text
stringlengths 9
15.6k
| label
class label 5
classes |
|---|---|
Though I am deployed, amazon.com made it possible for me to order my son's college books at a reasonable price. The books were in the condition described and delivered within the time promised. Thank you | 45 stars
|
"For the method of a poet historical is not such as of an historiographer; for an historiographer discourseth of affairs orderly as they were done, accounting as well the times as the actions; but a poet thrusteth into the midst even where it most concerneth him, and there recoursing to the things forepast, and divining of things to come, makes a pleasing analysis of it all"Spenser wrote a letter to Walter Raleigh (above excerpted) to explain this strange cacophony of FQ, a mixture of ancient mythology, Renaissance Christian morality and enough obscure symbolism for an academic brigade; a tribute to country and queen. Knights from the court of the Faerie Queen conduct a search and destroy mission against evil in the form of a pack of minor villains pecking away at the heroes of the poem, but each one perpetually foiled. Such as Archimago, the witch Hectate, the philanderer Malbecco receive comeuppances in jousts, internecine squabbles or palace tours, with this type of constant action occupying canto after canto that at some point the content aspect becomes a bit wearisome. Amid this "action" are endless lists of virtues allegorized in each book, the reader being skewered to a Platonic ideal especially evident in females with such as the knight Britomart representing strenght and accomplishment in women, Una, the ultimate fantasy chick, and several others with such heights of description one does expect something mind blowing ahead, perhaps at last the perfect woman, to which in FQ Spenser comes close without cigar. The joust with the evil forces of nature seems unique to Spenser, who seizes the reader by the lapels with an in one's face style of optimism such that worst elements suffer defeat by contrast with more worthy opponents. There is little in FQ of the the weird, off the wall bastardizations of human nature being written almost at the same time by the playwright down the road. This world of Spenser's appears mostly black and white, and totally devoid of the perceptual uncertainty or moral relativity of a Lear or Hamlet, though one senses toward the end with introduction of "mutability" a weakening in the poet: "Then since within this wide, great universe nothing does firm and permanent appear." It is faint criticism of genius to call FQ a shade below the top with its questionable, archaic content simply outweighed subsequently, but for the glaring and obvious truth that this is some of the greatest poetry that has been written by one of the best poets. FQ is saved by its lyrical verse, by the brilliance of its expression; by the talent of this tremendous intellect to place into rhyme over hundreds of pages such enormous complexity of expression. To call this accomplishment "a pleasing analysis" though as well said as the rest of this poem, is understatement. Shakespeare tends to stir with eerie omniscient intellect, and Spenser does the same, but in a tone and manner so sharply in contrast. FQ contains cleverness, insight, a piercing intelligence, but all rendered with such brushstrokes of eloquence as is simply unequaled. As happens too often, Spenser died before he finished, and one speculates had he lived what else might have been "thrustest into the midst". | 45 stars
|
I first read this book in 10th grade. I am now almost 30 and it remains one of my favorites. It's a classic and I think everyone should read it at least once. | 45 stars
|
This book is an 'easy' read and very funny. However, the further I got into it, the more angry I became. I am familiar with how the right wing manipulates the government and the media through its vast wealth, but Franken uses a multitude of facts to clearly show how this is perpetrated. From the environment, to civil liberties, to tax breaks for the rich, we (the lower 90%) are getting screwed. | 45 stars
|
This book is jam packed with good information about online stalking, online shopping, protecting your identity, etc. As technology becomes more advanced, there are more and more ways for people to become victims of Internet crime. Jayne Hitchcock explains the steps to take if this ever happens to you and ways to prevent it so it never does!An excellent read - AND you don't have to be a computer genius to understand all of her technical information! | 45 stars
|
I liked this book because is Alejandro Dumas and I like this author, a classic. I recomend to my friends and family. | 45 stars
|
this book was a waste of time and the only reason i read the book waz for my 7th grade english class i read it hoping to learn about the hallacaust and life in germany but instead all it talked about waz her and peter which i really couldnt care less about. | 01 star
|
Barbara Metzger is without a doubt one of the top 5 Regency authors writing today. I make a point of keeping an eye out for her latest. This one slipped by me, however, and as it turned out, I probably could have skipped it. It has a surface resemblance to her other work - lots of eccentric characters and humorous unintended consequences - but throughout I had the distinct feeling that she was rushing through this one to meet a deadline, doing a 'paint by numbers' job. I almost didn't bother to finish it! Though always funny, her characters usually have a reasonable depth to them, the emotions are real for all the fun, and there is a plot to keep you interested. Here the plot fizzles after a few chapters, the groom seems primarily fixated on bedding his bride, rather than on any emotional connection between them, and even the humor (a Metzger trademark) falls flat a good deal of the time. I very much hope this was an aberration - certainly I can recommend every other Metzger I've read, highly. Just give this one a pass unless you're desperate. Three stars, because even mediocre Metzger is better than a lot of what's written! | 23 stars
|
This book is required reading for my high school freshman so I figured, I'd read it too so we could discuss it. It took me 3 nights to read the first 2 chapters because it was so dull, I kept falling asleep. I suppose it's intended to give you an idea about the perspective of young men during the era, but all the talk of preparing for war had my son confused and frankly, I could see his problem. I don't want to pick the book apart point by point, but I will say that there was too little character development. Characters were mentioned, forgotten then thrown back in later. It's fiction so I wont get hung up by the fact that so much of the interactions seemed unrealistic. Overall I disliked this book very much, but what bothered me the most was that the book starts with Gene returning to the school 15 years later. I had expected the book to end in the "present time". since it just ended unceremoniously at the end of the school year, I am left wondering what was the point of the beginning. It could have started on page 14. I am by no means a literary critic. We all have our own taste in reading materials, I am just offering up my 2 cents so take it for what it's worth. | 01 star
|
Ugh. Helpless female character's life is ruined by husband's actions, only after he goes down in fatal plane crash. I think Shreve meant to write her heroine as a strong, inquisitive, contemporary woman, but I only read her as bumbling and ordinary. This book came highly recommended from a trusted friend (her name is not Oprah), but I have no desire to pick up another Shreve book again. Sorry! | 01 star
|
We live with farm animals and know that they have complex emotional lives, so I had high hopes, but I was very disappointed, the author doesn't really know animals and their emotions; he just has a warm fuzzy feeling about them and wants us to be nice to them. I don't disagree entirely, I'm totally against factory farms, but this book is supposed to be about their emotional lives, no? "Fast food nation" and "the omnivores dilemma" do a MUCH better job of addressing that issue. The stated title of this book is completely inaccurate, in my opinion, after living day to day with goats, sheep, chickens and a few other odds and ends for five years. If you want a book that actually talks about farm animal emotions, "Animals in Translation" really does this in a way that resonates with my experience.I couldn't even finish reading this book, it was so far off the mark, I hate to even give it one star. | 01 star
|
Having seen Gary Null on the PBS show, I thought I would take a look at this book. I had previously been a long time radio listener of Gary Null, but as his behavior and health claims became more bizarre, I could no longer listen to him. That said, I thought his PBS presentation was interesting and I thought perhaps this book would be as well. Unfortunatly, although there are some good points in this book for people who don't know anything about healthy eating habits, this book is mostly opinion, rather than fact. Rather then waste money on this book, I would advise others to look at books written by authors such as Drs. Ornish and Weil. These authors, I believe, are men of integrity whose main goal is the spreading of the message rather than the aggrandizement of the messenger. Good Health. | 01 star
|
This is a very good edition of Pride and Prejudice, the fact that it is on Kindle is a bonus! The story reads well on the Kindle, the notes all link, the picture are clear, and it has many extras that the good paper versions have, and a couple of extras I've never seen in a print version. Just wonderful. You can get this "book" public domain, for free and get it on an ereader, but this version is formatted so well, and has so many extras about the author, the time in which she lived and habits of the day that it is worth the money. It is the only ereader edition I have found that has the notes linked available and fully functional. I am looking forward to reading the other Penguin enhanced classic that they put out for Kindle. | 45 stars
|
The Miss Zukas mysteries are always fun and she is an original character. I've never been disappointed with any of the series. | 45 stars
|
I'm a science fiction fan, and most of the time I hate it when mainstream writers write on science fiction subjects. Certainly a book about time travel is a science fiction subject. This time, however, the mainstream writer did a very good job with the subject. I think she has done her homework.This is basically a love story with a mystery attached. It was a very enjoyable read and I think would appeal to people who enjoy an unusual premise, but also appeal to people who normally wouldn't read a book about time travel. You find yourself caring about both the main characters and the situations they are in, and you are rooting for them to find a way out of their predicament. | 34 stars
|
There are really no secrets...Ramon y Cajal warns us against several diseases of the will which affect research. He does that with great candour and much charm. I felt myself included in the category of "bibliophiles and polyglots", who collect more books and learn more languages than they could possibly use. Not that I changed: I just added guilt to my innocent vices! It adds to the charm that this book was written in the beginning of the 20th century when, well, wisdom was different. I wonder how the great scientist would react to the success of Marie Curie, Rita Levi-Montalcini, Lise Meitner, Countess Ada Lovelace (whom he could have met) and many other great women of science. | 45 stars
|
Recordaba muchos de los cuentos de la época de la escuela, un clásico en un nuevo formato.Y aparte gratis.Excelente. Llévenlo y disfrútenlo, vale la pena. | 34 stars
|
I really enjoyed this book. It is ideal for the age group 9-12. While younger children would be able to read it they would probably find it confusing. I really like trains and it had good information about the trains of the era. I also am interested in the Civil War and that is another reason I liked this book. | 45 stars
|
Natural Selection by Freedman seemed to be a YA horror novel to me. This does not mean that it is bad (I gave it four stars after all) but the writing and explanations seemed incredibly juvenile to me after reading authors who write similar books like Michael Crichton or James Rollins. This novel was a very fast read for me despite my occasional annoyances with the writing because oceans and all they contain terrify me. Any novel about creatures coming out of the oceans and hunting and evolving is most likely going to keep my attention. Although it may be a spoiler, not a lot of people die in this so don't plan on a lot of B-movie gore. If you want that, give Clickers and its sequels a try. This one builds suspense brilliantly and there are some scenes in this book that should get the old (or young) heart beatin' a bit faster. In short, a very fun book that isn't bogged down by a lot of complex scientific info. To me, it is more of a thriller than horror but that's just my opinion. | 34 stars
|
With the simple discovery of a ring lodged into an old wall, Claire Montrose is bound to find out if the ring's owner -- a young woman -- had committed suicide 50 years ago. Tightly woven memories from the woman's friends and current-day subplots keep us wondering. All involved have secrets.Coincidentally, Claire's roommate, the now-elderly Holocaust survivor Charlie, has as much need to know as anyone. The hardened, pragmatic, yet caring Charlie provides a nice counterpart to the sometimes bumbling and insecure Claire.I tend to read books and appreciate writing that supposedly transcend genre (according to the marketers and official reviews, anyway), so I'd hesitated pick this one up owing to its clear mystery genre label. I should quit hesitating. The writing was solid. Many of the characters are elderly, which I found refreshing. They're given real lives -- some of them wild -- beyond the cliches and I wanted to know what they know and knew.This book is set in Portland, Ore., both in the present and the early fifties. As a Portlander I appreciated the details of my city, but I liked even more those specifics of detail that only good writers bother with. In one scene, a lunch sandwich has been wrapped in wax paper instead of a baggie -- that really takes you back. Other details of motivation and memory tended toward the dark and reminded me of the writer Patricia Highsmith, for me a great thing.The likable Claire was the central observer, the one who discovers, but sometimes she seemed a little flat in her dramatic need, as if she was simply along for the ride. This made for a somewhat long middle third of the book, where we get a lot of surmising and lot of visiting others for scant reward in the form of clues. Still, the variety of characters kept it moving along well enough.The subplots were many, and some threatened to fade, but Ms Henry did well to keep them together. It all collides with a crash of secrets and betrayals and tragedy, yet Claire and Charlie are better off for it. | 34 stars
|
Loved this book, best free book I've ever downloaded. By the end I was attached to all the characters & the mystery kept me guessing. | 45 stars
|
The fascinating thing about the Salem Witch Trials is that we will never know for sure what caused the extreme hysteria. The witchcraft phenomenon in general is now fairly well understood in terms of its psychodynamics. But what made the Salem tragedy so extreme? I suspect it was a number of factors. Phenomena are rarely simple. In Salem Possessed, the authors do an admirable job of analyzing the social background against which the outbreak occurred, a task that has not been done as thoroughly and minutely in any other source that I've encountered. The sections on the Putnams, the Porters, and Samuel Parris are particularly instructive, and the explanation of these families' relationships with some of the victims is eye-opening. Does this book explain the why's of this traumatic event in American history? Partially, yes. Therefore its value should not be understimated. Salem Possessed is a must-read for any student of Salem. | 34 stars
|
Caitlin Kiernan spins a fascinating and original tale. SILK is surprising in so many ways, from its choice of settings to Kiernan's strength as a first-time novelist. She shows an incredibly subtle and unerring hand with a task that so many other writers have bungled, creating a contemporary, urban fantasy story populated by members of such marginalized subcultures as goth, punk, and the gay/lesbian community. Her characters are strikingly three-dimensional, real people, and she has a knack for getting the reader to care about them. This is an incredibly dark, haunting, and, at times, frightening story of insanity and the supernatural, but it would be misleading to label it horror (which the publisher, wisely, hasn't done). SILK is in a class by itself and will appeal to readers looking for an escape from mundane, safe, and predictable cookie-cutter fiction! | 45 stars
|
Edward Said, created a proble and made a career of the Israel Palestine Conflict, and conviently died before he could also resolve the death and destruction he brought to the Arab Palestinians. He was a one man destruction derby under the guise of poetry, linguistics and hate and he helped stir up anti Israel and anti Jewish hatred on every University he spoke at. Hopefully, this "vintage" book will become no longer relevant, ans disappear. | 01 star
|
The first half of the moving moved along smartly, but then the story bogged down and after slogging slowly through about 30-50 more pages I threw in the towel. | 23 stars
|
This book has to be one of the best books I have ever read. Truly captivating, funny, sad,and poignant. This story takes you through all the emotions and leaves you wanting to know more about the characters and what has now become of them. I wish the book would just keep going. I absolutely loved this book. | 45 stars
|
Classic! I'm very glad to own this book in it's Kindle edition and for a very reasonable price too, $0.00!There is not anything that I could write that hasn't been written before about Mr. Holmes and his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. These stories are timeless, they are indeed short stories and may be read quickly in one sitting, and, for me, be read again and again.While reading these stories I can't help but see and hear Jeremy Brett, the ultimate and best Holmes of any visual media. Ever! The mannerisms of Holmes as written by Doyle, as well as much of the dialog, are transferred accurately and brilliantly to the small screen by Brett, the BBC, and PBS. I also recommend this series on DVD for any and all Holmes fans.Not to forget "The Return of Sherlock Holmes," also priced reasonably on Kindle at $0.00. | 45 stars
|
I enjoyed this as a teenager (who didn't), and can't wait until my son is old enough so that I can read it to him every night. The book that launched a genre. | 45 stars
|
This book makes no sense in our time. Let me give you an example, he says everytime you are trying to make a choice, pull out a one-dollar bill, look at lincoln and ask yourself "What would lincoln do?" WTF?I do not recommend this book at all, he goes on talking for hours without giving you the "purpose" of the stories he gives. Sure, I can talk for hours and tell stories that make no sense at all.Dont Waste your time, you would improve much much much better if you start talking to yourself instead of listening to this guy. | 12 stars
|
Picking up where "Sharpe's Rifles" leaves off, this installments finds Sharpe and his unit in Portugal. They've been under the benign command of Captain Hogan, who surveys the land in anticipation of French invasion. Sharpe happily delays arriving in Lisbon and returning to formal army command, which he fears will strip his battlefield command from him to return him to the quartermaster work he loathes.As Oporto evacuates before the French invasion, they are sent on a wild goose chase to retrieve Kate Savage, the errant daughter of a wealthy British widow, and to accompany the mysterious Colonel Christopher. He's a foreign office representative who doesn't want their company and we soon learn the nefarious reasons why.Once again they find themselves cut off and surrounded. Unable to find a way across a river towards Lisbon, they must defend the Savage country house against an overwhelming number of French attackers. Sharpe by now has won his men's respect, and they, his. They do notice, as we the readers already have, that Sharpe has one great weakness - falling in love with regularity.We get our expected dose of great battlefield detail as fortunes surge back and forth between the British-Portuguese alliance and the French enemy. We get another visit from the Foreign Office's fey Lord Pumphrey, who once again has a dicey mission for Sharpe. And, predictably, British fortunes improve once General Arthur Wellesley, Sharpe's reluctant patron, arrives in Iberia to take command.Historically, this is an interesting period. The Spanish and Portuguese resistance to Napoleon is considered the first guerrilla war, and Iberia is considered to have been his Vietnam - a large land he conquered but could not hold, sapping his strength in the attempt. | 34 stars
|
Alfred Lansing's "Endurance" is quite simply the definitive version of Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated 1914 expedition to Antarctica. He was supposed to lead the first people to cross the Antarctic continent, but his ship, the "Endurance," was trapped and crushed in the polar ice, leaving his group stranded and entirely on their own. It's quite possibly the greatest polar adventure story of all time.Based on numerous interviews and other meticulous forms of research, Lansing tells the story in great but not stupefying detail. He draws the reader in and makes you feel like you are actually standing on that ice floe with Shackleton, watching the ship disintegrate. He does a much better job of telling the story than Shackleton himself did in his book "South."Although there have been many retellings of the "Endurance" story, both on page and on film (most recently A&E's "Shackleton" dramatization), none are as compelling or as readable as Lansing's book. Check it out; you will be enthralled. | 45 stars
|
Very good the author did a wonderful job such a classic book. It seems as if the Mongols actually speaks | 45 stars
|
The pictures in this book are awesome. There isnt enough detailed instructions on how to support these cakes, or how to make the matching stand stand or were to get the matching cake stands. Some of these cakes are just weird. | 34 stars
|
Meg Murry O'Keefe has just come home to her family for Thanksgiving accompanied by her mother-in-law. Her husband is not able to come due to a meeting in London. Meg has a beautiful mother who is also an accomplished scientist. Her Father is also an extremely talented scientist, so talented that the President of the United States often asks for his help on some cases such as terrorist attacks. Meg has a fifteen-year-old brother, Charles Wallace, who is very small for his age, and too smart for even his teachers. He also acts very strangely; he can tell what people are thinking.Just as the family is sitting down to dinner, a phone call comes from the President saying that a terrorist from South America, Mad Dog Branzillo, is threatening to start a nuclear war, which would bring an end to mankind. After the family hears about this, an eerie silence comes over them. After a few minutes of it, Meg's mother-in-law, who is always very cranky, starts to chant an old verse from Britain. The chant's powerful meaning awes the whole family. Meg's mother-in-law tells every one that she doesn't know much about it, but that it has a powerful meaning.That night Charles Wallace takes a walk to the star gazing rock to think about every thing that had happened that night. He has a felling that he has something to do with it all, that he would have to stop nuclear war. Suddenly he stands up and shouts the ancient chant to the stars. He looks up in the sky, and can see what looks like a star quickly approaching from the sky. It lands next to Charles Wallace, and he can see that it is a Unicorn. He climbs on it's back, and sets off to go back in time to change history, to prevent all of the violence that has taken place in history, to save the race of mankind.I enjoyed this book a lot, and would highly recommend this book to any one who enjoys reading books about fantasy and history. It is also a very suspenseful and emotional story. The main downside to this book is it is extremely confusing at times because the family uses many scientific terms like a "tesceract", meaning the fifth dimension, that is nearly impossible to understand, even if it had a whole page that tried to describe what a tesceract is. On a scale from one to ten I would give this book an eight for its creativity and excitement. | 34 stars
|
Bridgett Harrison's Tabloid Love can be described in just three simple words: cliche, cliche, cliche. I was really excited about this memoir, a story about a young journalist who moves to New York City to fulfill her dreams as a New York Post reporter. But it turns out that if you don't have a boyfriend then, as a woman, it doesn't matter whether you've fulfilled your dream and made it in a big, scary city.To be fair, I loved the parts of the book that described her trying to get the story. Her description of being a journalist covering 9/11 made me cry (but what description of that horrible day wouldn't remind us how horrible it was?). I also really did enjoy the middle of the book when she finally did find someone to fall in love with, but I was already so put off by her constant moaning about needing a man to feel fulfilled that I couldn't find myself being really happy for her.I felt like the book should have finished fifty pages earlier as well. The last section of the book, in typical chick lit fashion, talks about her experience in the Hamptons, describing in detail every rich person and their designer clothes. I liked the idea of her being a regular girl who meets regular guys, then all of the sudden she's dating Mr. Lear Jet. Ick.And, to top it all off there were so many typos I started keeping track of the page numbers where I found glaring errors, including such phrases as "When I got home, there was already was an email..." Double use of the same word, such as "the the" and "she she" were not uncommon in this book and it drove me crazy. Someone who worked for a newspaper for years should know the value of a good editor. In all I found 29 errors, or approximately one typo for every 10 pages in the book. Not a good ratio, especially considering I wasn't even counting punctuation errors.I should have known it was going to be horrible as soon as I saw that Candace Bushnell gave it a good review. At least Harrison's book was better than Bushnell's "Trading Up." That's not saying much though.P.S. Any book that actually has the words "I pine for you" in them should be avoided at all costs. | 23 stars
|
I can still remember reading 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA for the first time as a kid. I was fascinated by submarines and captivated by the story of this wonderful ship, capable of making all my dreams come true. I wanted to dive beneath the waves and accompany Professor Aronnax on his incredible journey. Reading it again after many years, I find that I am still impressed by the story. Not only is it quite prophetic for its day & age, the fact that the story is STILL captivating after all these years just goes to show that great literature is timeless. In what follows, my comments shall refer to the Bantam version of the novel, translated by Anthony Bonner. This translation (or another suitably modern translation) is critical to getting the most out of this novel, as I will touch upon later.There is something for everyone in this book. On the one hand, the reader is treated to a very scientific (at times, "too" scientific for many readers) tale of undersea exploration, mixed with a tale of adventure and intrigue. The Nautilus carries us to every ocean of the world, exploring the South Pole, the lost city of Atlantis, shipwrecks, a mysterious tunnel between the Arabian and Mediterranean seas, and so much more. On the other hand, Jules Verne has also managed to flesh out a human story, one focused on Captain Nemo and his mysterious past and hatred for Western civilization. While the "kid" in you will have your eyes fixed on the Nautilus's glass portal that reveals the wonders of the deep, the "adult" in you will be rapidly trying to figure out exactly "who" this captain is and why he has built this ship, capable of removing him permanently from society.Many have complained about Verne's tendency to lose the story for endless lists of scientific classification. It is not hard to see their point. Verne does go on and on about species of fish in a manner that loses the reader's interest after a short while. But there is nothing to prevent you from skimming over these passages and moving onto the story. That's what I do and I don't think I've sacrificed a thing in doing so. Moreover, I would recommend that you keep an atlas or wold map handy when you are reading. It is much more fun to read this novel if you can actually track where they are at each point in the novel.Those coming to this novel from the movies will either be happily impressed or disappointed. While the films borrow heavily from the novel, they tend to focus on certain elements of the story (enhancing the action) while forgetting about others. This is not the tale of a madman, destined to hunt and destroy ever ocean-going vessel he comes across. It is so much more than that. In fact, my only complaint (and I have similar complaints for many authors) is that Verne seems to have been at a loss for how to end the novel. Therefore, he hands us a "deus ex machine" ending, of gigantic proportions. However, despite this minor flaw, the novel still holds up to modern scrutiny and remains enjoyable throughout.While this translation is much, much better than the cheap translations you find from the "bargain" publishing houses, I have heard that the recent, fully-annotated version is even better. Make sure that, when searching for a copy, that you get one of the modern translations (like the Bonner) and stay away from "quick & dirty" versions that you can find for a couple of dollars. Many of these cheap translations omit a full quarter of the novel and contain numerous errors. Additionally, they render the French into archaic English, ensuring that you will not enjoy the novel as much as you could. So, my advice is to stay away from the "bargain" versions-they aren't a bargain at all. But do read 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA. You'll be happy you did. | 34 stars
|
This is the new Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay as produced by Black Industries (an imprint of Games Workshop itself) and Green Ronin. This is not an updated version of the old Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, but is instead a whole new version with new updated and streamlined rules and background. However those already familiar with the old Warhammer Roleplay will find the new rules very familiar and easy to adapt to.Other than the rules themselves (which are very good by the way, especially the new magic system) the most notable feature is the background and world setting for this game. When this new version of Warhammer was started, the designers decided to make the background of the Roleplaying game match that of the Tabletop Wargame by Games Workshop (Warhammer Fantasy Battles). Thus the RPG is set in the wake of the recent Storm of Chaos that swept the Old World, and thus Fantasy Battle fans will find that a lot of material is already familiar to them in this new edition.This book deserved 5 out of 5 stars for its rating because of how well it is put together. The book itself is very visually appealing (with great interior art), the game mechanics are well balanced and work very well, and the background and story of the world is unique, making this an excellent RPG product to buy. If you are looking for a new gaming system, one that involves a much darker and dangerous world than your typical gaming systems, a world of grim adventure, indepth roleplay, and many other great features, then Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay might be just what you are looking for. | 45 stars
|
Move over George Gipe (Back to the Future), Richard Matheson (Somewhere in Time), and H. G. Wells (The Time Machine) there's a new kid on the block: Nicholas S. Stember. Stember takes time travel to the next level in his latest book Twilight.Hey, Marty McFly! Are you listening?Faithful fans of time travel will find this book a refreshing addition to their shelves. The story quickens with each page as innovative plot twists and interesting characters keeps the reader on their toes. Do not confuse this book with your average if-I-went-back-in-time-I-would-save-the-world story. Stember's narrative goes much deeper into the possibilities of past, present, and future.If time travel was possible, the first thing I would do would be to go back and write this story before Stember. It's sure to be a classic! | 45 stars
|
Written at a time when its impact made a huge difference on how people viewed slavery in the United States, it still makes an important message of history for us today. | 45 stars
|
Deena Katz, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) who has given financial advice in magazines and on TV, describes how to set up a practice as a financial planner and adviser. She discusses how to grow your business and manage your clients' lives as well as their dollars. She draws on her experience, interviews and networking with other practitioners to provide a detailed hands-on guide. She considers such issues as recruiting, hiring and firing staff, working with partners, using hardware and software and setting up effective systems. She provides tips on public relations, hiring, firing and refusing clients, and keeping good clients. Her book concludes with a targeted resource section on useful books, journals, magazines, newsletters, software programs and Web sites. We [...] highly recommend this comprehensive introductory guide. Although it is directly targeted toward individuals in the financial planning arena, many of its ideas apply to starting any type of small professional or service business. | 45 stars
|
Its amusing to read all the opinions about good, little Fanny Price. Although many people would love her to be more assertive and lively, thankfully Jane Austen decided it otherwise. Characters just like in reality, come in all shapes and sizes. Like it or not, there are Miss Prices running about the world today- the champions of morals and manners.Fanny is the result of her raising, although shy and complying in temperament, she was taught what became her zealous moral character. Fanny in the end represents the manners and values of the ideal women at the time.In the end though, it doesn't mean that the character itself is likable. I was quite fine with Fanny, although one aspect annoyed me greatly, and that was her delicate constitution. She could only handle horseriding as walking exerted her. What a load of rubbish!In the end though, Mansfield Park is a great book. The characters are engaging, and the storyline is solid. Highly recommended- it shows through these reviews, how good this book really is, that though a despising of the heroine, they still enjoyed the book. | 45 stars
|
Great information in detailing the hows and whys of the Bowflex and resistance training but many of the exercises suggested did not match my newly purchased PR1000; which renders the book as about half useless. Had to go back and use the handout that came with my machine. Would be awesome if it was supplemented to match the different types of machines out there....I would then most likely rate it as a five star. Anyone know of a supplement or have cross-over information directed towards the PR1000? | 12 stars
|
The fifth of James Pattersons Alex Cross novels, Pop Goes The Weasel, is one of the better ones. In my view an interesting villain is what makes these novels work and the Weasel is one of the best.Pattersons gives him a little more of a personality and that makes him more hateful and the way he strikes back at Crossis quite effective in terms of the story. This is a strong comeback after the abysmal Cat and Mouse | 23 stars
|
i love this book and it is a cloth book great for a two year old and a christmas gift. | 45 stars
|
Before I begin, I would just like to say that this is a simple review without any deep analysis of the book or its hidden meaning.Mehehehe. Right, then. What this book is about is.... ahm... eh.... hmmm... one guy's (i.e. Leo Bloom's) journey through the day of June 16th in Dublin, Ireland, accompanied by memorable characters like Stephen Deudalus and Buck Mulligan."Stately plump Buck Mulligan..." and so it begins. I won't pretend to understand this book fully. I won't pretend that I caught all the nounces and themes. The fact is that quite a few chapters were incomprehensible to me, although that had not lessened my enjoyment of the book. I would have to say that the most difficult chapter was "Circe", which I struggled through like a sapper going through a mine field. Most enjoyable chapters, not to mention hilarious ones were "Hades" and "Cyclops". For these two chapters alone, this book is worth reading. Hey, I would read anything that would put me back in Dublin. Joyce's mastery of English language is unparalleled and I think he was an absolute genius with words ( a lot of them indecipherable, as it were, but that's okay).In conclusion, I liked the book quite a lot, and would read it again in ten years or so. However, I do feel that this book is not for everyone, especially people who enjoy a quick, easy read. I would recommend at least giving it a try, though. You might get to like it. | 34 stars
|
The Heritage Edition of 1974 is a large format hardback with bold type and ample margins. Black slipcase.Bound in a glossy red-orange, it is illustrated with 8 gravures by Mara McAfee and has an introduction by Ashley Montagu.Sewn binding; 237 pp. | 45 stars
|
If you have visited Paris and loved it you will love this book. Its delicious weaving of the sights, smells, tastes and texture of Paris in the 1960's quickly gets you in and you are hooked.Here you meet the principal characters, Tom, a truculent Englishman and his new wife Jane, an Australian girl from a far distant and contrastingly naive world of gum trees and koalas who have arrived to stake a claim at the fringes of the capital of culture.Jane's heart sinks when she hears another Australian accent as Sally washes up in Paris and breaks in on her bohemian world. Tom, a confirmed "leg man" (its the implications of legs that attracts him)has to revise his scientifically precise scale of perfection to accommodate the "implications" of the beautiful new arrival.How Tom and Jane end up getting both rather more and rather less than they bargained for in this triangle is the twist here and as they do so they learn a lesson in worldliness and win the reader's affection.It is a great book for travellers (which by definition includes most Australians), those who are interested in the Paris of Sartre and anyone who likes a story about self discovery. | 45 stars
|
Anyone who glances upon this text has read or is about to read Great Expectations. I have read this book and I can not express to you its true greatness, for I can relate Pip's experiences to my own life and in some amusing way found myself in him. To all the readers who are about to embark on this story, I tell you no matter what I say or any one else says on this page you have to experience this timeless masterpiece for yourself. by Joseph Dion | 45 stars
|
Stuart Cary Welch is THE acknowledged expert on Indian art. This is probably the best and most important introduction to the subject. There are nearly 200 colour pages and the text is informative without presuming too much knowledge in the reader. There is a good glossary and index plus selected bibliography for each chapter which deals with art from each selected period. I so badly wanted this book to add to my Moghul/Rajastan book collection that I ordered it directly from Mapin Publishing Pvt, Ahmedabad, India. They shipped it + 2 others airmail to Australia without charging me the full postage. This book should be on EVERYONE'S coffee table because it's beautiful and enlightening and stimulating and gorgeous and, well, just THE BEST BOOK on Indian art | 45 stars
|
I've thought highly in the past of Keirsey and of Bates. Both show an understanding of how people respond and react, and accurately. This book is a corollary to "Please Understand Me," which is the classic by these authors/researchers. | 23 stars
|
I am amazed that writing about such a heinous fiasco, such a gross mistake, such a mind-bending substance as the Vietnam War--from the grunt's perspective--could have been so lucidly, so beautifully rendered in prose.This book is a two-fer: Great writing. Extreme war reporting. I did not want it to end--And I've read it before.A lyrical war trip: an all-time classic of war writing, close, at times to poetry.What "Catch-22" was to WWII, "Dispatches" is to Vietnam, except it is not fictive.Full Disclosure: I am a Vietnam Vet | 45 stars
|
Inglis' delivery was very nearly flawless. He also has an excellent singing voice; I was astonished to find there were so many songs written down in the books. The only major problem I had with this set is that it was finite.I had never heard of Mr. Inglis before listening to this set. He actually made me look forward to an hour-long commute. If someone were to publish his reading of the Zip code directory, I would purchase it immediately. He's that good. | 45 stars
|
"The Bourne Identity" is a good thriller that keeps you guessing what will happen next. The pace moves along nicely for the most part and keeps your interest up. The romantic subplot was a bit underdeveloped, or unnecessary, depending on how you see it.Overall, definately a very good pick if you're looking for an entertaining thriller. This was my first Ludlum book but it will not be my last. | 34 stars
|
The first Nancy Drew really got me in to Nancy Drew. Readers will be thrilled as Nancy goes on one escapade after another. I would also like to know if you can create bools for people to buy in the kindle store and if so is it free? Please put the answer in the back of your review and call me pbc. | 45 stars
|
Into the Wilderness is escapist reading at its best, set against a thoroughly-researched historical background. I couldn't put it down! It seems that a comparison between Into the Wilderness and the Outlander series is inevitable, which is surprising to me. In my opinion, Into the Wilderness is significantly better. Although both stories are of a similar genre, the characters in Into the Wilderness are more consistent and believable, and in many ways more admirable. In Outlander, main-man Jamie goes from being a completely inexperienced and tenous lover to an enjoyer of sado-masochism in about three days. And he doesn't seem to mind beating his wife Claire, who takes it in stride?!? Whereas Into the Wilderness's Nathanial is consistently respectful of women, and completely irresistable. Sure, there is a certain abount of predictability in any historical romance. But Donati succeeds wonderfully in creating a terrific page-turner nonetheless. And she does it without the sexual violence that Outlandler's author resorts to. | 45 stars
|
I can't understand why so many people seem to love this book so much. It starts out cute. But what is endearing about a mother breaking into her son's house, bringing a ladder fromm across town to boot? Not to mention that it is just ridiculous to think that she could lift him up. And not even wake him up. My husband and I thought maybe she drugged him. There are so many sweet books about the love between parents and children. But this is just creepy and weird. | 01 star
|
This book was great! If you like the Series of Unfortunate Events, you should definately read this book. The Uatoboigraphy isn't really about Lemony Snicket, it's more about Count Olaf, the Baudelaires, and V.F.D. This book gives you more information about V.F.D., Beatrice, whoever that is, and the Baudelairs. I really would recconend this book to anyone who has read and liked other books by Lemony Snicket. | 45 stars
|
This is not a complete biography but rather, at times, the ramblings of an old man. Other sources can provide history. But this book gives the personal insights and thoughts of an amazing man. | 34 stars
|
...is the adjective that first came to mind. It describes the characters, plot, location, etc. Delightfully twisted, refreshingly imaginative, this book is a fun read from start to finish. Enjoy! | 34 stars
|
It's been a while but I remember enjoying Janet Chapman's stories of rugged men in wild and manly Maine with strong women showing them the way to a blissful future but this book didn't do it for me. Anna Segee works as a foreman, or is that forewoman?, at a mill and when Ethan Knight walks in front of her loader she does avoid killing him but fires him on the spot. Little does she know at that point that he is to be the new owner of the mill. Turns out that Anna has had a crush on Ethan since childhood, that once he saved her from rape and that of course he doesn't recognize her for who she is until later.I missed the chemistry that should draw one character of a romance novel to the other. When Ethan and Anna get down to the kissing part (oops, I hope I didn't ruin anybody's experience of the book with that bit of info) it seemed to me that the author did it because she knew she had to get them to kiss rather than in a way that has you on pins and needles until it finally happens. Clumsy, that's the word. The book felt clumsy to me. The story, Anna inherited land after her grandfather had what looked like a deadly accident, is boring. I had to make myself finish the book. Still, I gave it 2 stars rather than 1 because I did enjoy (very short) parts of it. My advice: Wait until your library gets it in, read it and if you like it great and if you don't you didn't waste any money. | 12 stars
|
I really enjoyed this book because it is clever and very imaginative. The wonderful characters gives the story an unique touch of interest and fantasy. I would highly recommend this book to another student or any other person because anyone can love this story. | 45 stars
|
What is it about Tom Robbins's writing that draws us fans back over and over? Is it the never-ending string of similes and metaphors, the constantly outrageous and often offending picaresque adventures, or is it the social commentary that stings deeply into our consciousness? Needless to say, it is all three and more. As usual, when I discovered a new Robbins book, I got excited and could hardly wait to begin, and this new one is certainly no disappointment. With our new hero(anti-hero?), Switters, we move into a new domain of the absurd combined with the all too real. Switters says and often does what most people seldom dare. The fact that he is a CIA operative makes his viewpoint more seemingly dangerous for its possible verity. And what do a shaman's curse, a lusty nun, and the breakdown of worldwide ethics have in common? Well, that is what you will perhaps find out when you read the book, and even if you don't, you will be assaulted with enough laughs to last a while not to mention enough food for thought for a lifetime. | 45 stars
|
The book was a great read- I hardly put it down for the 4 days I spent reading it. It does differ from the movie in that Mr. Darcy really was haughty and prideful in the beginning instead of merely misunderstood, and Elizabeth Bennett was prejudiced, but both of course reconciled and became better people for each others' accusations. Also, there were a couple additional characters and some of the dialogue was switched between characters, which made more sense than even in the more recent version of the film. There was one notation at the closing of every (mailed) letter that I did not understand, but otherwise did not see many mistakes that would not have been in the original manuscript as other reviews reported. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. | 45 stars
|
Simple, but refreshing prose style - Story of closeted black gay college student finding himself while pledging a fraternity. The debut novel of author Rashid Darden is worth reading. His character-driven method of storytelling and acute observations of human nature show superior talent and skill.I was particularly struck by the author's penchant for vividly capturing the silent, secret world of non-verbal communication present between only the closest of friends, friends who share a natural affinity of souls. If you have ever enjoyed being so in-synch with a friend that s/he responds to your unfinished spoken words or your very thoughts out loud, then you may be able to appreciate the seemingly effortless manner, in which Mr. Darden enabled me to identify with the hauntingly close platonic friendship between his characters, Adrian Collins and Nina Bradley.After I'd finished reading the book and put it down, a small part of the world that Mr. Darden created stayed with me. More importantly though, I relived bygone moments from the blissful, intimate oneness I have been blessed to share with friends of my own. His writing was evocative of my own experiences.Good plot lines come and go. Literature that moves you by touching you where you live has the potential to enjoy an enduring shelf life. I believe that Rashid Darden has things to say. I am encouraged by the fact that I would like to hear more from him. Keep your eye on him. | 34 stars
|
I have loved reading Johanna Lindsey books for a long, long while. I was excited to get this book. That was a short lived emotion. Overall it is OK. It isn't cringe worthy. I guess my problem with it is that it lacks the typical hook of most Lindsey books, regardless of how formulaic they can be. In reading this story I found that I just didn't care. At this point, I'm not even sure I remember the entire plot... you can see how vibrant the images were! not! If you love Lindsey, grab a copy from the library... live through the disapointment of this lackluster book and spend your money on something that will keep you awake, like a good cup of coffee. | 12 stars
|
Great storyline!!! What an idea! Whoever thought working at a mall could actually be the least bit dangerous? I suspected a lot of different people throughout all of this, but when those of you who haven't read it yet, read it, you'll begin to see why. In this particular story, my fav characters had to be Trish and Storm. One is not at all what they're made out to be. I was surprised. Some classic sarcastic humor also throughout. Really, great though!!!!! | 45 stars
|
Great historical depth for a better understanding, not only by the general public but also by those professionals who are urban planners and/or architects, hopefully working in the "best interest" of their general-public clients, as opposed to the best interest of public officials. | 45 stars
|
I've used this book for years now for both undergraduates and graduates, with great success. The new 2000 edition is even better (except for a too-brief section on films as historical sources.) The updating with regard to libraries is especially good, and the section on statistics is appropriately demanding. The essay assignment based upon the Missouri Fur Trade readily uncovers problems and personal bias in students' work. Though written for undergrads, this guide is excellent for new grad students as a way of identifying weaknesses and building consistent skills. I require graduate students to probe more deeply in responding to the exercises, and they all agree it is a great workbook, even though it seems too basic to them at first glance! | 45 stars
|
Have you ever been lost at sea with barely any food or water? Well, David Alspeth has in the book The Voyage Of the Frog. David Alspeth is a 14 year old boy who loves to sail. One day he goes out on his uncle�s boat to toss his uncles ashes into the ocean. Once he gets far out to sea a storm picks up and takes him on an adventure. David must try to survive. The theme is if you put your mind to it you can do it. I really liked this book because it has a lot of action and adventure. Action lovers will really like this book. | 45 stars
|
If you thought this book was about a penny pinching old codger, you were only half right. A revolutionary book that brought about massive social change. | 45 stars
|
I think the first thing to be said of this book (or booklet, as Wallace recurrently refers to it) is that it's rather a lark to read. This will surprise no reader familiar with Wallace's literary and critical works. But, unlike his previous works, this one deals with extremely (towards the end) technical mathematics which the author is obliged to gloss over.-Quite a contrast to, say, Infinite Jest.I was, by turns, frustrated with this lack of rigour, and appreciative of it. I can't put it better than Wallace does in a footnote on pp.220-221, "Rhetoricwise, let's concede one more time that if we were after technical rigor rather than general appreciation, all these sort of connections would be fully traced out/discussed, though of course then this whole booklet would be much longer and harder and the readerly-background-and-patience bar set a great deal higher. So, it's all a continuous series of tradeoffs." - Informed readers take note of his use of the term "continuous series" here!Thus, Wallace does the best that I think any writer could in walking the tightrope between over-the-top technical mare's nests which only a few members of the faculty at Mathematics departments (and a few autodidacts) could grasp, and what he derides as the "Pop" accounts of such things as the development of Set Theory.-So, nobody, including Wallace, and myself, is going to be completely satisfied. While not a complete technical purist, I do wish he'd chosen to be more technical in some parts and less so in others. As a former student who has always wished his "formal" training in Mathematics went further that first year college Calculus (though I later worked my way through more advanced textbooks on my own), I was genuinely interested in the technical illuminations this book might provide. On the other hand, as an appreciator of fine writing, I know the two do not go hand in glove.So, in the end, I should say that this book is as good a "tradeoff" as you're going to find. I was pleased to see that Wallace's wit and style haven't suffered from the subject matter. He rather resembles, in this respect, another writer who is more often quoted herein than any other for, as Wallace terms it alliteratively, his "pellucid prose": to wit, Bertrand Russell, a mathematician of first order, whose renegade life and pixie wit served him well throughout his (as Wallace puts it, wryly, in the penultimate footnote of the "booklet") long, distinguished life. Let's hope Wallace's life and output are equally as long and energetic. | 45 stars
|
I am a born and raised Pittsburger. This book is great. Anyone from Pittsburgh, or anyone that has visited for while and has gotten to know "the language" will love this book.Yunz guys should really buy a copy. | 45 stars
|
Torture, plain & simple. Inhuman, unholy, horrific torture. This is one of the worst books I have ever had the misfortune to lay across my eyes. As I writer I have personally made my publisher vow on the souls of his children to place a pistol between my eyes and shoot me at point blank range should I ever ever create something as monstrous as this "novel". The writing is over-the-top melodrama, the plot unbelievably ridiculous. I wanted to tear my eyes out of their sockets to relieve them of the cruelty I subjected them to by forcing them to look upon and process this pile of dingo dung. For the love of all that is holy, stay away from this book. You'll thank me for not reading it, I promise you. Oh! The humanity! | 01 star
|
This book provides a decent look at most of the areas that are emphasized on the Biology Subject Test. However, I found inaccuracies in some very basic concepts, so double-check what it tells you with other sources. The book is also poorly written both in terms of grammar/syntax and explaining concepts clearly. Other reviewers recommend purchasing the Campbell Biology text instead of this guide, and that is a good idea if you can determine which concepts will be useful for the GRE and how many details you will be expected to know. Campbell is so detailed that it would be easy to become overwhelmed and to spend too much time studying unnecessary concepts or facts. I studied using both books and found that I could determine what was important with the Kaplan Guide and then learn those topics properly with Campbell. | 23 stars
|
Readers should note the 1972 publication date and be aware that this item is primarily of historical interest for students of changing concepts of mental illness. The book is not a useful contribution to modern studies of pervasive developmental disorders, as it was written before genetic factors were strongly suspected and before early detection of autism was considered possible. It should be noted that the Tinbergens, in their later volume on this subject, acknowledged that the ethological approach to treatment of autism was quite speculative. | 01 star
|
In cities and suburbs across America, the average black high school graduate possesses the same reading, writing and mathematical competence of an eighth-grader - with Hispanic students not too far behind. This gap in academic achievement between black and Hispanic students and their white and Asian counterparts is the central civil rights issue of our time. If nothing is done to close it, true racial equality as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned it, will only be just that - a dream.Such is the premise behind Stephan and Abigail Thernstrom's new book, "No Excuses: Closing the Racial Gap in Learning." The authors of "America in Black and White" rely primarily on data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often referred to as "the nation's report card," in analyzing the academic underachievement of black and Hispanic students. Although an alarming number of all American students are leaving high school with what the NAEP deems Below Basic skills, the Thernstroms show that the numbers for blacks and Latinos are abysmally frightening. In particular, a majority of black students perform Below Basic in five of the seven subjects tested: reading, mathematics, science, writing, U.S. history, civics, and geography.The authors visited handful of what they call "break-the-mold" schools - schools that are doing wonders in providing inner-city black and Hispanic students with a quality education, and have the high test scores to prove it. These little pockets of superb education provide non-stop learning through longer school days, weeks and years, and share a common thread: they are free from the many bureaucratic constraints that stifle educational reform in today's big-city public schools. Furthermore, the teachers and administrators of these maverick schools inform students and parents at the outset that nothing less than high academic and behavioral standards will be accepted; in other words, "no excuses."When it comes to academic success, the authors argue that culture is very important, and spend three chapters analyzing the cultural influences of Asians, Hispanics and African-Americans on educational achievement. The main reason that Asian students by and large are academic wunderkinds is because their parents expect nothing less. The Hispanic experience mirrors that of early 20th Italian immigrants, the authors point out. However, the cultural and demographic reasons for why Latino children academically underperform do not let schools off the hook. Black academic underachievement is discussed at length, and the authors have identified some apparent risk factors. (Although the Thernstroms do give plausible reasons for black underachievement, arguably the best analysis to date of the adverse effects of modern-day black American culture on academic achievement, particularly in middle-class suburban schools, is John McWhorter's "Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America.")The Thernstroms take on conventional wisdom regarding the racial gap in learning; namely, that underperforming schools just need more money and smaller class sizes, should be more "racially balanced," and should hire more minority teachers. The authors show that these excuses do not explain the racial academic achievement gap, and pandering to them will neither improve public schools nor solve the problem of underachieving black and Hispanic students.The authors also outline how Title I and Head Start have been a dismal failure since their inception. As education secretary Rod Paige aptly put it, "After spending $125 billion of Title I money over 25 years, we have virtually nothing to show for it." Also looked at is the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) signed by President Bush in 2001. The final chapter of the book analyzes the many bureaucratic obstacles that prevent true educational reform, not the least of which is how good teachers are (not) rewarded, the inability of superintendents to bring about change, and, of course, the teachers' unions.For far too long, black and Hispanic academic underachievement has been a taboo subject, shamefully ignored by civil rights leaders, the media, and even academia. "No Excuses" forces us to not only examine this issue head on, but work to reverse this horrible trend before yet another generation of young blacks and Hispanics are crippled into a permanent underclass. The Thernstroms have shown that they care deeply about our children's future. For all others concerned, reading this book is a good first step in bringing about change. | 45 stars
|
The Tin Drum is an amazing novel, the kind you won't often come across in your life. It is epic in scope, biblical in intention, and peerless in its imagination.There can be no plot summary -- the novel is Dickensian in structure, following the adventures and exploits of its hero with a minute attention to detail. It is ambitious, its purpose to explore the fundamental absurdity of modern civilization with the keenest of observation, the most tragic of wit.The novel is set in Germany during the time of both World Wars. Our protagonist is Oskar, one of the most original and memorable characters in literature. Here is a personality born fully formed, every bit as rational and self-reflective at the moment of his birth as he is at the moment of his narration; he never changes, his consciousness steady and self-preserving through all the years of his life. He stops his growth at the age of three, so that he may never enter into the world of adults, which he immediately perceives as self-destructive and spiritually deprived, unworthy of his patronage.How does he accomplish this suspension of the aging process? Through the power of his will, but also through the rhythm of the Tin Drum, a gift from his mother on his third birthday. Completely indifferent to the travails of the twentieth century which seize Germany all around him, he drums our century's beat and recognizes its folly with all the detached interest of an alien visitor to our planet. This turbulent age, caught between ancient superstition and modern technologies of large-scale annihilation, is succinctly, and with painful accuracy, summed at the center of the book -- "Barbaric, mystical, bored."The events -- too numerous to elaborate here, and after all better read first-hand than described -- proceed endlessly, each piling on the mountain of its predecessors, each more absurd and inspired and subversive than the last, each compounding the level of this breathtaking achievement, until the reader is left at book's close with the irrefutable knowledge that he or she is holding a masterpiece.A movie version was made in 1979, and it won the Oscar (no pun intended!) for best foriegn film. It is an amazing movie, true to the novel, and a must-see. And if you see it, you will surely want to read the book, which you will discover to be one of the most delightful reading experiences of your life. | 45 stars
|
I was so eager to read this classic on my Kindle but the editing got in my way. Punctuation wasn't correct; sentences didn't always work grammatically. I can't imagine a publishing house accepting this poor representation of Teresa of Avila's work (especially when the translator said he was being particular about punctuation, etc.)! My recommendation is to get another version! | 01 star
|
Excellent collection with excellent printing quality.The paper is fantastic and the bindings are sturdy.It is truly a collector's edition, hands down. | 45 stars
|
I liked this book, although I did expect a funnier, more Bridget-Jones type of book from all the rave reviews it has received... I think this book is something any mother can relate to -working or not. It really is about the struggle between being a good mother & trying to balance out every aspect of your life. Worth reading. | 34 stars
|
Hercule Poirot is one of the most recognizable detectives around, and The Mysterious Affair at Styles is an excellent introduction to him. (Styles Court is revisited in Curtain, the last Poirot novel) Great beach reading, with a relative handful of characters, a number of them portrayed quite memorably.However, it mystifies me that they would omit the handful of illustrations for this Kindle edition. This is a public domain novel in the United States, thanks to its original publish date. It can be legally had for free, and there are other editions out there that do include these illustrations. Still, this edition gets you convenient delivery of an excellent book, and the illustrations omitted (so far I've noticed the lack of the floor plan and a scrap of handwriting, both referred to in the text) are not really that necessary to enjoying the plot - I just feel that it is wrong of them not to be up-front about the absence of these small things, though I note that they do not claim that this edition is unabridged. | 23 stars
|
I bought the vocabulary cards (along with the grammar and workbook) hoping that they would assist me in learning/memorizing the vocabulary. The cards were not required for the class. They have been helpful for the most part. The card size is great compared to the grammar text. There is also additional information on the vocabulary cards that is not contained in the chapter vocabulary list. However, contrary to Zondervan's claim, the cards do NOT match the vocabulary in the book. At least my deck of cards is not consistent the text vocabulary. There are words missing from the vocabulary cards that are contained in the chapter vocabulary. So, if you have the Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar and are required to learn the vocabulary associated with each chapter, make certain that you check the cards against the vocabulary list in each chapter. There are also words in the card deck that are not in the corresponding chapter vocabulary. The first few chapters match the cards. I sent an email to Zondervan. Zondervan never responded. The grammar and workbook are great. | 23 stars
|
I was disappointed to find out many years ago that there was no sequel to this book. It is one of my favorite sci-fi fantasy books. Maybe someday, someone will finish this story... | 45 stars
|
America's young men and women who grew up quickly during the 1940s became known as the Greatest Generation for their willingness to sacrifice for their country and families. Many were born into immigrant households; their parents came to this country for myriad reasons, whether to escape religious or political persecution or simply to make a better economic life.These "children" answered the call to duty, often at a terrible price. Even those who were fortunate enough to return from the battlefields did so as damaged goods, carrying scars both physical and psychic from their ordeals, problems that did not always end when they reached the safety of their home shores.Tom Mathews was a son of one of these veterans. He relates his awkward experiences, and those of his contemporaries, in OUR FATHERS' WAR: Growing Up in the Shadow of the Greatest Generation.The long-time Newsweek writer and editor reports on ten families for which those aforementioned scars never completely faded. The fathers returned home, still young men, to their own children born in their absence. Their need to feel control, after years when much was out of their control, impacted on these children. They were demanding, with little patience for what they perceived as weakness or cowardice in their progeny.Grace under fire did not come easily to the older generation of Mathews's work. Despite accomplishing extraordinary things, many cursed themselves for self-imposed failures to act like Audie Murphy, one of WWII's most legendary figures.Mathews writes of Murphy's own account of the action that won him the Congressional Medal of Honor, in which the All-American hero admitted to being scared."Manically, I hauled down the Oxford English Dictionary's giant Volume C. First I looked up courage: 'that quality of mind which shows itself in facing danger without fear or shrinking.''I was scared' [Murphy had written]."Then I checked out coward: 'one who displays ignoble fear or want of courage in the face of danger.''I was scared' [Murphy had written]."What was this? Either Audie Murphy was yellow or the accepted definition was full of s---. You didn't have to be a genius to cipher it out.... Without fear there could be no courage."The theme of fear under wartime conditions, and the determination not to show such weakness back home, is a main component of each chapter.Many veterans refused to talk about their experiences, perhaps believing that if you weren't there, there was no way you could understand. They passed their physic scars on to their children who grew up confused, at once desirous of the love and approval of their fathers, but at the same time repelled by the inexplicable hostility --- even physical abuse --- they received. In some cases the need for approval manifested itself when it was the younger generation's turn to fight in Vietnam, some of the sons acting heroically if recklessly, as if that would finally win their old man over.As the book concludes with Mathews's reconciliation with his own father, readers might come to think that this book was a purgative for the author's troubled soul. He finds comfort in others like him (and it's amazing how many others there are).A truly touching story, told with an aching longing for acceptance, understanding and love, OUR FATHERS' WAR is one that could carry over to present-day fathers and sons stuck in the quagmire of mis- or incommunications.--- Reviewed by Ron Kaplan | 45 stars
|
Luke Smalley's photographs are of (mostly) barechested high school athletes, dressed in antique athletic wear and often interacting with antiquated fitness equipment. The theme of nostalgia is firmly established by Smalley's reiteration of the past by sepia toning the images, using old time photographic vignettes and lighting techniques similar to those used by photographers in the earlier half of the 20th century.The images presented in Gymnasium are reminiscent of a Bruce Weber project in many respects. While Weber often makes the kind of commercial prattle unleashed in his ever popular softcore Abercrombie and Fitch catalogs, he sometimes comes through with profound work, as he did with the magnificent five star "The Chop Suey Club," Arena Editions, 1999. Weber too finds his muse in the beauty of young men, athletes in particular.Weber often avoids commercial slickness by using spontinaety and organic environments, while at the same time embracing a classic perfectionism not unlike that of Robert Mapplethorpe or Herbert List - a balance that often leaves his editorial and celebrity work looking prosaic, but gives his personal work the focus and intensity demonstrated by a true master at the top of his game.Smalley, as well, constructs, or finds, spare sets which help depict his vision of an idyllic arcadia. His invention allows the viewer to imagine what he imagines, a past that perhaps existed, perhaps not. While the images may be loose, often casual and playful, the project as a whole is tight. Smalley doesn't loose his focus for an instant, while finding variety within his formal strategy.Smalley doesn't seem to care that much about the perfect craftsmanship of the picture as an object by today's standards. Even at 8x11 inches, the pictures are a quite grainy b&w, think tri-x 35mm ( though I have know idea what Smalley's actual camera format is). Like the work of Larry Clark, it is about the kid first.It is the moment of serene connection between the photographer and the object of beauty which imbues the photographs of Luke Smalley with a fierce vitality.The forward suggests a vision of a past where the often erotic obviousness of the images to come is removed or dispelled via "the innocence of the times" they portray reorientation. This Whitman-esque romantic notion of rugged male perfection and youthful beauty has been voided by the cynicism of our time - that seems to be the true message of Gymnasium. | 34 stars
|
I wish I could of read this book in Jr. High or in High School. Dr. Kaku has writen a book to capture the young (and old), minds of anyone interested in physics. It is a great book, thats all there is to it!! | 45 stars
|
A great book. While maybe not the most textbook of mysteries, its a great read full of fun and humor. I loved it, I couldn't wait to finish it and find out who dun it! | 45 stars
|
I read Emma for a book report, but I got to choose the book. I had seen the movie, but I wanted to read the book, too. I thoroughly enjoyed this book; not only that, but I would thouroughly recommend it to others, because I loved it that much!!! I was appaled to read the reviews of the 1 and 2 star people. I can see that these people don't read very much at all and only, say, Babysitter's Club Books or some crap like that. I know that a lot of people hate reading in general and so, therefore could not possibly comprehend a wonderful novel like Emma. They obviously don't recognize classic literature when they "read" it! I liked this book because of the wonderful characters. I especially liked Mr.Knightely! Jane Austen is a wonderful author and I'm working on my 3rd book by her, which I'm really enjoying!! If you enjoy reading REAL literature, I would certainly recommend Emma, by Jane Austen! | 45 stars
|
Yes, "The DaVinci Code" sparked my interest in this book and its subject matter which, despite my being fairly well versed on current events, I hadn't heard about back in '81. Nevertheless, this book fascinated me from page 1. Yes, the authors never found the "incontrovertable proof" that Jesus did not die on the cross, or that the Holy Grail is Jesus's bloodline, nor what is the truth of the mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau. And they are as disappointed as we are. Unfortunately, their theory may never be proved as they and we are two thousand years removed from the actual events.History is written by those in power and nowhere is this more evident that what the authors reveal--that the Roman government held sway over what would be in the "Bible" to suit their ends; that Jesus, according to Jewish custom at the time, was probably married and fathered children; that the divinity of Jesus was VOTED ON by a group of ecclesiastics four centuries after his death; that the Catholic church suppressed any other opinions and this information by any means necessary. Yet the information lived on through myths, symbols and secret socities for anyone who would take a hard look.I was impressed with the authors' scholarship--relying on primary sources as much as possible. Moreover, they did say their conclusions were not proved but only based on their deductions from their research. What they conclude makes sense.The introduction is particularly insightful as to the inevitable charges leveled at them by the church and other academics. Nevertheless, I think they put forth a very plausible, well-researched thesis. | 45 stars
|
Being an avid reader and lover of great literature, 1984 was an advious choice for a good read. Orwell's gripping realism captivated me in the first chapater and held my attention untill the last three words. Not only did I find the plot captivating, but Orwell's voice spoke straight to me.The strong political theme doesn't override the call to every one for a better world. Any one who reads this book and take from it the message Orwell sends, would understand why it is a classic. A fan of classic literature or high thrill novels will enjoy this page turner. | 34 stars
|
I have not finished reading. I read it mainly because my grandson enjoys this type of book and its something we can do together. It does get alittle involved with all the kings and the intrigue but guess that's what my grandson like. | 23 stars
|
This is an excellent book on marriage. It helps women see things from the husband's perspective and it helps the husband too. Along with Debi Pearl's Created to Be a Help Meet, you will have top knotch help for your troubled marriage. | 45 stars
|
WOW. I don't have a coffee table, but if I did, this book would be sitting on it. Very high quality paper, printing, and photos. LOTS of photos of Strats and artists who play them. I have new respect for my Strat now that I've read this book. | 45 stars
|
I loved the story, but it was not at all up to K.A. Applegate's usual standard. It was frankly dissapointing.First of all, Tobias is not really himself. He just dosen't seem like the usual Tobias. Maybe that's just because this is the first book I read from Tobias's point of view. Maybe not.Second, the ending of the story is really much different than the normal. In fact, I thought it was worse. It seems that no one but Tobias plays any key role in the story.I say: If you want to read a REALLY good book, look elsewhere. But if you have a few hours to waste, go for it. I suggest not buying it, but checking it out from a library to see if you really like it. | 34 stars
|
I really enjoyed reading about the mighty atom. I found it very interesting and makes you think about life in all aspects. that anything is possible | 45 stars
|
My mother told me about this book a year before I actually bought it and read it.A series of events lead up to me reading this book. Events that can only be explained by The Holy Spirit.One the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, my mom had told me that she went to mass and heard the story of Juan Diego and The Virgin Mary apparation. Unlike any other time she told me to go look something up...I actually did. Couldn't tell you why other than The Holy Spirit made me sit down in front of my computer, and look this miracle up. It was the start of the chain of events that have changed my life. This book being a HUGE part of it.Bud MacFarlane tells it like is. "Lukewarm" being one of the terms to jump out at me, made me scared and yet determined in my faith that I am ready "Boiling Hot" Catholicism.The facts are in this novel. Pure and simple.Let us zeal for the mission! | 45 stars
|
For some funny reason, when I first checked out my new channel BBC American on the new super cable, I found this little show. And, I was hooked ever since. I don't like home improvement shows because most of the time they fix things that I will never do, like rebuild a classic barn with 15 carpenters and a 50k budget. Hey, I live in the city, that is never gonna happen to me. 'Changing Rooms' and their designer Linda Barker actually work on projects that can be accomplished by the average schmo, like me. And, these books, take you through step-by-step. It is a total DIY approach. Not all the designs are fluffy or build around gaudy themes (though some are, usually for fun.) Most are fun and basic ideas that can be manufactured with a small budget (like the show.) From reading through this book and Linda's 'Colour' book, I now have a much better eye for what I can do with my space, and knowing that is will not cost much in the end. Which is what true home improvement shows should be all about! If you are looking for new colors or want to redo an entire home, this is a great place to start for inspiration! | 34 stars
|
"Murder on the Orient Express" is a true classic of a murder mystery. Ms. Christie chose Hercule Poirot to try to solve this puzzling mystery.Someone has been killed. The someone is not so nice. The murder took place on The Orient Express, a famous European train. The train is, at the moment, stranded in a snow drift. The cast of suspects is varied and unusual. The solution to the mystery is pure Agatha Christie.I have, also, seen two or three different video versions of this mystery. The book seems to have some advantages over the video versions. Still, it is obvious that this mystery weaves a spell over its fans.This may be one of the best murder mysteries of all time, but I have never been thrilled with it. Things get too confusing in parts. Also, Hercule's accent and unusual character sometimes adds to the confusion. Finally, it does take effort to follow how the murder must have happened. I wish it were possible to make this story flow a bit better.Read the book and watch any of the video versions. I do like Hercule's fi9nal resolution. And, that says something about us humans. | 34 stars
|
This book is everything you hope it is. It flows easily and you will fall in love with the main characters. I HIGHLY recommend this book AS WELL AS the entire series, where you will read about each of his younger siblings. I read the Lord of fire and lord of ice first, but i recommend reading them in the proper order - this one first. DON'T PASS THIS UP! | 45 stars
|
I thought I had written a review on this previously, but I think it had a slightly different title (complete just so stories) so I'll write one for this particular title. I was given this book years ago, when my son was 3, by a friend of mine. He told me I should read the stories first and pick out the ones that I felt would be appropriate for my son, which I did. He loved the stories, particularly "how the rhinoceros got his skin," and I read it to him almost every night (we had been reading all Disney stories up until then). There were about 2 or 3 other stories in the book that we also read. It was wonderful and made him smile before going to sleep, always important! Yes, there are phrases, etc., in the book that are inappropriate, but Disney also has some pretty embarrassing things in their books, as well. Really. Read the things you intend to read to your children, and make decisions based on your perception of content. It's an excellent book, with some very excellent stories. My son still remembers that book, and still loves the stories. Because I sold the book when we moved, I purchased a new one for a friend just having a baby recently. As I was told years ago, I told her to read the stories first and find the ones that she liked, and felt were good for her child. | 45 stars
|