with an "A" but it isn't America. Asia is now becoming the center where knowledge workers are hired in large numbers to serve the companies of our North American economy.Another dark cloud of painful reality comes when Pink looks at the friendly computer on your desk. Our generation of white-collar workers will join the previous generation of blue-collar workers as together they lament the power of Automation. It will take more than brawn or brains to find a job when computers do for free what today's professionals do for fees.The research is there. Pink's argument is well documented without altering the real value and purpose of the book: to inspire change in today's worker and business leader.Inspiration for meaningful change is the greatest strength of A Whole New Mind. It is full of meaningful action and applications any reader can implement. For me, this is what makes it such joy and a must read for anyone I care about!Pink has identified six aptitudes/concepts for what he calls the Conceptual Age: Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play, and Meaning. He has not only illustrated them, but also included what the reader can do to acquire these skills. Why? - Because with them you grow your value as employees. Without them you lose your competitive edge. It is that simple.A Whole New Mind strikes just the right balance. The dark truth is revealed in sufficient quantities to get you moving, and an inspiring future, along with "first steps", is supplied in order to keep you moving!

45 stars

An excellent book, but very complicated. I enjoyed the book immensly, but felt that it was rather complicated. Too many characters with the same name. Too much writing in dialect. Overall, enjoyable.

34 stars

The more things change... I had wanted to wait, and be the last person on earth to publish a review of this book. But, with the movie coming out, I figured maybe I should go ahead and add my thoughts. By now, I'm assuming you know the plot (there isn't one), the style (limited punctuation and other nonconformities) and the message (what is it?) Well, that's the beauty of The Road.Like all lyrical journeys, The Road allows its readers to determine their own messages. And that's made all the reviews that much more interesting. I can't challenge the one-stars any more than I can challenge the fives. I give the book a four because I think The Road is too important as a cultural phenomenon to be ignored, and it takes no time at all to buzz through it. As a long-time McCarthy fan, I wasn't caught by surprise with the style, but those new to his work might find it a challenge. I'd encourage them to go slow and stick with it. The Road is worth the work.While Dennis Lehane in the official guest review boils the book's message down to "faith," I had a different reaction. For me, The Road emerged as a metaphor for each of our daily lives, as we go about our regular routines with a bit of hope and acceptance of responsibility. In this post-apocalyptic vision, our hero and his son march forward to a destiny they can't really fathom, searching the landscape for tools of survival and doing the best they can. Faith? What else are they going to do? Sit in the road and cry? So, they move along in their post-apocalyptic world the way we move along in our pre-apocalyptic reality: as best we can. The more things change, the more we remain the same.If you like this road book, you should also consider the Jack Kerouac classicOn the Road (Penguin Classics). It's an interesting intellectual game to consider the similarities that go beyond the words in the titles.

34 stars

BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT I EVER GOT!!!!! MY HUSBAND GOT ME A KINDLE FOR CHRISTMAS, I HAVE BEEN SINGING IT'S PRAISES TO EVERYONE WHO WILL LISTEN. I AM AN ADVID READER. MY PROBLEM WAS WHAT TO DO WITH THE BOOKS ONCE I WAS DONE WITH THEM. PROBLEM SOLVED. THIS IS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING. IT IS A MUST FOR ANYONE WHO ENJOYS READING AS MUCH AS I DO.NO GOING OUT TO THE STORE ON A SNOWY OR RAINEY DAY FOR A BOOK. JUST SEARCH AND CLICK.

45 stars

Loved this one! Loved this one! I was worried about so many reviewers said that they didn't like Joan, but I thought she was one of the most realistic of the female characters in the Troubleshooters series thus far. Muldoon stayed true to the character that we have come to know, which was nice. Sometimes when the men are featured, they seem different than the men we have gotten to know in previous books. (Wildcard to Tame Card in the previous book, for example.)I also loved the story of Sam and Mary Lou and Ihbraham. I have to admit, Sam wasn't presented very sympathetically, but he was 100% real. Mary Lou was fascinating: both sympathic and totally unlikeable. Ihbraham was a wonderful characters, although out of a fantasy, IMO, but I definitely didn't see the twist with Hussam's identity coming!Great story. One of my favorites thus far.

45 stars

The Great Danger to The Planet As the longest war in American history continues to rage, this book reveals in great detail what the real danger is: those that would happily abandon all American history and return us back to the dark ages when the Vatican and all their friends had armies and absolute political control down to and including the serfs. If you do not wish to become a serf and return to the culture of 1300 AD, buy and read this book! Even better, buy a copy and give it to every American you know that can read....probably only about 30% of the population in our once great country. Those folks thinking we will have a King again and the related state religion are sadly mistaken; what those folks do not grasp is that nuclear devices and similar technology HAS BEEN INVENTED! They need to think about Pakistan, the wonderful country equipping lots of folks with the secrets that produce mushroom clouds. Evolution is a fact and Extinction is the basic mechanism; this is very easy to confirm yourself, if you can read above the third grade level! For those wishing to take us back in time: how are you going to pay us back for the 1000 years of the dark ages when you burned innocent people at the stake?

45 stars

ashes, ashes all fall down This is a classic of apocalyptic fiction. I have a 3 1/2 year old son. I cried after I read this book. Few books have ever affected me like that. It is hard not to get emotional even thinking about it. I read it about 2 weeks ago. I cannot fathom living through a "nuclear winter." I would do what I have to in order to protect my family. This is dark fiction and some people think its very unusual for Oprah to acknowledge it. I am a fan of apocalyptic fiction and, unfortunately I do not have a very optimistic view of the ability of this society to continue to sustain itself. Everyone should read this.

45 stars

A Surprise Find I highly recommend this book to almost everyone. It should really get more attention!The writing is thoughtful and interesting, and the subject matter unique. The book follows Barack Obama as he grows up and defines himself and his view of the world, as he finds the community that he wants to count himself a member of. In the end that "community" is really the community of humanity, but this book takes you on Barack's journey.The author examines his heritage of white, midwesterners on his mother's side and later in the book explores the world of his father, a Kenya of the Luo tribe who came to the U.S. to study. Three parts of the book I found especially well done. First, the evocation of what it was like to be in Barack's head as a young black man with few black role models in his life and the difficult philosophical (internal) conversation of the African-American community defining itself in white America. Second, his work as a community organizer in Chicago really dealt well with the complex problems of declining inner cities. Third, the idealization of his absent father by both himself and his mother and the gradual discovery of the real character of his father and grandfather.Overall, this book was about his struggle to be true to himself and to figure out what that meant.

34 stars

Dont Keep " The Secret " a secret ! Great motivational book, try it before you buy it! I picked this one up at my local library and after giving it a decent effort to use the technique in the book " affirmation " i started to realize that it was working. I checked my local 2 major bookstores and i was beginning to feel like it was greatly overpriced but after checking amazon it was about 70% cheaper. I promise if you buy this book, you will not regret it. It is definately home library material. Its a short book detailed book, Enjoy!

45 stars

Everyone should reqad this If we are to be the kind of American citizens that our country first foresaw, we should read this and several other publications....that is, educate ourselves about our country, where it was headed, who was getting it there, and why. Otherwise we won't recognize what is being taken from us this very day! IN school these days we don't learn about our history and the people who made it and we MUST! Our very freedom is in jeopardy and we must protect it!

45 stars

My first experience with Harlan Coben's writing... ...and it may be my last. I am going to give Coben one more chance, but I will not be reading another Myron Bolitar story. I had many problems with this book, but the biggest was the lack of sympathetic characters. I simply did not like Myron, Win, Erik Biel, Rochester (who, granted, I wasn't supposed to like), and I honestly didn't care too much about the fates of the two missing girls, since they weren't characterized hardly at all. The two main characters--Myron and Win--are male chauvinists who objectify nearly all women on the basis of their appearance; if Coben thinks that that makes for engaging, sympathetic characterization, he's mistaken. The plot is largely incomprehensible--way too convoluted (and that's coming from a reader who likes complicated plots and a good deal of ambiguity in fiction)--and the dialogue is atrocious. I literally cringed several times in the story when stumbling across cliched, unbelievable dialogue; in one passage, two characters addressed each other by name almost every time they spoke. Does anyone refer to a friend by name at any time when they're having a conversation, let alone repeatedly? I can't recommend this book. Like I said, I will try one more Coben book, and that will determine whether or not I read any more of his works in the future. I know I won't be returning to Myron Bolitar, though.

12 stars