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Simply divine
This book was simply DIVINE!! This book was good for all ages and teaches us lessons we all need to know. | 45 stars
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Kindle
I got the Kindle for my husbands birthday. He has MS and is confinded to a wheelchair. He has not been able to read a book in a year or more. He can not hold it or turn the pages. We saw an article with another disabled person reviewing the Kindle, so we thought we would try one.My husband LOVES it. He got it the middle of May and is on his second book.Thanks AmazonRobbi Hurckes | 45 stars
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Pete's Shorties
This is a must have book for Dexter fans as well as those unfamiliar with his work. Consisting of newspaper columns written before his international acclaim as a novelist (Paris Trout, Deadwood, Train, etc.), Pete writes with a rare combination of poignancy, wit, and down home talk: a modern day Mark Twain to my mind. Because the stories can be read in under four minutes, I often read them during the commercials of TV sporting events. Too often, I found myself going on to the next story at the expense of the next inning. Great stuff indeed. | 45 stars
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Awesome book, despite the past owner's notes.
This was a great book to read. I never knew how related each religion really is. My only problem was trying to read past the many notes that the previous owner wrote in the book. Other than that, it was a great read. | 34 stars
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Swimmin' through the bayous
I have been a big fan of the Benjamin January series, written by Barbara Hambly, ever since the beginning. I've been anxiously awaiting Wet Grave since I had heard Hambly was working on it. At long last, I finally managed to get my hands on it. It was definitely worth the wait. The book had both wonderful atmosphere and a very interesting plot. Definitely one of Hambly's best.Wet Grave continues Hambly's string of wonderfully atmospheric books. That is actually the main character in these January novels: the atmosphere. Hambly uses vivid descriptions to completely set the scene. You feel like you're in a really hot New Orleans in the middle of a sweltering summer. You can almost feel the heat coming off of the page. I love how she sets the scene even as actions are happening. Ben and Rose may be walking down the street, discussing things and eating Italian ices, but Hambly will spend a paragraph or two describing the people and conditions around them. You don't so much read this book as experience it. If this sort of thing bothers you, then you should probably skip this one.The pace is leisurely. When a book is badly written, that can be a detriment, as nothing seems to happen. However, when it's as masterfully done as it is here, you don't seem to notice. This isn't to say that there isn't a sense of drive to the narrative, because there is. It's just that the pace allows the reader to absorb everything. The only place that the pace drags is during the climax, when Hambly's penchant for description sometimes takes away from the action, making it drag to a halt periodically. She should have toned it down a bit in the end, but I will gladly take this over a book that has a slam-bang climax but isn't interesting the rest of the time.The characters are another strength of this novel. Some of the characters who have populated previous novels aren't in this one very much, like Olympe, or Ben's mother. In fact, fans of Hannibal, Ben's longtime musician friend, will be disappointed to find out that he's not in this one at all. However, this provides Hambly the opportunity to really explore Ben's relationship with Rose, as well as the character of Abishag Shaw, the head of the city's police. Rose is a school teacher friend of Ben's who he loves. She has been extremely tentative with Ben because she has an intense fear of men, having been raped a few years ago. Ben has been very patient with her, though, throughout the series. In Wet Grave, things finally begin to change. Rose is a wonderful character, and really brings the book to life. She has a wonderful sense of humour, as well as a dedication that makes her very endearing. The relationship between these two characters is simply wonderful to see, and you find yourself rooting for them.Abishag Shaw, however, has to be the best character Hambly has created. He's a Kentuckian who has moved down to New Orleans. He's one of the few white people who actually will listen to somebody of colour. He's a man who Ben considers a friend and a man of honour. He's genuinely sorry that he can't help Ben with investigating Hesione's death, as he knows he has to instead investigate the murder of a plantation owner. If he doesn't, he wouldn't have a position any more. He's visibly torn about this, however. When circumstances conspire to bring them together, however, Shaw trusts Ben to watch his back like no other white man would. I think he sees a bit of a kindred spirit, as the French Creoles in New Orleans treat him almost as badly as they treat people of colour. Hambly writes Shaw's character with a very deft touch that makes him very interesting to read about. He really comes into his own in this book, as much of the action at the end concerns him and Ben, showcasing their relationship.Finally, one of the most interesting things about this series of books is the way it portrays race relations in this time period. Ben is a free man, but he always has to carry his papers with him that declare this. If he's out in the bayous and a plantation owner kidnaps him to work in his fields, there's nothing he could really do about it. The relationships between Creoles and Americans, freed coloureds and slaves and white people, and the various other aspects of New Orleans society are vividly portrayed by Hambly, almost like a history lesson. Ben's sister Dominique is a "kept" woman, a mistress of a plantation owner, as so many other free coloured women (such as Ben's mother) did in order to get by. It's a very fascinating study of a culture. It's very interesting to see who looks down on whom, who is "too black" to fit into a certain social class, that sort of thing.This book is an intriguing mystery, but it's so much more than that. The characters are fascinating, the atmosphere is wonderful and it's a joy to read. You will lose yourself in this book. It took me just as long to read this book (286 pages) as it did to read Harry Turtledove's last book (500 pages). To me, that shows the depth and richness that Hambly provides. I heartily recommend this book, but to experience the best that this series has to offer, you should almost start at the beginning. There's certainly no need to, as it's perfectly understandable on its own. However, the series is so rich that it deserves to be read in order.David Roy | 45 stars
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Hold on to your hats, kids. Reacher's back...
As much as I love reading Lee Child's Jack Reacher books - and I do - they bug me in equal measure. For a guy who's supposed to be a brilliant ex-Military Police officer, more often than not Reacher just comes across as a big lunkhead with a knack for finding himself in one dangerous situation after another, where he'll lumber around, waiting for the bad guys to get bored and start taking pot-shots at him.Frankly, I think relying on the Clint Eastwood, Drifter-With-No-Name story device is a weak way to structure a series. How long can I retain my suspension of disbelief? I dunno. I have for ten books now, but it's becoming a stretch. Unlike other thrillers where the lead character has a built-in profession that continually and realistically puts them in danger (i.e. a private eye or a cop or a lawyer or whatever), Reacher just wanders around the country, buying new clothes once a week and showering when he thinks about it. I can buy the fact that there might be folks who wander around off the grid like this. In fact, I believe they used to be called bums. And as for the women-throwing-themselves at Reacher thing... Have you ever taken a cross-country bus trip? Do you remember what you looked/smelled/felt like after? Even if you're Brad Pitt, I don't think you're gonna be getting a lot of babes...Anyway. All disbelief planted firmly aside...With the tenth Jack Reacher thriller, author Lee Child has taken his version of the drifter-with-no-name to a new level. This installment finds Reacher back in (or not having left) New York city, sitting at a busy corner coffee shop, sipping an espresso, when he notices a man walk to a car, get in, and drive off. Just another day in the city, right? Reacher thinks so too, until the next night, when he returns to his new-favorite coffee shop, and discovers that the man he saw the evening before may have been involved in a kidnapping...In The Hard Way, Child veers his plot back to a straight-ahead thriller, instead of a quasi-police procedural, a-la the last few Reacher books. The writing is tight as usual and the set up is kept simple and relatively believable. Here, with the aid of a beautiful ex-Federal agent, Reacher actually uses his skills to find the kidnapper and his victims, instead of waiting for the guns to start blazing. Once they do though, Reacher again takes bloody matters into his own capable hands... | 34 stars
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The enduring appeal of the Action Off Samar
Sea of Thunder, published 2006, is the work of journalist and historian Evan Thomas. In it, Thomas sets out to tell the story of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the climactic final naval battle of WW2, specifically focusing on the portion of that battle known as The Action Off Samar, where an IJN force of battleships, cruisers and destroyers, known as Center Force, attacked an escort carrier group of the USN, known as Taffy 3.The story is told through biographical accounts of four of the participants in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The featured participants on the American side are Admiral William Halsey, commander of the 3rd fleet, which includes the USN fast carrier task force, and Commander Ernest Evans, skipper of the USS Johnston, a destroyer assigned to Taffy 3. On the Japanese side are Admiral Takeo Kurita, commander of the force that attacked Taffy 3, and Admiral Matome Ugaki, commander of a battleship division in Kurita's force. The narrative of the book covers the entire span of the war, building to the climax where the four lives converge at the Battle of Leyte Gulf.The decision to include Halsey as one of the four personalities is an obvious one, since it was his decision to take his fast carrier task force and go after Japanese Admiral Ozawa's Northern Force that allowed Kurita the opportunity to attack Taffy 3. Thomas's Halsey is typical of recent historiography, where the heroic man of action is brought down to size by showcasing his faults and foibles alongside his great accomplishments. Thomas's presentation of Halsey is of someone who, although successful and praiseworthy during the early part of the war, found himself out of his depth by the time of Leyte Gulf. This is a fair interpretation, in my opinion. However, I could have done without so much emphasis on Halsey's racism, which was typical for his time, and the tabloid-style peek into Halsey's sex life.Likewise, it was an easy choice to include Kurita as one of the personalities, since he commanded the IJN Center Force that pounced upon Taffy 3. Kurita is known to American readers primarily through his role at Leyte Gulf, although the Marine Corps encountered him early in the war, as he commanded a battleship force that delivered a devastating bombardment to Guadalcanal in October, 1942. Thomas portrays Kurita as a dedicated naval officer who prefers sea duty over administrative duty, and sees little point in wasting men and resources just for the sake of honor.The inclusion of Ugaki is not as clear-cut. He was probably chosen first of all for his nationalistic, traditional Japanese warrior views and demeanor, and therefore to serve as a foil to the less rigid, more enlightened Kurita. That Ugaki's personal war diary gives an extensive account of Ugaki's beliefs and actions during the war no doubt influenced the decision.As to the forth and final choice, the reader can justly ask, why would Commander Evans, skipper of a lowly destroyer in Taffy 3, be included with three Admirals? The reason, this reader/reviewer believes, is twofold. First of all, Evans conducted his ship, USS Johnston, in a heroic, some might say rash manner, against long odds. Second of all, Evans was of Native American ancestry, and was a product of the Unites States Naval Academy, where he faced a level of discrimination probably typical of the United States in the first half of the 20th century. Whereas USN historiography has treated Evans mostly as a hero, who showed initiative in engaging the enemy without waiting for orders, Thomas's Evans is reminiscent of Captain Ahab, obsessed with getting an opportunity to confront his enemy, and placing that obsession before the welfare of his crew. Thomas quotes some of Johnston's crew members in order to convey the impression that they were not supportive of Evans's decision to so relentlessly grapple with Kurita's far superior force.For Americans there will always be an impulse to glorify those occasions in which U.S. forces, accustomed to material and technological superiority, find themselves, by dint of circumstances, acting from a position of inferiority. The Action Off Samar is one such occasion. It will endure as an example of what the American fighting man is capable of in the rare instances where he is outnumbered and outgunned. Thomas's take on this battle and its participants may be irksome to some, but it should still be read by interested readers. It concentrates on command, instead of the rank-and-file, and judges personalities from a viewpoint of modern day political correctness. This is OK, as long as the reader has other accounts to balance out Thomas's interpretation. Sea of Thunder should not be read without reading Samuel E. Morison's account, and James Hornfischer's Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, published 2004. | 34 stars
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Kindle 2
The kindle2 is very easy to handle and a great way to take books with you when you travel! If you are a reader, what better way to read and save the trees! | 45 stars
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What an Awesome Book!
What a great book!I purchased it on Amazon 2/22/11 and finished it today 2/27/11 which is probably an all-time record for me as books I buy usually take months, if not years, to percolate to the top of my to-read list. This one, however, I seemed to keep getting prompts about in my other reading, Amazon searches, and of course regular mentions from Dave Ramsey. I'm currently going through Financial Peace University with my wife and am doing some personal enrichment reading in that regard, including currently reading The Millionaire Next Door and listening to Thou Shall Prosper on audiobook. Hopefully that puts things into perspective.Having read quite a few business-related books in the last few years, what sets QBQ apart?1. An ultra-sharply clear concept.2. Broad usage potential, both in professional and personal life.3. Super-fast readabilityThis is a 115-page book that reads even faster than that. Most chapters are 1-4 pages long, and not particularly dense pages at that. Each chapter reads as a mini article covering a specific item all of which revolve around the QBQ concept.What is that concept? It's simple: getting to questions in our lives that move us toward positive action. As opposed to all those questions most people use daily in their work and personal lives which attempt to avoid responsibility or place blame on others for the problem of the moment. It really is that simple. But because the concept is so clear, the majority of the book gives examples of how we can rephrase our words and thinking to become more effective at problem solving. More effective ourselves. Not by attempting to change others. Not by anything other than realizing that we simply can NOT change others, and asking questions about why others do or don't do what we want them to do are useless questions.Too often in this country today people act the victim. "I couldn't do what I needed to do because that person didn't do their thing." "It's not my fault I burnt my tongue on that coffee, the cup wasn't clearly enough labeled 'HOT!'" You get the idea. So much of the genius in this country seems to be spent in figuring out how to avoid personal responsibility. At work. At home. At school. In parenting. For anything. Does anyone think this is a good thing? In any way?To me, this book is a brief rebellion against that epidemic. It's something I'll make sure my kids read. It should be read by everyone in America, in my opinion. It's a short, easy, fun, enlightening read. Every 6th grader and every high school senior should be required to read it. Twice. Maybe again in college. QBQ is that good a concept. | 45 stars
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Inventive...
I will have to say that JR Ward is inventive, her take on Vampires is unique and not like any others I have read. I suppose she is a pioneer for the dark urban fantasy Vampire.Her writing is modern, sexual, and brutal. She holds nothing back and that¡s an easy escape. As much as I enjoyed the provocative look into a harsh world full of alpha-males with blood lust the story line or Wards idea of what is hot wasn¡t mine. Her Hero in this book is an 80¡s hair band biker throw back. Now if that¡s your type of man then you are good to go. For me though it left a little to be desired. The other Vamps or his brothers in the book seem hot as hell, but also they have issues, and I¡m not talking mild bad boy issues, I mean real honest to goodness problems. The kind of problems that have you seriously questioning your attraction to themIf you are looking for a new Vamp series with meat on its bones, you¡ve found it. But this series is not for the timid, and since I read each one back to back I would say it¡s a love hate relationship. The 2nd and 3rd in this series is much better than the first (this one), but they do get a whole lot weirder.Also, Ward has a tendency to jump around from one story line to other, like commercial breaks during a good movie, not at all welcomed. | 34 stars
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Amazing Read
"It was always the becoming he thought of, never the being."The imagery and the romantic ebb and flow of Amory Blaine was riveting. | 45 stars
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"I am not resigned."
Quoting from Edna St. Vincent Millay, a favorite poet since childhood, Elizabeth Edwards expresses her feelings about the death of her beloved son. Reading the many pages devoted to losing Wade is almost excruciating at times, and brings home the fear every mother tries to tuck away. To not think about. To reassure herself that such things only happen to other people. That God will take care of her child. Or else God won't. And that happened to Elizabeth, John, Cate, and their extended family. I bought the book because I was struck by something Edwards said in an interview regarding her cancer diagnosis, that it was bad, certainly, but the saving grace in losing a child is the knowledge that the worst day of your life has already come. Worse still, according to Elizabeth, it never goes. Yet she has learned to accommodate it--to parent the memory of her child rather than the child himself. Daily visits to Wade's grave, reading and talking to him, may seem excessive to those of us who have been so far fortunate enough to avoid her nightmare, but another point she makes that we all need to note is that there is no "right" way to grieve. She spoke in the interview mentioned above that the example her generation had of grief was Jacqueline Kennedy's much vaunted stoicism--at least in public. But the losses the two women suffered are not really comparable. If you are excessively worried about the safety of your children, I honestly would recommend you not read this book.I can't help but doubt one of her assertions, however, and that was that she and John Edwards went to extraordinary lengths to have more children only because having children around made them happy, not to replace Wade in any way. I realize substituting one child for another would not be possible, but at the very least, the younger Edwards children provide a distraction and promise another kind of future that was taken away with the loss of their elder son. I mean no disrespect by doubting her veracity on this point. And it doesn't matter anyway. It was their way to cope, they were lucky enough to be able to make it work, and once again, they have found the happiness that seemed forever lost.Elizabeth doesn't pull any punches about much of anything. It's funny to read her attempts to say something nice about the Kerrys, but they're damned with faint praise. To the dissatisfied reviewer who said the book mentions too many people, I agree that's a bit distracting, but in a way, the author is using the book as a kind of universal "thank you" to everyone she can't reach any other way. Her determination to "some day" answer all 65,000 e-mails (more now, I'm sure, since the book came out) she received while battling cancer is an unrealistic goal. I enjoyed the little snippets about friends, correspondents, staff and people she met on the campaign trail. I was surprised, however, that more attention wasn't devoted to the death of her campaign plane pilot in 2005. It was just mentioned, almost in passing.Elizabeth Edwards has led an interesting and valuable life, one well worth your time to read about. I'd like to see the Edwards' back on the campaign trail in 2008. Either one would be a fine candidate for the highest office in the land. | 34 stars
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Capone vs. Earp and Masterton
In 1920 in Los Angeles, the widow of Doc Holliday, "Big Nosed Kate" Elder, hires her late spouse's best friend private investigator Wyatt Earp to help her son John, a speakeasy owner, with problems caused by a small time thug Alphonse Capone. Wyatt agrees willing to do anything for Doc's widow.In New York, Wyatt hooks up with another of his Old West pals, Morning Telegraph sportswriter Bat Masterson. They learn that Johnny is a chip off of the old Doc block as he refuses to cow tow to gangsters. Instead he sells his pre-Prohibition liquor at his joint while the tough guys demand he sell their watered down alcohol and pay protection or else. Wyatt and Bat may be senior citizens with .45s battling young punks using Tommy guns, but so what as bullets and booze battle in the Big Apple.The tale starts off more like a historical thriller than a 1920s crime caper as Wyatt spends a lot of the early pages reminiscing about the good old bad days in the untamed Wild West with Big Nosed Kate and Bat. Once Wyatt moves past his well written nostalgia, the storyline turns into an exhilarating action-packed thriller as Al Capone vs. Earp and Masterton in a terrific High Noon showdown.Harriet Klausner | 34 stars
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Runner is an excellent introduction to William C. Dietz
As a long time reader of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adventure and Mystery, I was blown away by this story.The idea of a crumbling futuristic civilization sliding back into barbarism with all the different levels of entropy,Religious beliefs and all too real fighting over power and money made the story very believable.It is the first novel by William C. Dietz that read and upon finishing immediately started looking forother stories and found them!I am going to enjoy this story and it's sequel "Logos Run" for many years to come and will be purchasing more of his works. | 45 stars
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The AJC Kindle delivers
I have been subscribing to the AJC Kindle version for 6 months now, and I am overall pleased. Regardless of what was true in the past, the Kindle version is an exact replica of the paper version with the following exceptions: tables, charts, pictures inside the fold, cartoons, ads, coupons and other inserts are missing. But all news stories, be they local, state, national, or international exactly matches the newspaper in paper form. All syndicated columns like op-eds from George Will, Cynthia Tucker, and Neal Boortz are in complete form just like you would receive if you had the paper in your hands. Ditto, Dear Abby. How do I know this? I went to the library and compared the paper copy to the Kindle copy page for page. One thing I wish they would bring to the Kindle is Luckovich's political cartoons. The New Yorker has shown that cartoons can work on the Kindle. The AJC should do this as well. My other quibble is every once in a while a line is missing from an article, perhaps due to a data transmission error. For $5.99 a month, however, this is an incredible deal. | 34 stars
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Ozark life the way it was story given at the Outdoor Theatre
This story is the story played out at the "The Shepherd of the Hills Homestead and Outdoor Theatre, Branson, MO. This Drama is the most attended outdoor drama in America where they get to re-live the events of Ozark life the way it was at the turn of the century..."This, my story, is a very old story. In the hills of life there are two trails. One lies along the higher sunlit fields where those who journey see afar, and the light.......and one leads to the lower ground, where those who travel, as they go, look always over their shoulders with eyes of dread,....This, my story, is the story of a man who took the trail that leads to the lower ground, and of a woman, and how she found her way to the higher sunlit fields. This is how the story starts. | 45 stars
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I thought it was silly....
...but my husband loved this gift! He uses it just like a book and is always finding free books to down load. I thought it would be another fly by night electronic toy of his, but it was worth the money! | 45 stars
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P & P
My favourite book of all time!! Whenever I am at a loss to find anything decent to read in the modern literature I find this a real comfort. A great read!! | 45 stars
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Travel Alongside Copperfield on the Road of Life
I have read three other Dickens books so far - Great Expectations, Tale of Two Cities, and Oliver Twist. I can firmly say that this is this book that has had the largest impact on me as a reader and as a person so far.As I read this book, I noticed that it contains many elements of those other novels that Dickens wrote. It has the social commentary of Oliver Twist, the thematic complexity of Great Expectations, and the gripping and emotional story of Tale of Two Cities. I will also throw in the fact that I think Copperfield has the best humor out of all these books.In David Copperfield, Dickens tells the quintessential tale of Growing Up. I am sure that you all have read a book that involves some sort of "coming of age" theme where the main character matures and develops throughout the novel. But this story tops them all. With this book, Dickens brings us the most colorful cast of characters that he's ever conceived. They each have their own personalities, motives, interests, and even senses of humor. The beauty of it all is that many of the characters that David meets, you have met in your own life, too. While they are in no means simple archetypes, they can surely be related to real life. A few of my favorite characters are the deceptive James Steerforth and Uriah Heep - two large influences on some of the choices David makes. And we should not forget the virtuous Agnes - his "Good Angel."Through this cast of characters, Dickens shows us that a large part of growing up and experiencing life is defined by the people that you meet and the friends that you surround yourself with. Dickens shows masterfully that you must be careful whom you trust and whom you let influence your life. He also shows the importance of relying on family and your closest allies during your darkest times.Through fateful interactions with these characters, David grows up. He learns about the world, love, and human nature. He witnesses the miracles of life, and the tragedies of death. In turn, the reader matures and learns about such things as well. We see the world clearly through David's eyes.Even though the story is being narrated in retrospect by an older, wiser David, we still experience events how David experienced them the first time. The chapters where we observe David's childhood very accurately allow us to see the environment through a child's trusting eyes.Unlike other main characters of Dickens books such as Oliver Twist and Charles Darnay, David is susceptible to making mistakes in life and being naive. David is a good and honorable person with a moral conscience, but he is just as susceptible to the vices of this world as everybody else. But this is part of growing up, too, isn't it?As you journey with David through his life, there will be times when you laugh, feel happy, and feel very angry. And then there will be times when you will have to put down the book for a short time and reflect on the events that occured. This is a rich book, with several plots and characters to keep track of. There are certain chapters that are more exciting than others. But, if you voyage till the end with David, you will in turn be richly rewarded. | 45 stars
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An Elaborate Masterpiece
I recently saw the new BBC production of this wonderful classic on Masterpiece Theatre. Since then, I have been reminiscing on how I so completely enjoyed reading the novel some years' back. I dearly love anything by Charles Dickens - he writes with amazing depth of character, substance and humour. "David Copperfield" is without a doubt my favorite by Dickens. The story is, essentially, some 40 years in the life of the indelible Mr. Copperfield - speckled through and through with a rainbow cast of characters, and they color his life. Oh, how I loved them! - Mr. Micawber and his "pecuniary difficulties," or Miss Betsy Trotwood and "the donkeys!" And I don't think I ever enjoyed hating a character so much as the despicable Uriah Heep. The book is long - as I love books to be - and, for readers with superiority of taste and imagination, it is pure entertainment from cover to cover! | 45 stars
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The Secret
This book came very quickly. The back paper cover was bend slightly, but otherwise the book was perfect. Great price also.Thanks. | 34 stars
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A wonderful, encouraging read
Imagine that God loves you. What would it be like to have a conversation with Him? That's just what happens in Rosalie's lovely book - a conversation.Don't imagine that the book contains strange predictions and formulas. It's a book that shows the New Testament side of the prophetic - words that are comforting, upbuilding, and encouraging (1 Cor 14:3).The book takes you through a year's worth of prophetic conversation. Each entry has a word, followed by a response and a very short meditation. Start from the beginning, jump in anywhere.Good stuff. Encouraging. Personal moments with a Personal God. Be blessed. Imagine! | 45 stars
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Wheres the templates and reference material?
EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT book for reference. Actually the best you can find of the type. No filler and I enjoy the authors style.Only four stars because book offers no companion templates for reference. How could a book focusing on documentation offer no documents/templates for reference in this day and age? Lucky for Dan his writing and explanations are THAT good. Though, shame on both the author and publisher for not going the extra step here. | 34 stars
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The Best of Collins' work!
I adore Wilkie Collins. This book surpasses his others, most of which are exciting, original, passionate, suspenseful and richly textured. If you read only one Collins, it should be this one. Magdalene is one of the most fascinating and compelling characters ever created, and Captain and Mrs. Wragge, Madame LeCompte and Noel Vanstone are nearly as intriguing. Obviously, I can't recommend it enough! | 45 stars
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CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as well as the customer service.
I bought 2 Kindles, as gifts, during their first year, paid over $700. My husband's crapped out after about 13 months, my mother's actually lasted 1 yr. and 7 months when it crapped out. Amazon told me the best they could do for me was a $25 credit towards a new one. They said that to get a replacement I should have requested one during the whomping 1 year warranty. I said: "are you telling me that you EXPECTED them to crap out and that I was unlucky that mine crapped out outside the warranty?" GARBAGE PRODUCT, GARBAGE CUSTOMER SERVICE. Hello Sony Reader! | 01 star
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Subscription pricing is a deal-breaker for getting the Kindle
I was ready to buy the Kindle until I looked into the price of content. The WSJ and the Economist are absurdly overpriced. Also content is missing like pictures and graphs, making reading less enjoyable.Amazon has to get it together before they truly say they have a quality product. They need to work with content providers to ensure content is delivered in full and print edition bundles (i.e. web subscriptions to content) is the same for Kindle subscriptions. These prices are WAY too high, and it really tarnishes Amazon's brand by gouging their captive customers (those people who have bought the expensive device and are stuck with unfortunate decision on whether to pay the extra money to get the content on the device). | 01 star
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The Harris Family men and forgiveness
Each of the Harris men found themselves having to forgive andbe forgiven. The Harris Family was a good book dealing with forgivness and being forgiven.After reading the Harris Men I could hardly wait to read the sequel.I wanted to know what drama was going to unfold with the Harris Family men .I enjoyed finding out what took place. I was so disappoint to hear Julius really did have the life threating disease.Each of the brothers had to forgive the father which was not easy for either of them. They in turn had to be forgiven.First Austin by his wife and children .Then Marcus, by his girlfiend and Cableb had to be forgiven by his girlfriend and son.Could part of the problem stem from the abandoment of their father. Especially with so much forgiving taking place. | 34 stars
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With Lee in Virginia
A great young boy's story. I gave to the grandchildren for Christmas. Hope they read it. | 34 stars
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A wonderful gift from my husband
I have a lot of "down" time on my job and I mentioned a book on tape would be nice to my husband. He reserched and was told that the Kindle was the best. A few days later I was surprised with my Kindle. I love it. It fits nicely into my purse and I can pull it out and read at the switch of a button. Every book I have wanted to buy has been available at the Kindle store and they arrive so quickly after I order them, just in seconds. I am in my sixties and am not very computer savey but I have found using the website easy even for me. Thanks, I am really enjoying my new gaudget. | 45 stars
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my favorite of the trilogy
I think this is the best of the trilogy. I loved Darcy's change of character towards his sister and his friends. He is humble and funny. Awesome cap to a great series. I have read book one and three a couple of times now, and continue to love them. Aidan didn't just recycle Austen's work, she made is deaper and more complex on the side of Darcy. I can now see why Elizabeth loves him. I hope she writes another! | 45 stars
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A Laugh Out Loud Treasure in a Hum Drum Day
I was introduced to this book by my Sis-in-law. I have never been a fan of Chick-Lit before, but now I am hooked! I started reading her copy (which she was lending to another sis-in-law) over the holiday weekend. When I had to give the book back I was crushed. I ran to Amazon and purchased my own copy and devoured it right away.There are very few books that make me laugh out loud, but this one was full of belly laughs. I personally can not identify with Jen, but I swear she is channeling a family member. It is the kind of humor you are drawn to, but don't want anyone to actually know you think it is funny. | 45 stars
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The Babe in old St. Pete.
What makes this mystery a stand out is it's sense of history and of place. You get the feeling that Irby, a professor, knows every building in old St Pete, has read every newspaper article, spent months in archives and in the library. His encompassing knowledge of the rough, free-wheeling twenties seeps in to every scene-the mystery, the love story, and the adventure all play out against a lively, realistic backdrop. Plus, it's got the Babe in it. You can't beat that. Check this book out. It's worth it. | 45 stars
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Great read!
A customer referred me to this series and what a great one. I loved this book so much, I got the next 3. | 45 stars
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An Amazing Tale of Determination and Wonder
Over 20 years ago I fulfilled a long-time dream by standing before the giant and ancient monument known as Stonehenge. Like everyone else who stood there, I marveled at the minds and determination of the men and women who must have struggled against the elements as they overcame the limitations of their ancient times to build this structure. Like anyone else, I wondered how they were able to do it and why they took on this task."Stonehenge" is a novel and does not pretend to be fact. In his historical notes, Cornwell makes it clear that no one really knows who or why it was built, and there are only clues as to how. He points out that future scientists may very well look at our cathedrals and draw conclusions about our own culture and beliefs that are as likely to be wrong as right. However, that is not important here.Cornwell has constructed a tight and fascinating story that tells maybe why and maybe how Stonehenge came to be. The story centers on three half-brothers, two of them doomed to death at the hands of their siblings, the women who loved and hated them, warriors, priests, and a pantheon of gods and goddesses, not physically part of the story, but whose presence, real or imagined, drives the characters on. I cannot think of one character that wasn't well drawn or who acted against their nature in this story. Even though so many of the events in the story deal with the reaction to the mythology (a term meaning someone else's religion) of the characters, I never once felt that their actions or beliefs were too farfetched. They were each people of their times, not modernized versions of ancient people.Stonehenge is exceptional. Anyone who likes historical fiction, especially as it deals with the ancient world, will love it. Also, anyone who likes action packed adventure stories, tales of heroes, tales that delve into the behavior of characters, or just want to pass the time on the plane, train, or bus, should move this to the top of their must read list. | 45 stars
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One of the best investments i've made!
I adore the Amazon Kindle. Being an avid reader I use the Kindle everywhere. At first I did have difficulty with all the buttons but of course I got used to it. I loved the idea of having those screen saver with famous writers. The charging of the Kindle is super fast! The Kindle has never shut off on me. Once I read an entire book, eventhough it was short, for a couple hours straight. I am also in love with the idea that you can order a book from a different location! I randomly order books in my computer class and "bam!" as soon as I get home the book is there. I personally do not like the Kindle Store on line from the Kindle, its ok but not all that if that makes sense. You just see so much more on the regular internet from the computer.When you enable the Kindle to read the voice is so computerized. It sounds very bad to me but that is my opinion. Also I didn't really bother looking at customer reviews but I hope this one helps! | 45 stars
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Who Can You Trust?
This story is set right after the episode The Zeppo so much of the cast is pretty beaten up. One night on patrol Buffy sees a vampire wig out near a strange house. The last time she saw such a reaction the house held a giant mantis posing as a teacher. Is there another mantis present? Further research shows that the house should be a vacant lot. To top it off, Giles is on edge as the conditions are right for the resurrection of a powerful sorcerer. Then the Scooby gang discovers who is in the strange house. They say they are here to stop the resurrection. But another figure of legend arrives and says the other is not to be trusted.One thing is for sure, if the sorcerer is resurrected it will not be good. But who can be trusted regarding how to stop the resurrection? The new sorceress? The ageless knight? For the resurrection to occur, much blood will have to be spilled. The Scooby gang thinks they can just try and prevent that until the proper time has passed but another spell looks like it will ensure the presence of enough victims. To stop the evil, the Slayer is going to have to figure out just who can be trusted before it is too late.This was a fun story and brings the reader back to the fun years of Buffy in high school. Many of the plot elements can be found in other episodes but Keith R. A. DeCandido brings in some strong Russian folklore and imagery to make the story unique. If you liked the third season of Buffy this story fits in as well as if it were one of the seasons episodes. A must for Buffy fans. Check it out. | 34 stars
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I'm amazed
It's easy to get jaded over electronic gadgets, but this thing is impressive! Not only can you clearly read text, but you have www access as well - almost as good as having a little laptop. I just started using mine, and I'm very pleased. Way to go guys - this is a hit in my book. | 45 stars
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Jane Austen(wonderful as always)
I have read this book and I think it is absolutely Wonderful. Jane Austen is so original in her style of writting, I enjoyed it completely. I would recommend Pride and Prejudice to any literate I know. | 45 stars
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A quick, interesting read
Daisy Miller is everything a woman of that era should not be: flighty, flirtatious and strong-willed. I enjoyed this novella because you so infrequently see a lead female character of that era portrayed in quite such an unflattering light. While the plot is simple there are a few twists and turns. This is an interesting, fun read. | 45 stars
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Excellent for the shelf!
I just took the peds shelf exam and there were questions that felt like they were lifted directly out of this book. I only wished i got to go through it twice! Go through the explanations for every question (even the ones you get right) and you should be good to go! | 45 stars
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Classic book at a classic price
Charles Dickens is absolutely classic. I read this book in high school myself, now my son is reading it. I'm sure he'll enjoy. It's a brand new paper back book at a great price. You can't go wrong buying this. | 45 stars
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See
This is a book to own and reread if you want to grasp its depth. I would also suggest having some practice or enough introspection to continue the delving into understanding that the HH Dalai Lama is well practiced in and so shares his personal findings within these pages. There are years of wisdom emanating from these words which convinces us that compassion and calm abiding are approachable, it is the way we must be and we must practice and teach others to do so.But first we must understand ourselves and our tendency toward ignorance most especially our confusion with inherency. That is all is dependant on all, nothing exists in and of itself and as such all is intricately related with cause and effect. Dare I try to explain! The HH Dalai Lama walks us through and provides meditative exercises so we can learn to understand the emptiness of inherency and free ourselves through practicing morality, meditation and wisdom. I am still discovering these blessed implications that manifest themselves each day and further affirm that all is in view. Read to continue your own discovery and to see for yourself. | 45 stars
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A little to kissy face for me....
I enjoyed learning some details that could only be relayed by an inner circle guy...but felt JS was WAY to sugar coated for me...can he actually expect us to believe the Graceland (or Cali, or Vegas, or Hawaii or Palm Springs) parties were driven by Coca Cola, Pepsi and Iced Tea? Plus glossing over , what had to be, a intersting sexual dynamic with all the girls....Jerry comes across as a nice guy who did not want to ruffle any feathers. The whole thing felt very anticeptic to me- | 23 stars
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Top-notch reporting presented in an engaging, readable style
Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams have been the hardest-working reporters in the business since breaking the BALCO story. Anyone who's done the job knows that reporting is hard, hard work. Harder still is translating the product of exhaustive reporting into a readable and enjoyable narrative. In Game of Shadows, the reporter/authors succeed brilliantly.The book is a must read for baseball fans in particular and sports fans in general. But even those who couldn't name another player in the Giant's lineup will find the book hard to put down. It's a fascinating look at how veteran reporters track down a story piece by piece and put in front of the public. | 45 stars
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Straight from the Inside
Written as a study of homosexuality in the theatre, de Jongh pieces together what he feels are the pivotal gay plays of London and New York from 1925 to 1985. The survey is a pointed one as de Jongh himself admits he focuses on plays where "homosexual desire precipitates a crisis". The book moves more and more from an examination of the plays within their social and historical context to a first hand account of gay theatre history from an inside perspective. The author has been a theatre critic since 1970 and even apologizes for the shortcomings of an early review pleading "delayed innocence" - a beautiful moment for any kind of artist and a humanizing one for the critics.At times a bit academic, the book may become a difficult read for those without a vested interest in the subject matter. For those with a vested interest, the chapters are enjoyable despite the jabs the American theatre takes in the last two chapters. De Jongh easily journeys from "the deviant, the damned and the dandified" through the birth of a positive gay identity and ultimately to "the return of the outcast" during the early years of the AIDS epidemic. Difficult or not, it is a book that should be read by anyone involved in the theatre and especially those who claim a gay identity there. Don't look for lesbians though, they are unfortunately absent.Other titles of interest: Carl Miller's Stages of Desire and Vito Russo's The Celluloid Closet | 34 stars
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Defective by design
The aim of the printing industry used to be the enlightenment of the public. This is not achieved by a product intended to rob the public of the right to read what the public want, not what the Big Brother wants | 01 star
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The Kindle Library
The Kindle has been one of those items I have been watching and drooling over for months now. However, I am a college student and the cost is nothing to sneeze at. I have been doing A LOT of research to see if it is really worth the price.The only complaint I REALLY have is the library seems to be limited on some important volumes. I understand that a lot of this is related to copyright issues, but it is still something to be considered. I looked up "The Modern Library" list of the 100 best novels and very few of them are available in the Kindle library. At the end of the day it isn't really enough to sway me away from purchasing the Kindle, as I have found some very useful and enjoyable books available, and the library IS ever growing. Just something to put on your pro's and con's list if you're like me and trying to decide on what gadget you can't live without THIS year. :) | 23 stars
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O pioneers!
This book is amazing! I love everything about it--the characters, setting, descriptions, plot, etc. Willa Cather is able to keep the reader's intrest with usual everyday happenings in a plain, dull, but peaceful setting of life on the prairie. I definitely reccomend this. | 45 stars
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Worth it!
I was skeptical about reading this book, given mixed reviews but it was a smart, fun read. | 45 stars
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How AJ and Mik find their mate - only read the Chanku part
CHANKU FALLEN----AJ and Mik were sent on assignment for a sister from a new member of the pack. Chanku female's are hard to come by. Baylor is new to the pack and had mentioned to Ulrich about his sisters.Mary Ellen Quinn, aka Tia, has been Jimmy's whore for the past 3 years. AJ and Mik have been in a city looking for her in a bar and notices a woman being beat up. They decide to leave it be, because of their history in prison themselves. On their way out of the city they hear rumbling from the back floorboard only to find the one and only Tia.Tia just had to get away from Jimmy but knew she wouldn't be able to get far from him without him cathing up. AJ, Mik and Tia decide to stop and get a hotel room to get cleaned up. They were on their way to San Francisco back to their packmates. Through a lot of sex, loving and pampering from the men, Tia decides to stay with them.Something happens at the hotel. They suddenly have to leave and the only place they can think of is the cabin Ulrich had purchased just north of San Francisco. Tia has already begun the supplement for the change and she cannot believe how she feels. But there is something happening in their minds that they cannot figure out how to accomplish. How do 3 of them mate? What about Jimmy?Again, I could not put the book down. It was a great to know how AJ and Mik got their Alpha-[...]. I only read the Chanku part but once I finish the series, I will read the other stories. | 34 stars
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Gets you thinking!
In the early days of the Christian Church there was a small flock of believers who really engaged in their religion. They thought it through and argued over the nature of divinity and what it meant to be a Christian.As one would expect, with such ardent argument going on, there were many diverse views of what belief should be. The Gospel of Thomas is only one of these beliefs. Gnostic Christianity is another. To compound the matter the Christian church was ruled by five prelates, each seeing himself as equal to the other four. Rome, Byzantium, Antioch, Jereusalem and Alexandria each felt entitled to promote their own ideas.Over time, as the church grew larger and larger, there was an increased need for simplification. Argument confused new converts. The church decided to sell one single message. And the Gospel of St John emerged as the winner over the Gospel of St Thomas. There were undoubtedly many other texts discarded along the way to arrive at the Catholic Dogma.Once the Dogma was agreed, all other beliefs and arguments became heresy, and they were rooted out and culled by a church that went from strength to strength. The wisdom of the approach adopted by the Christian church was attested to by it's subsequent success.But in the last century, with increasing educational levels, the faithful are asking hard questions again in a way they have not done since the days of the early Christian church. And the major churches have singularly failed to answer these questions. This has caused a fall off in church attendance, a drift into eastern beliefs and a revival of gnosticism.Elaine Pagels raises many questions in her book, and points to the personal circumstances that led her to ask the hard questions of her church and her belief. She had revived her own faith by revisiting the thinking of the early church. And she hopes that others can do the same.For a Vatican that is horrified by the revival of the "Eastern Heresy" this is bad news, and they do not like it. But then the Vatican has been out of step with society for the last 40 years. It is locked in a medieval timewarp that is a product of feudalism and the "divine right to rule". They seem to have missed events such as the English Civil War, the French Revolution and the arrival of democracy. The idea that wisdom could flow upwards from the "flock" is foreign to the organised church, who are too used to dictating from the top. | 34 stars
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The Rich Life of David Copperfield
Dickens' "David Copperfield," despite its dark and overcast tone, is a true pleasure to read. Dickens' longer novels, like this and "Bleak House" may appear to be prohibitively long, but this is only a reader's fallacy. Dickens is one novelist who thrives in, and even requires, an inordinately large canvas to create his masterpieces. "David Copperfield" presents us, through the lens of often idyllic remembrance, with lives, which over the course of our acquaintance, become as real to us now as our own.The novel begins with a tip of the hat to a Lockean 'blank slate' of human experience - one in which David Copperfield presents the text itself, the story of his life, as evidence to the reader, asking us to determine whether he is the 'hero' of his own story. The fatherless Copperfield starts life between two mothers, Clara Copperfield and his nurse/confidant, Peggotty. When his mother marries the firm and controlling Murdstone (and arguably, his sister Jane into the bargain), David enters into the economy of human interaction. Bandied about after his mother's death from the harsh school/prison of Salem House, the harsher world of fiscal self-responsibility at Murdstone and Grinby's, to the irresponsible family environment of the Micawbers - all before he is a teenager - David is continually beset by personal difficulties that challenge and form him."David Copperfield" is chock-full of fabulously rendered and otherwise memorable characters who all challenge simply being types. David himself is no simple innocent, abandoned, exploited whelp, like an Oliver Twist - David is more like another of Dickens' orphans, Pip in "Great Expectations" who struggles through initial difficulties to cherish and covet the world of prosperity and success, giving a darker cast to his character. Then we have Mr. and Mrs. Micawber, whose charming play with language and marital fidelity is often undercut by hyperbolic expressions of devotion to each other. Their constant state of debt and expectation that society owes them a living without putting forth any effort to deserve it also render them problematic. With these examples, I do not mean to qualify the appeal of the characters, but to show how wonderfully complicated and fully realized so many of them are - including the endearing Mr. Dick, the demonic Uriah Heep and the spiteful Rosa Dartle.Dickens makes great effort in "David Copperfield" to show how the blank slates of personhood are formed by social conditions - Victorian gender expectations, economic position, and British imperialism, among others. For example, the first covers the gamut of particularly female experience from the dwarf Miss Mowcher, to the jealous mothers Mrs. Markleham and Mrs. Steerforth, to the confounded prospects of little Em'ly, Julia Mills, and the prostitute Martha. While the novel is not as strictly thematically linked to pressing social problems as some of his other works, broad social themes frame the characters' regard for each other and the institutions of mid-Victorian society.I enjoyed "David Copperfield" so much - I could talk for days about extended motifs of death/suicide, metafiction, and sublimation of instinct to propriety (where David's disturbingly violent impulses are systematically repressed and suppressed). I could also go on about the wide range of Dickens' literary reference, and the use he makes of Sterne's "Tristram Shandy," Cervantes' "Don Quixote," Richardson's "Pamela" and the influence of the major Romantic poets, namely Coleridge, Wordsworth, and Byron. Or I could try tracing the substitute father figure from Shakespeare's Falstaff to Mr. Micawber to the unlikely Humpty Dumpty from "Alice in Wonderland." But I won't.Read "David Copperfield." It is a spectacular entertainment, possessed of - in short, a great novel. | 45 stars
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Excellent collection
THE BEST MILITARY SCIENCE FICTION OF THE 20TH CENTURY Edited by Harry Turtledove with Martin H. Greenberg Del Rey, May 2001, $18.00, 560 pp. ISBN: 0345439899This thirteen-story collection runs the gamut of science fiction even as the theme throughout centers on the military. The contributors are an "A to Z" (actually W) of renowned science fiction authors with most of the authors having one name recognition (Clarke, McCaffrey, Anderson, Benford, Cherryh, Drake, and Turtledove, etc.The tales contain alternate history (duh - with Mr. Turtledove as a participant that is no surprise ending), outer space wars between technological advanced civilizations and more primitive societies, and old fashion magic. The contributions take place in different eras though some are post apocalyptic to post nuclear vampiric. All have heroes or heroines battling against overwhelming odds that would lead to Luke losing confidence in the force.Each story is well written as one would expect from a book titled THE BEST MILITARY SCIENCE FICTION OF THE 20TH CENTURY, and edited by Mr. Turtledove with Martin H. Greenberg. Besides being well-written tales by the elite of the past century, several of the short stories include the opening gamut of an author's classic series (Haldeman, Card). Science Fiction fans will want to read this one because the book lives up to its title.Harriet Klausner | 45 stars
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amazing revelations about people and events you have barely heard of before
We have educational blind spots in the way we teach history in this country. We barely learn of the Dutch influence in the north east looking at the history of that area from the English point of view. There are numerous other examples one might cite. I consider myself a well educated adult but I learned about events and people from this book that I have never (or barely ever) heard about before---the way we wrested the west from Mexico, the ferociousness and nobility of the Navajo nation (which I always considered a tribe of inferior quality to the Sioux, Commanche and Apache), the exploits of Freemont and Kit Carson, the confederate army's battles in New Mexico during the civil war etc etc. All of this is brilliantly organized and beautifully presented with three dimensional people that leap from the page. You will love it. | 45 stars
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scary real
The road is a gripping saga of end times.It gives the reader a chilling look at what will possibly happen through the eyes of a loving and determined father and his young son. A very believable story line makes the reader feel thatyou are traeling with the two during this unique journey. A MUST Read. | 45 stars
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"Darwinian furnace of injustice"
I read Tim Dorsey novels every summer when I go to the beach, and I have to say that "Cadillac Beach" is the best of Dorsey's first seven books. I loved it. Great fun is had all around. In "Cadillac Beach" Dorsey brings back all of the usual characters (with the exception of Coleman, who if I remember correctly was dispatched in the previous book) and we get the usual humorous results.Early in the novel Dorsey sets a highly comedic tone when Serge offers physic readings for drivers stopped at an intersection. They are a laugh out loud highlight of the book. Serge's rant about what "makes him angry" on page 19 of the text is nothing short of genius. It is a rant against the continual decline of American brains and brawn, and it is a spot on indictment of contemporary American culture.In a different take on the character of Serge, "Cadillac Beach" features much less killing from Serge than in previous novels. Much less. In fact, most of the violence in the text is perpetrated by other characters, and overall the violent content of the book is rather subdued for Dorsey. Another feature of the story that I enjoyed is how wonderfully tolerant the character of Serge is. I really love this quality about him, and his views on homophobes (page 320) are priceless.Oddly enough, for a book like this, I kept annotating some wonderful gems of writing scattered throughout the novel. Numerous times Serge says something that is brilliant advice, even when taken out of context. I won't quote examples here, but one such great example is found on page 211 of the book.The plot of "Cadillac Beach" is convoluted and all over the place, and spans 40 years, but Dorsey does a great job pulling the disparate storylines together in a much tighter and cleaner manner than he has in some of his previous novels. The book features a ridiculous denouement, but Dorsey's skill makes it play as believable.I was very satisfied with this read. You will be too. | 34 stars
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good service
The problem with requesting this review is the time lapse between ordering/receiving the item and your request for a review. At the time I ordered this book I ordered several from various other places so was receiving several books during the same period. I didn't realize Amazon required a review on their deliveries or I would have submitted one as soon as the book was received. At this late date I can't give other than a three-star since I don't remember how quickly I received the book. Sorry. | 23 stars
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3 Cups of Tea
I bought this book but wished I hadn't. The writing is just awful! It is so badly written that it was hard to bother reading the book all the way through. It feels like it was written by people trying to blow their own trumpets but with a severe lack of writing skills. It gets the thumbs down - don't waste your money, folks. Other people have built schools and written better books. | 01 star
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Never disappointed with F. Scott
I love Fitzgerald and, in this, his first novel, you can see him being born. It is a sometimes chaotic blend of styles and structures and although his lyric prose is not what it will be, there are glimmers of it. Here too are the (almost voyeuristic) biographical characters and settings and the haunting emptiness and cynicism that will grow to consume his later work and, eventually, the writer.I would say that if you already love Fitzgerald, this book will please, but if you are new to him or new to the Jazz Age writers, this book will not deliver as it could. Much of what one thinks of a writer, I think, depends on which work one reads first and I would hate anyone to miss out on this genius because they began with the diamond in the rough.If you are reading just to read a book, I think you will find the story is one that is thoroughly contemporary and enjoyable. | 34 stars
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A stunning fantasy from a debut author
Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and KritiquesTouch the Dark by Karen Chance is a stunning adventure that speeds along to the thrilling conclusion... which is really just another new beginning.Cassandra "Cassie" Palmer has a gift. She is a Seer, capable of seeing future actions and able to see and communicate with ghosts. Unfortunately for her, these gifts are coveted by many, especially vampires. For years she had been a prized captive of the vampire mafia, until she managed to escape.For three years she's been on the run but even Cassie knew this "freedom" would likely be short lived. When the vampire don tracks her down, her only hope is to turn to the vampire Senate, who have their own plans for her, for assistance. This seems like the lesser of two evils... or is it?Then there is the pesky problem of a surprising legacy Cassie doesn't want. With beings from every direction wanting to kill her it seems her only hope is one alluringly sexy vampire. But his price may be too high, costing Cassie her very soul.Cassie has been on the run for so long that this is all she knows now. Her life was never really her own and as she discovers new levels to her abilities, her desperation to be in control of her own life grows. Determination to make it in a cut-throat world has made her into a strong willed individual with a more than healthy survival instinct. She's not afraid to do whatever it takes to protect herself.One thing I love about Touch the Dark is the wide variety of supernatural beings found in the story from both the light and dark sides of magic... and the "dark" side is not always the more dangerous. We find vampires, ghosts, were-creatures of all kinds, elves, witches, mages, even satyrs and faeries. Don't forget the talking "shrunken heads." Every individual has its place in magical society and how they all interact makes for some fascinating reading.Adventure is not at all lacking in this story as readers follow Cassie and company in its wake. Touch the Dark doesn't end, but stops after this leg of the journey. It is apparent Karen Chance still has a lot in store for Cassie and this reader is sure to keep going, looking forward to the next installment of this exciting world.Kelley A. Hartsell, May 2006. All rights reserved. | 45 stars
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Profound v. Pretty
A few days ago, a friend posted on Facebook that she had watched "Eat Pray Love" and had found it beautiful. ... ... ... In reading that short statement, I knew immediately she couldn't have read the book. I commented on her status, saying, "The movie is pretty but the book is profound." That friend is soon going to be reading the book.Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesiasat on a shelf in my home for over a year before I was [apparently] ready to read it. When I finally sat down with it one day this past summer, I was gifted with realizations, "aha moments" and recognitions time and time again. I reread passages, posted quotes on my Facebook profile, laughed, cried, gasped, ate, prayed, loved.This book is one of my few keepers; for me, it is akin to a reference book. I gifted my Mom with it at Christmas and look forward to discussing it with her. Oh! And my word is "awakening." | 45 stars
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Love my Kindle
I Love my Kindle! Well actually, I bought the notebook for my 7 year old son to do his book reports, with all the State cutbacks, it can be a guessing game as to whether the library will be open or not, so I gave in. Did some research and bought the Kindle. My son found a few books of interest and wrote his reports, it was fabulous! Then I ordered a book for myself,I will tell you that this is my first time using a "technology notebook" and I am finding that it is so much easier to read than a paperback book and it is VERY easy to use. Because it is easy on the eyes, I find myself reading more! I can't seem to put it down! I have had the Kindle for only a week but it is being used nightly. It's fantastic!The 6" display is great but I now wish that I went with the larger display, just for the ease of use of not constantly flipping pages. I like that there is no extra charge to use the 3G as this was a great selling point when deciding which notebook to get (Apple vs. Kindle). If you are a first time buyer, I can't stress enough that the Kindle 3G is the best product to purchase! | 45 stars
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O.K. Could have been better
I really am a true Anne Rule fan. I've read alot of her books and actually have more waiting for me. I just have to finish THIS book. Its taking me longer than I expected. Why? It's annoying a little bit I think. I feel sympathy for the woman who died and her family but also in the small amount of information given can tell she baited this man a little. Keeping the grudge going years after the divorce. And the description of the step man's disciplinary practices show that also caused problems with the children's real father. I don't think Stevie should even be under his care. It all seems so typical of American dysfunctionality but it annoys me a little that Anne tries to, in a way, validate the different actions of Sheila and her husband. If you are dealing with a crazy person, you don't continue to take him to court to argue over child support. I've learned through my own divorce to not count on any money from the other party. It really isn't worth it when you are dealing with a man who just isn't right. Was all the games worth it for Sheila? I'm sure not. Now her kids only have a memory of her. As I said, I haven't finished the book yet....it's like pulling teeth for me now. However, I am going to finish it, if for only to free up my time to move to Anne's next book. But, I'm disappointed in this story. I don't get what really perpetrated the actual murder but can see from Anne's small references that she isn't providing the reader with the full story. Again, I feel sympathy for the victim but feel the most sympathy for those poor kids who have to face the consequences of the actions of their parents. All three of them. Sheila and her husband. And the crazy ex husband, who I would have broken as many ties with as I could. Forget the child support and the, what was it, 22 percent of his bogus empire? Why would you even want that money?Leppy | 23 stars
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Anne Tyler Does it Again!
I've read all of Anne Tyler's books and this one was definitely worth waiting for. She hasn't lost her touch for developing her characters(with all their warts and quirks)! One of the best portraits is that of the all-American (yet somewhat hippy-ish) mom, Bitsy Davidson-Donaldson, who insists on ethnic clothing for her adoptive Korean girls, cloth diapers, and gosh, no yuppie "American Girl" doll for HER tricycle-helmeted kid!). And imagine going through life in America spelling out--or even pronouncing--Xiu-Mei Davidson-Donaldson a hundred times a week (talk about being overly PC!). Always lots of underlying humor in Tyler's books!The most compelling and complex character, however, is Maryam, the Iranian grandmother of a Korean-American child. Maryam is caught between two worlds: she's an "established" U.S. citizen, but not quite American "enough"-- yet she's "too American" to fit in with relatives and friends from the old country. This made me realize what life must have been like for my immigrant grandparents, first digging to, and then adjusting to America! Maryam has a son who doesn't speak her native language and a Korean grandchild who shocked them once by casually uttering Farsi. She dotes on the child; yet she "had trouble imagining the slightest link between the relatives back home and this little Asian fairy child with her straight black hair; her exotic black eyes, her skin as pale and opaque and textureless as bone." Somewhat a loner (in stark contrast to her early, rebellious days in Iran), she never quite fits comfortably in any setting, even with love. Yet there's always a glimmer of hope in a Tyler book! | 45 stars
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Looking for Other
Following in the footsteps of his missionary grandfather, Charles Montgomery returns to Melanesia to seek out the truth of its ancestral religion - and is surprised by what he finds. Montgomery's writing is beautiful, sparse, and evocative, and his sympathy for the people of Melanesia is evident without being condescending. His constant battles with seasickness, his facility with the local pidgin (I could even understand it by the time the book was done), his descriptions of the grim aftermath of colonialism all ring true.Most impressive, however, is Montgomery's wrestling with his Christian past, his atheist present, and the subtle and complicated reality of religion on the islands. Montgomery is clearly hungry for something more than the scientific world around him, but he demands scientific proof in order to find it. Only in his encounter with the indigenous Christian priests does he find out the truth of religion might be something else than miracles and spirits - it might just be sacrificial love. | 45 stars
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THIS IS NOT A COLORING BOOK
"Tom Brown's School Days"?, That's junenile fiction. That's a kid running down a merry lane in England with a satchel on his back, right? So wrong. How could this classic piece of little literature have escaped my attention? A stunning book about a boy's life in boarding school in mid 19th Century England, it tells it's adolescence tale with all the discipline of a Cub Scout Manual and whimsy of a comic book. Author Hughes frequently stops the action and intercedes on behalf of himself, commenting on the progress of the story as a teacher might. His defense of boys boxing with hard fists and fractured skulls is so socially incorrect it becomes amusing in it's conviction. Maybe skulls were harder then. A good knock-a-round is good for a boy. But school-yard fights aside, this is an adult piece of classic literature with a deeply moral narrative and a devoted sense of well-being. In it's second century of publication, it is a breath of fresh air. | 45 stars
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Great book
Beautiful book. I love the fabric cover. There is also a ribbon book marker in each of these books in a coordinating color! | 45 stars
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She's the best
Ann Rule has done it again.As always she gifts her readers with a true sense of the crime,the victim and the accused.Her ability to provide detail takes one into the heart of each story and the spirit of each victim.It is no wonder that Ann Rule deservedly wears the crown of the best true crime writer we have. | 45 stars
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Pages,
The kindle 2 is absolutly great. It works well and the screen is fanominal. I have one thing to say about it though. The page numbers are driving me nuts. Everything is done in "locations" that are irrelivant to the page numbers. If there is a way to get the page numbers please let me know. | 34 stars
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Ho hum...
Nothing new here. Not a surprise that it just eked out Noam Chomsky on the best seller list...I'm sure Chavez picked up a copy of this tome as well (great minds...etc). Unfortunately for the Frank and his cronies, they keep harping, and Bush's polls keep rising. | 01 star
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Exciting with a sthyle
One of Lehane's shorter stories but with the same attributes as his longer titles. Same batch of characters (Boston people) | 45 stars
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Its about time someone said it!
Very straight forward book from a proven leader that is trying to give America a wake-up call. Good to finally see someone who is not afraid to be UN-Politically Right and tells it like it is. Good read at this time in history with the new president coming in to office. | 34 stars
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Kindle 6inch wireless reader
I recently purchased my first Kindle after thinking about it for many years,(I already wonder why it took me so long.) I am an avid reader;every thing from adventure to my Bible and reference material. Now when I go somewhere I don't have to gather up Allllll the books I can't leave home without. I'm very happy about this purchase and would recommend it to anyone who loves books and enjoys a variety of reading from time to time. Not to mention- my husbands delight in me not having "stacks & stacks" of books all over the house. | 45 stars
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can I put more than 5 stars?
This was an intriguing book, packed with precice, soursed information. the author tends to go on rabbit trails, but clearly explains the reasoning for doing so. if you get confused or board, just stick thorough it and it will make sence. the first and last chapter alone are worth more than double the price of the whike book.a must read. | 45 stars
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Simple fiction with an important message
Politics aside, this is a competent but middle of the road techno-thriller with some interesting insights into the militaristic and technical capabilities of the major players in the region (Iran, Saudi, Bahrain, China, US). By and large, the meetings and combat scenarios have an authentic feel that could only come from an insider - quite informative and even enjoyable despite the all too obvious literary lapses.But this book is more than a simple techno-thriller. On one level, it gives us a possible scenario for the future which asks us to look beyond the current conflict in Iraq to what might really happen. On another level, it asks us to question to motives and methods of the current administration, in particular, the silencing of debate and tragic pursuit of possibly dishonest goals.If you think the particular scenario painted by Clarke is far fetched, well fine, it probably is. Yet I was grateful for this fresh and liberating rethinking of the possible futures we face. Even more, I thrilled to hear a voice that stands apart from the mind numbing patter and self-serving diatribe of the current leadership. It may be poor fiction, but its message is on target. God bless you Mr. Clarke. | 34 stars
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Always wanted to read
We enjoy the Christmas Carol renditions every year, but I had never read the original to see how they all stack up. It's been great! | 45 stars
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I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I
THIS BOOK IS A WINNER!!!!!! I COULDNT PUT IT DOWN. I READ THE WHOLE BOOK IN TWO DAYS. I WISH I COULD ONE DAY MEET THE AUTHOR. SHE SEEMS VERY REAL AND KNOWS WHAT SHE IS DOING. ITS HARD TO FIND A REAL PSYCHIC IN THIS WORLD BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE REAL DEAL NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS... ITS UNFORTUNATE THERES ALOT OF MEAN, JEALOUS "WANT A BE'S" IN THIS WORLD. I SAY THUMBS UP! GREAT BOOK............ | 45 stars
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Paula
I've enjoyed all of paula's shows and books. Her restaurants are great as well. This book about paula was quite interesting. | 45 stars
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Dull, whiny, just GET OVER IT!
You only have to read the first chapter of this book to get the whole feel of it. Yes, she was fat. Yes, she was abused. You know what, Ms. Moore? So were millions of other kids. All you wanted was a loving, happy family? Yes, so do millions of other kids.Other reviewers say this book is intense and raw: maybe so, but I also think it was boring and full of self-hatred. Why waste time reading something like that? | 01 star
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Situations and human good and evil
This is an important book. It presents a perspective on the roots of human behavior, let's call it "the situational approach," against other orientations. As Philip Zimbardo notes, many of us commonly commit the "Fundamental Attribution Error," in which (page 212) "dispositions matter more than situations." That is, when others do something of which we disapprove, we tend to assume that some internal motivation led them to the bad deed, rather than that they may have simply been responding to a situation as best they could.This book strongly speaks of the value of understanding how situations can shape behavior. The book begins with a detailed description of the famous prison study, conducted by Zimbardo at Stanford University in 1971. Here, some students were assigned to play the role of prison guards and others as prisoners. After a matter of days, the experiment had to be shut down. Why? The guards begin to use their power to oppress prisoners; many prisoners lost their ability to resist and became apathetic. A stunning result, in which adopting certain roles in an experimental situation seemed to make ordinary students into devils (prison guards) or helpless individuals (prisoners). This book (page 5) "is my attempt to understand the process of transformation at work when good or ordinary people do bad or evil things. We will deal with the fundamental question: `What makes people go wrong?'"In this book, Zimbardo goes from the prison experiment to the evil perpetrated at Abu Ghraib Prison. He contends that many of those involved in improper behavior toward prisoners at the Prison were probably caught up in a situation that influenced them to misbehave, rather than their being wicked to begin with. In other words, the personal dispositions of many of those caught up in mistreating prisoners was not because they were "bad apples," but because they were apples caught up in a "bad barrel," or system. Zimbardo, at a number of points, argues that it is very easy to write off those who misbehave as bad, rather than having to deal with the far more difficult question of how to create situations or systems or norms that move us toward positive rather than negative behavior.Key aspects of situations that affect our behavior: social roles, rules, norms, structures, and so on. He summarizes the various instances of people doing bad things by noting that (page 444): "We have witnessed the conditions that reveal the brutal side of human nature and have been surprised at the ease and the extent to which good people can become so cruel."In the final chapter, he presents an approach toward trying to impel people away from evil and toward good (or heroism). He provides a "ten-step program," summarized by a series of aphorisms such as "I made a mistake"; "I am responsible"; "I can oppose unjust systems." He concludes by developing a perspective on what heroism means, examples of heroism, and different types of heroism. He refers to Arendt's argument about Adolf Eichmann exemplifying "the banality of evil," in which an ordinary person (Eichmann) commits such stunning evil. Zimbardo argues that we should strive to create "the banality of heroism," where ordinary people can behave in exemplary fashion.Will readers accept his arguments? Reading comments from other reviewers certainly suggests that his work will not appeal to those who do not believe that structures, systems, and institutions can pervert ordinary people. An individualistic society like the United States makes acceptance of a situational perspective problematic for many. Whatever one's perspective on such issues, though, Zimbardo's book forces the reader to address fundamental issues of human good and evil, and what the wellsprings of each might be. | 45 stars
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Finally a straight shooter!
Lee Iacocca gives his opinion in a clear and concise manner based upon his extensive experience as a leader. He does so with no sugar-coating or political correctness -- very refreshing! However, I'm sure that the current presidential administration and all of his loyalists do not fully appreciate the author's blunt approach and accurate assessment of their performance. Our country has some serious, deep-seated problems that the President and members of Congress are totally ignoring. It's time for other leaders to step up to the plate to help our country regain its competitiveness, to help the middle class, and to restore our outstanding reputation around the world. This is an excellent book and Lee has written what many of us have been discussing among our small groups for years! Well worth the price and time to read. Share it with a friend when you're done and then begin to take action yourself... | 45 stars
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Love on my kindle
I've read this book many times, I love Jane Austen. So now I am thrilled to have this beautiful love story on my kindle fire, which I have once again read. This story always makes me smile. | 45 stars
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Ever been curious why you judge people like you do?
After reading this book, I learned so much how people make judgements. Gladwell calls the snap judgements we make, usually without much information is known as "Thin-Slicing" and is something we all do every day.After reading the book, I have realized many situations where I am "thin-slicing" and making quick snap judgements. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn how they make the judgements they do. An excellent read! | 45 stars
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Extra-ordinary exercise
I tried it out; liked it right away; found out it works...no more blood pressure pills...BUT need spotter...This book is a look see... | 34 stars
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It's okay! Just go for it!
To voice that I love my KINDLE is an understatement. Since I'm one who always needs a book in my pocket, the KINDLE is just the ticket for me. On my KINDLE, I can peruse the lists of Bestsellers, KINDLE BEST SELLERS,etc., push a button and have a new book to read whenever I want to. My kindle is a big luxury for me and I wouldn't want to do without it.My only concern is that the button on mine stopped working even before it was a year old. Yes, the Amazone KINDLE department helped me quickly and very helpfully. And yes, I sent it back and got a new one without too much cost to me. I'm definitely hooked on owning a KINDLE, but I still worry a little bit every time a button hesitates! I say "Go for one!" My kindle is a joy to me!!! | 34 stars
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Review of Amazon Kindle
I just bought the Amazon Kindle and love it!!! It's so easy and convenient to use, and well-worth the money. My favorite feature is the ability to sample and purchase books in a matter of seconds! Definitely recommend to avid readers! :) | 45 stars
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Bummed at Amazon hijacking my computer time after time after time...
I am so SICK of Amazon hijacking my computer time after time after time, every time I sign onto Amazon, and taking me kicking and screaming to look at Kindle! Kindle! Kindle! Electronics and Kindle! when I TRIED SO HARD to select BOOKS!! Over and over and over and over and over and over and over, and if I wanted to look at, review, shop for Kindle, I know where to find it! The truth is, since they're been trying to shove it down my throat, and I suppose every other loyal customer's throat, I'm NOT EVEN INTERESTED!! Amazon, wake up! Grow up~!!!!!!!!! Kindle is NOT why millions sign onto your web site! Quit jerking us around! Or, I'll (we'll) just find ANOTHER booksite that respects us, and doesn't try to force our hand! Now, QUIT IT! YOU HEAR?? (I tried to comment via the question/comment mechanism, and they acted like they had no idea what I was talking about. Amazon, GET A CLUE!!!!!!!!!)Dr. James Hufferd | 12 stars
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some good advice, but way too much fluff
Since my main criticism is the wordiness of the author, I'll get straight to the point: This book would rate much higher if it were one-third to one-half of its 600-plus pages.It is filled with good concepts, good advice, useful worksheets, and wonderful nuggets of wisdom. Unfortunately it is also filled with a lot of flowery, fluffy, unnecessary, and redundant language; distracting quotations inline with the main text; barely relevant full-page sidebars filled with quotations; and too much Zen-themed artwork in the margins.In "Act II" and "Act III" (of four "Acts"), the page layout inexplicably changes from a one-column layout with wide margins to a two-column, magazine-style layout with narrow margins. A similar change is made between Appendices A and B. Without this layout change, the length of the book would probably balloon out another one or two hundred pages.The book has a good bibliography, an acceptable index, and is relatively well-organized. I would recommend it to someone who is good at skimming. If you have read books by Hyrum Smith, Stephen Covey, or similar authors, you will recognize many of the themes. (In this case you may be able to go very quickly through the book and use the worksheets to help solidify your thinking.) | 23 stars
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A great read
This is the first Laurie Graff book I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book has three completely different stories in it by 3 different authors. I have only finished "Eight Dates of Hanukkah" to date, but I recommend the book just for that story.As a guy, I thought that Laurie's writings only appealed to women. I was wrong (and I can admit it? What's that all about). I found her writing highly enjoyable and as one who has been single for many years, I could easily relate to her humor.Laurie uses a surrealistic dream sequence to take her character through a singles journey; one that is funny and insightful, and one that we have all probably been on . . . just not condensed into 8 days.Get this book. It's a very enjoyable fictional read. But be careful. You might just learn something about yourself in the process. | 45 stars
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One of the best books I have read in a long time
Philip Gourevitch, in We Wish to Inform You, has accomplished an incredible feat: a moral and reasoned history of an insane situation. He manages to cut through all of the misinformation that we so often hear about the Rwandan Genocide and write something truly informative.Other reviews on Amazon have complained about his focus on the political/violent situation in the entire region, but I strongly disagree. How are we to understand the genocide without its context and without the context that it created in nearby countries? I also found myself very interested in Rwanda's (and the region's) possibilities for a decent future.This book is also damning towards the "international community," as well as international journalism of our times. The "international community" failed to intervene in the genocide - indeed, France even armed the genocidaires - and even fed and housed the genocidaires after they fled Rwanda. And Western Journalists consistently wrote the type of stories that were no more informative than "people are killing each other." Well, in this book, Philip Gourevitch has completely negated any previous excuse about the complexity of the situation or how little information was available, because he managed to quite clearly get to the heart of the situation and explain it quite easily, but in all its complexity, to us non-experts and non-historians. | 45 stars
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Slightly flawed, but worthwhile
If you are a religious scholar, or a devout Christian of any persuasion, don't waste your time on this book. It will just tick you off, and you will go off on various rants and tangents about historical uncertainty, logical consistency (in an inherently illogical belief system), biography versus scholarship, and the evils of feminist deconstruction. However, if you are casually spiritual and have been turned off by "Christianity 101" as taught by most organized sects - the insistence on belief in dogma and hierarchy, this book is a lovely introduction to "Christianity 201".Elaine Pagels' conceit in "Beyond Belief" is a comparison and contrast between the gospel of John - one of the four gospels of the New Testament with which modern-day Christians are familiar - and the gospel of Thomas, which was suppressed as heretical by the early organizers of the church. Pagels points out that both of these gospels were written over 100 years after the death of Jesus, and appear to have re-interpreted to an extent the earlier gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.She reads in these later gospels that, unlike Matthew, Mark and Luke, John emphasized that the only way to heaven was through Jesus, while Thomas came down on the side that the "light of God" is present in all of us and the way to heaven can be found within ourselves. In fact she posits that John was written as a polemic to discredit the views expressed in Thomas. Her central thesis is that the early organizers of the church favored John and declared Thomas heretical because the message in John was less ambiguous, easier to teach, and easier to build a paternalistic hierarchy and power base upon. Pagels hints at an agenda here.She includes a bit of personal biography, and it is evident that this book was not intended as a rigorous work of scholarship - thank goodness, as almost nobody would read it if it was. As a literary work it is slightly disjointed and repetitive, but the prose flows nicely and does not bog down. As any good work of popular history should, it stands well on its own - it serves up historical facts for those who may be unaware of the sequence, personalities and context of the early Christian church - but also serves as a starting point for deeper reading into other sources. I recommend it to you as such. | 34 stars
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THE Relationship and Marriage Book to Get
This is not just another self-help book that will give you more tips and good ideas that you won't be able to implement. This is the book that will take you right to the core of what creates struggle in marriages and relationships, and help you fix yours step by step. The work this book lays out is not easy, but will lead you to happy relationship, as I can personally attest.I am making this book required reading for all my clients and am planning to use it as workbook to help them put their relationships and marriages back on the right track. Get it, study it and you will see what I mean. | 45 stars
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Over-hyped
I rushed out to buy this book based upon the terrific reviews it received, especially from the New York Times (both Sunday and daily editions). And I loved White Teeth. But this book absolutely made me cringe. I must admit I was unable to get past the first 150 pages. To get that far required a major amount of willpower... I kept waiting for it to get better, which it didn't.The portraits are so self-conscious and false. Not a single character rang even halfway true to me. And the dialogue...so phony that the author's not especially skilled hand, was evident everywhere. If the author thinks she understands the United States, even New England...she is wrong. One year at the Radcliffe Institute does not, obviously, an expert make.An homage to Forster's Howard End...I think not. | 12 stars
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Good for those who need a foundation in nutrition and weight loss
While this book can be tedious, with its 'dumbed-down' illustrations and YOU-reka interruptions, for someone who is new to studying nutrition and wants to learn how food is affecting their body, this is a very useful book. I especially appreciated the way the authors presented the effects of saturated fats on our arteries, and their introduction to the omentum - an organ that many of us never learned about in school. The tips about the effects of cinnamon on insulin resistance and eating nuts before a meal as a weight-loss aid will be very new information for some.People who already have a good education in nutrition and biology will likely find this book too simplistic, but for many others, this book presents valuable information in a highly accessible format. I really recommend it for anyone who wants to understand why diets are making them fat. | 34 stars
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Something rotten in Denmark?
I am a teacher of 23 years. I have raised two children who are excellent students and learners. I think about education every single day. I spend hours designing lessons. I think about my students constantly, especially those who are challenged by dysfunctional families, poverty, language barriers or learning disabilities. I keep in touch with generations of kids I have taught since I live in the town where I teach. I am aware of both my successes and my failures. I am a fan of Parker J. Palmer's "The Courage to Teach" and just finished two books on seminar teaching by Brooke Workman, whose dedication, practical approach and humility were apparent on every page.With all of this in mind, I give Esquith's book one star. There is something amiss here. Amid a few good ideas is a lot of HIM. Snarky unnecessary comments about his fellow teachers, about his administrators, about parents who may disagree with him; a ridiculous expectation of spending 12 hours a day at school; a busy-ness in the classroom that I find manic; self-serving references to his celebrity friends, and a sense of humor that isn't . .. funny. The book is not even that well written for someone who professes to love words and literature. Those phony dialogues between "Rafe" and his kids are nauseating! Where are his editors?So this is only a tolerable read for a veteran teacher who can roll her eyes at this over-the-top approach, but impractical and poor advice for new teachers and up and comers. I can't wait to take it back to the library. | 01 star
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Interesting concept, but lacks backstory to make it feel real
Although I did find this book to be thought provoking, ultimately I think that its shortcomings outweigh the concept. Many others complained that it is depressing, which it is, but that doesn't bother me. I love reading WWII stories and have read almost every survivor account I could get my hands on. When comparing this story to real life collapse of civilization that has happened throughout history it lacks realism and depth. No realistic motives are given to either the "heroes" or the "villains" of this story. They are all one dimensional characters that don't convince me of that this is a likely scenario if society collapses. Take the claim that the "bad guys" all become cannibals. History doesn't really support this. People have been starving in many war torn countries where anarchy rules and yet they don't eat each other. People do many horrible things that defy comprehension when law and order dies, but the picture McCarthy paints just has too many holes to make me care about the characters and their fate or to be believable. | 12 stars
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GENOCIDE TEXTBOOK
This can probably best be described as a genocide textbook. It starts with the massacre of the Hereroes of South West Africa in 1904, and ends with Rwanda and Bosnia. Each chapter follows the same format, beginning with a brief description of events and concluding with eyewitness accounts. The historical material in the introductions is a bit dry and matter of fact, but this is more than made up for by the eyewitness accounts, which are both horrific and riveting. Some readers may feel the need to consult an atlas, as chapters refer to such out of the way places as Burundi, Timor and Cambodia.The biggest weakness here is that the authors don't make clear why each genocide is unique. What factors in Armenia, for instance, are also present in Rwanda? Are the massacres in Bangledesh likely to reccur in other situations? Why is the holocaust thought of as different from other genocides? These and other questions are not explored adequately. | 34 stars
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Wonderful - completely entrancing
Boris Karloff's deep, melodious voice holds you in thrall. The writing is terrific. Unlike the other review, I had no issues with the sound - it is just fine. It needs to be turned up pretty high, but once you do it works great. Completely silences my kids in the car. Love this CD. | 45 stars
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Love it
I thought at first that the Kindle was a bit expensive but after having it now for over 6 weeks I have changed my mind. The money I have saved by only buying ebooks has already paid for the Kindle. I am an avid reader and this allows me to travel light and not worry about running out of reading materials. The battery life is excellent if you turn off the whispernet wireless service. I only turn that on if I need to order a book and I don't have a computer nearby. Overall I am very satisfied with the product. I would recommend it to anyone. | 45 stars
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Awsome Product-Not Enough Relevant Titles
I loved the amazon kindle but had to return it. I was going to replace my library of books to save space, but could only consolodate several titles so I decided to return it. I will probably purchase again when there are lots more titles. Please amazon I want to repurchase, but you need to get more of what I have to make it worth while. VERY GOOD FOR NEWSPAPERS. No going to stores, battling traffic. Bad for limited choices of papers especially local news. | 45 stars
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