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Free SF Reader
Flat is an exercise in science fiction geometry, if you like. It shows a denizen of a 2 dimensional world seeing what it would be like to exist in higher dimensions. An interesting mathematical and philosophical exercise. Some will definitely find this very odd, and rather quirky. If you don't know what a dimension means in this sense, give it a miss. | 23 stars
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Couldn't put it down
Aidan is not Austen but I don't get the impression from her writing that she is trying to be. She is simply giving us the story as she sees it from Darcy's point of view. She gives us an in depth look at what is going on in Darcy's head.Other reviewers have said the story dragged or was boring. I rather found it satisfied my wish for 'more information.' I Like detailed storytelling and this one definitely suits me. When I was finished with the book I immediately picked up the next installment.The perceptive and conniving valet, Fletcher, is a marvelous creation. I look forward to seeing more of him.The dance at Netherfield was riveting. My heart bled for Darcy knowing how badly Wickham had influenced Elizabeth's opinion of him. It's an interesting feeling reading knowing it gets much worse for him before it finally gets better.I immensely enjoyed the first two in this trilogy and can't wait to get my hands on the third. | 45 stars
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Connections between religion and morality
Daniel C. Dennett's BREAKING THE SPELL: RELIGION AS A NATURAL PHENOMENON draws some important connections between religion and morality, asking whether religion should be the foundation for defining moral behavior and examining the origins of religion's role in society and individual lives. From considering the changing ideas of God and the roots of religious belief to how religion evolved from folk beliefs, BREAKING THE SPELL provides both history and social commentary. | 45 stars
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America's best newspaper
So many of the reviews are downrating the Journal because of the pricing structure: they think that folks who buy the paper through Kindle ought to be able to read it online as well. That's absurd. If you want to read the Journal online, then subscribe to it online: the cost is about the same. Or you can buy the paper edition, which costs quite a bit more, but then you get to pass it around the office or family.What the critics overlook is that the Journal is the best and most thoughtful newspaper in the U.S. I am not a huge fan of its continuing makeover--it looks more and more like every other paper in the world, a sort of upscale USA Today. But still there is no other source nearly as good. It covers all national and international news, and in compact fashion. Its editorial page is conservative, but you don't have to read it if the politics offend you; the news pages are center-liberal like those of the Washington Post. Personally, I like the balance. | 45 stars
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Inspiring & Enlightening!!!
"A New Earth" takes ideas from Tolle's previous book "The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment" and it moves the discussion from expansion of personal consciousness to how an expanded consciousness can transform our planet.Rarely do we find spiritual books that offer a clear perspective for both personal transformation of the self and global transformation of the earth that is offered by Tolle in this book.The title aptly sums up the message: "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose." Our purpose requires a transcendence of our ego for both personal happiness and to end the violent conflicts on earth.The book offers real hope and Oprah has made a bold move to move away from recommending classics to a contemporary spiritual book. Others books you have to read: "The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment," "Living in the Light: A Guide to Personal and Planetary Transformation" and "Nexus: A Neo Novel" | 45 stars
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Unexpected Masterpiece
As a frequent flyer Delta, I have been an avid reader of Michael Konik's golf writing for more years than I care to admit. I'm a fan. He writes with a lot of passion and sentimentality for the great game of golf. He's at the same time also very funny and dry when he has to be. I appreciate Konik's style, which stands out from the mainstream golf writing. However, even though I own his other golf book about caddying for Jack Nicklaus I was somewhat unprepared for "In Search of Burning Bush." To say this a "great" book is not doing it justice. This is THE book that captures exactly why golf makes a difference in my life. As soon as I finished it and caught my breath, I gave it to my wife and said, "If you read this book you'll understand."I have already written a personal note to Mr. Konik to express my appreciation for his honesty and his eloquence. I am rephrasing some of it here because I truly believe anyone who cares about golf will feel grateful that he read "In Search of Burning Bush." I know many people from the Shivas Irons Society will consider what I'm going to say offensive, but I've got to be honest. Konik's books, which is based on "Golf in the Kingdom," is far superior to the original. The emotions in "In Search of" are much deeper, and more powerful. It's very real. I came away feeling like I knew the author and his friend Don like they were old family members without any secrets.Don is very eccentric and likable character. I would love to play a round with him or just talk golf. As he's described in the book, Don is a very inspiring guy who doesn't let his physical ailments get inthe way of his love for golf.On a side note, if you have ever played golf in Scotland you will find yourself saying "yes!" when you read the descriptions of what golf is like over there compared to America. Excellent descriptions that really capture the spirit of Scottish links golf vs. American park golf.I expected Michael Konik's next golf book to be good. However, I was unprepared for it to be so powerful and so effective.I can't recommend any book I've read in the last year any more highly. | 45 stars
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A bit ambivalent about this one...
Have you ever read a book, invested a lot of time in reading it, and when you were finished, felt ambivalent about it? That's exactly what happened when I finished HEYDAY.It's not a bad book, in fact, it's a very good book. The characters are incredibly well written (in particular Duff and Scaggs), the historical content is interesting and informative, the descriptions are detailed without being over-bearing. Sounds great, right? But, after 500 pages, I just wanted this book to end. And when it did, well, let's just say it was a long way to go for such a brief payoff.Perhaps I was expecting far to much for 622 pages. I did like a great deal of the book, but it's not one that's going to stay with me for a long time. I'll give it a reluctant 4 stars. | 34 stars
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Perfect!
I got my Kindle as a birthday gift for myself and I am so happy with it! It is amazing and turned out just as perfect as I had expected! So easy to use and read, not to mention how much content it holds in such a small device! I'm recommending this to everyone :) | 45 stars
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thank you vook
jane austen is my favorite author. her love plots are immensely readable.look carefully and you will read universal truths etched in ivory. thank you vook for offering this classic as a freebie. | 45 stars
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Love My Paula Deen!
I just love Paula, and I don't cook! LOL! This was a great book, and I didn't want to put it down.It made me feel like Paula and I were sitting together like "best friends" and baring our souls. Yep, she told all her hidden secrets and it made me love her all the more.Her boys are just precious and hope to see a lot more of them in the future!And that Michael....well he could caption my boat anytime....hehehe!Wishing Paula many more years of love and success!READ THIS BOOK! | 45 stars
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first rate bio on the impresario of the "plausible impossible"
I read a lot of books as research for writing. Every so often, I come across a book that is so excellent, interesting, and deep that I simply have to read it cover to cover carefully, slowly, and more than once. This is such a book, a truly first rate literary masterpiece. I would recommend it to anyone interested in a great story of an entrepreneurial genius as well as the history of entertainment media.Gabler starts with the standard bio, that of Walt Disney living first in a rural near-paradise, and then, when his father fails at farming and the family descends into poverty, as a hard-working boy that lost his childhood to several paper routes in support of the family; he was a child laborer. While I do not know if we can ever prove whether Disney's search for a heartland ideal explains the worlds that he later portrayed and then built, Gabler makes a strong and irrefutable argument that he did. It is told with wonderful detail and narrative power.Whatever the reason, Disney was afflicted with that bug you find in the greatest artists: ever dissatisfied with what he had just accomplished, he felt impelled to enter into new domains. Each time he turned his full attention and energy onto an area, he fundamentally transformed it, forever changing the conditions for anyone who followed him. In this respect, Walt Disney has many of the same personality traits that Miles Davis, Pablo Picasso, Alberto Alessi, and other innovators of genius had: they could not stand still, but always lived in the present, in their effort to create/conquer the next big thing. Gabler shows how Disney's personal interests often became the next area he entered and changed, such as the way he transformed his interest in model trains and miniature worlds into his theme parks - as such, his principal motive was not to make money, but to express something, according to Gabler, that would make people happy for a time in a controlled and painstakingly conceived environment. His was a unique and rare form of creative leadership.Regarding the details of his innovations - and I cannot do justice to them here - he started in simple animation, when cartoons were little more than strings of crude gags, without personalities of any consistency or depth, without themes, or even plots. In his cartoon shorts, he was the first to incorporate sound and music, a level of realism (the "plausible impossible"), and color. At a deeper level, he did not see these techniques and features as simple add-ons to disjointed slap stick scenes, but as basic elements of the kind of stories he wanted to tell, as part of an integrated whole; every single detail had to fit, with purpose, into a seamless narrative. This was the age of Three Little Pigs (with its hit song, "Big, Bad Wolf") and Mickey Mouse. Interestingly, this was also where Disney began to branch into the toy market (and later on TV), making him a kind of pioneer of multi-media marketing. It was a self-reinforcing marketing strategy that established his name as one of the world's most recognizable brands. He then went on to full length cartoon features, also a first, with the largest grossing film of its time, Snow White. Towards the end of his career, he developed the theme park, replacing the dirty amusement ride parks with an experience that brought the customer into an entire environment that reflected consciously chosen frames from films. Even one of these innovations would have earned Disney a place in entertainment history, but this string is virtually unprecedented, in my view in the same league as Picasso.While Gabler clearly likes Disney, he is well aware of his dark side: from the early family-style atmosphere of his early animation studio, he became imperious and autocratic in his later years, alienating many with his anti-union activities and his appearence as a friendly witness before the notorious Committee on Un-American Activites. He was a personally remote man and had few friends as his life was almost wholly devoted to work, though he was a deeply devoted father and husband. Gabler also addresses cultural questions regarding Disney's transmogrification of age-old mythology into a Disney mold, which many feel (myself not included) debases the original sources with syrupy sentimentality.One thing that surprised me was how the company was often teetering on the edge of financial collapse, one flop away from bankrupcy. This is the source of a great deal of his search for new forms, such as his pioneering work in nature films and entry into live action film, for which Disney bet the whole company repeatedly. Indeed, many of his most famous films - Bambi, Pinocchio, and Fantasia - were box office failures, though they later paid for themselves in other applications (re-runs, video sales, action figures, etc.). Nonetheless, everything he did was a great risk.Gabler also examines Walt Disney's business method. While producing content, his opus was self-reinforcing across all the media channels that played it, with the greatest attention paid to details, which he personally and compulsively checked. Thus, while the TV shows usually lost money in terms of advertising revenues, Disney knew that it was also a long commercial for his brand image, himself as the best entertainer for families, which established him and his work in the minds of the world's children. It also sold his toys, which was one of the most profitable of his businesses. For example, when seeking funding for his first park in Anaheim, he got an investment from ABC, which ensured the network would want to promote it upon opening; this led ABC to cover its opening live, one of the most watched events in American TV history, which attracted more people to the parks, reinforced the film images, and sold toys. It was all of a piece, a long-term profitability based on content and brand that might not have been a conscious strategy, but certainly worked as if it were. Then there is the long-suffering Roy, who was a worrier and the behind-the-scenes manager of his visionary and difficult brother, Walt. They were a balanced team. Finally, Gabler dissects his working method of total involvement to the point of obsession: there are wonderful descriptions of how Disney's presentation of his vision of Snow White was done by his own acting of the entire story with every single character and incident, over three hours with manic energy. It was the same with his theme parks, where he often lived, tuning (and attempting to control) every detail of the experience for guests.This book is one of the best bios of a man and his ideas that I have ever read. Warmly recommended. It is an inspiration. | 45 stars
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Sound introductions to bad translations.
There soon will be published a four-page review of this book, by my hand, in the journal 'Vigiliae Christianae'. What follows here, is the summary of that review : Louth's 'Maximus the Confessor' wants to provide an introduction to the theological thinking of Maximus the Confessor, a goal the author hopes to achieve by providing translations of some of Maximus' major theological treatises, especially 'Ambigua ad Thomam' and 'Ambigua ad Johannem'. Although both the editor of the series 'The Early Church Fathers' and Louth himself stress the necessity of an accessible modern translation of "key texts by the major Fathers", Louth's translation of Maximus leaves a lot to be desired. First of all, his negligent treatment of the original Greek text has been the cause of a number of annoying mistakes in the translations. In more than one case, these mistakes even twist Maximus' theology in a way the Confessor himself would not have agreed upon. It is hard to believe that the author of this kind of translations has been able to provide such a sound and correct introduction to them. However, it goes without saying that the real sources for further study of Maximus' thinking, i.e., the Confessor's works, have not become more accessible by this edition. On the contrary, the numerous inaccuracies and definite errors in the translations might in the future result in some strange conclusions about Maximus' theological thinking. | 01 star
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Inspiring insights, beautifully presented
If you want to know our new President and what to expect from him, this book is a "must-read." It's about his quest to understand himself as a half-black, half-white man in America. Written when he was a state Senator in Illinois, his words have the energy and candor of youth as he describes his childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia, the scorching experience of a young idealist trying to help the poor in South Chicago, and the enlightenment that came with going to Kenya where his father lived and died. You see his values taking shape, and you share in the experience. He is a gifted writer with a gripping story to tell.During the campaign for the presidency, I read blogs and columns that asked "Who is this Obama? What kind of man is he? Who is behind the calm public image?" This book tells the answer; it puts the reader in Barack's shoes. For me as a 71-year-old white man, the book was an education that I couldn't have got anywhere else. Only a person half-black and half white could lead a person like me to experience what it's like to be black in a mostly-white land. I will be forever grateful to him for the education. | 45 stars
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Career Training Enhancer
Many lives by it. Millions are reading it. The latest self help book claims we can change our lives by thinking. But this 'new thought' may just be another new version of NLP and the power of the subconscious. No matter what, it doesn't hurt to read and apply since all of it is positive. Gave many of it as gifts and even recommending it for my meirc trainees in dubai. | 45 stars
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Lots of internet stuff, no math stuff
Half the book is about internet.I was disapointed by the absence of math things. 1 or 2 pages could have given an overview of the main math functions. Also no string-numeric conversion functions such as str(), float()... are given. This book is definitely not for scientists or science engineers/technicians.Things presented are detailed, but they are quite limited.A fully operational code example often meaningless follows every function introduced. It would be better to my opinion to introduce the functions individualy and then show an example showing several functions in action in a script that means something. | 23 stars
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Salt worth savoring
This is a beautiful book. I've started so many bestsellers lately and stopped halfway through them, disappointed in both the book and myself for my lack of persistance. I was starting to be afraid that I had lost the knack of reading. SALT restored my faith in my own ability to become immersed in a book and in the fact that there are still books which can totally entrance, amaze, delight, and humble the reader. SALT is the story of a woman who I would have dearly loved to have known. She had a life that was far from satisfying and yet she found beauty almost everywhere she looked and was a blessing to everyone around her. Thank you, Isabel Zuber, for this beautiful blessing of a book! | 45 stars
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LOTS of loose ends, not much advancement...
OK, I agree with a number of other readers that Mistral's Kiss isn't really a stand-alone. It really reads more like a novella or an entre-acte or perhaps the completion of Stroke of Midnight.There were plenty of loose ends in SoM, like the interlude with Adair to see if he would be "marked" as belonging to Merry, for which there was NO resolution. And while there HAS been some plot development, all those loose ends are still left hanging, with others added in MK.But this book leaves me rather unsatisfied. It's hard to look forward to a book for almost year and then feel let down.I like the idea for the Merry Gentry series. I even like the writing, although I do have a wish that plot and character development weren't so often sacrificed for sex. After all, I do like plot with my erotica. And the exposition often feels either repetitive and/or clunky, and major plot developments are tucked in as throw-aways.I'll wait to see how the rest of the series develops. | 23 stars
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A Dubious Disciple Book Review
A Finkelstein book will be controversial; let's establish that up front. And because there exists very literal archaeological evidence outside the Bible story of Judah's first kings, speculation will be a natural result of any such study. We know absolutely nothing from history about Saul and precious little about David and Solomon; in fact, the evidence is so sparse that a few scholars still doubt the existence of all three.Finkelstein and Silberman don't doubt, but neither are they able to provide 342 pages of historical analysis. Instead, they trace the legends of these early kings through a thousand years of Hebrew writings, both in and out of the Bible. The earliest folklore and Bible verses about David show him as a bandit leader of a small gang of traveling raiders. Later authors portrayed David as a poet and a founder of a great dynasty, as well as a sinner. Solomon's reputation, as well, grew over time into a shrewd trader and wise sage.How many of these writings are based on fact, and how many on legend? The authors' scholarly research and field experience will make you reconsider. | 34 stars
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Earned guardian wings (review written 4/23 not march)
I saw the possibility of the Riley Jensen series in Book 1, where we are introduced to this half-vampire/half-werewolf who works for the Australian Directorate of Other Races, Riley Jensen and her twin brother, their workers/lovers. The sex is fast and furious and action is nonstop. But in this second (and subsequent sequels that have apparently already been cranked out) before us, bring some questions. Do we care about the characters? Do we see the predicaments placed before the characters that a super-race is being gleaned from breeding farms some have escaped from?Do we care what happens now that Riley has become a guardian? Her reluctance to become a killer of the degree a guardian is was part of Riley's humanity in the first book. Now she sees it's not so hard to kill like the big boys. Will I read book 3? Only to see what happens when Riley's vampire half's influence brings forward, and to see if she is truly drawn into fight. Did I like Kissing Sin? No not particularly. I still think Riley may have potential, but... | 23 stars
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3 stars, good book in a good series significantly better than average for the genre
As usual there's some humor here starting with the opening of Sookie helping Claude get a portfolio of glamour photos for romance covers--his definite lack of social skills makes the scene funny. Then there's a powerful young friendly witch Hadley's (Sookie's definitely dead cousin) landlady and the stasis spell and what happens to Bob (another witch). Amelia (the witch) with three others does an Ectoplastic reconstruction which goes well. Although she's very powerful she sometimes lacks the foresight and control that could be desired. And there's Felecia the new bar tender at fangtasia who is sent down to see Sookie and ask that she not kill her--Pam having fun, and the bar patrons are amused and amazed.There are several plots intertwined nicely including the Pelts, Quinn and his interest in Sookie (which is returned) and their several eventful dates, and Sookie's increasing involvement with the Queen of Louisiana as well as a real apocalyptical breakup fight (the lion is kind of amusing as well).Nicely written with good characters and some romance, but nothing erotic. Overall a very good read with a few plot inconsistencies (Debbie Pelt is a were Lynx in the previous book but now she's a were fox). | 23 stars
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Commentary for God@Work
A timely work for the 21st century unveiling truths concerning God's order and calling of men's lives and Corporate America versus Ministry.It is doctrinally correct and is written very well. | 45 stars
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You on a Diet
You on a Diet is an excellent resource for anyone who reads it! The author explains what happens to the food you eat, how your body uses it and the best ways to take care of it. The information could get very technical, but the authors describe everything in layman's terms in an interesting and funny way! Highly recommended!! | 45 stars
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Finely wrought, highly readable, a little youthful
I purchased and read this based on a great review in the New York Times Sunday Book Review. I was not disappointed.The story is constructed on a wonderful frame and decorated with engaging, careful writing. It is a highly embellished, almost rococo story; anyone seeking the distilled prose style of a JM Coetzee will be unhappy. The author gives voice to adolescents, especially, in a full and thorough way. She respects her young characters and does not create glossy caricatures of youths, as so many authors do.Other reviewrs here have complained that the author has a poorly tuned ear for American slang, gives inaccurate descriptions of black body colors and does a bad job of describing physical traits. I can only say that none of these things appeared to me to be a problem. I much admire the way her characters adjusted their speech and deportment according to their shifting milieus. Particularly with regard to descriptions of middle aged bodies and the way they work, I was on board. And as a 56 year old woman with many same-age intimate friends, I think I am on safe ground here.My only complaint about this book: God bless your young heart, Zadie Smith; middle-aged academics and others are a lot more nuanced and occult than you now know. The story from Howard's and Kiki's perspectives does not quite ring true. The writing has the mildly snide acerbity typically heard among slightly insecure graduate students. The author will improve in this area with more years on her.The author is a wonderful observer and chronicler of humans, especially young ones. I look forward to many more witty, kindhearted, trenchant stories. It is a joy to watch this talent develop. | 34 stars
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Amis has read 'em all . . .
. . . and this book shows it! Lots "inspired" by Janusz Bardach's Man is Wolf to Man (he even seems to appear anachronistically as a character in the book) and pieces from Grossman's epic novel Life and Fate, and other classics of the Gulag canon and Soviet literature in general. Still and all, Amis is a beautiful writer and some lovely bits come through. Well worth a read -- Gulag addicts won't be able to resist a finely crafted novel by one of the best novelists out there, and it's a good intorduction for literate types and Amis fans who don't know much about the archipelago. Those interested in Stalin, by the way, would greatly enjoy Amis's wonderfully entertaining Koba the Dread, which mixes memoir and history to great effect. | 34 stars
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for one more day
the book came in great time and was in excellent condition. thanks | 45 stars
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Long awaited film for a great novel
I read this book about five years ago and what a movie plot I thought it was. Through time, it has come to be true. The book is outstanding. With twists and tuns and murders. Gotta read it. | 45 stars
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life changing
this book gave me a different outlook on everything in my life. it would be amazing if we could all think like this | 45 stars
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Fantastic find!
Always in search of a good book I gave Prayers for Rain a chance. Wise decision. I had to go back and read the first four. Lehane can be funny, Lehane can be serious, but best of all, Lehane can be deep. He asks questions that don't have simple answers, My only question now is: When's the next one going to be released? | 45 stars
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An Amazing Discovery
If true, the discovery of the tomb of Jesus and his family is astonishing, but the two-headed beast (Government and Religion) has reared up and is doing its utmost to quash this discovery. One can understand the 'beast' however. If the tomb of Jesus were to become public knowledge it could shatter the myths Christianity has encased in stained glass for the last 2,000 years. People, it seems, are afraid of the truth. | 34 stars
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I love Laura Lippman, but...
This was her worst book ever. It was a giant pile of BORINGNESS. I like Laura's stand alone books, but I will never again read a Tess Monaghan novel. | 01 star
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Great addition to the series
I avidly anticipated this book after devouring Glass Houses, the first book in the Morganville Vampires series centering around a town that is run by the undead. While it didn't hook me in as much as the first one had, it is still a thrilling read.Buffy's Sunnydale definitely has a run for its money when it comes to Morganville--the vampires are much more threatening, devious, and collected, plus there isn't even a Buffy around to protect the humans from being dinner. (Unless a vengeful pack of biker guys counts, that is.) The stakes (no pun intended) are raised higher in this book, Claire and her friends stuck dealing with how to get rid of the said biker guys without getting burned by the vamps--which, for some, can be interpreted quite literally. The story felt stretched out a little bit, but the emotional journey the characters go through makes it well worth reading. My biggest complaint would have to be Monica's character, because even though she's supposed to be Claire's college nemesis, there were a few times where it would have felt more natural to have her display some shades of gray. The series is still thoroughly addicting, this book beginning right where the first left off without any confusion and ending with another cliffhanger that, while not as heart-stopping as the first, still makes you impatient for the next one to see what will happen next. | 34 stars
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Wow, what a great book! I love it! I'll solicit everyone!!!!
I'm not much of a reader, but I am a total radical left-wing website and DNC junkie. I've been extremely uncomfortable with the path our DNC has been on for the past 3 years. This book helps me understand and articulate why 10 Democratic presidential candidates are all so unimpressionable, no one can still distinguish between them. It's very shabbily organized, illegible to read with some hints at psychosis, bold statements are backed up with evasive "humor", name-calling and more insanity; and finally, I realize I'm gravely in the minority of this country, being a liberal conspiracy theorist believer.I read 99.9% within about 3-4 hours. I took a lot of aspirins and scratched out many sections. Ironically, it has a chapter that's geared to helping you talk to your liberal high-school dropout, transient brother in-law, which is funny because my new brother in-law and I got in a major argument over weed smoking 2 weeks ago. Now I'm ready to Michael Moore his ass. | 01 star
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Guide to World Cup Nations
This is really more of a guide to the nations competing in the 2006 World Cup, not the teams. The short essays are the main feature of the book. The essays try to explain soccer's importance in each country and give some insight into the national character of its people.Basic statistics are provided for each country (population, religions, languages, etc.) taken from the CIA World Factbook. But a few soccer stats are here too: the tournament schedule, sites and stadia in Germany where the matches will be held, the names of the referees, and recent FIFA World Player of the Year winners.If you're looking for in-depth stats on the World Cup, or the player rosters for each country and their strengths and weaknesses, or the odds on who's going to win, this isn't it. But if you just want the basics and to learn something about soccer and the people of each participating country, this gives a quick overview. The book is really about the essays, not the stats, and the writers are interesting to read. Dave Eggers wrote the United States section and has some funny things to say about flopping and Sly Stallone. | 34 stars
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Great one!!!!!
I really liked this one!!!!!Yummi vampire!!! ;)This book is as great as the first one, A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER, and you take no time at all getting used to the way in which things are being told and with how the story evolves.The sex is still great, but i couldn't help but feel that it was in some way similar to that in A HUNGER LIKE FIRE, but maybe a little less animalistic... But both had common ground, like pinning her hands above her head and doing first oral sex and some pages ahead having it going.But besides it -or maybe because of it XDDD - the book is GREAT!!!! ;)Have the third one pre ordered!!! ;) | 45 stars
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I love my new Kindle!
I love this thing! The screen is amazing! I definitely recommend buying this product if you are looking for an e-reader! | 45 stars
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Entertaining & Refreshing
Carribean Crusing is the story of 18 year old Lindsay, and her quest to complete items on a list while on her Carribean Cruise for the summer to celebrate her mom's wedding.Some of the items on the list include getting drunk, snokeling, kissing a lot of cute guys, and ending with the big one: sleeping with a guy for the 1st time.Along the cruise, Lindsay goes on a quest for the right guy to complete the final task with, enlisting help from friend Brooke. This book was a page-turner, funny, and described teen life in a good way. This was a fun story for the summer which girls should take time to read! | 34 stars
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A must read for everyone
Thank you Greg Mortenson for all you have done and continue to do. Almost single handedly you have done what all the countries in the world have failed so miserably to do. You have made a difference to the lives of so many that never would have been able to make a change for themselves. You have risked your life, put your own family on hold, gone against unbelievable odds to give to so many who had no chance at all on their own. I could not put this down until the final page. What an adventure. What bravery on the part of all those families living in such remote locals. I applaud you for doing what no one else has done and writing your story for all of us to see what still needs to be done. If only there were more of you. It was and is an incredible journey you live. | 45 stars
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Nice derivation for uses of magic and when it comes from
Very good effort, and with a few parts that I found myself reading 5 or six times at different dates. If your have read it or happen to be Christopher Paolini, all I have to say is "Good Lord" middle section "Eldest", that section was my favorite. I also noticed the werecat clue you dropped in Eragon which as not reared it's head as of 2 books. A very good read, even if you are tired of old style fantasy books. The charactors make all the diffence.Looking forward to Book 3. | 45 stars
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love it!!
Just received my Kindle as a gift from my sisters after a long extended hospital stay to help me stay entertained while off work....the simplicity of use and ease in ordering books and ease reading/text size etc--fantastic!....I could not be any happier...thank you Kindle/amazon....you have one happy customer! Kay | 45 stars
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The Secret - Rhonda Byrne
Was written in a visual format, pages were "old - authentic" It helps that the Teachers are well known authors with credability. I am always impressed when information like The Secret comes to light with validation from Quantum Physics Doctors. I could not put the book down when reading it once, now I use it a a reference tool for day to day living. It has changed my life and has given me the tools to use for happier living. | 45 stars
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Fine
I used the trial period of both the NY Times and the Washington Post and I preferred the Washington Post personally. A little more complete of an edition I felt. I should note I did not buy either due to a lack of time, but were I to do so, I would buy the Post (particularly at $8 less). I simply wish I had the option of getting a Sunday edition at a reduced price. As it is now, I miss a day or two and it suddenly becomes three, four and so on. | 34 stars
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used books
The same book as a new one but saved a lot of money compared to anew one and the book is in fine shape saves on college supplys | 34 stars
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I could graduate medical school now!
Wow, this book is so packed full of information. I've been reading for days and haven't even reached the actual diet yet (actually, I peeked ahead and started before I finished all the medical information.) The information makes you want to eat better so your body doesn't get all yucked up inside. It's working for me and I feel incredibly better.I think that high school students should have to read this book as part of their health program. It certainly would make for a lot of healthier adults. | 45 stars
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why 2 stories in one book?
Very good story but don't like how it's broken into 2 stories in one book | 23 stars
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Flatland as Analogy
I read Flatland (which, I believe, in the US was published without post colon, as it was in the UK) when I was a teenager in the 1970s studying geometry and many other things (girls, art, girls, movies, girls...) without understanding much of any of it. The book fascinated me, and I went on (probably not because of it, but certainly in appreciation of it) to study Mathematics at University. I even sometimes bring it up in my consulting engagements as a way to explain how different types think of their world and learn. While there are different dimensions represented in the book, there are different learning styles, different socioeconomic exposures, different interests, different *people* we all have to deal with. I'd recommend Flatland to anyone who wants to take a different slant on why we are all different. | 45 stars
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This series is fantastic - a strong heroine, lots of action
I absolutely adore this series. Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb is fantastic. I believe that the author has developed the characters extremely well, and I find myself laughing at Eve or Peabody's reactions to the situations that they face. For those who like sci-fi/horror/fantasy, try Laurell K. Hamilton's, Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series. Both heroines are have indomitable wills, and the books will have you laughing. | 45 stars
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Loved It, Loved It, Can't wait for part 2
I really did like this book, I luv Nikki Turner and 50 Cent seems to amaze me with his talents. Yes the book did leave you hanging and wondering who told who, who did what, but that will make a wonderful sequel. There was a lot of questions not answered and I hope part 2 will do that. I am pleased and if you have not read the other two get them they are just as good if not better. I am a huge fan of G Unit Publications already. | 45 stars
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The sensible and the sensitive
One of the Dashwood daughters is smart, down-to-earth and sensible. The other is wildly romantic and sensitive.And in a Jane Austen novel, you can guess that there are going to be romantic problems aplenty for both of them -- along with the usual entailment issues, love triangles, sexy bad boys and societal scandals. "Sense and Sensibility" is a quietly clever, romantic little novel that builds up to a dramatic peak on Marianne's romantic troubles, while also quietly exploring Elinor's struggles.When Mr. Dashwood dies, his entire estate is entailed to his weak son John and snotty daughter-in-law Fanny. His widow and her three daughters are left with little money and no home.Over the next few weeks, the eldest daughter Elinor begins to fall for Fanny's studious, quiet brother Edward... but being the down-to-earth one, she knows she hasn't got a chance. Her impoverished family soon relocates to Devonshire, where a tiny cottage is being rented to them by one of Mrs. Dashwood's relatives -- and Marianne soon attracts the attention of two men. One is the quiet, much older Colonel Brandon, and the other is the dashing and romantic Willoughby.But things begin to spiral out of control when Willoughby seems about to propose to Marianne... only to abruptly break off his relationship with her. And during a trip to London, both Elinor and Marianne discover devastating facts about the men they are in love with -- both of them are engaged to other women. And after disaster strikes the Dashwood family, both the sisters will discover what real love is about...At its heart, "Sense and Sensibility" is about two girls with completely opposite personalities, and the struggle to find love when you're either too romantic or too reserved for your own good. As well as, you know, the often-explored themes in Austen's novels -- impoverished women's search for love and marriage, entailment, mild scandal, and the perils of falling for a sexy bad boy who cares more for money than for true love... assuming he even knows what true love is.Austen's formal style takes on a somewhat more melancholy flavor in this book, with lots of powerful emotions and vivid splashes of prose ("The wind roared round the house, and the rain beat against the windows"); and she introduces a darker tone near the end. Still, there's a slight humorous tinge to her writing, especially when she's gently mocking Marianne and Mrs. Dashwood's melodrama ("They gave themselves up wholly to their sorrow, seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it").And Marianne and Elinor make excellent dual heroines for this book -- that still love and cherish each other, even though their polar opposite personalities frequently clash. What's more, they each have to become more like the other before they can find happiness. There's also a small but solid supporting cast -- the hunting-obsessed Sir John, the charming Willoughby (who has some nasty stuff in his past), the emotional Mrs. Dashwood, and the gentle, quiet Colonel Brandon, who shows his love for Marianne in a thousand small ways."Sense and Sensibility" is an emotionally powerful, beautifully written tale about two very different sisters, and the rocky road to finding a lasting love. Not as striking as "Pride and Prejudice," but still a deserving classic. | 45 stars
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Good Book
I've never read a romance novel, but my wife got me to watch The Notebook and I thought it was a pretty decent movie. I decided to get this book for my Kindle and, after the somewhat slow start, I got into it. It's a really good story with a great ending. Of course the ending is debatable by some, but I enjoyed it. My wife and I are going to watch the movie tonight. I have a feeling I will be let down by the movie, as it always is when you read the book first. I already see certain things I don't like, such as the fact that the actor doesn't have any tattoos or muscles and he seems like much more of a "pretty boy" than Sparks describes him. I am still curious to see how it is. 4 stars only because I'm still not sold on romance novels. | 34 stars
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The Great Escape
The Great Escape written by Kati Marton depicts a journey that nine Hungarian Jews have undertaken in order to escape the growing hostility in their homeland, and in doing so, they made incredible innovations in the fields of science, film, photography and writing; Leo Szilard, Edward Teller, Eugene Wigner, and John von Neumann are the scientists; Robert Capa and Andre Kertesz are the photographers; Micheal Curtiz and Alexander Korda are the film directors; and finally, Arthur Koestler is the writer. Kati Marton portrays these nine men from start to finish and everywhere in between, from where they went to school, where they fled to, their accomplishments, whom they met, and so on, touching on the high's and the low's in their lives and moments of inspiration. What these men have in common was that they fled in order to avoid the growing hostility that was engulfing their homeland, something that changed their lives-and ours-forever, as they had to leave what they have come to know and love to go into new grounds and start all over again. Major accomplishments attributed to these men include the hydrogen bomb (Edward Teller); Game Theory and the Computer (von Neumann); intense involvement in the research and making of the "A-bomb" (Leo Szilard and Eugene Wigner); major awards for the directing of Casablanca, Yankee Doodle Dandy, and Mildred Pierce (Micheal Curtiz); major photographs depicting the reality of war (Robert Capa); writing Darkness at Noon - an autobiographical exposing the Soviet Union (Arthur Koestler); in photography, pictures of cities and people that lead to be known worldwide (Andre Kertesz); and directing movies in such prominent places like Hollywood and Britain (Alexander Korda). From these nine amazing people, those who drew my attention the most were the two photographers, Robert Capa and Andre Kertesz, partly because I am drawn into photography, as it is one of my hobbies. Capa and Kertesz took photography to a whole new level, Capa by showcasing the true nature of war, and Kertesz showing great composition with his subjects and scenes. The most famous photograph from Capa is "The Fallen Soldier." In this picture, a Spanish rebel is shown as he is falling down after being hit by enemy fire. It is hard to say how Capa actually took this picture, but in my experience, photography is about being at the right place at the right time, because the shot that you wanted to take might have come and gone in the blink of an eye. Andre Kertesz is my favorite person out of this group, not only because he was a photographer, but his pictures speak to me. It might sound confusing, but the pictures that I have been able to see from him show great composition and have a sort of meaning or message to them. The most interesting quote for me out of this book is when Jeno, Andre Kertsz's brother, wrote to him saying: "It is not the camera any more that takes the picture but the lens captures what you want it to... I do not even know how you did it. Technically, they are impeccable..." (78). This quote caught my attention because I enjoy taking photographs and the feedback that I have received makes me happy and drives me to continue what I love to do. The Great Escape serves as a form of inspiration for people because it shows how these nine Hungarian Jews escaped certain death and came from nothing, only armed with their knowledge, and changed the world in so many ways. | 45 stars
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Thank God someone is telling the truth.
Only small minded people will take issue with the facts as spelled out in this book. It should be required reading for college students taking classes on government. I plan to buy several copies and send them as Christmas gifts. I only hope America will wake up and vote this "gang" out of Congress and the White House before we loose everything we "real Americans" hold dear. | 45 stars
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Expertly Written
This book is incredible! The descriptions of Einstein's personal and professional life were unbelievably well written (so much so that I plan to pick up other books written by Walter Isaacson). I respect and appreciate the author's use of 'first person' history; numerous passages from Einstein's own letters are used to tell this story. The author also expertly describes the complex topics of relativity and quantum physics in a way that I could not only understand but enjoy! Best biography of Einstein I've ever read and one that I look forward to re-reading. | 45 stars
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Where is the BLACKLIGHT???
I have colleagues that have both Kindles, nice device. But.... to fully realize the benefits of a eBook reader, you NEED backlighting, period. No excuses. I guess I'll be waiting for Kindle 3 or just keep enjoying my iPod Touch. | 23 stars
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A Really Great Read See for yourself
I read this book after hearing about it from a friend. I found it was a very enlighting story of the heroism and humanity of new york firefighters. It was a book that I could not put down I finished reading it in two days. I would encourage all to read it and See for yourself. | 45 stars
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An attention grabber.
When I started reading Poison Study, I had no clue what I would think. I knew it was a premise that could be amazing or could lack majorly - Poison Study just blew my mind away! I have nothing I did not like about it. Poison Study is a fantasy reader's dream book - it has amazing characters, an enticing plot, a perfect romance, and a vidid world.The plot has so many twists and turns, you have no idea where it's leading you. Every element of a great story is present. Maria V. Snyder's writing weaves memories into the writing, without disturbing the story.Yelana has worked her way up into my favorite protagonists. She is strong, intelligent, and talented. Even in her weakest moments, she stays strong and keeps her head high. While I loved Yelana, my favorite character of the book would have to be Valek. Oh Valek - he starts out so cold, but soon starts to warm up.Poison Study is a book for those looking for a fresh idea in an world filled with stunning characters, conspiracy, and unforgettable romance. | 45 stars
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A Partial Vision
If you are pressed for time, you could skip the first and last 100 pages of this book. The first 100 are too much tease - like nightly news promos. Dennett keeps promising interesting insights - to follow. He also apologizes and justifies a lot. He later explains the academic and religious rifts that he feels make it necessary for him to ease into his subject. But the average reader wouldn't be privy to all the ivy tower turf wars that lead Dennett to such prolonged hedging and postponement. Also, his attempts to induce more fanatically devout readers to temporarily suspend belief in order to give the logic of his arguments a chance - is probably all wasted breath. He would have done better to just get on with it.Then his last 100 pages are just some general calls for more research, some rather abstruse appendices that chart the passage of various religious memes through a culture, and some pretty wishful predictions of eventual rapprochement between the religious and the "bright." (Yes, he uses that annoying term that skeptic writer Michael Shermer advanced in place of "atheist." I think like me, most readers will trip over that usage of "bright" every time they come to it.)In between though, Dennett does have some interesting things to say about how religious thinking may have gained a foothold in the human psyche. However, he completely discounts the influence of genes or intruding chemicals, except for hypnosis. Dennett concedes that there might be a genetic component to peoples' differing susceptibility to hypnosis, and consequently to certain forms of religious credulity. Other than that though, Dennett believes that all the strands of adherence that make up organized religion caught on and spread as "memes," those cultural/mental counterparts to genes, subject to the same evolutionary forces of mutation and selection.I think Dennett weakens his exploration by being so summarily dismissive of genes and all influences other than meme propagation. What about the concordance of religious belief between twins separated at birth? What about the fact that some people seem to experience a break with their former personalities and acquire obsessive-compulsive attachments to quasi-religious thinking and ritual after they suffer from encephalitis? (Read Oliver Sack's fascinating "Awakenings" or find various journal articles linking community exposure to ergot with waves of religious hysteria.)Neither does Dennett give any consideration to how organized religion may have become a powerful cultural constant as a way of establishing group identity and forcing conformity to group standards. No, Dennett uses only one tool here - the hammer of the meme concept. And so he nails all religious conviction with it.But this book is better than Dennett's "Consciousness Explained," which snowed me into a near unconscious state. It isn't as good as his "Darwin's Dangerous Idea," which convincingly traces all things, animate and inanimate, to evolutionary processes. "Breaking the Spell" is somewhere in between. In between those padded first and last sections, it's a pretty good book. | 23 stars
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Good But Not Great
Many great features, BUT the device has several weak points. The location of the page turn buttons results in accidently turning pages. Hard to hold without randomly turning a page. The cover is poorly designed. The device is not secure and easily comes out of the cover. On off switch is on the back and hard to get to without accidently turning a page or removing the device from the cover.What I like..... Ability to download books without the use of a computer. Ability to download a sample of a book without having to make a purchase. And, I really like the built in dictionary.I previously owned a Sony E-Book, lost it, and replaced it with a Kindle. Sony's device is easier to hold, but that's the only advantage. Overall, I rate the features of the Kindle better than the Sony device.I hope that in a future release, the Kindle will be modified to move or change the configuration of the page turning buttons. They're a nuisance, but not a reason to avoid the Kindle. | 34 stars
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Women In Love
This melodramatic novel self-consciously revels in the new freedoms of post-WWI Europe. As a newcomer to Lawrence, I can sense his enjoyment in attacking taboo subjects. Unfortunately, the character development is unconvincing and ultimately condemns the book to an interesting period piece instead of an enduring classic. | 23 stars
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helpful research material
I'm a docent at the Susan B. Anthony national museum. this book is very helpful for some background material for my house tours. | 45 stars
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Great, fast paced thriller
The American is impossible to put down! Fast paced, intricate thriller which will keep you glued to your chair in this post 9/11 era. Even my husband, who much prefers history books over fiction, loved this book. Don't miss it! | 45 stars
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Death in a Small Town
Donald Maddox is a rookie, a part-time, auxiliary policeman in a town he describes as "full of nothing-to-do, this tiny rural map-smudge in the northwest corner of Massachusetts, a fading and forsaken hamlet named Black Falls." He had left Black Falls, where his father had been a cop, fifteen years before, after receiving a college scholarship and, now 33 years old, has returned after his mother's death and lingered, to the amazement of most of the citizenry, who can't believe anyone who'd actually been able to get out had returned voluntarily. With 1,758 inhabitants, the town had virtually died after its paper mills closed down 20 years before - it is "a well of desperation hidden deep in the valley; pain-filled voices that go unheard," with "pockets of beauty amid acres of neglect."Maddox was a legacy, put on the job by "Pinty," a town selectman--a cop there for much of his life and Maddox' father's partner when he was on the force, before he "had been stupid enough to get himself killed in the line of duty in such a sleepy town as this." The soul-deadening atmosphere is brought to vivid life by the author in a distinctively offbeat and wonderful style.The residents are, understandably, mostly damaged souls. The worst symptom of the general malaise is the police department, with a budget so small the "uniforms" consisted of a t-shirt and cap, and corruption the extent of which this reader was totally unprepared for. When a local resident is brutally murdered, state homicide detectives take jurisdiction, and the ugly secrets of Black Falls begin to come to light, including Maddox' own.This is the fourth book by Chuck Hogan, and I wish it hadn't taken me so long to discover this author. "The Killing Moon" is a wonderful read, and it is recommended. | 34 stars
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Kindle Reader
Kindle reading device is excellent and ease of ordering the device and other items through Amazon are very satisfactory. | 45 stars
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Hmmm....
I've read both the books of Anne Bronte- Agnes Grey & The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I must say, she did a better job while writing 'The tenant of wildfell hall.' 'Agnes Grey' is a story of a young girl, who driven by poverty seeks a job as a governess. Being the youngest of a children of two, she has always been protected & sheltered. But when her family loses all their money, she decides to take a post as agoverness. Though ridiculed by her family, she is determined to get a job & at last her family is forced to give in. Unfortunately for her, her employers aren't what she expected them to be. They're rude & unfriendly & the children treat her worse than a servant. But she, being of a strong character, doesn't want to give up & stays on, doing her best, until she is dismissed. After a few happy months with her family, she takes on a post with another family. Though they're no better. It is here that she finds true love,(Mr Weston) but the hero isn't anything like what we read about in books these days. Though her charges try their utmost to prevent Mr Weston from falling in love with her, he does. To cut a long story short, he somehow finds where she lives & proposes to her & they live happily ever after. Somehow, I think this review hasn't come out as planned. The problem is it's too long. Oh, well. | 34 stars
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Fascinating
This is a fascinating examination of social epidemics and what causes them. Gladwell takes several interesting case studies of social epidemics from the past fifty years or so-everything from teen smoking in the U.S. to a teen suicide epidemic in Micronesia to Sesame Street-and dissects them to illustrate the types of people necessary to start an epidemic, the environmental factors that contribute to the start or stop of an epidemic, and the nature of the epidemics themselves. The "tipping point" the title refers to is the point at which the epidemic in question takes on a life of its own and "tips," or spreads without encouragement. For some things, the tipping point is what causes an idea or behavior to spread. For others, it is what causes people to stop thinking or behaving a certain way. But Gladwell's point, which he makes very well throughout the book, is that tipping points are usually small, non-instictive things. This is a great book for anyone interested in marketing, trends, group think, or just what makes societies tick.I also found Malcolm Gladwell's website, gladwell.com, which has his New Yorker articles, to be have some really interesting stuff. | 45 stars
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Reverent and Insightful
Chandra Manning's first book, "What This Cruel War Was Over," squarely rebuts the popular belief that Civil War soldiers did not care about slavery. Manning places in the lap of the reader countless letters penned by soldiers to families and loved ones attesting to slavery's role in starting the war, stirring up morale, and being the ultimate reason to fight on. Instead of leaving the telling of history to speeches by great generals and politicians, Manning firmly directs our eyes to the very words of the rank and file who gave the war meaning.Personally, I found the incredible degree of dissent within both the Union and Confederate camps to be most interesting. Some idealistic Union soldiers protested slavery to assure liberty and freedom for all, while other soldiers kept rigidly racist views of slaves but still demanded an end to slavery because they felt slavery would inevitably lead to more clashes between the North and South. Southern soldiers, frustrated by the growing power of the Confederate government to seize their family's assets for the war effort, often questioned their own motivation for defending a government as invasive as the North. Still, fearful of a world in which former slaves might come to own their land and intermarry with white women, Southern soldiers persisted on in battle for the Confederacy. Even yet, some Confederate soldiers thought serving in the war might be a foot in the door to someday owning slaves.Of particular interest to the reader will be letters from African-American Union soldiers who labored in battle not only to end slavery but to earn equal pay and respect from the army. Despite their additional hardships, these soldiers came to be known as some of the bravest and most dedicated soldiers on the battlefield. Letters reveal that white soldiers often came away so impressed that many began to reconsider their previously held racist ideologies.An enjoyable read! Guaranteed to change the national conversation about the Civil War and the end of slavery. | 45 stars
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Exceeded expectations
Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G, 6" Display, White, 3G Works Globally - Latest GenerationI'm not going to add anything more about what has been said about the performance and the beauty of the product, just that it delivers to its promises.But, as an international buyer, I was amazed to have received my Kindle and it's leather case in Mexico City in just 40 hours from placing my order!! Five days earlier than the promised delivery time and in perfect condition!!Definitely, if you're going to use a tablet to read, Kindle is the perfect option. As a gadget enthusiast and heavy reader I've tried the iPad, and even though it is quite nice, it's heavy weight and monitor brilliance makes it not so friendly for the book devourer. | 45 stars
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Emma
Jane Austen's, Emma, is about an upper-class young woman from the 18th century. She is the protagonist and makes a hobby out of match making. By doing so she injures her companion, because she is blind to other peoples' feelings and opinions. Emma is a benevolent character, but she is incredibly misguided. The only person who can criticize her is Mr. George Knightly. They have grown-up together and their relationship develops as the novel progresses.Most of the plot is propelled by Emma's antics and schemes to contro the people around her. Comical witticisms pervade the novel. The more Emma attempts to steer her peers toward certain paths the more she discovers her own lack of direction. The theme of marriage is evidents as it is the central focus for nearly every character. Some renounce it while others advise prudent matches. In the end, Emma must stop wielding others and concentrate on her own ambitions regarding marriage.I thoroughly enjoyed reading Emma. I also read Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey. Both of these paled in comparison to Emma. I found myself with a perpetual smile on my face as Emma got herself in and out of mischief. She is so likable that I was constantly rooting for her. She was great because of her fallibility. Her mistakes weer always out of good intentions.The novel is romantic, yet not in an effusive way where there is some Adonis spouting sonnets. It is more subtle and underplayed. It is above all a story about society. I learned a lot about the role of women in this time period. Emma is extremely intellectual and her only outlet for her intellect is in trying to play Cupid. Also, a woman's solitary means of advancing her situation is though matrimony. This explained the emphasis on connections.The only character that slightly peeved me was Mr. Knightly. He is the handsome "prince charming" and mentor to Emma. It is his infallibility that makes him so aggravating. Knightly was always right and Emma was always wrong. I wanted her to be right for once and laugh at him for being precocious. This, of course, never happened. Ultimately, Emma is one of my favorite historical fiction novels. | 45 stars
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Caress of Twilight
A Fair-Folk-in-modern-day fantasy, character-driven, with a lot of romance and a bit of darkness.I actually really enjoyed both this book and its prequel.Granted, this isn't great literature--it's definitely light entertainment. Though this volume doesn't have any scene as (inadvertently?) funny as the who's-going-to-clean-up-the-tentacles scene in the last one, Hamilton's thoroughly bizarre idea of what makes for attractive male clothing goes a long ways to add humor.I like the "romantic" aspects of these books, and I actually think quite a few of the characters are well written, though there are a few too many so we don't get quite enough of each. I particularly liked the small and angstful Sage, but all Meredith's harem are appealing. There are interesting worldbuilding elements. Yeah, it's light stuff, romance fiction for fantasy readers, but there's a place in my world for that.In this one, the plot wasn't great -- particularly the climax, which had promise but fell apart, segueing into an expository wrap-up. The ideas were good, but not developed. However, it did set up for a sequel, and if I see a third book I'll read it. | 34 stars
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good book pushed to make word count
I liked alot of the concepts and will put them too work but the book is full of quoted materiel and redundant information. At one point he prints a full page quote in two different places to make an esoteric point about the correlation between suicides in micronesia and the tipping point. the book is like a long movie that would be excellent if 30 percent of the scenes were removed or shortened. | 23 stars
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Purchased 1 issue on Kindle Keyboard - but cannot see on Fire?
I purchased one issue for $1.99 on my Kindle Keyboard. But I could not look at it on my Kindle Fire. How come? Every other newspaper or magazine I've purchased on my Kindle Keyboard I've been able to view on my Kindle Fire. I did download the WSJ app on my Kindle Fire - but was still unable to look at that one issue I purchased; the app just kept demanding a subscription.Why is the WSJ different this way? Am I missing something? | 12 stars
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If You Really Want To Get Down To The Nitty AND The Gritty Of MUSIC...!
Here we have a musical scientist's delineation of music and how our brains process music. Levitan begins the book by sharing with the reader the point in his pre-adolescence when he bought a stereo (for $100.00), listened to it too loudly and his father, in turn, bought him some headphones, at which point Levitan became astonished at the nuances in music he was able to pick up on. Levitan eventually gets around to breaking down how the human brain processes music (many different sections of the brain process different aspects of music). The thing is, though, in the beginning of the book when Levitan starts talking about pitch, timbre and more, he gets very technical. Musicians who have studied music in some way, whether formally or through in-depth reading, can hang in there with his explanations, but I really think the average music listener will have a hard time following his complex explanations.Then, as if that weren't enough, there are those sections where he explains the brain, intricate master organ that it is. So, this book has major portions that readers might just want to skim through due to their overly in-depth treatment. Some very interesting things he mentions are how we very often perceive only a portion of the information or images we perceive and the brain constantly fills in the gaps (concerning sight, hearing, etc.).It pays to take notes on the many songs that Levitan refers to as examples; these spread the gamut from rock to classical. Using a pen to mark these songs can really help in widening your musical collection, and knowing the peculiarity to which he is referring will make that song even more special to you; for instance his explanation of anticipation in music or how slowing down certain sections would eliminate the musical perception, such as in "Fantasy Impromptu" by Frederic Chopin. He also uses a few Beatles examples of which I've never heard. Since we're in the age of YouTube and iTunes, it helps to go use them "to get the picture" (aurally speaking, that is) of what he's talking about.In the second half, Levitan mentions his encounters, brief and long-term, with certain fascinating individuals, such as one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA, Francis Crick; this encounter was a pivotal one in Levitan's scientific studies of the brain's functioning during music listening.Levitan's acquaintance with Joni Mitchell lead her to tell him about working with the late (murdered) legendary jazz bassist, Jaco Pastorius. She explains why he was the only bassist who fully and truly understood her musical ideas. This part is fascinating for Jaco and Joni fans.Needless to say, any musician wants to know if this book would make him or her better. The answer is, `yes", if you can follow Levitan's examples; for instance there's an appendix that briefly explains the use of the dominant V chord, which some musicians may find helpful.Getting past the middle of the book will move it all along more smoothly. This is very interesting reading, if not required reading,that will open a musical door you may not have known existed. | 34 stars
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I like the feel of paper, but I love my Kindle!
I got my Kindle as a birthday gift and thought I would have a difficult time adjusting to the lovely feeling of holding a book and flipping the pages. So far, I have read at least 10 books on my Kindle and I love it! I miss not peeking to see how many pages I have till the end of a chapter, etc., but I love the dictionary feature. No more glossing over and guessing what the word means, especially with older novels like those by Jane Austen. I am not a fan of reading newspapers on the Kindle and quit my subscription of the Washington Post about a week into it (not enough graphics for me). It is easy to carry and the battery lasts a long time (several days)when not connected to the wireless. I highly recommend the Kindle to those on the fence. No more carrying around 700+ page books and a bigger vocabulary to boot! | 45 stars
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Bible for Excellence in the Entrepreneurship
If you are looking for a framework in discovering new opportunities for a new or existing product or want to help in validating your current product offerings, this is the book for you. The insight it brings in helping you gain a better grasp of not only your products and services but also your business is invaluable. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to establish a well thought out strategy to ensure future success and open their eyes to new possibilites.I highly recommend Finding Fertile Ground to corporate venturers and entrepreneurs alike. While the book covers a lot of ground, it is able to do so in an easy to read fashion. The tools and frameworks throughout the book keep the reader engaged and turn the theoretical into the applicable. Finding Fertile Ground is an essential desk reference for new venturing and a highly worthwhile read. | 45 stars
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Marketing teacher loved it
Teacher no longer at school - I do recall the teacher being excited about this book.I do know that books came in great condition and in time frame promised. | 45 stars
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History laid bare
The strength in this book rested in its brutally honest portrayal of the Rwandan genocide as seen from many different perspectives: from the general population of Hutus and Tutsi's all the way up to the Vice President of Rwanda, as well as other African and National leaders. These stunning first person accounts were supported by Gourevitch's own observations and his thorough historic research. | 45 stars
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kindle is grt for commuters
grt for commuters to have one, much fun and impressive, valuable price compared w/ ipad. | 34 stars
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A must read
I don't know even how to begin to discrube this book. It is smart and I promisse you will learn something new. I would like to borrow Nike's slogan - Just read it. | 45 stars
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Terrible- READ!
My wife has a Kindle 1 and liked it so I made the purchase. After waiting 4 months I received the Kindle 2 which has several features that make it inferior. No cover (must be purchased separately), a tiny joystick that is difficult to use, and a design that makes it easy to accidentally push keyboard buttons. After 1 week of use it locked up and was unresponsive. Technical support suggestions to reset it did not work. I will return it for a full refund. | 01 star
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Great Expectations
I love Charles Dickens. I've read all his books. I started reading them in elementary school, and they are just as good now as they were back them | 45 stars
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A witty and endearing take on life
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A fantastic grouping of anecdotes and essays, Before the Mortgage, not only entertains, but does so while articulating so many of the foibles we've all experienced to some degree in our 20's. I hope this is only the first of many compilations! | 45 stars
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lacked a plot
Elner Shimfissle, of Elmwood Springs, Missouri, was picking figs when she was stung by wasps, fell off of her ladder (which her niece, Norma, told her to stay off of), and then found herself in a Kansas City Hospital- dead? Or maybe not. Can't Wait to Get to Heaven is about how Elner touched so many people's lives, and how those people react when they hear about her death.I was not impressed with Can't Wait to Get to Heaven. I think this book would be more enjoyed by an older audience. Many of the characters are seniors, and I found that I was not really relating to the story. I also thought the dialogue was unrealistic. When Elner reaches heaven on page 117, she sees polka-dotted squirrels, and discovers that the makers of our universe go by Dorothy and Raymond. Heaven itself in this book seems less thought out, and more just plain crazy.This book did do a good job of portraying the feelings of its characters. One page 50, when Norma gets the news of her aunt's supposed death, she "collapsed and slowly slid off the chair, and Macky and the doctor were just barely able to catch her, a second before the back of her head hit the floor." Norma was very close to Aunt Elner, and she was devastated when she found out. She was appointing the blame to herself and her husband, Macky. I felt really bad for her.I did not like this book, because it there was no plot, and I thought it seemed to drag on and on. I just couldn't relate, but maybe you will enjoy it more than I did. | 12 stars
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Fake Science and Stereotypes
I knew I was in for trouble when I saw the book's introduction, which is a disclaimer saying that it's conclusions about men and women are based on averages, and should not be expected to apply to every man and every woman. By "averages" they appear to mean "stereotypes" and by "studies" they mean "stuff we dug up and cited out of context." The "findings" they cite often contradict more current studies about men's and women's communication and conflict styles, and sometimes they even contradict other findings cited within the book. Mostly they just use stereotypes and blanket statements about men and women to draw some rather bizarre conclusions about how marriage works. Women are motivated by fear and men by shame. Really? That's it? Astonishing!I was floored by their main premise, which is that no relationship ever got better by talking about it. This is provably untrue, as many studies (real studies, that is) show that couples with certain skills in managing conflict and communication report much higher relationship satisfaction and more lasting marriages.I found this book insulting to my intelligence and that of my husband. A good example of something to try instead is John and Julie Schwartz Gottman - real psychologists who cite real data, rather than using stereotypes and guesswork. | 01 star
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Wuthering Heights - Bed Book
3 out of 5, only because it's a bed book. The book itself is in good shape, and it arrived quickly. My gripe is that I didn't see it explained anywhere that it is a Bed book, which means the book reads horizontally not vertically. Not a big deal, but irritating none the less. | 23 stars
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serious design flaws, wait for version 2.0
This was a good effort by Amazon, but their lack of experience in hardware design shows through very clearly.Major flaws include:1. The buttons are misplaced and extremely easy to hit by accident causing your page to flip unexpectedly. Inexplicably, the NEXT PAGE button on the left side is only 1/3 the size of the PREV PAGE button, when in fact you want to go to the next page 99.9% of the time. On the right side, the NEXT PAGE button is properly sized, but it consumes nearly the entire right side of the device, all the way to the underside of the unit, making it annoyingly easy to accidentally bump and click. This is something I am certain Amazon will fix in their next version, so you should wait.2. Page turns are slow. I clocked nearly 2 full seconds. This makes the accidental click even more annoying since it takes you a while to page back to where you're supposed to be. I have seen prototype e-ink displays where the page turn is far faster than this, meaning: you should wait for version 2.0.3. Page turns have an annoying black flash. Some people report they get used to it, but it's definitely a turn-off for me. I have seen other e-ink device prototypes that do not have this flash, so waiting for version 2.0 might be a good idea.4. The EVDO cost model is not fully figured out yet. This is evident in their "experimental" browser which the documentation says is "free for the time being". I.e., there are potentially hidden costs that are not know at this time. Again, this means you should wait. Perhaps in version 2 they will go with WiFi which really would have been a better choice since it works in Europe and has no fees or costs associated with it.5. The Price. $400 would be fine if this were perfect, but with all those flaws you can expect Amazon to be putting this thing on the bargain shelf in a few months. You'll feel stupid paying $400 for a device with these flaws when a new device with everything fixed up is most likely around the corner and probably at a much lower price. Again, all the evidence says: BE PATIENT and wait for version 2.All in all, a good try, there are some nice things about this attempt. But the price, the poor ergonomics of the button layout, and stuff that is just plain unknown about possible hidden costs for using some features means that unless you're willing to flush $400 down the drain you are better off waiting for the next version of this product.Good things, or at least better things, come to those who wait. | 01 star
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Self vs World
Eat, Pray, Love is about discovering self, even if a monumentally self-absorbed self. For real contrast, try reading {[ASIN:0609809547 Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World]] by Rita Golden Gelman. As Gelman said in an email recently, "The books are similar in that they're both about women, recently divorced, who take off on a search. Elizabeth Gilbert's one-year search for herself was primarily a search for her identity, an internal search. The fifteen years that I write about in TOAFN were about my search...mostly external...to learn about and participate in other cultures. My search was, and still is, for our common humanity. Our age difference probably had a lot to do with why we were exploring in such different ways....she was 34 when she started and I was 48. I knew who I was...but I did have to strip away some layers that had built up over the years...and I did explore my spirituality, especially in Bali."I liked Eat, Pray, Love. I *loved* Tales of a Female Nomad. This is a woman who knows how to make lemonade from lemons! Give it a whirl. It's addictive. | 23 stars
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Save your time.... read a short story instead!
The entire contents of this book can be summed up via the following timeline:Vague Introduction ---> starving ---> poor dialogue ---> found food cache! ---> contact with other humans ---> starving ---> poor dialogue ---> found food cache! ---> contact with other humans ---> starving ---> unsurprising ending.To me, this story reeks of a 30 page short story that somehow got expanded into ten times that length using unpopular literary devices. I'm no master of literature, but I find myself picking out symbolism and underlying themes in most books. I cannot find a single interesting thing happening in The Road, yet critics hold it in high regard. I believe that as it is on Oprah's Book Club, coupled with the fact that it's about a father who loves his son unconditionally has caused this book to excel where it shouldn't have. The dialogue was often the worst part of the book, being very short, and often without a speaker clause, to tell who was speaking at the time.I would not recommend this book to anyone, the only reason I gave it three stars was due to very nature of the story, which could be compelling if not for the variety of other flaws.Pro'sThe story is decent, although familiar.Con'sThere are no chapters.Quotation marks are unheard of, making dialogue sometimes confusing.Very fixed story, often repetitive to the point of annoyance. | 23 stars
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As good a stylist as there is in the genre
In the past couple weeks, I've read all the Kenzie/Gennaro series. All of them (except Moonlight Mile) are of very high quality, but this one, Darkness Take My Hand, is really about as good as the modern detective thriller gets.Lehane is probably NOT the best at coming up with the perfect convoluted plot arc. But he's more than tolerably skilled at that.Nor are his characters the most endearing, or the most complex. Guys like Crais and Connelly have him beat there.But at the level of constructing sentences and paragraphs, Lehane can simply write circles around the competition. He just knows what sounds good, and he delivers it, page after page. If you're going to plunk yourself down and read a few hundred pages' worth of detective novel, that's nice to have. Style matters.If you're going to read this one, you ought to start with A Drink Before the War, and if you do read this one, you probably won't stop there. You'll probably end up like me -- wishing that Lehane hadn't moved on from the Kenzie series, and instead pounded out a thousand of these gems, like all the other guys out there writing thriller series. | 45 stars
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Best Xmas gift in a long time
I felt compelled to review the Kindle because this item has exceeded my expectations. It was suprisingly easy to use and I was blown away how fast books are downloaded as well how little effort is involved in the actual process of ordering what you want. If you are constantly buying books this a great product as many of the newer books (that are still in hardcover) are less expensive than in the store. Many older novels are at reduced prices and I even got a classic for free. The only downfall that I have discovered so far is that I am not impressed with the "text to speech" feature as the voice sounds robotic. | 45 stars
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An enjoyable read
After reading all of the other reviews (mostly negative)I disagree with all of them. To me the book was enjoyable and entertaining. As a fellow writer, I have to defend Leonard's "Cuba Libre." Its release was brilliantly timed -- coinciding with the centenial of the Spanish American War. His dialogue was interesting, and it was great escapism. | 34 stars
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I love this product.
Whoa! is all I can say. I was apprehensive, but when I got this as a gift and gave it a try, I was hooked. Literally. For a voracious reader like me, to have all my current books, plus reference materials, with me in one package. Oh my goodness. I downloaded a Protestant Bible-60 seconds--and navigable! I downloaded a Catholic Bible--60 seconds, and navigable! I downloaded the Complete Works of Shakespeare--60 seconds. The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, The Kalevala, Paradise Lost. Jared Diamond's new book, Stephen King's new Kindle novel. You get the idea. Took it on a business trip--no recharging, no carrying books. Then we found out my husband's I-Phone can synch to my Kindle! And all the while I know this is probably just the "beta" of this product--it will only get better over the years. Yes, I still like my lovely books, but really, this is the best "take along" thing ever. People like to talk about their "Crackberries." Get real. As a professional, I don't care if I never get another 50 e-mails per day, or texts, or phone calls, but don't take away my Kindle.P.S. When I think about all the books I carried around in high school, college, graduate school, and law school, and see the ridiculous backpacks my kids haul around today, I know we are way behind the curve--all you need is a Kindle and something to type on, like a mini laptop. | 45 stars
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Awesome
After reading another Jack Reacher novel, I had to find #1 and read it. It was not dissappointing. I am hooked on Reacher. | 45 stars
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real history
This book opens the door to a part of american history that has little written about it. it read quickly. now i am destined to travel to the sites mentioned in the book. glad i found it.Steve GlazerMA. History | 45 stars
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Don't quit your day job!
Now I know why Jim Lehrer hasn't quit his day job! Alas, I just wasn't impressed with this book, although I really wanted to be. The premise is that the skeleton of a Civil War soldier is found buried on previously unexplored land bordering the battlefield at Antietam. The National Park Service is called in, and the hunt begins to find the identity of the remains, and why they were buried in such a peculiar way (facedown) and so far from the rest of the carnage. Our sleuth is an archaeologist from NPS who becomes determined to find out the truth of what happens. A perfectly good premise, yes. Unfortunately, explanation of what happened at Antietam, or why a character cares so much about it was strained, maudlin, and heavy-handed. The inclusion of a "love interest" for the main character is completely forced, not to mention unnecessary, as are the various mentions of a debate over reenactment. Overall, a disappointing book, although true Civil War buffs will probably enjoy it. | 12 stars
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Fascinating
Love, love, love this book, I have read it so many times, it just takes you back through a time portal | 45 stars
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Traveler's Dream
I travel overseas extensively and despite what they tell you, laptops are not/not durable. I have gone through 6 in 8 years. Since I normally do not have internet access when I am abroad, I carry my reading materials on the laptop. Now with Kindle, I don't have to depend on a laptop and I can carry my reading wherever I go. OOOHHRAHH.Problems: Where I live in the States, I do not have access to the Sprint network, so I have to either download my books to my computer and then transfer them to the Kindle, or, wait till I go to somewhere that I can connect to the Sprint network. Not serious, but irritating.Altogether, I'm pleased.Mike HoganKindle: Amazon's Wireless Reading Device | 34 stars
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At Least 4 and 1/2 Stars -- Excellent Mid-Period Dickens
David Copperfield came roughly in the middle of Charles Dickens' career, and it is unsurprisingly transitional in many ways. It is also perhaps his most controversial novel in relative merit terms. Many critics, perhaps most, put it with or near his mature, fully-realized later novels, significantly ahead of early efforts; many others think it significantly ahead of the latter but not far enough to go with the former. Readers of course have no such scruples; it has long been one of Dickens' most popular novels - which truly says something -, and its appeal has hardly lessened after more than a century and a half. Also, for what it is worth, it was Dickens' own favorite. The bottomline is of course that everyone should read it anyway, because Dickens' storytelling power is such that even his lesser novels are far above most writers' best.There is certainly no denying the power of the story as a story; Dickens is hardly bettered in pure storytelling terms, and this is one of his preeminent examples. Virginia Woolf, not generally a Dickens fan, thought it one of English fiction's greatest works, and no less than Leo Tolstoy thought the famous shipwreck chapter the greatest ever written and the example for all novelists to aspire to. After a (by our standards) somewhat slow start, the book quickly becomes engrossing, and we are hooked until the end. As always, Dickens deftly guides us through various styles and sentiments; the book is often comic but also has much tragedy and hits practically every spot between the two. There is no great mystery or plot twist as in some of his later books, but we see a definite breaking away from prior works in plot structure terms. Dickens' essentially episodic style was ideal for an era when serialization was obligatory and lengthy novels expected, but many later critics say it keeps him from true greatness. The trend is most noticeable in early works and still here to a certain extent, but this is clearly the seed of more concerted later plotting.The plot is of course dependent on the eponymous narrator and central character, and the novel is one of the all-time great bildungsromans - perhaps even the greatest and certainly the most famous. Those who highly value tight plots may still be unsatisfied, as David's life is not much less uneven than most, but the fact of being tied to a single life gives considerably more structure than some early Dickens. Essentially a fictional autobiography, the novel charts David's progress literally from birth, ending in what seems to be middle age. Though not quite a rags to riches story, his long and troubled path from obscurity to fame may make the cynical scoff, but it is important to remember that this is after all one of the template's founding texts. We must also keep in mind that Dickens' own story was much the same; some have even called this his disguised autobiography, and there are indeed many fascinating parallels. His knowledge of and sympathy with young men growing up in his era at any rate gives the book a great lifelikeness that made many of them strongly identify with it. Along with Dickens' usual precise attention to nearly all details of everyday life and his keen eye for social life and other cultural aspects, this makes the novel invaluable as a peek into early nineteenth-century English life.Far more important, though, is how forcefully the novel transcends time and place. Because so many aspects of growing up are universal, it is easy for nearly anyone to identify with David, and many have. We share his exultant joy at childhood's carefree moments and suffer along with his first tastes of pain, disappointment, and regret. We recall along with him adolescence's exuberances as well as its challenges. His first experiences of education, love, friendship, work and many other rites of passage are familiar to nearly all, as are his adult interactions. Dickens portrays all this realistically and empathetically, letting us relive much of our lives through David. He runs us through nearly every emotion along the way; the book has almost as many tears as laughs. David's story would of course be interesting in only a very limited way if his life were just like most, but Dickens makes sure to include many interesting narrative experiences. These are so well told that we feel for David as he moves through life's ups and downs, changing and growing in ways both familiar and unfamiliar.This alone would make the book more than enough for most, but there is plenty more. Dickens' typically great characters are perhaps most notable. He may be unequaled for consistently depicting unique and memorable characters, and this has some of his most enduring. It is often said that David is the least interesting, and it may well be true - not because he is dull but because the rest are so fascinating. This is usually called a defect, but is in this way quite a virtue. It is after all hard to argue with the characters for wealth of human interest and sheer entertainment value. As always in Dickens novels, there are so many characters - nearly all with distinct and usually eccentrically memorable personalities - that no review of anywhere near normal length could possibly hope to do them justice. However, several are absolutely unforgettable: the melodramatically mercurial Mr. Micawber and his eminently practical but nave wife; the thoroughly despicable hypocrite Uriah Heep; the low-key but ever reliable Traddles; David's hilariously short-tempered but genuinely kind aunt; the dignified and strong-willed but fundamentally selfish Steerforth; the lovely but almost childishly hapless Dora; the industrious penny pincher Mr. Barkis; Mr. Dick, the madman with flashes of brilliance - and enough others to populate most authors' whole canons. Dickens' characters have entertained millions of readers all over the world for nearly two hundred years and are certainly notable for strength of characterization and sheer imaginative reach. However, a minority has long objected to them as hopelessly quirky to the point of being unrealistic and annoying. This certainly will not convince them, but the vast majority who take the characters to heart will find many to love.This gets to the central critical debate about Dickens' work generally and this novel particularly - is it great art, or simply very well-written and astoundingly entertaining? Dickens' essentially unparalleled characterization and storytelling are more than enough great art for most, but some decry a supposed lack of deeper meaning and serious themes. Yet Dickens is at least as sociopolitically aware as most great authors and plenty of lesser ones without succumbing to the nearly always fatal fault of heavy-handedness that few serious writers escape. The story certainly has some serious themes, drawing attention to - and because of Dickens' popularity, raising awareness and sometimes even leading to reform of - problems relating to several overlooked areas. These include unregulated youth schools, previously addressed in Nicholas Nickleby; the plight of parentless children; the working conditions of inner city factories, also addressed in Hard Times; poverty, particularly debt; and more. Also, though there is much in the presentation of female characters for feminists to decry, there is also a highly notable focus on issues of immense importance to women: the delicate position of young widowed women, which made them prey to unscrupulous men because of their enforced ignorance and consequent naveté; and the sad state of prostitutes, a group so scorned that almost no one looked closely enough at their conditions to see just how miserable they were or inquire about the often surprising causes. There is also thought-provoking commentary on perennial issues like corporal punishment. Readers must decide if such themes are substantial enough. As for the long philosophical discussions in narrative and dialogue that have made so many other nineteenth century greats famous and revered, they are not to be found in Dickens. Some may think this a significant flaw, but his incredibly moving and believable portrait of a representative life will be enough for most. David learns much over the course of his life despite all the struggles and hardships, and if the ending may be too pat for the most cynical, all others will be touched by its paean to love's redemptive power, which has some of Dickens' most beautiful prose, and it is certainly hard to begrudge David's happiness and contentment. However much our lives may differ from David's, the novel will remain popular and worthwhile at least as long as any parallels remain. | 34 stars
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Everybody likes to go their own way
Even the best authors in the world sometimes put out something that... well, isn't up to their usual standards. For Jane Austen, that book was "Mansfield Park" -- her prose is typically excellent, and she weaves a memorable story about a poor young lady in the middle of a wealthy, dysfunctional family. But put bluntly, Fanny Price lacks the depth and complexity of Austen's other heroines.As a young girl, Fanny Price was sent from her poor family to live with her wealth relatives, the Bertrams, and was raised along with her four cousins Tom, Edmund, Maria and Julia.Despite being regarded only little better than a servant (especially by the fawning, cheap Mrs. Norris), Fanny is pretty happy -- especially since Edmund is kind and supportive of her at all times. But then the charming, fashionable Crawford sibilings arrive in the neighborhood, sparking off some love triangles (particularly between Maria and Henry Crawford, even though she's already engaged.And the whole thing becomes even more confused when Henry becomes intrigued by Fanny's refusal to be charmed by him as the others are. But when she rejects his proposal, she ends up banished from her beloved Mansfield Park... right before a devastating scandal and a perilous illness strikes the Bertram family. Does Fanny still have a chance at love and the family she's always been with?The biggest problem with "Mansfield Park" is Fanny Price -- even Austen's own mother didn't like her. She's a very flat, virtuously dull heroine for this story; unlike Austen's other heroines she doesn't have much personality growth or a personal flaw to overcome. And despite being the protagonist, Fanny seems more like a spectator on the outskirts of the plot until the second half (when she has a small but pivotal part to play in the story).Fortunately she's the only real flaw in this book. Austen's stately, vivid prose is full of deliciously witty moments (Aunt Norris "consoled herself for the loss of her husband by considering that she could do very well without him"), some tastefully-handled scandal, and a delicate house-of-romantic-cards that comes crashing down to ruin people's lives (and improve others). And she inserts some pointed commentary on people who care more about society's opinions than on morality.And the other characters in the book are pretty fascinating as well -- especially since Edmund, despite being a virtuous clergyman-in-training, is an intelligent and strong-willed man. The Bertrams are a rather dysfunctional family with a stern patriarch, a fluttery ethereal mother, a playboy heir and a couple of spoiled girls -- Maria in particular develops a crush on Henry, but doesn't bother to break off her engagement until it's too late. And the Crawfords are all flash and sparkle: a pair of charming, shallow people who are essentially hollow."Mansfield Park" suffers from a rather insipid heroine, but the rest of the book is vintage Austen -- lies, romance, scandal and a dance of manners and society. | 45 stars
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A Fine Read
In many reviewers here this book seems to have inspired either love or loathing. I understand that the author is somewhat controversial. My reaction to "Love and Other Impossible Pursuits" falls somewhere in the middle. It is not a "must not miss" read, but it could be enjoyable. The main character is dangerously close to being unlikeable, but most of the time I was on her side even though I certainly don't approve of her actions in breaking up her husband's first marriage. The stepson, William, is a bit too precocious to be at all believable, but that only serves to emphasize at times how young he really is. I did not notice Waldman's writing, which means it was serviceable if not remarkable. I thought that the character voice was strong and clear. I got very caught up in this book, and it has a great emotional climax and conclusion. | 23 stars
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Fiction reduced to its raw elements
Cormac McCarthy reduced this story to its raw elements: no names, not many characters, dialog that barely rises above a series of grunts. We don't see the apocalypse happen, we never learn its cause; we see only a journey through a dying world. The Road is a story of survival in desperate times, of a father's love for his son, and of a sort of honor or integrity that the man wants to instill or preserve in his son (represented by the man's insistence that they are "carrying the fire" as they travel down the road). I think McCarthy accomplished the task he set for himself: by telling a simple, elemental story, he got his point across. The doesn't necessarily mean that he wrote a great novel.These are the reservations that keep me from giving the novel five stars: I think reducing the story to its raw elements left the reader with too little. With so few characters and so little character development, the story hinges on the man, and I don't think he's sufficiently interesting to carry the novel. The man's character depends almost entirely on machismo: Man strong. Man protect child. Man carry fire. McCarthy's portrait of the ideal man as a strong, silent warrior (represented by the boy's father and by the man who comes along at the novel's end) was just a little much for me. That's particularly true when the man is contrasted with his wife. She's portrayed as too weak-willed to struggle, too lacking in courage to assure her child's survival. Man strong, woman weak: at least that's the message I got. And the "carry the fire" metaphor (in the boy's words, "we're the good guys") was too simplistic to resonate with me. The novel gives us only binary choices: survival or suicide, good guys or cannibals. Reducing the world to a few good people and a lot of monsters might be a useful way of making a point about the difference between good and evil, but the world is a whole lot more complex than that -- and it continues to be more complex than that even in the face of disaster, as the multiple responses to events like Hurricane Katrina reveal. Finally, McCarthy's attempts at philosophy -- the suggestion, for instance, that people who would destroy their planet are unworthy of God -- are stale, recycled from countless other novels.There is nonetheless much to admire in The Road: vivid writing; beautifully described scenes of desolation; honest depictions of love and fear; the boy's purity as he stands in for his father's conscience; haunting images and tender moments that stuck with me long after I finished the novel. I can't give The Road five stars (I actually prefer a more inspirational and, I think, more complex post-apocalyptic novel,The Postman, even if David Brin's writing isn't as strong) but there are enough memorable moments in The Road to make it worth reading. I give it four stars; your mileage may vary. | 34 stars
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Just Not for Me
I could not get into this one. At first I could (kind of) get past the names, but I wanted to laugh every time I read them. I couldn't handle the dudespeak or forced camaraderie either. A few f-bombs, "bros" and shoulder bumps don't quite make them believable, well-rounded guys. I know these are popular, but I could not continue in the series. I barely finished this one. | 01 star
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