text
stringlengths 29
14.1k
| label
class label 5
classes |
|---|---|
Not as good as it could have been
I listened to the audio version, so some of the negative reviews regarding the way the sentences and dialogue was structured did not come across. The reader of the audio version did an excellent job, I thought, conveying emotion in the man's voice.Having said that, the dialogue itself was repetative and rather meaning less. It went a little like this:The man - what are you thinkingThe boy - I don't knowThe man - you don't know?The boy - no, I don't knowThe man - but you are thinking, aren't you?The boy - maybe. I don't know.The boy says "I don't know" and the man says "I'm sorry." and "we're okay." and they both say "Okay." over and over and over . . . Got really old. My mind jsut started to skip over passages of speach like that. If it was repeated to make some kind of point or atmosphere or whatever it pretty much ended up having nearly zero effect on my because it was just over done. That's the only negative fedback I have on the writing itself. The descriptions were well done and some of the images were really great imagry that has stayed with me.And, its true that both the man and the boy don't have names. This made it very difficult for me to identify at all with either of them. I wasn't sympathetic or empathetic. Perhaps this was a device to make the characters into anyone and everyone, to actually increase indentifying with them. I found the exact opposite happened to me. There was no real personalities or identities for either of them.BELOW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS:Now, I have read a lot of sci-fi and other post apocolyptic stories. I have heard about this one, people speaking of it it reverent tones, as if it is some biblical tomb. So I was expecting this literary masterpiece, and was disappointed. The setting and timeline is inconsistant and contradictory. There is ashe falling perpetually, and all the trees seem to be burned. This cataclysmic event happened just before the boy's birth, and the boy has to be about 5 or so since he can talk and walk just fine by himself. So, its been like 5 years. All the trees are bescribed as burned and there is no sun, or animals. However, twice, the man finds dried apples on the ground. No apple is going to survive that long on the ground. And, animals would have eaten it or they would have rotted away. At another point, the man finds a barn and thinks about cows and how they most surely are extinct now. And, again, there are no other animals. But, there is hay in the hay loft and dried grass growing in the burnt orchard . . . there is food for animals to eat. How is it that people survived (sort of) and zero animals have? And also, how could those apples have fallen from the trees, then the trees were burned but the apples on the ground weren't burnt?Then, there are the cannibals. There are people kept in e cellar and used for food, and at one point a baby is seen being roasted to eat. Now, how can cannibalism survive in a world where there is no food to feed to would-be-food people? People can't simply survive for years perpetually on other people with no other food to feed those people. Besides that, I don't believe for a moment that a mother would eat her own child. No matter the circumstances.And, how could so many houses survive unburnt when whole orchards right in their back yward are burnt? And they find houses off the road with supplies, and the man says that since they aren't seen from the road, they haven't been looted. Come on, people would have scavaged in the woods for food and hunted for animals, so the house would have been found and looted long ago. There is this constant fear of cannibals and being found by the bad guys, yet on one occasion, they find a bomb shelter, and are terrified the whole time of being discovered. But, they don't start packing right away, they shine the flashlight out of the hatch at night, they sleep down there where it is easy to be surprised and trapped, and just generally don't behave like hunted people would. On another occassion, they find a flare gun and shoot it in the air just to see it go . . . again, hunted people wouldn't do that! The bad guys would see it! Then, they leave all their stuff unguarded and someone comes along and takes it all, maybe because they saw that flare gun.I could site more examples. I wrote more down, but honestly, I think you can get the picture. I don't understand how or why books such as this one have such wide renown and almost reverent followers. And, people I've talk to just tell me I'm missing the whole point, that I should ignore all those inconsistancies because they don't matter and that its the story that matters. Well, those things set the story and matter to me. If the setting and the plot and timeline don't line up and don't make sense and don't support each other, then any message that book is trying to convey looses most of its credibility for me. | 12 stars
|
Kindle2 Review
This is my 2nd Kindle and I find it is a great improvement over the previous version. The new round shape of keyboard buttons much easier to use, other control buttons also facilitate control.The only "negative" for me is that the backside is now metal instead of the soft plastic. The previous "soft" back made it much easier to hold.RGG | 45 stars
|
If you've ever worked in and office...
For want of a doughnut, a company is reorganized pretty much sums up Max Barry's latest novel Company.If the premise sounds absurd, you're right. But just like the corporate world, a single dougnut brings about the decline and fall of a company. It serves as a catalyst for the absurdity that can be and is corporate life.What Jennifer Government did for the advertising industry, Company does for corporate life. But where Company trumps Jennifer is that the story follows a single protagonist in the story of corporate absurdity. If you've seen Office Space or The Office, you have a taste for what you'll find in these pages. Thankfully, the story is more linear and doesn't work as hard to have characters' lives intersect ala Crash as was the case in Jennifer Government.Stephen Jones is hired right out of college to work for the Zephyr Company. Within a day he's promoted over people who have been with the company for years and tries to discover the rhyme and reason as to why certain decisions are made. As he tries to figure out the mind of the suits and just what it is Zephyr does, he's drawn into a whole different world, one he never expected.Max Barry's satire is biting, especially as you recognize fellow co-workers in the pages of Company. The absurdity of behavoir from Roger the guy who can't let go of his doughnut being eaten to Elizabeth, the sales rep who falls uncontrollably in love with her clients...that is until they sign the contracts, you will recognize people you know and have worked with. Yes, Barry does make some of the characters one-dimensional but overall, his wry comments on corporate life and the corporate world are dead-on.The only negative is that the reveal of what is really behind Zephyr comes to early in the story and the novel coasts from there. | 34 stars
|
Come back to Zadie Smith!
If you're like me, you thought "White Teeth" was entertaining but ultimately sagging at the end and overhyped. Maybe you forgave Zadie her missteps and tried again with "Autograph Man" and, marveling at its messiness, wondered how this writer got so much credit in the first place. And now you've been hearing about "On Beauty." Some say it's brilliant, some say it's boring, and you're not sure if you really have the time or the faith to give Zadie a third go.All I can say is, for those of you who have been wading through Zadie Smith novels, admiring her cleverness, her zippy characters, and her fabulous ear, but wondering where the real soul is - you'll be rewarded for your patience in this book. "On Beauty" contains multitudes - the state of academia, the state of the family, the state of countries and marriages and young women who hate themselves, the random nature of loveliness in our lives, and the crazy things we will do to grab hold of or destroy it. And while Zadie pulls in threads of everything from art history to hiphop to Haitian politics to poetry, she never veers off course, masterfully keeping her imagined world tightly drawn and alive.One more note: I happened to own both the audio and the book and after some switching back and forth, ended up listening to the audio, simply because it was so enjoyable. I highly recommend it - the reader does a fantastic job with the varied accents, and this is a perfect story to be told. | 45 stars
|
Very bland and dry
I am sorry, I know that this book is loved by millions and I should love it; but, I do not. I just could not get into it. It is so bland that I could not even finish. Thank the stars for cliff notes. | 12 stars
|
a great novel
the book is extremely well written and gives an interesting picture of the early miniature-painters and their relation to european art. And it is humorous as well | 45 stars
|
Disappointed
I was disappointed with this book. It was much thinner than all the other J.D.Robb books. However having said that Amazon not only allowed me to keep the book but refunded my money. AMAZING | 01 star
|
Sold mine and I'm holding out for a better device
It's an ok device. But honestly with other color, multi-tasking devices around the corner (some already here), is this worth the steep asking price? Whispernet is ok. It's the 'free' wireless internet that comes with the device. Kinda like browsing the internet before the 2000s. When you're surfing, graphics that come up are slow and few, and the sites I tried browsing to are often scrambled. It's like using an outdated browser. Plus the black and white is no fun. (Ok, I DO like that it resembles ink.) But the price of the kindle books are what really irk me. Cost of $9.99 per book is rather expensive, more than a paperback, and you don't actually OWN the book. It exists somewhere in the digital slipstream. I can go buy the paperback for less, actually own it, and resell it when I'm done. I understand writers/publishers have to make their money here. But there is no printing/shipping/materials cost involved here! I would think $5.99 per book would be more reasonable. However, after using mine for about a week before selling it on eBay, I do understand why it would be perfect for some. Especially frequent travellers and folks that would like to hear the book read to them, via the reader voice. | 23 stars
|
I loved this book!
I picked this book up after reading an excerpt in (I believe) Automobile magazine at the doctor's office. The style (conversational, informal) and content (surprisingly candid) of the writing grabbed my attention immediately. The book is a bit of a rant, and his position is undeniably biased. It is for this reason that I wish Mr Iacocca had provided a bibliography in order to support the many claims. Still, the book raises many important questions and challenges the reader to take some responsibility for the direction of the country. The numerous anecdotes from Mr Iacocca's life are also very insightful and entertaining. A compelling and inspiring read. Great work, Mr Iacocca! | 45 stars
|
Disappointing
If, like me, you think Bright Lights, Big City is a wonderful book, you will probably be disappointed by The Good Life. I know I was.Russell and Corrine, the main characters of Brightness Falls, are back and unfortunately for them (and for the reader) they haven't grown or matured much in these years. This is not necessarily a terrible thing, but as the background of the novel is 9/11, this huge and life-altering event basically swallows tiny Corrine and even Luke, her wealthy lover. It's hard to care for two grown people who are such passive participants in their own lives. Even though I could anticipate the end more than 100 pages earlier, I was still disappointed by how easily and glibly they settled back into their mediocre and unhappy lives. In other circumstances, or about different characters, perhaps it could be said that there's nobility in such sacrifice but in Luke and Corrine's case, I read the last sentence feeling that they had basically taken the path of least resistance.And please ignore James Frey's review on Amazon. "People wondered what kind of writer Fitzgerald might have been had he lived. McInerney, his closest succesor, is starting to show us" is such a ridiculous and over-the-top comment for a novel that is at best average that it must make even McInerney ashamed. We already know Frey is a liar and a fraud. His critique of this book is one more proof of his lack of integrity. | 12 stars
|
Admire the Commitment and Accomplishments, but...
What Mortensen accomplished with commitment and perseverance is undoubtly a great humanitarin effort. However, the book is irritating to read. Mortensen's name is used so many times over and over it is distracting. "Mortensen this" and "Mortensen that"! It reads like Mortiensen is a demi-god and it really presents like this when you realize he is a coauthor. Why not write this inspiring story in "first person"?The humanitarian effort is inspiring if you can get through the book! | 01 star
|
LOOKING BACK IN RETROSPECT THIS BOOK MAKES PERFECT SENSE
Even though I do not belong to the generation of which Tamara Draut writes, she makes perfect sense of the difference between the years gone by and 2006.If one is to point the finger, it COULD be aimed at many variables.Economic market saturation, population explosion, greedy health insurance companies, rising oil prices (with not too much justification), a downturn in tourist industries worldwide, rising housing costs, stock market crash in the early 1990's, rising unemployment,...the list COULD be endless.However, pointing the finger does not cover all answers.Having said that, each student or prospective employee has a different set of circumstances.Many reviewers of this book refer only to their own case history.Comparison is completely unnecessary.Stay in your own backyard.As a student, ask yourself the following questions.Q: Why live in an expensive state of the USA?A: I feel the need to live close to my family - (feasible answer)Q: Is it easy to find decent paying part-time employment while studying?A: Not necessarily, minimum wage maybe covers the cost of toilet paper.Q: Why accept and overspend on easy to come by credit cards?A: Desperate times call for desperate measures. Should I eat this week or next?Q: Why do I need a car?A: No public transport (point the finger at the state government,depending on where you live)Q: Is Car insurance a necessity?A: Yes, absolutelyQ: Does one need health insurance ?A: One bad car accident, you will be in debt for the rest of your life.It is actually quite heartbreaking for we of the previous generation to stand by and watch our children struggle for a few years without stepping in to reveal an open check book.We fought through the same econmonic struggles,only on a much smaller scale along with a shorter time span to get out of "Debt" city.Knowing that doesn't make it any easier for the current generation.Ms. Draut's book, STRAPPED, is written in understandable, monosyllabic, up to the minute factual terminology.Applause to you, Tamara!-Yvonne Bornstein- Author- "Eleven Days Of Hell" - My True Story of Kidnapping, Terror, Torture and Historic FBI and KGB Rescue | 45 stars
|
Check this book out of your library, but don't buy it
There are already over 200 negative reviews of this book, so I don't know that I have much to add, except that my main reason for disliking the book is that I didn't find the author very likable. First off, this trip is all expenses paid by her book publisher, so that took away some of her credibility for me. Secondly, I just found her a bit too braggy and self absorbed to truly appreciate her stories. I hope the author is a nicer, more humble person in reality than she comes across in this book. | 01 star
|
Where have all the editors gone?
I am not familiar with Ed Young or his church, but I picked up this book because I, too, believe that Christians should be filled with Joy. Unfortunately, in the first chapter there were two glaring errors that made me question the accuracy of the remainder of the book. First, Mr. Young attributed to Roy Rogers the quote, "Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like." Obviously that is a Will Rogers quote - not Roy Rogers. Then a few pages later he asserts that "happiness" comes from the latin word "hap" which means chance. Actually, "hap" was a middle English word for luck. I read the entire book, and I feel that these errors were indicative of the lack of proper editing, which is a shame because the concepts are excellent, but the execution leaves much to be desired. | 23 stars
|
Great Ghost Stories
I totally enjoyed this story of ghosts from the past paralleled to the characters from the present. Declan Fitzgerald (Boston lawyer turned house-restorer) has been drawn to the big house in New Orleans - Manet Hall, filled with mystery and intrigue from the past, in particular, a young woman, Abigail Manet, who had been raped and murdered by her brother-in-law and left in the bayou for burial by her mother-in-law. One hundred years later, Declan is drawn to the Hall to discover himself being the reincarnation of that time and the one person who can make things right for Abigail. Enter Angelina (Lena) and her grandmamma who will help Declan discover some answers to the mystery of Abby's death and her daughter (Lena's great great grandmother-Marie Rose's heritage). Declan is completely mesmerized by Lena from the start and is determined to make her his wife in a very short time. A great story, as usual, even though it was a ghost story and not the usual Nora Roberts that I am used to. | 34 stars
|
This is a MUST read
Malcolm Gladwell has a rare talent for taking what we believe we understand and making it truly understandable. He has the ability to get us to stop for a moment and really think. He has a way using examples which allow any thinking person to relate what he is saying to personal experiences in our own everyday lives. This should be required reading in all of our schools. | 45 stars
|
A Foreign Policy Classic
When I was searching the library catalogue for some good books on China, I could not find any, which were readily available, except this one. I hesitantly picked this one. While doing so, I was thinking, how someone can write a 450 page book on a trip, which was only a week long. Nevertheless once I started reading, it was addictive.Author is a master story teller and build the story of the famous trip with comprehensive coverage of many short stories consisting of biographies of key people, geopolitical environment, domestic and international events, their relationship etc. I commend author's neutrality to the subject matter and honest yet fascinating presentation of the facts, which ranges from small protocol related details to big picture canvas.This was a week, which truly changed the world. US and China (PRC) had no diplomatic relationship, since Korean War and Mao's China was a isolated country, almost on the brink of war with Soviets. Nixon seized the moment and dealt a body blow to USSR. It was a Nixon's master stroke, which eventually led to US victory in Cold War and transformed the landscape of world economy. However as a Game Theory rule says that every game is a part of even larger game, US missed a bigger game here. Both Nixon and Kissinger considered this trip as the key part to their grand design of world power play and paid little attention to trade related issues. Nixon famously delegated these `trivial matters' to Secretary Rogers and his State Department. Looking from today's vantage point, it is precisely these issues, for which trip is largely remembered for. With over $250 B (B for Billon) in trade deficit and still counting, US certainly left a lot on the table. Though Mao and Zhou Enlai, did not realized this, it was Deng Xiaoping, who seized the opportunity and in the process created modern China.The book is also an interesting read, when you realize how military and power plays, which were key determinants of yesteryears foreign policy, have been taken over by economic interests. This is a good sign in human evolution, as personal power ambitions of few has been taken over by economic interest of masses. This democratization of world will leave little room for conventional wars, often fought for personal ambitions and covert reasons.While book describes a lot, which happens before the trip, it does not give equal weight to its aftermath and its wider ramifications, especially on later Chinese leadership.All in all, it is a great read and I would highly recommend it. | 34 stars
|
What a barbarian he eats dog
I don`t care what country i`m in, I would never eat dog. That`s gross. Cant believe this guys our president. Our founding fathers needed to create more qualifications to become president. | 01 star
|
What a waste of time.
This is my first (and last) experience with Bentley Little's work and to say I was disappointed would be far too kind. The plot, such as it is, deals with a race of creatures that return from the past and start reverting people to a more primitive state. Why is not entirely clear and I just didn't care enough to figure it out. The characters are so interchangeable that you can't tell one from another and the big finish happens so quickly that there is no attempt to build suspense. Not frightening, very predictable and lacking in the basic elements of a good horror novel, THE RETURN definitely does not make me want to check out the rest of this author's work. | 01 star
|
Kindle Review
I love this little gadget. It is nice when you are reading and you come across a word that you don't know. Just cursor next to the word and you get a full blown definition. Dictionary on the fly . Also, it makes purchasing your next book really nice. The search feature is easy and you receive a star rating to help you decide. The charge holds for a good long time too before you have to plug back in. Two thumbs up on this purchase. | 45 stars
|
My first Roberts read
I was given this book as a gift for Christmas, and I must say, it's not in my usual genre. I usually read historical romances, but do enjoy other types of novels. This book held my interest pretty well, but I found the dialogue unnatural and strained and the characters trite, although I did enjoy Ryan Boldari. Even Ryan's family were caricatures! My biggest criticism of Ms. Roberts is that she "tells" instead of "shows", a real rookie mistake and quite aggravating to intelligent readers. | 23 stars
|
Design for Six Sigma in Technology and Product Development
Looked just like advertised. It arrived when they said it would and was packaged well. It was a good price too. | 45 stars
|
WAY better than I expected......
I am so glad I bought this. I was hesitant to read this due to the overwhelming reviews that said this book was not as good as her past novels. I must say that Julia London does not disappoint in this one. I laughed, I cried, I felt all the emotions I felt in her first novel, The Devil's Love. I can't wait to read the next installment in the series. For the rest of you who think that this was not "up to par", I think that maybe you should have started with Abbey and Michael's story and read her books in order. Then maybe, there might have been a true appreciation for this book. LOVED IT!!!!! | 45 stars
|
Ewww
I've been a fan of V.C. Andrews' through everything-including her death! However, this book finally pushed me to the limit. As a fan of V.C. I'm clearly a fan of the grotesque and macabre, but this exploration of a seven-year-old's sexuality went too far. My stomach was churning the whole time. Yes, I understand that this is a real phenomenon-early puberty-but something as disturbing as someone who not too long ago was wearing diapers menstruating is a medical issue, not one that should be put in gothic hack fiction as "sexy". Psychologically a child of seven could never handle such an event and I found the addition of a character who wanted to "introduce" the child to her "new feelings" so upsetting I decided to give up the ghost, literally (the ghostwriter) for good. He went over the edge, and not in a good way. I felt molested reading this book, and I have a baby girl, and I certainly wouldn't ever want her to read it. I recycled it. | 01 star
|
Beautiful, Painful.
Tess of the D'Urbervilles is an intensely depressing but brilliant depiction of the connections between love, fear, and guilt. The vivid clarity with which Hardy draws Tess as a vulnerable innocent struggling, and ultimately failing to come to terms with the merciless world makes this a masterpiece. | 45 stars
|
3.5 stars
This book was an ok read it felt like something was missing while i'm not a big fan of Penny Jordan i do own some of her books..The hero and heroine for me where just simple i don't know can't really put my finger on it they came out strong in the beginning not so in the end, also in the last 4 pages everything came together i didn't like that i can remember thinking to myself i'm a couple pages towards the end and they still didn't get anywhere..it was ok in some areas but not ok in some so all in all on my rating meter its between ok/fair... | 23 stars
|
Obvious
Well written, but the identity of the killer is pretty obvious. In fact, there's only one real possibility. Barely a mystery. | 23 stars
|
It was a good read
This book is interesting. It is set after a catastrophic war ravaged the earth. The author has an interesting writing style that took several chapters to get used to.Overall, I enjoyed the book and thought that it moved along rather fast.If you like adventure books, you will enjoy this book. | 34 stars
|
Too quick
Decently written and different take on vampires. It had pretty much no plot though, which made me start to lose interest. The story itself spends inordinate amounts of time on small amounts of time. The entire thing took place in a matter of just a couple of days. I had a hard time with that as it didn't seem like enough happened to really create a lasting bond between the hero/heroine. It all happened too fast.The characters themselves are immature and shallow. Greg wasn't much of a hero to me. He'd make a better best friend than a romantic idol.I had a hard time keeping the secondary characters straight, but they were definitely interesting and I can see more books on the way. | 23 stars
|
Wonderful!
I think this book was so appealing to me because of its style. The dialogue was powerful, yet said in such few words; the characters were nameless and faceless, yet so real; the world the book paints was so far-fetched and terrifying, yet I could see all of it. This book is heart-wrenching at times, and joyous at other times. The second I was finished, it became one of my favorite books. Would recommend to anyone! | 45 stars
|
Vague, Meandering, Tiresome
The Road is Cormac McCarthy's dark look at a world devastated by cataclysm, devoid of life, and populated by a few wandering cannibals. Whether a nuclear war or similar catastrophe, it has rendered the landscape a barren wasteland of ash, burned forests, and melted cities, through which a man and his boy travel south, searching for a better life. The detritus of fleeing humanity clings to their road: burnt cars and skeletal remains and scattered personal belongings. McCarthy strips this world of detail, bleakly examining humanity's roots and the bond between a father and son.McCarthy may be a critics' darling and numerous ecstatic reviews greatly exaggerate the novel's literary merit. The man and the boy are too simple to be compelling characters. The boy might be dismissed as youthfully innocent with the reservation that McCarthy presents him, a lifelong inhabitant of a post-cataclysmic world, as extremely well-adjusted. The man's character is simplistic as to defy the willing suspension of disbelief: he lacks real desire or internal conflict. Has he wondered how he might live without the boy? Would he really commit suicide if not for the boy? Has he met any other wanderers with whom he may have become friends or allies? McCarthy keeps the reader at such distance as to prevent the audience from coming to a meaningful conclusion.The novel is essentially plot-less: while the two overcome various calamities, such as running out of food or being accosted by traveling cannibalistic thugs, the events do not build logically from one to the next. Furthermore, the novel's resolution is a deus-ex-machina: the man dies and another man appears and takes the boy away, presumably to a happy loving family that will care for him. However, the man had no direct connection to this resolution, which suggests that the man's love for the boy, regardless of outcome, is more important than achieving his goal of traveling south.This begs an important question. Does the man cling to the boy as the last vessel of goodness that will ultimately redeem the world or as the last nave reminder of the world that is gone? Is his love rooted in a selfless desire to see the boy survive and possibly flourish or a selfish desire to maintain the last faade of the lost world?The man has not taught the boy to survive; in fact, the boy reacts as would a modern 21st century child. The reader need only look to child soldiers in Sierra Leone or the Congo to see just how tragically adjustable children may be. The boy has only known the horrors of the post-cataclysmic world; yet he recoils from the sight of dead bodies and cries inconsolably when he sees another child whom his father will not allow him to chase, as it may be a trap. The reader never learns why the man has sheltered the boy in this manner and demonstrates the weakness of McCarthy's work.McCarthy keeps the reader at such an impersonal distance from the characters and their world that they never truly discern what drives the characters forward. The man wants to get south, but the reader never fully understands why. Will it be warmer? Does he think that there will be more people? The audience never learns why; one cannot help but wonder if this ambiguity is the strength or the weakness of The Road. | 12 stars
|
No Page Turner Here
I have to agree with reviewer Mike D., this was a poorly written book,and it looks like Baldacci leaves it open for another sequel to thegroup known as the Camel Club. | 01 star
|
Booorringggg...
Almost impossible to read. The History Of Everything: history of software languages, history of computers, history of programming, objects, and such. Here and there a bit of pseudophilosophical gravy. The essence: screwed up project, because bunch of gurus selected wrong tools as well as didn't know how to plan and execute the project. All the essence would fit into 20-40 pages, and such document woud be interesting. I gave up just around page 200, completely lacking interest what is on remaining 200 pages. Pretty likely will be send back to Amazon | 01 star
|
Whew, I'm glad it's over!
I have read many of Robert's books and have been very entertained by all, but I have to agree with some of the others, this book was so boring. It took me months to finish this one, whereas It usually takes me a few weeks to finish her books. The plot and characters were just dull and predictable. I will however continue with Nora, this was my first dislike of all that I have read, afterall she can't please all of us! | 12 stars
|
Entertaining, but still dissapointing...
First off i haven't read any of the other Prendergast and saw that it said each book was meant to stand alone so I read it anyway, but have to say i was disappointed. I'd read Preston's Tyrannosaur Canyon and loved it so i thought i'd give this a try since i love Egyptian themes as well but I can't say I was all that impressed. First off the title is misleading, because i can't remember even one point in the book where the mention "The book of the dead" its nonexistent in this book, but still revolves around the opening of a pharaohs tomb. The book was suspenceful and there were a lot of parts i really enjoyed, but i felt the explanation for motives and events that were really hyped up throughout the book had sort of weak explanations, and the ending wasn't too thrilling. It's not an awful book, but I can't say i came away in awe. | 23 stars
|
The Tipping Point: The Election
Nate and Huff Post, plus other media, kept mentioning the “tipping point “...this idea has become part of our lexicon! | 34 stars
|
Not my favorite DeMille book
Book in hand, I walked into Ecco's on Chambers Street. A man fitting his description was seated at the bar, nursing a cocktail. A Dewar's and soda perhaps?"Excuse me, but are you detective John Corey?"He muttered a profanity under his breath. "How did you find me?"I opened my copy of WILD FIRE to page thirteen and pointed."So you read the book. What did you think?""You want my honest opinion?""No, lady, lie to me.""It wasn't my favorite. I mean, you were great. As always. Funny. Witty. Heroic. But the other parts of story with Bain Madox and those long-drawn meetings with his Custer Hill cronies and the details about Project Green, blah-blah-blah, were tedious to read.""Told DeMille it was a bad idea to keep me out of those scenes," he said, polishing off his drink. "Guy just wouldn't listen. Said I was being too self-indulgent.""For what it's worth, Mr. Corey. I absolutely loved PLUM ISLAND, THE LION'S GAME and NIGHT FALL.""Well, in that case, sit down and let me buy you a drink before I get written out of this scene." | 34 stars
|
Didn't care for it
There's no redeemable quality in either Heathcliff or Catherine. The more I read the more I despised them, the more I didn't really care what kind of havoc they wrecked on each other or their relationship. Their relationship is the epitome of codependency and somehow this is supposed to be regarded as one of the great love stories of our time. How masochistic are we? | 23 stars
|
Book Review of Emma
By E.G. (AP)"Seldom, very seldom does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a little mistaken..." This was a hard lesson for twenty-one year old Emma Woodhouse to come by. Emma takes on the role of a matchmaker, believing it is in her power to arrange marriages. Predictably, Emma eventually fails at her task. Failure causes Emma to lose innocence and become less ignorant to what in fact she can control.Emma is of a rich family; she's good looking, and she's clever. Emma is held in awe by most, especially her father who believes she is flawless. With such qualities and ideals at her disposal, Emma has very little to distress or vex her. The same circumstances convince her that she will never marry and promote naivete making reality a hard concept for Emma to grasp.Emma lacks knowledge of societal expectations especially where marriage is concerned. Taking place during the Victorian time period, one was expected to marry inside his class. Emma doesn't grasp this ideal which leads to failure and disappointment in her pursuit of making matches.Emma tries to acquaint Mr. Knightley with Harriet and to a certain extent, Jane. Emma discovers that she's once again led herself and Harriet astray. This instance in the book along with the knowledge that Mr. Knightley is one of few that can see faults in Emma, foreshadows an eventual change in plot. This is also the point in the story that a change in Emma's character becomes evident.When reading Emma, allow yourself plenty of time. There are many intricate details Involving who's interested in who that are interwoven into the plot and would be easy to pass by if not reading leisurely. It may be helpful to read a passage twice if you find yourself questioning what just took place. In order to fully enjoy the story; don't hurry through the book.A few of the characters have similar names. Sometimes the only thing separating one person from another is a subtle Miss or Ms. This can be frustrating if you don't fully grasp whom the book is speaking of. Again, read slowly and reread a passage if there's confusion about who the talked of subject is.Some characters are void of the story for an extensive amount of the book. This is also frustrating, as it may be hard to recall what role the character plays. It's beneficial to jot down character names and a few descriptors about them so when they reappear, their role can be recalled. Or, you may want to take time to flip back in the book and reread the scene in which they first appeared.Jane Austen did an exceptional job of writing satirically in order to portray silly ideals that Emma and society held. The standards for which marriages were arranged by become superficial and absurd through Austen's diction. Because it is apparent to the reader that Emma is chasing a dead end with her beliefs of who has taken interest in who, it's humorous when Emma comes to this realization herself. Austen chose exaggerated adjectives of perfection to describe Emma this creates a snicker because obviously Emma is not perfect but rather nave.Emma recalls memories of high school dance date set-ups that went wrong. It's comical to think back on either playing the role of matchmaker or having been the victim of a matchmaker when the quest for a date to the homecoming dance or prom is thrown into full effect. Most times the involvement of a third party misconstrues things much like Emma did. Feelings can be hurt similar to those of the characters in Emma making the matchmaker feel foolish but hopefully providing a lesson to all involved. | 23 stars
|
Global Investor's Perspective
"World on Fire" is one of the most useful and interesting books I have read in a while. It provides information on who "market dominant minorities" in various corners of the world are and how they managed to get this dominance. As a global investor, I have found that it is extremely important to understand origins of top managers' power within companies, and how these managers and their companies fit in the power structures of their countries. This understanding is especially important in emerging markets, which often have under-developed legislative protection of investor interests.Another important feature of the book is that it gives many vivid examples of ethnically targeted seizures and nationalizations in emerging markets. If you hear that a government of an emerging market country starts a propaganda campaign against a certain ethnic group, it might be time for selling shares of companies that this group controls, and potentially liquidating all investment positions in this country. Amy Chua has conducted excellent research and provided information that otherwise would have taken readers years to gather. Thank you! | 45 stars
|
What?
My biggest problem with this book is there is no table of contents. Every time I look for a particular story, I have to look through the entire volume, which contains maybe forty fairy tales, maybe more. I just can't fathom how any publisher would have thought this incomplete volume would be a good idea. | 12 stars
|
Awesome!!
One of the best books I have read in a long time! The describes human nature's conflicts with conscience extremely well! A must read! | 45 stars
|
GREAT PRODUCT
Kindle has lived up to all of it's positive reports. Easy to use; price of books is reasonable; and I highly recommend it. Only complaint: no card reader is available. | 45 stars
|
What or How Can "I" Do
QBQ is the best little book I have read in a long time. The author challenges the reader to personalize the challenges in this book versus thinking of someone else who "should" be reading the book. This is a book I plan to read a couple of times a year for the opportunity to examine myself in the area of personal accountability. | 45 stars
|
Wit can't make up for skimpy plot and filmsy characters
This book came highly recommended to me and I couldn't wait to read it. At first I thought it would be a keeper. It was very funny for the first fifty-sixty or so pages. It was cheeky and irreverant look at the vampire genre told through the eyes of shallow secretary turned vampire Betsy Taylor. Unfortunately, irrations just keep piling on and piling on until I was just happy to reach the end of the books 260 pages. For one thing, the vampire genre cliches just keep coming. I mean it's one thing to poke playful fun at these conventions just Davidson's wit just seems to run out of steam quickly and I'm left with a bunch of scenes I've read before in much better novels. After the the first segment of the story, "Betsy's Random Adventures as a Vampire", when we get to the real meat of the story, Betsy forgets to be funny and just becomes shrill.Betsy is one of those characters that you can only take in small doses. By the end of the book, she was absolutely grating. Some character development would have been nice, but to this book's determent, Betsy is still a silly, shallow woman, even though her circumstances SHOULD compell her to wise-up and get serious.As a romance reader, I find the relationship between Betsy and Sinclair so underbaked that it's still muffin batter. Seeing as the events of the book are seen through Betsy's eyes, I have no idea what Sinclair sees in her except as an easy way to grab power. (It's Anita Blake/Jean Claude redux). Betsy is pretty nasty to him most of the time and calls him Sink Lair to irk him and be cute. (Har Har Shoot me!) Sinclair is pretty underdeveloped himself- He's dark,sexy, very blessed below the belt- the usual. How come all the secondary black characters are so militant (that being they're only personality trait too)?Another problem is still book feels very padded. There are long conversations between Betsy and her friends that don't seem to serve much of a purpose. It's like Davidson was desperate to reach a certain word or page count. Frankly, the book's plot just feels skimpy. Davidson seemed more interested in writing the Random Happening of Betsy: Cutesy Vampire Queen than writing a truly fleshed out story arc where Betsy learns to deal with her new situation, finds love, and defeats Nostro, the evil vampire.I doubt I'll be checking out the next book. Undead and Unwed is very dissapointed and annyoing start to a new vampire series. It took the Anita Blake series eight books before it self-destructed. Tanya Huff's Blood series waited at least until the end of the second book to shove a grenade down my throat. The Betsy Taylor series wears thin after page 80. | 12 stars
|
Sensual and moving...Elizabeth Lowell at her best!
This is my favorite Elizabeth Lowell novel, and I've read many. Lowell is at her best in this medieval setting, weaving mystical references with love and erotica---I couldn't get enough. The two others in this trilogy are fabulous, as well, but probably not as exquisite in style and prose as this particular yarn.I long for the day Elizabeth Lowell returns to this romantic setting, and finds a lover and bride for the brooding Erik. I've waited for years...will it ever happen? I can only hope. This is the book that started it all---that kept us all waiting with baited breath.A wonderfully quick and fulfilling read, and an absolutely fabulous place to start if you've never opened an Elizabeth Lowell novel. GET IT! | 45 stars
|
Very helpful and uplifting
This book is my "go-to" book when I'm feeling frustrated, or think, "This isn't fair. Why do I have to deal with this?" It's very comforting and calming to look at life's difficulties, frustrations and challenges as tools for growth. I really enjoy the way Rick Warren makes God more accessible than what He seems when reading an old KJV Bible. I'm very glad I bought this book and would recommend it to anyone, especially if he or she is going through a rough period in his or her life. | 45 stars
|
Very disappointing, no cure,
I know very well what inflammation is and how it adversely affects one's life. I've suffered with idiopathic inflammation for almost two years now. I've been tested for every disease, rheumatoid arthiritis, Lyme, erlichiosis, etc. The doctors cannot find the cause. I'm on Zyrtec 365 days a year to eliminate allergies. But even this does not lessen my joint inflammation at the young age of 43, thin, active and non-smoking.I anxiously purchased this book to see what potential cures the author had to offer sufferers. None. Don't smoke, don't overeat, eliminition diets, exercise... all the usual stuff found in every health pamphlet. Nothing new here at all. I learned nothing my doctors hadn't already told me or I'd read online. It's a well-written book on an important subject. It just doesn't have answers as the title implies. | 01 star
|
My favorite Dickens ever
Reading "Bleak House" was an immense pleasure. The reader is plunged into a Dickensian world full of heros, villians, satire, love, adventure, social commentary, humor, and much much more. This book shows Dickens as the premiere English writer of the 19th century. | 45 stars
|
Another winner for Anne Tyler!
First, let me say that I love Anne Tyler! She always manages to provide a good look at family functioning or lack thereof, depending on the book. I love the way she provides the true feelings that most of us experience, but to which we are reluctant to admit.While the basis for this ,two very different families that come together by chance while meeting their adoptive children at the airport, is admittedly a bit far fetched, the author manages to make it all seem very plausible.I could very much relate to the feelings of the different characters. I think that Anne Tyler may have been peeking in the living room of any American family and taking notes!I recommend this book to anyone that appreciates the many ways that families interact. | 34 stars
|
Kindle is great fun
Hi,Just received my Kindle 2 and I love it...already read a few books and downloaded some newspapers to read, it really is great to use and I already take it everywhere.Thanks Amazon for such a great gadget...I live in Scotland UK and the service was great...3 days delivery at this time of year 5 Stars | 45 stars
|
Fun little heathens
I read this from the library, then purchased a copy for my father-in-law, who lived through the depression. The writing style is straightforward with lovely language. Even though I've never lived in the midwest nor experienced depression living, it kept me interested. Wonderful anecdotes of kid sneakiness are described. | 34 stars
|
Superior Value
Excellent book already enjoyed by many. Superior deal, cost a fraction of bookstore price. | 45 stars
|
Love it!
Love it, love it, love it!!!! I am an avid reader and this is perfect. I can buy books to my heart's content and not have to find a place to store them. You see, I cannot part with a book once I own it. This definitely takes care of the space problem. I feel so technologically advanced when I'm reading from it. It is much more comfortable to read from than a book. The minute I'm finished with a book in a series, I can immediately download the next book and continue reading without missing a beat. I would most definitely recommend this to all book lovers! | 45 stars
|
A Questioning Journey
I read this book slowly taking in all aspects of the author's logic as to why Abraham is the gatekeeper to Judism, Muslim, and Christianity. This book gives the layperson the information needed to understand how Abraham was instrumental in the evolution of these three faiths, and how the pendulum has swung among the three throughout history. The book suggests and encourages that in today's world there must be purposeful dialogue among the faiths to bring the focus back on the shared ideals of all, namely--one God. Only through educated discussion can we force out the nurturing of hatred that continues to undermine the growth of humanity. | 45 stars
|
great story line
nora roberts is the best author i have read her in death series is gripping and you can imagine your self there in the story it is that vivid. i have read most of the series my newly aquired is that of visions in death. i try to get most from my library but it is very hard as she is a poular read with most people. | 45 stars
|
Portrait of Evil
300 children disappear each year and never return. Amanda McCready disappears from the neighborhood. She is four and a half. Once running away and abduction are ruled out, disappearance is a murder. The private detectives, Angela Gennaro and Patrick Kenzie, ask questions about the mother at a bar. The mother has been afraid to admit that she left the child alone and went there on the evening in question.The private detectives speak with the police, but nothing good can come when a child has been missing for eighty hours. The mother passed a polygraph. The child lived in the middle unit of a triple decker in Dorchester. The missing child was taken to play T Ball by her aunt and uncle. Parents of some of the other players describe the youngster as unusually subdued.The investigation continues. It is October and New England is brilliant with color at that time of the year. Police and PIs go to Charlestown to pursue leads where there is a code of silence. (The book is replete with street information and ties, the private investigator, Angie, lost her own father two decades earlier through a mob hit.)It seems the officers are faced with a kidnapping since there is a ransom note, but the foursome, two officers and two private detectives, elects to proceed without federal involvement. One person who has bearing on the plot was victimized by schoolyard bullies and the author presents with ability a truthful rendering of such a character. Lieutenants of a crime syndicate seem to be ready to take over the rackets as their leader remains imprisoned and impotent. The kidnapped child appears somewhere in the equation.The narrator, Patrick Kenzie, finds the uniformed state police officers to be agressively Teutonic. They enter the picture as a promise is made to produce the victim in an area of granite quarries. The Boston police, also present at the scene, are described as looking like the waiting room of a soup kitchen.The Boston atmosphere is apt. The book is well done. The story is so sad. | 23 stars
|
Kindle -- Good but could be better
The concept is great but there are several things that could be improved.1. the next page buttons are very annoying as they are where your fingers naturally fall so any wrong move will turn the page. VERY VERY ANNOYING.2. The software could be a lot better. For example to delete an item, you have to go through several menues and when it asks for a confirmation of the deletion, it doesn't give a list of what is going to be deleted, only the number of items.3. The leather cover could be designed better: the kndle keeps coming out or it.4. On the BIG PLUS side, I download articles and editorials from the NY Times, etc. every day and don;t have time to read them at work so I read them on the subway on may way home and airplane flights ....awesome.Even with all the annoying negatives, I would't give it up. | 23 stars
|
Something just didn't ring true...
Opening a beauty school, in a foreign country, one we are at war with - there is just something missing from this story. You don't get State Dept. approval to fly in and out, as this main character did. On top of that, she isn't a likable character, and I will never understand a woman leaving her two children to go off on an adventure - one where she's putting her life at risk. | 12 stars
|
A book well worth reading
This is a very good book, a very good book indeed. Well written and full of "Hmmmm, that's interesting."; "Gee, I didn't know that.", and "I'd like to read more about this." moments.One of those books that when I finished it, I, at once, started reading it again. | 45 stars
|
It is better to love than not to have fallen at all...
Life is a miracle and a gift, especially when one considers everything that can happen in each second of one's life. How often do we recognize our life as such? Not often enough, according to the characters that Paulo Coelho weaves together in a captivating tale that follows a young woman who fails in her attempt to commit suicide, but must live for a week knowing that her life will end shortly. Although it is a familiar territory (i.e. introducing death as a motivation for living) for novels that trace human beings' search for meaning, the story unfolds with a precision and accuracy rarely touched upon before. It is a perfect book for those who have realized, either in their personal lives or by allowing themselves to be affected by the constant flow of tragic and chaotic headlines from around the world, that life is short, unpredictable, and without room for fear, or hesitations about the past and future. Coelho encourages us, with his illustrations of death and the fragility of life, that all we have is the present and the present must be tackled without doubt and especially without fear, as fear has become a feeling which human beings today have replaced so many of their emotions with. If one allows it to be so, "Veronika Decides to Die" can be a life changing story. | 45 stars
|
Using my Kindle
I have the Kindle. I do like it. But if I dont keep it in the case holding it is sort of hard as I always turn the page or revert back a page. But I love it. There is great support and I am still learning so much about it. I would recommend this for everyone. | 34 stars
|
I really want to love this BUT....
I didnt. It was just alright. I have been dying to find a new series to start and I love the paranormal...fantasy world of Vampires etc. But this seemed to have too much going on....constantly....that I couldnt seem to enjoy the action. The characters were good but because of all the action they werent fleshed out as much as I would have like. I read the other two books in this series and felt the same way. Not a horrible read but nothing I would pass on to a friend. | 23 stars
|
First Story Collection for the New Thieves' World
This is the first Thieves' World volume to follow Lynn Abbey's "Sanctuary", the novel that, if it didn't wipe the slate clean for this shared-universe setting, at least erased a whole lot of what had come before. "Sanctuary" was a "and now, many years later" type of reboot to clear the decks of a lot of old characters and punt a whole mess of overly byzantine plotlines to the curb. This collection of short stories therefore deals mostly with brand new characters with a different set of concerns and goals than the "old school" heroes and villains from the original run back in the Eighties. It's a good point to jump aboard because things haven't become too terribly convoluted yet.I just had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Abbey this past weekend at a convention. In addition to the second new short story collection, "Enemies of Fortune", that has already been released, there is a third volume that is being planned. We are very unlikely to see the return of the big names from the past (such as the loathsome Tempus). In some cases (in particular Marion Zimmer Bradley's Lythande the Blue Adept) this is because the authors in question spun their characters off into stand-alone novels and went beyond the scope of the shared universe and were told that there was no bringing them back into Sanctuary. At any rate, Ms. Abbey will be trying to keep each collection more self-contained, so that plots don't span multiple volumes and the characters won't be pursuing 18 different agendas simultaneously.In addition to sharing tidbits of how things were done back in the day (the writers from the first run seemed to spend plenty of time plotting against their own editors, when they weren't taking out their frustrations on the characters of fellow authors they were quarreling with), Ms. Abbey and some folks from Green Ronin fielded questions about the new Thieves' World role-playing game. Chaosium had their own version of this 20 years ago, but now the game rights have been transferred and Green Ronin is rolling out four d20-compatible volumes, two of which have already been released. The upcoming guide to the world of Sanctuary (including city maps and details on all of the realms we've heard of, such as the Rankan Empire, Ilsig, and so on) sounds really great. And everything in the RPG material will be considered canonical. Worth a look when it comes out! | 34 stars
|
My Name is Red
The narrative in this book shifts from person to person to objects and back again. It is not easy at first to follow all the shifts. The focus on Art is very interesting, as well there are some glimpses of life in the time of the Ottomans. The murderer is very easy to spot, but that makes sense in a story about the importance of perception and vision. | 23 stars
|
Awesome
Lots of advice in this comprehensive architectural guide. It's a collection of design and optimization techniques, cleverly tied together to cover the range of problems that you'll encounter when getting into service oriented solutions. It's really a unique book containing effective techniques I'm sure you won't find anywhere else. It also warns you of the pitfalls of using Web Services and XML. We are working through a major transition with .NET, and XML has become a huge issue for us. This book points out a number of mistakes we made in the past. If we would have had it a year earlier, it would have saved us a great deal of money and grief. We have already incorporated a number of the book's Web Services design strategies into our standards. Considering how much a consultant would have charged us for this information, this book is a real steal.I'm ordering a second copy for my boss, as it contains best practices that will help him budget our upcoming Web Services projects.Also, the SOA tutorial and use case is excellent learning material for this new platform. We are using this part for an internal traning course. | 45 stars
|
expected much more
I was so excited when I found this book. I have an old version (1993)and thought this 2010 version would hit on the age of the internet... you know...Self promoting yourself/work vis website, blog, social networking.What I found? 2 pages on creating your website.That is it. Nothing about blogging, or networking via the internet.NADA.So warning, if you are expecting some Zen vision about developing yourself/work using the internet, it isn't happening in this book.Boldt's idea of life changing apparently means he's not looking to the internet that much.Look else where my friends. | 12 stars
|
Couldn't put it down!
This is the first book by Marian Keys that I have read and I am looking forward to reading more. I found this book very compelling and entertaining. On one hand it was an easy read with lots of humour and fun dialogue with lots of wit and clever insights. On the other hand it educated me about addiction and I would say that the author has done a lot of research on the subject.The book is a really easy read yet the characters are well drawn and I really cared what happened to them. I was fascinated to see how even the minor characters developed and had their own story.Entertaining, funny and educational! | 45 stars
|
got ripped off three times
i'd just like a kindle. between getting swindled bny user billyk91, buying a stolen unit on crasigsl;ist and now amazon's de-activating the unit i finally got, i'm now out 600 $ + shipping and it rreally blows. im not sure who they're guarding this device from- and maybe owe them a bit of thanks for all the money i've saved on the ebook store- | 01 star
|
A classic Cinderella rags to riches story set in Restoration England
A classic Cinderella slash rags to riches story except with out the happily ever after marriage at the end. I found myself pondering in the first few pages how Nell who emerged from the great fire of London as a orange seller would come to earn the title of "the perfect royal mistress". It panned out for me as a daytime soap opera, with one lucky girl thrust into the middle by chance. All be it was a good soap opera I thoroughly enjoyed it, just as much as gossip mags. It had it all from the one who cried, the one who lies, and the one who gets revenge. With Nell being the center focal point, she never let her emotions cloud her judgment especially if she is to keep her place she had worked so hard for. Nell's quick wit & tongue makes her infectious and contagious to everyone she comes into contact with including the reader. Being a natural thing for a king to take "A" mistress. Charles II took it to the extreme with his lust for women. Frankly he went over board and he could have drowned in a sea of women. You want Nell to win but, what happens if there is no winning at the end of the race. Nels winnings were the unconditional love she felt not just for her lover but for the other special people in her life. I will be adding this book to my library because it is an amazingly upside down love story filled with a exuberant amount of drama. | 45 stars
|
Great Reading
This was a great piece of literary work. I was so intrigued I finished the book in two days- I just could not put it down. | 45 stars
|
Good for beginners
Good book, easy to read with easy-to-use formulas. However, it is meant for beginners; there's alot more to know about the process. | 34 stars
|
Kindle review
The Kindle is an excellent product, very readable, portable and compact. I love being able to get a book instantly, while its name is on my mind.Two things about it surprised me.-- I've subscribed to the New York Times for 25 years, and I was pretty skeptical about trying to read it on the Kindle. To my surprise, however, I'm finding myself reading it more thoroughly in the electronic format than I ever have in hard copy. No ads to wade through! No pages to hold open and wrestle with, no ink on my hands, just a steady stream of focused text.-- The second thing is that such an otherwise excellent design missed a couple of little points: it's very hard to pick up the Kindle or move it around without turning a page, because both sides have long active buttons. There should be a "dead" spot you can hold. Using the case helps solve this problem, although you still have to pay attention to how you grab it. But if you're going to use the case, the on/off and wireless buttons should be on the front, not in back.Dream improvements? Better photo resolution and color. But this is overall a grand machine. | 45 stars
|
LOVED IT!!!
Amazing. I could not put this book down. By far one of my favorite books now.Anyone thinking about reading this book should definitely do it. It is well worth the time. | 45 stars
|
Interesting and easy
The book is easy and interesting to read. The techniques' descriptions are very detailed. I think it is a very good book for beginners.The shortcoming of this book is that it describes basically only one technique, though with some variations. It is based on visualization. It took me about 2 weeks of applying the technique to achieve an OBE (but I had many of them before, so this is not a reliable indication of how good the technique is for beginners). It is basically a passive technique: you do preparation exercises, and hope that while you are asleep an OBE will happen.There is one chapter that describes the author's theory about other dimensions and energies. It is interesting, but I found that it stretches facts in some places, and too subjective. Understanding this theory is not required to have an OBE.Overall, it is worth to read. | 34 stars
|
Tangled Web of Power and Deceit
Since the foundation of the state of Israel in 1948, the Middle East has been a hotbed of conflict. Jews, Muslims, and Christians all lay claim to the city of Jerusalem, and each side is convinced that the other two are wrong. Jews and Arabs in particular have waged a war that doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon.But what if the conflict were based on lies? And what if the truth was even more damaging?Cotton Malone is an agent retired from the Magellan Billet, an elite department of justice group within the US government. Five years ago, he was asked to guard George Haddad, a Palestinian the Israelis wanted dead. Malone is now running a bookshop in Copenhagen, but when his son Gary is kidnapped, he is thrust into a game of centuries-old secrets and cover-ups. Joined by his ex-wife Pam, the two begin on a quest to uncover the secrets Haddad was willing to die for. The end game? The ancient Library of Alexandria. History says it was destroyed in the seventh century. But what if history is wrong? What if the library survived? And what if it contained the answers to questions that could question everything the world has held as truth?In a mystery involving several world powers and a mysterious group called the Order of the Golden Fleece, "The Alexandria Link" posits this scenario as Berry weaves a tangled web of double-crossing and under-the-table dealings that addresses some interesting questions about the future of geopolitics in the Middle East and the validity of the world's three major religions. And the deeper the book goes, the more incredible the secrets become. | 34 stars
|
About the Man and Not the Icon
This is a very readable portrait of this complex and gifted man. Readability is a triumph because Isaacson tackles physics, explaining Einstein's theories, their development and established and competing theories.Despite the lay terms and everyday examples, at first I was flipping back to previously explained concepts to follow the physics. Once I realized that through Isaacson's presentation of their import I could understand their essence, I didn't worry about the details and no longer flipped back. To paraphrase Elsa Einstein "Understanding the theories was not essential to my enjoyment of the book".From his inability to find his first job, to his worldwide fame, Einstein remembered his roots. Not just his Jewish roots, which he declared his greatest identity, but his compassion. Perhaps in going to Lincoln University as a renowned physicist, he revisited himself as a youth, unable to pursue his goals, and perhaps the inability of his first wife to pursue hers as well.The book has one missing element. Family relations are described but not explained. Einstein appears to have abandoned his son Eduard in all but financial terms (and maybe, at times, this too.) and seems to undermined Hans Albert in word and deed. He spent 7 weeks vacationing with Elsa when at least a few days could have been shared with his sons. I didn't understand the last days of Maric, did Einstein sell her house out from under her? There are hints that Maric or her family may have had schizophrenia or some other serious problem, but no real information is given.Today Einstein is a cachet, an idiom, a brand name and a synonym for genius. Isaacson reminds us that before his was a household name, "women patriots" and others wanted him out of the county. He and his colleagues who created the foundation of the arsenal, and the arsenal itself, upon which US might is based were turned on as they warned the world of their dangers.I liked the cover photo, showing the vital Einstein, not the stereotype his name conjures up. The book designers have done a good job in layout. The photos are well selected and well placed. I especially liked the equation "in his own writ" on p. 543. | 34 stars
|
Count your blessings by seconds
I'm a huge fan of Lance and his accomplishments in spite of the seemingly impossible odds. That said, there is a bit of a bias in my perspective. I read this book during his record setting sixth TDF victory and at the beginning of a personally difficult time in my life. The title of the book seemed to have been magnified July 5th when after doing an afternoon ride I settled in for a few chapters. My cell phone rang and a relative informed me my uncle, an avid cyclist who at age 70 competed and won RAAM(Race Across America)in the masters team division had suddenly died. The life lessons in the title are reflected throughout the book. Other cyclists will especially relate to the bike stories, cancer victims and those who are affected by their loved ones suffering will find hope in the power of one survivors story. The life anecdotes, tales of the road with Carmichael, Hincapie, Heras and others, including the outrageous Robin Williams and reflections on life to the backdrop to one of the most difficult endurance events a human being can achieve are awesome. The shortcomings of Lance the human being make the achievements of overcoming cancer and winning the TDF even more real . This is an uplifting book, an easy read and a book about the power of the human spirit. Pick up this book, fight your own battles with dignity, support the Lance Armstrong Foundation(cancer research), wear your yellow bracelet proudly, crank a few miles and when you're out on the road you'll remember what Lance says about riding , "that it makes me feel alive" because every second really does count. This book is a good source of inspiration. | 34 stars
|
I dig this book
Great insight on consumer world views. Godin discusses how marketers can leverage those views to better align their intended audience with their product/service. He focuses on the psychosocial aspect of buying without being overly scientific. He gives good examples to support his points throughout the book - those that have succeeded and those that have not.This is the second book I've read by Godin. He does a good job keeping a consistent theme and appropriate cross referencing between the two books (there are many others). Coming from a background other than marketing, I feel like these books are helping me (my business) grow as opposed to filling me with trivial information. It's more than just "closing the deal", or "getting the sale" type stuff. His theme is more in tune with developing a mindset based on successful product development and getting those products in the hands of the right people (sneezers, as he calls them). I will continue reading his material.I do have one question. What are the opaque letters on Godin's head on the cover of this book? | 34 stars
|
Couldn't put it down!
I have had this book sitting around for months and I decided to pick it up one morning. After the first chapter I was hooked and read it in one sitting. | 45 stars
|
Inspiring Book
This is probably one of the most inspirting stories I have ever read. Greg Mortenson is a true heroe that demonstrates the powerful impact one person can make. If you are looking to read a great story look no more and buy this excellent book.Emilio M | 45 stars
|
Review of: "Special Topics in Calamity Physics"
Review of: "Special Topics in Calamity Physics"By Marisha PesslThis is a murder mystery. We learn of the mysterious death of one of the main characters early in the book. The death might have been a murder or might have been suicide. As the story develops, we learn that the victim is one of a cast of extraordinary characters. We know from the start of the death. When it happens, the sequence of events is still surprising.The main character is a precocious teen girl named Blue van Meer. She has extraordinary talents, exceptional perception and is a dynamic central character. The reader quickly builds up sympathy and concern for her welfare.The gradual introduction of revolutionary cabals, conspiracies, hidden societies and secret identities keep the readers attention up to the astonishing ending. Other reviewers noted the overuse of illusion and metaphor. I felt that the literary illusions added to the story. Both Blue van Meer and her father, Gareth van Meer, are academics in a closed circle of literati. Their frequent references to literary scenes and characters, both real and fabricated, felt very natural in this setting. Even the fabricated literary references add to the tale.Note that there is an interesting web site for "Special Topics in Calamity Physics." The web address is:http://www.CalamityPhysics.com/main.htmSee also:Special Topics in Calamity PhysicsI liked this book very much and I recommend it to others | 45 stars
|
Velvet At Its Absolute Best
After listening to Return of the Native, I was simply amazed. The story was so good and I really enjoyed it. But what really took my breath away was the sensational reading of the very talented and very sexy, Alan Rickman. He just owned those characters. He gave each character a unique voice and personality. I just cannot get over how good he was. Oh, and did I mention he sings in french!!!! After listening to that part, I was speechless. I feel like I had just melted it was so beautiful!! I recommend this to ANY Rickmaniac!:) | 45 stars
|
the best!
I think the Kindle was designed for me! I'm reading my 6th book and my Kindle is not yet a month old!Claudia Costa | 45 stars
|
what can i say
i thought that might get your attenton.this book takes your breath away. to be honest, i dont want everyone out there to go and read DG because it is too fine a thing for popular consumption and the ensuing dicussion.if you have a soul, read this book. if not, find one. | 01 star
|
Kindle
Love it, it is wonderful. We are now a two Kindle family. It is so nice to travel and not worry about how many and what size books to bring. | 45 stars
|
So Sad...
When I reviewed Franken's "Why Not Me?" I explained that I had read it because I loved "Rush Limbaugh is a Big..." but "Why Not Me?" had fallen short of my high expectations. THIS book was even MORE disappointing. The subject matter is worn and the material is not that creative, and sadly, just not that funny. Honestly, I WANTED to laugh- I LIKE Al Franken, but this book just feels forced, the kind of thing that's churned out just to meet a publisher's deadline and get Franken's face back to the front of book racks (Pre- "Lies..." of course). It's worth reading if you are stuck on an airplane, or an elevator, or something. Otherwise, pick something else by Franken. ANYTHING else by Franken. | 12 stars
|
National Treasure meets The DaVinci Code
A one day read that I found to be very entertaining and intriguing. I felt it had a unique story line with its arrangement of action and suspense. So I was surprised to see the reviews so harsh at 2.5 stars. I believe this book would have rated a full star (or more) higher if it wasn't so closely compared to The DaVinci Code. Granted, The Last Templar does parallel Dan Brown's books within a certain degree of content, but it definitely has enough originality in its story line to separate itself - by a great distance in my opinion. If anything, I feel The Last Templar would be an excellent addition to any Angels & Demons/DaVinci Code reader.In addition, I am confident the Last Templar, as a movie, should be far better than how The DaVinci Code movie turned out. | 45 stars
|
Breaking the the AIPACS Iron Grip
If Carter wrote this book while he was running for President or the Senate, he would be comitting political suicide, as anyone would if they are mildly critical of Israel.The Israeli lobby must be exposed for what it is: A vey powerful organization that favors the Interest of Israel at the expense of American interest. Their funding and influence to promote the APARTHEID Israel, effectively misinforms the entire country of what is going on in Palestine. The Racism that takes place their is apparent to the whole world, but not in the US. It is 10 times worse than what took place in SA.Its time to Protect American Interests and do whats best for Israelis and Palestinians.Carter is the greatest and most compassionate US president and he should be recognized for his work and courage. | 45 stars
|
Pretty Good
I started this novel with a lot of enthusiasm, and for around 100 pages, that enthusiasm remained intact. However, after a while the author's style began to irritate me. Really? Five-hundred pages of staccato prose. Not only that, the characters are somewhat cardboard, and their motivations are laid out through heavy-handed exposition. Having said all that, I really liked the first three-hundred or so pages, but then grew tired of the book and had to force myself to pick it up and finish it. Even the action scenes are described without flair. I'm really puzzled at the popularity of this character, but maybe the books get better later on in the series . . . ? I won't be reading any to find out, but I can mildly recommend this book as a semi-enjoyable escape. | 23 stars
|
insipid
it is incomprehensible that this first truely awful book developed into a funny series. i have read everyother book in this series except this one prior to reading it now. i never read it because of the reviews. the past reviewers were correct. this is bad. i had to force myself to read the first 50 or so pages. then it got better but ended up being just as bad towards the end as the first 50 pages. it is quite unbelievable that a 200 year old vamp could still be as incompetent as a 5 year old child. ugh. you do not need to read this book to appreciate the other books in the series. | 01 star
|
Best Christmas Gift
I recieved a Kindle 2 for Christmas. Best gift I have recieved in a long time I have enjoyed hours of reading, and have found to be a thearapeutic way of endind my day. | 45 stars
|
I'm so not High Teck!!
I received my Kindle as a Birthday gift from my husband. Not being a techie I was a little disappointed. NOT ANY MORE!! I am an avid reader and have fallen in love. It's easy to use so light weight and works anywhere. We went to Curacao an I was downloading books in the YFI areas. Best feature is you can read in the sun without issue. Only downside is it's not backlite so reading in bed at night requires a light. | 45 stars
|
Meh
I love Moon's fantasy series, but the space opera books I find somewhat lacking. Can't really put a finger on it per se, but in general, the language is a bit stilted, the characters are not quite as interesting, but, perhaps, most importantly, what's missing is the author's passion for the work. It's just meh. OK when there is nothing better to read - that is, not too boring and not irritating. | 23 stars
|
A Marvelous Useless Corruption
Am I no less agreeable? I remain in good humor and fine favor. Yet I am changed. My approbation of this miracle is boundless. This work intoxicates and leaves one wanting more. In my esteem nothing is more beautiful or useless than this masterpiece | 45 stars
|
Sort of a Bible
Fantastic book for anyone who wanted to know about the low down of Hollywod business and filmmaking in general. It's a very entertaining read. | 34 stars
|
This is what great writing looks like.
Compare it not to DAVID COPPERFIELD but to Proust. I don't understand calling this book "sentimental" or "melodramatic." Big Things happen, yes, many of them inside the characters' heads, and they all pay their way in tragic resonance. Big Things are felt, yes, and anatomized with scrupulous truthfulness. The prose is glorious, and the characters presented with such subtlety and complexity that a reader can only feel extravagantly complimented on his intelligence.If you're stranded on a desesrt island for the rest of your life and can have only one novel with you, make it REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST. But if you're stranded on a desert island and have only a week to live, make it MILL ON THE FLOSS.By the way, Byatt's notes and introduction are terrific. (You will read the introduction after reading the book, of course.) She's plainly aware of all the traditional critical assessments of the novel, but isn't afraid to bust some of the hoary objections historically raised to the novel, most of them relating to the double-standard with which mostly male academics tend to treat female protagonists in fiction. | 45 stars
|
Boring
Andrew Amerson Engl 155 10/1/98Hunger of Memory, was not a very interesting book. It is not the kind of book that really catches my attention, although it is a good book. Rodriguez did a very good job describing his feelings on affirmative action and bilingual education with great detail. But I still don't see why he had to write a whole book on it. I wouldn't recommend anybody to read this book. | 12 stars
|
A Stunner
I was stunned by this masterful tale spun by first time author Justin Evans. Deftly blending the occult and suspense this thriller kept me on the edge of my chair for the 3 short days it took to savor it. Evans speaks to the larger themes of good storytelling: good vs evil and fantasy vs reality bringing to life a chilling time when childhood nightmares become everyday reality. I highly recommend this page turner for those interested in angels, spirituality, demons, and the role they play in southern life. | 45 stars
|
Another Great Simmons Novel
Like many others I cut my Simmons teeth on Hyperion (and Fall of Hyperion). Anxious to see what else Dan had up his sleeve I decided to try one of his horror novels. Amazon had this book on sale for $6.00 (for the trade paperback version) so The Terror it was. I was not disappointed!Here we have one of the more infamous lost ship mysteries, the Franklin's Lost Expedition blended with horror, a huge mysterious bear-like mystical creature out on the ice. Captain Crozier of the HMS Terror, Captain Sir John Franklin of the Erebus and Captain Fitzjames lead the way to the sought-after Northwest Passage. If you are familiar with the real events of this expedition then you know things don't turn out so well. Both ships end up stuck on the ice for years. Making matters much worse, the food rations have been poisoned, the men start developing scurvy, it's freezing cold outside and worse yet there's an enormous creature out on the ice that could squash any man like a grape. A mysterious female Esquimaux without a tongue is on board whom they call Lady Silence. Is she a problem or a solution? The men speculate that she might be a witch, or something of that sort, but she's also the only person they know who has real arctic survival skills. There's a lot of mystery here!I absolutely love Dan's writing and with The Terror he does not disappoint (for the most part). Some reviewers loathe his wordiness but I actually enjoy it, I have very vivid memories of this sizeable novel. I have seen a few reviewers complain about the lack of character development and I couldn't disagree more. Some reviewers complain that there are too many cardboard characters and while it is true that many characters aren't fleshed out, the important ones are developed very nicely in my opinion. There are 126 men on this expedition and by the end of the novel it seems as though you've met just about every one of them. If Dan spent the time developing every character then he would still be writing this book!Unfortunately I can't give this one a full five stars. While I typically don't mind Dan's wordy-wordsmithing, it does become a bit excessive at the wrong time. For example, there's a scene in the book where a character attempts to escape from the creature whom has come aboard the ship. This escape in real-time would probably be no more than 5-10 minutes, however Dan spends what must be a full 25-30 pages to this event. He goes into extreme detail about every hand-hold, every foot position and every other minute detail that it actually turns what should be a white-knuckle chapter into a little bit of a tedious (if not a bit boring) read. Fortunately there are plenty of gripping moments so this isn't the norm, but it does happen.In the end I highly recommend this book. There's the occasional rough spot but all-in-all this is a wonderful read. Oh, and the cover for the regular paperback (with the textured paper) is absolutely beautiful! Not that it affects the rating, just thought I'd throw that out there.Buy it, read it, enjoy it. | 34 stars
|