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A let down!
This book is, for the most part, aimed at public elementary school teachers. The first two units are simply common sense and I found nothing helpful there. I spent my entire time thinking to myself, "well, of course!" A whole chapter on appropriate dress was insulting and the layout of the book is distracting. All the tables make the book feel jumpy and kept my attention wandering around the pages. The books conveys what an effective teacher is and is not, but really provides no concrete advise as to how to be an effective teacher. If you need help with how to dress, how to assign seats, and how to take role, perhaps this book is for you. If you want real world advice about classroom management and cirriculum development, look elsewhere. | 0negative
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Beyond Liberalism, call it Socialism.
Surely Mr. Kucinich political philosophy is beyond that of most liberal Democrats. From his speeches, one come to conclusion that Mr. Kucinich is nothing more then illusionary Socialist that keeps looking for his unreachable utopia. A dreamer lost in la-la land. Demnis knows what he wants his world to be, but has not idea on how to get there or how pay for it. It's not so bad that Dennis holds these views, but it's scary to know he has a few thousand followers. | 0negative
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Very good
This chilling, first-person account of a man who struggles with his sense of guilt and innocence (and indifference) probably defines the existential novel. "The Stranger" is a small, bare story about big feelings in our complex world. | 1positive
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A beautifully written work
Though I don't particularly love the two professional reviews listed here, I like the phrase "omniscient rememberance" that's used in one of them. That's part of the beauty of this novel: in addition to finely-drawn characters and places, and a lovely cadence to the sentences on the page, the author beautifully presents both the text and the subtext of the story at once, so that you are caught up in the richness of the lives that are presented within.I loved this book for its nostalgia, for its acute observances of the life around the main character, Anthony, for the questions it brought up around my own family, and for the skilled technique in the writing itself.A wonderful, wonderful work. | 1positive
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Not Quite Dead.............Yet!
Mr. Davis offers a consistent and essentially accurate view of the Stones, albeit with a very slight emphasis to the sensational.....but "sensational" is what the Stones have built their reputation on. A highlight is the interesting accounting of the 62-65 period; vastly superior to previous details of the groups career as it relates to Brian Jones. With the exception of brief snipets of information this book will offer little new to diehard fans who have read Mr. Wymans "Stone Alone", Tony Sanchez's "Up and Down With the Rolling Stones" etc. et al, but the "snipets" are enjoyable and appear to be accurate. For a non Stones fanatic it offers a great accurate read of their history, far exceeding the plethora of inaccurate and weakly reasearched books of the last 15 years such as "Symphony for the Devil." Mr. Davis' research enjoyably delves into the studio work with a brief song by song synopsis of each album. Though it doesn't begin to offer the detail of Karnbach and Beanson's "Ultimate Guide" it does provide interesting information. Little is offered in the way of post 1978 detail and unsubstantiated information such as that offered on the last page should be discounted as previous quotes rely heavily (almost exclusively) on the Stones 25 x 5 video documentary and not first hand accounts. One has to wonder how close Mr. Davis got to any "insiders" in the writing of "Almost Dead", but from the myriad writings available he has managed to glean enough useful data to put together what appears to be an accurate and "fun read." | 1positive
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Poor formatting on this electronic edition
I love Dickens, and free Kindle downloads are great, but this edition is formatted so poorly that it became a trial to read after a few chapters. Many words are run together and punctuation is limited, making Dickens' long, phrase and clause-filled sentences difficult to decipher. I ended up buying the complete works for about $4.00. Much better reading experience. | 0negative
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a long drawn out what if
the story started out with a good introduction then develops the story-line with a fair amount of action, mystery. My opinion, it then stalls and just kind of lingers around what you know is coming next, but it never seems to get there. This is why I gave it only two stars.. The ending seemed lacking in substance although there is a great deal of curiosity developed around two characters. I was hoping all the way through it was going to come to life? It just didn't seem to reach out and really pull me in the way I was hoping it would. It got my interest, held it enough so that I read the entire book, and then left me unsatisfied. lolllllll | 0negative
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False but inspiring
This was the second book I read on the Celts and Druidism in particular. In hindsight, I am a bit angry at the lies it fed my eager mind, but also still thankful for the imaginative inspiration it fostered within me. I think that most will agree that the book has a good story (albeit fiction) and overall "magical" feel to it, and this is where I think that we should pay the most attention. The format and "feel" of the book should be a sort of guide post/model for future authors in this genre. I have been on many mailing lists that attest to the great number of young pagans/druids that this book inspired to further their knowledge. Yes, it can and has done harm, but as a source of inspiration to those looking for an introduction, etc it has done its job. An eclectic view of mixing and matching the good of the book with the good of quality scholarship could be a good thing indeed. | 0negative
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A awesome book
The book wasn in a very good way!.only because I love the wizards and magic stuff it is so coolL | 1positive
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Meh, boring
I didn't find Diablo Cody's story to be funny or entertaining in the least. Her character reminds me of the girls that used to run in the local "punk rock" circle. They'd do anything for attention and cry "Look at me! Look at me!" although there was nothing special about them. Diablo seems intent on shocking the reader, but it comes off as tedious and crass. Two stars because it does provide a behind-the-scenes peek at the Twin Cities sex trade, but otherwise a boring disappointment. | 0negative
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Be cautious which edition you purchase!
The Anatomy of Melancholy may be a worthwhile read. However, the publication of this text by CreateSpace (check the publisher for the book you're considering) is awful! It's ugly, cheaply produced, and missing large quantities of text without reason or explanation.To begin, the cover is an eyesore. The plain black text indicating the title and author is surrounded by a hideous orange border. "Voted #1" is emblazoned in the corner; a tacky, transparent marketing ploy. I would be embarrassed to have someone see this book on my bookshelf.Opening this tastelessly bound book, after being warned that the contents may not be accurate due to the rapidly changing nature of the internet (???), you will find that the text appears to have been formatted in Microsoft Word. It is hideous and pretty much unreadable.If one does make the mistake of trying to read it, one will find that most of the book is missing! I think that this book may actually be "Part 1" of The Anatomy of Melancholy. Is the publisher even aware of this? Who knows. There is no introduction, no translations for the Latin passages, nothing. For all appearances, the publisher googled _The Anatomy of Melancholy_, copied the text he found into Microsoft Word, and printed out copies using a book binding machine he bought off of Ebay.Do yourself a favor and avoid this publication. CreateSpace (aka Helpful Solutions) is manufacturing kindling, not literature. Buy the book from another publisher. | 0negative
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Pretty good for musicians
This is a book about a young girl who is playing in a violin competition. It's good, espicially for people who are into music, but it can be boring at times. | 1positive
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This book will make you a better person...
I have to say this is the most inspirational book I have ever read in my 51 years. Franklin's efforts to improve himself through his 13-week plan is a brilliant blueprint for success. Just the way he thinks. It is like being in the company of a great man...the greatness rubs off a little. This book has a permanent place on my bookshelf. | 1positive
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I HATED THIS BOOK WITH A PASSION
THIS BOOK WAS TOTALLY BORING. I HAD TO READ IT FOR SCHOOL AND IT TOTALLY BROUGHT DOWN MY AVERAGE BECAUS I WAS NOT THE LEAST BIT INTERESTED. I DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU READ IT. AND IT IS NOT THE FACT THAT I DID NOT UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE I READ SILAS MARNER AND IT WAS WONDERFUL. | 0negative
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Informative and thorough, but at the expense of flow
Randall may have uncovered just about every fact there is about Thomas Jefferson. The fact that he dedicated pages evenly to each one is where this book fails. Thomas Jefferson could be the most complex figure in American history, but most people won't realize that fact from reading this biography because their minds will be numb from reading the first 300 pages of the book dedicated to his early law career that really played little role in the development of Jefferson. The author tries to justify his inclusion of all this material by theorizing that his contempt for the law system turned Jefferson's mind towards changing the system and thus revolution, and once committed to revolution his ideas on government were influenced by his law teachings, but dedicating 50 pages to Jefferson part in exploting a loop hole in Virinia law to help the First Families acquire more land serves more to make the reader flip through the pages scanning for interesting dates to resume reading. The real dissapointment in the book is that in spite of all this research, Randall fails to really tackle Jefferson's hypocricies and puzzling political movements. Perhaps he was unable to find good cause for Jefferson's motives, but to ignore his obvious faults makes this biography toothless. His borderline treasonous behavior as both Washington's Secretary of State and Adams' Vice-President, his obvious hypocrisy between champion of human equality and slaveowner, and his change of heart about the institution between his authorship of the Declaration and his ascension to the Presidency (along with the glossing over of his decision-making process during the Louisiana Purchase), are all controversial actions of a man usually considered "great" without much examination. This book would be the proper forum to defend the actions, explain the rationale behind them, or if failing to discover one, call out Jefferson for these personal blemishes. Randall does none of this, either lamely glossing over the points or omitting them altogether. After becoming president, the story gets so thin that it makes one wonder if Randall himself got bored with his research and writing of Jefferson's early career that he simply wanted to finish the book. He chose the wrong part of Jefferson's life to cut from. The book gets 2 stars for the information it contained, and doesn't get 3 more because of its presentation and lack of the information that it should have. There must be more engaging biographies of Jefferson than this one. | 0negative
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1984 will open your mind!!
I think that part of the impact of 1984 is lost now - I think it meant A LOT more to my parents growing up in the '60s. But the inner themes of the human spirit and how we function in society are just as applicapable today as when written in 1948. Orwell was a wise, wise man.... | 1positive
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ridiculous book!
This book is terrible! The suggestions for what to feed a 4-7 month old baby are crazy. At the beginning of numerous recipes it suggests frying and onion, potatos, etc.! Why on earth would you fry anything for a 4 month old baby?!It also suggests cheddar cheese, and strawberries for babies under one year old. I am suprised the book doesn't mention sprinkling peanuts as a garnish on top of the fried onion, cheddar and strawberries. A basic understanding of babies and nutrition should be necessary if you are going to write a cook book for babies. | 0negative
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bleak and oppressive is right!
I was very happy to learn that I was able to return the ebook version I bought for my kindle. I found the early part of the book just too depressing to get through. The descriptions of the bombs dropping on different parts of the country and on different people...too vivid for me to get through. I enjoyed The Stand and was hoping for something similar, but ended up having nuclear bomb nightmares the first night I started reading it. Decided I better call it quits for my own sanity's sake! Call me a wimp, but this book was just not for me! | 0negative
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Perspective
I've noticed that most of the low ratings for this book are written by people lacking cranial capacity to digest the book, not really due to any judgment of the content. Which is surprising, since this book is a quick and easy read. The book failed to make an emotional impact on me, because I saw the perspective as being ridiculous. If it was set in any other time period, this would not have bothered me. Here we have a ridiculous child obsessing over the social hierarchy of an all boy's school, worrying about silly things, while across the globe, war atrocities are occuring, people are dying. This setting puts the main character's, Gene, strife into the perspective that it is all silly childish nonsense. The only emotional resonance this book contains concerns Knowle's only likeable character, Phineas. That is what earns it two stars. | 0negative
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Great book for understanding neo-conservativism
Although George W. Bush has gotten credit for the new face of American foreign policy his is merely a reflection of an intellectual movement that's been around for decades, solidified in the early 90's and really took hold after September 11th. The ideology is known as neo-conservativism and its adherents litter the White House and Pentagon. They are marked by an intense hatred of international agreements and organizations, diplomacy and the State Department. The neo-cons preach a black and white, good and evil (with us or against us) worldview and frame their arguments in moralistic terms. To them military force is the catch all answer for international problems with some neo-cons going so far as to advocate continual war. Americans forget or perhaps don't realize that Iraq was intended to be just the first in a string of wars that included Syria, Libya, Iran, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern and African counties.Rather than an attack from the left `America Alone' is a measured criticism of neo-conservativism from the middle right. The authors point to an intellectual wattage drain in the second generation neo-conservatives. Whereas the first generation went through an evolution in thinking and prided themselves on intellectual experimentation the second generation seems to have been, as the author put it, born middle aged. Experimentation gave way to inflexibility to the point where neo-conservatives found themselves incapable of adapting to a new and increasingly open Soviet Union emerged. The new generation has by and large abandoned academia and moved straight into politics and policy making but operate like someone working from within a gated community. Almost to a man the neo-conservatives have spent no time in the military while continually choose the military route.Conservatives have long railed against small groups of experts, intellectuals or `elites' setting policy contrary to popular will yet this is exactly what the neo-conservatives have done. They have cynically manipulated public opinion on the Iraqi war using time tested propaganda techniques and brazen lies. There is an arrogance among neo-conservatives that the general public is unprepared for the lofty neo-con goals so rather than articulate their true agenda they offer answers designed simply to placate the populace. This was particularly evident in the WMD sales pitch for an Iraqi invasion. In the case of foreigners the neo-cons feel it's their right, perhaps even duty to completely alter societies that don't conform to western democratic free market capitalism. Although the neo-conservatives claim to be realists their liberal idealism is most evident in Iraq where neo-cons like Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Perle made obscenely rosy predictions about the outcome of the invasion and the so called `domino effect'. The neo-conservatives believe America can literally reshape the entire Middle Eastern region through sheer brute force and no amount of monetary or human expense is too excessive.The last few years have seen an unprecedented loss of American prestige and moral leadership. While the United States continues to operate Guantanamo base and refuses negotiations on international treaties like ABM and Kyoto a message is sent to the rest of world that the United States couldn't care less about world opinion. This may satisfy a certain jingoistic spirit but it does immeasurable damage to the United States standing in an increasingly connected world.`America Alone' is an extremely well researched book filled with important information and fascinating analysis. It's a hefty 340 pages but I never grew bored reading it. I heartily recommend this book to anyone with concern or interest in the future of the United States. | 1positive
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waste of time and money
This will only leave you dazed and confused. Writing by the numbers is the worst way to write anything. I'd like to see a screnplay that this guy has written (if he is even capable of it) before I take his advice. Do you see what I'm getting here? He can't write a screenplay, but he can give others advice on how to do it. Huh? Run that by me again. Actually, it's not that difficult to figure out: since he can't write a screenplay he has, however, devised a way to make money writing these how-to books--and lots of it. Fine, for him--but not so good for you, because this is advice coming from someone without credentials. If Sam Fuller or John Huston were giving advice on screenwriting (or, say , Akira Kurosawa,) that would be well and good. But no, it's this guy who hasn't got the talent to do it. | 0negative
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The China of Yesterday
A superb work of fiction, written in 1931 by Pearl Buck. Her style of writing won her the Nobel Prize in 1938. In this recent paperback version (enriched classic edition) the background information and other details are included.I read this story of a Chinese farmer and his family, their customs, addictions, disasters, etc. again, because it is just so captivating. The author lived in China, crafted a narrative that conveys her love for the country and its struggles, and the reader becomes transfixed with wonder as we compare the China of today with the China of eighty years ago.If you have never read this amazing story, I recommend it as a history lesson - a way to understand this part of the world then and compare it to now. | 1positive
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Buyer Beware of the E-Book Edition of this!
First it tries to sell you this book in 3 parts, because they claim it is TOO BIG TO DOWNLOAD. They really want THREE times the money. I truly believe it has nothing to do with download size."Illustrations" are awful and too blurry to appreciate, even when one zooms in.I did get my money back and got a free edition.You will notice a lot of the GOOD REVIEWS for this are for the HARDBACK edition. The hardcover is probably much nicer then this ebook.Don't fall for this ebook and the outragous price they want (x 3). This is my final warning... | 0negative
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The American dream rising from the ashes of Arabian nights
A compelling drama that weaves a spell-binding tapestry portraying the ancient mystique of eastern royalty shattered by one woman who dares to achieve the American dream. Undoubtedly the most facinating story Ive read in years. | 1positive
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Classic book that people don't take the time to listen to
Of all the negative reviews I read, the common theme is "I didn't understand it." Or, "I was forced to read..." Truth is, it is a very solid novel; not the greatest, but very good and insightful. For those of you who claim not to understand this work, may I suggest a return to Winnie the Pooh? Give the book a chance, think a little about it, and you may be surprised. | 1positive
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Best how to sculpture book
From Clay to Bronze would be my number one text suggestion for a modeling sculpture couse at college level, or for someone interested in sculpture personaly. City libraries should have it on there selves. Very current with matial use. | 1positive
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Largely an academic waste of time
If your really want to understand how to compete for the future, read Crossing the Chasm, following by Inside the Tornado (Geoffrey Moore). Competing for the Future will largely waste your time. It is a 100 page book crammed into 300+ pages. The authors spend lots of time repeating fuzzy feel good ideas, and criticizing current managers, but say little that would actually help you compete for the future. They continually cite Apple as the poster child for Competing for the Future (ignoring the fact that the Mac was created in a skunkworks -- a concept they poo-poo.) Yet you can see from Apple's plight today that Hamel and Prahalad have certainly not found the most important thing for long term success. Companies that spend too much time looking 20 years out will never see it, as Apple will not. The truth is that top management can certainly ask themselves "What will competition mean in 20 years?", but they will most certainly be wrong. We live in chaotic times, and the best companies know how to turn on a dime and exploit current emerging markets (Microsoft is great at this). Hamel and Prahalad's books is destined to sit on many shelves, looking very impressive but doing nothing for its readers. | 0negative
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SHOULD HAVE STOPPED AFTER FIRST 50 PAGES
Havana Room started with an explosive, accidental death that could happen in the home of all of us. The resulting downward spiraling of the main character's life was stunningly sudden and believable. It seemed like we had the makings of another Bonfire of the Vanites where one wrong turn, one wrong decision, and everything can fall in on us all at once. Regretably, that's the highlight of this thoroughly absurd tale of characters one more wretched than the next. It was silly and repetitive with no character seemingly deserving of redemption or reconciliation. | 0negative
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This book is not about embedded systems architecture
I read through all the 5 star reviews prior to purchasing this book. I was very disaapointed to find most of the book devoted to very basic hardware concepts. Much of this information is obtainable from sources cheaper than a $70 book. For example, the MPC7450 PPC Reference Manual is over 800 pages and is free (check out Freescale or IBM websites) - you will learn about microprocessor architecture too!. There are two chapters in the book (Chapters 1 and 11) that have a weak discussion on architecture, and after a lot of hand waving, finally refer you to some other books (see page 533) that actually discuss architecture.So if you know nothing about hardware or were sleeping in class, you might find this book useful. I am sending it back - and next time I will read all the reviews. | 0negative
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In These Girls Hope is A Muscle is Inspirational.
In these Girls Hope is a Muscle I got a sence for how important a team is. The details of the individual and team expirences are encouraging and informative. This novel is truly fascinating, and is an excellent story that all women basketball players should read. | 1positive
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Persuasive rhetoric for the truth of Scripture!
In this book, the great Christian apologist, C. S. Lewis, sets forth to explain the beliefs that have been held in common throughout the ages by nearly all Christians. Lewis was a respected literature professor at Oxford University and a close friend of J. R. R. Tolkien. He became famous during his Christian radio broadcasts on BBC during World War II. He has written many books on Christianity, but this is one of his very best. Using simple language, he explains that God must exist. With reason, he explains the various tenets set forth in the Christian religion. This short book, can serve as a great beginning for someone who is trying to invoke reason in the Christian faith. A great defender of the faith, Lewis frequently debated atheists, and helped people to accept Christ when faulty reasoning might have temporarily been in their way. Read this, and find yourself becoming a better evangelist, by learning answers to many questions that seekers might ask. This is the first C. S. Lewis book to read. After that, you may be hooked. | 1positive
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Great condition
The description of the condition of the book was spot on, I would even go as far as to say that it might have been overstated. the book was in great shape, basically new except for some highlighting, but seeing as im in college notes are very helpfull. This book makes for a good read. :) | 1positive
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Classic
A good book that has appealed to readers over time. The story is one that everyone should read. Enjoyed it. | 1positive
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The Future Is Not Scary
The Skeptical Environmentalist is an important book. The author writes in what I have to call the "un-masking" tradition, in which a writer examines an almost universally accepted world view and reveals it to be false. Unlike most writers in this tradition, who tear down false paradigms but leave little of value in their place, Lomborg has a charitable and humanitarian message.Lomborg examines a wide range of phenomena - food and hunger, deforestation, air pollution, and water pollution, for example - and usually finds that our current policies are working. They may not be working as fast as we would like, and it would be inappropriate to feel complacent, but, contrary to what we are told by the media and some environmental groups, we have identified approaches to environmental problems that are successful and are working. The author is careful not to overstate his case, and there are many exceptions to the highly simplified conclusion that I've described above. One major exception is that, while the developed countries can afford to address their environmental problems and are doing so, the developing countries face the more pressing problem of crushing poverty.In Lomborg's view, this problem - poverty in the developing countries - is the principal problem facing the world. Accordingly, our principal objective must be to create wealth in these countries. Creating wealth in the developing countries will help their people live longer, healthier, more fulfilling lives. And, once these basic needs are met, the developing countries will turn their attention and resources to environmental issues as the developed countries did in the last quarter of the 20th century.There is much more than this to Lomborg's finely detailed examination of the true state of the world. His book, while polemical, is carefully researched and argued. Lomborg's presentation is engaging and the book is visually attractive. This is probably the most rigorous book I have ever read by a political scientist and it enhanced my appreciation for what Lomborg's profession can offer us. | 1positive
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Good Stuff
Although Tom Wolfe's way of writing may seem strange and at times weird, the story of these test pilots and pioneer astronauts is a classic. Beginning with the stories of pilots like Chuck Yeager, the man who broke the sound barrier, the book develops into the grand drama that was the space program and the race against the Soviets to the new frontier, chronicaling the pilots who took such great risk in participating in it. If you liked the movie, you'll love the book. A great work that I highly recommend to all readers. | 1positive
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Save this book for Friday Night
One of the best experiences you can have on a Friday night is to curl up with the newest James Patterson Alex Cross serial killer hunt and read all night long. No work or school in the morning. Smell the popcorn! The Coke is "ice cold"! Let's read! I finished this book early in the A.M. My wife took it Saturday night and missed church Sunday Morning by sleeping. | 1positive
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So-so.
I guess I'm on my own with this review. I tried Suzanne Brockman for the first time based on all of the good reviews for this book. I was very disappointed. I finished the book because it was the only one I brought with me on vacation. Otherwise, I would have stopped reading it and moved on to another book. The characters in this book weren't very likeable -- especially Wild Card. He "fell in love" WAY too quickly, and started making marriage plans right away. Come on. I don't see how that's an attractive characteristic. | 0negative
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Wanted to stuff it down author's throat
I was forced to read Tess for summer reading. I have possibly never been so glad to finish a book, not out of joy at a good reading experience but because the novel was such torture to wade through, in all its melodrama, sensationalistic elements, unlikable characters, and gaping holes in the plot, especially towards the end. Tess is a weakling who acts illogically, vacillates and secures the reader's complete disgust before the end. One should already know it from the title and the first few pages, where Tess's father, a peasant, finds out that he is the relic of an old noble family (his real name is Durbeyfield). Why cannot books have sense? All through the novel I longed to be reading Pride and Prejudice or Middlemarch. The time this book was written in has nothing to do with it; both the two books just mentioned were written considerably before it. I was left with a very poor impression of Thomas Hardy's talents as a writer. (Incidentally, it should tell you something that more than one reader/reviewer compared it to the movie Titanic.) | 0negative
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Read this book if you haven't. NOW!!!
I loved this book almost as much as I loved the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Basically, the only reason this book didn't get a ten is because after you finish it you want more and there were lots of places where it could easily have been expanded, especially near the end. One of teh great things about the book is the way Bilbo's charachter evolves, not to mention the incredible riddles. If you haven't read it, do. And if you have, write your own review of it | 1positive
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A good value but use it as a supplement
The questions on this book hardly resemble what are tested on the LSAT. Many of them are poorly written. This book is no substitute for other excellent guides out there and certainly not for the actual PrepTests. However, this book contains so many questions compare to other test prep materials so if you need reading and game practice, you get tons. I think this book contains nearly 3 times more questions than similarly priced books. A good value. | 0negative
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India's Tolstoy
During my recent trip to India, I was told that this book was the best work of fiction about India, bar none. Since I haven't read every work of fiction about India, I can't make that judgment, but I can say it is sobering, emotionally difficult to take, eye-opening, extraordinary, moving, funny, sad, and unforgettable, the same adjectives I would use to describe India itself. I was touched by the sweetness and humanity of the characters I met in this work, and was horrified by the brutalities perpetrated by Indira Gandhi's Emergency as well as by India's awful caste system. Also, the strength of the tradition of arranged marriages surprised me. From what I read recently in the news of Indian women being brutalized by their disappointed husbands who find they haven't acquired an efficient enough slave or a rich enough dowry, this practice continues unabated. In any case, for anyone wanting to feel what life can be like in India for the vast millions of "have nots" who struggle to survive, I highly recommend this wide-ranging and masterfully written epic work. | 1positive
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Very good
A great read to reflect on christmas and give the spirit we all need sometimesRead on christmas eve, loved it | 1positive
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BORING! Get it over with already.
I love Richard Jordan. His first books in this series were so addictive I think I blew through them in like two weeks. The action moved right along and the characters were great. But in the last few books everything has slowed down to a halt. This lastest book in hardcover is two inches+ thick, and approximately like two days or so have passed from the beginning of the book to the end...or so it seems. I wish Jordan would pick the pace up a bit and get Elayne on the throne, Egwene in the tower, and Rand to Tar'mon Gaidon already. Geez. Another complaint I have with this book is that Jordan does very little review of what happened to the characters in the previous novels. This is especially important because he takes like a year and half to come out with each book. By then I have completely forgotten everything. In most serial books I have read, the plot comes back to me very quickly. This was not the case with this book. I suppose, I'll read the next books because I have read them all...but I doubt I'll buy them at hardcover prices...I'll wait for the paperbacks. | 0negative
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Oh my...
This novel is absolutely awful. Although it has received over 500 reviews I feel it is my duty to help bring the average star level to where it belongs, at zero. Where to begin... perhaps with the run on sentences, the failure to create significant rising action, the flat two dimensional characters... This novel is full of things which not only bore the reader, but frustrate them as well.The fatal flaw in this piece of literature is its inability to stay relevant. Post-modern society does not really care about, "Baby daddies," and the revelation which is made at the end, and beginning, of this novel is reproduced daily on morning television a la Maury. Unfortunately, Nathaniel Hawthorn you are the father of this literary disaster. | 0negative
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Great Book For Home Cooks Who Aspire for More
Who is this book for? This book is for folks who are already comfortable with kitchen basics and want to take it to the next level - think amateurs halfway into their Beginner phase looking for a guide to get them to an Intermediate level. If you love food, love the art and challenge of cooking, and are open to trying new things, this is it. The recipes aren't Betty Crooker, but they're not so difficult as to be discouraging and you may learn a thing or two. It's a great first cook book for home cooks who already picked up enough from watching their mom or grandmother cook to get through entry level dishes without breaking a sweat and are now looking to expand their horizons and creativity. Honestly, most of the dishes can be done with entry-level skills and a little time.Who is this book NOT for? This book is NOT for folks looking for easy, last minute-saves, nor is it for folks looking for "Chef Boyardee Italian." Yes, it says "simple" in the title, but "easy" and "simple" are two different things (though some of the dishes are, indeed, simple as well as easy). Some recipes may take a little bit of planning, and the final product is not what you'd find at your standard corner pizzaria. And if you're scared of seafood, be warned - there's a dazzling array of fish dishes in here, all of them great.Finally, I've read a couple comments complaining about not being able to find ingredients. I'm sure this is dependent on where you live but I can only think of a small handful of dishes where ingredients were difficult to come by and even then, substitutes are given or are just plain obvious. Between the proliferation of high end grocery stores, farmers markets and ethnic grocery stores, you should be able to find what you're looking for. There's definitely an emphasis on using quality ingredients but to be honest, if you're really interested in making great tasting food, you should be shooting for quality from the get go. | 1positive
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Gatsby still haunts
The book is called the Great Gatsby but the story is really focused on Daisy - surely a precursor for every 1940s femme fatale. She may have been called the original obscure object of desire. Jay Gatsby hungers for a past where he was happy with Daisy. But is she is part of the moneyed world which is entered by crime or by inheritance. No one really earns it. Fitzgerald seems at odds with the American dream of wealth, but attracted to the glamour and excess of it.The lack of a moral compass in financial matters, can also be seen in the directionless lives of the novel's characters. Gatsby uses his fortune in an ill fated attempt to bring back Daisy. The narrator has empty affairs with people in his office. Daisy and Tom `smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money ... and let other people clean up the mess.' The author seems attracted to fame and fortune, and yet horrified by it. There is no moral centre in this universe.A very sad novel that has haunted readers for almost 80 years. | 1positive
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WOW
I'm not a big reader but could barely put this book down. Most of the book is about the non-financial impacts in retirement, which seem to be overlooked by most people. I highly recommend. | 1positive
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Not so informative
This book didn't have nearly enough information. I still have tons of questions about my goldfish. It is especially lacking in information on goldfish illness. | 0negative
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An extraordinary piece of work
This work achieves the impossible in exploring the various facets and contradictions in Janis Joplin's life with real sympathy and understanding, a standout gem being the phrase 'context is everything.' Above all, it explains why and how she became to be the person that she was which is an achievement in itself. Most interesting are Alice Echol's exploration of the emergence of the hippie culture in which Janis Joplin is placed, rejecting eaasy stereotypes and getting away from the airbrushed version which it is too easy to accept. Quite simply, this is the best pop biography ever. | 1positive
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The Supreme Fantasy
The Hobbit is masterfully created, with an enchanting plot filled with elves, dwarves, goblins, trolls, and wizards. Never has a fantasy book reached the Hobbit's mastery. The poems and songs are imaginative, and the plot never ceases to playfully introduce new peril to Bilbo. | 1positive
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Just Awful! Sleeping Beauty's Nightmare!
Simply atrocious!!! Let me explain. First off, I'm a huge Disney Sleeping Beauty fan. This version of the tale and its sweet princess grabbed me at a very young age. I'm now an adult and often look back on this enchanting film with great fondness. I'm also an avid Sleeping Beauty collector and have been collecting memorabilia for 2 decades. So, when I saw this book on Amazon I thought "Hey, I don't have this version in my collection!" So I purchased it.Needless to say, I'm very sorry I did. This book in one word is HORRIBLE! Don't get me wrong, the concept is cute and clever. Maleficent and Princess Aurora get a chance to tell their side of the tale in their own words. You get Maleficent's story on one side, flip the book over, and get Aurora's story on the other. We all know what really happened (at least one would assume) so the storyline is familiar. This had the potential of being a fun little book. However, Kiki Thorpe has managed to take bad writing to a new level. Furthermore, Thorpe has managed to take the original 1959 romantic, classic tale along with its timeless and enchanting characters, and degraded them to such a level that can only be described as sacrilege. All this in 62 pages!Let's talk about the characters of Maleficent and Aurora, themselves. Maleficent, the "Mistress of all Evil", is portrayed here as the CEO of E.V.I.L. (that's an acronym for Enchanted Value Industries Limited and no, I'm not making this up). Great! So we have an evil witch who also just happens to be a powerful businesswoman. And her crime? Well, according to HER story, she was a victim of a string of misunderstandings. After all, she only wanted Aurora to get a job and thus, develop a strong work ethic.And what about the beautiful Aurora? Well, if you're having visions of the winsome heroine of the '59 film, she's NOT to be found in this book. Instead, we are `treated' with a purple-eyed Aurora who is crude, self-absorbed, ignorant, and a self-proclaimed "hillbilly". No, I'm STILL not making this up! "Hillbilly" and "country bumpkin" are actual terms used in this book, by our heroine! She also refers to her father-in-law as "this fat little man" (twice!) and discredits Phillip for risking life and limb to save her. Absolutely shameful!Now, imagine reading this monstrosity to a young, impressionistic girl (or boy for that matter). What a wonderful message! I will NEVER read this to my 4 and 5-year old nieces. No child should be exposed to this! Words cannot describe how awful it was reading this book. And what's even more appalling is that this garbage is parading under the Disney name!The only consolation I have after reading this is that the illustration art is so POORLY done that the characters portrayed within are (visually) only mere shadows of the majestic `59 film version.Please, PLEASE, don't waste your good coin on this book. If you must buy it, then by all means do so. But I then urge you to read it, bury it, and write a long letter to Disney regarding taking responsibility on how they handle their characters and what they unleash to the public. That's what I did!So, I'll end this review the same way I started it because I can't say it enough...Simply ATROCIOUS! | 0negative
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this book bored me. does that make me a bad person?
the first chapter is a model of precision. in only nine pages, a handful of characters are introduced with masterful clarity. subtle dialouge paints a portrait of each character with a depth that many novelists never achieve over the course of hundreds of pages. jane austen's supreme talent is shining bright. then what happens? it goes on and on and on. and i got severely bored. i did not care about emma's social schemes, her obssession with ones rank within society. she is simply a dull character. and the language ultimately grows tiresome. the purple prose weighed heavy on my poor brain after a hundred pages. a bit beyond page 220 i jumped ship. i simply could not finish this dull thing. sorry. | 0negative
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Probably The Best of the Counterfactual Anthologies
Most counterfactual compilations are either very narrowly focused (such as ones about the "Lost Order" in the American Civil War) while others veer way off into pure fantasy such such as the very popular Harry Turtledove scenarios. What If comes squarely in the middle. It is particularly strong on the possible alternate histories in the American Revolution and World War One.Like most counterfactual works, What If focuses heavily on alternate history in armed conflicts. But this is quite useful as wars make clear turning points (the punctuation marks of history) where the effects of changes are most obvious. In this regard, I consider "What If" to be quite superior to later works such as "What If 2" and "The What Ifs of American History". As a bonus, "What If" was the first time I ever heard about the Able Archer Crisis of 1983. Something I've spent considerable time researching in the last decade.If you don't buy another counterfactual history, buy this one. | 1positive
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Surprisingly Enjoyable and Not Too Hard
You'll be surprised. I know I was. If you're like me, you're picking up The Canterbury Tales because it's one of those classics that you eventually have to read to be one of the "literati." Or, and actually more likely, you're being forced to read it by some professor somewhere. As such, you're ready for a dry and dusty tome, struggling for every page. But that's not what's here.The Canterbury Tales is much more entertaining, much more visceral and much more fanciful than many of the works that have followed it (and most of the classics). It is a collection of short stories that runs the gamut, from precious religious narrative to bawdy toilet-humor. Most all of it is in verse (usually couplets) and the reading is fast and fun. My personal favorite comes first in the Knight's Tale, but the whole is filled with surprises and engrossing stories. Reading the Tales, you'll also have an interesting perspective into a society many hundreds of years past--a society that turns out to be not far different from our own.I'd also like to take this opportunity to recommend a modern fantasy/sci-fi novel that is kind of a take on the Tales entitled Hyperion by Dan Simmons.So, to conclude, if you are sitting up in your dorm room, staring at the Tales, trying to figure out how to approach: just start. It'll do the work for you. | 1positive
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Fingerprints
Cornwell takes hold of your mind and does to let go until Scarpetta finds her solution. There is a horrible crime scene but it does produce some fingerprints. This is an easy case for Scarpetta until there is a match. It was a match to murderer that was executed before this murder. Read the book it is a good one. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" | 1positive
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Great Series!
Charlaine Harris has become one of my favorite authors. This is a great series with a colorful cast of characters! | 1positive
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TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!
Apparently these reviews are from friends! I can't imagine how this book made it to the shelves of book stores! Addicted, the 1st Sex Chronicals, and Heat Seekers were great reads, are you sure ZNAE wrote this?. Before I waist another $24.95 on one of Zanes books, I will read it in the store first. ZANE please please please take some time off and come correct, you have great potential. | 0negative
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Tolkien Rip off
The plot is pretty much exactly the same as lord of the rings, he just changed some names. Ridiculous... If you want a good book stick to the original, Lord of the Rings, don't read this. No originality..and no where near as much preparation or fore-thought went into the execution of this book. | 0negative
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Classic book for a reason
This is exactly the sort of absurdist and strange humor I love. The Milo Minderbinder character was one of the best I've ever read about. Heller manages to mix all this outrageousness with the melancholy of loss and death that people experience in war. This book is a classic for a reason. Go ahead and read it. | 1positive
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Grammatical Disappointment!
Der? Die? Das? Your guess is as good as mine. No Articles!! VERY disappointing for an otherwise excellent reference. However, in all fairness to the author, it's an excellent reference for the native German speaker who needs to reference the English words. Native English speakers: beware. | 0negative
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Boringgggggg classic
I may be trying too hard to read a classic book.. I thought P&P would be a good start since they just made another movie on this book.. but I was wrong! the book was boring and plotless. Sure nowaday women are still searching for Mr.Perfect like Lizzy was. But today's women have to deal with much more complicated life problems and worries while searching for the right guy.. The whole book was about drawing room,dinners, and occasional conversations with some ladies urging Lizzy to get married. I better off stick with the modern love stories with real people problems. Glad women have grown so much tougher since the old days. | 0negative
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I'm a Believer
So I guess Groundhog Day is really a documentary. The book provides compelling evidence to support reincarnation.Ruth Montgomery takes you through actual past life regression hypnosis sessions and what the people said, readings from psychics on people's past lives, and the readings of Edgar Cayce in both medical diagnosis and past life analysis to explain the subject's relationships with others and why certain events happened in their lives.The author also showed patterns, like people who died violently or suffered greatly had hurt people in previous lives.Some interesting occurrences that arose out of the regressions were the extreme level of detail the subjects were able to remember and how intense their emotions were during the recall.All the regressions were interesting, but the children who had total recall of previous lives which was verified beyond any doubt by trips to visit their prior life relations was the best.An excellent, timeless book. | 1positive
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Quintessential Brooks
I've read the entire Shannara series multiple times over the last 25 years. It just keeps getting better. | 1positive
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avocado, oil, salt
Want a quick idea of what a recipe in this book is like? Okay. Take an avocado and peel it. Dip it in extra virgin olive oil, and then roll it around in a lot of organic celtic sea salt. And there you have it!While this book had some attractive photos, I found it confusing and not helpful at all to a raw beginner. I don't know how they planned on marketing the book -- sometimes Juliano/the ghostwriter would outline things for people who might be completely unfamiliar with raw foods, and then he'd go into things that only an advanced raw foodist would know. Very confusing.I made a few of the recipes and I have to say that they were very unappealing. I wish I had just eaten the ingredients separately instead of blending them up together. And he sure calls for a LOT of olive oil. I sometimes cut the oil in half for the recipes and it was still way too fatty for me. Raw or not, that much fat from oil cannot be good for you.I'd recommend this book only for a more advanced raw foodist who wants some fancy (and time-consuming!) recipes. Beginners should probably beware. I certainly wouldn't mind going to Junliano's restaurant and trying the food that way...but making it from the recipes in this book? I don't think so. | 0negative
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Never liked compilations
There are a few good articles, but this book is for hard corps political & military history academics. It was required reading for a required military academic course. Only read it if it's required, then try to get the bare minimum done. | 0negative
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An impressive, beguiling debut
Zadie Smith's "White Teeth" is a pure delight and stands head and shoulders over most literary debuts. What carries this along is the vibrancy of the words; it boggles the mind to think how anyone, regardless of age, can make such ordinary lives come to life in such unexpectedly varied ways. The scope is what I like most about 'White Teeth.' Unlike most so-called literary novels, Smith takes on the big external issues -- race, class, history, even genetic engineering -- without losing her affection for her characters. Much like David Foster Wallace, or even (yes) Salman Rushdie, there is a big palette of ideas, places, and backgrounds on display here. Each character gets his or her full due and chance to make a deep impression, without the plot strands coming undone. It's a big ride, only sometimes pretentious, filled with great humor, satire, and best of all heart. | 1positive
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Depressiung book, old man and the sea
This book sucks. Only a depressed person would like this book. The old man is lonely and keeps trying to fish but doesn't catch any. It's like that old saying, if you put your mind to it you can accomplish anything, but this old man failed. Only a depressed person would like it | 0negative
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Shedding new light on youth
After reading this book, I couldn't help but think of the boys whom I know. It made me wonder with which camp they would align themselves: Jack's or Ralph's. The frightening realization is that there are so many bullies out there aged 12 and younger who would probably turn out just like Jack or Roger if left to their own devices. I shudder to think of how right Golding was in his theory that man is easily swayed by fun and immediate gratification, and that remorse and compassion are considered weak and disdainful emotions. This book will be lost on the young reader, who lack the understanding of the use of metaphor and symbolism. Viewing a rendition of the island while reading the story provides a helpful guide through Golding's description of it. A couple Web sites to see maps are homework-online.com and gerenser.com. Don't read the character or story analyses until you've read the book, though, or you'll spoil the impact of the story, but definitely read them after you've finished the book. Lord of the Flies will leave a lasting impression on its readers and, hopefully, will make them realize the importance of belonging to a civilized society. | 1positive
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Boring, boring, boring
I struggled through this book. If I hadn't had to read it for school, I would have dropped it immediately. The story is dark and unhappy, and the writing style is so flat and boring. It seems as though the author is trying to use big flowery words and stuff, but it doesn't work at all. This is a horrible book. | 0negative
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Streetwise Brooklyn
This map was not at all helpful. The text is small. It splits the borough in half vertically with one half on one side and the other half on the flip side of the map. I have found other maps that are much more user-friendly especially for individuals who are not very familiar with Brooklyn. | 0negative
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The book i never read
The Martian Chronicles was a very weird book. The book was written in 1946 and was very outdated for my taste. Although the stories that I did read I found them only somewhat interesting but not horrible. And the stories that I did not read and learned what they were in class were very strange and for the most part uninteresting.Although I did not like this book one story that I did find interesting was Way In The Middle of the Air. This story showed the controversy of blacks and whites in any society and I think that that subject is something important to talk about in a book. The story that I liked least was Ylla because I really didn't pay attention to what was happening and the events of the story. Also it was very boring and the story was retarded and horrible. Poor Ylla, I can't believe she would stay with a total jerk like Yll!!!I think this book is a boring and worhtless book to read in school because it shows nothing about English class and is really a pointless book to read. This book, I think should be updated and it could be much better. The book could even be a good science fiction movie and with the help of Hollywood it could be a hit!!!!! Well for now good by and if you are reading this book GOOD RIDDENS!!!! | 0negative
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Lagerkvist's Masterpeice on the Divine....
The Sibyl is most certainly a wonderful piece of literature of profound imagery and mythical content. It was the first book I read from the Nobel Prize of Literature recipient for Barrabus - Par Lagerkvist, which ignited my interest in his other novels, short stories and essays.The Sibyl is a remarkable short parable about the struggles of the good and bad occurrences between the divine and human beings.A wondering Jew whose only experience with God being a negative one, was cursed by the son of God for his impatient words on his way to crucifixion, demonstrating how one instance could change a person's life forever. He begins to believe in the curse and seeks insight from a legendary Pathia, who lives in a cave in the mountains over looking Delphi. The Pathia like himself experienced the wrath of God. She then tells a story of the blissful love to the merciless unsympathetic side which exists in the same God. Unlike the Jew however the Sibyl accepts God. The divine is not just a man on the clouds dictating people's lives but it's the impulses of nature, in animals, in lust, in every emotion humans are faced with.This book leaves us with one prophecy which is that God is both love and hate and both exist to form a connection with him. The Sibyl dives into the quest for meaning, dealing with terrors and the wonders of existence. Wonderfully written and a truly captivating read. | 1positive
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Waste !!!
Well, in polite terms, somewhat useful but more useless than useful in any way. To be laconic " regretful buy " | 0negative
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Needs updating urgently!
I found the book informative, but it lacks the current information--like the fact that publishers of fiction now want at least 70,000 word manuscripts before they will even look at it. Curtis's book is discouraging, I agree, but the fact is that it really seems to be like he depicts. If it were more up-to-date, I would've added two additional stars to my rating. | 0negative
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Chilling
In "Slander" Ann Coulter simply used her perspective to accuse the media of liberal bias. However, with her latest book she paints all liberals with a broad brush, and says that they are guilty of one of the highest crimes we have.She holds McCarthy up as a hero and a victim of treasonous liberals. She claims there is this massive liberal conspiracy, which leads me to wonder why our government is firmly controlled by conservative interests, and she resorts to base name-calling of former President Clinton.Her book seems one shade away from suggesting that all of "THOSE" kind of people be rounded up and placed in camps "for their own protection and the protection of the country".A good read in the sense of seeing just how radical the radical right is becoming, right up there with "Mein Kampf". | 0negative
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Pioneer Surveyor, Frontier Lawyer
For anyone researching or simply interested in history, this book is a great read. Chock full of information dating to the late 1800s and early 1900s. | 1positive
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Needs interpretation from English to English
I can't be sure that my rating reflects the author's work more than it does the publisher's and editor's.Notwithstanding, there's quite a bit of brilliance in the writing style and the techniques the author employs to tell the story. Only what story he is telling, I cannot say. For the entire book I couldn't grasp the flow or meaning of the story. Of course I could read for pages and understand the mood and the speaker. But I have no clue what the book is about.And one wonders how it achieved "Classic" status. | 0negative
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Layered and thought provoking
Point #1: Do not expect a mystery like The Secret History. This is a different book. The first half is all background about the characters before the evident plot takes over.Point #2: This is not a book about a sleuth looking for her brother's murderer. Yes, that is ostensibly Harriet's motive, but Donna Tartt's motive is to give us a look into a very lonely, independent girl on the brink of puberty.This book is very layered, dealing with subjects such as loss, race and class issues, divorce (although technically Harriet's parents aren't divorced). The story is steeped in the hot South. It provides plenty to think about.The book dragged for me toward the middle, but then picked up again. It definitely is dark, but I really warmed to Harriet and her life. I felt the predicament of an "independent" 12 year old who really could not make the decisions that would affect her life. She is supposed to be under the edict of the adults in her life about big things, but not little things. It felt aggravating to me because I wanted her to lash out at these people. Harriet seems older than 12.The book is character driven, not plot driven. It's not a fluff read, so if you're thinking to polish off a mystery novel over the weekend, this is not the book for you. However, if you want to live with some interesting characters for that weekend, and be immersed in a hot Mississippi summer with a searching, interesting 12-year old girl, then grab this book. | 1positive
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not interested
since sheriff gastner departed the scene the entire series has lost its luster. while he was an old man shuffling from point a to b he was the glue that held it together. no more for me | 0negative
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Just Couldn't Like It
In James Patterson's novel "The Jester," Patterson spins the tale of Hugh du Lac, a village surf who fights in The Crusades, loses his family, becomes a court jester to exact vengence, and eventually leads a battle to win his freedom.I did not care for this novel at all. The dust jacket makes this novel sound like a Grail quest mystery and it really isn't. It's a historical drama about the struggles of one man to exact revenge against those that wronged him. The characters were a bit cookie cutterish, the plot was slow, and the ending was very anti-climactic. Patterson is much better at mysteries and my advice would be for him to stick with what he is good at. "The Jester" was just not my cup of tea. | 0negative
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AMAZING
Honestly the best book I've read in my entire life! I just can't stop reading it over and over again. This is truly worth your money. | 1positive
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By far the weakest of the 3 years of Paso a Paso
I teach using the Paso a Paso series. Paso a Paso 1 is well thought out - the chapters progress in a logical manner.Paso a Paso 2 is pretty good - most of the chapters incorporate useful vocabulary and things proceed in a locigal manner - normally.Paso a Paso 3 has little sense of organization - the grammar and the vocabulary do not usually fit together very well and the choices for vocabulary topics are sometimes quite bizarre (the UFO chapter comes to mind).The art chapter is decent - but only because the teacher can use it as a launching point to do a project on Spanish-speaking artists (a fertile field). Don't look for the book to be much more than less-than-adequate grammar aid (the accompanying workbook is short on simple drill and big on fairly complicated "realia" type activities - those have their place but I would prefer some simple activities to start with - especially with topics like subjunctive).On a positive note, there are readings in the book that can be useful. | 0negative
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Deep, spunky, and flourishes aplenty
This is a must-read, in part because this is just a brilliant work that doesn't fit in our normal intellectual history. It is also truly American in its way of thinking and the combination of radicalism and every-dayness. George demonstrates that ownership of land is the key to inequality; along the line he considers and sheds light on a number of other theories. He also makes predictions regarding the general development of the United States that have been very perceptive.At the same time, he isn't afraid to wax poetic. Why shouldn't one? We know why Cain killed Abel--because the farmer requires fencing off land, and calling it his, and his crops will be watered with the blood of his excluded brother. Isn't that where we still are--sacrificing human beings for property? And can we even determine who is in the right and who is in the wrong? George sets out a way of formulating the problem that allows us to get beyond things. It is still worth thinking about, since these problems have grown. And we can't run away from them...as Cain found out all too well. [32] | 1positive
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Great book. Crap printing
I ordered this as a gift for my Ma.When I visited her a few weeks later I saw something that looked likea high schooler had copied at kinkos.The type is blurry and smudged.Some paragraphs are unreadable.Will Amazon take it back?No, it been more than 30 days....40 days to be exact.I will not purchase gift books from Amazon again...better off going to Borders....get aclean copy and ship it yourself. | 0negative
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bone house blues
As I sailed along through this book I found it most enjoyable until the end. The bitter end. What a waste of time. I'm tired of authors going for the gross-out when they can't come up with a better tie. I do not recommend this book at all. | 0negative
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An insider's view of a historically important election!!!!!
This is a very good book. IT is both interesting and enjoyable, but even more, it provides an insider's view into an important election. The election of '64 involved JOhnson and Goldwater which was a lopsided win for Johnson.This book helps you understand why this election was such a lopsided victory for the Dems, and what, if anything, could have been done to prevent this from occurring. It turns out that not much could have been done, especially given Goldwater's personality. Still, this book presents this to you in a very accessible manner. Get it and learn. | 1positive
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JRR has a gift
this book is amazing, it goes into a lot of detail and makes you believe that you know people or have been places just by reading about them. He also uses great charactor progression, like you can tell how the charactors change from the beggining to the end, especially bilbo. In the beggining i never would have expected for him to be so brave in certain situations, like the part with the dragon. Overall, i would give this book a 9.5 out of ten, because it was amazing, but it did have a tendency to go on for a long time about some things that seemed obvious. | 1positive
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Excellent thriller
From the ashes of the old Russian regime rises a new threat to democracy. His name is Yevgenni Anatolevich Tarankov, nicknamed the Tarantula, and he's poised to take the world's second most powerful country back into the dark ages. The CIA, however, is not about to let this happen without a fight. Enter Kirk McGarvey, an ex-CIA operative who is given the task of stopping the Tarantula any way he can. But when Tarankov is alerted to McGarvey's presence by the KGB, McGarvey becomes the hunted man | 1positive
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conveys love like a paper cut-out
I can not understand how this has made it to so many top book lists. It was like reading catch 22 without the catch. I had the constant urge to skim the pages and be confident that I would not miss out on any important dialogue that would not be repeated again on another page or not be repeated on another page again. The love story conveyed love as well as a paper cut out conveys the moon. | 0negative
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A very human story
It has been one hundred years since the Titanic disaster, and people are still fascinated by the ship and her fate. Lord's classic account of the sinking is still noteworthy for the painstaking detail, much of it based on eyewitness accounts by survivors still alive in 1955. Step by step, he takes us through the events of that night, starting with the lookouts who didn't see the iceberg in time because the binoculars they were supposed to be using were locked in a chest and the key was in London. (The result of a last-minute change in the officers assigned to the ship.)We hear from people from all three passenger classes - the very wealthy, the middle class, and the lowly immigrants - and crew members from the officers to humble stewards. Though at times the book reads like fiction, it is not. He did an impressive amount of research which is detailed in the Acknowledgements section at the end. From the retrospective of the 21st century, the book represents an impressive undertaking in a world of print-only resources.After reading A Night To Remember, I think I understand why the story of the Titanic still draws us. It was one of the greatest disasters of all time, and it changed maritime history (and law) forever. But at its heart, it's a very human story-- of arrogance and hubris, negligence, bad luck and denial, bravery and cowardice, indifference and sacrifice. A testament to the bad and the good to be found in human nature. And for that reason, it is a story that will live forever in human memory. | 1positive
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Dragon - D + E = Eragon
This book is a true classic. In the begining of the story Eragon the main character ( who is not a dragon) is out hunting when he discovers a blue stone. Thinking he can sell it for food he takes it home. Only after he finds out it is worth nothing he keeps it. Soon after he finds that it is really an egg. It hatches into a dragon. As he raises the young dragon, who he later names Saphira, he finds that he is puting the town in danger just by keeping her. So he goes on a quest to avenge his Uncle after he is killed by the ones who want to harm Saphira.Along the way a storyteller by the name of Brom comes along for the ride. He learns to use magic, how to care for dragons, the true side of the Evil King ruling the land, and the Varden who are trying to put a stop to his evil rein of terror.When Brom leaves him he is aided by a warrior who is more then he seems. So if you love Magic, lovely evles, and a good book by a teenager pick up Eragon. If not go get Greenday's new CD AMERICAN IDOIT.Enjoy:) | 1positive
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Bullseye!
They used to talk about "getting it". Fritz Perls got it. Inside out, he was the original. In my opinion, there is no other figure in recent history who understood human beings quite as well as he did. He is still perhaps the only person who ever turned the key on compulsive repetition...and they all tried. He shows in this book that the way through our misery is not the more logical approach of fighting and resisting things, attempting to build a better concept, but instead, through fully accepting and experiencing all the discarded bits of ourselves that didn't seem to fit. It's a monumental paradox that human beings still cannot fathom. If we ever do finally turn that corner, this book will become one of the ideological cornerstones of that discovery.Verbatim is rich material, a must read. Pure genius presented in an easy, conversational way. His only shortcoming was perhaps his inability to find the perfect word in English to translate some of his ideas, but even then, he keeps it real most of the time. | 1positive
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??????
This history is good for seeing a world as a BIG picture not cluttered up with trivia. Each period is condensed to what is important & raises curiosity so one might crave more. | 1positive
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step by step?
This book is great if you know what you are doing but if you are a beginner it may not help so much. This book has really good advice and hair style ideas but not any step by step pictures. In other words if you can read it and understand what they are trying to tell you, you will do great. If you need to see what they are doing your out of luck. The only think I did not like is the story in book since it doesn't do anything for this book. | 1positive
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Good insight to Ben Franklin
I had heard many different things about Ben Franklin, one of the historical figures in the establishment of the United States. This book confirmed some things I had heard and debunked some others. Good book. | 1positive
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Several Novels in One
I had read this many years ago, but it is worth reading more than once. I read it again just recently for the book club to which I belong. As always Michener does a superb job of weaving fictional characters into historical facts. Fascinating read. I recommend it to everyone, especially those interested in the history of Israel, the Jews, early Christians, the Crusades, Arabs, Turks, and the various empires that dominated the area around the Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem from the time of the cavemen up to the time this book was written. Even though it was written decades ago, it is still relevant to what is going on today in the region. If I could give it more than five stars I would. | 1positive
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Fun action packed thriller.
I picked up "Tom Clancy's Op-Center" to throw some fun reading into my reading schedule. It was an older paperback that I had never read. I've always enjoyed Tom Clancy's novels, and while this was not the same as those he writes, it was still an enjoyable read. It is the kind of action yarn when you want to escape a bit and just read for fun. (Because I read so many non-fiction books, I need to throw these kinds of novels into the mix once in a while)I guess one thing that hooked me was the mention of Yangyang on the first page. I've visited this small village in the North East corner of South Korea since it is one of the places my wife lived when she was a little girl, and it was not far from where I lived while training in Hapkido in the country of the art's origin. So, because of the North-South Korean story line, I found myself interested in this tale.There were some minor inaccuracies but they didn't take away from the story. It was a fun thriller that moved along at a quick pace. There are eighty-eight chapters in this 387 page book. As you can see, it is the kind of novel that switches from one scene to another after a few pages. I liked this and it helped keep the action moving along quickly.If you like action tales that incorporate national defense, intelligence, and crisis management technology, combined with some interesting characters, even if they are not developed as thourouly as some books, and a plot that revolves around a North and South Korean crisis, you will enjoy this quick fun action packed thriller.Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice. | 1positive
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deal-breaker; goodbye to Card
I couldn't believe what I was reading halfway through the book. I had been a late-comer to the Ender series, but once on board I read the previous 6 vols. in order, even enjoying how the tapestry was vast enough to fit in not just some truly alien seeming species, but also some pretty uniquely gifted and neurotic, in many different ways, humans. Fascinating men and women (even if many of them were physically children) of various races, using their gifts for good or to combat the evil that also occurred.Initially this story seemed to continue the battle of wills between gifted immature geniuses/war veterans ... but halfway through all action stops as a former genetic scientist (implied to be gay) reveals his wife and natural children to Bean, urging him to procreate as well, and I realized that the creativity and inventive mind of Card had been erased by his increasingly conservative politics. It's a shame that his books are permanently ruined for me (even the earlier ones), but I won't be reading him ever again. Hopefully there will never be an Ender film, or any more vehicles for this man to spew his hate. | 0negative
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narcissism at it's finest
Mr. Bach starts off with a good personal example, that both brings a smile to your face, and helps you to relate to the subject topic. However, in about the first ten minutes of the tape, he continually repeats, something about being someone who has "personally coached literally thousands of couples..."over and over and over again, ad nauseum, till I finally had to eject the tape. He is about one of the most self-grandiose presenter/speakers I have ever heard, but sadly also typical of the "personal-coach" movement. I sure hope his book is not like this, but I am afraid to waste my money on another one of his products. He may have some good input and advice, but he should just cut to the chase, instead of the contiuous self-hype/promotion routine. | 0negative
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Overrated drivel.
After being forced to choke this down in High School 15 years ago, and hearing a contemporary who recently re-read it rave over it, I sat down to re-read the what everyone seems to call "An American Classic". I didn't finish 100 pages. I fail to see what the fuss is about. I hated it in High School and couldn't finish it 14 years later.It's poorly written, dry, quite boring in its masturbatory ramblings, and lacks any sincere depth. Angst? No, its self-pity at its worst. The line between a cynical critique and mere whining is crossed so far that it is a point in your rear view mirror. How can you feel anything for this character?The scariest quality is that the whiny "disenfranchised" teens of today still identify with a character, who if he survived, would be their grandfather. I feel that this only perpetuates the cult of personal irresponsibilty that pervades America. The undercurrent that leads people to seek excuses for their actions, like "I was abused", or "I had post-partum depression."This is poorly written complaining. I agree with the teenager who whined for 200 words and asked for the Pulitzer. | 0negative
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