reviewerID,asin,reviewerName,helpful,reviewText,overall,summary,unixReviewTime,reviewTime,helpful_numerator,helpful_denominator,helpful_category,helpful_ratio,label A7ICVV8VWGRC7,0761462252,nacnt28,"[0, 0]",I loved this book. It is so funny. Kali was mean and rude to Lula bell and emilou . Emilio was nice.,5.0,Great book,1398816000,"04 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32OZFDUK07WLV,0969276818,"R. G. Pickering ""ritapick""","[11, 12]","I bought this because my grandson's doctor said he should be on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. The narrative portion of this book is excellent in explaining the differences that the diet can make. It also is very good at showing how the diet evolved.Then came the actual diet! Well, it has only been a week or so since I read this and I'm CERTAIN my mind will change in time, but when I read the actual diet, I was overwhelmed at the changes we would have to make. I thought that, even with all the wonderful potential benefits, I didn't know if I could even do half of the diet!But I've become much more aware since reading the book. The doctor said if we can at least do the Gluten-free and Casein-Free portion to the best of our ability, that would be a major help. I now look at products in the grocery store with a different eye...one reflecting on what I learned in the book. We have even gotten the ingredients for the peanut butter brownies - but we haven't had time to make them yet.I discovered that Whole Foods has lists of Gluten-free and Casein-free foods that they carry. So I plan a shopping trip there next week.I believe a few months from now this family will be much closer to the diet than we are now, slowly but surely replacing what I normally buy and fix for dinner. And, chances are, the changes we make will be permanent, even if made slowly.",3.0,Motivating,1240012800,"04 18, 2009",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A1HSBDK3Y0CQPK,0142196819,jamie oconnor,"[0, 0]",Good easy read I liked the characters and it had some humor to it which I enjoy. Three more words.,5.0,liked it was a good read.,1374624000,"07 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A38HBXI6JBAG68,0395562686,Madeline H Rice,"[0, 0]",We loved this book when we home-schooled years ago. It made us feel like amateur weather predictors and now I am able to share it with grandchildren who are also fascinated with our amazing planet and the clouds. So glad this is still available!,5.0,Peterson First Guide to Clouds and Weather,1370563200,"06 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A37YDM1SFYLFRH,1481284142,Genevieve Talavera,"[0, 0]","I would have given it 5 stars, but I found it a bit repetitive. I never got the architecture of the house that clear, the ending was ok.",4.0,Not that bad,1365638400,"04 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A16SKS4GC69ZBS,0758258836,"L. T. Dorsett ""Real Readers Real Words""","[4, 4]",Let me just start off by saying that Warrick is a man with a heart of gold. I really loved his character. He really loved his wife Marilyn. She was struggling with being in the public eye and she wanted her privacy. Her husband became famous over night by being the star of the Monarch basketball team. This couple went through so much in this book but they stood together no matter what. I was rooting for them through the whole book. At one point I really wanted to knock some of those reporters out. This book was a great read and I'm looking forward to reading more of Regina Harts books.,4.0,Warrick is the Man!,1341878400,"07 10, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1UFU1Q1KSSWIY,1478249013,The Kindle Book Review,"[0, 0]","The title of Sciron was nearly enough to put me off, for some reason it automatically conjured up images of sci-fi fantasy type novels which really aren't my kind of things but I'm happy to say it was nothing like this. The novel is categorised most frequently as part of the horror genre although I'm not sure I agree with this either, yes, there are ghosts but there's no sense of horror, at least when I was reading it, as such. The events are tragic, shocking and intriguing, forcing me to read on and find out more but I don't think I felt chilled or horrified at any moment. In fact, the story kept me captivated from a historical and thrilling perspective. Is there such thing as a paranormal historical thriller or have I just made that up?Anyway, the novel was a relatively quick read and filled with engaging characters, none of whom come across as particularly deep but this isn't necessary to understand their role in the novel. The only character who didn't fit quite right for me was Mike, his connection just didn't slot in right. The older characters were much more well-rounded and intriguing for me, especially when discussing their personal histories. The added bonus for me is I'm from the local area where the novel focused so it made it personally interesting too.Rashleigh writes in a charming and engaging way which brings his characters to life as vessels for his story. A couple of in depth sections about the weather and such like seemed slightly drawn out but didn't detract too much from my overall enjoyment. The only thing that did was, as I say, Mike's character and the fact that quite early on I was able to figure out who the mysterious Sciron actually was.Unlike any other ghost story I've come across, the historical nouse and knowledge used by the other made this novel a real pleasure to read.Beth Townsend - The Kindle Book Review",4.0,Paranormal Historical Thriller?,1349308800,"10 4, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1538R3R9GL5CG,0061626848,romancecritic,"[16, 17]","This is a very light, humorous book. It is a Cinderella-type story. Katherine Daltry, a twenty-three-year-old ""spinster"" and orphan, resides with and caters to (serving as land steward) her horrid, greedy stepmother and daft stepsister. She, of course, has no fancy clothes or trifles as all her father's money was left to the stepmother, who is using said funds to sponsor her weeping daughter and marry her off to a viscount (this viscount happens to be a distant cousin to our prince, and for one reason or other, needs the prince's approval to wed his chosen bride).Gabriel is our prince - but a second son, not a crown prince. Gabriel's brother, who has thoroughly embraced religion, has exiled all the ""oddities"" of his duchy to Pomeroy Castle in England. So, Gabriel, who is an ""amateur"" archeologist, finds himself needing to support a menagerie of peculiar relatives, exotic animals, and everything else in between. And in order for him to accomplish this task, he needs a rich wife, who has already been chosen for him by his brother and is expected to arrive any moment from Russia.The preliminaries aside, the love story begins when Kate finds herself posing as her sister - for farcical reasons I choose not to reveal - at Pomeroy Castle, awaiting Gabriel's approval of her as his cousin's wife. Kate and her ""fiancé"" have been invited to join the festivities preceding Gabriel's betrothal ball. And this is where all the fun begins. The interaction between the two main characters was so refreshing, as is the interaction with the secondary characters, especially the ""magical"" godmother - humorous to say the least.Kate is a very likable, sincere heroine with a joyous look on life. It is not every day one reads a romance novel where the heroine is capable of discussing that she has padded (or shall I say wax increased) her breasts. She cares for her estate and the tenants residing there, but is at that point in her life where she feels she deserves better. Gabriel is not your typical rake who goes through women like tissues. He is a very honorable man; he takes his responsibilities seriously; he genuinely wants to take care of his ""bequeathed"" menagerie and pursue his archeological interests.Now, there are the typical ""devil,"" ""predator,"" ""lethal grace,"" comparisons when describing Gabriel, but they do not distract; yet, how I wish the male protagonist's attributes were portrayed differently, but perhaps that would stray too much from the romance genre - enough digressing.The sexual attraction in this novel was well developed and could be felt. The sex scene/scenes (I believe there was just one or two) however lacked the sizzle that I like - but that is a personal preference, and it may not bother you. The relationship between the two protagonists wasn't much of a relationship, but a brief affair that led to happily-ever-after; but in all fairness, it does adhere to the Cinderella theme does it not? One dance at a ball, one lost shoe, and Cinderella is wed.There are two things I did not enjoy about the novel. The first - when the one or two sex scenes were taking place, the prince's intended bride was just down stairs. What the two characters were doing felt like cheating to me simply because neither one of them was/is malicious in nature, and something of this sort would go against their morals. The second part I did not enjoy - the ending. The prince built a funeral pyre, declaring that he would throw himself on those flames if he could not have Kate. Although said pyre references the discussion of the mythological Dido held between the two characters in the novel, this act was way over the top for me. I like romance but something this dramatic just does not appeal to me.I really recommend this book, especially if you are looking for a light romance novel to read and laugh and cry along with.P.S. There are glass slippers here too!!!original on romancecritic",4.0,humorous,1283040000,"08 29, 2010",16,17,helpful,0.9411764705882353,1 A1MXQHF1HR4TCN,B00FMX4DJY,Keys Mom,"[0, 0]","A well written story that rivals the first one in the series. Can't go wrong with a dominant tatted wolf man that's soft hearted and wanting to love and be loved. Purchase this one, you will not regret it. Hopefully more will come from this series.",5.0,Purchase this one!,1397088000,"04 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QVQ7UJY4VASG,1401604366,"Margie Read ""magnoliamansions""","[0, 0]","Every University of Alabama fan, and they are legion especially in winning seasons, adds ""Gold"" to the Crimson Tide because of broadcaster Eli Gold who has become known as ""the voice of the Crimson Tide"" in the Southeastern Conference where football is not only king but a religion with a membership surpassing the population of many southern towns. How nice to be able to read how Gold reached this position in his career. Knowing what one wants to be early in life and pursuing it with a passion is a blessing few know.In his book Gold tells of his early life in New York where he skips school and hawks peanuts in Madison Square Garden in order to attend spots events. His entire life has been devoted to this pursuit of sports broadcasting,and it has brought him much success and enabled him to meet and know many sports celebrities. Perhaps the high point of this remarkable career was Gold's association with the legendary Coach Bear Bryant of Alabama. If anyone could recognize and tell the Bear's story, it is Gold.A large portion of the book deals with broadcasting hockey and NASCAR as well as basketball. The dyed-in-Crimson fan would have preferred more about Alabama football and those players, but then their appetites are never satisfied. This book is an easy read, a good traveling companion, and a validation that desire and hard work, plus a little luck on the side, can bring life's greatest rewards. Never give up a dream is a good influence for those who love sports.",3.0,"Yea Alabama, Roll Tide",1259712000,"12 2, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A38CCQ0KENGYSX,1495985636,Martha Baltazar,"[0, 0]","This was a good story. Hot alpha Grant and strong minded Elizabeth. Lots of tears, fears and laughs. Looking forward to Travis and Maya's story.",4.0,Great Story,1393200000,"02 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1I68N9YR206SX,0596516134,William A. Barrett,"[5, 5]","As a computer instructor and researcher in biometrics and pattern recognition, I welcome this treatise on OpenCV.Don't even consider opening the pages unless you are familiar with C, its use of structs, pointers, callback functions and the like. You may also be put off by the various mathematical discussions of various advanced computer vision algorithms that have been developed over the last two decades.OpenCV is an open-source collaborative work. It's partially supported by the Intel corporation, through their quest for advanced algorithms that might be included in its computer chips. Many low-level tools needed for video and image processing are now provided in advanced Intel microprocessors.The theme of OpenCV is audacious, yet achievable -- that of providing high-quality, high-performance software tools for the many computer vision algorithms that have been published over the years. That has largely been achieved through the clever use of low-level pointer-based tools, accompanied by complete C source code for everything down to the raw processor instructions.Other good news is that the system provides an easy portal to advanced Intel hardware support, boosting performance to the highest possible level. One can also port OpenCV-based code to Linux, other Unix and Mac platforms -- it is not restricted to Windows.I've had some trouble with Windows XP, but the image and camera grabbing functions work well under Windows Vista. I've also been able to exploit the OpenCV tools under Windows MFC to support Windows-based applications.This O'Reilly book provides the background support that you will need to download the OpenCV system from the internet, configure your development environment and start exploring the magic that its tools can provide.Perhaps you can also contribute to the effort in the way of reporting bugs and providing tool extensions.I should point out that most of the OpenCV documentation is also available free through the internet. If you like your docmentation scattered around through numerous HTML links, help yourself. I prefer a clear written dialog and an index to follow the underlying logic of all the functions and their variations described in the book.",5.0,Pattern recognition and computer vision for the C hacker,1270944000,"04 11, 2010",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A4YM3F0GZKSZD,1451659865,Jenilee Goodwin,"[0, 0]","Book Description:Allison Denman is supposed to get married in five days, but everything is all wrong. The huge wedding. The frothy dress. And the groom.Still, kissing the groom's brother in an unguarded moment is decidedly not the right thing to do. How could she have made such a mistake? It seems Allison's life is nothing but mistakes at this point. And pulling a ""Runaway Bride"" complete with stealing, er, borrowing her best friend's car doesn't seem to solve her problems.Can Allison find her way out of this mess? Maybe she just needs to stop orchestrating everything. Allison prefers being the one in control, and giving it up is not going to be easy. But to find her way again, she will have to believe that God has a plan for her and find the strength to let Him lead.My Thoughts:This was a very fun book! Beth Vogt did a great job setting up a romantic, comedy-filled, deep story with exceptional characters.The whole runaway bride idea is intriguing on its own. Throw in kissing the groom's brother and you have an even more emotional and interesting story.I thought that Beth Vogt created a wonderful atmosphere for growth, health and spiritual depth in her characters. This situation could have been very explosive but the author wove personal healing and ample time for each person involved into the writing of her book. I know that many people can learn from the way these characters handled this unusual circumstance.I also loved the theme of allowing God to lead your life. This is so hard for many women, myself included. It is very easy to get caught up in what we want to do or what others think we should do and forget to seek God's best for our lives.This book will have you laughing, crying and cringing at times but through it all you will see God's hand at work!",5.0,Wish You Were Here,1335916800,"05 2, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KEZLJ59C1JVH,0802135196,Melissa Niksic,"[7, 7]","I cannot BELIEVE it took me so long to read ""Valley of the Dolls!"" So many people have raved about the book to me, and I just dismissed it as another cult novel. I finally got around to reading it, though, and I was blown away. It was INCREDIBLY entertaining! The characters are fun, fresh, and easy to relate to. The story of three women struggling to find themselves in brutal New York City never gets dull for a second. It's a pretty long book, but I finished it very quickly because I never wanted to put it down. I highly recommend this book to everyone!",5.0,This is the best book I've read all year!,1102982400,"12 14, 2004",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A13KI69MRJSJN4,1492265225,Filmchick,"[0, 0]","If you are looking for a hot MC book this is a great read. I loved, loved, loved all the characters. Bella writes a great story! I would highly recommend this series to anyone & everyone!!",5.0,Great MC series!!,1383436800,"11 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A55MRYPUAX4QU,0486203948,Avid Reader,"[6, 6]","Although this was written some time ago - in the 50's I think - it is more apropos even today. When one considers all the pseudo-science, fads, and utter ridiculous irrationality that has crept into ""mainstream"" thought, a book like this ia like a good stiff drink to refresh the senses.I have long been looking for a common denominator of wacky thinking and maybe Gardner has given the most plausible one - it goes against demonstrable science and is totally irrational. The Einstein was Wrong chapter was a hoot. I still smile thinking of guys trying to disprove Einstein with phrases like ""he done gone and tried to make us believe all that stuff"".The wacky belief systems are also dissected but one has to keep in mind that this is BEFORE the age of the Hollywood medium, the channeling of the ignorant or the use of ouija boards (Reagan) or crystal balls (Hillary) at the White House. A great book to read and reread.",5.0,Perfect - Seems almost Current,1067299200,"10 28, 2003",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 ALVJQY2VVJNWZ,0802451160,"Sally ""SmilingSally""","[0, 0]","By the end of chapter one, a dead body is discovered, a possibility exists for romance, and I've chuckled aloud! What a terrific beginning. The descriptive wording is a delightful change from the clichés of most novels; with allusions sprinkled throughout, English majors are bound to love this one!Music lovers will appreciate the musical theme playing as pages are turned. Musical terminology and titles of music are referred to as Press goes about investigating the murder. He has musical hallucinations--uncontrollable music-like sounds inside his brain that sometimes makes clear-thinking difficult.The major characters are both flawed. In addition to his internal music, Press is mourning the death of his wife, struggling to hang on to his university teaching schedule, and his colleague, Mara, a Wiccan, does not tolerate touching or ""coloring outside the box."" I liked both Press and Mara and look forward to meeting them again in a future work. If you like whodunits, this one's for you.",5.0,Hum While Reading,1223596800,"10 10, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1RF0T6L36KTE7,B005BREOCW,"Shekitta ""Shekitta""","[0, 0]",I couldn't get enough of Beast and his terrorizing! I hope it's going to be another one with the way this one ended! Great job!,5.0,Why'd it have to end???,1355875200,"12 19, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A29RWXYH5H788N,0785117652,Chowii,"[7, 11]","I stopped collecting and reading Spider-man after the whole clone debacle in the 90's. I recently got back into reading Spider-man books through the trade paperbacks collection. I was enjoying Straczynski's run in the Amazing Spider-man until I read this.Spoiler ahead...a summary recap of the book.Morlun is back from the dead. Even though his assistant back in Spider-man Coming Home TPB killed him off. It is not explained how he came from the dead. Also, he promised not to bother Spidey if Spidey would spare him after it tried to suck Spidey's essence that was infected with radiation and he began to die. Guess he forgot his promise. After stalking Spider-man, he fights and beats a weakened Spider-man to a bloody pulp.The messy pulp that is Spider-man is taken to a hospital for treatment. Morlun decides to finish up Spidey there. As Morlun threatens MJ life, Spider-man on his instincts and adrenaline alone, defeats and allegedly kills Morlun. Then Spider-man succumbs and dies from his injuries.But wait...he's not dead! A shocker. Hmm...superhero dies and returns from the dead...a new twist...Not! Where have we seen this before, Superman, Green Arrow, Jean Grey aka Phoenix, Green Lantern and so on. He sheaths his skins, wraps himself in a cocoon, and re-emerges with new powers. Talons that forms from his arms, night vision, the ability to shoot webs from his wrist and more super strength. He is now a combination of Wolverine and Superman.End of spoiler.In short this story could have been told in 5 issues max. To drag it out into 12 issues is really stretching it. Now we have Spider-man meets supernatural elements from the X-files, which is so pretentious. Give me back my old Spider-man, nuff said!",3.0,Spider-man meets the X-files,1155859200,"08 18, 2006",7,11,helpful,0.6363636363636364,1 A2CI5IAKJW6VPG,0062241451,JerseyGirl,"[0, 0]","Susan Spencer-Wendel's deeply personal story of living with -- and yes, dying from -- ALS is written with humor, sincerity and great affection for all around her. Her honesty allows readers to truly relate to her daily struggles, and I was left feeling like my life had improved for having read this book. It is also a wonderful gift for her children.",5.0,heartbreakingly sad and wonderful,1402617600,"06 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A13ML6G88973WI,B00IGJKNM2,Shannon,"[0, 0]","Emotional abuse which was written by Madeline Morgan really impressed me with the way the book was laid out. It showed us the signs that lead up to abuse and gave us a recovery box a way to deal with it. Some people are very lucky and will recognize that something is wrong and will kick that person to the curb, but unfortunately for some we do not. Eleven years ago I didn’t recognize the signs of emotional abuse and for me it was too late. The physical abuse started and never ended until I was strong enough to walk away. Don’t think for one moment this is your fault and that you’re not as strong as some if you recognize the signs then get out. I wish I had of known back when I was being abused that this book was available maybe it would never have gotten as far as it did at that time. If you feel in your heart that there is just something not quite right then it probably is not. Pick up this book even if the abuse has not begun."",5.0,A useful tool,1392854400,"02 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LPP5CIEF2I3D,0743453972,artlus01,"[0, 0]","Vince Flynn will be missed, as will his character, Mitch Rapp. This one was riveting and I've found it worthy of recommending to several friends.",5.0,A thrill on every page,1378339200,"09 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A381D3KU90BR0S,0615934781,Sinned,"[9, 11]",This series has been fantastic! This book seemed more like a pie filler. It was anticlimactic as I turned the last page I thought that my kindle had just jumped to the end by accident. I WILL continue this series. I'm putting faith in Glen that this was necessary for the next book. I'm hoping that there isn't a long wait.,3.0,Disappointed,1387238400,"12 17, 2013",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A3SFETHRODPP8W,0142003808,"watzizname ""watzizname""","[5, 9]","For every ethnic, religious, or racial stereotype, there probably exists someone who fits it. But there are many more who don't. I don't recall knowing an Afro-American who was stupid, lazy, and dirty, but the Afro-Americans I have known well have included:The cleanest person (by far) that I have ever known, who is anything but lazy or stupid.Two engineers, one an electrical engineer, the other a manufacturing engineer, both highly intelligent.A brilliant and highly productive lead web developer.A young man who, while still in high school, worked part-time at a university as a teaching assistant.My first experience with hippies was when I lived in the `East Village' of lower Manhattan, and a substantial minority of my neighbors were hippies. THEY WERE GOOD NEIGHBORS, much better than some of those who eventually replaced them. Later, I visited several hippie communes, and found decent, friendly, welcoming people, with not a trace of racism or anti-Semitism, which is consistent with a population of generally above-average intelligence.So a story that I might have enjoyed had I been unacquainted with any Afro-Americans or hippies was unbelievable and very irritating because the portrayal of both groups as uniformly lazy, stupid, and dirty is not only offensive, but at odds with my personal experience Granted, I have actually met a self-styled `hippie' who would fit right in with Thomas John Boyle's `hippies' The real hippies who had the misfortune to become acquainted with him considered `Sheepdog' most unhip and most welcome to relocate elsewhere. (`Sheepdog' was so-called because of the many amorous conquests he bragged about, which others dismissed as `sheep thrills') But a whole commune populated by such as `Sheepdog' is quite unbelievable to one who has had even a passing experience of the real thing. Boyle's hippies being of noticeably below-average intelligence, their racism might be considered believable, but Boyle's bigotry is still a jarring note.On page 268 (HC), Boyle writes: "". . . the hippies were dancing like moonwalkers to the drugged-down testiduneous [sic] beat."" If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then perhaps Boyle's fellow-Irishman, Archie Bunker, might ought to be flattered by Boyle's almost-imitation. But Archie misused big words he didn't really understand in ways that always turned out to be hilarious, whereas Boyle's use of a big word he can't even spell seems more pathetic than funny. It seems orthography isn't Boyle's strong suit.The copyright page contains a ""Publisher's Note"" which states that ""any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, . . . events, or locales, is entirely coincidental."" Really? Yet Norm Sender seems indistinguishable from a dumbed-down Lou Gottlieb, and Alfredo (Gottlieb?) from a dumbed-down Ramon Sender; and Sonoma County really did send in bulldozers to destroy people's homes on Lou Gottlieb's property, billing the cost thereof to Lou. And Boyle's Drop City was (according to the book) near the Russian River, which runs thru Sonoma County, California. The list of `coincidences' stretches credibility far beyond its limit.All in all, a dishonest, bigoted, UNhistorical novel. What Boyle has done to (by no means the least of) my brethren (and cistern?) he has done to me, and even tho I am neither hippie nor Afro-American, I am disgusted and offended.watziznaym@gmail.com",1.0,Enough to make your blood Boyle,1231372800,"01 8, 2009",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A1OMLGMNR6Y5AB,0345518489,"Changing123 ""Adicked2U""","[0, 0]",This book was exactly what I expected. I refer to it from time to time to keep me grounded and focused.,4.0,What I expected?????????,1318118400,"10 9, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VC941YZ7TJAN,886293193X,"Tracee Jones ""Busy Mom & 'Altered Art' Artist""","[8, 8]","What can I say? This is the be it all/end all of sketchbooks. If you are an artist, the awesome pages will accept lots of mixed media as long as you don't add too much water. An added plus is the fact that as you work along in your book, and your book becomes thicker and thicker (and as an artist, don't you just LOVE that!) there is a handy dandy strap to keep it all contained! Not to mention the lovely Moleskine pocket in the back to collect all that ephemera that you are going to put into your journal/sketchbook!! It's just divine. That's the only word for it. Divine.",5.0,What Can I Say?!!,1231632000,"01 11, 2009",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 AJ571UKWCC3CC,1455501409,"Amazon Customer ""Carolyn""","[0, 1]","The Sanctuary Cove was very slow for me. A lot of details that did not seem necessary. The Gullah culture is rich and vibrant, I wish the story had touched closer to that side instead of the odd angle. The love story part was slow to progress and a little superficial fro a lady 38 years old. Asa was a fascinating character. Loved his patience and his image.. Needed more development for my taste. Ms. Alers usually delivers, this was a slight miss for me. A little disappointing, since I am familiar with the Lowcountry of South Carolina..",3.0,Not up to Alers usual standard!,1383868800,"11 8, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A10SGLAQL60WVT,0882667033,"pst ""glass maven""","[0, 0]",I was happy to see the authors were from Pennsylvania. We live in Ohio right across the border so we are familiar with the weather and the conditions. We have an area under our stairs in the cellar (it is not a basement) that my husband and I are going to convert into a root cellar this fall using the information from the book. We will be monitoring the temp through this fall and winter. Next fall we will be using it to store our vegetables.,4.0,Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits and Vegetables,1253059200,"09 16, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3I804Y6PB1KS3,0060510234,Tyler,"[19, 21]","If you miss the witty zingers and snide remarks that Lorelai threw in every episode of Gilmore Girls, this book will enable you to re-live those moments and laugh at those idiosyncratic exchanges between Lorelai and Rory. The book does a good job of condensing half a TV season into 150 pages without sacrificing key points of the show. The story in the book is told from the point of view of Rory. The adaption does a good job of detailing Rory's inner thoughts on her mother, school, boyfriend, and grandparents -- thoughts that were absent on the TV show. All in all, this book is a fun read for the summer.",5.0,Fan of the show,1025654400,"07 3, 2002",19,21,helpful,0.9047619047619048,1 A2HC4BSL7KQHLD,B009QO5V8W,celticmaggie,"[11, 16]",I loved this book! I picked this book up and started reading about 3pm. I finished about 10pm. I couldn't put it down. The characters were so real. The story line was a bit over the top but it's fiction. I know it would never happen to me but glad they got a chance. There is a jump in the story that I never saw coming and it made all the difference in the world. It's the first in a series and I can't wait for the next story. Please try this book. You won't be disappointed!,5.0,Italian Guy,1350259200,"10 15, 2012",11,16,helpful,0.6875,1 A2H98OY1TUXHRG,0061124567,"Sophia Nash ""Romance Author""","[6, 11]","This is the first in Kathryn Caskie's wonderful new series. If you loved her award-winning ""Rules of Engagement"" you'll love this one too!Why is the notorious Duke of Blackstone ruining Mary's well-laid plans to marry his brother, the handsome Viscount Wetherly? Every time she turns a corner, he is there-tantalizing her, teasing her . . . and the more she tries to ignore him, the more insistent he becomes. Mary knows she must make an advantageous marriage, but surely Blackstone is the wrong man for her. Isn't he?Blackstone is not about to let his brother become bewitched by some wily blueblood pretender . . . even one as deliciously tempting as Mary. But until she came along, no woman has ever resisted his smooth, well-practiced seductions. Could it be that he's actually fallen in love with this infuriating chit?",5.0,Excellent book!,1159747200,"10 2, 2006",6,11,helpful,0.5454545454545454,1 A2SMPEUYB8ZPBS,B002JTWOR2,Natalie,"[0, 0]","Amazing story! Excellent mix of action and deeper meaning. Character development was there, had me hooked early on! James is an excellent storyteller!",5.0,Amazing story!,1385337600,"11 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PIST49WE3XUH,0316011770,Jonathan Chen,"[5, 13]","I haven't a doubt that Kostova can write, but she's not a natural storyteller. The books starts off with a great premise: Dracula is alive! Then it gets lost in overdrawn descriptions of faraway lands and you can't help but getting lost midway. The minutely detailed customs and traditions of certain cultures and/or places end up being unecessary and boring. At some point, the book dedicates an entire chapter to a dinner in an a restaurant that has absolutely nothing to do with the plot. It almost sounds as if Kostova is trying to show off about her travels and just wants to 'impress' the reader with how much she's gotten around. It bugged me big time that you never find out about the narrator's name, I bet she thought that was pretty witty; I think that alienates the reader somewhat. No character is memorable and very few scenes come off as halfway interesting. I mean, the whole book is supposed to be about Dracula and the man gets treated like a prop. In general, this book is half-baked, too long and too presumptuous. If it took her 10 years to write THIS book, imagine how much it'll take her to write one that's interesting. Enough said!",2.0,"Overwritten, tedious and �ber-erudite",1146096000,"04 27, 2006",5,13,helpful,0.38461538461538464,1 AUXW3562CX8X8,0307353486,"Michael B. Berman ""ltcdcret""","[13, 21]","I can't add much to the many 5-star reviews already posted without being redundant but I will point out that if your reading time is tight the heart of this fine book is to be found in chapters 6 thru 9. Read it all if possible but in those chapters you will discover when and how, for the first time in history, the soul of the Left emerged in all its ugly fury. Disturbing to read about and contemplate what was done to people in the name of ""hope and change"" but the blood flow began then and continues unabated today. Coulter presents a riveting if necessarily brief history lesson seasoned with her caustic wit and razor-sharp sarcasm. If you can find time to read only one book this summer this is one you should seriously consider; Ann Coulter at her illuminating and fearless best!",5.0,Coulter At Her Best,1308441600,"06 19, 2011",13,21,helpful,0.6190476190476191,1 A13VVN5MJGJRRM,0764202545,Monica Van Horn,"[4, 4]","I'm a fanatical fan of Janette Oke's books. I've read almost all of her books, and immensly enjoyed nearly all of them. Usually I pick one up and am done with it by the next day, this one took me a while. I just couldn't get into it. It just didn't have the same quality as many of her other books. Usually I'm sobbing by the last 3/4 of the book, but on this one I felt like the task of getting it done was more important than the ending.If you are as big of a fan as me, still read the book. I just is not the best one to start on.",3.0,Least favorite of Ms. Oke's books,1067385600,"10 29, 2003",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A32FKNGECINXT,148391366X,J MOM,"[0, 0]","Volume 5 leaves you stunned!Anna is confronted by her stalker, Cole professes his love for her, the lawsuit, their future.....you get it all in this final installment of Secrets!This is a beautifully written series that keeps the reader engaged from volume one to five. Holly writes in such a way that pulls the reader into the story and makes you feel all that her characters feel and experience throughout the story. This is a don't miss series! 18+",5.0,perfect ending,1388534400,"01 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1DH7NY8JTRZLU,1482628961,Dana,"[0, 0]",Again this is a great story but the length is far too short. This could very easily get 4-5 stars if the short stories were combined. A disapointing experience when the stories start and end so quickly.,3.0,too short in length,1380240000,"09 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2R5HXYIGM8J38,0671001132,joseph moreau,"[0, 0]",Ann Rule is simply the best true crime writer on the planet followed closely by M. William Phelps and this case is so captivating that you cannot put it down and proves my statement,5.0,Ann Rule is the best,1385078400,"11 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A13Z96HR8EEF24,019966921X,Terry L,"[0, 0]","There is a great deal of information here, but this is about the "driest" writing I have ever read in my life.",3.0,Dry,1397520000,"04 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AY7PITKIRH445,0800785991,Carolyn P.,"[0, 0]","If you are looking for something to help you increase your faith, other than the bible itself, this would be it, in my humble opinion, Several places it brought tears to my eyes. I go back and read it again occasionally just to remember what is really important! This one will never be outdated or out of style!",5.0,Marvelous!,1355097600,"12 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWQ41A5BR5S3K,1478369329,tishrickards,"[0, 0]","Very cute, rhyming story for reading to toddlers, or young readers on their own. My 7 year old laughed out loud, as he read the story.",5.0,cute story!,1377648000,"08 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AUIJ6EUCD9PGM,0373039549,Melissa Schaible,"[0, 0]",I really liked the story. I felt it was a little slow at first but it ended up being really cute.,4.0,Gotta love a cowboy,1360454400,"02 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A25N94UF9SXH8Y,0553384244,feminaformosa,"[7, 9]","I was really looking forward to reading this book, but I was left disappointed. The New York Times rated this as one of their best non-fiction books of 2007, and I have to say that I am not sure why. It was like a real-life Little House on the Prairie, without all the covered wagons and moving from place to place, but not as interesting. Much of the chores were the same- milking, threshing, even making head-cheese. Even though this book takes place much later than the Little House books, the lifestyle it describes will be very familiar to readers of Laura Ingalls Wilder.The writing was clunkier than I expected- much of the book ended up being a laundry list of chores and every-day occurances. While I got a great picture of what every-day life was like on the farm, I did not feel that I got to know the author at all. She does talk a little bit about her insecurities growing up, and her experiences after the farm, but only just a little bit.One big positive of this book is that it is very cheerful and upbeat. The author is able to look at a very difficult time both economically and personally with a lot of warmth and fondness. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Laura Ingalls Wilder books (because for its clunky and sometimes boring style, it isn't a long book and goes fast) or anyone who wishes to visit/revisit this time in a way that is nostalgically cheerful, which is unusual for the time period.",3.0,Upbeat account of life on Iowa farm,1203292800,"02 18, 2008",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A3BAQ8F0SJRZLC,0470044705,"Swami B ""Swami B""","[18, 18]","It's amazing that Wiley, which usually publishes very sophisticated investment books, would allow Hooper to write an infomercial for his unsubstantiated investment techniques of writing out-ot-the-money calls on long stock positions. This book contains the most rudimentary explanation of options, of technical analysis (the chapter on charting is an embarassment), and of historical returns (the printing of one dude's account balance does not merit a back-tested study of writing covered calls). I would recommend ""New Insights in Covered Call Writing,"" which is more balanced in its approach, and does not promise 5% monthly cash returns (with the implication that you can double your money in two years). An investor needs to recognize total account balance, and if he is gaining 5% on a portfolio that steadily shrinks by more than that amount, then he's not making money.",1.0,Really stupid and unsophisticated,1222992000,"10 3, 2008",18,18,helpful,1.0,1 A328S9RN3U5M68,1936955040,Grady Harp,"[10, 11]","Karla Telega and Linton Robinson are the ones responsible for collecting this hilarious group of stories and opinions about that celebrated day of love - Valentine's Day. Subtitled `America's Most Hilarious Writers Take On Love, Romance, and Other Complications' this is one of those `must have' books not only because it is terrific reading but also because it has a lot to say about contemporary relationships. To give the reader an idea of how the book flows, some `chapters' are included below.`Married - So Very Married' by Joan Oliver Emmer tries to remember all holidays for Valentine's Day `I'm lucky if I remember to grab a card and make a jello mold'. Gregg Podolski in `Be Romantic or Die' states `guys fall into one of two categories; 1. Men who buy expensive, thoughtful gifts several days before Februery 14th and 2. Men who haven't recently been caught having an affair' and how he handles the annual situation. Barry Parham offers a lengthy and pithy `A Comedy of Eros' dealing with searching for Valentines that aren't packaged in packs of six! Leigh Anne Jasheway gives us `Playing Valentine's Day by the Rules' - a diatribe on a woman's view of how men behave on this day of love....There are pages of Contemporary Candy Heart Slogans (Too Tiny, No Pubes, Rug Burns, Fix Teeth, Try Soap, etc), Valentine Verses by Dorothy Rosby, Valentine `Report Cards' (hilarious bits by Barb Best), Cartoons, multiple languages that express the way to say `I Love You', a survey by Robert G. Ferrell on 'Husbandology', pages of cute quotations by famous people on the subject of love and valentines, updated expressions for the day such as `I (Heart) V-Day by Cammy May Hunnicutt, and other funny bits such as Dawn Weber's `Love Among the Nudists.' There are poems for the occasion, comments on quality of presents - the list just goes on and on for 150 pages. At the end of the book are brief biographies of the `Amazing Humorists' - news to many of us and kudos to a crew of writers who are very in the know about love and relationships. This is a little treasure of a book with some of the most terse humor being written today! Grady Harp, December 11",5.0,Finding the Humor in the Traditional Valentine's Day,1324339200,"12 20, 2011",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 AZ6HFG4ECUX81,0957496168,K. A. Lander,"[7, 9]","When I found out that Jane Harvey-Berrick was writing a new book I was so excited. I totally fell in love with her The Education of... series. Jane is a wonderful writer and I have now enjoyed three incredible books by her.Very much like in TEoS, Jane has created some truly interesting and memorable character. I really believe that Daniel Colton could give Sebastian a run for his money. Daniel is right up there with the great book boyfriends, for me. He's a hot, tattooed, slightly arrogant, sexy bad boy. His character was so unique and I just loved everything about him.""Check out Mr. Tall Dark and Deliciously Dangerous!""Lisanne on the other hand, I had a bit of a love/hate relationship with. I think my issue with her sort of character is purely their age and that I find it hard to connect with them. I may only be a few years older than she is but I just found it hard to 'get her'. There are plenty of characters around like her, in the sense that she is the typical naive, virginal college girl who suddenly grabs the attention of the college hot guys. I found myself getting frustrated over her decision making at times but again, I just put it down to the fact she is a teen in college.There is a twist to this story that I absolutely adored. It's going to be hard to talk about it without revealing it too much but I think it's important for me not to actually specifically mention it. Daniel is hiding a secret that he believes will change everybody's opinion on him and that is exactly why he chooses to keep it hidden. Which is all going well until he meets Lisanne. Within minutes of her knowing him she has it sussed and I loved her reaction to it, I know it was just the reaction he needed.""Don't stop listening to music because of me. Eff, if anything, you have to listen to it for both of us.""There is so much going on in this book that it would be near impossible to mention everything, as well as that it would of course defeat the point of you reading it for yourself! Daniel's home life is awful and I found myself constantly wanting to reach in to my Kindle to give him a little hug. Dealing with his own personal issues on top of the fact that his parents are both not around any more and his brother is very heavily in to drugs, it is a miracle that he is even able to go to college. With Lisanne's life and past being the polar opposite of Daniel's, I felt like their relationship was just so perfectly balanced. They complimented each other in the best way and I believed in their relationship 100%.This read had some seriously hot and steamy scenes. I found myself constantly swooning over Daniel. There is a warning to the readers in the blurb and I do think that is necessary.. whilst I didn't find anything offensive when it came to the drug scenes or sex scenes (really, they were nothing but damn hot) I can see why it wouldn't be appropriate for some readers under 18.""He knew sex. He knew effin. He knew how to make a woman come so hard she saw stars, the galaxy, and the whole damn Milky Way.""This book had me both smiling and crying and that is my favourite kind of read. I need to feel all the emotions that the characters are going through otherwise, what is the point? Jane makes sure we can get and feel everything. The epilogue was one my favourite things! I am a sucker for an epilogue and this one didn't disappoint. Rarely do I find myself crying happy tears but in this instance I definitely was.Overall I just loved the whole book. It is moving, different and has the most wonderful of characters (Daniel in particular, of course). This certainly isn't the first book I have read like this, in regards to the naive college girl and the hot bad boy falling in love etc., but it is unique thanks to the twist that the book has. I am so looking forward to more work by Jane.",5.0,Wonderful.,1368835200,"05 18, 2013",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 AL2IUGVMCSGQK,0615802931,Marilyn Osborne,"[0, 0]","A continuation of the first book, which I also enjoyed. I bought this one, but had a good idea of the outcome. A sweet story.",4.0,Quilter's son,1397088000,"04 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A73ZPJHZ8SU4V,B00F5CFXSC,L. Coker,"[11, 13]","This is an amazing book. There are so many twists and turns. I never knew what to expect next. It is a futuristic, anti big-brother, power to the people kind of story. It had a little of everything I like in a book: a little romance, someone to cheer for, mystery and suspense. Every moment was a thrill.",4.0,a wonderful weaving tale,1379980800,"09 24, 2013",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A1JGAU8J7PFXET,B003YL4AJE,G. G. Rich,"[0, 0]",This book grabbed my attention from the beginning and kept me going all the way through. I highly admire the plotting and character development she shows us--and the way she progresses through Toby's story is excellent. I cannot wait for the next volume.,5.0,Seanan McGuire does it again!,1351814400,"11 2, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19MHUI6P35GDM,0425242749,Pixie Poe,"[0, 0]","Rita Lucero has decided to track down her estranged husband and make him finally sign the divorce papers he has been ignoring. She arrives at Zydeco Cakes, Philippe's new bakery in New Orleans, to try and get some closure but quickly discovers that instead of a divorcee, she is now a widow. And as if her showing up right before her soon-to-be ex is stabbed to death wasn't suspicious enough, she has now inherited part ownership of the cake shop, making her a prime suspect to many. Her mother-in-law has complete trust in her though, insisting Rita stay on at least for a while and help her figure out who has been sabotaging the shop and who killed her son. She needs to get the shop out of financial trouble and the killer behind bars before he or she can strike again.I loved the setting (New Orleans), the characters (Miss. Frankie and Dog Leg were my favorites) and the plot twists that kept me hanging on every word. The only downside is that I will have to wait until February 2012 when the next in the series (Cake on a Hot Tin Roof) is released to see what happens next. In the meantime, I may just surprise everyone and make Aunt Yolanda's Chocolate-Banana Coffee Cake. If it's anywhere near as good as the story, it's sure to be a hit!",5.0,Can't wait for book #2 in this series!,1313020800,"08 11, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3J498H1MKI5XE,0307886263,Laurel Chapman,"[0, 0]",Mindy Kaling is hysterical in this book. Love how she writes and thinks.,5.0,Mindy doesn't disappoint!,1404864000,"07 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17Y3U4KKCGIR7,1477805850,Amazon Customer,"[14, 15]","This series has me on the edge of my seat. Not so much finding out who done it but what is going to happen in the family dynamic that seems to go along with the mystery. This story line is about a woman struggling to find herself and two men-brothers- who need to find themselves also. I believe that KT will never be able to choose just one man as each has something to give to her but neither has the whole thing that she needs. Each man can offer something to her and fill a void but in trying to choose one the other brother will loose and I don't think that this storyline can handle that. Each person, Blane, KT and Kade are broken in some aspect and each fill a part of that void but I don't think any one person can fill the whole. So I say take both!!On that note this review isn't so much about the story line, you can read that from the others and the author, but about my thoughts on this love triangle and hoping that the next book comes very soon!!If KT should choose one brother over the other, I don't mind having the left overs :))))",5.0,She did it again,1387324800,"12 18, 2013",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 A3GWFJ48QPA2IR,0312430035,J. Weiss,"[7, 7]","When I had first read the description of this book, I thought Mathilda was going to be wicked. Evil almost, in perhaps a humorous way. As I read the book however, I discovered that she is not really awful; she just needs some attention that she is not getting. After her sister dies her parents become pretty much turn off, and Mathilda is trying to deal with her own grieving but is really too young to handle it on her own. Combine that with adolescence, young love and a misunderstanding of how her sister truly died is what make Mathilda a likeable character. It is very easy to sympathize with her, and to want to help her throughout the book. She is frantically waving her arms but no one sees her, which can be frustrating but also very realistic. Sometimes it's hardest to notice the ones that need the most help.Mathilda does have a spunky personality as well, so the book itself is not a total sob story, and it is entertaining to go through what she is going through (to a certain extent). I did enjoy reading this book, and will check out any other books this author has in the future. It was just different from what I normally read, and different in a good way. The dialogue, the characters, everything. I really enjoyed it.",4.0,Not what I thought it was going to be...,1249516800,"08 6, 2009",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3GGAW5L9BJB2R,1466344946,Jojo4,"[0, 0]",The words have you wanting to continue turning the pages. Can't wait to read part two. Makes you want to see if the Campbell girls are s force to be reckoned with.,4.0,Riveting,1378512000,"09 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A341D838USLGKM,1595550925,Daniel Greene,"[13, 13]","Bravo to Cosby and Poussaint for publishing this much needed work. Unlike the intellectuals and scholars who deride these men for being old fuddy duddies or being part of an `afristocracy,' the authors have no problem speaking the truth no matter how unpleasant. And the truth is indeed unpleasant. Today, while there are marches over the symbolic offense of rope hanging from trees and door knobs, 94% of all blacks murdered are killed by other blacks. This is unbelievably tragic. But as their sub-title states, Cosby and Poussaint offer a litany of self-help strategies for communities and individuals to rise from the paralyzing state of victimhood to victory.This self-help guide is sorely needed. Many parts of the black community are like urban versions of William Golding's `Lord of the Flies', with waves of children born into neighborhoods without the norms and values of civilization. Don't believe me? Read the `call outs' in the book, which are testimonials from men and women the authors met during their tour of black communities. There's no point in lamenting over how or why this happened. The authors do quip that while blacks were thinking about the white man, blacks stopped thinking about the black man; however, they are primarily concerned with offering real tangible advice to those who desperately need tools to command control over their lives.Their voice throughout the book is both fatherly (you can almost hear Cosby shouting in you ear `Come on People!') and authoritative of academically and professionally learned men. They also speak as loving elders within the African-American community, reminding their audience of the heroic legacy they've inherited from their forefathers.They cover subjects such as prenatal care, child rearing, mental and physical wellness, education, finances, confronting crime, etc. Interestingly much of what they say is today considered counter-cultural. They assert that black children must speak `Standard English', boys are different from girls, two parent families with a married mother and father are ideal, abstinence is better than a condom, etc. Thank goodness these guys don't care about whatever Viacom says is fashionable.There is a ting of sadness that these men, at this point in their lives, needed to write a book like this. It didn't need to be this way but life must be faced not as it ought to be but as it is, with the desire to change life for the better. As such, Cosby and Poussaint have written an impassioned, highly informative guide offering individuals something they may never have thought possible to attain: hope.",5.0,The Elders Strike Back,1195171200,"11 16, 2007",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A13RULHJKI6TAO,B00BXK176M,ccgirl,"[0, 0]","I always enjoy Denise Hunter's books. At times, I get a little frustrated with her female characters (they tend to be snippy, but as they seek the Lord and usually fall in love, they tend to soften up). But I enjoyed this plot and the characters from the start. It was a fairly light read, and the ending was sweet.",4.0,Sweet,1399852800,"05 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ATVY0KCUJWVG6,1851684670,Antigone,"[12, 20]","Extremely brave, thoughtfully written, and fair to the oppressed Palestinians. At a time in which American support for Israel is not only given but taken for granted and abused by Christian evangelicals and Israeli rightwing hawks, books like this prove that educated and intellectual members of society can be brave enough to write the truth. It is often Israeli jews that are the most vocal advocates for Palestinian causes because judaism teaches fairness and honesty in dealings with everyone.",5.0,An honest perspective from a respected Israeli historian,1306972800,"06 2, 2011",12,20,helpful,0.6,1 A38X7VDITZ3TN1,1599253178,palal,"[5, 5]","It's sad to find out, and in my case 95% of the bible preachers I listen to are actually off the rails deceivers scamming people for money! I still don't want to believe it, you actually go through the grief process of some one dying, anger, grief, trying to compromise and lastly grim acceptance with the knowledge that the christian world is being systematically deceived by them.",5.0,"Hard to believe, but the facts stack up to his thesis",1373155200,"07 7, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3UAQRT8NKBZP1,B00D1WWGT2,hlgarcia3,"[0, 0]","I was given a copy for review in exchange for my honest opinion.This was a great short story. Usually when I read short stories I get saddened because the authors don’t put enough into the story and it just stops. Helen however did amazing! I was happy with how it ended and knew that any questions I had would most likely be answered in the next book.Radley comes home from war and couldn’t be happier to be back where there is peace and quiet. That is until he hears a wailing sound—it’s not a cat or a dog—is that a baby?! Radley sees Olivia through the doorway and is struck by her beauty. Who is this woman and where did she come from? More importantly why is she there with a baby? Watching Radley get to know Olivia and baby George is so sweet and heartwarming.Olivia is living with the Knight’s while she is recuperating from her emergency C-section, which I feel the author could have gone into more detail as to why one was needed as I am curious what caused this. She is such a sweet woman who was wronged by Radley’s brother Cameron. I loved seeing how she interacted with Sharon (Radley’s mom) and Radley.I was very happy that I got the chance to read this book. It was a short, sweet read and I can’t wait for the next book! 5/5",5.0,great short story,1381104000,"10 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AANG87SKNL3T7,1932994726,Isabella Valentine - www.IsabellaValentine.com,"[15, 16]","This book is a pure treat and is possibly the best wedding book I've had the pleasure of reading EVER. Maybe it's because there are so many beautiful pictures, and I'm such a visual person. I like to see the mood and ambience of weddings, see facial expressions of brides and their wedding parties. Photos of extravagant as well as simple (not simple as in boring, but simple as in chic classic beauty) weddings that just make you want to stare at the page for a long time.Topics range from types of dresses (A-line dresses are to die for!) to types of floral arrangements and what kind of mood they set, to wedding cakes -- but the pictures. Pictures speak louder than words. There are several wonderful articles and extremely valuable information in this book that come in handy, but the pictures are worth buying themselves.My favorite parts of the book included:* Celebrity weddings: Cindy crawford, Jenny McCarthy, Tori Spelling, Toni Braxton, and others - they know how to throw luxurious weddings that make you feel like you're ""in"" the fairytale... that even though it looks unobtainable - they describe ways to make it a part of your wedding so that you can have everything you ever dreamed.* Hair styles and hair accessories: the section on this is short but effective. The photos are breathtaking and if I can ever get my hair to look like that, I would be a very happy girl. So beautiful. The hair accessories shown were mostly silver and pearl, which is universally flattering anywhere. They were so intricate. My only complaint is that this section wasn't longer. But there were 9 or 10 photos of hair (on a two-page spread) and that was the whole hair styling section. The hair accessories were on a two-page spread as well. However even though they didn't designate a very large section to hair, keep in mind that the rest of the book has AMAZING pictures of brides' hair on other pages.* Treating yourself before the wedding. I love how this book went into great detail on what to do for yourself. So many women forget that in the midst of all the stress and frustration, they need to make time for themselves. Whether it's setting up time to get your teeth whitened, getting spa facials, or even setting up an exercise routine to get your body in shape before the wedding.* Flowers. This book has a HUGE section on flowers. And they didn't just pile a bunch of pictures of bouquet together and call it quits. They did something really amazing! They showed how the flowers could be used in the wedding such as placing a flower in your hair, on the runner, on place settings, on the cake, on the going-away-car, etc. So many beautiful and creative pictures with gorgeous floral arrangements, bouquets, and even simplistic ones with a single flower.I highly recommend this book for ANYONE wanting to get married!",5.0,The perfect book for the perfect wedding,1137974400,"01 23, 2006",15,16,helpful,0.9375,1 A23Q0JK2E2WJFS,0448021684,Jon R. Christensen,"[0, 1]","More politics than spiritual. Also a bit dated, course that probably cause the book was written during a different time. Still, things haven't really changed much. So a good read - over a few sittings.",3.0,If god is political he/she can be any color desired,1359331200,"01 28, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3EC76P85UWKND,0316154059,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Harry Bosch is like a dog with a bone; he won't give up until he gets the killer. If you enjoy a mystery that has you guessing until the end who done it; then this is the book for you. All I can say is this is a true page turner and you will NOT believe the ending.,5.0,Connelly and Bosch-A Match Made in Heaven,1353369600,"11 20, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A188NTJ5LV8LA4,034549590X,Wm19,"[5, 10]","This was the best book so far in the series for me. The first 5 books were about Princess Meredith's past relationships with her scary relatives, emerging relationships with her guards, and the returning magic of the Fae. In this book, we see how the Seelie court and non-sidhe fae have come to regard her feats of magic. My favourite part of magic involved the Red Cap goblins. Merry visits the Seelie sithen, a third sithen, and discovers something very important about herself. Towards the end, being raised among the humans and powerless for so long gives Merry a viewpoint and weapon that most sidhe don't think to use. And she uses it to terrific effect. A lot of plot threads get resolved, but there are still some questions that remain. What will happen to Queen Andais and King Taranis? Who killed Merry's father? A lot happens in the book and I can't wait for the next book. If you've read any of this series, you must read this book because it's the best one so far.",5.0,Best book so far,1193097600,"10 23, 2007",5,10,helpful,0.5,1 A1DZ27VGECSVKP,0936083166,"Amazon Customer ""jazzman2222""","[18, 42]","This book says it is suitable for young people and by that means teens. It gives very weak arguments for the hierarchical position on gender. This book could be used as a tool for the egalitarian position on gender as the arguments are so weak and easily dismissed once one studies the relevant passages of the Bible in Hebrew and Greek in 1st century context. When the author misinterprets via eisegesis (reading into the text what is not there) it is very obvious, such as his reading of Genesis 2. For example, he would have one believe that calling something a female is naming it (rather than categorizing it), parents would be surprised to hear this on delivery of a baby and the Doctor proclaiming "it's a girl"; they would then need to say they have the right to name the baby, haha. He also claims there is no use of 'submit' (Greek 'hupotasso') in a mutual sense, when Ephesian 5:21 uses it in exactly that way, in fact in the Greek Eph 5:22 HAS NO VERB and so must steal the verb from 5:21. He points out Jesus needed to be a man (which is true in order to fulfill prophecy), but neglects to point out that he also needs to be a free jew from the tribe of Judah and many other requirements to fulfill prophecy yet NONE of these requirements are needed to be a disciple, as "there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave not free, male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus." Interestingly, he does mention Deborah, one of 3 judge prophets in the Bible, but simply does not see any implications here. He simply asserts that Greek 'kephale' cannot mean source, when that is exactly what it means metaphorically in 1st Century Greek.",3.0,Very weak arguments for the hierachical position,1086480000,"06 6, 2004",18,42,helpful,0.42857142857142855,1 ARCR0ILHOA3W4,0316066524,David Gonet,"[0, 0]","I had read David Foster Wallce previously. He had authored pieces in Harper's for years. I was saddened by his taking his own life, but upon his death I decided to read as much of his that I could. I.J., as his fans call it, is the first actual example of post modernism that I can relate to another person and explain its basis. I have read all the post mod classics, ""White Noise"" ""Underworld"" et al, but until I.J. I was unable to relate it to anyone.I.J. is an experience in reading. It is unlike any novel that I recall reading in the last 20 years. I describe it as reading on the internet. All the footnotes the author puts in are so many hyper links to other textual treasures. It's intense reading. I liken it to Pynchon in its rapidity and sentence structure. Foster Wallace doesn't have the gift of word choice like Pynchon, but I.J. is just as sad, funny, and exhausting as ""Gravity's Rainbow"".Buy this to read at different times of the day. Don't sit down at period of time and try to consume it. I don't believe that was his intent.David Foster Wallace was a talented artist that will be greatly missed.",4.0,Infinite Jest,1225065600,"10 27, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2PGBG0KAF0GKE,B00J47H8H8,Sarah Mackey,"[0, 0]",I was given an ARC for an honest review and what can I say other than I love Dylan and where can I find me one of him. I feel so torn for Jesse because of her job and her relationship. Book 4 picks up right where book 3 ended. Jesse and Dylan's relationship is starting to heat up and become serious and her job wants her to go another direction. I could not put this book down and I can't wait till the next one comes out. Another 5 star book!!,5.0,When is the next book out!!,1395360000,"03 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36K8CZMYBTO78,1476735603,Alex,"[0, 0]",Loved how this was wrapped up nicely and I really enjoyed reading it. It was great that they finally got their HEA. It's an amazing series!! Raine Miller did not disappoint!,5.0,Love It...,1371427200,"06 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LHEEO9ZQGL4I,0768438829,joyful8,"[0, 0]",It is a great devotional. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to draw close to our Lord Jesus Christ.,5.0,Daily Devotional,1401235200,"05 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19CDOIF6B43AN,0975436236,Willie Fetchit,"[8, 11]","This is a very good story. I enjoyed it a lot, but I came away with the feeling that it is only part of a book. I felt that the author took a book and broke it up into parts to make several books. The story line is good, and the action and adventure is first rate, but I still feel short changed somehow.",3.0,HAMFIST OVER THE TRAIL,1355270400,"12 12, 2012",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A2ZB6FR1L3STC2,1887424377,"Roger Ellerton ""Author of Live Your Dreams Le...","[14, 17]","I found this book very interesting and useful from many different perspectives.It gave me a better understanding of those who are diagnosed or labeled as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and the issues faced by these people. In particular, I liked the idea of looking at ADD as `a normal and natural part of the spectrum of human behavior, and that it is not as useful in modern society as it may have been in the past'. That is, a person diagnosed with ADD has characteristics more like a hunter compared to the rest of the population who are more like farmers.This is an excellent book for students of NLP to see how NLP can be used to assist those who have been diagnosed as ADD. This however is also a short-coming of the book for those readers who have not studied NLP.The NLP techniques and concepts, presented in this book, are adequately described for anyone who has been trained in NLP. Thus, NLP practitioners can easily use these simple and elegant techniques with their ADD clients and achieve outstanding results. However, for those readers who have not studied NLP, my concern is that the techniques are not presented in sufficient detail nor with the full understanding as to why or how they will assist a person diagnosed as ADD. Thus, some of these readers may feel the techniques are too simple or even flaky.",4.0,An interesting and useful read,1160265600,"10 8, 2006",14,17,helpful,0.8235294117647058,1 A34XZI5Q10Q2Z3,0060755784,Allie,"[0, 0]","I just finished it moments ago, and I rushed to come write this. What an enjoyable read! I found myself reading anywhere from twenty to 100 pages at a time. Highly addictive, and wonderfully told. I had never heard of Turner's syndrome, so by default, I loved it for the fact that it's unique and taught me something new. A beautiful story of a dysfunctional family that doesn't know (or simply chooses not to know) how to communicate with one another, and show how much they care. Half the book is spent finding out if the war of family is even worth fighting or not.The only reason I didn't give it a full five stars, was because it started off a bit slow, in my opinion. The book quickly picked up, though. It was one that I didn't want to end. Completely recommended to everyone, of all ages, of all backgrounds. Just lovely!",4.0,4.25 stars,1239926400,"04 17, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2Q0973K2T3BG,0307265749,Denise E. Tennenbaum,"[0, 0]","I enjoyed this book as I have read a lot of books by this Author. It is an engrossing story, you won't want to put it down.She allows you to get into the characters and their feelings. Many things you do not expect happen",5.0,A well written Tale of two brothers,1382054400,"10 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EG5MVX8KTAAD,038548951X,Rebecca,"[13, 16]","This book was a quick read. I really did enjoy the plot up until the arranged marriages of the two characters. The secret woven into the story was compelling and made the book more interesting than it would have been without it, and the best thing was the two female characters being portrayed as strong, independent women. From reading books like this one would swear that all Indian women are unhappy in their marriages, all Indian men are abusive and controlling, that kind of thing. But this does not reflect a flaw in the writing and story itself so I guess I can't rate on that. Strong characters and a strong plot make this worth reading.",3.0,It was ok,1105660800,"01 14, 2005",13,16,helpful,0.8125,1 A3006RT4G6YVU8,0061228079,Sadie,"[12, 30]","This book is not the best advise for someone who really does want to get married and does not like the single life even though Jen Scheft tries to ""sugarcoat"" being single and unmarried. Dating can be really frustrating and difficult especially when you are approaching 40 and you still can't find the right one. You can't be that choosy as Jen suggests or you WILL end up all alone. Jen has more opportunities than most of us to meet many good men. She can pick and choose anyone she wants, being a celebrity helps, too. Most of us are not that lucky to meet alot of men with every great quality we hope them to have. Jen also lives in a big city which I am sure helps. What if you live in a small town and don't have alot of men to choose from? Then what? Do you keep turning down the average man with some faults in hopes that someone better MAY come along some day?What if the perfect guy never comes along? Some people don't think hanging out with friends or doing hobbies is a good substitute for not being married or in a relationship. I don't know anyone personally who has had success with online dating. Sometimes it's not possible to move to another area with more prospects or join clubs where men might be.Do you still hold out for Prince Charming? There is such a thing as being too picky & those people can end up all alone, still holding out for the perfect man who does not exsist. All men are going to have some faults - don't hold out for the perfect man because he may never come.....",2.0,No man is going to be perfect.,1169596800,"01 24, 2007",12,30,helpful,0.4,1 A2ZZ34EN63CXCG,1490505776,Lisa Kelly,"[0, 0]","It just keeps getting better and better, this author is beyond amazing and the story, intricate and wonderfully woven!! Just absolute perfection",5.0,Better and better,1376870400,"08 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADKCGNW3ISCCJ,B006BE4OUG,Annette Lewis,"[0, 0]",This was an easy read and so now wanna go to the.Inn!! I willb reading more of Horrocks books. Enjoy!,5.0,Who Dun Him Inn,1388275200,"12 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HQNLO7NM96N4,B00EP6LI92,les,"[0, 0]",final act not quite as good as the other acts but still good. Enjoyed the read but get really frustrated with books that are series. Can't authors write one complete book anymore???,4.0,finally the end,1380067200,"09 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1OVYZPXPB0RKB,1595545336,"C.J. Darlington ""Author of Thicker Than Blood...","[9, 9]","After writing a noteworthy debut, a sophomore novel can be an author's bane. The pressure of the follow-up can cause writers to try too hard, and that much anticipated second book sometimes ends up a flop. Or worse, the author freezes with fear, and as in the case of masters Harper Lee, Margaret Mitchell and Emily Bronte, never publishes again.Sibella Giorello's first book The Stones Cry Out placed her on our radar. It won a Christy award for 1st novel and introduced us to an author whose storytelling ability and knack for description caused me to call the book ""one of 2007's most compelling novels"". Needless to say, Giorello had a lot to live up to in The Rivers Run Dry. Would Raleigh Harmon remain the interesting, three-dimensional character we'd come to love?Instead of a sophomore slump for Sibella Giorello, The Rivers Run Dry stands head and shoulders above The Stones Cry Out. It's richer, deeper, funnier. Raleigh has just been transferred to the Violent Crimes unit of the Seattle field office, and she's brought her mother with her. They've both moved in with eccentric Aunt Charlotte whose attempts to help Raleigh with her cases provide many of the book's lighter moments.Nineteen-year-old Courtney VanAlstyne is missing. Her very rich parents think she's been kidnapped and since the local police are skittish of lawsuits, they've called in the FBI for technical backup. Raleigh expects to do nothing more than collect soil from the wheel wells of Courtney's abandoned Land Rover, make prints of the tire treads, and file the paperwork. But she can't help but dig deeper. A compulsive gambler, a high-stakes poker game, and VanAlstyne secrets quickly confirm this case is much more complex than first meets the eye. Will they find Courtney before it's too late?The Rivers Run Dry is a rare gem in the suspense genre, paying as much attention to character development as to plot twists. Even minor characters are created with Giorello's trademark attention to detail. Take her description of a park ranger from chapter one: ""I turned to see a small woman walking toward us, looking like an elf purged from a fairy tale. Her long red hair leaped over her shoulders in ropes of lava and her enormous black boots scuffed across the loose gravel shards on the ground, creating the sound of belligerent applause.""Raleigh is a woman who's trained to keep her wits about her, but she's not strong to a fault like some female leads. She isn't afraid to call for backup when needed, and she finds herself in more than one scrape due to her react-first-ask-for-clearance-later tendencies.If you enjoyed the insider angle of Richmond, VA in Stones, you'll agree Giorello's portrayal of Seattle and its surroundings in Rivers is up to par. Clearly she knows of what she writes. Pull up a Google map, and you'll discover all the locations are real.One or two Deus ex Machina moments seemed a bit convenient, especially in light of Raleigh's mantra of ""not believing in luck"". But as Raleigh's father used to say, ""there are two kinds of people in the world: those who believe in coincidence, and those who have the courage to recognize God."" Perhaps the serendipity was Giorello's way of showing us providence in everyday life.There are several other welcome spiritual insights in Rivers that add depth and meaning, setting this novel apart from its secular counterparts. One passage on God's adoptive love choked me up. And since Raleigh is a Christian, she sees the world through that lense.From the inside of a hot FBI surveillance van to the craggy hiking trails of Cougar mountain, The Rivers Run Dry is character driven suspense at its finest. Layered with prowess, each revelation unfolds in perfect time to keep us guessing all the way to the final pages. Don't be surprised if you finish the novel one day, then pick it up and read it over again the next.--Reviewed by C.J. Darlington for TitleTrakk",5.0,"...a rare gem in the suspense genre, paying as much attention to character development as to plot twists.",1234483200,"02 13, 2009",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A2STLT852H9K75,039304632X,Jane Avriette,"[4, 4]","I found this book in Amazon's "Authors Recommendations." I had been looking through the classics, and purchased this with _The Old Man and the Sea_, and _Catch-22_.The book was not a particularly enthralling read. The writing is in simple, rigidly-structured sentences. Very reminiscent, in fact, of Bram Stoker's _Dracula_. The author makes mention in her notes at the end of the book that the myriad "diary entries" and "letters" and "journal entries" are a historical point; that much history was recorded in such items. However, because of the extensive use of these tools, the book takes on a tangled third-person viewpoint which, while not particularly confusing, dilutes the book. Many characters are developed, their plights learned, and their struggles fleshed out, but only as much as the rest of the characters and the book suffers for it.Additionally, the book is reviewed and portrayed as an adventure saga. In that regard, it is over within the first 250 pages. The book simply drags on... and on... and on.I think this would be an appropriate high school sophomore text, but is clearly not a book for a sophisticated reader looking for stimulating entertainment.Perhaps the abridged audiobook would be more fulfilling. I gave the book three stars because two was simply too harsh a rating.",3.0,"Sappy, diffuse, soap-adventure-opera.",960854400,"06 13, 2000",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A34KHGDZFOFCGP,0195067142,"Kent Lundgren ""As between fools and scoundrel...","[0, 0]","Not the book; it is well-written by a man who understands the effective use of words, and that understatement and cold description carry more weight than hyperbole when trying to describe unthinkable things. .I have read extensively about WWIi, especially the campaign in the Pacific. No other author managed to convey the utter horror of day-to-day life in those island battles. That anyone survived those days with his mind intact is a tribute to human resilience.",4.0,Awful! just awful.,1370908800,"06 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8N3FYDA2VUYY,030773014X,"Pirate2240 ""Kat""","[0, 0]","5 Kingdoms sit on the threshold of an upcoming prophecy. There are those that are working hard to make sure that it comes true and those that will stop at nothing to prevent its fulfillment. Legend has it that every 200 years, the stars will come into a perfect alignment and as long as the three legendary harps are collected, the stairway to heaven will be restored. Once that happens the souls of those that have died on Earth that are supposed to be in heaven will be taken by the angels to their final resting place.But since the First Born and Second Born interferred many years ago, that stairway has been sealed with no hope of reopening it except by the one the prophecy calls for that can complete this process, one born with the breath of angel and blood of man. Now Melaia has been searching to unite the harps if she can find them with the help of Trevin, a man who vows to serve her until the very last breath he has.Only Melaia's father, King Laetham has promised her hand in marriage to Prince Varic of the Dregmoors in hopes of securing an alliance between the two kingdoms, but Melaia has given her heart to another along time ago. King Laetham will only allow a man of royal blood to marry his daughter Princess Melaia and with time running out, he sees no alternative but to allow the marriage between Varic and Melaia to take place. Will Trevin be able to locate the missing two harps before the marriage vows are complete or will he fall victim to the evil plots of the First Born who is set on making sure the stairway remains sealed forever?I received Eye of the Sword by Karyn Henley compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah for my honest review. Karyn captured my heart in this incredible new series combining medieval fantasy along with some mythical creatures and an entire race of angels with her first book, Breath of Angel. When I saw that this book was finally available, I had to review this one. I was not disappointed. The quest for the harps continues in Eye of the Sword and we get a more in depth look at the character of Trevin and his family history as it's uncovered chapter by chapter. We also uncover a bit more of the legend of the Wisdom Tree and the restoration of the stairway to heaven that is nearly all possible signs towards the timing this possible prophecy to be fulfilled. As a reader, I am completely sold on the world that Karyn has so elaborately created and know I'll be waiting on pins and needles until the final book is complete and ready to read.I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and those looking for an amazing Christian action-adventure story dealing with angels and the fight between evil and good, then this is a must read for you. I would recommend the first book in the Angelaeon Circle series first, Breath of Angel to get an understanding of Melaia's character and why the need for the quest.",5.0,The saga continues to restore the stairway to heaven!,1333756800,"04 7, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17A0MOQFK9K1D,0743270029,Russell Weisfield,"[4, 4]","This hidden message found on the back cover of the book tells exactly why this book is so funny. That is, Beard perfectly parodies The Da Vinci Code taking many stabs at Brown's style. The book even starts by mentioning what organizations are real like Brown does.From a political standpoint, Beard definitely has a liberal slant. He takes many jabs at the Patriot Act and President Bush. While he does have make fun of John Kerry's flip flopping, the needling is far less than that of the President.Beard's overall writing style is nothing great. He jumps around a bit and does not fill in many details. Nor does Beard try overly hard to write a coherent and absorbing story preferring instead to rely on the strength of the parody.From this point of view he succeeds marvelously. If you find Dan Brown's writing to be somewhat predictable and long winded then you will find great joy in Beard's novel. Beard will even point out extra flaws in The Da Vinci Code and Brown's overall style.",4.0,Thank You Dan Brown,1108944000,"02 21, 2005",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 ADBEWH7841JE3,1595230920,Christy,"[8, 10]","This is a very well written book that gets right to the facts and holds your attention. In NJ we are having major problems with this due to our Development Redevelopment Act and Plan not to mention the intrusion of HUD and the creation of their regional plans with appointed boards without any elected members. We are losing our private property rights faster that the informed people can educate the rest of the residents. The people are being railroaded by NGO's, Sierra Club, etc. Read the book, stay informed, alert the community. UN Agenda 21 in the works.",5.0,A Must Read,1346889600,"09 6, 2012",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A1FJ6YD0TL90GN,1492997897,Mary Mooney,"[5, 5]","I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review, so here it is. WOW, this one threw me for a loop. A very sad and heart-wrenching story. Carlene is living and working at a shelter, trying to make her life better. The shelter has helped her after her fiance's dead and she was left alone. The guilt she feels from his death is tearing out her heart and her soul is damaged forever. On the anniversary of that fateful day, she stops at the local church to light a candle in Chris' memory, as she has done since his death. Only this time there is someone else there too. The gentleman hears her crying and asks if she is okay and she says she is fine. He ask her to have coffee with him. She does. He tells her his name is Nick and after the coffee she gets up to leave and slips and the stranger catches her and they are so close, and he kisses her. She has feelings stir that she thought were long gone. Then he leaves and she knows she will never see him again. With help and a shove from her best friend, Melisa, Carlene moves out of the shelter and starts a new job. Things are beginning to look up for her. After she returns a purse, the lady offers her a job at her jewelry store. Carlene is doing well at the store and making enough money to move into an apartment of her own. One day she looks up and sees Nick standing there with a stunningly beautiful lady. They are there to buy an engagement ring. Carlene is heartbroken. Things change for them both. What will happen when they learn who the other is? Can Nick forgive her for what happened? Will Carlene be able to explain what happened after she realizes who Nick is? This is a first for me by Dori Lavelle and I loved it, so much I quickly bought book 2, I have to know what happens between Carlene and Nick.",5.0,Almost Perfect!,1392336000,"02 14, 2014",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1EEPMBYF8NTNA,B00J94NZMS,Brian P. L.,"[0, 2]","If your looking for reference book, this is it. Nothing new. Seems all was gathered from sourcesv and tossed together.",1.0,Skip this book,1399334400,"05 6, 2014",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2DYC2V8RZYDCE,0312283628,"Marilyn Lee ""Sissy""","[0, 0]","Although he was a character in the Jake Grafton novels, Tommy has come into his own. And what a ride this book takes you on. Although Jake steps into the picture as his former ""boss"", now retired, it is really Tommy's ride all the way. Another book that I could not put down. Read it in two days. I love these conspiracy plots. They keep you on the edge of your seat until the last minute.",5.0,TOMMY CAMELLINI COMES TO LIFE,1156896000,"08 30, 2006",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,0736052232,Midwest Book Review,"[21, 42]","Lori Incledon is Vice President of Human Performance Specialists, and for more than a decade has been highly involved in personal training, sport-specific conditioning, physical therapy, athletic training, and injury prevention. Specializing in women's personal training with an emphasis on strength training, Lori draws upon her considerable experience and impressive expertise in Strength Training For Women to present a unique, individualized, highly recommended approach to strength training specifically designed to teach women how their muscles function so that they can take maximum advantage of every workout they do. Sample training programs and exercises are provided to work every area of the female form, and are presented in such a way as to be easily customized for individual training objectives. Organized into three main sections (""Designing Women""; ""Results-Oriented Training""; ""Movements and Muscles"", Strength Training For Women is the ideal do-it-yourself instructional guide which is enhanced with an Appendix, Glossary, ""References and Resources"", and an index.",5.0,A unique approach to strength training,1110672000,"03 13, 2005",21,42,helpful,0.5,1 A2H4513C1BSBF4,0385493347,MLIS2012,"[6, 7]","While the first few chapters were slow going the book picks up both the pace and gets more involving as Ms. Clooney's involvement with the professional music industy increases.Ms. Clooney is very open and her stories on working with notable industry professionals-Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby as well as many others-make this a worthwhile read. The book has many subplots, the most interesting being her relationships with her mother and sister and her marriage to Jose Ferrer.",3.0,Girl Has Had an Interesting Life,1012435200,"01 31, 2002",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 AH3DO5ZTR7BU6,0981755674,"Amazon Customer ""Dollie Bird""","[5, 7]","Hello,This book was not very impressive. The smoothie recipes weren't as tasty as some others I've used from other raw foodies. Plus, the way it is put together is rather cheezy. The cover is great, but the content looks and reads as though it is your Aunt Sally's recipe book, bound by an inviting cover.On a more positive note - love, love, love the almond milk recipe.Sincerely,SR",2.0,Disappointed,1255737600,"10 17, 2009",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A27D8ADDYNY5N8,1593856377,David H. Peterzell PhD PhD,"[39, 40]","As a university lecturer at three universities, I get plenty of questions about these things. I hear plenty of horror stories from students about faulty or non-existent mentoring in these areas. There is plenty of advice out there to be had from ignorant, indifferent, or hostile sources. A big problem is that many professors and staff in psychology departments at major universities don't have knowledge or interest in clinical and counseling psychology. They may be openly hostile to the entire field, or toward areas and programs they perceive as being too unscientific. Even among supportive mentors, there isn't enough time to mentor students on all these issues. For many professors, finding quality time with students sucks time from writing papers and chasing grants. Your best bet is to use this book to master the basics. Find a great mentor and use that person's time to fine tune your thinking and turbo-charge your applications.My advice is to start here if you are serious about getting into grad school. Or, take a look at the APA's book, ""Getting In"", which is on the same topic. I don't care for the APA books as much as the insider's guide, but your mileage may vary. Also, you can probably get a copy of the 2006/07 guide for almost nothing. The earlier version contains good general information and *almost* up to date info.And if you want your life as a grad student to go well at at the Big U, then make sure to consult the following classics: (Do this even if you aren't considering an academic career)David Sternberg's ""How to Complete and Survive a Dissertation.""Robert Sternberg's ""Psychology 101 1/2: The Unspoken Rules for Success in Academia""Another must read, for future academics:Darley et al's ""The Compleat Academic: A Career Guide""And for future clinical and counseling psychologists:Yalom's ""The Gift of Therapy: An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients""Get these other books. Do it. This stuff is worth its weight in gold.",5.0,You need this,1206576000,"03 27, 2008",39,40,helpful,0.975,1 A2QRP21A6IWBUA,1600060757,Milk Donor Mama,"[0, 0]","A Deeper Kind of Calm: Steadfast Faith in the Midst of Adversity by Linda Dillow is an inspirational book for women.Dillow provides stories of personal experiences from others as well as her own life in guiding women to use faith to help them through difficult life events. This book is meant to be more of a bible study but works well for individuals wanting to read about the strength of God's word as well.This book is not as well written as her other one, Calm My Anxious Heart, but it is still an encouraging read for women going through various types of difficulties and disappointments in their lives.Disclosure Of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: ""Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.""",4.0,Anxiety relief for women,1300233600,"03 16, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A25WMDPFXUX5YL,0226484637,"Margaret Jones ""Peggy J""","[0, 0]",This one of the more better books to learn how to cite things correctly especially for class. This was a very good purchase. You should buy it.,5.0,This book makes things so easy,1376611200,"08 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1O2FVELQ90L2C,142360105X,Sutiikare,"[0, 0]","Haven't completed reading this one, but so far it's informative. After reading a few of these books, you you begin to put the pieces together and realize the big picture. This books gives you a personal philosophy and attitude check whiich I found to be a good approach, because you're able to create your own scenerio for your own personal survival plan. So in a manner of speaking, it allows you the ability to creatively come up with a variety of different possibilities rather than a direct "do it this way" approach.",4.0,Good Book,1354233600,"11 30, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A28SBPF6KFZ7VL,1401300391,Eric K.,"[19, 27]","After giving very positive reviews for Rice's first two books, I, unfortunately, have to give his third the thumbs-down. I couldn't wait for ""Light Before Day"" to come out. Rice's two previous books were so inventive. Their writing style unique. ""Light Before Day"" did not capture that essence. And rather than rewrite what has already been written by other reviewers, I echo the sentiments of Paul A. Minafri (so please go and read his thoughts on the novel).I will say that there were too many characters to keep track of, I didn't care about them, and I certainly didn't feel any connection between any of them. The element of human feeling and/or love wasn't present; at least not enough. And...""Rod Peters?"" Come on...unless he's a porn star and this is a cheesy classless detective novel (wait...is it?), please don't use that ridiculous name.In Rice's previous two novels, he was a master at slowly revealing clues to the puzzle/mystery. Either it didn't happen in this one...or I didn't care about the storyline enough. The story arc seemed amateurish and unoriginal...like an old detective serial where the investigative reporter quits his job to solve the crime himself! Survival be damned!Lastly, the point of view kept changing throughout. Most of the story's perspective was from Adam the narrator's viewpoint. Then...it wasn't. Adam wasn't involved in that part of the story, so it became a third-party point of view. I was lost...and disappointed, as I've seen what quality writing skills Rice really does possess.At any rate, I would advise anyone to NOT pick up this book unless you have read Rice's other two novels. Go read ""A Density of Souls."" That way you won't slight him in the future when he could again turn out an exceptional work of art. Christopher Rice really is a good author. Unfortunately, he chose not to show that side of himself in ""Light Before Day,"" and for that I'm very sad.",2.0,Where is that Light when you need it to help wake me up?,1118707200,"06 14, 2005",19,27,helpful,0.7037037037037037,1 A1TGR96XC9OG7E,B008P4LJG2,jenf,"[0, 0]","When I ordered this it was a freebie, so I didn't have high hopes for it, and some of the reviews were not great..but once I got into it, I really enjoyed it....",4.0,better than I expected,1354665600,"12 5, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BFDEBT5IV4UN,0425241130,"Dianne E. Socci-Tetro ""Never Judge a Book by ...","[16, 22]","Hit List by Laurell K HamiltonThis book, while far from perfect,it is somewhat better than the last few. While it (the series) most likely will never regain its earlier excitement for fans,this book is at least a lot less like porn and more like the speculative fiction we once knew. But without the corpses. Or the vampires.Is this series nearly over after 20 books or will Ms Hamilton keep trying to push for more? It seems to me that Ms Hamilton may be getting somewhat tired of Anita and her Harem and it shows in the writing of this novel. In addition, if Laurell is tired at this point can you imagine just how her longtime fans feel? Luckily, this book is not as horrid as some of her previous attempts at writing action/erotica. It goes a long way in making up for the previous books that have so insulted her fans intelligence and hopefully Ms Hamilton may have finally given up on the assumption that we (her long-time fans) will stick with the series no matter how faulty the writing.One of the biggest problems in this book is that there is a lot of repetition both in dialogue and in character types. Some dialogue and descriptions seem to be reproduced nearly word for word in the space of two chapters. It is as if Ms Hamilton is too tired to think of anything new to throw at Anita and Crew. Perhaps her beta readers and editor fell down on their jobs. Marshal Raborn seems to be a caricature or a regurgitation of Dolph. Dolph when he was at his worst. Remember the books in which he is angry and takes it out on Anita? I'm tired of these kinds of repetitive `macho' men and Anita having to defend herself; as if Ms Hamilton really needs to remind us that Anita is MORE than just a sex object now. Oh wait...maybe she does?One good thing about this book is that the excessive descriptions of long hair are missing since none of her ""sweeties"" is in it, but we do get descriptions of `anime' hair. Also missing are the ramblings of Anita discussing her wardrobe and the ever-popular lengthy dialogues and soliloquies just before she deigns to have sex with anyone. Amazingly, sex takes a backseat to the other goings on in this book. No sex until half way through the book!!!But Anita's nearly constant need to size herself up against all the other women, to constantly be reminding us of how cute, curvy, petite and large breasted she is, how desirable she is, is taking a major toll on this reader. It's annoying and makes me wonder just how insecure the author is in her own life.Now for the ending and my thoughts-------------SPOILERS---------SPOILERS--------SPOILERSSo we have a conclusion to the Mother of All Darkness, but did we have an ending? Is this a true death of Marmee? On the other hand, will this be a red herring? Why did Ms Hamilton choose to end the ""Big Bad"" but not the series? I'm annoyed that we've gone through twenty books with perhaps ten of them building up to this and then it being such a letdown. Although I do find it interesting that Olaf/Otto is now going to be a lion.Do we actually care anymore about what comes next? I mean just what can come next that will keep us riveted and loyal to the series? If we are going to have Anita go back to the boys what will do it for you? Having Jean-Claude become part of a new Council?I don't know, and I'm not so sure I'm going to stick around long enough to find out.",3.0,Should Be 2 1/2 Stars,1307491200,"06 8, 2011",16,22,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A1IDHU5ZDXVFYO,0940676508,Emilie A. Gosline,"[59, 63]","That Dr. Frawley (Vamadeva) comes from the lineage of the widely respected Ramana Maharsi is a plus for me. And when I learned that he was originally raised a Catholic I knew that he has also grappled with Western theology.The soul, God and the angels all have counterpart Sanskrit meanings and he explains why there is a great pantheon of gods and goddesses which are really part of Shiva, another name for the One who is beyond all conceptions.What I really liked were the sections about the seventh element (yes, there are more than five, although it could also be a seventh and final plane to me because it fits in with Vianna Stibal's Theta Healing concepts), advice about the safe ways to raise the Kundalini, why Rudra is beyond all duality, the explanation for the terrible Chhinnamasta, (who cut off her own head) and the concise meanings of all the related mantras for the various aspects of Shakti. He also gives the best description I have ever found for the Hridaya chakra, sometimes known as the eight-petaled secret chamber of the heart. I had already spent a great amount of time searching on the internet regarding this.If there is any fault with the book, I would have liked a little more about how to pronounce certain Sanskrit syllables, such as the difference between the long A, I and E.",5.0,Super western explanations for esoteric Hindu concepts,1230854400,"01 2, 2009",59,63,helpful,0.9365079365079365,1 A3OSR0X4Q2R1W9,0771023154,nkbudl,"[7, 10]",Nothing makes me want to run out to buy a book like the hateful reviews shown here. They're trying just too hard to show how 'cool' they by their hatred of anything relating to GOD. Why are they so judgemental of other people's beliefs? I feel sorry for them. . . as a Christian.,5.0,Can't wait to get this book,1340841600,"06 28, 2012",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 A3B9FGWSW5IIX8,0439023513,"P. S. MCFARLAND ""Patrick McFarland""","[0, 0]","Let me begin by stating that I enjoyed reading this trilogy and would recommend the story to readers of all ages. That said, I feel in Mockingjay the author falls flat in a few areas.1)Character development. Peeta, Finnick, and Katniss are the only characters in the story who are three dimensional. I would have liked to see more of Haymitch but as the story is written, he never really rises above his role as the drunken mentor of Peeta and Katniss. Also, there should have been more to President Snow. He was too much the quintessential cartoon villain. A cardboard cutout with no depth whatsoever.2) Katniss inner monologue is a constant frustration as she continues to misunderstand the events taking place around her. Even the target audience of the trilogy(12-17)must find her inability to realize what is happening exasperating.3)There isn't much going on in the story and when the action does pick up, it tends to be all too brief and gratuitously violent.On the plus side, the author skipped the Hollywood ending in favor of a more realistic conclusion. Some reviewers have lambasted Collins for doing so but I found it to be a refreshing alternative to the ordinary Disneyesque pablum so prevalent in today's novels.In short, the trilogy is a good but not great story, which is sad because with a little added effort, it could have been something really special.",4.0,Good but could have been so much better.,1334707200,"04 18, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18OBUSMXVE8R0,0807125547,J. Guild,"[0, 0]","If you like 'Books About Books"",you'll find this a real treasure. If you haven't,and you are even a budding Bibliophile,you'll get a great introduction to the whole world of books,writers,critics,booksellers,publishers,bestseller lists;and just about anything else about books;and this book will thrill you.Make sure you read the other Customer Reviews,they are very good;especially those that have high helpful votes.The book gives a lot of information about the monetary side of books.It will surprise you to see where the dollar you spend on books ends up.The book is loaded with bits of information that you'd be hard pressed to find elsewhere;or at least without a lot of research.For instance; Hemmingway dedicated books to four different wives.There are so many great lines and ancedotes;that it is impossible to not find one or more on every page.Here are a few to show you what's in store for you;""I laughed my head off."" -Marie Antionette""Couldn't put it down."" -Atlas""I can't wait for the play.""-Abraham Lincoln""You can't beat this book.""-Marquis de Sade""A good read on a rainy day.""-NoahAlthough I've read many 'Books About Books' ,I found this one informative,enjoyable and a hard one to put down.Although I have high praise for this book;I strongly disagree with how the author belittles the Customer Reviews here on Amazon. After years of being limited to reading reviews by professional reviewers and critics,finally we now can read reviews written by readers for readers. After all, we can separate the wheat from the chaff,and even vote on them. This is a major step forward for readers. After all;isn't that who the books were written for?""Praise means nothing if not balanced against criticism.""",5.0,"""An excellent book,relatively speaking."" Albert Einstein",1154304000,"07 31, 2006",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A37Y697XLEQEH5,0764206052,Daniel Wu,"[11, 16]","This is a good book to read even if you are not interested in the King James issue. The reason is that it goes over the basics of manuscripts which is a fancinating subject in itself. Also it gives you an appreciation of all the hard work that goes into translation and all the work that goes into textual criticism.I am giving it a 5 just to balance lots of the obvious King James Only people who purposely give it a one star (and by some of its comments, I am not sure they even scan the book, let alone read it). Given it has that many 1 star on purpose by the King James Only people, this must be a very good book since why would that many King James Only people try to bring down the rating of this book.",5.0,Fair and scholarly treatment of an emotional subject,941587200,"11 3, 1999",11,16,helpful,0.6875,1 A3NVMEXQ9T1PAU,0395311292,"""tall_guy_03""","[0, 0]","I liked this book very much. It was quite educational. It teaches you what pollution can do to something. Pollution can ruin your habitat. It can also ruin your lifestyle. This book was a good book. Aside from teaching about pollution, it was also very interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good book to read. Again, I thought it was a great book, and you may too. That is why you should read it!",4.0,A good book while teaching about pollution,1047772800,"03 16, 2003",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1T2TBOJH64QFJ,0439456959,"Jenine M. Cafarella ""Lover of fantasy""","[0, 0]","With the exception of the Harry Potter books read by Jim Dale, the world of audio books has been mainly a disappointment to me. I am so glad this audio book read by Brendan Fraser was recommended to me. Fraser reads this story wonderfully bringing the characters of Ben, Sorrell and Firedrake to life, but my favorite characters he read had to be Twigleg the Gravelbeard the grumpy dwarf. Fraser gave everyone a personality of their own.The story of Dragon Rider itself was quite enjoyable, if a tad long. In this story, Firedrake, a silver dragon, learns that his valley is about to be flooded by humans. An old mentor tells Firedrake about The Rim of Heaven, a fairy tale place where the dragons were said to have originally come from. Firedrake along with his brownie friend, Sorrell, sets off on quest to find The Rim of Heaven. Along the way they meet a variety of characters including the human boy, Ben, talking rats, enchanted ravens, dwarfs, fairies and, of course, the horrible, terrible Golden One, Nettlebrand. This is a story sure to delight pre-teens and up with excitement, bravery and magic.",4.0,"Loved the reading, loved the story!",1175817600,"04 6, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AH0J8GLBUGIF2,0451236726,"Vic Reader ""Vic""","[0, 0]","Jen Lancaster delivers again. She shows her depth, wit, and willingness to steer off the beaten path ($5 words included) in this novel. Instead of being bored and figuring out the ending within the first 50 pages, I wanted to know how her characters fared. I'm so glad to see she has mastered the dual task of writing wickedly hilarious memoirs and unique novels.",4.0,"Best of ""chick lit""",1394323200,"03 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Z7MJ9NFZO0KF,188533964X,Craig S. Parker,"[9, 15]",Tired tale of misfit ex soldiers in trite situations. You would hope after so many glowing reviews that this would be more than a rehash of every stock bit of schtick. Its not. It also would benefit from spell check and editing. Save yourself.,2.0,bland,1355875200,"12 19, 2012",9,15,helpful,0.6,1 ARPXVUM7GP1FH,0743215915,"Anthony Toupuissant ""Toup""","[4, 4]","This book takes off to a good start. The tone is straightforward. The first three elements in the sales process are focused on improving the odds that the prospect will spend time with us. Seeing things from the other person's point of view is the backbone of the ""Sales Advantage"" approach to selling.The content in this book does a good job selling itself to you while it teaches you how to sell to others. However, being a partial offshoot of ""How to Win Friends and Influence People"" you tend to find the same excessive rambling you found in this earlier work.The Sales Advantage tools and principles can energize your selling efforts. They can empower you, challenge you, and give you a new level of confidence in your sales abilities. The objective of The Sales Advantage is to strengthen the performance and behavior of salespeople. The concepts provide a repeatable sales process that helps salespeople to sell from a buyer's point of view.Written in step-by-step form, the Sales Advantage will enable any person in sales to design a win-win selling model. This how-to guide has chock full of examples covering a gamut of sales undertakings. Your attitude makes all the difference in whether the tools will motivate you to build the solid customer-focused relationships you need for long-term success in selling.Learning how to sell using the Sales Advantage tools and principles will increase the odds that we will overcome sales challenges successfully. How? By learning to see the buying and selling process from the customer's point of view.FEW IDEAS:1) Get around people who are passionate about selling.2) Read, Watch, and listen to inspirational material.3) Talk to customers who love the product or service you sell.4) Write out your vision and invest yourself emotionally in your job.THREE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:1) You get the sales advantage by learning how to use the tools and principles.2) You keep the advantage by committing to practicing the use of the tools, day in and day out, until they become second nature.3) You sell more than ever by having the right attitude about selling, by building customer-focused relationships, and by looking for ways to get out of your comfort zone and try something different.",4.0,Legitimate Start.,1193702400,"10 30, 2007",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1USMRKIS9U03E,1618903950,Magduska,"[8, 8]",A beautiful book. Nicer than I expected. Leather look and gold edges. I read it everyday. Really inspiring. Thank you Patrick.,5.0,A Year With the Bible,1355097600,"12 10, 2012",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1R7JYPQWEXMYT,1594032114,"D. Michael Sanford ""Book Monger""","[10, 11]","I was not familiar with the political flavor of Boston Catholicism described in this book, but now I understand the development of underlying culture of deceit that enabled the attitude of ""keeping quiet."" Americans for the most part are law abiding members of society, and what really disgusts me is that this trait of ""protection of the bishop"" is pandemic across the US in many Catholic diocese's.The most telling sentence of the book is on the back cover where a conservative bishop tells ""the road to hell is paved with the skulls of bishops."" That told by St. John of the Cross who had his own problems with bishops in his native Spain nearly a thousand years ago.In my own case, I grew up with a priest who was elevated to the episcopacy and now retired but is embroiled in a abuse case back in his home town. I personally don't think he did it, but then one has to ask, how many priests are guilty of abuse and are not fingered...and, how many are not-guilty of anything but are being charged anyway.Mr. Lawler doesn't make a distinction between guilty or not, but he does write a compelling expose' of the catholic church in the US. The real problem is that he thinks the problem is still among us with the bishops not learning from Cardinal Law's mistakes. In fact, he tells tales of other ""princes of the church"" who are still part of the problem. I believe that pressure has to come from the ""pew Catholic"" in this matter, according to the book, the Vatican is neither unable to or impotent in this problem. I suspect, the Vatican is afraid of loosing its most financial prosperous givers to the till.A great read and I wish more expose's would come forth.",5.0,An Accomplished Book of Horrors,1210032000,"05 6, 2008",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A1Q0HARHK91EFQ,B00G2QTLQA,Ruth Edwards,"[0, 0]",Great ideas! I love to look at new ideas to organize my messy house. This is a helpful little book!,5.0,Great book!,1388880000,"01 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1U2E581BQECO9,B007BZC38O,Jodi,"[0, 2]","I loved the story line, the writing however just didn't hold up. Lots of cheesy stuff in here. But I did read the whole series wanting to know how it all ended. Was disapointed though. Would recomend for maybe a teen audience.",3.0,Read the series,1367625600,"05 4, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1O4GYR5GTMSVG,0263873668,Slinkydennis,"[0, 0]","This is a sweet story that seems very real. I love that she gets everything she wanted when she went into the marriage, but didn't get what she wanted most of all. I also love that in the end they both got exactly what they wanted. That's why I love these stories.",4.0,I love Marriage of Convenience stories! They're so sweet.,1349308800,"10 4, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZLOQPDEPS639,1609362195,"Kimberly Rose Johnson ""Author""","[0, 0]",I was thrilled to win this devotional on Trish Perry's blog. I read the first devotional book these ladies wrote and loved it. This one is just as good if not better. They take a short story from their personal lives and apply it to scripture. This devotional is the perfect addition to my daily routine.,5.0,Delightful Devo,1394496000,"03 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YQOOV2FV7041,0071580190,Amazon Customer,"[12, 12]","I had heard this was the best book on the subject of trawlers. The book exceeded myexpectations. While Beebe's original formulas and examples stillwork, I especially appreciated the update, and references to current boats being built.Excellent!",5.0,Excellent book for all interested in trawlers,951264000,"02 23, 2000",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A1RZ4SGHPM27WZ,0131489062,gottahaveajava,"[13, 40]","GRASP is a series of patterns? That's a pile of crap. GRASP is a list of design techniques and principles. Calling the elements of GRASP ""patterns"" is a serious violation of semantic integrity and precision, and makes the book a lot less valuable than it should be.Considering the semantic precision of the rest of the book (its intent is, ironically enough, to teach us semantic precision), this mis-labeling of one of its truly central elements creates a jarring cognitive dissonance.I make a big deal of this because the GRASP principles are introduced at the pivotal moment in the process when analysis is being rendered into design. This is the moment where the rubber meets the road, and the moment that most of us buy such books for. To be led astray just exactly then by this whopper of a misclassification is a nearly fatal flaw.The fact that the rest of the book is really terrific makes up for this, hence the restoration of 3 stars. The workaround is also fairly trivial: if the reader simply repeats (like Dorothy with ""There's no place like home..."") ""GRASP is a collection of principles. There are no patterns in GRASP,"" then the problem completely corrects itself, and the book becomes useful again.",3.0,"Great book, nearly fatal whopper",1106611200,"01 25, 2005",13,40,helpful,0.325,1 A2UATRE3KCQXFT,0545425174,"Laurie James ""Grandma""","[0, 0]",I expected the book to as large as I remembered it from the past. Otherwise it is fine. Two words.,4.0,Why so small?,1370563200,"06 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AY5A0MX5QSN0E,1477800670,"Martha R. Boland ""MartiB""","[0, 0]","As I embark on my second career after retirement, dutiful tasks keep getting in the way.......like email, Facebook, surfing the net etc. This book just confirmed some of the stratifies I'm putting into practice but didn't trust to halt procrastination..... Now I'm seriously using them and have finished two works- in- progress which are no longer " in progress". Am so pleased ..... Will continue to keep this book in sunrise contemplation to keep me on track. M.Boland",5.0,just what I needed,1373155200,"07 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1BI8PUEHA5CHW,0385480539,Busy Mom,"[11, 11]","Young and arrogrant, Peter Hale was sent to a back-woods town for a lesson in humility after fumbling a major case for his father. Driven from his life of priviledge where nothing but the finest would do ~~ Peter takes on another case and this time, learns a lesson about human nature. He took on a case of a mentally-retarded man who is accused of killing a young college co-ed. This same man was also caught just a few weeks prior as a peeping tom at the local college. This man is also a brother-in-law of Peter's former college classmate ~~ another reason why Peter took on the case.This book is full of twists and turns that Margolin is famous for ~~ and his writing captivates your attention from beginning to the end. Margolin shows human nature at its worst and shows it at its best ~~ and though you thought you have it all figured out ~~ he surprises you again. It's a fun and fast legal thriller ~~ perfect for summer reading. I had a blast reading this book and so did everyone who I loaned this book to!7-7-03",4.0,A capitivating mystery,1057536000,"07 7, 2003",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A2BE9VAS3RZ78R,B00892BFEQ,Janette Fuller,"[7, 7]","Mr. Miller shares seven steps for living a more rewarding life. The common factor in each of these steps is that they will require you to break out of your routine and find the motivation within.This ebook is well written and is a good source of inspiration. The author explains the importance of choices, self-motivation, goal setting and overcoming the fear of failure.The author uses some case studies to illustrate the tips in this book. However, he does not really tell his own story about how he went from laid-off corporate worker to an entrepreneur. l wish Mr. Miller had shared more of his own experiences. I would like to know how he learned the lessons that he teaches in his book.I recommend this ebook to anyone who is looking for some brief material on putting the passion back in your life. This book will get you thinking about your life and how you would like to change it. That is the first step to getting out of your rut and starting out on a new path.",4.0,Get Out Of Your Rut!,1342483200,"07 17, 2012",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3PMVTII9VZQIZ,1932841520,Justin Emig,"[0, 0]",This is a pretty good book. Most of it was 'par for the course' type stuff but still very good insight.,4.0,Not a bad read... depending upon experience level,1395964800,"03 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3K6NXH31W5082,1475070306,"Paige Turner ""Yes, it was I who puked up the ...","[0, 0]","I would prefer a female character be a bit more level-headed. Also it's a bit sad that the moment a girl goes to a prom/dance she's so gorgeous that everyone either hates her or wants to nail her. That experience is the exception, not the rule, and it gives young women the wrong impression about what is important.",4.0,It was good,1388188800,"12 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26WVDMWQ4HNAE,0306815443,Edward W. Hayes,"[5, 7]","by far the best book I have read on this battle, full of information and ancedote",5.0,the best on this subject,1189036800,"09 6, 2007",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3O9A7B0KJO88B,B002V1H2ES,Charly T. Anchor,"[5, 5]","Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.Rating: 8/10PROS:- This story is a nice progression from the one before it (Bound by Deception). The characters' personalities are consistent between stories but have evolved as a result of their relationship, and Oliver and Vincent struggle with the sorts of problems I would expect to have arisen in the past 6 months since they first got together.- Oliver's situation is quite sad. He's in love with a man (a hanging offense), he's almost destitute (for a gentleman, anyway), he's the son of a man with a terrible reputation for excessive gambling, and Vincent treats him with very little emotional affection the majority of the time. Yet he doesn't allow himself to wallow in self-pity, and I like that about him.- The sex scenes are hot, with a touch of BDSM. It's interesting reading about sex toys from 1830s England. I don't have any idea whether they're realistic or not, but I'm sure the author did some research before including them.- I liked the ending quite a bit. It mentions the *possibility* of unhappiness in the future, but given the time frame of the story, it's as happy as it can realistically be.CONS:- Much of the story is sad in a hopeless, ""I'll never have what I want from life"" sort of way. (Once again, though, happy ending...)- I got super annoyed with Vincent's treatment of Oliver and with the fact that Oliver puts up with it for so long. Vincent treats Oliver basically like a prostitute for the majority of the story: he uses Oliver for sex and then leaves so he can get back to his uber-important, aristocratic life. He insults Oliver over and over again, and Oliver is so whipped that he simply takes it. I did get an idea of WHY Vincent is such a jerk sometimes, but his selfishness took a lot of the romance out of the story for me.Overall comments: I liked this story overall: it's well written and contains a few decently graphic sex scenes--which, with the inclusion of bondage and light pain games, are unusual for a Regency story. The story is about 75% angst, though: it has a good ending, I think, but the majority of the journey to get TO that ending is a little rough.",4.0,"More angsty than the first story, but it does have a good ending",1282435200,"08 22, 2010",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1TK8HY64SK3GM,075821863X,"Michael D. Beckford ""Intelligence Is More Tha...","[0, 1]","This is the book that helped to encourage me in my writing of Christian Fiction literature. I thank you so much Stephanie, I pray that one day God allows us to cross paths. You have such a wonderful voice for the young adults as myself.I Am The Secret!And I've mention you in my bookBeautifully Ugly People!",5.0,Great Book,1264204800,"01 23, 2010",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2AE2Z0A1IN6DT,0060293233,RELAXED,"[0, 0]","So many more adventures, characters and story lines! You watched the movie, now see how the story REALLY goes! Read this book! You will be so glad you did!",5.0,"Better than the movie, of course!",1403049600,"06 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HUB08LB2XOBH,1609000137,Judie Bellingham,"[4, 4]","A gorgeous Golden Retriever named Rosie is at the foundation level of these quilts that Carrie L. Nelson has created. They are fun, and pretty and very doable.There are 13 quilts in all, and each and every one is a standalone creation. If you like soft and pretty, these quilts are for you. I like that Carrie has taken the time to describe and illustrate ""quickie"" piecing methods (such as the Half Square Triangle and the Quickie Flying Geese), instead of relying on old outdated techniques (sew two triangles together and hope for the best).The instructions and diagrams for each of these quilts are quite comprehensive and is a very good fit for the new or nearly new quilter to work from.While these are mostly traditional quilt patterns, Carrie has played a little twist in each design. I especially like the scalloped edging in the Allemande quilt and the very clever cutting touches to the border on the Crackling Palms Quilt.Carrie has also designed a series of patchwork fabrics with Henry Glass Fabrics. The Leisure Arts Publishing Company has, as always, gone to great lengths to produce a quality publication for quilters and this book is no exception. I encourage readers to have a look at the Leisure Arts Website for more of the quilting books that are available, at very reasonable prices.This book would make a lovely Christmas gift for the quilter who loves to make quilts, loves to follow great instructions and likes to finish her projects.",3.0,Pretty and Soft and Pleasingly Easy Quilts,1323475200,"12 10, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3B07S19M3WJUZ,0787976121,"Bryan ""scbryanw""","[9, 9]","I have to agree whole-heartedly with others who have given top recommendations for this book. It was recommended to me while I was at a training seminar and has fast become the most used book on my shelf. It really has something for every occaision.One of the very best things about the book is that it is more than just a collection of trainer games (not that there is anything wrong with those books), but it has a million tips and ideas that can be added to any training. I think this is a must have for any trainer.",5.0,Best Book In My Collection,1043712000,"01 28, 2003",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A2KBF2OYR359AJ,0307282694,"Steven R. McEvoy ""MCWPP""","[0, 0]","I loved the first book in the Hunger Games Trilogy, and enjoyed the whole series. After reading this first book in Suzanne Collins' earlier series, I like it even more. The story begins in New York City, but soon moves to the Underland. Gregor is a typical 11-year-old boy. He lives with his mother, grandmother and two younger sisters. His father has been missing for 2 Years, 7 Months and 13 days. Gregor stays home from summer camp so his sister can go; he is helping to look after his aging grandmother and his baby sister Boots. One day while doing laundry, Boots seems to disappear. Soon Gregor finds himself falling and falling. When he lands, he is in a strange Underland, full of giant bats, spiders, roaches, rats and a human colony that came below ground many years ago. There is an uneasy peace among the rats and the other Underland kingdoms, and Gregor seems to set off a war between the humans and rats. And many of the humans seem to believe he is fulfilling an ancient prophecy. The prophecy states:""Underlanders, time hangs by a thread. The hunters are hunted, white water runs red. The gnawers will strike to extinguish the rest. The hope of the hopeless resides in a quest.An Overland warrior, a son of the sun, May bring us back light, he may bring us back none. But gather your neighbors and follow his call, or rats will most surely devour us all.Two over, two under, of royal descent. Two flyers, two crawlers, two spinners assent. One gnawer beside and one lost up ahead. And eight will be left when we count up the dead.The last who will die must decide where he stands.The fate of the eight is contained in his hands. So bid him take care, bid him look where he leaps, as life may be death and death life again reaps.""Gregory does not believe he is the predicted warrior. But if this is his best chance to get back to Overland he will do so, especially if it means saving his system and himself.This is the first book in a quintology and it looks like it will be an incredible series. I highly recommend this first book and believe you will become as hooked as I did.",5.0,Incredible!,1317254400,"09 29, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3OI13SD7AB6VH,1593093608,MZ.URAQT,"[0, 0]","Vangie Nivea and Harlow are all at this point in there life where they feel nothing will complete them unless they walk down the aisle.Vangie is a single parent wants nothing more but a little financial support for her son Yurgi. For five years she has been holding it down without help of Shawn. When he resurfaced and steps up to the plate for her son she feels her heart opening up for him once again. Will she finally get her family back together and a ring to match?Nivea has it all the wealth, the job her, own everything but she always finds herself incomplete.Willing to lower her standards to walk to alter she takes Eric in. In the eyes of most he is the perfect gentleman but broke and harboring secrets. When this secret reveal its self. Will she have on the dress she always dreamed?After suffering A tragic life Harlow just wants happiness. After finding her prince charming in Drake she can see a bright future ahead. But they both are hiding secrets that can kill their happy ever after.I really enjoyed this book just the type of read I needed. I loved the characters and their stories. The drama was on point and I couldn't stop reading until I finished the last page. I cant wait to read part two.",4.0,Put A Ring On IT,1381104000,"10 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32JLRICAJH7VD,0307118932,Betsey Tankard,"[0, 0]",It was given as a gift.,3.0,Three Stars,1404086400,"06 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADDT2MU773IYL,0989227820,"ChristophFischerBooks ""Chris""","[0, 0]","I bought ""The Passion of the Christoph"" because of its quirky title - Christoph is my name, too. I was in two minds about it first as it threatened to be some ego fuelled rant,and vicious tongues might see a grain of truth in it.However, it is most enjoyable, hysterically funny or silly at times, always witty, refreshingly honest and often un-pc (without an obvious intention to offend though.The humour is sharp and intelligent, the subjects are controversial and explicit, in many ways it reminded me of a straight male Sex and the City.Not for you if you are easily offended by talk about pornography and masturbation but otherwise it is a surprisingly good and fun read that is also very well written.Not all is about sex and work in the porn store, it is about relationships, life, politics and many other issues as well, and the book offers new and/or honest perspectives.",5.0,Male sex and the city,1381622400,"10 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2AZH2Q4ONJWU,B006RDFQEO,Kevin C,"[0, 0]",Another excellent series by Currie. On par with Odessey. Fast moving and action packed. Looking forward to Valkyrie Burning and the ultimate conclusion.,5.0,Hooked,1389916800,"01 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A38H4XCCPLRF93,0451411692,L. Maynard,"[21, 21]","This is the first book by Michael Prescott I have read and if the other reviews are correct and this story is boring, I can't wait to get my hands on his other books. I really enjoyed this book. There was a wonderful blending of mystery, suspense, humor and excitement. It is true that the killer is identified almost immediately, but I didn't feel as though that took anything away from the story. It was actually helpful to know who it was. It allowed the reader to watch how those involved interacted with the very people hunting them down.Tess McCallum is an FBI agent who is something of a celebrity but who, like most of us, has some skeletons in her closet. Abby Sinclair, a private investigator is a gung-ho go getter with a wicked sense of humor. The killer(s) is(are) someone who could quite possibly live next door to any of us, which makes this story so believeable.The story comes out of the shute on a dead run and doesn't stop till the finish line. I can't wait to find other books by Prescott, hope they are as good as this one was.",4.0,If this one is considered boring....,1134086400,"12 9, 2005",21,21,helpful,1.0,1 A2A9J2GUBI7COE,B00GNRGP2G,S.K. Hartley,"[5, 5]","Caleb, Caleb, Caleb... You gorgeous, delicious man.MJ Carnal has yet again, brought us something so mouth-watering, knee jerking, drool-worthy... And that's just the cover.Taming The Boy Next Door completely floored me, not just from the hot, steamy sex scenes but from the bonds and relationships that grew through-out the novel. It was a lethal cocktail of heat, passion, desire, angst and a beautiful heart-warming undertone.If Taming The Boy Next Door was an alcoholic drink it would be a shot of tequila... Stong, smooth and my god can you feel the burn.An amazing read that really awakened my taste-buds.",5.0,5 Deliciously Sexy Stars,1384387200,"11 14, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A17P6HNO00OITB,1414322097,E. Johnson,"[12, 13]","Being in a ministry that targets women of all ages, I like to keep informed about what's out there for the youngest of our sisters. For Girls Only! Devotions, written by Carolyn Larsen and illustrated by Leah Sutherland, is right on target.I give this one my stamp of approval. They succeed in using language that is relevant to pre-teens (Wait, you call them ""tweens"" now, right? I'm old. Forgive me.) with images that are just cutesy enough to appeal to those on the younger end of the spectrum they are aiming for, without making it feel too young for the older girls. I enjoyed this and I'm 25.The subject matter is definitely age appropriate and focuses on key Biblical concepts that are important to grasp early on. Devotions are labeled by topic, all of which were things that girls of this age deal with (friends, relationships with parents, and one topic I found that accurately describes the opinion of many a middle school girl -- ""It's Not My Fault!"").For Girls Only! Devotions would make a great gift for any pre-teen girl and is the perfect starter to get our younger ladies in the habit of doing devotions.A complimentary copy of this title was provided to me by the Tyndale Blog Network for the purpose of reviewing.",5.0,A great gift for tweens!,1263254400,"01 12, 2010",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A174BJIC9OEL9K,1496139542,"WendynSky ""WendyP""","[17, 17]","This story not only brings me back to younger years in such a familiar way, but reminds me that family is not always blood. Alex suffers a significant loss, and while pursuing her education and healing is her priority, she finds herself supported by a new group of friends that ultimately becomes her family. Letting go was not easy for Alex, not just after losing a loved one, but letting go of a relationship that was familiar but clearly not healthy. Forbidden love and finding love in a surprising place always makes for a sweet story that pulls you right in. I enjoyed watching Elijah' s character unfold. There was something familiar about this story, like life-long friendships and a little nostalgia... I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in this book and didn't want the story to end!",5.0,Cuddle up with your milk & cookies for this sweet read!,1399680000,"05 10, 2014",17,17,helpful,1.0,1 A2K7TFL2ITQWUU,0439456959,"K. Gray ""kennypop702""","[0, 0]","This book is a wonderful story about a colony of dragons that are about to be overrun by human construction. A dragon by the name of Firedrake and his brownie buddy Sorrel start out on a journey to find the Rim of Heaven, a place it is believed that the dragons escaped to 300 years earlier. On the way they met a homeless boy named Ben who is to become the Dragon Rider.This book is very entertaining, has some very imaginative characters and situations and is a wonderful book for kids between the ages of 7-15 ish, which is the intended audience. If you're a little older than that the book will feel a little young but it is still very enjoyable.The only negative I would say with this book is that some of the characters, Sorrell especially, are very onery and negative (which is their character) and kids who read this could possible pick up some mean langauge etc. from reading it but nothing real bad.Overall a great book!",5.0,Great book for kids... good book for adults,1188172800,"08 27, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A143NRESNGGS86,0692221506,Aks,"[0, 0]",I read all of the mitchell family series and loved it. This book picks up about 15 years after the last book. I loved it!,4.0,Great,1400630400,"05 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A135NSTCX38DEI,0451237129,Carrie Williams,"[0, 0]","These books are really addictive. This one in particular left me really wanting more.It felt like this book found us with Risa constantly having the same two conversations over and over. ""I don't trust Lucian, but I want him, and Azriel hates him"" and ""I really want Azriel, but we can't be together, but we want to be together."" On their own, it wouldn't be so painful, but together and on repeat made the book a little frustrating. Especially since I'm fully in Team Azriel, and have been off of Team Lucian for quite some time.While the larger keys story did not really progress in this book, we did get to check in while a lot of Team Risa to see how everyone is dealing with the fact that poor Risa's life is filled with constant danger. I was also happy with the further incorporation of Markel. It was also nice to see a lot more faces from the original series.All in all, this book was a great read, just not necessarily a key installment for the series. I'm hoping that with the way this book ended, things will ramp up quickly in the next one.",4.0,"Slow progress, but we're getting somewhere!",1383177600,"10 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PPS91NLI7KEH,0312601859,suzatm,"[0, 0]",This is a great series. I had wondered after certain events in the books whether she would be able to keep the series going but the last couple of books have been just as good as the ones in the beginning. My deepest sympathy goes out to the author on the loss of her husband and I hope that she will find the peace and acceptance needed to get back into writing again.,4.0,This is a very good series.,1372291200,"06 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJ4N7IY170DVQ,0062014536,Jena,"[0, 0]","This was the final book in a series that we loved. The first book, Delirium, drew us into it's distopian world. Requiem finishes off the series nicely. We weren't quite satisfied with the end but it's hard to finish off a good series.",5.0,Requiem,1370390400,"06 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3ET07GFHXEQRA,B001CN47NA,Cindy,"[4, 4]","This was such a fun (short) book! I really enjoyed his take on trolls.This was my first Tuttle book, but it certainly won't be my last!",5.0,Fun read!,1292371200,"12 15, 2010",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3TI1WDAEOTD0I,0547992653,"Cyrus Webb ""Conversations Book Club""","[29, 32]","I was immediately interested in the book HILLBILLY HEART by Billy Ray Cyrus as soon as I heard about it. He has lived a life that I believe exemplifies what it means to work hard and see it pay off for you in a very big way. The book was everything I hoped it would be and more---and for that reason I think it is will be a testament of what is possible for people around the world.Cyrus takes us into his humble beginnings and how music was the saving grace that took him from where he was, if only for the moment. He knew its power early on, and because he was true to it and respected it, he was able to use it to create a name and brand for himself. In the book we are able to see how it all really starts. He talks about having success as a ball player and the opportunities that it offered. There was something else, though, that was calling to him. He heard ""the voice"" letting him know what would be his destiny. ""Buy a guitar and start a band,"" it told him, and it was those words that would ignite the passion that eventually made him a household name.Through music he opened the door for his success in the entertainment industry. Through television others would be able to know him and his family. HILLBILLY HEART takes you into it all, through the discovery and fame that would find his daughter Miley Cyrus, and the scandals that would erupt from time to time, threatening the family's relationships.In the end, regardless how well-known he was becoming or how much fame he had, Billy Ray Cyrus wanted to stay true to the principles that led him to music in the first place. He wanted to be himself, even if that wasn't the person everyone else wanted to see at the time.Reflective and honest in its approach, HILLBILLY HEART is the story of a dream fulfilled and a life lived in the spotlight and how you can be yourself in spite of it all. This is book that speaks to the heart and the ability we all have to use our gifts to change the world.",5.0,Billy Ray Cyrus' HILLBILLY HEART Showcases the Importance of Knowing Who You Are,1364947200,"04 3, 2013",29,32,helpful,0.90625,1 A1TSZOQWP8SN8S,1466440694,H. Hoel,"[0, 0]",This is the book that hooked me in the Dvans family books. Enjoying them all as they are good reads.,5.0,Good book.,1366070400,"04 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1F7N3PXX3VUBG,0596004478,"""webgeekinc""","[8, 9]","If you are looking for a book on the Google API and how to do better searching on Google, this book is outstanding. If you are looking for a book to give you lots of tips on improving your Google search engine ranking, this isn't the right book.I do a LOT of research on the Internet and this book has been extremely useful in narrowing my searches so that I sift through "less junk". The countless hours this book has saved me has paid for it many times over.I haven't done any Google API programming, so I don't have any opinion on that part of the book (which is the majority of the book).",4.0,Be sure to read the reviews before you purchase,1059523200,"07 30, 2003",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A1ZNV7TNAO9Q52,B00JIILKBI,Lorraine in Fl,"[0, 0]","I accidentally fell into this series. I read the second book first, then had to go back and read the first. After that I was hooked. I love the closest of the family. The men are successful and doing well in their lives. until they meet the strong women then they put their feet in their mouths. The woman have good hearts and they are welcomed into the family with opened arms. It takes the rest of the family to make the brother at the time realize that he need to make changes if he wants to keep his woman.I realized after I read ""Repenting Heart"" that unlike other series by other authors who only have a (brief or fleeting mention of previously mentioned characters from other books) Vivian Rose Lee involves the whole family. Their constant interaction with each other is very entertaining and humorous. I love this series and can't wait for the next one.Would I recommend this series? YES! I have been talking to a co-worker about the series now she's interested, but she doesn't have any kind of tablet and I don't see them in book form.What I didn't like. The misspelled words and poor punctuation. Someone should have spell-check somewhere on their computer. BUT I STILL LOVED IT.",5.0,Great story telling.Poo,1402531200,"06 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1LZD7WT09A1BU,0684862883,"Tiffany ""Shoe & Book Connoisseur""","[4, 5]","It was good if you wanted a history lesson on Memphis. It wasn't a good fictional novel to read. I read all of RM's books. I'm am truley disappointed in this one. There first three novels were great books but the last two weren't great novels by a long shot. I would not buy this book. If anyone is interested in reading this book, check it out from the library.",2.0,Did Not Enjoy This Book,995846400,"07 23, 2001",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A81JTUY1FWSBI,B00AQ5L0Z8,"Bandora Fox ""Bandora""","[0, 0]","While the story in general wasn't that great, the author was very good at conveying the strength of emotions and I was crying right along with the characters.",4.0,Pulled at my heart strings,1389139200,"01 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2QJ5BZHZXN3FO,1591840198,Take The Power Back,"[10, 11]","The Boston Tea Party happened because of taxation without representation. That's what we have in America today, as "Perfectly Legal" makes perfectly clear. The wealthy elite have bought their way into the hearts and souls of our politicians over the years, and as a result the forgotten rest of us increasingly take on their burden.The whole time I read this book I was at turns incredulous and disgusted. Using anecdotal examples and cold hard facts, Mr. Johnston lays out the fetid truth of what's happened to the US tax system. After I finished, I didn't know whether to feel hopeless or angry. I guess I ended up a bit of both. How can We The People get our tax system back, let alone our country?Unfortunately, I had to deduct one star from my rating because the editing of this book was rather poor. Maybe the book was rushed, but the amount of errors - obvious errors - in such a serious book as this is unacceptable. Let's keep our fingers crossed for the paperback edition.I'd hope that if every American read "Perfectly Legal" it'd touch off a modern day Boston Tea Party. Perhaps Mr. Johnston's book can be the opening salvo toward such a event.",4.0,Could touch off a new Tea Party,1080950400,"04 3, 2004",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A10YS1Y7Z2DXSP,B00ED1MJHE,hoosiermomma,"[0, 0]","A well written book that will appeal to both the serious sci- fi addict, the adventure lovers, and the romantic lovers. The series is among one of my favorite for a storyline that is linear and filled with an emotional storyline, flawed heroes, and action. Well worth the investment.",5.0,I never grow tired of re-reading this series of books,1387324800,"12 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AM1VFW804J5FL,0441014100,"""bulldog51""","[8, 11]","This book is barely similar to the movie of the same name. This is Heinlein's examination of a future Earth society in which full citizenship (voting rights) must be earned through government (not just military) service.As someone who's been through Marine Corps Recruit Training on Parris Island, this book's harsh look at boot camp in the Corps of the future shocked even me. The action sequences are well done, but not at the heart of this book.At its core, "Starship Troopers" is a political manifesto. Those who have described it as "pulp fiction" fear what it has to say; Society is better off when those who have sacrificed for it (mostly, but not entirely, military veterans) make the decisions. This is especially important to current American society, since more than half of our current elected "leaders" on the federal level are lawyers who haven't served in the military, and only a small fraction more have served in any other captacity (Peace Corps, police departments, etc.) This does not bode well for our nation.So anything that challenges the status quo as fiercely as Heinlein's book does (never mind that it was written in the '50s, it's MORE applicable now than it was then,) must be shot down by those in power.If you like to think, and are interested in political philosophy, buy this book now. You don't have to agree with Heinlein's premise (I don't think even he agreed entirely,) but you must be willing to open your mind to new ideas. If you are a veteran, this book is a must buy. It makes you ask yourself some tough questions about the military's relationship to society and government.",5.0,No one today would have the cojones to write this book,973123200,"11 2, 2000",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A3THWYC3WAR8H,0989245314,petlover1,"[0, 0]","I own the whole series and am so glad that I do. I got one for free and purchased the rest and can't wait for the next one to come out, well worth reading them!!",5.0,Love it!!,1380844800,"10 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3T0OTH5072YRE,006073132X,"M. Reynard ""kairosdreaming""","[0, 0]","Abortion, crime, sumo wrestlers and the KKK. Sound interesting enough for you? And what on earth do all these things have in common? Well, a few things actually. Which is what the premise of Freakonomics is. It's a book that shows some interesting data on little thought of topics.Levitt is an economist who tends to veer off the beaten track . And Dubner is the one to write this book with him as Levitt is not much of a writer according to himself. In this book they explore a variety of topics (but warn that there's no cohesive theme to the book) such as Schoolteachers & Sumo Wrestlers, where they compare the honesty in the professions. Another comparison is the KKK and Real-Estate Agents. There's a section on drug dealers and the kind of money they're making. And perhaps one of the most controversial sections: abortion and lower crime rates. And a few other topics. The authors look at the numbers behind these things and bring some data in that takes a different look at economics.The authors say that there isn't a unifying theme to this book. But I would have to disagree. I think both race and crime are the unifying themes. In fact, in nearly all of the chapters there is a mention of crime and its correlations and causations. You could argue that the parenting section didn't really include crime, but in a way it did as it showed what happened to the children in regards to different parenting methods. And race, while not in all the chapters, was a big area of study in several of the chapters with the most significant comparison being between black and white. There was a very tiny portion of Hispanic data thrown in but not enough to be a large area of study. So even though it jumps around in regards to sumo wrestlers and teachers and crack dealers, it still in a way is saying something about crime and the types of people who commit various crimes.I didn't find the book difficult to read, but I wouldn't say it was a walk in the park either. A person could read it and take everything the authors say as the truth, but you need to think about the data that is presented. And the type of person you are is going to cause you to look at that data differently (the authors even admit this, especially with the chapter on abortion). Because people can be so different, what something means is subjective. I do think that the book was a bit bland in parts. Which is saying something considering most of the topic matter. But especially in the listing of baby names I got a little bored and really didn't care about that focus of topics. Now you don't have to read that chapter I suppose, but I like to read a book cover to cover so there was no avoiding it for me.I think that this book has some interesting ideas and if you have a mild like of economics it may be a worthy read. Certainly you'll be a little shocked at the open way some topics are being discussed but I appreciated that some new observations were shared in this book. Now if I was just an economist I could say whether or not the data is legitimate, but it felt real enough.FreakonomicsCopyright 2005242 pagesReview by M. Reynard 2013",4.0,Freakonomics,1380758400,"10 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1RGE1QLO19HMD,1936493527,"WandaH ""Ginger in SC""","[0, 0]","This cookbook isn't just recipes - I've actually learned WHY you do things a particular way. This reference makes cooking so much easier & takes a lot of the guesswork out for me. We watch their cooking shows, & this cookbook is even better.",5.0,Excellent - I needed this in my kitchen,1402531200,"06 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8L6EH8D9QX38,002907052X,"Ian ""~~Azazel Dazel!""","[5, 7]","If you're like me and are curious about the oddities of religion this book delivers plenty for the price. It is very expansive, especially in the eyes of a theological novice. But while others who have more experience may know its limitations, for me the book is a joy! I've become more acquainted (than I had previously thought possible) with the mysterious beings that dwell in the background of most religions. I found myself not only checking the familiar names but being drawn almost immediately to the lesser known beings. One of my favorites is Nisroc: An Assyrian god, then a ruling angel in Milton's Paradise Lost, and finally the chief of cuisine of Hell! There are many cases of deities changing to angels, angels to deities, and both into devils. All of this and full page page illustrations from old masters like of Durer, Blake, and Dore. It really doesn't matter if you're a skeptic, scholar, beginning theologian, or occultist - I would recommend this wonderfully easy-to-use work to any of these! Bravo Mr. Davidson!",5.0,A Hefty Appetizer For The Budding Theologian,1177804800,"04 29, 2007",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2KM6Y6H7YF40M,0060578785,elmer barrett,"[0, 0]",It is a good read if you want to eat healthy. The problem that I see with it is that a lot of the food is not readally available where I live.,3.0,Mediterranean diet.,1355875200,"12 19, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFZXKDUGRM9RE,1481009222,"Mike P. ""mikep007""","[4, 7]","I was a huge fan (and gave great reviews) of Mr. McAfee's Bachiyr series, so I was pleased to see yet another offering here. Frankly, I was disappointed and had to check the publication date to see if this was an earlier, weaker novel he pulled out of his high school storage box.The story revolves around a heinous small town, racially motivated lynching of a kid in 1972 and the revenge by the ghost or whatever of the kid that was hung. Apparently, through the following years, the spirit is able to deliver vengeance on a periodic basis to try to get all who were involved. Here is why I didn't care for it:1. It's not adequately explained why about 20 people in a small town, including at least one woman, would participate in this action based on the alleged crime by the kid victim. Just didn't make any logical sense, even in the racially charged small town atmosphere of 1972. Turns out, there is a deeper motiviation by the main culprit, the sheriff, but it's really just glossed over and, while it explains his motive, doesn't explain why everyone thought this was a fine idea or why they were perfectly fine with the sheriff doing this. Why not just arrest him? Duh, no let's commit a felony murder on a child and abuse him mercilessly all the way.2. Why does the spirit come back and kill three to four people every five years or so? And no one really catches on in a small town until 2012? The author explains that mysterious forces and timing only allow the spirit to enter the world at certains times. Not good enough3. The spirit apparently enters bodies, possesses them and has them kill themselves. Sometimes it enters a dead body and causes zombie like behavior...wouldn't it be easier to possess a live person and force the live person to shoot the guilty party? Guess it can't possess non-guilty parties or something...all of this just caused me to scratch my head.The author does take the time to offer, in advance, a note cautioning about the topic and the racially charged language, explaining how this story plagued him and his wife with nightmares....nice touch to warn us, but thought it was overdone, really...wasn't that offended by the story or language -- I expected worse.I enjoy indie authors, the price is right and I'll give Mr. McAfee another try...but strongly recommend you pass on this one.",2.0,Disappointing and bland: skip this one -- some plot discussion!,1360368000,"02 9, 2013",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A3URX5HKKBOBP3,1490559175,Built To Last,"[68, 79]","I really didn't think I would like this book as Bullying is really overdone by YA authors and I didn't think I could handle another one. But this isn't anything like I was expecting; it was a love story and I really enjoyed it. If you like Katie McGarry's style (Pushing the Limits (Harlequin Teen)) and Simone Elkeles's (Perfect Chemistry), then you will probably like this one.Bully starts out exciting as we see Tatum and her best friend K.C. literally racing around town and going to a party at night, hoping not to see Jared and Madoc, two boys who enjoy embarrassing Tate. Jared has deposited Tate's keys in the pool and challenges her to retrieve them. She is so glad that she is spending the next year in France to get away from Jared and his constant sneer at her. She is baffled why they are no longer friends, as all she knows is that he came back from visiting his dad for the first time on his fourteenth summer and has treated her like crap ever since. He spreads rumors about her that keep all the boys from asking her out and never fails to find away to embarrass or intimidate her. Her loyal friend K.C. and K.C.'s boyfriend Liam have been her only steadfast friends.But now she is back for her senior year and is determined to not let the bad-boy, man-whore ruins it for her. The fact that they are neighbors and he has LOUD parties most Friday nights, makes this hard. Also, her undeniable attraction to him. Then her best friend starts lying to her and making friends with Jared and Jared steals some kisses from Tate, totally confusing her and her body.Why did he change? Why is he mean to her and also seeming not to be able to keep his hands off of her? Why does Madoc, Jared's best friend, all of a sudden want to date her? Why does her best friend think she is wrong to pay Jared back for his meanness? Would she ever be able to forgive him for the way he has treated her all these years?This is a good high school type romance with descriptive sex scenes and some frustrating behavior that very well could have applied to teenagers. While I HATE the double standard of Tate being the chaste virgin and Jared the VERY experienced man-whore, the writing is very well done and keeps you engrossed in the story. This will take your emotions on a rollercoaster of anger, resentment, shock, wariness, sympathy, and a cautious forgiveness. I will be reading the next in the series merely because I think Penelope Douglas has real talent as a YA/NA writer. Personally, I hope Book 2 will be about Jaxon.",4.0,"Another Manwhore gets Virgin Double Standard, but I liked it",1371859200,"06 22, 2013",68,79,helpful,0.8607594936708861,1 A3JC1FLYKVYW3T,1483910679,Kristin Plausky,"[0, 0]","I would like to thank Innovative Online Book Tours and Caris Roane for giving me the opportunity to read this book for review.I love this book. I love it! I have loved this series since the very first book. I've read the first four books of the Guardians of Ascension series, and am looking forward to finding time to read the next in the series. Every time I hear a friend tell me she's looking for a good paranormal romance book, I always point her towards this series. It's just that good.There is a jump in the last book of the series I read (#4) and this novella (#6.5), so there was some stuff that I didn't know, but I knew enough of the world to piece things together. So if you're going to read this book, you really do need to start from the beginning of the series. The world is so well-built, and terminology is added in there that isn't explained in the middle of the series.There was only one thing that truly disappointed me in reading this book. One of the What-Bees (see...terminology!) that I like hasn't found his breh yet, and he really deserves a good one! So please Ms. Roane, if you're reading this review, please please find Luken a breh! He's such a sweetheart, he really deserves happiness.",4.0,another great book from the author,1360972800,"02 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5FEPIIKTY9Q2,0615811213,Total Book Geek,"[0, 0]","Hot naked guy with no memory, murder scenes and a sweet teenage girl, it doesn't get much more intriguing than that I believe. After finishing Eyes Everr To The Sky I can say it was an enjoyable read, though it won't knock your socks off.Katie French has created a very detailed story, with an emphasis on the dark and gritty. We have a young man with superpowers, who has no idea who he is or where he came from and a young female trying to survive life with a mother who is bi-polar. Which is very well written. Cece's mother has a disease and the way the author approaches the issue is very authentic. It really showed all the difficulties Cece has to keeping their lives on track.Now what didn't work so well for me was the instant love between Hugh and Cece. The first time they met he is wearing woman's clothing and is covered in blood. Still she immediately trusted him and even brought him home with her. Being in that small trailer, somehow they decide they are not just attracted to each other, but also have feelings for each other. I did not buy it. Seriously multiple murders have happened, Hugh is covered in blood, one plus one equals two you know. The fact that there is never a thought he might be involved proves to me that Cece isn't the smartest fifteen-year-old.Sometimes the story felt very fast paced. I did like the switching in POV, certainly the one's from the victims. There was a lot of detail, but not enough build up. The whole part that could have made it more interesting, aliens, was only approached briefly and lacking depth.Like I said it was an enjoyable read and if you like paranormal romance, involving aliens and lots of blood, this can definitely be a book for you.*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*",3.0,Enjoyable sci-fi romance,1393718400,"03 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WB5NZYY5XR8A,0312854315,"Ash1138 ""Just a middle aged guy living in Col...","[36, 44]","The fourth installment of the neverending Wheel of Time sees our hero Rand traveling to the Aiel Waste to fulfill another prophecy. Rand isn't only the Dragon Reborn, he's appearantly He Who Comes With the Dawn as well.The premis of this book was a lot more interesting to me than book 3. I mean, finally Rand get's some limelight and half the book's not about three girls at school? A lot of interesting background about the Aiel is revealed in this book as well as where Rand's own history fits into all this. You'll be surprised at some things.Unfortunately, by this point, Jordan is now Juggling over a dozen characters over four separate story threads. Let's count them. In the first thread we have Rand, Egwene, Moiraine, Lan, and Mat. In the second thread we have Perrin, Faile, and Loial, In the third we have Elayne, Nynaeve, Thom, and Juilin. In the fourth thread we have Min, Siuane, and Leane. That's not to count all the other supporting characters that readers of Jordan know could have their own threads at any time.In some ways this is both good and bad for the story. For those that enjoy the long drawn out soap operah, it's great. There's plenty to get sucked into. For those anxious for the plot to reveal itself however, it's sometimes agonizing. This book had a lot going for it. The subject matter was more interesting than in the previous books, but unfortunately, Jordan doesn't give you enough of it and worse, he doesn't stick to it. Everytime the book jumps to the characters and the storyline happening in Tanchico you're tempted to skip the chapter.Present, again, is Jordan's use of ""convenient"" storytelling. This time however, it's not Rand who's miraculously able to save the with much overdone powers-he-never-knew-he-had. Who woulda thought that one of the other characters (besides Rand and Moiraine who really cant) had the ability to take on a Forsaken toe to toe? I sure didn't. Well in this book, one of the characters is instantly elevated to Forsaken power level status. There hasn't been anything this dumb in the series since Nynaeve and Lan instantly fall in love in a matter of pages with no foreshadowing whatsoever in the first book.Some parts of the book are so great and others make you want to pull your hair out in frustration. Nothing really gets resolved in this book, though we do get to learn about the Aiel and Rand's history which is not limited to this life. This makes the book a worth addition to the series, but I sure hope it doesn't it doesn't turn into an ""another book, another forsaken"" formula.This book is not quite as good as the books two and three, though parts are fantastic (ie seeing Perrin develop into the part he's destined to play). It's good enough to get fans to read the next book, but you just can't help thinking these books could be so much better.",3.0,Good if you have the patience.,1051056000,"04 23, 2003",36,44,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 ASBGPDCWRP11A,0785229213,"DLHSmith ""DLHS""","[0, 0]","Perspective PleaseThe NoticerBy Andy AndrewsThe subtitle says, ""Sometimes, all we need is a little perspective."" But how do we get that? In The Noticer, Andy Andrews tells his story, along with the stories of several others of how, once their perspective changed, their actions, and their lives, changed.In Andy's case, he relates living under a pier as a young man after his parents died. Granted, he made some poor decisions, but at his lowest point, he finds himself crying out - not knowing anyone was listening.Along comes Jones, a man of undetermined age and undermined race. He calls himself The Noticer. He dispenses advice and perspective like Solomon dispensed wisdom. He covers everything from love language dialects to how to find a mate to how to see your own value at whatever age you may be.We see where Andy got his perspective. He's read over 200 biographies, and went from a teenager living under a pier to what he is today - a best-selling author and public speaker.In order to get my own perspective, I re-read Andrews' book The Traveler's Gift, which several people suggested I read after I'd experienced a devastating disappointment. It helped. That's why I was already predisposed to read The Noticer.I was not disappointed. Reading the book helped me to look at different periods of my own life, the choices I've made, good and bad. I especially liked the love language ""dialects"" from Chapters 2 and 3. An example: I'm a little of everything, as we all are, but mainly a dog. A dog responds to words of praise. The Bible says that an encouraging word in due season is delightful, and can be like apples of gold in settings of silver.",5.0,Perspective Please,1254873600,"10 7, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2DYRA717LHL7E,B00B05N1LY,John Macpherson Baird,"[0, 0]",Great story but it didn't have an ending. I need th next episode..A frightening scenario is law and order ever breaks down.,5.0,Great story,1366588800,"04 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AHFAUGKV8ICDW,0062279858,"Joe Purlee ""Joe Purlee good guy""","[0, 1]",It is a story that could be true. Very we'll written I'm anxious to read more of her books soon,5.0,Heartfelt Story,1384819200,"11 19, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 ALUNVOQRXOZIA,0739304038,Conrad B. Senior,"[10, 23]",".Ann is a classy intelligent woman unafraid to point out the obvious truth. The result is hilarious, and a thorn in the side of liberals everywhere.The liberals have no choice but to try and discredit her--witness some of the other lame reviewers who haven't even read her books.Ann has an agrument to knock the legs out of liberals. If you want ammunition for your verbal battle with the liberals, buy this book.",5.0,God Bless Ann Coulter!!!!,1102723200,"12 11, 2004",10,23,helpful,0.43478260869565216,1 AQ9IZF60ZYF32,B00D7APP2I,Leyla Brinner-Sulema,"[6, 7]","""Mommy do you really love me?"" is a charming story with an important message for parents and children. The author shows great sensitivity for children's feelings. Through this entertaining story she demonstrates that there is more than one way to show one's love for one's child. I really enjoyed reading it and my child loved the story too. In fact, she asked me read it to her again and again!",5.0,A charming story with an important message for parents and children,1371427200,"06 17, 2013",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A2G09684ZOK8X2,0615739458,"Star @ The Bibliophilic Book Blog ""-Star""","[0, 0]","DOMINION has three major players: Abigail the human, Tristan her guardian angel, and Gideon who is Tristan’s opposite. Tristan is an angel prince and Gideon is the most feared entity in the angelic world. I liked Abigail for her no-nonsense attitude in the beginning of the story. She’s got weapons and offensive/defensive training thanks to her CIA father, but she’s also a 16 year old girl. She is heavily swayed by her emotions, even when her training should take precedence. I enjoyed Gideon’s character because you got to see him grow as the story progressed. He hid his pain and suffering at first through a faade of destruction and chaos. Through his relationship with Abigail, he learns to loosen up, enjoy life, and understand the rollercoaster of love. Tristan is kind of two-dimensional - he's the goody-goody. I wasn’t a fan of the potential love triangle aspect of the story as I think it’s been overplayed in general. Overall, I liked the worlds in DOMINION and the story was interesting, but needed some tightening and character consistency. In addition, there is a cliffhanger which left me turning the page looking for the rest of the story. To me, DOMINION is a redemption story trapped within a romance.",3.0,Dominion by Melody Manful,1393977600,"03 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AY4PKA215Z3G7,0375870237,"Sara ""The Hiding Spot""","[7, 8]","The little girl in SPARKY! is promised a pet - "as long as it doesn't need to be walked or bathed or fed." The helpful local librarian introduces the girl to the sloth, which in addition to being the laziest animal in the world, fulfills all of her mother's requirements. When the sloth arrives, she names him Sparky and, once delivered to his tree in the back yard, he doesn't wake for two whole days. Though Sparky might not be like most pets - he doesn't fetch or roll over, but he is really quite good at playing statue - she loves him all the same. Adorable illustrations and a quirky story about a girl and her pet sloth, SPARKY! is sure to become a new favorite!",5.0,I love Sparky!,1394496000,"03 11, 2014",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A45JH918L9YRY,0451229851,Redneck Karen,"[0, 0]",Not as good as the first several books in the series but I still would recommend it if you liked the series.,4.0,Not bad,1393804800,"03 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASQ1IQOS6PJNI,054774501X,Blaze,"[0, 0]","This book totally disrupted my life. It was so good and so well written that I couldn't lay it down, therefore things around my home fell into disarray. The plot was superb and the characters beautifully built. Potzsch's descriptions were so good I could smell the garbage in the streets. I lived in Germany for three years in the 1980s and this book transported me back there. Even though it took place three centuries earlier, I still felt like I was there. I can't wait to see what happens in his next book in this series, The Dark Monk. If it's as half as food as this one, then it will be awesome. The fact that he wrote it in modern day language rather than the thees and thous of the old world made it an easier read and didn't take away from the period piece at all. Loved it, loved it, loved it!!!!",5.0,The suspense will keep you 'hanging' on!,1401753600,"06 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3FPZVVFT4ZULF,B0039GL2PY,terry keefer,"[0, 3]","I was interested to start this read, but as I got more into the book it seemed as though it was written in another century.",3.0,long read.,1367884800,"05 7, 2013",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1DO7ZRBJBCSOF,1416950230,slain,"[0, 0]","This book is a joke. Anyone who follows cycling knows why, no need to explain it. I do however look forward to Floyd's next book, which I hear has a tentative working title of 'How I Channeled My Hate and Anger by Destroying Cycling, Threatening Victims of Child Abuse, Hacking Websites, and Demoralizing Cancer Patients.' Should be a good read... I hope Floyd makes a few bucks, to heck with everyone else.",1.0,"lies, lies, and damned lies",1290124800,"11 19, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KA49G2PD8UKO,0440217857,sheila glover,"[0, 0]",Could not put it down. Very entertaining and funny. Love the battling of wills and the coming together in the end,4.0,Excellent read,1361059200,"02 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2V1YF399FYYLE,0740705326,"""ltrent@amgen.com""","[4, 4]","I am a big Fox Trot fan, and have all of the collections. I am not going to insult your intelligence by making it sound as if this is a great work of social fiction, however it did make me laugh out loud many times. The continuing themes of the bad vacations, Paige's shopping, Andy's cooking, etc. are still there, but somehow Amend manages to put new twists on them and they continue to make me laugh. His best work is when he makes strips about Americans and their buying habits: the iFruity (iMac) strips made me laugh hysterically, as did the Phantom Menace and Bitty Babies (Beanie Babies).If you want a good laugh, pick up this book. It's no Calvin and Hobbes, but is at least as good as the last few Dilbert collections, which are getting old IMHO.",4.0,Get on your iFruity and buy this book!,982540800,"02 19, 2001",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 ALY9308IPWTR2,0896895181,B. Cuttle,"[4, 4]","I got this book from the library to help with my first slipcover project and it saved the entire project! It is well written, easy to understand and my slipcovers came out like a professional had done them! The author gives good step by step directions, that, if you follow them, will help you immensely.",5.0,"Highly Useful, Easy to Understand",1322006400,"11 23, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2ZV2FUM29G5B2,0525949100,Ellen Meister,"[5, 7]","Huge thanks to Melanie Lynne Hauser for giving us moms what we deserve--our very own super hero. Smart, funny and surprisingly poignant, CONFESSIONS OF SUPER MOM introduces us to divorced mother Birdie Lee, who, after a ghastly Swiffer accident, discovers that there's no mess too huge, no child too unruly for her to conquer. But Birdie's powers don't stop there, and before the book is through, she's thwarted evil and saved the children of her town from corporate greed gone mad. Along the way, she reconnects with her teenage children and even finds the love she deserves. This story has enough heart and humor for any book-loving mom.",5.0,Why should kids have all the fun!,1130457600,"10 28, 2005",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A10L6VRZH6EWDA,1939786150,AKC,"[0, 0]",Once again Ms. Edwards hit it out of the park. Enough detail to keep previous installments alive and yet enough teasing to make you look forward to the rest of the series. Love how her characters are so real. I love that she gives so much detail I can see the characters and scenarios. I nice bonus to the AI series.,5.0,Great!,1386979200,"12 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADJ1SKR6OHKBJ,0060777060,David Baldwin,"[0, 1]","Leonard never really writes sequels, he just writes books with the same characters in occasionally. A prime example is The Switch and Rum Punch, with some fantastic characterisation and clever plots. For Be Cool, the characters are there, but the plot isn't quite so finely-tuned. It's as if Leonard wanted to use Chili Palmer again, so just stuck him in the music business this time. But no matter what plot there is, the dialogue always sparkles, and this book is no exception, all wrapped up in some very funny set-pieces. It's still as bizarre as ever, with baseball-bat wielding Samoans and rug-wearing Russians, the eccentricity that really sets Leonard apart from all the rest. Be Cool is as cool as ever, if not quite classic Leonard.",3.0,"It's cool alright, just not a classic",958003200,"05 11, 2000",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A33ZX0SVIR347P,B00BK6V8KY,sandy stephens,"[0, 0]",i like having recipes at my finger tips. my biggest problem with this type book as it won't let you print ones you like better. makes it harder to use.,3.0,decisions,1395792000,"03 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2H5G2F5H8QV7O,B008N04QYA,"Danar ""Ardent Booky""","[0, 0]",This is a good side story to Enclave and Outpost. It's not as good as Enclave and Outpost but it's well worth the $0.99 that I paid for it.,3.0,Thimble and Stone,1349136000,"10 2, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QRW0UJPKIAX7,159403088X,Grant Fritchey,"[9, 11]","Facts are pretty persistent things and I'm more than a little shocked to find that historians, which, as group, I hold in quite high regard, would be willing to toss aside facts in favor of... what? Stalin? International Socialism? Communism? Completely and utterly failed, discredited and outdated ideas that never withstood the test of common sense, let alone the test of time? Please, no. But, unfortunately, it's all too true. John Earl Haynes and Harvey Klehr lay out the case, using facts, that very large numbers of historians, strong, modern voices, are desperately trying to ignore or spin the story of espionage in the US. Their reasons for doing so are mostly vague, or in a few cases far too clear, but as a great fan of history, and historians, I'm horribly disappointed in this behavior.The book is very readable and clearly well researched. The point is made, over and over, that the facts are against the interpretations provided. I would have liked to have seen more modern evidence of spying, but the focus is on the espionage activities of the 30's-50's. I suppose this is because some of the most egregious, high-level, government spies were exposed during that period. While some of the excesses of idiots like McCarthy are indefensible, it's pretty clear, based on the documentation provided, most of the anti-Communist activity of this period was well founded. The fact that so many historians are willing, and actively attempting, to shade or disguise this truth is a very sad statement on the condition of modern teaching and historical thought. Maybe more of our historians need to get back to the basics and follow where the facts lead, not try to find evidence to support their pre-conceived notions.",4.0,An Excellent History of Historians,1244937600,"06 14, 2009",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 AIMQ2LPSKYXZO,1616147377,Tiger Ridge,"[13, 23]","Loftus has done it again. This book, like his others, is an extended argument for non-belief. While it has overlapping theses in common with these books, it is a much more fleshed out account of the OTF. I really enjoyed it because it has very good answers to the objections that are typically presented. I would recommend that one could read this before or after Why I Became and Atheist. Either other makes sense to me.",5.0,Excellent.,1362268800,"03 3, 2013",13,23,helpful,0.5652173913043478,1 A7V5LONQ9UL63,B00H91ZMZ6,Mad Hooker,"[0, 0]","This is a must read before starting the third book! However, I do think this short story should be included with the third book as a prelude.",4.0,Should be included with the 3rd book...,1396396800,"04 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14ADG0TTI4XBV,3836501910,"Scott Coblio ""kookoo guy""","[52, 55]","Terry's world might be, hell, it's MEANT to be a little scary for alot of people! Not in the sense of depicting violence or even real depravity but rather in the near-apocalypitc vulgarity with which it depicts post modern-hedonism, where sexual pleasure is about as idealized as a Tijuana donkey-show.A man, laying half-passed-out on a bed, is seen puking, Terry (who appears in many of his own photos) pulls a tampon string out of a woman's vagina with his teeth, a guy pisses into his own mouth--you get the picture. It's a garbage-world where all the turn-ons are trashy. It is strangely arousing inspite of the yuck factor, but whether that's because it's sexy or because I'm just so jaded I'm happy for anything that can jolt and shock my deadened nerves, is up for debate!Jolts and shocks are what Terryworld is all about. Terryworld is to erotica what Hustler was to Playboy. It's flat-out raunch,but with a fashion photographer's sensibility, which is to say that it does have some artistic merit beyond its novelty value, calling to mind the ""provacateur"" advertising campaigns of recent years, of which Terry himself has often played a part. His situation-heavy portraits are Tarantino-like movie stills from a movie I'm not sure I want to see.Which brings me to my point; In the end, after all the money's come in, all the heads have turned and all the word-of-mouth has been exhausted, what is the final value of shock?Remember when you were fourteen and looking at your stolen copy of Hustler, you felt kind of sick at the end of the ride. Your heart rate increased as you turned each page, your curiosity peaked to see the next lurid spectacle, you flipped faster and faster until finally it was over, you'd seen the whole thing--More, in fact, than your mind was capable of processing in one sitting. You were late for dinner, had a pressure headache, and a faint desire to go to church.Welcome to Terryworld.",5.0,Terror-World!,1215475200,"07 8, 2008",52,55,helpful,0.9454545454545454,1 A3D5I0G8QSVHQO,0399536108,Hamptons NY,"[17, 21]","I felt I wasted my time and money on this book. The author ends his book with such non-conformist ideas as: ""Students could revolt and change universities...Grading could be abolished or modified...""; Communities could abolish 98 percent of homelessness by allocating enough space for ""tent cities"" and free shelter for up to one year; Prisons for non-violent offenders could be ""open""centers where the occupants check in every day before going to a supervised job.."". Universities with no grades, tent cities and open center prisons may be creative non-conformist options but not ones I agree with. This book offered me little in the way of valuable and unique information.",1.0,Didn't find value in this book......,1293321600,"12 26, 2010",17,21,helpful,0.8095238095238095,1 A1ZMD1LLDQCUIQ,B007KFXGM2,wordophile,"[0, 0]",The Little Leprechaun Who Loved Yellow is a charming children's story that builds self-esteem and the right to be accepted for all choices. Kids will love it and so will the adults who read this story to them. I am still smiling about this sweet soul.,5.0,Yellow lead to a pot of Gold,1381795200,"10 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ATE0WNOKWT6SN,0974537616,Jim Ashley,"[18, 24]","I just finished Sen. Miller's book and I must say I really enjoyed it. This is a man that does indeed go with his conscience... Zell is a man of God... yes, he even admitted his regret to backing ""Roe v. Wade"" and other political blunders in his career.The Democratic Party really needs to read this book... he's simply afraid the party he's been with ""since birth"" is going to take the route of the Whig Party... to extinction.But, I don't think the Democrats will ever listen. They've been pandering to unions and other special interest groups for quite a while. Sure the Republicans have S.E. groups as well but the GOP SE Groups at least stay out of the limelight...A true southerner... tells it like it is. Liberals are ashamed of him and are labeling him a ""traitor"" because he simply didn't back Sen. Kerry in the '04 Election. I just wish Zell would run for President in 2008... he would be one Democrat that this Republican would vote for! Way to give 'em hell, Zell!!!",5.0,Tells is like it is,1105574400,"01 13, 2005",18,24,helpful,0.75,1 AN0XWUHSHRUG6,0373293518,Kristi Ahlers,"[9, 12]","Ms. Brisbin has penned a very sweet read. Our hero and heroine Adrian and Miranda are the Duke and Duchess of Windmere. There are already married but have fallen into the trap that so many aristocratic couples fall into, duty, duty, duty, to the title that is held. This is a story is about falling in love all over again and realizing that life is too short to spend it playing games.Adrian Warfield is the Duke of Windmere. He has just been told by his team of physicians that he is dying. He won't make it to the end of the year and that he should really get his affairs in order. Or at least that's what he overhears. Knowing that his time is short he begins to take stock in his life. He is married to a dutiful and kind woman, but their relationship is not what it used to be. There was a time long ago, before the title was his that they laughed and shared things. Now they live the proper aristocratic life and he must consider what should be done to protect Miranda when his death occurs. They have not been able to produce a child and the title will be forfeited to a cousin. This situation weighs heavily on Adrian. He takes a trip to the country and soon Miranda follows. Their time in the country seems to change things. Miranda seems more beautiful and open then she had been before, and Adrian begins to realize that although they have grown apart there is a part of him that misses her badly. It's only a matter of time before this Duke realizes that he is in love with his own wife. His love motivates him to find a new husband for his Miranda. Can he do this without Miranda figuring out what he is up too?Miranda has come to terms with the way her life has played out. She knows that she would not have been the choice of the Dowager Duchess for her son Adrian. She tries very hard to be the wife that she thinks Adrian needs and wants. What she wants though is love, respect, and caring. Than all of a sudden Adrian seems to be spending more time with her and their physical relationship is changing...for the better what has brought on this change...and will it last or is it too good to be true?Adrian and Miranda were compelling characters. The fact that these two were already married at the beginning of the story made the storyline a little more unique. The concept of facing your own mortality is a very interesting vehicle for a storyline and Ms. Brisbin has made the most of it. I truly felt invested with the characters and the change in their relationship was sweet and tender to read. I highly recommend Ms. Brisbin if you are in the market for a fast-paced read that will touch on your emotions.Official Reviewer for [...]",5.0,A Sweet Romance With Wonderful Characterization!,1114300800,"04 24, 2005",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A39JA7TMKLVL2W,0316067369,"Christabel ""I Live to Read""","[22, 28]","I don't agree that the subject matter was gross and unseemly. I actually found it quite relevant with so many middle-aged people today struggling to care for their elderly and sometimes very difficult parents. And I still think this is some of the best writing (who could ever get bored?) that I've read in a long time. What really set me off, however, was the ending. I frequently find that even the best writers cannot write a satisfactory ending. This one was the worst ever! No ending really. No resolution whatsoever. We are to assume she gets caught, I guess. The question of the morality of what she has done is left hanging. Gosh, I hated it, just hated it. How could someone think up such a compelling story and leave it hanging. Don't buy this book if you hate ""non-endings.""",1.0,The Ending Alone Warrants a 1 Star Rating,1196035200,"11 26, 2007",22,28,helpful,0.7857142857142857,1 A3K1JFYC9KOVV5,0143105000,CB,"[4, 5]","After seeing numerous film adaptations of Dumas' immortal work, I had to read the book itself. I was not disappointed. While it is certainly lengthy dense (and, thus, not for everyone), The Three Musketeers cannot but enchant.The story is well-known: In 17th-century France, D'Artagnan, a young Gascon of a minor family, comes to Paris to seek his fortune as a member of the king's Musketeers. In attempting to do so, he meets or runs afoul of Rochefort and Milady DeWinter - creatures of the scheming Cardinal Richilieu - and the unforgettable Musketeers: the brooding Athos, religious Aramis, and jaunty Porthos. They form an easy brotherhood and fall into foiling the Cardinal's plots while they themselves try to impress their various mistresses and scrape by financially. The book is more than just a great adventure - Dumas also adroitly discusses the class structure of the day, parodies the religious wars of the 1600s, and skewers academic scholarship. A wonderful, rich read.",4.0,"It's grand, is what it is!",1189900800,"09 16, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A11DN4ZLL2G5TG,0441010105,David Hood,"[10, 10]","I wrote full reviews for each book. In briefAthyra-4 stars, a nice book from an innocent's viewpoint about Vlad.Orca-2 stars, a dull book about financial swindles.In full:Athyra-I have not enjoyed a Vlad book as much as this once since the first three. Switching the narrative away from Vlad was a refreshing, and necessary move to invigorate the story.Savn, an innocent Dragaeran youth is a wonderfully sympathetic character studying to be a physicker when Vlad arrives at his town. He befriends Vlad and begins to find himself ostracized from his friends for hanging around the Easterner. Once he helps Vlad with his injuries there is no turning back.Through Savn's eyes we get to see a vulnerable Vlad, a hurting Vlad without the cockiness, one who is rethinking virtually everything about his life, life in general and the universe. We see Savn grow through meeting the challenges of befriending Vlad, his sister also and we see Vlad changed and changing from the flippant assassin.The pace is relaxed, without being slow, and builds to a climactic ending with consequences for everyone. A very well done effort from Brust, it was almost like reading about Vlad for the first time due to the change of viewpoint.Orca-In this plodding tale of Vlad, much talking is done about a banking financial swindle happening. Like Vlad investigates Enron, but not that much fun. In order to help Savn, who saved Vlad previously Vlad must help out an old lady with the power to possibly heal Savn. This leads to the investigation of the financial swindle.Vlad and Kiera play Joe Hardy and Nancy Drew, except again, it really isn't that fun. The book is dialog heavy and as exciting as my accounting textbook, maybe less so.As others have said, the revelation in the last 10 pages is the only payoff for reading the book. Not worth it in my opinion.",3.0,"One good, one bad as Vlad takes a new direction",1055376000,"06 12, 2003",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A1XHXQ4LTIJ8V1,1400065429,Gigi,"[5, 5]","I saw this book at the library and thought it looked interesting- it's been compared to ""In Cold Blood"" which I loved. However Kathryn Harrison is nowhere near in the same league as Truman Capote. ""While They Slept"" is told in a completely biased manner that detracted from the intriguing story.""While They Slept"" is the story of a young man who bludgeons his parents and little sister to death with a baseball bat, while allowing a second younger sister to survive. His defense is that his parents were horribly abusive and that he was trying to save himself and his sisters, but that the youngest sister walked in during the crime and he panicked and killed her. He claims that the surviving sister was an accomplice; she denies it. Instead of allowing the reader to decide for himself, Harrison decides for us: the surviving sister is not only completely innocent, but also a hero. Harrison is almost sycophantic in her devotion to Jody Arlington, the survivor. She praises Jody throughout the book, and anyone who expresses even the slightest criticism towards Jody is ""jealous"" or ""crazy"". Even with (or perhaps because of) this highly biased version of events, I found myself questioning Jody's involvement in the murders, and her seemingly complete lack of emotion following them. According to Harrison, the fact that Jody never expressed any grief or sadness following the murders is simply an indication of her youth and a result of her abusive childhood, and anyone who disagrees with that has no right to judge how others grieve. Well, I disagree with that. Many criminals- Susan Smith and Scott Peterson are two prime examples- are first suspected of involvement because of lack of emotion displayed in the immediate aftermath of the violent death of a loved one. I understand that everyone grieves differently, but for a 16-year old to be totally emotionless after witnessing her 11-year sister's bloody and slow death seems a little strange. Also the fact that Harrison refuses to entertain any other opinions and forces her own down the reader's throat made me want to question it.On top of this is that Harrison continues to refer to her own personal history throughout the book- she had a four year long affair with her father. Why she constantly references herself in what I thought was to be a true crime book is beyond me, but is becomes clear that Harrison is extremely self-absorbed and thinks that everyone is as fascinated with her as she is.Lastly the book is simply not very well written. Twice Harrison misuses the word literally- ""he was literally scared out of his mind"". That is physically impossible, and perhaps Harrison should look up what the word literally actually means.I was disappointed that this story was so poorly told. I wish that everyone involved, Jody Arlington included, had been given a better chance to have their story told.",2.0,"Interesting story, poorly told *CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS*",1221523200,"09 16, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AQ8H6VT22KWAJ,0897934474,Fay A. Klingler,"[18, 20]","Impressive, very impressive! After reading this book, I bought one for each of my two single daughters. I felt it was vital for them to read the book. It clearly exposes dangerous behaviors and spells out one's responsibilities in relationships. I particularly loved the last couple of chapters with their healthy relationships' blueprint.",5.0,Exceptionally good,1114387200,"04 25, 2005",18,20,helpful,0.9,1 AKD8H4TOQ6C6Y,0983621691,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I love this book and I'm glad that there are men in different levels of knowledge just like faith. Some are still on milk and others meat, I believe all of Gods' knowledge is not just in one book and I believe he wants us to search it out. Otherwise why would anyone feel that certain books were not qualified to be of him. God says don't let your right hand know what your left is doing. Besides I think he knew S would mess with the written word. God also says that he reveal the ending at the beginning and what man that's missing from the Bible "Enoch" he's witness to all Mankind that's why he was taken. We would need his testamony and it's right on time. I love the fact that you get all three in one.",5.0,The Researchers Library of Anciant Texts: Volume One -- The Apocrypha,1368489600,"05 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A336TGYKOTPZGO,141654531X,"pennname ""pennname""","[5, 12]",Van Sant and Jackson take an investigative trip into the minds of two best friends accused carring out the perfect murder. Hitchcock would be proud of this police and psychological thriller. Just try putting it down after 40 pages. Written with craft and style.,5.0,Perfectly Hitchcock like as two friends attempt the perfect murder,1190073600,"09 18, 2007",5,12,helpful,0.4166666666666667,1 A2B5L2D8LJNT6L,0316001821,Brady Buchanan,"[0, 0]","This is a novel about a 14 yr. old girl who is the narrator and she does a good job of talking about her life before and after her murder. Her descriptions of what was going on while in her heaven was supposed to be the most interesting part which is the bulk of the story. Her ""heaven"" was not expanded enough to what it could have been. Ms. Sebold could have presented a much greater expansion of ""heaven"" along with th story of the family. Mr. Harvey was the bad guy and I believe his ""end"" was not really interesting. His part and his discovery should have been more complete. This is enjoyable where I read all pages, but not as good as I hoped.",3.0,SPEAKING FROM THE OTHER SIDE,1050278400,"04 14, 2003",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AVC6SHY1A64U6,0445085118,Don Kline,"[22, 23]","[Note: This review also appears under Mr. Costain's ""The Last Plantagenets,"" the fourth of his four-volume history of the Plantagenets. If you read but one volume, read this one. Appreciate Eleanor of Aquitaine; experience the early crusades and the trials of Richard, the Lionheart; and learn just how magnanimous was (or was not) John in his signing of the Magna Carta.]Mr. Costain is a very good historian. His scholarship is thorough and his conclusions are always logically wrought and sometimes surprising. His sensibilities are contemporary, although I would not term him a "revisionist," (he wrote this history in the 1950s). For example, in this first volume, the author dashes myth and idle folklore to side with those historians who portray Eleanor of Aquitaine as the wise and effective check on Henry II and her sons that she no doubt was. In so doing he disperses, through well-reasoned argument, the rumors and "Entertainment-Tonight" kind of fluff (History-Lite) that many still believe. Additionally, Costain's defense of Richard III (in the final volume) he travails against conventional opinion to demonstrate why King Richard was, indeed, not the Richard III of Thomas More as popularized by Shakespeare and held true to this day.I had been told these four volumes were classics. After reading them, but without being a scholar of history, I think those critical readers might be right. Certainly, Mr. Costain opened my eyes to a different kind of history telling, one in which an historian does not hesitate to conjecture or opine openly and to honestly make his case and then leave it for a reader's judgement. From front to back, from first through fourth volumes, this is a valuable and pleasurable experience. Mr Costain, presents, argues, harangues convention and, always entertains with a use of the language that is as sharp as his reasoning and as precise as his scholarship. Mr. Costain is a very good story-teller.",5.0,Good Historian; Good Story-teller,985046400,"03 20, 2001",22,23,helpful,0.9565217391304348,1 A3IL85P3ZSQ64,B00D4CSEJK,LIV,"[0, 0]",I read this book with my niece. It has great funny pictures. And i love the text.It was so nice that she wanted to read it again after she read it!,5.0,Great book for little girls,1370390400,"06 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3MD0PJDNG6CYU,0062279971,Biddy Mulligan,"[0, 0]",I rarely give a book five stars and I'm not going to give that to this one but.... it's a great story and I highly recommend it. It just slogs a bit here and there but other than that... it's a great story!,4.0,"Oh, I was close to giving this five stars.....",1392940800,"02 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1F5ZAUCP4KDVG,1497339510,Book Freak [cha],"[4, 4]","Rating:4.5 StarsJackson just missed his chance on the person he thought he had loved for a while. It hurt him, but he wanted her happy. After all, she was one of his closest friends. What he didn’t realize, that he could feel a stronger, more powerful emotion than what he felt for Lex."When I say that when you meet the RIGHT ONE, you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt. And I don’t think you’re the type of guy who would spend a couple of years messing around with girls when she’s right there in front of you."Much as I enjoy Lex & Drake’s story, I wanted an HEA for Jackson as well. After all, he’s a great guy who knows how to look after his friends despite the fact that he sleeps around, and shags every girl he encounters. He tells that he needed to sow his wild oats before finally settling down, only that the girl he was waiting for already found someone else before he put a break on his sleeping-around-marathon.He met Kaylie unexpectedly – I like her character. She wasn’t a complicated person, neither she was over emotional. This girl may have suffered a deep sense of loss when she lost people close to her at a young age, and she had no room for love as of now. She needed to focus on one thing only: DANCE. Unlike some, she wanted to dance right out of college. It wasn’t just a hobby for her, it was her passion. Everything in her life was orderly, until she came face to face with Jackson.The pull was instant, and unlike before, Jackson didn’t feel like waiting. He wanted to claim her, but he was patient enough to wait until she was ready to sleep with him – pretty much an effort for a guy who gets an invite to bed by every girl he approaches. But, he knew he needed to have her, needed to consume her, and needed to be with her. So imagine my surprise when he started to woo her. Not really the conventional type of woo – he invites her to date (which was really way out of his norms), and spends his time with her.But Kaylie has walls surrounding her heart, and she had some fear of what exactly to do right after graduation. She was sure of what her direction in life would be, until him. Now, how can she tell him of her plans?A guy who just had his heart broken, and a girl who had her heart in between tall walls, would there ever be a future between them?I like this novel because it was (for me) a light read, it didn’t take soooo much drama, but still it had piqued my interest. At first, I was like – how can he possibly forget about Lex in a matter of time, and just went straight into Kaylie – well, I’m glad Rochelle Paige handled the transition well and gave a rationalization that seemed plausible. I like how the story went, I loved the characters, and most especially, I love his kink. OMG. He’s totally hotter in bed than Drake – I can’t believe it! Totally! Well, I was quite expecting quite a big drama at the ending, something with a big blast to end everything up, it didn’t happen – instead I was rewarded with a mellow, heartwarming and feel-good that filled me with content. Can’t wait for the next one in this series!✪Complimentary Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.✪",5.0,4.5 Stars,1395964800,"03 28, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2OEFAA9DC1H7D,1604447273,Kreate,"[0, 0]",Andrew Murray was a great man and demonstrated his faith in his reflections about God. Jesus Himself is a great book and I am still enjoying reading it!,5.0,Great Reflections and Teaching,1362960000,"03 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2BE3MTUT0YBF0,0060776099,"Michael Griswold ""Michael Griswold""","[0, 0]","1984 by George Orwell is a great book, but Brave New World by Huxley has captured the sad spirit of todays world. Some elements such as flying cars are either non existent or in infancy stages, but the central ideas are alive and well in America. With a world that appears to be growing more violent by the day, more Americans are looking for a place to escape--- a utopia. With the media saturation with images of sex, it's almost like children are indocternated with the idea of sexual play from birth and I certainly know many people who beileve that multiple partners are best.The obssession with youth in this culture driven both by Hollywood and human vanity is rooted in the lab where they are grown never to grow old or be unhappy through soma druggings and the medical/biological procedures of this new world keep the people young and unable to go through the disfigurement of childbirth and aging. The New Worldians are horrified when they meet John the Savage and his mother Linda because they are of a world that real people would know and not the fairytale dream.The most telling thing of Brave New World is the death of Lenina, who for all her beauty and conditioning to think just the right thoughts and never question anything the authority says, still ends up dying a horrible and ugly death in the utopia. This tells us that the utopia we may be dreaming of is not as perfect as it seems and that violence and death will follow humanity wherever we go.",5.0,The Book Most Like Our Modern World,1246579200,"07 3, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AAAH184OVHEIZ,1619493721,"Stefanie ""smathew212""","[4, 4]","This is another enjoyable Poirot mystery, but I do not recommend this particular paperback edition. It is a text-only copy which means that there are at least 3 different images referred to in the story that do not appear in the book. It's very frustrating.",3.0,Good story but don't order this edition,1357948800,"01 12, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3H7ADUP07D93H,0151014248,"J. Fuchs ""jax76""","[32, 35]","LeGuin had a great idea -- take the little written about Lavinia, the last wife of the Trojan hero Aeneas, in Vergil's epic poem The Aeneid and flesh it out into a story of pre-Rome Italy. With LeGuin's writing and Vergil as source material what wouldn't be great? Unfortunately, LeGuin seems constrained by the mythological elements in the story and the writing is ponderous and slow, in keeping with epic poetry perhaps, but not what you expect from LeGuin. As others have noted, the writing is beautiful but the story is slow. Even after removing the action of the gods from Vergil, everything is a bit too perfect. LeGuin takes the liberty of having Lavinia know that she has been created by Vergil, but it still would have been nice to be able to see Lavinia as a flesh and blood human being of pre-Roman Latium. The principal characters just don't come alive. Only the slaves and farmers, secondary characters here, seem real. Everyone else is the perfect hero or flawed anti-hero of myth, try as LeGuin does to make them seem real.On the plus side LeGuin is great writer so you never feel like this is a complete waste of time, and you get to know the story of the Aeneid somewhat, of how after the fall of Troy Aeneas wandered through Africa and Sicily looking for a home for his people, and ended up in Italy, married to a princess of Latium. I didn't learn quite as much about the time and place as I'd have liked, but even though I was a bit disappointed, I'm still glad I read this.",3.0,Not up to LeGuin's usual standards,1209600000,"05 1, 2008",32,35,helpful,0.9142857142857143,1 A6C0B977TSHNN,1851684670,Will Jerom,"[12, 19]","This is an eye-opening account of the strategic ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the Zionists before and after their 1948 independence. While some limited accounts about massacres and the systematic expulsion of the Palestinians have been talked about, very few non-Palestinian authors have gone to such lengths to document the attempt to create an all-Jewish nation. I am not an expert in the field to judge the academic merits and truth of all of Pappe's claims about the scope of the Zionist culpability in the ethnic cleansing of Palestine (on an intuitive level, it makes sense of the mass exile of Palestinians in 1947-49 that occurred), but the overall intent of the book and message is fair. That message is that the Palestinian plight and crisis has been overlooked, submerged, and largely whitewashed in the history of the development of the Israeli state. In order for a fair and just resolution to be realized, Pappe suggests that a fair and democratic state that is inclusive of the Palestinians must emerge. How that might happen, to the satisfaction of all interested parties, is yet by no means and easy thing to resolve. But Pappe's book is very helpful for those interested in getting a greater grasp of the injustices suffered by Palestinians.",5.0,An Eye Opening Account,1265414400,"02 6, 2010",12,19,helpful,0.631578947368421,1 A51KNMQWHGPMB,1439176191,"FRANKLY FRANK ""FRANK""","[7, 40]","CHENEY GOT TO WHERE HE WAS BECAUSE HE KNOWS HOW TO SPIN ANY QUESTION THROWN AT HIM.THIS BOOK IS NO DIFFERENT.HE HIMSELF IS A DRAFT DODGER (5 DEFERMENTS).HE LIED ABOUT WEAPONS OF MASS DISTRACTION.HE COVERED UP HIS MEETINGS WITH THE OIL COMPANIES (PRIOR TO THE WAR IN IRAQ) ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT.THANKS TO SCALIA WHO VACATIONED WITH CHENEY PRIOR TO THE COURTS RULING IN FAVOR OF CHENEY.AFTER ALL, THE PUBLIC DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW ANYTHING OR ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING????JUST FOLLOW OUR LEADERS TO THE HELL THEY CREATE.CHENEY IS STONED FACED COLD BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE IS LIVING ON BORROWED TIME WITH THE AID OF MACHINERY.I'M SUPRISED HE HAS NOT PULLED THE PLUG ON HIMSELF.HE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A HAPPY CAMPER.IT'S NO WONDER HALIBURTON RECEIVED ALL THOSE NO BID CONTRACTS SINCE HE WAS IT'S CEO.THE INVASION OF IRAQ DESTABILIZED THE MIDDLE EAST WHETHER YOU LIKED SADAAM OR NOT.OIL IS THE REAL REASONS WE ARE IN IRAQ.THE COST IN DOLLARS & LIVES IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE AND UNJUSTIFIABLE.ONLY THE OIL COMPANIES BENEFITED.IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT COUNTRY WE WILL INVADE NEXT, A GOOD GUESS IS FOLLOW THE OIL.",1.0,REVISIONIST HISTORY THRU CHENEY'S EYES,1316908800,"09 25, 2011",7,40,helpful,0.175,1 AIGGPN2FJJBTP,1477823484,Deanne C. Davis,"[0, 0]","i really enjoyed this book and the first one, Off To Be The Wizard. The Young Brit, Elder Brit part was somewhat confusing but so enjoyed the concepts and see that the way is paved for Book 3!",4.0,i really enjoyed this book and the first one,1404777600,"07 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADHDS180OYP8R,1612120083,A. Zittel,"[14, 14]","Have you seen this book yet, that just came out today? Have you admired the crazy gorgeous yarn on the front cover or the designs on the inside? Have you started knitting socks yet?Anyone who reads my blog knows I knit a lot of socks - a lot - though I make mainly basic, easy, toe up socks and don't often challenge myself in the socknitting department... or really, the knitting department. (I'll challenge myself with crochet sometimes, but knitting... knitting is just for me, and for fun, and I really do like the basics though I do know how to do any knitting technique under the sun & teach them all on a regular basis). Now, that being said, I love to knit in the round (and regularly turn flat knit patterns into being knit in the round) but I can't wait to start the socks in this book.OK, whew... went off on a tangent there, didn't I?So the book begins with the basics... how to, gauge, and specific sock knitting techniques as well, such as turning the heel. Then come the socks... oh the gorgeous socks! There's 15 patterns here, from the basic worsted weight sock to the fancy, fingering weight texture or cabled socks, and there's baby socks and heavier slipper socks. Surprisingly, there's only a few intarsia designs (Coffee Break would make EXCELLENT scrap socks) & only one pair of lace socks (though admitably it's gorgeous).Alice Curtis, who's an LYS owner (lucky girl), even explains the best way to seam the socks... and seriously... it's not hard, and the finished socks look good. Crocheters, are you listening? She's having us slip stitch the sock seam!",5.0,great knit book,1371513600,"06 18, 2013",14,14,helpful,1.0,1 A3THFL1HC4MWIF,B0084VVQD2,dusty,"[0, 0]",The Day It Happened by Linsey Lanier is a mystery but you feel like it could or did really happen.,5.0,Day It Happened,1401148800,"05 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NAWURECL4TRD,147833634X,"Tara ""Libby""","[4, 5]","My husband and I returned from a trip to Russia this summer and were pleased to find this book written this year, 2012. Unfortunately the previous reviews are grossly inadequate in describing this book. Yes, it is written with humor, but is not meant to be a humorous book per se. This is the first book I have found that is very current on life in Russia and the Ukraine. The author has spend the last twenty years in Russia and the Ukraine, living in both places half a year. His insight into life there is current, informative and important. The book is extremely well written with humor but the humor is just a part of it. He details living in the Khrushchev apartments and those built in the Soviet times, describes the very poor medical system, life in general in Kiev and Moscow where he lives. My husband and I so highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what life in the Ukraine and Russia really is all about. Granted, it takes place just in Moscow and Kiev, but still you can get the idea of what life in these countries is like. We both found it hard to put down. To anyone who has been to Russia or is planning a trip there I would recommend reading this; it will give you answers you didn't get while there.",5.0,An Important Book,1348963200,"09 30, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A10UEU8TQU6PKI,0758213964,Gypsi Hart,"[7, 9]","I really did, but both characters got on my nerves. First you have the heroine. Who spends most of the first part of the book reviewing and criticizing other people's books. The author includes so many excerpts from each book that she is reviewing that I felt like I was reading two to three books at one time. I did not like any of the books the heroine was reviewing. There were as boring as she was. Then the hero spends more time talking to himself in his head than he does to the heroine. It was so bad, I felt that there were three characters in the book, him, her, and his subconscious. It was freaking me out. I couldn't help, but the think the man was permantely damaged. At one point of the book, the heroine says that if a book doesn't catch her in the first 50 page she stops, but stupid me kept reading until page 78 because I hoped it would get better. I was up to chapter 9 and the couple hadn't met yet! So, I decided to skip around the book and see if it would get better. Let's just say that the hero's subconscious has more of a mind of his own than the hero does. Don't say I didn't warn you...",1.0,I wanted to like this book...,1163116800,"11 10, 2006",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A314G4L1W0BATS,1623152534,"P. Adams ""HowieMOM""","[4, 5]","Weight loss surgery is a big step. It is sometimes the only choice to rid yourself of the weight that plagues you. What happens after the surgery is the key to changing your life and keeping the weight off. This cookbook is a step by step guide through the five stages of your post-op dietary needs. More importantly, the cookbook provides key information regarding the changes your body and digestive system are going through as your body adjusts. Tips and techniques such as the 20:20:20 rule to help you navigate your new way of life will make this an experience you CAN do!",5.0,Learn how to properly eat AFTER your surgery,1386547200,"12 9, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A20XM6F911RIDE,B00873W5ZA,kindlemom1 (My Guilty Obsession),"[11, 11]","While the idea of this story isn't unique, a girl with the ability to read minds, the idea and actual storyline is.A girl that not only reads minds, but downloads all their life history, thoughts memories, desires, you name it, she gets it. And not only does she have this ability by simply touching someone, she doesn't want it and refuses to use it.I have to say, I really liked Liz. She was a pretty terrific character. She was strong and stood up for what was right and she was even a little kick butt. She had some truly horrific things happen to her because of her ability and she didn't let them rule her. She didn't let those things change who she was. She still managed to be caring and kind and loving.Carey was a good match for her. Not only was he not what he seemed to be too, but he cared for Liz and helped her and was there for her when it really mattered. They were both a little lost and lonely until they meet each other.V.J., Liz's dad and Nurse Nora were all great secondary characters that helped make this book the fun action packed read it was.I love that we got all the details about Liz, her life before her abilities, how she got them and about her life on the run. Nothing really was left out and all my questions were answered. It seems like lately I can't say that about all the books I read so I really appreciated not being left in the dark for once and having everything out there in the open.If you are looking for something a little bit different and not your typical mind reading action packed story, then this is a read that you really should give a try to. It was very well written and the ending wasn't a cliffhanger yet it did leave it open for a sequel, something that I am hoping there will be.",4.0,A Great Read!,1351209600,"10 26, 2012",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A1UXVL5Y60WVEC,162878007X,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Loved this trilogy. There was just enough drama and back and forth to keep me reading. Tristan was so dreamy!!!! This is my new favorite trilogy. I was also really excited that I waited until the whole story was out. I do no like cliffhanger and waiting months for the final books!,5.0,Worth the time! loved it.,1396137600,"03 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFN32PGTZ31MV,0316003476,B. Capossere,"[26, 32]","The easiest way to write this review would be to send someone to my review of book one and say ""ditto"", except not as fun. Which was basically my review of book two. And therein lies the series' problem--if you've read one, you've read them all. That isn't to say the plot doesn't move on, doesn't become more complicated. It does. But that's all that happens. And much of the plot complication is based upon themes and plot we've seen before. King Peter and Chairman Basil edge nearer and nearer to outright confrontation, but we saw the basis of this two books and hundreds and hundreds of pages ago. The roamers are forced through their shades-of-MacGyver ingenuity to survive the unsurvivable, escape the inescapable, figure out the un-figure-outable. And as we saw in book one and two, they do. Water elementals are added to the mix, but we've seen their three brethren already so this comes as no surprise. The Klix (sp) robots are evil and deceptive, but we've seen this before. It would be different if one had a sense the plot was deepening, but it feels more like it's simply expanding. The same is true of the characters. Though as before, one or two stand out as better and more fully drawn, more compelling, in a cast of dozens that's somewhat damning with faint praise. And stylistically, the books don't seem to be getting any better. At one point a character trying to show determination both grits her teeth and lifts her chin; I'll give you a few cliches in a large book but not two in the same sentence. The first book drowned out (for the most part) these flaws with it sheer inventiveness and sense of fun, but books two and three lack that spark and so are no where near as enjoyable. One reads to see what happens (though I'm very close to not caring at this point) and that's it, not for the pleasure of reading. Had Anderson shrunk the first three books into two shorter ones, the flaws would be less obvious and the story may have carried me along past them. At this point I'm going to drag myself into book four only because I'm an optimist and I read fast. But I would not recommend this series at this point to new readers unless it picks up drastically in book four. There's too much good out there to invest time in a series that doesn't do much past book one.",3.0,"barely keeping me in, needs to improve",1095379200,"09 17, 2004",26,32,helpful,0.8125,1 A3UGM1YBV5FJQ9,061581414X,kindleluvr,"[0, 0]",A very good read about a teenage girl who has learned to keep to herself due to living with a family member & their addiction. Teen age girls all hope to know a boy like Brent at some time in their life - someone who will help them be who they truly are.,5.0,Bittersweet,1397001600,"04 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MR1VMK999I6O,0679446311,"Beth DeRoos ""Beth DeRoos from the California ...","[13, 19]","These are the BEST field guides we have ever owned. We have the trees, western USA birds, trees and sealife ones and they are a wonderful size and fit easily into a coat pocket or glove compartment of ones car and of course a back pack. They make a GREAT gift and during the Christmas season a great stocking stuffer.They are so complete as far as information goes, telling the reader what the migration and nesting habits are, where the birds can be found and they have wonderful photographs that are so useful when out on a hike. Our son loved them growing up and with a set of binoculars on a hike a person can find hours passing and not realize it.The covers on the books (vinyl) make it easy to keep them clean. Buy at least one and I assure you, you will be hooked..........",5.0,The best ..................,1037750400,"11 20, 2002",13,19,helpful,0.6842105263157895,1 A35N5RMMM2LY33,B006298622,"Joseph A. Melfi ""tinker""","[0, 0]","got this on my kindle and love it on that, easy to have with me when I go somewhere thanks",5.0,good,1376006400,"08 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VMNEPY2RYO7M,1936955105,Jody Lebel,"[4, 4]","A collection of short stories and medical jokes to lighten anyone's mood, but especially good for a gift when you visit someone at the hospital. Some stories are laugh out loud, some are better than others, but none miss the mark at hitting your funny bone. Someone you know recuperating? Better than flowers, send them a smile with this book.",5.0,A prescription for laughter.,1360022400,"02 5, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3S1LWECVLQ8F1,1442365528,Kayla,"[0, 0]","Authentic, suspenseful cold war espionage story. Well detailed, felt you were there.",5.0,Five Stars,1404691200,"07 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A72AJ9OXAPOOF,1939194784,Sara G.,"[0, 0]","I would like to thank the author for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.4.5 starsAshley has lived in an institute orphanage all her life. She has no idea who her family is. All she knows is she has nightmares every night that no one believes her about, and wakes up with bruises or other marks quite often. She has one friend named Tara that she refuses to leave. Then one night after a fire alarm, Ashley and Tara are both taken from the institute by a man named Renato. She soon learns that she is the Guardian of the stone of Muuk'Ich. It is a surviving legacy of the Maya that was blessed by the gods. Renato, Arwan, Jayden, Hawa, Marzena, and Peter have all been searching for her so that she could get the stone back from Sarian since she is the rightful guardian.Sarian is from the middle world, and he is the ultimate villian. He had stolen the stone from Ashley's mother, and now he wants Ashley to be his and rule the underworld. He is the one that has haunted her dreams. He has been working on breaking the obedience spell from the stone so he can possess its powers.Ashley and her new found family must work together with all their abilities to retrieve the stone. What ensues is a story full of action and adventure. There is time travel, dreamwalking, healing abilities, and my favorite, Arwan and his timebender ability. There are creatures from hell, a bit of romance, and a trip back to the Victorian era with the help of a sort of succumbus.I loved Arwan. He is one of the love interests in the story. We do not know enough about him, but a big secret was revealed in the end. And the other love interest was Jayden. He is more childish and quick to act without thinking. He is still fighting for Ashley's affection.I thought this was a stand alone book, but was surprised to find out it is part of a series. I gave 4.5 stars because some of Ashley's decisions bothered me. Especially the one she made in the end that will be the adventure in the sequel. I look forward to reading the sequel and seeing where this goes. I recommend this to young and old adults.",5.0,Wonderful Adventurous Story,1361750400,"02 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GOWSRQLY6AT1,1586487981,Nicholas,"[0, 0]","Review courtesy of www.subtleillumination.com""To progress, we have to abandon the habit of reducing the poor to cartoon characters and take the time to really understand their lives, in all their complexity and richness.""I'd heard before that on average, tall people earn more money. What I hadn't heard was that apparently if you control for IQ, that difference disappears - tall people are smarter and so have higher wages. A suggested explanation is malnutrition, which both reduces height and lowers IQ, and poses a significant challenge to poverty. This and other fascinating studies make up the bulk of Poor Economics, as Banerjee and Duflo follow their own advice and turn to the data to understand the challenges of development.If you want to help the poor, say Banerjee and Duflo, you need to give up grand theories and ideas of structural change, no matter how appealing a silver bullet may be. Rejecting Why Nations Fail, they argue that poverty is not the product of grand institutional failures, but rather is an individual or local condition, making cookie-cutter remedies useless. Development must be achieved by a series of small, well-thought out and well-tested steps, gradually accumulating into big changes, not grand designs with little relevance to the lives of the poor.To do so, they point out, it is essential to first actually understand the lives of the poor. Arguments often rage over whether the poor are in a poverty trap, the concern being that had they only a little more money for health, schooling, or business, they could invest and increase their wages, starting a positive cycle of investment and returns. B&D;, however, dismiss the arguments of Sachs, Easterly, and others, and point out that the answer can only be found in the data, through randomized control trials and empirical work, not through theory or ideological debates.They do make some broader claims. Without a stable job, for example, they suggest there is little incentive to save, invest, or plan for the future. As a result, the creation of jobs with job security may be justified even if it is an inefficient method of job creation, because of the indirect benefits. I'm not sure if I agree or not, but it's an interesting point.Perhaps the one criticism I have of Poor Economics is that their attempt to stick to economic rationality, though understandable, can feel forced. At several times in the book, as when they're discussing how some households will borrow at a 24% rate of interest in order to save it at 2%, psychological or behavioural explanations seemed like a natural next step in the discussion, and I was disappointed when they neglected them. Still, the book adds a much-needed voice in the discussion of economic development, one driven by data, not ideology.",5.0,"Important contribution to subject, focused and clear",1371340800,"06 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LONX7E5LHCJE,0307885151,"D. S. Heersink ""D. Stephen Heersink""","[7, 8]","Bryson's narrative is clear, crisp, and humored as he delves into the major scientific disciplines and their current postulations and problems. From geology, to astronomy, to evolution, to chemistry, to biochemistry, to anthropology, to gentics, to ecology, and points in between, Bryson covers a lot of territory without bogging the narrative down with the arcane and obscure. Clarity, not obfuscation, is his aim, and he masterfully achieves it. Not that some postulations are not without problems, it's just that he's able to illustrate the problems of certain scientific ideas and their concomitant problems in a most lucid, intelligent, and mostly rigorous manner. Occasionally he adds zest to his enterprise by use of puns, humor, and wit, sometimes bordering on the flippant, but he carefully confines his comic observations within the larger scope of precision. He combines both the history (read: Development) and the current postulations in such a way that neither one or the other intrudes, but exemplifies the points he's making. The true gem of this book is keeping the scientific perspective anthropomorphic; after all, it is only humans who can observe and remark on the masterworks of the universe and publish their observations and theories from an entirely humanistic reserve. Another gem is his ability to make scientific data not only interesting, but relevant to issues confronting this species known as homo sapiens, without resorting to polemic or the soapbox. Making science relevant and useful to the average layman is quite a task, and he does it with aplomb and without banter. The only presumptions Bryson makes is that the reader is at least familiar with junior high school scientific notions.This book is a highly entertaining, informative, and useful overview of the world of science since the 17th century. Where controversy still exists, he's careful to draw out the nuances, without becoming bogged down in every detail. For the reader looking for a pleasant examination of all things scientific at the beginning of the 21st century, I cannot imagine a better, more thoughtful, and balanced book to cover such vast matters within a reasonably easy-to-understand scope. My only complaint, and it is a minor one, is that sometimes his personal story supplants his over-arching theme, which can be read either as personally engaging or slightly annoying, depending on one's disposition to such things. Except for this possible flaw, the book is very highly recommended.",5.0,Master Synthesis,1116288000,"05 17, 2005",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A39RDOLPS2H9SW,0976744236,marilyn higginson,"[0, 0]","I like Dean Koontz and he loves Golden Retrievers as I do, but this book is silly. I don't care for the religious references either, though it is a book about christmas.",1.0,oops,1391472000,"02 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3CS2XDYJHJ63A,0441014003,Cassandra Hicks,"[0, 0]","Review by Cassandra from Book TalkWith so few family members still alive, Sookie Stackhouse really hates to lose one. Her cousin Hadley, a consort of the New Orleans Vampire Queen, has been murdered and left everything to Sookie. Being the heir to Hadley's estate comes with many risks. Someone is out to stop Sookie from coming to New Orleans and discovering things from Hadley's past and her possessions. Whoever this unknown enemy is will do anything within their power to stop her. The list of suspects is a long one. It could be anyone ranging from the Rogue Weres who reject Sookie as friend of the Pack, the Vampire Queen, or even Bill, Sookie's first love. She now has to help discover who is out to stop her, who is behind killings, and save the Vampire Queen from her new husband's wraith. She is doing all this while trying to nurture a budding relationship with the oh so delicious were-tiger Quinn. Can Sookie save the day once again? Will everyone make it out alive in this one? Or will more people Sookie cares for be slaughtered?This is a good book but not the best of this series. For me there were too many slow points but overall it's still a good book. We see more of Quinn and his romancing of Sookie. One bad thing to me, well for Sookie, is the truth behind one of her personal relationships that is so hurtful. Sookie's life is always taking a turn for the worst but she always seems to come out on top at the end, whether she's bruised and bloody, she still makes it. This time with such a huge plot behind the scenes that keeps pushing at her you wonder is there is anyway she can possibly make it through and figure everything out in time. This is a great series and I would highly recommend it. Also, if you want more background stories you can read the many short stories that are between these books. Warning: adult content and violence.",4.0,Still a great series,1371686400,"06 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2RM9L2MM9EQVE,0316286850,"Bea Shalla ""Abenteurerin""","[0, 0]","This book is genius, I take it to all my modeling gigs.And if you want a certain look and need help, this book's got tons.",5.0,Genius,1190419200,"09 22, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3M88P7J2WBEDE,1483945154,Lavinia Urban (Author),"[0, 0]","At first this book was confusing. A lot of what I read I had to assume. I assumed Kit was a girl and luckily - obviously- I was correct.I was recommended this book to read - more like I was harrassed ;) - and honestly I am glad. It is a great read. There were a few typos, but so what, you can easily over look something like that when it is a good story.Is this book classed as Steakpunk genre? I have no idea because I am rubbish with genres, but this is what i thought when I began to read it.It is a story of a young girl, 16 I think, and she is controlled by some type of device called a Halo. I am sure later on in the series in will, or I hope it will, explain how this came to be.The Halo is a device that controls pains and thoughts, but Kit's get broken and for the first time in her life she has to deal with every single emotion.I got confused on the whole birth mother, the other mother - basically the whole living arrangement. I figured out Miranda was not Kit's birth mother, but who was her birth mother. We got a tiny segment of her and I was still left thinking 'huh?'This book is pretty much action packed from the start and throughout.I think everyone should give this a try, and what is more...... it's free. Bargain!",4.0,Great read,1400198400,"05 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A12VF2H2CWKQGQ,0553502697,tomfromboston,"[4, 6]","His 38th novel has gore and chills, but the bulk of this tedious tome is about love and the importance of love and if you don't have love you will never be happy--something romanticists have been trying to convice us for over 50 years. So it comes as no surprise to hear him deliver lines like ''Every day of your life, there are opportunities to perform little kindnesses for others, both by conscious acts of will and unconscious example. Each smallest act of kindness...reverberates across great distances and spans of time''? Or comfort us with the thought that ''He's always at least watching from the corner of his eye''? Or note that ''coincidence is the result of mysterious design and meaning''? Yech....Without getting too much into the story, you can read about it elsewhere here, let's just say the plot summaries all eventually converge. ... Everything Happens for a Reason and We're All Connected on This Crazy Planet stuff. ..When fans discover their faithful author spewing out holy water instead of blood, you'll find it as distasteful as stale communion wafers. Loaded with pop-'60's references and literary ridiculousness, the plot buckles under its own meta-spiritual weight and sludgy prose. That might be OK if the book was at least entertaining, but as it progresses further and further into its slathering lectures on love, meaning of life, physics, Zen, tragedy, etc..., the only thing you can wonder is what happened to Koontz and how do I get him back. Hopefully, this was just a temporary thing.",2.0,Welcome to the Land of Oprah,1027555200,"07 25, 2002",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A33B3XCIXB4ZVG,0553807277,Shane Lems,"[4, 4]","This is, as the earlier reviewers of this book already noted, an outstanding account of the Jewish resistance in occupied Poland (mostly Warsaw) during WWII. Before I read this book, I did not know the details of the Jewish resistance that occurred in Warsaw while the Nazis overtook Poland. I'm glad this story is being told; it deserves to be read, studied, and remembered.I won't repeat what the earlier viewers said about this book; I agree with them. I do want to say that this book was written very well. I appreciate the shorter chapters and the fact that the book is made up of five parts (arranged chronologically). However, the book is not easy reading. There are many names, dates, locations and cultural vocabulary words which makes the book an intermediate resource on this aspect of WWII. In other words, it is not high school reading, but advanced college reading. This is not necessarily a critique, just an observation readers might like to know before they purchase it.In summary, for those readers who want a detailed account of Jewish resistance in Warsaw in WWII, this is a book you must get. Or, if you desire to learn the details of an important part of world history, put this on your list.",5.0,A Moving Account of Jewish Resistance in WWII,1350259200,"10 15, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A16RAMIXBUHVKV,030796650X,michael a. draper,"[26, 33]","In a well told tale about life in the Appalachian countryside in North Carolina in the 1950's the author paints a picture of the struggles of life.Luce lives by herself in the old Lodge. She's totally self sufficient, living in the building which had been a summer retreat by a man made lake. Since Old Man Stubblefield was dead, Luce took it upon herself to act a caretaker.When her sister was murdered, the state put her sister's two children, Dolores and Frank, into Luce's care. She felt that she really didn't have any choice. It was either that or have them separated and placed into adoption agencies.This is an example of Naturalism in literature made popular in the early 1900's where the character's environment and hereditary predetermine what will happen to the characters, leaving little that the characters can do to change that path that is already written for them.Luce accepts the challenges of caring for these tempermental, untalking twins. It makes the reader wonder how she can do it with no parental training, no financial or educational help from the state and almost no real support group.In a scene that reminded me of Charles Frazier's wonderful ""Cold Mountain,"" Luce takes the twins to her friend Maddie's home and when Maddie lets them sit on her pony, they become the little children that we are accustomed to and utter their first words, the horses name, ""Sally"".Bud is the children's step-father. He's a cold hearted killer whose lack of any trace of compassion and willingness to kill others with little prevocation reminded me of the excellent character, Anton Chigurh in ""No Country for Old Men.""As the story continues, Bud's path begins to converge with Luce and the children. As their paths come closer and closer,suspense mounts in a dramatic manner.Charles Frazier is a wonderful story teller and has given us a book with rich characters where the reader develops a great deal of empathy. This is a book that the reader can get lost in. ""Nightwoods"" reaffirms Frazier's place as one of the best literary writers working today.",4.0,"""Oh the nightlife, is no life, but it's my life."" Song lyrics",1316217600,"09 17, 2011",26,33,helpful,0.7878787878787878,1 A2MH45450030H0,0802776957,Shana Banana,"[23, 23]","First, you need to read all three of the Turner books. They are compelling, deep, true but sad and ultimately too depressing to get more than three stars. I wish one of the books had a more upbeat ending. I don't have to have happy endings in all of my books but I don't want to cry over all of them either.I am glad I read the three Turner books but I'll never reread them either.",3.0,Heartfelt story,1338422400,"05 31, 2012",23,23,helpful,1.0,1 AAC5NGZOVOAKG,B00408AQ98,Ciara,"[0, 0]","As you might realize from the title this is a paranormal romance, with angels but no demons. The world building was barely there, referred to but not mapped out, which is understandable for a novela length read. I found the writing to be steamy and it was easy for me to see where the characters were in Paris. The writing switched between the two romantic partners perspectives cleanly and in all, I found it to be a decently written book with clean edits. If you enjoy this genre, I recommend it for a few hours of romantic tension with a beautiful witch and a sizzlingly handsome angel. I was not the target audience, but please don’t let that turn you off.",3.0,"Predictable plot, but that's we're here for, right?",1389484800,"01 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A129PLFBKS3D49,0307341569,lmw,"[0, 0]",I've enjoyed Gillian Flynn's novels. This is a dark mystery but I was interested to get to the end. Thanks,4.0,Liked it,1367107200,"04 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11B920WDI97DG,0970148577,Joseph Pellerin,"[8, 22]","I purchased this out of sheer curiousity - what goes into the manufacture of this powerful chemical agent, and what kind of individual would write a how-to manual. I was impressed with the concise, clear quality of the writing. Despite the author's wholly unapologetic treatment of the subject, I found their intellect and humor to be refreshing. I cannot speak to the informational quality of the text, as I have never manufactured LSD, nor do I intend to - however, the text was detailed technically, and full of practical safety tips. At the same time that I found the text, and it's mere existence, fascinating and refreshing, I also felt a bit sad that such an excellent intellect is wasted on illicit activities, and slowly degraded by consumption of their product.",4.0,Fascinating Treatment of an Illegal Activity,1313539200,"08 17, 2011",8,22,helpful,0.36363636363636365,1 A2AB6I0CZSPC02,0596004923,H. Hemken,"[0, 0]","If you need a reference text for Perl, look no further. This is it. I used the previous edition for over a decade, and look forward to using this one for many years more. It is updated with the many features and enhancements that have made their way into Perl over the past dozen years or so.""Unmatched power for text processing and scripting"" doesn't even come close to describing Perl.",5.0,The Definitive Perl Treatise,1353024000,"11 16, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3XD5KVPN3ORE,B00A0GP1KS,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Not at all what I excepted. Nothing noteworthy about it. Thank goodness it was short. Really wish it could be given zero stars.,1.0,zero stars,1385251200,"11 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A7N1JRLTA65IE,B0067AMY2O,Doc,"[0, 0]",Having read the other Jolie Wilkins books I picked up this Novella. I was surprised to find that rather than an expansion of the story line this was a retelling of a scene in the second book from Rand's perspective. It was interesting and a guess it gives you a better feelings for the dynamics of the story but it still felt like reading a flashback.Additionally it is really pretty short as there are previews and sample chapter from the next book included in the page count. Truthfully unless you are a Jolie Wilkins junkie you can safely skip this one and miss none of the story.I think this may have been written as a test of a concept as in the next book in the series you have a pretty involved flashback series and she has announced that book five in the series will be the last of the Jolie Wilkins books but the series will go forward with her sister as the main character.,4.0,Not What I Expected But Interesting,1387324800,"12 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1BJ8PXRZAIWQH,0553587978,Tom Perkins,"[5, 6]","Gabriel's Ghost is hard to classify. Is it a love story in an SF setting or an SF story including an unusually large amount of sweet romance. I found the SF aspects of the story almost negligible.Fast space ships. Clever men and women pilot them as easily as bumper-cars at a fair. A couple of alien races are dealt with so sketchily that I kept forgetting they were aliens at all. Their personalities are almost identical with humans. Several characters enjoy telepathic powers and discuss it at length although nothing is new to SF. The human civilization is sketchy, probably because it is hard to make plausible a galactic empire ruled by an emperor. The alien civilizations are ignored. The plot is not interesting. In short, aspects of the book that would appeal to me are dealt with skimpily.However the romance is plentiful and torrid. I mean genuine romantic love, not plain sex of which there is fortunately little. I am not fond of love stories but imagine the story would appeal very much to those who like that sort of thing.The book is very well written and the characters come to life with remarkably vivid personalities. I just wish it were SF.",3.0,Unusual Fiction,1231891200,"01 14, 2009",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3OH101U0CPUC7,0062073559,Joseph Boone,"[0, 0]","This was my first Hercule Poirot novel and I found it to be quite a good read. The characters were interesting and we definitely learn more about them and their motivations as the story unfolds. Relatively little is what it seems to be on the surface and it is up to the vacationing Poirot to untangle this complex web. The story moves along at a strong pace and is peppered with dialogue that remains witty and charming even after so many decades have passed since this book was written.Even though my suspicion about the solution to the crime proved to be true, there were more than enough details that I had not worked out that I was still very interested in the reveal at the end. Based on my enjoyment of ""Death on the Nile"" I have already purchased more novels starring the inimitable Poirot and am learning more and more why this character has endured for so long.",5.0,Classic Mystery,1180915200,"06 4, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A10GOEESYQEZQ0,0307292134,Ixiny,"[0, 0]","What an engrossing story! I blazed through these four 1,000 page books in record time, unable to put them down. The only minus is I discovered too late that the story is going to include seven volumes; to date only five have been published, with years between publishing dates. Had I known, I may have waited to dive into this story, that continues from book to book. Now I face years of waiting to find out how the story ends.",4.0,What a story!!,1312502400,"08 5, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3B3LMHKEF9YYV,0151002290,"Penelope Ocha ""readwrite""","[17, 18]","As a native Northwesterner, I am always suspicious about books written about this region. So many writers don't get it right, but five a quick gloss to Puget Sount, toss in a little Mt. Rainier and rhapsodize at entirely too much lengh about the San Juan Islands.But Guterson's got the sense of place just right. The book opens with an aging and terminally ill Seattle physician's decision to return to the scene of his youth and end his life.I found myself gasping with recognition in Guterson's account of the surprisingly long and difficult journey over Snoqualmie Pass to Eastern Washington. The landscape sings such a familiar song through Guterson's words.His protagonist initially displays the contained stoicism so typical of the region's Scandinavian-American residents. And like them, he rises to complex challenges, spilling forth his humanity at every turn. The protagonist's achingly difficult night on the Columbia plateau was so real that it was painful to read.The doctor has to be one of the best fictional characters I've encountered in a long time. In fact, he is so skillfully drawn that I find myself unable to decide whether Guterson's greater gift is for evoking character or landcape. In any case, this is defintely a five-star book.",5.0,Achingly Familiar Landscape and Character,1107734400,"02 7, 2005",17,18,helpful,0.9444444444444444,1 A3G9EBEBFGAFBR,1444712055,JohnOlsen,"[0, 0]","This series is second only to O'Brien, in my view. I really enjoy his plots, his writing, and his historical accuracy. Well done! I hope he writes many more in the Kydd series!",5.0,Stockwin just keeps getting better.,1389052800,"01 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BTHRXYAOMPGD,0316186619,"Ellen Valinotti ""isabellasmommy""","[4, 5]","We bought this diary for my 10 year old Monster High super fan. It's very cute, has a hardcover, and is perfectly geared towards tween Monster high fans. It's kept her busy for the past few weeks and looks really cute on the nightstand right next to Spectra Vondergeist.",4.0,A cute diary. Daughter likes it,1349740800,"10 9, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1O2I3BAX8FXZN,0316040932,Rainy Day,"[5, 5]","I'm not sure how to review this book. I bought it because I write novels, and now and then people die, and I was looking for something that would tell me what goes through the mind of the one who causes the death. A firm believer in the ""no such thing as a free lunch,"" I'm pretty sure that for most people, the taking of, or suspected taking of, another human's life is traumatic. I was looking for case studies. I found more useful information, for me, on reruns of M*A*S*H and NCIS.As a noncombat veteran of the Vietnam era, I had ample opportunity to talk to many GIs who had seen combat. Their stories, and the stories told to LTC Grossman differed, greatly. Perhaps because he was an Officer and I was Enlisted Swine? Perhaps because he spoke testosterone and I spoke estrogen? I don't know. But I do know that the stories I heard about the My Lai incident from men who were there were vastly different than the stories he recounted. Perhaps all the stories are true, and distance from the event shapes the memories into something more easily acceptable by both the witnesses and society.I truly do not understand how anyone with his advanced combat training never saw combat, but that has nothing to do with the book, other than I think it colors his overall reporting. He mentions, with justifiable pride, the courses he took, and survived, but then hastens to state he never saw combat. The Army spent a great deal of money training him for combat, why didn't they send him? Think how he could have helped those GIs if he could have related to them on a combat experience. Think of the good he could have done ""on site.""His research, if that's what it was, seemed to come from casual conversations with no formal questionnaires, and nothing that was peer reviewed or vetted. He talks about PTSD as if it was something the Vietnam Vet invented, when in fact it had been around for hundred, thousands, of years, but had was not formally named until the era of Vietnam.I certainly do not recommend the Kindle version, if you are a reader of footnotes. I found it very difficult to go from the text to the footnote and then back to the text. I am one who loves footnotes, but gave up. I read some of them when I got to the end, but by then they meant little.There is a psychological cost in learning to kill, and then in doing the actual killing. And I think distance, both physical and psychologically, plays a role in that cost. For an excellent description of that cost, and a great read, I suggest The Gate to Women's Country -by Sheri S. Tepper.",2.0,On Killing - Don't!,1390003200,"01 18, 2014",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3F7A3IDWJXPUM,B009OKRB3Q,missy,"[0, 0]","Excellent writing! Like reading a whole season of American Horror Story! Truly a ""can't put it down"" series! Highly recommended!",5.0,AWESOME!!,1381536000,"10 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14482T71JR6VU,0143059300,"Lizz A. Belle ""lizzabelle, English major nerd""","[26, 34]","I love Lilian Jackson Braun. She has created memorable characters and I will be devastated on the day she decides to retire. I would like to address a concern by ""Mystery Lover"" about the restaurant name change, it was changed a few books back when Liz Hart purchased the restaurant. It was addressed appropriately. Back to this book - it was very well written and very funny. However, Ms. Braun mentions Qwill's birthday celebration, and then the suggestion goes by the wayside. He gets a sweater, whoopee. Where's the celebration? I also think her removal of a major character in the book was appropriate, but I believe the character's parting (I will not spoil it!) should have been given much more fanfare. Where was the huge funeral that Pickax is so well known for?? All these subtilties were never discussed any further! While they were not crucial to the plot, obviously they were mentioned for a reason. However, I especially liked the whodunit part of this book because it was a change from Ms. Braun's traditional ways of killing her characters. The book was predictable, but great. I think she read her loyal cat lovers reviews of the last book and decided she needed to address all the pieces in this one. I say four stars, but the earlier books in the series with Koko's clever conveyances are superior to her newer mysteries.",4.0,"Fair superior to last book, but still oversights",1137110400,"01 13, 2006",26,34,helpful,0.7647058823529411,1 A3KN3HU37HWMHJ,1442359889,"Patricia Griffith ""Patricia G.""","[11, 16]","I am truly a die-hard Stephen King fan, but I can't recommend this book at all. Way too much on the side of gross and crude and way too little on the side of a good story. I usually get a tingle just reading King's prose, the way he phrases things, just the way he thinks is something I love, but there was none of that in this short story. It was just a major turn-off. I can't believe this story came from the brilliant mind that gave us 11/22/63. That being said, I did enjoy the Dr. Sleep excerpt at the end, and the excerpt from Joe Hill's next book (don't recall the name.)",3.0,Disappointed,1349740800,"10 9, 2012",11,16,helpful,0.6875,1 A3KDRTTOIKV3UL,0375423796,"Mona James ""Mona""","[29, 32]","It is amazing when one can read a book and feel as if one is living it. I almost wanted to be imprisoned in my house for 14 consecutive days to know how it feels to be living under curfew and military occupation. Just didn't want the mother in law to be part of this deal!The book very casually shows that Palestinians will never go away. They are here to stay no matter how many walls, checkpoints, raids, and dehumanizing Palestinians suffer under the Israeli military occupation and the world's deaf ear and blind eyes.So grow up Sharon, get a life, and make real peace.",5.0,A Must Read,1134432000,"12 13, 2005",29,32,helpful,0.90625,1 AG52AKPDRF9UR,1439189544,LindaL,"[21, 28]","A tale of a woman who had it all, lost it all..so she says..through out the book she writes of all the places she is traveling to and the ""fu fu"" resorts she has stayed at. I wish I were that ""broke"". You speaks of what a wonderful Mother she is..yet she claims to be a person with no home..traveling all around the world for charity...she travels to this day with an assistant...who is paying for all that???? I do not feel bad for her after reading this book...she got caught doing something under-handed and she wants us to believe that was she was taken in..tricked!Finding herself?? She DIDN'T loose her lavish lifestyle...",1.0,Really disappointing,1310428800,"07 12, 2011",21,28,helpful,0.75,1 A16REQ0ZAOKNSD,0615587003,Doris Ranke,"[4, 4]","I just finished reading Gus' new book and wanted to share some feedback. In one word: AWESOME!What I liked most about this book:Reading it is like listening to Gus. He writes just like he talks on XM/Sirius radio(#129, 8:00-11A.M.EST) This is so cool. So down-to-earth. So people-to-people oriented. So sincere.Everything Gus wrote is so applicable but I have to say the chapters on Approachability and Encouragement spoke most loudly to me. When he shares his own personal stories, it encourages me, proving his point about the best way to evangelize is by sharing your story.I really like having the book mark with the attributes listed on them. It served while reading this book and will serve as a reminder when reading other books.I really appreciated the questions for reflection at the end of each chapter. They hit home!Thanks, Gus, for writing such a meaningfull book! The Lord was truly with you in this writing. I pray for you and your ministry every day and I will add a request that this book be widely spread. I know that I am doing some advertising! This is definitely a book that I will re-read often. You are right up there with my favorite authors: Matthew Kelly, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, and of course, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen (these are in no special order of preference).",5.0,Awesom reading!,1330300800,"02 27, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2DSN56RQA699G,1603863419,Matt,"[25, 30]","I was going to write my review tomorrow, but I couldn't wait. This is absolutely the best book I have ever read. Thomas Paine absolutely destroyed the Bible. I challenge any Christian alive today who hasn't read this book to read it, I challenge you. The hardcore Christians, the fundamentalists, and those who take the Bible as the literal word of God, I dare you. When you're through reading this, you'll never pick up the Bible again, I promise you. Paine starts his book of by saying he believes in one God and no more. Just one, not a three in one special you get with Christianity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). He brilliantly and eloquently lays out all the hypocrisies, inaccuracies, and contradictions in the Old and New Testament. Paine says the word of God cannot be written in some book because it is pure. Man can take his word and twist it around however it suits him. I told a few people that if this one true God does exist, man has severely distorted his word. With 1,500 Christian faiths in the U.S. alone and 38,000 worldwide, and so many different religions, how can we say ANY of them are the true word of God. Different religions with different ""holy scriptures"" all claiming to be the true word of God. As Thomas Paine says, how can they all be right? My point exactly! This man thought 214 years ago how I think today.He says when someone gets a message directly from a higher power, it's a revelation. But when I turn around and tell you, it now becomes second hand information. And Paine doesn't do ""second-hand"" information, and neither do I. He lays out a brilliant example: when the apostle Thomas didn't believe Jesus had risen and people saw him, he said he had to see it for himself. He wasn't going to believe it simply because someone else told him. Thomas shows us right here why we should be skeptics of what others say, especially when it comes to religion.Paine shows how one book of the Bible says one thing, and yet another book says something else. Example: in the Gospel of Matthew, there are 28 generations between Jesus and King David. In Luke, there are 42. Well gee, since all of these men followed Jesus, wouldn't they agree? And when Jesus was crucified and the earthquake came, only Matthew mentions it. Why? Paine says that either the gospels were great liars, or that these men DID NOT author the books of the Bible. There are just too many contradictions to prove him wrong. The angel who was to tell of the ""holy conception"" came to Joseph in one Gospel, but to Mary in another. How can there be so many contradictions in a book that has been claimed to be inspired by God? This is why Paine said he does not believe the Bible is the true word of God. He also says that if one part of the Bible has contradictions, how can we trust any of it? And how can we simply discount other ""holy"" inspired books like the Koran, but believe in the Bible when it has soooooo many obvious contradictions? How can pastors preach this every Sunday? How can they tell their congregation of the earthquake in Matthew's account, but when they read from Luke, Mark, or John, not mention it? Don't the pastors even realize this?There is the assumption that Moses wrote the Torah, or the first five books the Bible. The children of Israel (having reached the promised land)ate a food called maana. Moses died before the children reached the promised land, even the Bible says this. How then did Moses write what the children ate when he was dead?So what does Thomas Paine do in this book? Simple. He points out the hypocrisies,inaccuracies,and contradictions of the ""holy"" Bible...................and doesn't even go outside of the Bible to do it! Do you know what would happen if pastors were to read this book and see all the hypocrisies of their Bible? What would they make of it?Even in Genesis, one chapter says the things around Adam came first and then Adam was made, but the next chapter says Adam was made first and THEN the things around him. If God inspired the Bible, wouldn't it be consistent from Genesis all the way to Revelations? One more thing: Paine points out that the word ""prophesy"" meant a poet or someone who played an instrument in those days, not someone who could tell the future. He points out how many so called ""prophets"" in the Old Testament ended up being wrong about their predictions. As time passed, the word prophet became synonymous with telling the future. So the church took it and ran with it.Thomas Paine was such a brilliant man. He's one example of why so many people incorrectly believe we are a Christian nation when we are not. Many of our Founders were like Paine, deists, not Christian.This is a must read for every man, woman, child, and if your pet can read, give it to them too.",5.0,"Thomas Paine destroys the Bible, he absolutely murdered it",1284076800,"09 10, 2010",25,30,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AGXAE0R4JYZBJ,0972817700,"John K. ""Kevin in Indiana""","[0, 0]",Christi Friesen never disappoints. With her colorful illustrations and easy to follow instructions she guides the crafter through the world of whimsical creations that will delight all who see them.,5.0,Under The Sea: The CF Polymer Clay Sculpture Series Book 3,1381536000,"10 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2CSC1Z9IPH4U3,0399522387,Rebecca Davis McClard,"[5, 7]","Not a bad book to begin with, but not something that is going to interest people above 'apprentice' level. The extensive bibliography has some good suggetions. Decent. I recommend it as a starting place for only for serious students. The only people I wouldn't recommend it to are those who confuse witchcraft (not a religion) for Wicca (a religion) (we don't want to offend those who want to white wash 'magic' and the occult).I recommend anything by R. Cavendish as a better read.",2.0,Not bad but...,1073952000,"01 13, 2004",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2DZG92GH55YV6,0070329672,"Paul Jansen ""Everything is human being.""","[5, 10]","Definitely coming from the New Sciences breakthrough achievements this book pleasantly takes us to our present 'inner world' and our future world in which this inner world will be expressed. This book builds a strong case for looking at ourselves, our 'now' and our future with the full spectrum of human components in view. And it provides us with interesting views on the translation of 'total human perspective' into society. Yes, this book may stimulate your ability to even capitalize on the 'Dream Society' in business terms. Jensen invites you to jump into his helicopter and take a ride with him to past, present and some possible futures. Join him, and broaden your view of, and your choice in, different 'parallel universes'.",4.0,The Past does not Equal The Future. Know Why!,965433600,"08 5, 2000",5,10,helpful,0.5,1 A16KGGZY2VZ9O5,0375508414,DarnHeather,"[0, 0]",Fannie Flagg is one of the best writers about the south and "Fried Green Tomatoes" is her best book. Everytime I read this book it is like coming home to the little cafe downtown and to the sound of the old trains that used to pass in the night. The characters are like old friends and the strength of spirit an inspiration. I would recomend this book to any woman who needs a good laugh and a good cry because this book will give you both.,5.0,Like coming home.,964396800,"07 24, 2000",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Q12G5ZFOPJ3P,0547746997,g,"[0, 0]","Enjoyed reading this book. Good book for reading group, since it inspires thinking about historical times. Love reading about strong women..",5.0,good read,1393372800,"02 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1M8PP7MLHNBQB,073562206X,"John Matlock ""Gunny""","[15, 17]","This book is intended for people writing data access code in a Microsoft .NET application. ADO (Active Data Object) .NET is a set of libraries within the Microsoft .NET framework that helps you to communicate with various data sources from .NET applications.The newest version of ADO.NET which comes with Visual Studio 2005 is the first major release that does not introduce a new object model. This implies that the fundamental technology is reaching a point of stability in spite of several problems that users are requesting such as better support for XML.Most of the illustrations in the book use the SQL Server Express Edition which is free, and redistributable. As such, it is helpful if you have at least a bit of knowledge about programming in SQL. The more work you can get done in SQL, the faster your application will run. I would recommend the purchase of an additional book on T-SQL, the specific version of the SQL language used with SQL Server. This book is more concerned with connecting to your database with a program that you might write.",5.0,Accessing a Database from the .NET Environment,1159488000,"09 29, 2006",15,17,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 A3W3Q2VMUUBVJE,0718178122,"Sharningu ""Sharni33""","[0, 0]","I rarely read stand-alone adult novels, but I kept seeing this one advertised and although I knew little about it I took a chance. Wow! As I read this book I couldn't help but constantly smile and giggle, something I never do whilst reading. I just kept thinking to myself, 'I love this book'! I fell in love with Don and whilst I didn't particularly like Rosie at first, I grew to appreciate her as well. The characters were phenomenal, the story was gorgeous, the writing was perfect. The only fault I can give this book is that it ended. This is the first time in my life of reading approximately 70 books a year, that I have immediately wanted to turn to the first page and start again. I believe I could do that and not be bored or even disappointed. Although I was completely absorbed into this wonderful story, surely there are a few tidbits I have missed? In a world where many of us are so busy and so bombarded with media and social stimulation, it was refreshing and therapeutic to see the world through the eyes of someone who, though very complex, could simplify, justify and very practically explain life. Being a part of Don's social evolution was such a privilege. I have read many incredibly great books in my life, but I have never been in love with a book before.",5.0,So in love with this book!,1394582400,"03 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PCMDQOUUNKQM,0141039280,"Julia ""Bookworm27""","[5, 13]","For me, this was a book that I could definitely put down and not pick it up till days later. I just couldn't get into it too much. The portrayal of the women of this time was right on target and the dialogue was good. The author produced a good debut but I was just not riveted enough to want to continue the story with it being too slow for me. I read someone else's review on here and it's very similar to the one I'm writing now. Maybe the next will be better...",3.0,Wonderful characters but too slow,1237593600,"03 21, 2009",5,13,helpful,0.38461538461538464,1 A1YNSVV1MI4604,1616265779,Ruth E. Bradley,"[0, 1]","Veil"" began in an interesting way, but then the plot slowed down a lot and acted as if a real love story was going to evolve. But now it is dragging along so much that I've moved on to a different book! The main characters didn't act or say things that even sound real, let alone logical.",3.0,Too hard to read!,1348185600,"09 21, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1ABSQWWSY830B,0446357405,"Michael Dickson ""To improve is to change. To ...","[22, 24]","OK, here's a book you'll like. I have just two complaints, and I'll get them out of the way quickly: 1. The sex scenes are hokey. And 2. At one point a horde of bats attack our heroine in a cave. Not likely. We don't need more bad publicity for our furry, little friends. Almost all of them mind their own business, and they are vital to the ecosystem. Even vampires sneak up on their sleeping victims. They do not attack en masse.But, I digress...our cast includes Catherine Alexander, a good, beautiful, naive woman; Noelle Page, a bad, beautiful woman, really dreadful; Bill Fraser, a great guy who deflowers young Catherine (but that's OK with her); Larry Douglas, a debonair flyboy with nary a scruple in his handsome head; and Constantin Demiris, a Greek billionaire with a definite taste for revenge! I'll say no more.Here's the deal: Catherine and Noelle are both born in 1919. Catherine, from Chicago, grows to young adulthood, somewhat naive.Noelle, from Marseille, France, grows to young adulthood somewhat naive too, but early on she falls in love with Douglas, who inadvertently twists her. He beds her and dumps her, and she never recovers. She turns into a cold-hearted Harpy...plotting revenge for years! Catherine, on the other hand, falls in love with an older man, Fraser, a stolid Washington bigwig, but she too later falls under the hypnotic spell of the devilishly passionate Douglas who, by the way, is an ace fighter pilot in WWII. How romantic for a tender, impressionable young woman! No wonder they can't resist: a fighter pilot with handsome, chiseled features and a devil-may-care attitude. A male fatale.OK, so we have parallel stories for a while. Caring Catherine and Fraser in Washington. Noxious Noelle, who becomes a famous actress with a string of influential lovers, in Europe. But remember this: Noelle is plotting revenge on Douglas, the cad. Noelle finally takes up with Demiris, and maneuvers Douglas into being hired as the Greek's personal pilot. At this point, the two stories move closer, ending in Greece, spiraling down a slippery slope of murder schemes, failed plots, romantic nights, successful plots, mountains in the clouds, rickety foot-bridges, bottomless volcanic lakes, terror in dark caves, hokey sex, stunning Mediterranean vistas...all that stuff.It's a well-crafted yarn, and it has a dilly of an ending. Certainly blindsided me. Probably will do the same for you, but maybe you're sharper than I am. It's possible.We have some good secondary characters, the best of whom is Colonel Mueller, a bald, albino, homosexual Gestapo officer. Unlike everybody else, he was not blinded by Noelle's charms. Of course not, he's gay. Did she escape his clutches? You'll just have to read the book and see. I recommend it to you. Trust me on this.",5.0,Both sides are snazzy,986169600,"04 2, 2001",22,24,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A3TE46LL5AXH30,0393316041,"Ramesh G ""RG""","[27, 52]","Years ago, while in college in Berkeley, Calif., one of my classmates told me that it was 'overwhelming place' and that everyone here 'has an act'. I agreed with the friend (who, by the way, had dropped a little too much acid for his own good), but what disappointed me about Feynman's NYT super best-seller that even a Nobel Laureate genius, near the end of his life, feels that he needs to have an act.Let me begin by saying that I share with perhaps most physicists, and science laymen, an unalloyed admiration for Richard Feynman's achievements - not only in physics discoveries but in being able to convey its excitement of the scientific method to perhaps a wider audience than anyone in modern history.However, With the notable exception of the last chapter 'Cargo Cult Science' this autobiographical ""Surely you're Joking, Mr. Feynman"" is NOT about physics, or teaching it. - It is about how cool Feynman thought he was as a personality and celebrity.And I didnt get it when I read first read this in 1987, and still dont.The early chapters are all about what an irrepressible rebel he was, always questioning authority. This is silly - his pranks and are nothing too extraordinary for a young man his age - and all the more ordinary considering he was well aware how smart & naturally talented he was, knowing all along he could get away with it.He wasnt going to get burned at the stake for saying that the Earth goes round the Sun, or that Man was descended from monkeys.Why exactly does he think that merely taking Astronomy to beat a humanities course requirement in college, or telling Princeton professor's wife that he will have 'both' in his tea are remarkable acts of a free spirit to be recorded for posterity ?!He picked a few locks, and asked some strippers if they would sleep with him - and for this he seems to have earned the eternal admiration of folks who dont even follow his physics!I am not saying that (mostly male) physics grad students cant admire the (apparent) narrative of a man who can get to the point quickly with pretty women, or appear to tell it like it is to the powerful people but Why do people think that someone who is good at science is somehow suddenly qualified to make public comments on society in general?Folks like Feynman (not unlike Watson's 'Double helix') do a disservice by making it all seem easy and just a rollicking adventure. Feynman, who wrote this while in his 60s, still shows little maturity or circumspection on his life and pretends to remain the adolescent through much of the book - it all came easily to him because of his rebellious personality, beat of a different drum, dont care do you care what other people think etc.. Really?I am perhaps most disappointed that Feynman (unlike Einstein) is no (a Jewish/Yiddish phrase) 'mensch' - he pretends that physical reality (and personal gratification) exists outside of human society and its well-known problems. [This tone-deaf world-view seems also to have been with J. R. Oppenheimer who was eager to use public resources build the atomic bomb in the Manhattan project, fulfilling a need for personal achievement, but then after it had killed 200,000 people as expected, lectured President Truman about his guilt on 'having blood on his hands' Truman, furious, never wanted to see that sonof*****h again'.]Here is crude stereotype: Why do so many prominent American Jews at the same time seek to upbraid but seek approval or acknowledgement from the (then dominant American culture (aka the 'white Anglo-Saxon Protestant'). Much of Feynman's story, as he tells it, seems to me trying to prove that Jews know how to have fun too. This is seems idiotic, and is disservice to the manifest creative and intellectual achievements of their heritage. Besides, he wasnt supposed to 'care what others think'.The problem for the 99.999% of humanity that is not naturally talented genius is that they, like it or not, do need to care what other people think, simply to make through life and a career.And how to do this, Feynman's look-at-me stories offer no clue.",1.0,Skip to the last chapter 'Cargo Cult Science',1319068800,"10 20, 2011",27,52,helpful,0.5192307692307693,1 A2T43OUDK25N4E,1578564344,Pamela Fredelake,"[0, 1]",Haven't read it yet. Look forward to reading soon.Thanks. ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** * * * ** * *,4.0,When He doesn't believe,1365724800,"04 12, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3GLE1ITJ6Y85K,0671577727,Diana,"[0, 0]",I stumbled onto David Weber's Honor Harrington series by complete accident while reading the Off Topic section of a car forum! The first two volumes were on a special free offer and I downloaded them on a chance.I have just finished the first book and can't wait to read the entire series!!The best comparison that I can come up with is a cross between Heinlein and Hornblower!!!,5.0,A new author to me,1361318400,"02 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NA23F4XF8VUD,0061199001,Mrs. O,"[11, 11]",Finally this great collection in Spanish. We have the audio theater of all 7 books in English and its spectacular. I wanted to have a simple book written for a child in Spanish to share with others. This book wonderfully portrays the same story as the English version does. My only disappointment is that in translating they made up some words and also misspelled some things in Spanish (mistakes are few). All in all this book is great for adults and children. Powerful message too!,5.0,Fantastic,1187827200,"08 23, 2007",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 AT9YSY20RJUDX,0761519688,"M. A. ZAIDI ""Ali Zaidi""","[11, 21]","Contrary:His book, Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America, was sort of a quickie meant to exploit the huge interest in the Saudi-born Islamist at the time. It may have sold well but scholars meticulous about facts and those knowledgeable regarding bin Laden quickly detected mistakes in the book and pointed them out. One such scholar is Peter L Bergen, an American journalist who had interviewed bin Laden near Jalalabad in 1997 as member of a CNN crew.In his authoritative book, Holy War Inc: Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden, Bergen wrote how Bodansky misinformed readers while describing bin Laden. ""Bodansky describes the teenage bin Laden visiting Beirut to drink, womanize and get involved in bar brawls. Those who know bin Laden, however, describe him as a deeply religious teenager who married at the age of seventeen. Perhaps Bodansky confused Osama with one of his twenty or so half-brothers."" Another Bodansky blunder is narrated in the following words by Bergen: ""Bodansky also writes that in 1994 bin Laden traveled to London, where he 'settled' in the London suburb of Wembley, a notion that Arab dissidents and journalists living in London find amusing."" All accounts of bin Laden's life to date missed out on this vital piece of information and it was left to Bodansky to report, while failing to provide any evidence that the alleged terrorist mastermind had once settled in London.That is not all. Bergen highlighted another example in his book to show that Bodansky never really cared about checking his facts. Over to Bergen again: ""Bodansky makes another fantastic assertion: that the 1996 crash of TWA flight 800 in Long Island Sound, which killed 230 people, was a joint operation between Iran and bin Laden. However, an exhaustive two-year investigation by the National Transport Safety Board and the FBI ruled out terrorism in the TWA 800 crash."" Mercifully, the investigation was carried out by the National Transport Safety Board and the FBI and not by someone like Bodansky, otherwise the US would now be raining bombs and rockets on Iran.The above examples, pinpointed by a respected American author, about Bodansky's shortcomings as a scholar have damaged his reputation. Few, if any, would believe his latest disclosures about bin Laden keeping in view his lack of credibility. For Bodansky to make such claims when the world's only superpower doesn't know bin Laden's whereabouts is ridiculous. It also shows Bodansky's anti-Pakistan bias. It would be naive on the part of any scholar of standing to believe that the ISI would shelter bin Laden when the government of President General Pervez Musharraf is going out of the way to cooperate with the US in hunting down remnants of the al-Qaeda and Taliban. Lt Gen Ehsanul Haq, a trusted lieutenant of General Musharraf, commands the ISI and to think that it would disobey the Army chief's orders is absurd. The ISI in the past may have been more loyal to the Army chief than the civilian prime minister but it is now an altogether different situation. The armed forces are fully entrenched in power and the ISI is just an extension of the military government. There cannot be any dichotomy in the policies of President General Musharraf and the ISI chief because they are one and the same.Beside, it must kept in mind that bin Laden has always been very critical of the Musharraf government owing to its close ties with the US and it would be suicidal for him to trust Islamabad. In fact, bin Laden in an interview with the writer in 1998 bitterly asked why successive governments in Pakistan trusted America instead of God Almighty. Bodansky's claim that bin Laden was being protected by the ISI debunks the commonly held belief that there have never been intimate ties between him and recent Pakistani governments.Pakistan as a forefront nation:The delay in getting bin Laden is beginning to unnerve the US authorities and President George W Bush, who earlier accused the Saudi-born Islamic militant of being the sponsor of acts of terrorism worldwide, is now saying that the war on terror isn't about an individual. The failure of the American troops in killing or capturing bin Laden in Afghanistan despite being fully in control of that country is prompting Washington to pass on the buck to Pakistan. In fact, search operations for al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives in Pakistan are proving less costly, easier and successful compared to those in Afghanistan due to the fact that Pakistani soldiers and militiamen rather than the Americans are in the forefront of the campaign and are taking losses. In Afghanistan, the US is spending much more by paying off the ill-disciplined Afghan fighters and also exposing its soldiers to risks while hunting down al-Qaeda and Taliban members. The Pakistanis are doing the job rather cheaply and then there is no real risk to the Americans who stay in the background and provide technical know-how and intelligence on the wanted men and their likely hideouts in Pakistan. It also pays to get scholars such as Bodansky to put more pressure on Islamabad by authoritatively speculating that bin Laden was being protected by the ISI and was.Pakistan has taken a great risk of allying itself with the U.S in their war on terrorism. The fact of the matter is that the Pakistan military and not the American forces undertook all key arrests of al-Qaeeda. We have lost considerable number of forces; as well as attacks on foreigners in Pakistan by disgruntled Al-Qaeeda forces. It is quite disheartening to read a text as this and find such unappreciation.Conclusion:I respectfully state Mr. Yossef Bodansky that your assertions are incorrect and untrue. You do not provide facts and proof to support your assertions.",1.0,On the Contrary,1028764800,"08 8, 2002",11,21,helpful,0.5238095238095238,1 A10T0OW97SFBB,0871316579,Jesse Rouse,"[15, 17]","John Robinson does a very good job in complining information about the Templar and presenting it in an interesting and readable fashion. I thoroughly enjoyed reading more about the Templar (and Robinson does include many details not found in the other Templar books I have read, contrary to those reviewers who claim it is all old material).What I liked best about this book was its emphasis on context. Robinson does not just give an account of the Templar's doings; he provides an account of all the things which are happening around the Templars as well, which is essential for understanding the Templar.I also liked Robinson's clear writing style. Some history book get you bogged down with dates and names, but Robinson does an excellent job of tying them together and helping you remember them so that events further into the book will make much more sense.There are also two complaints I have about this book:1. There are a number of small, careless mistakes which really should not have been there (i.e. slightly misquoting people, slightly incorrect dates, etc.) and which are rather annoying. As far as I can tell, none of his information is majorly wrong; he just does things like writing that events happened several weeks after another event when it was actually many months, so I guess it's not really a big deal.2. He seemed rather biased against the Catholic Church. I myself am not Catholic, but even I do not think some of the things that they did were quite as bad as Robinson makes them out to be. For example, his comments to the effect that the charges of homosexuality against the Knights were very probably true because they had vows of chastity are simply underestimating the effect of religion upon people's lives and are just plain stupid. If the Templars couldn't take being chaste anymore, it is not very likely that they would choose to become homosexuals violating the ordinances of the Church rather than simply violating the laws of the Templar.In conclusion, this was a very good book, but I think that there are better books on the subject out there. I would recommend Stephen Howarth's The Knights Templar. His book is slightly shorter (and thus has a little less detail), but it is also more accurate and is much more fun to read.Overall grade: B+",4.0,"Good book, but there are better ones out there",1141430400,"03 4, 2006",15,17,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 A1RY5U9KI2P2M,1590525477,"O. Emokpae ""iyasostuff""","[0, 0]","There have been quite a few books recently about finding your passion, and learning to do what you love, but there are not too many that have a God-focused perspective. This Book* talks about finding your passion, not only so you can find fulfillment because following your passion will also help you to accomplish your purpose in this life.You have been put on this earth for a reason. Isn't it time you started accomplishing your purpose? Chazown (pronounced Khaw-Zone) will help you and guide you in this journey.*Waterbrook Multnomah provided a free copy to review",4.0,Chazown your life,1306022400,"05 22, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3MTDNQ3Z3UT3P,158542465X,Robin Collins,"[0, 0]","My husband and i are foster parents and this was a required reading book for us, however Kathy's book was truly a joy to read, gave me some in site into our future as well as some coping techniques and POV that i hadn't previously considered.",5.0,Love this Author,1356998400,"01 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5MPCIHRT4LSB,007147871X,Tentarelli,"[7, 11]","An excellent book. I was testing and developing my own mechanical trading system when I came across this book. On my third read now and can honestly say I am a better trader because of it.Teaches many lessons about system development, expectancy, position sizing, and risk management.If the only thing your learn from this book is proper position sizing, you will be a much better trader.Highly recommended for serious traders.",5.0,Will Make You a Better Trader,1309651200,"07 3, 2011",7,11,helpful,0.6363636363636364,1 A2501JI3LYVT5V,0307739368,RJS,"[0, 0]","This, the sixth installment in the 44 Scotland Street series continues the saga of Bertie, Matthew, Angus, Cyril, Dominica, Big Lou, and all of the other characters we've come to love. Some surprising developments make you anxious to move on to the next installment, and you'd have to be a cold-hearted misanthrope not to feel sympathy for Bertie's plight. There's a flash of life from his father in this volume, so hope continues that our little gentleman will finally get to be just another six, or is is seven, year old. Great reading, and as I've said before, this is a character-driven series, the plot just provides a link between the characters. I should also add, for dog lovers, that McCall Smith is one of the great writers when it comes to dogs; he understands them, he understands how they think, and he clearly loves them.",5.0,"Love, Life, and Bertie",1356566400,"12 27, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZGR04VUP7ZOE,3833154802,Helen Gallagher,"[4, 4]","Without witnessing spiritual places and sacred grounds we can't truly embrace the mystery, history, and often divine experiences that occur in such sacred places. We may find rest amid art in a museum but a sacred space yields much more; the sense of strength that comes from contemplating spiritual experiences.""1000 Sacred Places,"" by Christopher Engels, explores and explains over 1000 spiritual places, large and small, around the world. The book is organized by geography, and includes features and history of each site. I enjoy the mix of small shrines, ancient mysterious ruins and majestic cathedrals throughout the book. From the beginning entries on Iceland's gothic arches to Norway's Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim and rock carvings of Altafjord and, you know you're in for an educational and sensual journey. Over 5,000 mysterious engravings decorate the rocks around Altafjord, somewhere between land and sea, created millennia ago in this hidden fjord.The book pages are color-coded by continent, giving you a sense of the lifetime it would take to explore sacred sites included in the 400 pages covering Europe and over 150 pages of exquisite Asian treasures.Yet North America has its own, much smaller section with treasures you may have never heard of. Like the rocky chain of foothills resembling a reclining man at the US/Canada border across Lake Superior. Ojibwa legend believes this sleeping giant is the Great Spirit, whose daughter is the daughter of the moon, kidnapped by the west wind.Sections between chapters are enhanced by Engel's essays on sacred nature, mythology, culture and pilgrimage. One remarkable example of these surprising essays is author's notes on Australian aborigines who recognize two eras; the present and Dreamtime, the era of earth's creation. Places involved in the Dreaming are sources of great spiritual power, and aborigines believe that the soul of the individual and the landscape are inseparably bound up together, and severing the connection means ending life.At the end of ""1000 Sacred Places,"" the author includes an brief explanation of various religions, along with a glossary from Agora to Ziggurat and covers important concepts from art history, architecture, theology and religion.This full-color 950-page book represents great value for the travel industry pro, art historian, and people like me, a wistful armchair traveler.Helen GallagherRelease Your Writing: Book Publishing, Your Way",5.0,A rich collection of sacred and spiritual places to enhance your world.,1295308800,"01 18, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1XMFCMIANCQRW,B00L4OV9CO,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Another amazing book by Nicole about this MC. WOW. Blaze is so hot and Saffron is so different from all the women has he dealt with in the past. She is trying to take care of her home bound mother since her older brother took off and the only thing she has left is the strip club. She is beat up pretty bad and Blaze takes care of her. She is thinking she was really knocked silly due to her attraction to Blaze, but he feels it too. He warns her to stay away as it is going to get bad and it is so true. When her brother does come back, it only gets worse in a hurry and she can only trust Blaze to help her. The growing attraction is more than the two can contain, but they try to fight it, but it is really no use. Saffron looses her mother, will she loose the man she loves or her brother or her life over all this?It is a wonderful book and I love these characters. I love Tank and how he is really just the big hard headed idiot, but underneath, he isn't so much. He is really a caring man who is very loyal to everyone around him.",5.0,Blaze is smoking!!,1403222400,"06 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2IOLKYO3Z0FTG,0988720000,"SusieQ ""Carwalker""","[7, 8]",This book started out slow but quickly got pass this and went on to frustrate me. The frustrationkept me reading as I wanted to see how the problem was solved. Darcy and Elizabeth was the coupleyou wanted to read about. I love when their love has to be discovered. I never thought of chickensas being romantic.,5.0,Keeping My Promise,1375488000,"08 3, 2013",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A1CS5CJHE2S0P2,0399159266,Robert R Snowden,"[9, 12]","I liked this book, fast paced and full of action, just like a good movie. Sure some of it's a bit implausable but I still enjoyed this ""typical"" Cussler novel, and it moved along at a good ""clip""; hard to put down actually!. I do, however, get concerned about good authors like Cussler using ghost writers, as I've seen other good authors use terrible ones (e.g. Patterson comes to mind) but at least Cussler's so far have been quite good so that seems to indicate that Cussler, at least, pays a lot of attention to the way his book is written and the quality of his sidekick's work! In addition, Cussler is bringing his son into the writing of his novels so hopefully he can keep his father's tradition of good rip-roaring novels going! I contrast this to James Patterson's work with ghost writers which is deplorable and most of his ""secondary"" novels are garbage; just read the reviews on his latest book/debacle ""Zoo"" which proves this! It seems to me that he is just out to grab as much bucks as he can and to heck with quality! In addition, he has also started splitting novels over at least 2 books as he did with Michael Bennetts's (a great series) last novel, another sign of his greed. He should stick to his tried and true ""bread and butter"" novels like Alex Cross and Bennett series and stop ripping off readers of his books or he will loose them faster than he can write his McDonald's ""fast food"" novels. Thank goodness for Cussler and other writers like Preston and Child who put mostly good quality and plots before quantity!",5.0,"A good movie, Er! Book",1347062400,"09 8, 2012",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A2AC2VCBO4DNTN,0451237692,gadget lover,"[7, 16]","I've been reading the Lynley novels for years, and most of them I've read more than once.I always love them, but some I love more than others.One of the things I love most about George's work is the intense character development both of the transient characters that make up each particular novel, and the regular cast of characters that belong in the whole series. In this book, that strengh was in full force. Believing the Lie offered a deeper engagement with the emotional lives of Thomas Lynley, Deborah and Simon St. James and Barbara Havers, putting them in situations that required them to face some of their demons and undergo a real evolution of character.Without revealing too much, I will say that the plot of this book was quite different from that of many of the George's other books, but despite this difference, in addition to delving deeper into the lives of her regular characters, she still managed to put forward an exciting cast of new characters and develop them in depth.All in all, it was a riveting, emotional, exciting read. Everything I've come to expect!",5.0,One of the best Lynleys in a while,1326672000,"01 16, 2012",7,16,helpful,0.4375,1 A1DYXZ3HDTUC2M,0981875637,A. Miller,"[8, 8]","As a first-time author, I have devoured this book by J. Steve Miller! All authors, whether first time or seasoned, self-published or traditionally published, will benefit greatly from this guide to marketing your book. Mr. Miller has left nothing out; he starts at the beginning with a brief history of publishing, describing the recent revolution in publishing and how it affects authors.In a clear, easy-to-understand, and friendly tone, Miller talks about everything you want to know about marketing your book, beginning with the title selection and book design. He discusses marketing before the book comes out and then marketing for the life of the book, which can be a very long time (fortunately for us author/marketers).The best things about this book:1. It is complete. Miller stresses that authors cannot do everything in the book, but he helps authors decide what is best for them, considering the book and the author's personality. Love the options!2. Miller gives tons of links throughout the book. Love the links!!!3. Miller has been through this and gives personal experiences as well as the advice of other experts. Love the inspiration of others!Yes, there are other books on book promotion, but I find Sell Your Books to be the most complete and easy to use. Authors: This book will help you immensely!",5.0,Every Author Needs This Book!,1315785600,"09 12, 2011",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 AL9GZX44NVZH8,044657161X,Laurie,"[4, 6]","When Maddie Moore loses her production company job in L.A., she decides to follow up on the invite to the Washington coast resort inn she has inherited with her two step-sisters. Maddie, who was raised by her father, wasn't especially close to her late mother and her sisters are more or less strangers to her. Her efforts at a new beginning get off to a rough start when she nearly runs over a fabulous looking biker on her way into town. She makes sure he's okay and then tries not to pay him much mind because although he is gorgeous with a capital ""G"" she has sworn off men. Seriously. No. More. Men.Maddie and her sisters couldn't possibly be more different from one another if they tried. Each had a different father and were raised by those fathers, while their mother sowed her oats and lived free. The inn Maddie and her sisters, Tara and Chloe, have inherited is a little on the rough side, needing major repairs and even more major tender loving care, no easy task when they are all seriously light in the wallet. Maddie wants to connect with her now gone mother, and is desperate to make Lucky Harbor her home. She hopes with all her heart that she can convince her sisters to work with her to give running the inn a try but they're both proving to be a hard sell.Jackson ""Jax"" Cullen, Maddie's near miss on the motorcycle, is intrigued by Maddie and wants to get to know her, charmed by her insistence that she's not interested in a relationship. Charmed isn't exactly the world that comes to his mind at the sparks that fly when they're together. When Jax discovers the secret behind Maddie's escape from her previous relationship, and considers the secret that he has neglected to tell her, he knows he's treading seriously rough water. He's hopeful he can change her mind into giving them a chance but fears that both of their hearts may end up broken.I've told Jill at least twice that I seriously think readers will fall in love with her ""Simply"" series and the charm of the characters and the town. Lucky Harbor is one of those places where everyone knows you (and your business) and will do anything to help you out. Maddie puts heart and soul into everything she does and that is just one of the things about her that Jax finds irresistible. While Maddie is reluctant to enter into a relationship with Jax, his good-natured charm and kind, easygoing spirit are contagious. If only both weren't holding onto secrets from their past that threaten their future.I highly recommend SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE to anyone who loved Jill's previous books and to anyone who is looking for a new romance author!",5.0,"Sweet, Heat, Romance - this book has it all!",1285632000,"09 28, 2010",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1D0UBATVG8SGL,B00F3CWTF4,"Jane- Happy Camper ""HAPPY CAMPER""","[5, 5]","I love Sandra Marton's Books..I've read many of her newest releases and love them..and it's no different for this Classic Set.. I love reading books of all genre and especially Romance.. they a tad bit different than her newest releases..because they were written at an earlier time..As time progresses so do writing styles..and her has grown with time..But the Classics are Classy, Well Written and Have the Perfect Amount of Romance!! This set is about the ""Bad Boys"" and The Women who loose their hearts to them. Book One has a handsome cowboy and a simple girl from Ohio (at least that's what she thinks she is)meeting on a plane.He turns out to be the pilot that's going to fly her to job at the Eagle Lake Lodge..and she's a lady who hates to fly..I love the tit for tat conversation and more...then comes the plane crash..and you'll have to read it to see what happens next..Intimate StrangersBook Two ..Set in New Orleans..the daughter of a man who died and running from a Mobster.She ""Runs"" into a man looking for her who thought she was nothing but bad..she's on the run for her life and doesn't know who to trust..Is he the killer or her savior.. She started life anew after her fathers death all alone in a new town with a new job..She vulnerable but tough..will he see the real woman behind the description he has in his mind... you got to read this..touch of mystery ..lost of love...Night FiresBook Three..the Jewel thief who stole Sara's Heart and thinks she turned him in..The Thief of Hearts..he stole their jewels and their hearts Now he's reformed and he's out for revenge ..at Sara the Chief of Police's secretary..will they kiss and make up or will he break her heart too...Fly Like an EagleBook Four..A beautiful girl returns to her war torn homeland after growing up in the US..The rebels are getting closer and more dangerous when her father decides she needs to leave..as a married woman to a man she's only just met..will she learn to care for him and will he for her..he's her only way to leave the country..and can she say yes...will she make the ""Deal With The Devil""Book Four..A New Actress and the Bad Boy Guitar Player..sparks fly..but not the type to get them together in the beginning..they both dislike each other..till the kiss he gave her to punish her for insulting him..and then her agent drags her to a concern..who's the Guitar Player..and when he starts to sing..wow..she feels it..does he...LovescenesThanks Sandra for this great Box Set..I Loved every minute reading them..CLASSIC..SEXY..MYSTERY..ROMANCE ALL IN ONE!!!Sandra's Classics - The Bad Boys of Romance - Boxed Set",5.0,Wonderful set of Books..well worth the Time and Money!!,1379980800,"09 24, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1CQJZ1ZBWI0JP,1567692117,PianoGuyFromSC,"[6, 9]","Christians looking for an accessible ""character-based"" history of the faith from the post-Apostolic days through Calvin will benefit from this book. Lawson examines the writings of dozens of famous and obscure theologians to look for seeds of the ""doctrines of grace"" - which most of us would call the ""five points of Calvinism."" Each chapter can be read in a short sitting and provides study questions as well as a thorough bibliography.Because Lawson uses the same template for each author, there is a feeling of repetitiveness (but not as much as in the first volume in the series). He also feels obliged to give a sort of ""sermon ending"" to each chapter, which seems forced in many instances.As you look over the list of authors in the table of contents, you may think, ""Wow, I didn't know old so-and-so was a Calvinist."" The problem is that in many cases, they weren't, and Lawson is honest enough to admit as much. He pecks through the chaff to find random kernels of truth that support his hypothesis. (Or he quotes other modern writers who have managed to wrest the correct doctrine from the ancient writings.) Lawson also chooses to ignore facts which might trouble Reformed churchgoers, such as Bernard of Clairvaux's devotion to the Virgin Mary.All in all, I benefitted from this review of the great thinkers of early Church history, but be aware that a lot of selective proof-texting is involved. I have read the first two books in the series; I doubt I will go beyond volume three, if I even make it that far.",3.0,"Repetitive, but useful history of ""Calvinist"" doctrine",1305504000,"05 16, 2011",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1PW5SQLR0Z6IH,1599986434,"Natalie S ""ns65""","[22, 24]","The victim of domestic abuse growing up, Jana learned the hard way to depend on and trust no one. Breaking free years ago, Jana has decided to move back home with the help and encouragement of her best friend, Lisa, the only person Jana has ever relied on in the past. However, Jana's trust will be tested more than once, especially where Nicolas Marchetti, Lisa's Dom and Jana's secret high school crush, is concerned. Overwhelmingly attracted to Nicolas, Jana is horrified by her renewed fascination; that is, until Lisa convinces her otherwise. Still wary of betraying the closest and most cherished friend she has ever had, Jana fights her desire for Nicolas. Fate doesn't seem to care because the more Jana fights, the harder she falls.Nicolas doesn't know or understand why Lisa is so adamant that he like her friend Jana. That is, until he sees her and experiences complete arousal just by breathing the same air as she. He and Lisa have the perfect D/s relationship - no commitment and great sex - but with Jana's arrival, Nicolas finds himself enraptured. It isn't until weeks later that Nicolas realizes what has been going on right under his nose.Sitting down to read LISA'S GIFT by Mackenzie McKade, I knew that I was in for a good story. I had no idea the plethora of emotions this book would wring from me. Elation, sadness and ultimately joy - LISA'S GIFT pretty much took me full circle. I loved being a witness to Jana's blossoming and tutorage under Nicolas and Lisa. An unwitting hero, Nicolas was the epitome of manhood; good looking, forceful and respectful. His ability to love and care for Jana, as well as Lisa, increased my curiosity about this sort of lifestyle. Nicolas' true love for Jana came through and I sat in wonder watching in satisfaction from the sidelines.While LISA'S GIFT does have some female sexual interaction, I can not imagine it being portrayed any other way. Beautifully characterized and skillfully written, this story put me in awe of Mackenzie McKade's ability as an author. Ms. McKade never fails to captivate me with her storylines, her characters, and her capacity to make me feel emotions as if I was part of the story. This is one book that I am going to read over and over.",5.0,Lisa's Gift earns 5 Blue Ribbons at Romance Junkies!,1184630400,"07 17, 2007",22,24,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A3DANGFIJBZP20,B00KE0BK5U,Mary Jo Toth,"[0, 0]","Crazy ride, completely unexpected … Harbour is that smart girl but she lets a guy make her feel less than she is … she finally sees the light and breaks off a 4 year relationship but this has it's challenges because Derek likes their relationship – the power, free rent/food, etc. Harbour gets a job transfer to New York and jumps at it – a fresh start in a new city is just what she needs. On New Year's Eve at the company masquerade ball she meets a gentleman and they have a great night but no names (well she gives him Cindy as a name) or faces are revealed. A few months later she bumps into him in the elevator … Harbour's speak first, think second gets her into a little trouble only to find out later that he is her boss. Lincoln Whitmore is the new CEO of the company and he too is struggling with his personal life. The woman he proposed to broke off the engagement but there is one woman he can't forget, Cindy from the Masquerade Ball. The chemistry and connection is strong between Harbour and Lincoln and it seems they have both found their HEA until ex-fiances resurface. I was up, down and twisted all up at times but loved every minute of Harbour and Lincoln's journey.",5.0,"Crazy ride, completely unexpected",1401408000,"05 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BDVV6MKVQ622,1410455106,Jill R. Canzoneri,"[0, 0]","It is one of those easy summer reads. I read a lot of her books, always enjoyable. I always pass these books on to my girlfriends.",4.0,Love this writer.,1370822400,"06 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1L2GHW0GMZL90,B00BX5FMW2,PicMama3,"[0, 0]","This was a book that took you on a magical journey into another world within our own. There were some slower parts but they were there to help you understand the different races, rules and magical abilities. It was a fun read with plenty of adventure. With some romantic and familial relationships thrown in it kept me entertained the whole book through. Excited to see what comes in book two.*I received this book in exchange for an honest review*",4.0,Magical,1382486400,"10 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RJEQYYO5XM1,B00CG8FUS6,sharlene,"[0, 0]","An interesting main character that of Dr Kaine an eye doctor. The short chapters enable a quick flow through events. But the start really doesn’t give anything away of what it to come.An interesting and distinctly vile twist to the story. I did wonder where this was heading, but it showed how deprived some men can be. All to think that some sort of substance – amino acids, can be an elixir.The author clearly creates an image of the deprived and poor country of Africa – Moslok. The African president of this small country desperately needs surgery for his eye, while he lives in luxury his country lives in squalor.While the doctor encounters a delicacy like no other, a food that whets his appetite for more.The story heading into dangerous and scary territory. Certainly unique in nature. This book is something I’ve never read before. Slightly nauseating at times, but strangely captivating. The other plot of an outbreak causing massive deterioration in the eyes. It is very hard to fully comprehend all of it. But it is fascinating, and terrifying.An interesting twist to the novel, the good doctor driven crazy because of his obsession with getting human eyes. When one is so obsessed and fixated on something how far would one go to get what they want? Too far? Far enough that once he has done it he cannot go back.As the plot evolved, the FBI gets involved with the case of the serial killer who removes the victim’s eyes and replaces them with glass eyes. A fascinating and appalling insight to how one becomes a serial killer.As the FBI and CIA start to close in, they have to choose what is most important. To catch a killer, or to catch someone that may treat an international epidemic. Sacrifice some for the good of many?The interesting aspect of the main character both creating the antivirus and going on a rampage. The astounding lengths one would go to get what they want. A fascinating perspective through the eyes of a psychopath, and how he became that way.Revenge, attacking society. It began with a mere obsession, turning to murder, then finally to terrible and sadistic torture.The terrible, obsessive and psychotic reality of a man plagued with a terrible disorder. A genius in some ways. How the author wrote the book was really fascinating. Unbelievable at times, but quite intoxicating.3 out of 5 stars.",4.0,An intoxicating and disgustingly delightful read.,1384905600,"11 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ACLZYWNSLSPLM,0007173520,Carole emmett,"[0, 0]","Sun at Midnight was Fantastically descriptive, thought I was there whilst reading the description of the scientist work was amazing",5.0,Gorgeous reading,1354838400,"12 7, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PB97BLMR9X2S,1620612275,"L. Jenkins ""Laurie-J""","[5, 5]","This novella was a fast, fun read for me. It starts off strong and keeps getting better. I loved the action scenes and the dialogues with the secondary characters. This crew truly shines as far as I am concerned, each had distinctive personalities and quirks, and I couldn't help but love them - Tannis and Daisy, especially. Skylar, also, (a devious, conniving, kick-ass liar) is remarkably easy to like and empathize with. I would have preferred her to have given Rico more of a chase before bedding down with him.As much as I wanted to connect with Rico, he always felt a little bit distant or arrogant to me. Tannis, despite her somewhat scaly skin, my favorite character, could usually manage to bring his highfalutin majesty down a peg or two, and I loved and admired her for that innate ability. Rico certainly chose wisely when he made her captain of his vessel.This story is a wonderfully unique blend of science fiction, fantasy, adventure, and romance. There were heaping doses of humor scattered throughout. This levity helped keep the tone from becoming too dark; it was well-conceived and unequivocally added to my overall enjoyment. The sexual tension between Skylar and Rico needed a little more oomph or pizzazz, but the story fluidity and conversations made this an uncommonly good adventure tale.Reviewed by Laurie-J",4.0,Sci-fi Adventure Romance,1311206400,"07 21, 2011",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A30TUN35ZE3NEU,1594863083,Enamelation !,"[9, 9]","I like the fact that it's just about vegetables and doesn't go into turf or roses. There's just about every veg you can think of in here. Some of them are covered in great detail.However, Rodale, like so many gardening authors are located ""up north"". I'm in Florida. I wish They had written exactly this book for the Southern gardener. A goodly amount of space is taken with problems specific to northern climes.Still, there's a lot of stuff in here to know and being arranged the way it is, one stands a fine chance of getting right to what you need to know when you need to know it.I'd like to have seen more information on the virtues of various soil additions. For instance, I know that cottonseed meal is about 7-1-1 and as it breaks down it acidifies the soil. I love the stuff. If I had not learned that elsewhere but knew that my soil was bursting with P & K, a little low on nitrogen and rather to alkaline --- this book would not have told me.Over all well done.",4.0,yes --- but...,1261180800,"12 19, 2009",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A33P6MJXJGRAOJ,1484994566,"K. M. Spear ""Cubbies Girl""","[5, 5]","I was lucky enough to win a signed copy from the author - and WOW. This book sucked me in, chewed me up, and spit me out in a matter of hours.Emerge is the story of Laney and Evan. Best friends since kids, are everything to each other, and can't imagine being apart. Evan and her dad are all Laney has had since her mother left when she was young. We see them as best friends and then finally, as two who realize they can be and want more. This discovery is shattered when Laney isn't accepted into their college of choice. About to be separated my miles instead of feet, they decide that it's important to remain friends, but with every hope and intention of ending up together. Once Laney gets to college, she begins meeting new people and making new friends. She is immediately drawn to the sexy Dane Kendrick. Now she's torn as to who/what she wants.Okay, I want to start this off by saying how deceptive this cover is. Just looking at it you probably think it's a paranormal story. Nope. It's an adorable coming of age tale but more than that, it's a girl caught between two men and two kinds of love. I loved Laney! She's a quiet, shy, athletic girl who loves Disney movies. She reminds me a lot of myself at that age. She has very few close friends and is absolutely refreshing to read about. And Evan... Oh, Evan Mitchell Allen!! That sexy man burrowed into my heart and refuses to leave. The star football player who falls in love with his best friend. Is there anything sweeter? Not really. He's absolutely adorable in every way. And his relationship with Laney was beautiful to watch. Then there's Dane. Sexy, hot and a little bit of mystery. We don't learn much about him in the beginning, but there is much to infer. The blaringly obvious is he is extremely wealthy. Oh yeah, and he can play the guitar. And the piano. Damn. I loved him too! I didn't envy Laney having to choose between the two. This is probably the first love triangle where it took me awhile to figure out who I wanted the girl to choose. I went back and forth depending on who she was with in the story. Both are sweet and have their own strengths and drawbacks. I loved the way Evan asked her to prom. I loved what Dane did for her birthday. But certain things just meant more coming from one of the guys (and the only reason I'm not saying which is because by the last 25%, I made my choice and by the end of the review, it would spoil the ending). That's just my opinion.Evan: ""I am yours, always have been, always will be.""Dane: ""Last chance, Disney. Once I get a taste, I'm coming after you with everything I've got.""Seriously, I can't even imagine having these two ""fight"" over me. But eventually, I'd have made a choice - though mine would've been opposite hers.This book and its events all come down to one *MAJOR* catastrophic event. Had it not been for this act of betrayal, EVERY damn thing would have been different and I'd have gotten the HEA I wanted. And yes, I'm pouting. It's not often I read a book and feel I got the wrong ending. I knew the very moment that Laney had made her choice, even if she hadn't. I still held out hope that my man would win, though. S.E. Hall made me love two boys, but one of those two just wouldn't let me go. The ending absolutely squeezed my heart until all I felt was the pain of our shattered hopes. The gesture at the end had my heart racing and them plummeting. I was in tears for my man!!! And it's been awhile since I cried over a heartbreak in a book. My stomach was in knots and I couldn't see past the blur of tears in my eyes. I just hope he gets a happy ending now (even though I'm bummed it's not with Laney) because that was a craptastic way to find out you are being left behind.Emerge was brilliantly beautiful. It's got a little of everything - romance, humor, drama, and even a few suspenseful twists I didn't see coming. I adored this one, folks.",5.0,Brilliantly beautiful!!!,1370995200,"06 12, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3OD9DU3A0NCCI,0674779347,Roochak,"[6, 7]","""I think it is probable that Beethoven's death hastened the rapid development of new stylistic tendencies which had already made themselves felt and which, indeed, even influenced his own music,"" states Charles Rosen in his preface to one of the most detailed and enjoyable musical essays I've ever read. The leaders of the 1830s musical avant-garde -- Chopin, Liszt, and Schumann -- heard those ""new stylistic tendencies"" in Schubert and late Beethoven, and made them the basis of a revolutionary musical style, one offering rhythmic, harmonic, and structural freedom from Classical tradition.Rosen's focus on the piano is understandable. Apart from being a master pianist, his emphasis in this book isn't on late Romantic decadence, but on early Romantic experimentation, made possible in part by technological innovations in piano making, as well as by the new emphasis on the subjective experience of time, landscape, and memory in poetry and painting (as opposed to the Classical emphasis on the epic subjects of history and religion) -- major influences on an intensely self-reflexive generation of young musical artists.How would musically conservative audiences have received the new music of the 1830s? Chopin ironically intensifies the sentimental rhetoric of the salon style, embraces the rhythmic and harmonic freedom of dance music, and reinvents Classical counterpoint in terms of Romantic tone color; Schumann dislocates Classical rhythm and subverts the relation of consonance and dissonance, exploiting its expressive potential; Liszt elevates dynamics and tone color to a position of supremacy over pitch and rhythm, exploiting the dramatic and emotional intensity of crowd-pleasing music.These three musicians are the focus of Rosen's essay; chapters on Berlioz's rhythmic innovations, Mendelssohn's Classical revivalism, and the carefully bland republicanism of the new, middle-class grand opera of Meyerbeer and Bellini are less passionate, but no less interesting.",5.0,The Rebellious Generation,1239840000,"04 16, 2009",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1UN53UR8JPVAW,1492953180,Ana Love,"[0, 0]",I absolutely love every book by Lindy Zart. Unremarkable is the second book of the Ordinary (Anything but) series. I really enjoyed how all the characters matured since the last book. It kept me on the edge of my seat. Every page had nice surprises for me. I'm a proud Zartian and will always purchase Lundy Zart's books.,5.0,Zartian For Life..... Another amazing book by my Favorite author Lindy Zart.,1399420800,"05 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJ6R057QQGV3P,0735619492,"Michael Cohn ""agile developer""","[22, 25]","I learned to program back in the dark ages before books came with CDs or websites where you could download the author's code. Back then, if you wanted the author's code, you typed it in from the book. I typed in the code from many wonderful books and I learned to code that way. As I typed, I was paying attention to the code, not just mindlessly hitting the keys. While this taught me what a great programmer's code looked like when it was done, it didn't teach me how that programmer arrived at the solution that was in the book. What I always wanted was to see the author's thought process as he arrived at the finished code presented in the book.With Ron Jeffries' ""Extreme Programming Adventures in C#"" I finally have that opportunity to watch over the shoulder of a great programmer and watch not only his code but, more importantly, how he thinks. I love that the author is willing to show his dead ends and false starts. And then how he recovers from them. The book is really language agnostic. It's in C# but the lessons are more about programming and thinking about programming than about a specific language. I highly recommend this to all programmers, not just C# programmers.",5.0,Great book about how to think about programming,1080000000,"03 23, 2004",22,25,helpful,0.88,1 ALS163S4BPKBU,1608190021,CrochetingGardener,"[5, 7]","I thought this was a really interesting insight into dog rescue. If you've ever wondered why on earth someone would rescue dogs that most people would consider beyond hope, this will give you some insight into that. I've you've ever wondered how, you will learn that 2 adults sleep with more than 10 dogs (some of them feral and likely to bite) and wake up to step in dog poop. And you will learn why living this way is worth it to these people. I thought the details of their daily life was fascinating, as well as the emotional and time demands of this kind of rescue. I wish that the author had stuck to this story and expanded on it.However, the author includes a lot of ""science"" in the book that is not only written in a boring way, but is at least sometimes blatantly wrong. I began to suspect that he is rather sloppy with his science when he made passing references to topics I know something about, such as ADD, Asperger Syndrome, and depression, that showed he was misinformed. He seems to be not a good science writer, just a writer who reads popular science books and articles, which may or may not be accepted by the scientific community, and passes them off as ""scientific knowledge.""",3.0,"Story is interesting, science is sketchy",1304985600,"05 10, 2011",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1D50VH0IN57B5,0397302401,"M. Mcilvoy ""book lover""","[4, 4]","I read this book when I was still in grade school. I loved it and remember reading it over and over again. It was one of my favorites. I lost track of my copy but thanks to Amazon I was able to find a copy a few years ago and buy it with the same cover that I remembered. I read it as soon as I got it and I still like it, nearly 30 years later. My daughter is reading it now and she loves it so far too.",5.0,One of my first favorites!,1328400000,"02 5, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3FIPZ627MK78O,0330334972,William Tegner,"[14, 14]","Jilly Cooper says that Barbara Pym's books remind her "of what is true.....about English life". In the case of A Glass of blessings, this refers to a very small, but significant part of 1950's English life in the 1950's, and Barbara Pym portrays it beautifully. Her characterisation is excellent, as are her descriptions. She must have been a very observant woman. To say that she is snobbish is unfair. She portrayed her part of the world as she saw it. And note that the very implicit sexual backdrop never has to be referred to explicitly at all.Whetehr the fifties were "better" than now is open to doubt: but if you want a picture of a small part of 1950's England, then this is an enjoyable way to find it.",5.0,A most enjoyable Book,981244800,"02 4, 2001",14,14,helpful,1.0,1 ASE3YP4SCNY73,1402268408,Tralo29,"[0, 0]","I heard about Embrace from a friend. And wow I'm so glad I read it. & I am looking forward to the 2nd book out in Sept. It was well written and the story pulls you in, I couldn't put it down",5.0,Superb,1343088000,"07 24, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3JKV8CBCIE3SC,1453600973,Martha A. Cheves,"[22, 25]","`Two months ago he had arrived at Ostland's Zeaburg prison complex and been taken to this subterranean dungeon with its smooth stone walls, mazes of corridors, little or no lighting and the constant smell of death, blood, waste and decay in his nostrils. He had been alternately beaten and tortured for hours on a daily basis. His own screams blending with the cries, screams and moans of the other, unseen, sufferers in Zeaburg's nightmarish torture chambers. The horrors here were so great that even the rats eschewed Zeaburg, although the fleas showed no similar scruples and were an additional constant torment. His body was covered head to toe with tiny bites from the multitudes of the awful creatures. Slade would not have believed it was possible for a place like Zeaburg prison to exist if he had not seen it with his own eyes. It well deserved its evil reputation. Zeaburg also had a reputation for being inescapable; no one, in all its long history had ever escaped from its confines, except in death. Slade had never believed half the rumors that had surrounded Zeaburg before, now he saw clearly they were all true and worse. He also knew why so many of those imprisoned here died and, it was said, were glad to, death being preferable to daily life in Zeaburg.'Einreich Gudmundson is the second son of the High King Erich. Much to the disappointment of his father, he has renounced his life as the Crown Prince of Vestland and now calls himself Slade. He will now be a member of the druids of the Sacred Grove, dedicating his life to serve Freyita. That was all before he was captured and taken to Ostland's Zeaburg Prison. His committed crimes are still a mystery to Slade but the punishment is completely real. Only when he sleeps is he able to find peace from the pain of the beatings he has endured in his two months of imprisonment but even sleep becomes disturbed by the dreams of his father begging for his help.How can Slade possibly help his father the king while stuck in this hole of hell? He can only try to keep his mind as clear as possible and practice the training taught to him by the warrior-monks of the Black Lotus and pray for some form of help along the way. And help does come in the form of a being that calls himself `Trunk.' In his dreams his father told him to follow the trunk and Slade is sure this is who he was referring to. So with the help of this larger than life `trunk' as well as help from a few other unlikely allies, Slade finds himself attempting the impossible...an escape from the inescapable prison of Zeaburg.This book is full of mystery, suspense, witchcraft, magic, dishonesty, espionage...I could go on and on. The characters are colorful not only in appearance but also in character. Author Tracey Alley has written a very enjoyable book and I really hope that Erich's Plea: Book Two is just around the corner for me to read. I've gotten into the story and characters and can't wait to see what will happen to them next.",5.0,A Witchy Beginning,1303516800,"04 23, 2011",22,25,helpful,0.88,1 A1O0SVZS1XGICI,189159513X,"meiringen ""meiringen""","[12, 14]","Lots of typos, and no search capability. OK, if you're desperate for the Holmes stories on CD-Rom, and can't afford something better.",1.0,Cheap...,954547200,"04 1, 2000",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1NFDR0GLBQBS8,B00722Z5K4,Kesha,"[0, 0]","The two characters Deacon and Shelby are wonderful. Shelby is broken and and guilt-ridden. Trying to find a way to heal. He finds Deacon's Bar. A place of music, laughter and warmth. Shelby then meets the owner of the bar, Joe Deacon. The two men do not realize but they help each other and love each other. The story was well written and has a great dialog. I look forward to reading other stories from this author.",5.0,Great Romantic Story,1386460800,"12 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36N0VGYZ6RJ8S,B00AY83BP4,Jess Geerligs,"[0, 0]",This book is a fantastic read. It is captivating and engrossing. The way Nikki M Pill creates the scenes and works her magic really taps into my visual imagination. Only negative - I have to wait until 2014 for the next one!,5.0,amazing!,1374969600,"07 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UWQM2DDOHXCM,0881926469,"Cynthia S. Froning ""astrocyn""","[15, 17]","The pictures in this book are beautiful. Photographer David McDonald revels in bold colors and dramatic textures and captures some wonderful gardens. I live in the arid high plains of Colorado while the gardens in this book are mostly of the green, wet Pacific Northwest, so this book doesn't provide much in the way of practical ideas for my garden. Nevertheless, the bold designs featured are inspirational and great fun to look at. Author Hobbs is the typical, obsessed plantsman, with a great eye for plant combinations and a house to die for. I found his text a bit fluffy, though, with all sorts of advice for embracing your inner gardener or somesuch. This is not a book I turn to for practical gardening information, but it's great for inspiration.",4.0,"Beautiful photos, frothy text",1108425600,"02 15, 2005",15,17,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 A3F2MRBZ59LOHF,0025005707,Gerald M Nebeker,"[0, 0]",Wrong! Mortimer Adler is a brilliant man who adds new perspectives to the tasks of speaking and listening. Everyone can improve in these skills. I was particularly interested in his discussion of the "seminar" (Socratic) method of teaching and his efforts to re-introduce this method back into our public school system.,5.0,"Something Everyone Knows, Right?",1358553600,"01 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UFLVSJ3IRETQ,1449319238,Eric Aderhold,"[0, 1]","This book walks you through creating an Android app, step by step. It assumes a base level of programming expertise, which is great for existing professionals who are looking to expand their skill sets. The Java review chapter at the beginning isn't too useful; beginning programmers will probably need something more deep, while it's a bit simplistic for people who have programmed before and are just looking for a primer on the language.As for the app development example, it started out very strong. I thought it became a bit harder to follow toward the end though.",4.0,Good intro to Android for experienced programmers,1397692800,"04 17, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A40N5P6DG7FOL,0307336689,AcornMan,"[5, 6]","I saw the negative reviews of this book before I decided to read it, and although they do have some merit (i.e. not much character development, some contrived action scenes, etc), overall I found the book rather riveting. The writing is excellent. Unger does an outstanding job of describing emotions rather than just trying to rely on action sequences as a crutch. I almost gave the book three stars because the entire premise of the story is awfully hard to swallow and the plot is very linear, but the quality of writing and the fact that I couldn't put the book down earned a fourth star. In short, it's not among the best books I've read, but it was still an exciting story.",4.0,Imperfect but riveting nonetheless,1167436800,"12 30, 2006",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2H5PY6EUOSWS,1601374585,Paul A. Byrnes,"[0, 0]","After catching here and there in the media a quote from this book, I felt very enriched to be able to read the whole thing in book form and underline my own favorite quotes.",5.0,A Breath of Fresh Air,1396915200,"04 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18ZM0DL1MWZQ0,0743407180,Carl Malmstrom,"[9, 9]","I read "Sailing to Byzantium" about six months ago. I saw a reference to it the other day and I was surprised how vividly some of the stories still stuck out in my mind. Sadly, I have read little of Silverberg's work, but this book definitely made me want to dig out more of his novellas and short stories.The two that stuck out the most admittedly were those with ties closest to my interests: ancient history and invertebrate zoology. The novella for which the book was named, "Sailing to Byzantium", sets the stage for what becomes a selection of wildly different and surprising stories. In "Sailing to Byzantium", Silverberg does a surprisingly good job of meshing ancient history and culture clash with classic science fiction concepts and plot twists. "Homefaring", on the other hand, lays out most of the plot surprises right off and spends a great deal of time exploring the implications of the setting: a civilization of intelligent lobsters. Aside from minor evolutionary-morphological quibbles, the story was a wondrously bizarre surprise. The other three stories were equally as deft in mixing plot and setting, but possibly through my own prejudices, they don't stick nearly as well in my brain.Silverberg discusses in his introduction that he enjoys working in the novella format and it really shows. In all five stories, Silverberg really gets the chance to sit down and enjoy the worlds that he's working in. Each have their own impressively creative spark that really make you wonder how one can come up with such ideas.If you're looking for good, classic science fiction, then Silverberg's work is one that you should definitely pick up. If you want a good example of what the genre has evolved from in the last twenty or thirty years, it is still well worht reading. Either way, I think anyone looking to broaden their field of science fiction reading should try this book.",4.0,Five Pieces That Define The Science Fiction Novella,977184000,"12 19, 2000",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 ALVNIFLFWOTDG,0802825109,Bahij Bawarshi,"[28, 28]","In these admirable but relatively brief commentaries on Colossians and Ephesians (each is 190 pages or so) the late, great F.F. Bruce manages to say a great deal. Verse by verse, with discernment and economy of words, he weaves a web of exposition and theology. Brevity is achieved by applying in general what he writes specifically in connection with Eph. 3:18, that "it would be pointless to examine all the interpretations that have been offered." He does not dwell much on critical questions, either; but with a mature understanding of the texts Bruce has focused his attention on expounding their essential meaning. Satisfactory detail is provided by the footnotes, which treat textual issues, Greek words and phrases, the (often divergent) viewpoints of other scholars, and give Biblical and bibliographic references. The introduction to the commentary on Colossians includes good background information on the "Colossian heresy." One notable feature of the main text is Bruce's drawing parallels throughout to the other writings of Paul; it is remarkable how often he finds occasion to refer to Romans, for example (specially in the case of Ephesians). As he rightly points out (p. 326), "Paul is his own best interpreter." While many scholars doubt that Paul was the author of Ephesians and, to a lesser degree, of Colossians, Bruce's cited parallels of thought and language leave little doubt that these letters are thoroughly Pauline, whoever the actual author(s) may have been if not Paul himself. There are recognizable similarities between Colossians and Ephesians, but which one depends on the other and to what extent is not clear and has been the subject of much debate. Having commentaries on them in one volume, by one author, with one exegetical approach makes the comparison of parallel verses/expressions/thoughts convenient and instructive, even if it does not resolve the debate. That commentary on the short letter to Philemon is included too is a plus, not least because of the letter's association with Colossians at more than one point.",4.0,Expounding the essentials,1079740800,"03 20, 2004",28,28,helpful,1.0,1 A3CJIKSI14N529,0399157344,"Online Book Reviews ""A reader lives a thousan...","[5, 5]","Power Play by #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter is the eighteenth book in her FBI thriller series. In the tradition of the series, Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock continued to make their grand appearance in secondary roles while two new main characters are introduced. The story also follows two plots as it is with the earlier books, and though the pattern in the series remains the same, Catherine manages to dish out a thrilling entertainer, and there is no lack of action, suspense, romance and intrigue.In Power Play, a disgraced U.S. ambassador to the Court of St. James Natalie Black returns to Washington in the wake of a scandal. Her fiancé was killed in a car accident, and the British tabloids hinted that she was indirectly responsible for it. Though President Thornton Gilbert wants her to stay, Arliss Abbott, US Secretary of State wants her to resign. The death of her fiancé was followed by someone trying to force her off the road outside London and a car trying to mow her down in Washington. These debilitating incidents greatly unnerved her but no one was willing to buy her story.FBI Special Agent Davis Sullivan, however, is deeply concerned and decided to get to the bottom of the mystery and protect her from assailants. While Sullivan is busy with Natalie Black’s case, his boss Dillon Savich and his wife Lacey Sherlock are not faring too good. Blessed Backman whom they apprehended in an earlier book has escaped from a mental hospital, and is determined to wreak vengeance. Sullivan is assigned to guard Perry Black, Natalie’s daughter and a sportswriter. As the two get close to each other, Perry’s longtime friend Day Abbott, is pulled in for questioning. With the attacks on Natalie continuing, Sullivan faces an uphill task to track down the perpetrators before things go out of hand.Power Play by Catherine Coulter is immensely enjoyable, fast-paced and full of suspense. The romantic tension between Sullivan and Perry is delightful. The characters are well-developed and their roles in the story well-defined. The deranged escapee Blessed Backman has added a touch of horror to the story as he stalked Savich and Sherlock. Catherine’s fine writing and creativity has turned Power Play into a thrilling read.#Received an advance uncorrected reader's proof for honest review.",4.0,ANOTHER WINNER FROM CATHERINE COULTER!,1404777600,"07 8, 2014",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3G0MP8VTBYW3K,1611458315,Gizzy,"[0, 0]",This is a fascinating little book about a group of islands that few of us know much about. Their lives are pretty much the same as they have been for hundreds of years. I envy the writer because she became one of them and they accepted her for her abilities and she in turn accepted them. Would that all of us could have a chance to meet these interesting people and get to know them. I was ready to pack my suitcase and get on a plane to England and spend time with the islands. A primitive lifestyle in comparison to the hustle and bustle of modern times - but oh how much fun!!!,5.0,Quaint!!,1394928000,"03 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3R19YKNL641X3,0596006284,"Thomas Duff ""Duffbert""","[47, 49]","I've always been more of a GUI-type user, and even the old DOS commands never did much for me. But now that I'm moving into the world of Linux, I need to understand the power of the command line. To that end, I got a review copy of the Linux Pocket Guide by Daniel J. Barrett (O'Reilly). I have a feeling this will become a dog-eared favorite on my bookshelf.Normally I'd list a chapter breakout, but there's just too many ""chapters"" here to do so. Suffice it to say that if it's a shell command in Linux, it's in here somewhere. The great thing is that you get the command and a list of the useful options, along with the syntax in less than half a page (and the book is small!). So instead of hauling down the large volume and scrolling through multiple pages, you can get right to the command you need with the options you're probably looking for.For a beginner like me, it will help to make me more comfortable with many of the basics of command line work. For experts, it will be the quick reference for that particular option that you can't remember the capitalization rules for...Short, concise, easy to understand, and packed with meat... What more could you want in a reference manual? This is a keeper.",5.0,Great things in small packages...,1094515200,"09 7, 2004",47,49,helpful,0.9591836734693877,1 AW2SGRT3FWF3N,1584792922,Mary Frost,"[6, 6]","My bright new book comes with me. As a former pediatric nurse, I appreciate the developmental reminders, anatomy, physiology and the power and importance of imagination evident in the book's content.This book is designed for USE!Marsha Wenig's integrative style fairly shines with encouragement to the reader on every page in this wonderful compilation of philosophy, fact, instruction, photographs and references.As Yoga can be a springboard for self-discovery, so is this book a springboard for anyone with even the slightest curiosity about yoga, the ways we learn, the fun we can have, and the joyful states of mind just waiting to waken with the help of the body.Ready, set, JUMP! Mary Frost, CYKF",5.0,Wherever I go,1068163200,"11 7, 2003",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A35FUQ1U7YM296,039306493X,Dianne G.,"[0, 0]",It is a wonderful book that includes some books that may raise eyebrows. I love it and may get another copy for a friend.,5.0,Restored New Testament,1370217600,"06 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2V2U53T4MRJXL,1585428922,Pat Gedney,"[0, 1]",read for church book club.The title turned many people off. The book's contents were very interesting and I could see myself in many of the chapters.,3.0,Fun book,1371772800,"06 21, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A21I8V8ZR373RY,0373657099,Scarletledder,"[15, 19]","This book left a bad taste in my mouth. I love Diana Palmer books, I know she has a formula (Heroes that say awful things, Santa Gertrudis bulls, Jaguar cars, references to Jacobsville etc) but this book was all kinds of WRONG. The heroine, Maddie, has been bullied by the Hero's lust object, Odalie, since high school to the point that physical harm, law enforcement and attorney's were involved. As the H is slowly winding his mind around the fact that the woman he has lusted after for years values her beauty and singing more than she does ranchers and cow patties, he suddenly finds his plain, flat chested neighbor, that he loves to insult, become the woman he wants to bear his children. He only comes to this light bulb moment when his best friend starts to take an interest in and date Maddie. Odalie then returns from Italy,where no one was impressed with her either professionally or personally, and decides to pull a Mean Girl on Maddie yet again. She deliberately plans to show Maddie that Cort, our erstwhile Hero, is with HER and once again, Maddie is physically harmed. Odalie immediately becomes Mother Theresa and Maddie, knowing that for the second time that Odalie has put a severe beat down on her, becomes friends with her to the point that she allows Odalie in her hospital room during a bed bath. What woman in her right mind would let the bane of her existence, who put her in the hospital, who was after the man she loved, suddenly let that woman see her naked, injured and drugged while laying helpless in a hospital bed?!! I found myself feeling angry while reading this book and how Maddie was treated so horribly and accepting of that. Pathetic. The Hero and his former lust object only changed their tunes when the poor woman was facing a lifetime of paralysis. I didn't finish the book. It wasn't worth my time, it was just too ridiculous for words.",2.0,Aggravating Read,1355616000,"12 16, 2012",15,19,helpful,0.7894736842105263,1 A2WR8WQCYIE889,0982063520,"Pamela G. Castillo ""pgc""","[4, 4]","The book is good, but be prepared for some spelling errors etc. I don't know if that bugs you, but it really bugs me. Personally I would go with Susan ______ and the other people that developed the diet in the first place. The author talks about the origin of the diet in her book and I would go with the original writers.",3.0,Okay,1376956800,"08 20, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1ERU4BD1575G7,B005F7LQBA,drascal,"[0, 0]",I really like how the pace was energetic and constantly changing in this book. I love the way Calli accepted herself. Really glad I got the chance to read this book!,5.0,powerful!,1395100800,"03 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QA7NAEQPMIEU,B00DT74XFY,Karen Lea,"[0, 0]","What a way to end a series! Once again, Bec Botefuhr kept me awake as I tried to finish her book in one sitting. Unfortunately, my eyes didn't co-operate, my vision blurred and I had to wait until the next day to reach the last page.Like the first book, this one had me sighing, groaning and calling out in indignation as the story unfolded. How is it possible to love some characters, while hating others? Excellent story telling along with brilliant character development, that's how.Bec Botefuhr is a very talented wordsmith who enables the reader to love or hate her characters. They become real people, not characters in a story. Like real life, nothing runs smoothly and I found myself silently cheering for Sierra and Marcus while condemning Chayne and Ben.The epilogue was the cream on the caramel tart of this book. (You'll find out why I used this simile when you read the book.) I finished it with a satisfied feeling and without questions about the future of any of the characters although Marcus will probably remain in the forefront of my brain until I find another book boyfriend to fall in love with.I gave Red, White and Beautiful 5 out of 5 stars and I'm looking to reading more of Bec Botefuhr's books. She's never let me down.Written by Karen from Confessions of a Bookaholic",5.0,What a way to end a series!,1373241600,"07 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZXTTXC9CFGTM,0321508793,Greg J. Lovern,"[36, 37]","The back of this book says that it is ""Fully updated for Excel 2007"". However, I have been disappointed to find that's not true.First, the section on Excel ""dictator"" apps does not go into the requirements for Excel 2007, except to mention that you'll need to look at the chapter on the ribbon. But that isn't why I'm writing this review.I wanted to position a form next to a worksheet cell, and on pages 400-402, they say that trying to do that using the cell's Top and Left properties is ""extremely difficult"", and then say that ""Fortunately, there is an easier workaround, which is to use the window that Excel uses for editing embedded charts.""Their workaround code uses Windows APIs. That's no problem, but it's interesting that with a solution apparently available that would probably work on both Windows and Mac (using the cell's Top and Left properties), they show only an easier solution that works only for Windows. No mention of Mac there.Anyway, I typed in their code, and it didn't work. I carefully checked every character and didn't see any differences. On a hunch, I closed the workbook and opened it in Excel 2003. This time it worked correctly.I had originally tried it in Excel 2010 (32-bit), and this book was published in 2009, so I tried it in Excel 2007. It still didn't work.So I started Spy++, hoping that the special window was just renamed in Excel 2007/2010 and/or in a different place in the window hierarchy, which would be easy to work around. No such luck. Using Spy++, I found the special window in Excel 2003, and then looked for it in Excel 2007. The special window they use is not created in Excel 2007 anywhere in the window hierarchy, and in fact no additional window is created at all by those steps.So this easier solution works only for Excel 2003 for Windows and earlier. The book was published in 2009. Where's the ""extremely difficult"" solution that works in Excel 2007? You won't find it in this 2009 book, nor any mention of the fact that this ""easier"" solution does not work in Excel 2007.I guess I'll have to look elsewhere for the ""extremely difficult"" solution.",2.0,"Not ""Fully updated for Excel 2007""",1300579200,"03 20, 2011",36,37,helpful,0.972972972972973,1 AL6QVWOHZE1WW,0786015179,K. Brent,"[27, 28]","I read this book about a year ago and remember how graphic and how frightening (yet how mesmerizing!) it was ... I finished it over a weekend, and I couldn't get the story out of my mind for a long time. Mr. Mitchell is one of the best writers of this genre to come along in a while---I'm certain that any regular reader of True Crime will recognize his unique, gripping style. This book is very well researched, with a good selection of relevant photos, and it will allow you to follow the murderer's turbulent life up to his graphic crimes. The author's description of Rex Krebs reveals a twisted and self-destructive sexual deviant who recognized his evil tendencies (and appeared to want to stop fulfilling his urges), yet he never seemed to avoid acting out his fantasies. Certainly, Krebs received his just reward for his crimes, but it was still a very sad event in the lives of the many, many close friends and families involved. This is definitely a must-have for any True Crime buffs!",5.0,The most gripping true crime account I've read....,1115683200,"05 10, 2005",27,28,helpful,0.9642857142857143,1 AI9AFMD6OVGUG,080214151X,Battleship,"[0, 0]","Dave Von Drelhe produced an illuminating look at the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire that devastated a community of workers and lead to a staggering loss of life on March 25, 1911. The author does a good job of examining the lives of the factory owners and the immigrant workers in the sweatshop. The owners cared little about the safety of their workers. The exits were inadequate to evacuate the building in case of an emergency. The materials on the work floor were highly flamable and became a blazing inferno in a matter of a few minutes.The author explains exactly why there was such a staggering loss of life. He also details the people who died in the awful tragedy. He explains that this tragedy was a seminal event in the history of labor reform. New York progressives like Frances Perkins never forgot the horror of this devastating event. The memory of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire fueled reform efforts to make for a safer workplace all the way through the enactment of New Deal legislation.The quality of the writing is second-to-none. The author is a talented wordsmith who uses descriptive language to convey the horror of the fire, the terrible work environment faced by poor immigrant workers, the apathy of the owners, and the passionate efforts of reformers in the aftermath. The narratives and anecdotes of the people involved are fascinating and the book is hard to put down.",5.0,Great detailed coverage of a disastrous event,1350259200,"10 15, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQX6AD1DL4TYK,B00ALEXN9K,ASwirlGirl,"[23, 26]","""How to be an Alpha Female: 10 Tips of Empowerment"" is an interesting, entertaining and enlightening read. Author Maryann Reid carefully defines the ""Alpha"" female, and then uses a series of ""tips"" to illustrate her points. I saw myself in much of what she wrote - and I also saw some areas I need to spruce up. Two of her tips greatly resonated with me because they speak directly to what I'm currently experiencing: Tip #13, ""An Alpha female knows two things - the art of reinvention and the art of surprise,"" and Tip #17, ""Living, not dreaming, Loving, not waiting."" I heartily recommend this book to the two categories of women; namely, those who want to learn more about how/why they are Alpha females, and those who want to learn how/why they are not. *Smiles*",5.0,"Interesting, entertaining and enlightening!",1363564800,"03 18, 2013",23,26,helpful,0.8846153846153846,1 AJDYDG7YZY9QL,1559632232,Stephen A. Haines,"[10, 10]","If we say ""Glennon covers all the ground"" in a book about water, will the reader be confused? Let's take the risk, since that is precisely what the author does in this excellent study. From the ways in which water collects or flows on the land's surface to the movement of water deep in the earth, Glennon carefully explains how water accumulates. He describes farm, mining and even water for scenic tourist views.Water consumption has been an economic, social and legal issue since the colonies were founded almost four centuries ago.The legacy of those early efforts to distribute water to thirsty farms and communities is a central theme of this book. As settlement moved westward, readily available water waned. Contention arose between early settlers and those arriving later. Farm use of water was challenged by mining and industry as communities grew. In the West, as available surface water was used or claimed, fresh sources were sought. These proved to be buried deep beneath the surface - ""ground water"". Ground water was a mysterious resource to many - it still is, according to Glennon. Although it's known that, like streams, ground water reserves must be ""recharged"", only a little is understood about the rate of inflow or, too often, the source of refreshment. In a nation that consumes over 5000 litres per person per day, the availability of fresh water is a major consideration.Glennon presents a string of vignettes of water issues in the USA. The selection process allows him to present a spectrum of issues surrounding water availability and use. Although naturally focussing his study in the West where availability and variations in types of demand complicate an already complex area. The stops include San Antonio, a minor river in California, mining in Arizona and Nevada. The East isn't ignored - rivers in Massachusetts and Florida are impacted by groundwater pumping. A Florida case is most enlightening. Groundwater pumping drained moist soils, putting houses at risk and drying lakes. The lake problem was addressed by re-filling the lakes - with more groundwater!Nearly every case demonstrates the level of ignorance surrounding how water moves and impacts its environment. The legal issues Glennon discusses air this problem admirably. The law considerations range from ""the commons"" [where all have access] to those who settle first gaining full rights which followers must adapt to or contest. Western court archives are stuffed with litigation records over access. In too many cases, decisions have rested on who needs the most water - the biggest pump often wins. Glennon explains how the science of hydrography and legal decisions over water are often at best disparate. In other cases the two disciplines are sharply at odds. His conclusion suggests these divergencies can be overcome. A number of compromises will have to be reached. The biggest problem, however, is establishing realistic priorities regarding consumption. The biggest problem is data. Collecting it while water is being consumed at astronomical rates won't be a simple task. The water is running out faster than reserves can be measured. When the USA runs out of water, they will seek it elsewhere - a fact all Canadians are well aware of. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]",5.0,The biggest pump wins!,1125187200,"08 28, 2005",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A3MF7GVY679X21,B00IY5RX80,SAMANTHA. WOODS,"[0, 0]","Lissette Banning is not your typical librarian. She dresses fashionably and loves to readdirty books. She may not have gotten laid in a while but she has also never found a man thatcan pleasure her better then she can herself so why bother? One particularly slow night while reading a very dirty scene she can’t wait until she gets home to take matters in her own hands. To her mortification someone walks in on her naughty moment. Someone who happens to be the owner of the library.Sullivan Bixby got caught in a blizzard, when he goes into the library for shelter and to use thephone he walks in on a very sexy librarian doing some very naughty things to herself. Being theowner of the library he should be angry, instead he finds it to be a huge turn on. He comes to theconclusion that he will have this woman but only for a night.My Opinion: This was a very short but very hot read. I think that a lot of males secretly have naughty librarian fantasies and this book definitely lived up to that. I would definitely be interested in reading the next book in this series and see if anything develops between Lissette and the Sheriff. This was not a short story with a HEA, more of a to be continued. The author makes it interesting enough to continue to read books in the series for more hotness and to see what happens with the naught characters we are introduced to or to see if she puts new players in the mix. I definitely recommend reading.‘Read and Reviewed by LSK Sweetheart Reviews’",5.0,Hot Library Nights!!!,1406073600,"07 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SEGWLFJP3OTB,0394721497,"April ""voracious and eclectic reader""","[20, 20]","We are a homeschooling family with young daughters. My youngest daughter has absolutely no interest in sitting down to learn to read and write. It has always been a struggle with her. At 8yo now, we have begun to get a little (maybe a lot) frustrated with each other and the learning to read and write process. We both inwardly cringe when I pull out the phonics books. However, Peggy Kaye's books: Games for Reading and Games for Writing have been lifesavers!!! These games are ALWAYS fun. My daughter eagerly looks forward to playing any of the games in these books. She will even write difficult spelling words over and over again just because she is in a contest with me! Who knew that competition would be the vehicle to get her interested in reading and writing?I'm so excited about these books that I would recommend them to absolutely anyone with young readers and writers.I haven't tried Games for Math, yet I'm sure that book is just as motivating as these books.My 10yo daughter, who reads and writes exceptionally well for her age, sees us playing these games and requests to get involved as well. Yesterday one of the games had us all in a fit of giggles as we were trying to figure out which of the statements we had written down were truth or lies. Fun! Peggy Kaye is certainly a goddess in our household.",5.0,a pleasure to learn,1142726400,"03 19, 2006",20,20,helpful,1.0,1 A2838GZWXSF8KH,0312642318,TMStyles,"[7, 7]","I discovered David Housewright and his wonderfully resourceful signature character, Rush McKenzie, several years ago and his books are now among my top ten most desired. I have been surprised by the lack of national recognition and attention for a great character and author. Rush is a complicated character who gave up a career in law enforcement to accept an insurance settlement that made him an instant multi-millionaire. Now he lives a life doing what he chooses especially doing ""favors"" for those in need--favors that necessitate his police experience and his superb intuitive reasoning skills.Rush is asked by the firm who paid him his settlement to act as a go-between between a museum (and its insurance company) and thieves who have stolen a priceless artifact called the Jade Lily and now want to ransom it back for insurance money. Rush reluctantly jumps into the fray and soon finds the price ratcheted up when one of the thieves is found murdered. Rush deals with a museum board hiding as many secrets and skeletons as one could ask for and soon discovers others willing to obtain the Jade Lily by any means including bribery, theft, and more violence such as an old adversary, Heavenly Petryk, a state department official, a crooked cop, and a foreign national. McKenzie follows his instincts and the trail of the thieves and killers that leads to a somewhat contrived conclusion where all the baddies are gathered as he succinctly indicts each one for some responsibilty--not your typical McKenzie wrapup but one that satisfies, nonetheless.As in all Housewrights works, the writing is tight, suspenseful, and most importantly, believable. The plot is a little convoluted with twists, turns, and double crosses but through it all, McKenzie stays focused--even after being nearly killed in a bomb explosion. Another touch of humor is provided by an unlikely ally that accompanies Rush in his pursuit after being wounded. McKenzie is fun to follow as his mind works to out-think his opponents without the restraints of police regulations and as he listens to his ""inner voice"" which unerringly leads him to make good decisions. His relationships with the love of his life, Nina, and his best friend, police commander Bobby Dunston, seem to anchor each of his adventures as their characters and interactions grow more comfortable in each subsequent novel. I unequivocally recommend David Housewright and his McKenzie novels to fans of the mystery/thriller genre.",5.0,McKenzie Tackles A Deadly Curse,1339286400,"06 10, 2012",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A839WZJ3L2FJO,B00CKC0BP0,Lomiba,"[0, 0]","Not the typical story, which is nice. I enjoyed the fact that it was not a novella, short story. It had interesting characters and a different storyline. Looking forward to the sequel.",4.0,Interesting story.,1369440000,"05 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A154JAJ5AMAA2,1490502408,Purple Valentine,"[0, 0]","I love this series, can't put it down. Read both books in two days. I can't wait to read the third book!",5.0,Great Book,1397347200,"04 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YFQCTZEG2HQV,0833524658,David C. Roller,"[4, 6]","This is an amazing book. I cannot get through it without bawling like a baby.I have a 4 year old daughter and a 2 year old son. My daughter and now my son for that matter do not like being called a baby any more. I just tell them that no matter how big they get that they will always be my babies. They don't yet understand that the emphasis is on the word ""my"" not ""babies"".This book depicts a parent who understands her role in life: Pour your love into your child at whatever stage of life they are in.I really love Sheila McGraws's illustration. They add poignancy to Robert Munch's saga.I disagree with putting the toilet picture on the cover, though. The book is not really about the antics of the child it is about the love of the mother. If I were the decision maker (which of course I am not), I would put the picture of the mom crawling into her 2 year olds room on the cover. That picture captures the essence of the book.",5.0,"It makes you cry so much, onions are jealous",1084492800,"05 14, 2004",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A3RSL4WDZRQ62Z,0755304853,BeccaK,"[0, 0]","Im really gonna like this trilogy. Very entertaining and a fun, light read. Glad I took a chance on it.",5.0,Love it!,1373500800,"07 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BPB6JM53EFZJ,0988805405,"Bratty_me27 ""readaholic""","[0, 0]","Definitely different than what I expected when I first started reading. The storyline is very interesting, and kept me intrigued to the end.",4.0,Hounds of autumn,1382486400,"10 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26JGAM6GZMM4V,1118345878,Robert Morris,"[7, 7]","Although two co-authors are identified, Maurice R. (""Hank"") Greenberg provides what would normally be (or at least be viewed as) memoir material for which Lawrence A. Cunningham then created a context, a frame-of-reference, that draws upon Greenberg's contributions, of course, but also those from dozens of other soyrces. Cunningham seems to have made every possible effort to remain objective. He devised the structure, conducted countless interviews, and drafted the story's narrative. The book is research-driven (check out the ""Notes,"" Pages 265-308) and, as Cunningham notes, ""told in the third person. But it is very much Greenberg's story and a personal one at that."" I view Cunningham's role primarily as that of a research scholar who ""sets the table"" with a wealth of historical material in combination with personal accounts provided by Greenberg, of course, but also from other knowledgeable sources, identified within 43 pages of annotated notes.The focus of the narrative is on the evolution of Greenberg's career from 1952 (at age 27) after returning from service as an officer in the U.S. Army until 2011 when he has embarked on new adventures in the vineyards of free enterprise, building (rebuilding?) C.V. Starr & Company and Starr International Company (SICO) together with several subsidiaries that pre-date AIG. Appropriately, the focus of most of the book is on Greenberg's years at American International Group (AIG), especially during the last decade when internal power plays led to his forced retirement. Also in the same year (2005), then New York Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer made heavily-publicized allegations concerning accounting improprieties. However, revealingly, no criminal charges were ever brought and most of the civil charges were dropped.Had there been an opportunity, I would have liked to meet with Greenberg and ask him a number of questions that would help me understand what interests me most about his life and career:o Why he went to work for AIG's founder, Cornelius Vander Starr, as the head of AIG's failing North American holdings.0 Why he achieved so much success that after several promotions, Starr named him as his successoro His relationships with other senior-level executives at AIG, many of them rivalso Why he created AIG (e.g. specific objectives, strategies, and resource allocation)o How he explains AIG's unsurpassed success in terms of market dominance, product development, sales, and profitso The most significant differences between AIG and its major competitorso The proper role of the federal government and, especially, its regulatory agencieso Indications (i.e. ""early-warning signs"") of problems with at least some board memberso Indications (i.e. ""early-warning signs"") of problems with at least some C-level executives at AIGo AG Spitzer's motives and how he (Greenberg) explains themo The nature and extent of AIG's financial problems at the time of Greenberg's ""retirement""o Over the years, the best and worse of AIG's relationship with the federal governmento What he knew in 2005 that he wished he knew when Starr named him his successor in 1968o The most valuable business lessons he has learned during the last 50 yearso The extent to which he expects those lessons to help him and his associates achieve the goals they have nowThe ""story"" provided in this volume either provides all the information I hoped to have or at least, no small achievement, has enabled me to formulate reasonable assumptions and (yes) a few tentative conclusions about much of what has and hasn't happened in Maurice R. (""Hank"") Greenberg's life and career thus far. Lawrence Cunningham acknowledges that at least some questions remain unanswered or only partially answered, as they always do. He tells a compelling story whose complexity defies pure objectivity but, thanks to his rigorous and meticulous stewardship, a story that probably comes about as close as one could to explaining what really happened.",5.0,"A ""story"" whose complexity defies pure objectivity but one that comes about as close as one could to explaining what happened",1361836800,"02 26, 2013",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A26E3VTQLAHX3Q,0452285658,Ambrose Bierce,"[8, 9]","In what must be a first for recent political seasons, here's a book that lambastes both the Democrats and Republicans alike in equal measure. And Hightower writes without screaming on the page, either -- how about that? Although Hightower's progressive leanings are on full display here, with some obvious targets, ""Thieves In High Places"" offers a constructive section of things people of all stripes can do to get involved with the process. Whether you agree with his facts or not, Hightower's a real proponent of getting off one's duff, or even just getting off the fence. Some readers will find Hightower a perfect example of Ambrose Bierce's definition of an optimist: ""a proponent of the doctrine that black is white."" His approach is to remind the reader that it's always darkest before the dawn. At the very least this outlook, and this book, is a starting point for change.",4.0,Kleptocrats and Wobblycrats get equal time,1113523200,"04 15, 2005",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A2TF02VU0LCZHB,0345486455,N. Haymes,"[0, 0]","I read this book over and over. Everytime my child is having a ""sleep issue"" I pull out this book. I read the parts according to his age. This book has helped me get through some hard times.",4.0,Best sleep book I've read yet,1118707200,"06 14, 2005",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWAXS66YMHMNW,1593593031,"J. Thomason ""Movie Family""","[0, 0]",We bought this for my daughter to use during a recent week long horse camp trip. We also got her a leather journal with horses on it. This made a wonderful package for her to open up during her time away!,5.0,Super cute!,1375056000,"07 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Q1KKGM65CDFW,087596933X,Erika Sakurai,"[0, 0]",Great book on telling you the basics of how to do laundry. FYI - don't put anything wool in the dryer.,3.0,Book,1369180800,"05 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HNQOH6HFL4YS,0142427225,Tiffany M.,"[0, 0]","Guys I loved this book! Despite a few minor frustrations I am completely and utterly in love. How do you love something that frustrated you? Read this book and find out seriously. I will do my best to do it justice in the review to follow but just remember: I LOVED IT!This one was so much more than I could have hoped for. I was drawn in by the riveting description and attractive cover but what was between the cover is what not only kept my interest but had me obsessing over what was going on. Every time I put the book down I found my mind wondering back to what I had last read. If I didn't have to put it down I wouldn't have, not even for a minute. The world was vivid and dark, while the characters stood out and became more than a character on a page! There are Darklings and humans but they are kept apart by a wall. Being with the opposite race gets you labeled a race traitor and means death. This leads to some serious intensity and emotional scenes.Natalie is basically a spoiled upper class girl when you meet her but there is so much more to her than that. She has felt loss due to the ongoing fight to keep the Darklings apart from the humans. Not only loss but betrayal, this is something I simply observed. More than all of that I enjoyed Natalie because she was emotionally strong. Once she said she would do something she would and he cared bout those that she was around. When her eyes are opened to something she never believed to be possible or true her life is turned upside down. This only strengthens her in my eyes as she truly becomes what I had hoped. Basically Natalie ended up being a YA chick that I seriously loved and appreciated her flaws.Ash... Well he totally does the dark and brooding thing well. Though I get his issue. Picked apart and picked on because he is a halfling. To make a long story short he is different therefor he has no rights. Well I guess that's harsh he has rights just not like everyone else and when it comes to how people treat him, well it's not great. He does have a very different side from what I expected though. I would be lying if I told you that I didn't figure it would be Natalie to change his attitude but he was a sweet and caring person all on his own. He just hides it super well I think because it can be seen as a weakness. His snark is awesome but when it came down to it he gave me more than enough ""aww"" moments.Well lets just take those two and throw them together shall we? What you get is an overly awkward and snark filled encounters. Though neither one could deny that there was attraction when you belong to two separate worlds it's not as easy as saying ""I love you"". This factor also led to a more developed and easy to appreciate relationship. Well for the most part, there is a little secret that I can't share with you that these two share that kind of pulls them closer all of a sudden. So ya... I really wish I could share because it is totally sweet but in the end it would spoil a lot of stuff for you. Not to mention it is also the very thing that could tear them apart and trust me it threatened to and I thought it might. Truth be told it still could! However all of that aside I loved this relationship and the romance that was a result.There were a few twists that I didn't expect but there was also two larger ones that had me yelling at the book. I practically was in tears with the one. Not because it was sad but because the characters themselves didn't see it coming. Despite this the book was filled with moments and characters that I loved. There was action, romance and twists that give every chapter a little something and make you want to turn the pages that much faster. I will without a doubt be one of the first people picking the next one up when it releases!!",5.0,Can't Wait for Book #2,1353974400,"11 27, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2X3Q48VCQBTVN,B005IH01JK,Rhonda,"[0, 0]","I thought this was a very good book, full of good and sometimes sad information. It keeps a person from reading over 200 pages about each queen. I suggest this for any world history enthusiast!OSSlady",4.0,Easy to read and understand,1358121600,"01 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17TPX8BO0VRJY,0762781653,"Barbara Techel ""Author of "Through Franki...","[6, 6]","It takes courage to share your story. I also think to share the deep love of a pet takes courage. The fact that Allen, being a man, shares his deepest fears and also his amazing love for Leaf makes this book truly inspiring. We've heard many stories of the connection between women and dogs, or children and pets, but to hear Allen share his deepest thoughts and biggest fears, as well as, his devotion and love for Leaf touched me deeply.As I read the last page of his book I wanted to weep. I wanted to weep for those that never experience a connection like Allen and Leaf have. I wanted to weep in happiness for Allen and his recovery. I wanted to weep for the courage it took for Allen to share this remarkable story that some may find hard to believe at times. But I know it is real as I've experienced some profound moments with my own dogs, just like Allen has with Leaf.If you've ever doubted animals have souls, this book will open your heart and mind to truly believing we are all connected. You will never doubt again. Your life will be enriched far beyond what you could have ever imagined and you will have author Allen Anderson to thank for it.",5.0,"Profound, Powerful and Inspiring!",1351468800,"10 29, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A18SDN3HYFVH2L,0688121268,Muzzlehatch,"[0, 0]","A charming little volume containing six very short Oz stories involving many of the major characters that had featured in the first 7 or so books in the series proper, originally published in 1913 in separate booklets just as Baum was allowing the Oz books to get underway again with THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ. The six stories are:""The Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger""""Little Dorothy and Toto""""Tiktok and the Gnome King""""Ozma and the Little Wizard""""Jack Pumpkinhead and the Sawhorse""""The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman""Clearly aimed at an even younger audience than the regular books, most adults will probably find these a little too silly -- though some of the wordplay that both Baum and his successors are known for is in evidence (the Imps -- Udent, Olite and Ertinent, for example). One also wonders if the storyline in the lion/tiger vignette, with the two ferocious beasts desperately desiring to commit mayhem, but finding that they simply cannot do anything but be nice, tame pets, mirros in some ways Baum's ambivalence about re-starting the series which he had tired of - but was his only sure hit. Regular series artist John R. Neill's illustrations are among his best and are the high point for me, especially the double-page ones. The Books of Wonder facsimile reprint is up to their usual high standards.",4.0,for the very young at heart - Oz stories for the littlest readers,1253577600,"09 22, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQY5XBYSENNZQ,1452124574,Quickbeam,"[0, 1]","I well remember the Berlin Wall and grew up with it as a fact of life. I was in my 30's when it came down. One of the things this book does so beautifully is recreate the weird reality of a divided city for those who never knew it in real time. The texture of the narrative is just period perfect. The book has flow and pacing that works beautifully. I grew so find of Ada, Stefan and their worlds.I think this is a perfect YA book for anyone who seeks to understand the world, love and how we got to where we are today. It is a quick read and a delightful one. Highly recommended.",5.0,A lovely well written tale of a place and a time.,1397001600,"04 9, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AOMKUI325W2TJ,037571894X,Alberto Vargas,"[5, 9]","This book was so unwieldy I had to force myself to read it. I realize this is probably the Japanese version of magical realism, but for some reason it was a tedious read. I think part of the reason why it was slow is the typical Japanese insistence on describing boredom and the mood of ""what good can possibly happen"" a little too well.The only other Murakami novel I have read as of now is Norwegian Wood, and that is a wonderful breath of fresh air in comparison. In fact, Norwegian Wood is one of my favorite novels in general - check that out if you are just starting with Murakami.",2.0,Too slow and weird for its own good,1199836800,"01 9, 2008",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A1TQV9WDJIVF5U,0373184875,clam digger,"[0, 0]","This is a good book to take to the beach I think it is a series and I did read the whole series. I don't like to copy the blurb in the back, but I enjoy Sherryl Woods as an author.",4.0,A good book to read,1371859200,"06 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2BC1FNZSTADI5,0440226325,Es Em,"[0, 1]","There are very few romance novels that have tugged at my heart - Julia London's Wicked Angel is one of them.Unlike other negative reviewers, I did not find the narration tedious. I also for a change, found the protagonists human- making messes and errors and acting impulsively, and indulging in behavior completely unlike themselves under normal circumstances. How many of us have not done that? It made me relate to the story even more so.Without giving too much away the ""one single night"" sequence stole my breath away. Alex wishing that he could go to his mother's abandoned house with Lauren but knowing he could not, and later on barking at his driver to do just that - priceless!I loved this book a thousand times. Some have compared her to Judith McNaught, which I tend to agree. But McNaught sometimes can get corny. Wicked Angel is anything but that. Though I do think that Mcnaught's Heros are the best of them out there, and Alex of Wicked Angel is right there with them.My only complaint is that London sometime indulges in redundancy. Two same sentences repeated in two consecutive pages. But we can live with it. I have not loved London's other books as much, though I still have many more to read. But with Wicked Angel she gets an A+ grade and then some. Five stars!",5.0,Absolutely Fabulous Read!,1235001600,"02 19, 2009",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AQVNARLIFRRPK,157954276X,"Amazon Customer ""sharienne2""","[6, 7]","I needed a book to give me some ideas for new foods that I wasn't getting after I was diagnosed with food allergies.For that reason, I am very pleased with the number of alternatives for each recipe. It expanded my mind for what i could eat. It also inspired me to take all the food on my table (I arranged all the foods in the house that I could eat (with the exception of perishables, of course) on my kitchen table and arranged them by food group. That way I could look at all the ingredients and put together a healthful meal by making sure I get something from each of the food groups.)This book has so many suggestions, it just opened up my mind to new dishes.I plan to get one for my mother and my sister-in-law. They often cook when my husband and I come visit. They have been very concerned that I would have to bring all my food because they would have nothing I could eat.While I do plan to take some of my own stuff, I think the ideas in this book will give them both ways to make minor modifications in what they already cook. Don't worry about us - Thanksgiving and Christmas will still feature eating a lot of food! :)Shari",5.0,I'm going to pass it along,1064793600,"09 29, 2003",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A2O8R1A83EROU0,0446572802,C. Roll,"[0, 0]",This is the first book that I have read by this author. Was a really good book. I will be reading more off her books. If you like books with suspense you will enjoy this one.,5.0,Great read,1375315200,"08 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2KE32QJLFF1H1,B00H30I99O,"Jean Martindale ""GATOR""","[7, 8]","A very interesting new world with an alpha hero and a heroine that was sweet with interesting abilities, and who had an abusive past.",5.0,A new world,1387324800,"12 18, 2013",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A3OGBBP84T8L35,0575016167,kharlow,"[0, 0]",Yet more background on Witch World by Andre Norton. I have to go back and re-read her books from time to time to make sure I got all the details.,5.0,Add it in!,1358899200,"01 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1H2XQDWH1QBWW,0451218175,"Tigger ""cat lover""","[4, 6]","The back of the cover states that the story takes place in the Berkshires. Anticipating a story set in western Massachusetts, the location of the Berkshires, I was surprised to learn that the author actually set the book in Connecticut.At the beginning of each chapter, the author asks a question about a mystery writer. One of the questions is ""which author features cats and dogs in her books? The answer is not Lilian Jackson Braun, but the author says that is the correct answer. I get very annoyed when people write books but don't bother to look up the facts. If you don't want to be factual, then use a fake setting, and don't ask questions that have real answers.",2.0,"Please get your facts straight, Mr. Bain",1183075200,"06 29, 2007",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1N8C14R3UWBXL,0061992704,Mark Oestreicher,"[4, 4]","hey, consider it cultural research if you need to; because the author is a freakin' twitter phenom -- well over 1.6 million followers when he's only tweeted 127 times? and a book deal? and a tv show starting this fall, starring bill shatner? `nuf said. and, here's the skinny: i laughed my butt off reading this thing. it goes way beyond the funny, albeit courser than sandpaper, stuff his dad actually says. it's a book about fathers and sons. and, seriously, the love of halpern's crasser-than-crass dad comes through loud and clear in-between the soundbites. it's unconventional, to be sure; but it's clearly real. and that's encouraging to me as a dad. maybe my mouth isn't as crass, but my fathering is easily as flawed; and maybe i'm doing ok, if my love for my kids can leak through my insufficiencies in a similar way.",5.0,more than a funny book,1284422400,"09 14, 2010",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A201ORWJWO4XCI,B008GIMU8I,Enthusiast,"[19, 21]","- Intro -This book is about vitamin D, which apparently does help asthma.- Body -Take 5,000 units of D3 per day.Take more for a while if you are sick.Get blood tests if you are taking high doses.- Conclusion -This book was about vitamin D, which apparently does help asthma.- The end -",5.0,This book is about vitamin D.,1368316800,"05 12, 2013",19,21,helpful,0.9047619047619048,1 A3O0RET7IE3ASE,1401237738,SnJ,"[0, 1]",Great addition to the bat franchise. I've been in awe from the beginning. Lengthy stories and deep intrigue with brilliant tie ins keep the anxiety of the reader high. Must read.,5.0,Yesss,1364428800,"03 28, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3CPRVGC8293JJ,0439136350,"Wheat Ridge Writers ""Farmers""","[0, 0]","Maddiee MonroeMr. SlaterEnglish 98 Dec 2010Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Book ReviewOver the past two weeks, I decided to read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. As I was reading, I found that it was a fantastic thrill ride, that took me on a journey of Harry's self-realization and magical adventures; I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking a for an adventure.The plot is very exciting and suspenseful, leaving the reader hungry to read more. Hermione, Ron, and Harry experience several encounters with evil. While I read, I literally found myself at the edge of my seat, wanting to know how they get out of these predicaments. They must find Voldemort's Horcruxes and destroy them before the Wizarding World changes. Another struggle is that they need something that is powerful enough to annihilate the Horcruxes. Hermione, Ron, and Harry learn of three items known as the Deathly Hallows, but they must not get distracted by its power.The characterization in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is fantastic and as the conflict increases, you see more into Harry's mind and thoughts. Everyone is thoroughly described and you get a peek into their perspective. The conflict, Harry versus Voldemort, was first brought to life when Professor Trilony made a prophecy, ""Neither can live, while the other survives."" Harry has to figure out the meaning of the prophecy before its too late.Throughout the Harry Potter series a common theme is ""Good always triumphs over evil."" In this book, I found that though some characters were ""Muggle-born"", everyone deserved to be treated as equals. Some of the levels of hierarchy were unjust, but Harry and his friends strived to change the treatment of other magical creatures. The Dark Lord believed ""Magic is Might"", meaning pure-blood wizards should rule the world and there wasn't to be any blood trading. Dumbledore's Army fought against the Ministry to protect those who were not pure.Overall, this book was an arousing story full of hope. It was action packed, magical adventure with a little romance in the mix. I enjoyed reading this book. It is great quality and anyone that can read at a 5th grade level, should read this book. J.K. Rowling's imagination went soaring throughout the story, which gave this book a great pace.Work CitedRowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Scholastic, 2007.",5.0,Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Book review,1291939200,"12 10, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RP1I0SL7091Q,0060899220,jeanne-scott,"[9, 10]","This book was a scream! Funny and alarming and extremely interesting! It was brutally up front about life in the land of restaurants. My brother is a chef, and his stories about his life always seemed interesting but exaggerated, now that I have read this book, I think my brother was underselling his stories. If Anthony Bourdain adds a bit of detail to his stories I would be surprised! This book tells about the lives of people in the restaurant industry, and the stories ring so true to the lives of the people I have met in the "business". Hard working, hard partying, and completely consumed by their passion for food and the lifestyle that goes with it. The section on how to cook like a professional was full of information on equipment needed and well presented. If you want to know what really goes on in your favorite restaurant, or how people become a chef and why, then read this book. If you think you want to open a restaurant then read this book twice!!!",4.0,You'll Never Eat Fish or Specials on Monday!!,974678400,"11 20, 2000",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A2FYLWZLQIQUS4,1451678088,krafty pixie,"[0, 0]","I loved this book in the series. It gives you more insight into how the Black Sun's daughter. Can't say more or it'll spoil it. Such a great series. If you like your chicks to kick a$$ & aren't looking for the syrupy romantic novels, this series is the one you've been looking for!",5.0,More Please!,1379980800,"09 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMRXLLEYY7PUD,0989007006,ryry1,"[15, 15]","I love this book for one reason...it doesn't suggest to you to live poorly in order to save. So many of these financial books suggest (in a sense) to somehow reduce the quality of life, just to save a buck.That's nonsense!Millionomics takes a refreshing approach when it shares with readers lessons taught to the author by his father and how he's successfully applied these lessons to achieve financial freedom sooner than later.Expect no filler of fluff, just good quality PROVEN advice to help take you to the next level in your financial planning and execution.",5.0,No devaluing life in order to save,1367107200,"04 28, 2013",15,15,helpful,1.0,1 A23TQDWMUA4F6Y,B003ATPPVM,Tanya,"[0, 0]","What can I say... I love Laurann Dohner's books. Another hit. This book was a little shorter than her usual books, might be why the book was a little less than usual. There is some hot sex among an alien and a human. Loved the book.",5.0,Ral's Woman: 1 (Zorn Warriors),1401667200,"06 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1L113QXFHY3W1,B0055DYWWE,G. Hoffman,"[33, 40]","In order to review this book, I find it only fair to split my review into two sections - content and presentation.The content isn't bad, but it isn't remarkable either. If you're looking for a good overview of various personality disorders in layman's terms, you could do far worse than this little volume. I do like the fact that the author presents the information as defensive strategies you, a presumed normal person, might take when confronted with a difficult personality.As to presentation, this book is abysmal. The grammar issues, dropped words, and poorly structured sentences become, at times, comically distracting. My friends and I spent time reading some of the more choice examples aloud, and much hilarity ensued. Just as bad, I get the sense the author really wanted magazine-style sidebars, which just aren't possible in the Kindle format. The result is that the main flow of discussion is frequently broken up by mini-topics inserted into the main text. Ugh.Bottom line, the book shows a shocking lack of professionalism or pride in one's work. It made it a little difficult for me to take seriously, and I feel just a bit ripped off. Would it have been too difficult for the author to pass the work off to a friend from some basic proof reading?",1.0,A little OCD can be helpful,1320451200,"11 5, 2011",33,40,helpful,0.825,1 A1JCTV22FDWXVF,1931082332,"C. ""new graduate""","[0, 0]",I wrote a paper on the poets of World War II when I was in college and wanted a book to call my own.Carol,5.0,A book about the war poets of World War II,1384214400,"11 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWL9K0FB61Y4Z,B00EY1Z0E2,Mj Rhone,"[0, 0]","I like the writers simple and direct style but the book did not tell me much I didn't know, however it was easy reading.",4.0,How to hear the voice of God,1400198400,"05 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WKCOSKY5TUSW,042525674X,Connie K,"[5, 6]","Wow what a ride. By this part of a series things start to get repetitive and boring for me and I start to lose interest. That is far from being the case here, things are getting more interesting. Mercy and Adam are adorable and the relationship is a solid rock amidst all the craziness around them. Old favorites return and are fleshed out more and the new characters introduced are interesting.As always my only complaint is that I want more and wish I could have it now! I can't wait to find out what is going on with the walking stick and look forward to seeing more of Mercy and her intriguing family! On to the next adventure!",5.0,Keeps getting better!,1395964800,"03 28, 2014",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 ANCW5VBW11J1X,1612182771,"ak_sundog ""ak_sundog""","[6, 20]","Intrigued by the idea of a cover-up on the part of the pharmaceutical industry, I suckered for this book on the 99-cent daily Kindle deal. I'm just glad I wasn't ripped off for any higher amount. As for the vaccine debate, I lean toward caution . While recognizing the need for national ""herd immunity"", I feel that the drug companies are given far too much of a pass on adequate testing and safety, and I am acquainted first-hand with several people whose lives will never be the same again after an adverse reaction to a supposedly safe vaccine. But personal philosophy aside, this review is about the book, not the debated issue.What I found instead of a ""fast-paced thriller"" was horrible, sophomoric writing, a mostly predictable plotline, shallow, single-dimensional characters, and way too many convenient coincidences. I was so disgusted with the quality of the writing that I almost quit reading about halfway through, but picked it back up to see how things would end.The other thing that set me back was the amount of obscenity. It has long been my view that people who overwork obscenity to try to get an audience response simply lack the imagination or creativity to get their point across using normal language, and this author certainly bears that out. If Lender felt he needed a light sprinkling of foul language to emphasize a point it really wouldn't have raised my hackles. But at this level (35 f-bombs, 45 s***t's, 25 epithets of prick, bastard or a**hole) it was completely over-the-top and unneccessary. All of the stereotypical bad guys were of course bad to the bone, and the author's device to give us a window into just how nasty they were was to get inside their heads and write dialoge straight from their potty mouths. Interestingly, the epithets were exclusive to the team -- good guys called the bad guys bastards, and the bad guys called the good guys (or each other) the other two. It was almost amusing.Long story short -- save your money and your time, and don't buy this book.",1.0,Readers will need a high tolerance for wasted obscenity,1329782400,"02 21, 2012",6,20,helpful,0.3,1 A2JGZEFH1UIHSX,0373775954,The Loyal Book,"[0, 0]","Originally posted here: [...]I was having a boring afternoon and nothing interesting to do, so I picked up this book. A funny comedy, sexy and romantic. Something light and hopefully nice. Would the book keep this promise?Good girls don't lived up to my expectations and made me pass some lovely hours. It's not a masterpiece and well, it doesn't want to be, but it's full of humor, a bit sensual and with a taste of romanticism that, if I have to be honest, didn't disturb me at all. I love chick-lit, when I am in the mood for it; they made me relax and turn off my mind and daydream a bit and I liked spending time with Tessa and her family in the brewery.The novel has love relationships and a bit of mystery; Tessa, together with her two brothers, runs the family brewery where thieves have stolen some computers and Detective Luke Asher is working on the case. In the meantime, Eric, the older brother, is working on an agreement with the Kendall family which would lead their company to expand but Jamie, the younger brother, may have put it at risk by having a one-night stand with Kendall's daughter. That's the situation Tessa has to deal with in order to save her family, the agreement while trying not to think about a certain detective.The plot is fun, maybe a bit predictable but still enjoyable; Tessa, the female protagonist, is sweet and strong at the same time, she's very fond of her brothers and ready to do everything to help them. She's ironic but she knows her charm, sensual without being vulgar and she's not too cold or too attached to the fascinating detective Luke. Who, let's face it, is not exactly friendly, is a bit surly and touchy. And doesn't like to talk. Too bad that the chemistry between the two of them is really... hot and there are also fun moments. The other characters don't appear that much, but I would have loved to see more of Eric and Jamie, the two brothers, who were really likeable.As for the sexier scenes, I admit I was afraid I was going to hate them, because sometimes sex scenes tend to be badly written or just downright unbelievable. This time I think they had the right balance between sex and realism and I liked them.Overall, Good girls don't is a lovely read that will surely entertain romance lovers. I wouldn't call it an exceptional book, but it was a fun read and that's all I was asking for.My favourite quote:""Apparently falling slowly is a scientific impossibility. Falling means that you're not in control, doesn't it? I should've considered that.""",3.0,Light and fun,1359936000,"02 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQJ77TG1WWYD4,0670061654,Marge Ramos,"[0, 0]","I really love the illustrations, because of the simple style and paired down colors. Thank you bear is full of life. Very cute and sweet.",5.0,super cute,1305158400,"05 12, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1I8P5Q70I0TK9,0758232152,Sharon Corbett,"[0, 0]","Insightful story of a young mother's passion to protect her children from their abusive father and make a new life and home for them in the lovely town of Newbern Connecticut. This story gives readers understanding of how abuse not only harms the body physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Marie Bostwick makes her characters come to life in such a way that the reader feels she has actually met and made new friends.Great book for all to share!!",5.0,New future for young mother and children trying to escape the horrors of domestic abuse.,1398902400,"05 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AO904FB915S2D,1590581873,Barbara,"[0, 0]","I enjoyed the book very much. I was not disapointed in this book, it was as good as I expected.",5.0,Very good book.,1357257600,"01 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2K4CXGI3AVP9S,B00I5UVVN2,Kiki1of8,"[0, 0]",This book will go down as one of my favorites. This book will have you laughing out loud. I haven't laughed this much during a book since the Stephanie Plum series. I highly recommend this book. It's a light hearted romance full of humor and wonderful characters. You will find yourself reading it again and again.,5.0,"Absolutely, positively terrific",1396137600,"03 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DWUM6SN3N3NR,0679401407,Brian Wallace (Co-author of It's Not Your Hair),"[16, 20]","a ""spirited"" and authoritative look at the inner workings of the gospels and their attempt at giving meaning to the concepts of evil and Satan.Reading just one of her books obviously doesn't provide all the answers to a subject both complex and controversial. However, to read several of Pagels' books is to give your mind a tapestry of penetrating, insightful dialogue on arguably the most influential book of all centuries.Christianity and Judaism deserve a scholar who is willing to probe the depths and return with vivid, entertaining language that nullifies the typical babble occurring at any given moment in a Sunday sermon.Pagels does just that in a style that is always fresh and fulfilling to the mind and heart.Readers are able to develop appreciation of the gospels while gaining further understanding of what they were really about.",5.0,Religion is tricky,1014422400,"02 23, 2002",16,20,helpful,0.8,1 A3QZCA4LTTVGAD,0842321942,Michael J. Mazza,"[8, 19]",""Second Chance," by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, is the second book in their "Left Behind: The Kids" series of young adult novels. These books are rooted in fundamentalist Christian theology. This novel takes place after an event known as the Rapture. According to the book, all true Christians mysteriously disappeared from the earth during this Rapture, and those people remaining on earth will eventually face an apocalyptic nighmare.This sounds like the stuff of intense, sweaty-palmed drama, but this book is remarkably bland and boring. The characters are pretty much all shallow stereotypes, and the dialogue is dull. The melodramatic chapter titles ("Ordeal at O'Hare," "More Shocks," etc.) seem silly in light of the book's overall blandness.The book seems to have two main purposes: (1) to scare impressionable teens into becoming religious fundamentalists, or (2) to reassure those readers who have already embraced fundamentalism. I know the book is part of a series, but its abrupt ending makes it unable to stand on its own apart from that series. Overall, a weak piece of literature.",2.0,For religious fundamentalists and wannabes only,1006473600,"11 23, 2001",8,19,helpful,0.42105263157894735,1 A2KZCZED1LM415,0965035751,Dene,"[0, 0]",A republication of Hiram Bingham's discovery of Machu Picchu in the early part of the 20th Century. All of his riginal writings concerning the city and stronghold are detained.,5.0,Lost City of the Incas.,1356048000,"12 21, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFA94CPA8WWMI,0470139420,"C. Larson ""Grammy""","[7, 8]","This is a very hands-on guide with a lot of information to get you started, with some specific treatment guides. Great book.",5.0,Hands-on,1235433600,"02 24, 2009",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A1SDN7FOYXRSMS,0451461290,Amazon Customer,"[4, 5]","I'm a GGK addict. And I've loved all of his earlier books, but this one left me a little iffy. Part of the problem could be that instead of immersing the reader in a world based on an actual historic period, he's written a fantasy novel that occurs in modern-day France. That's a big disappointment to those of us that love his worlds. But I think the major problem is that, although it is full of beautiful language and well-researched as all his books are, the motivation behind the three characters that truly drive the story is very muddy. The why of the story is unclear. And frankly the characters that actually drive the action of the story are not well developed, and not very likeable. The end result is that you don't know why what's going on is going on and you don't really care. And his deus ex machina ending is heartbreakingly ham handed. Not typical GGK at all. However, GGK has still managed to imbue his work with that sense of longing and loss that makes his other (and better) works resonate in your mind for months and years after reading them. And his use of language is, as always, beautiful. These two factors alone make the book worth reading, but I'm not sure if it is worth loving.",4.0,Still not sure how I feel.,1184198400,"07 12, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3FXT4UPI30K7S,0982923007,"Cynthia Sue Larson ""best-selling author""","[5, 5]","Finding answers to big questions about the nature of reality in a graphic novel may seem unlikely ... until you read ""The Universe is a Dream."" Author Alexander Marchand describes nondualism in ways that are simultaneously fun and easy to comprehend, while treating the subject with appropriate respect.""The Universe is a Dream"" is a refreshing primer on a topic that is seldom discussed--let alone taught in western schools--despite the fact that when considered as a philosophical premise, nondualism has much to offer people seeking an end to suffering. The key to ending suffering, as Marchand points out, is to identify oneself with the Oneness, rather than with one's ego. In a nutshell, this is what ""The Universe is a Dream"" is all about.Because many of the ideas presented in ""The Universe is a Dream"" challenge most westerner's beliefs, this book suggests continuing with lifelong study of the concepts of nonduality as presented in ""A Course in Miracles"" in order to help people gradually improve their sense of who they really are in relationship to the universe. Those who have already intuited and recognized the nature of nondualism and are walking through the world in nondual reality will likely find this book refreshingly entertaining and validating.""The Universe is a Dream"" is a marvelous tool for delving into metaphysical topics in ways that produce numerous ""Aha!"" moments, and surely that was the reason it was created as a graphic novel in the first place. Thanks to the combination of visual images and words, all parts of a reader's mind are engaged while contemplating every page -- and the simplistic cartoon images provide reference points by which readers can later recall the ideas and examples presented in the book.""The Universe is a Dream"" is the perfect book for anyone suspecting they might be ready to wake up from the limited viewpoint of ego perspective into the wide, wonderful world of Oneness consciousness. Highly recommended!",5.0,The Big Picture of Reality ... in Graphic Novel Form,1331164800,"03 8, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3MDRYQC8ZSUJQ,1402770294,"Marc Ranger ""Baseball fan""","[22, 26]","Just got the book on publication date (4th May, 2010). I coudn't wait to get my eyes on it, being a student of Antarctic's Heroic era.I was not dissapointed. Great, powerful work. There are many priceless pictures, never before printed or published for the general public. One set of photographs shows the Scott polar party at the south pole. No words can describe the horror of those photographs. Scott appears more defeated and beat than on the classic South Pole shot where Birdie Bower pulled the string.Two pictures are particularly disturbing. One shows Uncle Bill Wilson in a very odd manner, surely he is not doing what he appears to be doing. Another shows Titus Oates in the process of dissapearing...Another pictures the same Oates, sitting on the cold snow, utterly defeated, beat, lost, suffering beyond imagining and hopeless.One other picture shows Amundsen, Shackelton and Robert Peary in New-York, posing for posterity around a globe.Two IMMORTALS GIANTS and a brutal, immoral and remorseless faker.For the pictures alone, this book is pure gold.That book is an absolute must for everybody interested in Antarctica exploration.A treasure.",5.0,Priceless,1273017600,"05 5, 2010",22,26,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A2RNLFVRTAVJV8,037321006X,Anissa Annalise,"[0, 0]","Quite enjoyable. The action really picks up at to 50% mark. I did find the sector recitations a bit difficult to keep straight & could have done with a schematic to visualize it. The mention of sector & quadrant designations meant virtually nothing since I couldn't work it out spatially. But in some ways, not having it did help to keep me as in the dark about Inside, Gateway, the Gap areas & how all these pieces fit, as the characters trying to work it out.Trella was a great character & narrator who truly grows as the story proceeds. I wanted her to trust earlier but it was easy to understand that given her experiences & world, she was doing so on pace. After I accepted that, I settled right in & went with it. The secondary characters are well drawn for the most part, except our ""villains"". I'm assuming this is because we are following Trella's POV but I hope that we're given something more than ""Travas want ultimate power & are evil"" as the ultimate reason for their actions, as the series progresses. Most of the guys in the book are written well, Cog, Riley, Jacy & Logan, but I very much wanted Trella & Anne-Jade to forge at least a closer working relationship. I thought that there was room for more than just one chica doing very plot-relevant things & all the good bits Trella skipped didn't need to be the just domain of the guys. The ending was exciting & the cliffhanger makes me want to read the next in the series.",4.0,Twists & Turns All the Way,1328832000,"02 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A9CUH06YAELMB,0060734558,Barbara A. Hawkins,"[0, 1]",Susan E. Phillips is back to her top form again in this book.,5.0,Match Me If You Can,1128384000,"10 4, 2005",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AMSMM06AMRQOE,0983785007,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I had my doubts about this book. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book and I never lost interest while reading it. However, it just seemed a little too cheesy at times. I thoroughly enjoyed how it all came together in the end though. I'm glad I picked this book up and will be purchasing it for a few people I think would enjoy it as well.",5.0,Stick with it,1399766400,"05 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AEPCAIRO9D3NL,0307245306,"twisted little puppy ""demi""","[5, 7]","WARNING! SOME MILD SPOILERS BELOW!!For me, ""The Lightning Thief"" wasn't too original. Plot wise, it takes many of the components of ""Harry Potter"" (Percy=Harry, Annabeth=Hermione, Grover=Ron, Chiron=Dumbledore, Clarisse= Draco, Camp Half Blood=Hogwarts, Kronos=Voldemort, etc), tossed with a bit of Neil Gaiman's ""American Gods"" (ie, the idea of mythological gods living in America in modern times, their world kind of hidden from mortal eyes). Anyone who has read Hamilton's ""Mythology"" or has a working knowledge of Greek mythology will recognize some of the characters long before it's revealed (it's pretty obvious who Percy's real dad is, for example). for kids new to Greek mythology, this book is a great introduction to some of these myths (it does a decent job of touching upon some of the lesser known ones, such as the story of Arachne and how Medusa was transformed).There were some issues/annoyances I had with this book:-the pace was rushed. I loved it was fast paced, but it was almost to fast paced. Percy seems to only be in camp for a few days; indeed the entire book takes place in the span of less than 2 weeks. I suppose kids like these ultra fast paced books, but it doesn't leave much time to know the other characters and so a lot of them turn out rather flat (Percy is by far the most well rounded character.)-the know-it-all attitudes of the other campers are starting to aggravate me. They roll their eyes and laugh when Percy asks a question, as if he should somehow know this. This sets up a delayed explanation that is then delivered by Annabeth. it's evident in the next book as well and quite irritating after a while-the actions of the characters are really silly, even for a YA fantasy book. the main trio fall into ridiculous, obvious traps, the villains are mostly inept, and in the end, a character basically commits murder (and this is handled in a nonchalant way).-as an adult, I like reading young adult and children's books, but this is a book that just didn't appeal to me on an adult level. it was a bit too ""cute"" and simple. I can't really explain why I feel this way, but I've read other YA fantasy books that felt more adult than this book, more gritty and believable.overall, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to a child since it is a great way of introducing them to mythology, but I just don't feel like this book lives up to other YA series like ""Chronicles of Narnia"". ""His Dark Materials"", and of course ""Harry Potter"". the premise is interesting, and Percy is a fantastic and funny character/narrator, but that alone doesn't make up for the fairly weak plot, which is basically just a revolving door of characters from mythology (I'll be interested to see how this is kept out through a 4+ book series)",3.0,"cutesy mashup of ""Harry Potter"", ""American Gods"" and Hamilton's ""Mythology""",1213574400,"06 16, 2008",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A11E9BAVKBW4M,B00HVKCMQC,Dneo,"[0, 0]","I liked the book. It reads like B-grade movie, that is a good thing. The tortured Captain drinks because of weakness not strength, think Niven not Bogart. The writer has a tendency towards clichéd characters instead of development. I hope he works on the characters as he has the action down.",3.0,Full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes,1405555200,"07 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A39S1U0K4FX39I,1401301614,Donna P.,"[0, 1]","This is vintage Candace Bushnell!! The different storylines were all great and I found I didn't want to put the book down! It's NOT a Sex and the City cast of characters, but a large variety of different personalities and age groups. I definitely see this as a new TV series. I enjoyed it enormously!!",5.0,I SEE A NEW TELEVISION SERIES!!,1225756800,"11 4, 2008",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A16T1LOB8GDSGR,0132281287,N. Robb,"[8, 12]","I closed this book on the paradoxes of business in China wanting to know more. The book is quite accessible and not a difficult read about a difficult society for this Westerner to understand.I was troubled by frequent references to Chinese policies as being 'amoral'. Amoral sounds better to me than immoral. The United States 'stands for morality' and regularly sets aside public values for political and economic interests. At least China is open about its attitude toward convenient deals.I went clothes shopping last weekend and found myself really looking at the ""made in"" labels. I decided not to purchase anything made in China. That would increase our national debt and trade imbalance with the PRC. It was extremely difficult to find anything NOT made in China. And, to top that, the clothing items were department store, medium to upscale items. I could only imagine the scale of the profits between the laborer and the purchaser.",4.0,Too Simple a View on A Complex Subject,1192752000,"10 19, 2007",8,12,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2PC2GAWKL7ZS2,1470042223,"Amazon Customer ""Ravenous for Romance""","[0, 0]","This was a story about an extraordinary werewolf named Amber and her mate, Blake. Amber has special powers because she was born on a full moon. And for other (spoiler) reasons. Amber has been on the run most of her life trying to keep away from the Council because her mother told her that the Council would kill them for not following Pack rules.After her mother was re-captured by the Council, Amber's grandfather sent her to a foundling home. Amber didn't stay there long because the other wolves were abusive, but it's where she met Blake.Some years later, she saves Blake after he crashes his truck and they become mates. Then she has to learn how to integrate into the Pack that Blake has formed.Overall, the story was not bad. I didn't hate it. The characters were all right, but the dialogue seemed stilted. My main problem with the book was that it had a lot, lot, lot of grammatical errors. Things that could have easily been picked up by a good beta-reader.",3.0,Werewolf,1363824000,"03 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EOOSBW132018,0676978584,Maurice Regan,"[0, 0]","This is an excellent book by a skilled and funny writer. If you would like to get away from the negativity of the pop psychology of depression and learn more positive behaviors and happiness, put the antidepressant vial away and open the book.Also, if you get a chance to hear Daniel Gilbert speak, go. Take notes. Steal his jokes.",5.0,We think we know depression and we really don't know happiness,1245456000,"06 20, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3J7C9UPY7CD1A,B00G67OQGK,Mrsburns,"[0, 0]","I am totally addictive to this series, but found this book lacking the smooth transitions of the last six. Many things were repeated, not only from the other stories, but within pages of the original words. The summary of all the books is very clear that the reader needs to start with the first story so why be repetitious? Quite a few grammatical errors as well that were distracting. That being said, let me reiterate that this is an awesome fictional series that has me very impatient for the next two books!",4.0,"Great series, this book lacks fluidity",1388707200,"01 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QFDQ512FZG58,193556238X,jamielovesbob,"[0, 1]",Didn't love this book but thought the writing was fine. I wouldn't recommend it and thought it was depressing. Not much else to say.,2.0,"Depressing story, OK writing but nothing to get excited about",1374883200,"07 27, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A33OG7R9CNGWX7,1499218680,Sarah,"[4, 6]","“Which was the more difficult path? Following one’s heart or following the dictates of society?” That's the question Fitzwilliam Darcy struggles with in Mr Darcy's Pledge, a Pride and Prejudice variation.It explores the struggle between being rational or impulsive, and whether to put duty ahead of desire, as well as the changing relationship between brother and sister. Darcy's tumultuous emotions following Elizabeth Bennet's refusal of his proposal of marriage, lead him to contemplate what it is he truly needs in a wife, so he may set about finding one. He must get married, of course, it is expected. Darcy's head and heart are pulling him all over the place, and he is confronted at every turn by reminders of what could have been had Elizabeth said yes. He grasps for stability in its wake.One of my favourite, and moving, passages of the story encapsulates Darcy's struggle and vulnerable state of mind:“Outside in the long passageway, he leaned his forehead against the cool paint of the wall, struggling to restrain the sobs rising up inside him. He would not cry. He had not cried for years, not since his mother had died and he had realized for the first time that he would never see her again. Men did not cry. At least, he did not."He brought up the side of his fists and struck the soft pads at the unyielding wall. Pain resonated through him. His body sagged against the wall. He was so tired. Tired of fighting. Tired of trying to pretend nothing was wrong. Tired of holding his shattered soul curled up into a tight ball inside him.”After many months, events lead to Darcy again crossing paths with Elizabeth Bennet, in different circumstances to those of the original Austen story. He finds himself in the position of being in close quarters with her, but surrounded by other people, including more than one woman who would be quite happy to marry him, along with interfering relatives who think they know what's best. Their expectations only serve to confuse him even more.There have been other stories that set out to delve into Darcy's frame of mind, each taking a different approach. Mr Darcy's Pledge provides an emotional analysis that stands up well, and is volume one in what has been called The Darcy Novels. When I started to read Mr Darcy's Pledge, I thought I could guess what it (the pledge) might be, but by the time I reached the end, I realised it was something more. Roll on volume two.[A copy of this book was provided by the author for review.]",4.0,"When head and heart are pulling in opposite directions, what can you do but grasp for stability",1398556800,"04 27, 2014",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1E7V4I5VM6QX0,0399250824,"Guy P. Harrison ""Author, skeptic, science pro...","[0, 0]","The only thing I don't like about Berkeley Breathed is that he doesn't produce more instant classics like this. He is the Dr. Seuss of the 21st century. He is so good that I find it frustrating that there are not more of his books to buy.""Pete and Pickles"" is another combination of brilliant art and meaningful story telling. Most children's books are read once and chucked. ""Pete and Pickles"", however, is one I revisit often to read to my kids. If they would let me, I would probably be reading it to them while they are in high school.If you haven't hopped on the Berkeley Breathed wagon yet, check out ""Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big,"" ""The Last Basselope: One Ferocious Story"", ""Goodnight Opus"", ""Flawed Dogs"", and ""Mars Needs Moms"". All are so creative, thoughtful, and charming that your children will love and learn from them over and over.--Guy P. Harrison, author ofRace and Reality: What Everyone Should Know About Our Biological Diversityand50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God",5.0,Another home run!,1249516800,"08 6, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EJPF2NSCMCAY,0449219631,John-78,"[0, 0]","I'm one of the three people in the world who has never seen the movie JAWS, so this was a special treat to read and enjoy the book without knowing how it would end. (I've since learned the movie has a different ending, so maybe I'll rent it one day, or not)What I liked most about this novel is how well it's written. It moves quickly (so many books don't!), has lots of realistic dialogue (Quint had me laughing out loud several times with his snappy salty language - which I'd bet wasn't in the PG movie), and the story is very unique. The affair between Brody's wife and Hooper works great in building suspense towards the end of the book. I'd recommend this to anyone who hasn't seen the movie, you'll enjoy it a lot like I did.",4.0,enjoyable! and I never saw the movie,1320710400,"11 8, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17SJSS0WJDN9,0989448703,rdgoodll,"[0, 0]","Twignibble is a wonderful book for young readers. The main character Twignibble travels around the world to help his friends that are in need. He works really hard to help them find solutions to their environmental problems. All of his animal friends are different and unique which is a great tool to teach children that we all have special talents and characteristics. Also, the tools Twignibble uses to help his friends are ones that children today can relate to, like the computer. I really enjoyed reading this book and recommend it for all youngsters and the young at heart!",5.0,Great book!,1379980800,"09 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15B8D8TBOHLO1,1476735247,Heidi Lis,"[0, 0]",Really good story and it kept you on the edge to see if the Mr. Blackstone would get his girl. The plot kept you guessing. Great read.,5.0,AMAZING,1364601600,"03 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EJKQD72ZO2AP,0425212793,"Beverly Romance Books ""Beverly""","[15, 17]","Jodi Thomas starts a new trilogy in her touching, in-depth style about the orphaned McMurray family and the McMurray Ranch. The handsome, rugged, half-breed Texas Ranger Travis McMurray returns home to the family ranch and takes his sister Sage to the local dance where he happens across who he feels is a "" beautiful fairy"" skulking around the edges of the dance. It is the runaway Rainey Adams, running from a harsh father and an arranged marriage in order to find a new life and identity out west. The last thing she feels she needs is to be tangled with a Texas Ranger. She steals Travis's horse and blends in with a wagon train heading west. When Travis follows, not only to retrieve his horse, but to discover the identity of the beauty he cannot seem to stop thinkig about, the wagon train is attacked and Travis is left seriously injured and unable to walk or ride properly. Rainey feels responsible for his injuries, but knows she cannot stay long enough to help. She flees once more and settles down in Austin where she continues to think about the handsome Texas Ranger and how he is recovering from his injuries. She decides to write him. Little does she know that she is also in Travis's thoughts and as he struggles with being a cripple, her letters become a source of strength to him. The pen pal relationship continues and once healed Travis decides to practice law and seeks Rainey out, only to have some past Ranger trouble follow him. The story is beautifully written with deep insight into the characters feelings and struggles. If you are a romance fan looking for a string of passionate love scenes, they are not here, although underlying passion is, but it is somewhat subdued and builds toward the end. The unspoken and unacted upon passion of the characters blend together with some mystery and murder in a story of such feeling that make this book hard to put down.",4.0,Another Excellent Western Romance,1170547200,"02 4, 2007",15,17,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 A1N9OA03PECA38,0312577214,"David N. Parker ""pflagtnet""","[12, 14]","This is not a happy story.This sequel to Firefly Lane, which ended with Kate's death from cancer, relates emotionally and realistically how Kate's best friend Tully and Kate's extended family slog through their grief and self-criticism after her death. While largely presented from Tully's point of view, segments included offer background information about individual family members that form a backdrop for their reactions.Kate made Tully promise on her death be to be there for Kate's family after she is gone. Kate's love and bright personality was the glue that held the Ryan family together. Her husband Johnny, twin boys Lucas and Wills, and sixteen year old daughter Marah will need Tully's presence and support.But Tully is too devastated herself to help them. Marah is so steeped in grief she retreats into herself, and her father reacts with anger rather than love. Each has regrets about somehow failing Kate; in their case it makes helping each other impossible.Hannah has a knack for writing about strained relationships. It would take a very cold person not to become emotionally involved with her characters. Many readers will recognize our tendency to blame ourselves we think we have done wrong. We feel responsible even for things that are out of control. Taking this responsibility often leads to poor choices; thereby reinforcing one's self-blame - as it does here.This book is very well done; well written, with realistic characters. It may even make us think about our relationships and how to strengthen (or repair) them. Once I started Fly Away, it was hard to put down.",5.0,Kate's family grieves their loss,1367020800,"04 27, 2013",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A3MT2MUH64M51G,0876855540,MollyRDH,"[0, 1]","My first book by Fante, an easy read. Good ending, I* was satisfied. Next will be reading After the Dusk.",4.0,EASY READ,1380499200,"09 30, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AA6DOX95OL7AM,1402279450,Bonnie cook,"[0, 0]","A terrific novel, the story was such an interesting take on the silk industry , & a wonderful story about the generations of a family that depended on the silk trade. A great read.",5.0,Last telegram,1375228800,"07 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2B4W87UWJV5T6,073820076X,"""freethoughtmecca""","[13, 14]","Ghiglieri convincingly points out the parallels in human behavior found in primatology, focusing on the capacity for our closest genetic relatives, the chimps, to literally murder, rape, and go to war. Although I find the third part of his book, which is focused on finding appropriate responses to man's inherent biological capacity for violence to be rather polemical tripe, his anthropological look at what is often considered as merely a problem of socialization and environment is refreshing. His assertion that lex talionis, "eye for an eye" justice is an antidote for violent behavior within American society might better be encapsulated within another book. There are drawbacks to this approach that Ghiglieri doesn't examine, and might better be addressed by someone experienced in criminal psychology. Also, when comparing the American criminal justice system to systems in France and Saudi Arabia, it is best to entertain many hypotheses for the ostensive differences in recidivism, crime rates, and quality of life- surely the data is not so clear cut to always suggest a cause and effect relationship between the harshness of punishment and the subsequent levels of crime. And this isn't even to mention the prickly possibilities for human rights abuse, though certainly it is troubling to see criminals released back to society only to claim more victims. So in short, while it is no coincidence that men are the vast majority of violent offenders, and that the differing abilities of men to sire an infinite amount of offspring, in comparison to women being limited has left its traces on human psychology, facile answers aren't to be found. Calling to public opinion on the death penalty, as well as police departments, only demonstrates that indignation is a protective response to maintain reciprocal altruism in society- not that this means the death penalty will be effective in the age of megalopolises. Thus I don't see Ghiglieri's pronouncements on social policy to be as convincing as his empirical evidence to suggest that violence predates civilization and its taint- M. Mead be damned.",4.0,Lex Talionis leaves the World Blind,961027200,"06 15, 2000",13,14,helpful,0.9285714285714286,1 A1USKH3QYSWVWE,1481217747,I enjoyed all four stories. Much to short but...,"[0, 0]",I like a good book that I can't wait to get back too. This book was like that. Hard to put down.,5.0,Great Book,1373500800,"07 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A22RFVQVELM1AU,1442366109,51deejay,"[0, 0]","That is what this book makes me. The story was very interesting, Phil and Kate are an inspiring couple. Thank you Phil for writing the book, if was like setting at your kitchen table just talking to you.",5.0,HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY,1372636800,"07 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADNGI8P9AJJAC,0307451631,Kimberly Strong,"[0, 0]","I bought this book from the Barnes and Noble bookstore. Though is has good information in it and does suggest some good websites to try out, I unfortunately found a lot of dead links in the book. Though I admit, my son is only in the preschool level so I haven't need to look through most of the book yet. I've done better just doing Google searches on my own.",3.0,Disappointing,1310860800,"07 17, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1KP1UPX7UQ8UT,0441015131,Woofdog,"[21, 24]","This review may contain spoilers.This book presupposes some familiarity with the Revelation Space series, as some stories lose a lot of their meaning or significance if you don't understand persons or events referred to. Others depend much less on any familiarity with RS.Along with the recent publication of The Prefect, Alistair Reynolds has begun publishing in the RS universe again. Stories here include background stories on Nevil Clavain, Felka, and Galiana, stories set in the Sol System, a story set on Yellowstone post-plague, one on Sky'e Edge, and a somewhat bizarre story which finally gives more than a name to Greenfly, (which was tossed into the very end of Absolution Gap with no explanation whatsoever, one of several defects in that title,) though the temporal telescoping in the last story reminds me more of something Poul Anderson might have written.I wonder if Reynolds himself had decided on the origin of greenfly when Absolution Gap was published; the 4-page epilogue which substituted for actual resolution of that book gives few if any clues...This is an enjoyable collection, well worth getting!",4.0,Short stories set in the Revelation Space universe,1181174400,"06 7, 2007",21,24,helpful,0.875,1 A1X31EFDEVRSCZ,0307750922,"Charles E Lamb ""Charlie""","[0, 0]","Another good Jack Reacher Book by Lee Child. I'm reading all the series, and am waiting for the 18th book in the series",5.0,Good Book.,1372636800,"07 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AOTRWWEIYUFGN,0452289947,"B. Wolinsky ""Spudlicker""","[0, 0]","Even by the 1970's, Holocaust survivors were reluctant to talk about it. Teachers in Jewish schools were instructed not to answer any questions about it. After all, how do you answer a kid who asks ""why did this happen to us?""Mark Kurzem's father always told his kids that he was adopted by a wealthy Latvian who escaped the communists and brought him to Australia. But in the mid-1990's, the elder Kurzem reveals the truth; that he was born a Jew, his family massacred in the Holocaust, and the men who ""rescued"" him were the ones who murdered his family. Here begins an odyssey to locate his father's hometown, and the remains of his family.The results are both life-affirming and shocking to read about.Most Jewish Americans will know someone who survived the Holocaust. I've known survivors who welcomed the chance to talk about it, others who carried their secrets to the grave. It was not until the 1960's that the survivors began to speak up, and by then there was little chance of finding the murderers. Records were lost, trails grew cold, governments were reluctant to extradite their citizens.As the survivors die off, so does the memory.",5.0,Truth Hurts,1302998400,"04 17, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQARFWM93VBQQ,1481087576,Hilda,"[0, 0]","Like I said, this started as a nice story but it became boring because of all the extra side tales , but I really had trouble figuring how a stern wheeler",3.0,A nice story,1388793600,"01 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AKR78NDFCP846,1483918432,Sheila0824,"[4, 4]","Totally freaking awesome! I am not really into the typical Romance novel, and this book made me want to get into them! NA is the next best thing, so you should get on the wagon now and CHECK IT OUT!!! I'm in love with this whole book :)",5.0,Best read of the year!,1364256000,"03 26, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A23YNT1NS1V0OJ,0312626681,"Lily ""Lily G""","[5, 11]","My book club selected this, I doubt I would have selected it on my own. At first, I found the author's sarcasm entertaining. Eventually it just got on my nerves. Did she have to keep reminding us that she was a writer with an advanced degree? I enjoyed some portions of this book but I cannot give it more than a 2 star rating.",2.0,We get it! You have a Ph.D.!,1279152000,"07 15, 2010",5,11,helpful,0.45454545454545453,1 APBA7Y4SINS0H,159420571X,"switterbug" Betsey Van Horn,"[8, 11]","The first two lines of the novel:""Lydia is dead. But they don't know that yet.""Is this the beginning of a great story, or just a gimmicky hook? If you are looking for a suspense or crime thriller, you will be largely disappointed. This is a domestic drama about a Chinese-American man (born in the US), James Lee, his blonde, Caucasian wife, Marilyn, and their three children. Lydia, just sixteen, is the middle child, the one that they have projected their dreams onto, although James and Marilyn have different approaches and aspirations for her--which is a problem for Lydia, one she doesn't share with them. I felt that Ng's overall result was a mixed bag.I was on board with Ng's type of story and style--the family dynamics that make unhappy families what they are, but there were inherent problems in the author's assertions, and some heavy-handed pronouncements. The most bothersome of these was the premise of almost draconian racism that was supposedly present in the mid-seventies America. I remember the late 60's junior high, and the most popular girl in our school (and head cheerleader) was a Chinese-American girl (the only one in the school). I did not see any evidence of her being ostracized. In Ng's book, all three of the children were severely blackballed by their peers, and even the newspaper made some statements that read as if out of 1920. I lived in small town New England, the Lees lived in small-town Ohio. Perhaps Ohio IS different, but it overreached, and became ham-handed after a while, with the author constantly (repetitively) returning to this issue. And, James, who was a graduate of Harvard in the 60's, apparently suffered from the same thing.Marilyn's hang-up was that she never went to medical school; her plans were jettisoned when she got pregnant, and then she and James married. Her mother implied disapproval of James, so she never spoke to her mother again for the rest of her mother's life. Marilyn decided that her daughter was going to pick up where Marilyn left off, and started buying her stacks of books oriented toward the math and science she would need to accomplish in order to get into medical school. James was determined that Lydia would have the social life that he had been barred from all his life due to discrimination.The other two children, Nath and Hannah, are not as special to James and Marilyn. Although Nath is graduating high school, and was accepted at Harvard, his parents' delight is peripheral to the centrality of their especial child, Lydia. The core of their lives is Lydia, and the core of this novel seems to be how the impact of racism affected this family and created disharmony and dysfunction. Yet, towards the end, the author tacked on a new issue, one I won't reveal except to say that it didn't feel organic, and the authorial intrusion intensified for this reader.Ng writes lovely passages, and for that alone I would be open to reading her next novel. It was evident that she was illuminating the contrasts between external feelings of marginalization and the internal struggles that we all have regarding our differences. Regardless of the outward and pointed distinctions, it is a universal problem to feel alienated, and that came across well. However, Ng's approach periodically felt like a disquisition on cultural diversity, which pulled me out of the story of these specific characters. She fell into a few debut-novel traps, but I suspect that she will mature as a writer.",3.0,Domestic drama about grief,1403913600,"06 28, 2014",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A2RELU94NM7RWI,0765368269,Ian Kaplan,"[0, 0]","Joan Vinge is a good writer. The book starts out well and is good through the first half. Then the stupid screen play catches up to Ms. Vinge and there's nothing she can do about it. The reason that the aliens in the title are on earth doing nasty things is so stupid that only a Hollywood screenplay moron could have come up with it. Without giving much away, let me point out that a species that is capable of interstellar travel would not act the way these aliens do.I bought the book used for $4 so I'm not out much and Ms. Vinge's writing is always enjoyable. It was painful, however, seeing such a good writer struggle with such an ultimately stupid and flawed plot. So I'd save your money and time, if I were you.",2.0,"Joan Vinge is a very good writer, but even she can't save this stupid plot",1342569600,"07 18, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26KOC2I2OKXOT,B008472CO8,Scottie,"[0, 0]","This is a first person account of a guy who grew up with Kit Carson, hunting, trapping and fighting Indians.It's the real deal!This is a man who spent his life as a professional hunter and indian scout with a few brief interludes of 'respectable' work. All those western movies that people used to watch were based on something, and this was it -- but better, because it's the real McCoy!His stories are funny, terrifying, heartwarming. They are matter of fact, sometimes tongue-in-cheek. I feel like I'm sitting down with my grandpa when I read it-- if my grandpa were an indian fighter.Some people may be offended by is treatment of the Indians, but it must be said, he was a man of his time. As he (and many others) saw it, there were good Indians and bad Indians. The difference was, the bad Indians tried to kill you on sight.Anyone who wants an understanding of American/American Indian culture, the old west, or the new west should read this book. Fascinating and entertaining.",5.0,Fantastic Book,1358121600,"01 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QY6XU0DM6A5H,0938497537,Technical Trainer,"[0, 0]",Pros: Carousel restoration - you learn enough to make it interesting. But not so technical you'd snooze.Oakland earthquake references brings contemporary feel and timeliness to the story.Complicated family historyEngaging plotCons:Ending is too contrived. Everything wraps up too nicely in the end.too tidy and not realistic. In real life the jerk gets awayemotional failure - so many places where author could have played on the reader's emotions but failed to dashing.Recommended for women seeking light read,3.0,Bundled Joy,1389398400,"01 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1RECBDKHVOJMW,0060573651,"Jana L. Perskie ""ceruleana""","[10, 10]","Author Jean-Christophe Grange has come up with a real page-turner in ""The Empire Of The Wolves,"" his fourth book. This novel noir is a terrific suspense thriller which delves into contemporary Turkish politics, exploited Turkish immigrant workers in Europe, an up close and personal look at the French police system, neurological research and experimentation, plastic surgery, serial killers, amnesia, and memory distortion. Grange, a former reporter, demonstrates his journalistic background with his attention to detail and the depth of his research. The plot is somewhat reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's work. It features a woman with severe memory problems and bizarre scientific experimentation with the human brain. A fast-paced narrative, quick, accurate character sketches, very descriptive, almost graphic prose, and offbeat settings add to the novel's drama and uniqueness.Anna Helms, a lovely Parisian woman and wife of a senior police official, has been having serious neurological problems. She experiences temporary loss of memory, hallucinations and intense panic attacks. Sometimes she fails to recognize her own husband, and at others she feels she knows people she has never met. Both her neurologist, (a shady character), and her husband believe Anna may have a brain lesion. However, Anna will not allow them to take cortical tissue from her brain for a biopsy. She slowly begins to piece her life together, the parts she can recall, and nothing adds up. As she searches for her identity, Anna becomes more suspicious. Finally, she seeks alternate medical help.Simultaneously, in the same city, a vicious serial murderer is at work terrorizing the Turkish immigrant population. Three corpses have been discovered, all redheaded Turkish females, all workers from the same sweatshop, all brutally disfigured. Two French police detectives are at work on the case. Paul Nerteaux, is a good cop, dedicated, who has a real vocation for detective work. He brings a renegade cop back from retirement to assist with this case. Schiffer, called ""The Cipher"" or ""Mr. Steel,"" has broken all the rules too many times to count. However, he has an in-depth knowledge of Paris' Turkish community. They discover that ""The Gray Wolves,"" an extreme right-wing, Turkish nationalist group may be behind the killings. All the twisting, turning points of the story converge, explosively, in the brooding nighttime streets of Paris and the winding walkways of Istanbul.Grange's writing is spare and superb. His characters are all unusual, even the dead ones - the victims. And most have backgrounds steeped in violence. Yet Grange doesn't allow his readers to acclimate to the bloodshed or the brutality. The descriptions of the murders are quite graphic, so this is not a book for the faint-of-heart. Some of the scenes are haunting, others nightmarish. And the ambiance is dark, murky, almost surreal at times. Overall, I am so impressed by ""The Empire Of The Wolves"" that I plan to look for some of the author's other titles. Highly recommended.JANA",5.0,A Superb Novel Noir,1102636800,"12 10, 2004",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A1X421GXCXTHPA,0805439609,"B. Hart ""Investigator & analyst""","[4, 4]","This map does not have Laodicea or Colosse on it. We picked those up in the first minute looking at it. Also missing are Smyrna, Sardis, Pisidian Antioch through which Paul traveled on all of his journeys, and Damascus. There may be other significant place names missing. I quickly found that these were missing - there may be others. You get the point. Trying to decide if I want to send it back, or just write in the missing locations with a permanent marker. Although it is made well and there is interesting overview information on the back, I'm not pleased with its lack of map information. Considering that my much smaller back-of-the-bible map has these places, I don't understand why they left them off this larger map. !?!",1.0,Missing significant locations - A disappointment,1347926400,"09 18, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1D2C0WDCSHUWZ,0141012692,"E. A Solinas ""ea_solinas""","[612, 672]","Sometimes an author has a theme running through all of his writing -- in the case of Jonathan Safran Foer, it seems to be a quest of the soul. His follow-up to the cult hit ""Everything Is Illuminated"" is the poignant, quirky, tender ""Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close,"" which takes readers back to the rubble of ground zero.Oskar Schell is a precocious preteen, who has been left depressed and traumatized. His father died in the September 11 attacks, leaving behind a mysterious key in an envelope with the word ""Black"" on it. So with the loyalty and passion that only a kid can muster, he begins to explore New York in search of that lock.As Oskar explores Manhatten, Foer also reaches throughout history to other horrific attacks that shattered people's lives, including his traumatized grandparents. Though the book is sprinkled with letters and stories from before Oskar's time, the boy's quest is the center of the book. And when he finally finds where the key belongs, he will find out a little something about human nature as well...Historically, only a short time has passed since 9/11, and in some ways ""Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"" reopens the wounds. It reminds me of all the families who lost fathers, mothers and children. But Foer doesn't use cheap sentimentalism to draw in his readers, nor does he exploit the losses of September 11th families. It takes guts to write a book like this, and skill to do it well.In some ways, this book is much like Foer's first novel, but he deftly avoids retreading old ground -- the ""quest"" is vastly different, the young protagonist is very different, and the conflicts and loss are different, though no less hard-hitting. Foer also sticks to that wonderfully oddballish prose, which gives a gloss of lightness to a deep plot.After all, that is what made his first book so appealing -- there are parts of ""Extremely"" that are laugh-out-loud funny, and quirky characters worthy of a Wes Anderson movie. For example, one scene has Oskar sending a letter to Stephen Hawking, asking, ""Can I please be your protégé?""Child genius Oskar will probably make you want to either smack or hug him -- I tended more towards hugs. That's because Foer doesn't make Oskar seem like a tiny adult -- he's brilliant, but his mind still has the whimsy of a child's mind. His little ""inventions"" are just the sort of thing you'd expect an imaginative nine-year-old to create, and his quest is a realistic one, considering the tragedy he had suffered.""Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"" proves that Jonathan Safran Foer was no one-hit wonder. His enchanting second book tackles a great tragedy with warmth, depth and sensitivity. Outstanding.",5.0,Loud and lovely,1110412800,"03 10, 2005",612,672,helpful,0.9107142857142857,1 A3S83VUOO9Q9XZ,1586482661,Anthony W. Skaggs,"[17, 31]","This book sold well in its German original, but I'm not sure why. It meanders and never gets to the point. Perhaps the writer meant to be impressionistic, but doesn't have the skill to really pull that off. Perhaps it was too literally translated, but I don't think that was the real problem. The translator seems to do well enough with the material he was presented with, even providing some explanatory footnotes for historical terms and aspects of life in the former GDR. And his translator's essay at the end of the book is superior to Hensel's jottings. I doubt Hensel is the right person to provide an interesting reminiscense of growing up in East Germany, or life since then. My suspicion is that this is a book by the kind of individual who gets by regardless of the kind of country they find themselves living in. For a far more sympathetic and sensitive look at the same theme, try the film ""Goodbye, Lenin"". This book already has a huge number of used copies available, and there's a reason for that.",2.0,Irritating little book,1111017600,"03 17, 2005",17,31,helpful,0.5483870967741935,1 A3R8VRUPGQJUTR,0505524759,Juliana Boucher,"[0, 0]","This book was part of a trilogy of books by Dee Davis, I read all three and was very pleased with them all! Very captivating and kept me at the edge of my seat, I didn't want to stop reading them!",5.0,awesome,1399852800,"05 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8KM4YOB8FGGH,0345520602,"Jodi ""languagejunkie""","[5, 6]","This is evidently the first in a brand new series and I am already a little too eager for the next installment. This book was so much fun, I couldn't put it down! Raylene is such a likable kind of vampire and I could feel myself relating to her on more than one level. In most urban fantasy, the vampires might have one or two flaws, but are overall considered to be perfect or near perfect. Raylene has so many (minor) flaws that I sometimes temporarily forgot she was a vampire - she seemed so human. She has a moderate case of OCD, is a bit paranoid (and freely admits this!) and is (per her own words) on her way to Crazy Town. What's not to like about that kind of vampire?! She also has a soft spot for children, even if she won't admit it, as she lets two homeless siblings squat in one of her empty warehouses AND provides them with money, a disposable cell phone and a key to the mailbox (so she can send them money and replacement cell phones while she's out of town) and let's not forget her kickin' sense of humor. Mix all these attributes together and you've got one pretty hip vamp.Raylene is hired by the blind vampire Ian to retrieve some medical paperwork that details what was done to him to cause him to go blind. This sounds like a fairly easy job and Raylene takes an immediate interest in this case because, to be honest, it scares her. What kind of things can people do to a vampire to make him go blind? Vamps are supposed to be fast healing creatures and should not be able to go blind. Well, Raylene takes the case and soon finds herself being hunted down at every turn. Obviously, there is somebody out there who either 1)wants this paperwork for himself or 2)wants to keep Raylene from getting her hands on it or 3)both of the above. Raylene soon meets up with one sexy ex-Navy Seal drag queen who also has a personal interest in this case. Together they go on the road to try to track down Ian's medical paperwork.I couldn't put this book down! This is the first of Ms. Priest's work that I've read and I am so impressed (I found myself laughing out loud frequently while reading this book!) that I am planning on looking into some of her previous work. I donate the majority of my books to the library when I am done with them, simply because I don't have enough space to keep every single book I buy, but this particular book has earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf, as I know I will be rereading it in the near future.",5.0,I want to live inside this book!,1292457600,"12 16, 2010",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 ACREHLVRC4H5B,030788743X,"bionichands ""procrastinator""","[0, 0]","There was a lot in this book that made me want to roll my eyes, mostly the 80s nostalgia schtick. I grew up in that decade and yeah I loved all the same stuff and yeah I've loaded programs from a cassette drive on a vic-20. All of the pop culture nostalgia doesn't necessarily make for a good book. It kind of strikes me as a not so subtle marketing method. ""Hey! Do you like the 80s? Did you play D&D;? You'll LOVE this book.""In spite of the above cynicism, Ready Player One is actually a pretty good story. Its a nerd fantasy that hits all of the right notes. And even though I wanted to roll my eyes at times, I just flat out enjoyed it.I've been looking through some of the other reviews, and I have to disagree that this is really great sci-fi, because its not. Comparisons to Neal Stephenson are just ludicrous. It reminded me more of something written by Rob Sheffield or Chuck Klosterman. Full of geeky, in-the-know references, in the context of an adventure story where the boy gets the girl at the end.Anyway, if you consider yourself a geek or you ever had a crush on Jordan in Real Genius, then you will probably enjoy this book. Its not a book that I would recommend for everyone.",4.0,Bubblegum for Nerds,1317600000,"10 3, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1AQR8GQHXHAG9,B00D6KPC1S,lisa,"[4, 4]","Hero for Hire. All monsters dispatched from carnivorous geese to Minotaurs. Special rates for multiples. Eno the Thracian, at the sign of the Ram's Head, one flight up.Right from the beginning this book knows exactly what it is and lets you know. It's a fun, tongue-in-cheek ride through the ancient civilizations. The author knows the mythology, knows the history and then bends both skillfully to her will, delivering a highly enjoyable, imaginative story that doesn't take itself too seriously.Story structure is clear, logical and well crafted. The characters are consistent within the context of the story. Eno the Thracian hero got a bit of a modern makeover, but that's part of what I like about it. It reminded me a lot of Hercules, the tv show. The book does need another round of proofreading - one typo, three wrong words/wrong tense and one paragraph that repeats. I almost cried when I found them. This story is too well written to contain distractions. This was a great way to spend a rainy day.",4.0,Truly entertaining read,1380067200,"09 25, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A28GEIVP5KQMZU,0060740914,TundraVision,"[14, 17]","This book is one of the ""Imponderables™"" series, which, the jacket claims, ""has become the unchallenged source of answers to civilization's most perplexing questions."" Like the title question ""Do Penguins Have Knees?"" or ""Why are there legless ducks on the crests of Cadillacs?"" Readers write in questions, and the author finds experts with answers.There's Stuff in here I never knew I didn't know. ""Why are sticks of margarine and butter thicker and shorter in the Western United States and longer and narrower in the East?"" Hmm. I never noticed. This book never answers a logical follow-up question - Where is the geographical cut-off line? Is it like broadcasting station call letters that kinda sorta are assigned according to whether the station is East or West of the Mississippi? (W*** east and K*** west except for Fargo, which is West of the Headwaters of the Mississippi but has ""W"" stations anyway - but that is an ""Imponderable™"" for another Day.)Speaking of answers that raise other questions, teasers for other books in the ""Imponderables™"" series run rampart through this book. E.g. When answering ""How do they make Hot Dog buns that are partially sliced?"" the author begins by saying: ""Now that we solved the Imponderable of why there are ten Hot Dogs in a package and only eight Hot Dog buns in a package (See *Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise?* ..."" or imparting the information that the most FAQ is ""Why are buttons on men's shirts and jackets arranged differently from those on women's shirts?"" and then leaving the readers hanging until we can procure copies of previous books.We are not tackling ""What is the meaning of life?"" here, but the quick questions and answers are entertaining and illuminating.",4.0,Why? How? Hunh?,1032739200,"09 23, 2002",14,17,helpful,0.8235294117647058,1 A161ANMM43TQGI,0345803485,Amy Carter,"[5, 7]","I was reluctant to read this. It was getting so much hype, that I didn't want to fall into being one of the 'followers'.I have a girlfriend who started reading them and was turned off by them.I have another girlfriend who said they were really good and that I 'needed' to read'em.Still, I was reluctant.From the get-go, I've heard these were Twilight fanfic. I can see how it could be. I mean some of the things, convo's, clothes, etc...are just 'REALLY?'. IF it's true or not, I don't know.So, I found the 1st two books at Goodwill for $2 each. For that cheap, I couldn't pass up on knowing why everyone is getting their undies in a bunch [literally and figuratively] (men *coughs* Dr.Drew and women).I started reading last night and I made it to ch.6. Up until then I was not impressed w/ this book. For me, the story was lacking.*wrote several different things deleting them as soon as I was done*The SEX! Oh yes, the S.E.X, very vanilla or more French vanilla. The smut is good.Grey and Ana sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g.1st comes.....sexthen comes....sexand then comes....a contract.I get that it's 2 consenting adults.I get that toys are involved and bondage.1 movie comes to mind = Sleeping w/ the Enemy.",1.0,50 shades of nothing,1343347200,"07 27, 2012",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3D2KTXZZOOPNN,0684801337,groundless,"[5, 7]","Matalin and Carville discuss their struggles as a new couple on opposite sides of the '92 presidential election when they could hardly see one another and how they felt good for themselves when their campaign was having a good run yet bad for their partner. It also gives you great insight into the day to day pressures of a presidential campaign. This race was particularly odd given the first significant third party candidate challenge in decades. Both provide analysis and their points of view on all the key players and candidates in the 1992 election (not to mention brief tidbits on how they communicated to one another during the campaign and how they felt about one another). I think Matalin was a little harsh on Carville a lot of the time--if roles were reversed and a man said continually to his wife that he hated her, etc. (meaning it or not!) it would not go over well. I find that type of her behavior a little revolting. Carville was far more magnanimous to her than she was to him. I also did not like how Matalin described growing up a Democrat and realizing the "error of her ways" later. In particular, she relates a story in which her dad says something like "don't you feel like you work harder in school because you paid for it yourself instead of accepting loans?" and she agreed. I think its very unfair to assume people on student loans do not work hard--they have to work extra hard to pay loans back with interest when they do graduate. Its disheartening to hear the attitude that basically states that not everyone deserves a chance to go to school.All in all...It was great to see the views of both sides on a given situation and or event and it was a funny and great read.",5.0,EXCELLENT ACCOUNT OF LIFE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL,953769600,"03 23, 2000",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3MTU1QAMYEAX3,0451201450,jd,"[0, 0]",A guy whose girlfriend had moved in with him thought their relationship to the point to propose marriage involved neighbors to enact The Twelve Days Of Christmas song uses the final round for the fifth day to kneel and propose only to be rejected. He finds she has undisclosed baggage that needs to surface if they are to survive.,4.0,twelve days,1390003200,"01 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1HKIBJEGFT1CB,0825305683,LAS,"[0, 0]",It is a very insightful look into the realities of walking the AT.,5.0,loved it,1404604800,"07 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AF3X7J0XC391L,0140048979,"Stratiotes Doxha Theon ""2 Thes 2:15""","[5, 6]",This is the first work that I and most others discovered Mr. Keegan's great mind for military history. It is an overview of the evolution of warfare from the middle ages to the present but more than that it seeks to answer the question of what motivates the common soldier to fight instead of following his instinct to run. Mr. Keegan's admiration and adoption of the common soldier's lot is moving and commendable in itself. He brings out the hero in the common man and for that all us common men can thank him.,5.0,Mr. Keegan's Opus,1160006400,"10 5, 2006",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A77P8EGQ3F9F6,045141912X,L. Fox,"[0, 0]","If you have read any Jim Butcher, then you already have a good idea of what you're in for with "Cold Days." A fast moving, entertaining, action oriented storyline with shifting alliances and some references to a larger existential threat beyond the immediate crises. So four stars for delivering on expectations.",4.0,More Dresden,1359504000,"01 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2EP9KLTYH5QMV,097868916X,readmore,"[13, 15]","I haven't read the whole book, but anyone who tells you that you can control a natural process like aging just by positive thinking and vitamins should move to Hogwarts and start teaching wizardry.",1.0,nonsense,1346889600,"09 6, 2012",13,15,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 AHGHS4X8AAY4G,0805083103,Carrie Cupcake Plum,"[6, 6]","I thought the half of the book that dealt with the Discovery show was very good. As for the rest, I think it was necessary to provide some background on Everest but that other books do a better job of providing background on Everest. In particular, I recommend that people read Conrad Anker's book on finding Mallory, and Jon Krakauer and Matt Dickenson's books on the 1996 disaster (and I hear Boukreev's book is a must read too about 1996 if you want to balance out Jon Krakauer's self-serving take on the 1996 disaster, but I haven't read it yet). This book seemed to give a balanced report of the events on Everest in 2006 as well as the various views on the personal responsiblity of the climbers. It is my view that responsibility for David Sharp's death falls on David Sharp and this book reinforced this belief for me. I do not understand Brett Merrell's comments about Russell Brice. The Discovery show was flattering to him and I can only guess that it is his disappointment at not making it to the top that is eating away at him. Discovery's Everest series for 2006, 2007 and 2009 are currently available on Netflix as is the IMAX documentary on Everest that was filmed during the time of the 1996 disaster. The 1996 IMAX is paraticularly interesting to watch as the climbers climb the summit ridge to the top of the mountain without the fixed ropes and through thigh deep snow which I assume was from the tragic storm that took so many lives. After watching the 3 climbers in the IMAX movie making their own trail and climbing without fixed ropes, I don't think that many of the people on the Himex or IMG guided tours would have made it to the top if that had to do that. The IMAX documentary helped me to understand the difference between the commercialized guided tours and the climbing that is done by real mountaineers. However, Everest is the top of the world so it makes sense to me that the commercialized guided tours exist because going to the top of Everest is really is about the destination and not climbing. It also makes sense to me that if someone like David Sharp wants to do a cheap, solo climb to the top of Everest without oxygen and without arranging (at least his expedition group denied that they were responsible for anything else) for any support on the mountain, then he is responsible for his own fate, sad as that might be.",3.0,Good companion to the Discovery Series,1335744000,"04 30, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3QRRWV2KSYZNR,0446579807,"Hugo ""Belgian Atheist""","[9, 12]",Hitchens has a way with words that I would almost describe as divine (though some probably would say it's the devil's work) ;)A must read for everyone!,5.0,Excellent!,1189296000,"09 9, 2007",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A2B8GXSCB1R05T,1401222641,Zack Davisson,"[5, 5]","I wasn't a big fan of Grant Morison's run on Batman, specificallyBatman R.I.P.. Morrison has always been an esoteric writer, one who blends obscure comic mythology with pop neo-magik and psychology. Sometimes this works amazing with a character, like his run onAnimal ManandAll Star Superman. But with Batman I thought he had finally lost the plot. He didn't seem to understand the core of the character, the things that make Batman fundamentally what he is.With ""Batman: The Black Casebook"" I discovered that Morrison knows perfectly well who Batman is. It is just a different Batman than I am used to.Over his multiple-decade history, Batman has been many things. A grim avenger of the night. A standard-issue smiling and joking superhero. And for awhile, he was a surrealistic, psychologically troubled individual whose life was filled with fantastic sci-fi beasts and who more than once wound up in the loony bin with his psyche shaken to the core. Comic readers/writers are mostly ashamed of this Batman and try to hide him away and pretend he never existed, but Morrison drug the deranged, colorful Batman from the cellar and pushed him into the light for everyone to see.So what is ""Batman: The Black Casebook?"" It contains all of those stories that Morrison mined for ""Batman: R.I.P.."" It is the hidden history of Batman at his most bizarre. I knew about some of the sillier aspects of Batman's history, like the Batmen of Many Nations and the Club of Superheroes, the Bat-Mite, and Chief Man-of-Bats. But I had no idea that the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh was an established character, complete with his red, yellow and purple Batsuit. And I had no idea that Batman suffered numerous psychological attacks from a man called Dr. Milo, who planted suggestions in the corners of Batman's subconscious causing him to doubt his own identity and transforming Batman into a raving lunatic.On their own, the stories in ""Batman: The Black Casebook"" are a fun reminder of a time when the Batman comic was a wild ride where anything could happen. Some of the stories are good, some are not so good. However, as a supplement to Morrison's run on Batman ""Batman: The Black Casebook"" is essential. Read this, then go back and read ""Batman R.I.P.."" It is like reading a different series.The collection made a mistake by not including the covers to the stories collected. I know that, due to the anthology nature of comics at the time, to story may not have been connected to the cover, but Morrison points out that he was inspired by the covers of a couple of these stories, without even having read the interior, so it is a shame that DC didn't allow us the opportunity to see what Morrison was talking about.This still isn't the Batman I love the most. I prefer a more reality-grounded Batman with an indomitable will and drive to a surrealistic superhero battling Rainbow Beasts. But it is a valid part of Batman's history, and I have to give Morrison credit for championing an era most people tried to pretend never existed.This too, is Batman.",4.0,Now it makes sense!,1311292800,"07 22, 2011",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 ARO4ALO179Y5J,1934209880,"Rachel A. Brune ""Author""","[19, 22]","As I read this book, I found myself laughing out loud with tears rolling down my face, then crying for real, then back to laughing ... The grammar and spelling could have used another pass, but it feels like a bunch of my buddies got together and started swapping ""no s(kidding)t, there I was"" stories.",5.0,Good read,1329350400,"02 16, 2012",19,22,helpful,0.8636363636363636,1 A36KEBSVQH6K1D,1931282528,"Joanna Keating-Velasco ""Joanna""","[4, 4]","I received this book for Christmas to add to my autism library and what a wonderful treat. I wish I had this books several years ago when I started working in a class with children who have severe autism. It's so basic and has such great sample charts. It breaks down so many behavior challenges and creates simple charts to help you help your students better understand how to self modulate...from Aspergers to severe, these tools work. They seem so basic, yet I have seen them work great over and over. This basic and easy to quickly read resource should be given to every teacher, parent, administrator, speech and occupational therapist who works with kids on the spectrum. It's a great starting point for managing behavior problems...big and small.",5.0,5 Stars for this Hands On Easy to Follow Guide,1201132800,"01 24, 2008",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3O1QFWNCQQRJI,0803498063,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",following a family thru for books was so nice . their love and life together calms the soul. Carolyn Brown is one of the best authors Ive read in a long time.,5.0,promises,1382400000,"10 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A9X4CMGMMRFPA,1493512382,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I'm glad Mox was able to find some happiness. But what happened with Priscilla grimy butt. I loved it though!!,5.0,Very well ended!!,1377648000,"08 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1FO2DQG4MMQBT,0615512283,Kristie Barker,"[0, 0]",This book was just ok for me. It didn't give a lot of help outside of check into AA or find the drinker a recovery program. I am just a parent in search of help and understanding of why. I know only my child can truly help themselves but its hard for a parent to watch. Have found other books on this subject a lot more helpful.,3.0,Just ok,1396742400,"04 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2GSIZ385VWDJP,0830826688,Jeremy Bouma,"[8, 9]","Like many of you, I was reared in the Christian faith. Saved at 5. Baptized at 8. First special music at church around 13. Won a preaching award at 14. Went off to Christian university at 18.Like I said. Reared.And the type of church I was reared in was what people like to call a ""bible believing"" church. I don't say that with smirk. I only point that out because as a fundamentalist church we were absolutely committed to the Bible, the authority of Scripture as the foundation to our belief and behavior.Curiously, though, it wasn't until my 20's that I realized a significant portion of the Bible was missing from my ""bible believing"" upbringing. I mean a pretty significant portion. As in the teachings of Jesus portion. Sermon on the Mount? Missing. Parables? Gone. In fact I can count on two hands (a generous estimate, by the way) the amount of sermons I heard growing up on the Kingdom of Heaven. Even when I did hear a Kingdom sermon, it was a Tim LaHay Left Behind style sermon, where the Kingdom was relegated to a distant land and time in the future. Way beyond and well far away this time and space.What this communicated to me--both symbolically and literally--was that the teachings of Jesus weren't for now. That the ethics of the Kingdom that Jesus constantly talked about and taught and gave glimpses of in word and deed weren't meant for me now, but instead were for a time down the road.This is exactly what authors and professors Glen Stassen and David Gushee discovered, much to their dismay, when they surveyed available textbooks in Christian ethics: they were amazed ""to find almost none learned anything constructive from the Sermon on the Mount--the largest block of Jesus' teachings in the New Testament, the teaching that Jesus ays in the Great Commission is the way to make disciples and that the early church referred to more often than any other Scripture."" (12)When surveying the landscape of American churches it's not much better. As they observe, ""Christian churches across the theological and confessional spectrum, and Christian ethics as an academic discipline that serves the churches, are often guilty of evading Jesus, the cornerstone and center of the Christian faith. Specifically, the teachings and practice of Jesus are routinely ignored or misinterpreted in the preaching and teaching ministry of the churches and in Christian scholarship."" (11)These are strong, harsh words! No, strong, true words, ones consistent with my own story. Stassen and Gushee, however, want to make this right and redirect the course of the Church by ""reclaiming Jesus Christ for Christian ethics and for the moral life of the Church."" They do so in their book Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context, an introduction to Christian ethics built on the foundation of the teachings and practice of Jesus. And boy am I glad they did!This isn't a new book--it was released in 2003, and I received it from IVP to review by mistake-- and it isn't a new idea, either--thankfully there has been a resurgent focus within evangelicalism on the central theme to Jesus' teachings: the Kingdom of Heaven. This books is unique, however, in that it is a thematic manual of Christian ethics that ""focuses unremittingly on Jesus Christ, the inaugurator of the kingdom of God."" (12) For this unique, unrelenting focus I am very thankful.The book is divided into 7 sections: 1) The Reign of God and Christian chatacter; 2) The Way of Jesus and prophetic authority; 3) The Gospel life; 4) Male and Female; 5) The central norms of Christian ethics; 6) Relationships of justice and love; and 7) A passion for God's reign.The first section is a solid introduction to the central concept of the Kingdom of God in Jesus' teachings, while also acknowledging ""scholars as well as plain Christians have been puzzled about what Jesus meant when he spoke of the Kingdom."" (19) From here the authors set out to disect the meaning of the kingdom by focusing on what its characteristics are, which they say are crucial for ""Christian ethics, for Christian discipleship, for Christian living and for the response of faith(fulness)."" (20-21) It is this ""Kingdom Character"" the authors rightly urge Christians to focus on understanding and cultivating, which sends believers on their way toward understanding and then enacting God's moral will for our moral life.In so getting us to focus on this understanding and enaction the authors have a helpful conversation on authority and Scripture, helping to move Christians from adopting either cold ""bibliolatry"" or ""ungrounded and ethereal religious subjectivism,"" instead into recognizing the Christian moral and ethical life must be grounded in an encounter with the risen Christ in community of faith. (89) They also rightly help Christians recognize a conversation about how we are to live is also a conversation about ""how this authoritative Bible is to be interpreted"" (90), while also helping Christians understand the form and function of moral norms in proximation to that interpretation of Scripture.One of the most helpful sections I've seen in regards to both topics of Christian ethics and the Kingdom of Heaven was chapter 6, The Transforming Initiative of The Sermon on the Mount,"" which concludes their prologomena section. In it there is an incredibly informative and helpful chart on page 142 that charts what the authors call the ""fourteen triads of the Sermon on the Mount."" The first column lists one of the fourteen manners of traditional righteousness--like not killing, not committing adultery, or giving alms; the second column exposes the vicious cycle of that traditionalism--like being angry, looking with lust is adultery in the heart, and practicing righteousness for show, to use our three previous examples; they then show how the ethic of the SotM transforms that original traditionalism into a new ethical experience--like going and being reconciled, removing the cause of temptation, and giving in secret while allowing your Father to reward. This was a powerful section in a powerful chapter that set the stage well for the remaining sections that explore specific ethical encounters.Because of the size and scope of this book, a review of every 18 ethical point the authors address wouldn't do them justice. That's why I've chosen two in order to give you a taste how the authors work through ethical issues from the teachings of Jesus and way of the Kingdom. I've chosen the death penalty (ch 9 called ""restorative penalties for homicide"") and the sensitive issue of divorce (ch 13). Both illustrate well the model and method Stassen and Gushee employ to help us wade through real life ethical situations we or our community might/will face.One of the most contentious political issues in evangelicalism is the death penalty. Liberal evangelicals oppose it; conservative evangelicals generally support it as just punishment for the most heinous crimes. But how should we understand the ethical implications in light of Jesus teachings?In beginning this study I love what they say about this issue: ""One way to study biblical teaching on the death penalty is to begin with Jesus Christ as Lord, and with the commitment to be followers of Jesus, denying that there is some other lord we should follow instead."" How true, indeed! Coming from conservative circles--even working in those circles in our government--I've typically heard Romans 13 trotted out as a defense for the death penalty, which inevitably makes Uncle Sam Lord, rather than Jesus.With that said, the authors point us to Matthew 5:21-24, 39-42, and 43-48. In citing these passages the authors make the point that ""Jesus' teachings are always consistent with the sacredness of human life and with initiatives to heal vicious cycles of killing."" (198) In 5:39-42, for instance, Jesus names the vicious cucle as violent and revengeful retaliation, which leads to more killing; in response to that revengeful retaliatory cycle we should not participate in such cycles with evil means, but instead engage in transforming initiatives that deliver us from revenge's vicious cycle. (198)The authors point out Jesus was confronted with the death penalty directly in John 8, yet released the women from the death penalty even though the law required it. This example and the above teachings illustrate, according to the authors, that I we had only Jesus' teachings as our Scripture, ""we would surely say that followers of Jesus are not people who seek retaliation by taking life for life, but instead they seek ways of deliverance from such vicious cycles of adding more killing to killing. They seek to take initiatives that deliver from the vicious cycles that lead to homicide."" (199)They end this chapter by arguing that nowhere in the NT did followers of Jesus advocate the death penalty, they give a brief history of the Church's teachings on this issue, and end with a powerful question: ""Is the death penalty in actual practice unjust?"" which addresses modern practices and the horrifying mistaken conviction rate that has lead to countless unjust deaths of the innocent.This was a powerful chapter that made me consider my own position and perspective on the death penalty, providing exegetical, theological, ethical, and historical insights to aid me in my own position formulation.The second example section is one that's hit close to home for most of us: divorce. We had family members divorce, we've seen friends go through the heartache of a marrital break-up, or perhaps we've experienced one ourselves. We know the American statistics, how a majority of marriages end in divorce; we know those same statistics are worse for evangelicals, ironically. How, then, should the Church consider and respond to this potent ethical epidemic through the lens of Jesus techings on the Kingdom of Heaven?The authors begin this sectoins by saying that most scholars and churches wrongly approach this issue, because they ask the wrong question. ""They tend to ask the permissibility question: Under what circumstances is it morally permissible to get divorced or remarried?""(273) Such a framing of this issue tends to reflect a ""highly legalistic approach to biblical interpretation"" and focuses more on rules and exceptions than ""the character of God, scriptural principles that reflect that character, real human situations that reflect our bondage to sin, and transformative practices."" (272-273)While I thought this was a good place to start, I was surprised they didn't really say what the right question was instead, a curious omission that resulted in a less-than-precise evaluation to an important ethical problem.The authors rightly note that the few explicit teachings of Jesus on divorce are ""notoriously difficult to interpret."" What we have are in Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-12; Mark 10:2-12; and Luke 16:18. The authors place much weight to this this discussion on the Matthew 19 and Mark 10 passages, which subvert the ""testing"" intent of the Pharisees by directing the conversation to one about the original intentions of God the Creator.In so doing, Jesus ""made a strong statement enjoining his listeners to obey God's will for marriage and thus refrain from divorce,"" while also making connections between divorce and remarriage and adultery. (274)In so doing, the authors argue that it shouldn't be a surprise Jesus turns to God's intention for marriage in creation, because Jesus' whole mission was about the inbreaking of the Kingdom reign of God that would restore creation ethically to the way God originally intended it to be at the beginning. What does Kingdom-living mean for marriage according to Jesus? The authors think 3 things: 1) Marriage is a male-female covenant partnership established by God for God's purpose; 2) Marriage is the joyful companionship of male and femail in a one-flesh (re)union; and 3) Marriage is a covenant relationship intended to be faithful and permenant. (275-276) Thus, the question we should ask is, ""How shall we participate alongside God in creating, nurturing and preserving marriages that reflect God's intent for this holy covenant and that last for a joyous lifetime?"" (277)While I appreciate this reimaging of the question surrounding divorce toward this Kingdom vision, what about the clear exception clause that does seem to exist? The authors want to distance this sensitive issue from a legalistic whats-the-exception to a Kingdom oriented posture, which I appreciate. But then you have the clear teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5 in the Sermon on the Mount regarding just that: a legal exception clause, which is adultery. Interestingly, the authors claim that ""It may be the best way to interpret the uniquely Matthean exception clause is simply to see it as his rule-based adaptation of Jesus' unconditoinal teachings against divorce."" (emph. mine, 286) This rule-based exception to divorce is simply Matthew's editorial comment, rather than actually Jesus' teaching on the subject? I think that's some shaky exegetical grounding, shaky exegesis that isn't all that helpful toward finding clarity regarding this important ethical issue.In the end, the Stassen and Gushee land on a fair and helpful interpretation of the heart of Jesus' treaching on marriage and divorce: ""What God has joined together, keep together! Go and be reconciled!"" They believe that this framing of the divorce issue leads to a far more fruitful set of Christian moral practices in the area of marriage, ones that focus on marriage building and divorce prevention, ""rather than on the development of a sophisticated casuistry of exceptions to the norm of lifetime marriage or a similarly tortuous casuistry of judgments concerning which categories of human beings might offer or receive the ministry of the Christian churches."" (289)While I appreciate this ethical approach to the divorce issue, one that clearly is against divorce and for marriage, it does seem to skirt the issue regarding the ""what if"" questions: What if someone in a church gets a divorce? On what discipline should happen? Should the church engage in disciplinary action if someone pursues divorce outside of the Scripturally prescribed situation of adultery? What does that mean for their participation in ministry life? And several more important questions that I think the authors are remise in neglecting. I get that life is messy and imprecise, and so I appreciate an approach that recognizes this and seeks to rise above the more legalistic tendencies that seem closer to the Pharisees than Jesus. It seems, however, that the authors neglected the precision that should come from biblical exegesis, especially for the sake of ethical clarity.Unfortunately, this imprecision is evident at times throughout this book, as in the chapter on ""Valuing Life at Its Beginning,"" for instance. Again, I understand life is messy and complex and multi-faceted, but is God unclear in His revelation regarding how we are to behave as His children and agents of His Kingdom, not to mention as human beings created in His image? Are we to place the complexities of life over against the ethical demands of the Kingdom, or are we called to recognize that complexity while lovingly, truthfully asserting the way things were meant to be, asserting the way of God's Kingdom reign? Generally, I saw the later in this book, but at times I was confused why a more precise response was not offered.Regardless, I believe this is a significant book that will help the average Christian better understand how they should view the complexities of life as members of the Church and agent's of God's Kingdom movement. This book will also serve pastors well in helping their congregations act as beachheads of the Kingdom in their communities, informing sermons or vision-casting meetings with rhobust, well-articulated arguments for a Kingdom-centric ethic.One of the things I love about this book as that the chapters are not dry explications removed from or devoid of real life grit. Every chapter is anchored in real-life senarios the authors themselves have experienced or witnessed to help ground the reader in reality, to force us all to realize these ethical ""things"" that we're reading about and pondering really do happen, have happened to people we know and love. People, not to mention followers of Jesus themselves, are faced with real life ethical situations that demand the care to handle them well and also the courage to confront them with the teachings and way of Jesus. Stassen and Gushee help us all on our way toward doing both in this powerful, provocative book that American evangelicalism desperately needs.",4.0,"A Powerful, Potent Manual for Kingdom-Centric Ethical Living",1321056000,"11 12, 2011",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A319KYEIAZ3SON,0399147551,Mary Whipple,"[4, 5]","In a novel which is as powerfully sensuous as Suskind's Perfume and as imaginatively tasty as Esquivel's Like Water for Chocolate, Averill finds his own voice, creating a unique and thoughtful coming-of-age story which, while rich in imagery, is remarkably simple and direct in its message. Food is life here, and the preparation of food and the ingredients one uses reflect the attitudes and spirit with which one approaches life and relationships.Weston Hingler is the son of two cooks with totally different viewpoints. His father, Robert Hingler, owns the Tsil Café, where he uses robust, New World ingredients and spicy chiles and seasonings to bring the heat of southwestern cuisine to Kansas City. His mother, Maria Tito Hingler, part Italian, is a caterer who uses cultivated, Old World ingredients in a more subtle and traditional way. Stubbornly independent and wildly passionate, Robert and Maria communicate best when talking about food, marching to different drummers in the conduct of their personal lives, thereby creating innumerable challenges for their growing son. As Weston grows up, exposed to both cuisines and working, at various times, for both his parents, he must decide who he is, where he fits, who his parents really are, where each of them really comes from, and, ultimately, who he will become.Filled with recipes which go way beyond anything most of us have ever imagined (and which, according to the acknowledgments, have actually been tested!), the book is hugely fun to read, even for someone who might not have a great deal of interest in cooking. I'll take a pass on the Dog Tamal, Roasted Maguey Worms, and Guinea Pig Stuffed with Marigolds, but I do understand why they were so important to Robert, and the Crab Cakes with Pineapple-Mango Salsa and the Jicama Salad sound absolutely delicious. This is a delightful novel, intriguing on all its many levels, and full of new insights into how and why we are what we eat. Mary Whipple",5.0,"Sensuous, sensual, and sensitive.",996019200,"07 25, 2001",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A151EKNEJ2C6DM,0307712508,Red State Gal,"[9, 11]","I don't feel, after reading the book, that the Lacks family was mistreated. Cells are just cells, we don't earn them, they aren't accomplishments. I know everyone here disagrees with this statement and Amazon wouldn't let me post my first review of this book. I'm not sure what word I used that was unacceptable since I used no profanity or name-calling. I guess I didn't come hard enough on the side of poor, abused Lacks family. Maybe it was that I stated the obvious -- Henrietta had a bad, short life due to her promiscious, diseased husband.",2.0,Interesting Book,1327536000,"01 26, 2012",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A1UWPSFAJKKAW0,0061583219,Mrs. Baumann,"[20, 26]","Plot Summary: Cat and Bones travel to Paris, city of love, for an overdue vacation only to find that a 1,000 year old vampire named Gregor is stalking Cat's dreams. Gregor claims to be Cat's true vampire husband, and some startling evidence shows that he may be right. Under this kind of pressure, Bones and Cat's relationship falls apart like a flimsy house of cards. Gregor manipulates the situation nicely, but the true problem lies between our lovers, who let themselves become divided just when they should support each other the most.I suppose that sooner or later this was bound to happen. I find myself disappointed by this entry in the Night Huntress series. That's not to say that this book isn't good, but frankly I'm like a spoiled brat who has been gorging on candy without restraint, and somebody just handed me a raw carrot. Compared to the first three novels, this one just isn't up to par, and I'm wondering in hindsight if this series should have stopped at a trilogy? Is it asking the impossible to keep things humming at a fever pitch for book after book, especially when it features the same couple? I just don't know.What I do know, is that my favorite balls-to-the-walls heroine was sadly missing. There were a few flickers here and there of that sassy woman I love, but mostly Cat was a disappointment to me. She was either grouchy, or scared, or guzzling gin, or eating ice cream, but I kept waiting for her to strap on some silver and kill somebody. She was just too passive this whole thing through, and that is not the young girl who killed vampires on her weekends off, or the woman who lead a secret government team to protect the innocent. It seems that my favorite tough cookie would rather eat one than be one this time around.Bones is also in my penalty box for spewing some pretty harsh stuff in the heat of the moment. That charming, cocky, tougher-than-nails guy we all fell in love with? Well, he's constantly on edge, he's a grouch, and he won't open up with Cat until the very end, and I kept wondering where my sexy Bones went? Oh sure, he looked good, that was made abundantly clear, but Bones's appeal has always his personality. It's like someone turned the light out, along with his sense of humor. I'm mourning the loss.Am I still a fan of this series? Of course. Most of the series I follow have at least one book that feels like a stumble, but I fully expect to be wowed again by Jeaniene Frost's writing. It just didn't happen this time, for the first time.",3.0,This wasn't the Cat and Bones I've come to love... I'm waiting for the next book already,1248825600,"07 29, 2009",20,26,helpful,0.7692307692307693,1 A2RY8HGF1MZT2N,0307271064,vickiem,"[0, 0]","I read several of the reviews and feel I agree with both the good and the bad written by previous reviewers. All through the first chapter I wanted to stop reading it due to the shallow, callow, ugly American being written about. But somehow the writing kept me hooked. And I stayed hooked through the whole book, thought the writing brilliant and so very engaging, although of course the characters are shameless and shameful. But a good read is a good read. Probably should give it 5 stars. What beautiful, intense writing each sentence through the whole book. How did he do that? Keep driving on with intense ideas and storyline.",4.0,Great read,1339113600,"06 8, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1904XFE5YP4JZ,0061374229,Rachael,"[0, 1]",Good book...but very Steven Kingish. Had I known the ending....I probably would not have read it. It was well written...just not my thing.,4.0,I liked it...but it was kreepy.,1341792000,"07 9, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A14QJKY3DA19AP,0007441290,S. Warfield,"[7, 7]","Usually I either love, like a book or just plain don't like it, but this is the most indecisive I've been over a book in a long time. I finished the first 50 or 75 pages during my first evening's reading, and couldn't wait to get back to it. The rest of the book didn't go quite so fast at all.The overall story concerns Madeleine Hanna and her relationship with fellow student, Leonard Bankhead, in the 1980s when they meet at Brown University in Rhode Island. There is also student Mitchell Grammaticus who feels that Madeleine is destined to marry him. Leonard is into science and Mitchell is into religious mysticism while Madeleine is an enthusiastic English major, and the question is are there no more great love stories like the ones in nineteenth century literature. The author tries to approach the answer in a new, more contemporary way through his characters and their lives.Since the story starts with a college graduation, Madeleine, the central female character, is rude and disrespectful to her parents on such an occasion as her college graduation day. Her parents are annoying and Phyllida, the mother, puts on such airs that I couldn't stand her. Alton, Maddie's father, reminded me very much of a deceased family member and I will not speak ill of the dead. Despite their uppity ways, Maddie's parents' home was held together by the grace of duct tape and they made no excuses about that.What I like the most about the book is the discussions among students and the classroom discussions of French philosopher Jacques Derrida and his theory of deconstruction, and the semiotics seminar. My degree is in nursing rather than English, and I was fascinated by all of this new information that I had never heard of, and so I read up on it and actually learned something new from this book. That I enjoyed very much.What I personally felt about ""The Marriage Plot"" overall as a complete novel is that it is elitist, too long and too detailed in parts, especially Mitchell's and Larry's trip to India. It might not have been so bad if the trip had more of a purpose than what it did, and if it had made more sense. Madeleine enabled Leonard many times and put herself into such bad situations with him. Mitchell was in need of help, too, in my opinion.""The Marriage Plot"" is enough of Jeffrey Eugenides for me at the present time, and perhaps later on I will read another of his books. I gave this one three stars for being okay, but I couldn't justify giving it any more than that. The book may shine in more scholarly, academic circles, I don't know, but reading it for pleasure the book seemed to have a pall hanging over all the characters and the atmosphere in general. After the first 100 pages, I'd recommend it, but after finishing the book, I wouldn't.",3.0,The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides,1339027200,"06 7, 2012",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A2HYDM88ROR2CN,1452657386,"Jackson Hearn ""Cooking Organist""","[4, 5]","As a father of a two 20-something kids myself, I was completely taken by his frank, earnest account of his growing up in what many would consider the ideal American family, unremarkable in many respects except for two things: 1. His parents are two women, and 2. They have an uncommonly wise approach to child rearing and life. Many straight parents would do well to read this book just for parenting tips alone. The fact that a young man (he was 20 when the book was published)can see things so clearly and write with such an enlightened and intelligent viewpoint is inspiring to me. There may be hope for America after all.",5.0,An easy to read story of an American Family,1340323200,"06 22, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AK3QV2XAP3A6,B006R6JVH4,videomom,"[0, 0]","I have been reading all of Kristen Ashley's books. I just happened upon 'Rock Chick'. I love her style. The characters are fun, there is lots of adventure and conflict to balance the sexy romance. I really like the way characters or places from her books appear in other books. Heaven and Hell was just as good as all the rest.",5.0,Fabulous Author,1367539200,"05 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PWGSBTJ2J52G,B00D4BW65Y,"H. Laurin ""always looking for good deals""","[0, 0]","Good story, not too many spelling errors. Enjoyable fast read.",4.0,Decent e-reader fantasy.,1404777600,"07 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QBCX2QMKJ7AH,0794418740,Melissa Sack,"[0, 0]",My girls love the I Carly show. When they saw this book they were very excited. They were even more excited to learn that the key chain enclosed was a pass code to an internet site. They loved the book but loved being able to go online and play the games even more! Very cute product for I Carly Fans.,4.0,cute,1255564800,"10 15, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2OR5NWVGV3QNE,B00AVF91LI,"Adam A. Gaffen ""the fountain of useless infor...","[0, 0]","Okay - first off, I do like this story. Despite its brevity, the main character feels real and is certainly sympathetic after unintentionally taking a dose of a hallucinogenic drug. The author's descriptions of her perceptions and actions seem spot on, and carry the story along well.THAT BEING SAID.The ending is rather abrupt. The character reaches a conclusion VERY quickly, with no real explanation and no follow-up. This would have benefited from another paragraph or two, carrying the story forward just a little bit.Still and all, enjoyable enough.",4.0,Cute story but...,1358035200,"01 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NO6IZGOX279E,1606418130,"Kimberley Vanderhorst ""Kymburlee""","[0, 0]","There are few characters I've encountered in my 30 years of voracious reading who have struck me as being more real and more genuine than Sadie Hoffmiller. I caught myself sitting down to write her an email the other day, as I had tried a new recipe that I was sure she would enjoy. Imagine my dismay when I remembered she's a fictional character! But apart from brilliant characterization, Kilpack weaves a mystery that truly delights. Compelling, and full of delicious plot twists, I have not read a single one of her novels where I guessed the ending (and I, fellow book lovers, am a VERY good guesser). So I challenge you to see if you're cleverer than me. Can you figure it out before Sadie does (and before I did)?",5.0,Delicious!,1283817600,"09 7, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1OK0TE89XYHWI,B00HA360U4,Ellen Ray,"[0, 0]",Another fun read worth the time! I enjoy the Ace Jones stories because she is such a realistic character. This is a another fun and funny read by a great author.,4.0,Fun and funny! Worth the time to enjoy.,1405209600,"07 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AF1N6QU1X14CC,0141345713,demme,"[0, 0]",My daughter talked me into reading this book. I did not want to read yet another sad "cancer" story...I get way too emotional reading the sadness in such stories. This was different...it was bold and honest and really "in your face" this is life (and death) so deal with it. Live while you can...the best life you can and don't hide behind pity and guilt and other emotions...just say it the way it is...and get on with it! Loved the book and will go see the movie that came out this month too!,5.0,Wonderful book!,1403654400,"06 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33POV91H023LQ,B005JDGUS4,AvidReader,"[0, 0]","After devouring The Blood that Bonds and becoming totally committed to the characters, I immediately bought Blood Hunt. Buecheler did not disappoint! I was so taken with the story and all the rich characters that I couldn't read fast enough...I wanted to know what came next! The first book was a freebie, which hooked me, and I was glad to pay for this second installment on the II AM Trilogy. I don't get into re-writing the book in a book report, but feel it's enough to say this is a totally engrossing story that's well worth any time or money spent on it! LOVE THIS BOOK! I recommend it highly (though not to under age readers due to the sex and violence).",5.0,One of the best Vamp books ever!,1321142400,"11 13, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2F6N60Z96CAJI,0307268160,Bookreporter,"[5, 5]","There's something inherently sinister about moths. Unlike their diurnal cousins, moths lurk about in the dark, brushing against bare arms, fluttering madly around porch lights, and hitching rides indoors on unsuspecting hosts who then have to hunt them down and kill them.Maybe not everyone shares my aversion to moths, but plenty of people do --- and when Virginia Stone, the narrator of THE SISTER, reveals her lifelong near-obsession with moths, that was certainly a good tip-off that Poppy Adams's debut novel is not just a simple tale of a reunion between two long-estranged sisters. Indeed, as countless secrets unfold through the dispassionate voice of its narrator, before too long the book reveals itself to be just as sinister as those creepy moths.Since the death of her mother and the subsequent dementia of her father, Virginia, now an old woman, has lived alone in Bulbarrow Court, the family's crumbling, ancient manor house, now cold (because she can't afford to pay the heating bills) and nearly empty (because she has sold almost all the family's furniture to make money). The only part of the house that remains intact is the attic, which is filled with the specimens of thousands of moths and butterflies, evidence of the family study of lepidoptery, an obsession that has stayed with Virginia since learning about moths and butterflies at her father's knee.Into Virginia's compulsively ordered existence comes her younger sister Vivien, who has not returned to Bulbarrow Court since leaving as a young woman in the wake of a family crisis. Virginia does not know why Vivien, an unsettling presence with her styled hair, her fashionable clothing, her cell phone and her tiny dog, has returned home after so long. All she understands is that Vivien's arrival has thrown her tidy world --- and her personal sense of the past --- into disorder.THE SISTER is so controlled in its storytelling, shifting back and forth seamlessly between Virginia's memories of the past and her behavior in the present, that it's hard to believe this is Poppy Adams's debut novel. Virginia is a classic example of the unreliable narrator, one so blinded by her own self-deception, so limited by her coldly methodical scientific mind, that she remains nearly unaware of her own situation. ""If you were born unaware, at least you'd be blissfully ignorant,"" she reflects as she considers the purely instinctual moth. ""It's not as if you're going to wake up one day and suddenly discover yourself."" For Virginia, all of life is a scientific process that follows a pre-ordained formula. The result, in her case, culminates in a truly chilling conclusion.Poppy Adams is a documentary filmmaker, and THE SISTER, with its strong sense of place and its vivid moth and butterfly imagery, is cinematic in its vision. She shows real promise as a novelist of psychological suspense, akin to such popular authors as Ruth Rendell, Morag Joss and Minette Walters.--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl",4.0,"THE SISTER, with its strong sense of place and its vivid moth and butterfly imagery, is cinematic in its vision.",1216598400,"07 21, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3SJF98A8IFU1K,097996671X,Stacy W. Hall,"[54, 55]","I have followed a very healthy lifestyle for 30 years, but changing to follow Eat For Health allowed to meet my health goals for the first time in my life !I have followed Pritikin for many years. Ornish, McDougall, Esselstyn all are also nearly identical to Pritikin, and are all excellent programs. However, adjusting to Fuhrman's program allowed my cholesterol to drop 20 points better than ever on Pritikin, and I should be in reversal of atherosclerosis, without meds, for the first time. Fuhrman's background, insight and keen knowledge of the medical literature are unique in medicine, allowing him to create a program that, I believe, is the best known to medical science.The next medical frontier is adapting health programs to individual needs. Dr. Fuhrman has made the best progress in this, as can be seen in his very active website.Fuhrman's Eat For Health is the best resource for anyone who wishes to take control of their health.",5.0,Meeting my health goals for the first time in my life !,1212278400,"06 1, 2008",54,55,helpful,0.9818181818181818,1 A2F0AL6L7D4GAI,1612183808,Patricia A. Vitela,"[0, 0]","I don't usually read mysteries but this one kept me turning the page and made me wonder if the basis of the story had any truth in it, as connec tion between Europe and Mexico regarding hidden treasures.",4.0,Interesting,1363478400,"03 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARWPPKT0W08ZZ,0756406927,J. Bookworm,"[0, 4]","This book continues ""The Collegium Chronicles"". The Chronicals start out with ""Foundation"" We meet Mags, an orphan who was a virtual slave in a gem mine. Mags is Chosen by a Companion and taken to Haven, Valdemar's capitol city to be trained at the new Collegium. Mags catches the interest of influential people in Valdemar, including the King's Own, who becomes his mentor--but quietly. Foreigners in Valdemar apparently recognize Mags, and even attempt to kill him! Why? ""Changes"" continues Mag's growth in fitting in, finding friends, and even a girl whom he loves. All the while, however, skilled assasins are stalking Mags, and Amily. Amily is the daughter of the King's Own, so trying to harm her to hurt her father and thru him, the Kingdom makes sense...but Mags is, or was, as far as he knows, just a poor orphan who was lucky enough to be Chosen. Why target him? This book explores deepening relationships, and answers some questions. It then raises many more. In her own world, Lackey has no equal. In the fantasy genre, she has few peers. I recommend all of her books highly.",5.0,Valdemar never disappoints,1318291200,"10 11, 2011",0,4,unhelpful,0.0,0 A18K4TMJWIZ9IB,B00J5HBJ5O,LadyB,"[0, 0]",This book was was an ok read for me. I gave 5stars because the story held my attention from beginning to the end. But I won't say it's a must read,5.0,Ok,1402531200,"06 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2BGZCNY34OGYT,0374363307,"Fall Leaf ""M.""","[0, 0]",My 3 year old son loves robots. I was worried that he might not enjoy the subtle pictures and quiet story but this is one of his favorites! He asks to read it again and again!,5.0,Adorable story,1372032000,"06 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2KWGP26EAQGWH,0684848570,"Dr. Karen M. Gray ""kmgrayphd""","[11, 11]","When Joel Achenbach tells the story of Washington?s Potomac journeys and his life-long commitments of money, time, and power to the region?s economic potential, he reveals that Washington was a wilderness adventurer from his days as a callow youth to his final years as a near demi-god. The Grand Idea therefore gives us a window into the sheer physical hardiness of this tidewater planter. Intriguingly, it also enlivens the complex mix of personal and national concerns that drove Washington, his deeply rooted foibles, and his truly-awesome ability to learn and mature in wisdom and ethics. It is no mean task to bring Washington to us neither as the commander of the military effort to win independence, nor as the nation?s first president, but rather as a man with real and intimate familiarity with the western wilderness, a patriot?s dream for its future, and a businessman?s hard-headed realization that a people can?t flourish until certain crucial improvements are in place. Achenbach?s lively and immediate style will bind his readers to the book until it is finished.",5.0,The Grand Idea,1086566400,"06 7, 2004",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A1JV4QKTEB7QBL,014004020X,"Diana F. Von Behren ""reneofc""","[38, 42]","Tom Ripley: the name conjures up an image of the all American boy--a little shy, modest and not as suavely in control as a European counterpart. The old adage that one should not judge a book by its cover could not be a truer in this instance. Poor, underprivledged Tom takes his pursuit of the American dream a little too seriously, yet he manages to pull off unbelievable and almost unspeakable acts with the finesse and skill of a master jeweler and the audacity of a veteran politician. Highsmith's impressionistic style enables the reader to get into Ripley's all too calculating mind while viewing his mild mannered sidebars with a droll aplomb. The transition from cornered felon to cold murderer flows unperturbed into one's mind unquestioningly. Ripley's activities are deemed acceptable and surprisingly the reader is not shocked. On the contrary, one finds oneself rooting for him to dupe or subdue anyone who gets in his way. Anyone who has seen the 1999 movie offering starring Matt Damon, will not be satisfied with its director's interpretation of Tom's motives. Instead of the cold, enigmatic, amoral, asexual goal-seeker of the book, the audience is confronted with a flawed nobody who is definitely less than Highsmith's Ripley. The movie version is a haunted soul attracted to homosexuality, buoyed by a yearning for the post WWII dolce vita of America's privledged class and incensed with the underdog's cowed yet vengeful need to fight back when shunned and bested by his so-called betters. Although the movie is highly entertaining, and Damon's performance is commendable, Highsmith's Ripley is reduced to what we are all too familiar with--an unfortunate product of dysfunctional 20th century life who would benefit greatly from prolonged sessions with the best Park Avenue psychiatrist, whereas the 'hero' of the book is perfectly happy with who he is and the decisions he makes to further entrench himself on the path he has chosen. Bravo Ripley!",5.0,Premeditative Murderer,947894400,"01 15, 2000",38,42,helpful,0.9047619047619048,1 A3ERU005ES1IHT,1585426156,"P. R THOMPSON ""Galactic Master""","[0, 0]","In his extensive career as a neurosurgeon, Doctor Hamilton relates dramatic spiritual / supernatural accounts which occurred during his practice.One of this episodes happened while the doctor was lost while traveling down a dangerous, raging river, in Africa, where a wiry, mysterious native, appeared to provide guidance.Another one occurred during his treatment of a burned victim, a little boy, who woke up from a coma asking why the boy's dead father was standing beside the doctor at the foot of his bed. The boy didn't know at the time that his father had passed away.This is a fascinating read.",5.0,More Incredible Evidence Of Other Unseen Dimensions,1261180800,"12 19, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18N6BAPCXO6OI,1475236360,Ann Bresnan,"[5, 5]","WOW! What a great read. Ms Hudson says she was influenced by King and that may be true, but she certainly doesn't stand in his shadow! This book grabs you from the first page. Most books I read I'm trying to figure the plot out and am usually correct. Not with this one. Had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. ""Wishbone II"" will be a MUST read for me as soon as it's published!",5.0,Wishbone,1341619200,"07 7, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1MRQUGR3IXV7T,0451213890,Susan Smith,"[4, 4]","As always with this writer, you get a clever plot, endearing main characters supported by a cleverly written supporting cast and sharp, witty writing. Although perhaps not her very, very best story, nevertheless I'm giving it 5 stars because it's way ahead of the competition!Others have summed up the plot which turns around a silly duel and the aftermath comedy of errors that ensues. Ian, Earl of Marden thinks he has accidentally shot a young lad and so takes him and his sister into his home to help along the boy's recovery. However, mistaken identities, churlish knaves and the obligatory Metzger pooch move the story along at a cracking pace.The best thing about a Metzger story is her stylish and clever writing. Here is a short excerpt to give a flavour: Our hero has just been told that the heroine, Athena, has met his discarded mistress, Lady Paige:""Athena's smile faded as she put down her fork (they are at dinner). 'Did you not like her? She seemed everything polite and charming.'""Ian would wager she did. The poisson turned to poison on his plate. The asparagus spears pierced his innards. The mousse was a noose and the boeuf was a buffet to his head. `Lady Paige?' he choked out....""And finally, I did enjoy the chapter headings - a series of quotations from Anonymous and Mrs Anonymous:""A man teaches his wife about lovemaking"" (Anonymous)""A wife teaches her husband about love"" (Mrs Anonymous)A great read - a light-hearted way to pass an afternoon.",5.0,Another Metzger treat ........,1149206400,"06 2, 2006",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A11BHUR3N09VGZ,0439795745,Chris Gallagher,"[10, 10]","It's been said that Jon Lewis and Derek Benz, the authors of this story, were childhood friends who used to hang out together and pretend that they were running from goblins, monsters and other things as they acted out fantasy stories. For better or for worse, it shows in this book and helps shape it.The Revenge of the Shadow King is a fantasy book about a group of friends who always hang out together, and enjoy playing a card game called Round Table. When strange events start to occur, it begins to look as if the characters from the card game are starting to come to life and appear in the real world. Things get stranger and more dire as the chaos only gets worse and begins to spread through the whole town, and Max and his friends are stuck in the middle of it.Many creepy and violent things happen throughout the story. Characters become possessed, mysterious villains show up at the worst times, and there are many close brushes with death. If that's not enough, the kids even get framed for something they didn't do.Max is developed enough to get us to know him a little better, as we get to understand why he dislikes his family's wealth, why he doesn't get along with his parents, and to some degree, his fear of his possible destiny. His friends don't fare so well in the characterization department. They show enough personality traits to make them interesting and likeable, but not enough to really flesh most of them out. The two boys can be summed up in simple sentences: Harley is a tough kid, but a nice guy deep down inside. Ernie is an asthmatic, overeating wimp who gets scared easily and is afraid to risk his life to help his friends.Natalia's personality is the most detailed one out of Max's friends. She is ""girly"", riding around on a pink bicycle with tassels and unicorn stickers, and enjoying occasions that give her an excuse to dress up. She is smart, and carries a notebook which she uses to write things down to try to help herself figure things out. She likes to snoop around and investigate to try to learn things on her own. She's bossy and pinches people who annoy her. But she also has a strong sense of justice. For instance, there is one time when her friends express a desire to get revenge on Ray, a bully who has changed into a monster against his will who now poses a genuine threat to their life. Natalia rebukes them, claiming that his unfortunate, and unwilling, transformation made him someone to pity rather than to hate, and that he needed to be rescued from his fate. I like Natalia second most out of the characters, and can only wish Ernie and Harley could be developed as much.The story is all about the adventures Max and his friends go on. There is always something interesting happening in each chapter, propelling the story along at a nice pace. On the other hand, quite a lot of it seems semi-random. There are plot elements that are picked up and then rarely touched upon afterward. For example, Max discovers he can sense where magic portals appear that take him to another world. We're told in the next few sentences that he sensed portals all throughout school over the next few days. After that, portals don't get mentioned for a long time, only for us to find out that Max can no longer sense them, until he suddenly uses one much later in the story. Essentially, what could have been a neat plot element was mostly unused. Similarly with a creature called a spriggan, who Max meets early on. He likes the spriggan, but he seems to forget about it around the time the book forgets about it. We are later told occasionally that he likes and misses the spriggan, but it appears in the story and is mentioned so rarely that I just didn't feel the connection.There are also some seemingly random plot elements that are brought up and then totally left unused. At one point, a portal opens up, and Max tries to convince his friends to follow him in there. He lies to Natalia by claiming there are unicorns inside, and lo and behold, there are. There are a lot of neat things inside the world in the portal, but they are out of that world by the end of the chapter, and it is NEVER mentioned again. Not only is it not revisited, but it's not even mentioned in dialog or the plot. There are a couple instances of things like this, where a plot element that could have been great if expanded upon ended up being forgotten, just when I was really hoping to learn more about it.Fortunately, there are some major plot elements that flesh out the story. The capture of an important adult figure, for instance, plays a pivotal role in the story, and is developed well enough for the audience to get engaged in his rescue. Another important development concerns a bully being possessed and changed into a monster, who makes repeat appearances throughout the story. There are a number of continuing plot threads and important characters, but there's also just as many minor random or forgotten events.Likewise, there's many deus ex machina-esque close calls. Kids are about to be skewered by a goblin? Good thing a wandering wizard is nearby to stop it with a spell. About to be skewered by the same goblin again? Good thing a truck driver ran it over. An explanation is later given for these close calls, but I was hoping to see the kids become more self-sufficient. They do, but they seem to survive their perils more often not through their own wits or skill, but through luck and chance.The thing is, much of why the book is this way can probably be chalked up to what I said in the first sentence. The authors were childhood friends who used to pretend that the events in this book were happening to them as they acted them out. That's what the book feels like: a group of kids experiencing a series of random violent adventures with some continuing/recurring plot elements. At times, it seems to follow the flow of make-believe play: ""Pretend that the evil witch just sent a goblin to get us."" ""The goblin's back! Run!"" ""He's almost got me!"" ""A portal just opened, look! Head for the portal!"" This also explains the occasional randomness of the plot: ""Oh good, we just escaped through a portal."" ""But the portal took us right where the bad guys are, and now we have to make sure they can't see us."" That's just the impression I get from reading this book. It's enjoyable fun, but full of contrivances.Also, likely for the same reason, the dialog during the adventurous moments tends to sound more like what kids would say while pretending to be in danger than what they'd say if they really *were* in danger. While adventure novels obviously don't lean too closely towards realism so as not to ruin the fun, the dialog and storytelling do tend to make the kids seem like they are maybe a little *too* brave and willing to risk their lives, choosing to jump into adventure rather than being forced into it by circumstance. Then again, this is rather common for adventure stories - but the length and tone of the book led me to expect that it would be a little more realistic and take itself more seriously, so the tone of the dialog was quite unexpected.There is one glowing positive that came from this story's ""two friends just playing"" origins: there is a great deal of banter - conversations the characters have when they're together and just hanging out. These scenes are plentiful and do a great job of making the kids more personable and likeable as characters. There were many times when I felt as if I could have been there, so believable were these moments.The friendly banter and ""pretend"" adventure dialog combine to create a playfully adventurous mood. To be honest, once I got used to it, I began to enjoy this mixture. It defuses the seriousness once might expect from the menacing artwork on this hardcover book, or even the sheer amount of violence and close calls within, but it also makes the story more fun, which is possibly what the authors intended.Even with its flaws, I was glued to the book throughout, save for the last few chapters. Deus ex machinas aside, I enjoyed the kids' constant brushes with danger. Even with the occasionally forgotten plot elements and sometimes seemingly random events, I still had fun seeing what happened to the characters. The Revenge of the Shadow King feels like the type of story that just flowed largely linearly from the author's imagination, albeit with a number of elements planned out beforehand. Not the most realistically fleshed-out story in existance, but an enjoyable way to get wrapped up in the moment, see what happens next, and have a fun time.I've already ordered the sequels and will gladly read them when they arrive in the mail.",3.0,"A somewhat bumpy, but enjoyable adventure",1199059200,"12 31, 2007",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A65I8S6TS9YC4,0156034433,Julie Hedlund,"[4, 4]","As a grammar geek, I found this book about the lost art of diagramming sentences quite charming. It drags at times and is pretentious in places, but it rises in others to be downright funny. Case in point: the author takes issue with whether sentence diagramming actually improves one's grammar. She argues that even bad sentences can be diagrammed and puts forward (among others) two of former President George W. Bush's as an example. The sentences: ""(W)e want our teachers to be trained so they can meet the obligations, their obligations as teachers. We want them to know how to teach the science of reading in order to make sure there's not this kind of federal -- federal cufflink,"" can indeed be diagrammed. She goes on to say ""...although diagramming a sentence can sometimes expose its structural problems, it doesn't touch the deeper issues. A diagram can't ferret out a lie, correct a lapse in logic, or explain a foray into sheer lunacy."" Now ain't that the truth!For language lovers, it's worth it to pick up this book just to see the diagrams of sentences from some famous authors, including the verbose Henry James and Proust.",3.0,Charming,1249776000,"08 9, 2009",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AH70YI6PAG4GV,1491072032,Helen,"[4, 5]","I really enjoyed this book. I'm glad Chris, Claire & Adam all got their happy endings. I was happy with who Claire chose too, he we best for her (no spoilers).I also enjoyed the POV chapters from Lindsey & Jackie.I have to admit I wasn't always a huge fan of Claire because of how she handled her pregnancy and not telling Chris but I can now say she has redeemed herself. She has suffered with her decision for so long and it was nice to see her get the closure she needed.This book was the perfect ending to this series. I also enjoyed the 3 epilogues, that was a really nice touch to hear from Chris, Claire & Adam to end the story / series.",4.0,Great ending to this series,1375660800,"08 5, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1C50IHPI85ILF,1940745845,Amazon Customer,"[8, 8]","I just finished this book last night and LOVED it. The characters are both very strong and stubborn, which makes for an exciting couple. Alex is just OMG HOT! He is ranking up to the top of the book boyfriend list, part of what makes him so Hot is his personality and how much her truly Loves Angel and will got to any length to protect her. Angels spunky personality makes for a fun female character. You are on edge waiting to see what is going to come out of her mouth next. Can't wait for Promises After Dark to come out!",5.0,HOT HOT HOT,1397779200,"04 18, 2014",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1FH3R8YI7BCPD,1455520640,Lynnea's Reads,"[0, 0]","Enchanting Sparks at his best! Heartwarming story again, the young & the old. Have Faith. You won't be disappointed if you take the ride!",5.0,Take the ride!,1382745600,"10 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGD8CUKTYXMRE,0310515092,"Chris Ho ""Chris""","[5, 6]","Other than the Apostle's Creed, are you familiar with other creeds? How about confessions? What are they? What's the difference between them? What about catechism? Why were they created? These and many other related questions would be answered by Holcomb in this book. Holcomb first defines the various terms used in this book, creeds, confessions and catechism.Following which these are then presented in a chronological order, allowing the readers to see how the creeds have developed, deepen and also modified in their wording to be more specific to the various challenges that arose at the different eras.In Creeds, whenever a creed/confession/catechism is presented, 3 sections would always be explored: the historical background, content and relevance.Holcomb is especially strong in giving the historical context of the creeds/confession/catechism, often highlighting the historical framework/situations where the creeds are contextualised, allowing you to see the importance of developing such creeds/confessions/catechism.What is interesting is that Holcomb not only includes Protestant creeds and confession, in this book you can also read about the Romans Catholic Creeds and Councils, and Holcomb does not skimp on the explanation about them.
Lastly, under relevance, Holcomb is perceptive about the importance of creeds and confessions and the need for christians to be familiar with the them. Even when discussing about the Vatican II, Holcomb is still able to draw relevant application for christians and thus gives excellence support for the christian to be well versed in them.This would be a great book for any christian who would like to be interested to learn not just about the creeds/confessions/catechism itself, but along side with it a thorough understanding of the historical context behind it. Although this might be a little too overbearing, but I would have wished that Holcomb could have added a chapter on the Second London Baptist Confession. Still this trivial lack has not in any way made the book any less valuable. This remains to be an excellent and informative guide for any christian who wants to be informed in this area.Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher in return for an honest review.",4.0,"Know your Creeds, not just your Bibles",1400544000,"05 20, 2014",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 ABS9V5VTL73RP,B00847CGV2,Brbb,"[0, 0]","This book was entirely too short, but it was very good and help my interest. I like the author a lot.",4.0,When First They Met,1358035200,"01 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3A4CVFL2VBCD3,148272992X,Emma T,"[5, 7]","I did not enjoy this book. I have no idea why it has such great reviews. Personally, I found it quite terrible. I forced myself to finish it. I never want to give this kind of review, so I stuck around until the end, to see if it would get better. It didn't.First of all, editing was terrible. I don't think it was even edited. Punctuation was terrible, commas were exactly where they shouldn't be. Lots of run-on sentences. In once place, there was even a random = sign. For no reason. This is the worst example of the lack of editing: 'She like she was meeting celebrity'. Obviously you can tell what it means, but really, you are getting paid for this. At least get an editor or read it over once. The puncuation reminds me of my friend's writing back in sixth grade.Next, many parts that need more detail are carelessly skipped over. It's as if they're just put in as a filler, then forgotten about until later, when they're ended in a quick sentence. Therapy seemed to have no purpose. It was talked about in detail early on (first chapter only), yet was only mentioned once later on.The book then says 'I can't believe high school has gone by so fast. Freshman year sucked but the rest has been great.' Um..okay? Five words explaining sophmore and junior year. It's basially one story, (quote above), then senior year. Those years may not have been very inportant, but you can't just toss them aside so you can get to the next part quicker.Then there is the part with the exchange student, where the book says something like 'We took a lot of pictures and hung out. It was really fun.'There's no problem with mentioning this, but if you do, put more detail than 'It was really fun'.The next issue is the boys. All boys end up calling her or Ann (friend) "cutie". All of them. I have not heard the word 'cutie' come from any guy's mouth, ever. Then, less than 30 seconds after they start talking, Chris (future boyfriend who has never spoken to her) is telling her how much he loves her and that her face is "as pure as an angel". That's not how life works. If a guy did that to any girl, she would be beyond creeped out. Trust me.The next issue is when Chris takes her to the baseball game. He surprised her with a shirt and the game, and she starts crying. Not out of joy. Amanda is 'overwhelmed' and wants to leave. Then, after she got over it, he puts his hand on her thigh. She doesn't blink an eye, even though she had been raped before. It isn't logical. She freaks out at a shirt being given to her, but doesn't care about a guy touching her. What?The next issue is the dialogue. People say things and overexaggerate things that doesn't make any sense in real life. It doesn't sound like talking, it sounds extremely fake.Ex: "Oh my goodness I'm so sorry we overheard your private conversation!"That doesn't sound like someone said that while in a rush to explain themselves. No one talks like that. They would say something like: "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to listen!"Conversation in this book is stiff and often unrealistic.Another thing that I noticed was the story line, or lack therof. There were two main stories in the book. They weren't bad. But I can't figure out what the book was trying to say. What was accomplished? What was the hardship? It felt like it was an assignment written at school, where the teacher tells you to write about your weekend in 10 sentences or more. Not much detail, and a lot of things were used as fillers.She got love, but she didn't have to overcome anything to get it. Her life wasn't easy, but I'm not sure it's a book-worthy story. The story line only really develops in the last 90% of the story, when Chris is in the hospital.BTW - I am kind of OCD. I was bothered by this book's errors, but maybe it won't bother you.Did I enjoy this book? Not really at all.Would I recommend this book? No.Note to the Author: This book wasn't perfect, but please use this criticism as motivation. Clearly a lot of people like it, but it wasn't for me. I wish I could give you a better review. Good luck on your future books!",2.0,"Two Stars, Being Generous",1388534400,"01 1, 2014",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2TTHQTPYO88EL,0062085530,TeresaMaryRose,"[0, 0]","Unravel Me was so much better than Shatter Me, and I really loved Shatter Me, so that is saying something. So much changes over the course of this book; things you thought were unchangeable turn out to be quite changeable indeed. This holds especially true for Warner. I have been Team Warner from the beginning – don’t shoot! – something about him just caught my attention. However, I think a lot of people, especially people who disliked him, are going to be torn about him after reading this book. There is much more to Warner than just an evil villain. Unravel Me introduces the real villain that we should fear and Warner is not it.Juliette grows up so much throughout the course of this book and I really came to admire her character. She was never one of the strongest characters out there, with very good reason, but in this book she really learns to stand on her own and I loved it. There is one quote that I think really sums her up perfectly in this one: “All I know is that it’ll never be safe for me to rely on someone else again, to need constant reassurance of who I am and who I might someday be. I can love him, but I can’t depend on him to be my backbone. I can’t be my own person if I constantly require someone else to hold me together.” I love that she recognizes that she can be strong without the help of anyone else. I am really looking forward to what she brings to the table in the final installment.Now do not get me wrong, I like Adam, I really do, but he kinda got on my nerves at points during Unravel Me. He was just very mopey for a lot of the book and while I understood why, I still got tired of it. I just don’t do well with characters who are depressed for a majority of a book. I still like him but I just felt like a lot of the time we saw him, he was upset and it would result in the same scene between him and Juliette.Warner… we all know I love the broken ones and Warner is definitely broken. I don’t want to give too much away, so let’s just say the Warner in Unravel Me is not the same Warner we met in Shatter Me. He is the Warner I always knew was hiding underneath his crazy exterior somewhere. See, I truly think that Warner understands Juliette in a way that nobody else can. He truly gets what it is like to be her, because he lived a very similar life. Whether you are Team Warner or Team Adam, Unravel Me will make you question who is really better for Juliette. Because honestly I think Warner accepts Juliette as she is, while there are things about herself she has to change for Adam. But I digress, that may just be my Warner bias showing through. I do think there may be a lot of team switching after this one.Now I have to talk about Kenji. He literally stole every scene he was in. He has such an arrogant yet wonderfully witty personality. The things that came out of his mouth never ceased to amaze me. Kenji definitely has a way with words.The writing in Unravel Me is simply breathtaking. The writing is just beautiful and astounding and gosh I just don’t know how to describe it. The story flows so wonderfully and the writing is just flawless.My one complaint is the way Juliette is treated at the beginning of the book. Be warned this could be considered spoilery. It seemed as if the people at Omega Point just couldn’t understand why Juliette had trouble interacting with others and just wanted her to settle in and be BFFs with everyone right away. I’m sorry, but what did you expect from a girl who spent most of her life in solitude? I know she needed a push, I just don’t think anyone truly took the time to understand her and just kept telling her to suck it up instead.Overall, Unravel Me is a great follow up to Shatter Me, and please do yourself a favor and read Destroy Me the novella from Warner’s POV beforehand; it really adds something to the story. This book will grab your attention and hold it until the very end.",5.0,Incredible!,1398988800,"05 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3AC2GDCHL3QCC,034551016X,"P. Cleaveland ""Pete""","[5, 11]","I found this story to be interesting, but not as enthralling as I had expected. I mean a bright, college-destined kid volunteers for Vietnam and the Marines. Has the making of a great story, but it never really came together for me. It was just an interesting story for which the spark never lit.",3.0,Interesting story,1257638400,"11 8, 2009",5,11,helpful,0.45454545454545453,1 AAEIK0DZ1F537,1609280229,Hotcha,"[4, 4]","What a Girl WantsMaddie Saunders Had Been Best Friends With Alex Donovan For Six Years, She Had Watched Him Date Many Women And Knowing They Were Both Career Minded She Never Thought Twice About Having A Friends With Benefits With Alex Until They Got The Assignment To Go To Makana Island In Hawaii Where Alex Would Interview The Elusive Billionaire, Maxwell Hollister And She Would Do Research Of The Island For Her Travel Guide Article For Her Uncles Magazine. She Had It Planned To Hit Alex With A Sex Boot Camp Underneath A Big Hawaiian Moon!International Investigative Reporter, Alex Donovan Had Learned His Lesson About Dating Co-Workers When Crystal Washington Got Her Claws Into Him. Crystal Was A Woman Who'd Do Anything To Get A Head, And Even Wrote Fake Articles To Try To One Up Him When He Won A Pulitzer! Now The Woman Was Sticking Her Nose Into Maddie's Mothers Business So What If The Woman Changed Husbands Like Most People Changed Socks? When Maddie Hit Him With Her Plan, Alex Fought It For All He Was Worth, But A Millionaire Named Leslie Something Had His Hands Way Too Close To Her Butt On The Dance Floor And Then He Uncovered Some Startling Information That He Knew Would Hurt Her, Then Crystal Had The Nerve To Show Up On The Island And Issue Threats!Wow, Talked About A Dysfunctional Family That Just Made You Want To Cry At A System That Failed Children, Hot Sex, And Nail Biting Intrigue. Maddie Was Twenty-Nine And Never Knew Who Her Father Was And Hired A Private Detective To Find The Man That Sired Her Since Her Mother Refused To Tell Her, In Her Quest To Find Her Dad On Her Own, She Opened Pandora's Box!!",5.0,What A Girl Wants,1336176000,"05 5, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2EA6B41DVFC7G,0557131286,"Allyson M. Deese ""Author of Discovering The J...","[0, 1]","4.5 Stars - August 5, 2010I loved it, I laughed, I cried I sympathized with Royce and prayed that Paula wasn't playing him, (as if the characters were living people) I loved the modern Cinderella-like ending.Bravo, RL! I look forward to reading more of your work",5.0,Awesome Read!,1280966400,"08 5, 2010",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A33FA68V0NCM5E,0140441921,TheIrrationalMan,"[11, 15]","Castiglione's "The Courtier", a landmark in Renaissance literature, is a treatise presented in dialogue form, offering hints on how the courtier ought to act, to win the favours of ladies, to comport himself and - to fight. Contrary to my first expectations, it is no less practical and realistic than Machiavelli's "Prince"; Castiglione may seem somehow unfashionable to the modern reader, with his stress on decorum, honour and the importance of birthright, but has precepts endure, and can be just as readily applied in a court of the sixteenth century as in the present...",5.0,The perfect courtier,957398400,"05 4, 2000",11,15,helpful,0.7333333333333333,1 AOVTLYTHVDNUX,0890131821,"Tradecraft ""Live by the Sword""","[15, 21]","Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West: A Guide to Identifying, Preparing, and Using Traditional Medicinal Plants Found in the Deserts and Canyons of the West and Southwest by Michael Moore was a disappointing book. As someone who lives in the desert I do a lot of hiking and camping so I thought this book would provide useful and easy to use information should I become sick or injured. Unfortunately, this book falls short on providing quick and usable treatment using local plants.For each of the plants listed the author uses the following format to discuss the plant: common name, Latin name, other names, map of location, appearance, habitat, constituents, cultivation, collecting, stability, preparation, and medicinal uses.Areas about this book that I did NOT like include:1. The book provides only three pages on preparation methods to utilize the plant. These methods include: teas, eyewash, salves, poultice and tinctures. These methods range from too complicated if you have never done this before or too general with not enough usable information. If you have never prepared a plant to use as a treatment you are not going to learn it from this book. Each plant listing does provide a ""preparation"" section but again I did not find the information easily useable.2. There are 69 plants reviewed in the book but only 30 color photographs and some of the photos come 6 to a page. There are many black and white drawings of the other plants but such drawing fail to do the plant justice.3. The product description states, ""This book can be used as a field guide"", yet many of the preparation methods would not be possible to use while in the field. For example on one of the plants you need to heat it to 250 degrees or you need other ingredients that you probably would not be carrying with you. Being able to identify a plant in the field is significantly different from being able to utilize the plant in the field.4. The font size used throughout the book is very small. I estimate the font size to be 7pt or 8pt.The following comes from the introduction:""If you like lists, here is one to keep in mind when using this book:1. Be sure of the plant you are picking.2. If the herb makes you sick, take less or throw it away.3. If it doesn't work, use more or forget it entirely.4. Trust your own judgment above all.5. That which stimulates can irritate; that which helps can hurt.6. If you don't get better or get worse quickly, call your doctor.""While some of that advice can certainly be applied to traditional medicine it surely does not foster confidence in using herbal medicine especially if I am the one who has to pick the plant and prepare it correctly! Herbs are not harmless and mistakes can be harmful or even deadly. Yes, the same is true about traditional medicines but I at least know exactly what I am getting when I pick up medicine from the pharmacy.In today's electronic age of the Internet and websites such as YouTube it is possible to conduct online research that will provide much more useable information. Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West is a book that I would not recommend unless you have a solid background on herbs and herbal preparations.",2.0,Not Useable for Field Preparation,1309132800,"06 27, 2011",15,21,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2WZJDFX12QXKD,B00JZ6QL0I,Stuart Powell,"[0, 0]","I recommend this book to people newly interested in the topic, because it is accessible to those who have only heard of 3D printing; but it can also benefit anyone wanting a thorough understanding of the implications of 3D printing. Not much on building or purchasing a 3D printer, but many resources that point you in the right direction. If you are interested, definitely a good introduction.",5.0,This book was a very good introduction to the world of possibilities of 3D printing,1398988800,"05 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZYIX36LX7QSA,038533916X,Bessie says,"[0, 0]",I am completely enjoying the Fever Series. This book does not disappoint. Plenty of action & suspense. I couldn't put the book down & now I'm in the middle of the third book Faefever. So great! They should make this a movie.,5.0,Best Series Ever,1357430400,"01 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EXE88Z5PJYS,0060920084,"""wwerewolff""","[10, 16]","What boring, superficial stuff! I could pick up better and more interesting and funnier impressions of a place by driving through it at sixty miles an hour than this deadbeat can by hanging around for a week!",1.0,"shallow, politically -correct, and not funny",948844800,"01 26, 2000",10,16,helpful,0.625,1 A3RN6G24SY2FUT,0316156108,Aberforth Dumbledore,"[0, 0]","This book is fantastic.I bought it used based on an amazon recommendation several years ago. At the time, I couldn't put it down...nor could I understand why it wasn't a book everyone was buying and discussing!Unpacking after a recent move, and simply wanting to sit with a glass of wine and a good book, I returned to the world of Howard, Sylvia, and Ryan, and found it even more beautiful and engrossing than it had been the first time around. I quickly logged onto amazon, thinking surely Mr. King had written something in the years its been since I first read this book. Alas, he has not!I highly recommend this book, with one caveat- you'll be disappointed that you won't be able to read more King works as soon as you finish this one!",5.0,Fantastic,1388448000,"12 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A6138STCC4WT6,1401303277,M. Lee,"[6, 12]","I am a fan of Mitch Albom's works. I loved Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. His previous books were simply, but powerfully, touching. I was always profoundly moved when I read his books. However, this book just didn't make justice with Albom's writing style. The moral message was dry and stuffy, its prose was jerky, and it felt WAY too corny. At least his other books were not filled with the corniest sentimental lines like in For One More Day. Overall, it was not a good book. Read Tuesdays with Morrie or Five People You Meet in Heaven if you want to taste Albom's real style.",3.0,It Didn't Cut,1160438400,"10 10, 2006",6,12,helpful,0.5,1 A35U77AODK7GAA,0142427225,,"[0, 0]","AMAZING! Cannot wait to read the other two. Watch out, you're going to love this novel, too.",5.0,AMAZING! Cannot wait to read the other two,1405036800,"07 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A294EVB54EEMA2,1605299545,evol_v,"[11, 12]","I bought this book hoping it would provide more of the simple, easy, few ingredient meal ideas of the type found in the Flat Belly Diet Pocket guide. That book had great suggestions for quick, one-serving meals, perfect for someone who is preparing meals for and by herself, and doesn't want to have lots of food in the fridge getting old and rotten before she can get to it. The FB Cookbook is more geared to someone who wants recipes for four or more servings, and who likes cooking meals with up to 19 items in the ingredients list. To be fair, there are also dishes with only four or five ingredients. But I'm one of those people who looks at a recipe, and if I can't think of anything else I am going to be able to do with pomegranite syrup, rice papers or quinoa, then I will tend to turn the page on that recipe. Too much page turning for me, with this book.",3.0,Hoping for Simpler Recipes,1291939200,"12 10, 2010",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A1I4NFFM9HCIXB,B00DW3SWMU,Sharon bell,"[0, 0]","What a great read I've just started reading this type of books ,wow so entertaining an this book was very good Thks can't wait to FINd out was happens next can wait",4.0,Awesome,1387584000,"12 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35A3KIP9QROSP,0373210574,Lowcountry Book Lover,"[0, 0]","Let's face it - Julie Kagawa is one of the best storytellers in the YA world right now. She somehow balances character development and world building while giving us an action and emotion packed story. Anger, love, friendship, heartbreak and laughter are all within the pages of her novels.Her Iron Fey series included some of my favorite reading moments last year. The Lost Prince - Call of the Forgotten #1 is set in the Iron Fey world but focuses primarily on Ethan Chase, the brother of the Iron Queen, Meghan. If you remember from the earlier series, Ethan has always had the sight (ability to see the fey) and was kidnapped by them at a young age. Meghan's story started with her quest to save him. Ethan has become a loner and avoids the fey at all cost. He is also pretty bitter about Meghan's absence in their lives now that she lives in the Iron Realm.The bad news for Ethan is that they fey haven't forgotten about him and he is drawn back into their world when he discovers a half-breed friend is missing. Ethan's fight to find and save his friend takes him on a dangerous path and, once again, forces him to face that he isn't ""normal"".I thoroughly enjoyed The Lost Prince. At first I wasn't sure that Ethan is as strong a protagonist as Meghan and honestly, I'm still not 100% convinced. BUT - through the story, you do start to understand the struggle he has had for a normal life while dealing with the loss of his sister. His anger with Ash (for taking her away, at least in his mind) was palpable. Kenzie, Ethan's love interest, is someone I want to know even more. She has a complex life and it will be interesting to see where JK takes her.Now onto some minor spoilers so I can have a little fun discussing my favorite parts:- We do get a minor update on Meghan and Ash. They are still living as husband and wife in the Iron Realm. And....- They have a son, Keirran. Ethan not only learns that he has a nephew but because of the way time works in Nevernever, Keirran is his age (while Meghan and Ash still look like teenagers themselves as they are basically immortal.) Keirran has a lot of power. He is part human, part Iron Fey and part Winter Fey (from his father). This power and the prophecy about his future makes everyone nervous. While no one tells Ethan their concerns, he does pick up on it during his time in the Nevernever. For some reason, Meghan wanted to keep Keirran and Ethan apart.....Keirran was my favorite character in The Lost Prince and I'm glad to see more of him coming in The Iron Traitor. But, I just know JK is going to break my heart. The blossoming friendship between Ethan and Keirran combined with the 'unknown' prophecy makes me a very nervous reader. And, Kenzie has a lot to overcome as well to get to a potential HEA.4.5/5 stars. A wonderful start to the series but I had to hold out an extra 1/2 star as Julie Kagawa always hits her storytelling stride with the 2nd book (which I have already started by the way - oh, the feels!)",4.0,Another winner from Kagawa,1379289600,"09 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1U2JV44VJ71TN,0307277259,Roger P. Zabkie,"[0, 0]",The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work is written in such delightfully beautiful prose that it takes the breath away. Keep your dictionary handy and you're in for a great read.,4.0,The Pleasure of a Good Book,1252540800,"09 10, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1W386WORDXN8M,1481216112,Coleen dow,"[4, 5]",What a wonderful and surprising addition to Ms Nelsons work. This short story shows off her sense of humor as well as her sense of timing. Good job and I hope we will see more short stories in the future.,5.0,All That....and a sense of humor.,1357689600,"01 9, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2P015YNF2GBJ,0451233166,sweetpea,"[0, 1]","JR Ward seems to be getting a lot of flack for this latest installment of the BDB series. And Honestly I don't see why. I loved it! I read lots of reviews so I knew what I was in for but honestly I don't agree with all the nit-picking goin on. She stays true to the language and lingo, so if it's taken this long to bother people that strikes me as funny. I like the fact that she is introducing new characters as well. I agree that Manny and Payne didn't quite get the spot light we thought they would but I loved their story anyways, I loved All the Vishous and Doc J too, It was a dark and desperate time there for awhile for those two, but it kept me riveted to my Kindle none the less. I do wish Qhuinn and Blay got some more time but that just gives us something to look forward to. I guess I like the fact that these characters have flaws and everything isn't wrapped up into a neat package, and not everyone gets what they want. I feel like she is back on track with this book and can't wait for the next one!",5.0,Awesome addition to series!,1301529600,"03 31, 2011",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3NBXRAEOCB0X6,0199534314,"R. McClintick ""Rhapsodie""","[0, 0]","The presentation guide takes Italian and makes it come to life for the user. The style of instruction includes the wisdom of a little repeatedly is better than a lot at once. And it has a workbook included, time in the instruction for repetition, and time for answering on your own, and the amount of repetition is super valuable for learning a language with different rules for structure.",5.0,The presentation guide takes Italian and makes it come to life for the user.,1383782400,"11 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Z03UDRINS1UE,1592171575,"Jill ""JB""","[12, 15]",Gorgeous book with loads of various ideas. I'll never run out of ideas with this book alone. Highly recommend it to everyone who loves quilting.,5.0,Creative Scraps: Qiulting with Bits and Pieces,1190764800,"09 26, 2007",12,15,helpful,0.8,1 A2ZJPDH0YP90SD,0446538647,"InfoFish ""Swimming the Information Streams""","[8, 10]","It's ironic. I am feeling extremely guilty for reviewing a book about how not to feel guilty. Sigh. The book is BORING. I am not sure, but I think Joyce cranks out books by the dozen. I am sure she is a nice lady and she runs a wonderful ministry but the writing is not something you want to call your friends and share. It's not painful, it's just uneventful. I am having the hardest time finishing it and I have had the book staring me down for months. Nice lady, nice ministry, boring book. The premise of the book is that too many of us are feeling self indulgent and uptight for wanting the accessories of life - the new shoes, the cookies. I think I might have a bit of an ethical conflict with this premise as too many of us are, well, overweight and in debt. Perhaps those self imposed restraints are a good thing to be fostered. I honestly don't think many of us need any encouragement in the indulge yourself a bit habit, nor in creating ceremonies to celebrate. If anything I think more of us need to start some serious soul searching and embracing our frugal natures. How about we celebrate long walks with our kids, using the library and eating less?",3.0,Two fold problem: Boring and Indulgent,1277251200,"06 23, 2010",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A2C96YYHO2Z68O,1442358238,Leona H Klazas,"[0, 0]",Typical MHClark book. Kept me guessing. Loved it. Would recommend to anyone. Another book under your belt. Keep them coming,5.0,Wonderful,1367539200,"05 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1TR8JYD7TDYCN,B006QOILDM,bob,"[0, 0]","The book is fairly decent as a fun read for a commute or if you like to just read for fun. The author did do his research, but needs to remember that American's do NOT say MISSES..but MRS, people call each other on CELL phones, not mobiles ( Hell I don't know anyone who would say that----to do so would be akin to wanting to get beaten up) batteries DIE, they don't discharge. We take vacations, not holidays....there were alot of typos and he consistently changed phrases from American to british and back again. Good book, but needs to be properly formatted..",2.0,"A good fun read, but lots of Typos and mismatches",1403481600,"06 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35CCGJDNXUDY9,1416550518,"Sandra Brazier ""Artist, educator, and musician""","[0, 0]","Oh if the walls could speak! This entire tale is a flashback told by Grace, who was a young maid and a discreet observer of the behind-the-scenes life of the Ashbury family. Grace, now 98 years old and dying, reminisces during interviews with a young filmmaker who wishes to get the details straight about the mysterious occurrences that took place behind the closed doors of the family mansion. Slowly, the story of her life as the family maid unfurls. Gradually, we discover the secrets that she has discreetly kept throughout her entire lifetime. This chilling and electrifying story takes place through many transitions in our country's history. From the decaying Edwardian era, to the tragic First World War, and then to the roaring twenties, we follow Grace and the family members through struggles, conflicts, lovers, tragedies, and even through murder! This debut novel by Kate Morton possesses brilliant character development and compelling settings, and is impossible to put down.",5.0,The House at Riverton,1221868800,"09 20, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3UO33EDAQ5G9E,B00DJQYAQW,Me,"[6, 6]","Well, I am disappointed in the quality of work. Be fore warned the book is a lot shorter that it states. The story ends around 87 percent of my Kindle. The rest is samples of the authors book. If I wanted samples, Amazon has a nice little button I can push, I don't need to be deceived into buy a book shorter than what is stated. I am very disappointed. The writing is mediocre at best. It is very, very fast. SPOILER:The MC fall in love in one day. And for a guy who claims he forgets everything and everyone, well he didn't have any issues with remembering a perfect stranger in his bed. Save your money.",1.0,Page number not as it states,1377302400,"08 24, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1985UAVDJ09CQ,1400066476,Stephanie Patterson,"[8, 10]","So I sat alone in my living room yesterday and laughed out loud many times as I read this incredibly clever book. I won't regurgitate the plot here but suffice it to say if you love Shakespeare and/or Nabokov you're going to chortle a lot. If you haven't read Bill or Vladimir, you're still going to have a very good time. It's so refreshing to read something that is so meticulously done and that manages to be both hilarious and touching. I could describe my favorite bits but they are so intricately woven into the plot that the full effect would be missed. How much did I love this book? I ordered all of author Arthur's other books Bravo!",5.0,I laughed! I cried!,1303862400,"04 27, 2011",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A1BI8PUEHA5CHW,0307278832,Busy Mom,"[7, 7]","This book was recommended by Amazon when I bought ""Hubris"" (which I have yet to read) and I thought, well, why not. My dad had already read this and urged me to read it since we've been talking about Iraq and the war. I picked it up last week and was unable to put it down. It wasn't like anything I thought it would be ~~ it wasn't dry and badly reported. It was very informative and I got the feeling that it was a rather unbiased viewpoint ~~ more like a reporting from a reporter who tried to report what he saw and heard, not what he feels or thinks. (No matter how hard a reporter tries, sometimes, you can still get a sense of what he's thinking as he's writing.)Chandrasekaran is a good story-teller ~~ not as a fictional writer, but as a writer who observed the going-ons in the Green Zone and who interviewed hundreds of people who lived in the Green Zone. He showed the ambitions and hopes of those who came to Iraq to rebuild it. He showed the disappointments, the downfalls of those who worked there. Even more dangerously, he showed the incompetence of the Americans who worked in the Green Zone as they lived in a bubble removed from the realities of what the Iraq people were facing every single day. He provided the history of the Iraq people under the Sadam regime. Chandrasekaran is an excellent reporter who interviewed just about everyone from Bremer himself to the taxi cab driver. His book is chock full of information written in such a way that everything flows from one page to another that I just couldn't put the book down.The spotlight reviewer Robert D. Steele sums up the book so well that really, I cannot write a review like his. All I know is that when I picked up this book, I was still clueless about what went on in Iraq. Now I am intrigued and saddened by the mess that is still on-going there. I am also even more disillusioned with the current administration than I was before. And I am following up this book with reading Gwynn Dyer's book ""Future Tense"" which explains even more the dire situation in Iraq.If you are looking to be informed on the situation in Iraq, I highly recommend reading Chandrasekaran's book as he is a writer to read. I never knew half of what was going on and now, it's too dangerous to be ignorant of what is going on in the world.6-5-07",5.0,Intriguing and Informative,1181001600,"06 5, 2007",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A2ASJZJ1WKIW18,0380727544,D. Hern,"[13, 13]","When Stephen J Cannell is good, he's very good. When he's bad, well.... When he's bad he gives every single, minor, one-page character a nickname. It gets rather distracting when it descends to the Joseph ""Joe"" Green level.When he's good, he writes action sequences that grab you immediately and pull you into the book. Most of them are written well enough that it's easy to suspend your disbelief and just go along for the ride. And what a ride it is. Very fast-paced all the way through. The last 1/3 was a bit on the convoluted side, but not enough to make me stop reading.Not for the faint of heart. If you have problems with graphic violence, best skip this one. A whole lot of people are deleted violently on both sides of The Plan.While I would not rate this book as a standout, it did hold my interest and keep me turning pages. This was his first novel. I'll be reading more Cannell in the near future.",3.0,Split Decision,1010534400,"01 9, 2002",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 AMNUOTE4ARGFP,B007X6KE82,Ebookaficionada,"[0, 0]",A best seller no matter what genre. A Must Read. Action packed. Keeps you guessing. The emotional roller coaster makes you dizzy. Over the top romance. Ethan Day has created a masterpiece. Don't miss this one; it's magnificent.,5.0,Magnificent!,1335657600,"04 29, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NB8TOO5UKL4T,076844098X,Lynda,"[0, 0]",Don't give up after the first 40 pages. This book has a deeper message that parallels what our Jesus taught.,4.0,"Starts off really slowly, but the story does have a good purpose.",1395360000,"03 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1SLBNBTEHVJTM,0307594033,M. Lea,"[0, 0]","I honestly can't tell you why I love this book, I just do. The mother captured my heart when I found out she reads the end of books first, as do I. After that, it was just good reading.It is a sad story, but to see a relationship that doesn't need fixing before a death is refreshing. The relationship between the author and his mother is solid; the book club only adds to it.Read this book and cry a little and then love it.",5.0,Bonding Over Books,1352073600,"11 5, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18URP1YKAD79S,0385335407,K. Morgan,"[16, 18]","Isabelle Forrester and Bill Robinson live in different continents but carry on a friendship via the telephone and a few visits here and there for four years. Isabelle stays at home with her sick child Teddy and her hateful husband. Bill is in a loveless marriage and doesn't want to get divorced because he's afraid it will hurt his career. Isabelle and Bill decide to meet in London for a few days to spend some time together. While in London they share a passionate kiss while at practically the same moment their limousine is hit by a double-decker bus. Their lives are forever changed.The Kiss is an OK read. The characters are well developed and the storyline for the most part is good. However, there are some parts that are a little far-fetched, such as Bill's hospital bed being wheeled into Isabelle's room everyday. The story seems to get stuck at times and the same details are repeated, which seems is becoming a habit for Ms. Steel. But, once you get past the repetitive parts the story picks up and is interesting and easy to read. The reader is anxious to get to the end to see how the story ends. This is not one of Ms. Steel's best books but is OK to pass the time reading. A nice change of pace and escape in today's world.",3.0,an OK read,1005091200,"11 7, 2001",16,18,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A31BH65104Q10M,0310331935,joseph paul harmon,"[0, 0]","Excellent. Well written, humorous, but also serious. Really shows how most Christians are fans not followers. Helps you see how you can truly become a follower.",5.0,Excellent,1398816000,"04 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A12JXV3KP9E5ET,0988701243,Ladyofthebay,"[0, 0]","The characters were well developed, a few errors that spell /grammar checkers missed.Read it. I enjoyed it. Some of it is definitely overt fantasy while other parts made me wonder how fragile our lives are and how dependent we as Americans have allowed ourselves to become.",4.0,Action filled drama,1390176000,"01 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3972A32BY4004,0062201220,M. Gorichs,"[0, 0]",I do past life regressions and have found them often to be very healing so I found this book especially interesting. and validating. I highly recommend it,5.0,excellent as usual,1353801600,"11 25, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AAF5PEMY7R49Y,0399142533,"Suzanne Vitale ""jackeroophillip""","[165, 183]","I started with "Running Blind," Lee Child's third book, and finished it off in record time to jump back online to see what else Lee Child had written. The hero, Jack Reacher, was a military brat growing up, a military career man until the army downsized, and then became a drifter by choice. He's a one-man swat team correcting injustice as it finds him. In "Killing Floor" he just happens to get off the bus near the intersection of a small town in Georgia and after wandering on foot into the town of Margrave he is immediately arrested for a brutal murder which he obviously did not commit. He digs his way through several mysteries at one time including the identity of the murdered man. The suspense never lets up; there is a girl (a cop) that he loves but leaves with good romance and dialogue throughout. The only problem I had with the hero is that he arrives without any luggage and only occasionaly needs to buy a new outfit of clothes as he thows away what he has on at the time. He gives new meaning to traveling light. I'm going to quit writing now and start reading the next book..."Die Trying" I hope to see more of Jack Reacher after I have caught up with the next two.",5.0,Jack Reacher can have my number !,969926400,"09 26, 2000",165,183,helpful,0.9016393442622951,1 A1MV0ORDUH0DXA,B00G2DL3SC,Izzy E,"[0, 0]","This is a nice fun, short easy read that keeps you engrossed the whole book. I love the fairy tale land that Cindy goes to and tries to save. I read it too fast and was sad when I finished it too fast.",5.0,Great quick read,1386201600,"12 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A24PVBJQZ1S40I,0804176787,Stephanie Downey,"[0, 1]",One week girlfriend was an interesting story to say the least. I seriously thought that when it started and Drew was looking for someone to go home with him for the weekend it was because he preferred guys. Didn’t see that twist coming at first. This book kept me interested from the beginning I didn’t want to put it down. Monica captured the real feelings between Drew and Fable. Drew has a lot of secrets that he has been holding together for the past two years and Fable not only helps Drew but loses him in the long run. This is a book I was happy I found and I can’t wait to see if Fable and Dew make it back together. Look forward to the next book in the series!,4.0,one week girlfriend is a book you don't want to miss,1388966400,"01 6, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A172P7WJV9XDOI,B003V8BU84,Phoebe W,"[6, 8]","Wasn't sure what to expect because it was a free book, however, it ended up being a good book and a quick read. Would definitely recommended!",4.0,Good Book,1348531200,"09 25, 2012",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A3P1U1YBK706T6,0756406226,Richard Sullivan,"[0, 0]","I've always particularly enjoyed the late Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series. Deborah Ross continues it ably, if not always quite so well as The Master. People are still writing to this fantasy genre, some better, some worse. Long live, check them out.",4.0,Darkover Continued,1359504000,"01 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1D2C0WDCSHUWZ,0064437566,"E. A Solinas ""ea_solinas""","[13, 13]","Everyone's read the oft-accepted story of King Arthur's boyhood, right? A seemingly orphaned fosterling is raised by kindly Sir Ector, doesn't really know who he is. This story gives a mild but enjoyable twist on the old tale.Artos is a young orphan in Sir Ector's castle, whose only playmates are the sons of Sir Ector, who often look down on him. One day, as he chases the dog Boadie into the woods, he comes across a cave that appears to have a massive dragon inside it. Though Artos is initially afraid, he befriends the ancient dragon. The dragon, in exchange for foodstuffs from the kitchen, will teach Artos wisdom.The teachings that the dragon give Artos unconsciously change his outlook and his treatment of other people - even those below him. But after a strange incident in which the dragon temporarily vanishes, Artos discovers the truth about his friend.Aside from the works of Gerald Morris, I don't think I've found a more likeable version of King Arthur than Artos. The lessons that he is taught are mild but creep into the mind and take root, transforming him effectively from a "bulky, unruly, illiterate boy" to a thoughtful and compassionate soul (he isn't perfect, but who is?)The supporting cast is sparkling, from "Garlic" Meg the kitchen maid, ancient Druid wiseman Linn, and the cheerful smith who provides Artos with his first sword. The writing style is admittedly a bit bare at times, but not so much that it is difficult to read. The dialogue and visualization of the final chapter are perhaps the best part, almost mystical.A small note to those reading this book for the first time: Read carefully what the supporting characters say, and you might just guess ahead of time what is up with the dragon.A magical tale without real magic, this is an enjoyable tale for lovers of a darn good story and a must-see for Arthuriana nuts!",5.0,Unique Arthurian story,991008000,"05 28, 2001",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A2DR0LLZY2BU81,0307463974,mjkt,"[0, 0]",""Here is Where, Discovering America's Great Forgotten History" by Andrew Carroll one of the best quick facts on history books I have read. This has been a very fun and entertaining book to read. It has all kind of different facts about history that most people did not know. Each chapter has a main topic and the author not only talks about it but also his trip to the area his talking about and any side stories. Its a wonderful for history fans.I will give a little teaser for this book without given much away.1. Like who is Richard "Tow Gun" Hart's famous relative?2. How did the Spanish flu kill the most healthy people?3. What Happened at Caledonia Correction Institution?And my favorite fact4. What does Madison Square Garden, the New York Public Library, Washington Square Park, and the luxurious Waldorf-Astoria Hotel have in common?This book is my absolute favorite unknown history facts book. I highly recommend this book its a good one.I was given this book from Blogging for Books for my honest review.",5.0,Fun Fact History Book,1403395200,"06 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJDYDG7YZY9QL,0060590297,Stephen A. Haines,"[5, 5]","Elijiah begat Jody. Jody begat Tommy. Tommy begat Blue. Not by birth, but by bite. The begatting still granted life, but it's eternal life - with special powers. Elijiah, eight hundred and seventeen years old, is a vampire of long experience. Taking up with the young woman, he tutors her in the ways of the undead. He overlooks Jody's resourcefulness, however, and becomes a statue. With Elijiah immobilised, she is free to choose her own consort. Tommy, a naive Midwesterner from Incontience, Indiana proves an inspired choice. They're young, in love, and in trouble. For one thing, the police know who, and what, they are.Christopher Moore's inventiveness has become nearly legendary. His books may be labelled ""fantasy"" only under the broadest definition. Set in contemporary environments, his stories leave you looking askance at your neighbours and friends. Just who is that teen in the bizarre dress and make-up? Is she just protesting against normal values, or is she bearing a hidden agenda. ""Abby Normal"", who slowly takes over this story, is but eight centuries younger than Elijiah. Her own ingenuity builds through the story as she interacts with a succession of ""dark lords"", the Countess, her mother and the ""cops"". The ""p"" is derisively inflected, of course - she has little time for such 'tarded people.Vampires have special problems, of course. Once transformed, the diet is blood. Regular food, coffee or even plain water brings a violent intestinal reaction. To acquire the blood means hunting. Humans, animals such as rats since this is The City - even insects when times are hard. A trip to the zoo is not out of the question, but thirst must be enhanced by talent, or the vampire entering the cage may not come out intact. Their time is night, since daylight can vaporise them. It's a busy schedule all around, made intense by the knowledge that they are hunted. Sometimes even by their own kind.Moore's placing the story in San Francisco brings the enhancement of dripping fogs, shady waterfronts, and Safeway stores. Tommy works at a Safeway as a night manager. His stocking and shelving crew are the Animals, a motley group who've made a killing of their own. On a trip to Las Vegas, the Animals acquired a hooker painted blue all over and bring her back to San Francisco. Moore manages to paint the characters with finesse and audacity as he leads them through their personal destinies. Wholly fantastic, yet he keeps them all real enough to hold your attention with every short chapter. Character development is his genius and he applies it here with meticulous care. There's not an individual here for most of us to identify with, or even sympathise over. Yet, there you will sit, turning pages to learn how he resolves the complexities he's created for your enjoyment. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]",4.0,Getting a life,1171497600,"02 15, 2007",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A61EEWYHHXKRN,0307943232,daustin,"[0, 0]",It had a great story to it. All of John Grisham books are very interesting and I enjoy reading them.,5.0,very interesting book,1376870400,"08 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SEMF1USC0SZY,0061118443,"Merry Blake ""gotta read""","[0, 0]","Love Kerrelyn Sparks' books. They keep me engrossed to the end, I can't put them down. This was so funny. I love it that Angus has to check under his kilt every time he transports. So very male, making sure the equipment arrived safely.",5.0,great story,1373673600,"07 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3U3MB2ZU4H7S6,B004YWGKGS,Laru,"[0, 0]","The galaxy setting sent my imagination soaring. The author created vivid scenes and characters that drew you in to a place that came alive as you read. I was ready for another even when I finished reading the last in the series. Anyone who enjoys fantasy, a love story and a struggle for right to triumph will like this series. I did.",5.0,Fantasy Adventure,1348617600,"09 26, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2EXKTOVTI60R4,0061728977,"MRB ""Writer""","[4, 8]","Comedian Steve Harvey has written an easy to understand and very forthcoming book that is relevant to all women...of any age. Remember: Women don't think like men. So, if that's the case, why do they ask other women for all of their advice with regard to their relationships with men? His point is that that just doesn't make sense. And I have to agree. I recommend this book to all women. I also enjoyed Samantha Waters' memoir[...] A Silicon Valley Escort's Memoir",5.0,Excellent,1233014400,"01 27, 2009",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A1QDVLMMDAS3IA,006117226X,"Christopher Vitto ""Christopher Vitto""","[12, 14]","Dennis Lehane is the best at taking uniquely Boston characters and making them come alive. As a Bostonian perhaps this book hits home harder, the images, the feelings, the characters seem so familiar. This double novel brings two into one so cleverly. Great job Dennis keep them coming. I just started The Given Day.",5.0,Outstanding!,1232928000,"01 26, 2009",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A3SHP0MKFD3IVC,0736930221,Mary Garbarino,"[0, 0]",Wow. I loved this unlikely pair and I hope to find out about her sisters. I could not put it down. I know that others would love to read this enchanting story!,5.0,Sisters of Mercy Flats,1386806400,"12 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGEKVD8JPZQMT,0696232324,"M. Rodriguez ""Cnyper""","[0, 0]","Kermit reminds us that it may not be easy to be green, but it can still be fun! This book is a goofy way to look at life's priorities. It's encouraging and fun, however, if you're not a muppet fan, some of the things would seem childish and over your head!! For those of you who love Kermy, Miss Piggy and the gang, this is a must have for your book and muppet collections!",4.0,Fun LIfe Lessons,1218067200,"08 7, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1D8QG4Q4G9O8S,0553589938,"Lorna ""lornaann""","[0, 0]",I really enjoyed this book I'm going now to purchase book two for my kindle. Use recommend this book to all who loves mystery and murder,5.0,Mysterious and unpredictable,1380585600,"10 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AX6NA5JAL2B1K,0385392907,Thomas F. Dillingham,"[39, 48]","The first thing that will strike most readers about Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish, aside from its unusual title, is that it is written in rhymed couplets, most lines being ten, eleven, or twelve, syllables, some jogtrotting regularly, others hop-skipping, many of the couplets ending in striking and witty rhymes, almost Byronic in their inventiveness. On the other hand, as is so much the fate of poets writing in English, most of the rhymes just happen, self-effacing, and we move along almost without noticing them. All this (and it is a lot) adds to the pleasure of reading the linked narratives that make up, in the form of brief chapters, this novella (really it is not sufficiently developed, even with its sweep across a couple of centuries, to be called a novel).David Rakoff's ""novel in verse"" is not as formally uncommon as many readers might think. Long narratives--both fictional (novels?) and nonfiction (historical, autobiographical, biographical)--have been a small but steady presence in the literary world. (David Mason, Ludlow; Ruth Padel, Darwin: A Life in Verse; Daryl Hine, In and Out; Vikram Seth, Golden Gate, are just a few book-length works in a variety of genres, but all written in verse.) It is difficult, in fact, to define or even identify a ""novel in verse"" that could not just as easily be called a ""long narrative poem"" (one thinks of William Morris's saga of Jason and the Argonauts, for example), though comparison with the Brownings' big poems--Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Aurora Leigh or Robert's The Ring and the Book, might open some parameters. Even Herman Melville's Clarel might offer some points of reference, but the better point of comparison would probably be Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology.Rakoff develops several characters, somewhat linked by encounter or even ancestry, with the most prominent being Clifford, Helen, Susan, and Josh. Their stories occur in brief episodes with some linking exposition, and though the characters are interesting, sympathetic, the incidents of their lives, presented in such condensed and fragmentary form, are unfortunately cliched and too familiar. The novel opens with the tale of red-headed Margaret, a child who is beautiful, abused, sent away to escape the predatory man--her mother's lover--who has raped her. Terrible events and wrenching drama do not necessarily make for depth or weight, and that is the problem with this novel.David Rakoff died much too young, and though he might have felt this novel was ""finished,"" it feels like a bunch of preliminary notes toward what might have been a powerful exploration of changing social and moral values as well as portraits of the courage and persistence of people affected by unfair or even tragic events. But it hardly happens in this novel. When Clifford, the gay man, dies of AIDS, the event is sad, but no more (nor less) meaningful than any other account of the effects of ""the plague,"" since it has little context and very little development. Of course, there are novels composed of sequences of brief episodic narratives, with little explanatory or developmental linkage, written so that the reader is obliged to make the connections or at least be alert to those embedded in the sections. Quite a few contemporary novels ignore chronology but link sections by referring to events or characters in earlier sections, and these can be either tricksy and cute or sometimes profound and moving. But when this approach to structure fails to work as intended, the result is disappointing.I would have liked to be enthusiastic about this novel for several reasons, but the experience of reading it does not stimulate enthusiasm--just a sense of regret at opportunities missed and the pain of loss of a writer who had much to offer, but not enough time.",3.0,"Ambitious, Charming, Disappointing",1372982400,"07 5, 2013",39,48,helpful,0.8125,1 AOTXXA15T5LIT,0873417305,"Phyllis J. Meador ""picklebone""","[0, 0]","I love getting the book with pictures of items as well as clear instructions, along with the patterns. With easy instructions. Far better than just a pattern.",5.0,Better Than A Pattern,1371254400,"06 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AVJDSIQPP87B9,0758254091,C. Ellen Connally,"[6, 8]","I looked forward to this book with some anticipation because of the strong reviews. And for the first half or so of the book I was enthralled. However, somewhere around half way through the story line seemed to have fallen apart.DRY GRASS IN AUGUST - I'm still trying to figure out the title - is a novel written in the first person through the voice of Jubie Watt, an 11 yeor old living in Charlotte, N.C. in the summer of 1954. The focus of the story is a trip that Jubie and her three siblings take with their Mother, along with their maid/nanny Mary Luther. Jubie tells the back ground of the family in alternating chapters that are filled with past incidents of child abuse, alcoholism, adultery, racism and an inference of possible incestuous thoughts by Jubie father Bill, who is drunk through most of the novel.In some respects the story is a macabre version of THE HELP. The relationship between Jubie and Mary is countered by the relationship of Jubie's mother and other white southerners somewhat mirrors Skitter in THE HELP. But there is a much darker side to this story. Jubie lives in a totally dysfuntional family. If the characters were real and still alive I'm sure that they would all be in either Al Anons, a support group for children of alcoholics, alcoholics themselves or in counseling.While the story holds your interest, I felt that the author took too long to get to significant point in the story. As another review said, there are too many characters that are added but don't seem to add much to the story and I found myself asking why where they included and what happened to them. For example, there is Carl - Jubie's cousin who is a West Point Cadet. Jubie's teenage girl attraction to him adds to the story, but his character is really not developed. Nor is Jubie's friendship with the girl next door - Maggie. Why include it? Near the end of the story Jubie goes to the home of a black woman who is kind to her. The woman's husband comes home and it turns out he is a lawyer. I thought that he would be tied into theh plot some kind of way. He and his wife just disappear.Mary, the black woman who is essentially at the heart of the story, shows some defiance at times to the racism heaped on her, but for the most part she is docile. I felt that her character could have been developed a little more, for example how she got to be a maid or a maid in this particular household, who she was as a person. At times she showed strength when dealing with the whites and other times she accepted her role as a black women in a racist society. Black people reading accounts of slavery are often heard to say things like ""if I had been a slave I would never have taken that."" That's one of those things that are easy to say when you have not lived through the real experience of slavery. Likewise with Mary, it's hard to say why she just didn't walk out, but here was a woman in the 1950's who probably needed the job. Like the women in THE HELP, I do think that she loved the children.The impact of Brown v. Board of Education which came out in May of 1954 is referred to in the story. However, the author skirts the issue of schools by putting all of the action in the summer. I know that there were and still are many racist persons, but there were times when some of the racists remarks were almost contrived.Just as an aside, when it came to finding lodging for Mary during the trip to Florida, I thought that Jubie's mother Paula would have thought more about it before she left home. For many years my own grandmother had an arrangement with several local hotels in her town. Living outside of Atlanta in the 1940's and 50's when many northerners were driven to Florida by their black chauffers, my grandmother's house was essentially a bed and breakfast for the black help. She had rooms always ready and made dinner and breakfast the next morning to send the travelers on their way. It was the way she made a living.DRY GRASS IN AUGUST is a quick read. It probably would be good in a book club because it would spur lots of dicussion, but for the most part it's not one that I will be recommending to friends. I'm not sorry that I read it, but in retrospect I could have skipped this one.",3.0,A macabre version of THE HELP,1320624000,"11 7, 2011",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A2LLV4NAXQG43F,1408800276,"T ""ladiibbug""","[0, 0]",Pirates! is one of those extra-special books that I'll remember as the years go by as being a delicious reading experience! Max # of Stars!,5.0,One of My Top 3 Reads of 2007 out of 250 books ...,1197763200,"12 16, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2O9HU1K7TCF7B,0671025457,JMack,"[5, 5]","Identified by witnesses as the ""Gray Man"" because of his color and withered appearance, Albert Fish left an impression on criminologists for generations to come. His bizarre sadistic, cannabalistic, pedophiliac and coprophagic behaviors were shocking even in the tabloid driven media of his time. This is not to suggest that Fish's behaviors would not be equally shocking today.At a minimum, Albert Fish killed three children and was convicted and sent to electric chair for one of those murders. The aspects of those murders, particularly the gruesome murder of Grace Budd seem to make Fish more menacing. The pleasure and climax Fish received from causing pain to others and himself goes to bizarre levels. Fish claims to have butchered and ate his victims for a strange internal urge that he later felt remorse for. Some of the other stories about Fish may be fabricated, such as his desire to eat raw meat, yet they are still documented in the book. Yet nothing about Fish seems as bizarre about Fish as his tendency to insert needles into himself and where he inserted the needles.Harold Schechter's research is spotless though his story may occasionally get bogged down in semantics. I have enjoyed some of his other works and plan to enjoy more in the future. This grizzly tale is certain to find a warm reception in the library of true crime fans.",5.0,The Gray Man,1182902400,"06 27, 2007",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1RWIUZKCSFD1H,0743470966,"Rodney Powell ""fairmont66""","[9, 11]","I loved this book! Nassise has written one of the most viscerally terrifying and brutal horror novels in recent memory about a small town which finds itself terrorized by ancient, ravenous evil that preys upon it's citizens in the dead of night. Jake Caruso and his construction firm find a hidden tunnel and stone chamber and they mistakenly unawakened Moloch, a ancient winged creature with taste for human flesh and blood and thirst for terror.Moloch's is not mindless monster but intelligent evil that enjoys killing his victims and considers human race as cattle for slaughter!This creature was the last of his kind and it was imprisoned centuries ago by being called Elder;now it's loose and all of the citizens of the sleepy town of Harrington Falls will face the wraith of this monster as it slaughters and devours all of it's victims and savors their terror and pain! the only ones that can stop it are:Jake Caruso and his friends Sam and Katelynn who has a psychic link to the beast!Nassise's debut horror novel puts him in the leagues with King, Little,Koontz and Clegg as he describes in relish the horrifyingcarnage that this monster does to it's victims.This novel is not for faint of heart or weak of stomach! If ever a book screams for the silver screen this chiller does as Our heroes battle to death a ancient hideous evil that leads to sad but truimpant climax!",5.0,Ravenous Evil!,1068422400,"11 10, 2003",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A2283C9I7NZ0VY,0954300696,Malcolm Gorman,"[8, 9]","This book is breathtaking in its clarity and depth. I'm into the chapter on using Haskell to prove logical theorems.One of my all-time favourite subjects in undergraduate study was Logic. That you could translate English language arguments into logical symbolism and test their validity and soundness by following a set of rules was, to me, a revelation. By following a number of logical inference rules, one could build an argument that proves the validity of a conclusion. The use of truth tables was intriguing and so simple in concept.Blaise Pascal (French philosopher, and whose name was given to the Pascal programming language) speculated about the possibility of a logic calculating machine. Well, this book shows how you can do it with Haskell.The Haskell Road To Logic, Maths and Programming provides Haskell source code that you can run to demonstrate the validity of all the traditional logical inference rules that I learned in Logic.It's a pleasure to read.",5.0,Pascal's logic calculator machine incarnate!,1232236800,"01 18, 2009",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A2JZCZYHNQHSCP,B00IHJQYRY,James Irwin,"[0, 0]",I think one of the opening statements says it best "They exert much effort just to become the man everyone expects them to be." As males we spend all of our time trying be something we believe we were designed to be. But is this just a futile exercise pulling us away from what it means to be a real man?I am not really even sure how I would have defined masculinity before reading this book. I have just done what I have always done as a male in today's society. I think as time has passed and people have an increased freedom of expression without fear of restitution it has greatly changed what the typical male image is. Real men no longer have to be big and muscular or emotionless. Kids get to see their dads cry now (not in my day though). You don't need to know how to fix everything or build a house.I found the book to be a really interesting look at masculinity and it is worth a read.,5.0,Masculinity Lost Or Just Redefined,1392854400,"02 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GARI2JT6EAWA,0671456547,"DWD's Reviews ""DWD's Reviews""","[5, 6]","While I am a world history teacher, my favorite times in American history are the Revolutionary War Era, the Civil War Era and an interest in the Frontier as it moved across the United States. While I knew a great deal about Truman before listening to this audiobook, I really felt that I needed to know more.David McCollough's treatment of Truman is friendly, but not overly rosy. The audiobook version I listened to was abridged. I assume that the areas that were not focused upon in the abridged edition are more fleshed out in the unabridged edition. (Note: this abridgement was not sloppily done - I didn't even notice it was abridged until about 3/4 of the way through the book - it just seemed like he was glossing over the activities of the New Deal Congress rather quicker than normal)Areas of particular focus in the abridged edition include Truman's family background and childhood. His World War I experiences, early political jobs, his association with Kansas City machine politics, Bess (of course!), his mother, how he was chosen to be Vice the decision to drop the atomic bombs, the Korean War, the decision to fire MacArthur and eulogies for Truman.The printed version of this book includes pictures, I am sure, which is a disadvantage of the audio version. However, that deficiency is more than made up for by the inclusion of real audiotaped quotes from Truman himself when possible. It is one thing to see a picture of Harry Truman, it is quite another to hear sections of his speeches in Truman's own voice - the way most Americans did at the time when they were delivered. It gives you a different sense of the man. A section of MacArthur's ""Old Soldiers Fade Away"" speech is also included, to the detriment of MacArthur, in my opinion. He sounds very snobbish and patrician. When compared to Truman, it makes you root for the Man from Independence all the more.A second strength of the audiobook is that it is read by the author himself. McCollough has a voice that I envy and enjoy to hear and he makes even the most slowest portions of the book flow by quickly and easily.I give this one a grade of A+.Bravo!",5.0,A review of the abridged audiobook; a history teacher's review,1170460800,"02 3, 2007",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A194WPV45TYD33,1579905498,cindy c.,"[18, 26]","Yes, the beadwork is wonderful. If you are new to beading, I would highly recommend this book. Unfortunately, people who have been interested in beading for any amount of time will find that many of the pieces pictured in this book have been previously published in other books and magazines. I was disappointed that I had seen so many of these pieces before, pieces that I already have in my beading library. It is curious that the editor did not request unpublished material instead of filling this book with so many retreads.",3.0,A Dissapointment,1125360000,"08 30, 2005",18,26,helpful,0.6923076923076923,1 A2UMQT1HJTEQJF,0156029049,"Tanja L. Walker ""Tanja L. Walker""","[17, 21]",""Little Birds" was my first foray into the world of Anais Nin. I haven't decided, after reading this, whether I like this or not. On one hand, I love her use of the English language, her spare style, her sense of character and story-telling. On the other hand, too many of the stories presented here ended abruptly, with no real sense of resolution or how the characters got from point A to point B. The most glaring example is in the story "The Model," in which we get detailed descriptions of the narrator's first two would-be lovers, but almost nothing about the third guy. Flaws aside, this little volume is probably the best way to get acquainted with Nin without investing too much.",3.0,More like vignettes than short stories,961891200,"06 25, 2000",17,21,helpful,0.8095238095238095,1 A1FRM8Y4F3TL8F,0140289011,Betty Chan,"[5, 11]","After reading all the emails circulating on the Internet about travellers getting their kidneys removed after consuming a spiked drink and falling into a stupor, I almost mistook this book to be a "real-life" account of one such incident.I was hooked at the beginning. The style of the author was original and intriguing. It begged me to read more and find out what illicit intentions hung in the mind of Phineas Poe, the victim of a rare sort of theft. We are exposed to the horrors of a dark trade and the heinous minds of individuals who had strayed too far from the 'normal' life. Horror-fans, this is not what you think it to be.Will's narrative style was like some sort of a drug that coaxed and intoxicated your mind as you passed your eyes over the first couple of chapters. I followed... but...... I got confused along the way. The appearance of Isabel and Henry left me muddled as to what really was going on. I no longer knew who was the 'bad' guy and who was 'good'. Also, the story started to be a bit draggy. Images of a very worn and dirty man who had no idea what he was in didn't keep the storyline appealing anymore. The sex that occurred between the characters added no color nor meaning to the plot.It would also have been easier if conversations were marked in quotation marks. It could be quite a chore figuring things out for the English-challenged crowd.A slow-paced detective story, this would enthrall you at first, but leave you rather dissatisfied.",3.0,Subjective Material,965088000,"08 1, 2000",5,11,helpful,0.45454545454545453,1 A34IUF0RQ6ORXX,B006S165CC,Deborah Haas,"[0, 0]","A good book, very informative and useful. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to win at words with friends.",3.0,A nice reference,1398124800,"04 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MZBERPWNBW3P,1906417598,"George Erdosh ""culinary scientist""","[12, 13]","Couture Chocolate is a very unusual cookbook. The cookbook was prepared for the British market but, thankfully, the publisher added measurements, food and equipment terms U.S. bakers also understand. This is a large-format, lavishly produced book using a photographer whose food photography should be in art galleries; every one of them is stunning and beyond mouth-watering. This book will make the queen of your coffee table books.This is not a book for the casual baker. Only highly experienced bakers and professionals will be able to reproduce the recipes and only those familiar with the finicky field using chocolate. The 10-page introduction helps to familiarize you with the intricacies of working with chocolate. Even with experience, you will be spending hours in the kitchen but the end result (if successful) will be spectacular. Many series of small photos help you go through the steps of recipes. The layout of the book is excellent. Head notes, if they appear, are brief and instructive. Each recipe lists equipment needed. Many recipes require previous preparations. Ingredients are generally available but some will be hard to find (e.g. yuzu, matcha). A useful ingredient and equipment list appears before the index. (As reviewed for Sacramento/San Francisco Book Review.)",5.0,Chocolate Pastries for Experienced Bakers,1333065600,"03 30, 2012",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A1AOAKVKD15UVX,1592701221,mom of four,"[5, 6]","We loved the idea of this book and the illustrations and paper used are great, but the ending is pretty weak and ends fairly abruptly. Frankly the book just isn't long enough. Great idea but not executed in the best way. To me, the story falls off and could used 3-4 more pages of story, a summary, something, anything. A bit bummed, honestly, but the kids and I don't hate it so I guess that's something. I can't recommend it really, but I'd pick it up if it became available at the library.",3.0,Starts out great but weak ending.,1334534400,"04 16, 2012",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 ACMPUA2OB4H6Q,B00CNU6VBM,Candace Leah and Book Goddess Reviews,"[0, 0]","Review: Is it love or lust? Jacob doesn't know, Meka doesn't care, and Ron, he's just in the middle. I read both of the Hot in here books and thought both were quick, easy, fun reads. I don't know if I see the whole sibling trio thing playing out like this but in the fantasy world I guess it works out swell for all parties involved. LOL!",5.0,Oh MY Gosh!,1382140800,"10 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PY3L5XEOEU1N,0849948088,walkinghumbly,"[0, 0]","""There is a universal, restlessness today among believers, young and old - unease, unhappiness, and unrest that exists in our pursuit of happiness."" 1000 Days: The Ministry of Christ is an in-depth look into the last 1000 days of Jesus' life, the 3 years of His public ministry . Jonathan Falwell introduces the concept of finding our happiness in less. He talks about Jesus radical love, hypocrisy, peace, temptation, prayer, seven messages from the cross & more. He explains how each of these things is an example of how we are to live our lives today. We are to be intentional in our walk with Him but if we fall, the grace of God covers us & we get up & keep walking.This book was an easy read & each of the author's points was rooted in Scripture. At the end of each chapter there are questions for the reader to study deeper & there is a more in depth study guide in the back that can be used for individual or group Bible study.I really enjoyed this book & would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a closer look at the ministry of Jesus as well as how we are to live as followers of Him.",5.0,1000 Days,1347753600,"09 16, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3I3051BZDJWGU,0439136350,Diane C. Howard,"[16, 28]","The first two thirds of this book read as if Rowling let someone else have a go at the typewriter. She used the most expedient means possible to ensure she wouldn't have to write about many of the characters ever again, and it felt like a cop-out. She is rich enough to owe nothing to anybody, least of all the readers of the last in the otherwise-delightful journey of Harry Potter.I really regret paying for the book.",2.0,Disappointing. Expedient-means garbage.,1185494400,"07 27, 2007",16,28,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A2XQUVAX930JU,1466492066,Jane Griffith,"[0, 0]",Not sure what I was expecting but this was a totally fun book to read! The continuing books should also be good.,5.0,what a fun book,1398816000,"04 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1G3VP7EL0RDUH,1416571736,Rebecca Crull,"[0, 0]","This was a nice, slightly edgy love story. It was good. This is the first book that I have read by Jennifer Echols, and I really liked her writing. I look forward to reading more books by her. Here are some things I liked about this book: the two main characters and their complicated lives and pasts, the "tie-ins" at the end with the cobbler, the line "the rest is happily ever after" (very clever - I wonder if she had that line in mind when she named John), and the last line of the book "He knew I was finally cured", the little bit of a mystery as to what had happened to Meg and how John and the bridge are connected, and the way Meg is the "yin" to John's "yang". Here are the few things I had a problem with in this book: I do not think that a 19 year old, practically right out of high school, could be a cop, I thought the whole "40 year old with a wife and 14 kids" thing went on a little too long, I love an instant love/extreme infatuation story, but I do not think that someone could fall that much "in love" with someone that fast, especially someone with all the "issues" Meg had, and I wish the author would have "fleshed out" more of Meg's background story of why she was so terrified of being confined (I know that she did an adaquit job explaining this, I just feel like it was missing something). So, there you go. Good book, and I would definitely recommend it. :-)",4.0,Really good!,1396051200,"03 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3ADSXL19UD859,0375502025,DUSTOFF Pilot,"[0, 0]","Great read...Mr. Brokaw sets the stage for what he presents. By no means covering the history of WWII, but talking of life for some WWII veterans...their families and how the experience impacted on their lives.",5.0,Wonderful read...,1356912000,"12 31, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AG7ZPVWR3W5DH,1499225725,Diana L,"[7, 8]","I’ve had a keen interest in the Kabbalah for years. Several years ago I traveled to Chicago for weeks to attend classes on the topic and when I saw the title of this book I was intrigued. When I read a bit of the description and saw it was an international thriller read, I grabbed it and put it on my Kindle.Our main character, Elijah, is hired to decipher an ancient document. The details of the project are vague, if not non -existent but Elijah accepts the position. Shortly after he finds out the magnitude of the project and that it surrounds an ancient manuscript, so ancient that the deciphering would be a world class discovery. This is the type of project he has dreamed of and to make matters even better, the pay is extremely good.Unfortunately, things don’t go as smoothly as he thought they would. The author takes us on a good run with twists, turns and suspense throughout.No spoilers given but I was more than pleased with the story. It kept me engrossed and was well written.At the beginning of each chapter (called spheres by the author) we are also treated to periods in Jerusalem history. This was a great addition and perfectly complemented the story.I hope to see more from this author.",5.0,Fast paced international thriller,1398729600,"04 29, 2014",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A2XA5782B26M46,1934861650,John E,"[5, 6]","Having loved Tooth and Nail, I was looking forward to reading the Infection. Others have adequately described the plot so I'll skip that and focus on what I think are the strengths of this book. Craig Dilouie has really matured as a writer. I thoroughly enjoyed Tooth and Nail and Paranoia but the writing in those was not nearly as smooth or powerful as it is in The Infection. While I don't find the plot of Infection to be as engaging as Tooth and Nail, the characters are more real and more clearly drawn. This is not a knock against Infection. Infection is a a different, and more adventurous, book for Dilouie.And though the book has lots of action, Infection isn't really a formulaic action novel--it's more of a narrative about people and what keeps them going. It's a book that tells the stark reality of how things might actually be in the wake of such a disaster. Mr. Dilouie does a good job of showing that what happens is not always black and white. The enemies aren't always the infected and people do whatever they have to do to survive. And sometimes, surviving can be as painful as dying. The writing in this book outshines even Paffenroth and I predict that Mr. Dilouie will become a major influence in the genre.",4.0,Just Keeps Getting Better,1302307200,"04 9, 2011",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AINWFA02PCYRZ,1416551727,MATTHEW T. MALONEY,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I thought that the bringing together different crews was well done. As a whole the trilogy was excellent!,5.0,Good story,1332979200,"03 29, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQTQHEPMAU9DM,0965369668,alice,"[0, 0]",Rob Hill is simply amazing. From his writing to his amazing smile and personality. He truly is a heart healer in deed!,5.0,The heart healer does it again!,1385769600,"11 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AOGE8PM6KED3O,0006499317,"Trevor Kettlewell ""trevsbookreviews""","[0, 0]","This is only the third Aubrey/Maturin novel I've read and it seems I was unwise to deviate from the chronology. While it still has much that I praised in Post Captain, I didn't relish it as much because my expectations were already high. It's still a wonderful deviation from so much bad historical fiction that tries too hard to make the characters acceptable to modern audiences (rather than challenging their assumptions) - but it was no longer surprising me by doing so. I still fully intend to track back and try to start at the beginning, but Wine Dark Sea didn't stand alone as well for me - it felt more like something for the fans (and, hey, what can you expect for the sixteenth book in a series!). I found the extensive coverage of Maturin's natural history ecstasies less than engaging after a while (as opposed to the gripping engagements in the last few pages). O'Brian still throws in some of the colourful characters of the time (such as Dutourd), and also catches the wonderfully civilised way Europeans could go about killing each other.",3.0,"Still good, but perhaps more one for the fans",1372377600,"06 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QEF8ZH2Z8R8G,0910355118,Jill,"[15, 18]","This book has a fairly good idea in it. It's one I hadn't heard before, and it did inspire me and caused me to ponder books I had read and to reexamine them with his idea in mind. This book is worth reading for his startlingly simple and helpful main insight. However, the book is very short and was weakened, in my opinion, by his attempt to fatten it up with general writing advice. There comes a point in every writer's life when she has no desire to read yet another chapter extolling the virtues of showing instead of telling. In fact, upon examination, this push for showing vs telling has made literature rather dull. It has created a whole mountain of books that are pretending to be films. A film must show because it's visual; a book tells because it isn't. A book is a different work of art that can use all kinds of language to tell a story, including language that is expository or ruminative or descriptive. Having to read fiction that is composed of movie-like scenes is pushing my patience past its limits. But then I came to a part in the book where the author claims that great fiction is ultimately an "emotional ride". That stopped me short. I read it about three times. I've never thought of fiction that way. I've always thought that the primary role of fiction is to engage the mind, not the emotions. Don't mistake me; great literature does both. It's a matter of primary vs secondary function. It seems that James Scott Bell and I have different expectations of fiction. I'm going to have to think about this a little more.",3.0,a good idea padded with general writing advice,1398124800,"04 22, 2014",15,18,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1E43C1D38YZUW,0767929802,"Tyler Bridges ""former foreign correspondent""","[6, 8]","Hoffman grabs you from the get-go with the fabulous title. He then delivers a terrific book.One of Hoffman's challenges was to keep the material fresh as he took the reader from one difficult form of transportation to another. He pulled it off with vivid writing, an eye for detail and compassion for those he meets along the way. He pulls you into his adventure, and you smell, feel and sense the rigors of how he traveled. I marveled at his willingness to endure back-breaking trips on buses (I for one won't do that anymore) and his willingness to put himself in danger, as he did in Afghanistan.I loved his line where he said, at a certain point, that he just decided to hell with it, he was going to drink the water the locals drank, bathe when they bathed, eat what they ate, etc. I think anyone who has done travel out of the ordinary would identify with the choices and questions that he faces, even if they don't decide to submerge themselves as deeply into the worlds he chose to inhabit.What ultimately sustains the book are Hoffman's ponderings about life and travel -- eternal questions for the examined life.This is a great book for anyone who has ever stepped off the beaten path. It's also a great book for college kids, as a way to encourage them to explore before they get settled in life.",5.0,Great book,1282694400,"08 25, 2010",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A2VLCTXUZO2N9D,0800794052,S. Tate,"[0, 0]","In some other reading, I found this book recommended and ordered it to read when I can. I am sure it will meet my expectations.",5.0,I have not had time to read this book yet,1400976000,"05 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26UVM71NDJ42F,0140282556,Shirley Thornton,"[0, 0]","If you love the Great Gatsby, then this book will feed your spirit. Truly a work of literary art that all Fitzgerald fans should read.",5.0,Fitzgerald's Best,1371686400,"06 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZ523QOKJIGA0,0312626681,Elizabeth Roberts-Zibbel,"[8, 10]","I am a subscriber to _The Nation_ magazine, which often features pieces by Barbara Ehrenreich, so when I read about this book I was excited to find out what her ""undercover"" work would reveal about living on minimum wage (or a few dollars above, actually). I wasn't disappointed. Ms. Ehrenreich, who points out that she has a PhD and that when she travels is often given an important title like ""keynote speaker"" or ""discussion group leader,"" tries to find low paying jobs and a place to live in three different places: Key West; Portland, Maine; and Minneapolis. She was able to find work by going through the indignity of drug testing, personality tests, and computerized interviews without appearing too overqualified, but finding an affordable place to live was another matter entirely, and she had extreme difficulty with that in all three cities.It was interesting to read about her experiences waitressing in a busy, touristy restaurant and then switching to a busier, more touristy restaurant in Key West because it paid better... but she wasn't allowed breaks, or even to ""chat"" with the customers or other waitresses. In Maine, she worked weekends in a retirement home serving food to alzheimer's patients (probably her most agreeable job) and during the week for a house-cleaning company; in Minneapolis she suffered through a month-long job at Wal-Mart, where she actually dared to discuss the value of unions with other employees, something which would have gotten her fired had she not been leaving soon anyway to complete her book.Ehrenreich's conclusion is that it is impossible to finance any kind of rent on 7.00 an hour, and very difficult even on 10.00 an hour. It is even worse for single parents (women are her primary focus) and most she meets on the job are living with relatives. She points out that welfare reform, however much trumpeted as a success by the press and the Clinton administration, does not work if people just off welfare are going to make less at their jobs than they did with the government's monthly check (especially including the necessary gasoline, childcare, uniforms, and expensive health care deductibles).My only difficulty with the book was that at times it seemed slightly condescending. I myself am in a service job, and in 1998 (until I was promoted and then got married) I actually WAS able to live in a small Ohio college town in an efficiency just fine on 7.50 an hour, even though I was living alone. Granted, it was a horrible apartment, and I'm not trying to invalidate Ehrenreich's findings. However, I did think some of her statements seemed to be biased by normally living in ""the top 20%,"" as she classifies herself at the end of the book. For example, upon being told to show up the next day at the restaurant where she was hired, she writes: ""At the word _tomorrow_, something between fear and indignation rises in my chest. I want to say, 'Thank you for your time, sir, but this is just an experiment, you know, not my actual life.'"" Well, for millions of Americans, it is real life. And isn't that supposed to be the point? Still, an important book by a brave woman who entered the lower classes with more guts than most in her position would have.",4.0,an important book,1059264000,"07 27, 2003",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A16DQ9WXAZ1MPM,1477583874,fpooh,"[0, 0]",I really enjoyed this series. The action was believable & the interaction between the characters was fun to see unfold. I especially liked the Jack Russell.,5.0,Love the Tag Stevens Series,1379808000,"09 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A179ZGXWA4RW3Q,B00H5GMYBA,"starsaga ""starsaga""","[0, 0]","Typial LC book, hot and short. It was a nicely written book but also monotonous for the most part. I was curious about this book and I've pretty much read all of LC's books so I wanted to read this one. It is a prequel book to another short one I read a while ago, so will go back and read that one too.",3.0,"Quick and short, the Hero is ultra-possessive.",1386460800,"12 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AHN86VFJIJ2JP,0451217608,Chicago Book Addict,"[0, 0]","In a nutshell, memoir follows what happens when a Jen Lancaster goes from being a successful, highly paid employee with lots of money to burn (and lets be honest, shallow priorities) to unemployed and unable to find a job at her skill level. Lancaster tells her story with a heavy dose of snark, which as someone who typically enjoys authors like Amy Sedaris, I found very funny. That said, this is one of those books that is definitely NOT for everyone. Lancaster does come off as a bit of a brat and not entirely likable, so if this is something that would cause you to not enjoy the book, it's probably not the memoir for you. Basically, she comes across as self-centered and thinking the world revolves around her, but because it's written in a self-depricating kind of way, I personally found it a bit more palatable because basically she is letting you laugh at this side of her. If you like snarky humor and don't mind a not-so-likeable protagonist, I'd highly recommend this. I'm already planning on checking out more of her books.",4.0,"Hilariously snarky, though often off-color",1351209600,"10 26, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A9ANMVCEOQ8P7,0812967976,Bruce Trinque,"[4, 6]","""The Foreign Correspondent"" is Alan Furst's ninth exploration of the slide of Europe into World War Two. As usual, the novel is not a direct sequel to any earlier book, although some familiar names crop up as minor characters in the present book (and there is a trademark pilgrimage to Paris's Brasserie Heinenger). This time, the focus is on a group of exiled anti-fascist Italians in 1938 France, although the action shifts at times to Spain, Germany, and Italy itself. As always, a Furst novel abounds in atmosphere, the narrative cloaked in night and shadows, fitting for its description of activities in the murky borderlands of espionage and inernational intrigue. The central character this time around is an Italian journalist, although his nationality is primarily the consequence of shifting boundaries in the aftermath of World War One -- he was born in Austro-Hungarian Trieste, and it was only an accident of history that turned him into an Italian. And being a journalist of anti-fascist tendencies, he immediately becomes an object of interest to various intelligence organizations as Europe slowly falls over the cliff of open warfare.Reading a Furst novel is almost a visual experience, the author's descriptions of place and time being so persuasive.",5.0,Back In the World of Shadows,1149984000,"06 11, 2006",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1GSNGDPE2V3AL,045146267X,Yolanda,"[0, 0]","great series!!!! magic at a cost, where the heroine is not quite perfect but will do what needs to get done",5.0,allie,1362441600,"03 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2829KNTWPW8WC,0615726585,David Kirkey,"[4, 4]",This book is about more than the heretical gospels. It is about the search for truth. It is full of surprises including a female Pope!,5.0,Very well written,1373155200,"07 7, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2YUU8P5BZQ0GQ,1572240938,"Robert Kall ""Rob Kall of Opednews.com""","[173, 175]","A while back, I was doing extensive research before writing up a discussion on the use of cognitive behavioral therapy. I went to the original texts by Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck, and they were great for theoretical info, but this book was THE BEST for simple, easy to understand discussion of how to use the principles and techniques of cognitive behavioral therapies to help control anxiety, depression, self esteem, moods and other aspects of your life. It provides short, simple explanations and well thought through exercises you can use to take great charge of your life.It is an excellent book for therapists who want to have a quick referral resource for patients and it is a super self help book.Like the authors say, it is not a replacement for treatment by a doctor, but it sure goes a long way for helping some basic issues. I've used the techniques listed here along with biofeedback interventions (see more about them and how to read articles I've written on my website listed in my profile)Bottom line-- for self help in cognitive therapy, consider this the layman's bible, and an essential bibliotherapy resource for therapists..",5.0,First Class Book on Cognitive Behavior Therapy--,984182400,"03 10, 2001",173,175,helpful,0.9885714285714285,1 A5HX4LPEIKWWU,0738715158,"L. L. S ""Lady i""","[0, 0]",I love Llewellyn books. This Almanac is great to keep track of the moon cycles for whatever use you like. I love the articles in them. I must say that I am happy to see Llewellyn write about African Gods & Goddess.,5.0,Great to keep me on track,1355443200,"12 14, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21ET4OWCZDKI6,0743256182,"KayakerNC ""Sam""","[6, 17]","I gave up about half way through this novel.I just didn't care anymore. This novel is dull, dull, dull.Lots of historical references, but I had no feeling of being there,and no feeling of character reality.",1.0,"All talk, no action",1239753600,"04 15, 2009",6,17,helpful,0.35294117647058826,1 AU1NV87RC2KHY,B00F9J8A86,Hermosa Writer,"[6, 6]",This is a sexy story about searching for the love of your life and then making it work once you find them. It's a normal love story and yet it's not. this story is filled with twists and curves and a story that captures the reader.,5.0,Sometimes a personal quest includes the paranormal,1381017600,"10 6, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2JHDO27706I8,0805097457,S.E.E.,"[4, 5]","The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. is a case study of a thirty-something Brooklynite writer in the throes of dating. Despite the fact that Nate is a ""product of a postfeminist, 1980s childhood and politically correct, 1990s college education,"" he's still overwhelmingly flawed. The book chronicles a series of his relationships, revealing that Nate as a selfish, shallow guy who just isn't that in to her or her or her or her. What makes the case study interesting is Nate, who is as self-aware as he is clueless. It's a strange combination, a ""cocktail of guilt and pity and dread."" This isn't a plot-driven novel, but the cringe-worthy dialogue and the raw relationship scenes will leave you wondering whether you've ever dated Nate. Or whether maybe, possibly, you've ever been Nate. It isn't comfortable or even fun to read, but it is a savvy observation of human nature.",4.0,Raw and Real,1374451200,"07 22, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AZSLRLOFE5HCU,1414316801,Jess,"[4, 5]","This is book is great! The pictures are clear and bright, and the text is engaging and easy to follow. Jesus' story comes to life off the page. What really struck me about this book is its portrayal of Jesus -- He seems strong, warm, and kind. Also I will forever picture the Apostle Peter with purple hair. :) Every year at Easter and Christmas, I read the parts about the crucifixion and Christ's birth (respectively) and get reminded of how real it all is. Somehow these pictures really bring it home for me.This is a great resource for kids and teens as well as anyone into manga or anime. I've bought three copies, one for me and one each for two friends. Check out the other four books in this series as well.",5.0,Great Resource!,1337040000,"05 15, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3NVB6HKMUH2NM,1451689012,"Douglas C. Meeks ""Book Reviews @ Large""","[5, 5]","Well I got my ARC of The Spider today and I am hoping to be amazed and enthralled but as a prequel it will have to be awesome to keep those 5 Stars.------------------------------------------------------Well I wrote that back in Oct 2013 and was not to excited about a prequel in one of my favorite series. It is mid December and I read it all day yesterday because I could hardly put it down, looks like I get to eat some comments I have made about how I hated prequels. It did indeed earn those 5 Stars.This story starts and ends in the present with Gin and Owen sitting at the counter and a box of roses arrives and triggers an old memory and a story from when she was still a young assassin.Gin has to do a ""job"" and things start to fall apart, it is a riveting story of love, betrayal, loyalty and painful lessons learned.This is one of my favorite series because I am a self-confessed ""revenge junkie"" and nobody does revenge better than Gin. The thought that this series may be ending make me sad, I hope it does not.The story here is very detailed and gives us a look into the mind of a much younger Gin and a much less emotionally strong Gin. If I had any problems with this addicting story it was that it was written in a manner that ""you can see it ending badly"" manner. The thing is you have no idea how badly it would end but it has a great heart warming ending that all fans will enjoy. Gin does go into revenge mode and I of course loved that but those painful lessons I spoke of will make her stronger but you can't help but feel sympathy for her.This is a book that can be read as a stand alone for a new reader but I would suggest you read them in order since you get a much deeper appreciation for Gin and what she has been through and what she will become. I read late into the night to finish this novel because I could not put it down once I got to the horrible betrayal and knew the much needed revenge would be forthcoming. I love this series and this is one of the best installments which means I won't be complaining about prequels for a long time. Highly recommended.",5.0,The Best Prequel I Ever Read - The Origin of The Spider,1387843200,"12 24, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3QSVGQNUF2ZY8,0595280404,"Larry Pontius ""Larry""","[4, 4]","Christine Hohlbaum's stories about motherhood run the gamut from hilarious to poignant, and they each hold a special thought or lesson for the reader to take away. This Mother's diary is a great read for mothers and a revelation for fathers. A must read for both. I truly enjoyed it.",5.0,"A must read for...fathers, too!",1062374400,"09 1, 2003",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1RLDVADOZD9OA,B00AYR3BS2,dlc,"[0, 0]","If you have a short flight and want the time ti fly, this is a great read. Before you know it, they'll be landing and you may not be ready to close the book. The blend of SiFi with sprinkles of Steampunk makes this series a fun read. Lindsay Buroker writes well paced books with characters you'll love and characters you'll love to hate. She's announced that book 6 will be the last in this series (frowny face), but if she'll treat us to a novella as good as this every so often I think I'll survive. I love her characters and feel I know Amaranthe like she's a sister. It's a fun read!",4.0,Great Short Read,1370908800,"06 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1FOV12IODYNHV,0844225533,Priscilla,"[0, 0]","When I found out that my family was possibly going to be transferred to Germany, I found this book on Amazon.com. It had good information on Germany & looked forward to visiting family there. But alas, they didn't get transferred there. But still liked reading this book about Germany.",5.0,"hen in Germany, Do as the Germans Do: The Clued-In Guide to German Life, Language, & Culture",1363478400,"03 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2H4RC6BR98SPJ,0742417697,knitncycle,"[0, 0]",I got this as a text to use for homeschooling my son. The passages are nice and the instructions are clear. It is easy to administer these worksheets and evaluate your child's progress when you grade them.,5.0,Excellent,1358899200,"01 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASVZ5TXPGKC5H,0062240323,Donald T. McDougall,"[0, 0]","From the time of Chaucer and John Gower and Richard II, a good mystery tale. Believable characters, including underlife of London. As far as I could tell, pretty historically accurate. Author apparently teaches Medieval English literature, so he already knows a lot. I like this period especially but enjoyed this book from beginning to end.",4.0,An Enjoyable Medieval Mystery Tale,1403568000,"06 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3JD5GMGSC9U3T,0060977493,"Ruby Chung ""Mustang Babe""","[0, 0]","I'll admitt, every now and then Arundhati would wonder off too far left or right in her discriptions right in the middle of something interesting that I wanted to pull my hair out. However, this happened only a coupld of times so didn't distract from the main meat of the book.With beautifuly well constructed prose, informative paragraphs, great characters development and overall sense of India I feel transported and love it.Yes, I cried in the end because it was the end, at least I didn't throw it against the wall like I've done some of the my most recent reads. This book I'll, gladly, read again.",5.0,Powerful,1374105600,"07 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3V2KANUXDU6QC,B006U61WO6,S.wade,"[0, 0]",I have enjoy these books sure hate that Kiki and Ice are back together i had hope that she stayed with my boy Tarig i just love him and Mook.Big Fan,5.0,love it,1333152000,"03 31, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1OY2GV5L1WXDC,031604461X,A. Goodman,"[9, 14]","Right now I'm cringing as I try to finish up the last few pages of this monster of a book. Do you remember all the fuss surrounding JK's hideous epilogue? Think of it like that, but 780+ pages of complete and utter fail.While I wished for the best and in the beginning honestly admired Stephenie, this book is not worth the money. I am considering joining the movement of sickened fans who are returning the book in protest of this having been allowed to be published.",1.0,A drawn out fanfic of her own series,1217894400,"08 5, 2008",9,14,helpful,0.6428571428571429,1 A1J93EGDYK0IWA,0060648082,"Patrick D. Goonan ""see profile for URL""","[11, 12]","Krishnamurti was certainly a scholar who thought deeply on life and the complications that are inherent to life. He stresses avoiding relying on external authorities and favors inner exploration. In fact, one of his purposes is to encourage freeing yourself of conditioned thinking i.e. the scripts than run us unconsciously. He believes that in ""choiceless"" or pure awareness we discover our deepest self.Krishnamurti believes we should be moving in an out of constant inquiry. While he offers no specific method, he attempts to reach truth by negating our unexamined assumptions. He refers to truth as a pathless land and deconstructs a lot of common arguments concerning the nature of life and living. This in itself is useful and leads one to a deeper connection to Being.This is not one of Krishanmurti's easiest reads. However, if you are a fan of this type of book or Krishamurti in general, you will no doubt enjoy it.",4.0,"One of Krishnamurti's great books, but less accessible than some others",1166832000,"12 23, 2006",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A2IKCF7I3J0CRT,0811828891,"Amazon Customer ""ChoDo""","[4, 4]","This may not be a video with which to follow along; however, it is very informative. It isn't just some pictures of positions, it actually has information about the positions. I like pulling out several cards and creating my own routine for my own personal needs. What's better than personalization?I'm very happy with my Yoga Deck, so I got one (Kids Yoga Deck)for my little girl, too. Now I see that there is a ""sequel"", I'll be buying that after I've mastered the first one.",5.0,"""Create Your Own"" Yoga Routine",1135728000,"12 28, 2005",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A16VJLRW9CPD30,0778801128,Rica,"[47, 48]","This is a wonderful book for when you want to make just a pan of cupcakes. Although, I must say I usually make 48 mini cakes and bake them for 10-14 minutes. My favorite by far is the White Chocolate Chip with the Coffee Buttercream frosting. The recipes have simple ingredients. The print is easy to read. The frosting suggestions are helpful, as are other tips and comments, printed on each recipe. I did add 1-2 tablespoons meringue powder to the buttercream frosting just to help it hold up better",5.0,Just the Right Amount,1120780800,"07 8, 2005",47,48,helpful,0.9791666666666666,1 A2YPGFDU86H8LK,0735666059,"Data Virtue ""Sean Anderson""","[0, 0]",Very clear and to-the-point. Outstanding book. Ideal for the person who wants to be VERY good at querying Microsoft SQL Server. Delves into technical detail involving the database engine and how it processes your queries. Must-have knowledge for those who want to know more than just enough to be dangerous.,5.0,Ideal for the person who wants to be VERY good at querying Microsoft SQL Server,1404172800,"07 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A22A0L8IXWD1XD,0737000899,"""whovian222""","[4, 4]","I LOVE this book. This is the best book on dinosaurs I've seen and both the artwork and text are stunning. I prefer this book to the book version of "Walking with dinosaurs" . All in all a wonderful book for dinosaur and fossil lovers! Trust me, you'll like it!",5.0,"Increadible book, AMAZING ART",973555200,"11 7, 2000",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1NI9VUYNBLUQM,084999618X,"Tara A. Velasquez ""Tara Velasquez""","[0, 0]","I received this book as a gift. It was easy to ready, understand and quick. It helps you get a grasp on finances in about 125 pgs. (not including worksheet pages). The way Mr. Ramsey explains how to tackle and stay out of debt is something that we all should take a hard look at. We don't need to live off of credit cards to be happy. "Priceless" was so useful to me that I sent a copy to my best friend as soon as I was done reading it.",5.0,Kind of book you want to share with a friend,1401235200,"05 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3F4PTZ5T0REQQ,0967124638,Lurpydog,"[6, 6]","There are many useful ""how we do it"" chapters in this book. Each addresses specific areas within the Thomas Jefferson Education. I am not implementing every single area put forth in TJE (at least, not yet :) ), so it was very helpful to flip to a specific chapter and then put together my own plan of action using ideas from Dian. Very much worth the investment!",4.0,outstanding resource,1226361600,"11 11, 2008",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 ATF6XEGQSPXIL,061568341X,Truckee Reads,"[0, 0]","This novel isn't sure what it is: futuristic adventure; personal realization story; romance novel. So none of the plot lines really satisfy, but it is entertaining and a quick read. Probably a good beach read.",3.0,"Light, entertaining reading",1365897600,"04 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANQQVWI6JSZFV,1623220068,fiona beaulock,"[0, 0]","Great bookWas so glad I got to grad more ,after the first book I was wondering what happen to the others",5.0,Great read,1364515200,"03 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ER9JNYOPTKRT,1466243430,catlvr14,"[9, 10]","Did I read the same book as most of the people who posted reviews?In my opinion this book was BORING. I was expecting a good time travel story. That's not what I got. Yes, there was time travel back to 1929, then a series of boring, uninteresting chapters, capped by a gangster vampire. I almost laughed out loud! At less than 300 pages it should have taken me a couple of days to read this drivel. Instead it took me a week because I could only read a little bit at a time, otherwise I'd find myself falling asleep. Glad it was a free book.",1.0,terrible book,1353024000,"11 16, 2012",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A3P1DAUZX73RLV,B005OMBTKY,"Ron Taylor ""Kindle Author""","[0, 0]","What an epic life lesson. Thanks for writing and publishing some hardcore, in your face advice. I also watch your podcasts on the tube. Thx again.",5.0,Epic Concept,1394841600,"03 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2BOYUOZJOXPGG,0451458028,Vail,"[0, 0]","Set in the same world as the first series, this spin-off is sure to please fans new and old. It carries the same flavor as the books focused on Janelle, steeped in magic and humor but with a dark core. As always, it's impossible to put down and still a good read the second and third times.",5.0,Silver or Gold?,1331769600,"03 15, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A224B7PFCNQPBV,0764210467,SewingMom2Treasures,"[0, 0]","The novel, Sweet Mercy, by Ann Tatlock, is set during the Prohibition period of our nation's history. Seventeen year old Eve travels with her father and mother to her uncle Cyrus's home in Mercy, Ohio. The family is forced to relocate due to economic hardship. While her father is reluctant to return to his childhood home, Eve is anxious to flee the haunting memories of her life in corrupt St. Paul, Minnesota.Eve is a somewhat naive young woman, who feels that Mercy is a bit of paradise, cut off from the corruption associated with the Prohibition. She loves the island and lodge, which have become her home, quickly settling in to her life there, making friends, and even meeting her mysterious step-cousin. It is not long before she realizes that even in Mercy, bootleggers are well established in business and people are content to just turn a blind eye to their dealings, instead of upholding the law. Will her self-righteous attitude help to make the world a better place or cause more trouble than she has ever imagined?I absolutely enjoyed this read. The author was engaging and the story well written; full of mystery and suspense, as well as history and a little romance. The main characters were well developed and likable. I appreciated how the author made use of historical facts throughout her novel. She had me interested from cover to cover. I will definitely consider looking for more of her work to enjoy.I received a complimentary copy of this book to review for Bethany House Publishers book review program. All thoughts contained in this review are my own.",5.0,History & Mystery - Great combination!,1372809600,"07 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35S32Y66WOMZT,0553051377,WorldTravelr,"[5, 5]","I have to admit, I had high hopes for this book. However, in terms of getting a picture of the true Frank Sinatra ... I still say the best book on the market is 'My Life With Mr. S' by George Jacobs, who was Sinatra's valet. Despite Jacobs' 'man crush' on his boss, I'd rather have one concrete story about Old Blue Eyes from start to finish. Ms. Kelly's book is a huge hodgepodge collection of interviews of which she uses one or two lines from. Some of the bigger players in Sinatra's life get more than a couple lines such as Peter Lawford who really lays into Sinatra. Others, such as former friends, crushes and jilted lovers get one or two lines to emphasize an assertion made by Kelly and then poof ... they are gone from the book.While many say this book paints Sinatra in a bad light, I think Sinatra actually is the one who paints Sinatra in a bad light. Selfish, egotistical, childish and nasty are pretty much the adjectives just about anyone who actually knew Mr. Sinatra would first use to describe him. I don't think Sinatra needed Ms. Kelly's help to make him look bad. However, I think Kelly focuses on some of the more sensationalistic stories, etc. given that she is essentially one of the best paid tabloid writers in the game. She does work very hard to piece together hundreds of stories and sources to give us an insight into Sinatra's private life. Almost too many. At the point I got about 300 pages into the book and realized I was less than halfway done, I wished she had left out about 25% of the ho hum stories.I believed the information about Sinatra's childhood much less than I believed the more substantiated stories of his later career, outbursts, tantrums, etc. It seems a lot of the stories from his youth were collected 50+ years later AFTER he had become a legend. Many of these stories contradict themselves. On one page, Kelly includes an interview that says Sinatra was lacking in attention from his parents. Then, on the next page she talks about how close he was too his parents and that Dolly was too wrapped up in Frank's life. Which is it? This happens a lot in the book ... these contradictions that appear shortly after each other. I think when you are piecing together Sinatra's youth, it is safe to say others' recollections and memories change due to the fame he achieved. I could have done without the whole first part of the book which seemed to run in circles. The only thing Kelly hits over and over with any consistency is the fact that Frank's mother Dolly performed abortions. Kelly seems fixated on bringing this up throughout the book.The most interesting part for me was Frank's relationship with Ava Gardner and Kelly really only devoted a few chapters to it. A lot of the sources were people who were sort of on the outskirts and there were several contradictions in these chapters so it was hard to know what to believe. Frank's rage and jealousy and hatred of the press and those who tried to control him really comes through in the middle of the book. I knew Sinatra was prickly, difficult and purile but I had no idea how bad it was. Even people like Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Lauren Bacall are quoted frequently in these chapters. I tend to believe these quotes because these are people that Sinatra did wrong but who were still far enough in his circle that they could be believed.Around the middle of the book, I have to admit the stories and sources get overwhelming and I wished the book would end soon. While 'My Life With Mr. S' was pretty much a cover to cover read in one sitting, after a few days Kitty Kelly's book began more to feel like a Grapes of Wrath-esque novel or a textbook. I was Sinatra-ed out. There is just too much information in this book and I feel that it should have been condensed.Overall, it paints the picture of a horrible man who belittles those around him for fun, has no conscience, no tact and is focused only on achieving success and fame. The fact that this was published while Sinatra was alive must have been interesting. There is no doubt in my mind that at least half of what is written in this book is true. Even if only half of the book is accurate, I can't think of anyone I would want to know less than Frank Sinatra. It makes him out to be a monster. I would love to know how Kelly got Peter Lawford, Dean Martin and Lauren Bacall to talk about how awful Frank could be during the time they were actually living in the same town as him.The mafia chapters are really well written and use sources such as actual mobsters along with FBI wiretaps to show how deeply entrenched Frank Sinatra was in the mafia. The chapters about Sinatra's attempt to influence JFK in the mafia's business are jaw dropping. George Jacobs doesn't go too much into this area in his book other than to say he is sure that the mafia had Kennedy killed. But Kelly is fearless and this relationship between the Kennedys, Sinatra and the mafia is amazing, if true.I can't say this is the best biography I've ever read ... but it does a great job of attempting to back up all of the sources that provided stories. It is one of the most comprehensive books about Sinatra I have read. Kitty Kelly is a good journalist, even if she is a sensationalistic/tabloid journalist. I respect her ability to gather information and piece it together to paint a portrait. She actually does point out some of the good in Sinatra which probably gets lost due to the huge amount of bad that is pointed out about him. Balanced, this book is not. But I would say that it is a fair account.If you have some interest in Frank Sinatra and some time on your hands (this isn't a cover to cover in a couple days book) I'd recommend picking up a copy. My favorite thing about this book is that it was written like a biography and not like a novel. One book I read, 'Rat Pack Confidential' has much of the same stories but that author writes in a tone that sounds more like a bad detective novel making the book utterly unreadable. Kitty Kelly's language is matter of fact, straight to the point and easy to read.'My Life With Mr. S' is much better in my opinion than this book. But I am glad I read this book about Sinatra because it makes me like him a lot less. I can't even say 'less as a person' because after reading this book, I don't even know that Sinatra was human. These quotes and stories make him out to be more of a successful monster. However, I do know how Kitty Kelly works, but even with a grain of salt ... Sinatra is still a bitter subject.",4.0,Contradictory and long but a good read,1375401600,"08 2, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3J7J9VOFSTXUM,B009ZOZOCG,Denise Musser {Author},"[0, 0]","Visual journey that keeps you turning the pages for more, and leaves you thinking of the story all day long.",5.0,Great,1371340800,"06 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A39XAXOXLQODNC,0142428922,"Philly gal ""phillygal""","[83, 88]","Secret Solider is the next installment in Alex Berenson's series about John Wells, an unconventional CIA operative. Wells has now left the agency and is trying to build a personal life with some normalcy. Not to be! He is recruited by the king of Saudi Arabia to uncover plots against the monarchy and ultimately against the US. Wells and his partner chase the terrorists from Lebannon back to Saudi Arabia without the full support of the CIA. They deal with assassinations, kidnappings and other terrorist plots. Let me say that this novel moves right along and in my mind seemed to be ripped from the headlines and unfortunately not particularly farfetched. In addition to the action in the Mid East, Berenson takes the time to give the reader a background in Saudi Arabian history, the different sects of Islam and other cultural details. I don't want to give away plot details here as they are the meat and potatoes of this genre but Wells is a credible hero with a meaningful back-story. Additionally the story scored points with me with an ending that was not predictable.This was the first book I read in this series and it read just fine as a standalone story. In the international spy thriller genre, Berenson, and his protagonist John Wells are now on my reading list.",4.0,"...assassinations, kidnappings and other terrorist plots...ripped from the headlines",1297123200,"02 8, 2011",83,88,helpful,0.9431818181818182,1 A3K77GJCI8FRYU,0312241976,"Jay3fer ""WriteKidsBooks dot org""","[14, 18]","If you're not willing to read the many exciting books on the role of myth in story creation (like Campbell's classic, "The Hero with a Thousand Faces"), Frey's book may be a shortcut. But don't be duped into thinking he's done all the work for you.Believe me, this ain't a "Cliff's notes" version of the harder books on mythology -- it's the Reader's Digest version. Nothing wrong with that, as long as you know what you're getting.As a previous reviewer noted, Frey is too limiting in his definitions of who the protagonist and antagonist can be in your story (he overlooks completely the fact that an antagonist need not be a person at all -- it could be the weather, or a giant whale, or an entire town, among other things).Also, many of Frey's plot and character suggestions are too dramatic, and would have no place in literary fiction, where readers demand a greater degree of subtlety. But if you're looking to write rollicking adventure stories, and you want to see how other authors have used mythology to create a firm, workable structure for their stories, this book may be the right place to start.I wouldn't stop there, though. If you want to write works of any depth or meaning, it would be better to move on -- if Frey manages to pique your interest in the power of myth rather than just turning you off -- to the harder, but more insightful stuff than Frey offers in this limited book.",2.0,"Overly simplistic, but possibly helpful",982195200,"02 15, 2001",14,18,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A2VOVUODV4UBHR,0312873972,Ana Q,"[0, 0]","Let me just start by saying that I LOVE this author; he is one of very few that I read simply because he wrote it.Saying that, although this is not my absolute favorite book of his I have ever read, it is one that I will recommend to every one who likes De Lint.This book is entirely about Jilly who has to be one of the most likable characters ever created. Almost from the first page you are thrust into a heart breaking story that even threw it's moments of predictability is extremely entertaining none the less.Even the best books aren't with out their problems;The story jumps through various times through history which can get very confusing if you aren't paying attention and you could easily find yourself going back to the beginning of the chapter to find out who you are talking to and what year it is.And I don't like the timing in the book, there are places where I don't want to wait two or three chapters to find out what happens and I had a really hard time not skipping ahead and missing some of the book.Please don't let me stop you from buying it, this book really was wonderful, he has a way of telling stories that really makes you want to be a part of them. I promise you, this book is worth your money.",4.0,Can De Lint truly do wrong?,1175472000,"04 2, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1T8IW27G3M4PX,0373442556,Lulu,"[0, 0]",A story of the love of family coming first. A story of how God works things out for the best when we let Him. It teaches that the outward appearance of people in our life is not what matters most. Neighbors helping neighbors in time of need.,5.0,Trusting those who may see things different.,1395964800,"03 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30PGJVFNV6MXL,0141012692,Terry,"[0, 0]","If there were a book that grief counselors would prescribe for people who suffer, this would be it. Oskar's journey is whole, complete, and filling. Truly a journey that needed to happen.",5.0,A loss you can feel.,1372464000,"06 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AIACFFNASFND6,1477818243,M. Grace,"[0, 0]","I liked this book because I read mysteries, history based books and many others but , in this book I found a great insight on how people feel and what they find is important, at some point in their lives. Also, how you can realize that , no matte how long, relationships can still be a mystery for couples. Loved the mix between a fun mystery and getting a thinking kick to your brain.",4.0,"Not just a mystery, action book but, one with a good insight",1399939200,"05 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1XGBYBQJB2DY4,B0056VBOB2,"Nadia ""Tweet @Nadia_Nader""","[16, 16]","Lisa Scott's ""The Hot Girl's Friend"" is a light breezy read, perfect for those who need an entertaining story that won't make you feel guilty for spending the time doing something else (in my case it was working on my thesis). Jane follows her ""hot friend"" Miranda and fends off guys that try to approach Miranda with funny excuses. A bartender overhears Jane and is intrigued by the her comebacks. She explains to him that, as ""the hot girl's friend,"" men only approach her to get to Miranda. He decides to help her get a date. The story is predictable but I enjoyed the interactions/dialogue between the characters and the unexpected backstory. It added depth to the characters.I found ""The Hot Girl's Friend"" for free on the Amazon. Reading the reviews made me give it a chance and I am glad I did. I'm now a fan of Lisa Scott and purchased her short story collection for the next time I need a fun speedy story to read.",4.0,Speedy & Sweet Short Story,1317340800,"09 30, 2011",16,16,helpful,1.0,1 AEWZPF08ET35Y,0670869759,Flannel Pajamas,"[0, 0]",You do not have to be religious or a Christian to appreciate the book. It is surprisingly universal and can be transformational given the right frame of mind.,5.0,One word: Inspirational,1364342400,"03 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1DPZ9U2XN2C9S,0061990639,Amazon Customer,"[5, 7]","This books aren't police procedurals at all. They're really romances featuring a female character who happens to work in a police station.The cases provide context but the books are only superficially about solving mysteries. Willing suspension of disbelief is an absolutely requirement to enjoy this series:After reading several of the books series back-to-back, just a few of the plot and character elements that strike me as silly:1) Traumatized teen son Kit recently found his murdered mother. Step/maybe-bio-dad has suddenly decamped to Canada. And is remarrying! His world rocked, Kit runs away. Meanwhile, Gemma and Duncan are BOTH off helping a friend in legal trouble in Scotland, outside their jurisdiction. Does either or both immediately return home, urgently concerned about Kit? Nope.2) Teen son Kit's grandmother is pursuing legal custody. Duncan MISSES the Hugely Important custody hearing w a judge because a dead body has been found. This is, of course, a daily event for him. And presumably entire teams of detectives and investigators with multiple layers of supervision will no doubt be at the scene. So he can't wait a few hours to check it out, until after the appointment with the judge? Puh-leeze.3) Apparently FAR more women in the Met are in important police roles than in the United States. Seems unlikely, but hey, what do I know? All I can say is that all-women police teams are fairly routine in these books. Certainly not like that in the U.S. Oh, and I did mention that despite this, all the women except Gemma have chips on their shoulders - Melody, Shara, Maura.... Only Gemma can move with confidence through this world.4) Gemma moves w great caution on all relationship matters - moving in together, marrying, etc. Yet Duncan finds a house without involving Gemma until it's practically a done deal. Then tells her they'll be moving in on the next weekend! Totally implausible.5) Naturally, the house is a delightful find in the best neighborhood in London, but remarkably, affordable for them thanks to a convenient five-year sub-let arrangement, clearly at a huge discount to market. A five-year-long sub-let due to a work assignment abroad would be fairly amazing in the business world, by the way.6) Their foster child needs a special school. Child has been removed from other schools due to severe behavioral issues. Nonetheless, Duncan interviews and selects a new school and enrolls the child without involving Gemma in the process at all. Literally doesn't even discuss it with her. Again, it's a done deal. Also totally implausible.7) In the office, Gemma does only paperwork, reluctantly. She seems to spend most of her time zipping from scene to scene, often alone, bizarrely hands-on for someone in her position, interviewing witnesses on her own, and the like. Her ability to delegate and empower a skilled team seems nonexistent.8) Altho one works for Scotland Yard and the other for the Met, both Duncan and Gemma routinely involve each other in their cases...not just discussing them at home, but actually assigning formal police tasks to each other. For example, it's the norm that Scotland Yard Duncan will have Met Police Gemma interview a suspect or witness even though she's not assigned to the case, and vice-versa.9) They routinely involve each other and themselves in cases involving close friends and family members. Unethical and a conflict of interest, to say the least - and only rarely do they even briefly disclose this to their superiors.",2.0,"Formulaic romance, not procedural--overrated and fairly silly...",1390694400,"01 26, 2014",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2MPF64CI5A28X,1480529699,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Great romance, you fell in love with Theresa and felt her pain. Then fell in love with Sandro and felt his pain. Beautiful love story.",5.0,Great story,1356912000,"12 31, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BHZ8P7G3NCW9,098379782X,"N ""N""","[0, 0]","I like the main character in this series and her friends, but it's a bit predictable in places. Still, if you're looking for an easy Urban Fantasy read, this is a good choice.",4.0,Interesting Series,1368576000,"05 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANBJ8FXVWHEFD,0981652565,Superhero,"[21, 25]","Good book BUT I don't see why people try to constantly compare it to Dave Cullens' ""Columbine"" book all the time. The two books are apples & oranges.This one is a narative (It covers the parents testamonies a little better, and catches a slip up that Sue Klebold made in her statements early on.)Cullens reads more like a action novel, still the same facts but very ""First person"" perspective. it reads faster but no less informative.Now for the bad part.I feel that ANY book about a historical event has to be unbiased and this one isn't. It has a extreme twinge of ""anti-gun setiment"" that I found distasteful. I don't care how you stand on a issue a book that's supposed to be about facts shouldn't reflect your personal feelings at all. Cullens book was completley unbiased.Jeff Kass also tries to make some kind of connection to the fact that Columbine happened because the boys ""Lived in the West"" where ""The gun is a more acceptible response"" and then even tries to connect The Virginia tech Massacre to this theory becasue it took place in the south. Cho Seung Hui was a South Korean immigrant, I doubt he felt a connection to old west gunfighters anymore than Eric & Dylan did.Dwayne Fuselier was a top FBI profiler, when he tells you they did it for apocolyptic fame and not because they were bullied outcasts, it's time to accept it.Sadly this book doesn't.",3.0,Good...BUT,1259798400,"12 3, 2009",21,25,helpful,0.84,1 A31VCLYVX67D6X,B00E773XV0,dixie desomer,"[0, 0]","A good, if predictable mystery. The grammar and spelling should have been checked with better care. Enjoyable in spite of the errors.",3.0,Enjoyed the mystery,1399075200,"05 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32UUDS7H3CHRW,0811701646,Muffydad,"[0, 0]","Not having ever served in Iraq (Vietnam was my era), I was amazed at the similarities and the differences this book brought out.",5.0,Blood Stripes,1358553600,"01 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A375P67HKMMXTY,0140154078,J. Risse,"[0, 0]","A memorable story - that keeps revolving in my mind. What is the Music of Chance? The author, Paul Auster, attempts to weigh freewill and circumstance through the art of storytelling - fluctuating between chaos and order in the same manner as a symphony. How awesome is that?The main characters at once create and are created as part of the story - alternately shifting from victimizers to victims, from ordered to chaotic. The story itself is loaded with symbolism - from a scale model of one character's life, to a stone wall constructed in a meadow, to classical music played by the main character - all of which add necessary depth and personality to an otherwise convoluted plot, not unlike life.At length the story makes one question one's own reality. This is definitely not a book to impart a ""warm fuzzy,"" but rather to push the reader to consider his or her own free will and circumstance.",4.0,Free Will?,1070409600,"12 3, 2003",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AAWP26MF5F334,0895260816,"Amazon Customer ""theplumms""","[19, 45]","I wish this book was more (or even entirely) about what Ingraham calls the ""business elites."" A culture that allows greed to go unchecked is one where morality doesn't really play a part -- if you're just living for increased profits, right and wrong take on totally different meanings. Too much of this book is wasted on making entertainers look silly. Making the odd comment about an actor's hazy values is humorous for a while, I guess. But after a while it just seems so useless -- like blaming Ronald McDonald when you get a bad hamburger (as a great comedian once said).",2.0,Could have been more interesting,1095033600,"09 13, 2004",19,45,helpful,0.4222222222222222,1 A3BAPU9DX0ZJR3,B00KBF6MBA,Marifi,"[0, 0]","This book discusses main topics and turning points in natural gas trading; an overview of current market including supply & demand forces, trading rituals; transaction pricing structures; trading instruments such as futures, indexes, triggers, options, and various types of swaps; as well as the author's views on how individual trader and/or gas company's risk management should function.",5.0,Very Good Introduction,1400371200,"05 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14LAON0CPKL2A,0711991081,Gilbert,"[0, 0]",This is a great Ramones book. I've been reading all the books put out on/by the Ramones and this is one of the best ones. Very insightful. If you are a Ramones fan then this book is for you. Buy them all!,5.0,Such a good read...,1398643200,"04 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ACCS1N4EB91P9,0380751925,"drifter ""Henry""","[10, 16]","First off let me state this: THE NECRONOMICON IS A LITERARY INVENTION OF H.P. LOVECRAFT WHO USED IT IN HIS STORIES. IT IS NOT A REALL BOOK, NOT REAL IN THE SENSE OF THE ACTUAL NECRONOMICON IN LOVECRAFTS FICTION.Go on wikipedia and type it in. Read the page. You will learn about the necronomicon, its FICTIONAL history, and its contents, but first and most importantly you will learn that it is a ficticous book.All books claiming to be ""The"" necronomicon are jokes, hoaxs, or at best tributes to Lovecraft. The only one really worthy of note is the one written by donal tyson, which is a great work of, stated by the author himself, fiction. All others are crude jokes and hoaxs, all but one of which has been admited to be so by the author.And about the one on this page, you will more about occultism and magic by watching barney. It is a terrible grimoire using mispellings of sumerian/babylonian gods/goddeses/mythical creatures/demons using fake, childishly drawn symbols and baby-talk incantations for its ""spells"", of which the author obviously has no idea. And for the testament of the mad arab written in the beggining of the book, is an attemt to use a combination of lovecraft's writting style and the style found in the bible, and it talks about pretty much nothing. The worst thing about it is that the author is the only one not to admit that this is a fake, adding considerably to its disgustingly bad quality.So if you are planning a necronomicon, by the one from donald tyson, and only if you want to read some fiction, not work spells.",1.0,Not even for curiosity...,1136505600,"01 6, 2006",10,16,helpful,0.625,1 A228309605DVTV,0312605250,Donald A. Prentiss,"[4, 4]","After reading LET THE RIGHT ONE in, I became an instant fan of Lindqvist - what a great book. Then came Handling The Undead and maybe because I expected too much but I don't think so - I think it was just becasue this book is soooooo mediocre.The character development is weak and none of the characters are very likable and the story is slow, weak and really not too much to it. It starts to pick up toward the very end but there's no pay off to the time it took to read this book. It didn't suck and it wasn't very good - it was just a time waster!A terribly disappointing and weak follow up to Lindqvist's first great book. I'd say pass on this.",3.0,Forgettable and a bit flat.,1294358400,"01 7, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AMKZHBOK7VMQR,0891416064,R. J. Marsella,"[17, 17]","Lt. McDonough writes of his experiences in Viet Nam in such straight forward language with little embellishment and an honest and humble attitude. This is one of the best written depictions of combat I've ever read. His experiences commanding a platoon in the heart of VC country surpass anything that has been portrayed by Hollywood in terms of the difficulty of the mission and the horror of day to day survival in a combat situation. This is one gritty and tough account of day to day life in the Viet Nam war that should be widely read. Ranks right up there with Philp Caputo ,Michael Herr, Tim O'Brien and Tobias Wolff as a contribution to the definitive written record of grunt life in the war.",5.0,Candid and riveting memoir,1057104000,"07 2, 2003",17,17,helpful,1.0,1 A11XAIFA10G7TS,1400068673,"Holly ""Book addict""","[5, 7]","Set primarily in New York City, this novel begins with the wedding of Cynthia and Adam who are fresh out of college and very confident with who they are as a couple and where they want to go in their lives. Just by reading about the wedding, the reader is given insight into these characters and their relationship with each other as well as their families of origin. Relationships are strained with their birth families but the two of them fit together perfectly and view themselves as an island, only needing each other. Adam becomes very successful on Wall Street and Cynthia stays home to raise the two children born early in the marriage. The story continues across many years as the children grow into young adults who have very different reactions to being born into wealth and privilege.This was a story that I found to be engrossing. I found myself not wanting to stop reading when I really needed to and being sad when I realized I was coming to the end of the book. With this type of novel, the writer had the choice to let the characters become stereotypes or he could create characters who where just living their lives the best way they knew how and he chose the latter. The evolution of the couple from their middle-class roots to elite, super-rich power couple they become is handled brilliantly. While they may be oblivious and in their own little bubble, he doesn't portray them as inherently evil which is refreshing. Some of the angst Cynthia goes through in trying to raise the children the best way she knows how and being scared to death she is doing it wrong will resonate with all parents who read this novel - it crosses socio-economic barriers and is common to all parents who love their children.Watching how the children are molded by such an extreme life of privilege is fascinating and, at times, heartbreaking to read. The decisions they make and their life choices are a reaction to the environment in which they are raised.While often not likable, these characters are so three-dimensional that I was able to find some way to relate to them even while having a vastly different life style and family situation. I found myself thinking about the story when going about my day to day activities and that's the mark of a good writer for me.One of the best books I have read lately.",5.0,Terrific writing,1259798400,"12 3, 2009",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2ECXVLECHW7Q7,031256371X,"Morgan R ""Morgie""","[7, 11]","I had very high hopes for this book (I love Sherlock Holmes!) especially because of the fancy bit on the back that said, ""Endorsed by the Conan Doyle Estate!""But I didn't get very far in before I abandoned it. It didn't seem quite right. I wasn't getting the Holmes vibe, and the writing wasn't very good.I would pass this one up if I were you, especially if you're a traditional Holmes fan.(This is irrelevant, but I also hated the cover--the guy looks like Justin Bieber!)",2.0,A disappointment,1302566400,"04 12, 2011",7,11,helpful,0.6363636363636364,1 A90KKMU3KV9HO,0060932139,,"[4, 7]","Having seen (and disliked) the movie many years ago, I never thought of reading the book. However, I was pleasantly surprised! The rather cryptic title refers to the author's personal philosophy regarding relationships, which he explains in the book.The story begins in Communist Czechoslovaka prior to the famous 1968 Prague Spring introducing the reader to Tomas, the womanizing doctor, and his future doting wife, Tereza. Firmly determined to never remarry after a painful divorce, he ultimately decides to take Tereza under his protection. Of course, Tomas figures that's no reason to give up his many girlfriends. So, they continue, but Tereza is tormented by Tomas' continous infidelity. The author, Milan Kundera, also portrays his affairs from the side of one of his steadiest girlfriends, Sabina. Throughout the book, we trace the personal histories of these three characters from before the Prague Spring to their separate emigration to Switzerland and their return to Czechoslovakia (without Sabina). We also learn about boring Franz, Sabina's desperate lover.Like other Czech authors, Kundera's book starts off playfully, lustfully. But then it takes on an increasingly serious tone as the characters age and finally becomes almost painfully poignant at the end. The consequences of their earlier frivolousness come back to haunt them as the Communist authorities begin relentless persecuting them, ironically pushing them closer together emotionally than ever before.All in all I surprisingly enjoyed the book. Towards the end, however, the book wanders wildly. (Did Kundera have a page quota to fill?) I recommend this book to anyone interested in Czech authors or personal relationships.",4.0,"Love, lust, revolution, repression, and philosophical digression",1169769600,"01 26, 2007",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 ABAMGKODQE6B3,B007V5BY0C,Aussie bookworm,"[0, 0]","In this second story, we get to know more about the insides of the pack, and Garret himself, I really enjoyed this story and looking forward to the next ones. This series is a wonderful mix between paranormal, erotica and romance. and I would recommend it.",5.0,Garret's domination,1349136000,"10 2, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2F3M93RRLFQNJ,1611099358,mrliteral,"[43, 50]","Sometimes you don't realize you missed something until it comes back into your life. Such was the case with William Lashner, who I hadn't read in four years, not since his last book came out. I always enjoyed his books, but with no new ones coming out, he eventually faded into the background. Now, Lashner is back and he is as good as ever.The Accounting is narrated by Jon Willing, a fortyish man with a deep dark secret. When he was in his teens, he and a couple friends stole a lot of cash from some drug dealers. In a way, it was a perfect crime, at least for twenty-plus years. Now, someone is out to get the money back.When one of Willing's partners-in-crime is tortured and murdered, Jon knows that he could very well be next on the list. He's taken precautions against getting caught, but he soon finds that all his carefully laid plans are not as secure as he thought. This will put not only him in danger, but his family as well. To try and get out of this will require facing some demons from his past.This book has Lashner's trademark wit and suspense wrapped up in a sharp tale of a person whose past has come back to haunt him in a big way, and atoning for the crimes of yesteryear may offer redemption, but may also kill you in the process. This is a great book for thriller fans.",5.0,Seems like old times,1363305600,"03 15, 2013",43,50,helpful,0.86,1 AV7OL478D42IH,145646471X,"HattersMadness ""Mary S.""","[0, 1]","It was a pretty decent book, took a while to get to the point, but once it did it had me hooked. I liked the main characters Heaven and Dylan, they seem a bit hokey at times but not overly so. Heaven is a bit of a pessimist, Dylan is solely focused on her. I kind of didn't like that they were dropping everything that was important in their lives to be with each other at 21 with little other interests. I am hoping it will pick up in book 2. I am also looking forward to the side characters stories, Layne seems like he might be another Heaven worshiper which would throw an awesome twist in, Zeke will likely come back to haunt some more, and FAITH!Faith is by far my favorite person in the book and I am biting my nails to find out whats going on with her, hoping the story takes turns that will lead to her having a spin off series.",4.0,Pretty decent,1332201600,"03 20, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3UHCUZ5H4N0TH,0786013117,Darren Jacks,"[8, 9]","This is the pinnacle of Tamara Thorne's brilliant writing career. And that says a mouthful; because this dame can write a yarn. She writes a great vampire novel here and does so much better than Ms.Rice.This book has it all; sex, violence, gore, romance. What else can a horror fan ask for? Plot synopsis? You got it!!Amanda, an innocent little thing, goes to work at Candle Bay resort, owned by the Darlings, a vampire clan. Candle Bay is an exclusive resort outside of San Francisco. The Darlings have an on-going feud with The Dante's. And the fun begins.Thorne outdoes herself with each effort and is quickly becoming one of the best female horror writers published today. Her pacing of a novel is smooth and effortless, her characters are fleshed out, the violence quick and painful to the jugular, and the sex...Well you need to read this novel.I have yet to read Eternity but it looks fantastic. Her new novel, The Forgotten, to be released in November 2002, also looks awesome.Tamara, please, please, keep 'em coming!!!",5.0,The culmination of Thorne's career,1029801600,"08 20, 2002",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A23RHT5SJTUNKQ,148121425X,Lh,"[0, 1]","These books flow right into one another, that's why I like them. It really gives you a sense of being in the picture - in the know. Great job.",5.0,Good story line,1379548800,"09 19, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2Q4FW8D55KVDA,0986451754,Donna,"[11, 13]","No comic book was ever this well written or this carefully plotted of gave the reader such poignant moments of introspection between the laughs and the adventure. It's a great romp through the world of baddies with Superhero Powerhouse, but mild mannered janitor Dave Johnson has to live in the real world, too. And as much as he loves his wife and son his conflict between the everyday world and the Powerhouse world is intensified by the fact that he's fighting to save the real world for his family. but how much will it mean to save the world if he loses his own marriage? Dave Johnson is defiitely a superhero with a difference. As is this book.",5.0,Superhero with a sense of humor,1300665600,"03 21, 2011",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A12FEHYJOJZZRY,0984805354,J. Voelkle,"[0, 0]","Another good book by Stephen Knight. Good technical/scientific details, good character development, great story line (people go into danger to save others). My only complaint is the 'bad guy' has paranormal abilities. Didn't need it-- he could have been bad enough just with his evil nature and a good understanding of science. But I did enjoy it and I look forward to a sequel.",4.0,A Good Apocalypse Book,1371945600,"06 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TX179XAT5GRP,1416935711,"TeensReadToo ""Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier.""","[5, 8]","Welcome to Hogwarts for bad guys, minus the magic.H.I.V.E. is a school set on a deserted island where brilliant young adults who have come from criminal families or have taken part in criminal projects are taught to become the worst that they can be.Otto Malpense remembers nothing about how he came to be on the H.I.V.E. island, and neither does him Asian friend, Wing. The H.I.V.E. staff explains to the young criminals that their parents agreed to let them join the school - and that they are under the highest security and scrutiny.Otto, being an extremely smart Alpha, wonders if they were kidnapped and are being held hostage until they graduate. Throughout their time at H.I.V.E., Otto and his friends are enrolled in a number of courses you will not find in your average school. Subjects such as Tactical Education, Stealth and Evasion, Villainy Studies, and many other classes (meant for other students, such as Henchmen).Wanting to be off the island, Otto and his friends, Wing (a martial arts fighter), Shelby (a jewelry store sleuth), and Laura (a technological genius) devise a plan that has never been pulled off before - escaping H.I.V.E. This is a feat that no student has ever accomplished.H.I.V.E. is a great book and the ending leaves it open for a sequel, which i will be more than happy to buy. Although some parts were scattered, it all led to a great, courageous ending.Reviewed by: Jeremey",4.0,Courtesy of Teens Read Too,1184544000,"07 16, 2007",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A2UMMKJ0QN5IUS,1491726156,Amazon Customer,"[7, 8]","I have waited two years for the sequel to Crow's Row. While that isn't as long as some people it was definitely long enough for me. There was just to much inner dialogue with not much action like the first. For as long as this book has been a work in progress I was truly expecting more. First the price was higher than I normally pay, but hey I have been waiting for this for years. Second I don't feel like there is any resolution for Cameron and Emmy in this story. It totally ended on a cliff hanger yet at the end of the book the author says she hopes she done their story justice. How can it end with a cliff hanger but do them justice? What happens with Emily and the deals she set up? What about everyone's revenge do they get it? Emotionally does every one get their resolution and make peace with the past so they can move forward? What about Bill's legacy that is the coalition does it fall apart or continue on? These are the types of questions I was left with. Overall it was a decent book. Definitely not worth the money or the wait though.",2.0,Is this really the end? Possible spoilers****,1397433600,"04 14, 2014",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A2HKQX6AXO5SFF,0671866397,J. Erickson,"[0, 0]","Excellent book to use in the high school classroom, whether for English or history. Can be a quick read with high interest on the subject.",4.0,America's History,1370563200,"06 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TX179XAT5GRP,0525479430,"TeensReadToo ""Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier.""","[0, 0]","Maggie Keller's life turned upside down the day she forgot Toto. In eighth grade, Maggie was cast as Dorothy, the lead in The Wizard of Oz. As her mom is driving her to rehearsal, Maggie shouts out that she forgot the stuffed dog at home. Her mom, without checking the traffic around them, turns the car around and causes an accident.Maggie was once the most popular girl in her class. But after the accident, she has a deformed leg, and considers herself the Frankenstein of the class. Her ex-best friend, Sukie, is the new #1 girl and has a new best friend, Heather. Maggie is on the fringes of school society now.When Dahlia Wainwright arrives at school, the two form their own exclusive freak club. Dahlia lives by her own rules, not caring what others think. Maggie tries to live that way ATA (after the accident.) Maggie is enamored with Dahlia's home life. Jonah, Dahlia's younger brother, thinks he's magical. And Dahlia's mom, Leah, weaves creative worlds with the dolls that she collects. Leah welcomes Maggie into their lives, dubbing her ""LaSamba,"" the sad clown.Slowly, Maggie starts to question her feelings for Dahlia. A simple touch of Dahlia's hand causes sparks inside Maggie. Maggie has never felt like this before, certainly not with Sukie, and in hindsight, not with her old boyfriend, Albert.Soon, the school is hearing rumors about Maggie and Dahlia. For all Dahlia's talk of not caring, she has started to enjoy popularity, and doesn't want to disappear into the unknown again.The issues in MY TIKI GIRL are definitely for an older reader. Though there are no actual sex scenes in the story, the underlying context is very apparent and may be too much for a younger reader. Maggie struggles to come to terms with whom she is and who she is supposed to be. With a distant father at home, and unusual friends at school, Maggie must decide what it is she wants and go after it.Reviewed by: Jaglvr",4.0,Courtesy of Teens Read Too,1232582400,"01 22, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15Y2VVI1573F4,0399153829,Al M. Barron,"[0, 0]","A very good read! I was a bit hesitant to buy and read this book,since it was written by a person , Martha Raddatz, who works for a liberal and biased ABC news network. I thought it might just be another ""Bush Bash"" !! It was anything but that. It is well written and very well describes the modern day battlefield that our troops face every day. I would highly recommend reading this book. Thanks Martha !!!! WELL DONE AL",5.0,The Long Road Home: A Story of War and Family,1207353600,"04 5, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AYGYAGB22I990,B0056J0LQI,"Stacy ""Stacy Juba, Author of Adult Mystery/Ro...","[18, 19]","What an impressive anthology of stories. This collection contains short stories from a variety of genres and you're sure to discover talented new authors for your to-read list. I read it in a weekend and was always disappointed to finish a story, thinking the next one couldn't possibly reel me in as much as the previous one, but I was wrong. The Bestseller Bound collection had me hooked from page one until the end.",5.0,Well-written and impressive collection,1309305600,"06 29, 2011",18,19,helpful,0.9473684210526315,1 A3J9Z79JM8UB8J,B00IJ0K3AA,VeggieLover,"[0, 0]","I have two main points to make about Desperate to Escape, Part 2:1. I waited long enough!2. I loved the book!The book was well worth the wait! Thomas Robins does such a great job switching back and forth between two settings: Ineeka on Earth and Ineeka in Space. Sometimes it takes me till the end of a sentence to realize things have switched, but that just makes this story even more fun. The story on Earth was really sad and touching. The plot in space was never what I expected, especially the last few paragraphs, where things take a very sudden turn!I really enjoy this series and can't wait for Part 3.",5.0,An ending I didn't see coming!,1398124800,"04 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ABREAP8WPRRPU,0985593962,Shari,"[18, 18]","Profile of Terror is an exciting and scary book altogether.It is about 3 evil people who are downright sick and twisted.Ryder, is a sociopath who gets off on leering young teenage girls by scoping them out on the internet, posing as a younger guy that wants to help take them away from their current issues at home. When he gets these girls in his possession, he then tortures and rapes them. He had led the officials on one hell of goose chase throughout Shawnee County. They finally capture his sick butt, and put him in lockup until the trial can begin.In the meantime Devin and Evan are 16-17 year old twins that idolize Ryder, and begin their own sick abductions by scoping out college girls Facebook pages. Unlike Ryder, they go about their abductions by using stun guns, and Rohypnol. After they have found and murdered these women they pose them in places, with a bag tied around their heads where they will be discovered quickly, not in the usually hidden places.The twins, along with Ryder, want to get back at the Chase brothers to make them pay for all of the trouble they have caused them. They want to make them pay for their deeds by abducting Carly, who is a Criminal Profiler, and Federal agent. She is also the girlfriend of a cop Brody Chase. They don’t stop at Carly, they decide to go after Kaitlyn, the girlfriend of Gabe Chase, Brody’s brother, and a private investigator.This book is highly addictive. So be ready to do nothing after you start reading it. Believe me; you won’t want to put it down.I would suggest reading the previous books in Alexa’s Deadly Trilogy, and then her Profile series. The names and characters will all come into place.Come on 2015 Profile of Fear",5.0,Profile of Terror is right.,1400112000,"05 15, 2014",18,18,helpful,1.0,1 A3CQZRIBZTPOXO,1589851633,S. Lee Anne Henry,"[23, 23]","I purchased this book with the intention of ""saving it"" to read on an upcoming lengthy plane ride, but I couldn't resist -I just had to peek inside at some of the photos. To my delight, I found the book to be completely enthralling and couldn't put it down. Like author Beckey Burgoyne, I was one of the many young girls influenced by Amanda Blake and her portrayal of Kitty Russell. Her strength and independence helped to shape generations of young women who were spoon-fed heaping helpings of family fare on TV - wives, mothers, homemakers. What a refreshing change to see an independent business-owner who was [eventually] accepted and respected by men and women alike. I enjoyed seeing new photos of Amanda, and I was particularly delighted to see that Burgoyne's tribute truly celebrates the complex actress and her life. Amanda Blake left us a little too soon (age 60), but she impacted untold numbers of family, friends and fans with her generous spirit and grace. Fans of Gunsmoke and Amanda Blake will enjoy this entertaining read.Sandy Henry, author, Carnegie, A Child's Bedtime Companion and Something Borrowed, Something Blue",5.0,A Loving Tribute to a Lovely Lady,1282953600,"08 28, 2010",23,23,helpful,1.0,1 A33F2NHAO6HX5E,0156000776,Blackworm,"[0, 3]","Books that catch the hint and kick into high gear at the middle/end of the book seem to be stuck with me as the caretaker. This book was no exception. UGLY WAYS was a novel that had a good premise, but kept it going on a very slow pace, until the funeral parlor scene, when it really got hilarious! That was the best part of the book. Mudear should have been on the cover instead of her daughters, because she was the scene stealer. She may have many misunderstanding about her girls, but she still loved them, and when all is said and done, who could ask for anything more? I could. I could have asked for a better book, but at least Mudear saved the day. The ironic part is she had to be dead to do it!",2.0,The dead one should have been the star of this book!,964137600,"07 21, 2000",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 A240VR4O8GV930,1902593022,Richard Harrold,"[4, 5]","How does a lad come out of a Catholic school after willingly living a virtuous life to slide into the decadence of thievery and even murder? The poignant autobiography "You Can't Win" explains how without attempting to provide you with any justification. It just is.In the song by the Clash "The Magnificent Seven," Joe Strummer sings "Socrates and Millhouse Nixon both took the same way, through the kitchen....you can be true, you can be false, you'll be given the same reward." This existential chant is at the heart of "You Can't Win." And the book also provides the origin for the Johnson's, which show up in many of William Burroughs' books. These memorable characters had a code of ethics and honor, though we today might view such a code with suspicion. But placed in the context of the time and compared to the way the police behaved during those days before Miranda and other events that curtailed police corruption and brutality, today's reader can glean important historical information he or she might not have learned in school. History is indeed a moving tale that provides a picture painted by the teller, and students of history and humanity worth their salt are going to listen to as many tales as they can. Only then can they conclude that they may be nearer the truth than they were before. And "You Can't Win" provides a side of the truth that is well told and compelling.",4.0,An existential expression of early 20th century life,980726400,"01 29, 2001",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AB1O3A2VHG7S,0425210065,5TAL55,"[0, 0]",This is a fun summer read. Light and humorous. I always need a good beach book and Carol Snow books fit this bill every time.,5.0,light and humorous,1373500800,"07 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27W48IPZEADU8,B008170K22,cjw37,"[0, 0]",Not what I was expecting. I prefer a little more story to go with the sex. too much of a good thing I suppose,3.0,It's okay.,1357084800,"01 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ACUSQGGYMFGRF,1596680288,"Kathy Costello ""kcmoonbead""","[4, 9]","I like this book. It has several patterns that I hope to make. Writing is clear, pictures are good.",4.0,Nice patterns for lace garments,1179100800,"05 14, 2007",4,9,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A17HMW482LNOMB,1594485690,Jay,"[0, 2]","Anything you need to know about Suelo is summarized in an online article. All this other stuff is just the author (not Suelo) talking about the guy's biography, from a kid to an adult, bla bla bla. Not very interesting or compelling. He had a great subject matter it seemed...",2.0,Boring!,1357689600,"01 9, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 AONO7OZBSHWEE,1460935136,Bart A. Miller,"[0, 0]",Great read. Lauren Carr spins a tail with the best of them and with more twists and turns than an O'Henry novel.,5.0,Great read,1402876800,"06 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2IXIRTYST66OV,146794825X,AmFields,"[0, 0]","I get so engrossed in each and every new book in this series! I love the realistic characters, not to mention, the true-to-life situations that they experience!",5.0,I just can't believe!,1365552000,"04 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EGU92A3XQ2WF,0956368611,Valerie Byron,"[23, 25]","I'm not usually one for spy novels or any type of mystery/terrorist story, being more of a romance type of gal. However, on the advice of a friend I bought this book, hoping it would hold my interest. From the first page I was hooked. This book had a storyline that flowed beautifully but was easy to understand. In fact, it was so well written that I read it very slowly, savoring each word, hoping it would take a long time to end. Without giving away any of the plot, it is a story about one man's search for the truth about his own origins, which takes him from England to Canada and Palestine -- and also into his past. The Holocaust is described with painful precision and for those who have lost loved ones, your heart will ache. Mr. Seed is a brilliant writer and A PLACE OF STRANGERS is a book I will long remember. I highly recommend it.",5.0,An unexpected pleasure,1306972800,"06 2, 2011",23,25,helpful,0.92,1 A2PL396WP6GH4Z,B00GR58DAG,"Eddie de Jong ""Eddie (Author)""","[0, 0]","Reading this book was a waste of time.The author slapped together a series of books dealing with marketing for the indie author. The object of the exercise is clearly to try and make money for himself, but what Mr Brown does not understand is that you actually have to deliver value to your readers to do so.Subscribing to his email list has the same result. Nothing of value is delivered. Instead, you are inundated with special offers promising the world.There is no shortcut to building a loyal reader base and to do so, rule number one is to deliver value. Once Dan understands this, he might have half a chance of making it.",1.0,A waste of time,1396224000,"03 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2FDYC0Q44ZPO9,1461015804,"A. Moore ""A. Moore""","[0, 0]","The book was an entertaining read, but was off target on some of the technical details which was a bit annoying to me. I have a background that made me wonder where the author came up with some of his details regarding the military, weapons, and fishing even. Aside from reality contradicting fiction it was entertaining and fairly realistic possible future we may have soon to come.",4.0,More to like than dislike,1354838400,"12 7, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3EZHMGGWY74HY,0399156526,MommaMia,"[5, 17]","I was anxious with anticipation when I saw this book had arrived in the mail. Little Woman is one of my favorite books. The character of Jo is a young girl that I could easily relate to, and I had heard that Louisa herself was very much like her beloved creation, hence my excitement. Despite the fact that this is a fictional account of her life, it is based on truth, and I thought it would engage me immediately and fill me in on the ""real Louisa."" What I found was a book that moved slowly in the beginning and took far too much time to catch up with me! I was dismayed to find that I was not intrigued by any of Louisa's sisters, or even her parents. They seemed incidental to me, just part of the scenery that didn't add to the storyline very much at all. All I can say is it was chore to continue on after page 35 or so. Once I hit page 85 and I still had no feeling one way or the other, I knew it would be a long day of just trying to get through it.",2.0,This Reader feels let down...,1267747200,"03 5, 2010",5,17,helpful,0.29411764705882354,1 A1K4S4MWXI9E9M,0983368414,"Tina ""UF and PNR Romance fan""","[0, 0]","I received this book as a prize in a giveaway. I'm not a huge fan of young adult books, which I assume this was, but it was a great story and the characters were wonderful. It's written for a young audience, and I rate it for its genre. A fine example of writing an age appropriate ghost story.",4.0,Sliding Beneatth the Surface,1399939200,"05 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15VMH6CJLSU9B,1596680296,Laell,"[7, 7]",This book is easy to follow and understand. Well illustrated with excellent photos which reinforce the written details. The best feature of this book is that the sock patterns are listed by gauge (stitches per inch) which makes it easy to find a pattern based on your knitted swatch. This means that you have the freedom of choosing the yarns you want to use.,5.0,"A ""must have"" sock knitting book for new sock knitters",1198886400,"12 29, 2007",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A12KERFBDLMUGA,1453655220,"Jason J. Cross ""JJCross""","[0, 0]","Pete Turner has written a great horror mystery that has you hooked from the very first page. He takes you on this journey that feels very much like a roller coaster ride, with surprises at every turn. Great debut. Look forward to reading more from this author.",4.0,Hooks you from the beginning,1336780800,"05 12, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGKPTMTR3UX1R,0195038630,"Konrei ""Everything I need is right here""","[7, 7]","The best single volume history of the Civil War ever written, James McPherson's BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM was an instant critical and popular classic and a Pulitzer Prize winner upon its publication in 1998.It seems impossible, but McPherson manages to shoehorn virtually every element of Civil War America between the covers of this book. That he does so evenhandedly and without losing the narrative thread for even a moment is amazing.McPherson is a natural-born writer and historian whose ability to give the ""right"" weight to each of the thousands of issues raised in this book is nothing short of gifted. This book made his reputation as the preeminent Civil War historian of the last twenty years.BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM is incredibly dense, with so much information packed on a single page that certain sections could be expanded into books unto themselves, very easily. A spectacularly researched volume, footnotes pepper every page, most from primary materials.Despite the density of the material, the book's narrative flow is colorful and vital. The smell of cordite is thick in the air of Antietam, the flames dance in brownstone windows during the New York Draft Riots, Abe Lincoln sits preoccupied at the War Department tapping out telegrams to McClellan demanding immediate action by the Army of the Potomac, and Marse Robert watches the Confederate sun set over Appomattox with a heavy heart touched with conviction to be a good citizen of the remade American experiment.BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM was more recently (2003) rereleased in an ILLUSTRATED coffee-table edition. McPherson edited about a fifth of the text and removed the footnotes and bibliography. The illustrations, whether photographs, paintings, political cartoons or documents, add to the experience of reading this splendid history.Whichever edition you choose you will be pleased!",5.0,"Rally 'Round The Flag, Boys!",1116201600,"05 16, 2005",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A32LXCBAK4AXAF,0007386648,Mac,"[0, 0]","I loved this book! I stayed up many a night, unable to put it down. The Epilogue was most surprising. I CANNOT fathom the horrors "Zamp" went through and not just survived, but THRIVED in the end!",5.0,Best Read in a long time,1396828800,"04 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35HCNWDRYQ9XT,1585746924,Gregory Short,"[10, 27]","Once I reached page 39, the author had me pulling out my hair with his absurd conclusions. On one page, he writes that good intelligence never won a battle. Then on the very next page, he proclaims that Ultra had won the Battle of Britain and had stopped Hitler from invading England, which nothing could be further from the truth. Every serious student of WWII knows that Hitler never had any intention of invading England. In fact, he fought the Battle of Britain in the hopes of forcing the British government into coming to terms with Germany. Hitler may have entertained the idea for awhile, but his real enemy was the Soviet Union. The main problem I have with the book is that the author obviously doesn't know very much about the Second World War from the view point of the Germans, the Russians, or the even the Americans. Similar too many other media types who aren't actually historians, their works are full of contrived drama, dubious information, and ridiculous conclusions. Ultra was a very important intelligence tool for the Allies. However in a war based upon pure and simple attrition, the criteria for a country's success was their able to out produce their opponents. Good intelligence or not, the outcome was predictable, considering that the majority of WWII was fought and won by the Soviet Union.",3.0,Extremely Disappointing and Very Inaccurate,1302393600,"04 10, 2011",10,27,helpful,0.37037037037037035,1 A3VVPESCRWZB3H,0060652942,Bruce H,"[32, 39]","I read this book after a few different sources mentioned it as a book that deals with moral relativism. After reading the book, I don't know if I can honestly agree with many of the other reviewers. I have read two other books by C.S. Lewis, "Mere Christianity," and, "The Screwtape Letters," so I think I have some idea what his approach is. I can only hope that I am failing to grasp his ideas or that I am misunderstanding him.Definitions: moral relativism: The position that there are no moral absolutes, no moral right and wrongs. The philosophical position that all points of view are equally valid and that all truth is relative to the individual.moral objectivism/absolutism: The position that there are universally binding moral principles that apply to all persons, at all places and at all times.The book discusses the consequences of moral relativism and shows the difficulty of replacing absolute ethics with relative ones. However, I don't come away from the book thinking, "All right. I know how I can show moral relativism is false in a debate. I now know how to defend absolute ethics against objections." Perhaps this simply was not the objective of the book.The first essay (it was originally a lecture) titled, ""Men Without Chests,"" was probably the best in my opinion. Lewis examined a common elementary level school English textbook and looked at the philosophy that it taught. The implication of the wording and the subtle way in which relativism was communicated is prophetic. This same analysis could no doubt be applied to our current trends of political correctness.In his essay titled, ""The Tao,"" Lewis provides much argument to show that a moral system cannot be based on instincts. However, much of his argument seems to reduce to: moral objectivism is axiomatic. He argues that there are simply moral first principles, analogous to the three laws of logic, which cannot be denied. However, I think there are many people who would deny that moral objectivism is self-evident. If I were a moral relativist, I would hardly be convinced by Lewis' arguments here.The last section is titled, ""Illustrations of the Tao."" Lewis calls natural law or moral objectivism the Tao. This section simply provides excerpts from different books around the world (e.g. ancient Egyptian, ancient Chinese, Roman and Jewish) to show the universality of certain ethics.I would have liked a book that looked at the founders of moral relativism and their opponents. Then, a point-by-point analysis of their position followed by some examples of how moral relativism fails. I would much prefer the rigorous argumentation of Dr. William Lane Craig to this. I just honestly think that relativism is false but this book does not show that fact. I am going to read and review, "Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air," by Francis J. Beckwith, Gregory Koukl; I think this book may be better at refuting relativism.",3.0,"Explains, shows the consequences but little argument",992736000,"06 17, 2001",32,39,helpful,0.8205128205128205,1 AHN028C844C4C,0941717119,Tony Reinke,"[13, 16]","After coming out with one of the greatest Christian books on why psychology should not be used in the Church (Psychoheresy: The Psychological Seducation of Christianity) he now teaches us what it trully means to minister to other believers.This book reaches far beyond what we would call 'counseling.' All believers are called to minister to one another. Some are called to cook meals for those who cant, paint the houses of the elderly, some have been called as teachers, evangelists, ect. All Christians have a part to play in the mutual care of one another.If you enjoyed "Psychoheresy,' you will enjoy this book as well. See what it trully means to care for one another in a biblical sense and see why 'counseling' does not fit into this work.",5.0,More great stuff from Christianity's best author,931910400,"07 14, 1999",13,16,helpful,0.8125,1 A32KET1OT5J1CE,B00IZRAPKK,My Secret Book Spot,"[0, 0]","Complete by Lindy Zart4 out of 5 StarsPicking up two years after Incomplete finished, Complete is told from Lily's POV rather than Greyson's. Having moved on in every way she could with a hole in place of her heart, Lily is living a life of work, friends, and following Greyson's career via the towns insistent nosiness. Across the country, Greyson has become a chart topping heart throb with a soulful voice and a dark sadness that never leaves his eyes. When the two meet again it is apparent that their love never died, but they don't know if they can move past the pain and distance to start over again or if it's possible to pick back up where they left off.I'm not sure if the feminine POV or the extended time with the characters helped, but this second book had so much more true feeling and intensity that I was looking for! Zart gave both Lily and Greyson that soul searing, stop your breathe intense kind of love that is worth fighting for and makes you want to keep reading. My only reason for not giving this book the full 5 stars is I started getting exasperated with Lily towards the end. I like angst and know that it is a part of young love but she started getting a little too melodramatic before she had her realization that she was a player in the game and not a victim. Once she decided that love is worth fighting for, I totally jumped back on team Lily...so don't let that small moment dissuade you from reading the this series!! I am truly hoping Zart is going to give us a story about Mia and Ben!!**I was given a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review**Pepper, My Secret Book Spot",4.0,A true Lindy Zart Fan!!,1398643200,"04 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1LJFKIZ15WP32,0007124015,Nicholas Doles,"[10, 12]","I recomend this copy to every LOTR fan who can afford to buy it. I knew for the type of money I was shelling out it would be a good copy, but it even surpassed my high expectations.The thing I enjoy most is the feel. The outside is a soft smooth leather that is a pleasure to hold. The pages are a super fine paper that feels perfectly smooth yet doesn't allow the ink to smear one tiny bit. If you read as much as I do you know the pleasure of holding and leafing through an expensive book as opposed to one that used cheap, rough, highly acidic paper.The other great thing is the look. The gold leaf is very thick and vibrant and doesn't flake off in your hand. On some books the gold leaf can have a washed out look. Not the case here. The gold lettering on the spine and on the cover are also well done.Last but definitely not least is the text. The print is the perfect size, not too small and not too big. The fold out maps are also beautifully done in red and black ink, be extra careful when unfolding them the first time to not rip it.If you love LOTR you owe yourself the joy of having a book of a physical quality that matches the quality of the words J. R. R. Tolkein gave to us. It's worth the price.",5.0,"Beautiful, Simply Beautiful",1105660800,"01 14, 2005",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3KNMHIBPH5I7A,0312362919,a reader,"[5, 5]","Wow! I'm amazed that this quick and easy technique can produce such delicious and beautiful bread. Using their basic recipe, I've made peasant-style loaves and incredible baguettes. The baguettes were particularly noteworthy because they required almost no effort. In the past, I've struggled with trying to create a worthy baguette. Now I have a new method that is not fussy at all and makes fabulous bread. We've been eating homemade bread much more often, and my kids love it. Kudos to the authors for their amazing recipes. I am a convert.",5.0,Be a wild and crazy breadmaking rebel,1219622400,"08 25, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1W3OE56DTN67P,0345524993,"K. Elliott ""Kindle Addict""","[6, 17]","Oh my God this is just so bad I wish I could get my money back . And I realy like Bill and Giuliana , I had to stop after chapter 6 god it is just sad I hate it . to bad I hoped for more !",1.0,I Do Now What ? PLEASE SAVE YOUR MONEY DO NOT GET THIS BOOK !,1285632000,"09 28, 2010",6,17,helpful,0.35294117647058826,1 A1LRC2T7SFATJC,0321603605,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I found this book to be an excellent and informative read. I thoroughly enjoyed the structure and the fact that the author wrote this topic so well to keep my interest.,5.0,Excellent Giude,1381622400,"10 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A23MAG8UKFL0QW,1590584481,Story Circle Book Reviews,"[14, 15]","In the Shadow of the Glacier is a good, quick read. It is the first in what the author expects to be a mystery series featuring her main character, Constable Molly Smith of the Trafalgar, British Columbia Police Department.Although the town of Trafalgar is fictitious, the general setting, an important element in the story, is not. The Kootenay Mountain region of southeastern British Columbia became a haven for draft dodgers, resisters, and deserters of the American military back in the era of the Vietnam War. Trafalgar, like many of the real towns in this part of BC, took these people in without much question, and many chose to remain and create new lives for themselves, even after the offer of a Presidential pardon. When one of the more successful of this particular group passes away, he bequeaths land and money to the town of Trafalgar to establish a garden commemorating the area's population of draft resisters. This controversial bequest is in conflict with the plans of a local developer who wishes to build a large-scale international-style resort. He worries that many Americans will find the sentiments of the garden, and perhaps therefore those of the townspeople, offensive, and that his project may not be a success. Opposing factions form; should the town remain true to its 1960's hippie roots or is it time to move on and bring in some new and bigger money? When the developer is found murdered in a back alley, questions and accusations fly. Rookie Constable Molly Smith is called into the investigation alongside Detective Sergeant John Winters, a veteran of the Vancouver Police Department.The case picks up international attention via a Fox Network-style news reporter who arrives in Trafalgar, intent on escalating the situation. There are several sub-plots at work as well. One involves Molly's mother, a long-time activist from the 60's, who is deeply involved in the garden memorial. Another concerns Molly's friend Christa, who is stalked and subsequently assaulted, leaving Molly to feel that through her inattentiveness, she has let her friend down.Delany handles all this material well. The writing is sharp and fast-paced, making the reader feel the stress and pressure under which the police must work to solve the crimes. The characters all have substance. The author provides background on each of the key players and we are able to form a clear picture of them and their motivations. Initially, I found that Delany dropped the names of the various characters a bit too fast and furiously and thought it difficult to follow the thread of the story. That fell into place soon enough and the plot progressed well.I thoroughly enjoyed this book--a good debut for Ms. Delany's planned series.by Janet Caplanfor Story Circle Book Reviews[...]reviewing books by, for, and about women",5.0,A Good Debut,1200787200,"01 20, 2008",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 AAZQYLRRGHTUN,B009WI84A4,"C. Evans ""Dynah Zale""","[0, 0]","For me this story was too perfect and too predictable. It left me with no element of surprise. Every opportunity to change the average story line was met with the same typical romance novel. Although, the ending was intriguing that was close to the last 5 pages of the book. I'm disappointed that there wasn't more action throughout the book",3.0,Perfectly Packaged Story,1384646400,"11 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2UES18O9J4FFS,1890208590,"Desert Girl ""Janet""","[0, 1]","Have read all of Posadas County mysteries and loved every one. Now I'm re-reading on my Kindle Fire. To me Bill, Estelle and all the characters are portrayed so realistically you might think they are really out there somewhere in New Mexico.The droll humor of Bill Gastner is fun, the sincerity of Estelle believable as are the emotions the characters live through.Looking forward to the next book which comes out later this year.",5.0,Second time around,1367884800,"05 7, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A324DZN1E83J19,1400200385,"Andrea C. Mueller ""Annie""","[0, 0]","I tend to avoid books when they are on the bestseller list; it's kind of a reverse snobbishness, I guess. So I avoided Captivating the first time around, despite the fact that I'd read The Sacred Romance (by John Eldredge and Brent Curtis) and loved it, and despite the personal recommendations I received.I can't, thus, tell you much about how this revised-and-expanded version is better than the original. But I can tell you that, if you are a woman this is a book worth reading. Not if-you-are-a-woman-and-a-Christian, just: if you are a woman.Why? Not that the Christian thing doesn't matter, but that every woman struggles on some level with the issues that the Eldredges talk about. Their philosophy and, yes, their solutions are Biblically based; for non-Christian women, I can understand that might be a turn-off. But I urge you anyway: stride through the Scripture quotations and sit still for the stories and the truths that aren't tied up in church-speak.And for Christian women, this book can help you step out of the easy answers so often given via church-speak and deal with the hurts it's quite possible to hide but impossible to truly forget.The heart of this book is about remembering, about dealing with the lies that tell us to forget-about-it, quit-making-things-such-a-big-deal. This book helps us to understand why some things are a big deal, and should be, and how we need to look at them and find out what they're telling us. As we acknowledge, and remember who we really are, we can let go not in self-denial or resentment, but in true freedom.That's a good read.",4.0,A book women should read,1274227200,"05 19, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WF9SHK0FFMT9,1937918459,Brenda Espana,"[7, 11]","I felt really stupid for buying this, as it is simply a list of all fresh fruits, vegetables and meats! I guess it was a revelation in a way, for it did make me realize all fresh foods (not frozen, processed, canned or packaged) are gluten-free; how absurdly simple! I guess I was expecting some recipes, but I saw none.",2.0,NOT WHAT I EXPECTED,1341532800,"07 6, 2012",7,11,helpful,0.6363636363636364,1 A21RY9PB8DRG6X,0971580804,Rebel Brown,"[16, 36]","I haven't read this book but holy crap. The synopsis had me rolling on the floor. I sent this to a vietnamese friend of mine and I can't wait to hear her reaction. I'm going to get this for her for her birthday. As an object of ridicule this book gets a five. But treated seriously its just plain sad. As a minority (I'm arab) and a man this book is just sick. To any white people reading this. Only buy this book as a joke. Being attracted to a woman of a different race solely because they are a different ""exotic"" race dehumanizes them and while not necessarily racist it is almost certainly misogynistic. Ming Tan is pretty much a dirty sell-out race traitor.",1.0,Wow,1126310400,"09 10, 2005",16,36,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A3BY8J0YL12LT5,0805092994,John Lewis,"[5, 6]","I bought this book because I was impressed with how well Elizabeth Kolbert managed her interview with John Stewart on the Daily Show and suspected I was in for a great read based on her work in "The New Yorker".Even with such high expectations I was still stunned by the beautiful craftsmanship this book represents.This is not another global warming book. Kolbert walks us through many other examples of ways in which human presence on the planet has changed the rules in ways that make it difficult, if not impossible, for other life forms to survive their encounter with us. Things like predation by early hominids, and the global transport of pathogens are also major human contributed forces that are responsible for the current acceleration of extinction events.Another thing that I think Kolbert does a good job of explaining is the concept of "instantaneous" events on the scale of geologic time. Extinction events that may stretch over a few thousand years are quick in terms of the process of evolution. Many times we humans have a hard time grasping the significance of events that happen on time scales that are significantly longer than our own life spans,. I feel that Kolbert did an excellent job of addressing this issue from many directions. She started with the fundamental realization by early investigators, like Cuvier, that the evidence pointed to extinction as an obvious explanation of observed evidence (i.e., the fossil record).By its very nature paleontology is a science with more questions than answers. The fossil record is not complete. If it were the evidence would be less credible. But the big game changer is in the area of paleogenetics that takes advantage of the fact that each and every living thing on the planet carries a much more complete record of evolutionary history than the few bones and other body parts that have been fortuitously preserved in geologic layers that are occasionally pushed up where we can find them.In my opinion Kolbert went to the right source to make her case for the power of paleogenetics when she managed to hang around with Svante Paabo at the Max Plank Institute. Many of us consider Paabo the father of paleogenetics. I heard him speak a dozen years ago at a scientific meeting in Edinburgh and was stunned by the power of what he was doing. At the time I remember thinking how much fun it would be to share a beer with him but now the experience would not be as good if Eizabeth Kolbert were not tagging along to ask the good questions.This is not a book that preaches about the terrifying future we are creating for ourselves and our fellow earthlings. Kolbert lets the facts speak for themselves and puts enough effort into the story that her readers can not help but come to the logical conclusion because she has helped them understand the issues rather than just taking her word for it. .",5.0,"Beautifully Written, Carefully Researched, and Incredibly Well Thought Out",1392854400,"02 20, 2014",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A6Y0EFTHO0UXN,1250019672,nan,"[0, 0]","This book was funny, dramatic, and suspenseful. Could not put it down. Stayed up way too late having to see what was going to happen next.",5.0,Great book,1377561600,"08 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3VE9VCUX4D3LQ,B00G3DC7RW,chisox,"[4, 4]",This is a great thriller with a lot of action and keeps you turning the pages and it is hard to put down. One of those books that keeps you reading from beginning to end to see what is going to happen next.,5.0,Salechii shark park,1384128000,"11 11, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A16K193TMEIB9M,949163402X,Liz Thompson,"[0, 0]",He's very cute and actually quite big. The binding glue is starting to pull away from the pages but the patterns are good.,4.0,I made Otto the Turtle,1390435200,"01 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15W913SEWE2NO,B00F8PHUVO,CReads,"[0, 0]","I was very impressed with the honest portrayal of each character in this book. Paige, after suffering a horrible incident as a teenager, loses her boyfriend, her Father,, and her ability to trust. Blake, not understanding why she decides to leave him, is unable to forget his first love.Their reunion, after thirteen years is beautifully written. He is confused and uncertain about a future with Paige, and does, quite understandably, make some mistakes along the way. Who doesn't?Paige has problems of her own, reconnecting with an alcoholic Father and returning to the city in which a major crime was committed against her.The author delicately handles the attraction between Blake and Paige, while dealing with his fiancé in a realistic manner.I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would purchase another by this author.",4.0,Great book with intriguing storyline.,1380153600,"09 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RHYU0ST699W1,B00JJYH24A,Honey4,"[0, 0]",I really enjoyed catching up with our hero (Kyle) again. I like his character very much. I enjoyed this book equally as much as the first and I'm looking forward to moving along with his adventures. Definitely recommended. :),5.0,Perfect continuation of the gripping first book.,1404000000,"06 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2V92F5R7MLCVI,1401943616,wogan,"[0, 0]","It is true that as you think about forgiving, you probably will remember and mull over the event that has happened that you feel has wronged you. It doesn't mean you condone the action or the person, but this book might help you to let it go so that the incident or person does not control your thoughts and feelings and the possible obsessions that can overtake your life.There are ideas in the pages of this book and the enclosed CD that would help you control your feelings and release the burden of carrying that person or incident around in your life.",4.0,To err is human... to forgive,1396137600,"03 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3E7NBN3RHBUBP,0891417850,Gregory Moss,"[5, 5]","John Corbett enlisted in the Marine Corps and went to Vietnam because a friend said he didn't have the balls to do it. Corbett ended up at Khe Sanh with about 6,000 other Marine, Army, Navy, Air Force and ARVN personnel. They were surrounded by about 20,000 North Vietnamese regulars. The NVA pounded Khe Sanh with artillery, mortars, and rockets. This book is very reader friendly. It is written in the first person and in the present tense. The latter gives the reader a sense of immediacy with the book's action and the narrator's thoughts. There are four excellent maps at the beginning of the book. You will want to refer to them often as they help a lot. There are also twelve pages of photos. The chapters are as follows: (1) Enlistment, (2) Vietnam, (3) Welcome to Khe Sanh, (4) West Dickens Avenue, (5) A Million-Dollar Wound, (6) On the Job Training, (7) Under Enemy Fire, (8) In Enemy Sights, (9) They've Come to Kill Us, (10) Home Is Where You Dig It, (11) Seventy-Seven Days of Combat, (12) Back to the Jungle, (13) I'm Leaving. There is also an epilogue. Each chapter is divided into sub-chapters with titles such as ""Survived Again,"" ""My Shower,"" ""Air Strikes,"" ""Patrol,"" ""Ambush."" You can read a sub-chapter and put the book down for later. Each is a kind of vignette in and of itself. Military jargon is explained in text. I gave it five stars because it kept my interest and moved me emotionally. You'd better get this book while it's still in print. Once you start reading it, you're hooked.",5.0,77 Deadly Days in Combat,1091750400,"08 6, 2004",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 ARPMEEBJSI7Q8,1476776040,Library Lady,"[5, 6]",Another home run! I loved this book as much as the others. I was so nice to see a happy ending to the story. I really hope we get more on Grant and Harlow.,5.0,Loved it!,1370822400,"06 10, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2JFJDPPJIZK9T,0395652413,C. A. Spencer,"[16, 16]","Amanda Vaill has researched this book with admirable skill and diligence. She has given the reader more than adequate detail of the life of the privileged in Paris after WW I. By privileged I mean those with intellectual, artistic or personality advantages that allowed them to make a significant contribution to the life of that great society at the time. In the rich parade of her characters are Hemingway,Picasso and Scott Fitzgerald, warts and all. The main protagonists, Gerald and Sara Murphy are distinguished members of this illustrious group not so much for their academic achievements, but for their uncompromising and ingenuous humanism. Many books have been written about this exciting period of freedom and almost explosive creativity. So why read another, and why read this one? What is important about this book is not a chronicle of events. It is the wonderful revelation of the power of friendship and the passion of relationships within a family. Read this to understand yourself. Read this to feel alongside another human-being the deepest emotions of despair and intoxicating elation. Every human weakness is exposed without judgement. Amanda Vaill's triumph, in my opinion, is that theatre, ballet, literature and painting are laid bare for the reader. The creator and the creation are revealed for viewing in a very fresh way. You, the reader, will judge. But inevitably, you will not escape the excitement and vitality of the amazing life of expatriot Americans in Paris in the 20's trying to excape the strait jacket of their homeland. Not many books make me question my own values. This one did.Minor criticism: inaccurate Latin quotes.",4.0,Paris in the 20's revisited,959644800,"05 30, 2000",16,16,helpful,1.0,1 A2GNPGFJFSNP5B,0143034693,Jorge I. Villanueva,"[4, 7]","If you want to understand what was happening in Germany between WWI and WWII this is the book to read.Mr Evans does a masterful job in explaining everything that was going on in Germany in those years.His explanation of all the forces involved during that time is excellent.He also does a great job in presenting every political party, every goverment official and everyone involved in politics in a clear way.His account of Hitler's rise is fantastic and well documented.His narrative is crystal clear. Great book!!",5.0,Excellent book!!,1121212800,"07 13, 2005",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A1XBYW5UKXPMIC,B006D3Y4Q4,ChristianReader,"[0, 0]","I have not read any of the full length books and they might be quite entertaining. I'm not sure what was going on here but if you are not going to take the time to really write something, why bother at all. There is no character development / no story or plot / very little of anything. Some short stories are quite satisfying, taking them for what they are, a short story, not something more, but this did not even equal a short story, but more an undeveloped idea.",1.0,Flimsy,1355184000,"12 11, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2JFDCLA9PZGQ0,0345502892,Teemacs,"[7, 8]","Having read the author's ""Axis of Time"" trilogy and quite enjoyed it, I approached this, the start of a new trilogy, with reasonably high expectations. Overall I found it a bit of a let-down.The technique used is one much used by Harry Turtledove:(a) Invoke a premise that stands the world as we know it on its head; and(b) Tell stories - lots of different (and completely unrelated) ones from different people in different places - about its consequences.In this case, an energy wave of unknown origin and bordered by a vast curtain stopping just short of Seattle on the one hand and Guantanamo Bay on the other, wipes out all of life in those parts of the USA, Canada and Mexico that are behind it. (In some ways it reminded me of the change in physical laws in S.J. Stirling's ""Dies the fire""). This happens just prior to the planned invasion of Iraq, which, as can be imagined, spoils somewhat the preparations for that particular affair. And, as can also be imagined, the sudden removal from the scene of the world's major heavyweight causes all sorts of other nasty things to crawl out of the woodwork to exploit the vacuum.The idea is no more preposterous than that of the transport of a 21st century battle fleet to the WW2 Pacific theatre, but somehow I found the story-telling more pedestrian and the characters and events less engaging than those of ""Axis of Time"". Indeed, I found myself reading it at least partially out of determination to try to get something more approaching my money's worth. As a result, I'll buy the other two books only if offered at a price I can't refuse.",3.0,Ordinary,1240963200,"04 29, 2009",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A3LXXYBYUHZWS5,143918660X,Monie Garcia,"[0, 0]","In 2010 I read the first book in the Kane Pryce series, Soul Trapper, and absolutely loved it. I couldn't wait to read this next installment and it didn't disappoint. Lennon weaves a real bridge in Pasadena, California and some if it's urban legends into the story which makes it the perfect place for Kane's next foray into the supernatural underworld. Growing up in Los Angeles made this book all too real for me. I've driven over the bridge in the story and have been in many of the locations mentioned. That made the book a fun read in addition to the engaging storyline.Again you can't help but think of Kane as a lovable loser. This time around he's on the brink of stardom but working on this soul trapping case just might end his dream before it begins. Eva, his love interest in Soul Trapper is still around despite the way things ended and Kane alternates between trying to win her back and alienating her for good. The rest of the characters in the book bring so much life to the story and I loved every one of the (demons excluded LOL).Devil's Gate is an incredible suspense read that I highly recommend but if you haven't read Soul Trapper, start there so you don't miss any part of this amazing series!",5.0,AWESOME!!,1353196800,"11 18, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3ENSR3X5S977M,0316105953,"""tabbreathe""","[7, 7]","I approached this book simply as a comprehensive biography of Richard Burton and instead found it to be the most well-written and very detailed. It draws heavily on Burton's own Notebooks, his diary, and while "Rich" may have taken the mickey out of journos over the years, he is candid and blunt in his personal writings.I enjoyed this book very much, and found it difficult to put it down once I began reading it. It makes me wish I had a moment to converse with Burton himself, a true bookworm and erudite man who was still down-to-earth enough.",5.0,Very Engaging and Well Written,989971200,"05 16, 2001",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3HJSIRW9X2AB2,0971708959,aviv shener,"[0, 0]","i really like this one. it's not an amazing book and not an amazing story, but if your looking for a way to spend a couple of hours with a lovely tale, this is your book.",4.0,a very sweet book,1268438400,"03 13, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2DVJGKO156LL1,0765319756,CandyW,"[0, 0]","love it, love it, love it, Margaret is a great author love her work!!!!!! Great imagination and story line never a dull moment!",5.0,LOVE IT,1396224000,"03 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21IEXR6NF0QGK,1463783140,mlhecky,"[0, 0]","Well written. Phyllip Edmund does a very good job of showing the Enemy's line of thinking and how easy it would be to fall under his spell. Now I just need to find the sequel this book, if it exists. :)",4.0,Very good...,1366243200,"04 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3CBLV4RXBAK1N,1455507210,DF Robertson,"[0, 0]","Funny, poignant, wise. And, Oy vey....very easy to identify with. People of all backgrounds will appreciate the author's themes of family, love, and obsession in this book but if you happen to be Jewish you may appreciate it just a little bit more.",4.0,You don't have to be Jewish.....but it helps!,1364860800,"04 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1DTR16EXCZXZQ,0060977493,Stuart Aken,"[4, 4]","A prose poem of a novel, with bite. This Indian tale of love, loss, class and betrayal starts, against all the literary school advice, with the weather. But the language is so engaging, so intriguing, that the reader is drawn into this strange world at once.I love well-rounded characters and this book explodes with them. I love the use of good and entertaining English and this book drips with it. I won’t bore you with a synopsis; there are plenty of those around if you want a truncated version of the story. Suffice to say that the story centres on the relationships within a middle class business family and those that family loves and relies upon.I learned a great deal about Indian life during the read. The chaos, out-dated traditions, values, iniquities of the caste system, attitudes to authority, God, and religion are all exposed in the narrative. The climate and the landscape become added characters, playing their parts in this complex tale and bringing even more life to a story already teeming with it.There are flaws, for a reader from England. There are references to Indian culture, tradition and history that arrive unannounced and leave without explanation, often failing to reveal their origins or meanings in the process. And there are very short, occasional, passages in an untranslated language I could not identify or understand. How much of the richness of the novel I failed to appreciate because of these flaws, I have no way of knowing.There are a couple of chapters that, for me, appeared to serve no purpose in the story and I confess to skipping through those.The book is written in a way that keeps the reader engaged, not through action or tension necessarily, but through the exquisite combination of words. This is poetry presented as prose. And the final chapter is so brilliantly drawn, so brutally emotional, that it left me feeling raw; the empathy imposed is such that I doubt any sensitive reader could leave it without tears.I loved this book, and read the last half at one sitting, reluctant to put it down even though there were fairly pressing reasons I should do so. Thoroughly recommended for those readers who love literature in its accessible form and for whom a story of people in love matters. It’s no surprise this won the Booker Prize.",5.0,"A Prose Poem of a Novel, With Bite",1390089600,"01 19, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3T5XKSKSKYTFT,0978655117,"Chris Ansted ""Chris Ansted""","[4, 4]","Awesome book by Jeremy Robinson, if you like action and adventure your in for a great ride. Sit back relax and enjoy the read...",5.0,Great book,1387238400,"12 17, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AFK3WUIMCBQC6,1596985798,gtoman67,"[4, 19]","The only reason I'm glad I finished this on my kindle was the chuckle factor provoked by the ""Customers who bought this book also bought.....The Roots of Obama's rageThe politically incorrect guide to socialismAmerica by Heart (Sarah Palin)Broke (Glen Beck)You get the picture....author spent more time lambasting the supposed socialist policies of FDR and Ike than proving Patton was assasinated by the NKVD.",1.0,An absolute waste of time,1306022400,"05 22, 2011",4,19,helpful,0.21052631578947367,1 A2CJML04CLKCRZ,1448668492,Bill,"[0, 0]","In ""Antiquity Calais: Standing at Armageddon"" author Jim Henry gives the reader a mixture of science fiction, Greek mythology, and a touch of urban legend, and infuses it all with a Biblical theme. His main character is Antiquity Calais, a psychic writer. As the plot unfolds, Antiquity, picks up a posse, and has adventures, some with them and some without them, literally all over Creation.He is in pursuit of Leviathan Avalon, who has been Satan's go-to guy when something needs to be destroyed for the last millennium or so. At each stop on his journey, Antiquity learns more about himself and his quest. He also discovers new powers, which he will need to defeat his nemesis.This is a well thought out book, and Mr. Henry's style is very easygoing. The book is touted as volume one of the Universal Life Force Series, and the second installment: ""Antiquity Calais Ascending Olympus"" is a book I look forward to reading. If the second book is as good as the first, then I will, undoubtedly, be ready for number three when it is finished.",4.0,Science Fiction with a Biblical Twist,1373500800,"07 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1CFT4I7D5WWRM,0989269833,Suebear82,"[0, 0]","I totally didn't expect this story to go the way it did, but I loved it so much!!!!!! I kept me on edge the whole time wondering what was going to happen. I'm so excited for the next book.....",5.0,In love with this book!,1372118400,"06 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2EDZH51XHFA9B,0761457097,"Robert Beveridge ""xterminal""","[0, 0]","Carolyn Crimi, Principal Fred Won't Go to Bed (Two Lions, 2010)For some reason, the Bean was not nearly as fond of this one as I was (and as unfortunate as it is, I did knock points off for that—as I ave often said, when it comes to pre-lit these days, the Bean is the final arbiter of taste at Goat Central). It's a simple and obvious idea, and it's probably been done a hundred times before, but I've never seen it until now: take an adult who is normally in a position of power over kids—in this case a school principal—and map toddler behavior onto him. I found the result hilarious. One of the first times I was ready to read a pre-lit book again right after we'd finished, but this time Bean was having none of it, and in fact I never got in another perusal of it during storytime before it had to go back to the library. I'll try it on him again when he's a bit more grown, because from an adult perspective, this one's pretty boss. According to the two-year-old, though, not so much. ***",3.0,Zero Tolerance for bedtime,1402358400,"06 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QWCRVV9VNLOK,1933952326,Darwin's Bulldog,"[20, 21]","It's hard to give this book a good rating although parts are very instructive. The book begins at a very elementary way; what exposure is, what the focal length of lenses mean. There are much better books for such basic stuff; and this one if far from comprehensive.The following information on how to use the HDR software, encompasses little more than 'move the sliders around and watch what they do.' There is a bit of instruction on what various buttons are for, and where to find more sliders on the unintuitive HDR software interfaces.The book then makes a huge jump into advanced techniques that assume a high level working knowledge of Photoshop. For someone who is really starting in HDR photography at the same level that this book starts, the section that describes deghosting one image using 14 sets of 7 bracketed exposures using Smart Object stacks in Photoshop CS3 Extended will be totally, completely beyond their capabilities!The production values of the book are excellent as are all the Rock Nook books; full color throughout, good binding lots of screen shots of good size (Something a lot of Photoshop books don't get right). There does not seem to be any way to get copies of any of the images in the book, so no chance of following along. (Several other of the Rocky Nook books do provide links for test images.)The advanced techniques provide a lot of good tips for experienced Photoshop uses and photographers. The 14x7 deghosting strategy mentioned above is excellent. I hope he does another version at a much higher level.",2.0,Weak ...,1222128000,"09 23, 2008",20,21,helpful,0.9523809523809523,1 A3MQAQT8C6D1I7,1935941011,AverageReviewer,"[0, 0]","This is a textbook that explains the NEC, the NEC governing body, how the body works, the changes to NEC 2011, how to navigate the NEC code to find what you need. It puts the code into the context of the electrician's profession from apprentice through journeyman etc. It is certainly electrical union centric and used as a text for their courses. So if you want to be certified and envision yourself progressing up the electrician levels then I recommend you get this book and to study it.So overall, if you want to truly understand the breadth of the NEC and if you do the really hard heavy lifting of wiring buildings and need to dig into the CODE to make sure that you do things right, this is a great text and I'd recommend you also take the courses that these people offer. It's a fine work written in plain language by people who are clearly passionate and competent about the work they do and service that they provide to those of us that rely on buildings and structures having safe electricity. I will say this, after reading this book - the next time I walk into a highrise and turn on the lights on a conference room - I won't take it for granted. A lot of hard work and engineering goes into making these seemingly simple things happen.If you're a DIY homeowner doing small work in your single family residences in Georgia, this book might be overkill and I'd recommend a more pragmatic reference likeDEWALT Electrical Code Reference: Based on the 2011 National Electrical Code (Dewalt Professional Reference)and I'd also recommend that you get a basic electricity bookComplete Wiring (Stanley Complete)AND KNOW YOUR LIMITS (be safe) -- it's your life if you do something wrong and you could endanger the life of your family and a bunch of firefighters if you miswire something. If you live in a condo or highrise, I recommend that you be extra careful and consider that it's not you and yours, your family's and firefighter safety but you could also be endangering your neighbors if you miswire something. I wouldn't do wiring work in a highrise as a DIYer (that's just me). Also know your laws, in some places like NYC, it's illegal for anybody except a licensed electrician to do certain types of work so know your local laws before doing a DIY project.",5.0,Not for the DIYer -- this is a textbook,1317340800,"09 30, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A353WH7847912O,1481917463,Susanjlessard,"[0, 0]",From the title of this book I expected a silly entertaining story. What I got was an unexpected and engrossing tale that kept my attention til the end. I look forward to the next book in this series.,3.0,Not what I expected.,1365120000,"04 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Y0BBSKJWZ574,B009N9EMBM,Pam henry,"[0, 0]",I gave this rating because I enjoyed the short read. Highly recommend this book to all Amish book readers. This book held my interest throughout the whole book.,4.0,Heavenly temptation by Becca Fisher,1373673600,"07 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2S9JNZ43F2IRR,0062273280,Sarah Griffin - Books to Breathe,"[0, 0]","Before I started on the newest installment to Cora Carmack's bestselling series, I did a re-read of all the ones that came before. Going into Finding It, I was certain that Cade and Max were my favorites and there was no other couple Cora could create that I would love more. Within just a few chapters I realized how nave I was. With each book, her characters increase with intensity and depth, and this couple takes the cake!~ So maybe, my new ""friends"" only wanted me for money and sex. It was better than not being wanted at all. ~The unique thing about this series is that for a lot of the timeframe, they take place simultaneously. So while in each book all the characters appear, they are only front and center in their own book. I love being able to get each one's perspectives. I will admit that going into this, I didn't expect much out of Kelsey. She seemed like a spoiled rich girl who wasn't serious about anything in life except having a good time. I am here to tell you that appearances can be deceiving and sometimes the people who appear to have it all together are really the ones falling apart. Some of us just wear our masks better than others.~ You don't realize how small you really are until you're faced with something like that. We live our lives as if we're at the center of our own universe, but we're just tiny pieces of a shattered whole. ~After graduating from college, having no real direction in her life yet not ready to return home to begin life as a country club wife, Kelsey decides to take a year to explore Europe. Detesting being alone, she shuns nice hotels, choosing to stay in youth hostels instead. She meets new people daily and parties the night away, not caring about the consequences. After a few weeks, she starts to notice a handsome stranger, Hunt. Unknowingly coming from similar backgrounds, they push each other's buttons relentlessly.~ ""The best parts of life are the things we can't plan. And it's a lot harder to find happiness if you're only searching in one place. Sometimes you just have to throw away the map. Admit that you don't know where you're going and stop pressuring yourself to figure it out. Besides...a map is a life someone else already lived. It's more fun to make your own."" ~Coming to the realization that this trip is not at all what she imagined, Kelsey decides to give up and go home. Enter Hunt. He challenges her to give him seven days to help her find an adventure. If she will do that for him, he will kiss her. You may think this is a weird arrangement for a girl who has seemingly slept her across Europe, but she wants Hunt so badly, and he won't give her what she desires.~ That was where it started. Those soft touches. Each one pulled us a little closer. Each one gradually smudged that imaginary line between us. And soon, the pull between us wouldn't just erase that line. It would obliterate it. ~Immediately it because glaringly apparent that there was a magnetism between these two that rivaled all other couples. Despite how hard they each tried, how much they pushed each other away, they were drawn together like moths to a flame. Kindred spirits, they each had a heartbreaking story that unfolded throughout this journey. The only thing that would have made this story perfect for me is if it was told in dual POV. I LOVED that about Faking It, and was really hoping for the same with this book. That being said, as our couple fell in love, I fell right along with them. They have a novella coming soon, and I cannot wait to see what happens with them next. Top notch, heartbreaking, soul searching 5 star read for me!~ When you love someone, really love someone, it's a lasting mark on your soul. There's a lock on your heart that you'll carry with you always. You may lose the key or give it away, but the lock stays with you all the same. ~",5.0,Finding Yourself,1382400000,"10 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NF3AFTXK8O0F,1449974430,Charlotte Denise Miller,"[0, 1]",Truley enjoyed from the first sentence to the last! The feisty Mitzy and her coworkers and neighbors keep the action and hilarity hopping! Can hardly wait to see what happens next in book two.thanks Traci for writing such a clean and fun book.Keep them coming.,5.0,Foreclosed,1394409600,"03 10, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,0306815281,Midwest Book Review,"[0, 0]","JETPACK DREAMS: ONE MAN'S UP AND DOWN (BUT MOSTLY DOWN) SEARCH FOR THE GREATEST INVENTION THAT NEVER WAS searches for a new millennium of dreams that never quite came to life. His survey of personal transportation and science fiction alike offers a lively search for a rocket-powered reality in a fun survey perfect for general lending libraries, science fiction and transportation collections alike.",5.0,"A fun survey perfect for general lending libraries, science fiction and transportation collections alike",1271548800,"04 18, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A28EE0Z4C5AU69,0439023513,dga architect,"[0, 0]","Mockingjay is the last installment of the Hunger Games trilogy, and carries an amazing story to a logical, heart rending conclusion. I am a senior citizen male, professional, and read the three books twice within three weeks because the story really resonated with my understanding of life. Being thrust into a situation without intention, yet responding with character and determination. Trying to maintain personal values and universal empathy while maintaining a fragile sense of survival and self. Rising to great heights of respect and adulation with no intention of self glorification.Mockingjay is a study of responding to extraordinary circumstances while trying terribly to remain focused on who you are and what you value. I enjoyed it immensely. If you liked the first or second book, you will love this story, and hate to see it end.",5.0,Mockingjay is not just for kids,1348531200,"09 25, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TU0BACRIF5VK,0812981901,tckc,"[0, 0]",The book was ok.,4.0,Four Stars,1404864000,"07 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2OG83SEU9HL6D,0061734047,"Shannon B Davis ""Nepenthe""","[8, 8]","I LOVED this book. I cannot WAIT for the next one. It's just the kind of book I love to read and I'm so excited I stumbled on it. The other reviews I read when picking it out didn't clue me in to how much I would love it. In other words, this may be a subjective review.So, Heir of Night may remind you of some other epic fantasies, but it is its own world. Like Tad Williams Shadowmarch or George R. R. Martin's ""A Song of Ice and Fire"", this world is split between North and South, with evils beyond imagining dwelling in the cold north, and with all but those on the frontlines mainly unconcerned and unaware of the threats the world faces. The Derai guard against the Darkswarm in forts that line the aptly named Wall of Night. Our heroine, Malian, is the heir of the House of Night, traditionally at the forefront of the battle. However, it seems it has been years since the Darkswarm have attacked and house politics and intrigue have taken it place, putting the Derai at odds with eachother. They also isolate their priest class based on historical events long past, not unlike Stephenson's ""Anathem"".Malian is an adventurous young woman, exploring the forbidden and decrepit Old Keep, reading the stories of heroes past, tomboyish until her father arrives and his homecoming ceremony forces her to don courtly apparel. We learn much about the culture and history of the Derai, but without feeling lost in exposition, as it's wrapped well into the story. For example, explanations are given when events demand them, when Malian demands an explanation from her father for his actions, for example.The battle scenes are well-written and exciting, not overlong, and much of the book takes place in an alternate reality, a type of dream world, which is also very well-described and easy to conceive of. I have to reflect on other fantasy novels, where the alternate realities or battle scenes are hard to follow. Doing well at this is a sign of a good fantasy novelist.This book follows a good formula - keep the first book in a trilogy small. We spend most of the book within the fortress where Malian lives, the Old and New Keep. She is eventually forced to leave her home, and go into the wider world, but we do not go too far. Much of those events are left for the next book. This book develops the characters and gives the reasons for what they do, and builds interest in the reader in upcoming events. I was certainly hanging on the last page and chagrined that I will have an even longer wait for the next book, given that I was able to read this as a pre-release through the Vine program.This is quite a great first fantasy novel. It's rare for a first-time novelist to have such an expert hand.",5.0,"a wonderful first novel, expertly composed - can't wait for the next one",1287273600,"10 17, 2010",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A3O8133WP34HP2,0425266516,"EB ""ennbocci""","[0, 0]","The perfect ending to one of the most romantic, well-written series I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Looking forward to a re-read",5.0,Amazing ending to the series,1386288000,"12 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27H2DAJBK8RJT,B00GJ93ZP8,JoAnneM,"[0, 0]",You won't be disappointed with this one. Multiple layers of plot lead to a terrific conclusion with enough tactical detail to hold things together.,4.0,great quick read.,1403136000,"06 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PATLW8T3PQV7,0451419707,"Paula L. Phillips ""The Phantom Paragrapher""","[0, 0]","Wow, this is one of those books where I am wondering ""what took me so long"" to read it as it was awesome and I loved it. I loved it so much, that I now can't wait to get stuck into the other books in this series by Samantha Young. On Dublin Street starts with us meeting Jocelyn aka Joss who at fourteen she lost her parents and sister in a car crash , we then fast forward to eight years later and she is living in Scotland. Wanting to start fresh and leave the past behind she finds herself getting a new apartment ""On Dublin Street"" hence the title. Rewind back a bit , Joss's friends Rhian and James are moving so she is out looking for apartments and goes to hail a taxi in which a handsome guy in a suit also wants. The pair ride to the flat and she hops out , not expecting to see him ever again. The flat turns out to be the perfect flat along with the nicest roommate Ellie Carmichael who we see later is revealed to be the guy in the suit's little sister. The guy in the suit is Braden Carmichael and he wants nothing but Jocelyn to be his , he has never felt this way before and is eager to get to know her in more ways than one but of course in order to do that Joss must break down those walls that she has had guarding her heart since her family died and later her best friend Dru in which she blames herself for. Is Braden the one she needs to help her move forward with her life ? Is he her soulmate , the one person who can put up with all her stuff like Rhian with James and has Joss finally found herself the one thing she has been craving and missing out on since she was fourteen - a family filled with love and compassion towards her ?After reading On Dublin Street, I couldn't help but be happy as this is one of the best books I have read in this genre and it has me sitting on cloud nine just thinking about how awesome it is and now I cannot wait to read the others in the series.Samantha Young, you have found yourself another fan :)#This was a Library Book.",5.0,WOW : One of the Best New Adult Novels Around,1377993600,"09 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32ZKBXJJ45BRY,0316955108,James Gallen,"[6, 6]","Good literature can transport the reader into the world of the book. Great literature enters the world of the reader. ""The Caine Mutiny"" is great literature. Many have seen the movie so I can say a little about the story. Set on an obsolete destroyer-minesweeper during World War II, ""The Caine Mutiny"", seen through the eyes of a young officer, Willie Keith, tells the story of an inadequate captain whose mismanagement leads to his relief from command when a crisis confronts the ship. With romance and a domineering mother, the book intertwines several stories which hold the reader's interest.Perhaps a Navy veteran would see much about the service in ""The Caine Mutiny"", I do not know. Although it is set on a naval vessel in wartime, it is much more than a war story, although that it is. I saw much about life in it. It contains instances and characters which I encounter in a life about as far from the Caine as one can imagine. This ability of this book to enter into the world of the reader, even as the reader enters the world of the book, earns ""The Caine Mutiny"" a place in the canon of great literature.I enjoy reading, but I cannot remember a book which I was so loath to set down. This book is a real page turner. Years ago my father told me to watch the movie, which I did. I finally took his advise the next step and read the book. Since I cannot return the favor, I will pass it on. READ ""THE CAINE MUTINY""!",5.0,More Than A War Story,1087776000,"06 21, 2004",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A345FW83VGJTPX,0452283892,Linda Espe,"[0, 0]","I read this over the period of one day because I could not put it down. The story is rich with easily visualized characters, real dialogue, believable and therefore not offensive language, & an ending which ties each character up.",5.0,Really great read!,1392422400,"02 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A192UEIQ5OM6E9,0615269680,Monique,"[0, 0]",This story was so overwhelming at times. It was sad to see everything that the character went through struggling from this addiction. I'm glad she turned to God to get her through it.,4.0,Wow!,1401926400,"06 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1BDPRQ7BEUNLP,1581347391,"Erik Olson ""Seeker Reviews""","[14, 15]","C. S. Lewis is one of the most well known Christians in modern history. I've read a couple of books about his relationship with Joy Davidman, so I figured it was time to check out a biography that spotlighted Mr. Lewis' entire life. ""Jack"" (Lewis' nickname) had the most accolades, so after warming up with the lighter fare of ""Jack's Life"" by his stepson, I dove into this book.George Sayer is a former student of Mr. Lewis', and he delivers a fascinating portrait of his mentor from birth to death. He also provides context by detailing the national background, family life, and period of history that shaped Jack. In addition, Mr. Sayer discusses a number of Jack's books, the creative process he used, and how the public initially received them (including book reviewers). Despite his distinguished academic credentials, the author writes in a manner accessible to the layman reader. I never felt bogged down, or condescended to, by his writing style.Some have accused the author of sugarcoating C. S. Lewis' life. Yes, Mr. Sayer wrote as a friend, and therefore wasn't out to write a sordid expose. But neither does he claim that Jack peed rosewater. For example, I had no idea that Mr. Lewis struggled with sadomasochistic fantasies and masturbation as a young man. He also smoked and drank quite heavily, habits that many churches don't hold in high esteem. In addition, the author doesn't shy away from discussing some of the charges against Mr. Lewis' character, such as the possibility of a homosexual relationship with his lifelong friend Arthur, and whether or not he and Mrs. Moore were lovers. I'm not sure what kind of dirt would erase the charge of whitewashing, but I felt that Mr. Sayer made Jack appear pretty down-to-earth. That is, except for Jack's statement that sexual fantasy can be ""fairly easily overcome with prayer and fasting (p. 415)."" The ""fairly easily"" part is a bit much for me to swallow (or perhaps a bit too convicting for comfort).Along those lines, I was intrigued, and a bit confused, by one aspect of Mr. Lewis' character: his distain for introspection and fantasizing. Jack considered heroic and romantic fantasy to be counterproductive, because in his eyes their self-centered focus prevented one from obtaining renown and love in real life. He even wrote a poem, ""Dymer,"" that illustrated the dangers of forsaking reality for a dream world. As for introspection, he felt it was a danger to one's mental health. However, many of his works prompt readers toward both pitfalls. I couldn't help being somewhat introspective after reading ""The Great Divorce"" and ""The Screwtape Letters."" And who hasn't fantasized about charging into battle at Aslan's side while immersed in the Chronicles of Narnia? Of all Lewis' views, this is the one I'd like to investigate further because of my own disposition towards navel-gazing and daydreaming. Jack's views on the consequences of these actions are especially relevant in an age where pornography is a mouse click away, and one can live life vicariously through reality shows and online computer games.An unexpected result of reading this book was that I gained a greater interest in the life of Jack's older brother Warren. Both ""Jack's Life"" and ""Jack"" paint Warren as a tragic figure who did not live up to his potential. Yes, he was a raging alcoholic whose ambition did not equal Jack's. But considering that Warren served as an army officer in both World Wars, had a number of books published, and helped organize his brother's chaotic schedule, I can't help feeling that both authors were a bit hard on him. Perhaps he could've done better, but he also might've turned out a lot worse. I've always had a soft spot for the underdog.At any rate, I came away from ""Jack"" with more respect for C. S. Lewis as a person and a Christian. He's more accessible to me now, and I have a better appreciation for his ideas. And the insights into his character have challenged me to examine and evaluate my own shortcomings. I recommend that you read this book in conjunction with ""C.S. Lewis & Francis Schaeffer: Lessons for a New Century from the Most Influential Apologists of Our Time,"" by Scott R. Burson and Jerry L. Walls. It provides a portrait of Lewis' doctrinal positions that might surprise you (as it did me).",5.0,The Tao of Lewis.,1154736000,"08 5, 2006",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 A2CMRWWN3LJT2O,1578602602,Donna K. Mcclish,"[0, 1]","Even though this book has its sad ending, Ms. Nichols writes a wonderful story of parents sacrificing - emotionally and financially - for their children, friendly competitiion without acrimony, and the fruition of the efforts of hard work.Throughout the work when appropriate, Ms. Nichols takes care to provide the reader with a brief history of the sport of figure skating from the first pair of ice skates ever made to the current state of the sport and its stars.The tragic and poignant loss of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating Team resulted in an outpouring of unsolicited financial support for the United States Figure Skating Association. As a result the U.S. Figure Skating Memorial Fund was established. The Fund, not only commemorates the lives of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating Team, but, more importantly, is a living endowment to benefit future figure skaters with equipment, training fees, and academic assistance.",5.0,The Highest Endeavor of the Human Spirit,1161216000,"10 19, 2006",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2BWYO9D1I6QSO,1627985093,"Ravenous Reader ""So many books so little time""","[4, 4]","I think I can safely say that I've read every book Amy Lane has written and I continue to stand in awe of her talent and ability to write at the rate she seems to be writing (a book a month, that's all we ask ;)). And I'm grateful, because reading an Amy Lane book is a guaranteed good time, even if it's not always an easy read. Try Chase in Shadow and you'll know what I mean.What I like the most about Amy's writing is that she makes her characters walking, talking and breathing people--we can get to know them, warts and all and watch her create a family of disparate parts, each equally in need of family. Because that's what I think Amy Lane's books are all about. Romance definitely, with two main characters, but she always creates a strong supporting cast who all become very important to each other and the MCs. I think this book is especially about finding love and family when you're resigned to never having your own love you as you are.And as well as finding family, Amy Lane's books are about acceptance. Her talents are such that you think you're reading about these interesting people find love in fraught or not so fraught situations, but what you're also reading about equality and tolerance. A lot of M/M books are about this, sure, but Amy is a master at showing that love is love is right and good without a lecture or an essay.Amy's stories are also about wish fulfillment and she knows better than anyone that 'a dream is a wish your heart makes.' The MCs may start out with no idea that they were each other's soulmate, but by the time the book is done, those hearts and souls are signed, sealed and delivered and we, as readers, get to watch them live their story, written with skill and deep understanding of the human heart. The sex scenes are pretty good, too, but that's not why I read Amy Lane. If she tossed her MCs into bed for rousing and completely satisfying sex in the first (or any) chapter I wouldn't be reading her books.The plot doesn't matter so much to me, but I do learn about something new with every book, whether it be environmental biology, basketball, horse ranching or stagecraft. In fact, in Behind the Curtain, some characters from a former book show up in conversation and we get to see them from the perspective of the current characters. That was interestingly topical. I always know I'm in good hands with an Amy Lane book.Maybe I'm too much of a fan to review Amy Lane's books. Suffice to say, this was a good one, of a satisfying length with sufficient bumps in the road for the MCs, a great best friend, a rescued stray, a wonderful dad, mean parents and an evil villain. With a big sigh at the end for the HEA.",5.0,Another wonderful performance! (maybe a slight spoiler?),1389571200,"01 13, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2TDE0GPWZHODP,0979131545,Books and Chocolate,"[5, 5]","Tessa Dawson enters a Christian college known for being solidly Biblical in its teaching but soon discovers this isn't the same college her grandfather attended. Requred to take a class in ""spiritual formation"", she is introduced to the writings of Teresa of Avila, a 16th century nun who practiced ""Christian mysticism"". As Tessa is drawn deeper into the spiritual practices taught by her spiritual formation professor, she finds herself in a real spiritual battle between Biblical truth and new-age spirituality that threatens to draw her into a demonic world she didn't expect. She reaches out for help from her grandfather and a young man who recognizes the teaching for what it is.Castles in the Sand is ""fiction with a message"" that tells a composite story of how contemplative spirituality is impacting Christian colleges and universities, churches, and seminaries worldwide. While the book features fictional characters, it is based on the real life and teachings of Teresa of Avila which are embraced today in the Christian contemplative spirituality movement.The topic itself was of interest to me but this is also a well-written story with all the components of a good suspense novel that I read in one evening because I couldn't put it down. I felt it gave a realistic account of the dangers people may unwittingly open themselves to when they delve into the spiritual practices and teachings of lectio divinia, contemplative prayer, visualization, centering, sacred space, desert fathers, kundalini, labyrinths, spiritual formation, and ""the silence.""I think anyone who enjoys Christian suspense fiction will like this book, as will anyone who has questions about what is at the foundation of contemplative spirituality. I also think it is a good book for parents and students to read just to be aware of the ways contemplative spirituality may be represented on college campuses.I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher but the opinion of it is my own and was not solicited, nor was a positive review required.",5.0,Suspense Fiction With a Message,1302912000,"04 16, 2011",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 ALJNTA7B75M3K,0800719271,Faye,"[5, 5]","A delightful Christmas story for all ages.Lucy Turnbull's most fervent wish is a pony for Christmas, but times are tough and her mother tells her not to set her hopes too high. With the Christmas weather come two strange guests to their boarding house, a aspiring actress, Veronica Grant, and a kind man with a good hearted named George.Will Lucy's Christmas be merrier than she ever expected?Surprisingly this is the first book I have ever read by Melody Carlson, hard to believe isn't it? But what caught my eye about this book was the how it is set in the Depression Era, and it's about a girl who wants a horse, some of my favorite things to read about!I absolutely loved Lucy, she was bright and impressionable, yet she was smart and caught on easily, Ms. Carlson did an excellent job of representing an eight-year-old, which I find is a tricky thing to pull off. I absolutely loved the character of George he was a very sweet man, who dealt with things the best he could in a way that was pleasing to God.Overall, a delightful story that will charm readers of all ages, from children to adult, this is truly a story for all. I loved the engaging pace, and how Lucy grew during the course of the story. A Christmas story I would definitely recommend!I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!",5.0,Excellent tale for all ages!,1353110400,"11 17, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1C5EPU3P4QYFP,B00A8G2CIY,Kathleen A. B. Cote,"[0, 4]","If you like books, with graphic disgusting scenes, I guess this book is for you. Sadly for me I read to the end. The book didn't even make sense. The horrors in it, stuck in my mind for days.........I wish I had never read it........",1.0,Terrible book.,1368144000,"05 10, 2013",0,4,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2F6N60Z96CAJI,0743256182,Bookreporter,"[5, 6]","Will Thomas (as he tells us in an Author's Note to his engrossing debut novel, SOME DANGER INVOLVED) is a book reviewer for various organizations and a speaker on Victorian crime fiction. It should be noted that he is apparently too modest to present himself as an expert on such matters, though such a conclusion is inescapable after reading this fine work, the first of what will hopefully be a long-running series. While Victorian London has primarily been the province of cozies lately, SOME DANGER INVOLVED explores the grittier and seamier side of that place and time, with riveting results.SOME DANGER INVOLVED introduces "enquiry agent" (which is now known as a "private investigator") Cyrus Barker to the world of detective literature. The story, however, is told through the eyes of Thomas Llewelyn. As the novel begins, Llewelyn is responding to a cryptic classified advertisement in The London Times seeking an assistant enquiry agent who turns out to be the idiosyncratic, brilliant Barker. Llewelyn is hired (his job interview is worth the price of admission all by itself) and he is almost immediately swept into a world of which he had no prior knowledge.His first case with Barker begins but a few days after his hiring, when a rabbinical student bearing a strong resemblance to classical interpretations of Jesus Christ is found murdered by crucifixion in London's Jewish ghetto. Anti-Jewish sentiment is running hot in London at the time, and Barker and Llewelyn do not suffer from a lack of suspects. Barker's investigation is not limited to London's main thoroughfares; the back alleys of the city are explored, and the duo investigates both the well-heeled and the downtrodden in their natural habitats. Barker and Llewelyn encounter the early Italian Mafia, a eugenics professor who teeters on the brink of madness, and a host of other fascinating and unforgettable characters --- some of whom are also employed in various capacities by Barker. When a second murder appears, with a Jewess as the victim, the tragedy ironically and ultimately provides the break in the case that leads to the revelation of the identity --- and the motive --- of the murderer.SOME DANGER INVOLVED is more than a historical mystery, however. We also come to know through this fine first novel the fascinating backgrounds of Barker and Llewelyn. Llewelyn's background is a study in contrasts, given his attendance at Oxford College and unfortunate residency in Oxford Prison, where Barker's hardscrabble childhood and scarred appearance is at odds with his wealthy trappings.While comparisons to Holmes and Watson are inevitable, given the setting, the subject matter and the principals, SOME DANGER INVOLVED is far more than a pastiche or tribute to Conan Doyle's work. Thomas dips deeply into Victorian London, and also provides his readers with interesting and insightful knowledge and observations regarding Jewish culture. More tales of Barker and Llewelyn are apparently planned; more would be most welcomed. Recommended, regardless of whether or not you're a fan of Holmes and Watson.--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub",4.0,An Engrossing Debut Novel,1088208000,"06 26, 2004",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A53VSW4J6CZ36,1439107955,"Calochortus ""aroid""","[15, 40]","I had a suspicion this was not my kind of book, but had to check it out first-hand. It's a fine book, but not what I wanted, which is more of a scientific, text-book treatment of cancer, from a strictly biological viewpoint, without all the quotes and background history. This is in the Lewis Thomas tradition, whom I find unreadable.",2.0,Brain fade,1295740800,"01 23, 2011",15,40,helpful,0.375,1 A34FASE1DB4C3,0787975788,"Gerry Stern ""Stern's Management Review Online""","[20, 21]","A very comprehensive resource for guiding group facilitation. Each chapter begins with a list of questions that will be answered. The book is organized around 60 secrets, which are presented in the back of the book as a quick guide. These secrets are clustered by chapter under major headings. The major secrets (and chapters) are The Secrets Of (To): questioning; preparing; starting; focusing; recording; information gathering; closing; managing dysfunction; consensus building; energy; and agenda setting. The closing chapter covers applying the secrets to special situations: very small or very large groups, designing a conference, conference calls, and facilitating remote participants. This book has an abundance of solid content, and its organization is excellent.",5.0,PLENTY OF SOLID CONTENT AND TERRIFIC ORGANIZATION.,1109462400,"02 27, 2005",20,21,helpful,0.9523809523809523,1 A26ABK1NNX0POD,0877900361,Biotexts2,"[13, 14]","I started fasting in the 1970s after reading the much earlier books of Herbert Shelton. I found it exhilarating and useful to know that I did not have to always eat 3 square a day. With the current craze to make eating a sport or TV entertainment, there needs to be more thought given to food as sustenance and to simplify eating. It is so much easier and more healthful to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, cereals, beans, and to drink purified water, make juices and smoothies. Paul Bragg (who died in 1976 at only 81) has some good ideas, even if he didn't properly attribute the start of the fasting movement to Shelton. However, the bulk of this book was written in the 1940s-1960s. The 'Bragg Movement' is being kept alive by his descendents and followers, including Bragg's daughter-in-law, who recycle his earlier work as a memorial or as continued income, but it doesn't seem to have been adequately updated or put in a modern nutritional and medical framework. Part of this memorializing and perpetuating of his decades-old teachings has resulted in Brgg's followers trying to change his birthdate to make him as old as 96. Public records indicate he was born on Feb. 6, 1895 and died Dec 7, 1976. Book is interesting, if repetitive, to read and if it gets anyone to cut out meat and other harmful foods, purify your water, and not be a slave to daily meals, so much the better. But be sure to check with your doctor or more recent guides before going to any extremes with diet or fasting. These practices didn't keep Bragg alive to his 120 year goal and you should be skeptical of many of his claims and testimonials.",3.0,Outdated information,1285718400,"09 29, 2010",13,14,helpful,0.9285714285714286,1 A7W5FF8RWWOMD,0743267842,Stephen Northcutt,"[25, 29]","I read this in one shot on a 6.5 hour flight to Kauai against monster headwinds. Since then I have picked it up and read sections and tried to make changes in my company based on what I learned. Thanks to Lindstrom's book, I can certainly tell you I am on a brand journey.I am sure every reviewer will mention Singapore Airlines. We were holding a conference and I wanted to create that distinct SANS Institute smell. So I bought five aromatic dispensers and test scents with names like ""Ocean Feeling"". I had people stationed to observe the customers and make note of anything they said about smell. Zero results. Why? The biggest reason is probably the volume of air in a modern conference center is several orders of magnitude greater than a jet.We are working on the tips the author gives for music, here I am convinced he is right, I cannot listen to Rhapsody in Blue without thinking about United Airlines.Without this book, I would have thought brand was a logo and picking some colors and maybe a jingle. My eyes are opened, and at this point I know it will be a long journey, but I am sure I will refer to the book again and again. Highly recommended for any business owner or organizational executive.",4.0,Certainly makes you think! Can be hard to implement!,1115424000,"05 7, 2005",25,29,helpful,0.8620689655172413,1 A34UU7TZUNBJ3U,143915046X,"R. Karlow ""R Karlow""","[0, 0]",Practically applicable tools that I still utilize. I highly recommend. in layman's terms and simple practical steps that help me.,5.0,arrived in good time and in good shape as described. Keep up the good work!,1401148800,"05 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGQK3MKEUH5FV,0575088885,Brendan Ross,"[0, 1]","This is a challenging read, particularly for people who prefer more exposition in ""harder"" science fiction.The novel's style is more like a mystery, in that information is deliberately withheld, and exposition is kept to only the absolutely barest minimum. When this is combined with the use of coined terms, it can lead to frustration for the reader, because the sparseness of the exposition means that these terms often remain unexplained, apart from the inferences that the reader can gain over the course of decades of pages, for long periods of time. If this will irritate you, as a reader, you have been warned.The novel presents a chilling future solar system that features nanotechnology, post-humanism, mental uploads and various other techno-psychedelics. It's sometimes to the point where it feels more fantasia than science fiction, but the quantum technology is ever-present, and helps to provide the novel with a consistent feel. Character development could have been more fulsome, as some transitions later in the text appear relatively abrupt and thereby less relatively believable.This is an excellent debut novel. One wonders whether the author would do well to consider whether the sparseness of his prose suits the better part of his potential audience.",4.0,Hybrid between crime/detective novels and speculative fiction,1360800000,"02 14, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2RM51XIDJDW7M,0451223101,"Tiffany Y. Brutus ""Book Lover""","[0, 0]",What a great book. I truly enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. That Jessie Belle was something else. She was the true definition of Jezebel.,5.0,Jessie Belle bka Jezebel,1217462400,"07 31, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Y2ETVWCRUQVA,0471763462,Pen Name,"[0, 0]","This is really helpful as a new therapist, great ideas and outlines goals and objectives very clearly. I use it almost everyday.",5.0,Helpful,1378944000,"09 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AHUT55E980RDR,0761453032,Neal C. Reynolds,"[0, 0]","There's a trick to being able to go over the line, especially in a kid's book, and being loved for doing so. Manolito Four Eyes succeeds in doing this. The most conservative reader will be doubled up laughing.Honestly, the humor here is so outrageous, parents will be laughing over it. Manolito is somehow loveable although no parent in his or her right mind would want him as a son. The humor is basically in the boy's attitude and way of looking at life. It does need to be read to be truly appreciated.There's no unifying story here. Rather, it's a series of episodes strung out over the book's length. Do give it a good look before giving it to your kid because there might be a question of parental approval.",5.0,"Wild, zany, and irreverent",1383609600,"11 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A235FUKFAQKT76,034539657X,Kimberly Morris,"[0, 0]",I have loved Dean Koontz for years & his older books are much better than his newer offerings & if you are a fan you will enjoy this,3.0,Not too bad,1397692800,"04 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A29QAMWT70RPCT,188533964X,Brad Shirley,"[0, 0]","Bob Burton walks a thin line usually managing to stay on this side of the law, but sometimes a man makes hard decisions when it comes to saving innocent lives and staying out of jail.",5.0,A real page turner,1361577600,"02 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3FPBNRK04ZSCC,B0066UUR6A,Sapphyria,"[4, 4]","I really enjoyed this book. There were many different storylines that played out through the book and the author did a good job keeping everything straight.Lisa is a Sales Director for the Jamaican division of an international company based in New York. After a year of less than desirable sales volume, the New York big wigs send in Rod, an executive, to evaluate Lisa's branch of the company. When Rod says ""layoffs,"" Lisa goes into defense mode. These employees are her responsibility and she makes a deal with Rod to turn sales around in a specific period of time and he agrees.In the meantime, Rod and Lisa become close and they each war within themselves on the relationship that is forming.Intertwined with the main story of Sales and Romance is the fact that Lisa also has commitments with the AIDS hospice where she is a committee member and Rod tries to find his father; the father that didn't know had a son. The AIDS hospice actually is threaded throughout the book and is a nice situation that ties some of the book together.When New York decides that Lisa's strategies aren't sustainable and that layoffs must by done, Rod forces Lisa to go to New York and plead her case, in person. While there she receives news from the CEO of the company that Rod has been made President of international operations and would be soon heading to Russia. The pages that follow had me in tears. I felt Lisa's despair, confusion, and disappointment. Are Rod and Lisa meant to be together? You'll have to read the book cuz I'll never tell.This book contains ""adult scenes.""",4.0,Hot Romance in Jamaica,1324684800,"12 24, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A23GFTVIETX7DS,0312169787,Debbie Lee Wesselmann,"[7, 10]","THE RED TENT is a wonderfully rich and imaginative novel, set firmly in the ancient culture of Canaan where Jacob, the son of Isaac, took up residence with his four wives during his exile. Narrated by Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, this story is not a re-telling of the tales so familiar to Jews and Christians, but rather it explores what is not told: the story of the women. As the only daughter raised by Jacob's wives, Dinah is the heir to her mothers' stories and knowledge. The sequestering of women, both in daily chores and during their menses, gives rise to a sisterhood and a subculture unknown to the men, and the intimacy shared in the red tent is what shapes and sustains Dinah, even after a tragic event rips her from it. Both wistful and celebratory in tone, this novel has real literary magic.Diamant uses a dreamy, spiritual language that draws the reader into the heart of the story. Jacob's wives are clearly drawn, as individuals and as sisters, rivals and friends. The male characters, while distinct, are not as fully realized, mostly because they reside outside the realm of women. Although I cannot attest to the accuracy of ancient cultural detail, Diamant has convinced me that she has researched her subject matter well, supplying details that root her story in its time.Readers should not expect to find confirmation of Judaic-Christian beliefs: the religion here is one of multiple gods and goddesses, the beliefs of the women Jacob married but not his own. Some might even find it sacrilegious in its re-interpretation and expansion of Biblical events, which form only the framework around which this novel is built. Unless you are easily offended by such approaches, don't turn away from the book because of this. Diamant has painted an entire world that should not be missed.Like the red tent, this book might drive away men, but women will find its riches rewarding. I highly recommend it for serious and casual readers alike.",5.0,Literary magic!,994118400,"07 3, 2001",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 A3AFPIBFHT057U,0307943232,Mark,"[0, 1]",A decent book but was easily able to figure out the ending a quarter of the way thru the book....,3.0,"Not Grisham's best, but is easy to read..",1396656000,"04 5, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 ABVJ1D1H44CAZ,1419711326,Xhj,"[0, 0]",It wasn't that good as I expected it to be chi do chi do chi do chi do goo goo goo chi cu chi fire department and the butter throne of fire department and the butter thrown great deal to update the butter golom mod for the best tree and the butter throne of youtube video game industry and the other,4.0,Do do,1385942400,"12 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3CN9CCJUNIPKT,1401213677,DJ Joe Sixpack,"[5, 21]","My little girl wanted to play Batgirl, and so I went online to look for some reading material to go along with the game. Like most superhero books, the modern Batgirl books are too dark and too adult for small children, but I thought the original 1960s adventures might be fun. I found this volume online, but was disappointed to find that it was cheaply reproduced in black-and-white, and that a full-color version (either a softcover graphic novel or a full-on DC Archives edition) was not available. Oh, well.If you only care about the written scripts, I suppose these ""Showcase"" books provide some bang for your buck, but if you really want to experience reading a *comic book*, with bright colors, kinetic action and all the sensual, visual fun that comes with it, then these are a big disappointment. Guess I'll wait until DC gives Batgirl her proper due -- I only hope my kid is still into her by then. :-(",3.0,Almost what I wanted... Sigh.,1220227200,"09 1, 2008",5,21,helpful,0.23809523809523808,1 A2KXM3Y84U6WMJ,1616381477,Brandee R. Shafer,"[5, 5]","I'll admit to wondering if it would become tiresome to read so much about one Psalm, but Ruth's dissection of Psalm 91 isn't at all tedious; in fact, I found it insightful and even inspired! The second half of the book includes real-life stories of men and women who've relied upon the promises written in Psalm 91: promises to which Ruth refers as ""God's Covenant of Protection,"" or ""God's Shield of Protection."" (If you love the ""His Mysterious Ways"" stories in Guideposts, you'll love the second half of Psalm 91!)Ruth reminds us: Jesus said in Luke 24:44 that all things concerning Him in the Psalms must be fulfilled (109). I'll admit: I haven't always taken the Psalms seriously enough. Ruth points out so many valuable truths from Psalm 91, in particular. For example, she focuses in on the words ""I will say"" at the beginning of Verse 2 and the importance of speaking God's Word aloud (11). In writing about chickens in her yard, she provides a powerful visual of the sheltering wing of the Lord (26). In Chapters 6-9, she explains carefully how Psalm 91:5-6 refer to constant protection from every imaginable threat, and I could go on and on.But I think my favorite words in Psalm 91 are these:My husband believes that too few Christians ever use their authority. Too often they pray when they should be taking authority! For the most part, Jesus prayed at night and took authority all day. It is not the time to start praying when we encounter the enemy; we need to be already prayed up by then. When we encounter the enemy, it is the time we need to speak forth the authority we have in the name of Jesus (72).This concept of taking authority in Jesus's name really excites me! How about you?I can't encourage you enough to give Psalm 91 a whirl. Ruth's heart is with our military and those in harm's way; if you're praying for someone in danger, Psalm 91 is a must-read. But I just can't think of anyone who wouldn't benefit from reading it.",5.0,A Must-Read,1330214400,"02 26, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A21NWGPBL9WG1N,B00BG1VMK4,Jo Cattell,"[4, 4]","I don't really read books about zombies, but this one caught my eye. It was a quick read, I read it in about 2 hours, but thats because I could't put it down. I can't want to see what else aothor A.R. Von has in store for this story, but I am hook and can't wait to see whats next.",5.0,"Wow, just wow",1364083200,"03 24, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2I9SOM8NW320O,1484889029,Michelle New,"[13, 13]","Sequence One brings the first three novellas of the Songs of Submission Series together: Beg, Tease & Submit. From their first meeting to the moment where they both realize that there was nothing casual about their relationship.***BEG***Monica is the struggling musician, working as a waitress as she waits to be discovered. That discovery comes, but not in the way she imagined. She captures the attention of Jonathan, who happens to own the establishment she just got fired from. One look and he knew he had to have her. Her music has been her passion and in order to allow that talent to breathe she had sworn off all men until Jonathan infiltrates her thoughts, imagining what his touch could do since just the way he looked at set her on fire.Jonathan is not in a position to lend more than just his body. His heart is still tethered to his past and although Monica can sense that he could destroy her, she can't seem to say no.***TEASE***Jonathan had suppressed his desire to control and dominate for years. That hunger within him is awakened when Monica easily submits her body to him. The way she obeys is perfection. It is something that his ex-wife didn't understand but as he begins to command Monica; her reaction is as natural as taking a breath. Their relationship for the first time leaves the bedroom where both are exposed to the past and their former lovers. Just as a new understanding is reached that past forces itself into their present and has the power to change everything.***SUBMIT***Monica is trying to push Jonathan out of her thoughts after her encounter with Jessica, but now Jonathan's returned from his trip and needs to set the record straight. A new revelation ensures that Monica will be in his life, for how long remains unknown. But for the first time in what feels like forever, he wants to explore something beyond a few encounters. But when Jonathan uses the word 'submissive' a thousand images flood Monica's mind that make her question everything.But before Monica can make up her mind her world shifts and the only person who can keep it from sliding of its axis is the same man that she thinks will destroy her.***MY THOUGHTS***I've read hundreds of romance/erotica reads in the last few years and not once has an author completely captivated me with their words the way that CDR has. Every single sentence in this series matters. There is no denying how hot the scenes are, but the beauty lies within every corner of this story. The way words are used to paint such vivid images. Monica has remained as one of my favorite heroines, she is fierce and never loses sight of who she is and what she wants. Jonathan intrigued me then won me over in my original reading of the series, but I have to say that knowing how this series plays out, seeing him during moments in this sequence moved me beyond words at times.If you have not yet discovered this series or if it has been collecting dust on your to be read list for the last year; you need to change that. Immediately. I was fresh off my high from discovering a whole new world of books after Fifty Shades of Grey when I stumbled across this series last year. And although FSOG will always be the book that opened my eyes to this world; SOS was the series that took me to new heights.",5.0,The perfect mix of a flawlessly written story and one of the steamiest reads.,1399420800,"05 7, 2014",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 ARP7RFS0DPP8P,B009V7GHR8,eBook Addict,"[0, 0]","I really liked this story, but I can understand why some readers may not. To be blunt, there is a lot of sex - and I mean S-E-X, not making love. It is graphic and it's hot - scorching hot. Refreshingly, it takes a good, wholesome boy (on the outside, anyway!) and makes him bad (oh, so deliciously bad!), which is quite the opposite of the tattooed-bad-boy-turned-good that you usually read about in this genre. He's still sensitive and caring, but he's a well-concealed alpha who comes into his own in the bedroom. Having his POV was definitely a plus.Unfortunately, for those of us who care, the story isn't particularly romantic. The author has, intentionally or otherwise, somehow skipped conveying the emotional connection the lead characters must be feeling. They're in love because you're told they are, not because you can sense it through their lovemaking. I also missed some of the physical description you like to read when the hero is this hot - Logan's chest was 'firm', his arms were 'defined'. Frankly, I wanted him cut, rippling with muscle and tension, bathed in sweat from the desire he feels for her and vocalising like the 25 year old he's meant to be. He is one very hot, very alpha male, so he should be very clearly drawn that way.The heroine, Rowan, is likeable, but not particularly well portrayed. She is a scholarship-level ballet dancer, yet seems to only attend one private dance lesson a week. At that level, dancing is a daily devotion requiring hours of stretching and practise, yet we didn't read about this, even if it was happening outside the private lesson. Rowan also didn't get much verbal interaction with anyone, not even the hero. You are told about the fun she and Logan have playing poker or cooking in the kitchen - you don't get shown it through their dialogue. This also diminishes the sexual tension that you expect them to be experiencing and undermines the plausibility of their more-than-physical attraction to each other. Rowan has a great relationship with Logan's family members (including his sister who has been her best friend since early childhood), however, again you are told about rather than shown this. Given the experience of this author, I'd really like to see her work on the 'show not tell' aspect of her writing.Having said all this, it was a great read that I couldn't put down (made for a very late night); yet, it could have been exceptional with just a bit more attention to detail. Will definitely hunt down other works by this author.",4.0,Woah! This was so close to exceptional...,1366070400,"04 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NAWLTFUYPDSM,1476763305,Tootis,"[0, 1]","I enjoyed reading about the life's, past and present, of the daughters-in-law; but as for Kay, I felt that it was all a repeat of the Happy,Happy,Happy book. The part of Kay seems to be over bearing. The women have a lot to be admired for.",3.0,somewhat interesting,1398384000,"04 25, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3CSRP3P4U9HI,0425133516,Alan R. Holyoak,"[5, 5]","After a very disappointing experience with Tom Clancy's latest effort, "The Bear and the Dragon," I went back to "The Hunt for Red October" and "Red Storm Rising" to remember why it was that I started reading Tom Clancy's books in the first place..."Red October" is Clancy's shortest book, but it's probably one of his best. The character development, layered story-telling, and attention to detail make it an extremely interesting read. I've read this book at least three times now, and I have enjoyed each reading as much as I did the first time through, nearly 15 years ago now.Come along and join in the action as an unlikely hero, Jack Ryan get swept up by international politics and situations.Definitely 5 stars.If you enjoy this book, there's a good chance that you'll also enjoy "Red Storm Rising," "Debt of Honor," and "Executive Decision." Those all take on action of global proportions!Good luck out there!Alan Holyoak",5.0,The lure that pulled in generations of readers!,974678400,"11 20, 2000",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2CG7KW4EZ7X1Q,0786166835,Paul Suni,"[11, 11]","Three stars for a book that details perhaps the most remarkable land journey ever recorded? I'll get to that.Slavomir ""Slav"" Rawicz was caught by the Soviets at the outbreak of WWII, accused of being a Polish spy, brutally tortured to confess, and shipped off to the Siberian Gulag with a 25 year sentence. After a horrific rail journey to Siberia the prisoners were made to walk a thousand miles in the dead of winter to their permanent camp. The idea of escaping seemed nutty but Rawicz got a band of fellow prisoners together and, with some strategic help, they fled the camp and started off on what became a 4,000 mile journey by foot to India and freedom. Along the way they picked up a young Polish girl, also on the run, walked south to exit Siberia into Mongolia, crossed the Gobi desert in the summer, and then crossed through Tibet and the Himalayas in winter. A remarkable achievement and a gripping page-turning tale that seems unbelievable. How can such a journey be possible? How can you survive in the desert without food or water for a week at a time? How come his companions were never heard from afterwards? What about those Yeti?Well, sometimes fiction is better than fact. Almost from the start my thoughts went to that other Polish author, Jerzy Kosinski. I remember reading his harrowing ""The Painted Bird"" as a teenager with the understanding (perhaps my fault) that it was autobiographical. I was highly disappointed when I realized that it really didn't happen in real life. So with this book. Ever since its publication in 1956 people have been suspicious. The author died in 2004 and in 2006 the BBC dug up damning evidence (google it) from Eastern Bloc archives that, while Rawicz was indeed sent to the Siberian camp, thus making the first part of the book at least somewhat true, he was also released as part of a general amnesty given to all Polish prisoners. That would make the extraordinary trek fiction. Perhaps not entirely, as there are claims that he essentially stole the narrative from others who did make the journey.As with the Painted Bird I wish I didn't know this. While the story is great it does make a great deal of difference if it is fact or fiction. As a true tale it would be 5 stars, as fiction I generously give it 3.",3.0,Sometimes fiction is better than fact,1324684800,"12 24, 2011",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 AQAJF9QTGHBBP,0373861559,"KDY ""Avid Reader""","[0, 3]","This book failed to seduce or entertain me. I think the author was trying to do too much. The premise deals with a best selling author coming back home to find herself falling back in love with the town bad boy and black sheep. What the author fails to do is get the reader emotionally invested in her characters. I did not believe that Rick and Suzanne really loved each other or even had any chemistry. Even Suzanne's relationship with her friends did not seem real. In addition, there were way to many loose ends that are not tied together until the last two chapters and then I felt like it was rushed. I'm sure this book was supposed to be a lesson in forgiveness but it was totally lost.",2.0,Word Failed to Seduce,1267142400,"02 26, 2010",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 A20HJEA1HZGJ39,0877283613,Amazon Customer,"[19, 20]",This book is for the spiritual seeker. Sure you can say it is geared to one with occult/mystism background... one of those direct routes to the subject. The book starts where Mr Scott goes into detail talking of an aquantance who is an adapt. This is written very cryptically so that you are to know that the people of the story doesn't matter (and he does not tell you his name or any of the other's name but assures you that it is completely his history) the book is written in the early twenty-th century and styled very much in the english manner of writting at the time. Getting to know the adapt and the author filled with me with energy as I read it. It was as intended deeply spiritual for me.The second half of the book is written as the ACTUAL story though not exactly of the same magnitude as the first half in spiritual revelation. This is where you start following the path of an initiate which is clearly a story of illistration. The story is of a man who had spent very much time imbibing in the physical and is now on a spiritual quest. The charactors are written in a manner to remind me of a very structured disney adventure that is of the enlightening nature. I am now waiting for the second and third book. Highly recommended! Blessed Be,5.0,A spiritual walk down memory lane with a fairy tale,1041984000,"01 8, 2003",19,20,helpful,0.95,1 A13A6ZMJU9SKET,0061692034,Melissa P.,"[0, 0]","I loved the first part of this book and would easily rate it a five. I looked forward to reading it at night. It does unravel at a slow pace, but I enjoyed it and thought the characters were very well-developed (the parents, Dell and his sister). The chapters on his home life, the bank robbery, and his relationship with his parents & sister were my favorites. The writing was beautiful, which matters to me, but the story started to weaken in the second half. Dell got older and his voice less clear, and none of the new characters seemed important to him, or to the story, and so it became less of a page-turner. I did miss Bev and Neeva Parsons, I thought they were great characters!",4.0,Mixed feelings,1345593600,"08 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZT71NTN85ZV8,044024501X,CopMom,"[0, 0]","This book wasn't as good as the first one for me, but I really enjoyed it as well. I loved watching both characters work through the hurt and pain from their shared past and find a way to move past it to find their happily ever after.",4.0,Good follow-up book,1371340800,"06 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0312980191,Harriet Klausner,"[8, 13]","With the recent death of her father Hamlin Finch from throat cancer, Caroline Blessing decides to help her mother Hilda deal with her grief. Though she knows that reconciling their differences will be impossible because the only way to accomplish that is unconditional surrender. Still Caroline, a cellist and wife of less than one year to a first term Tennessee Congressman, takes her mother to the exclusive Phoenix Spa.At the spa, Caroline's mother remains her usual obnoxious manipulative self though perhaps acting a bit more bizarre than usual. The owner of the spa Claudia de Vries, her mother's college roommate, behaves even weirder than Hilda does. However, Claudia's behavior becomes moot, as someone murders her. The police and Caroline conduct separate inquiries even while other patrons die.NAKED CAME THE PHOENIX is an entertaining collaboration from thirteen of the leading female mystery writers on the market today. The story line is fun though the line up of superstars tend to void pronouncements from the previous chapters. Still, the plot seems fresh due to Caroline who is the one consistency throughout the who-done-it. For the most part the authors provided strong entries that help make NAKED CAME THE PHOENIX a likable story. What else would you expect from a who's who consisting of Nevada Barr, J.D. Robb, Nancy Pickard, Lisa Scottoline, Perri O'Shaugnessy, J.A. Jance, Faye Kellerman, Mary Jane Clark, Marcia Talley, Anne Perry, Diana Gabaldon, Val McDermid, and Laurie King.Harriet Klausner",5.0,A definite delight,996019200,"07 25, 2001",8,13,helpful,0.6153846153846154,1 A15KVYLQ2IQI5,1400031516,Donald Gallinger,"[14, 19]","Henning Mankel has proven himself to be a wonderful crime novelist. His books create a unique sense of atmosphere along with razor-sharp plotting. The great pleasure in reading Mankell is the social commentary on Sweden's changing society. His fiction is at least as much about evolving mores in Swedish culture as it is about the classic ""whodunits.""Donald Gallinger is the author of The Master Planets",5.0,Another Uniquely Satisfying Murder Mystery by Mankell,1211932800,"05 28, 2008",14,19,helpful,0.7368421052631579,1 AFSBIKTQUCRLH,0345501551,"D. Robertson ""Librarian""","[9, 16]","This is the third new release from Suz that I've been disappointed in. I have read EVERYTHING from her that I've been able to get my hands on over the years and she was my favorite author. As I've read the reviews and agreed with the dissatisfaction expressed over how drastically the characters seemed to change, how funny-but-not-funny big-he-man-Deck's secret need to be commanded in sex in order to REALLY like it was, how I just TRIED, really TRIED to absorb the new Hero Stud Dave with the previous nerdy Dave and really really wanted to be there with Suz but just-couldn't!! Again, felt that with Stud-hero Deck and the secret sex thrills which just made him seem weak and somehow ""less than."" I could buy the new Tracy--love her--just didn't understand how she caught Deck? Surprisingly, I discovered that i was GLAD that Deck and Sophia didn't get together because i was SO fed up with Deck and his attitude in prior books that it was really hard for me to like him as the main character in THIS book. I had a really hard time wanting him to be happy! I just didn't like him and his roving male eye (door number one, Tess, #2, Tracy, or door #3 the Doc) and what i've stated previously...I just couldn't care less about him. I did like the action in the story and catching up with old friends.I've decided what i disliked MOST about this story is that here i am reading a ROMANCE novel for enjoyment, escapism and it was so jarring to me to get yanked out of that by the sermon in the middle where Deck and Tracy talk about how two consenting adults can have whatever kind of sex they want and that's ok and how dare anybody say differently. Now i just read another new release from another author who preached her view of illegal immigration throughout the entire book (at much more length and with much more vigor than Suz did). My objection is that if I want to be confronted, challenged or enlightened about ""serious"" issues, I would buy a ""serious"" book about it--and I have. To me it takes me out of the story--which she is so carefully constructing! What i don't want (or expect) is to be reading a book for pure enjoyment and get the sermon. I feel a bit used and like i said, to me, it was an obvious ploy to continue to get her personal beliefs out there to her audience. It's her book, she can do that. I'm tired though of being on the receiving end--as talented as she is (and Susan Wiggs)I'm going to stick to books that truly are an enjoyable escape. (My favorite author now is Susan Elizabeth Phillips!)",2.0,Disappointed again,1233619200,"02 3, 2009",9,16,helpful,0.5625,1 A17807IZ3WE4LB,0307947130,Pharaoh,"[13, 14]","This was like a fantasy history book. Too much telling, not enough showing. In one chapter Spratling and his crew are discussing how to attack a League platform. Instead of writing the entire conversation like a normal person, Durham just writes a couple of lines and exposits in-between. Not only does that make it seem like he doesn't care about his characters, it makes it seem like the characters do stuff just for the sake of moving the plot forward. I thought the whole downfall of Acacia was rushed; there's a plague that kills off half the population (and a minor character) and it's only briefly mentioned and then forgotten about. No emotional impact whatsoever. And then in the second half Mena, Dariel and Alivar become Mary Sue's. Not good.",3.0,Does Durham have something against dialogue?,1231977600,"01 15, 2009",13,14,helpful,0.9285714285714286,1 A37U04A8PL0XZR,0735681309,"Marte ""InfMom""","[27, 27]","I read the review that said the person was frustrated at not being able to find something in the book. I don't think it is fair to criticize a whole book because one thing wasn't in the index in the way the reader expected.The print edition comes with a free companion ebook that is fully searchable, so all it takes is a download and a look to find any given term. Or if you don't want to do that, use Amazon's "look inside the book" feature to find what you want (I have done that many times).I found this to be a well written, thoroughly illustrated guide to Windows 8.1. My only (small) criticism of it is that I think at this time most people will be coming to Win8.1 as an upgrade from Win8 rather than looking at it on a brand new computer, and the instructions for upgrading, while extremely useful, were relegated to the back of the book. That's just a personal quibble and doesn't reduce my overall opinion of the book at all.The authors clearly know what they're talking about, and their approach to Win8.1 makes sense.The differences between Win8 and Win8.1 are carefully explained, and the authors tell it like it is.All the Step By Step books I've read have lived up to their names, taking the reader from the simple to the complex in easy increments. This book would be incredibly useful for someone facing Win8.1 for the first time (and for Windows 8, there is the previous edition of this book which is equally good).",5.0,A great introduction to Windows 8.1,1386979200,"12 14, 2013",27,27,helpful,1.0,1 A15KOTZX09QZXE,B00AR2RZR2,Dean,"[0, 0]","Dickey is the Jordan of literature. The man always delivers. Loved the back story on Nia Bijou and it just builds my anticipation for Decadence. The depth of Dickey's characters is something I now look forward to when I read his books. Nia Bijou is a woman to be reckoned with: beauty, brains and in charge of her sexuality. I cannot wait for Decadence!",5.0,Dickey Delivers!,1362009600,"02 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1L43KWWR05PCS,045121997X,Lawyeraau,"[9, 10]","This novel, one of the author's early works, was originally released under the author's pen name, Phillip Emmons. There is little in it that reminds one of some of the author's later works. Instead of a highly imaginative, horror novel, this is a pretty straightforward novel about a serial killer. Still, there is just a little bit of a twist in the tale.The plot is somewhat formulaic and much more commercial than some of the author's later efforts, and lacks some of the creativity a fan of the author has come to associate with this author's work. Still, this is not a book that fans of the author's horror fiction should pass up, as there are some surprises in store for the reader.In Phoenix, Arizona, Cathy Riley is a young, pretty woman who lived a somewhat reclusive life with her disabled father, a nasty man with whom she stays out of duty. Cathy lives across the street from a house where a woman and her mentally handicapped son, Randy, have moved in. There is something not quite right about this mother and son duo.Meanwhile, a series of grisly murders have been taking place in Cathy's neighborhood, murders that are being investigated by Detective Allen Grant. When Cathy's path crosses that of the detective, an attraction begins to blossom into something greater. Meanwhile, the body count rises, and soon Cathy herself is in danger.The best thing about this book is the serial killer himself. While the discerning reader figures out early on who the serial killer is, the twist in the tale has to do with how and why he kills. It is here that the reader sees a glimmer of the author Bentley Little will become.",4.0,A TWIST IN THE TALE...,1174694400,"03 24, 2007",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A30IO8C3F28LWL,0743286316,Sonjastwin,"[39, 40]","Being in the midst of just such a situation, I was glad to find this book. Having just finished it, I can say that I loved it. I have just finished composing a letter to the friend who is now snubbing me, and even if she never replies, just putting the feelings down on paper has already brought me a sense of relief. I don't understand those who think her letter writing advice stinks. I think it makes a lot of sense. In a nutshell, she says to state your feelings, don't be accusatory and rattle off the other's faults because it will just make them defensive, acknowledge the good things you shared, and leave the door open for reconciliation (if that's what you want). What's wrong with that? I suppose if you're the one doing the snubbing, you'd think this is a bad idea because you already feel guilty and it will make you uncomfortable to face the pain you are causing someone else. But speaking as the snubbed, I'm not saying it wouldn't hurt to get a letter like this from a friend, but that pain is a thousand times better than the endless unanswered questions and self-esteem crushing doubt that comes with being suddenly and unceremoniously blown off.If nothing else, if this book makes people think about the impact that their behavior has on someone else, then it's a good thing. If you take nothing else away remember this, with someone that you have shared a bond (I'm not talking about a casual relationship), you are not sparing their feelings or keeping them from being hurt by disappearing from their life without a word! You are killing a part of their soul. If you dated some loser for six months that you never even loved, you would give him the courtesy of a letter or a breakup talk or something when you ended the relationship. Why would you not give someone who has been your closest confidante for many years the same courtesy? If you are doing the snubbing, ask yourself if the shoe were on the other foot if you would prefer to have an explanation (painful though it may be) and closure, or if you would want your closest friend in all the world to simply cut you off without a word. You know what the answer is.So, I highly recommend this book. It's really comforting to know that others go through the same thing and it helps me not take things so personally. If you're lucky enough to have deep friendships that have never been troubled, then know that you are really blessed. But if you're like the rest of us and have wounded or been wounded by someone you called a friend, then this book offers really good advice to help you make peace with the situation and move on.",5.0,I loved it,1160870400,"10 15, 2006",39,40,helpful,0.975,1 A3I76K0EITNEO,0142180351,Diane,"[0, 0]","I felt that Mary Todd Lincoln was portrayed unsympathetically and Mrs. K had too much empathy. Needed a better balance, but I would buy it again if I had not already read it. Jennifer Chiaverini is a wonderful author.",4.0,Dressmaker,1367452800,"05 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3O987YU4GY5G7,0615928056,sleemo,"[0, 0]","I loved this second book in the Breeders series! I have been waiting a long time to read it and it was well worth the wait. If you haven't read either book, I suggest you do!",5.0,Wonderful Book!,1389744000,"01 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HJFCZ5YBYEXV,1476744920,Gone Readin',"[0, 1]","STOLE MY HEART!!!The sentiment of this story took a hold of my heart from the very first page, and never let go. Bringing back the little purple cloth-covered Book of Love Spells is why I am always a Probst fan! This is Kate and Slade’s story. Kate Seymour believes in a happily ever after for everyone, and she knows when it’s for real. You see, she may be a witch, and she has “the gift.” With the help of two friends, she starts her own matchmaking business outside of Manhattan. Slade’s sister Jane has been hurt. She was hurt so badly, she nearly took her own life. With his parents already gone, Jane is all the family Slade has – and he will protect her with his dying breath. When Jane decides she’s ready for romance again, she turns to Kinnections, Kate’s business for help. Slade, an attorney, decides to intervene on his sister’s behalf. What he gets instead is an instant connection with Kate that he just can’t shake. But he’s a jaded divorce lawyer that doesn’t believe in a forever love. Has the matchmaker finally met her match? Ms. Probst delivers solid storytelling that is both uplifting and heartwarming. Slade is the sexy capable alpha male and Kate is the spunky heroine who has made it completely on her own. The dialogue is engaging and fast-paced with solid secondary characters who reinforce Kate and Slade’s story. Kate’s best friend is Genevieve MacKenzie who is the younger sister of Alexa from The Marriage Bargain. Including many of the characters from the Marriage Series was pure genius. For all dog-lovers out there – the Epilogue is one of the best I’ve ever read!!! This was a quick, easy, and entertaining read – so I’m anxious for the next installment in this series.",5.0,[...],1386460800,"12 8, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1C2HPY145FKJZ,1595231072,"James M. Schuh ""shoe007""","[13, 18]","I have not read this book (yet) but I am writing this review to offset the clearly unethical attempts by the unions and liberal haters who haven't read this book either. The fact is Scott Walker decided to make some fundamental changes to Wisconsin's way of governing to get our state out of the hole that his predecessor Governor Doyle put us in. Want the proof? Look at where Illinois is right now compared to Wisconsin. 4 years ago we were in the same place. Today, Wisconsin is light years ahead of Illinois and is only being held back by the overspending of the Obama administration.",5.0,Read this book,1385942400,"12 2, 2013",13,18,helpful,0.7222222222222222,1 A3FOL8CN5A1TFR,1480539465,Taina Boricua,"[0, 0]",Hot from the first page this novella has sexy Nick St. James fulfilling every Christmas wish On Stephanie's naughty list! Read on to get a glimpse of that naughty list! Yum.,5.0,Wish List- Smokin',1372291200,"06 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1AT0GONN4A9NA,1401906974,"John P. Morgan ""Light Coach""","[12, 14]","I've been involved with the Course in Miracles now for almost 12 years. I've had the book for about 20 and although it made a really great paperweight for eight years I decided that I would start reading it...What?I think that is the initial reaction most of us have towards the Course. And immediately our ego chimes in and we say, ""It's so difficult...it's so hard to understand...why can't they say it more simply and more directly...""The ego wouldn't understand simplicity if it fell over it. I have come to the conclusion that the Course is NOT difficult to understand but it is different from our ego-driven understandings.How different?Oh, only 180 degrees.The best way to understand the Course is to start your own discussion group. That's what I did and I found myself falling in love with the teachings and yet even though I had this passion for the book, I did always apply it. I'd leave ""my"" group feeling happy, centered, and completely at peace and then as soon as I left the parking lot and got back on the freeway I found my peace quickly fading away by the moron who is ""text messaging"" in the fastlane and is going 43mph and the idiot in the huge Yukon that should have its own zip code who is keeping me blocked in.That is why I really like Gary Renard's books. He takes the Courses most basic teachings and makes them humorous, practical, and immediately accessible. I admit, I really did not like DU at first. I found it rather contrived and to be completely honest, totally unbelievable that two ""ascended masters"" would visit him and give him ""private instruction"" based on the Course.Obviously, I had a lot of forgiveness work to do.I had to come to a place of surrender with Renard. None of this ""stuff"" we think is real is ultimately real, anyway. Who cares if he has two ascended masters talking with him in his living room about the Course. It could be worse. One time, after taking too much LSD, I had a cherry pie talking to me in Spanish. At least, Gary's ""apparitions"" talk to him in a language he can understand.Gary is ""pure Course""....which is good...the Course is not just another metaphysical book. When I first got it, I made that assuption and that it was just going to be an ""easy read"". I thought that it was going to tell me that if I want a better life, then all I'll have to do is rattle off a few affirmations, maybe visualize purple light coming in my crown chakra, and be the ""change"" I want to see manifest. I didn't expect that my whole world was the product of my ""insanity"" and that my whole thought system needed to be given up entirely.Which is why ACIM became a paperweight, doorstop, and mini-step stool for eight years.I read the Course and the I read Renard's books and they distill the Truths into ways that can be immediately applicable. I find that I'm making my whole approach to studying, practicing, and guiding two Course in Miracles study groups a lot lighter and including a lot more laughter.Nothing dissolves the ego more than genuine laughter. If you can poke holes into something you once took very seriously, you are literally making it ""Holy"" and you can better give it to the Holy Spirit and have Him use it in ways you could never have dreamed of.When I got this book I opened it up and came across the line, ""People can only accept what they're ready to..."" The timing was perfect. I was angry at my elderly father for not loving me the way I thought he should, my wife didn't seem to be listening to me and heeding my ""great ideas"", my friends seemed to be uninterested in me and my life and I got down on my knees in the bookstore and asked for a miracle.Did Arten and Pursah show up like they did for Gary?No, but the salesman thought I fell and helped me back up and his genuine thoughtfulness and kind smile made me realize with ""real eyes"" that this really is only a dream and I can choose to have a happy or an unhappy dream.Are you ready to accept and embrace and embody a deeper understanding of the Course? Maybe you haven't even read the Course but you would like to. This book, along with DU, will definitely get you started in the right direction.May wisdom prevail!Peace and Blessings,john, 'the Light Coach'",5.0,Leggo My Ego,1231804800,"01 13, 2009",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A17JV6KA80P8LG,0789313499,Andrew B. Hurvitz,"[52, 56]","I came across this book and was impressed with the small size, the rigorous editing, the high quality photography and printing. The houses are innovative, practical, imaginative and international. They cover areas from Australia to Japan to New York. What unites them is their ability to be comfortable, elegant, simple and environmentally sensitive. They are for anyone who hopes to cure the McMansion virus.Trump would hate this book.",5.0,A really fine little book.,1130457600,"10 28, 2005",52,56,helpful,0.9285714285714286,1 A11S6DZLRR0C2W,0061553395,a reader,"[28, 41]",First of all - I really like James. I read his first book years ago when I was just getting interested in spirituality - and it was good. I even went to see him in person at Lily Dale and was very impressed. The problem is that this book is a quicky effort on his part and the writing is horribly elementary. I don't like how he calls all spirits ghosts - like he's trying to simplify the whole concept. There are a couple new personal anecdotes which were only slightly interesting and definately no new spiritual insights beyond typical/very basic new-age stuff. This book wasn't for me and I think you'll agree if you have a brain in your head.,2.0,OK if you've never read anything else about spirit,1212192000,"05 31, 2008",28,41,helpful,0.6829268292682927,1 A1VH6QWC6JZRAC,1601641613,The Guardian,"[5, 5]","As Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard University Medical School, John Mack had the highest possible academic credentials. He was also a Pulitzer Prize-winning author for his biography of T. E. Lawrence, ""A Prince of our Disorder.""""Passport to the Cosmos"" (PTTC) was Mack's second and final book on the alien abduction issue, before his death in September 2004. It's a thoughtful, coherent and readable essay; a more absorbing narrative than his earlier 1994 book ""Abductions: Human Encounters with Aliens"". Whereas the earlier book episodically recounted the experiences of 13 different abductees in their own words but seemed reluctant to draw conclusions - beyond the obvious fact that the phenomenon was not psychiatric but (in some way) external to the experiencer and physically real - ""PTTC"" explores what it all might mean in terms of human consciousness and why our accepted ""ontological notions of consensus reality"" need to be expanded to accommodate this subversive intrusion into our world.The author writes in Chapter One:""...marshalling evidence that might conceivably satisfy the physical sciences `on their own turf' has proved to be an elusive task. I will document experiencers' reports with physical evidence where applicable, but my principal interest is in their pattern, meaning and potential implications for our understanding of reality and knowledge of ourselves in the universe.""There you have John's fundamental attitude and the thesis of the book, in a nutshell.All researchers into this phenomenon uncover common narratives and themes: the physical body passing through walls, ceilings, car roofs and solid structures; the duration of the abduction usually of 1-2 hours leaving a period of seamless missing time; the quasi-medical procedures on identically-described examination tables; the workmanlike attitudes of the abductors; what the abductors look like; the telepathic communication; the genetic/breeding-focussed tasks, sperm and ova harvesting; interactions with hybrid children; mind-scanning; explorative ""staging"" procedures; a preoccupation with planetary environmental issues; the repeat-nature of the process; the fact that the abducting entities seem to focus on specific family bloodlines and the children of abductees are themselves usually abducted. John was no different in that he uncovered the same narratives, memories and reports as everyone else. Whether these narratives are recalled from normal conscious memory or assisted by hypnosis makes no difference: the stories are generally the same down to small, quirky and eccentric details.So the data is universal, ubiquitous, global. Where researchers differ is in their emphasis, and in the interpretation of this common data. Tellingly, on p13 the author writes:""The orientation and ideology of the investigator, and the questions he or she asks or does not ask, will determine to some degree what data can be enabled or allowed to come forth and will affect profoundly the interpretation of the experiences.""Mack was trained as a therapist, and his approach is less critical than that of a researcher with a more investigative academic mind-set. John's engagement with the issue focussed on two areas. First, from his clinical training he focussed on assisting the 200 or so different abductees with whom he personally worked over the years to come to terms with their experiences, to see the whole thing in a ""positive"" and ""transformative"" way. Second, he worked to convince his peer-academic community of the empirical reality of this phenomenon and to consider current clinical consensus-paradigms might be insufficient to contain or understand it.The title PTTC is an oblique reference to Jacques Vallee's classic 1970 book ""Passport to Magonia"", in which Vallee argued that modern abduction accounts have echoes in traditional folklore through the ages and episodes of missing time, being abducted to ""another realm"" to assist in the interbreeding of mixed-species children and then returned to normal life was nothing new, but an old and persistent human experience. In the third section of PTTC, the ""Magonia"" theme is explored as Mack transcribes personal interviews he conducted with three acknowledged living shamans: Bernardo Peixoto, Sequoyah Trueblood and Vusumazulu Credo Mutwa, who explain that in their various preserved indigenous cultures, shamanic interaction with the ""visitors"" is taken for granted and understood, and it is the western scientific paradigm which has moved us modern folks away from such knowledge. This is classic Mack territory.Where PTTC falls short is in its failure to confront the phenomenon head-on and draw conclusions about what might be going on against the available data. A large quantity of mutually corroborating evidence exists which demands answers to these questions: Who exactly are these abducting entities, what are they doing and why? This looks like a sustained program of interbreeding - but what for? Where is it going and what is the objective? These hard questions are more effectively addressed by other researchers, contemporaries and friends of John, and his ""it's-consciousness-expanding-and-potentially-beneficial-and-transformative"" mind-set somehow persuaded him to skirt around the core issue.The reader would be well advised to investigate the field widely: PTTC is best read not in isolation but together with the instructive and scholarly works of Budd Hopkins, Dr. David Jacobs, Raymond Fowler and other eminent researchers into this subject. Other writers uncover the same data (the sure sign of a real empirical phenomenon, not a fantasy or cultural artefact) but emphasise different faces of the prism.John Mack was a fine writer, with a great mind. However his writing style does not always make for easy reading, and his perspective proves too vague and new-agey for many, so PTTC is read less often than some works by other researchers on the abduction subject. It is however one of the better-written books on the issue and definitely worth reading. It's a pity John felt unable to place his cards on the table and conclude what the objectives of the abducting entities might be: the astute reader will see that the data he uncovered leads inevitably in only one direction, and that the works of other academics more clearly demonstrate the obvious but not altogether comforting conclusions about this phenomenon which John refused to face.",4.0,Mack's final work on the abduction issue looks back to Magonia and forward to a new age,1290211200,"11 20, 2010",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1MS0FEXNN5TG2,0380774763,E. Jahneke,"[0, 0]","I really liked this book, but the most important thing I would tell a reader who knows Price from his crime-fiction work is that it's not crime fiction. Although, ultimately I wasn't disappointed with it. It reflected the same urban energy as the crime novels, with the extra heart of rooting for Stony as he tries to realize his dreams and protect his little brother.It's touching and well-written if not perfect.",4.0,Pleasantly surprised,1235433600,"02 24, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QDUJ2F7TWX3B,B009F3M9ZC,J. Robertson,"[0, 0]",This is not even a novella length...50% of the book is an excerpt of another book from the author. I would not waste my time or money on this paper. If this is any indication of her other books after this one you will be disappointed and wasting your money. Furthermore the writing was repetitious and juvenile.,1.0,Poorly written 10 page essay,1372032000,"06 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AN5FO4B13UPQH,B004OL2OHI,"Rebecca L. Treadway ""Creepy Walker""","[8, 9]","Admittedly, I offered to design the cover in exchange, I read the story. I'm not into Zombie fic, but a Zombie goldfish piqued my curiosity. It reads like a story you would tell your child before bed, including a voodoo style rhyme. If your kids are Wednesday and Pugsley Addams, of course! I found myself feeling kind of sorry for Sam and young Tommy. There are diabolic hints of a sequel. Would be interesting to read what else is cooking in Lisa's deviant mind! :D",5.0,"Rather poignant, in an eerie way",1301356800,"03 29, 2011",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 AMOUCAFH0MKJV,0679601392,sally tarbox,"[0, 0]","Amazing novel, as we follow the unnamed black narrator from his time as a meek, academic youth when he was 'praised by the most lily-white men of the town...considered an example of desirable conduct' through to his more worldly-wise older self.The cynical older man, marked by his experiences, has at least become true to himself:'I was never more hated than when I tried to be honest...On the other hand I've never been more loved and appreciated than when I tried to 'justify' and affirm someone's mistaken beliefs...But here was the rub. Too often, in order to justify them, I had to take myself by the throat and choke myself until my eyes bulged and my tongue hung out and wagged like the door of an empty house in a high wind. Oh yes, it made them happy and it made me sick. So I became ill of affirmation, of saying 'yes' against the nay-saying of my stomach- not to mention my brain.'As a white reader of a different era, I still found plenty that I could identify with in Ellison's work. As he concludes 'Who knows but that on the lower frequencies I speak for you?'",4.0,'One of the 20th century's most important novels',1345593600,"08 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0312319444,Harriet Klausner,"[4, 5]","Molly Forrester has mixed feelings about her recently solving the murder of her boss (see KILLER HEELS) because she believes that should have been her meal ticket to real journalism. However, resolving the case failed to get her from under writing the Zeitgeist magazine advice column, but on the other hand besides proving her capabilities she met NYPD Detective Kyle Edwards, the hunk who saved her life. She wonders if she just suffers from hero worship as opposed to love as her brain seems to consist of one icon Kyle.One of her best friends, event planner Trish Vincent pleads with Molly to learn who killed her brother's fiancée, wannabe actress Lisbet McCandless at their engagement party. Apparently someone smashed Lisbett's head with a champagne bottle at the Hamptons home of Trish's aunt. Feeling this will keep her mind off of obsessing over Kyle and enable her to play hard to get when he calls, Molly makes inquiries by interviewing those who attended the gala. Her efforts result in someone trying to kill her with Kyle as the only reason she remains alive.Though difficult to accept that Trish would ask Molly to investigate an open homicide and that the reporter agreed to do so after her harrowing experience, fans will enjoy this chick lit amateur sleuth tale. The story line is a lighthearted romp as Molly gets into trouble with a Southampton police hunk, her fantasy male Kyle, and a killer. Readers who enjoy a breezy late summer read will appreciate the zany antics of Molly on Long Island.Harriet Klausner",4.0,fun chick lit amateur sleuth tale,1122422400,"07 27, 2005",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3RINLIDX74QLP,0099450259,"Monika ""equestrienne_23""","[6, 6]","This is undoubtedly one of the best books I've read this year. Told from the perspective of a 15-year-old autistic boy, Christopher Boone, it opens with Christopher finding the body of his neighbor's poodle, Wellington, impaled upon a garden fork. Christopher likes dogs and so, using the legendary Sherlock Holmes as a role model, he decides to ""do some detecting"" to find out who killed Wellington. As the story progresses, however, it becomes clear that Wellington's death is only a small part of a much bigger problem, one that reveals some devastating truths about Christopher's own family.What sets this story apart, and makes it more than just a growing-up tale of a teenage boy with a dysfunctional family, is the unique point of view we are given by seeing the world through Christopher's eyes. His autism results in an inability to intuit normal human emotions. He does not automatically read others' facial expressions as a non-autistic person would. He can tell if someone is happy or angry or sad, but only by comparing what he sees to what he has been taught about the meanings of different body language signs. When he hears a joke, he knows from an analytical standpoint why it is funny, but he does not have the gut-level reaction that most people would. To him, it is more like solving a logic problem. He also cannot stand to be touched. Hugs and other physical contact are painful for him, so instead he gently touches fingertips with the other person as an alternate way of showing affection.This book was of particular interest to me because I had never really known much about autism before. The only autistic person I've ever met was also deaf, which adds an additional layer of complication to things and made it hard to tell what behavior traits were due to the autism and which were due to the added difficulty of not being able to hear. Moreover, I was only in elementary school at the time, so my own perspective on people and the world was not yet fully developed. But now, reading Haddon's book, I have been able to gain a much better understanding of autism, and that actually from an autistic point of view.Christopher's mind is truly fascinating. Despite his social ineptitude, he his highly intelligent, especially when it comes to math and logic. But his logic is not quite the same as an ordinary person's logic. He takes everything literally, and does not understand metaphors, labeling them all ""lies"" because ""imagining an apple in someone's eye doesn't have anything to do with liking someone a lot"" (pg. 15). Christopher is also remarkable in that he is the first and only student at his ""special needs"" school to take the A-level mathematics examination. His ability with numbers is amazing. In fact, when he is overwhelmed with something, he does complicated math problems in his head to calm himself down.""The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"" is a book I'd recommend to just about anyone. The prose is simple and easy to read, but packed with thought-provoking material. Despite Christopher's own inability to relate to human emotions, Haddon's great writing has enabled us to relate to him, and it is a highly emotional story. The text is also interspersed with numerous drawings, charts, maps, diagrams, and other graphics that Christopher uses to help tell his story. Once I picked up this book, I simply couldn't put it down. Truly a creative and insightful modern masterpiece.",5.0,To sum it up in one word: Brilliant. Simply brilliant.,1101340800,"11 25, 2004",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1IPB2TU58EBWI,B00FVGRX9O,Lazy E Ranch,"[15, 16]","For $0.99 the book was fine. Clean and sweet, with just a hint of Christmas. But the characters weren't developed well. I read in just a few hours. I'm not sure that a gentleman in the West back in the day would call a young lady "honey", "baby" etc, so everytime I read that, it just made me chuckle ;)",2.0,Quick read,1387497600,"12 20, 2013",15,16,helpful,0.9375,1 AL51WU5YQ0X3Z,1414378416,OrganicShoes,"[0, 0]","Fire consumes, it starts off with a spark, a flicker of life and grows to be uncontrollable, destroying everything in it's path leaving behind smoldering ash, much like fire angry grows the same way if we do not take control of it from the start it will consume us and take us in a direction we were not prepared for.Susan May Warren's latest book Take a Chance on Me is a story of family and forgiveness, of anger and loneliness,a story of belonging and of hope when all seems lost.The Christiansen family has been through a lot, especially Darek who lost his wife at an early age, he has become the towns most in-eligible bachelor, left with a son to raise by himself and anger towards the best friend that killed his wife. Darek also has secrets of his own, secrets that continue to fuel his anger and hurt at the things he has lost and he believes that he cannot move on.Ivy Madison is new to Deep Haven, she's always wanted to find somewhere that she fit in, what she didn't expect was to be bidding for Darek Christiansen and as their relationship grows she realizes she has a secret that could devastate him and she needs to tell him soon.With a fire on its way to Deep Haven, the town must put old hurts and anger aside to work together, will they be able to survive the fire and allow the healing process to begin and give each other a second chance?Warren has once again captivated our attention and brought us back to our favorite town, with some new characters and a few old friends you will not want to put this book down.I received this book complimentary in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.",4.0,"A book full of healing, hope and family",1366243200,"04 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASUFZ7OCKDM4H,0061840300,Richard B. Green,"[0, 3]","Well, if Patrick could express that at story's end, then I felt just slightly better for my reading experience. I like James Grippando. I've enjoyed, now, so many of his books. This would be my least favorite for, though I fully intended to read to the books conclusion, I read in a haze of confusion. I think a plot can be intricate...but I think an author owes it to his or her readers to not lose them along the way. Grippando tells an often exciting, fast-paced, often violent story...this one is no exception. And, yes, this one starts with the fall-out from a ponzi scheme...in particular, where is the money? Read the book and see if you're more successful than I in keeping up with the twists and turns and the motives of the characters who people ""Need You Now.""",4.0,"""Still, there were things that confused me.""",1335571200,"04 28, 2012",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 A5GYYHY2KI5CI,0375508015,tregatt,"[110, 115]","Not having read Jonathan Harr's previous book, (""A Civil Action"") I'm unable to comment on which is the better book; what I can say, though, was that I was totally captivated by ""The Lost Painting.""Many scholars acknowledge that there probably are several missing Caravaggio masterpieces lying about forgotten and neglected. ""The Lost Painting"" is about the search for and discover of one such painting, ""The Taking Of Christ."" In 1989, while working on a project, graduate students, Francesca Cappelletti and Laura Testa, come across mention of the sale of ""The Taking of Christ"" in the early part of the nineteenth century by the then owner, Guisseppe Mattei to a Scotsman. The information fires up in Francesca a desire to discover what happened to the painting from this point on. She is only partially successful. In the meantime, art restorer, Sergio Benedetti, makes an astonishing discovery when a routine job nets an inexpected find...Jonathan Harr did, I thought, a wonderful job of vividly conveying the excitement and drive of those involved in the search for (Francesca Cappelletti) and discovery of Caravaggio's lost painting (Sergio Benedetti). And if the author sometimes sounded a little detached and removed from what he was relating in the book, he more than made up for it with his clear and precise descriptions of scenes and characters -- I thought that his portrayal of the slightly gaga Marchesa was priceless; and really enjoyed his brief but telling descriptions of all the characters, both primary and secondary. My sole reservation lay in what I thought was the unnecessary inclusion of Francesca's private romantic life into the book. It struck a slightly jarring note, I thought. Fortunately, this was far and few between. I was also disappointed that neither the author not his editors thought to include picture plates of some of the paintings discussed in the book. It would have been nice to have had easy access to the Doria Pamphili ""St. John,"" the Capitoline ""St. John"" and esp ""The Taking of Christ"" without having to unearth my old art history books, still in boxes. Oh well, at least it inspired me to put up more bookshelves and unpack all those boxes of books! All in all, though, ""The Lost Painting"" was a completely riveting and enthralling read, and one I would especially recommend to art lovers everywhere.",4.0,a captivating read,1130976000,"11 3, 2005",110,115,helpful,0.9565217391304348,1 A3K37QVJCLI6AQ,0758271522,"Paula A. Moore ""digi scrapper""","[0, 0]","I have been reading this series from the beginning and I like it. I think that Eleanor is a little too busy bodyish and at times, she is just over the top pushy, but I like the series and Maddie helps even her out some. This time, the murder was at the pizza contest. Usually, I can figure out the killer from the middle of the book, but this time, the story had me going to near the end. Can't wait for the next one.",4.0,Murder and intrigue at the pizza contest,1358899200,"01 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21Y57O1N5PF15,0738713805,PattieP.,"[0, 0]","While reading GHOST a la MODE, I was reminded of my younger days when I watched TV shows such as ""Topper"" and ""The Ghost and Mrs. Muir"". At that time, I thought how fun and exciting it would be to have the ability to see and speak to friendly ghosts. This book made me rethink those days with pleasure. Each ghost and living character in this book added an extra dimension to an interesting story. The interaction between spirits and the select living who were able to communicate with them was fascinating to me. All characters, living and no longer living, were believable. I felt like I wanted to jump into the action to eat pie, stroll through town, or ask those ghosts some questions of my own! I had a hard time putting the Kindle down once I became immersed in Emma's activities with the lively supporting cast. All in all, this book was a super combination of romance, mystery, and supernatural experiences. I intend to read more books by Sue Ann Jaffarian, and I have every confidence they will be as entertaining as this one.",5.0,Super Supernatural Read!,1332979200,"03 29, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GN8UJIZLCA59,0835918858,P Magnum,"[4, 6]","The word classic gets thrown around alot in describing books, movies, music, etc. Very few books can claim that title, but John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath is one of them. The book was released in 1939 during the Great Depression and it details the journey The large Joad family takes from Oklahoma to California. The family at one time had a burgeoning farm, but the land dried up and became barren. They are told that California is the land of milk and honey and jobs would be waiting for them. They face hardships and discrimination along the way. They are looked down upon as dirty Okies and life isn't so sweet. Life is bleak and Mr. Steinbeck's vivid description of the camps that the Joad's set up in are heartbreakingly depressing. The heart of the book is Ma & Pa Joad's oldest son Tom. Tom is Mr. Steinbeck embodiment of the struggle of the little guy in America at the time. He has committed crimes, but he doesn't do them because he is bad, but he is forced to out of desperation. The Grapes Of Wrath is not an uplifting story, but it is an incredible, real, believable American tale and a true literary classic.",5.0,Literary Classic,982800000,"02 22, 2001",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1VBRRK9KWJCCE,073870833X,Herve Lebret,"[0, 1]","I nearly bought by accident dot.dead, the first novel written by Keith Raffel, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur turned into a thriller writer. And I enjoyed it. There is no point in telling you anything about the story. It may not be very realistic, but which mystery novel is? For me, the description of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto and Stanford University is nice and accurate though and you have the feeling you are back there if you know the places. What I also enjoyed and what is relevant for this blog are the links with the high-tech start-up world.So let me quote Raffel.- An interesting comment about motivation to be an entrepreneur (page 42), maybe the most surprising thing in the book! ""She asked if the hard work required to start a business was worth it. [...] -[It is] a kind of Catch-22. To found a successful company, you had to think it was more important than anything. But if you were intelligent enough to run such a company, you had to know it wasn't. Realizing that, you could not have the drive needed to start the next Sun, HP...""- A much less important detail (page 45): ""[The company] had gone public at $12 a share. After three two-for-one splits, [he] had sold the company for $42 a share. An investment like this might explain the [...] comfortable circumstances."" I let you compute the multiple!- Of course, when you read a fiction about Silicon Valely, you may try to guess if the author found inspiration in real individuals. Paul is the easy one (page 16): ""While not quite at the level of Bill Hewlett or Dave Packard, Paul still rated as a Silicon Valley legend. Born in Hungary, Pál Békés had been a baby when his parents carried him across the border into Austria during the 1956 revolution. Paul Berk, as his parents rechristened him, graduated from the Bronx School of Sciences at sixteen and from Stanford..."" Well it is not exactly the personal history of Andy Grove at Wikipedia but close enough: ""During the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, when he was 20, András István Gróf left his home and family and escaped across the border into Austria, where he eventually made his way to the United States in 1957. There, he changed his name to Andrew S. Grove. Arriving in the United States in 1957, with little money, Grove retained a ""passion for learning."" He earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the City College of New York in 1960, and earned a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1963.""- The other people I tried to identify with less success are the board members of the company (page 57): in addition to Paul, there is"" Bryce Smithwick, board member as well as corporate counsel. sat to Paul's right, leaning forward an Armani-clad leopard."" Darwin Yancey, the technical genius behind Paul's previous company. As usual Darwin's glasees had slipped down his nose so that he peered at Paul with his head cocked back. Darwin had worked eighteen hour days [in the previous start-up] but to everyone one surprise had not followed Paul to [his new start-up]. Instead, he retired with his millions in the south of France. ""My wife told me that our firrst twenty years of marriage belonged to work and that the next twenty years belonged to her.""""A rare representative of her gender in the macho world of top venture capitalists, Margot Fullbright had cofounded Chance and Fullbright. Seated next to me, she had her hands folded on the table like a prim schoolgirl. A sideways glance showed me that the short skirt of her expensive suit was designed to show off the thighs of a Parisian runway model, not a buisiness executive. But Margot, approaching fifty, had a body toned as much as shiatsu, Bikram yoga, and two-thousand-dollar-a-day spas could achieve. Known for her ability to do complex calculations in her head, her mind was in even better shape.""The fifth board member, wearing his trademark bowtie, hie crew-cut hiar beginning to show a few flecks of gray, was leon Henderson, a Stanford professor. A handful of former students, inculding three Fortune 500 CEOS, had thrown him a sixty-fifth birthday party the previous January. I myself had taken his entrepreneurship course and now met him vevery month or two for breakfast at Stanford's Tresidder Union, where he offered me parctical advice on management and product positioning.I do not know who these people are. There are a few women in VC, including Ann Winblad and Esther Dyson. Raffel is right, it is a macho world. They could all exist and look like SV stereotypes. Another detail on bankers (page 100): ""I had the natural prejudice against investment bankers. We worked seventy-hour weeks to make a start-up successful. Then, when the payoff came, investment bankers got a six-percent cut for a few weeks' effort.""Raffel could not avoid telling his Silicon Valley history (page 107). Nicely written: ""Riding in the back of my parents' Country Squire station wagon thirty years earlier, I would have been passing apricot orchards and horse trails. We didn't know it, but they had already been condemned when William Shockley opened a company in 1955 to exploit his invention of the transistor. In an almost biblical sense, Shockley Semiconductor was the progenitor of hundreds of the firms flourishing in the Valley, for people from Shockley begat Fairchild and people from Fairchild begat Intel and someone from Intel begat Apple, and so on. In a variation on the biblical theme, two of Shockley's most promising disciples, Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce, revolted against the founding father of the Valley to start that first competitor, Fairchild Semiconductor. Shockley was left claiming betrayal and ended his days using his Nobel Prize to defend his indefensible view on eugenics. This drama set the tone for Valley culture: young, brilliant technologists breaking away from companies run by the previous generation of entrepreneurs and founding their own.""I plan to discover soon if Raffel's latest novels bring pieces of interesting data.",5.0,a Silicon Valley mystery,1328227200,"02 3, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2P58D1J93SIM6,0143057588,"Mike L ""Mike Lamprecht""","[0, 0]","I chose to rate this prey book with 5 stars because of the events in this book are so exciting. I enjoyed reading this adventure so much that I forgot to sleep. This book kept me thinking all thruout the story. I enjoyed reading this prey book to it's entirety. I can't wait to start reading the new book about Virgil Flowers coming out in October. The line ""it's that f...ing Flowers is priceless.",5.0,Excellent plot and suspenseful action,1378684800,"09 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3H3IQOY6GJJFP,1620876302,"K. L. Uminski ""Tiny Bubbles""","[0, 0]","I have seen Heavenly Creatures and read the previously publish book from a Lesbian perspective, but this straight true crime telling of the story is wonderful. I very much appreciated the labor the author put into getting the original source documents and putting in writing the truth as far as we will ever know it.",5.0,Great Research,1402531200,"06 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1SGKO68QMGF6M,0441505317,Nacreous,"[0, 0]","This book and the previous two in the trilogy mark the peak of Vance's powers as the prose master of F&SF. The first book, ""Suldrun's Garden,""was suitably honored by his peers: it received the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1990.",5.0,The final book of Vance's master work of high fantasy,1401580800,"06 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A387LL6OT2FPOR,1477817182,"Marci ""marci""","[0, 0]",I. Loved it from start to finish. You know a book is good when you feel like the characters are family.,5.0,Don't miss reading this book!!,1377388800,"08 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZLM4INJ40MB9,0764228307,jax shopper,"[0, 0]","Light read, at times soap opera-ish but not a bad, hanging out by the pool or beach, summer read. Christian fiction so it is safe and does not leave you feeling like you need to shower after reading it to remove the filth.",4.0,"I enjoyed the series, they are Christian fiction so don't buy it then bash it because it is what it says it is.",1373760000,"07 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANJFRKWPPY0QE,1480086711,"Avalahn ""Perfect Dark""","[0, 0]",I had no idea this book would draw me in this much. I thought at first it would be lame and uninteresting. I was completely wrong! She wove magic into her story that really immersed you and you also got a feel for the characters. I would recommend this book if you enjoy a good read.,5.0,"Yes, very good",1388448000,"12 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A126KX6FVI4T66,031232362X,"Roger Bagula ""Roger L. Bagula""","[0, 0]","We have anti-gravity, anti-proton particle beams, 140,000 year old spaceships that fly, ans a 1947 space ship that is the same as the first one...The end leaves it open for another sequel as well.Rip rips and Charlie flies like an ace.An anti-gravity weapon is used by a French mad man on moon.The heroes again save the day as we all hope they will.It is very entertaining and no science argument has ever harmed the popularity of Burroughs or Bradbury.I'm wondering how he is going to explain an interstellar drive for the mother ship...",4.0,War in space using particle beams,1201996800,"02 3, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NSCTQJIPX7Y,B009H6W8RG,Chitowngirl33,"[8, 10]","If Chambers' previous novel is based on Twelfth Night (The Lady's Secret, worth a read), this one is definitely based on All's Well That Ends Well. Chambers has a creative take on the story, but unfortunately retains all of the annoyingness of Shakespeare's original play.Another reviewer commented that this book is an angst fest. It is, but it's a rather well done angst fest. The situation the two main characters find themselves in (a badly arranged marriage of necessity) is genuinely very awkward and painful, and the choices they make in dealing with the situation are very understandable. However, as a romance the book falls a bit flat.There is so much focus on everything dividing them, I think the author forgot to actually build the relationship. She falls in love with him in the first ten pages after seeing him once; he falls in love with her five years later, seemingly randomly--or perhaps just because she is now pretty? It's sort of unclear, and the heroine herself doesn't seem to know if she should be offended that he only likes her now that she's pretty.The heroine seems to spend a lot of time apologizing--somewhat understandably, since in that era her life literally depends on her husband's forbearance--and the hero spends a lot of time being unnecessarly resentful/outraged towards his wife while never acknowledging that he himself behaved very badly. When he does finally admit that he was in the wrong as well and shares responsibility for their marital issues it's underwhelming--a couple of boo-hoos and one apology, and suddenly everything is fine? After five years of marital cold war? I found it unconvincing.These issues aside, it was actually a fairly interesting read, and is an original, well-written re-casting of one of Shakespeare's works. Unfortunately I never really liked All's Well That Ends Well, and Chambers never quite managed to redeem that difficult premise.",3.0,All's Well That Ends Well?,1369094400,"05 21, 2013",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A2ISOGXDWC99G6,0679454810,Dana Keish,"[65, 67]","One of the most beautiful cities in the world has finally found a worthy biographer in A. J. Horne. Paris has always held a fascination for most, being a center of not only political and commercial interest, but also home to the art and culture known throughout the world. Horne's book describes the history of the city, with particular interest on the architectural changes, by highlighting seven different time periods, beginning with an introduction of the early beginnings of the city culminating in the late 1960's riots which shook Paris. Wonderfully written, with snippets of information hard to find elsewhere. For example, I often wondered by St. Genevieve was the patron saint of the city. Horne supplies that information that very early during the history of the city an attack was feared from the invaders of the west and as the city prepared to flee, young Genevieve had a vision that the attack would not take place and halted the evacuation. It's little pieces of information such as this, which made the book an exceptionally fun as well as educating read.Special attention is also paid to other significant historical events, especially those after the 1600's. What really strikes the read is one thing: the number of uprisings (the French Revolution of 1789 was only one in a series) that had struck the city, most of them organized on a grass roots level. This also helps explains why the cobblestones of the streets have been cemented into place...these make very good missiles for those fed up with the weak administration of the city. That is another point that the author stresses...sanitation and city planning came very late to Paris, and this led to unimaginable squalor in various quarters of the city.The reader is also introduced to some of the great figures of French history, particularly Henri IV (famous for his ""Paris is worth a mass"") and Emperor Napoleon III (who fled the country immediately following the defeat of the French in the Franco-Prussian war). Other notables include Haussman who reinvented the look of the city we now see.The writing is crisp and flows wonderfully from chapter to chapter. Not at all a technical march of statistics, but a story of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Highly recommended for everyone who ever dreams of Paris.",5.0,Ahhhh Paris!,1042156800,"01 10, 2003",65,67,helpful,0.9701492537313433,1 AAAJX9JTVZRWJ,0385735359,DVD fanatic,"[0, 0]",I had to wait for this one to be written. It is a great end to the series and pulls everything together. This is the last of a great series of books that effectively weave mythology and the events in the books. I immediately got the next book when I finished the previous one.,5.0,The best of the series,1360972800,"02 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8DZKOEN0DNRA,0307270696,Befragt,"[4, 4]","This might be the best-written account of the War of 1812 that I've read. Budiansky is a skilled storyteller, and he manages to weave together an account that, although it focuses on naval battles, also informs the reader about the broader issues and themes that drove the US and, to a lesser extent, England, in the early 19th century.To accomplish this, Budiansky uses a variety of personal accounts, naval records, newspapers, letters, etc., selectively either quoting them or summarizing them if they require ""translating."" As a result, the book really seems to help the reader understand what people were thinking, and why. It's not just about naval maneuverings, it's about early-America in general, and it covers a lot of ground in that regard.At one point, reading his description of a naval battle, I distinctly thought ""how is a battle between two sailing ships so interesting?"" Budiansky is clearly a gifted writer, as well as an good historian, and as a result, this is one of the rare history books that I'd call a ""page turner."" I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in early-American history or naval history, but it's such a good read that I think just about anyone would find it entertaining and informative.",5.0,A delightful read,1294185600,"01 5, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3QR6ZHD8304K1,1622413601,"D. Hart ""RCIS""","[0, 0]","Love Leah Brooke's Alpha men. Great story and deep characters. I enjoyed the interesting play of characters and the twists and turns. Savannah is independent, sexy, and smart. Love the alphas Wyatt and Hayes. They see her and know she's the "one". Sexy, erotic sex scenes, and true care and protection for the lady. Great ménage and interesting plot. The play between Savannah and the men is believably done and they work together well. The men work together and forge the relationship. I enjoyed this nice story.",5.0,"Love Desire, Oklahoma!",1393632000,"03 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFUQ93IMBSVR4,0316217689,Misty Baker,"[0, 0]","**2.8 Review - As posted on KindleObsessed blog**Today's review is brought to you by the letter D, as in...defining a genre.For the last four years I have taken for granted that my readers know the details of genres when I bring them up. Thriller, paranormal, high-fantasy...all of these words flow out of my mouth without a single thought. I assumed as a reader you knew what you were picking up. But it wasn't until the rise of New Adult last year that I realized this might not actually be the case. I have to admit, this kinda of shocked me.Despite the fact that I apparently assume too much, my biggest concern was for readers themselves. How exactly can you find a book you will like if you don't know what TYPE of book you enjoy? I can offer up suggestions all day long, but if your thing is mystery and I flash-deal you contemporary young adult, chances are...you're going to be a tad bit disappointed. So that's why today (for the sake of understanding what kind of book ""Fade to Black"" is) I'm going to throw around my limited education.If you look closely at the back cover of this book it claims to have noir roots. For those of you that enjoy classic crime dramas from the 40′s and 50′s you probably know what I'm talking about. For those of you that don't... Noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Cynical and sexual...those are very important words.But FTB is not all smokey bars and snarky men, it's also an Urban Fantasy. UF is, well, pretty self-explanatory, it is primarily in a city setting and contains aspects of fantasy (mythical creatures, magic, paranormal entities...you get the idea.) The only real difference between this fantasy genre and other genres (say...mystery or thriller) is that they are generally told via first-person narrative. As is the case in FTB.The combination of the two genres makes this book a dark one. Both literally and figuratively. Set in a world surrounded by corrupt government officials and magic gone haywire (the more pain you are in the stronger your powers are) the characters in this book find themselves in numerous very sticky situations, high-lighted by pages and pages of bitter sarcastic reverie.But first...how about I let you read the synopsis.""From the depths of a valley rises the city of Mahala.It's a city built upwards, not across--where streets are built upon streets, buildings upon buildings. A city that the Ministry rules from the sunlit summit, and where the forsaken lurk in the darkness of Under.Rojan Dizon doesn't mind staying in the shadows, because he's got things to hide. Things like being a pain-mage, with the forbidden power to draw magic from pain. But he can't hide for ever.Because when Rojan stumbles upon the secrets lurking in the depths of the Pit, the fate of Mahala will depend on him using his magic. And unlucky for Rojan--this is going to hurt.""If you were to go strictly by my star rating chances are you'd think I disliked that book. That's not the case. In the overall scheme of things this book was incredibly original and had an action packed plot sure to entice even the most skeptical fantasy reader. Unfortunately, no amount of originality can make up for poor execution. And that my dear readers is the downfall of this novel.Banking on intricate world building instead of character building left this story feeling stale, and while I am a fan of complicated scenes and breathtaking descriptions, no amount of flowery detail can make up for a lack of character chemistry. Long story short, if the sparks between reader and protagonist (or villain for that matter) don't fly, the book is going to flop. Rojan had all the characteristics of a great noir/urban fantasy character. He had wit, bled sarcasm, and internalized enough self loathing and female appreciation to stand with like personalities in the genre (for example Harry Dresden) but for some reason there was a huge disconnect. Instead of being interesting he came across as predictable. It wasn't until the last 10% that I really started to enjoy him, but by that point it was almost too late.The most intriguing character wasn't even a main character at all, which just goes to show you that Knight HAS the ability to write aww worthy material, Rojan just wasn't it.As for the plot itself. It was a great story. Think human trafficking with a magic kicker. The beginning may be a little slow (and felt like it took me a month to read) but it ended with one hell of a bang.Overall...this is not a book for everyone. It's probably a book for very few. It's very detailed, slightly abstract and has wobbly characters. I say...take a pass. There are plenty of fantastic Urban Fantasies out there that hit high in all marks. This just isn't one of them.Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: ""Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."" - Confucius",3.0,A KindleObsessed Review,1378684800,"09 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2BCIAH2TIYVQ9,0393057313,J. Bosiljevac,"[0, 0]","I read this book because Lennon had a story in THE BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES 2005 which I thought was fantastic. This novel, too, is great. It follows a short period in the life of one Albert Lippencott, or Mailman as the narrator refers to him, who is--you guessed it--a mailman. As such, he has a lot of time to think, and his wandering mind takes us to some very interesting places. He is at a crossroads of his life, where he finds himself in hot water thanks to his curious hobby of reading some of the mail he delivers. A paranoid person by nature, we never know how much of what Mailman believes is happening is true and what's in his head. And although Mailman is a flawed character, often acting selfishly and immorally, you get the feeling that he has decent intentions, most of the time. And regardless, he is thoroughly likable, like a character from Seinfeld or Ignatius O'Reilly, from A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES.The writing of this book, the vivid description, the subtle humor, and the fun with which Lennon portrays all his characters made this one of the most enjoyable books I've read in awhile. I plan on reading more of his stuff.",5.0,"Great, great novel",1171238400,"02 12, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3A60VSVUPGBE,1891776231,Quilter,"[0, 0]",I am collecting Ellen Burns books and when I find one I like I add it to my quilt book collection.,5.0,Add to my collection,1374105600,"07 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TVRF04711GY2,B00CLEO71Q,Charles,"[0, 0]","I loved the first book, but it has been so long I wondered if I would ever find the sequel.I liked it even more then the first.Can not wait until the next in the story.Hopefully it wont be that long of a wait.",5.0,Loved it,1372982400,"07 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A4CE1Y16Q2NGP,0312536488,Kris,"[0, 0]",This is the 2nd Book of the Series. I enjoyed it. The chemistry is love/hate between the hero and heroine. When they fall in love its a nice journey to see.,4.0,Good Read,1344038400,"08 4, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VIPY42ZHDF14,B00AEZT4YO,Weldon P. Phillips,"[0, 0]","I would have given this book 5 stars but for the frequent and somewhat lengthy departures the author takes from the main story, such as the description of the battle of Waterloo and the description and chronology of the sewers of Paris. These little side trips are necessary, but they're just too long and time-consuming to a novel which is quite long. The story, on the other hand, is magnificent!",4.0,Hugo's Masterpiece!,1360886400,"02 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NV6WTQAZ09ZL,B00FITC0VA,Mandy @ I Read Indie,"[5, 5]","If you are reading this review you are probably trying to decide if you should pick up this volume of books by Higginson. The answer is absolutely! With each episode you get zombies, suspense and romance. The perfect recipe for total awesomeness. You will be following the lives of Reagan, Haley and the Parker family as they travel across the desolate U S of A in search of a better life away from the hordes of zombies and those out to cause evil since the government no longer exists. Once you are done with the first episode you will be calling these characters family and will care about their well-being. Settle in and kick back...this is one hell of a journey you are about to partake in.",5.0,Season 1 Volume 1,1386115200,"12 4, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1YRV8ICHSL41F,0312861877,"Inchoatus.com ""Inchoatus.com""","[7, 13]","Why you should read this.People who can't get enough of Ender Wiggin will indulge themselves and enjoy this book. They will be disappointed and will likely not re-read it a second time but they will not regret the purchase. People easily fascinated with metaphysical issues but don't want to have to think about them too hard will end up liking some of the bits about Path but again won't be doing any re-reading. People doing critical research about ""Good Authors Gone Bad"" will find this book a singularly instructive performance.Why you should pass.Don't pick this book as an introduction to Orson Scott Card. Instead, take Ender's Game or Pastwatch. Perhaps even The Worthing Saga. There are many, many readers who liked Ender's Game a great deal but were only marginally interested in Speaker. If you were one of those readers, do not read this book. It's not more Ender; it is more Speaker. Don't pick up this book thinking it's a quick read: it's not. It is longer and more didactic as Publisher's Weekly correctly pointed out, without any of the pacing that was so exhilarating in Ender's Game.READ MORE AT INCHOATUS.COM",2.0,Yuck.,1092009600,"08 9, 2004",7,13,helpful,0.5384615384615384,1 A1K1JW1C5CUSUZ,1580080081,"Donald Mitchell ""Jesus Loves You!""","[12, 16]","I was uncertain how to rate this book. Compared to other job-hunting guides I have read, it is the best. So it didn't seem fair not to give it a five star rating. On the other hand, compared to what is needed, this book is mired in stalled thinking of the past.Let me talk about the good first. The book is pretty good on goal setting. Its first piece of major advice is to decide what you have to offer the world. Many people fail to self-assess and become stuck in misconceptions about what their job potentials are. Most people can do more than they think they can. In a tight job market like today, chances are you can get some flexible responses if you look for them.On the other hand, I thought the third major piece of advice was much more relevant: Go after organizations that interest you the most. Companies are increasingly hiring for attitude, and plan to work with you to add the necessary skills. If you find organizations that turn you on, chances are they will turn you on, too. The current thinking is that companies should have exciting purposes that make a job more like a meaningful adventure. I'd start there, if I were you.In fact, I was surprised to see the emphasis on skills in this book. That's certainly relevant, but it has not been a dominant factor except for certain types of engineers in over five years. Does Bolles do any new research on the job market before writing each volume?The best part of the book related to encouraging people to find their mission in life. That's something that most people never do. If you just read that section (inexplicably located near the back of the book -- I'd have put it up front) and apply it, you will more than have gotten your benefit from this book. A good related volume on that subject is Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins.Now, on the negative side, the book assumes that you are suddenly on the street and have to find a job quickly. Or so it seems, because there is little in the book that suggests how to prepare to be very hireable when you have a job and are not looking. That's when you can do the most good by accomplishing things that will impress future employers, raising your visibility, networking with people who can give you job leads in the future, and so forth.Also, the book is awfully complacent about having found the best method for getting a new job. But it doesn't mention the idea of being so much in demand that you are always getting feelers so you never have to look for a job. That works 100 percent of the time.The advice for getting a job is to find people who can hire and demonstrate skills that can help them to meet their goals. That assumes that those hiring can link you and your job to their goals. That's assuming a lot. I think that better advice would be for them to see you as someone who helps them feel more confident they can accomplish something they care about. That might be simply getting home to dinner with the family on time.Here's a particularly critical point: What is the environment like in the company? This book treats employers like they are undifferentiated in many ways. Actually, they are more different from one another than they are similar. The advice on how to find out more about big companies before pursuing them is very good.Despite my reservations, there's a lot of value in here. Good luck in finding an irresistible job! But banish your stalled thinking first!",5.0,Retrospective Look At What Have Been Some Good Practices,959817600,"06 1, 2000",12,16,helpful,0.75,1 A3USZE85GAEOCN,1587368013,CUCHO,"[5, 7]","Six diagrams on the left, six short solutions on the right. What's so original? The diagrams are strewn at random, an easy fork, a deep combination, a bit of opening theory, what ever. It's as if you had wandered into a club and started looking over shoulders. That means one must study EVERYTHING before thinking of an answer. Not unlike real life. The author says to cover the right hand page with a card; well of course. The problems are very well selected. I think that I might learn something here.",5.0,"AN ORIGINAL, & HELPFUL, IDEA!",1207440000,"04 6, 2008",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3O2RCKAMSE9X7,0374528373,Martin Asiner,"[6, 8]","Reading THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a journey through the human soul with no signposts along the way. To stay on the path requres firm reason, so we think, but when the signs fall down, we are left only with faith to guide our way. Dostoevsky well understood the limitations of reason as an infallible guide in maintaining our human institutions of family and justice. The Karamazov family is the living symbol of a family and a society that runs only inefficiently at best and malicioucly at worst.Each member of the Karamazov family is a distinct character type, with each type hiding a series of conflicting and mutually exclusive traits. From the first few pages, we can see that in this clan at least the cement that binds the family is not based on just reason, nor on a sustaining faith that there is a divine guiding principle hovering above everyone, but upon a rigid but flawed reason that dictates that the patriarch must be right in all matters. Later, reason again is assailed in the court trial of Dmitri when reason points to him as the killer of his father, but the true murderer escapes legal justice only to punish himself with suicide, a form of divine justice.Fyodor Karamazov is nobody's idea of a caring and nurturing patriarch. He is a caricature of a gross, insensitive, control freak who sees no reason why he should not be a sexual libertine as well. But he is the family head, and in the Russian culture of the era, that made him the unquestioned leader. His three sons are conflicting and confusing complexes of a life suffered under Fyodor's cruel hand. Dmitri, the eldest, sees clearly his father's faults, while acknowledging that he himself has inherited some of his vilest ones, yet he also knows that within himself is a counterbalancing core of goodness. Ivan, the middle son, is the poet/seer/intellectual of the family. Although he has no direct role in his father's murder, he cannot absolve himself of at least moral culpability. Later, Dostoevski chooses Ivan to be in the fugue Grand Inquisitor scene to stand trial with only Ivan and his personal devils in court. And there is the youngest, Alyosha, one who is good, noble, and trusting. It is only Alyosha who is capable of allowing faith to triumph over reason.Each of the three brothers is a study in a complexity of contrasts. Each asks himself questions that form the spiritual underpinning of the novel, namely what is the proper role that one should find in the eternal battle between faith, reason, evil, and God. The father, of course, is too course to even think on such a plane. Dmitri can ask himself only a limited variety, most of which relate only to his own often contrary behavior. Ivan's questions are more probing than those of his brother's, but they too are limited to what he sees as the proper role of church to state. It is Alyosha who is able to ponder the most serious and profound questions of his family: where does man's faith in reason end and where does his faith in faith begin? By the end of the novel, each brother has seen at least a partial unlifting of the stifling veil of reason. In THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV, Dostoevsky takes the reader to where the Karamazov brothers have painfully arrived and hopes that this reader's journey may have had more deeply entrenched moral signposts.",5.0,"When Reason Fails, Faith Enters",1155686400,"08 16, 2006",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A2F6N60Z96CAJI,0641934173,Bookreporter,"[7, 14]","A society of magicians meets each month in 1806, in York, England. They can't actually work magic, but they study the history of the practice. When newcomer John Segundus joins the group, he asks a nave yet pertinent question: Why is magic no longer practiced in England? The query throws the club into an uproar. Although they don't actually know the answer, the irate members respond defensively, asking Segundus why magicians must practice magic when it is their duty to study it.One magician, Honeyfoot, sides with Segundus. The two seek out and visit a magician named Norrell, who is a stranger to the group. Visiting Norrell is a mysterious experience full of happenings the two men can't explain to the York group. But one message strikes home: Mr. Norrell can actually PRACTICE magic.The group challenges Mr. Norrell, who strikes a bargain with them. He will prove he can practice magic or never again call himself a magician. But in return, they must do the same. All the magicians but Segundus sign the agreement. When Mr. Norrell (from the comfort of his own home) causes all the cathedral statues to come alive, he and Segundus become the only magicians left in Yorkshire.Mr. Norrell moves to London in his quest to bring magic back to England. Segundus has written a letter to the London newspapers describing Mr. Norrell's amazing feat of magic. London society welcomes Mr. Norrell, but when he offers his assistance in the war efforts with France, he is rebuffed and told that magic is not respectable. That opinion is reversed, however, when Mr. Norrell raises a government official's fiancée from the dead. The British ministers immediately begin to argue over which of Britain's dead leaders Mr. Norrell should resurrect...until Mr. Norrell mentions the phrase ""condition of the body."" Oh, dear. On to Plan B!Meanwhile, a young man named Jonathan Strange meets a street sorcerer who prophesies that Strange will be one of the two great magicians of England. On a whim (and mostly to impress the woman he hopes to marry), he announces his intention to study magic. Easygoing Strange becomes persnickety Norrell's pupil. An evil force is about. Norrell bargains with it, but it is Strange whose personal life is most affected.When Strange joins the troops on the battlefield to lend a magical hand, the commanding officer, Lord Wellington, asks hopefully, ""Can a magician kill a man by magic?"" Strange replies, ""I suppose a magician might...but a gentleman never could."" Yet he assists the war effort in many sometimes droll and sometimes nightmarish ways.Fans of Dickens and Austen will dive headfirst into this book, but I must confess that I found the beginning a long, hard slog. It is a hefty, dense and heavily footnoted text, and I initially found the authorial voice to be intrusive and annoying. However, somewhere before the 100-page mark, I fell happily in love with the story and greedily devoured the remainder. (Readers who stumble in the early chapters should consider forging ahead; I guarantee it's worth the effort.)This is an amazingly detailed, ornate tapestry of a saga with shimmering moments of wry humor, threaded through with true tragedy. It is fantasy and historical fiction realistically combined and worth pondering, and sure to become a classic. I admitted that it was a slow read for me at the very beginning; after the middle, I dawdled for a different reason. I simply could not bear to see the end of the story approaching. There is a magician alive and well in England today --- Susanna Clarke, author of JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL. Long may she continue to enchant her readers!--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)",4.0,An enchanting combination of fantasy and historical fiction,1096588800,"10 1, 2004",7,14,helpful,0.5,1 A30MUATECVKL00,B00C2ELC1I,S. Idell,"[9, 9]","There are many elements in this story which show promise, but the author isn't quite there yet. I suspect that many folks will immediately latch on to some of the Murakamian similarities- and between the rhythm and the male/female dynamics present in the story, there are quite a few- but regardless of the influence present here, it actually reminds me more of an Isaka Kotaro mystery novel. The prose is sharp and clear, the plot is compelling, and the characters are fully-fleshed, but much of the actual content either lacks subtlety is simply a bit too melodramatic or heavy-handed. This is a very readable piece, and was enjoyable (hence the three stars), but I suspect I would be more interested in the writing of Mr. Okubo a few years down the line, when both his vision and voice have matured into something of their own.I will say, though, that I will likely remember the author's name. Which is not a bad result for a first publication.",3.0,A Valiant Effort,1367193600,"04 29, 2013",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A3FJOMR5A8BNJT,1442346272,DrG,"[0, 0]",A really good book and it gives the reader a real feel for its subject and how he went on to be both creative and difficult in life..a must read...,5.0,Steve Jobs,1358380800,"01 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3MYQI7BW7A92J,B00E9HG86U,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I'm glad my main man K'wan looked out for his fans by not letting us suffer a whole year without something to wet our appetites. My hunger & thirst was well satisfied with this dessert of perfection. 5 Stars and nothing less!!!~ Dolla aka Lawrence,5.0,Long Live The Don!!!,1375315200,"08 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJOLE7WLNKFYM,0451169514,JayStizzle,"[16, 35]","I was very eager to read this novel. I have read many books, works of fiction and non-fiction, however this was my first time reading a Stephen King novel. Being around the Halloween time period I was in the mood to be SCARED. Who better than Stephen King to get me in the spirit? With so many glowing reviews on so many of his books I thought that maybe this could be the start of something beautiful, a Stephen King reading spree. I chose IT as my introduction novel because perhaps more than any of his books this seemed to have the most praise.Very rarely will I give a book a 1 star review. I have a great appreciation for authors and can't imagine how intelligent one must be to craft a story and a world so dense and lifelike. That being said, this book was a farce. If I could have given it 0 stars, I would have. Reasons as follows:- IT'S NOT SCARY. Not once during this book did I feel afraid of anything. Isn't that the supposed staple of Stephen King? No tense moments, no fear to read the next sentence, NOTHING!- Tired literary techniques. This book uses all the textbook tricks of cliffhangers. Hinting at something mysterious that makes no sense, coming back to mention it 200 pages later with ever so slightly more detail, and then another 200 pages later, etc. I understand this part of literature, and I don't always despise it....But when the majority of a novel is made up of this technique AND all of these ""secrets"" turn out to be something utterly disappointing...you feel cheated.- One dimensional characters. I am probably a little picky on my characters. I want them to be real people containing elements of good and bad, heroism and humility. Not here. Everyone in this book comes out of a can. You've got the class clown, the bully, the abusive father, the stuttering hero. It was very hard to relate to anyone as a REAL PERSON.- It's too long. I did read the whole novel. This review is not written based on me giving up after a couple hundred pages. That being said, once I finished it was clear to me that probably half the book could have been omitted. I also feel that certain portions of the story should have been enhanced to greater detail. Too much time and effort was spent on insignificant plot while other elements clearly deserved more detail and explaining.*SPOILER ALERT*- The gang bang (or ""running train"") on an 11 year old girl. Let me say that I have no problem with gratuitous sex in literature. I really have a very low filter for everything I read. Never have I come across something and turned away because it was offensive or over the top. This however, was completely unnecessary to the story arc. I really have no idea why this was in the book at all. To garner attention or controversy? To hopefully sell more copies? When I made it to this passage I was actually laughing out loud because I had realized how absurd the novel had become at this point.I am truly confused on how this book has so many fantastic reviews. Maybe it's the same reason that the top ranked shows on television are ""American Idol"" and ""Honey Boo Boo"". Do people just fall in love with trash?My advice - If you are a true fan of literature and story building. STAY AWAY FROM THIS BOOK. I won't be dipping my toe in anything Stephen King ever again.",1.0,Seriously?? That was It????,1354838400,"12 7, 2012",16,35,helpful,0.45714285714285713,1 A1E773IXJRLMDS,1883319021,"Erik C. Pihl ""Readerman""","[0, 0]","This book is exactly what it purports to be: a ""picture"" book. The pictures, in this case, are those of people in action and, while it's hard to capture the idea of movement in still photographs, this book probably does it as well as could be done. For Aikidoists and others interested in the more ""artsy"" side of martial arts, this is an excellent place to start.",5.0,"pictures, pictures, pictures",1271203200,"04 14, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2Z4KA3EFQWZOX,0307279251,Seth J. Frantzman,"[13, 13]","In this eye-opening account of the Holocaust and the Second World War in France and the interwar years in that country we are given a great insight into the life of Louis Darquier de Pellepoix, who himself is partly a symbol of France itself or perhaps the underbelly of Franc. Louise Darquier was a minor Frenchman from a small town south of Paris and had served in World War One. He had a plethora of family members and contacts but he chose to marry a strange and slightly insane English woman and spend the post-war years wandering the world to Australia and the U.K.Having evnetually settled in France in the 1930s he became a rabid anti-semite and befriended the various right wing veterans movements fighting in the streets agains the government of Leon Blum. When Vichy fell in 1940 the Nazis plucked him out of obscurity to head up the department of Jewish affairs. He set to work extorting Jews and eventually deporting them to their deaths. At the end of the war he fled to Spain where he lived out the rest of his years into the 1970s. He never gave up his anti-Semitism, eventually turning it into anti-Israel rhetoric.This is a brilliant popular book, an investigation of family and life, a true picture of an age and a tragedy. This book reads like fiction, and could have been such if it were not a true story based one exhaustive research. THe Footnotes are veritable encyclopedia of inter-war french anti-semitism.Seth J. Frantzman",5.0,Brilliant read,1163721600,"11 17, 2006",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A1IR02KH67S0MN,0810980452,"Patricia ""Marine Mom""","[23, 28]","I am an avid reader of the WWW site, but was extremely disappointed with this book. As a mature woman, it was geared to twenty-somethings. The part on interpreting runway views to the real world was OK, but only three examples were given. In reviewing the ""looks"" for different occasions, they were for a very young crowd and very casual, bordering on messy in some cases. The model's hair and makeup were not done and she is standing knock-kneed and looks way too thin for interpretation in the real world. In addition, most of the looks would work on the east or west coast, but would not play in the midwest unless you were working in fashion. Some of the looks, like the ""on the plane"" look were outright wrong. Never be sloppy when you are flying unless you are on a private plane -you never know who you may run into that can help your career. I doubt if a powerful person who could be a potential employer or mentor would take you seriously in ripped jeans and Chuck Taylor's. This book does a disservice to any young woman (and does not even apply to anyone over 30) who not only wants to look contemporary and fashion savvy, but wants to move forward in her career. If you want just a casual trendy look - head for the magazine rack or better yet - to the internet, at least it is free. I read every book, magazine and website there is devoted to fashion and style and this was a big waste of money and time.",1.0,Don't waste your money if you are over 29!!!!,1252281600,"09 7, 2009",23,28,helpful,0.8214285714285714,1 A1RNINNVSP3H1E,0316807222,Middle School Student,"[0, 0]","i think Maniac MaGee was one of the best books i have ever read. i thkn this, because i think this book has a good message about racism.i also think it was really emotional and has a good plot to it. i recomend this book to anyone who likes a good story.",5.0,Maniac MaGee,1086307200,"06 4, 2004",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36KCYMSJKF5NP,0393089134,Chris Foreman,"[0, 1]","Boy, that Burgess has some nerve! First, he gets us to like this ultraviolent teenager due to the fun narration, then he encourages us to feel sorry for him when Big Government intervenes and prevents him from acting as he would wish! Outstanding story and language...just one thing, couldn't Burgess have left the final chapter out, as Stanley Kubrick did in the film? I love how the final made me wonder about Alex, where the novel tried to make amends.",5.0,Excellent!,965779200,"08 9, 2000",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3W3YFIBQ8T9C5,0988436949,Kathy L,"[0, 0]","This is the third in the Heat Wave series and I think it tops my list. Each book has great scenes with the hero and heroine but I think Kevin and Sam are my favorite. We met Kevin Mazze, the Italian stud, from Erik and Kat's story and I was so look forward to seeing him get his HEA. Sam Wallace is the spunky building inspector that throws him for a loop.I really enjoyed this story and hope that Steve will get a story and who would be is soul mate. I'm thinking someone who like to get dirty since he rides dirt bikes. One can only hope. Alannah Lynne did a fabulous job and I can't wait for the next story.",5.0,Crossing Lines for Love,1388880000,"01 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A31XW1RTQ4ZG9W,0553391135,C. Yates,"[0, 1]","Rose Harbor Inn is a very busy place during the summer months as it ahs the very best view of the cove. Rose has a handy man who is very mysterious and won't reveal anything personal about himself which keeps Rose very curious...as the weekend arrives Rose has a young woman, Eleanor or Ellie, come to stay so she can meet a young man she has been talking with on line and has never met...she thinks she has fallen in love with him and he with her. They have a marvelous time together...until he reveals a secret to her. Now What!!A young couple comes to stay at the inn who are having marital problems and trying to renew their love for each other. There ismuch tension. The woman becomes sick and needs rest and has difficulty holding down her food. The couple does the touristy thing but tensions grow worse. Now What!!!Reading Debbie Macomber's books is always a sweet treat. You can see the cove and the town stores and the people become personal friends...the book flows and the story line is always true to life. My book came from Amazon and you must read this book this summer so order right away from Amazon.",5.0,Love Letters: A Rose Harbor Novel,1404086400,"06 30, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1GDPB4W1YUCUP,1878087290,R. S. Rehmel,"[8, 10]",I am a hobbist who recently got into building model engines. I have purchased many of Gingeries books through Lindsay Publishing. It is written for the lay person as well as the expert. Instead of trying to impress you with his genuis his genuis is that the entire book is lay out with step by step well thought out steps.,5.0,Gingery is excellent,1229126400,"12 13, 2008",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 AI1JXIIF2S73,0684824906,Uitlander,"[16, 23]","This extraordinary history of the Lincoln administration will surely become the authoratative source on a little explored subject. Goodwin brings Lincoln's cabinet to life. The major figures are given personalities and families for us to consider. The research required for such a study took ten years, but this book is well worth your time. I will never again think of Lincoln without remembering the men he worked with to win the war.What was the major political issue of the time? The same theme that present day Civil War buffs argue about- ie. was the fight about union or slavery? There was not much agreement in the camps and Lincoln's greatness was to keep both on his side. Lincoln's political alacrity is an aspect few people realized- then or now.My favorite vignette: Abe at age 6 or 7 listening to adult stories around the fireplace and then translating them into kidspeak so that he could take the stump and charm the neighborhood. This skill served him well all his political life.However, the single big thing one takes from Team of Rivals is the remarkable personality of the President. As pundits point out, character matters. Lincoln's character approaches sainthood. Here's a leader who appointed his rivals to his cabinet and seemingly enjoyed the interplay of opinion. He even tolerated Salmon Chase to seek the presidency in the 1864 election while still serving as Treasury Secretary. Lincoln insisted on meeting with countless numbers of critics, petioners and common folk. He walked battlefields and fraternized with troops. He answered his opponents with honest explanations of the necessity to balance influence. In short, he played to the sensible moderates, not the crazies in the wings. This is a great book about the greatest President.",5.0,Exceptional Book About a Crucial Time,1132876800,"11 25, 2005",16,23,helpful,0.6956521739130435,1 A1T212NQU1KDNE,0983492700,Sandra Billings,"[0, 0]",Just about quit reading this book several times. Seems the story did not start rolling until the last few chapter's. Way to much legal mumble jumble for the average reader. Slow story.,2.0,Too much legal talk.,1404604800,"07 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AN4ZE5MO8Z1IU,0195313666,Christian Schlect,"[15, 18]","Professor McPherson is our best living historian of the Civil War period.His informed insights, as presented in these varied and well-written essays, will be helpful to all but the firmly closed-minded.Truth does win out. Lincoln was a wise politician and Grant a very good general. The South lost, and we are a better country for that signal fact.",5.0,A Mighty Perspective,1173052800,"03 5, 2007",15,18,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A35C9JHFY8ICTE,1414375557,"Marilyn ""Marilyn Kitchell, book reviewer""","[0, 0]","This is basically a good book. However, as the publisher is from a Christian background, I was disappointed that it was more like a romance novel that was clean, and a few Christian references or thoughts in it.The book is well written but the romance overshadows any faith in it ...",3.0,Born of Persuasion 1,1402185600,"06 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2J1W1V4M2KQG5,B0035LDNV4,A Customer,"[0, 1]","awesome! i loved this book, i bought it on my kindle cuz i was bored and didnt expect to like it but was amazed cant wait to get the next one :)",5.0,Prophecy: Child of Light,1268352000,"03 12, 2010",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3INMIZIYJ9BQ4,1455599492,"Judi Fryer ""Judi, Entertainment-glutton""","[8, 11]","....from the description of this book that it was going to be frustrating and irritating to read. The blurb tells us that Grace Reinhart Sachs is a therapist who wrote a self-help book for women entitled 'You Should Have Known', but it also continues on to tell us that about her own life there is a lot that SHE should have known how to handle, but she doesn't. A perfect set up for frustration on the part of the reader. Seemingly Grace is a successful modern woman who for some reason has mostly remained swaddled in a routine for years. Quite a paradox, and ultimately just a bewildering, boring one.This is the first book I have endeavored to read by Jean Hanff Korelitz and will likely be my last effort. Her writing style could be described as meandering, but better described as unfocused and uninteresting.Sorry to say I was not compelled to finish the book, but rather driven to put it down and avoid it like the plaque. Sometimes when I don't like a book, I do realize that there might be other readers who will enjoy it immensely. I am devoid of ideas as to just what type of reader that would be in the case of this book. Sorry, but I just can't recommend it. I realize often reviews that are this negative just turn people off. But I feel it is only fair to be completely honest about disappointing novels like this. It doesn't feel right to encourage people to spend hard earned money that can't be promised to be well spent.",2.0,I should have known.....,1395878400,"03 27, 2014",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A1AZM1Q340AF8R,1481239406,Birdie Brooks,"[0, 0]",A very heartwarming story. The pain she felt came through on every page. Each character felt so real as if you new them personally.,5.0,All for Anna,1378512000,"09 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SSFXQRVO8JBZ,1492153117,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed the book a lot. Incorporated some British history along the way. There were a few typos along the way that could use refinement.,4.0,Good Read,1384646400,"11 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BMHPY14L8UKE,1564774104,sandygoshorn,"[0, 0]","OR WANNA-BE QUILTERS!Reversible Quilts by Sharon Pederson is absolutely filled with patterns with simple, easy to follow directions that produce the greatest results! Sharon Pederson has removed the mystic and shown how easy it is to have stunning reversible results. I recommend this book for anyone who quilts or would like to.",5.0,A SUPER BOOK FOR QUILTERS. . .,1358294400,"01 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A9LAQ8I40ACQG,0439755409,"kittycat ""KC""","[5, 9]","Its been a year, and its time for the Tuttle girls to head back to the beach. Kelsi still doesn't know what happened with Ella and Peter, but that changes soon upon their arrival. Furious, Kelsi shuns Ella and puts her own chance for a relationship at risk. Ella, meanwhile, is attracted to a shy, slightly geeky guy, who is the only person she's ever met who can resist her charms. Beth has a great relationship with Greg, but he's not here this summer.....will she be able to resist a tall, dark stranger at the beach?",3.0,slowly getting better,1120003200,"06 29, 2005",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A30VDEI5QH993E,0836207785,Joshua Burnett,"[17, 38]","Mallard Fillmore is the most unfunny comic strip of all time. Although I almost never agree with its politics, that's not my real problem with it. My real problem is that it takes one [bad] joke and repeats it with slightly different wording every single day for a week or longer. And the jokes are almost never funny to begin with. The only funny thing about Mallard Fillmore is laughing at how unfunny it is.And besides, although Tinsley may seem to think he's wickedly skewering liberals, his satire is trite and predictable. He rarely strays from the obvious targets - political correctness, Clinton, self-absorbed news anchors. Yawn. It's all been done before by far cleverer satirists.",1.0,yawn.,1010102400,"01 4, 2002",17,38,helpful,0.4473684210526316,1 A1PE0FJQE7F5ZV,0451419715,Mepw/Lucy,"[0, 0]","I really really enjoyed this book. The first book was equally good so I am excited for another one to follow. I'm definitely going to read more of her books. I loved the caricatures in the story, you feel a real connection to them.",5.0,Great Read!,1381017600,"10 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3EPHBMU07LZ50,B0073X0HSC,Mysterious Reviewer,"[28, 28]","It seems the inexpensive Gooseberry Patch cookbooklets have an active index at the back of the book. You will have to go to location 264 to find the click able index. It would have been helpful to have an active Table of Contents (TOC) at the beginning of the book rather than an active index at the end.Once you find the click able index, you will see about 25 recipes for brownies and bar cookies. Some of the recipes included in the cookbooklet include:Spicy Hot BrowniesPeppermint Bark BrowniesPumpkin Cheesecake BarsIrish Cream BarsFavorite Zucchini BrowniesGingerbread BrowniesCandy Bar BrowniesCranberry Popcorn BarsEasy Butterscotch BarsAll the recipes look yummy and easy to make.Recommend with caveats given.",4.0,NO TOC Index at the back of the book,1336521600,"05 9, 2012",28,28,helpful,1.0,1 A3SULW2PRZQ11M,1614272352,jayesem,"[12, 16]","This book provides wise, loving, Biblical counsel to parents who are searching for direction. Reading this book requires concentration, but it is well worth it. Mr. Trumbull writes with maturity, experience, and kindness. His love for children is profound. This is an encouraging and helpful book. It is more of a philosophy than a "quick fix." A mainstay in our home library.",5.0,Refreshing viewpoint...a real keeper,1078444800,"03 5, 2004",12,16,helpful,0.75,1 A3DHLK8J85U32F,B00DFIE80W,"RueRue ""RueRue""","[6, 6]","I love the Jack Reacher books and haven't been disappointed in any of them, until now. The idea of a 16 year old Jack taking on *spoiler* the mob was just too much of a strain. The end of the story was anti-climatic. I still love Jack, and just hope this was a "blip" in the fabulous series.",2.0,Definitely disappointing,1376092800,"08 10, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A7KXWFWP5OW69,0312555938,Rostislav,"[6, 10]","This book was written before CPUSA has endorsed the beloved 2012 star of the Left, which makes the true meaning of the title much more sinister: in reality it appeared to be not so Left turn, as the Red one, and of the most deep Communist hue, at that. Such a rapid development of events doesn't make this excellent book a bit less thrilling, especially for the readers like me who had to spend the larger part of their lives under Communism. On the contrary: parallels between the old Red media bias of ours and the new Red media bias of the USA are extremely eloquent! Of course, our ""Right"" were clandestine or in emigration, and our ""Left"" (from Pravda to Izvestia) never had any dissonance between editorials and news, like the WSJ enjoys, but it's about the only differences I could notice, while reading Mr. Groseclose's fine research. Even the USSR journalists' reaction was similar with that of their American Red colleagues: they were absolutely sure about absence of any bias in their writings, party tickets or not.Nevertheless, there IS one big difference between my Soviet experience and the situation in the book. It is not the media, but the reader. After decades of an intensive propaganda, our Soviet reader was 100% cynical, used to believe his/her own brains only, and was reading media, both Left and Right, only as a kind of honing whetstone to sharpen their personal views, and for nothing else (except - well, I blush to say it, but we had no toilet paper in the USSR, so... - but, I repeat, it was the often sad fate of both Pravda and émigré papers). The natural question is, of course: and what kind of ""personal views"" this cynical reader has? Mr. Groseclose's book gave me and my friends the great possibility to test our views with a help of the wise instrument [...] - and, my, wasn't it a revelation for each one of us! Carefully answering his questionnaire about voting for different spending laws, we were using only our simple, but hard-earned family experience (like ""never make your wife angry buying a bottle of vodka, when she has no money for tomorrow's milk"") - and, as the result, all four of us got... Michele Bachmann PQ!!! That is, we, four average Russians with domestic ""golden middle"" views, would be counted as the most extreme of extreme Right in the USA - we at once felt an inclination to speak between ourselves only in whispers, like real outcasts should! No, the book is really priceless and I am sure that I'll be returning to its thought-provoking pages many times in future, - as far as this future looks more and more seducing for enthusiasts of media bias everywhere, be it my country or the USA. Rostislav, Saint-Petersburg, Russia.",5.0,"""Red Turn"" would be more correct",1358208000,"01 15, 2013",6,10,helpful,0.6,1 A1DXTMVT8E81QT,1565129296,"Bob Rosen ""metroart""","[7, 8]","SPOILER ALERTMr. Skibell may be a brilliant and inventive writer, and his sentences sparkle with a wicked sense of humor, but, alas, he's also incredibly self-indulgent and tiresome.The best part (Part 1) turns the history of psychoanalysis on its head. According to which Freud abandoned his ""seduction theory"" (his female hysterics were suffering from repressed memories of actual familial sexual abuse) and focused instead on his patient's repressed sexual fantasies. But here Skibell fantasizes a parallel universe in which the Herr Doktor abandons the notion of repression altogether, forced to accept the astounding Truth that his most famous patient, Emma Eckstein, has been possessed by a dybbuk, who turns out to be none other than the dead wife of Dr. Sammelsohn, Skibell's fictional schlemiel hero.Some of this is indeed hysterically funny. But having pulled off this fantastical joke, he tries to do it all over again in Part 2, this time with the early history of Esperanto, the invention of another Jewish doctor. Once again, the inept Dr. Sammelsohn blunders into a frustrating erotic obsession with a female devotee of the Master. But this time, it's not in the least funny. It goes on and on, and the satirical depiction of the fanatical attempt to bring about world peace through a common lingua franca (and the bumbling attempts of the hero to insert his tongue into the elusive object of his desire) soon wears very thin.Esperanto's nave idealism is way too easy a target for derision, and the author spends way too much time detailing the petty internal dissensions and nasty anti-Semitism that poisoned the movement from within. The book rambles and digresses, and I got bored with the endless litany of the hero's own romantic delusions and comic humiliations. A depressing sense of failure and doom settled over the whole narrative. How much longer will this go on?I began to skim, and after 400+ pages, I peeked at the ending to see where it was all heading... to the Warsaw ghetto no less. The final cruel cosmic joke. I'd had enough and threw in the towel.",3.0,Comic brilliance spoiled,1319155200,"10 21, 2011",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A2ONKI45I2DC9Z,0764136747,Jay G Thompson,"[29, 31]","Yes, 5 stars! Pound for pound (and dollar for dollar) this is one of the best books on marine reef keeping you can buy.I own several reef and aquarium books. They range from the brilliant, to the not-so-swift-waste-of-money types. The "Marine Reef Aquarium Handbook" by Robert J. Goldstein ranks waaaay up the list, kept from the top only because of its brevity.This book touches on a LOT of topics, and it covers them in enough detail to really help you understand and apply what you need to keep your reef (or any aquarium) running well. Due to its (somewhat) small size, it does not cover topics in great detail. Depending on what you want, that may or may not be a good thing. There is however, enough information, written in plain English, for any aquarium keeper--from rank beginner, to the Old Man in the Sea--to learn something new.No, this book doesn't contain the depth of information that one of those $80 marine reef books does. But it contains a wealth of information and will send you well on your way to starting up a reef or maintaining your current reef. Even if you're just looking for an interesting read, you can't go wrong with the "Marine Reef Aquarium Handbook" by Robert J. Goldstein.",5.0,Five stars?,985564800,"03 26, 2001",29,31,helpful,0.9354838709677419,1 A18HU6QC6PKAVB,B00AB1ON3S,A Wyoming Reader,"[0, 0]","Yellowstone Heart Song, the first in the Yellowstone Romance Series, will get you hooked. Please read all 5 books in the series before you read A Yellowstone Christmas. It is a perfect ending to an exciting series about Yellowstone National Park and the Madison Valley. If you have visited Yellowstone National Park - this series will keep you reading and reading until you finish the series. Thanks Peggy, for more wonderful adventures to come.",5.0,Perfect Ending to a Great Series,1402444800,"06 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ME8QMG05MGY9,0312273312,"Theresa Reed ""The Tarot Lady""","[4, 5]","I really enjoyed this book - gorgeous photos, detailed instructions, and some super beginning routines. The "Pose and Repose" section is my favorite - it gives alot of great advice on each pose - and his tips for people with back issues will be much appreciated. Anyone who is interested in yoga would benefit from owning this book.",5.0,A beautiful introduction,1012348800,"01 30, 2002",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3HV65UZ6CSHR6,B0093TFV08,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",It was good not great. That's about all I can say about it... It did have action in the whole book.,3.0,Good,1390780800,"01 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GMEINCMIGJJD,0764569147,Victoria A. Griffith,"[65, 65]","If you're not fortunate enough to have a grandmother or auntie who can sit down and teach you how to knit, this book is the next best thing. I've looked through a hundred knitting books and almost all of them have a lame little introductory chapter on how-to. Not this book -- this has explicit photographs that show you very clearly what each and every step is. It has a cool graphic on some of the photographs kind of like an improved version of the glowing red light on the hockey puck -- it helps you know where you should be focused. The projects in the book are so-so -- not bad, but definitely not as hip as those in Stitch n Bitch or Knit Wit, two of my other favorites. Again, if you're trying to teach yourself how to knit, this is THE BEST book out there. Get yourself some other books for project ideas, but get this one for the basics.",5.0,*best* knitting book on the market for beginners,1098403200,"10 22, 2004",65,65,helpful,1.0,1 A58PJRJ4WB07U,B007ZTKOR8,Delta_S,"[9, 11]","2.5 starsDanielle (Dani) Jordan was running away from trouble and tragedy when she started working at the Diamond Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Jace Diamond, owner of the casino, was determined to have Danielle from the time he saw her sunbathing at the hotel's pool. Fireworks spark between the two and a stormy relationship ensues. When a stalker from Danielle's past suddenly appears, Dani's happiness and her life are threatened. Will Jace and Dani trust one another to confront the threat together, or will they continue to have doubts about each other?Although the plot of ""Fair Play"" is interesting, much of the book belabored the contrived conflict between Jace and Dani as Dani initially fought her attraction to Jace and then wrote him off without giving him a chance to explain himself when she suspected him of being unfaithful. The fighting-attraction-misunderstanding conflict is a little over used and annoying in my opinion, but might have worked more if the two main characters were better developed.The book starts with an opening scene that sets up the mutual attraction between Dani and Jace. After that the plot dragged so slowly that I almost quit reading 25 percent into the book. Once the real action kicked in that involves the threat from Dani's past, the plot was engaging enough that I finished the book. The action and pace at the ending redeems the story.",3.0,Gambling With Her Heart at the Diamond Casino...,1371945600,"06 23, 2013",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A3GJKZSBHXKXOG,0786868198,chanda ekker,"[0, 0]","This was a fun chic-lit novel. Candace Bushnell created Sex in the City so if you're familiar with the show you have a pretty good idea what this novel is like. Despite it's length, this is a two-day read at most. It's brainless and fun and provided a welcome respite for my overtaxed brain. There's nothing wrong with a little brain candy now and then!",3.0,Brain Candy,1357430400,"01 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A37NW5F00LOLRZ,0451236092,Babyboomama,"[0, 0]","I loved reading this novel. The only thing I don't like about were novels are that they always have women as inferior to men. bleh. Otherwise, good writing.",5.0,Great novel,1365984000,"04 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AKY2XJLH415VN,0758219369,Y. Hood,"[4, 4]","I love J.S. Hawley's work thus far. But, I must say that there seemed to be flaws in this one. I loved the characters: Jai and Caleb. But the writing itself seemed somewhat schizophrenic. From one paragraph to the next I was often confused. I had to go back and read some sections more than once before it clicked. I think this might be an editing issue, however. It seems that portions of the story were simply missing. I wish Ms. Hawley would be given the opportunity to write a full-length novel because, clearly, she has many ideas in her head. By the end of the novel, I still did not understand fully what had happened with her company, I still was unsure about the mob connection, and, literally, from one paragraph to the next we jump 2 years. The book was everywhere. I found Come with Me an easier read. With all of that said, I would definitely read another one of her books.",4.0,Schizophrenic,1203033600,"02 15, 2008",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1DTASFO49YSHF,0345534956,"Kathryn A. Leroy ""dobiemomma""","[0, 0]","Although, I say that with every book, this is by far the Book I simply could not put down! The story, characters, suspense and on and on!! You'll LOVE this book!!!",5.0,The Best,1371686400,"06 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AUQTH3P2HX1T6,0061950726,"T. Shames ""Avid reader""","[0, 0]","The first half of the book held my interest, but eventually the plot seemed to work out too conveniently. It read more like a YA novel. Even though there were some hard things that happened to the children, the outcomes were remarkably sanguine. A nice, fast read, but nothing extraordinary.",3.0,Something like a young adult novel,1392681600,"02 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MZGM6YXHSEDH,B008KWVY8M,Jasmine,"[4, 7]","Two stars for Dena, Chet, Monty and Muffin. Lauren and Dylan had zero chemistry. I wanted to like this story but it just never took off for me. Chet and Dena had all of the sparks that the leads should have had. Maybe the book should've been about them instead. Lauren would've been better off with Monty, at leats they had chemistry. Dylan is by far her worst hero. It was better off as a free read with no ending.",2.0,Disapointed with Love After War.,1342656000,"07 19, 2012",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A28M74DM2T4VF1,0440504880,Dennis Weber,"[32, 35]","For one who has just watched his father die a miserable and lonely death in a nursing home and who is watching his mother die slowly the same way, this book gives me some hope that my child will not have to experience the same torture. The book is concise, factual, and to the point. It is informative, but does not try to persuade one way or the other. Humphry discusses dozens of methods of suicide and recommends the ones he thinks are best, and why they are. His book is a great help.",4.0,Routes to freedom and dignity,961113600,"06 16, 2000",32,35,helpful,0.9142857142857143,1 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0821779710,Harriet Klausner,"[7, 9]","After losing her son in a drowning accident and her husband soon after in a divorce, Charlotte Remington thinks she will never be happy again. That is until she meets Royce Maitland, who suffered similar losses. They eventually fall in love and marry living in her grandfather's mansion on Achoco Island while their Savannah home is renovated.When her grandfather dies, Charlotte expects to inherit one third of his estate with the rest going to her cousins Gib and Phyllida. Nobody is more shocked than Charlotte when she learns at the reading of the will that she inherited everything. Her cousins are livid and threaten to sue; shortly after someone shoots Royce. Evidence lead to the arrest of Gib, but he is more concerned over what the police will find in his room than the assault charge that he insists he did not do. While her beloved daughter remains on the island, Charlotte is on the mainland discovering some devastating news that leads her to believe death is on the move with her the people on the island a likely target.Wendy Corsi Staub writes a psychological suspense tale that pulls the reader deeply into the exhilarating story line. The characters are fully developed whether they are the protagonists or the antagonists although the audience will not be sure who to classify where. THE FINAL VICTIM is fast-paced and action-packed while focusing on a heroine who though she has suffered traumatically has courageously rebuilt her life and refuses to allow anyone to destroy it or those she cherishes.Harriet Klausner",5.0,superb psychological suspense,1144886400,"04 13, 2006",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A2RR2ZCPJETDWX,0312314221,"Kelly Erickson ""kelbow1600""","[4, 4]","I picked this one up at the library. It was spooky and charming. I guess I scare easily, because there were parts that I waited to read during the daytime, instead of before bedtime. I couldn't be as brave as those 3, seeing ghosts all over the place. I don't ever want to see a ghost, thank you very much.I think I am going to have to get the next one in this series. I just wish it came with a CD, so that I could hear what these songs sound like. I am assuming they are actual songs, right?",4.0,Charming and spooky,1143331200,"03 26, 2006",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1GK6JL1R772QV,0898152003,Electra,"[0, 0]","This book is hillarious! A must for anyone who drives the highways and byways in a rural or city area. I thought at first that my husband or father-in-law had written this book. Then I realized that I had not eaten any of these foods,since according to them I am a kill joy and won't let them scrape dead carcasses from the road and bring home. I guess they'll just have to figure out how to use these recipes for freshly killed and field dressed hunted creatures.Now if I could just get a how to freeze dry your husband's hunted meals................",5.0,Fire up the grill Hon!,1366416000,"04 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2Y4P4IV2B0D6O,0312537913,Michael Fleming,"[0, 1]","The Duluth detective Stride is not always the focus of this episode, although that's in line with the basic concern of Stride this time out -- His whole life has lost its focus, and it only gets worse as the story progresses. Two major plot lines and a couple of minor lines all expertly interwoven, a healthy dose of wayward affection, the usual Freeman can't-put-it-down phenomenon, and a good geography lesson of northeastern Minnesota all add up to a fine book.Don't start it if you can't stay up late tonight.",4.0,"One of the best Stride stories yet, and major changes in the running story line",1274054400,"05 17, 2010",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A13Y2U7LKNKI5F,1888047062,"Arlene Millman ""chyron24""","[5, 11]","Good overall dog training book, for young and old animals alike. Deals with bad habits, and little tricks of the trade. Arlene Millman, author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY (The tale of a remarkable Boston Terrier).",5.0,"Good overall training book, for young and old dogs alike",1046476800,"03 1, 2003",5,11,helpful,0.45454545454545453,1 A3PCSFLUDCINFJ,B0093MU7QS,,"[0, 0]",This was a short collections of jokes that I had not heard before.JUST OK . I think there could have been more jokes.,5.0,My. Review,1357257600,"01 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ATTLUK81FJVJ3,1439187207,Tom Bruce,"[0, 0]","I am somewhat familiar with the radio talk show host Glen Beck. While dialing across the frequencies, I have stumbled onto his show several times and spent some time listening to his rants and raves, his snide comments, his sarcastic attempts at humor. I don't understand why I picked up his book ""Snow Angel,"" but I shall be forever glad that I did. Yet, I find it hard to believe this is the same Glen Beck I heard on the radio. Still, it's his photo on the jacket cover and he is identified as a syndicated radio host. So, I guess it's him. But, it certainly doesn't read like the Beck I thought I knew. This is a book filled with compassion, deeply personal problems, love, and faith. It is the story of Rachel, an abused wife and daughter of an alcoholic abusive mother and a mostly absent father. Rachel struggles mightily to knuckle under to her domineering husband while protecting their daughter from the same abuse she suffered as a child. As her life spirals downward, she suddenly discovers she has two people outside her family on her side: her minister's wife and a tailor of custom-made suits who treats her like he is her second father. Then her daughter joins the mother in battle as Rachel's real father enters the character list. Now confined to a nursing home, he is suffering through the final stages of Alzheimer's disease and realizes he needs to connect with his daughter before it's too late. It is a compelling story with real-to-life participants. I was moved to my core as I read the final chapters. It might be a while before I pick up another Glen Beck book, because this was a difficult read. It tugged at the heartstrings. Tugged hard. Painfully so. Tearfully, as well. But, I am sure I will eventually look for another book by a man who is not what he seems. But, one who is much greater.",5.0,Really? That Glen Beck? Impossible.,1356393600,"12 25, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A23MBAWTS4NOVD,B0055JCFDQ,"B. Smith ""gamble""","[23, 26]","As a fan of independent werewolf novels I've developed a high tolerance for the sloppy editing you sometimes find in independent publishing. The occasional typo or awkward phrase doesn't hurt my enjoyment of a story. However, the Legacy of Kilkenny was simply unreadable. Never mind careless editing - this book is unedited. There are so many comma splices you'd think periods were being rationed by the government. Any standalone sentences that couldn't be glued together are liberally sprinkled with inappropriate commas. There are plenty of other problems with the book, but it's hard to comment on them fairly since reading The Legacy of Kilkenny is so painful that I'm going to cut my losses one-third of the way through and put it aside.",1.0,Unedited,1329350400,"02 16, 2012",23,26,helpful,0.8846153846153846,1 A1PCLZ8TOJOZ6V,B00CBPPNCM,Lese Forbes,"[0, 0]",DEFINITELY I WOULD READ THIS PLUS THE SEQUEL PLUS ANYTHING ELSE THAT KELLI WOLFE WRITES... THIS WAS A GOOD STORY I ENJOYED IT AND WOULD RECOMMEND IT. GOOD STUFF!!LESE FORBES,4.0,TAKING KELSEY BY KELLI WOLFE,1395014400,"03 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3HPZOW5IGFLU7,1118156315,Amazon Customer,"[4, 4]","Tim Clark has scored a home run with Business Model You. In this age of career uncertainty and life transitions for a substantial part of the population the Business Model canvas approach presents a welcome and needed alternative in the personal improvement, life planning genre.Business Model You has several unique elements. First, use of the Business Model Canvas for personal planning helps an individual understand how organizations and business operate. Second, the book challenges to the reader to understand one's current life and career situation. Last, and most, important the approach permits developing a future ""You"" canvas of goals, aspirations, and dreams.This book is suitable for those at life transitions such as completing high school, starting college, changing jobs, or even planning retirement. The high quality graphics make the book easy to read and use.",5.0,Very timely and needed book,1331337600,"03 10, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2OKJFQTNRR2US,0989530515,Eileen C. Fullbright,"[0, 0]",Had to give up reading (it) in bed at night and settle for lunchtime reading instead--scared me that much (and I'm not easily scared). But it's precisely because things like this have happened--and are still happening somewhere in the world--that this read is so unsettling (and only a very capable writer like Sirota can make it all feel so horribly real). Pick it up--you'll never forget Freedom's Hand (and you shouldn't).,5.0,A terrifying and necessary story,1382659200,"10 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXL1IF4889U7P,0307236056,Legal Knitter,"[21, 21]","I love this book. LOVE it. It is clever, thoughtful, visually beautiful, emotionally honest. There are great patterns that you can carefully follow, but even better, inspiration flying out of (nearly) every page; I'm ready to go out tomorrow and start armfuls of new projects.As a faithful reader of Kay and Ann's blog, I was pretty sure I would like the book, but I am blown away by what they've put together, and how special it is in the world of knitting books. Some of the best money I've ever spent!",5.0,The Knitting Book -- Reinvented,1143763200,"03 31, 2006",21,21,helpful,1.0,1 ANB54ZI1L2OA9,1463536984,Seasoned Shopper,"[0, 0]","I haven't read any other reviews, so I don't know what people generally think about this book, but I was captivated!I had no idea what it was about when I started reading, but the author's wit and the interesting storyline completely pulled me in. There's romance (innocent), danger, magical abilities, and humor. There is a little bit of language, but nothing heavy.I'm looking forward to reading another book by this author, and I totally recommend this book to all who like using their imaginations :~}.",5.0,Totally engaging!,1384214400,"11 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1DFXV3X8FVJQW,0310250684,Janice Colson,"[0, 0]",Her books are so interesting that Io not want to put them down. I hope she will keep writing. Great.,5.0,Great.,1392768000,"02 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1BP5U7AC5LA9V,0671737627,allie-kat,"[17, 18]","As usual, Judith McNaught is worthy of 5 stars writing yet another awesome book! I read this in one day, truly not able to put it down once. The house could have fallen down around me and still I would have sat there with a silly grin on my face, reading away.Victoria is thrust as a suddenly orphaned beauty into the home of a distant relative with a very frightening repuation. Though afraid and homesick, she sees through his rockhard exterior to the saddened and lonely man inside and offers him a love like no other. And oh my God... no one can tell a story like JM!!These characters came alive before my eyes from page one. Victoria was amazing. In the midst of all the snobby London ladies, she appeared so sweet and refreshing and I just wanted to shout at Jason to open his eyes and trust her! And Jason was so afraid to love again... so hurt from his horrid past yet very protective of this young girl who could make him laugh, ingnite desire deep within him and even cause him to engage in a duel causing him to be shot by a tree (he he... very funny).The plot was amazing and the characters deep, complex people you could care about. Jason had thought Victoria to be a gentle, courageous, spirited angel... and he was oh so right. She was the perfect heroine and the perfect match for a man such as Jason... and though he was difficult and arrogant throughout much of the book it was plain to see the hurt and need for love inside him. Not to mention the fact that he was just plain *yummy*. Strong yet gentle leading men are definetely the best.If you haven't read this book, I recommend it highly. And then do yourself a favour and read the rest of Judith McNaught's books, starting with A Kingdom of Dreams (breathtaking). I bought her entire collection and they are reserved a permanent spot on my bookshelf.",5.0,5 stars... what else??,1035849600,"10 29, 2002",17,18,helpful,0.9444444444444444,1 A3EQQP0LD4Z375,0571239498,Dr. Lee D. Carlson,"[60, 87]","About 600 BCE, the Lydians of ancient Turkey (which was then called Anatolia) began forming lumps of a natural alloy of gold and silver called electrum and stamping them with official symbols. Thus the ""striking of coins"" began and within 50 years most major trading cities were issuing coins, especially the cities of ancient Greece. An interesting development in this regard was the two-sided coin, with an ""obverse"" side (H), deemed the most important and usually decorated with the head of a ruler or god, and the ""reverse"" side (T), which was considered the less important one.If one were to examine the enormous amount of research literature that has been generated by the study of Homer's Odyssey one will find a two-sided Greek coin, both sides of which are stamped with the figure of Penelope. One side, the obverse side, represents the figure of Penelope as presented by Homer. The reverse side represents Penelope as presented by the author of this book (and possibly many other researchers also). The Penelope of Homer (H-Penelope) is very different from the Penelope of the author (T-Penelope).Homer, embedded in a culture that displayed a high degree of misogyny, speaks of H-Penelope as passing her days ""mourning for the best of husbands."" But H-Penelope can sew (as ""most"" women can or should), as she must complete the shroud of Laertes before she chooses a suitor. And H-Penelope is deemed very capable of running the household when Odysseus is gone. But H-Penelope is a member of a ""deadly race"" who ""live among mortal men only to their great trouble"", and who offer no help in poverty, but only in riches. After all, H-Penelope tricked and deceived the suitors (but Homer still wants the reader to believe in her virtuousness). H-Penelope was therefore the ultimate diplomat, skilled in the inherent evasiveness of tact and prudence, and did not hesitate to engage in deception (but again Homer wants the reader to believe in her virtuousness).And what of the T-Penelope of the author? She is witty and capable, highly intelligent, and sometimes sarcastic. In telling her story, T-Penelope does so as a disembodied spirit inhabiting Hades, the Greek version of hell. She wanted all individuals to be true to themselves, to not put on a useless show. T-Penelope though is proud of being self-sufficient, of being able to ""look out for herself"" in the world. For a woman this is a characteristically twenty-first century attitude, definitely a virtue, and definitely non-Homeric.T-Penelope makes it a point to say that she still appreciates the small white flowers of the asphodel of Hades, thus offering ""proof"" of her femininity. But she does not want to thought of as too much of a prude: she has always been ""secretly attracted"" to pickpockets, stockbrokers, and small-time pimps (who occupy Hades with her). Even more importantly, T-Penelope was not a Helen, and completely uninterested in the repeated conquests of men. And her beauty, if any, was not to be compared with Helen's, for the result of the latter was the deaths of many men (and whose deaths Helen regarded as a tribute to herself). T-Penelope rightfully despised Helen, for Helen ruined her life (as she did many others). There are still many Helen's walking around these days but thankfully even more T-Penelope's.So it is clear that both Homer and the author offer different pictures of Penelope, and both issue biased coins in this regard. If one throws the coin of Homer it will usually come up H, whereas if one throws the coin of the author it will usually come up T. Such is the nature of historians, whether they are literary or otherwise: they always seem to issue a biased coin. With care, astute observers can always find the bias in the coins they issue. Such observers though must be careful not to themselves issue a biased coin when presenting their findings.",5.0,The other side of the coin,1130457600,"10 28, 2005",60,87,helpful,0.6896551724137931,1 A1EJWGZ67BUOWV,0062049895,Jessie,"[0, 0]","Tessa Dare never disappoints, so if you're looking for a classic historical romance with Dare's natural flair for the unconventional, this is it. A Lady by Midnight is your perfect plain heroine meets unreachable hero with the perfect twist to their history that keeps you guessing until the end. Highly recommend the entire Spindle Cove series!",4.0,Everything you want in a historical romance,1401926400,"06 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AYSLL5V6Q7V5I,0393704114,Larry Boyd,"[17, 19]",I ordered this book along with Essential Coaching Tools. They are almost exact duplicates. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. There are some differences so I will keep both to use in my future practice.,3.0,Almost an exact copy of another book,1151625600,"06 30, 2006",17,19,helpful,0.8947368421052632,1 A2FYT58IWT5LCK,0684839296,"David Robinson ""Home Dad""","[7, 8]","This book changed my life. I picked it up used, battered and torn, from a bookshop near my high school and proceeded to read it twice in a row. Never done that before or since. The Serpent and the Rainbow had such an impact on me that I went to college with the intention of becoming an ethnobotanist, myself! Or at least an anthropologist. Well, I got most of the way there before switching my major...but anyway...This book has a little of everything: botany, history, sociology, adventure -- you name it. Davis' writing style is compelling and engaging. This book reads better than an Indiana Jones story. That's because Davis is the real deal.I must admit I saw the movie first, but the movie pales in comparison. In fact, it's radically different and borders on the absurd. The book stays rooted in reality and is a study of what constitutes death, or for that matter, life.An utterly fantastic read. One of my favorite books of all time, perhaps my all-time favorite non-fiction.Highly recommended!",5.0,Truth is stranger than fiction/better than the movie,974851200,"11 22, 2000",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A107AAHD8VJVUX,1583332774,"Bella ""Womans-Health.Net""","[14, 16]","The miracle we have all been searching for, a youthful face! The part of the book that I enjoyed discussed the anatomy of the face and which exercises will make your face look more youthful.Targets facial movements of:*Face*Cheeks*Eyes*Jaw*Forehead*NeckHIGHLY RECOMMENDED BOOK!",3.0,The Yoga Face,1197590400,"12 14, 2007",14,16,helpful,0.875,1 A2TEIEOGFI33OO,0765313081,Ben Allen,"[0, 0]","This is the first time I've read Priest. It was good enough that I may come back to her, but not so good as to guarantee it. A big part of the problem is the main character. She's just too feisty and imperturbable. It's impossible to let yourself get scared or even excited by a book when the main character is unfazed by any threat, natural or supernatural. I'm also baffled by her complete dismissal of a cold-blooded murder that happens right in front of her.There was one scene I found to be scary -- and it was quite scary. But now that I've finished the book, I don't know why that scene was included. The book also needed some better editing. There are entire paragraphs where the narrator is simply restating the same thing in different ways.Those are my gripes. It is a good story, and an interesting world Priest has created. I am curious to see more of it, but not right away.",3.0,Good first novel,1257897600,"11 11, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMTK54YZAO411,0596101899,Warren Kelly,"[20, 21]","Skype is hot right now. Actually, you can expand that and say that VoIP is hot right now, but Skype has carved out a special niche that many VoIP companies haven't yet been able to. Skype has prompted several imitators (Gizmo Project and Google Talk are two that I use personally), and has even been verbed (""I just skyped Leo Laporte about the last TWiT podcast"" or ""Skype me at notarealskypename and we'll talk"" are examples of this).So how do you get the most out of Skype? By using this book.In a lot of ways, this book could have been part of the Missing Manual series rather than the Hacks series. The first chapter steps users through making a Skype call, conference calling, and chatting. Using the pay features of Skype (SkypeIn, SkypeOut, and Skype Voicemail) are also covered, with special attention paid to showing users how to get a free trial for them. Of course, reading the Terms and Conditions would tell you much of the same information, since the refund policy for pay features is there.The second chapter goes into the financial aspects of Skype, and shows that it may not be the most economical alternative for many people. Useful information, but pretty easy to calculate. Most people don't think about minute-rounding when they figure what their phone bill should be, though, so this section is pretty valuable.There's really not much ""hacking"" in this book until chapter 4, where we start tweaking and tuning Skype (though chapter 3 does show how to build your own Skype server at home, and how to integrate Skype into your existing phone system). We learn about config.xml and what we can change to make Skype run the way we want it to. We're even told how to put Skype call shortcuts on our desktop, if we have people we call frequently.Chapter 5 is for the businessman, showing how to implement Skype in a corporate setting. There's some unexplored potential to this aspect of Skype, including the call-center application (Hack #54).The main reason that I wanted this book was Hack #56 -- recording conversations. My main reason for getting Skype was to use it for interviews, and I planned on recording them for editing and playback on my podcast. This was also my reason for switching to Gizmo Project -- Skype doesn't have that feature built-in, but Gizmo does. The book shows a few solutions to this problem, preferring the Pamela Professional Skype add-on ($22). I was disappointed that they didn't mention Hot Recorder ($14.95, but with a free version also), which is the solution I have heard the most about.The most important hack is #81 -- the workaround for 911 service. VoIP phones don't have 911 capability, which is a source of concern for many potential users (including me). The book offers a simple workaround for this lack, and the lack of 411 service as well.There's a lot of valuable information in this book. I'm not sure it qualifies as a Hack book, but it is invaluable for anyone who uses Skype frequently. Highly recommended.",4.0,Skype for Rookies,1137628800,"01 19, 2006",20,21,helpful,0.9523809523809523,1 A19SFY6Y467ZCU,0768438489,"Dottie Miley ""Dottie""","[4, 4]","This is a training book on the Spirit, Soul and Body. God wants us to read the word so He can bring back the word to our rememberence. He wants us to have a godly memory.",5.0,training,1312675200,"08 7, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AMAX8BTXIDYZK,B009BZFQ4U,desha glennon,"[0, 0]","Okay, I'm 49 years old and I loved this series! I recommend this series to so many, it doesn't matter how old you are. These stories parallel everyone's everyday lives. You are faced with obstacles and hard times; tough decisions and growing up to find out who we are. In the end we still have hope, love and family, whether blood related or not.This series draws you in so strongly that you feel the pain and betrayal, the fear and paranoia. Then you feel the love and safety that comes with growing up and learning your place in this life.I'm sorry I got long winded! It's just that I don't normally read books for younger people, but this series will touch anyone who reads it no matter their age.Thank you Lori Brighton for such a great series. I just know that anything else you write will be wonderful!",5.0,Absolutely Fantastic! The only bad thing is that it ended too soon!,1369267200,"05 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WZ8QBRMQ9TQB,0316231053,Amanda Erickson,"[0, 0]","I read two other novels by Megan Abbott, my favorite of those two being "Dare Me." Set in a small town with gloomy weather, The Fever is reminiscent of the Salem Witch Trials, but set in the age of cell phones. As in The Crucible, we have teenage girls at the center of the hysteria. The Fever transported me back to high school, with all its awkward desperation, lecherous boys and mean girls. Wondering what was causing the fever kept my attention and I enjoyed it as a good summer read.",4.0,Modern Day Salem Witch Trials,1404950400,"07 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2AMV2VX0HDRD0,B00BQLHRJE,John,"[0, 0]","This book is great.Rand literally scared the crap out of me with this story. The setting just takes you deeper and deeper. The eerie descriptions, the fast past action, and the throat clenching need to escape made this story a page turner. I can't count the number of times I found myself holding my breath because of the building suspense. OnOne hand I wish it was a little longer, but at the same time the pace was perfect, and sometimes a short story is just long enough.Awesome book!",5.0,Scary Good!,1363564800,"03 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A98WI1QPC5BAY,0786891254,Curious,"[0, 0]","I am a sucker for books with smart, strong female leads. And, for books with a straightforward writing style. No creative writing, over-described, adjective dense prose for me thanks.The book has strong character development, a cohesive story line, just enough plot twists to prevent you from relaxing and wraps up satisfyingly (not like some books that just can't tie the ribbon around all that has built up to that point).Read it!",5.0,Tautly Written Suspenseful Thriller,1362873600,"03 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANDP0V72QGMNU,1604500352,Jeovany Rosado,"[0, 0]",got bored from the start and never bothered going further than a few pages and skimming them at that. waste of time,1.0,dull,1386460800,"12 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11SJZDD7T6KPL,0778326608,"joanna rowan tobias ""joanna t""","[0, 0]",I like it enough to buy all 3 in this fun series of books. The ladies are a hoot and there were many times I wished I could have such clever come backs.,4.0,Fun to read,1359158400,"01 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A10D1W0QFMWE79,0061043494,"Francesca ""Francesca""","[4, 5]","This is simply the best book written by Dorothy Sayers, and in my opinion, one of the best books I have ever read (and I read well over a hundred books a year). I read it periodically when I need to cleanse my palate after some of the pap being published today; when I am sad or need something comforting and lovely to cheer me; when I am trolling my shelves for an oldie but goodie. Sadly, the setting and language have made some of my friends reject it. But for anyone who loves British literature or wants to read the thoughts of a university educated feminist of 80 years ago, this is the book. Peter and Harriet's love story is all about finding love and equality, respect, and intelligence.I admit, the mystery itself is not perfectly plotted, but is handled well, and is, besides, only the framework for this lovely comedy of manners. It might help to read Strong Poison first- then you get the opening and closing of the courtship.",5.0,"A perfect love story, comedy of manners, and almost perfect mystery",1181606400,"06 12, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A34IAOF51TT822,B00J8GEMCE,pm,"[4, 4]","I choose a 5 star for these 3 books because the 1st one and the 3rd one were beautiful stories, the 2nd one dragged on some and could have been better. Three dear friends trying to be independent in a mans world and three men lost in thier own sad stories of life. Could not put them down and wanted them to continue on.",5.0,Loved them all,1397347200,"04 13, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AM9NJY2YZGXC4,0743564138,"West Coast ""Lynne""","[0, 1]","Great book. Of course, it would be. If only this book were ""required reading"" by every Americanbefore the upcoming Presidential election. We could find ourselves on the road to recovery. Lee Iacocca's book"" Where Have All The Leaders Gone?"" is easy to read, easy to understand and easy to put into action. He's given us a road map for the future.",5.0,He knows what he's talking about!,1212019200,"05 29, 2008",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A9R72R6PCMET9,0345493850,catchdyme,"[0, 0]","This book was so real. It was real in the aspect of betrayal and deceit. Yarny experiened so much pain from men that it was true to the game. Men in that game beleive that if you don't ""Roll with them they will Roll right over you"", such is life. But just like any BLACK woman we always bounce back like RUBBERBANDS and that is exactly what Yarny did.",4.0,True to the game.,1122336000,"07 26, 2005",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A12I4UPML8B5GP,0486452816,Amazon Customer,"[4, 6]","Honestly, I'm no read-aloud wimp! And my kids are usually up for anything. They giggled like mad at the pompous puns of Mr. H.M. Wogglebug T.E. in the Oz books, and urged on my faux-Yorkshire accent in the Secret Garden. The century-old Australian slang and endless sea shanties of the Magic Pudding, though, just about did us in. It really is a magnificent flight of fancy, but there were just too many incomprehensible sentences to paraphrase and longggg songs to make up tunes for. Save this for when you're at your most daring and energetic, read-aloud parents!",3.0,"Inspired, yes...but HARD to read aloud!",1203638400,"02 22, 2008",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1XMZJVSWJQXRK,0310722802,Stephen W. Dow,"[0, 0]","A refreshing read through familiar territory, but with new insights along the way. Hope others will embrace The Story and find their own story in God's story.",5.0,Wonderful read,1366761600,"04 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11NYQKFF0QYDH,B00HTB0HJC,"Dan Y. ""Dan Y.""","[0, 0]","I recently got introduced to FIVERR through a friend and I decided to buy this book because it seemed it would be helpful for beginners. Boy, was I right! This book is great for beginners to the site, giving practical tips and strategies on how to make your gigs stand out and earn money. Very useful and well-written. Simple and straight-forward.",5.0,Very Informative Book,1398211200,"04 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8XWSPX6YKD98,1480170402,James Farmer,"[12, 13]","If ever a book deserved praise and 5-stars then this is it! I have never, let me repeat, I have never read a book as interesting as this one, or any of the following in the series for that matter. And I just hate it when someone sends out a blurb for another book stating it's ""New and Similar to ""JET - Reckoning"" by Russell Blake"". Give me a break! Unless Russell Blake has said it then don't believe it!Jet, and all the following books featuring her, stand alone in the genre. The action is always non-stop and reading the series always keeps me on the edge of my seat, eagering anticipating what's going to happen next, and on that I'm usually wrong. LOL! Mr. Blake takes twists and turns that the reader NEVER ANTICIPATES and makes the reader want more, more, MORE......I've said it before, if you like Cussler, Eisler, Berry, Stephen Baxter, Stephen King or many other BIG NAME WRITERS, then read Jet and you'll see what I mean. The above authors are great, IN THEIR GENRES, but Jet stands alone AND ABOVE all the others, just by it's uniqueness.Believe me, YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!!!",5.0,One of the best out there........,1359072000,"01 25, 2013",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A39ABKRS1MKFTW,0671756443,Cynthia K. Robertson,"[49, 50]","After reading two Dave Robicheaux mysteries by James Lee Burke, I decided to read this series from the very beginning. Neon Rain is the 1st book in the now 14 book series and was extremely helpful in filling in the blanks of Robicheaux's past that are only hinted at in later books.Neon Rain opens in New Orleans where Robicheaux is a lieutenant in the New Orleans Police Department. He lives on a houseboat in Lake Pontchatrain, is recently divorced, is a Viet Nam vet and a recovering alcoholic. He carries around more than his fair share of scars and baggage. A man on death row at Angola Prison asks to see Robicheaux hours before he is executed, and informs Robicheaux that there is a contract out on his life. Robicheaux is just as surprised as anybody, but it involves the chance discovery of a young black prostitute floating dead in a bayou. In trying to solve the mystery of the contract, the lieutenant stumbles upon lots of graft and corruption in New Orleans that starts with prostitution and drugs, and ends up with murder, tax fraud, and smuggling arms to Central America. It's sometimes hard to figure out who are the bad guys, who are informants and who are the government agents. And the more involved Robicheaux becomes, the more dangerous his life comes.This is a good start for Burke, although the plot got a little confusing in spots. Robicheaux is a loose canon, and it's hard to tell why his boss thinks he's such a good cop. He can be brutal and violent and unreasonable. And he never follows any rules. Also, Robicheaux becomes romantically involved with Annie Ballard, but I couldn't figure out why she was attracted to him. Still, Burke is a master of description and observation. Some of my favorites include ""Reason is a word I always associated with bureaucrats, paper shufflers, and people who formed committees that were never intended to solve anything."" Or ""My father didn't read or write, but in many ways he learned more from hunting and fishing in the marsh than I had from my years of college education and experience as a policeman."" And finally, in comparing himself to a general who also served in Viet Nam, Robicheaux muses ""Like those Confederate soldiers buried under the lawn of Jefferson Davis's home, some people share historical real estate that will always be their private country.""The good news is that Burke took this good book and turned it into a terrific series. I plan on reading them all.",3.0,Three and 1/2 stars...,1125446400,"08 31, 2005",49,50,helpful,0.98,1 ANU26RKXXTOLE,0989521907,cecemarie,"[0, 0]","I loved this story. Romance, suspense, love and a happy ending. What more could you ask for in a Romance Novel?",4.0,great story,1385337600,"11 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3P4BDLBH7TXX2,0312857055,"J. Stoner ""Plants and Books""","[10, 14]","Terry Goodkind's ""Wizard's First Rule"" is a very cheesy fantasy novel. There are many points during the read which I would stop and think that some of the quotes and things the characters would say were straight off of a ""Full House"" episode or even worse, out of a ""Barney"" show (especially when they have multiple page long discussions about what friends are.This book is also very Robert Jordan-ish in some parts. The main part that seems straight from Wheel of Time is the torture parts towards the end of the book when compared to the Sul'dam and Seanchan using A'dam's.The magic in Terry Goodkind's world is somewhat strange and vague. Some of the magic I think is foolish and weak. Contrary to what some say, I think the world of the Three Kingdoms is hard to believe in and get sucked into, especially since the maps provided in the front of the book are extremely weak and non-informative. It's hard to guage distance and it seems that characters can jump from all the way across the map in a matter of days, while it takes forever for them to go a very small distance.There are also many typos in the book.However, I thought the end of ""Wizard's First Rule"" was incredible. I enjoyed it and would say that if you can get through the extremely long first two thirds of the book then it is worth reading. There were many points at which I was really not interested in finishing the book but I did anyway, and I was glad that I finished. Some of my favorite parts are when Richard, the main character is interacting with some of the smaller characters (Adie the Witch and the Mud People).And just for the record, I am planning on reading book 2 in the series.",2.0,If you can get through the first two thirds of the book,1056931200,"06 30, 2003",10,14,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A5FFYGQOO8D6U,0989769704,Becky,"[16, 16]","This story captured me from the very beginning. I love the transition that takes place in Adonis' life. The underlying mystery of Taylor kept me reading way into the wee hours of the morning, refusing to put it down until my eyes closed from exhaustion. This book will not disappoint! Can't wait to read ""Reckless"".",5.0,A Great Read,1385164800,"11 23, 2013",16,16,helpful,1.0,1 A1KOLBDXLKX96G,0974393606,"Richard B. Lanoue ""Rich Lanoue""","[5, 5]",This book pulls the curtain back on the phoney wizard which is the IRS. Cracking the Code makes perfect sense for the abolition of this tyranical government agency that has ruined countless lives under the pretense of enforcing a non-constitutional law.,5.0,Heavily researched and right on target,1289174400,"11 8, 2010",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A4IE7YM34NJ2Y,0007169914,C. Y. Wah,"[0, 3]","I bought this book for my 18-month old. The illustrations and colors are not too engaging to me, and my daughter is actually scared of the book! Perhaps the story is too packed with sound effects to be read aloud. It actually sounds a bit annoying. The book is now tucked away in a closet somewhere.",2.0,A disappointment,1208304000,"04 16, 2008",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1KMG1AIUS00DC,0307461181,"The Movie Man ""tenebre89""","[6, 7]","I love Carol Burnett. I read her first book, ""One More Time"","" loved it, and was looking forward to this book, eagerly placing an advanced order on Amazon. I'm sad to say the results of ""This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection"" are disappointing.Ms. Burnett reiterates stories she's told on the air many times, in her reunion specials, interviews, and in the first book. I was encouraged by the section in which she describes her involvement with ""The Garry Moore Show,"" which offered her her first national exposure. The workings of early TV variety shows are described, and she conveys the excitement of pursuing a show biz career in New York City in the early 1960's. It is interesting to learn how various career opportunities presented themselves.Unfortunately, most of the rest of the book rehashes aspects of her life we know about and fails to go into enough detail, content to skim situations and events for surefire anecdotes. Another problem is that Ms. Burnett too often looks to put a comic punchline on her reminiscences when that isn't always appropriate. Those who buy the book are obviously fans and admirers who already know a great deal about her life and career. I wish the book was more revealing or at least presented admirers of Ms. Burnett with stories we haven't heard before.",3.0,Many of the Same Stories We;ve Heard Before,1275436800,"06 2, 2010",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A32HU3HQWXJKLG,1611099846,Bunny,"[0, 0]","The Diabolist is a fascinating journey through the dark sciences. A professor and his partner are investigating Satanic cults to solve two murders. The arcane history of dozens of cults and devil worship portrayed , many of which originated in Persia, is compelling. I wish I had. been at my desk, swiveling between the Internet and a dictionary. I may just do that when I have more time.By the way, the ending will make you wonder.",4.0,"""I don't question the existence of evil. I just want to know where it comes from.""",1382745600,"10 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2P8V0C0A3O3YV,0062018418,"bookworm2bookworm ""Mel""","[5, 5]","RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:The hero of this story is Captain Gavin Briggs, and we met him in a previous book of Ms. Maguire's, SEDUCING THE GOVERNESS. He is a battle-weary man and former military assassin, who now earns his money as an investigator, and his current job is to find a missing heiress and granddaughter of a Duke.Lady Christina Fairhaven has always been aware that she was adopted, but that never stopped her from loving her adoptive family. Now that love is being put to the test by a blackmailer whose demands have become unbearable, so she decides to take matters into her own hands.As Gavin brings Christina the news of her birth family, she is truly happy, but she knows that her adoptive brother needs her. She enlists Gavin to help her locate Lang, who everyone, but her, believes dead. Gavin, not having a choice in the matter as Christina will not agree to go with him until she locates Lang, gives in and agrees to help her.It was interesting to watch a high society Lady fall for this hard-living Captain, especially because neither took their feelings seriously, at first. They both thought each other unsuitable for anything but an affair. However, as much as I loved the hero, try as I might, the heroine just left me cold. Only a handful of scenes have I thought her at least a bit warm (and most of those are the sensual ones).In the end, BRAZEN was not a bad read. I enjoyed its pace and the hero, as well as the mystery, so I'll recommend it, but will probably give it away.Melanie*Reviewed on Romance Reader At heart*",4.0,"...I enjoyed its pace and the hero, as well as the mystery...",1328659200,"02 8, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2F3SXHT6RBV81,0700606505,"Betty Burks ""Betty Burks""","[4, 28]","After the Civil War fiasco, Jefferson Davis encouraged the South to ""bury its dead, its hopes and its aspirations,"" but the South will never surrender. He declared that the past is dead. His first wife was Sarah Knox Taylor, daughter of U. S. President Zachary Taylor. Davis was a congressman, senator, secretary of war, and President of the Confederacy. His horse's name was Thunder.In 1858, Horace Greely called Jefferson Davis ""unquestionably the foremost man in the South today"" and a great president. He was educated at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. ""His occasional unintentional arrogance camefrom his sense of great commanding power.One of his generals during the war, declared the best by Robert E. Lee, was besmirked in 2005 by two college professors thusly:This book was written in association with Texas Christian University for the American Crisis Series, Books on Civil War Era. Previously, I reviewed ON THE BRINK OF CIVIL WAR by John C. Waugh. This one, however, is what the title says all 'myth' written by two journalism professors at the University ofTennessee. I guess they were assigned this personage, the greatest Civil War General, according to Robert E. Lee, because they work in Tennessee. Neither are from the state of Tennessee and know nothing, no facts about this great soldier of the Civil War.They know nothing about history per se, so I am just wondering why the history department at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville would not have been a better selection to write about one of our native heroes. These frauds call their subject 'white trash' because the klan wore white sheets in his reincarnation of the group(now they wear purple, green and white outfits) used to protect everybody from the carpet baggers after the Civil War. These men are not from Tennessee, and should never have been chosen to write this book.It is biased and slanted and exactly a 'myth' a fairy tale of the worse sort. Forrest was from a good background and family (father was a locksmith/doctor)and born in Chapel Hill, Tennessee, in Bedford County. These men thought he was born in Memphis as they dwell on something which happened which wasinfamous instead of famous. Those of us at the public meeting where they talked had not heard of that specific incident, and we are native Tennesseans. His life was not a 'morality tale,' as they claim, nor was he a comic book figure. He was a real live hero, not something made up in the comics. They even equatehim with Forrest Gump, how dumb can a person be? They are blasphamous in their assertions that he was less than they.Anyone can get a PhD and still not be competent. I have three PhDs in my family, and they have no common sense. Neither do these writers. Don't believe anything you read in this book. It is all made up, that's what journalism is these days, manufactured lies. These teachers are in the journalism department at U-T, not the history area, so they never should have taken on this endeavor.They make N. B. Forrest out to be a dumb, silly ""white trash"" from Tennessee when they know better. It is just to sully his reputation as a great general.They don't know how to present facts or truth. They did not research this book adequately, so just read it as fiction.Jefferson Davis was born into a patriotic American family at Fairview, Kentucky. He would have drawn his sword if he could have been around to read thisgarbage about one of his best generals and a great American in his ownright.",3.0,Refocus On The South's Heroes.,1148774400,"05 28, 2006",4,28,helpful,0.14285714285714285,1 A39Z0BUYJTMB4S,0545265355,"Sandra H. ""gmom""","[0, 0]",I saw the two movies that are out. These books are a great read and very clear in narrative about the lead character's inner dialogue. If you love the movies please read the books.,5.0,These books are a great read and very clear in narrative about the lead ...,1404604800,"07 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2E2ZICAEB4T66,0843951575,Erin,"[5, 5]","While this isn't quite as good as his amazing Stranger, In This Skin kept me glued to the couch, lounging around and being lazy all day as I read. (Like that's anything new but hey, saying this book is good gives me a believable excuse)The plot is complex, unsettling, covered with a mysterious, dreamy-like atmosphere. Wiggling around in this foggy soup are characters that stand out, with credible motives for their actions, realistic goals, and I cared about each. The 'creatures' were shivery and unique.As for the pace, In This Skin started out with swift, hard kicks, never letting up, ending with a final bang that could befelt through the entire length of my spine. Clarks writing style is not weighed down by unneeded 'pretty phrases' - instead he's focus, determined, and powerful.The only real flaw I can see is that sometimes the characters are a bit dumb, but hey, not much is perfect. This one tantalized my mind and kept my blood roaring through my ears - what more could a horror reader ask for?",4.0,Clark is quickly becoming a favorite author...,1109462400,"02 27, 2005",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A39N24TTLP6I48,0671752049,Jane Jones,"[0, 0]","As a preschool teacher, I have owned this book for a number of years and each year it is a favorite with the children in my class. Carl is a giant Rottweiler that is left to take care of the baby while the mother goes out. One of my favorite kind of books is those with magnificent pictures that you can make up the story as you go through the pictures or even better ask the children to tell the story that they see in the picture to encourage them to participate in a wonderful pre-reading experience. The children will also take this Carl book and 'read' it to each other during free choice time in the classroom. In the end Carl gets the baby back where she belongs after a great adventure; after all he is Good Dog Carl.",5.0,"Good Dog, Carl",1374192000,"07 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3K6K43UQNC7TI,0316055433,BMW,"[0, 0]","I found this book to have a captivating beginning, lending itself to such a great potential read. However, the book stalled, taking way to long dwelling in particular parts almost reaching a boring read. Only to get moving again then back into the repetitive boredom. I hate to say this, but I was glad to end the book.",4.0,Unfulfilled Potential,1397433600,"04 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A217S8G2RMXYQH,B009V4B2Y4,Kelsey Tanner,"[16, 16]","A professional research scientist takes a vacation that turns deadly, but the danger brings her an unexpected reward -- the man of her dreams. But her lifemate has a secret, a paranormal surprise that brings its own challenge. This story pulled me from the start, making me turn pages eager to see what would happen. The love scenes are hot, the romance compelling and the action exciting. A bright jewel of a story.",5.0,Fast-paced and sexy,1351123200,"10 25, 2012",16,16,helpful,1.0,1 A1HH63MB38DD2H,157488414X,Budd Cardone,"[14, 27]","The 40+ year argument regarding the USS Liberty ""incident"" is anchored to the fact that a thorough and objective investigation was never undertaken. Evidence and testimonies were ignored, facts redacted, and many of the actual investigators have made it known that they were under orders to sanitize the report of any information that might have been inflammatory against Israel.The survivors of the Liberty have been staunch in their position that the official reports where white-washed. What Mr. Cristol has achieved is nothing less that further white-washing the facts.Basing his arguments on information that is neutralized by both evidence and the testimony of the actual survivors, the author perpetuates an evident hoax under the guise of ""intensive research"". With all due respect to Mr. Cristol, once a Navy pilot and a federal judge, his illustrious achievements do not qualify him to present his opinions as conclusive finding. They are simply that - opinions - and smack of a bias and prejudicial lean towards Israel.If the book serves any purpose whatsoever, it is as evidence of the mind-set that continues the attempt to bury the actual facts surrounding the USS Liberty.",1.0,"Flimsy, Frivoulous and Decepetive",1268006400,"03 8, 2010",14,27,helpful,0.5185185185185185,1 A343JMVPXT6PO,0606238409,Kat,"[0, 0]","I was really sceptical about this book at fist because I had always read fantasy. Turns out, I love sifi!!!!!!!! When I say that this book is almost flawless, I mean that there were only a few scenes I was confused about why the author would do this. But at the end of the book, it was worth it. Also, the book it (as much as it can get) realistic, no one rips out a bullet loged in there side, or manage to be the very best fighter after a childhood of never having been in a fight.... and I appreciated that, some sifi books have it where normal human beings 'do the impossible'. This book has just about everything; blood, fights, friend ship, betrayal, tested bravery, and romance(there is kissing but there are no inappropriate sex scenes) . I would defiantly recommend this book along with the second book.",5.0,Almost flawless,1373155200,"07 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3HUO6O1NQ5JPA,B00HHI16TW,Ashley Schoen,"[0, 0]","Aaron and Michelle are in London hunting Michael Jamison, the man who stole Michelle's blood and is now a vampire. With the help of Aaron's new master Urvashi they have the help of Katya and Ivan. Katya and Ivan are Russian mercenary wolves who hunt rogue vampires. Michael Jamison finds out he is being hunted by Aaron and Michelle and uses resources to his advantage.Okay there is so much I wanna say with this, but I don't wanna ruin anything. so SPOILERS! First I gotta know why Urvashi does the things she does. I wish there was more explanation to her reasoning. Maybe with time, huh...Travis Luedke. Just like I hope to find out what was happening in Moscow, and what lies ahead for Katya. Another thing what is going to happen between Michelle, Aaron, and Urvashi. Ugh! So many questions Travis Luedke! Please write more...I need more Aaron! Just like a blood slave I am hooked on The Nightlife!*Reviewer for Paranormal Romance & Authors that Rock",4.0,Need More,1400803200,"05 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3B489VNQSU631,1452825130,"K. Waide ""Child of God""","[0, 0]","The Fourth Kingdom is the first book in The Kingdom Chronicles series by Alexandra and Joyce Swann. There is suspense, good vs. evil, a hint of some end times forces at play, cloning and so much more. Cloning is not something I ever really thought I would be interested in, but it was very intriguing to read, not ultra-scientific, but with enough information to pique my interest and keep me informed.In The Fourth Kingdom we are introduced to Dr. Alexander Sinclair and Dr. Karl Helmick, both involved in cloning, but living in completely different worlds with completely different belief systems, yet they become close acquaintances who need each other. Dr. Sinclair is a Christian who desires to help others, while Dr. Helmick is focused on himself, monetary gain and a desire to live forever. The Sinclairs have twin sons who are born at the beginning of the book in the year 2000 and Dr. Helmick is guardian to Josef, who is "born" around the same time.As the book progresses the authors alternate between The Sinclairs and Dr. Helmick over at Doppelganger Genetic Cloning Facility. Their children are introduced to each other, but there is no friendship involved. From the start Jarrod and Joshua Sinclair can sense the evil surrounding Josef, who is also seen as a spoiled brat who gets everything he wants. Josef on the other hand sees the twins as weak because they care about others. As Josef gets older he is taken under the wing of Dr. Helmick unlike any of the other boys at Doppelganger who have been "adopted" by Helmick.While the basic premise of the book is obvious, there is cloning going on at Doppleganger though not just of cattle, there is so much more that we find out as the story unfolds. Why is Helmick cloning and who is he cloning and how is Josef really related to Helmick? Nazi Germany plays a big roll in the story and Dr. Sinclairs wife is very educated in the history of the Nazi's and World War II.It is easy to tell where the book is going from the beginning, though there is still enough suspense plus twists and turns to keep it interesting. There were times I wanted to yell at the characters to have them open their eyes as to what was going on in Helmick's cloning facility. As much as I thought I knew what was going to happen in the book, the ending still caught me by surprise. The Fourth Kingdom was quite a wonderful read, one I had a hard time putting down. The only concern I had was how fast it jumped forward in time. In just 360 pages we travel 21 years.I would highly recommend The Fourth Kingdom to anyone who enjoys Christian Suspense.",4.0,Wonderful Christian Suspense,1385769600,"11 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A22MZYNFH5TNYR,0316221902,between these days,"[20, 23]","I have two of Isa's cookbooks and have tried a few of the recipes on her website and have run across a few that we either thought were too bland or found that the recipe didn't work as it should - this is to be expected. However, we've been cooking our way through this book since we got it (pre-ordered from Amazon) and we have yet to find a bad recipe.So far we've tried (and loved):New England Glam Chowder (twice!)Sun Dried Tomato Penne with BroccoliTempeh OrzillaFalafel BurgersBaked Curry FriesTofu and Mushroom StroganoffChai SnickerdoodlesRosemary Chocolate Chip CookiesThis cookbook has sold my slightly less than vegan husband and his rather suspicious coworkers.",5.0,Isa Does It...again!,1383523200,"11 4, 2013",20,23,helpful,0.8695652173913043,1 A4WU5OLWV0Q2L,1612186173,Rebecca Strade,"[0, 0]","This book has everything. Plenty of suspects, mystery, and surprises. The plot is well written and not predictable at all. It was difficult to put down. Looking forward to more of the same as I look for her books.",5.0,Great read,1360627200,"02 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3FJEBWC1BMYIU,0973714727,"Georgiana C. Kotarski ""Author of Ghosts of th...","[9, 12]","If you often wonder why the rest of the world hates America, read this book. Although we Americans are good, generous people for the most part, our government does not reflect our values. It has let huge corporations run rough-shod over other nations and even our own people. Engdahl lays it all out in a tedious but morbidly fascinating look at how the world really works.Greedy corporations such as Monsanto, Dow, and a few others, along with private wealthy interests such as Rockefeller family members, decide they know what's best. Charging that eugenics, usually racist, are intimately tied in with corporate and even government agendas, the author presents one nasty scenario after another demonstrating that profit and control trump the needs of the planet and humanity for the benefit of a tiny few.The burden of proof concerning the safety of GMOs is placed on those who object to their invasion of the worlds' food supply rather than on the corporations benefiting from their sale. Organisms are released even when studies suggest they are dangerous to the environment - plants, animals, even humans. Subsistence farmers in poor countries are tricked into giving up seeds they have developed over generations to fit their environment and encouraged to replace them with high-input GMOs. Many accrue so much debt, they are literally serfs. Local food economies are decimated for the sake of corporate profit. And the promised higher yields and lower chemical use does not usually result from the ""improved"" seeds.After reading this book, I fear GMOs more than I fear nuclear holocaust. Nuclear holocaust could happen. Agricultural holocaust IS happening and there is no end in sight. The book does not leave the reader with much hope for a solution. Clearly, both political parties are in bed with this cartel of robber barons. Their stated goal is vertical integration of not only food but also medicine, the final goal being world domination.I agree with other reviewers who said the book was repetitive. It is written somewhat like an academic paper, making it more difficult to read than maybe it had to be. The average ""citizen"" may not want to slog through it. Sources are cited for those wanting proof of Engdahl's often shocking assertions.",4.0,End of the World in Sight?,1311465600,"07 24, 2011",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A1UV209YOSPRG2,0671726684,"kooky Kid ""Bookfiend1818""","[6, 11]","Loved this book! It's very easy to see how Betty Broderick was driven to kill her husband and his new ""girl"" , the conniving younger and prettier ""upgrade"". The steps leading up to this murder in cold blood are very thoroughly examined; and honestly both Dan and Linda could have avoided this bitter and violent end if that hadn't provoked and bullied a mad woman to the point of murderous frenzy.Yes, Betty Broderick was a foul mouthed embodiment of a hag who was ""over the hill"" and unwilling to let go of the past, and shame on her for helping to create the sociopathic pig of a husband who ends up taking her to the cleaners and mentally abusing her.Betty cannot be absolved of her participation and responsibility , she definetly killed two people and then went ""oops"", but the logic of the story is what makes this book so good, I was engaged from page one.Most women will not have to face such an egomaniacal greedy monster of a husband as Dan Broderick, but this worst case scenario should be a cautionary tale to any woman of any social strata who signs up for the housewife role and is not protected legally in the instance of a divorce.",5.0,"Juicy modern tale of a ""desperate housewife""",1109808000,"03 3, 2005",6,11,helpful,0.5454545454545454,1 A4M7JTCBXRAT3,0393083187,Micki from FL,"[59, 60]","Mine is one of many stories in this book, of survival and its aftermath. Almost ten years ago, following a physically and emotionally devastating shark attack, I shunned the media and denied all interviews. When author Laurence Gonzales asked whether he could include my story in this book, I felt certain that it was time, and that his book is the right venue. His previous best seller, Deep Survival, changed the way I look at the physical world. Surviving Survival changed the way I look at everything. My story is horrific enough, but as I read the stories of the other survivors included in this book, and the after-journey each of them has traveled, I felt awed and humbled.Laurence does a brilliant job of putting the reader in the moment. The most poignant story for me in this book is that of a Holocaust survivor. I've read many accounts in the past, but this is so raw and painful and riveting and so deeply personal that I literally had to put the book down in the middle of it and walk away for several hours before I could continue reading.I wish that every person enduring divorce, or suffering the loss of a loved one, who's battling cancer, or coping with traumatic injury or stress, could read this book. It is both sobering in its intensity, and a soothing balm in terms of leading you through the coping mechanisms and survival journey of others. Masterfully written is an over-used term, but in this case I can't think of a better fit. Thank you Laurence for this fabulous book.",5.0,Life Altering (Shark Attack Survivor),1346889600,"09 6, 2012",59,60,helpful,0.9833333333333333,1 ABX3704SXNU5F,0609609548,"Toni ""the bookworm""","[28, 28]","OK..............I admit that I have never been to Patsy's yet, BUT that doesn't disqualify me from knowing this cookbook. It's the best; why, do you ask? Well, I'd be delighted to compose for you.I am Italian......pure 100%, on both sides, and with enough background to talk about everything that means anything to our culture. I grew up in the 60's and 70's when Frank and Dean were THE only reason for watching TV. I know that it was a turbulent decade, full of discovery and change and restlessness. But some things felt OK and this book tells you about it.On Sundays, the whole extended family would gather at ""Nonni's"" house (grandparents). Because of the value and love of our food prepared in its purest form, it took about 14 calls between my mom, her sisters, and my Nonna, to figure out who was bringing what (and with 8 daughters, Illinois Bell made a huuuuuge profit from them). The food was simple and fresh and magic.This is ""Patsy's Cookbook"" whole purpose.The stories that accompany the book are a blast from the past. The pictures that accompany the stories and recipes are even better because if you close your eyes and think about it, you can picture yourself walking down the street, seeing the restaurant sign, and looking forward to opening the door and having all the scents and aromas hit you full force.All the ""regulars"" and the stars that have dined there get a good mention; the engagements that were proposed there; the celebrations that were created there. I'm looking forward to going to New York and Patsy's is on the top 10 list of restaurants to experience. Maybe it's just me, but I know it'll be a very welcoming and comfortable place.The book is broken down into 8 main sections of recipes, preceded by:Foreward by Nancy SinatraPrefaceIntroductionSection One--APPETIZERS: stuffed artichokes/asparagus rolls/Joe's eggplant sandwich/figs with prosciutto and mascarpone/roasted portobello mushrooms and asparagus/portobello tower/seasoned bread crumbs/mussels arreganata/roasted red bell peppers/peppers siciliano/palle di riso (rice balls)/shrimp with sauteed fennel over mesclun salad/tomato bruschetta/vegetable napoleanSection Two--SALADS AND VEGGIES: basic vinaigrette/white bean and scallion salad/green bean, potato, and tomato salad/chopped salad/fennel and endive with blood orange segments/mesclun salad with vinaigrette/ricotta salata salad/asparagus parmigiano with basil/broccoli rabe affogato/eggplant parmigiana/cavolfiore fritto/sauteed mushrooms with cognac and cabernet sauvignon (fantastic!)/baked mushrooms with zucchini stuffing/sauteed spinach/fried zucchini blossoms (this was a summer staple as the blossoms were blooming)/zucchini a scapece/Grandma Josie's zucchini pieSection Three--SOUPS: pasta e ceci/escarole in brodo/pasta con lenticchie/minestrone/pasta e piselli/stracciatella/zucchini and egg soupSection Four--PASTA, RISOTTO, AND SAUCES: tomato sauce/fettucine alfredo/fettucine tossed with fresh tomatoe and basil/bucatini all'amatriciana/penne bolognese/linguine with artichoke hearts and olives/prosciutto and lemon sauce over linguine/linguine napolitano/orecchiette with broccolini and sausage/penne with roasted eggplant/rigatoni with chicken and mushrooms/farfalla papalina/rigatoni sorrentino/timballo di maccheroni alla Paatsy's/spaghetti frutti di mare/Aunt Anna's Genovese sauce/pesto/risotto con funghi (very deelish)/risotto frutti di mareSection Five--CHICKEN: chicken cardinale/spicy lemon chicken (great for a good meal at the last minute)/chicken parmigiana/chicken piccata/chicken with mushrooms and red peppers/chicken portobello/scaloppine di pollo zingara/rollatini di petto di pollo e spinaci/herb-roastedchicken/chicken livers with peppers/chicken venezianaSection Six--MEATS: filet mignon barolo/manzo alla siciliano/steak alla Patsy's/roasted rack of lamb/hot sausages San Gennaro/pork tenderloin with port/pork chops with vinegar peppers/pezzatino di vitello/braciolettini di vitello/veal marsala (a very elegant dish to prepare)Section Seven--FISH AND SHELLFISH: Sal's Chilean sea bass with eggplant and olives/cassuola di calamari/fillet of sole arreganata/trota alla giardino/roasted striped bass with orseradish crust/prosciutto-wrapped monkfish/salmon with herb sauce/sauteed shrimp wiwth cognac and dijon mustard/calamari salad/shrimp Milanese/shrimp scampi/swordfish steaks arreganata/marinated tuna steaks with cilantro sauceSection Eight--DESSERTS (always the best section of any cookbook): Michele's cheesecake/warm chocolate cake/chocolate mousse/tiramisu (yes!)/Maddalena raspberry cookies/lemon granita/coffee granita with whipped cream/fresh figs poached with vanilla and brandy/Macedoine of oranges with Sambuca/peaches in Asti Spumante/pears poached with pear liqueur/lemon ricotta torte/zabaglione/walnut-filled crepesAcknowledgementsIndexConversion ChartPatsy's Sauces (which you can purchase)The book was written on the encouragement and accolades that friends and customers gave to the Scognamillo family. Everything here is simple to find and buy, and all are fairly easy to prepare depending on how fancy you wish to be. I have tried a little of everything and my tastebuds have been most content. Bon appetito!!",4.0,vintage italian!!!,1147564800,"05 14, 2006",28,28,helpful,1.0,1 A29FAZHASMJHED,0345335511,William Briggs,"[35, 40]","Let me first say that I only give five stars for books that, to me, are the very best of the genre. My 4 star rating is not intended to slight this series at all.I have seen several previous reviewers complain about the predictable storyline and lack of intricacy in the plot. And hey, I agree. These books are NOT written to be complex; they are written to be FUN. I have read the Belgariad and Mallorean more times than I can count, and they are both extremely enjoyable, and at times, touching. Eddings has a flair for writing dialogue that brings his characters to life. On the downside, those characters are mostly static, and rarely change - their personality types are set in stone, and their interactions are almost always the same. Occasionally, however, Eddings will surprise us and reveal a facet of a character's personality that we have not previously seen.This particular book is actually a bit slow, and not really all that much Cool Stuff (TM) happens. In the second book and onwards, Eddings describes the magic and lands of his world, and I must say that they are both extremely interesting.If you are looking for a deep, intricately woven plot that has turns within turns, I would suggest picking up Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy or George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series. If, however, you are looking for a rollicking, fun adventure then I can wholeheartedly suggest the Belgariad, starting with Pawn of Prophecy.",4.0,Great Fun,964742400,"07 28, 2000",35,40,helpful,0.875,1 A16MN8OJU2J6OA,0312655479,Suzanne,"[0, 0]","I really like Penny's complex characters and innovative plots. I wish she'd translate more of the French phrases. My two semesters of French don't work for everything, unfortunately.",5.0,Can hardly wait for the next book,1382140800,"10 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33C0ZUVXJ5WQM,1492741310,Book Loven Chick,"[4, 7]",This was my first zombie book and I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun this book was. Cutter was a great broken hero in a really scary setting.This book is definitely a page turner and the flow is at a good pace and the descriptions were vivid enough to for me to get a good mental picture of what was going on.I'd recommend this to anyone that likes Zombie books. Wonderful debut!,4.0,Ground Zero,1381017600,"10 6, 2013",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A3I4TQNEO4G6LT,0140058893,Madrok,"[4, 5]","Be warned you will not like this book if you need your ""heroes"" to be respectable, dignified or even worthy of admiration in any way. That's not the the point here: Reilly is a fat incompetent, and arrogant about it. So making him the heroic protagonist is rich in...pathos. If you can sympathise with the little man-at-sea, tossed and turned by fate, it's a joy.",4.0,"Fat, arrogant git as hero.",1322784000,"12 2, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2H14OT5I4KK43,0984489711,Candice,"[7, 8]",I read this book in a day all the story's were good and on point. Could not put the book down :) Thanks Ladies Keep Up The Good Work,5.0,Great,1314835200,"09 1, 2011",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A3MQ1DCPHXBAHY,B00B7VP6GE,Barb,"[5, 7]","3.5 Stars from this girl. This is not a young girls romance, it is about finally finding love a little later. The forty something year old characters are wonderfully written, I really enjoyed the chemistry between them. It was well worth the read to me :)",3.0,Refreshing,1359849600,"02 3, 2013",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2CL3ZW4SWVXQ4,0375831002,Joan G.,"[0, 0]",I have never read a book like this before. I wanted to read it because the book came out as a movie and I wanted to read it first. The Book was written quite differently. However I did enjoy it. I would like to have my friends read this book.,5.0,The Book Thief,1387929600,"12 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32PC5F6QT0SC9,0804136823,Robert Downs,"[4, 5]","I'd like for publishers to make a concerted effort to stop the lazy marketing. This novel has been compared to BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP, MEMENTO, and THE SILENT WIFE, and for good measure, we'll even toss in Tana French, Gillian Flynn, and A.S.A. Harrison. While this type of marketing may work in some instances, it probably fails more often than it succeeds. Sure, the neon lights flash, people's expectations reach infinite proportions, and it makes for a great sound bite, but then what happens? If you don't like the aforementioned authors or books, you skip right on over to the next enticing cover, and if you love those authors or books, you're bound to be met with some level of disappointment.Despite the massive consumption of drugs in THE LAST WINTER OF DANI LANCING, this novel felt as realistic as turkey, yogurt, and apple pie. Demons filled each character until the lines between good and evil were about as nebulous as a politician hitting the campaign trail with both hands. No character could escape the evil staring back at him or her, and this included the long dead body of Dani. Nefarious individuals piled up faster than runners at the finish line with Tom Bevans, Marcus Keyson, Jim and Patty Lancing, Duncan and Audrey Cobhurn, and Seb Merchant leading the charge with bullhorns firmly planted at their sides.Told from multiple points of view, the story slipped out of sequence with relative ease, dipping into the past the way a swimmer might dip his toes into the icy water. The gimmick worked, holding the fast and loose tale in place, otherwise this story probably would have failed when held up to the microscope and examined via a petri dish. But all the jumping around left me looking for solid ground, as I constantly bounced between the various time periods until I finally decided to just strap myself in and appreciate the ride.Most of the way through this novel, I sympathized with Tom and his love for Dani. Like him, I'd experienced unrequited love--in my case it was on more than one occasion and with more than one individual--only to have the entire experience shatter around me, leaving me with a broken heart and a pile of broken glass. Sometimes nice guys really do finish last. But I digress. In the end, though, Tom wasn't as nice as I thought he was. Instead, he was more of a pretender than a true contender.Without giving away too much, I think it's safe to say there are more stories to tell, more questions that need to be answered, and more problems that need to be solved. But I still haven't decided whether or not I'll continue the ride.I received this book for free through NetGalley.Robert DownsAuthor of Falling Immortality: Casey Holden, Private Investigator",3.0,Slipped Out Of Sequence,1381190400,"10 8, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A11844D8WTGXEI,0061996165,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I've always been sort of edgy about stories about angels, but Unearthly was simply amazing.This story of the quarter-angel, Clara, trying to face her destiny is fraught with not only the paranormal issues (Clara's inability to fly), but also with the normal teenage issues of trying to deal with moving to a new place but dealing with parents being parents. Clara is attempting to find a way to fulfill her purpose armed with half answers her mother gives her (when she gives her answers at all). The characters were all well written, and believableOne of the issues I have with this book however is that the pacing of the book throughout is fairly slow (which I didn't mind) but at the end, it seems like everything explodes and suddenly, everything is going wrong at once. It made it hard for me to take everything in, especially considering the slower pacing in the beginning. Also, the love triangle doesn't seem like much of a triangle at all to be honest. I still love the romantic aspects of the story of course, but it's not hard to see why she made the choice she did. It's harder to see why it had to be a choice in the first place.All in all, I loved the book, there were enough questions left unanswered that I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy.",4.0,An Angellic Debut,1294531200,"01 9, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1H8B5AQR6VVP0,0789483955,"Sandra J. Everett ""Salt Lake Sandy""","[0, 3]","Seller did everything better than promised--faster, better quality--and even a personal note. What's not to like?",5.0,"As promised, only better!",1253664000,"09 23, 2009",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3ROWQH3C8RZAO,1601424752,TK,"[0, 0]","""Humble Orthodoxy"" sounded almost like a contradiction to me before I read this book. So often, it seems that deeply religious people come across as chastising and the zeal to protect biblical teaching sometimes leads to hurting others. It isn't always intentional, but it is something I have personally seen problems with on both sides.I was immediately drawn to this book. I was eager to see how Joshua Harris advises Christians to uphold belief and teaching without tearing others down.In a quick read, complete with a brief study guide in the back that is helpful for personal examination in your own journey, Harris provides a breath of fresh air in theology. He reminds us, and himself, that our doctrinal commitments are to God, not to anyone else. We have no business condemning anyone. Our own lives should be attempts at humble examples of purity. We can hold strong beliefs without cutting down those around us. The message of love can be lost easily, and it was a relief to see a book encouraging us not to.I really enjoyed the discussion of Heaven as a place where everyone will be in a place of humility- of awe. Not a place for the ""right"" people to brag about getting there. It is a beautiful revelation to think of grace overpowering the pettiness that has divided humanity in the past.I would advise any Christian, and especially those in ministry, to buy this book. I recommend reading it, studying it, and sharing it. It is a small book that makes for an easy, but powerful read and it's message is gentle. Again, I highly recommend this book.I received this book for free to review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.",5.0,A book that needs to be everywhere,1367020800,"04 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1A9US805UWFPY,0156031175,vgoth,"[0, 0]","Having been born with the *horse bug*, and owning/riding horses throughout my childhood and teenage years, I found I could not put this book down...except before reaching the last 15 or so pages, when I knew the heartbreaking death of Lay Me Down was inevitable. I knew I would cry like a baby, and I did. It struck me that the last time I had had such a visceral reaction to this kind of thing was when I found out, ten years after the fact, that the pony I had ridden as a child for many years was put to sleep, also due to cancer. I was stunned at my reaction at that time, since it had been so long since I'd seen her, but the love and indescribable connection that a horse can mark on your heart is truly something horse people understand.While the author does seem a bit self-absorbed and wallowing in her own misery at times (I am not sure I'd want her as my therapist), her connection to her horses rang so true with me, that I couldn't find too much fault with her personal issues. A good read and a true understanding of how a horse can change a life.",4.0,Sad and uplifting all at once,1230681600,"12 31, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LWA9OMJKNL6D,1468187805,Alexa O,"[4, 4]","Here's how I was introduced to this book: My friend posted a recommendation on FB and said, ""I know what you're thinking. Vampires, werewolves, love triangle? Been there, done that, no thanks. But this one is like nothing you've read. Get it! You will devour it.""So I did, even though I was sure I had no interest in vampires, werewolves, and love triangles. But she was right. When I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I don't want to say too much, because there isn't much I can say that wouldn't be a spoiler on some level. I cried at one point. The end made me... angry. I didn't want it to end that way. I didn't want it to end at all! That's how immersed I was in the lives of these characters. It's scarier, sexier, more well-written, and far, far less vapid than that *other* vampire/werewolf/love triangle you've heard tell about.The plot twists are intense. It's hard to pull off this much action without feeling forced or silly, but nothing in this book felt forced or silly to me. I loved it. This particular vamp world is a lot different from other stories I've read or seen on TV lately, and the background info is delivered beautifully. The world-building is great.There are *some* elements that might have... flowed more smoothly (?) if this were a traditionally pubbed book instead of a self-pub. Some of the ""edges"" are just a tiny, tiny bit rough. For me, this was a bonus, not a detractor. I'm tired of overly predictable, cookie-cutter, safe YA. Again, I can't go into details without adding spoilers, but suffice it to say that some of the plot twists would probably not have survived an editor's red pen. Especially toward the end. But, as I said, these are bonuses for me. In the YA genre especially, the best I've read lately has been self-pubbed.For those who fear self-pubbed books, don't. Especially in this case. The editing is near-perfection. Honestly, there are fewer typos here than in many traditionally pubbed ebooks.Now I just have to wait for the sequel.(There is going to be a sequel, right? RIGHT???)",5.0,Addictive and unpredictable.,1333238400,"04 1, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AKJ5IIN5K2W4H,0615525733,kymbo59,"[0, 0]",I have bought close to 10 of these books for friends and family and I will continue to buy it for hurting depressed people!,5.0,The Influence can help people understand the world in a real way!,1357344000,"01 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3HTQPCAGHPTX0,0739418459,Chris Wagers,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed this story...the author intertwined the various sub-plots throughout the book and I was anxious to get to the end!,5.0,Mystery,1362268800,"03 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2H4AWIOK1REMX,0618721959,"J. C Clark ""eanna""","[0, 0]","Though Joseph Epstein has been writing (I would assume) excellent prose for many, many years, I only discovered him when I started subscribing to Commentary magazine about 8 years ago. I kept reading delightful stories and quirky and clever little essays and gradually noticed that when the byline said Joseph Epstein I was quite likely to get a quality read.Not more than a month ago I was wishing to find a collection of his Commentary stories. I have cut them out and shared them with others, and they are so memorable and so clean that I wanted them for future reference. And lo and behold, this appeared! I would have gladly purchased it; in fact I intend to get a couple more to share. They are just that good.Jewish authors have dominated the last 60 years of American fiction. Some I like more than others; I haven't read a lot of Bellow, but I certainly didn't feel as if i was missing anything based upon what I did. (And I think Epstein agrees with me on this one.) Another review mentions Malamud as a superior short story writer. However, I find most of Malamud's rather fantastic stories dated and tiresome. The space he documents is not mine, nor one I'm much interested in. I prefer the realism of lives I can identify with, people who sound like humans in a recognizable world, and Epstein delivers that in spades. These tales of normal, ordinary people living ordinary lives (though they sure have more money than the folks in my world -- I guess Jews do know how to make a buck!) entrance and enchant precisely because they are so conventional. People I can easily understand and identify with face problems and choices and desires just like mine. The best story, ""My Brother Eli"", is an utter knockout, the tale of a Bellow-like novelist whose auto-parts magnate brother watches the arc of literary greatness snuff human greatness. Wow, what a tale. But most of the others are close behind. Every story offers value for money, as they say. Each delivers good character development, believable settings, skilled writing, effectively outlined conflicts, witty (but not too witty) conversations, and resolutions that are neither pat nor arbitrary.A brilliant and exquisite collection, well worth the time invested. 5 stars is reserved for the glorious and eternal, but this is a 4.5 opus. You will read with pleasure. I sure did.",4.0,Bubbling and delightful,1280793600,"08 3, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALXZ3SLH2OZGL,0975908006,zack,"[9, 9]","This book is a must read,there is many layer's to the knowledge in this book ""hence"" taping into a multi-dimensional limitless force, the book explain's how this limitless force fungtion's on multi-dimensional leval's and how it is your hyper dimensional self the navigator,""amazing book.""",5.0,this book is amazing,1287273600,"10 17, 2010",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A24G1H61L0TQHN,0898703115,"Brad Shorr ""Brad Shorr""","[18, 19]","This volume contains essays revolving around GK's conversion to Catholicism. As always, GK is illuminating and entertaining--several parts of these essays had me laughing out loud. GK has a marvelous talent for utterly dismantling an argument, an attitude, or a belief, while remaining so good natured about it that even his intellectual enemies must have liked him at least a little. Here, he mainly takes on Protestantism, modernism, secularism, Liberalism, and several other "isms" of the day that challenged the Catholic Church--some of which at one time or another had even attracted GK himself. In the end, he makes as convincing an argument for Catholicism that anyone could make. In the process, he throws much light on many political and social trends that were just gearing up in the 1920's, like birth control, divorce, moral relativism and secular humanism. GK offers grave predictions for these insufficient ideas, many of which sadly have come true beyond probably even his imagination.",5.0,Simply Magnificent,1084752000,"05 17, 2004",18,19,helpful,0.9473684210526315,1 A2G1OWHQH7KOLA,B00JJRUF78,,"[0, 0]","Not his best stuff, but a fun, relatively light-hearted romp. It actually reminds me of 80's D&D style fantasy in that the characters are more sketches against the background of an adventure.",4.0,"Pretty fun, reasonably short adventure fantasy",1398470400,"04 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A24D0OCZU4Z9FI,0590457837,Branka Kranjac,"[0, 0]","Very silly, very good",5.0,Five Stars,1404259200,"07 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A04790352B0GCSKLD6IAS,B005DRWOEK,Lisa_W,"[0, 0]","This one is well worth the read. It was fun, it hadtwists and turns and the characters were an oddbunch that really gave it interesting dynamics.",4.0,Funny Mystery Book,1381276800,"10 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YK1UQ9CMTAEV,144023695X,Amazon Customer,"[6, 6]",This is the most definitive work on the double action revolver defensive I've ever read; Grant Cunningham has hit a home run. This is THE BEST book of the revolver in the 21st century. I highly recommend it!,5.0,Get it!,1379980800,"09 24, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A39AQRR2QACY90,098788641X,T. Hutchison,"[0, 0]","Stop don’t read this book just make up your owe ending to this series it would be better than reading these last book. He just ran out of ideas for the story and went for the shock and gore factor, and that even began to be ridicules.",1.0,Stop dont' waster your time,1378857600,"09 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1V8M35761UEPA,0849950619,Judy Fox,"[0, 2]","This is the nicest study bible I have found. At the good to very good prices I ampurchasing a number of them for my bible study friends. They are very excited. I praise the Lord for Amazon.com books. God bless you in all your readings & studing of this study bible.Be sure to have one of these in your personnel library.The Inspirational Study Bible, Holy Bible New King James Version",5.0,The Inspirational Study Bible by Max Lucado,1339545600,"06 13, 2012",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A28MHD2DDY6DXB,1442367547,"Allison A. Slater ""Gryphon50""","[17, 25]","I love to read but I tend to start a lot of books and then not finish them, or I read a chapter here and a chapter there. This book, I have already gotten 70% of the way through it in one day, and if I'd had more free time I would probably be done. It's a real page turner. I know the author has gotten some flak over being in Somalia in the first place but if no one ever went there (because it's dangerous), no one would be able to write a book like this.",5.0,amazing book,1378771200,"09 10, 2013",17,25,helpful,0.68,1 A1ZEJ1NVOIZAYQ,0743262298,Sandra,"[4, 5]","Everyone Worth Knowing, Lauren Weisberger's second novel, is basically the same as her first (The Devil Wears Prada) set in the New York high society party circuit, with a little more romance thrown in for good measure.Although I really enjoyed this novel, I do have two gripes with it. First, it took me a while to really get into. I felt that the beginning of the book dragged, and once it got really good near the end, it did just that...ended. For me, there was too much detail setting everything up, and the climax (the ""Playboy"" party hyped up for the first 300 of 367 pages) seemed to come and go so quickly, if you blinked you missed it. I think that Weisberger wrapped up all her loose ends too quickly at the end; I would've liked to see the conclusion played out in more detail. My other gripe with the novel is that the main character, Bette, is not a very strong voice. She is relatable and very likable, I just found myself constantly wanting to shake her and tell her to just do what SHE wants to do instead of just working at the job her uncle got for her that she doesn't really like. In all, though, this was an good novel if you're looking for some fluff to read.If you're a fan of the party scene, this novel is for you. Likewise, if you liked Weisberger's writing style from The Devil Wears Prada, you will also enjoy this one. Everyone Worth Knowing also has a more satisfying ending than Devil also, although some may feel it is still not complete. I definitely recommend this one!",4.0,Not as bad as everyone else says...,1136505600,"01 6, 2006",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AS730WK81A3LD,B00J12MGEG,Hanna Banks,"[0, 0]","I may have read only 2 works of Stephen King but that doesn’t mean that’s not enough to like the man. I’m not just so big on horror fiction or nonfiction. Undeniably, King got a brilliant mind and it’s evident in his works (which some are adapted into films and also became big hit). This time around though, it’s nice to read about Stephen King’s life and his own back stories before finally making it big in the writing industry. His real story can be a source of inspiration to writers. The quotes at the start and end of every chapter are very apt and motivating. I bet even the King’s avid readers may not know all of the bits and info about their favorite author which can be found in this book. What I appreciate so much about this book is that it was able to make King appear human. This book was able to show both strengths and weaknesses of the man. Enjoyable read!",5.0,Know Stephen King!,1402876800,"06 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YRXWIS5NWCH0,B00HS87DN4,James Phillips,"[5, 5]","I really enjoyed this book on brain improvement, the author did a great job in eliminating all the fluff and just delivering the content that actually will help you. It really amazes me that with just a few simple activities a day you can drastically improve your brain power, memory, comprehension, etc. This kind of stuff should be taught in school!All-in-all, I am quite happy with this book, a little short but delivered what I came for!Regards,",5.0,Very helpful strategies,1389744000,"01 15, 2014",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AUN7Z2LOX2ZG9,1600104835,AndrewPDK,"[0, 0]",again each one i pick up is better than the last. i play to pick up alpha & omega when its released.,5.0,awesome awesome!,1382745600,"10 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LFTGQWN9R6TU,B008ZUHUFA,"Amazon Customer ""Boss Diva""","[0, 0]",I waited for part three and I was not disappointed...now waiting for part four.. keke n loc are what's up CRIP lol,4.0,Good read,1357344000,"01 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2U9CTMWYB0ZST,0062060554,Cheetah Rubenstein,"[4, 6]","I bought this book without even reading a sample, based on the multiple rave reviews from several women I know. Big mistake. The book is a thinly-plotted mystery (thriller??) which read more like an outline for a one hour television show than a novel. The writing is adequate, if a little breathless. I did finish the book, in part because I kept waiting to get to the part everybody loved. The part I loved was that it was over.",2.0,Wish I had my $12.99 back,1310947200,"07 18, 2011",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1FAFZPUP08RJU,B00I5RUVFY,ldubluvsbooks,"[0, 0]","Looking for a quick read? Well this book is it. I was amazed at how fast I flew threw this book. I am a big fan of military turned civilian romances. This one is no exception. I loved the two main characters, Jacob and Katie. Jacob Reed is the CEO of Reed Software and Securities. He has one foot in the corporate world and one in the covert ops world. The fact that he has brawn as well as brains and is a man dime that loves his dog makes me melt. Katie Wilson is an up and coming news reporter who is always chasing down a hot lead. She is gutsy, stubborn and full of moxie. You gotta love a heroine with moxie.This story was well written. It not only had you on the edge the whole time but also sparked your curiosity. As I was reading I kept on asking myself if this person was a friend or foe. What was their angle? What did they have to gain? Such is the world of covert operations. You never know whom you can trust. These elements along with the love story made for a quick read. I am really hoping this is not the last we have heard from MC Cerny or the men and woman of Reed Security. I think there are lots of stories to be told.~Complimentary copy received in exchange for honest review.~",5.0,Quick get this Quick Read!,1397692800,"04 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YAR8B9ME5MCT,0738702757,"El Brujo ""Brujo Hechisero""","[25, 32]","When we hear the words Hoodoo, or Voodoo, most people automatically think of Zombies and Voodoo Dolls. And while many people try to hide it, ""Yes these things do exist"" these things are not what Hoodoo or Voodoo is completely about. I have been initiated into Santeria. But all my life I was raised and grew up in Puerto Rican Brujeria and Espiritismo. There is one thing that is common with Brujeria and Hoodoo. The practitioners of both paths come from various religious traditions, but both Los Brujos and the Hoodooists are consulted on things both Good and Bad. This is one thing that is greatly missing in this book.I enjoyed the book immensely, but I felt there was so much missing, when I saw who the publisher was, ""LLewelyn"" it all came clear. Stephanie Rose Bird is a good author, and the book read well. It is a combination of Luisah Tesh's great book Jambalaya and the various Ray Malbrough books,I felt she could have taken the book some place else. The recipes for making oils, and Four Thieve Vinegar, have been published before. There is so much more to Hoodoo than just these typical things, which Llewelynn allows its authors to write about.Although I am not giving the book five stars, because most of the stuff is written elsewhere, I have to give Stephanie some credit for being informative, and I learned a few things, that I had not known.This book is defiantly not only about Hoodoo, it is a mixture of Vodou, Santeria, Candomble, Brujeria and so forth. But unlike other authors who have done a messy job in trying to put the four-mentioned together, Stephanie really places them together nicely. In a way that is Very Brujeria, and yes we can even say, ""Modern Day-Hoodoo.""For those who are interested in adding some Hoodoo into their practices, and have little knowledge, this is a good start. But my advice to Stephanie."Girl the way you write, has an honest feel, and I know you have more to teach than what your Current Publishers allow. Go to Original Publications, or another company, where you can really let people know what Hoodoo is truly about."",4.0,"Well Written, but Wanted More Hoodoo.",1091750400,"08 6, 2004",25,32,helpful,0.78125,1 ANL7WI1EA0CGC,0393050939,"M. P. Lamkin ""mplamkin""","[0, 7]","I did not read it, so cannot evaluate it. Don't know, either, how my granddaughter fared greade-wise on her report.",3.0,Teacher requested my granddaughter read this for a report,1391299200,"02 2, 2014",0,7,unhelpful,0.0,0 A10LJC89Y2T4T,1935009362,"A. Brookmire ""akb""","[0, 0]",I got this book light in order to read while my husband is sleeping. It keeps the light contained on the book and doesn't bother my husband in his sleep. It is very bright and simple to use. It came with a AAA battery so you could use it right away. Awesome product so far!,5.0,works great,1374796800,"07 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SMVH32ONQ5OZ,0756404959,Rivendark,"[7, 8]","I am so disappointed I feel betrayed in a way. I have waited for this 3rd book so long and expected for all this time something epic. The book was stale, boring. The first book I loved, hooked me up, the second wasn't too bad I didn't care much about Audrun, but enjoy the rest. This one.... what happened??? Such a waste.",1.0,After waiting five years.....,1349913600,"10 11, 2012",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A1T7UACHT46KAY,0988752441,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","**used from my blogIn this book, we follow 19 year-old Jade who is moving from Iowa to Connecticut to go to a school where she won a full ride scholarship. When she gets there, she meets Garrett who becomes crazy about her, but she keeps at a distance.The more time that they spend together, the more she finds herself falling in love with him, but her mother’s words haunt her and force her to keep Garrett at a distance.Garrett isn’t put off by Jade and her rejections, but sees this as a positive thing because he’s used to always getting everything. He lives in a life where his father and step mother determine everything about his life, including his friends and girlfriends. Fed up with that life, he puruses Jade and it causes friction between him and his family.As the book comes to an end, Jade learns the truth about her past and why her mother hates her. The man who raised her, Frank, and adoptive brother, Ryan, try and help her through, but she has to many questions and can’t get the answers that she wants.As the book comes to an end, she receives a mysterious phone call that tells her to stop asking questions or something is going to happen to Frank or Ryan.I have mixed feelings about the relationship between Garrett and Jade. At first, it seemed like they just rushed into a relationship and all of a sudden he really likes her and they are spending every possible second together. It seemed a little unrealistic. But as the story goes on and the timeline expands, it starts to get a little bit better. They don’t really start kissing and admitting their attraction until about half way through the book and roughly two or three months into the relationship. I like reading about relationships where there is a structure and foundation, not one where the couple just gets together right away and falls in love after knowing each other for like a few weeksThe exchange between Garrett and Jade is the best part of the book. They are very sarcastic with one another and they joke around a lot. Yes they both have their issues and reasons to hold back, but the fact that they are able to openingly joke with one another makes it entertaining and fun to watch.The ending had a little bit of twist and a cliffhanger. There is some kind of connection between Garrett’s family and Jade’s past and I’m sure that we will find out what that is in the next few books.Overall, it’s a nice sweet beginning to what should become a beautiful relationship. They both have their issues they have to work through, but they can do that together and become stronger people. It’s an easy read, but still a good one.",4.0,a love story of different classes with a mysterious connection,1390435200,"01 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5HQYPHIPBTIJ,B005JSK238,"Lejana Gil ""Legi""","[0, 0]","I was surprised that the story ended too soon, nevertheless it's a good story, very well written. I can't wait to see the movie because I want to know how this story become a movie that last more than one hour. I recommend the story to anyone.",4.0,A really short story,1356825600,"12 30, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZOOISEEHHD5Q,0446199540,"K. E. Guenther ""kDreamer""","[0, 0]","This I believe is the best Kitty ever. I love the new characters that are from the tv Paranormal investigative show as Kitty shows them more paranormal stuff then they ever bargened for. They are very realistic type people who get freaked out about this. I love how Kitty solves her problem by finding people who can help her and bringing them together as a team. She even tags her listeners for advice and after listening to several talk shows, that too sounds realistic on the types of calls that get made. At the end of the book there's a hint that the next book may have Cormac more involved.",5.0,Best Kitty yet,1239408000,"04 11, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30CRSB9RHWVK2,B00IPDVINC,"C. Masters ""book maven""","[0, 0]",I enjoyed this book. Could not stop reading how the romance of the wedding gown story and Shelly's romance with Mark progressed. Shelly had a difficult time accepting her feelings and Mark's until the very end. Very delightful read.,4.0,The First Man You Meet,1399161600,"05 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EJPF2NSCMCAY,0312424442,John-78,"[5, 6]","I picked up the audio book at the library and thoroughly enjoyed it. I usually won't read books that are too long but the reader Dylan Baker was excellent (the best I've ever heard) he kept the story entertaining and made it very easy to finish. Major kudos!I loved how the story of Charlotte kept me in suspense to the end. The drama of being a poor beautiful brainy misfit from the sticks of North Carolina (full academic scholarship), and wanting to fit in with the cool-set at a prestigious college was one of the best coming-of-age stories I've ever read. The main characters were very realistic and the dialogue was very snappy throughout.I commend any writer who writes a 665 page novel/26 cd's that leaves me wishing there was a sequel available. 5 stars.",5.0,"sequel, sequel, sequel?",1181865600,"06 15, 2007",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1M8PP7MLHNBQB,0881507199,"John Matlock ""Gunny""","[4, 5]","If you watch the Cooking Channel very much, you will soon find that almost without exception the cooks use King Arthur flour. The reasons for that boil down to a simple 'it's better flour.' As for why, go to their web site and see what they say, or better yet, try it for yourself.This review, however is not about the flour, it's about the cookbook. King Arthur not only does flour, they also do baking at their storefront. They practice what they preach, and have tested hundreds if not thousands of different recipies. The results of these recipies have now been published in three major cookbooks (and a few smaller specialty titles). This is one.The specialty of this book is, of course, whole grains. It's a book though about flavor, not about why you should eat more whole grains (you know that already). The goal of the book is to make you say, 'I had no idea you could make something that wonderful with whole grains.' It's not a health food book trying to convince you to eat something awful.I've only tried a half dozen of the recipies. One I didn't care for. Now I'm just getting up the courage to start down the rather complex cycle to make sourdough. As you might expect, they don't use a starter, they just start it going. What I have found in the past on such activities, is that you learn enough to fix just what you want, and it is far better than anything you can possibly buy.",5.0,"Because it Tastes Good, Not Just Because it is Healthy",1170979200,"02 9, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AU53MPH4LMA2G,B000ZLNMTU,lldunn,"[4, 4]","I will be looking forward to the next books that John Cassell writes. If u are looking for a little different read,this is it. I found it very intereating. 1969 was a strange,different time to come of age in,it expresses the times and all the changes well. Enjoyed very much. Look forward to whats to come.",5.0,strange times,1331510400,"03 12, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A81IT7NIXQ2C7,0985424311,Marie Borthwick,"[0, 0]","When I started reading this book I was... unsure of how to review it, so I am going to take a cue from Sykosa and her friend Niko and just say what I feel and .. well that's it, just say what I feel.I read the synopsis and was immediately reminded of one of my childhood favorites ""Are You There God? It's Me Margaret"". There are no EXACT similarities to the classic of my childhood - but rather the similarity lies in the examination of a young female mind at a core point of development.What had me twisting in my seat when it came to reviewing this book, was the style it was written in. I was immediately drawn in from the very first scene in the locker room all the way to swiping the last page on my Kindle Fire. Initially I was confused at the narrative, it seemed to ""bounce around"" to me; a few points I had to stop... swipe a few pages back and read again to make sure I was following things correctly. I'm not going to lie, backtracking a few times ANNOYED the bejeebers out of me :/As I finished the book, I like to think I finally understood the choice of narrative style.As I write this review, I am thinking the narrative style and well, the OVERALL style of the book was a stroke of massive creativity. Teen girls are all over the place, sometimes you have to backpeddle to a certain point to maintain the right perspective. Perhaps that's why I couldn't quite understand at first - it has *cough* been quite some time since I was a teenager. As I read Sykosa's reality (because calling it a STORY seems to hardly do it justice), the cloudy haze of age dissipated and I was able to appreciate Sykosa and her struggle on a more intense level.Some may argue that the author, Justin Ordoñez , has crossed a line with his telling of Sykosa's reality; I would strongly disagree. This book isn't for the extremely young, say the tween crowd, but rather for those in nearing the end of their youth and on the cusp of maturity (and those beyond said point). To ignore the events of Sykosa's reality as if they don't occur is just, well, wrong. There are violent, strong and explicit things happening to young girls today. In Sykosa's reality, Justin takes these violent, strong and explicit things and gives them a voice rather than shoving them in to a corner and pretending they don't exist like so many do these days. Sykosa's reality is unapologetically raw, explicity and REAL.Justin has taken truly likeable characters and elevated them to a level where they refuse to be ignored. In writing about Sykosa's reality he has presented a beautiful and uniquely crafted piece of fiction that has one thinking about their own ""darkness"" hidden beneath the surface.Normally I would take this point in the review to list several reasons why you should or shouldn't read a story, I won't do that here today. My reviewing style as of late didn't seem appropriate for talking about Sykosa's reality so I am going to make a the departure from the norm complete. With that said, my recommendation is simple: if your 16 years old or older and enjoy a female protagonist that exudes REAL... step into Sykosa's reality and learn for yourself what her life is like.",3.0,Sykosa's Reality,1333670400,"04 6, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1JR8ASC5OKSHA,1495975673,"Book lover ""Reader""","[11, 11]","Loved this story. Loved the way this author brought her heroine and hero together.The storyline grabs you from the beginning and draws you in. Amanda is a nurse and in many ways because she has missed out, she is an innocent. Her eyes open up when she meets her hero and bang, sparks that keep your tongue hanging out panting for more.Love the sexy cop.No spoilers, I don't like to give spoilers, so let me just say, this is one book you will love, absolutely love. So glad I found this author. Fantastic.",5.0,Hot & Sexy,1391299200,"02 2, 2014",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A19JPL59JJ6K6N,0441015220,Laura Del Moral,"[0, 0]","like ths short stories, some of them are much better than other ones. But I wanted to read the rest of the some of them and do not think they exist. They seem to be stand alone short stories.",3.0,"good short novels, but let me hunger for more ....",1346889600,"09 6, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3V24HA90REDMH,1419684442,C. Eversole,"[0, 0]",This is a great book for anyone! It tells of stories and tales that are sure to spark the memories of most readers' own fathers or grandfathers. The words and situations explained in the book can even be used in each and every normal day. It's an excellent memorial piece or even the perfect gift for a loved one.,5.0,The perfect memorial or gift,1201478400,"01 28, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1OSCKQVBORNWF,1492787701,mamaX4,"[0, 0]",I liked the storyline but didn't think it was executed well. The romance was drawn out and over the top sappy with the "fake" relationship. I kept waiting for the climax with the bad guy and it was sooo anticlimactic! It was just weak writing overall.,2.0,Predictable and weak,1397088000,"04 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1OXHYQVHSRWE9,0988483742,Ava M,"[0, 0]",My choice in rating goes way beyond these stars. I love Llyan so much and hope that the next book will be what I hope that Jo's will choose.Hope Wyn will be with Thom and Dramin and Sain. This is a great series read.,5.0,OMG........,1377907200,"08 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2D51D4AJ9EKAN,0061961353,thehimiler,"[0, 0]",This was a great book about the lead singer of a pioneer girl band. I have always enjoyed the Runaways music & face it they were way ahead of their time. I recommend this book for their fans and any Rock & Roll fan.,5.0,Cherie Curry of the Runaways,1367625600,"05 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A37F1G84K35FCZ,0312275420,taking a rest,"[5, 5]","Author Jim Crace has often taken familiar subjects and subjected them to his own unique manner of thought. Death is one of the certainties that is a universal fate we all share. When it may arrive, and the specific means may differ, however as a subject it is germane to all of us. ""Being Dead"", explores a method of death, detailed forensic decay of bodies, and the visual metaphor he portrays as the two victims are drawn back to the earth.The story is not gratuitously graphic. There was only one section I found rather intense, and it was due to the explicit description of the decay of human remains. It was not grisly, as you would find in a horror novel where death and violence are contrived and often obscene in their graphic portrayal of violence. This book contains violent death, however the murder is a means to explore his primary topic of death. Mr. Crace also brings another death that is not so much a parallel to the primary subjects, rather is more of a haunting and an exploration of misplaced guilt and uncertainty.I believe the interpretations of this work could be almost endless. The author places the dead near the site of both another human death decades earlier, and very near the spot that life for this couple began. The wilderness where they began their life is also being systematically destroyed from natural beauty, to track mansions for the wealthy. Transformed for affluent homeowners who will know nothing of events that might taint their unjustified impression of an idyllic beachfront home. Just as the property lines and access roads are laid with accuracy and regimentation, so too must the illusion of what these singing sand dunes offer must also be managed. This is a place that death is not welcome, intentional, accidental, or any other version.There are many other themes the author weaves amongst the primary story that is always present and suitably graphic. I believe most readers will take away differing views, and others may even move on to what they imagine comes after death. For death here is not continued to whatever comes next. There is no comforting version of what the next existence may be, whether there is one, or whether one is lacking. As he has done in many of his novels, he respects the inquisitiveness of his readers, and sets them on a road of his making, that is for readers to continue upon, or veer one way or another as continuing thought may lead them.",4.0,Another New Perspective,1001894400,"10 1, 2001",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AY7XY9E1L6QRW,1401250351,ROBERT W. SAINT JOHN,"[5, 7]","T-minus 3 days until the movie opens... do you want to read this? Yes. Is it necessary? Probably not, but (as a prequel) it seems to lay out the background of this new G universe quite nicely (and I did love this backstory). Is it full of spoilers? Haven't seen the movie yet, only the trailers; but as far as I can tell, there was nothing in Godzilla Awakening that would spoil anything in the movie itself, other than (possibly?) the character and nature of Godzilla itself. Beyond all that: looks awesome on the HDX (8.9""), some really beautiful pages and their corresponding pencil and ink sketches in the back, and an entertaining story that, like the movie itself, has a few great nods to the 1954 original. Highly recommended.",5.0,A must for the Kindle HDX,1399939200,"05 13, 2014",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2TSVAA8813A40,0312304218,Reader,"[4, 5]","After reading several novels featuring Seattle as a main character, I decided to read a nonfiction book that is unabashedly about Seattle. I didn't know I was going to get such a wonderful view of the city I grew up in and returned to after twenty-eight years away. At first I thought I was just being ethnocentric in my desire to read about Seattle. Then I thought about all the other cities involved in navel-gazing. ""The New Yorker"" magazine is far more self-involved than this or any other material I've read on Seattle. And in my years in Madison, Wisc. I saw the same phenomenon. There's a human need to understand better the places where we live.And Fred Moody's love story to Seattle does that in an incredible way. To start with, he's a wonderful writer. Those who live here, or have lived here, or who are curious about the city, may enjoy it the most. But anybody who wants to know about what happened in the dot com boom and bust, anywhere in the country, or to understand grunge music, will get a non-technical understanding from this book. And if you want to get a picture of the beginnings of Microsoft, Starbucks, or Amazon.com, this is the place to get the inside scoop. Moody's job at the ""Seattle Weekly"" gave him stories at all those ""important"" places, as well as many other minor but fascinating places as well.The Microsoft and dot com stories fascinated me, perhaps because they started in the years when I was gone. When Moody first went to interview Bill Gates, the building was full of kids and chaos, but things were laid back in spite of all the hard work. Moody was groomed for his interview, and told what to ask and not ask. He got as nervous as if he were interviewing a head of state. Then this unprepossessing kid walked into the office. Talk was hard at first until Gates got into the swing of things, and then he answered every question and more. What impressed Moody most: You have to be modest, because everybody contributes their piece. Moody should have remembered that, when, years later, during the boom, he got swept off his feet by two truly crazy kids who kept telling him what geniuses they were. They talked him into leaving his low-paying but stable job at the ""Weekly"" to get rich quick with their start-up. Of course it went belly-up in short order, just as so many others did. He dropped into a deep depression that took his daughter's scorn to pull him out of.When I returned to Seattle to live in 1997, I thought the city had gone crazy. The pace was frantic, the place was rich, and everyone wanted their piece of the pie. If you didn't have it, you must have a character flaw (I was disabled and couldn't work, so what was wrong with ME?) I still loved it, but felt like Seattle was cruisin' for a bruisin' as my brother used to say when we were kids. Turns out he was right. I loved Moody's chronicle of his life in the Seattle of my childhood, and the years I wasn't here for.",5.0,Seattle and Fred Moody Lose Their Innocence Together,1103587200,"12 21, 2004",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1QA8RO63NMCYN,B009YW6F2M,Jeanie,"[0, 0]","It had too much unneeded info, was way too long with not much mystery. I will never buy another book by this author. His name is spelled so much like an author by the name of Locke, that I thought it was the same author.",1.0,Too much unneeded info too long with not much mystery.,1359936000,"02 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3REAEZAX8H8QQ,B00EYOAXZ0,Norma b,"[0, 0]",I could not put this book down. Truly enjoyed the characters and story line was great. It was not predictable like some books. I recommend it to everyone.,5.0,really good read,1390348800,"01 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2PTI4HOT5XRON,B00943HWAA,Cc,"[0, 0]","Ok, good plot line,the suspend is ok drama plot fine, slow in begining pages but ok not the worst book to read,",3.0,Daddy dearest,1357344000,"01 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A142FJF6Z56NYP,1476744130,Mom of Twins,"[0, 0]","The is one of the best series I've read! After waiting forever to read Consumed, I can say it was definitely worth the wait! If you have loved the Lucas and Sienna relationship roller coaster, you will not be disappointed! All you questions about his past and Sam will be answered. You'll also get a little more Kylie and Wyatt and Zoe and Sinjin.",5.0,"love, love, love it!",1402444800,"06 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32OR8HC66908F,0307969088,"P. Schneider ""Pete""","[6, 12]","This is a great book. First, I did not realize how much we owe to John von Neumann - the computer, thermonuclear weapons, missiles, sets, quantum mechanics, etc. Furthermore, these activities were all interrelated, which now seems so obvious after reading this book.Second, George Freeman did not give us the Saint Robert Oppenheimer vs the mean Lewis Stauss version of events. Nor did he make a martyr out of the troubled Turing as is being done today.",5.0,No political correctness,1331510400,"03 12, 2012",6,12,helpful,0.5,1 AR8X2S4HKKNJ4,0385527209,Steven Shedlin,"[0, 0]","I only wish that Jeffrey Toobin wrote books more often. Every one of his books is invariably interesting and teaches me something new. The Oath was no different. It provided outstanding insight into the Supreme Court, and in particular, Chief Justice Roberts. I enjoyed every page.",5.0,Reads like a novel,1355875200,"12 19, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2W00XKTTF1G0Z,0307887898,"Lorenzo M. in the Hollywood CA Area ""Movie Wa...","[6, 12]","As we all know, most startups fail and many of those failures are sometimes preventable. The Lean Startup is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched and although its positive in its value it seems to lack a practical application instruction.Eric Ries defines a startup asan organization dedicated to creating something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty. This is just as true for one person in a garage or a group of seasoned professionals in a Fortune 500 boardroom. What they have in common is a mission to penetrate that fog of uncertainty to discover a successful path to a sustainable business.The Lean Startup approach fosters companies that are both more capital efficient and that leverage human creativity more effectively. It seems it wass inspired by lessons from lean manufacturing, it relies on validated learning, rapid scientific experimentation, as well as a number of counter-intuitive practices that shorten product development cycles, measure actual progress without resorting to vanity metrics, and learn what customers really want. It enables a company to shift directions with agility, altering plans inch by inch, minute by minute. And it does go on and on.I've always thought that other than wasting time creating elaborate business plans, The Lean Startup offers entrepreneurs - in companies of all sizes - a way to test their vision continuously, to adapt and adjust before its too late. Ries provides a scientific approach to creating and managing successful startups in a age when companies need to innovate more than ever. It's hypothetical, but optimistic. I'd like to think this book offers another insight into the business world. A good read, but small in application. 8-2011",3.0,Interesting But not very Detailed.,1313625600,"08 18, 2011",6,12,helpful,0.5,1 A11131RLQZZSX9,0140184406,"George E. Miller ""Author: The Lone War Cry""","[9, 11]","Of all the zane Grey classics, this is one of his best. Lassiter, the gunman, up against the Mormon power in Utah, complete with a hidden valley, thoroughbred horses, and plenty of bad guys. Adventure/romance has survived the years to remain a classic.",5.0,Zane Grey's best,1223164800,"10 5, 2008",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 AEW2EHGO7BIVC,1494388588,Sara K.,"[0, 0]","Ilona Andrews (Gordon and Ilona Andrews) have done it again! They are an award winning couple who have written one of the best bad **s kicking paranormal series out there (Kate Daniels). They have another winner here! This novella has managed to successfully create a well developed cast of characters and story line. I don't know of a lot of authors who can do that so well in a short story. Their creativity is amazing and the dialog flows smoothly.The basis of the story revolves around a well known institution call an Inn. There are Inns situated all over the known universe where the ground is neutral and any and all can come to stay. You can ask for sanctuary or just go there to rest. All Inns are neutral territory to everyone and the guests must adhere to neutrality and privacy. All races have sworn to agree to these principals. The Inn Keeper's job is to protect the Inn and it's residents. The Inn Keeper has very strong and inventive magical powers tied to the actual physical structure of the Inn. In this book, there is an alien on Earth that is killing animals and generally creating trouble. Dina is the Inn Keeper and she feels to protect the Inn and innocents, this evil alien must be stopped.Yes, you can get it free by reading their blog. However I work full time and don't have the time to read piece by piece. I find it much more convenient to read it put together in one book on my Kindle. Whether you pay for it or read it free on the author's website, just read it. You will not be disappointed. I can't wait for the next book!",5.0,Ilona Andrews has another hit series!,1386720000,"12 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AEB45TKHZI37F,1569715157,Nathan,"[9, 10]","`Chewbacca' is a collection of the four issue miniseries put out by Dark Horse Comics, and it is an excellent addition to the library of any Star Wars fan. Basically, this book is a collection of short stories about previously unseen chapters in Chewie's life. A different artist does each chapter, although Darko Macan writes the whole thing, usually very well. The art tends to be very good, although obviously with nine different artists there will be some you like and some you don't.This book obviously takes place after Chewbacca's death in the novel `Vector Prime.' The premise is that C-3PO and R2-D2 are putting together some sort of memorial for Chewbacca. For one aspect of this, they are touring the galaxy, seeking out the family, friends, and others who knew Chewbacca and collecting stories and anecdotes about the Wookiee. Some of the stories take us back to his pre-slavery days on Kashyyyk, and are related by family members. Some stories are told by familiar faces such as Luke, Han, Leia, Lando, and Wedge. And a couple are told by bounty hunters and slavers who have had...encounters with Chewbacca. In this book, we see Chewbacca's first meeting with Han, as well as their last encounter on Sernpidal, and plenty of other events.Some of the stories are humorous, some sad, and some fun. Together, the stories in this book fill in gaps in Chewbacca's life and flesh out the big furball's character. This is one of the few literary occasions we've had to actually see Chewbacca `speaking' and interacting with various others. There was only one story which didn't really fit and wasn't necessary - the story of Mala Mala, the diminutive creature first introduced in Macan's `Vader's Quest' comic. While the story did have Chewbacca in it, it felt out of place in that it was more of a backstory for this minor character than a tribute to the mighty Chewbacca.In addition, this collected edition has an introduction by Peter Mayhew, the guy who played Chewbacca in the films. Overall, this book is a fitting tribute to the fallen Wookiee, a must buy for any Star Wars fan. Highly Recommended.",5.0,At last we have the mighty Chewbacca,982454400,"02 18, 2001",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 AIES7OZMR873Y,1499118910,Patrick Dubois,"[0, 0]","This book was a little longer than the rest in giving us insight into how the infected live. I think the detour was worth it, but now I have even more questions on how the story will tie everything together. Looking forward to the next book",4.0,well done,1402358400,"06 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19XG7H2TAI3AX,0618083499,"Paula J. Miller ""Author of One-Eyed Jack""","[12, 12]","I must say that I'd never grinned so much as I did in reading Adam's COWBOY LINGO. Not only did it make me chuckle, it made me appreciate the 'uneducated' cowboy and his ingenious way with words.Having need of a character who could 'talk a cow out of her calf' in a recent children's novel, I found this book invaluable. Now Grandpa Albert drinks coffee that's 'strong enough to kick up in the middle and carry double' and when aiming at a rattlesnake he has as much luck in hitting it as he would 'tryin' to scratch his ears with his elbow'.Adams covers a multitude of topics ranging from brands and cattle, to a cowboy's riding equipment. I learned more about cowboys and roping in one chapter than I did in any other book I'd used for research.Not only is this a fun read, it's an excellent resource.",5.0,The Perfect Research Tool,1151625600,"06 30, 2006",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A31FPKPQUV3LKI,0345433262,"J. Huber ""Beau's mom""","[5, 5]","I didn't expect much from this book, the reviews weren't great. I liked it a lot. I bought the book some time ago and hadn't gotten around to it because of the reviews. When I sat down and started reading I finished it which frankly is unusual for an Anne Perry book. I like her writing but sometimes it doesn't grab me right away. This book did grab me and I remain a devoted fan of Ms. Perry. I have ordered her next book and will not let it sit on the shelf before reading it.",4.0,Not her best but still a good read,980899200,"01 31, 2001",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2UIXU97JYCPZG,0143122010,R. Albin,"[116, 130]","This very ambitious and sprawling book is a serious effort to argue for and explain the progressive decline in interpersonal violence in human societies. The book is divided into 2 parts. The first part is an effort to describe a broad sweep of human history from prehistoric societies to the present, arguing for a progressive though intermittant decline in violence in human societies. The second part is an effort to understand the underpinings of the decline in violence in terms of human psychological processes.Pinker's sequence of the decline in violence is based on synthesis of a large volume of literature generated by archaeologists, ethnologists, historians, sociologists, political scientists, and psychologists. Pre-state societies, while low in absolute population and absolute number of violent acts, had very high per capita levels of violence. The emergence of states resulted in some decline in violence and the gradual strengthening of the state resulted in a progressive decline in interpersonal violence, even as states became more capable of waging war. This is best documented in Europe from the Middle Ages to the present. Pinker highlights a number of important parallel processes. The ""Civilizing Process"" described by the great historical sociologist Norbert Elias of the increasing importance of self-control, manners, and social amity from the Renaissance onwards is prominently featured as a key feature in the decline of violence. Similarly, Pinker emphasizes the humanitarianism of the Enlightenment and subsequent reform movements. In the 20th century, the ""Rights Revolution"" that has brought widespread acceptance of religious and ethnic minorities, women, and homosexuals, is also discussed as improving our societies. Pinker makes the important point that while the 20th century saw great violence with the tremendous crimes committed by totalitarian states and the huge casulties of WWI and WWII, on a per capita basis, there is continued decline which has accelerated in the post-WWII era.All of these phenomena are generally well known to historians and many social scientists. Pinker deserves considerable credit for bringing them before the broad reading public and for synthesizing them into one broad arc. That said, Pinker's presentation and discussion of these topics is uneven. In general, Pinker does better when drawing on political science and other social science literature. His discussion of the democratic peace phenomenon, for example, is quite good. His discussions of historical topics often leads a good deal to be desired. Treating the admirable Barbara Tuchman as an authoritative source on late Medieval Europe when there is a lot of excellent secondary literature seems a bit lazy. Referring to Napoleonic France as the first fascist state is very misleading about both France in this period and 20th century fascism. I share Pinker's enthusiasm for Enlightenment reformism but his schematic version of the Enlightenment is a distortion of this rich historical phenomenon. Pinker also overlooks an important complication of his primary story. All of his discussion of the decline in violence from the Middle Ages onward, the Civilizing Process, Enlightenment Humanitarianism, etc., is based on European examples. But this is the same period during which European expansion results in the victimization of the pitiful remnant of the native peoples of the Western Hemisphere, Australia, and the Pacific. It is also largely the period of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, which probably caused a marked increase in violence in sub-Saharan Africa. These phenomena were accompanied and followed by considerable imperialist-colonial depredations, some of which had marked destabilizing effects. One of the most traumatic events of the 19th century was the Taiping Rebellion, which caused tens of millions of deaths in China. The Taiping revolt was partly a result of the destabilization of the Qing regime by European colonialism. None of this means that Pinker is wrong about the overall story but its a much more complicated evolution than he suggests.In the final part of the book, Pinker discusses the possible mechanisms of the decline in violence. This is largely a discussion of possibly relevant psychological processes. Pinker discusses psychological processes that would favor violence and other processes that would reduce violence. As with the descriptive part of the book, this is an effort to synthesize a lot of prior literature, notably social psychology literature. Pinker develops an interesting model in which some psychological mechanisms could interact in virtuous circles to enhance personal restraint, sympathy with others, and improve sociability. This is somewhat speculative but plausible. In one case, Pinker offers an interesting specific hypothesis that the decline in violence and increase in social tolerance we've experienced in the past decades is due to the Flynn effect, an apparent increase in certain aspects of intelligence across the 20th century. Also as with the first section of the book, these discussions are uneven. Pinker does better when discussing social psychology literature. As someone who is involved in neurobiology research, I found his efforts at including brain mechanisms overly simple. Given his reliance on social psychology studies for many of his most important analyses, the gestures at neurobiology add little to his overall presentation.Another deficiency of this book is Pinker's style of argumentation. On a paragraph by paragraph basis, Pinker is a clear and often engaging writer. Some sections could be confusing because of a tendency to abruptly reverse directions. In a section on the decline in crime in recent decades, he expands at some length on the effects of increased incarceration rates. He then abruptly changes course and attacks this idea. Without careful reading, it would be possible to take very different conclusions away from this discussion. Similarly, he has a discussion of so-called power law relationships in which he suggests the presence of apparent power law curves suggests a uniform process. He later suggests that dual processes could underly a power law curve and, in fact, the existence of a an apparent power law curve tell you nothing about whether a single or multiple processes underlies the phenomenon under study. Pinker also has a tendency to punctuate his analyses with opinionated asides that may or may not be relevant or valid. The purportedly destructive effects of the 1960s counterculture seems to be a idee fixe.This book would have benefited from a major revision prior to publication, some shortening, and a lot more historical research.",3.0,Uneven; 3.5 Stars,1331337600,"03 10, 2012",116,130,helpful,0.8923076923076924,1 A3LECHP8Y3HS9B,0373777434,"Lcookie ""Lalectora""","[11, 14]","First of all, false advertising, this book is part of a former paranormal romance series, and now comes this new book, a sheep dressed as a wolf, or a christian book aimed to evangelize the readers, no, no and no. If the author has changed her genre, it should be reflected in the packaging. We are adults, and don't need to be evangelized this way, too transparent, and just wrong.I also agree with the reviewer about Ms Showalter cramming you little tidbits of 'secrets' to come. Instead of making it suspenseful, it makes it more of a selling gimmick. i.e, keep buying my books if you want to know more.It was equally difficult to like the heroine, she came across as selfish and immature, only interested in her sister, who was dying and a bit of a jerk. Both sisters sounded spoiled, bratty, and hard to like; just cuteness personified, that a tough Hero was sure to melt for, not. To make it all worse, the fun of her previous series is gone; like she has morphed her style into a religious genre; maybe she is taking the angel business too serious. Others might like it, but for me it was too transparent and contrived. It sounded too much like a religious novel for my liking. I take my religion seriously, and my diversion as well, and not necessarily mixed.",2.0,Huge let down,1362873600,"03 10, 2013",11,14,helpful,0.7857142857142857,1 A1QPEJ285ME3VT,1461057140,LeahMary,"[0, 0]",This book follows the adventures of a group of boys and girls during their childhood years. They are all students at a boarding school run by Mr. & Mrs. Bhaer (the same Jo March you know and love from Little Women!). The Bhaer's methods of teaching are unique and the boys find they want to do right to make "Mother Bhaer" proud. A delightful story of how well children thrive and grow in virtue when they are loved and encouraged.,5.0,Uplifting story...good for boys!,1353628800,"11 23, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3VBNITSVP2FCL,B00E9HGID8,nena,"[0, 0]",Hold on to your kindle you might just drop it or end up throwing it lol (fans self) whoa seriously twisted roller coaster ride I just took :) BRAVO Mara I enjoyed and cant wait for the next book!,5.0,whoa,1375315200,"08 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2FRIASHSM1NLN,0882823248,"Michael Gooch ""Management Consultant-HR""","[0, 1]","As a person that has battled clinical depression off and on since 1987, I found this book to be a very absorbing and insightful tome on this critically important topic. Defeating Depression is all about teaching you how to self-examine your life to find the problem areas and then provides the tool kit for working on those problems. I found out years ago that very often, medicine alone will not resolve the mental issues. A smart person will take advantage of the many streams offering help and guidance. This is one of those.Throughout the book, real life anecdotes are provided that brings the story home. I found these to be perceptive in nature as well as inspiring. Who amount us couldn't use a little inspiration as we toil through this veil of tears? For me, Chapter 14, Live in the Moment was the most beneficial. This chapter provided wonderful insight and helped me to identify areas within my own life of needed improvement.Finally, I really appreciated the author's abundant use of acronyms as these greatly facilitate the memorization of the various Calm and Sense tools.I highly recommend this book for those suffering from depression, anxiety or general mood disorders.Michael L. Gooch, SPHR - Author of Wingtips with Spurs, Lessons From the Ranch and Voodoo Fever",5.0,A Wonderful Tool Kit,1351382400,"10 28, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1I9B4PSCDDWOO,0140128697,"lordhoot ""lordhoot""","[9, 12]","I found this book to be very readable and once again, I also found it to be another one of Alan Schom's anti-Napoleon treatment. I am bit amazed that someone of Mr. Schom's talent as a writer and historian would be wasted on such bias effort. I would like to ask Mr. Schom if Napoleon have done anything good or decent in his life since he really like to paint this French Emperor and one of history's greatest military commanders as little better then petty dictator with delusion of grandeur with a Hitler complex.Mr. Schom would probably find a greater acceptence among Napoleonic readers if he would be more fair in his assessments of the facts and characters. When you are too bias against your subject, then its pretty clear to any reader that you got a grudge against it.The book overall, doesn't add anything new to anyone who is well read on the subject of Waterloo campaign. For experience readers, this book will end up in your local used book store. For casual readers, there are many anti-Napoleonic traps that author insert to make claims that Napoleon was nothing more then an early 19th century misanthrope.PS: I believed HMS Bellerophon was a ship of a line, not a frigate.",1.0,Napoleon hater go at it again,1093046400,"08 21, 2004",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A3H7J5POTR9TZW,0778314332,Liz,"[0, 0]","I love Brenda Jackson's books. The book's storyline was sad & awesome. When I first started reading this book I was surprised because I've never read a book like this from Ms. Jackson. I loved Jace, Caden, & Dalton all the brothers sound very smart, good looking, & sexy. I was so happy for Jace. This was an awesome way to introduce us to a new series & this book is definitely worth reading. I can't wait for the next book to come out.",5.0,A BROTHER'S HONOR,1373673600,"07 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5W5QF7BHPQTK,0316013269,Annie Kate,"[8, 11]","I went to see Julie and Julia in theaters, and thought it was a great movie. Both Meryl Steep and Amy Adams were good, and they really made the story come to life. I thought this was an interesting story, so I thought the book would be a great choice for me. However, I was very wrong. The writing is awful, and sometimes I had to read a passage twice to understand what it was saying. It felt like I was having a very informal conversation with the author. It was truly disappointing, and I had to stop reading it because I couldn't force myself to read any more of it. It is too bad because it really could have been a good book, but she just isn't a good writer, so it didn't really work.",1.0,"For Once, Movie Exceeds Book",1277251200,"06 23, 2010",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 APUL4JZDZYHS2,1572228350,D. Stakenas,"[0, 0]",I bought four of these for my AP Latin students. Each one has their own review guide using these cards. I watch them referring to the cards in their folders quite frequently.,5.0,Latin grammar sheets,1383004800,"10 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A16C9MXKXTCBXG,1470146371,greenleaf,"[4, 4]","My home needs some serious organizing and decluttering. Like many people, I put it off because I don't know how to tackle it without the task becoming a major waste of time and energy. ""Get Organized"" helps with that hurdle giving a step by step, room by room plan to take on the challenge in an organized and efficient manner. It feels so good when it is actually accomplished.",5.0,Makes That Task Doable and Successful,1329868800,"02 22, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A11KBFL0X5NXQX,0393070859,"Janet Crossen ""mamajan""","[5, 6]","I loved this book! Like the author, we left our busy city lives and bought a few acres on a rural island near Seattle. We turned our plot of land into a small working farm with a garden, chickens, goats, horses, and a wonderful Jersey cow. We actually know Henning, the sustainable farming expert mentioned in the book. I smiled throughout the pages as I frequently ""saw"" our farming experiences described time and again. I also learned some valuable farming lessons. Thanks for documenting our lives as we live and farm in paradise.",5.0,Living and Farming in Paradise,1297296000,"02 10, 2011",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1F5MRCW5A8Q5L,1595143173,Claire Thake,"[0, 0]","After reading the vampire academy series I was really looking forward to reading this spin off. Unfortunately I was disappointed!I didn't find bloodlines lived up to the VA series. Jill for me is not a great character, despite the fact that she is young, she is very childish and selfish in my eyes.This series did however improve Adrian's character for me, and I am looking forward to seeing more of him in the rest of the series.For me this book lacked any real heroine, and missed the presence of Rose. Sydney as the main character just didn't live up to Roses shadow, and also lacked any real romance as Jill's romantic endeavors were nothing compared to Rose and Dimitri in the VA series.As usual though the book was well written and I am looking forward to seeing the characters evolve in the rest of the series.",4.0,not as good as VA,1366329600,"04 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AG9F84HQMH5BO,1444746138,Trena Brand,"[0, 0]",Loved this book. William Paul Young is an awesome writer. His books just draw you in with him. Make you look at life differently.,5.0,Book,1363651200,"03 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GOMQAIH03Q2O,1423601033,S. Hoover,"[6, 10]","This book has pretty photographs but it was not what I was looking for. It shows designs by reknowned florists but has little in the way of substance. I don't want to make someone else's bouquets. I want to learn how to do it. I am also more interested in silk flowers, so that may be another reason that I am not a big fan. I want to learn the ""Art of Flower Arranging"" not how to copy someone else's designs that I don't much care for anyway.",2.0,Book was not useful at all to me,1206230400,"03 23, 2008",6,10,helpful,0.6,1 AKU04DUWM35Q2,1890621978,coop,"[0, 0]",just what I wanted for my class! It is easy to read amd follow with the pictures. Thank you for the book.,5.0,good purchase,1318550400,"10 14, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2DQKU6BUY5X3W,1442446730,Orson Scott Card,"[0, 0]","Brilliantly funny. It arrives looking like an old, used children's picture book - but that's the point. It's a cheery lightweight book that an older relative gave this child for his birthday years ago. But, weary of the empty story, the boy has gone through and "revised" both words and art, turning it into an epic battle against the evil, dangerous Battle Bunny. Brilliantly done. The only drawback is that it might inspire your own child to revise OTHER books. But maybe you want to encourage that kind of creativity.",5.0,The most brilliant (and funny) meta-fiction ever in a children's picture book,1395964800,"03 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWK6TP9DNUKOM,1463703376,Voracious Reviews,"[0, 0]","This is a serial novel and is cut up into smaller episodes. On this first episode, we find Casey Smith and her best friends- Mike and Jack- on a boat hanging out near the Fiji Islands. Hit by a freak tropical storm, they are shipwrecked on a strange island, which has dual suns and some odd water and creatures. Will they ever get off the island alive? The creatures are not that welcoming and are not like any tropical island creatures this trio has ever seen.This was an interesting little morsel! I enjoyed the action filled writing, and there was tons of action in it. No page was turned without something happening to these three. I actually was a bit scared for them. The monsters they encountered were not pretty and I wouldn't ever want to be caught on that island with them. The imagery was done well and I enjoyed the small survival facts tossed in from Mike and Jack along the way. Casey was a tough girl too, though I'm sure there is a hint of a love triangle going on.A great start to what looks like an interesting serial series. I already downloaded all the episodes so I can't wait to read them.",4.0,Full of Action and addicting!,1375920000,"08 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AEVNUEDRGTC4P,0143112139,Charles J. Rector,"[8, 9]","The disaster known as Hurricane Katrina was both forseeable and could have been prevented. The position of New Orleans below sea level had long made it vulnerable to massive flooding from a hurricane. The failure of the levees to hold back the flood waters spelled the doom of the city and the Delta area.According to the authors, the Federal government had long known that the levee system in place was grossly insufficient to hold back surging wathers generated by a hurricane force storm. In 1994, the Clinton Administration ignored warnings by the authors that New Orleans was a disaster waiting to happen.This book not only relates just what enabled Katrina to swamp New Orleans, it also tells just what needs to be done to prevent future disasters. This is a very good book and is must reading for all those who are interested in Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.",5.0,Must Read Book About Hurricane Katrina,1150934400,"06 22, 2006",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A2I917RSGPV9FG,B00HXL57KM,Ms. T,"[0, 0]","This was a good read just too many typos. Not the authors fault, but fire your editor. Took away from an otherwise awesome book",4.0,good read,1391299200,"02 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1BZ3B6WF297FP,0794836755,Carlee Miller,"[0, 0]",Just exactly what I was looking for... Thank you! I would recommend this book to anyone seeking good clear info on coins!,5.0,Exactly what I was looking for... Thanks.,1385078400,"11 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VN0NA7F12EI3,148020725X,Phyllis,"[45, 50]","Stranger in Town is the latest book in the Sloane Monroe series written by Cheryl Bradshaw. It is awesome, I downloaded it as soon as it hit Amazon and 5 hours later I am hoping there is another one coming. I don't want to say to much to spoil for those just getting started but this is an awesome book, you will love it, new twists and turns and I am so liking one character in particular...that is all I will say. Great job Cheryl.....",5.0,Just leaves me waiting for the next one,1352678400,"11 12, 2012",45,50,helpful,0.9,1 A15FFWA5U51SJ0,044657242X,LoveGoodBooks,"[0, 0]","I am really disappointed. The only reason I gave it as high of a rating as I did is because I love KLR. The overall story line was predictable. It was a nice touch at the end, but I couldn't even appreciate it because I was so disappointed with the rest of the book. BUT I'm still a huge KLR fan and look forward to her future books! (As long as they're not like this one...)",2.0,Not feeling it...,1332115200,"03 19, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ATP6SR77D94LK,0425238725,Vicki Z,"[0, 0]","Evenfall by Liz Michalski has everything you need to make a great story. Vivid characters, a strong sense of place, interesting plot elements to keep it moving, and a few lessons to learn in the meantime. I did expect Frank, the ghost, to play more of a part in the story, but he helped fill the back-story nicely. Overall, I enjoyed learning about the lives of these characters and pondering on the messages I felt the story was sending.",4.0,Vivid characters and memorable lessons,1317427200,"10 1, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1DYL0YG03Z2XQ,1461014522,"Sherri Rowlands ""avid reader""","[4, 4]","I really enjoyed this well-written book. The characters are wonderful and there is no vulgar language, inappropriate relationships, or graphic sex. I hope the series continues on and on. I am reading the second book now and started searching to see if book three is available yet. I hope Terri Reid continues writing about Mary and the other characters in Freeport.",5.0,"A wonderful, clean book!",1296432000,"01 31, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1V759M5PMHL3Q,0865717168,"JB ""jb6606""","[13, 13]","I've been market farming a few years and own a LOT of books on farming - Eliot Coleman, Joel Salatin, etc., but this is by far the most useful book for me and my operation. Reading the book is like touring the author's farm, with details about what tools the farm uses, varieties of seeds, specifics about succession planting, seed starting, etc. I dragged my feet a few weeks on buying this book as I didn't want another book gathering dust on the bookshelf, but I use this all the time. It's well organized and indexed, and I find it very easy to find what I'm looking for. I highly recommend it.",5.0,Best market farming book that I own,1393286400,"02 25, 2014",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A3KTITWEI5ON6X,1401232590,Andrew Davison,"[0, 1]","My preference is for 'detective' Batman, which we almost get here. The story is a whodunnit, but there's very little actual detection carried out. Instead the story becomes a little repetitive with more and more bad guys being dispatched on each holiday.The whodunnit aspect is weakened by the inclusion of several 'psycho' Batman characters, such as the Joker, the Scarecrow, Mad Hatter, and (eventually) Two-Face. I'm getting pretty sick of 'dark' Batman stories, and especially of the Joker.The ending is quite disappointing since there's no realistic way anyone could have forseen the ending (a necessary requirement of a good whodunnit in my opinion).",3.0,A Weak Whodunnit,1220832000,"09 8, 2008",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0060539836,Harriet Klausner,"[12, 15]","Having just moved from Cincinnati to Atlanta, financial expert Belinda Hennessey adjusts to her new town. She knows that her new town is more expensive than her previous one and that the rush hour traffic into the city is unbearable especially from the north side. Thus she has joined those drives using the HOV carpool lane into and out of the city.Belinda works on an assessment whether her new firm Archer Furniture should acquire the mom and pop Payton Manufacturing. Her boss ""Maniac Margo"" wants the report done yesterday (weekend or not). Belinda concludes that the potential new addition cooked the books, but Margo tells her to be quiet. Reluctantly Belinda agrees being the new kid on the block and wary to make waves. Not long afterward, someone murders Margo with the evidence pointing towards Belinda due to the fiscal cover-up or a member of the car pool who have had run-ins with the now dead queen of nasty.KILL THE COMPETITION is a delightful relationship drama with a strong police procedural plot to anchor the tale. Though the romance between Belinda and police officer Wade Alexander is warm and fun to observe and the murder investigation cleverly intertwined into the prime plot, the tale belongs to the four female car poolers. Their outlook on Atlanta, work, and men forge a strong bond between them and make for a witty novel that readers will cherish especially if you ever been stuck in Spaghetti Junction (Atlanta's most notorious parking lot during the rush hour).Harriet Klausner",5.0,delightful relationship drama inside a police procedural,1068076800,"11 6, 2003",12,15,helpful,0.8,1 A23LKQU440M4KJ,0762415401,"M. Shigley ""Artillery Guy""","[12, 12]","Patrick O'Brian's Navy is a wonderful encyclopedic volume of the British Navy of the 19th Century. My only dissappointment is that I thought it would be more like the Hornblower Companion. What it is missing are maps that allow the reader to follow Aubrey's routes as the novels unfold. However, the quality of the articles and illustrations made my dissappointment short-lived.",4.0,Beautiful and Informative Book,1103587200,"12 21, 2004",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A33YZTJK0QQBLE,1601621590,K. Williams,"[0, 0]",This book was so good! I started reading this book Friday morning and finished Saturday afternoon! I thought about the characters and what they could've done differently long after the book was done! Good Job! I can't wait for more books from this author.,4.0,I read this book in two days and wanted more!!!!!,1254700800,"10 5, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AM2OUL38P2WHX,1581803176,Brenda Jo Mengeling,"[23, 23]","This book truly has some creative ideas for fashioning folded notes and letter sleeves. The authors start by teaching the basics of measuring, scoring, creasing and cutting paper so that corners are true and lines straight and smoothly cut. Few tools are needed for this: a bone folder (<$5), a metal ruler, 2 exacto knives and a paperclip (one exacto knife handle is formed into a creasing tool with the paperclip). The authors give a couple of ways to decorate plain paper, give the post office's size regulations for not incurring extra postage (very handy!), and then it is on to the projects. I have tried several and the directions are quite clear and easy to follow, and there are several variations for each project depending upon what the purpose of the correspondence (ways to send pictures, booklets, inserts, etc.). For several projects you can make use of old mail and junkmail, transforming it into beautiful pieces of correspondence. This book teaches ways to make letters as artful and creative as greeting cards.",5.0,creative correspondence,1077148800,"02 19, 2004",23,23,helpful,1.0,1 A1ZJINMODPW89I,1482710455,A. Harris,"[13, 13]",This is Book 3 of Sweet Montana Brides. Cassie Lovell has just finished surving as a juror for 6 months where she helped put away one of the Lawson brothers. Jurors have begun turning up dead and Cassie is swept away into a witness protection program where she is placed on a ranch with Shane Emerson. The Emerson's have a history of helping out those in the witness protection and both of Shane's brothers have ended up married to the women they protected. Shane has been in a relationship recently that ended badly and he is not looking for another. Cassie has a boyfriend but he currently lives in India and she is unsure of the status of their relationship. Cassie and Shane are attracted to each other but are constantly misreading one another. Cassie will have to determine if she still has a boyfriend and Shane will have to overcome his fear of being hurt again. They will also have to be on constant alert from the dangers that face Cassie and Shane.I don't typically read a lot of romance because I don't like the explicit scenes. I was afraid there was going to be some of that in this book but I was pleasantly surprised by the clean romance of this story. The budding romance between Cassie and Shane was really sweet and I enjoyed this story immensely. The author did a terrific job of describing the characters and the scenery of the Montana setting. The characters were easy to relate to as they had very real feelings and issues that they had to overcome. I read this one in just a little over a day and hope to read more from this author.I received this book free through GoodReads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.,4.0,Book 3 of Sweet Montana Brides,1381104000,"10 7, 2013",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A2VG0RY3EUWZKB,0805053034,Lynn Harnett,"[8, 9]","Brown's third novel, set in 1968, concerns the events of five days following the release of Glen Davis from prison. Having served three years for the drunk-driving death of a small boy, Davis returns to his Mississippi home town with scores to settle.Brown's Deep South, working class voice drips with heat and smolders with trouble. Davis is a sullen, vicious young thug convinced that all his troubles are anyone's fault but his and determined to exact revenge. Not exactly an original character but Brown's gritty, laconic style imbues him with a foreboding sense of menace that seems to surround the whole town while people go about their business, knowing the danger but unwilling to quite believe it.Within 50 pages, Glen has killed - casually, with intent but almost without thought. The next morning he begins to harangue Virgil, his father, about the lack of a headstone on his mother's grave.""Virgil didn't look up. He couldn't reason with him. Not when he got things in his head and kept them that way. It wasn't any use to try. He was worn down and he'd had a long rest but now this rest was over and he didn't know if he could take this all over again.""As Glen creeps and careens around his town, drinking and wreaking brutal havoc as the whim grabs him, secrets begin to crawl up out of the worn linoleum floors and the fly-blown windows - cracks in the veneer of sainthood Glen has constructed around his dead mother, an unspeakable childhood incident that fuels Glen's hatred and weighs heavily on his father, a tangled history with the sheriff and his mother.Sheriff Bobby Blanchard's stand-up confrontation with Glen goes deeper than Bobby's love for Jewel, Glen's girlfriend and the mother of his child. Bobby himself grew up without a father. ""He still didn't know anything about working on a car. Still didn't know how to slip up on a squirrel."" He's always wanted his mother to marry again. ""To somebody. Anybody. So I could have had somebody to show me the stuff I needed to know. So you could have had somebody too.""The thought of Glen with Jewel ""was too awful and the image was something he'd managed to keep out of his head so far."" Bobby is restrained, thoughtful, caring - a little envious of Glen and a little pitying too. Glen is simpler. He hates Bobby, always has.But why is Jewel wavering? What does she or did she ever see in Glen? Jewel is a normal, responsible parent, not given to heavy drinking or hankerings for excitement or abuse. While the motives of Brown's male characters are real and freighted with a lifetime of history, Jewel remains a cipher.But it's a small quibble. Brown's simple, poetic, gritty style brings this small town to life while it drives toward an inevitable climax of violence and renewal.Another fine novel from the award-winning author of ""Dirty Work"" and ""Joe.""",4.0,The character of a thug and his town,1092873600,"08 19, 2004",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A25TB6TAY5IVT9,0553587064,"Emma ""Kim""","[6, 8]","I liked Stolen but I thought that it lacked a bit because I wanted more about Elena and it didn't give enough about her. Then again, it didn't give enough about the witches and half demons to grab me completely either. I started this book a bit wary having been so invested in the werewolves but I was pleasantly surprised by the content.Paige Winterbourne is 23, she's lost her mother and is the guardian of 13 year old Savannah, who we meet in Stolen. Savannah is the daughter of a good witch gone bad and as it turns out, her father is a sorceror and next in line for leadership of a very powerful Cabal.The Cabal, aided by the wicked Leah (who we also met and grew to loathe in Stolen), decides they want Savannah and sets out to sabotage Paige's life to get her.Paige has to face a whole lot of stuff at once in this book. I hate weak women characters and so when I read a few reviewers complaining that Paige was weak, I had to see for myself. I totally disagree that she is weak. First of all, she's 23 years old and has just lost her mother and is trying to raise a 13 year old who is more powerful than she is. The Coven that she is the leader of doesn't respect her authority, she wants to change things for the better but is stopped at every turn. Then these sorcerors come in and frame her for a whole host of things. Her once solid life has turned totally upside down, everyone wants her to give the child up but if she does, the child will go evil and she also promised her mother to take care of her. So despite her fears, despite the fact that she faces losing everything she's ever thought was important, she holds to her promises and fights. That's not weak, that's incredibly brave. She's not a demon slayer, she's not a superhero, she's a witch and not an incredibly powerful one at that but she keeps on fighting.I won't do any specific spoilers but we meet some new characters with potential to be the mainstay of the next book, Lucas Cortez being the main one, another rebel against the strict class based system of their supernatural world.The book is well written, the characters are nicely fleshed out and have interesting interactions with each other. The story is definitely unfolding into something much larger and I will be anxiously awaiting Industrial Magic when it comes out this fall.",4.0,Nice Springboard for the Continuation of the Series,1088208000,"06 26, 2004",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 ASZ0DIFYJSDJL,1402272529,Helen Green,"[0, 0]",The series is a fun read. You feel like your part of the story as you go from one book to the next. After finishing the 3rd was wondering if there was a 4TH!,4.0,Buncle Series....,1403222400,"06 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YUZKPLUYQDKV,0441148786,Michael Battaglia,"[11, 12]","As a writer, Powers had a penchant (reputation?) for being both tricky and odd in his constructions. His great talent is the ability to take a fairly ""real"" scenario and add layers of twists onto it that tweak it into something that is just left of the world we know, where magic lurks just underneath the surface and the stakes are as great as the rewards. His best novels (most people agree on ""Last Call"" and ""Anubis Gates"" being the peaks) section themselves off into a territory of urban fantasy characterized by intelligent and extremely deft plotting as well as a seemingly endless stream of ideas.""Dinner at Deviant's Palace"", however, is something different. It's far closer to science-fiction than almost anything else I've read from him before. Granted, it's an early novel (though not embryonic, ""Anubis Gates"" had already been published) but it shows an interesting direction that he could have gone in, plus an example of what a novel in another genre might look like once he applied his abilities to it.It takes place in a future US where civilization has been drastically rearranged. Currency appears to be based on alcohol and several nuclear wars seem to have occurred, leaving the remaining cities to function more or less as their own entities. Fairly musician Greg Rivas is going about his business as usual when an old girlfriend's father shows up with a proposition. Even though he hates Rivas' guts, he will pay him handsomely for a job he used to do: ""redeem"" people. You see, there's a cult wandering around the area, the Jaybirds, who are very good at bringing people into the flock and not letting them out. In fact, people don't want to get out. Rivas, as a former cult member, is more than decent at it, so against his better judgement he goes in again.The most interesting thing about this novel is how straightforward it is. For the most part Rivas' quest proceeds in a linear fashion and while he runs into detours and obstacles along the way, we don't run into any big twists or surprises as the novel winds on. Most of the appeal of the novel comes from exploring the future world that Powers has created and looking to see where it deviates from our world. It's clear pretty much from the onset that he has thought this through to a ridiculously detailed degree, down to the slang terms and the texture of how this new world would operate, the rules of the differing factions and how those factions would affect each other. There's a certain sense of history to it, that this world had a long and fruitful life long before we came stumbling along to read about it. Done improperly, this could become a mere travelogue, with Powers like a kid who just bought a museum, eagerly taking you on the tour to make sure you've seen everything. And the plot skirts just clear of becoming that.What's interesting is that for all the issues it potentially could raise, the necessity of cults in a world without marked consistency, the the fear of falling into the comfort of a collective, the exploration of loss in an environment where you're constantly on the verge of losing everything, the fear of re-inhabiting the past in order to refute it, the novel sticks to the pace and conceits of an adventure story, content to move onto the next exhibit in the catalog.It's a world just on the verge of the magical realism, for every SF concept there are bits like the hemogoblin, a vague gaseous intelligent beast that likes to suck blood. And then there's the whole concept behind the cult itself, which vaguely involves space and I can't go into too much without spoiling the story. Powers clearly had fun coming up with it, putting as much research into it as he does for his more historically based novels, extrapolating as best he can. Which helps, because since the story lacks his typically controlled and breakneck notion of plotting, we're left with a man who is discovering his world at the same time we are. If the thrill of discovery is right up your alley, then there's loads to discover here, the machinations and the ins and outs of how the world functions. There's hope early on that this novel might go somewhere mind-bending, as Rivas confuses past and present as he gets back in the cult, but that perverted sense of time goes nowhere.Instead, we get the plot hurtling forward like a bird skimming the top of a lake, occasionally plucking out a shiny and iridescent fish for us to marvel over. We get scenes inside the cult. We get scenes of Rivas running and scheming and reacting and eventually getting closer to the aforementioned dinner at the palace of the deviant. Readers will probably have seen this coming before Rivas does but when the climax finally arises and we meet the head Jaybird himself, who the entire novel has spent foreshadowing, there's an odd flatness to it. Entering the palace should be an introduction to the Gothic and alien, a true tonal shift leaving behind all the strangeness we've seen already for a strangeness that even Rivas can't cope with. But the horror eludes us. There's one creepy moment of real danger and then it resolves and we're left feeling this was the way it has to be the whole time. At some points it feels like Powers was so fascinated with the world that he didn't pay as much attention to the plot as he normally does. And what was up with the sacrament anyway?It reads fast and maybe shouldn't leave any impression at all for the speed with which it races through itself . Still, the details that make it stick. The fracture of society, the way that cult members chant out the thoughts of another, the stalking of the hemogoblin, all of these are images that will stick with you, images that you won't be able to find anywhere else. Such is Powers' skill. But the rest of it feels like Powers doing what most of us are doing when we enter the book, feeling around this new world, trying to find our footing before moving off to see what we can see. Another novel in this vein of exploration would have been interesting, with perhaps a deeper examination of the themes that were starting to be raised here. But alas, where Powers wanted to go was somewhere a bit different. Oh well. It's nice to at least have this.",5.0,"It sounds good, until you realize that deviants are poor tippers",1319500800,"10 25, 2011",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A26PC6A130JU4T,B0060YVQSA,Ventura Angelo,"[0, 0]","The protagonist, who's beginningto enjoy a tranquil life with his lover, is suddenly recalled on service, an offer he can't refuse without dire consequences. But in Afghanistan there's a price on his head, and he knows he'll be more worthy dead than alive. And his lover...what will he say? John le Carrè would have liked this series, wicked indeed!",5.0,"Poignant sequel to ""I spy something bloody""",1327449600,"01 25, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2V65NBADV4HY4,1930170025,Leah Tiday,"[5, 5]","i bought this book bc i dont know how to cook and i never have any ideas. it is neat, but doesnt have the healthiest ingredients. there's a lot of processed food ingredients. its quick, but not the healthiest. also uses ingredients like ""fryer chicken"" and i have no idea what a fryer chicken is. this is a good cook book, i'd recommend it, but it could use more fresh ingredients.",4.0,"Good, but not the healthiest recipes",1154563200,"08 3, 2006",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AOE7EXDC5VGIL,0425208818,The Grand World of Books,"[0, 0]","This little novella seemed a little bit contradictory to the book before it, which made it seem a bit unnecessary and out of order to me. Even though it clearly referenced the case in the book before. But it talked about her old car even though she had gotten a new one in the last book, which had me confused. And basically I just felt with this novella like I do with all novellas in series like this...that it was not needed for the continuation of the series.Nevertheless, I read it because I had bought it. And I am giving it 3 1/2 stars because it is Eve Dallas, and I love Eve Dallas, and once I settled in, it was a decent case, even though you knew right from the start who did it. The was the other thing. It was completely missing the whole element of surprise. Which is, I suppose, understandable, because really, there's not enough time in a novella to build the case like there is in a full-length book. But I love that element of surprise, and knowing from the start who did it, even if you still have to go the whole length of the novella to catch them just isn't the same for me.So, if I were to reread the series, this is probably one I would skip. If I were to recommend the series to someone, I would also probably tell someone not to go out of their way to hunt this one down too hard...unless they were just a completionist like me. Which is why I will read all of the novellas for the series, even though I will probably complain about all of them just like I am about this one.",3.0,"Midnight In Death, by J.D. Robb",1400544000,"05 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AB6VD62AVM9OX,1450206379,Jersey City,"[4, 4]",I grew up in Jersey City and knew many of the players and places in the book. I remember when Frankie got shot. It was a nostalgic read for me.,5.0,Fond memories,1287100800,"10 15, 2010",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2O53T4GY43NCJ,1481882902,Marie07177,"[0, 0]",Definitely a good read. Kept your on the edge of your seat. It was a true mystical book that wouldn't let you put it down. Highly recommend!!,4.0,Interesting read...,1395619200,"03 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 APH993AXMINZB,0988679914,"Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA ""Charles Sizemore""","[14, 15]","If you’ve never heard of Cambria Investment Management’s Meb Faber, then you have some serious catching up to do. I consider Faber one of the most innovative strategists in the business today, and I found his research on shareholder yield to be compelling enough to make the Cambria Shareholder Yield ETF (SYLD) a core, long-term holding in multiple ETF portfolios I manage. (For readers unfamiliar with the term, “shareholder yield” is a holistic measure of shareholder friendliness that includes dividends paid, shares repurchased, and debt repaid.)Faber’s latest book, Global Value: How to Spot Bubbles, Avoid Market Crashes, and Earn Big Returns in the Stock Market, provides the research underpinnings for Cambria’s latest ETF offering, the Cambria Global Value ETF (GVAL).Faber is a “quant” who ignores the news of the day and instead focuses on the raw numbers. At its core, Global Value is a roadmap for implementing the value investing concepts originally espoused by Benjamin Graham and David Dodd in their 1934 classic Security Analysis in a systematic, quantitative manner.Specifically, Faber uses the cyclically-adjusted price/earnings ratio (CAPE), a metric popularized by Yale economist Robert Shiller, as a valuation tool to rank countries. In Faber’s model, an investor buys the stocks of the cheapest countries as ranked by the CAPE.The CAPE divides the current market price by the average of annual earnings across the economic cycle, with 10 years being the most popular time interval.Why? Because using a single year’s earnings can massively skew the results based on where you are in the economic cycle. As an example, a collapse in earnings in 2008-2009 would have made the S&P; 500 look expensive had you used a simple P/E calculation with 2008 earnings numbers, even though the market had lost half of its value during the crisis.Faber notes that the U.S. market is expensive today and priced to deliver lackluster returns in the decade ahead. This is consistent with the forecasts made by, among others, GMO’s Jeremy Grantham. But Faber—also like Grantham—makes it clear that we are not technically in a bubble. “Overpriced” does not mean “bubble.” The former implies disappointing returns; the latter implies the potential for a devastating crash. And some of the market’s overpricing is a natural product of the low-inflation / low-interest-rate environment today.But while the American equity markets are looking pricey these days, there are plenty of values to be found overseas for investors with strong stomachs. Among the countries Faber notes as being cheap—and which, not coincidentally, are current holdings of GVAL—are problem countries Russia, Greece, and Spain.Do Faber’s methods work? Indeed, it appears they do. Variations of Faber’s CAPE strategy returned between 15.9% and 17.6% per year, compounded annually, from 1980 to 2013.The MSCI EAFA Index—the standard benchmark for international investing—returned only 9.6%. (These numbers exclude taxes, trading costs, and management fees.)Importantly, Faber’s valuation models are intended, in his words, to be long-term strategic guides, not short-term timing tools. And had you implemented the strategy espoused in Global Value in 2013, you would have been out of the U.S. market—and would have missed the 33% total returns for the year. Of course, you would have been invested Greece (GREK), Ireland (EIRL) and Argentina (ARGT), which saw returns of 24.9%, 45.6% and 15.0%, respectively. That’s not too shabby.",5.0,Putting Graham & Dodd's insights into action,1395273600,"03 20, 2014",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 A3FWF47AYL3ZGH,0972247815,"Kasey M. Moctezuma ""parisgirl""","[18, 19]","I can't begin to say enough good things about this workout. I am an aficianada of Bryan Kest's original Power Yoga series from 1995. I also enjoy his new videos (especially Intensive Sculpting) from 2002. But...I just love this CD. It is the best workout that I have done in a long time - maybe ever. I thought initially that it might be weird working out without the visual imagery of video, but it is actually better. Bryan's voice is extra soothing, and his direction easily guides you from pose to pose without needing to look at the included book, (assuming that you know a few basic poses, such as cobra and down dog - the others he aptly describes.) I found myself more able to concentrate on the yoga, without distraction. The basic workout begins a bit more relaxed than his Power Yoga series, taking a bit more time to stretch, as opposed to getting your muscles "hot" right away. But before long, you find that your heart rate is getting up there and your muscles are working and that you are doing some invigorating but really challenging balances. This is spinal strenghening at its best, relaxation at its deepest. Bryan Kest's emphasis is, as always, on knowing your body and its limitations and first and foremost, feeling the breath. Another nice thing about this workout is that although it is divided between two CD's, the second CD is basically the last stretches and relaxation, so if you have a single CD player machine, you are not changing the discs in the middle of an intense pose. Also, you might like to do the relaxation CD by itself sometime, just to unwind. A bonus is the book, which has all of the poses and could be taken on a vacation even when you don't want to take the CD. This CD is great - and a day after doing this workout, all of my muscles feel like they got their fair workout. Six stars. Check it out.",5.0,WOW! :),1051142400,"04 24, 2003",18,19,helpful,0.9473684210526315,1 AFVQZQ8PW0L,160598468X,Harriet Klausner,"[4, 4]","City of MirrorsMelodie Johnson HowePegasus, Aug 1 2013, $25.95ISBN 9781605984681Last week Widow Diana Poole buried her beloved mom, the famous actress Nora Poole; last year she buried her husband writer Colin Hudson. Facing bankruptcy and fortyish, Diana is fortunate her friend Celia Dario's lover Robert Zaitlin has given her a small but important role as the mother to star Jenny Parson in a move he currently produces on The Lot that was once Warner Bros and once Samuel Goldwyn. However, Zaitlin warns Diana that her part is in peril because Parson cannot remember her lines; frustrating everyone including co-star Jake Jackson who wants the amateur replaced, which most likely means a different actress as the mom.Diana agrees to have dinner with Jenny. After picking up her mom's ashes, Diana goes to dine with Jenny only to find her body in a trash bag about to be taken away by a garbage truck. While Zaitlin insists on saving the movie even more so than Diana, she investigates the homicide seeking to keep the checks coming; only to find nasty truths that nuke the images of family and friends; only adversarial Heath the Fixer has her back even if they differ on the outcomes.This delightful Diana Poole investigative mystery (see Shooting Hollywood: The Diana Poole Stories) is an exciting whodunit as the heroine (and readers) peel away the glittery faade to reveal some despicable realities. Fast-paced with some over the Hollywood sign action, readers will enjoy this engaging tale as Melodie Johnson Howe provides a vivid look at behind the scenes through the protagonist's amateur sleuthing.Harriet Klausner",4.0,delightful Hollywood investigative mystery,1374796800,"07 26, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2B7BUH8834Y6M,0316159727,"Shelley Gammon ""Geek""","[6, 7]","I had gotten this book under the mistaken premise that it was simply a primer on Yiddish, not knowing it was a parody of the old school readers. I was actually pleasantly surprised to find out it was both. I learned some Yiddish I have never heard before, all while reading a hilarious story of a goyim-looking family all schmoozing in Yiddish... Yinglish, actually. English with a little Yiddish peppered in here and there. The glossary in the back explains the terms in hilarious detail.One drama and shanda after another with the mishpoca! Bubbe gets ibbledick in the kippe, but this brings the family together for the tsimmes.This is not suitable for children as there are family members cheating on their spouses, a grandmother that has a stroke and goes to the hospital, etc. No one dies, but the theme is a bit mature for young readers.The illustrations are fantastic parodies of the 1950's style reader. To see all these blonde, blue-eyed happy folks wearing golf shirts, spewing Yiddish is too much! Whether you already know quite a bit of Yiddish, or you just know what you heard from Mike Meyers as Linda Richman on SNL, you're going to get a kick out of this little primer.",5.0,What a hoot!,1125273600,"08 29, 2005",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A14R9XMZVJ6INB,1572814136,amf0001,"[5, 5]","I read Tarot cards all the time. The Rider Waite cards are my favorite but I was finding them a little dull, but I didn't want new imagery, just something brighter. This is exactly what I wanted and I'm thrilled with them. They are the classic Rider Waite imagery, but in brighter, more luminous colors. Happy Find.",5.0,brighter version of classic cards,1268092800,"03 9, 2010",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2HDW8JA5H9DFT,0307394999,"boomom2 ""boomom2""","[5, 6]","I loved the first part of this book, but it took a right turn into ""must-finish-quickly-publishing-deadline"" land at a very distinct point.I'M GOING TO GIVE AWAY PARTS OF THE PLOT HERE, SO STOP READING IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE BOOK ALREADY!Ready for the better ending? Then read on, MacDuff:All is good up until the point Chip is with Reseda and the girls/mom are in the evil greenhouse. But Chip needs to die! He has thought about killing his girls and there's no coming back from that, possessed or not. Also, Ethan, evil Ashley's dad, has shown his true colors. Chip has even wondered to himself if he really IS a demon.Possessed Chip/Ethan needs to go to the greenhouse and get the girls free (because he wants to kill them himself...but we'll get there). He laces the outside of the house with gas and lights it on fire. In the maddening stampede for the exits, he has his opportunity to get to the twins. However, Anise and John are not willing to give up on the idea of the longevity potion and Reseda is still in there, having intervened for the first twin.Possessed Chip/Ethan zeroes in on Anise, perhaps with the crowbar Tansy left him from beyond the grave? (In my version, he didn't give these powerful talismans away!) Anise turns and almost blocks him, but feels the sharp claws of the (callously discarded) dead cat grip her shoulder, distracting her long enough for Possessed Chip/Ethan to lay her out cold. The battle with John is fierce, but Reseda takes the knife they were using to bleed her and has enough strength to manage to thrust it through John's neck (shades of his own killing of the good doctor). That leaves Reseda facing Possessed Chip/Ethan and shielding the twins and their mother, tied to a chair.Reseda finally convinces Ethan to let go of Chip by showing him Ashley holding hands with her dead sister. She explains that her sister has never truly left her but is now her gateway to the living thoughts of others and that the death of a beloved family member who died traumatically can sometimes open up these possibilities. Ethan exits and only Chip is now present, in a burning greenhouse with his wife and twins still tied. He has the knife with which he was plotting the murders and uses it to cut their bonds. However, Reseda is too weak to make it out and she dies with him in the fire, along with John and Anise (who clearly must die for their heinous deeds).Later, we find out Garnet has the mysterious ability to read minds. She also seems to know a great deal more than she should about her dead father's peaceful state of mind after the terrible fire. She never has another seizure again and becomes the dominant member of the twin pair. (That's Hallie's punishment for cooperating with the enemy.)The surviving coven members, deprived of their potion, quickly age and die off. The special book is burned in the fire, along with irreplaceable plant stock, so the hope of future twins and potions is nill. When the house is sold again, the new family who moves in has a sense of peace and serenity and often smells the sage from Reseda's spiritual candle.See? Now isn't that better? Can't you put this book to rest, now that you know Karmic proportionality has been re-established?",2.0,How this book SHOULD have ended,1331424000,"03 11, 2012",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A26KHZE0HTS057,0313354790,Burgmicester,"[6, 13]","The purpose of this book is to uncover whether or not the current hypotheses on if the world's reserves of oil are accurate - are we at or close to Peak Oil. On this topic Mills gives a very insightful look at why we, the public, think that reserves are running down, when in fact, what we are seeing are accounting functions and executive and economic decisions resulting in what looks to be reserve declines. His theories and documentation show with his extrapolations, that the world reserves are in very good shape. That pricing and exploration and reporting of reserves have nothing to do with the actual state of the facts. Mills makes some excellent points and has tremendous bibliographic references to back him up. His experiences and knowledge put him in a position where we should at least listen to him.There are various different types of oils, gases and liquid hydrocarbons and Mills gives a run down on how the progression can be made from light oils to heavy oils and then he builds in the bio-fuels and nuclear and everything else. His conclusion is that we have plenty of oil and gas and that the time it will take to move from one type of fossil fuel to the next is enough for the transition to take place. Additionally, he reviews the new technologies for capturing CO2 and actually using it to extract oil, thereby keeping the CO2 in the ground.The importance of this book shows that the world is not in fact running out of reserves. The oil industry can and does find more reserves every year than are produced. This is important because it will allow the world to come to grips with the economic and environmental decisions that need to be made with plenty of time to make them. Additionally, Mills shows that war for oil is not necessary, and that it never has been cost effective, whereas a policy of trading for oil with many countries involved actually has been beneficial to all concerned. The wrench in the machinery becomes the environmental and political pressures that will affect this situation and that these pressures will also affect the price and exploration practices.When Robin Mills sticks with the subject of oil, he is very convincing. However, he does dip into general world wide economics at times and shows his inexperience and at times over simplifies. This is especially noticeable in Chapter 3 when Mills attempts to describe why the massive increases in gasoline prices had failed to ""shock"" the U.S. economy. If only he could have waited a couple of months to see what that shock started. While he might be correct in that the world was able to hold off for a while, the continued $4+ gasoline eventually had quite an effect on our economy as all of that money was sucked out of the country's economy. And now we know how it contributed to the current economic crisis.Viewing the world's oil production with a wider angle lens Mills opens the reader's eyes to seeing the various booms and busts and how they are somewhat inevitable. Investments are so large (especially ""excess supply"" costs) and with risk very high and reward, although high, so far down the time line, it is nearly impossible to see a world without price fluctuations. But likewise, he is very convincing about the elasticity of oil pricing. This very interesting because most economists did not believe that demand moves much with price in a small period of time. And the effects of this last round of price increases have clearly shown the elasticity of oil pricing. It does take a lot to move the behavior, but at a given point, that will occur.Taking the facts as written by Mill, and watching the current energy price run-up, it bothers me that without new capacity to handle heavier oils and the increased demand, refining capacity is lacking in the U.S. due to environmental groups that believe that they can influence the situation. But like most ""non market"" decisions, it will eventually be unsustainable. It is actually the refining capacity that is keeping light oil as the oil of choice, thereby keeping the world in the hands of a few producers. If the refining capacity and new technologies could be employed, then heavier oils could be refined and then the stranglehold on the world by a few could be released. So again, the non market decisions always have the opposite effect intended.This is an excellent primer on the subject and I recommend it to anyone with an open mind on this issue that wants to learn facts and not ideology.",4.0,"Well Documented, Wider Angle View, Facts Without Ideology",1235433600,"02 24, 2009",6,13,helpful,0.46153846153846156,1 A1OLNA51GW7ULQ,0195176006,"Debra ""clayspinner""","[9, 9]","Ferling is always a pleasure to read. I also recommend his ""Almost A Miracle"". This work is a great place to begin for an overview of this period, especially Ferling's account of the events leading up to the Revolution. However, it seems to me that Ferling generalizes too much in the years after the Constitution.The portrait Ferling paints is one of the non-elite Anti-Federalists vs. the elite Federalists. However, many Anti-Federalists came from the elite whose power within states was threatened by stronger central government. The Clinton-Livingston machine that ran New York and the planter elite that controlled Virginia are examples. This over-simplification is extended into his discussion of Federalists vs. Republicans. For example the small farmers of Shay's rebellion benefitted from the Federal assumption of state debts and became enduring Federalists. Also, many of the ""new men"" Ferling speaks of, including the self-made Hamilton, were Federalists. The geographical split of the parties is not explained. By 1800, Federalists were strong in New England, but becoming virtually non-existent in the South. It is hard to believe that New England was composed of elitists and left-over Tories, while the South was the home of egalitarians.I agree with Ferling's statement in his preface that people rarely adopt ideologies that conflict with their personal interests. This was no less true of Anti-federalists and Republicans, though Ferling shows this connection more clearly with their opponents. It is good to remember that the yeomen farmers of Virginia, whom Jefferson praises as the foundation of republicanism, were dependant on and deferential to wealthy planters like Jefferson making it safe for him to embrace them. And the Southern Republicans' resistance to central government dovetailed nicely with the preservation of their peculiar institution, slavery. By working to insure a weak central government that would not interfere in (or tax) property rights in land or slaves, Republicans made sure that the people would not have the means to threaten their privileged status.I would strongly recommend to anyone who wishes to more fully understand the period from 1788 to 1800 to read Elkins and McKitrick's ""The Age of Federalism"". It is a thorough, well-written and detailed account that will provide many of the nuances that Ferling leaves out. For an excellent treatment of the underpinnings of 18th century political economy read Drew McCoy's ""Elusive Republic"". Another good read is Elizabeth Dunn's ""Dominion of Memories"" which, in a small volume, packs a lot of information on Virginia's planter elite, their obsession with protecting a pastoral utopia that never really existed and the decline of the Old Dominion. The time period for this work is largely 19th century, however it does show the background of Republican thinking and how that ideology played out in Virginia. Joseph Ellis' ""American Sphinx"" gives a less hagiographic (and fuller) view of Jefferson.",4.0,A Good Place to Start,1255219200,"10 11, 2009",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A2V35LRIBF54UX,1491510706,Sueanndurney,"[0, 0]",This book puts true people ahead of the disease. Let's you become more relax around people who have been deal this card to play.,5.0,Getting beyond the illness.,1403308800,"06 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A28AKZBQG2FSMZ,1451533969,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I am giving this book a 4.5 star rating.A couple of years ago, when I got my first Kindle, there were a handful of books I read which were so incredibly well written they left me thinking about their characters and stories for years to come. Because of these books, I decided to start a book blog and began reviewing novels. Love Unscripted by Tina Reber was one of those stories. To this day, I can't thank the author enough for such an incredible read and for this fantastic journey I now find myself on.Love Unscripted is beautifully crafted, well thought out and contains characters you come to know on such a personal level as the book progresses, that it's difficult to let them go once the book comes to its conclusion. While there are two main characters, the supporting cast is just as enticing in their own right. Ms. Reber did such an amazing job of grabbing your attention from page one and keeping you vested in not just the storyline but the actual outcome of the characters futures, it's hard to find another book that compares.One of the aspects to the story which makes it so unique is that while a love story at its most base level, there is also plenty of intrigue and suspense, betrayal and suspicion, indecision and so many plot twists you are never left wanting. You truly are pulled into the web of Hollywood celebrity and experience it from the inside; revealing not just the positive aspects, but the very negative ones as well. As a team, the two main characters face so many obstacles to their love it's a bit overwhelming, but you can rest assured that fate will come into play and you'll determine if their destiny really is supposed to lie together. Due to the fact it's not all a fairytale come to life, you never feel the story lacking and find yourself completely contented by its conclusion.The characters are very real and easily depicted in your mind. Their feelings are justified and you can't help but immerse yourself and laugh, cry and love right along with them. The character development throughout this novel is phenomenal and obviously was filled with lots of love and devotion from their creator, Ms. Reber. This is one of those rare stories where you are never wishing the author chose a different path or that her characters made different choices. It's just THAT believable.The heroine is an extremely strong woman who has faced some very serious challenges in life, thus resulting in the person you are first introduced to. While there are times I felt she was laboring over the same ""issues"" almost to the point of being annoying, I believe this is part of what makes us love Tarryn. The hero is unbelievably well crafted and takes you into the craziness that comes along with celebrity. He faces it with such human reaction, you actually cringe when his fans and paparazzi come calling. Ryan is one of the most ""real"" characters I've witnessed in long time.While a very long novel, I think the length was necessary so that you would become full vested with all the characters and the events which are occurring. Each character demonstrates real human reactions and their emotions are independent of the rest. This is what makes each character unique and so imperative to the plotline. I loved that the romance showed what it's like to REALLY experience love, not just the ""beginning"" of a relationship when it's all happy and roses. This story really delves into what it takes to make love work.Overall, a sensational read, exceptional writing, incredibly well developed characters and a plotline which never leaves you feeling less than fulfilled. Oh, did I mention it also has a love story to rock the celebrity world on its heels? Phenomenal story Ms. Reber and I can not WAIT to see where these characters go with the next book!+ Well crafted and thought out storyline+ Fully developed & realistic cast of characters+ Not a typical love story - great variety and plot twists- I got frustrated with the heroine at times with her ""issues""- Length can make it feel a bit drawn out?? Will we see another installment focusing on Tarryn and Ryan's future ??-Just My Opinion books.mommysopinion.com FB: justmyopinionnh @JustmyopinionNH",4.0,"A love story that will leave you breathless and dreaming of your own ""Notting Hill"" romance.....""",1358812800,"01 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZE73RFY0GD3K,0312198418,J. Reynolds,"[10, 13]","This report of a mother's quest to solve the mystery of her son's death takes us into a sewage pit of corruption in 1980s Arkansas -- corruption not really resulting from any sort of organized conspiracy, but corruption resulting from dishonesty, incompetence and/or both at various levels of state government operations. Thanks to drug money, the police were corrupt. Thanks to politics, state agents (such as medical examiners and prosecutors) were incompetent, and the elected leadership was both incompetent and highly corrupt. Thank goodness this pustule of government/administrative cancer was confined to Arkansas -- it would have been complete disaster for these shabby people ever to have obtained the reins of national-level power, either in the White House or the Senate.",5.0,Interesting Exploration of a Corrupt State Government,1051056000,"04 23, 2003",10,13,helpful,0.7692307692307693,1 A3KJ9UTP3TSDJW,3936709335,"Professor Emeritus P. Bagnolo ""Slugger/BIGGUY""","[6, 7]","This is a book filled with photos of the most desirably, gorgeous, females one might care to admire. For me, a painter, mostly of figures, it has been very helpful. Living in the far northern 'Burbs of a great city, it is difficult to find good, experienced, models. Books like this make the difficult task of drawing or painting the human figure with accuracy a much easier task. The ladies have all natural beauty in a variety of poses, heavenly bodies and lovely faces are peeking out of every page. If you are an artist (as I am) or merely interested in one of God's greatest works of art, the great beauty of the female gender, this is the book of your dreams.",5.0,gorgeous and lust quenching,1244678400,"06 11, 2009",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 AB9CZ4JAIP9Y,1932236090,"Jennifer O. Jones ""jlojones""","[4, 7]","This book is a great resource for parents and has been enjoyed by everyone in my family-- ages 4,8,11, and 15. My husband and I have enjoyed the stories as well. I highly recommend it.",5.0,Excellent resource,1142467200,"03 16, 2006",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A1OQ69HAVFPF9O,1606012398,Amazon Customer,"[20, 29]","I am a firm believer that you do not have to sacrifice story and writing in erotica romance. ""Desire for Three"" has a great premise but the delivery was bordering on the unrealistic.Don't get me wrong...I would LOVE to find a town just like Desire, OK. The whole concept of a town whose men idolized their females, and it was okay to be in alternative relationships openly and be accepted is very provocative.The problem with this book was not in the story, it was in how it was written, and truthfully with Clay and Rio. I found some of the other men more fascinating than these brothers, who seemed more like little kids than grown men. I kept thinking through the whole book it would have been better if they had been younger than Jesse; they certainly acted like it. I don't know if, in further books, Ms. Brooke has her heroes fall victim to the ""they're interesting until it's their turn"" syndrom, but I am willing to give the next book a try simply because I thought Blade was one of those more interesting characters.The writing really didn't hold my attention. I ended up skipping some of the parts to get to the end, like it was all fluff without substance. The sex was hot and well written, but everything in between was amaturish.I would recommend buying this used to spend a little less money for it. Like I said, I'm going to stick with the series but it's not worth buying brand new.",2.0,Let's get realistic,1237334400,"03 18, 2009",20,29,helpful,0.6896551724137931,1 AWIXJK63OSBQK,0345408004,Garry in Dubai,"[0, 0]",The regret about reading Gemmells books is that he is not among us to give us more. The pleasure in reading these time and again will last.,5.0,it does not get better,1403222400,"06 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1K7WB9I13IZQG,0380725827,"D. Andrew Kille ""Revdak""","[0, 0]","I had heard about Nevada Barr's series of mysteries set in National Parks and decided to start with this one because it was set in Lassen National Park where I have spent some time. It was an enjoyable read, but I suspect a rather unusual setting. It is set among a group of wildfire fighters who become stranded during a firestorm, and the mystery unfolds in that context. A lot of the story is devoted to the survival techniques required by the firefighters, and the mystery of the murder itself is not terribly profound. I was more interested in the shifting dynamics among the small group of not-quite-compatible firefighters than in solving the murder. I do think I will read more in the series to see how Barr works with the Anna Pigeon character in more conventional situations.",4.0,Interesting setting; not the most puzzling mystery,1369180800,"05 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2XOV3ZKGDK55G,1586176064,"RBSProds ""rbsprods""","[60, 66]","Five REVEALING Stars! Pope Benedict XVI in his own words in a startlingly frank and honest discussion on matters of our time, within and outside of the Catholic Church. Normally the Catholic faithful and the world is accustomed to the Pope speaking through such means as encyclicals, homilies during Masses, and through books such asJesus of Nazareth, among other means whether ex cathedra (infallibly, ""from the chair"") or otherwise. This Ignatius Press book is another very direct conversation between the Pope and author Peter Seewald, as translated by Michael J. Miller and Adrian J. Walker. It will probably be widely read and evaluated by those from all walks of life in order to receive the pope's views on the Catholic Church, his personal life as Prelate, the 'state of the world' and the 'signs of the times"". With respect to today's 'hot button' Catholic topics, the Pope gives frank, straight-forward answers, tackling issues of theology, philosophy, science, secularism, and other things dealing with 'modernity and eternity'. The book is broken down into 18 chapters divided into three parts: ""The Signs of The Times"", ""The Pontificate"" itself, and ""Where Do We Go From Here?"". The knowledgeable interviewer, Peter Seewald, asks astute questions that reveal his knowledge of both Joseph Ratzinger the man and of the matters of the 264th occupant of the office of the Papacy.As the foreword says the Pope, the leader of over 1.2 Billion Catholics, sees the world differently from world leaders in politics, business, education, and intellectuals of all types, and he leads with faith, hope, and charity aiming for the ultimate salvation of mankind. He is disappointed by some activities and people within his own Church and the secular direction of the world outside the church. He takes the attitude that ""the Church must not hide"" and ""Faith must be explained"". He talks extensively about the sexual abuse scandal from different aspects: calling it ""filth"" that was inside the Church that should have been found and acted upon sooner. He outlines his plans to continue meeting with victims, to correct the injustices, to root out those not suited to be priests, especially at seminary level, and to not lose sight of the problem and the pain it has caused. Along the way we also get essentials: such as how 78 year old Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger was set for retirement when the Lord, through the College of Cardinals, chose him as Pontiff; what the Pope does in his free time with his ""family"" of close associates; his commentary on infallibility; the true story of reinstating 'Bishop' Williamson; climate change and the environment; ""turbo-capitalism"" and how it hurts the poor; the ""third secret of Fatima""; revisiting Pius XII; the Church's leadership in treating AIDS patients around the world; 'rapprochement' with Orthodoxy and Islam; the Pope's controversial ""Regensburg Lecture""; the issue of condom use; eschatology (""the last things"") and the Second Coming of Jesus; the need to return to the faith, joy, and enthusiasm of the early Christians; and if a ""Vatican III"" is possible; among many other topics. And do read the Appendix, part I, ""Serious Sins Against Defenseless Children"", which is the strongest accusatory Papal statement against child abuse I have seen and the one that Catholics have longed for from the Church. This interview is an essential book for Catholics, and should be of interest to other Christians and, indeed, all believers and perhaps some non-believers. My Highest Recommendation! Five HUGE Stars!! (This review is based on a digital download across Kindle text-to-speech, Mac, and iPhone platforms.)",5.0,"POPE BENEDICT XVI IN A DETAILED, REVEALING, FAR-RANGING INTERVIEW",1290729600,"11 26, 2010",60,66,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A2D7HFMIW9KQQS,0140280197,Michael G,"[12, 14]","Ever wonder what those above you were doing differently? Ever wonder how they managed to get into positions of power and stay there? Here is your chance to find out.The 48 Laws of Power is a distillation of centuries of writing from some of the world's most revered political thinkers and philosophers, segmented into easy to digest chunks. Each section focuses on one aspect of power, from ""Conceal Your Intentions"" to ""Discover Each Man's Thumbscrew"" to ""Never Appear Too Perfect."" Ranging from early Chinese to late modern Washington, the sources clearly draw most of their depth from 16th and 17th century writers like Gracian, Machiavelli, and Castiglione, and have the conniving spirit of the courtier at heart.Greene's clever use of mnemonic reminders for each law (The Vulture for ""Get Others to Do the Work For You, But Always Take the Credit"") jogs your memory at opportune moments long after reading. I found myself drawing parallels to actions of people I know, and applying useful concepts at critical times.Only the rare few who intuitively know how to manipulate the world around them will gain nothing from this book. You will undoubtedly find a few points that will help in your daily life.",5.0,"Terribly Clever, and Frighteningly Useful",992476800,"06 14, 2001",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A3FQ4WV6LCWVDM,0762109041,"Hard Rock Girl ""Hard Rock Girl""","[0, 0]",I love this book! It is in great shape. Has so many ideas of things to make. I don't know where to begin. Thanks so much!,5.0,fabulous book!,1398038400,"04 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A85XS7RH3IAE4,0399158081,Poolside,"[0, 0]",as usual was not disappointed with this story line cannot wait for the next great book from Clive love this guy and the co-authors. keep up the good work.,5.0,great story,1385078400,"11 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1489VH8S4ETU9,0446549177,George F. Smith,"[8, 11]","I read the book in its entirety last night and couldn't put it down. Ron Paul makes his case on several levels - constitutional, economic, moral, and political. The writing is fresh, vigorous, and accurate. He includes excerpts from his exchanges with Greenspan and Bernanke, and has a chapter devoted to his intellectual journey in arriving at his convictions about central banking and fiat paper money.My favorite chapter unfortunately was one of the thinnest - Chapter 4: ""Central Banks and War."" Commenting on the impact of the Fed during World War I, Paul writes (p. 66): ""In total, scholars have estimated that only 21 percent of the war was funded through taxation. The remainder was funded by Fed-backed borrowing (56 percent) and outright money creation (23 percent), for a total cost of $33 billion.""For the U.S, the war meant the launching of the imperial presidency and a globalized foreign policy; for Germany, it brought on the hyperinflation of 1923 and Hitler; For Russia, it meant the birth of Communism. ""The beast [the Fed] . . . promised all things to all people, made the wishes of all politicians come true . . . [gave] the banking establishment in this country . . . new guarantees against failure, which created a 'moral hazard' for them."" Not to mention the rest of us.Many readers will have already read Tom Woods' Meltdown and Robert Murphy's The P.I.G to the Great Depression and the New Deal. I encourage those people to follow up with Dr. Paul's excellent book. If you haven't read those, order all three and get busy. I promise you will never make a better investment. In my view, the Fed is the most destructive force in the world, in part because it's viewed as our savior rather than our destroyer. It is imperative to understand its history and the role it has played in world events. Read this book and encourage others to do the same.George Ford SmithAuthor, The Flight of the Barbarous Relic",5.0,A Genuine Must-Read,1251849600,"09 2, 2009",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 AMVLW3RCWIQ2X,1612182968,Amazon2012,"[0, 0]",I have enjoyed this book as much as the others; and I hope she continues to write for a very long time!,5.0,One of my favorite authors and series,1357430400,"01 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ATCHVCJ4MZM,0971164738,Amazon Customer,"[9, 11]","I know one needs 30 hours of classroom instruction to qualify for the test, but truthfully one could pass the test comfortably using only this book.",5.0,Same experience as most folks,1131062400,"11 4, 2005",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A1QHVVK7XRNVGE,1497531233,csham,"[0, 1]","The story line was dark and twisted. The main character ranted on and on and repeatedly about her worries in her own self reflection and it got so boring! Despite all these, at the end of the book, I still knew very little about her. That spoke something on the author's character building skills. I certainly do not look forward to reading another book by the same author.",2.0,So boring!,1404086400,"06 30, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A30IA5U6ID1QRJ,0345508491,"Walden ""Humane Thinker""","[0, 0]",I love cats. So I did like the book. Very creative and enjoyable. Amusing and very true to emulating the characteristics of real cats!!! The author did a great job!,4.0,Cute book,1376092800,"08 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MA8FAIVWRU0G,B005OC68XW,Jaynie,"[6, 7]",I was very disappointed in this book. I thought it was a Christian book. It is basically porn. I could not even finish it.,1.0,Has Pron in it,1367280000,"04 30, 2013",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A23X3P1PEV402V,0307750930,Andrew A. Grgich,"[0, 0]","It is now 12:15am as I type this and I finished this very entertaining novel just about ten minutes ago. I went to bed about four hours ago and decided to pack in chapters four and five before sleeping. The fact that I'm typing this now should tell you how successful I was in that venture.I will say that I can't claim it is a perfect mystery novel. I think things wrapped up just a bit too quickly and neatly at the end. I recently began enjoying Michael Connelly novels and those are a bit more weighty - more complete in their stories for the most part, particularly 'The Poet' and 'Scarecrow'. However, both of those novels have tidy endings as well - - maybe it is the crutch of the genre?In any case, I can say that I completely enjoyed this book and plan to next read this novel's apparent successor 'Say Goodbye'.",4.0,It has been a while since I've had to finish a book to see how it ended . . .,1281139200,"08 7, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3UIMR1H3UEL2F,0785269908,~auntysue~,"[4, 4]","one I will never forget. Jesus has renewed me and cleansed me and set my heart with joy because He always has me read just the right books. John Bevere is a ""truth teller"" and the ""truth will set you free"".God the Father uses this man.",5.0,a humbling experience...,1166313600,"12 17, 2006",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A38P3PPW3JXA3E,0307731472,"savingsinseconds ""Savings in Seconds""","[0, 0]","Benton's writing style is beautiful and descriptive. I could easily imagine the American frontier through her words. Burning Sky has a deep message of endurance and putting aside differences. Somehow we tend to forget that discrimination, racial tension, and other tribulations of our time aren't really new to this country. For those who have an interest in the American revolution or Native Americans, Burning Sky by Lori Benton is a gem. It's a gentle type of romance, so those who don't really want The story is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. The thread of faith ties it all together. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to sharing it with others. I received a copy of this book to review; the opinions shared here are 100% mine. You can find my full review at savingsinseconds.com.",5.0,Beautiful and descriptive,1384041600,"11 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2IHUOGVNTTMCX,0440246369,"Ace ""romantic fanatic""","[0, 0]","I liked the way Lara Adrian developed Tegan and Elise. Two characters that seem to have a lot in common, yet one wears her heart on her sleeve and the other holds all desires within. This opened up the love game between the two. It was the right amount of build-up of emotions. I would've liked to see the two come together earlier in the book, but I really can't criticize too much here.",4.0,Midnight Awakening was good!,1249344000,"08 4, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33V2WL8BJSVEY,0316043893,Laura J. Hidalgo,"[0, 0]",I like it very much because i always want to become a novel writer.Love to read every kind of literature.Thanks for your good service.L,5.0,romance,1312416000,"08 4, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QKCHSXMARRSK,147674355X,Ashley,"[0, 0]",Hopeless blew my mind away. It is a heartbreakingly beautiful book that pulled me in from the beginning.I have never had a book pull me in for hours only to come out still in the haze of the book. The winding paths and sharp turns break your heart and sometimes require a chapter break. Hopeless shows that the deepest love someone can have for you spans time not in mere moments.,5.0,A hopeless haze engulfs you.,1358294400,"01 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1LHH8XDA52DZP,0980916305,charles,"[0, 0]","I have been aware of this splendid book since its publication date but postponed buying it because I thought it would be dull reading about a bunch of long dead millionaires who built a private retreat on Jekyll Island more than a hundred years ago.I was dead wrong! This is a well written book by an award winning author whose attention to detail makes it not only a delightful book to read but a noteworthy historical textbook which should be required reading for any serious student of American History and Southern History in particular.You will discover, for instance, that this same group of millionaires are the folk whose vision included the creation of a privately owned central bank - our present day the Federal Reserve System - and it all took place at the Jekyll Island Club.Splendid Isolation should be a permanent part of every public library in America as well as a excellent addition to your own collection.",5.0,SPLENDID ISOLATION,1344816000,"08 13, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1CHS368VFCIBB,0451459067,"Laney ""Laney""","[5, 10]","I was expecting a lot more from this book. The premise is very good, but the characters are stiff, and not very engaging. It sort of seemed like the authors couldn't quite decide which way they were going so didn't make strong choices. (I think they missed a good opportunity with the heroine and the main vampire)Perhaps the second book will be stronger. (There's definitely potential there)If I have the time I'll read their second book.",2.0,Lacks Bite,1068508800,"11 11, 2003",5,10,helpful,0.5,1 APA87KZON2SX6,1477538445,mj80AW,"[0, 0]",A quick cute read. You can see your toilet paper shredding feline here. Cat lover's will enjoy. Wisdom in short catty quips.,4.0,Ct quips,1387929600,"12 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1S69H9OSQV4IW,0966803051,"Scot Bedford ""buk guru""","[9, 17]","This unauthorized bio is salacious, titillating pulp. Only 30 pages in finds the king of cool as the bastard son of a low down- whore. Before puberty he has been in a circle jerk, allowed the bank president to play with him for $[...]. a session, fellated his mulatto step-father, been turned out as a male prostitute on Hollywood boulevard, and been gang raped by 4 men in the Hollywood Hills and came home with a bloody anus. Wow. This is sensational, tawdry stuff. Stevo is a movie icon and generational hero who ruled the movie re-runs shown endlessly in my teen years. This sleaze is electrifying. Why would anyone read this? Because people crave more action like THE JERSEY SHORE. Sizzling sleaze sells. I am not going to agonize over the reason-- I am going to just shamelessly enjoy the read. Our little teen hustler is taken off the streets and plopped into reform school. Just like Babe Ruth they said he was incorrigible. At first he had a bad attitude; but eventually the warden took a ""special interest"" in Steve and he became a leader and a man in reform school. Well Stevo becomes the kept boy of Dr. Matthew Dennehy, a Greenwich Village shrink. Steve robs his host and then gets shanghaid onto a rusty tub headed for Havanah. Steve robs the evil one-legged drunken captian; and burns his ship for good measure. Steve holes up in a Havana bordello and samples the wares while his money holds out. Once again broke he performs in a live sex show supplying the cream for the coffee 3 times a day. With $[...]. gained from live sex acts Stevo next debarks in the Dominican Republic. Once again he takes up residence in the best whore house in town. He becomes the valet for Porfirio Rubirosa , soon to marry tobacco heiress Doris Duke. Rubi was endowed with ""the Terror"" ; "" the most monstrous weapon Steven had ever seen."" Also during this sojourn in the Dominican Republic Steve allegedly developed his lust for sloppy seconds. Stevo ships out for Corpus Christ, Tx. before Rubi could use "" the Terror "" on Steves' tender bum and "" ruin him for life"". Steve quickly becomes a whiskey waiter in a whore house. Steve is like a low-life Forest Gump; well golleee into the house for a piece of puss here comes Congressman Lyndon Johnson large as life. Steve became a roustabout in Texas. He got covered in oil like a scene out of GIANT with James Dean. Then it was off to Oregon to be a logger. Jumping around tree tops led to a fall and hospital stay. So Steve was off to Myrtle Beach and the low country of S.Carolina. Steve was soon bedding a hot blond named Suellen. She was daughter of a rich scion of industry. Big Daddy also found his way into Steves pants. Steve then did a stint in the marines. Here he got to play hero and rescued men in the frigid waters of Labrador. Sadly, in the service he was exposed to a lot of asbestos thus resulting in his ultimately succumbing to mesothelioma. As a reward for heroism Steve pulled a choice assignment guarding the USS Sequoia. Here Steve drinks bourbon and branch water, smokes weed, and beats Harry S Truman once by cheating ( provoking Truman's fierce temper). Steve then headed back to Myrtle Beach where a big wedding was planned for him. Out of fear that either Suellen or Big Daddy would be ""too demanding"" he fled that scene. He showed up at Phil Buloff's D.C apartment. Phil was the skinny kid Steve had rescued off the frigid waters of Labrador. Phil was always ""showing his gratitude"". Even though Phil later contracted AIDS ... ""this may sound strange considering our relationship, but Steven was not a homosexual.. when we were having ses... I think he was dreaming of beautiful women with big breasts"". Steve showed up in 1950 Greenwich Village and rents an apartment for $[...]. per mo. He becomes a shoemaker's assistant and got laid a lot. Steve's pride and joy was his K-Model Harley. Steve could be seen tooling around the village shirtless, on his Harley; eye candy for men and women. According to Darwin Porter (p.76) one night at a pick-up place called the Candy Box was ""the lowest point in my life"". While Steve was negotiating with a middle-aged salesman from Akron, Ohio for a $25 pick-up his mother was at the other side of the bar trying to pick up a heavyset trick. Now Steve tries his hand as a T.V. repairman. He meets acting coach Sanford Meisner and at his acting school he hears Montgomery Clift speak. Monty and Stevo hit it off. They partied on vodka and downs in the Village. Monty was so wasted Steve carried him home, put him to bed, and crawled in after Monty to look after him. "" Shortly before dawn... he suddenly became aware that Monty was going down on him. "" p81 You can't make this stuff up? Steve then met THE WILD ONE. Steve shows up Brando by being better than him. Just to show there are no hard feelings the two tear up the five boroughs on motorcycles. Brando says he recognizes a top when he sees one; nevertheless they develop a relationship that Steve ""can't talk about"". Well about p110 I looked up Darwin Porter. He writes for Arthur Frommer travel books. He writes these tell alls from "" little known oral histories"" and sometimes ... "" they are created from whole cloth"". I have enjoyed the tale of shocking and frequent sexual liasons. But I have had enough. If I am going to read this stuff I need more footnotes and credible veracity. Therefore at page 110 Buk Guru is aborting this read and review.",5.0,YOU WILL NEED TO SHOWER THIS OFF,1282867200,"08 27, 2010",9,17,helpful,0.5294117647058824,1 A131CCVQ6QZPQS,B004SY5TPU,"Amazon Customer ""avid reader""","[0, 0]",Miller byte was great. The editing was very good that it did not interfere with that story line. I was hoping that being just a small story I would not get distracted. Enjoyed this shortly..,5.0,Finally,1404000000,"06 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AH4MPHHJRURHI,1463542666,Dragondreamer,"[4, 4]","I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Guarding The Healer to review and, if you are a fan of Stephen King or Dean Koontz, you MUST pick up a copy of your own. Guarding The Healer is the phenomenal Indie published freshman novel of Gabriel Beyers, an up and coming author.Guarding The Healer is a classic tale of good vs. evil that spans the suspense and horror genre. Guarding The Healer tells the story of Silas Walker, a young man who develops healing powers, and the angels and demons that always seem to be around him. Healer grabs you from the first chapter and, despite knowing the basics of the story from book description, there are twists and turns and surprises throughout the book.Despite writing a book containing many supernatural occurrences, Mr. Beyers manages to populate his novel with characters that are very realistic and who are quite easy to identify with. When you sit down to read, you'll find yourself saying ""Just a few more pages"" again and again because you feel a genuine need to find out what happens to Silas and his friends. Mr. Beyers manages to tell a truly engaging and wonderful story with a surprising and completely satisfying ending. I can't wait to read the next book Gabriel Beyers publishes.",5.0,A Phenomenal Freshman Novel,1318118400,"10 9, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2NZPHQ8U3HHIQ,1592641814,Gracie Anduze,"[4, 5]","I just finished this extraordinary book, and was totally engrossed in the story line and well developed characters from start to finish. I highly recommend this book, undoubtedly the best book I've read this year.BRAVO, BRAVO, Darryl Wimberley for a job well done!",5.0,OUTSTANDING!,1187308800,"08 17, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1W7F0THIWH2J3,1440202397,HRH Victoria IIR,"[0, 0]",Well illustrated & helps one identify the correct shaps of the handbags. It was informative & practical for sorting out the usesof this valuable accessory that is constantly used on a daily basis.,3.0,Reference Book,1365033600,"04 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SZQ4ZI72XZJU,1414323220,lawliss,"[5, 6]","This was my first foray into overtly Christian Fiction since reading J.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring and the Left Behind Series and The Chronicles of Narnia. I'll be really honest here - I tend to stay away from Christian literature (unless they're classics like Tolkien or Narnia) because the authors and books tend to be really too smarmy and pat and tidy and that's annoying because life is rarely pat and tidy, even if one believes in Christ and has faith that He will save one at the end of things. So I was very wary going into this novel, skeptical even. But I actually kind of liked it.The main character is Abigail Bennett. Abby is a thirty-something accountant at a mid-sized firm in Florida, where she has a reputation of being smart and hard-working. She is so well liked by her co-workers and superiors, and is such a rainmaker that she quickly becomes a partner. And there is no doubt that she loves her work and thrives in this environment. Her life absolutely detonates when tragedy strikes Hailey, her younger sister - the younger sister that Abby has dedicated her life to protecting and raising. In order to seek closure, Abby travels to rural British Columbia to confront Hailey's boyfriend, Tyler, who has become the object of her obsession. Abby finds that Tyler is working in a winery owned by his uncle, Eli, and finds herself forming genuine friendships with him and her co-workers. Even though Abby is there, with Tyler, she finds herself unable to gain closure until she turns to God.There are two rotating subplots apparent in this novel that keep the reader hooked throughout the novel. Without them, I doubt I would have remained interested enough to finish - we catch glimpses of Abby's life growing up with Hailey (who is mentally ill), her present life at the winery and her narration of the moments when her life implodes. These bits and pieces are skillfully woven together in a tight knit fabric that is wrought with tension at almost every turn. What I also enjoyed about this novel is that it gave me a picture of a family that could really exist outside of the pages of a novel. The characters were realistic, faced challenges that are faced by normal, everyday people (mental health, death, inadequate mental health treatment) and struggle through their challenges. The author acknowledges her character's struggles and deals with them with dignity.Generally, this was a pretty decent novel. Definitely worth a shot.",3.0,Not bad...for Christian Fiction. :),1243382400,"05 27, 2009",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3D3YXIY84U1SQ,0316210684,"NanaD ""Nanastrip""","[0, 0]","This did not disappoint. Once I started reading, could not put it down......I love James Patterson and the Alex Cross series is some of his best.......looking forward to the new one scheduled to come out shortly.",5.0,Fabulous Alex Cross!,1354060800,"11 28, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3W4VE2L5G4HN6,B000KK7R6A,Geraldine,"[0, 0]","I enjoyed this book but as some other reviewers have mentioned, found it a bit long and dragged out.I like the magic aspect of this book but some of the actions of the characters were a bit unrealistic.It is one of the more original stories that I've read in a while.I would try another book by this author, based on this reading experience.",3.0,I Like the Magic!,1386547200,"12 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AW82OBL0WDBCU,074356619X,mavo,"[20, 31]","Thanks to this book, I now have an imaginary ""feel happy"" button to press and I tell myself that I am magnificence in human form. If Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison can know their inventions in their minds, I, too, can dwell in possibility for what I want. I have hung a genie wishing lamp necklace from my car mirror because I know my wishes can be commanded if I see the things I want as already mine (like placing a catalog order and you knowing the product will arrive). Thank you for showing me the secret.",5.0,"Best Book Since ""Five People You Meet in Heaven""",1165104000,"12 3, 2006",20,31,helpful,0.6451612903225806,1 A2S1ZBCF0DUUVM,B00F7U9CF2,Momto4BookLover,"[0, 1]","This book is very rare. It captures what *real life* looks like. Although it isn't as glamorous as the novels that portray a real life fairy tale it was much more enjoyable to me.Leah, a military wife, is in the middle of a loveless marriage. She follows her husband to the Philippines knowing that her marriage is all but over, but hoping a new adventure will give them a new start.Unfortunately no amount of new scenery can erase her problems. She soon finds herself in temptation central.I loved it and would recommend it to any women who wants to read a REAL romance.",5.0,The Sympathy of All Things,1381708800,"10 14, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2W5XMNLEO5MGU,0312427654,Little Book Worm,"[0, 0]","BETTER has interesting information on medical practices and how they can be made better. The sections don't necessarily connect but by a common thread. They could be read in any order. The ending tries to give you a few practices that you can follow to be ""better"" as well. Over all I'm glad we read it for the book club. I bought mine on CD because I spend a lot of time in the car and walking the dogs so it helps to multitask this way. The voice on the recording is nice and I found it a good way to keep my mind entertained while on errands.",4.0,Worth Reading,1309737600,"07 4, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1AMO4S4I575LQ,B005OGJJ34,TT,"[0, 0]","This is one of my favorite reads; the main characters are vulnerable individuals who touch your heart with their personal struggles. You will wish for a man like Zeke in your life if you favor the strong, silent, luscious-type who protect those they love. And Mattie's growth from naive trusting girl to complex loving woman makes her a heroine to savor and remember. Definitely a book to read and re-read.",4.0,Great book,1364083200,"03 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3MI6AIBP9OM56,0446603414,Blue sky,"[0, 0]","I had no idea this kind of thing took place in the early 1900s. I had no idea that people were as duped by ""health experts"" as they are today. Olsen really brings you into the story, reminded me a bit of ""Devil in the White City"" how he weaves a non-fiction event into a great read",5.0,Like watching an accident that you can't prevent,1345852800,"08 25, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3232MEQVYVE0D,0375420657,Sally Nidester,"[4, 6]","I've never been more moved by a non-fiction book. Fraser takes us right there, right to the center of her heart. Sometimes I want to kick her for all the wasted thinking she spends on her fink ex-husband, but her healing process is completed during the course of a novel. I was with her every step of the way, rooting. The only down side to the book is that for her to write another account as moving, she'd have to go through more bad experiences! Hopefully, Fraser will switch to fiction or write non-fiction accounts about somebody else.",5.0,The Center of My Heart,1038960000,"12 4, 2002",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A16FPLQ3FIOV18,1250011671,BCWAB,"[4, 5]","This book knocked my socks off. Once I picked up, there was no moving until I finished. The characters spoke to me. Maeve was real, we can connect with her. Her struggles...life, as one reviewer/author said...a burned out mom with secrets. I wish I could put into words how much I enjoyed this book. It is dark, edgey and an unbelievable ride. Or I want to say believable... the stories brilliance is that it is real, meaning that this could happen. Right down to the characters surrounding Maeve, her father and his failing memory, her troubled daughter, her friend. A self centered ex, who has moved on way to easy, her past and her hauntingly painful secrets. Maggie Barbieri hits it with this book. I can't wait to read the next in this series.",4.0,RIVETING!!!!,1386633600,"12 10, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AKPKPMWM6IIU5,0399169946,Stephen T. Hopkins,"[0, 0]","I first noted Michael Hastings’ writing when his profile of General Stanley McChrystal in Rolling Stone gathered widespread attention. I was aware of his death in an automobile crash last year. When I heard that his widow found a completed novel in his files, morbid curiosity led me to read it. In The Last Magazine, Hastings satirizes the newsweekly of 2002, around the birth of its irrelevance to journalism. The antics of the characters are hilarious and wicked. The fact that Hastings worked at Newsweek makes it easy to see the dotted lines between his fictional characters and the crew he worked with. I wonder that if he lived, he might have made the connections less transparent. Readers who pay attention to journalism are those most likely to appreciate the satire.Rating: Four-star (I like it)",4.0,Satire,1404864000,"07 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALQGOMOY1F5X9,0307950476,scott,"[8, 71]","This book does nothing but detail the slaughtering of animals in the name of hunting.The author should be ashamed of himself for promoting such horrible inhumane treatment of animals. It is without humor, it is without interest, it is without any kind of goodness and foul. whoever likes this type of book is sick",1.0,dog stars,1346976000,"09 7, 2012",8,71,helpful,0.11267605633802817,1 A2BOEXEA6ELVVN,006162683X,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Enjoyed the story...evidenced by the fact that I stayed up way past my normal bedtime. The last 20% was a little tedious (just a little) and the conclusion felt a bit rushed but still a good read for those who enjoy historical romance. And Eloisa James delivers, as usual.",4.0,The same but different--a compliment,1382313600,"10 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2BJ2997ML06F1,0310494915,"Alice G. Cox ""Millennium Woman""","[0, 0]",This is absolutely for "people pleasers" like me who are continuously over run by opportunists and self centered people who are expert at manipulating and influencing people to do what they want using christian principles tailored to meet their needs.,5.0,Review of 12 Christian Beliefs,1374537600,"07 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17V9XL4CWTQ6G,0736093370,Chandler,"[7, 7]","This book breaks it all down...whether you are a fitness professional looking to expand your knowledge with the latest research, tools, studies, and only factual proven info into fitness and health, this is an excellent tool...However, if you are simply someone with no current knowledge who, instead, wishes to learn how to GET healthy or how to get fit, this gives you every tool, breaks the myths, tells you how, why, and what with no mystery or hard-to-grasp reading.I am a visual learner. My absolute favorite fitness books always read like a great textbook: easy to understand but made interesting with full color pictures, easy to understand graphs, bulletpoints, charts etc in addition to well-written text. And this book offers all those tools so nothing is left ""fuzzy"" or misunderstood for the reader.It is an exercise guide but not one by someone wanting to sell a book with some ""new"" and unproven theory as to what will work. This, instead, is compiled from the American College of Sports Medicine so years of studies, research, and proven tools go into the teaching within.What's in it: Physical activity and nutriton guidelines for every age.But let's break that down...did you know that people who simply do physical activities like gardening, chores, etc daily are considered ""inactive""? Physical fitness includes aerobic and strength training and the results are actually quite different for the body than mere physical activities...as outlined in the first chapter. So what's the difference? What should you be doing? What should you be eating? And how does age play a part in these questions...that's the core of the book and no matter what you think you know, you'll learn more. The book even gives specific people and their struggles and triumphs as examples to illustrate the learning and make it more interesting.At nearly 400 pages, this is crammed full of content but oddly is easy to read and maintained my interest.I think this book is a key component for someone wanting to learn why they should change their diet or fitness level. It's written very simply and goes into sample routines for the beginner, simple ideas into changing your lifestyle, the benefit of things like vitamins and minerals and the detriment of things such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, inactivity etc...and how all these things intertwine.There are different ""prescriptions"" for children or adolescents than there are for adults of course as there are different ones for those already active as compared to someone sedentary. No one is left out. And every positive activity is touched upon including balance, flexibility, stretching, etc...not just strength training and aerobic activities.More important, motiviaton is interspersed throughout the book because it's not just knowing, but wanting to apply it that makes all the difference. There are many ways to motivate and what works for one may not work for another so I applaud the varied approaches, suggestions, and tools throughout.Breaking down the myths: How do carbs affect weight? Proteins? Fat? Although it can be confusing for many, it isn't the way the subjects are approached here. Because these are subjects I personally study at length, I can say confidently that the book is not only easy-to-read but MEDICALLY ACCURATE--and in an age when diet hype is on every shelf, this is the best compliment I can give it. The largest weight loss study was completed a few years ago that took 8 years to complete and is now in medical journals--this coincides with that knowledge, not a trend, or hype or unproven approach. This is accurate and medically backed.Negatives: Although I try to balance all my reviews with positive and negatives I honestly didn't find any component of knowledge I'd change nor would I have changed the style in which it was written because it maintained my interest even when I was reading about studies I'd already read.",5.0,One of my favorite books this year...extensive information yet enjoyable to read,1312156800,"08 1, 2011",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A5EQYRYXC2JHA,B00H5CZUII,Desiree,"[0, 1]","Yeah for a book that is the perfect cure for a serious book hangover! A simple story of loss, healing and the power of friendships, love and family. Tiffany and Ashley make an amazing writing pair, you never feel like the story is disjointed or following the flow through each beautifully written word. Their stories are of real people and to some degree true life scenarios, not so far off from believable.With "Serenity Falls," we meet Kenleigh. At the young age of 12, she had to watch her parents die in a tragic house fire. Her aunt raised her and as a way of healing, forced her to attend horseback riding classes. The bond she developed with the horses has stuck with her as we fast forward seven years later and Kenleigh is in the summer after her freshman year of college.She is eager to spend her summer at a horse farm that hosts a camp for children dealing with life threatening illnesses or other issues. Kenleigh still doesn't talk about her parents but at times catches herself remembering small things that make her happy.Working with Sandy and Will, the owners of the farm is like being part of a family. When they ask her to stay in the house instead of the volunteer quarters, she knows something is different but not sure what yet. That is until she meets their overwhelming sexy son Wes. Little does she know that Wes' mom Sandy has spent the better part of the last year telling her son about the sweet girl who came to volunteer at the farm.Wes is a professional bull rider. He's come home too for the summer to spend time with his parents since he hasn't really done that for awhile. Immediately intrigued by Kenleigh, he pulls out all the stops to make her feel special. Kenleigh feels the deep magnetic draw too. Scared of what her feelings can lead to but never having felt more alive than when she is with Wes, she decides to give it a go.Wes has a past that wants to rear its ugly head in their relationship. Kenleigh is forced to question whether all the sweet and romantic moments that she and Wed have had were real or his way of getting one thing.While Kenleigh is dealing with the emotions of her first real relationship, she is also paired with a young girl dealing with the loss of her brother. Offering advice and wanting to help the girl heal, Kenleigh too must face some of her old demons. Will she have the courage to help or will she continue to hide behind the truth of her parents accident? Will Wes' past prove to be too much for Kenleigh to overcome or will they stand together, leaning on each other to accept the things they cannot change."Serenity Falls" will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling deep inside. Not too ansty or overwhelming, it was the perfect sweet read when you don't need angst and pain but rather healing and love.",4.0,"Not too ansty or overwhelming, it was the perfect sweet read when you don't need angst and pain but rather healing and love.",1387152000,"12 16, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1FH9TBAO96PEW,0156030683,tertius3,"[5, 7]","This is a joint review of the initial books in two mystery series set on English railways during Queen Victoria's reign, Andrew Martin's The Necropolis Railway, and Edward Marston's The Railway Detective .Martin begins at that bottom with young Jim Stringer, whose dream is to live on the footplate, driving a great iron locomotive in the Gilded Age. Now he is just an engine cleaner, trying to make the leap to fireman. He is subject to severe hazing by his colleagues in the locomotive shed in London, absent any training programme. As gradually emerges, in tandem with his growing skills, this country-boy was hired under suspicious circumstances by a director of a special funereal railway. The mystery is what nefarious things are going on behind the scenes. The excitement is in the arduous training and enlightenment of Jim. The suspense is whether the observant young man will survive the attention of his malignant supervisors and prove worthy.Marston jumps into the early days of the railways. Robert Colbeck, a dapper detective--nattily-dressed and proud of it--is from the new Metropolitan Police of Scotland Yard. He takes on the mystery of who had robbed and crashed a mail train full of gold and sensitive mail. Was it done for money or out of hatred of the new-fangled railways? Dastardly deeds continue to affect the railway and its locomotives, and endanger Colbeck's budding infatuation with a poor but beautiful girl, the tearful daughter of an assaulted train driver.Martin immerses you in the smoke, sweat, and argot of the 1903 era of mechanical monsters; Marston's could be set almost anywhere in the generic Victorian era. Martin imbues his story with Jim's sense of awe before the steam power and mechanical clackery of the time. With Martin at your side you feel Stringer's enthusiasm and are immersed in his confusing and steep learning curve, including the jargon; Marston is the omniscient author, meant to awe, featuring an arrogantly correct detective who is always prescient, out-sherlocking Sherlock. Marston merely uses the railway as a setting, while Martin is engaged in reconstructing the whole experience for us, creating an historical novel in the best sense. While Martin's characters are young, they are complex and mature; Marston's heroes are older men with simple sentiments and antagonisms. Martin's unassuming Jim struggles to survive and inadvertently develops a talent for observation and detection; Marston's Det. Colbeck emerges full-blown and already famous, always with the critical data in hand.Martin slowly constructs the unsuspected crime, which becomes part of the solution to many inexplicable activities and hostilities experienced by Jim along the twisting way; Marston starts his story with a train crash and his plot moves inexorably towards a solution, flagrantly linear, lacking misdirection, and undercutting the possibility for suspense. It is just too pat. His man Colbeck is obstructed only by a recalcitrant supervisor or a reluctant sergeant--perhaps inserted for attempts at limp humor. Martin writes with empathy and insight into complex people in difficult situations; Marston cannot write sympathetic characters, effective humor, or affecting romance: his Det. Colbeck especially is a cold fish for whom I cared not a whit. Unlike Martin, Marston does not ""put us in"" his early locomotives, just lamely gives their makers' names--meaningless to me. You can say, hey, I don't care about graphic technology--but you need something to make Marston's listless story interesting, don't you?In sum, Martin is a much better writer. However, we can never again witness a naive Jim Stringer mature into a wiser, wary man before our eyes, that makes his first story special. I am not a train buff, but this had the promise for me I met in my first Patrick O'Brien nautical tale. I like the challenge of figuring out what the heck is going on. Haven't you ever been in a foreign situation, grasping for any clue as to the meaning of the simplest matter around you? That quest quite overcame any question of Jim's naveté. I think Martin is brilliant to start Jim out knowing little, and developing him. I intend to continue.",5.0,Splendid departure,1242691200,"05 19, 2009",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A6SBPCCUG8PS4,0007488238,Spatton,"[0, 0]","I thought that the story was cute and found the characters engaging. I really do enjoy these "serial" books, but holey cow...if I would want to read all 4 of these books on my Kindle I'd be out over 35.00!There are just too many romantic, happy ending, all of her troubles are over books that I can choose from that are far more affordable. These 3.99 and less books also have cute stories and engaging characters. So, even though I am quite interested in the ongoing story of Georgie, Tom, Sam,and Eddie, I will have to save my money for the 4.00 a gallon gasoline for my car.",3.0,cute story ...but...awfully expensive for a chick lit book,1403136000,"06 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17ZIIGQPXWG4,0345521366,Teritree001971,"[8, 10]","If you are interested in history and want to learn the world in which Elizabeth of York lived, then this is definitely a book for you. However, if you are a fan of historical fiction novels such as those written by Sharon Kay Penman , chances are you will not like it simply because this book does not have the well developed story line, instead the author has chosen to focus on the facts of the period.Elizabeth of York is what I call scholarly writing and Alison Weir has provided everything you could ever want to know about Elizabeth of York and the people surrounding her. The details in this work are magnificent and if you truly are interested in history, you will love it. The writing is not only easily followed, but it is clear Weir has spent many hours researching Elizabeth of York and provides copious sources for her work. Alison Weir manages to speak of historical facts without putting the reader to sleep.",4.0,Scholarly not fictional writing.,1386201600,"12 5, 2013",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 ARNEUO7BF3J55,0618989765,E. David Swan,"[4, 4]","The competition between Best American Comics and the Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories now moves into its second year. I can't compare the two for 2008 just yet because so far I've only read the Best American version but I'm pleased to announce so far it's a good year. For the second straight year since its debut in 2006 the quality of BAC has improved, hopefully the portent of a bright future for alternative comics.This volume features the triumphant return of `Kaz' whom I haven't seen in a compellation since the legendary McSweeney's Issue 13. Kaz is one of the very few alternative cartoonists who made enough of an impact on me that I went out and bought more of his works. Only Kaz can make me laugh out loud and then feel I need to take a hot shower for laughing. His disturbing, generally disgusting humor is definitely not for everyone but I'm personally thrilled to see him included again.Arguably the biggest name in alternative comics, Matt Groening, makes a surprising appearance showing he's still on top of his game. We also get the inevitable appearances by Seth and Chris Ware who always put in great performances. Seth's story is a near carbon copy of his book `Wimbledon Green' which I gave a generous four out of five stars to while Mr. Ware's entry is very typical of his work with a bleak, depressing tone contrasting against his bright, technically precise visuals.This is when I like to give a shout out to stories I particularly enjoyed. Graham Annable illustrates the dark tale of a man who literally carries the burden of his brother on his back while he tries to right his brother's wrongs. In `The Thing About Madeline', Lillie Carre tells a tale of a woman who finds herself on the outside of her life looking in. Jamie Hernandez writes a nice retro story in `Gold Diggers of 1969' emulating the look of a 1960's comic albeit with a modern theme. One of my favorites was the surreal `Percy Gloom' by Cathy Malkasian. This is one that was interesting enough that I might consider looking into picking up more of Ms. Malkasians works. The Forbidden Zone by Kevin Pyle was a short but interesting retro comic.There was nothing in this compilation that really leaped out at me. The quality remains steady throughout but never knocks it out of the park. If I was to describe this collection in one word it would be `Solid'. Last year I felt that the Anthology of Graphic Fiction put together a better collection although it may be an unfair comparison since Best American Comics limits itself to a single year. I'll have to see how they stack up this year.",4.0,Second Year of Improvement for Best American Comics,1225238400,"10 29, 2008",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3KI7ROTOJJ4UG,0028810252,Nalek,"[0, 0]",I am still reading this book ( i read it on my breaks at work so i dont get alot of time to read it) but it is a very good read. Unlike many informative books that come out very dull this one manages to keep my interest. It starts by explaining exactly what the author intends to explain which helps later on when reading as it allows you to understand exactly what the author is trying to stay without him needing to repeat himself. I very much enjoy this book.,4.0,A good read,1346198400,"08 29, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1FACM10I2YUS0,0140189416,Beth Walz,"[0, 0]","The Adventures of Augie March is reminiscent of other great American novels about the unique and curious individual; works such as, Moby Dick, Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer come to mind. This is another great American novel about the individual bouncing around like a ball in a pinball machine in America. There is a question of randomness and personal destiny and self-determination.The Adventures of Augie March is fun and funny. He is an Illinoisan (like me) and I found myself identifying with Augie. I love the way he goes from one adventure to the next. I like how ""luck and chance"" play a role in his life and there is some manifest destiny that he can somehow rely upon that gives him the confidence to know that he will somehow always land on his feet.The novel follows Augie from his small and slightly impoverished childhood roots (and no father - again similar to other classic American novels) into adulthood and culminating living a dodgy life in France. The narrative follows Augie interacting with the world and the world interacting with Augie. He finds himself in bizarre, dangerous, exciting and always unimaginable circumstances. But isn't that life? No matter how you plan there are these elements of chance and interplay that that take hold and lead you down an unexpected road.There does seem to be a lesson in The Adventures of Augie March that Bellow seems to be preaching. He seems to be saying that if you ""bounce around"" and never attach yourself to anything that you'll never amount to much; that real achievement is found in the persistence and development of you passion (however modest). Below is a short expert from the book,""You know how there are things every child wants to be. For instance,when I was twelve I was very fast on the ice and could have become a skating champion. But I lost interest. Then I became a stamp expert. And I lost interestin that, too. Next a socialite and that didn't last. I took up the bassoon andI quit.... Ah, what can you do? Impose your ideas on life?""Its a great book and filled with funny and insightful gems.",4.0,An Adventurer who always lands on his feet.,1356739200,"12 29, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZEP6LL2M030H,0380752999,"Kindle Customer ""Tell us about yourself! What...","[0, 0]","This story was truly entertaining and when I had to but the book down for a while, to do some work, I could not wait to get to the book to finish the story. The Hero and Heroin where wonderful and so was the others in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this story ! A other good Book by my favorite Author JOHANNA LINDSEY.",5.0,Enjoyable Story from beginning to the end is Defy Not the Heart. BY JOHANNA LINDSEY,1390608000,"01 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1R4BL5MYUDNDJ,0761138994,"David Marks ""norcalidave""","[8, 8]","OK, so I admit that I own something like 100 cookbooks, and most of them I swear are the best of the best, out of thousands of published cookbooks.I just ordered two more of the hardbound version of this cookbook, at Amazon's truly amazing low price, because this IS one of a handful of cookbooks that I would never want to be without!Beautiful design, gorgeous pictures (did I say ""beautiful design"" already?), unexcelled recipes and amazing writing AND editing!I second the comment by another reviewer, who said that this cookbook stands alone as a great cookbook, even WITHOUT the organic ambience, but even the organic food comments & preferences (and explanations) are spot-on and accurately written. This is simply a one of a kind, exquisite cookbook....",5.0,Would you REALLY like a cookbook that's indispensable?,1306886400,"06 1, 2011",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A2MG6CDK3VJVDM,0060193328,JOSHUA J DIVINE,"[4, 4]","The author of this book has expressed terrifying emotions and experiences in an emotionally charged book. This book shows the effects of genocide and terror through the eyes of a little girl surrounded by daily events of murder and death, disease and death, torture and death, and starvation and death. This is an important book, because it brings to light events which occurred during the turbulent Vietnam era. This book does for the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot what "Night" did for the WWII Jewish Holocaust... it puts a human face and name to only one of many terrifying stories that humanity needs to come to terms with.",5.0,Excellent and Moving,969840000,"09 25, 2000",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2093SQ1HC7640,B00ASES6RC,Ritu KT,"[4, 4]","I think Jason Richer and Sam Rovin have done a great job with covering all the aspects of ebay that new users need to be aware of. The book is full of practical tips and real life examples which makes it appear as if the authors are talking to us face-to-face.I was just toying with the idea of starting my own ebay account and this book will be on top my Reference books when I finally start.Easy to read and follow, I finished reading this book in 2 hours. Recommend to anyone and everyone who wants to learn about ebay.[...]",5.0,Everything you want to know about ebay is here,1367020800,"04 27, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3M0YP958H2KRX,0875847625,Steven K. Szmutko,"[29, 32]","The book is an excellent study of the limitations of information technology and should be read especially by those technocrats who believe that any organizational problem can be solved by stuffing more and more information into a computer database. The authors remind us that these technologies should be tools, the means to an end ... but not the ends in themselves.Advances in technology have, in many ways, been wonderful. Taken to an extreme however, the mindless application of technology for the sake of technology does not nothing but reduce productivity and raise tension levels in organizations. The Authors rightly point out that information is best when it is the servant, enhancing the abilities of people rather than forcing them into narrow constraints.I would recommend this book highly to anyone who must deal with the increasing deluge of information in any organization. After all, any technology is best when it incorporates the humanity of its creators and users.",5.0,An Excellent Overview of the Limitations of Technology,954979200,"04 6, 2000",29,32,helpful,0.90625,1 AC55TC1GEKPM,1416942114,E. K.,"[0, 0]","As a nature lover and a reading teacher, I have loved sharing this with my students! I love the illustrations too.",5.0,"This is a wonderful, whimsical poetry book!",1374451200,"07 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQZH7YTWQPOBE,0547678312,Enjolras,"[4, 4]","In "The Bright Continent," Dayo Olopade argues that Africa isn't a basket case, but rather must be approached differently from the more industrialized Western economies. She argues that Africans have a "kanju" mindset, namely that they tend to be flexible and frugal. Where the Western entrepreneur relies upon an established legal system and formal contracts, African entrepreneurs are more likely to rely upon personal relationships and smaller scale innovations. Where a Western businessman imagines selling a finished product, an African businessmen might find opportunities to sell unfinished products to customers who are willing to finish them, thereby selling them at a lower cost. In short, there are opportunities in Africa and many Africans are finding them.I've read several books and articles along these lines, but Olopade's is still worth reading because she makes her point well. Tthe message isn't entirely new at this point. If anything, some might err in hyperbolizing the African Renaissance. However, I think Olopade does a credible job show why we should be excited about Africa's promise without indulging in hyperbole.Recommended for businessmen, policymakers, and travelers interested in Africa.",5.0,a different type of market,1396396800,"04 2, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3HK65CAYLZI4E,0425074811,John,"[189, 267]","Von Däniken claims that the myths, arts, social organizations, etc., of ancient cultures were introduced by astronauts from another world. He questions not just the capacity for memory, but the capacity for culture and civilization itself, in ancient peoples. Prehistoric humans did not develop their own arts and technologies, but rather were taught art and science by visitors from outer space.Where is the proof for von Däniken's claims? Some of it was fraudulent. For example, he produced photographs of pottery that he claimed had been found in an archaeological dig. The pottery depicts flying saucers and was said to have been dated from Biblical times. However, investigators from Nova (the fine public-television science program) found the potter who had made the allegedly ancient pots. They confronted von Däniken with evidence of his fraud. His reply was that his deception was justified because some people would only believe if they saw proof ("The Case of the Ancient Astronauts," first aired 3/8/78, done in conjunction with BBC's Horizon and Peter Spry-Leverton)!However, most of von Däniken's evidence is in the form of specious and fallacious arguments. His data consists mainly of archaeological sites and ancient myths. He begins with the ancient astronaut assumption and then forces all data to fit the idea. For example, in Nazca, Peru, he explains giant animal drawings in the desert as an ancient alien airport. The fact that the lines of the drawing would be useless as a runway for any real aircraft because of their narrowness is conveniently ignored by von Däniken. The likelihood that these drawings related to the natives' science or mythology is not considered. He also frequently reverts to false dilemma reasoning of the following type: "Either this data is to be explained by assuming these primitive idiots did this themselves or we must accept the more plausible notion that they got help from extremely advanced peoples who must have come from other planets where such technologies as anti-gravity devices had been invented." His devotion to this theory has not dwindled, despite contrary evidence, as is evidenced by still another book on the subject, Arrival of the Gods : Revealing the Alien Landing Sites at Nazca (1998).There have been many critics of von Däniken's notions, but Ronald Story stands out as the most thorough. Most critics of von Däniken's theory point out that prehistoric peoples were not the helpless, incompetent, forgetful savages he makes them out to be. (They must have at least been intelligent enough to understand the language and teachings of their celestial instructors--no small feat!) It is true that we still do not know how the ancients accomplished some of their more astounding physical and technological feats. We still wonder how the ancient Egyptians raised giant obelisks in the desert and how stone age men and women moved huge cut stones and placed them in position in dolmens and passage graves. We are amazed by the giant carved heads on Easter Island and wonder why they were done, who did them, and why they abandoned the place. We may someday have the answers to our questions, but they are most likely to come from scientific investigation not pseudoscientific speculation. For example, observing contemporary stone age peoples in Papua New Guinea, where huge stones are still found on top of tombs, has taught us how the ancients may have accomplished the same thing with little more than ropes of organic material, wooden levers and shovels, a little ingenuity and a good deal of human strength.We have no reason to believe our ancient ancestors' memories were so much worse than our own that they could not remember these alien visitations well enough to preserve an accurate account of them. There is little evidence to support the notion that ancient myths and religious stories are the distorted and imperfect recollection of ancient astronauts recorded by ancient priests. The evidence to the contrary--that prehistoric or 'primitive' peoples were (and are) quite intelligent and resourceful--is overwhelming.Of course, it is possible that visitors from outer space did land on earth a few thousand years ago and communicate with our ancestors. But it seems more likely that prehistoric peoples themselves were responsible for their own art, technology and culture. Why concoct such an explanation as von Däniken's? To do so may increase the mystery and romance of one's theory, but it also makes it less reasonable, especially when one's theory seems inconsistent with what we already know about the world. The ancient astronaut hypothesis is unnecessary. Occam's razor should be applied and the hypothesis rejected.",2.0,"Fun, but horribly wrong",987724800,"04 20, 2001",189,267,helpful,0.7078651685393258,1 AVYHWCIW5LNAX,034552361X,"M. Mariba ""the teacher""","[96, 107]","This is a great candid memoir by the talented Hollywood actress turned humanitarian Ashley Judd, titled ""All That Is Bitter And Sweet : A Memoir"". In this touching/emotional memoir, Ashley Judd describes herself as a daughter of the world famous country music superstar singer Naomi Judd : but her childhood upbringing was rather erratic, chaotic & unstable despite her mother's trying efforts. She struggled/suffered emotionally, psychologically & sexual abuse during her 13 school years (attending 13 different schools from the tender age of 5 years to young adulthood at 18 years). Her older sister Wynonna Judd joined hands with their mother Naomi Judd to build up a musical empire in country music (the great country supergroup The Judds), while she persued acting in Hollywood with great success. Before leaving successful acting career for personal reasons, she was one of the highly paid actress in Hollywood. Ashley Judd, now 42 years has suffered depression, suicidal thoughts & memories of her sexual abuse from various men over the years. In 2006 Ashley Judd was 'finally' admitted in Texas for the treatment of depression as an in-patient with great improvement of her condition. The great support of her racecar driver husband Dario Franchiti whom she married in 2001 & family also was very crucial & influential in seeing her back on her feet again. Her story has positive spin : she managed to channel her anger/grief into humanitarian work as a YouthAIDS ambassador for Population Services International (working for the betterment of poor children/communities in developing continents/counties of Africa & Asia among others. She has finally found peace within herself & declares her painful past as her greatest asset! On overall, this is a great emotional rollercoaster ride (bitter) memoir with a positive (sweet) that is candid/engaging, a highly recommended book/memoir reading.",4.0,"""Ashley Judd Bares Her Painful Past!""",1302048000,"04 6, 2011",96,107,helpful,0.897196261682243,1 A29ZAC5SYRVBRG,0451229851,PBrown,"[0, 0]","A MUST read, my daughter recommended this series and I love it. I Can't wait to start on book 9.",5.0,Black Dagger Brotherhood,1374710400,"07 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5T9GSTRL8310,1582460167,silver ice,"[0, 0]","I picked up this book by chance at a local thrift store and I couldn't be more pleased. My toddler immediately fell in love with this book. It is a quick read (which is great since I've read it over twenty times already over the past week). As other reviewers have said, the photography is beautiful and engaging. The text is very simple but it teaches toddlers about different verbs/activities. I particularly like to emphasize the ""penguins sharing"" page and as for the ""penguin pooping"" page I make it point to show that I'm ""disappointed"" that the penguin isn't pooping in a potty. I will be buying other books like this. I'm so glad I found it!",5.0,My toddler can't get enough of this book!,1332547200,"03 24, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZ0VYC4OTUKQG,0528008056,"Amy Marie ""Amy Marie""","[0, 0]",I have been looking for a spiral United States map for some now. We were able to use it this past Memorial Day weekend. Thi is so much better than those maps that fold up which ways to Sunday. Highly recommend.,5.0,GREAT!,1401580800,"06 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ABDENH2VBYG6B,1448686458,Just a Teacher,"[0, 0]","This was a really cute rhyming story that is pretty sweet. Except for the ""blame it on the parents"" element. I agree with the other reviewer who though the ""cadence of the poem is just clumsy, and off beat"" sometimes I stumbled over lines.",4.0,"Super cute, can't wait for Christmas!",1369785600,"05 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1FJG3VEKAO2U9,0619217510,Coder,"[5, 5]","I won't mention every shortcoming of this book, because some other reviewers already covered them. (I agree 100% with what everyone said about the poor question selection/writing.), and I had no desire to finish this poor book and so only went as far as the chapters we used in class.I consider myself a ""power user"", and I DO expect that with most computer texts, at least half the material will NOT be new. However, this book is just ultra dumbed-down. The vast majority of ""exercises"" are really just ad-naseum, click-by-click steps to using this GUI applet or that.Also, most of the lessons just relate to the most basic stuff, like viewing your CPU usage and so forth -- just basic user stuff!In fact, the only useful thing I recall gleaning from this book at all is how to create a custom management console...something that has since become a basic tool in getting Windows' configuration and security under MY control, not Microsoft's.I would recommend photocopying any few useful how-tos out of this text and then tossing the book after the class is done (literally, or figuratively ""tossing"" it back on Amazon).",1.0,"Substandard Content, Often Too Dumbed-Down",1211846400,"05 27, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A250OBCJ1OXKMP,B00FAE7JT6,danielle,"[4, 4]",I cant even begin to describe how much i love this book all i can say is i love love love it. Taron and Ivy are so made for each other that its crazy. This series is awesome and i cant wait for it to continue i love talon and taron but i cant wait for Luke's story. U did it again Hilary Storm u rocked my socks off this one is great. If u havent read this book u really should its awesome also go check out the first one in this series In A Heartbeat i dont think u will be at all disappointed. I laughed and cried and got mad all through this book and would read it over and over again.,5.0,omg,1389744000,"01 15, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,0884152227,Midwest Book Review,"[6, 6]","Many dutch oven cookbooks on the market are weighty and daunting: not so the 4th updated edition of a near-pocket guide Dutch Oven Cooking, which is perfect for taking along and meal planning for a camping trip. It's the outdoors orientation which differentiates this from similar-sounding, home-oriented coverages, offering up dishes perfect for campfires and overnights and moving the dutch oven from indoors to outside. From an intriguing Peppermint Pound Cake to Potato Soup, here's a fine pocket presentation also recommended for in-home use.Diane C. DonovanCalifornia Bookwatch",5.0,"From an intriguing Peppermint Pound Cake to Potato Soup, here's a fine pocket presentation also recommended for in-home use.",1165708800,"12 10, 2006",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2XRZLIVYWU4FO,0985034181,J. Latham,"[0, 0]","After two or three clunkers in this series, Marie Force has found her mojo again in this tenth installment. I loved this story which dealt gently with the difficult human conditions of grief and dementia while the sizzling romance developed. Despite a lot of unimaginative cursing, this is highly recommended.",5.0,Why every girl should grow her own vegetables,1384819200,"11 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NG7X4APIV649,1580630405,Sam I Am,"[0, 0]","Thank you, Chuck Negron. Your life and your story is a gift. Very few people in this world hit rock bottom and live to tell the story. Wow. I highly recommend this book to anyone dealing with recovery issues. Unfortunately the book is now out of print, and the selling prices of used copies are expensive, but you might be able to find the book at a library or second-hand book store.",5.0,Chuck Negron - Three Dog Night To Nightmare To Recovery,1223424000,"10 8, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11J5W7CT4X4CG,1933580801,VeritasVosLiberatis,"[4, 4]","This was my first venture outside of cannonized scripture. I've been reading some other books by Chris Putnam and Thom Horn and they include references/quotes from the Book of Enoch. I wanted to verify/test out for myself some of the material they presented, and since Jesus and Jude also quoted from the Book of Enoch, I thought this was a good place to start my research. If you understand that this book includes three different manuscript versions/translations, you will understand that it is not repetitive - each of the three books are a different rendering of the same information. Although Enoch did write 365 books to give to his posterity, the originals have not been found. The manuscripts that were used for this book are probably based on traditional oral story-telling, but they were also written near the time of Jesus/Jude. Lumpkin even includes notes to alert the reader to sections that may have been added through history due to cultural influences, such as gnosticism/mysticism. Studying this has not altered my faith at all - it does provide a wider world-view and supplements areas where cannon is silent. My love for Jesus and His truth and righteousness is reinforced!",5.0,Informative,1375228800,"07 31, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2Z5450HXNEXZU,0966018206,BrendaMarie,"[0, 0]","A book of this subject is timely in this national and global transitional period. From a life-long journey of spiritual study and discipline, she reflects her studies in ancient wisdom and modern psychology. She brings the unification of opposites into practical understanding. The Divine Feminine is brought into easy balance. Practical steps are given for a group or individual study. This makes a good book study for a group with practices and sane explanation of principles. .",5.0,The Marriage of Spirit: Enlightened Living in Today's World,1341964800,"07 11, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2RC2ZMC9NRLJM,0870211927,James Hercules Sutton,"[5, 6]","This is a solid, comprehensively researched explication of strategic naval decisions that led Japan to WWII. It dispels the notion that Japan went to war against interest because of ""victory disease"" and ""war fever."" It corrects the idea that the navy was less culpable than the army, and documents the role that JIN posturing for appropriations played in the decisions that led to Pearl Harbor. It repeats familiar ironies, such as the fact that Japan would have obtained its goals if it had not attacked the U.S. But there are unfamiliar ironies, too--for example, Japan went to war to obtain oil, primarily for its navy, but diverted so much new construction into building its navy (70%) that it had little capacity to transport oil from Sumatra back to Japan. The book covers major failures in Japan's preparations--failure to put research on a war footing, to subject army and navy to central command, to use photo intelligence, to adjust strategy, to avoid a war of attrition with a foe more capable of carrying on such a war, to solve supply and logistics problems, and to use submarines effectively. It also notes Japanese successes--night torpedo attack, optics. It's scholarly: Who uses ""inter alia"" anymore, even in print? Nonetheless, its style, voluminous footnotes and extensive bibliography make it useful to those with armchair and scholarly interests alike. This book pulls many loose threads together; for that reason, it will be most useful to those who have read many other books about WWII in the Pacific.",4.0,Solid.,1168473600,"01 11, 2007",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AGZ652YG2SKVF,0316006963,"RCO ""rco012""","[9, 20]","Dan Simmons' Flashback is a near-future thriller set in a gutted, impotent, and addicted United States. It's structured as a murder mystery, with a disgraced former detective serving as anti-hero protagonist.I had just re-read 'Darwin's Blade' - and have read most of Simmons' work - and was kind of hoping for a similarly propulsive story, perhaps spun inside a dystopian might-be America. I do enjoy Simmons' work and admire his work ethic. Most of his writing I find to be interesting, far-ranging, and well crafted.What I wound up with was somewhat unexpected. I think there's a good thriller here, but the (sometimes pages) long political exposition was so heavy handed and lengthy, with so many targets locked on, that I really started not to enjoy the reading experience.Simmons of course has every right to his views, but for me there was neither provocative world building nor clever political extrapolation of our present condition. I found some passages mean spirited in a way that I never found the Joe Kurtz series mean spirited. Which is saying a lot.I can't recommend this. At times it felt like Rush Limbaugh had re-written Crichton's 'Rising Sun.'",2.0,Axe grinding disguised as a near-future thriller,1310688000,"07 15, 2011",9,20,helpful,0.45,1 AK1D8687TN8DR,B00GS4E36Y,jonnie hammon,"[0, 0]","This book would be great as a gift, for those contemplating a DIY project, for the first time.Although not a first timer, I did learn some knew things, that will come in handy.",4.0,Household DIY : Save Time and Money With Do It Yourself Hints and Tips ... by Jesse Jacobs,1395705600,"03 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1TYDCNFMN45UQ,B00BLT0AZO,Maggie Uh-O,"[6, 8]","Absolutely AWESOME book! I was looking for escape fiction, and while the book provided that, it is so much more. It made me think, and it is changing my life. If you want to know the deepest secrets of the universe, this book won't spoon feed you, but will give you lots of terrific hints. Look over there! Consider this! What would you choose? And last, best, what will I choose?Most important for me in a book of fiction is the characters. They have to be real people, and they have to make me care about them. The author created characters different than any I've seen anywhere, and many of them are folks I want to know better. (Of course, some of them are bad guys I want to squish between my thumb and forefinger.) Now I need to find another book by Lee Baldwin!",5.0,What a find!,1364601600,"03 30, 2013",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A9YX8MNWVHK5D,0061431389,"L. Bassen ""l-shapley""","[0, 0]","After watching the associated dvd shown on tv, I bought this book for my history teacher daughter. A big hit. Really interesting information, well-presented, very useful, too.",5.0,Fascinating book/dvd available,1307404800,"06 7, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QLPVCK5EE81Z,B00EO4842O,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Yet again Roy Glenn has given us an inside look on one of character's of the Mike Black Series....By far Freeze in in my top 3 picks and it was great to be able to see how he came to be an enforcer for Vicious Mike Black. I love the book and can't wait for the next,5.0,Great Quick Read,1379635200,"09 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A28C8WZIY360ZY,076791659X,"sewingmom ""reader""","[4, 4]","I agree with others who like this book with reservations. The colored type is hard to read - like many magazines today. You may need to photo copy a recipe to make it readable. I love the croutons 4 ways also the earthier meals like fried rice. Sara uses a lot of white rice, pasta and flour instead of the healthier whole grains. I substitue brown rice. Half white, half whole wheat for the bleached flour. I also use whole wheat pasta. For those not used to whole grains you can start by using half white and half whole wheat pasta or half white and half brown rice. (Note that the rices have different start times. Start the brown rice than after 30 minutes add the white.) Some ingredients are not found in the usual grocery store and there are some more exotic ingredients I don't care to use. I just avoid those recipes.",3.0,could be healthier,1230336000,"12 27, 2008",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1YCV76MUFESR1,0300098227,Anne-Marie G,"[19, 19]","Love this book. I read it after I saw 'Finding Neverland', a good movie, but this book is far far far better. It captures the real essence of Barrie, with letters from him, to him, about him and excepts from his works as his life unfolds.Not only is this book fabulously informative it also flows remarkably well for being so chock full of information. The narrative voice is very unabtrusive and is kept to a minimum letting the first person sources speak for themselves. The photographs are enchanting and really help one see how Barrie envisioned his own Neverland.It seems to capture how Barrie was an odd combination of innocent and adult.I would have loved to seen more on his life beyond the Davies, but that was not this book's purpose. I do think however, a summary as to the fates of the Davies boys at the end would have been in keeping with the narrative as the book does touch upon not only the effect they had on him, but the effect he had on them. Some of which seems to have been resented by the boys.This book serves as a great doorway into both Barrie's life and works. As anything read after this can be framed in the narrative of his life.",5.0,Great book!,1117670400,"06 2, 2005",19,19,helpful,1.0,1 ADYED6Z2R1R0Z,0345503058,A. Lee,"[5, 5]","Dark days have come to the Empire. The young Emperor and his controlling Empress mother had to flee the Hidden City with the loyalist army, chased by a larger army of the general who hopes to depose and kill him. He is making his way to the island of Taishu to make a last stand. Taishu is the source of Jade, containing powers that are for the Emperor alone, and is a key to holding the Empire.Yu Shan is a young man from one of the Jade-mining clans living in the mountains of the island. With the coming of the Emperor, the clans seek to skip the middle man, the powerful Jademasters, by sending Yu Shan with an large and rare piece of jade to make a gift of it personally to the Emperor. He is unaware of how much his close proximity to the jade will change him.Han is a boy apprentice-scribe who, with his master, unfortunately run into a group of thieves and pirates. He is taken aboard their ship and forced to fight for his life and becomes their slave. He also begins to hear the dragon in his head.The Monks are responsible for keeping the dragon living under the waves of the straight between Taishu and the mainland quiet and bound in chains. All the locals know this, but everyone from beyond, the Emperor and the enemy armies chasing him, and the Pirates, view talk of the chained dragon as pure fantasy. So the pirate and his men attack the monks and kill them, seeking to rob the monastery. Now the Dragon is awakening and her chains are loose, and if something isn't done, she will be free.These characters, along with a number of women, a mother fleeing the battling armies with her family, a bold fighter and thief, a wise fisher-girl, and the daughter of a medical man, also feature in the tale and intertwine with the various plot-lines.The alternate China setting seems rich and detailed, the magic of the dragon and the jade fits well with the culture, and the various characters give varied and interesting viewpoints on the Empire and the action that is occurring. Some of the events are quite dark, with the barbarity of warfare and criminals and a society with harsh punishments.This looks to be the first of an interesting series, with strong and intriguing characters, subtle magic, battles and assassins and traitorous plots... and the threat of a dragon that can raise tidal waves even when chained.",4.0,"An Emperor fleeing for his life, Jade with mysterious powers, an ancient Dragon threatening to wreak havoc---",1253491200,"09 21, 2009",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A21IOKB7W7IQ3U,0425266745,"Amazon Customer ""mhm8790""","[0, 0]",This book held me from beginning to end. Yes it was a great story but one in which great lessons could be learned.,5.0,great book,1398124800,"04 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ISBMRMZ36M9S,0486400549,Questioner,"[0, 0]","It's hard to find coloring books suitable for 12 year old boys -- they are too big for Scooby Doo and other cartoon characters but they still enjoy coloring and daydreaming. This book fills a void. My son loved the book and his sister was envious that her brother had such cool pics to color. Dover has some spectacular coloring books, and this is no exception. I highly recommend, just wish it had more pages.",5.0,Great book for pre-teen boys,1355443200,"12 14, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LBQCSD2LJX2H,B005F5Q86U,B. Peroceschi,"[0, 0]","...I read the first book and I thought ""that was pretty good."" Then every book after that was just a little bit better. Vaughn Heppner has built one rich and interesting universe. The number of characters and civilizations keep growing and he paints a good picture of all their interests and what motivates them. Highly recommended, and if you even mildly enjoyed the first book I would recommend you keep reading because it keeps getting better.",5.0,This series has me hooked....,1339804800,"06 16, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZTZEQCKK8R8J,0131476548,"wiley ""psmiekel""","[11, 24]",This was more a book on the author's philosophy rather than a 'how to' book which I was looking for.,2.0,opinion,1125446400,"08 31, 2005",11,24,helpful,0.4583333333333333,1 AIL4HD8BRUHV9,1414385544,Soozie4Him,"[0, 0]","Melanie Shankle wrote an awesome book on being a mom called "Sparkly Green Earrings". I read it and howled with laughter and enjoyed every page! So when I saw that she had come out with a book about marriage, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!!This book does not disappoint fans of her previous book and/or her blog. She's HILARIOUS! Melanie's writing is probably the only author that I can read and end up laughing out loud (literally) when I'm alone in the house. She is that funny. And along with the funny moments, she has some great points on marriage, and tender-hearted stories, and just plain old TRUTH about marriage, all on the same page!! I do think that husbands would enjoy reading this book as well. I can see this being the kind of book where you'll be reading it and you'll say to your spouse, "Honey, you've gotta hear this!" and you can read it to them and you can laugh together. It might even be therapeutic for you to compare Melanie and Perry's situations to those in your own marriage. I can see some very interesting discussions coming from reading this book with your spouse!!If I had to compare Melanie's writing style to someone, it would be Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman). Anyone who has read Ree's blog or her memoir where she talks about falling in love and marrying Ladd Drummond (aka Marlboro Man) might find her humor similar. This is a compliment, because "Black Wheels to Tractor Wheels: A Love Story" was one of my favorite books read in recent years.I sure hope Melanie keeps writing more books, because I think she has an audience who can't wait to read her next book!",5.0,Great follow-up to Sparkly Green Earrings!!,1397606400,"04 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NSM4M3ELZFJX,048644158X,Jessica M. Landreth,"[16, 16]","This is by far the best of the best drawn by Tom. Every page was a gasp from my mouth, as each gown appeared, and I love this book for the color and designs of its time! If you love the designers of the Old World, Paquin, Worth, Channel, Schiparelli, Poiret, Lanvin etc., they are all here to enjoy and admire. This was for sure one of my all-time favorite Tom Tierney paper doll books, and I have been collecting his work for almost 15 years!",5.0,Art Deco Fashions,1144713600,"04 11, 2006",16,16,helpful,1.0,1 A17QLT9OGGBWX2,0007299540,Pamela Henderson,"[5, 6]","If you ever wanted to find out what creatures can come from someone's imagination then you are going to love this book. People are constantly getting killed in nasty ways from prologue to the very end. I don't need to describe the plot and scene here as lots of folks already have. Let's just say that I did enjoy the book in the same way that I enjoyed Jurassic Park. The outrageous critters (everything eats everything else) are well described and occasional drawings are provided to help. Critters with eyes going forward and backward at the same time, multiple mouths and brains, moving in unusual ways. I agreed with some of the others that the romance item was kind of thrown in like an after thought but I think it worked none the less.",4.0,Enjoyable Slasher Fantasy Ride,1325808000,"01 6, 2012",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AS6EPVW1IRRP5,0142002623,"Librum ""6nomad9""","[9, 10]","TC is a fine novel, through and through. In the span of 894 quick-reading pages, I noted only two annoying plot elements -- both, brief and of trivial importance. I'm in no position to judge whether TC conveys a truthful picture of the CIA or not. Judged from that perspective, it may well merit a low rating. Judged as a novel, only, I rate it quite high. It's hard to imagine a more engaging and adroitly weaved tale of spycraft, nor a more believable one. I look forward to reading other Littell novels.",5.0,First rate story-telling,1197590400,"12 14, 2007",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A48TLP8FTQZF3,0764206931,ejones,"[0, 0]","This is a fascinating look at the developing rail system in America. The characters have depth, the setting is described realistically without overwhelming the story, and the historical facts enhance the story. This series is one I would comfortably recommend to readers of any age.",5.0,Excellent story,1375142400,"07 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AEFTIUQHSVUFX,0374161097,Joe Z,"[6, 13]","My title pretty much synopsizes the book. British imperialism led to occupation and after WWII the Jews needed a home. No country would accept them. So they were pretty much dumped in Palestine. A place with historical significance for sure, but it was not an empty land, a vacuum waiting to be filled, it was a viable country. Decades later, unfortunately, Israel is still in imperialism mode. There's surely enough blame to go around, but the author puts the blame on Western support of the Israelis, kind of sweep the whole ugly affair under the rug. And he seems to make a good point.",5.0,"Nobody wanted the Jews, so Palestine was stuck with them",1394236800,"03 8, 2014",6,13,helpful,0.46153846153846156,1 A2ULKXAUQ8A1PO,0800721241,Maria,"[0, 0]","Trapped by Irene Hannon is the second book in the Private Justice series. It's a suspense filled story that holds you spellbound till the end. I haven't read anything from her before, but she is definitely an author I will be reading from now on!Laura Griffith comes home from work to find a note from her half-sister saying she has left for good. Frantic with worry Laura hires a private investigator to help find sixteen year old Darcy.James Devlin, a former ATF agent, is the P.I who gets Laura's case. The first forty-eight hours are critical to finding runaways, but without much to go on the possibility of finding her is slim. As Dev works on the case, he finds himself attracted to Laura and lets her tag along on some of his forays. But as the days keep dragging on, they become more worried that they will never find Darcy...I really enjoyed this story. It kept my interest from the get-go, and I couldn't wait to see how it would get resolved. Anyway, I'm dying to read the first book in the series and am eagerly awaiting the third book! :-)I was given this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.",5.0,Great suspenseful read,1381968000,"10 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AENXJM2CKEN5L,0674443020,"Joe Zika ""Khemprof""","[14, 14]",The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution by Bernard Bailyn is smartly written with political sophistication towards the American Revolution. If a person studies the American Revolution you have to read this book... for without reading this you will have a difficult time understanding the emergence of eighteenth-century thought on the why the revolution came about.Documentation is there for reference as well as the American ideological positions which can be found fully formed as far back as 1730's. This is a good solid work and should be on all bookshelves of anyone who studies the American Revolution and the Men who strongly believed in it. A good starting point.Well done and outstanding... eminetly fascinating.,5.0,The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution,1015977600,"03 13, 2002",14,14,helpful,1.0,1 AN30077034FO8,0312551371,tvandbookaddict,"[0, 0]","Oh this one was really fun! Recommended especially one a lazy summer day. The action, apocalypse, zombies, and bit of romance will keep you enthralled until 3 in the morning. Or was that just me? Advice: Do not start reading this book when you should be studying for finals because it will take quite the lot of will power to stop.Our heroine, the love interest, the world, and everything in between are very fascinating. I especially loved how Deuce and Fade are so realistic. They both have their flaws and that makes them stand out all the more. The romance does not come out of nowhere, which I always appreciate. It is just the type of dystopian novel you would want to pick up on your next trip to the library or the bookstore. Deuce, our protagonist, lives in a post-apocalyptic world in which all she knows is what is told to her down in the underground tunnels where she and her enclave have been living. Sadly, it's not much of a life. For one, it's short (life expectancy is in its early 20's), has some eye brow raising rules, and it is dangerous. All she knows is darkness since she has never been above ground (it's called Topside). Never seen the sun, never seen people outside her enclave, never experienced most of what we get to thankfully experience everyday. The zombies (called Freaks by her people) she has been trained to kill are changing their ways, which is making everything much more difficult. All the while, questions keep making her wonder about the kind of people running her enclave.The action, suspense, and fight scenes really pick up towards the end, especially around the last part of the book. I was unable to put the book down and every time I had to (for human reasons ugh), it was terrible because all I could think about was the curiosity about what would happen next. It's a great feeling when reading a book.A few downsides to this book were that I did not love not knowing what happens to one of the characters. Numerous pages go by and we still are left not knowing. It's unfortunate that we will have to wait until the next book. I guess I'm just being picky. I also wished to know more information about the main characters. I MUST know more background information about how they became the way they did. I sure hope this is explained in the second book, because if not, I will be an unhappy camper. The first part of the book was also a bit slow for me, but honestly, that did not last because the pace picked up very quickly and stayed that way. I believe that what bothered me the most about this story was that we are never actually told when this is taking place. Maybe we will know in the second book. I sure hope so.-T.V and Book Addict",4.0,Adventurous and entertaining!,1313280000,"08 14, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A29M45DWHFPRFI,1456353209,"Jeff Dawson ""Direktor59""","[9, 11]","Nick West, an agent for DHS (Department of Homeland Security) finds himself in a most precarious position. He has been involved in multiple battles and firefights as a Navy Seal, but none of his training prepared him for what is about to happen. A fight at the office with an unpopular IA agent, a flat tire, a rainy night and a woman (Madeline Harrison-former US Marshal) who offers him shelter for the night sends him on a unimaginable and fast paced journey.Manny has an old car in storage and being the old car buff Nick is, he just can't resist giving it a once over. While giving the car a good going through, he discovers an old camera with a picture that could reveal a secret that has been in hiding for over forty years; the ownership of the United States. Okay, I'll stop there before I give away too much.This is an excellent read on many levels; character development, action packed, and twists and turns. The book starts out very slowly as he develops and sets all the pieces in motion, sometimes too many pieces. I had to keep notes as I read the book to make sure who was doing what. I would have preferred more development for each subplot; there are nine . Some are fully explored while others are a mere glance. That is the books biggest fault in my opinion. Once you have waded through all of the subplots and players the pace is fast and furious. I finished reading the last five chapters in record time as the book was this fast paced.Mr. Burkett has a hidden talent he needs to unleash. I have read both of his current thriller works and the next one is better. Mr. Burkett has the talent and the knowledge for the third book in this series. He is on the cusp of a major BLOCKBUSTER. Just slow down and don't race us to the end. In Tom Clancy's books he starts them with a bang but doesn't rush through them. He lets the reader let everything sink in before moving on. When Mr. Burnett masters that technique, he will join the greats.",3.0,Untied States ownership in JEOPARDY?,1316736000,"09 23, 2011",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A780659PTHTU2,1416599576,"Tracey Cramer-Kelly ""Writing about Bikers, So...","[0, 1]","When we first meet Dr. Hnida, he is hiding in an Iraqi ditch in 2004, embedded with a military unit and worried he is about to die. So he has a conversation with this dead father. (The point, I assumed, was to set up this theme of father-son military experience.) However, I soon found that the topic of this memoir was his SECOND tour, in which he did doctor duties in a MASH-like unit (never got into the streets) for 4 months.Though I would have liked to hear more about his first tour, this was an honest look at his experience trying to save US soldiers as well as Iraqis and insurgents (you might be surprised by the extent to which our medical personnel went to save the enemy). Hnida was forthright about how insecure he was (especially at first); his fear of failure and what that would mean; and about his hyper-awareness of the far-reaching impact of his actions - things you wouldn't necessarily expect a younger person (he was in his 40s) to dwell on.There was lots of blood and gore here; no shying away from the reality of the situation Hnida was in. He also managed to tie in the earlier rape of his daughter, which affected him greatly. And in the end, he reconciles some things about his relationship with his father (although based on the opening scene, I did expect more than I got on this point).Hnida was good at analogies and at painting mental pictures (an example: ""He handed us papers with diagrams like football players - the most important showed our positioning during a trauma case."")The one thing I felt was missing was more about the medics and nurses that worked with Hnida. Although he mentions their pivotal roles - at one point stating ""I was once again thankful for the medics and nurses who mentally pushed me to get the job done. They were my heroes. And heroes to the soldiers they saved."" - they were never given names (although there is a list at the end of the book) or details about their roles. His fellow doctors, on the other hand, became vivid personalities.Some of the stories really make you wonder... why would we spend so much time (and money) trying to save an insurgent who just tried to kill our soldiers (or even succeeded in doing so)? This, of course, is a conflict that is explored in other books as well as movies. And though Hnida appears to grapple with it, the ingrained nature of a doctor - to save lives - was very strong. Although there were a few pivotal decisions where he had to weigh the risk our people were taking against the needs of a patient, he appeared to treat each patient amazingly equal... which I'm not sure I could do.",3.0,The Father-Son Angle is Not that Strong,1381104000,"10 7, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1P6GL9VPX835U,0316133302,Michael Oliveri,"[5, 7]","A fast-paced thriller and worthy finale to the series. I held back a star for a beef with Charlie and the climax (no spoilers), but I enjoyed the hell out of Swierczynski's prose and the different characters' voices.",4.0,Killer finale,1367625600,"05 4, 2013",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1SZOV18VCTZ14,1616268808,Terie,"[0, 1]","I havent read it yet, but felt the subject was of interest to me. I have downloaded it to my Kindle and will have with me to read. Thanks, Terie",5.0,Only God,1387152000,"12 16, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3TMHVIYSGNDFY,0385660065,Margaret Q. Dienhoffer,"[0, 0]",Finding current novels to supplement the AP World History program can be difficult. This novel admirably fills the bill for an Asian point of view on current world events. The readers study guide at the end helps focus students on the themes of the novel and makes using it in the AP curriculum easy.,5.0,AP World History Read,1215388800,"07 7, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARH9IQEMFKR6M,0684842696,Doug Vaughn,"[8, 14]","I have read a number of Don Delillo's books, primarily because people keep telling me he is a great writer and I feel an obligation occasionally to read something 'great'. However, while enjoying parts of his other novels, especially Libra, they at least had the advantage of being relatively short. The pain was not prolonged. This book is huge. I kept expecting to figure out what it was about, but after 400 pages I became reconciled to an ever growing thought - this was just a very long book about garbage. Seriously, it is a book about garbage - landfills and other aspects of trash generating America. One can make much of this, but I didn't feel that Delillo really took advantage of the thematic possibilites. As is true of many contemporary 'serious' writers, he seems to be careful never to be too clear, as if ambiguity were a literary value to always strive for.The characters, plot and ultimate point of this ponderous book are all only dimly realized. Delillo has the talent to craft wonderful passages, but they exist in isolation and don't flow together to make a satisfying book.",3.0,A very long book about garbage,944006400,"12 1, 1999",8,14,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A3EOVF49QQ2AEZ,1440215456,Adrian,"[4, 4]","I first stumbled on Coletterie ([...]) and fell in lust with all the photographs fellow sewers submitted of their finished Colette-pattern clothes, then went to Colette ([...])to see the patterns themselves.That's when I realized both sites had tutorials - and when I read those, I realized that if what Sarai shares on-line was any indication of the care and clarity she put in her patterns, I had a winner there, so I went on and ordered the book.It's got tons of beautiful photographs, and the step-by-step instructions are, as evidenced by the online tutorials, a breeze to follow, but what adds even more value to the 5 simple pieces was the philosophy Sarai so carefully laid out. To wit:""Five simple fundamentals can help you perfect any sewing project: a thoughtful plan, a precise pattern, a fantastic fit, a beautiful fabric, and a fine finish. With these five core ideas, The Colette Sewing Handbook shows you how to start sewing the wardrobe of your dreams.""You don't just learn to SEW, you learn to CREATE. To dream and envision a wardobe that's just for you, in fabric that works for you and you love, in styles that flatter and fit...it's a wonderful book, and I gladly recommend that you get it.",5.0,This a real LOVE of a book.,1329350400,"02 16, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A6TC09O65HUD6,0201408252,Frederick L. Merritt Jr.,"[66, 71]",If you have been reading the reviews of this book you might be beginning to suspect that this book is a great place to start. You're right. Feynman uses easy to understand examples and relates them very well to his subject matter.After I saw the 10 year anniversary edition to "A Breif History of Time" I felt guilty and I read my 10 year old copy. I should have read this book first. I would have been much better prepared to read the other. Both books were great but Feynman did a better job of relating the scientific to the mundane.,5.0,A few more tries like this and even I will begin to get it,983232000,"02 27, 2001",66,71,helpful,0.9295774647887324,1 A1PKJUAQFGNLSX,0394481917,B. Morse,"[42, 44]","Mary Renault initially captured my attention with Fire From Heaven, the first of the Alexander novels, and gave new life to this revered warrior and hero. But with The Persian Boy, as told through the eyes of Bagoas, a slave boy who becomes confidant, advisor, and lover to Alexander, she humanizes this historical figure even further, and gives him attributes that the history books neglect, those of a man. She probes his mind, as witnessed by the eyes of adoring Bagoas, who first reveres Alexander as his master, and then dotes upon him as lover. Bagoas remains faithful to Alexander through months of separation during the conquest of Greece, and stands by his side despite treacherous efforts to discredit and dethrone his King, through Alexander's 'relationship' with his boyhood companion Hephaistion, and his 'marriage of convenience' to Roxane.This novel, while it appealed to me on a romantic level, also exemplifies the nature of love, be it between man and woman, or man and man, as a fevered, passionate longing for another, a sense of loyalty to them and to your relationship with them, during hard months of separation, and a desire to do anything to please and/or comfort them. However, the book also accurately recreates Alexander's journey of seige across Greece, and the hardships he and his followers endured. Readers would be hard pressed to find a more descriptive and honest look at Alexander the Great as a flesh and blood creature, and not just the conquering hero of many bloody battles which history books offer us.",5.0,A History Lesson and a Love Story,961459200,"06 20, 2000",42,44,helpful,0.9545454545454546,1 A3I8GXJOY26Q5K,B00A73LMES,Lissa,"[0, 0]",liked the series.Was a different read than what I am use too reading.Took me a while to get into the books,5.0,Good,1360886400,"02 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32PN8W6A6YCN4,0399504427,guadalupano,"[10, 12]","The reader should know that this is not a new age book, nor is it a book about wicca or new age composite religion. This book is a practical how to guide for those who are interested in witchcraft as a practice. Do not confuse this with Crowley or related authors either. You will not find the popular ""k"" spelling for magic here either. Aliester Crowley created the ""ick"" spelling for magic, the author of this book Paul Huson has no such delusions. This book is for those who are serious about witchcraft as a practical, hands on, practice.",5.0,"Excelent book, my favorite on the subject",1121644800,"07 18, 2005",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AU6B7UO2L19K5,1444760637,"booklady5 ""booklady5""","[0, 2]",We saw this book in a bookstore in Australia and I bought it for my husband as a gift when we returned home. You are very limited on what you can buy because of the weight limitations when you fly. He loved the book. Said it was an amazing story!,5.0,an amazing story,1393200000,"02 24, 2014",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A5JZNVV4TEAWU,B00IMIU890,Carole "The Romance Reviews","[0, 0]","Reviewed by Carlyfor TheRomanceReviews.comAll you really need is love...Tristan is young, idealistic, and full of life. When being in the wrong place at the wrong time lead to abduction by a violent pack of rival wolves, he is determined to show no weakness and uphold his Alpha's honor.Colby just wanted to find somewhere to belong and thought that's what he found by falling in love with Nico. Only later did he realize that Nico's heart is ruled by hate. Colby's love for Nico has long since died, but he is surrounded by men who live their lives without honor and knows that they will never let him leave alive. Physically abused and emotionally abandoned, he has long since given up hoping for a better life.When Tristan is brought into the renegade wolf compound, Colby feels a spark of life for the first time in years. His conscience tells him that ignoring the young prisoner is as good as signing his death sentence, and he can't bear the thought of watching the spirit that burns in Tristan's eyes flicker and die. Colby does what he can to ease Tristan's imprisonment, but Nico is a jealous lover who quickly brings Colby to task for his perceived weakness.In a decision brought on by desperation, Colby and Tristan escape, only to find themselves on the run. Can two broken wolves outrun the angry pack hot on their heels and bent on revenge? Will Tristan's pack be willing to offer Colby, a known enemy, sanctuary? Could the spark of attraction that Tristan and Colby feel for each other lead to a deeper bond, or are they surrounded by insurmountable obstacles?In RED MOON RISING, readers will find a fast-paced, well-written and dynamic multi-layered story line. This paranormal adventure is the third story in Joy Lynn Fielding's Strength of the Pack series, but it can be read as a standalone novel. With vividly described settings and well developed supporting characters, this M/M romance is one that captured my heart from start to finish.",5.0,"Fast-paced and well-written, dynamic and multi-layered",1395100800,"03 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADIWLQZ4Z5G33,0374522693,"Barbara Rogers ""author of screams from childhood""","[46, 49]","""For Your Own Good"" is a powerful book about the inhuman, monstrous treatment of children that so many people and societies practice, accept and defend. It brings about the vital understanding that we must change how we treat our children and that we must end and abolish the violence directed against them in order to create a world without violence. It makes us realize that children are the most vulnerable, weak human beings, who need respect, love, compassion, forgiveness and mercy. It helps us see that we must take seriously our own childhood pain so that we may overcome its consequences and grow as parents.Ever since I read ""For Your Own Good"", about 25 years ago, I have wanted to write about the impact, which this book has had on my life. Then, within a few days, I read it twice. I felt as if my mind connected with something hidden inside of me that I had always known. This book gave me the hope that I was not born with the hopeless suffering and self-hatred that depressed me and stole my aliveness, creativity and self-confidence. It empowered me to realize what I had known all along--that the way I was treated as a child was wrong, and that the childhood pain I had endured had formed me, my mind and life in destructive, tragic ways.For the first time in my life I felt that I was not alone but as if there was someone at my side who encouraged me to look at things in my own way, to trust my feelings, my perceptions, observations, and thoughts, and to question the paralyzing obedience and blindness I had been raised with, which had eradicated that I could know and be true to myself.It was a tremendously powerful experience. I entered therapy for the first time two years later, and from then on my life changed its course profoundly. (More about that can be found on my website, especially my essay ""Facing a Wall of Silence.)""For Your Own Good"" opened my eyes to the abuses and cruelty that had been my childhood reality, but that I was trained to ignore, overlook and regard as ""for my own good."" Through reading this book, I became consciously aware of that this was not true--something I had been emotionally aware of, without being allowed and able to feel it and to think it. It described the meanness and cruelty that had filled my daily life as a child--but that I had had to perceive through my parents' eyes. Their physical, verbal and emotional attacks turned me always, and without fail, into the guilty, bad and evil one.It took many years to unburden my mind, body, and soul from these mountains of guilt I was buried under and to accept the painful reality that my family was unwilling to hear and support me. I owe my life and freedom to the clear and unapologetic insights, which Alice Miller's ""For Your Own Good"" provided me.",5.0,Liberation from destructive beliefs,1122336000,"07 26, 2005",46,49,helpful,0.9387755102040817,1 AJJQKGL6C2N8U,0849900069,"avlight ""avlight""","[6, 11]","Finally, someone was brave enough to tackle this subject matter. This exposition of the Word Faith Teachers was something that needed to be done years ago. I can sum the review up in one word BULLSEYE! Hank has hit the target",4.0,Interesting Book,953078400,"03 15, 2000",6,11,helpful,0.5454545454545454,1 A69QW3QO504EN,1476712980,M. Dono,"[0, 1]","I didn't think I would like this book as much as I did. I am not even finshed it yet (90% done) and I cant tell you how much more i liked this book than Beautiful Disaster(and I couldnt put that book down). most of Travis behavior I understood much better when you see it from his point of view(except of course, when he breaks all that stuff in the apartment..hate that!) If you liked Travis in BD, you will LOVE him in WD! He's very lovable, and you love his fmaily as well, esp. how they love Abby and protect their baby brother. Very sweet. I think the author did 100X better job in this book than BD. There were some parts of BD that threw me off (like people showing up out of nowhere in a conversation) I didnt pick up on any of that stuff in this book. REALLY well done. complaint? That theres only one book!! UGH!",5.0,Better than BD,1365811200,"04 13, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2CILBQA9N5U1X,B00G8TP5IE,lernermom,"[0, 0]",I have enjoyed all the books so far in the Imdalind series and am waiting for the next book due out this year. ( soon I hope!) The only thing that could have made this better would have been if the author had made this into 1 book. It has been excellent reading and I cannot wair to see how it ends as there are many twists and turns to the plot.,5.0,excellent reading,1389139200,"01 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A335QH12J7XFC1,0778314936,stephen waitkus,"[0, 0]",love Susan Wiggs and was glad to find that she was writing another series. love the setting and the characters in the book.,5.0,excellent,1404086400,"06 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A12ABNZZ019SXC,B00IVRZMZC,Stacy B,"[5, 5]","So the last book had you hanging off your seat wondering what's going to happen now.... well this book has all the answer AND more! Wonderfully written as usual by the ever talented Ol Ramos. I couldn't even put the book down. ... it sucked me in, made me a paty of their world.The new characters are awesome, and the old ones are lovable as always. Without saying too much so I don't spoil it for anyone else but this book will definitely send you on an emotional roller coaster ride. . Bigger fight scenes, hotter and steamier sex scenes and it might even make you wanna slap a b*tch lol. If you want to know what I'm babbling about get the first book it's FREE, then get the 2nd and 3 rd so you don't feel left out, then once your caught up buy this one and read it, you definitely won't be disappointed!!!!",5.0,"He did it again, and this time it's even better!",1394236800,"03 8, 2014",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2PNKOGE9W7XJ3,0989450252,Maria Leonardis,"[0, 0]","Crashed picks up right where Fueled left off. This is the last book in the trilogy and boy does the author give us so much in this book. It finishes the story up, answers any questions you may still have been wondering about and shows how love, patience, kindness, fear, humor and persistence pays off. I really enjoyed Colton's POV because it gave us much insight to his feelings! I absolutely loved Rileys strength in this book and her fight for Colton and her boys. I loved Rileys character. I also have to mention Colton's dad. Just an unbelievable, loving, understanding, exceptional father! Amazing. The book finishes the story of Colton and Riley, their struggles, their fears, and how they heal each other. This was an awesome trilogy and a Must Read.",5.0,Just Wow,1395619200,"03 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UMDQSPZ1U9LP,0743270363,"Samuel Levin ""loyola64""","[0, 1]","In Mitch Rapp, the author has come up with a truly unique character. He has depth as well as substance and is so different from the numerous cardboard characters that other writers utilize. This is a complex story with numerous plots at work, yet the author demonstrates the uncanny ability to move along rapidly with the reader always wanting more. The plot spans the globe as it goes into various countries and picks up matters that are most topical today. He places the War on Terror at the forefront as well as the adversarial roles that are played by many of the govrnmental agencies that are involved in this fight. The greatest strength that exists is in the depth that the writer has given the characters in his novel. They are believable and one finds themselves caring about them as this page turner of a novel unwinds. It is a truly special read.",5.0,A Great Read,1168819200,"01 15, 2007",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AR1TNQVZHFIUL,1591024811,"Malcolm Broderick ""Kidney Institute Internati...","[63, 72]","Having first read ""The God Delusion"" and liking it as much as I did, I really thought that I was going to be disappointed with this book. I didn't think that it would be able to measure up to what I had just read. I was wrong.While both books cover many of the same topics, the main differences stem from their fields of study. Dawkins, the evolutionary biologist, spends more time on the evolution versus intelligent design topic while Stenger, the physicist, spends more time on the big bang and quantum mechanics. Although not quite a Carl Sagan, Stenger does more than an admirable job bringing some of the more difficult concepts (Planck time and vacuum energy for instance) to the layperson.Stenger is abundantly clear that the definitions of God for this book are the ones put forth by the three Abrahamitic religions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The argument against any other type of god (the uninvolved observer god for instance) he leaves for another day. This is a wise choice which helps tighten the arguments and focus the book.Even with the emphasis on physics, Stenger still spends enough time on other interesting topics like: the illusion of design, brain science, prayer, the seat of the soul, miracles, order and chaos, beginning and cause, something vs. nothingness, life in the universe, bible prophecy, scripture and science, the origin of morals, good and evil, and living in a godless universe.I found the book to be structured very well. I particularly liked how the notes were at the end of each chapter rather than all together at the end of the book. It made finding the reference much easier while reading. While 1 star apparently means ""I don't agree with you"" instead of a poorly written book, I give this book 5 stars for being well written and well argued. The number of ""agreement stars"" you want to give it are entirely up to you... the reader.",5.0,"Stenger Argues ""The Clothes Have No Emperor""",1172534400,"02 27, 2007",63,72,helpful,0.875,1 A1V8NBMG0PDVK1,0671042858,Geert Daelemans,"[4, 6]","Normally the nine-year-old Trisha McFarland really enjoys the Saturday outings her recently divorced mother organizes. Even this time the six-mile hike on the Main-New Hampshire branch of the Appalachian Trail promises to become an enjoyable first experience for Trisha. But when her brother Pete starts to squabble with his mother, Trisha starts to trail behind in the hope that the quarrel will soon come to an end. Then she makes a terribly bad decision: she leaves the path. The last words she can hear Pete say are ""-don't know why we have to pay for what you guys did wrong!"" It doesn't take long for Trisha to realize that she is lost. Lost in the woods.The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a novel that stands out between the numerous other works of Stephen King for two reasons. First it is a small book; it only counts about 200 pages, which in itself is quite remarkable if you compare it to the sizes of King's later novels. Secondly, and most remarkable, is the straightforward story-line and small cast.One girl gets lost in the woods and that's all it is. Not true!Although the story is very simple, it goes directly for the throat of the reader. The powerful characterization of that little girl creates a deeply rooted involvement. It is as though the reader can feel the pain Trisha has to go through. At one point you even want to shout: ""Don't go there! Don't do it!"", just because you've been completely swallowed up by this emotional roller coaster. Although spared from real action scenes, this little fairy tail reads like a page turner.Put it like this: The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is an `evil' book, just because you will get hit while reading it.",5.0,An evil little throat grabber,1074297600,"01 17, 2004",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A9CP2EWSCEH6D,1402245076,Nyxx Raven,"[0, 0]","James and Blaire meet under interesting circumstances {and, in the end, the whole things seems like it should have been a silly mistake based on reasoning}. This book held my interested and I couldn't wait to turn the page and see what would come next. There was the perfect amount of ""problems"" with a few perfect back stories coming to light. Well writeen and I found myself falling in love with the characters. It was something I wasn’t sure I would do when I picked up the book, but I had decided to give it a try anyway.I was so into this book until.....**SPOILER ALERT**....I'm sorry, I don't like when the Vampyre becomes human again. James was a vampyre for 245 years or so and suddenly has a heartbeat and can get a black eye.I was really disappointed as everything else in this book was great.I'd still advice to pick it up--it's great for those who love the perfect ending (well if your idea of perfect is the way this one ends) and also a great Vampyre read until almost the end.That leaves me with the issue of how to rate a book I loved until the last chapters. It was a 4 or 5 until the end.[...]",3.0,***SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW***,1384473600,"11 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AO3PDRVKK6RHK,1616084286,Gary Shaw,"[30, 42]","I'll also make this short and sweet! If you want to see who the true fabricators, liars and traitors are, read this book. Lane thoroughly exposes them ... Hoover, Phillips, Bugliosi, Blakey and all the rest.",5.0,BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!,1319846400,"10 29, 2011",30,42,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1HKIQNHX3JV3S,1401931618,"Jeanine M. Swenson ""Jeanine""","[11, 11]","Esteemed and experienced psychotherapist and neuroscientist, Dr. Marcia Lucas, has written a beautiful, funny, evidence- based and down-to-Earth book for individuals and relationships which has the potential to change your life (it certainly has changed mine already in so many wonderful ways.) Starting slowly and building, from the outside inward, Dr. Lucas takes complicated terms and structures and gives you understanding about your primary attachments and how to manage them, so they do not manage you. Going to a new level in understanding thoughts and feelings, initial chapters gently explain and develop core ideas.But she does not stop at anatomy and physiology. Middle chapters then weave and shape information into a way to achieve a new level of integration which could potentially lead to lasting health and happiness. If you long to understand your way of being in relationships, marvel or work with families, or just want to learn about different ways to achieve some semblence of balance in life - this book is for you.Final chapters move outward from the individual level, to ways to be connected but differentiated in even the closest of relationships. Core concepts are solidified by excellent and touching real-life patient, couple and family examples. I am still enjoying the transformation this work has caused in my life . Happy rewiring.",5.0,Integration and balance guidebook for the 21st century,1329264000,"02 15, 2012",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A2CUSAR95JZ391,031605755X,c.leigh,"[4, 14]","This book is not worth $9.99 for any version (kindle, paperback, etc.)! Three words to sum it up: short, uneventful, & boring. The writing was good, but that doesn't matter much in a book with a plot that can be best described by those three words. I can't imagine what all the ruckus over this book is about, and after reading it, I'm definitely not wasting my time on the movie.",2.0,Not on the bandwagon!,1301529600,"03 31, 2011",4,14,helpful,0.2857142857142857,1 A2PEVP36Y5A2EQ,0312359861,Gaetan Lion,"[17, 18]","Morton has been criticized for not having directly interviewed Cruise and his former spouses. He also was criticized for not accepting the invitation of Scientology leaders to visit their headquarters to get their side of the story. The truth is Morton never had access to Cruise or his former spouses. And, for him to enter the Scientology compound would have been giving his life over to this cult. Thus, Morton did not act differently than any one else could have in this situation. What he did instead is interview tens of Cruise childhood friends, former teachers, former Scientologists, and tons of people around Hollywood that he quotes directly in the book. That's in addition to studying all the public media on those subjects. Just by reviewing the extensive bibliography you can tell Morton has studied every aspects of his subject in exhaustive details.Morton's research paid off. Invariably, he quotes Cruise stating something in a press interview such as that he moved 15 times during his childhood. And, then Morton correcting Cruise quote and stating that it was more likely to be just 5 times based on Morton's interviews with many of his childhood friends. Cruise also states several times in press interviews that he had a debilitating dyslexia and that only Scientology learning technology cured him. Morton actually takes other Cruise quotes that directly contradict that indicating that he was managing reading perfectly well throughout high school. He also confirms that with former teachers. So, you get a lot of ""... he said that... but, I confirmed otherwise...""The leaders of Scientology released a 15 page letter stating that this book was a biased all out attack on Scientology. They also sued the publisher for $113 million. But, all that stuff is public knowledge. You can google Scientology and find tens of articles in the NY Times, WSJ and other newspapers and magazines. You can find testimonials of numerous former Scientologists confirming Morton's take on Scientology. Can they all be liars?Cruise is not your usual star. Although many stars are affiliated with Scientology, Cruise is the only one with a missionary zeal to convert the World. He personally traveled to numerous U.S. embassies throughout Europe to fight off his perceived persecution of Scientologists.The difference between a cult and a religion is that a religion is accepted. And, Cruise is doing everything he can to render Scientology acceptable. It is a challenging task because by promoting the legitimacy of Scientology he has invariably rejected (as all Scientologists do) a whole lot of stuff that make up our society. Those include the fields of psychiatry, psychology, medicine, and public education. Scientology also rejects social and religious tolerance and readily approves of family break up if members do not join Scientology. Yet, intolerant Scientology wants to be tolerated.The clash between Cruise and Germany over his representing a German WWII hero who fought for democracy in the movieValkyrie (Single-Disc Edition)is pretty fascinating. Germany is monitoring closely Scientology as they consider a dogmatic, dangerous cult not unlike Nazism that poses a real threat to their democracy. The Germans were outraged that a high profile representative of such a cult would play the role of their hero who died fighting Nazism. Cruise, however, considered that Germans essentially tyrannize Scientologists in a way reminiscing of their persecution of the Jews during WWII.The years 2005-2006 especially impaired Cruise professional reputation. Within a few months he will publicly harass Brooke Shields for taking anti-depressant to ease her post-partum depression. But, Brooke Shields replies she does not take advice from someone who believes in space alien. Soon after, Cruise will ""Jump the coach"" on Ophrah Winfrey Show. And, on The Today Show he will insult Matt Lauer for not being aware of the vast superiority of Scientology over psychiatry that pseudo science. In 2006, Sumner Redstone, the Chairman of Viacom (parent company of Paramount), will fire Tom Cruise by not renewing his contract. Redstone will refer to Cruise strange behavior as the reason behind the break up. Epstein inThe Hollywood Economist: The Hidden Financial Reality Behind the Moviessuggests that the reason behind the Paramount-Cruise break up was that Cruise made more money on the whole MI franchise than Paramount. And, Redstone would not have it any longer. Tom Cruise spends his 2006 New Year's Eve with his closest friend and leader of Scientology, David Miscavige, who gives a heated speech about the ""global obliteration of psychiatry... [and Scientology's] plans for world domination."" Somewhat later, Vanity Fair will ask on its cover ""Has Tom Lost His Marbles?"" During this strange period, Cruise popularity will plummet. A Gallup/USA Today poll showed that only 35% had a favorable opinion of him in 2006 down from 60% in 2005.The women of Tom Cruise are a pretty formidable bunch. Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, Sofia Vergara, and Penelope Cruz are no wall flowers. Besides being all stunningly beautiful, they all have strong personalities. Mimi Rogers is the one who introduced him to Scientology. Their respective drive and intensity ultimately drove them apart. Meanwhile, all the others invariably left because of their discomfort with Scientology Orwellian culture. They were all fortuitous to have the strength to split and run when they could.Unlike her predecessors, Katie Holmes is a victim. Sixteen years younger than Cruise, she seems captured in a ""Stepford Wife"" and ""Rosemary's Baby"" situation. Many Scientologists believe that if she gives birth to a son, it would be the reincarnation of Ron Hubbard, the Scientology prophet. To this cult dismay, the first natural child was a girl.Scientology has split so many families as spouses and siblings do not talk to each other when some refuse to join Scientology when others have. Cruise himself has paid a heavy personal price. Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, and Sofia Vergara all left him because they chose freedom and family over Scientology. His own mother will join Scientology and have to renounce her own faith (she was a Catholic Eucharist minister) and her husband of 20 years in order to be able to still see her beloved son.Cruise has also paid a very heavy professional price for his missionary support of Scientology. You can see a clear break in his career. Pre 2006, when he must have been one of the most powerful and richest actors in Hollywood scoring one blockbuster after another. Then since the 2006 break up with Paramount, he has done very little. He has produced and acted in two movies that hardly left a footprint (Lions For Lambs (Widescreen Edition)and Valkyrie) either financially or among critics.At this stage, Cruise remains a conundrum. Is he the most dangerous actor in the world as Morton suggests? Or is he the most tragic and high profile victim of the cult he is so devoted to? Or, is he both?",5.0,A fascinating profile on Cruise and Scientology,1272844800,"05 3, 2010",17,18,helpful,0.9444444444444444,1 A3K7LLT892CMI0,0316195812,"Diane Chapka ""Bookaholic""","[5, 6]","I really wasn't thrilled by this book. Generally, I really love historical fiction, but not this one. It was very slow. I couldn't really get into the plot: a female ""doctor"" in 1591 Venice, Italy on a search all over the world for her missing father, also a doctor, who went in search of cures for his malady(madness)-thus tying in the title. Both father and daughter were writing books about the diseases they encountered. Her journey to find her father took her to Germany, Holland, France, Scotland, Spain, Africa. The entries into her book were just stories of patients she either treated or heard of through the people she encountered. Although well written in terms of language and structure, I just didn't get into this one.",2.0,NOT A FAVORITE,1337990400,"05 26, 2012",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A33H0WC9MI8OVW,082546207X,Clare Chu,"[4, 4]","If you think church is dead and Christians are boring, then you must read this book! I am completely humbled by what God is doing in China. Brother Yun's story is incredible, beyond what mere words can describe. We're talking apostolic conditions here, miraculous jail escapes, healings, visions for communications, praying and fasting, and thousands coming to Jesus Christ, conversions of peasants, farmers, prison guards, Communist leaders as well as hardened murderers.Read this book, I promise you will not see things like you did before.",5.0,1st century Christianity is happening in China!,1187827200,"08 23, 2007",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3PZJVCJN2J4RB,0375726829,Howard Hamilton,"[0, 1]","I have enjoyed Mary Renault's books for years. Her stories about Alexander the great are some of my favorites. Because of the subject matter, I could not put it down. Excellent read.",5.0,If you like fictional history....,1356652800,"12 28, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AZ8JGSHXX1WYK,0991379659,Mary Berglund,"[0, 0]",Excellent story lines throughout the entire 3 books. Interesting addictions mentioned in this book and how to deal with them. Great price for them too!,5.0,The Fixed Trilogy,1395360000,"03 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1S5B32WYMEE44,0140273883,"M. Swinney ""Marc My Words""","[13, 13]","I got this lightly entertaining, packed fact chock-full, irreverent little book as a gift from my mother-in-law. Yes, a woman from Southwest Oregon, raised in cattle country on a huge ranch that had been in the family for generations. This was a sympathy gift for me, when playing family trivia pursuit, I responded with surprise when a "Holstein" came out as the answer to a question. First there were blank stares in my direction from around the table, and then came surprise, disbelief, and finally the boisterous and gratuitous laughter, all generated by my unknowledge of the wonderful Holstein. I could see it in their eyes...my esteem took a whack downwards that day in their bovine-wise eyes. The scandal and shame of it, with me being from Texas and all. Now I know a Holstein is a dairy cow with spots. I'm armed and semi-dangerous with this funny book. Did you know that a Piedmont has a big, big beefy butt? A Cow can detect odors up to five miles away (they must despise being a cow then with the way they smell)? How about how many stomachs a cow has? A: 4. You would know all this if you had this book. I wouldn't call this book essential or anything quite that elevated, but it is truly fun. If you get laughed at for not knowing a Guernsey from a Galloway, you might want to get this book. I used to hate cows when I saw what they did to the land, whilst hiking in Idaho. Now that I have the book, I don't hate them quite as much.",4.0,You mean different cows actually have breed names?,998784000,"08 26, 2001",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 AMBSQTGCMTMUV,0786021365,FREDERICK PAUL,"[0, 0]","WE LIVE IN THE NW, AND KNOW OF ALL THE SPOTS THIS BOOKS COVERS. MAKES IT SO REALISTIDC. KEVIN MAKES YOU BELEIVE IT WAS IN THE NEWS YESTERDAY. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS, AND HOPE HE CONTINUES TO USE THE LOCAL TO PRODUCE MORE BOOKS. I HAVE READ A NUMBER OF THEM AND IF YOU LIKE CRIME DRAMA, THIS IS IT. BUT BEWARE, IT IS A BIT GRAFIC.",5.0,A TOAST TO KEVIN O'BRIEN. KEEP WRITING PARD. I LOVE YOUR CRIME DRAMAS.,1384473600,"11 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3948AKGRPHP45,0849922070,Randi Smith,"[0, 0]",This jaw dropping book gave me heart warming feelings and a new perspection of heaven. One that I know is real.,5.0,One Amazing Book,1360454400,"02 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2KS7KAXPC1H6W,1935597574,The Eclectic Bookworm,"[0, 0]","Do not read on an empty stomach. I found myself rummaging in my pantry late at night trying to find something to quell the cravings stirred up by descriptions of the confectionary delights created by the main character. Not like a Little Debbie could compare to a lemon tort or a ""half-moon"".I am a fan of Ms. Lorello's work and the addition of Ms. Girrell seems to enhance the study of women and relationships.Eva Perino has been single for two years. She finds out her exboyfriend is getting married, and starts writing a blog, maybe to make herself feel better about her situation. For the next year, she learns about herself, her relationships with her family, her friends, and her past.I truly love these types of novels. I look forward to more in the future.",5.0,Truly Enjoyable,1345075200,"08 16, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A13YRUICJLDAKA,1601423799,William K Stegemueller,"[0, 0]","I just got through reading Andy Stanley's ""When Work & Family Collide,"" which deals with keeping your job from cheating your family. I would classify the book as an easy and practical book.To really understand the book you have to accept Stanley's definition of what it means to cheat. To me, the word, ""cheat,"" is a strong word that conveys the moral idea of doing something wrong. Stanley, however, guides the reader to think of cheating as, ""choosing to give up one thing in hope of gaining something else of greater value."" When you think of cheating in those terms, we are all cheaters. Daily we choose to shortchange one thing in order to fully experience another. Stanley puts it like this, ""Someone is going to get cheated. Worse yet, somebody's going to FEEL cheated. In that sense, the issue is never AM I CHEATING? The issue is always WHERE AM I CHEATING? (p.12)One of the most common areas to cheat involves the tension between work and family. The premise of the book is that you are going to cheat, the question is who are you going to cheat; your family or your work.Stanley challenges the reader to choose to cheat at work rather than at home. He points out that you are not nearly as indispensible at work than at home. The book is divided up into two parts:Part One: Inside The Cheated Heart. Stanley goes into the heart of the people we cheat... our families.Part Two: Strategy For Change. Stanley offers up some practical guidelines on how create an implement a plan to rescue our families. He offers up the example of Daniel in the Old Testament as someone who was faced with a decision of who he was going to cheat; God or his Babylonian rulers when it came to compromising his convictions.Stanley states: Contentment is found neither in the marketplace nor the family alone. It's found when we align our priorities with his as it relates to both areas of responsibility. There' nothing honoring to God about the workaholic who neglects his or her family. But the man or woman who refuses to provide for the family brings no honor to him either. (p.26)I liked Stanley's Strategy for Change because it deals with cautiously and prayerfully going to your employer and working out a strategy in which both of you are mutually satisfied and the work gets done. Stanley offers practical advise on how to approach your employer. He is realistic to point out that sometimes it is not possible to work out a mutually agreeable solution. Then your faced with the decision of are you going to continue to cheat your family or trust God and look for a different job opportunity.The book is short 143 pages that is designed for both individual and group study. There are good discussion questions in the back for group study.I liked the book so much that I went to the North Point website (Stanley's church) and purchased the mp3 message entitled, ""Choosing to Cheat,"" for $1.00 at http://store.northpoint.org/choosing-to-cheat.html.I received this book free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review from Multnomah Press.",5.0,A Practical and Insightful look on How to Balance Family and Work,1369267200,"05 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2F75O1Y9702R1,B00K7UH84O,deloris hickman,"[0, 0]",I really enjoyed reading this!!! It was an easy read and had a lot of twists to the story line!!! Very different from most plots.,5.0,enjoyed it!!!!,1401408000,"05 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A91P8ERVQGRPN,0931838401,Amazon Customer,"[7, 7]","There is no better source of information about older cameras. With hundreds (thousands?) of photos and excellent descriptions, if you collect, buy or are just interested in cameras you can't go wrong.",5.0,There's no better!,1151884800,"07 3, 2006",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A2QHS0NR0SFMWK,0471530123,"woodworker4life ""woodworker4life""","[0, 0]",I purchased this book for my son. He had to pass an entrance exam before he could go back to school. Studying this book helped him to relearn what he used to know and learn a few things he never knew.,5.0,Great book to learn algebra,1344384000,"08 8, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A309IR2YOWP1WQ,0345542886,Gloria Geese,"[0, 0]",Really like her grandma. I know if she chooses between Joe & Ranger that would eliminate much of her drama. She is better off being an agent for the bond agency as any other jobs would be too dull for her to pursue and thus write off any novels from her. Kinda predictable but I till luv to read these Novels.,4.0,Takedown Twenty review,1397952000,"04 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2MYKB0GE6OD8Q,0061147788,Retired Reader,"[26, 32]","It does not take a very careful read of this book to infer that George Tenet loved his job as Director of CIA. He also, apparently, holds the men and women who work at CIA in very high regard. During his seven year tenure at CIA he unquestionably improved the morale of the CIA workforce. Unfortunately reading this book one also has to infer that he was not a very good director of that agency. Although he dealt with intelligence issues during his years as a congressional and National Security Council (NSC) staffer, he really had no experience in the actual processes involved in the collection of data and the production of intelligence. Further he had no management experience and never had to learn how to transform decisions into actions or ensure that subordinates did so. However, if one reads between the lines of this book one can see that what really did Tenet in as Director was that he was extremely ill-served by CIA's senior management.For example there is the on going issue of the al Qaeda movement and Usama bin Ladin or Osama bin Laden. In the wake of the al Qaeda inspired attacks against the U.S. Embassies in East Africa, Tenet tells the reader he was frustrated with the ""quality and depth of our intelligence regarding al Qaeda and Bin (sic) Ladin."" Apparently as a result of this frustration, the Counter Terrorism Center (CTC) of CIA developed a so-called `operational plan' and the redoubtable CIA veteran Charlie Allen pushed the rest of the Intelligence Community, namely NSA and the NGA, to step up their collection and processing efforts to support that plan. Tenet was told that as a result the amount of data on al Qaeda and bin Ladin had `exploded' and many terrorists were identified and their linkages to other terrorists were documented. According to the head of the CTC of the plan had ""damaged UBL's (sic) infrastructure and created doubt within al Qaeda..."", although it is difficult to determine how he knew this. This of course was all prior to the events of 9/11. In point of fact, the result of all this effort was what one would get by kicking an ant hill and little substantive intelligence resulted from all the uproar. Indeed by 2004 CIA apparently was still uncertain if the al Qaeda movement should be treated as a transnational or geographic issue. After 9/11, the response by CIA to the Bush administration's interest in finding ties between al Qaeda and pre-invasion Iraq was a masterpiece of bureaucratic opaqueness. President Bush and Director Tenet both deserved better. The problem is that as Tenet stated in another context, ""We are all prisoners of history"" this could be the epitaph of his directorship and perhaps CIA itself.",4.0,A Prisoner of History,1178150400,"05 3, 2007",26,32,helpful,0.8125,1 A1SPI19SRINZ19,0983256853,"Cynthia S. VanEtta ""creatureteacher""","[0, 0]","I love Jackrabbit Junction. This has mystery, romance and humor. The characters are very likeable. If you are looking for a summer read on the beach or by the pool this series is for you!",5.0,Good series,1358640000,"01 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A358XP3X4U0X45,0895260158,bookloversfriend,"[36, 53]","It is interesting that we in America are arguing about what was taken for granted in Europe five hundred years ago. Is Islam a threat? The answer to this question was self-evident to Europeans in the Middle Ages. But after Granada and the standoff at Vienna, Islam has occupied itself with spreading into the East, not the West. Until now.There is one major difference between the threat of Islam and the threat of Nazi Germany. The Nazis did not have us over a barrel (pun intended) the way the Saudis do. (See ""Prince of Darkness"".) If we were to do anything effective to stop Islam, the price of oil would skyrocket and the American economy would be in serious trouble. Think of Katrina. Only one American city destroyed, and the Saudis grabbed the opportunity to raise the price of oil by 50% in a matter of weeks. American businesses have already cheapened their products in every way they can. Their backs are to the wall. If they are faced with yet another price increase, how will they cope? America is powerless before this weapon of mass economic destruction.One tidbit of historical information I have not seen discussed is the reported fact that in the 1940s American and British oil companies paid for the oil exploration in Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc., built the refineries, pipe lines, etc., having secured a contract with the ruling authorities in these countries to share the proceeds of the oil in various proportions, 50-50, 60-40, etc. Once the refineries were operational, the Arabs moved in and simply took them over.And yes, if America and Britain moved into Saudi Arabia and took back the refineries, not only the leftwing press but the conservative press as well would howl about free enterprise.So, we are stuck. And the Europeans are even more dependent on Arab oil than we are. The real question is, just how long will we allow them to bleed us, how weak will we allow ourselves to become before we react?",5.0,thinking about the unthinkable,1127088000,"09 19, 2005",36,53,helpful,0.6792452830188679,1 A2FGD6NBN7ZDMN,0345453417,C. Damitz,"[0, 0]","This is one of the best books I have read of Linda Howards. So touching, if you can read this and not cry you are a better woman than I am. I could not put this down. A great read",5.0,One of her best.,1402099200,"06 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2COP4DZEXEATB,148125720X,ABjones,"[0, 0]",Start with book one and read all nine books. These books are incredibly different can't guess what will happen next. If you enjoy cliff hangers you will love these books.,5.0,Read all nine,1360368000,"02 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1080JR8HMF1LV,0979493188,"L. Cox ""kecia3207""","[6, 8]",This book picks up where the first left off and just goes from there Yvonna/Gabriella is crazy as ever but in this book you get a good look into why Gabriella emerged.I feel bad for Yvonna because from birth this poor girl has had no one but herself to love and protect her self from the evilness she was FORCED into.There is so much going on in this book for the corrupt cops to the scheming psychiatrist to the backstabbing lovers that you can't stop reading. I won't give you anymore cause you need to buy it yourself....reviewed by Kecia3207 forReaders In Motion book club[...],4.0,Reign has done it again.....,1242864000,"05 21, 2009",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A1UWQM2DDOHXCM,0142004375,"Cynthia S. Froning ""astrocyn""","[7, 8]","Despite being a condensed version of Kagan's original four-volume work and intended in this case for a general audience, this is no small history: 500 pages devoted to a single war, albeit one that lasted for three decades. The Peloponnesian War well repays the investment of time necessary to read it, however. Kagan covers the primary events and players in the war with clarity and is not afraid to speculate about probable scenarios where the evidence is inconclusive (but notes these instances up front). Although I am usually not interested in fighting tactics, the accounts of the battles in this book were fascinating, even suspensful. The lifstyles and beliefs of the ancient Greeks, classic arguments concerning forms of rule (democracy versus oligarchy being a key source of conflict in this war), and the origins and costs of war, are all covered in this excellent history.",5.0,Well-framed and thought-provoking history,1104710400,"01 3, 2005",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A3NIC4MVWG2U98,0452288592,BHM,"[77, 100]","After carefully reading about the first hundred pages of Cosmos and Psyche, I concluded that an in-depth reading wouldn't repay the time invested, and began to skim. There are several reasons for this.One reason is that Richard Tarnas is a wordmonger, in several senses. First, he uses words impressionistically, so that many of his sentences do not yield a precise meaning even when closely analyzed. Second, he is extremely fond of stringing together clause after clause. An example (p. 77): ""The range of correspondences between planetary positions and human existence is just too vast and multidimensional -- too manifestly ordered by structures of meaning, too suggestive of creative intelligence, too vividly informed by aesthetic patterning, too metaphorically multivalent, too experientially complex and nuanced, and too responsive to human participatory inflection -- to be explained by straightforward material factors alone."" Others may consider such prose ""lucid"", but I don't.However, if I had felt that Tarnas had something important to say, I would have plowed through his vast tome. And so we come to the main reason that I largely gave up on the book: his attempt to rehabilitate astrology for the modern mind is preposterous. Of course, given his vague writing style, it isn't clear exactly what he is claiming, and he hedges his bets with numerous qualifying phrases. He admits that astrology cannot be used to predict specific, concrete events; instead, one has to interpret history in terms of archetypes. And don't forget that archetypes can manifest themselves in numerous ways (p. 132): ""Many diverse factors appear to play determining roles in shaping how an archetypal complex is concretely embodied: cultural, historical, ancestral, familial, circumstantial. To these must be added such factors as individual choice and degree of self-awareness, as well as, perhaps, karma, grace, chance, and other unmeasurables."" In short, anything can happen.In the end, Tarnas's correlation of historical events with astrological archetypes is purely semantic, and therefore highly subjective. Although Tarnas claims that an archetypal interpretation can provide a ""wealth of insight"" (p. 168) or help historical events become ""intelligible"" (p. 169), any attempt to impose an archetypal pattern on historical data will in fact narrow, not broaden, one's receptivity to different interpretations. And is it really to be believed that researchers could never understand a grouping of historical events and the connections between them without having an archetypal pattern to work from? How could knowing a single astronomical datum (e.g., Uranus and Pluto are aligned) make the connections more intelligible?There are some reviewers who believe that, decades from now, Tarnas's book will be heralded as a watershed in human thought. I believe that his book is representative of the superstitious thinking that still lingers on. Is Tarnas really any different from those who pore over the quatrains of Nostradamus or delve into Bible prophecy?PostscriptIn the early part of the twentieth century, a Russian by the name of Alexander Chizhevsky worked up an elaborate theory on the causation of many human phenomena, including wars, revolutions, epidemics of disease, and so on. He amassed an enormous corpus of material in support of his theory that solar activity is the primary influence, and attempted to show correlation with the eleven-year solar cycle. I have a copy of one of his books (in Russian), and it is replete with tables of historical events, charts of epidemics, etc. Thus Chizhevsky and Tarnas have put forward incompatible theories, while each claims to have persuasive evidence. I wasn't persuaded by either one.",2.0,Wordmongering,1179100800,"05 14, 2007",77,100,helpful,0.77,1 A5UPJYGZRH1WQ,B00A8P88UQ,Anonymous,"[0, 0]","It is a good start to a comic series, but it is still missing something. I could not connect with the characters.",3.0,"Good start, but didn't really get me hooked to the series",1370649600,"06 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 APRXGLI76FWY0,0345504968,Radio Girl,"[0, 0]","Unlike many of the reviewers here, I wasn't immediately intrigued by this book. The first 15 pages or so felt slow to me and I wasn't sure I'd be able to continue through this 700 plus page book. I'm so very glad I did. I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed the story, the characters, the atmosphere and the writing was just beautiful. I agree that it was a bit disorienting when the book jumped ahead 100 years, but it wasn't difficult to get drawn right back in to the story. I found myself thinking about the characters throughout the day when I wasn't reading, and even dreaming about them at night...something that hasn't happened since I read The Stand. I'm sure I'll remember the names Wolgast, Amy, Peter, Lacey, Alicia, Circuit, etc. for years to come...this isn't an easily forgettable novel. The ending did not disappoint, but it had me wishing I could just turn the page and read more. A cliffhanger yes, but a good one. I'll be one of the first in line to pick up the second book in the series, and I can't wait. If you enjoy a good long novel you can immerse yourself in, this one is highly recommended.",5.0,Believe the hype...,1290470400,"11 23, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMF76PPDYHVJL,0615826814,K. Stone,"[4, 5]","H.M. Ward I loved this book. The Ferro brothers are sweet, sexy and bad. This is Peter and Sylvie story and it is amazingly written. I am going to read Sean's in the Arrangement and I can't wait to read Jon's story, Stripped",5.0,Awesome,1372032000,"06 24, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1D2UNTX8IROLO,1455599220,"NH Wifey ""Wifey""","[0, 0]","I really liked the way the author set up the characters and the story line. That being said, the swearing was really a turn off. I probably won't read anymore from this author.",3.0,Nice story but too much swearing,1389916800,"01 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33I4RCFITFXG5,0515134007,Huntress Reviews,"[8, 8]","After she and two companions are thrown off of a wagon train, Bailee Moore is forced to help them kill a man who threatens the three women's lives. Since they are not murderers, they confess as soon as they find a lawman to whom to confess. The sheriff is perplexed as to what to do with them, especially since the victim was scheduled to hang anyway, so he settles on offering them in the wife lottery.Carter McKoy, a man still damaged by his past, wins Bailee as his bride. It is not long before she completely disrupts his carefully ordered world, breaking down all his defenses and finding her way into his reluctant heart. Then, they invite danger into their home when they shelter a deaf mute girl who is the one survivor of a train robbery and the sole witness who can identify the killers. Their newly discovered love may die a young death if the robbers have their way.Carter is a hero that presents contradictions; at once he is both naive and wise, with a strength and power that reaches across the page to captivate the reader. Bailee, as with most heroines in historical romances, is a woman ahead of her time, with guts and determination that leads her to strike out and get what she needs, rather than wait for someone to provide it for her. However, not only are the lead characters interesting, but also the background ones, from Bailee's companions to the local whores and the lawmen. Readers will eagerly await the next entry in the trilogy.",5.0,Very well done!,1035331200,"10 23, 2002",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A2VO2PZC1685S8,014303832X,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",A must read for anyone interested in genetics and the evolution of our language,4.0,Four Stars,1404432000,"07 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2CCQY5QLTSQ4,0446696897,"Sondra Hoffman ""Avid reader""","[6, 6]","This book was recommended to me by my husband's doctor. I found it very helpful in understanding my husband's cancer. The book reads rather easily only occasional ""medical language"" when necessary.",5.0,"Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer, Second Edition",1194220800,"11 5, 2007",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2DSXA1E02C86D,0743597222,Joseph Haschka,"[0, 0]","""Scarlett O'Hara (ofGone With the Wind) was my kind of gal. She was tough, she was sassy, she knew what she wanted, and she never let anything or anyone get in her way."" - Lily Casey Smith in HALF BROKE HORSESBack in 2008, I read and reviewed Jeannette Walls's memoir of growing-up,The Glass Castle: A Memoir. In that review, I wrote:""What's remarkable about Jeannette's story is her lack of bitterness towards her parents. Only on a couple of occasions does she even hint at laying blame on them for irresponsibility and negligence. Besides, her love for them endures. To me, and perhaps other readers with more `normal' childhoods, Rex's and Rose Mary's treatment of their offspring was neglect verging on abuse.""Jeannette's original thought was to pen a sequel focusing on her mother's childhood. But, in HALF BROKE HORSES, she goes back one generation further to focus on her maternal grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. The story is a novelized autobiography told in the first person by Lily. (Since the narrative eventually includes Lily's daughter/Jeannette's mother Rosemary - or Rose Mary as she preferred to be called - author Walls accomplishes both purposes.)Just as Lily appreciated the character of the fictional Scarlett O'Hara, so the reader may well appreciate the character of the real-life Lily. She was tough and independent in an age when women were still considered, by and large, to be the weaker sex. And more specifically as far as I was concerned, Lily's career as a one-room elementary school teacher in rural Arizona was very similar to that of my own maternal grandmother, also tough and independent, who started a life-long teaching career in the second decade of the 1900s in one-room schoolhouses in rural Missouri; happily, I have the pictures.Just as THE GLASS CASTLE was one of the best books I read in 2008, HALF BROKE HORSES may prove to be one of the best books I read in 2011. As Lily takes on life with an energy and determination that would exhaust most, the reader may well exclaim, ""You go, girl!"" Well, she did go, and for the manner of her going honor is due; she represents capable individuality at its best.In a way, too, HALF BROKE HORSES helped me understand why Rosemary Smith Walls came out the way she did. I gather that was, at least partially, why Jeannette wrote it. Brilliant!",5.0,Sassy,1310428800,"07 12, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2M59O4H5PHXGA,0446547638,Laura Maiorana,"[0, 0]",Gave to daughter-in-law as a gift. She likes to read Nicolas Sparks literature. Her daughter will read also.A gift for both.,5.0,Gifted,1395878400,"03 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1JXLTQ5VWPGGV,0758242034,"chb-book addict ""book addict""","[0, 1]","I've read some of the TGP books by Ms. Monroe and this appears to be a spin-off of that series.While there is a some action and undercover work, this above all, is a second chance at love story between Rachel and Kaden. Ten years after Kaden left her Rachel is being tortured after being captured while she was sleuthing. Rachel is about to employ her back-up plan to end her life when she is reascued by the last person she ever expected to see again, Kaden Marks.The book is a bit slow but the investment in describing Rachel and Kaden's feelings and having them gain the understanding of what happened ten years ago, why it happened and what it meant to each of them is the big issue for this book.Rachel's feelings of guilt about her sister is a driving force for the way she handles this job, she has to protect the innocent girl who is involved.There is a substory involving two members of the team who are gay and had a break-up, once again its about second chances. I wasn't offended by this aspect of the story and it was handled well.Spoiler!!! There is another instance near the end when Rachel is looking for Jamila, it's well handled but Jamila is raped, its never describes arape but the description of the room, clearly indicates what was happening.I liked the story, if you're looking for non-stop action and blazing guns, this is probably not for you. If you like descriptive writing about feelings and regrets, you will like this. I did feel a connection with most of the characters and have the feeling I'll be seeing them again in another book.",5.0,Military between the lines,1360108800,"02 6, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A142SWWCTIKL0H,0446528323,Dawn Smoker,"[15, 19]","This absolutely original and wonderful fantasy novel tells the tale a lost youth who is suffering from amnesia, hideously disfigured by poison, and stuck mute. The poor creature is found half-dead in the wight-haunted forest by an aged crone, who serves in one of the great towers that house the flying horses and serve as docks for the flying windships. It becomes a low servent, ill-treated and ridiculed for its hideous face. When a noble who collects and mistreats ""..."" servants take an unhealthy interest, it stows away on one of the windships and thus the adventures begin! It encounters pirate attacks, treasure maps, finds and loses friends, encounters countless tricksy wights, learns sign language, and falls in love with handsome ranger, all as it searches desperately for its past and a cure for its cursed muteness and disfigurement. Beautifully written and loaded with adventure!",5.0,Absolutely magical!,991094400,"05 29, 2001",15,19,helpful,0.7894736842105263,1 A2GF9I8Y6D3FFD,B00JFHKOAK,New England Native,"[0, 2]","pretty much the worst ebook I've read. absolutely nothing interesting or original, just a regurgitation of Amazon help pages. every bit of info can be found right in Amazon help, no need to download this even if it is free.def. worth the price I paid: zero.",1.0,Talk about obvious,1397520000,"04 15, 2014",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2EBLL2OYEQJN9,0060521872,Jessica Lux,"[17, 18]","When I picked this up, I was expecting some kids to think drugs were cool, then run with a fast sex, drugs, and rock n' roll crowd, have a huge tragedy strike, and then get the propaganda message that DRUGS ARE BAD (think ""Go Ask Alice""). Boy, was I in for a surprise. This book is an easy read, but a much more complex tale than a simple parable about how drugs are bad.The two main characters, Tar and Gemma, leave home for things that every teenager in the world has felt in some way. Tar is abused, and leaves the hell of homelife for peace on the streets. Gemma represents every teenager who is smarter than her parents and resents their control over her life. She leaves for less justifiable reasons than Tar, but her emotions are ones anyone can identify with.There are a lot of people on the streets and in the squats--anarchists, straight-edge vegans, punks, pot smokers, and heroin users. Tar and Gemma find friends and their own form of a family, and it is very easy to see how they slipped into the world of drugs, namely heroin.This book has shocking events in it, but the characters are so numb to it all that they describe it in a subtle and offhand manner. Girls who sell the bodies for drug money in no way consider themselves prostitutes, because they have standards and they do it ""on their terms,"" and on and on. The reader gets sucked up in this life and I found myself wanting to smack these characters and say, NO, what you are doing is not justifiable.This book has a beautiful ending that took me by surprise. No, the world is not covered in roses in the end, but neither has everyone succumbed to hell.I'd like to make a comment about the appropriate age for this book. My sister is a voracious reader. She's now 17 and was able to appreciate this book when we both read and discussed it, but she had tried to read it at age 9 or 10, and it was too much for her to handle at that age. This is a book for early high school, not for middle school readers.",5.0,Outstanding book that was nothing like I expected,1123027200,"08 3, 2005",17,18,helpful,0.9444444444444444,1 A31Y9DLKVASJQY,0449910032,"T. Bratz ""gwfeds0""","[6, 7]","I read this book in spite of the facts that I have no interest in rowing and know nothing about it. I read it only because it was written by David Halberstam, and I've loved everything I've ever read by him.This book was no exception. Even though I still know very little about the sport, I now appreciate how grueling it is, and how much training these guys do.You can't go wrong with a David Halberstam book, and this one's no exception.",5.0,Another great book from David Halberstam,1096502400,"09 30, 2004",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A2MH5OB0II5YAZ,0553592688,"Cher ""Booklover""","[4, 7]","This is the second book in the Alexandra Sabian series and now I'm done. I said in my review of the first book that I like to give a new author two books before I decide if I like them or not.This is a romantic suspense novel hiding in the urban fantasy genre.I personally like a review that tells me why I should read or not read a book and doesn't rehash what the product description has already told me. This may be a little more direct than what most reviews are like for this book, but here goes. When I reached the part where a vampire is strangled by jumper cables, found buy others, and is ""lucky"" to be alive? Doesn't hold up to any vampire legend that I've heard. Holmes vampires are weak in many way and so like humans it's hard to tell the difference.If your looking for true urban fantasy with dark story lines and fantasy creatures with special powers this is not it.",3.0,Romantic Suspense with a vampire thrown in?,1310515200,"07 13, 2011",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A3S364LHCXCTHN,042525173X,SueR,"[9, 9]","If it was possible, I'd give Written in Stone more than five stars. What an exciting and yet in ways very sweet mystery!!! I got to know some of the characters better and appreciate where they were coming from. There were tears shed for those lost and those found as well. Now I'm ready for Poisoned Prose!!!! Bring it on Ellery Cant wait for the next one.",5.0,What a book,1352332800,"11 8, 2012",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A9SDI3SNJOFR,0385342454,C. Ray,"[0, 0]","Diana Gabaldon CANNOT write a weak book!! She has produced another amazing story in the Outlander series, which is the pinnacle of time traveler tales. The historical detail is impressive along with all the twists and turns in the plot. Jamie and Claire's love story never grows stale. BRAVO",5.0,Diana Gabaldon does it again with Echo In The Bone,1404000000,"06 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2V6KMMS23FW7Q,B007TKLG02,L. String,"[0, 1]",Only inertia keeps me registered as a Republican. I'm not part of the highest 1% or anywhere near it.Republicans as a party are not loving their neighbors or caring for God's creation.,5.0,former Republican,1354233600,"11 30, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2IEM08K7DXY8M,0781405904,"Mrs. Ford ""quiet sleeper""","[0, 1]","This book is easy to read and focuses on the importance of our intimate relationship with God and His desire for intimacy with us. Mr. Viola makes sure you know about some of his other books, referring to them repeatedly which I could have done without...grin!",4.0,A easy to read book,1373500800,"07 11, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3K8T8F6SSP0PT,0061658197,I'm Not Lisa,"[4, 6]","I've been waiting for this cookbook for as long as Ree's been writing it!For delicious recipes, bits of humor, beautiful photography, look no further!This book is worth every penny.",5.0,"Great recipes, beautiful color pictures",1257379200,"11 5, 2009",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1O4GYR5GTMSVG,B00HRF8JHC,Slinkydennis,"[0, 0]",I loved this book. I loved the follow-up with each couple at the end of the book. I just hate that we've ran out of Thorpe brothers to read about. I want MORE!,4.0,Can't get enough of the Thorpe brothers.,1396396800,"04 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AI8CH8A9B2YTX,0471463396,B. Dub,"[16, 23]","This book is not about value investing, it is about modern security analysis, which is exactly what Graham warned against. It places an emphasis on growth over actual value. One of Graham's fundamental principles was that future growth is completely unreliable and any analysis based on it is just a speculator's way of justifying his gamble. While I liked the book's coverage on franchises and competitive advantage it highlights the fact that fundamentals weren't discussed at all.Here is the biggest example of why this book is so far off the mark. It highlights Intel as a value investment. The stock currently has a P/E of 25x and has always been over priced from a valuation standpoint. Not only that but Intel's only possible competitive advantage is size. Yes modern value investors look for good companies with long term competitive advantage but not at a high cost. Buffett was famous for sitting out the dotcom boom because they were not value investments.The only reason this book was not a one star book were the biographies of value investors in the second half of the book.",2.0,Not a Value Investing Book,1199145600,"01 1, 2008",16,23,helpful,0.6956521739130435,1 A2SGZA2PT7PJDU,0321827333,Stewart E. White,"[0, 0]","For me, this was both a review and primary instruction. I read CIB back when I became an Adobe Certified Expert, in version 7, a long time ago. It still maintains its high standard of instruction.",5.0,The book that should have come with the product,1363996800,"03 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GLN92UK7XPQ2,B00CCUCD1A,Blackbird Woods,"[0, 0]","lovely little story about a stable child needing care while family are unavailable, I wanted more but it ended with out an ending.",4.0,the otherside of fostering,1384646400,"11 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1M8PP7MLHNBQB,080507564X,"John Matlock ""Gunny""","[8, 15]","What comes out the strongest in this book is the basic overall state of confusion surrounding the settlements issue. It seems like no one - not the Israli Government, the UN, the US, or anyone else was really in control.Another point that came through quickly is that when the strongly religious decide that something is Gods will, there is little that discussion can do to change their mind. The trouble is that not everyone reads the same book.The Muslims who have been in this area for a thousand years or more and who are reading a different book are hardly going to agree that this land was given to the Jews. And of course both are convinced that they are in the right.This book begins in June 1967 when Israeli troops defeated the armies of Egypt, Syria and Jordan. Notice that this was the time when the US was involved with Viet Nam and not devoting full attention to the Middle East. The book ends ten years later when Menachem Begin came to power.The situation of the settlements obviously didn't go away then, indeed it is still with us today. But this book spends 480 pages on just this ten years. There's got to be another book or two to cover the history up to now. And I expect yet another book sometime in the future for the next ten years.All in all, this book makes as much sense out of Israeli and Middle East politics as I think it would be possible for one book to do. But that's not to say that I think I understand all the implications. I'm not so sure that anyone does.",5.0,Making a Little More Sense our of Israeli Politics,1146096000,"04 27, 2006",8,15,helpful,0.5333333333333333,1 A3NYNW1R48YSD7,1938404084,"RJW ""RJW""","[0, 1]","This book was pretty good, I guess. I read the whole thing. But some of the stuff just wasn't real to me. People don't fall in love in a week. And Molly seemed to be a little wimpy. They tried to give her some spunk but when it came down to it, she didn't have it. Too much damsel in distress for my liking. Seemed very needy. And Carter just didn't seem real. I don't think guys typically act like that. It was written well, I just didn't think there was much realism in it. There's another book in this series and I'm contemplating getting it. Maybe the characters in that book are better. And it may just be that I didn't like the story line in this one too much. I'm 50/50 on recommending others to read it. There are better books with better story lines in it.",3.0,I don't know....,1381276800,"10 9, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A25QWSCTVTRIVE,0375814620,Amanda Warde,"[20, 24]","I read on average about 6 books a month and I LOVE books but this is my first review. I have never been inspired to write a review the way I am with these books. My daughter is in kindergarten and I was so excited she was starting to read. We ran out to get chapter books and I picked up the first four of this series because I thought it would be great for her to relate to a character finally after reading things like Dr Suess and books about elephants in tutus her whole life. We got through the first two chapters of this book and I couldn't BELIEVE what I was reading to my daughter. I could have handled a little bit of attitude but holy cow. Junie B Jones is a brat in every sense of the word. I loved Ramona Quimby growing up and she had plenty of adventures and gave her mom a hard time but she certainly didn't call everything ""dumb"" and ""stupid"". She was a trouble maker but I like to think she had a good heart. Beverly Cleary should be offended that other reviewers are even comparing Junie B to her Ramona. Like other reviewers have said, I had to change much of the dialogue to more appropriate wording to get through these (we only made it through the first two). I have these books hidden and I'm just waiting for her to forget about them before I get rid of them. If unlike me you actually read the reviews before you purchase them, DON'T DO IT. I'm sure there are better books to introduce a child into the world of reading and I intend to find them!And one last rant, why doesn't she know her teacher's name? She's 5. My daughter knew the names of her daycare teachers when she was 2 and 3 and there is a zero chance that anyone in her class now in kindergarten calls their teacher ""Mrs"". Throughout these books, Junie B acts as if she's just learning how to talk. I'm pretty sure every single kindergartener in the world is more well spoken than her. I wish I could rate this a ZERO!",1.0,Seriously?,1334793600,"04 19, 2012",20,24,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AC7R5RIRIZQQS,0989768473,R. Morehouse,"[0, 1]",I didn't even get to the second chapter. So its probably not fair for me to review it. I felt no heat from sex scene that was thrown at me right off the bat.,2.0,No thank you,1403913600,"06 28, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2ZQOOK6LMVL3R,1892975904,"Sharon Yvonne ""Sharon""","[26, 39]","I bought this book expecting it to be what its title says it is: a GUIDE and introduction to the work of J.R.R. Tolkien. Well, guess again! This is NOT a "People's Guide," nor is it any other kind of "Guide." It is simply a collection of essays in which a group of fans associated with the website [...] spout their personal opinions on various issues connected with the books and movies. This book does NOT provide any sort of "Guide" to Tolkien, nor is it an introductory work by any stretch of the imagination. It actually presupposes a substantial amount of Tolkien knowledge, and those who lack that are not likely to get much out of reading it.I'm sure this book will be enjoyable for many readers, notably those who are big fans of the website for which its authors write. I found some of the material in it entertaining myself. But I must strenuously object to its has being so misleadingly titled. With the burgeoning popularity of the books bolstered by the release of the Peter Jackson films, I'm concerned that there may be lots of people new to Tolkien looking for something to read that will help them make sense of it all, who will be attracted to this book because of its fallacious title. To anyone who is new to Tolkien's world, I can't emphasize more strongly that this book is NOT going to help you become oriented to the history, geography, mythology, of anything else concerning Middle-earth...or do much of anything else other than confuse you.Fortunately, the helpful folks who put out the "For Dummies" series have risen to the challenge and provided a REAL guide to Tolkien's work, which I HIGHLY recommend to anyone who is looking for a clear, systematic introduction to Tolkien: The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies. I would urge bewildered Tolkien newbies to check out that work and stay away from this one for the time being.Bottom line: this book will be amusing reading for some Tolkien geeks, but I think anyone who is not already pretty well versed in Middle-earth lore would be much better off investing their money in the "For Dummies" book than buying this one. And to the publishers of this book: if you ever put out a second edition, PLEASE give it a less misleading title!",1.0,This book is completely misnamed!,1069113600,"11 18, 2003",26,39,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A17Z4GKBM0PSVO,0684827875,"Jeff Minick ""Jeff Minick""","[0, 0]","So many books regarding the War Between the States now exist that even a casual observer of American history would be inclined to believe that nothing new can be written about the conflict between the North and the South. Yet bookstores still boost sizable collections of Civil War materials, and the “New Books” shelf of the smallest public library will always sport the latest histories of Johnny Reb and Billy Yank.Shelby Foote, whose three volume The Civil War is already a classic in American literature, best summarized the reasons for our perennial interest in the Late, Great Conflict when he called it the American Iliad. Just as Homer gave the Ancient World Achilles, Hector, and Troy, so did the American Civil War give the United States Grant, Lee, and Gettysburg. And just as World War II, for better or for worse, helped create American internationalism and what some will call an American Empire, so the terrible battles of the Civil War by blood and iron helped forge an American nation.A second powerful reason for our continued interest in the world of Lincoln and Jefferson Davis is the accumulation of new evidence and new viewpoints regarding that world. The war produced a massive amount of primary documents which were preserved in various archives, while the historians writing today bring to bear opinions and theories much different than those of earlier historians.A case in point is Joseph T. Glatthaar’s General Lee’s Army: From Victory to Collapse (Free Press, ISBN 978-0-684-82787-2, 600 pages, $35). Glatthaar, who has taught at the U.S. Army War College and the United States Military Academy, and who is currently a professor of history and chair of the Curriculum in Peace, War and Defense at Chapel Hill, brings his formidable skills as an historian and writer to this account of Lee’s army. Not only does he lead us, as the title suggests, from the great victories of the Army of Northern Virginia to its final defeat at Appomatox Court House, but he also gives us along the way an ongoing and in-depth analysis of day-to-day life in that army.It is in this analysis that Glatthaar’s book shines. Drawing on letters, personal accounts of the war, dispatches, and the findings of other historians, Glatthaar paints for us a vivid picture of the hardships and joys of the Confederate soldier: his entertainments, his religious feelings, the attempts by Lee and others to provision the army, its struggle to establish and maintain discipline, its problems with desertion, and in its final days, with morale. Any page of this fine book is suitable for quotation in illustrating Glatthaar’s skillful portraiture. Here, for example, is his narrative regarding the Lee and the Confederate retreat from the trenches of Petersburg in the War’s final days:“His beloved soldiers, too, fared disastrously on the retreat. Their physical deterioration from poor conditioning prevented thousands from keeping up over the next few days. Unlike previous campaigns during which soldiers purposely straggled, many just could not keep up on the march. For months, Lee’s army had lived on a diet that lacked half the necessary protein to maintain muscle mass and provided less than two-thirds the necessary calories to sustain body mass. The diet, largely a quarter pound of beef, two pints of coarse cornmeal, and occasional small amounts of molasses, was woefully deficient in most vitamins, resulting in weakness and problems in absorbing proteins, minerals, and vitamins, with soldiers suffering skin ailments, night blindness, anemia, scurvy, and diarrhea….”From the above passage we come to understand the living reality of the old soldier’s maxim that an army marches on its stomach.In addition to such insights, Lee’s Army will please many Civil War enthusiasts with its lengthy “Notes” and “Bibliography.” Here is a treasure trove of sources: government publications, detailed references to archives ranging from the Morgan Library in New York to the Chapel Hill’s own Southern Historical Collections, a listing of manuscripts by state and by author. The sixty-three pages of Notes, done in fine print, reveal both the depth of Glatthaar’s research and the vast amount of information which exists regarding the Army of Northern Virginia.Glatthaar’s own words provide the best summary of his book and of this review:“Even today, many decades after its veterans have expired, Lee’s army continues to live in the imagination of the American public, not so much for what it represented, but for what it accomplished on the field of battles under the most difficult conditions and circumstances.”",4.0,best summarized the reasons for our perennial interest in the ...,1404691200,"07 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UVRCLLWOZ6TD,1451659393,"Ward Love ""Red Bear""","[0, 2]","Laurie Notaro has outdone herself this time. Always interesting and always hilarious, she has raised her dryly offbeat humorous look at life to a new level with this book. Telling a good short story is a fading part of the American literary experience, and she, and the others that still practice the art of big ideas with few words, should be followed carefully and encouraged, lest they be lured away from their craft into the glitzy (and, no doubt more profitable) world of creating dull, assembly line, mass market bestseller novels! ""Potty Mouth"" is a group of words brought together that paint one picture after another - and those pictures should hang on gallery walls to be admired. This book is a ""keeper""!",5.0,Laff Until It Hurts!,1374278400,"07 20, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 AUXAPV021707G,0307275558,Kyle C. Foley,"[0, 7]","i was mostly happy just to read a good story by a 25 year old woman. it's rare that they write a good story and 30 years ago it might have been unheard of. her mind was able to explore other areas of thought other than her boss which was educational. she could have departed from the real story in the middle of the book and written something better by having the protagonist eventually become corrupted by her boss - that would have been better. in any case it was an informative read.the actor, glorifying life, encrystalizing drama on record, teaching us the loftiest modes of reaction, the actor, beginning fashions, changing so-ciety's inflections in speech, pursued by paparazzi, the actor, male actors reminding women of the epitome of the masculine gender, testosterone's raw romp, its avalanche of magnum, the actor, the actresses causing men's plasma to flow, their phalanxes to charge, their rockets to combust, the actor, charisma ruby-flowing from their system in dripping blaze, their sparkle-smiles contagious with honey, their eyes a joy-picture to watch, the actor, romanticizing life with their thrillicious panache, their eyes so crysto-miraculo that we insist that beyond horiza beautezza and meaning do indeed bloom in copia.author of lorelei pursued and wrestles with God.",3.0,educational,1117670400,"06 2, 2005",0,7,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1XOSK329HCI67,B00CG8FVMQ,CaroleS,"[0, 0]",I thoroughly enjoyed this story and seeing the whole story unfold once the errors were made clear. I like the characters and the plot of the story as well.,5.0,Great book,1403222400,"06 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UVFOIOC1FL5R,1484018427,Michelle in FL,"[9, 9]","Erica is a member of the Federal Paranormal Unit, and is keeping her paranormal gifts/talents a secret. Trent is the smooth, strong, sexy wolf shifter attracted to her. His protective instincts are triggered when he realizes she is his mate.Ms. Taiden has a gift for writing intelligent, independent, strong Latina main characters. Erica is the type of woman we want to work with and hang out with after work. Trent is the man we want to come home to, at night. The sex is hot and the building relationship is tenderly explored.I am looking forward to hearing more about the rest of the team.",4.0,"Strong, sexy Latina and her Wolf Protector",1365033600,"04 4, 2013",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A19T8I5W97G0WA,1455520640,Tina San Roman,"[0, 0]","Loved this book, romantic, easy read, you knew the two stories were connected somehow throughout but it wasn't obvious and there were still surprises at the end.",5.0,Highly recommend,1381708800,"10 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30CFKUB3OILS1,1596688769,"M. B. Shaw ""author of Flavor for Mixed Media""","[4, 4]","I am a contributor to this book and received a complimentary copy. That disclosure aside, this book rocks! I was on a driving trip with a girlfriend (she was driving) and I read the book out loud to her. We enjoyed it so much and my friend immediately ordered a copy. Well done, Pam!!",5.0,Pam does it again!,1383523200,"11 4, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3DV7SVR77F7TC,1555972608,"S. Lorraine ""Author & Poet""","[4, 53]",This book is considerably boring!! It provided me information that I already know. I definitely recommend this book to amateurs only!!,2.0,Boring!!!!!!!!!,1149552000,"06 6, 2006",4,53,helpful,0.07547169811320754,1 A1PD4HPSH0G5WH,0590471791,Eric,"[0, 0]","if you're a fan of calvin and hobbes, then this book is great. tons of comic strips to make the time fly by.",5.0,love it,1389657600,"01 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A4RYWJFSEQI8R,B00IPM5W1C,Odie82,"[0, 0]","Some of the information was stuff I had heard before, some of it was more extreme. Still a good (and quick!) read if you're looking to save money!",4.0,Living on a Shoestring Budget review,1402272000,"06 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Q84ZT50EN060,0671027344,K. Caldwell,"[0, 0]","Years and years ago, while combing a book store in Pittsburgh, I added The Perks of Being a Wallflower to my list of books to read. Five or six year later, upon hearing it had been turned into a movie, I decided to finally get around to it. (As a habit, I always read the books before the movies, if I can help it, so this book jumped to the top of my list).I thought it was great. Not the greatest book I've ever read, and not one that I'd necessarily read again, but for what it was, it was great. I really felt Charlie's pain, and like I got to know who he was and feel what he was going through first hand. I suppose that was the point. You aren't really an ""observer"" in this book, you are a ""participant."" And if I'm the author and that's what I was driving at, mission accomplished.The story being told through anonymous letters was the right choice to me. It could have been done differently, but I'm not sure it would have been as effective. You were in it with Charlie. He told you his deepest, darkest secrets, the ones he knew, and the ones you discovered along with him. Very effective. And very entertaining. I feel for him, feel sad for him, want the best for him. If I went to school with him, I would have liked him, and I would have befriended him as Sam and Patrick did.The only reason I knocked off a star is because, unlike The Catcher in the Rye or Prep, I don't see myself reading this book more than once. It was great, and I'm really glad I read it, but it doesn't hold enough storyline to have me read it again. The message is the most important, and I got that the first time around, so again, mission accomplished.It's an easy read, very easy, so I'd encourage others to see what they take from it. It's a very sweet, sad, touching tale. I was sad to see it end; and I enjoyed the range of emotions I got from reading it. A little bittersweet, for sure.Now, time to see what they did with the movie.",4.0,Thought-Provoking Coming of Age Tale. . .,1353369600,"11 20, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SLFH8HOJ0HI2,1461006201,Caveat Emptor,"[0, 0]","This book is a must for anyone transitioning or thinking of transitioning, as well as any psychotherapist who works with the transgendered community. It covers all the phases with a sympathetic view and realistic information. Kudos to Dr. Boedecker.",5.0,Excellent Comprehensive Guide,1401926400,"06 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NWH1P6M0NFKL,148206880X,rmweatherford1s,"[5, 5]","This is an exciting and intriguing novel that kept me hooked from the first page. I didn't want to put it down! It was a quick and easy read, and I read it in four days because I had to take some breaks. It's not too long, but jam-packed with action scenes and heroics from a scared little fairy who becomes an admirable heroine who plays a big part in overcoming the horrible dragons who rule her land. The evil character is well-rounded, with a considerable hatred of witches and wizards because they can destroy him - as well as the fact that one was extremely cruel to him. It's also a love story between one who was once a fairy and one who is a fairy. This is definitely suitable for middle school and young adult readers, although the dialogue is formal, it's also conversational. I can't wait to dig into volume 2!",5.0,"A fantastic, must-read fantasy",1375488000,"08 3, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A262FPHL64V6YN,0143119826,"T. Brenholts ""Mosca""","[6, 8]","... as Magary alludes to fearing in the acknowledgments. And it represents good entertainment value for the dollar.Magary writes a good story, and he keeps it interesting. The overall tone is a throwback to the science fiction of the late 50s and early 60s, ""average guy from today goes on an interplanetary adventure"" type stuff, transposed of course to a different plot; more ""R is for Rocket"" than ""I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream"". I give it 5 stars for imagination, and 5 stars for prose style; he follows his assumptions to their logical conclusions based on an uncanny assessment of human nature and humanity's nature, and he writes like his brain is on fire. I give it two stars for sketchy, incomplete characters and some cliched plotting and dialog. (For example, I can't help but think Magary knew he was writing for the movie script when he had a female character trip and twist an ankle while running from a mob. I re-read the scene without that passage and wondered why it was allowed in by the editors; it is a needless flourish that only called attention to itself.)I'd give it a 3 1/2, but I can't, and since it's closer to 3 than it is to 4, it gets 3 stars. Nevertheless I still recommend it; the ideas pull you in, and the prose fires you right through an enjoyable, vivid story.",3.0,"Not ""a waste of time""",1316995200,"09 26, 2011",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A3680M0X1NJMXT,0606238409,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Yup. That's all I can say. Wow.That was amazing. There's a part near the end where Tris understands and then ""boom"". It felt I don't know...rushed or awkward. I kept thinking I needed more time with the characters before that action began...and then I realized the beauty of it. I felt just like Tris must have...it happened too soon.Beautiful.",5.0,Wow.,1357516800,"01 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2C63L2TFNY44V,0316102148,"Sassa Frass ""Dog Res Q.R.""","[4, 12]","This book was previewed in our local paper and sounded like a decent enough idea. I'm now stuck on page 15. The problem is I KNOW where the story's going and my mind is already processing the familiar situations that teen-age angst for the opposite sex will take me. Unfortunately teen-aged opposite sex angst been DONE TO DEATH and has sunk to ragged cliches. Bad too is the fact the author has channeled Sherman Alexi (Absolutely True Diary of a Partime Indian- a MUCH better book!), or the Diary of A Wimpy Kid books, and the author being female is not convincingly speaking in a teen-aged boy's manner, at least not one that's connecting with me. She needs to find her own voice and I hope, take the next book idea away from those already done to death.2 days later: OK, I've given up at page 39. I know exactly where the story's going, only it's going to take 233 pages to get there. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz....... Author tries too hard to be funny. It becomes exhausting. I'm finding no substance, just goofy situations the protaganist gets into time after time, poor him, life craps all over him, but not his cliched perfect brother. He is so poorly written, developed and invisible I can't picture him as I read.Also, did no one proof read this book? On page 6, there is talk of Swedish girls at a party. On page 7 they have turned into Swiss girls. Sweden and Switzerland are two separate countries! I'm sure there are more errors, just can't stay with the book long enough to spot them. Like everyone else, I'll be glad when the vampire stories finally blaze out and take the silly knock-offs with them. I was being nice with 2 stars. I really wanted to give it a 1.5, now I'd give it a 1 star.",2.0,Unoriginal & Predictable,1288742400,"11 3, 2010",4,12,helpful,0.3333333333333333,1 A1BL7GWWA206HM,0877853134,Linscott Hanson,"[7, 7]","I enjoyed "the Lovely Bones" and found it to be a sweet narrative of what might happen when we go wherever we go at the end of our lives. THIS BOOK, however, gives a far more focused and meaningful account of "What's next?" Mrs. Smith is obviously a very smart lady, with a real knack for writing. Its hard to put this book down, and it makes you feel so darn good you hope it never ends. Or does it?",5.0,"Good, Better, Best!",1086998400,"06 12, 2004",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A1BL9L5X6MUT8P,0679450785,G. James,"[20, 24]","I read this book in one afternoon. It is enjoyable, quick, factual and gives you a real sense of being a part of life. Wilson is to be commended for not being too judgemental either against economists or conservationists, but gives their voices equal time in the issue of managing our planet's resources. He explains in wonderfully friendly writing about all the political groups and their roles in life on Earth, which is certainly no easy task. His solutions to the problems are informed, direct,and useful--not like the generalized, naive, and inappropriate ideas of tree-hugger extremists.And, of course, his descriptions of life are beautiful and eloquent.",5.0,A pleasant informative read.,1011139200,"01 16, 2002",20,24,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3D3671PQEQC5,0062218980,"Nancy Woods ""West Texas Healer""","[4, 5]",Once again Lori Wilde has captured my heart with her story and characters. Zoey and Jericho prove that best friends can and do fall in love. The supporting cast makes the story come alive while the growing attraction of Zoey and Jericho leaves the reader feeling the sexual frustration they are feeling. When they finally get together the sparks fly. The mystery aspect of the story kept me guessing and I guessed wrong. The Davis Mountains happen to be one of my favorite places on earth and I have enjoyed this series immensely. While this story is part of a series it can definitely be read as a standalone. I was honored to be on Lori's "Review Crew".,5.0,"A delightful return to Cupid, Texas",1389398400,"01 11, 2014",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1CXJGU9FFPRR1,1893831248,"Dave B ""Dave""","[6, 6]","We followed the standard raw food approach from birth with our son and it was hard and we had little real guidance. After years of continual research I read this book The 80/10/10 Diet and it was the culmination of what my research had lead me to. We simplified the our son's diet to fruit and veggies with some nuts/seeds/oils/avocado (but very little - maybe 25% fat) until about 7 years old. He has thrived. He never gets sick and is full of energy. His endurance is amazing. And eating raw fruits and veggies is so easy because you can just grab a bunch of bananas and go! He doesn't want other food - he just wants fruit and a huge salad at night for dinner. You can see what he has to say on his own at his website http://www.RawFoodLevi.com and you can get his book (""Raw Food For Kids - Tales From an 8-Year-Old Raw Foodist"").But Dr. Grahams book is the cornerstone. You can learn from others but this gives you the key foundation you really need and it covers the principles that allow you to assess food choices. It is really very simple. There will always be naysayers. Test it, but test it fully and without compromise.Also as a test of integrity, see that Dr. Graham doesnt sell supplements and superfoods and the rest of it. He sells his book and some events and CDs. He isn't peddling snake oil. It's the real deal.You really can't go wrong.Dave",5.0,Raising my son on raw food from birth (he's 9 years old),1380240000,"09 27, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2WG0HOEOJMGRX,B004GHNE4W,Marcelle Michael,"[0, 0]",I really enjoyed this book. I want to read more of M>ZR> Sellars books. I will tell my friends about this book.,5.0,Merrie Axemas,1400198400,"05 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1O3SZ5I2F42A,1571313001,"Cecil Bothwell ""Cecil Bothwell""","[0, 0]","This exploration followed McKibben's THE END OF NATURE (Random House, 1989) by five years, and represents an effort by the author to find reasons for optimism after having so thoroughly examined our termination of the wilderness. He found some certifiable success stories, and the good cheer he offers here fits well with my own growing sense that we can and will restore the earth. Starting from the eastern U.S. where the recovery of the hardwood forests over the past century offers a remarkable example of the melding of urbanization and greening, he circles the globe to find other signs of change. While the reforestation of the east has been largely inadvertent -- created by shifts of agriculture and technology -- and is today threatened by industrial chip mills eager to turn woodland into paper towels, the clearcuts of the 18th and 19th century have regrown from New Hampshire to the Deep South. Elsewhere there are equally significant changes afoot. In Brazil, a country prey to the developing world's four horsemen of poverty, population growth, exploitation and corruption, one city has designed itself out of the mire. Curitiba is a decidedly un-third world oasis amidst the gloom. It has remade itself in its own image and has become a walkable, clean, prosperous and civil community. It has a higher percentage of car owners than Rio, but a vastly higher proportional use of public transportation. It has rejected the Interstate syndrome and performs its people-moving on tree shaded, human-scale streets. The poor are helped to buy land and build their own homes instead of squatting in shanty towns. Street children are employed and fed. The poor can trade bags of collected garbage for bags of food, solving three problems at once: street cleanup, feeding the hungry, and employing local farmers. And on, and on ... proving that urban planning doesn't have to be stupid, inhuman, short sighted and costly. Another example from the other side of the world comes from tropical India. Kerala, with a per capita income one-seventieth that of the U.S., has a higher literacy rate (100%) and a similar life-expectancy. The birth rate is close to our own and falling faster. Like Curitiba its quality of life stands head and shoulders above its region, nation and third-world expectations. It does this with a population the size of Canada's squeezed into a land area the size of Vancouver Island. ""Kerala is the one large human population on earth which currently meets the sustainability criteria of simultaneous small families and low consumption,"" reports Will Alexander of San Francisco's Food First Institute (as quoted by McKibben). With the author, our eyes are opened to new possibilities emerging from ancient ways. Again and again McKibben serves up rich lessons about the shift necessary in both our technology and our psychology if we are to turn away from the consumerist passion which is destroying our life support. He searched for and found hope that we can go and do likewise. This book is a balm and a challenge and a wonderful read. Once more, Bill McKibben has laid claim to his spot on my short list of favorite, most readable writers. Attaboy!",4.0,The end of hopelessness?,1195516800,"11 20, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1FRQC0DWLJL28,0812977823,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I grew up in Hawaii so I was excited to read this book, even before it became a popular movie. I loved the movie, the book, and the sound track.",5.0,Great book,1356566400,"12 27, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXAA7WYV0T785,014312207X,"Drew (@drewsant) ""Post apocalyptic listener w...","[0, 0]","You are an Ironman follows six people through their training for Ironman Arizona in 2009. This book is more of a memoir than an training manual. The author does a great job of capturing the spirit of the Ironman, explaining to the reader why people do these the types races and their back stories, some of which are funny, some of which are inspirational and some just plain strange (there was one guy who heard about people at his Gym talking about finishing one and just decided to jump right in, or at least that what it seemed like). There are also short inspirational stories about people the athletes meet on the way such as about leg amputee and would be Ironman Rudy Garcia-Tolson. The tales of the would be Ironmen (sorry ladies they're called Ironmen no matter what sex the competitor is) do a good job of conveying the ups and downs of the training that one goes through when preparing for an Ironman.The only drawback to my specific book, was that it was in audiobook format. While I like audiobooks since they allow me to make better use of my time and are a good way to pass the training hours, in this case it made the book a bit hard to follow as the author jumped from one person to the next, so I would recommend that you get it on paper or in your favorite electronic format. Additionally since there weren't really characters the performance was more of a book reading rather than a performance of a fiction book.A mix of fun, and inspiration, if you like endurance sports I would highly recommend this book.",4.0,Inspirational,1384387200,"11 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2Q9ARKXHXCEYB,0345379969,"Timothy Daiss, M.A.","[4, 4]","Iver's book delivers. It is neither sappy as many other writing books are, nor is it without color. Particularly helpful are the sections on grammar and usage. Whether honig your skills or becoming initiated with the complexities of the English language for the first time, this book is helpful. Though Iver discusses some elements of fiction, this book appears to have more relevance for the office or the class room than for creative writing. Yet, anyone will benefit from reading the book and working through its examples.",4.0,A thorough study and good reference work,943833600,"11 29, 1999",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A152426Y1EIVH9,006226768X,kara_sci,"[0, 1]","Ugh. I never write reviews, but this book made me so angry that I felt the need to come on here and hopefully save some unsuspecting souls from this torture. This book is a contrived piece of crap that seems like it was written by a 12 year old. Note to Molly: people don't talk/act like this in real life! If I had to read the sentence ""in his arms"" or ""in my arms"" one more time I swear I was going to lob my kindle across the room. And the characters are a whole other story....There will be some spoilers past this point:1. Harper is a selfish brat who gets away with murder- honestly what do all of these men see in her? The girl shows up at a college and meets her roommate and all of a sudden two guys are drooling over her for no apparent reason... I wasn't even under the impression that Harper and chase had even had a real conversation past him calling her princess and giving her longing looks. Harper is giving him attitude one second and then touching him the next, and then thinks it's ok to string two guys along and messing with their feelings, as well as using one of the guys' parents and their home like it's a Howard Johnson.2. Brandon is a pushover. I literally could not believe the stuff that he would tolerate. I mean really?! ""I love this baby, even though the father is a man who was my friend and who you lost your virginity to while we were dating"". And am I the only one who found it weird that he hung around after chase's death and nursed Harper back to mental stability, and then moved in on an emotionally vulnerable woman and helped her raise a baby? It left me so utterly puzzled.3. Chase, albeit an attractive sounding character, was sort of a random character who was basically thrown into the mix to add conflict and to create a love triangle. He didn't even know Harper from a hole in the wall, and all of a sudden he was completely enamored with her to the point where he would hang around just creepily staring at her and calling her princess while she was in his house with her boyfriend. And after all of the crap that he goes through to take care of Harper and his child, Mcadams goes ahead and kills chase off! It was so completely unnecessary, and I was taken completely off guard.4. Bree. Is. So. Annoying. She adds nothing to the story at all. Sure, she sounds good on paper... But she's not the best friend someone could have, and I feel like she was only kept in the story because she was chase's sister and because Harper stayed at her house. Other than that, al Bree did was hang around calling Harper ""friend"" (who really does that) and yelling a lot about not being included.5. Bree and Chase's parents were the most ridiculous, fictional, and messed up human beings in this entire book. There are many reasons that I think this, the biggest one being the fact that after their son dies in a tragic car accident because of a fight that he had with Harper, they begin to encourage Harper to come out of her funk by dating Brandon again and allowing him to raise her baby. On top of that, they actually asked Harper if she planned on telling the baby about chase when it's older, and said that they would understand if she didn't want to...REALLY?! Does anyone really believe that this would happen in real life? I would hope not. On top of this, they insist on allowing Harper to call them mom and dad, and they let her stay at their house until she moves in with Brandon. The entire time though, they're fully supportive of her living with another man and allowing him to replace their son as the father.I think the cherry on top of this awful cake for me is a tie between two things: all I could think of the entire time was ""where is Harper getting all of this money from?!"" Sure, she explains it by saying that she worked when she was a kid on the base, but really, she made it sound like she had saved up thousands of dollars over the years, and at least enough to keep and and her baby happy for years without her working. Of course, she also has Chase's money that was conveniently placed into a joint account right before he dies. Oh, and Brandon's career as an underground MMA fighter also help to pay the bills.Last but not least, Harper DOESN'T EVEN NAME THE BABY AFTER ITS DEAD FATHER. Instead, she names it after Brandon's deceased father. Although this is a sweet gesture because Brandon's father was an extremely important figure in his life, giving the baby his name as a middle name would have sufficed. Instead, chase is given the middle name of his own child.This whole book is just one big bizarre complexity that left me feeling like so many things should've been done differently. The whole thing was just so outlandish and unrealistic I just wanted to stop. Too bad I spent money on it, or I would've stopped reading after the first page. Save yourselves the aggravation.",1.0,Seriously? Is this really a published novel?,1350259200,"10 15, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A297F3BCJZ8WKE,0615819532,Elverda M. Parr,"[0, 0]","I enjoyed this book so much that I bought all the e-books in this series. The lead character is very charasmatic, the mysteries well done and I couldn't wait to read each book to see what "Soc" would encounter. Highly recommend to any mystery fan.",5.0,excellent mystery and wonderful characters,1391990400,"02 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZI9IQBZSFVJE,1594262942,Judy Statz,"[15, 18]","I've read all of Piers Anthony Immortality books and looked forward to reading this one. 6 hours of my life I'll never get back... His name should not even be on it as it isn't even his style of writing. the plot was pathetic, the characters weak and the reason for the book is just lost on me. If you really enjoy Piers Anthony, do NOT read this book.",1.0,What book NOT to buy,1220918400,"09 9, 2008",15,18,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3JB0FTLVHKN4M,0743243021,"Lily Bart ""lilybits""","[5, 13]","Rick Perlstein has put together a big, sprawling, action packed history of the Sixties that seems to capture all the madness, idealism, and excitement of those challenging times. It's the kind of book you can open to any page and find a colorful anecdote or a revealing quote from some colorful or controversial figure. He digs beneath the surface, the ""peace and flowers"" to show real violence, real hatred, and real cynicism on all sides of the political spectrum. From politicians pandering to white racism in the suburbs and factory towns to ghetto street kids shouting their defiance of white cops to angry hard hats punching out flag-burning hippies, Rick Perlstein seems to have captured the real feel of the streets, the political wheeling and dealing, and the newspaper and media manipulation of the public mood.All well and good, on the surface. Skim through it at the bookstore and it looks like a classic, like Macauley's HISTORY OF ENGLAND. But check it out from the library, read it over carefully at home, and more and more factual mistakes, subjective opinions, and moral flaws come to light. Perlstein is not a real historian, but more of a propagandist after the fact. His indifference to fact checking and the larger sweep of American history, and his obvious bias against politicians, the military, and the working class causes him to make all sorts of melodramatic exaggerations and blanket assertions about the American character that simply don't hold true.First the factual errors. It's okay that he hates the Vietnam War and thinks it was a big mistake. But his ""history"" of the events leading up to the struggle is jaw-droppingly false and careless. He says that the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 was ""the first defeat of a European colonial power in 300 years."" Read that sentence over two or three times.Has Rick Perlstein never heard of Mahatma Gandhi? When the British lost India it was certainly a major defeat, and it happened well before Dien Bien Phu. And that was after World War II. Does Perlstein not know the Japanese captured 100,000 British troops at Singapore? Or that Japanese warplanes sank three British battleships in ten minutes in 1942? What about the crushing defeat of the Russian navy by the Japanese at Tsushima Straits in 1905?Perlstein is so ignorant he can't even make his own case correctly. U.S. involvement in Vietnam was a disastrous mistake because the trend of history was clearly against white imperialist ventures in Asia. What's really going on here is that this man really doesn't care about ""history"" for its own sake. He's just interested in venting his rage at pet villains like the military and the working class.Or consider the sloppy writing when he compares Nixon hassling the Vietnam Veterans Against the War to Macarthur rousting ""aged"" World War I Bonus Marchers in 1932. Do the math. A 1918 doughboy would hardly be ""aged"" in 1932. But Perlstein doesn't care, he's just hoping he can get in another cheap shot mean bad evil Nixon. But again, note the fact that he DOES -- NOT -- CARE. The real suffering of World War I veterans, Vietnam Veterans, combat soldiers in general, means less than nothing to him. He's indifferent to facts because the people on the other side are stick figures to him anyway. Soldiers and hard hats are ""bums"" to him the same way student protestors were ""bums"" to Nixon. The irony is he blames Nixon for his own moral failures, while pretending to be horrified at the other guy's hatred -- but never his own.The double standard becomes laughable when you read the lighter sections of the book. Luscious, pampered Jane Fonda gets tossed in jail and calls herself a ""political prisoner,"" yet six months later she's back in front of the cameras making movies. The cons she's conning stay in jail, though. But Perlstein doesn't care. He has a hard on for movie stars that will not quit. He even gushes over Warren Beatty like a bobby soxer, calling him ""luminous."" Down, boy. And of course he takes Fonda's self-pitying, self-promoting poor little rich girl rap at face value, while Nixon's pleas for unity and his pride in his Quaker heritage are dismissed automatically as political gamesmanship and loathsome hypocrisy. I don't like Nixon, and I don't dislike Jane Fonda. But I can't see that his calling himself a ""Quaker"" is any less absurd than a Hollywood princess playing at revolution with a lifetime of privilege in place to back her up.For a leftist, though, Perlstein is awfully soft on privilege. He tends to make knee jerk assumptions about the courage and compassion of intellectuals and the cowardice and ignorance of the working class that would put Edith Wharton to shame. When he writes about the Vietnam War, he points out how the mainstream media distorted the truth. But always needs the cheap shot to bolster his own self-esteem. ""Ignorant midwestern nobodies who read TIME and READERS DIGEST might really believe the war was going well, and soldiers spent their spare time helping Vietnamese children. But a daring, Harvard educated journalist discovered the truth . . ."" It's not hard to spot the real class prejudice and bigotry in this book. And it's not coming from Nixon!Even on his own terms, Perlstein is appallingly out of it when it comes to the finer points of Sixties nostalgia. His idea of a great Beatles album is SGT PEPPER and his favorite track is ""She's Leaving Home"" (a weepy McCartney ballad, complete with oozing violins.)""Long Tall Sally"" has more power, more racial threat, and even more political relevance (""I saw Uncle John/With Long Tall Sally/He saw Aunt Mary coming and he ducked back in the alley"") summing up youthful disgust with adult hypocrisy in just four unforgettable lines. Plus it's got a good beat and you can dance to it. Does Rick Perlstein even like the Beatles?Similarly, Perlstein wastes about four pages on Arthur Penn's dated (and overrated) youth movie BONNIE AND CLYDE just so he can sigh over his favorite left-wing dreamboat, Warren Beatty. (He's luminous.) But he says not a word about THE WILD BUNCH by Sam Peckinpah, a much more challenging film about real killers who become real revolutionaries and make a real sacrifice to gain real redemption. Ron Perlstein should be forced to viddy that film with his glazzies glued open, just like Alex in A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, another superb Sixties film that shows all the darker side of youth ""liberation"" that Perlstein doesn't want to confront. Malcolm McDowell isn't ""luminous"" in A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, but when he rapes and kills it's for real. In that movie the state and the teen thugs who fight against state power are equally vile. Perlstein claims to see ugliness on both sides in his book too, but when push comes to shove he always sides with the affluent, the well-born, and the well-educated.Maybe it's because they're so ""luminous.""",3.0,"Exciting, Provocative, Ignorant and Biased",1258156800,"11 14, 2009",5,13,helpful,0.38461538461538464,1 ALT9GHMLQXOJL,B007SXHZ8C,Katy Texas,"[0, 0]",My husband and I enjoyed the first book and are nearly finished with the next two. It is a romantic story that I enjoyed. I am now waiting for the movie!!,5.0,Loved the romance.,1349827200,"10 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A292YWWNFVSIWY,0563522755,Publius,"[0, 0]","It is often said that `history is a lie agreed upon.' If one reads Mr. Jones' Medieval Lives, this aphorism is very appropriate. I approached this book with a little trepidation, but after reading the first couple chapters, one cannot help but be impressed with the impressive citations. Unlike some other popular histories, Jones does not fall into the trap of quoting other popular histories as gospel truth. Instead, Jones cites from material such as the ""Constitutional History of England in the Fifteenth Century"" or ""The Monastic Order in Yorkshire, 1069-1300"". The beautiful thing is that Jones writes in a very clear and concise way, but does not dumb history down to a level that is all to often the norm for popular history tomes. One of the highlights is the section on outlawry and the resultant development of the jury system. Anyone involved in the practice of criminal law would agree that, as Jones writes: ""compared with the evil of the corrupt world of public administration, symbolized by the sheriff, the outlaw was a model of propriety."" In fact, after reading the 'Outlaw' section, I typed the ""Outlaw Poem"" and have it hanging in my office. Overall, a highly recommended book that provides a great intro for any serious student of the Middle Ages.",5.0,Surprising,1156377600,"08 24, 2006",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NC9AGZOBI0M1,0451201205,"RCM ""beckahi""","[5, 7]","""The Secret Adversary"" is the very first adventure of Tommy and Tuppence, Agatha Christie's pair of amateur sleuths, and what an adventure they have. Tommy Beresford and Prudence 'Tuppence' Cowley manage to solve a threatening international crisis, by luck and intuition it would seem, rather than more ordinary methods of detection. As an introduction to the pair, who would have further adventures after their marriage, ""The Secret Adversary"" is fast-paced and intriguing.Having met each other once again by chance, Tommy and Tuppence, old childhood friends, decide to advertise themselves as ""Young Adventurers"" who will take any charge that's well paid, no matter the danger. But before they can even post their ad, they are drawn into a mysterious web of intrigue regarding a missing draft of a peace treaty and a young girl named Jane Finn. By what seems like sheer coincidence and luck, Tommy and Tuppence, together or apart, are able to come across clues as to where Jane Finn may be, and what knowledge she has about the missing treaty. As they uncover clues, they also uncover danger that threatens their lives and friends who may just turn out to be the very adversary they are searching for.As usual with an Agatha Christie mystery, just when you think you've figured out the final twist, she throws even more at you. ""The Secret Adversary"" is a smart, well-plotted thriller, a testament to Christie's brillance, as this was only her second published novel. While the book may seem dated in language and certain expressions, it is only at a surface level due to the very real nature of the modern intrigue that moves the plot.",5.0,Introducing T & T,1216771200,"07 23, 2008",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2LYK1AGZ4U9L8,1609804783,tbyg,"[5, 5]",i have been following this issue since 2000. palast is spot on. to the reviewer who questioned his cred. check out his credits. it is right at the front of the book. if you trust the msm more then you have not been paying attention.,5.0,please listen,1348617600,"09 26, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1B4H1QPWUNMD8,073870525X,zoomer,"[6, 28]","There are many GREAT books about wicca and witchcraft out there please don't waste your money on this cheesy book. There are many many books that focus on different spells to try with lots of background information on how to do them corectly, this book isn't one of them. It is a lot of pop propaganda made to make wicca and witchcraft look like something for teenagers to do/use to get whatever they want instead of a spiritual and respectful religion.It is full of very unbelievable spells just to look cute so it will sell. This book is not for anyone who is seriously interested in learning about working and casting sucessful spells as she leaves out the basic elements that are truley needed in casting spells.This supposedly ""advanced"" book doesn't go into details on how to focus or make your spells stronger, it doesn't go into the operations and importance to keep your spells safe so they work corecctly, and it doesn't go into making your own spells (which tend to work BETTER.) It DOES however make the reader feel like they can just read a spell out loud from the book and it will all work in a puff of green smoke...which is far from reality.Instead of just reading spells from a book a reader may want to look into expanding their knowledge of witchcraft and/or wicca on different levels to create a successful life, attitude, and cast spells sucessfully.This book has a mixture of spells, some I would say are decent IF you know what you are doing but at the same time if you know what you are doing there is very little need for these spells so the book isn't a neccesity. Her tone of this book really focuses on money and seems to focus on its importance of obtaining it without mention of appreciating what you have. She also left out all practical information which is important such as the realitly of hard work to get what you need or spells to bring opportunity (such as a good job) or other unmaterial riches to make your life better other then just money money money.It doesn't even touch on self growth but on quick fix improvment through her pop spells. Most wiccans find that most often they realise they don't have a need for many spells (Especially of this kind) and spells become something only a once in a while occurance because you are the one who changes your life and that starts right with your choices and actions and the spell is only to assist you in your journey.If you truely want to learn about wicca and learn how to cast better spells then you need not do the spells in this book but look deeper into magic and learn what makes a spell work and how to improve your spells. Then you won't need a book like this to read aloud from every time you feel you need a change.",1.0,Don't be fooled by the pretty cover,1131926400,"11 14, 2005",6,28,helpful,0.21428571428571427,1 A2BQMHS3339G8A,0971862419,"Kim's Two Cents ""Kim""","[61, 61]","We traveled the Route in 2004. I saw this book a couple times, but didn't buy it until New Mexico (I thought we had plenty of Route 66 guides)...kicked myself for not getting it earlier all the way to LA. Definitely buy this before you go and use it for helping to set up your itinerary. It has all of the essential stops, and you can tell it's written from the heart.",5.0,A Great Guide to 66,1094947200,"09 12, 2004",61,61,helpful,1.0,1 A2C15BDHJFIOOB,B00B36DEIK,Liyonala,"[6, 7]","Consequence is a fast paced, cracking page turner of a thriller with a unique premise. The storyline is great which is full of suspense and kept me hooked till the end of the story. The author, Eli Yance has taken care to keep a balance between violence, obscenity and surprises without going either extremes. I found it well written, suspenseful and almost all are believable and I really enjoyed reading this. If mystery and suspense are your thing you will definitely enjoy this book from the beginning to the end.",5.0,A thriller with a unique premise,1358899200,"01 23, 2013",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A22GIB485Z4K2K,0192831992,Lori,"[0, 0]","I loved this book, it is a great story and although the title mentions Jesus, he is only in it briefly.",5.0,Great Story!,1378598400,"09 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2XIJ9ZT3SFLVV,055329315X,"Gemma ""bookworm""","[13, 19]","I've enjoyed Amanda Quick ever since I found a copy of RAVISHED at my local thrift store. I immediately snapped up everything I could find by this author. Now I'm wondering why I bothered.My problem is that I'm starting to see the same pattern over and over: the hero falls in love with an unconventional, fearless lady. He is intrigued by her because she is unique. He then marries her, and proceeds to try to bully her into being like everyone else. Huh? If you wanted a woman who follows the rules of society, then why did you marry one who never has, and probably never will?I found Gabriel so mean in this book. I was beyond disgusted when he calls Phoebe a ""reckless, naive, impulsive little fool."" And what was her sin? She saw a man following her while she was shopping and was able to lose him in traffic. This was foolish? She thought the man might have been a thief, a rapist, or a murderer. I thought her actions were clever, not foolish. When a strange man is following you around, you're supposed to just let him? Okay...And even if she had acted foolishly, I don't think calling her names was justified. Yes, I know that in history, men owned women, but reading about a guy who loves to throw his weight around just because he's a man is not romantic to me.Quick's books always start out good, then fizzle away. The hero is usually wonderful until he marries the heroine, whereupon he immediately morphs into a posessive, controlling jerk. Sorry, but this is a sad scenerio that happens all too often in real life. I'm not about to read it as a ""romantic"" escape. I think I need to take a long break from this author. This is at least the fourth book in a row that has ticked me off for the same reason.",3.0,Anyone else starting to see this pattern?,1205193600,"03 11, 2008",13,19,helpful,0.6842105263157895,1 A1N73Q2516RULH,1455549630,Skip Freeman,"[18, 18]","Is life totally random or is there a design (anywhere?)? What is life all about any way? Why are we here? Does any of this really matter? How do we find our way when everything seems to be cratering all around?Could there really be a pattern on how to do life that makes sense? Yes there is and ""Home Run"" lays out such a pattern!What is success in life? And isn't success better when there is someone to share it with? And let's look in the mirror. Can we hold our head up high with self-respect? Is our success significant?Success -> Someone -> Self-Respect -> SignificanceKevin Myers and John Maxwell reveal both a remarkable and simple pattern, using the analogy of baseball, to lay out what we should and could be doing with the only life we have...the one we are living today. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us.If you are tired of living a random life; if you are tired of wondering where you are and what you should even do next; if you want to tap into a power and develop the tools necessary to live a life that will sparkle, inspire, impact and transform both yourself and the world then read, internalize and apply ""the diamond life,"" i.e. the pattern laid out in ""Home Run.""Home Plate - Connection. Everything begins and ends here; it is where you hit (connect with) the ball and cross back over to score. Here we learn how to ""connect"" our purpose with God's power.First base - Character. Win within. What happens most of the time when a player comes up to bat? They fail to reach first base. All along the journey of life all of us, at one time or another, let character issues get in our way - anger, addictions, selfishness, procrastination, gossip, lust...we all get it...but how do we control it? Myers and Maxwell show us how to win first base.Second base - Community. Win with others. Whew, sometimes ""getting along"" is the most impossible thing to do. But stop and think about it. Aren't the greatest and most memorable times in life the times when we share meaningful moments with others? Learning to win second base ensures we will have more meaningful moments with others.Third base - Competence. Win results. And it is more than just performance. It is abundance.Home Plate - Score. How to keep living and keep winning.The choice is ours.Thank you Kevin Myers and John Maxwell for pouring yourself into our lives through this book and into the countless lives of millions.Don't procrastinate. Start your ""home run"" life today.",5.0,There is a pattern on how to do life - the diamond life,1391472000,"02 4, 2014",18,18,helpful,1.0,1 A16082CZBAKI3I,147003655X,DAWANNA ADAMS,"[0, 1]",This was just another book intertwining romance with suspense.If that's all you're looking for then this is a good read.I read this for those same reasons but just once I'd like to be surprised with an author.,3.0,More of the same.,1389830400,"01 16, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1N32PAIRIKBRF,B00GH4GCQ4,Sandra Love,"[5, 5]","What a great debut novel. This book didn't disappoint me at all. This book was so good, and it drew me right in. The characters and story felt so real. Kate is a strong women who came into hidden springs. She wanted to open up a ranch, so she hired some people. That's when she met Sam. Without giving alot away, Kate went thru something horrible and it was hard for her to get close to sam. Will she be able to get close to him...??? I suggest you read this amazing book. You will not be disappointed. Great job!! I can't wait until the next book is released!!!! <3",5.0,A great Debut Novel,1384473600,"11 15, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2CHCGZSB8YE4H,1586482467,"Miran Ali ""I don't like anonymous reviewers""","[9, 9]","I read through this book in about three days. After about two thirds of the way through, the endless cycle of killing and thievery tends to get a bit numbing. Nevertheless an excellent post-colonial survey of African history. I was lucky to find such an unbiased and informative book. Unfortunately, I am left with a couple of questions that Meredith doesn't ask: wasn't much of Africa better off under colonialism, especially under the sort of colonialism practiced in the post war years? Isn't one reason why South Africa didn't go the way of just about every other African country that the whites held on to power until the waning of Socialist Pan-Africanism?",5.0,Reader Fatigue,1142726400,"03 19, 2006",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A11GG623AD89YT,1484994566,The Autumn Review,"[0, 0]","Emerge was a really great coming of age story. I found myself relating to Laney throughout the entire book. It also brought back memories of my own high school relationship. So, it was a bittersweet story for me.Laney and Evan have been friends since they were kids. They played together, shared secrets, and just knew each other. As the end of high school approaches, their feelings for each other change. Well, Evan has had stronger than friendship feelings for Laney for a long time, but he's finally ready to make his move. They finish out their senior year in a loving relationship, but now college looms near. They had always planned on going to college together, but it didn't work out that way, so they're forced to go their separate ways. Evan wants to make the relationship work, but Laney wants to be realistic. So, they plan to keep their friendship in tact, but put a hold on their relationship.Off to school they go. Once they both settle in at their schools, things change. They're both meeting new people and having new experiences. Evan and Laney begin to drift apart. At this point in the book, I started getting a little nervous. I think I still held out hope that they could work it out in some way, but it's hard being in a long distance relationship at that age. I know. I tried it. The only thing that eased my mind a bit was the fact that I loved Dane. He and Laney became friends on the very first day of school. He's a bit older, wiser, and of course, attractive. I loved him, because I felt like he really understood Laney. He got to see her experience new things and show her what a more mature relationship would be like. And...they had great chemistry.One of the things I liked the most about this book was that I got to read from all three POV's, so I felt like I had a clear idea of where everyone's head was at. It's also one of the reasons I fell for Dane. I was really happy with the way things turned out and felt like they really did end up as things should be, but I do love Evan. I want to see him with the right person.Overall, I enjoyed Emerge. As I said above, I appreciated the reality of the story. It's relatable. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and I look forward to reading more about this group! If you're looking for a new NA series to start, check this one out!Quotes:~"Open your eyes, Laney, look at me. Make damn sure you know it's me kissing you, and don't you ever hide from it."I do as he says and then his lips are on mine. This isn't the kiss of a best friend, not the kiss of the boy next door who make you spit-shake on a deal and will always take care of you. This is the kiss of a madman who wants to make you scream his name up against a wall. The kiss makes it okay that I even just thought that, because it's a fact.-Loc 2598~ I know my day is better if I see him in the morning before getting started. I know that I sleep better if his is the last voice I hear. My body knows the minute he walks into a room. My heart knows he needs me to give him time just as badly as I need him to give me answers. My mind knows that if I walk away now, I'll eventually be fine, but fine isn't the term I want used to describe my life.-Loc 3944",4.0,The Autumn Review for Emerge,1386201600,"12 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3R82QUU6WFKUE,0922233179,"Bri ""brionhet""","[22, 26]","This little book is a hoot. Ken takes the veil away from many of the less well advertised aspects of the biblical "message." Too bad the people this could really help either won't read it or won't get it.I'd have given it all five stars but for a couple of things. First, Ken misses some of the most outrageous "family values" tales in the OT. The one that tipped me off about the "value" of this book, way back when I was a little nipper, was the dreadful tale of Abraham and Isaac. The story of a god repulsive enough to command a man to murder his own son for no reason other than to prove what a brainless sheep he was, and a father who was perfectly ready to do it. This story should terrify any child with half a brain.Then there's the charming story of Lot, supposedly the only honorable man in Sodom, who, in order to preserve the dignity of a couple of God's angel spies, appeased a mob by throwing them his two virgin daughters. Oh, yes--this book is a great guide to high family values.The other reason I can't give Ken five stars is that he's a bit behind on his New Testament scholarship. It's been quite well established that (1) none of the gospels was written by anyone who ever knew Jesus, despite having the names of apostles, (2) in fact, there's not a single word of "eye witness" testimony re. Jesus in any part of the Bible, (3) the oldest part of the NT is, in fact, some of the stuff written by Paul, so arguably *his* version of the Jesus/Christianity stuff is more accurate (and this stuff was written many years after the death of Jesus--if, in fact, Jesus was a real person, which is quite questionable), and (4) the oldest of the four gospels was Mark; Matthew and Luke simply plagiarized Mark, beefed up and tweaked stuff to meet their particular liturgical needs, and invented stuff like birth myths to make Jesus seem more supernatural than Mark's rather pasturale depiction seems to indicate. So it's not very surprising that John is the odd man out--this is the only one of the four gospels that's somewhat independent of the others. Both of the (contradictory) birth myths are just that--completely fabricated. In fact, Joseph, the supposed father of Jesus, is probably also completely fabricated.Sorry, True Believers. Your faith is based on shifting sand. Were it not shielded by layer after layer of religious gauze, the Bible is a book which no one would consider to be suitable reading for anyone under the age of 21. Let's get those Bibles shelved where they belong--in the mythology section, right next to Bullfinch's.",4.0,Irreverent and fun,949190400,"01 30, 2000",22,26,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A1NYG6MWWHAV66,1401689949,"Sandy Rhoad ""Insatiable reader""","[18, 28]","The life lesson contained in this story is one you already know but it is fun to read it in a real life setting - HOWEVER, there is more to consider in buying a book than just the story. I think the author had a good premise but is trying to make a lot of money quickly off christian readers. The book is small, only 191 pages and that is a half hour read - it is double spaced on 7 inch pages - meaning that it is a one column read in the parable section of the bible. The price is too high for the smallness of it and should be a paper thin, $4.00 book to make you feel good instead of a $17.00 hardback that you are angry with yourself for buying. I won't purchase any more of Lucado's books - not until he stops trying to make money off eager readers.",2.0,Be careful in buying!,1168387200,"01 10, 2007",18,28,helpful,0.6428571428571429,1 A1I37UE7V3E7JQ,B006N9346Y,Amanda,"[0, 0]",The book was ok. The story was kind of slow and after all the fuss you dont get to learn a whole lot about the main characters and how they end up!,2.0,Ok book,1350864000,"10 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A25C8RO2ULK3VO,0060538260,nvt,"[10, 23]","This book deals almost exclusively with oral sex, when there is so much more to pleasuring a woman-- or at least, this one. Sex Again is better, as is the revised edition of The Joy of Sex.",1.0,It's a one-trick pony,1374796800,"07 26, 2013",10,23,helpful,0.43478260869565216,1 A1NV36SWK23GOR,0971412901,"Homeschool Mom ""homeschool777""","[52, 113]","This book is being marketed as a history book but it is sparse in factual history. It includes a plethora of mythological legends, false teachings (Buddha), interspersed with history and no way to tell the difference. It claims to be chronological but it is not. It confusingly jumps back thousands of years. The narration is dumbed down, the tone is condescending.If you are a Christian homeschooler wanting to see God's hand in history you have come to the wrong place. This is NOT written from a Christian world view (obvious from the author's the ""definition of history in the Introduction). The small amount of Bible history (an obvious token) is wrong. Jesus' resurrection is treated as a legend. The book reports Abraham father left Ur because he was going to be attacked??(not in the Bible).This book needs a good editor. Most sentences ends with an exclamation point. The author was in such a hurry to market it she excludes many important details and peoples in history. On top of the false information and myths, the layout is bad making it difficult to read.Did anyone that reviewed this book read it? The five star ratings tell me Susan has a lot of helpful friends. The one star ratings (please read them all) give me hope that some homeschoolers know their history.",1.0,Pathetic - Mine went in the garbage,1093478400,"08 26, 2004",52,113,helpful,0.46017699115044247,1 A107MHHTH37H32,B00GF1DNNY,"Kuari and Pogo ""Jenn or Pam""","[0, 1]",Competition between gay guys for the same straight guy. That's not a plot that comes up often. The "magic" of the fir tree was an interesting twist but I would think anyone would give up after learning the object of obsession was out of reach. The kid brother was an interesting character.,4.0,Nice Christmas theme story,1400716800,"05 22, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1X4P6CN08U57A,1442346965,FicktionPhotography,"[0, 0]","When I first heard that Stephen King was going to be delivering us yet another Dark Tower book I was simultaneously excited and terrified. The ending is fairly conclusive, if I do say so myself, but I had it figured that King wouldn't waste his time or energy on a continuation of the story unless it was as epic as the last seven books provided. Thankfully, later, as more information seeped out, it was told that the book was actually squashed in between Wizard and Glass and Wolves of the Calla. Nicknamed the Dark Tower Book 4.5, I prefer to have read it after the 7th book. The reason being is that the majority of Wizard and Glass is about Roland's past, as the ka-tet palavers around a campfire before approaching what looks to be the Wizard of Oz's Emerald Palace. The Wind Through the Keyholes is yet another story of Roland's past, spoken of after his return to Gilead, the murder of his mother, and a conversation with his father.At first, reading the book was awkward (hence why I tentatively give it five stars), but per King's genius, the book is not just one story, but two and the other is a fairy tale of Roland's time and place. The fairy tale, which sports the same name as King's book, takes up the majority of the novel. It is used to comfort a scared boy who must confront his own demons with young sai Deschain as a guide and protector. So, typical King, it's a story that King is telling us, about Roland who is telling it to his ka-tet before the Calla is reached, about a younger Roland telling another story to a young boy. In actuality, it's more of a story about the love for a mother, something that works well with the pain the ka-tet will face in the Calla as children are stolen away. It brings us, as readers, closer to Roland as a young boy. It also helps us to understand the finality in which Roland grew up. After Mejis, Roland had reached manhood not only by passing his gunslinger text delivered by Cort, but also by watching the murder and decimation of Mejis. Now, the nails are driven home tight into the coffin that represents adulthood, Roland displaying his cold heart to the world for one of the first times.The book fits well, considering the breadth of King's levels of the Dark Tower, into the series. It also is a joy to read, granting us a glimpse into some of our favorite characters (if you're a fan of the series, that is). It will read quickly and sweep you back into Roland Deschain's world as if you never left it.",5.0,Tentative Five Stars,1361923200,"02 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 APH0AIQXSJ1CO,B008LMT8AW,Margaret A. Croyts,"[0, 0]",Just different enough that I enjoyed reading this book. A nice mystery. Just enough to fill in a few hours.,4.0,Behind the Voice,1380326400,"09 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ELYEZ0OFZIUJ,080073436X,dmb4500,"[4, 4]",I liked the premise of the novel-who doesn't dream of re-kindling a lost love if they find themselves at a crossroads in life? But I felt the ex-husband was overplayed.....I could almost see him sitting there twisting his evil-looking mustache....just seemed like overkill. I strongly disliked the ending; it felt rushed and tied up into a tight little package rather suddenly. I was irritated when I put it down because the end made everything look so easy-- after all the angst throughout the book it was a letdown. I felt that the romance was sweet and didn't feel overwhelmed by the Christian references (normally not my cup of tea).,3.0,No surprises here,1341014400,"06 30, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AFN32PGTZ31MV,0307740994,B. Capossere,"[13, 13]","Never Let Me go is a difficult book, I'd actually say, impossible book to review without discussing what isn't revealed fully until almost a 100 pages in. That's not really such as problem as some pretty heavy-handed references to the ""surprise"" come in the first few pages, many readers will figure it out in the first few dozen, and Ishiguro himself says he has no problem with reviewers revealing the premise as he ""wasn't writing a mystery."" But for those who prefer not to know, I'll keep the next paragraph spoiler-free then skip a line and give a spoiler alert before continuing.Never Let Me Go is narrated by 31-year-old Kathy H, a soon-to-retire ""carer"" who looks back at her time at Hailsham, a strange and isolated English private school where she lived her entire youth. Moving back and forth in time, she revisits the school's strange rules and traditions, the oddly reticent live-in teachers or ""Guardians"", and especially the relationship she had with Tommy and Ruth--her two best friends. The book's strengths are its clear, clean prose; its muted voice, its shifting back and forth in time, its steadily accreting sense of poignancy. Its weaknesses are several scenes that would read much more tritely were they not bolstered by the weight conveyed due to the as-yet-to-be-revealed-in-this-review premise, a sometimes annoying repetition of qualifiers and reminders that memory is not 100 percent, and a sense that the world created hasn't really been fully thought out or fully stocked. The book can be moving, but lags in some places and annoys in others. And that's the vague review you get when the premise can't be discussed: a mildly pleasing book that disappoints somewhat in the end. Anyone who doesn't want the premise revealed should stop here.Spoilers below:It doesn't take long for the reader to figure there's something weird about Hailsham and it isn't that far into the book that the main premise is revealed, that Kathy, Tommy, Ruth and the other ""students"" are clones created to become organ donors. Kathy has been a ""carer"" (for the clones who donate) for over a decade and is soon to become a donor herself. She has reunited recently with Ruth and Tommy, both of whom became donors much earlier and both of whom are moving steadily towards their ""completion"" (death) which usually happens after the fourth donation.The premise is what gives the book the added weight some of its scenes desperately need. On the surface level, the book is a not-so-original ""my life at boarding school story"". Kathy recounts the usual angst of adolescence: the fear of being isolated, cliques, the exploration of sexuality, the cattiness of friends, the way friendships shift between rivalry and loyalty (especially when there is a triangle involved), the dominant girl and the more passive girl, etc. All of these scenes are handled deftly and smoothly, but not particularly originally. There isn't much spark to them, nothing we haven't seen a thousand times before.What rescues the book from cliche or from triteness of course is the chilling ever-presence of the premise. These are not normal pre-teens and teens. The fact that they are clones, that they are basically farm animals bred to be slaughtered, that they will almost all ""complete"" at a relatively young age (Kathy at 31 is pretty old in comparison to most it seems)--all of this adds weight to each would-otherwise-be-trivial scene. When Kathy talks about how the kids ""collected"" small, basically worthless items to mark their individuality, it's nothing more than all pre-teens do, except of course that in this situation it is, and one can't help but feel the echo of similar behaviors in the concentration camps. The same is true for the mysterious focus at Hailsham on producing art, on being creative. One of the earliest signs of something amiss is that the best kid at football is not honored for his athleticism but mocked for his lack of artistic talent.The guardians have full knowledge of the truth and it is slowly revealed to the students, but timed Kathy later suspects so that they were never really old enough to fully internalize what they were being told about their fate. Some adults show revulsion toward them, some pity, some regret, some anger.Among the three kids, Ruth is the dominant one, Kathy the more passive, and Tommy is caught in between, becoming Ruth's boyfriend but also clearly pining for Kathy, who as a young woman would like to return that affection but doesn't. Why she doesn't, what happens when the three reunite as adults, what they further learn about Hailsham are all points better left undiscussed, as they drive much of the plot in the last quarter of the book and they, at least, are meant to be somewhat suspenseful or mysterious.As mentioned above, the strengths of the book are its prose and its premise. As one expects from Ishiguro, the writing is sharp and efficient, smoothly tailored to its intended effect. The premise permeates the book and is disturbing not simply for its horror but also for the triviality of its presentation. This is no horrific dystopic vision like 1984 or the Handmaid's Tale. What chills here is the banality of the presentation, of the setting and the seemingly trivial activities of the children/teens.This is both strength, however, and weakness, for it's a very fine line Ishiguro is trying to walk, and if the banality of the conflicts and dialogues and ""crises"" serve to make the premise more chilling, they are also banal and for me at least they never completely escaped that banality. I see the chilling effect, I understand it, but a part of me kept reacting to the triviality of yet another teen angst book with two teen girls liking the same boy, with boys ganging up on another boy, with girls being mean to each other, etc.Kathy's voice was also somewhat problematic for me for it was a bit too muted, too matter-of-fact, at least until the very end. And there was the annoying frequency with which she would qualify her memories by saying something along the lines of ""of course, memory isn't failsafe"", or ""Ruth (or Tommy) didn't remember it this way"", or ""I thought this was how it happened but now I find I'm unsure . . "" and so on. I didn't mind the idea so much as how often it was thrown at me.Plot-wise, the ending seemed a bit forced--the search for a particular truth and the way a lot of information is revealed at the end in monologue form by an old woman in a room, much of the ""mystery"" summed up in a few pages of pure speech.But by far the largest problem I had was how the whole world premise felt only half-baked. While the self-contained world of Hailsham was well-presented, there were a lot of nagging questions with regard to what was happening elsewhere. The clones move freely in and out of society once they graduate from Hailsham, but there is little reaction to or from them with regard to ""normals"". Where are the inevitable extremists from either side--those who would protect them from their fate and those who would want to destroy them? Who are the organs for? Why does no one rebel, take a car and just drive away? How does nobody try to get word to the kids at Hailsham about what they really are and what their future is? Ishiguro has one Guardian break down and hint/reveal but it's handled more sentimentally than with any anger or sense of rebellion. One has to imagine there would be others who would take more active roles. Not that they had to be on-stage but rumors of such things, brief references to them would make the world seem more real. Even Tommy, who is noted for his frighteningly extreme temper, never rebels. The analysis that his temper was a subconscious reaction to the sensed truth of his life--""maybe on a level you knew before any of us""-- might explain 8-yr-old Tommy throwing a tantrum but not why 13-yr-old Tommy doesn't do worse. Or why 20-yr-old Tommy doesn't just take off once he's free of Hailsham's restrictions.In the end, the half-nature of the created world, the muted narrative voice, and the surface triviality of the kids' relationships combined to bleed the book of some of its power. Not all of it. As I've said, there is a sense of chill throughout, and the end is quite moving, as is the book as a whole. But if the book is greater than its parts, it isn't so by much. Recommended, but not with a lot of excitement.",4.0,4 but a surprisingly weak one,1116374400,"05 18, 2005",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A3SMN232V38JGJ,B008RLZTZ0,Tashboogie,"[0, 0]",Unique part 2 left me in shock and wonder to say the least. Page after page of wondering what's next kept me from putting this book down. Great read and now on to part 3.,4.0,Whoa!,1362009600,"02 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3AVTH0SEDMV1W,0061767891,floridarose,"[4, 5]","As a long-time Aerosmith fan, and as a hardcore Steven Tyler fan, I was really looking forward to reading this book. I simply can't get through it. It's nothing but whining, stories about one drug after another, stupid rhyming that takes up whole pages, and the fact that all he ever wanted to do was be famous. Take my advice and read Keith Richards' book - it is really great and well written. I was never a huge Stones fan, but Keith is the real article. Sadly, Steven Tyler is just a fame whore.",1.0,Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?,1315094400,"09 4, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2VPCKPNTWZ7DH,0060763035,Amy,"[0, 0]","I read the first story in this series from my public library and truly enjoyed it, but sadly the 3rd story was not available there. I don't know if you will enjoy the 3rd book as much as I did if you don't at least read the first one in the Kane Trilogy, but I really enjoyed this story in fact I could not put the book down. It's a good thing I did not need to go to work the next day since I did not get into bed till 4:30am. This book is set in the regency period of England, but had a very modern vampire love story flare to it. So if you are into the whole paranormal romance I think you will enjoy this book, if you like to read regency romances you'll like this book and if you enjoy both you'll just love it.",4.0,Yum,1351382400,"10 28, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2S7CSWDZD4N44,0553377884,Krista Wheatley,"[0, 0]","Few have a way with words like Robbins. Some say he's too whimsical for them, but he's enchanting to the rest, and Skinny Legs And All stands with his best work. An exciting tale steeped in Christian tales and an emphasis on the modern issues involving Israel.",5.0,Recommended for Those With Christian Backgrounds,1300147200,"03 15, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3TO3AY1UFM83U,0307461513,"not a natural ""Bob Bickel""","[13, 20]","Micahel Barone's book Shaping Our Nation might best be characterized as an overwrought and tendentious amateur's venture into political demography. Barone purports to document the patterns of immigration and internal migration that, over the last two and a half centuries, have culminated in the specific political character of the population that constitutes today's United States. While Barone's work is not without merit, as with any historical research it is inevitably interpretative, meaning that we have to trust the author to use the best source material available and to be as evenhanded as possible. Otherwise, historical research can become hopelessly subjective, and the reader who has not been deeply immersed in similar material has no way to evaluate it.Initially, I saw no compelling reason to question Barone's judgment or suspect that his interpretations were in some way tilted to the right or left, or that they were unduly celebrationist or excessively critical. It's true that I didn't know what to make of the claim that his work represented a departure from ""analyses of the New Deal historians,"" but I imagined this was due to my ignorance of work such as Barone's, and that for most readers the terminology would be of no concern.Similarly, Barone's use of the expression ""fighting fields"" in explaining what Scots-Irish immigrants of the Eighteenth Century were looking for when they came to North America seemed romanticized and hyperbolic. After all, it would have been enough to say that they were in search of a place where they could make a living without being hemmed in by governmental controls and the constraints intrinsic to the routine working of free-market capitalism. Presumably, their aim was to live as hunters and subsistence farmers. Still, when Barone repeatedly refers to ""fighting fields,"" he makes Scots-Irish immigrants sound needlessly bellicose. Again, this is something the reader might easily gloss over as nothing more than an idiosyncratic liberty that Barone takes with colorful, over-dramatized language. It need not mean that he routinely deals in over-blown caricatures or that he is insensitive to nuances demanded by proper interpretation of his sources.It is, however, more difficult to attribute the author's usage and judgment to well-meaning and harmless eccentricity when he claims that the southern black family ""casually"" produced illegitimate children. This seems especially troublesome when his only source is provided by the insistently right-wing anthropologist Hortense Powdermaker. In this instance, Barone is not referring to contemporary urban black families for whom children born out of wedlock are commonplace, but to their historical antecedents in the rural south. The implication seems clear: whatever the context, black families are ineffective, a claim that, to my knowledge, is completely without foundation.Barone relies entirely on secondary sources, meaning that he does no data analyses of his own, and he has little or nothing to substantiate often dubious assertions that become more frequent as the reader moves toward the end of the book. In the next to last chapter, titled Promised Lands, Barone's uncritical use of sources that range from controversial to patently dubious to non-existent becomes especially troubling. For a work of this kind, the secondary sources are quite thin, and some are suspiciously over-used, as if they were the only sources pertinent to the issue under discussion.Furthermore, Shaping Our Nation may be the only large-scale, long-term demography of the U.S. ever written that did not use even one reference to Census Bureau reports or data. If Barone didn't use county-level census data in constructing the maps on pages 47, 60, 77, 91, 95,96, and 111, where did he get his numbers? This is the kind of data that demands a series of major research projects, not the sort of thing routinely done in the Nineteenth Century, and very costly and difficult even today. Leaving readers in the dark as to the sources of his data undermines confidence in the author.In discussing the experience of blacks in the Twentieth Century U.S., Barone relies almost exclusively on The Negro Family, a well-known and extremely controversial book written by the scholar and politician Daniel Patrick Moynihan in 1970. Barone's specific claims that welfare dependency was destructive of black families and provided disincentives to work has no references other than Moynihan. The author's assertion that differences in the level of welfare payments prompted migration from state to state has no references at all. These judgments may be popular as urban legends, but they are sharply inconsistent with much more recent research done domestically, for example, by sociologist Jill Quadagno and internationally by political scientist Benno Engels.I would be less troubled and less suspicious if Barone, after over-using his few sources, had at least acknowledged that there are legitimate alternatives presented by accomplished social scientists, and that even Moynihan, as a U.S. Senator, was opposed to Clinton's welfare reform policies as unduly restrictive. But none of this is to be. After a while, one may be justified in failing to see the political and demographic content of the chapter titled Promised Lands and construing it as an indiscriminate trashing of non-conservative governmental policy and the culture of American blacks.Finally, in the present day it seems almost inconceivable that a book of this kind would be written without acknowledging the thunderous impact of the globalization of capital on the American economy and the people who make up its workforce. Since the early 1970's, globalization has been the primary fact of economic, political, and social life in the U.S. and elsewhere. The year 1970, following Barone, was pivotal for changes in the nature of internal migration in the U.S., and the impact of globalization on our labor market has been devastating. Barone makes one off-handed mention of the world-wide character of capitalism, but as for globalization as we have come to understand that phenomenon, he's never heard of it!In spite of the fact that Shaping Our Nation is, for the most part, relatively accessible, I would not recommend it to anyone not armed with a scholar's knowledge of American political history. When an author loses the confidence of readers of inherently interpretative research, his or her work is best avoided by all but those who have the resources to be sensitive to errors and misrepresentations.",2.0,Does the Author Inspire Confidence?,1384387200,"11 14, 2013",13,20,helpful,0.65,1 A1ZJOFN09LSC3F,0671708821,M. Marku,"[5, 6]","When I first read this book, I thought that it was going to solve all my problems. It's typical self-help propaganda which promises to take care of most of your problems.I even taped myself saying empowering phrases and I listened to it every day. In the end, you have to get out in the real world and do something that is out of your comfort zone. Books like this keep you entangled in the world of theory, which is basically meaningless.Would an old-fashioned cowboy stay home and think of nice ways to talk positive to himself? No, he would storm out of the cabin and try to tame a wild horse. This would give him read world confidence and he would see that he's not made out of glass.",1.0,"It might seem like a magic bullet at first, but...",1381708800,"10 14, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A6K2Q9ZSKLYDV,1938531035,mrg,"[0, 0]","Loved it! It is so typical of (any) church! First time I have read such a funny, true story about the Church Ladies. Can really relate to the situations. Hope to read the series.",5.0,FUN-NY but so TRUE!,1399075200,"05 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A28LQJCYMZB2S4,148231780X,Robin Rotruck,"[0, 0]",Took maybe 5 minutes to read this but it made us giggleIt's a fun book for kids to read,5.0,A cute little read,1368662400,"05 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LE1SYMBPF9S4,B00H1FBOF2,crodal,"[0, 0]","Love Square and His Ever After we two of my favorite reads in 2013. I was so excited when I found out Jessica Ingro had a Christmas novella out! It was great to catch up with Aiden & Sam and Jacob & Kara! This novella was the perfect mix of romance, smut and drama. Loved it!",4.0,Loved it!,1387411200,"12 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A13OFOB1394G31,0312956010,"E. A. Lovitt ""starmoth""","[17, 18]","""Coyote Wind"" is a darn near perfect specimen of a mixed-genre mystery cum western. Gabriel Du Pré is laconic, honorable, and wise to the ways of the Big Sky Country---a throwback to the noble cowboy-hero of Zane Grey's novels. He is a vulnerable hero, a Métis descendant of the French Voyageurs and Plains Indians. He has problems with his teenage daughter, who has shaved off part of her hair and dyed the rest of it a weird color. His mistress won't marry him because in the eyes of the Church, she is still married to the sleaze who deserted her many years past. He is plagued throughout the book by an alcoholic Métis prophet.Du Pré's voice is unique, and perfect for this story. His dialogue is short, punchy, flicked with mordant barbs---an arrow in your eye when you are least expecting it. Two chapters into the book, found myself talking, thinking like Du Pré.The mystery of who killed whom in ""Coyote Wind"" is fairly easy to unravel once you get to know and care about the characters. It almost had to occur, considering the people involved. It becomes more important to see if Du Pré can help a friend stop drinking, rather than to figure out who murdered his friend's brother. As Du Pré keeps telling everyone who will listen: ""I ain't a cop...I am a [brand inspector].""Nevertheless, it is Du Pré who is tapped to solve a thirty-year-old murder. He goes about it in a style that is perfectly tuned to his character. Not a single false note from Du Pré or his fiddle.""Coyote Wind"" is a very satisfying read.",5.0,First book in a great mystery series,1052611200,"05 11, 2003",17,18,helpful,0.9444444444444444,1 A24YR2K62HGB9Z,0312549997,"Jean Marie Taylor ""sf book gal""","[4, 4]","This book has it all, and I'm so glad that the author has written a bunch of other books and seems prolific. Her background in theater clearly contributes to the believable dialogue.",4.0,Police procedural cum heartwarming story,1248739200,"07 28, 2009",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A20659T5OR41XM,1455124168,Gilah,"[0, 0]","I was totally unprepared for the kind of book this was going to be . For some reason, maybe because it was recommended by fellow students in a class I'm taking at Hebrew University, I thought it had to do with some kind of therapy or research.This is the story of the power of love and how life takes you in unexpected and often unwanted directons. How to make the best of what you have instead of whining about how "they" aren't letting you do what you want. Usually I don't like books that bounce back and forth between time periods but this technique worked for this story.It was a story told with sensitivity,slowly, with warmth and love. I couldn't put it down until the last page, and then I went back to put the pieces back together, to make sure I understood. I figured out who was U Ba was, way before the end, Was that intentional? Does it matter?Excellent story that didn't feel translated at all. Great job! I will look for more books by this author, he should stick to the same translator.(less)",5.0,A story to make you think and feel...,1396656000,"04 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3OXLZIFNE7JIH,B0065QZVGQ,"Joan Reeves ""It's never too late to live happ...","[16, 20]","When I was a kid, I spent one summer working my way through every Zane Grey western novel our parish library had on the shelves. The books were far better than western television shows and captured the adventure and romance of the old west that made it so beloved by generations of readers worldwide.KISS OF THE CHRISTMAS WIND has that same flavor. It's a western flavored with romance that harks back to a forgotten era in our history.What I liked most of all was reading how Carrie Sue Jamison, the heroine, lived her daily life. I don't know if I found this so fascinating because, as background for OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER, the book I just published, I had recently finished another reading of Luchetti's HOME ON THE RANGE, about how women helped win the west--one meal at a time.When I opened KISS OF THE CHRISTMAS WIND, I was back there on the frontier with Carrie Sue. I thought Ms. Taylor perfectly rendered Carrie Sue's way of life as a ranch wife.Certainly, that life was nothing we modern women would aspire to, but it may make you stop and think the next time you complain that there's no fresh zucchini at the supermarket in December. This short story will probably give you increased respect for all the women like Carrie Sue who kept the home fires burning while their husbands tamed the wild west--often with their help.The sweet romance between Carrie Sue and Thad, her Texas Ranger husband, showed that there were compensations for those pioneer women, not the least of which was a loving husband to keep a woman warm beneath a pile of quilts on a cold winter night.Western fans, if you've bemoaned that there aren't enough good westerns published any more, rejoice! Janelle Taylor continues to spin heartwarming tales of the Old West.",5.0,Heartwarming Christmas Story,1322265600,"11 26, 2011",16,20,helpful,0.8,1 A30ES2F3JQ4MC5,0385738773,KimberlyP,"[0, 0]",Th plot of the is amazing the idea and the ending are all sending tears to my eyes right now as I have just finish the series.,5.0,Beautiful,1358380800,"01 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2VKWLCNZF4ZVB,1553691369,The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers,"[5, 5]","COLORED WAITING ROOM by Patricia G. Pope is the story of the deep, dark descent of Alberta Graham. Alberta is a security officer at a Federal nuclear plant in rural Cherokee, Tennessee. Because of a promotion, she is transferred to this rural and racist area of Tennessee. Alberta has two strikes against her, one she is black and two she is female.The story depicts the corruption, for monetary gain, by the employees at the nuclear plant, Alberta�s discovery of it, the cover up that ensues and the racist attitudes of the employees. In addition to the corruption, Alberta�s mental state into abyss is showcased. We read and watch as this woman attempts to fight the system within and lose her mind in the interim. Additionally, we are able to experience with Alberta a romantic encounter that she has against her better judgment. How does this encounter fit into the scheme of things at the nuclear plant? Who are these people, both black and white, that enter and disturb Alberta�s world? Why is Alberta marked as a revolutionary and troublemaker within the �good ole boy� network?It is quite evident, as Pope states in the synopsis, that this book is for both the casual reader and the scholar. The colored waiting room, on the grounds of the nuclear plant, is symbolic and through Alberta�s actions and her musings this room becomes her refuge. The use of several literary techniques is excellent providing for a thoughtful, sympathetic, yet disturbing read.Reviewed by Dawn R. Reevesof The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers",4.0,My Room Awaits Me,1063411200,"09 13, 2003",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,0979789508,Midwest Book Review,"[0, 0]","What is the plight of the modern shaman? ""Dance of Stones: A Shamanic Road Trip"" is the story of self-professed Shaman Kenn Day, as he offers a log of his road trip to give readers a picture of what the modern Shaman faces in today's world. Those interested in modern Shamanism will find much explained within ""Dance of Stones"", making it a solidly recommended read.",5.0,A solidly recommended read,1255219200,"10 11, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALVURWQC1KS1C,B004U29QMM,TIS,"[0, 0]","The first thing I must say about this professionally written kindle book is that every emotion you have felt or ever wanted to feel is in here. There are points in the book where the characters experience hardships, highs and lows that I myself have went through in my life.There is an immediate connection that I felt to the people in this story. I had force myself to stop reading so I could go to sleep around midnight for a few nights. The biggest thing that I have taken away from this book is it's way of showing what true friendship is all about.This book touches on romance also, there are so many dynamic elements to this book that I can't help but recommend this to others!",5.0,The story really tugs at your heartstrings...,1342656000,"07 19, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJNW2SVETWAW1,0615600018,kacunnin,"[5, 6]","Susan Orlins's CONFESSIONS OF A WORRYWART is a sometimes-hilarious, often-poignant, and always-charming memoir about growing up, loving, living, and ultimately finding oneself. Orlins began life as Susan Fishman, free-spirited juggler of boyfriends, bicycle trips, and quiche. After marriage to Jeff in the late 1970's, she became much more of a world traveler, including extended stays in China and Hong Kong, trips to Paris, and a home in Washington, DC. She also became a mother, which seems to be when all the ""worrywart"" stuff kicked into high gear (Orlins worries about pretty much everything, from whether her kids will be run over by cars as they cross the street to whether her dog has self-esteem issues to the horrors of bedbugs). Through it all, Orlins considers what it means to be a woman growing older in a world that values only youth, and what it means to be an older woman alone, without a man (she divorced Jeff after eighteen years of what she concludes was a successful marriage).CONFESSIONS OF A WORRYWART is written in a series of vignettes chronicling such things as Susan's high school boyfriends (one of whose neck, she said, smelled of starched shirts), her first marriage (which ended almost as soon as it began), her life with Jeff (good, bad, and everything in between), her children, her divorce, and her struggle to find the connection between Susan Fishman and Susan Orlins (what would young Susan think of her much older counterpart?). She writes in a witty, self-deprecating voice that is both immediately accessible and totally engaging. I found myself laughing time and again at the many ways Orlins's thoughts mirrored my own (her ""Plane Crash Fantasy,"" in which she imagined a quick and painless death for her husband, was particularly memorable).I think what I liked most about this book was the thoughtful way Orlins writes about the joys of being alone - taking solitary walks and bike rides, sipping coffee while reading the paper, or sitting with a book and a beloved dog at the end of the day. She has always had friends (and she delights in writing about them), and her romances have far outnumbered my own, but in the end she realizes that being alone in her own skin is an intoxicating experience. This isn't a book about divorce and neurotic worrying - it's a book about the journey we all take to find ourselves after decades of living among others. At the end of CONFESSIONS OF A WORRYWART, Susan Orlins worries that she just might find another man to fall in love with, which would get in the way of the walks, the rides, the books, and the dog. ""There must be reasons people pair off into living spaces,"" she writes, ""but I can't remember what those reasons are."" This is a woman who is comfortable with herself, in spite of the worrying. And that alone makes her words, and her wisdom, valuable and rare. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys memoirs and likes to laugh at the craziness of life.[Please note: I was provided a copy of this book for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]",5.0,"Rare, honest, funny memoir about living life and surviving",1359504000,"01 30, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AAL2LJNUDV3K8,073562268X,Jonathan C. Anthony,"[21, 22]","This is a superaltive manual for beginning and intermediate users of the new Microsoft Windows Vista OS. It's very user friendly, all color photographs and laid out exactly as youwould see it on the screen so you can perform the steps as you read the book. The book is made to be hands free, meaning you can sit it down andnot have to hassle with it folding over constantly which is a huge plus. Each step is numbered on the side, and on the picture of what you should do that looks like your computer screen, there is a corresponding number for each step. For your average person who is just looking to get savvy with Vista, this is a great resource to have. I plan on keeping it in my reference library, and owning it as long as I use Vista.",5.0,Great Vista OS Manual,1199404800,"01 4, 2008",21,22,helpful,0.9545454545454546,1 A2X2KEUT5AH7BS,0345485777,Joseph Horton,"[6, 12]","Lots of action, no real thought. ~Totally~ unoriginal.The plot here is that a guy wants to take over the world, or at least be far richer than Bill Gates. How unusual. He's got a zillion double crosses going on. Derivative!! Read the equally foolish da Vinci code for that. And he's going to do it by developing a strain of HIV that he can cure. Derivative!! Tom Clancy beat him to this one years ago, and much more credibly. Finally, the ""cure"" can't begin to work, but admittedly you'd have to know at least high school biology to realize it: a bacterium can't remove HIV from cells because it's integrated into the cell's genome--that's why it's called a ""retrovirus.""But other than that, it's wonderful.If all you want is mental chewing gum, and you aren't particular, read it. If you finished high school, you might want to get something else.",1.0,Bllllllttttt (imagine a raspberry...),1200700800,"01 19, 2008",6,12,helpful,0.5,1 A3IJ76FENZUCOT,0805093079,Fred Bigham,"[0, 2]",The story came out about the same time as the movie. The book should have been required reading before thet wrote the movie.,5.0,Lincoln 101,1358380800,"01 17, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 AO6J91QBL0DLY,1608192172,David Gaines,"[0, 0]","My goodness. Just when you thought you knew who was or how to define a hero, you read about Rye Barcott. I grabbed the book because it was about Kenya, about a Tar Heel and about current events such as the Iraq War and the short but deadly uprising in Kenya after the alleged rigged elections several years back.It wasn't a book sitting on any best-sellers list that I know of, but it should be. Barcott, the author and hero, did more in less than a decade than most people do in a lifetime combined. While in undergrad in Chapel Hill, he embarks on a lofty goal, creating an NGO to help the residents in one of the world's largest slums. And I'm not sure how much luck was involved, being in the right place at the right time or bumping into the right people at the right moment, but I do know his determination is so admirable, I am planning on visiting his work, in the slums of Nairobi, when Nduku and I visit Kenya.In addition to Barcott, there are other heroes, almost more amazing than him. He empowered individuals to do the impossible. With the equivalent of $26, an NGO internationally recognized was born in, I can't repeat this enough, one of the world's most notorious slums.One anecdote is when a woman was visiting, got a tour and was there to learn more about who they are and what they do. They didn't know her but treated her like anyone else, presenting their work in hopes that she was from an organization that could contribute a couple of bucks. At the end of the tour, they asked her to sign the guestbook and she did -- Melinda Gates.Carolina for Kibera is one of these NGOs you never hear about but wished all NGOs were like. It has done what most people would say is a fantasy. Rye Barcott enabled this to happen while serving as a Marine in some of the world's most dangerous places, including participating in the Battle for Fallujah and the Horn of Africa.I'm usually skeptical of making donations to charities, feeling like I'm funding some executive director's six figure car and seven figure house, but I will be contributing to Carolina for Kibera.",5.0,We need more books like this about heroes we never hear about,1365984000,"04 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32WQRH9E6QET5,0985865334,nikki,"[0, 0]","3.5 stars. I rounded up to four because I want to see what happens. It took me a while to get into this book. My main issue was the heroine. I couldn't see why these guys would be in love with her besides the connection preordained by fate and there should be reasons. She seemed one dimensional to me. The fact that she and Jonah just never talked that first month, didn't buy it. The ascension fell flat. There was all this build up and then pfft. Dialogue was a little on the weak side in the first half but improved after that. On the plus the premise was original and the world she created was interesting. I am a sucker for a love triangle and this one was pretty intense. That is why I'll read book 2. I hope Chloe grows into her role as creator and that she shows some depth as a character. I'm leaning towards Kellan.",4.0,Original and imaginative premise,1399334400,"05 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2C3IGYVWFMKQE,0307461831,Danial Hallock,"[0, 0]","I recently had this book loaned to me, based on my enjoyment of The Perks of Being a Wallflower; and I have to admit that, while a completely different style of book, this narrative was no less gripping.I finished the book (240 pages) in about three hours, and it was one of the more emotionally draining books that I've read in recent years. Unlike Perks it is not told from the perspective of the afflicted, but from the perspective of his mother. You experience all the turmoil that comes with treatment after treatment, and the emotional ups and downs with successes and regressions (I choked up at a few parts).The author does a fantastic job of showing not only how these affected her child, but also her. Loss of friends, the importance of a smile or a kind gesture, and the way the dissenting opinions can mean the difference between courage and defeat.It puts the trials of raising a kid with a mental illness into perspective for those of us who have been blessed enough never to have had those experiences. For me, it awoke an empathy that I would have never had without a first hand account like this, and I hope that at least some of that sticks with me over the years.The writing style is very casual and easy to digest; so while there is some ""medical talk"" in the book, the purpose of the book isn't technical education. Like I said, I read it in about three hours, and once you get to about chapter three the story becomes a ""just one more page"" novel.",4.0,An insight into the struggles of mental ailments,1355702400,"12 17, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PFRFGX0SXSKZ,0515134899,"baltimore0502 ""Hon!""","[20, 21]","You may have heard this one described as a ""hockey book"" but it's really not. For me, hockey was background for the story and since I'm not a fan and know little about the game, I don't share some of the complaints other readers had about the minutia of the sport.All handsome, driven team captain Ty Gallagher wants is to win another Stanley Cup. He has no intention of cooperating in the image makeover the owners want to impose in the form of pretty, sexy new publicist Janna MacNeil. His repeated refusals (Lord, was he stubborn!) to participate in the various charity and other feel-good events Janna organizes result in some fiery exchanges. And eventually the sexual sparks between them turn into a ""casual"" sexual relationship. But when crunchtime comes with the approach of the playoffs will Ty choose hockey over his relationship with Janna? Was it really just ""casual sex"" or was it something more?I enjoyed this story, but I thought there were some things that could have been better. There needed to be a bit more sexual chemistry between Janna and Ty. As others have pointed out, much of their together time is told in remembrance and would have been better seen first person (i.e., more sex, please!). And the evolution of Ty's feelings for Janna was not well drawn, making his decisions and actions at the end seem slightly out of character and abrupt.And I know I shouldn't compare, but this book is much more on the cute, warm, charming side than Rachel Gibson's two hockey stories Simply Irresistible and See Jane Score which I found a bit edgier and thus more realistic. But her boss Lou was too cute and kid brother Wills adorable. And I look forward to Janna's roommate Theresa's story Fair Play. The excerpt was fun and it looks like fellow hockey jock Michael will need all of his good humor and perseverance in the face of rejection to crack that nut!An enjoyable read and a good first novel!",4.0,Can girl convince jock that the game isn't everything?,1058486400,"07 18, 2003",20,21,helpful,0.9523809523809523,1 A1ZHFD8JZXJXNM,006156284X,Amy Leemon,"[67, 71]","Written with the cooperation of Elizabeth Taylor, who gave the authors 40 letters written by Richard Burton to her - including one she received a few days after his death - and his widow who gave them his diaries, this is probably the most realistic account of this couple that we are going to get. Elizabeth Taylor told the authors ""I don't care what you write about me - as long as you honor Richard"". Richard Burton does seem to be the most sympathetic character in this book.After they met on the set of Cleopatra and fell in love, their lives were never the same. They sincerely loved each other but in the end, one of them was more destructive than good to the relationship. I ended feeling sorry for Richard Burton and thinking he would have been much happier wearing an old sweater and teaching at some university.I'm glad I read the book. I now have a whole different view of an actor I've enjoyed for years.",4.0,The Love of a Lifetime,1271030400,"04 12, 2010",67,71,helpful,0.9436619718309859,1 A2Z3BRFKX735FW,0373778813,Maureen L. Sturm,"[0, 0]","This book was fun. The characters were great. There is a small sub-story involving Mayor Marsha that makes you wonder what is next. Susan Mallery again brought back old characters to give you updates on their lives. And as always, the main story was wonderful.The relationship between Sam & Dellina made you smile, especially since Sam couldn’t figure out what was going on, or at least didn’t want to admit it. Sam’s parents, Lark & Reggie were great characters that added a lot of stressful moments for Sam which turned out to be funny moments for the reader; I can’t imagine having parents like that. The inner conflict Sam has with having a relationship with Dellina makes you smile as he fights this battle with himself and loses. And you can tell he is the “baby boy” with the way he deals with his parents.It was just such a fun book; another Fool’s Gold winner.",5.0,Another great story from Susan Mallery.,1401667200,"06 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3761MUOJCMTKW,1455522716,Bridget,"[8, 14]","This is an excellent cookbook. I have about 200 cookbooks-and I love many of them. I have not written a review of most of them because I don't usually take the time to do so. However, people have been extremely nasty and spiteful where Gwyneth Paltrow is concerned. I have no allegiance to her. I feel pretty neutral where she is concerned. But this is a great cookbook. I have tried several things and have loved every one. The layout is user friendly. And contrary to what many have said-these are not particularly hard to find ingredients-and the prices are what they are-food is expensive. How do people manage to work themselves into a frenzy over people they do not know? This much animus should be reserved for people one knows, for those who have done something besides have the nerve to be privileged, talented, attractive, and blessed.",5.0,Quite Good,1365379200,"04 8, 2013",8,14,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A1G22OZMPV0XHA,0801071895,Stewart and Laura Perry,"[6, 6]","Ash's book is a lot like Ron Sider's classic, ""Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger"". Ash's writing and life reminds me of a young Tony Campolo, but from Australia living in Bangkok.The combination of personal stories, imagination and serious biblical study makes this a must read for Christians. It is also a great read for non-Christians as it takes seriously the spiritual dimensions of poverty.And the great thing is that Ash writes not from the hallowed halls of academia or the rose colored glasses of a church office, but he writes from an unairconditioned office in the middle of Klong Toey slum. His stories have the ring of truth to them because they are real.This would be a great book to do as part of a small group study.",5.0,A Book Every Christian Should Read,1237161600,"03 16, 2009",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3JV0B77SIED4Q,0345531450,Amazon Customer,"[15, 16]","Wow, I can't wait to read the next book in this series. Jolie's feelings and uncertainties made me cry right along with her. I am on pins and needles waiting for the next installment of this series.",5.0,Wow. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.,1342483200,"07 17, 2012",15,16,helpful,0.9375,1 A3JRFP6MX7QKIE,125001980X,MARQUEL R. MCCABE,"[0, 0]",Great book recommended by Shereads.org. Great imagination and weaving the storylines together. Happy that I read it. Will read other books by same author.,4.0,great read,1397001600,"04 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANLGB32FL06FS,B00ITENU9M,Egidio Concas,"[0, 1]","It's important to know the secrets of cyber security as well as the ways to deal with it. Most of the people don't know about it and the book is written for majority people. It is written on cyber security which covered a to z information and revealed cyber security concepts with pros and cons. Anyone who doesn't know properly about this matter will be so knowledgeable after reading this book."Cyber Security Principles" is an informative guide as well as a must read book for all which will let you know about computer & cyber security. Here you will learn a lot of tricks and tips about cyber security. It also included strong password selection and backup process, encryption system, firewall and so on. The book is full of essential information which is so easy to understand. I will definitely recommend it as a must read.",5.0,Best Cyber Security Guide!,1394496000,"03 11, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1O66D7WD7NTW2,1602601488,Sue,"[0, 0]","I loved this book. Loved that we finally got to focus on Mandy, my favorite of Sophie's daughters. Loved the characters and the dialogue. Mary has such a gift for witty dialogue.I thoroughly enjoyed all nine of these related books and like having the various books share characters. But this one is my favorite book of the group.Mary consistently writes great books. The women in her books are smart, strong, and sassy. And the settings for the books are very interesting.Thanks, Mary, for another great read!!",5.0,Loved Sharpshooter in Petticoats!,1314057600,"08 23, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3IO6UK7QLFUQO,B00H4E568Q,"paul little ""Paul269""","[9, 9]","This is the second in the Jack Stratton Mystery series and I reviewed ‘Girl Jacked’ along the lines:“In one sense this is a quite normal crime thriller and follows a pattern that will be recognisable to readers of this genre. On the other hand there is always the required thrill in reading a well executed plot and so the author should be applauded for that. It never quite got to the point of brilliance but it is certainly a fine book.If I understood correctly, there will be other stories with our damaged hero and it will be interesting to see how Greyson develops his style.”In a sense this is a book that picks up exactly where the first one ended and that should mean that having read ‘Girl Jacked’ would be mandatory, but in fact this is a book that stands well on its own. The plot is clear and distinct.Our ‘damaged hero’ has a mission and he has a companion, he has a history and he knows that he needs to learn more. The plot thickens as he is dragged into a story that he knew nothing about. He did not go looking for trouble but like a lightning rod he seems to attract it.There is a murder and there is a small town and there are lots of secrets and many closets with skeletons. As Jack gets drawn into the mystery he is forced to look at himself and walk a dark path through a tragic set of lives. Replacement is also a mystery and Jack needs to work out if he wants to solve that one.Greyson’s style is no-nonsense as advertised and also appropriately descriptive. The scenes are well set and the dialog is sharp, on top of that the plot is fabulous in ‘Jack Knifed’. There is complexity and simplicity; there is love interest and a good degree of violent exchanges. We delve into the characters and we watch them try to solve themselves whilst battling with inner demons.This is the real deal and the Greyson style is exciting and crisp and all the right choices were made in ‘Jack Knifed’.This is a crime thriller that will be enjoyed by all readers of that genre.",5.0,Cracking story and and excellent read,1392768000,"02 19, 2014",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A2WO7HVT2WNT50,1499276648,Andrii,"[4, 4]","Before reading this book I didn't believe that Bigfoot exists, but now I am sure they do exist. This is a story that describes how an ordinary family meets a creature known as Bigfoot and how it manages to live with such a neighbor across the street. This story is truly captivating, scary and interesting. And the most remarkable is that all those events really happened! I loved reading this book and learned a lot about Bigfoots.",5.0,Fascinating true story,1404259200,"07 2, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AXH7NGCC36XIR,0984951881,"Pattie Peer ""peptrapp""","[0, 0]","This was a great mystery book. I liked it a lot, and never saw the end coming, so this guy is really good. There were 3 or 4 very minor proofing errors. I recommend this book and look forward to reading more of this author's work.",5.0,Great read!,1405900800,"07 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AP0TEAQIB49RA,0671729462,deborah milgrim,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed the book. I love almost all V.C.Andrew's books.,5.0,Five Stars,1404518400,"07 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27G8IDP8QSRO4,0446505870,Tiffin,"[0, 0]","Sorry to have to say that this book was a badly written piece of rubbish. I see that the author has wriiten many books, so some people must like his work. For me I really like a story that makes sense, sadly this one didn't. No doubt now I will get lots of feedback telling me that I'm wrong, however I'm entitled to my opinion. I will not be buying more of this authors' work",1.0,Not for me,1401494400,"05 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3FERHNT99YLB0,B009B0R076,Elizabeth Chen,"[5, 5]","Really thankful for this quick and handy resource. As a new mom, I also think it's very beneficial to use cleaning products that are not only safe for the environment, but safe for my whole family as well. =)",5.0,Great Resource!,1348185600,"09 21, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1JNM4Z3S7JM68,0385340265,Amazon Customer,"[0, 1]","Horrible. Peppered with luxurious hotels and restaurants, it makes me cringe how superficial and waste of time this book is. I paid like $2 for this in a thrift store, but now I understand why the previous owner abandoned it. I love books, and this had such a pretty cover that I thought it was a rare find. Oh how wrong I was! What a waste of a rainy day on this one. So unbelievable the plot! This is the first Danielle Steel novel I had ever laid hands on, and now I dont know if I should give her another chance. There are a lot of authors out there who have similar writing style of 'telling' the story instead of showing it to us, but even I think this thing is a bit all over the place, unoriginal, somewhat recycled plot feeling to it. I skipped several pages and though I thought I missed a lot, I didnt mind coz I did not want to spend more time trying to feel sorry for the character, I just never felt the connection with her. I have had reading experiences where in I can sense and feel what the character is going through, while this one, I just felt so disconnected, unattached and downright apathetic. And a magical Lady Winshire?? Even the name sounds so cheesy and cliche! Yes, this entire book seemed like a total exaggerated cliche. Im not saying that this is not probable, I'm sure it is and worse things, but the delivery was just so mediocre. I guess I expected more from such a famous prolific author as Ms. Steel. Oh well, maybe I can give her another chance someday.",1.0,UNLUCKY ME.,1316736000,"09 23, 2011",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2XE2B9O99X1K6,0345515633,Jim Munchel,"[5, 7]","LAST TO DIE by Tess GerritsenMy addiction for the Jane Rizzoli/Maura Isles novels has been in full bloom for many years now. When I read that a television show based on Tess Gerritsen's books was in the works, I was extremely eager to see how well they translated to the small screen.After watching a few episodes I was a bit confused. I heard that television takes many liberties and molds characters and events crucial to `the' original fictional personas and adds and subtracts to create an audience.The main characters of Rizzoli and Isles in Ms. Gerristsen's thrillers are so much better than their television counterparts. The characterizations of Jane and Maura are merely constant one liners always tossing out sexual innuendos and in my opinion dry humping their way through one murder investigation after another.. The inner workings of a deep and caring relationship for each other and the professions that encompass their lives is what makes Ms. Gerritsen's detective novels so enjoyable.Three teenagers have been orphaned `twice' by unknown forces and come together at a school for `damaged' children run by the always mysterious and extremely rich Anthony Sansome. He is the head of the Mephisto Club. An organization created to seek out and destroy evil at any cost and rumored to have members scattered all over the globe.Toss in a scary, old castle, now the Evensong School and a creepy cast of teachers/professors and the insight of two of the finest written crime solvers in fiction today and you have a few sleepless nights. Resulting in jumping at every unknown noise heard throughout the house. What was that????????Jim MunchelCo-Manager BooksBooks A MillionHarrisburg, Pa.",4.0,"Read the books, skip the television show!",1346198400,"08 29, 2012",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A16RAMIXBUHVKV,0525950958,michael a. draper,"[4, 4]","Charlie Hood is back after his adventures in ""L. A. Outlaws.""After the shooting and internal affairs investigation of the ""L.A. Outlaw"" novel, Charlie asks for a more quiet division. He is assigned to the Antelope Valley Division.While he and Terry Laws are on a call, Terry is murdered. Hood wonders if the killer's gun jammed or did they want to leave him alive as a witness.Internal Affairs reassigns him to their unit so he can lead the investigation into his partner's killing. It doesn't take long for Charlie to see that Laws was a crooked cop, from his bogus charity to the weekly deposits of $7,200 into his account.Laws and Coleman Draper arrested Shay Eichrodt, supposidly because he just killed two cartel couriers. There was $340,000 in the trunk which they brought to the leader of the cartel and began their weekly payoffs by moving money and other items across the boarder.This novel was not up to the excellence of ""L. A. Outlaws."" In my opinion, the author felt his readers would be familiar with Charlie Hood as the protagonist so there wasn't much character development. In addition there were times when it was confusing to follow when the writing changed from third person to first person in a short time.In addition, Coleman Draper was an unusual antagonist. At times he seemed honorable and sincere and at others he didn't hesitate to either take a life or order someone killed. Perhaps the author is telling us that although a character may be evil, they could posess some good characteristics.The author is one of only three people who have won the Edgar Award for best novel more than once. The other two are James Lee Burke and Dick Francis. Nice company.",3.0,"""A greedy mind is satisfied with no amount of gain."" Proverb",1256342400,"10 24, 2009",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3F4ARL8CAMSYR,0966981901,"Rene Ritchie ""author, Legends of Wingchun""","[37, 38]","I've been doing graphic design for over 15 years, and have previously layed out 2 books (photo/illustration intensive ones) and had 2 of my own book designed by traditional publishers. I was never perfectly happy with either result. When it came time to design my latest novel, I was determined to do it myself and also do it well. Pete Masterson's book provided a road-map towards that goal.I hadn't done book design in almost 5 years and the software had changed considerably, but Masterson's step-by-step InDesign tutorial let me hit the ground sprinting. He showed what to do, and more importantly, what absolutely must be avoided, in order to achieve a professional level layout.Very much recommended to anyone even considering doing their own layout (doing your own design, IMHO, requires some additional skills, which Masterson also points out during several stages of the process).",4.0,Designed to enable success!,1136419200,"01 5, 2006",37,38,helpful,0.9736842105263158,1 A3QJQ870YZ5CFC,1481023012,"M. Anderson ""Follow My Lead""","[4, 5]","*Spoiler alert* Do not read beyond this sentence if you are thoroughly interested in reading this story and do not want anything to ruin your reading experience.The premise is great. The summary on the product page, enticing. I was okay with the progress of the story until Scott and Olivia ""dream meet"", and he tells her who and what he is. I couldn't help thinking if I were 17, and I dreamt the same guy every night, and one day he decides to pipe up with ""Hey, I'm a warlock from an ancient line of warlocks and you're in terrible danger..."" I'd commit myself. Instantly. And not believe a word my Dream Guy would ever say again. Because honestly, I just wouldn't believe my dreams so much as to make them my reality.And then the name of the villain. The Crimson Calamitous. First I giggled, then read some more, and realized the author was serious. She'd named the bad guy the Crimson Calamitous. I just couldn't take it serious thenceforth. Nope. Sorry. For some reason the ridiculousness of that name completely and utterly killed the story for me and I lost all interest in continuing reading it.It's definitely YA, and it's got its perks. Scott is an interesting character, and Olivia (dreams aside) is very typical and cute for being a teen. But other than that, there's nothing else I can say that is positive about this story. Especially since I stopped reading about 1/3 the way through.Oh, another up side- there aren't any errors (formatting or editing) in the first 1/3. That's always a plus!",2.0,"Couldn't read beyond ""Crimson Calamitous"". *Spoliers*",1382832000,"10 27, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 ADBE735U6ULXF,0451191439,"Dr W. Richards ""wmr-uk""","[35, 36]","Anthony Earhart, Marquess of Staunton, desperately wants to spite the father he hates. Summoned home after eight years' absence, he knows that he is expected to marry a chit straight from the schoolroom because she is his father's choice of bride for him; a suitable match for a future duke. Well, he has no intention of conforming. He decides to marry the most unsuitable woman he can find: a mousy nobody. So - as he is determined not to stoop lower than a gentlewoman fallen on hard times - he advertises for a governess, intending to marry the most submissive and plain of the applicants.Charity Duncan seems to meet Anthony's requirements. Little does he know that her submissive manner is assumed, due to her having lost previous employment because she stood up for the rights of a chambermaid. Dressed in dull brown, she stares at the floor and seems so perfect for Anthony's purpose that he proposes to her.Charity accepts, because her family is very poor and her brother is struggling to pay off debts so that he can marry his sweetheart. After all, the marquess promises that she will only have to play the part of his wife for a matter of weeks. Then he will give her a home and a pension - six thousand pounds a year! - and she can have her freedom, except for the wedding ring. Anthony himself, he declares, never wants to marry for real, never wants to have children of his own.So they marry, and Charity accompanies Anthony to Enfield, the Duke of Withingsby's home. There, she finds an apparently cold, unloving family, and realises that her husband wasn't joking when he said he wanted to spite the father he loathed. However, Anthony has seriously underestimated Charity...Gradually, she breaks down the ice which surrounds her husband's heart and, bit by bit, she becomes his confidant. She, on the other hand, learns that passion doesn't have to have anything to do with love.While she seems to be making progress in helping Anthony to reconcile with his family, isn't she only hastening the time when he'll inform her that he doesn't need her any more, and thus of her own departure? After all, he did marry a temporary wife...In Balogh's inimitable style, she gives us a poignant story which examines relationships in all their manifestations, and shows us that love and hate are often closer than we think. And typically in a Balogh novel, the apparent villain is not so evil as he might have initially appeared. This is a wonderful romantic tearjerker, well worth the secondhand price you might have to pay!",5.0,Another unforgettable Balogh!,1017705600,"04 2, 2002",35,36,helpful,0.9722222222222222,1 A3J8A1ETT0H352,0312655460,G. Sanderlin,"[11, 12]","""Dear Ms. Penny, maybe it is time to leave these characters and move on. You many have run this series into the ground.""I have read the earlier Louise Penny novels in order and with great pleasure. I was excited to receive The Beautiful Mystery after pre-ordering it and hoarded it for a time when I could sit and read. Well. After a week, I am half way through, when usually I would have finished one of her books in two sittings. I find this current book boring. I dislike all the characters, even the Inspector, whom I usually love. Penny's books are usually full of wonderful people, quirky and interesting. I know you cannot stay in Two Pines forever, but why this utterly boring setting, and where is the usual depth of character? The only thing the least bit ""Penny-like"" is her description of the light coming through the windows. Given the other reviewers' description of the ending, I may just put this down. Depressing I don't need.",2.0,Don't Like a Single Character,1347580800,"09 14, 2012",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A2SZW37K6WYTRJ,1494388588,"Kenneth A. Burkenheim ""sparky""","[0, 0]",I really enjoyed this ebook. I couldn't put it down until the end. I am looking forward for the sequel.,5.0,A good read,1386460800,"12 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1N8V4QN5GVSZS,B004FV5C4Y,Tiera,"[0, 0]","I do not watch the show Grimm, but this book is great. It is an original twist on the fairy tales that we know and love. I especially love Jake and his role in the world that he just found out about.",4.0,A Welcomed Twist,1370563200,"06 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A37GCH5SFR9T5U,0768431476,Woofie Jo,"[17, 18]","First off, let me say this review is not primarily about the content in this book. I really don't dispute the fact that David Taylor has had these amazing face-to-face appearances from Jesus. It certainly sounds like he has had an incredible journey with Jesus.But, I do take issue with many of his points. I don't see how he can guarantee that every reader of this book will have the same type of face-to-face appearances with Jesus. How Jesus reveals Himself to one person could be completely different from how He reveals Himself to others. There are scriptures in the Bible that also talk about how we have to have certain things set right in our lives before He will be able to take us to the next level. Although I do think Jesus can reveal Himself to a new believer or someone very seasoned, not everyone is at the point where they will be having a face-to-face encounter as a result of reading a book.I found it very distracting that Taylor will start to tell a particular story and then will say ""I'll tell you more about that later"". I wish I had an e-reader to count how many times he used that phrase or something similar.Taylor's writing was very wordy and he tended to repeat himself frequently. For example, ""I could not hold back the tears as I watched His torture and suffering - it was a horrible feeling inside of me, and I could not hold back the tears."" Taylor also talks about one of the most important lessons he learned about Jesus was that Jesus is meek and humble. However, Taylor's writing style seems to do more to glorify himself than the One who has shown him these amazing things. Taylor describes a time when Jesus woke him up to whisper in David's ear regarding a woman in a third world country. Jesus whispered ""She's catching up to the same level that your relationship is with Me!"" Instead of being excited that there is another person having an awesome and intimate relationship with Jesus, David's response was ""`Oh no, she don't!' After this I promised not to become complacent in my relationship with the Lord, not to let anyone surpass me in my closeness and intimacy with Him.""Taylor also claims that God comes and visits man on the earth from 3am - 6am and says ""everything that God does that is significant is done early in the morning when He visits man on earth"". I can think of lots of things that were significant that happened when it was not morning in the Bible - Jesus died on the cross, Peter and Silas were singing in jail at midnight and there was an earthquake that opened the prison doors to release them and the jailer believed in Christ, etc. The truth is that God does amazing things on earth at any and all hours of the day.",2.0,Poor Writing Style That Was Distracting To Overall Good Message,1364342400,"03 27, 2013",17,18,helpful,0.9444444444444444,1 A1RY8R18NEO9AA,0060577665,J. Robert Ewbank,"[0, 0]","This was a very interesting book. It is definitely one of the stranger books I have ever read. Almost gave it up several times but when I finished it I can truly say that I enjoyed it. A very different read.J. Robert Ewbank author ""John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'""",3.0,"a very different, but good, read",1273190400,"05 7, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2P0K2JMLPP1XO,1841954667,Jill S. Jones,"[30, 32]","Unfortunately most other reviewers here were looking for a continuation of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series when selecting Heavenly Date. I am also a fan of the Botswana detective books, but I believe it is important to review this book based on its own merit. The stories are engaging and the characters are well distinguished from one story to the next. Each story gives a concise insight into impulses and oddities found in relationships and personal interactions. It is offbeat, the locations are varied, and the stories range from humorous to slightly bizarre. I found this to be an extremely entertaining book for light reading. So, if you enjoy this author's ability to explore a broad range of subjects as well as his insights into people and relationships between them, give the book a chance. If you are looking more about Precious Ramotswe, wait for the next book in the series.",4.0,Stands On Its Own,1078444800,"03 5, 2004",30,32,helpful,0.9375,1 ARLLQG1DGYRK8,1467968986,Aurora,"[0, 0]",I liked this book a lot. It was well-written and so many parts of the book were thrilling. The author does a good job of letting you get to know the characters. I really liked how it switches from Olivia's part of view to Holden's. You can really feel the push and pull on Holden's part. He doesn't want to like Olivia but can't help to be drawn to her. Getting to be in his mind was a little creepy at times but that is what makes him so interesting. I'm looking forward to the next books in the series.,5.0,WOW!,1346976000,"09 7, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AYHTUMHR895IA,0060932813,"Amazon Customer ""bookworm""","[0, 1]",Kind of an inside look at people we sometimes don't really "see". Hard working and conscientious she forces you to pay attention to those who serve you.,3.0,Cute story,1361145600,"02 18, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3JTVYWH23CXWV,B006YCTWPW,"Daniel Mega - Pulp Fiction Author ""Megapulp e...","[39, 41]","The author, Doyle Shuler, is head of Multiple Streams Marketing and has a website. In the description he offers a free book. That should have been my first warning. I should have got the free book first. If you are interested in this book I would suggest reading his free book at his website before you make a purchasing decision. Basically, he is trying to get you to sign up for a club that costs $250 so you can have the privilege of buying gold and silver at dealer cost.What kind of gold and silver? Mostly bullion and American Eagle coins. Here's a tip: there are multiple places you can buy coins and bullion for only 1-2% over market price. This is a good deal as an investment as the idea is to buy and hold. And when you deal with gold and silver when you go to sell you will still be able to get that same 1-2% fee(or more) back(that's how an investment is supposed to work right, buy low sell high?). There are many public sites with one of the best being Bullion Direct. You can even buy coins from the mint, so you don't really need a secret source to buy physical gold and silver.So, that being said let's talk about the guide to storing your metal. Perhaps I was mislead. I thought this book was going to talk about buying physical gold as an investment. Right off the bat, Mr. Shuler states that he doesn't personally buy physical gold? So I have to wonder why he is writing a book on it? However, he does state that he has a ""large arsenal"" to protect such gold that he doesn't own. I did laugh at that comment.After the marketing hype intro to get you excited about storing your gold, he spends a good deal talking about WHY you should buy physical gold. I think most people know why they want to store physical gold. He gives you the obvious things you could figure out on your own.In Chapter 3 he discusses where to buy direct dealer prices. I feel that he is just trying to get you to buy a membership to a club that supposedly sells to you at wholesale prices. Which, if he doesn't buy the gold himself makes me wonder about the validity of his source. To push this he actually doesn't even tell you, but directs you to his website, which makes me again question the book's validity.After Chapter 3 the rest of the book covers storing your physical gold, quite literally. It's another thing that I wonder if there are people out there that are so paranoid that they need an expert to tell them to buy a safe, use a bank vault, or stuff it into a secret compartment in a hollowed out book or food storage can (not joking, it's in there). I do give him a point for the funny picture in there.Despite my criticisms I do try to look for the good. There are some ingenius ways to hide your gold such as freezing it.I only worry about some of his methods hurting the condition of the gold or silver, such as silver oxidation which could actually reduce a coins value. He also talks about burying your gold and decoys.If you want serious storage security for your gold, ie you buy a ton of it and need off premise storage he does give real places that will do this for you (for a fee), which some investors may need. He also covers buying physical assets in a 401k(oh wait, I think that's in the free book).So in conclusion, if you need to know how to store your gold, this is the book for you. If you are looking at how and where to buy gold there are better books out there likeBuy And Sell GoldorBuy Gold and Silver Safely.",3.0,A Lot Of Hype To Sell You Another Product,1335484800,"04 27, 2012",39,41,helpful,0.9512195121951219,1 A13H2JJ3GEMJN1,0312979487,"AntiochAndy ""antiochandy""","[5, 6]","Agatha Christie was a very prolific writer and, at her best, I've always regarded her as second only to Conan Doyle as a mystery writer. In addition, as noted in the editorial section above, she wrote romantic novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. After reading THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT, I'm inclined to the opinion that she also wrote romances under her own name.The back cover of this book notes that the name Agatha Christie ""is synonymous with brilliant deception, ingenious puzzles, and the surprise denoument"". Well, to be fair, there is a mystery here and, if it was tightened up some, it wouldn't be a bad one. As it is, though, it meanders, it isn't all that deceptive, and it just isn't very compelling (especially in the later part of the story). What you get instead is a ""coming of age"" story about a naive and foolish young woman who blows her last penny on a one-way ticket to South Africa in pursuit of a seemingly dangerous killer, a ""bad guy"" who is both fairly obvious and, in the end, much too likeable, and an ending that is too pat and too easy.THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT isn't a really bad story. The characters are amusing and things move along briskly. It's worth remembering that it was written in the 1920's and the world was a much different place in those days. I found it disappointing as a whodunit, though, and a good whodunit is what I was looking for. As the book proceeds, it becomes less about the mystery and more about the improbable romantic adventures of the heroine. Romance fans may like it, but if you're looking for an engaging mystery, I suggest you look elsewhere.",3.0,Mystery or Romance?,1105747200,"01 15, 2005",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1IO3LVYV5ZMK8,0380811073,Desmond Chan,"[4, 5]","This bodice-ripper of a romance opens with the tortured Bow-Street runner Nick Gentry seeking sexual expertise from an experienced courtesan. One might quickly jump into the conclusion that Lisa Kleypas has decided to forfeit her sensuality for eager blatant prurience and infidelity. However as we read on, the opening scene becomes tragic as Nick succumbs to lust to purge his guilt and nightmares of his afflictions during his imprisonment.Worth Any Price is immediately a haunting romance that triumphs with passion and poignancy - and a superb follow-up to its equally measured predecessor Lady Sophia's Lover. As readers reassociate with Nick Gentry - the villain in the predecessor, they learn that he is actually Viscount John Sydney who is thrown to the underbelly of London at a young age and survives a jail-term through a switch of identity. He becomes the hardened crime-lord who is later captured by magistrate (and ironically brother-in-law) Sir Ross Cannon . To escape punishment by death, he is to serve his sentence as a Bow -Street Runner supervised by Sir Grant Morgan.The dangerous job soon subconsciously becomes an outlet to gamble with his life through risks for life is now beyond hope and aim. The pivotal moment comes when he finds Charlotte Howard in Hampshire for the deranged Lord Radnor. His protective instincts are aroused by the stunning beauty whose life has been ruined like a Pgymalion fable. To save her from Radnor's harrasses, he decides to marry her but both are convinced that love can never enter the equation.The steamy interludes of exotic passion emerges surprisingly tender and erotic with an undercurrent of intimacy and empathy for our tormented couple. Ms. Kleypas meshes hot-blooded romance with careful research on the period and peerage as well as deft characterization that easily makes Worth Any Price her most accomplished so far. The best moment of the read - the climactic declaration of love - is especially priceless.",5.0,Priceless,1044662400,"02 8, 2003",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A16GUWM2MMHFT1,1484114558,Barbara Ann,"[0, 0]","Kissing Fire is a contemporary romance that blends a comedic and serious tone to tell this story. Based on the book's description, I expected more of a dangerous, action-oriented story involving romance, so I was happily surprised to find this book includes funny, light-heart moments to provide relief from some of the painful, and, at times, heart-wrenching aspects of the storyline.The initial setting for the story is Charleston, South Carolina, where Avery Middleton realizes her social and romantic life has become stagnant. Longing for a change, she accepts a job in Seattle and moves with the intention of starting over. Although Avery comes from a privileged family, she wants to be independent from her family's wealth and be successful on her own. Avery is an easily likeable character because of her feisty nature, humorous thoughts, and the unexpected situations she often finds herself in, leading to, sometimes, embarrassing and belling jiggling laughter.Upon arrival to Seattle, Avery visits her brother who has also moved away from home to start a life with his new wife. Caroline. There, she coincidentally meets Preston Mitchell, Caroline's brother, who is staying with the couple. Preston is a DEA agent who has recently returned to the country after completing his latest undercover mission.When Avery and Preston meet, they instantly fall into lust for each other. By providing both Avery's and Preston's point-of-view, I was able to really connect with and care about them because I'm given insight into their private thoughts that clearly reveal their insecurities and vulnerabilities.Working undercover has put Preston into more than his share of unimaginable horrors. Because of his past, Preston sees himself as ""Dirty. Disgusting. And certainly not fit for proper society."" He believes that he will never find a good woman capable of loving him because of the physical and psychological scars that have skewed his perspective.Preston initially hides his profession from Avery to protect his identity, but, when a Mexican Drug Cartel finds his location, he is forced to go on the run, dragging Avery along with him, since she now become a target as well. Although Avery is strongly attracted to the sexy DEA Agent, her low self-esteem and body image issues make her think Preston would never be interested in her. An awkward situation provides the impetus for them to reveal their insecurities and paves the way for romance.I fell in love with Preston over the course of the story. His willingness to sacrifice his personal happiness for his country is more than admirable, given what he's endured. I also loved how he is direct and honest with Avery, so that she knows what she's getting into before they pursue the relationship. As he reveals the gritty, raw details of his past, Avery always responds to him in a way that soothes Preston's mind and body. They are so good for each other on an emotional level because they consistently boost one another's self-esteem. I also appreciated that Preston wants more than just a sexual relationship with Avery. He wants her heart before they become intimate. Their time alone together allows their attraction to grow into love. The passion between them is hot, steamy, and intense!Everything is wonderful until Preston confesses a secret he's been keeping from Avery, and everything falls apart. Avery is angry, hurt by Preston's actions, and she doesn't feel she can trust him anymore. Once Preston explains the motivation behind his actions, I know I could forgive him. However, Avery thinks he's destroyed her life. I have to admit, I think Avery overreacts by giving up on their relationship so quickly after they have worked so hard to establish a strong foundation.Nevertheless, Avery leaves Preston. She leaves Seattle to start over yet again. Although the hurt and pain over their breakup lingers, a visit from her friend Melissa, a female sumo wrestler, with her outrageous antics provides a nice diversion to Avery's somber mood.A central question from this point in the story is whether Preston and Avery can truly let go of their love for each other. In the midst of all this angst, Preston and Avery again find their lives endangered, and the action and suspense that follow, as these conflicts are resolved, also contribute to making this book a worthwhile read.I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.",4.0,Contemporary Romance Worth the Read,1370217600,"06 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1N0SHL50K5DR,B00DZSBQNO,Ed-n-Bert,"[0, 0]","If this were a movie, it would definitely be regarded as a ""chick flick,"" as romances often are. This is a highly detailed account of a young woman in 19th century England as she transitions from servant to lady after inheriting some property in the Scottish Highlands, only to discover, eventually, that she's been there before, in another life.The day-to-day details of her life give insight into the lives of people of that century. If you enjoy the combination of history and romance, you will find this quite interesting. The references to specific events (such as the Battle of Culloden), while accurate, are relatively brief. The story is focused entirely on the main characters and how those events are shaping their relationship. Future books in this series promise to further explore and reveal what must inevitably follow.In just a few chapters, I found myself speaking with a light brogue as the author captures the nuances of English and Scottish of the day. After being immersed in the story for a week or so (I'm a slow reader - you'll no doubt finish more quickly), I'm very glad I don't have to stoke a wood-burning stove to prepare meals, and I'm ever so grateful for my refrigerator and modern plumbing. It would be a wee bit more trouble than I care to become thus engaged, m' lassies and laddies.",4.0,A nice combination of history and romance,1390780800,"01 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KYS85ISBSX5M,1602580693,J. M. Walker,"[4, 9]","The author provides useful close readings of John 9 and many other Biblical texts, making this a valuable book on that score. (Although his close reading of Portia's appeal to Shylock in The Merchant of Venice completely ignores the heart of that appeal: that Shylock have mercy on Antonio--and indirectly on himself.)His more theoretical delineation of hermeneutics does not connect persuasively to the close readings and for many readers is best ignored. It is too limited in analytic clarity and rigor to prepare a grounding for the close readings. (For an especially jarring example, note the tendentious implied definitions of exegesis and eisegesis on which much of the argument is based.)Nor do close readings require theoretical hermeneutic justification.John Ciardi (briefly mentioned on page 86 passim) makes many of Leithart's points (e.g., about the ways etymology is present and active even when it is no longer available to most readers' and writers' consciousnesses) more compellingly than Leithart--and with less special pleading. If Deep Exegesis interests you, try Ciardi's How a Poem Means.",2.0,Useful close readings,1350777600,"10 21, 2012",4,9,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 AAYGUWHEHCRFT,0142800031,"Seattle reader ""dunneguy""","[13, 17]","Ken Follett has reached back and pulled out his magic again. In trhe vwein of the Day of the Jackal, this book is excellent. I bought it the day it came out and could not put it down. Many hours later, I knew I read a classic. Follett in his realism, character development and action again proves he is the very best. I would recommend this book along with The Last Man Standing to the two very best books of 2001. Even though Code to Zero was excellent, this is much better. Set in WWII France, Follet presents no stop development with classical heroes and foes. Buy this book and you remember all the great things about Follett.",5.0,Follett at his best,1007424000,"12 4, 2001",13,17,helpful,0.7647058823529411,1 A1T53LHNOV30RC,B00E8RWYXW,Mystery Writer "Mercedes","[10, 10]","There are some very interesting and varied first chapters from some obviously very talented authors. This is an excellent way of reading many new authors' works in one place, and picking the novels to read in full. There is something for everyone in this collection.",5.0,A great collection...,1376352000,"08 13, 2013",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 AJ8JJ6D5BSJKZ,0060175966,Gary M. Greenbaum,"[4, 6]","In this rather short book, Simon Winchester writes about the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary, and specifically about two of the main forces behind it, Professor James Murray, editor of the dictionary project through much of its composition, and Dr. W.C. Minor, who submitted tens of thousands of early literary usages of words. Dr. Minor was an inmate at an institution for the criminally insane, having killed a man.Mr. Winchester is a master of the book about obscure, but important elements of history, having written a number in this genre. It is a fascinating story, and it is to be regretted that there isn't more of it. Although it is never explicitly stated, it would appear that records were hard to come by. Thus, the book (I read it in trade paperback) is 242 pages (including 21 pages of postscripts), with fair size margins, good size print, and each of the eleven chapters starting with a OED definition which occupies anywhere from half a page to a page and a half of the text. Then there are digressions-well, suffice it to say, that the kernel of the story is relatively small, when all is said and done.Undoubtedly, Winchester did the best he could with the material he could find. But the reader hoping for much material about Dr. Minor and how he made this mammoth contribution to the dictionary will be disappointed, since that portion occupies a relatively small part of the text.Somewhat recommended, but you might want to glance at it in a bookstore rather than buying it blind.",3.0,"Interesting, but short for the money",1079481600,"03 17, 2004",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2ZKQC0XCIIAEM,0470639423,Pampered Prepper,"[0, 0]","Most kids know Dora and Diego, so this book is a great way to introduce kitchen activities. I will start out by saying yes it is hard cover.. HOWEVER open it up and it has a spiral binding similar to a notebook.. the pages, given the price paid are less quality then i would have preferred they are about as thick as a page out of a magazine maybe thinner. Dont know if they pages will hold up to my 4 year old.. NOW the good stuff.. Cool recipes these are easy not only in the process but the ingredients as well. I wont have to go to some crazy specialty store for the ingredients and it wont take hours to prep.. I look forward to giving this to my daughter for Christmas as she is always very insistent that she be included with preparing and cooking all the meals.",5.0,Fun and Familiar,1292284800,"12 14, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2W3QN3Q2BGFSG,0143038583,G.F. Snell III,"[5, 5]","Journalist Michael Pollan has written what appears on the surface to be a boring book. He decides to eat four meals and explore the history and consequences of each. He chooses an industrial agricultural meal (fast food), a large-scale organic meal, locally raised farm meal and finally he hunts and gathers his last meal.By capturing the social, economic, and ecological as well as the moral, and ethical consequences of each meal, Pollan has written a modern day masterpiece on a task most people take for granted - eating their lunch. It's an intricately woven narrative with a massive amount of pain-staking research. But one thing ""The Omnivore's Dilemma"" is not is boring. Its captivating reading.It should be required reading for anyone who as eaten a Big Mac or thinks that shopping at Whole Foods is going to save the planet. Every food item people purchase and consume is a political statement and has rippling effects on their health, the environment, and our society. Pollan has written a wake-up call to all of us.And for those vegetarians out there? Pollan makes one of the best arguments I've ever read about why vegetarians are inherently hypocritical and why the vegetarian lifestyle may be more unnatural and nature defying than any other diet.Here are some of the highlights from Pollan's fascinating book:* Meat might not be that bad for people. The problem is the way we raise cattle. Cows evolved to eat grass. Their stomachs are complicated six chambered organs designed to break down and digest grasses. Industrial raised cattle are fed ground up corn, which is unhealthy for them. As a result, the cattle become ill and the corn has to be injected with antibiotics and other chemicals. It's the corn that marbles beef and causes it to be unhealthy. ""In the same way ruminants are ill adapted to eating corn, humans in turn may be poorly adapted to eating ruminants that eat corn,"" according to Pollan.* Cattle are fed corn for about 150 days before they are slaughtered. It's a good thing because it is unlikely that cattle could survive the chemical-laced corn diet for much longer than that. Even at 150 days, most of the cattle we eat are sick.* Food companies have an enormous challenge in order to grow and meet Wall Street expectations. The biggest problem: ""fixed stomach."" People can only consume a limited amount of food each year - about 1,500 pounds. So food companies are forced to do one of two things: entice people to eat more or convince them to pay more for what they already eat. This has lead to the development of a new type of corn starch which has zero calories. In other words, the food companies are on the verge of developing food with no calories so you can eat as much as you like.* A child in the U.S. born in 2000 has a one in three chance of being diabetic.* Hunger is complicated in human beings due to our feast or famine digestive system. As a result of this evolutionary trait humans won't stop eating when they are full. In fact, when presented with an overabundance of food, human will eat up to 30 percent more. It's one of the reasons why ""super-sizing"" portions has worked so well at fast food chains.* There is butane in chicken McNuggets. Why? Lighter fluid apparently adds freshness. The FDA allows 0.02 percent of the chemical TBHQ in food. That's kind of them because one gram of TBHQ causes: ""nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delirium, and a sense of suffocation and collapses."" Five grams of TBHQ kills human beings.* People in the U.S. each more corn than any other food. Corn byproducts are in nearly everything we consume. A breakdown of corn in a typical McDonald's meal looks like this: Soda (100 percent corn), milk shake (78 percent), salad dressing (65 percent), chicken nuggets (56 percent), cheeseburger (52 percent), and French fries (23 percent).* The organic food movement is starting to look a lot like big business. The grocery chain Whole Foods, for example, buys most of its food from two enormous organic food companies Earthbound Farms and Grimmway Farms - rarely buying food for local farms. For example, milk can be called organic and the only difference in treatment and conditions for the cows is that they are fed organic corn instead of regular corn. Cows, of course, don't naturally eat corn.* Under pressure from big organic farms, the U.S. government allows synthetic additive including ""guar and xanthan gum"" and ""carrageenan"" to be called organic. That's why consumers can buy organic TV dinners, which, if you think about it, isn't really possible.* Lots of organic farming operations uses fraudulent claims to entice people. A perfect example are chickens. Pollan visited a farm that claimed its birds were ""range free."" This conjures images of uncaged birds roaming grassy lots. He found these chickens in a shed crammed with 20,000 birds - fed, of course, organic corn. They got to call the birds range free because there was a door on the side of the shed that lead to a small fenced in yard. But the door is only unlocked after the chickens were five to six weeks old. They are slaughtered two weeks later.* Mushrooms are not plants - they are fungi and actually closer related to animals than plants. There is a fungi in Michigan that takes up more than 40 acres and may be centuries old.* Pollan takes on the vegetarian mentality. He says the concept of ""mourning"" the death of an animal is a new modern emotion - a departure from the way nature is. Death - animals killing other animals for food - is the way nature was designed. It's the grand design.Read more ""Literate Blather"" at the Dark Party Review [...]",5.0,The True Cost of Eating Your Lunch,1225497600,"11 1, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3TMJUKSQSL3AA,006203264X,Wendy A. Sharpe,"[0, 0]",I didn't realize that Ian and the Preacher were the same character when I purchased the book. So I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed reading about Ian after he left the Julys. Maggie is a hoot. Loved her relationship with Lightning. Very good story.,5.0,Interesting Read,1349740800,"10 9, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3E6NNYZ9PPIGQ,B00CIAD6UQ,AMANDA,"[0, 0]",loved reading these books kept me into it with all that was happening would read them again and again and again hooks pan was my fav I loved how trisha and hook were with eachother,5.0,love it,1369353600,"05 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NDCI95LSJC5C,0385504004,Jeffery Steele,"[16, 23]","Hanson argues that modern academic trends have downplayed the impact that battles have on history. With many historians now emphasizing cultural and social history and with fewer Americans having a direct experience with battle, public awareness has faded of how far-reaching has been the consequences of war. By focusing on three important battles that have been somewhat neglected, ""Ripples of Battle"" attempts to show that warfare is not isolated in history, but has a rippling effect that pushes out in all directions from the battlefield.Hanson uses a counterfactual approach to prove his point. What would have become of Western philosophy if Socrates had not survived at Delium? If General Albert Sidney Johnson survived at Shiloh, would the notion of the glorious lost cause have taken root in the South? Did the death of the commanding general in charge of the battle of Okinawa prevent an inquiry into the great loss of life on that island? These questions are but a few examples of what Hanson teases out of his history of three battles.I greatly enjoy Hanson's writing. He vividly describes battles and what's important about them. He has a natural sympathy for the characters of fighting men. But in ""Ripples of Battle"", he fails to adequately demonstrate his point. Of course, battles have ripples. But all history has ripples. And while the life and death consequences of warfare might mean the ripples of battles spread further out than those found in more mundane history, Hanson's examples do not always refer to the life and death consequences of battles. This makes it difficult to sympathize with Hanson's point.An example is the case of General Lew Wallace, who saw his young career ruined by events at Shiloh. Hanson argues that because Wallace never got over the turn his career took after the battle and felt unfairly treated, he began a new career as a novelist. He became enormously successful after writing ""Ben Hur"". His protagonist in the novel, like Wallace himself, was a victim of unfortunate circumstances. Hanson sees this whole train of events (and more) as stemming from a battle. But this seems like a tendentious reading of history. One could take almost any event and see ripples of this kind spreading out if one were so inclined.As descriptions of three battles, ""Ripples of Battles"" works; as a demonstration of the powerful impact of battle, it falls short. Hanson is right that for those families who lose loved ones, the ripples of battles are among the most powerful eddies in history. But, for other cases, he doesn't show them to be any more powerful than other events in history",3.0,The Impact of War,1071100800,"12 11, 2003",16,23,helpful,0.6956521739130435,1 AVBDDYRF3HET8,0316018775,H. A. Johnson,"[10, 38]","If this is the way of the Kindle, count me out. Yes the Kindle has certain advantages but at this price I can pick up a hard copy for less as a Barnes and Noble member, and at least have a book to show for it. I think the pricing on this product is totally outrageous and I will not purchase this book or any other ""best seller"" at these new Kindle prices.There is an old expression, you can shear a sheep every year, but you can skin it only once.I refuse to be skinned!!!!",1.0,Kindle be damned,1246233600,"06 29, 2009",10,38,helpful,0.2631578947368421,1 A2R303YQYBHKLP,1401685285,"eshep623 ""eshep623""","[0, 1]","I received this book from Thomas Nelson publishers in exchange for my honest review of this novel.I love Rachel Hauck, so when I heard that she was collaborating with Sara Evans on a new series, I was really excited. The first novel of this series by this dynamic duo is called ""The Sweet By & By"" which I also reviewed for Thomas Nelson. I really enjoyed the book, but it wasn't one that grabbed me and made me wait anxiously for the second installment to come out.So, when I was able to read ""Softly and Tenderly"" I have to say that it was my favorite of the two. My heart broke for Jade on so many levels. On the surface, she seems like a young lady that has her life put together, but once you get to know her you realize how much she has dealt with and is currently dealing with: her mother, her abortion, her numerous miscarriages, her ex-boyfriend, her husband's drug addiction and secret child. While Jade brings some of this on herself, most of it is thrown into her lap for her to deal with. How would you respond in these situations? I think everyone thinks that they would handle it with the utmost class, but I think once we're put into the thick of it our true human tendencies would start to show.I really enjoyed ""Softly and Tenderly"" and I'm looking forward to the conclusion of the Songbird series!",5.0,"""Softly and Tenderly"" by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck",1318377600,"10 12, 2011",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2PAAKVSMATYB4,1496169484,Little Hawk,"[0, 0]",what a twist I really believed this would be the last book but now I know otherwise great writing bellas really enjoyed the book don't keep us waiting for the next darla,5.0,book 6 a shade of vampire,1394928000,"03 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1N5JDPMOD8K3Z,1616267585,T. Murrell,"[4, 4]","Lafayette is the last son and not at all like his father and brothers. Deciding to make a name for himself he heads out west to become a marshal. What he encounters is hardly what he expected, but it could just change his life.Rosa joins her family in a move to her grandfather's ranch. His health is failing and he hopes his family can save his ailing ranch. Rosa takes his request seriously and begins to learn everything she can about the ranch.It has been a long time since I've read anything by Morris. I remember really liking his books so was looking forward to this one. The plot was interesting. The characters had some unique traits. But for some reason the story felt forced. It wasn't really something I could put my finger on and left me wondering if my memory of his other books was a bit faulty. I enjoyed the story, but this wasn't his best work. I'm willing to check out the next one in hopes for a bit of improvement.I received this story free of charge from Goodreads in exchange for my honest review.",3.0,Choppy and forced,1364688000,"03 31, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A363QRXP83K8ZE,0307353451,"N. P. Stathoulopoulos ""nick9155""","[7, 17]","It just doesn't stop. What is this, the sixth book by stick-woman? Does it matter? It's the same book, every year. The same shtick, all the time.I'd like to write a wittier review of this book, but it's difficult. I never bought a Coulter book, I never will. I preview these books along with other pundit offerings in bookstores, reading through them (that's 'reading' through them) until I get that shifting feeling in my stomach that tells me it's time to find a restroom. It's kind of not funny anymore. It's not answerable. You have to be immersed in the current media culture, a funny one where the media themselves take shots at 'the media' and blame liberals or conservatives or other bogeymen, in order to comment on this book in any serious way. How long can this show hold up?This woman needs something else in her life. She's 46 or 47 now---her alleged lying about her age makes no difference anymore as she's thankfully past the expiration date for having demon spawn. She has no chance of children, which is good for the human race, but it sadly guarantees more trees will die for dozens more books. Her self hatred, deep and deeply masked, is psychically affecting the country in ways we cannot quantify. She is a pathetic little person, educated and rich and completely empty. Anyone who thrives on this kind of controversy and hatred has issues that no bestseller list will solve.Ann Coulter once said that perhaps women shouldn't vote, since in most recent elections a Republican would have been elected every time if only men voted. Her criticisms of herself don't even make sense. Bizarrely, Ann Coulter herself is proof that women shouldn't vote, go to school (particularly law school), own property, work, or leave the house. That would put the USA on the level of the nations Coulter hates on (invade their countries and blah blah blah), which is another odd twist in her whole act.Recommended for those just about to go over the edge, or the clinically constipated.",5.0,"Lonely stick-woman calls people names, writes another book",1219881600,"08 28, 2008",7,17,helpful,0.4117647058823529,1 A392CYVE3J1Q1I,038549694X,M.Ross,"[9, 13]","I have been trying to get to read this book for over a month and really looking forward to it. I am in about 5 book clubs so had to do my re- quired reading first......finally....I got to read it...and was very disappointed..It started off well, Jack Caffey is a great character and I just know a series can be built around him.. the action was pretty good but as it went on, the detail became gross....actually gross is an understatement.......unnecessarily ugly with descriptions of what the serial killer did to his victims and what he said, also. It was as if the author just wanted to shock and stun her audience....I kept waiting to see why the serial killer was this way, what was his background, more characterization...but it didn't happen.. His ugly words and indescribable actions towards his victims played center stage...I am in a True Crime book club and have, over the years, read about many of our infamous serial killers....this book did not afford me any information....it was just very very UGLY. When I first started to read Birdman, I thought, "Well, here's a great new author, she has signs of making if big.." Now I don't know...I do know I will not read her next book...Lawscotch@aol.com",2.0,A Big Disappointment,951350400,"02 24, 2000",9,13,helpful,0.6923076923076923,1 A3UPYDMVXEICN9,1626200513,rdarby,"[0, 0]",This book was just as good if not better this the first part can't wait until part 3 comes out. Great job again Topp. Love ya!,5.0,Amazing Book,1365465600,"04 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17EMW6HEXDS9W,B000OLZQAY,Awesome Indies Reviews,"[9, 9]","The Year of the Horsetails is a traditional adventure story in the old-school style. It follows the flight of a fugitive across the Steppes of what much later became a part of Russia. Set in the Carpathian region, sometime during the Middle ages, its hero, Bardiya, escapes the barbaric but militarily superior nomadic, Mongol-like Tugars into a region as yet unconquered by them. Beyond formidable mountains in the west, the agrarian Slavic Drevich people are largely unaware of the ruthless and overwhelming might soon set to descend upon their lands.Using clean, crisp and uncluttered language, although of a style that may take a while for modern readers to get used to, a gripping tale of clashing cultures and military conflict unfolds. Keenly researched, the author brings to life a time, its various disparate cultures and the outlooks and attitudes of its people, during a brutal period in European history.Although the action is excellently handled; the flight across the Steppes, the clash of cultures and the inevitable and bloody conflict that ensues, what is lacking is much in the way of depth to the characters, in particular the protagonist, Bardiya. This does not overly spoil the enjoyment of the book, but I found it hard to invest much empathy with the plight of its characters. It left me a little removed, as though reading an historical account, more so than a work of fiction. There are personal interactions, and even a love affair, but they come across very much in the one dimension.Having said that, the dialogue is realistic and believable, and the characters are truly of their time - not just modern sensibilities in period costume. It makes for an authentic story, albeit one principally concentrating on adventure and action.The plot cannot be faulted, nor the pace of the narrative, both excellently pitched, although I found the ending employed a few convenient coincidences and the conclusion felt slightly confused, making the climax feel somewhat flat. A minor detraction, though, from what is otherwise a well-crafted build-up to a momentous ending.If adventure, action and early military history is your thing, then this tale from R. F. Tapsell will be just your cup of tea. A solid piece of work that is well worth the read.I received an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.",4.0,solid piece of work well worth the read,1383609600,"11 5, 2013",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A3NILIB3G9SXFF,1463717091,stephanie maldonado,"[0, 0]","Definitely a good read, not as predictable as I normally find these sort of things, but you will know who the killer is if you normally can figure this stuff out. I would recommend it.",4.0,Pretty good read.,1361318400,"02 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A31TKPVSKXYK4Q,B00GOYNPWG,sam,"[0, 0]","I'm not usually into this type of book, but being a mots fan I gave it a chance and found myself fully enjoying it. How he came up with such a concept of having the main character being the divergence was genius. I was at first concerned about Alex going from being male to female but erik was able to pull it of without the weirdness I expected there to be. Over all a wonderful book",5.0,Wasn't so sure but loved,1400112000,"05 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFVQZQ8PW0L,1414311672,Harriet Klausner,"[0, 0]","In Deepwater Cove, Charlie and Esther Moore celebrate fifty years of a strong marriage. The couple love and as important respect one another. In fact many townsfolk see their relationship as the model for couples to emulate.However, when Esther suffers an accident, the ideal relationship begins to feel strain as Charlie resents the pressure put on him to care for his beloved wife while Esther hates his pandering. A worse blow to their marriage is finding a very personal sketch of Esther engraved with a loving message that did not come from Charlie. In the fall of their lives, is the five decades old marriage between the Charlie and Esther heading to divorce court?The fall of the Four Seasons of Marriage series (see IT HAPPENS EVERY SPRING and SUMMER BREEZE) is an enjoyable look at a couple whose marriage has seemed perfect to outsiders for five decades, but in their golden years has issues for all to see. The story line continues to use fiction to provide readers on ways to maintain a strong relationship regardless of how much time together has past. Catherine Palmer and Gary Chapman continue to provide a deep look at couples who have overcome trials and tribulation by FALLING FOR YOU AGAIN and again and again.Harriet Klausner",4.0,strong relationship drama,1191801600,"10 8, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A13GR0L6YBDQ2O,0451173139,Budd Blume,"[0, 0]","Kind of a suspense potboilter, rescued by the detail of an historic aircraft. Some improbabilities, but that's what fiction is all about.",3.0,Night Over Water,1366243200,"04 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1AE45KGF9WUMO,0345543084,dlaven@tusd.net,"[0, 0]",I loved reading the Chase. It has all the fun of any other Janet Evanovich book with extra added international intrigue and romance!! A great book with which to relax and unwind!! Take it with you on vacation or read it and feel you are on vacation!,5.0,A fast-paced fun-filled Evanovich read,1397347200,"04 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WRGMGAPM5FXX,1439163162,"Lorelei Deep ""sirenssong""","[30, 35]","Mr. Kelly. Kindness is a stylish thing to wear on a daily basis. This book is snarky and mean, while offering advice that is condescending and can be gleaned from nicer magazines or a quick google search. Beautiful people are nice whether they are fashionable or not. I know you meant to be funny, but you were instead offensive. I hope when you are old and in a non-fashionable senior citizen state, you have nurses that are kinder to you than you are to women now. For me, the most beautiful stylish people are the ones with the biggest hearts. Looking down on others is never stylish.",1.0,Oh No HE didn't.,1290038400,"11 18, 2010",30,35,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 AINTE20GERFR1,1616146702,Lux Veritas,"[10, 11]",I have not read this book. Just 5 starts to counter the Freepers who haven't read it either. If they hate it must be something very good about it.,5.0,Countering Freeper Nonsense,1358726400,"01 21, 2013",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A1YWJLP2KOFI23,1469984016,Rebeckah,"[0, 1]",I loved this book so much couldn't get enough of Amber and Liam defiantly going to read this over and over again,4.0,Sweet and romantic,1356566400,"12 27, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2XK9D8ZDS69OR,068481465X,The Review Revolution (janariess.typepad.com),"[29, 29]","I've been reading this book for six years now, and it has passed the test of time and use with flying colors. I think it is basically impeccable, in every sense of the word. Mendelson (A Harvard-trained attorney and novelist and NYC philosophy prof who is mom to two boys-in other words, a total slacker) must have spent years researching it. It is the Bible of keeping house, chock-full of things you never thought you needed to know but actually do, like how many dust mites are inhabiting your pillow right this very minute (see p 452), or why you should not store your eggs and butter in the door of the refrigerator (p 144), or the proper way to iron a shirt (p 345). As a historian, I particularly appreciate the incredible histories she offers here of Americans' cleaning and eating customs. She discusses etiquette and hygiene and immunology and technology and legalese and textiles and how to clean just about everything imaginable. I love this book!Yet, there's a lot here that I don't or won't do. I first read Home Comforts when my daughter was very tiny, and if you think I was washing her crib sheets every single day, as this book suggests on p 679, then your eyebrow mites have invaded your brain. I persist in using the kitchen sink to wash my hands, while the intensely germophobic Mendelson would like to see us use only the bathroom sink for this purpose; I still eat eggs that are soft-boiled and soft-scrambled even though she has convinced me it's probably dangerous; I will never give up eating raw cookie dough or cake batter; I feel righteous if I scrub out my fridge annually, let alone weekly; I still use Post-It notes to mark places in books (including Mendelson's), though she cautions us quite rightly that this can ruin the paper. But she never makes me feel disappointed in myself as a housekeeper, or guilty that I am rivaling Typhoid Mary in my haphazard disregard for kitchen contamination.And Mendelson has, throughout, this absolutely marvelous strain of dry humor. I think she must have been British in a past life. Consider this paragraph:Practically all foodstuffs used in the modern home would have been regarded as miraculous conveniences by our great-grandmothers. . . .people commonly use the term ""raw ingredients"" to refer to foods that have undergone elaborate processing and preparation prior to sale: butter, pasteurized and homogenized milk, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, a package of skinned and boned chicken breasts, a bag of roasted coffee beans, a bottle of olive oil, or a jar of mayonnaise. To keep things in perspective, it may help to consider the recipe for roast beef in one of my great-grandmother's cookbooks, which called for, among other things, a cow. (p. 44)So, this winter, follow the instructions in chapter 48 and build yourself a cozy fire. Then read chapter 51, about the proper care and handling of books. Then you will be ready to curl up next to the fire with this book. Open it up to whatever interests you-this 900 page tome is not exactly meant to be read cover to cover in one sitting-and feel yourself getting smarter and more competently domestic with each discovery. (Oh, but don't let the cat curl up on the sofa with you. In chapter 55, you'll see Mendelson takes a rather dim view of pets on the furniture.)A longer version of this review was posted on January 11, 2006 to The Review Revolution (janariess.typepad.com).",5.0,The best book available on the domestic arts,1139788800,"02 13, 2006",29,29,helpful,1.0,1 AWDEBNBM3EBKF,0805048480,"Kitchen Magician ""Kitchen Magician""","[4, 13]","Misleading title, misleading book. The name ""palestine"" is a bogus, European name for Israel the British called the British Mandate. Like the invented European names Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, Palestine is an invented European name to denote parts of the collapsed Ottoman Empire after WW I. The correct historical name of the land is Israel, so-named by its indigenous Jewish population dating back 3000 years. The British also invented the name ""palestinian"" to call all inhabitants of Eretz Israel [The land of Israel], including Jews, during the Mandate. Interestingly, Arabs rejected the names palestine and palestinian because they were Western devices.Palestine does not appear in the Hebrew Bible. Palestine does not appear in the New Testament. Palestine doesn't even appear in the koran that so-called palestinians worship! Nor, does palestine appear on any archaeological findings.Charlatans and anti-Israel polemicists like Segev use the invented European name palestine instead of the correct historical name Israel for political purposes, with the agenda to avoid acknowledging historical truth: The 3000 year continuous connection between Israel and the Jewish People. So-called palestinians are merely recently re-branded Arabs from Arabia.",1.0,"Misleading Title, Misleading Book",1364169600,"03 25, 2013",4,13,helpful,0.3076923076923077,1 A2Y0YHWGOCJOKX,1935562002,BUCK Burnette,"[0, 0]","Enjoyed the book. Keeps you interested. Hard to put down,but in reality this could have never happened with out charges to the Deputy..",4.0,Very good,1356998400,"01 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AVUXUMG8ENYTR,0425181642,NHP,"[0, 0]","Science that's readable for the non-science, non-math person. It's not dumbed down, but focuses on the human achievements and struggles behind the equation.",5.0,Should be a required text,1383696000,"11 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3TAEWB8MJTBJQ,0142001740,"J. Guy Muse ""jagumu""","[0, 0]",Great story. Well written. Read this book in one day - had a hard time putting it down. Highly recommend it!,5.0,Loved this!,1402876800,"06 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AVWT54DC846Q0,0373605188,"Rachel Hefner ""Book Fanatic""","[5, 9]","so as another reader mentions, the typos are ridiculous! The writting was very choppy, the plot was the second character to the terrible sex scenes. I thought after reading all the glorious reviews that this would be a good book, I actually skipped the last 20 pages of the last sex scene, to get to the story again. The story would have been a good one, MAYBE if the authors eye was on the story, instead of contemplating the next sex scene. I will not be reading anymore of Ms McCarty's stories.",1.0,Terrible book...........,1260144000,"12 7, 2009",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A1BGE3EXIJ42XA,1416947205,"Chris ""Okie""","[0, 0]","I approached Fablehaven with wary curiosity and interest. I'd heard that it was a fabulous series. I'd read another book (Candy Shop War) by the same author and had enjoyed it. However, I was a little concerned and wondering how fresh and new this story would be, especially considering the market saturation of young books centered around modern day kids/teens interacting with magic and fantasy in our modern world. So perhaps I went into this book being more skeptical than I should have been. In the end, however, I found this to be a fun and engaging read.As I mentioned above, the high-level concept felt initially a little overdone...a pair of young kids visit their grandparents' estate only to find it teeming with magical creatures and then they find themselves in the middle of a fantastic adventure. So yeah, from a high level, it feels similar to a lot of other stuff out there.Fortunately, Mull brings a level of freshness and excitement into the story that sets it apart enough to leave me not only enjoying this first book but also interested in following the series.Our two young heroes are quirky and fun. Sometimes they felt a little ""old"" for their age, but generally they felt realistic and likable. I enjoyed the brother-sister dynamic as well as their sometimes polarized personalities. Kendra is methodical, thoughtful, insightful and careful. Seth is headstrong, curious, action-prone and one who leaps-before-he-looks.The world of Fablehaven is curious and intriguing. Each of the adults who live and work at Fablehaven have their own backstory and unique elements to bring. The wide variety of creatures and regions on the Fablehaven estate are also deep and interesting. Mull did a great job creating a vivid world with vivid characters. Elements of the plot reminded me of other books I'd read recently but the core details are different enough to make the story fresh and exciting.As an adult, I really enjoyed this book. As a parent, I have no problem having my kids read this if they want to (in fact, my oldest has just finished plowing through the series). As a kid in the target audience (~9-13?), I think this fantasy adventure would be a lot of fun and really enjoyable. By having two central characters, a boy and a girl, I suspect the story will be accessible and relatable to a wider range of readers.The writing is simple and easy to follow for young readers while also having enough depth to keep older readers engaged. The mystery and intrigue of the plot is well developed enough to make kids feel smart rather than talked down to even in the more in-depth parts of the narrative.This is a great start to the series and I look forward to reading more.****4.5 out of 5 stars",4.0,"Fresh, Fantastic, Fun...Fablehaven",1292198400,"12 13, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YI1JKANFH25L,0425205487,M J,"[0, 1]","Very predictable and simplistic outcome. The story is set in Milwaukee and the setting is an important part of the story, yet there was very little written about the city.",2.0,Predictable,1381190400,"10 8, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2245KA2FE0P23,1439270619,Michael Harrison,"[0, 0]","""Why Not Try God"" by C.K. Kake is a book that touches on a very personal subject. Millions of people suffer from some form of addiction often times with little or no help. In this book, we are given a look into the life of an individual who has been down the path of addiction and is now traveling along the path of recovery. In this book, he shows readers why in some cases a 12-step program may not be enough to get everyone through the difficult times and how accepting God into your life may be the answer. This book is ideal for anyone who is looking for additional help on their road to recovery.",4.0,For those suffering with addiction.,1277251200,"06 23, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A10O98CWTJQTYQ,006135323X,A. Panda,"[0, 1]","Mr. Ariely provides interesting and funny examples of biased behavior, like the psychological effect of ""free"" or the role of preconceptions in our perception of cheap vs. expensive. He also gives interesting examples of how a relationship can be perceived as a social one vs. an economic one and how this perception alters completely our behavior. When you bring some economic factor into a social relationship it immediately turns into an economic one and our behavior changes accordingly. To turn the realtionship again into a social one is more difficult. This section really made me think...""Predictably irrational"" andThe Psychology of Judgment and Decision Making (McGraw-Hill Series in Social Psychology)excellently complement each other. Whereas Mr. Plough's book explains how we deviate from what would be a ""rational"" decision making, it does not explain the process we really use to make decisions. Mr. Plough makes obvious that we are not very ""rational"" (defined as optimizing net value); Mr. Ariely explains some ways in which we actually do make some of these decisions.The book is a very easy and interesting reading, but does not form a coherent whole; it is more like a selection of examples that illustrate the way we behave. I would say a comprehensive theory is still to be established. Since more and more people are now devoted to the study of neuroeconomics, behavioral economics, heuristics and other related fields, we will probably and hopefully soon witness the emergence of a more integrated theory of decision making.",4.0,"We not only seem to be irrational, but apparently we are ""predictably"" so...",1297468800,"02 12, 2011",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AMUSTO197MPVE,0881505811,"Fred Lucia ""F.C.L.""","[6, 7]","I have tried about 6 or 8 recipes thus far, all did well. There is also considerable space given in this book to educate the baker;definitions,techniques and procedures,very helpful for those looking to further their baking abilities(this coming from a former culinary educator).",4.0,"Great book,educational as well",1271376000,"04 16, 2010",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1H5I60LTGM0X0,1576759776,Taylor,"[0, 1]","quick read, but not earth shattering or very helpful. simple to read and grasp, but not enlightening. maybe for entry level, new hires; but not for seasoned and successful sales pros.",2.0,"bought on strength of other amazon reviews, but disappointed",1362096000,"03 1, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AA2TJD52JHIJ1,1490904387,skyler,"[0, 0]",Best Trilogy I have read in years and years...if not ever. I highly recommend this series...unless you have major responsibilities and issues with self control. It's VERY hard to put down :-),5.0,another excellent read,1389571200,"01 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2MOZYVKHEIKON,1400316340,Eddie Gonzalez,"[0, 0]","We've had Sarah Young's Jesus Calling: A 365 Day Journaling Devotional for some time and it has been great. My wife would even read it to the kids much of the time. When we saw the devotional coming out for children, we had to jump on that. Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions For Kids is not going to disappoint.The Scripture readings and references between the original (older folks) version and the kids version are virtually the same from day to day. So, a parent doing their devotional will easily transition to either helping a younger child go through the day's reading and contemplation, or having a relevant conversation with an older child.It's a rugged hardcover book with bright, well colored pages. Even the attached book mark is nice and bright. I can easily see this text working for kids 4 on up through the tweens. The portions are short and support thought, contemplation, and discussion.",5.0,Great little devotional for the wee ones,1285718400,"09 29, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35T4X4RCOGKKQ,B0062AINEW,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",This is one of those series you can't put down. I have gone from one book to the next as its addictive. You'll really enjoy these.,5.0,You'll really enjoy these.,1405296000,"07 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1HS9F7J51E9CB,042518109X,sweetmolly,"[18, 24]","Make no mistake about it; "Whispers" has some very scary scenes that are the strength of this novel. It recounts the story of Hilary, a brilliant screenwriter who is just beginning to enjoy the fruits of financial success. She loves her beautiful home and garden, a sharp contrast to her poverty stricken unhappy childhood.Hilary returns to her home only to have a man to whom she is slightly acquainted leap out of the coat closet and brutally attack her. She is so shocked that Bruno Frye, a wealthy, urbane vineyard owner, is 1) in her house and 2) insanely enraged, that she is at first too stunned to react. Finally she recovers, finds her gun and scares him off temporarily. She calls the police who do not believe her. (Among other imprudent actions, she tidied up before placing the call.) The next night she barricades herself in her guest room and upon awakening, thinking all is well, cautiously emerges into the hall with a 4-inch knife in her hand. Bruno has again found entry into her house and is waiting outside the door. In a terrible battle she mortally wounds him. He is found, declared dead, has an autopsy, is embalmed and buried. --- And returns.The weakest part of the story is the blindness of the entire cast to consider the most obvious solution to the puzzle. In the first 100 pages, I kept waiting for someone to suggest a likely line of investigation, but waited in vain. This was the first of Mr. Koontz's books to be a resounding success, so perhaps the poor dialogue is something he mastered with more experience. But the story is too long and needs editing. The political views that crop up every chapter or so adds nothing to the novel's storyline and are an irritation.Mr. Koontz can set a scene that will spook you into next week. He can come up with unimaginable horrors. He developed Bruno Frye's character well enough that the reader has a certain amount of sympathy or at least pity for him. Overall, C+.",3.0,An Uneven Effort,1031443200,"09 8, 2002",18,24,helpful,0.75,1 A96002VKJGWAL,0345453867,lwd,"[4, 8]","There is a sweetness to Julie Garwood's writing that even murder and mayhem can't diminish. Rich or poor, historic romance or contemporary, her starring characters are just plain good folk. We don't have to overlook unforgivable flaws, love scenes are lusty and based on an emotional connection as much as physical attraction. Somewhere along the line, her heroes and heroines become friends as well as lovers. I appreciate that.Adding the Clayborne connection to Shadow dance might have been an error on Ms. Garwood's part, it had me re-reading For the Roses, then I fell headfirst back into some of her other historicals. I will, however, resist the temptation to nag her into writing more in that genre. I like the direction she is taking with her contemporary mysteries, and don't want to suggest she alter course. (I can always re-read my favorites of her old stuff when I need a fix of good historical romances).One very respectful request, if any reviewer has Julie Garwood's ear. I absolutely love the prologues she often adds to books like The Secret and Mercy. They add substance and depth to her characters. The one in Mercy had me wanting to adopt Big Daddy as my own. For me, it makes the difference between a four and a five star read.",4.0,"A solid 4 star read, Shadow Dance is a keeper...",1168041600,"01 6, 2007",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A24JONLQECGZR2,1611098998,jimmra,"[0, 0]",A totally drawn-out tale. Too much seems to be an attempt to fill pages with unnecessary side trips into events that don't significantly affect the basic story. Some good scenes and an underlying good story line. Too bad the writing didn't support it better.,3.0,good short story made long,1389052800,"01 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A741547755BZ2,B000U0NSV8,"Harley ""Harley""","[8, 8]","I read this as I enjoyed the first one of these in which the hero's elder brother finds his match. In that one St John, the hero here, was the bad guy, a dissolute gambler and a poor brother. Now he is reformed and back from the war but battling demons and a junkie. Esme is desperately trying to escape her abusie father and marriage to an old and rather sinister man. She throws herself at St John to escape. The plot follows their romance. I found this well written but it failed to make magic for me. Perhaps this was partly because St John was not so likeable in the first book which I read quite recently and therefore could not make the switch to like him. Perhaps it was Esme who just kept throwing herself at him and despite several attempts to get close which failed, still did not really appear to be looking at alternatives seriously to escape what awaited her where she to return home. I cannot say this is bad, the 3 rating is based solely on my gut reaction and the lack of chemistry I felt. I did work my way through it but it was disappointing after book one.",3.0,Not as good as the first one.,1347667200,"09 15, 2012",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A2F6N60Z96CAJI,1250045789,Bookreporter,"[10, 10]","One of the best memoirs I’ve read in recent years is THE HARE WITH AMBER EYES, Edmund de Waal’s masterly account of his forebears, the Ephrussis, a prosperous Jewish banking family that settled in Vienna in the mid-19th century. This novel, THE EXILES RETURN, is by his grandmother Elisabeth; he found the typescript among her papers in 2005. She had tried and failed to get it published and died in 1991 believing, as Edmund reports in his Foreword, that it was “a book that no one will read.”I trust that Elisabeth is smiling in her grave. It was published in the UK in 2013, the 75th anniversary of the Anschluss (Hitler’s 1938 takeover of Austria). I want to give a shout-out to its British publishers, a marvelous small press called Persephone that, in their words, “reprints neglected fiction and non-fiction by mid-twentieth-century (mostly women) writers.” In this case they celebrated not a reprise but a debut.Edmund de Waal calls the novel “profoundly autobiographical. Born into a privileged family, Elisabeth achieved intellectual stature in her own right, studying philosophy, law and economics at the university and writing poetry (she corresponded with Rilke, no less). After the Anschluss, though she had already left Vienna, she returned to save her parents; she went back again after the war to try to get restitution for their shattered lives and looted property. She knew intimately what it was like to confront a ravaged homeland.The first half of THE EXILES RETURN is taken up with the stories of five expatriates who return to Vienna in 1954. They could not be more different. Professor Kuno Adler is a Jewish scientist who has been living in New York with his unpleasant and successful wife. Although upon his return he is reinstated in the lab where he formerly worked, he occupies a lowly position and is baited by the director, a chillingly unabashed former Nazi. Adler is de Waal’s finest creation, of all her characters the most subtle in his thinking and the most naked in his wistful longing to rediscover Vienna by going to its roots. Wandering about the city and the surrounding countryside, he discovers a quiet joy in solitude, very unlike the loneliness he’d felt in exile (“like an incurable disease”).Theophil Kanakis is a wealthy Greek businessman living in America whose family, not unlike Elisabeth de Waal’s, was a force to be reckoned with in prewar Vienna. He sees the city principally as a choice spot for a nostalgic retreat that he will fill with antique objets d’art and glamorous young people. A blend of crass capitalist and decadent connoisseur, Kanakis is thoroughly unlikable but not without weakness. He has a passion for a disreputable, impoverished prince who goes by the unlikely nickname of Bimbo (the vagaries of English slang can create anomalies when publication is delayed for nearly 60 years!). Bimbo and his sister --- the virtuous Nina, who lives modestly, calling herself not Princess but Fräulein --- were orphaned after the Nazis murdered their antifascist parents, then hidden during the war. They, too, are trying to reclaim Vienna.The last of de Waal’s protagonists is the daughter of exiles, an Austrian princess and Danish chemist who have resettled in suburban America. Eighteen-year-old Marie-Theres, known as Resi, is a bored, restless young woman, and her parents hope a visit to Austria will help. First she stays in the countryside with her Aunt Franzi, a countess, and then in Vienna proper with another of her mother’s sisters. Resi is ravishingly beautiful, but indifferent to the young men who court her --- until she meets Bimbo at one of Kanakis’s parties. In this louche, amoral world, her innocence dooms her.De Waal’s candor about less conventional pathways of love (homosexuality, extramarital sex, and teenage pregnancy and abortion all figure in the book) was likely a radical choice for the late 1950s. Could that have been a factor in her failure to find a publisher? I remember, in the same period, the scandal of an American play, later a movie, called Blue Denim, that dealt frankly with issues of adolescent pregnancy and (then illegal) abortion.But there may be other reasons that THE EXILES RETURN didn’t get published. I hope it is no offense to the dead to say that I think it is more successful as historical testimony than as fiction.It is not that de Waal lacks talent as a writer. Her descriptive powers are impressive; she evokes postwar Vienna in all its melancholy beauty and lingering sense of menace and gives Resi, Adler and Nina a finely tuned emotional life (not so for the less savory characters, who remain more one-dimensional and serve mainly as bad fairies who drive the tragic action). Here is Adler, apprehensive as his train first crosses into Austria: “It felt like a physical sickness, a mental darkness….[H]e was an animal, tense, wary, charged with feeling, stripped of reason.” Here he is again a few months later, on a May night in Vienna when he sits by his window “breathing the scent of lime and lilac and feeling myself languish in an overpowering and aimless desire, the desire of the young man for love.”But the book isn’t structured effectively; the entire first half is devoted to each of the exiles in turn, and I grew impatient at the lack of focus. Although connections among them are finally established, these plot devices arrive so late in the day that they often seem forced. And de Waal’s dialogue tends to be mannered; the scene between Adler and the head of the lab, for example, approaches melodrama. (Would this monster really confess his inhumanity to a Jewish colleague of whom he is envious and distrustful?)And yet, this is a haunting novel that explores age-old questions of memory, identity and loss, and how they are embedded in a particular time and place. Its elegiac atmosphere, if not its plot, has staying power.More than 400,000 U.S. citizens died in World War II. But our territory was not breached: our families slaughtered or exiled, our belongings seized, our whole way of life destroyed in an instant. Most Americans can never quite understand what it means to have that happen. THE EXILES RETURN helps us to grasp such a cataclysm by capturing the bittersweet destiny of those who assert, to paraphrase Thomas Wolfe, that they can go home again.Reviewed by Kathy Weissman",3.0,"Its elegiac atmosphere, if not its plot, has staying power",1392163200,"02 12, 2014",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A2G8R9QSHGNE8P,1570763100,"Grete Letting ""gletting""","[4, 8]","I bought the book because I liked the title but was very disappointed. The book has too many animals and baby blankets and few really clothes for children. The title promises more. I have knitted one of the sweaters, but I am not inspired to knit anymore from this book. The layout could have been good if the drawings had been better. Grete",2.0,Too many animals and blankets,1152489600,"07 10, 2006",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A9CGQ8CY36RBZ,B00FO9GANS,Shawna The Crazy Bookseller,"[0, 0]","Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.At eighteen, Melissa seduced her best friend Julia's brother only to run away shortly after. While Daniel was her fairytale prince, Lissa didn't believe in happy ever afters.Ten years and a near death experience later, Lissa is ready for a husband and family. But a cry for help from Julia puts that dream on hold. Daniel is acting weird and he's about to marry his long term girlfriend--AKA The Evil One. Someone needs to save him.Daniel has never stopped loving Lissa. Ten years ago when he gave her a little freedom, he always intended that one day they would be together. Right up until the moment he was bitten by a werewolf. Now, Daniel has to hide what he is. He won't risk anyone else, especially the woman he loves.But Lissa is back. Their attraction is stronger than ever and Lissa is nothing if not tenacious.-----------------------------------------------------------------------When I started this book I had a hard time getting into it. It was slow so I put it aside for a few days and then picked it up again. I'm glad I didn't give up on it because after a few chapters it started picking up. I'm a sucker for young love, losing that love, then it comes back when you are older. And of course adding werewolves is a nice touch.So just stick it out through the first couple of chapters and you will enjoy this book.",3.0,I liked it but it started slow for me,1385942400,"12 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11R8TJ9D3GZ4O,0807573450,American Immigration Council's Community Educ...,"[5, 5]","Between 1845 and 1851, thousands upon thousands of Irish men, women and children died when the potato crop failed. Fergus and his family immigrated to the U. S. during this time. On his last night home, he cuts a branch from his favorite blackthorn tree in order to ""take a piece of Ireland with him on the journey across the ocean"". The branch is whittled into a shillelagh, a walking stick. Within this shillelagh lies the story of the Fergus's family. Every St. Patrick's Day, the story of their flight from Ireland is told. Fergus grows up and gives the shillelagh to his son Declan. In turn, Declan gives it to his son Emmet and so it goes, on through the generations. The object becomes an heirloom and continues to be handed down with poetic stories told by family elders. Realistic illustrations add to the passage of time. This is a great introduction to Irish immigration and concepts of family traditions. Teachers in grades 2-4 may find this especially useful when introducing family traditions and/or a unit on Immigration.",5.0,A great introduction to Irish immigration and concepts of family traditions,1254700800,"10 5, 2009",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2SQJPUCZNHMZE,1590514505,"Geraldine Ahearn ""Author Geri Ahearn""","[4, 8]","Benjamin Chaparro, a retired detective, decides to write a book about a murder case that took place many years ago. He becomes obsessed with the rape and brutal murder of a young married woman, who was killed in her own bedroom. As he begins to revisit the specific details on the investigation, he enters a strange journey into the past, recalling a love affair he once had with Irene Hornos. The more he digs into the past, the more information he gains on a country that's corrupted by state terror. The setting is perfect for the story, and the compelling journey takes the reader through Argentina's criminal justice system. I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers, packed with psychological thrills-and-chills. Is justice served, and by whom? Are the guilty convicted, and do the innocent suffer? Eduardo Sacheri becomes a Master storyteller as Benjamin examines the dark, strange, and startling mysteries that will indeed send chills up your spine as the sword of justice is discovered to be double-edged. ""THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES"" is as entertaining as PRESUMED INNOCENT, with Harrison Ford.",5.0,"""ENTERTAINING, THRILLING, AND CHILLING!""",1313884800,"08 21, 2011",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A2NRCQ6JUG54W3,0615894666,Diana,"[0, 0]",I was very disappointed in the first 3 books in this series because I usually love all of Melody Anne's books. This book was better but all 4 could have been in one book. I hate continued stories. If I had known it was about extremely selfish and stupid women I never would have bothered to buy the four books. The ending was happy finally.,3.0,Finally we have an ending.,1384732800,"11 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18U013BFXJ9W0,0764205617,Shirley McClay,"[0, 0]","This book received a lot of great reviews at CBD and Amazon. However, I was really bored. I didn't even read half of it. I ended up flipping to the end to see what happens and then put it back on my shelf. I love suspense but this just didn't interest me. But... it was enjoyable to many others so be sure to read what others who DID enjoy had to say about it. Thank you to Bethany House for sending me a free copy of Hunter's Moon to review! Sorry it couldn't be more positive.",2.0,Boring. Sorry!,1272931200,"05 4, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AVP96VT3VU2SN,0316243914,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Excellent book, but read something uplifting afterward",5.0,Great book,1404777600,"07 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALY4MQYVAEE4U,149423355X,Deb,"[0, 0]","I thoroughly enjoyed getting to read this story from Nik's POV. I love Nik and found it great getting in his head and feeling what he felt for Emmie. In The Rocker That Holds Me, it felt as though Emmie was the only one suffering, but we learn in this story that Nik suffered as much, if not more. He suffered guilt because he felt Emmie should be hands off and he thought he was wrong for feeling as strongly as he did for her and falling in love with her. He was also worried the other guys would be mad at him. This story also tells his side through and up to the end of The Rocker That Holds Me so it's not just a re-telling of the first book. We get Mia and the wedding too. So sweet.Can't wait for The Rocker's Babies coming out in 2014, and also The Rocker That Wants Me which I believe will be Axton's book. Absolutely love this series.",5.0,Love Nik!! Another good book in this series.,1384646400,"11 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3E82E1V5SU6AP,0786868724,Justwannaread!,"[0, 0]","The author is also the narrator in the audio version of this book. I found that to be an added bonus because he does a very, very good job. This is an excellent story to accompany you on a 5-6 hour car trip. Have a Little Faith is an uplifting story that also happens to be true. It is a story about faith, but it doesn't get too religious. People of all beliefs will benefit from this story. It begins with the author struggling with the idea of giving a eulogy when asked to do so by his rabbi. Mitch's method of getting to know his rabbi better is truly wonderful - there are comical and tearful moments. There is also a secondary story that intertwines with the first. That involves an unlikely pastor of a poor inner-city parish who is doing God's mission in a very unselfish and faithful way.",5.0,Audio version review - beautful story!,1259798400,"12 3, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HK10525FSCSL,B00ETYRD2G,m pollard,"[0, 0]","A story horror story that leaves you thinking about it even after you are done. This is a story of a young girl who gets the car of her dreams, but there was something about it she didn't expect. I loved the descriptive writing and the flow of the storyline. The sounds in the last sentence are still in my head :)",4.0,Great quick read,1386806400,"12 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33L7G4E8CID3,0099556316,"Adam Dukovich ""colts_19""","[0, 0]","This book is an excellent story about which, like many things, seems like a simple case but is much more complex. An airplane catastrophe causes four deaths and 57 injuries, but what is the problem? Corey Singleton, a Vice President with Norton Aircraft, is assigned with finding out. This is not a mystery novel per se, but you will be wondering too, with anxiety and fascination, while you read this fantastic book. The plot is thick and unexpected, and the resolution is unexpected. The characters leave a little something to be desired, but this is a plot-driven book, and after reading it, you will feel smarter and you will be glad you spent your time reading it. Worth the time.",4.0,"4 1/2 Stars: Good Book, But Not Crichton's Best",978652800,"01 5, 2001",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YKP2HM1SPIAK,0553245767,Mark Bowser,"[0, 0]","If you want a touching story that will also teach you about true success then look no further. This is a great book!!!God bless you,Mark Bowserwww.amazon.com/author/markbowser",5.0,"Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful!!!",1393286400,"02 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1SYLII0808HD6,0395978351,M. Allen Greenbaum,"[13, 13]","When the now iconic Man in the Big Yellow Hat warns Curious George,""now don't wander off and get into trouble,"" we know exactly what's about to happen instead (especially since he had already rushed off). Despite his good intentions, George adventures turn into misadventures: Dousing someone's campfire, getting lost with a galloping deer, and being sprayed by a skunk that George thought was a cat. As usual in these series (story by Margret Rey, with illustrations by a team in the style of the late H.A. Rey), George's curiosity also leads to some monkey heroics. He also learns how to get rid of skunk smell (a vat of tomato juice).Given its forest setting, this is a somewhat quieter `George book,' but there are soft forest and animal drawings and enough action for the small ones. Curious George is now ""a registered trademark of the Houghton Mifflin,"" but the company encourages young readers to look for the `original adventures about Curious George' by the Reys. 24 pages, with pencil and watercolor illustrations on each one.",4.0,4 Georgie Dans Le Forest,1087776000,"06 21, 2004",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A130V1PSLAYOF4,1878424114,Jen,"[0, 0]","This book was much shorter than I expected, but I actually love it as a simple and quick reminder of the spiritual laws. Deepak has a way of explaining things to make them easy to understand. I love that at the end of each chapter he gives practical steps to put the laws into action.",5.0,Awesome little guide,1386720000,"12 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2MTQB6ICUZZLO,0877656258,Patrick,"[17, 22]","I bought this book because I am studying to be an electrician. I like it considerably more than the paperback version it is far easier to find section headings and sub-headings when you are looking for something. The paper is strong and glossy-white (as opposed to gray and flimsy in the paperback) and headings are in bold type and indented.That may not sound like much, but it is many times easier to read this version than the paperback version I was supplied to by my school.The book also features notes about many revisions to the Code from the 2002 edition as well as numerous examples, illustrations, and diagrams of different regulations.The book is very well constructed, albeit, rather large at 1300+ pages. If you need to buy a code book, this one will last a lot longer than the paperback one!",5.0,Great quality book - oodles better than the paperback version,1134000000,"12 8, 2005",17,22,helpful,0.7727272727272727,1 ALHWM51QCO2E9,B00AB7VJB6,"Zephyrhills, FL USA","[7, 7]",I read mystery/thriller books primarily. I had never read any books by this author or heard ot her. I like the strong female Sasha character and found all three books held my attention. I have just started reading her fourth book in the series.,4.0,good writing style,1364083200,"03 24, 2013",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A367X7VQU5A021,0425251829,sharing,"[0, 0]","a cook off with a few murders and mysteries thrown in....fast , fun cooking, sex, love all rapped in one fast and easy light reading very enjoyable want the rest of the series",5.0,if you like cook offs this is for you,1359072000,"01 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3P6718H05PRGI,0316027650,"Ashley L. Carter ""Avid Romantic""","[4, 5]","*originally written in August 2007 and MAY contain spoilers*I finished reading Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer about twenty minutes ago. I've been reading it all day. It's the kind of book where you only put it down if you have to, and even if it means you only got 4 hours of sleep that night, you are waking up early to continue reading it.I'd read that a lot of readers were disappointed and even angry at what happened in the book. The love triangle, of course. But I don't understand, don't they see beyond that? The struggle, the anguish, life? Life isn't about soulmates and love is complicated. They hated that Bella loved Jacob too and was torn between him and Edward, but I don't understand that either. Bella will always choose Edward, it is inevitable. She loved him first and she'll love him last. If she had loved Jacob first...but she didn't. For the past three books she has loved Edward more, he was her life. It would be series suicide to change that course.But didn't they feel any remorse for Jacob? You knew he loved Bella but you also knew that it would never be anything more than what might have been. Jacob is better for Bella. Her future would be better with him. The way Stephenie Meyer describes what these vampires are like....their entire bodies are as hard as rock and cold as ice. I can't picture Bella like this. No, I don't want her to become a vampire. I want her to be with Edward, I do...but I wish there was a way for Edward to become human again.I posed this question to some readers, if both choices were possible, would you rather Bella become a vampire or Edward become human again? Can you believe that they all said vampire? It's like...they just see the surface, or maybe I read too deep. They want Bella to give up her humanity, and they don't want her to love Jacob. Maybe it's cause they are young, I can tell that they were cause of their grammar and spelling. lol. Maybe it's because I'm older, not necessarily in age, but in wisdom, that I have this view. Love triangles are real and they hurt, because it's supposed to hurt someone or everyone. Not everyone can win in a love triangle, usually no one does. What would the victory be if your choice caused someone else pain? No, love triangles have sharp corners and they pierce.But...I've never had a book affect me the way this one did. When I read a book that I'm really into, I associate with the heroine. I feel her anguish, her joy, her anger, and her sadness. Sometimes so much that it might make tears gather in my eyes. But this book...Bella, Edward, and Jacob....I felt them all. By the end of the book I was bawling, and I'm still affected. But somehow at the end, all the pain I feel is for Jacob. I grieve for him. Bella and Edward have it all figured out, they are closed off. But Jacob...I do believe he loved her from the start. And most of all, I'm extremely uncertain about what is going to happen in Breaking Dawn. With New Moon and Eclipse....we had an idea. But Breaking Dawn, there isn't even a blurb written for it yet. Why, I don't even know if Stephenie Meyer has started writing it yet, last I checked it was still in outline stage. It won't be out until fall of next year...that is a long time. More than a year. Will I even care by then? Of course I will. I'm affected now and I have to know how it ends. And most of all, I want Jacob to have a happy ending, but without Edward losing his.But I'm still amazed how this book affected me, how I still want to cry for Jacob even though I'm done reading it. All authors dream of their readers getting moved like this. Because it means that they got in your heart somehow and that it was no longer reading as a hobby or as pleasure, but an addiction. I have to know how the story ends. And even if it ends in a way I don't like or don't expect, that doesn't matter, because the story will still be over. No more.And I imagine this sounds pathetic if you've never felt this way about a book before and you must think that I'm a loser weirdo. But I wish I could just share with you a little bit of what I felt, then maybe you would understand. You probably could even relate. I just know that this book was good.And for the record, at times I hate Bella's character. Her selfishness, lack of confidence, and her clingyness. BUT, as much as we dislike her, she's real. It may seem over the top to you, but there are teenage girls out there who are JUST like this, and older women too. Sometimes I dislike Edward too, just because he doesn't seem real. It wasn't until Eclipse that he started ACTING like a boyfriend. There are quirks about each character that rub me the wrong way, but overall, I won't stop reading the series because of that. I HAVE to know how it ends. lol.",5.0,It /Moved/ Me!,1203552000,"02 21, 2008",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1WSTKQBHH02IA,B0095IATR2,Vivian Garber,"[0, 0]","Could conceivably be expanded...I am quickly becoming a fan of these two authors, excellent semi-occult,with facts thrown in for plausibility",3.0,Excellent for a short story,1361923200,"02 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2B0EMQP8WL80S,B006OOSWRO,nora m.,"[0, 0]","This book is a great start of an interesting new concept. Everyone does not survive in all disastrous situations. Deadlocked gives us a look into the very soul and heart of the character, feel what he feels, see things through his eyes. Maybe even gives us a minute to think of how we might react in his place.Would you be the bad guy, hero, fighter or just give up to all that is happening. Who are you?",4.0,Deadlocked,1389916800,"01 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AIHQERRD88D6Q,0062049895,shirley,"[0, 0]","I truly enjoyed this book it had a great story,I enjoy the variety in writings from different authorssometimes wish I had more times to read",5.0,pretty good reading,1382313600,"10 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A12LUXU4D9TXA5,1930754671,"X. Li ""Lee""","[27, 59]","A book long over due. A must read for those who have read either of Brandens' books on Ayn Rand. Ayn Rand's private notes on Branden shed some lights on her method applying her Objectivism philosophy to the field of psychology (psycho-epistemology). Big thanks and applause to prosecutor/author, Mr. Valliant, for vindicating justice one more time!",5.0,Justice ultimately prevails in a benevolent universe,1118707200,"06 14, 2005",27,59,helpful,0.4576271186440678,1 A2YATE2EMMY3N5,1484861388,hilndgirl,"[0, 0]","This really is a beautiful love story. It's about a couple who first become friends and then life takes them full circle. Zoe marries Adam's cousin, has a child, and then has to bury her husband. Adam suddenly comes back into Zoe's life on a regular basis. This book takes you through Zoe's grief and Adam's as well. You also see how they are both coping with Zoe having to raise her infant son alone. Adam tries his best to help Zoe in any way that he can. Eventually they realize that Josh would want them to move on and begin to do just that. As they begin to finally heal they also realize that they are attracted to each other. What Zoe doesn't know is that Adam has always loved her.This book is a quick read. Once I got started I didn't want to put it down.",4.0,Touching,1379548800,"09 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YK9R4AY7V9F0,0132281287,John Anthony,"[16, 38]",Peter Navarro has been getting a lot of press these days. I have noticed op eds by him in both Barron's and the International Herald Tribune. He has also been interviewed about this book on CNBC and Bloomberg radio. What actually motivated me to buy the book was a good review in The Asia Times ([...]) by Benjamin A Shobert. Having now read through the book twice I have to say that I am very impressed with Navarro's depth of knowledge and his pervasive documentation of every point and argument that he makes. There is virtually nothing in the book that he doesn't support with quotes from notable authorities and research. The book seems to be evoking some strong feelings but for me this is a very important and credible piece of work. I recommend you read it for yourself.,5.0,Good Review in Asia Times,1165017600,"12 2, 2006",16,38,helpful,0.42105263157894735,1 AZBBKR18NTM50,0778312577,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","The plot line is great, the idea that three brothers are trying to recreate the town that they grew up in after an F5 tornado decimated it. The idea that they're trying to create a green community is also enjoyable. It's only that many of the characters are too formulaic, too stereotypical that led me farther and farther into disliking the book.I did finish this. I was invested in the characters from the first two books, and even though they were good rather than great they were the kind of escapist reading I was looking for. This one had such a nasty female protagonist I couldn't see any way for her to become a lovable character. She does, of course, otherwise it wouldn't be proper escapism. But neither character can really stay true to his or herself and still make the happy ending, so people had to undergo unrealistic changes to get to the end. This is so unpleasant that I might not re-read the first and second books because I'll know that getting through the third book will be a chore and I like to read an entire series together. So much so that one of my favorite authors is working on book 35 or 40 or some such and when I know it's coming out I'll go back and re-read all the previous books in order to enjoy a seamless transition to the new book. If you haven't guessed, I don't recommend this book. Book 1 had some troubling transitions in it, but I cared enough about the characters to want to go on. Book 2, again, there were a lot of, why do they do that moments. The ones that you know that why they do it is to forward the plot but you just can't believe that people are that relationship stupid. Maybe they are, but there are limits to credulity, to the amount of change a character can exhibit in the space of a month without wondering if aliens took them over, and this third book crossed those limits. I wouldn't have liked it, but it would have worked better for me if the two central characters went with, you're a person unlike any I would ever want to spend time with and ridden off into their respective sunsets.Since this was the audio edition I'll say that the narrator was perfectly competent though not great. She didn't make me want to either look for or avoid books she's narrated.",1.0,Trite and tedious,1368748800,"05 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HKKAI7GSEUT1,0727858289,C.W.WHITE,"[0, 0]","Great premise that is totally destroyed by a weird political subplot. The idea that an ancient disease is re-released as the polar ice caps melt is interesting but too much tine is wasted by internal dialogue of characters wondering if they are perceived as leaders or not. Usually I'll finish a book if I start reading it. But finishing this book was out of the question when my own internal dialogue kept asking, ""What else could I do other than waste my time with this?""I really wish the 99 cents wasted on this book could have been donated to the SPCA.",1.0,What a stinker,1331337600,"03 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3R19YKNL641X3,0399158812,"Thomas Duff ""Duffbert""","[0, 0]","I am still in awe that J. D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) can crank out new installments of the In Death series at the rate of about two per year... not even counting all the writing she does under her real name! I'm even more amazed that each new story involving Lieutenant Eve Dallas still retains a freshness that all too often disappears the longer a writer goes in a series. Delusion in Death is the latest In Death novel, and like all the others, I devoured it.In Delusion, Dallas gets tagged on a crime scene more grizzly than any she's ever seen. Over 80 people died in a bar, all within approximately 12 minutes, and all apparently due to injuries inflicted on each other. A deadly mixture of LSD, Zeus, and other drugs caused mass hallucinations and rage, but there's not many survivors to offer up clues as to how it happened and who might be responsible. A repeat of the incident underscores the urgency to find those responsible for the killings, as no one is safe until Dallas and her crew solve the case.Robb starts off Delusion quickly and it doesn't slow down much. Along the way, Summerset's past as well as his relationship with Roarke come into play to help break the case open, forcing Dallas to put aside her continual harassment of him. She also has to deal with reoccurring nightmares involving her mother's death, as she continues to work through who she is regardless of what happened to her as a child. Throw in a great twist and final showdown at the end, and Delusion in Death was yet another great addition to the series.And I'm already on the hold list at the library for the next installment...Disclosure:Obtained From: LibraryPayment: Borrowed",5.0,Another great installment of the In Death series...,1356134400,"12 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A10188711H25XIHDTL5GE,0615733832,Unknown,"[0, 0]",The story seemed a bit common for a magical story with fairies and for some reason I was thrown off with the obscure names of places and people. Very unusual for me since I always thought my mind was creative (I guess we live and learn) I will have to read it again at a different time to compare the review I just gave it though (just to be fair),3.0,Common for a magical book,1364860800,"04 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2QRSP1I9MRMPH,0451225988,SugaCube,"[0, 0]","Many people said it was a bit much, but I found this book interesting, I really could not put it down. A must get for your collection",5.0,Love Eric Jerome Dickey !!!,1368921600,"05 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19FEIRW4RVFGX,1603425799,Diana J. Decker,"[5, 6]","Some fantastic, wonderful ideas using sock yarn for something other than just knitting socks! A wide range of ideas, there has to be something in here for everyone that knits! There are even some crochet patterns, so there's something for everyone in this book! The book is exactly as the product description describes it! Enjoy!",5.0,Not Just For Socks!,1289174400,"11 8, 2010",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2KZ7YO7XVN1F6,0374304688,Susan L. Ruddy,"[0, 0]","When was the last time a small bird became a hero to you? You will never look at a bird the same way again for you will always wonder what it may have done, where it may have been, what it may have seen. We need wonder and awe in our lives: Moonbird gives us both.",5.0,"Charming, fascinating, delightful read",1369267200,"05 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1AYN3IIUNQCIA,0064407691,"Melanie Edwards ""book worm""","[0, 2]","with olaf still at large, uncle onty dead, and aunt joesphine swiming with the leaches, the baudalers are sent to platryville to work in lucky smells lumber mill run by a man known only ase sir. with only gum to eat and hard labor, olaf appears as shirley(HAhAhahahahahaha). read this book it will give you the biggest amount of woe.",5.0,another chapter in the series,1097452800,"10 11, 2004",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 AAOF195P95ZVC,030733936X,Ross E. Nelson,"[11, 14]","Joe Bageant means this book to be read by all Americans, but he reserves his best shots for so-called liberals and progressives. And why not? Just as conservatives are most upset with the neocon morons who populate the White House and talk radio, so is Bageant with those of his own stripe.Using his home town of Winchester, Virginia, as the base for his dispatches, Bageant lays into what he sees as corporate dumping on the working class of America. These are the people who do the grunt labor for little pay, get manipulated in financial arrangements such as mortgages, and end up getting shoddy medical and nursing home care at the end of their broken-down lives. Indeed, his description of backwoods nursing home care is creepy.Bageant's writing is both acerbic and humorous, and always passionate. He's too apocalyptic though, about some things--repeated forecasts of worldwide ecological doom betray his similarity to the redneck religious fundamentalists he examines. Despite his entertaining and interesting commentary on the Scots-Irish settlers in America and the plight of the working class in general, much of which portrays a real problem in America, Bageant lets his subjects off far too easily in some cases.Take Dottie, the 59-year-old 300-pound woman with all the associated ailments you can imagine at her age and weight. Exactly how has America let her down? The truth is, even if her health care lacks compared to what the wealthy in the Hamptons get, she is still receiving huge medical benefits for conditions directly related to her gluttony. He also seems a little confused about the working class's material conditions: they have far more goodies and material comforts than did their ancestors, but stand on shaky financial ground at the same time. So glutted with material things, they think they're happy. Their desire for immediate gratification has led them into much of the financial mess he decries.Bageant is blunt about his people's ignorance, incuriousity, and plain greed. These allow them to get tangled in idiotic house-buying schemes, to blindly support whatever the Fearless Leader in Washington says, and in general make botches of their lives. The Scots-Irish, Bageant points out, are great for drinking and fighting, serving as unthinking shock troops for whatever goon is in the White House, and being largely oblivious to any kind of life of the mind. Maybe TV and other social influences have pushed them in that direction, and the author does make some pointed references to their weaknesses, but it seems to me that he lets them off the hook to an unjustified extent.Bageant is an example of the old-time liberal. He defends gun rights, brings common sense to much of what he argues, and sees government as a benign and essential dispenser of good things to the people. Contrast this to the modern liberal, who's a slave to every leftwing special interest group. Even though Bageant is too hard on external pressures and not hard enough on the foibles of the working class, he writes informatively and well, making this book worth reading.",4.0,Gimme That Old Time Liberal Gospel,1196899200,"12 6, 2007",11,14,helpful,0.7857142857142857,1 A3U0EURQV0C2PV,B006G5EMCK,"Allen Williams ""kaegori""","[15, 19]","I tried. I went in with low to middling expectations hoping for something to at least give me a chuckle since so many others had left rave reviews. I thought ""I'm a modern guy. I can take some slanted, perhaps anti-man/husband humor"". I couldn't finish this.Just not funny. Base, generalized, and low-brow humor masquerading as chic with hashtags. I was looking for a laugh, yes, I can laugh at myself and other men, and yet, there just wasn't anything to laugh at in this book filled with low-life humor, ""my hubby is a slob like everybody else's yet I love him, LOL"" and uneven forays into personal trials. #keeplooking",1.0,"Looking for a laugh, and now still looking",1335052800,"04 22, 2012",15,19,helpful,0.7894736842105263,1 A2TX179XAT5GRP,0061345784,"TeensReadToo ""Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier.""","[9, 10]","I have read and reviewed many books over the past two years that have impressed me. I have read only a handful, however, that have touched me as deeply as ALL WE KNOW OF HEAVEN. This is a book that's hard to describe in detail, due mainly to the fact that I don't want to give too much of the story away. Suffice it to say, however, that it's a story that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.Two girls, Bridget and Maureen, who are so similar and yet so different at the same time. They have nearly identical body shapes, have the same colored hair and eyes, and even share many of the same mannerisms and characteristics. They've been best friends for several years, and yet there's a part of Maureen that understands that Bridget considers her to be her friend out of convenience, and for what she can provide for her.Then there is an accident, a deadly one, and the lives of two girls and their families are forever changed. One girl dies, one girl lives. One family buries their daughter, one rejoices and yet fears over the fact that their daughter, now forever changed, lies unconscious and unknowing in a hospitable bed. Yet through it all, interspersed throughout the pages of the story, are the tangled thoughts of a young woman, who is unable to grasp even the simplest words and put them to the images she sees, yet who understands the concept that she's not the girl everyone seems to think she is.The wrong daughter buried, the wrong family rejoicing. Fear, regret, heartbreak, happiness, hope -- and with it all, through it all, tinged by it all, lies guilt. Guilt that one girl survived, and one didn't. Guilt that one mother once hoped her daughter might die, to spare them all the pain of a long recovery. Guilt that one family's prayers seemed to be answered, and another's joy was cut short.Guilt that one girl is not the other, could never be the other, and yet seems to be stepping into the life that girl left behind.Jacquelyn Mitchard can write. She writes so well, in fact, that the reader is unable to step outside of the story of Maureen and Bridget once they've begun reading it. You can feel the pain, the happiness, the sorrow. You understand, and you grieve, and you rejoice, right along with the characters of ALL WE KNOW OF HEAVEN. This is a story you won't soon forget -- nor will you want to.Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka ""The Genius""",5.0,Courtesy of Teens Read Too,1210118400,"05 7, 2008",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A3MJECDLT53NRF,0451410823,barbara ohlemacher,"[0, 0]",It was a good read and very enjoyable a nice break from a serious novel. She always does a good job,4.0,like the aurthor,1375574400,"08 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3M2BHIRXNXIAH,044653191X,Zvi M. Aranoff,"[12, 26]","From a literary point of view, the book could have been written better. It's wordy, sloppy, it ought to be trimmed down, leave out cheap shots, avoid getting even, refrain from hyperbole and substantiate his claims with references. That would have made it a far superior book, and a respectable as such. All in all it seems like a hasty rehash of Goldberg's first book, ""Bias"", with an added 12 steps program to cure the problem.In terms of content, although I agree with the author that the mainstream media has a left-wing bias, I must point out that the book has several big flaws.Goldberg seems to read too much into things. He, for instance, sees CBS's policy to allow interviewees to record their interviews but forbid them to publish it without CBS's consent, as hypocritical. CBS adopted that policy because an interviewee published his entire interview on the web before CBS had a chance to edit and air it. One wonders what's the problem here? The interview IS in fact CBS's property, and it has the right to distribute it as it seems fit.Goldberg does not show that liberal bias is pervasive. I agree with the reviewer who wrote that Goldberg ""more effectively demonstrates episodes of bad journalism rather than institutional biased journalism"" and with the reviewer who wrote, ""[Goldberg] seems to have picked examples to match his conclusions, rather than trying to do anything like a good analysis of the spectrum of stories and points of view one might find on the big networks, or in The Times.""Worse, the book is sourly lacking in facts, which ultimately reflects poorly on Goldberg's own bias:1. Goldberg makes many statements without backing them up with evidence. Several examples: He claims that the mainstream media routinely fails to report the race of a rapist who is still at large, when he is black, for fear of offending blacks and of feeding into racial stereotypes, but offers no evidence for that outrageous claim. If this is true, it is clearly a serious matter, but am I supposed believe him without any evidence? He also claims that, ""almost all of the priests involved in the [child molestation] scandal were in fact gay"", but, again, offers no evidence for that. How does he know that the priests were gay and not heterosexuals molesting boys?2. Goldberg often makes his case by asking hypothetical questions rather than backing up his point with facts. Can you believe that??3. Goldberg seems to take sides on issues without fully knowing the facts. He brings a case where a gay employee of Leone Helmsley sued her for firing him because he's gay. He won and was awarded $554,000. Goldberg briefly cites her defense and then comments: ""the particulars of the case aside, to anyone following the proceedings it certainly seemed apparent that abuse in this area of the law was possible, maybe even inevitable. The charge of discrimination is a powerful weapon. And when it is made unjustly, how, realistically, is an employer or landlord supposed to fight it?"" The problem with this comment is twofold. First, it gives the impression that he thinks Helmsley was unjustly accused. What evidence does he have for that? The court surely didn't think so! Is he suggesting that the court got it wrong? Secondly, ANY legal weapon can be used unjustly, and it is the responsibility of the legal system to insure that it does not happen. Is that supposed to be an argument against legal protection for gays?A full chapter is then dedicated to Goldberg's idea that on some matters journalists SHOULD take a stance and SHOULD NOT be neutral. He argues that, ""certain issues, it seems to me, are clear cut. Certain issues do not have two sides ... certain acts civilized people simply cannot in good conscience regard with anything but unmitigated horror, revulsion, and anger"". Without getting into a philosophical debate, this claim undermines the entire premise of the book. Up to that point Goldberg argued that the media should leave its own opinions and biases out of reporting. But now he is arguing that on some matters journalists SHOULD take a stance and they SHOULD NOT be neutral EVEN IN THEIR REPORTINGS. The first question this raises is, Why? Why should they not be neutral on all matters? Why should they not report the facts as they are and let the public decide, even on these matters? Remember, we're not dealing here with their opinion section but the reporting section. Second, where do you draw the line? A journalist advocating a liberal cause might see his cause as a clear-cut matter too.And if you think Goldberg is referring only to really horrific things, I will turn your attention to the last paragraph of this book where Goldberg suggests that the media should use Ed Murrow, the legendary CBS News correspondent, as their guide. Back in the 50s, after doing an entire program on Senator Joe McCarthy, Murrow commented: ""We are not descended from fearful men, [we're] not men who feared to write, to speak, to associate and to defend causes which were for the moment unpopular. This is no time for men who oppose Senator McCarthy's methods to keep silent. We can deny our heritage and our history, but we cannot escape responsibility for the results"". An activist, liberal journalist would say, Hurrah!",2.0,ok.. but with lots of flaws,1073692800,"01 10, 2004",12,26,helpful,0.46153846153846156,1 A1VTPX3NI4TANU,097957885X,"John Ottinger III ""Book Reviewer""","[4, 8]","The Return of the Sword is the first anthology published by the newly minted Flashing Swords Press, itself the publishing arm of the formerly defunct and recently revitalized Flashing Swords e-zine. Giving itself the byline ""An Anthology of Heroic Adventure"" Return of the Sword is editor Jason M. Waltz's collection of 19 new stories, one classic reprint, and one article that look at the character of the hero, particularly as he appears in the sword and sorcery subgenre of fantasy. In Waltz's introduction to the anthology, he writes that ""heroes continue to do the ordinary in extraordinary times and do the extraordinary in ordinary times.""The stories contained in Return of the Sword manage to show that truth in many ways, with varied success.The anthology begins with a female protagonist in ""Altar of the Moon"" a story by Stacey Berg that thinks about the problems inherent in the magical weapons that heroes use. What this hero is forced to do to quell the magic in her sword may surprise you. Berg's writing is fluid, and this very short story is an interesting take on the magical weapon trope.""The Wyrd of War"" by Bill Ward is a graphic battle story. It is sad for its protagonist and the ending will wrench you heart. Ward has his protagonist make a fearsome decision, one I hope no one in this modern age must face, although I fear that in some ways it is more common than you think. The story has repercussions in the euthanasia debate. (Likely this is something the author did not foresee, but I came away thinking about it.)""The Last Scream of Carnage"" by Phil Emery uses strange word placement, replacement of quotes with italics, and a sense of raw emotion to tell the story of a heroes sacrifice. Waltz's ""editors choice"" it is the most groundbreaking story in the anthology. Although groundbreaking in style, I found its narrative difficult to follow and I did not enjoy this story, for all its creativity.I also disagree with Waltz's decision to have an ""editor's choice"" since in reality, he chose all of the stories contained in the anthology, and to elevate one above all the rest is unnecessary and distracting. His job as editor is to choose stories readers will enjoy, not tell us which one we should like best, as our tastes are not necessarily going to conform to his. His ""editor's choice"" decision led to this story being the only one that is illustrated and I'd like to say I feel slighted on behalf of the other writer's who contributed work to this anthology.""The Battle of Raven Kill"" by Jeff Draper is a story of self-sacrifice. The story is one man's last stand against a horde of barbarians. Draper weaves an elegant and protracted fight scene that is thrilling to read.Nicholas Ian Hawkins' ""What Heroes Leave Behind"" is about an aged warrior. Tolasun is a hero who has lived longer than his legend. Hawkins writes a believable tale about a warrior who comes full circle, and how when heroes die, there are those who will pick up the mantle. The ""shadow"" that is part of the story is nicely woven in, and Hawkins makes that spectre an interesting and unique foe.""Fatefist at Torkas Nahl"" is an alright tale. David Pitchford pits the leaders of three opposing armies against each other, a unique type of battle, but it was overly complex, and the Fatefist himself was inexplicably obtuse. This story was neat to read, but I turned its final page not feeling that I had really been told much of a story, just a sequence of events.Ty Johnston delves into the hero versus fate story with ""Deep in the Land of Ice and Snow"". It is a story that has some of the feel of legend. Ultimately though, this story would have better served as a prologue to a larger novel or novella.""Mountain Scarab"" looks into the ""knight in shining armor"" story. Although in this case, the knight is less than shining, and his reasons for saving the fair damsel are unknown even to him. Jeff Stewart is reprising a character that he has used before, but he story is enjoyable and the way the protagonist wins his battle is quite different if a little too much deus ex machina.Angeline Hawkes ""Lair of the Cherufe"" was the least likable story of the anthology. There are glaring plot holes in her story (such as the need for the blood of royal virgins to satiate the monster's desire. If this were true, it is unlikely the king would ever have let his daughter near the man who worshiped the monster!) It is also is two stories crammed together into one. One is about the search for a sword and the other the killing of the monster. The sword is necessary for the second to be completed, but the tale of its finding either needed to be expanded to hold more interest or done away with altogether. Hawkes also throws in new confrontations with no foreshadowing. (The guardians of the lava monster.) The story ended up being poorly written even in a subgenre that is deeply tolerant of such things as I have mentioned.""To Be a Man"" by Robert Rhodes is a little crude in its content, but it is an interesting flip-flop of the barbarian chases damsel tale. The laughs Rhodes gets for his tale are more likely ones of discomfort that true laughter. Still, it is unique and there are many men who would not have done as the protagonist did for the entire world.A collection and expansion of some of his blog posts, ""Storytelling"" is a nonfiction article by E. E. Knight which has a lots of very specific tips and tricks for the budding writer. With several novels to his credit, Knight's advice is worth reading for any aspiring writer.James Enge gives readers of Black Gate a new Morlock Ambrosius story in """"The Red Worm's Way"". Though not as strong a story as those in Black Gate is still true to form and continues to entertain. New readers of Morlock should go back and read the first stories in Black Gate.""To Destroy all Flesh"" by Michael Ehart is another story with female heroes. Though this story is not particular exciting, it serves as an excellent introduction to Ehart's characters, stories if whom have recently been collected into a single volume. I was intrigued enough that I might want to read Ehart's other stories. His writing is fluid and his characters heroic with a twist.Thomas M. MacKay looks at the use of rage by the hero in ""Guardian of Rage"". MacKay is using a character from other stories he has published and unfortunately what results is a character that those who have not read those prior stories can get attached to. While I applaud the protagonist's heroic actions the element of rage that MacKay introduces is not distinguishable from the standard behavior of the hero and so adds little to the story.Christopher Heath tackles the stereotype of the ""brute barbarian"" in ""Claimed by Birthright"". Heath's story owed as lot to the Conan tales (he even uses the word ""Cimmerian"") but twists it just slightly to allow wit combined with brute force to win the day. Not a stand out story, but still solid and entertaining.Nathan Meyer's ""The Hand that Holds the Crown"" is a story about betrayal. There is actually no clear hero, and I am a bit surprised it was included in this anthology. Still, it is a story with not one, but two surprising twists, and I enjoyed how it ended.""The Dawn Tree"" by S.C. Bryce is another story about betrayal, but this time about a hero being tricked into betraying himself. This was an excellent story, and Bryce's concept of the Dawn Tree ushering in the new epoch is creative.Allen B. Lloyd and William Clunie's collaborative story ""An Uneasy Truce in Ulam-Bator"" is the only truly humorous tale in this collection. It introduces two characters that Clunie and Lloyd plan to write more about. I look forward to the stories these two will tell with this unlikely pair of companions.Steven Goble writes a tale of a heroes driving force in ""The Mask Oath"". In this case, it is not revenge that drives the hero. This is a tale of the noble hero, whose heroism comes from honor, justice, and love of country. It subtly praises the characteristics we prize so highly in our own armed forces.""Valley of Bones"" by Bruce Durham is a story about the front line soldier. The heroism and selflessness displayed by the protagonist is the same we all would aspire to have in our own lives. Durham' story exemplifies how anyone may be a hero given the right motivation and the right set of circumstances, the type of hero who says that ""I only did what anyone would do.""The final story in this anthology is one of Harold Lamb's Cossack historical fantasy stories. This is good story for people unfamiliar with Lamb to read to get a sense of those prolific but until recently forgotten author. Now, thanks to Howard Andrew Jones and Bison Press we can read the stories of Lamb again, or for the first time.Overall, this anthology is enjoyable. It has some stories that are less the stellar and I have pointed them out as well as I could. Readers should also know that although this story is about heroes, it is also mostly about heroes of the sword and sorcery variety. These are the heroes who most often tend to fight for gold, women, and glory. So in some ways, the stories can get repetitious because the same tropes are encountered again and again. This does not mean that he stories are poorly written, quite the contrary, but the reader might want to break up the reading of these stories.If you like sword and sorcery fantasy, you will like this anthology. If Conan style stories bore you or seem to simplistic, there are no stories here for you. Everyone who writes will benefit from E. E. Knight's writing suggestions, but they can be found in another form on his blog. Overall, I enjoyed the anthology and read through it quite quickly, proving to me that I was having fun. And that is what this first offering from Flashing Swords Press is meant to do. Return of the Sword is meant to entertain, and it succeeds, for the most part.",3.0,"A Good collection, somewhat repetitive",1210896000,"05 16, 2008",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A2ZI4RMRSA072T,1449966217,C. Havanac,"[4, 5]","This book was recommended to me by a friend and at first I balked because it was referenced to me as a ""hockey romance"". Turns out it is a fabulous book and I absolutely loved it.Frederique ""Freddie"" is a magazine writer who gets a plum writing assignment on professional hockey player, Damon Erickson. I love how the author has the characters play off of each other seamlessly and keeps the reader interested in their relationship.If you live in Minneapolis you will like all the references to places in Minneapolis. I know I do.This book will please all romance novel readers!",5.0,Heart on Ice,1276387200,"06 13, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1T6PXM2M3N84A,019517559X,Harold McFarland,"[165, 176]","Quantum mechanics is one of the most tested and verified theories of modern physics. However, there are several parts of quantum mechanics that can only be described as bizarre. Of course the physicists discuss and argue the implications of the strange behavior of the quantum world but very few average people fully understand the problems. In Quantum Enigma the authors explain the history of quantum mechanics, how it was developed over the years, and why it is both the most cohesive theory of modern physics and at the same time the most controversial in its application. What makes their book exceptional is how easy it is to understand. Using simple language they are masters at taking a complex subject and explaining it in a way that anyone can understand. Quantum Enigma is highly recommended to anyone who wants to understand the basics of quantum mechanics including the various problems that come along with it.",5.0,Quantum Theory for Everyone,1159056000,"09 24, 2006",165,176,helpful,0.9375,1 A8IPQ1Q1O7YX5,0307271021,"Roger Brunyate ""reader/writer/musician""","[18, 19]","From any other author, the craft and ease of these five stories would merit four stars at least, but Ishiguro has set his own standards so high with books likeNEVER LET ME GOthat he may disappoint readers with this slim collection. Subtitled ""Five stories of music and nightfall,"" the tales do have an impressive unity of theme. The protagonists are all musicians, generally putting higher ambitions on hold to play in cafe orchestras or pick-up groups; like the butler inTHE REMAINS OF THE DAYthey are people of great competence in their own small world, but adrift in the larger one. The nightfall element is less consistent, though each story contains an evening scene somewhere. Or maybe this is intended metaphorically, for a significant theme in most of the tales is that of a relationship coming to an end -- not violently, but with a poignant regret that is also implied by the title.The trouble is that this consistency is also limiting. Ishiguro has rung many variations before on his theme of the competent loser, but he has relied on the context of a full-length novel to provide richness and detail, and his major books to date have all been completely different, each written in a different genre. But these five stories are too similar; their prevailing mood is comedy, veering towards farce in the second and fourth, but without significant change of tone, and the protagonists are too much alike. But the stories are charming and well-written, and share an atmosphere different from that of any other author.The opening story, ""Crooner,"" is set in Venice, where a once-famous crooner Tony Gardner hires a jobbing guitarist to help him serenade his wife Lindy; it is a poignant story that raises expectations for the other four. The protagonist in ""Come Rain or Come Shine"" is an aficionado rather than a performing musician; a small-time ESL teacher in Spain, he is invited to London by a more successful university friend, and finds himself involved in a situation that exploits his worst paranoias. The main character in ""Malvern Hills"" is another guitarist and also a composer; over a summer in the English countryside he becomes an unwitting catalyst in the lives of an older couple of Swiss musicians on holiday. Lindy Gardner, from the first story, reappears in the fourth, a grotesque farce set in Beverly Hills which quite fails to sustain its length. With the final story, ""Cellists,"" we are back in Italy, but the major character is a young classical player who falls under the spell of a mysterious American woman. This is distinctly different from the other four and contains some fascinating ideas, but although its evanescent ending may be right, it leaves this reader curiously unsatisfied by the collection as a whole. [3.5 stars]",3.0,The Music of Loss,1250640000,"08 19, 2009",18,19,helpful,0.9473684210526315,1 A2X8JKY9Y5Q7NA,B00B3UHP1S,Yvonne,"[4, 4]","Once again, Rose Pressey has put a smile on my face. I very much enjoyed reading about Alabama and her boyfriend Reed and their troubles returning to Reeds hometown in Georgia. Alabama accompanies him back home for a family reunion, when she spots a rundown mansion that needs fixing up. She falls in love with this home and talks Reed into buying this home with her. She walks in on Reed standing over the murdered body of Gordon Millerton. Alabama needs to find out who murdered him, before Reed is charged with the murder.All the the people in this town are hiding secrets. Then one by one people in Alabama's life start to disappear. Thanks to her new friends can she come up with the answers before its too late??",5.0,A Fun Read*****,1360108800,"02 6, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2WB4OWBUH2VQX,038531258X,"HardyBoy64 ""RLC""","[25, 28]","I love a good novel and I'm glad our bookclub chose this one. It's a humorous and touching story about life in the south.I recommend it as much as I would ""To Kill A Mockingbird"".",5.0,One of my new favorites...,1110240000,"03 8, 2005",25,28,helpful,0.8928571428571429,1 A2RHEF3JUST9F6,0452285666,Mona Lisa,"[4, 5]","Very interesting information. However, I got the Kindle version, and would have preferred the book instead. There are no pages or locations for the Index. If a word is in bold letters and highlighted, you can not click on it and go to that word and get more information. Still learning about my Kindle, so it could be my learning curve as well.",4.0,Well worth reading,1336953600,"05 14, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A8OMEM38MIVYB,0071361723,Soon Yau Cheong,"[4, 5]","Astonishing! Couldn't believe it is the same author of "Programming and Customizing 8051 Microcontroller", which I think is not that recommended. He uses quite a big portion in his PIC book to elaborate on knowledge of PIC and other microcontrollers. He even covers introduction the IDE, computer interface, compiler, assembler, linker etc which is usually not mentioned in other PIC books.I'd say this book is good to intermediate PIC user and beginner of microcontroller. I guess beginner of PIC must be frustrated, as he/she still not be able to get the PIC works after finish reading half of the book. However, this book worth its price.",5.0,Complete Guide on PIC!,1080691200,"03 31, 2004",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AKUBBUC3SEOQB,0805446974,Kay,"[0, 0]",I loved this book. Funny characters. I felt I was there. I could just image this story really happening. Great read for anyone who has ever lived in a small town or wished they could live in a small town.,5.0,great,1355356800,"12 13, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1I093JAIHRWJ5,0373210698,RaeLynn_Fry,"[4, 4]","""Eternity Cure"" picks up right where ""Blood of Eden"" left off and keeps the momentum going until the very last page. I have to applaud Ms. Kagawa, once again, for her talents in writing and storytelling. Taking an overworked storyline, like vampires, and making it new, and fresh, and serious, is a hard thing to do, but she does not disappoint.Just like ""Blood of Eden"", ""Eternity Cure"" is filled with fights, blood, revenge, and betrayal. There's even a bit of forbidden love to keep those romantics happy. But in the end, it's a tough book with an even tougher female lead. Allie is everything a protagonist in a post-apocalyptic, vampire-run world: Brave, smart, leery, and rough; but not without a dark sense of humor and a little bit of humanity still intact.I've said it before, this is, hands down, my favorite vampire series and my favorite of Julie's books. Definitely worth the read.Rating: 4.5/5, and a strong PG-13 for the amount of violence and blood between the covers.",5.0,"Katanas, blood, revenge, and betrayal. What more could you want from a YA vampire dystopian?",1367884800,"05 7, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1U4LUXTRVB1Z8,B00ASFU7U0,Marchelle Butler-Smith,"[0, 0]","This is a show stopper. Can not put this down, read entire book. Kept me in suspense. LOVED this book.",5.0,UNBELIEVABLE,1363996800,"03 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2V8VLTPY3W01E,0312150601,P.J. O'Tuama,"[198, 207]","This is one of the best books I have ever read. I've been carrying it around with me, showing to all my friends and recommending that they read it, too. It's magical, magnificent, a very great, important piece of writing. Although the story revolves around Ruby and her family, the lives of her maternal great-grandmother, grandmother and mother are woven into the story so that in effect, the there two books here: Ruby and pre-Ruby. Several reviewers have described this novel as "one of the funniest books to come out of Britain in years (The NY Times Book Review) and as "comic" (Boston Sunday Globe) and while Behind the Scenes is enormously charming, inventive and endearing, don't buy this expecting it to be a funny or humorous book. At times it is unbearably sad, sadness tinged with dark scamperings of horror. I was telling my husband about this book and he kept saying, "this sounds awful, terrible things keep happening to these people," ! and while that is true, the author tells this story with a beautiful lightness that keeps Ruby safe despite her sadness.One thing I found very interesting about this book was the way the women's lives went from the unending drudgery of cooking, cleaning, mending, pregnancy and taking care of numerous children by Alice, the great-grandmother who lived in rural 19th century England, to the comparatively empty days of Bunty, Ruby's mother, days that are filled up with a dedication to housekeeping that only mimics what was once a necessity of life. Alice lived in a world where the failure to bake bread and to keep up with darning and mending meant that children went hungry and cold in winter. Bunty lives in a world attached to a strict household schedule (washing on Monday, ironing on Tuesday, cleaning on Wednesday, etc) and where store-bought cakes and cookies are looked upon as evidence of a slatternly nature.Another interesting this about this book is the way Ruby's! voice changes from when she is little to when she grows up! . Little Ruby is consumed with magical thinking, she believes in a world of ghosts where things happen for no reason and a deck of cards designed to teach the alphabet become a wondrous bridge to life away from home. As she grows, her voice takes on depth and the effects of secondary school and while the frivolity and delightful silliness that characterize little Ruby's world continue to exist, they are moderated by her maturity. This is a truly wonderful book.",5.0,"amazing, amazing, amazing",902448000,"08 7, 1998",198,207,helpful,0.9565217391304348,1 AUZ3EJAU37NC5,B007Q1YEQW,Old Latin teacher,"[29, 30]","This is funny. It's romantic. It's well written. And it didn't cost much and is far better than most recent HRs by known authors that I have read.The title of the book says it all. 10 years ago heroine Prudence Haversham, at the tender age of 16, was disgraced and sent away from home because of an incident involving the 9th Duke of Ainsworth. She is now a successful apothecary in Bath, but every once in a while she dreams of avenging herself and finally does.The duke is abducted, drugged and tattooed (in a very interesting part of the body). Unfortunately, Prudence comes to realize that she has avenged herself on the 10th Duke of Ainsworth, who has done nothing to her. So now the 10th duke is out to find out who has done this to him and avenge himself. Well, all I can say is read this book if you like HRs. The dialogue is intelligent and fun, the plot is unique, the characters are splendid.I didn't give the book 5 stars because there's a section about 60% in where it bogged down and annoyed me a little, with a Failure to Communicate on the part of the duke and a Big Misunderstanding because of this on the part of Prudence. But after that section all becomes truly fun again and just as good as the beginning. Oh, and the epilogue is great! Wait until you read it!One little peeve the teacher in me has to note: The author does not know the difference between the two words ""discrete"" and ""discreet"" and consistently uses the wrong one. Another spelling error which just amused me rather than peeved was her expressing that a certain character received his ""just desserts"". (That would be ""deserts"" unless he's getting chocolate cake or cherry pie, for some reason.)Nitpicking aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this and am looking forward to the next book in the series.NOTE (added on 8/18): Since the time that early reviewers such as I wrote reviews, the author has taken the trouble to address some issues readers had with this book. The revised and corrected version is the one now available on Amazon. I haven't yet read it but I would imagine it's even better than the early version I enjoyed.",4.0,Eureka! Another Kindle find!,1338768000,"06 4, 2012",29,30,helpful,0.9666666666666667,1 A35KD1U1M387I0,0807818488,Todd E. Newman,"[5, 5]","Porter Alexander put off writing a book about his life in the US Military and also the Confederate Army for many years until he finally listened to his families pleas to put together a book. After 40 years Alexander started to re-trace his steps back in time to discuss his life and also many others. Alexander is careful and considerate to all of those he came into contact with and also very descriptive and helps historians of modern times to understand questionable events such as those like the battles of Gettysburg, Seven Days, Chancellorsville, Chattanooga and the siege of Petersburg.As much as I liked reading about Alexander's situations, I discovered that he sometimes gets off the subject matter at hand to discuss a certain individual or event that had little to do about what he was writing about. He will sometimes change the flavor of the chapter with this and then say, "I will write more when I come to that later.." Such a strange format could have been eliminated by the editor to correspond to the correct chapter of events in the book. His 'conversationalist' style of writing is almost a dictation of recorded words from the man himself without editing which can zig-zag his chapters with a multitude of information.As his writing style isn't the best, it is overshadowed by quite a lot of useful information and his thoughts are shared which brings about much needed character to his battlefield reporting. Sometimes a bit winded, Alexander tends to write about events or individuals in which he wasn't apart of. He would get into issues such as the Atlanta campaign in which he didn't take part of but wanted to share his opinion. At times I found his opinion important for events he was involved in which were especially crucial while reading about Gettysburg. Alexander does a find job discussing the events surrounding the Petersburg area that made it obvious the supply shortened Confederacy had little chance of survival. He points out very interesting ideas as he thought that surrender should have happened much earlier in 1863 or 1864 than in 1865 when everything was decimated.Alexander's book may be a very long book as it has 552 pages of content from him. It is a must read for anyone trying to understand events from a personal account standpoint. This book almost wasn't published and lingered for years before it was found and put together. Gary Gallagher has assembled quite a book here and deserves many honors for it! This book will probably always rank with the few as being the best ever and should be in anyone's Civil War library!",5.0,"Huge content, remarkable events and commentary!",1031011200,"09 3, 2002",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AEW3SSGGHSGM3,0060955422,M. Clifford,"[0, 0]","""The Autobiography of Mark Twain,"" Volume I, has been worth the wait. In spite of the 200+ pages of Introductory material, the Twain writings are excellent. Hemingway claimed he was the best American writer, and I think he was correct. I've read a great deal of literature over the years, but I don't believe there is another American writer with the range of emotions, the wit, the unbelievable insight into the human condition that Twain demonstrates over and over. His life was filled with the highest joys and the lowest sorrows, and Twain has become America's greatest wise man as a result. If you want to laugh and cry while reading, this is the book for you. I tried to purchase it a year ago, but it flew off the book store shelves. Amazon came through--it's been worth the one-year wait as well.",5.0,The hundred years' wait has been worth it!!,1324512000,"12 22, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1V9W8G7DZ96M2,0061002860,wideyed,"[0, 0]","This was the first Agatha Christie I read. I felt as if I had to read at least one of her books since she's known as the Queen of her genre. And I was blown away. I quickly read a lot more of her books, but this one is still my favorite. It was one of the first books I bought in the Kindle format.It's not a book of action. In fact, the narrator in many ways is just on the sideline watching Poirot. He's a doctor in a small town who yearns to be free of it. Many of the characters have secrets, giving Poirot and the reader a slew of suspects.It's a book I enjoy rereading every so often. Even knowing the answer to the mysteries, I find myself enjoying the characters and all their interactions.",5.0,"My first Agatha Christie, but not my last",1293926400,"01 2, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Q7AQV64XZT1N,0821258346,"K. Walters ""Lover of fitness, politics, readi...","[109, 109]","Bobbi Brown is an incredible makeup artist. I've seen her personally as well as the work of several other top names in the business, and moreso than any of the others, she has a way of turning the average woman into a glowing version of herself and doing so in a way that is easy to replicate and not over-the-top.This ""you but improved"" philosophy rings through in all of her books, including the new Living Beauty. Living Beauty is geared towards a more ""experienced"" reader, i.e., those in their 40s and older, but I am in my early 30s and still find the book very informative.As with her other books, Brown's most recent publication takes a holistic approach to beauty, covering not only skin care and makeup, but also fitness, nutrition, menopause issues (including bioidentical hormone replacement a la Suzanne Somers), giving birth in your 40s, cosmetic surgery, age-appropriate clothing and hair. The book also contains advice on aging and beauty from a number of famous sophisticates (Susan Sarandon, Vera Wang, Vanessa williams, Marcia Gay Harden, etc., etc.). There are lovely makeovers throughout with explanations of how they were done - makeovers that are actually doable and wearable (no ultra-smokey eye and nude-invisible lips). My favorite parts of the book are the little tidbits of advice from Bobbi scattered throughout - things she has learned throughout the years - e.g., ""Watching Adam Sandler in the movie Click I learned that we shouldn't wish away all those annoying tasks. It's called life and it goes fast enough anyway.""I took off one star from my rating solely because there's a lot of information in here that is included in Bobbi's other books and because its applicability is age-specific (20-somethings need not apply...). But, for those over 40 ladies (or younger Brown fans) who want a little life boost without looking like Ivana Trump, I'd highly recommend adding this book to your library.",4.0,"Similar to her other books, but still lovely and informative",1170374400,"02 2, 2007",109,109,helpful,1.0,1 A1A8QJ282YIUQ0,B006IE2NG6,"Book Him Danno ""Book Him Danno""","[4, 5]","I love regency romance and this author is really good at them. The way the characters need to be part of the Ton and part of the gossip even though they do not care for most of the members there. This is a sweet romance about a man that is forced to marry out of duty to his family and yet can't seem to find a suitable companion. The women he finds is feisty and full of life, much more so then any of the other marriageable young women he has encountered.The story is more of a seduction of the Tabitha, she is not thinking marriage at all when they happen to meet. If you enjoy a fun, fast, romantic regency read you will enjoy this short book. About an hour. Give it a try and see if you don't wish you could be part of their time. I like to escape every so often for an hour or so and this author gives me that. Thanks Stephanie.",4.0,"A sweet, quick romance with a short mystery. A nice escape",1329177600,"02 14, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3P31Y2T3HBUS6,1490559175,Jobanga,"[0, 0]",Started off fantastically I was drawn in to Jared & Tatum's love story. Found it was a little dragged out in the middle but ended with you not wanting to put your book down.,4.0,Bully,1373846400,"07 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15RVURT13FTGR,0345338715,Riichard Meehan,"[0, 0]","A great series .enjoyed every minute of it. Good characters well described plenty of action especially in the last book , , overall story keeps you involved and there is a good love story in the background...something for everyone!, ,",5.0,ricks comments,1400630400,"05 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AK862VOPR25US,0375823115,"Amy M. Meggs ""Amy Mc""","[0, 0]",I read this to my son every year on his birthday. I bought this copy to give to my niece for her birthday. Great family tradition.,5.0,Great Seuss book!,1314489600,"08 28, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 APBA7Y4SINS0H,0805080767,"switterbug" Betsey Van Horn,"[18, 20]","Hadley has a knack for the unreliable narrator. The truth of a character's life stays hidden even from the character, and yet the paradox is that it makes the character very naked. Although the title is steamy and probably will tease readers of mainstream cant--(writers like Jodi Pocault who write with cliches and cardboard characters), this is a richly textured novel not meant for folks who don't appreciate literature. If you like archetypes and soap-opera level writing, this isn't for you. If you like Virginia Woolf and Iris Murdoch, you might enjoy this book.",5.0,Slow burn of a read,1186704000,"08 10, 2007",18,20,helpful,0.9,1 A2QC9Q8EVBI6D1,1620152193,"RoloPoloBookBlog ""RoloPoloBookBlog""","[0, 0]","Pulled Beneath by Marni MannBook #1: Bar Harbor SeriesARC from the author4/5 starsBugger me, does Marni Mann know how to start a book! From the very beginning of Pulled Beneath, I was drawn in and consumed by this read. Within the first chapter alone we have a booty call and change-your-life-forever event for the main character. There is no build up to the awful just a twenty-something, fresh out of college girl coming home in the middle of the night to find her parents have been brutally murdered and the sole survivors are she and her dog, Bella.Drew Stevens never imagined a life without her parents but when they are brutally murdered in their home, Drew must find a way to pick up the pieces and move forward with her already totally unplanned life. To make matters completely worse, the universe hates Drew and within weeks of her parents murder she discovers she not only had grandparents but they have now both died for real and Drew has inherited the family home in Maine. WTH???? Determined to deal with the house in Maine in record time and return to her “life” in Florida, Drew sets out for Maine and the past she didn’t even know existed.And because Marni Mann likes to totally and completely screw with her characters in the most heinous of ways, the universe continues to piss on Drew’s parade once she arrives in Maine. Though the family home is lovely and sits right on the beach, it needs a lot of work before Drew can unload it on its future owner. Setting up the remodeling work isn’t at all difficult since her grandparents left her a generous fund to cover the costs. What proves to be difficult are the people Drew encounters during her stay; a stay that is greatly extended by the request of the contractor. Intending to keep her head down until she can leave town, Drew somehow finds herself drawn into the life and drama of small town Maine. Though scared she may uncover yet another family bombshell, Drew begins to mingle with the locals in an effort to learn more about her family. Here’s the skinny:Brady: the younger half of the remodeling team who seems to be a perfectly nice guy with no ulterior motives. Yep, he’s the only guy on Earth who only wants to be friends with the hot new chick in town  Though the friendship is welcome, Drew begins to notice cracks in the nice guy faade including some weird twitchiness and a stunning temper.Rae: this young lady is pretty much an unknown quantity until the very end of the read. Suffice it to say, Mann is not done with this character and when we eventually get her story, it is going to be a wild and crazy ride.Saint: Someone with a name like Saint shouldn’t make a girl think such wicked and evil thoughts.  But, when you look and act like Saint does, it is no damn wonder Drew finds herself so completely drawn to him. Saint and his grandparents live next door to Drew and have known her grandparents for decades. Getting close to Saint in order to learn about her family seems completely logical. Recognizing the pain that Drew is experiencing, Saint desperately tries to live up to his name and not cause any more difficulties for his new neighbor but some attractions just can’t be denied. Oh, and did I forget to mention that he is all kinds of tattooed up? BONUS!!!!The Past: Small town life seems impossible to Drew until she really begins to dig and to understand what drove her parents from Maine. Not only did her parents leave Maine but, they never returned AND told Drew she had no family. Secrets that big can’t stay hidden forever and if Drew has any shot at a happy and healthy future, she has to face the past her parents fought so desperately to conceal from her.The Bottom Line: Pulled Beneath is a whole new side of Marni Mann and I, for one am glad to see the emergence of this side of one of my favorite authors. Though still teeming with darkness, secrets, and sex, Pulled Beneath is a far tamer read than Mann’s Shadows Series. Some things however, are exactly the same including a tight and intricately woven plot, complex and well-rounded characters, some lovely naughty bits and, just enough in the way of unanswered questions to have me already checking Amazon for the release date of book two! Overall, a fast and furious read that will appeal to a wide variety of NA+ readers.",4.0,4.5/5 stars. A great start to a new series!!,1396742400,"04 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADOPL5UIOI5Y,0071458050,Surf City Doug,"[73, 81]","I have this book in paperback and it's very good - I'd rate it 5 stars. I ordered the Kindle edition so I could take it traveling and it is virtually unreadable. Much of the grammar and exercises - most of the Spanish words are in the ""picture format"" not the type format so you have to zoom to view them and they are still difficult. Also it interrupts the continuity of your study. I have a Kindle 2 so it may work better the larger screen DX. My advice - order the book in paper. It's a great book - too bad it's practically useless on the Kindle.",1.0,Applies to Kindle edition ONLY!!,1251072000,"08 24, 2009",73,81,helpful,0.9012345679012346,1 AY7ZS03I9M3PY,0877972109,"L. King ""eclectic reader""","[12, 12]","A superb social commentary of its time and a thoughtful examination of different shades of bigotry. Journalist Phil Green decides to take an undercover assignment on antisemitism by simply and quietly declaring that he is Jewish and then observing how it affects his relationships with others.The title is a reference to an unspoken gentleman's agreement not to sell homes, rent apartments or admit Jews to resorts or social clubs. However the elements of nonacceptance can be more subtle. Hobson makes the point that antisemitism can be selective as well - it's not just a violent Nazi/Cossack dislike. The word ""gentile"" derives from ""gentility"", and it is the polite mask here that exposed, the selective judgment of some Jews can be given a pass, but others not, or that social pressures cause some to hide their Jewishness or even the expectation that Jews qua Jews are required to be more moral than the rest of us.The form of the book is similar to that of a morality play in that each of the major characters act as a spokesperson for different aspects of the author's views. It is interesting to note that Ms. Hobson herself was, like the main character, a journalist - write what you know - though not a man. Her female characters come across very strongly, though there's a false note near the end when Ann, the ""best bud"" type reveals that she is having an affair with a married man, and this is used as a deus ex machina plot device. This too may have been extracted from real life as she had a child at the time who was born out of wedlock, as well as an being a single mother with another adopted child.Interesting too that the author voices the notion that acceptance of Jews would act as a test case for the further emancipation and integration of blacks in American society.Overall an enjoyable and thoughtful read, and though the language and social customs date it, the underlying message endures. The fictional experiment was laterupdated and enacted in real life. There is also awell known film of the novelstarring Gregory Peck and Dorothy McGuire which is worth checking out",5.0,Hobson's Choice (Or It's Not Easy Being Phil Green),1278979200,"07 13, 2010",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A3CIJH3L969M4B,B00BQZ41V2,Suzgriff,"[0, 0]","Really enjoyed the fourth story. A twist that made reading all of them well worth while. Once I start any of Donna Grants series, it's impossible not to finish them - Awesome!!",4.0,The best of the four!,1366675200,"04 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AD1F72F8ZVKLW,038079487X,Erin King,"[4, 4]","Pearl Cleage is right on the money with her perception of the attitudes and routines of people in Atlanta and of those in Southern Michigan. I am originally from Michigan and once lived in Atlanta for over four years, so a strong sense of familiarity flooded over me as I read further into this book.It's a wonderful novel about real life and the strength of human spirit even through the worst of times. There is plenty inside at which to laugh and cry hysterically. Pearl Cleage makes each character unique and especially makes her audience care deeply for Ava and her sister as they fight for those things worth fighting for.I can particularly appreciate the fact that the story did not dwell on the unfortunate and painful effects of the AIDS virus. Instead of being a book about a person who is dying from AIDS, "What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day" is about a person who is starting her life over and living with AIDS, and the stigma that surrounds it, as best she can. All while bringing a little help and happiness into the other not-so-perfect lives of those who truly care about her along the way.I will read it again and again. E.K.",5.0,Not At All A Downer On The Subject Of AIDS.,992476800,"06 14, 2001",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3OJFPKMCXKOM0,0700608990,K.A.Goldberg,"[4, 5]","This is a superb and straight-forward look at the war between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia 1941-1945. Using many previously unavailable Soviet archives, authors (and military historians) David Glantz and Jonathan House tell the story from the viewpoint of the Soviets. Readers see how Stalin's brutality, purges and diplomatic appeasement helped spur the disaster that arrived on June 22, 1941. We also see how incompetent Soviet leadership and refusal to employ strategic retreats nearly led the invading Nazi German armies to victory in late 1941. As the authors show, Soviet and Red Army responses to Barbarossa were generally very poor at first (leading to repeated disaster), but improved significantly with time and experience. By early 1943 (or late 1942) the Soviets had learned from their mistakes, improved their battle-field tactics, and became a force that man-for-man was nearly equal to their brutal but highly-efficient opponents. By the time of the victory at Stalingrad, the Red Army was more experienced, better led, and on their way to out-numbering the Werhmacht by two-to-one in manpower, tanks, and planes (and by far greater margins in artillery). At that point, given these advantages plus greater mobility (via Lend Lease trucks) and the Allied efforts in the West the outcome was now a near cetainty.The authors correctly credit the Soviets with bearing the brunt of the German war machine, and suggest that the Red Army would have triumphed even without their huge manpower advantage, lend-lease, plus Anglo-American air campaigns and invasions of Italy and France. Maybe so, but its hardly certain. More Werhmacht divisions at Moscow in 1941 or in the Don River Basin in 1942 and no Lend Lease aid might have led to a different outcome - particularly had the Nazi's enlisted the conquered populations (who often hated Stalin) rather than brutalizing them. Even after Stalingrad, the Soviets just might have been stemmed had the Nazi's been able to transfer 60 divisions from France and Italy to the Eastern Front. Just as many western histories downgrade Soviet contributions, this book may lean too far in the opposite direction.Despite minor flaws, this is a scholarly, nicely-readable, and well-documented look at a very brutal war. This book is unquestionably a top contribution to military history, and well worth your time.",5.0,"Solid, Readable look based on Archival Sources",1286582400,"10 9, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A299DSQOGMDST9,0738732532,Stephanie,"[0, 0]",I learned a lot from reading this book. Although I didn't completely read it cover to cover it is nice to have a correspondence book like this for when your not sure of something and need to look it up. Also good for beginners to help learn the correspondences that they can.,5.0,Great Correspondence Book!,1403913600,"06 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KDL7D4CNKKHA,B007R5T3SQ,BillyB,"[0, 0]","I enjoyed all four books in this series. I thought the charter development was a bit weak, but the plot and pacing of the story made up for it. Jaden Skye needs to fire her editor or at least the person responsible for editing the final ebook version. There were so many problems that it interrupted the flow of the story. I don't want to sound too negative as I did enjoy the series and look forward to the next adventure in one of the islands.Thanks for you good work,Bill",4.0,Death by Desire,1344643200,"08 11, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGEIT17HENDIS,0671758713,Alfred Johnson,"[14, 19]","As is usually the case when I get excited about an author's work I tend to delve into all the work in order to see which way he or she is heading. That is the case here with Larry McMurtry. I have just finished reading his The Last Picture Show trilogy (The Last Picture Show; Texasville; and, Duane's Depressed) about coming of age in small town Texas, having one's mid-life crisis there and, in the end, struggling against the strains of mortality there, as well. The cumulative effect of this work was a five-star review. Here we step back to early McMurtry and while the promise is certainly there as well as his quirky look at modern life this is the work of a rising author star not of a master writer.Why? Well, for one thing the subject matter. All fictional writing in the final analysis may be autobiographical, consciously or unconsciously, but here the trials and tribulations of a young Texas writer who heads to California to find himself after the first budding of prominence with the publication of his first book and a movie offer is, well, just a little too precious. Moreover, the inevitable romantic problems of twenty-something males (and, by now in 2008, females) has been done to death. Nothing really jumps out here other than some cogent observations about the foibles of human nature as strained through the California blender. My advice to Danny, the protagonist writer here is -Go east, young man, go east back to Texas. That's where your pot of gold is, Larry, oops Danny. Do you need to read this book? If you have time. Do you need to read The Last Picture Show trilogy. Damn right. That's the different in a nutshell.",3.0,Portrait Of A Writer As A Young Man,1220918400,"09 9, 2008",14,19,helpful,0.7368421052631579,1 A2VJ4XNJWRTKX7,1561586846,Thomas( Doc Savage 45),"[0, 1]","Other reviewers have described the content of the book, the excellence of the pictures and that some parts are dry to them.For me, I am prone to ""make mistakes"" and with guidance I may make fewer.What I appreciate about all the articles is learning from a person/master in his/her craft, about methods they have evolved to design furniture.For me, it is complex, and this helps simplify it.Mostly it is about developing good work habits, making fewer mistakes and ideas. Some woodworkers copy others and learn from the assembly. Some make prototypes and modify the next one. Model building and miniatures may not be as much fun, but wastes less material, gives three dimentional perspective and lets the designing process be more fluid.Do you draw? What happened to that great idea? What idea? Suggestions help me to use my strengths in a better way.Would have given this a five star but I tend to read the reviews about what isn't right.For me it is a great handbook to model my designing. Have started my idea book and figuring out where to put the cardboad, and modeling materials!",4.0,Very Helpful in preventing mistakes,1249430400,"08 5, 2009",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AZOO2N4O1FKQU,0764204971,"Amazon Customer ""Reader and Writer""","[0, 0]","This morning as I was sharing some of this book with my daughter, I cried. That has never happened before. This book moved me that much.The characters are believable and memorable, and there are no wasted or unnecessary characters. The plot was also believable and the author was not afraid to show the private struggles of the characters, particularly one of the character's struggle in his relationship with God.The author successfully blended actual history with fictional characters. Even though I knew I was reading fiction, I felt an attachment to the characters; I actually cared what happened to them.I will be reading more by this author.",5.0,"Excellent, Moving Read...Would Heartily Recommend",1341100800,"07 1, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RTKL9KB8KLID,0394758439,Stan Vernooy,"[15, 18]","A couple of the previous reviews demonstrate why this book is still needed more than a decade after its publication. Our schools are still dominated by people who don't think you have to know anything in order to be educated. They think a teacher can train a brain to be an empty vessel in which interchangeable knowledge can be accurately processed. They are wrong.The "content vs. process" debate has been at the heart of educational controversy for a long time. In the schools of education at universities, the "process" theory has dominated for well over half a century, despite the efforts of the educationists to portray process as the "innovative" approach and content as "traditional". The objectively demonstrable decline in educational achievement in the United States correlates almost perfectly with the acceptance of the "process" approach.Hirsch believes in content. He describes persuasively and articulately why content is in fact prerequisite to learning "how to think". Perhaps more importantly, he argues that a good part of the achievement gap between children from rich and/or white families and poor and/or minority families can be attributed to the greater fund of concrete facts with which the more privileged children arrive in school.Most learning is done largely by comparing and contrasting new ideas with things we already know, or by describing a new concept by use of an example that we already know. The concrete facts and names that the student recognizes constitute her learning vocabulary. A smaller vocabulary means a smaller number of learning resources.Hirsch includes in the book a preliminary list (which he expanded in a subsequent book) of terms and names with which any educated person should be familiar. A previous reviewer complained that Babe Ruth was included and Hank Aaron wasn't. Obviously, she missed the point. Her complaint points up the difference between education as education, and education as propaganda. People - yes, both black and white - communicate ideas and images by using Babe Ruth as an example or as a metaphor; they don't do that with Hank Aaron. At the peak of his popularity, Babe Ruth was probably the most famous person in America, not even excepting the President of the United States. Hank Aaron never was, whether he deserved to be or not. (It is also easily demonstrated that Babe Ruth was a better baseball player than Hank Aaron, but that misses the point.)You can argue that soccer and chess are better games than baseball, but we don't communicate ideas and knowledge by using any particular soccer players or chess players as examples. Almost all young people today know who Elvis Presley was, but a shameful number of them can't identify Chuck Berry. Be that as it may, knowing the name of Elvis Presley is more important in communicating knowledge and ideas in our culture than knowing the name of Chuck Berry.And OF COURSE the book is elitist! My word, how could ANYONE who is not an elitist EVER be allowed to have ANY influence over educational policy??? Elitism means a respect for excellence, a respect for standards, and a respect for achievement. Elitism means that knowing is better than not knowing, and that success is better than failure. Elitism is exactly what education is all about. Hirsch hasn't forgotten that; unfortunately many teachers and some reviewers have.",5.0,Parents already know this - teachers need to wake up!,981849600,"02 11, 2001",15,18,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2C7VMN9UAYYDW,0941599329,Jodi-Hummingbird,"[8, 8]","There are 3 basic principles of the type of medicine discussed by Fife and others in this same field:A. Get the good stuff in. Give your body the fuel and tools it needs to work at an optimum level. Good food, nutrients and all the proper vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Make sure you aren't deficient in any of the major nutrients as the different nutrients all work together.B. Get the bad stuff out. Make sure your body can detoxify out all the toxic substances and toxic by-products of bodily processes properly. Stop as many toxins from getting in in the first place, and do a detoxification program to get rid of the ones you have. Stop doing or eating the things which cause inflammation and have a pro-oxidant effect, and so on.C. Reduce your body's total load. The total load concept is that lessening the body's overall burden/work and stress level in one area, will improve health generally and improve the body's ability to heal because the body's total load (or burden) is lessened. Fixing one problem frees up bodily resources that can be then be used to help other parts of the body function getter or to heal. In other words, you need to look at the body as a whole in order to heal, and not just the one part of the body that is generating the most symptoms.This book discusses subjects such as environmental pollution, nutrition, fasting, juicing, oxygen therapy and sauna therapy, enemas, exercise, and kidney and liver cleansing.This book is helpful to some extent and quite good in parts, and of course the theories it talks about have a lot of merit and are very important to read about, but I found it nowhere near as detailed and thorough as the books and websites listed below. It was good in parts but nowhere near the best book available on this topic, in my opinion. It provides a very brief and simplified overview of the topic that may be and probably is very useful for newbies, but for those serious about this topic and dealing with serious disease it lacks depth and breadth.It also lacks documentation to some extent.To get good information on healing reactions and detoxification for free online, check out the website of Dr Lawrence Wilson. To read books on this topic see books by Dr Lawrence Wilson (the book on hair mineral analysis and the one titledSauna Therapy for Detoxification and Healing) and Dr Sherry Rogers (most especiallyDetoxify or Die).These books contain not just far more detailed information on detoxification programs and sauna use, but also far more cautions and information on avoiding problems - which this book very much lacks.This book also lacks any type of serious discussion of nutritional supplements and testing and the importance of correcting serious nutritional deficiencies BEFORE putting the body under the stress of a detoxification regime. This is a very serious oversight. Just eating well is not enough, especially if you have gut issues affecting nutrient absorption as most ill people do and especially if you have had these issues for many years, as many people have. This book needs a lot more focus on 'getting the good things in' through diet and also through supplements. Supplements are necessary where illness is long-term and severe and so this information is vital. Detoxification will not be very helpful and may even be dangerous if these gut issues and nutrient deficiencies aren't dealt with first.(I also disagreed with Fife's opinion on the superiority of vegetarian diets, the 'dangers' of saturated fat and the recommendation of a high carbohydrate and lower calorie diet and comments about how eating sugar wont make you fat, but eating fat will. For more information on these topics I highly recommendGood Calories, Bad Calories: Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health (Vintage)andKnow Your Fats : The Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition of Fats, Oils and Cholesterol. It turns out that 'calories in, calories out' is just plain wrong!)Highlights in this book were the section on how nutritional deficiencies during different stages of pregnancy affect different organs in the foetus, the discussion of life expectancy vs. lifespan and how we have been misled on this issue, and why we need to boost our immune systems to beat super-bugs rather than focus on developing new drugs that the bugs can become resistant to. The 'real age tests' section was also interesting, as were the comments on healing reactions and the importance of healing fevers, and why homogenisation of milk is even more harmful than the pasteurisation of milk.Fife writes, 'True life expectancy hasn't changed for 3000 years. People didn't die of old age at 45. Sanitation and less early childhood deaths has raised our life expectancy, but not our lifespan.'This book is an excellent beginners guide and may do very well for those that are healthy and want to stay that way but it should not be the sole source of information for someone that is seriously ill and trying to regain their health as it lacks certain elements that are vitally important.Far better Fife books to buy are his book on coconut oilThe Coconut Oil Miracle (Previously published as The Healing Miracle of Coconut Oil)and his book on healing reactions titledThe Healing Crisis, both of which are excellent.BTW I'm writing all this as someone that that is slowly improving month by month from a very severe neurological disease - thanks in part to the work of Dr Rogers and Dr Wilson and others like them - that has left me housebound and almost entirely bedbound for many years. I wish so much I had had this information early on in my disease, rather than coming to it more than 10 years in. Healing is so much easier the earlier you start it.Whether you choose this book or others on the topic what is important is that you read as much as you can about this type of medicine if you are ill as it really is the only way to really get yourself as well as you can be, and to prevent further problems arising.Jodi Bassett, The Hummingbirds' Foundation for M.E. (HFME) and Health, Healing & Hummingbirds (HHH)",4.0,A good overview of this important topic,1310169600,"07 9, 2011",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A15LW8JOT8MIKN,1478163143,cmpsweety,"[0, 0]","I really like the way they put this book together as if you could be right there with everyone, just great.",5.0,Guestbook is great.,1353715200,"11 24, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3836EOBP4NVWM,0399162410,Raquel Costa,"[0, 1]","I couldn't take my eyes from the page. I'm usually not that mesmerized by alien YA stories, but this one felt different to me. It is throughly human, full of philosofical questions we ask ourselves everyday without realizing, such as: What is the value of my life and happiness compared to the value of someone else's? What are the lenths that I would go to in order to protect what is essential to me? How good could something I need feel if that something takes from the needs of someone else?And, philosophy aside, I find it very well writen. It takes different turns without making you get lost in the story or the characters. And, oh!, I love the charecters. I love how they are not perfect, but still endeering. I can feel their reselience in every choice they make - good or bad. The romance is there, but I don't feel it overwhelms the the true heart of the story - which to me is the survival of our humanity, more than our bodies, in trying times. It is a heart-aching and heart-pumping story! Can't wait for the next one",5.0,Thrilling!,1384128000,"11 11, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AG60EDMQLJXSP,0763624039,"H. Hoppe ""kiwi mummy & supernanny""","[0, 0]",I just cant say how much I love Charlie & Lola...I think this is my fourth purchase of this very same book! I can't stop giving them to all the little ones in our lives. My daughter adores the characters. She isnt quite two but has been reading C&L; with me for about 6 months. We also love the videos. Very sweet.This particular book was fun to read as we got our daughter ready for her first daycare experience.My goal is to have every Charlie & Lola book and DVD made. I love the innocence and imagination I see with every turn of the page.,5.0,Charlie & Lola win again!,1162512000,"11 3, 2006",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2BZ7ZIH8MF715,B009NKXAWS,"Brigid Ashwood ""brigidashwood""","[0, 0]","I've read a lot of writing books over the years. Most are dippy rehashes of the same darn stuff. This wasn't. This was THE BEST book on writing I've ever read. It has REAL practical advice, not crunchy codswallop. I don't like the title because I think it masks the broader purpose of the book. This is a book about tearing past resistance and fear. It teaches you to understand what those things mean when they come up and how to overcome them. These are the things that can really destroy the quality and quantity of your writing. It also has workable techniques for getting the most out of writing time, story building and editing.Heck at 99cents this book is a steal and I would gladly have paid 20 times that (or more) to have gotten my hands on this book years ago.It's a short book. I finished it in just a couple of hours and plan on re-reading it frequently.",5.0,Fantastic,1380672000,"10 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A34WMAV0TV022S,B00JDXTNGC,Twinsie Jen,"[0, 0]","Finally, what a series! Unbelievably real, raw and intense! Loved Jack and Andrews journey! Sara York is amazing! Go get this one people!",5.0,fabulous,1398816000,"04 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1J046IP4PYP13,0983099332,M. McMenamin,"[0, 0]",I should perhaps have given 5 stars but some tales were truly disturbing. Humans are not necessarily the heroes we want them to be. Well written stories and worth the read. But I set it aside several times before completing the book.,4.0,Dark tales,1402617600,"06 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3HCTX593MSUC7,1609619137,Tina Robes-Teasley,"[0, 0]","There's a lot of good information in this book. I haven't read it all as yet, but I've referred to a number of times already.",4.0,Good information,1375315200,"08 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NNTNC715AJ50,0553108204,"Kindle Customer ""JKM""","[8, 11]","Stackpole totally outdid himself with I, Jedi. It's simply a magnificent read, one level with Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy. I, Jedi is the first and only Star Wars novel written in the first person and follows the character Corran Horn from the X-Wing series. Almost al the other beloved Star Wars characters are featured in the story but not as the main characters. This gives the book a very refreshing slant. Stackpole also improves upon Anderson's Jedi Academy Trilogy, fleshing out plot and fixing inconsistancies etc. I highly recommend this book to anyone, and I simply cannot praise it enough. It is really a incredible creation.",5.0,Ecellent book one of the best Star Wars books ever written!,1054598400,"06 3, 2003",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A3C7FNP5RXB58O,1620610116,"Paranormal Cravings ""So many books and So lit...","[0, 0]","Really enoyed this series, can;t wait to read the next book. I am busy writing a series series of a books. SO more will come.Whant to read more paranormal and urban fantasy book reviews check out [...]",5.0,Love this series,1358035200,"01 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2M12FJM4F2G4Q,1885358970,Anyah B. Martinez,"[0, 0]","I like this devotional. I needed something for my twin boys (turning 6 in August) to do each day during summer break. They are good readers, but one needs a little help still. They both still need help with the writing part. The love doing the activity at the end. After they do their devotional I have them do their reading for their summer reading log, usually for 20 minutes. It breaks up the day nicely while our almost 2-yo naps. Next summer I'll get Gotta Have God II, when they're about to turn 7, and the following summer I'll get Gotta Have God III, then they'll be closer to 8. I think next summer they'll be able to do it all by themselves.",4.0,daily devo for summer break,1373068800,"07 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1S4D3PPB2U9UK,0061726834,DvusLeoGirl,"[5, 10]","*******SPOILER ALERT*******I don't know if I missed it in the book description, but I never expected the main character to be so indecisive. She had more than one opportunity to escape and actually did once, only to come right back in for what I considered to be no good reason. It is pointed out repeatedly, and then some more, that if anyone gets caught trying to escape they will be put to death... Then, the main character and her love interest are chased, while trying to escape, and he is captured. Boom! End of book. I read a lot of books, sometimes up to five a week, and I can't think of a book I've read in the past five years that I have disliked more than this one. What a waste of my time and money.",1.0,Wish I could get a refund!,1298764800,"02 27, 2011",5,10,helpful,0.5,1 A26EPF0DDP1IID,0312377037,RUSE,"[0, 0]","A morality tale thrown into the Gamache series. The ending will leave you both horrified and soothed. This can be a stand alone book, but I strongly recommend that you start with Still Life to really immerse yourself in the series. I couldn't let the characters go by end of that book. Ready for another",5.0,Excellent,1401494400,"05 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2UH7EMPH4GK2L,147748681X,"Maria Miller, Author ""Maria""","[0, 2]","ARSONIST started out with an interesting story line, but then it quickly drifted. I found very little characterization and just a hint of a plot. I finally gave up less than half way through.",1.0,Boring,1360108800,"02 6, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1PN0R0DT1FAWU,1564770265,Denise Russell,"[0, 0]","Nature is a constant source of inspiration for my quilts, whether traditional or artsy. Once I get an idea, it stays with me for a while until I finally get a chance to work on it. For art quilts, I start the design process by choosing the fabrics I would like to work with, instead of sketching the layout!I am not quite sure why, but paper and pencil do not work for me when composing art quilts, probably because I do not know how to draw... So, I go straight from brain to fabric. Occasionally, if I am having difficulty putting to fabric a particular aspect of the design, I will look elsewhere for drawings of that element, and compose from there. That is how I found this book. In Quilts from Nature, Joan Colvin gives a detailed and very instructive account of the design process for one of her beautiful quilts. It is as if her thoughts were recorded as they happened, and immediately printed for our evaluation. I loved it! Published in 1993, this book is just as relevant now as it was then: Joan explains well the elements of design (unity, visual movement, contrast, spatial relationships, negative space, etc), with objective, one or two paragraphs per topic. You will not be bored, just more inclined to compose eye-pleasing art.Her work is beautiful and very inspirational. I am so glad for artists who share their art-making process with us... Hooray for books!!!",5.0,A 'must have' book for art quilters,1401753600,"06 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1P1QQ3SJFWZ99,0818406429,"Ryan ""Ryan S""","[0, 2]",A very well written book. A joy to read. Matt Matros tells his journey to the final table of the WPT. Telling stories and giving strategy on how he started poker and how he won $700k. An inexpensive book that was a joy ot read. Pick up your copy today!!,5.0,A Must Read,1122422400,"07 27, 2005",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 ADK7LMRK3QCBK,1469228920,M. Draher,"[0, 0]",Awesome story that took much time and collaboration to write. This book will be read many many times. It keeps you not wanting to put it down all through it.,5.0,read again.,1360195200,"02 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SKS7LR39IA80,0615638791,precious,"[0, 0]",I had not read this author before. The books are fun to read. I like to read books in a series because you get to follow the characters a little longer.,5.0,book review,1367798400,"05 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KGNYLKV8HNJS,1416975888,Marilyn J Fiorito,"[0, 0]",I am hooked on these books and loved this one as much as the first. I read the City of Bones series and loved it. This series is just as good! This kept my interest constantly and I couldn't wait for the next one. I highly recommend this whole series and you'll fall in love with the characters and the love story.,5.0,Just as good as the first,1401408000,"05 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2IPVRZ7CJ3EVE,0312341911,"Donna Talarico ""Lover of Randomness""","[15, 21]","It said it on the cover of the book, but I failed to follow the directions.You better not cry.My right ear was filled up with tears. I was hyperventilating. That was the precise moment I had to set the book down on my red sheets and announced to the entire world how much and hard I was laughing less than one chapter in to YOU BETTER NOT CRY. I posted this news on Twitter and Facebook from my iPhone and then went back to the book and read it, almost in its entirety before falling into a slumber and having silly, pleasant dreams.YOU BETTER NOT CRY takes readers on a sleigh-ride through the (sometimes even ghosts of) Christmas past of Augusten, beginning when he's eight-years-old and obsessed with shiny things (as we learned in RUNNING WITH SCISSORS) like tinsel, lights, and gold nuggets. We move rather quickly into Augusten's adult life, spent in the most famous Christmas city of all, New York City. Here, the stories are not as gift-wrapped with material that prompts tears of hilarity: they are more about love and loss and growth- but the holidays are about that, too.When I think about this book as a whole, the childhood chapters are like the angel at the top of the tree (or, the golden nuggets that Augusten begged for), while the adult stuff is more like a stocking-stuffer (like the crackers he wasn't expecting so much of), even though the latter material fills more than half the book. I don't want to say I was let down, but I so much adore Augusten's humor and his playful, observant, imaginative, innocent, and curious view of the big world around him and the unique story-telling style that matches. So with that in mind, I wasn't expecting the book to take such a leap from childhood to mid-twenties and later so quickly. Maybe it's because I am obsessed with my own childhood, but I feel a certain comfort being in young Augusten's world. The book unwraps with such child-like detail, such as students in his class folding metal chairs and stacking them so they ""fit like Pringles in a can."" However, his details as a grown up are just as vivid and perhaps more moving, eloquent, and beautiful. It is through his descriptions and imagery that you can see how his impressions as a child have lingered through adulthood, giving that same knack for detail no matter what age he is writing from. I have dozens of pages folded over so I can go back and enjoy the passages again and again.I felt the book was short and quick and over too soon, but nonetheless, very enjoyable. Nothing wrong with a quick read at all, so I don't want to say that's negative. However, it's Augusten, so I wanted more. It was like the feeling you get after an exciting Christmas morning of smiles, laughter, and quickly tearing through gifts, and finally unwrapping the last one and staring at the empty tree skirt, knowing that, while you were happy for what you received, disappointed that there would be nothing else until next year. I wanted more from his big sack of childhood memories, perhaps stories of holidays that involved the Finches, the psychiatrist's family we came to know and love in RUNNING WITH SCISSORS, and even sprinkled about his other titles.Long-time fans of Augusten will surely enjoy YOU BETTER NOT CRY, as if familiar old friends are coming in from out of town for a holiday dinner after years of being apart and hearing new stories, getting new laughs, and learning more about each other. A familiar theme flows this book as well: Augusten's alcoholism. We see how this affects his holidays, his loneliness, and ultimately even his happiness.After reading this book, I could not help but reflect back on my own Christmases. I, too, made very specific lists, for one. But, more importantly, no matter how terrible I thought life was at any given time period, Christmas was always a happy time. That's why this book is so relatable to so many people. Memories of holidays are about laughter, about hope, about family, about friends, and even the absurd and shocking. We get one Christmas a year, while regular days zip by. Perhaps that's why we remember holidays with such detail, clarity, and often, with such fondness. Augusten, one of wise men of the memoir genre, recounting his holidays past captures that exactly the way the tree at Rockefeller Center attracts Manhattan tourists.YOU BETTER NOT CRY is a must-read for Augusten fans. I highly recommend to those who have not yet read Augusten read RUNNING WITH SCISSORS first to get to know him better. It will make this holiday memoir far more understandable and enjoyable. And remember, if you are anything like me, you WILL cry, either from laughter or from inspiration.",4.0,"Enjoyable Sleigh Ride through Augusten's Holiday Memories (or, How I Can't Follow Directions.)",1257465600,"11 6, 2009",15,21,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1WEVS6O5UGO1G,1580170528,Domenic V. Scotto,"[0, 0]",it is exactly what it claims to be and much more in the area of soda recipes.. well worth the small cost.,5.0,exactly what i wanted,1314230400,"08 25, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,0309096308,Midwest Book Review,"[5, 5]","Mike Hally's Electronic Brains: Stories From The Dawn Of The Computer Age covers the period just after World war II when modern computers were developed, examining some of the world's first 'techies' and projects which fostered computer discoveries. Author Mike Hally traveled around the world interviewing surviving members of early computer teams and researchers, and provides a series of rich descriptions from their experiences, paired with a lively history.",5.0,Covers the period just after World war II when modern computers were developed,1133654400,"12 4, 2005",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AUVMY6VGOB4T4,1595230629,"Mac Pro ""Local History Buff""","[0, 0]","If some folks can overcome their political/religious/regional prejudices and read this little book for what it is, then most everybody will enjoy it to one degree or another. It is in now way a tool for Mike Huckabee's political views . . . religious maybe, because one can't help but feel the hope and faith of incidents in his life that took place during his life without feeling the hand of God. But Mike doesn't PREACH it at us, just states it matter-of-factly . . . after all, these are stories that take place around Christmas. I'm just a bit older than Mike so there were many of his stories that reminded of some of my own . . . such as the struggle to get loved ones gifts for Christmas. I was reminded when my husband traded his guitar at a pawn shop for a shotgun that our teenage son asked for at Christmas. Don't miss some sweet, uncomplicated remembrances just because you don't agree with the author's political leanings. You've cheated yourself.",5.0,Perfect for a snowy evening by the fire,1264550400,"01 27, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NGDWOAXEFTRH,0385311400,"L.K.Mackin ""Tumbling Leaf Press - Smart Books...","[0, 0]","This was the very first book I read on my brand new reader. I had the hardcover version checked out from the library but it was just so darn BIG that I kept putting off reading it. Now I am not at all opposed to thick books - longer is usually better IMHO - but thick books are heavy. They don't travel so well. They make my wrists ache. They are hard to read in bed. So, it was easy to decide to return my free library copy and pay for the ebook. What a delight it was to read Diana Gabaldon - but THIN! I also loved trying out the dictionary function. Naturally, not every Scottish word is represented - but that just made it all that much more special when I got one. I just wish the dictionary had pictures. That would be so cool.",4.0,Kindle Edition - so thin!,1265155200,"02 3, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3VFDB0OKHJHS4,082543310X,Ann J,"[0, 0]",How huge the night was agood story line. Any age could read this story and could learn a valueable lesson in life,5.0,Ann J,1355961600,"12 20, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZERZ5KD4HI44,097024729X,"K. Tate ""boo14""","[5, 6]","Joy you did it again! I truly enjoyed reading Dollar Bill. Dollar had the right intentions, just went about it the wrong way. I do not think the book was dragged out as one reviewer has suggested, instead it gave you insight into why Dollar did and made the decisions he made. I truly thought he would get out of the "game". Never expected it to end the way it did. Excellent read!!!!Now I can't wait for the sequel to "The Root Of All Evil".",4.0,Great Book,1076284800,"02 9, 2004",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3MNAUB90SR77I,1595580174,UrbanRube,"[10, 10]","You don't have to know much about country music to enjoy this book, with its on-the-scene reporting and plenty of opinion-making by country stars like Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, Steve Earle, the Dixie Chicks, and Merle Haggard, in their own words. Working at Entertainment Weekly must be what gives the author his snark, but it works here as he gives a refreshingly non-partisan review of our divided country and the divide in country music.",5.0,An entertaining look at the the roots of the blue/red divide,1132704000,"11 23, 2005",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0060783990,Harriet Klausner,"[10, 14]","In 1801, Miranda Mabberly has some doubts about her upcoming marriage to Lord Oxley as he and her parents fail to defend her honor besmirched by her future mother-in-law. However, things are taken out of her hands when notorious rake Lord John Tremont blatantly accosts and kisses her at the opera. The nuptials are over and her parents blame Miranda, completely cutting her off.After five years of begging her parents to let her come home and learning her mother died without anyone bothering to inform her, Miranda writes off her father. She takes a job as decorum teacher Miss Jane Porter at Miss Emily's Establishment for the Education of Genteel Young Ladies. After five years there she has inherited a small fortune so she plans to leave, but not before John visits the school to escort his disgraced niece home. He runs into Jane, but fails to recognize her though she knows him. Edged on by three matchmaking youngsters, John begins to court Jane who rejects the advances of a rake though they soon fall in love, but to persuade her remains impossible.THIS RAKE OF MINE is an enjoyable regency romance that in many ways is typical of the sub-genre with a rake getting his comeuppance through love. The story line is refreshed by Miranda who gives up on those who should have rallied around her when she concludes that she will always be held culpable for the actions of John. This gives her the courage to move on and not to fear challenging the aristocracy including John and his older brother. Fans will enjoy this fine historical pot boiler starring an admirable heroine and the wastrel she reforms.Harriet Klausner",4.0,enjoyable regency romance,1130198400,"10 25, 2005",10,14,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2IY2KWOKSKK1H,0275948501,Peter Bridgman,"[13, 37]","No one in Shakespeare's lifetime, or the first two hundred years after his death, expressed the slightest doubt about his authorship. The "authorship controversy" only started when Shakespeare's plays were translated into other languages and European writers started to describe Shakespeare as a genius and a rival to Homer and the ancients. Academics then scooted off to Warwickshire to look for relics but came back embarrassed - Homer's English rival was the son of a glovemaker who had never even been to university.That's when theorists started proposing various aristocrats as alternative authors (the Earl of Shrewsbury, the Earl of Derby, the Earl of Oxford, etc, etc, etc). At the root of all these ridiculous theories there is nothing but snobbery. These "Oxfordians" just don't like the idea that the greatest writer of all time was a common man of the people.",1.0,Snobbery,1074902400,"01 24, 2004",13,37,helpful,0.35135135135135137,1 AXJM8L1DVJ4UV,014219672X,Mandalynjax,"[12, 15]","First off....can not believe this is the author's debut novel! Great writing, character development, and an epic tale. I LOVED this book. Set aside some time when you pick it up because you will not be able to put it down. It's a lost at sea, fight for your survival, emotional roller coaster kind of story. I cried for the characters and my heart melted at the love that develops between the main characters. A must read! Add to your library today!!",5.0,Epic Story,1320451200,"11 5, 2011",12,15,helpful,0.8,1 A1HZJDAYYQ2YMD,0689206518,"jeffnc ""jeffnc""","[0, 1]","I don't really hear about this book and I'm not sure why. I really think it's a classic. It's really a wonderful book for kids and teenagers and, dare I say, some adults too!",5.0,Unheralded classic?,987638400,"04 19, 2001",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2VD0PHPR7SIIK,0971448116,Brian C. Miller,"[13, 20]","I just finished the book, and found it mildly entertaining. This book isn't a thriller, its an analysis of Islam and Islamic terrorism, presented as a novel. I think Winn and Power have accurately portrayed Islam, its history, how it is taught, and how it is used to ignite and fan the flames of hatred. If this book was a pure analysis, it could be condensed to about 100 pages, probably less. And that analysis would still raise the hairs on a reader's head!The book bogs down a bit as the characters discuss Islam, and really bogs down later on what should be done to fix America. I wish the authors had consulted with a ghost writer or two. References to their sources are scattered throughout the text, and an analysis summary or at least a bibliography in the back would have been a good addition.If you are looking for a real thriller, look elsewhere, this isn't it. I'll give it four stars based on its analysis. If I rated the ""novel"" on plot alone, it would garner one star.",4.0,An accurate analysis presented as a novel,1055376000,"06 12, 2003",13,20,helpful,0.65,1 A383OLLCB0ZO4E,0983966710,Chef Robert,"[0, 0]","Seem to drag when reading. Left in the middle and later went back, but have not finished it yet, but will try again later.",3.0,seem to drag in the tale,1380240000,"09 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 APIW11UEPKIC2,0345357116,"morgoth ""we lamas are traditional enemies of ...","[21, 30]","This book is part of the order in which I have people read the lord when they ask me to borrow it.My order goeas like this, I have people read the silmarillion, but before, let me put this in order, sorry1.)the silmarillion(not the whole thing)2.)now stop before you read the fall of gondolin, and read unfinished tales, tuor's journey to find the gate, it ends with ecthelion giving tuor and vorondel greetings.3.)then read the fall of gondolin from book of lost tales 24.)then after you have read the whole story, you can read the silmarillion version for a quick recap.5.)read rest of silmarillion, but the last chapter called 'Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age' SHOULD NOT BE READ YET. It is a very good writing, but it would spoil the entire Lord of the Rings experience.6.)hobbit7.) then of course you would finally read the lord of the rings. of the 3 people I have let have this particular experience, 2 told me it was worth all the reading beforehand, 1 said he would have rather read the lord, then experienced the silmarillion. It's not like I forced it upon them, but don't try to have an old man go through all this like my grandpa, anyone else I think would have liked the 7 step process of getting the full experience, and then again, I could be COMPLETELY wrong.This book has plenty of stuff for you lord of the rings fans who did not care for the silmarillion, isulder and the things he did when he had the RING, the original ride of the rohirrum, and an odd story about galadriel and celeborn. Since I am at work, and this is pretty much all I do at work is review stuff(mainly kungfu), I don't have the book in fromt of me, but I reread it at least every 2-3 years. This book is FILLED with great stuff from what I can remember, even though I have only listed a few of them.",5.0,"ESSENTIAL for fans of the silimarilion, and book of lost tales.",1142035200,"03 11, 2006",21,30,helpful,0.7,1 A4SQFN8YODDVU,0425251470,M. Lapierre,"[10, 12]","Being a lifelong Vermonter I have been so excited about this new series since I first heard about it...you just don't see many cozies set in Vermont. My anticipation was well founded...this wonderful first entry to the Soup Lovers mystery series sucked me right in when the tranquility of a New England blizzard is shattered after a body is found next to the dumpster behind By the Spoonful and the restaurant's chef is arrested for the murder of the rumored town tart.This is a book that deals with heavier matters than cozies usually do. Lucky has returned to Snowflake following the tragic deaths of her parents in a car crash. She arrives to discover her beloved grandfather, the only family she has left, is showing signs of Alzheimer's and PTSD. Because of her family troubles, and the fact that the soup shop may not survive being the scene of a crime, Lucky is prone to making some wild accusations that get her into some hot water. I was suspicious of one character early on and was proven correct, but what followed the revelation of the killer still really surprised me.The secondary characters in Snowflake are really charming as well: Jack and Sage in the soup shop, gossipy sisters/clothing store owners Cecily and Marjorie, old timers/restaurant regulars Hank and Barry, and especially local doctor Elias, the older man Lucky has always had a crush on and now has a chance with. I'm really looking forward to seeing this relationship develop.Looking for a way to beat the heat this summer? Settle in the air conditioning and lose yourself in a Vermont winter with this wonderful new series.",4.0,Lose yourself in a Vermont winter,1346889600,"09 6, 2012",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A27C6734LDEVZ4,1591858038,LadyB,"[46, 49]","I purchased this book last week and I haven't been able to put it down. In this book, Prophetess Bynum really guides you into an intimate prayer life with God. If you've been hesitant about your prayer life, or unsure if your prayers reach God, then this is the book for you. Her valuable insight from both her personal experiences and her revelations from God, will lead you to where you need to be...an unhindered line of communication with God. More specifically, she will show you how to get your prayers through to the Lord. This is an awesome woman of God and she has a powerful anointing of prayer placed upon her. She has a powerful, powerful gift of intercession. I highly recommend this book to those seeking to enhance or deepen their prayer life.",4.0,If you desire an unhindered prayer life....,1128038400,"09 30, 2005",46,49,helpful,0.9387755102040817,1 A27D8ADDYNY5N8,0974470643,David H. Peterzell PhD PhD,"[31, 31]","In my opinion, this is the best and most important book on yoga to be released in a long time. Why? Because the ten yamas and niyamas -as specified by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras- are at the core of yoga and (I believe) essential for real personal growth. And yet they are given cursory treatment by many if not most yoga teachers in the west, who seem unaware of the subtle facets and profound qualities of these ""jewels."" And they are ignored by many of today's mental health professionals, who seem unaware that modern psychotherapeutic approaches are embedded in yoga's prescriptions for ""ethical"" practice of restraints and observances. Somebody really needed to write a book on this! And I must say, Deborah Adele really delivers the goods.Take for instance, Adele's chapter on Satya (truthfulness, honesty). It is a work of art in its own right, offering the wisdom and clarity one needs to liberate powerful forces within oneself. In this chapter, Adele includes the sensible yet unusual insights of Carl Jung, Yogiraj Achala, and Mahatma Gandhi, among others, along with her own hands-on understanding. In the process, Adele addresses, for all of us, the fear (dangerousness) involved with being completely truthful, the differences between ""Nice"" and ""Real,"" the epic partnership between truth (satya) and nonviolence (ahimsa), and the value of conducting our own Gandhi-esque ""experiments"" in truth.There is so much more to this chapter than the glimpse I've given here, but I hope I've communicated the fact that this chapter (and the book as a whole) has great depth and breadth. It is evident that Adele has immersed herself in the yamas and niyamas, emerging with lessons, teachings, and insights that could be of value to anyone. Highly recommended. I learned plenty.The author's website provides lots of useful supplementary material, including some excellent video overviews, radio interviews and discussions. I liked the fact that Adele SOUNDED like a gentle, wise, effective person.I confess that I have a bias here. I believe that my own life has been influenced, and even transformed, whenever I've aligned with the yamas and niyamas over the last 15+ years. And as a result, I was in the process of writing my own (first) book on this long-neglected topic, emphasizing how it relates to progress in psychotherapy. Well, I still think there's a future in that book! Suffice it to say that I share the author's enthusiasm for her topic.",5.0,Really great book,1276387200,"06 13, 2010",31,31,helpful,1.0,1 A2UW32C2AVHTAW,B00DK42O5W,homefry,"[0, 0]",I've become so enraptured in the stories of the Warriors!!! I find myself not wanting them to end. I'm looking forward to starting a new journey into the Dragons world. Excellent writing and huge Kudos to Donna!!!,5.0,Sigh,1383004800,"10 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A914TQVHI872U,0307907317,An Educated Consumer,"[0, 0]","Family was slated to be visiting Japan prior to the March 2011 Tsunami. Of course, plans were cancelled and trip rerouted.Amazing how an area can be so assaulted, destroyed and devastated...and for most of the rest of us...life went on as usual.Having read about in the press and seeing footage of this awful disaster, did not quite prepare this reader to see in words, vignette aftr vignette of the effect on Japan's people.Totally mind bogling in its scope, Gretel Ehrlich presents individuals in their aftermath.The tenacity of the Japanese people is to be compared with so many others throughout the world who continue to face and live thru our worst nightmares.Cause and pause for reflection, each day is so very precious.",4.0,A cause for reflection...,1365724800,"04 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WTFVAJM2BX51,1608610004,Holly Carroll,"[0, 0]",I love stories set in this era. This one is well-done and enjoyable. I need to find the rest of the series and continue reading.,4.0,Reminiscience of Jane Austen,1375488000,"08 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1X9DBPYLSCQ7B,0609609580,Moishe Pipik,"[8, 15]","My goal is to become a professional pundit. So when other "pro-puns" like Watts Wacker (what a name!) write a book, I usually read it. Maybe I can pick up some pundit trick-of-the-trade. Personally, it has more to do with the scraggly beard and the Pundit Uniform (like Bran Ferrin's fishing vest) than with anything you say and do.This book distracted be because of dozens of factual errors, from people, to products, to ideas. The errors range from small, like getting the name of the Cue:Cat bar-code scanner wrong, to major errors, like stating in several places that the book of "Genesis" starts with "In the beginning was the word". (Of course, this is how the Christian bible begins, and is not in the Jewish book of Genesis/B'reishet.) I tried to contact the authors directly about these errors, but they didn't answer my mail.Given the poor editing, it makes me wonder about the rest of his conclusions. For example he suggests that Kodak reinvent itself by becoming the world's photo storage solution. It'll be easy for Mr. Wacker and Mr. Mathews to say in a few years---when Kodak gets in further trouble--See! You should have listened to me!This book was an entertaining read, but really just a rehash of the old-dot-com "Viral Marketing/Let's shake things up" philosophy that died with the dotcoms. I didn't learn anything new about marketing, and the only thing I learned about punditry is I need a cool name like "Watts Wacker" to let people listen to *my* wacky ideas!",2.0,"Somewhat interesting, but weak thesis and sloppy editing",1083801600,"05 6, 2004",8,15,helpful,0.5333333333333333,1 A1Q1T811N4IY3Z,0547995482,Wixby Bonnet,"[0, 0]","In the spirit of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hippomobile is all about fun and mischief, but for a good cause. Twins Jimmy and Stella learn that the only restaurant in town in going to close and they make it their duty to see that doesn’t happen. They have lots of help along the way from an odd assortment of “grandparents”. This book is recommended for nine to twelve year olds, but I think the simple story and lack of complicated plot points should appeal to readers much younger. I read it aloud to a five year old who really enjoyed it. My other kids read it on their own and had no trouble with the length or language. They liked the book too.My only complaint is the footnotes on many of the pages. I think the story would have read smoother if the footnotes were incorporated into the text rather than disrupting the flow to read the bottom of the page. Especially for young readers that aren’t used to such references, it is difficult to stop mid-sentence or mid-paragraph, read the footnote, and then continue on with the tale. But that aside, it’s a fun, silly book that should appeal to many readers.",4.0,Fun for young readers,1385424000,"11 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5MOHWHMAIPMS,B00AVMAISG,Dragonhawk,"[4, 5]","This book was a very well written. I love the way he created a new world and magic system, I can't wait till the next book is released.",5.0,A must read book!,1364256000,"03 26, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1MN3DTCPV10D1,1499216181,Charlene W Reiser,"[0, 0]",Wow!!!! This series is wonderful. So real you just feel part of this story. Dylan and Brooke have been thru do much and continue to go they hell. But they both have learned and groan that their true love will heal them. This is more than 5 stars. A absolute must read.,5.0,Wow!!! A must read trilogy.,1398038400,"04 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3VPGKSPUTYFZU,1596065370,Joel Kramer,"[0, 0]",""I Travel by Night" takes us back a few centuries to New Orleans after the Civil War, to introduce us to a different kind of vampire. Trevor Lawson, forced to become a vampire while lying wounded on the battlefield at Shiloh, hasn't turned all the way to the dark side. By not eating enough people, he's held off some of the transformation while holding onto belief in a story that he can become human again by consuming the one who made him. While searching for her, he hires himself out as an adventurer, righting wrongs and helping humans. Now, he's been asked to help find the victim of a kidnapping, but the kidnappers have specifically requested him, laying an elaborate trap that he has no choice but to walk into. This was a fast read, but full of interesting characters, and we can only hope that McCammon visits them again.",4.0,A different kind of vampire adventure,1394755200,"03 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A23PHU3MMCR147,1905548923,MontessoriQueen,"[0, 0]","An exciting read, interesting characters and good writing. What more could you want? Oh, audiobook read by the author, a professional illusionist and entertainer with superb narration skills? Done. See Podiobooks.comNo, seriously. This book is great on it's own, but listen to the audiobook to get Lenahan's voice in your head and it's even better.",5.0,Fun from start to finish,1403049600,"06 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QQ0AQ89ZVCFJ,0062506048,Chameleon,"[23, 25]","I read Facing Love Addiction after reading Dr. Andy's excellent bookHow to Survive Loving a Narcissist (A Book About Narcissism) - Narcissism Bookwhich was such a great resource for understanding how we become love addicted in a forthright and helpful manner.Facing Love Addiction was an additional tool for understanding this vague concept. I personally had never heard of being addicted to love. The signs, the advice, and the things you learn about yourself while reading this book are truly remarkable. A personal journey where you actually come out a different person not only to yourself but to people around you is life-changing.The words of the author, Pia Mellody, ring in my head as I encounter the different phases of a relationship - whether it be from an ex or someone I have recently met. She is really an expert and Facing Love Addiction provides a wealth of advice on self-empowerment and becoming the your best self.",5.0,Personal Journal,1383696000,"11 6, 2013",23,25,helpful,0.92,1 A11LMJ16RTFYUC,1597772992,"Timothy Cornwell ""tim3465""","[26, 41]","The single most important book ever written on heath and nutrition and the best documented by a life long nutrition specialist. The evidence is overwhelming for ditching once and for ever ALL meat, dairy, egg, salt, sugar, and processed food! The best life saving, disease preventing, disease reversing diet is a raw, vegan, organic, unprocessed fruit, vegetable, nut, and seed diet. DON'T pay any attention to the few one star reviews written by the well known meat, and dairy lobbyists.You may have seen that the Chief Executive of McDonalds recently dropped dead of a heart attack at the age of 60. The Wall Street Journal stated in its 4/20/04 cover article on him that: ""He often boasted about his love of cheeseburgers."" His successor died on 1/16/05 of colorectal cancer at the age of 44. So much for Atkins!Please note that if you are a true VEGAN, your chance of dying from the major cause of heart disease or a heart attack is exactly ZERO! Cholesterol comes from one place only, and that is meat!Pfizer of course is spending hundreds of millions developing a new drug to raise ""good cholesterol"" even though it will most certainly cause liver damage and encourage people to continue their unhealthy eating habits. If people would see through the unholy collusion between the food and healthcare industries the nations healthcare crisis would be solved!I personally have been on raw food for 5 years and lost 70 pounds to get to my optimal weight and brought my blood pressure from dangerously high to normal. I have not had so much as a cold during the entire period, whereas before I went raw and was on the standard American diet, I had at least several illnesses every year. Also, because of the self regulating nature of ""living food"" I have had no problem with keeping my weight where I want it to be.DID YOU KNOW THAT: Cancer largely comes from the consumption of animal products and that the chance of getting cancer when consuming a raw, organic, unprocessed, vegan diet is about ZERO!According to the Wall Street Journal dated 7/14/04, the routine side effects of the treatment of choice for cancer, CHEMOTHERAPY are:Hearing LossHeart DamageInfertilityBrain Damage (cognitive loss)Some of these side effects can be treated by drugs which cause Liver damage etc. which means that more pernicious drugs will be required to counteract the side affects of the initial drugs and the effect of combining incompatible drugs which can be fatal! Just listen to the TV ads for drugs which say pregnant women shouldn't even handle the drugs as theey might kill the fetus?So why doesn't the medical establishment tell us that even if a person has cancer it can be reversed and eventually eliminated by simply switching to an unprocessed, organic, raw, vegan diet? The reason is because they will go out of business if people get healthy, so just like the church for centuries refused to translate the Latin Bible, so the medical, and pharmaceutical, and health care establishments refuse to tell the truth about health and nutrition! Health and nutrition are not even taught in medical school?The consumption of animal products doubles the chance of getting alzheimers not to mention MAD COW DISEASE for which there are no cures! Prostate cancer is known as the silent killer in the USA. Research studies have shown that obesity, and alcohol and red meat consumption are the biggest risk factors for prostate and other types of cancer. A proper diet as previously described attacks all three of these risk factors. NOTE: 11,000,000 children are on anti-depressant drugs. The majority of these are under 5 years of age. Tests show that these children are at twice the risk for suicide! Depression comes from a bad animal based diet, lack of exercise, alcohol consumption and obesity!Recommended resources:Hacres.com - excellent health and nutrition info from a Christian perspective. This site offers compelling evidence of the horror that meat and dairy products wreak on American society. It also promotes the benefit of raw, ""living"" food as the most beneficial and healthful diet. Why Christians get Sick, by George Malkmus (He cured himself of terminal cancer!) is a highly recommended book as well as God's Way to Ultimate Health.Other books to read which will change your perspective forever on health and nutrition: Diet for a New America and The Food Revolution, both by John Robbins. All of this has been rigorously explained and documented in a couple of classic books, The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair, The Hidden Persuaders, by Vance Packard, and Diet for a Small Planet, by Frances Lappe, and more recently in the books, Diet for a New America, and The Food Revolution, by John Robbins, and Fit for Life series of books, by Harvey Diamond, The Hidden Persuaders, by Vance Packard, AND most of all The China Study, by Colin Campbell. All are highly recommended!Goodmessage.org - excellent Bible program for free download.The World's Best Living (Raw) Food Web Sites[...][...] [...][...] [...] [...][...] [...] [...][...] [...][...]They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31""I have given you every herb (vegetable) bearing seed... and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat."" Genesis 1:29. There we have it: raw, organic, nuts seeds, grains, fruits, and vegetables were God's original provision for mankind before the fall into sin and corruption! We should try to emulate that for healthssake.And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. Deut 34:7Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5: 1-5.(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) Philippians 3:18-19.",5.0,"WOW, a real eye opener, READ THIS and SAVE YOUR LIFE!",1137801600,"01 21, 2006",26,41,helpful,0.6341463414634146,1 A1IU7S4HCK1XK0,140005351X,Joanna Daneman,"[182, 182]","If you are looking for a treasury of patterns for your oddiments of yarn, this may not be the book for you. However, this reasonably priced volume has the ""how"" of oddball knitting, including calculating how much yarn you have, weights, lengths to finish a row, how to combine colors and most importantly, how to safely store your stash of yarn. The patterns include a stunning shawl, scarves, hats, purses, socks and an Amish-inspired afghan.There are 31 patterns in all, but the main use of this book is to know HOW to combine yarns to make something out of nearly nothing. If you are bothered by those golf-ball sized bits of sock yarn after making a pair of socks, or want to use a single ball of novelty yarn that was so tempting you bought just ONE, this is for you. But this book demands you use YOUR creativity, so don't look for designs here, just seeds for design ideas.",4.0,"More about the ""how"" rather than the ""what""",1126051200,"09 7, 2005",182,182,helpful,1.0,1 A350Y4L5YNOUDP,B00JCCUQK6,"tasty cake ""Lover of good erotica""","[4, 5]","I wanted to read this after I read the other reviews. This girl was treated so badly her whole world was turned upside down no one seemed to care. When she was punished it was humiliating everything was forced on her, I felt so bad for her I really did't feel her husband loved her or even her family. Her husband was royalty and he punished her in front of the staff. I am so tired of these books where the girl has no choice or even any hope.",1.0,Way too much humiliation,1396828800,"04 7, 2014",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3K1RVYM3JQZZS,080186514X,Ricky Hunter,"[12, 16]","Bradford W. Wright in Comic Book Nation (The Transformation of Youth in Culture in America) looks at the history of comic books as reflected in the form of culture presented within the comic books themselves and the changing culture of youth, who were the largest market for these comic books. It is not a definitive look at comics but it is an interesting examination of culture that will take the reader on a tour through much of the changes in comic books and society since the thirties using the books themselves as a form of primary evidence. It brilliantly continues the work of William W. Savage, Jr. in his pioneering Comic Books and American, 1945 - 1954. This book will be loved by comic book fans, of course, but should also prove quite interesting to any reader interested in matters of popular culture. It is the right balance between scholarly and fun and is a joy to read.",5.0,Fascinating Look at the Culture Depicted in Comic Books,994982400,"07 13, 2001",12,16,helpful,0.75,1 A377MDJLS1EX4Y,0689717849,"""karcy""","[10, 11]","This is a great story, one of Willo Davis Roberts best, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a suspensful tale.Rob's family is very pre-occupied with his sister, Darcy, and her upcoming wedding. Rob pretty much stays out of their way, up in his favorite spot, a limb in his cherry tree. It is there that he sees old Mrs. Calloway get murdered. No one likes the old woman, and everyone seems to think it was an accident. But Rob knows it wasn't and he proves it too. Who was it that murdered old Mrs. Calloway? And will Rob be the next victim since he saw a distinguishing mark on the killer's body? Read the story and find out. I have read the book several times and enjoy every time even though I know what happens.",5.0,Great mystery story,1055635200,"06 15, 2003",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A2MJ8OL2FYN7CW,1449411312,"Lynne E. ""Lynne E.""","[6, 6]","How could I resist this book, when ""The Twelve Days of Christmas"" is one of my favorite Christmas carols, and Fiona Goble is my favorite designer of knitted toys? Usually I buy Fiona's books and simply enjoy looking at the pictures, but this is one set of toys that I fully intend to knit! I really like the designer's amusing ""characters"".The cover photo shows you what you'll get: patterns for a partridge, a turtledove, a French hen, a calling bird, five gold rings, a goose, a swan, a milkmaid, a lady, a lord, a piper, and a drummer. Sadly, there's no pattern for a knitted pear tree--but there is a nice cardboard pear tree (attached to the back cover) that you can cut out and assemble to form the centerpiece of your Christmas display. The pear tree is highly stylized in its design, with leaves suggested by pointy ovals and pears formed of circles with X's in the middle.The patterns are written for DK yarn (12 stitches and 16 rows to a 1-1/2"" (4 cm) square--not your usual 4"" square). The knitting is done on 2.25 mm (US 1) and 3 mm (US 2/3) needles. However, as the designer says, ""For these projects, [gauge] is not as important as it is when you're knitting garments. But it is important that your knitted pieces are quite dense, otherwise you may find that the stuffing shows through . . . ."" Directions for finishing include small amounts of sewing, embroidering, and chain stitching (crochet). The finished projects are stuffed with polyester fiberfill.The patterns have row-by-row instructions (no charts). Because these are relatively small projects, they shouldn't require a lot of knitting experience. However, there are a lot of pieces to knit and assemble for the human figures, and there is a lot of detail work required for the finishing. This set will definitely take some time to complete.",5.0,"Favorite Christmas Carol Illustrated With Amusing Knitted ""Characters""",1351555200,"10 30, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A7FV7PVC26ASG,0425216462,Joretta Williams,"[37, 41]","I love true crime stories. But, this was not one of them. If you love Ann Rule books, as I do, skip this author. Too much ""legal(eze)"" & not enough story. I am not interested in the law being explained to me. More interested in the STORY not the legal aspect of it. No background interviews, as Ann does. Just the facts. Boring. Skipped over most of it. Don't waste your money.",2.0,Not Good,1188518400,"08 31, 2007",37,41,helpful,0.9024390243902439,1 A1MENYFG5EVSTE,B00KB46MKM,Marlene Gibson,"[0, 0]",Didn't care for this one at all.,2.0,Two Stars,1404259200,"07 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33CP2GP61UBGI,1463762070,"Elizabeth A. Jones ""Anime Junkie""","[0, 0]","Like an Egyptian Game of Thrones but less dying. Suspenseful and interesting...who do you trust?......what is the end game?......who's the chosen one? Good read, can't wait to read the second one!",5.0,An Egytian Game of Thrones,1396137600,"03 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MMI76RGXNLLE,0764209825,cjd945,"[0, 0]","Excellent book. First time I have read book by this author, but it won't be my last.Very suspenseful story.",5.0,Submerged,1397692800,"04 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1M4HN8YAVBGJR,0988695146,still waiting!,"[0, 0]",It was absolutely beautifully written. I fell in love with the characters instantly and couldn't keep from crying along. :),5.0,Loved it,1400198400,"05 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8YG7UXE0U6KG,1401341012,corgi crazy librarian,"[0, 0]","In this fictionalized journal, Tamsen Donner becomes a real person and the Donner party's plight becomes more than the butt of jokes.The author did her research, added her own slant and crafted a book that celebrates the strength of our pioneers. You'll finish it feeling Tamsen was a dear friend.",5.0,Best book of my summer,1281484800,"08 11, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARYT5SJIP9RFN,0393057941,"annielaurie ""lover of books, music, animals, ...","[95, 101]","Okay, so I did break down and buy this book after vowing not to, and would change my review to 4 stars if I could. I'm glad I purchased, but as I said before, it's not a book for the beginning baker (or the impatient!). It does contain a wealth of technical information and very specific start-to-finish instructions for each recipe, which to a more advanced bread baker might sound oxymoronic but actually is not. I believe Beranbaum wants us to achieve optimal results from our efforts, thus the great detail in her instructions. Just be sure to read your recipes through thoroughly before starting, as her directions, although detailed, do tend to be confusing, especially when it comes to adding ingredients. I have had great success and compliments from several of these recipes, among them being the raisin pecan bread, the Tyrolean ten-grain torpedo, and the olive bread. Even I have not had the patience to attempt the very involved sour recipes (yet!), but am looking forward to trying them.Here is my old, 3-star review:I rarely feel the need to review, but having tried two recipes in this book, and feeling misled at some point in both, I feel a warning is in order.First, let me say that I am quite an avid bread baker, and that this book, while chock-full of technical information, is definitely not for the neophyte, unless he or she is just interested in the science of breadmaking. Next, let me be specific about my complaints. Although I read a recipe through before I attempt it, I don't tend to memorize it; I just get an idea of the steps involved, decide if it's worth the effort, and go from there. My problems in the recipes both involved ingredients being mentioned in a list, and then the author not being specific enough about when they were to be added. To wit: in the ""Heart of Wheat Bread"" recipe, she lists salt as one of the ingredients in the ""flour mixture."" Below that, she says to combine the ingredients for the flour mixture and add to the sponge (in bold print). Only several sentences farther down on the page did I notice that the salt wasn't supposed to be added until four hours later. I don't know how much of an effect this had on the finished product (which was good but not great, considering the effort), but I feel she should have been more specific. I encountered almost exactly the same problem when I made the ""Touch-of-Grace Biscuits,"" where self-rising and regular flour are both in the ingredients list (although not one right after the other), but again she is not specific in her directions; she simply instructs you to whisk together the flour, etc., etc. I included both types of flour and then discovered on the next page that the second amount was supposed to be used to shape the biscuits, not added to the dough. Again, the recipe came out okay, but I was disappointed that the directions hadn't been clearer.As a result, this book, which I had seriously considered buying for my collection, will be returned to the library and probably not renewed. There are plenty of more comprehensively-written bread books out there, and I don't need the aggravation of this one! I only gave it three stars for the technical information, and I completely agree with another reviewer about the fact that having to have so many specific types of flours, pans, etc., on the shelves in your home to use this book properly will be a big turn-off for all but the most dedicated bread bakers.",3.0,A new and improved update after my first (3-star) review,1085184000,"05 22, 2004",95,101,helpful,0.9405940594059405,1 A1K1JW1C5CUSUZ,0446677477,"Donald Mitchell ""Jesus Loves You!""","[458, 484]","Repetition is the source of mastery, and The Cash Flow Quadrant takes the excellent thinking in Rich Dad, Poor Dad and builds to another level of detail. This information will increase what you learned in Rich Dad, Poor Dad and help you begin the transformation from a salaried or self-employed person into a business owner and investor.The definitions of these four quadrants are important. As an employee, you have a job. As a self-employed person, you own a job. As a business owner you have a system (such as a franchise like McDonald's) that produces cash flow for you and others work for you. As an investor, your money works for you. Rich people are getting more than 70 percent of their cash flow and income by having money work for them.One of the strengths of the book is that it deals with the subtle psychological differences among people in the four different quadrants, especially on subjects like security and freedom. Kiyosaki and Lechter then do a nice job of helping you understand the difference between risky and taking risk. The latter is a good idea, when you know what you are doing, and the former is always to be avoided.The book is not dogmatic, pointing out that good results can be reached in a variety of ways. You have to decide which ones are right for you. In general, you are encouraged to move from the employee and self-employed side for your income to the business owner and investor side. Then, take your cash flow and expand it into investments.Another of the strengths of the book is to make it clearer what the advantages of income property are. In these Internet stock-crazed days, many are looking only to stocks and missing good commercial property opportunities.There are lots of good questions you can use to help frame your road through the cash flow quadant. At a minimum, you will become much more financially literate. With the help of the 7 steps here for making the necessary changes, you should begin to make the transition.The book has a nice conversational tone that turns personal economics into common sense examples and principles.The downside of any book about changing your life is that you can read it much faster than you can master the lessons and apply them. I suggest that you schedule time to reread this book over the next 10 years. That's the best way to check up on yourself and how you are doing.I do recommend that you read Rich Dad, Poor Dad first. You'll get much more out of this book if you do that. Then you'll begin to see opportunities where others see difficulties. Good luck with fulfilling your goals!",5.0,"If You Liked Rich Dad, Poor Dad, You Must Read This One!",966038400,"08 12, 2000",458,484,helpful,0.9462809917355371,1 A1VS0QV9IKFW3U,0898707900,Sheila L. Beaumont,"[65, 65]","This book is a fascinating and well-written exploration of the 20th-century Christian literary and artistic revival in England that arose in response to the prevailing secularism of the age. It focuses on Christian converts, mostly Catholic and some Anglican, among them Oscar Wilde, G.K. Chesterton (who seems to have influenced almost all of the others), Evelyn Waugh, T.S. Eliot, C.S. Lewis, Edith Sitwell, Graham Greene, Muriel Spark, E.F. Schumacher, Alec Guinness and Malcolm Muggeridge. There's also the occasional cradle Catholic (Hilaire Belloc), childhood convert (J.R.R. Tolkien) or cradle Anglican (Dorothy L. Sayers), along with non-Christians such as H.G. Wells and George Bernard Shaw, all of whose lives intersected with and influenced those of the converts. Joseph Pearce's writing is clear, pleasant and literate, making this an irresistible read for Catholics and other Christians, especially those who are also Anglophiles. If you enjoy this book, you might also want to read Mr. Pearce's biographies of Tolkien and Chesterton.",5.0,Irresistible for Anglophiles,959212800,"05 25, 2000",65,65,helpful,1.0,1 A3UMTEQ7KX7TQN,0812994868,Lesley Siemens,"[0, 0]","I did not get as much insight into the mind of an autistic child as I had hoped but then again, it was written by a 13 yr old so I would say it was pretty darn good. I did get insight into the why of the behaviors which will be helpful in my work.",4.0,Insight,1388534400,"01 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1B01FWLZI975F,0307454894,"Mark Shaw, Burlingame California","[0, 0]","The Reader brings to life a love affair truly based on friendship. Schlink's message is clear - a first love is never to be forgotten, no matter the passage of time.",4.0,A simple story to touch the heart.,924480000,"04 19, 1999",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1028EO0SP6YCS,0312383282,,"[9, 15]","I'd say it was a good beach read, or lazy summer afternoon distraction, if I hadn't paid over $20.00 for it.Yes, Lula can still make me laugh, but I can't help but think the target audience for these books can do without jokes involving farts. Seriously, I get enough of that from my 12-year-old, I don't need it in my literature. The plot was so recycled that I actually think I'd read whole paragraphs before. Storyline changes that could have been interesting (new guy owns the funeral home) were not developed. But Steph blew up two more cars - how unoriginal.And Janet? If you want to keep up the sexual suspense, someone actually has to have sex. Before the last page.Sadly, Evanovich, Inc. is now on my borrow list - and this is from someone who has pre-ordered or reserved every book for 10 years.",2.0,Borrow it - I wish I had,1246320000,"06 30, 2009",9,15,helpful,0.6,1 A2ZP483ANVL28T,0307277674,"Jimok580 ""okie580""","[4, 7]","i read this book during the summer and am surprised to find it still atop the bestseller lists. harlan coben,in his blurb on the back, writes "perfect for history buffs, conspiracy nuts, puzzle lovers, or anyone who appreciates a great riveting story.' well, i consider myself to be among the first and last, but found this less than a perfect fit for me. after just a little bit of reading on the side, one finds most of the theories brown puts forth here are baseless, so plausibility goes right out the door. it is a perfect story for conspiracy nuts, but there's a reason they're called nuts. if i remember correctly there were 3 main puzzles for the protagonist, harvard symbologist robert langdon, to solve. i solved 2 of them pages before he did. one of them is just plain laughable. harvard must be considering a suit.furthermore, the book is incredibly anti-catholic, but that institution has been under such pressure lately, they must have decided to let this one slide. finally, the writing is horrible. instead of writing chapters, he writes movie scenes...he even compares langdon to indiana jones. want puzzles and history and conspiracy, go immediately to furst or lecarre; you'll get good writing too.",2.0,ooooh...this holds the attention of a nation?,1071360000,"12 14, 2003",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 AXW1O6Q92XF0Z,089296801X,Untouchable,"[8, 8]","Over many years the world's most pessimistic thief has been hilariously unlucky, occasionally successful but always entertaining as he has put together some imaginative heists. I'm talking about John Dortmunder, creation of Donald Westlake, who first appeared back in 1970 in THE HOT ROCK and is back in the 11th book in the series, THE ROAD TO RUIN.In this outing John Dortmunder and his crew targets Monroe Hall's classic car collection. Monroe Hall is a pariah. He has recently been caught robbing his own company blind and is now in seclusion within his sprawling compound with his wife, security guards and various collections that include cuckoo clocks, chess sets, rare books and music boxes. In fact, the man collects just about everything. The only thing he seems unable to collect is servants who don't want anything to do with him - after all, he's a pariah.So, as I mentioned, there's a classic car collection just begging to be stolen. The main problem confronting Dortmunder is the electric fence that stands between him and the cars. This problem is closely followed by the problem posed by the security guards manning the front gates. But Dortmunder is an ideas man, problem solving is his specialty and once again he comes up with a novel solution to their entry problem. So the heist is a goer - nothing can possibly go wrong.Unknown to Dortmunder and his crew is a fly in their ointment that is sure to spoil their carefully thought out heist. Monroe Hall is such a rotter that he has made enemies up, down and sideways all waiting their chance to try to wring some of the money he took back out of him. They're faced with much the same problem as Dortmunder, namely getting to Hall. You see, he's such a pariah (do you get the idea that he's a pariah yet?) that he never leaves his compound making it difficult for the waiting ex-business partners and union workers to get to him. So while Dortmunder is executing his plan, these other blokes, better described as blundering fools actually, are making their own devious plans.Naturally, the opposing plans are destined to come crashing together which is sure to cause all manner of uproar, mayhem and general hilarity. From book to book, the general premise hasn't changed in the Dortmunder series, that is, a can't-miss caper is planned down to the last detail only to be upset by some unforeseen circumstance. The pleasure in the books lies in Donald Westlake's uncanny ability to deliver off-beat characters, scathingly brilliant comedic dialogue, cleverly devised crimes and imaginative solutions to his problems.Although this book comes late in the series, it can be enjoyed without having to read any of the earlier books, although the earlier books will obviously give you more of a familiarisation with the characters who make up Dortmunder's gang. So if it's a light-hearted crime book you're after where the criminal is the good guy, this book will meet your needs.",4.0,It's Not Easy Being A Thief,1091404800,"08 2, 2004",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A251JUYRDH0BPG,1589190211,"Kevin Lucia ""Author""","[0, 1]","Joe Box is not your typical, ""meek as a lamb, turn the other cheek Christian"". A hard-boiled private detective who's only recently been saved, Joe's seen the darker side of life: he's survived a harrowing tour of duty in Vietnam, been exposed to the dark underbelly of the world through his brief stint as a cop and his work as a PI, and he's a man who's lost much: his father to a horrible work-related accident and his young wife and unborn son to a tragic car accident.His recent salvation has rescued him from years of darkness and drunken oblivion, but still - he's got a lot of rough edges left. He's got a bit of a temper, and the burdens he's carried all these years would be enough to wear down even those of the most stalwart of faith - he's a bit cynical, too. However, with the support of his church and pastor, and old war-time mentor, and Agnes - a caring woman who might just be the new love of his life - he's growing. He's not perfect, he's no saint or missionary - but he's a born-again Christian who is learning the power of a saving faith.Hopefully, he'll live long enough to see Christ's work on his life in full.A dark specter from the past has reared its ugly head, from Joe's time in Vietnam. A fiendish enemy thought long gone and buried has returned, with deadly intent: he's picking off members of Joe's platoon, one by one. Making their deaths look like accidents, eerily snuffing their lives out in the manner which each fears the most, this killer - who is exerting otherworldly, inhuman precision and skill - is working his way back in revenge, putting Joe and those he cares about square in the cross-hairs.As Joe scrambles for a way to defend himself from this real world but clearly demonic intent, he searches his memories of the past for clues, anything that will help him understand his foe better. He also realizes his survival depends less on his wit and gun, but more on the grace of the God to whom he's so recently entrusted his life. The fact remains, though: he's being stalked by a cold-hearted killer who will stop at nothing to make sure Joe's ""pushing up daisies"". Will Joe be forced to take a life for only the second time since `Nam?John Laurence Robinson's character Joe Box is a revolutionary Christian character, in my mind, and his first adventure, Sock Monkey Blues, published in 2002, clearly paved the way for the development of current Christian fiction. Joe is irreverent, realistic, and tough: an honest portrayal of a new Christian struggling to reconcile his faith with his past reliance on his own human efforts. This novel is almost the perfect blend of classic, Ellery Queen/Sam Spade detective fiction and Christian fiction; it portrays honest truths about being a new Christian, but still exudes that ""noir fiction"" feel that crime story fans love.Robinson handles multiple shifts in narrative well, going back and forth smoothly between the present and Joe's flashbacks to both Vietnam and parts of his life, and personally - I enjoyed the Vietnam segments best. This is not a negative comment on the novel, but with the exception of the conclusion, most of the novel's action is found when Joe and his buddies are tramping through the Vietnam jungle, pursuing the mysterious and elusive sniper who would someday turn the tables and hunt them (I liked these parts so much, in fact, that I hope Laurence revisits Box's days in Vietnam in the future - perhaps putting an entire story-line back there).I especially appreciated the reality of this novel: even given a Christian's call to be meek, merciful, and to ""turn the other cheek"" - evil never rests, evil shows no quarter. As I'm sure many born-again Christians serving as policemen or in the military will attest to, when the bad guy starts shooting, sometimes the only thing you can do is pray -and shoot back.",5.0,When the Last Dog Dies: A Joe Box Mystery - by John Laurence Robinson,1162598400,"11 4, 2006",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A6VSWJVTWEOII,1742205933,Katie Luther,"[0, 1]","There is a nice range of different countries and types of food covered in this book. Some of the recipes are rather complicated, but most are simple enough that you can try them at home without too much fuss. Even if you don't feel like cooking, this is a great way to learn more about other cultures, and about the fare many of us regularly enjoy in ethnic restaurants and food carts. Lots of fun, recommended for people who enjoy travel shows and cooking.",5.0,Food cart fare at home,1337126400,"05 16, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 ARYEAKJSIATCP,1616260858,"Katieq ""readaholic""","[0, 0]",I have to say I am very disappointed in this book. If I had read this before the 2nd instalment as was meant to be I would not be interested in continuing with the series. There is something lacking in this book that is not compelling. Lucky the 2nd book in the series has snared me in.,3.0,Disappointed,1362700800,"03 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3O089D489X2H6,1401312624,Ms. Goose,"[41, 52]","I like Jenny. She is funny and entertaining when you see her on talk shows. Her ""deal"" is works hard at being funny and quirky. A bit too much maybe. The book was a real stretch in my opinion to make more money. Really ridiculous. Tried so many chapters to try to get into it but it was all so silly. Waste of money. This has to be the only book I have ever given a 1. That says a lot.",1.0,Jenny goes to a lot of effort to make something out of nothing,1352332800,"11 8, 2012",41,52,helpful,0.7884615384615384,1 A3QLM0M2TNM17I,1118393775,P. J. Ryan,"[0, 0]","Excellent! Beth Hayden's book is well-written, easy to read and full of actionable ideas. I first got a copy from the library, but quickly wanted to start underlining and highlighting passages, so had to buy my own copy.Chapters are well defined and stay on point. A few stories help illustrate the concepts, but aren't overdone or lengthly. Each chapter ends with an summary of key points to help you take action. I just re-read the book for a second time and have 10 pages of notes, and about 12 uses for boards to implement, each idea is specific to my needs, my website and my book promotion.Highly recommended. Visit her website for free stuff.",5.0,Excellent - Easy to Read - Full of actionable Ideas and How-tos,1373932800,"07 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3EUS4JC68Q476,0312656262,Miss Print,"[92, 102]","Dark forces are gathering. Terrorist attacks, murders, strife, poverty. Just look at the news and you can see them everywhere. Three angels are sent to earth to complete good works and counter the darkness. Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany the least experienced of the three, created a mere seventeen years ago, but also the most connected to the human race.This is Bethany's first visit to Earth. While her older siblings are able to view their new earthly surroundings and experiences at a remove Bethany is fascinated by all of it and instantly enchanted by the wonders human life has to offer.Gabriel and Ivy immediately throw themselves into their mission, seeming to know instinctively what good they can do for the small community Venus Cove. Bethany is less certain of her own role in the mission. Instead of finding her own heavenly path, Bethany finds herself drawn to a mortal boy in Halo (2010) by Alexandra Adornetto.*Halo had a lot of promise. It's been getting a lot of hype. The cover is lovely. The plot is kind of interesting sounding. Adornetto, a veteran author at the tender age of seventeen, has the potential to be a media darling. And angels are the new vampires.The book also has an intriguing trailer available for your viewing pleasure.With all of that potential, Halo still managed to fall painfully flat.Maybe that shouldn't have been such a surprise after seeing the book's epigraphs (excerpts from Romeo and Juliet and from Beyonce's song ""Halo"").First and foremost, Halo is massive. The first book in a projected trilogy this one clocks in at just under 500 pages where nothing happens very slowly. Set up is, of course, very important for a story--arguably more so for a fantasy. That said, one hundred pages without getting to the crux of the story is a bit excessive.Then there is the matter of Bethany, our narrator. Bethany's naivete about life on Earth is amusing in the beginning but as the story progresses it begins to ring false. Everything seems to come easily to the angels: they are preternaturally good looking (to the point that Gabriel causes a near riot when he arrives at the local high school as the new music teacher), they inevitably excel at everything they do, they glow (really). And yet, Bethany can't figure out how to talk to other teenagers when they use slang or reference pop culture? She finds herself tongue-tied and completely obsessed by the first (literally the first, I'm serious) good looking boy she sees. What?On top of that, everything about Halo felt very contrived.There are no homely people in Venus Cove, at least if there are they escape Bethany's notice entirely--all of her human friends are beautiful with startlingly blue eyes or titian curls. The angels, unsurprisingly, have wings and Bethany mentions none of them would be wearing tank tops any time soon only to have Ivy walking around in a tank top a few pages later and Gabriel greeting a human neighbor wearing nothing but a towel.Finally, and most bizarrely since Adornetto is herself still a teenaged girl, I couldn't shake this feeling of condescension each time Bethany started talking about human teenagers. She identifies the cliques at school with their stereotypical modifications to their uniforms (except for the ""academic types"" who are too timid for such things and carry the official school backpack), she talks about listening to the prayers of teenage girls hoping to date the captain of the rugby team. Bethany keeps worrying about how weak and fragile she is compared to her siblings who are so absorbed in their heavenly mission they never get much of a chance to develop in the story. Every character, it seems, is diluted to the basest elements--especially Bethany whose thoughts are wholly consumed by a mortal boy ten pages into the story.Halo had many promising elements, but taken together they managed to create an unexceptional book. While interesting and an undoubtedly impressive body of work for a seventeen-year-old author Halo simply did not realize its potential.*I would tell you more about the plot but my YA Lit professor always said not to give away anything beyond the jacket copy and/or the first twenty pages. I adhered to the latter but, be warned, the plot summary above is for the first hundred pages. Seriously.Possible Pairings: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey, Swoon by Nina Malkin, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer",2.0,Falls flat despite lots of potential,1284163200,"09 11, 2010",92,102,helpful,0.9019607843137255,1 A281E7SEUCPB6H,B00BTIDOO6,Mj,"[0, 0]","I've always like Bryan because he was the ""underdog"" . First it was Elise then Mel that never panned out! So it's great to see he finally found his mate through trials and tribulations. This was an awesome book!",4.0,Can't wait for more,1372723200,"07 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DXVK2384XCV3,1578632978,Sam Sarrha,"[0, 0]","as for the negative reviews.. it is east to criticize the messenger if you didn't pay attention to the message.it is a Home Grown book.. but the leaders in this field are just people like you an me. their links led me to a wealth of resources, I have made new friends I several new forums, particularly the ITCbridge people ..who are Scientists that are discovering new ways to communicate with spirits on the "Other Side" with the help of dead scientists in spirit on the other side ..folks you just cant make up stuff like this. it is fascinating.!being an X-research biologist, now Shamanistic practitioner, I have found a wonderful new realm of Non Ordinary Reality [NOR]Good Journey...",5.0,"i liked this book, i learned a lot from it, great references to",1400025600,"05 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A4GY7N9PZWUDS,0062292889,robin c turek,"[4, 16]",Sarah Palin tells it like it is. America needs to wake up. A good read for anyone who believes in what America was founded on.,5.0,True,1391644800,"02 6, 2014",4,16,helpful,0.25,1 A2DZ4IDSTEJYBD,0060828579,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",This was a wonderful read. And what a shocker of an ending. Surprised indeed. I will have to say that the childish love games in the middle tended to grow old after awhile but then they got away from that and life was good. I HIGHLY recommend this book.,5.0,A Great Read,1181520000,"06 11, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2MQVSSE2C2T9X,149600082X,cbg,"[5, 6]",This book was worth the wait!!!!! I was given the wonderful opportunity to read the ARC of this book and it was excellent. The continuation of Hunter and Lorrie's story was perfectly written. Rescued had me hooked from the first page and had twists and turns that prevented me from putting the book down. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone and give too much more information but can say I'm sad to see the story end and wish there was more. Maybe Priscilla will write a new series about Gary and Daniela??????,5.0,Worth the Wait!!!!,1393113600,"02 23, 2014",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2LYKDMCFL3FA2,0986815721,"C. Wolfe ""=Wolfegang=""","[5, 8]","Okay, so I purchased this book based on commentary from James Roy Daley. This book is a terrifying thrill ride. After reading an intreguing introduction about the author as written by James Roy Daley, you will be very eager to jump right into this mind-wrenching novel. This story starts off right in the middle of a very tense situation and then BOOM; slams you right in the face with one hell of an action-filled suspense horror story. Character development is great as is the imagery. The author has a unique way of putting you in the eyes/mind of the evil which comes alive in this story. Matt Hults makes sure you will never look at some things in your life the same ever again. Do you know how on the first Tenacious D album, you can hear Jack Black screaming ""Next Song... NEXT SONG!!!"" ? Well, I will leave you with this. After reading this, all I could think was NEXT BOOK... NEXT BOOK!!!!! And that goes for you too James Roy Daley! Ha! All in all, a big thumbs up; I see myself reading this book again this October. I'm sure if you had Samhain's November Coming Fire playing while you read this book, it would make it even better!",5.0,A HORRIFYING MASTERPIECE,1297382400,"02 11, 2011",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A2LXYUFE96D43S,0425176304,"paula_k_98 ""paula_k_98""","[6, 8]","What is left to say about Judgment in Death? Nothing except I am one of millions hooked on this series. How J. D. Robb can consistently crank out these books is beyond me! Has there ever been a more fascinating couple other than Eve and Roake?In every series there is usually one or two books that don't live up to expectations. This is what--book tweleve or thirteen? They just keep getting better and better.I for one, would love to see more scenes with just Eve and Roake. You know there has to be more to their relationship that hasn't been revealed yet. It is murder knowing I have to wait for the next installment of this series, especially since there wasn't an excerpt in the back of this one.All I can say, READ and ENJOY!",5.0,Will I Ever Get Enough of these Characters?,969235200,"09 18, 2000",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A2BTUYGR85RB7P,B004XNL7I4,Stacy,"[0, 1]",This is too short and boring I really didn't like it so I probably won't read the other books at all,1.0,Bad book,1360108800,"02 6, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AY7B1ACIVSDTC,1493664522,Boyko Ovcharov,"[0, 0]","This is an incredibly amusing story of Wilde's, describing some upper middle class relationships and lifestyles. He relates some peculiarities, social controversies and funny personality traits using his smooth sense of irony and intelligent humor. Quite enjoyable, dynamic and thought-provoking in any shape or form indeed, i.e. in a movie, play, book or kindle.",5.0,The Importance of Being Earnest,1355011200,"12 9, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A29CI6TMIEK777,0736926828,Loys Gentry,"[0, 0]",I have purchased many copies of this book and after giving them away to others to gleam from I would purchase another copy. Great resource for anyone desiring to read and understand God's Word.,5.0,Long standing resource just got better,1356998400,"01 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15M4ICS7BBTK4,0307729958,leftyjewel,"[0, 0]","The Sisters of the quilt books all center around a young Amish girl named Hannah and the Mennonite boy she loves named Paul. In book one, Hannah faces a tragic circumstance that not only devastates her entire family, but separates her from Paul just as they begin to dream of a future together. Book two picks up the story when Hannah is rejected by Paul and shunned by her family and friends. She flees her home and all she knows to go live with an estranged aunt and tries to put her life back together. Then book three shows us an older, more mature Hannah who has found peace with her circumstances and has settled into a satisfying life in the English world that includes a new love in her life. Just when Hannah thinks she has it all together she is thrown back into the path of her first love and must acknowledge that she still has deep feelings for him.I was immediately drawn into these stories and amazed that these are the author's first books. The characters are very realistic and multi-faceted. I felt deeply for Hannah and her struggles as she tried to survive a horrible situation not of her making and without the support of her family. I have read a lot of Amish fiction as I am fascinated by the Amish lifestyle. What I like the most about Cindy Woodsmall's work is the fact that her books are entirely different from other Amish stories. Her characters are more involved with the Englischers instead of the story being exclusively centered on the Amish community. This adds another element to the plots of the stories as the characters interact with a way of life that is quite foreign to them. It also makes me think about what it would be like if I ever had the opportunity to be friends with an Amish person.Cindy did a fantastic job in making Hannah a real person and that is the success of this trilogy. The fact that all three books now come in one compact volume is an added bonus. If you like Amish fiction you are sure to love these stories.I received this complimentary copy from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group through their Blogging for Books program. A positive review was not required and the opinions expressed here are my own.",5.0,Wonderful collection of Amish stories,1325116800,"12 29, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AW20HXIG5NAFH,0007442920,"Amazon Customer ""singing cpa""","[0, 0]","A trial to get through - finished reading it only because I bought it. Was hoping for another Hunger Games, but was disappointed.",2.0,Boring!,1392768000,"02 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MQVH81YFK502,0743453956,Spencer,"[0, 2]",Just finished Executive Power an am really hooked on the Rapp novels now! Vince Flynn's ability to lay out a story and provide great detail is uncanny. He is definitely the master of political thrillers. I just started Memorial Day and can't wait to keep going. Keep up the great work Mr. Flynn!,5.0,Yet another masterpiece by Flynn,1317859200,"10 6, 2011",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A8ZY9LI1KBU2P,074349749X,Mary Kate,"[10, 14]","This was my first foray into Showalter, and to be honest, I don't know if I'll make another. Awaken Me Darkly had a somewhat familiar (kick-ass heroine who hunts bad guys meets, in the course of an investigation, a could-be bad guy and falls for him) but still promising premise and I thought the opening pages were strong. But, for me the story deteriorated quickly.The heroine, Mia Snow, came across, not so much as strong and tough, which I'm sure was Showalter's intention, but as willing to use that strength in unacceptable ways. She was brutal and extremely violent, using her fists and weapons almost indiscriminately. In my opinion, that makes a character veer away from `admirably tough' and into psychotic territory. Further, because a family member had been killed by aliens in the past, Mia seemed to lump all aliens into a 'deserves to die' category. That's called bigotry, and it's unattractive.While Mia's brutality was the biggest stumbling block of the novel for me, there were other problems. The sex club appears to have had nothing to do with the plot, and so seemed simply distasteful, the character of Atlanna was poorly drawn and one dimensional, the alien baby plot was somewhat confusing and not well developed, and the ending felt extremely rushed. The method Mia came up with to save Kyrin made absolutely no sense to me. But by that point, I'll admit, I had been skimming for a number of pages (never a good sign), so maybe I missed something...And please, please, please could this trend toward first person POV's end? I've always felt it was one of the most difficult writing styles to do well, particularly because it severely limits the methods authors can use to give characters outside the protagonist depth. Few writers can pull it off, and Showalter apparently is not one of them.I do think the author has some talent, but Awaken Me Darkly didn't showcase it.",2.0,Heroine not particularly heroic,1132790400,"11 24, 2005",10,14,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 AHIP0T0M8K5EO,0316221244,Eileen,"[0, 1]","I read this in three days, literally could not put it down. The book grabbed me from the beginning....very suspenseful, and unlike many mysteries, the ending did not disappoint. After I started reading, I learned that this was the 6th book in the Joe O'Loughlin series, normally I like to read a series in order, but I don't think it gave away much to read it out of order, it stands alone. Unfortunately, the 1st book of the series (and possibly more) are not available on Kindle or Ibooks..so I had to buy a used copy that won't be here for days..I am sure it will be worth the wait.",5.0,Wow!!,1369440000,"05 25, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A20B2CA4L7K7SY,0452284015,Gregory,"[6, 16]","I bought this book in a moment of weakness. I knew about the Darwin Awards, having received samples of same over the internet. The better part of my nature informed me that the very notion of finding something funny in stories of stupid misadventures with tragic consequences was . . . (how you say?) . . . wrong. Wrong and stupid. If a dim-witted child guffaws at these stories, one makes allowances. For an adult to enjoy them is beyond the pale.There are some who are horrified at the practice of book-burning. Well, I am not. I love books, but I had a nice little bonfire with this one, and the world was a better place for it.",1.0,I'm so ashamed!,1106092800,"01 19, 2005",6,16,helpful,0.375,1 AKQHA885RBAE3,1439108218,Judith Muller,"[6, 6]","Excellent book. Captivating, well researched and consistently interesting. I was fortune to be in San Francisco, living in the Castro, in the 1970s and remember a lot of this ""history"". But also found events that I'd missed at the time. I was planning to just read the book and then resell it. But no, this is going right on my research shelf. I advise people who were there at the time to read it and people who weren't to read it and get an insider's view of a city going through an incredible change.",5.0,Season of the Witch,1341446400,"07 5, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2IYX5W3A1N3VB,0821780646,Orion,"[0, 0]","""How do you do that? Read my mind, I mean. You've done it before.""He shrugged. ""It's a by-product of being a vampire"".A by-product? Oh good grief. The guy has had 700 years to think of ways to describe his mystic vampiric powers, and he compares them to... industrial waste?Somebody should notify those guys who give out the awards for bad writing. We have a contender.",1.0,I made it to page 118 before I threw it against a wall,1255651200,"10 16, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3J2WL96HGV3BJ,0060734000,Whitney,"[0, 0]","This book is GREAT! I'm 14 and enjoyed reading it. My friends are going to read it as soon as I turn it back in... Every time you finish a chapter, you'll want to read another one! Highly recommended.",5.0,**FANTASTIC!**,1047254400,"03 10, 2003",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2VKWLCNZF4ZVB,0786016051,The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers,"[4, 4]","Once again Florida is recovering from the devastation of a hurricane and Private Investigator Louis Kincaid is in the midst of it. While canvassing the damage that the hurricane has left behind, Kincaid stumbles upon a baby's skull amongst the debris. The skull appears to be old. The police are too involved with regaining order after the devastation of the hurricane to care much about where the old skull came from or to whom it belonged. Yet, Kincaid seems drawn to the remains and is determined to find their origins and give the child a proper resting place.The skull of a child isn't the only gruesome thing that washes ashore on the Florida coast; during the hurricane aftermath clean up, the police discover the body of a woman. Undermanned, the local authorities call upon Kincaid for help with the murder investigation. Just when it seems that things could not get any stranger, a woman seeks to hire Kincaid to investigate her father, whom she believes may be involved with the murder of the discovered woman. However, Kincaid soon discovers some hidden secrets of the man he is investigating that go beyond his wildest dreams. At first Kincaid believes that he has three separate cases on his hands until he slowly uncovers the shocking truth that links them all.THE ISLAND OF BONES by P.J. Parrish is a compelling thriller that takes many delicious twists and turns. The character of Private Investigator Louis Kincaid is a refreshing change from the brooding stereotypical investigator so often found in novels. Kincaid is a complex, three - dimensional character with realistic flaws. The novel itself is also one that is outside the box of the ""typical"" mystery. The characters are vivid and the story line unique. Although ISLAND OF BONES is the fifth installment in the Louis Kincaid mysteries, it surely is a standalone novel that will please both long standing Kincaid fans as well as those new to the character.Reviewed by L. Raven Jamesof The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers",4.0,Deadly secrets.,1099526400,"11 4, 2004",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A27UW67UW9NXAE,098360584X,R. Fields,"[0, 0]","This was a very good read. The action was great.It is a second Jurassic park .The only annoying thing was the ""lost teenagers in the park "".All in all, a good read.",5.0,Great read !,1355616000,"12 16, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3MZU8A1ASX8X2,0785131833,"J. Sherman ""The Critic""","[6, 7]","With ""Spider-Man Noir"" being an enjoyable incarnation of the webslinger, Fred Van Lente and Dennis Calero's ""X-Men Noir"" seems like the next logical read. Also set in 1930s New York, this 4-volume comic is a far cry from the X-Men mythos. Magneto, now a crooked police chief, hunts down Xavier's students, a bunch of nonpowered sociopaths said to signal a new phase in human behavioral evolution. Even stranger is that the protagonist is the 'multitalented' Tom Halloway, a Golden Age hero who played no role in X-Men continuity before. You hardly recognize the rest of the cast, partly due to Calero making his art so literally dark; Jean Grey's already dead (big surprise); and a cameo by Wolverine barely scratches the surface. A back-up pulp story starring the Sentinels and the Morlocks proves more appealing. Promotional art, concept drawings, and variant covers are also included.This comic receives a Parental Advisory warning for: Violence, Adult Situations.",3.0,Touched by an Angel,1269475200,"03 25, 2010",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1XBP1VWV92MQQ,0778801810,"Duane ""Real World""","[8, 14]","As much as for the condition in which it arrived as for content. The book had been crammed into its packaging in such a way that the cover was mutilated. The pulp recipes were exactly that - and there were so few that it wasn't worth the price of entry. Much better ones elsewhere. And, most of the juice combinations are common sense or available elsewhere. However, it is a good book for beginners.",2.0,Disappointing,1234915200,"02 18, 2009",8,14,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A3XVSI0XZUDXX,0805075208,PG13,"[9, 10]","Like a majority of us, I was of the opinion that being religious is a necessary and required condition for being a moral person. (Mind you, I had that view even as I wasn't practicing the religious customs I was brought up to follow and -- by nothing more than my own self-admission -- living a clean and very moral existence for a decade without following any ""rituals."") Not a second after I completed reading this book because it made me question that premise.Shermer's book provided a clear, if not complete, explanation for a moral living without the crutch of being a religious follower. Even if one is a follower, the understanding that morals are not necessarily bestowed to us on a bright and sunny afternoon by a creator but evolved in us -- if you must, by the creator -- as we ourselves evolved is a point worth acknowledging.Any reasonable person must look at the evidence as presented by Shermer, not just by itself, but as a first step, to make an informed decision on the affect of morals on us, and we, as humans, on morals. As for the creator himself, it suffices to say that Shermer is a self-professed agnostic. So, the choice would still be on our side even as we question if those morals were provided to us at an instance or inspired in us over years.",5.0,Effectively questions the basis of morality.,1149292800,"06 3, 2006",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,0071462023,Midwest Book Review,"[8, 8]","In Confessions Of Shameless Self Promoters: 68 Marketing Gurus Share Secrets, Strategies, And Unique Ideas That Will Take You To The Next Level Of Success, Debbie Allen presents a coherent explanation of self-promotion and why it works in the business world. She goes on to show the reader how to build a strong referral base of shameless fans; give away one's services or products in order to create more business; how to network as a means of showcasing expertise; why brand identity and business is crucial to success in today's competitive marketplace; the use of unique direct-mail strategies to make anyone stand out from the crowd of competitors; cutting-edge Internet marketing secrets to high-profile a business; acquire a wealth of media attention; even why the readers themselves should write a book for self-promotion -- and having written one, how to market it. Confessions Of Shameless Self Promoters is packed with useful, usable, practical and effective information, strategies and tactics that would benefit any entrepreneur regardless of the nature of their service or product.",5.0,A coherent explanation of self-promotion and why it works,1000252800,"09 12, 2001",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A2CIPA2QGB3JCL,B00EN6LJ2U,Gray King,"[4, 7]","Having read many of the reviews I am (again) very reluctant to own this edition of Shakespear. Unless it is Kindle friendly, it takes far too long to source what one wants --- reasonably efficiently. Don't get me wrong, I would love to own the whole Shakespeare collection and would be prepared to pay a lot more than the paltry (almost insulting) amount for the privelage. But give me something I can USE. Something I can fast forward, reverse, find, look-up and read at my leisure. Might I suggest the compilers get cracking, get organised, get planning and then bring out THE edition that allows Kindle users the flexibility to navigate this extraordinary man's works...with ease. Set to. Go on... get cracking!",1.0,Not the works just the format,1398643200,"04 28, 2014",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A48AGPJ6MBXDW,0312605889,Amazon Customer,"[0, 1]","A great love story. Sappy but hopeful, entertaining but typical. I enjoyed the book and will read another by this author.",4.0,"Nice, easy read",1357171200,"01 3, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3PLKJPY92RSUI,189200514X,Sandra Marmar,"[17, 19]","I would recommend that you read ""The Surprising purpose of Anger"", first. Especially if you are jaded, been through therapy, recovery, or self help. You will be stunned to find the gift of Non-violent communication. I have read almost all of the other books by Marshall B. Rosenberg. This is the last one I read. I plan to purchase to send to all of my friends that are anti-religion. It shows the morality of what religions should teach. I have always said I am not a religious person, but a very spiritual person. This book shows the upper path of living. An addict once said ""Every person has a hole in their being and it is the same size as a high power. If you do not find spirituality you will need to fill that hole with something; drugs, food, possessions or something else"".",5.0,"Wonderful as all Nonviolent Communication literature. A must for everyone who communicates, is living, and has needs.",1229817600,"12 21, 2008",17,19,helpful,0.8947368421052632,1 AEIP7YW5HDUFF,B00C4BA6A2,Kindle Customer,"[0, 0]","This book was pretty awesome. I loved the banter between Kel and Chase. They were goofy and loved to torture the other, all in fun. I loved the wax prank Kel did to Chase. The nicknames they gave each other were great. I cracked up when they realized who their ""Friday Night Girl/Boy"" was finally while playing a XBOX game.I definitely recommed this book!I received this title from NetGalley in return for an honest review.",5.0,Super Sweet Romance,1375401600,"08 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A313K9LIUYD83F,1940026032,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Great science and great character development. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and keep wondering what is next.,5.0,Excellent,1389139200,"01 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2BZ7MYTSNYMEW,1612185290,"Michelle L. Beck ""Always the Devourer of Good...","[9, 12]","At sixteen-years-old Jordan Rivera experienced a horror beyond words. She witnessed her parents and brother being slaughtered by a madman wearing a police uniform. Left raped, bruised and later institutionalized (in a mental hospital), Jordan hasn't said a word for 10 years until she hears a news story that closely resembles her own traumatic experience. Apparently there is a serial killer operating in and near Cleveland for some time, who is sentencing those that he believes have sinned before God. Determined to dispense her own form of justice, Jordan, along with other survivors of violent crimes (who have formed a Victims Support Group), set out to catch a killer. What she never expected was to join forces with her high school crush, Detective Mark Pryor, who is also investigating (on his own time) the link between the past and current string of murders. Detective Pryor, newly promoted and with little homicide experience, believes that most of the crimes committed can be attributed to a single offender. He has always wanted justice for Jordan and wonders what could have been had she not spent 10-years in St. Dimpna's.Max Collins, ""What Doesn't Kill Her"" was a decent read. There were a few things that seemed a little forced and slightly irritating, for example: (1) the author's continual description of some of the characters as African-American (saying it once was enough, saying it over and over highlighted something that wasn't really important); (2) Jordan's constant swearing. She went from never uttering a word in 10 years to constantly swearing, and while I understood her anger it seemed a little awkward; and (3) the occasional musings of the killer (although I can understand it at the end when he is explaining his motivations). Regardless, none of these things took away from the overall story it merely momentarily distracts the reader.What I did like was some of the character development. Jordan, Mark, and even the other members of the support group were well developed and invoked sympathy. I liked their individual stories and while you are able to guess the killer's identity, you don't mind the journey getting there. However, be warned that the killer was not too original but instead is the average run-of-the-mill-killer with a God complex (typical for this kind of story), there was a little twist in his unveiling. Anyway, for those who enjoy thriller/suspense type novels, this may be worth a read. I give it 3 to 3.5 stars.",3.0,"""The secret to life is not surviving the storm, but learning to dance in the rain""....3 to 3.5 stars",1373241600,"07 8, 2013",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 AQ1PUWXTZ3SOR,0768422248,"M. CUNNINGHAM ""Valerie""","[9, 9]","If you want to know the facts about how and why Jesus Christ was crucified and rose again, read the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Bible.But author Gene Edwards creatively tells the story in this book as if from Jesus' point of view. I found the book thought-provoking because it gives a new perspective to the story.In the second part of the book, the four gospels are combined to tell the full story, from Jesus' betrayal to his resurrection.",3.0,Worth reading,1128556800,"10 6, 2005",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A1DBOXG3JSBGWN,0553278398,Ken,"[0, 1]","Enjoyed the story, all of Asimov's work, this 'One Star' is not for story but for the Turtleback Schools and Library binding... so bad it is hard to believe Amazon would carry this junk. Pages to the left run into the center fold and must be read by peeling the binding back, the pages on the right are the same and seem to be on newsprint - Don't Buy this Schools & Library version with the idea it is better quality, s/b at twice the price - because the paperback version is actually better, and far easier to read.",1.0,School & Library Binding is disappointing,1344211200,"08 6, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A91RLPI66B9VN,1482707691,Susan L. Griffiths,"[13, 13]","I loved this story!! The billionaire and the single girl. Tanner is a hot alpha male who has a way with the young Natalie!! Their chemistry is both erotic and volatile! I loved it!!!! Looking forward to book #2,",5.0,Fantastic!!,1360454400,"02 10, 2013",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A2HMB1IEBSGSHJ,0060899085,sneaky-sneaky,"[9, 9]","When reading about new advances in science it is often best to start with their discoverer, rather than with the ""me toos"" or the naysayers. Dr. Mike Morwood is an Australian anthropologist well qualified to undertake the now-famous excavations on the island of Flores in Indonesia. With a little journalistic help from a science writer he has turned in a solid book that is part travelogue, part excavation drama, and in the end, quite a shocking revelation about the rivalries that exist within the scientific community. The most common objections to the so-called Hobbits of Flores are that they are microcephalic sapiens, but as Dr. Morwood correctly points out, these arguments have been used before, and date back to the very first Neandertal and Java Man discoveries. Scientific support for the book comes with publication in ""Nature"" perhaps the most prestigious scientific journal, which also turned down articles submitted by the fossil's detractors. In the latter stages of the book ""A New Human"" examples of island biogeography and its association with gigantism and dwarfism are presented that should have been brought to the forefront, but this isn't a problem for a true believer. The most startling revelation is the fact that Morwood does not believe the Floresians are dwarf H. erectus (sorry italics not available), but instead H. habilis, or even descendents of Australopithecines! The author's open-mindedness about the importance of Asia and Indonesia to the overall evolutionary picture is refreshing and he makes an interesting point about the sudden appearance of H. ergaster in the fossil record that could be due to its evolution in Asia and a back-colonization of Africa. That pygmies have evolved at least four times in recent history is not in doubt, the Andaman Islanders, Negritos of the Philippines, and San Bushmen are not products of JRR Tolkien's imagination, and island biogeographic principles have clearly impacted the evolution of our ancestors, and other animals.",4.0,Human Evolution Takes Another Strange Turn,1193788800,"10 31, 2007",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A1C4OVMT3M0YT4,0786936894,Brian A. Jacobs,"[4, 6]","Over the years, the maritime RPG supplements have, in general, stunk. They tend to be written by people who know something about games, but nothing about seafaring.Stormwrack bucks the trend. The rules feel realistic while being streamlined enough to actually use. That alone makes this book a landmark.",4.0,At last!,1126310400,"09 10, 2005",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A27RSV5NHZK73Y,0517193345,"Richard Arant ""Toun""","[5, 10]","One cannot help but wonder what our current Secretary of Defense will write when his time comes. One has the feeling that the subtitle of McNamara's retrospective, ""The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam,"" will be a good starting place for that ""sequel."" McNamara writes, ""We were wrong, terribly wrong. We owe it to future generations to explain why."" Americans today will have to decide whether or not we have actually learned our lessons and are now more wise than the last generation, more able to predict the tragedies that will arise during and after today's war. Anyone who recalls the Kissinger scheme to achieve ""a decent interval"" while bugging out of Southeast Asia will likely recall Eric Von Marbod comparing the logic of that process to that of ""a man who impregnates nine women in the hope of getting a baby in one month."" How can one not think of Afghanistan, Iraq, (and now Iran) without thinking of the Vietnam era? Despite all the criticism directed at him, the author reflects great credit upon himself and the country by even attempting to set the record ""straight."" One can indeed be wrong even when totally convinced one is ""acting in the principles and tradition of this great nation."" How could we have slipped out of Vietnam if we had really believed in the domino theory used to justify that war? What will become of the ""nexus of WMD and terrorism"" that is today's rationale for preventive war? As we watch to see how we extricate ourselves from the war on terror, there is much to be learned from the old political schemes of Robert McNamara's era. Recent remarks by Secretary Rumsfeld in the wake of heartbreaking setbacks in Iraq indicate that he may indeed have begun to learn that more frank our leaders are with the people, the more chance of success we have. Then again, given past misjudgements, Rumsfeld should get his Medal of Freedom now, along with a pat on the back from a grateful nation, and an usher to the door.",5.0,Back to the future.,1048809600,"03 28, 2003",5,10,helpful,0.5,1 AJ88Z1U0SS1IY,0894803166,"Tim Warneka ""Leadership Expert, Keynote Speak...","[5, 5]","When I moved into my house 8 years ago, I could barely tell a rosebush from a weed. With the help of this wonderful little book, I now have a garden I can be proud of. My wife teases me that this is my ""gardening bible"" because I'm always referring to it.I would highly recommend this book! :-)",5.0,My gardening bible...........;-),1051488000,"04 28, 2003",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AQY5XBYSENNZQ,0525954236,Quickbeam,"[0, 0]","This blistering ride of a book is part scifi , part romance and all thrilling. It is the story of Emma, who she is, how she got there and the two voices in her head. This is a dystopian setting of low fertility and the draconian efforts taken by society to remedy that.While there are Stepford Wives and Handmaid'sTales overtones here, this book is a completely unique read. I found it engrossing from first page to last. Although I cannot wait for the next book, this story was complete into itself.I received this book in exchange for a review. I'd have happily paid for it. Highly recommended.",5.0,"Riveting plot, could not put it down",1395446400,"03 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJQXMVISUJLGJ,B005OR3B2I,"Brandi L. Elliott ""I love a good character:)""","[0, 0]","I usually get bored with series , like these. The characters in this series keep me hooked, it helps that the author keeps adding new interesting characters to the cast. Gotta go get six now.",4.0,Kept me turning pages late at night,1358294400,"01 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A20X9Y6NLTOMHZ,0821779664,Meagan Hatfield,"[5, 6]","Eve Silver has written a breakout debut novel!Dark Desires is a wonderful, sensual, thrilling Gothic romance. I'd forgotten how much I love this genre, until I read Eve's book!It tells the story of a young, destitute woman who almostfalls victim to the murderer prowling the streets of Whitechapel. But she escapes, and finds employment with ahandsome, yet strange doctor. The time they spendtogether becomes wrought with sexual tension. However,when she sees him leave his lab covered in blood, shebegins to wonder if perhaps she hadn't gotten so far awayfrom the killer afterall.Oohh...I get goosebumps just reading that! This is agreat read to curl under the covers with on some lonely,stormy night.",5.0,Wonderful Debut Gothic!,1144454400,"04 8, 2006",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2YNMUB6VYFOXA,0991068009,Rusudan,"[0, 0]","The best NA I have read in a long time. Loved it! Corey is, officially, my favorite heroine. I am very happy to have discovered Sarina Bowen, she's a very talented writer. Highly recommend.",5.0,Wow!!!,1399766400,"05 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2OC4M61JGSFTJ,B0085WGU3G,sueatx,"[0, 0]",This one answers a few questions left unanswered in the first book but also creates some new ones for the next one,4.0,good series,1380240000,"09 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AON9LGKSPWUBH,1589232305,"K. Y. Krawczyk ""kkrawz""","[97, 97]","""Tailoring : The Classic Guide to Sewing the Perfect Jacket"" is the BEST book on sewing a classicly tailored jacket - and I have read ALL of them! There are step-by-step pictures and excellent explanations. I found it much easier and more helpful than the Cabrero text. The book explains both the hand couture and machine methods of jacket tailoring. To supplement this text I'd also recommend Mary Ellen Flury's book, ""Tailoring Ladies Jackets"" along with anything by Sandra Betzina and Kenneth D. King.",5.0,Strongly recommend!,1139184000,"02 6, 2006",97,97,helpful,1.0,1 A1I5JKKMD84DRU,B00EBRKWEC,"Melody May ""What I'm Reading""","[0, 0]","A few months ago I got a chance to read Hayson's debut book Wife in Name Only, I must confess that I thought it was pretty darn good. Now Hayson Manning brings her new book Winning the Boss's Heart. Just like her first book, she still brings the emotional tug, but adds a dash with some lightheartedness.Mason Christian is an all work and no play kind of guy. He basically lives breathes work. However, that all goes out the window when he hires his 42nd assistant, Billie McLeod. Now Billie is a bit of a free-spirit, but wants to establish roots in one area. Plus, she has a dream of finishing up culinary school.Mason would be a stick-in-the-mud kind of guy. He has a tendency to hold on to the past and he has erect these walls to make sure no one penetrates the barriers. The best way to keep things impersonal is calling his assistance by the number they were hired as, so Billie is number 42. By the way did you know there was this baseball player that was 42 that broke through some major barriers when he join the major league. Not that has anything to do with the story. I'm just stating a fact. Back to book thoughts. Anyway, Billie has a tough task working for Mr. Impersonal. Yet, him calling her 42 isn't going stop her from being who she is, oh no she found the perfect way to needle him. Instead of calling him by his first name, she calls him so many different names. For example her are a few of the names she calls him: Grover, Jimbo, Denzel, Philbert, Shaft, and so many more. It's amazing that don't kill each other, but they both start to grow on each other. While one has no problem with the changing of the relationship, the other tries to head for the hills. What better way than to make the other feel insignificant.Honestly, Billie is probably the most rounded character I have ever saw, especially with the lifestyle she grew up with. You would think she would be more of a flake, but she isn't. However, she wants to be embrace by love. Mason is stuck living in the past and he has no clue how to get past it. At the beginning of the story he really didn't want to move from the past, but Billie changes everything. She's sort of the wild card. Overall, a good emotional read with some lightheartedness. So, if you are looking for something like this, you might want to give Winning the Boss's Heart.Copy provided by publisher",4.0,Good emotional read,1378684800,"09 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KF4IP2MUS8QQ,055325801X,"Daniel Jolley ""darkgenius""","[4, 12]","Since reading Dark Gods and Klein's novel The Ceremonies a dozen years or so ago, I had built up a legend of Klein's amazing talent and horror writing prowess in my head, fueled in part by this author's virtual disappearance from the world of publishing since the mid-1980s. I especially hailed this collection of four novellas as examples of unparalleled, Lovecraft-infused marvels of horror. Having now reread Dark Gods, I have to wonder just what I was thinking about years ago. Klein is definitely a talented author, but each of these novellas is disappointing in its own way. Children of the Kingdom has its moments, building up a story with giant worm-like entities insinuating themselves into a senior adult facility in New York, introducing us to a single-minded Costa Rican man attempting to prove that the birthplace of man was actually in Costa Rica and, tossing tradition upon its head, arguing that the lost tribe of Israel was in point of fact a lost tribe of Costa Rica. The ending, though, is just too ambiguous to be wholly satisfying - this is a problem that repeats itself in the remaining tales. Petey forces us to endure a smarmy dinner party, tossing in occasional insinuations about the former owner of the house; the best it manages to produce are some trivial parlor tricks with a certain Tarot card, refusing in the end to even acknowledge the type of denouement which the reader necessarily anticipates.Black Man With a Horn is much better than the previous two novellas, introducing us to a failed missionary returning home in disguise in fear of something unspeakable happening to him. Our protagonist becomes an audience to this man's story of his work in Malaysia and witnesses his heavy unease regarding a symbolic black man blowing a horn (finding out later that the man is doing quite the opposite of blowing). Eventually, the protagonist comes to realize that the Chauchas his new acquaintance is running in fear from are none other than the Tcho-Tcho people described by H.P. Lovecraft , forcing him to conclude that these people actually exist after all. Much of the effect of this story is harmed by the protagonist's identity as an old horror writer who held a place in the Lovecraft Circle. Finally, there is Nadelman's God, the best story of the bunch but one that also ultimately disappoints. The premise is very good, though. Nadelman is a normal guy who wrote a lengthy decadent poem about a dark god who shows his love for man by punishing him. Some twenty years after the poem was published in his small college magazine, a rock group bases a song on the poem. This, indirectly, brings a strange young man into Nadelman's life, one who has taken the song literally, built an image in the likeness described therein, and claims to have given the creature life and a bid to do his god's work. The unwanted encroachment of this seemingly disturbed new ""groupie"" has an effectively stifling effect on Nadelman, but once again the conclusion fails to deliver much of a punch. The atmosphere is made ready for an impressive thunderstorm of an ending, but the storm never materializes.Basically, Dark Gods contains two average stories and two promising pieces of fiction, all of which seem to shy away from delivering a conclusion of any force or satisfaction. I really hate to give this book only three stars, but I must. No matter how much I enjoyed these tales over a decade ago, I have to say that they each prove something of a let-down to me today.",3.0,Promising tales that fail to deliver,1052092800,"05 5, 2003",4,12,helpful,0.3333333333333333,1 A1C1RDQ654UW4P,159514398X,Mitzy,"[0, 0]","Great follow up to across the universe. It continues the stories of the protagonist, their relationship develops and the intrigue doesn't stop. Here we learn how hard it is to lead people, especially when the mind altering drugs are no longer in the picture.",4.0,A great follow up,1364169600,"03 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1TUEII6G6OHI1,0520071662,Oron Zachar,"[0, 0]","When reading this book a few years ago, I recall waking up in the middle of the night from vivid dreams of participating in or seeing ancient battles and camp sites. How many history books can do that to you? On the more intellectual side, realizing the single handed trans-continental Hellenic world creation as consequence of Alexander's crazy ambition is the kind of twist in history that made me think if the whole course of history would be the same without him - Alexander the great. I got a feeling of Alexander's personality beyond the glory truly brought to life, without diminishing anything from a glory well deserved.",5.0,Dreams of Alexander,1271376000,"04 16, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ABABCND8BHUXC,0199555036,"T. Patrick Killough ""All about Patrick""","[0, 0]","I think that lovers of Kipling are already well aware of the schoolboy doings of STALKY & CO. (1899). This book about schoolboys is loved by schoolboys for the inventive, sometimes cruel ways that its three teen-age heroes defend their rights against their boarding school's Head, Masters, Chaplain, Staff and fellow students. Adults, as we all know, find new depths and insights every time we re-read STALKY stories and its great imperial preface, ""Let us now praise famous men.""We can read STALKY for so many things: for its criticism of British education, for its sketches of north Devon life and dialects, even for its theology. Let me suggest, in addition, that we can also read these tales (originally nine, later 14) as expressions of Rudyard Kipling's evolving politics. That Kipling's politics of imperialism colored all his writing is the thesis of David Gilmour in THE LONG RECESSIONAL: THE IMPERIAL LIFE OF RUDYARD KIPLING (2002).A question that I ask myself is whether Kipling's fascination with and initially blind devotion to British imperialism was already alive during his years (1878 - 1882) at United Services College on the north Devon coast -- or merely latent? Clearly it was alive 17 years after Rudyard left school for newspapering in India -- alive, that is, in 1899 when Kipling prefaced STALKY & CO. with ""Let us now praise famous men."" The College's old boys""Some beneath the further starsBear the greater burden:Set to serve the lands they rule,(Save he serve no man may rule),Serve and love the lands they rule:Seeking praise nor guerdon.""David Gilmour makes it clear enough what Kipling's politics were in 1894 when he returned to the College to take part in ceremonies honoring its beloved Head, Cormell Price (Kipling's ""Uncle Corm"") on his retirement. The book STALKY & CO., be it remembered, had been dedicated to Price five years earlier. In 1894 Kipling spoke these words:""All that the College -- all that Mr Price -- has ever aimed at was to make men able to make and keep empires.""To which David Gilmour wryly adds as comment,""Price must have been surprised. He had also aimed to educate boys""(THE LONG RECESSIONAL, Ch. 1 ""Ejections from Paradise,"" p. 11).Read Kipling for his style, for his humor, for his amazing ear for languages, dialect and school-boy jargon. But also read him, from time to time, for the rise and fall of his belief in the British Empire.-OOO-",5.0,"Did Rudyard Kipling's School really aim only ""to make men able to make and keep empires?""",1313366400,"08 15, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJ9RNU12H5LPZ,0312353634,emrm,"[0, 0]","I was needing to fill in the gaps I had in my investment knowledge. I was especially lacking in the area of bonds. This book was a bit dry, but not nearly as dry as it could have been. And since I wanted the knowledge, it wasn't at all hard to read. Everything is explained clearly, progressively, and well. It covers the basics, and then dives into the specifics of government, municipal, corporate bonds, and more. It also discusses creating an investment strategy for the fixed-income portion of your portfolio. Recommended.",4.0,"Good overview, easy to read and follow",1399593600,"05 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJFSAJ4P78P4H,0989297926,"D. Norman ""freendeed""","[5, 6]",Every time I had to put the book down I hated it. I was excited to pick it up and read as much as possible. I recommend this book wholeheartedly!,5.0,Excellent read!,1363219200,"03 14, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1B9R8J53BGGZB,014241168X,ALouR,"[0, 0]","I really enjoyed reading this book by Laini Taylor. I had read in other reviews that it was written well enough for an adult reader, and I have to say I agree! Laini weaves a somewhat dark but adventurous fantasy that I feel will be well received by readers of all age groups. Her characterization of the crows was a really fun addition to the story, and the language she used to tell her tale swept me easily along. If you are a fantasy fan I would add this to your must read list, you won't regret it. I know that I will be reading more of Laini Taylor's books, she has made me a fan!!",4.0,Fun and Interesting read :),1317945600,"10 7, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3OZPA2Y2SUYX5,0307950395,MLRapp,"[16, 24]","I absolutely loved two of Lisa See's other novels: ""Snow Flower and the Secret Fan"" and ""Dragon Bones"" and recommend both of them highly - she is an incredibly talented writer.That being said, I had very high hopes for this book but was disappointed. The one-hundred year odyssey of her family is indeed fascinating and the amount of research she did is evident. The emotional journey she must have encountered while writing the story is palpable. As with the above-mentioned novels, you feel like you know her characters and get such a sense of their surroundings- the sights, smells, and tastes of their lives. On the flip side, however, this novel was just too packed with details. It felt like she tried to cram everything in. Certain chapters certainly could have been cut out entirely from the story and it would have had the same meaning and effect.It should have focused more on Fong See and his life as opposed to then focusing on his childrens' lives and going on and on from there. His story is undeniably both interesting and troubling- it depicts ""American"" prejudice, racism and the difficulties facing minorities in this country. However, it would have been more poingnant if it stood alone as the focal point of the novel.",2.0,Skip this one but enjoy her others...,1156204800,"08 22, 2006",16,24,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 AUGABW5AS2OXM,0765316188,Melvin Hunt,"[4, 8]","Ken Olson is riding a career with Ayvil Plastics. Tom Pennington a rising star at the company has promoted Ken to a divisional director at the Dayton division. A South African mercenary named Peter Houghton goesto the Dayton company and sets off an explosion and kills 1,000 people. Among those killed are Olson's wife and daughter who are at the company datcare center.The blame for the sabotage falls upon the CEO Arch Paulson. he commitssuicide and Tom Pennington becomes the new CEO. He promptly changes thename of the company to Humanifit and become a rising star in the world of business. Ken Olson if fired from the company on false charges. He believes that the late CEO Arch Paulson was falsely accused. He begins aninvestigation trying to dodge the likes of Tom Pennington, board memberJustin Hildreth, and the evil mercenary Peter Houghton(Grant DeWaal).Thisgroup comes at him through every facet of his life. He is always in danger. This turns into an exciting turn of events. This is a very good book that you should read.Don't miss it.",5.0,Corporate Thriller!,1184889600,"07 20, 2007",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A2BZ7MYTSNYMEW,1441891854,"Michelle L. Beck ""Always the Devourer of Good...","[20, 20]","""Possession in Death"" finds Lt. Eve Dallas reeling from her latest case and questioning everything that she is (a Homicide Detective/Lieutenant), as well as everything that she does. She finds herself wondering if bringing killers to justice is enough anymore? While murder is nothing new, the senselessness and unnecessary taking of a life (as in her last case) has made her question her purpose or her effectiveness. Ironically, Eve looks to a friend and his faith for answers, but finds enlightenment from a 90-year-old Russian gypsy who staggers in front of her car and as she is dying begs Eve to find her ""Beata"". Willing to do anything to make the old lady happy, Eve unknowingly makes a blood oath that will compel her to solve the mystery of the gypsy's death, and locate the Gypsy's missing but talented grand-daughter (who is an aspiring dancer).What I enjoyed about this in-between story of passion and betrayal was Robb's (AKA Nora Roberts) ability to weave the paranormal (although she does this occasionally) into this well established futuristic crime story. We all know, from following the last dozen or so ""In Death"" books that Eve Dallas is anything but a believer in the supernatural. However, seeing Eve accept the unexplained was extremely enjoyable. There were all the implications that Eve was possessed (by the deceased Gypsy)....he now had the ability to speak Russian and regurgitate authentic recipes...to other events that could not be explained (a tattoo of a peacock feather appearing on her ankle), which all made ""Possession"" an enjoyable read. I thought that this was a wonderful between story that offered an unusual twist on an old theme. It was tastefully done and even offered the reader an insightful look into what doubts law enforcement officers have as they struggle to remain encouraged after seeing some of the most horrific crimes. At the end we rejoice when Eve gets her man and all is back to normal. I can't wait until the next installment in the series to see what is happening in Eve's world, and to catch up on those characters we have all grown to know and love.",5.0,Eve is possessed!,1292457600,"12 16, 2010",20,20,helpful,1.0,1 A3S3R88HA0HZG3,1550175769,PT Cruiser,"[32, 32]","Sharon Hanna's ""The Book of Kale: The Easy-to-Grow Superfood 80+ Recipes"" is filled with information on lots of different varieties of kale. Did you know that out of all foods, not just vegetables, that kale has a whopping 1000 out of 1000 in the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index scoring system? It's one of the healthiest foods on the planet when you consider nutrient density per calorie. Years ago, when I first read Dr. Joel Fuhrman's books on Foods for Health and realized that kale was way up at the top of the list, I started looking for more ways to get it into my family's meals. I really had no idea what to do with it other than sauteing it with garlic and onions as a nice ""greens"" dish or blending it into a smoothie. But Hanna's book opens up all kinds of new possibilities. There are recipes sections for Breakfast, (Can you believe it, kale at breakfast?) Starters & Light Meals, Salads, Soups & Stews, Vegetable Dishes & Sides, Pasta, Polenta & Risotto and Main Dishes. My favorites so far are: Kalekopita, Tabouli with Quinoa & Kale (good as a main course salad or to fill wraps), Pasta Puttanesca with Kale and Karefree Kale & Spud Soup with Italian Sausage (I made this with vegan Italian sausage and it turned out just delicious - and easy!) Each recipe is marked with symbols telling whether it's gluten free, vegetarian or vegan. Although we do occasionally eat meat I like to cook vegan at home. It was easy to find vegan substitutions for any meat or cheese products to make the recipes that weren't already vegan. There are 80+ recipes included.But there is much more to this book than just the recipes. There's a whole section on the nutritional benefits of kale, listing all the different nutrients. There's also a section on it's history and how it's been used throughout history, around the world. One of my favorite sections was on how to grow your own. Hanna swears it is an easy vegetable to grow, hardy even in area with short growing seasons. She has photos of it growing in the Vancouver area in the snow! There is lots of information here about growing it from seed, from transplants and from purchased plants. There are more varieties than I would have imagined. She has me convinced; I think I'll plant some in the fall. A section on kids and kale presents ideas about how to get them interested in growing and caring for it (and eating it, once it's harvested!) It has an index at the end where you can cross reference by other ingredients. There's also a list of seed sources for Canada and the US, the UK and France.The thing I like best about this book is that it has lots of beautiful color photographs, both of the plants and varieties as well as preparation methods and photos of some of the recipes. (I love the fonts used for the titles!) This is a beautiful book not only for your own cookbook library, but would also make a nice gift for anyone interested in exploring nutrient packed recipes. I received a complementary reviewer's copy of this book from the publisher and have found it entertaining as well as informative.",5.0,Kale kale the gang's all here!,1341360000,"07 4, 2012",32,32,helpful,1.0,1 A1I7UF7SVE4DFB,0615819532,mare,"[0, 0]",I really enjoyed the way the writer used a lot of descriptive language to put things into perspective. Some writers are not very good at it but this one is very good at it !,5.0,Entertaining!,1391212800,"02 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A287BKK06SYTE1,1451681844,Danni,"[5, 9]","As a collaborator on Justine Jensen'sPut the Bang Back in Your Bedroom, and Beyond... (Spice It Up! Series), I read Tyrese Gibson and Chris Morrow's book about male psychology with interest. While some may consider it giving away too much of man's secret psychological game, it is about time to start countering the countless books about understanding female psychology and using it to your advantage that are aimed for guys. Overall, the authors do a pretty good job and weeding out men that are not worth your time. This book should also be of value to married women in order to understand their spouses more. Highly recommended!",5.0,Giving away the game?,1360713600,"02 13, 2013",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A3HALX2OXA6TGR,0060742690,Tina Trent,"[12, 24]","Sebastian Junger's mother has a close call with a serial killer of women, and thus he is inspired to write a dishonest book trying to exonerate another man who tortured and killed at least one woman -- because the man was black, and his victim white (that the victim was elderly also confuses Junger, who actually wonders our loud why a man killing an elderly woman would also rape her). Never mind the hundred thousand or so women raped or raped and murdered, and then denied justice in the last 30 years, or even the one poor soul he exploits here: Junger's too busy playing literary Atticus Finch to tell their stories, and he's already misrepresenting exoneration statistics on Charlie Rose. Thinly veiled misogyny, irresponsible projection, and there's little reasonable doubt he'll be admired for it.",1.0,Perfect Projection,1146528000,"05 2, 2006",12,24,helpful,0.5,1 A2P2BT10LOW0I7,0786714646,"Cheri Montagu ""Writer""","[15, 17]","There is one overwhelming problem with Joseph J. Trento's PRELUDE TO TERROR. After a number of fascinating chapters showing how the CIA has become an increasingly criminal institution, he stops short of drawing the obvious conclusion. In his final chapter he says that today's CIA has become ""at best irrelevant and at worst a joke."" Try telling that to the poor wretches it is torturing in prisons all over the world! In fact the CIA has had the most profound influence upon American political life, corrupting our entire government to the point where it is by now beyond hope of reform.Trento's focus upon George H.W. Bush is appropriate, for no one has had a greater influence on this process. The Bush presidency-- the first ever in which a former Director of the CIA held that office-- represents the ""Rubicon moment"" in American history, when the road to totalitarianism which is now reaching its climax was set in a manner which made it impossible to turn back. Bush moved quickly to end a Cold War which was becoming useless to the American intelligence elite, and initiate a confrontation with the Muslim Middle East. Yes, initiate, for it is abundantly clear that Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait was no surprise to the Bush Administration but rather a set-up. After all, the Iraqi dictator had gone to Bush's ambassador to Iraq to sound her out on the possible reaction of the United States to such an invasion, and she had given him a green light. Saddam's response could not have been better suited to the interests of a military-industrial complex which was trembling at the prospect of peace breaking out.Most telling of all was something I heard a policy analyst say on what was then the MacNeil Lehrer News Hour: He said that Aemricans should expect terrorist attacks on their own soil. This scared the hell out of me, not because I thought that there was any prospect of such attacks occurring, but because I knew then that the Big Lie was being born, and that its purpose could only be to deprive us of our civil liberties. The first war against Iraq ended without any such incidents, but then, it takes a long time to get such things rolling, and maybe Bush was having a hard time convincing his friend Osama bin Laden to take the rap. Besides, he had a son who was very likely to run for president in his turn. What better legacy to pass on to him than 9/11?It is time for Americans to realize that they are being manipulated. Trento's title, ""Prelude to Terror"" is a good one, but the terror about to be unleashed on our society is the product of our own government.",4.0,GEORGE H.W. BUSH: PRIME SUSPECT IN THE CASE OF 9/11,1210982400,"05 17, 2008",15,17,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 A3L9QN0YNV3PUG,0743474333,"George Webster, Ph.D.,","[6, 6]","The term ""hero"" seems to be much overused in the media today. You put on a uniform, and you are automatically a hero. Here is a thrilling story about a group of genuine heroes. It is April, 1942. In the four months since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States has suffered a series of stunning defeats and lost many of its Pacific bases. To counter the seeming invincibility of Japan, Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle leads sixteen, twin-engine B-25 bombers from the deck of an aircraft carrier to bomb targets in Japan. They cause consternation in Japan, but a longer flight than planned and bad weather cause the bombers to crash in China. Some flyers are captured and executed by the Japanese, some are killed, and many are injured. Their escape from capture by the Japanese is an epic of courage and amazing help by Chinese peasants. The story is as thrilling today as it was when first published in 1943, and it is well worth reading.",5.0,A Thrilling Raid by a Band of Heroes,1052352000,"05 8, 2003",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1X8VZWTOG8IS6,0307743659,"Blue Tyson ""- Research Finished""","[0, 10]","I didn't find The Shining too interesting as a book.A broken-down recovering guy ends up trapped with the family in a hotel, that is not your average hotel.Clairvoyant cooks, ghosts, and other not so nice things, like a possessed alky come up to play as the place goes stir crazy.",3.0,Not Free SF Reader,1188691200,"09 2, 2007",0,10,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2OAF98L4C9NWK,0983237026,"Todd Thompson ""tthompson""","[8, 8]","Layer upon layer of heroic stories, opinions, and interpretations of 9/11 have taken on the character and power of myth in the ten years since tragedy struck the United States in the form of hijacked airliners exploding into New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Not forgotten is the attempt of other hijackers to attack government buildings in Washington D.C., only to be thwarted by courageous passengers before the mission could be accomplished.Dr. Benjamin J. Luft is the Director of the Long Island Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program at State University of New York. In his work there, Luft has provided care for over 6,000 responders and workers who were exposed first-hand not only to the tragedy of 9/11, but also to the health hazards of ""the pile"" on which they worked for over a year to clear the site.His book, We're Not Leaving: 9/11 Responders Tell Their Stories of Courage, Sacrifice, and Renewal, is a collection of first-hand accounts drawn from the voices of the people whose lives have been marked permanently by doing society's hardest work of removing the sad, visible reminders of a nation's vulnerability.This layer of stories and reflections are those at the core, those in the pre-interpretive time period in which the concerns were the facts, the people, the deceased, and the horror of never knowing if one can take another breath before succumbing to the death that surrounds them all.Lost in the ten years since, amidst the growing American story of its heroes and its struggle to memorialize the events in the most meaningful way, are the accounts of those who were most exposed to the hazardous aftermath of the rubble, the random body parts, and the suffocating air and odors of ""the pile."" Luft has compiled thirty-two first-hand stories of workers, medical personnel, clergy, and common citizens who for months dedicated themselves to be the hands and arms of a nation to cleanse America's landscape and to enable its citizens to begin its processes of grief and tribute.Divided into five sections, covering the minutes after the attack through the continuing years of healing, Luft has chosen stories that come from virtually all sectors of the recovery team. Some stories are centered on the worker himself and his own struggles with coping with the tragedy while others exhibit the selfless, sometimes self-denying, reflections of heroes.We're Not Leaving is a book which should be consumed in small bites, a story at a time, to avoid losing the substantial impact which each story provides on its own. It serves best those who want to know what really happened at ground zero regardless of what happened in the skies above or in the politics abroad. In an effort to assimilate the 9/11 story into one's own life, this collection of stories provides stark points of identity for any reader.RECOMMENDEDArticle first posted on Blogcritics: [...]",4.0,First-hand accounts,1315612800,"09 10, 2011",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1RQC2Z0JYO3SV,B00BLC49VM,Lynnie,"[0, 0]","First and foremost why does every damn character in these books resemble some celeb, not only that, but the same types of celebs at that? Secondly, but probably should have been first, this book is terrible. The lead lady was a skeez and stupid. She would not, I repeat would not be successful at any drug empire. Author read up on some infamous women, especially the women of color that hustled and see where your story deathly falls short.Don't do it readers!!!",1.0,"Really? These books, I tells ya.",1382572800,"10 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1718HZHIKH5Q5,0547223250,"Gentle Reader Jill ""Jill""","[6, 13]","I really liked the concept, and was eager to read this, but couldn't get past the stiff narrative voice. (I was ""reading"" this as an audio book, something I do with books I want to linger over, and hearing it aloud may have intensified the problem.)Funny thing is, I happily read writers from the 1800s who used just as many jaw-breaker words, but they handle the words so skillfully that readers can take them in stride. Here the words don't just call attention to themselves; they stand up and smack the reader.Maybe the author meant the vocabulary to be a character quirk, to show an insecure princess using five-dollar words to try to bolster her own confidence and sound grown-up. If so, it worked. Problem is, since the princess is the narrator, we got it throughout the narration as well as when the princess is speaking to other characters. A stuffy main character is one thing; a stuffy narrator eventually got to be so unpleasant that I closed the book unfinished.",1.0,"Stuffy--or should I say ""stultifying""?",1238371200,"03 30, 2009",6,13,helpful,0.46153846153846156,1 AXMKAXC0TR9AW,0143122134,"Bill Emblom ""Bill Emblom""","[82, 99]","Historian Ian Kershaw has written a very well researched account of World War II from the time of the attempt on Adolf Hitler's life in July of 1944 through the post Germany surrender in May of 1945. Kershaw attempts to answer the question why the Germans chose the course of action they did when the war was hopelessly lost.The big four below Hitler were Martin Bormann, Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels, and Albert Speer each responsible for their own area of ""expertise."" Each province or region had its own governor referred to as a gauleiter that ruled with an iron fist over their specific area. Oaths were required to follow Hitler under all circumstances.This is a book on pain and suffering, and Author Kershaw relates in considerable detail the hardships ordinary Germans suffered when they were being squeezed in by the Americans and British from the west and the Russians from the east with capitulation to the west preferable to surrender to the Soviets.Hitler's underlings stressed the importance of dying in battle to surrender to the enemy while they, themselves, often were planning their own exit from Germany. A few die hard loyalists such as Admiral Karl Donitz and Joseph Goebbels remained loyal to their Fuhrer to the end. I found it interesting to see the rivalry and even outright hatred some of Hitler's henchmen had for each other. Martin Bormann was able to create a misunderstanding between Hitler and Hermann Goring that caused Goring's ouster from the party.Hitler's popularity was waning even though an individual faced execution if caught expressing negative views. The German populace was sick of war and wondered where these so-called ""miracle weapons"" were that were supposed to deliver them from the enemy. Many also claimed ignorance regarding atrocities that had taken place such as the concentration and extermination camps that existed. They didn't mind producing weapons in the early stages of the war as long as those weapons rained down on the enemy, but it was another story when their own historic cities were being destroyed in retaliation.I found it interesting that author Kershaw pointed out that had the Claus von Stauffenberg bomb attempt on Hitler's life in July of 1944 succeeded, and a peace treaty signed one-half of the German soldiers who died in the war would have lived. This, of course, assumes the treaty would have been agreed on by both fronts attacking from the east and the west.This book aptly illustrates what can happen when extremists take hold of a country with government degraded and replaced by those with an agenda suited to their own selfish interests.",5.0,When Extremists Rule the Government,1315699200,"09 11, 2011",82,99,helpful,0.8282828282828283,1 A1A6BAEX9JS2BJ,076791841X,Steven Hill,"[5, 7]","I really liked this book. It reminded me so much of me and my little group of ""play-people"" friends in highschool. It was fast paced and just generally enjoyable. I mean, I am usually into classics, but this was a nice break and an easy fun read. I would recomend it to anyone that likes a fun adventure story but isn't too prude to read all the raunchy sex scenes (and yes...there are lots...but hey...that just adds to the fun right?!).",5.0,"As Paula would say...""This is Just Brilliant!""",1118966400,"06 17, 2005",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A25CW9MVL2KD9C,0984314431,"Phillip F. Nelson ""Phillip F. Nelson""","[12, 12]","The nearly two-thousand-page magnum opus by Douglas P. Horne, a five-volume set titled ""Inside the Assassination Records Review Board: The U.S. Government's Final Attempt to Reconcile the Conflicting Medical Evidence in the Assassination of JFK"" is one of the most important books (all five volumes) on the assassination ever written. It adds enormously to the depth of the existing mileau of assassination research and is clearly the most detailed examination of how the medical evidence was mishandled and covertly manipulated at a very high level within multiple agencies of the federal government.Horne's impressive background as the chief analyst for the Military Records Team of the ARRB--putting him directly into the middle of the millions of assassination records, interviews with witnesses such as former employees of the military, CIA, Secret Service, FBI and NPIC agencies--provides a strong and credible platform for his incredibly detailed analysis. Though there are elements of his deductions for which I do not necessarily agree, in the broader context his conclusions are extremely convincing. Anyone interested in a highly focused, detailed review of the events at Bethesda as the body of JFK was received and processed--not to document actual damage, but to remake the evidence in such a way as to support the ""lone nut"" shooting from the rear canard--will find Horne's work indispensable.Phillip F. Nelson, author, ""LBJ: The Mastermind of JFK's Assassination""",5.0,A Truly Monumental Effort - And it Shows!,1289433600,"11 11, 2010",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A2Y6UIS9GGS3OC,0060002107,Elena Barbulescu,"[0, 0]","In this ""Homeric tale of exile, memory, and homecoming,"" as described in The Guardian, Kundera manages to explore the nostalgia, I repeat, the nostalgia of the homeland. Alongside also exploring the concepts of memory and forgetting. Kundera describes nostalgia as ""the suffering caused by an unappeased yearning to return."" Now if we look further back and ask what causes this yearning for return, there is the spirit and the roots of the individual to the place which gave him/her existence. ""What happens to people when they have to emigrate their native country? Is it true that emigration causes artists to lose their creativity?"" Perhaps the yearning to return stems from ""no longer having the roots of their native land to nourish"" their inspiration for living. Recollections, in turn, allow the emigres to hold in memory those specificities that still link them to their homeland in that fashion of life, and possibly forget all others.Nostalgia and memory do not have a one-to-one relationship, so says Kundera. ""Whereas Odysseus did suffer nostalgia, and remembered almost nothing."" ""For nostalgia does not heighten memory's activity, it does not awaken recollection; it suffices unto itself, until its own feeling, so fully absorbed is it by its suffering and nothing else."" Irena is consumed by memories but feels very little nostalgia to return. In fact, it is only by her friend's persuasion that she decides to visit the homeland. She feels as though her 20 years in France, having raised her own family and made her own life, is her actual homeland. She feels she has no more ties to her homeland, no more ties even to the mother she left behind. But her memories randomly and by surprise haunt her every day life, and it is through these memories that she is pushed to return, ultimately. Josef, on the other hand, ""had neither reason nor occasion to concern himself with recollections bound to the country he no longer lived in,"" yet yearns to return and in fact does. What a complex dynamic between memory and nostalgia.Sometimes while reading this book it feels like rugged terrain, struggling to keep pace or a grasp on ideas. It seems too much in a much too convoluted sense. It feels like there are two dichotomous personalities to the book (much like memory and nostalgia come to think of it). This is especially the case when Kundera shifts from social relationships to the inner relationship within the main character with their own selves. And then much like nostalgia and memory, the novel is very interconnected, weaving a root system through the book to link the components of what makes us human as a whole. Ultimately, formulating a vision of the complexity of the human spirit.There is a special part in the novel that needs recording. It goes above and beyond the premise of nostalgia and memory. It will make you think about what truly makes us human, and why nostalgia most likely exists in the first place. This part of the book is also the link between our relationships to people and to ourselves. It also shows how very little we know, or even begin to understand, of our own makeup as human beings. The Excerpt can be found at ""Book Reviews, Fiction Reflections, N' More""",4.0,Fantastic Book,1336089600,"05 4, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KPNTO7D0HPC6,0989297926,Amazon Customer,"[0, 3]","A moving story of a post apocalypse, though from natural causes, occurring in northern Georgia, which took me through 2 months of survival of not only the fittest, but the most willing to survive. An excellent read that changed course several times but each change kept me eager to follow the characters path as he strived to keep his ""plan"", a plan that got better with each change. Looking forward to the next book from this writer!",5.0,"Can't be ""Without""",1346544000,"09 2, 2012",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 AJGRIQP4ODX6L,0307456625,Judy,"[0, 0]","I was so appreciative that my sister told me about this book. It is a wonderfully warm and enjoyable story - loved it! Made me want to continue on with more, in the series of Alexander McCall Smith's books.",5.0,#1 Ladies Detective,1294963200,"01 14, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADIY38MRLN2ST,0525952195,bookreader "Melanie","[6, 6]","This is the fictionalized story of a girl, Julia who in her early 30's suffers a brain injury after being hit by a car. As a result, she suffers migraines, mood swings and memory loss, along with a personality change. Her best friend, Marissa is instantly by her side to help her with her recovery.The interesting part of the story is that Julia was the confident, sometimes manipulative, but the stronger personality of the two friends. Marissa took a backseat in the relationship. However, after Julia's accident, Marissa finds herself learning to find her way without Julia always by her side.This book is really the story of two friends and their friendship before the accident and after the accident. Their is a fun mix of sarcasm, humor and real life situations that made the entire book a great read. I really liked the characters. Julia and Marissa remind me of girls from high school and the dynamics of their friendship were very believable.Julia brings up memories from both the girls past that Marisa would rather not deal with. Before the accident, Marissa did not need any other friend except Julia. But gradually Marissa begins to realize she has room in her life for other people now. I had such fun reading this book. It is all about forgiving and letting go and moving on with your life. I thought this was a terrific book!",4.0,Friendship,1309392000,"06 30, 2011",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2KL8BHQYWMG9Z,1419966685,Whoever,"[5, 9]","This is a book about a dominant and submissive but not a good one. Maybe it's me--I just can't get into the head of a ""true submissive,"" which is what Helene apparently is although she doesn't know it; stories such as this one and ""Patience"" by Lisa Valdez just make me sad and angry. I've read other dom-sub books where the dominant loves and cares for the submissive, but that doesn't happen in this one. He doesn't bring her along gradually and teach her what it means to be submissive--no, he starts treating her like one in the carriage after their wedding, and since she's a total innocent, she doesn't understand what's happening. This book also had the most thoughtless, unkind deflowering by a ""hero"" that I can remember reading; she screams in pain, and no wonder. And then he very quickly demands and forces her to do, shall we say, less common sexual acts including one that most people will never do in their whole lives, even now. All Redding thinks about is what he wants; he never considers her feelings or what she might want or acts like he cares for her or even likes her very much. He makes her feel sorrowful and confused almost all the time, and she isn't truly happy until we reach 88%. That's just not enough happiness for me.The odd thing is that Redding has a minor roll in the second book and seemed to be a nice man, so his callous character in this book was completely unexpected. I loved the first two books in this series, so I persevered and finished this one, but the transition to love and trust just takes way too long. At 79%--79%!!--it reads, ""For once, she felt protected, cared for, his body touching the length of hers without trapping her or requiring she accede to his demands."" But then he ties her to the bed and acts brutish and cruel again. I was ready for the book to be over before I got even halfway. I hope Miss Lloyd does more research and reads some of the better dom-sub books before she attempts this type of story again.And I discovered a downside to reading with Kindle--you can't throw the thing against the wall when the story makes you furious like you can with a paper book. Keep that in mind if you have a Kindle and plan to buy this story.",1.0,"He's cruel, she's sad--hated the book!",1329091200,"02 13, 2012",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 AQYWRL0K6GH26,B00G5E6MZC,Mrs.Rucker,"[0, 0]",This was a great following up. Some people just can't let others be happy. Jasmine started off doing the right thing then flipped the switch!! Ugh... On to part 3!,5.0,OMG....,1389484800,"01 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A286GULUSR4N1V,0385343205,Francis Reuer,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed the story and was kinda surprised at the ending. Did not see that one coming. Enjoy ready her books.,4.0,The sins of the mothers,1358640000,"01 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A13XPH0M3XX8YD,0310205042,"Damon ""dodgeboy""","[0, 0]","this was a decent conclusion to the trilogy. I struggled with deciding whether to give it three or four stars and decided on four because the problems I have with the story are do to my own beliefs. The story has a generic fantasy formula feel to it which is not necessarily a bad thing but it was obviously a vehicle to promote Christianity. I kept thinking of King Quentin as Emperor Constantine converting to Christianity and the overall feeling I got about the books made me think of the old tv show Davey and Goliath. Another way of describing it might be that it is the complete opposite of Martin's Game Of Thrones. I can't think of any other books that I might have read by Mr. Lawhead so I am not sure if that, promoting Christianity, is normal for him or not",4.0,Not bad but.....,1400889600,"05 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2H9HIUR8UFSAK,0976789450,"Purity ""Book Diva""","[0, 1]",I really thought Mina's Joint was a good read. I like how she not only gave you a dramatic side but a funny side as well. Thumbs up for me.,4.0,"Sad, Fun, and Hilarious",1172275200,"02 24, 2007",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3EZ32K319XGQJ,0425269205,Kimberly Blackburn,"[26, 32]","So it ended, and the end isn't what a lot of people wanted. I get it. I got it back when the first book came out. I respect the author's choice for the heroine's HEA. What I do not respect is the fact that Harris gave up even trying to measure up to the caliber of the pervious books' writing. She gave up. As a WRITER, this book was like the last, not worth the money. If it was a $3 read yeah I get it because the plot was crap. I got bored! It was filler and obnoxious. I won't get the time back that it took me to read the jumbled inconsistent assassination of characters I grew to like and care about. I didn't care that true blood on hbo went in a different direction. I appreciated the series for what Harris made it to be until books started reading like something half-assed and strained. I had to strain to finish it. And Harris, you don't suck because you made the book end the way it did, you suck because you gave up writing to the ending. You quit on us. You started something you didnt finish. You will not get another penny out of me and I hope you are ashamed. For an excellent review that said everything I am too mad to say read :[...]If I meet this blogger I will buy them a drink. Hear hear!",1.0,waste of money,1369958400,"05 31, 2013",26,32,helpful,0.8125,1 A1J595X1ANFHR7,0140242058,"Medeni Lazarus ""Nervous Nerd""","[5, 7]","To the reader who wrote comment ""we all had our delusional moments when we were teenagers""...you should be ashamed of yourself. This ""delusional moment"" was war and struggle for survival in besieged city of Sarajevo.Why don't you try and write a book, and/or diary, sitting in a basement without food, water and electricity for four years. All that while granates and bombs are raining on your city. In the meantime, one by one, all of your neighbors and friends are gone six feet under...How about that for delusional moment...",4.0,"It's a diary, not a book.",1178236800,"05 4, 2007",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 ANJCRRF5IO13T,1611099838,Mollie,"[0, 0]",I was pleased with the quality and writing. This is a fantastic author and I highly recommend all of her novels.,5.0,Another Good Read!,1363305600,"03 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A34O6FZL3T9Z7Q,B0058P5016,Juju,"[0, 0]","So this book picks up right after the first book. Everything's going great. New people come and join the shelter and everything is going along finely. The shelter people are just one big happy family! Sherry and Merrick's relationship is still as strong as ever and is tested by new problems, such as the Taker (a lighter than can still feel acutaly emotions) lighter attacks, and sometimes even other keepers!I feel like this book is even better than the first one, with a little more action. It's a wonderful second book and keeps me wishing for more! I loved it! 5 stars!",5.0,Uprising,1311033600,"07 19, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3HS6SQ3HSD74X,147755887X,clarisa,"[0, 0]",creo que me estoy haciendo adicta de lecturas de vampiros. No dudo en seguir la saga en realidad no sé cuántas hay pero estoy viendo que hay.,5.0,me encantó,1357171200,"01 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMUH7N8RPCUDB,0330426575,PC Gamesman,"[14, 18]","Helpful tip: pages are small but could be a good for wrapping very small fish, like smelt maybe (certainly the book smelt). Do NOT do this if you have the hardback library edition.Reilly's latest offering brings us an adventure where the hero unearths all Seven Wonders of the World (yes, that's right, all seven). Not only that but he does them under gunfire and in a matter of minutes. This book not only requires good suspension of disbelief but maybe suspension of sense of smell, reason, taste, and possibly any rational thought.Reilly has a scrappy Aussie fighting the eeevill Americans for an Egyptian pyramid cap that will allow the controlling nation to rule the world for a thousand years (oh, God, NO, Big Macs and Windows XXXP again!!). Watch out for the eeevill Catholics too and their sun worshiping cult (remember that suspension thing...), also the eeevilll French (Ok, he could get away with that one). Throw in some Nazi archaeologists, an Islamic terrorist archaeologist (starting to get the picture yet?) and awayyy we go!The good guys are the Aussies, a New Zealander (believe it or not, we get the obligatory reference to the French and the Rainbow Warrior), an Irish brother and sister, a Jamaican (Fuzzy is his nickname ROTFL), a Canadian, a Saud, and an Israeli (who's also a turncoat). Don't forget the oracular twins who are the only living humans who can read the ancient language of Thoth I (and Thoth II, III, up to Thoth VII). Well, that is except for the Islamic terrorist archaeologist because, ah well, forget it.Listen to the eeevvvil American colonel as he channels Frank Baum and tells his henchmen soldiers to kill the others but bring me the little girl, alive. Listen to the American colonel as he blows up the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, But sir! says the pilot, it's a historical site. Do it, says the evil colonel Judah, or I will throw you out of the helicopter. Buwahahaha! Or words to that effect.Yes, it's that bad and you could get a chuckle out of reading it the right way. But would we really want to support such a knucklehead author? Buwahahahaha!",1.0,A wonder if one can finish it,1146441600,"05 1, 2006",14,18,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 AVZXDXL993YU5,0373292538,EKD,"[0, 0]","I loved this book!!! It is on my keeper shelf and one I will read over and over. I truly enjoyed everything about this book, though I almost passed it over since it was listed as a ""western"" when it is not, it takes place in Nova Scotia. Regency English Romances is my first choice of novels and even though this one would be Georgian/Colonial in time period 1775, it does start off in Yorkshire England with a shady father sending the wrong daughter to a Yorkshire gent now living in the British Colonies of Nova Scotia to be his wife. I found this story to be a real page turner and looked forward to discovering how the hero and heroine would finally get together. This is a real keeper.",5.0,Don't miss this one it is a keeper!,1211760000,"05 26, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2U1FV39SS9NIR,0140194428,"Dr. Peter Fritz Walter ""Dr. Peter Fritz Walter""","[0, 0]","The Orient did not need quantum physics for understanding that life is essentially patterned and nonlinear, not hierarchical and linear. This is what Campbell calls the still point of eternity, as the spiritual field beyond the dual nature of physical appearances.And from this wistful point of departure of non-dualism, the Oriental mind fosters not opposition to nature, but acceptance of all nature, including human nature. The social outflow of this worldview is the acceptance of the fact that humans are not individuals only, but also part of group life, endowed with social and cultural responsibility.Oriental culture is pervaded by the idea that we are all inhabiting not only visible reality, but also a greater scheme of intelligence than the intellectual mind, and the divine is seen as inhabiting non-human and inorganic life as well. From this insight, a culture has been created that teaches the dialogue with self not only as a personal hygiene and religious quest, but also as a cultural imperative. While in the West, religion was ritual and dogma, in the East it was inquiry in the nature of reality, a dialogue with self and the universe, and attention to the answers given by the universe to our individual quest for truth.And as a result, and not surprisingly so, Oriental culture long ago came up with a set of techniques that help to bring about this inner unity which is alignment, peace, and inner growth; and called it yoga. And the inquiry process itself, the observation of inner processes, and the reflection pattern, was called meditation.As for the oldest religion of humanity, Taoism, this book contains invaluable source references from age-old scriptures and poetic works, such as the works of Chuang Tzu.I haven’t found a better description of the integral worldview than that rendered by the old Taoist sages and their unifying and non-harming, respectful attitude toward life and living—and their true integration of nature in all its forms and expressions. And what few have been able to elucidate, the difference between the Indian and the Chinese mind, Campbell has ventured into and he came up with a quite elaborate distinction. Even more eloquent and daring, when comparing Indian and Japanese religious customs and spiritual traditions.And then again comparing the religions of the Far East with our Middle Eastern religious tradition, Campbell wistfully concludes:—Whereas in the greater Orient of India and the Far East, such a conflict of man and God, as though the two were separate from / each other, would be thought simply absurd./32-33",5.0,A Wonderful Read!,1401321600,"05 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AN3HTE1B1MW6F,0805096663,L. Hughes,"[15, 28]","This book was as gripping as Killing Lincoln. Besides all the living, breathing characters, incidents such as the Cuban missile crisis and Emmett Till's murder were explained in fascinating detail. If school texts were as engrossing as this, kids would be eager to learn history.",5.0,Loved it,1349481600,"10 6, 2012",15,28,helpful,0.5357142857142857,1 A2386P3SW2KCI8,0445406879,Robert B. Miller,"[0, 0]","I found myself anxious for this book to end well before it did. It is a pretty routine "mystery." It was recommended in our local newspaper, which should have been a clue.",3.0,Routine,1403568000,"06 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMQIAKOBK3Y9T,0385341679,C. Mondolfi,"[20, 32]","Let me start by saying that I followed the ENTIRE series for YEARS! YEARS! And when I got the last book I was so excited and after the first chapter I thought YES! This is going to be good. And then I waited and waited and WAITED the book was WAY longer than it needed to be. I felt like the ending was an extreme let down. Not only did it just end but it left the possibility of another book. Um really? After this many years I felt like the book could have been WAY more climatic, packed with way more action and be more of a page turner. The only page turning this book had was in hopes of getting to the 'good part'. It was a lot of repetition, and talking to herself which just got boring after a while. People we're brought in that didn't really have any part and the people that had parts did really live up to them in the end. Don't get me wrong I love Karen's books. Most are wonderful. This series however was anything but. In fact instead of having the book spread into so many parts over the course of so many years it really could have been done in one. With a way better ending. If there is another series I think I will wait until all the books are out instead of waiting for years for such a let down.",1.0,Fever Series that just ran cold,1296172800,"01 28, 2011",20,32,helpful,0.625,1 A1OQO6GS6P9KW8,0970378459,Plastic Flower,"[35, 41]",Barnes and Noble has it:* List Price: $55.00* Online Price: $41.25 (Save 25%)* Members Pay: $37.12,5.0,Amazon - Not The only Bookseller,1219968000,"08 29, 2008",35,41,helpful,0.8536585365853658,1 A2EDTVVR9IFNLW,1595552057,Doug Hibbard,"[5, 5]","If you're like me, your first question was: Chesterwho? Well, Belmonte has another book out right now that's a biography of Chesterton, so I'll just give you a short bio. Chesterton was primarily a literary critic at the end of the 19th Century and beginning of the 20th. He was also a Christian. He wrote, spoke, and was renowned for his insights into a great many things. The main thing I remember his name attached to was that, when a London newspaper asked the question ""What is wrong with the world? Who is to blame for our problems?"" and Chesteron replied: ""I am."" (or something of the sort.) Wit, wisdom, and writing make for the three parts of Chesterton, from what I can tell.So, this book is actually a collection of quotes from Chesterton's various writings. They are organized by topic and listed alphabetically. A few of them are more than two paragraphs, but most of the quotes are a paragraph or shorter.Strengths? The first is by nature of the book: the short quips and condensed wisdom are there to be found without having to read the whole books. The second is that Belmonte has endnoted each quote for reference purposes. There can be no question if Chesterton wrote each thing attributed to him, since it can be easily referenced.Weaknesses? Just a couple that I noticed. 1.) Context issues. Just as an observation, Chesterton lived in England, and much of his commentary comes from the perspective of a lifelong Londoner. I'd like to see a few footnotes to clear up historical context where the quotes reference a definite geographic location or current event in Chesterton's time. 2.) Also a type of context issue, and that is there are some quotes lifted from Chesterton's novels. Having not read them, it's hard to place the character names referenced. Now, I recognize that this is the fault of my own barbaric lack of reading, but many other readers might have slipped in this manner as well. I'm not sure how Belmonte could have remedied this short of providing synopses of each novel, so it's probably just going to remain a drawback. Instead, since many Chesterton's complete works are free on Kindle, I'll be catching up that way.The question of usefulness of this book is kind of a toss-up. If you're looking for a good quote or two to fill in a speech or spice up your writing, it's a good source. However, in some circles, you'll be met with the same opening question you had for me: Chesterwho?If you've got time to enlighten your audience, though, it's worth it for them to know him, because it's well worth you reading him.DougNote: Free book received from publisher through their review program in exchange for review. No money, no influence, just a free book. Check with Booksneeze for more details.",4.0,Quick breeze through Chesterton's summary statements,1294012800,"01 3, 2011",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1J8PSKV5QQVPV,1581349106,Kyle,"[5, 7]","I just finished Excellence: The Character of God and the Pursuit of Scholarly Virtue by Andreas Kostenberger, professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. I received my copy of Excellence complimentary from Crossway Publishers. This is a timely book about how those of us who are Christians as well as scholars can engage in our mental and professional disciplines with the full fidelity and virtue of our faith. Indeed, Kostenberger argues that to do any less would be a waste of our God given talents. Scholarship is to be treated as one more venue by which God is glorified because by excelling at our scholarship we demonstrate truth to the world. Kostenberger's advice to scholars is sweeping and covers how a scholar should approach his academic work as well as his personal, private and familial conduct. The reason being, if a scholar neglects his family, church and personal commitments in favor of academic or scholarly work, he is ultimately harming himself, his relationships and not fulfilling his responsibilities. This book was very convicting for me because Kostenberger shows the scope God's character in scholar pursuits, which made me realize just how far I have to go to be a better scholar, and more than that, a better Christian scholar. I would recommend this book to anyone, but particularly I would recommend it to pastors and Christians who are interested in making a career in academia and education.Kostenberger divided Excellence into chapters focused on particular virtues and how Christian scholars can cultivate excellence in them. Kostenberger provides detailed analysis of the individual virtues one by one and offers practical application for how Christian scholars can practice the virtues. These include foundational values for excellence such as holiness and spirituality that, hopefully, keep Christian scholars from becoming to puffed up in the knowledge they possess. It is very easy to fall into the trap of thinking yourself superior to others because of your knowledge, skills and training, but scholars, especially Christian scholars, should never do this! Christian scholars should include the virtues of holiness and spirituality as a part of their character because they help us keep our humility. Also included are vocational excellence in areas such as diligence and creativity in ones work. How important are these qualities! If we pursue our academic endeavors to the glory of God then it requires that we diligently pursue those academic endeavors. To give any less than our best is simply unacceptable. Finally Kostenberger discusses moral excellence such as a scholar's integrity in conducting research and the treatment of others. Integrity in our research is such a critical aspect of who we are as scholars! How many stories in academia are there of scholars who stole, plagiarized, falsified or otherwise acted without integrity in their research and writing? If we claim to be scholars who represent the Christian religion then there is absolutely no excuse for anything less than complete fidelity in our research.",5.0,Book Review: Excellence by Andreas Kostenberger,1321401600,"11 16, 2011",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1ARA52HB238HT,0684873893,"Matthew M. Yau ""Voracious reader""","[8, 10]","THE BLACKWATER LIGHTSHIP explores the nature of relationship between family members and between friends. It is the story of three generations of an estranged family reuniting to tender an untimely death. As the story ominously unfolds, deeper and more unplumbed layers of the wounds, emotions, misunderstanding, and pent-up anger manifest as friends of dying Declan, who had been through all the difficult times in battling AIDS, joined the begrudged family. It was at such sober and difficult time like this that everyone, regardless of their past wounds, unforgiving grudges, and even moral disapproval of homosexual life, should forget their differences and prioritize Declan's comfort and happiness.Helen dreaded breaking the news of her brother's sickness to her mother, Lily, not only because of the despondent nature of the incurable disease, but also due to the fact that she had deliberately excluded her mother from her life for 10 years. Ever since the row she had with her mother about moving to Dublin for school, Helen shut herself off to her mother, who had never got over the early, unexpected death of Helen's father. Helen could never forgive Lily of her abandoning her and her brother at the Granny's house after her father's funeral. Whereas for Lily, she had never expressed her pent-up fear and shame that descended in her immediately after the funeral. The years of ice and alienation unfortunately turned into a standoffish rife that excluded Lily from her daughter's life and family. Helen's bitterness toward her mother pervaded into her own family life, for her husband must have learned long ago to live with and manage the web of unresolved connections when he puzzled at her periods of withdrawal and caprice.The ingenuity of the book lies in the intensive de-layering of such family grudges and magnification of feelings in a time of mourning. Even though Lily made a promise to herself upon the burial of her husband to do her best with the children, Helen's inveterate resentment rooted in the fact that her mother had taken her father away. In her morbid consciousness, Helen always fantasized her mother being forceful and pushy chasing after her, determined to stop her having her life. Helen wished her mother to tolerate people and accommodate their needs, but all Lily wanted was that Helen could take interests in her and her life.Friendship is an indefeasible element of this novel. Declan's friends have always been there fighting the disease and egging him on. When Lily was rude and hostile to his friends, telling them to leave him to her, they fearlessly confronted how they had been looking after him during numerous life-and-death occasions when the family did not even seem to be around. Paul stood his ground being the closest friend to Declan. He read all the relevant books and kept himself cognizant of the latest therapies. He knew what and how to make Declan comfortable and to mitigate his pain. Paul vowed staunchly that he would stay with Declan and he would never leave unless Declan asked him to. Declan even confided in him about his mother with phrases and sentences which were not edifying. Moved to such loyalty and love the friends showed Declan, the stiff family succumbed to what they said and was inspired to reconcile its own strife.THE BLACKWATER LIGHTSHIP explores how true friendship can supercede relationship with family in a palpitating, brooding time of crisis. The fact that Declan chose not to trouble his mother, though he loved her, showed that the family was not as close to him as his friends were to him. This corroborated to the fact that his mother had no clue to his sexual orientation. Declan's fear of coming out to his mother and grandmother erected the barrier that stifled him to seek help from his family. He might be so afraid that his mother, at the knowledge of his sickness, would refuse to see him, even though he desperately wanted her to know and help him. Friendship not only filled this void but also dawned on the understanding, the de-icing, and finally the reconciliation of an unplumbed grudge that spanned over three generations of a family. Friendship offered to the family, with what openness and honesty, challenged the family's evasiveness. At one point in the book, the three friends were walking along on the beach, with Paul and Larry on either sides of Declan, quietly protecting him. This memorable scene epitomizes true friendship and is symbolic of the two lighthouses that unfailingly lights up Blackwater. Friends are guiding lights.Last but not the least, a more submerged point. The novel reflects on the palpitating struggle of one's gay identity. The quintessential ""I knew that I was gay, but I had done nothing about it"", the self-denial, and the resolution toward love and gay marriage are all touched on in this moving tale. It is an intense tale of woe and redemption, full of entrancing stories about the characters that so fatefully overlap. It's a humanizing, heart-thumping novel that tunes into the silent language of family.",4.0,Heart-thumping novel tunes into silent language of family,1104883200,"01 5, 2005",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A3GQ4KZPDOIQTA,0385497709,"""jugadora""","[6, 8]","In London three writers are closely associated as starting the so-called 'psychogeography' movement, essentially a romantic movement which understands that human beings leave their stories in the earth and stones of their environment. The three writers are Michael Moorcock (whose Gloriana and Mother London are acknowledged influences on Ackroyd) Iain Sinclair (whose Lud Heat inspired Hawksmoor and whose Downriver is usually cited with Mother London as one of the two finest modern London novels) and Peter Ackroyd (whose Dickens, Blake and Eliot biographies are masterpieces of their kind, bringing life and imagination, as well as inspired insight, to their subjects). These three giants are best read in conjunction. They are all fascinated with popular entertainment and incorporate it into their work -- the London music hall fascinates Ackroyd (Dan Leno, for instance) and Moorcock (from The Cornelius Quartet to London Bone) has used it to great effect. These are not modernist writers, yet they look back to a Victorian past as much as they employ techniques usually called 'post-modern', and they represent an important and in recent years rather overlooked strand in the English romantic canon. Ackroyd's London is as much a fantasy as his Dickens -- and for that reason it is far more real than any dry-as-dust retailing of facts and figures. He brings a London to life that is as vital as Dickens and as real as Gissing and it is a London I know and love as much as the ordinary, grey run-of-the-mill South London suburb I lived in for nearly twenty years. It is why you stay living there, because you can feel the same ghosts as Ackroyd feels, hear the same voices, sense the same history, and this book brings it all back. Vivid, enthusiastic, celebratory, I can't recommend this too much. But try the other two of this modern 'triumvirate' -- you'll be rewarded by Mother London and Downriver more than you could possibly imagine! This is London, warts and all, but she still pulls you in as fast as aDickens novel. Get this for someone you like for their generosity. It will be a fair reward!",5.0,The Matter of London,1008892800,"12 21, 2001",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A2KHLFZN6KEQ6M,1622660064,Ruthsic,"[0, 0]","Everlast is the story of Allie, who was raised from childhood on the stories of Nerisette believing them to be fairy tales. One day, however, she and her friends are pulled in through a book in the library into the World of Dreams, where Fate rules supreme and Allie is the Crown Princess, and the people have been waiting for her return. In her absence, the Fate Maker has been ruling over Nerisette but under his regime, the wizards have taken over and are exploiting people. Now, it is upto Allie to claim her throne, prove the kind of Queen she can become and save her people from oppression.I loved the premise of the book - it was a childhood fantasy of mine to go to another world (yup, a fantasy buff even then) where there are different creatures like dragon, dryads, mermaids, etc. World-building was good - the different species and maintaining peace between them can be difficult and it is Allie's job to ensure that no one is getting discriminated against. The harvesting also seemed so barbaric that I can't believe the wizards would actually do that. Mythology-wise, this book is very innovative and makes for an interesting read. The names, though, at times, become a bit difficult to remember.About the plot -well, at the start, everything felt too convenient and I thought it would have a very predictable storyline. It more or less, did, but there were quite a few surprises thrown in too. I did feel sad about the fact that they basically have no way back and I was skeptical about how people would accept her rule considering she was basically forced into it, but it turned out fine. The characters definitely need more development, which is the reason I felt a bit of disconnect with the book. Overall, a good read for fantasy lovers.",4.0,Great fantasy,1380931200,"10 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14VVDK6UZORFW,0300170831,R. Isitt,"[4, 5]","Reading this book and Freeman's book ""AD 381"" reveals just how much Christianity's sense of orthodoxy isn't a ""God Delivered"" belief as it has changed over time as well as having it's beginnings enmeshed in controversy. Yet Christians will shun another believer simply because of doubt believing that Jesus was God. The irony is that if the ""other side"" (Arias) had won then those same Christian today would be defending Arianism as orthodoxy. I personally believe that Jesus lived,died, rose again and sits at the right side of the Father. But was he God? Does it matter?",4.0,Eye Opener,1309478400,"07 1, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0425210294,Harriet Klausner,"[7, 8]","Engaged to marry his highness Eric Sinclair, vampire Queen Betsy Taylor keeps telling the dead and undead not to throw her a surprise birthday party; everyone says they will honor her wishes. The European royal vampires visit, but Eric says they insult them as they should have come last year. Still Eric tries to be the diplomat when a follower Sophie goes berserk. She recognizes Alonzo the vampire who killed her in the late nineteenth century.As Betsy tries to clam down Sophie, the raging vampire's human lover Liam wants to convert and to kill Alonzo not in that order. Betsy is a bit cranky as she has given up blood and her visitors don't make it easier on her as they believe she is undeserving to be queen let alone a vampire. Life after death interferes with buying midnight shoes as she plans her wedding, rehearses to act surprised at her surprise birthday bash, calm down Sophie, and let the Europeans know to stuff their opinions on her in the part of the anatomy that does not see sunshine (of course that is the entire body). Now less than one week before she turns one, there is so much to do and so little time to do it.This is a terrific Taylor tale that starts off zany (""There's a Zombie in my Closet"") and never slows down as all hell breaks loose on several fronts. Though often amusing there is a more serious undertone to the fantasy than in previous Undead tales. Besides the Alonzo ""crime"" that puts quite a spin on cold cases, Betsy best friend human Jessica is ailing with the vampire queen pondering the ethics of bringing her across against her will. As always MaryJanice Davidson provides an amusing entertaining vampiric fantasy.Harriet Klausner",5.0,amusing entertaining vampiric fantasy,1149638400,"06 7, 2006",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A28KCF8N1U7MAF,0385333706,m.p.,"[20, 25]","I was originally intrigued by the basic story presented here: a search to find one's family tree, one's genealogical background. However, as I read more and more I got an uneasy feeling which eventually turned to outright alarm. The author was "outing" her parents as Jews, completely against their wishes and request. With a daughter like that, who needs a treacherous neighbor to turn you over to the Gestapo? Aside from that (and that's a *major* aside), the bulk of the book - the dialog, the details of events - is in fact NOT fact, but supposition by the author (which she admits in one shocking example - a simple one sentence statement by her mother regarding her escape turns into a full-blown paragraph about what *might* have happened, created wholly from the imagination of the author). In the end, I felt like some kind of voyeur into her parents' most intimate secrets and it wasn't a good feeling. The author tries to put a "feel-good" twist to all this by telling us about the family reunion she had with all her newly-found relatives - a reunion her parents did not care to attend. The author had every right to know what her true background was, but that didn't mean she had the right to expose her parents' carefully constructed post-war identities and lives.",3.0,A Daughter "Outs" Her Own Parents,994204800,"07 4, 2001",20,25,helpful,0.8,1 A2JJ7EESXQOBLC,0060577304,john,"[0, 0]","I recommend this, a great story of survival, courage, greed, deceit, dishonor, discovery, misery and joy. I really enjoyed reading this!",4.0,Courageous!,1380585600,"10 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30KOED2O09QJS,0821729217,David Group,"[22, 25]","Night Stalker is just one of the zillion books revolving around a woman being harassed and attacked by a mysterious stranger. However, the victim is maddeningly passive and complacent about her own safety, to the point where you find yourself thinking "Check the locks on your doors!" "Call the police!" or "Carry a can of mace or a stun gun!" The identity of the stalker is interesting, but his actions and goals leave more questions than they answer.",2.0,as generic as the title,1039132800,"12 6, 2002",22,25,helpful,0.88,1 A2W86ZYTXY61WB,1416532218,Alexander Rosen,"[6, 12]","The author clearly prefers interesting or controversial theories over correct theories. He has no problem putting for wrong, or even occasionally inconsistent, proposals or arguments, as long as they'll sell a book. He also seems to love taking every hypothesis to absurd conclusions, just to be controversial.",2.0,Bogus arguments,1189728000,"09 14, 2007",6,12,helpful,0.5,1 A1KR6DVOU7UTKR,0143121162,lilyetscooter,"[0, 0]","This was a great read and I really enjoyed it! The characters were really well developed, and the story was captivating. I became instantly enthralled in the story, and was emotionally involved in the storyline of the characters. One of the best reads in a long time, and one that I will highly recommend to all my friends.",5.0,"Fantastic Story, Great Read",1347494400,"09 13, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A16NVIPTTKMBBB,0060738170,Soul Searching,"[5, 7]","Excellent review of the hazards and potential errors of the early transcription process. Erhman provides a surprisingly unbiased account of the reasons for transcription errors, both accidental and intentional, without imposing his own personal and theological judgement. Wonderful illustrative arguements are documented to support all aspects of transcription modifications. The reader is left to draw his/her own theological decisions, but now with a more open and more complete understanding of how the original words of the New Testament can never be fully known. Easy for the uninitiated in textual criticism to follow.",5.0,factual but not judgemental,1206921600,"03 31, 2008",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A38BLIS5VGGL84,0778315894,BB,"[0, 1]",Awesome beach reading and romance. Nice story plot and holds your interest. Small Florida island/town you can imagine these stories happening for real.,5.0,great book,1391990400,"02 10, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3TXGKE2KI3D30,0805070966,Christian Wilski,"[14, 59]",Well here we have it - a book AGAINST the age of progress. This guy is FOR keeping PARALYZED PEOPLE PARALYZED. This guy is FOR KEEPING AMPUTEES AMPTUTATED. This is guy is for KEEPING DEPRESSED SUICIDAL PEOPLE DEPRESSED AND SUICIDAL. Its because of this attitude that neoluddites like this cannot win.,1.0,Why NeoLuddites Ultimately Lose,1144454400,"04 8, 2006",14,59,helpful,0.23728813559322035,1 AJNW2SVETWAW1,B007AHOJ3A,kacunnin,"[4, 4]","Jameson Parker's AMERICAN RIFF is as much an indictment of 21st century American politics as it is a Hitchcock-style thriller. Young California-based reporter Brian Fletcher, in DC for his mother's funeral, finds himself in a lawyer's office being handed a manila envelope full of mysterious papers. Suddenly and inexplicably, Brian is in the middle of a conspiracy of murder, government cover-ups, and dirty dealing at the highest levels of power. Chased by thugs in shiny cars, Brian makes his way across the American landscape, trying desperately to get back to the woman he loves and the life he see slipping away from him with each passing hour.AMERICAN RIFF is a good book. It's beautifully written, with characters that are both identifiable and believable. The bad guys are a bit clichéd, I guess - these are hard-core political operatives and elected officials with little interest in the idealism of American principles. But protagonist Brian Fletcher is likable and real, as are the colorful characters he meets in his cross-country journey, and the love of his life, Mexican beauty Chela, is charming. Through these characters, we come to realize that Brian is a nice guy with just enough naivety to set him apart from the people who are out to get him. This is a guy who truly loves his country - at least, he loves the country America should be. And this really is the heart of the book. Parker clearly admires America, but he also shines a light on the kinds of things that have corrupted what were once noble ideals. This is a land, Parker says, that used to be based on the concept of ""liberty and justice for all."" Now, however, it's all about the manipulation of money, corporate greed, and a government that's more interested in the perpetuation of its own power than the good of its people. As the Vice President says near the end of AMERICAN RIFF, ""Life is good at the top of the food chain.""This isn't a politically driven novel, as much as it is a nostalgically driven one. There's little here about the party affiliation of the bad guys (if the Vice President is Republican, there's no hint that his colleagues on the other side of the aisle have any more integrity). Parker isn't playing party politics here - he's getting us to look at what America has become, after decades of political machinations from both parties.The weakest thing about AMERICAN RIFF is actually the ending, which sets up a potential sequel. I'm not a fan of books that leave the reader in limbo, and this one comes close to doing that. There is a resolution of sorts, but the ultimate fate of Brian and Chela is left for future novels. That said, I was involved in the story the entire way through, and if Parker does write a sequel, I will most definitely pick it up. So although I was disappointed in how AMERICAN RIFF ended, I still look forward to the next book.I remember Jameson Parker as an actor in the `70's and `80's, and especially for his role in the CBS television series, ""Simon and Simon"" (he co-starred with Gerald McRaney). He's been writing since the `90's. He's not the first actor to find a new career in literature - one of my favorite writers, Thomas Tryon, began as an actor. Like Tryon, Parker has a natural flair for the written word. I hope he will continue telling the story of Brian Fletcher. There's certainly a lot more to tell.[Please note: I was provided a copy of this book for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]",4.0,Exciting Hitchcock-style thriller with a political spin,1338768000,"06 4, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A265ZBCCNYB8AA,B00D2KJO0W,Herb Gorder,"[0, 0]",A very enjoyable story even with the violence involved. I thought the author did a good job of keeping the plot light with alternating violence and romance.,5.0,If memory serves,1392595200,"02 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2S0XV27DQTLNY,0977733556,Lefty,"[0, 0]",This book just reminds me how we should live for Christ. When we stray from the Lord there is a big consequence to pay. Read this book to find out just what the consequence is.,4.0,Christian Fiction,1174003200,"03 16, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HYK5M0BW9DHF,1479263265,Michelle,"[0, 0]","I loved this book in the series so far! It resolves some of the unanswered issues Tara, the main character, was dealing with in the first two books. This story completed some of the puzzles. All the while it was twisting and turning with the plot line. It kept me on the edge of my seat all the way until the end of the book, which has me drooling for the next one!! I absolutely cant wait. This entire series has been great so far. The characters, the story, the environment, all of it i think just pulls you into their world. I hope you choose to read this series and enjoy it as much as i did :)",5.0,Great~!~,1348185600,"09 21, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18YERH96YP8GG,0718012623,Thomas Blackburn,"[8, 8]","Although the NKJV translation is not my favorite, this is a very good study Bible. Pastor Stanley's numerous notes, articles and life lessons are very pastoral and insightful. They add more to the text than the usual study notes you find in most study Bibles. This is a fun and informative study bible and I recommend it wholeheartedly. A keeper.",4.0,A unique pastoral study Bible,1215734400,"07 11, 2008",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A3BXNY94PGBVBF,0061950718,C A Release,"[5, 11]","While I don't deny that Bill O'Reilly is an expert on Pinheads, he doesn't actually list this book as an autobiography and family history as it should be. Apparently he had to get the book to his publisher before he ever got around to writing to the Patriots part.",1.0,Not an original thought in his head,1320969600,"11 11, 2011",5,11,helpful,0.45454545454545453,1 A29P7HNIG9JJ6H,0802446566,Max,"[0, 2]","Lutzer parallels the distancing from God of the 30's & 40's Germany, looking for easy way out of a economic situation, quickly following man's solution forsaking God's plan for mankind/",4.0,"Sometimes, Timing seems like everything,",1363392000,"03 16, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3CVY922SDW4TG,0985334541,Bookworm89,"[0, 2]","I really enjoyed this book it was a simple easy read, finished within a day. I really like how it grabbed me and had me even after the ending...but...who the frack is related to who. I thought I had a grasp at the start who the Keller family was but by the end I gave up. I didn't read the first one and I really didn't miss out on much (I think) who knows I might have understood the family better had I read the first one. Over all good book.",4.0,It would have gotten five had it not been for the family.,1340755200,"06 27, 2012",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A5A25SHEUX6ZK,0812572270,Paul Camp,"[4, 4]","I first began to collect science fiction and fantasy when I was thirteen years old, and one of my favorite haunts was the old Victory Bar on Cherry Street in Chattanooga. The Victory Bar-- I always called it ""the friendly neighborhood bar""-- sold science fiction books and magazines on the side, and its stock of speculative fiction was often better than that of many used bookstores. I would hunker down on the concrete floor, thrilling to the occasional collector's item of _Analog_ or _Amazing_ or _Fantastic Universe_. Behind me, grizzled men would order drinks and make political speeches and swear continuously. The place enchanted me.I mention this not as an advertisement--the bar has long since been replaced by a parking garage-- nor even as pure nostalgia. But there is a relationship between bars and speculative fiction. It is a common setting in a great many short stories. What are some of the characteristics of the science fictional bar?Well, to begin with, it is a place somewhat apart from the rest of the world. In his barroom fantasy, ""The Hour of Letdown,"" E.B. White writes that ""the saloon shimmered like a ship at sea in calm weather"" (127). Arthur C. Clarke, in _Tales from the White Hart_ (1957) refers to his pub as a ""microcosm,"" in but not a part of London. Larry Niven's Draco Tavern is located in Siberia.The tavern is apart, but not isolated. There are regular customers there, to be sure. But there is room for newcomers as well. The newcomer may rest assured that if he chooses, he may remain anonymous. His name, his reputation, his past-- with all of the mistakes, injustices, and regrets-- can be ignored. But if he chooses, he can reveal his past and sometimes find redemption. Spider Robinson writes that many characters come to Callahan's Saloon because they _need_ to come there. They return as a kind of follow-up therapy once they work their way past their crisis.The science fictional tavern has a social order to it, and usually that order is presided over by the bartender. There is Drew the Bartender at the White Hart, Mr. Cohan at Gavagan's Bar, and Callahan at the bar with his name. There is Rick Schumann at Draco's. Occasionally, the bartender is a grouch (as in White's ""The Hour of Letdown"") or a sensitive nonentity (as in Mildred Clingerman's ""Stair Trick""). But usually, the bartender is made of more heroic stuff. He presides over the bar like King Arthur presides over the knights of the Round Table. He arbitrates disputes, settles arguments, acts as a counsellor.Finally, and most fundamentally, the science fictional bar is a magic place. It is a place where we believe that the fantastic can readily occur. It does so in two fundamental ways. The first method is by the science fictional ""tall tale,"" told to the customers by a master raconteur. The foremost example of this approach is Arthur C. Clarke's _Tales from the White Hart_. The second way that the fantastic manifests itself is through events that actually occur in the tavern itself. The Callahan's Tavern stories and the Draco Tavern stories fall into this category. Jake Stonebender, the narrator of the Callahan Place stories, says that ""A*N*Y*T*H*I*N*G can happen at Callahan's Place-- and that sooner or later, it probably will"" (162)._Callahan's Crosstime Saloon_ (1977) is the first collection of Callahan stories. It consists of nine stories in all. Five of the stories originally saw the light of day in _Analog_: ""The Guy with the Eyes,"" ""The Time-Traveler,"" ""Two Heads are Better Than One,"" ""A Voice is Heard in Ramah,"" and ""Unnatural Causes."" One story, ""The Law of Conservation of Pain,"" originally came from _Vertex_. Three stories-- ""The Centipede's Dilemma,"" ""Just Dessert,"" and ""Wonderful Conspiracy""-- were written especially for the collection. The last three stories are the least of the lot. They are obviously ""filler pieces."" They are pleasant in their own ways, but there isn't much story to them.The remaining six stories are solid and workmanlike. They aren't the best Callahan's Place tales that Robinson wrote. Those can be found in later collections. But they are the first. They set up the tavern for the reader-- its physical appearance, the customs and rituals observed therein, and the marvellous characters: Fast Eddie the piano player, Jake, Long-Drink McGonnigle, the alien Mickey Finn, Doc Watson, and the redoubtable Michael Callahan. Oh, yes, and there are the puns worthy of Ferdinand Feghoot at his most outrageous. Give Callahan's Place a try. If you don't like it... well, there's no hope for you.",4.0,Your Friendly Neighborhood Bar,1197417600,"12 12, 2007",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3Q59ZWLEBLH7G,0060751967,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I love this series. Has a different twist on vampires that makes the base of the story unique. Wicked sense of humour.,5.0,Love this series,1357171200,"01 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A39N2O6A3HVYLL,0143142941,Elimatta,"[35, 72]","I came to this book after reading one of the recently published atheist books (Onfray), followed by Bishop Spong's latest. It seemed that this book might give me a mainstream Christian response to those, rounding out the range of views. The publisher's blurb says that it shows ""how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief"". I'm sorry to say that it does no such thing. Each time I've picked it up I have found myself reading it until I put it down in frustration. I've found lots of non sequiturs, confusion, and unconvincing arguments based on unstated premises. It's taking a long time to read. Two stars rather than one, because it quotes C.S. Lewis so often that I've decided to read his books instead.",2.0,Sceptical about this book,1208563200,"04 19, 2008",35,72,helpful,0.4861111111111111,1 A1WD8PRZ5VQCS0,0312946104,Reacher Creature,"[7, 7]","Overall, it wasn't a bad mystery. It will hold you attention and keep you guessing til the end.Suzanne Heart owns a doughnut shop. Alls she wants to do is to make doughnuts for the small town she lives it and live a regular life. Well, one morning, that all changed. It seems that someone dumped a body on her doorstep (literally) and Suzanne finds herself drawn in the mystery. She feels that she has to solve the murder because the person that was killed was a friend of her and since the body was dumped on the doorstep, she feel's it's her job to solve it. A state trooper, Jake Bishop, is also on the case. Jake and Suzanne at times, team up to solve the case. The problem is that the killer is keeping close tabs on Suzanne and tries to warn her off. Suzanne doesn't listen and very soon, the killer has their eyes on Suzanne.This book has some interesting cast of characters that we meet along the way. Beck has a pretty solid writing style that will keep the reader engaged. Not to many plot twists, maybe just one, even that one isn't really a plot twist, but this will hold the readers attention. Beck also has the ability to set a ""hometown and small town"" feeling in the settings of the story.Glazed Murder also has some recipes that look really good!Overall, it's a pretty good start to a promising series. I look forward to the next one.",3.0,Not a bad lil Cozy Mystery,1273968000,"05 16, 2010",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A2A1MD857NPD3L,0316154067,"Bookman ""Bookman""","[0, 0]","I am only halfway in, and I am hooked. The story is terrific. The flawed character is similar to those of Elmore Leonard, which basically are those of Greek tragedy: whatever bad happens to them, is because of their own character flaws. The story is also told in just the right pace, and -- for me-- is attaining the level of the early Elmore Leonard. This is not something I am saying lightly. From the beginning, you feel more than know what the end will be, who will be in it, and why. Now back to the book. I`ll come back to this review and edit if I change my view of the book, but I doubt it. The more I read, the more I like it.***Just finished the book. It's a solid 5 stars. The only parts that drag a little (I said a little), are the detailed descriptions of all the paraphernalia of burglary: Every jimmy, lock pick, latch and drill is described and named. It is a marvel of authorial accuracy, but beyond a certain point, I found myself skipping and looking for the action. No great harm done. The rest of the book was marvelous, imho. The heroine was flawed, and the villain was both vile and pathetic, i.e.: his evilness was flawed too. And that is how it should be.I would consider Void Moon one of Connelly's best.Read it.",5.0,I am hooked,1386288000,"12 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1S4A310394IL7,0316024961,"Dana C. Ahmad ""Dana""","[0, 2]",This was the hardest one of the four for me to read since the one most important character (for me anyway ) was missing for most of the book. But what a fabulous return he made! :)These books are just amazing to me. How well you can connect with the characters and get to really know and love them. These are all diffidently must reads :) I love this story more every time I read it and I have read it over and over again and will keep reading it! I would and do recommend this to everyone :),5.0,****Spoiler*****,1238112000,"03 27, 2009",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2Y31ZJALY24S3,0310293065,"LifeWalk ""David Foreman""","[6, 6]","Seriously, everyone should get ""The Naked Gospel.""Yet another great addition to my library. I thought I'd pretty much read enough about grace, freedom from law, freedom from religion, and living daily in Christ.I was wrong.With all the ground that has been covered by previous readings, this book managed to cover new ground. It really helps show how religion has added so much to the gospel that the true gospel is considered heresy by much of the ""church."" It's amazing how far we've fallen from truth.One of my favorite sections is called ""Crossing The Line."" It, alone is worth the price of the book. It discussed how the dividing line of time, and covenants, was not Christ's birth, but his death and resurrection. I, of course, knew this, but I hadn't considered the full ramifications; especially concerning the teachings of Jesus under the Old Covenant.There are some areas that are at opposition with my personal beliefs. Despite what Jesus felt on the cross, the Father didn't turn His back on Jesus. God cannot turn God's back on God's self. But, reading a book like this, and disagreeing with one or two points is no big deal. I will add this to the short list of books that I will give away multiple copies of.I can see why earlier versions of this type of material were banned and burned by organized religion, and why the promoters of said material were tortured and killed. Of course, Jesus was tortured and killed for pretty much the same reasons. But no believer should be without a copy of ""The Naked Gospel."" Thanks Andrew.- David Foreman[...]",5.0,You Need To Get Naked!,1262131200,"12 30, 2009",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2X0RPUIOSNIIA,0062279890,"Jojo z ""I read therefor I am""","[0, 0]",Not written with the unmistakable easy flow of the first book in the series. Author embellishes the story of a loved character from the first story ... with an interesting twists to the characters nature that seriously leaves me in disbelief.,4.0,Good read,1401494400,"05 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0312207697,Harriet Klausner,"[19, 21]","After working a free lance public relations job in London for over a month, Agatha Raisin is glad to return to her quaint college in Carsley in England. Still hurting from her divorce, she doesn't even try to get acquainted with her new handsome neighbor Paul Chatterton. One day while she is relaxing in her garden with her two cats, Paul approaches her about investigating a house the owner claims is haunted.Feeling ennui, Agatha agrees to examine the woman's claims but when mist starts appearing in the living room in the middle of the night, Agatha gets scared and runs off. A few days later, the woman is found dead and when Paul and Agatha attend the inquest, they learn she was murdered. Paul eggs Agatha into snooping around with him and they quickly find out that the woman had a lot of enemies including her own children. Yet when a suspect is arrested, Agatha thinks the police have the wrong person and starts digging deeper and in the process almost gets killed by a very determined murderer.Fans of the Agatha Raisin mysteries will understand why they are so addictive but first time readers of this series should note that once they are finished with this novel, the reader will want to immediately obtain the complete backlist. The heroine may be contrary, ornery and raunchy but she takes no guff from anyone. She tries to project an image of a hard woman but inside she is vulnerable and lonely which is why readers care so much about her.Harriet Klausner",5.0,An intriguing mystery,1064966400,"10 1, 2003",19,21,helpful,0.9047619047619048,1 A1RHGP2OFZHWCW,0451415191,Never too old,"[0, 0]","There are new and colorful characters who have amazing powers and start an intense battle that could break a truce and create all out war. There are kidnappings, romances, clandestine meetings, unexpected relationships, political betrayals and a surprise prophecy. It is another fascinating story in the series and a good read. I can't wait for the next one.",5.0,Another interesting mystery to solve in Chicagoland,1392940800,"02 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A53F7ILVVEMTS,1476736219,"Scott D. Stephens ""Redleg""","[0, 0]",Usually the second book in a set is a let down since you are building the story and the "new" has worn off a bit. This one keeps the story going well in spite of the usual second book exposition. It could even stand alone if you knew the basic story,4.0,Good Second book,1395964800,"03 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PBD00SFGOV3B,069810577X,"lady detective ""sakura kitty""","[5, 14]","This book is certainly a page turner. Rynn, the 'little girl who lives down the lane,' is a creepy little mystery of a girl. What is she hiding in the cellar? Where exactly is her father?I couldn't wait to find out, and when I did, it was interesting, but the plot line began to bleed afterwards. I could feel the author puppeteering his characters, never a good thing; plot devices were used that felt a bit too convenient, causing the story to lose its' credibility.The ending was pure baloney. What was going on with the tea cups? I closed the book feeling unsatisfied- a real dissappointment when comparing it to how gripped I was at the beginning. Boo-hoo.",3.0,gripping...until the unfortunate ending,1056153600,"06 21, 2003",5,14,helpful,0.35714285714285715,1 A1DTOHMM2Y5KY0,1557787824,"Michael J Woznicki ""Michael J Woznicki""","[65, 71]","You ever disagree on a topic and then later find out that maybe you might not have all the facts? In my case, this is the assassination of JFK. I have read over thirty books on the assassination and most point to a conspiracy. Along comes John Canal and maybe, just maybe I need to rethink my position.While I am still leaning to the conspiracy angle, Canal give a well documented and well-written book that may, may have you think again. Over the last four decades the answers have been shrouded in a world of mystery and cover-ups, now some of those clouds are disappearing.Canal uses extensive evidence from ballistics expert testimonies, newly acquired evidence and his own simulations to formulate the assassination, his arguments are clear, well documented and extremely convincing. This reader was most impressed by the layout of his findings.The other thing I liked about this book was the way the author used phone records of Oswald and Ruby to track the movements of both men. This is the first time I had ever read any book that detailed this are of the assassination. While I still believe in multiple shooters, this book does give you another side to consider - well done!",4.0,"I still think there was a conspiracy, However . . .",953856000,"03 24, 2000",65,71,helpful,0.9154929577464789,1 A1G3MV6FZN0LQ7,1482658143,Trinity - A Love Affair with Books,"[0, 0]","A Different Blue is a beautiful tale of redemption and self discovery. It's about a young woman with a checkered past trying to make a life for herself. Blue Echohawk is not your typical nineteen year old. She's a senior in high school who doesn't know her real name or even how old she is. Blue hides herself under a carefully constructed mask of tight clothing, a bad reputation, and an even worse attitude. That's when Wilson, the new and idealistic teacher, decides he's ready to help her begin her life.Please visit http://www.aloveaffairwithbooks.com/2013/05/a-different-kind-of-blue-by-amy-harmon.html to read rest of my review.",5.0,A Different Blue by Amy Harmon,1369008000,"05 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3AJG8L75U9XJA,9079397113,Margie Steffes,"[0, 0]","I have had panic attacks for 43 years, and I have tried most of the things that are in this book. Nothing seems to work for me. I guess I am looking for that miracle cure out there and there isn't one. At least for me there isn't. I am wondering if anyone who has panic attacks ever gets over them and they stop and do not come back.",3.0,I knew most of this,1373932800,"07 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2UQXAU7IRZZ0L,140009741X,L. Cary,"[13, 16]","No ghost writer here. Just a man expert in war telling the truth in his own authentic language. After the cloud(s) clear over the one or more US cities that experience the impact of a small, portable nuclear weapon in a few years, months, or hours, the few folks who happen on Hunt's book will say, ""Wow, was he right, or what!"" [For a peek into the mindset that discounts Hunt (and will, on that day, be rendered snibblingly incoherent) see the April 22 1 Star review and then its other reviews for a context. Hi ho.]For anyone who ever came operationally in contact with the CIA in a war zone, his assertion of their general incompetence, coupled with the Beltway disease is a gimme. Not likely to change. Cause not enough of us died on 9/11 to get the ""it"" of his title. More to come, then maybe.",5.0,"Well, of course",1119139200,"06 19, 2005",13,16,helpful,0.8125,1 A2KS7XM8Z13Y78,B00DLATI0E,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",This book#3 was about Juile Anna's sister. Most of the same characters were in this book plus some new ones. I loved the way it showed a good side of Torch. Who knew the fierce warrior had it in him! Loved the story line and really loved all the bad ass fighting that was done. The ending was very good. Now on to the next story in the series.,5.0,Vamp' s galore,1392163200,"02 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1SOTYUKU5IC2,1557254052,"Amazon Customer ""grams""","[6, 6]","You've heard the expression, ""Don't judge a book by it's cover?"" In this case, don't judge this book by it's title. Get into the pages of this book -- get into the 'heart' of this book -- and you'll be intrigued. Doyle, an award-winning essayist - and well he should be-- is a talented writer breaking all the rules about composition -- and I LOVE IT - he can write the longest run on sentences with incredible interest - reading them is sorta' like being in am Olympic bobsled run. His pages leave you energized, fasinated and breathless. He's a genius at weaving scientific fact, historical information, emotions and spiritual musings on a single subject. Probably one of the few people that could make this hodegpode work. Even if you have no medical or personal interest in heart problems, read this book -- and give it as a gift to a nurse, doctor or someone recovering from heart surgery",5.0,It's What Inside That Counts,1115337600,"05 6, 2005",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AROOVHZ1M2OMP,0143038419,SonnetL,"[13, 19]",I am in complete awe of Ms. Gilbert for not only convincing someone to pay her to travel for a year but also taking something that resembles a poorly-written teenage diary and making a best-seller out of it. I guess believing in yourself really does work.,1.0,Ugh!!!!,1192233600,"10 13, 2007",13,19,helpful,0.6842105263157895,1 AAGVCUOIM26MB,0312938640,Shelley Isom,"[0, 0]","I've read quite a few of Connelly's novels and I like them all. Smart, complicated, realistic. But The Last Coyote stands as a fine novel rather than merely another mystery. Bosch is a fully dimensional character and all the other characters and scenes are well done -- from the cop who was shot up and left a helpless cripple to the cop who retired to Florida. This is a very superior mystery and a well realized novel both. The best of two worlds.",5.0,The Best Bosch Yet,1388880000,"01 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AK81WLVD5KGUX,0800627970,"John S. Ryan ""Scott Ryan""","[52, 55]","This fine twenty-years-after sequel to Geza Vermes's _Jesus the Jew_ is actually the third book of a series: the second -- _Jesus and the World of Judaism_ -- is not currently in print as of this writing.That's too bad, but the present volume is entirely readable on its own terms; in fact, strictly speaking, you don't _have_ to have read _Jesus the Jew_ first either, though it's recommended that you do so.Here Vermes is continuing his attempt to reclaim Jesus as a faithful Jew and indeed a charismatic Galilean hasid. This volume provides a more in-depth look at Jesus's own teachings and religious practices than did _Jesus the Jew_, and illustrates well that nothing Jesus said or did involved either any departure from Judaism or any attempt to found a new religion separate from Judaism. A fine closing chapter suggests that Christianity might profit by moving closer to the religion _of_ Jesus and abandoning a good deal of the religion _about_ him.On the minus side, a few of Vermes's conclusions are puzzling and probably wrong. For example, he is the only "Jesus scholar" I know of who rejects the parable of the Good Samaritan as "probably inauthentic." Moreover, in a brief reply to critics who charged that he had provided no account of why Jesus would have been crucified, he argues that Jesus was probably just in the wrong place at the wrong time -- a reply which I find altogether unconvincing and which seems to me to point up some of the weaknesses in Vermes's account.Nevertheless Vermes has pretty much led the way for modern Jews and Christians alike to recognize Jesus as a Jew of his own time. As I said, I'd recommend reading _Jesus the Jew_ first, but if you like Vermes, come back to this one.",4.0,"Know Torah, know Jesus; no Torah, no Jesus",985737600,"03 28, 2001",52,55,helpful,0.9454545454545454,1 AQFWSBVTRU847,1552100383,T. Szefler,"[115, 141]","This book might be usefull for all of those who are new to dieting or who have no understanding of nutrition. Otherwise there is not much new in this book that you couldn't have read already in other books or in such magazines as 'Oxygen'. You can summerize the whole book by saying 'NO PROCESSED FOOD PLEASE'. For readers like myself this is just another title on a popular topic of dieting, which lacks on originality and depth. If you'd like to read something more original I suggest ""Your Body Maintenance Handbook"". You will find there great tips on proper food combination, and the chapter about obesity is probably almost all you need to know about dieting...",4.0,"Good, but not for everyone",1190937600,"09 28, 2007",115,141,helpful,0.8156028368794326,1 A2B7FB0U1H4JK0,1612187099,Bobbie,"[0, 0]",A good follow-up to First To Kill. Fills out the characters . Brings closure to an earlier episode in McBride' s life. Makes one look forward to the next Andrew Peterson offering,4.0,Good follow-up,1363564800,"03 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2MVNU5APLJ22,0761149376,L. Miller,"[7, 7]","Last year I bought my boyfriend the England version of this calendar, and this year I bought him this one. We have been thrilled with both. We have it hanging in our kitchen and both of us love it -- we look at the pictures while we're waiting for coffee to brew, cooking dinner, making a grocery list. I also think it would be fun to cook a meal each month that is themed to the place in the pictures -- so this month it would be Chile, last month Southern France.The photography is gorgeous and inspiring -- so much so that at a recent party some of our friends were hanging out in the kitchen and without our consent turned the page to the next month early because they wanted to see the pictures.",5.0,"Gorgeous pictures, fun calendar",1233446400,"02 1, 2009",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 AGVH2UVB4QZSS,0470467118,Avid Reader,"[0, 0]","This book provides a helpful stepping stone into the world of Blackberry development, with well ordered chapters taking you from the most basic of tasks, like acquiring the necessary development tools from RIM, through to the development of enterprise level mobile applications. All Blackberry applications are written in Java and this book assumes a reasonable proficiency in the language and object-oriented concepts in general.I found the first couple of chapters to be unnecessarily drawn-out, with around twenty-six pages of instructions and screen grabs for the online forms you need to complete to register and download the required software. I can't imagine any Java developer needing this much help to complete their details and click buttons; this space could have been better used to cover later aspects of the content more fully.The chapters in the middle of the book are well paced, introducing each topic and providing enough information and examples to get you started. Here the book achieves its intended goal in providing a window into the Blackberry API's and documentation and demonstrates how the various classes fit together and interact. These chapters include fairly advanced topics such as threading and networking, and are an ideal access point for the new Blackberry developer.The book slows down again towards the end, with chapters dedicated to debugging, code style and the top 10 Blackberry apps. This information is useful, but could have been condensed significantly to make more room for additional information and examples in the earlier chapters.Overall, I found the book to be very useful as an introduction to Blackberry development. The pacing of different parts of the book makes it difficult to tell the intended target audience, but if you have a bit of Java experience and wish to get into Blackberry development, this could be the book for you.",4.0,"A good introduction, but not really for Dummies.",1295222400,"01 17, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A29701PQF0J7NC,1582345910,Dheeraj Kakar,"[5, 8]","Anyone who has had a chance to work in France has experienced its workplace in frustrating firsthand. We all come back with the same set of stories; Gorgeous city, painfully difficult work environment, and stunning women. When the author states that women's choice of underwear was a big factor in his career move; I can relate to that.Lot of what he writes might not have actually happened to him, but none of it is outside the realm of possibility.A hilarious outlook on not just how the French `work', but also what men want out of life. Great read.",5.0,Women with great underwear,1125964800,"09 6, 2005",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 AZG5XYK38Q4F5,1477817158,Rachel,"[0, 0]",That was just to chaotic for me. I love the other books I have read by Jessica Park but not so much this one. It had its sweet moments and pretty words but the characters were too much. Their personalities were way to over the top. The story dragged and I had a really hard time getting through it. The plot was kind of strange and it was all over the place at times. Wish I would have liked it more :-(,3.0,Love this author but didn't love this book.,1379635200,"09 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2JNO9OR8FGNR4,1596688866,"MusingCrow ""ZQuilts""","[10, 10]","I have followed Ms. Balzer's blog for some years and enjoy her work a lot.When I pre-ordered her book I wasn't sure how it would turn out. There have been times in the past when I have enjoyed people's work, and then they produce a book - and it turns out to be a disappointment in one way or another.I am happy to say that this is NOT the case with this delightful book! It's a great book!It's well done, well thought out, well illustrated, and it is beautifully photographed! It's a whimsical, easy to follow joy ride through the fascinating, art-full world of creating your own stamps and artwork. There are lots of tips and tricks included with the basic directions.This book is a great place to start carving stamps, but there is plenty in the pages to tantalize even well seasoned stamp carvers. It's a well done winner that's sure to please!",5.0,Well Done Winner That's Sure To Please!,1386720000,"12 11, 2013",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A1JVLHI56QJF5V,0373528272,Stella (Ex Libris),"[4, 5]","I will start with the confession that I come from a bookishly snob family. I was brought up in the knowledge that romance novels weren't really literary books and weren't worth my time. I'll skip over how I discovered them in high school thanks to my best friend and just say that I think this demeaning attitude towards romance novels stem from the usually cheesy and cheap and ridiculous titles they sadly get.I am so glad I wasn't turned off of this novel by its generic and cheesy romance cover, because I would have missed out on a great story! Another occasion when it's proven not to judge a book by its cover...I really loved The Man She Loves to Hate, it was a very nice surprise: a great love story with interesting characters and intense dialogues. But let's start at the beginning...Jolie Tanner grew up with Hannah and Cole Rees until she was twelve, when they discovered that Jolie's mother and the Rees kids' father were having an affair. It broke up their friendship and Hannah and Cole never spoke to Jolie again. Losing her best friend so abruptly and bearing the stigma of her adulteress mother Jolie has grown up to be a shy and introverted, beautiful young woman. Her path's crosses with Cole when they are stranded together in a ski cabin in the middle of a blizzard. Where you guess right something happens between them: they can't deny the chemistry and sizzling attraction that is between them, even if they vow to forget it as soon as they get back to civilization.I liked that despite the constant hurt and gossip and her own shy nature Jolie still had some spunk and fire:`Here's what we're going to do,' she muttered grimly. `I'm going to clean your head wound. Then you're going to warm up, and wake up, and thank me very nicely for my efforts. No house. No diamonds. A simple thank you will do. And then when we get back to Queenstown and everybody asks you what it was like being stuck on a mountainside with me, you're going to go very quiet and then you're going to say--in front of God, your family, your fancy friends and half the town-- ""I may not have been entirely comfortable in Jolie's company, but she kept me alive, and she has my thanks."" Is that really too much to ask? That for once in your life you and your sister and your mother stop hating me for something that was never my fault?'And then of course I simply melted at the quiet and intense determination of Cole when he quickly realized that he wanted Jolie despite the past of their parents and the present opposition of her mother to his relationship with Jolie.""And just for the record, when I close my eyes at night I think of greedy lips and silken skin and blinding passion the likes of which I've never felt before. Ask me where I go each night, Red.""Grey eyes, wide and startled. A mouth made for kisses; not one kiss but more.""Where?"" she whispered and it was a supplicant's murmur and it magnified the heat deep inside him a hundredfold.""I come to you.""""I live simply, Cole. Don't expect anything grand. You're coming slumming.""""I'll be there around nine,"" he said. ""And just for the record, I'm not coming for the scenery, Jolie. I'm coming for you.""""Yes, it's working well,"" he said gruffly. ""Which is why I'm asking you for more. I can't keep leaving my world to come and play in yours, Red. Sometimes I'm going to need you--and want you--in mine. Can't you understand that?""The sizzling chemistry and then later blossoming love and harmony between Jolie and Cole was heart-warming. How they tried to surmount the obstacles left for them by their parent's affair and their bumpy childhood feelings was not simple but so satisfying to read.At times the descriptions were a bit choppy and the transition between the scenes was often abrupt (it read like a change of scene in a script), but the highlight of this novel were the dialogues which deliver powerful and poignant sentiments.Verdict: If you are looking for a fun, heart-warming, toe-curling romance you can't go wrong with The Man She Loves to Hate! It is hot, it is funny and it is definitely romantic! A novel I very much enjoyed!Plot: 9/10Characters: 9/10Writing: 7/10Ending: 8/10Cover: 1/10 - ugh so bland and cheesy, don't let it turn you away from reading this great story!",5.0,"A fun, heart-warming, toe-curling romance you can't go wrong with!",1318636800,"10 15, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2HCHHB0PDH3GP,0778314340,Raja M,"[18, 21]","I wanted to like this book, but it annoyed me more than anything. The majority of the story is about Andi, and she was my least favorite character. She moves to get away from her relationship troubles and swears off men, and yet, the entire story is consumed by her obsessing over a man.Deanna is the most interesting character. She shows the most growth and real emotion, and yet, we hear the least about her.Boston does the same two things during the entire story- talk about painting a mural and defending herself to her husband.The most annoying thing is how the author keeps repeating information and situations. How many times do we have to hear the story of Andi being rejected? How many times will Boston's husband discover that she keeps painting Liam andthen walk out on her?There's not much dialogue in the story, so you would expect the limited amount to be profound and poignant, but it is just the opposite-cold and ordinary.I wasn't impressed.",2.0,Just ok,1363219200,"03 14, 2013",18,21,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 AOED2LE6PRYH9,B00866SJQC,,"[0, 0]","Great read. A teasing line of honor and respect that focuses on the building and giving of trust in a situation where it is almost impossible to believe there could be any. Well written and worth reading. The character's are strong willed and independent, no shrinking violets here. Place them in the middle of murder and intrigue, add a dose of duty and stir up the hornets nest and see who comes out un-stung. Well thought out, I guessed who, but it wasn't easy. Nicely done.",5.0,Hard Edged with Heart,1345334400,"08 19, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2JBDC1OR1KZGP,1930448015,Catherine S. Vodrey,"[20, 20]","A good friend recommended to me Allan Borushek's "The Doctor's Pocket Calorie Fat & Carbohydrate Counter" and I ordered a copy the next day. I have found it to be the single soundest, most detailed, most comprehensive, and easiest-to-use nutrition book I've ever seen.Not only does Borushek give calorie/fat/carb information, he gives detailed information on recommended fat intake, carbs and diabetes, calories-burned-per-minute for dozens of different forms of exercise, food diary and eating habit tips, and more. This book is PACKED with not just information, but USABLE information that can make a real difference in your eating habits and in turn, your energy level.One of the best things Borushek does here is give detailed, concise calorie/fat/carb counts for foods from over one hundred different chain or nationally known restaurants. It's really difficult to go wrong here. I'm delighted to have educated myself a little more via Borushek's very valuable book.",5.0,A superb guide to eating better--not just for dieters!,1029024000,"08 11, 2002",20,20,helpful,1.0,1 A1Q1NPHRFHK5C6,0061357901,Amazon Customer,"[9, 10]","I could not finish it, and, with all of Oprah's hype, I thought it would be so inspiring. I read about 1/3 of the way through it, and the story jumped from idea to idea with no substance in between. Big spans of time were jumped over with little explanation of how he got from one point in his life to another. He was a dishwasher, and then he owned a restaurant and was married with two children. He hints at interesting topics, but never develops them, such as his reference to meeting with the army pyschiatrist and the event that led up to it. Neither topic was developed. I never even understood the little story of why he tried to get himself killed in the ditch that was near his childhood home. Maybe the book just needed a better editor!",2.0,Great man; poorly written account of his life,1174003200,"03 16, 2007",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A2WQNM3SUHEUV2,0989460517,Lostinabook,"[0, 0]","Daniels has outdone herself with this one. The writing is superb: dialogue and exposition are brutally realistic and the character development/growth is well-thought out. The plot moves at a riveting, smooth and steady pace, and held my interest all the way through. I loved the dynamics at play in this one. As usual, the interactions between Damon and Justin are tense, and the scenes with Damon and Kit are emotionally charged. Doyle is a wild card and I can't wait to see what happens with his character in the next book. Broken Blade is an excellent title for this book at so many levels. I hope it doesn't take a year for the next book to be released.This is a series that should be read in order to fully appreciate the depth of the series.",5.0,Freaking amazing and so gut wrenchingly moving!,1389052800,"01 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2A2AFFQNF58KS,1455576506,shylahwilkerson,"[0, 0]",This was the best book I've ever read! I can't wait until the second one comes out! Hurry up please!!! :),5.0,The best book!,1358121600,"01 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KTU16U5H02T7,1594489874,Longstreet,"[5, 8]","Although Necropolis started off strong, Dorst began rambling off-path way before the middle of this 437-page tome. The book would have been much better with some good editing and about 100-less pages.",2.0,Way too long and windy,1218758400,"08 15, 2008",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0743247078,Harriet Klausner,"[24, 25]","In 1986 Fort Smith, Arkansas, three tenth grade coeds and the boyfriend of one of the trio is in a car crash during an off campus lunch. The boy dies in the crash bonding the threesome with this tragedy. Two of the female students were already close friends coming from the elite of the community while the third belonged to the working poor. Not long after graduating, the affluent duo Chandler and Sarah leave the hicks for the bright lights of Broadway while Leigh remains behind toiling at minimum wage.Over the years, Chandler and Sarah enjoy the swinging life of the Big Apple until a tragedy forces the former to come home. While Sarah continues jet setting, Leigh tries to help Chandler adapt to her new life.The novel is an intriguing look over a fifteen-year span at three individuals tied together through the starting point tragedy. The low-key novel rotates first person narratives so that the audience sees the same event or time in separate first-person chapters. The crucial element that makes the tale work is that regardless of whether you remain behind in Fort Smith, move to Manhattan, or return to your small hometown, a person can never escape a pivotal moment calamity that ensures you can never truly leave home.Harriet Klausner",5.0,intriguing look over a fifteen-year span at three women,1081728000,"04 12, 2004",24,25,helpful,0.96,1 ADQJFJ40TT8GS,0804138591,Don Baer,"[0, 0]","I greatly enjoyed Mr. Geitner's book as it was informative and well written. Most refreshing was his humility and personal observation not only of his faults and reservations of himself but his forthright and clear explanation of the events he inherited but the plans and programs he created and instituted, some successful and some not. I was also impressed with his wide and impressive use of his extensive vocabulary.I would make two critical observations and that is he would often repeat the "message" he was attempting to convey in order to "hammer" it home which would become a bit tiresome and the read too "wordy" but this was minor in terms of the over-all enjoyment.Don Baer",5.0,Our Financial Syustem,1404777600,"07 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3CO4P76XOI2R0,1456300717,Amelia Curzon Reviews,"[0, 0]","This is a story about an inquisitive little wolf cub called Rugmo, who is eager to know just what lies on the other side of the fence surrounding the reservation he and his family live on. ""Nothing a wolf needs"" his mother had said. Inevitably, the occasion arises when Rugmo spots a hole in the same fence. Despite his mother's previous warning, Rugmo, unable to resist the challenge of the unknown, courageously squeezes through the gap and his adventure begins. In a very short space of time he experiences hunger, friendship and danger, and realises that, although he is having a very exciting time, home may well be the better place to be.This is a nice little story and very well-written, and the illustrations are endearing. There is an illustration on every page enabling very young children to follow the story quite easily. Once hooked, the story's message is not hard to understand either; listen to your parents - they know the dangers out there in the `real' world! The message also fosters daring and inquisitiveness - which is also a good thing. The ending was a surprise; I didn't expect that, it was really sweet.Nice story-telling and great pictures along with a clear message make this a solid 4 star read.",4.0,"Adventure, Friendship and Danger",1358985600,"01 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A12UEDG62P4E0Q,1623004977,Donna Cheatle,"[0, 1]","Yet another awesome addition to the amazing Masters of the Shadowlands series. With each book in the series, we've learned a little more about each of the Masters and the women who learn to love them. This book was no exception. Sam has a past with an abusive drug addict that has left him and his daughter scarred and bitter. Linda was a victim trying to overcome her fears. Come along for the ride as they learn to heal and grow. Come to the Shadowlands and meet all of the Masters, you'll definitely be glad you did!!",5.0,Sam I am!!,1383436800,"11 3, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A209XHC20QAYM,1844165418,weathered1,"[6, 7]","I've been looking for a truly good dark fantasy-type of book, and I'd just about given up hope until I came across Black Magic Woman. Gustainis' novel has it all - intrigue and suspense; some truly creepy moments; and dark, biting humor. What truly impressed me was how real Quincy and Libby seemed, not only on an individual basis, but in their interactions with each other. They're flawed people with good intentions and dry wit, which is always a good combination, in my view. The plot itself was original and fast-paced, and never predictable. This was one of the few books that I've read lately (and I've read quite a few, considering that I work in a bookstore) that I've truly enjoyed from start to finish, and I can't wait for the next installment in the series.",5.0,"Phenomenal, promising start to a great new series!",1203724800,"02 23, 2008",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1FH9D6YYD5Z2F,B00ELNAQ92,"Gloria Oren ""writer, editor""","[0, 0]",Thanks to Jo Linsdel now I feel more confident in planning and running a virtual book tour. A guide all authors should own.,5.0,Just what I needed,1382227200,"10 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AL6L6U8IVWGI0,B008TA811I,Old Milton,"[0, 0]",Nixon is a master of character development.. Lots of action sometimes a little gory but always fast paced!! Self published... her books are a great bargain!! Looking forward to the next in the series!!,5.0,excellent and fast paced,1385596800,"11 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1R4C4CRXMM1O6,B005NTW8SU,Lee,"[14, 14]",I LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! I was so sad when I finished it! I just wanted it to keep going and going! I started the book at like 3 one day and was done with it by about 8 I think. I read it on my iPod Kindle app and I was (not joking at all) walking around Target with my family reading it as we we're getting groceries.Thanks for the awesome book!,5.0,LOVED It So Much,1333065600,"03 30, 2012",14,14,helpful,1.0,1 A7PKAQFNR9MAH,0316186414,,"[0, 0]",Great gift,5.0,Five Stars,1405468800,"07 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A328S9RN3U5M68,0841603650,Grady Harp,"[4, 5]","CULINARIA ITALIA is more than a book about food: this magnificently produced volume offers more information about Italy than most books focused on the culinary arts. Put together by the team of editors Claudia Piras and Eugenio Medagliani and photographers Ruprecht Stempell and Guenter Beer, this volume of information is a colorful, intelligent, inspiring, educational and very entertaining book about the glories of Italy.Broken down in to regions (what country is better known for Regional modes of living and eating?), we are traveled from north to south and in each region not only are the particular specialties of pasta, sauces, cheeses, wines, fish and meat dishes described, illustrated and given recipes, but also the specifics of the locales are described - geographic, architectural, historical, and cultural. For example, in the Veneto section we learn about living in Venice (Carnevale is a focus), the fishing techniques, the glass house of Murano, Harry's Bar of Hemingway fame, the joys of gondola cruising, and the cheeses so tied to the region in addition to a fine sampling of recipes of famous Venetian foods.While some may bask in the very fine photographs spread so generously on every page of the book, others will read the secrets of how orchiette is made, the definition differences between macaroni and spaghetti, the nurturing of mussels, the manner of making the various forms of polenta etc. In other words, both the visual and the text are of the highest order. This book may make a dent in your lap (it is nearly 500 pages long!) but it will also make a strong mark in your desire to book passage to the land of beauty and culinary delights that is Italy. Highly Recommended for every reader. Grady Harp, January 07",5.0,A Massive Tome of Terrific Substance,1167609600,"01 1, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A25I8ZZAN5DBL1,0307282694,Bonita M Fraire,"[0, 0]",Love this book. Well written and so very interesting to students. My students were very interested and bought out the supply of Gregor books at the store. They loved it too. I donated my hard bound books to our school library and they are always checked out.,5.0,Great book for children,1370044800,"06 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARCZ2LAOX362F,0743212983,Emilio Iodice,"[0, 0]","There are few experts on Abraham Lincoln as eloquent as Ron White. His understanding of Lincoln as a leader, a person and a man is captured in this marvelous book that is hard to put down. Now we understand who Lincoln was and the message he conveyed not only to the people of his time but to history. Lincoln knew the world was watching and the future was watching what would happen to America in the Civil War. With this speech he speaks to the generations to come and sets the tone that America would follow as a nation of compassion to lead the world into this century. Dr. White has done a marvelous task with this work. I recommend it without hesitation.Emilio Iodice, Professor of Leadership. Author of Profiles in Leadership from Caesar to Modern Times.",5.0,The Definitive Book on the Second Inaugural of Lincoln,1394064000,"03 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AKU87CDPNQFJ,B00GG4R7SM,"M. Duggins ""VI Till I Die""","[0, 0]","As the story continues all secrets are out. The drama becomes more chaotic. Diamond is fighting hard to make her marriage work, while Kennedy has some serious drama going on Blair wants a blissful life. Looking for part 8 soon! And the drama continues...",4.0,Baller Bitches 7,1390608000,"01 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2PBJ1ML8T4I2D,B004NNVWL6,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I read some of these on a recent trip. Some didn't seem very science fictionish but they were okay for a fast read.,4.0,Good Stories,1388016000,"12 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3OJ7P6FIV88E4,B00I3LDM9Y,Chris Murray,"[0, 0]",This book brings Roy's mysterious past life to the front and how he truly loves. His undying love for his mother is so beautiful. It will be interesting to have a novella to help wrap up with the rest of the band,4.0,Wonderful Love,1400976000,"05 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17O3IALB0VVSA,1623780675,mapleleafmanny,"[0, 0]","No fault to the book but only my bad, it took a little bit of time for me to remember what was going on exactly when the Rhyn trilogy dropped off. I should have skimmed back over the last book to get a better memory. But, regardless, it was cool to have that ""ah-ha!"" moment when I'd remember something from the trilogy that applied to Gabriel's Hope.First of, the cover is amazing. I loved being able to be in Gabriel's mind as he copes with his new role and comes to terms with who he is and what he can/can't do. I look forward to the next book to hear the continuation of the story. Gabriel was very believable for a character; you could see the hurt all his actions caused as he did what he thought was best, and not just acting on his emotions. Deidre was a great character too and I loved her continuation/new appearance. I really hope things can get better for those two. The chemistry is undeniable.The environment was true to the world we explored in the Rhyn trilogy. No new locations were really added.The storyline was intriguing, yet not so fast-paced that one got lost in not knowing what was going on. There's lots of questions left...but I'm sure the next book shall answer more of those.**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.**",5.0,Can't wait for more,1359676800,"02 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1XK5SZKQJVDTI,0739495585,Payne,"[19, 25]","Steve Martin recently expressed mild disapproval of the editing of his autobiography on Charlie Rose. Was the soul of his story edited away? Were the best comedy bits whittled down to nothing? Because something is definitely missing from Born Standing Up.This was a very easy, mildly interesting read but a curious one too. Lots of 'I did this,' and 'I did that,' but little in the way of introspection revealed. Internal point of view, feeling. I'm mean, let us inside your head, Steve! How can someone suffer from anxiety attacks for 20 years and only mention it twice, briefly, in his book? You didn't let us in. Not until the end, with the death of his father and later his mother, does Martin really let loose, let us into his heart.He mentions at one point that his defense against fame is to remain stoic. Okay. But I think that if you're going to take the time to write about your life, you should also consider taking the cork out of your emotional bottleneck and letting the real you flow.I like Steve Martin and I don't mean to rip on him but this autobiography is too mannered, too orderly, and frustrating. Interesting but frustrating, like trying to get your silent Uncle Fred to tell you about his experiences in WWII and he only mentions the destinations, the weapons and the weather. How did you FEEL about the experiences, Uncle Fred? How did you FEEL about those times, Steve Martin? Unless he meant for me to feel sorry for him for the man he's become, Martin didn't relate his story well. He's an interesting subject but not in this book.Maybe the biography will be better.And funnier.",3.0,Lost in Editing?,1197590400,"12 14, 2007",19,25,helpful,0.76,1 A2NF6S9UZCJN54,1624110312,Desiree Coralyn,"[0, 0]","I gave this five stars because overall it was a good romance novel, just not my style with the military theme going on. I still think the story was well written and I enjoyed the book throughout its entirety.",5.0,"Ehh, Pretty Good",1400457600,"05 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UHEUQAC1CV86,0446616419,ARD,"[5, 5]","Unfortunately, I really didn't enjoy this book. It was just mediocre at best. I purchased this book because it was recommended by Amazon for people that purchased and enjoyed Patricia Briggs ( Mercy Thompson series) and Iliona Andrews (Kate Daniels series). I enjoyed Briggs and Andrews series immensely however Carrie Norville series is lacking the very qualities that make me love Mercedes and Kate. I felt I was reading the pop princess version of Briggs and Andrews. I believe if you like the Twilight series then you like Kitty Norville. Kitty Norville is a rather sugar coated version of Urban Fantasy lacking the edginess and strong female characters I come to enjoy in this genre of books. I didn't find Kitty likeable and the I was indifferent regarding the other characters. I wanted to give this series a chance because of the positive reviews and recommendations. I even read Kitty Goes to Washington. I was rather embarrassed to buy the book because of the title and was frustrated trying to get through the book because it just didn't hold my interest. If I could I would give Kitty and The Midnight hour a 2.8 and Kitty Goes to Washington a 2.6.",3.0,Pop Princess version of Briggs and Andrews,1244246400,"06 6, 2009",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3F1G6UH4Y39X2,0758210183,"Linda G. Shelnutt ""Mystery Novelist""","[7, 31]","Highly-creative confection recipes plumped the pages in KEY LIME PIE MURDER. Not knowing when to stop, the recipes opened themselves into luscious, heavy-laden, in-plot cooking, tasting, and contest judging. Then they incorporated themselves into a turbo-charged, flavor-upgrade including every imaginable slant of sweet & creamy. Yet, the surged concoctions didn't come across as overdone. (The extra hits of coffee maybe helped and were welcome!) The confections won a Literary Blue Prize from my taste buds, and enhanced the delight of light reading. This # 9 in Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen, Minnesota Cookie-Jar series was clearly giving Diane Mott Davidson a run-for-her-pie-crusts as ""Queen of The Culinary Mystery.""As many culinary mystery series as I've reviewed, this was one of the more successful for causing me to feel like I was literally tasting, sniffing, and munching along with the characters, especially with the judges of the entries in the baking contest for the county fair. (No calories in print, when it's absorbed from eyes to brain; I've had no compulsion yet to eat pages.) A collection of scenes took place inside the ambiance of judging-tasting-sprees back-dropping discussions of town doings and murder. It didn't take much of that for my level of addiction to the sweet treats in this plot to be shoved over the edge of any concern about addiction.What made that addiction achievement seem like such a feat to me was the fact that my natural preference for flavors, even in culinary mysteries, is savory rather than sweet, which is why I was so ecstatic to find Phyllis Richman's Chas Wheatley series a few years ago (Richman, now retired, had established a long running career as a savored food critic for the Washington Post, and every bite of her appreciation for haute cuisine in the high realms of restaurant magic seemed to have been incorporated into her series, which appears to have ... sob ... ended after her third entry,Who's Afraid of Virginia Ham?See my reviews).So, what can I say about # 9 in Fluke's series, except that I appreciated her enhanced ability in KEY LIME to use sweet instead of savory to provide a wide-eyed read, which fell easily into a state of ""Yum"" in mystery heaven.In addition to # 9's surge in texture and flavor of creative confections, KEY LIME seemed to have primed the collection of Lake Eden regulars, including Hannah and Dolores-monster-Mom, into a mode of Cheshire-Cat-relaxation, soaking up the ambiance of living in a world-of-fiction riding gleefully on The New York Times Best Seller List. I swear I could see that type of smug, snugly satisfaction in Joanne Fluke's grinning mug in the photo on this book's jacket (a lovely, perky pose taken at a book signing by her husband, Ruel).Every angle and edge of this book's plot, mood, and style was dreamy, content, and cozy without losing any depth in reading engrossment. Could a reader become intoxicated by a culinary mystery which was high on sugar, caffeine, chocolate, butter, cream ... with all of those served warm, gooey, fresh, and chewy? Well, I say to that, ""Yep.""So, how was room left for slipping in cultural issues or literary machinations? I have no clue. Yet, Fluke did interject tidbits about attitudes which detectives must develop in order to run their investigations without personal investment hampering perspective. Also, the characters of Norm, Mike, and Moishe, along with their relationships with Hannah and each other, were taken up a few notches in warmth and simple satisfaction.It seemed that Fluke packed into this novel everything she had developed and hoarded in her author's repertoire, and then some. At the same time it felt as if she had enjoyed the heck out of designing new recipes for this plot, and playing new schemes and scenes for its themes.Here lives an author who loves her work, has found her niche within it, and dug down for the long haul (see my Listmania and review of the pilot to her series,Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (Hannah Swensen Mysteries). With warm cookies of every imaginable variety, and pots of coffee forever brewed, brewing, or ready to brew, what else could Fluke do but simmer another sweet, tangy stew of a mystery, in a ""one (or more) up"" on her past offerings.This one did nicely, and even I, a person who grew up in a professional bakery in The Malt Shop in Florence, Colorado ...see my Amazon Short, Coal & Coca-cola ..., was tempted to take time to bake some of these recipes. I hate to accept the fact that my energy for baking is almost gone, which is maybe one of the reasons for my seeking tangy flavor in fiction, which can be found in all types of novels, not exclusively in culinary mysteries.You've outdone yourself on this one, Joanne Fluke.All in good taste,Linda ShelnuttAuthor of several Kindle books and Amazon Shorts, including:Molasses MoonMyrtle's Ultimate MysteryFull Moon Rising (The Books of Gem)New Moon Blues (The Books of Gem)The Rose and the Pyramid (The Books of Gem)Morning Comes: the Pre Dawn Blues - Part 1",5.0,Gift-Wrapped in Key-Lime Sheen. Dreams & Schemes With Flavor & Cream,1176076800,"04 9, 2007",7,31,helpful,0.22580645161290322,1 A103SDDMENAXQH,B00IADE62C,Pamela K Dunaway,"[0, 0]",Very interesting story line. Going to go right to the fourth book cause I don't want the story to en,5.0,Gotta read the fourth,1401580800,"06 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30UP2KKD5IQEP,0765327104,Soar,"[10, 13]","From a conceptual point of view, I liked the proposed vision of this work. The line up of authors had me excited. Upon listening, I grew frustrated and annoyed with the first 3 stories and eventually, got to enjoy the last 2 stories.My message to the authors is to remember first and foremost to tell a good story. I felt like, for several of the authors, the priority was to bash me over the head with beliefs about global warming, capitalism, and what I am doing wrong today that will cause the terrible conditions the world is in in the stories. And that took me right out of the story... instead as I listened, I questioned beliefs and conclusions in the underlying structure of the universe in the stories and was busy doing that and not caught up in the plot. Whatever the authors' intents were, this is how it came through to me.For me... the last 2 stories were enjoyable and well written. Whether or not I agreed with the underlying premise, I enjoyed the stories, got caught up in the plot, and was exposed in a pleasant way to the universe that it felt like the first 3 authors were trying to force feed to me. Whether or not all 5 stories are messages I and others need to hear clearly, the last 2 stories had a much better chance of being 'heard'.",2.0,first and foremost... tell a story,1264896000,"01 31, 2010",10,13,helpful,0.7692307692307693,1 A6M1EFM5RMWHR,B008LYMHL2,"James M. Hillman ""nothing is so firmly believ...","[0, 1]","My tendency is to read detective mysteries. Connelly is one of my favorites and prolific. My interest here was a different type of Connelly; but allas, not to be. This is a very SHORT story. Most of the kindle download was a preview of a new book. My goal in reviews is not journalistic, others here can do that. So the bottom line is I would not purchase this again, if given the same circumstances. Hope this helps you.",2.0,This will really surprise you,1352505600,"11 10, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A22V7II9B5S05Q,0671317741,"a reader ""lgoose""","[9, 12]","Most of the suggestions in this book were not useful to me. Many of them were totally obvious. First, quite a few were different versions of ""make a box of toys for a rainy day"", or different versions of ""gather kitchen tools, tupperware, pots and pans"". Second, a lot of the activities take a lot of time to prepare and then keep the kid entertain for just a couple of minutes. Third, some suggestions are just home-made versions of very cheap toys that I just rather buy than spend so much effort and make a mess at home preparing them. In this class you'll find home-made playdoh, bubbles, stacking cups, markers, puzzles, etc. Overall I found this book a waste of money and time. Not a single original idea that I could use.",2.0,not that useful,1213920000,"06 20, 2008",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A7LQTXGRMVD6R,1480268798,"MaryAnn ""MaryAnn""","[0, 0]",I thought this book was really good and well written and I would reccomend to other people. This book was awesome I never put it down it was so good and it was such a page turner if you like reading about magic I really recommend it!,5.0,Great Magic!,1362960000,"03 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A23NKJOK1ZNSHX,0762418311,"Deremiah *CPE ""#1 Award-Winning Customer Pass...","[0, 0]","Young Douglas Barry, has compiled an interesting series of responses from Corporate CEO's, Presidents and top executives on the things that really should matter to a broad range of readers. One thing I liked about the book is how easily it read. This format comes in handy for young teenagers and corporate types too busy to spend a whole bunch of time getting the plot.The diversity of ideas makes it another good read for people too easily put off by one persons philosophy. Because in this book you get several dozen different philosophies. But very few cross cultural executives which would have opened the door just a little more on the philosophical side from a broader global perspective.This book also has *Skip Ability...*the ability to skip from the front to the back without having to feel like you're being forced to move in sequenced order.I liked a lot of things about this book but I don't think the book gives enough detail for it to have adorned the title ""Wisdom for a Young CEO"". At least for me I'm looking for more detail on specific challenges a young CEO may have to face in their first years of running a major corporation. You know the kind of adjustments that could cause you to make a company succeed or fail. Inspite of that I still gave the book five stars because for the age range of the author this book is a good resource whether you're a teenager, young adult or late blooming business mind looking for direction and inspiration.I think it is an invaluable resource for so many types of people on a few different levels. I also believe you'll enjoy it if this review opened your eyes on how the book may work for you. Always remember that you get out of life what you give to life on the front end. Have a great day!Your Servant, Deremiah, *CPE",4.0,Advice for a Young CEO,1140307200,"02 19, 2006",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LNJX5X6ZKYNW,1484943082,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Great book in fact the whole series I'd really good. Kept me reading way into the night Good story and great characters. Well worth a read,5.0,bodyguards of LA County,1388275200,"12 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3AVJCB1ZD6ZY5,0375836888,R. Kyle,"[16, 18]","Times are tough in Depression-Era America. Eleven-year-old Turtle's Mom keeps losing housekeeper jobs and getting her heart broken by no-good men. When her Mom gets a job with an old lady who doesn't like children, she has no other choice but to send her daughter Turtle home to Key West to live with her sister, Minerva. Turtle really isn't sure how her Mom is going to survive since she's the sensible one of the two of them, but hard times call for desperate measures.Turtle arrives with her cat, Smokey, only to discover she's going to be living in a house with boys, a dog, and nobody wears shoes on the island. At least, she's not the only one to have a nickname, there's Beans, Too Bad, Slow Poke and others.She rides along with the Diaper Gang, a bunch of boys who babysit for candy, and learns the secret family formula for diaper rash.While in the Conch Republic, she learns about alligator pears (avocadoes), rum running, sponge fishing and most importantly, that she still has a Grandma. Prior to this, her Mom had told Turtle that her Grandma was dead. Oddly, the hard-shelled Turtle is one of the few people that Nana Philly actually likes. She also meets Key West's most famous denizen and advises him he should be writing for the funny papers.""Turtle in Paradise"" is a great historical Young Adult novel that readers of all ages will enjoy. The story's got more than one good line per page and will keep you reading all night.Rebecca Kyle, July 2010",5.0,Definitely not the funny papers,1278460800,"07 7, 2010",16,18,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A2B81BYTGXS4XT,0316055433,Diane Vigilante,"[0, 0]","I found it difficult to put down, wondering what was going to happen next. New York City scenes were so true to life...I know those places!",5.0,What a great book!,1389052800,"01 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AECSJRKKMYMAN,0061458562,"Reedfrost """And the one asking for a cuff...","[16, 18]","The art in this book was amazing. I loved seeing all the cats that I had read about for so long. Kudos to the illustrator for mostly keeping to the descriptions of cats. (One exception: Scourge) My only problem with it would be the fact that they frequently only showed upper body or face shots, instead of the full-body pictures on many cats. (AKA Sandstorm) The writing, however, was a different story. DO NOT EXPECT THIS TO BE A FIELD GUIDE. This is simply a book of one-page bios of each major cat. I like the way they presented it, (Rock speaking to three StarClan kits) but it did not tell us anything new. However, the art definitly makes this worth the buy.",4.0,Incredible Art,1214611200,"06 28, 2008",16,18,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 APFF3JDA2CPIV,1595554599,Book Lover,"[58, 105]","Barton may have been ""named by Time magazine as one of America's 25 most influential evangelicals,"" but that not only does not make him a historian--he isn't one--it speaks to his motives for distorting Jefferson's views. Books like this are written essentially to give ideologues something to quote. Alan Pell Crawford, author of Twilight at Monticello: The Final Years of Thomas Jefferson, says in his Wall Street Journal review of Barton's book, ""Jefferson's religious beliefs are central to Mr. Barton's thesis, in the service of which straw men are consumed in bonfires.""Martin E. Marty, at the University of Chicago Divinity School, points out that ""David Barton, cites Jefferson for Bartonian positions which are directly opposite of Jefferson's"" and says ""that he [Barton] has invented a case and product which serve his viewpoint and draw him enormous followings among `conservative' factions which oppose separation of church and state in most cases except those they choose.""",1.0,Not history,1343433600,"07 28, 2012",58,105,helpful,0.5523809523809524,1 ALZHWI9G814KA,0553808036,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Thought provoking, masterfully written ( as always), and spiritually moving.I will read it again. Dean Koontz continues to inspire me.",5.0,another great novel,1389830400,"01 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UR4090J4T2HW,1846942721,J. Leard,"[39, 43]","Craig A. James' ""The Religion Virus"" has a title that sounds like a salvo directly in the face of organized religion, but it really isn't. It's a work that concerns itself with how the ideas of religion have evolved and coalesced over the years to be what it is now. James' perspective as an evolutionist allows a unique perspective that that really nails down why the major religions are still around, how they continue to grow or fall by the wayside, and how concepts of belief must evolve or die just like florae and faunae.The first half of the book lays a foundation for James to fully express his ideas, and while this part is a bit dry, it presents the concepts that will factor in later very well. The latter half puts that foundation into action, and the book moves along at a very brisk pace through the end, where James does explain how all of this factors into his own personal point of view.My only complaint is that he could have fleshed out the back half of the book a bit more, as there are some great ideas that he touches on before moving onto the next one, such as how what we learn as children impacts our belief system for the rest of our lives and how this fits from an evolutionary perspective. It's a whirlwind tour of exclamation point arguments, and this frenzied pace is effective but ends all too soon.The book is a fascinating read because it breaks down what makes organized religion tick while also giving readers a crash course in basic evolutionary theory and how it applies to the schools of religious thought that thrive today, as well as those that have fallen by the wayside over the centuries. The price on the Kindle edition means that this book is an easy recommendation to anyone curious as to how religion has survived over the centuries and what makes it such a difficult institution to shake, and the tone throughout 99% of the book is merely factual, so tolerant people of all walks have something to gain from checking it out.",4.0,An easy-to-understand guide to religion's success,1294272000,"01 6, 2011",39,43,helpful,0.9069767441860465,1 ANXF867F9YL2F,B0087AAZFK,Whosatm,"[0, 0]",The story was very gripping. I started reading for a couple of hours and had to come back finish it.,5.0,Great book!,1389744000,"01 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27ERTA6CWFZFH,0316210684,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Alex cross books are always a page turner! Havent read many James Patterson books i didnt like! You cant go wrong,5.0,excellent read,1386028800,"12 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A39650P2CZUUC9,0375757759,"Bonnie Brody ""Book Lover and Knitter""","[4, 5]","I've read all of Groopman's previous word and ordered this book from Amazon as soon as I heard it was being released. Groopman writes regularly for 'The New Yorker' about medical issues with the focus on his role as a physician and healer. What is remarkable about Dr. Groopman is that he respects every one of his patients and values their uniqueness.This book explores the role of hope in fighting disease and healing. It discusses the biochemical changes related to hope and the physician's role in fostering real hope when applicable but not encouraging false hope.Dr. Groopman examines his early experiences as a doctor, mistakes he made and lessons he learned. He also reflects on ways that hope has played a part in his own life. One such way that hope has been important to him is when he suffered chronic pain following two failed back surgeries. Hope enabled his to regain strength after 19 years of chronic pain.Dr. Groopman treads on difficult ground, intertwining science and spirituality along with the impact of one's emotions on their physical being. He manages to tread well with his beautiful writing, clarity and a respect for the personal choices we all make that change the course of our lives.His chapter on exiting the cycle of pain was especially thoughtful. He discussed how we might be better off ignoring pain. In fact doing something painful may not be harmful. We must realize that pain is only a message that can be interpreted in many ways. Sometimes we create a cycle of pain by being prisoners to it.Dr. Groopman discusses the biochemistry of the pain cycle and his own experiences with rehabilitation, including his initial distrust of his physiatrist's recommendations. I appreciated how he related what he leared from his patients. He is not a typical know-it-all doctor.One chapter that I liked very much is about a patient named Barbara. Barbara has managed to maintain hope and dignity in the face of metastasized breast cancer. She prioritizes and lives her life to the fullest. However, when the time comes she plans to face her death with courage and dignity. She maintains a sense of hope. Her strengths are her living life to the fullest, her faith and her belief in medical interventions as long as they provide a quality of life wherein she can thrive. When she realizes her death is imminent, she accepts this and is able to let go of false hope and die with dignity having lived a life of meaning. In order to live life her way, she does all she can including enduring difficult chemotherapy. However, she will recognize when to stop treatment.This is an amazing book. Anyone who is interested in the medical establishment and what makes a really good doctor will appreciate this book. It will also raise and answer many questions about quality of life issues and ways to raise real hope without fostering a false sense of hope.",5.0,A Doctor Who Treats Every Patient with Respect and Dignity,1239148800,"04 8, 2009",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1M1Y5UGONAW06,0385344961,Jody,"[0, 0]","I've been consoling myself with Fiona Carnavon's marvelous books. Oh my! The real stories of the real DA aka Highclere Castle are way, way better than those of any screenwriter.More polished and well, just better than her previous book, the current Countess of Carnavon's chronicle of the romances, heartbreaks, stupendous energy, and drama of the inhabitants of this wonderful house take the reader through the brief revival of country house life between the wars through the fear, loss and stunning courage of Britain during WWII.This is a story of love, betrayal, bravery, heroism, sacrifice and amazing character. There's no cheap tossing in of anachronistic attitudes or situations for effect. These were real people living through crises; sometimes of their own making, sometimes brought about by larger events, but always fascinating.A great house has a life of its own, as the reader is repeatedly reminded; more than that of any of its titled inhabitants or devoted servants. They come and go, but the house is always there. It's still there, and why; despite the sometimes shabby behavior of its stewards, makes for a great read.",5.0,Since I broke up with Downton Abbey...,1388880000,"01 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3AXC959W4KJ6W,1481898981,"Lunataina ""lunataina""","[13, 15]","I have read every book on Amazon by S.E.Smith and find that with each volume she keeps improving. While many of her previous volumes were filled with editing mistakes and grammar issues, each one improves. Although there are still some editing mistakes in this installment, they are minimal and do not distract from the story. Meanwhile her imagination and superb storytelling continues to impress me. I am a voracious reader of paranormal romance, from established authors to new talent. Very few seem to have the innate ability to simply tell a fantastic story that is so good I am willing to overlook editing issues. S.E. Smith has that ability and more.In Tracking Trisha we get the story of the third Dragon Lord of Valdier to find a mate. Trisha is strong, stubborn, trained in survival, and completely devoted to her father, who raised her alone while teaching her everything she knows about surviving. Kelan is the commander of the warship V'ager, a warrior, and known for being able to keep his calm as well as his control over his dragon side and the symbiosis that attached to him as an infant. In Trisha he finds his true mate, a woman his dragon, his symbiosis and Kalen want and accept above all others. When Trisha and her friends witness the existence of the alien dragon men, they must be taken to Valdier to ensure the knowledge is not passed on. Kalen wants Trisha, but she can't stay so far away from her father, allowing him to think she had died or worse. When it seems they would be able to come to a compromise and live happily ever after, Trisha ""dissapears"" and then the real action/drama begins.S.E. Smith is a master at unexpected twists. Her stories seem to have several climactic moments, and just when you think the characters have found their happiness, something else is lurking in the wings waiting to jar the seeming conclusion. You are never bored with a book by S.E. Smith, but you may feel exhausted by the time you are done. The good thing about her style is that you get to know the characters well, and she allows the relationships to develop at a good pace. Moreover, S.E. Smith writes some of the best heroines in paranormal romance, strong, quirky, and a joy to read.Bottom Line: This is a very fun story and very much worth the purchase. Dragon Lords of Valdier is a wonderful series by an up and coming independent author, and Tracking Trisha shows marked improvement from previous volumes in mechanics while maintaining the outstanding quality of storytelling and character development that are quickly becoming a trademark for S.E. Smith. I will continue reading this series and look forward to witnessing how the author's talent develops.",4.0,The Series Keeps Getting Better,1339372800,"06 11, 2012",13,15,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 A2DMX9ASE4KH40,0195067142,Yalensian,"[11, 12]","This is a gripping account of combat on Peleliu and Okinawa during World War II, without embellishment, without literary flourish. The narrative is simple, unadorned, raw. Sledge--a ""fugitive from the law of averages"" who survived some of the Pacific War's bloodiest battles--doesn't allude to Hemingway or Remarque, doesn't reference past wars (except fleetingly in discussing the martial tradition of the Corps); he's not interested in connecting his experiences to the ancient line of wars and warriors. Instead, he describes combat as it was, as he saw it and participated in it. Sledge takes readers onto those bloody islands--the relentless fighting on Peleliu, the stinking hell of Okinawa.Sledge stresses over and over again that war is a waste, ""a terrible waste."" Young bodies are ripped and torn apart; young men are struck down in their prime and stripped of decades of potential life. Mentally, it is a waste, too. Exposed to brutal combat, civilized men quickly become savage themselves and, for example, pry gold teeth from dead--and, on at least one occasion that Sledge mentions, from wounded and still living--Japanese. There are many other moments throughout the book where the reader winces. And yet, while war is not glorious, there are qualities that men can show under fire, that shine brightly in comparison to the brutality: love, loyalty, bravery, esprit de corps, compassion. Sledge stresses those, too.This is not an antiwar book, though. Sledge entered the abyss of war, endured hardships, confronted death, saw men torn down. He knows war is not pretty, not fun, not romantic. And yet he also knows that it is sometimes necessary and that, as citizens, we must sometimes sacrifice for our country. He concludes: ""With privilege goes responsibility."" So it does.",5.0,�kaleidoscope of the unreal�,1081382400,"04 8, 2004",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 ACWNLGP7WYZWF,0345505336,"Heather ""book lover""","[0, 0]","This was an ER book that I wanted pretty badly, but it wasn't meant to be. I knew that if I didn't receive it for Early Review, I would definitely buy it when it came out for sale. Luckily, fate stepped in and my sister was chosen to be an Early Reviewer. Once she was done, the book made its way to me...OH happy day!When I received the book, I was reading two other books and I wanted to give this book all of my focus and attention. For some reason I knew it was special before I even cracked the binding. I wanted to read the book at a comfortable, yet slower pace and to fully understand the story, really drink it in like a fine aged brandy (even though I don't drink brandy, sounded good though, didn't it?!) I am so glad I did...I guess you could say I got very drunk from the last analogy.Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is not your classic love story of love found, lost and found again. This story tells of a time in our nations history that is heartbreaking for many and a time that many would like to forget. It speaks volumes on racial division across all cultures. It also shows how our ancestors dealt with war, not knowing how to fix problems and doing something that they believed right and the only possible way of keeping our country safe, at the time. The story shows how there have always been those that do not accept other cultures on any level and those that do, even when taught not to. All of humanity is created equal and deserve friendship, respect and love and this is Henry's story.Take your time and enjoy the story. It is definitely worth it!",5.0,"Timeless, beautiful",1336262400,"05 6, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXO8HKSA5KVPI,B0096TKMKE,Dani,"[0, 0]","I wasn't bad, it was really just those two characters and they were mostly just in the bedroom. I guess I like a little more going on than just sex. I felt like. I was just stuck in a room.",3.0,Ok,1391299200,"02 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33H49912EHLSX,080073369X,Leah,"[0, 0]",I really enjoyed this book. There was plenty of suspense in it but I also like the religous aspect of it. I kept trying to figure out he person causing the problems (trying not to give it away) and I didn't suspect who it was.,4.0,Lots of suspense,1364169600,"03 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1HM4J4YWVN1WB,B006NUK0HY,Kit,"[0, 0]","I absolutely love all of your books, love reading them and never being able to put them down:) can't wait till my daughter is old enough to read them because i know she will love them as much as i do. been tryin to get friends and family to read them as well to see how great a author and writer you are",5.0,Amazing,1344124800,"08 5, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QR3K5FI6SSHB,0805093079,Sandra E. Strader,"[0, 0]",Great book. Learned many details about the assassination that I had not previously known. Very well written and hard to put down once started.,5.0,Outstanding Lincoln History,1391040000,"01 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWT8C9PPO7Q3Q,1857444345,"Farley ""sutton-brown""","[4, 6]","Before you buy this book there are a couple of things you should know. It's a repertoire book, so the author made choices. If you like the choices she made, then the book MIGHT be helpful; if you don't, the book will be virtually useless. But the question is: are you prepared to judge the author's choices? In other words, do you know anything about the caro-kann? If you don't, then your best bet would be to buy ""Understanding the Caro-Kann"" by Keene/Mednis.etc Or another way ,which many people dissatisfied with openings books are doing, is, instead of buying these books, they simply download the wikipedia article on the opening. ( Believe me, there isn't much difference!)If, on the other hand, you know a little bit, then you should check the table of contents to see if the author's choices appeal to you. For instance, there isn't a single word on 4....Nd7, a common line in the Caro-Kann. The author preferred 4...Bf5.For the Advance Variation the author suggests a Gambit!! This is anathema to the style of a Caro-Kann player! He chooses this defense because of its solidity. If he were willing to play a gambit, he wouldn't be playing the Caro-Kann. Any attempt to be modernish sounds ridiculous.So look twice before you leap.",3.0,Read this first,1356134400,"12 22, 2012",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 AI19XK9BVUG9I,0099525372,Ruth K. Taylor,"[0, 0]",Another great book in the series by James Patterson. Would recommend it to the people who enjoy this series! It was a good read.,5.0,Good book,1353888000,"11 26, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LB3T774FWZQV,0809053977,"Geraldine A. Dalbec ""Jeri Dalbec""","[0, 1]",I saw the author on Book TV so ordered two copies which I have been sharing and am recommending it every chance I get. People are passing judgement without realizing what all the ACA consists of. Jonathan G. has made it so that we can easily understand it. Thank you for such a great read.,5.0,Should be required reading!,1342396800,"07 16, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 ACFTPKBAVA1F8,0140281630,Peter A. Greene,"[6, 6]","This is a work of endless rewards and layers. Never mind the racial elements-- they truly don't matter to Conrad's purpose. And do force yourself to work through every meaty, carefully drawn sentence. This work is a model of compactness, a work in which every single line counts.Consider it as the Anti-Huck Finn-- Marlow travels up a river (instead of down) and as he leaves more of civilization and restraint behind, he becomes worse (instead of better). Compare it also to *Lord of the Flies* (look, in particular, at LOTF last paragraph) as a treatment of what lies within the deepest part of humans.It's a challenging and unsettling work, but it has great rewards both in writing and in the ideas contained.",5.0,Worth the Effort--meet the Anti-Huck Finn,961200000,"06 17, 2000",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AOLWGUTZJUPUC,1477818529,geobabe54,"[9, 10]","Interesting plot, so-so characters, atrocious editing. Liked the premise of digging into the past to get a handle on who someone comes from and what they did. The plot had a lot of potential but the writing and editing made it hard to read at times. (In one case, reigns was used instead of reins. Excuse me, but using the wrong word changes the meaning of the sentence.) And at times, it was easy to predict what was going to happen next. Not a bad book, but I'm not keen to read the next.",2.0,In the Blood,1348012800,"09 19, 2012",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A2OW7M39KY9WHR,144235948X,"Tasha Dunaway ""Tasha D""","[0, 0]","I love Travis, Abby and the whole gang!!! I have this book on my Ipad but had to have the signed edition!! My hubby got it for me for my birthday!",5.0,Words can not even express how much I love Beautiful Disaster!,1361145600,"02 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1KK6CC50O0SVW,1439171955,Bjorn E,"[51, 206]","I really looked forward to this book after reading the previews on Slate.com. I'm very interested in learning about the lives of people who work on the fields and fast-food restaurants.However, the issue with that book is that those parts of the story are just thin coating over the author's political message. Most of the content is semi-solid research on food and eating as it relates to poverty and education. Some of it is downright ridiculous, and that's when I stopped reading. The author was saying something like: ""Field labor cost is only 6% of the total consumer cost of produce, so why don't we just pay these people more?"" Whatever your political views might be, this just shows immense ignorance on how an economy works, and how all the various actors in a supply chain will act according to their own incentives in a pretty uncoordinated way.So, in summary: not the depiction of farm labor and fast-food worker reality it was marketed as, but instead weak-sauce research with a political agenda.EDIT (March 8, 2012): added the below clarification of what I'm trying to say.The core of what I'm saying is this:1) The depictions of the people who work in this industry are not strong or frequent enough. I empathize with these people, and was looking for a much more immersive and extensive depiction of their lives. That was also how the book was advertised.2) The research in the book is not strong, insightful, original, or thoughtful. In the example regarding ""just pay them more"", it is even naive. It is not that simple, and most attempts at solving the issue of non-living wages just make it worse for the people suffering the worst.So in summary: I'm not amused at being suckered into buying this book by being promised 1) above, and instead getting 2).",1.0,Misleading marketing,1330473600,"02 29, 2012",51,206,helpful,0.24757281553398058,1 ASKUFVT4HXTHE,1586488325,ihweiner,"[0, 0]","This book is an easily accessible inspection of the man and his times. The culture and the historical events that shaped him such as love of learning, loyalty to those who helped him, fairness to those who opposed him. His unfailing support of his family despite evidence of brutality and treachery show tribal influences.",5.0,a well balanced look at Mandela,1380844800,"10 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AYF5FQBV2L0IB,140226948X,KR Johns,"[0, 0]","I didnt enjoy this book at first, but as I got into the main story line, I just got sucked in. While the story is unrealistic at times, I enjoyed the read.",4.0,Fun,1372723200,"07 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASGRD4R9S8O5U,0809225131,"nzrose ""nzrose""","[32, 49]","Unfortunately, this book does a poor job of bridging a gap in marital therapy self-help books. It seems a pity that there is little, if any, information out there covering the territory between books on how to save your marriage and those on how to divorce. Thus, I had high hopes to get a fresh perspective when ordering this book. What a disappointment. The basic idea of a planned separation is an interesting one, and probably helpful in some (perhaps many) situations. But this book is so poorly written that it takes a strong stomach indeed to wade through it. Filled with cutesy acronyms and psychobabble jingles, be sure to have a barf bag nearby. And the book sorely needs reworking by a competent editor to pare down her blatant and transparent self-promotion. Seinfeld could do a great episode lampooning the author- she comes through as a pathetically insecure person who can't separate her needs from those of her patients. More space is wasted on her bragging than practical (or even theoretical) advice. If her painfully self-referential style and anecdotes had some substance it would be OK, but one ends up feeling like the person deriving the most benefit from the book is the author. Perhaps the only one. But It's even more frightening to think of her attempting to function as a therapist. Scary. Somebody stop her before she writes again!",2.0,"Interesting idea, weak execution",1083196800,"04 29, 2004",32,49,helpful,0.6530612244897959,1 A29ZGPP55QGL01,1490586229,"Handydeb51 ""Deborah m Monroe""","[0, 0]","This was one of those sequels that not only completes the original, but actually enhances the storyline. All the original characters are there and Jillian and Danielle are trying to get back to some semblance of normal when Jillian finds out Nadia is in trouble. There are elaborate plans and both real and fantasy adventures. Again, it was tightly written with suspenseful situations. Ms Gilbert is a very talented writer.",5.0,An exciting sequel,1398384000,"04 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3IF1HLV50KR7F,1592249248,Mimbelina,"[7, 8]","A confirmed (and proud) bachelor, comfortable in his solitary existence and his modest law practice, Lawrence Blakeley enjoys a humdrum life that is free of female encumbrance (except, of course, for his very formidable housekeeper! Excitement and adventure are definitely not for him. So, when he boards a train for Pittsburgh with papers of importance to an upcoming case, the last place he expected to find himself was in the middle of a murder mystery and in the throes of passion for a woman he encounters on the train. Due to a series of fortunate accidents that ends in his having to sleep in another man's Pullman berth and having his identity stolen, Blakeley narrowly misses being the murdered occupant of the lower ten berth. Though he escapes with his life, he becomes the primary suspect in the murder of the man who did sleep there. Before he can be absolved or arrested for the crime, however, the train crashes and he is one of few survivors. The crash enables him to avoid immediate imprisonment, but it isn't long before the police are on his tail. With the help of a beautiful, troubled young girl from the train, who is somehow involved in the mystery herself, he must find the culprit who stole his identity and killed the man in lower ten before he is unjustly arrested for the crime. The evidence leads to three separate suspects, all of whom have reasonable motives and opportunity, and it takes a great deal of ingenuity and detective work for Blakeley to solve the crime.As a fan of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, I was overjoyed to discover the books of Mary Roberts Rinehart. With each one that I've read, I've been surprised that her novels are not more widely recognized as classics in mystery literature. I honestly believe that she was much more talented than other recognized authors of the genre. Her skill at building complex plots that are full of suspense and an overshadowing feel of coming disaster is extraordinary. She deftly maneuvers a large cast through a complicated plot pervaded by a sense of coming calamity that builds to an almost unbearable level as the novel progresses. The dark feel of her novels is perfectly balanced by the humor and clever dialogue as well as by the romantic subplots. Though I enjoy the works of modern-day mystery writers, none of them come close to this level of talent and I have to enthusiastically encourage anyone with a penchant for mysteries to read her books before settling for today's poorer substitutes!",5.0,"Read This Book, Mystery Lover!",1320278400,"11 3, 2011",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A300N25RXDG8D1,0062008110,A. Tresca,"[0, 0]","Like To Kill A Mockingbird, Wuthering Heigts is a novel on the 'prepare for college' reading list, and is read in many high schools. I found an old copy on my mothers bookshelf, and loved this novel before I knew it was considered a 'classic'. You often hear references made to star-crossed literary couples such as 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Catherine and Heathcliff'. It is telling that this work is important enough to be referenced alongside ShakespeareThe only novel written by Emily (her sisters Charlotte and Anne were more prolific), the tale takes place on the moors of England. Catherine Earnshaw is surprised when her well-to-do father brings home a mysterious foundling and names him Heathcliff. A dark and brooding child, Heathcliff nonetheless becomes Catherines playmate and confedant.Their relationship changes, however, as Catherine grows into a woman. She begins to think that a lady of her station should not be dallying with a foundling such as Heathcliff, who has no family or wealth. She is wrapped in her own vain self-worth, and beings to spur the bewildered Heathcliff.A moody and potentially violet man, Heathcliff retreats further into himself the worse Catherine treats him. He never stops loving her, his passion endures even her scorn. The end of their love affair is both beautiful and tragic.A great triumph of writing by a woman of her time, Emily died shortly after her novel was published. As a historical note, the three sisters published their work under pen names. This ruse was concocted so publishers wound presume the works were written by men, and would therefore be taken seriously.",5.0,Tragic and Beautiful,971049600,"10 9, 2000",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QCLHEQCL43FL,1894063295,daphchav,"[0, 0]","Great read as I was reading this book I realized that as soon as I put it down it would disappear I found my daughter curled up in her bean bag reading it, we fought in a friendly way over the book the whole time I was reading it! Great history, and great imagination!",5.0,Absolutley awesome!,1301788800,"04 3, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1LTC1PYX40XRO,1466452781,gerri gletcher,"[0, 0]","The heroine in this novel is not the picture perfect heroine of most novels. She has character flaws. In many books that deal with the issue of weight in fiction books, when the person loses the weight they meet Prince Charming. In this novel, not do much. I found myself rooting for the heroine while at the same time cringing for some of her antics!Great read!!",5.0,Awesome Read!,1401494400,"05 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UWSU5ETQRQKX,1594202591,"Robert J. Newell ""Bob""","[23, 27]","Twain's Feast is only partly about Samuel Clemens, a.k.a. Mark Twain. A lot of the book is about Berkeley author Andrew Bearhs, his travels and opinions, and his predictable political orientation.Now, to be fair, the book is very carefully researched (though there are a few unexpected bloopers), well written, and quite engaging in style. It's all based on some lines penned by Twain while in Europe, lamenting the state of European gastronomy, and listing a series of American dishes that he would have loved to assemble into one enormous, delicious (though not quite realistic) feast.Author Beahrs writes a chapter on each of the major elements of the feast, tracing the food in question back to its roots, and highlighting the concept of fresh, seasonal, and regional ingredients. We learn about oysters, prairie hens, trout, and much more. The author visits the original American location where Twain would have encountered the food in question, and comments at length about what has happened since. This makes a large part of the book a lament about how things have gone downhill since ""the good old days"" and to a lesser extent, a plea for change and redress.You'll certainly learn a lot by reading this book, and you'll be well enough entertained.While an obvious Twain devotee, at times, though, the author forgets himself and shows unseemly disrespect. Near the end of the book, for instance, he's recounting his preparation of fried chicken as Twain might have enjoyed it. He quotes Twain as saying that ""Yankees"" can't make good fried chicken, and then follows this with ""Stuff it, Twain!"" And, as noted, more of the book than might be expected is filled with the author's personal opinions, family stories, all of which really detract from the real reason you'd want to read this book: to learn about Twain, and food, and Twain's ideas about food.In summary, I'd call this book ""good enough,"" and can recommend it both to Twain fans and food fans, but with some reservations. You'll enjoy much of the book, but you'll be quite annoyed with much of it, too.",3.0,As Much About the Author as About Twain,1275091200,"05 29, 2010",23,27,helpful,0.8518518518518519,1 A1MMQ1RFD9S9IZ,B003UESLV8,Mountain Momma,"[4, 8]","I deleted this off my K3 after reading so there's no record that I ""really"" had this book but I did. (I thought it stayed in my archives after deleting from Kindle.. that you had to delete it from ""Managing your Kindle""???)There wasn't a lot of depth to this. The characters were more two dimensional I suppose you would say. More ""fleshing out"" of characters and plot is what this needs.I think the author may be able to write a great story, eventually, but I can't say I would recommend this book.Sorry.....",3.0,Disappointerd there wasn't more of a connection between siblings.,1284681600,"09 17, 2010",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A2VD0VU79XOHBR,0373266154,joyce meadows,"[0, 0]",This was an entertaining book! It was very suspenseful and kept you guessing! I would highly recommend it! A very good read!,4.0,Murder on The Mind,1393804800,"03 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3IF5F74ES9KJF,0064440990,Vicki Landes,"[0, 0]","My first grader loves reading this book! Easy words and repetitive phrases make learning to read more fun and quickly builds self esteem!--Vicki Landes, author of ""Europe For The Senses - A Photographic Journal""",5.0,My little reader loves this book!,1143244800,"03 25, 2006",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MR1VMK999I6O,193072229X,"Beth DeRoos ""Beth DeRoos from the California ...","[16, 18]","Bought the book in hopes it might have some new information and while it is interesting I went to my home library and picked up my cope of A Citizen's Guide to Grassroots Campaigns by Jan Barry which I first read in 2000, and they both have a lot of the same information.Both books are good for the novice who is interested in finally getting involved in voting and candidates etc. Like registering, writing letters to the editor, calling talk shows, hosting candidate parties, donating money and even running for local office etc.And I recommend both books to anyone regardless of political views in hopes that they will help get more people to the polls on election day.",5.0,A good book for the novice,1091750400,"08 6, 2004",16,18,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A6OZV0NE3X29U,0891073795,"J. Smith ""avidreader""","[14, 17]","This really should be required reading here in America with our new administration! Scary?, yes! Necessary information?, Definitely!!! We have an admitted Marxist turned communist in the White House advising our president(B.O.)! Does anyone care?",5.0,Everyone should read this book!!!!,1251763200,"09 1, 2009",14,17,helpful,0.8235294117647058,1 A1CMHOCMLNFJDY,0385732554,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Is completely amazing! Every time that I have read this book, I find something new to be amazed about. I still cannot wrap my head around this alternate universe, and how well put together it is. The author leaves the reader wondering how it truly ended, and depending on what kind of person you are is how you will decided if it was freedom that was reached or death that consumed them.",5.0,Breaking the Rules to do What's Right,1367366400,"05 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SPV96SGOEO2,0123749034,The Travelin' Hrncirs,"[4, 6]","This book was a lot more advanced than I expected it to be. I am not an advanced programmer and, after reading through several chapters, I find that I don't have the calculus and/linear algebra skills necessary to fully grasp all the concepts. I do like the chapter by chapter approach and the way that the concepts are spelled out - but I must stress again - this is not for beginners. It's not ""Game Physics for Dummies Guide"", but I think most people looking for this solution probably already grasp that.Bearing in mind that the book is an applied physics reference guide, I think that the person needing an in-depth reference volume for perfecting the games they're writing, or trying to make their home projects look perfect will benefit greatly from this piece. The casual user (like me) might want to start with a dumbed downed-version elsewhere.I give it a five-star rating because virtually everything I could think to look for was addressed. That doesn't mean I grasped all the concepts, but jumping from the equations to the code things started to become a little more clear as to where I needed to be.",5.0,This is an extremely deep book,1287705600,"10 22, 2010",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 AV86L8QDFBD1K,B004WPCR50,Jeanine Swett,"[0, 1]","Ok book, not sure I will read 2nd or not.can deal with ghost idea and like it but have to see some way for them to be together it with others.",2.0,just ok,1388707200,"01 3, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2XOADFKPRGFN5,B00LBMGHYY,amber withers,"[0, 0]",very sad this series is over.....but very much looking forward to Edward's story. I can't wait to see what is to come for him and Mia. I hope it includes plenty of William and Jennifer....Will be fun to see them as parents. Very well done Mrs. Casey....another winner in my opinion.,5.0,So sad it's over,1403913600,"06 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1SLXB9BNDHO4V,0800719247,Caroline Fisher,"[0, 1]",The basic plot is interesting (boy whose mother was killed and father is at war goes to live with his estranged grandfather). The writing is very basic without redeeming features. The religious parts are unnecessary to the story and seem added to convert readers.,2.0,Not for the avid reader,1360713600,"02 13, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3IBOQ8R44YG9L,013673443X,Eric Antonow,"[6, 8]","This is a collection of project disasters with an eye towards the major project management failures rather than the technical issues. Though many of these have been previously published, the assembly is worth price of the book. This will be is valuable for anybody involved in high-level decision making on mission-critical (and smaller) IT/Internet software projects. If you want to educate your boss on why you can't begin work without clear objectives, scope, senior management involvement, etc., a few of these stories should clear his/her head. All the B-to-B internet hubs run by consortia should read this or be ready to end up in vol II.",4.0,Valuable to managers and project managers,962236800,"06 29, 2000",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 ABEA5LYSBPRZL,0060652950,"L. Roberts ""L Roberts""","[0, 0]",I liked it. Not as well as Screwtape letters but still - I hate it when it requires more words than I have brains this early in my day,4.0,Great Divorce,1401926400,"06 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KHMVK9PZVOY7,0984581308,Avowed Bibliophile,"[6, 11]","I really tried to like this book and can't. The protagonist Gloria is neither likable nor sympathetic. The author presents her as a plagiarizer who has lost her job in publishing (because she got caught), and as someone who is hygienically lacking, for example in one scene she ""sniffs herself and found she stunk"" (necessitating a change of blouse). Gloria has no self esteem, she makes bad decisions, she is in a word yucky on multiple levels. Why oh why, would I want to hang out with her or care what happens?Gloria also uses a lot of cosmetics (as in what some straight girls do) and although stuck selling glitter hair spray (having been ostracized from the glamorous world of publishing), is very good with make up, which in her role as a department store sales person, becomes her eventual redemption (a metaphor perhaps for the mission of getting her family to 'make up'?).The characters and situations are worn stereotypes used in uninspiring ways, hippy parents who are STILL social activists, they ostracize their Evangelical Christian daughter but support their gay daughter, the Christian daughter's past has been marred by a pregnancy when she slept (as a teen) with a boy who abandons her as he discovers through that experience he is gay. She is working out this issue by....guess what...actively campaigning against abortion. Can we trot out any more Hollywood simplistic/dull attempts at story line?I skipped portions of the book I got so annoyed with it, only reconnecting at the 90% mark where the story got entertaining enough to hold me with a well written scene of family conflict trying to resolve. In places it even felt antagonistic toward gays and I thought it might be written by a straight person, but looked up the author who says she's gay. I realize my review deviates from the majority here but I also suspect the other reviewers are the product of a well organized effort by university or writing acquaintances or perhaps students to support this work and are skewed toward overly positive, with most readers having few or no other reviews. I mention this because I purchased based on the reviews and feel, in retrospect, duped The whole experience was annoying. I hope in the future the writer will consider creating characters that we want to hang out with rather than run away from.",1.0,Yuck,1312070400,"07 31, 2011",6,11,helpful,0.5454545454545454,1 A2P822KJMZU8TW,1602827664,Crackerdog,"[0, 1]",Very hot and a bit scary to imagine oneself in these situations. Midnight room itself is a new location inviting lots of exciting scenes. Good dealing with issues concerning protagonists.,5.0,Very Hot,1363737600,"03 20, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1U8YR9PU1GGR2,1452854718,Ann Sears,"[9, 12]",I am going for the moon on this adventure. The medical community does not offer any of these suggestions for hope. My local naturopathic physician is now working with me on stabilizing my thyroid condition.,5.0,"At last, a book for Hashimotos that makes sense",1310601600,"07 14, 2011",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A1M48K0PVF3OSC,B00BTIDXVU,ashlee,"[0, 0]",This book is amazing. I started at the beginning with the mAting and have yet to stop. As son as I finish this it is on to the final book. Each page keeps you wanting more. Trying to put it down is next to impossible. Many times I hAve found myself lost among the pages waiting anxiously for what comes next. This is an ABSOLUTE MUST READ!!!!! Now off to read next one:),5.0,Exquisite,1374883200,"07 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1OXFIXRTRZPLT,0312326998,"W. Franklin ""autodidactical jacobin""","[24, 42]","The reviewers reviling this book ignore the daring and sincerity of Ms. Manji, and of course her right to claim her version of God. They most certainly worship another god, likely a false god. Any religion which intolerantly binds its adherents so closely and fears of any questioning or seeking, not to mention persecuting women and tolerating abuse of ""others"", is uncertain of its meaning and values. Oops, I think I may have also hit portions of the history of so-called Christianity or the Jewish diasphora and the Zionists. But, most of these religions and their sects do not issue death threats or fatwahs of significance against dissidents. So, one easily discards the views of the revilers in these reviews as people insecure in their selves and religion, which appears to be mostly Muslims authoring the vilest of these reviews.I do not care what sexual orientation Ms. Manji has or practices. I do not care if she was a good student in an Islamic school She has a lot to say which helps us with the context of world politics today, and yesteryear. I hope she continues to ask the hard questions that most Americans fear to ask from some sort of PC or ignorance of Islam. The old saw that some one who speaks one language is an American, certainly applies. Americans are stupidly ignorant of a whole swath of the world and the interplay of cultures over time -- leaving this all too important study to academics and so-called think tanks (usually procured for use by right wing foundations and imbued with hate and adherence to social and economic Dawinism) to interpret for us plebs and provincials. I offer all of these the bird, in favor of this young lady with a fresh voice. As for the Islamacists unhappy with Ms. Manji, bug off and grow up.",5.0,Afraid of the truth!,1076198400,"02 8, 2004",24,42,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 APFA03BCX6NXG,1886442924,"B. Gelderman ""book collector""","[5, 10]","This book just confirms what we figured out ourselves, only much moreso..........It also confirms where this government is trying to take this country........America had best wake up and quit standing there with your hand out. Would recommend this book to whomever loves this country and hates the direction it is headed in",4.0,scary book,1359504000,"01 30, 2013",5,10,helpful,0.5,1 AY3EENC2BGTGK,0312615523,"M. G. Gagliano ""Maria""","[4, 5]","What I Can Tell You:This is mandatory reading for any parent, teacher, therapist. Little Girls Can Be Mean breaks it all down including real life situations and how to deal with them.As an active observer and listener to children as they play and work together, I believe this book is the perfect handbook for anyone wanting to ensure their child has the tools to deal with the outside world.",5.0,Mandatory Reading For Anyone With Daughters,1282521600,"08 23, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A20LQDBLE6GXBM,B00HJ695KO,Solmarie,"[6, 6]","I have to admit I'm a little surprised at just how much I actually enjoyed this book. In a place called The Corrider remain an alien race in captivity. After six centuries of imprisonment their leader Farran has come to expect no surprises. Until the day Sarah Mackenzie walks in with a new batch of handler recruits. The oldest child of every family must become a handler and that task has fallen onto her shoulders. She is put in charge of Farran, the deadliest of the Dem. She makes mistake after mistake and still he doesn't kill her. He hates her and all of humanity for his imprisonment but after accidentally (or so he thinks) marking her as his ""marked"" things get complicated. There is corruption all around them just waiting for a mistake.When I first read the bio on this book I assumed it would be more sci-fi like. Instead what I got was a world of intrigue that grew on me the more I read. The author sucked me in to the point I was sad to see the story end. I felt a part of the story. I would really like to see a follow-up to this one.",5.0,The Corridor,1391299200,"02 2, 2014",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3QC4SG7NA4ULG,0865715408,A reader,"[103, 113]","Michael Ruppert is a talented and serious investigative journalist with a detective's instincts and passion for uncovering the truth. He has written a valuable, even shocking book, which exposes the complicity and foreknowledge of the U.S. government in the events surrounding 911, and links U.S. foreign policy to the phenomenon of Peak Oil, something which most of us have never heard of. Reading this book, for instance, you begin to understand the relationship of the U.S. government to drug trafficking around the world -- yes, you read that right. You start to understand why it was that the U.S. government was apparently unable to stop the terrorist attacks of 911 -- not for lack of effort or information, but because the attacks of 911 suited the long-term goals of the Administration. Sounds inflammatory, and it is, but the facts seem to speak for themselves.Unfortunately, the important and shocking information this book has to offer is often buried in the middle of extraneous personal anecdotes and tangents which distract the reader and diminish comprehension. Ruppert has some personal axes to grind, not unjustifiably, but this book was not the place to grind them. Crossing the Rubicon suffers from a lack of editing that makes it very difficult to read. This over 600-page book could easily have lost a couple hundred pages and still told the important story it has to tell.Ruppert's intentions appear to be absolutely honorable, and what he has to say is truly important. If you have the patience to wade through it, you will be rewarded. However, you will probably have to read it twice to get the point, not just because the point is complicated but because it is not as sharply honed for the reader's benefit as it ought to be.",3.0,Could Have Been So Much Better,1115164800,"05 4, 2005",103,113,helpful,0.911504424778761,1 A169CUD3FUZ0AV,038534905X,M. McLouth,"[0, 0]",This book had be giggling to myself the whole time I was reading. I hope he writes more as his family grows up.,5.0,Great read!,1374192000,"07 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19UT0OPQCDR8,0373778651,Andrea Thompson,"[0, 0]","** 3.5 stars **After enjoying Three Little Words, I was happy to go back to Fool's Gold, California. This series is full of characters with interesting and often complex backgrounds; Angel Whittaker and Taryn Crawford were no exception.Both Angel and Taryn have exceedingly heartbreaking backgrounds. Angel is a man who lost his family, and has a mysterious scar across his neck that draws curious glance, but which he refuses to discuss. I'll admit, I'm a bit disappointed we never get the story. Taryn is a divorcee who's ex-husband is her business partner and close friend (it's a long, weird, but cool story). At first, these two sort of seemed like an odd pairing to me. I'm not sure why, but Angel struck me as the type to like a woman with simpler style, the complete opposite of what Taryn projects. After a life of poverty, Taryn can finally afford what the wants, and that would be designer shoes and clothing.So despite my initial assumption of Angel, he is very attracted to Taryn's style, to all of her. I was a bit thrown by him just approaching Taryn and telling her they were going to happen, but it's just one of those things you have to go with. And wow, the things Angel says to Taryn...that man can bring the swoon. The relationship starts to build in a more endearing manner when work and obligation has them seeking help from each other. Along the way, Marcus and Taryn open up about their sad pasts, and that's when I was pulled into the story. Because of those pasts, Angel's devastating loss and Taryn's tough upbringing, neither wants love. We all know where this is going, right? Right. It was also no surprise that despite the two falling for each other, there's a lot of resistance, especially from Angel. Though he did frustrate me, Mallery did a nice job of reinforcing the reason for his hesitance.I'd forgotten how much I enjoy Fool's Gold, a small town in California with the most interesting variety of people and businesses. I really appreciate the strong friendships between the ladies, and that's really a huge selling point for this series. There are no rivalries or general bitchiness, these ladies are all about support and having fun. A lot of the story is filled with the day-to-day goings on of Fool's Gold and its residents, so if you're a long time fan of the series and you love mentions and interactions with former leading characters/couples, or you just really enjoy the small-town setting, When We Met will hit the spot.Favorite Quote"Of course I want you, Taryn. I'm breathing, aren't I? Because it would take being dead not to want you. You told me you wanted me to work for it and I'm more than willing to do that. To wait to feel your skin against mine, your mouth, your breasts, all of you. But when we are together, it's going to be my way. It's going to be slow. There won't be an inch of you I won't touch, won't please. I want to learn everything you like and then figure out how to do it so well I can make you come anytime, anywhere. And I will."",4.0,Welcome Back to Fool's Gold!,1400457600,"05 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3ROLX4CNBDLUO,1573223085,Judy Jamal,"[0, 0]","It is very interesting to learn about how our present & future is/might be shaping up!Brilliant study by the author, really enjoyed reading this book!",5.0,Modern concepts,1374710400,"07 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AOTMP0OKJOUWI,1401939295,"Emily J. Morris ""Backroads""","[9, 11]","Before I give the impression that I was all judgy-judge-politicians-don't-write-mindfullness-books before reading this, I need to make it clear I was excited about this book ever since I saw it advertized in some mindfulness-related magazine (don't recall whether it was Yoga Journal or Natural Health). I thought the book sounded great. A politician relating the state of our people and nation to the practice of mindfuless. Cool.Then I got the book, opened it, and started reading. The beginning was rather boring. I waited for it to get better, more intesting, more in depth. While I have to give Tim Ryan points for effort, this book never gets beyond a super-organized statement of mindfulness-is-good.And mindfulness is good. I'm not about to argue that point, and I respect Tim Ryan for trying to get America excited about it. Mindfulness is presented as healthy for all walks of life, and plenty of examples taken from education, health, environment, etc. are brought in to support this point.Oh, was that point supported. I wasn't even half-way before I wanted to scream ""I get it! U.S. citizens should practice mindfulness!"" This was the point where I realized this was little more than an over-extended article announcing the merits of mindfulness. The idea is there, all the facts are there, but any sort of heart or effort to make the book interesting is absent.In all honesty, the book is exactly what I would expect from a politician, with all due respect. It's simple, straight-forward, and vague in its audience. There's lots of feel-good fluff and some pretty facts, but after announcing all the examples of benefits of mindfulness, there just isn't much left. Perhaps this would be a better read for someone new to the concept, but I found myself itching for much more.Frankly, this is just a nice-enough book that presents a nice idea, but will probably be forgotten after a single read and abandoned to a dusty bookshelf. And here I was hoping for more.",2.0,"Well, it does sound like it was written by a politician",1344729600,"08 12, 2012",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A1AKQ1YUS4BT82,1416978917,"Katie Babs ""Katiebabs""","[4, 4]","I think we've all been there in our teens where we had a major crush on a boy but don't know how to go about telling him, the fear that he'd never like us and we step aside for our friend who also has feelings for him.Unfortunately, The Written Rule was a major disappointment for me. It had no real depth and the main characters annoyed me immensely. Carrie Jones has the blurb on the cover where she says this is brilliant, touching and true. I beg to differ. It's really none of the above.Sara has an all-consuming crush on Ryan. So much so that he's all she can think about. Sara doesn't think she has a chance with Ryan because she feels she's nothing special. Sara fades into the background all because of her beautiful and vivacious best friend, Brianna. Sara is well liked by the majority of her classmates but she's more the type that is just ""there"". Sara comes from a well-rounded family, with a loving mother and father and loves wearing bright colorful sneakers to show off her lacking personality she feels she has. One day at a party, Ryan starts talking to her and they have a moment where he may kiss her. But then Brianna walks in and it's all over for Sara. Ryan goes off with Brianna and they next thing that happens is that Ryan and Brianna are a couple. But wherever they go, Sara is there and soon something horrible happens. Ryan drives Sara home one night and they end up kissing. Sara is ashamed that she has betrayed Brianna and doesn't know how to tell her. And then Ryan says he wants to be with Sara and will find a way to tell Brianna. Sara is torn because friends should come before boys, but she wants Ryan so much.The Unwritten Rule has a great premise but the exposition fails big time. Elizabeth tries her best to explain why Sara is to torn up about her and Ryan kissing. The big problem I had is with Ryan, this wishy-washy character, who with one word right from the start could have solved everything. Ryan is like a ghost, a pale one-dimensional, lacking in major personality figure who if he was man enough, wouldn't haven't allowed things go on this far with Brianna. We never get the full story on why he decides to be with Brianna even after she kisses him as her way to manipulate him into being her boyfriend. Sara isn't defined at all even with the book being from her point of view. She's just as one-dimensional as Ryan, where they only reason the reader should side with her is because of all the heartache she's going through, which I get, but seriously, Brianna's heart isn't really into Ryan. She claims him just because she wants to. And Brianna's reactions to the world around her confused me the majority of the time.I really tried to sympathize with Sara since she has unrequited love for Ryan and doesn't want to hurt Brianna, her best friend and confidant, who is truly a heartless brat. But since Sara doesn't really have any redeemable qualities, except for her quirk with sneakers, which I felt was put in there to show how different and special she is, The Unwritten Rule is a reading fail.Also, at one point Brianna uses the good old ""F"" word, which came out of nowhere, and I guess would be justified since her reaction makes sense, but the tone of this book is more PG if anything and caters more for the under thirteen year old crowd. Inserting that word and the insults Brianna is supposed to bring forth an emotional reaction from the reader. It doesn't and is almost insulting the reader's intelligence.The Unwritten Rule is one book I wouldn't recommend to any teenager who wants to read a humorous and what should be an adorable outlook on secret love and the angst a teen goes through. The Unwritten Rule could have been so much more, but wasn't.This is a major pass.Katiebabs",1.0,Not A Book I Would Recommed to Anybody (D+ Grade),1294963200,"01 14, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3MCGUE3S4HPL5,B00ASPKRSC,Missey,"[0, 0]",THIS BOOK WAS VERY GOOD. THE STORY THE PLOT...GIVE IT A TRY. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANYTHING AWAY ABOUT THE STORY.,5.0,VERY GOOD,1395446400,"03 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AUHG8KSHI529U,0679456244,Craig Matteson,"[6, 7]","This book is not written as a scholarly treatise on eastern culture. It is fine reporting of what a westerner needs to know to hope to have a clue in how to get a handle on the east. Mr. Reid isn't trying to persuade the west to become the east nor is he trying to tell us all there is to know about the east.He energetically reports to us what he and his family learned about the east while he was stationed in Japan as bureau chief for the Washington Post. It is a very fun read.Of course, if you are deeply familiar with Asia, this book may seem superficial. How could a work of introduction seem any other way to the initiated? But for nearly all of us who have lived our lives in the west but have had some exposure (or no exposure!) to the east and would like to understand a bit more about such an important part of our world culture, Mr. Reid has done a great service in giving us a good basis for further investigation.After you read this book your travel and reading about the east will be enriched. And that is a good enough reason to read and enjoy this book. It needn't be the all and all tome of the east. Mr. Reid's argument certainly isn't a book about east versus west. He is simply trying to use our native understanding of the west to see the east a bit more clearly and then to use the east to let us see ourselves more clearly.After I traveled and spent a couple of years abroad as a young man I could see America much more clearly than I had from simply living in the US. Over the years I have come to appreciate our country's strengths ever more deeply and I think Mr. Reid does a great job in trying to give that same sense to those who haven't been so fortunate in spending extended time abroad.",4.0,Opens a window to the east,997401600,"08 10, 2001",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A278NVDK9RI9CX,0312573723,"feysidhe ""feysidhe""","[4, 7]","I've read the other reviews here and while I agree with them in part, they're very confusing because they're so wildly different. I had a hard time with this book because I'd rate all of Nancy Martin's Blackbird Sisters books at least a 4, so I had very high expectations. When I found myself about to give this one a 2 star rating, I realized it wasn't as bad as that, if you could get beyond one small fact:The heroine, Roxy, sleeps around.Now, the real problem with that is that it's not adequately explained until the very end of the book, so you don't like her. She sleeps with anyone who takes her fancy, no matter their age or situation. She also steals. There are reasons for that behavior, but we don't know them up front, so the first experiences we have of her are unappealing.I don't think Ms. Martin did enough to ease readers into Roxy's world, and that's the primary negative of this book. The second negative is that, as others have noted, there's too much going on. (Why all the talk about Nooch's probation hearing? That could have been left out entirely, along with a couple of the character tangents.)On the other hand...This book is an easy read. It's fast-paced. You do get the sense that, unlike Stephanie Plum (who never grows up and just eventually irritated the heck out of me), Roxy will be learning and growing as the series progresses. The mystery is different from the usual fare, as is the setting. It's better-written than a lot of other stuff in the same category and the characters have definite possibilities.So for the briefest answer: Is it worth a read? Yes, but not for the full price of a hardcover, in my opinion. Wait for the paperback or ebook.",3.0,Scattershot,1266451200,"02 18, 2010",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A1ZH52JAC70RIR,081099299X,Robin Benson,"[17, 17]","What I found delightful in this survey were the books from the recent past. Obviously the authors rightly cover historical items (and with beautiful photos, too) but books right up to the turn of the new century are included.Some of these really look beautiful like the 1988 colorful polycarbonate covers from Maurice Dufrene's `Florilegium' or the wraparound cover to Frank Dobie's 1979 `White Mustang', created with several different leathers. Both books are only two and a half inches tall.The nine chapters, in words and images, give an overview of tiny tomes and it was nice to see that most of the books features are displayed actual size. Perhaps missing from the text was a brief description of how many of the books were printed. There is an interesting photo on page 106 of an uncut sheet from 1752 `London Almanack' showing twenty pages (and a gatefold of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Palace) which were no problem to print but the precision was in the binding such small items, if the craftsmen were a fraction out part of a page could easily be missing. Judging by the amount of commercially printed books included from the last hundred or so years binding machinery can handle small pages easily.The last chapter covers oddities including a 1991 German medical companies little book with a dummy heart pacemaker as part of the package. A sidebar is devoted to hidden paintings, printed or individually artist painted, on the fanned out fore pages. `A Small Book of Flies' printed in 1983 includes actual fishing flies (under a piece of glass) in a book two and three quarter inches by one and three quarters.It is this coverage of books besides the usual fine art ones that made the book come alive for me. Incidentally the production is first class, with gold blocking on three sides (when was the last time you saw that on a book?) printed in 175dpi screen and a handy silk bookmark.***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.",5.0,Wee wonders,1182211200,"06 19, 2007",17,17,helpful,1.0,1 AA0T8RM3UKVO,0062219111,"Jill Griffin ""teacher""","[4, 4]",I ordered this book for my literacy based preschool. I am a reading teacher and this book works for my beginning readers who have established some basic sight words and have very good concepts about print.,5.0,Level 1 or 2,1384560000,"11 16, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1NT3HJYYHYCA5,0425179877,Govindan Nair,"[4, 4]","In my boyhoood, I collected news clippings of space flights like some others collected stamps. While I knew of the the complete or near-disasters of Apollo 1 and 13 which never escaped media attention, I could not imagine how many more instances of nervous questions there were on the ground at Mission Control Center (MCC) during many of the celebrated successful space shots.Gene Kranz's book provides an insider's view into the inner workings of MCC, all the way from the Mercury program to the final Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Probably better suited than almost any one else to tell this story on how things looked from the ground, Kranz worked his career in NASA up to Flight Director, including for the memorable Apollo 11 and 13 flights which provide some of the most dramatic passages in the book. While the world savored the euphoria of the first men landing on the moon, Kranz tells of how he and his team were worrying about near fatal computer problems with the lunar lander. Most readers will be familiar with the Apollo 13 episode which was well enacted on the big screen with Tom Hanks , but Kranz's book provides some of the finer detail that the movie misses.The book not only provides flight details of the manned spaced shots, but discuss some of the important management and technical issues which need to be resolved to move from Mercury through Gemini and Apollo. Kranz's epilogue concludes with some of his broader observatons and recommendations for future space policy.Readers will be struck by the authoritarian and disciplined management style in the program, which Kranz does not easily hide. The author would probably have done well to use a ghostwriter or good editor. But apart from its prose which lacks elegance and an easy flow, this book provides an illuminating insight into how such a complex management feat was accomplished.",4.0,Mercury to Apollo: the inside scoop on the US space program,1063497600,"09 14, 2003",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1X8BQQGCEHQ1V,078602030X,"Kim Cantrell ""Soap Box Bandit""","[10, 10]","The Burn Farm is an excellent case study on the argument of what actions define a defendant as insane and whether the Constitutional burden changes with a plea of mental defect.Sheila LaBarre was molested as a young child by her father and line of men who she addressed as ""Uncles.""Did would this abuse as a child create the woman who would seduce vunerable young men to her isolated New Hampshire farm where she beat them, killed them, and then incernerated their bodies?LaBarre's history as outlined in The Burn Farm by Michael Benson is interesting, yet the chapters wherein her sanity was called into question was what most captured my attention.Was Sheila LaBarre insane or just a fatally vicious person? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.The New Hampshire jury has rendered it's verdict on Sheila's sanity. As for me, my mental jury is still out.",4.0,Insane or Just Incredibly Mean?,1253664000,"09 23, 2009",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A41XFT72IX5MJ,B006FODLCY,Andrea Streur,"[0, 0]",I enjoyied th is story. It was fast but with a little back story and I liked it. The sex was awsome. Just the right touch of hard and soft.,4.0,This is another worthy quickie.,1362441600,"03 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30461L9YQVC6T,0002247399,"K. Armstrong ""realfactchecker""","[8, 35]","I can't imagine why this book is getting the low reviews. I was so disappointed with the fourth book, but felt the first three were so wonderful, I just had to give him the benefit of the doubt...and I'm so glad I did. The action was relentless..the scope magnificent..and the plot intricate and nerve-wracking (in a good way). Thank you Mr. Martin!",5.0,Vindicated!,1312329600,"08 3, 2011",8,35,helpful,0.22857142857142856,1 A2EF64HUKVH6IU,0399145796,Lee Gaiteri,"[5, 7]","Having read his previous books, I have to admit Gibson took it up a notch with this one. All Tomorrow's Parties is positively addictive; often I'd sit down to read a chapter or two and instead breeze through a dozen. It was hard to put down.Fans of Virtual Light and Idoru will recognize the cast of characters, though the novel could just as easily stand alone. Rydell and Chevette are back, as are Colin Laney and Rei Toei, and Yamazaki puts in some brief appearances to help Laney out.The language and descriptiveness are, as ever, vivid and brilliant. Gibson really knows how to make a landscape come alive, right down to the descriptions of the characters. What's intriguing is that he can switch easily between the characters' perspectives, too; what Chevette recognizes as a soul patch, Rydell sees as one of those annoying "lip beards". What Silencio knows as "the black" is the illegal drug dancer to everyone else. And in the story we see constant examples of mainstream corporate society trying to reclaim the autonomous zone of the bridge by transplanting franchises like Lucky Dragon or paying people to hold down shops, all illustrated in Gibson's rich prose.The ending was, as others have mentioned, a bit abrupt and left things dangling. The bit with Silencio and the watches was never adequately explained, especially where it came into play somehow in the end. The assassin's personal history had some significance, but that was never brought into the open either. The resolution of the plot never made clear what Laney's nodal point was, and frustratingly never fleshed out the idea in other ways. The nodal point of 1911 was mentioned more than once, but Gibson never explained how that changed everything, or in fact what impact it had at all; understanding that would have gone a long way toward making the ending more satisfying. The only thing that did make sense about the nodal point was that the book's central villain knew change was coming, and wanted not to prevent it but to ride it out successfully; he was actually somewhat identifiable in that regard, and never seemed hammy or vicious, just desperate.Still, a slightly weak ending couldn't damage an otherwise great read. (Heck, it made almost as much sense as the ending of Idoru, and I enjoyed that too.) I liked the characters and followed their journeys anxiously, wondering what each would come to in the end. The view of Gibson's world a few years down the road, where the bridge is starting to lose its identity, was truly fascinating.",5.0,Spellbinding,982713600,"02 21, 2001",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2HMDO0EOSMBDE,0399155279,David,"[0, 0]",Another excellent Virgil Flowers novel. John Sanford does a great job with the personality of Virgil Flowers and other people in the novel.,5.0,Heat Lighting,1389052800,"01 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZUY0OWQHYR33,0984889108,"Xavier Michael ""Xman""","[0, 0]",This is the better book over "Metal Detecting the Beach" by Smith which I found very weak.,5.0,Five Stars,1404864000,"07 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A7S83KW2BH20D,0802468691,"book worm ""book worm""","[14, 20]","(Thank you for reading this review and your votes - either way!)INTRO:This book was included in the Family book-package purchased at a Weekend-To-Remember seminar by [...] and it was the only one dealing with finances (so I was very excited to sit down with my wife and read it together). Also, on the front cover, the book gets the endoresement of Rick Warren, author of 'The Purpose-Driven Life' (""The most effective method we've every used to train people to hadle money God's way."") - another plus. The dissapointment came throughout the 3 days spent reading & finishing 'Your Money Map' due to lack of credibility from the author, over-optimistic agenda, and mixed messages/themes regarding this ""Proven 7-Step Guide to True Finacial Freedom.""AUTHOR:Howard Dayton, is ""CEO of Crown Financial Ministries"" and host of the nationally syndicated radio program 'Money Matters.' He writes very clear and direct. His wife is named Bev. Both seem like genuine loving people, Christians that love the Lord, and folks that I would love to meet. I really wanted to love this book and give it 5 stars.DOWNSIDES:There were three claims that frustrated me and made me question the credibility of the author:1) CLAIM #1 - the Subtitle states that this is ""a PROVEN 7-Step Guide to True Financial Freedom."" The author is very convinced that his 7-step plan will work (""God's way of handling money"" used ubiquitously) YET he never states that himself, Bev, or Larry Burkett (Crown's co-founder) have reached all the 7 Destinations. On page 242, we learn about a couple who are ""making progress"" on the journey, but not a real-life example of one that has ""achieved true financial freedom."" Quite on contrary. The author introduces the story of the Michells (Matt and Jeniffer) in Chapter 1 (pg.17) with all the markings of a 'real' story and a 'real' couple that the Howard and Bev Dayton take under their wing to mentor and help through the first 6 Destinations. ONLY as late as Chapter 22 (the final chapter) is there a small footnote stating (on pg.252, footnote 1.) that ""Matt and Jennifer Mitchell are a fictitiou couple."" I wondered then ... how many of the statements made (like ""this is what we did"", ""God told us ..."", ""we needed to ..."", or ""we decided to ..."") by Howard and Bev Dayton were also FICTITIOUS.2) CLAIM #2 - On page 18 we read that ""the Bible contains 2,350 verses on how to handle money and possesions. You might be surprised to learn that 15 percent of everything Jesus Christ said had to do with it"" WITHOUT any single reference to an outside source for verification. While the Bible may contain 2,350 references to money or possesions, I highly DOUBT that all these verses had something to teach about HOW to handle money or possessions. This about it, just a mere mention of how much an item cost or labourer makes will be counted as a reference to money in the Bible! (really makes these statistics & numbers LESS significant).3) CLAIM #3 - On page 40, (Chapter 4 - ""Who's the Real Owner?"") we read ""When the Crusades were fought ... the Crusaders insisted that the mercenaries be baptized before fighting. As they were baptized, the soldiers would take their swords and hold them up out of the water to symbolize that Jesus Christ was not in control of their swords ..."" (AGAIN, without references to outside sources). I checked with a friend who is also the head of the Theology department of the Univeristy of Copenhagen (who is a specialist in Church History - the Crusades era, and he had never heard of such a story/historical fact).CONTENT + UPSIDES:While my credibility in everything the author presented & wrote has been undermined by the 3 dubious claims shown above, as an lutheran and evangelical Christian, I believe that a lot of the principles presented are Godly and beneficial to any family. I think some of the verses quoted to support a financial strategy are a bit forced or taken out of context, but the JOURNEY to your Financial Freedom presented by the roadmap with the 7 Destinations on pages 34-35 looks very solid. The book does a great job on budgeting and demonstrating how important this initial step is. Also, kudos for the encouragement to start ""Crown small group studies"" (where families and couples can go together thru the study of this book), but the numerous references to the Crown Ministires online resources and 4 pages of pure advertisement for other Crown resources gave me the feeling of a over-pitched financial product.While some of the ADVICE given in this book (on what percentage to save before making a major purchase, or what to purchase/set-aside first before another goal) may seem logical, MAKE SURE to always check with a financial adviser (with a valid CFP education credential) before making life-changing financial decisions. Howard Dayton does not claim to have any financial planning education or certifications.MIXED MESSAGES/THEMES:Chapter 21 (""Eternity is Forever"") and chapter 22 (""Destination 7: True Fiancial Freedom"") are purely dogmatic in their religious overtone. While these chapters and many of the quoted Scriptures will appeal to Christians, they also make the book less accessible and interesting to non-Christians. The message & theme of the book is focused on how to become financially independent BUT in the last 2 chapters the focus is shifted to spiritual groundedness, eternal assurance and personal salvation (almost feels like trying to 'shoot two birds with one book').CONCLUSION:I so much wish to give this book a 5 star rating, but due to the questionable ""facts"" presented in this book (see claims 1,2,3 above), the over-optimistic and cookie-cutter-formulas (without any recommendation by the author to consult with a certified financial planner), and the mixed themes/focuses on the book, I cannot give more than 3 stars.Remember, ""CAVEAT EMPTOR"" ! (famous Latin phrase for ""Let the buyer beware"")(Thank you for reading this review and your votes - either way!)",3.0,a HUGE dissapointment ...,1280361600,"07 29, 2010",14,20,helpful,0.7,1 A35JDM5KPHBQ8D,0345468570,Amazon Customer,"[0, 1]","A very enjoyable and fast read. The lead character is quite likeable, despite too many attempts to make her every thought funny. The writing and comedy is not as good as Pearson's I Don't Know How She Does It, but much better than many ""chic-lit"" books which have emerged lately. Wonderful for a few stolen hours of simple pleasure.",4.0,Fun Fast Read,1122768000,"07 31, 2005",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A39PGE3IDI0VY6,0812534085,"A. KAPLAN ""Penelopecat""","[7, 8]","This second collection of urban fantasy stories from de Lint's fictional city of Newford is almost as pleasurable as the first. As before, each story can be read and enjoyed on its own, but taken as a whole, they build subtly upon each other, and on stories from Dreams Underfoot, to create a whole portrait of a city that is greater than the sum of its parts. De Lint's lyrical, beautiful prose subtly underplays the magic, making it completely believable that there truly is this greater world beyond the one we ordinarily perceive.The only reason I give this book four stars rather than five is the apparent influence that author/attorney Andrew Vachss has on this collection. Vachss's work crusading against crimes against children is indeed an admirable goal. However, several stories in a row in The Ivory and the Horn pick up on those themes--one even mentioning Vachss as someone one of the characters has had contact with--and it lends that particular section a samey sort of feeling, as opposed to the variety I prefer to find in short story collections. Individually, the stories are just fine. I simply would have prefered to see them presented in a different order, to keep the recurring themes from feeling so obvious.",4.0,More beautiful tales from the streets of Newford,1007510400,"12 5, 2001",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 AJAUH2XDG5W37,1416534288,Michael King,"[0, 0]","I picked this up based on a review elsewhere - it's not so much a mystery book as a novel involving crimes. It was engaging, and a quick, light read, but I don't think it will become a classic. Is worth the price, in my view.",4.0,Interesting...Different,1233273600,"01 30, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A16H3RFZFGEZAQ,0966712730,"""princessali1027""","[39, 40]","Oh, that Kevin Smith. Here he goes again giving us more Jersey Trilogy comics to go all gooey over. This comic was an excellent addition to the View Askewniverse. This is the story of exactly what happens between "Chasing Amy" and "Dogma", as we follow our favorite trouble makers, Jay and Silent Bob on their journey to John Hughes land. If you're a true fan, you'll notice references from all the Jersey Trilogy movies, and find out how Jay gets "Snoogans" on his cap, how Bob gets his Mooby hat, and other interesting little tidbits having to do with that part of the timeline. The comic is beautifully written by Kevin himself, and the illustrations are better than I could have dreamed. This is the sort of comic that takes you a few days to truly appreciate because of all the detail in the art. My suggestion is to buy it and enjoy.",5.0,Kevin Proves Himself Once Again,1029196800,"08 13, 2002",39,40,helpful,0.975,1 A1XL9WS9VBBXH9,0226103897,"Michael Boggia ""Roman History Buff""","[0, 0]","The book is easy to use. A great tool for any writer proof reader or editor, be it for newspaper, fiction, non-fiction. Highly recommend it to anyone who needs a quick answer to any question related to writing. Index and chapter headings are a great help in locating information.",5.0,The Chicago Manual of Style,1387929600,"12 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SS33BVQ4RADQ,0486437477,Harry Rainey Jr.,"[0, 1]","As a survivalist especially in the city, you shoulder your Bug out bag and leave the city for the hills and country. You may have to live in the wilds for a year until 90% of the stupid people are dead from starvation or dehydration. You will need shelter from the elements also called ""roughing it"". Watch Mountain man series and that is how you will have to live until sanity returns to the world.",5.0,Where are you going to live when the SHTF,1373932800,"07 16, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A37SIO1V8NUJKR,1592135420,Cynthia Kittrell,"[0, 2]",I scored high with this one as my boyfriends and his dad's Christmas gifts. Great for any Redskin Fan!,5.0,Redskins Encyclopedia,1200528000,"01 17, 2008",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A25KHM4LBX2WKG,1935142070,Myles Goldfein,"[8, 8]","This adventure book maintains a good pace that really picks up toward the end. In spite of the suspense, I had to put the book down many times and take a break because I was in anguish because a main character, a blue whale, was in danger. Yeah, stupid me, but I can't handle anything to do with harming animals and Chesler got me so involved with the plot, I was almost sick with anxiety.The descriptive writing makes you feel as if you're covered with salt spray. The author is obviously quite informed about whaling, scuba diving and the ocean environment.I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good adventure book, or anyone interested in issues like whaling.",4.0,A Whale of a Read (sorry couldn't resist),1276473600,"06 14, 2010",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A3AL49CFO2EHZ0,B00KD1VUTG,Lysanne P.,"[0, 0]","I enjoyed this book. The first part of the book is dedicated to explaining what diabetes is and how to overcome this illness. Then there are recipes to help keep yourblood sugar level low. There are breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes. There is a complete nutrition value for each recipe. There is even a seven days plan meal. The last chapter is dedicated to keeping a healthy lifestyle and exercise. I will definitively try some recipes from this book like the chicken bulgur skillet recipe.",5.0,Healthy Recipes for Diabetic,1400544000,"05 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3P1P7DJ3NVP11,0099754916,S. Bourget,"[4, 12]","My bookclub picked this out based on the exciting description. It was very diappointing. The main characters, Colin and Mary, are one dimensional and seem to have very little chemistry between the two of them. There were a few times in the book that I wondered if Mary had multiple personalities. It is unclear what their history is or what is the full story about her kids, why they are vacationing there, etc.Robert and Carolyn reek of creepy, creepy from the first moment that the reader meets them. However, they are more interesting then the main characters of Mary and Colin. At least Robert had a bit more dimension to him than the other characters.The ending was the most exciting part of the book. The rest just goes on and on about nothing. Even with an exciting ending it leaves so many holes and unanswered questions that just leave you wondering ""What the ? ? ?""",1.0,Very disappointed,1159315200,"09 27, 2006",4,12,helpful,0.3333333333333333,1 A1LDZC7QS6G1X0,0002007770,John V. Atkinson,"[6, 17]","As a small town child,I always loooked forward to the circus coming to town.I thought this book would bring back memories.However,I was greatly disappointed that the author toook what should have been a good family story and infiltrated it with sexual incidents that added nothing to the story.I suppose the author was trying to make the book more ""saleable"" I would not recommend this book,most certainly not to young readers.What a ruination of what good have been a good story",2.0,Why destroy a good story,1184284800,"07 13, 2007",6,17,helpful,0.35294117647058826,1 A1W1EUE6X6WP6,B004YXD646,"Jack Shakely ""Jack Shakely""","[4, 4]","It's almost unfair to mention that Gary Presley, noted New York Times best-selling author of ""Seven Wheelchairs,"" has, thanks to polio when he was seventeen, spent almost the last fifty years ""butt-surfing through life."" Almost unfair, because as this collection of memoirs attests, life in a wheelchair does not immunize you from the foibles and funny business everybody else endures.""The View From Down Here"" is a literary bundle of charming, gentle, often amusing and always insightful observations on the human condition. For those of you who have guiltily wolfed down a couple of slices of cold pizza for breakfast, Presley's experiment with chili and bran cereal will leave you laughing. Does it work? Well, Presley says, the bran ""lost its 'surely this isn't food consistancy'."" But the chili sort of lost its chiliness, leaving an unsatisfactory combination, a ""gastronomic Julia Robert-meets Lyle Lovett mismatch."" Like us with the pizza, he eats it anyway.Only one vignette,entitled ""A Pot to Pee In,"" explores his life facing ordinary daily functions like urinating that can be daunting to a man who can't stand up to pee. But even this memoir, which I admit got me a little itchy at times, is told with great good humor.Presley and his dry-witted and delightful wife (when he offers his achilles tendon to replace her ailing one, she says ""No, I need a horse's paracardium; not a horse's ass"") surf through life like the rest of us, looking for a measure of happiness, and in Presley's well-written account, finding that he can be ""content with the knowledge that not every act needs a reason,not every wound a bandage, not every question an answer.""Jack Shakelypresident emeritusCalifornia Community Foundation",5.0,A Magnificent View,1337904000,"05 25, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A6P5PFV5EIV86,0764203126,E. G. Hallett,"[0, 0]","This is Part 3 of The Courtship of Nellie Fisher. You need to read the other 2 books in the series first or you will know the ending before the beginning. I like Beverly Lewis's style of writing - a Prologue and at the end an Epilogue. This is an exciting series based on a split that actually happened, although the book is purely fiction.",5.0,A wonderfully surprising conclusion!,1401148800,"05 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3TYI0QLZ2FJON,1452664471,xjessirae,"[0, 0]","Against the Wall by Rebecca Zanetti is another example of why I love Entangled's Brazen line so much. I swear, each release just gets better and better. It was just impossible not to fall in love with Zanetti's book because it had so much going on in the story besides the romance. 

Sophie was fanfreakingtastic! She was just a great character all around. Sophie had the brains and the looks. She was well educated, stubborn, and ready to put anyone in their place. She didn't just have spirit, but she had fire. I really loved how she grew throughout the story, realizing her full potential as an artist and just embracing who and what she believed in. She didn't just want to settle, she wanted love and passion in her relationship. She wanted a family she had always been dreaming of, a place where she would belong and all of this was explored and discovered for her.Jake Lodge was absolutely wonderful! He was the jelly to Sophie's peanut butter and he was just the way I liked `em. He was the most sexiest horse riding kissable cowboy lawyer I damn wished I could get my hands all over. I loved how devoted he was to the Kooskia tribe and how important his heritage was. I especially loved how he had great family ties and values. He was very protective of his sister Dawn and was an amazing father to his daughter Leila. He was just amazing all around. Every quality in a man that a woman may be looking for, Jake had it. He was powerful, clever and so easily able to command a room, who wouldn't be swooning all over him?
I really liked that Jake and Sophie's relationship, though they had some hesitations, were able to communicate and push aside their oppositions against each other professionally. They had lovely chemistry together and the way Jake's family embraced Sophie was heartwarming. Zanetti totally gave this book everything. Her writing had the perfect flow with just the right amount of witty sense of humor and sensual sexiness I couldn't get enough of. Her descriptions of the landscape was beautifully written, I had no problem visualizing it all in my mind. I loved how she mixed in the loyalty between family and heritage, love and career, and risking it all. 

Spicy, dangerous, and completely tantalizing, Against the Wall will have you racing to finish the book, but regretting that it ever ends! I can't wait for the next installment in the Maverick Montana series!",5.0,More please!!,1372723200,"07 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A16B3E5LN0UWP8,1608610519,Jenny P,"[4, 4]","I read ""The List"" in just a couple of days and was thoroughly entertained the entire time. This book is a light read - a romantic comedy that won't change your life or alter your perspective. It's like dessert - not necessary, but so much fun. The quality of writing is also really great - natural dialog, good pacing. I fell quite naturally into the story and found the author's style easy, refreshing, and fun. If you need a book to lighten the mood, this would be a great pick.",4.0,"A great ""dessert"" book",1302134400,"04 7, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2G7GQ8O6ELCS2,156955191X,Richard A. Libby,"[14, 16]","Archbishop Chaput explains not only what Catholics believe, but how to live according to those beliefs. He is straightforward and clear, but unfailingly positive. This book is valuable for anyone interested in the Catholic Church, even cradle Catholics.",5.0,Catholic living in plain English,1019692800,"04 25, 2002",14,16,helpful,0.875,1 A1MWXGYE3F1085,0987151118,Berls @ Fantasy is More Fun,"[0, 0]","I received this book for free from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.My Initial Reaction...Memory's Wake was a marvelously unique story, with endearing characters and a plot that kept me engaged. The mysterious elements worked extremely well and I never knew what was coming next, which made this a really fun and exciting read.The Characters...Memory's Wake is told from the perspective of four main characters: Eloryn, Roen, Will, and of course, Memory. I'm not picky about my book's point of view, but being tossed around this much can be a bit confusing if the author doesn't make the transitions clear. While I was always able to figure out the point of view, the transitions could have been smoother; I would have rather not had to figure it out. That being said, I did love these characters and reading from all their points of view did enhance the mystery and complexity of the plot.Memory (sometimes called Mem) is the most central character, in that her mystery is the one you're most interested in solving (at least I was). In the first scene Memory is thrust into this medieval-esque world of magic and fae (which was pretty great, by the way), beat up, having to immediately run for her life, and and she has none of her memories. As a reader, we know what none of the characters do - that Memory has somehow come from our world - because she's wearing jeans and thinks of things like cell phones that are completely foreign to this world. As the story unfolds, we get to know Memory better and it's impossible not to feel for her. She's lost, in danger, scared and confused. And somehow she's managed to group up with someone who's problems are more important to everyone than her's, making her feel inconsequential and alone.Memory's playing second fiddle to Eloryn (sometimes called Lory or El, which could be a bit confusing at first), the first character she encounters in Memory's Wake. Eloryn is on the run from Wizard Hunters, and like Memory, we have no idea why. We just know that something has gone terrible wrong when she passed through the Veil (some form of magical transportation) and that for some reason Memory was ripped through that same veil with her. Through Eloryn we begin to guess at the kind of magical world Memory's been placed in - for example, Eloyrn's magic is clearly forbidden, though again we don't know why. Eloryn has the most personal growth of the characters - she starts of scared and timid, but as the story progresses she really finds her voice and strength. She's also a marvelously compassionate person and she's got to figure out how to balance that with the need to be fierce and, well, kick ass.Until these two ladies and forced travel companions grow into themselves, they're very lucky to have the support of the two leading men - Will and Roen. Will is a mystery for me still, we've only just gotten to know some critical details about him and I have a feeling he will be much better fleshed out in future books. He's a Tarzan like character, raised by the fae, and a bit wild. Roen, on the other hand, is a man of the world - he should have been a prince, but the kingdom's been taken over and his family has had to go into hiding. As a result, he's supporting them the best he can, as a thief. He wants to protect the girls but he feels ill equipped, mainly because he looks down on himself for the path he's been forced to take in life.I enjoyed all the characters, and as a character motivated reader I was satisfied to see the way they moved the story along.The Story...That's not to say Memory's Wake doesn't have a wonderful story. It does. The mystery surrounding Eloryn and Memory is heightened and intensified by the fact that they are being chased by the Wizard Hunters in this fabulously complex magical world. I would have liked to see more of this world and to understand it better. For most of the story I felt like Memory, drifting about in a complex world with rules I didn't understand. It worked well for the story though; my ignorance made the mystery of what was going on that much more complex. What I loved, though, was that despite my lack of knowledge there were enough hints along the way that I felt like I could potentially solve the mystery. Ultimately I picked up on some things, completely missed others, making it all the more fun.For me Memory's Wake was a book of self-discovery more than anything else. Yes there's action and magical creatures and even a little bit of romance. But more than anything our main characters are figuring out who they are - and not just Memory - they all have a lot to learn about themselves and that journey isn't quite over.The story and the world building were beautifully supported by drawings done by the author (some people get all the talent!!). I was skeptical when I heard there were drawings in the eBook - I didn't expect them to be very enjoyable in that medium. I was wrong. I loved these drawings (even when I was reading on my phone!) and often stopped reading just to look at it. Ultimately they did nothing to move the story along itself and yet they helped me to visualize the girls and what what was going on in different ways. I wouldn't want to read the book without them, now that I've had the privilege of reading it with them.Concluding Sentiments...Ultimately, I really enjoyed Memory's Wake and look forward to reading the next book in the series. The ending left enough resolved to make me happy and yet I can see definite lingering uncertainties that leave it wide open to continue. I recommend this for anyone who enjoys fantasy stories, magical worlds, and young adult stories.",4.0,A marvelously unique story about self-discovery,1384300800,"11 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AUA3SGBG64NVC,1939392756,"Amy ""book loving mom""","[5, 6]","I absolutely loved this book. It was sweet, sexy, funny, and everything that I could want out of a New Adult contemporary. It had a fabulous story, the characters were amazing, and I was totally drawn in!! I am always a sucker for friends to lovers stories and this one hit the mark!! Told through alternating POV's I think that this was done spectacularly and I found it hard to put down.Sydney is a character that though very different from me, I found she was very easy to connect to. I was able to get right into her head and feel her emotions with her. I loved watching her come out of her shell. In the beginning she is so afraid to just let go and do something spontaneous, then when she tries it doesn't always go the way she thinks it will. I really loved her character. She is so intent on keeping her friendship with Kyler that she is afraid to do anything to ruin it. I can totally understand that. They bicker, but are awesome friends... best friends.Kyler was a bit harder for me to like. Okay, so he was swoon worthy pretty much right off, but he was still a jerk. He is a total man whore and has girls crawling out of the woodwork to get a piece of that, but yet if Sydney even so much as talks to another guy, he gets all pissy and the guy is obviously a tool in his mind. Yes, it's sweet that he is jealous, but it's like he thinks he can do every girl on the planet, but Sydney can't even look at a guy. Yet, he won't tell her how he feels about her for certain reasons, but still. Once I started to get to know him a little better I definitely started to love him. I thought that he was sweet and charming, but still an arrogant ass at times. He could not have been any more perfect for Sydney though. He is loyal to their friendship and fiercely protective of her. He is a great best friend, and no one could be better for her.Oh the sexiness!! Holy Hell are there some scenes that could almost make the book go up in flames. JLA sure knows how to make those pages steamy! Okay, so besides the steam, the romance is really great too. There are plenty of ""awww"" inducing moments, some moments that had me laughing, and then the ones where I though a cold shower could do me some good. I love that the romance stemmed from a friendship and it's believable that they would be in love with each other. There is no insta-love or fast romance. This has been building for practically their entire lives. You could feel the connection and the chemistry between them. You know how they met. You know how they have grown up close to each other. You get their history, so you believe the romance.So, the story! What better was to finally get their feelings out there then being snowed in by a massive blizzard? Well, it's not really that easy. There were plenty of issues that got in their way. Some funny, some scary, some just plain old frustrating. The worst part is, they aren't just snowed in, but someone is apparently out to get them too. So besides it being freezing and having to use a backup generator for a little bit of power, now they have to fear that someone is going to harm them. Well, Kyler is just mostly scared for Syd. It makes for a great addition to the story and how it all comes out in the end had me with my heart beating out of my chest.This was beyond amazing. I went through so many emotions back and forth through this book that I was mentally exhausted, but so satisfied when I was done!! I was expecting an awesome book, but what I got was off the charts incredible!! My love for JLA's books grows with each one I read. I already want to go back and read this one again and again. This is a friends to lovers story at it's best!! I would give it a million stars if I could!*An advanced copy of this book was sent by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation.",5.0,"Sweet, sexy, and fun. This was beyond amazing!",1373846400,"07 15, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AD2K876KX228Y,0312420145,Blusuede,"[6, 7]","Jonathan Franzen is an accomplished writer. However, that doesn't stop this book from being a clunker. Having started and stopped several times, I finally got stuck at page 215 and have not had the energy or willpower to go further. His plot is bizarre and the characters arouse little sympathy; the prose does little to propel you on. I would recommend The Corrections for anyone intrigued by his style but unwilling to take a chance on this early poorly-received work of his.",2.0,Not Worth It - Try Another Novel Instead,1112486400,"04 3, 2005",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 AONPH5OJ07EMP,B00C44YV3C,Jet,"[0, 0]","Embryo: Crosshairs picks up almost immediately following the events of the first book. A media firestorm, fallout at the hospital, the fate of the embryo, and a deadly loose end ensure that this second volume is as gripping as the first.Crosshairs adds a strong whodunit element to the tension and handles it admirably, with enough redirection and mystery to keep you guessing until the end. If you're looking for a fast-paced, absorbing mystery thriller, you've got it. The author has mastered keeping her readers glued to the page (or screen!) from start to finish.Schneider also deftly avoided telling the same story over in the sequel and went with a refreshingly different although convincingly related plot. I can't wait to read the third installment! These books are addicting little morsels that leave you bouncing around wanting more.The one thing I had a really hard time getting past is the almost comic-bookish villainy of the antagonist. He's a cartoon cutout of a revenge-driven psychopath. He's intended to have mental issues, but the entire portrayal clobbers readers over the head with the same lack of subtlety as the villain himself.The author anticipates the possibility that the reader might not have knowledge of the first book and back-fills the story enough to understand what's going on. I recommend reading Embryo first, and as someone who did I wish there hadn't been quite as much time spent ""catching up"" new readers on the story - but it's understandable.NOTES: This volume may be triggering to those with PTSD (rape and heights). There are fairly graphic although clinical scenes of the aftermath of violent rapes. Though the cover implies a possible abortion storyline, there isn't one. It's a straight mystery thriller that happens to have an embryo in jeopardy from other factors.* I was provided with a free copy for unbiased review. I post my honest opinion; if I don't like a book and would have to give a sharply negative opinion, I refrain from posting any review at all out of respect for the author. Thus if you see a positive review from me, it's real. I rarely rate five stars, a ranking which is reserved for all-time favorites.",4.0,A sizzling follow-up,1372636800,"07 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2AQ2PGUZ2TH4N,0345493281,Mika,"[0, 0]",This book is not for the faint of the heart believe me my heart was hurting reading this book. Desire when threw the storm and overcame it. From the gritty streets Desire got her way a lot but when you thought she would give up she didn't and she got to where she wanted to be at the end with the person who always had her back LOVE IT!,5.0,Raw and Gritty! Good as Read!,1355356800,"12 13, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A456NFKWB68YD,0786218223,Maureen,"[0, 0]","A very quick enjoyable read, read in one afternoon. Reminded me of ""You Got Mail"". When the story begins Lauren is engaged to Jeff, and it appeared to me immediately that it was a one sided relationship. I was happy when it ended!When Lauren's brother Brad brings her a computer, this book was originally published back in 1996. He sets her up with email, and a shows her a chat room. So begins a new internet relationship with KC.When a year passes with this unseen friend they decide to meet. Her friends are aghast, he could be an axe murderer. She cancels!!We travel with Lauren through this period of time in her life, she finishes her degree. She has reestablished her relationship with God, and keeps him close now.Will these two unknown to one another, ever meet? Will they ever get beyond cyber tea, Irish Breakfast Tea?This is a sweet, sometimes funny read, and hope you enjoy it as much as I did!I received this book from Multnomah Blogging For Books Program, and was not required to give a positive review.",4.0,You Got Mail,1357948800,"01 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMAKXHY1PVSAS,0143053787,SweetPea,"[33, 46]","I have been on the internet researching Adam and I have read pros and cons to his healing methods and people being healed or not.What I have to say is, ""We all are Light Beings."" We come here for a special purpose. Some of us are here to heal, others to witness, others to help, others to teach. Just because we are chosen to do something special, does not mean we are perfect.All healing comes from the Divine through us to help others. But because we don't see or have healing in everyone, it does not mean the healing is not coming through to that person. Some people don't want to be healed, other people are meant to be sick--either to pay back Karma or to heal themselves in order to help others.Now a question to the non-believers? Have you woke up in this lifetime or are you destined to be awakened down the road?When a person walks the Path of Light, then and only then will the perception of Adam's and others work be truly understood.Adam is here to teach us, heal us, and show us the way. He is a brave young man to put himself out in public. These crystal children are becoming the next generation and those like Adamare who we need.",5.0,We all are Light Beings,1152835200,"07 14, 2006",33,46,helpful,0.717391304347826,1 AEVO0UWFCAK02,1908844558,Kindle-aholic,"[0, 0]","Alien vets, strange creatures, a Martian colony, and a girl stuck in the middle of a conspiracy - yes I was a very happy reader.Zenn Scarlett is trying to pass her three exams so that she can move on in her studies to be an exo-veterinarian. That would be a vet that takes care of animals from everywhere - goats and cats from Earth to sandhogs, whalehounds, and other beasties from all kinds of worlds. Zenn grew up at the Ciscan Cloister (not religious by this point in this world's history). She has had little contact with the kids in town, some because of the fear of the townies for the strange beasts and because of Zenn's reluctance to allow people to get close to her. Then a series of mishaps and close calls threaten Zenn's exo-vet future and the existence of the cloister. Also, Zenn seems to be developing a closer mental connection to the animals in her care...This was a fast-paced read for me. I liked the characters: Zenn was a capable heroine and Hamish (an alien who is more like a bug) stole the show during his scenes. There is some action, a lot of alien creatures, and as Zenn starts to think more about the politics of her time we get some clues as to the overall picture of this story's universe. Zenn has been very sheltered, and while she knows a lot about the different alien species, she doesn't know much about people, nor does she necessarily read them well. I liked how it all unfolded.There is a hint of romance, but it is not a story where Zenn is in the middle of a life-threatening event and she can only think of the possible love interest. It felt natural and by no means settled.The story is not over. I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger, but we are definitely going to need book 2.Recommended if you like YA, sci fi, aliens and very smart heroines.[received an arc]",4.0,Fun YA SF Adventure,1367971200,"05 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3O9JSQ2AMLH8E,0395207290,Gary Reger,"[13, 26]","Julian Jaynes' The Origins of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind exerts its fascination on lots of people. The thesis is compelling, if only for its originality and the conviction with which it is expressed. In the first part of the book, in which Jaynes argues that many activities that people undertake do not require consciousness to occur, struck me as reasonable. But when he actually starts to look at the ancient evidence -- primarily from Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece -- the power of his argument is undercut, and finally demolished, by the simple fact that he does not understand the source material he has nor the societies which produced it. In the end, Jaynes has written a wonderful fantasy, fodder for many late nights of undergraduate speculation and science fiction writers in search of ideas; but as a real history of human consciousness, no one should take it seriously.",2.0,It's fantasy,923097600,"04 3, 1999",13,26,helpful,0.5,1 A10IXICTN64ZSV,0062064622,Alice,"[0, 0]",This second book in the series is as good as the first book. Angles and vampires are a good combination. I like all of the seals adventure as well.,5.0,Another good read!!,1366588800,"04 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3JWV2T9M1EG3H,1484169778,happygrandparent,"[0, 0]",This book was entertaining. It is not a deep book & I could not understand the main character (Max) keeping stuff from the police. But it made it easy to go to sleep at night as you could leave off anywhere & when you pick it up the next night you remembered everything & didn't have to go back & read a few pages.,4.0,Humorous Mystery,1402444800,"06 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A7N9RWRMS9OQ2,1442346272,Buzzmo,"[26, 34]","As another reviewer mentioned, anyone interested in this book needs to listen to John Siracusa's critique on the Hypercritical podcast, episode 42. His list of criticisms is vast and rightfully damning.The long and short of it is that Issacson ruined a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to write a biography with direct access to Steve Jobs. There is no evidence that he made any effort to understand the industry Apple is in, nor the technology it created with Jobs at the helm. The book is riddled with technical errors: getting the name of the company wrong (""Apple Computers""), continuously referring to Mac OS X as ""OSX"", misattributed photos (one with Jobs and Woz and an Apple II+ is labeled as ""in the garage"" in ""1974"", despite the fact that the II+ came out in 1979 and they are obviously sitting in Apple's Cupertino offices), and some quotes attributed to folks like Bill Gates that just sound nonsensical.Even more damning is that the strongest parts of the book, such as the creation of the original Macintosh, are obviously relying heavily on existing documentation such as Andy Hertzfeld's fantasticRevolution in The Valley [Paperback]: The Insanely Great Story of How the Mac Was Made (Otx). Once we get to the era of Job's return to Apple in 1996, the book becomes very superficial. Issacson suddenly switches from a chronological narrative to a product-based one, and we learn virtually nothing new about the creation of some of the most revolutionary products in history (e.g., the iPhone). I found this pretty unforgivable, as this is not only some of the most important technology in history, but also arguably Jobs' greatest triumphs. Really, the books turns into a superficial history of Apple, and not a biography of Jobs. We learn nothing new, which is a grievous sin given Issacson's access to Jobs.I will admit that the writing is competent, if not inspiring; I tore through the book pretty quickly. But, in the end, I agree with Siracusa that Jobs simply picked the wrong guy for the job. Any reader of this book would do well to listen to Siracusa's critique, and then go hunt down some of the far better books that have been written about Apple.Steve Jobs cared about the details. This book doesn't. Steve Jobs said Apple lived at the intersection of technology and the humanities. This book should have positioned itself there as well, with powerful writing that demonstrated a mastery of the technical subjects on which it must focus. It does neither. I can only hope that, someday, Siracusa, or perhaps John Gruber, will take up the task of writing a far more insightful, inspiring book about Jobs' life. Steve is one of the giants of our age, and he deserves better.",2.0,"""Shallow and sloppy""",1321574400,"11 18, 2011",26,34,helpful,0.7647058823529411,1 A11I6F72APCZEN,B00BZTOP0G,Hiding-out-with-my-Kindle,"[0, 0]","I enjoyed this story quite a bit. The writing was good overall and the pacing moved. The hero bordered on abusive at times, but he is a good, hard-working man whose true feelings come out in his actions, despite the wall he tries to put up. Also, this novel is apparently set in the late 30's. Times were different then--people married more for practical reasons, and women's rights weren't what they are today.The characters were likeable (esp. Cole), and a few of them quite hate-able. The way the folks in church treated the family gave me pause, though. A few of the members should have behaved in a friendly manner. As it was, it felt a bit unrealistic.As far as technical details, this book would have benefited from an editor. It wasn't so rife with errors that it was unreadable--it was well written for the most part--but it could have been better.As another reviewer noted, the characters sometimes used modern terms like 'retail therapy,' which didn't fit the decade. Introductory phrases (way more than 3 words in length) were often not followed by a comma. There were also verb errors ('...you could have just came and got it.' Past participle is 'come,' not 'came.'). These errors not only felt out of place, considering the character spoke well otherwise; but also were repeated in other characters' lines, making me wonder if the error was the author's and not theirs. The only other thing that stuck out (besides a couple of missing hyphens that got a laugh) was a few repetitive descriptions, like 'china doll' for various character's faces. Those could have been varied more.That said, I'm glad I read this story. A solid 4 stars.",4.0,"All in all, not a bad read",1368230400,"05 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1FTB3KM7X78OX,B00E4WOO9S,DAA,"[0, 0]","For a first part of three this story part was ok. The story line is about a rich man who plays too hard and his father who wants him to settle down. His image is not good for the company. Father sets him up with a ""trophy wife"". I thought it was a full story line until the end. I will be looking for the next section to come out.",3.0,Contratual Obligations,1375315200,"08 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3K71U2UXLQ606,0615539319,"Jeannie Walker (Award-Winning Author) ""Award-...","[7, 7]","If you were Sin- could you kill a killer? If you had extraordinary powers- could it drive you insane? Is Sin a wicked man or does he have a big problem and not know how to deal with it or get out of it? How would you like to be in a six by six foot box? I venture none of us really want to go there. When you see a penny - do you stop and pick it up or pass it by?I want to thank the author's teacher for reading to the class and showing Shaun Allen that a book can carry you away on an adventure without ever leaving your seat.I must say this novel will carry you away and take you on quite a trip.Jeannie Walker- Award Winning Author of ""Fighting the Devil"" - A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder",4.0,Quite a Trip,1358899200,"01 23, 2013",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A1UV209YOSPRG2,078627557X,"kooky Kid ""Bookfiend1818""","[8, 18]","Obviously some people found this life tale engaging-but I found it super disturbing that this woman who is held up as a feminist rodney dangerfield allowed herself to continue in a martyrd wife situation that evokes feudal situations- think Hedda Gabler's time. This was the 20th century and I realize that the feminine Mystique only came out in the sixties-Yet.. Ms diller used the principles in the book The Magic of Believing- which helped her to hone her creation skills to masterfully build her career-while at the same time she is living for decades with an abusive dim witted drunken rapist lowlife who doesn't work. Years, ok- but decades? PULEAZE! The whole thing is so bizarre and it's never explained to any satisfaction- THEN husband number 2 is another nasty jealous acoholic who happens to be gay.Yuk- this relationship has a pretty long life as well.At the same time she has a whole house full of kids that she manages to ""take care of"" , then later in life they all meet some tradgedy or another or are mentally unstable to say the least!!I don't feel like I am getting an authentic character sketch of anyone in this family, except maybe Phyllis' Mom and Dad; the early years are covered pretty well.My hat is off to Phyllis for her honesty and her ambition, and for her long well deserved career-but the price she has to pay for all these ""gags"" is way too high.",3.0,"Trying to keep my focus on ""the product""",1124755200,"08 23, 2005",8,18,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A2MK1KAOVTX5CP,1595143173,Sarah Woodard,"[0, 0]","I really loved Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy Series. I was really excited to read Bloodlines. At first, I wasn't sure if I would like this book, but as soon as I began reading it. The world of both of these series are amazing and authentic. There aren't many books like this.Bloodlines has many of the same characters as Vampire Academy. Sydney, Adrian, Jill, and Eddie were the main characters. Sydney was very uptight in the Vampire Academy, but she loosened up in Bloodlines and was actually a very relatable character. She isn't as kick ass as Rose, but she was clever and funny, when she needed to be. I was on Team Dimitri, when it came to Rose, but I liked Adrian a lot. He was a great character and I really enjoyed seeing him again. He still has the carefree slacker attitude and made me laugh a lot. Jill and Eddie were both amazing. Overall all four of these characters have great chemistry and they all work together. There were several new characters that I found interesting. Kieth was a jerk and I wanted to slap him from the first page that he appeared. Lee also intrigued me a lot and I found a lot about him to be interesting. There are cameos of several characters like Rose, Abe, and a couple more characters from the past books.The plot of Bloodline is so exciting and face paced. There were a few things that I guessed, but luckily I was surprised almost every second of the end of this novel and I honestly didn't know what to expect from the ending. Like most of Mead's books, there is a surprising ending that makes you want the next book as soon as possible. The writing is amazing as usual. Mead has a gift with stories and I found Bloodlines to be just as appealing as the Vampire Academy series. I definitely recommend this book to fans of Vampire Academy. I can't wait to read The Golden Lily as soon as possible.",5.0,A great addition to the world...,1356825600,"12 30, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AI37YX1U4KB1L,0060562978,Chris Salzer,"[9, 22]","First off, allow me to commend Colmes on his admirable ability(unlike fellow liberal zealots) to elevate the level of discourse and present his case(even though it's wrong) with a degree of professionalism and decorum that is conspicuously absent with the cretin likes of Al Franken, Michael Moore, and the 9 Dwarves. That being said, I found this book to be a farce of a political effort. When I tried to play devil's advocate and attempt to be persuaded to his side, I found my attempt to be nonsensical, if not impossible.His chapter titles, although admittedly themselves a vain attempt to push buttons, are enough to make anyone with half of a brain go into a veritable apoplexy: OJ Is Innocent, Jesus Was a Liberal, and, the icing on this not so delicious cake, Clinton, Our Greatest President. Colmes quotes emails from radical zealots and attempts to indocrinate his readers that these people(all of whom somehow misspell routine words)are indicative of all conservatives. Colmes, this is not only gross misrepresentation of conservatism, it is nothing short of malicious demagoguery.",1.0,Is this a joke or is this a joke?,1066867200,"10 23, 2003",9,22,helpful,0.4090909090909091,1 A2QXFENIRL55XH,1609071700,Karen Garbe,"[0, 0]",Another great book. Josi kilpack keeps you engaged in the story and make you want to read the book in one sitting. Excited for more to come.,5.0,Another great Sadie hoffmiller story.,1400716800,"05 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1CYKTVN6L1477,0312354568,JTM,"[7, 12]","I picked this book up after browsing the first chapter, and reading the reviews on the back, including a few from authors I know and respect. Unfortunately, I did not realize until I had bought it that the reviews were for a different book by the same author.There was quite a bit of really compelling stuff in this book - but not enough to fill the pages. The book is repetitive, and there is some really bad editing at times. The author describes the same equipment and situations over and over again. It seemed haphazardly written, and poorly organized.I would classify this as one of 'those' books on current events, where some corners were cut, and some filler put in to get it to press while most relevant.",2.0,"Interesting topic, poor execution.",1214524800,"06 27, 2008",7,12,helpful,0.5833333333333334,1 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0385720564,Harriet Klausner,"[15, 22]","Though it lacks the wide opinion that William Jennings Bryan was a brimstone theologian who was an intolerant believer in the white man's burden, this biography shows the other side of one of the most influential Americans of the early twentieth century. Bryan is considered by many as the first great perhaps ""founder"" of populism, the basis of much thinking on both sides of the aisle today. The book insightfully digs deep into a complex religious political and social activist, but also lacks the criticism that many of his peers claimed about him especially during the epic battle with Darrow. On top of the Scopes trial, which by itself is fascinating and relevant in today's world of debating Darwinism, other Bryan topic seem so too. Whether it is eugenics and the Shiavo affair, corporate-government partnering for a few select lobbying interests making profit, or a firm belief that the government could improve the economic (liberals) and moral life (conservatives) of the people, this is a terrific look at A GODLY HERO.Harriet Klausner",5.0,Terrific biography,1139529600,"02 10, 2006",15,22,helpful,0.6818181818181818,1 A11HGVNM8Q5A2O,006230240X,"Megan Bedroom Bookworms ""Megan from Bedroom B...","[0, 0]","It took me a little while to become interested with the story but in time I found myself enjoying it. The book has this underlying level of stress and suspense. I found myself just waiting to see which of the two, Rule or Shaw would be the one to mess things up. Rule, is told in alternating points of view and you know how I love to get the male point of view in books.“It’s always been you even when I didn’t want it to be, even when it broke my heart over and over again. It’s just always been you.”The biggest problem this book has is the editing. It’s bad, missing words, weird sentences, wrong words, wrong forms of to/too. As I said above this book has been on my Kindle for a long time so I’m hoping that it’s been reedited. I did not look to update my copy while I was reading so I’m not sure. A good editor could definitely help out. I spent a good portion of time having to re-read things or being taken out of the moment because of an editing error. If you’re able to look beyond the editing issues there is a good story trying to get through the pages of Rule.“You have me Shaw, any way you need me, any way you want me, you have me.”While I like the story and the characters there were a few other things that bothered me besides just the editing. There is a problem with dates and ages adding up. I won’t go into it here because I don’t want to give anything away, but I spent some time trying to work the math in my head to no avail. And lastly I felt that the final drama conflict wasn’t really needed. It was just angst for the sake of angst, there was enough going on we didn’t need to put up such a divide between the main characters. Those two had enough to work through as it was. That extra little bite wasn’t needed.“I think I wanted it too much and you didn’t want it enough.”Yet, even with all of that I enjoyed reading this book. I don’t know if I would say it’s epic, but it’s memorable for sure. I liked both main characters for the most part (when they weren’t making stupid decisions). I felt like both, Rule and Shaw grew and changed over the course of the story. I liked that they both had things they needed to change about themselves rather than it being just one or the other as you normally find.“Opposites don’t just attract they freaking catch fire and burn the entire city down”Normally a book like this would have probably received a 3.5 Star rating, but the story got under my skin and really started to stick with me. I was able to look past things that would have bothered me much more in other stories and just allow myself to enjoy the tale.“Look at me being all optimistic and s***. Remy would be so proud.”Add Rule to your to be read list, but don’t drop another read to pick this one up. If you can look past some of the chopping situations and the other things I mentioned, Rule, does prove to be a good read. I will make sure and find time for the others in the series at some point.",4.0,I'll be reading the next one,1396915200,"04 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3D5B2CBFNJB0K,0761461701,ut158,"[0, 0]","You are already familiar with the story. What I first noticed about this particular book was the art--I think the pictures were well-drawn and pleasant to look at. I also liked the length of this retelling--it was neither too long, nor too short (we have another retelling of Cinderella that just goes on and on and on...).The only thing that this rendition had that I don't recall from other versions I've heard is that the prince has a second royal ball instead of having just 1. After the first one, everything goes according to plan and Cinderella leaves in time to make a ""clean get-away"" as it were. The prince wants to see her again, so he throws another ball. Cinderella isn't as aware of the time on this occasion and that's when she loses her slipper on the stair. I don't know if this is more or less accurate to the ""original"" version of Cinderella (if there is such a thing), but the detail is a trivial one and I don't have much of a preference to either version, myself.If you are going to have only 1 book with this classic story in your children's library, I would recommend this copy.",5.0,An excellent retelling,1355270400,"12 12, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RMPHG9WKAJ38,B0084ADO6A,"3 D Dynamo ""Warriors Lover""","[0, 0]","I looked for this book because I have been listening to it on Christian Classics on the BIble Broadcast Network. The original title is ""The Least of These My Brethren. I had missed some of the chapters. Although the story is over 100 years old, unfortunately the critique on churches andchurch members who put appearance above the substance of actually serving the least of these is still applicable.",5.0,I want everyone in my church to read this book.,1400544000,"05 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A23ZNGL704AW7O,0425223698,Jennifer Ray,"[7, 8]","Two hunky demi-gods. One vengeful goddess. One major curse.Patricia's quiet little existence as an antiquities dealer was shattered when the sexy winged man literally fell into her life. Finding Nico on the floor of her shop with a broken wing might have sent her over the deep end if it were not for her own psychic ability.Before long, the curse plaguing Nico binds them together, at least temporarily. It seems that he has been cursed to an eternal existence as a love slave, and for the time being at least, he is all Patricia's. Not only that, the deal seems to come with some pretty exotic fringe benefits in the form of his equally handsome best friend, Andreas.Good-hearted Patricia wants more than a short fling, however. She wants forever with Nico and is determined to help the two hapless demi-gods break the curse that Hera cast over them, no matter what it takes to do it. No small feat, considering Hera and her minions are bound and determined to prevent that from happening.When I see the name Allyson James on the cover of a book, I know it is a story I want to read - I don't even need to see the synopsis for the story. This author hasn't disappointed me yet, continuing to deliver creative tales that excite my imagination and stir my heart.To say that Ms. James has a knack for paranormal romance would be an understatement. No matter how fantastical the plot, she makes the stories come alive on the pages. In MORTAL TEMPTATIONS, she builds the story from the roots of ancient mythology - something which is always a draw for me.This is definitely a romance, but we enjoy two different, yet connected, love stories in one great book. Our primary couple is Nico and Patricia, and the secondary romance is between their friends Andreas and Rebecca.Nico and Andreas are both demi-gods and have been friends since their youth. They were cursed together and so have been tied together for an eternity. Although they have very different personalities, their deep friendship makes that binding a blessing for them. They might suffer, but they have always had each other for comfort.These men have lived for centuries experiencing constantly transient relationships, with only each other as constants in their immortal lives to lessen the oppressive loneliness.Patricia and Rebecca are bright spots in the men's bleak existence, and Nico and Andreas are determined to enjoy it for as long as it lasts, never allowing themselves to hope this time might be different. Of course, this never daunts our intrepid modern heroines, who are relentless in their goal to free the men they are falling for.In the end, our couples find their happy endings, in very different ways. One truth remains for each man, however: love is its own reward.MORTAL TEMPATIONS is a beautiful erotic romance that exemplifies once again the power love has to conquer all obstacles.**4.5 Bookmarks, Courtesy of Wild on Books**",5.0,Another great erotic romance from Allyson James,1231200000,"01 6, 2009",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A186ZAYP2L4CDZ,0758287100,"Nancy ""Stepfordmomto2""","[0, 0]","Would a person actually hide Joe Jessop’s body in the utility closet for the sole purpose of getting a leg up in the highly competitive world of hotels and fudge on Mackinac Island? That is what Allie McMurphy is about to find out when she returns home after spending two years in culinary school to run the McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shoppe - her Papa Liam’s pride and joy.With a crumbling ceiling, half-completed renovations, and failure around the corner, Allie is scrambling to find out who is responsible and get her family’s business open in time for the tourist season.You have to love cozy mysteries with their quirky premise and their typical characters, but love some of them I do.Considering Joe had a habit of sneaking into the hotel to play pranks on Liam, Allie is confused as to why this annual ritual would continue once Liam was dead. Was it a practical joke that cause his death or is there something more sinister afoot? More importantly, why do people think that Allie has something to do with it?Add to that the bloodstain found under the old carpeting (which by the end of the book was never readdressed) and the island’s inhabitants taking sides by wearing either purple or green ribbons to show their loyalty to either Allie or the Jessop family, has Allie reconsidering her lifelong plan of becoming a permanent island resident.It is up to Allie and police officer Rex Manning, whom she considers a real life action figure, to put an end to this speculation and get the hotel and fudge shoppe up and running before the grand opening in three short weeks. So when a secret passage way is discovered, old bottles of wine are found leaking and another body shows up in the pool, life gets complicated for this new hotelier.With items mentioned but not later addressed, a three month old puppy that appears to take center stage, the repetition of how tall a person was prior to their aging and shrinking, plus the never ending comments of how “the dog has some growing up to do before she counts as protection”, or repeated remarks regarding the puppies dark button eyes - grew tiring. Despite that, with a few tweaks, I think that this series may have the potential to make it past the usual three book run that cozies are given.",4.0,"Needs a Few Tweaks, but overall ...",1403136000,"06 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AE41TLMIZPAE7,B008Q00FXS,POIA,"[6, 7]","This seems like a good cookbook for the most part; it contains a variety of recipes for many different meats and seafood, as well as recipes for appetizers, vegetables, noodles and rice, soups and salads. The reason I say that it is not completely authentic is that the author suggests you use frozen, pre-cut and prepackaged vegetables as well as pre-mixed seasoning packages or dried soups for many of the dishes, and there are no recipes for the many varieties of sauces used in Chinese cooking. Although using prepackaged products, store-purchased sauces and seasoning packets is great for speed and ease in preparing the dishes...""it don't get no better than fresh"".The author also needs someone to proof and edit this cookbook, as there are many errors throughout.A few were humorous, for example: use care with different types of lettuce, ""as some are more SILICATE than others"" (Good word, way wrong usage). In addition, ""RADIUM Soy Sauce"" can't be purchased at just any grocery, however, ""Three Mile Island Fine Foods"" or ""Chernobyl Specialty Foods"" both say they have stock available with an unlimited expiration date. The bottle makes an appealing centerpiece and emits a delicate, yellow-green glow which provides a softly lit, romantic atmosphere in which to dine. The cumbersome Bio-Hazard suits are, however, tough to contend with and the gloves make using your chopsticks especially difficult. The upside is, you won't have annoying wax dripping on your tablecloth nor will leaded wicks foul the air while you and your loved one are dining on your home-created Chinese meal!All kidding aside, I think the recipes presented here represent a nice variety of Chinese foods and styles, and there is nothing to stop you from selecting and preparing your own vegetables--so with that in mind, I give this one 3 1/2 stars.",3.0,"Easy, but not completely authentic Chinese recipes.",1343692800,"07 31, 2012",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1L5RDC8H9BB9S,0471389226,"Ben Rothke ""Information security professional""","[46, 50]","A large group of programmers were asked a hypothetical question: If Microsoft was to build an airplane, would you get on it? All of the programmers instantly said no, save for a sole programmer who said he would definitely board the plane. When asked why he was so confident about getting on the plane, he replied, ""If Microsoft were to ever build an airplane, it would be extremely safe since the plane would never make it out of the gate.""When it comes to information security, its current state is similar to that of a Microsoft airplane--built, but often flashy, while not forcefully functional. The root of the problem is that most organizations view security as something added on in a piecemeal fashion, rather than an integral engineering issue.Those in the construction business get this concept; they know that designs, plans, permits, coordination, commitment, buy-in, etc.,; are all requirements, not options. Similarly, before any information security product is rolled-out, the appropriate project plans must exist. While the concept that design must come before implementation is a given in most other industries, many IT departments lack this understanding.Thus is the quandary that Ross Anderson deals with in Security Engineering: A Guide to Building Dependable Distributed Systems. In a nutshell, Security Engineering is one of the best security books ever written. If you are looking for 50 pages of screen prints on how to install and configure a printer under Windows 2000, this is the wrong book for that. What Anderson does, in great detail and with lucidity, is particularize all of the aspects that are required to create a security infrastructure. He relentlessly reiterates that security must be engineered into information systems from the outset. When security is retrofitted into an application or system, it is never as effective.Anderson defines security engineering as ""building systems to remain dependable in the face of malice, error or mischance. As a discipline, it focuses on the tools, processes and methods needed to design, implement and test complete systems, and to adapt existing systems as their environment evolves.""In its 24 chapters, the book covers every domain of computer security. As noted security guru Bruce Schneier writes in the book's foreword ""If you're even thinking of doing any security engineering, you need to read this book."" Schneier's comment compliments his own attitude that security is not a product, rather a process. Going with that mantra, Anderson demonstrates in exhaustive detail how information security must be implemented in every aspect of the information system's infrastructure in order for systems to be dependable and secure.The often knee-jerk response to information security is to deal with it at the product level. With that, the security product of the year is purchased (Air Gap, IDS, PKI, etc.) and the company hopes and prays for security. Unfortunately, it does not work like that. Anderson writes that security products can't operate in a vacuum. They must operate in the framework of a comprehensive architecture supported by policies. That is precisely why there are huge amounts of books on security component technology, but very few on how to use them effectively. When it comes to making all of these security technologies interoperate, there are few good titles in print, and that is the value of this book....In more than 600 pages of intense information, Anderson lays the groundwork on how to build a secure and dependable system. Every aspect of information security is discussed in the book -- from passwords, access control, and attacks, to physical security and policy. Additionally, relevant and timely topics such as information warfare, privacy protection, access control, and more are discussed. This is the only book that covers the end-to-end spectrum of security design and engineering.Just as important as the technical issues covered in the book, the entire range of attacks that distributed systems can face (technical, procedural, and physical) are also covered. Understanding these threats are paramount in order to properly secure the system. Anderson notes from years of personal experience that many security systems are designed solely to keep the good guys out without thinking of the bad guys. There are two mistakes with this approach -- it only solves a smart part of the problem, and more importantly, the bad guys do not follow the rules. Bruce Schneier likens this approach to security as putting a pole in front of your house and hoping the attacker runs into the pole. The reality is that the adversary will simply go around the pole.While many of the chapter topics may sound unexciting, Anderson has a wonderful writing style and at times reads almost like a Tom Clancy thriller with its details of military command and control systems and other similar topics. Anyone responsible for information security should read Security Engineering.",5.0,Anyone responsible for info security should read this book,994809600,"07 11, 2001",46,50,helpful,0.92,1 A2VE83MZF98ITY,0316346624,"FrKurt Messick ""FrKurt Messick""","[11, 13]","... I found that I could not not review this book. After all, I am currently wearing Hush Puppies, and belong to a major religion that was born out of what Malcolm Gladwell might have described as a 'tipping point' thousands of years ago. In this impulse, Gladwell echoes the words of Margaret Mead, who once said 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.' This is the tipping point principle.Gladwell's writing style is up-beat and popular - he is a staff writer for the New Yorker, and that style is clearly present in his writing here. Thus, those who appreciate the New Yorker will tend to like this book; those who don't, won't. Gladwell occasionally plays a bit loose with the documentation, and relies much more an anecdotal and consensus opinions than necessarily getting strong, documented proof. Then again, with a principle like the tipping point, this might not be the most important thing in any event - any hard, cold statistical data of the early Christian movement might have dismissed this wandering band of a dozen troublemakers as insignificant.Some of Gladwell's conclusions are likewise problematic, again based on a more intuitive approach that will appeal to some and not to others. In particular, I would question his liberality of accepting drug use; while one might agree that the war on drugs goes in directions that are less helpful while other problems loom large, I'm not convinced (nor does Gladwell's argument seem very strong in this direction) that permitting or encouraging children this experience is the best course.Some have begun describing the recent Hurricane Katrina disaster as a tipping point for the economy, but whether this will be a tipping point for good or bad, one cannot say. It is a sad fact of history that often disasters and wars are followed by periods of economic boom.The term 'tipping point' actually comes from epidemiology, to describe the point at which virus and other infectious agents reach a critical mass sufficient to become an epidemic. The problem with this is that different viral and infectious agents have different tipping points given different conditions, so the idea of universally applying the concept of the tipping point becomes rather like the idea of the hundredth monkey, the idea in social consciousness construction that there is some sort of paradigm shift or mysterious shift in general thought and behaviour once it reaches a critical mass of people.Do other people wear Hush Puppies now because I have doggedly insisted upon wearing mine since the 1970s (not the same pair, mind you)? Why did they fade out of fashion only to come back in? These are the kinds of issues that the tipping point cannot explain.This is an interesting text, but more as an intellectual sideline rather than a serious attempt at formulating a universal principle of social behaviour.",4.0,As I sit here...,1126224000,"09 9, 2005",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A2X23N4T01E8KF,0743284542,konekodesho,"[7, 9]","I devoured ""The Descent"" over the weekend, and was pleased to find that a sequel had only just been published. So naturally, I snatched up ""Deeper"" and just finished reading it today. I don't think it quite measures up to ""The Descent"" in terms of excitement, but I think it does a good job of delving into the whole Satan thing a little bit more. The ending of this one really does make it seem like there's more to come.I did feel that there were many similarities between the two books, and some chapters in ""Deeper"" were covering too-familiar ground. Descriptions of the butchery and gore get a little repetitive. Also, the author seems to have completely abandoned the reincarnation idea that he'd developed at some length in the previous novel. Still, if you enjoyed ""The Descent"" I think it's worth your while to read this one.",4.0,Seems like this is turning into a trilogy,1187654400,"08 21, 2007",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A3ARCLM45TXJ4M,0140433864,silversurf,"[4, 4]","This fast-paced comic novel was written as a parody of another 18th century classic, the immensely popular Pamela. Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded, was a best selling novel by Fielding's comtemporary, Samuel Richardson. (Please see my other reviews for more about this). Although the language and social customs have changed in the 200 plus years since this book was written, there is enough universality to the comedy that modern readers won't mind missing a few of the jokes.Although having read Pamela first will help you get some of the inside humor, Joseph Andrews can be read on its own as well. Fielding uses Richardson's more serious morality tale as a jumping-off point for a pretended sequel, in which Pamela has a brother who encounters many of the same situations as his more famous sister. While Pamela was pursued by an amorous and unscrupulous landowner, Joseph is chased by lecherous females who can't believe that he is serious about saving himself for marriage to his childhood sweetheart. The humor comes from the gender reversal, and from Fielding's no-holds-barred spoof of the manners (and lack thereof) of the fashionable upper classes. Joseph is a clear-headed, intelligent young man of the servant class, whose social superiors just can't stop being ridiculous at every opportunity. I won't go into plot details-they are mostly of the standard farce variety anyway. But the scenes and dialog are often so hilarious that it doesn't matter what the pretext is, you just have to suspend all critical judgement and laugh.P.S. Shamela is included in this edition. It's a shorter spoof of Pamela, written as a bawdy series of letters in which the supposedly chaste and innocent heroine reveals her darker side. Not on a par with Joseph Andrews, but still pretty funny.",5.0,One of the funniest books I've ever read!,1167782400,"01 3, 2007",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3JUOJVG7XZFX4,0310233186,"Mrs. Martin ""Mrs. Martin""","[0, 0]","If you are a mother or a daughter I think that you will enjoy this book and feel connected to it. I am both a mother and a daughter and it taught me lessons on both fronts. First and foremost it is about slowing down, letting go and enjoying life not just exsisting. I think this book has appealing qualities that will help almost anyone relate. Whether you are a older and trying to repair and come to terms with regrets, a single woman trying to find your place in the world or a mother trying to find herself while still being the best mom and wife you can be. It has something for everyone. Although I didn't enjoy it as much as Blackstocks suspense series', it was a nice quick read that was both touching and thought provocing.",4.0,Very endearing,1269388800,"03 24, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARS0U5G5UF7K2,037585794X,Ella,"[0, 0]","I couldn't think after I read the Thinks you can think. I just love all the Seuss books period! To rythmically write sentences that seem like they make no sense but when you read in between the lines sometimes two or three times, (like me) they do make sense you can't help but laugh!",5.0,Love the Dr!,1331337600,"03 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35WMH8406T2SG,0981562701,sheilah curtis,"[11, 12]","I enjoyed reading about the locations because I live in the area in which the story happens. However, the interaction between the characters was not believable. This tight group of friends didn't know one of them was gay? The ending was very disjointed and disappointing. It reads more like a draft than a final version. Wanted to like it, but couldn't!!",2.0,You didn't know your bestie was gay? Huh?,1377907200,"08 31, 2013",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 AAUT2ZCRMTT8H,1932859330,"Lori L. Lake ""Author of Like Lovers Do, Buyer...","[11, 11]","What if you're a girl, at age 16, who falls in love with another girl - but it's the 1940s? And then you moved on, only to get in trouble again? What if you had no reasonable expectation of finding love and living happily ever after?This is Mary McGhee's life. She's been in that situation one too many times. Now in her late 20s, once again she's starting over, in a new town called Myrtlewood, Alabama. This time she's taken a position as a secretary at the town lumber mill, owned by the rich and prestigious Dubose family. Little does she know she's walking into a town full of busybodies and vipers, and the job she's taken is no simple matter. The head of the family has died, leaving his wealth and the mill to his incompetent son, Tommie Dubose, and Mary must come on the scene and somehow turn the business around while not angering the men in town, many of whom work at the mill.But Lila Dubose, Tommie's wife, is a port in the storm, and as Lila and Mary get to know each other sparks begin to fly. Will Miss McGhee once again find herself exiled - or worse?Bett Norris has crafted an impressive story that takes place after World War II and at the brink of the civil rights movement. Her prose is clean and clear with moments of great beauty and lush description. Readers definitely feel as though we are THERE - living in this small town, at a time when white men seemed to rule all, and opportunities for women, minorities, and gay people were all but impossible to find.This is no typical romance, and the various characters in the story face mounting obstacles. Anyone stepping outside society's rules for women and blacks was bound to suffer, and there is great tension and drama in the way Norris rolls out this tale. But the love that grows between various people, in particular, Miss McGhee and Lila Dubose, is a joy to watch. The alliances Mary and Lila make and the stands they take kept me poring over this novel until late into the night.MISS MCGHEE is an excellent novel, filled with drama, excitement, and passion. The tone is pitch perfect, and the author has created a terrific cast of characters you'll remember long after finishing the book. I give this one my highest recommendation. ~Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review",5.0,"Midwest Book Review, September 2007 Issue",1189036800,"09 6, 2007",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 AWIXQNZMQ69LO,0002007770,whoops,"[4, 7]","I thought this book was poorly developed and depressing. Really, can anybody come up with a book that doesn't involve infidelity? This guy threw away his whole life and what was the point of this book? I thought it stunk. I can't even believe I read this tripe. stay away from this author...",1.0,another doomed affair book,1301270400,"03 28, 2011",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A150QZUUQAN21X,0976405903,Fallout Girl,"[50, 59]","First, before I get labeled in a typical liberal knee-jerk fashion: I'm not a conservative. I'm a libertarian who believes in freedom and the power of the individual above all. I wasn't born in this country. I've seen poverty, indifference, fear, injustice, lawlessness, and other stuff that all those ""well-meaning"", ""human-rights-protecting"", ""justice-seeking"" on the far left have only heard about from CNN. When I immigrated into the U.S., I was already too old to be brainwashed, but old enough to see things for what they were, and to think for myself.I doubt this book will change the mind of anyone in the militant far-left crowd. As the negative reviews plainly show, all they're interested in is spewing forth either absurd, idealistic nonsense (which has little to do with reality of this country, or this world for that matter) or hateful vitriol. They aren't interesting in accepting or even listening to someone who doesn't share their worldview.Then there are people who are devoted to their moral compass, not an ideology. People who possess integrity, common sense, and an open mind. People on the brink of not knowing what to believe. If you're one of those people, then this book is for you. Not only that, it might just become the light at the end of the tunnel for you.As for all those who'll choose to shrug this off as ""right-wing propaganda""... Let me tell you something. I'll take a gun-totin', Bible-thumpin' redneck ""rightwing nut"" over a whiny, close-minded, uncouth, dishonest, hypocritical liberal any day. Why? Because the redneck isn't trying his darndest to destroy my country. We'll likely argue about religion, gay marriage, and abortion till we're blue in the face, but when it comes to our top priority - keeping America free, safe, and prosperous - we see eye to eye.There's a reason this book called ""Silent America"", you know. It's people like Bill Whittle who represent the majority in this country, the silent but strong majority. Those are the people who see the world for what it IS, not the unrealistic little fairytale that they would PREFER it was. But above all, those are the people who don't feel the need to scream on every corner about their being the majority, because they KNOW IT.In the words of Bill, himself, ""There are millions of us. Millions. And we do not have to go gently into that good night."" Ditto.",4.0,"Compelling, powerful and to-the point",1125792000,"09 4, 2005",50,59,helpful,0.847457627118644,1 A381NR6WTIOQQ6,1455839744,"Jennifer S. Guise ""inthisguise""","[0, 0]","I'm still reading - all 6 books is a huge undertaking and I'm on the 3rd (The Mammoth Hunters) and showing only about 30% through the series - so I can only comment on what I've read thus far.I first starting reading the series in the early 80's and eagerly awaited each new book. I think somewhere along the way I lost track, so I'm not sure if I read the very last book or not.So far, there have been a couple places where the story has changed abruptly but I can't tell if they are missing a chunk or if it was originally a weird transition in the book.As for the story, it is one I really enjoyed when I was in my teens and 20's. I'm still enjoying it but have less patience for the repetition. Auel goes back over the same territory as previous books - and sometimes over and over and over again.",4.0,The books I remember are the same; quality of kindle version questionable,1372118400,"06 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AIEFHVCQDWYZ4,0671003755,Tyler Alan Sharp,"[0, 0]","I have always been a fan of Wally Lamb, I think that he is one of the most talented writers of modern times. ""She's Come Undone"" is the tragic story of a girl who struggles to fit in. After enduring many hardships throughout her life she turns to eating. This novel deals with the heartbreaking biases we have with overweight people, how we stop and stare and make rude comments. Read this book, then analyze the way that you judge people. This book will make you think; at times it is not pleasant to think about but think you must. You will laugh and cry and fall in love with the characters. Wally Lamb has done it again!!",5.0,I loved this book,1099958400,"11 9, 2004",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SRKUULFFA9GW,0140481389,"Tina M. Sorensen ""LadyBugg""","[0, 0]","This follows the play 99% of the time - every once in a while a word is substituted or a phrase turned around, but that's it. My students had no problem following the play. In fact, they prefer the taped reading over reading aloud in class. I'm in a Title I school with a high percentage of behavior problems and this was a ""God send."" The students listened much better with the taped reading.The actors are animated and match the personalities of the characters. I recommend it highly.",5.0,Great for teachers!,1225584000,"11 2, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A7Y9MP7H8LYUE,0062230921,"K. E. Steelman ""mommarock""","[0, 0]","The Brokenhearted follows Anthem Fleet, a pretty, talented heiress with a troubled home life. Her life gets turned upside down with the introduction of Gavin, a mysterious boy from the rough side of town, and her (the heroine) dying accidentally and receiving a bionic heart... which leads into her becoming a reluctant superhero.The description sounded interesting enough and the cover drew me in. The writing was clear, pleasant, and I finished the book in a day.While the writing was nice, not much else shined. The plot had an interesting premise, but the heroine kills the story for me. Some may see her actions as naive, but throughout the story, she is complaining, moping, and ungrateful, and her actions are so outlandish the reader questions if the girl has any braincells at all. Anthem eventually grows from her experiences, but for the entire novel, I struggle to relate or even like the girl.The plot, to some extent, was predictable. I had, for the most part, predicated the twists and turns laid out in the story, and already had a feeling of the ending halfway through the book.The novel isn't terrible, and I wouldn't rate it terribly, however, the execution in the characters and in the plot is weak.",3.0,"Promising, but Lacking in Execution",1393286400,"02 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADYVZCVYJ8P2D,0515124079,"Susan J. Reinhardt ""littlesuey""","[19, 19]","After reading Maggie's vampire series I was skeptical about Eternity - would it read the same? Would it follow the same format? Eternity is nothing like her other books - it's so much better. I attended a conference where she spoke of the passion that led her to write this book and I felt it in every page. She poured herself out onto every single page, into every single letter. And the result is incredible. It's so nice to read a book that the author felt truly passionate about, that truly moved her to put it onto the paper. Read it - you'll feel it too.",5.0,Wow!,943142400,"11 21, 1999",19,19,helpful,1.0,1 A22QC93JS1I7KC,B00E5JAIP4,Marianne E. McCreight,"[0, 0]",What a delightful short story. Just the pick me up I needed. Romance and spice mixed with humor and done with good editing. A winner for sure.,5.0,delightful,1383264000,"11 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3CZ16LTUWYZ85,B00BF2Z5QG,"Pete ""Just an old man who spends a lot of tim...","[0, 2]",turns out not to be a night mare. maybe you should wait until I finish the book? more damn words,5.0,Best nightmare,1364515200,"03 29, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2K4HN6EECBNR3,1600591426,"Jean Baldridge Yates ""jean, jewelry designer...","[13, 14]","This elegant hardback book, Ceramic Bead Jewelry, by Jennifer Heynen, is the first book of its kind to really get right to the heart of ceramic bead making, while additionally offering fabulous jewelry designs, all created by the author. What a great book! I was blown away by the projects, the colors, the fantastic innovative ideas which are shown in this terrific book by Jennifer. She teaches us to create the beads, and then to design with them.Ceramic has not been a medium which has been covered sufficiently in print, although there are many fabulous artists out there who are extremely popular right now. The author is one of the leaders in this great group, and sharing her manner of working is a very wonderful gift which she has given to the reader. The projects are myriad in variety, too. If you don't want to make your boyfriend a cool necklace (I personally love that ""Boyfriend Necklace""!), move on, and try her ""Cupid Ring""! If that doesn't suit you, prepare yourself to flip out over her ""Cute as a Button"" earrings or her ""Polka Dot Fun"" bracelet. Interesting to me as well are her ""Flowery Cuff"", where she has studded her flower shaped beads on a wide, soft, tan velveteen band, like something I have never seen anywhere before, and her ""Fabulous Fiber Belt "" which shows off her sense of color, which is always on target, whether she is working with brights or muted tones.Even if you don't plan to make your own ceramic beads, this book stands as a success simply as a jewelry design book. The author has a website and you can find it right in the book. Her fantastic, gorgeous beads can be purchased there, which makes it easy to start at step two, if you like.The photographs are great, with very vivid and exciting colors.I think that this book, with its many bracelets, pendants, earrings, rings, even a cute pineapple pin, is a total winner! I am delighted to own this high quality, clearly explained, well written, beautiful piece of work: Ceramic Bead Jewelry by Jennifer Heynen.",5.0,A Groundbreaking How-To Ceramic Bead Jewelry Book,1211587200,"05 24, 2008",13,14,helpful,0.9285714285714286,1 A3DTFWT2CYYNPU,0330488511,Susanne C.,"[14, 15]","I would not say that I didn't enjoy reading this book, only that I came away from it with thoughts almost the opposite of what I would have expected. I am nearing 50 myself, and having raised a large family, I am interested in books that offer ideas for what happens next. I also find the idea of some time away from the busyness of my household very appealing. I am completely on board with the idea that a woman (or a man for that matter) needs to re-evaluate and even re-invent themselves at this point in life.The author has a ridiculously overwrought style- several other reviewers have mentioned that nearly every paragraph contains a metaphor meant to be extremely deep, but which is in reality an attempt to imbue the most mundane of thoughts with cosmic metaphysical import. I found upsetting the complete lack of respect and compassion that she has for her husband of many years- and while she keeps claiming that she has been a devoted and self sacrificing wife and mother, it is her obsession with her own thoughts and feelings that comes across most clearly. You get a more than a glimpse of her true character, and I pity her daughters-in -law- her desire to control and know the details of her sons' lives is disturbing.Most disturbing to me was the older woman- Joan Erickson- who miraculously appears in her life in this semi- deserted seaside town. The woman may be another metaphor, this time for a wiser and more mature Joan Anderson, but I believe she is supposed to be a tangible person, and as such is very unbelievable. Pearls of wisdom fairly drip every time she opens her mouth- most of them as shallow and forced as the rest of the dialogue in the book. As a fiber artist I have to say that the dialogue between them when she teaches Joan to weave is ludicrous- another overused metaphor of the threads being the threads of one's life. Please. Sometimes thread is just... thread.I came away from the book still longing for my own year (or month) by the sea, with a few insights, but mostly the feeling that I'm glad I'm nothing like the author, and very thankful for my husband, who, like the author's husband, is a really decent guy.",2.0,Decidedly overwritten and self-centered,1255305600,"10 12, 2009",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 A20ND6VJ87ANY1,1596363282,ybm,"[0, 0]","This book was exactly what I was looking for to do a small group study on the history of the church. It is quick and easy to read, has bits of humor tucked in, and plenty of interesting facts. Additional resources in the back to help you plan your presentation. It this topic is of interest to you or a group of people, great choice!",5.0,Excellent text for learning about the history of the church,1329091200,"02 13, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2D0M86MMZREM,1580172059,A. McIntire,"[0, 0]","This was more like a pamphlet than a book, and much more difficult and time consuming than I thought. If you're interested in making candle like the 1700's version, this is for you. As for myself, I'd rather use molds!",2.0,Not what I expected,1397865600,"04 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17JWUC4AMZKAC,B00AAKQX10,"Jonathan Brand ""Sci Fi Geek""","[0, 0]",The book reads very well. The pace and action are relentless. The author makes you care for all of the characters and before you know it you are sucked into the story so deep that you just don't want to put the book down.I can't wait to read the next story.There were some gaps between the first book and this second installment of the Invasion America series. Nothing that hinders the reading but I did find myself wondering about a couple of the gaps.All in all a great military sci-fi read.,5.0,Fantastic read,1366502400,"04 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGV79GG7DXUIR,B00GUS4D5Y,Katie Did,"[0, 0]","This is a great book: clearly written, has the how's and why's without being overwhelming. I've followed something similar in the past and it worked but had forgotten until I read this. Only thing I'm not crazy about is protein powder several times a day (the latest weight loss craze, which my body cannot handle) but I know this works without drinking the shakes by simply substituting a small snack that contains lean protein and veggies.",5.0,everything you need in a simple plan,1388102400,"12 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2MF23G8YM5IC1,0595311881,Thomas P. Mcauliffe,"[4, 5]","There are quite a few stories, books, etc. about this event, but this book is different in a way, with newspaper accounts, and direct information from the survivors and their kin themselves.It's an easy read and one most weather buffs will enjoy.",5.0,interesting little book,1143504000,"03 28, 2006",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3DFESBZJ2MEM4,1598806653,"WNYer ""Proud Mudder!""","[26, 26]","""Get the most out of every day and every dollar"" is quoted on the back of Rick Steves' London 2011 book and this is an accurate summary for this guide. Included are self-guided tours to the more popular tourist sights in London but one also learns where ""the locals go for lunch and how to avoid mobs"" at the most popular sights including the London Eye and the Changing of the Guard. An important factor for any tourist: how to get around by bus and on the Tube (subway). Good value hotels, restaurants and pubs are described which is important to know especially with the current low-value dollar exchange! I especially appreciated the Appendices sections: Tourist Information; Communicating (how to use mobile phones, call to other countries, useful help numbers,the British accent, Public Transit routes, the Internet, Mail); Resources (other helpful books to borrow/purchase, podcasts, recommended movies); Holidays and Festivals; Conversions and Climate (Interesting tips include: ""When counting with fingers, start with your thumb. If you hold up your first finger to request one item, you'll probably get two.""); Essential Packing List; Hotel Reservation Form; and the British-Yankee Vocabulary section (I would buy this book just for this section alone! HINT: Never say you are wearing a ""fanny pac""! Look THAT one up to save a lot of embarassment!) The book also contains an albeit small but nicely summarized English History and Contemporary Politics section.",5.0,Great Guide,1292630400,"12 18, 2010",26,26,helpful,1.0,1 A3RQMYGO3LJ2IB,1594486352,John G,"[0, 0]","I found this book fascinating. For each chapter, the author picks a bird or type of bird that has some attribute or characteristic, and then he relates that to humans and other animals. Along the way, he gives you facts and stories about the birds that are both amazing and delightful. While I was reading it, I kept bombarding my wife with bird facts (she took it well). He also writes well with a most engaging style. If you like birds, nature, or things of that sort, I think you will really like this book.",5.0,About Birds and More,1404432000,"07 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADY836HK6QSYR,0425237788,"ardnam ""ardnam""","[7, 8]",I read a good deal of true crime books and this one is particularly well-written. The author has a very good ability to weave the story together in a cohesive manner. This can prove rather difficult to do in this genre.It never ceases to amaze me that there are people around us who feel it is an option to murder family members when they either become inconvenient or when their death might put a few thousand dollars at their disposal.I recommend this book as it is a well-crafted example of current true crime.,4.0,Truly Sad,1311292800,"07 22, 2011",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A1UHJM05PXYANA,030788743X,Johnslinger,"[7, 14]","Despite the abundance of artistic riches to pull from, the book displays a total lack of imagination to call it's own. Stories which play with genre conventions are one of my favorite experiences. Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Most all of the writings of Neil Gaiman or Terry Pratchett. The difference between those stories and this one is that rather than use it's mythos sources respectfully, it uses them as window dressing for bare bones plotting and characters whose backstories and development amount to around a paragraph each. Those other classics include their own characters invented to play-off and exhibit the flaws and superficial expectations of those sources. To have at least one unique fully developed character, one with heroic aspects but flaws too rather than having as much depth as an 8-bit sprite.Take Roger Rabbit for instance, a Cartoon whose onscreen slapstick persona is juxtaposed with his sick dependency with his love Jessica Rabbit which creates a character-centric downward spiraling of plot. Every depression he feels is tied in with the plot, in a way that forces Eddie Valiant to confront his own demons which is mirrored by the ""behind-the-scenes"" lives of the cartoons which are shown to be a bit more like a AA meeting but with Toons ( which reminds me of the best scene in another Homage film, Wreck-It-Ralph, in that it is one of the only scenes that deepen the characters lives and world, rather than hang it's hooks on them like the rest of the film ).Ready Player One does not do this. The main character is an extreme, poor social shut-in who can exchange in witty banter with anyone, including seducing a woman, tricking trained security guards and verbally fencing a professional businessman in a way to expose his opponents weak standing in the company he is trying to help to win, all done with the acumen of a Las Vegas magician. Perhaps he is a Savant, as shown in an encyclopedic knowledge of 80s culture and the biography of James Halliday, but also to be a social savant is too much to handle especially since he comes from a dystopian reality which lacks human interaction besides running away from knife wielding maniacs and an aunt who makes Harry Potter's caregivers look like saints. In the virtual world he only has one friend. Where he learned to be so versatile in conversation and wordplay beyond canned responses which is shown in actual Otaku, geeks and lovers of culture is beyond my suspension of disbelief. Plus it makes me feel like I'm rooting for an untouchable champion among men rather than the cliche of the come-from-nothing hero, such as Rocky. The reason why people love Rocky is that he has personal flaws and insecurities he has to overcome which is felt and relatable to our own lives.The contest that is the crux of the book is presented in a manner of an adult telling you verbatim what he is seeing as he's playing something, such as playing through Mario Bros or Zelda. The backstory of the worlds we enter, again taken from MANY sources, are described as basic as a wikipedia article. We get no insight into the worlds and if we do it's only superficial such as seeing the eternal Lich playing an arcade game or acting out movies whose intelligent ideas expressed are exactly the ones from the movies itself, adding nothing. For a story whose main villains are faceless corporations, we get no information behind the beloved worlds nor their creators lives or how they feel about their creations being used for business purposes such as micro-transactions and teleportation expenses in the virtual world. Perhaps EA has bought up all the works of the world like Michael Jackson buying up the Beatles catalog from their original creators in order to sell them for a profit. We know nothing of who really owns anything which makes the struggles of the protagonists against a corporation bland and meaningless. Maybe the corporate puppets really won, but hey who cares there's a Giant Robot over there!!!I really wanted to love this book but i couldn't get into it with it's plain Deus-Ex-Machina plot devices of the riddles whose clues are either obscured by what the novel gives us or as simple as a google search. It makes a lot of noise with our memories but underneath it all is a hand writhing underneath their skirts making them dance. Take away all the nostalgia and all you got is a spastic hand. Now that's entertainment.",1.0,Ready Player One has as much depth as an 8-bit sprite.,1380585600,"10 1, 2013",7,14,helpful,0.5,1 A3V94HTDKTOY1O,0691091722,"N N Taleb ""Nassim N Taleb""","[14, 20]","Robert Shiller has the remarkable ability to think independently and the courage to propose ideas that to middlebrow thinkers may sound speculative.Think of what your reaction would have been had someone discussed risk sharing (insurance) before it became popular. A lunacy people would have thought. Most risk management is like that: we think backwards with the benefit of past history and find these ideas obvious. They were not at the time.Throughout his career Shiller stood for unpopular ideas and was proven right (his 1981 paper on volatility, his 2000 discussion of the bubble). I would read and re-read this book.",5.0,Thinking Outside the Box,1059523200,"07 30, 2003",14,20,helpful,0.7,1 A7Q2P3TM6ZPMB,1938442695,Tara,"[0, 0]",Man this book started as I expected but ended with a twist I didn't expect all in all this was a good read. It read like a movie.,5.0,Good read,1396656000,"04 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3OAX2WH6H6OGR,B00BFMDOPA,"Book Worm ""Nik""","[0, 0]",I enjoyed this book from start to finish! I can't wait for part 2. I knew something bad was about to happen!',5.0,Love it,1364256000,"03 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19D2BJL6XMDEM,1490965920,Mamma Mia,"[0, 0]","I loved this story of young love found again after trials, obstacles and many years. The fact that this really happened is even better, although it also makes it more tragic. This is told from Dawn's perspective and now I want to read the other book from Shawn's perspective. Well done.",5.0,Fantastic read and heartwarming story,1400112000,"05 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RJ76H66H31YP,0312104235,cori67,"[0, 0]","About 16 months ago a friend told me about this series. I was skeptical at first because I have read other series that are continuations of a previous author and they are dismal. Imagine then my surprise at finding well researched, well written and well thought out plots. Story lines that are plausible and yet would interest Holmes. Mary Russell is definitely a woman who would keep him on his toes and does an excellent job.I have since downloaded all of the novels to my Kindle, and love them. I have begun to reread them. My teenage daughter has also started to read them.I am a fan.",5.0,Thoroughly impressed,1330560000,"03 1, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2RBLZC3MJ5FNM,B00IWIUM4G,Claudette,"[5, 7]","Another great read by GB.This one starts with an archeologist who's a thief. He's made a pretty good living getting antiquities for wealthy buyers.He's in Turkey at a site where Emporer Constantine is thought to have buried something of great value. This something is what the guy is after. No one knows what it could be but he knows its going to be a great payday.After ducking the tour he's on he finds what he's looking for. Only problem is that something is something he never imagined. It also kills him and then kills many thousands more.Alex Hunter is on his own. He's been keeping tabs on Aimee and his son Joshua. He knows he can't make his presence known. He doesn't trust the OTHER inside him. Alex also knows the R&D; boys would take great delight in capturing his son and running experiments on him.He knows that Joshua has inherited his abilities. A Joshua who has noticed him every time he's come around. A Joshua who has waved and smiled at him each time. Alex knows he has to leave so he doesn't endanger Aimee and Joshua.Jack Hammerson has been keeping tabs on Alex and cleaning up some of the messes Hunter has left behind. He's known where Alex is at all times. Jack decides its time for his boy to come home.Hammerson and Sam Reid, a Reid who can now move thanks to his MECH suit, meet with Alex. An Alex who decides its time to come home to HAWCS. An Alex who decides he needs help with the OTHER and hopes Hammersom can provide that help.So begins one damned fine read.This one has Alex Hunter, Professor Kearns, Sam Reid, Hammerson, Alex's old enemy Borshov and his team, the kidnapping of the man who accidently created the Arcadian and doesn't know how, the Russians who think whatever is out there is a weapon they can use, a team of SAS troopers who accompany Alex and his HAWC's, Turkey's SAS men dying, an enemy that no one knows how to fight, an orb thats discovered in the caves in Greece, many deaths and one hell of a great story with one hell of an ending. Beck and Alex Hunter just plain rock.Five Stars and then some. Waiting for the next adventure.",5.0,Just WOW,1402617600,"06 13, 2014",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3DWUM6SN3N3NR,1577310128,Brian Wallace (Co-author of It's Not Your Hair),"[9, 10]",Edifying wisdom imparted by a true seer. Regardie the visionary -with a little help from his friends - takes the reader on a delightful excursion on the journey of soul.A heartwarming book by an intellectual and spiritual mover/shaker.Well worth the money.,5.0,enriching,1047427200,"03 12, 2003",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 AKN7EFCLKX12C,B005FIN9YG,TanyaP,"[0, 0]",I really enjoyed this book! The humorous way he relates events and his ability to laugh at himself were very refreshing!,5.0,Thoroughly enjoyable,1366416000,"04 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1M3P06L2NUY2F,0739036351,Cindy,"[0, 1]",It is all it says it is. Concise music theory in a well laid out format. Highly recommend this book and CD set,5.0,Great Resource,1376006400,"08 9, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2UKE7GIVC7XFW,1853676497,T. Kunikov,"[11, 12]","One of the best memoirs I've read about the war. The stories in this memoir are at times very moving. The missions they had to accomplish, the sacrifices made (a pilot rams his plane into a column of German tanks and trucks), the lives lost whether to the enemy or by mere accident are incredible. The editing job on the book was quite poor, again and again I found grammatical mistakes on many pages. Yet that shouldn't take away from the great stories that this author was kind enough to share. If one wants to understand what really went on, in this war to the death on the Eastern Front, specifically in the skies, you will not be disappointed in this book. At the end is a helpful list of those pilots who were MIA and KIA throughout the war, the sheer volume of losses is impressive. Few survived the war, yet even so they flew on mission after mission and struggled to get to the front whether from rear area services or from hospitals after being wounded. One pilot who lost both his legs trained to fly again, but in the end was rejected. Another returned to lead a regiment but perished in an accident. As much as you will be presented with death in this book you will never get used to the fact that again and again someone will not return from a mission or will be seen diving toward the ground in a burning plane.",5.0,Loved it,1138406400,"01 28, 2006",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A3S0WR8NUCH51A,148231780X,Amber,"[0, 0]",A silly yet fun book full of lots of tongue twisters that get your tongue twisted up. have fun and enjoy!,3.0,Tongue Twisters for Kids,1388188800,"12 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PKYNWMEF6CPE,0778328201,Love my Kindle,"[0, 0]","Enjoyed reading her adventure. Great book. I love the Lady Julia Grey series. Funny, and easy to read. Everyone should read this.",5.0,Awesome series,1393804800,"03 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AN4JM5A9SJN2X,0812973909,"Bruce E. McLeod Jr. ""Bruce E. McLeod, Jr.""","[0, 0]","Azar Nafisi's book "" Things I've Been Silent About"" portrays a sad and somewhat tragic life filled with grief and melancholy. Family dynamics played an important role in her life. As a native of Iran, she was caught between her personal family ties and the oppressive Islamic regime. Iran's religious rules, dealing with marriage and family, provides little flexibility for close interpersonal relations with the opposite sex outside the family circle. Azar wrote extensively of loveless marriages, including her parents, and the dysfunctional environment surrounding them. Some people, at odds with the mores and folkways of the Islamic culture, simply vanished.The psychological traumas of abuse that she experienced as a young child from trusted family friends, were mentioned as if they happened yesterday; however, she seems to have survived very well as her life took on a new meaning through her academic endeavors. She reminisces about Iran; its veritable history and culture and the impact religious leaders had on their daily lives. Iran was a nascent democracy before it evolved into an absolute monarchy and later an Islamic republic.She fondly recalled the shops and streets she visited with her mother as a child and the names of vendors who gave her candy and goodies; all told with excitement and joy. These were the moments that made her life bearable, sustainable and unforgettable .This book amplifies some perspectives about life's challenges in Iran. For some, things seem to work themselves out. Azar, disenchanted with Iran, bundled up her fears and apprehensions and relocated to another world.Bruce E. McLeod, Jr.Las Vegas, Nevada2 August 2013",5.0,A Journey of Memories,1375401600,"08 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35FH8Z1SG4DAC,0307264238,"Rosalie G. Sundin ""rgs""","[0, 0]","This book is another treasure in my collection of Toni Morrison's work. If you are not familiar with her work, this is definitely one to start with!",5.0,Another masterpiece by Toni Morrison!,1351987200,"11 4, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1CRPO5JYG4ZE9,0312369492,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","The most deserving of the brothers happiness, Fang is put through hell and back more then once, tortured and nearly killed to find his chance. The story kept you hoping until the very end for them to be together and at peace.",5.0,Fang.,1381449600,"10 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2MCY341T7JWL2,B00HCI5CII,SueH,"[0, 0]",I have loved this rocker story from the beginning has been a real tear jerker this is a follow on and a sort of tying up loose ends nice story,4.0,jacks fall great story,1392249600,"02 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1SIF67H5X9SA0,1604690658,allanbecker-gardenguru,"[44, 48]","It creeps up slowly to surprise when it is least expected. It is a gardener's worst nightmare. No, it is not an invasive weed. It is old age. I am not certain when it happened to me but one day, while gardening, it became clear that I could no longer sustain this enjoyable activity for 6 hours without stopping! I wasn't twenty seven anymore. Gardening was slowly turning into an un-enjoyable chore. The energy level had dropped, the joints ached, and being winded was becoming the norm. Now I garden for fewer hours and that restriction is frustrating because there is so much that is left undone. Some of my peers have stopped altogether; they have sold their homes and moved into condominiums. For those of us that would like to maintain our gardens as long as possible, the author of this publication has some wise advice.Sydney Eddison came to the realization that her garden had become too great a responsibility with the death of her husband. Together with a wise coach, she created a list of steps that might lighten the burden of gardening into old age. Some of the suggestions include replacing needy plants with those that are lower maintenance, making and keeping lists of chores and then prioritizing them, learning to live with imperfect results, adapting a realistic attitude towards lawn care, and learning techniques that save time and energyThe author offers many pearls of wisdom on the subject of lightening the load; I have dog-eared about 16 pages of helpful advice that I plan to incorporate into my gardening routine. These suggestions will allow me to continue to garden while maintaining my pride, my skills and above all my dignity. Some of us no longer have careers that define us. Gardening as recreation replaced that years ago and it became the new source of accomplishment. Why should we have to stop now? With the help of the author and with some compromises, this reviewer will be able to continue to derive pleasure from a passionate hobby, even as the aging process evolves.Ms.Eddison is a nationally recognized gardener, speaker, and prolific writer whose own garden has been featured in magazine and television shows, including Martha Stewart Living and The Victory Garden. It is impressive that at a crossroad in her personal life that she should encounter head on the challenges of the aging gardener and write about it with grace and dignity. This is a terrifying topic for some of us and the author is to be commended for tackling it with both realism and optimism.November 28, 2010Since posting this review in May 2010, three prospective book purchasers contacted me to express their puzzlement. The high praise that I gave the book was out of sync with the 3 star ranking that I had originally given it and they wanted to know why.The reason is: - the topic upset me. No, it terrified me:- how the maturing gardener should adapt one's garden and one's gardening mindset, to the onset of old age. I am at a point in life where arthritis and reduced energy levels are compromising my abilities to garden without some assistance. It is making me very unhappy and frustrated. That one day I might not be able to garden at all, is a terrible thought. It was that fear of compromised gardening that influenced my original evaluation of the publication. Instead of giving the book a high ranking that the tone of my review suggested, I had given it only 3 stars.Is it not possible to acknowledge that a book is well written and still only moderately recommend it, because of the off-putting nature of the subject matter?Should the ranking of any book take into consideration how it might be received by any unintended reader?Perhaps I am being much too philosophical. Perhaps I should focus only on the target audience for whom this book is recommended. Clearly, three potential readers believe that my original ranking decision was wrong. Since I understand that a philosophical explanation for my action will never be as effective as the strength of their reasonable queries, I have raised the rank of the review from 3 stars to 4.Allan Becker also reviews books for Bookpleasures.com",4.0,A Manual For the Aging Gardener,1274140800,"05 18, 2010",44,48,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A2TUH0Y4KUWM17,B00BZPLGVG,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","My saying is ""If the book does not take me by a few chapters, i was done"" this book had me by the first few pages! Wished there was more about by why Angel left but other than that this was a well written book :)",5.0,wonderful short story,1398124800,"04 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Q16H1WTK8498,0025174703,James M. Reed,"[13, 15]","I'm not kidding. I look for the old out-of-print paperback and when I find one I usually find a person to give it to. It has changed lives. The premise of the book is that we all draw nice little boxes around ourselves (like a chalk box on the sidewalk) and then say that we can't get out of the box. This book shows you not only how to get out of the box but why you should want to. (Yes, Harry Browne is running for president on the Libertarian ticket.) I gave a copy of this book away, to a coworker who was going on vacation for a week; and when she came back to work on the following Monday she quit her job. This has happened more than once to people who have read this book. So, don't say I didn't forewarn you. Enjoy and get ready for changes.",5.0,Don't Read This Book Unless You Want to Change Your Life!,966556800,"08 18, 2000",13,15,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 A39Y2RV2O31IBK,0879801220,Professor Bubba,"[0, 1]","The funniest part of this book is the title, particularly the inclusion of the word, "Practical." Although there is a long discussion of hypnosis, there is no practical instruction whatsoever.",1.0,I Autosuggest That I Delete This Book,1389571200,"01 13, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2ORQUJV81OPSC,B00HVODVKO,K,"[0, 0]",I love these characters. I love the support and love they have for each other. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.,5.0,Wonderful sequel,1392422400,"02 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2H2UAC83N65BK,B004JGPM22,gypsie,"[0, 0]",Ive read 2 so far and realy liked them the kept you wanting to read just one more chapter loved it,5.0,loved these books,1361404800,"02 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANHL7BB84WJMF,031232118X,"D. Tobin ""Book lover""","[0, 0]","This isn't great literature but it is great summer reading. Somewhat predictable, highly unlikely but definitely a fun, quick read. This will never win a Pulitzer, but who needs to read heavy and challenging stuff in the summer. Relax and enjoy this guilty pleasure.",4.0,A fun summer read,1309737600,"07 4, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KUO5HZJ8OG23,1475031823,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I picked up a copy of this at a book festival last year. After reading the first book in the series, I was intrigued as to what the author would do for a follow-up. Well, this one does have ties to the first, and they blend together wonderfully. But while they might be related, this one focuses more on another character, rather than just a continuation of the first novel. I loved the back story on Mebis and Laila, and was impressed, yet again, by the references to Ancient Egypt and the mythology. The author once again stays true to the nature of the beasts that the people are able to transform into. With the jackals, they are very similar to the wolves, except that there is a particular order to which some of the were-jackals belong. The twists and turns are woven tightly together to give one an experience which they will never forget. Plus, with the continuation of Kess's story from the first novel and the men that are a part of her life is fantastic. Once again, this is another book that is going on my to-read-again shelf. I recommend it to those with an interest in mythology, history, paranormal, suspense, and romance, as all of these elements, and more, are present in this novel!",4.0,And the hits just keep on rolling!,1367971200,"05 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17N23WXA7EAF,0142800651,"C. Colt ""It Just Doesn't Matter""","[79, 83]","""The Best Democracy Money Can Buy"" is a must read for anyone-conservative or liberal-who wants to get a different perspective on what is happening in the world than the one that is consistently portrayed by the consolidated corporate media. While the controversial title of this book implies a liberal critique of Western values and institutions, it actually accomplishes something very different. Veteran investigative reporter, Greg Palast publishes some of the news stories that the consolidated corporate media refuses to report. While some may blanch at the targets of Palast's investigations, which include corrupt politicians, crooked companies, world finance organizations, and the consolidated corporate media, few can deny the accuracy and integrity of his reports. Palast is an independent reporter who originally specialized in racketeering investigations. His methods include scrupulously studying corporate documents, and examining the testimony of whistleblowers, many of whom approach him personally out of disgust toward their parent organizations. Palast does not work for a for-profit media company and is not beholden to corporate interests. This makes him one of the few honest voices in public life.Chief among Palast's exposés is the illegal manner in which Florida Secretary of State, Kathleen Harris, and Governor Jeb Bush illegally denied tens of thousands of African American citizens their right to vote in the 2000 presidential election in Florida. Palast details the methods used by Bush and Harris to exclude eligible African American from voting such as manipulating database records to wrongfully categorize thousands of African Americans as felons, or wrongfully claiming that convicted felons who has completed their sentences in other states could not vote in Florida.Palast also exposes the presidential instructions from the Clinton and Bush (Jr.) administrations that forced dedicated FBI agents to ignore any leads to Saudi terrorists that implicated the Saudi royal family, or people from that region with influential ties to the U.S. government. When it came to investigating Saudi terrorist links, according to Palast, under Clinton investigators were ordered to turn a blind eye, while under bush they were ordered to shut both eyes. While both Clinton and Bush were concerned about alienating a key American ally in the Middle East, Palast demonstrates, that the latter took more excessive steps to suppress the investigation of Saudi terrorists, since many of them had tentative links to his own family business, including those who invested in his first oil company, Arbusto, and those-mainly members of the Bin Laden family-who sat with his father (the first President Bush) on the board of the Carlysle Group. Palast does not believe George W. Bush was complicit in the attacks of September 11th, but he argues that had Clinton and Bush Jr. not interfered in FBI anti-terrorist investigations, the attacks of September 11th might well have been prevented.The most heartbreaking chapter of this book is the one that details how the IMF, the WTO, and the World Bank work in concert to systematically destroy vulnerable countries. In nation after nation, Palast details the insidious four-step program these organizations employ ostensibly to provide aid to economically beleaguered nations, when in fact the opposite occurs. In the first step, on condition of providing aid, these organizations demand that countries privatize public infrastructure components such gas, electricity, and water. In the second step, powerful banks buy up the infrastructure components and immediately make them ""more efficient"" by laying off the bulk of their workers. In the third step, the financiers drastically raise the cost basic materials such as water to an unaffordable level. In the third step, riots predictably occur to protest unaffordable costs of basic living material, and in the fourth step, this becomes an excuse for capital flight, which in turn severely devalues these privatized components. The end result, according to Palast is a few banks and companies get richer from being handed a cost free monopoly that they can squeeze and then discard, while countries that once had a sustainable way of life are rendered destitute.There are, of course some exceptions to this unhappy process. Botswana, for example, simply rejected the IMF altogether. When Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, did the same thing, according to Palast, he faced an American sponsored coup that was reinforced by false or nonexistent coverage in the American consolidated corporate media.What might astound most readers is that predatory acts of privatization in the name of progress are not limited to vulnerable third world nations. In fact, corporate and financial moguls have preyed upon Europe and the United States with mixed results. When privatization of public water works sent prices up several hundred percent in Britain, the citizens of that country simply paid their bills. In San Diego California, however, consumers simply refused to pay their drastically marked up electric bills after that utility was deregulated. Instead, they effectively boycotted their own robbery by paying bills at the old rate and organizing a political movement around the process. Unlike Ecuador, where people were shot and beaten for protesting drastic hikes in the price of drinking water, San Diegans successfully opposed the scheme.The implied conclusion of Palast's research, as noted in the ironic title, is that America and global capitalism are hardly democratic. Their behavior, according to Palast's example is frighteningly similar to that of a loan shark. No matter what they give you, they will always wind up extracting more than you can possibly return. As a result we may be on the verge of experiencing an odd form of historical determinism: the decent from capitalism, back to feudalism.Be warned that much of that material in this book is depressing, as Palast readily acknowledges. But along side the corruption and abuses chronicled here are the stories of countless individuals who either oppose such practices or who covertly assist those who do so. At the end of the book Palast provides numerous resources for anyone who wants to help oppose predatory institutional practices in their communities or other parts of the world.",5.0,One of the Best Books Money Can Buy,1049328000,"04 3, 2003",79,83,helpful,0.9518072289156626,1 A2MF2QVSCUI27G,0393059243,"Luan Gaines ""luansos""","[8, 8]","Years ago, the radio was the centerpiece of the evening in American homes. Families gathered to listen to serials, news reports and movie gossip columnists. Many of the same families shared a valued tradition of storytelling, tales they brought over from ""the old country"", where generations shared births, deaths, marriages, joyful events and tragedies. These stories gave meaning and texture to their days, reminding the adults who told them and the children who listened, of their rich heritage in the world.The Turk and My Mother awakens these memories, tales of adventure, danger and often romantic foolishness. Who would have thought a stubby little grandmother in a shapeless dress and babushka would have had romantic dreams of a man other than her husband? The children are fascinated, challenged to view their grandmother in a different light, as a girl entertaining the fancies of youth, when her husband was far away in America?And who could guess how much was fable, how much was truth? What really happened to Uncle Marko and why did it take him 13 years to return from the war to his small Hungarian village, hoping to see his mother once more? What lies behind the story of the Polish vampire, how does removing a birthmark save a life? Can you learn to play violin from a blind musician? Would Marko ever imagine his mother, Agnes, nurtured romantic notions of a handsome Turk (who maybe wasn't really a Turk) before sailing away to find her husband Josef in America? And exactly how much did Aunt Madeline remember about the Turk who held her on his knee when she was five-years old?Through the stories of this particular Milwaukee immigrant family, the Catholic Church weaves its constraints and conditions for acceptance, the priest a powerful figure. Sometimes alterations are called for, small changes to avoid God's judgment of all-too-human flaws. Heaven is the goal, after all.Stefaniak writes of the rich cultural history that defines this country as the great melting pot. Our ancestors have come from all over the world, the ""old countries"" of Russia, Italy, Ireland, a Europe stressed by conflict and the rise to power of demagogues who changed the direction of politics. These are real people, once youthful and driven by dreams and expectation like any emerging generation. Their life experiences were defined by family long before this country created a history for itself. It is these transplanted hopes that they brought to their new country, where they bloomed again, creating a new cultural identity, whose roots are nourished by their ancestors.The remarkable characters in this novel, from Grandmother Agnes and her mother-in-law, storyteller Staramajka, to the exiled Marko the shoemaker, bring another dimension to the family history. These stories are the framework of cultural identity, they way we envision ourselves in the past and the tales we whisper to our children before bedtime. Spoken history is a cultural treasure, a precious commitment to the continuity of ancestral folklore.In the novel format the author has license to rewrite history, allowing relatives ample opportunity to change behavior, to forgive. Putting a human face on actions motivated by ignorance and fear, family is defined by its ability to comfort, to extend the welcome of belonging. And if reality is obscured by myth, who is to say which is true? Luan Gaines/2004.",4.0,The pains and comforts of the past,1087171200,"06 14, 2004",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1OGXR0166Q0XJ,1592405703,"Fritz R. Ward ""dayhiker""","[20, 23]","In almost every sport outside of gymnastics and figure skating, players and teams compete on the field. The winner is judged the best. And the sport continues to the next game or contest. Ultimately the top teams play each other and the winner is the champion. But college football is more like gymnastics and less like any other team sport. At the highest level, teams compete for recognition from mostly anonymous judges and various computers (with mostly hidden programs). The ""winners"" are then invited to immensely profitable bowl games with two dubbed the best in the country, while everyone else tends to lose money. It is a strange system, largely anti-competitive, and it promotes tremendous disagreement every year among fans. This book lays out precisely what is wrong with the BCS, and how it can be changed.The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) is not an NCAA sanctioned championship. It is in fact a collusion created by the most powerful conferences in college football to monopolize the revenue generated by giant bowl games. The premise of the BCS is that polls and computers decide which teams are the top teams in the nation and the championship game is played among the two selected. Other top teams are admitted to other high paying bowl games. But there is more to this process than meets the eye. Nearly all college football teams are affiliated with one of eleven conferences. Six of these eleven ""automatically"" qualify for a bid into the big money games. The other five conferences do not. This is an obvious instance of collusion and suggests a violation of anti-trust laws. It is all the more odious because the money for all the schools involved comes largely from the government itself. They are, for the most part, state sponsored institutions and even the private universities still receive government grants, student loans, etc to fund their business.This situation could be almost forgiven if indeed the teams that came out of these six power conferences were in fact the best teams. As the book reveals, however, they are not always the best and indeed, one of the major purposes of the BCS is to exclude teams who might pose a threat to them, most notably Boise State. A small university in a Pacific Northwest state, Boise State is not what many fans think of when they think, football powerhouse. But Boise has quietly built a program the old fashioned way (winning games) and does so with a budget that is but a fraction of what the schools in major conferences make. So the BCS tries every strategy under the sun to keep Boise out. As early as 2001 Boise was already highly ranked in the computer programs that make up 1/3 of the polls. So the BCS ordered the computer ranking services to discount margin of victory in order to weaken Boise's standing. When the venerable Associated Press (AP) poll refused to play along with the BCS games and withdrew rather than taint their poll for the benefit of big conferences, the BCS created its own poll, the Harris Interactive, made up of largely ignorant voters who simply read the news and pass on the opinions of sportscasters on ESPN. Finally, the BCS maintains the power of its favored conferences by using a coaches poll. The majority of the coaches in the poll are from the same favored conferences and have a financial interest in voting teams from these same conferences higher than those from the non-favored conferences. As a result, teams like Boise State are routinely eliminated from major post season bowl games. This is not for what they have done on the field, but because voters and neutered computer ratings keep them out. With 5 undefeated regular seasons, Boise has only played in two major bowl games.But the BCS does more than just monopolize revenue and handicap small but successful football programs. It harms the sport in a myriad of ways. The authors of this book note that the BCS encourages teams in the major conferences to play weak schedules out of conference. It increases the number of teams playing against lower division football opponents. It decreases the number of marquee games in a season. In short, the BCS hurts football as a competitive sport. And it does not have to be this way. The authors provide readers with an exciting alternative: a workable playoff system that can actually determine champions on the field, increase revenue for all colleges, and promote sportsmanship. Unfortunately, getting those with the power to give it up might ultimately (and literally) take an act of congress. Many are loath to bring politics into college football, but given that state institutions of higher learning are the ones behaving in such an anti-competitive way as to make the typical robber-baron blush, perhaps that is what is needed.",5.0,Lays Out the Case Against The BCS,1288656000,"11 2, 2010",20,23,helpful,0.8695652173913043,1 A1OH04W30JZ0Q4,1451637969,"Christopher Robin ""cwrobin""","[0, 0]","After the first couple of stories in this series you had a feeling that things were going to turn in to one heck of a roller-coaster ride and Mr. Correia does not disappoint in this! More and more of the backstories are getting filled in for each character and the battle between good and evil is getting more and more heated. For those looking for a non-stop thrill ride of a read, this is highly recommended.",5.0,Excellent!,1366761600,"04 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1STRKD7JPL6AF,B009KT2RI0,Summer,"[0, 0]","I will admit it was the cover and this being a free book as my reasons for starting this book, but it was the great story that kept me reading! It has a little bit of something for everyone: suspense, angst, darkness, sweetness, paranormal elements, and love. I will be looking forward to the next book.",4.0,enjoyed this story,1390089600,"01 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1U9NNBQHGZR0A,0609607367,David Parks,"[19, 19]","I've used primarily the book, but the cd's are very useful for getting pronunciation right. I used the book for a few months and really did learn a lot (I didn't believe it until I took a class and stuff actually made sense without having to really strain, I was pretty supprised). The book teaches exactly the way you need to learn. They teach sentance structures, sentance particles, how to put sentances together, how to read real dialogue. I find myself reading the dialogue at the beginning of a chapter and struggling for 20 minutes or so, then reading the chapter and really understanding what I struggled through, then going back and reading it again and understanding it fully.I actually used this book for 3 months before I lost it on a plane. I then purchased a few other books to see how they are, but I have just recently purchased a second copy of this book, I didn't find anything else taught at this level. Do know that this book isn't for your casual reader, it aims to teach you fluency and you will have to take quite a bit of time with it, but it does a good job of teaching you effectively and efficiently if you'll put in the effort to learn the language.",5.0,Great for really learning Japnese,1049155200,"04 1, 2003",19,19,helpful,1.0,1 A35MS0L0SMJI4,0760318085,Doh,"[13, 14]","The main gripe I have about this book is that it clearly has little to do with the kind of welding one sees on Monster Garage. 90% of the welding done there is on plain vanilla structural steel, probably with exhaust systems as the main excepion. I don't doubt there have been a few projects with some aluminum, maybe the boat, some tanks or maybe a rad.What I associate with Monster Garage is a) Jesse is a bike builder; b) the projects are mainly simple metal, sometimes some pretty big parts. In this book the focus is on welding thin section 4130, and aluminum and magnesium. This just isn't bread and butter for most folks who will respond to the title.The book as you find it is about performance welding these high-tech/thin wall materials. And claims to introduce production techniques from NASCAR (and airframe construction), which it is said has revolutionized frame welding because new production MIG techniques are used. This is an interesting subject but again, not the focus of the kind of one-off buiding MG buider's do, or many workshop types. Where it may pay-off for the average welder is in the techniques for MIG on AL, which at least get coverage.Also, some of the jigging information may be of value to the one-off builder, it's interesting to see airplane wings constructed on wood jigs versus some of the behemoths often used to weld simple frame parts in the small shop. A lot of weekend welders take their lead from set-ups used in production frame shops, for instance, and might get some simpler ideas here.I'm pro stick myself, but the fact is it has little use in this environment of .065"" wall 4130.I think new welders will find the equipment selection information up to date, it captures the trends, though some of the photos are a few years old. (Update, welding gear is changing fast. Inverters for every price range, for one. And like a lot of other stuff there are credible products starting to come from China, whether one likes it or not. Check online for latest info)",4.0,Welding for airframes and NASCAR,1099353600,"11 2, 2004",13,14,helpful,0.9285714285714286,1 A2G9IQ1ONIQAAC,0399151575,Sarah A. Bartgis,"[0, 0]",This is a fantastic series! It is totally addicting and you get caught op in the stories and the character developments! I am on the 15th book in the series and they get better and better!,5.0,Awesome series!,1383955200,"11 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2C12D6BQSBDRI,B00DNGS1CW,yvonne richardson,"[0, 0]",great story.highly recommend to all . love the way the author twisted the story .the whole line of it was to get you to think about the story line .,5.0,leighann dobbs,1394496000,"03 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXCFHGP3DFBGG,0394502787,Butch,"[45, 53]","I very much admire Elaine Pagels for having the courage to enter the controversial and unorthodox realm of Gnosticism. Daring to investigate one's enculturated taboos is never an easy task. First there are one's own fears. Then there is the fact that many of the guardians of the religious status quo will see one as lost at best, or even as an anti-Christ at worst. Spiritual freedom is both a personal and a social issue. No man or woman is an island. The pride of religious certainty is often quick to judge those that question the reason for that certainty. People, myself included, don't like change. Such is the religious mindset in spades. We all have this tendency, to protect or defend our turf, to resist change. The Apostle Paul had to be struck by lightning before he could see the light. To disagree agreeably, rather than the current trend of arguing ideologically, is becoming a lost art. One cannot listen when one is only thinking about what one will say next. In religion, as in politics, communication can be difficult to say the least. Especially in these fractured post-modern times.Jesus had very little patience where religiosity is concerned. His criticism of the religious mindset in the 23rd Chapter of Matthew, the Chapter of the ""Seven Woes"", is damning. The burden of legalism and the hypocrisy of those that fail to practice what they preach had him calling the religious leaders of his community a brood of vipers. Jesus was a rebel with a cause, the prototype for all spiritual freedom fighters everywhere. Man was not made for the law, the Law was made for Man. The highest form of religion is love, and the highest form of government is personal responsibility. The more freedom we have, the more responsibility we have. Balance is fundamental to the spiritual life.Jesus disliked pretense intensely. He saw it for the prison that it is. He was far more concerned with the inside than the outside of a person, with what came out of the mouth more than what went in, with the heart. Having the heart of a Lion he looked reality in the eye. Jesus looked at reality from God's perspective, and taught others to do likewise. We need to be more tolerant of each other's religious views, more ecumenical, more loving. God belongs to everyone, and no one. Jesus' message about the reality of the Kingdom of God was not just for one people, it was for anyone that would or will listen with the single eye of their heart. The greatest commandment is love, not doctrine. In that spirit, though I don't always agree with everything she has to say, Elaine's thoughts are worth considering and her heart is in the right place. She just wants to know the truth where Gnosticism is concerned. She has a brave heart. This book is well worth reading.To wet your curiosity just a bit I should point out that the word Gnosticism comes from the Greek word 'gnosis'. Gnosis refers to a secret kind of knowledge known only by a few. As Plotinus suggested in the ""Ennead"", the sanctity of the mystical or religious experience is to be protected from being made common. Jesus, Moses, and Elijah each went into the desert for forty-days and forty-nights to be alone with God. This is an uncommon act. What does this have to do with Gnosticism and Christianity?""When Jesus was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, ""The secret of the Kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, they may be ever seeing, and never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding;..."" Mark 4:10-12. NIV.",5.0,Is Gnosticism Anti-Christ?,1109376000,"02 26, 2005",45,53,helpful,0.8490566037735849,1 A1NBHP7AHTZOZ4,1419675710,"J.R. Reardon ""J.R. Reardon, author of Confide...","[4, 4]","Bill Flynn's ""The Feathery"" is a very fast read. Not only is it well crafted, but it is written wonderfully. Many people read books to ""escape,"" and this book helps the reader to do just that - whether it be to 18th Century Scotland, modern day California, modern day England and Scotland and New York.I am by no means considered an expert in the world of golf, let alone the history of golf balls, yet I was absolutely able to dive into this story to the point where life would interrupt my reading. This book's focus is not just golf - it is a true ""whodunit"" coupled with a ""whatshouldIdo"" type of story, with an interesting twist - with the world of golf as the landscape.One may think by the book's cover that ""The Feathery"" is just about a type of golf ball, crafted by hand in the 1800s. It is far beyond that. ""The Feathery"" incorporates greed, love, loss, survival, and it's relation to the world of gambling, antique collecting and pursuing one's dreams. Right from the start, the reader begins to ""root"" for the characters.I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and look forward to Mr. Flynn's next novel.J.R. Reardonauthor, ""Confidential Communications""",4.0,A modern book destined to become a cherished antique!!!,1233360000,"01 31, 2009",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A29NV2YITU0EJK,0446559873,"Jo Ann Graham ""joanng417""","[0, 0]","I reserve five stars for the best of the best classics.This book is very good. I very much enjoyed reading about Lauren's real life adventures as she traveled the world working without pay in some of the greatest kitchens anywhere. She learned from the best and was able to translate some of their foods into real life recipes that we could make in our own homes. While I won't try most of them there are some of the recipes here that I am interested in working into our menus. I did feel that Lauren was obviously a very lucky lady to have the money to quit work, attend culinary school and then travel to the four corners of the globe and work without pay for a year. While she does not appear to have lived in luxury during her adventure, it is clear that her parents (who visit her in most of her locales) must be helping to finance this adventure. She is a very lucky lady indeed. The rest of us can only dream and be admiring of her courage and tenacity as she tackled tough and tedious jobs in kitchens famous throughout the culinary world.",4.0,Very enjoyable read and doable recipes,1400284800,"05 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A106ZHVFB1JRJP,1613820259,PartyLite_Chris,"[0, 0]",good kindle adaptation. a must read for everyone. well written story that draws you in from the first chapter. If you've seen the film or broadway production you should definitely read the book,4.0,good,1364860800,"04 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AD8FFCXHZI7SA,0670076074,blnda4,"[0, 0]","Age shall not weary him a wonderful testament to a brilliant author his last book did not disappoint, I couldn't put it down. I tried to read it slowly to make it last longer but alas I could not! Thank you Bryce for all those good reads over the years.",5.0,Bryce you will be missed,1357603200,"01 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2XKCMIIFJ0PW2,0615168671,JFaye,"[0, 0]","She had so much bad luck, I really enjoyed this story by this author, it was my first read from here. It was a real page turner. Cant wait to see the rest of her work. I felt I was right there with old girl though all of her trials. Hopefully thinks will look up for her soon.",5.0,Def Hood,1328400000,"02 5, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AASR5ZUPY4NU5,0307338312,Ann R. Davis,"[5, 7]","Dr. Chopra doesn't need my recommendation for any of his books. He has fame and fortune, besides the more important treasures. However, I realize YOU, my friend and brother, may need his book. I debated with myself in how to present it, because finding the right book at the right time is a synchronistic happening. Are you ready for this book at this time? Is this the book for you? Since I don't know the answer to that, I can only tell you what its value was for me.Don't make the mistake of thinking this book will trash your image of Jesus. If you want to understand Jesus and his teachings without the ""spin,"" you will be very glad you read this book and will always remember it. If you have always wondered why there are obvious conflicting sayings attributed to the Master, this would be helpful. If you started out in a fundamentalist church and became dissatisfied with their translation of scripture and their judgmental attitudes, yet you love God and Christ, this book will be a great blessing. Since I was one of the latter, it helped me through a healing clarification process. We all love to read a validation of our own realized views, so that is hardly surprising, but I still needed a ""click."" You know how you learn things along the ""path"" to God, but it just doesn't quite ""click"" and take root in the heart and mind until some truth anchors it there? Well, the first section of this impressive book gave me clarity but the last few pages triggered several ""Eureka!"" Moments for me. Click! Click! Click! I gained so much peace. I can hardly describe it, but I now have a new definition of freedom. I was unbound and in perfect peace. I finished reading it on Christmas eve and this blessed release was the best Christmas gift I could have received. I am filled with gratitude and love for the work of Dr. Chopra and all my brothers (/sisters) out there who have given me a helping hand along the way, for fulfilling their purpose so well and for helping us to fulfill our own. Thank you, thank you!",5.0,"This may be the best book by Deepak Chopra yet. A great volume which could only have come from a lover of truth. Honest, wise, a",1324944000,"12 27, 2011",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 AQVCMGIV2HUO5,0761143904,"Christine Louise Hohlbaum ""award-winning auth...","[30, 31]","Playfulness is the name of the game in childhood. Unfortunately, in their workaday world, many parents forget that all work and no play makes Little Johnny a bored, lethargic boy. Thanks to Bobbi Conner, Little Johnny just got 710 reasons to get up off the couch and join his hopscotching playmates outdoors.Veteran radio show host on NPR, Bobbi Conner is concerned about today's kids and their lack of creative outlets. Instead of being busy with electronic entertainment such as video games and push-button toys, she suggests myriad avenues to get down to the business of play in fun, very simple ways. Unlike many guide books that read more like a Martha Stewart manual (and must be secretly backed by major craft store chains), Bobbi's approach is simple - take what you have at home and let `er rip.The book is divided into three useful sections - toddler play; preschooler play; and grade school play. It was gratifying to see many of the games we've thought up on our own are in the book. Necessity is the mother of invention. This book is the mother of children's creativity.Bobbi's tone is real-life and compassionate, not patronizing or oozing with `expertise'. She was once a time-strapped single mom raising her kids with nothing more than her ingenuity to keep them occupied. When we think back to our own childhoods or that of our children, the best times were those spent together around a Parchese board or telling stories to one another. But if you think you have to spend hours with your children to right the wrongs of those hundreds of TV hours your kid has logged, you're wrong. Bobbi recognizes the reality in today's world. She recommends ways in which children can learn independent play by sparking their creative thoughts and having them vary the activities themselves. You needn't micromanage their play. In fact, Bobbi warns against it.This book came in the nick of time as my son recently had a playdate with a boy who is very `plugged' into video games and TV. Concerned we wouldn't make the three hours without hiscrying for TV, I grabbed the book and discovered some cool, easy ways to interest the boys in a new game of toss the button in the bucket. My son's friend only asked to watch TV once, but after I showed him the book and all its possibilities, he never asked again!I highly recommend Unplugged Play for its usefulness, inventiveness, and fun. It may even remind you that all work and no play makes Little Johnny's mommy and daddy very dull girls and boys, too!~Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of Diary of a Mother: Parenting Stories and Other Stuff and Sahm I Am: Tales of a Stay-at-Home Mom in Europe, is a freelance writer living near Munich, Germany, with her husband and two extremely playful children.",5.0,Batteries NOT included,1184544000,"07 16, 2007",30,31,helpful,0.967741935483871,1 A3BZVKSGS3LMXT,098794391X,"Gerald S. Argetsinger ""Jerry""","[5, 5]","Killick's ""Without A Testimony"" is an important contribution to Gay Mormon Literature because of its incisive ""outsider"" viewpoint. Killick spent many years at an Idaho University and knows from first hand experience the dilemma of being gay and Mormon. I was particularly impressed with his parallel charcters withholding their being gay for completely different reasons, both ultimately destructive. Ultimately it is an enjoyable read, unique because of the perspective of the author's personal experience.",4.0,"Excellent ""outsider"" Viewpoint",1333584000,"04 5, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2Q8GFSEUSGJ51,1594487685,S. WIlliams,"[0, 1]","This memoir of a typical 1970s and '80s childhood played out against the backdrop of a (what other kind is there?) humorously dysfunctional family doesn't break new ground, but is still an entertaining, well-written and very relatable story.Havrikesky's stories start, more less, with her parents difficult divorce (again, is there any other kind?) and then follow her story, and her parents, through her own adolescence and into adulthood. Focusing on what she learned growing up, the chapters jump around a bit in time, which can make the tale a little disjoined, but overall I really enjoyed the stories, and Havrikesky's style. (The story about her dad's death, for instance, comes midway through the book, while other chapters with him still very much alive, follow.)Heather Havrikesky's stories are sometimes poignant, usually funny and occasionally touching ... And, most importantly, overall entertaining enough for me to recommend highly. Not quite as clever--but in the same genre--as Eric Poole's ""Where's My Wand?"", ""Disaster Preparedness"" is worth a read.",4.0,Funny and Relatable,1298937600,"03 1, 2011",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AK7CAW3N1XZV6,1570613818,"Beth Cholette ""doctor_beth""","[9, 11]","As an avid reader of fiction, I find that I frequently exhaust all the books by a particular author and am left wondering what to read next. Book Lust definitely helped me to identify some new authors and books to try. It is broken down into 175 different categories; rather than be based on mood as the title suggests, the categories are mostly based on very specific genres--eg, African American Fiction (further divided into male and female), Canadian Fiction, Memoirs, etc. (some categories are given particularly amusing names, such as Elvis on My Mind, Gear Up for Gardening, and Take Me Out to the Ballgame). Particular authors are also highlighted various "Too Good to Miss" entries. You will certainly find plenty of reading suggestions, but don't expect much detail about each individual book--at times the books are simply listed. Also, you may be disappointed to find that some of your own favorites do not make the list (no Maeve Bincy under Irish Fiction?). Overall, however, this is a worthwhile read for booklovers like myself.",4.0,Good for expanding your reading horizons,1077494400,"02 23, 2004",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A1D6PWUMDY9F7V,1401352081,"Michael DENNISUK ""cc coach""","[7, 14]",I really enjoyed Tim Russert's wonderful memoir. In all lot of ways I felt as though I was reading about someone I had grown up with. He does a tremendous job of capturing the mood of growing up Irish Catholic in the '50's and '60's. A VERY ENJOYABLE READ!!,4.0,Enjoyable Memoir,1104624000,"01 2, 2005",7,14,helpful,0.5,1 A1LVMQ52YODRMO,0340823364,"sporkdude ""sporkdude""","[5, 11]","The last two current Dune trilogies are much more beach novels than the hardcore philosophical based science fiction of Frank Herbert's Dune. This is fine by me, and I think once you can get over it and accept it for something completely different, then you can enjoy it (note - I understand people who can't read it - I love Asimov's Foundation series, but I can't stand the prequels). So, assuming that you've read the other two novels in the Butlerian Jihad series, then you'll get what you expected out of this finale.First off, the main problem is the structure of the book. Each chapter is something like four pages and each one deals with a different subplot. Fine - except for the fact that the story will be built up, then you won't hear anything about that story for another thirty pages. By the time you get back to that part of story, you really don't care anymore.This is made worse by the fact that pages 250-500 are really dull as you have to wait for the inevitable conclusion by dealing with random people or plots that you really can't care about.The book suffers from some horrible structure and waiting that just makes it a pain to read.There are also some problems with whole Robots torturing people or arguing with each other, along with other things that just make no sense.Now for the good stuff (skip this paragraph if you want to avoid possible spoilers). You get the final battles that you wanted. You get to see the beginning of Atriedes - Harkonnen feud. You get the first Space Guild Navigator. You get to witness the start of Bene Gesserit. You get to see that start of the Suk doctors. You get the beginning of the Corrino dynasty. You get to see the first Mentat. All in all, this is what I wanted all along. You've heard about these topics from the original Dune novels, and it's really satisfying to know the origins. I guess the only problem I had with it was that everything was wrapped up too conveniently.Also, the writing style of the authors is fluid and interesting, and if they could have just structured it better, would have made for a book that would have been impossible to put down.So, if you want to know more about the Dune elements and don't have the ""this is not Frank Herbert"" hang ups, this is your book.",4.0,"Satisfying ending, but with some flaws.",1096416000,"09 29, 2004",5,11,helpful,0.45454545454545453,1 A83ARHJEVAZC0,0439064864,SueCBDR@aol.com,"[0, 0]","As I read HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, the teacher in me thought--Boys are going to LOVE this story. Action, mayhem, and slugs. And vomited Slugs at that! Did I just hear an "eeewwwwwww"? J.K. Rowling has struck gold with Harry Potter, and readers of the world couldn't be any luckier. I haven't read a lot of fantasy books in my time, but when I first picked up Harry Potter it reminded me a lot of THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ--the book, not the movie. L. Frank Baum was told NO, NO, NO while trying to get OZ published; thank goodness he persevered. J.K. was told she wouldn't make any money selling "kids books." HA! What publishers don't realize is that we're all kids at heart--especially us in the almost-forty-something crowd!",5.0,What is NOT to love about Harry Potter?,929836800,"06 20, 1999",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2D3IZIQQCT4QE,1466234989,"Maryann Miller ""Maryann Miller""","[7, 8]","I have read several of Terry Odell's books and this one is by far my favorite.The danger revolves around Elizabeth Parker and her son, Will, who have escaped an abusive relationship and are trying to establish new identities and new lives. That might have been easier had Elizabeth not taken something else when she ran from her home city to rural Colorado.Enter Mark Grinciewicz, Grinch to his friends and associates atBlackthorne, Incorporated. Grinch's ex-wife and her husband recently died, so he now has custody of his five-year-old son, Dylan. He has not seen the boy since he was a baby and is ill-equipped to be be a father, but he is determined to do what it takes to help his son adjust to a new life. When he gets a call from Blackthorne, requesting that he take a simple assignment--teach a woman how to fit into the community under her new identity--he reluctantly accepts the task.I enjoyed all the characters in this story, especially the two young boys and how they bonded. Grinch was one of the best romantic heroes, stumbling, far from perfect, yet charming and strong. It was a real pleasure to journey through the story with Elizabeth as she evolved from the scared, paranoid woman in the beginning, to the capable, self-assured and self-actualized woman at the end. She had to overcome a lot of distrust and fear in order to stand up to her husband and then make choices for the rest of her life. One of the nicest things about her transformation is that it came from her. She was not the victim, saved by the big strong hero.Kudos to the author for that.",4.0,An Enjoyable Book,1323561600,"12 11, 2011",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A12JHLQWS8L4LO,1573929425,Paul Scott,"[9, 10]",The best book of its kind on Jehovah's Witnesses. Diane captures perfectly the life of the average Jehovah's Witness. (I should know I was one for over 30 years). It's honest and revealing and I couldn't put it down.If you want to know what life is like for a member of the Jehovahs Witness supreme Governing Body try:Crisis of ConscienceIn Search of Christian FreedomIf you want to understand the unique teachings of the Jehovah's Witnesses readReasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah's Witnesses,5.0,Love it,1194912000,"11 13, 2007",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A2T1FND38O4AUO,0843959665,Erica Friedman,"[4, 8]","Classic pulp novels share a subtlety of language, and tension in plot, forged by writers better than the average writing for an audience that was smarter than average in a genre that pretended to be incredibly average. ""The Max"" has none of these qualities, relying on cursing for color and sex for humor and ""wackiness ensues"" as a plot driver.Unless sophomoric humor really strikes you as hysterical, don't bother with this hack job. Read some of the most excellent re-printed real pulp. Robert Bloch, Paula Christian, whoever. But leave Bruen and Starr on the shelf.",1.0,Classic pulp it's not,1232668800,"01 23, 2009",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A3D74GC9UUJFEO,1468132709,"Rogzombie ""reclusive reader""","[0, 0]","As I am sure you can get the lowdown on the story in the description, I will simply state, I have read all 4 of these booksand many of Keiths other works. He continues to grow as a writer and this book was great. Ididnt want to stop reading andcan't wait for the next one. Its short, novella length but well worth the dollar. Better a good novella for a buck than a thousand pagesof mediocre junk. The whole story is good. For less than $4 you can have them all and a great read.",5.0,The zombies pov,1327708800,"01 28, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27NTV9IM94YO6,B001C8VA26,"John Meaders ""John""","[0, 0]","I enjoyed this book. It is not your typical adventure novel, since it takes place in Iowa and Nebraska (not your your typical hot spots of high adventure criminal activity) and the protagonists aren't special operators. It is a fun read, and I hope Mr. O'Kane makes a series of it. I'm not going to give you any spoilers, but I would recommend reading it - especially if you get it on a day it is free or you can get it for $0.99. I love finding gems for those prices.",4.0,Fun read,1399680000,"05 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARZU59Y5LN8TR,0029334357,"Jonathan D. Eckel ""nekulturnii istorik""","[32, 58]","This is a very poor book for anyone seeking to know about the life of V.I. Lenin. It was published in Russia by an employee of the current regime for the purpose of discrediting the Soviet past. It is an especially poor read for Westerners because it assumes the reader had been brought up in the Soviet school system and would thus already be very familiar with the events of Lenin's life. As a previous reviewer stated, much of the book doesn't even discuss Lenin. The few facts presented are surrounded by the biased and long-winded opinions of the author and make very dull reading.When reviewing this book, one has to consider its author. Dimitri Volkogonov spent much of his career in the Red Army as a Party hack who wrote very dull works that nobody read. These included the standard praise for Stalin's "genius" as the wartime leader. In 1989, he wrote his biography of Stalin which condemned the Soviet dictator as a tyrant and betrayer of Lenin's Revolution. In short, Volkogonov adjusted to the new political mood of the Gorbachev era. Finally, in 1994 Volkogonov (now in the pay of Boris Yeltsin's anti-Soviet regime), wrote this book, which condradicts his earlier work by portraying Lenin as Stalin's true role-model. Again he is simply serving his current masters in the Kremlin, who assigned him the task of attacking Soviet history.Volkogonov is simply a propagandist, and not even a principled one at that. Whether Stalinist or rabid anti-communist, he has remained only a mouthpiece for the current Kremlin bosses. His writings seek to indoctrinate, not educate. And while his bio of Stalin contained some new information for those readers willing to peel through the layers of rhetoric, Volkogonov's latest sermon cannot make even that claim.Don't waste your time with this book. Those seeking a good, though not very sympathetic, biography on Lenin should try Adam Ulam's _The Bolsheviks_, which has been reprinted recently.",1.0,"Uninformative, one-sided, and dull",949968000,"02 8, 2000",32,58,helpful,0.5517241379310345,1 A16853A94XILCK,0880882484,miranda,"[0, 0]",I've purchased large kits for this price so I'm not very impressed. This is a pocket sized kit and the cards are not thick and sturdy. I'd get a better set for the money.,3.0,Cards are thin,1398556800,"04 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A37AF6YOZG8RLK,B00BL77PKO,Staci,"[0, 0]",This is the first book in a series. I love that the heroine is a chef and it gives you so many great food ideas! There is already somewhat of a connection between the characters so the fact that everything happens so fast doesn't seem unrealistic. Would highly recommend this book to anyone!,5.0,Great book,1393200000,"02 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AW5YCAD5H4AS2,0689834683,K. Wolski,"[0, 0]","My daughter's too old for this book, but hopefully someday I'll hold grandchildren in my arms as I read this book to them!",5.0,Children's Book,1364860800,"04 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QQGEFYITALF9,B00IDVQVW4,maurcan,"[0, 0]",I am a potato lover and like finding new things to do with them. I also like to meet people like potatoes who mix well with everything. Thanks to the author for putting this together.,4.0,kept this book,1399161600,"05 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZD5DZEKHEFXM,0439023483,"MamaGoose ""evergoose79""","[0, 0]","I have actually been following the book for awhile, but when I saw the preview for the movie I figured that I should go ahead and read before the previews start popping up on television. The book is pretty much a mix of Shirly Jackson's ""The Lottery"" and the TV Series ""Survivor"", with one of those Atwood future civilization twists. Like the other reviews I was a little surprised at the violent nature of the book, but it would probably be unrealistic if there as no death or violence involved. I do like the fact that the girl is 12 and is a strong character, and with a tweener myself I think that this is a character that she could probably relate to. There is a sort ""romantic, lover triangle"" thing there, but of course she is 12 and I like how the author portrays how she feels and it is realistic for what a girl her age would do if in a situation like that. Also if you have a Kindle, one of the pages may come up blank, I had to change the screen layout to a black background with white letters, to see one of the pages (which makes me sort of glad that I didn't get a book with a blank page).Since I now know that there is a movie, I am hoping that maybe the movie will allow us to also see ""outside"" the arena during the games.",5.0,"Like this book, looking forward to movie",1322352000,"11 27, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A7RTC5NH1XW4J,0307955575,"Nathan J. Hook ""USbsdKiwi""","[4, 5]","Renowned as one of America's leading experts on al Qadea and Osama bin Laden, Peter Bergen reflects on the ten year man hunt which finally led to the raid on Osama bin Laden's Pakistan hideaway in the sleepy city of Abbotabad. With access to screeds of material and even the compound in which bin Laden stayed before the Pakistani government demolished it, Bergen serves up a frightfully informed narrative of successive US governments' responses and attempts to capture America's most wanted terrorist. From the failed missile strike by Clinton, to the hamstrung bungle at Tora Bora, bin Laden slipped the net of US clutches and defied the West launching raids against Britain in 2005 while still on the run.Bergen pieces the puzzle together and reveals not only the efforts by the US government to track bin Laden down over the ten years since 9/11, but also the idealogy of al Qaeda, which according to Bergen, struggled to maintain its image, thanks to vicious campaigns of violence by off-shoot groups like al Qaeda in Iraq. Hemmed in by predator and reaper drones high in the skies above Afghanistan and controversially Pakistan, bin Laden opted to hide in plain site under a self-inflicted house arrest in the hope of avoiding US detection. The vice slowly squeezing during this time, analyts poured over data and Obama threw the dice and opted on a Navy SEAL raid and a chance to put to bed bin Laden forever.The raid itself will go down as one of military history's most daring and impressive efforts, especially since it almost came unstuck with a downed stealth chopper. The fact it stuck under such heat is testament to the professionalism of the SEAL's, their preparation and training, not to mention the years of effort to bring the intelligence in the first place for them to act on.It's a riveting read for anyone remotely interested in finding out about how our national security system works and what we were doing to track down bin Laden. Bergen's narrative style while full of research, is easy to follow, and punctuated with snippets of humor as he sums up some of the characters involved. From start to finish, definitely worth the purchase.",5.0,Thoroughly Researched,1339286400,"06 10, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3GO98SN8U2DFX,0415278414,"Alex Johnston ""graduate student""","[10, 10]","While reading this book you get a sense of a man truly on the verge of profound truth. It's a difficult read (the section on time alone will make you wonder if the book is written in English) yet it's importance is still being discovered. More grounded in science than Sartre or Heidegger, MP's work is that of a supremely disciplined thinker, one who builds a case and sees it through a series of arguments supported by actual evidence. (although the evidence is from studies done 50 years ago, it's impressive how much his work still holds up in the face of current cognitive science research)I have two complaints with the book. One is the translation. While I'm sure MP is a difficult read in any language, the sentence structure is nearly incomprehensible at times. It's hard for me to believe that the best, most accurate translation would leave it so awkward. My second problem is the index. If you ever want to find anything in the book after you read it I suggest you dogear it because the index is a cruel joke.",5.0,Stunning,1160784000,"10 14, 2006",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A3UCLKLPJ5FYX1,B007PJ1GM0,Jennifer M. Crump,"[0, 0]","This was a fast paced read and I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. Heather is a very strong willed person. She is genuine and caring but is a bit vulnerable after her accident. She is found on the shore barely alive by Malcolm Fraser. Malcolm is on leave from his job and doesn't want to help protect Heather but something about her makes him want to do just that. With Malcolm's help, Heather slowly regains her memory and starts to put the pieces together of her accident. The man behind the attempt on her life is not who she expected but she realizes she is lucky to have survived the attempts that were taken on her life. Through these ordeals, Heather realizes she has fallen for Malcolm, but can Malcolm love her and protect her at the same time. Malcolm struggles with his feelings for Heather throughout the story. He believes he can not love her and protect her at the same time. He tries hard not to fall for Heather but in the end he realizes he can love her and because of that he can protect her.",4.0,Review - Her Highland Champion,1337299200,"05 18, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2VV2MISGXFY1O,0374230897,"Ionia Martin ""Ionia""","[25, 29]","*WARNING: DO not read this book if you are the type that is offended by...almost anything. More specifically by things of a frank sexual nature. Don't say I did not warn you. However, if you are perv like me that is disturbed by little and finds humour in negative spaces, then please by all means, proceed.*This is an interesting book. I mean interesting in multiple ways. While clearly the author is highly educated and knows quite a lot about human sexuality and the forces that drive deviant behaviour, this is not your typical textbook look at said situation.Instead, this author uses a humorous approach to recounting his own experiences and gives his opinion on the matters at hand. He is very open, honest and I found him entertaining, although it should be noted that his non-religious views may offend some as he does not hold back when speaking of his disbelief in a higher power.I am not sure there is a single subject in the realm of deviance that this author did not explore. There are moments that will make you blush, a few that might make your stomach turn and many more still that will make you think about civilisation as a whole and how we came to be how we are. One thing I really did enjoy about this book was his nonpartisan attitude. This author does not make harsh judgments against anyone, but simply gives the reader a chance to view things from an objective perspective. He does not try to influence your beliefs, yet feels comfortable enough to offer his own opinion.While I did not agree with all of the author's views, I did see things his way a good number of times. I was happy to see that he had included the findings of the psychologist Daniel Wegner, as his study has shed light on a number of different fields through the theories he has formed and the evidence he has provided to support those theories.Overall, this was the interesting type of book that will invade your thoughts (for the good and bad) for a long time after reading it. If you can look at things analytically without feeling too emotionally attached or becoming easily enraged, this would be a good book for you. I would not recommend it to those who offend easily, but the title should have told you that much anyway.This review is based off of a digital ARC from the publisher and Netgalley.",4.0,"Appropriately titled, interesting and thoughtful",1381190400,"10 8, 2013",25,29,helpful,0.8620689655172413,1 A3ROL2WONWKVT7,0451167228,D. Hughes,"[4, 6]","I read this book many years ago when it first came out and then again recently. While Dr. Weekes has an interesting writing style and a lot of advice-it is really from a different time and a different philosophy. Dr. Weekes talks about going to patient's houses and helping them get their life together during their I'm-too-anxious-to-do-anything stage. Imagine! Now you can't the vast majority of psychiatrists to help you with your health insurance. But she basically has one theme: sure, you are wobbling around and dizzy and scared silly, but just go on with your life, even if you have to go a bit slower and make lists because all your neurons are in spasm. That's it, folks. As a person who has had severe anxiety problems throughout his life, I'm not sure that advice works very well when you are staring at the wall for two hours at a time because you are too scared to do anything else. It's an interesting book and easy to read, I'm just not sure it's of much use if your anxiety is severe....if you qualify as ""nervous"", maybe you'll be inspired. Maybe. Certainly many of the reviewers of the book were.",3.0,I don't know why people love this book...,1305504000,"05 16, 2011",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1R8HIUPEONTXZ,0399153640,"K. C. Hettrick ""voraciousbookhound""","[9, 9]","Small little book with a big idea about dieting, painlessly. Have only been on the diet for not quite two weeks and it is working just as the book says. Less food fills you up so you leave food on your plate, the irresistible urge to snack has gone away, no longer feel the need to eat three full meals a day have quit constantly obsessing about food and what I will eat next. Have lost 4 pounds in two weeks with no increase in activity level or exercise. It may not work for everyone, but it is working for me, which is great. The first diet I have followed that I didn't constantly feel hungry or deprived. Really awesome.",5.0,The Shangri-La Diet: The No Hunger Eat Anything Weight-Loss Plan,1221868800,"09 20, 2008",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A1WI04NSWYE1KE,0307292134,Iza,"[0, 1]","Love the trilogy! Dying for it to come out again so I can watch what I read... The books are def better, much more details and description.",5.0,Love it,1356566400,"12 27, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3S3R88HA0HZG3,0547134657,PT Cruiser,"[32, 36]","This is the story of a writer for the Washington Post, Hank Stuever, who takes a leave of 14 months to do an in depth story of how Christmas is celebrated in one fast growing Dallas suburb called Frisco, Texas. . The story takes place primarily in 2006 but also includes glimpses into the following years up to the beginning of 2009. He focuses mainly on three families, striving to create the perfect Christmas. At first they all seemed like over-the-top eccentrics and I did some of eye rolling while reading about some of their actions which seemed a little crazy to me. One lives in a McMansion and has a Christmas decorating business in her high end neighborhood and those nearby that promises to bring a ""phenomenal"" Christmas to her clients, even if they don't have the time to decorate themselves. Another is a single mom with 3 kids who has worked to pay off her home who stands in lines before sunrise on ""Black Friday"" at Best Buy with her kids and is very involved in the local mega-church and all it's goings on. The third are the inhabitants of a more modest home which have the huge Christmas light display coordinated with music that has people backed up for blocks in their cars to drive by for the yearly viewing ritual.I thought this was going to be strictly a lighthearted look at some of the outrageous lengths many of us go to in order to have a happy holiday and recapture the feelings of Christmases past, which somehow are always magnified in our memories. While there were some moments that had me laughing out loud, much of it had me thinking deeply about what it is to search for that perfect holiday and why we do it. I found myself beginning to understand what these people were trying to find and I ended up feeling like I had actually been invited into their homes and was able to see things through their eyes. Stuever has a way of introducing you and then drawing you into the lives of the people he writes about as he became closer and more involved with the families. While their holiday is quite a bit different than what I experience here, in California, I found myself looking up the light displays for Frisco on youtube and looking up the mega church site to see actual photos and videos of things Stuever writes about both in the past and present. (There are some great videos of these light and music productions of the characters on youtube!) It's not often that a book draws me in to that extent.I expected this to just be an interesting, funny, social commentary. It was all of that, but also some sad and introspective parts. It caused me do some serious thinking and wondering about why we do the things we do in our pursuit of happiness, be it the holidays or other times of the year. I felt a closeness to the families he writes about and found myself liking them. Although he goes back and writes a little about what happens in the following two seasons I hope that he'll write another book and let us know how their lives are changing in the coming years.This is the first book I've read by this author, but I love his writing style. I just did a search and found that he's written another book,Off Ramp: Adventures and Heartache in the American Elsewherewhich I immediately ordered, barely reading the description, just based on how much I enjoyed this one. This book, Tinsel, will go on my list of gift ideas for the holidays this year. Two thumbs up for a book that kept me up til the wee hours reading!",5.0,Tis the season to be jolly,1254960000,"10 8, 2009",32,36,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A1NMUPG3KMWRZM,1462003907,"Meek ""JerseyGirl""","[0, 0]","This story was really good with some twist into it I can't wait for the next book to come out, to see what happen.",4.0,Can't wait for book two,1378166400,"09 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1N1YEMTI9DJ86,0140430350,"S. Schwartz ""romonko""","[15, 15]","This book is on my list of all-time favourites. It is a novel that exposes social hypocrisy and sham, and a social satire of Thackery's era. It was written in the mid-nineteenth century. This book is often referred to as ""a novel without a hero"". It does not in fact have a male hero, but it does have a wonderful female creation. Becky Sharp is a brilliant fictional creation. The novel covers so many different areas of society and Becky's effect on them and their effect on her as she moves through the story. We see many different ways of life from this time, and they are portrayed so very well. The elements that we see are army society, city merchants' society, country gentlefolk's society, genteel poverty, fashionable society, life below stairs, and we see them all so clearly. Most remarkable of all, Thackery's heroine's profound effect on her readers is so different than what we are normally used to. Becky has no redeeming human qualities at all. She is a liar, a hypocrite, ungrateful, dishonest, mercenary and mean. But these qualities make her appear so real because the reader is aware throughout what kind of person that she is. We are under no illusions. I could go on and on because I love this book so, but you need to read this wonderful novel for yourself.",5.0,One of my all-time favourite books.,1106006400,"01 18, 2005",15,15,helpful,1.0,1 AMP9YRFS82NO7,1497585368,Anonymous,"[0, 0]",All I can say is WOW!!!!!!!! This book had me from the very beginning and took me on a fantastically dark ride. I can't wait for the next book.,5.0,AMAZING!!!!!!!,1400112000,"05 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17G0QHEZMZ67H,1862057753,A. Malouin,"[12, 12]","This has plenty of beautiful, great quality pictures, including quite a few I have never seen before which is always a plus. The first 10 or so pages are a brief biography of Audrey, also a nice addition. After that, it's all photos and captions, with a few pages scattered here and there with a quote by or about Audrey. A beautiful coffee table book or addition to a fan's collection.",4.0,Great gift for Audrey fans,1198800000,"12 28, 2007",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A2XP0UV92HLPPT,0470117672,James East,"[5, 6]","First it should be noted that this book is not for the casual weekend investor but for the more serious investor willing to get their hands a little dirty. Also, much like Mr. Whitman's classic book ""Aggressive Conservative Investor"", this book too is not necessarily set up to read in series or chronologically as one can if one wishes to start with sections that interest them the most. Also like the aforementioned classic, this book also provides considerable space devoted to describing the real world faced by both the outsiders and the insiders with respect to where their interests and incentives are most likely set. Understanding the viewpoints of both the insiders, whether corporate management or the directors, and the outsiders, whether control investors, the banker, the financier, the short-term traders, or that of the outside passive investor will help you along your way in understanding what may be happening in the market and why. Why? - because one needs to understand the view of the interested parties perspective and that one may temporarily have leverage over the other.With that cautionary note, the reader can gain some great insights into the somewhat hidden world of how the bankruptcy process works. With the ample examples and historical perspective that the authors bring to the table, the reader will gain more understanding of what is going on versus what one may read in the daily headlines of the pre-filing, or the post-filing, of the bankruptcy proceedings.All in this book provides one with some safeguards in regards to what to invest in and what to look out for while investigating distressed opportunities. ""Distressed Investing"" also still sticks to the Safe & Cheap philosophy advocated by both the authors and from the framework of Benjamin Graham.",4.0,The Basics for Bankruptcy Investing,1247788800,"07 17, 2009",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A13R91KX1JPZLR,0312375891,J&B Reviews,"[0, 0]",In the world of a recovering alcoholic and his AA meetings with all its whispers and inspirational sayings lies a great murder mystery. Enough dysfunctional characters with their own addictions and issues to have a step meeting. Enough of a story with twists to keep you reading and forget about picking up the bottle. Seriously I found this book very enlightening to the fellowship of AA and the principles on which it was based.,5.0,Hi I'm J&B and I am an Elizabeth Zelvin reader.,1397606400,"04 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TLR0ROX7QNGT,0452283485,Nicole Doelling,"[0, 0]",Glad I found this series. I read this book over a weekend and enjoyed every minute! Can't wait to read the rest.,4.0,Great read,1356998400,"01 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DY8R9M3MBSYE,B0052T2EN0,Troy M. Hallewell,"[5, 6]","I purchased Scarab last week and greatly enjoyed the story. It is the sort of story that just sucks you in from the first few pages and never lets go. The short chapters make it easy to read the story on the go and the expert storytelling of the author, Stavros Halvatzis, kept me interested until the end.All stories have different purposes to different people and if you are looking for a fairly short plot driven novel then Scarab should be highly recommended. You can read it quite quickly and the plot focus keeps the novel interesting and never allows it to become drawn out or dull.I look forward to Scarab Two, which, I have on good authority, should be out in the next six months.",5.0,Sci Fi with a twist!,1341705600,"07 8, 2012",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1JT5KSPQEUD5Q,0399157743,Amazon Customer,"[6, 11]","I bought this book after reading the Kindle sample because I was struck by the author's way with words but was very disappointed. I was ready to abandon the book half way through and ended up skimming the final quarter. the characters are introduced rather as one might describe chess pieces to a new player and remain simplistic throughout the book. There is no complexity, no insight and absolutely no surprises. The plot is implausible to the point of being insulting. As much as I found the plot unbelievable it was even harder to believe that any author or publisher would think it acceptable to foist this on their readers.",2.0,Shallow and implausible,1327190400,"01 22, 2012",6,11,helpful,0.5454545454545454,1 A29NJVMEA0IWSB,0316076074,Ulla Koch,"[0, 0]","The moment I saw some mangas were available for Kindle, I looked to see if this was among them. I didn't bother to contain my excitement when I saw that it was.This is long, on-going manga with the usual utterly meaningless name. A more fitting name would have been "Mind Screw", as some 90 chapters in, I still have no idea what's going on or going to happen, but it's a great ride, so who cares?The characters are wonderful, they're all different individuals with many expressions and tones. There will be villains to hate (then sympathize with) and villains to sympathize with (and then loathe), heroes to be confused over (but ultimately love) and heroes with woes to laugh at (and then cry over), side-characters that will have you laughing (and then gibbering nonsense in sadness) and side-characters whom you will remember. And many characters whose death... Gibber nonsenseThe storyline is so long and convoluted I'm not sure if it was all actually planned or just kind of happened that way.Bottom line: One of the best stories of all time in exactly the medium it deserves. You will be missing out if you don't read it.",5.0,"Great story, great characters, lotsa heartbreak.",1401926400,"06 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWECCFC31HF4U,0380805685,SJ,"[5, 6]","Can't believe this was part of the Cynster series. There was absolutely No storyline/plot here; no character interest, no mystery, no quest, no fun secondary characters, no info about the heroine's religion....Nothing....Just rambling dialogue and many overly-typical (and mediocre) intimate scenes, along with tons of miscommunications, between two flatly written characters. Add to that the thousand-and-one times the author used the word ""humph"" and I could not wait for it to end.",1.0,CYNSTER LETDOWN---,1287619200,"10 21, 2010",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A16ACVYBTVL1K1,0972624457,Lumi,"[6, 6]","Some of the information was helpful to me, but much of it focused on international adoptions and bonding/development issues surrounding older children coming from foreign orphanages. I wish that would have been clear in the book title, or its description, so I would have known this book was not greatly relevant to my situation. I'm sure it's a good book for parents adopting internationally, but for me it was pretty much a waste of money.",2.0,Focuses on adopting internationally,1294790400,"01 12, 2011",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2ZGQ5CNTLRE3C,B00DJTK6LM,milliemommy2,"[0, 0]",She did it again. I luv this book. I have read ask of Brenda Stokes books n she as always brings her A game. This book made me laugh n da sex scenes was on point. U gotta read this book,5.0,yes indeed,1373414400,"07 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2341IWGYS7277,0544002695,Reviewinator,"[0, 0]","This is a good book to introduce some of the major ideas of "Big Data". It is aimed at the conventional reader, no advanced degrees in computer science needed. It explains the concepts and lays out the ideas very well. For anyone interested in the concept of "Big Data" this is a good book to start with.",5.0,Big Data--Big Hit,1373155200,"07 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2E88JOBKYJFW8,0871403773,"Dr. R. D. B. Laime ""a realist""","[0, 0]","Edward O. Wilson is a scientist, and one that can make science so exciting. This is one of his best. Wilson shows that perseverance, imagination, and more will take one on a wonderful journey . Part of this grand book is an autobiography. And that part is great reading. This book is not just for aspiring scientists, it's a book that makes science interesting and exciting. I've told many about this grand book. Get it and you won't regret it.",5.0,Simply One of the Best,1375228800,"07 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QNAGWT0XGYQE,1442355549,"Donna H ""GrammyD""","[21, 33]","Glenn Beck is one of the few out there, who will give us the truth - the WHOLE truth. Not the politically cleansed or politically correct version.His investigative facts are beyond reproach and he speaks to the common man. Every American needs to know what he has learned.",5.0,"As usual, Beck does it again!",1339977600,"06 18, 2012",21,33,helpful,0.6363636363636364,1 A26EX16IX02HOZ,0345386450,"Amazon Customer ""oclady1208""","[5, 16]","Trying to get through this book is like watching paint dry. It's written so poorly. Every stinking detail about Marlene's life. Could've been written better. I don't care how many times her breasts were taped up or how many times she wet her pants when she laughed. I'm sure there were more important things that happened. The way this story about her life is written and all her lovers and how she flaunts them in her husband's face, makes Britany Spears and Lindsay Lohan look like saints. Even Paris Hilton is looking more saintly after reading this book! What a shame of how to remember one's Mother.",1.0,Boring - What a shame of how to remember one's Mother.,1242777600,"05 20, 2009",5,16,helpful,0.3125,1 A3MV1KKHX51FYT,0140114165,Acute Observer,"[4, 7]","The last page gives the personal history of Robert Sullivan, a judge of the Massachusetts Superior Court, who presided over a hundred murder cases. The 'Bibliography' lists many books, few of which are readily available. It does not list the books by Edmund Pearson and Edward Radin which covered this case for general readers. The one best book since 1991 is David Kent's ""Forty Whacks"". The best solution is still Arnold Brown's book. Sullivan seems quite biased in Appendix III about ""the purchase of possession of ... poison"", given that Lizzie didn't purchase or possess a poison; the attempted purchaser could have been a look-alike. Professor Borchard's book was available to Sullivan. Many believed that Lizzie was guilty and paid off somebody to be found 'not guilty'. Arnold Brown explained why Lizzie did not commit the murders and paid off the authorities to be found 'not guilty'. An appointed judge should know how things work in politics. You can study Sullivan's picture and judge his personality for yourself. Agnes de Mille's book quoted the daughters of a physician about the murders: there was a secret that was never revealed.The 'Preface' considers the fascination of the unsolved murders of the Bordens. It may be due to the logical paradox that Lizzie was the remaining prime suspect but she couldn't have done it. No blood spatter on her clothes, not murder weapon, being seen outside at the time of Andrew's death. The legend of a cold-blooded spinster killer seems to meet the inner need of people who believe it. Sullivan read the two-thousand page transcript on microfilm to give his own opinions in this book. The record cannot contain the actual environment seen and heard by the jury, who decided the facts in this case. A transcript doesn't capture the tone of the answers.Sullivan's bias is show by his dependence on the words of 90-year old Abby Borden Whitehead Potter who was ten years old at the time, and was never interviewed by anyone. That is not an astonishing fact (p.4)! She was both a child and not a witness. The Great Depression saw the decline of Fall River in the 1920s (p.6). In the early 18th century the Bordens owned all of Fall River (p.7). In the 19th century industrial Fall River was the third largest city in the state. A few families formed the ruling class of Fall River (p.8). Why did Lizzie change her name (p.20)? Fashions change, ""Lizzie"" became the generic name for a servant (the 'tin lizzie'). Sullivan's story about the ""Day of Horror"" is biased against Lizzie. You have to read other books to know this. Sullivan's explanation of 19th century law is not exact. Massachusetts in 1877 was the first state to require Medical Examiners, used in Europe for decades (p.43).Sullivan was puzzled over D.A. Knowlton's offer (p.54). Was this just a ruse to learn defense strategy? Lizzie was indicted only after Alice Russell testified again (p.55). Lizzie pled ""not guilty"" (p.56). The Fall River ruling class supported Lizzie (p.60). [Did they know the secret?] Sullivan's prejudice is shown by comments on ME Dolan's testimony (p.123). Sullivan comments on Jennings' statement on reasonable doubt (p.145). Sullivan's bias caused his error about the newspaper advertisement on page 37 (p.161). In his charge to the jury Judge Justin Dewey subtly argued for the defense (p.172). Dewey was never sanctioned for this; was it for the sake of justice? Sullivan's bias is shown on page 182. The ""expert testimony"" was against the facts known to the jurymen who slaughtered cows, pigs, and sheep on their farms. After the trial Knowlton was elected Attorney General of the state, and Jennings was elected D.A. of the county. Was this the reward for their actions in the trial?This would have been a better book if Sullivan had squelched his bias in telling the story, but unloaded in a long final chapter. Many of his quibbles were answered in Arnold Brown's book, which solved the crime and explained the discrepancies. Unlike most authors over the past seven decades Brown was honest enough to admit he couldn't prove it. But no one else can, ever.",2.0,A Judge Rules on the Facts,1204243200,"02 29, 2008",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A1459T4DOMZLBE,0738712051,Amazon Customer,"[7, 9]",This book tells of some great advice for herbs and natural cures. It makes a great reference book and is a part of my library. The word Almanac is misleading since nothing in it pertained to the year and all of the information can be used any year.,4.0,Almanac is misleading.,1322697600,"12 1, 2011",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 AIKNPBF57VF2G,B007UAUPT4,Anonymous,"[0, 0]","Not a bad book, but good entertainment. Kind of far fetched if you ask me, but satisfied with its ending.",4.0,Good/,1358035200,"01 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LLP0VSTSABK2,1419640682,"Lynellen Perry ""lynellenDOTcom""","[0, 1]","I'm not sure who the audience of this book is intended to be, and I didn't find it to be clear what the purpose of this collection of essays is supposed to be. Good content, but what is someone supposed to do with this book? The copyright statement gives permission for schools, churches and other non-profits to reprint his essays that are less than 700 words; but is this the intended audience? There doesn't seem to be much ""practical application"" or suggested actions/activities to followup the content. In the introduction, the author says he is trying to ""offer ways for parents, teachers and others to teach"" fundamental values and character development to children, but again the essays don't really lend themselves to clear action steps.Each chapter is about 6 pages, which is then followed by one-page ""essays"" or articles that are loosely related to the chapter topic and are supposed to be illustrations of the topic. Each section closes with a few pages of relevant quotations.The first chapter is ""The Values of Freedom"", and the main point seems to be that ""there are limits to individual freedom and children must be taught how to live in harmony with other humans according to traditional norms."" One of the best short essays in this section is called ""The Democratic Family?"" and talks about three types of families: authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative. Another good essay in this section is ""Real Self-Esteem"" which summarizes the thoughts of Dr. John Rosemond, psychologist, parenting expert and syndicated columnist. This essay discusses Dr Rosemond's thoughts on pampering children, correcting children, and the purpose of guilt in inducing change in behavior.The second chapter is ""What Do You Worship?"" and discusses the differences between fundamental and supplemental ethical values.The third chapter is ""Character is Destiny"". One of the short essays in this section says ""Bad character is the sum of a series of bad choices; and good character is the result of making a habit of telling the truth, showing respect for others, being responsible and showing others that you care.""The fourth chapter is ""Fit to be Free"" which basically summarizes the thoughts of pastor and teacher Wayne Oates on the topic of the values of poverty. Oates says ""Poverty is far more than simply not having money, goods, and luxuries. Poverty is a way of life, which once learned, is very difficult to unlearn.""The fifth chapter is ""Trust and Trustworthiness"" which starts with a summary of the thoughts of Francis Fukuyama on the topic of trust. Fukuyama says America is ""regressing into a more fragmented society of isolated individuals seeking more rights and fewer duties. Without shared values and a commitment to something higher than selfish interests, America may be losing the 'social capital' of trust necessary to any free society.""The sixth chapter is ""The Siamese Twins of Freedom"" which tries to show that ""freedom, responsibility and personal power are all part of the same package."" Baggett says that currently students ""are taught that equal achievement is their due, when they are taught that the highest good is to have freedom without limits, when they are protected from the consequences of bad behavior and outright laziness, when the responsibilities of students and parents are shifted solely onto the shoulders of educators, children fail to develop the respect and responsibility needed to thrive in a free society.""The seventh chapter, ""What is this thing called love?"", discusses the feelings of love as compared to the actions of love. This chapter is the most obviously religious chapter.The final chapter, ""How to have a happy school"", attempts to ""describe the crucial features of a well-run school."" These features are: good leadership (principal who is neither aggressive nor passive; and who involves the staff in teaching group norms of ""mutual respect for the dignity and worth of everyone, respect for the authority of adults, doing one's personal best, responsible behavior, and caring for one another""); enforcement of clearly defined rules; leaders who advocate ""the lifeskills or character traits"" students and staff should develop; models the behavior advocated; high academic standards; commitment to the idea that all students can learn; continuous improvement; accountability; fun; special activities for students; recognition of achievement; concern for the whole person; and clean and safe facilities.",3.0,"Good content, but confusing purpose",1227657600,"11 26, 2008",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2IZO6S2H8SJJB,061521519X,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I really enjoy Ms. Simmons writing so I was excited to see this title. As usual, she did disappoint. I enjoyed this story about a young girl trying to escape the binds of her abusive boyfriend. I would definitely recommend this book to others. Good Job!",5.0,Great Read,1364860800,"04 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A38AV3CSWAC093,B007GDZEXW,"Lovely Day ""lovely""","[0, 0]",From the beginning it just didn't move me. It took awhile for me to finish because all this book contained to me is cussing and boring conversations.,2.0,Trashy,1391126400,"01 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YJZIS2G3FXKW,0307477479,R. Cooper,"[0, 0]","I can't say that it was a perfect book, I didn't much like any of the characters, but it was a memorable book. I've recommended it to many people and encouraged them to persevere to the last chapter which I thought was brilliant. I think that Ms. Egan tapped into the near future perfectly - how we can (and perhaps should) be communicating when we really want to be understood. The braiding of characters with time makes for a happy puzzle-like journey, that pays off in the end.",5.0,Last chapter is worth the 5th star.,1315526400,"09 9, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A25ACLV5KPB4W,0452279070,"Matt Hetling ""Matt""","[8, 8]","Ragtime is not one of those gripping stories that will knock your socks off by toying with your emotions.This is a more cerebral novel, dedicated to filling your mind with vivid pictures that, collectively, paint an era in American history. Historical figures and concepts come to life, as we get novelized scenes with Freud, Emma Goldman, Houdini, and a great many others whose names may have meant little to us before picking up this novel.The writing is very well-done, with a voice that manages to be clear and lyrical at the same time.History buffs in particular will appreciate seeing the way that this book brings so many events to life; for the casual reader, however, the staggering breadth of the plot is an obstacle to immersion in the story. There are just too many characters and subplots, at times juxtaposed in too convenient a manner, to make a story that has the dramatic power that a scaled down version might achieve.But hey, Doctorow has achieved what he set out to achieve. He clearly wanted to make a novel that was a portrait of an era, and the fact that the book still works as a novel at all is pretty amazing.If you want a great novel, I recommend that you go elsewhere. But if you want a novel that teaches you something, or if you just want to experience something that's a little different from the average work of fiction, give this a try.",3.0,Not your typical novel,1111276800,"03 20, 2005",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A10QBXQ7TOUNBT,0345803493,Sheila Hardrick,"[0, 0]","I ordered all three books previously and only received book 1 and book 3 from previous vendor......I had to reorder book 2 as it did not come with the original order (not good). This time I tried a different vendor and received my purchases as ordered. Book came in good condition, was listed as used, no markings, no bent pages, no scuffs on cover although it showed as read before. I will order from this vendor again.",5.0,Needed book 2.............,1361577600,"02 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3AXDI14LG6B63,1480296244,Mama Meme,"[10, 11]","Deadly Holidays (A Deadly Trilogy Christmas Novella)You know the rigors of the holidays. And sometimes you just need a hot cup of coffee and a short book that is a quick read to get your mind off the crowds, the cold and the next door neightbor with the obnoxious outdoor Christmas decorations.Deadly Holiday takes the reader on a fast trip that covers the days before and right after Christmas. You will laugh and cry. You will bite your nails with anxiety and curl your toes in passion as your are swept away on this express ride that covers everything from a small boy who has never known anything but pain in his life to a crazy scene of passion that's hotter than Christmas cider.Will a five-year old boy be found before officials are forced to call off the search for him because of an impending blizzard? Will Anne and Michael be able to save their marriage after a life-threatening problem threatens to change their lives forever? Will Jennifer deliver a healthy baby this time? Can Tim and Megan come to terms over a vision Megan has for their lovely Victorian home? How will Frankie and Lane work through the financial worries that is driving them to bankruptcy. And this doesn't even begin to cover some of the surprise twists of life and death Ms. Grace has effortlessly woven into this novella.I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, ""Deadly Holiday."" It is an excellent story that will help take your mind off all the pressure of the holidays.",5.0,YOU DESERVE A BREAK - SIT DOWN AND CURL UP WITH THIS ACTION PACKED NOVELLA,1352592000,"11 11, 2012",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A3ES0XIED7769J,B00G76GR7Q,Roxanne,"[0, 0]","Jackson was really hurting in his heart because he didn't have a woman to live & to love him. Mia didn't think there were long relationships, because of a mother that was too selfish.",5.0,(Out of Uniform) 10. As Hot As It Gets,1392163200,"02 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMFIHLW5HTUCZ,0199767203,"Theresa Welsh ""The Seeker""","[6, 7]","Economic orthodoxy says we must seek constant growth in our GDP. For that to happen, people must buy stuff, and because most people are not lacking in what they really need, the economy must stimulate desire for things they DON'T need. Marketing and advertising stimulate desire for stuff we don't currently have which makes us work harder and produce more, and and so the economy grows. Economists trot out numbers and charts to illustrate the growth effects of wanting more, working more and buying more. But Tomas Sedlacek dares to challenge this scenario in which Homo Economicus sees his existence as the endless pursuit of profit and possessions.-- WHAT ARE THE ROOTS OF ECONOMIC THEORY? --He does not challenge it by presenting us with his own charts and projections, but by asking us to look back - way back - in the past and think about where the whole concept of economics comes from. He asks us to consider how this whole cycle of work and buy got started. He takes us back to the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve had life pretty good until they wanted the one thing they couldn't have - the forbidden fruit. Once they tasted that, they discovered that the previously pleasurable ""work"" of taking care of the garden was now less pleasant.We move forward in time to Gilgamesh, the Babylonian demi-god who was busy putting up a big wall around his city until he met Enkidu, a ""wild"" man who lived in the unsafe area outside the walls of the city. But Gilgamesh cannot resist seeing what's out there and he and Enkidu go on adventures that introduces Enkidu to the hard work in pursuit of pleasure that characterizes civilized man while Gilgamesh discovers the freedom of his wild side and abandons wall-building. The point of these stories is that humans always want what is just out of reach, and the field of economics has seized on that desire as the key to economic growth. Our very myths and stories reaching back into the mists of time tell us how we got this way.We go on further journeys in time through ancient Hebrew views of society, the teachings of Jesus, the Greeks with their Stoics and Epicureans (Hedonists) and of course, Plato, with his illusionary world in the cave of shadows. These ancient thinkers originated the key concept of ""utility."" This is the idea that people behave in a way that maximizes the usefulness of their acts to themselves. As the author later shows, this is a bit of a tautology (we do what is useful because it is useful), but it is a basic idea in Economics. The Stoic - Hedonist dichotomy is all about whether man should act according to sensible rules and not according to the expected outcome of his behavior or should act in his own best interests by doing whatever produces a good result for himself. This is an argument that goes on today. Do the ends justify the means? What does this have to do with Economics? Quite a lot - how we think about this affects how we live and work and that affects society and its economic life.-- CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY AND ECONOMICS --I found in this book an answer to something in Christian theology that has long puzzled me. What is the meaning of the concept that ""Jesus died for our sins?"" There is an answer in the ancient Hebrew concept of debt as being something that had to have limits. People who became so mired in debt they could not get out became ""debt slaves."" But the Hebrews had a built-in release valve for this condition: The Jubilee Year which occurred every 49 years; it was a ""year of forgiveness"" when debt slaves were freed and all land reverted to its original owners, which allowed all the tribes who had come to Canaan to retain a portion of the land forever. This ""forgiveness"" was seen as necessary to building a just and fair society, even though it meant some debts were not actually repaid and some received benefit they did not ""earn."" It seems this is the same concept (or metaphor) applied to Jesus' death on the cross. Like a Jubilee Year, Jesus erases the debt for the evil acts of mankind.The author shows how many ancient thinkers (Thomas Aquinas and others) thought evil was part of our world and could not be eradicated. They went so far as to say that good can come out of evil acts or at least be so tightly bound up with good that eliminating evil would also eliminate a lot of good. Jesus said not to throw out the weeds right away for fear of pulling out the good plants, but to wait until you harvest the crops, and he said you should not return evil for evil so as not to propagate it further, but return good for evil. In this way of viewing morality, it was not always about placing blame for bad happenings like debt or loss. Evil just IS and we must exist with it.-- FINANCIAL REDEMPTION AND THE INVISIBLE HAND --Today, we still practice forgiveness of debts with bankruptcy laws and when the government bails out institutions, as the US government did in the Great Recession in 2008 and 2009. The banks and financial institutions that were the furthest in the hole got the largest forgiveness, just like the worst sinners receive forgiveness the same as those whose offenses are small. Is this fair? The question becomes irrelevant when we consider the necessity of financial forgiveness to avoid financial Armageddon.Hebrews obeyed the laws of their God whether it maximized their own ""utility"" or not, believing these rules were for the good of all. Mass forgiveness like the Jubilee Year maximizes utility for the whole society rather than just for one person. Aristotle taught something similar, believing all good should be for the society as a whole. Aristotle gave us the concept of maximizing Good (MaxG) instead of maximizing Utility (MaxU).Our present economic thought is all about MaxU and this is considered to derive from Adam Smith and the ""invisible hand"" which is supposed to guide our economic actions to always bring about a good result if just left alone.But the author tells us that Adam Smith only mentioned the invisible hand three times in his extensive writings and Adam Smith was not a believer in MaxU. These ideas can be more accurately ascribed to Bernard Mandeville whose ideas were at the far end of the spectrum of good vs. evil; he thought evil was good for the economy and that there was lots of profit in vice. Like the movie character, Gordon Gecko, he thought greed was good. Keeping people discontented was a great idea so they would keep seeking ways to profit so they could buy more stuff. What we needed, 20th century economists told us, was to encourage consumption and more consumption. That, according to this point of view, is the way of progress.-- GRATITUDE VS. CONSUMPTION --Some years ago, I discovered that I really did not need any more possessions and I found that exchanging GRATITUDE for seeking more stuff made for happiness. In the ""pursuit of happiness,"" an attitude of gratitude goes a long way. In the last part of this book, the author makes that very point. He suggests we try being GRATEFUL for what we have. He suggests that Economics needs to rediscover its roots in moral philosophy, that Economics is not, and cannot be, value-neutral. Mathematical models have become the content of Economics instead of a tool to use along with assessing how life really works. The author has a nice discussion about the elusiveness of reality and how little it relates to models.Economic theories cannot predict the future, which depends on factors outside how much we are all busy maximizing utility. I actually found this a rather funny idea - I had never considered anything I did in terms of how much I was ""maximizing utility."" It has always seemed strange that the behavior that's good for me -- not buying stuff I don't need --is bad for the economy. How can these things be opposed to each other? The author cites many renowned thinkers, but he left out my previous favorite author on this subject. Some years ago, I read a little book by John Kenneth Galbraith called ""The Good Society."" This laid out how we can have a ""good"" (MaxG) society in which everyone benefits. It had a point of view that was not based on mathematics. I don't know if author Sedlacek has read Galbraith, but I think they might find some agreement.I really liked and enjoyed this book. I would give it six stars, if I could!",5.0,Finally! Sensible Thoughts on Economics,1309478400,"07 1, 2011",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A2EY0HO8UU1I0J,1571208232,Jacqueline J. Morris,"[0, 0]",This book gives the basics of dyeing and mixing colors in an easy to understand formatt. A great place to start with color mixing before moving on to more complicated techniques.,5.0,great basic,1359244800,"01 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3F1GM7ZAZD1SW,0964326108,jmhr,"[12, 19]","What caught my attention was the title. Finally, a book addressing the dichotomy of power and force, so intuitively obvious, yet so... so... whatever.This book starts out well enough, but becomes progressively nuttier by the page. Supposedly endorsed by Mother Theresa and notable, etheric luminaries, heavies, etc, but I just can't believe they actually managed to read it.I enjoy and learn from books with a metaphysical theme, often enough. I'm a Power of Now fan, for instance. This book pretends to be revelatory. I'll confess, I did have one revelation. 11.95, or whatever it was, is magically gone.",1.0,buy a bottle of twaddle instead,1240272000,"04 21, 2009",12,19,helpful,0.631578947368421,1 A2DYV8ZCJXB773,0306810905,"Jonathan Gawne ""But then, what do I know...""","[15, 23]","This is a great book, although it is slightly different than the average WW2 memoir.The author was in the anti-mine squad of an anti-tank tank platoon in the 84th Infantry Division. As such, he had some freedom to wander his area not afforded to a GI in an infantry squad. Coupled with the fact that the author, because of his personality, is exactly the kind to go and volunteer for things makes his story different from most.Now I must admit that I know the author, and this is absolutely the way he is. As a point of fact he spent the years after the war as a police reporter poking his nose into places it might not normally belong for his local paper. While doing so he won 35 awards for reporting. This speaks for his ability as an author and researcher. The book is very, very well written.During his war years he is blown up, gets frozen feet, suffers from combat exhaustion, and all manner of events. He volunteers for patrols, goes sniper hunting, and "loots" whenever he gets a chance. I've seen some of his souvenirs that he mentions in the book. They are quite real.Some might be critical of his story as he does act differently from the average GI who would shudder at volunteering. Often veterans like to embellish their wartime experience with slight exaggerations. After many talks with the author, and countless interviews with other veterans about their war years, I do not think this is embellished. As a longtime historian of WW2 ( hey, go buy my books!), I've gone through his book very closely, and cannot find any problems with it.So do I recommend the book? Heck yes! You just need to keep in mind that he is not the average GI. He's a cocky 19 year old that figures if he has to go to war he might as well take part in it. He did, and left us a well written record of what he went through. It is one of my favorite WW2 memoirs.",5.0,"A great, but different, view of WW2",977443200,"12 22, 2000",15,23,helpful,0.6521739130434783,1 A3139BROB1E762,0307913090,"""karnas84""","[23, 27]","One day I stumbled upon A GAME OF THRONES while browsing through the library. I am forever grateful. George R.R. Martin has written an epic masterpiece that is intelligent, gripping, and reflective of the very best qualities of fiction (not just fantasy).A GAME OF THRONES is a sweeping tale of the continent of Westeros, a land torn asunder by political intrigues. In King's Landing, capitol of the Seven Kingdoms, the mysterious death of the King's Hand sets into motion power plays and political games. Eddard Stark, a northern lord as hard as winter, is chosen by King Robert Baratheon as the new King's Hand. Stark is drawn into a game for which he has no taste, forced to leave his children and wife, yet duty-bound to discover the causes for the death of his friend Jon Arryn, the old King's Hand. But Stark finds that honor has no place in King's Landing, where the truth is a matter of deadly danger.A GAME OF THRONES, through the use of multiple perspectives and masterful writing, is a powerful and unforgettable story about the shattered Seven Kingdoms. Pure good and pure evil holds no place in Martin's writing. We come to know every person as an individual, each with unique ambitions and dreams. Their reactions are realistic and human. Our ideas of an event are twisted and turned as we see it through the eyes of different characters, each of which have remained in my memory long after I have turned the last page.I highly recommend A GAME OF THRONES, and moreover the entire ""A Song of Ice and Fire"" series to anyone who is patient and enjoys reading. I promise that if you have these two qualities, you will not be disappointed.",5.0,Truly Fantastical,1025481600,"07 1, 2002",23,27,helpful,0.8518518518518519,1 A36YGJOFWHHRAC,1565119967,Jaye,"[6, 6]","This is the best joke book I have seen. So funny that I was emailing friends with one liners. I bought it as a gift and ended up reading the whole thing.There is not a bad joke in it, although there are some REALLY BAD jokes that are so awful you can't help but laugh : )",5.0,Very Funny,1228521600,"12 6, 2008",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1W4Y8HBARF85I,0470590807,raebee,"[0, 1]",Very thoughtful account of how we need to learn to live together in a society that is so divided. Parker Palmer has a way of helping all to see things from the view point of the other.,5.0,Thoughtful,1355097600,"12 10, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2CIVTC43B6HP5,B00HFYQ346,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Love loved loved it...,was hot funny sad but did I say HOT wow. Go muff. I wish there was more",5.0,hhhmmmmmmmmm,1387670400,"12 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QQ63N2G6PBMZ,006197806X,LibraryLady,"[0, 1]","I must say that this is my favorite of the YA dystopia trilogies. The premise hooked me, but the characters were to die for (and I won't spoil it by telling). Didn't want it to end and even though I'm content with the conclusion, I still would like more (please Lauren Oliver, MORE!)",5.0,crazy good!,1394928000,"03 16, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A178NXWVHKRH01,0713489650,gryer,"[47, 50]","This is a gorgeous book with wonderful ideas, most of which you will probably never use. If you have not tried manipulating fabric with machine embroidery and disolvable stabilizers, then this book will probably open your eyes and get your mind wandering in all sorts of new directions. If you are not an aspiring fiber artist with lots of free time to experiment, then this book probably has little practical use.",3.0,Pretty Coffee Table Book,1171756800,"02 18, 2007",47,50,helpful,0.94,1 A2A07SIDSTE1R2,0830827951,"David S. Ritsema ""Pastor of FBC Waxahachie Pr...","[7, 34]","Marshall is a well recognized scholar. His Theology will be something I turn to again and again. In a world with so many divergent views, it is nice to find someone who writes and thinks so close to the way I do.",5.0,Excellent NT Theology--Evangelical Perspective,1121299200,"07 14, 2005",7,34,helpful,0.20588235294117646,1 APTZUJ5MA7FN7,B004WPNCPY,Susie,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed the plot. The story moved along at a nice pace. The only bad thing was it was too short.,5.0,Great Book,1396569600,"04 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YKSXXAHSQEEW,0987948806,Patricia E. Smith,"[0, 0]","A good mystery within a mystery. The characters were compatible and believable. The scenes were written in a fashion that you could visualize the action, locations and characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery/detective style reading with a twist. I also enjoyed learning a little about Canadian Law Enforcement and their differences and similarities to American Law Enforcement. Americans could learn a lot from the Canadians and their respect for human life.",4.0,Good Mix of Characters,1382054400,"10 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18WOVD5N22127,1623153778,k,"[0, 0]","Great publication!This book is a great way for you to exercise your mind and improve your overall memory. The publication offers practical tips, techniques, approaches, and memory tools that were developed by leading experts. They are proven and actually work! The author’s synopsis about memory and well-known tests that are given by neurologists and psychologists has helped me to gain an accurate understanding about cognition. The seven memory exercises and other effective methods in the book, have given me the capacity to increase my short-term memory and move new information to my long-term memory. Also, the author talks about 20 foods and vitamins that you should eat to improve your memory and boost cognition. This guide is perfect for anyone who wants to keep their brain fit. I have seen an improvement in my ability to access my stored memories throughout my life.",5.0,Great Publication!,1395532800,"03 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A4OSXRZR2BMX8,0525951490,"William Merrill ""eclecticist""","[0, 1]","(3 & 1/2 stars) Iron River is an action novel with a fast-paced plot, interesting and unusual characters, and a couple of totally unexpected but entertaining story developments. I had not read any books by T Jeff Parker before this one (his 15th), but I enjoyed it enough to want to go back and catch up with Parker's past works. I believe it would have helped some if I had read the previous Charlie Hood books, but I still didn't have any real trouble following along. This book kept my attention from cover to cover, and several times I had to resist the temptation to skip ahead to find out what would happen. I liked the three simultaneous plotlines and how they intersected, although the main story takes a weird turn into the realm of fantasy at about the 200-pg. point. In some ways that irritated me, but mostly it just made me more curious about the larger world in which this story takes place. I've lowered the rating slightly because certain scenes just seemed to jump from point to point too abruptly, without sufficient explanation of what was going on. An example of this is the scene where the gun maker Ron first meets the drug lord Herredia. The things in the scene did make sense, but it all happened too quickly.",4.0,An action novel with a difference,1278288000,"07 5, 2010",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0061997145,Harriet Klausner,"[0, 0]","Upper class Peter and Julia Locke have an ideal marriage. However, WWI has Peter becoming a commanding officer fighting on the continent. Working class Riley Purefoy is taken in by the affluent upper middle class Waverly family. He dreams of marriage to their daughter Nadine, but WWI has him on the continent in Locke's unit. Combat at the front changes both of them.On the home front, Julia struggles without a man around telling her what to do. Her cousin Rose thrives with her volunteer work at the VA hospital. Nadine finds the war freeing her of the yoke of class imprisonment as she becomes a nurse. When the men come home, pre war relationships cannot be reconstructed.This engaging historical tale focuses on the impact of WWI on class status and boundaries in Great Britain. The four lead characters are fully developed so that the reader understands the transition from before to during and after the war. Although the deep look at times leads to a slow pace, readers will appreciate Louisa Young's belief that one outcome of the war to end all wars is the breaking down of progenitor class barriers.Harriet Klausner",4.0,engaging historical tale,1307404800,"06 7, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RDCBLXMHG71T,1480529699,"Paolo Tosolini ""tosolini""","[0, 0]","Nice, original story. Well written and pleasant to read. I think it was more captivating in the beginning and less in the end, with some typing mistakes here and there. However I enjoyed reading it.",4.0,Very nice book,1355097600,"12 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2T063CY97XR1X,1469935708,C. A. Kennedy,"[4, 4]","Because I lived thru the killer smog as did all of my family and friends I feel I MUST read this book. I have often bragged that because of the air inversion in Denora Pittsburgh was one of the first major cities in America to pass environmental laws. Pittsburgh is now a beautiful city and one that I love to ""go home"" to every year. I grew up only about 25 miles from Denora and the entire area was affected by that awful smog. I can't wait to read this. It is first on my list.",5.0,Denora,1362528000,"03 6, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A23B9YR9W29YUQ,147767330X,Wanda Binz,"[0, 0]","This is another page turner. Once I started it I couldn't put it down. Wonderful story, characters. I am going to start number 4 next. Great read ENJOY.",5.0,Wonderful,1357084800,"01 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Q253FVZZ1FH5,1442369183,E. J.,"[23, 29]","What a beautiful book and a beautiful story! I was a bit worried that the kindle edition would not do justice to the images, but I was way wrong. The images come through perfectly and can be zoomed into. The story is engaging and gentle. It is written in a language that is easy for both teens and adults to get into. Well done.",5.0,"A beautiful book, a beautiful story",1383091200,"10 30, 2013",23,29,helpful,0.7931034482758621,1 ADU6LGFXOO4XF,B00CEKPL7Q,"Annamarie Lubow ""Anna""","[0, 0]",This was quite a picture heavy little book and I really enjoyed it. I love the series and my husband plays the game and it was nice to get a little it of background about it all.,5.0,Awesome!,1369267200,"05 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RXF9OCOEBEPG,0002247399,"Joan C. James ""Book Lover""","[12, 14]","I almost decided not to review ""Dance"" as there are already so many reviews that express my feelings about the book better than I can express them, but here goes anyway:First of all, I really hate giving this book only 3 stars. I so much wanted to love this book and I absolutely expected to give it 5. I was glad to dance once again with my favorite characters as well as some fascinating new ones, but the music just didn't move me that much so the dances weren't all that exciting and didn't last that long. I've waited 5 years with such great expectations but I'm afraid this book is a bit less than I expected considering all the hype and time that preceded it. I still consider George Martin an astonishing writer, I still find all of the characters he creates superbly interesting and their journey well worth following, but the problem, from my point of view, is there was too little journey and way too much character. I didn't review any of the previous books but if I had, I would give the first three 10 stars each. I was absolutely enthralled, have read them each several times and hated to put them down for such mundane activities as eating and sleeping. Altho I've also reread ""Feast"" I can only give it 3 stars as I found myself skipping through some POV's and yawning or getting up to do other things in the middle of a POV. That's one of the main reasons I have waited so eagerly for Book #5. I assumed it would redress the imbalance of ""Feast"" and take the story farther down the road.I'm not going to review the meat of the book as this has been done and redone already. As has been said, there are copious descriptions (as only Martin can conceive) of food, landscapes, palaces, clothing, furniture, traveling, etc. and I actually enjoyed them as I am constantly amazed at his creativity...but only to a point. After 500 pages, it began to drag on me and I felt the need for the beat of the music to accelerate. I cannot critique what Martin is doing with the scope of the story. This is his story and only he knows where he is taking it. I have to trust that he knows what he is doing and that it will all come together spectacularly in the end, particularly considering what a great storyteller I consider him to be. I just hope that the next books come sooner than 5 years apart. Some of us may not be alive to finish it if he doesn't speed up. I also hope he finds a REALLY GOOD EDITOR who is not afraid to slash and burn...I consider the editing of this book to be woefully inadequate. I do, however, strongly recommend reading this book if you are as much of a fan of this series as I am...you must continue on the journey.George, I haven't given up on this story...in fact, when I read the last sentence in the Epilogue I HATED to close the book and leave Westeros, so please give us more and please, please, please start the music sooner rather than later.",3.0,"I wanted to love the Dance, but the music fell short...",1312243200,"08 2, 2011",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 AS6H78AHJTF38,0061941026,"Jesse Liberty ""Eat, Code, Sleep""","[0, 2]","After waiting for years for Wally Lamb to come out with a new book, I would say this book was worth the wait. It was very good, although very upsetting and disturbing, in parts. It was certainly a page turner. Chapters are told from the point of view of different characters, and the characters have a number of chapters each. This was confusing at first, as some of the characters seem to have nothing to do with each other, and it's not clear why they have chapters, until you find out what the connection is, and there always is one. The characters are all well developed, and interesting people. I hope that it won't be as long before Lamb comes out with his next book.",4.0,Worth the wait,1376092800,"08 10, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2BITWY32RZDLP,0515148679,"Beth ""New Age Nana""","[0, 0]","Every story by each of the authors was true to the theme. Loved them all, and definitely recommend this book!",5.0,Great Reading!,1366156800,"04 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2DOSO52FGRAWU,0714849294,"Amazon Customer ""AmiAnton""","[10, 11]","I have three other Vefa cookbooks and love them to bits. I grew up with Greek food, so I am familiar with what it is supposed to taste like, and Vefa hits the spot. I was excited when I got this book as a gift~a huge book of Vefa's recipes? Heck yes! So far every recipe I have tried from here has turned out dull. I was especially disappointed in her Greek potatoes recipe. I followed it to the letter, my oven is the right temperature (I have a separate thermometer in there to make sure). And the potatoes turned out dry and bland. This has been the case for other recipes from this book. It's not bad, but definitely not what I expected from a book termed the bible of authentic Greek cooking. Her other books are much much better.",3.0,Expected better from Vefa,1328400000,"02 5, 2012",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A3QZXLG4DTBNNQ,0446553972,Sheepla,"[23, 28]","I tried to stick with this book, I really did. It quickly became apparent that if you haven't read The Inner Circle (I haven't) this book makes no sense at all. The characters were numerous and the plot was confusing but Brad Meltzer can write so I figured if I stuck with it, at some point I'd feel drawn in to the story. But when Beecher saw an important piece of evidence at Marshall's and Marshall's answer was ""the police said wrap it in bubble wrap and bring it in"" and Beecher actually believed that story, I had to stop reading. That's not exactly (at all) how police would handle a murder investigation. So I put the book aside without the slightest curiosity about what happened next or how the crimes were solved.",2.0,Couldn't force myself to finish,1358294400,"01 16, 2013",23,28,helpful,0.8214285714285714,1 ASNE6WU6V6P2N,0307913090,Craig Larson,"[0, 0]","I'm coming to this after having watched the first two seasons of the HBO television series--it's a bit like reading the complete version of a Readers' Digest condensed novel. It's really amazing how true to the book the writers of the series were able to be. The book is a more fleshed-out version of what showed up on the small screen, but that was already a memorable story. Here in the book, it's all the more rich and detailed. This is really good stuff, though I'm a bit worried that Martin may have bit off more than he can chew with this grand story and may not live to tell all of it...",5.0,Excellent book...hope Martin sees it through to the end,1345766400,"08 24, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KNJ386MRBPZC,0345475461,Larry,"[5, 9]","Jack Carpenter is an ex-cop in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida region now working as a specialist in abduction. He left the job as a cop after he was roundly criticized for beating up a suspect prior to the arrest. The suspect, Simon Skell, is known by the nickname of the Midnight Rambler. As a serial killer, Skell would play the Rolling Stones' MIDNIGHT RAMBLER, prior to killing women.Now, the previously lost body of one of the victims is found in a backyard. Another suspect emerges and it looks like Skell may go free. Given that this is a case that Jack holds dear to him, he fears Skell's release will cause many more deaths including Melinda, a major witness in the case against Skell. Melinda was the only victim to escape from Skell. As Jack goes back through the evidence, he realizes that Skell may be only the tip of the iceberg with others being involved in the murders. Carpenter also realizes that he is being set up for some of the murders by these other individuals so the perpetrators can go on with their killing spree.MIDNIGHT RAMBLER is a skillful and entertaining work that moves at a brisk and relentless pace. There are many authors plying the South Florida crime scene. What is unique about this series (I hope) is the realistic portrayal of the trade craft techniques of kidnapping investigation. Especially fascinating is the discussion of the security at Walt Disney World, as a critical sequence takes place in the Magic Kingdom. Other action is set in in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando, with all locales well depicted. MIDNIGHT RAMBLER is one of the best thrillers of the year. It is a fast fun and furious read. Highly recommended.",5.0,One of the best thrillers of the year- a fast and furious read.,1190937600,"09 28, 2007",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 AQE41QO3NEUMW,0385510012,"Ronald Scheer ""rockysquirrel""","[23, 23]","The reference to swallows in the title of this remarkable novel is to the burqa-clad women of Afghanistan during the years of the Taliban. Swathed in fabric from head to toe, they have been forced from public life and, as much as possible, rendered invisible, to preserve their ""purity"" and the honor of their families. The French-Algerian author, Khadra, heightens the incomprehensibility of this kind of faith-based segregation of genders even further by beginning and ending his story with the public executions of two women, one for alleged adultery and the other for the alleged murder of her husband.Between these two incidents, the story follows the daily lives of several characters living out lives of soul-crushing misery in the doomed and ruined city of Kabul. There is a jail keeper, a university-educated man, an aged man who dreams of escape, and a Kalashnikov-carrying militiaman who turns a blind eye to the inhumanity he witnesses and looks only for opportuniies to advance his own career. It is a violent, Orwellian world where empathy has died and only the self-serving survive.Both spare and unsparing, Khadra's writing brings to mind the stark, unsentimental vision of Camus' ""The Stranger."" The book is a bleak portrayal of exteme Islamic fundamentalism and as such seems intended as a heart-rending call of compassion for those in war-devastated regions, who are trapped by its worst excesses.",5.0,Misery . . .,1148083200,"05 20, 2006",23,23,helpful,1.0,1 A1J2UKT00CA8F0,0470517018,moonshadow241,"[13, 15]","In my ongoing effort to live life to the fullest, I read many books like this. It was easy to understand, put things in perspective very nicely, and I feel was beneficial. Self improvement is always important at any age.",5.0,Great book!,1227916800,"11 29, 2008",13,15,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 A3VVSLHZO9G2NC,1608191664,Spring Texan,"[6, 9]","Terrific and amusing book that reflects deep thought about what actually happens in the world. It introduced me to a lot of new ideas about the conventional and rather thoughtless ""wisdom"".I enjoyed his skewering of those who claim ""Africa is destined for underdevelopment."" He points out that ""free-market"" economists only came up with a bunch of ""structural"" reasons for lack of African progress when their prescriptions for Africa failed to work. [My comment: this is similar to their current blathering about ""structural unemployment"" in the country, when high unemployment is actually a result of failure to use countercyclical stimulus and other bad policy decisions.] Had African countries followed a path more similar to South Korea of a few decades ago, the slowing of development might well not have ever occurred. ""Structural"" reasons are basically excuses for failed policies.I also very much enjoyed his sensible observations that education is NOT some sort of magical economic elixir. I have thought that for years, as I can see that many underdeveloped nations have a large number of very educated people whose talents are not used (which is now becoming commoner in the USA as well, not a good sign). Although education has much real non-economic value, the ""education fairy"" will NOT solve economic woes.Thumbs up to a terrific and thoughtful book!",5.0,Challenges economic myths in an entertaining way,1306108800,"05 23, 2011",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2NJSWZOKLQJ5L,B00DDZRJBC,"Jane Morris Coons ""Cap'n Jane""","[4, 4]","I found the beginning to be a little slow going, detailing the scientific and government response to the discovery of a new virus that affects all mammals. When we meet Gary, who is living in an energy producing home alone after the death of both his parents, is where the story starts to get very engrossing. Gary eventually ventures out of his home and meets fellow survivors, and what follows is how they try to survive and to re-build the population. I loved that it carried forward for another generation (and a good number of years). I found myself immersed in this world and caring deeply about the people in this world, and had many late nights where I just couldn't put down the Kindle. Some editing would make this rise from a 4-star to a 5-star review.",4.0,Hard to put down,1376611200,"08 16, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 ASCL093JQBQGB,143916827X,koshernet7,"[8, 19]",Seems like Sybil may have had some mental issues but from what I read in this book it seems like people surrounding her took advantage and then she jumped on board. A Sybil game and other items that wanted to be sold from Sybil's supposed personality disorder is a very big red flag that says this "ain't kosher". That's my opinion but I appreciate all the footnotes to what was stated in the book. Facts don't lie and whoever would want a game to be developed based on a supposed mental disorder is the one person who needs her head examined...,4.0,I liked it and I believe it,1363478400,"03 17, 2013",8,19,helpful,0.42105263157894735,1 A36CTP2YSXLSFV,0375857109,"LS ""Reader""","[10, 12]",I read this with my 10 year old 4th grader daughter. We got through about 2/3rds before I finally gave up making her read it with me. I think both boys are girls would feel the same about this book. For the most part kids that are very interested and have been to the Art Institute and seen the rooms or are very interested in doll houses might enjoy this book. For the rest it is probably too slow of a pace to keep most kids in the target age range interested.,3.0,Nice concept but was very slow moving,1279152000,"07 15, 2010",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2EMIIHBL60K7L,0061802050,Luanne Ollivier,"[60, 63]","I have a mental list of authors that I faithfully follow and I pick up everything they write. I know what I like and I have a good idea of what I'll be reading. But on the other side of that coin - picking up a book by an unfamiliar author is an adventure.The Cutting Season is Attica Locke's second book. I missed her debut novel - Black Water Rising - it won numerous prize nominations and lots of praise. But, after reading The Cutting Season, I can see why. Attica Locke is good -really good.Caren Gray and her young daughter have returned home to Belle Vie - the Louisiana plantation Caren was raised on. Her family history with Belle Vie stretches back to the days when her ancestors were slaves in the sugar cane fields. Now the plantation is a tourist attraction and Caren is the manager. It's not the path she wanted to pursue in life and she has mixed feelings about returning to the plantation.When an migrant worker is found murdered on the grounds, old and new wounds are opened - long buried history and new controversy. And Caren puts herself in the middle....Locke drew me in immediately. I was of course caught up in the present day whodunit. There are lots of suspects and the path to the answer is winding. But, at the same time, Caren is caught up in the disappearance of her ancestor Jason, one hundred years ago. Locke skillfully weaves the unravelling of both narratives together.The mysteries are intriguing, but I enjoyed Locke's exploration of race, politics, business, history and yes, love, just as much. The juxtaposition of abolished slavery and the plight of migrant workers today provides much food for thought.The character of Caren came across as 'real'. Her own uncertainties, her relationship with her daughter, her ex and her coworkers all rang true. All of the supporting characters were just as well drawn. Having worked as a historical interpreter I enjoyed the descriptions of the cast and their dialogue.Locke's prose are wonderfully rich and atmospheric and brought her settings to life.""That beneath its loamy topsoil, the manicured grounds and gardens, two centuries of breathtaking wealth and spectacle--a stark beauty both irrepressible and utterly incapable of even the smallest nod of contrition--lay a land both black and bitter, soft to the touch, and pressing in its power. She should have known that one day it would spit out what it no longer had use for, the secrets it would no longer keep.""For this reader, a winner on all fronts. (And I'll be hunting down that first book!) Locke has been added to my 'list'.Dennis Lehane has picked The Cutting Season as the first book for his new imprint for Harper Collins.""I was first struck by Attica Locke's prose, then by the ingenuity of her narrative and finally and most deeply by the depth of her humanity. She writes with equal amounts grace and passion. After just two novels, I'd probably read the phone book if her name was on the spine.""",4.0,Dennis Lehane's first book for his new imprint - a great choice!,1347926400,"09 18, 2012",60,63,helpful,0.9523809523809523,1 A329O3XYIE5PTW,1449966128,michelele,"[0, 0]",very good just a lot of type-Os! but well worth the price $.99 :) this was my first book by this author i usually read books mainly by Noire and i love her books so i tried a different author in the same genera and it was great!,5.0,*****,1362787200,"03 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2OGYI3WUPYY2J,1451672721,Janemb35,"[8, 11]","Sophie, a little girl is very sick with acute lymphoblastic leukemia; her mother and father and her mother's best friend are all world-class cyclists; their coach and long-time friend is aging. These are the bare bones of the narrative, broken up by locations rather than chapters.Almost at the outset we meet a little girl who is brilliantly imagined---her responses to her parents and her concern for their anguish and sorrow is heart-breaking. The world makes no sense to her until it is subsumed by her reimagining of the `Star Wars'characters and applying them to her present reality.Kate, the mother, and Zoe, the friend, have a difficult relationship. As trainees of the same coach, they are also in contention for every medal on offer. This competition is complicated by the Sophie's illness. As ever, two women and one man (Kate's husband Jack)proves a recipe for sorrow.The tension of the racing world and the Athens and Beijing Olympics is palpable. The ugly fingers of commerce interfere to heighten the anxiety. The past is intertwined with the present to explain the history that has brought them all to this place. Cleverly interspersed vignettes explain how and why the characters became who they are.This is one of the few books in a long time that has really gripped me and I read it almost straight through. The problems are interesting, the characters strong and well drawn; the destinies of these five are worked out quite satisfactorily. And, underlying it all is the excitement and danger of professional cycling.",5.0,GOING FOR THE GOLD,1335484800,"04 27, 2012",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A1KXGYOL18CD1Y,1598879251,"YankeeChick ""Yankee""","[5, 11]","My title sums it all up--this book is nothing but pretentious crap. The story is very interesting in tiny spots, but it is mostly bogged down in a bunch of holier-than-thou characters floucing about thinking endless thoughts about why they are so wonderful, along with miles and miles of philosophical musings about more pretentious crap. I really wanted to like this book, but could barely drag myself through to the end. Once the book started to pick up & get interesting, it suddenly makes a 180 degree turn & then ends. What? I went back & re-read the last few pages over trying to understand what the heck was going on. I was fooled by the good reviews and ignored my spidey-sense tingling about fifty pages into the book.",1.0,Pretentious crap,1287964800,"10 25, 2010",5,11,helpful,0.45454545454545453,1 A2MOQ17HPGLCNG,1623152305,Christine F.,"[0, 0]","This is so much more than a cookbook! The sections on why people decide to become vegan, as well as the proven health benefits, were so helpful to me in reaffirming my fairly recent decision. I'm going from vegetarian to vegan, mostly for animal rights reasons, and like the extra information on how to do this in the healthiest way possible. I tried the penne with artichokes and the sweet potato stew and highly recommend them. I'm not the best cook but the recipes were really easy to follow. This book made me feel really excited about becoming vegan!",5.0,Great information for a newbie vegan,1383868800,"11 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A10Z8IJ17YKBN5,B00DG26170,Amazon Customer,"[0, 1]",Gives you a little more insight to four. What he went through and how some of the other characters are incorporated,5.0,Gives you a little more insight to four.,1405123200,"07 12, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2BK3SB9MGJYX0,0933833571,"Heidi Tandy ""Heidi8""","[43, 49]","But there's precious little from the book which hasn't been debated and analysed on the egroups.com harry potter for grown ups mailing list - and it's much more fun to get to discuss hidden meanings and make predictions with other people, rather than read what one woman thought about the books. Plus, there's too much discussion of greek & roman mythology & not enough about british folktales about Grims, Hands of Glory and dragons in Scotland. Which do you think is more relevant to a story that takes place in the British Isles?",2.0,OK if you want to read one person's view,970012800,"09 27, 2000",43,49,helpful,0.8775510204081632,1 A2O3CZVO1UHV57,030758836X,JD,"[0, 0]","GONE GIRL will keep your attention because you want to know how it ends. At first you are on Amy's side but as you get to know her, you truly despise her. She planned her disappearance and murder so cleverly that it's admirable. The sad part is their tense marriage, full of deceit and lies and pretending. I would have liked a different ending where Amy gets what she deserves. The language in the book can be offensive. The author develops the characters very well and knowing their inner thoughts was very well done. I would recommend this book but not to everyone mainly because of the language. However, it does keep your interest and it was well written. You never knew what to expect next.",4.0,A Story of Constant Revenge,1364601600,"03 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3M174IC0VXOS2,0739327364,Gail Cooke,"[0, 0]","Caveat: I’ve long been an unabashed fan of the irrepressible Fannie Flagg so this review will be a positive one. Ever since Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café I ve found her work not only enjoyable but irresistible. Same goes for The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion but with an added plus as it’s read by Ms. Flagg herself - what a joy to hear the story told in her own voice!Having seen the last of her daughters walk down the aisle Mrs. Sookie Poole of Point Clear, Alabama, anticipates rest, relaxation and perhaps a trip with her husband, Earle. There’s only one obstacle in her way and that is a formidable one - her mother, 88-year-old Lenore Simmons Krackenberry who is quick with criticism, frequently mentions her expectations of Sookie, while constantly poking her nose into Sookie’s life. This is all very easy for Lenore to do as she lives just two houses away.Sometimes help comes in a surprising way - for Sookie it came in the form of a mysterious phone call telling her she is not who she thinks she is, not at all a Southern belle nor the daughter of the overbearing Lenore but the offspring of a Polish unwed mother named Fritzi.This unexpected news disorients Sookie to the extent that it takes her some time to tell her children she is adopted. Then Flagg flashes back in time to a small Wisconsin town where Fritzi’s father is an immigrant. It’s a town full of hard working Polish folk - men who farm and women who keep immaculate houses. Fritzi’s sisters know no fear so they all learn to fly from a barnstorming pilot. During World War II they join the WASPs. Fritzi loves the pilot who taught her to fly but marriage is not anywhere on his agenda.A return to the present brings us back to Sookie who looks for her real mother. Anyone who has read a Flagg book knows there will be a happy ending, and what fun it is getting there.Enjoy!- Gail Cooke",5.0,THE IRREPRESSIBLE FANNIE FLAGG IS BACK!,1389052800,"01 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AK7YTSRH1BXRH,1935096230,"Kate'sPlace ""Prado's Pen""","[7, 8]","What a lovely gift, for such a small price. In a time when we all need to see how others get through challenges in life, this is a gift of hope to share with family and friends. It truly is Chicken Soup for the Soul.",5.0,A Gift of Hope,1233100800,"01 28, 2009",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A1Y0UKKB61QCDE,0240815173,Ning Zhao,"[0, 0]","As all kinds of cameras becoming ubiquitous, sheer volume of pictures explode, there is more and more democracy in the appreciation of good photography. What makes a good photography? Is there really any standard nowadays? And, if yes, how to achieve the quality? Mr. Michael Freeman has tried to answer these questions in a series of books.In the first book of the series ""The Photographer's Eye"", he addressed some aspects of a solid composition: gestalt theory, right choices of tools for different purposes, necessary skills for capturing one's idea, etc. The Photographer's Mind is the second book in this series. It starts right from where the first book ends: the psychological study of what makes a good composition. After all, once you've learnt your tools, got your hands swift enough and known the gestalt rules, you'll need to know more about what makes a good photography in order to advance. This enters the realm of psychology. However elusive this topic is, in ""Chapter 1: Intent"" of this book, the author analyses the psychology of photo appreciation in seven selected aspects, largely focusing on the choice of arrangement of the image contents.""Chapter 2: Style"" is more on available options of graphical styles to go for rendering your intent. This chapter goes further in the field of gestalt philosophy of composition.""Chapter 3: Process"" talks about practice. Concrete methods for building a sophisticated compositional mind are discussed here. The author is a good guide.Like Mr. Freeman's other books, this book is again elaborated in stylish and non-pretentious text. A real pleasure to read as essays. Points are also explained or presented with content-rich and beautiful photographs, as well as informative illustrations. Each section in chapter 1 and 2 provides an ""extended reading"" subsection. The materials suggested in extended readings surely widen the horizon of your photographic mind.I strongly recommend this book to people having ambition of advancing the quality of their photographs, or sheerly enjoying intellectual contemplation from reading good English.",5.0,"Psychology, Philosophy and Practice for Advancing One's Photography",1394150400,"03 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1P27BGF8NAI29,0312992432,Alice in Wonderland,"[4, 4]","Tabitha Devereaux is a self-taught Daimon hunter. Valerius Magnus was a Roman general, whose soul now belongs to the goddess Artemis - he is a Dark-Hunter, an undead who patrols the Earth to protect its inhabitants from the Daimons. He is also an incurable stick-in-the-mud!And to make matters worse, there's also bad blood between Valerius's family and that of Tabitha's brother-in-law - bad blood that goes back some 2,000 years! So, when Tabitha and Valerius suddenly find themselves thrown together, sparks are bound to fly. But, before you know it, each finds in the other a certain something, a certain something that they have needed for a long time.This is an excellent book. I liked the story of the book, which was exciting, and kept me on the edge of my seat. Personally, I thought it read quite well. Even better than the exciting story of gods and demons and vampires is the chemistry between Val and Tabby. I really liked the way their love unfolded and grew as the story progressed. Plus, the sex was hot, Hot, HOT!!I loved this book, and think that you will too!(Review of Seize the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon)",5.0,"Hot, Hot, HOT!!",1156809600,"08 29, 2006",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1TVLBH7XEUS9T,B005ISEWGW,Loree,"[0, 0]","As a detective story, it was different in that the lead characters where comical and less serious. The story line moved along inevery which way directions. You had to keep your attention on each chapter.",3.0,Enjoyable and Different,1380412800,"09 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3FAS0X1PBRLRC,B005D38R6I,Eunice G Rambo,"[0, 1]","Sometimes we are so busy helping God out, we almost miss what we've been asking for a Mighty Love. Well written.",5.0,An Enjoyable Read,1387065600,"12 15, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3LYMG98UR1R01,B00DEBYGZC,La La in the Library,"[0, 0]",Horrible illustrations and a boring story make this book a waste of time. Thank goodness it was free. I would not read this with my grandchildren.,1.0,The illustrations are horrid.,1388275200,"12 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PHUMTOBWWKV0,0307716546,constantreader,"[0, 1]","In the spirit of full disclosure- I am NOT a mother so maybe my counter view stems somewhat from that. While the concept of the book held my attention the same story could have been told in less than half the pages. For me, the story was developed too slowly and the charactors were essentially in the same place, both phyically speaking and mentally speaking, from chapter 13 to chapter 25. The entire middle of the book seemed like filler. The theme of the book had great potential but fell short.",3.0,I am having a hard time understanding all the 5-star reviews,1389225600,"01 9, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A22H7MV9T4656Y,076442680X,Angelo Schauermann,"[0, 0]",If you are a youth pastor this is a fantastic tool to help breathe some life into your ministry. Jeanne's heart for youth matched together with her brilliant strategies makes this a must buy if you are looking for building an authentic and thriving youth ministry!,5.0,Great Resource for Youth Pastors!!,1231718400,"01 12, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A24K4K3DR7Q528,0345421620,"Jay Matthew Barnes ""Big Time Nerd!""","[6, 8]","Salvatore has aptly proven he can engagingly write about something besides Drizzt, the Dark Elf. As much as I loved Drizzt, Wulfgar, and the gang--I must say that Jilseponie and Elbryan take the cake. Salvatore weaves into both of their characters deep emotion and genuine humanity. They deal with family losses, sexual attraction, and insurmountable obstacles--all while staying real and relevant to the reader. If there is anyone out there who would like to know how to write a great fantasy novel, I have the following suggestions: 1)Read, reread, and reread again the Hobbit by Tolkien; 2)Read, reread, and reread again The Chronciles of Narnia by Lewis; and 3)Read, reread, and reread again The DemonWars books by Salvatore. It is clear that Salvatore learned from the master's and it is time for the next generation to glean knowledge from this modern master!",5.0,Forgotten Realms? What's That?,1090368000,"07 21, 2004",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A19B0UB53D820Y,0983571708,M,"[0, 0]","Unlike other weight-loss books, this one focuses on why the weight is put on, not the process, but the psychological aspect. The author discusses the impact of lifestyle choices and emotions and how being more mindful can keep you from putting on weight going forward.",3.0,Everyone will relate...,1395964800,"03 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3JNF7Z0N0UUAX,019957071X,Basil,"[11, 13]","The first feature that Abdel Haleem speaks of when he maintains that his approach leads to ""enhanced accuracy and clarity of meaning"" (xxix) is ""Intertextuality."" As Abdel Haleem observes, quoting from Ibn Taymiyya, ""What is stated in a general way in one place is explained in detail in another; what is stated briefly in one place is explained at length in another."" Keeping this in mind, Abdal Haleem does at times render recurring Arabic phrases in a single manner, such as ""watered by flowing streams"" for ""tajri' min tahtiha' al-anhar"", and ""There are truly signs in that/this..."" for ""inna fi dhalika la-ayaat"" (though in one instance, (15:56)the plural for ""signs"" ayaat is rendered in the singular).The translation does not however, adhere to this standard in all instances. Minor examples can be found on the level of single words. For example ""raw'aas"" is rendered as ""firm mountains"" (13:3; 15:19; 21:31; 31:10), ""mountains"" (16:15), ""immovable mountains"" (27:61); ""solid mountains"" (47:10; 50:7). ''Hasiban is translated as ""a sandstorm"" (17:68), ""a violent storm"" (29:40), ""a stone-bearing wind"" (54:34), and ""a whirlwind to pelt you with stones"" (67:17). None of these translations are incorrect (except perhaps the overly interpretive rendering of 'Hasiban' in 67:17), but the variety does compromise the intertextuality that Abdal Haleem aspires to convey.This feature is more troublesome when it comes to central theological concepts such as '""siraat mustaqim"", ""straight path."" Abdal Haleem inexplicably shifts between three translations ""straight path"", ""right path"", and ""right way"", but more troubling is his tendency to sometimes put the term in the definite when the Arabic is in the indefinite (2:142; 3:11; 16:76; 22:70; 36:38; 37:144; 42:53; 43:43, 61, 64), a small linguistic change that can nonetheless have a deep impact on the meaning, as use of the definite article implies that there is a single ""right path"" or ""straight path,"" while the indefinite, as it usually occurs in the Arabic, indicates that there are many ways in which one can be on ""a straight path."" Admittedly, commentators do often state that the indefinite of '""siraat mustaqim"" has the connotation of the definite, but this is the realm of interpretation.Such inconsistencies are more evident when comparing the translations of some recurring Arabic phrases. The phrase ''alimun bi-dhaat al-suduur"", literally, ""He knows what is in breasts"" (or perhaps more eloquently, ""what lies within breasts"") is rendered differently in each of the twelve instances where it occurs: ""God knows exactly what is in everyone's heart"" (3:119); ""God knows your innermost thoughts very well"" (3:154); ""God has full knowledge of the secrets of the heart"" (5:7); ""He knows the secrets of the hearts"" (8:43); ""He knows well the innermost secrets of the heart"" (11:5); ""God knows all that hearts contain"" (31:23)""; ""He knows the thoughts contained in the heart"" (35:38); ""He knows well what is in the depths of [your] heart"" (39:7); ""He has full knowledge of what is in the heart"" (42:24); ""He knows what is in every heart"" (57:6); ""God knows very well the secrets of every heart"" (64:4); ""He knows the contents of every heart"" (67:13).Few theological concepts are more central to the Quran than the concept of Divine unity and the criticism of those who ""attribute partners unto God."" But Abdal Haleem's various translations of the phrase ""ta'a''la '''amma' yushrikun"", would not give the reader any idea that these phrases are exactly the same in Arabic: ""He is far above the partner-god's they associate with Him"" (10:18); ""He is far above anything they join with Him"" (16:1); ""He is far above whatever they join with Him"" (16:3); ""God is far above the partners they set up alongside Him"" (7:109); ""He is far above any partner they claim for Him"" (23:92); ""God is far above the partners they put beside Him"" (27:63); ""may He be exalted above the partners they ascribe to Him"" (28:68); ""exalted be He above the partners they attribute to Him"" (30:40); and ""He is far above the partners the ascribe to Him"" (39:67). While there are certainly shades of meaning or poetic resonances that that could explain occasional variation in the rendering of these and other phrases, the fact that no two are the same would seem to compromise the ""intertextuality"" that Abdal Haleem advocates as a mark of accuracy and clarity.While the translation of the Quran into a contemporary accessible English idiom does appeal to many readers, it also seems to gloss over difficult Arabic phrases, such that at times the ease of reading stems from clarifying passages that are already somewhat obscure in the original Arabic. In this sense to translate them in a manner that makes more immediate sense to the reader is not accurate. The Quran in Arabic is not an easy read, even for many native Arab speakers. There is no reason to expect it to be easy for non-Arabs. An example of simplifying the English, but sacrificing the meaning of the Arabic can be found in 33:59, which Abdal Haleem translates, ""Prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and women believers to make their outer garments hang over them so as to be recognized and not insulted."" This translation is somewhat odd in English, with the final clause reading as if it pertains to the garments rather than the women. It also glosses over a subtlety in the Arabic text when the phrase dhaalika adna (lit. ""that is nearer"") is elided in ""so as."" Dhaalika adna is variously rendered as ""that will be better"" (Pickthall), ""that is more convenient"" (Yusuf Ali), ""so it is likelier"" (Arberry), and ""this will be more conducive"" (Asad), but other translators. Abdal Haleem also adds a note, ""The Arabic idiom adna al-jilbab means `make hang low', not `wrap around' as other translators have assumed (al-Mu'jam al-Wasit)."" This is an interesting note given that the majority of other translators have in fact rendered the phrase in question in a manner that is closer to Abdal Haleem's translation: for example, ""let down upon them their over-garments"" (Muhammad Ali, Shakir); ""draw over themselves some of their outer garments"" (Asad); ""cast their outer garments over their persons"" (Yusuf Ali); ""let down over them their outer wrappers"" (Palmer). All in all, Abdal Haleem's rendering of this verse falls short of other renderings due to the misleading syntax and the elision of an important phrase (dhaalika adna) and does not provide the particular improvement that the note would indicate it does.In a few places, Abdel Haleem appears to have read particular beliefs into the text. Not surprisingly, such readings often occur in verses that touch upon issues debated within Islam today. 4:171 is rendered, ""Do not speak of a Trinity."" But the Arabic is ""Do not say three"" (la taqulu thalathah). In this sense, the translation seems to be based more upon the Islamic rejection of the Trinity, which is itself based upon 4:171, than upon the actual Arabic of the verse, which when read literally opens to other, more subtle, interpretations.These are just a few of the errors an inconsistencies in this translation. In addition to the many errors, it should also be noted that the effort to render the Quran in a modern easy to understand English language that avoids the ""archaisms"" found in other translations belies the fact that the Quran is in ""archaic"" Arabic. No one writes in Quranic style today, and no one ever has. The Quran is arguably a genre unto itself. Even when it was first recited in public many of the Arabs of the day are reported to have acknowledged that it was of a different literary order than anything they had heard before. For all of its eloquence, the Quran is not delivered in a ""simple and straightforward"" (xxix) Arabic. Therefore, simple and straightforward English could actually be said to misrepresent the text. Abdal Haleem's translation is so sanitized that the fire and spirit of the original is totally lost. At times it feels like reading Shakespeare translated into contemporary English (""Why are you?"" instead of ""Where for art thou?"" just would just would not cut it).",2.0,very sloppy,1337644800,"05 22, 2012",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 AJROLS3AD3OLL,1607352990,"Because Two Men Are Better Than One! ""NicStar""","[0, 1]","Based on the title alone, or even the blurb, I would not have chosen to read this book but I am glad that I ignored my initial thoughts and paid more attention to the glowing reviews instead. I bought this book months and months ago and it has been sitting on the Kindle unread (as has the second book in the series Magpie). I kept seeing it cropping up all over the place so finally decided to read it.This book appears on over a dozen Goodreads lists with a lot of votes in each category (placement current as the time I write this review). For example: Best Gay Slave - 1st, Best Gay Shifter - 4th, Best Gay Book Based on Fairytales - 2nd, Best Gay BDSM - 7th, Best Gay Romance Published in 2010 - 7th, so it was definitely time for me to give it a try!For a fairytale-based book about avian shifters (which sounded really strange to me!), I really enjoyed this book, much more than I thought I would. The characters were really well developed. The avian shifter element was relevant in terms of where each species fit in the avian ranks and therefore what behaviour was expected but it was largely irrelevant to Ori and Raynard - the development of the relationship between them seemed so effortless, built on their natural instincts and desires.I enjoyed the way the master/submissive relationship was presented and the deep emotional tie each man felt towards the other and the turning point that came with the 'blood in the dining room' incident.""The most valuable possession my master owns is his submissive. I will take great care that no harm comes to my master's submissive whenever he is not there to watch over me himself.""It was fascinating to see the turn of events once Ori had experienced his first full shift and his true species was identified and I loved the eventual outcome. I didn't even mind the couple of times in the book when the characters shifted as it really fitted with the flow of the story (I was sort of expecting to be put off by the change from human form to a bird!).So all-in-all, I am really pleased I tried something a different!",4.0,I am really pleased I tried something a different!,1372464000,"06 29, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A33JAOLTCD2TVP,0142004383,DJE,"[7, 7]","Singular Intimacies, Danielle Ofri's first non-technical book, is a brilliant addition to the memoirs of physicians and other health care workers. In it, Ofri chronicles her transition from medical student to internist at New York City's Bellevue Hospital. She is humble, funny, smart, sophisticated, vulnerable, and blessed with rare insight. In addition, she has the gift for lucid, direct prose. This book will appeal to physicians, other health care workers, the general public; and especially to those young persons considering a career in medicine. For this latter group and for medical students it is a ""must read.""Occasionally, when reading a book I feel like Keats did when he first opened Chapman's ""Homer."" ""Then felt I like some watcher of the skies when a new planet swims into his ken."" Singular Intimacies imparted this welcome and always surprising feeling to me. It should enjoy a great success and help to inspire and humanize many future (and some practicing) physicians.",5.0,Extraordinary Journey with a Young Physician,1048377600,"03 23, 2003",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A12SXU4NZM1V9Q,B00BR3AT9G,linda..davis,"[5, 5]",I like this book. I sort of knew how it would end but the author had me questioning myself a few times along the way.,5.0,corny but good,1367625600,"05 4, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2931NJVVQUQE5,0380802449,Artemis,"[0, 0]","For light mystery reading: Premise is that rich and spoiled brother & sister, left destitute after the market crash of the late 20's, get a second chance when great-uncle dies and leaves them his home. Strings are attached to the deal. Also, they discover that great-uncle's death might not have been an accident. Investigation follows.Really, really appreciate this book because it's a no-smut whodunit.Historical events and attitudes of that time are well represented.",4.0,Fun little mystery,1296777600,"02 4, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2K0QCW8ZVCR1O,159477384X,Alan Rogerson,"[0, 0]","In my opinion, Alex Grey is the Greatest artist this planet has ever known !!! His Chapel of Sacred Mirrors is a life-long vision come true !!! Google it !!!!",5.0,Alex Grey,1368835200,"05 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2O54858N6PR51,0373650647,Sean D. Young,"[6, 7]","Dana has been R.J. Maitland's right hand for years now. He depends on her, just like he depends on the Sun to rise the next morning. R. J. is trying to keep his reputation in tack. Because of this mysterious baby that showed up on the doorstep at Maitland Maternity. There are rumors now that the baby might just be his. He wants to try to squash the bad press and he thinks the best way to do that is by getting married. He can't get married to just any old body, it has to be someone that will go along with the marriage with no strings. He decided to ask Dana, his secretary. To his surprise, she agrees, but only on one condition, she wants to share his bed!Hey, you have got to trust me on this one, get the book. It was really a steamy one. This book is the best in the Maitland Series so far.",5.0,Steamy,1010534400,"01 9, 2002",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1K7K8N1JHWCFK,0060987103,OU Fan,"[6, 6]","I was really intrigued when I picked up this book, eager to hear ""the other side of the story."" I kept reading and reading and reading and then it was over. I had no clue what I had just read because I kept waiting for something to happen. The author seems like he's building up to some fantastic resolution or some ""a-ha!"" moment, but it never happens. As for the characters, not only could I not identify with any of their motivations, but I really didn't care about them. Were we supposed to feel pity or sympathy for Elphaba because I certainly didn't. I was tired of her surly, over-analytical meandering thoughts. I kept reading this because I thought I should and because I thought I was supposed to like it, but I was so relieved to be able to close this book and finally move on with my life.",1.0,Anti-Climactic,1221436800,"09 15, 2008",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2JJGIJI8X6KRS,0061082783,"Psboston7 ""~ And so it Goes ~""","[6, 13]","Well I've had this in my TBR (To be read) pile for quite some time and finally got around to reading it. I really enjoyed "You and No Other" by CM and thought to check out her back list. I actually had many things that I didn't care for in this book (my own)confusion with Brader mother's husbands the "who" they were, Julia's obession with wanting to have a baby, Julia's past and the "why" Geoffrey the older brother had such a hold on the family and also Julia whole "I'm better than you" attitude.I'm sure it was just me, or at least I'm hoping. It wasn't a "wallbanger" it just didn't get me emotionally involved with the characters.",3.0,All things "not" so beautiful..... here,1015200000,"03 4, 2002",6,13,helpful,0.46153846153846156,1 A2MMICEG6CEOPF,B00ARL61PK,William Reger,"[0, 0]",Christmas comes quickly for two star crossed lovers in this holiday story. A nice little story with some good fun.,5.0,A short but cute diversion.,1388188800,"12 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AV41RAL39TH4Y,0505521547,Queen Marie,"[0, 0]","Could have been great, it wasn't. Boring, trite, even smarmy is how I would describe the dialogue. A shame, because the premise had such potential.",2.0,Insipid,1393891200,"03 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1L43KWWR05PCS,0143142356,Lawyeraau,"[4, 5]","Having read and loved the author's epic saga, ""Pillars of the Earth"", a novel about the building of a cathedral in the town of Kingsbridge in twelfth century England, I very much looked forward to reading this book. I was not disappointed. This is a masterful saga of life in fourteenth century England, and the author weaves a rich and colorful tapestry of people, places, and events in the medieval town of Kingsbridge, where a magnificent cathedral now stands.There are a number of rich and colorful characters that drive the story, and the age old battle between good and evil plays itself out through them. Spanning a period of thirty-four turbulent years, this is a spellbinding story of love, hate, betrayal, revenge, and triumph. Moreover, the Black Plague has reared its ugly head, and England will never be the same. New ideas are germinating on the horizon, coming into conflict with the settled way of doing things, and the town and people of Kingsbridge are in a state of flux.Although the novel is a lengthy one, the reader will be unable to put the book down, so engaging and absorbing is the story. Those who are partial to the historical fiction genre will very much enjoy this book.",5.0,A RIVETING STORY OF LIFE IN FOURTEENTH CENTURY ENGLAND...,1203206400,"02 17, 2008",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2DXA332FB6F76,034539769X,"LizPacz ""n2staycation""","[8, 8]","My mother-in-law gave me this book when I mentioned a desire to read more on Feng Shui. Many of the traditional books I'd read on placement and chi enhancement seemed too focused on the use of bamboo flutes, mirrors, and faceted crystals to correct areas with stagnant or draining energy. I found their suggestions not only limited, but also impractical to the point that my home ""sanctuary"" would no longer be a source of love and calm, but more like an irritating hodgepodge of impersonal things that did not flow with the natural spirit of our living space.From the first moment that I skimmed through the pages of Linn's book, I was filled with renewed inspiration and relief. Linn sees a home as more than just a collection of rooms filled with appropriately placed objects. She suggests (and I wholly agree) that each home has its own spirit and that the energies within the home depend on much more than whether or not a crystal or mirror is hung on a poorly placed wall. She delves more into the spiritual nature of energizing spaces using sound, color, light, and the use of items that are meaningful to the inhabitants of the home. Linn introduces the novice to the art of finding and clearing areas of stagnant energy, and often reminds the reader that one does not need to have second sight or enhanced senses to successfully employ her recommendations.Denise Linn states many times throughout this book that ""if you don't love it, get rid of it"". As simple and common sensical as that thought might be, it was a very refreshing reminder that so-called traditional ""cures"" may not always result in a more tranquil environment. Honestly, the thought of hanging bamboo flutes all over my home left me so annoyed and uncomfortable that I was tempted to throw out half of my library. While Linn does briefly discuss some of the more classical philosophies of Feng Shui, she does not dwell long on the topic. Her focus is less on the physical and more on the spiritual or energetic aspects of the home. For those who seek to bring about change in their lives (such as increasing love, prosperity, or health), she offers some recommendations that parallel many of the philosophies taught in Feng Shui. However, she takes it a step further by personalizing the cures to the ideas of the reader. Not all who seek increased prosperity are inspired by the same symbols and she offers a few brief examples to help the reader explore his or her own psyche to determine what simple changes may subconsciously or visually imply greater wealth.This book incorporates wisdom from Eastern cultures, Celtic traditions, shamanism, and her own Native American heritage to provide the reader with a vast collection of ideas and exercises to explore. Some of her energy clearing recommendations do border on ritualistic, and therefore may be slightly uncomfortable for people who shy away from anything esoteric. Her approaches are not magic or witchcraft, however, and should not be viewed as such.While I absolutely love this book, I'm well aware that it isn't for everyone. If furniture placement, chi flow, and the bagua are your interest then I suggest you stick with the more traditional books on Feng Shui and Chi. But if your interest is in enhancing your intuition and tuning into the inherent spirit of your home to create your own personal sanctuary, then this book provides a wonderful introduction, whether you are a novice or already highly tuned in to the spiritual side of life. I'm eager to read more from Denise Linn, and the only difficult decision ahead of me is which of her many insightful books to start reading next.",5.0,A Delightful Read,1265414400,"02 6, 2010",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A2YZS76LWO8DWC,0982369840,"Jacob A Millican ""bergsteiger""","[6, 6]","Bought this for a cross-country plane trip. First of all, it lasted me about ten hours getting me there and most of the way back. I had no desire to read anything else in the midst of this dystopia/sci-fi novel, and even found myself thinking about the story while on vacation doing other things. This is Orson Scott Card quality material at half the price and with double the words. Hard to beat that. The action was well-paced and the plot moved fluidly from beginning to end. Like Card, some of the less developed characters could slip into cliche, but the rest of the story was so well crafted, this didn't really detract. I won't expound on the plot that is already laid out in the editorial review and product description, other than to say this is the type of story that can be very very poor or exceptional. Luckily, Kirwan falls into the latter category. Gladly recommend this book to any sci-fi lover out there.",5.0,Top Notch Sci-Fi for a Discount,1322438400,"11 28, 2011",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AITY0KWECVI2C,0802126065,Quixote010,"[0, 0]","I haven't read any of Perry's previous Jack Till stories, but after reading ""The Boyfriend"", he will certainly be on my too-read list.This particular tale puts you into the mind of both Jack Till, a former LAPD homicide detective, and Joey Moreland, a psychotic hitman who preys upon young women as he carries out his hit contracts nationwide.Others have detailed the story so let me add my likes: first, Till is tenacious. Perry makes it easy to follow along with his evaluation of the murders and his pursuit of Moreland. Both are equally cautious with manners and methods that make sound logical sense. Secondly, Moreland is the consummate killer. He has no remorse in his actions, and he details every event as thoroughly as Till does his investigation and hunt for Moreland. I found the theme and the details precious and easy to follow.Perry writes in an interesting manner, and his details and timing makes this a quick and enjoyable read. It was a great read, and reminded me a great deal of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch tales. If you are into Connelly or Robert Crais and his Elvis Cole stories, then I think you will like this.",5.0,Till's Tenacious...,1369353600,"05 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ABLPE5T3VCCQ5,B0051XZOXY,Donna S.,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed this book. Very easy reading-story had a nice flow to it-kept your interest thru-out. Would definitely say worth reading.,4.0,Trained To Kill,1402790400,"06 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SYMLB8JSW5VD,0446527041,"Rosa ""Bookworm""","[6, 8]",This is the best Sandra Brown could do? The storyline was the same soup warm over from a previous book. Cmon the characters were totally uninteresting not even Lozanda could not resurrected this stale book. When I think of Sandra Brown previous books such as Witness and Exclusive which were great novels. Then to sit down and read this book it an insult.,1.0,Oh Get Real,1036454400,"11 5, 2002",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A3EZXI2QHIOR50,B0087DKSJ0,Bluevitriol,"[4, 4]","I have been on a long journey with these guys, grown to love some of them and wondered how on earth Ms Webb was going to make this end happily. Well she does but the path to it had me sobbing several times. All threads are neatly tied together - she doesn't leave the reader wondering - except perhaps at the very end - which is as it should be.The books deal with very human themes of bigotry, racism, violence and the meaning of love and life. What makes us human? This is a powerful series and I've never read anything quite like it before. It kept my attention throughout and I'm sad it's finally ended.I'll never forget Mal and Damon. I think Mal is my favorite character. An obsessive compulsive non-touching blue guy who has leadership thrust upon him. He has the biggest heart and yet he has no heart at all.You need to start at book one - don't read this one first or you'll miss a treat.",5.0,At last,1338336000,"05 30, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2S166WSCFIFP5,0060510862,"adead_poet@hotmail.com ""adead_poet@hotmail.com""","[0, 0]","i enjoyed both this book and starship troopers immensly. both offered thoughtful commentary on society, and where it may lead. this book had the time differences which was an excellent addition to the storyline. at times he threw in too much physics for the layreader, it is one of my problems with the book...not all of us have physics degrees. also, i think haldeman ended this book a bit too optimistically, but all in all, one of the better books i've read.",4.0,as good as starship troopers,893376000,"04 24, 1998",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2IF25UHWPXXWJ,0385496672,James Carter,"[6, 6]","I bought the book as a business owner that sells HR and OD consulting. I thought if I could create 'buzz' about my company, I would get more prospects interested in what I have to offer and calling me.While this may very well be true, the book didn't really offer many ideas about how to actually accomplish this in ways that I can get my hands around. I must admit this was very disappointing and at first, I was very frustrated.As I kept reading, I did find the book interesting from a academic textbook kind of way. I am very interested in marketing, although I mostly sell. Also, he seems to really disect what constitutes 'buzz' and the intangible ways in which is travels.I suggest taking a hard look at what you want to accomplish before you buy the book. Rosen obviously knows what he is talking about, but you'd better be speaking his language first.",3.0,"Disappointing, but could be good for the right reader.",1002844800,"10 12, 2001",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1J50YQXHVRW8D,097623498X,Black Butterfly,"[0, 0]","""Bitch"" was the first book that I've read by Joy Deja King and I loved it!! The story line was great and it described a young girl that grow up in a broken home, which had to grow up faster than she should have in order to survive and try to provide for herself. ""Bitch"" was full of lust, revenge, love, death and hunger for money. Great book!",5.0,Precious,1381622400,"10 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A388A4Z2QPZ1JE,1939713110,"TB ""homeschooler""","[0, 0]",This is a light hearted and fun book. It's relatively quick to read and easy to follow for days when you just want to be entertained without having to think about it too much. It has a satisfying ending and encourages helping others which I applaud in a book.,3.0,"Fun, entertaining and easy",1388966400,"01 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2JZUSRQUFTVNU,039585086X,"Polarity Phoenix-Mane ""Polarity Phoenix-Mane""","[0, 0]",I would say this is one of the best books I've seen on the subject of writing pros. I just love this book and it stands up to all the people say about it. It is good reference. GREAT SERVICE! Great copy! Happy to GET THIS BOOK!,5.0,I love this book!GREAT SERVICE! Great copy! Happy to GET THIS BOOK!,1403913600,"06 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A235FV9DERL1II,0736916393,J. D. Shaffer,"[6, 7]","This book taught me how to let the Lord drive my life. Right from the start it helped to redirect that ""Oh! I gotta DO SOMETHING!"" energy and refocused it into learning about the Lord wants me to do. It taught me about listening to the Lord, trusting in the Lord, and even about recognize some of the devil's tricks. It's an excellent book for the Christian who feels that God loves them MORE if they DO MORE THINGS. In truth, we just simply need to BE with the Lord. Don't believe me? Go read it yourself!",5.0,This one book makes all the difference!,1182556800,"06 23, 2007",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A84UFSF2SZS2W,0156006243,"EriKa ""E""","[9, 12]","I read this book, hoping for something eye opening and startlingly and amazingly overwhelming like The Stone Raft, but this book did not have that same ability to captivate. I cannot deny that The History of... is a well-crafted and, well, for lack of better diction, interesting book. It is. I read it with interest and sometimes amusement. The main character is charming, and you learn that his career as an editor has been long, distinguished and honorable (if indeed an editor can be called ""honorable""). In his entire career he has never abused his position, but one day, as you will read, he does... and his liberty changes everything. Indeed Saramago raises interesting questions with this concept... when you change one single word, even the smallest of words, the entire meaning of everything can be changed. Saramago, naturally, delves more deeply into this subject in the book than I will here, but I think the book is worth reading simply for the merits of Saramago's verbal and philosophical meanderings.",4.0,TO CHANGE ONE WORD,979689600,"01 17, 2001",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A9W0WIQ18VQK1,1587670445,"Novel Reader ""just a review . . .""","[9, 9]","This book was my introduction into the world of Ray Garton, and I've already purchased Live Girls and Pieces of Hate.The New Neighbor cuts to the chase on the very first page. Garton threads a tale like a javelin, cutting right to the story. He doesn't go on for paragraph after paragraph with lurid details and descriptions; rather, he's whittled away right to the quick. His characters are real people ...in a fictional sense, of course. Reading this book was easy, as a good book should be. The author has done his readers a favor by working hard to make the book an all-you-can eat smorgasboard of terror.While graphic in its content, I didn't find the sex or violence extreme or unnecessary. Some may, however, and should be advised. But the bottom line is that if you're looking for knot-tight horror, get this book.",5.0,A Fantastic Read!,1105142400,"01 8, 2005",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A1IQ0P0WI4WDBM,B00DGHYWX0,CabinGoddess,"[10, 12]","I have been waiting for this guide with baited breath because I run an author image service, run book tours for them and work with a lot of authors as a helpful hand who do not have the funds to hire PR on even a part time basis. This guide was needed. She has talked about many of the information in this how-to piece on her blog as part of her Thursday Tipe feature posts. BUT what she did here was expand upon it and give a step-by-step easy to follow guide, and even used pictures! (Yes I am visual, I love photos).It is laid out in steps, and in the end it even has a set of nice checklists to use as an example or even just use as is. For those of us who take a zen approach and have the organizational skills of a squirrel before winter, this is wonderful. I run tours and I found after reading it for my third time even more info. I do things differently with some of these things but have found a bunch of things that will end up saving myself and the authors time, stress and money. Everything here is useful, there isn't one poor example of how to run part of a Tour. I have been part of her blog tours as a blogger and she is in the top three of who I would grade an A because of how smoothly they are run.This is NOT just for DIY self publishing authors, this is NOT just for bloggers and tour hosts, this is not just for tour companies or publishers, or publicists. This is one of those guides that everyone in the indie publishing industry should have on the desk to ""grab"", check and use for reference. If it was in print, there would be stick tabs and highlights in mine! Thanks Donna!! Great first segment, cannot wait for more DIY guides.",5.0,"DIY MUST have GUIDE for authors, tour hosts, budding publicists, publishers AND book bloggers!!",1371513600,"06 18, 2013",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3BIIZPJHTNTTM,1439165319,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I started reading this series some years back. When I saw this was the book that completed the series I just had to read it. I laughed and cried and fell in love with this book. Great read so happy with it!!!!,5.0,Best wait!,1368489600,"05 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3HY3QXNCYTZ8G,1475121407,Kristina Marie,"[0, 0]","This book took the cake !!!!! I havent read such a good book with an amazing ending in a while !!!! This author definitly did her thing, she has mad talent !!!!!! I was in tears LITERALLY !!!! Towards the end. Defintely the best read !! You have got to read ths book i felt so intune with the character and everything.",5.0,Best Book Ever !!!!!!,1335744000,"04 30, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NLJZI5NEOT0K,0679759611,"Linda Pagliuco ""katknit""","[30, 34]","The Unredeemed Captive is a meticulously researched history. Not a historical novel, not a screenplay, it is intended to inform, not to entertain. If you approach this book with a clear understanding of its purpose, it is quite enjoyable. Eunice Williams' sister Esther, who was also taken captive, moved to the town where I now live and is buried in our oldest cemetery. Her very large tombstone tells something of her story. I've often wondered why, although they are both daughters of a minister who was kidnapped along with most of their family, Esther and her other siblings came home when given the chance, but Eunice alone chose to stay. Well, Demos does a good job of inferring possible reasons from 300 year old data. If you find the research boring, it's possible to skim over those parts and read only the narrative of Eunice's story. It's fascinating.",4.0,it's history,1115596800,"05 9, 2005",30,34,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 A1R3HN23OOWZGI,1497305799,inspiremichelle,"[0, 0]","PDQ by Ronald GlanzPDQ a chain of convenience stores are being robbed. It would seem the two suspects are working together. Suspect #1 is John Vickers an alcoholic and used car salesman. By all appearances his life is in shambles and he is a con-man. Suspect # 2 is Jeff Glover a stressed out newly separated businessman. Expect for his marriage he seems to have his act together. Detectives Schultz and Finney are sure it’s them because they have photo proof that it is one of them, they look very similar. But they both seem to have alibis‘. I was totally caught by surprise by the ending and felt like I was left hanging. I give PDQ four stars. The author Ronald Glanz did a good job of keeping action going in this fast paced drama. I want to thank the author and publisher for bringing good clean Christian books like this one to readers like me. I would also like to thank The Book Club Network Inc. for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.",4.0,PDQ,1399766400,"05 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19BBQS3X97H2B,B006C25GGI,"LADY T ""Thomasbaby""","[11, 12]","THIS IS A MUST READ BOOK! I READ IT IN 3HRS, I COUNDNT PUT IT DOWN. KYLA AND MALCOLM POWER ARE A COUPLE MEANT TO BE.DAVID YOU ARE AMAZING!!KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!",5.0,wowwww,1322006400,"11 23, 2011",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 ARSH7M6O8TY1P,0152051139,Gae Polisner,"[4, 5]",even though it was really sad the writing was fabulous (a quote from my 7 year old son). we read this aloud and really loved it. Worth keeping on your shelf and passing on!,5.0,one of my favorite books,1139011200,"02 4, 2006",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2FD4CIFQJW7JI,0679761047,"C. Mendoza-tolentino ""CMT""","[4, 4]","I'll keep this short and sweet like the novel. It's been brought up constantly that the prose is akin to a haiku in its simplicity yet depth of meaning and that's a perfect way to look at what is known as the masterpiece of this Nobel Prize winner's wonderful career. At the heart of the story is an ill-fated love affair between two people who know that it can never work out. Somehow, the backdrop, what gives the book its name, becomes another character in this tale that often reminded me of Ha Jin's ""Waiting"" and to a certain extent, ""Kokoro."" This is the type of book that has to be digested slowly as you are apt to miss much of what is going on if you zip through it the way I did the first time I read it. Once you have a second go you can see the intricacies of the love affair and the way that Kawabata deftly presents each of his characters. Don't read this on the subway - relish every moment sitting back during a long cold night.",4.0,Distilled Beauty...,1174176000,"03 18, 2007",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1DYZQ9MZVMORN,0800720482,Susi,"[0, 0]","Her story brings the Bible to life! One can almost feel the pain and the joy that Mary experienced throughout her life! More glory for our Lord,",5.0,a great read!,1390176000,"01 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJGHDAI0SQGJN,0062024027,,"[0, 0]","I heard so many good things about this book that I was almost a little scared to pick it up just incase I became disappointed, but I was not at all. From the first chapter I was hooked! I loved all the characters, especially our heroine Beatrice! I love that she was strong even through her flaws and that she had a mind of her own. A strong female character like Beatrice is great for women of all ages so I was glad that the author made her such a strong and smart young woman. I am a huge Hunger Games fan and I know a lot of people are comparing the two books and while there are similarites the stories are different and at no point did I feel the author was copying The Hunger Games. I recommend this book to all who love young adult dystopian novels with a fantastic female heroine.",5.0,Loved Loved Loved!,1322956800,"12 4, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YUL9PCJR3JTY,030795210X,"O. Brown ""Ms. O. Khannah-Brown""","[28, 32]","*****I was not familiar with Danielle LaPorte's WhiteHotTruth.com blog before reading my preview copy of her book. I had no idea what I was in for. This is an explosive guide, sort of a really economical coaching-in-a-book with multiple sessions (16 in all), one that is passionate, intense, and effective. I worked my way through the book, which is laid out in a wild format with varying fun font sizes (but easily read), perfect for doing the included worksheets and for taking notes and writing your dreams in the margins (I did a lot of this). The book explores how to thrive no matter what your life situation--how to dream--all written in the author's entertaining and intense and to-the-point style. I have read many coaching books--I am a certified life coach--and this is a great one!The author explores familiar topics like being authentic, doing what you love, ""cheap easy"" versus ""quality easy"", core desired feelings, life balance (not) etc. but in a really fresh new way. She puts together information from many other teachers and coaches in a format that packs maximum impact and really motivates the reader to make the changes they long for in their lives.I felt as though I had been coached by someone talented enough to set my soul on fire--and I am now empowered to move forward.Highest recommendation.*****",5.0,Set Your Soul On Fire,1330819200,"03 4, 2012",28,32,helpful,0.875,1 A1U09Q4OP6XIK6,0439023513,,"[0, 2]","I actually finished this book a day before posting this review. I couldn't bring myself to write and post the review of this book right away because of the effect this book had on me. I went through anger, sadness, awe, and even more heartbreak. I literally had to step away from this book several times while reading it because I was so overcome with emotions. This has not happened in a long time when reading a book for me.After the ending of Catching Fire, I was heartbroken. Yet, with Mockingjay, I was to the point of depression at the end of it. The author didn't fail in the action department, even if it did feel a little rushed near the end. I could not believe the author sacrificed some characters in this book as well that I had grown to love. I was literally in tears with an empty box of tissues by the end of the book. I did not want to accept the deaths of beloved characters. I also did not want the series to end. The epilogue was beautiful, yet it was not the way I wanted it to end. I wanted more! I wanted to know what life brings to the rest of the characters that still lived! For such an amazing trilogy that was a roller coaster of emotions, I wanted the ending to be more. It was like the author was slow at the beginning and it built up to this big finale, but she lost the spark at the end of Mockingjay.Even though I never had much interest in reading this series, I am so glad I did. I can personally say that this is one of the top series I have ever read. I didn't sleep much, my house is in shambles from not cleaning, and I might have lost a few pounds from not taking a break to eat and from the emotional ride it took me on. If you have been hesitant in reading this series like I was, don't be! You will not be disappointed!",5.0,"Not an ending I wanted, but still an amazing book!",1294444800,"01 8, 2011",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3H10DJA4XCLBL,0060934034,"Charity Johnson ""Honestly honest""","[0, 0]","There aren't many people who possess the energy and resilience that DMX has. He connects with his audience in ways beyond belief. I met him at a recent performance, was on stage with him the whole time, and was literally blown away. He is one of the greatest performers in the industry today and should be recognized as such. I appreciate his honesty in his book and in his life. What a great man!!",5.0,R.E.A.L.,1174694400,"03 24, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2QEA1RKT5N09I,0544046692,"Peter G. Keen ""rabidreader""","[0, 0]","I read this not so much for the main topic of its title but to get a sense of just what is really happening in the Afghanistan/Pakistan/Iraq region and what the options are for the West. Many commentators have criticized the book a little for not fully addressing the US role and the strategic context of this tarpit of violence, betrayal and double-dealing. The book does a superb job in that regard. The author superbly captures the playing out of the fighting, corruption and mutual use of terror, torture and assassination. The picture she convincingly lays out is literally hopeless. She shows just how temporary any alliance is, and how the distinctions between the labels -- warlord, Al Quaeda, government, Taliban and so on are just that. They shuffle allegiances and the ones who are not really bad guys in many regards have little choice but to use the very same weapons and dealings as the truly bad ones.The writing is crisp and the layout of a very complex scene is well-structured. The author's analysis of personalities seems reliable and convincing. It really brought to life what CNN and he wonks treat as if it were a diplomatic puzzle rather than a recurrent apocalypse for the people living in a land where it is impossible to see any resolution.The main case that Pakistan is the real enemy, seems very justified. This is in many ways nothing new. The recurrent execution of ex-Presidents, the collaboration of the ever-plotting ISI in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the residency of Osama bin Laden just a few miles away from a Pakistan military center... These are common knowledge. There seems nothing positive to say about the country's military and intelligence services' long de facto rule. I think that the title of the book is well-justified.That said, as critics state, it doesn't seem quite as strong in addressing the broader question: Given that Pakistan is the real enemy, who can and should do what among the West[s political and military planners? I didn't get much sense of the US role -- and many,, many mistakes. There is also little explanation of the Taliban's nature and policies or of the leadership agenda of Al Quaeda and Taliban. The strengths of the book are its focused realism not any broader scope.What it does best is very good indeed. I feel it met my hopes. It has changed how I listen to the wonks and read the all-knowing op-ed pieces. Now that Pakistan faces its own internal threats and ISI is upsetting the little balance there has been in Iraq, the policy picture becomes even more murky. But the nature of the games all the parties play, with lives as stakes. seem unlikely to shift and Pakistam isn't going to improve.I do recommend the book and add a small addendum of admiration. The writer has guts aplenty. Where the fights were, so was she. She is a true reporter not ""journalist.""",5.0,Essential for understanding the realities of the situation; less compelling on the policy context,1404172800,"07 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1XR6SYTXEYG7J,0891126767,preacherlady,"[9, 9]",I found this book on the Amazon site and devoured it as did my husband. I have been preaching on God's true grace and this book outlined everything that I had on my heart to share! I agree wholeheartedly that cheap grace is killing our churches. I have seen so many pastors not willing to disciple individuals in leadership with lifestyle issues and it has brought much division to the churches. This book will definitely challenge pastors and lay leaders to really look at their choices and how to disciple those people within the church leadership and congregation that struggle with lifestyle challenges.,5.0,Fantastic!,1298592000,"02 25, 2011",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A2VIP29TLW90PR,1492103748,Lynne,"[0, 0]",Amazing!!!! Wow!!! Loved it and cannot help but think there is something wrong with me for loving this story as much as I do.Thank you Pepper Winters for writing something so different and amazing!!!,5.0,Wow,1397779200,"04 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1JTK2NPCS0LEV,1561709735,Stephanie Gray,"[7, 7]","Having never participated in yoga before, this box contains everything I need to get started. I find myself getting further and further into yoga every day.I bought a yoga video years ago, but had a hard time following it. The C.D. and flash cards make the whole experience much more positive. Cyndi Lee has a calming and easy to follow voice on the C.D. Her cards are illustrated so that I can easily visualize the poses. If you are thinking about trying yoga for the first time, this is the way to go!",5.0,Great Introduction to Yoga,1093910400,"08 31, 2004",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 AASTA1YE3X9TF,156477998X,"Amy ""Amy""","[0, 0]",I am happy with this book. It has many different stitches that I have never used before explained in it. This would be a good purchase for anyone who wants to build on their basic crochet skills.,5.0,Wonderful stitches!,1396483200,"04 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3861IBNFDR8RU,0060584149,retroredux,"[4, 6]","While the first book in this 2 part series was only fair-I had already purchased this book and was determined to give it a chance. Wrong!The author took what seemed to be a ""bad guy on the verge of redemption"" in book one, and drops him right back to bad as book two starts.This author shows no continuity with her characters. The H/H both start the book as seemingly OK characters, but quickly turn vengeful and mean spirited.I quit the book in disgust 100 pages in when the hero refers publicly to the other gentlemen interested in the heroine as ""fleas"" and the heroine thinks it's funny:(-all the while his horse is trying to bite the other mens horses, yet he tells THEM to control their horses? This would have been unacceptable in Regency England and the hero would have been the one to control his horse or leave.The author seems to be going for ""rakish"" with the hero, but it just comes off as a bully and a boar. The ""revenge"" storyline is always a difficult one to execute and if tried the hero had better have more going for him than Christian. Another irritating point was the rehashing every other page at how really, really good looking the Hero and Heroine are. It seemed they were all style and no substance.This author has both characters behaving completely inappropriately for the time period. While I can overlook historical inaccuracy to a point-when it's nearly every page then it's just poorly written and researched.The storyline is just too trite and immature. Like the previous book it just seems as if the author/publisher rushed to get this book out based of the author's past popularity. Which is the quickest way to lose faithful readers who do not like to be sold such a poor bill of goods.Even the title ""Her Officer and Gentlemen"" has nothing to do with the book as the hero was never in the military in the first place!I wholeheartedly do NOT recommend this book.0 stars.",1.0,just plain bad.......,1180915200,"06 4, 2007",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A8IF4ZBZRY86C,0425213943,Michelle Garringer,"[0, 0]",has an excellent series- once i have now gotten to buying the first releases. i have enjoyed some more than others but always great read.,4.0,China Bayles/Susan Wittig Albert,1264896000,"01 31, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36DE2WIUYQZ8I,0441017231,"brookereviews ""B""","[4, 5]","I can tell you that I didn't love the first book in this series, Night Child. I did like and really enjoyed A Flash of Hex though! I feel the murders that Tess and Derrick are trying to solve are closer to the heart, and are able to pull the reader in and make them genuinely care. The family dynamic with Tess, Derrick and Mia is really interesting, and everyone that surrounds them lends a hand and is there for each other. This is nice to see from totally unexpected characters. I think my favorite part of this series is the characters. They have feelings, and they actually talk about them, bring them to the surface, and get to that point where they are trying to fix their issues. Which is nice to see when there are so many protagonist who bottle everything up, and let everything build until they explode.The world created is unique and believable, and Battis does a fantastic job luring the reader into the magic, lives, and investigations that take place in it.The only complaint I have about the book is the lengthy descriptions about the places Tess visits. I'm all for descriptive details, but there is a point where it's just too much. I felt like the book would have held my interest better had it not been for these descriptions.All in all A Flash of Hex is a great second book in a series! You could probably get away with not reading book 1, but I'm a firm believer in starting from the beginning!",4.0,Great Second in Series,1243900800,"06 2, 2009",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1UNOT4DTECAU9,0985428732,Jodi,"[0, 0]",This is a good book for anyone looking for a good read that delivers a message to the reader. I enjoyed the characters a lot and the message.,4.0,Good,1382659200,"10 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3MH7HTSGWRCJ0,014027166X,trainreader,"[4, 4]","T.C. Boyle is one of our most talented modern day writers, and that ability is clearly demonstrated in ""Riven Rock,"" a story, loosely based on true events which occurred in the beginning of the 20th century (and spans roughly 30 years), about Stanley McCormick, the son of the immensely rich inventor of the reaper, and his confinement due to mental illness to a house located in California, named ""Riven Rock"" by a younger saner Stanley. Stanley, who also has an insane sister, marries the beautiful brilliant Katherine Dexter, who maintains her loyalty and (perhaps) fidelity to the bitter end. During Stanley's confinement, his ""treatment"" is administered by various nationally renowned psychiatrists, who employ various techniques, usually influenced by Freud and other psychoanalysts, all with disappointing results. From the point of view of modern medicine, it is easy to see that Stanley is really well beyond any help that these doctors can provide, and may not have been significantly improved even by modern-day psychotropic drugs, for the main and simple reason that Stanley is nuts, really really nuts.Interestingly, the character that receives more of Boyle's attention than any other is O'Kane, Stanley's chief nurse, who is a womanizer, adulterer, and functioning alcoholic. Largely through O'Kane's eyes, the reader sees the different doctors come and go, and the progress (or lack of it) that Stanley makes under their respective care. Additionally, in alternating chapters, Boyle covers the period of Stanley's courtship of Katherine, the period of their engagement, and their honeymoon and early marriage. While at first, one thinks of Katherine as admirable in her dedication towards her huband's mental well-being, I for one, eventually came to the conclusion that her sticking with Stanley, in an obviously hopeless situation, revealed an obsessive-compulsive disorder on her part. You feel like shaking her and telling her to wake up and smell the coffee.There is no doubt that T.C. Boyle is an extraordinarily talented writer. His abilities to use metaphor, turn a phrase, and integrate rare words never seen anywhere else, are truly unique and remarkable. I just think ""Riven Rock"" is too long, and Boyle, sometimes, is simply just showing off his skills. We understand, this guy is totally off his rocker -- so why do we need example after example of his bizarre behavior? In any event, I do recommend ""Riven Rock,"" but wish Boyle (or his editor) had tightened it up a bit.",4.0,"Skillful writing, but somewhat overdone",1114041600,"04 21, 2005",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2PWUIQG57O1AZ,0060931280,Beverley Strong,"[7, 7]","I'm undecided about this book.If you were in a down mood when reading it, the story of these poor pathetic characters could tumble you right over the edge but the author manages to keep you buoyed up with the faint hope that somehow,these drab, unfulfilled lived could be improved. The heroine, Darla, is trapped in an almost empty town with a sluttish mother who is the town prostitute and a pathetic weed of a sister who is married to a drunken,wife beating husband and despite her dreams of becoming a top fashion designer, is perpetually held back by a moral sense of responsibility to her family. I enjoyed the book in a funny sort of way but was almost relieved when it finished.",4.0,Could be depressing,1019779200,"04 26, 2002",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 ALSRAIZAZ0HYV,B00IGEHKI2,starysky,"[0, 0]","4 fangsThis book was gifted to me by Paranormal Romance and author who rock and Ashe Barker.After tragedy hit her at a young age (leukemia) Abbie found herself behind in school and pampered by a mother that didn’t want to force her to do anything. Often Abbie would fake weakness and feeling ill so she didn’t have to deal with school and the tutors, but unfortunately it didn’t help her into adulthood. Now 22 year old Abbie barely knows how to read and write, never graduated, and is working at the elementary school she went to as a child because the understood her problem. Up until now Abbie was fine with her situation and never had a reason to improve her life with learning. Then it happened. She received a letter in the mail and waited days to open it because she knew she couldn’t read it and make since of it. That is when she approached Sally and had her read it. Sally read it and told Abbie she inherited 2/3 of Parrish Construction and that she needs to contact the solicitor immediately and the other owner Cain Parrish. She didn’t understand, it must be a mistake. But it wasn’t and after Abbie hung up on the solicitor she found out how important it was to her to go through with this life change when Cain showed up and made her know she wasn’t getting a free ride she had to work like everyone else. Unfortunately with her little problem she couldn’t and found herself in a relationship based on lies and dominatrics with Cain. Will the new found Dom except Abbie and help her with her problem? Will the business serve? Will Abbie find out who and why she inherited 2/3 of Parrish Construction?I don’t know which character I liked. I was intrigued by all of them and found it interesting to read a Dom and Sub book for the first time. Wasn’t too intense and had a great store line.This book is Erotic romance and is definitely 18+. Great for people who are wondering how a Dom work and first time experience.",4.0,Cain and Abbie,1394236800,"03 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19Q4A9I03GGT4,0316044695,Joshua Tootell,"[6, 14]","Really hard to read a book that insults its audience. While I expect SEALs to be pig headed and stubborn, that doesn't make for a good author. Maybe next time he should hire someone to write for him.There are a lot of attacks on ""The liberal media"" and people criticizing the war. Baring in mind that I did 10 years myself, I did sail to the middle east in 2005 (though, as a ships mechanic, I didn't do anything but keep the AC on), and I'm a horse riding gun owner, I still don't enjoy reading someone insult either side in a documentary style book without facts to support allegations.",1.0,Stopped at chapter 1.,1392768000,"02 19, 2014",6,14,helpful,0.42857142857142855,1 A2MRCS2MO06REK,0395912148,stephame85,"[0, 0]","I think someone should cover the tale of George's tail. My son loves the Curious George books, and they have helped him to read on his own. He also tends to lol at them which is adorable. Love these books, was in new condition, and cheaper than B&N.",5.0,Anybody else realize this monkey has no tail?,1347235200,"09 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MLWN7IS6B33J,1584796626,QueenB,"[15, 17]","I love it when a successful cook, baker or chef shares his/her secrets with any and everyone. This proves they are confident in their product and abilities and aren't in the least bit threatened by others. Kudos to Mr. Brown.Ever since Warren Brown starred in 'Sugar Rush' on The FoodNetwork and announced on his website he would be writing a book, I have waited for this book to come out. This is a really good book. I love the way the author has laid out the chapters and recipes. I have tried a few of his techniques (using potato starch and using extra yolk(s) in pound cakes) and they work just as well as he says in the book. I used to think Swiss meringue was my favorite for buttercream; not anymore. Thanks to Warren I now only use Italian buttercream. The step by step pictures were helpful and easy to follow and I love the versatility; I am able to change vanilla buttercream to any flavor profile I desire.I think professional pastry chefs and home bakers will find this book a helpful resource in the kitchen.",5.0,'Cake Love' was worth the wait!,1209945600,"05 5, 2008",15,17,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 AB9V4WTFTKRBC,1411685199,Jim,"[0, 22]","I'd rather not even dignify Mr. McRoberts' work with critique, but I need 20 words, so let me just say that",1.0,Author needs more thoughtwork,1382572800,"10 24, 2013",0,22,unhelpful,0.0,0 AOJB384XB3K0S,0060540753,KT Berkeley,"[0, 0]",I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and the story went along at a good pace. Ann Patchett does a great job of telling a story from start to finish without losing momentum or petering out at the end.,5.0,Loved this book,1399680000,"05 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1L1MK78BSOAFV,067172052X,Brent Fulgham,"[8, 73]","I feel compelled to submit a review so that the average rating will fall to a more reasonable level. The four and a half star rating is so far beyond reality as to make me question all other Amazon rankings!I purchased this book when it came out many years ago, solely due to the presence of Larry Niven's name on the cover as I had greatly enjoyed many of his books over the years.Unfortunately, this book was apparently written as a joke, in which Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle attempted to outdo each other in crafting the worst possible text. The plot is absurd, the characters irritating, and the eventual solution to the fallen astronaut's problems absolutely beyond belief.The only good to come of reading this execrable book was that it became a new benchmark of poor quality. ""How was the movie last night?"" ""Not great, but it was no 'Fallen Angels', either"".Do yourself a favor and read one of Niven and Pournelle's other fine books. This one should be relegated to the waste bin of history.",1.0,New Benchmark For Bad Fiction,1225152000,"10 28, 2008",8,73,helpful,0.1095890410958904,1 A32B6XWNR55SRL,1416593349,James W. Durney,"[16, 17]","Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia occupy a special place in both our history and mythology. For many, this is the American Civil War. Either glorify or demonize, the man and his army are the subject of a library full of books. Jeffery Wert is no stranger as he steps fearlessly into this arena. Books on this subject can draw fire from both sides, placing an author in the middle of an ongoing battle. Wert has an almost lyrical style that is equally informative and fun to read. While not terse, he tells the story without unnecessary words. Add an ability to use respected historians, original sources with his intelligent observations make for an excellent book.This history covers the time from Lee assuming command outside of Richmond to Gettysburg, an oft-told tale that Wert tells in a fresh vigorous way.This is not a detailed slog through battles, army politics and supply problems.This is not a detailed tactical study of the battles.This is a very solid overview of the months when Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia became the embodiment of the Confederacy. The book maintains a real balance between detail and story. The level of detail adjusts to the needs of the story and never slows the story. This is very necessary, as these are busy months with multiple stories. We focus on the relationship between Lee, his officers and the men. On how they grow together and how they learn the limits of the other.This is not the mythic story but a hard honest look full of truth. The author maintains a balance between admiration and history. The myth is not allowed to take control but this is the foundation of the myth. Presentation of the battles is from the army perspective. Decisions and discussions are equal to the fighting and more important to our story. The result is a unique look at Lee, Longstreet & Jackson at work. We get a chance to see how Rhodes, Gordon, Early were able to prosper and how others failed.Physically this is an attractive book with usable maps and good illustrations. The book has a full set of endnotes, index and bibliography as expect in a serious history.Jeffery Wert is one of our best authors and this is one of his best books.",5.0,The story of a fabled army,1303862400,"04 27, 2011",16,17,helpful,0.9411764705882353,1 A26MQ4YGVS5CC2,0143115685,Todd Bartholomew,"[31, 35]","Lackoff is perhaps the foremost linguist and cognitive scientist working in the realm of political speech and this iteration of ""The Political Mind"" follows on the heels of his 2008 book ""The Political Mind: You Can't Understand 21st Century American Politics with an 18th Century Brain"" as well as ""Framing the Debate"" (2007), ""Thinking Points"" (2006) and ""Don't Think of an Elephant"" (2004), all of which focus on how politicians employ language to frame their arguments. For a layperson the idea of reading a book on linguistics and cognitive science sounds daunting, but Lakoff is a master at making the material easy to understand while not dumbing things down. The main idea Lakoff puts forward is that reason is mostly unconscious and challenges the conventional wisdom of many political scientists, political theorists, policy makers and other scholars regarding how to frame issues for the electorate. The key problem for those parties, to Lakoff's theory, is that they fail to grasp the biological explanations that drive the electorate's thought processes. Lakoff frequently points to the successes Republicans have had in framing issues through narratives when presenting ideas to the electorate rather than presenting raw facts, statistics and data which largely leave voters to frame the issue in their own minds. The net result is voters understand the narratives presented by Republicans to frame the argument. Failure to frame the information presented results in widely varying degrees of comprehension and mixed messages or in some cases the ""paralysis of analysis."" This is perhaps the argument that is of most value to political scientists, theorists, and policy makers but potentially the hardest for some to embrace as it runs counter to long-held beliefs.""The Political Mind"" is indeed a thought provoking book and it abounds with ideas and concepts relating to political theory. Lakoff's arguments are relatively simple, straightforward, and easy to grasp, but written in a prose that will certainly appeal to the reader and their intellect. The decidedly retro cover may be a bit offputting with its 1970s graphic, but don't let that fool you; ""The Political Mind"" is a must read for anyone in the political world!",5.0,A must read for anyone in the political world!,1249948800,"08 11, 2009",31,35,helpful,0.8857142857142857,1 AV0ILSXO1726Z,0310719259,A. Dragovich,"[0, 0]",What a great concept! We are using this series as the spine for council time in our AWANA program this year. It's working very well across a wide age range (2-12).,5.0,Excellent way for kids to see Christ across all the books of the Bible!,1385769600,"11 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2BWUJXWBPGRW6,B0071BAPEC,MS,"[8, 18]","This book was so poorly written I could not believe an adult penned it. With the multitude of grammar and spelling errors coupled with such a juvenile plot, I could not bring myself to finish. The dialogue was choppy and immature with little to no ""world building"". Someone definitely needed a proof-reader.",1.0,This is a nightmare,1350259200,"10 15, 2012",8,18,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A2QZVW56O4WSBT,0373791712,Cloggie Downunder,"[0, 0]","As Hot As It Gets is the sixth Blaze novel by American author Jamie Sobrato. Hot-headed redhead, Claire Elliott has decided the only way to get Mason Walker out of her system is to have a night of hot sex with him, so she travels to his newly-opened resort in the Caribbean, Escapade. When Mason hears she is coming, he is not at all pleased: Claire has always been trouble, and even though he's attracted to her, he is going to keep his distance. This novel has a little hot sex (on the dance floor), as well as a bit of intrigue (who is running the dominatrix service in the resort???), but generally the plot is as thin as the characters. Don't bother.",2.0,don't bother,1366675200,"04 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1HZQ14WDRZDTG,0785221689,verabear,"[0, 0]","Received a free copy from Booksneeze.I enjoyed reading this book. It's amazing how much lessons one can learn from one little book.When he talked about how IVRs don't detect a sense of urgency or stress, I immediately thought of our customers. I work in customer service and have heard so many complaints about IVRs. How can we make a difference for our customers?He talked about email and how many are tied down to their desks reading or answering email. I am so glad I stopped using a Blackberry and now don't get notified of each new work email. It is liberating. If something was so important or urgent, the email sender would call. Otherwise, it can wait, at least for a few hours. It's really amazing how technology can both connect us, but also isolate us at the same time. Weird, but still amazing.Happy people affect everything else. This is something all bosses should keep in mind. If we keep our employees happy, we will reap the benefits. If only it were so simple.Oh well I am rambling. But if you have the money to spare, read this. It would even be a good present to some friends. :)",4.0,Life's little instruction book,1319932800,"10 30, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3P4BJ6GBH7KIW,B00DJ725FO,Becky C,"[0, 0]","It seems as though I've waited forever for ""A Sinner Born""!! I even ""harassed"" Avril Ashton on Facebook and followed her blog faithfully for any tidbits of Syren and Kane!I fell for these two men in ""Love the Sinner"" (which, by the way, is my all-time favorite m/m story AND the book that started my m/m genre addiction...Thank you very much, Avril) and could barely wait for their story to hit my Kindle!Kane is a U.S. Marshall who we met when he walked in on his brother, Gabe, and Gabe's new male lover, Angel in ""Love the Sinner"". Rightfully, Kane is incensed and confused as his brother (a cop) has always been straight and Angel is a gang leader/gun runner. Kane is also in mourning for his long-time partner, Bailey, who was killed years earlier by gunfire. In ASB, Kane has gotten beyond the fact that his brother is now married to a former gang leader and accepts the relationship and even kinda likes Angel/Rafe.Syren's story, however, isn't as easily known. We know he's working for the Delatorre cartel and we know he's trying to take down said cartel from the inside. His is a personal vendetta as Delatorre (ugh...I hated this man with a passion) is a stone-cold killer who takes his jollies beating the ever living hell out of Syren...but, for what, we don't know yet.Syren is still dealing with the effects of the murders of his family, being sold into child slavery, and the abuses he suffered. He sees Kane and, yep, it's love at first sight for Syren. But, he's got to deal with Kane's ""right side of the law"" attitude and the fact that Kane can't seem to accept Bailey's death and let go; Kane almost has this fear of loving and being loved and carries a whole lot of guilt for Bailey's death.It takes some time for Kane to realize he, too, deserves to be happy and Syren is the person who can give that to him.ASB is harsh and gritty and, in some places, downright mean. The sad part is...we know what happened to Syren as a child really happens in the real world! But, Syren, for all his foibles and faults, picks himself up by his shoe strings, has a plan and carries it out. But, when all is said and done, is there relief for him???You'll have to read it and find out!I adore Avril's writing!! This series is, by far, my favorite (I repeat myself...can't help it)! Knowing there are only five books (WHY????) does not make me very happy! But, I can read these over and over and never get tired of them. If there were typos and grammatical errors, I DON'T CARE!If you're not afraid of heroes killing, selling guns, finding love, dirty language, and hot sex, the Brooklyn Sinners' series is the one to go for! Definitely start with the first book, though, or you will miss so much of each characters' backstory!!KymD's 4 1/2 sweet pea review appears at mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.php/?p=12976",4.0,I adore Avril Ashton's writing!,1372204800,"06 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1JIORXQ38G0NR,1623006740,Affaire de Coeur,"[0, 0]","If Only is the eighth book in Cherise Sinclair’s "Masters of the Shadowlands" series and another excellent installment. This story brings to a close the hunt for the people behind the human trafficking organization who have been kidnapping submissives from BDSM clubs all across the United States and selling them into slavery where many do not come out alive. The Shadowlands world Ms. Sinclair has created is often fun, giving readers the perfect balance of humor and erotic passion. However, this particular story tends to be on the darker side. The explicit sexual situations might border on the taboo for some readers, but fans of more intense BDSM romances are sure to enjoy this story!Mallory Lane at AdCmagazine.com",4.0,Submissive/computer hacker earns the attention of the FBI.,1387584000,"12 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1623N94C3XATU,006171447X,"Rick Shaq Goldstein ""*SHAQ*""","[7, 8]","**ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2003 AT 8:30 PM SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS CAPTURED IN A ""SPIDER-HOLE"" IN THE TOWN OF AD DAWR, WHICH IS SOME 15 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF TIKRIT.**This is the amazing story of Staff Sergeant Eric Maddox of the United States Army who was instrumental in uncovering the information that helped lead to Saddam's capture. The author was an interrogator and within twenty-four-hours of landing in Baghdad he was asked if he was willing to interrogate on ""hits""... ""raids that were conducted in Baghdad to search for High Value Targets (HVT) and round up suspected insurgents."" From there he was transferred to Tikrit, Saddam's hometown. And that's where this amazingly interesting and fast paced story unfolds. Within a very short period of time Eric is thrust into the duties of a top interrogator, even though he has no real interrogation experience, when the previously assigned experienced interrogator transfers out. Eric's previous training amounted to an eight-week interrogation course he attended in Arizona in 1999. AND... ""WHAT I DIDN'T LEARN WAS HOW TO ACTUALLY GET THE JOB DONE. MOST OF MY INSTRUCTORS HAD NEVER INTERROGATED A REAL LIVE PRISONER. THERE HAD BEEN VERY FEW PRISONERS SINCE VIET NAM.""In addition to the *insider's-peep-hole* into one of the most important historical events in recent history... the author's unabashed honesty about his own shortcomings and fears... helps elevate this book above the horde of Middle East war books released in the last few years. An example of Eric's forthright nature is displayed when detailing his first ""boots-on-the-ground"" ""OUTSIDE-THE-WIRE"" raid on a possible insurgent. On the way to the selected house, driving ONE-HUNDRED-MILES-PER-HOUR at night... in a Mercedes that had been owned by one of Saddam's nieces... attacked by a FIFTY-CALIBER MACHINE GUN... the car spinned out of control... the driver jumped out the door... yelling U.S.A.! U.S.A.! ... it turned out it was friendly fire. When Eric and the task force arrived, and entered the targeted house... and after one of the soldiers had secured the first suspect... they brought Eric into the room for his first interrogation with his new team... ""WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THE BLINDFOLD OFF? I SUGGESTED. I WANTED TO BE EYE TO EYE WITH THIS GUY WHEN I QUESTIONED HIM. ONE OF THE GUARDS OBLIGED, PULLING BACK THE BLOOD-SOAKED CLOTH. I'D NEVER BEEN VERY GOOD WITH BLOOD, GOING BACK TO MY EARLY DAYS IN THE INFANTRY, WHEN TRAINING ACCIDENTS WERE NOT UNCOMMON. IT IS SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO HIDE, WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS. THIS WAS GOING TO BE HARDER THAN MOST. WHERE THE EYE SHOULD HAVE BEEN, THERE WAS AN EMPTY SOCKET.""As the story progresses the reader grows right along with the author in the ""art"" of interrogation... including the overriding desire to find... capture... or kill... ""HIGH-VALUE-TARGETS"" (HVT). Though the author had literally no experience when he arrived, he quickly developed his own techniques as he tried very hard to impress the specialized task force that he held in the highest regard. Eric devised a detailed ""link diagram"" that would look like an organization chart of a Fortune 500 company to you and me... and developed a theory that the key to HVT's was the relationship of Saddam's former body guards and their families. In addition... always hovering above... like a proverbial ""pot-of-gold""... was the Department Of Defense's ""PACK-OF-PLAYING-CARDS""... and ""on the face of the cards were the fifty-five most wanted men in Iraq: *THE-BLACK-LIST*. SADDAM WAS BLACK LIST #1, THE ACE OF SPADES. HIS SONS, UDAY AND QUSAY WERE BL's #2 AND #3. THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR, KILLED IN A BLOODY SHOOT-OUT IN MOSUL THE DAY BEFORE ERIC ARRIVED IN BAGHDAD.""This is the behind the scenes story of the hunt for *THOSE-PLAYING-CARDS*.Note 1: As an honorably discharged Viet Nam era veteran... and a man who yearns for a seat at the bar... I want to thank Eric for his dedication words to me and others at the beginning of the book.**""TO ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED, FOUGHT, AND SACRIFICED, AND TO ALL THOSE WHO YEARN FOR A SEAT AT THE BAR.""**Note 2: You'll have to read the book to know what a seat at the bar entails.",5.0,"RICK ""SHAQ"" GOLDSTEIN SAYS: ""THE MAN WHO HELPED LEAD ""U.S."" TO SADDAM'S SPIDER HOLE!""",1228348800,"12 4, 2008",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A16C4Q3XY5UZID,1936564513,Jade Kerrion,"[0, 0]","In Craving, Lilith Pierce unpacks the mystery behind her younger sister's suicide. In the process, she meets characters whose pasts are shrouded in mystery, and encounters ancient cults dominated by people who can live indefinitely. The deeper she digs, the bigger the mess, and worse, she's changing...but into what?Craving is an excellent paranormal novel. The premise is unique and original, and the writing is strong. Kristina Meister challenges the (hazy) boundaries of philosophy and religion. The plot was not entirely unpredictable (at least I saw the twists coming) but enjoyed it nonetheless.A few, minor issues for me: some key threads in the novel that were alluded to repeatedly did not seem adequately explained, such as the blood-drinking element, and why/how Lilith became so powerful when others did/could not. The author tried to explain the latter, but it didn't make sense or seem plausible enough to me. I also found some of the philosophical discussion a bit repetitive and started glossing over it, flipping pages to find where the action started up again.Still, an excellent novel, overall, and highly recommended for a change from the typical paranormal novels out there.",4.0,A welcome change in paranormal novels,1349395200,"10 5, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AYAAVWFKVE8OJ,0991069307,R. Clark,"[0, 0]","This is the first Kindle book I have been unable to put down. A fast-paced, action-filled tragedy and romance. This has it all.",5.0,A Pageturner,1399593600,"05 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VXSL72Q8201S,146111196X,Jackie Hendrickson,"[4, 4]","I just finished the Frog prince and I love this book. This is her first book so I was not really expecting anything great, the title was cute, the premise sounded silly but the reviews were so good. I don't think I have seen a book with all 5 star ratings so, I decided to try it. I am happy I did. surprisingly funny and well written. The characters were believable and well developed. I highly recommend this book and anxiously awaitng her next book.",5.0,surprisingly good,1293321600,"12 26, 2010",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A12G11N4YNLIDS,1401238165,I. McCormick,"[0, 0]","Far too many comic books these days seem to gear the monthly issues specifically to the trades, meaning that the stories go on way too long to fit ONE story into one HC volume. This is not the case with writer Gail Simone's efforts, she expertly crafts short arcs where new and interesting villians do not overstay their welcome, all the while continuing the overarching narrative of Barbara's recuperation from her previous grave injury and currently working through PTSD as Batgirl because of it.The new rogues that Ms. Simone is building for Batgirl's universe are all entertaining and unique. My only disappointment with the title is that the book could use a higher caliber artist more consistently, this title deserves it. The superlative artist Ed Benes is only present for two of the issues in this volume, and I think the book deserves better more consistently overall.But Batgirl, along with Earth 2, are the only two DC titles whose overall quality I feel deserve to have their individual issues brought together into the hard bound editions. This volume shouldn't disappoint.",4.0,Fun follow up to the first HC volume,1363392000,"03 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19B18U2GIWOR4,0520229150,"Judith ""Tax Goddess""","[5, 8]",I haven't quite finished but the book has held my interest thus far. The author manages to treat a scientific subject without talking down to the reader or lapsing into specialized scientific jargon.,4.0,Interesting treatment,1168732800,"01 14, 2007",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A5Q1FK0FWU7DH,0061257052,TC,"[4, 5]","This book was ok in general. It was extremely difficult to get through because of the very heavy-handed descriptions that went on for multiple pages at some points. Many times, I had to force myself to continue reading. Once I was through the book, however, I did like the story. I didn't love it, but I don't regret reading it--although I might have loved it if it had it been at least 100 pages less (cutting out the unnecessary, intricate details). I would never reread this book.My book club had picked this book. We have 10-15 members depending on the night. The consensus in the club said the same thing-the book was ok, too many details making it cumbersome to read.I have never read any other books by this author so I don't know if this is her typical style of writing or if it is unique to this book. If it is her typical style, I wouldn't read another book by her. However, if I learn that she has other books that aren't so tedious I would consider giving her 1 more try.",3.0,Just OK,1244332800,"06 7, 2009",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3684EUAEHIV67,0967724805,Hilde Bygdevoll,"[16, 19]","I decided to read ""The color of oil"" as an introduction to the oil-industry. The authors (Economides and Oligney) are both ""oil-guys"", so I was a little skeptical to what level the language would be on. But fear not, the book is kept on an accessible level, even for the lay reader.The authors explains why and how vulnerable the industry is, about the more resent but also the past oil-crisis, how little it takes for the oil-price to spin out of control, governmental interference and how the politics in the industry works (or don't...) etc. Together with this comes, quite naturally, a large dose of American history.To the authors' credit, they strike the perfect balance between facts, technical jargon, and personal anecdotes, which makes ""The color of oil"" an easy and entertaining read. I found it to be a great overview over the industry. I picked up lots of new facts from this book, and I am most certain that I will cite this book in the future.I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to fill in (or update) on the knowledge of the oil industry.",4.0,Well-written and entertaining.,999648000,"09 5, 2001",16,19,helpful,0.8421052631578947,1 A3DESX2D5GVQ7N,B006FRVSJ4,BoLover,"[0, 0]","Kindle Delete is what I need,I just don't know how. This book wasn't bad,it just wasn't me,is all.Didn't really get past the first few pages.... but if you like unnecessary different POV's and would like that a girl engaged is flirting with another man,than I say go for it.",2.0,KINDLE DELETE???,1365724800,"04 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14B025SFEGSE2,1451645821,Melinda,"[0, 0]","I would highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys reading about characters who face real challenges. I was sad when the book was over. This book is much much better than his mystery series; totally different, but still excellent writing. I hope the author writes more stories like this in the future!",5.0,Unforgettable characters and story,1375574400,"08 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3FVAWZNKW9GX,0881791326,"A.Trendl HungarianBookstore.com ""What should ...","[9, 10]","Serious designers who are beginning their trade, or old hats who might need to be refreshed in typography can benefit from Robert Bringhurst's "The Elements of Typographic Style."Bringhurst has brought us a thrifty tome of typography. Succinct, he isn't bound to entertain the reader, but educate him.His glossary of typographic terms will bring you into the know about apertures, dot leaders, nuts and muttons.Just as useful is his thorough appendix of sorts and characters. With an image of the characters, he explains in a few sentences what characters is when it is to be used properly. He distinguishes acutes from graves from primes from hois from apostrophes. Adjacent to this lexicon is a quick visual index of alphabetic character. This section alone was worth the price for me.The real science of "The Elements of Typographic Style" is in Bringhurst's bulk of explanations of letter construction, page composition, defining and given shorts histories of classic fonts as seen in specimen books, a great chapter on analphabetic symbols.I fully recommend this book. Artists, designers, illustrators all should have a copy of this. It reads easier than you might suspect, and would serve as a fine textbook. Writers should read it for no other reason than it is interesting, but to also have pity on our poor designers who must make our words look nice.Anthony Trendl",5.0,Where Serious Designers Learn Typography,1036022400,"10 31, 2002",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A1F1XYMX769KWE,0061779741,Cissa,"[0, 1]","I've really loved some of Moore's novels, and been less impressed with others.This is one of the best ones.Artists and the Parisian demimonde were handled really well. The plot was fantastic... but it was pretty plausible in context! which is what I loved. The dialog was entertaining and witty.And I simply adored Latrec here.The occasional inclusion of various paintings definitely added to the ""historical"" ambiance, though having them all be in grayscale mean we missed most of the point of the Impressionists, especially.I'd recommend this one- especially for anyone interested in this particular historical/artistic period, but who is willing to have fun with it.",5.0,Bawdy and funny,1353974400,"11 27, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2FXZN99CMH9Q,B006P5CH1O,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Amazing book about God ""s plan in our lives. And His revealing those plans to us.An inspiration for all who are Christians",5.0,When God Whispers,1387238400,"12 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3MWP39R0W9TQX,1400005051,"Heather W. ""heartful_home""","[4, 4]","535 Beaches. That's a lot of beaches! Or so it would seem. But don't be surprised if your local favorites didn't make the list.The book starts with some planning tips. Some budget tips, histories of locations, traveling tips include when to visit.Then the book is divided into sections:The best beaches in the...West CoastHawai'iEast coastGulf coastBahamasNorth CaribbeanEastern CaribbeanSouthern CaribbeanMexicoSo you can see that in 20 pages per section, it's hardly comprehensive for awesome beaches, say, along the western US coast. But the Caribbean is well covered.I was able to look up a few beaches for day trips from our WA state location, but wondered if there weren't more or better beaches available in our area.On the other hand, if I decide to plan a vacation with my husband, and just want a fabulous place to go and enjoy the beach, this book will shine in its ability to help me plan and choose a great location.The book is chock full of photos. Some are simply artistic, candid shots of people and beach themes (like rows of shells). But there are also a lot of interesting views of the featured beaches including views from above.Maps.Comparison charts of features.Places to visit near the beach including historic sites.Really easy to thumb through and enjoy as a reference...or just breeze through reading bits and pieces to fantasize of leaving your desk job and getting away from it all.",4.0,Is this the RIGHT book for YOU?,1292371200,"12 15, 2010",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A19B8DF6HITTM,0805078320,Burleigh-Boy,"[18, 22]","The Mind of the Market is tour de force. One of its ideas is the similarity between the complexity that develops naturally both in the biological sphere and in the economic sphere, one the result of evolution, the other of Adam Smith's invisible hand. Another strand in this splendidly multidisciplinary book is the role of cognitive illusions and psychological foibles and the role they play in finance and everyday economics. Yet another trope is that Darwinian ""survival of the fittest"" does not mean the nastiest and most cut-throat survive, but often the eusocial and most reciprocating. These and other great ideas expertly woven together!",5.0,A splendidly multi-disciplinary book,1200441600,"01 16, 2008",18,22,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A204ETWOV23HO4,0812930991,"David J. Huber ""Addicted to books!""","[10, 15]","My only complaint with this book is that Brock, turning against the right wing nutzoids that are in charge of the republican aprty and republican commentaries, uses some of the same tactics he used to use: name calling, and vicious verbage.Other than that, this is an important work because Brock is the first right wing nut to switch sides to the side of sensibility and compassion and justice, and exposes all the miserable and hurtful tactics that the right wing nuts, and the conservative Christians in particular, use to destroy liberals, like the right wing nut 8 year campaign to destroy Clinton and fabricate evidence. Every one should be reading this book to find out just how low and just how illegal the right wing will go to try to destroy someone they don't like. Tactics like made up evidence, made up statistics, even made up claims that the person has to try to defend. They paid off people to give false witness, they found others filled with hate to offer false witness. Just plain bad stuff in the right wing, and Brock, who was a major part of that side for many years, shows it all.Read this, and then sstop voting for the right wings, and leave your right wing church if you're a pat robertson/jerry falwell kind of person.Thank you, David Brock, for your courage to put this thing out.",5.0,"Finally, some truth about the tactics of the RightWing",1030147200,"08 24, 2002",10,15,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A65T3WOHGE773,1462111459,"D. Chapman ""Ellepaul""","[15, 15]",What a fantastic new take on the Snow White fairytale! Everything in this story is seen and told by the mirror and I have to admit at the beginning it was a bit different and hard to get into. But soon after you get into the rhythm and understand how the tale is being told it is quite enjoyable.One of the interesting things about this book is the evil Queen who wants to kill the young princess is actually her mother and not her stepmother. Even the seven dwarves are different than all the previous tales we have read before. Things like this make this a very enjoyable tale to read!There are several twists in the story that I was not prepared for and I liked out things turned out. Snow Whyte and the Queen of Mayhem is one of the best fairytale retelling I have ever read and I look forward to more by this very talented author.,4.0,A great story!,1355184000,"12 11, 2012",15,15,helpful,1.0,1 A1QFU6ZUYR1INL,006230240X,Kayla,"[0, 0]",This book was awesome! It keeps you interested and on the edge of your seat. Each character has their own personality and they really make you feel as though you are a part of their ups and downs. Overall great book and a great read.,5.0,Great,1363132800,"03 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AG2BIJU3PEYSB,1599983508,"M. Johnson ""ms. romance reader""","[29, 34]","I absolutely love erotica. I buy atleast 10 books a month on EBay so I think I've read quite a bit that's out there. This book was a sad disappointment.The author would explain what was going on in a scene, but there were no descriptions of what the characters were feeling, how they longed or hungered or were thrilled by what was going on. The heroine certainly got to have sex, but as far as it being sexy, I didn't think so.I guess it was a lot like watching porn. I could see what the people were doing, but I could not experience any of the joy or excitement they were feeling as that wasn't scripted into the book.",1.0,Don't waste your money,1193788800,"10 31, 2007",29,34,helpful,0.8529411764705882,1 A3UW23DBF2KHWC,1594632588,Denis Vukosav,"[5, 7]","Stitches"" by Anne Lamott is new book by known bestselling spiritual author that follows her previous popular prayer book Help, Thanks, Wow"".She wrote this book that could be used to help on those most difficult days in our lives, when it seems that it can't be any worse than already is.In ""Stitches"" using her familiar writing style Anne is giving her insights full of hope that can give strength, help reader to regain will for life after some tragic event, accident or any other sad event happened.She called this book as a handbook on meaning, hope and repair although she admits that she as well can't provide simple and exact answers, feeling herself sometimes lost as well.Instead she is suggesting trying finding peace in ourselves, using faith and trying to help each other doing our daily activities, or simple said just try to survive these days full of sorrow.Due to her life in which she experienced some sad days, but also from people she knows, she is giving some practical advices how to help others and ourselves in case of illness, loss of a loved person or a natural disaster, advices that are full of wisdom.Anne Lamott with her book is giving a suggestion which path to take when some bad thing happens in your life, and although that path wouldn't be easy to follow, if you open your heart open, you'll be able to recover.Stitches"" is a small book full of warmth and great wisdom and due to that it can be fully recommended.",5.0,Small book full of warmth and great wisdom...,1383264000,"11 1, 2013",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1INA9XRWHR0LL,B00AML42B0,Tuppence,"[0, 1]",This is a book in which the Author tries too hard to inject all the ingredients needed to write a good edge of the seat who-dun-it.I was disapointed in the writing style and bad sentence construction. I didn't finish it and wish I hadn't wasted my hard earned cash!,2.0,Thriller,1359504000,"01 30, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AIYL7AS29O8FU,1451625545,Denise Evans,"[0, 0]",I made the worst choice ordering this book from Amazon. The plot and characters were nothing but a giant mess. Z is finally off drugs and devoting his time to his family. Beth isn't handling this well and behaving very strange causing Z to suspect something. Alex and Birdie aren't dealing well with the fame and status in their marriage which progresses into major problems. Josephine and Ras have relocated to Jamaica trying to fix their marriage and raise their daughter Reina. Ras affair with Cleo is a troubling subject. His love and desire for Cleo is a perplexing subject. Jake is a wreck a year after the death of his wife. His drinking and sleeping with random women is out of control. It reaches the zenith when Jake does the unthinkable and betrays the person he loves. Lily is a waitress who Jake can't forgets about it. (Lily was born a male) Zander and Bunny are still in a destructive relationship when they shouldn't be. I'm so sick of Z. He should have passed instead of Kipenzi. I was deeply disgusted by Jake and Lily relationship. Lily is a man and always will be. Jake needs help. Alex shouldn't have married Birdie. He already cheated before they got married. She should have known he was going to cheat again. Alex was completely stupid for getting a abortion. She only did it to hurt Birdie. It actually hurts her. Ras is a sorry excuse for an husband. I hope Josephine finds peace in her life. Beth has suffered too much. I believe she and Z needs to separate. All of Cleo evil deeds will come back on her.,1.0,The Most Terrible Sequel Ever,1399507200,"05 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27H7ROC061019,0345515633,kitkat,"[0, 0]",This is an Amazing book. It's a very difficult book to put down with a twist that u don't see coming. As always Gerritsen does it again. She is one of my favorite authors & this ranks with one of her best.,5.0,Last To Die,1358121600,"01 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2Z51X1F4MV304,0029257506,Delana H. Stewart,"[0, 0]","In her book ""Are Those Kids Yours?"" author Cheri Register goes beyond talking about international adoption and raising internationally adopted children, to help all of us consider how to help other parents keep their children. She closes her book with ""If each of us were to develop a genuine, fond commitment to the people of another place, we might keep some other family's hopes and dreams from washing away.""Cheri does a great job including quotes from both adoptive parents and adopted children (young and young adult). Two of my favorite chapters in her book were ""What Are You?"" and ""Back to Beginnings."" These two chapters take a look at how internationally adopted children fit into society as they grow into adulthood. Are they American or _____________(the nationality of their birth)? Many discover that they have a hard time completely fitting in to either culture. Even as they seek out others from their homeland who have immigrated to America, many find that they do not quite fit in to that group either.I appreciated her honest look at issues, as well as providing stories from adoptees on both sides (those who decide as adults that they truly American and wish to stay in America, as well as those who really want to return to their homelands not only for a visit.For my complete review see--{[...]}.Delana H. Stewart is the author of:Nine Year Pregnancy: Waiting on God-Our Journey of AdoptionMy Paper Pregnancy Journal: A place for you to tell your adoption story with insights to guide you on your journey.Three Days at Sea: Soul floatation when the waves are pulling you under",4.0,Takes an honest look at the issues,1368489600,"05 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LT3L3TGC8TQK,0553593129,BJS,"[0, 0]","I found this to be a quick easy and enjoyable read. It was a charming, though predictable, story that I enjoyed reading. I have read other Suzanne Brockmann books and this did not disappoint.",4.0,"Quick, easy, and enjoyable read.",1385078400,"11 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2L47TFMD8JMXT,038574224X,"J.Bann ""READER""","[0, 1]","In a market flooded with vamps, this book will capture you and not let go!Fall in love with the dark, creepy, gripping, heartbreaking and yet somehow uplifting story of Velveteen, murdered teen with a sharp tongue and strong spirit.",5.0,Dark and amazing!,1381104000,"10 7, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A9J7YIUW1OXMQ,0446553972,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Almost science fiction in a historical political novel. Haven't you ever wondered how far a government will go to meet it's ends?,4.0,Interesting read...,1379980800,"09 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWL39FMBJN1TW,0757303234,Elizabeth Hunyadi,"[122, 126]","Many suffer from the damaging effects of Toxic Shame. A little-explored subject, it causes one to feel defective from the core of one's being. The roots of shame come from abuse and dysfunctionality in the family and early socialization in school. People then tend to measure their worth against external standards and feedback and when it is negative or lacking, can feel a devasting loss of self. Whether perpetrated on an overt or covert level, the damaging effects can last a lifetime, leading people into mental illness, addiction, and crippling disfunctionality.Bradshaw gives a diagnostic and thereapeutic vocabulary to those who desperately need it. Some people are shamed by the same people over and over again (ie: spouses and family) and need the tools with which to cope. Based on the twelve-step paradigm, Bradshaw shows us how to recognize the signs of toxic shame and how to (with the help of a therapist and/or healing community) eventually overcome it.",4.0,For All Those Living In the Shadow of Shame...,930441600,"06 27, 1999",122,126,helpful,0.9682539682539683,1 A2OR7NCNZLPAYX,0553805347,"J. D. Andersen ""Jim""","[4, 5]","Without boring you with the plot line (you can read that above) I can easily recommend this book to all who love snappy dialogue. The character, Vin Cooper, reminds me very much of Brian Haig's main character, Sean Drummond. Same type of wit. If you are not familiar with Haig's work, think Robert B. Parker's Spenser.To go along with the one liners is a pretty good story with the requisite plot twist. All in all, worth the time.",4.0,"Quick, entertaining read.",1196726400,"12 4, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2EIQJDG13946L,1455516783,Natala Guillaume,"[0, 0]",What an AMAZING and positive book! I truly feel as though my life has changed from the moment I started reading this book. To sum it up isn't enough take the time to read this and you won't regret it for a moment. So uplifting!,5.0,Life changing,1379721600,"09 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1RAUVCWYHTQI4,030726372X,A. Ross,"[6, 8]","I've read a few of Carey's novels and generally found them to be quite good, even gripping in ways I hadn't expected. Like some of these, the premise of his latest book didn't sound that promising, but I decided to take a chance since he had surprised me in the past. Unfortunately, his usual captivating prose isn't enough to disguise the plodding dud of a story.Set around 1972, the story starts in Manhattan's Upper East Side, where we meet 7-year-old Jay/Che and his ultra-wealthy WASP guardian/grandmother. They are met by a striking young woman named Dial, who has just taken a job as professor at Vassar. She's apparently an old friend of Che's mother, and has agreed to a mysterious mission to escort Che to meet his on-the-run-from-the-law mother for an hour. However, within a scant number of pages this simple rendezvous has gotten drastically complicated. Dial and Che hop on a bus to Philadelphia, Che's mother is killed, and Dial inexplicably kidnaps Che and takes him to Australia.I was going along fine with the book until this sequence of events, which struck me as so wildly incomprehensible that I never regained any confidence in the story. Dial and Che's mother were both involved in the student radical movements of the 1960s, in particular theStudents for a Democratic Society. But while the working-class girl Dial saw through the romantic allure of the radical movement, Che's blue-blood mother drifted into the more extreme violent fringes of the movement, and became a wanted woman. Dial's decision to help engineer the mother-son reunion seems based on some rather unlikely desire to prove her radical credentials in the face of having joined the establishment (eg. Vassar). However her flustered panic when the arrangement goes awry seems totally at odds with her tough Greek upbringing in South Boston.When Dial and Che arrive in Australia, she seems even more implausibly inept, and they soon find themselves a hideout in a kind of nasty hippie commune. Carey himself apparently lived in such a commune, and it shows in the rich language he uses to describe the huts, the surrounding jungle, and the rather prickly relationships between its members. They try to make a kind of ""back-to-nature"" primitive life of it, with the semi-assistance of an illiterate hippie named Trevor. Many readers will probably find the most meaningful aspect of the book to be the attempt between Dial and Che to form some kind of mother-son bond, and while it works to a certain extent from his side, I never bought into her maternal desire.Ultimately, the murkiness of motivations throughout the book left me more confused than moved. And unlike the other books I've read of Carey's the pacing is very awkward and a general narrative lethargy pervades the story. Unless you're really into the era or settings, or can't live without Carey's descriptive prose, I'd say give this one a miss.",2.0,Awkward Pacing Dooms This Dud,1214265600,"06 24, 2008",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A34WKQ6TNI5PK1,0375402101,A Fan,"[10, 15]","Bellesiles' work has been refuted and he has been shown to be a fraud. Much of his ""research"" and ""sources"" were fabrications designed to fit his preconceived anti-gun message. His assertions and conclusions have been demonstrated to be false. If you want the truthful history of guns in America, I would recommend:""Armed America: The Remarkable Story of How and Why Guns Became as American as Apple Pie"" by Clayton E. Cramer",1.0,Fantasy pushed as history,1245715200,"06 23, 2009",10,15,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A3O0EJ2XG5K9Q7,0978970748,"Jonathan Maberry ""Multiple Bram Stoker Award-...","[8, 10]","I got a review copy of this the other day and just gobbled it up. This is a great new collection of undead short fiction, filled with humor, action, innovation, and a lot of clever tweaks on the zombie genre.Permuted Press has become a power player in small press zombie fiction, and The Undead: Skin and Bones is a helluva fun read.",5.0,Zombie Fiction at its Gruesome Best,1186876800,"08 12, 2007",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A1131SLJQPTU63,0802779131,H. Huynh,"[4, 4]","I picked up this book because it was thin and it looked interesting. Being born a Chinese but never lived in China, I learned Chinese at a young age and had never thought about difficulty in learning it.So reading Ms Fallows's book gave me a more understanding and appreciation for my language. She's written with such ease and flow that it seems like you were having a conversation with a friend who just came home from overseas and was telling you all the fun things she discovered.I don't think she ever intended the book to be a guide for anything. I didn't expect it to be academic. She just tried to recall her experience and relate them to the language she learned. Some of her stories made me smile in recognition and for her insight.After finished the book, I wish it were longer.",5.0,A Westerner's view of Chinese people and language,1302825600,"04 15, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1RAUVCWYHTQI4,0312194560,A. Ross,"[22, 23]","Am I the only man who read this book?... This is pretty stunning stuff from a first-time novelist: beautiful but grounded prose, deep and believable characterizations, and a deft handling of complicated coming-of-age issues. On the other hand, first novels (and films) are often about those things closest to the author's heart and experience, so we'll wait to see what Williams comes up with next before proclaiming her the voice of a new generation... The book is about Skye, a high school senior in Santa Barbara trying to deal with a new school, making new friends, her insane New Age-addict mother, and her own sexuality. Williams juggles these along with the typical teenage traumas of parties, a controlling parent, an absent parent, and an out-of-control friend. It's a complex journey into Skye's head, and even though much of the book concerns her lesbianism, it never draws attention to itself. Williams' prose floats and flows but never lifts off into the realm of mawkishness. Deserves a wide readership.",4.0,STUNNING DEBUT,963792000,"07 17, 2000",22,23,helpful,0.9565217391304348,1 AVGE36P81C83X,0739314009,Thomas Ley,"[27, 57]","I mean, seriously: She basically is a caricature. Her looks, her books (short, repetitive, not really, ahm, researched), her life (she's living in Manhattan, for heaven's sake! why not in San Fran?!). Maybe it's all just satire. What if she writes a book in a few years: ""My Life as a Conservative Barbie Doll""...?Come on, you can't say you haven't thought about that, can you?",1.0,Anyone ever considered that Ann's not for real?,1097366400,"10 10, 2004",27,57,helpful,0.47368421052631576,1 A2YYZ24DML9K6K,1451634781,Naomi Meyer,"[0, 0]","Although I find it confusing when the characters have Norwegian names, I did enjoy the story and thought it was well written.",4.0,Good read! I'm waiting to find out who the killer is.,1358467200,"01 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3G8XC7HXL5Q7H,B00AH8SLKQ,ciara bass,"[0, 0]",I love this book I wish we can get a hood love 3 but great job keep up the good work,5.0,Love it,1354752000,"12 6, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PSM87FJ6GB55,1939049008,Kindle Customer,"[0, 0]","I would highly recommend this book . It is very good , especially if you like romance mixed with some good suspense. Well written and enjoyable.",4.0,Recommend!!,1395360000,"03 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A22RY8N8CNDF3A,0307740986,"Loyd E. Eskildson ""Pragmatist""","[28, 37]","Mezrich states that some of the material involves composite characters and imagined conversations. My sense is that the material would be much more readable and credible if he had just created a factual narrative limited to 3-5 pages. As it stands, the book is just a lot of words strung together, too verbose and suspect for even the general reader.Facebook purportedly began as a prank by a Harvard student (Mark Zuckerberg) that allowed comparing/rating its coeds. Since then three other Harvard students claim that generalizing the Facebook idea was theirs and that they paid Zuckerberg to do the original programming (case pending). It now has about 200 million members. The firm's valuation is estimated at somewhere between $10 billion (per Russian $200 million investment for 1.96% in May, 2009), and $15 billion (per Microsoft $240 million investment for 1.6% in October 2007). Why these enormous valuation figures is not clear - seems like the stratospheric valuations prior to the [...] bust of the late 1990s all over again. ""The Accidental Billionaires"" also does not explain what Facebook's sustainable competitive advantage is. Thus, the book also lacks value as a basic Harvard Business School case.",1.0,"Fact, or Fiction?",1247616000,"07 15, 2009",28,37,helpful,0.7567567567567568,1 AVOTHJVJLHQ7H,1118267885,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I found this book very helpful. Setting up email was a lot easier with the directions from this book. I read this book all the way through, easy to understand and follow.",5.0,Very helpful for persons New to kindle,1370563200,"06 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3AV5CSQBASKOI,1456450913,"ValeriGail ""Valeri""","[5, 6]","I loved O'Connell's first book ""Eyes of silver, Eyes of gold."" It was one of my favorite reads for 2010. So when I saw that she had a new book out, I grabbed it immediately.With EOS, EOG, I devoured the book within 2 days, only putting it down to sleep. With Sing my name, I found a huge desire to read it slow and long. To sit with it for days, having it wrap me it its story. I thought about it while doing my normal daily stuff. The story entering my thoughts, hanging there and making me think. When I was finished, I found it impossible to start another story. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Sarah and Matt.It is a different story from that of her first book. In EOS,EOG the characters are slow to fall in love, and are shocked by the realization. In Sing my name, the characters fall madly in love swiftly and strongly. They embrace it and hold it close, absolutely sure that they will love forever. Even though forever might mean a forever apart.The heroine, Sarah Hammond, is a woman that learns the hard lesson of taking care of oneself after everyone she's ever loved has abandoned her. She starts out life as a pampered Daughter of a prominent family, but underneath all the pretty skirts and fancy hair, lays a Woman stronger than she herself believes. How does one who's been protected and sheltered her whole life live completely on her own? She learns very quickly that when things get tough, you have to get tougher. I love the female characters Mrs. O'Connell creates. They are strong, deep, and real. They are not the usual romance novel heroines. They are far better, far deeper and complex. There are people in my life right now that I can say ""oh wow, she's Sarah"".Our Hero, Matt Slade, is stubborn and simple and amazing. The unjustness of his life seems overwhelming at times. Born to a farming family in Texas, he loses his entire family to the ""fever"" before he even hits puberty. He has seen death and destruction through the war, and is only in his early 20's when we meet him. Having lived through such harshness usually creates a vengeful angry man, but Matt is neither of those. He is the most sincere character I have ever read. When I say that he is simple, I mean that what you get with him is simply him. There is no hidden anything. He lays it out there for all to see. He is Matt, and he is amazing. He loves hard and fierce. Too hard and fierce. His sense of protection for those he cherishes is extreme. He will do anything to protect those in his life. From Sarah to his ""Family"" of gunslingers. My absolute favorite line in the book is ""What did you do with a man who loved you too much to love you."" I think it absolutely describes Matt. He loved too much to actually let him self love completely.This is another stunning novel by O'Connell. I highly recommend it to anyone that loves western and/or historical romance. The first section of the book had me spell bound. As they tried to stay safe and hidden, I was right there hunkering in the bushes with them. The second part of the book, with them separate going through their own struggles and desperately missing each other, I longed for them to meet again. In the third part, I sat in anticipation for the face to face confrontation and read with hope that it would all finally turn out well. I was not disappointed, and am hoping that O'Connell offers us more books like this and EOS,EOG to read in the future.",5.0,"A wonderful story, O'Connell is a Cherished find!",1294358400,"01 7, 2011",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AOF2UGZ48UA5O,1481178350,Jerry Rivers,"[0, 0]",It is good to be reminded that we have the power to limit negative self talk from our lives. We should consider the tools available to us that drive negativism from our lives. This book will be with me always to serve as a constant reminder to talk nice to others.,3.0,This book is a good reminder,1388966400,"01 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3CNWB7180ELNL,0764207881,sbcwilliams0917,"[0, 0]","Synopsis:A Compelling Pioneer Story From Bestselling Author Kim Vogel SawyerFed up with the poor quality of life in 1880 New York, Tarsie Raines encourages her friends Joss and Mary Brubacher to move with their two children to Drayton Valley, Kansas, a booming town hailed in the guidebook as the land of opportunity. She offers to help with expenses and to care for Mary and the children as they travel west by wagon train. But when tragedy strikes on the trip across the prairie, Tarsie is thrown into an arrangement with Joss that leaves both of them questioning God and their dreams for the future. As their funds dwindle and nothing goes as planned, will Tarsie and Joss give up and go their separate ways, or will God use their time in Drayton Valley to turn their hearts toward him?My Review:This was a story straight from the heart. It was a story that not only included love but a love that had to endure a series of tests and strengths on both the main characters parts. It included issues that were fought in that time period and even some that are still being fought today. Issues like prejudice, alcoholism, parenting, death, grief, etc.You could visualize the struggles this family had as they packed up and moved from city life to a life opposite of that. Kim Vogel Sawyer is an author that I respect. Her writing style is captivating and real. This book is full of raw emotions and the love that these individuals shared. A must read.~Sabrina~",4.0,An amazing story from the heart,1358294400,"01 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AE820S4DM51RK,B00F5XN1BC,Mother/Gamer/Writer,"[0, 0]","Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 3 out of 5 ControllersReviewers: Heather and ArielArielDemon Chained is the fifth book in the Shadowfae Chronicles series by Erica Hayes. While it is the fifth in the series, it can be read as a standalone novel as well. Jewel is a djinni of the lamp, one who has been recently freed since the last owner of her lamp has died. Now Jewel is her own djinni, able to use her magic for her own wants instead of the wants of others. Until her lamp gets stolen, that is.Tam is a man on a mission, out to get Joey DiLuca, the man who murdered him, his wife, and his daughter. How can he get Joey if he’s dead? He made a deal with a demon named Kane, who brought him back from the dead in order to exact his revenge. Now Kane has asked for Tam to retrieve a lamp for him.I have a few problems with this novel. For starters, Jewel irritated me throughout almost the entire thing. In the very beginning of the novel, she is ecstatic that she is finally free and able to do whatever she wants, without having someone to wish for things and control her. However, as soon as she realizes Tam has her lamp, she gets depressed and upset that he doesn’t actually want her to do anything. Jewel is used to being wanted and desired, and when a man finally doesn’t want her, essentially letting her have her freedom, she gets upset about it. Since she is bound to a master her powers aren’t under her own control anymore, but other than that, she could have a normal life and instead she whines about not being wanted.Another thing that bothered me, mostly because it wasn’t really explained, is that early on in the novel, the lamp gets taken from Tam but he still remains Jewel’s master. Now, to get Jewel to do what you say you have to say her name so I understand that if the owner doesn’t know her name, they can’t really do anything. But shouldn’t whoever has possession of the lamp still technically be her master? It confused me throughout the whole novel and it never really got explained.Plot wise, the story was great. I’m not entirely sure about the zombie/djinni pairing in general, but I did like Jewel and Tam together. They brought out the best in each other and they helped each other get over their own issues, between Jewel’s lack of ownership of herself to Tam’s guilt over what happened to his wife and daughter.There were a few weird sections where the novel switched from first person to third person which really bothered me. And the thing that bothered me the most was the ending, and I can’t even tell you why because it would spoil the whole book for everyone. If you read the book, you’ll understand.I’m giving Demon Chained 3 out of 5 controllers. It had an interesting premise, and the plot was pretty interesting, but the main character bothered me, the fact that I didn’t understand how Tam was still the owner of her lamp even though he didn’t have her lamp, and how angry I got over the ending ruined it for me. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t one of my favorites.My Rating3 out of 5 ControllersHeatherI didn’t have a chance to read the first four books and I’m not entirely sure if I would after reading Demon Chained. Now I’ll point out that this just wasn’t my cup of tea, but this is one of the most unique spins I have read on zombies/reanimated corpses.The good rests in the world building and character development. Erica Hayes has always caught my eyes with these skills and created hellish worlds that resemble much of our own world … just with some badass supernatural beings. I loved her take on the Jinn (Jewel) and the struggles she faced with her newfound freedom. Lots of shmexiness there.The bad and for another reader it may not be bad at all, but it became really distracting for me to keep up on what body part was broken versus what fluids were leaking from where on poor Tam. During the erotic scenes it became too much for me and I found myself focusing on the gross factor more than the sexual connection. If you’ve read the Shadowfae then maybe this isn’t a shock, but for me, I just couldn’t get into it.As always Erica delivers her unique voice and the in your face writing I’ve come to love. I’m a huge fan of her Seven Signs series. I want to try reading this again, but I want to start at the beginning of the series, and maybe knowing more will help to soften poor Tam’s bodily fluids.Not for me, but in the right hands I’d call this a diamond in the pale oozing green stomach acid.My Rating3 out of 5 Controllers",3.0,"Solid Writing, Interesting Story...",1392336000,"02 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADQAFHB51QEOU,0385021747,Maxisback,"[0, 6]","I read this book such a long time ago, I don't remember much of it now. I recall that it was difficult to get into.",3.0,An okay read...,1356393600,"12 25, 2012",0,6,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1IZWTVAQVJIFE,B000C23Q66,Rerevisionist,"[11, 13]","Harris was born 1855; died 1931. He was famous as an editor (and helped publish H G Wells) - as famous as Whistler, said Wells. He wrote about twenty books.This large book was published in five volumes originally, starting in 1925 - with censorship difficulties as with Lady Chatterley's Lover. I suspect this was to try to make money: like Wilde he was somewhat isolated in Europe. It's much more interesting than most people would guess from the reputation: it includes much material on middlebrow people like Maeterlinck, Kipling; and political stuff on Bismarck, Russo-Turkish War, Rhodes, Jameson Raid, Boer War, Congo atrocities etc, Boer War, First World War, and people like Meredith and Wilde and Wells and Shaw; plenty on Shakespeare; and accounts of visits to America, Greece, Germany, Africa, Japan, China and other places.Erotic encounters are interlarded here and there and include a negress called Sophy and Indian, Japanese, Chinese, and young, women. He states [as an introduction, just before printing a letter from a lesbian] that he has no experience in perversions, being wholly taken up with normal desires. The whole writing style is different, mainly because there's no established vocabulary - 'my powerful instrument' type of thing.It's hard to tell how much is actually true. Some editions have footnotes of instances when Harris' meetings or exchanges with anyone of significance have been challenged. Some incidents are known to me to appear elsewhere, and could have been copied, as in e.g. Whistler's comment on looking at Beardsley's drawings, or an apparently face to face statement by Wilde on how he learnt drama technique by studying French plays. Did he really talk to Bismarck? On the other hand, when Harris gives supposedly verbatim conversations with Carlyle and Dowden and Mallock, or recounts his experiences with Alfred Russel Wallace or Bret Harte or Bunsen, one feels these people aren't from the common point of view stellar enough to warrant invention.Much on Christ, Shakespeare. Also on literary influences post-Dickens and pre-say 1900; his modern style makes it easy to miss the fact that the authors he talks of, e.g. Carlyle, Browning, were living to him. Harris is unusually cosmopolitan - he lists John Hay, an American of Pike County Ballads, Whitman, Emerson, and others; and also Henry George and radical journalists, like Harden in Germany whom I've not heard of before.He actually knew and met Alfred Russel Wallace of evolution theory, and comments on 'Forty-five Years of Registration Statistics.' 'proving vaccination.. useless and dangerous'. He met Ehrlich, of STD (VD then) fame. Harris complimented a German scientist for not patenting his inventions, unlike Alfred Nobel.He said, of the Belgian Congo atrocities, Britain 'could have stopped it with a word'. The First World War & war against Russia was 'for money'.. 'series of diabolical crimes.. committed during the last half-century almost without protest..' A very interesting an lively book, full of independent judgments.",5.0,Harris was a very intelligent man - excellent material on 1880-1930,1277510400,"06 26, 2010",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A3H1KVYHIQXEBB,0072263458,S. Lindsey,"[0, 0]","If I were first setting up Qkbks, this manual would be great. But I'm not and I hate it. I'm trying to learn the program while its already in progress and the index in this book is wrong wrong wrong. Many times, I go to the index to locate the information I need, only to flip to the page & it NOT be what I was looking for. For example, I want to know about posting payments to vendors so I go to 'vendors' in the index; it sends me to 'payments'; I look under 'payments to vendors'; go to the page and its all about customer payments. This is the case for 75% of everything I look up. IF its in the index at all. And since I'm not setting up the program from start to finish, this book is more of a hassel to me than a help. To get my $$ worth, I will have to read the entire book and make my own tabs to use in place of the index. What a joke. I have never been so disappointed in a manual.Maybe this book is filled with useful information but without a proper map, I CAN'T FIND IT!",2.0,The index is a mess.,1272585600,"04 30, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PTWVT0RPCQTJ,1555661181,charles,"[0, 0]",Just because you've been around horses your whole life doesn't mean you know all about them. I've learned a lot about the way horses communicate and learn from Mark Rashid's books. I've accomplished more in leaps and bounds after reading his books than in years previously and have avoided much frustration.,5.0,Think you know about horses?,1371859200,"06 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BVHMC25DBEBO,0028741013,"Mellow C ""Mellow""","[8, 15]","Mike Behe writes a great book on the flaws of the theory of blind evolution (I give it 4 stars). I won't give the book 5 stars because the book is a bit complex and hard to understand which is something the author could work on, needless to say you have to read it a few times to really understand the mainpoints.He mentions the irreducible complexity of the first lifeform that requires the ability to reproduce, the ability to eat (metabolism) and a food supply all at once (after all you need a reproducing organism before natural selection can even in theory take place).He also mentions how such biological systems as blood clotting, immune system/antibodies require several components which compose an irreducibly complex system to function. Your immune system for example must be able to 1. make a wide variety of antibodies (for identifying different kinds of invaders) 2. those antibodies must be able to tell foreign cells from your cells 3. when one of the thousands/millions of antibodies meets a foreign cell it must be able to bind with it and send a call (chemical signal) for more of that particular antibody to be produced. There are other components involved as well but he makes it obvious that all of these components are required at once in near perfect working order for the system to be of any use.However, this book discusses more than just the concept of irreducible complexity. It also discusses minimal functionality (i.e. stuff like eyes, even in their most primitive forms) must be able to be of enough use to warrant your body wasting energy and materials on producing and using these systems. A useful analogy would be that a motor with propellor that functions but only rotates at 1 rotation an hour or even 1 rotation a minute is not worth having... thus systems need to work well (even in their most primitive forms) enough to be of use in survival or reproduction, and worth the energy and materials needed to produce it and make it function in almost a biological cost benefit analysis (i.e. is the primitive vision worth the cost of energy, body materials and space or would that energy and those materials be better spent on pre-existing systems making the organism faster, stronger, harder, etc.)This book is also useful in that it describes how basic biological systems like your immune system or blood clotting work at a molecular level. Whether you are a creationist looking for good ammo, a darwinist looking for best ID argument to poke holes in, or someone interested in how your immune system or bloodclotting works at a molecular level I would suggest that you read if not buy this book.",4.0,Presents some of the best ID arguments,1093824000,"08 30, 2004",8,15,helpful,0.5333333333333333,1 AXW444VIV75UF,0765309386,J. Brian Watkins,"[11, 15]","This was excellent science fiction and owes a debt to none other than ""Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure"", especially the scene where Ted is in the Sheriff's station and needs keys--he realizes that since he can move in time he'll remember to put the keys right where he needs them--and they are there. Need advanced biotechnology? Shoot bugs to Mars. Need to figure out the secrets of the universe? Shoot little smart things to the Oort cloud. The story was executed very, very well. It suffers a tiny bit from the tendency of most stories of such scope to focus on one individual as bringing the answers that end up resolving everything, but in this case I do not think that the device was accidental.This story is profoundly anti-religion, yet the reader is asked to accept the ""hypotheticals"" which end up being at least as omnipotent as the God of the Bible but not as friendly (which, according to your religious persuasion opens an entirely new debate). It presents an interesting conundrum; though we have always imagined (as the agnostic would put it) an intelligent force behind all creation, science is now beginning to find proof. Yet, it seems that even with all the science and the vast increase in our ability to appreciate the fragile equilibrium upon which our existence rests we still cannot accept that perhaps there is a prime mover.But the inability to accept religious views doesn't seem to stop us from imagining creation mythologies that tap into our perception of the world. Is this any different from the various creation myths of earlier societies? They took what they knew and extrapolated a story that explained the world in which they lived. We do the same.""Spin"" is just that--a new and fine take on the ubiquitous themes that despite running our world into the ground by rapacious and ill-informed usage of scarce resources occasioned by a paranoid leadership more interested in power than enlightenment we will eventually be saved by a higher-power that wishes to preserve our unique spark in a large and mostly-empty universe.",4.0,A Postmodern Creation Mythology,1129939200,"10 22, 2005",11,15,helpful,0.7333333333333333,1 A2RIFAXAMQ24SE,0609608282,stephanie clark,"[0, 0]",A good read. This book is put together very well. It will help me do whatever I want in life. I really enjoyed how Magic explained websites in terms I understood.,5.0,Thanks Magic,1367625600,"05 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KS6QGRBG4J3S,0345803485,Samantha Palmer,"[7, 8]","I only actually got about 100 pages into this book until I couldn't take anymore, so I'm not sure if it would be considered fair for me to review it. However, I just have to vent because this book is getting soooo much undeserved publicity! It is honestly the worst written book I have ever read. I can't believe it was even published, to be honest. It is very thinly veiled Twilight fan fiction, as we all know, but I was surprised at some of the similarities. I figured maybe Twilight was just a jumping off point, but no, they are pretty alike as far as characters go.I thought maybe the sex scenes would make the rest of the crappy writing worth it, but after reading the first one, that's when I gave up hope and quit. No, it wasn't ""kinky"", but it also wasn't well written or realistic (she's in her 20's and has never masturbated! she still orgasms several times though!) or very sensual.Seriously, it makes me sad this author is making so much money and getting so much attention for a book that is so very, very bad.(P.S. Who was the editor for this thing?? They should be fired.)",1.0,If only 0 stars was possible....,1337904000,"05 25, 2012",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 AAO6Y5B4GK47Z,B000FCK0GW,"GJ ""Oak Creek""","[0, 0]","Another great selection of L'amour short stories, each is filled with its own level of suspense and thrills. The length of each makes it easy and fun quick reads. Enjoy your ride.",5.0,Great Shorts!,1392076800,"02 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 APCUHWVKWROT4,0143142437,"Lost In Kansas ""James Corbett""","[0, 0]","I am very happy to write this review. I have read all 33 novels by Clusser. The early Pitt and Oregon novels are his best ones. However lately his books have been tired and sound like repeats of the book before. In short, I said in a recent review that it might be time to stop. Then I read THE CHASE. I expected some over the top hero and of course lots and lots of ocean. What I got was a Serial killer/bank robber catch me if you can novel. The killer, the Butcher Bandit, is a very well develope villian. The robberies are well thought out. The hero is a little stiff, but he seemed to fit the time period,1906, in his actions. There are two things about this novel that let you know that Clusser wrote it. The dialoge is pure Pitt, heavy handed. The second thing is annoying habit Clusser has of sticking his name in his novels. This time it is almost painlessly quick. The 1906 earth quake scenes are terrific and detailed. The train chase is one that I would love to see done as a movie. This novel gives me hope that Clusser will have more of these one shot stories to tell. So give more Oregan stories and more of these types of stories and let Pit/Austin relax and drift away.",4.0,Old dog learns new tricks,1204243200,"02 29, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NUHWMHA9XNKV,0373125119,Lady Raven RAVE!,"[22, 27]","ABOUT BOOK:Desert prince Shahir has three simple rules: never sleep with a virgin, never get involved with an employee and never get married....But rules are made to be broken! Kirsten is innocent and penniless, and Shahir can't resist her. Soon she's pregnant with the sheikh's baby!Prince Shahir's honor dictates only one thing -- Kirsten must become his bride!THOUGHTS:I thought it was ok still very readable love her work not her best but she still has it...THE BOOKS FRIST COUPLE PAGES:The Sheikh's Innocent Brideby Lynne GrahamHIS SERENE HIGHNESS, Prince Shahir bin Harith alAssad, reached his vast estate in the Scottish Highlands shortly before eight in the morning.As usual, every possible arrangement had been put in place to smooth his arrival with the seamless luxury that had been his right since birth. A limousine with blacked-out windows had collected him from the private airfield where his Lear jet had landed. At no stage had anyone sought to breach his reserve with unwelcome dialogue, for he valued his privacy beyond all other things and his staff worked hard at keeping the rest of the world at bay. Offered a seat in the limo, his estate manager, Fraser Douglas, had answered several questions and then embraced a self-effacing silence.The only road to Strathcraig Castle stretched for more than fifteen miles, through tawny moorlands surrounded by spectacular purple-blue mountains. The lonely silence of the majestic landscape and the wide blue sky that filled the horizon reminded Shahir of the desert that he loved with an even greater passion. After the frenetic bustle and buzz of the business world, the wild, natural emptiness refreshed his eyes.As the limo began its descent into the remote forested glen of Strathcraig the passage of a flock of sheep forced the powerful vehicle to a halt. A white-haired woman with a bicycle was also waiting by the side of the road. Only when she turned her head did Shahir appreciate that the woman had barely left her teenage years behind: her hair was not white, it was a very pale platinum-blonde, drawn back from her delicate features in smooth wings. Slender and graceful, she had wide, intelligent eyes and a sensitive, full pink mouth. Even her drab clothing could not conceal the fact that she was as proud and pure in her beauty as an angel he had once seen in an illuminated manuscript. There was, however, nothing reverent about the instant charge of lust that she ignited in Shahir. He was startled by the unfamiliar intensity of his desire, for it had been a long time since a woman had excited his interest to that extent""Who is that?"" he asked the estate manager seated opposite him.""Kirsten Ross, Your Highness,"" the square-faced older man advanced, and when the silence lay gathering dust, in a way that implied he had answered too briefly, he hastened to offer more facts. ""I believe she's employed as a domestic at the castle.""Shahir would not have dreamt of bedding an employee, and the news that she worked for him in so menial a capacity struck an even less welcome note, for he was a fastidious man. ""I haven't seen her before.""""Kirsten Ross isn't the sort to draw attention to herself.""Hard cynicism firmed Shahir's well-sculpted mouth. He was a connoisseur of beautiful women, and had yet to meet one unaware of her power. ""She must be accustomed to the attention her looks excite.""""I shouldn't think she's ever been encouraged to pay much heed to a mirror,"" Fraser Douglas responded with a wry grimace. ""Her father is a religious fanatic with a reputation for being very strict on the home front.""Realising in some surprise that he was still staring at the exquisite blonde, Shahir averted his attention with punctilious care from her. The car drove on.The older man's censorious reference to the girl's father had surprised him, for where did religious devotion end and fanaticism begin? After all, to an outsider village life in Strathcraig appeared to revolve round the church and its activities. The local community followed a very different code of values from the more liberal ways of high society circles. Indeed, the tenants on the estate had a conservative outlook that struck visitors as distinctly grim and outdated, and was probably the result of the glen's isolation from the wider world.Yet Shahir was more at home at Strathcraig than he was within a more laissez-faire culture. Dhemen, the Middle Eastern kingdom of his birth, was equally strait-laced. Right was right and wrong was wrong and community welfare always took precedence over the freedom of the individual. Within that clear framework few dared to stray, and those who did were punished by the opprobrium they attracted.In much the same way Shahir accepted the limitations that fate had chosen to place on his own prospects of happiness. Any woman he took to his bed could only be a poor substitute for the one he really desired, he acknowledged wryly. He loved a woman who could never be his, and casual sexual affairs were his only outlet. But he was thirty-two years old, and that was not how he had planned to live his life.Concerned relatives kept on lining up the names of promising bridal prospects, and the more broad-minded set up casual meetings with suitable females on his behalf. Perhaps, he reflected grimly, it was time for him to bite the bullet and choose one of those candidates. His darkly handsome features firmed. An Arabian woman would devote her energies 24/7 to the pursuit of being his wife. In return she would expect children, wealth, and the prestige of great position. Love wouldn't come into the equation and why should it? Marriage in his world had much more to do with the practicalities of status, family connections and, primarily, the provision of an heir. His father had been extremely sympathetic towards his son's desire to remain single for as long as possible but, as the next in line to the throne, Shahir was well aware that he could not stave off the inevitable for much longer.It was fortunate that there was not an atom of romance in his soul, Shahir conceded with bleak satisfaction. His hot-blooded temperament and powerful sex-drive had always been kept in line by his strong principles and his discriminating tastes. He was a man who faced the truth, no matter how unpalatable it was. He was not a man who made foolish mistakes. Born into the very heart of a royal family, he knew what his duty entailed and he was proud of his heritage. His keen intelligence told him that accepting the need to acquire a wife would be a much more sensible option than eying up a gorgeous but totally unsuitable Western woman -- particularly one who worked for him in so lowly a capacity...""You're living in Cloud-cuckoo-land,"" Jeanie Murray told Kirsten with blunt conviction as she sat on the worn wooden counter, smoking a cigarette in flagrant disregard of her rules of employment. ""Your father will never let you live away from home to go to college.""Kirsten continued to wash a bone-thin Sevres china saucer with gentle and careful hands, her classic profile intent. ""I think that now that he's married to Mabel he might be prepared to consider it."" 'Aye, all that kneeling and praying didn't stop your dad from courting a new bride before your poor mum was cold in her grave. Folk say he likes his home comforts on tap."" Impervious to her companion's discomfiture, the plump, freckled redhead rolled her eyes and vented a laugh. ""But why should he agree to you moving out? You're bringing home a tidy pay packet. Don't tell me that that isn't welcome to Angus Ross -- we all know how tight his hold is on his wallet!""Kirsten tried not to wince at the news that her father's stinginess was a living legend locally. Jeanie's frankly uttered opinions and tactless remarks often caused friction with other members of staff. Kirsten, however, could forgive her much, for she valued the other woman's warm-hearted friendliness. ""Jeanie...""""Don't go all goody-goody on me just because you think you should. You know it's true. I've heard a story or two about what your home life's like, and that's no picnic by all accounts --""""But I don't discuss my family with anyone,"" Kirsten slotted in swiftly.Jeanie rolled her eyes with unblemished good humour. ""I bet you're still doing all the cooking and cleaning at home. Old sourpuss Mabel won't want you to move out either. Face up to it, Kirsten. You're twenty-two years old and the only way you're ever going to get a life of your own is by running away as fast as your legs can carry you from the pair of them!""""We'll see."" Kirsten bent her head and said nothing more.It would take a hefty sum of money to enable her to set up home elsewhere. Running away would be the coward's way out, and doing so without sufficient funds would be foolish, for it would land her straight into the poverty trap. She wanted to be able to rent somewhere decent and plan her future. She just had to be patient, she reminded herself sternly. She was only six weeks into her very first job, and with her father taking a large slice of her wages to cover her keep it would be a few months before her savings could cover any sort of a move.She could wait until then; her job, humble as it was, still felt like a lifeline to her. She loved working in the medieval splendour of the historic castle. The magnificent surroundings were an endless source of fascination to her. Even riding her bike into work every morning gave her a freedom that had long been denied her. The chance to mix freely with other people was even more welcome. But she was equally conscious that she wanted more out of life than a post as a cleaner, and that she needed qualifications and training to aspire to anything more.Yet the prospect of having to blatantly defy her father's rigid rules of conduct was challenging and frightening, for she had been taught from childhood to offer him unquestioning obedience. He was a cold, intimidating man, with a violent temper that she had once struggled to protect her late mother from. Her lovely face shadowed, for she was still grieving for that loss.Isobel Ross had become ill when her daughter was thirteen years old, and her long, slow decline had been matched by her ever greater need for care. That responsibility had fallen on Kirsten's shoulders. Her father had not been prepared to assist with what he saw as 'women's work', and her older brother, Daniel, had been kept too busy doing farm work to be in any position to help. Once the brightest child in her class, Kirsten had begun to miss a great deal of school and her grades had slowly worsened.Fed up with the restrictions imposed by their father's increasingly obsessive absorption in religion, her brother had finally quarrelled with him and moved out. As soon as it was legally possible, Angus Ross had removed his daughter from school so that she could nurse her mother and take charge of his household.For the following five years Kirsten had only left the farm to attend church and do the weekly shop. Her father disapproved of social occasions and had discouraged all visitors. Exactly a year after her mother's death her father had married Mabel. The other woman was sour and sharp-tongued. But Kirsten was grateful that Mabel's eagerness to see more money coming into the household had prompted her stepmother to persuade her husband to allow Kirsten to seek employment outside the home.""We'll have to see if we can get you a proper thrill this week, while our gorgeous desert sheikh is in residence,"" Jeanie remarked brightly.A surprisingly mischievous smile curved Kirsten's lips. ""I've had my treat for the week: I saw the Prince's limousine, and very impressive it was too.""""Never mind the limo. We'll hide you somewhere to get a glimpse of the man himself! I've only seen him a couple of times, and at a distance, but I'm telling you he'd make a sinner out of any saint."" Jeanie groaned, with a lascivious look in her eyes, as she disposed of her cigarette and put the ashtray back in its hiding place. ""He's a right sex god.""""I'll be keeping well out of his way. I wouldn't want to lose my job."" Kirsten had been warned when she was hired that all domestic tasks at the castle were to be carried out with as much silence and invisibility as was humanly possible. It had been made equally clear to her that if her phenomenally rich and royal employer was to appear in the same corridor she was to hastily vacate it, so she didn't think there would be much chance of her bumping into him!""If I had your face and body I'd be tripping over myself to accidentally fall in His Serene Highness's way!"" Jeanie gave her a broad wink."" If he fancied you he could take you away from all this and set you up in a house somewhere. You'd be made, because he's minted! Think of the clothes you could have, and the jewels, and a real macho man in your bed into the bargain. You're really beautiful, Kirsten. If anyone could pull Prince Shahir, you could!""Kirsten studied her in bewilderment, her colour rising. ""I'm not like that --""""Well, you'd be much better off if you were,"" the redhead told her roundly. ""At least I know how to have a bit of fun and I can enjoy a good laugh. If you don't watch out your father will turn you into a dried-up old spinster!""Having finished washing the Sevres dinner service, Kirsten dried it piece by piece with great care. Even so, her thoughts were miles away. She felt so out of step with Jeanie. Kirsten had been brought up in a house where the only spoken reference to sex had related to what her father referred to as 'the sin of fornication'. The content of the newspapers and magazines she had glimpsed since starting work at the castle had initially shocked her, for the only written matter in her home consisted of the Bible and religious tracts, and it was many years since her father had got rid of the television. Yet she was guiltily aware that she was sorely tempted by the fashionable clothes and the exotic places that she had seen in those publications.If only her father were a more reasonable man. If only he would allow her to go out and about and enjoy mixed company, like other women her age. After all, he must have dated her late mother to have married her -- and surely that could not have been morally wrong?",4.0,I Like it,1147910400,"05 18, 2006",22,27,helpful,0.8148148148148148,1 A2KNG39IFCN4PH,0061969559,Amazon Customer,"[0, 1]","I Am Number Four is a great story. John Smith, a.k.a. Four, has been running for as long as he can remember. He is from the planet Lorien, a planet that is much more advanced than earth. This planet had already gone through their destructive behaviors and started to kill their planet. They reversed this process and were given powers, or Legacies, as a way to take care of their planet. When their planet was invaded by the Mogadorians, another race from another planet that have ruined their own planet. They destroyed all of Lorien and their people-except nine Garde, those with Legacies, and their Cepan, their protectors. They were sent to live on Earth, the closest life-sustaining planet, to hide from their invaders, and save their race.John is finally coming into his Legacies at age fifteen and can now fight back. He has never had a need to fight before he moved to Paradise, Ohio. He finally has his first friend, Sam, and his first girlfriend, Sarah. Everything he has ever wanted, including feeling normal for the first time, will not last long because the hunt is already under way. Because the Garde can only be killed in order of their numbers, John is next. The first three have been killed by the Mogadorians and they are looking for John next. John's struggle is mostly with himself in this book. He tries to live a normal life while at the same time trying to develop some sort of defense to protect himself and his Cepan, Henri. The POV reads a little robotically but you get used to is after the first few chapters. Overall a great story that will make you want to read the next in series, The Power of Six, to be released August 23.More reviews at [...]",4.0,I Am Number Four,1305072000,"05 11, 2011",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1O3SIR5J1I329,0143116878,"James N. Ellis ""history buff""","[26, 39]","CPT Mullaney's book is a well-written and articulate explanation why he is not longer serving in the Army.....he apparently resigned his commission as soon as his service obligation was completed. It is certainly not much of a text on leadership or small unit tactics. He is obviously a very bright young man....like others who received a terrific education at taxpayers expense; did very well as an undergraduate and then moved on to Oxford with someone else footing the bill. He attended Army schools and Oxford while many of his West Point classmates were on their second tours of duty in either Afghanistan or Iraq. To fill the pages of the book, he describes his marriage to an Indian woman in great detail and the trauma of his parents divorce.....neither topic is particularly useful in a book designed for the military audience. The five-star reviews must have all been written by classmates and friends. A very mediocre book certainly not worth reading.",2.0,Self-serving book by self-serving author,1240790400,"04 27, 2009",26,39,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A3IM5IGE0JCLHO,0312253265,"One World ""One World""","[6, 11]","Much praise for former detective Steve Thomas in bringing to light the much amby-pamby dealings with crime in Boulder that went unnoticed beyond the city-limits. What I thought was mainly a book written to accuse the Ramseys of the murder, turns out to be an expos'e on a diabolical DA and his co-hort Pete Hofstrom (who started the idea that the police "ransomed" the body of JonBenet until the Ramseys would give interviews. That was soley Hofstrom's accusation). For too long Boulder's criminal prosecuting policy was no stronger than the proverbial "slap on the wrist".Not this time. Not when the crime is the murder of a child. JonBenet's murder can perhaps be dubbed as the "iceberg that sunk Boulder". As lives were trashed in this crimes wake, the DA's office insisted on their soft dealings with the Ramseys in their "build trust" and "ask the Ramseys" philosophies that usually were the admonition that accompanied denied search warrants and did nothing but hinder the investigation.JonBenet was not sinned against once in being murdered. No that apparently was not enough. She was violated twice, the second time coming not from the "evasive" Ramsey parents, and not from the "incompetant" police department who has been made out to trying to frame the Ramseys. No!!!! JonBenet's second violation came from the DA and his partner Pete Hofstrom. Perhaps these two sick will personally face JonBenet herself when they leave this world hear her little voice that will ask the one-worded big question; WHY?Like that famous maritime disaster knowns as the Titanic brought with it the judgement against the issue of acceptably insufficient lifeboats that liners were equiped with and effected change. Let's hope that Boulder is ashamed of how it's elected officals trampled on an innocent little girl's murder investigation and insured that nothing short of a divine miracle will bring about Justice4JonBenet.",5.0,JUDGEMENT DAY FOR THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BOULDER,971395200,"10 13, 2000",6,11,helpful,0.5454545454545454,1 A2MUVFZMSRAFDS,0741406616,Preot,"[0, 0]",I love historical fiction and this story of the bazaar life of the wife of Mozart was entertaining. It is hard to imagine such a life with this famous composer whose music touches souls through the ages.,5.0,The Trying Marriage to Renowned Composer Wolfgang Mozart,1386806400,"12 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AYKEN16NIUW9M,0141439971,"M. Grant ""MacGyver of the Books""","[0, 1]","I've never read any books by H.G. Wells. However after seeing previews for the upcoming Guy Pearce movie The Time Machine (which doesn't seem to have much in common with the novel) my interest was gained.The Time Machine is actually more of a novella than a novel. It clocks in at 85 pages in the volume I have. But it's a fun and fast paced read. The most shocking part of the story is that it was written in the late 1800's and yet it reads like it could have been written in the present. The prose is crisp and direct and doesn't lose the reader. The ideas are even more impressive considering they are over 100 years old and still hold up better than many time-travel books I have read lately.So by saying that The Time Machine is probably the father of the time-travel genre, I have to say that it is also a fun adventure with a surprisingly sharp ending twist. The story surrounds the first-person narrative of a man who builds a time-machine and travels into the distant (800,000 AD) future where man has evolved into two races: the gentle Eloi and the hostile Morlocks. Beyond exciting adventure (trips into deep caverns, the loss of the time machine, battles in burning forests) the story does make general comments on the society we live in and how it may change around us...subtlely and dangerously.All in all I enjoyed this story and I plan on reading other offerings by H.G. Wells who is truly a great science fiction writer.",4.0,AHEAD OF ITS TIME!,1015113600,"03 3, 2002",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1F2GR95OU0BJC,0345530888,Darleen Herriman,"[0, 0]",This is a sweet story. Definitely a good read for a summer afternoon or a cozy winter day.I purchased the audio because I had a long drive and enjoyed it. Then I bought the book for my daughter who was flying out. It is a heart to heart love story...sort of in the old fashioned sense. I would recommend it for someone who needs a break. Nice for sure!,4.0,Very nice!,1371081600,"06 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Z9WGGIAXZDMR,0385343663,Sabbies,"[0, 0]","As someone who studied abroad in Italy, I really liked the setting for these stories. It was a good read--especially if you have ADD like I do, it's a very manageable way to tell a bunch of interconnected narratives.",5.0,Entertaining,1386028800,"12 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AA8QPMKU2T7FS,0374219079,Mary A. Rose,"[10, 14]","I kept wondering if Lasdun had an editor while I read this book. I also wondered if Lasdun had ever taught English Composition because no instructor would have allowed this book to go so far off course. Has Lasdun heard of a thesis statement? Even sticking to a main idea?On a positive note, Lasdun is aware enough to know he is pretty pompous. He never had to ""endure"" a writing workshop, but he's so lucky to teach creative writing. I wonder if this arrogance was transmitted to his students? I wondered if the one of the reasons Lasdun was ignored by the the police investigator was due to the author's condescending attitude.I wanted to read a book about cyberstalking, and how it affected Lasdun, but instead, got a travelogue of a train trip to New Mexico and a trip to Israel. These were tangents not needed. As a previous reviewer stated, this subject matter was really only long enough for an essay, and the rest of the book are just Lasdun's tangents.The best part were Nasreen's emails. They really painted a picture of a disturbed person, and it makes one think about how others can perceive another. I think Lasdun does the best in the book when he is taking his actions towards Nasreen into consideration. He does wonder if he did something wrong in his interactions with her. I wish he had stuck more to his interactions with Nasreen, and how they affected him and the people he was closest to.",2.0,Misleading Book,1368230400,"05 11, 2013",10,14,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1MHOS9WYQVG1D,1559702028,"Carol A Ranney ""Broken Hearts, Living Hope""","[0, 0]","An insider's view of what was done in the "medical practice" of the Nazi death camps, and how depraved human beings can be.",5.0,By a doctor who was there,1392681600,"02 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1D1NIHXEX379J,1605041041,Fluff can be Fun,"[4, 5]","I don't know why I have started reading more YA novels recently, but I am impressed with the quality of many. This one did not disappoint. I gave it a try because it was free and now I am willingly going to pay to get the follow-up books. I thought it was well written and compelling.It is about a girl who is moved to a new place where she is most definitely the outsider. Different religion (wiccan), different way of dressing, city girl in the country, and the popular girl hates her. It should be very cliche, but I came to really like the characters. I want to find out what happens to them.",4.0,Very appealing YA novel,1245974400,"06 26, 2009",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3GVQPLH5PFNPR,1592401201,"Society advocate ""opining""","[7, 63]",when you reach the second half of life you need ginko biloba to remember what you did fifteen minutes ago. The meaning has always been there.Remember the golden rule - love your neighbor as yourself. Don't waste your money. I read this book and gave it as a gift. I liked it. But I can't remember anything about it!,1.0,ridiculous,1165968000,"12 13, 2006",7,63,helpful,0.1111111111111111,1 A1CEG62GJ3BI5U,0026045702,"datura2002 ""datura2002""","[12, 12]","I read through the negative reviews, and I can see the point of those who are angry about the new committee-chaired chapters, which result in the lack of a unifying voice to the cookbook, and the omission of treasured recipes from the earlier editions. As other reviewers have mentioned, the best way to approach this book is as a sequel or Vol. 2 to the earlier edition. It can stand on its own, but it is not a replacement for the earlier versions.As it is, this book is an excellent reference for me, and the recipes work. Some recipes are quite wonderful and NOT found in the earlier editions, such as the unusual sour cream souffle version of pumpkin pie. It's my current favorite recipe for pumpkin pie.",4.0,a good reference and a good companion to the earlier edition,1152489600,"07 10, 2006",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A1OJB1AQVIKFG1,0521443172,Eric Krupin,"[11, 13]","My perfect one-volume history of World War II would combine Weinberg's lucid organization of the strategic concerns of the war and his unsurpassed breadth of scholarship (it's daunting even to read all the *titles* in his bibliography - let alone the books themselves!), John Keegan's vivid recreation of the operational and tactical levels of the fighting as well as his general narrative liveliness, and (since more died out of uniform than in) Martin Gilbert's much-needed attention to the horrifying scale of civilian suffering. Since that book doesn't exist (and would be as thick as an unabridged dictionary if it did), I would - by a narrow margin - pick Weingerg as my one book on the subject if I could have only one.There simply aren't two covers anywhere with as much of the whole vast story between them. Although Weinberg is more interested in the drag on Germany's industrial capacity from the cessation of Turkish exports of chromium than on a Leningrad mother hauling the frozen corpse of her starved child behind her on a sled (less a scholar's tunnel vision than a reasoned decision to do one thing well rather than many things poorly), no one I know of has given a fuller and clearer account of why everything happened the way it did.To address some of the criticisms of the book I've read here: I agree that the few maps provided are ludicrously inadequate - a shoddy afterthought that can only have raised the book's already considerable price. (At least they're tucked away in the back of the book where you can comfortably ignore them.) However, the prose - while not as spry as Keegan's admirable standard - should be perfectly intelligible to anyone intelligent enough to be tackling a book of this scope in the first place. Here's what I consider to be a representative sample: ""Until access to the Soviet archives enables scholars to see more clearly into these murky episodes, this author will remain convinced that it was the shock of German military revival so soon after the great Soviet victory at Stalingrad which reinforced Stalin's inclinations during 1943 to contemplate the possibility of either a separate peace with Hitler's Germany or with some alternative German government."" Not Clancy, but not Clausewitz either.",5.0,The best one-volume treatment I ever expect to see,1063497600,"09 14, 2003",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A10HUD3X4V3OM4,031605755X,Showme,"[5, 6]","Saw the movie before I read the book, so I'll get the comparision out of the way. The movie is exceptional.Now having read the book, I'd add that the movie hones the best of the book razor-sharp.The book is small, but Mr. Woodrell packs it full with lush, sensual language. Poetry, really, but in a no-nonsense, economical fashion. Which seems to mesh with the Ozark Dolly-Milton sensibility.""... her cheeks reddening as if smacked and smacked again.""I got a little lost with Mr. Woodrell's attempt to explain some of the way-back family history, and am glad the movie shaved that off. That back-story might make a really compelling story for a different book, but here, it just muddled things unnecessarily.I look forward to taking a look at Mr. Woodrell's other books.",4.0,Icily beautiful,1281312000,"08 9, 2010",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AWP8JQU6I3EGT,B00BNDPQVG,NAZ,"[0, 0]","Fantastic read, was unable to put the book down. Only disappointing part was the ending, it finished to quickly it at least should have included an epilogue.",5.0,Taken by the Duke,1377993600,"09 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2H6BC0Z9XOASK,1592401716,K. W. Schreiter,"[51, 64]","Familiar with the author's 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves', I saw this small book in our library's new release section. While there are a few thoughtful passages, the book mainly contains inconsistent rants about the decline of polite society. These include a puzzling, embarassing attack on the gluten and lactose intolerant and a passage comparing online banking to 'doing you own dental work' (sic) and 'DIY funerals: the modern way'. Truss laments our lack of 'please' and 'thank you' but then disavows 'the enforced perkiness of American service workers'. She acknowledges the empowering effect of the availability of choices to modern women, then complains that too many choices exist in today's society. My outrage at the $20.00 hardcover list price for 200 pages further contributed to the low rating, especially considering each page barely contains a half-dozen sentences.",1.0,I bailed by page 86,1137801600,"01 21, 2006",51,64,helpful,0.796875,1 A33D1X7Y53CYDL,0425227707,travelingirl,"[6, 10]","This book was a little to heavy on the ""discpline"" in B&D. I'm not a fan of the female lead character being treated like a recalcitrant child or a ""pet"" in my erotica, so this probably wasn't the best choice for me, but I can see where it would appeal to readers who do enjoy BDSM. I felt there should have been an epiloque to the story also, to show how the character's relationship roles resolved themselves or what they evolved into.",2.0,A little too heavy on the discipline.,1270425600,"04 5, 2010",6,10,helpful,0.6,1 A2UBZ8PQZ77FVZ,0340766182,Charles Hoffman,"[14, 16]","I first read Whirlwind when the hardback appeared in 1986. Although a great admirer of Clavell's work, I found it tough going. The memory of the 1979 Iranian hostage was still fresh, and it just rankled. Others apparantly felt the same way, for sales for the book were disappointing. It is the only Clavell novel not currently in print. Although I reread other Clavell works from time to time, I did not reread Whirlwind until late in 2007.I'm happy to say that, like fine wine, Whirlwind has aged very well. The period it recounts so vividly is ground zero for all our present difficulties. By way of contrast, Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising, the big seller of 1986, was dated and obsolete five years after it was published. And as in all of Clavell's works, Whirlwind yields many valuable insights into the human condition.The 21st Century began in 1979. Whirlwind details the birth pangs of our present troubled era. Whirlwind is overdue for a reissue, and I devoutly hope that one will be forthcoming in the near future.",5.0,The 21st Century began in 1979,1203206400,"02 17, 2008",14,16,helpful,0.875,1 ASIA7V7CBSKD3,0806527285,Cowboy on the Ocean,"[5, 17]","This is by far one of the funniest books I've ever read. It took my right back to college and longing for those glorious days. Once you start reading this book you won't want to stop. But there is good news, there is entire Tucker Max society just out there waiting to welcome you and it just keeps going and going.The stories are hillarious and awe-inspiring at times. There's even a story about my home town of Midland, TX in there.Max talks about all things in life not just alcohol and girls, though those two do compose a large part of his ruminition. A must own for anyone who had a good time in college or enjoys the college humor web site.Check out tuckermax.com and thebunnyblog.com for more.",5.0,Insanely Hysterical,1150675200,"06 19, 2006",5,17,helpful,0.29411764705882354,1 A2A4IH10QVHZQ6,0312243243,J. McLean,"[6, 19]","This is a very scattered novel with lots of needless repetitions. What was Percy on when he wrote this thing? There are so many loose ends it would take an additional book just to tie them all together. My response to this book is similar to the incessant grunts of the protagonist Will Barrett--""Huh""?, ""What""?, ""Who""? ""Eh""? For me a poor ending and an unsatisfying read. Perhaps I should go back and read it again to see what all these five stars are about.",2.0,Loose Ends,1175299200,"03 31, 2007",6,19,helpful,0.3157894736842105,1 A28WM1RZHBKLH,0375702105,James R. Mccall,"[7, 7]","This is the story of the discovery of why the dinosaurs -- and so many other creatures -- went extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period, 65 million years ago. Walter Alvarez was a young geologist who discovered an ""iridium anomaly"" in a deposit at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary that strongly suggested that an extraterrestrial event of massive effect had happened then. He was joined by his father, Luis Alvarez, a physicist at Berkeley, in the pursuit of the significance of this finding. It seems hard to believe, but most geologists were reluctant to posit anything like a meteor strike as being a significant factor in Earth's history, preferring to explain everything by invoking gradual processes.Yet it became clear early on that something big had happened, and various candidates were mooted, such as a nearby supernova, or a companion star to the sun periodically throwing comet orbits out of whack. This book is the story of how geologists, chemists, physicists and others over more than a decade closed in on the solution -- a massive impact in the Yucatan Penninsula whose after-effects shrouded the Earth in darkness for many months -- starting with that original discovery back in 1977. This is a reasonably lightweight account, but with enough details to give the reader a good idea of the technical problems without descending into jargon. When you are done you don't really know much more geology than when you started, but you might wish you had become a geologist, because the field trips sure seem like a lot of fun.",4.0,A 65-million-year-old Murder Mystery,983145600,"02 26, 2001",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A1I5JKKMD84DRU,B00DFFILGW,"Melody May ""What I'm Reading""","[4, 5]","Last night I finished Fake Fiancé, Real Revenge by Roxanne Snopek. Now this is the third book in the Three River Ranch novels. I must say that I really enjoyed this story. Who doesn't like fake engagement and revenge? I mean that just sounds like my kind of trouble.Well, Mitchell Granger has found himself in a bit of a pickle. Here's why: one of the mighty fine ladies he works for, Della Fontaine, wanted to foist her step-daughter on him. Not there was anything wrong with Paris Waterton other than being a tad bit too young for his taste. So, Mitch happens to suggest that he was engage with a girl back home, cause he couldn't think of any other girl other than Sabrina Becker.Fortunately, Sabrina is willing to play along, but comes with a price. However, Mitch doesn't really know the price yet, and he's not going to. Sabrina sees this as a perfect opportunity to get back at her ex-lover. Nothing like a little revenge. It's always amazing to see the best laid plans never work out the way you had them planed.I think Fake Fiancé, Real Revenge is probably one of my favorites out of Three River Ranch books. Here's why: 1) We have fake engagement. Let's be honest those are always trouble no matter how well the characters plan their escape from whatever they are trying to escape from never works. 2) Revenge. Seriously, who doesn't want to extract revenge on someone that has hurt them in the past. 3) The whirlwind know as Della Fontaine. She wreaks havoc on the good people Lutherton, Montana.After all, Fake Fiancé, Real Revenge was a lot of fun to read. I love how Mitch tries to pull the wool over Della's eyes with his "engagement" to Sabrina and keep Della happy. I love how Sabrina calls out his emotional intelligence with this line:“Your emotional intelligence is practically nonexistent and you figure that’s normal. Now that I think of it, your buddy Zach Gamble was the same way until Desiree walloped him into adulthood. Did you all sniff glue together as kids or something?”I found that funny. There were a lot other fun lines, especially coming from Della. Overall, I found this story fun and sappy. So, if you are looking for fun and sappy, look no further and get yourself a copy of Fake Fiancé, Real Revenge.Copy provided by publisherRating: 4.5 Stars",4.0,Sappy Fun,1376265600,"08 12, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1SBO9SXJ0468T,076420601X,debwilson,"[0, 0]","Rose Kauffman is still living in the past with only the memories of Nick Franco to keep her going. After Nick is suspected in his foster brother's death, he leaves the People, which leads to the silencing of his bishop step-father. Known by the community as the ""rebel"" instead of a grateful son, Nick knows he doesn't have a chance with either Rose or his family. Rose is left with the hope that he will someday return to them, and her feelings for Nick refuse to fade. Will Nick ever come back and make things right with the People, or will she always have to wonder what could have been?Hen and her husband, Brandon are at an impasse. He insists she will be happy as a modern wife, and she tenaciously clings to her old-fashioned Amish upbringing. When Brandon has an accident which incapacitates him for a time, Hen brings him back to the Dawdi Haus to temporarily live with her and their daughter Mattie. Will they ever resolve the conflict between opinion of lifestyles, or will they loose their marriage to difference of convictions?This final installment of the trilogy was good despite the rushing of the last 20 pages with Rose's intended. Lewis wraps up everybody's story in this final book, and not everyone has a happy ending. I was actually pleased that not everything turned out the way I expected, which is different from mainstream Amish culture media that exists today.Lewis has a way of giving us a story that is full of twists and unexpected turns, and even though the end may be relatively happy, it is more realistic to real life in that it's not all sunshine and flowers the whole book through. It has just enough dose of reality to make it realistic. A thoroughly good read, and recommended to anyone and everyone.",5.0,The Mercy,1346889600,"09 6, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DAPZ93VNNE1K,1591792592,"Kerri Knox - The Immune System Queen! ""http:/...","[40, 40]","This book may change your life. I carried it around with me to read soundbites throughout the day for months at a time- after I'd read it cover to cover. I find myself quoting from this book for people who are needing some inspiration or to just give someone a little ""medicine"" where I think that they might need it. Beautiful and poignant.I'd like to respond to the only ""one star"" review given this book. If you notice, it is NOT a book review. It is a character assassination from someone who is obviously bitter about a teacher of David Deida's. I could care less where Deida learned and experienced the concepts of this book, the fact is that they work, they are beautiful- yes, controversial- but still beautiful. I've found my feminine essence where I didn't know it existed. In my lover, I now know what it feels like to be a woman. I did NOT know this before discovering the works of Deida. I hope that you read this book.",5.0,Great Book,1197331200,"12 11, 2007",40,40,helpful,1.0,1 AIP1T043YEF5Y,0312890532,Ralph Case,"[0, 0]",Excellent series by Terry Goodkind. The Sword of truth.this author keeps you awake at nighs. You can not put the book down.,5.0,Terry Goodkind - temple of the Wind,1356307200,"12 24, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2L02Z27OFAPVC,0061950726,Jhanley,"[0, 0]","It was interesting from the start. Historically fascinating and intricate twists and turns. My book club read this and we all loved it, all for different reasons - the love story, the interconnected plots, the history, characters, etc.",5.0,Great novel,1402358400,"06 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8DJ9EU2QP2JM,0330335030,Wayne A. Smith,"[10, 12]","It's always a pleasure to read a witty conservative, if only to know that those who think conservatives are a bunch of cold scolds might learn that it is possible to address serious issues and have a sense of humor. Of course the very fact that O'Rourke finds humor in the temple of ""world crises"" will convince those people that conservatives can be worse than cold scolds -- they even laugh in the face of serious problems.All The Trouble in the World focuses P.J. O'Rourke's biting satire and sarcasm on several topics that were hot in the early 1990's (and still are): overpopulation, famine, ecological apocalypse, multiculturalism, and miserable third world regimes that hide their brutality and failure behind the facade of socialism and first world envy.Interspersed behind the barbs and wise-guy cracks are usually thoughtful analysis and intelligent criticism. For example, he compares Bangladesh with Fresno, California. Both have the same density, but find themselves in dramatically different conditions. While Bangladesh has some problems not found in Fresno, O'Rourke argues it's lack of free markets and a creaking bureaucracy overwhelm what had historically been a pretty productive population. Of course, his travels there set the stage for many humorous observations and situations (The Ministry of Jute -- Monty Python would have had a time with that one).Some of the best chapters focus on our own living room liberals: those whose mission it is to save America from itself. Two chapters on multiculturalism and the world environmental movement show the length to which people who think of themselves as liberal have really become authoritarians who brook no dissent (nor inconvenient facts) in their quest to make the world right by their mind. The jokes just write themselves in these chapters -- there is such a gulf between some of these people and the real world (not to mention freedom and the Constitution) -- that one alternates between laughter and amazement when reading of what is being done ""for"" us by those who don't trust us.Sometimes the humor wears -- I get the same feeling when reading Dave Berry. A little time between chapters keeps the material more fresh and sharp. But O'Rourke undergirds all of his criticisms (this is a critical analysis) with facts and thoughtful arguments. He doesn't necessarily have all the answers, but he does have a different and refreshing perspective.",4.0,Entertaining and Intelligent,1024272000,"06 17, 2002",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A147D7L48ZHPK2,0345505336,"Janice E. Schechter ""Fredericksburg Lady""","[0, 0]",I loved this book and highly recommend to all!,5.0,Excellent Read!,1404432000,"07 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1568T49LAXUX1,B00C7FBYAQ,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed this book and actually I have read the first three books and now awaiting book four. It was a good short read and very well written.,4.0,Bound to Read this Book!!,1379289600,"09 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EMDSTJDUE6B0,0965081931,Randy Given,"[6, 6]","This book was not at the same level as "Serial Complete". This may be due to the fact that serial ports have been around 10 times as long. Still, there are very few USB books around and this is one of the best of them, so you cannot go far wrong with it.",4.0,Not Same Level as Serial Complete,1025481600,"07 1, 2002",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1GOLU1DVW9IUF,B00EFDZ288,SallyRead,"[0, 0]","I have been intrigued by the Oscar nominations and advertisements of the film ""Twelve Years a Slave,"" but must admit that I do not have the courage to view it. I abhor extreme violence on the screen--my imagination of such scenes is enough. As a side note, I have never viewed ""The Passion of the Christ,"" and I have seen ""Schindler's List"" only once and don't intend to view it again.Rather than view ""Twelve Years,"" I read the book and must say, for me, it is enough. The horrifying violence and demeaning nature of slavery through the recorded words of the man who experienced it for twelve years strikes strongly at the heart of the reader. Truly this was the saddest chapter in our history as a nation. If you, as a reader, can make it through the descriptions of picking cotton under the whip of a sadistic white ""master"" and the beating of a stripped, naked woman tied to stakes spread-eagle on the ground without crying, you are a much more hardened person than I.Rather than assign our students the more popular and well-known ""Uncle Tom's Cabin,"" a piece of fiction, every citizen, young and old should read ""Twelve Years a Slave,"" the non-fiction version of slavery. It is a true depiction of what the phrase, ""Man's inhumanity to man"" really means.",5.0,A Must Read for Every U.S. Citizen,1392508800,"02 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMLXY5B95T869,0471168572,J.C.,"[11, 11]","I have been obsessed with bread baking for a few years now and have read loads of books on the ins and outs of getting bread to rise and turn out consistently. This is one of the best.Mr. Hamelman has been baking bread his entire career. He is not a pastry chef who wrote a bread book. That said, his explanations of why you should do each step and how to calculate amounts, if you want to modify things to your liking, are clear and invaluable. The recipes are wonderful. He describes everything from how to get the best flavor out of white flour to how to cultivate, nurture and utilize rye sourdough starter. The breads I have made from this book have been really quite delicious and rival or exceed the most expensive loaves from the stores.The only downside to this book is that it could be said to be written more for professionals than for home bakers. A lot of the breads should be baked with steam, and that is hard to do at home. Nonetheless, I guess it is better to try to duplicate the effect of a steam oven at home than to ignore the recommendation altogether and miss out on what could be a real improvement in taste and texture.",5.0,"Finally, a book by a real baker!",1179360000,"05 17, 2007",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A8HID0WMOH1NQ,B00KLMENN2,Benjamin,"[0, 0]","As a father of 2 Soups are always one of my go to meals. They can be made in quantity and saved for later. Just add a salad OR baked potato and you have a great meal. The soup recipes in this book are ,healthy, delicious and high in nutritional value.The whole family can sit down and enjoy these delicious soups.",5.0,Healthy Soup!,1401494400,"05 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A12CKYXCTO4WW8,0385503865,Jennifer Godwin,"[13, 31]","Like so many, I was excited for this book, since I buy the basic concept (at least from the Google angle) and I enjoy Surowiecki's NEW YORKER column. I suck at math and econ, but he's a good writer and his article on Enron's brains was great. Anyway, when this book came out the group blog Metafilter asked if it was going to be the new new TIPPING POINT, which is, of course, Malcolm Gladwell's brilliant book on memes. (THE TIPPING POINT and LEAVES OF GRASS are the only books I can claim "changed my life," and TP much more so than LoG.) Sadly, Surowiecki is no Gladwell. I made it about halfway through before irreversible boredom and disappointment set in. Too many numbers, not enough fun writing, not enough personal encounters and interviews, and did I mention there were too many numbers? As a lay reader and a fuzzy, I found Surowiecki's emphasis on the mathematical models illustrating the wisdom of crowds to be deadening. I know it's probably an intellectual weakness on my part, but the few-and-far-between anecedotal proofs of Surowiecki's hypothesis were far more compelling than the bits about corporate raiders. Just read through the part about how the average guess of a jelly-bean counting crowd is usually correct and you'll pretty much got the gist of it.",2.0,This is not the new new Tipping Point,1088640000,"07 1, 2004",13,31,helpful,0.41935483870967744,1 A2A1ULBJDDOAAJ,0143036424,Pookey,"[0, 0]",I have watched the show and now I am reading the books. This one was funny at times and the charters were great.I have just received another book and looking forward to reading it. I would tell anyone to read the books and watch the show.,5.0,Good reading,1372032000,"06 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2OU5OSPQWZXXA,0764220489,Devin Rose,"[7, 12]","On the positive side, I learned some new challenges to the Catholic canon of Scripture, specifically the confusion surrounding the ""Esdras"" books and also regarding the vote at the Council of Trent on the Old Testament.On the negative side, the Esdras argument that White makes doesn't work because the situation is quite ambiguous as to which ""Esdras"" book was meant in some old canonical lists; White portrays it as open and shut and doesn't reveal that it is unclear with the evidence weighing more toward the Catholic side.I was looking most forward to the canon of Scripture arguments, and I was disappointed in his handling of it, essentially a regurgitation of Calvin's ""God's Word is self-attesting"" claim, where the way we know it is self-attesting is through the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer. The problem with this idea is its subjectivity, borne out by the fact that, Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants all have different canons of Scripture, and that the canon was discerned by the early Church over a time period of 300 years, and that even in the 1500s, the canon was still open enough to be challenged by Luther: both the 4 books of the New Testament that he rejected and the 7 Old Testament books which the rest of the Reformers ultimately agreed with him on.If God intended us to know the canon by the Holy Spirit teaching us in our hearts, it is odd that 1) it took so long for the early Church to discern the canon, and that 2) the early Church and the ""Churches"" from 400 - 1500 AD got the canon wrong.The reality is that either God protected the Church from error in her discernment of the canon or he didn't. Protestants do not believe that he did, so they cannot have conscience-binding certainty in their canon. In fact, given Protestantism's position on it, no Christian can have conscience-binding certainty on their canon, which fatally undermines the doctrine of sola Scriptura (since we do not even know which books make up our Scripture).White comes across as arrogant and bombastic in the book, but I expected that from reading his other works. I was simultaneously reading books by Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict) and Anglican theologian N.T. Wright, and Mr. White's writing seems sophomoric and shallow compared with theirs.",2.0,The Canon is the Weak Link,1273622400,"05 12, 2010",7,12,helpful,0.5833333333333334,1 A3BY5DTOT72URI,1422144208,Srikumar S. Rao,"[42, 62]","I have had direct experience with hundreds of large companies in my career as an executive, academic and journalist. Quite a few have toxic work environments and I have thought deeply about how we can change this so that persons get up on Monday morning energized rather than dreading the week to come.John Mackey and Raj Sisodia have also thought deeply about this and have articulated a coherent philosophy of what the problems are with the current structure of business, how to go about transforming it and giving lots of examples of companies. A caveat: not all companies are good at all parts of what they advocate. So when they cite an example, evaluate that company only on the characteristic they are discussing.I found myself nodding in agreement many times as I read the book because it articulated what I deeply believe. First, business is a noble enterprise, even a heroic one. It makes life easier for every one because of new products and services offered. It lifts entire populations out of grinding poverty and channels human creativity and energy into productive avenues. True, there are downsides as many thoughtful critics of global capitalism have pointed out, such as rampant inequality, environmental degradation and fostering of excessive materialism to name a few. But these are not inherent flaws of business. They are the unfortunate by-products of the way business is currently structured and the ""goals"" of most businesspersons at present.At the core of the book is the notion that a business stands for much, much more than ""maximizing"" value for shareholders or meeting high revenue or earnings targets. This is exemplified by a quote from Mackey in the Foreword pertaining to his famous debate with Milton Friedman, ""While Friedman believes that taking care of customers, employees, and business philanthropy are means to the end of increasing investor profits, I take the exact opposite view: Making high profits is the means to the fulfilling Whole Foods' core business mission. We want to improve the health and well-being of everyone on the planet through higher quality foods and better nutrition, and we cannot fulfill this mission unless we are highly profitable. Just as people cannot live without eating, so a business cannot live without profits. But most persons don't live to eat, neither must businesses live to make profits."" BTW this debate is both instructive and entertaining. You can find it on Mackey's blog or by Googling it.There are five parts to the book. The first talks about capitalism, how it evolved and how a different form that Mackey and Sisodia call ""Conscious Capitalism"" is coming into being. I am not quite convinced that it is coming into being but I certainly wish it were so. Conscious Capitalism recognizes that business is a subset of society and society is a subset of the planet and requires conscious leadership at all levels to function as described.The second part of the book talks about the higher purpose of business and why it should be consciously articulated. Whole Foods own mission comes through in Mackey's quote above. When a company is clear about its purpose and the senior executives walk the talk, tremendous creative energy is unleashed.The next part of the book mentions the different stakeholders - such as employees, customers, shareholders, etc - and how the interests of each must be met in a balanced way. They give the example of medical students dissecting a cadaver and studying the heart. liver, brain etc as separate entities. True, these are separate but a live human being needs all of these and they have to work harmoniously. You cannot have the liver demand all the blood and leave none for the brain. In exactly the same way the elements of business - the stakeholders - all have to benefit and prosper. I entirely agree with this and the authors make an excellent case for it and give examples but it is more art than science. This is perhaps the weakest part of the book because it is so hard to manage these conflicts. In part, these are conflicts because they have been defined as conflicts in our business school education and future managers are encouraged to pick a side rather than think in terms of a ""win-win"" solution. Thus, in many ways, our business schools today are part of the problem.The fourth part of the book talks about what conscious leadership is and how to cultivate it. I think this is the best part of the book and explicitly incorporates the leaders own growth on many dimensions, including spiritual, as the vehicle for an organization's growth. This is easier when you have a charismatic founder/CEO like Mackey at the helm. It is less clear when you have an amorphous group of ""top mangers"" at the helm each of whom is jockeying for power. And you still have the $64,000 question of what can be done when these ""top mangers"" have no clue about what is meant by Conscious Capitalism and have no desire to change.The last part of the book talks about the elements of Conscious Capitalism in a company's culture and explicitly mentions concepts like love and care that are rarely discussed in a business context.This is a book about what business can be like and should be like. The authors feel that we are in the midst of a deep transformation that will bring this about. I would love to see this happen but am somewhat less sanguine.""Firms of Endearment"" is an earlier book that Sisodia co-authored and also covers many of the same concepts though not in quite as developed form. It is also an excellent read and well worth your time.",5.0,The world would be a better place if business were truly like this,1356912000,"12 31, 2012",42,62,helpful,0.6774193548387096,1 A331ISRTIUPKKQ,1439152802,Beth Montgomery,"[0, 0]","What a great story, with many twist and turns. Loved it! You have to remember who and when as the story continues.",5.0,Great historical fiction,1392076800,"02 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1N5FUVHC9YY51,0399160477,A. Contini.,"[0, 0]","It's Clancy, need I say more? Well researched, great descriptive dialogue.And delivered with his usual fast pace. Great read.",5.0,great read,1399161600,"05 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KDO8G1FO3EBI,096463161X,All Called,"[0, 0]","I first obtained the 3 books published by St. Jude Media years ago in paperback. They truly led me on a journey of Faith. The characters are beautiful and easy to relate to for all ages teenage through adult. You don't need to worry about monitoring for content. I've enjoyed all 3 the author's books. Having gone through three copies of the paperback version for each of the books because they became so warn, I am very thankful that it's now available for the Kindle.The Catholic doctrine is not watered down but also, not thrown in your face. It has led me to look things up including other authors/text that the character's mention. I've come to love Michael O'Brian's books who I was introduced to by the introduction in one of the books. Highly recommend!",5.0,Great book!,1353801600,"11 25, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2F1HQTG9IZ5PG,0764126660,"E. Dwan ""bookworm cali""","[0, 0]",This book helps me to understand how to do hand built creations for my pottery . I cant wait to try some of the ideas.,5.0,Pottery,1356652800,"12 28, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A34O9UGRTZNTR8,0446580848,"Amazon Customer ""soferet2""","[5, 8]","What can I say? I just could not finish the book. And yet I am a long time fan, have read every single one of his previous books, reread some of them. Alas, in the Panther the magic is gone. Corey's wisecracking falls flat, there are pages and pages of irrelevant stuff, insider info about the best places to eat in New York, and some decent historical details about what's going on in Yemen. De Mille weaves the plot around some real events and even real people (though he takes great care to change names and relevant factors), but the book never gets off the ground.",1.0,"So many words, so little action",1351123200,"10 25, 2012",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 AJYJOE8S30LBU,0486213420,Jr Jonnum,"[4, 7]","This book was old, out of date and not much help. I gave it to the local thrift shop.",1.0,Save your money,1196985600,"12 7, 2007",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A2N8VJQ000QGMP,080700443X,"Christopher Murphy ""Hyperbole is the Best Thi...","[9, 9]","The books is broken down into three sections: first there is a section by Schor on America's obsession w/ shopping, why and how to fix (mostly a scaled down recap of her previous books). The second sections is an evaluation of Schor's ideas by a series of economists. Some like here theories but disagree on resoltions, some just don't like what she has to say. Finally, the last section is her response to these evaluations.It's a really great primer on the subject and gives you an opportunity to see many points of view. Hopefully with that you can make your own decision on causes, effects and solutions.When I first got it and realized that it was laid out this way, I was a little disappointed, but ended up very glad that they did this.",4.0,"Short, but definetely full of ideas",987120000,"04 13, 2001",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A2AF3BJQRFUJN1,0007386648,Kevin A Rustagi,"[0, 0]","What an incredible true story.This undeniably insightful narrative forced me to examine myself and think deeply about the true limits of both human will and the capacity to forgive the unthinkable.My Grandfathers served in the South Pacific and his brother was a fighter pilot. This provided a wonderful mix of historical edification coupled with colorful and illuminating context.Survival, compassion, and ultimately the beauty that can only come from true reconciliation.Thank you to the author for sharing this unbelievably pure story with the world.- Kevin Rustagi.",5.0,A Rival to Alfred Lansing's The Endurance.,1383609600,"11 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LL72TM8164U1,B00EYMXM2I,JennMelt,"[8, 9]","After reading the synopsis, I was afraid I was going to read a reincarnation of Queen Betsy from MaryJanice Davidson's Undead series. While their are some similarities, I didn't find myself comparing the two (ok, maybe a little).Astrid is a newly-turned vampire who has little trouble adapting to the sudden shift in her life. Despite her minimum-wage job, she is an avid collector of designer clothes, and her mouth would make a sailor blush. Within a few weeks of her first death, she finds out that she is The Chosen One that the big book o' vampire prophecy warned us about. She is destined to save the entire vampire race...and get a little lovin' from the Vamp Prince along the way. See? Betsy-like qualities, but not exactly the same.This book was entertaining, although there were a few shaky spots throughout. I attribute it to her being a new author, and I think she is one to watch. Some of the humor felt forced, some of the back story was a bit repetitive, and there were too many characters crammed into the introduction of a new series. However, these are minor complaints. The last half of the book really picked up, and I was disappointed that it ended when I was finally getting hooked.",3.0,"More demons, please!",1384214400,"11 12, 2013",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A1TYMOB49C2VHD,0446547352,Ginny,"[5, 5]","Mrs. B has lost the plot, and so has this book. The dialogue meanders and skips about; the characters are banal and shallow; the scenery doesn't even seem real or attractive. Honestly, Hamish may have run his course. The Sonsie and Lugs ""characters"" add nothing but verbiage to plump up the total and the only slighly interesting feature is the new side kick -- I've totally forgotten his name -- but he was a plus rather than the total negative of the rest of the book. Various characters from other titles in the series appear (and disappear) but add nothing.As another reviewer commented: Good by.",1.0,Zero stars but you can't do that,1348358400,"09 23, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A24YD2K0V6OGBF,0739431234,"Linore Burkard ""Inspirational Romance Author""","[4, 5]","As others have noted, there are some in-discrepancies with language, but these are few and should not prevent a very real enjoyment of how often the author gets it right. I was struck by the wonderful historicity of the novel, and got pulled in and kept there. The beginning chapter was likely an add-on, and is a little clunky, but I can see how it upped the stakes for the reader. I don't particularly care for the title as it tells nothing of the historical setting of the North/South conflict, but again, my complaints are small in comparison with the excellent writing, lively characters, and well-drawn plot. Does the book borrow from Gone With the Wind? Yes. But the heroine is so utterly the antithesis of a Scarlett O'Hara, that this is forgiveable. The Negroes in the story are wonderful human beings and the relationships drawn are sweet and utterly believable.Here's my biggest problem with the book:The heroine's actions (SPOILER ALERT) when she turns traitor to her friends and family for her negro ""family"" are supported, rightly, with the ideas of justice and liberty--and yet they do not sit well with the reader. Why is her blood family, her fiance, and her neighbors not as important to her as her slaves? Why, if she trusts God for the outcome (as she says) does she then take matters into her own hands by becoming a traitor to the South?As much as we can root for this heroine and like her, we never approve of these actions and it really casts a shadow upon an otherwise excellent, first-rate historical.Despite all, the book is well worth reading, deeply felt, and imagined.",4.0,Close to Perfect,1298592000,"02 25, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AZSDV4U7SVFOQ,0778324729,Gailfm,"[0, 1]","I just finished this book and I loved it. Emilie mixes the Civil War with present day and it made for interesting reading. Once you start the book, it is so difficult to put it down. I'm looking forward to reading ""Sister's Choice"".",5.0,Changes in life,1255219200,"10 11, 2009",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2M6ZTA3J2BN7M,0440246113,M from California,"[4, 4]","I'm not going to do another synopsis of the story since others have already done it, I'm just going to give my opinion. I didn't really feel the connection between Hunter & Corinne, their relationship seemed to be based only on the blood bond, they didn't fall in love first like the other others. This basically took the romance out of the romance novel. The entire Corinne story line bothered me too, Dragos kidnaps breedmates to create his warriors, but the women are tortured & starved. Why? Healthy women produce healthy & more babies than sickly women, so not taking care of them makes no sense. Then there's the whole baaaaaaaaby aspect about her story. Twilight has the same problem, women must have babies to be complete. Corinne's whole story is finding her baby, & she doesn't even care that she has to tie herself to a man she barely knows for the rest of her life to do it. I guess that makes her a real woman, but a really boring one to read about.I'm tired of hearing about Dragos, & I can't understand how the Order & the Agency together can't seem to stop this one man, even though he's out there living a life like a human. If he's hanging around senators & vice presidents, he can't be invisible. Doesn't say much for either agency's abilities when the only person to track him down is a rogue ex agency/order member of the breed who is now in human custody. How are they going to get Chase out of this? Even if he escapes or is let go, he's 100% recognizable now, what are they going to do about that, give him a new face?This book obviously was meant to lead into the next, & I think that's part of the problem. Reading this felt like it was just something to do to get to the next book, it didn't feel like something that should be read for it's own story.",3.0,Not as interesting as previous books,1309651200,"07 3, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1PGU1GVTKRC3B,0451239938,Cindy,"[0, 1]","I've read the entire psychic eye Abby series and I have to say that Abby's character has become somewhat annoying. Enough with the swear jar, enough with her always being the one who needs to be rescued!",2.0,"Abby fan, disappointed.",1394841600,"03 15, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1PR2G9WX0FPJ6,B00CHY93VO,Lynda,"[0, 0]",The world is changing. Jesus is the answer. Some things in this book I would never have thought about. Give these survivalist books a chance.,5.0,A good survivalist book to read,1370908800,"06 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LA92XOD4PBI3,1492927104,Mel,"[0, 0]",I really am not looking forward to this series ending. I feel like part of the family. The recipes look amazing and a bonus at the end of the books. I hope to try them soon.,5.0,Yay! Lexy got married.,1403568000,"06 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19RBY1T0KPFF,1594482918,John Lesko,"[0, 0]","First off and in the spirit of full disclosure, my wife introduced me to the work of Daniel H. Pink after her government agency brought him in to speak to her colleagues on the topic of motivation (see DRIVE also by Pink). And since I'm a fan of my better half and wish to remain in her fan club, I'm sure glad that THE ADVENTURES OF JOHNNY BUNKO: THE LAST CAREER GUIDE YOU'LL EVER NEED lives up to its hype.I discovered this guide fairly late in my career. And as a professional group facilitator who focuses on graphic recording and the use of visual techniques in my practice, Daniel Pink's choice to create a this work of art in manga is encouraging to all creative types. Well done.So why rate this book 4 out of 5 stars? I'm looking for where Johnny Bunko will be 5, 10, or 15 years from now. Will Daniel Pink's six key points and career advice help folks in today's free agent nation? And what will the manga characters look like aged by 5, 10, or 15 years in the trenches?",4.0,"Where's Johnny Bunko 5, 10, or 15 years later?",1364428800,"03 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2EROLHNRQ09CY,1941419089,Judge Tabor,"[4, 4]","I have mixed feelings about Grace Burrowes' books in general and I agree that some of her stories are very similar - Lonely, Hopeful, Honorable - whatever - many of these lords wind up on a country estate in close proximity to a woman they are attracted to although most do not immediately name or recognize their feelings as ""love."" Hadrian, at least had known Avis 12 years previously, when he was only 18 years old and before he became a Vicar. Called home by his Viscount brother, Harold, to stand in Harold's place while Harold travels to other lands where his relationship with his gentleman friend, Finch, might be more understood - Hadrian, at first is a little resentful of the fact his brother is leaving, isn't sure of how he feels about his wayward relationship with Finch but loves Harold enough to wish him well and takes up residence at the family seat.Of course, there's the longtime friend, Avis, who Hadrian has a past with and in fact, in his youth wanted to marry her but things went awry, he eventually married another woman, Rue, who passed away during the years he served as a vicar. He has left the ministry to come and tend to the home properties, he is lonely, he needs love and he wants something from Avis he has never had from any other woman - he wants her love and he wants her as his own.The romance in this book was sweet from Hadrian toward his gal. Avis, understandably has some major issues but one of her biggest issues is that she takes a long time to accept help from the right people. Having read her brothers' books, I find it difficult to believe they left her alone so much. I know it is somewhat explained in their books but still, it seems quite strange since they were both so responsible - in particular, Benjamin Hazlit.I would have given this book 5 stars easily because I really enjoy the casual, slow, drawn out descriptions of the simple pleasures of life during the typical days in her characters' lives that Ms. Burrowes has such a flair for when she writes her stories. The specific descriptions of food, the banter between men that occasionally seems almost ""girlie"" but is actually presented as characteristics in men who are comfortable in their own skin - not afraid to show affection, hugs, affection and friendship. The reason I'm giving 4 stars as opposed to 5 stars is that I'm not particularly fond of the storyline about the woman who desperately needs her man, is willing to have him physically and engage his heart, then continues to resist making a long term commitment, telling herself it's for his own good - somewhat overdone in this book.",4.0,"Loved Hadrian - Vicar or Not - He was Kind, Thoughtful and Persistent",1402963200,"06 17, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A35FFXXZBF91P6,B00GOI1DT4,"Elaine V. Stoddard ""Elaine Stoddard""","[0, 0]",WONDERFUL WONDERFUL BOOK!!I LAUGHED AND I CRIED AND I GOT UPSET AND SCARED! LOVED CONNER AND LILY WOULD LOVE TO READ BOOK 3WHEN YOU WRITE IT.,5.0,All that He LOVES,1399248000,"05 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3VARFTBUDZ13J,0425183297,Romance Reader,"[0, 2]","I absolutely loved this book! I thought the story was beautiful and captivating and the writing superb. The author is a talented historian-storyteller who can take readers to the heart of the period and deliver a very emotionally satisfying read. I could not put this book down.I wish all the heroes of romances were like Geraint / Gervase. He was intelligent, kind, thoughtful, handsome, and a gentleman, and he still came out a great alpha male character, which just goes to show that a romance hero doesn't need to be a jerk to be sexy and somewhat unattainable.If you love periodic detail, then you will love this book. One of the best I have read this year.",5.0,A page-turner!,1211328000,"05 21, 2008",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1148N7E84HSV5,1597801054,"Gwen2K ""gwenhyfar""","[4, 14]","I love post apocalyptic books, so I was looking forward to this one. Don't waste your time. The stories are poorly written, some make no sense, and overall it was a waste of time. If you want realistic books, try ""One Second After."" It was very realistic, and not ridiculous.",1.0,Don' t waste good money on this one,1271894400,"04 22, 2010",4,14,helpful,0.2857142857142857,1 A3N2GKD264EWS6,B007KTLSY6,Lorraine Hotchin,"[0, 0]",Took a little to get into it but loved it .Di Morrisey never fails to please me with her story lines.,5.0,Another good read.,1358985600,"01 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HMHAZ6271A8B,B0098PYRMA,Michael Wilmore,"[0, 0]","This series is an excellent read. I have been captured by the story and when finishing one part of the series, having to wait for the next one isagonizing. Has a good vs evil theme but very entertaining.",5.0,excellent read,1352160000,"11 6, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1028EO0SP6YCS,0143058266,"JMC ""Lovely Reader""","[7, 9]","I used to LOVE Patricia Cornwell -- the tight, first-person narrative, the complex crimes and descriptions and the interesting, involved characters. The series took a marked hit after Point of Origin and went completely into the trashcan with Blowfly. Why the sudden switch to third person? The last three books have been less about forensic science and more about how much the characters can put the mean in dysfunctional. It's almost as if a different person is writing these books. I picked up Predator from the library (because she went off my ""buy"" list a few books ago) and, after the first chapter, basically skimmed the rest. It takes a LOT for me not to finish a book -- this one was horrible.",1.0,Cornwell is off my list,1131580800,"11 10, 2005",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A2P8V0C0A3O3YV,0451239679,"bookworm2bookworm ""Mel""","[0, 0]","Ms. Heather Snow gives us a third installment to her Seduction Series [Sweet Enemy was the first one, followed by Sweet Deception, and ending with this one, Sweet Madness] in which she gives us the romance of a widowed Lady Morton and Gabriel Devereaux, Marquess of Bromwich.I must tell you that I am a sucker for a flawed and broken hero, and this novel just over exceeded all my expectations of one such hero. I truly adored this book.Gabriel Devereaux, Marquess of Bromwich, along with other members in his family, thinks that he's mad and that's why they commit him to Vickering Place, an institution catering to the aristocratic members who have family members that need to be monitored and taken care of `in style' which they've been accustomed to.Lady Penelope Bridgeman, now a widowed Lady Morton, has been taking care of wounded soldiers ever since the death of her husband and she finds contentment and reward as she watches their healing and reentrance back into society.She is humbled by the request of Gabriel's mother to visit him and evaluate his condition.Gabriel's attraction to her is long standing, since he first laid eyes on her at her wedding to his cousin, and it is highly humiliating to him to be laid literally and figuratively, bear to her.I must say that the scenes of this duo's first meeting are gut wrenching, soul searing and just plain painful to witness. They are one of the best in this story and will stay with me a very, very long time.This is one of those well told tales that will pull you in from the first page and keep you reading until you've reached the end, and I must credit Ms. Snow for her plotting as the `mystery' of who the villain is quiet surprised me.Here is yet another heroine of Ms. Snow that knows what she's about and engages a reader in rooting for her happily ever after. Even when she doubts herself, she shows pluck and determination in accomplishing her goals.If I as a reader fell in love with her, then Gabriel had no chance what so ever but to love this woman that was nothing like what he recalls. She was even more than he remembers.Ms. Heather Snow is quickly becoming a must read author and her books are keeper shelf worthy.If there is a book not to be missed this summer, this is it! It fulfills every category required for a romance reading: its love story is sweet, tender and romantic; its hero and heroine are two strong characters who are struggling with their own and each others demons, but knowing that together they will beat the enemy; its plot is well developed, smart and mystery is surprising; its pace perfectly pitched, allowing the reader to enjoy the development of characters, and the romance of the couple.With all this going for it, I have no choice but give it all my five quills, and tell you that I really, really enjoyed it and highly recommend you pick it up.Melanie for RCJR eZine.*Book provided by publisher through NetGalley.",5.0,"...well written, well developed & executed plot; perfectly paced; LOVED IT!",1372377600,"06 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A37L1LXW0CESJC,0743267524,John H. Clark III,"[0, 1]","When I first reviewed this book I gave it 2 and one-half stars and wrote some rather pointed things about how the book documented manifest instances of Stewart O'Nan's childishness. However, in the aftermath of the 2013 season I was unwilling to turn away from baseball such that I ended up picking up Faithful again and, upon re-reading the book (actually re-listening to it), I have had a change of heart. This book is wonderful. First of all it is invaluable in that it faithfully, and expertly, chronicles the most magical baseball season I've ever experienced. Furthermore, with the Red Sox having won their third WS title, Faithful documents an attitude among Red Sox fans (one of fear, paranoia, resignation, and yet, hope) that really doesn't exist any more and thus illustrates a line of demarcation between different eras of Sox fans. Finally, with almost a decade having passed since the occurrence of the events that Faithful covers, I am struck by how evocative the book is. I know it is a cliché, but as I re-listened to the book I was flooded with memories of the games, the life I lived as the games took place, and the people I shared both with...a great, great, gift.Now, perhaps all this comes because I am still in a state of joyous disbelief after witnessing the Sox win their third title within 10 years and suddenly feel affection for the entire human race (or anyone who identifies as part of the Nation), but I feel the need to apologize to Stewart O'Nan. When I listened to this book for the 2nd time I found his attitude charming, his insights valuable, his enthusiasm infectious (I had liked King's part of the book all along). Also, being older and hopefully wiser (and having suffered a few slings and arrows along the way to both states), I am able to better appreciate O'Nan's attitude and the manner in which he was unapologetic in trying to get all he could out of the experience of being a fan, being at Fenway, being alive. He wasn't being childish, he was being child-like....and there is a huge difference there, one that I think he understood all along and I am only beginning to.",5.0,Second Thoughts October 2103,1273104000,"05 6, 2010",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 ARNUM6X1UWXS,0435905481,"P. Micocci ""embevecido""","[36, 37]","With every work of Ngugi's that I read, the more impressed I am. I first came across his ""Petals of Blood"" by chance in a used bookstore years ago, and ever since I've kept an eye open for other books of his. I admit that I've only read his novels, though; reading plays (as opposed to seeing them performed) for the most part doesn't move me nearly as much.In ""The River Between"", Ngugi once again arrives at a viewpoint of tolerance while denouncing corruption in society; he manages to do so without demonizing the people on either side of any particular issue. He recognizes the strengths and weaknesses, the convictions and the doubts with which most human beings are imbued. He doesn't automatically blame all of his country's or his continent's problems on the ""White Man"", but rather he recognizes that the corruption and venality that continue to plague his society are things which are rooted in the universal human condition, not imports from Europe or the USA. He manages here to deal with a highly charged issue, as provocative and controversial now as it was at the time he wrote this book, namely ""female circumcision"" or ""female genital mutilation"", depending on your point of view. Almost uniquely, it seems, among Kenyan intellectuals he questions the absolute necessity of the practice to the maintenance of traditional social structure and values; but he does so while neither fervently condemning nor acclaiming it. As I've come to expect from Ngugi, he finds a road between extreme and fanatical stands - or a ""river between"", if you prefer; the protagonist attempts to make up his own mind rather than unquestioningly accepting received teaching about the absolute rightness or wrongness of either traditional practices or revolutionary knowledge. He recognizes that not all traditional practices are necessarily ""better"" or more ""pure"" than new ways of thinking, but that neither can they be eliminated by fiat without disastrous consequences for society, that education and time are necessary for peoples' thinking to evolve and for other values to be allowed to take the place of some of those that have been cherished since time immemorial. I confess that I was a little leery when I began reading this book; I feared that Ngugi would follow the line of so many other African writers in fervent support of female circumcision or FMG. That was the staunch rock of faith upon which I foundered when reading other books such as Jomo Kenyatta's ""Facing Mount Kenya"" and Camara Laye's ""The African Child"". I was suitably heartened to find that Ngugi once again finds his own mind, something I've come to see as the hallmark of his writing. But his protagonist doesn't arrive at the journey's destination by easy paths - I'm reminded of a line by the great singer-songwriter Silvio Rodriguez, that ""la angustia es el precio de ser uno mismo"" (""anguish is the price of being oneself"").",5.0,A well-named novel,1097020800,"10 6, 2004",36,37,helpful,0.972972972972973,1 AZEIYYQR09VT3,B00966A1JY,"Jann Williams ""Constant reader""","[0, 0]","I like books that have the adventures of dogs. The Art of Racing in The Rain, A Dog's Journey and A Dog's Purpose are threeexample's of well written books about dogs. Loved them.",5.0,Another Dog Adventure,1369094400,"05 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A188KU3SI543V3,0345477324,"rnorton828 ""rnorton828""","[4, 4]","James Luceno's novel Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader continues the story of Anakin Skywalker's transformation from Jedi Knight to Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith which had begun in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Part I of the book begins during the final hours of the Clone Wars on the planet Murkhana, located in the Outer Rim territories, as Jedi Knight Roan Shryne and his army of clone troopers beginning an attack on the Separatist forces there. Then, Darth Sidious orders clone troopers all over the galaxy to execute Order Sixty-Six and terminate their Jedi generals. A group of clones on Murkhana chooses to ignore the order and allow Shryne and two other Jedi, Bol Chatak and a Padawan named Olee Starstone, to escape death. Part II picks up several weeks later. The Clone Wars have ended, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious has dissolved the Republic and declared himself Emperor, and the Jedi Order has been all but destroyed with the help of the Emperor's new apprentice, Darth Vader. Here we find a Vader who is still getting used to his life support suit and new limbs. He also continues to wrestle with his former self, filled with conflict and self-doubt. He blames others for the fate that has befallen him. And Vader finally begins to realize that he has been little more than an instrument in his Dark Master's quest for unlimited power. But the escape of the three Jedi on Murkhana presents a new mission for the Sith apprentice, who is sent to eliminiate them and the clones who disobeyed Order Sixty-Six. Several favorite characters from Epsiode III make cameos here, including Senators Bail Organa & Mon Mothma, Moff (later Grand Moff) Wilhuff Tarkin, Chewbacca and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Overall, Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader is a thoroughly enjoyable read, and a book which helps complete Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader. I look forward to more EU books set during the period between Episodes III & IV.",5.0,Episode III.5: The Rise of Darth Vader,1140480000,"02 21, 2006",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A27WMH8OS59WO0,0517577291,Prudence M. Halbeisen,"[0, 0]",On my I can't say enough about how good this book is.. I loved it. Loved the fact that she rescued this little fella.. but loved the narrative of the daily life of this little stunner. Learned a lot about the hummer as well in reading this.,5.0,A super book,1377129600,"08 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ABDDCVTXCPTZO,073933879X,JR,"[0, 0]","I think that the author achieves what she set out to do, show the reader what a determined pre-teen is capable of doing, even when they are unaware of all of the facts. The setting is interesting and is what really made the novel interesting for me.",3.0,Good for younger readers,1375401600,"08 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AG7OTNCS0H32A,B00E1IIWN4,Lev Podolsky,"[0, 0]",The reason why I think that this book is not that good is because you know what is going to happen.,3.0,Good but not that great,1375833600,"08 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2IDET07HQH1WM,1455527084,"Sarah White ""Lunch Lady""","[0, 0]","I love everything Nadia Bolz-Weber does, but this is my favorite. She allows you into her heart and soul to share her beautiful journey with Christ.",5.0,Pastrix: The book written by someone who really is not cranky,1390608000,"01 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19W43AADMBYST,1601622570,Angela,"[0, 0]",It was definitely a page turner. I'm looking forward to #5 to see what goodies are in store! Until then my friends ;),5.0,Loved it!!,1368316800,"05 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZ2BG6INMWGVS,1844484262,"Erin Bailey ""bead addict""","[6, 6]","I have 2 other books on Kumihimo by Jacqui Carey and have been working with beads in kumihimo for several years. I especially like this book because it is a great size for taking with you, yet it has a lot of information. It's is a great book for both beginners and advanced ""kumihimoers."" I also recommend getting Jacqui's first book on Kumihimo.",5.0,Great Book,1277942400,"07 1, 2010",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1XRQ6YJ7HXQFQ,0143113003,Ted Feit,"[0, 1]","Inspector Salvo Montalbano is back in the ninth of this mystery series. It is a straightforward and charming novel, with the Sicilian detective embroiled in a murder case involving two beautiful women who continually lie to him. One is the sister of the victim, who was shot in the head and found with his penis protruding from his open pants. The other was his mistress, who claims she had broken off the relationship.Meanwhile, some high-ranking government officials are found dead of overdoses, and rumors of poisoned cocaine are rife. Are the cases related? After all, the murder victim was a pharmaceutical salesman. Or was he involved with kickbacks to physicians? In between, the Inspector has time to reflect on old age and philosophy, as well as to indulge his culinary appetite.The quaint story [a compliment, I assure you] is moved along with even more unusual observations and dialogue. It is fast reading and full of fun. Recommended.",4.0,All is not as it seems,1212883200,"06 8, 2008",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A23WXMSDRRWFJR,1414368860,Leigh Bossinger,"[4, 5]","Perry Noble wrote this book about being overwhelmed and suffering from depression. It is refreshing to hear a man of God speak so candidly about problems that many people face in their daily lives. I read the book cover-to-cover in a weekend, and found it to be refreshing in a world where so much is covered up and hidden. From his opening line, to the end, he presents an insightful, biblical message to encourage those who need it. It's written the way Perry speaks, which is honest and open. Life is overwhelming sometimes. Why not get a little help along the way?",5.0,Candid Talk from a Pastor Who is Real,1396483200,"04 3, 2014",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A95YQMJHULQ6P,160945068X,Carl_in_Richland,"[0, 0]","Readers looking for a Buddhist oriented novel will have to look elsewhere. Although one of the main characters of this story is exploring mindfulness and meditation to cope with being discharged from the police force and messy divorce, Buddhist themes and ideas are sparse and few between. But if you can get around the title's promises of a dharma-related narrative, this is a fun book, relating the activities during a 10 day period of multiple dysfunctional politicians and their families, interspersed with very clever and biting commentary from an unidentified blogger who has an amazing amount of inside information on sex scandals and sleazy activities by two candidates running for the House of Representatives.An overview of the storyline is available elsewhere on this page so I won't go into it here. I thought the novel got off to a slow start but by the half way mark, the secret trysts, a series of murders and some very clever writing (think Kurt Vonnegut or Doug Adams) make it a real page turner. Although the main crimes (a series of murders) are described in detail, a key mystery remains until the end of the book regarding who the blogger is who writes such insightful, funny and biting commentaries on the many sordid incidents. The blogger reminded me of the chorus in a Greek drama, only with an attitude. This is a fun book but give it a hundred pages or so for it to get really good. By then you'll be hooked. If you want a fun read that involves a lot of real Buddhism, check out the (non-fiction)Bones of the Master: A Journey to Secret Mongolia.",4.0,Not a lot of Buddhism but a fun read,1379030400,"09 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A62AVEJPLDKEZ,0385340567,"Observer ""Bernie""","[15, 16]","Let's see: The bad guy, who is about to do something really nasty has Reacher at his mercy 4 or 5 times and lets him go. The bad guys never have guns. Other plot elements are so unrealistic as to be totally silly and juvenile. I have been a long time Lee Child fan - signed first editions and all that - but I think I am going to sell them now. This is like finding a mouse in a fast food burger - kind of undermines the brand name. Too bad - Jack Reacher used to have a lot going for him.",1.0,How to destroy a great brand,1234051200,"02 8, 2009",15,16,helpful,0.9375,1 A2J9UIAZ8IIUSO,1442366109,Wayne J. Street Jr.,"[0, 1]","I got the book on Christmas and read it in 2 evenings. It was an easy read, that was enlightening and offered a different point of view. I learned a good deal about growing up poor, working hard and keeping your faith along the way.I think this is a story that everyone should read at some point.If you like the show, this is worth the read.",5.0,Impressive,1388102400,"12 27, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1M0RCY012HYRC,0979352118,PointGirl,"[0, 0]","When I think of all the books I have read, Wet Desert stands out among my favorites. Enjoying the excellent writing of Gary Hansen left me waiting to see what his next book would bring. At the start of Second Revolution I has my doubts that I would finish it knowing that I had no interest in the story that was unfolding; BUT, true to his abilities Hansen was able to grab me and hold me in place to the final words with interest plus. That in itself should be enough to applaud Hansen's ability with an avid reader.My title says it all. The book may give you a whole new outlook on many aspects of politics, war, responsibility and participation in your country's welfare and future, even if it's only to take a look around and be aware.This is a quick edit addition: Hansen's note at the end of the book is ""the best"" author remarks I have yet to read so don't pass it by, enjoy.",5.0,Food For Thought,1398211200,"04 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AM95VUH09VULL,0545166810,P. Stover,"[0, 0]","Collins' Gregor series is a satisfying read about a detailed and believable alternative underground world complete with talking bats, rats and cockroaches; yes, the same kind we know but much, much larger and as different races or peoples interacting with the humans deep under the surface of New York. Gregor himself is a likeable hero along his beloved little sister. He learns much about domination over other species and available land and how those in power control and share (or don't share) limited resources. I read the first one and literally could not stop - I had to find out what happened next. Each book is linked to prophecy predicted long ago. Gregor and his mixed group of allies set out on quests related to these prophecies. The books are fast-paced, complex and rewarding. My only caveat is that Gregor seems, talks and acts considerably older and more mature than his eleven years. Fourteen or fifteen seems a more believable age. These are not for the very young. Reminiscent of Brian Jacques' Redwall series these books include battles, deaths, sickness and difficult moral and social issues. These are a great choice for bright middle grade readers and up, but I will admit that as an adult I loved them. Now that Collins has a successful film under her belt, how about revisiting the underland with Gregor and continue the adventures!",5.0,Great new world,1348185600,"09 21, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A39BC3YEVW2VXH,0786165375,earlymorn,"[0, 0]","I have enjoyed all of Henning Mankell's books. good writing, intriguing plots, set in an interesting country. Usually find myself looking forward to picking up his books from start to finish. He manages to peak your interest in the first chapter and hang onto it until the end.",4.0,Mankell mystery's,1362528000,"03 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2RLERHASR0RLP,1584799501,Peggy Stone,"[27, 28]","I can't think of anyone who loves cats who wouldn't treasure this book, and if they love cats and France, so much the better. The photos are sensitive, subtle and exquisite, and there are many quotes, familiar and unfamiliar, from French writers on the virtue of cats. As for placing the exact locations, does it matter? The cobblestone streets, winding alleys, open windows and ledges could be in any village and be equally charming: the focus is the light, the mystery and the cats: street cats, pampered cats, cats in cemeteries and ancient libraries, playful kittens and wise old cats. I'd like to give this as a gift to every cat lover I know.",5.0,Truly Exquisite Book for Cat Lovers and Francophiles,1322956800,"12 4, 2011",27,28,helpful,0.9642857142857143,1 A1RS6FRS3BPWWY,0028632613,Mark H. Whitnall,"[32, 48]","I came to Amazon to order books by Said and Netanyahu to get both sides of the Israel/Palestine question, and happened to notice this one. I figured a book in this series would be a simplified, entertaining, unbiased summary of historical facts, so it would act as kind of a "referee" for the other two books. Well, I was right on one count - it's entertaining (sometimes unintentionally so!) It's organized to be an easy read in spite of the wealth of detail included - I found it very educational. However, the author makes no attempt to hide his extreme pro-Israel, anti-Arab bias. It's more like an extended Op-Ed piece than a "Guide." ... However, that said, if one is aware of the bias (and it's impossible not to be), it's a user-friendly summary of (one version of) history and issues. It just needs to be balanced with propaganda from the other side.",3.0,"Entertaining, informative, extremely biased",1011139200,"01 16, 2002",32,48,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A338MXN7WDZF1W,0758267436,Jackie Baker,"[0, 0]",Love the fantastical way this went. She was incredulous as I would have been. It was cute and a total quick read,5.0,Cute,1369699200,"05 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFVQZQ8PW0L,B002WGC8MS,Harriet Klausner,"[5, 5]","In 1864 in New Orleans a deadly serial killer shakes up the locals as well as the occupying army. Union officer Lieutenant Aldridge asks for former Confederate soldier Dr. Cody Fox who is sent to investigate as he has previous experience with these types of killings back in Alexandria in 1859 with a decapitating vicious serial killer. His assignment is to solve who is behind the mass murders and prevent more from happening.Alex Green heads west to be with her father, but she arrives in Victory, Texas to learn he is dead although she is unaware how he died as no one will whisper a word of it as if they feared his fate if they say anything. Meanwhile deadly outlaw Milo Roundtree arrives in town as does Cody tracking the culprit who most believe is the vicious criminal. When Milo places a knife at Alex's throat, Cody kills him saving her life. However, nothing is resolved as the mass graves are empty and rumors abound to stay in-doors once the sun goes down.This is a refreshing vampire historical romantic fantasy. The cast is solid especially the lead couple, the townsfolk, and the key second in command of the bloodsuckers who cleverly is hidden in plain sight. The prime weapon against the undead seems much more effective and realistic than the usual stake as Heather Graham provides a fun fast-paced story line as vampires and hunters collide in Civil War Texas.Harriet Klausner",5.0,refreshing vampire historical romantic fantasy,1259452800,"11 29, 2009",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2S6UDDPT7PIQE,1597819506,thetruth093,"[9, 10]","Tamara is a like a typical teen today, depressed,lonely and talked about and talks about her attempt to kill herself. Her family ended up seperated and the step mother didnt like her and she felt isolated. Oneday she gets her mothers gun and goes to attempt to shot herself in the head but the Holy Spirit told her to aim for her heart instead as she cries out for forgiveness. She is later taken to hell and is set in a fiery pit she realizes in that this is it and she looks across the vast expanse of souls crying out for mercy, knowing every sin they have committed and even there family lineage. In hell your knowlege of unknown things is increased that you thought you would never know unless in heaven. She realizes quickly that on earth Jesus is the one to save and to be praised and that earth is all about getting saved and knowing Jesus. As she cries out to the lord he scoups her up and takes her across the expanse of the 3 heavens and shows her heaven and his love and she sees how much he loves her. In the end she is placed back in her body and she sees him living her room. Also her family grows closer and her mum is there and she grows tougher in life and realizes she has to learn to takes blows but she grows. Gods love is amazing because how he heard her and if she hadnt cried out she would hve been lost forever and teaches the importants of suicide and not to do it.",4.0,heartfelt story,1317340800,"09 30, 2011",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A2DRQI606T1LLF,B00D5E5JUE,B. Hamlett,"[4, 4]","So this sequel was awesome. I liked that this book stayed true to the first book, but never felt stale or redundant as sequels sometimes do. I was emotionally vested in the characters, but also loved the new characters that were introduced throughout the book. At points I'd just stop reading and think, ""Man, what an awesome idea!"" I couldn't put this book down, and was reading until my eyes hurt. It had everything you'd ever want from a book. Romance, action, and more of Elle's awesome humor. I absolutely loved it. I have to admit though, I really hope at some point it becomes a trilogy. I can't tell at this point, but I want a third book!",5.0,Fantastic!,1370304000,"06 4, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1JGAU8J7PFXET,B001892EIS,G. G. Rich,"[0, 0]",I thoroughly enjoyed the bundle and look forward to seeing the next installments. I think Byrd did an excellent job of creating this world.,4.0,Byrd makes an exciting world.,1371168000,"06 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WKCSA71J8T8W,0385501692,"Lori Turner ""Lori T""","[5, 7]","I have read many of Dr. Scott Hahn's books, and Hail, Holy Queen was the first I read, and remains my favorite (at least so far!) Dr. Hahn presents the information in a very readable and engaging style, as always. I would highly endorse this book for anybody who is interested in learning more about the Blessed Virgin Mary.",5.0,One of Dr. Hahn's best to date!,1208649600,"04 20, 2008",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 AIF70G7JLN7JV,1495204499,"Cindy Dickinson ""Cindy in TN""","[0, 0]","I like the plot, characters, ships, visions, AIs, humor, mild love interest. I will be buying the sequels! A good read.",4.0,excellent!,1399334400,"05 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AR33KU52LIBF1,1599987740,Denise Whitcome,"[5, 5]","I have truly loved some of Lucy Monroe's past work. Pregnancy of Passion is probably my favorite. But something has happened to her writing in the past couple of years. Either she is taking some really bad advice from someone or she is a bit burnt out. This story was a sweet little story with no real conflict, angst, or drama. I had to force myself to finish it. I will keep my eyes open in the future for the return of Lucy Monroe!",3.0,Flatline...someone wake me up!!!!,1235779200,"02 28, 2009",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 ACREHLVRC4H5B,0316081051,"bionichands ""procrastinator""","[7, 12]","This is my second time trying to get through this book. A few months ago I downloaded the audio version, but could not get past the second chapter. The narrator reads the story with the most distracting lisp imaginable. I just couldn't take it.Recently I saw that the book has been nominated for a Hugo award, so I thought I'd try to read it myself. I like zombie stories and surely the Hugo nomination is a good endorsement. I'm about halfway through the book now, and once again I'm just too distracted by the flaws to really enjoy the story.My big issue with the book is that the year is 2039, and the main characters are BLOGGERS. Bloggers?? Really??? Does anybody really believe that in 30 years we're still going to be talking about freaking bloggers? Or that there is likely to be such a thing? Not only that but the blogging community of 2039 is held in contempt by the mainstream media. Wow the future sounds exactly like 2010. Its just an embarrassing concept. Not only are there still bloggers in 2039, but they're still talking about ""URLs"" and ""websites"". Did all web development stop in 2005 or something?I know this sounds like nitpicking, but imagine you've picked up a book written in 1960 about a band of futuristic pirate radio DJs in the year 2012 who report on a zombie outbreak by establishing illegal AM radio broadcasts on their CB radios.Its like the author used up all of her imagination inventing this story about the zombies and couldn't be bothered to imagine what the internet might look like in another thirty years. (The major change seems to be that google analytics has evolved into the Nielsen rating system.) Its just too integral a part of the story to ignore.",2.0,five stars?? really? Be serious.,1305763200,"05 19, 2011",7,12,helpful,0.5833333333333334,1 A37WYHXQ3L14WO,0736056246,eidolon,"[5, 6]","This is one of the two best books available for mountain biking instruction (the other is William Nealy's). Excellent sections on technique and generally good explanations of technique. It is aimed at the already competent rider who is looking to improve.It has two minor weaknesses- first that McCormack's fawning style of writing gets a little hard to take (sure, Lopes is an amazing rider, we just don't need to get it rammed down our throats every 3 paragraphs). Secondly, some of the photos are a little hard to follow (e.g. the ones that show leaning into corners are inconsistent with the text). Overall, however, it is an invaluable book.I suggest also looking at Nealy's book. It's less technical than this book, but explains some basic concepts that are left out by Lopes/McCormack and is a lot more lighthearted and fun in its approach while still being crammed full of information.",4.0,Excellent book for technical skills. Style is a bit hard to take.,1169424000,"01 22, 2007",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A32DU6L6O0I2VE,1400160634,Joan L. Eisenstodt,"[4, 4]","Guy Kawasaki does it again with wit, humor, and fabulous guidelines for anyone starting anything. Guy has been my guru for years for all things I do as a business owner, trainer, and facilitator. He has helped our clients and my colleagues by providing straight-forward information that, when heard at a program or read in a book, becomes the best way in which to operate.Think about what you are starting - from a business, to changing a business, to a job search, to a relationship (personal or professional) and then read this book.Take heed especially of Chapter 11 - ""The Art of Being A Mensch."" Guy is one. His advice on how to become one may be some of the best advice given so that you can start something and then continue to build on that success.",5.0,Everybody starts something .. you need this!,1095033600,"09 13, 2004",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A320TMDV6KCFU,B005BR64KW,MNix,"[0, 0]","Mia Fleming has a job she enjoys and is far away from her hometown where she was known to be a bit ""weird"" because she didn't keep her visions to herself. It's been years since a vision was so strong that Mia felt compelled to act on it, but that is exactly what happened this time. Mia discovers that it has something to do with Carpenter Techtronics. Needing to alert someone and not be identified, Mia leaves anonymous messages with the head of Carpenter Techtronics.Dante ""Dan"" Romeo is one of the partners in Phoenix Agency, an agency that specializes in top-notch security. When a friend asks that they provide the necessary security for a huge tech unveiling, Dan agrees of course. Then come the anonymous calls saying something is wrong or going to happen. Dan and his team begin to track down who is behind it, never guessing it will lead them to a woman works as an art historian and assistant curator in a museum. A very sexy woman at that.Mia can't believe they found her, but what surprises her more is that Dan doesn't laugh off her story. Dan has past experience with psychic abilities so believing Mia's story isn't all that hard, especially when you consider what is at stake with this unveiling. The danger and deaths ramp up as Mia and Dan try to unravel her visions to find out what is going to happen at Carpenter Techtronics. What is ramping up even faster is the passion between Mia and Dan. As the time of the unveiling draws closer, Mia and Dan are racing against the clock to save a company's reputation and the love they have just discovered.When a sixth sense brings you together, what can you expect but an unusual romance? Extrasensory brings Mia and Dan together with just that kind of passion. Dan has little time for sex much less romance when he meets up with Mia. I could see pretty fast that both of them would have to make the time for their passion to flourish. The suspense was a perfect counter to the intensity of the passion that was bringing Mia and Dan even closer. I had no doubt that Dan and Phoenix would win the day but I have to admit I only guessed at part of who was behind Mia's visions. I loved the crafty way Phoenix unmasked who was behind it all and how. Extrasensory is a wonderful swirl of passion and suspense to keep you guessing until the very end. A great addition to a hot suspense filled series.Jo for Joyfully Reviewed",5.0,"""When a sixth sense brings you together, what can you expect but an unusual romance? """,1360886400,"02 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WZEK2YNPJ7BB,B0042RUNZE,Leapin' Literary Lurkers,"[4, 4]","This sequel to ""Hiding the Elephant"" is in desperate need of an editor. The number of grammatical/spelling errors, typos and plain old misuse of words was abysmal.The story wanders all over the place with characters popping up, disappearing and then reappearing much later.Thank heavens for the ""search"" feature.I don't have any idea if the author ever reads these critiques, but if so I would chastise her for letting errors such as the following ever make it into print:Whishing for wishing (three times!), style for stile, flack for flak, neigh for nigh, dogged for dodging bullets, "" hey-fever,"" pluming for plumbing, desert for dessert, a smooth loan for lawn, loped for lopped, looser for loser, ""chentrelle, cep and morelle"" for chanterelles, cepes and morels, ad infinitum...truly depressing that such a poorly edited book would ever make it into the market.The story itself has so many branches that the reader gets lost or ends up not really caring who did it. The infidelity theme carried over from the first book did almost nothing to further the story line.For the sake of literate readers of murder mysteries, please, please do not subject us further to this kind of horribly edited verbiage..",1.0,What's your tolerance for typos and tangents?,1347926400,"09 18, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AVW086PZGQB63,1482524759,Lovemybooks,"[0, 0]",This book is okay. Some of the characters are a little creepy to me. The romance and tension between the lead characters is pretty good,3.0,Okay,1396396800,"04 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A10496119T23EZ,0449012751,BILLIE LECRONE,"[0, 0]","I am glad that this book, 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry', by Rachel Joyce, was recommended to me. Oh, how our journey is a lesson; we never know the turns it will take. You know how, as you are reading, you almost always have a pretty good idea of what's coming? Well, in this book, I didn't have a clue! The author knocked me off my chair; I didn't 'see it comin'!! Good book! I would recommend it.",5.0,The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: A Novel,1401580800,"06 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3FJT4HMMDERH4,1402244746,Karen C. Erdman,"[0, 3]","Why is it that a paperback is $6, but the kindle edition is over $9? Was looking forward to reading these books, but will not purchase a paper book because it is a waste of paper & refuse to have to pay 1/3 more for an electronic download.",1.0,Don't understand pricing,1335312000,"04 25, 2012",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2JIW3KF3069AT,142010375X,"AC ""AC""","[4, 6]","After books 1 and 2 there was a big expectation as to Gwenvael's story, but sadly the final result, in my opinion, falls short. The world created by the author is rich and attractive, but with all the space dedicated to the secondary characters and plots, very little time was actually used to develop the romance between the main couple. Don't get me wrong, the whole Anwyl's pregnancy situation was very interesting and touching, but in the end I felt we didn't really have the chance to see how and why ""the whore of the South"" fell for the ""beast of the North""...",2.0,Great potential not achieved,1262390400,"01 2, 2010",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 AVCVGWQHT5P7S,0131486861,Ruth Star,"[0, 0]","Though it doesn't give you outright answers to the mysteries of the mind, this book, written by the expert in the field, will certainly give you much to think about! It talks about a bunch of different neurological diseases and how they affect cognitive function, and what that tells us about normal cognitive function! It's an interesting, quick read, similar to the likes of Oliver Sacks' books, but not as repetitive. I recommend it to anyone, science background or not.",4.0,Fascinating reading for anyone interested in the mysteries of the mind,1223510400,"10 9, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RL9421UTAP4P,0802414966,"Amazon Customer ""Mom of a Dozen""","[6, 7]","""There was a time when a rape victim defined my life and left me physically void, cocooned in a prison of fear. It stole my every hope and dream. But God's love and His Word set my heart free. I learned that within the confines of God's story, nothing had been stolen from me, rather everything was given to me. My life, which felt so out of control, was in reality in complete control - God's control.""~ Wendy BlightHidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's StoryHidden JoyHidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story, by Wendy Blight, is the personal story of a tragic dark hour in her life that caused great pain, I cannot imagine, nor do I want to. One week after Wendy's college graduation she was violently raped and assualted in her apartment. She asks the many questions we all do when going through the valleys of life, ""Where was God?"" and ""Why did God allow this?"" For many years she lived in her own prison of fear, dispair and hopelessness. Even after she was married and had children, she did not want to be left alone, always making arrangments to go somewhere or have someone stay with her.""Satan took every opportunity to return me to a place of vulnerability and weakness. He knew fear paralyzed me and left me ineffective as a wife, as a mother, and as a friend. Even more significant and more pleasing to him, I was ineffective to God.""I don't know the fear of such violence and being alone. But I know the fear of letting children drive away in their car (or worse yet, a motorcycle), going away to camp, or to college. What if a deer runs in front of him? What if ""games"" are played at camp that took my son's life? What if my daughter who is on coumadin gets hit in the head by a volleyball? What if . . . and Satan continues to tear away my (our) joys and those around us.Wendy shares her testimony of forgiveness, healing and major transforming by grace because of the power of God and His Word. She does not want the focus to be ""rape"" but what God can do with the dark corners in your life and how you can find your hidden joy.""I want desperately for you to believe that God has a redemptive plan for your life and that no one and nothing can take that from you. No circumstance is too difficult and no choice too reprehensible, and no pain too deep for God to redeem. Before my rape occurred, God had set into motion His plan to heal and restore my broken heart. His only requirement was that I take the first step. I had to surrender my brokenness, my sorrow, my anger, and my pain and place it fully in His hands. When I took that step and sought Him for my answers, His redemptive plan immediately began to play out in my life.""In the back of this 206 page book is a ""Guide for Reflection and Study"" which would be ideal for group studies. From Chapter One, ""Valley of Weeping"" here is the first question for thought . . .1. Do you currently have a loss, a hurt or trial that is burdening your heart?a. How does this burden currently affect your life?b. Have you tried to deal with this issue through means other than God?""The author also has a blog and has an on line group going through her book and sharing about the questions in this section. I invite you to read Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner. It's one of those books you might want to purchase a couple of - to give away and/or to have on hand. It should be in your local library and church library. Give one to your local rape crisis center. It's a must read book.",5.0,Tragic Pain ~ Tremendous Healing,1245628800,"06 22, 2009",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A2GV1X8K37R8XB,1937167127,Karl Oemig,"[0, 1]",got the book because I like racing storiesBook turned out to be more about the characters then racing but I was glued to the story.I recommend this book for ages 10 and up,5.0,Race through this book,1360972800,"02 16, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A16W8I1XV8L88Q,0321121856,"Newsman78 ""newsman78""","[12, 12]","Kingdon has produced an innovative and useful theory of the policy process. This book is clearly not intended for the lay reader, but for political scientists and policy specialists interested in theorizing about policy formation.Kingdon's writing style is somewhat formal, and at times stiff, but the book is easy to get through. Kingdon provides many concrete examples of the ideas he discusses, making the abstract principles easier to understand.Recommended for classes on the policy process, especially in conjunction with Baumgarter and Jones' Agendas and Instability in American Politics.",5.0,"Good theory, easy to read",1097280000,"10 9, 2004",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A2D29XJFJAKR9K,0982770502,Lovestoread,"[0, 0]","I thought this book was fantastic. It wasn't too long and drawn out like some thrillers, it was the perfect length to hold my attention. The story line flowed and included a few twists which I liked. Overall it was an entertaining read. My suggestion is to not read any reviews that have spoilers... there was one review that ruined the ending for me! :(",5.0,Loved it!,1340755200,"06 27, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1DZT5D7BNDY5H,0739082418,Teacher Jan,"[7, 14]",It is a step by step easy to follow book. I highly recommend it for adults.,5.0,Great Book,1142726400,"03 19, 2006",7,14,helpful,0.5,1 A2AD5DD2STM0V7,9659157509,Aleise,"[0, 0]","It's "ok" ---- just rather trite plotline,and the way Jewish words were sprinkled in.Not much to mark it as a Manhattan experience.",2.0,Not notable but easy read,1367280000,"04 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5TVOEW8SNUD5,0316207047,Elizabeth Mish,"[0, 0]","This book was great! Loved the story it was interesting from start to finish. I love Axi and Robinson great characters. The story is fun, adventurous, sweet,and sad. My only wish is that the book was longer it was too short. I recommend this book to everyone",5.0,Love First Love,1392422400,"02 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1N1IS8DHOA6XS,0060779632,Donna Palahunic,"[0, 0]","Mixed paranormal with a great mystery, and a few surprises along the story line. Kept me reading. A surprise ending that will shock the reader.",5.0,Great mystery,1384646400,"11 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26TY6GCGBF5HT,0547750315,Graves,"[36, 47]","In ""To End All wars"" Hochschild writes a very good, well researched book on the first world war. Not so much on who went were to fight and did what, but looking at the motivations of who did what and most importantly on those who resisted the joyous wave to join the madness that devolved into the most horrific conditions of war in Humanities history.While students of the Great War are familiar with the wild craze of people joining up for the `great adventure' and film forage of wives seeing men off at train stations looking more like a celebration than the tearful separations of the second war, Hochschild seeks out those people who resisted the wave of militant patriotism to say was the war right? Should they go out and what punishments they faced for their stand. It is a story of people of great moral fiber and while they are to be commended one sort of gets the feeling Hochschild missed a critically important element.He says he chose the British to be the subject of his work because they had the highest number of dissenters of the major powers involved. Naturally this means that he has a great many sources to draw from but as I read on I found myself asking more and more, what about German dissenters? I do not mean to imply that the Germans were less moralistic than the British or that their objectors had any less ethics than those in Britain but the point is that the people in Britain were rather more free to express this feeling, even an unpopular one, in ways that were not allowed in Germany.He does have a few points wrong which are minor but niggling. For example he said that Churchill, being a scion of a noble house of course went into the cavalry. In fact by the time Churchill was a young man it was the Infantry that was considered the proper place to be with only dullards going to the cavalry, I know it's a small point but it breaks the flow of Hochschild's very good writing style, like hitting a pot hole on a previously glorious piece of highway.I learned from this book but I'm not sure I could say I enjoyed it. Hochschild writes very well and is telling the stories of people who certainly should be held up as examples of fortitude but a far, far better work for his topic might have focused on the French Army of 1917, which mutinied in protest, not of the war itself, they were defending their homeland from invaders, but how they were misused in that war. England may have had more protestors against the war and they were more literate in their protests, but in missing the fact they were free to do so, compared to the enemy, Hochschild seems to have missed the point that maybe the war was while terribly mishandled by the generals, in fact worth fighting. If that's the case, what does it say about those who resisted?",3.0,Well written book on a little seen topic,1306886400,"06 1, 2011",36,47,helpful,0.7659574468085106,1 A3B2DFMVEIT8TS,0385507607,"L. Blumenthal ""lynn""","[11, 11]","Alice Hoffman's PRACTICAL MAGIC is easily her most popular title, yet she hasn't written anything similar to that book in many years, much to the dismay of her many fans. Subsequent books have ranged from disturbing to unfulfilling, as she tackled such powerful themes as spousal abuse, hazing and identity change.But this book returns her to the genre that suits her best: magical realism. The wonderful book spins the tale of a family of magical women, who pass psychic gifts from generation to generation. It's up the the latest of the Sparrow women, a rebellious teenager, to trace the disturbing history of this haunted family. Meanwhile, her mother, unhappily married and attempting to turn her back on the Sparrow gifts, learns from her daughter the terrible truth of the original Sparrow "witch."It's glorious reading and done in the lush style that Hoffman wears like a kid glove. Any Hoffman fan who has been disappointed in recent years will love this book, as will newcomers to Hoffman's work.",5.0,Back to form,1066867200,"10 23, 2003",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A3A6GXILVT9JNW,0671027379,Jeanne Tassotto,"[0, 0]","This 2001 thriller from Dan Brown is, like ANGELS AND DEMONS and THE DAVINCI CODE, full of unexpected twists and turns sure to keep a reader in danger of missing meals, appointments and reading far into the night.The plot centers on Americans this time mostly those in power in Washington. Ambitious Senator Sexton would like to be the next occupant of the White House. This is a very real possibility since the current occupant, Zachery Herney has been slipping in the polls lately and has lately seem to withdraw from the campaign. Sexton has been pressing his attack on Herney's beloved NASA and the public has been increasingly in agreement with him.Soon though the action shifts from the corridors of power in the Capitol to the Artic. NASA has found a meteor embedded in a glacier. A most remarkable meteor. Soon Sexton's estranged daughter Rachel is swept up into the action. The action picks up speed and races along on land, in the air, on and under the water making incredible plot twists along the way mixing Washington intrigue and scandal with scientific discovery, lies and suspense.The only place this novel seems to falter is at the end. The final chapter seems to have been dashed off and is definitely not up to the standards of the rest of the book.That aside, this is a great read and will leave the reader searching for another novel from Brown.",4.0,Another hit from Dan Brown,1119398400,"06 22, 2005",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1CIDH3WOEGT05,0375724702,Steve Rogers,"[0, 0]","The stories in ""Progress of Love"" are quite long - about 30 pages each and demand time and attention by the reader. They often open in a tangential fashion and it is not until you are some way in the story you realize what or who the main subject is. The author is interested in relationships, especially couples and children and in a few sentences of observation or dialog conveys much meaning. Still these stories are not for everyone - there is a certain coldness about them, or maybe its the characters she portrays. You will have to read it yourself to judge. There is a longer review of this books and several others on my cultural blog which I invite you to visit and leave comments on - the link is in my profile.",4.0,master of the genre,1351728000,"11 1, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A75W6T9I2S8BA,030738649X,"B. Case ""InquiringMind""","[9, 9]","I have a life-long interest in archaeology and an abiding love for Homer and the Greek myths. So when I heard that Peter Ackroyd, a renowned and prolific British author, had published a novel--""The Fall of Troy""--about the excavation of Troy, I was intrigued.The more I investigated, the more curious I became. Ackroyd is an author who has published 30 books, as well as countless literary reviews, essays, and poems. His publications are surprisingly broad-based. They include novels, historical biographies, and major works of nonfiction. He is well-known in British literary circles not only for his own works, but also because he has held the position of chief book reviewer for ""The Times"" of London for more than twenty years. He has won the Whitbread Book Award for Biography, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, The Guardian Fiction Prize, the Somerset Maugham Award, and one of his novels was shortlisted for the Booker Prize--in all, a stellar literary career.What intrigued me about ""The Fall of Troy"" was why Ackroyd chose to fictionalize the life of Heinrich Schliemann--the infamous 19th-century archaeologist who excavated the ruins of the ancient city of Troy and ruined much of the archaeological evidence in the process. Ackroyd is an accomplished novelist and a prize-winning historical biographer. He wrote a famous biography of Thomas More. Why, in this new book, did he add so much fiction to the story of Schliemann, that he could no longer even call his main character by his real name? Instead we get Heinrich Obermann...and instead of a whole life, we get a fragment of a few months hyped into a highly fictionalized swashbuckling melodrama.After reading the book it is clear: Ackroyd wanted to satirize Heinrich Schliemann and fiction is, of course, the tool that does this best. ""The Fall of Troy"" is a brilliant satire! Schliemann, in the guise of Heinrich Obermann, comes off as a larger-than-life, grandiose, dangerously manipulating, self-promoting buffoon...and I loved it from the very first page!The character of Obermann is completely over-the-top. But there is just enough authenticity to the man so that readers get the feeling they are truly in the presence of the ""real"" Schliemann...and what a horrible, self-deluding racist and egotist he was! Don't read this book for the plot; read it for the unforgettable characterization of Schliemann. Overlook the plot if you have to--it only deserves two stars--at best, it is trite, predictable, and melodramatic. There were times I felt like I was reading the script for an engaging but awful blockbuster Hollywood movie.If you read this book, do so primarily for the chance to meet--in literary flesh, so-to-speak--the man and the personality that was Heinrich Schliemann. And then if you want to have even more fun, let this character stand in for any number of other highly placed, self-deluding buffoons that populate our contemporary world, particularly in the political arena. That should get even more smiles out of you.This is a clever and delightful book, an unexpected excellent satire. Enjoy!",4.0,Heinrich Schliemann Brilliantly Satirized,1200355200,"01 15, 2008",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A1ORS3IBG2M2F8,1585424811,Kevin Masi,"[4, 8]","I have been a student in Judith Wright's Institute for nearly a year, and can honestly say I have re-invented my life, from the inside, out. The One Decision, an important part of the curriculum, and represents the Institutes' essential teachings. Of course, as with any book, it can only influence life so far. However, as I continue to reflect and apply the ideas presented to my day-to-day experience, I am deepening my appreciation for the book's profound insight. This is a work worthy of serious study, and to anyone wishing to fully feel and engage their lives, One Decision can be transformational.",5.0,student on a path,1138838400,"02 2, 2006",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A2JT82BE792TLG,0451212142,Laura L. Darnell,"[39, 47]",This book was more about sex than the actual mystery. It was disappointing in that regard. I don't spend my money to read about sex - I spend it for a great mystery. This book could have been so much better if the actual story had been improved and the sex removed. It added nothing to the story line. I won't be wasting any more money on this author.,1.0,didn't appreciate,1338854400,"06 5, 2012",39,47,helpful,0.8297872340425532,1 AZ26CDSJ363AH,0307950174,"nycgirl ""nycgirl""","[4, 8]","Tao Lin is being touted as the 'It Boy' of hipster lit. The hype worked, and I was genuinely curious. Not only that, I share the same background as Lin (Taiwanese-American), and living in NYC, i'm familiar with this ""type"".Lin's writing style is definitely distinct--hate it if you must, but i find it very unique and it's probably is why he's gaining accolades: Detached, hyper-self-aware, running internal monologue catalogueing every meta-thought and micro-observation, no matter how mundane. With alpha-netizen authority, he introduces us to his friends like facebook profiles (i.e. ""Anne, 23 yrs old, filmmaker""). When someone approaches him, they ""grow larger and larger"" as if in a 2-Dimensional reality, obvi.After digesting Lin's stoic-bot prose, I was waiting for something to happen in this plot. But unfortunately, not much does. He just takes a lot of drugs and goes to parties, meets girls he's interested in, has some boring conversations, depressive thoughts, and travels to taiwan to see his parents, where he pops more drugs and spends most of the time pondering in a daze. The typical hipster, he's succeeded in Being The Best At Suffering.I was bored to tears, after figuring out that Just Existing is the point of the novel.Lin is obviously the Anti-hero and the Anti-Asian. Inso, I'm not expecting him to flaunt his ethnicity, but he could have educated readers at least somewhat on Taipei and Taiwanese culture. So many Americans don't even know where Taiwan is. I'm sure he's grown up with ppl saying ""where? Thailand?"" Lin could have stylistically leveraged this into his novel. I mean, there are so many amazing things about Taipei (the food, for one!) but he left all of it out! Probably b/c he was drugged up the whole time.As a reader, you're left with barely any idea of what 'Taipei' is about, literally and figuratively. Sad.",3.0,"true 'hipster lit' = stylistically good, but... that's pretty much it",1375056000,"07 29, 2013",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A2U7YJTGB6JMAK,043902353X,A&P,"[0, 0]","The second book of the Hunger Games trilogy is even better than the first, although Katniss, the protagonist, seems to be more of an emotional liability than a take-charge heroine. 04-2012",5.0,What else is there to say?,1370649600,"06 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1IN8JDNEKWPU6,0061783161,Sarah Brock,"[0, 0]",I loved the story line in this book. It definatly had a twist and turn I wasn't expecting. I highly recommend this book.,5.0,Great read,1362009600,"02 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AS133VOY96W32,0307264785,Viola Chen,"[5, 7]","Let me start by saying that I find traffic quite interesting. I think of traffic as a social engineering problem that combines some elements of economics (you have self-interested individuals acting non-cooperatively) and some elements of mathematical physics (I know nothing about that). Given my casual interest on the topic, I was excited to read this book, but in the end, I was sorely disappointed.The book as a whole has no coherent theme, no overall message, no driving purpose. It is a collection of interesting facts and thoughts about traffic, but with no central theme to tie everything together. I think that the sub-chapters of the book would work well individually as short articles for a magazine, an online news site, or a blog. The sub-chapters do contain interesting tidbits of information and insight. Individually, they are not bad. Collectively, they do not work. After I finished the book, I walked away from it wondering what I really learned. Unfortunately, not much.Despite the fact that the book may have been well-researched (one-fourth of the book is endnotes), the research is not necessarily presented in a way that makes for a compelling argument or convincing message. Many thoughts were superficial and underdeveloped. The book is full of curiosity-inducing hooks with lackluster answers. For example, ""Why women cause more congestion than men"" is a very intriguing chapter title. Yet the answer falls flat. It is because more women have entered the workforce in the past 40 years, so they have added to the volume of cars on the streets.Additionally, the author's arguments are often incomplete and the logic is not well-thought out. For instance, in Chapter 7, he argues in favor of getting rid of traffic signs. To make his point, the author cites the traffic engineer Hans Monderman who eliminated street signs in a Dutch village called Oudehaske. The idea is that drivers would drive slower and more safely without any street signs because cyclists and pedestrians also shared the road. Drivers would be more cautious as they are brought into a ""social world"" and taken out of the ""traffic world."" The drivers would be more aware of themselves interacting with other people rather than feeling socially disconnected within their cars. However, in the very next chapter, the author criticized the lack of street signs in New Delhi, India. He cites an illegible, handwritten ""No U-Turn"" sign in place of a standard street sign as an example of one of the traffic problems in New Delhi. Wouldn't New Delhi be the perfect example of a place of a ""social world""? All the numerous modes of transportation are mixed into one space. Why doesn't the theory of no street signs work in New Delhi? The logic and arguments from Chapter 7 does not follow into Chapter 8, and the author does not elaborate to reconcile the differences.Overall, I can't recommend this book. Bits and pieces of it aren't bad, but as a whole, it simply doesn't hold together.",3.0,"Interesting random tidbits, but lacking coherence",1253664000,"09 23, 2009",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 ANEDXRFDZDL18,1609611624,Serene Night,"[19, 19]","This exciting and inclusive guide to gardening in Williamsburg Virginia, colonial style was a delight to read and quite fascinating. I was intrigued to learn the origins and perceived qualities of common garden vegetables. I am an avid vegetable gardener and found many of the tips useful and quite stunning in their simplicity. For instance, they suggest using a regular terra cotta pot to blanch endive, and I liked the idea of using a brick leaned against the edge of a raised bed to attract snails/slugs. The authors also go into some detail about the origin of each plant, and sometimes include interesting factoids, such as the fact that lettuce was once considered an aphrodisiac!I enjoyed the photography of this book as well. The people pictured wear authentic Colonial garb and look quite charming (although a bit warm), in their clothing. Pictures such as the picture of the chard growing in a field with a worker in the background are well done.What's included?The authors cover common garden vegetables found in Williamsburg Gardens and instructions on how to plant them. There is some discussion of Williamsburg history, and pest prevention techniques. Pictures illustrate some of the gardening techniques. Photos are plentiful. Histories and origins of plants are discussed, as well as different methods of preparing crops the Williamsburg way.Who will like this?Vegetable gardeners everywhere will enjoy this book. Even non-fans of gardening will enjoy the history of vegetables, the fantastic photographs and the wonderful pictures of Virginia. This would make an excellent gift for gardener or those interested in Colonial Virginia.Recommended? YesReview Copy, courtesy of Netgalley.",5.0,Wonderful,1329350400,"02 16, 2012",19,19,helpful,1.0,1 ADUSA17FL64TT,0965761061,James Wilk,"[7, 8]","This is the third book I have read in the past decade dealing with the perversion of Jesus' teachings by Conservatives/Fundamentalists in America:Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism: A Bishop Rethinks the Meaning of Scripture by John Shelby SpongStealing Jesus: How Fundamentalism Betrays Christianity by Bruce BawerJesus Was a Liberal: How the Conservative Agenda Is a Rejection of Christ's Teachings by Jerry WildeThe interested reader should make every attempt to read all three of these books because they each explore this very important issue in different ways.Of the three, Wilde's book is the shortest, most overtly political and most passionate. It would not be too far afield to describe it as a jeremiad against the Bush administration. The book is a quick read and barely scratches the surface insofar as cataloging the offenses committed by conservatives in American government. The book is very one-sided, but it doesn't claim to be otherwise. The author is very upfront about his liberal viewpoint and biases.I shall be upfront about my political orientation in this review: I too am a liberal and a Christian and I strongly share Wilde's revulsion and anger at the various acts committed by the Right in America in the name of Jesus.The best I can tell, the book is self-published. I'll leave the implications of this to the reader of this review. One sad implication is that for every copy of Jesus Was a Liberal sold, there are at least 10,000 copies of Going Rogue flying from the shelves at WalMart.By all indications, the majority of this text was written shortly after the election in 2004. It's now five years hence and we have seen a sea change in Washington in the interrim. What is the reader to do now that the balance of power has shifted in Washington, with Democrats (not necessarily liberals, however) in control of both houses of congress and in the Oval Office?Granted, the right-wing hasn't simply vanished; in some ways--such as the TEA party movement--the right is even more visible than before. Furthermore, the Iraq war continues and the economic legacy of the Bush years (the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression) shows few signs of abating in the near future. But this book is crying out for a new, updated edition, and it is crying out to be noticed by a major publisher, so that its message can be more widely disseminated.",4.0,Thought-provoking but out-of-date indictment of the Bush administration,1261785600,"12 26, 2009",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A1TH45SI84KQJW,0425179265,"Siren ""Siren""","[4, 4]","This writer is a genius!! His storytelling is superb! I read the first Mummy and then saw the movie. I have read many movie adapations and by far, he is the best adapter of them all. When I heard this one was being released, I immediatly bought it. And as with the first, was never disappointed. He expresses wonderful emotions throughout. His descriptions of the events and how the characters look and feel is incredible!! I am already looking for other books by this author! Another thing about how he writes, you don't feel disappointed when you see the movie. I feel weary reading the book first, before the movie. But never get disappointed! A MUST read for ANY mummy fan!!!!!",5.0,As good as the first!!!!,987897600,"04 22, 2001",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 ANHRDJU0BGNJ7,0375504877,"Winnie","[0, 0]","Outstanding, well-written and very enjoyable read. Much that I did not know about "Teddy" was revealed and it is always interesting to read of eras in history, politics, and culture of we were not contemporary. How very much times and people change even as they stay the same!",5.0,Teddy Roosevelt,1354838400,"12 7, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1XGCTJ5U2U9NB,0062502522,Karen E. Roubal,"[0, 1]","Remember when the Doc made an oath to "do no harm" when he was in medicalschool? They don't do that anymore. However, Faith and Medicine still shouldgo hand in hand. Good read.",5.0,Faith and Medicine,1362009600,"02 28, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A15I8R61GD3TUB,B00HF95IIS,jlb357,"[0, 0]","Drew has been looking forward to college graduation, then graduate school in psychology. She hadn't anticipated her grandfather's illness would call her parents away, or that she'd be babysitting her spoiled teenage sister and running the family miniature golf business. And she definitely hadn't expected to meet Weston, her sister's drool-worthy math teacher.Between romantic angst and some very adult thoughts about the hunky teacher, Drew finds herself in danger of falling in love. Not that there aren't red flags. He seems to be hiding something, and he draws back even from a first kiss. What's the deal?A sweet romance that reads quickly and will leave you feeling good. Recommended.",5.0,Romantic Comedy Par Excellence!,1387843200,"12 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AE4C3PCBUIYU8,0330419668,Dra Claudia Rodari,"[0, 0]","The Winner starts as a very good novel, dark, profound characters, but as it goes on, it gets too long...The time span that the book travels is long and the author lingers too much on all the details; many scenes are predictable in the second half of the book, and even if without all little details Baldacci gives you, you can imagine the end when you still have 15% of the book to go..If it had been 150 pages shorter, o even 200 shorter, it would be great, but... it gets hard to get to the end... I'm a little tired....!!!",4.0,"The sorter, the better",1349049600,"10 1, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZWGLMUJSVB44,0425255700,julie a. ellis,"[5, 6]","Since I have been reading LKH books from the beginning I was hoping she had read some of her fans writings for once. I along with many others it seems are unhappy with the direction she has taken Anita & all her friends. For the last few years I have not been buying her books, but getting them from the library, hoping to make a point that they aren't worth the purchase. This one did start out better than her last few releases, but again went into too much background & descriptions.I REALLY don't like writing the negatives about a book as I have the ultimate respect for writers & their talents, but I as a reader would hope Laurell or her publishers would quit going for the profits & go back to what got her all her fans in the first place, great writing. Her picking up another animal to call or connect with was overkill. The sex scene with Nicky & Nathaniel was totally unnecessary. This is a type of back room sex that doesn't need to be sold as ok for anyone to do! In books the whole process comes out ok for all parties, in real life I think some take it too far & someone dies. Not something that should be romantizied for anyone, teen or adult.I have been hoping that LKH would make a change in her story lines, go back to what brought us all in to her world of kick-ass heroine, vampires, furry friends & Edward, but it seems she writes for the almighty dollar now. Those of us that have quit paying for her books, doesn't seem to be impacting anyone but ourselves by saving our money for better books.Laurell, please, please go back to writing Anita as she started out, a lead character that was interesting from beginning to end & not just some super woman that jumps from bed to bed.........",3.0,Better but not quite there,1378166400,"09 3, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AMRL5ZQ3TMP2H,1400074304,M. Fairbanks,"[0, 0]",This is a historical story about a lady who planted a garden in our beautiful state that still exists. I was so glad to learn more about her and all that went into the plantings we now enjoy,5.0,great story,1359590400,"01 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KM9UA6MAVURN,1497362431,"pjf ""pjf""","[7, 7]","Andre Klein writes not only the best, but really the only stories in German for language learners - particularly in the Amazon kindle store. For the rank beginner, he's given readers Peter und das Huhn, Bert das Buch, Fred der Fisch, etc. For advanced learners there's his crimi/detective series, Mord und Morgen. But for the intermediate learner, there are the Dino stories, Café in Berlin, Fieren in Frankfurt and this last Karneval in Koln.These latter short ten chapter books revolve around Dino, a Sicilian who comes to Germany to learn enough German to get a job. Each chapter is followed by a short glossary. The most useful part of these books is that unlike your language learning program, they give you colloquial expressions. They are also amusing to read -- almost all other German readers are deadly dull, but I can read and reread about Dino's adventures when I want to brush up on my German, because they are fun and ironic, never boring.I am around level 5 of Rosetta stone, and can read about 80% of these books without needing the glossary, so they have just a bit of a challenge for me. Since the meaning is never more than a page or two away, though, anyone can read them. You'll find Dino's trials and troubles mildly amusing too, and learn a little German vocabulary and something of German life and culture at the same time.What I'd like though for future stories about Dino, is rather than pass through various cities more or less as a tourist on vacation in the next installment, he tells us about what its like to get a job, maybe a girlfriend and work and shop - real life. At least for one installment. I'm hoping very much Klein continues this series, because they are the best German readers out there . But Dino's had enough sightseeing, pub crawling and partying. Let's see him settling down to a non tourist life in Germany with a real job as the next step in his adventures. After all, he can always get fired or work as a temp to switch the scene for the next installment.I'd like to see a new Dino volume each month, if possible, or 3-4 times a year. They're not expensive, can be read and reread to refresh vocabulary, are amusing and current, and Klein puts out the only German readers that aren't deadly dull !! (I know, I've looked and his are the only ones that make me laugh and learn.) Here's to more.",4.0,"more stories please, but give Dino a better job and a real life",1396310400,"04 1, 2014",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A1KT7UT9A0I9CE,1478716215,"Beretverde ""Cafe Raconteur""","[19, 21]",A fraud and a lie. A classsic example of Stolen Valor and money made by con artists. This is a sham and a disgrace to the real Special Forces Soldiers who fought and died.,1.0,Stolen Valor-Fraud-Classic Example,1381881600,"10 16, 2013",19,21,helpful,0.9047619047619048,1 AASU4ZUC1W07B,1416564071,Melisa C. Willingham,"[0, 0]",The book has good southern receips and every dish I have made has come out really well. There are also many recipes to choose from.,5.0,Pleased with the book,1385856000,"12 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALIT0RZ5VSNAJ,1476755590,"Amazon Customer ""Absolutely love to read, any...","[0, 0]","As I am writing this review I am listening to Iris and thinking of Remy. I completely and utterly fell in love with this man from the moment he met Brooke. Even with the issues he has he has more depth than many many men I know. I haven't experienced a more giving and selfless person. Remy is what you dream about when you are a young girl picturing your night in shining armor. In a few instances I believe that Brooke didn't handle things well and for Remy to be the one with the problem he handled the situation much better than she did.I am probably not making a lot of sense right now because I am totally enthralled with this book, this man and my mind is going in all directions. All I can say is that it was a wonderful read and I am so glad that I did.",5.0,wonderful,1377907200,"08 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2UCICMKREZF0Y,1939416019,"Judi Morgan-Fuller ""J Morgan-Fuller""","[8, 11]","In so many ways this was just plain awful. First, I am trying to remember the name of the book from which some of this story came. Second, the grammar oh my goodness where to start - no on second thought just leave it I don't want to waste my time. Third, the time lines never made sense. Fourth, never mind I simply can't be bothered. Someone made the statement that this writer was in the same realm with J.K. Rowling, George R.R. Martin, Rick Riordan, Christopher Paolini and J.R.R. Tolkien, well all I can say is NO WAY!",1.0,Awful just plain awful,1373673600,"07 13, 2013",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A3SGP1E699RZV5,B0072PMYNM,M. DeKalb,"[0, 0]","In the remote northern woods of Maine, about midway between Presque Isle and Bangor lies the fictitious town Paskagankee (the closest actual town / name would be: Passadumkeag). A sleeper town with a cursed history. Arising from an ancient Abanaki curse something is haunting the woods, a hunter of people and dismemberer of corporeal forms.Newly appointed Chief of Police Mike McMahon and his favored officer Sharon DuPont (a rookie... a reportedly hot rookie) track down leads that eventually have them meet professor Kenneth Dye, a savant of the Abanaki history and curse. Together the three aim to find this cursed being and put an end to the 320 year old demons lust for blood.Mysterious, suspenseful, supernatural, human and at points romantic this makes for a decent, quick read as it maintains ones attention throughout. The ending is turned in just the right `didn't see that coming' direction to give the reader a good amount of closure and satisfaction.",4.0,Small Towns; Scary Places.,1345939200,"08 26, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3CXIPKECPZYKR,0307913090,Pastor Bill,"[0, 2]","My family is reading this book. You try it too.Give it a try, try, try, and you'll buy, buy, buy.",4.0,A Great Read,1371686400,"06 20, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2I7BB3AS7CINF,0899424066,Kevin C,"[11, 11]","When I began to pray the LOH (morning & evening prayer) I began to realized what prayer was intended to be - Praise and Worship. The exposure to the Psalms, Canticles and scripture readings have helped make made God present in my life. Even when I pray alone there is comfort knowing that the rest of the church is also praying the same prayers. The LOH also helped me to experience church in a broader sense - (brothers and sisters in Christ). It has transormed my prayer life. I went from a laundry list of wants (me) and now focus on Him and my brothers and sisters. It takes a few times to get the format down, however it is well worth the effort. I HIGHLY recommend praying the LOH if you are searching for deeper waters.",5.0,Changed my prayer life,1219795200,"08 27, 2008",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A2GXRU3M22GWY1,0307888908,Ilya B.,"[0, 0]","This book offers some interesting advice into how to manage your career, do networking, etc. I'd say It is an interesting read though I didn't find it tremendously useful.",4.0,Interesting,1399507200,"05 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14PHG6QJ1DTG,0375700188,"Stephen M. Bainbridge ""www.professorbainbridg...","[32, 33]","Thomas a Kempis was medival monk and priest (1380-1471) who served as chronicler of the monastery at Mt. St. Agnes. During his long life of scholarship, he wrote several biographies of church fathers and a number of devotional works. The "Imitation of Christ" remains his most famous work and the one that has best stood the test of time. Indeed, one of the wonderful things about this work is that it reminds us that the life of the mind is not a creature of the Enlightenment. Even during the so-called Dark Ages there were brilliant scholars with a wide knowledge of both scripture and philosophy. Reflecting its vibrant insight into the human condition, the "Imitation of Christ" remains influential on both sides of the Reformation divide. It reportedly was, for example, one of John Wesley's favorite devotionals.The "Imitation of Christ" is divided into 4 books, each undertaking a basic theme for development. They are, respectively, the Spiritual Life, the Inner Life, Inward Consolation, and the Blessed Sacrament (i.e., the Eucharist). In turn, each book is sub-divided into numerous chapters, each a page or two long. All of which makes the "Imitation of Christ" a useful book for daily devotionals. One can skip around freely within the book, dipping in as the mood strikes. Yet, I think one is well-served by reading it through at least once. Only then does one see Thomas' thought in its fully-developed form. Do be sure to get a good translation. I am fond of the one by Leo Sherley-Price.",5.0,A wonderful devotional of great historical significance,978220800,"12 31, 2000",32,33,helpful,0.9696969696969697,1 A3LS0T24AYEAX2,1467969389,"Chris Yarbrough ""USMC 1811""","[5, 8]","There was a great conclusion to this book, very dramatic. Hope to see a third book. If I am not mistaken I think Mr. Grit left a door open for a third book. I will buy it if he writes it. This story really gets you in the gut and it is hard to put down.",5.0,Hoping for a third installment,1336608000,"05 10, 2012",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A9KMSGER3XSXU,0446528382,A Former Dale Carnegie Instructor,"[9, 10]","For those reviewers who criticized this book, I suggest you couple your reading it with reading "West Point" by Norman Thomas Remick. You'll see, and more important, understand the virtues Jack Welch is expounding. And, most important, it will help your economic lifestyle as it helps you slide down the bannisters of life that have all the splinters pointing in the other direction.",5.0,Be Smart,1005091200,"11 7, 2001",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A2Y9TNOW0GE38U,0385732554,erp,"[0, 0]","(spoilers)I enjoyed this book because it was a different take on what the future will be like. I know that other books have been written about this, but I liked this booked because the writing was so crisp and concise. Also, the more you read, the more you understood. I didn't pick up that they could see color until Jonas noticed a change in the apple.The only reason that I took one star away, was that the ending was a little bit of a let down. He escapes, but it was only in the last quarter of the book. We don't know how it turned out for him.",4.0,Creative and different!,1388361600,"12 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALF8Y3H6ESN55,0060974990,Jennifer Christiansen,"[0, 2]","An in-your-face exposure of the American Education System, this book reveals the denial and bigotry of the upper echelon of society. The unfairness and lack of concern for equal education and the distribution of resources are revealed as acceptable and unchangeable in today's society. The inequalities are described and supported not only by Kozol, but also by students, parents and educators. Kozol's novel uncovers these inequalities with much illustrative detail in various communities. The descriptions of some of the environments of these schools are absolutely appalling. Kozol reveals low-income communities where the American Education System has not left the past behind - instead, it is dragging it along.",5.0,The American Education System - At Its Worst,965692800,"08 8, 2000",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1J4LOI8K1KQUV,0143120492,Amazon Customer,"[5, 5]","The other reviewers have described Emily and the plot. This is the most engrossing book I've read in recent memory. (A close second is 600 Hours of Edward.) I did like Last Night at the Lobster, so I got this one. It is amazing, He captures Emily's life in the little details and the memories of what's lost. It somewhat reminds me of John D. MacDonald'e Condominium (the better parts, early on, introducing Henry, etc.) but O'Nan is a more fluid writer.I read it then re-read it. I hardly ever do that!",5.0,Totally absorbing,1301356800,"03 29, 2011",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A30OXD42ZFYZLO,0099429799,Thomas Keneally,"[12, 14]","Ian McEwan has written many beautiful books, but this tops them all. The book is one of the most captivating ones that I read and easily beats the Booker winner ""True History of the Kelly Gang"". It is divided into two parts, the youth and the adult. When young, Robbie Turner and Brionie Tallis are placed in unusual surroundings. Both are going through changes. Robbie is an intelligent adult who lives in the Tallis family where his mother works as a housemaid. He is in love with Cecilia, the oldest daughter of the family. Though he is an intellectual, he is placed in unusual settings as he understands the class distinctions of the day and does not know how to react to them. Briony is a dreamer who sets up the play ""Trials of Arabella"" to welcome her brother who comes with a stupid and rich businessman. By the end of the day, Robbie and Cecilia understand their love for each other. However, a rape happens in the family and Briony blames Robbie for it.Here the second part of the book starts where Robbie signs up for the army and is released from prison. The only thing that keeps him alive is their love. This is beautifully portrayed in the book. Briony grows up in age and mentally and signs up to be a nurse. The parts about the war are extremely well written without melodrama and due to great research by the author in the British War Museum. Briony realizes the mistake she has done and requests to see her sister. Her sister cuts herself from the family after they do not stand up for Robbie on the basis of a kid's accusal. The book shows many things, the gradual changes in England, the growing up of the people, the cruelty among children and how people try to make up for their mistakes. As in all McEwan's midlife work, a private drama of loss of innocence or betrayal is played out against a larger history of bad faith. When Briony meets her sister, she sees Robbie there who rightly gets mad at her. This part is one of the best and the saddest. When he charges her with what she did, she agrees with him and says what changed her was ""Growing up."" This outrages him more, ""How much more growing up do you have to do?"" Unfortunately, the person who did the error could not be charged, that is one of life's ironies. The novel comes together beautifully and can be read any number of times for its different pieces - irony, romance, war, passion and even comedy. Though the overall tone is sad, it has a satisfying feeling that I did not get from most of his books. I would put it down to one of the best books I have read in recent times.",5.0,One of the most brilliant books of the year,1122508800,"07 28, 2005",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1AW9X03LO2TW5,0060098538,D. Shaffer,"[26, 34]","This was one of the worst romance books I have ever read. It was so hard to get through that I had to start skimming the book. There was very little romance in this story, even the love scenes--which to me includes not just sex, but kissing, touching, and intimacy both physical and non physical--between Graham and Submit are boring and tedious, nothing remotely erotic or sensual. There was no chemistry between Graham and Submit and they have only a few intimate moments together. The heroine was such an opinionated, snobbish, stuck-up little hypocrite that I found it difficult to believe that the hero would want to spend his whole life with her let alone five minutes. Moreover, the hero spends most of the book involved with someone else who is just as annoying as the heroine. Then when you get to the ending, it gets even worst--the actions of the heroine is so unbelievably stupid it is almost hilarious. This is the first time I have ever felt the need to post a review be it positive or negative about a book, but this romance was sooooo bad that I hope I can save one person from wasting her/his money and time on this book. But if you are still willing to give this book a try, I suggest you check it out of a library first. Furthermore, this is the LAST time I buy a book which is a rewrite of an author's earlier work. Those books never seem to be any good.",1.0,Extremely tedious and boring,1024963200,"06 25, 2002",26,34,helpful,0.7647058823529411,1 A18N2582WGL8UC,0615481035,Karen Grubel,"[6, 7]",Very good book. Kept me involved from the beginning. The violence was a little over the top but the plot made it worth reading. The characters were varied enough to keep me engaged all through the book.,4.0,SUPER,1373932800,"07 16, 2013",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A2FY8MYX4JS7VJ,0345528506,artfan4ever,"[0, 0]",Never fails to disappoint- Karin Slaughter grabs you from the beginning & doesn't let you go till the very end- she only gets better with each successive novel,5.0,Never fails,1364256000,"03 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1FJFZ97R97QNZ,1936096420,Anet,"[0, 0]","I have many knitting books and this one must rank as one of the very best. I want to make at least 10 of the projects in there, and the impact of having all the items in red is incredibly effective and energizing. So far I have tried one pattern and on the technical side there are no issues. This is important, as there are many pretty knitting books out there, and it is no good when the patterns do not work. There is a great variety in the book, and I am motivated to go ""beyond the cowl'n scarf"" which is where I have been stuck for years. I am also inspired to wear more red, and to take more out of life, living it better, which is one of the messages of this beautiful, inspiring, common-sense book.",5.0,Makes you want to knit...in red!,1347235200,"09 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UH21GLZTYYR5,1461132193,"Kelly Rubidoux ""soulswallo""","[0, 0]","It took a bit for me to fall into this world, but once I did, I fell hard and I liked it. Kearn has been given a duty that should have been a blessing and instead, because of the circumstances that led to him being chosen over his brother, he hates it and has isolated himself from everything he used to hold dear. Since this duty comes with physical changes (hair and eye color that make him stand out from other vampires and a tattoo to help him channel his power), it's something he has to face every time he looks in a mirror. I felt for the poor guy. To hate this duty that he can't rid himself of AND be estranged from his family made what he's going through so tragic.Amber, on the other hand, has it pretty easy. Well, except for that whole thing where her blood is highly prized and if the wrong people get their hands on her she'll suffer a world of pain and all sorts of other badness. Good thing Kearn stumbles over her when things aren't looking to good, huh? These two simmer for a bit before combusting. Just the way I like it.Felicity Heaton has built an intriguing world with classes and levels of nobility. The nobles bend the rules when then can and humans are looked down on. Bloody, a little dark, and full of lots of twists and backstabbing... which are pretty much all the things I look for in a book about vampires.-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal",4.0,A Reading the Paranormal Review,1365552000,"04 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADVWSML4RM3CI,0307265439,"C. Myles ""eclectic reader""","[9, 19]","Whenever this book came out, I picked it off the shelves for some reason. What a mistake! After months of leaving it on the shelf, I have no recollection of any of the things I read in the other reviews about the book. Specifically, though, I do remember his overuse of incomplete sentences, sentences with, usually, no subject, just description. Half of the page is incomplete sentences. These things should be used sparingly, with attention to where they are placed and its ultimate purpose. These had no purpose and got extremely annoying after the first page. As far as the theme...apocalypse? Haven't we all seen that enough? It's one of the least original ideas for a book, and this doesn't even come close to the top million. The plot: dull. Characters: undeveloped. He never cues us as to what happened or how the few survived or anything. Somehow, of course, to make his ending work, the kid finds one good person in the lot of bad ones. Everybody they come across is bad...until--magically!--this guy appears five minutes after the father's death. How believable.And so what if he recieved an award? Award winning books, like another reviewer said, don't always make great reads. It definitly makes me question whether these people have any idea who they're handing out awards to and whether they know what good writing means.Since reading this, I have never picked up another book by Mccarthy, and never will. It'll only deteriorate your faith in the written word or in his case, the blabbered word.",1.0,Horrible,1203292800,"02 18, 2008",9,19,helpful,0.47368421052631576,1 A226HIHIVFUPLL,0073535338,Lev Raphael,"[4, 5]","I bought this book for an introductory class and I'm finding it well-balanced, though not perfect. Other books I've seen hit you too hard and too fast. This one introduces German basics at a decent clip. Now, I have been to Germany three times and have studied it on my own and taken one brief Conversational German course, but I do find the introduction to grammar and vocabulary pitched just right even for beginners. The disputatious reviews here point to the fact that learning a language is very idiosyncratic--we all learn differently and hopefully can adapt whatever text we use to our own learning styles. But you have to work to identify how you learn to know what's helpful and what isn't. I'm enjoying the book, neither finding it wonderful nor thinking it deplorable. Watching and listening to students in my lass who have little or no German background, I think they're doing well and not hating the text. BTW, it is expensive, but it's being used for the second semester of this course, so that breaks down to a bit over $50 for each semester, which isn't bad. Ditto the on-line workbook (which has some glitches, be prepared): that ends up being around less than $25 a semester since the ""key"" you buy is good for 24 months.",3.0,Es macht Spass!,1233187200,"01 29, 2009",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,0972357807,Midwest Book Review,"[10, 12]","When you're on the trail of treasure, you're in a never ending race. ""Saltwater Taffy"" follows a group of friends on the hunt for the treasure of Jean Latfitte, and they soon find this mystery is filled with peril and other people who think they have better things to do with the treasure than a group of kids. A fun novel for young readers who love adventure, ""Saltwater Taffy"" is a solid addition to any youth novels collection.",5.0,A solid addition to any youth novels collection,1281052800,"08 6, 2010",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1AGTOHX5WORVZ,143924345X,Dawn M. Trautwein,"[4, 9]","I was disappointed with this book. The author's narrative and writing style was somewhat juvinile, which I could have overlooked if he wasn't such an unsympathetic character. He wasn't a victim, he volunteered.Ignoring all the red flags and numerous warnings from friends and family, he rushes into a marriage with a stranger he's known for a few weeks, and then cries that he's been deceived.He does nothing to protect the children involved when he sees them being mistreated. For example, he recalls numerous times when his wife makes her two-year-old son sleep on the floor of the laundry room with no bedding. He reports to ask her about it and mocks her reply that the boy enjoys it, "yeah right." And yet he did nothing to help this child; he stands by allowing it to happen. Like most of his anectdotes, what he intends as a scathing illustration of her bad character is actually a revelation of his own. She is evil; what is his excuse?The reason why it is considered risky or dangerous to marry someone you've only known for a handful of weeks is that you don't know them; it only by observing someone in varied situations over a long time that you can even marginally know their character. With no consideration of his own son's well-being (who has alreay endured one divorce due to his father's immature impatience) he puts the child at risk for a second divorce and the dissolution of a second family. Again, he volunteered.The author's writing shows promise but isn't quite at a professional level. For example, the term is correctly "my curiosity is piqued" not "peeked".The true crime genere is big enough to provide many stories that are well-written and balanced, with sympathetic protagonists. This one is not.",2.0,Not a victim but a volunteer,1354924800,"12 8, 2012",4,9,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A2CIDOF7SC4E8M,1477695060,Madaboutbooks,"[0, 0]","Love this series, love these men! Good, quick reads with lots of sigh worthy moments. Kate Perry is one of my new favorite authors.If you like her books you will also love Shannon Stacey and Melissa Foster.",5.0,Laurel Heights Series - love it!,1390262400,"01 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A13B482F8B959X,B00AQJRYWC,Manon Aubert,"[0, 0]","Wow! This book start very hot and keep you warm until the last page where you can let out all the steam! ;-) If you are looking for a book who will keep you hungry from page to page, this is the one for you.",5.0,Steamy and hot!,1405555200,"07 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1D5O66Z92WXVT,0441858767,"Kim Unertl ""kimz0519""","[8, 8]","I only purchased this book because of Swanwick's 1998 short story "Radiant Doors" which was such an amazing story that I knew I had to see if he had written any longer sci fi. I was pretty amazed when I did a search on him and saw how many novels he has written. I have a lot of friends who read sci fi and NONE of them ever mentioned Swanwick.I am very happy to have stumbled onto this book. What a great read! It has something that you don't always see in sci fi: exploration of thought provoking issues PLUS a fun side that makes the book really enjoyable to read. One of the things this book does best is to put you in it's world and proceed with telling it's story. It doesn't try to explain everything in it's world upfront and doesn't use any cheesy narrative techniques to explain everything. Rather, you learn about how this world is set up through the story itself. Everything fits into place and as I was reading it, I was constantly saying "Ahhh, well that explains that!".Since this book was written in 1987, many of the topics discussed in it (ie hive mentality, integration of technology into humanity) have been discussed to death in other novels. However, this book stands out in two ways: it was ahead of the rest AND it's better than the rest. This book has elements of Neuromancer, Ender's Game, and even Star Trek (the Borg). But it uses all of those items in such original ways that it stands on it's own. Great sci fi novel, highly recommended.",5.0,Ashamed that I hadn't read this one earlier,969408000,"09 20, 2000",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A13MVWJ9NNLS00,1481095935,Kindle Customer,"[4, 4]","The second of the Scott Cullen mysteries, this story takes place about 6 months after the events in the 1st book, Ghost in the Machine. The story takes place over 2 days and so has a more tight feeling than the previous outing.The main crux of the story revolves around the search for the killer of a mentally challenged 13 year old girl whose body is found early morning by a woman walking her dogs. The main suspect, local bad boy Jamie Cook, is nowhere to be found. The parents of the dead girl, and several of their friends are members of a newly set up 'church' and this lends a slightly sinister air to proceedings at times. I'll be honest and say I thought I had it all sussed out fairly early on - but I was very wrong!The story brings back many of the characters from the 1st book as well as introducing more that I hope we have not seen the last of.This is a series that is going from strength to strength and I eagerly await my next visit with the officers of Leith Walk Police Station.",4.0,4 and 1/2 stars,1354665600,"12 5, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A62GB7HSDY08J,0525950796,Carl E. Peterson,"[6, 10]","Tim Keller gives an insightful read in his new book ""Prodigal God."" I like what he has to say about the younger and the older son. But I believe that he tries to put the point of the story too firmly on the older son and his reaction to the return of the yougner son. The most important character in the parable is the Father who represents well . . . the Father. It is the Father's response to both sons that is most important. Like in the other two parables before this one, the point is God's response to sinners. He is waiting to celebrate the return of the sinner and to kill the fatted calf. But since it is a parable one can also learn much from the sons in the story. The parable is not one dimensional. The parables are more like a work of art than a systematic theolgical treatise. They do have a main point but they are so rich in meaning. Keller seems to take away from this grand picture of meaning and tries to explain the parable. First I do not think what he thinks the point of the parable is the point of the parable. And I think that he forces that one point so much that other lessons found in the parable are diminished. that is a shame. But I still liked the book. I just di not drink all the kool-aid.",3.0,Too narrow,1252281600,"09 7, 2009",6,10,helpful,0.6,1 A3A3S81YP2V752,B00LDFLY6U,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Finally!!! At last... Kane is gone. I hope forever! I'm so happy we finally got some where. If there is anything i don't like is a useless episode that doesn't move the story along. Especially since we have to wait two weeks for another 60 plus pages.I truly hated the way that the Kane and Raegan storlyline evolved and the way that Hendrix was literally ejected from the episodes.I cringed and skipped the already short pages when it was Kane and Reagan making out! So for me to finally see that Kane is gone, I'm relieved. Last episode I told myself if nothing changes in episode 11 I'm done!So i'm so happy to have some closure to that relationship and I was a little bit like WTF at the end. Kane, who just confessed you loved just died and you are back in Hendrix arms. Granted, i hate Kane and don't know that it was really love, but Reagan you are starting to be a fickle one.",5.0,"Yes, we finally got somewhere.",1404000000,"06 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1X1TY8AT7E03H,0099443635,"Jennifer ""Jenners""","[0, 0]","2 words that describe the book'Literary Medicine3 setting where the book took place or characters I met* Setting: Missing Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and New York City* Marion Stone is our narrator and one of the twin boys born to Sister Mary Joseph Praise during a tragic birth scene that will leave you breathless. With no one aware that she was pregnant, Sister's labor is unexpected, bloody and emotional. The apparent father--Dr. Thomas Stone--falls apart and abandons his sons, leaving them to be raised by the staff of Missing Hospital where they both worked. Trying to make sense of his heritage and his parents, Marion seeks to find out the history of his family and what the future will hold for him and his twin brother Shiva.* Ghosh and Hema are two doctors at Missing Hospital who worked with Sister and Dr. Stone. They take on the raising of the brothers and influence them in their career paths--with Shiva being mentored by Hema and Marion being mentored by Ghosh. These two were my favorite characters in the whole book, and I actually missed them when the narrative didn't have them as a focus.4 things I liked or disliked about the book* I read that Vergheses is a physician himself, and it shows throughout the book. I don't think I've ever read a book that brought to life the feel and stresses of medicine (particularly surgery) in quite the way this book did. Verghese brings you right into the operating room with his characters and exposes you to the life of a physician in a way I haven't ever seen before. It is obvious that Verghese is passionate about his profession, and that passion is apparent throughout this novel.* Verghese brings to life the Addis Ababa where the Stone boys were born and grew up. He also deftly weaves in the story of the overthrow of Emperor Halie Selassie and the subsequent civil unrest that rocked the country, including the country's ongoing dispute with Eritrea. I thought Verghese did a wonderful job of bringing the beauties and turmoil of Ethiopia to life and weaving them into his story in a way that felt natural and realistic.* Verghese has an almost poetic writing style that resulted in many eloquent turns of phrase. In the Kindle version I was reading, I was able to see quotes that other readers had highlighted (with the new ""Popular Highlights"" feature), and I kept thinking ""Wow ... that is some lovely writing."" Here are a few examples:EXCERPT: The key to your happiness is to own your slippers, own who you are, own how you look, own your family, own the talents you have, and own the ones you don't. If you keep saying your slippers aren't yours, then you'll die searching, you'll die bitter, always feeling you were promised more. Not only our actions, but also our omissions, become our destiny.EXCERPT:Life, too, is like that. You live it forward, but understand it backward. It is only when you stop and look to the rear that you see the corpse caught under your wheel.EXCERPT: Wasn't that the definition of home? Not where you are from, but where you are wanted?EXCERPT: We are all fixing what is broken. It is the task of a lifetime. We'll leave much unfinished for the next generation.* Although the novel seemed very grounded in reality and history while still having a ""magical realism"" feel to it, I had some trouble with some of the plotting, which seemed to rely a bit too much on coincidence and ""convenient"" happenings. One part that particularly bothered me was when Marion meets up again with Thomas Stone. It didn't feel right to me at all and rankled me quite a bit. I also felt that Verghese didn't quite know what to do with the character of Genet, a troubled girl who grows up with the twins.5 stars or less for my rating:I'm giving the book 4 stars. This is an impressive piece of literary fiction that brings surgery and medicine to life in a way I've never seen before. Although I had some issues with the plotting, I was willing to overlook them for Vergheses's strong writing and ability to weave history and a family's personal story into a narrative that will stay with you for some time afterward.",4.0,Brings Medicine/Surgery To Life In Involving Historical Fiction,1286236800,"10 5, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NTJUI2DLZF4R,0441016316,"Craig Chalquist, PhD, author of TERRAPSYCHOLO...","[4, 5]","....one must be willing to give up one's humanity: that is the God Emperor Leto's path as well, and we are left wondering about the multi-levelled brutality of his choice.Herbert worked as a reporter, and it shows in the precision and compactness of his diction. He wrote dozens of novels and stories, and that shows up in the depth of his characterizations and the almost Shakespearian neatness of each scene. On that level the book is entertaining, witty, clever, alluring, and thoughtful.It is also a novel of poignant moments. As Leto reviews his lost humanity and thrashes about, his fanatical Fish Speaker guards overhear him. "The Lord is troubled tonight," one comments. The other replies, "The problems of this universe would trouble anyone." Leto overhears them, and weeps.His justifications for an all-female army to the macho Duncan are priceless, if rather biological, and the scene with the Tleilaxu ambassador priceless.Previous readers (and reviewers) have wondered: what exactly is the Golden Path? I won't spoil the mystery, but I will mention this: its outcome is Siona, and what she leaves to her descendants.Leto's tyranny is troubling. Like all tyrants, he insists on its necessity for the good of the people. That it does in fact open up the Secher Nibw still leaves us with the dilemma of a being formerly human but mutated into something else, and dominated by a past personality (Harum) known as a ruthless autocrat. But one we pity for his isolation and aloneness and the lost humanity that comes with every predatory occupation. "Your failure" (he accuses the Bene Gesserrit in a later book) "condemned me, the 'God Emperor,' to millennia of personal despair."Yet even he has his moments of kindness and even love--and gratitude, as when he replies to a question about whether his Golden Path might fail: "Anyone and anything can fail, but good brave friends help."",4.0,In service to Secher Nibw (the Golden Path).....,1074038400,"01 14, 2004",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2M6GZMDQVYTO9,B00KM89PAG,Jennifer,"[0, 2]","I'm so sad this was the final book in the series but it ended perfectly. Maya a and Isaac are the most adorable couple ever. I swear. They couldn't be more perfect together. Here's the scoop. Maya and Isaac still aren't free and clear yet, but they are finally back together. Not before creep numero uno Luke breaks in and tries to rape and kidnap Maya unfortunately. No worries, Jace & Piper save her before he does. Isaac snaps when he finds out and decides to turn to the feds to help get out of the mess he had no clue he was involved in with his evil father. Glory surprises everyone by admitting she's not only known Maya since she was a kid but that there's a connection between herself, Isaac's father AND Piper's father that Maya knows about that could help him. We also find out she's the one who threw her to Luke to rape when she was 14. Then she slept with Luke 5 hours after he raped Maya (in the room right next to Maya so she was sure to hear). Anyway, Isaac meets with the feds but is shot down since he left the scene and his father's employ. Back to square one. Then Glory steps in and reveals a HUGE secret that no one saw coming and offers her help too in exchange for Isaac. Things are going well until Maya's nightmares about Luke become too much for Isaac to bear and he enlists Jace to basically help him beat the crap out of Luke but stop him before he kills him. It goes south when Isaac accidentally tells him to stay away from Maya and she belongs to him now. I consider Luke being in the ICU a success though. So Luke is taken care of (for now) and Glory comes up with a plan to go back to Baron (Isaac's dad) and buy a girl as a gift for Isaac who will then accept the girl and turn her over to the feds. Boom. Baron will go down, Glory and Isaac will be free. Then the s@#t hits the fan and the plan gets nixed when Glory has a stroke. At this point I'm like, can't this poor guy catch a break. He just wants to be with his girl! Of course this means Isaac may actually go to prison for human trafficking he had no clue he was involved in. But then a new plan is born. Isaac moves back in to take care of a recovering Glory and hopefully Baron will reward him with a girl. It works. Isaac turns the girl over to the feds but he's not free and clear yet. Then of course Luke returns. This mother@#$er. I hate him. He's pissed because Isaac's attack left him unable to get it up (that put a HUGE smile on my face) and his new girl left him. He kidnaps Maya and takes her to one of Baron's clubs to do God knows what to her. Luckily someone who turned to the feds inside the club calls Isaac and warns him not only is Maya there but that the club is going to be raided that night and Baron will go down. Isaac rescues Maya but not before torturing Luke. Let be real, he deserved it. Baron shows up and hears Isaac confessing how he basically stole Luke's girl but he keeps up the ruse of still having those dark urges by telling him Maya is into all the s*** he does and that they've been together almost a year proves it and he'll return the other girl Baron gave him if he wants. I can't say what happens next. It would spoil the awesome ending. And a fantastic epilogue! Ms. Chase didn't leave us hanging. If you haven't read this series you are missing out!",5.0,LOVED IT!!!!!,1401235200,"05 28, 2014",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2FDHEOTBUHUEO,0989630447,Gothic Angel Book Reviews,"[0, 1]","So for those of you who know me well, you will know I am a sucker for any book written by Rachael Wade. She writes a few different genres and manages to pull them all off... to say well, would be an understatement, so let's say extraordinarily. This woman has an amazing talent and thank goodness she is kind enough to share it with us. As an author just starting out on my own journey, I can honestly say that I admire Rachael and how much hard work she puts into her books. I aspire to be just like her, but if I can't manage it, I want to at least be one one-hundredth of the author she is. Now, if you don't know me well, you might think I'm just trying to kiss butt here, but let me assure you that is not the case. Rachael is one of my favourite authors and has been since I first read Amaranth, the first book in The Resistance Trilogy. However, what really got me to sit up and take notice of her was Preservation. She wrote a book about a young woman and her college professor, something a lot of people see as a taboo subject. I read it in one sitting because it was so compelling and I could not put it down until finishing it at 2am where I cried like a baby. If you haven't read it, you really should because it's the first book in the trilogy that Declaration rounds off so beautifully.Where books one and two were about Kate and Ryan, this book is about one of the secondary characters, Kate's best friend, Carter Montgomery.Carter did the one thing that he shouldn't have done. He fell in love with his best friend. Unfortunately Kate didn't reciprocate those feelings. This prompted Carter to make a change in his life and this story walks us through that change. First thing's first, he moved across the country. This completely upended his life in a good way, a great way, but you need to read the book for yourself to see what happened. You could choose to read this as a stand alone book or you can read the trilogy - but my suggestion would be to read Preservation, Reservation, Love and Relativity and then Declaration. That's the order I read them in.As I said before, Rachael is an amazing author and this book, like the others that came before it, is an outstanding story. I felt a real connection with Carter and other characters. I love when I can not just read a book but fall head first into another life. There's emotional depth to the people and that is one of the things I love most about it. The people are real and tangible. They may only be fictional characters but Rachael breathed life into them. They made me laugh, they made me cry and most of all, they made me fall in love. It had been a while between reading the other books and this one, so although I knew of Carter before, I wasn't totally in love with the guy. However, this book took care of that. I fell in love with the little firecracker that is Whitney too!I urge you all, if you haven't read these books, please do so. You don't know what you are missing!",5.0,An Amazing End To an Amazing Trilogy,1383609600,"11 5, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2I20AZ1GOUQIF,B00HS87DN4,Brian,"[8, 8]","Awesome book that i couldn't put down! "Brain Improvement Strategies" really gave me what i was looking for, a simple way to improve my brain. Though what i did not expect was for it too be so FUN and EFFECTIVE!Definitely am going to recommend this too all my friends and to whoever else wants a better brain!",5.0,Amazing!,1390262400,"01 21, 2014",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A129AR38KV8UO8,1414313284,Ozark Lass,"[7, 8]","I have the Life Recovery bible, workbook and journal. I am a Christian recovering addict. I purchased these items to help me continue in recover after completing treatment.The journal works with the Recovery bible to guide you through the 12 steps. The questions are designed to really make you dig deep into your behavior patterns so you can begin to let God deal with those issues that contribute to addictive and compulsive behavior.The workbook is a little small and I intend to work through it more than once, so I write my answers in a notebook.",5.0,Helps me dig deep,1264636800,"01 28, 2010",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A2HXXBJ8KURDX8,1565048946,"Lankhmar ""orome_the_great""","[4, 7]","The book reads like a series of short stories. Cele Goldsmith commissioned Fritz Leiber to write a series of Fahrd and Gray Mouser stories for Fantastic Stories pulp (one of the two early plups edited by Cele Goldsmith). That says it all. They are a fast read with plenty of action and very little of the long, dreary and seemingly endless descriptions of scenery etc.. found in many other books. The stories revolve around characters and the deeds of those characters. Unlike Jordan's Wheel of time series, which provides pages and pages of explanation of the types and colours of curtains found in each room of a house, something happens on every page.Fahrd is like a Viking big, lustful and not scared to kill. Gray Mouser is an apprentice wizard that is not scared to use the black arts to get revenge eg. burning enemies to a crisp. Forget political correctness which is expected in so much of the literature these days, you will not find it in this book. It is like the old Star Trek (kill anything that gets in your way) and unlike the Next Generation (lets us open up the lines of communication so we can have meaningful dialogue).If you like short stories that are well written, do yourself a favour and get a copy of this book.",4.0,Short Stories with Fun and Action,1078444800,"03 5, 2004",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A8WJL3GSPHSW6,0099451956,E. McLean,"[5, 8]","The authors have certainly made their point that theyare well-educated individuals, somewhat at the expenseof an entertaining story. The story line is sound andcould have been much more interesting but the textgets too bogged down with irrelevant descriptions.The authors have potential if they could just stoptrying so hard to impress the reader with theirintelligence and just let the flow of the story takeover.",2.0,We get the point.,1106524800,"01 24, 2005",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A27FDEYT722BV0,B00KTI9R6Q,Mary Sanchez Cortez,"[0, 0]",In Hook Me you meet City brother Michael the fighter of the family. Michael is driven fighter part owner of his family tattoo and works as a piercer there. After one of his fights a injury leads him to the ER where he meets Dr. Mia where they both have chemistry. In words of Mia there was snap crackle and pop.Then months later the meet again outside of the gym where Michael trains. There is a chemistry both can not stay away from. After a night at the club there no holding back and they decide to get together.After some steamy I mean steamy nights and some awesome Piercings that Michael sports. One of Michael exs well you cant call her that she more of a hook up. She comes claiming news that Michael does know to not be true but as one of Mia nurse at the hospital it rocks the faith she has in Michael.Also this goes down days before his big fight. He needs to get his life in order and get Mia back so he can win the fight.I love Michael he knows what he wants and he knows he has the words to make it happen. I love that Michael could chase her demons away and make her dreams come true.,4.0,Gallo man to chase away the demons and make your dreams come true!!,1405641600,"07 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DHLK8J85U32F,1590205154,"RueRue ""RueRue""","[4, 7]","I really enjoyed David Carnoy's debt, ""Knife Music"", so my expectations were high for this one. Big dissappointment. The characters were flimsy and unlike able, the plotting was incoherent and disjointed. Glad it was an inexpensive purchase. I hope the next book is better.",2.0,The Big Letdown,1350259200,"10 15, 2012",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A3CU6FOPN466PX,1416575642,Ken Kardash,"[6, 6]","I have no conflicting interests involving any of the authors mentioned in this review.Mr. Bittman is a renowned food writer who has previously authored several successful cookbooks. In this work, however, he has written a half-cookbook, half-nutritional commentary. The recipes are undeniably appealing and clearly written, which leads me to suspect it might have been better as a cookbook with the nutritional overview confined to an introduction. Instead, the first half of the book is a rather superficial, subjective invocation to fight back against a perceived agribusiness-governmental conspiracy to malnourish us and destroy the planet. The message is that by shifting from an animal to plant-based diet, we can live healthier and indirectly reduce the ecologic footprint of our diets. After a career of living and writing as an omnivorous gourmand, the author shares an almost quaint excitement in his discovery that such a diet is not only more sensitive to global needs, but also helped him lose weight! And since we are wisely advised to take a ""sane"" approach and not totally eliminate comfort food, we can have our nobility and eat cake, too!The nutritional approach that is revealed as such a personal epiphany here has already been more thoroughly developed and better written about in Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, which is acknowledged as source material. And as for a convincing argument of the benefits of a ""whole food, plant-based diet"", The China Study by T.C. Campbell achieved that goal by relying solely on evidence, not the personal anecdote and opinion which are stirred so generously into this chef's creation.",3.0,Originality matters,1236816000,"03 12, 2009",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3BILJMZR7AOAI,0615590586,"L. Vince ""vince""","[0, 0]",Easy read. Enjoyed every chapter. Sometimes a real jaw dropper. Didn't see that coming. I could see this story being a Hallmark Movie. Very heartwarming. Would make a great stocking stuffer. It was recommended by my sister's church book club. Not a religious theme as it is a do the right thing theme. Loved it. My only criticism is that it was too short. But the story was beautifully told in the short 135 pages. Story of giving of oneself.,5.0,Story of giving. Hallmark Movie Ready,1385942400,"12 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PGGI7A6XCNF1,0316010707,Frank J. Konopka,"[4, 5]","This is a well-written book that tracks three ""cold cases"" of disappearance and/or murder on converging tracks. The protagonist is a former policeman who is now a private investigator, and he becomes involved in two of the cases (the third one, about a murdered husband, appears to stand alone). Although the book eventually unravels what happened in each case, I wasn't particularly satisfied in the way everything appeared to work out. There were just too many coincidences: I felt I was reading a poor imitation of a Thomes Hardy novel. The writing is very well done, and the wit and humor comes through quite well, but I do believe this could have been a better book.",4.0,Interesting concept,1163376000,"11 13, 2006",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AIHLBLOLNMLIR,042521740X,Andrea Bales,"[4, 4]","The passion grips you all the way through. Dawg is so Alpha with a capital A, that you can imagine that what he has within his pants he could uproot trees with. This is a great book, even my husband liked it. The characters are so real and meaty, I can't praise it enough. I also liked the first book of the series and also Lora's Forbidden Pleasure. I need a shower now to cool off. I have to admit that I am a relative newcomer to Lora's work, but I can see that her output is prolific and will keep me entertained for some time to come. On another tack, if you like steamy sex and passion in a short story format, check out Suzie Van Aartman's 100 Percent Erotica what it lacks in literary gloss, it more than makes up for raw eroticism.",5.0,Another Brilliant Book From Lora,1194912000,"11 13, 2007",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1CMC2DZXYRSSJ,0345487133,Sunny16,"[30, 60]","I'm not talking about the pandemic itself; I'm talking about the aftermath. I found the lack of progress of the human race, as detailed in this book, to be very unlikely. Even assuming that out of initial group of adults in Ish's group, Ish is the only highly intelligent one, I found it really hard to believe that the adults wouldn't bother to teach the kids how to read and do math, so that they'd be able to use the libraries to learn the skills they'd need to survive. It didn't make sense that there would only be two main characters with any sort of curiosity about *anything*. Why was knowledge of carpentry lost when The Tribe's carpenter died? Didn't he train anyone in his craft? Didn't anyone want to learn?I expected this book to outline some sort of return to the land, which would be much more realistic than having The Tribe live off canned food for forty years. This book spends way too much time expounding on how intelligent Ish is without showing him actually doing anything to help the human race.",1.0,an unlikely scenario,1149811200,"06 9, 2006",30,60,helpful,0.5,1 A18NJBM6VKWJIZ,054503342X,Professor J,"[92, 134]","I've always liked fantasy novels in ""American"" settings, but I haven't read a satisfying one since Orson Scott Card's Alvin Maker books. This middle-grade novel evokes much of what makes the Card novels interesting, including a similar obsession with big families and birth order, and ""uniquely American"" magic. Unfortunately it fails to do what Card does successfully, which is acknowledge/incorporate the real complexity of American history and culture.The story focuses on Eff, the thirteenth child of the title, who happens to be the twin sister of Lan, a seventh son of a seventh son. By the standards of the (Europeanish) magical system their family uses, Lan is destined to do great things and Eff is destined to ""go bad"". Because their extended family insists upon treating Lan like a king and Eff like a walking time bomb, the children's parents decide to move them to another town closer to the frontier, where Lan might not grow up with a swelled head, and Eff can grow up with a fresh start.I liked the way this book focused on family dynamics; a lot of the ""drama"" in the story comes from just the ordinary interactions of a large family full of headstrong people. That's what kept me reading. I also liked Eff herself, who wasn't too perfect or anachronistically ""modern"", and yet also wasn't stupid or passive. She struck me very much as a ""real"" and normal character, coping with some decidedly abnormal stuff. She tackles those problems with pluck and cleverness.Unfortunately the characters outside of the family weren't as well-realized (which is why I deducted a star). I guess this is inevitable when the family in question consists of twenty-some people... not much room to focus on the other folks in town, even though many of those people were fascinating. Eff seemed to have no friends but William, the son of the town magic snob -- I wanted to know a little more about him. I wanted to know lots more about Miss Ochiba, who seemed to have no purpose in the story other than to act as Eff's mentor (and as the only black woman in the story, she edges dangerously close to Magical Negro territory). I was also put off by the way the people who feared Eff's status as a thirteenth child were depicted as simply mean and bigoted. I wanted to know if they'd known a bad thirteenth child before, or if there was some history they were reacting to which might clarify their behavior. Were Caligula or Jack the Ripper thirteenth children, for example? Instead their objections were never explained, and these characters ended up being just one-dimensional villains. Even in a story aimed at kids, I expect more depth than this -- and after years of Harry Potter, Scott Westerfeld's books, etc., I think most kids will too.I also deducted a star because of the worldbuilding, though I waffled on this. That's because I enjoyed a lot of it, such as the explanation of the world's three main magic systems (one corresponding to Europe, one corresponding to Asia, and one corresponding to Africa, though they all have different names here). And I loved the idea of a fantasy-alternate America populated with dragons and mammoths (!) and other ""magical"" wildlife. But I was actively offended by the apparent erasure of indigenous people from this America -- there's nothing on the continent but forests and animals, making for a spooky sort of Manifest Destiny message as the mostly-European settlers make their way across it. The author appears to have considered what this absence would do to her alternate America -- for example, all place-names based on Native naming have been changed (e.g. the Mississippi is now the ""Mammoth river""). But this actually adds to the problem, because it suggests Native Americans contributed nothing to early American culture but names. Also, though there are a few black people present among the settlers and Asians are said to exist somewhere, there doesn't seem to have been a system of slavery (or I missed it) or labor exploitation in this world. So I can't help wondering how this alternate America has been settled so effectively. Slavery was evil, yes, but it's also an inescapable part of American history because of the desperate shortage of labor in the country's early years. There simply weren't enough Europeans to do it all, grow at such a breakneck pace, and still feed themselves -- so who did the work here? It's not just that. This world has a railroad system, but we see no Chinese people, so who laid the tracks? For that matter, where are the poor white people, struggling to eat when (at one point in the book) there's a string of crop failures? If they're mentioned, I didn't see them.I think this is what bugs me most. The book's theme is that America is unique because of its diverse mix of cultures, yet the book fails to actually *depict* much of that.The children and teens who this book is aimed at might not pick up on this, or they might be sufficiently dazzled by dragons!!! over the Mississippi!!! which I will admit almost distracted me. But I think a lot of kids are pretty savvy these days, and a lot of them *will* notice. I think it might leave the same bad taste in their mouths that it did me, ruining my enjoyment of an otherwise decent story. Because of that I cannot recommend this book.",2.0,"Superficially entertaining, but seriously flawed",1238889600,"04 5, 2009",92,134,helpful,0.6865671641791045,1 A26C74KSZMI0SO,1491259558,LilMar,"[6, 6]",Mr. Sanz's book is just the help I needed to brush up those rusty high-school skills. Helped me to remember some of what I learned so long ago and made me confident that I can learn a new language but not have to start at the very beginning. Highly recommended!,5.0,(Re) Learning made easy!,1340150400,"06 20, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A26TTM3TVHCE9L,B00907YWNK,Michael Moss,"[0, 0]",Very good character development. The unlikely partnership of a reformed man who became a preacher and a woman gunfighter seeking revenge made for a very interesting read. I could hardly wait for the next episode in the serial presentation.,4.0,Action packed,1364169600,"03 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3UXAXVRVTIIWN,1931499403,"Terry ""wardrobe""","[10, 16]","I was felt this book is only good for a beginner. And unless you want seed bead projcts with bulky seed beed togles well you may want another book. This book clearly demonstrates things like crimp beads, so if that's what you want this may be helpful to you",2.0,Finding & Finishings: A Beadwork How-To Book,1169078400,"01 18, 2007",10,16,helpful,0.625,1 A2AGJC3DSQYQSM,0876120796,Luther Wood,"[0, 0]","this could be one my most favorite books ever of this type. i love it because it is not a "how-to-book"; it is a "this is what i did, and this is what happened to me book". it's innocent and pure and full of Spirit. impossible to go wrong with it. the Yogananda has changed my life. relax, sit back and read it over and over. feel the magic.............",5.0,Lifechanging Reading and Studying,1385337600,"11 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3FZ5COYCQHAFF,0375850864,Regina Culberth,"[0, 0]","This is a really good book! You really have to be paying attention to comprehend exactly how the plot unfolds, but when you do get it, there is a lot of meaning. The author's imagination is so amazing. I can't wait to read Liar and Spy- I already have it checked out from the library.",5.0,Two thumbs up!!!,1384473600,"11 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3AZQD90VJFHRZ,1480054542,scrappinreader,"[4, 5]","I really enjoyed the storyline of this book. I immediately connected with the characters of Todd and Megan. I liked how Iian was thrown in the mix and how there were conversations between them that we and Megan weren't privvy to because of Iian's deafness.That said, there were many words that were misused - bear instead of bare, peace instead of piece, lose instead of loose, planed instead of planned. It became distracting at times. I think the author could use a good edit - someone to read through and pick up on those things that spellcheck won't catch because they are spelled properly but used wrong. My review would have been higher except for the grammar issues.I look forward to the next installment and Lacey's story!!",3.0,"Good story, average grammar",1351123200,"10 25, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AF10IT6JETVJ7,1480054674,Angels R Kids/Furkids,"[6, 6]","What to say without being a spoiler? Hhhmmm. Well, here is my best shot at it...This book was a good read, an easy read, and a pretty fast read for me. I thought this would be a ""typical"" paranormal romance with vampire and human woman, but was actually quite surprised to find it to be different than that. It had the romance, I'm not saying it didn't, but it was put in a different way than most books of this genre. Which I personally found to be GREAT! So many times the paranormal romance over-rides all the back story and plot, but not in this book. This book had more of a Mystery feel with a paranormal romance budding in the meantime. The characters were very well developed throughout the book and the writing was great and fast paced.Lacey is anything but a girly girl and as a paranormal division cop that has to have a ""tough girl"" view, that is a good thing. Some things of her past just won't leave her alone though, one of those things being the disappearance of her sister five years ago. There was no body found, no idea of what happened, and no evidence to keep the case open. Since then Lacey doesn't like to be attached to anyone for fear of bad things happening, she likes to be free and not tied down to people. In the work she does, she really can't have a lover, or at least that is what she tells herself while she is out having a good time with many partners. That is until she is on a case and meets Damon. She falls for him the minute she has to talk to him for the case she is working on. What's the problem that arrises? Well, Damon is not just a hot bartender/bar owner. There is much more to him than what is on the surface. Lacey hunts and kills vampires for a living, it's what she does, can Damon really be with someone who has this kind of profession? What is he hiding from Lacey? Will Lacey ever find out what happened to her sister all those years ago? And who is killing women all over town? Lacey is on the clock to find out who is killing women all over her area and why, but will she like the answers she finds?4/5 Stars!",4.0,Good Read,1355702400,"12 17, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3QS3HX0533PJX,1598593927,Beverly J. Meyer,"[0, 0]","Content was there. Just too abbreviated. Did not realize when I ordered it that it was so abbreviated. However, it is a great size for a man with a short reading attention span!",4.0,Love languages,1385337600,"11 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8710RWTFG3IY,1476705852,Amelia Gremelspacher,"[5, 9]","Johnny Valentine has a lot to recommend him. He has a solid understanding of the business of pop music. After all he is the eleven year old rock phenom. His sophomore album hasn't done as week as his first and his tour is not a sell out. But he is famous and has a zero delusional understanding of what this means. If adults love and hate their celebrities, other Tweens can be twice as devastating. And his schedule would make you blush in sympathy exhaustion.The writing is brisk and witty. There is very little nonsense, but also not that much that is new. The pre-pubescent star has been with us for some time. This child has a well meaning protective manager mother. In the end, the problem is mine. I just didn't get that interested in the imaginings of this child. I have formed alliances with child narrators in the past, but this one just didn't do the trick for me. However I do believe that the novel has some great points, and is enjoyable overall.",3.0,"""They sacrifice anything in their lives that might hold them back.""",1360022400,"02 5, 2013",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A3284693YIRLZT,0316018783,"K. Myers ""writewize""","[0, 0]",Like the other Cross novels this one has multiple murders. It hits close to home for Alex but it is as complicated as ever. And ending you don't expect. I couldn't put it down.,5.0,Alex Cross at his best,1353888000,"11 26, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A13OFOB1394G31,0552550299,"E. A. Lovitt ""starmoth""","[13, 15]","The boy Nathaniel is a wizard's apprentice in a London ruled by magicians (shades of Harry Potter and Christopher Moore's ""Practical Demonkeeping,"" not to mention Randall Garrett's stuffy old Lord Darcy). London itself is decadent, its libraries abandoned and decaying. A class war between the Muggles--excuse me, Commoners--- and their magician lords has reached the stage where bombs are thrown into Westminster Abbey, the magicians' seat-of-power.While this book isn't packed with cutesy details like ear-wax jellybeans, it does feature some frothing-at-the-mouth, rompin', stompin', eye-shriveling demons, including the narrator Bartimaeus, who would prefer to be called a djinni, thank you.Do what he says. He's 5,000 years old and is not very happy about humans, especially 11-year-old Nathaniel, who managed to bind the djinni into servitude and forced him to steal the mysterious Amulet of Samarkand from a very powerful, very nasty magician named Lovelace.The story takes place in a slightly altered modern-day London. Gladstone was the first really powerful magician-ruler of Great Britain, and fought a famous magical duel with Disraeli, who had made a rude remark about Gladstone's lady friend.Commoners aren't completely without power. Some of them have the ability to detect magical devices, which serves our hero, Nathaniel an ill turn when he is hiding from just about everyone in a ruined library, and a commoner steals his scrying glass.""The Amulet of Samarkand's"" plot has more twists and turns than a troupe of Sitherian sword jugglers. There is plenty of witty dialogue, mainly supplied by Bartimaeus, who reminds me of Disney's fast-talking genie in ""Aladdin."" Same cheek. Same jive. Be sure to read his copious footnotes. They're a highlight of this book, along with:* A breathless, derring-do plot.* Dense, satisfying background detail.* A wild ending with magic galore and a monster that munches djinni like hors-d'oeuvres before the main course of an entire magicians' convention.* A roiling jihad of multi-powered, multi-purpose demons from the sassy, Cockney-speaking imp in Nathaniel's scrying glass to the thing that comes out of the dimensional rift at the magicians' convention.This fantasy is not just for kids.",5.0,Not just for kids,1132617600,"11 22, 2005",13,15,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 A1PW5SQLR0Z6IH,0373773927,"Natalie S ""ns65""","[0, 0]","Sabin is the Lord of Doubt. He and his fellow Lords of the Underworld are still on the hunt for Pandora's Box. In the midst of a battle, Sabin is at his greatest. He makes his enemies doubt their abilities and they then are easily subdued. Searching for Pandora's Box lead the warriors to a hidden Hunter breeding program. There Sabin finds Gwendolyn the Timid locked in a cell but unharmed. She doesn't look like she has been abused like many of the other women in cells. When he finds Gwen's hidden half, a helacious harpy that is deadly and chaotic, Sabin can't wait to use her for the fight he and his men have with the hunters. Sabin is resolute to keep Gwen at arm's length, no matter her beauty or how much his soul calls to hers. He knows his demon Doubt would not be able to keep from trying to prey on Gwen's beauty by planting feelings of self doubt. Previous lovers of Sabin went crazy when this began and Sabin refuses to allow Gwen to experience the same fate.Since beginning this series, I have wanted the story of two warriors, Sabin being one of them. THE DARKEST WHISPER was exactly the type of story I wanted for this man. As the Lord of Doubt, Sabin was not immune to his demon -- even he doubted himself somewhat. The way he kept his demon under control was even hard for him and oftentimes he was not able to do anything. Gwen's character, while suppossedly timid, was awesome. Talk about PMS. When Gwen got mad? Gwen got even and I think they are still pickin gup the bones of her enemies.Read the Lords of the Underworld series in order -- it's a must. Enjoy these fabulous men for what they are -- hunky and quite awesome!Natalie S. for Amazon Vine",5.0,LOVE the Lords of the Underworld!,1260835200,"12 15, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26UH33N8MG1LR,0830836284,"Da Judes ""still singin' & swingin'""","[0, 0]","This is a book that will make you stop and think about your purchases and how you use or waste our ever shrinking resources - water, the land fill, paper products, disposable diapers and hygiene products. This is a fascinating read for people concerned with the global resources and our earth.",4.0,This is an eye opener!,1367366400,"05 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1M49QNOFQWDBS,0060722282,"Kenny of LA ""Kenny""","[8, 9]","This novel was the victim of its own great beginning. Husband and wife on honeymoon, on wedding night, husband (a minister) is confronted by his own latent homosexuality, and in shame, the following morning throws himself into The Falls. The Wife, Ariah (the Widow Bride), stands vigil over The Falls until husband's body is discovered a week later.The balance of the book, while a decent, gothic, evocative read, just doesn't t stand comparison.The book is really comprised of three separate sections, the first described above, the second, describing the romance, marriage and distancing of Ariah to (and from) the dashing Dirk Burnaby, and Dirk's untimely death after prosecuting the Love Canal litigation, and the third, the self-discovery of Ariah and Dirk's teenage/adult children, and their eventual reconciliation with their dead father's memory.I felt the three parts did not fit together well, and in fact, after the first section, the book seemed to meander, looking for a plot line. Additionally, there seemed to be some troubling loose ends--most significantly, the mysterious Lady in Black. To the last page, I awaited her re-introduction--or at least explanation, but she never reappeared and no explanation was provided.Finally, I never really bought the development of Ariah Burnaby, the Widow Bride. I never felt that I truly understood her motivations and/or her actions, and accordingly, could never empathize with her. I did not understand or accept Dirk's attraction to Ariah, nor Ariah's relationship with her children.All this negativity aside, even a mediocre Joyce Carol Oates novel, like this one, is a great reading experience. Her prose is delicious, her descriptions (particularly of The Falls) are vivid, and her gothic sensibilities intriguing.In conclusion, not one of JCO's best, but still a good read (the first section is excellent).Kenny",3.0,Starts Out Great.....Then Over The Falls,1208822400,"04 22, 2008",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A1MVC61AM8T1L,0932863515,Drew Westphal,"[34, 41]","Petras was on of the first 'intellectuals' to confront the Jewish-Israeli lobby in America and how it controls American foreign policy. This book preceded Walt and Mearsheimer's book, and goes further. I would read this before you read their book. Learn about this powerful group of Jewish Supremacists and how they are buying our politicians, bankrupting our nation, and leading our nation to destruction by inflaming the entire Arab world. The Jews are pitting Islam against Christianity in an attempt to destroy us both.",5.0,Israeli Lobby,1202428800,"02 8, 2008",34,41,helpful,0.8292682926829268,1 A2ZGPAIV64KOYU,0060507829,"W. Maite ""I love books""","[15, 17]",The recipe for cauliflower gratin alone is worth the purchase of this book. It is one of the most delicious vegetable dishes I have come across. My family loves it and dinner guests practically swoon over it (especially those who are low-carbing it). I am a big fan of Wells - I highly recommend her Bistro Cooking and Trattoria books as well.,5.0,looks like another winner from Wells,1097366400,"10 10, 2004",15,17,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 ADFYFTNZW0IQM,0312095511,Lon Dee,"[9, 13]","This was a very fun book to read. It's not a literary masterpiece with deep meanings that your English Literature professor will ask you to dissect; it's just an enjoyable romp around ancient China with a cast of eccentric characters.Hughart has a way of mixing fact, history and folklore with his own fiction that produces a very credible tale. He really has a grasp on Chinese culture and traditions. I truly respect a writer that is willing to do so much research prior to penning a manuscript. I think this is very much written for a Western audience. Having a limited background in Sinology myself, I wonder how a Chinese reader would accept this - especially if it is translated into Chinese, which would cause the reader to loose much of the English plays on words.As for his writing style, there is a great deal of subtle humor along with overt comedic scenes. I found myself laughing out loud at the balloon flatulence scene, as sophomoric as it was. However, some of the writing is so fast-paced that I had to re-read several sections to figure out what had happened.The story is a bit crude in parts, so I wouldn't recommend it for younger children. The characters seem to have a great fixation with sex. That adds to their eccentricity, but I don't feel it really adds to the story much. But the conclusion of the book is written in a very heartwarming and sensitive way - one of those where you put the book down after the last page, take a deep breath, and thank the author for taking you on a pleasurable journey.",4.0,Humorous and Entertaining,1084752000,"05 17, 2004",9,13,helpful,0.6923076923076923,1 A2103X7H4V415L,1618851438,Kindle Lover,"[4, 4]","Once again i was absorbed into a Sable Hunter book and couldnt put it down till it was done. Annalise and Ethan were amazing characters!! You had to cry for Annalise's horrible life events. She endured some really horendous things and thru it all she never let go of her love for Ethan. Now Ethan was just one hot and totally lovable guy, who endured one nasty ex-wifes abuse. He never forgot or got over his first real love, Annalise. Without wanting to give anything away, you will be brought thru their past, and their present, and you will pray for their future because they, without a doubt have fought hard and endured so much, that they MUST wind up together in the end. The story is exciting and sexy and suspenseful and great...",5.0,Great read,1330992000,"03 6, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A38OMALHAFBZBM,0810988933,L. Davis,"[0, 0]",My daughter loves these books and she devoured this one. My kid loves the wimpy kid and she hopes more will be made.,5.0,The Kid,1362700800,"03 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A128PZ885BC3F5,B00IFVYRAU,Louisa Dent,"[0, 0]","wow - I couldn't put this book down. From bringing to end the story had me hooked.Having suffered from depression on and off for a number of years, the writer Olivia Howe accurately portrayed the feelings and reactions of someone with depression it wasn't until I finished book that read that she was suffering from depression at the time of writing the book. It lead an a authentication to the story that wouldn't have been there otherwise i feel.The story starts with Nina being released from hospital after dealing with major depression following the death of her father. After forgetting to eat breakfast one morning she end up fainting and being caught be the new boy in school Andrew and they soon become friends. Andrew has a secret that threatens the budding romance. I won't give it away - only today I loved that I didn't see the twist coming. It takes a skilled writer to able to do that.I now early await the seconded book in this series due out June 23rd.",5.0,Will love be enough,1402531200,"06 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANZ9ALM3D3WG1,0802798225,Ruth,"[0, 0]",I know a lot of people rave about this series but maybe I'm just a little too old or have read too many books and expect more from my story.Brittany was not my favorite person in the world but it was good to see her develop as a person as the story went on and to eventually let the facade she had put around her slip away and to stand up for herself at home. Her parents made me furious!And Alex story was what I'm sure a lot of gang affiliated people feel..trapped.But as for the so called 'Perfect Chemistry' I just didn't feel it. I can't quite put my finger on it but it just left me cold and not really caring whether they got together or not.I do have to say though that I loved Alex' best friend.I bought this and Rules of Attraction together as I had heard so much about them but that is the only reason I'll be reading he next one. And unless something changes drastically in the next story I wont be rushing out to buy Luis story.,3.0,It was O.K.,1329868800,"02 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJNW2SVETWAW1,1568251262,kacunnin,"[4, 5]","Writing a sarcastic, wise-ass protagonist isn't easy, and Robert Downs doesn't quite pull it off in his novel FALLING IMMORTALITY. Casey Holden, PI, is a Sam Spade style investigator whose rapid fire repartee and cynical sense of humor are supposed to carry the story. Unfortunately, the repartee and the humor are both so overdone that the story itself gets lost in the fallout.Casey Holden is an ex-cop, a surfer, a ladies man, and a guy who just can't help but answer a question with a snide remark. The story begins when a young woman walks into his office asking him to investigate the two-year-old unsolved murder of her husband, Artis Farren. Holden takes the case, enlists the help of his cop friend Ian, and begins interviewing people (including the owner of the bar in which Artis was shot, the Medical Examiner, and the police officer in charge of the case). In between interviews, he has sex with women, a lot of different women.What slows the plot down are the interminable conversations between Holden and everyone else. Every single conversation becomes a convoluted comedy sketch in which the PI plays a never-ending series of word games - it takes pages and pages of this stuff to get to anything having to do with the case Holden is investigating. One guy asks him, ""You tryin' to be funny?"" and Holden replies, ""No, I'm naturally funny."" Unfortunately, he isn't. Several times people wind up asking Holden, ""Just what are you trying to get at?"" and each time he says something along the lines of, ""I have no idea. I'm just fishing for information."" It's all very tiring.Ultimately, the case isn't exactly solved; it simply concludes. The usual suspects turn out to be the perps, and I was left wondering exactly why Artis Farren's wife hired Holden in the first place. But the case was never really important in FALLING IMMORTALITY. This novel is all about Casey Holden. If you find his banter charming (as he clearly does), you'll enjoy the book - it's clever in places, funny at times, and an easy read. If, however, you get tired of the repetitive wordplay, the novel will lose steam by the fourth chapter.Robert Downs is working on the sequel to FALLING IMMORTALITY, called GRACEFUL IMMORTALITY; there's an excerpt included at the end of this novel. I think there is potential for Casey Holden to be developed as an interesting continuing character, but not without a degree of editing. Banter can be amusing, but a little goes a long way. There's a fine line between loving a wise-ass and wanting to strangle him - Downs hasn't quite managed to keep Holden on the right side of that line.[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review. The opinions expressed are my own.]",3.0,Overdone repartee detracts from the story -- Casey Holden is a PI in need of an editor,1339027200,"06 7, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A21VR7M8O55EF6,0700617930,Robin Friedman,"[11, 11]","Albert Castel begins his recent Civil War history, ""Victors in Blue: How Union generals Fought the Confederates, Battled Each Other, and Won the Civil War"" (2011) by observing that the campaigns of the Civil War have been the subject of many, ""perhaps too many"" studies. He also states that his book has little new to offer in the way of facts. Instead, Castel endeavors to work through and assess sometimes conflicting versions of the facts to offer an assessment of Union leadership during the war. He studies the performance of the various Union generals to ascertain which leaders deserve to be considered the ""Victors in Blue"" and why they deserve this accolade. Castel is best-known for his study, ""Decision in the West: The Atlanta Campaign of 1864"".. In the final five chapters of ""Victors in Blue"" Castel consulted and exchanged ideas with Civil War historian Brooks Simpson, the author of a biography of Grant. The conclusions of the book are Castel's own.At the beginning of the book, I took Castel's modest disclaimers to heart. The book seemed to me in some ways a rehash of many other Civil War military histories. The author covers many campaigns and battles, relying in the process on some of the leading secondary sources for each battle and not contributing much in the way of new facts or analysis. Gradually, the book won me over by its writing style, in turn eloquent, thoughtful, and succinct, and by its judgments on Union leadership. Some of Castel's judgments are standard, including his high estimation of Grant, while others are controversial. The portrayal and interpretation of the battles and the Union military leadership becomes engrossing.For Castel, the key question in assessing the effectiveness of a general is ""If victorious in a battle and/or campaign, did he contribute decisively to the victory and how so?"" A short series of questions on the nature of the general's leadership provide the criteria for making the judgment. Castel also offers the following good summary of successful military leadership. ""To achieve victory against a potent enemy under difficult circumstances a Civil War commander required, like all successful military leaders past, present and future, a strong but not necessarily brilliant intellect, self-confidence, and the ability to inspire confidence in others, enormous energy and endurance, moral courage, coolness and presence of mind in times of crisis, and, above all, a knack for war and good luck in waging it -- an attribute Napoleon considered more important in a general than skill."" With one exception (Halleck), Castel finds that successful Union military leaders shared these qualities.In the course of the book, Castel shows that the Union generals quarelled and fought among themselves almost as much as they fought the enemy. (As the book suggests, this situation pertained even more so for the Confederacy.)The leading Union commanders all ""possessed superior personal qualities, albeit of different kinds and degrees, and all were West Pointers who found in the Civil War a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to ascend the ladder of military rank, power, and glory, thereby realizing ambitions far transcending their prewar professional expectations -- supposing they still retained any"". The generals each understood that room at the top of the command structure was limited. Each of them fought to rise to the top, with the ultimate prize of attaining the presidency. Their conflicting ambitions and personalities led them to form both alliances with their colleagues who could help them and to derogate those colleagues whom they perceived stood in the way. The internal conflicts in Union military leadership pervades Castel's study.The book offers a chronological military history of the Civil War, but it moves back and forth between the many fronts in an insightful way that allows the reader to see the broad picture. The first chapter of the book sets the theme of the book in examining early military action in western Virginia. McClellan received credit for a cautious, uninspired campaign while the luckless Rosecrans, who performed well, was passed over. Subsequent chapters examine the relationship between Grant and Halleck in the West, Grant and Rosecrans in northern Mississippi following Shiloh, and McClellan's repeated failures in 1862 with his attempts to blame others. Rosecran's Tennessee campaign, deliberate and brilliant and much criticized by his peers, receives praise. Grant receives deserved credit for the brilliance of his Vicksburg campaign (with Castel suggesting that Grant prevented Rosecrans from taking Vicksburg earlier); but Castel downplays the military significance of the fall of Vicksburg. With his activities at Stone's River, the Shenendoah Valley, Five Forks and Appomatox, Sheridan emerges as a key figure in Castel's account. Sherman with his capture of Atlanta but with his many failures receives begrudging recognition. Castel recognizes the important nature of Thomas' accomplishments but tends to downplay him somewhat.Following his description of the military campaigns, Castel sums up his conclusions in a chapter titled ""Epilogue: Victors in Blue -- Who and Why."" There is some ambiguity, as Castel's discussion seems to straddle between discussing the contibutions of each general to the result of the war and the subsequent achievements of each general. Grant was the most successful general in terms both of his contributions and of the subsequent rewards -- the presidency and his Memoirs -- in his later life. Sherman, Sheridan, and Scofield also received high honors following the war. Thomas died in 1870 and this seems to me to result in Castel undervaluing him. Castel shows a high regard for Rosecrans even with his near-disastrous defeat at Chickamauga.Castel has written a thoughtful, provocative study of the nature of military leadership as well as of military culture during the Civil War. The book will be of most interest to readers with a detailed background in the military history of the Civil War. Informed students of the Civil War will find much to think about in Castel's discussion of generals and leadership.Robin Friedman",5.0,A Study of Union Military Leadership,1332806400,"03 27, 2012",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A1TG7HEZZ1QH55,0375501037,Nico Taudarian,"[4, 5]","One of Britain's foremost publicisers of science weighs in again with a classic update of a classic book.Bringing the reader bang up to date with the current state of play in evolution he backs up Darwin's observances with knowledge we have (and still are) acquiring since "Origin" was published. He acknowledges where there are still gaps in our knowledge with the theory but gives convincing evidence pointing to the answers to our conundrums being not too far away and in any event, hardly any threat to what is now the accepted model, as Creationist's desperately hope.Written clearly and easily understandable to the layman and leavened with the author's wry wit and expert knowledge of matters genetic, this is one the best pop science books to have on your shelf, so what are you waiting for ? - go ahead and buy it !",5.0,The rumpled charmer strikes again !,968803200,"09 13, 2000",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A300J3S42AYDHY,045123796X,Rhi,"[0, 0]",Really interesting book on how traumatic events shape us as people. Enjoyed the complexity of the characters and how the tragedy changes them but in the end brings them together as a family.,4.0,Enjoyed reading,1393027200,"02 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2Q7RDTOZMBPPM,1599950812,"Kim Roberson ""KASR""","[0, 0]",as usualy john c. maxwell does not disappoint it was a great readand i always learn so much from his books.,5.0,love it,1376524800,"08 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARZWE9JIIBO7I,0553298038,Kevin D. Flythe,"[7, 7]","The cover of the book tells you that this is book one of the Corellian Trilogy. Therefore, anyone who has ever read a trilogy (much less one of the several Star Wars novel trilogies) should know exactly what to expect: lots of character development, a slowly building plot, and no resolution whatsoever. That having been said, this book actually does a great job of living up to those criteria.Let's face it, the writing in this one is not that great. However, it's definitely worth reading. For one, Han is the central character, an automatic plus. Second, we get to see some scene's with Han and Leia's children (what a novel idea!) and some sense of the "Solo family." And we get a very in-depth look at Corellia, too, a planet often referred to but rarely, if ever, seen. All things said, it' a pretty neat book, just not a really great one.The best thing about it is that it's not about the Empire. I get rather tired of the Comeback Kings surfacing over and over again. Sure, this trilogy may not be of the same sweeping scale as the films or even Zahn's trilogy, but that only serves to work in its favor. It's different, which is something the universe of Star Wars novels needs more of. (Frankly, I don't really see NJO as the saving grace everyone labels it as; the Yuzhan Vong are just the Empire in disguise if you ask me). Read this book folks. It ain't great, but it is fun. Besides, it's a necessary opening chapter to the trilogy, which does get better.",3.0,what do you expect from a trilogy opener?,976233600,"12 8, 2000",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A25TMHK2OFJQJU,0970481934,Zen Druid,"[51, 64]","I was sad to see that this book is based for the most part on pseudoscience and outmoded models of addiction and recovery, because I admired the enthusiasm of the author for the raw lifestyle.In the first part of the book, she presents a number of personal experiences with the raw lifestyle, which I enjoyed. However, she mixes in various factoids that seem like they come out of nowhere. In one chapter, she presents a table showing the importance of being 100% raw because of various food absorption values. She says the table isn't scientific but is true anyway. How are we to know that? In another chapter, she claims that the person eating cooked food will have their lungs fill up 2/3 of the way with mucus and then the mucus will go under the skin and out the pores. I challenge her or anyone else to prove that this happens, this is really nonsense and, unfortunately, perpetuates some of the pseudoscience around raw foods.The second part of the book is worse yet, as Boutenko presents eating cooked foods as an addiction which the raw foodist may fall back into should they not be 100% raw. She even states that if she were hospitalized for something and had to eat cooked food that the result would be horrible because she would presumably fall back into the cooked food addiction. To counter this, she offers yet another version of the tired old 12 step program of AA (which is more and more being replaced with ""rational""-based programs in the field of addiction). This is not to say that some of the suggestions don't have merit, but I find the whole thing really hard to swallow.My opinion is that if you are looking for unsubstantiated pseudoscience or want to believe you have yet another addiction or want to start yet another 12 step program, this book might be for you. If, however, you just want to eat raw, whether 50% or 100%, buy some good raw recipe books and have at it... If you want some technical background or motivation go to some of the raw web sites or check your local health food store to see if there is a raw group in your area. Life is too short to have yet another addiction or to be worrying if that roasted peanut you ate at work has make you less that 100% pure raw and endangered your eating habits. Relax, enjoy. Isn't that a big part of what food and eating is about?",2.0,Yet Another Twelve Step Rehash,1020297600,"05 2, 2002",51,64,helpful,0.796875,1 ASPW5DFLVAGZA,B00CRS88IO,"Dan wales ""quantum_time_flux_portal""","[12, 13]","Ian Fleming based a lot of 007 on himself (apparently) i loved the fact that i'm not usually one for these types of books my forte is fantasy and horror, but i love a good James Bond flick just as much as the next guy. I don't know how Damian manages to tell such a detailed story on some superb characters everything you could think of to describe he does in brilliant detail.Finally the action is by far one of the best I've read in books it can be hard as i know i'm a writer myself to convey a good fight/action scene yet he does it brilliantly in this book, i look forwards to reading even more of Damian's books as soon as i get the chance too seriously buy this book!",5.0,The bond that never was,1376870400,"08 19, 2013",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 AHH7IEK2QPMMZ,0143119133,"Gail Rodgers ""moonwishes""","[70, 75]","What a fascinating and powerful story this was. A midwife that wants to be a surgeon during the time in history that women were still not allowed into medical school (if you could even call them that), the Civil War is breaking out and her fraternal twin sister has just snagged the man that Mary is interested in. Mary is determined though, that she will become a doctor. She finds her way into medical work in every way she can including working at a horribly filthy and dilapidated hospital in Washington as the wounded soldiers are brought in.Eventually she walks up to the White House to Abraham Lincoln's aid and ask for resources to help the soldiers in the field, where she convinces a surgeon to teach her to do surgery by doing leg amputations one after another. Although careful and skilled, she and the other doctors are distressed to see their patients who seem to be on the mend, succumb to fever and infection. It is only in the few years following the war that the germ theory was learned of and that if they had only washed their hands between patients and cleaned their instruments, many of the Civil War soldiers could have been saved from death.A book that so easily could have broken down into a trite love story gone wrong, or a skimming the surface of her desire to be a doctor and the two doctors that loved her. The author instead puts us in the mud and vermin infested hospitals and you begin to experience and learn about the Civil War in ways that I had never before known. Of troops sent out with no training, no supplies and no food. No knowledge of true sanitary practices. Of a country that has tilted on its axis as states fight each other and at times brother against brother. Robin Oliveira deals with it all and makes this a novel that will haunt you and make you realize in many ways the futility of war and the discrimination that women had to go through to do the things that they are so capable of--such as being doctors. Of women being given permission to be themselves. I expect many good things in the future from this author.",5.0,My Name is Mary Sutter,1271376000,"04 16, 2010",70,75,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 AAY1YLTKK4JC7,0393057658,"Martin Andrade ""Media Gurgitator""","[5, 5]","Mr. Lewis has really created a gem in ""Moneyball."" It's hard to imagine a book about sabermetrics and statistics becoming an interesting and compelling story. Lewis has someone melded together a character study of Billy Beane along with the revolution of objective statistics in baseball in a way that doen't make people roll their eyes. This book is truly wonderful and probably one of the most important books on baseball since Bill Jame's baseball extracts.On top of the interesting bits regarding the behind the scenes workings of a major league ball club is something even more substantial. This book can change the way the reader views all levels of baseball. What should high school coaches teach regarding hitting? This book suggests patience and knowing one's strike zone. Should pitcher's be worried about arm strength or deception? The book could easily be used to help coaches of all levels of baseball groom young players to be more effective ballplayers. It will even help those coaches with game strategy. In that sense this book is revolutionary. Sabermetrics used to be for a special class of baseball fan who spent more time at their computers than actually watching or playing baseball.Now sabermetrics belongs to the masses.And just imagine if this book sparked interest in applying objective criteria in other areas of life. What's the best way to manage a group of office workers, who is the best candidate to hire for a particular job, how can a business owner use previous sales numbers to formulate a strategy for the future? It may seem like a stretch but this book could change the way readers think about a whole host of issues, some not even close to relating to baseball.Everyone can learn a lesson from this book and no baseball fan or businessmen should go without reading it.",5.0,Wonderfully Written,1177891200,"04 30, 2007",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AWIL2JC0CWRFK,B0055Q8600,Tippy,"[0, 0]","I came across the title on facebook, and since it was free, I said what the hell. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. I loved it. I'm not one to tell the story and spoil it for the prospective readers, so please do pick up a copy. You won't be disappointed. I read it 24 hours. Mr. Johnson has himself a new fan. .",4.0,I won't tell either.,1324512000,"12 22, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AUNXC4RFEKF9Q,0465090974,"Jamie R. Delman ""Native New Yorker""","[6, 12]","Coonz dissects piece by piece the ideal of the ""normal"" family and lifestyle that neoconservatives frequently point to, as a solution to society's ills. Coonz's research is meticulous, and this book is a potent antidote to the fallacy that too often guides policy making in Washington and statehouses across the nation. i.e. that only the reestablishment of the ""normal"" traditional nuclear family is the path to our salvation. A+",5.0,Suberb and important work- Gets a grip on the reality of the American Family,1140739200,"02 24, 2006",6,12,helpful,0.5,1 A3U5CZ3PV82JXD,0062220969,Danielle,"[0, 0]","""Asylum"" is the perfect book to read on a chilly, rainy October night. The atmosphere of the book is set up for maximum creepiness. And it pulls it off, most of the way.The plot has been rehashed enough, so I won't go over it again but the premise is certainly promising. To have a university dorm be a former psychiatric hospital with a murky past (is there any other kind?) was intriguing. There's a room forbidden to all students so of course, Dan, the main character, will find a way in there. The creepy photos they find send the group on a mystery that they must solve. Photos appear throughout the book to enhance the spookiness of the book. Some of the photos work but some of them just look really staged and take the reader out of the story a little bit. The book is a little spooky but not overly so, so it would be okay for younger readers to read it without getting too freaked out. There's a romance featured but it's pretty PG, so again, it's not too much for younger readers.Overall, I enjoyed the book. It's a pretty fast read and definitely great for Halloween reading.",4.0,Good Halloween reading,1379462400,"09 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A6WCEN9G22H0C,1585710288,EvangelineMcBain,"[6, 6]",Truly a must read for the avid IR reader. This book showcased the relationship between Yvonne a successful black businesswoman and Michael a white business consultant. These two have some very heavy emotional baggage which leads them to believe that it would easier and less messy to be in a relationship that requires no commitment. However they both learn that commitment is the one thing that they do want. In order to make such a commitment they will have to confront their demons regarding their fears of becoming close with another individual due to their painful past.By the way the love scenes between these two are HOT!!!!!! What I found somewhat different with this interracial storyline versus some others was that race was not issue for those around them; there were no disapproving friends and family members which was somewhat refreshing. I will be looking forward to this author future literary works.,5.0,A must have for the IR collector.,1119139200,"06 19, 2005",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1YCJXNHARGRVR,1496139542,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","After reading the sample I was excited to finish the book. It started out with Alex moving to go to college and finding out her new roommate is a guy. Elijah loves partying and women, but as soon as Alex moves in everything changes for him. I love a bad boy reform. That's the part I like about the story.For the negatives. Alex is dating this guy from back home. She tell everyone he is not her boyfriend but Elijah never crosses the friend line since Liam is in the picture. Everyone else can tell Liam is a douche. He comes to visit Alex on Saturdays sometime, but always fight. This went on for over half the book. I was like dump the guy already! Finally she dumps him and he reviled that he's been cheating the whole relationship.Elijah starts going back to his partying was because he is tired of waiting for Alex. Alex is upset that Elijah is giving woman attention again and decides to move out. It wasn't until 70% in the book that Elijah and Alex become a couple. He took her virginity. Shortly after that he is in a near death accident. He recovers and then jump to Epilogue.I did enjoy that the book showed Alex and Elijah's point of views. The book would of been better if Elijah and Alex would of gotten together sooner. I loved the flirty relationship they had and how protective Elijah was of Alex. Darn Liam took away rating stars of this book. The sex scene and there is only one was ok.",3.0,My Clarity,1403308800,"06 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2UGOJAO1H8GXH,086171394X,CPK,"[0, 0]",This was purchased as a gift for my husband. He says he is enjoying it and that he learning a lot.,4.0,The Art of Just Sitting,1390780800,"01 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AN09PKOVPZWA8,1562012614,J. Brennan,"[4, 4]",I enjoy some good erotic reads but too much of this book was a little beyond what I would discribe as erotic. Some of the girls fetishes were just gross - I guess people enjoy toilet acts but not me. The more erotic episodes were truly fine and worth the read but some I just had to skip over. So anytime I have to skip over too much unless it is historical cluttering up a good erotic romance - then a lower star rating for me. If you like extremes then you will be ok with this book.,3.0,Some parts good - many parts disgusting!,1118102400,"06 7, 2005",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AWZFZI6GWSMZ5,0321524764,Loves Home Decorator,"[0, 0]","Nice, easy read with some great information. Some of the attempts at humor are a little annoying, but overall lots of great content. Features of the Canon and Nikon and compatible equipment etc. are mentioned most often, but other brands are really not mentioned at all. While I realize they are the most popular, it might be nice to mention some in the top 10. It was still very useful, most of the information applicable to my own camera and I really enjoyed it.",4.0,"Nice book, but would like more camera variety featured",1213833600,"06 19, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YGWBMC8SDJVX,B00E844Q6S,Kindle Customer,"[10, 34]","Childishly written and with such a simplistic plot that it is embarrassing to actually try to read, these religious rants and raves are horrible. Christian theme aside, it is poor writing and the author seems to have a love affair going on with himself; some unintentional funny items, go check out that great sword sticking out of the protagonists nether regions!! And finding those female demons under the bed remind me of those girlie books of my misspent youth; priceless!I dont expect much from vanity press/self published efforts, but this one is really, really bad. I wish they had negative stars!!",1.0,Egoistic drivel; avoid like the plague if your brain functions; nice phallice cover though,1382918400,"10 28, 2013",10,34,helpful,0.29411764705882354,1 A1FJFLAAQD5WH2,0986879800,"Lori Caswell ""dollycas""","[42, 44]","Lillian grew up in a American Fundamentalist Mormon sect where polygamy is still practiced. When she turned 13 she is said to be a woman and is sent to be the child bride of a Bishop in Canada. The compound is located in the wilderness of British Columbia. There are no neighbors for miles. Lillian is scared of her new ""husband"" and his first wife. Her sister-wife and the wife recognized by law.A land developer has decided to purchase the land next to the compound for a ritzy new subdivision. He knows absolutely nothing about the compound next to his idyllic property. When he needs to tell the Bishop about his proposed project he learns the sect's secret. Can he just stay out of their business or does he need to investigate further and protect the children he has seen at the compound? He has some difficult choices to make that could effect so many in Canada but the United States as well.WOW! What a suspenseful story!! A fabulous read!!Zeiner has taken her research and constructed a well written novel that will have you sitting straight up in your chair rapidly turning the pages.One of my former employers is a Mormon, not of a sect the practices polygamy. The staff were members of several religions and unlike most places of work back then we discussed religion openly. Different views were shared and we all learned much of different theology. There were Catholics, Methodists, Seven Day Adventists, and Lutherans. When the company was purchased by a man of Mormon faith from Salt Lake City we were all anxious to learn about the religion. Some of us even were fortunate enough to travel to Salt Lake City and see the temple and learn about Joseph Smith and his teachings. I was familiar with several beliefs shared in this story. Most people today may have watched Big Love on HBO for their knowledge on this Mormon practice.There have also been several non-fiction accounts by women who have escaped from this horrible practice. It is easier to read this story because we known that while based on fact it is still fiction. It may make you furious in parts, tug at your heartstrings in other places, it may even make you laugh here and there. You will be amazed by the strength of some of the characters. The things these children go through was horrific, but the author was not preachy in her telling of this story. The reader is able to reach their own conclusions.I believe this is the first title by this author written in English. I hope she writes many more. This book receives my highest recommendation.",5.0,A FABULOUS READ!!,1342742400,"07 20, 2012",42,44,helpful,0.9545454545454546,1 A1MZ2V8HP9DOGF,149031802X,Cechmate,"[0, 0]",This book takes a new spin on romance and relationships. The story line is wonderful and the characters become your friends. This book (and series) is wonderful. I have read them all and can't wait for the next one!,5.0,Wonderful!,1389830400,"01 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2PNBGFFYIJ0M9,1250029880,Annie,"[0, 1]",Definitely enjoyed this one. Show Styx from a new angle.... Your sympathies shift once you read this one. Excellent storyline. Runs parallel to Acheron nicely,5.0,Styx... Excellent,1383091200,"10 30, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3U5S41XFW70XE,1475070306,Tashema Gadsden,"[0, 0]",I was a little disappointed at the fact that it was Book 1. But I enjoyed the book and I cannot wait to read Book 2 and so on...,5.0,Good book,1358553600,"01 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1F0O78HKGBRKO,0394520718,"David K. Hill ""beecnul8r""","[7, 7]","Louise Brooks led one of the most fascinating, self-destructive lives of any actor of the silent film era. A born dancer, and giving professional appearances in Kansas at a very young age, she joined a famous ballet group and became a top dancer before she was kicked out for a ""bad attitude"". Then on to Broadway rising in the ranks to be a starlette of the great revues of that time, including Ziegfield. Talked into taking a screen test in New York, she immediately was cast and, once again, shot upward like a rocket. NY movie making was quite different than the Hollywood ""machine"" and once forced to CA, she again rebelled at the reins thrown around her. Off to Germany to make the two greatest silents ever: Diary of a Lost Girl and Pandora's Box with director GW Pabst. Bored with Germany, she fled back to the USA, only to find herself blacklisted. She made a few non descript movies after that and only one with sound. The studios, she claimed, let out a story that her voice wasn't ""good"" for talkies. What a lie! Her voice is angelic as is shown by her only speaking movie made with none other than a fledgling John Wayne, fresh out of USC.After virtually vanishing for years, she was found in a terrible NYC apartment and convinced to move to Rochester, NY, home of the George Eastman House which was the inception of the largest film library in the world. Through devoted fans and despite her aggressive and often callous behavious, she began writing about her career and Hollywood, German film making and actors she knew. The result is a stunning tour-de-force and not to be missed by a ""Lulu"" fan. She led a wild, sexually charged life and was an alcoholic in her teens, yet she read philosophy, history, and classic literature. She was so intellectual that men were frightened of her. The rich wanted arm-candy. She was all of that, but because she had brains.Be aware, however, that highly researched biographies of Louise prove that many of her assertions of ""fact"" and incorrect. Either she didn't remember well or purposely chose to bend the truth a little. Still, a beautifully, lovingly written set of words. The photos alone are worth the price of the book. With her hugely copied ""helmet"" hairstyle and those dark, penetrating eyes and perfectly symetrical face, her beauty was unrivaled. Personally I think, in her teens to early thirties, she was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.",5.0,Excellent Essays by a Hollywood Beauty,1238889600,"04 5, 2009",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A6CWCYI8ZBHZ9,0060562536,Mary M. Potts,"[0, 0]",This is the fourth of the Wallflowers and each story has held my interest. I thought this one was very good. Hard to top a romance such as one written by Lisa Kleypas.,5.0,Good Writer,1396224000,"03 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3UAQ72VRUXO2U,0898795400,A Reader in Washington DC,"[9, 10]","This a classic for any writer, no matter how experienced. I've published two books and many articles and reviews, but I learned so much from Marjorie Holmes that I felt like a beginner all over again! Her book is warm, practical, and full of the joy of conveying your unique personality in print. I finished the book and realized the author and I live in the same region (Northern Virginia) and have taught at the same university (Georgetown). Full of gratitude, I immediately wanted to look her up and write her a fan letter. Imagine my distress to learn that she passed away in 2002, at the age of 92. This book is such a gift. I do hope that she not too busy in Heaven to pay attention to her Amazon reviews, and that she realizes just how much her book meant to me.",5.0,"Wow, I loved it. Helpful at any stage of your career.",1083110400,"04 28, 2004",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A1N83SY65R0P9A,1484124383,"Mrs. M. L. Hagan ""mlelsc""","[0, 0]","Liked this book a lot as there were so many handy tips in it, especially with regards to allergies. Well written and easy to pick up at any given time.",4.0,Extremely Interesting.,1369699200,"05 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NBRQWA4ZR3C0,0857521012,Casey K. Conrad,"[0, 0]","I have always been mystified by lighthouses, so I purchased this book on a whim.The story is wonderfully written about a husband and wife who care for the lighthouse on an island - with no other people there - except for the occasional character who brings them supplies. The couple would like to have a baby, but have been through several miscarriages. Then when a young baby in a boat washes ashore, along with a man who was deceased - the story begins.The couple take the child in as their own, even though the eventually discover where the baby came from. It is one of those stories that really tugs at your heartstrings and wants you to keep reading more and more.Definitely a book you should not miss.",5.0,A story that you will not soon forget,1375056000,"07 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1DLL90LX9N8TD,1554047811,Amazon Customer,"[0, 1]","Huge alien empire, small band of brave, blah, blah, blah. Yes, lots of typos that were actually contextual mistakes that made you have to go back several paragraphs and reread. Even in light of the preceding, a book that was hard to put down. I will be picking up the next chapter.",4.0,Star wars XXV,1289779200,"11 15, 2010",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A43PL1VL3BL8Y,1893554449,Greg Nyquist,"[32, 42]","As some of the previous reviews have mentioned, this book is more about Horowitz's confrontation with the University radicals over the issue of reparations than it is over the reparations itself. What we have here is a book that details the sociology of radical left student activists--demonstrating how little these people care either about ideas or the truth or even common decency. Their hatred of American society is only rivalled by their absolute insistence that they never be criticized or challenged. They are against the Open Society as such and pretend to be ""offended"" if anyone questions their twisted ideals. Despite being among some of the most privileged individuals in the history of the human race, attending expensive colleges where they are catered to by an indulgent administration, they never cease complaining about how oppressed they are and the horrors of the ""white establishment"" that ""rules"" America. They have no sense of history or the human condition. They believe merely what they wish to believe--and God forbid if anyone should try to shake them from their dogmatic slumbers!Their attempts to silence Horowitz's campaign against reparations would rate as first-rate farce if it were not so pathetic and disturbing. Not only did not one radical leftist attempt to refute all of Horowitz's ten arguments against reparations, not one demonstrated that even understood any of Horowitz's arguments. The radical Left's fanatical ideology prevents these poor children of darkness from being able to understand what they read--a huge problem for American intellectuals, especially those on the Left. It never occurs to these individuals that the goal of reading is to understand what someone else is trying to say, in order that one may learn from that person and be challenged by him. But these people have no interest in learning.This is a widespread problem among American intellectuals. This was clear to me when I was doing the research for a book critical of Ayn Rand. Neither Rand nor her followers seemed to me capable of reading. They inevitably twisted everything they read that disagreed with their point of view, giving it a malicious interpretation. (Of course, if anyone misinterpreted anything Rand said, they would howl with indignation.) But in comparison with these radical leftists, Rand appears a very model of fair-mindedness. At least Rand and her followers pretend to respect logic and rational argument. These leftists, as described by Horowitz, don't even offer the merest pretense of logic or respect for rational argument. Horowitz's arguments against reparations, which most Americans would agree with, they dismiss as ""offensive"" and ""racist,"" and that's as far as they go in the direction of rational argument. Some students reported weeping because their feelings were so badly hurt! If these students really are that hyper-sensitive (rather than merely histrionic), how do they expect to make it in the real world, where no one will have any indulgence for such absurdities? I fear that these radical leftists will be in for a hard time of it when they leave the shelter of the university. Such are the consequences of adopting an ideology so contrary to fact, so belligerently opposed to the demands of everyday life.",5.0,Devestating indictment of mendacity of radical left,1027296000,"07 22, 2002",32,42,helpful,0.7619047619047619,1 A24NSYBWPJSWIO,0062089374,Audrey Ihrig,"[20, 57]","The book opens with Bristol saying, ""I lied to my mother"". She describes her loss of virginity and self respect. Thus begins a combined feeling of guilt and infatuation with Levi that continued for three more years. Bristol initial encounter with Levi Johnson started in middle school. Levi was a very good hockey player, enjoyed hunting and fishing, and had a rebellious streak. Bristol was attracted to Levi in a matter similar to the way a moth is attracted to a flame.Bristol's family saw trouble, but they could not put a stop to the relationship. Levi was constantly acting up in class. Levi never studied and stop attending classes in high school once the hockey season was over. Levi was constantly seeing other girls on the side. Bristol continued with an on and off relationship with Levi that culminated in sex in a bear stand a couple years later that led to the birth of Tripp. The bear stand was actually a tree house. Oil drums were filled with bait to attract bears to the location.The Palin family pursued an active lifestyle. The family worked hard, played hard and had a zest for life. The family had many interests. Bristol's mom was the governor of Alaska. Bristol's Dad worked in the oil fields in Northern Alaska and was a commercial salmon fisherman during the one month fishing season. Bristol would assist her Dad in the drudgeries of handling thousands of pounds of fish.Bristol parents were spread too thin to provide the proper guidance to Bristol while she was under the Levi's spell. Bristol's parents Todd and Sarah were a bastion of support for Bristol once they found out Bristol's pregnancy. After giving birth to Tripp in late December of 2008. Bristol went back to highschool as a full time student and graduated with a 3.49 GPA. It is the opinion of the reviewer, that Bristol presents a true and accurate picture of Levi Johnson's personality.Bristol's book describes some interesting motifs. Bristol witnessed her Uncle Mike, a six foot four, 250 pound Alaskan State trooper taser her ten year old cousin without justification. The electrical discharged caused her son to collapse in a heap. This unpleasant incident was the start of Trooper Gate. The book takes the reader behind the scenes at the Republican National Convention. The reader is introduced to the participants in Dancing With the Stars. Bristol was especially impressed with the professional conduct of her dance partner Mark Ballas..The book ends with Isaiah 41:10, ""Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God: I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."" The events in the book are fast paced and the story moves along in an interesting matter. I read the book in single sitting which I seldom do. I highly recommend. Bristol Palin's book, ""Not afraid of Life my journey so far. The events in the book can also serve as a warning that one's actions can have unpleasant consequences. The book offers hope and leaves the message to never give up.",5.0,There is No Accomplishment Without Error,1311206400,"07 21, 2011",20,57,helpful,0.3508771929824561,1 A13CZHCL0M3FQE,B00JDLFHRI,Kindle Customer,"[0, 0]",another great book! absolutely amazing can't wait for number four! Will be anxiously awaiting may. wish they were longer though,5.0,Fantastic,1399766400,"05 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NNL9R1AQVVN7,0345441249,summerdog,"[4, 11]","You know I love Pern. I want to go there. But,I could have written a better book on it than this one. Are we sure Todd is his mother's son? It keeps saying how he grew up with Pern in his blood, but he seems to forget a lot of Pern details for his own books. Let someone else write them. I want the real Pern and people back!",3.0,Who did the research for this story?,1121299200,"07 14, 2005",4,11,helpful,0.36363636363636365,1 A328S9RN3U5M68,1585424617,Grady Harp,"[39, 41]","In this immensely readable, fascinating book anthropologist author Jeremy Narby explodes the myth that 'the lower animal, insects, organisms' do not possess intelligence. Whether or not the reader subscribes to all of Narby's findings and postulates really doesn't matter. What DOES matter is the fact that this bright gentlemen has opened windows into the concept of 'knowledge', that knowledge is not the property of man, that lower animal life and plant life demonstrate an economy of putting information together that allows them to survive and outwit their predators!Some aspects of insect and animal behavior have been observed and then relegated to Darwinian survival of the fittest without pursuing it further: camouflage techniques, heightened sense of smell, night vision are easy categories to assign as 'traits'. Narby enters the world of shaman and shares how trances induced by varied means give the shaman the ability to communicate with organisms, understanding their innate intelligence.But the real joy of reading this treatise is the manner in which Narby relates his information. No 'from the pulpit' technique here, instead this is a conversational, open minded, keenly observant and intelligent man who encourages us to be more aware of the fellow nature creatures around us, giving them the respect that is their due. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, February 06",5.0,The Scientists meet the Shaman and Discovers Nature's Intelligence,1140393600,"02 20, 2006",39,41,helpful,0.9512195121951219,1 A2TBZAC0XYHLIB,0307272591,"Mary Bookhounds ""BookHounds""","[0, 1]","MY THOUGHTSABSOLUTELY LOVED ITAndrew Yancy is having a bad day, well, really a bad month. He lost his job as a police detective when he attacks his girlfriend, Bonnie's husband with a mini vac. I can't even begin to describe what he does with it but let it be known that it was all over YouTube in minutes. The newly elected sheriff really likes Yancy, so he gets him a job as a restaurant inspector in the Florida Keys. Yancy promptly looses about 20 pounds. Also, Bonnie is a wanted woman since the affair with one of her high school students. Mix in a Medicare scam, a detached arm that won't go away and a new love in the form of a forensic doctor, Rosa, called to examine said arm.Of course, there are lots of little sub plots, something for everyone with an environmental theme running throughout. Yancy's next door neighbor is overbuilding a house and down in the Bahamas, a pristine beach is being developed by the owner of the lost arm and Medicare scammer. I can't reveal much more since it would reveal too much of the plot but let's just say that Karma comes calling for this evil person. Each character has a unique flavor that only Hiaasen can provide.The best thing about Hiaasen's books is that the plot details and story lines are so absurd they couldn't possibly be true and then you read the notes. Almost everything is mined from Florida headlines and then embellished with great flare. Hiaasen creates another wonderful story and he is one of the few authors that I have read everything he has written. Even the gold book and I am not a golf fan. The twist at the end will truly have you smiling as the bad guys get what they deserve. Oh, and the good guy gets the girl.",5.0,Karma's a bitch,1369180800,"05 22, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3INP7V12E2VDK,0425219143,"Christine Zibas ""AnythngArt""","[8, 11]","Set amidst the War of the Roses in 1400s Britain, this historical novel focuses on the story of one Lady Isobel Ingoldesthorpe, an orphan raised in a nunnery and given over to the British court (which will benefit from the price of her marriage). The country is under the leadership of Henry VI, but the country's beloved king is beset by madness and, instead, court and country are ruled by his French wife, Marguerite d'Anjou, whose motives and ambitions are less pure. Isobel and the ruling court are of the House of Lancaster (the Red Rose), while the competing House of York (the White Rose) vies for power.The House of York and the Neville family are more strongly supported by the British people, presenting a challenge to Queen Marguerite and her grasp for power. Into this precarious political scene enters 15-year old Lady Isobel, who falls in love quite unexpectedly with a Yorkist knight, Sir John Neville. Although Isobel is desired by many, her heart has been stolen, and after much wrangling and an exorbitant price to the court, the Queen finally allows the two to marry.Drawing from real historical characters and the true story of this marriage, author Sandra Worth has used this fascinating background to extrapolate and enhance upon what is known through historical documents to create this engrossing novel. Despite its reaches far into the British past, Worth has been able to create characters and stories that resonate today. Beset with political treachery and a defiant love story, the historical accuracy and well developed characterization lend much to the book, letting readers focus on the action and adventures of the characters, rather than bogging the plot down.Readers will relate to the highs and lows of the relationship between John and Isobel, the forces beyond their control that act to determine their destinies, and their everyday struggles (including money problems and long periods of single parenthood) in a world divided between Lancaster and York. Readers are introduced to period detail subtly, enjoying and learning as they progress, instead of being faced with immediate immersion into a heavy handed and unfamiliar culture upon opening the book. Worth has much to offer her readers: great storylines, fascinating characters, and just the right historical touch. ""Lady of the Roses"" may be set in the 1400s, but its story and telling are contemporary and easily enjoyed by the readers of 2008.Christine Zibas, Book Pleasures",5.0,Fascinating Historical Novel with Contemporary Feel,1202169600,"02 5, 2008",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A73QPH7NGI0DJ,1401215432,Sean Curley,"[16, 17]","Wonder Woman has been a member of DC's Big Three heroes ever since she, Superman and Batman were the three icons to continue publication in the long night between the end of the Golden Age proper circa 1949 and the beginning of the Silver Age of superhero comics in the late 1950s. However, while Diana has always had iconic value, she has never been anywhere near as popular as her alleged co-equals, and much of her popularity rests on a campy 1970s TV show that is about as good as representation of the character as Adam West is of Batman. Even in comics, she has always struggled in the sales department. In 2006, however, her title was safe in the hands of Greg Rucka, arguably the best Wonder Woman writer ever. So, of course, DC bounced him, bringing in Allan Heinberg for a revamp that horribly regressed the character to her terrible Silver Age status quo, and, aided by the normally more-than-competent Geoff Johns on ""Infinite Crisis"", horribly misrepresented the character's post-Crisis history. And then DC unleashed ""Amazons Attack"", which I believe to be the worst crossover in comics history, even worse than Marvel's ""The Crossing"", which eventually had to be written off as a deliberate attempt by a villain to confuse the heroes.One could spend hours cataloguing all of the problems with this crossover, but I will endeavour to be brief:1) The structure; major events take place in ""Wonder Woman"", not included in this collection (which also results in Jodi Picoult's collected edition ending on a cliffhanger, necessitating that readers buy another book; my advice: save your money), and there's no clear reading order for the issues (normally, publication order would give a good indication, but that doesn't work here, and, anyway, these are collected editions, not monthly comics).2) The wholesale rape of the Amazons; as if Hercules wasn't bad enough, Diana's people, once held up as paragons of wisdom who had found a better way to live, are now shown to be a clutch of barbarian murderers who blindly do what their resurrected former Queen tells them to do, even when a known enemy was responsible for her resurrection. Diana's mom Hippolyta gets at least a partial out in this story, but she is written as a raving lunatic (and everyone seems to have forgotten that she wasn't queen anymore when she died).3) The portrayal of Diana and all the other heroes as a bunch of pathetic morons who refuse to fight the Amazons, basically because if they actually engaged them they would wipe the floor with them; we're told that their first priority is ""rescue"", rather than confronting the invaders, when logic would dictate that getting rid of them would eliminate the need for rescue. The heroes fail at every turn in this story, and, what's more, act superior about it (Black Canary, at one point, proclaims that the cavalry has arrived, having arrived too late to stop a USAF pilot from being executed by Amazons; generally, Dinah, the cavalry saves people).4) The ending, which I won't get into here, because it hurts to think about; sufficed to say that it has already attained reputation as legendarily nonsensical among comics fans.2007 was hands-down the worst year in Wonder Woman's 66-year-history, and this story was a huge part of it. Avoid this at all costs.",1.0,"""Avengers: The Crossing"" is no longer the worst crossover in history.",1200355200,"01 15, 2008",16,17,helpful,0.9411764705882353,1 A3PE4ENWAY4D9O,B00CEN9XA4,sexy lm,"[0, 0]",omg I just finish reading this love of mine once I started to read it I could not put the book down I read it in one day and I love it even though it may me cried a little made me laugh and made me mad about the mom and ex but I felt in love with the grandparent and the raine and the friends I recommend this book to everyone I will read it again love it,5.0,anny hernandez,1366934400,"04 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AOKGRSAS5VNS3,0886775205,"Lydia ""The Lost Entwife""","[0, 0]","After reading the first book in the Renshai series, The Last of the Renshai, I knew I'd be diving into the second book in short order. I was no longer cowed by the enormous size of the books (600+ paperbacks? Sure.. I didn't need those hand muscles), and anxious to see what the world held in store for characters like Colbey, Mitrian, Garn, and more. I needed to know - plus I knew at this point that Reichert wouldn't disappoint me in the action sequences.I wasn't wrong.I wasn't sure where the story would go after the deaths that occurred in the end of The Last of the Renshai, but what I began to appreciate as I read this book is just how much ground the ""grey"" area between good and evil covers. Reichert moves her story away from a prominent good and evil bent and throws in chaos and law - just for the fun of it. All I have to say is.. WOW.I think this is the first series I've read that deals actively with chaos and law in addition to good and evil. (When I say evil, by the way, don't be thinking ""evil"" as in evil bad guy - there's a difference in this series.)I really have come to respect this series. It's a solid story, solid characters, interesting lore (even though Mickey borrows quite liberally from Norse mythology) and the world is one that immediately gives the reader an awe-inspiring sense of just how vast it is.The third book blew me away even more... but more on that when I write and publish my review of it.I cannot stress how much I recommend checking this series out. The descriptions of sword-fighting alone make it a series worth looking at, but there is oh-so-much-more than that.",5.0,Review of The Western Wizard,1321574400,"11 18, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SLBICOOZRR6Z,B00LLOOSWA,"Richard L. Weatherly ""RichWeatherly43""","[5, 6]","I was thrilled a few weeks ago when KM Weiland asked me to read an advance copy of this annotated version of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I'm rarely disappointed by the classics and had not read this amazing novel. Over the past three years Ms. Weiland's creative works have entertained me and I've learned a great deal from her writers' blog and books on writing craft; Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success and Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story.I'm glad I finally read Jane Eyre. Bronte's writing is captivating. It hooked me from the beginning. Ms. Weiland isn't obtrusive in her use of annotations but when she does comment, you can be sure she's addressing important elements in the development of a character arc or plot development. Readers of her prior writing resources will see close parallels to lessons in those resources. In the end you will find excellent practical application of structural points covered in her earlier work. At the end of the novel, I had the pleasure of finding a Study Guide filled with provocative questions about the reader's reactions to content in the story.If you've read KM Weiland's prior writing resources I think you will find this to be a perfect follow up. If you haven't, it's a great place to begin.The print version is available for order. I have mine reserved.Jane Eyre: Writer's Digest Annotated Classics",5.0,A literary classic with insightful commentary,1405296000,"07 14, 2014",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3GT6OSVBBJNQ0,0743222245,"James Benson ""J LeRoy""","[13, 18]","When one goes to Amazon.com and looks at book reviews, there are generally about a half dozen. Sometimes a book will work its way up to fifty or a hundred or so. There are over 600 reviews of this book on Amazon. Every single review disagrees with every single other review. And every single review paints an accurate picture of the book.Because this book is about and by Hillary Clinton.The reviews say the book is honest, dishonest, illuminating, evasive, a white-washing and an airing of laundry. And it�s all true.Why shouldn�t it be? Hillary is not duty-bound to deconstruct each event that happened to her while she was in the white house. She is telling the reader her side of events.In addition, while Hillary is more-or-less expected to give a brutal soul searching in such a book, she by her own admition is not the most effusive or emotional person on the planet. It does not seem consistent with her character for her to engage in self-flagellation for acts that for whatever reason caught the public�s attention.My favorite Amazon review was from someone who said that this was list of insignificant meetings with insignificant people. I wonder who that reviewer hangs out with.Other reviews say that one should read this if they want to find out �what really happened�. Well, I�m not sure that�s fair either.It is certainly clear that the 8 years of investigations that only revealed one night of oral sex was caused by partisan politics at its worst. But one doesn�t need to read this to find that out. On the other hand, Hillary does have kind things to say about Dick Gephardt who until recently was one of the poster children for partisan bickering and game playing.So the reader must take a step back and read this book as I did. Hillary was one of our most effective first ladies. She rather unexpectedly ended up at the white house and had some adventures and some misadventures. She made some mistakes. She had some thrilling experiences. And she had the crap kicked out of her.She had the crap kicked out of her because she was actually qualified to do what she was trying to do. Very few people understood her background. They thought she was just another person who happened to be married to the president.Some critics of this book say it is told simplistically. Many of the same say that she shouldn�t have written it because she should be busy being a senator. Many of those say she shouldn�t a senator at all. Circular logic. Partisan bickering.Pick your favorite senator or president and you will likely find they�ve written a book. In fact, in the last elections, our current president hadn�t written any books. So he had to quickly publish something so people wouldn�t think he wasn�t smart enough for the white house. So, it�s pretty much expected that if you are a politician that you have written a book. And god help us if we someday think our politicians have nothing to say.",3.0,Politicians Say Things,1074988800,"01 25, 2004",13,18,helpful,0.7222222222222222,1 A3BXVQTZUPKKGT,0316491977,Jacqueline,"[0, 0]","Page turning nonfiction about the development of one of the first computers, and the work environment that made it possible.Extremely well-written. If you don't have an interest in computers, you'll probably be bored by some of the technical descriptions, but you can get a lot out of the book and learn a lot about management styles even if you skim or skip those parts.It gave me a lot of insight into the way that start up companies are able to overwork their employees.Bitter about working long hours? You'll probably find this interesting, insightful, and therapeutic.",5.0,Start-up culture,1202515200,"02 9, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANYGI13NCHMGR,0425263908,patricia valencia,"[0, 0]","You don't want to put it down, it keeps you at the edge the whole time. I thought it was very entertained.",5.0,Good book,1373500800,"07 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2U2RQXKV53BSY,0736945792,seasons of grace,"[12, 13]","In today's world... bringing up children can be scary! Is there hope?Can I raise a godly child? How do I keep them ""good""?This book was just what I needed! With a son who is seven going on eight...I am looking for some serious HELP!! I only have one boy, but he certainly thinks and acts completely different then my girls. Dannah Gresh covers all things related to boys in her book. Subjects I am not even comfortable talking about (LOL) but obviously need to learn about to be able to relate to this little man I am raising. She talks about our fears as moms, our boy's need to connect, the best age(s) to connect to them. She deals with testosterone, puberty, and how their brains work. The first part of the book is on connecting about how to connect to them, the second part deals with the six ways to keep them ""good"".This is a must read for both mom and dad of tween boys, although the book is geared mostly to mom's. Dannah's husband has added quite a few tidbits of information from a man's point of view, and also a friend of hers has added information for those single parent mom's who are doing this alone. I have learned sooo much, I cannot stress enough how valuable this book has been to me.",5.0,"Just the ""Stuff"" I Needed to Know",1349568000,"10 7, 2012",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A195X6C0NUC59O,1594744890,Gaby,"[7, 7]","On A Stick! is the perfect book for entertaining. As a personal chef I am always trying to find fun ways to present good food - and this book not only provides me with tons of options but GREAT recipes that I know will become staples for my clients. My personal favorite recipes are the Smore's on a stick, Fried Ravioli and ALL of the meat skewers. I couldn't be happier with this book :)",5.0,On A Stick!,1304380800,"05 3, 2011",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A30HI0OTZGT2K9,0786891254,Bevan,"[0, 0]","Pour a good shot of drama, mix with a soupcon of humour, add some fine characterisations for flavour and you have an interesting story. There seemed to be a small glitch with the formatting as, every now and then, there would be an incomplete word and a period.",4.0,FIne cocktail...,1362528000,"03 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1V7LNL2DVS3C3,B00DIQFMKG,Caroline Linton,"[0, 0]","I have used almond flour/meal for cooking but never for baking. I know it makes a great batter for frying and crusting fish. I will do some baking later in the new year.Read this one slowly, there is a lot of info you should know - then go for it.",5.0,Very good info in this one.,1387584000,"12 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A38QOA3H94LE1N,031613399X,"Kelley (Oh, the Books!)","[0, 0]","I found out about this book from a little teaser I was given at a local indie bookstore. I liked it so much (the teaser included the first 3 chapters or so), that I went to the book's website where I was excited to be able to read several more chapters online! Immediately following, I came to Amazon and pre-ordered. Laini Taylor's writing is amazing! Lyrical, emotional, wonderfully descriptive. From the very first sentence, the imagery was vivid, and the characters were intriguing. Once I finally had the book in my hands, it was very hard to put down! She paints a world so full of intrigue, mystery, and characters I want to know in real life, that I just CAN'T WAIT to read the next one! Definitely the best YA book I've ever read.",5.0,It's not often I give YA novels five stars,1319760000,"10 28, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2J247D76V5ZEN,B0061SNX1I,SGAReadsalot,"[8, 15]","Once Upon a Winter's Eve is a charming tale set in Tessa Dare's fanciful seaside village of Spindle Cove. Spindle Cove is a unique haven for ladies who have something about them that sets them apart from society. Hopefully, by now you've already visited the ladies of Spindle Cove in Tessa Dare'sA Night to Surrender, but even if you haven't you will find this novella a delight to read. Once Upon a Winter's Eve is truly a holiday gift from the author to her readers.",5.0,Charming Spindle Cove Novella,1321315200,"11 15, 2011",8,15,helpful,0.5333333333333333,1 A2G23DGTQ2KD7Q,0674276604,Jowanza,"[0, 1]","I needed this book for research purposes and there are many great things to be learned from it. I wish I would have gotten a hard copy, but what can you do?",4.0,Pretty Good,1352937600,"11 15, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3B465TIDMKJIS,0671694111,Suzanne,"[0, 0]","This was not one of the better Fear Street books. It played out kind of like a Nancy Drew mystery toward the end. I was even getting some Scooby Doo vibes at one point. I wouldn't have been surprised if someone had shouted ""Jinkies!"" There was, after all, a masked bad guy. Okay for a quick, mindless read, but nothing that merits a space on the bookshelf.",3.0,Seriously corny,1401148800,"05 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AX0ZTNX6KVJ40,1439133174,J. Jones,"[4, 5]","You always get what you don't ask for. That is the mantra of Athena Hera Sinistra. When her Daddy Dearest insists that she accompany him to Circum Terra she gets a lot of things she never asked for. It all starts when some of her father's bodyguards try to knock her out and she escapes in a life pod. Unable to trust anyone she runs to the powertrees, hits a darkship and is captured by someone with cat eyes and a wild sense of color. She discovers a whole new world and some dark secrets from her own existence on Earth. It turns out some of what she did not ask for is what she really wants.",4.0,Great Science Fiction Romance,1270080000,"04 1, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AC5YGHL4JRNNC,B00F2953OW,"E. Wheeler ""Fool for a good romance""","[7, 7]","Chelsea is a history teacher who is afraid to step out of the comfort zone provided by her hometown, classroom & dowdy clothes. Jasper struck it big in oil & decided to favor small town life in his retirement by moving to rural Montana & opening a brewery. These opposites meet as a result of Jasper buying the historic building Chelsea has been working toward acquiring to turn into a museum of the town's history. When the small town girl & rich out-of-towner collide, sparks fly & the next thing you know there is a scandal about town because good old Chelsea finally let her hair down.I adored this short story, and found myself wishing it was longer when it was over. Likable characters, good dialogue, and a motorcycle riding cowboy with a delicious Texas drawl. I'd highly recommend this for a quick, fun read (especially if you enjoy a sweet & sexy man in cowboy boots).",5.0,Loved it!,1378598400,"09 8, 2013",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A78IB4HIV3HKJ,1841486116,Allison Miller,"[9, 9]",our son loves the moon and LOVES this book. the text is beautifully written - captivating for even a 20-month-old - and the illustrations are equally beautiful. great book for a gift or for a treat for yourself (and your child!).,5.0,fabulous book - you'll read it again and again!,1092096000,"08 10, 2004",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 AXIO51VZN815F,B00I9HZ6B4,Don Kidwell,"[0, 0]","I didn't really know what to expect from this book given the cover, but was pleasantly surprised by the info presented as to how each day of the week was related to an ancient Nordic/ Viking god. Made for interesting conversation with my son whom knew something of the ancient Roman/Greek gods as well. Very good book!",4.0,Unusual and informative children's book including both Thor and Loki from Marvel fame!,1393200000,"02 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWOREQYB8KCXE,1414307586,"Amazon Customer ""Ben""","[14, 20]","Of all the people to write about the post-modern (I hesitate to use that adjective) movement. For some reason, Barna was one of them. I just had the impression that he was swept away in the market your church well and grow it campaign. However, in this book, Barna reveals some startling statistics of the ""capital C"" Church that makes even me quiver. He reveals how ""revolutionaries"" are not caught in the church malaise and are finding ways to see significant life change in people previously uninterested in the Gospel. After dishing out the current state of the church, he offers new trends that he sees as influential - perhaps (from his opinion) essential - to the future being the hope of this world. I know, I know, the house church movement has its issues...and there are people out there who see their work as ""slitting or divisive in the church.""But, so did the religious people of Jesus day. Are we really seeing life change? Is your life changing? Why or Why not? When I read the stories of Jesus - I see a person who is interested in ONE thing - humanity in life changing, soul surrendering, radical living relationship with God. I know one thing - I want to be a revolutionary.That is were Barna took me in his latest addition to his collection.",5.0,He has me thinking...,1137456000,"01 17, 2006",14,20,helpful,0.7,1 A13WLXBM36009G,074326875X,"Jules Brenner ""~ Critical Mystery Tour""","[5, 7]","If Vince Flynn knows anything, it's how to hook you into a high-paced thriller with action and suspense to burn and keep you there to the bitter (or bittersweet) end. Moreover, he does it with clarity and plenty of knowledge of how the clandestine agencies work to deal with terrorism and corruption in many of its permutations. There is, however, something missing from the Mitch Rapp experience this time around, like sexual/romantic interest to go with chasing down a Bosnian assassin and doing what he must to find the monsters who ordered the hit on the streets of Washington, DC during an election campaign.Rapp actually passes up two highly potential love interest possibilities, in the forms of gorgeous, fledgling Agent Brooks, who gets in Rapp's face on the Bosnian mission and again in the form of gorgeous Agent Rivera, the Senior Agent in Charge (SAC) in the motorcade assassination, whose anger and disappointment she sublimates at her karate Dojo where her black belt skill proves superior to all comers. Now, she thinks she can take Rapp. After administering a few bone-breaking lessons in martial arts, he sees through the bravado to a lady hurting. Both of these romantic opportunities squelched, as in created and dropped.I agree with another writer here about the curt ending. It seems to just die out rather than end with an exclamation. But all's forgiven when you've had one of the most enjoyable, brilliantly focused reads this year. And, about Mitch Rapp, he adds new meaning to the term, ""Political Action Committee.""",5.0,Mitch Rapp: Political Action Committee,1164672000,"11 28, 2006",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2FEE88JZLDLXZ,0385342322,"H. S. Wedekind ""Mr. Weekend""","[0, 0]",""" I could see that she was disappointed, even though she managed to put on a brave face.'I need you to stay here as a decoy.' I whispered. 'When they see you leaning against the greenhouse, they'll think I'm still in bed.'Gladys brightened considerably at the thought of a conspiracy.'If I look sharp, I can hare it cross-country and catch the first bus for Hinley this side of Oakshott Hill.'At the corner of the garden, I turned, and mouthed the words, 'Don't do anything I wouldn't do,' and Gladys signaled that she wouldn't.I was off like a shot."" (Flavia Sabina de Luce and her best friend, Gladys, conspiring as only a girl and her bicycle can.)This is the third, and maybe the best, book in the Flavia de Luce mystery series. If not the best, then it's definitely a close second to Alan Bradley's debut novel THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE. I won't go into the plot, as several reviewers here before me have already done so...and probably far better than I could. Suffice it to say, I think this is a terrific read for anyone who likes a good murder mystery liberally laced with humor. Too, it's hard to not like eleven-year-old-sleuth-extraordinaire Flavia. She generally goes about looking for clues with a twinkle in her eye, a song in her heart, and an insatiable curiosity about the world around her...especially the chemical compositions that make up everything in her world.One thing that interests me, and I hope the author fully explains it in the next book, is the estranged relationship between Flavia and her older sisters, Daffy and Feely. They enjoy tormenting Flavia and she loves plotting her revenge against them afterward, but you never quite understand how it got to that point. Flavia hints that it wasn't always so, and she even says that she loves/hates them, as though her feelings about her sisters are two sides of the same coin.At any rate, I highly recommend A RED HERRING WITHOUT MUSTARD as well as the other books in the Flavia de Luce series. 5 Stars",5.0,What secrets lurk in the dark and dusty cellar of Buckshaw Manor?,1298160000,"02 20, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YGYSBJ5ZK2QP,1938135636,Lois,"[0, 0]",My husband and I started reading John Locke novels just over a year ago. We have since read each one he has written. Not one time have we been disappointed.Callie's Last Dance was just as well written as all the others. His use of drama with just the right amount of humor is always pleasing.I don't think anyone would be sorry they purchased this book. If it's your first you will want to read the rest!!!!!,5.0,Excellent!!!!,1342742400,"07 20, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A162DYU9PEDPSO,0988695146,Timeoutmom,"[0, 0]",My friend had told me of this book and I was delighted that she did! The story takes you right off enjoying every page right down to the last.. I found myself tearing up in a couple of parts. An author that can pull you in and stir emotions always keeps me coming back for more!! I look forward to reading the sequel next.,4.0,a capturing story,1379980800,"09 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SPYWV5GC6UPZ,1575666529,"mdmom ""mdmom""","[8, 8]","The whole Lucy Stone series is very enjoyable reading. Lucy is a very regular person with family issues that could apply to alot of people. Sometimes I wish she could have a nicer time of things, but then the story wouldn't be the same. The mysteries she solves are not huge conundrums, but I like to get an idea of who the killer might be before the last page sometimes! Not every mystery book needs to be the end-all of stories--just fun and easy is nice, too. And her series is definitely that. If you are looking for deep darkness, this is not it. But if you want a likable character and easy flowing story, here you go.",4.0,Enjoyable reading,1074384000,"01 18, 2004",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1UFU1Q1KSSWIY,110501455X,The Kindle Book Review,"[6, 6]","Obligation, is a really interesting and powerful story. On the surface, it should be a good read, and nothing more, but actually it digs deep into the soul, and brings to the fore the humanity and honour that resides within us all.It is clear to anyone reading this book, and confirmed when reading the `thank you' at the end and Stilwell's biog that this book is written by someone who has experienced some of the things the books covers. The detail with which he describes the Marine training, the golf training and the rifle work is sublime.The book follows the life of Kevin Anderson, and is split into three main parts. There is Kevin's early life, following the loss of his parents and the sad death of his brother and the subsequent life with his `Pops. - It was clear to me that Matty was autistic, and the way that Stilwell describes the care of Kevin towards his brother is incredibly touching. The book then moves on to Kevin's life as a Marine, before following his life after he leaves the Marines and becomes part of `society'.There were points in this books that I actually cried - and if you follow my twitter feed (@MsSBurns) then you'll have seen I had to stop reading as I was a blubbering mess on the train to work one morning! I was taken completely by surprise by this - I hadn't expected the book and it's characters to reach me in this way. I very rarely cry when reading and I shouldn't have been able to connect with these characters on such a deep and emotional level. But I did, which is testament to the expert way this story is told.I liked the switch from first to third person - a technique that Stilwell employed to brilliant effect. I think it helps readers to dig deeper into Kevin's mindset at this point. For me, he had to refer to himself in this manner; Kevin had to believe he was trained and `hard wired' to perform the tasks he was being asked to.What this story does is teaches the reader about compassion. Despite being on the surface a trained killer - Kevin is the ultimate in compassion, and a tortured soul, trying to reconcile what he has done.I loved how the story came full circle - I won't say anymore as I don't want to spoil the story, but Kevin learns a lot from Pops, and I really enjoyed seeing that relationship and role come full circle.I hope some film makers are reading this book - I could see this being turned into a superb film at some point in the future - it has the potential to be a beautifully moving film.Sarah Burns ~ On Behalf of the Kindle Book Review",4.0,An incredibly moving book,1329436800,"02 17, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A4C4DJBZ8KJEQ,B00BJLLUZS,Rob Rue,"[0, 0]","This is amazing! I love Wendy's style and revelation! I can't wait to tear into book 4, what a spiritual adventure!",5.0,Wow!!!,1377129600,"08 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QMYAIWUG0T01,B00G70D50Y,Cheryl L. Zertuche,"[0, 0]","I absolutely fell in love with this book. The characters are wonderful, easy to love. No angst but just true love and family. So looking forward to the next book. Thanks for your wonderful talent!!!",5.0,Another winner for Kate!!,1386201600,"12 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3AZKUBFS39IW2,B00FTUFROA,Laura G,"[0, 0]",I love this series and it was great catching up with all the characters from past books and meeting some new friends.,4.0,So Good!,1389052800,"01 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZB5ALDHIWBH0,1400074436,Mrs. B,"[4, 10]","The Global -Warming Deception by Grant Jeffrey brings to light the lies, deception and agenda behind the global warming myth.In his book, Grant Jeffrey shares how he believes the global warming movement is an attempt to reduce our standard of living , reduce our population, bankrupt America, and steal our freedom.He sets out to prove, with documented facts, that the elite behind the global warming movement are not basing their information on scientific evidence but on manipulated data, falsified information and outright lies, while at the same time they are concealing facts and figures that would jeopardize their cause. Among his proofs are numerous documented sources including excerpts of emails that were leaked from one of three key climate research centers charged by the UN to gather and analyze climate date files.In my opinion, for the most part, Grant Jeffrey does a good job supporting his claims. His research is well documented and supported with evidence that can be verified. However, a few of his claims were based on the old earth theory which I don't believe. Also a few things he said were redundant, (or was he trying to drive a point home? ) For instance, I counted at least 10 times were he made it known that it has been verified that the earth has only increased a little over 1 in the last 150 years.I would recommend this book, especially to any one who believes there is validity for the greenhouse effect, global warming, climate change, climate science, or whatever new name they are calling it at the time you read this review. This book would be sure to raise some questions you'd want answer to.I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.I recieved this book free, from WaterBrook Press, in exchange for a fair and honest book review.",4.0,The Global -Warming Deception by Grant Jeffrey,1297123200,"02 8, 2011",4,10,helpful,0.4,1 A2TBZAC0XYHLIB,077043598X,"Mary Bookhounds ""BookHounds""","[8, 9]","MY THOUGHTSABSOLUTELY LOVED ITBob Forrest has had a somewhat successful career as a musician and working in the music business until his drug habits catch up to him. He spent massive amounts of money on his addiction, ruined relationships and barely made it out alive. As the creative genius behind Thelonious Monster, he has seen his fellow musicians, like the Red Hot Chili Peppers succeed, while he was just barely surviving because of his addictions. In his path to become clean, he found a career as a drug counselor, getting fellow musicians off drugs and partnered with Dr. Drew Pinsky on Celebrity Rehab.I really enjoyed this memoir since it was so different from most of these music related stories that tend to follow a pattern. Usually they follow the same series of events: struggling to get noticed, fame and fortune, seduced by drugs, burnout and then getting clean/finding God. This one didn't quite follow those ideas. Forrest admits he was addicted even before fame set in, that he would do anything for drugs and that his prior attempts failed because he couldn't get past the ""God"" element in the 12 Steps program that most sober programs use.There is a wonderful balance between the music industry gossip and what it actually takes to become clean and sober. His story also rings very true. There is not a lot of embellishing to glamorize the drug use by celebrities, he lays the facts out while making it very interesting. So come for the wonderful insider stories about a lot of famous musicians but stay for the fascinating story that is Bob Forrest's life. This is a very well done memoir.",5.0,"come for the music gossip, stay for a fascinating look at addiction",1379462400,"09 18, 2013",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A1K94QWHCX6890,031238775X,Snows Acre,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed this mystery which is one of the good ones of this genre. Carola Dunn creates like able chatacters in wh one can develop an interest.,5.0,Fun Mystery,1347148800,"09 9, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30BL714B7I7K6,1451697120,Amber A.,"[0, 0]",Very inspirational! Makes me want to get my shoes out and run right now!,5.0,Five Stars,1404000000,"06 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1RXR105ND8OSH,B004MPRZIY,manutwo,"[5, 5]","Kaz is the owner of Spice 'n' Solace, the best male brothel in the Galactic Alliance. He has been hiding his sexuality from his friends because, even if gay marriages are allowed and male prostitution is legal, there is a lingering homophobia in the society he lives in. Kaz was also beaten by his father when he was young because of his sexual preferences and although he has indulged in sex with men, it's always been as a top, because being on the receiving end is considered diminishing. But Kaz wishes to find a man he can submit to, a man with whom he can fully explore his sexuality.Jathan One-Moon is the man who holds the fate of mankind in his hands. He is the sole negotiator the Ankylos, the alien neighbours of humans, will accept to discuss the annual revision of the peace treaty with the humans. It's a stressful period for Jathan and he's used to release the stress with the beautiful escorts that S'n'S provides him.On the day of Jathan's arrival, the threat of a plague prevents Kaz's escorts to go outside the quarantined zone. Jathan is the best client and advertising for Kaz's business and Kaz can't afford to displease him. He decides to meet Jathan to find a different arrangement, but when the two meet the sparkles of attraction fly. Jathan thinks the beautiful Kaz is the escort and Kaz, enthralled by the sexy Jathan, decides to play along and hides the fact that he is not the escort, but the owner of the brothel.Their first encounter is very funny, because Jathan misreads Kaz's reluctance, shyness and clumsiness for a sexual play. In bed they complement each other. Their relationship is not a formal dom/sub relationship. Jathan is naturally bossy and Kaz plays along. Jathan realize that Kaz is something more than an escort and he's relaxed and playful when he is with him. The way they taunt each other is entertaining and exciting.The setting is interesting, but it's not thoroughly explored. The atmosphere of Jathan and Kaz's encounters is light, but the world they live in is much darker than what Kaz's casual remarks let transpire. I think the book could have had more depth if this darker edge had been kept until the end of the book (Addison's story is brief, but it was very important to give us an idea of the dangers of that world for gay men). Jathan's counterpart in the negotiations, R'kos, was a very fascinating character, especially because he seemed to have an affinity to Jathan. The concept of mate for the aliens needed to be explored, in my opinion.The main problem in this book is the ending. It's wrapped up too nicely and almost abruptly. I think the epilogue was useless. It gave a lot of information about Jathan and Kaz's life, but it didn't convey the warmth and sexiness that was so important in the previous parts of the book. I don't know if the author has the intention of writing a series set in this world and that's the reason why a few things were only sketched or left unexplained. The beginning of the book wasn't very smooth, probably because Kaz's friends are really annoying and there's a little bit of info dumping, but from the moment Kaz rescues Addison in an alley, we get to know him better and the pace of the story picks up.Maybe I'm overrating it a bit, but I enjoyed the story and the characters very much, even if I feel the execution left some of the potential of the story undeveloped. I'd recommend it as a funny, sexy read in a world to be discovered.Galley received via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.",4.0,"A funny, sexy read in a world to be discovered",1301529600,"03 31, 2011",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1K6AA9Q9XF77P,0971977550,"Ryan Mease ""Ryan S. Mease""","[0, 0]","This comic takes a very simple, yet original, idea and weaves a compelling plot with a great ending. Dialogue is so-so, but the best feature of this work is certainly the art. Templesmith's shaded, ghostly drawings remind one of their nightmares. I'm not sure how the pair plans to continue this plot, however...",4.0,Review of Niles' 30 Days of Night,1279411200,"07 18, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AOU1LS4LILW4Z,042522239X,D. Becton,"[0, 1]","This is the 4th book in a the Sisters of the Moon series by Yasmine Galenorn. I have been very pleased with the series that does start out a bit slow, but picks up speed as it goes. I cannot wait to get to the next book.",5.0,Dragon Wytch,1269475200,"03 25, 2010",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A250BI36M1IR26,0425176584,Eric Kent,"[6, 49]","And I still can't find those little aliens :)Really, there is no conspiracy. And there certainly ain't no extraterrestrial life. The only mysteries of Ancient Egypt is why current Egypt is still so backwards.",1.0,Silly book,1102809600,"12 12, 2004",6,49,helpful,0.12244897959183673,1 A1NPCL5IMJWPVP,1455574856,Karla Eakin,"[0, 0]","What can I say, she did it again. Jessica hit every emotion possible with this book. Her characters were easy to love, hats, and bond with. She makes you connect with her characters in a way that seems effortless and leaves you wanting more. Ellas emotional issues and Michas persistence on trying to help make for very entertaining situations. Keep up the great writing, your passion shows with each chapter.",5.0,she did it again,1349913600,"10 11, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A16PJWD50A3C1D,0399158820,Arleen Andrews,"[0, 1]",Always like these books as they are a bit edgy - with a look into the future. Recommend for those who like a mystery with a different angle.,5.0,Always edgy!,1367366400,"05 1, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1PG3DCE9N89LX,067178496X,Pezerry,"[0, 0]",Interesting story that follows the game well. I enjoyed every single page and recommend it to all RE game fans.,5.0,Nemesis on Paper,1377475200,"08 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ULCFOJEXUIHA,0785264329,Robert A. Deyes,"[4, 4]","The word `barbarian' is one that conjures up thoughts of a man who has a deep-rooted passion for a political or sociological cause and gives everything within himself to save people from injustice. With his face painted blue and white and crying ""Freedom!"" to the masses, Mel Gibson's portrayal of William Wallace is perhaps the best example of such a mental image. Yet mixed in with the deep-rooted passion, the image of a barbarian also brings to the fore thoughts of recklessness, savagery and brutality. For this reason alone, I was surprised to see the word `barbarian' used by Erwin Raphael McManus to describe the true Christian calling in his book The Barbarian Way. What, after all, could be further from savagery and brutality than the grace of the Christ figure who healed the sick and ate with tax collectors? Maybe we could cite the overturning of the tables in the temple or the challenge to the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem in favor of the barbarian image of Jesus. But outside of these few examples, the term `barbarian' seems to be a misplaced descriptive.Nevertheless, reading on through McManus' text we soon discover that he used the term barbarian somewhat differently. In McManus' definition, the element of passion is still present- the barbarian of Christianity is truly on fire for Jesus and is on a mission to conquer the hearts of those that do not love or know God. The barbarian of Christianity is truly out to risk everything for humanity just as Jesus did. But gone is the brutality that we might associate with the barbarian of old, replaced as it is by the `insanity' of trying the conquer the hearts and minds of men for Christ. But McManus' book is as much a criticism of the modern church as it is a call to rally. In fact McManus talks about the dangers of religion and religiosity that confine faith in Christ to the pulpits of our churches. The `domestic church' as he calls it, is everything that Christ's calling is not. Christ message after all was that we should get out and declare our faith to the world. We read in the Gospel of Mathew, for example, how Jesus sent his disciples, ""as sheep among wolves"" (Mathew 10, vs 16) to spread the Gospel message. The Gospel of Luke likewise tells of the need to shoulder the cross daily for Jesus (Luke 9, vs 20-25).Life for Christ is not necessarily going to be easy. Indeed the easy, comfortable life is, as McManus argues, the fallacy of the domesticated form of Christianity with all its focus on individual spiritual growth. The domesticated church lives for the self- ""get rich, get comfortable, get secure, get well when you get God"". But the life for Christ- McManus' barbarian way- is a continuous struggle whose followers live, ""with reckless abandon"" for their savior- the son of God- as they tell others about him. The prophet Ezekiel told of `the new spirit' and `the new heart' that will be the hallmark of God's transformation of His people (Ezekiel 36 vs 26).McManus uses another term- the `mushroom eaters'- to illustrate the kinds of risks that barbarians for Christ will take to spread the message of Jesus. Those who risk everything for Christ do not worry about death even to the point that they might one day eat a poisonous mushroom. Indeed, Paul's letter to the Hebrews tells of the torture, the stoning, the oppression and the mistreatment that some have already endured consumed as they were, not by a fear of failure but by a fear of God (Hebrews 11). Perhaps best known amongst the mushroom eaters is John the Baptist whose foretelling of Jesus' arrival was directed against the religious elite- that ""brood of vipers"" who refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah. He would later declare to his own disciples that ""soon a man is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did"" (John 1, vs 30). With his clothes woven from camel hair and a diet of locusts and wild honey (Mathew 3, vs 4), John the Baptist was not afraid to lead a life of purpose for Christ. He is perhaps McManus' favorite example of a barbarian- passionate and on fire for Jesus who was imprisoned and beheaded because of his faith (Mark 6, vs 14-28).McManus calls us to be more like John- to give ourselves up to the task of declaring the love of Christ to those who do not yet know him. Those who settle for less have perhaps lost the power to be who God intended them to be. But those who embrace God's calling for their lives- active `declarers' of His love- will truly live for God. As McManus concludes, salvation is an ""enlistment in the mission of God"". We are all called to live the same mission- the barbarian way for Christ.",5.0,Beyond The Domestic Church,1265846400,"02 11, 2010",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3HMZ04VVRKSUC,1480230219,Brandi,"[0, 0]",This was a cute summer read on the back porch kind of book.... it had some heat but not over the top sex which can sometimes take away from the plot. I can't wait to read more of the Laurel Heights novels!,3.0,Cute,1373155200,"07 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2BEV7J831EC7,1414324855,Going Deeper,"[11, 17]","Really glad I got this one. It was a great read and provides some well thought-out defenses of the Christian God. In Godforsaken, D'Souza tackles what is perhaps one of the most important questions ever posed: How can God be good and still allow evil and suffering in this world? I think that most of us would love to know the answer to this question. D'Souza provides strong, reasonable answers to this and provides powerful arguments to Christian apologists. His strongest arguments are on moral evil and free will. For us to be creatures with free will, evil is practically a necessity. If some humans choose the good, inevitably some will choose the bad. This is where pain and suffering comes from. Also, his arguments for natural disasters being a necessary part of the world are convincing as well.One point I found interesting was D'Souza's comments on the omnipotence of God. If God is all-powerful, can He tell a lie or make a stone so heavy that He can't lift it? The short answer is no. God cannot do something against His character or something that would be a contradiction of His power. D'Souza gives more substantial arguments why this is so.However, there are many viewpoints that D'Souza propagates that I disagree with, especially his views on evolution. D'Souza seems to believe that God created and fine-tuned the universe and then let it roll. He believes that God set up the perfect conditions for evolution to occur. This is called theistic evolution. He also seems to believe that everything in life will eventually become more ordered. This is illogical and against the Second Law of Thermodynamics. We see disorder occurring all around us. Regarding evolution, we see in Genesis 1 that God created everything from scratch in the period of 6 days. Biblical and scientific evidence both point to a young earth, but D'Souza believes that the earth is billions of years old, that animals predated humans for millions of years, and that the universe was formed by the Big Bang (granted this was all ordered by Creator God). He also says (pg 212) that when the Bible describes God as having feelings, ""it refers not to how God actually feels but rather to how we would feel if we were in the situation."" I disagree. Scripture is inspired by God and I believe that God does have feelings. What do you call His love for us? Throughout the Bible, God is described as a highly emotional being. Not that God is controlled or consumed by His feelings, but He does have them. And some of D'Souza's views about Old Testament happenings seem to be stretched a little bit, but they are plausible.Near the end of the book, he provides good explanations for the existence of heaven and hell. One thing to keep in mind while reading this book is that D'Souza is writing to knock down an atheist argument. He doesn't have to prove that Christianity is real, just that is consistent. And he does a very good job of this, even though I disagree with him on some points. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of this book, but the last half was a little iffy. Still, it's a great read and I highly recommend this intelligent piece of work!Author Website: [..]I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review.",4.0,"Excellent Arguments, but I Disagree on Some Points",1331424000,"03 11, 2012",11,17,helpful,0.6470588235294118,1 AIQASCTKQVZP2,1580175058,Susan StPierre,"[0, 0]",I gave it a 3 star since it was written well. It did not help me to knit a stocking that was from toe up. I have to match with other stockings made in the past.,3.0,Christmas Stocking Book,1386547200,"12 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2JWAJKKNI7QOA,0312994605,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I like all the Blanco County books. Ben Rehder writes a good story. Not high literature but very enjoyable for a lighter read.,4.0,I like all the Blanco county books,1379289600,"09 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KNCOJS1CAY9V,1480071110,sunshine,"[0, 1]","love romance books would let everyone know about these books, can't wait to see Melody Anne new book to come out",5.0,The Billionaire's Final Stand,1393113600,"02 23, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3KV4RQE2FVIZ0,1480138096,"Deb Nam-Krane ""dnkboston""","[0, 0]","Young Chloe Clever, aka Pythia, aka the Oracle of Delphi, is starting to get a little more confident in her new job as the keeper of the Great Unknown Prophecy. Which is good, because her job gets even tougher in this book: Apollo may be a ruthless SOB, but she's about to attract the attention of beings far more frightening. I won't give it away, but let's just say it's a good thing Chloe finds she can suddenly read a very old and otherwise forgotten language, however much it might dismay her demigod guardians.If only Chloe could focus on forces of nature striving to take over- and occasionally rescue- the world. Unfortunately, the gods decided to bring the conflict home to her- literally. And while Chloe may think that was all about her, she quickly understands that the victim plays a special role- and more special than anyone could have imagined before. Oh right, someone did figure it out in the last book, so why is Chloe only finding out now? Let's just say it has a little something to do with the bonds between siblings- and the lack thereof between parents and children.When is her beloved Strafford aka Solar aka The Sun Prince going to explain his dishonor to Chloe? And speaking of parents, why is Chloe's mother taking everything so calmly? And where is Chloe's father, why did he leave and what does he know?As one of the characters says, it's all about choices. Can even the Oracle of Delphi make the right ones when all this is going on? Maybe, but not without a terrible sacrifice.Once again, Jones made the myth-geek in me smile. Not to give anything else away, but let's just say that if Apollo is plotting a coup, he picked the perfect god to team up with. Apollo's light needs to be tempered with a little darkness, but darkness comes in different shades.Looking forward to the next installment, and highly recommended once again for fans of mythology and young adult.",5.0,Now the real trouble starts,1380672000,"10 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2S7M4KGG2ELIG,0764130560,TOM8PIE,"[0, 0]","This is a superb freshwater aquarium book to have; every freshwater aquarium keeper owes it to himself or herself to get this one. It's packed with a lot of pertinent information on water temperature ranges, water types, care, habits, compatibility, etc. There are a lot of superb photographs that are a joy to explore. Walt Whitman once stated that he liked the feel of a good compact book that one could really get close to; well this is the one for freshwater aquarium buffs. Plenty of good reading with excellent photos! The plastic book cover is a nice touch to this fine paperback!",5.0,Sweet Book Indeed!,1256947200,"10 31, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AIREHOF22MIBM,1852428511,Vital Spark,"[6, 13]","Reading this book is like stepping into a nightmare. The male characters are all thugs; the females have been reduced to orifices. Thuggish behavior is described in thuggish language. I quit reading round about page 225 when one of the characters is getting his ears cut off with a chain saw. In sixty years of avid reading, I have not come across anything as tasteless and offensive as this book.PS. In the UK, being ""pissed"" means being drunk, not angry.( I'd hate to think that US readers are thinking that these characters are going around feeling angry all the time!)",1.0,Thugs in a nightmarish world,1301616000,"04 1, 2011",6,13,helpful,0.46153846153846156,1 A2QG2L9WEOAZJ7,1401927548,Avid Reader,"[8, 16]","First, the good parts. I really like Nick. I admire him, based on the story he told about what he's been through. There's enough insistence on ""never saying a negative word about anyone"" to make me feel a bit inhibited about giving my frank opinion of this book. I wouldn't want to be gratuitously rude to anyone in general or to this sweet guy in particular.Next, Nick does state some important truths about the Catholic Church, lies told in the pursuit of religious power. These short chapters, tucked away toward the back of the book, are the point of the book. (Not that I think it would be news to any thinking person that Jews didn't kill Jesus, or that anti-Semitism has a long history where so-called ""Christians"" have been the key perpetrators.)Some of us have figured out on our own that Jesus never invented the Catholic Church, that he never told people to worship him, to kill in his name, or to use his teaching as the pretext for homophobia, racism, slaughtering Jews by the truckoad, etc.But here's where I really take issue with Mr. Bunick's ""Time for Truth."" He spends loads of time building up his credibility. And, as if his life story, from rags to respectability, weren't enough... man, oh man, does he ever load on the coincidences.Oh yes, it's supposed to be so very, very important that people woke up at a certain point in the middle of the night and saw a certain time on their clock. Wow, 4:44. Then whatever else Nick has to tell us must be really, really important?The author (spurred on by his Hay House editors?) builds the cheerleading up to a frenzy. Nick is so persuasive that, after a while, I became so excited I was practically drooling.Except wait. Is this cheerleading anything like what Jesus taught? Is the Kingdom of Heaven within you? Or was the magnificent teaching of Jesus more like, ""Angels are the purpose of religion. Angels reveal themselves in tiny little coincidences that should be venerated like sacred relics. Angels tell me the meaning of life.""Did Jesus really teach, ""My religion consists in taking cues from other people, with their hyper-enthusiasm over shared coincidences?""Okay, I do have an axe to grind. I have worked as a New Age teacher for 40 years. I am PROUD to be in the New Age field. But I couldn't disagree more with what I called, in one recent post at the Rose Rosetree blog, the ""New Age Litany.""This set of false (but moneymaking) beliefs about what I call ""The Romance of the Astral"" isn't spirituality. Or truly New Age. It is cheerleading.Really, I can't tell from this book if the puppy-sweet Nick Bunick wanted to write his book this way, with fine truths in a few worthwhile chapters, but most of his message way frontloaded with hype.There are even photos of birds and two similar portraits of Jesus to build the reader's excitement about Nick's meaningful coincidences. And this is needed to give Mr. Bunick the right to share his point of view?Why wouldn't Nick's point of view be perfectly fine to share on his own?What did Jesus teach him (or any of us who cared to listen)? Try really hard to impress people with how spiritually sanctioned and Divinely dittoed and compellingly coincidenced your message could possibly be?Nick writes so often how modesty made him feel shy about revealing his relationship with Jesus, back in the day. Why be shy? Either people will believe him or not.For what it's worth, I have also had experience with regression therapy where I relived getting to hear Jesus speak, back in the day. Plenty of us with this sort of experience are walking around on earth right now. We lived loads of lifetimes without associating with anyone so famous. But out of the thousands of embodiments each of us has had on earth, sometimes we did get to be with a celebrity or great world teacher.And I'm certainly willing to accept the idea that Nick played a far more important role than the rest of us who studied with Jesus or were healed by one of his students. Someone had to be the Apostle Paul. Why not the one now incarnated as Nick Bunick?But I am not for a single minute -- nor Nick's favorite time quantity, 4.44 hours plus minutes -- convinced that Jesus would ever have told people to base their connection to God on how many other people got worked up by good, old-fashioned cheerleading.P.S. Nick, I know you can do better than this. I do look forward to your future books.",2.0,"Why should ""truth"" depend on coincidences?",1288483200,"10 31, 2010",8,16,helpful,0.5,1 A3IHTRKK297D8,0743250982,A. Miller,"[0, 1]","I have purchased this for 2 of my teen daughters, I really love the format and the style. I have used it (unfortunately) as a teaching aid AFTER my teens have behaved in ways I didn't like, but it did help turn their attitudes around. I think this is a great resource for parents. There are really very few quality resources for parents with average teens and (unfortunately) average problems, that aren't religion based. This is perfect for the "ordinary" teen that rebels and wants to test the limits. I don't know how effective something like this would be for really troubled teens, but it seems that there are limited resources and support for parents that are trying their best to instill good values and morals in their teens, but have to fight against the media and "everyone else is doing it" syndromes. I highly recommend it!",5.0,Great product for parents to teach their teens!,1356739200,"12 29, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2Z6KRS3OMTLLJ,B00A1B10CU,LAWonder,"[0, 0]","This is a well-written story - written in sections. Its content is geared toward theolder elementary age or young teenagers. It is slightly confusing in the first partof the book as to what this story was really going to be about. I felt I was readinga story for two different age groups - one group lacking in illustrations. There werea few illustrations that would have appeased the older elementary age.After about a third way through the story really takes a turn. Still, it needed a few moreillustrations. this could be better if revised but it was a great fantasy tale and thecharacter interaction very good.Disclosure: This was generously donated for my review but it is my honest review.",4.0,Beyond the Pond,1368057600,"05 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DCH2VRUPHZ21,0007441290,Dan Vogel,"[0, 0]","The main plot of the story is the intertwined story of three college students. Eugenides uses the story of Leonard Bankhead to explore the very real world of manic depression. Mitchel is used to explore the worldview of the new spirituality. Madeleine is used to explore modern semiotics. All three are used to explore the changing worldview on gender. Contrasting the conservative understanding of the roles of men and women as viewed through the works of 19th century English authors to the emerging worldview of contemporary society. This is an intellectually challenging book. It contrasts religious and secular views on gender roles. It picks up some of the same themes on what it means to be a man or woman found in ""Middlesex"" and continues to explore the world around us as well as providing an interesting story. Ultimately, since the invention of the birth control pill, the way the sexes view each other and themselves has drastically changed what it means to be a human. The impacts of that change are still being felt today. The Republican attack on women is an attempt to go back to the way things used to be. This will fail ultimately but in the mean time the world coming into being is still as viewed through a glass darkly. This book helps illuminate what we are becoming as a society.",5.0,Brilliant exploration of modern views on gender.,1342569600,"07 18, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14VCYVGWF83YB,0679600507,William R. Butler,"[8, 9]","This book was apparently edited by a robot with 64K RAM. Almost every line has words that are run together. Let me give a random example from page 61:line 1: ""looked at the skyand shook his head."" ... ""the air wasthick""line 2: ""the snow began tofall--""line 3: ""Thevista of pine trees...""line 4: ""...shorter throughthe vast...""And I am not exaggerating when I say that every page and almost every line has these idiotic errors. Did anyone at Cassia Press look at this book after it was printed? Embarrassingly incompetent work; or, as they would print it: Embarrassingly imcompetentwork.",1.0,Are all editors dead?,1268179200,"03 10, 2010",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A3SK5YFKX6B6A8,B00FXYLY4O,"Amazon Customer ""books4fundamental""","[0, 0]",after finding out the background to this story i absolutely fell in love this is only the beginning for young samir and the rest of the Corleones i cant wait till part two,5.0,Samir is a dope boy at heart,1383523200,"11 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1I0ZAT65HDZ14,0814730604,"Hatatitla ""Winnetou""","[4, 11]","The legendary Aryan race is not fiction. But is not a race. Aryan in Sanskrit means noble, honest. As Aryan invasion of India turned out to be myth, Vedas and Zend Avesta are aryan and sanskrit is language of aryans. In Avesta legendary homeland is Ayryana Vaejo. Name of Iran is just screwd up Ayryan. If you look at antique map, there was once country Aria. Beside Bactria,Sogdiana etc. Ibrahim Zeradust aka Abu Rama aka Ibn Rama aka Abraham after Saraswati river cataclism went thru Bactria to Canaan Valley. Abraham first tought 3 Bactrian kings. When Jesus was born there showed up 3 magi as wise men. Biblical pharisee are nothing else as Pharsi/Parsi equal Persians. Since second temple was build by Cyrus the Great and Pharsee were zoroastrian priests speaks avestan or sanskrit. Religion is not fairy tales but doctrines. And doctrines in judaism comes from earlier teachings.Even by Vatican genocided Cathars has roots in Arya: Cath-ol-ic, Cath-ari. Cathars were actually Essenes. Word Veda means wisdom, greek sophia or baphomet. Sophia is goddess of wisdom. The biggest temple devoted to her is Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Look at pictures of Hagia Sophia and pay attention to circles outside on 2 main lodges. Those circles are kolowrat, kolovrat. Check google what it means. When Hitler was man of the year in Time magazine, kolowrat is behind him. The circled swastika in Thule symbol is shaped into kolowrat. Swastika has the same roots as Basque Lauburu: four heads. It was 4 horse heads with encircled flames inside as The Sun symbol.Vedic teching- Vedanta knowledge is known under names like: gnosticism, kaballah,sufism. Jesus's Nazorean Essenes practiced kaballah, and Jesus and Solomon have Kashmir connections. Before christianity was developed by power elites, Rome was Vedic. Name of Rome comes from Rama. Basilica St. Peter stands on Vedic temple. Word Vatica is Vedic himself. Latin and Greek are Vulgar sanskrit. Similar to Romance languages and English as Vulgar latin.""The single fact that we owe not one single truth, not one idea in philosophy or religion to the Semitic race is, of itself, ample reward for years of study, and it is a fact indisputable, if I read the Veda and Zend Avesta alright."" Albert PikeWe seldom realize the importance of what Einstein said""We should be thankful to Indians who taught us how to count without which no worthwhile scientific discovery would have been possible.""We fail to recognize the magnitude of the famous British Historian Grant Duff's words""Many of the advances in the sciences that we consider today to have been made in Europe were in fact made in India centuries ago.""We ignore what the American Historian Will Durant said:""India was the motherland of our race and Sanskrit the mother of Europe's languages. India was the mother of our philosophy, of much of our mathematics, of the ideals embodied in Christianity... of self-government and democracy. In many ways, Mother India is the mother of us all.""Even Nikola Tesla was influenced with Vedanta. In 1903 he met Swami Vivekananda.Did you know that the famous Hindu astronomer, Bhaskaracharya in his Surya Siddhanta wrote:""Objects fall on the earth due to a force of attraction by the earth. Therefore, the earth, planets, constellations, moon and sun are held in orbit due to this attraction.""It was not until 1687, 1200 years later did Issac Newton ""rediscover"" the Law of Gravity.For most westerners this would be surprise. [...]Vedic math knows golden ratio. In 20th century 2 Italians were awarded with Nobel price for the discovery. Doctrines of Vedic stories are in many literature, includic Shakespeare's.This explains German expedition to Tibet and Yellow Hat colony in Germany. Lithuanian language is Sanskrit, pre Panini or proto. Balto-slavic languages developed from Sanskrit and speakers are direct descendants of people who call themself aryan. Germany is 50:50. North-east part with r1a DNA has Aryan roots, till Teutonic Knigts Order took control by Northern crusades this days east Germany. Southwest part is r1b DNA. R1b people are not aryans and their language was originaly Basque related, as they left homeland 15 000 years ago, and 10 000 years ago crossed The Chanel to British Island. All inhabitants of the Isles have basque related DNA by 95%.At the end of November 1918, Adolf Hitler returned to Munich and then proceeded to a military camp in Traunstein in south-eastern Bavaria. When the camp was disbanded in April 1919, he went back to Munich, which was still being ruled by a Soviet republic founded by a Polish Kurt Eisner (real name Salamon Kosmanowsky).At the beginning of May, a few days after the communist revolution had been terminated on May 1, 1919 by the Bavarian Freikorps, Hitler was summoned as a member of the 2nd Infantry Regiment to attend a course on political instruction. The purpose of this course of lectures was to provide the soldiers with a background of politics, which would enable them to monitor the many revolutionary and political movements present in Munich at that time.One of the lecturers was a former construction engineer turned economist, Dr Gottfried Feder (1881-1941). His first lecture was entitled ""The Abolition of the Interest-Servitude"". Hitler was enthralled by what he heard, and this was to be a turning point in his political career. The following quotations from Mein Kampf reflect his initial thoughts."" For the first time in my life I heard a discussion which dealt with the principles of stock exchange capital and capital which was used for loan activities. After hearing the first lecture delivered by Feder, the idea immediately came into my head that I had found a way to one of the most essential prerequisites for the founding of a new party... To my mind, Feder's merit consisted in the ruthless and trenchant way in which he described the double character of the capital engaged in stock exchange and loan transactions, laying bare the fact that this capital is ever and always dependent on the payment of interest. In fundamental questions his statements were so full of common sense that those who criticized him did not deny that au fond his ideas were sound, but they doubted whether it be possible to put these ideas into practice. To me this seemed the strongest point in Feder's teaching, though others considered it a weak point....I understood immediately that here was a truth of transcendental importance for the future of the German people. The absolute separation of stock exchange capital from the economic life of the nation would make it possible to oppose the process of internationalization in German business without at the same time attacking capital at such, for to do this would be to jeopardize the foundations of our national independence. I clearly saw what was developing in Germany, and I realized then that the stiffest fight we would have to wage would not be against the enemy nations but against international capital. In Feder's speech I found an effective rallying-cry for our coming struggle...The struggle against international finance capital and loan capital has become one of the most important points in the program on which the German nation has based its fight for economic freedom and independence.""A few weeks later Hitler received an instruction from his superiors to investigate a political association called the Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (German Workers Party). At this meeting held in the Sterneckerbrau Inn in Munich, about 20 to 25 persons were present. The main speaker was Dr Gottfried Feder.Wikipedia, Gottfried Feder:""From 1917 on, Feder studied financial politics and economics on his own; he developed a hostility towards wealthy bankers during World War I and wrote a ""manifesto on breaking the shackles of interest"" (""Brechung der Zinsknechtschaft"") in 1919. This was soon followed by the founding of a ""task force"" dedicated to those goals that demanded a nationalisation of all banks and an abolishment of interest. In February 1920, together with Adolf Hitler and Anton Drexler, Feder--who also was a member of the Thule Society drafted the so-called ""25 points"" which summed up the party's views, and introduced his own anti-capitalist views into the program.""Feder was man of National Socialism, term developed in late 19th century in this days Czech republic. But later Germany leaned toward fascism as, wikipedia: ""However, despite his implementation of the blood and soil ideology of the Nazis, decentralized factories, generals and Junkers successfully opposed him. Generals objected because it interferred with rearmament, and Junkers because it would prevent their exploiting their estates for the international market.After the Night of the Long Knives in June 1934, where SA leaders like Ernst Röhm and left leaning party officials like Gregor Strasser were murdered, Feder began to withdraw from the government, finally becoming a professor at the Technische Hochschule in Berlin in December 1936, where he stayed until his death in Murnau on 24 September 1941.""While Nazism did have fascist overtones, Nazism is not a form of government. Nazism is political ideology implemented through the use of a fascist government system. It is this system that needs to be understood and not the policy employed through it. This is vital since any form of government - yes, including a democracy - can be operated through a fascist structure. It is not exclusive to a dictatorship.Now you may argue that ""who cares what the actual meaning of the word is, because it has taken on further societal overtones and inferences which society and it's people now attribute to the word."" However, this does not do justice to the reality of the word or the reality of the world we live in today. You see, if we were to associate the word Fascist with Nazi, then we consciously set ourselves up to be oblivious to actual fascist tendencies which do not exhibit the racial or genocidal image that one has of Hitler's master race. In order to analyze the events of the world today, we need a clear understanding of the true nature of Fascism, separate from its societal inferences.That fascist structure of government begins with the co-option of corporate and government interests becoming one in the same. This is the primary transition in the nature and operation of the government apparatus. Corporate power is not so much as protected; it is one in the same as government power. Hence the government is an extension of the corporate powerbrokers in society.Gottfried Feder ideology was decentralized democracy Swiss style. That what national socialism means. But power elites/bankers/industrialists, against whom DAP was developed, kidnapped NSDAP and the and was as we know it: 6 milion jews were exterminated in IG Farben slave labor camp Auschwitz/Monowitz.Main force behind this switch was Joseph Stalin. Who by 1928 paralized all west associated leaders as Lenin, Trotsky etc. He also eliminated influence of western bankers and refused to pay loans for WW1 and revolution. So bankers rearment Germany one more times. But Stalin was one of the greatest leaders and strategists in history, beside Scythians who escape before Alex the great, Fabius Maximus with the same delaying strategy defeated Hannibal,Kutuzoff defeated Napoleon.Stalin kicked off Teutonic knights crusaders from Slavic lands, except East Germany- but get it under control. Stalin screw 'em up so deeply that they turned one more times against themselfs. That WW2 did not ended as was pre-planed is suported by Operation Unthinkable. Stalin called Bretton-Woods as dollar's imperialism and refused to sign. Teutonic knights divorced from Vatican as they turned to reformation. So Vatican took all land back in Polish hands.Apropo. Sebottendorff was arrested in conection of Reichstag fire as Sefik Husnu. But fascists charged communists.",3.0,"Great starter into theme, but...",1355011200,"12 9, 2012",4,11,helpful,0.36363636363636365,1 A1F6PIIZ0ZHHD6,1580081940,Conrad J. Obregon,"[61, 66]","The Tao of Photography is not aimed at individuals interested in improving their technical photography skills. Rather it is aimed at the photographer who will be willing to consider reorienting the way that he or she views the world to improve his or her photography and to find opportunities for personal growth through photography.The book does this by outlining some of the principles of Taoism, an ancient Asian philosophy of life, and then drawing parallels to the teachings of great photographers, like Minor White, Henri Cartier Bresson, and Ansel Adams. Taoist philosophy states that, to be a sage (and, by extension, a creative photographer), a person must harmonize Great Understanding and Little Understanding, that is, the open mind and the discriminatory or constricted mind. What the photographer must do is live in the moment and open his mind to the possibilities in the world. One should escape from the state of constricted awareness. Technique is seen as a possible barrier to better photography.It has been said that the most important tool of a photographer is the mind. One's philosophical approach to the world may indeed affect the quality of the images that one captures. If, as I believe, this is so, a book that suggests an adjustment of that approach is worth consideration by the serious photographer.This book convinced me that adopting a Taoist view of the world might improve the quality of the pictures I take. However, my complaint with the book is that having created a desire to explore Taoist doctrine, there were no guide posts as to how to incorporate those principles into my photography or my life. The book did suggest several exercises, most of them derived from Freeman Patterson's ""Photography and the Art of Seeing"", but I've tried them and they didn't lead to the major refocusing that the book suggests. In fact the book even quoted Alan Watts, a commentator on Asian philosophy, who says ""there is no way ...to come into accord with the Tao...because...every method implies a goal. And we cannot make the Tao a goal.""So this book got my attention and created a need, and offered no help in satisfying it. Yet it did cause me to examine my own photographic philosophy. Any book that can get a serious photographer to reconsider his fundamental approach to life and its effect on his work is certainly worth reading.The book itself is quite beautiful. The photographs, by a number of great camera artists as well as author Gross, are all in black and white, as if abstracting color would simplify the world and make it easier to come to grips with. The design is excellent and generous, with plenty of white space, perhaps designed to reflect the serenity of the Way.",5.0,How do I Find the Way?,1036454400,"11 5, 2002",61,66,helpful,0.9242424242424242,1 A3R9KRIO25CKZV,0385497318,"I. Gross Georg ""imgeorg""","[25, 36]","Since this book has Enron's phone number in the appendix, I thought I'd share my views on some of the points raised in this book.1) I have NEVER been a fan of 401K. As the Enron employees found out, they are not a fail-safe investment. You don't have any say-so in the stock selection or even choose if you want a load or no-load fund to put your money in. And it is apparently very easy for the company to make off with your funds leaving you very little recourse.2) I would advise the reader not to pay all that much attention to the recommended ""must-have"" stocks, even though he only had one or two real losers in the bunch (Lucent, Tribune). I believe it would be more effective if maybe sectors were chosen, then use Carlson's advice on how to choose your favorite stocks wisely. Carlson says to know your strengths and weaknesses and interests as an investor and invest either in index funds or individual stocks, or some combination of both, so I go along with the need for personal interest, or buying from companies whose products you actually use yourself. He lists entertainment/media, health care, information services, financial services, retailing, consumer products/services, technology, telecommunications, and energy (thank goodness, he didn't recommend Enron here). I think I would add the transportation sector, but for some reason that one isn't discussed. And I wish I had chosen an index fund instead of my Strong funds. Luckily I did not invest all my eggs in that basket.4) I really hate the ""limit shocks to your finances"" chapter. I couldn't believe there was a chapter that suggested one avoided having children or taking care of one's elderly parents. What's wrong with this picture? Job-hopping and divorce are also considered shocks to the seven-figure dream. On the other hand, these things are a pretty good shock to the five-figure income, as well! I also believe that higher education is a financial pit worth avoiding unless you absolutely need it. I know too many people with an expensive piece of paper on the wall and not using it. Carlson feels that education levels correlate strongly with future earnings. I believe future earnings depend upon whom you know at the company you work at, so I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that point!I guess the real problem I have with parts of this book is not only a post-Enron attitude but a post- 911 attitude as well. At the time I bought this book, I certainly wanted to find out how to make more money than I was. However, these days being a millionaire just isn't a goal for me. Being healthy, happy, and loved are better goals for me, I think. When a book comes out with a title something like ""Eight Steps to Six Figures, And Being Happy With What You Have Afterwards"", I think I'd rather buy that one instead. In the meantime, I can't say this book wasn't informative for me, and if I HAD to pick a stock, I believe I can now do so with confidence. But I really think I'll put my book up for sale!",3.0,A Post-Enron Analysis,1015977600,"03 13, 2002",25,36,helpful,0.6944444444444444,1 A1IKAVN0IMFYWD,0814417906,Nick Morgan,"[4, 6]","Micah Solomon is THE expert when it comes to customer service. He's wise, witty, and spot on when it comes to helping companies stop doing the dumb things that alienate customers and start doing the smart things that retain them -- and delight them. Now, he's updated his vision of a world in which all customers are well-served to include the mysteries of social media, high-tech ways to touch customers, and the data that customer transactions generate today. The result is the 21st century-bible for succeeding with customers and beating the competition. If you have customers, read this book today. Put its ideas into practice tomorrow. And reap the rewards for years to come.",5.0,Customer Service Meets the Modern World,1335571200,"04 28, 2012",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A3MALNCOVF5COP,1590789490,Overseas Mom,"[0, 0]","Overall Review: What would you do in order to have another day to live? Would you bargain with Death? Do you think he would listen? In Keturah and Lord Death, a bargain is made. Lord Death comes for Keturah in the forest, and as they talk, she learns of a great danger that is coming to her beloved village. Instead of succumbing to Death, she talks him out of it; begs him for another day so she can warn her village and think of a way to live longer. How? She tells him a story--and withholds the end! The story draws Death in, and he grants her her wish: Just one more day. In the spirit of Scheherazade, her tale begins each evening--but only half of it--with a request for yet another day, and perhaps a boon.There aren't 1,001 tales, but just as Lord Death, I was pulled into the story. It was a unique narrative: Keturah is telling the story around the town's evening campfire, and the language is beautiful and slightly different. The views of death were also singular and distinctive. I had never thought of death as a benefactor or bringer of joy before. His description is reverent, peaceful and thought provoking, yet powerful and magnificent. The little summaries at the beginning of each chapter were lovely, as they gave you a little taste of what each chapter held, and made me ready to read more! Keturah's discussions with the eligible bachelors as she searched for her true love were very funny, and the descriptions of the town fair made me feel as if I were there enjoying the festivities! You feel the awkwardness of having to deny suitors, the joy of seeing your loved ones safe and unharmed, and the fear of facing the unknown. A lovely fairy tale with an engrossing twist! Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars!Content Review:PROFANITY: A few very mild instancesSEXUAL CONTENT: Two very mild instancesVIOLENCE: One mild instanceMATURE THEMES: MildRECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 12+The content in this book is very mild! The instances of profanity could, of course be taken either way, as they are either religious in nature or descriptive of a specific place, and not exclamations, and there are probably three altogether. As far as sexual content, there is one instance of a character undressing in front of another--but it is very innocent, even though one character blushes. Two characters kiss, but again, it is innocent. A woman gives birth and almost dies, but there are no details. The only instance of violence is when a character threatens to kill himself. There is some sorcery/witchcraft involved. One character has a charm that is an eyeball and was a touch disturbing at times. Everything about this book is mild yet still effective; including the themes of death, sickness, loss and love. Keturah and Lord Death is a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 12+!This review was written by EmilyA Squeaky Clean Reads Book ReviewerTo see more fantastic books on review with content in mind, visit us at squeakycleanreads!",5.0,Elegant and Sweet Romance--With a Twist!,1311033600,"07 19, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AL1F0N26WH4VC,0385339518,H Beck,"[0, 0]",I really enjoyed the book. Kept ones interest the entire way through. Historical link w and did not take away from the story at all.,5.0,Well Done,1366156800,"04 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21I2ZY04BGVTD,0446579653,"Ann L. Miller ""Reviews By Ann""","[0, 0]","A rollicking tale that I never knew where it would land. This superbly written mystery is peopled with off-beat characters who alternately wreck and fix their relationships. One supporting character was so over-the-top, she nearly stole the book. You can't go wrong with a Joshilyn Jackson title.",5.0,Can't Go Wrong With Joshilyn!,1392163200,"02 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AHD101501WCN1,0684859068,"Shalom Freedman ""Shalom Freedman""","[21, 21]","In the epilogue of this book Harold Bloom talks about Rabbi Tarphon's statement in ' Pirke Avot '(The Ethics of the Fathers) "" It is not necessary for you to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from undertaking it"". Harold Bloom has not desisted in reading and rereading the great works of Western Literature, and in so doing advocating to his readers that they too live in the 'enhanced consciousness' which great Literature gives. Here too Bloom reads and rereads some of the great works of the Tradition and provides whole new networks of insights and connections, inspirations and ideas for us to think about and make our own rereadings with. None of us Bloom laments will be able to read all the great and good books which have been written- and none of us will be able to reread as we could the great works already read by us, works which in some sense demand endless rereading- but each of us can be free to undertake the work and so far as possible know the joy and the difficulty , the pleasure and the insight , the sense of enhanced life, the love of meeting others and better knowing ourselves, which reading Literature gives.Thank you Harold Bloom for enhancing our world with your exalted love of literature. May you go on reading and rereading for many years to come.",5.0,"""It is not necessary for you to complete the work """,1100131200,"11 11, 2004",21,21,helpful,1.0,1 A3P738KVXL2YYM,0061728306,Mary Chrapliwy,"[0, 0]","As well stated on the cover, this is a book by another author, NOT Sheldon. The family chose Tilly Bagshawe to write novels in Sheldon's name. I wonder how Sidney Sheldon would have felt about that.This story opens with Grace Brookstein , in court after her wallstreet magnate husband passed away after ripping off investors - sound like anyone in the news lately? The thing that struck me immediately was, not so much the innocence of the main character - a trademark of Sheldon, but the utter stupidity of that character. Sheldon's characters were often innocent, but never out and out stupid like this character was - she shows up in court in a fur coat and jewels. Hello, your husband just ripped off people and your lavish lifestyle was created by that.Ultimately, this is yet another story written in the name of a deceased author. They (and this one) never measure up to the real thing. I loved all of Sidney Sheldon's books, especiallyMaster of the Game. This book by Tilly Bagshawe is a thin substitute.",3.0,I should have known better...,1287273600,"10 17, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A359U0JFFZ0Q04,0984817301,"Dave Schwinghammer ""Dave Schwinghammer""","[5, 7]","When I first looked at the synopsis for NEVER SMILE AT STRANGERS, I thought, ""Uh, oh, Chick lit."" There seemed to be a lot of women characters and plot lines revolving around women, but this is more Flannery O'Connor than STEEL MAGNOLIAS.There are two main characters, Haley Landrey and Erica Duvall, both of whom work at Luke's Diner along with Tiffany Perron who promptly disappears. There's a murderer on the loose.Author Jennifer Minar-Jaynes locates her story in Grand Trespass, Louisiana, Bayou country where all the girls, especially the nice ones, are called ""Cher."" Grand Trespass is a wide spot in the road with a diner, a tackle shop, a church, a general store and crawfish and catfish ponds.There are plenty of suspects in the apparent murder; many think Tiffany just ran away, as she was the flighty, flirty type. She was also dating a black man; Charles immediately becomes the principal suspect. There's a detective who doesn't seem to know his butt from a watermelon. Tiffany was also carrying on an affair with Tom Anderson, a teacher at the local community college; his wife, Rachel, is Erica Duvall's creative writing teacher. Erica and Haley are both going through a lot of angst. Erica's mother, also a budding writer, left the family, apparently for New York, and Haley's dad was run over by a drunken driver. Erica's mother is deeply depressed over the loss of her husband and has given up on her parental duties, preferring to drink and sleep most of the time.Minar-Jaynes also shows us the murderer in several scenes but doesn't tell us who he is. He's a sick puppy with incest issues and a mama problem. That's when my antenna went up as I began looking for clues. She hides him pretty well, and she doesn't break any mystery conventions in the process, such as popping in a new character at the last minute. My one problem with the book was the number of teenage girls who were interchangeable. They all seem to hate their mothers, sisters, brothers or whatever, sneak out at night and engage in skullduggery of some fashion or another. I constantly had to ask myself, ""Which one is this again?"" But that's just a quirk. Most novels have quirks. Some people even hate James Joyce, the greatest novelist of the 20th century.Probably my favorite character is Erica's dad's new girlfriend, Pamela. Erica hates her. She's everything her mother wasn't. She has bleached blond hair, painted fingernails, a seductive perfume, all the female enticements; but Minar-Jaynes gradually shows that despite the stereotype, this woman is a keeper.NEVER SMILE AT STRANGERS is a quick and fun read; I set a goal of reading twenty pages a day because I was reading it on the computer, but I could have easily read it in one sitting if I'd had a hard copy.",4.0,Definitely not Chick Lit,1327104000,"01 21, 2012",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 AKYP06R981T5B,0451457862,Paul,"[6, 7]",""Silver Wolf, Black Falcon" will be enjoyed by any fan of Dennis L. McKiernan's Mithgar stories. First timers would be advised to start elsewhere. This book starts slow, but picks up and improves throughout, although the ending is somewhat anti-climatic.McKiernan himself describes this book as a sequel to all his prior Mithgar stories. The problem is that this is a lot of extra baggage for a less than 500 page novel. This is not the author's best work, although it is enjoyable.The Mithgar novels are not for everyone. Mckiernan writes in a highly formal style that can best be described as "High Tolkein". McKiernan has been the great master's most slavish imitator, not that there's anything wrong with that. But if you get irritated by an overdose of "thees", "thine", "thou", etc., these books are not for you."Silver Wolf, Black Falcon" is chronologically the last of McKiernan's Mithgar novels. It tells the story of Bair, a young man born to a female elf, and a Baeron, a human shapechager of mixed heritage. He is called an Impossible Child, because elves cannot give birth on the plane of Mithgar. Millenia ago, the ways between the planes were sundered to defeat the forces of evil. Only those who have the blood of another plane can travel to that plane. Thus elves can return to their home plane of Adonar, but can't return to Mithgar; the foul beings of evil known collectively as Rucks, can return to their evil plane of Neddra, but can't return to Mithgar, etc. Bair is of mixed blood, so he can freely travel the planes. This novel spends the first 100 plus pages watching Bair grow to the age of 16, and then, finally, picks up speed as we accompany Bair and his Elven "uncle", Aravan, on a mission of great importance.As I stated, this is not the author's best novel. He provides no explanations for certain mysterious events (perhaps for future books), but the result is he provides solutions out of nowhere. Mithgar fans should know that the author leaves room for future Mithgar stories.This book starts slow and has too much baggage. The book is also too short to be a worthy climax of the Mithgar saga. Still, McKiernan fans will be entertained.",3.0,"Enjoyable, After a Slow Start",973209600,"11 3, 2000",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1442WLS8B12ZU,0312933150,Bob Glaser,"[0, 0]","While this action in this book starts out slow, it picks up in the end, and was an enjoyable read. Alafair Burke is the daughter of novelist James Lee Burke, one of my favorite authors, and seems to be a chip off the old block.",3.0,An Exciting Conclusion,1323216000,"12 7, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AUWOUFFSY3GJD,B00BP9GO6Y,JoyceE,"[0, 0]",there are some great recipes in the book. Of course I haven't had time to try them all but I will try more,4.0,good recipes,1393718400,"03 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMODU64OZZ62L,076792116X,"Priscilla C. Johnson ""bookmaniac""","[0, 0]","I could not wait until I picked this book up from the book store. We were introduced to the four friends; Crystal - hardworking, independant sistah looking for love; Chevy - totally out of control gold-digger (this is the chick from Kanye West song); Noah - fun loving free spirit who is totally in love with his man; and Geneva - the divorced mother of two who is obsessed with her weight, in the prevous books ""Groove"" and ""Fever"".Holliday immediately brings the reader up to speed wtih each character - all engaged in DRAMA. Noah's partner Zahn wants a child, Crystal hates her job and she is in love with a giggalo, Chevy is broke (for real this time) and you just won't believe what Geneva has gotten involved with. Each character talks directly to the reader which makes for a quick read. And as with the previous novels the ""Heat is On! This story is laugh out loud funny, sad and shameful!!! I will admit - I could figure out some of the story line - But I loved it!! I loved seeing the how Holliday put it all together. Applause!!Peace and Blessings!!",5.0,Always Laugh out Loud Good!!,1183420800,"07 3, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2EDZH51XHFA9B,0385480016,"Robert Beveridge ""xterminal""","[9, 10]","Anne Lamott, Bird By Bird (Doubleday, 1994)For years, people have been recommending I read Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird. I have always countered with Natalie Goldberg (Wild Mind and Writing Down the Bones are the best pair of how-to-write books I have ever read). Now, I will do the same thing, but I can tack on ""well, I HAVE read Bird By Bird"" at the end.Whatever else Bird by Bird is, it's exceptionally well-written. It reads far less like a how-to manual or transcripts of class lectures than it does a conversation you're sitting and having with someone over burgers and drinks. It is an easy, excellent read, and there is much to be found in it of worth. It is good to remember, however, that everyone approaches writing in a slightly different method, and what works for Anne Lamott may not work for you. Much of what's here is universal (writers, in the main, should find writing groups and workshops to get their stuff critiqued, for example), but some will only work for a select few; others may find themselves frustrated.Ultimately, that's why I'm still calling Goldberg's first two books the best pair of how-to-write books I have ever read, but Bird By Bird comes in a solid third. Even non-writers are likely to get something out of this. A deeper appreciation in reading, perhaps. But one way or the other, read it. ****",4.0,Excellent little book.,1095120000,"09 14, 2004",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A22B13EJTZKCTM,0441015581,"K. Eckert ""Devourer of all books fantasy""","[0, 0]","This is the 8th book in the Nightside series by Simon Green. It followed much in the pattern of the last book. Which is to say, it was okay.In this book someone has promised the Unnatural Inquirer (a Nightside tabloid) exclusive rights to a DVD recording from the Afterlife. The Unnatural Inquirer hires John Taylor to find it when it goes missing. They send Betty Divine along with him to document his findings along the way.This book was just okay. The series seems to have lost some of it's interest and urgency with the completion of the over-arcing story in ""Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth"". I am still confused why the series didn't end with that book. The only thing that is left mysteriously unanswered is where Walker's power is coming from now that the Authorities are dead.This seemed like another transition book. Really I would only think you'd need one of those to wrap up the first main story. Somehow all the characters in this book seem tired and bored. Betty Divine was a pitiful sidekick. She was clingy and unhelpful and painfully uninteresting. Many of the quips that were so amusing up to this point are starting to seem overused. The creativity that amuses me so much was there, but not to the degree it normally is.Overall this book was a quick, well-written, and fun read...but it was also a bit disappointing as we wait for something big and interesting to start happening again. Hopefully the next book will be better.karissabooks.blogspot.com",3.0,The characters seem a bit bored and tired to me...,1223769600,"10 12, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27WSU8CQ502TY,1478109408,Mc,"[0, 1]",Not to short. About a day long . Nice love story. Kind of predictable but still well worth the time. Loved the story.,4.0,Fun read,1356307200,"12 24, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2KF6QQSIFZMT2,0451217608,"Jamie Filpi ""jme1116""","[0, 0]","A good, entertaining story, but not as funny as her previous two. Pick up one of those instead. You'll laugh much more.",3.0,Bitter is the New Black,1343865600,"08 2, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A39UKCTFVLHY8Z,0307932508,"LnBen ""Helen Benoit""","[49, 53]","Janet Evanovich has given us ""Explosive Eighteen"" as a second in one year gift. Highly anticipated by her followers, it was hoped to resolve the uncomfortable mess made of the characters in ""Smok'in Seventeen"". Readers did receive the answer as to who went with Stephanie to Hawaii. But as far as the characters evolving (or in Evanovich's case regressing) into some sort of realistic people; readers were left high and dry again.True, this series is supposed to be in the ""cozy genre"" and as such keeps the fluff and humor light and witless. There were so many plots and sub plots in ""Eighteen"" it was almost advantageous for the reader to keep notes. The use of a truly evil villain showed promise. However that resolution was given almost as an afterthought without Stephanie facing her fear and conquering it.The love triangle wasn't and shouldn't be resolved. Instead of each of these men encouraging the growth of a more mature and responsible woman; they have been emasculated into supporting her juvenile dependency for sex. The references and (in this reviewer's eyes) demeaning stereotypical depiction of Lula as a 'heavy, black ex-hooker'was over-the-top offensive.For a reader who doesn't care about character development or intricate plot, this book is a quick, light read. It does have action and many quirky side characters.However for dedicated followers of the series, who have matured through the years, the disappointment and frustration that their beloved characters have not, weighs heavy.Janet Evanovich cannot please everyone. If she indeed wants to write to a younger crowd, she needs to alert her past followers so that they can be prepared. Or better still branch out and give the interesting characters their own series. Robert Crais did that with the Cole/Pike series quite successfully.All in all: new readers to the series will probably enjoy ""Eighteen"" Past followers can see in it that the series is going nowhere. Sadly only 3 stars.",3.0,When Readers Mature and Characters Don't,1321920000,"11 22, 2011",49,53,helpful,0.9245283018867925,1 A3EJWHGO91FA0N,0060974451,"John Austin ""austinjr@bigpond.net.au""","[12, 13]","Published in 1961, the year of the author's death, this novel is a variant of the old-fashioned ""damsel in distress"" formula. Anne is the damsel in distress. She has lost her memory, and can only answer ""I don't know"" to the questions put to her. She believes she has witnessed a murder, and is being lured to her own death by the murderer. The threat recedes and the memory returns towards the end of the book and, of course, Miss Maud Silver is on hand throughout to dispense sympathy, suggestions, and solutions.If you like an old-fashioned romantic novel, its pages scented with mystery and peopled mainly by females of all ages, then this will provide some pleasant hours of reading.",3.0,A damsel in distress.,1017273600,"03 28, 2002",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A4G7280Z32IEE,1492825646,Bryce,"[6, 6]","I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, looking forward to each release and this... This may be my least favorite book in said series. It is by no means bad but there were things missing. For one thing the humor is pretty much gone from this book. All of thee little things that maybe made you laugh or chuckle really are not in this book. This kind of makes sense as it is a bit more serious than the other books but it is not just the humor that is gone but the characters that brought it.If you enjoy Lenui then I am sorry. I don't think his page count reaches double digits. Jhonate? Not much there either. This is the last book in this series and it shows. The books length is taken up more with the plot than with the characters. This unfortunate includes our buddy Ewwie as well. While in previous installments he was an interesting read and a well fleshed out character in this book he felt muted.One thing that annoyed me and I know other as well was the lack of detail on Justan's magic. Well you may be pleased to know that this is addressed. You may also be upset in the WAY it is addressed...This book is both the end of the series and it is not. While I look forward to the next book in this world it also makes me nervous because of the multitude of the ways it could go. So yes I enjoyed the read and I would say that if you have gotten this far you should read it and you will probably enjoy it. So why 3 stars? Because while I enjoyed it I also felt it was just not as fun to read as the others in the series.",3.0,Huh,1380240000,"09 27, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AOPGDH5M54SWN,0805055479,Dr Adam Weiss,"[4, 8]","""Say Good Night to Insomnia ""by Jacobs is well thought out and full of very good advice for those suffering from sleepless nights.The author breaks down the subject matter in bites size of information so the reader can digest and implement what the book has to offer.A no nonsense approach to a subject that effects millions of people every night. Recommended for a good night sleep.",5.0,A Well Rested Evening,1133568000,"12 3, 2005",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A2YY6VBK3WWWXF,1569755884,"Lois M. Nation ""In love with P&P, hopless rom...","[22, 25]","Because I'm a P&P; fan... I purchased this book. It is an quick read. I found I wanted to skip ahead to find out what happens in different relationships that Mrs. Halstead had protrayed. This book fed my hunger for P&P;, but left me wanting more. The tension that Darcy and Lizzie has in thier marriage, after she is launched into the snobby London soceity, has you wondering if they will make it through. For every man falls in love with our beloved Lizzie. Lizzie is truly herself in this book. The more she pushes men away, the more attached they become to her. I did enjoy knowing the thoughts of some chacters, but wished to know a little more background on others. The last six chapters.... don't blink.... you'll not want to put the book down. The reason I gave this book 3 stars because, I feel it needed more context. In some areas you wished the author would of made the dialog more through.PS. I have read almost every spin-off of P&P.; I couln't belive I had missed the book ""A Private Performance"" also written by Halstead. I did some reseach just to find out these two books are one in the same! This book was released in May of 2007 and ""A Private Performance"" was released in 2005, just with a different cover, GO FIGURE!!! I almost bought it off Amazon for $40.00.",3.0,Indifferent,1179187200,"05 15, 2007",22,25,helpful,0.88,1 A2PR6NXG0PA3KY,0874808480,Giordano Bruno,"[8, 9]","Tony Hillerman's novels swept through their readership every few years like a flash flood in the Four Corners. They weren't great literature. They weren't even very well written sentence by sentence, but they expressed a kind of warm integrity and humanity that many people preferred to the hard-nosed cynicism and sadism of much popular fiction. Tony seemed to respect and cherish his two imaginary Navajo detectives, Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, as if they were living human beings. For that reason, they seemed ""real"" to readers also.Tony Hillerman died a few days ago, at age 83. Let's hope he was buried in the sands of Monument Valley!",5.0,"A Tribute to Tony, not a Review",1226102400,"11 8, 2008",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A20EEWWSFMZ1PN,1439163375,"bernie ""xyzzy""","[29, 34]","With many books, translations are negligible, with two obvious exceptions, one is the Bible, and surprisingly the other is The Iliad. Each translation can give a different insight and feel to the story. Everyone will have a favorite. I have several.For example:""Rage--Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles,Murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,hurling down to the House of Death so many souls,great fighters' souls. But made their bodies carrion,feasts for dogs and birds,and the will of Zeus was moving towards its end.Begin, Muse, when the two first broke and clashed,Agamemnon lord of men and brilliant Achilles.""-Translated by Robert Fagles, 1990""Sing, O Goddess, the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a heroes did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures for so were the counsels of Zeus fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles first fell out with one another.""-Translated by Samuel Butler, 1888""Rage:Sing, Goddess, Achilles' rage,Black and murderous, that cost the GreeksIncalculable pain pitched countless soulsOf heroes into Hades' dark,And let their bodies rot as feastsFor dogs and birds, as Zeus' will was done.Begin with the clash between Agamemnon--The Greek Warlord--and godlike Achilles.""-Translated by Stanley Lombardo, 1997""Anger be now your song, immortal one,Akhilleus' anger, doomed and ruinous,that caused the Akhaians loss on bitter lossand crowded brave souls into the undergloom,leaving so many dead men--carrionfor dogs and birds; and the will of Zeus was done.Begin it when the two men first contendingbroke with one another--the Lord Marshal Agamémnon, Atreus' son, and Prince Akhilleus.""-Translated by Translated by Robert Fitzgerald, 1963""Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus' son of Achilleus and its devastation, which puts pains thousandfold upon the Achains,hurled in the multitudes to the house of Hades strong souls of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting of dogs, of all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished since that time when first there stood the division of conflict Atrecus' son the lord of men and brilliant Achilleus.""-Translated by Richmond Lattimore, 1951""Sing, goddess, of Peleus' son Achilles' anger, ruinous, that caused the Greeks untold ordeals, consigned to Hades countless valiant souls, heroes, and left their bodies prey for dogs or feast for vultures. Zeus's will was done from when those two first quarreled and split apart, the king, Agamemnon, and matchless Achilles.""-Translated by Herbert Jordan, 2008""An angry man-there is my story: the bitter rancor of Achills, prince of the house of Peleus, which brought a thousand troubles upon the Achaian host. Many a strong soul it sent down to Hads, and left the heroes themselves a prey to the dogs and carrion birds, while the will of God moved on to fulfillment.""-Translated and transliterated by W.H.D. Rouse, 1950""Achilles' wrath, to Greece the direful springOf woes unnumber'd, heavenly goddess, sing!That wrath which hurl'd to Pluto's gloomy reignThe souls of mighty chiefs untimely slain;Whose limbs unburied on the naked shore,Devouring dogs and hungry vultures tore.Since great Achilles and Atrides strove,Such was the sovereign doom,and such the will of Jove!""-Translated by Alexander Pope, 1720""Achilles sing, O Goddess! Peleus' son;His wrath pernicious, who ten thousand woesCaused to Achaia's host, sent many a soulIllustrious into Ades premature,And Heroes gave (so stood the will of Jove)To dogs and to all ravening fowls a prey,When fierce dispute had separated onceThe noble Chief Achilles from the sonOf Atreus, Agamemnon, King of men.""-Translated by William Cowper, London 1791Achilles' baneful wrath - resound, O goddess - that impos'dInfinite sorrow on the Greeks, and the brave souls loos'dFrom beasts heroic; sent them far, to that invisible cave*That no light comforts; and their limbs to dogs and vultures gave:To all which Jove's will give effect; from whom the first strife begunBetwixt Atrides, king of men, and Thetis' godlike son*-Translated by George Chapman, 1616The Rage of Achilles--sing it now, goddess, sing through methe deadly rage that caused the Achaeans such griefand hurled down to Hades the souls of so many fighters,leaving their naked flesh to be eaten by dogsand carrion birds, as the will of Zeus was accomplished.Begin at the time when bitter words first dividedthat king of men, Agamemnon, and godlike Achilles.-Translated by Stephen MitchellYou will find that some translations are easier to read but others are easier to listen to on recordings, lectures, Kindle, and the like. If you do not see information on specific translators, it is still worth the speculation and purchase. Right after the translation readability and understanding, do not overlook the introduction which gives an inset to what you are about to read. The Stephen Mitchell translation goes though each of the major characters so well that you think you know them before you starts reading; I had to buy the hard copy with the coth book mark befor the kindle. Other introductions explain the struggle between different types of power.Our story takes place in the ninth year of the ongoing war. We get some introduction to the first nine years but they are just a background to this tale of pride, sorrow and revenge. The story will also end abruptly before the end of the war.We have the wide conflict between the Trojans and Achaeans over a matter of pride; the gods get to take sides and many times direct spears and shields.Although the more focused conflict is the power struggle between two different types of power. That of Achilles, son of Peleus and the greatest individual warrior and that of Agamemnon, lord of men, whose power comes form position.We are treated to a blow by blow inside story as to what each is thinking and an unvarnished description of the perils of war and the search for Arte (to be more like Aries, God of War.)Troy - The Director's Cut [Blu-ray]",5.0,The ground is dark with blood,1324771200,"12 25, 2011",29,34,helpful,0.8529411764705882,1 A34XYT05GLTJKY,0062124269,"Matthew Karns ""Avid birder, amateur wildlife ...","[0, 0]","Written with rich, realistic characters and a fascinating premise, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This is my first book by Ms. Kingsolver but I anticipate many more enjoyable moments spent with her books in the future. Can nature change your life? It certainly seems so for the main character Dellarobia Turnbow, who has almost what could be described as a vision, though it is a real event, on her way to an illicit affair one morning in rural Tennessee. The arrival of monarch butterflies in the woods near her home changes her life and outlooks on almost everything she knows. All the characters are exceptionally written and real; they could be people I know, work with, am friends with. Interlaced with the telling of Dellarobia's domestic life and the changes brought about by this miraculous and at the same time disastrous natural happening are also insightful commentaries via the character of etymologist Ovid Byron about climate change, the nature of science and the media, our places in the natural order, and whether or not we are too late in our efforts to save this planet from the atrocities we have inflicted on it's natural systems and beings. I can not think of a better work of fiction I have read this year and would without reservation recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good novel and especially to those who care for the state our planet is in and want to have a better understanding of what's at stake and how nature can affect every one of us, whether scientist, homemaker, or average Joe. A great read!",5.0,One of my favorite books of 2012.,1353542400,"11 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGQ2WGX5FK2CG,1938404130,Amazon Customer,"[6, 6]","Living out his worst nightmare, that of losing his wife and unborn child, Tyler Karras plots revenge against the responsible party. The problem is he's abducted the wrong woman. Hannah McGuire, the "twin" of the woman responsible for Jillian Karras' death, just happens to be in the wrong place at the worst time. After finally realizing what he's done, Tyler does his level best to keep Hannah safe.Both Hannah and Tyler have their issues. Tyler's was losing his soul mate. Hannah's was similar. As you get to know them, your heart will break for these two people. You will cry with them, for them and against them. Throw in the annoyance of the Russian Syndicate and you have a story that will keep you so close to the edge of your seat that you'll need a seatbelt! Great debut book by an amazing storyteller.",5.0,They say everyone has a twin....,1379548800,"09 19, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AS0BWQ01B688,0679722017,E. M. Dale,"[166, 170]","With this particular volume of Rilke, you get two things: (1) perhaps the finest example of German poetry (the book is bilingual) this side of Schiller, and (2) without a doubt the finest translation of Rilke, or probably any poet, you will ever encounter in English. Hefty praise, but I can say no less about this magnificent book. I often find myself reading the English more than the German, the translations are so elegant. In its review of the volume, the New York Times Book Review said that ""it is easy to feel that, if Rilke had written in English, he would have written in this English."" I concur. I am no fan of Mitchell'sDaodejing translation, though I know that he says up front that he is interpreting more than translating in that work. But Rilke volume is a triumph. Often, translators of poetry feel that they have to re-write the poem in order to get der Sinn, and Mitchell, himself a minor poet, could have done that easily and given us a nice book (even bad Rilke by a good translator is better than no Rilke at all). Mitchell did not do that; he very simply gave us Rilke, Rilke's poems, in English. They say what Rilke said, I don't know how else to say that. Mitchell wisely does not try to reproduce Rilke's rhyme schemes, though he does seem to match Rilke's alliterations note for note. This is not a flaw in the translations by any means; complex, artful, infuriating German sentence structure being what it is, I cannot imagine successfully duplicating the rhymes and still making a book as beautiful as the one Mitchell has made. German is a forbidding, precise, and multi-layered language, a daily Sprechstimme that is a far cry from the crude throat noises one often hears from people who wouldn't know German if it bit them (they are probably thinking of French, a terribly gutteral tongue that they likely haven't heard either). But, thankfully, Mitchell is not translating French (much; there are a few sketches included in French), and anyway everyone knows that Merwin is the past master at that. Baudelaire is about the only poet I can stand to read in French, anyway, maybe Rimbaud (Paul Schmidt's Rimbaudis a masterful translation, the best on the market in English, and Rimbaud is difficult in French).To conclude, Mitchell's poems in this volume aren't translations of Rilke's poems, so much as they are Rilke's poems. Let me give one example, the first stanza of the first of the Sonnetts to Orpheus,in German then in English:Da stieg ein Baum. O reine Übersteigung! / O Orpheus singt! O hoher Baum im Ohr! / Und alles schweig. Doch selbst in der Verschweigung / ging neuer Anfang, Wink und Wandlung vor.Now, the same thing, in English:A tree ascended there. Oh pure transcendence! / O Orpheus sings! Oh tall tree in the ear! / And all things hushed. Yet even in that silence / a new beginning, beckoning, change appeared.This is what you want in a translation.",5.0,"Ausgezeichnet, übermenschliches Übersetzung",981936000,"02 12, 2001",166,170,helpful,0.9764705882352941,1 A3QH9PN0KSUBWD,B00B0MN798,"Harley Rose ""HarleyRose""","[0, 0]",I was riveted to this read from start to finish. Loved it. Would recommend it for a great attention grabber.,5.0,"Thriller, chills and twists",1365897600,"04 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXPI82Y3YZCEZ,0312275420,Ms. Antoinette P. Burnham,"[4, 5]","Being Dead manages to talk about life, sex, bugs, death, decay, and feelings without indulging in the grotesque or the sentimental, and that alone makes it worth the read.It even manages to finish without falseness of tone or pat conclusions, something most contemporary novels seem to miss.The characters are both realistic and sympathetic nonetheless, though human relations are more ambiguous and chilly than fulfilling and affirming. Clarity and emotional impact often trade-off, though, and the only reason I dock the author a half-star is that a bit too much feeling was left out of this portrait.",4.0,"Deserves 4.5 stars, actually",1001980800,"10 2, 2001",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AOCZIQHO2QGU,0060084332,Daniel Grant,"[7, 11]","Even though the author appears to have put a great deal of work into his book (walking old battlefields, sifting through archives, interviewing veterans and modern day soldiers, ect), the end result of his exertions is not impressive. In fact, if he turned almost any part of this book in as a 7th grader's first research paper, it would probably earn a failing grade. Now that's a pretty inflammatory statement on my part, but I'll explain myself (and my review title as well). Mosier's original background is not that of a military historian, or for that matter that of any type of historian. He was the chair of the English department at Loyola, and he drifted into history when the school decided it wanted an interdisciplinary program that combined history and English. He probably found a lot of appeal in study of WWI because so much of the history of the war is highly ambiguous and open to personal interpretation. Anyway, I feel most of the weaknesses of the book can be traced back to Mosier's original background as an English professor. To me, his main problem is that he appears to apply the exact same analytical techniques he would use to describe a novel in his attempts to explain something that actually happened. However, the results this technique yields are backwards. If you write a paper (or a book) in which you try to explain the real meaning (or anyway the complete meaning) of a novel in English class, you have a fairly limited amount of information (the book plus maybe a little commentary from the author), and its your job to supply the context to justify your ideas (if you don't determine that context for yourself, your work will likely be so vague as to be useless). However, if you try to analyze something that actually happened, and decide the event must reflect a context you have already determined in advance, then you will end up cherry-picking and will produce a work that is inaccurate and possibly even disingenuous. This is precisely what Mosier did with this book. Some of what he has to say is fairly accurate (the Germans were generally more tactically adept than the allies, and through the war taken as a whole they probably inflicted more casualties than they took). However, he also manipulates the context of the information he feeds the reader, and the result is an endless stream of comparisons that are rendered irrelevant by the information he omits. For example, he cites the fact that Von Moltke shuttled troops from the Western Front to the Eastern Front before the Battle of the Marne to prove that the Germans had more soldiers than they needed in France in August of 1914. Ok, but the troops in question ended up missing both the action on the Western AND Eastern fronts, and its hard to explain what the military utility was in having 100,000+ troops who could have been in action in France fail to participate in any fighting anywhere. Also, he repeatedly cites casualty figures of the Western Allies for ALL theaters, compares them to German casualties for ONLY the Western Front and then claims Germany was winning the war. In reality, Germany suffered far more casualties (whether measured by deaths alone, deaths plus wounds, or total casualties) than either France, Britain, or even the combined British Empire. Mosier's numbers make no sense even if you simply compare them to one another. For example, on page 12, he claims the Germans lost something like 1.29 million soldiers killed in WWI on the Western Front. At the end of the book on page 341, he claims the Germans lost about 1.29 million soldiers killed on ALL FRONTS. This would indicate a miraculous performance on the Eastern Front, to fight a war against Russia for 3 years solid while losing fewer than 10,000 men killed! Meanwhile, even the most pessimistic number of German war dead he cites (which is closer to 1.7 million), is still about 400,000 soldiers short of the generally accepted number of dead cited by every other source I've ever read. Mosier is also equally capable of distorting the picture he paints with regard to weapons technology. For example, when he describes a German 105mm howitzer mounted on the same carriage as their 77mm field gun, the image he conveys is of a French 75 on steroids with a much more useful elevation capability. Never does he bother to distinguish between the hydro-pneumatic recoil mechanism of the French 75 (which gave it a sustained rate of fire of 15rpm) and the spring-hydraulic recoil mechanism of the German howitzers (which allowed for a sustained rate of fire of 4rpm). He also implies that there's a simple linear relationship between the weight of a shell's bursting charge and its relative effectiveness, an extremely naive concept. Again, all of these omissions and distortions make more sense, if you're trying to analyze the war as if you were a literary critic. It is not absolutely necessary, or even always desireable for a literary critic to be even-handed. Their job is to make the best case possible for their own interpretation of a subjective experience. But it IS necessary for a historian to be even-handed, so Mosier fails as a historian. You can critique the performance of a commander or an army, but if you want to be taken seriously, you are not allowed to ignore the evidence that does not fit into your critique, you must address it. When Mosier fails to do this, he fails as a historian, and the failure is frequent. He offers his subjective interpretation of the quality of German, American, and French military cemmetaries in France, and this cannot be used as a substitute for rational discussion of objective evidence of military preformance. Nor should the reader be asked to take his lower German casualty figures at face value over all others when he fails to provide a specific argument as to why his are right and the generally accepted versions are wrong. Especially given his sloppiness with his own numbers. Finally, I also feel the need to point out that Mosier abuses his citations of primary sources. If you want to, say for example, make a case that the British were married to outmoded infantry tactics, you don't simply quote a corespondant who was present at a particular battle and call it a day. You quote the corespondant, and either the infantry manual the troops trained with or a drill instructor who trained the troops, and then you back that up with specific measurable results of the formation the correpsondant described when it utilized the tactics he described (for example casulties incurred and ground taken by said unit). This is (sorry to sound like a broken record here) using an English class citation in history class. If Mosier was trying to explain ""A Farewell to Arms"", presenting such qualitative and subjective ""evidence"" as if it is indisputable would make sense. If you analyze a novel, you can just quote a particular character (or the narrator) and call it a day. In literary criticism, you can't cross-check a fictional character's quote, and presenting every possible reasonable interpretation of a part of the novel simply makes your own argument lose clarity. History is another matter though. When you're discussing history, its not about ""your"" version, its about what actually happened, and when Mosier tries to present ""his version"" alone, he obscures his reader's view of reality. In conclusion, the book is enjoyable in places, and because of the amount of research that went into it, he may have relative a few things here and there to teach a student of WWI. But if you're a new student of WWI (as I was the first time I read the book), then you may come away from it with impressions on a wide range of events that are simply wrong (For example, I once believed his version of events where America basically won the war by itself in 1918) This is also absurd. Especially the way he describes the British as ""essentially just chasing the German withdrawal"". Maybe the AEF should have tried ""essentially just chasing the German withdrawal"" as well then since the BEF managed to take 4 times as many prisoners and twice as many guns as the AEF did during the Hundred Days Offensive). The US played a very important part in the war in 1918 (aside from providing high quality fresh troops, a huge amount of material, and a lethal blow to German morale, the 1st, 2nd, 26th and 42nd divisions played a heroic role in stopping some of the Spring Offensives of 1918), but to suggest any ally played the solely decisive role is, well just dumb enough for Mosier to attempt.",2.0,Interdisciplinary Studies Run Amok,1369094400,"05 21, 2013",7,11,helpful,0.6363636363636364,1 A2O9L2LA6Z5LXJ,0061450669,Konrad Baumeister,"[5, 5]","This isn't a biography about Sammy Davis Jr so much as it is an examination of the human wreckage left in his wake after his death. Sonny Murray takes up the challenge of representing Sammy's widow Altovise, and tries to make sense of Davis' estate, mostly without pay, and certainly without a whole lot of cooperation from others also hoping to feed off the estate in various ways; his own client is a disaster.Along the way either Sonny or, later, the author Matt Birkbeck, uncover any number of sad secrets about Sammy's life, his preoccupations with fame, his spendthrift nature, his ill-chosen associations, his self-destructive hobbies and activities. There is a sense of real tragic waste about this book; a phenomenal talent who utterly mismanaged his own life, made terrible choices in business and in his private life, and whose legacy is at best uncertain, most likely simply squandered.There are also any number of unsubstantiated rumors or hearsay in the book; Alto will tell one person one set of things about Sammy, and then will deny them to another; the JFK assassination 'conspiracy' is solved; and so on. The interesting thing about these assertions is not so much whether they are true or not, but the kind of people who are asserting them. Sammy Davis Jr and his entourage knew, for better or worse, people across a very wide range, from presidents to low-level mobsters and drug pushers.Again, this is definitely not meant as a straight biography, but more like a forensic examination of Sammy's estate, his hangers-on, and in that context, his life and times. It is at times interesting, tedious, wandering into unrelated territory (specifically long asides about the Hillside Inn that may concern the Murray family deeply, but is of little interest to the reader looking for stuff on Sammy), and ultimately very sad.",3.0,interesting angle on sammy's life,1265241600,"02 4, 2010",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AN6C1IT79AQA3,0830815937,Marvin L. Miller,"[9, 9]","This is a good commentary on the book of Isaiah. However it is not easy for the average person to fully grasp its contents. It is geared more for students of theology, dedicated students of the bible, teachers of the bible, or theologians. It's highly technical for the average layman.",4.0,The Prophecy of Isaiah,1282003200,"08 17, 2010",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A1CBCDYAQSZ9BE,0883683237,"David Anandarajoo ""Dr David Anandarajoo""","[8, 13]","The first book I read by Dr Brown was Unbroken Curses. At first I was sceptical. But after reading all her her books I must say that her experience and insights have given me an new dimension into a Christian's life. We are engaged in a warfare. And the greatest asset the enemy has is our ignorance. Hosea says that "My people are lost for ignorance". Rebbeca Brown's books help us to understand more deeply what the scriptures say. Indeed, nothing she claims is unssubtantiated by scripture. I live in Malaysia where the spiritual warfare is real.I find the book an important weapon in fighting ignorance.",5.0,An Important Weapon Against Ignorance,976233600,"12 8, 2000",8,13,helpful,0.6153846153846154,1 A3HVPEZYOUZ2TJ,0425263924,Banana Wintour,"[6, 7]","The third installment of Sylvia Day's ""Crossfire"" series picks up right where the second ended. Eva and Gideon are faced with restarting their relationship in secrecy - hiding from the watchful eyes of family, the authorities, the press, and ex-lovers conspiring against them - while internally dealing with the consequences of what Gideon had done.Now, Gideon and Eva now have to rely on each other more than ever. In this though, they are shutting out others around them, making Eva almost solely dependent on Gideon.The build-up and anticipation of Entwined with You is well done, as usual, but this story mimics the skeletal structure of the previous two books; you kind of already know what's in store.This time around though, Gideon has opened himself up to Eva and is continuously putting himself out there. He still has his secrets, though these mainly involve Eva's ""safety."" Despite her protests, he refuses to include her in on the circus that surrounds them, opting to make some major decisions and stalk Eva without her knowledge.About of the way through, one too many over-dramatic plot points and reveals come into play. Instead of having a couple of plates spinning delicately and perilously at the same time, everything is tossed at you at once over the course of a few chapters. And not all of it, seemingly, has much to do with one another.Did Sylvia Day just throw every plot point she could think of for effect? I'm not sure, but I honestly had no idea what I was supposed to be focusing on. Which character, which story, which detail was important? And sadly, Sylvia didn't make that clear to the reader.For example, Eva gets up from her table at a charity function and in a matter of seconds encounters three separate people serving three separate storylines, trying to start trouble with her. Come. On.I completely agree with some of the other reviewers that Entwined with You was a very poor attempt at stretching out this series for more money. Cary's story is tiresome. I don't care about Megumi, so stop trying to make me interested in her. Corrine's plotline took such a drastic turn from how she was presented in the previous two books and reminded me a bit too much of FSOG.Also, about halfway through, I thought for sure Eva's dad was going to be framed for the murder. I would have traded Cary, Megumi, the boss, and Corrine in for THAT story.After having all of this put out there for the reader - none of which is resolved - everyone just goes home and goes to bed. Seriously. I understand there is a fourth installment, but I am a bit disappointed Entwined with You did little to move the story forward.",3.0,Unnecessarily stretching this series out...,1370390400,"06 5, 2013",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A11WDIUMRKFVZF,0802423183,Gary Cummings,"[7, 9]","As one wounded by the Church, I highly recommend this book.Hendricks has honestly told the brutal truth by those wounded by the Church. Fellowship in the Church should be all about grace. It is not. It is based on tithing, conformity, and keeping your mouth shut. Only those with some kind of power- financial, political, and community -lead the church, not those with a deep commitment to Jesus Christ. The leaders should be visionaries to adventure out in the freedom of the Gospel. They are not. Hendricks clearly shows that many people leaving the church are genuine believers who want to let God do great things in their life. The Church is the great Preventer of this happening.Grace happens, and the Church shuold get out of the way and let it happen.",5.0,Recommended by a Wounded Healer,1149897600,"06 10, 2006",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A6VXZ1EEPRTLV,1482687313,trebe,"[8, 9]","In the romantic thriller Ctrl Z (2012), author Danika Stone weaves a sometimes engrossing tale, centered on the lives of Indigo Sykes and Jude Alden, a young couple whose paths cross several times, and then become increasingly intertwined, in some not so credible ways.Indigo Sykes, a 26 year old student, needs help to complete her video project. Jude Alden from tech support arrives at her class, only to discover that she is the same woman who ran out on him at bar, a few months previous. From this begins a tenuous relationship, as an apprehensive Indigo is concerned that her turbulent past, which ruined her last relationship, may do so same again. Jude would like to get to know Indigo better, but suddenly has little time, when he becomes involved in a project with his coworker, designing illegal software for a man named Tyrone ""King"" Fischer, an organized crime boss. Indigo's ex-lover, and another man from her past, appear on the scene to complicate matters. Pressured into engaging in further illegal activities, and threatened with brutal retaliation, there appear to be few options available for Jude, and little hope for happiness with Indigo.Danika Stone does have some talent as a writer, particular when it comes to the nuances of romance, however story structure and dramatic action, do not appear to be her strengths. As the story progresses, a chain of circumstances and remarkable coincidences, very conveniently drop into place. Unfortunately, connecting up so many plot points and ""tightening up"" story elements, actually makes the plot less believable.The city where the events take place is not identified, nor is the university where the couple meet named. Generic terms rather than proper names are too often used, leaving the reader floating without reference points. Only at the very end do some geographical references appear, but by then it is much too late, and only serves to highlight the earlier omissions.While the love scenes are described in great detail, unfortunately the same can't be said about the action scenes, which are far less prevalent than they could be. Although the story seems to be building up to a dramatic and possibly violent conclusion, the actual resolution is rather anticlimactic and somewhat disappointing, failing to address many key issues in a direct manner. The fate of the ruthless murderer King Fischer, the driving force behind so much that occurs, is recounted only in passing, and at crucial moments, both Indigo and Jude seem to avert disaster by almost divine providence.A suspenseful drama that hints at more than it ultimately delivers, Ctrl Z isn't very realistic, but the intrigue and passion, may be enough to satisfy some readers.",3.0,a deep and dark shade of indigo...,1364083200,"03 24, 2013",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 AVK6QU8BZGML0,0312303750,"Diane Bouvier ""d.bouvier""","[0, 0]",very intersting and fascinating book...this woman's life deserves to be read..she was way ahead of her time. Very conflicted but also very intelligent.,5.0,fabulous,1350432000,"10 17, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZ644IO4VPZRY,0373766882,"Ann B. Keller ""Ann B. Keller""","[0, 0]","Attorney Blake Kemp has got to be one of the orneriest, stubborn men there is. Not only is he a terrible boss, barking orders like a general and demanding that the staff bring him coffee, but he seems to be just as prickly outside of the office, too.By contrast, Violet Hardy, Blake’s secretary, is sweet and mild mannered. Whenever there is something that needs to be taken care of, it’s usually Violet who volunteers to help out. Unfortunately, Violet has been in love with Blake for some time, but the obstinate man doesn’t know it. At last seeing the light after a rather nasty row, Violet gives up and walks out.Finally, Blake Kemp begins to realize what a treasure Violet was. All of the little things she used to take care of so quietly and efficiently now become land mines in his office, ready to trip him up at any moment. The other secretaries hate him, too, and he can’t seem to retain good help.Blake doesn’t want to get involved with Violet, but it’s time for him to face his true feelings. With her dark hair and round, womanly figure, Violet is a temptation Blake just can’t resist.",4.0,Heart of Gold,1384041600,"11 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11OLVAT5YF20D,0970557469,Dr. Matthew J. Loop,"[9, 11]","I must commend Dr. Mercola as a cutting-edge health pioneer and consumer advocate! This book spans the entire nutrition / wellness spectrum and provides powerful insight about superior quality foods and holistic healing. This work is also packed with reference information and guides you in the direction of other great sources of health information. To top it off, he gives you hundreds of healthy recipes so you don't feel left in the dark.Dr. Mercola is a champion of information that has taken investigative journalism to another level in order to expose the unethical and corrupt practices of many health industry giants. It is obvious throughout Dr. Mercola's work, empowering the public through knowledge is his number-one priority. He has made it his mission to expose the erroneous and perpetually publicized corporate propaganda concerning health and medicine. I encourage you to support his remarkable efforts to change the face of healthcare as we know it.Dr. Matthew J. Loop- Author of ""Cracking the Cancer Code""",5.0,An Empowering Find that Reveals Cutting-Edge Health Info.,1166659200,"12 21, 2006",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A1A2PQM29EMC1Y,0375831002,Lisa S Hiers,"[0, 0]",This book had a different type of nArrator and it made the book. I loved the story completely and Liesel was a strong girl.I would recommend this book to everyone.,5.0,Amazing,1389052800,"01 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1D3DAL21GYDZL,1932158561,"Mark D. Larson ""M Larson""","[0, 0]","This was a fun story. I have vacationed in the area that the author writes about so it was fun to recognize the references she made to the surroundings. I purchased this story thinking it was a skiing mystery/detective story. It had these elements but it was mostly a kind of old fashioned romance with a few modern elements. The story was a bit too tame and simplistic, though and the main character's romance was a bit restrained - even old fashioned sounding. The conflict at the end was a bit contrived but both characters changed in satisfying ways.",3.0,fun story but a bit tame,1373328000,"07 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1RVRHXA5ARWFV,140226285X,Deb@Debbie's Book Bag,"[5, 6]","Kris DeLake is one of the many pen names, author Kristine Kathryn Rusch uses. Her latest book in the Assassins Guild series, A Spy To Die For is a combination of science fiction and romance. But that's not all, it also has a touch of old fashioned espionage thrown into the mix, giving it appeal to a much broader audience. With excellent world building and expressive characters, DeLake has created a book that transcends genres and the stereotypical notions of what a romance novel should be like.A Spy To Die For is a book where several different genres are meshed together. I grew up reading science fiction and it is still one of my favorite genres. Authors in this genre have such a wide range of potential because they are not limited to the confines of place and time. But that also provides a huge challenge. World building becomes essential and being able to engage the reader and describe for them every detail, because it is new and different and they have no form of reference to draw from.The world Kris DeLake creates in the Assassins Guild series is fundamentally different from our own. It is set in the future that isn't exactly pleasant. DeLake provides plenty of back story to get the reader thinking and then adds characters that once again change the whole face of what the reader is expecting. A Spy To Die For continues to build DeLake's world. This novel centers around and unlikely romance that pits the hero and heroine against each other.There is plenty of action in this book. The plot is fast and furious and the main characters race toward each other and their destiny at a break neck speed. This will appeal to the reader who likes a real page turner. There is action of some sort in just about every scene. Science fiction is often very action packed, but in my experience has very little romance. That's why I liked the addition of a real love story in this series.The romantic aspect of the book is well written and does not seem contrived to bring in the romance reading crowd. It flows naturally and opens up the genre to a whole new audience. It isn't just geeks who like sci-fi any more... LOL. I think this book and series blends both genres very well. One does not outshine the other. The sci-fi parts are exactly what one would expect and the romantic moments are exactly that, romantic. I think DeLake has managed to incorporate both genres excellently along with adding the whole espionage and spy aspect as well. This is a book a lot of different kinds of readers will enjoy.",4.0,A Spy To Die For by Kris DeLake,1373414400,"07 10, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AY50SJJH372SR,0140288503,Christine Gish,"[0, 0]",I didn't realize the extent of the operation until I read this book. It's amazing anyone came out alive. I recommend reading this book for yourself.,3.0,I didn't really know the whole story,1381363200,"10 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QLG9I10DGPEE,0807609951,Christian Boyd,"[0, 0]",Gripping and detailed. This book gives a clear perspective of the daily grind and circumstances doctors and surgeons dealt with in Vietnam.,5.0,Wow!,1401148800,"05 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ATAEVNOXCZX0C,0760741328,Teresa R. Simpson,"[9, 9]","When I learned that I was pregnant, I ran out and bought quite a few pregnancy guides. Of them all, Great Expectations has been the best hands down. It gives you a WEEKLY run-down of how the baby is developing as well as what is going on in your own body. It covers pregnancy in far greater detail than any of the other books I purchased. I highly recommend this book!",5.0,A Must Have Pregnancy Guide,1131840000,"11 13, 2005",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A26QL1NY00OH0P,0385337477,L Merryweather,"[0, 1]","I am a recent convert to the "Outlander" saga of Jamie and Claire, and was very excited to read more of this authors work. The "Lord John" book was well written, with many twists and interesting characters to keep you involved with the story. The look at life in 18th Century London was fabulous. The author has a great eye for detail, accuracy and honesty in a historical novel. I look forward to reading more of Lord John and the life that leads him to his encounters with the Frasers. But it did not hold me up into the wee hours of the morning the way "Outlander" or "Voyager" did. Still highly recommend reading, but I'm still waiting(like millions of others) for the "Fiery Cross" sequel!!",4.0,Its no Jamie and Claire...but...,1066521600,"10 19, 2003",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A8A1CA3AK44UD,0312382766,"Bloc Star 24 ""wifey""","[0, 0]","I bought this for my husband, he's really good with numbers and puzzles, and he said he's enjoying it and actually has to use a pencil (he can usually do them in his head). I'm happy with the book, definitely.",4.0,Enjoying it,1284940800,"09 20, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2MX106FX8IQHK,0307590704,Richard G. Lemery,"[0, 1]","This lady is very nice, I'm sure; but she is so indoctrinated that it is hard to follow her. I do think she cares about her children.",2.0,religion,1395792000,"03 26, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1RSY70MWB0P4D,0385513518,J. Calloway,"[30, 37]","What I love about The Fred Factor is that it counters the notion that to succeed in business means somehow abandoning your values. Mark Sanborn makes a case that success in business, or life, for that matter, is a matter of embracing the values of service, caring, and doing the right thing. This is a book that should be standard issue for every employee of every company. Outstanding!",5.0,The HEART of business.,1093392000,"08 25, 2004",30,37,helpful,0.8108108108108109,1 A1EU0MJNWK4YVV,0786868384,"John Zxerce ""johnzxerce@hotmail.com""","[14, 23]","Boies' certainly has some great stories. He reminds me of an old war hero who enjoys conveying the details of distant battles to any willing audience. Perhaps he tries to remain modest, but in the end his ruminations and perceived glory from various legal conquests proves too great a challenge for humility to remain.If you enjoy chronicled biographical thrillers with high cost stakes - this book is for you. However, if you shy away from self-glorifying personas perhaps something a bit toned down would be better?Nonetheless, this is a mesmerizing portrayal of one man's pleasure derived frome litigation conquests. There are sometimes boring people - but there are no boring lives. And Boies proves that with this book.",3.0,The trial lawyer as protagonist,1097798400,"10 15, 2004",14,23,helpful,0.6086956521739131,1 A158GAHHODYQ8W,B008P0J2RE,Carolyn Buck,"[6, 6]","A story filled with action that sucks you in and keeps you involved. An empath battling her past and a lycan with a past of his own determined to save her from hers, makes for a read that you can't put down. Both of them are coming to grips with their own demons and looking to the possibility of finding their futures in one another. Can all of the obstacles placed in their way be surmounted, and can they find peace in a future together? Ascentii gives the reader a flight into imagination filled with interesting characters and leaves him with a desire for more.",4.0,GREAT READ,1343347200,"07 27, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A29KMUAY2INI9K,1484073150,Lorena Muoz,"[4, 4]","Another great book by Amanda Heath, I'm not good at writing long drawn out reviews just enough to say I loved this book! I loved how she added all the characters from her other books I love Tegan and Declan so it was nice seeing them again. Read this book and all of Amanda Heath 's books won't be disappointed!!!!",5.0,Wow,1367884800,"05 7, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A7LD57FN1M3NL,0849932343,"J. Johnston ""lovesbostonterriers""","[0, 0]","When I started reading this book I had no idea what any of the myths in this book were. I learned a whole lot from this book, really helpful things, to help you all the time. I would recommend this book to anyone who is striving to know more about myths that you might have believed in were false. I had to read this book for my school called Classical Conversations. Some of you may have to also read it for school or just for fun. But seriously I say read this book, you learn so much from it!!Hope you get to read this book. :)",5.0,Amazing for learning new things,1404691200,"07 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2T4MHPAV4HVLZ,0345487427,Kosovar,"[17, 37]","Again..."The best self-help book I ever read" but this time I truly mean it. This book has changed my life for good. Can't say more because I have no time. I am going out to confront my fears and enjoy my life to maximum without breaking someone's heart or breaking the law.Hope to meet as many of you as possible, there.",5.0,Wow,1080345600,"03 27, 2004",17,37,helpful,0.4594594594594595,1 AARZ5GQCPTJNF,1434768708,"Jeff Miller ""Consuming Worship""","[5, 5]","My ""review"" is going to take a little different tack today. While I'm sure most of the other reviewers will post about the main content of the book, I want to focus on a section rarely accentuated in such a review--the Afterward. Before I do that, however, I will speak to the meat of the volume.From Eternity to Here is actually formulated as three books in one volume, each section dealing with a separated but intimately related topic concerning the purpose of God. Personally, I was most captivated by the opening part, dealing with the Bride of Christ. The typology Viola uses--while not new or unique--is portrayed from a perspective to which I am unaccustomed. So much of what we talk about in church circles concerning Christ is His grace, and rightly so. But Viola's presentation of a Christ who is passionate about His bride, and Who will stop at nothing in pursuing and winning her takes the idea of the work of salvation to new heights for me.I don't think we really understand just how much God--through Christ--loves us.The other two sections, speaking on the house of God, and the body of Christ/family of God take this passionate pursuit to their final conclusion, which is just the beginning of the story.In the forward, Viola intimates that much of what he's written before is an outgrowth of his personal theology presented in From Eternity to Here. While I've not read any of his other works, I understand some of them have been somewhat controversial at times. I can't speak to that issue other than to say maybe some wouldn't be so critical if they read this book, and read the heart of the man who wrote the previous volumes.Now, for my thoughts on the Afterward. I may be wrong here, but I think the theology presented in the Afterward might be the centerpiece of Viola's thoughts woven throughout the book. He speaks on what is being termed ""deep ecclesiology,"" an idea shared with fellow emerging church friends Andrew Jones and Brian McLaren. ""Deep ecclesiology"" may be understood as ""underneath our varying models of church is a basic underlying reality that should be manifested in our historical and social settings."" Basically, what is it at the heart of our churches that make them Ekklesia?I find myself relating to much of what he shares as personal history when he tells of his background in evangelical revivalist theology. I grew up in that camp that taught that the only reason God leaves you around after salvation is for you to be a witness. Like Viola, I don't disagree that we should live and act as Christ's messengers to the world, but I always felt that there was more to my relationship with Christ than being a witnessing drone.Viola goes on to speak about his further experiences with the ""signs and wonders"" camp, and his further disillusionment after finding so many servants of God filled up with themselves. Eventually he learned that ""those who have genuine power with God do not talk much about it. And they certainly don't talk about themselves a whole lot either.""Ironically, Viola's next camping experience was with another group I'm very familiar with, the eschatology camp. I resonate so much with his statement, ""But I made a discovery. That all of those hours I spent pouring over Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation, trying to put the end-time puzzle together, did not help me one iota to come to know my Lord better. It was largely an academic, intellectual exercise. And a sterile one at that."" Ouch! I've lived that one.Long story short, after moving from one camp to another, and another and another, Viola came to realize that, while all those facets within Christianity and Biblical theology are worthy and have their place, what he really needed more than any study or movement or doctrine was Jesus. He found he needed Him.""Jesus Christ is the embodiment of all divine things. My eyes were opened to see that Jesus Christ is salvation. Jesus Christ is the power of God. Jesus Christ is holiness. Jesus Christ is doctrine. Jesus Christ is the living incarnation of everything that is spiritual.""See, this is what I'm talking about when I stated earlier that the critics might be less critical if they were to read this work. Regardless of whatever our feelings or personal ""convictions"" or beliefs about the how of church should take a far back seat to the Who of church. Gathering around Jesus Christ--Savior, Lord, Master, Healer, God, Friend, Husband--is the central purpose of why we gather. To make this Christ known to one another and to those outside the physical walls of the buildings in which we gather is to not only be a witness to the world, but it is to share a deep mystery beyond comprehension, a treasure beyond worth, and a God beyond compare.",4.0,Finding the substance at the end,1244592000,"06 10, 2009",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1FLNCJC779R44,1481898108,Sue,"[0, 0]","Was hoping for more technical info. Doesn't help me make a decision on how to link up to Internet , too simplified.",2.0,Not the help I was hoping for,1378771200,"09 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AI65XLUGVL9AB,0373829094,"Liz Baker ""book lover""","[5, 7]","Near the end of the novel, the heroine tells Marcus that he's stupid. I have to agree. So many of his problems could have been resolved about halfway through the novel if he had just stopped over-thinking the whole situation. But then, he wouldn't be Marcus, and he's divine. Emma, our heroine, says that he's very handsome and very tall. But I was caught up in the descriptions of his smiles and expressions as well as his devotion to God and the underprivileged. Who wouldn't love a man like that? He just simply cannot grasp that ""love is everything,"" as his sister Olivia tells him. He has to study it, think about it, and examine it to death.Emma is a sweet woman who sacrifices a great deal for her family. She isn't ashamed of their circumstance, but she hides it from everyone for fear that, in the hyper-critical ton, she'll be judged for it. She has faith, and fortunately, for once, we get a heroine who does the right thing.Everyone I loved in The Blackmailed Bride was back, with a glimpse at Olivia's and Nick's happy home. I would have liked to see more of Gibbons this time, but his pithy observations on Marcus's situation were welcome. The verbal sparring between Marcus and Emma more than made up for his absence. The initial meeting between the two was so funny that I laughed out loud. Mr. Barnwell now has me intrigued. His last meeting with Emma left me wondering about him.Thank you, Mandy Goff. I love your romances.",5.0,"Ah, Marcus...",1330646400,"03 2, 2012",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A292NDEAXUNW62,0768435196,Richard R. Blake,"[4, 4]","Jim Stovall understands the gifts of faith, friendship, family and forgiveness. His novel ""A Christmas Snow"" is the story of Kathleen Mitchell. Abandoned by her father on Christmas Eve nearly 30 years earlier, Kathleen no longer observes Christmas...until... an unheard of blizzard in Tulsa marooned her for three days in her home with two unexpected house guests.A stranger, an elderly gentleman and the 10 year old who troubled daughter of Kathleen's current admirer, a recent widower, make up this unlikely trio. Each is struggling with unresolved emotional issues. With no electricity, a cell phone with a dead battery, and a garage door - frozen shut - a bonding takes place and an amazing healing process emerges.Stovall's writing is compelling, imaginative, and full of surprises. ""A Christmas Snow"" offers hope to the reader for finding answers to longstanding unresolved relationship difficulties. A life changing message of faith, hope, and forgiveness.",5.0,Finding Life Changing Forgiveness through the Gift of Christmas Snow,1287187200,"10 16, 2010",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2A44WAUUYOV8K,0979505135,"Brandon Simpson ""Author of 'The Libertarian L...","[59, 60]","I've been looking for a good ""Spanish for beginners"" book for a long time. I boughtPractice Makes Perfect Basic Spanish (Practice Makes Perfect Series)for that purpose, but you can read in my review of that book why it wasn't sufficient. But now I finally have a good book for beginning Spanish. The book is called Getting Started with Spanish by William Linney and Antonio Orta.The book teaches you what you would typically learn in a Spanish I class in high school or Spanish 101 in college. But what makes this book different from other books is that the lessons are divided up into manageable ""bite-size chunks."" Each lesson gets a little more elaborate than the previous one.The authors have bent traditional ways of teaching Spanish. For example, the infinitive isn't introduced until later in the book. But you learn how to conjugate the three conjugations before then. Instead of teaching the forms of ""hablar,"" the author teaches the forms of ""yo hablo."" So the ""yo"" form, or the 1st person singular form is used as the semi-infinitive form. When I saw this method of teaching Spanish verbs, I realized that you don't really need to know the infinitive form anyway, at least not until you learn modal verbs like ""querer"" and ""necesitar.""The authors have even supplied free mp3 audio files on the book's website. You can download the entire zipped folder from gettingstartedwithspanishDOTcom. Or you can download each mp3 individually.The format of this book is unique and quite possibly a revolutionary way to introduce new languages. It makes me wish I had thought of it first. I've always considered learning Latin, but didn't know where to start. I may use the author's book on Latin now =Getting Started with Latin: Beginning Latin for Homeschoolers and Self-Taught Students of Any Age. And his book on Spanish makes me want to see a book on Getting Started with French (hint, hint).Brandon Simpson",5.0,Great Book for Teaching Spanish to Beginners or Homeschoolers,1263081600,"01 10, 2010",59,60,helpful,0.9833333333333333,1 A3212H6SF9W1LV,1416959408,MoranReviews,"[0, 0]","Besides a writer, author Deb Caletti is also a painter, a lecturer, and a lyricist. She is a National Book Award Finalist with other titles including: The Queen of Everything, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, The Nature of Jade, and The Fortunes of Indigo Skye. She resides in Seattle with her family.Quinn is an ordinary teenager, or so she feels. She is surrounded by women who have had their hearts broken and has grown up hearing nothing but cautionary tales about men. Seeing herself as an optimist, she is dependable and cautious. When a relationship is rekindled with her usually absent, very eccentric, and always selfish father, Quinn is just happy to have him around again. Then she discovers just how poorly he has treated the women in his life, stealing more than their hearts. So Quinn joins forces with her beloved little sister and the half-sister she's never met to right her father's wrongs. And maybe, uncover the truth.Told in first person point-of-view, this young adult book read like a journal to me. Throughout the book there were letters, and/or other entries from the women in Quinn's father's life, which made this interesting. I think the secondary characters in this book made it hilarious and sweet. From the aunt, grandmother, mother, father, and sisters, you are pulled into it by so many flawed and delightful characters that you must keep reading. Deb Caletti has a way of sneaking into young minds and taking hold. Both creative in the plot and in tune with the target audience, she masterfully portrays her characters and what they want to say. A recommended read.Kelly Moran,Author and Reviewer",4.0,Young Adult,1245456000,"06 20, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A321WI535TP6TW,023115254X,dansat25,"[30, 46]","This book confirms the quote by Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson that ""The laws of physics are real, and everything else is just politics."".While those who found his results politically distasteful have personally attacked him, his work stands above reproach. Anyone who says otherwise either knows nothing about real climate research or is fearful of the consequences of his research. What we do about climate change is certainly a political question, but the scientific fact that we have created a real problem by increasing greenhouse gases is no longer doubted by any serious scientist.When someone tells me that scientists like Dr. Mann are wrong I ask them what they know that every major scientific body on the planet (They have all endorsed the IPCC reports by the way) does not. I've worked in atmospheric science for 30 years and it truly is scary that scientific researchers have to put up with what he has had to endure from political extremists. Read the book, and you will learn what those who spend time reading real science instead of political spin already know.",5.0,Dr. Mann's reputation for getting it right is well known among those who do real climate science..,1331769600,"03 15, 2012",30,46,helpful,0.6521739130434783,1 A2TX179XAT5GRP,0689853351,"TeensReadToo ""Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier.""","[10, 10]","THE TRAITORS' GATE is everything you'd expect from an Avi novel--a well-realized historical adventure, plenty of suspense, and lots of surprises along the way. Whether you're intrigued by Victorian England, you like a good mystery, or you're just looking for a book that will keep you guessing right until the final chapter, you'll find something to enjoy here.It is the mystery of THE TRAITORS' GATE that will keep readers turning the pages. If 14-year-old John Huffam wants to save his family from destitution, he must find a scheming traitor, who engineered his father's arrest in order to force Mr. Huffam to sell the military secrets he has memorized. Unfortunately for John, he has more suspects than he can count, and every piece of information he learns raises as many questions as answers. Even with the help of a Scotland Yard inspector and a scruffy street girl who knows all the secrets of London, the task seems close to impossible. Yet John pushes on, through multiple twists and turns, to an ending that is satisfying yet unpredictable.Underneath the mystery, however, there is a lot more to the story. At heart, it is a tale of lost innocence and growing up. John must come to terms with the fact that many of the adults in his life, including his father, are deeply flawed. It is up to him to choose: allow himself to sink to the levels of his role models, or do his best to hold himself above them and be the best person he can be, despite his circumstances. He must also decide who to turn away from, and, more importantly, who to forgive. For nothing in THE TRAITORS' GATE is completely black and white. Every character has virtues as well as vices, and most are simply doing what they think is best for them, with believable (if not always sympathetic) motives. This depth with stick with readers long after they've discovered the answer to the mystery.Making the story even more engaging is the vivid depiction of Victorian London. Descriptions are full of detail and life. Readers will feel as though they've taken a trip there rather than just reading about it. Avi reveals the full range of London experiences, from the lush homes of the rich to the squalid rooms of the very poor, and everything in between. Though some of the laws and customs of this period will be unfamiliar to readers, explanations are easily worked into the story as John learns things about his society even he didn't realize.If you have a chance to pick this one up, don't hesitate. THE TRAITORS' GATE will stir the mind and the heart equally, and entertain readers along the way.Reviewed by: Lynn Crow",5.0,Courtesy of Teens Read Too,1186704000,"08 10, 2007",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A25679TAMWJ8YJ,1490559175,Psicadelic,"[0, 0]","I enjoyed reading this book as it encompassed some of the very real issues that teenagers may face today (given some of it to the extreme) but while also making it known that it was a fictional piece of writing.The story was very up and down in places and seemed to chop and change a little but it was easy enough to follow.I found the female character to be very submissive and too forgiving, although I did like the scene with his car.Overall not a bad read but not excited to read anything further by the author either.",3.0,Teeb drama to the max,1388275200,"12 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SZSHVOSINJ17,0786868678,"Mahogany Book Club ""Mahogany Media Review""","[4, 5]","A story of love and honor. Rita Marley recalls her childhood, her courtship and marriage to Bob. Rita is a courageous woman by all accounts.Rita struggled through the rough streets of Trench Town Jamaica.I liked that she wasn't just Bob's wife, she paved her own way as well. She was always about something. She kept her pace and stayed the woman she wanted to be regardless of fame or what anyone else thought. Living a true Rastafarian life style she raised her children with values, farmed her land with her own two hands. Rita excepted Bob's life of fame, his womanizing but she always remained a friend and always one step ahead of Bob. She watched his career and the people in his life with a sharp eye. Rita and Bob had their ups and downs but Bob always knew Rita's house was home and he always wandered back. Rita portrays Bob as a loving father and a prophet, a voice for the people and she recalls how political things became. The death threats they recived and how they were not safe and infact Rita was shot.I found the story of Rita and Bob Marley moving. They stood the test of time. A true account of love and honor. We all know Bob was amazing. But in this novel you'll find that Rita is quite amazing herself. She accepted and raised Bob's other children and when Bob died it seems everyone had a claim in Bob's affairs. Rita stood her ground and she is in charge of many organizations and does much for the children in Africa. From a little girl with big dreams, raised by her aunt in Trench Town Jamacia Rita has carved one phenomenal life. A woman of great respect and patience. I enjoyed this glimpse in to their personal life.",5.0,A Story of Love & Honor,1087171200,"06 14, 2004",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1KISYZSUGHL5P,0919345476,David Romano,"[9, 12]","i think this is a great book for no other reason than the God is generally overlooked in most Pagan traditions. however, this book doesn't do too much to overcome that fact. the section of "war gods" was a joke, showing the typical Wiccan preference for all things female. the invocation to Loki was laughable, while the invocation to Zeus was a play! and just for the record, if the Ferrars are so anti-war god, why on earth do they include any invocations to deities such as Loki Laufeyson, the god who brought about Ragnarok with his malicious deeds?!? just curious, really. i found a lot of the info in this book to be helpful, but some of the opinions and invocations made this book only "average" as opposed to great. i will say this though, it is worth it for the index of gods alone.",3.0,"good, but.....",1020038400,"04 29, 2002",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A2ZTT7NZO8U9KO,1621419932,"Tracy Riva ""Tracy Riva""","[0, 0]","I wasn't sure of what to expect from this book when I first agreed to review it. It sounded somewhat interesting, but the title kind of threw me. Now that I have read it I find the title absolutely fitting and honestly have to say that has been one of the finest pieces of literary fiction it has been my pleasure to read.The characters are rich and multidimensional. The settings are well painted until you can see, hear and smell them. The storyline is riveting as it details the life of a woman in transition, Paige Scott, formerly known as Paige Davenport. You feel her fear and hopelessness when her husband David drops her off at a dilapidated house in the middle of nowhere and just leaves. You feel the panic of this formerly pampered rich girl when she discovers she has only $3,000 in the bank account her soon-to-be ex-husband has set up for her. You feel her anxiety when she realizes she has to go out and get a job and find an attorney in the little town she has been dropped into. You sympathize with her as she eats peanut butter sandwiches and frozen dinners because she doesn't know how to cook and rejoice with her as she slowly, step by painful step, begins to come into her own.VanDenbergh has created a flawed character who readers will identify with and cheer for. I give this book my highest possible recommendation.* I was given a copy of this book in return for my honest and frank review *",5.0,Astounding Piece of Women's Literary Fiction,1386115200,"12 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NUNET0L0BFR4,0743255674,"Nardsbaby ""Connoisseur of the written word""","[11, 11]","Here we meet The Monroe's from Los Angeles, Grace and Conner.Grace is a newly elected councilwoman who's carefully being watched due to the fact that she's a Christian and used it as her platform. Grace has a number of ideas, one being returning prayer back inside public schools. Connor, who's a fraternal twin, has a successful law practice with his twin brother. The loving power-couple have two daughters Jayde, and Amber.As Grace starts to work on implementing her education programs, it appears that the past is rearing its ugly head. Before Grace found out what it was to be one of ""God's Children"", she'd been involved in and on and off extra marital affair with her first love. Through time, love, and God, Connor and Grace were able to reroute their bumpy road and ""dance through their storms!"" BUT as the clouds slowly clear another storm lies in wait....People of faith face real problems!Connor's former assistant Pilar, who just one day disappeared, is back! As she reveals her reason for leaving, Connor has to face the fact that he's hidden his ""OWN"" demons from his marriage, and now it's time to reveal that secret, and deal with the consequences. As he searches for the words that might possibly destroy his family, Pilar constantly reminds him that there simply isn't enough time for him to adjust.As Grace tries dealing with her husband's news, she's saddled with her adversary Sara who's just searching for anything to show the constituents that she wasn't right for the job.Mabel; Grace's older and VERY competitive sister. She's a motivational speaker who has assumed the name Starlight. It appears that Starlight believes in the power of money, instead of the power of God.And then there is Jayde, their 15-year-old-teenager. Her attitude and behavior have Grace contemplating child abuse.Grace is slowly sinking in a never-ending bottom as she struggles with her faith as she's being tested in every way.Will the Monroe's survive and thrive these latest challenges?This is my first read by Victoria Christopher-Murray. My mother, and my ""BESTESTEST"" Lisa, are both fans and have read all of her previous work and the two of them consistently talked about how engaging this book was. How personal that it became. It's a very emotional read that truly electrifies you.This book is AWESOME! Keep God in the lead of your life!",5.0,The power of forgiveness....................................,1105660800,"01 14, 2005",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A80KPL5QUO3KQ,0517553422,"A. Wells ""molina""","[13, 15]","Zweig's biography is so fascinating, I can't believe it's been allowed to go out of print. He does a remarkable job of delineating a light-headed, pleasureseeking woman who was thrust into circumstances she couldn't have anticipated or coped with. Marie Antoinette becomes a real woman, not a figurehead or a scapegoat. No one could ask for anything less.",5.0,An average woman in exceptional circumstances,996624000,"08 1, 2001",13,15,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 A266RQSMWIWKZV,0312608705,"CD ""devotedmomof7""","[68, 76]","I'm debating what level of stars to give this, because it is a technically well-written story - rich with imagery filled vocabulary. The message, however, is so misguided that it cannot receive endorsement.This mystery is certainly amusing and adequately enjoyable. A young boy is in the typical stranglehold between divorced parents. His mother is somewhat neglectful and more interested in her new family and in being difficult to his artsy father than parenting her older son. A beetle living in the home demonstrates an incredible talent for drawing which leads to the boy getting credit for the drawing by his father and, ultimately, an art museum.The art museum curator hatches a plan for the boy's drawing skills (actually the beetle's) to be used to create a copy of a masterpiece as a decoy to find an art thief. The beetle cooperates with this deception out of a sense of obligation to the boy's friendship and to somehow validate (by counterfeited art) the boy in his mother's eyes.This is where the point of the story gets muddy to me. What is the author's message to young readers? The boy's deception is never revealed. In fact, he ultimately is made a heroic character despite his credit-taking lies and breaking/entering - yes for an ultimate good - but is this exhonerated? The book amplifies the flaws of parents and adults, and supports the often-touted message to conceal info from parents - even to the point of endangerment of the young protagonist. Even the beetle goes against his parent's protective instruction and receives only a prodigal beetle's reception. The boy's misdeeds are never dealt with other than an event that is implied as an intentional harming of himself as restitution or a divinely imposed consequence - either way allowing him an excuse to avoid the revelation of his lies. Further, it implies this lack of honesty was to protect the beetle rather than himself...again giving a heroic quality to bad behavior. His counterfeited talent becomes framed and enjoyed as a permanent source of pride in the family home. He is rewarded with the benefits of a friendly reconciliation of his bad parents based upon their appreciation of his previously underlooked talent - which he actually never had? Are we telling kids that they can feel self-worth in pretense? All's well that ends well? How about self-worth in integrity!Even the art thief's misdeeds are stroked with a brush of empathetic understanding. His love for the work itself is the driving force of his crime. It is questioned whether his multiple thefts of invaluable artwork should be reported since all is well in the end?!? Out of respect for his friendship,(which he had moments earlier thrown under the bus) a delay occurs which allows him to escape scott-free, as well.Another confusing aspect in the story was the lack of authenticity about the art itself. The author could have presented actual works of art to stimulate interest and unit studies OR could have entirely made up fictional works of art. Instead, an odd presentation was used that muddied fact and fiction. One actual artist's work, Bellini's Fortitude, was used in the story, yet credited to another artist, Durer. Fictional works to accompany Durer's (Bellini's) Fortitude made a quartet of supposed stolen works of Durer in the story. Durer had an actual artwork of a beetle, which related to the character in the story. This amalgam of fiction and fact was odd.See my angst here? I just can't endorse this - well written or otherwise.",3.0,Masterfully Written - Muddy Message,1239148800,"04 8, 2009",68,76,helpful,0.8947368421052632,1 A2YI3SU5THQUQZ,1581345674,J. F Foster,"[36, 38]","It is clear from this book that the problem of evil has long been a pressing concern of John Feinberg. What started out as a doctoral dissertation many years ago has morphed into an effective and mostly comprehensive exploration of this perennial problem from an evangelical perspective. While I don't agree with everything Feinberg proposes, I do think evangelicals of all theological stripes will be greatly informed by this book.Among the strengths of the book is Feinberg's interaction with the ideas of non-evangelicals where the problem of evil is concerned. He effectively and thoughtfully interacts with a number of non-evangelicals as well as skeptics, and this alone is noteworthy. Feinberg seems to be interested in constructive, yet principled dialogue with those outside his own camp, and as an evangelical, it is hoped by this reader that such dialogue will be reciprocated by theological liberals who claim to be interested in such dialogue.I also thought that Feinberg's view that the problem of evil is actually a series of problemS of evil is penetrating and really helps the comprehensive treatment of the subject that we see here. While I might quibble a bit with the degree to which Feinberg attempts to categorize these various problems, and thus arguably diminishes their interrelated nature, I do think this approach does justice to the issue and helps avoid a facile examination that too often plagues evangelical treatments of the subject. In particular, his 'religious problem of evil', which is really the existential problem of evil, is a valuable and thoughtful addition that evangelical scholarship in the theodicy area has been severely neglectful of. Feinberg deserves a standing ovation for devoting a solid portion of the book to discussing this aspect of the problem of evil, and it is hoped that other evangelicals will wake up and follow Feinberg's lead whenever they address the problem of evil in their writings, classroom lectures, and conversations with those around them.I also strongly agree with the contention that one's theology will (and should) greatly influence how a Christian (or anyone for that matter) addresses the existence of evil. The problem of evil is not an isolated matter that can be addressed in a vacuum. Our theology should and will greatly inform how we address it, and I think Feinberg is mostly successful in examining how various theological commitments impact on how folks from various theological traditions will handle this particular issue.The one minor drawback is that in my view, more Biblical exegesis was in order in this book than what I saw. Feinberg's general opposition to the greater-good defense was just one example of an objection that seemed to be based more on philosophical argumentation than exegetical demonstration. I have increasingly noticed that comprehensive scholarly works from evangelical authors that seem intended to go beyond the evangelical subculture and gain an audience among non-evangelicals too often downplay the centrality of the authority of Scripture that must continue to define what it means to be an evangelical. It seems to me that an evangelical work on any topic should be unapologetic in presenting a Biblical argument, since the Bible is (or ought to be) our final authority, even though it is not our lone authority. It seems to me that too many books like this one seem to put the Bible on the sideline in order to gain some respectability among circles of the academy that don't take the Bible seriously (meaning that they don't consider it to be particularly authoritative) and thus don't take traditional evangelicals seriously. Well, such an approach strikes me as an unnecessary capitulation, and I fear to some degree that this is what happened with this particular book. While I greatly appreciate the depth with which Feinberg engages non-evangelical scholarship, what this book needs is a melding of systematics and exegesis that results in systematics being better informed by Scripture.But this little soapbox quibble aside, the book is, I think, a valuable contribution to the field of 'theodicy' that evangelicals will greatly profit from.",5.0,Comprehensive Analysis from an Evangelical Perspective,1097798400,"10 15, 2004",36,38,helpful,0.9473684210526315,1 A16OUY1D8ME8WK,0755328604,bernie millar,"[0, 0]","This was a great book lots of drama , bit of love crime and lots of twists and turns,, love her books,",5.0,cant beat Martina,1381536000,"10 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3HRTSBFHCCOJK,0321555619,CMOS,"[5, 5]","This book is certainly one of the best if not THE best book on Lightroom 2 (that is currently available). While extremely dense with information (so much so the type had to be reduced a bit to fit it all) and very nicely done screenshots, it is quite a lot to read through. If you're one of those people who starts books and leaves the rest unread at page 100, be sure it's what you need. The good news is, if you buy this book there are few scenarios I can think of that would require you to own any other Lightroom book; it is quite comprehensive. Lightroom 2 has many features to learn, but all are fairly easy to digest once you have gotten the lay of the ""land"" and see how the different functions affect your images and work with one another.The only real question you'll want to ask yourself is whether you really need this much information. If you're new to Lightroom, then unquestionably I think this is a good investment. If you're not new to Lightroom and are just looking for information about the new and updated features, it might be a bit overkill for you. In that case I might recommend you check out one of the thinner, well-reviewed books out there before buying this one. You definitely get your money's worth but if you already know 60% of the material inside (i.e. what you've learned from prior versions), there might be better options for you.",4.0,Very Thorough Lightroom Reference,1229731200,"12 20, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1T4SMQWNJSXKC,141691420X,J. Frymier,"[0, 0]","I read all of the Pendragon books and loved all of them. This one I read as fast as I could and loved all of it.... except the epilogue. Eventually I decided that this is what would have happened if none of the other things had happened. Though that's probably not right. One thing I like is that Mark and Courtney finally got to play a major role. The whole idea is so interesting. At parts I could guess exactly what would happen and at others I had no idea what was going to happen. Parts of it were so sad,but there was still the humor that was in all of the other books.",4.0,A Teens review,1262908800,"01 8, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AOTEOBX9GFZ48,0446523569,Brian J. Oneill,"[0, 0]","For the most part, 'Message in a Bottle' was a 'breezy' read, until the last few chapters. When Garrett and Theresa finally moved past the relatively uneventful small talk and predictable romantic scenes, the book distanced itself from the usual forgettable romances. The extra emotional impact of the ending, and the connection the characters will finally make with readers, will take some time to find, but it's worth the effort.Dialogue is not really Sparks' strong point, judging from this story and 'The Rescue', but he can pull the right strings to make readers care what happens to his characters.",4.0,A powerful ending makes up for a lightweight beginning,1258761600,"11 21, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3TGY3ANGBNK7C,1402274963,"Cocktails and Books ""Shannon""","[0, 0]","Catherine Mann's Free Fall was an action-packed story about Jose ""Cuervo"" James and Stella Carson set in the wilds of Africa. Jose, a pararescueman, and Stella, an Interpol agent, had a relationship that soon fizzled after meeting on a mission. Months later, Jose is called in to rescue Stella from a hostage situation, and has to try to use all his power in order to try to save the women he once loved.Throughout Free Fall Stella continues to display strength and fortitude both in completing her mission as well as her relationship with Jose. Having suffered through the emotional upheaval of her mom's death as a young girl she refuses to settle for less than the best when it comes to her own family. Jose, on the other hand, is insecure about the impact his job will have on both a relationship as well as a family. Jose is a strong Alpha male, who tries to provide support for Stella while also being the man she needs emotionally. Stella, on the other hand, still struggles with her own emotional issues from her childhood that she has to work out. Interwoven in the storyline are flashbacks to Jose and Stella's relationship, as well as an unexpected secondary romance that adds a depth to the original storyline.Reviewed by Lucy for Cocktails and Books",4.0,Reviewed for Cocktails and Books,1369440000,"05 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3EQ03LUCUTE6Q,0751550213,C. Tyler,"[9, 11]","I have to commend the author on presenting such a sensitive view of agoraphobia. As a sufferer it is awesome to see that there are people out there who do understand. Even family has a hard time with this one. Many of us don't show the severity, but it is an awful disorder. It is a fight everyday to be able to keep going. Mary found her way to deal with it and still be social in her own way. Today, we have internet which helps a great deal to be able to stay in touch. This book was wonderfully insightful and a real surprise to read. Thank you so much for an awesome story about a real problem.",5.0,Sensitive presentation,1315785600,"09 12, 2011",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A3NXJDNTQK2YJL,0061228591,"Andy in Washington ""Andy""","[20, 21]","Being an armchair historian, I have read a fair percentage of the published material on WWII and the history of the 20th century. As such, I am always leery of one-volume efforts that promise to cover the whole war-in general, they usually just rehash well-known history and cover no new ground. I am far more likely to read histories of specific events or limited subjects.This book was a pleasant surprise. While it takes the reader through all the usual history of WWII, it is full of details that are not commonly included in other manuscripts. I found many little details in this book that were added, almost in passing, that were absolutely marvelous for kicking off an afternoon's worth of historical thought experiments. Generally, when a book seems to have lots of details that are not commonly known, it is either very well or very poorly researched. The Storm of War seems to be very well researched. Most ""uncommon facts"" have a credible reference attached to them.As an example, the book retells the story of Dunkirk. The bravery of the British army and ""navy"" in getting the troops evacuated from a shrinking beachhead after the fall of France. It relays the oft-told tale of the Germans missing a prime opportunity to wipe out or capture a large chunk of the Allied armed forces in Europe. However it added one little detail that I had never read before-upon arriving in England, French soldiers were disarmed, including sidearms.There was no mention of why-could have been overzealous security folks, the need for weapons to be redistributed to the home forces, or just good security. It could also have been a genuine fear on behalf of the British as to the political reliability of the French troops. In any case, one can imagine the humiliation of armed troops, after living through the lightning defeat of France and the forced evacuation, being disarmed by an ""ally"". Perhaps this action explains some of the animosity shown by France to Britain throughout the post-war years.That is only one example, but the book if full of great little details like that. Did you know that Dachau was built by a Swiss construction company?So I very much enjoyed the book. Roberts has a habit of adding in personal opinion during the narrative, which can be either annoying or an enhancement, depending on the reader's personal tastes. The book is organized by theaters and significant actions, meaning it can get a bit choppy and disconnected with regard to what is happening in the world as a whole. On the plus side, there is an excellent assortment of maps, located in the front where you can find them, that show nearly all the geographic locations mentioned in the narrative. A great feature!The book is written in an easy-to-read style, and the narrative flows easily between topics. Some of the descriptions of battlefield atrocities can be a bit graphic, but they are not overly sensationalized.In short, well worth reading...either as a good overview of WWII, or for the many little thought-provoking details buried within it.",5.0,Well done...and thought provoking,1306281600,"05 25, 2011",20,21,helpful,0.9523809523809523,1 A2D22II4RO5Z4E,0763611328,Elizabeth Bennett,"[19, 21]","This fabulous version of the creation story/myth has my almost three-year-old mezmerized. Big Momma, part goddess, part buddha (as admitted by the illustrator) single-handedly makes the world (although her dishes and laundry do pile up in the process). Her daily accomplishments mirror the Genesis story of creation but with a Root-endowed Southern drawl. If you are able to appreciate the gender change, this is a lovely, refreshing version of creation your child is sure to love. It is well-written and beautifully illustrated.",5.0,"That's good, that's real good....",1050883200,"04 21, 2003",19,21,helpful,0.9047619047619048,1 A1SKME00QMJR6,1490968970,"J. Robideau ""Rob""","[0, 0]","I have always been amazed by the fantastic aerial photography that can be done with quadcopters. What used to be the domain of helicopters that could only be rented for hundreds or even thousands of dollars per hour is now accessible to the hobbyist photographer.This book is a fantastic resource for people that are just getting started or considering purchasing their first quadcopter. This book was published in mid-2013, and makes some very relevant, specific gear and purchasing recommendations, but it is just starting to show it's age as I write this review at the end of 2013. This is an extremely fast-moving market and innovations are coming fast and furious (quickly and furiously for you grammar freaks). There are at least 2 major updated models that aren't mentioned or covered in this book and prices have come down on many of the items that are discussed.My favorite thing about this book is that it gave me a general ""state-of-the-quadcopter"" address and opened my eyes to what is possible. It motivated me to go out and do my own research gave me specific resources to start with.As a minor complaint, the writing style is not very direct or ""professional"". Yes, the author manages to convey the information, but a good copy editor could make this book much easier to read.Highly recommended for anyone interested in RC drones and quadcopters!",5.0,Valuable Reference,1388188800,"12 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YLFE0C9M3S6Q,B007YIHF04,Penny,"[0, 0]",This is a light read by this author. I liked the first book in the series better but would recommend this one.,4.0,Light Read,1378080000,"09 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2G87N6QZA1BZF,B00IT4QEQI,J. Lipoti,"[0, 0]","Understanding Chinese culture is so much more than just understanding the language. It is understanding traditions, class, familial obligations, and the protectiveness of a society. Add in a mystery, and you have a detective story, which surpasses the average whodunit. Beautiful description of life in San Francisco when racial separation began to be bridged by a few courageous people. This book is well-written and bids us to enter that era and enjoy the ride!",4.0,Hints about a child's origin sown into their clothes,1401408000,"05 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ACIBQ6BQ6AWEV,014028334X,"Gary F. Taylor ""GFT""","[0, 0]","Adapted by Dale Wasserman for the stage from Ken Kesey's famous novel, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST hit the stage in 1963 with Kirk Douglas in the role of McMurphy, a rebellious prisoner who feigns insanity to escape the hard labor of the county farm. But McMurphy has erred: he has moved from a comparatively sensible world of guards and cells to the domain of ""the big nurse,"" better known as Nurse Ratched. She has no patience with McMurphy's rebelliousness--nor will she stop at anything to maintain control of her ward, including using shock treatment and lobotomy as punshiments and weapons.Like the novel on which it was based, the play CUCKOO'S NEST was and is extremely allegorical, with McMurphy representing the 1950s and 1960s counterculture and Nurse Ratched the establishment against which he ineffectually beats his head. It is partly because of this that the play seems a little dated. But the elements of shock treatment and lobotomy are truly dated. Known today as electro convulsive therapy, shock treatment still has its adherents, but most look upon it as a relic of the past that is better dismissed than practiced. As for lobotomy, a horrendous process that basically turned the brain into something akin to scrambled eggs, it is no longer practiced at all, and modern doctors, nurses, and institutions look upon it as a horror straight out of the middle ages. In consequence, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST must be staged as a period piece: it must be presented as very distinctly 1960s or better yet 1950s.Inasmuch as they arise from the same source, both the stage play and the film are very similar. But there are differences, and these are primarily in the handling of Nurse Ratched, who seems much more dispicable in book and film than in the play. Whatever the case, the script is an interesting one, the story memorable, and it has remained popular on the professional stage (it received a Broad revivial in 2001) as well as the community theatre stage for close to fifty years. Recommended.GFT, Amazon Reviewer",4.0,The Counter Culture vs. The Establishment--Winner Takes All,1270944000,"04 11, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YYNCBMFFS9KD,B005NIXW22,Ray Klotz,"[0, 0]","At first I wasn't crazy about Burks' approach to character development. I am not a big fan of the use of "flashback" to get inside the character. But in this case, with this storyline it really seemed to work well. There are enough twist and turns to keep you reading and the end left itself open to another chapter in this story. If scary stories give you nightmares then you definitely don't want to read this book. But if you enjoy a good story about what people will and can do to survive, then this is an excellent read about human character.",5.0,Very interesting story,1403568000,"06 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1F62BXMSV8TLS,0671704206,tammy,"[0, 1]","when the peaceful world of artiani is attacked, the enterpise runs to the rescue. they find that spock has been seriously injured, and that the side of the brain that controls logic is the one that is the most impaired. his struggle to remember whathappen and to get use of his formidable brain make this a verygood book for any true spock fan.",5.0,spock: without his awesome mental powers impossible,1026777600,"07 16, 2002",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3M174IC0VXOS2,0345457129,Gail Cooke,"[5, 10]","Australian author John Birmingham makes his debut in the United States with not just a splash but a tidal wave. If Tom Clancy's a fav, you'll find Birmingham right up there with him when it comes to crafting action packed scenarios, volatile confrontations, and sheer drop-off suspense. Weapons Of Choice is 434 can't-put-down pages - promise!Our saga opens on January 15, 2021, just off of East Timor. U.S. ships and are set to take down an Islamic revolutionary government claiming 17,000 islands by Allah's decree. Thanks to battalion logistics officer Lieutenant Colonel Nancy Vivani the marines have ""the very best equipment other people's money could buy.""As for the ships - quite diverse, among them the USS Hillary Clinton, and with one you couldn't miss: ""The Joint Research Vessel Nagoya was a purpose-built leviathan, constructed around the frame of an ""eighty-thousand-tonne liquid natural gas carrier.""All set? Not quite. A military experiment goes awry, very much awry, throwing this armada back over eighty years to 1942, and where? Smack in the center of the naval task force non-stopping to Midway Atoll.What are the 1942 seamen to think of the time travelers who suddenly appear in their midst, and how will they react to weaponry they could not even imagine? As for the fighting men of 2021 suddenly jettisoned into the past, what must they do? Perhaps even more importantly, did an enemy come with them?The first in a planned Axis of Time trilogy, Weapons Of Choice is riveting alternate history.- Gail Cooke",4.0,RIVETING ALTERNATE HISTORY,1092441600,"08 14, 2004",5,10,helpful,0.5,1 A2W3PBZZHJ6MHG,0757002579,Susan T. Young,"[18, 18]",This book is a no-nonsense presentation of the facts about cholesterol. Finally I have seen something that actually tells the truth instead of twisting everything into a self-serving set of misleading statements designed to sell a product.This book is a refreshing change. Dr. Cohen gives both sides of the research and carefully explains what the different studies actually mean.He makes no broad sweeping generalizations about statin drugs. Some people can benefit; others can use alternatives.He explains all the options and why.Very important. Very informative.,5.0,this information should be publicized,1185667200,"07 29, 2007",18,18,helpful,1.0,1 A14CN8OYC14WP3,098212239X,Big Nanu,"[0, 0]","Heroine to hero: "I like serving you ....Besides, I'm going to be your wife someday. I figured I should practice up on waiting on you - after all, it will be my job."So correct me if I'm wrong, this is the 21st century? The hero and heroine are currently driving an Audi? So the book is set in present day? Then why the hokey dialogue? Get real. The fantasy is about witches living today not about reverting to the morals and double standards of the 1950s. How is this empowering young women? All it is doing is filling their heads with fantastic nonsense - and I'm not talking about the witches, warlocks and demons. That's the believable part.",1.0,I know this is supposed to be fantasy BUT....,1354752000,"12 6, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1M4NJYP0WNL8Q,4906574122,"Marc Ruby™ ""The Noh Hare™""","[41, 44]","Lately I've been refreshing my skills at the Japanese game of Go. I was addicted to the game in college, but I've had no real opportunities to play since that time. Recently I discovered some Go players in my circle of acquaintances, so I decided to bring my skills back up to an acceptable, i.e., non-embarrassing level.Buried in my half-shelf of books on the game are several by James Davies, who started out translating Go books, and went on to write several himself. He has a pleasant, clear writing style which makes his exposition of some of the mysteries of one of the world's most popular games a pleasant pastime.Tesuji are combat tactics of life and death on the go board. Many times they are obvious, but most of the time they require seeing just a bit deeper than the immediate hack and slash. The eye needs a lot of practice to recognize the opportunities for using various tesuji. To a beginner they often seem like magic, to a good player they are the scalpels and tweezers of combat.Davies does a fine job of explaining the workings of many tesuji and provides an almost inexhaustible supply of problems to work through. I feel he could have spent a bit more time on the solutions, but I never found one I couldn't figure out eventually. Perhaps his reticence actually encourages deeper learning. This is intended primarily as a beginner's book, but I think intermediate players would find it useful as well.",4.0,Making The Right Move,1009584000,"12 29, 2001",41,44,helpful,0.9318181818181818,1 A24YVJWNLBU314,0307464431,Trevor Seigler,"[12, 12]","In the early Nineties, a roar of flannel-encased rage came from the extreme northwestern corner of the United States, a musical movement with a lot of weird-sounding band names and even weirder-sounding songs. Then, in a poof, it was gone. Twenty years later, we as a nation are still trying to figure out how we feel about the dreaded word ""grunge,"" but the movement that it labeled is more than just a distant memory.In Mark Yarm's brilliant ""Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge,"" the major and minor players of that movement get to have their say, with no interference from the author in the way of chronology or commentary. Beginning with the little-known U-Men (who I was not aware of before I read this book), Yarm opens up the history of grunge as less Nirvana-centric than other books before this, profiling Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, the Melvins, and countless others. Using interviews from such luminaries as Eddie Vedder, Chris Cornell, and the always feisty Courtney Love, Yarm uses their words to convey the moment that the movement broke big, and the fallout that occurred once the major labels stood up and took notice. Sub Pop's legendary founders Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman both benefited from and were victims of the national obsession with everything Seattle, and of course Kurt Cobain was its most high-profile casualty. But theirs is not the only take on the grunge story.Some of the most interesting interviews come from members of the Melvins (and their unorthodox connection to America's sweetheart, Shirley Temple Black), Candlebox (derided as ""jumping the Seattle bandwagon via Los Angeles"" even though their members were longtime residents of the area that grunge called home), and various hangers-on of the major and minor bands, all of whom were caught up first in the excitement of the post-""Smells Like Teen Spirit"" boom and then in the feeding frenzy that ultimately corrupted the scene. Not every band from Seattle made it, of course, and the members of those bands were often on the outside looking and their comments show the flip side of what happened.And there is the long list of those from the scene who are no longer around, from Mother Love Bone's Andrew Wood (whose death prompted Cornell and Vedder to headline the ""grunge superstar group"" Temple of the Dog), 7 Year Bitch's Stefanie Sargent, Gits lead singer Mia Zapata (whose rape and murder caused suspicion within the scene), and of course Kurt Cobain, whose death rightfully signaled, if not the end, the twilight of the grunge movement as a national obsession. But the saddest story to emerge is that of Layne Staley, the former Alice in Chains frontman whose death in 2002 was virtually ignored at the time. Staley's last days, recounted by friends and bandmates, paints a harrowing portrait of a man old before his time due to the drugs that once fueled the scene.But in the end, the survivors of the madness are still around, whether thriving in the music world (like Pearl Jam) or happy to remember their moment in the sun. ""Everyone Loves Our Town"" doesn't pull punches about what went wrong (the moment when, as the Who once sang, the punk became the godfather), but it shows that the bands who were part of that scene, whether major or minor in the history of grunge, certainly had some good times to go with the bad ones. When the media spotlight faded, when labels like Sub Pop either went out of existence or downsized to more manageable, less-hyped configurations, and many of the brightest lights burned out and faded away, grunge was still vital as a beacon to what can happen when the music comes from a place that's not about money or fame. Whether you liked grunge or not, you will enjoy ""Everyone Loves Our Town,"" because it's not about the death of a movement but the brief moment when it thrived.",5.0,It Came From...SEATTLE!!!!,1319932800,"10 30, 2011",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A1QIEOWOSPKIB9,B005GSS26K,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Attention keeper and makes you lose track of time go to read go an hour and next thin you know your half way through the book.,5.0,awesome Read!,1395187200,"03 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AS7L3CS0GDFPF,1494754835,Penny,"[0, 0]","Michaela is bad ass in this book. I love paranormal and angels are the best. This one hit it perfect, it had everything you can think of and the way it is written is great. I couldn't put the book down. I am sad about the angels that "fell", like Gabriel and the rest. I am hoping the next book brings some redemption or revenge.",5.0,Loved this book,1402704000,"06 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3N7WS1X9QZHNC,0399149171,Murray,"[0, 0]",This is the first of the Mike Daley mysteries that I have read. I found the book to hold my interest well.,4.0,Good Read,1358899200,"01 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36K2N527TXXJN,0321717589,Dr. Bojan Tunguz,"[14, 15]","It has been said many times already, but it's worth repeating: iPad is one of the most revolutionary devices that has come around in years. On the surface it seem like a cross between a tablet PC, a net book and an iPod, but comparing it to any one of these other devices doesn't do the full justice. iPad is truly revolutionizing how we approach the use of computers, and it is bound to have an impact on all of the other computing devices. iPad is an always-on, easily accessible and intuitive computing platform. Even though the ease of use is one of its hallmarks, if you have never used an iPod or an iPhone you may have some initial difficulties with using it.This short pocket guide aims to take away the mystery behind iPad and help you make the most of it. The guide is written in an extremely accessible and to-the-point style, and from the very outset it takes you straight to the actual demonstrations of how to achieve certain actions on your iPad. It helps you navigate the plethora of settings and adjustment options, and tries to make sense of them. This is in fact one of the books's greatest strengths - it is not just a bag of tricks, but a clear and lucid explanation of the rationale behind every design option on your iPad (both hardware and software). Even seasoned iPhone and iPad users will find many valuable tips and insights, and the book is a valuable reference for the long term use.I also enjoyed the format of the book. As the name suggests, it is rather small but I would still not attempt to put it in my pocket. The illustrations, although small, are very clear and help to illustrate all the relevant material. It is a very intuitive guide for a very intuitive device.As a side note, I have written this entire review on my iPad. I still don't use it as a full-fledged laptop replacement (nor was it meant to be used that way), but with addition of an external keyboard it can go a long way of meeting most of your daily productivity needs.",5.0,A Perfect Short Guide for iPad,1284076800,"09 10, 2010",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 A3ULR8QI24RT0E,0441018645,"Ninette Kelly ""Ninette Kelly""","[4, 10]","One star for Pam - 'fluck a zombie' The best thing about the book, absolute class.I came to the SVM series via TrueBlood, I read the first 9 books in short order and enjoyed book3, 4 and 5 the most, Book9 is a total bore and best avoided.I was really looking forward to book10, what a disappointment! Got bored around page 90 gave up and read the rest the following day.What on earth has Charlaine Harris done to Eric and why has he swopped personalities with Sookie who is now wearing the family jewels as earrings?The Maker was as scary as my cat, if you have a villan make him scary and give him something to do. What was the point of the Russian prince again? he arrived, brooded, sighed, languished then died.The storyline with Bill was utterly bizzare, CH parachuted a totally new character in to resolve a plot, funny Bill didn't mention the new character over the space of 9 books.",1.0,Dead in the Family,1273363200,"05 9, 2010",4,10,helpful,0.4,1 A297L1QSYKT19,B008QGJ1K0,Becky,"[7, 8]","Melanie has her annual check up with Dr. Neumann who gave her a son through an in-vetro process at his clinic. Melanie and her twin sister were born there also as one of the first ""test tube"" babies. Dr. Neumann needs someone to fill in for his receptionist and hesitantly he accepts her offer to do so. When she starts there, she realizes hers and her sisters files and her son's Eric's file are nowhere to be found. Curious and feeling a bit off, she begins her quest to find them. This is a very suspensfull book dealing with genetics and cloning. It's a story where you can't tell the ""good guys"" from the ""bad guys"" from page to page. There are mixed reviews about this book, but I really enjoyed it.",4.0,Suspensful,1350604800,"10 19, 2012",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A3KPHFANM9YCOH,0439023483,Lucas Himebaugh,"[0, 0]","I'm not going to lie, I watched the movie and thoroughly enjoyed it. My youngest daughter wanted to read the book with me, so I bought it. The book is great as well. I can't wait for the other movies or to read the other books.",5.0,Love it,1363392000,"03 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VME3FLHEV6DP,B006M3T6KE,Debbie,"[0, 0]","Jack (US Marshal), is found in the road after being attacked by a Mt. Lion and shot in the head with a skull fracture by an escaped outlaw. Yet the very next day, with complete amnesia and mistakenly identified, he's on his feet and marrying the very beautiful and perfect widow, who saved him, mistakenly identified him & wants a new Pa for her son & to chase off the rustlers destroying her ranch. After deadly serious injuries the day before, he hops a horse, after the rustlers, who attack minutes after the wedding and get shots again! This could have been a great story but this guy gets shot several times(two separate ones in the head) but never seems to have to recuperate after surviving all these near death injuries! It wasn't just sensual, it was hot sex and there is so much in the books these days, nothing is left to the readers own imagination. I don't need sex explained to me in every romance book I read, it ends up taking away from the story for me and wasted pages. The love story would have stood fantastically on its own! I also felt the end was rushed and left wide open. After Lissa has their baby, John remembers who he is but doesn't tell anyone and the crooked town Sheriff hangs him as the rustler. As he's hanging, his brother(also a federal Marshall) rides into town and shoots the rope and John survives again. Yet this guy who is Mr gorgeous perfect, super hero through the whole book, doesn't even introduce his brother to the woman who had just had his baby, who's marriage wasn't legal since he married her under a false name. There's also no wedding! Instead, he leaves town with his brother to take the real criminals in for justice. He does eventually come back & it ends. Really ruined the hero for me because he took off leaving the woman he supposedly loves so much, in what in those days would definitely have condemned her as a fallen woman alone with his stepson and their baby. Have read some excellent books by Jillian Hart but this, sadly was nowhere near the exceptional writing in the others.",3.0,Disappointing and unfinished!,1364515200,"03 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2FREG7MLOA1TT,1934572039,"Amazon Customer ""India's Mom""","[0, 0]","ABERRATIONSBy Penelope PrzekopEmerald Book Co. 241 pagesISBN 978-1-934572-03-0From the back of the book "" Twenty-One-Year-Old Narcoleptic Angel Duet knows her father harbors secrets. He loves and protects her, but his suspicious refusal to discuss her mother's death drives Angel to worship an image created from the little history she does have: her father's sketchy stories and her mother's treasured photography, studies of clouds that have hung in their foyer for more than twenty years."" Now add to that a new step mother, some new friends that expose Angel to drugs and the world of homosexuality, and an affair.When I first read the summary of what the book was about I felt a little unsure if I wanted to read it or not. It sounded not unlike a 1980's episode of General Hospital. I obviously persisted and found this to be a really enjoyable book. To start with the cover is just beautiful. As you read the book you will also discover the meaning in the symbolism of the cover which makes you appreciate the beauty even more. The writing draws you into the story quickly with a teaser on the very first page. You immediately want to discover what it has to do with the rest of the story. The characters were all very interesting. While each of them is very different, they each share a common theme of caring about Angel. The Narcolepsy itself is more like a landscape than an illness. While I don't know anything about narcolepsy I felt that I was educated as to what it might be like. This gave a great framework for the story to bring up many of the deeper issues that would unfold with the story. I especially liked the fact that no matter what the more apparent issues each character had they all seemed to end up struggling with the same things. This was a good thought provoking book that forces the reader to take a look at their own personal form of narcolepsy.",4.0,A book about waking up.,1215475200,"07 8, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3G8976ULFZ1G,0345471172,Suzanne B. Kelly,"[20, 26]","I truly looked forward to reading this book, my first Kristin Hannah and one that has received rave reviews. On Mystic Lake is the story of a woman who, cruelly abandoned by her husband, goes back to her home town to "find herself." The premise was great, but my disappointment in the story grew as I read page after page.From the beginning, I was frustrated with the heroine, Annie. How could she be so clueless about her husband? Didn't she have any sort of life for herself, outside of her daughter and picking up her husband's dry cleaning? As a stay-at-home mom myself, I found her doormat attitude about life downright insulting. What on earth did she do with herself day after day, while they were away at work and school? She seemed child-like in her isolation, her lack of interests, her total definition of herself as a wife and a mother.I hung on, through the untrue depictions of Malibu and LA, through the flowery, almost purple descriptions of Mystic, hoping she would figure out who she was... well, it turns out, she is a "wife" and a "mother"! She finds an old beau on the skids and his troubled daughter, and so becomes his surrogate wife and dear little Izzy's new and improved mother. We are supposed to cheer for her, because she helps frightened Izzy and tortured Nick become better people, and she feels good about it. But do we really learn anything new about her? Does she learn anything new about herself, beyond her sex drive? I don't see it. She has vague plans about opening a bookstore. Once, she wanted to be a writer, but that idea is also taken nowhere. She blames this on her father, who never taught her to have goals of her own.The final straw, for me, was the arrival of her pre-term daughter. Anyone who has spent any time in a modern NICU will roll their eyes at the inaccuracies. A five-pounder in mortal danger? Not these days. Annie's rivers of tears are downright annoying to anyone who has seen the brave, stoic parents of those babies truly at risk. Annie would not have been allowed to wring her hands at her daughter's side for days on end, and the instantaneous nursing scene was almost laughingly unrealistic. In retrospect, I would say this plot turn was egregiously manipulative, designed for everyone to get out their hankies one more time.While Annie is a truly noble person, who is a fabulous mother and certainly an attentive, efficient wife, I did not find her heroine material because I did not see new dimensions of her personality revealed, I did not see her moving in new directions. And, frankly, I felt insulted by inaccuracies of detail and a plot obviously designed to wring the heartstrings as effectively as a Hallmark commercial. I like Hallmark commercials; but I was expecting more.",2.0,"Poorly-researched, throwback to another age--a triumph?",959299200,"05 26, 2000",20,26,helpful,0.7692307692307693,1 AQEY9OGKERWLQ,B00B6U2M04,"ElizabethN ""one reader's perspective""","[4, 5]","Book 1, River's Run was about 8 book releases earlier, but book 2 is finally here and going straight into my favorites collection.During River's Run, we meet River, Star and Jo and the three Lords of Kassis, four if you include their father. Star's Storm expands the story and reveals the strong personalities of Star and Jazin that were hinted at in book 1. Star is definitely nobody's doormat, more of an irresistible force. Jazin's the immovable object until he realizes that he has to change or risk losing Star. The trials they undergo deepen their relationship and move the story along very quickly. I reached the end and couldn't believe I had finished the story, I was so eager to keep reading more.I would like to see some of the native women step up as strong personalities in future books. Unlike some of S.E.'s female characters in her other universes, we really haven't seen much of the females of Kassis. Surely the interesting men had equally vibrant women somewhere in their lives.As with all of S.E.'s books, I'm also ready for stories about many of the secondary characters - Madas & Gril, Ristéard Roald & Ricki. Jarmen, Ajaska, Dakar and Armet also deserve happy endings. Jo and Manota's story is next in this universe and I can hardly wait. Although I think some characters from some of S.E.'s other universes are intending to have their stories released first.cross-posted GoodReads and Amazon/Shelfari",5.0,worth the wait,1359244800,"01 27, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 ADN4GZX205RFB,0307934179,willowbarcelona,"[11, 17]","Basically a rehash of many other authors' previously published materials. Sadly, even the narrative voice is breathless and very annoying.",1.0,Disappointing,1326758400,"01 17, 2012",11,17,helpful,0.6470588235294118,1 A1EVH75X40MMFD,0356500985,"Cal Cooley ""The Big Guy""","[18, 23]","First and foremost, let me get it out of the way that the ONLY reason I'm feeling like Mr. Stross and the ""The Laundry"" series seems to be ""slipping"" a bit is because he (and it) have been so stratospherically good in the past... You would be hard-pressed to find a better author than Mr. Stross or a series with more originality than ""The Laundry""...and now for the down-side...The first books in the series relied on a nearly endless string of inside references from the IT community and popular horror lore... not to mention the descriptions of government bureacracy that often left me in tears from laughing and my neck sore from nodding in agreement with his dead-on (no pun intended) characterizations of governmental idiocy.However... those obscure references were always explained in due time through the course of each book... and even the EXTREMELY idiosyncratic ""Brit-speak"" was normally cleared up via the characters actions. Mr. Stross would throw a phrase or reference at you and you could then look forward to finding out ""what he meant by that"" later in the book... and THAT was one of the great things about the series!But... that endearing trait seems to have taken over his writing style and festered into something that is now starting to alienate all but the most rabid and fanatical readers (which I considered myself to be until this last book). It has gotten to the point that his characters are now often nearly unintelligable to even fairly ""hip"" readers who know many of the ""in"" jokes and British cultural references.I have little doubt that this approach seems like a natural progression for Mr. Stross and his editors... ""Hey, if the fans say that they like that about the series, let's give them even MORE of it... right?"", but even though the technique was already wearing thin in the last book in the series, his characters internal and external dialogs have now devolved into increasingly cumbersome and distrating little diatribes that slow down the action and make the plot seem like a secondary consideration to the ""clever narrative""... in short, the ""cleverness"" seems forced.So... if you are an experienced ""The Laundry"" fan... I'm sure you will still like this latest book far more than most of the sad tripe that is out there because Mr. Stross is still a great writer and the series may still have some life left in it... if it will just move along a little faster, (as it did beautifully in the first books).And... if you are new to Mr. Stross or ""The Laundry"" series... take the time to go back to the first book and read them in order... (which you pretty much have to do now to be able to follow anything that happens in the later books).And most of all... enjoy the richness of Mr. Stross's writing in his other books as well... they are all worth a read!",3.0,"""Narrative Cleverness"" gone wild...",1341878400,"07 10, 2012",18,23,helpful,0.782608695652174,1 A2G0A1ZNOMDBA1,1933515252,Martin Reinders,"[0, 0]","Alan Evans does a masterful job, blending the stories of an Indian boy, wild Indian horses, the Shoshone Indian culture, a white man with incredible horse training ability and his love of his family and a greedy businessman into a wonderful story. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy and plenty of time to read, you will not want to put it down once you start. I loved it from beginning to end.",5.0,"If you love horses, you must read...",1360713600,"02 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2FKPRI0LMZBPJ,1937856380,pegslaw,"[5, 16]","Like everybody else in the country, I followed this case with great interest. From the beginning, I did not believe that Casey Anthony murdered her child. When I read Jose Baez's book after Casey was declared not guilty, I discovered that quite a number of Baez's ideas and conclusions coincided with mine. He made a very compelling case, which, despite numerous roadblocks thrown at him and his client by the prosecution, won Casey Anthony her freedom after she spent 1,043 days in jail.I suggest that anyone who is still on the fence regarding the verdict in this case should read this book. It's fascinating--I read it straight through without putting it down. Baez and Anthony went through hell and lived to tell about it. If she ever writes her own book, I'll buy it as well. I wish her the best of luck and I hope she finds peace at last.",5.0,A must-read for crime buffs,1375574400,"08 4, 2013",5,16,helpful,0.3125,1 AFOTO8ZG05YQ,B00IPQEXIQ,"TexasBookNook ""Bailey Ember""","[0, 0]","Wow, this one really delivers in many areas. It really was a fast paced mystery that manages to introduce characters we can get to know and want to read more about in future installments. I was really hooked from the get-go and want so bad to know where things will end up for Curt Savage.I just really felt that everything from the pacing to the depth of characters was superbly executed.",5.0,Fast Paced and Great Start to the Series,1402012800,"06 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2T7QGBMFQEW30,1564557987,John Congdon,"[14, 15]","I received this as a gift and have listened to it 3 times, and each time I find more gems of wisdom and compassion. Hanh is a very gentls soul who gives many tips and insights for the ups and downs of life's journey. Highly recommended.",4.0,Wisdom with Humor,1154476800,"08 2, 2006",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 A1I3OO4P1837LU,0615828388,Claire2011,"[0, 0]","After reading such a compelling review about this book, I decided to take a chance. I absolutely could not put this book down. Each character, even those one may have considered minor, has a role to play. I was compelled by the idea of ancient Native American, tribal ritualistic evil existing and how its influence is so powerful that its ability to manipulate people is nearly limitless. The ""Source,"" as it named, clearly has an alternate plan. Given the illusion of power, ""Boss"" and his henchmen are clearly pawns in this evil scheme. People suffer and die. Past sins impact present situations, and I found myself on an emotional rollercoaster fighting for the life of Sarah Tremont.",4.0,Page Turner,1391817600,"02 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZFATLXRYUNLV,0061241806,RJM402,"[6, 10]","This book is my idea of a failed attempt at presenting an historical account of those known as Tories at the birth of the nation. His goal is admirable - students of American history need to know more about the forces that brought about the revolution, and especially the words and deeds of those idealistic men and women who helped form this nation.But Mr. Allen does not reach that goal. His account of the words and deeds of many Loyalists or Tories is a string of names attached to scattered, poorly-described anecdotes which he attempts to make central to the historical account of those days by placing the actions of the rebels to the periphery.The entire book is more of a list of victims of the revolution - men and women who were loyal to the Crown and who spent those years running from the revolutionists. There is very little revealed beyond names of these victims, the amount of money they lost, the number of horses, goats, sheep, and barrels of goods that were taken from them, and endless descriptions of tar and feathering which all resemble each other.This work can hardly be compared to those of Joesph Ellis or Walter Issacson or Ron Chernow.",1.0,A FAILED ATTEMPT,1335484800,"04 27, 2012",6,10,helpful,0.6,1 A2JBOHJOPEMSMQ,0983429715,"K. M. Whittaker ""Page Flipperz - Blog""","[9, 13]","Jade Fitzgerald has everything she thinks she needs in life. After a failed nasty marriage, struggling with her weight and a bad heart condition she finds her life as a Art Historian complete.Vincent Knight is hot, handsome and mysterious. He has been there done that and has seen things maybe he shouldn¡t have in his line of work, but he puts out that air about him that nothing fazes him. Vincent searches Jade out , she is nothing quite like he remembered, after a first brief ¡V slightly heated meeting he finds himself drawn to this beautiful woman who not only sends his mind wandering but his loin tingling.Vincent believes that Jade¡s mother has stolen the Mayan artifact, and has approached her in need of help. But it¡s quiet not what he bargained for. They don¡t start off on the right path, Jade remembers the man he was from school and finds him big headed and demanding. Nothing has changed except his hotness is now even hotter!! ** grins ** swoon...No where she wants to go right now, but she also can¡t deny the passion and desires that Vincent stirs within her. A rocky road for Jade and Vincent-both trying to avoid the passion and attraction they know they feel and also to find the artifact and move on with the lives they had before the drama.Can they both go their separate ways and deny the chemistry between them?In time Jade is added to the collection of beautiful things the crazy man is after, he not only wants the artifact but Jade by his side. Vince and Jade struggle with their emotions and passion and learn to trust each other to find the artifact and escape the deranged killer.But at what cost?My thoughts Well I¡m a cover love Kinda girl and this cover defiantly sends forth what¡s inside the cover ** smokin**Mine Until Dawn is a suspenseful romance filled with curve balls, twists and turns and a rollercoaster ride Im sure that you will cling to the entire ride.Passion between the characters Vince and Jade will not only give you Goosebumps, but having you wandering where you might find a hotty like Vince. The steamy scenes will not only send your toes curling, but have you tingling in all the right places in anticipation and even chewing your bottom lip waiting for Vince and Jade to just get it on !!! Ednah has created undeniable electricity and chemistry between the main characters that does not overtake the storyline, but adds that little added bit of excitement ¡V to the readers benefit.A riveting storyline that is well paced, chapters that flow smoothly with the storyline, no sudden breaks in the story, just a full on ride straight ahead.Vincent will not only ruffle your tail feathers, but have you oggling the cover and maybe even a tinge of Jealously towards Jade... ** he surely is one hotty ** swoon !!! lol.Jade is a slightly tortured soul but ready to move on with life, I enjoyed her character, kind and loving and very strong willed.Mine Until Dawn is filled with a great cast of characters I¡m sure that will not only swoon over but have you wanting to kung fu just to help out! Suspenseful scenes that will have you gasping, other scenes you will be shaking in trepidation and sexy scenes that will have you reading briskly ** wink **Ednah portrays her characters with depth and emotion letting the reader know exactly what¡s happening. The dialogue was brusque, clear cut and the suspense and action titillating, the romance sweltering. An ending I¡m sure will keep the reader happy and a great second addition to The Fitzgerald Family series. I eagerly await book 3 KISS ME CRAZY !!!!",5.0,Impeling and Titalating !! A must read !,1311120000,"07 20, 2011",9,13,helpful,0.6923076923076923,1 A31CWVNVR0IL9A,0938077007,Swing King,"[8, 10]","Of all of Thich Nhat Hanh's works, I would say personally this stands out as my favorite. It is relitively short, meaning you can probably read it within a few hours. I especially like his chapter "Working for Peace", where he brings up his often used poem, "Please Call Me By My True Names." He explains how he, along with others at Plum Village, often take upon the task of helping refugees attempting escape from oppresive governments. The work at times becomes very tedious, many of the letters the will receive in Plum Village are heartwrenching, stories of murder or young girls being raped. Thich explains how it often becomes challenging to see both sides in a conflict, when it seems so evident there may have only been one victim.Yet this is where meditation comes in, allowing yourself to truly try to understand where the perpetrator of the crime may have come from. In his poem he basically says he is both the frog and fly, or cat and mouse. In a nutshell, he shows us the middle path. Where good and bad do certainly exist, but also how no true resolution can spring forth without an attempt to understand all sides involved in a conflict. I must say I don't agree that violence can always be avoided, that sometimes a person must be stopped because they are harming other people continuosly; not to mention they are not filtering their own bad karma they create. It is with compassion that we must resolve these terrifying issues with. Love for perpetrator and everyone else in this world. Othwerwise we fan the flames of revenge and hate. Hate never once begot hate, only love begets hate. The Buddha Shakyamuni stressed that in Ancient times. It seems that Thich Nhat Hanh has rekindled the Buddha within to write this magnificent work.Enjoy the book:)",5.0,A Classic,1072742400,"12 30, 2003",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A2G88MP3R9HTV8,B0062F89HI,Mary Pruter,"[0, 0]",I LOVED IT! Thank you! Heart warming and beautifully written! A very good Christmas read. I'm sure you'll enjoy it from cover to cover!!!!,5.0,I loved it!,1376179200,"08 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1L7AL97YKWFA1,B00DHM08J6,Kindle Customer,"[0, 0]",We go through rough times but God will bring you out. If you only keep the faith and always believe.,5.0,Excellent,1400457600,"05 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36JMM90EZ8XLF,0679767770,Juan Mobili,"[11, 12]","This is one of those jewels that, by itself, make learning to read the most important thing we learned, and having a heart the most profound gift we were ever given. The story is a story of love. Of how love survives on love alone, and we are its humble witnesses.Berger weaves the longings and fears of people, like you and I, wrestling with living, meeting and knowing, carving some faith out of this world. I purposely abstain from telling the story in concrete terms. I leave it to you to discover it and paint their lives with your own colors.This is about a story of faith, faith on love and its simplicity and depth. Faith on another whose faith is offered to us. Berger's narration is a lesson to every writer who ever long to disappear behind his or her words. A gift to every reader hungering for the beauty and warmth of true language. In times, like ours, when self-reflection is invaded by the jargon of self-help, and everyone seems to sound like everyone else--pain a! nd experience stripped from their detail--John Berger gives us people with souls and doubts and joys of their own.If this book doesn't make you better, it sure will make you kinder.PS: You can find my in-depth review at mysticsoftheordinary.com",5.0,How Love Survives on Love Alone,902275200,"08 5, 1998",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A23NSDJWTVEQ9A,1451675364,FEP,"[0, 2]","I had high hopes for this book, and it was average in my mind. I didn't feel as much intrigue from the anticipated struggles of the mother/daughter dynamic. At times, I wanted to shake the characters and ask "what were you thinking". Not a terrible read, but I have had both better and worse.",3.0,I had higher hopes..,1382918400,"10 28, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1KMJLRZMEAOBO,1400318033,kris,"[0, 0]","This is a wonderful heartfelt board book by Max Lucado. If you have never read or heard of any of his books I highly suggest getting some and reading them with your children and grandchildren. Max Lucado is a wonderful Christian author of a wide variety of books for children and adults. I received the privilege of reviewing this book with my children and I have to say this is one of my favorite books by the author. I love that the book is a board book, so its easy for my little tot to hold and look at the pages. Its very brightly colored and the pictures are awesome. I love that Hermie looks like the age of my tot in this book hence the name Little Hermie. The basis of this book it talking the best gifts God could have given us besides our lives. Little Hermie thanks the Lord for his bed, food, friends, and the beauty of the world all with a smile on his little face. My tot loved the book, and carried it around all afternoon looking through the pictures and telling me who the bugs were. I highly suggest this book for your tots to preschoolers, and with Thanksgiving coming in November this is a great little tool in itself to show your small children what they should be thankful for, Gods simple blessings to us!",5.0,Thank you God for blessing me by Max Lucado,1317081600,"09 27, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32HD38OWKR8NE,0843953284,Maritza Guerrero \O.O/= ~O.O~,"[0, 0]","This book is a lifesaver for girls with boyfriends. If only girls knew about the Ledge sooner. I think though it's a twist on Blue's life. Heath ( in the beginning) sounds like the guy who is perfect. Colin, not so much. But as Blue goes on her journey we now know we don't want to be on the Ledge. I like my spleen where it is on my back. This is a guide to all the girlfriends. I can't wait to read the rest of the foursome's adventure.",4.0,The Reviewer,1357948800,"01 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3OJAWIMUKNHTP,0062512900,"Rebecca Brown ""rebeccasreads""","[12, 14]","This lovely little book with its attractive black & white drawings brings into focus, causes to be meditated, the sacred in the everyday. Now why would this be of importance, you ask? Well, with simple shifts of perception, each of us can find the sacred in our hurried & shallow lives. We can start each dawn refreshed & find, at day's end, that extraordinary gifts have come our way & it is the small acts that make every day of our life sacred. A loving gift from a husband to his wife. Highly recommended. Go find it!",5.0,Everyday Sacred is right at your fingertips,959731200,"05 31, 2000",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A320TMDV6KCFU,0061121800,MNix,"[0, 0]","Now that Justin Maddox has been given his rightful title as Duke of Colster, he is expected to take his place in society. He must wear gloves, attend balls and of course he must marry. It is now his duty to wed and provide heirs. Uncomfortable in his new role as Duke, marrying is the last thing Justin wants to do.When he encounters a lovely beauty alone on a terrace during a ball, Justin steals a kiss. Although Justin is sure Francesca is not at all proper, indeed she was alone on a terrace, he is also certain he is drawn to her. From that one kiss on the terrace, Justin and Francesca start a relationship that may turn into more than just a kiss between strangers.Cathy Maxwell is one of my favorite historical romance authors. She consistently delivers what I want in a historical romance. Her heroines are strong, her heroes deliciously alpha and her plot lines engaging. Bedding the Heiress is another terrific Cathy Maxwell novel.I love Francesca's spirit, Justin's honor and strength and I was immediately sucked in to the story. The chemistry between Francesca and Justin made me shiver in delight. Bedding the Heiress is all that I could want in a romance and, as always, I am eagerly awaiting more from CathyAnnmarie reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed",5.0,Bedding the Heiress- A Joyfully Recommended Title,1185235200,"07 24, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8A4LKHUV6QB0,0615657389,"Sheiglagh ""Sheiglagh""","[5, 5]","OMG! This book made me laugh and made me cry! Colette Saucier brought the characters to life so successfully, there was a point in time that I had to stop myself from asking, ""Is All My Tomorrows a real daytime soap?""Nevermind that this is a ""Pride and Prejudice"" derivative. The characters are so differint from Elizabeth and Darcy that you really never even think of the Austen characters at all. This story is definitely set in 2012!!! The dialogue and the attitude are just right on.I don't know much how Hollywood people treat each other, or the hierarchy of who are more important - movie stars or soap stars. I only know A-list and B-list. But, boy oh boy... the interactions in tbe book, of how Alice McGillicutty, head writer of the soap opera, and Peter Walsingham, movie star turned soap star due to studio politics seem very real.And of course, the second story, ""Edge of Darkness"" was an enjoyable story by itself. The Hollingsworth as a family is worth looking into. And the two protagonists, Alexandra Hollingsworth and Tony Hollingsworth are tragic enough to be Shakespearian.",5.0,A Summer Must-Read,1341532800,"07 6, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1EHBL51KXKPTS,0984380213,"Mike ""Mike""","[13, 14]","I'm extremely impressed- I really enjoyed the concise writing style of this book. It reads more like an exact how-to manual than theory and principal which I totally enjoy. I've underlined and noted more stuff in this book than I have in any other business books I've read. I may be a little biased as my company leverages Salesforce.com internally as well as for our clients so I was able to really connect with the thought process in the book (and saw salesforce.com grow and innovate from the outside during the years Aaron was inside). Initially I was thinking, 'okay- this book is going to be a little too basic', however as I read on, it gathered momentum and outlined with the least number of words concise practices I'm now in the midst of implementing. There are very few books I've read which make me want to take immediate action like this one did.I'd recommend this book to small/mid-sized business owners who have grown naturally from referrals and word of mouth who are looking towards being able to further automate themselves out of the company and free up more of their time for bigger thinking. A naturally grown business tends to have a smaller sales engine- and in some cases barely one, but a heavy dependency on the owner/operator for the referral modality to function. This book outlines a proven practice to transform and automate that.",5.0,"Impressed. Concise, how-to information with focus instead of abstract theory",1322006400,"11 23, 2011",13,14,helpful,0.9285714285714286,1 A3MM7TFX035RNG,1603424563,Sarah E. Butler,"[0, 1]","Excellent book, it cuts to the heart of the matter, even provides plans for building a nice rabbit cage. Discussion of diet and other day to day matters of raising rabbits was really helpful. Also offered information about the debate related to buying a purebred rabbit or not. The book also talked about the different reasons for raising rabbits.",5.0,Good buy especially if you are interested in Breeding Rabbits,1383350400,"11 2, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1P45ZB60ZQDSY,0062516981,The Rev. Dr. Daniel J. G. G. Block,"[5, 7]","Jay Bakker writes with all of the immaturity and inexperience of any 25 year old. His writing style includes enough dangling participles to drive any fifth grade teacher into a severe state of apoplexy. Despite the rulings of the courts, he still fiercely defends his father.Nevertheless, Jay Bakker has something important to say, to which it would benefit all Christians (especially, those of us who are religious professionals) to listen.Bakker's message is deceptively simple. During his earthly ministry Jesus Christ dealt graciously with everyone he met: Romans, women, tax collectors, children, Gentiles, prostitutes -- everyone... Now, the Church that bears his name dare not be any less gracious to those who live on the fringes of modern society. To do so would be to dishonor the name of our Savior and diminish the Gospel.Reading the way that Bakker confronts the hypocrisy of those who prefer the law over the Gospel, and observing the way that he let grace take an hold of his life is fascinating. If you love the Lord and his Church, but sometimes have a difficult time putting up with all the rules and regulations, read this book.",5.0,Confronting the Church with Grace,1017187200,"03 27, 2002",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1I2O9Y3X3HXLS,0553582453,Arthur W. Jordin,"[12, 15]","Fool's Fate is the third novel in The Tawny Man series, following Golden Fool. In the previous volume, the Fool and Fitz have returned to Buckkeep Castle as Lord Golden and Tom Badgerlock. Since Dutiful has the Skill, Chade has chived him into forming a Skill coterie with Fitz as Skillmaster and with the prince, his half-witted servant Thick, and Chade himself as students. Meanwhile, the Outislanders have made a approach to Queen Kettricken for the Narcheska of the Narwhal clan to marry Prince Dutiful.Such a marriage could reduce conflict and increase trade between the Six Duchies and the Outisland clans. However, Chade and Fitz are suspicious of some strange aspects of the negotiations, particulary of the demand that Dutiful prove his worthiness by cutting off the head of a black dragon embedded in the ice on a remote island. Moreover, one of the Narcheska's handmaidens seems to have contacts with the Piebalds.In this novel, Fool is no longer talking to Fitz after a confrontation. The Fool has moved into town and is establishing quite a reputation as Lord Golden, a rich and merry noble. Fitz is still living in Buckkeep Castle as Tom Badgerlock, but he is now masquerading as a Prince's guard. His duties allow him enough spare time to continue training the coterie and perform special tasks for Chade. He is also getting better acquainted with his daughter Nettle through his dreams, for she seems to have a sizable Skill talent for entering another's dreams and taking control of them.Nettle's brother Swift has shown up at Buckkeep Castle after extensive quarrels with his father over curbing his Wit. Fitz is given charge over his training and soon steers him toward Web, the Witmaster of Dutiful's Wit Coterie. However, Swift is very argumentative and sullen and, worst yet, refuses to conceal his Wit from possible enemies.Then comes the time for Prince Dutiful and his entourage to sail for the Out Islands. The Fool insists on coming, but Chade conspires with Fitz to frustrate these plans. Fitz tries to send Swift back to his father, but Swift attaches himself to the Witmaster's party. Thick doesn't want to go onboard the ship; his attendant Sada has told him he will be seasick and may die from it, so he forces himself into sickness and Fitz is chosen to tend to him. Then Thick lapses into a fever and Fitz has to treat him for that.In this story, a historic voyage to the Six Duchies' longtime enemies is shredded by many little disappointments and aggravations. Then the Outislanders insist on additional conditions for taking the dragon's head, including a drastic reduction in the number of the Prince's guard. Also, the Outislanders send six clan warriors with them to witness the battle and, if necessary, to intervene to protect the dragon Icefyre.Things are so depressing that the growing attraction between Dutiful and Ellinia only becomes a cause for chaperoning. However, the reduced party reached Aslevjal without further incidences other than Thick having a residual cough. They set up a base camp and prepare to cross the glacier.This story brings Fitz's love for the Fool in direct conflict with his prophecy, for he is determined to protect the Fool from the death that has been forseen. But events don't always occur as expected when the Catalyst is involved. This time the White Prophet is himself surprised when the Changer intervenes in his life.Fitz also finds all his secrets unraveling and some decisions unmade. Despite the continuing danger, the dead Witted King seems to be rising from the grave. His rehabilutation, however, is not without violence.Highly recommended for Hobb fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of covert conflict within medieval settings and with strong elements of magic and prophecy.-Arthur W. Jordin",5.0,All His Secrets Come Home to Nest,1075766400,"02 3, 2004",12,15,helpful,0.8,1 A96K1ZGW56S2I,1401217109,"tvtv3 ""tvtv3""","[5, 7]","For those who think that reading comic books are a waste of time and that graphic novels aren't anywhere near real literature, this is one comic you should check out and which maybe even change your mind. The illustrations are amazing, capturing the essence of the time period in which the story takes place. The story is written by the great Alan Moore (what more needs to be said), so the plot is intense; the action fierce; and the characters fully developed. That in itself is enough to purchase this little book. However, besides great illustrations and an excellent story, this graphic novel taught me more about 19th century literature than I ever learned during my four years as an undergraduate English major. I read a great deal and love 19th century literature and history, but I was only able to pick up on about 60% of the references in the story on my own. The rest I had to look up. It was a wonderful educating experience that has opened my eyes to a whole dimension of stories I never knew existed before. Nevertheless, the immense references and allusions should not scare the uneducated reader away. Even if you have never read any 19th century literature and know very little about the period in history, the story is still an excellent read and thoroughly enjoyable. Happy reading.",5.0,Comics as Literature.,1045440000,"02 17, 2003",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2432Q5OVV1W2Q,1594489432,K. D. Hopp,"[5, 11]","I was drawn to Rebecca Walker's pregnancy memoir because I find myself suddenly quite ambivalent about motherhood. While I've always thought I would have children and have never really imagined adulthood without them, I recently came to the conclusion that I could also have a happy, fulfilling life if I did NOT have a child.This book shows a major shift in Rebecca - B.C. (before child) to A.C. (after child). During the first half of the book, Rebecca B.C. and I didn't have much in common. I'm pretty ""generic"" or typical in that I would probably never consider going with a doula and midwife over the best OB/GYN I could find in my city. I used to live in San Francisco so as I was reading I kept thinking, ""Why isn't she going to one of the Cal-Pacific or UCSF hospitals?""However, it was fascinating to read about pregnancy from Rebecca's perspective and to see her 180 degree change of heart - from fantasizing about and planning *her* birthing experience to being solely concerned with the health and safety of her child. It was educational and enlightening to experience pregnancy in an alternative way than how I will in my own life and then, in the end, realize that moms-to-be - no matter who they are - probably have more in common than not.",5.0,Enlightening read,1174867200,"03 26, 2007",5,11,helpful,0.45454545454545453,1 A2W239A8CG0DY9,B004KSQVBA,"C.F. Todd ""Charity""","[6, 7]","I just found this was available for the Kindle. I was so excited, of course I bought it. Over the years I have fallen in love with Lawson.. and Jon F. Merz's writings. He is an awesome author. I have yet to read a book by him that I do not love. His work is well researched. Even though these books are Fiction I find myself forgetting lol it is like I am there part of the action and I absolutely LOVE that.",5.0,FINALLY!! I LOVE Lawson!,1296000000,"01 26, 2011",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A2A66RV5G2A733,1499611552,carol938,"[0, 0]",A good read did not put it down I enjoy true stories better than fiction. i especially like to read a book before seeing a movie,5.0,great true story,1386201600,"12 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AVAA348SUBQ6T,B00J5ZWZ5Y,candiladi,"[0, 0]",This was a good book. This is my first time reading from this author. I enjoyed the book overall but would have loved more character development. For Jessica to be the daughter of a Pastor she was very naive and whorish at times. She feel to easy and too fast without really knowing any of these men besides Mike. Jessica was definitely the definition of a sheltered girl going off to college and getting freedom for the first time. I loved her roommate Alexis she was definitely a friend from the beginning.,3.0,good book,1395792000,"03 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19Z4IDNL1MGG4,0743448308,"Austenparker ""Life is too short to read bad b...","[6, 16]","This was horrible. From the dust jacket, it sounds like an incredibly good book. Truly, it is the hero of the piece that is the downfall of this novel - he is completely unsympathetic & unlikable. The plotting is a bit irregular & the pacing is too drawn out as well. This book was an utter disappointment.",1.0,Wish there were a "No Stars" option,1082419200,"04 20, 2004",6,16,helpful,0.375,1 A3CNB611YTRD53,0310293995,Mason Slater,"[5, 7]","I wish I had written this. As I turn the last page of a book that has grabbed me from the start and that I have finished in two sittings, that is the first thing that comes to mind, I wish I had written this. The book? Evolving in Money Town, the first of what I hope will be many books by Rachel Held Evans.This is the first time I've had the unique opportunity to read and review a book written by a friend. I first came across Rachel through a shared interest in blogging on life and faith, and I quickly became a fan of the writing she shares on her blog - also entitled Evolving in Monkey Town. Rachel was kind enough to let me guest post and point bloggers my way, and a casual blogosphere style friendship developed, which turned quite a bit more real when my wife and I got to spend an evening out on the town with Rachel while she was in Grand Rapids for a writers conference. It was a great night, and the discussions we had only increased my excitement for this book. I wasn't disappointed.In many ways the reason I end this book wishing I had written it is not only because of the quality of the writing (and my personal dreams of publication), but especially because I think in Rachel's story we see the story of so many of our generation. Myself included.Growing up in Dayton Tennessee, home of the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial, Rachel was the kid with all the answers. In youth events, school, church, and eventually Bible College, she was presented a Christianity that was ""always prepared to give an answer"", and she excelled in it all. The culture wars, the high pressure hell centered evangelism, the emphasis on an overarching ""Christian worldview"", the apologetic training against all comers be they Atheists or liberals or Muslims, the presenting of the Bible as a massive book of facts we need to line up into doctrines, it all felt phenomenally and uncomfortably familiar to another product of the same times.But through a series of paradigm shifts Rachel, like a growing host of others, saw this carefully built structure of beliefs and assurance shift, crack, and begin to crumble. The critical mind trained to deconstruct other worldviews was suddenly turned on its own. What follows is a story of doubt, hope, and evolution, as she struggles with questions she couldn't just proof-text and forget and finds her faith changing and adapting to survive.The questions she wrestles with are difficult, from evolution, to the fate of ""unbelievers"", to the role of women in the church, yet even if one does not share in her conclusions they can learn from and appreciate the journey.I think we need books like this right now. The Church is undergoing radical shifts, and what faith looks like today may mean little in predicting what is to come. Within it all we need the space opened up here, the space to ask the hard questions, the space to be alright bringing doubt along with our faith, the space to allow Jesus to challenge us afresh to follow him and take a hard look at what are in fact true fundamentals and where we need to allow our faith to evolve.",5.0,Living the Questions,1276473600,"06 14, 2010",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3OOOC4NATHBUZ,1937178331,Amazon Customer,"[11, 11]","Everything has a beginning, but for Tanzy, her origin is the end of it all. Jones weaves a fantastic fantasy story that follows Tanzy as she goes into her past to find her origin. I'm looking forward to the next installment of this series to see if Tanzy overcomes the scandals of the people she trusted. Moonlit was a clean YA read with a sweet romance between Tanzy and Lucas. The cover of Moonlit matches the beautiful writing within.",5.0,Awesome!,1363392000,"03 16, 2013",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A1QJE79FHQ162G,1490999108,"Anna Dobritt ""Ravenwyng""","[0, 0]",This was a very good novel. Shows what could happen when mucking about with organisms and someone decides it is safe to use on humans. Also shows how a scientist can go from the lab and the loss of his family to someone who can survive and care about others again. Great characters and plot. Goes on my list of read again books. :D,5.0,Excellent Book!,1382140800,"10 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2J0D8ASIYFTOW,1463702191,Linda S. Myers,"[9, 9]","Patrick Barnett's SHAKESPEARE'S CUTHBERT is hilarious. The premise of the plot is that in the (unnamed) valley, William Shakespeare as a young man worked as a tutor at Mandrake Hall. There he wrote his first play, critical of Queen Elizabeth I, who demanded the play be suppressed and Shakespeare turned over to the authorities for justice. The valley people hid the play and protected Shakespeare until the furor died down and it was safe for him to go to the theatrical center of England, London. Valley traditions developed, including every child's receiving a Shakespearean middle name and Cuthbert's family yearly producing a Shakespeare play. Flash forward to present day. Cuthbert, the protagonist, is an undertaker/farmer/theatrical impresario. Various outsiders, convinced that Cuthbert has priceless undiscovered Shakespeare manuscripts, arrive to enrich themselves at his expense. The plotting continues as a comedy of errors, complete with Cuthbert's production of Shakespeare's first play, Shakespeare's CUTHBERT.If you remember the 1970s Britcom SOME MOTHERS DO `AVE `EM, Frank Spencer is the prototype for Cuthbert--good intentioned, naive, gormless, producing total chaos whenever and wherever he goes, not realizing that he does so. If you don't remember Frank, think Laurel and Hardy. The villains (a former newspaper reporter, his brother who's a mercenary soldier/assassin, a deranged museum curator, a retired army captain, his downtrodden wife, malevolent twins, a thieving antiques dealer, and the head of the valley Mafia) are appropriately evil and bungling, though they are won over through involvement in the play. In the end, the existence of the play is concealed, and Cuthbert hides the manuscript in a cache of other old scrolls.I debated labeling this review with ""spoilers"" at the top but realized that it isn't necessary. The premise of the plot is secondary to the characters and to the laugh-out-loud humor. The writing is vivid: ""When real life visited Cuthbert, it came like the seventh cavalry with the whole Sioux nation screaming behind it."" SHAKESPEARE'S CUTHBERT was an inexpensive download from Kindle. I heartily recommend it. For mystery 3/5 stars (C); for slapstick comedy 5/5 stars (A+)",5.0,Absolutely funny!,1316217600,"09 17, 2011",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A296SDBXD50LL3,1461023033,Britt,"[0, 1]",The ending was great... the beginning kind of seemed pointless but towards the end the book became great. That was a dramatic love story,5.0,I loved this,1357689600,"01 9, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3O06YQNQNAGTH,1610880390,"Beverly F. Land ""deep thinker""","[5, 5]","I was very disappointed in this book. It was written at a 12 year old level and the writer needs to go back and study his bible more in-depth before misleading children. The writing style was good, especially for children but the facts were poorly stated and incomplete.",2.0,Disappointed,1347062400,"09 8, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1MWJAVXRTZR9S,1477809589,"KatyScott ""Katy Scott""","[4, 5]","A lovely bright read.Skips along, not raunchy more romance.Funny, thoughful and a nice happy ending. And we all like them.Katy Scott==========Author of [...]",5.0,yummy yummy yummy,1386115200,"12 4, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3ADK3ZTJ87915,0307336751,"Zinta Aistars ""Writer & Editor""","[13, 14]","We Latvians are a small nation, but oh, we are a proud people! We are a nation beaten and battered by many wars over many hundreds, even thousands of years, but our culture and life sense still thrive: the Latvian language is one of the oldest in existence today, still actively used. Perhaps that is our greatest source of pride, then: we are survivors.When Pauls Toutonghi's new novel, Red Weather, came upon the literary scene, I was greatly pleased. I've been an avid reader in both languages - Latvian and English - since earliest childhood, but however many good books I read about the war and later experiences of Latvians immigrating to other countries and cultures, it was rare to come across a worthy tome in English. History books, yes, but far more rare, a good attention-grabbing novel that I could proudly share with non-Latvian friends.Now, here's Pauls. With one Latvian parent, it is my understanding he has grown up in the Milwaukee area, active in the Latvian community and, having visited Latvia, is well-acquainted, one would suppose, with the culture and something of the nation's history. For these reasons, I read the novel with high expectation and excitement.Pauls' writing abilities do not disappoint. Still quite young, he has already accrued an impressive publishing history, and has won the Pushcart Prize. His descriptions are lively, his storyline pulls us along, his sense of humor is intact.And yet. The further I read, the more I realized, no, this was not going to be the book that I would pass on to Latvians I know, or to non-Latvians I'd like to invite a little more intimately into my multi-cultural world. The novel works as an entertaining read for non-Latvians, perhaps, but for those who do know the history and culture, well, not so much. I think my sense of humor is healthy, but I can't help feeling, for instance, that describing Latvians visiting the United States as being so dense as to put ketchup on every possible food, even bananas, craving to taste the American life, is taking the joke into the much less fun realm of ridicule. Or the Latvian mother as so eye-rollingly lacking in self-awareness as to walk Milwaukee streets wearing a Pabst hardhat with a beer can on it as if she were wearing a Parisian fashion statement. Surely not. I cringed in embarrassment. Humor is often built on slapstick and exaggeration, but would those who have no other knowledge of Latvians, perhaps never will have any other exposure than this novel, think this is what it means to be a Latvian? Bumbling fools?Perhaps even more worthy of remark are some historic inaccuracies. Although this is a fictional work, even fiction must keep its feet firmly on factually solid ground before branching into fantasy. One such example is the allusion to Latvia's president, Karlis Ulmanis, and his attempt to escape to Finland during the Soviet invasion of World War II (see page 166). In fact, President Ulmanis held his place, broadcasting over the radio waves to the nation even as the Soviet tanks crossed the Russian border, keeping down the panic and requesting all to remain in their places, thus saving many Latvian lives. He was taken by force from his office by the occupying army, and was never seen alive again. Educated guesses are that he was deported to Siberia, where he died in a Gulag (concentration camp), but his body has never been found.Having finished the novel, wondering at how very different the author's experience of his Latvian roots and culture were from mine, indeed from anyone I have known with Latvian roots and having gone through the immigrant experience, I wanted to think - hey, there's always the exception to the rule. If by 1989, when this story is set, any Latvian immigrant I or my family knew had established themselves in relative financial security (the fictional Balodis family still lived in squalor), had attained some measure of their new country's education and achieved something of their own immigrant American dream, then the Balodis family was certainly a lone exception to the rule. Nor could I imagine my own father, or fathers of my friends, being so easygoing about the political lines the young man in this novel, Yuri (Juris), crossed in his lovelorn relationship with a socialist girl (my own, and dare I say any typical, Latvian father, would have gone through the roof, to put it very, very lightly).As a reality check, I shared Red Weather with my parents, who shared it with several of their friends. Their reactions were the same. They expressed admiration for the author's skill, but also expressed a pained disappointment in the skewed image of Latvian immigrants to the U.S. The image the book leaves is of a people who are gullible, not particularly industrious, and rather dim-witted.An opportunity lost. My subjective opinion, but I'm sure shared by more than a few of my countrymen and women.",3.0,Overcast Weather,1157500800,"09 6, 2006",13,14,helpful,0.9285714285714286,1 A15Q7ABIU9O9YZ,0895260271,Larry Scantlebury,"[17, 24]","I saw Coach Barry Alvarez on ABC after Wisconsin beat Michigan last week. This week's hot-chick-with-a-microphone (I'm not here for my looks I'm here for my talent) asked him 'how does it feel to beat Lloyd Carr?' Dumb question typical of sideline reporters.Alvarez is the coach of the University of Wisconsin football team; Carr is his counterpart for the University of Michigan. They are in an athletic conference known as the Big Ten. That's the last of my football analogy, I swear.Alvarez, who had never beaten Michigan said, ""I didn't beat Coach Carr. Our guys and his guys played a great game.""That refusal to be self-absorbed and the center of attention is both remarkable and refreshing. It is easier of course to be compassionate when you win. Ironically, Coach Carr said ostensibly the same thing a little while later.Football isn't a way of life but gratefully liberalism in America isn't either.Mr. Smith's book is not a primer on the theory of being conservative, it just points out in simplistic terms what the Constitution says and how differing views have attempted to alter it. Some might say ignore it. The larger view of liberal thought is in fact in the form of a series of questions. Why do they keep yelling at the ""right-wing"" and calling them names?I don't think Mr. Bush is going to apologize for his heritage or wealth. I don't think he has to. I saw that interview with Preseident Clinton in the 'library' and all I can think of was 'damn, Bill, not bad for a poor boy from Arkansas.' He seems to have done all right for himself as well.But why personalize your attacks? The Republicans won. Twice. Try to win next time. It doesn't seem judicious to implore people to believe that the Democratic Party lost only because of mind-control by the Republicans. Certainly, in any argument, you need to look at your self as well. Don't you?I have to admit that as I age I recall my mother's caveat when I would avoid my chores with the adage, ""if you spent half the time doing your chores (her title, not mine) as you do trying to get out of them, they would be done.""If the Democrats (it seems) spent as much time trying to figure out why the entire center of the country turned against them in the last two elections instead of listening to Michael Moore, Bill Maher and Ted Kennedy (they're all comedians), maybe they would get somewhere. You know, it's just silly.5 stars. Larry Scantlebury",5.0,"""They played a great game . . .""",1127952000,"09 29, 2005",17,24,helpful,0.7083333333333334,1 A1FOLK4U0GQIEM,1451533969,SAM,"[0, 0]","This book and it sequel, is one of my favorite romance stories. I love the character of Ryan, he is without a doubt one of the best "leading men" in contemporary literature. Ryan easily captures your heart and brings you with him while he falls in love with the beautiful Taryn. A well written novel full of ups and downs any good romance should have. Highly recommend.",4.0,One of my favorites!,1365638400,"04 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2IF83HCHVSRW2,1616148799,she treads softly,"[0, 0]","Dante's Poison by Lynne Raimondo is a highly recommended second mystery novel featuring Mark Angelotti.Mark Angelotti, the troubled Chicago psychiatrist who first made his appearance in Dante's Woods, has recently been diagnosed with an illness that has caused blindness. After having trouble adjusting - or rather avoiding adjusting to his new situation, Mark enrolls in a drug trial that he hopes will help restore his sight. In the meantime Mark agrees to help his friend Hallie Sanchez investigate the murder of journalist Rory Gallagher, as well as join the defense of Jane Barrett, who is accused of the murder. Then, adding to the complications are the two teen suicides that may share some connection.Dante's Poison is set in Chicago and the city is as much a part of the novel as the characters and sets a vibrant background to the main action. FYI: The major pharmaceutical companies take a hit in this plot. The plot is full of enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.Raimondo is a strong writer who does an excellent job moving her plot forward quickly. For a mystery under 300 pages, she packs a lot of action into the pages. It's also noteworthy that Raimondo excels at capturing Mark's difficulties adjusting to his new disability, and his psychological expertise. She also shines in describing the legal system and the accompanying details.It's nice to read a mystery that sets a fast pace and throws in plenty of surprises.Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Prometheus Books for review purposes.",4.0,sets a fast pace and throws in plenty of surprises.,1399766400,"05 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WSI8HOWHFDOT,0786714360,Rocco Dormarunno,"[12, 12]","Yes, I agree: Mr. Ellis may have bitten off more than he should've tried to chew in 1966. The book would have been best served if it had ended in 1898, at the time of the consolidation of the five boroughs into New York City. (This was what Burrows and Wallace did when writing GOTHAM, a book of similar length.) I also agree with other reviewers that a few maps and illustrations would've benefitted the work. But give the guy a break.THE EPIC OF NEW YORK CITY is as good an introduction to the long, complex history of the city as anything else out there. In fact, it's better than most, in spite of its few historical errors. This is an enormous subject that would've daunted most historians. Mr. Ellis' passion and fascination for NYC history is evident on every page.THE EPIC OF NEW YORK CITY is written in short, digestible chapters that make for sprightful, snappy reading. While uneven in terms of style, many of the segments are memorable. In particular, I enjoyed the sections that centered on Peter Stuyvesant, New York during the American Revolution, and the Blizzard of 1888. Those chapters alone were worth the price.Rocco Dormarunno, author of The Five Points Concluded, a Novel",4.0,Give Mr. Ellis a Break,1066608000,"10 20, 2003",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 AIOY65UA68R4J,0451213483,Lee Goldberg,"[6, 6]","I'm a big GUNSMOKE fan, I've watched 100s of episodes and all the TV movies. So I eagerly awaited this book -- and I wasn't disappointed. While there were a few unfortunate errors (as others here have pointed out) casual viewers of the show won't notice them or care. They didn't even bother James Arness, who wrote the introduction. West succeeded in his most important task, capturing the essense of the characters and the tone of the show. The Matt Dillon in this book is the Matt Dillon of the series...and even, I would argue, the Matt Dillon he became in the TV movie/sequels. Festus and Kitty were brought wonderfully to life on these pages, too (I missed Doc, who is absent in this story). Reading the book is like experiencing a typical episode of the show and I, for one, can't wait to read the sequels. West is a gifted writer and we're lucky that GUNSMOKE is in his very capable hands.",4.0,A Welcome new episode,1121817600,"07 20, 2005",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2JAHGPVO2Z39T,0310227550,Carol Wade,"[0, 0]",This book is so engrossing I can't put it down. My next step will be to read all of Bill Myers books!,5.0,Excellent book!,1359763200,"02 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NRBSD3QE26L4,1461001307,"FictionFan ""Sharing great reads""","[12, 12]","Many of the critics of self-publishing cite reasons such as ""anyone can publish anything, even a letter to a relative"" as one of the main drawbacks of buying an independently published book. As Cheryl Shireman's touching missive to her daughter Scarlett shows, sometimes the personal touch brings a poignant, human element to the written word and I, for one, am glad Shireman shared these private musings with the world. Shireman's letter is not just a cautionary, emotive and well-written epistle to her child, it is also sound, heartfelt advice for a generation of young women raised to expect Prince Charming to one day ride over the horizon. Motherly advice as it should be -- honest, from the heart,and laced with love -- this book should be read by all single twenty- or thirty-something girls still searching for that elusive ""Mr Right.""",5.0,"A heartfelt effort, laced with love",1311897600,"07 29, 2011",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 ABWS6C54DYU3A,1285084519,Glenn E. Prokopovitch,"[4, 4]",This book is well written and easy to follow. It is a great reference book that goes into detail about all the functions of the D800.,5.0,Excellent Book,1353110400,"11 17, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AC7L9SWKDIKEM,0195170776,Alexis king,"[0, 0]",Very useful for a fifth graderThe first time I looked at this book I knew that it was very useful,5.0,Very useful,1392508800,"02 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A334YMXBSDKG4I,0989558622,AP,"[0, 0]","This book is well written and easy to understand. There was a couple times I laughed to myself while reading. One part that I thought was cute and made me smile was. The book listed some reasons why you should try this diet and one was that there was no membership fee. I also like that there is short paragraph telling about the recipe what you can get out of it. Like some recipes have, fiber and some will give you energy.The author thought about everything in this book. In chapter 6 in the beginning, there are a list of questions to ask yourself about what are you reasons for going on the diet. It also prepares you for setbacks .One is that the food will be bland so they give some tips. A tip is roast your vegetables they will taste better and they do. This book really took the time to make sure you can follow this diet. It wants its readers to be successful.",5.0,Easy read,1390003200,"01 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AOK2SF441BBDO,030758836X,S. Gilbo,"[0, 0]","I just started the book and found it interesting The more I read the better it got. I got out of bed at 5AM today, no sleep just read. Great book",5.0,Don't plan to do anything else,1395100800,"03 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GK9LT41X73NC,0802713297,S. Henkels,"[7, 9]","This is a relatively short, expertly done travelogue through time from 1914 to the present among the olden battlefields of France and Belgium of the Great War. The author has no illusions of what a ""glorious war"" this was. Journeying 450 miles from the Channel to the Swiss border through such towns and rivers as Somme, Marne, Passendaele, Ypres, Verden , and lesser known places, this is real time travelling trip through history. The savagery of these battles is almost too immense for the author to describe, and the hundreds of cemetaries, ossuaries, monuments become near overwhelming, along with the awesome numbers of dead and wounded. And he is not shy in describibg the incredible arrogance of the generals (mainly Brit and French) who ordered some of these massacres. So for a short ride back in time and place, and to discover the chaos and death commonplace in these 85-plus year old catastrophes, this is a fine book and mesmorizing journey.",5.0,The Western Front 80 years later.....,1105056000,"01 7, 2005",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A2OF8R6KFR428V,B00LIBEH4K,Kathi Macias,"[0, 0]","Homecoming by debut fiction writer Karen Kosman is a poignant story of the tug in each of our hearts, ever calling us home. A great addition to the fun summer collection, Summer in Sweetland!",5.0,"A Captivating ""Homecoming""",1404432000,"07 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARVPR71TZ89ZV,B00H146VT2,Paull Hines,"[0, 0]","Well written, good story nice details, very pleasant reading. Kept me interested the whole time, one of few stories that I could not wait to get back to.",5.0,nice read,1396051200,"03 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A178PSMWUNMNXW,1589794206,tickgirl,"[0, 0]",The patience and perseverance of this author in her efforts to uncover the truth in the brutal murder are incredible. She creates a very readable book account of her research efforts. Buy the book for no other reason but to support someone who dedicated years of her life to an unclaimed corpse that was someone else's daughter.,4.0,Good book,1402444800,"06 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3UV7L5ND3EH8T,157731512X,"Janet Boyer ""Snowland Deck and Coffee Tarot C...","[57, 60]","""Do you feel connected to Spirit? I'm not talking about whether or not you have a religious background or affiliation. I'm talking about being connected to the power of the Heavens-and bringing it right down here to Earth to use in your everyday life."" - Jean SlatterThe idea of enlisting help from angels, saints, or spiritual helpers is not a new one. For example, some Christian denominations teach that angels or saints are more than willing to help humans in their everyday lives as they navigate the twists and turns of earthly living.However, many are disillusioned with formal religion in the new millennium and one result is the sense of being alone in the Universe. Yet, there remains a desire to connect with something bigger than the self-to believe that someone or something is looking out for us and is willing to help manage our lives.With war, terroristic acts, cruelty and suffering flooding 24-hour news channels and other media, it's not uncommon to hear jaded folks wondering ""If there is a God, then why in the world is he asleep on the job?!""What hasn't been considered is that we are the proverbial hands, feet, eyes, and mouth of the Divine. Could it be that we ""have not because we ask not"", as Jesus taught? Violating free will is not in the plan of the Heavens, so then could it be that we must engage the spirits of creation on our behalf?In the book Hiring the Heavens - A Practical Guide to Developing Working Relationships with the Spirits of Creation author Jean Slatter makes a convincing case that not only are the spirits of creation ready to help us with the ""real stuff"" of life, but that it is our birthright and mission as extensions of God to joyfully wield the creative power of the Universe.To be sure, some are not ready to assume the posture of a creator because this in turn implies responsibility. But as Slatter states:""When we see ourselves as divinely sanctioned creatures, something quite amazing happens. The transformation is unmistakable. We live life from a different vantage point. We recognize our authority to summon the vast resources of the Heavens and all of the eager spiritual assistance that's available for everything we do. We discover that all conceivable problems can be solved by our connection to this incredible power. With this new awareness we can shape our lives purposefully, creating joy and fulfillment with such ease that it feels like a miracle. From now on our lives can be deliberate, joyful expressions of the infinite Source of all creation and possibilities. Heaven can finally be brought down to Earth.""Hiring the Heavens conveys a simple message that is found in other books and teachings, but is packaged in a fresh, accessible way. Slatter approaches enlisting help from the Heavens as a hiring process. Just as you might hire an interior decorator, a chef, a babysitter or an accountant, you can do the same with the spirit helpers. In fact, Slatter asserts that for every earthly ""job"" there is a spiritual counterpart waiting in the wings.For example, let's say your house is a disaster, the kids need to be taken to different extra-curricular activities and bills are sitting on your desk. You feel overwhelmed. The first thing you may choose to do is ""hire"" a spiritual organizer! Ask for organizational aid for accomplishing what you need to do (preferably with joy and grace intact!). You can even create a spirit committee with your Organizer at the helm. Invoke a spiritual accountant to help you deal with the bills, a spiritual housecleaner to help you de-clutter and tidy up, and a spiritual chauffeur to get the kids where they need to go on time. Hold ""staff meetings"" and delegate tasks to the spirits of creation.Sounds too good to be true? All I can say is get Hiring the Heavens and try the process yourself! I've tried it several times (from a skeptical viewpoint) and I was amazed at how it worked. For example, I was looking through my media center trying to find a particular CD-ROM. After looking through several rows of CD's and CD-ROM's for some time, I remembered the concept of hiring the Heavens. I decided to try it out and said under my breath ""I need a spiritual detective to help me find this software!"" I no more got the words out and my eyes alighted upon the CD-ROM I needed.I couldn't believe it.I've tried it several times already, with amazing success. I'm building up my ""hiring muscles"" as it were, because I had lost faith in angels or spirit helpers over the years-mostly as a result of extreme difficulty (such as my first husband contracting leukemia, suffering for a year, and then dying.) We were both Charismatic Christian pastors at the time, and actually *taught* the concept of sending angels out on assignment. To experience what we did left me disappointed and wary of any ""help"" from the heavens. However, I now realize that I needed some major paradigm shifts in the area of expectations, fear, life purpose, and the point of ""Earth school"".Hiring the Heavens is a 131-paged paperback and includes several ""Committee Worksheets"" in the back of the book. Also included are three ""Angel Express"" Cards issued from the Bank of Creation. Tucked onto the book flap and easily cut out for use, they are valid today/always/forever.",5.0,Angel Express Card (Don't Leave Home Without It),1124323200,"08 18, 2005",57,60,helpful,0.95,1 A2IO1ESNSIAXG3,0873645456,L. A. Kane,"[4, 4]","A comprehensive look at improvised weapons you might encounter on the street such as beer bottles, pool cues, baseball bats, brass knuckles, fighting rings, saps, chains, shovels, bricks, and the like. Even hairbrushes and orange juice, two of the more unusual things the author has actually been assaulted with, are covered along with solid principles of how to spot, utilize, and defend yourself from these potentially deadly objects. Importantly, the book also delves into awareness, covering in depth some of the subtle and not-so-subtle cues that people tend to give when preparing to attack as well as patterns of trouble, diversions, distractions, and other things to look out for.The author is the real deal. Growing up on gang-infested streets not only gave MacYoung his street name ""Animal,"" but also extensive firsthand experience about what does and does not work for self-defense. Over the years, he has held a number of dangerous occupations including director of a correctional institute, bodyguard, and bouncer. He was first shot at when he was 15 years old and has since survived multiple attempts on his life, including professional contracts. He has studied a variety of martial arts since childhood, teaching experience-based self-defense to police, military, civilians, and martial artists around the world. Clearly a guy worth listening to.Lawrence KaneAuthor of Blinded by the Night, among other titles",5.0,Outstanding and comprehensive,1181692800,"06 13, 2007",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A27XHMJC0ENQA,1432744682,Theresa Franklin,"[5, 10]","The dialogue between the main character and the ""reader"" is a unique way to involve the actual reader. The insertion of occasional humor is delightful. So far my favorite is about the 99 sheep who stayed with the shepherd, all with biblical names. The one sheep that left the shepherd--Raymond.This is a wonderful story about a man whose mouth got him into more trouble than anything else. This story will keep you guessing until the end. Was it real? Was it a dream? Was it death? Was he crazy? Read it to find out.(less)",3.0,Unique Writing Style,1296432000,"01 31, 2011",5,10,helpful,0.5,1 AYMU0PNEXEXJS,0972072837,Risa,"[7, 7]","This book does a wonderful job of clearly laying out the dynamic invovled in narcissistic relationships. It becomes clear how the narcissist draws others into a codependent dance, and why people who grew up with narcissistic caregivers have such a difficult time seeing the dyanmic and ultimately extracting themselves from it. It's a powerful book for anyone who lives or works with narcissistic personalities.",5.0,A remarkably intelligent analysis,1251158400,"08 25, 2009",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A1X87IHRK15RBU,B009YLRDQK,Deborah,"[0, 0]","Violet returns from spending the summer in Maui to discover that her mums engaged, she also discovers her boyfriend's been cheating on her and her new step-dad to be has a son only a few years older than herself.This was an interesting book, very amusing my family kept asking me to stop laughing all the time, certain bits I found a bit too embarrassing but on the whole it's a great, funny romance with a couple of surprises thrown in.",4.0,Great book...bit of a surprise,1402790400,"06 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJX6LCR4TDEVK,0849948266,Debbie,"[0, 0]","Have you ever felt that life just leaves you broken? I recently read Stained Glass Hearts by Patsy Clairmont. Patsy uses art (she starts with stained glass and mosaics) to talk about our broken lives and how we need a new perspective to help us deal with the pain. The first half of the book is about the condition of our lives and the brokeness we endure. The second half of the book talks about different things that helps us deal with that brokeness: prayer, poetry, books, nature, etc.What I appreciated about Patsy's book was her keen wit and positive perspective on life. One unique part of her book is that each chapter ends with art suggestions (whether they be paintings, music, or other books) to investigate that fit the topic of the chapter. This would be a perfect book for someone who loves and appreciates art and may be dealing with brokeness at the same time. I don't know a lot about art, but I sure enjoyed Patsy's suggestions!",4.0,Brokeness,1314748800,"08 31, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2IXCQBN9JXV51,0877283346,Stacy,"[0, 0]",He is a tough read though. Its a confusing book. He likes to talk in riddles. The ending of you should destroy the book was quit funny.,5.0,love Crowley,1400025600,"05 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A251HTQBYTZ547,1565075889,"B. Ritchie ""Creative Cook""","[0, 0]",I chose this book because I love everything Lori Wick writes. As a matter of fact this is my second time to read this series.,5.0,Awesome book,1391040000,"01 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A4U8F7FV3DHAJ,0312262469,Renee Shields,"[0, 12]","I love Charlaine Harris, and want to read everthing she has written, but I WILL NOT buy this book, published seven years ago at the exorbitant price you are asking. What happened to your promise? Shame on you, Kindle!Renee S. N.Y.C.",1.0,"Shame On You, Kindle!",1235174400,"02 21, 2009",0,12,unhelpful,0.0,0 AJVQTGMBF8PL1,1938786688,Jess @ From Me to You ... Book Reviews,"[8, 14]","1.5 out of 5 stars, this is a novel about finding love in unusual places. I liked the meaning that underlines the plot of this story. I also really liked Victor, or as little, Isaac called him ""Big Toe"" or ""Bictow!""However, even though I understand why Cara was so paranoid when it came to Victor coming into her life and getting close to Isaac, I didn't like how stubborn, rude, and willing give up on what was important in her life without putting up a fight so easily. It made me thoroughly annoyed with her throughout 90% of this novel.Plus, I hated Alexis then even more so when everything just turned out fine at the very end with her. Gah! I wish she got mad about what was done to her instead of being so accepting. Which I know makes me seem like I'm being mean, but come ON that girl deserved something bad happening to her.Then to top it off towards the end of the novel it seemed to go from one scene to start right up within the middle of the next scene, which left me a bit confused about how the hell that happened.Overall, I just wished it was better. So, I don't recommend it. Yet on Amazon.com there are 27--or more by now--reviews with 4/5 stars and on Smashwords a majority of the reviews have 4/5 too, so who knows you might be like the majority and like it better than I did. *shrug*Review By: From Me to You ... Book Reviews(read more of this review and a teaser on my blog)",1.0,"What was I thinking?: Barboza Brothers Series, Book 1",1355184000,"12 11, 2012",8,14,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A1ZMX7Q23QIZBK,B0072VFJ8I,"W Dunwoody, Jr ""WSD""","[0, 0]",My son has enjoyed this e-book greatly. Will look for more for him from this author.,5.0,Fun Book,1404345600,"07 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AEP9LH0OOB3EX,0939650444,lanoitan,"[10, 15]","I think a book is good if it is thought provoking, enjoyable reading, written in an easy-to-read style. Although the style I found not so easy to read, I found this book very thought provoking and enjoyable. I was able to identify (somewhat tenuously) with this Nazi zealot. I was able to feel that ""there but for the grace of God (went) I"". This, despite the fact that his twin brother was not as zealous as he, that he saw his best friend taken away as a subhuman Jew, that even the people of his small town knew about concentration camps (what did he think went on there?), and that he witnessed a proud old German Jew WWI veteran, who had lost his leg in that war, punched in the nose till blood spurt forth merely because he complained that he could not get into the truck due to his missing a leg. I wish the author had written somewhat about how he managed to rationalize away these things he witnessed directly. But then, what can he say? We all want to see ourselves as superior to others and must work at learning that the ugly, the short,the blacks, homosexuals, women, the crippled, the retarded, the mentally ill etc. are just as good as we are. Certainly there are plenty of prejudices present here in the USA also and if we had gone through what Germany went through prior to Hitler's ascendancy, we might also be susceptible to a leader such as he. At any rate, I found this honest personal history very enlightening. One example: he says ""I wish I could shoot the bastard who killed them (his dog and horse)"" to which the General replies, ""Nothing wrong with a desire for revenge."" This sentiment seems so normal on the face of it, but he was a Catholic and don't they teach, ""Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord""? I'd like to think an American general would say to me, ""My boy, war is hell. They kill our loved ones and we kill their loved ones"". At any rate,I thought this was a great book. I would recommend it for a book group, so that members would be prompted to discuss the issues it raises.",5.0,Excellent book,1053820800,"05 25, 2003",10,15,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 AVLNG3GISNAJS,1939416612,Elesa,"[21, 24]",As usual I loved the book. she is such a great writer. I can hardly wait for the next 2 books,5.0,A grant of arms,1382227200,"10 20, 2013",21,24,helpful,0.875,1 A1ORZKYPMHLRUC,0440245613,Jancal,"[14, 15]","This excellent paperback is an easy read, alphabetical food guide with listings of calories, carbs, cholesterol, fat, sodium and fiber for each product looked up. Say you want to know about chicken, the topic of chicken is printed in bold type, then you get subdivisions beginning with fresh, then frozen, canned, frozen entrees and lunch meat, each category with full descriptions - for example under chicken-fresh, it lists each part of the chicken, light or dark meat, etc. Though a lot of information is provided, the book is laid out very simply and thoroughly so you can find ANYTHING you want to know about in two seconds. This 2012 edition also has very up-to-date fast food information, not only for the expected listings like McDonalds but for a place like Panera's, which was a pleasant surprise to me as we eat there often. This is already a much used, necessary book for my household and visiting dinner guests.",5.0,Fabulous A to Z total food info,1342742400,"07 20, 2012",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 A3U4FCEAT75XLS,0307353486,Cynesige,"[7, 13]","First: to the people who've written one-star reviews but obviously haven't read the book...c'mon already, that is getting tedious. Freedom of expression means the freedom of people with other points of view, such as Coulter, to speak their mind, even if you don't agree with them. Do you really want a world where everyone shouts down the people, books and ideas they don't like? Come to think of it, that's exactly what Coulter discusses in this book. Think about it: You're trying in mob-like fashion to shout down a book that's about how people try in mob-like fashion to shout down the ideas they disagree with. A bit ironic.This is a good, solid Coulter book. Her last few weren't that great - they were mostly recycled columns supplemented with some freshened-up but occasionally overly-snarky polemic. This book is much tighter, well-considered and more interesting. In it, she weaves a well-researched, detailed, historically rich argument that the Liberal Mob has been raising havoc since the French Revolution, always with the same tactics and aims. If you know what a ""Jacobin"" is, you'll find this book to be intellectually-familiar territory and a solid analysis of why liberals are always raging over this and that while you just want to be left alone. If ""Jacobinism"" is new to you, you'll gain a whole new way of understanding and thinking about why liberals are always trying to remake the world in their own unworkable, naive, let's-change-the-world-and-make-it-perfect image, and never seem to learn from their mistakes.The footnoting and research is impeccable. It won't stop the media from declaring this a work of ""hate speech"", but an honest person would have to admit that this is a serious work with well-documented, well-founded arguments.In the last few years, I was starting to think that Coulter was just phoning it in, but in this book, she's back. It's a serious book. 5 stars *****",5.0,Solid Coulter book - an improvement on the last couple/few,1313020800,"08 11, 2011",7,13,helpful,0.5384615384615384,1 ACYE5S6DPM5P,0252070100,Frank R. Freemon,"[30, 40]","I am stimulated to write a review by the previous reviewer. He, perhaps, was looking for an explanatory work with chapters on doctors, nurse, hospitals, etc. The present work tells a story, one might say it reads like a novel. The book describes what happens but only with information available to contemporaries. The doctor-reader can try to use his medical knowledge to make a diagnosis. But the work is not just for doctors: it tells the importance of medical care to the war efforts of North and South and tries to argue that the superior medical care of the North was partially responsible for the Union victory. The miserable diseases and horrible wounds (gangrene) show how horrible the war was for participants and balances the rosy picture of the war given by other works (glory). I hope I can be pardoned for giving my own work 5 stars.",5.0,author's response,944784000,"12 10, 1999",30,40,helpful,0.75,1 A1A9E3YJC0IL4F,0071703071,Bookkeeper,"[6, 6]","This edition of Financial Shenanigans: How to Detect Accounting Gimmicks and Fraud in Financial Reports is not a tenth as good as the second edition. I would give the second edition at least four stars because it delves into specific accounting issues and supplies metrics and concepts that the investor can employ. The third edition becomes more ""strategic"" and less accounting-focused and thereby significantly less useful and less relevant to the investor.The second edition of this book does a great job of highlighting indicia that are correlated with firms which have cooked the books in the past. And it is a good read. If a fourth edition is written, let's hope the fire of the previous version is rekindled.As an aside, the subtitle oversells the book--after all, an outsider never is sure whether something is fraud.Third edition, only so-so; a devolution in something that was quite good. Second edition, lots of meat; go buy that edition instead.",2.0,Forget this edition--the gold is in the second edition of this book,1362441600,"03 5, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2F3SXHT6RBV81,1583225366,"Betty Burks ""Betty Burks""","[6, 22]","Back in the Fifties, there was a popular television show called 'You Are There"" with Walter Cronkite, full of eyewitness events which occurred on the world's stage. This was typed as a public-service program which actual happenings as they took place, and the viewer was indeed 'there.' Virtually, you were there from so many different perspectives.Media is not like that today. It is selective and full of speculation and propaganda to make it look real. A good part of those Reality shows is playacting. Media is as the real history of today, partly made up on the spot to appear sensational.Look at how the media made up rumors about suicides of the Michael Jackson fans if he were convicted of the abuses he did to many young boys. He pretended to be sick and the media were there promoting that falsehood to get pity for the poor white guy.The media has become mediated, sated with false information and written from a prejudiced point of view. The media think they rule this country, as we all want to know what is happening now and all of the details.This is a sad state we've come to in the television and radio broadcasts and the news networks. After all, they have to have something to talk about, so why not make some of it up. Embellish it a little to up a rating for that newscast. Media today has fallen to yellow journalism and Hearst would be proud.",3.0,Media For The Masses.,1120176000,"07 1, 2005",6,22,helpful,0.2727272727272727,1 A3IYKJA8YZBWIP,1400032199,Music lover,"[0, 0]",Truly enjoyed reading this book and learning more about our history. Fascinating stuff. Seven more words are required so there.,5.0,An outstanding read,1404864000,"07 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A226XCZ3UN8HVF,1416593128,"Dee Smith ""Realmeaz""","[4, 6]","I absolutely have loved every book Meredith Duran has written. The complexity of the characters and uniqueness of story lines have been very interesting. I like this book also, but I do think it was more of a typical romance than her other works. How many ""heroine breaks out of her shell after a hurtful experience"" romance novels have you read? I enjoyed the dialogue and writing style but found myself thinking ""this reminds me of something else I've read"". It could have been written by Lisa Kleypas or Teresa Merediros. I found myself a little disappointed. I still would recommend reading this book, but I do hope Ms. Duran goes back to being an original like in her other works.",4.0,Interesting read but . . .,1272412800,"04 28, 2010",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A20HDRJ974POIJ,0892818875,Chanda,"[9, 11]","I'm not sure this book is quite what I need. I am looking for recipes. This is nice for a brief overview of aromatherapy, but not quite detailed enough.",4.0,Good Book,1206057600,"03 21, 2008",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A1U2C7A007SHLG,0061051217,"Virginia E. Demarce ""veasleyd""","[4, 4]","The world that Kay has created in Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors is not a retelling of Byzantine history of the era of Justinian and Theodora. Rather, it is a novel set in a world which is clearly analogous to that of the Byzantine Empire, but in which the theology differs (it has heresies, but the faith is not historical Christianity) and the events differ (OTL history has nothing equivalent to the marriage of Gisel and Leontes), but some of the conflicts (such as the iconoclastic controversy) are played out in a similar manner. I would be inclined to say that the more a reader knows about Byzantine history, the more impressed he or she will be by the alternative that Kay has constructed.Overall, the most interesting aspect of the novels is in their setting the perspective from that of a creative artist (the Barbarian invasions seen from the perspective of their inconvenient impact on the supply of good-quality tesserae for constructing mosaics). The intensely focused nature of the viewpoint is a remarkably accurate reflection of the single-minded artistic focus, and the degree to which it can, temporarily, be laid aside.The writing is complex. There are a lot of characters to track. Kay makes a rather uncompromising demand that the reader pay attention and that the reader remember. These are not novels for the lazy. They are very rewarding for a person willing to expend some effort.",5.0,Intensely insightful -- perhaps too much for some,972345600,"10 24, 2000",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1VE9FFQMUC09T,0952614766,"southpaw68 ""southpaw68""","[12, 18]","Author David Icke continues his research in this book of world leaders who are allegedly reptile aliens committing nefarious crimes against humanity. The usual theme of the conspiracy-minded that ""this world is not what it seems"" is on full display with The Biggest Secret.There is something in the book to offend everyone and even Jesus gets it. Or maybe not. According to Icke, he never existed and the New Testament was composed by a member of the reptilian Piso family of Rome. Then somehow they were able to convert the populace from the pagan god Mithra to Jesus. The Bible, according to Icke, is a book that is to be intrepreted esoterically by secret societies in the know and literally by the ignorant public.I found his theory of Christianity being nothing more than recycled paganism to be much more strongly documented. It seems the virgin birth, the one true god, Mother Mary, the trinity, and the god that gets sacrificed for our sins have been themes that have been endlessly repeated in other previous and present religions that have been created by reptilians to keep us in our mind prisons, manipulated by hope and fear. Of course, I must say any belief system is a mind prison, which most of us call our beloved home (may its foundations never shake).Icke believes in a few spiritual concepts even though he is seems to profoundly against organized religions. He believes in pantheism, which espouses that everything is part of God and that we are God, I believe. By tapping into the Infinite, then we can have infinite knowledge, (differential IQ scores be damned, I would suppose). He has high hopes for the year 2012 in which he thinks our consciousness will become truly loving, and we will drop the ""kill them before they kill you"" paradigm that has been operating for so long.Icke is even sympthetic towards the reptilians explaining that these beings possess the bodies of certain family bloodlines. These families raise their children abusively to shatter their personality into multi-facets, so that they will be able to act kindly in public, and its opposite privately.The satanic rituals in which the reptilians sacrifice children lowers the vibrations of this planet, making it easier for the reptiles to manifest and have more power, while filling humans full of fear and loathing, which is an energy they feed off of.Particularly remarkable is Icke's claim that most, if not all our presidents are related to European royal families, who are also all related. If we have representative government, how come we keep voting the same family in all the time?Icke is very good at interweaving different occult accounts together to give you the big picture while still going into depth about each one. He is a firm believer in equality of humankind, or at least the eventual equality, despite evidence to the contrary, I would say. Since he does not trust any institution, sometimes the book seems to fall into a ""can't trust anyone or anything"" nihilism. He seems to present a bleak world without heroes which is firmly in control of the intellectually superior reptilians. Many prominent people who people look up to have been reptilian, according to Icke. But he will be able to reach a different segment with his occult history because of his biases.Much of his sources come from anonymous witnesses, victims of satanic abuse, studies of geneological records, and Manly P. Hall's history of freemasonry. I have seen some evidence of one of the reptilian lines, which I won't name, going back to Count Dracula on the MSN home page. Creepy. He names a dizzying number of names. You won't see this on the nightly news or read it in the Times, that's the secret or rather, suppressed part of it.",5.0,The Truth Perhaps--But Can We Accept It?,1094947200,"09 12, 2004",12,18,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A3CM317241L9M8,0811845567,"Bella Media Services LLC ""The Southern Girl's...","[4, 5]","Traditions abound in connoisseur and cookbook author Sara Perry's latest endeavor. Filled with time-honored dishes for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas, Perry also includes recipes for Boxing Day, Kwansaa and New Year's - everything from Maple Pumpkin Pie and Buckingham Palace Shortbread to Brown Sugar Benne cookies and a Rugelach trio.But not all is dessert. Perry also offers ideas for breakfast, lunch and snacks, as well as recipes specially created for baking with children. Lots of photos and bold colors make this the perfect holiday gift - if you can part with it.",5.0,Beautiful Book and Delicious Recipes that Celebrate Holiday Diversity,1175126400,"03 29, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3O2RCKAMSE9X7,0785260838,Martin Asiner,"[7, 21]","For those who watch FOX news, the face and voice of former judge Andrew Napolitano is well known as one who closely allies himself with the political right. In his introduction to CONSTITUTIONAL CHAOS, he admits that he began his judicial career as a solid conservative. Yet, he adds that he has modified his legal core to vastly favor a championing of the rights of the individual over the constant pressure of the government to erode those rights. Napolitano does not favor one political party over the other although some of his chapters seem to lean one way while others tilt in the opposite direction. The core thesis of his book is that there is an unremitting effort by the federal and state government to (mis)interpret the constitution in such a way so as to weaken the right of any American to seek redress in court. Napolitano covers areas that are now hot button political issues. He begins with how the police often lie in court to justify fraudulent testimony that is needed to obtain a conviction that would otherwise have let a defendent walk. He wonders why the same rules that bind a defendent do not equally bind the prosecution or the police. He answers his own question by remarking that such a process of legal double think is so thoroughly entrenched in the minds of the entire prosecutorial process that those whose job it is to enforce the rules of evidence have come to believe that that these same rules somehow exclude them. As evidence for this astounding claim, he mentions cases that clearly vindicate his judgment. The problem that I had with this chapter on prosecutorial misconduct and by implication on other chapters that relate to the tendency of the government to trample on the rights of Americans is that Napolitano paints the government with an overly broad brush. True, his quoted examples are relevant to his thesis, but he fails to mention that for every example in which a judge violates the constitution, there are hundreds, perhaps tens of thousands in which a judge does not.As I read of his condemnation of the police, the judiciary, eminent domain, Janet Reno, and John Ashcroft, I could sense that the very problems that serve to weaken the ability of the constitution to protect the rights of Americans to live a normal life free from unwarranted government interference are real enough. But the image that lingers in the mind is that these problems are far more intrinsic to the system than I believe that they truly are. If things really were as bad as Napolitano says they are, then gadflies like him would have been denied a forum from which to lash out. The fact that his bestselling book continues to reach out suggests that matters have not even closely reached that sad state.",3.0,Gov't Lawbreakers go Unpunished: What Else Is New?,1136073600,"01 1, 2006",7,21,helpful,0.3333333333333333,1 A3GR2U9FVMM3L8,0399143793,duthduck,"[0, 1]","Firstly, let me say that I'm reading these books in order, so this was only my 2nd Jack Reacher novel. I loved ""Killing Floor"". It was fast paced & kept me interested from start to finish. But I found ""Die Trying"" a pretty hard slog. I loved the first 100 pages, but after that it just dragged. It could have been 150 pages shorter, and would have been better. Too much detail in relation to firearms, bullets, trajectories, geography & physics. Don't get me wrong, I am interested in those things & know a bit about them from my own career, but I felt like the author just continued to put in detailed paragraphs about those things, which got incredibly repetitive and tedious. I will read the 3rd novel in the series, as I love Jack Reacher & the implausibility of what befalls him. But I hope it's more like ""Killing Floor"" than ""Die Trying"".",3.0,Needed more editing,1311465600,"07 24, 2011",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1NI6KDROJR7RW,0316359440,"DG ""DG""","[0, 0]",Great for my nephew's collection!,5.0,Love Tintin!,1404691200,"07 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1JYYFGPMHSEB6,0446409480,"mamareadssomuch ""mamareadssomuch""","[0, 0]","I really liked Katrina Kenison's first book but this one, a bookclub pick, was whiney and came across selfish ... interesting perspective from the author on her mothering experience with older kids.",3.0,gleam this and that,1390089600,"01 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VO75Y6W1N45F,0615579914,J.L. Henderson,"[0, 0]","A book that pulls at the heart strings a time or two. There is a lot of emotional turmoil with the main character and the personal journey she goes on to reconcile the fact that bad things happen to good people. Guilt can be a powerful motivator or a destroyer of self worth. This is a story of strong friendships, powerful family dynamics, and reconciliation to a higher power. The book shows that tragedy does not need to destroy who we are. Some editing problems but was not a deterring factor for me.",4.0,Emotional story of survival,1373500800,"07 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3T7BLQYX2OYB0,1844153355,Lynn,"[0, 0]",This is a very long and detailed account of the Hurricane fighter plane. Because of my high interest in world war II planes I enjoyed the book however because of the many details I found myself skipping through some chapters.Lynn Berntson in Jacksonville OR,3.0,The flew Hurricanes,1392595200,"02 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A25ZVZ8CREE7JW,0385351852,Kerry Christensen,"[0, 0]",Some feel-good short stories about the Street Maeve often mentions in her books.Typical of her Irish characters and quaint stories.,3.0,Enjoyable,1403222400,"06 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27Z0G4DCTG2T9,0802120644,"bookworm ""cassandra44""","[0, 0]","I love the Brunetti novels but welcomed an opportunity to see Leon explore other aspects of her writing. Reminded me of Ruth Rendell writing as Barbara Vine,Initially I found "Jewels" very frustrating. Leon has an excellent knowledge of Baroque music but the intertwining of religious history with arcane aspects of musicology left me very cold and uninvolved.Things picked up in the correspondence between Caterina and her sister but I really found Caterina a very unbelievable central character. She is smart and naively clueless in a frustrating way.I also missed any real mention of the Venetian setting which receives hardly a mention at all. The novel could be set anywhere and lacked the sense of place so clear in the Brunettti novels.The ultimate denouement was interesting and unexpected but overall the novel was just okay.",3.0,Very different,1358640000,"01 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2OXOA51MJG0P,B00CQUQ1HI,terry clark,"[0, 0]",I gave this book a three star rating. It was interesting. If you like short stories you will probably like it. Well written .,3.0,Tony,1381881600,"10 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADSVALYHEFEEI,0060825316,electra wilson,"[13, 24]","There are some pretty turns of phrases, but this book cannot decide what it is.Is it about Alzheimer's disease? Well, possibly. Is it about surviving the siege? Possibly.But I bought this believing that I'd have a unique approach to a woman's struggle during the long, devastating siege of Leningrad by the Germans. It does in that it touches on people starving, people dying, but the general focus is on her tenure as a guide (and packer) at the Hermitage and what her speeches were to this and that group. It attempts to be mystical and misses the mark. This book didn't hold together well for me.Chapters shifted back and forth between Marina's Russian life and her old age as her memory is receding...and the problems her husband has with her...and her daughter's lonely and complicated life...and you probably get the idea.The madonnas of the story are paintings.",2.0,not what I was hoping for,1187827200,"08 23, 2007",13,24,helpful,0.5416666666666666,1 A1SP38JKYFFVJS,0310220114,Caesar M. Warrington,"[13, 28]","I can't say more emphatically that Marzulli's NEPHILIM is the worst Christian-oriented thriller I have yet to read. This book makes the similarly themed AHRIMAN'S GATE by Tom and Nita Horn --another book I didn't care for-- read like WAR And PEACE in comparison.Lynn Marzulli unabashedly relies on almost every tired cliche ever used in both genres of mystery/thriller and Evangelical fiction. The plot is implausible, contradictory, populated by stereotypes. What's worst about the book is that it is nothing more than a set up for its sequels, THE UNHOLY DECEPTION (2003) and THE REVEALING: THE TIME IS NOW (2004). NEPHILIM just introduces you to the silly and vapid personalities which run around trying to expose the coverup concerning Satan's deception with demons masquerading as extraterrestrial aliens. To paraphrase Capt. Kirk's question to a wannabe ""God"" in STAR TREK 5: The FINAL FRONTIER: What does Satan need with a starship?As a sidenote, I want to say that the funniest thing about this book is in the way Israelis are depicted. Lynn Marzulli and many other Evangelical Christian Americans like him need to better familiarize themselves with the Israeli people they are so enamored with. Israel is a very secular and social-democratic state; furthermore, most Israelis aren't religious. It is also rare to hear the word ""shalom,"" instead the common greeting is either ""Mah ha'inyanim?"" (How are things?) or ""Mah nishmah?"" (What's up?). Another interesting thing about Israel is that its citizens are some of the most well-travelled people in the world. That's why I found Marzulli's depiction of the character Uri Ben Hassen, a scholar connected with the Israeli government no less, becoming giddy and overwhelmed at arriving in America to be not only highly unlikely but also quite condescending.",1.0,Marzulli's Writing Is the Greatest Abomination,1165449600,"12 7, 2006",13,28,helpful,0.4642857142857143,1 A1NTYS5DQN8FCB,0312317999,Patricia R Dusett,"[0, 0]",Very different and did keep you interested till the end. Did enjoy it and would read more of his books.,5.0,Very good.,1354579200,"12 4, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1BLN5X06UPVJP,1927559014,"Cat Shannon ""Catscritch""","[4, 4]","David Tremaine for President!As a busy-busy, hard working American, stuck in living paycheck to paycheck, worried about taxes and feeding everyone in the house, I believe this is a book that we should all read. We don't really seem to have time to worry about anything but our own lives, but once you start ""Stillpoint"" you may be as amazed as I to learn that such bully tactics are being used as geopolitical means of `deleting' what doesn't work for some countries. In this case, the every day Palestinian. For years they've been trying to survive after someone came along with a better/heart breaking, sob story and a pressing need for a place to belong. But what happens if you believe you belong where someone is already living and thriving? Well, it appears that one very great country that we so heartily back year after year as a poor, abused, outnumbered and beset at all turns by people that just don't like them - well, that's not the whole story. We forget that to build a nation for one people; can often be stealing land from another. Homes, heritage, sanitation, freedom, right to religion and education, right to raise a family in peace... why it all sounds a bit too `Columbus' to me now.This story doesn't beat you over the head with what Mallard considers right and wrong. He just tells you the other side of what we think we know so well. He points out the pain, suffering and in some instances, acceptance of being put upon and just trying to survive with all your family intact. Terrorists can be freedom fighters, but when you remove all their free speech and hide them away from the world, getting a bit radical may be the only way to be remembered. We need to pay attention now. We need to get our noses out of our whazzoos and start hearing the cries. We need to help because everyone deserves a chance to enjoy liberty and some sense of security.",4.0,Open Minds - Free Souls - Are we there yet?,1362355200,"03 4, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AKAJY9IDPJX8U,B00DIEYMMC,neil F gill,"[0, 0]",Well another one of the Sarah Roberts series that I could not put down and looking forward to the next I can put my hands on .,5.0,Well another one of the Sarah Roberts series that I ...,1386806400,"12 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2FASLMVMKZOVQ,0061711640,Harry Alexander,"[0, 0]","What can you say about Stuart Woods and his Characters. Wonderful stories great plots and, in my opinion, always a winner",5.0,Another masterpiece,1371513600,"06 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A22KYWYMVY521Y,1451651775,"Dokkalfar ""Dokk.""","[20, 25]","I disagree with Stars girl (with respect). My partner & I normally await new books in this series quite eagerly, but this one was a definite disappointment. It could not have been more paint-by-numbers if the author had tried - which it didn't seem she did (try)very much in this instalment. Every plot point was telegraphed a mile away, Gin's angst about the state of her relationship was over-dramatised, Owen was impossibly obtuse about everything, and Eva and the casino owner's infatuation was obvious a mile away. The fountains were a (dead) giveaway, the revenge plot was hackneyed. This one gives all the appearances of a short shallow money spinner. Oh, and one more thing... I don't really think the author needs to wax the most verbose about the food Gin cooks...",3.0,Au Contraire,1345680000,"08 23, 2012",20,25,helpful,0.8,1 A1J4MD3WPUIXRB,1414367376,"Suzanne E. Burger ""MountJoy Mama""","[0, 0]","This book is an honest, heart-felt account of life with abuse. It has several exercises for you to do after reading the book that are very helpful.",5.0,Great book!!,1357689600,"01 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A25RSAHKMRWRPE,1595543740,Joseph McCarthy,"[12, 14]","Out of the ten Dekker books I've read, this is the first disappointment. The Circle series hooked me as a true blue Ted Dekker fan. Then I found the Lost Books collection and got excited. You wouldn't have been able to stop me from reading them. I enjoyed them; even Lunatic. Then I got to Elyon. This book is bad. It was a struggle to get through it. All of the previous Dekker books I've read, I gave to my friend as soon as I was done each one. I'm embarrassed to give him Elyon. This book doesn't deserve Ted Dekker's name on it. You can see the difference between Kaci Hill's writing and Ted's. Some of her chapters are jumbled and confusing with no easy flow to the story development. Too often she uses too many short sentences. If the short sentences were a writing technique used to give the scene a fast action pace; it didn't help. Suffice to say that the story in Elyon is not a good one and Hill and Dekker's writing styles do not mix well in it.Besides that, the story was too crowded with unnecessary characters who merely got in the reader's way. Ted Dekker has a knack for pulling off crazy ideas and making them work, but this time I think Kaci Hill got in his way. It is not easy for me to present this criticism; after all, I'm a five star fan of Ted's and relish the anticipation of reading all his other books. Plus, it kills me thinking that I might hurt Kaci's feelings (not to mention all the short sentences I used in this review). But I'm sure she can take it, and to balance it out I'll buy one of her books and read it.Warning: if you've never read a Ted Dekker book, don't start with this one.P.S., One of the many Kaci Hill examples would be Chapter Thirty. One of Ted's numerous examples would be chapter thirty-eight.P.P.S. Kaci did fine with Lunatic.",1.0,Warning,1327276800,"01 23, 2012",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 AVRW8PMUM077,0316044695,"Spud Gutz ""texboy1231""","[6, 10]","I have the greatest respect for this young fellow and all SEALs, and this story moved me greatly. I agree with every word about the liberal media and the guys in suits running the war, just like in Viet Nam. And as a Texan, I'm glad to see us represented so brilliantly in this book and in the White House. But the depth of ignorance shown by the co-author and the editors is abysmal. Writing about "".556mm"" and "".762mm"" rifle calibers, the C-130 taking off from ""North Air Station, Coronado"" (do you mean NAS North Island?? why not call it that?), and the constant use of ""Navy SEALs"" (are there any other forces that have SEALs? I don't THINK so!) just irked me no end. Another case of a ghost writer who knows zip about the modern military (even though he's written a bunch of novels about just that subject). Marcus, you should have written this book all by yourself; it would have been a LOT more readable.",3.0,"a good read, but....",1189814400,"09 15, 2007",6,10,helpful,0.6,1 A20MNRDIJHL3DQ,1456555359,Mark T. Rafter,"[4, 5]","First of all, this small paperback clocking in at barely over 200 pages has a whole lot of white space on every page. Double spaced with wide margins, it's pretty clear the author needed to beef up the page count. So, half the book isnt there at all.Half of what's left isnt really about Amazon but various aspects of the author's life, family, his wrenching departure from Silicon Valley moving to the clouds of Seattle. Ho Hum. That's nice.So, were left with 25% of might be expected in a 200 page book about Amazon.com that is actually about Amazon.com. A lot of it is history (available elsewhere), some insights into the 21st century sweat shop that is Amazon (including the well publicized working conditions mess they got themselves into in Allentown, PA back in 2011, long after the author had left so he is merely reporting news at this point) and multiple insights into how tough the amazon.com interview process is (including lots of low level programmer geek Q&A; that our amazing.com author survived to get offered a job). So impressive. The author also seems to have gone out of his way to use images of Jeff Bezos looking like a cartoon alien, curious about this planet and its inhabitants. (In all honesty, finding pictures like that probably wasn't that difficult).Anyway, if you are looking for insight into Amazon.com business models, corporate culture, history ... there is scant bit of all that but nothing nearly enough to get a real sense of one of the most significant cogs in the history of the internet. If there is a book out there like that, I haven't found it yet but don't bother with this one.",1.0,25% of a book - dont bother,1379376000,"09 17, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3BT4HN26DC73X,0800732340,Judy Anderson,"[0, 0]","A very good story but not up to the standard the author set in her other ""sister"" novels. The close sister bond did not feel as strong except between Joan and Allie. Tori struggled to stay bonded with her sisters. I always enjoy the wonderful way the author blends God's love in the valley to climb to the mountaintop in her characters. To God be the glory comes through loud and clear.",3.0,Third time charming,1360972800,"02 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A332MW6OA1LYDF,0060193395,John Noodles,"[12, 13]","I know...Bill Phillips became a multimillionaire providing advice on steroid use to bodybuilders. I guess that makes him an advocate of illegal drug use. Yes, a business partner of his was convicted felon (steroid-peddler). But that's not what this book is about. This is not a book for bodybuilders, muscle freaks, juice-shooting glandular cases. It's for ordinary schlubs who just want to be healthy. And it's good.What is great about this book is that it shows you how to get the most in terms of fitness with the least amount of work. That isn't to say there isn't work--there is, lots of it. You work out 6 days a week, but the workouts are short and intense. I saw much more dramatic results faster lifting 3 days a week for 45 minutes & and doing cardio 3 days a week for 20 than I ever saw working out for an hour and a half 5 or 6 times a week.Other reviews have described the regime (and you can also find it online at the Body for Life website), so I won't bother rehashing that here...The before-and-after photographs in this book are probably a little disingenuous. Some of them show a muslce gain that simply isn't possible in 12 weeks--it take time to build muscle. In some photographs, it is obvious that the subject had a foundation of muscle under the fat. But this program DOES deliver what it promises--dramatic fat loss and substantial muscle gain in 12 weeks. The secret to this program, I think--the one that distinguishes it from other routines--is not just diet and exercise, but rest. You have a full 4 or 5 days of rest for a body part after you work it. For example, if you work the upper body on Monday, you won't work it again until Friday. This gives the body plenty of time to recuperate and actually build muscle. The way I worked out before starting this program allowed only a couple of days for recuperation, so my muscles were never allowed fully to repair themselves, and as a result I did not give myself enough time to reap the benefits from my workout.I found that it is much more important to be religious about diet than about exercise. Instead of killing myself on the treadmill for every cardio session, for instance, I would often play raquetball for an hour, or go on a 45 minute-to-and-hour bike ride--which would be strenuous, but not at the level of intensity that my treadmill sessions would reach. Still, I lost a lot of fat and built a lot of muscle.It's a good program, and if you stick to it for 12 weeks, you'll love how you feel. You'll start loving it before then, even.",5.0,It Works!,1116633600,"05 21, 2005",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A3C8UG1BOYZZMX,0425234215,"Rocky ""rockyeckert""","[4, 5]",is world reknown for his historical books in a narrative format. This is not dry history. This is living history.,5.0,The Author...,1283731200,"09 6, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1OQ9L9VFWXNPL,076421263X,Kelly S.,"[0, 0]",""Prepared for a Purpose: The Inspiring True Story of How One Woman Saved an Atlanta School Under Siege" by Antoinette Tuff, with Alex Tresniowski, is a captivating retelling of the events of August 20, 2013 at Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy in Decatur, Georgia, when a courageous woman came face to face with a gunman intent on killing everyone and himself and, through her compassion and conversation, calmed him to the point of giving himself up, ultimately preventing a devastating school shooting {sneak peak: read an excerpt}.I was intrigued by this fast-paced book and, somehow, it was one of those books I "couldn't put down", perhaps because the story of what took place on August 20 is juxtaposed throughout the whole length of the book with Tuff's life story. And I found interesting not only the back story itself, but also the connection and realization that every part of Tuff's life—the responsibilities, challenges, hardships, and heartache—had prepared her for a purpose, to be in an elementary school front office when Michael Hill rushed in with an AK-47 and backpack of bullets, yelling "we are all going to die today", and mean the difference between life and death for hundreds of children and school staff.Tuff did not have an easy life, facing homelessness as a young girl, a son with multiple disabilities, a marriage to her high school sweetheart that slowly dissolved and ended in divorce, and working long hours at multiple jobs just to make ends meet; yet, in the midst of struggles and sadness, Tuff suggests throughout her book that she always held onto her faith in God and His sovereignty and provision, mentioning her habit of spending time with God and her prayer life, as well as frequently including Bible verses in her writing. Tuff very clearly attributes to God her calm, composure, and even the words she spoke, on August 20, having learned through her life no matter what she faced to respond to with trust in God, anchored in hope. Overall, though, I felt the book was written very humbly and factually and was not preachy or holier-than-thou."Prepared for a Purpose" is a neat true story about how a woman's faith was influential in a situation as God worked all things for good, but in my opinion, it could be misleading to the general public or young believers. Some content was a little "out there" to me, for instance mentions of miraculous healing, albeit Tuff is very down-to-earth in noting "this is just what I saw". Beyond this, however, there is not a clear identification of Christ {apart from the vague "God"}. The average reader could easily draw the conclusion that there is a god out there who gives us purpose and will use us for good in this world if we have faith and pray enough; and yes, it is true that God uses us for His purposes, to "accomplish His work" as Tuff writes, yet the prerequisite to that is whether we choose to accept Christ and His gift of forgiveness and salvation, making Him Lord of our lives. {Note: this is my opinion of the written content and how it could potentially be misunderstood, not a criticism or judgment of Tuff personally or spiritually.}Though I had not previously heard of this book {or the school siege last summer, honestly}, I am glad I had the opportunity to read "Prepared for a Purpose". This book seamlessly weaves together the life story of an ordinary woman with her very real and eye-opening account of the suspenseful drama that made her a national hero. Antoinette Tuff's compassion, courage, and convictions will inspire and challenge readers, and her faith in God will hopefully also point readers to the One True God whose ultimate purpose for mankind is our redemption.Disclaimer: This book was received for free from Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my review.",4.0,Fast-paced & Inspiring,1393286400,"02 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18OBUSMXVE8R0,1904902626,J. Guild,"[139, 149]","I have written several reviews on Sudoku books.Generallythey start of with some instructions,some are very brief and some are quite extensive.Then they give you a bunch,usually 100 to 3 or 400 puzzles.The puzzles are graded ,usually as 3 to 5 levels of difficulty.Then you get the solutions.Personally,I don't find them of much use other than proof that the puzzle is solvable.In other words, you know when you 've got it solved.This book is very different in that it is a 116 page book dedicated to instruction and tips with just enough puzzles to apply the methods to.The only other book that even comes close is Carol Voderman's ""Master Sudoku"" which I reviewed on September 30,2005.Not only an excellent and very detailed instruction book,it covers just about everything you would like to know about Sudoku's history,the originators,the involvement of computers in their construction and a brief look some other number puzzles we are already beginning to appear in pictures and books.Definitely the book any Sudoku Puzzler would like to have.If you don't know all the methods and tips covered in this book,you're 'working' with one hand behind your back,if not with blinders on.",5.0,The best Sudoku book on instructions and tips.,1134518400,"12 14, 2005",139,149,helpful,0.9328859060402684,1 A1R6MB533EKLVC,B00IP1BWSA,Jessica,"[0, 0]",I found my new favorite series! I love the character growth and hope that they all get their lives in order. I can't wait to find out what happens next.,5.0,great read!!,1398643200,"04 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3EW8KNYBNF953,1602396701,Opal,"[0, 0]","Mark makes it so easy to understand why horses act the way they do and how we can learn to work and trust our horses and have a safe and a wonderful experience and relationship with them, well worth the read",5.0,Mark makes it so easy to understand why horses act the way they do ...,1386806400,"12 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2S1WJ22BUO1C1,0816047162,"LarryE ""whoviating""","[23, 26]","I would have liked to have given this book 2.5 stars, right in the middle, because I really think it's a so-so book. But since the choice was 2 or 3 and 2 was too low, 3 stars it is.There is certainly a good deal of history and scholarship shown here, and for those such as myself who have an interest in the subject but lay no claim to expertise, much to be gained.But I couldn't shake the feeling that some academic scores were being settled. Helge Ingstad, who wrote most of the first parts of the book (with his wife, Anne Stine Ingstad, doing the part about the actual L'Anse aux Meadows dig), spends too much time deriding viewpoints alternate to his own. Since it was his line of reasoning that lead to the discovery of the L'Anse aux Meadows site, it seems that focusing on his own arguments should have been enough.Apparently, though, it wasn't. A major part of the book consists of summaries and analyses of two sagas telling different stories of the Vikings in Greenland and their exploration of North America. One, Erik's Saga, is a ripping good yarn that apparently had been the version favored by scholars. Ingstad makes a convincing argument that the other, The Groenlendinga Saga, is more historically reliable. But he does it at such length (about 1/3 the book) and in such language that the argument comes across as personal as much as academic, as a means of taking pokes at those on the other side of the issue. For example, The Groenlendinga Saga is a "plain, straightforward narrative" of "generally authentic nature," while Erik's Saga is by turns "improbable," "fiction" influenced by fables, "cannot be correct," "more than a little suspect," "incredible," and so on and so on.The description of the actual dig had a different problem: It was too much "we found this and then under this thick a layer we found this and then we found...." I truly wished for a greater context, more explanation of why a find was significant beyond the fact of proving Viking habitation. A number of times she refers to the depth of a strata though which they dug to find something. Was that significant? How? Why? What does it mean?The thing is, the book appears to be intended for a general (non-expert) audience. But at times I felt I had either walked into the middle of a scholarly debate or was reading a simplified field report. The result is, it's neither fish nor fowl, which is why I wanted to give it 2.5 stars.Oh, one final complaint: The quality of photographic reproduction in the book is by and large awful. It gives every indication of being taken from computer printouts of digital photographs, with all the attendant loss of fine detail.I'd say if you're really interested in the subject, give it a whirl. If your interest is more casual, skip it.",3.0,For those truly interested in the subject,1034899200,"10 18, 2002",23,26,helpful,0.8846153846153846,1 A1MXPWDS7SVQN1,1741799961,"Blues Bro ""bluesbro""","[0, 2]","Our dear friends in Japan could use some tourism right now, my advice, do a good deed and at the same time get one of the greatest vacations you can have.This little book is a great companion for a trip to Japan, some highlights:* Full-colour* Colour maps*'Best of' lists* Godd recommendations for short one week trips",4.0,Time to go to Japan,1311206400,"07 21, 2011",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2FWSHHS7KOR6Z,0425256987,"Brandye Carter ""Brandye""","[0, 2]","A friend told me about this book and I love anthologies. Most of the stories were very good, some a bit strange. Overall I liked it.",3.0,Death's Excellent Vacation,1302307200,"04 9, 2011",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2O5HEK4ZN536W,0553295772,"S. Holsinger ""Mrgr8avill""","[116, 132]","First off, I need to admit that short of a rabid stalker, there is probably no bigger fan of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series than I. That having been said... this one is, to me, a LOT different than what I had come to expect.This time, we get to see some hardcore political wrangling that likely mirrors what is actually happening on the Hill as time passes and many lose their stomach for war. This time, the perspective is much less first-person Mitch, and much more modern-age fable. We get to see the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly lock horns over a problem that is very much real, but growing more unpopular by the day.Don't get me wrong -- there is still plenty of action and you will still want to block out enough time to read in case, like me, you can't put the book down until you are finished. But I came away from this one feeling more that I had been reminded of a very important lesson than I had read about Mitch's latest exploits.There is much less smart-alecking (some may be happy about that), and given the shift in perspective, much less from Irene and Scott. But there are other characters that Flynn does as good a job in developing. In all, there is a very important, and very timely message in this book. Though I wish I could have had more ""classic"" Mitch (and am disappointed that I have to wait another year for more), I think this was the right book at the right time.If this would be your first VF book, I would strongly recommend you read earlier books first. If you are a rabid (or even a casual) fan, you should love this one. If you have been kind of turned off by some of the ""over the top"" antics in previous novels but like the overall character and concept, then give this on a try. It will be hard to be disappointed.I give it five of five because it is timely, it is a page-turner, and it is freaking Mitch Rapp! It wasn't quite what I thought I wanted, but it ended up being what I might have needed.",5.0,A Little Different...but...perhaps helpful?,1224633600,"10 22, 2008",116,132,helpful,0.8787878787878788,1 A29EHXC7NHP4PD,0373291132,Betsy Lord,"[9, 9]","Great story about a young woman named Angelena who arrives in Edgewood, Texas with no memory of her past. She does not realize that she was raped on the train and is now pregnant. Angel has a lovely voice, gets a job singing in the local saloon and stirs the interest of the local Sheriff Wes Tanner who for some reason is drawn to her. The story has wonderful sub-characters Dex and Pip, his parents Rosemary and Gabe whose story was told in the first book of this series called "The Bachelor Tax" which I have not read but have ordered. Eventually Tanner convinces Angel to marry him, and the story of their pasts begins to surface. This enables them to finally realize their love for one another and to be able to deal with the future what ever it may hold.",5.0,Tanner Stakes His Claim,958867200,"05 21, 2000",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 ALZ14G4T1JZSU,0764207474,Marcy,"[0, 0]",I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It is clean and the characters are engaging! The plot lines keep you coming back for more.,5.0,Very Enjoyable,1388534400,"01 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Z1DOBASN3YZB,0374123667,"G. Messersmith ""calliopemuse""","[4, 4]","Meet Owen Wedgwood, chef for Lord Ramsey, who is slain by pirates and Wedgwood is taken hostage. Not just any pirates either but by Mad Hannah Mabbot, known for her ruthlessness and her uncanny ability to save her own life time after time. Wedgwood is miserable on board this pirate ship and doesn't understand what they want with him since they slaughtered everyone else in the house with him. Pretty soon it becomes evident, as Captain Mabbot tells him he must prepare her a special meal every Sunday and she will spare his life. At first he's not even sure he wants his life spared but pretty soon he decides he does. It's not long before you are consumed by the dishes Wedgwood creates and you find yourself pulling for the pirates as they swashbuckle across the oceans. This book is beautifully written and casts a spell on the reader wherein you can't wait to get back to the book and find out what is happening to poor Wedgwood and what that wild red-haired pirate captain is up.There are other notable characters as well. In particular and close to my heart is Joshua the deaf cabin boy who forms a special bond with Wedgwood. Mr. Apples, a giant of a man, is more than he first appears in the book. Then there are the Chinese twins, Feng and Bai, who one doesn't want to cross. Some of the other pirates get special mention in the book although in lesser roles. Then there are the bad guys who are pushing the opium trade and getting rich. You can see this book is rich with extraordinary characters.I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves adventures, mysteries, love stories, and/or just a well told story. You won't be disappointed.",5.0,Story Telling at its Best,1366675200,"04 23, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2G37L091DHJPT,B007IOATKW,Joanne Kelly,"[0, 1]","I have thoroughly enjoyed most of the Spinward series, but this one was not nearly as interesting. In addition, I find the errors a detraction. However, I look forward to reading future installments, especially if they are up to the same quality as the beginning of this series.",3.0,SciFiReader,1352419200,"11 9, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3RI1O8159T7L2,069620777X,Alix Leonard,"[15, 16]","As soon as I read the customer revivew that referred to this book as a "chick flick" book, I knew I had to have it. I wasn't disappointed, either. It shows styles ranging from serene and pared down to kitschy, but each of them is lovable and cottage-cozy. And that is what we want in our home. I design all kinds of rooms for clients, but when I get home I want to sink into overstuffed chairs and have my favorite things around me. I have a lot of clients, too, who want me to use cottage furnishings and fabrics to turn their homes into "weekend cottages." As a designer, I appreciate the fact that the book doesn't promote cluttered decorating but offers sound design advice on mixing colors, fabric patterns, and arranging collections and furnishings. This is a happy, snug little book on a style that never seems to die.",5.0,I agree this is a "chick flick" book,980208000,"01 23, 2001",15,16,helpful,0.9375,1 A38N5WAMPE808U,0060508205,Hollywood Hack,"[0, 3]","The early years of Traci's life outshine most of what is written in this autobiography, detailing her abusive father who in a jealous rage hit her mother and caused severe injuries. She claimed she was raped by a teenage boy when she was ten years old, if that's possible. The three years of porn are covered a bit too briefly where she has an abortion and a fake ID from Lynn, a girlfriend of her stepfather, to make it easier for her to find a job. She's arrested by the FBI for appearing in child pornography, but no one explains who tipped the FBI that she was using a false name and driver's license. The second half, her ""after porn"" life seems to dissolve our sympathies as it plows on. An agent produces a legal adult film and bails her out of her financial troubles. He lives together with her and wants to marry her. She moves out and marries a prop man from a John Waters film instead. Here, she believes unproven rumors he is having an affair with an actress while she goes out and dates her hairstylist, even buying sex toys together. But she expects him to be faithful while she travels on location, flirting with the leading man on every film. This is supposed to be grounds for divorce for her and Brook who she said she was very much in love with. The easiest route for failure in a film career is to form relationships with a man who is evaluated in terms of promoting your own status and advancement, and measuring everything and everyone else in the same way, otherwise known as ""screwing your way to the top."" Even today, some still believe Traci's underage porn films were part of a secret scheme she had to bankrupt and ruin those who produced them. A footnote: Children of the Night, a group protecting runaway children, had a profit sharing agreement with publishers of this book. This might account for the fact that mostly just negative experiences in Traci's porn film career were included.",3.0,These are The Days of Traci's Lives!,1278547200,"07 8, 2010",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1ZTA17Z4A2O2R,0984951849,Frank Evans,"[0, 0]",M D Grayson has created a great character and this book is as good as the others. I highly recommend this book for readers of mysteries and readers of detective stories as well as those who just appreciate reading a good story.,5.0,Another Great Danny Logan story,1396483200,"04 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VH0MPBKX6NQ4,1477809686,Donna John,"[0, 0]",Enjoyed this book of Terri's trilogy. Moves along so smoothly and keeps you hoping for more. I loved this island series!,5.0,DonnaJ,1399852800,"05 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AV0WASU4N2PGD,0984724311,Ronda Tutt,"[17, 17]","Gabrielle Bisset you have woven a brilliant story that has changed my heart and attitude toward a criminally insane character. Wow! You took a selfish criminal character ""Amon"" from your first book that was put in Nil (Prison) for his abuse of time-travel power and manipulating situations for his own satisfaction and turn him into a hero and a renewed, humble, loving, giving, and sexy as hell man.I loved how you turned the perspectives around and made his actions somewhat justifiable as he learned from his mistakes and finally shows regret for his actions. Beautifully Done!The writing was superb, creative, and visually addicting as the scenes came alive on the first page and I learned more about the creative worldly realms that co-exist. I went from not knowing what to think about this criminal Amon from the first book who I had in my mind I did not care for too much to feeling sadness for the man and then rooting him on throughout the whole story as he showed a different side of himself.The characters connected beautifully and I thought Thea (Aeveren Healer) and Amon (Aeveren) were perfect for each other. Their erotic love scenes were perfect and so Hot! Your description for Amon's body is one that had my mouth drooling every time it got to him taking his clothes off - LOL.This story was so full of action besides all the drama and kept my mind entertained throughout the whole book. I literally couldn't put the book down and was glued to every sentence as I anticipated what was going to happen next.I loved the ending and knew it was coming to an end but for some reason I looked up for a second and thought to myself ""Man, I could really keep reading this story forever"". I am definitely addicted to this series and can hardly wait to see who the author will write about next.Excellent Read!",5.0,Superb and Creatively Written!,1319068800,"10 20, 2011",17,17,helpful,1.0,1 AEB45TKHZI37F,0590519565,Nathan,"[0, 0]","Defenders of the Dead, the 5th Jedi Apprentice book, is a realblessing. The first two were excellent, the third good but boring,and the fourth had degraded to pointless meandering. So it was with some skepticism that I finally pickup up this one.At first I was dissappointed...But through the second half of the book, the character interactions between Master and Apprentice were getting interesting, things were actually happening, and we got a neat cliffhanger... I've found myself enjoying the YA SW books again.Recommended",4.0,Back on track,956707200,"04 26, 2000",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3G5SFSBUZ542Q,0964711613,RLL,"[4, 5]","One of Jenny's strength is that she has taught herself to read technical and research papers. She also seems to have enough connections that she has access to the complete and original papers many of the rest of us do not. I have long been advised that most research is 'crap or near crap', mostly because most of it is supported by companies who have an interest in the results. And it is very difficult and usually expensive to do medical research well and do it right. I have also been advised to NEVER depend upon abstracts - they frequently are misleading or entirely wrong. I have bought a number of copies and passed them on, and will continue to do so.",5.0,technical note on Blood Sugars 101,1321920000,"11 22, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AGBQXF4REU594,0471089702,"D. Thomas ""Grimmshade""","[7, 13]","This book gives a good general overview of Saigo's life.However, a word of warning. I found the book to be very "textbook" in its style, and did not feel as though I really knew Saigo when finished. It tells of his life, but does not really give you a feel for the man himself. Perhap's the inclusion of a few of Saigo's personal letters would have helped. (which are often referenced, but rarely quoted)Furthermore, I was a little confused as to exactly why all the Samurai at the time looked up to Saigo so much in his early career. The book could have included a little more connection with samurai culture and other influencing factors.I am by no means bashing the book, and I recommend it to anyone who would like to know what the film "The Last Samurai" SHOULD have been about.",3.0,Good but very "textbook",1071705600,"12 18, 2003",7,13,helpful,0.5384615384615384,1 A34158CSXI5SMH,0373039549,"C. Carter ""Sleep with a librarian, you'll lea...","[0, 0]","In typical American Romance style, it was quick, cute, and a standard romance.The personal drama of the cowboy wasn't that PULL YOU IN WORTHY but the chemistry between the characters was enough that it kept you reading. The side characters were well developed and amusing, they kept you laughing and reading.I'd read more from this author and in this collection.",3.0,Expected but cute,1354924800,"12 8, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MU76IERZPZGX,B00JDLFHRI,Bavila,"[0, 0]",Wow ... unexpected but so need my fix of Four Score. Is it May 26th yet? I hate waiting but so worth it.,5.0,Must read! Keeps you in suspense!,1396224000,"03 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AYU1K90N85RSX,0700616748,"I. Kant ""ender314""","[4, 6]","This is a perfectly decent biography of Taft. It appears to be balanced and relatively thorough. However, it suffers from four weaknesses. First, it primarily deals with Taft's four-year presidency. Only a few pages are devoted to his life before or after. But I *think* that this fits with the requirements of the U. Kansas ""American Presidency Series"" of which it is a part. Second, the book is a bit dull. Admittedly Taft was a dull guy, as was his presidency. But the author does not do a great job of creating a sense of tension or drama. Third, there is considerable repetition (about what policies and philosophies Taft stood for/against). Fourth, the author probably could have more fleshed out the political, economic, and social context so that we could better understand early 1900s America and Taft's course through it. That is, the author doesn't do a great job of ""putting you there"". In sum, it's not a bad bio, just not a great one either. As an alternate, I skimmed the more recent bio by Jonathan Lurie, it covers all of Taft's life in only 200 pages, but I don't know if it addresses the other weaknesses mentioned above.",3.0,A serviceable but dull and abreviated bio,1345075200,"08 16, 2012",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1BZR9WC10WBCQ,1484909917,Tammy Towner,"[4, 5]",I absolutely loved this book. I simply couldn't put it down. I laughed out loud several times. Very cute. I was so excited to find out that this story is going to continue. I HIGHLY recommend you started reading it immediately.,5.0,LOVED this book,1368489600,"05 14, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A17VFAOQ2R2BWA,B0064BYJN8,Randal Braxton,"[0, 0]","I enjoyed this story of hope, and hope that there are more with happy endings than not in real life.",4.0,Hope,1365724800,"04 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2KJ18SSPD4ZTS,0615744257,SMBrown,"[4, 6]",I'm speechless this book sucked me in and took me for a ride.... The way the book ended is OMG! Pearl has been thru so much it's almost like she's a little girl who didn't grow up and was disappointed in men her whole life. I now understand so much more after she reveals the things she went thru she has serious insecurities about men and her self worth.. I cannot wait for the 3rd book to come out........,5.0,Wow!!!!,1356134400,"12 22, 2012",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1S2N74E7R689G,1848546696,"NYC Composer ""bjfmusic""","[41, 52]","While I was a sobbing mess at My Friend Leonard, and a huge fan of Frey's work - I, too, was chomping at the bit to get his new novel. There is no denying this man, Frey, is a superbly talented writer. While his newest novel may not be for everyone, it is still well-written, gripping at times, entertaining and ultimately thought-provoking. If this is your first Frey, do start and read his novels in order, beginning with ""A Million Little Pieces"". Then and only then can you appreciate the phenomenal writing of Frey. Well done James.",4.0,"Not his best, but Frey is still amazing",1305331200,"05 14, 2011",41,52,helpful,0.7884615384615384,1 A2BHXS7H0E6MB7,B007FWO19W,catbyte,"[10, 15]","What a load.If I could have given this piece of partisan, unpatriotic crap no stars or negative stars, I would have.",1.0,This is my first three-word book review,1340064000,"06 19, 2012",10,15,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 ALDK2NN8MSY2Y,0500050678,"William Holmes ""semloh2287""","[5, 7]","""The World of the Celts"" is an excellent if somewhat superficial survey of Celtic history. The narrative focuses on the period from the emergence of Celtic culture in the first millennium BC through the collapse of the western Roman Empire, but it also touches upon the preservation and revival of Celtic culture through modern times.The book is at times a bit dry--it's more like an encyclopedia or a series of brief topical essays than a sustained narrative. Having said that, the subject matter is very interesting and the short ""chapters"" make the book easy to pick up and read as time permits.The photographs, drawings and other illustrations are quite impressive. They helped me to better appreciate the enormous artistic accomplishments of the Celts.",4.0,Informative and Beautifully Illustrated,1033776000,"10 5, 2002",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2HLDJAXE9U9HI,0553586521,Mrs. K,"[8, 14]","Are you KIDDING?That was my thought after completing this novel. Horribly cliched with second-grader knowledge of horses, a plot too silly to comprehend, a child that simply gets dragged to one ranch after another and apparently (other than music and horses) receives no education, and a couple of horses who know how to get to (for the love of Pete!) an engine in the desert. Throw in sex, guns, an untouchable evil person and a woman who is the only person in the WORLD who can tame the wild Pair. I guess you call it a book. YIKES.Masochistic streak. Yup, that's why I finished it.",1.0,Ick.,1146787200,"05 5, 2006",8,14,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 AQUGE95YUTJEF,1433524724,Don Toth,"[0, 0]",Indeed a simple reading version as an alternative to my PC study software are geared for professional level research. I use it at work on break alot.,5.0,Great For Reading,1390780800,"01 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NHD7LUXVGTD3,1555976352,doc peterson,"[4, 4]","The idea behind _Incarnadine_ intrigued me - a collection of poems inspired by and about the annunciation. The body of work itself is alternately beautiful, brilliantly clever, and unsettlingly intimate (how does one respond to the news that they are about to be the mother of god?) with a wry wit and sharp eye for detail and celebration in the common and mundane.The variety of poetic styles, perspectives and conclusions Szybist makes in her poetry are not only beautiful, but fun - yes, fun - to read. "Annunication in Nabokov and Starr" for example, juxtapose segments from _The Starr Report_ (Kenneth Starr's investigation into the Lewinsky affair) with _Lolita_. In "Annunication in Byrd and Bush" Szybist similarly lifts segments from Sen. Robert Byrd's remarks to the Senate with former President H.W. Bush's address to a joint session of Congress. "How (Not) To Speak to God" is written in the form of the rays of a sun, each ray its own line with no clear beginning or end - which, I assume, is part of the point. "It Is Pretty to Think" takes on the form of a diagrammed sentence. Each of these has a playfulness that is so often removed from poetry it is a joy to read - much as (for Christians - and Mary, I imagine) there was joy in learning of the birth of Jesus.This is not to suggest that the collection has anything of a religious focus - while the underlying theme is by definition religious in nature, Syzbist highlights the everyday beauty of life and the simple pleasure of ordinariness. For example, in "Update on Mary" Syzbist writes, "Mary always thinks that as soon as she gets a few more things done and finishes the dishes, she will open herself to God. / At they gym, Mary watches shows about how she should dress herself, so each morning she tries on several combinations of skirts and heels before retreating to her waterproof boots. This takes a long time, so Mary is busy ..."Often while reading these poems I caught myself smiling or chuckling quietly, such was the joy and fun I had in the reading. Highly recommended.",5.0,"clever, witty and beautiful",1393804800,"03 3, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AE2B4OJJ7AI57,0877735891,art owen,"[0, 3]","Not my cup of tea, but that reflects on me and not the author. My readings lately have been on the scientific side, and non-fictional works. I am unprepared to enter the Jungian world of the unconscious where, to my way of thinking, concepts are rather nebulous.But, then again, what do I know?",2.0,Alchemy,1384819200,"11 19, 2013",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2TUWF4UNXLZRP,1880656345,Kelvin S. Yew,"[9, 11]","To even some of the most seasoned travellers to Japan, Tokyo is, as is on a global perspective, a convenient transit point. A hub for individuals jetting off to Asia, America, or even to more picturesque locales in Japan.Our impression of Tokyo is commonly that of a post-war urban sprawl firebombed of traditional architecture by B29s. Not so, Rick Kennedy asserts.In this handy little travel booklet (one assumes its size is not coincidental), you see the charms of the city gradually revealed to you. From the obscure and esoteric art of kohdo (or incense appreciation), to a day of indoor skiing, this book has enough to keep you occupied for a good two weeks. One wishes that an edition for kyoto is in the works.The "adventures" - 39 in all - are mainly walking tours based on a theme. The touristy stuff is here, like the wee hours at Tsukiji Market, but expect also to find the hole-in-the-wall tempura joints and nomiyas.Recommended, if you are in Tokyo with time to spare, not for the person with a 2 day stopover.",4.0,The insider's Japan,970185600,"09 29, 2000",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A2K3RS5QFZBWNB,1611090679,Jennifer Kline,"[9, 13]","How can you not love a book that includes a dialogue about Lady Liberty's underwear and whether or not she has a vagina or is bipolar? What spills forth from Giannina Braschi's mind is imagination on steroids with a heavy dash of wicked humor. I've also never read a book jacket description that seemed less like the novel inside. Not surprising, it's hard to categorize this style of writing. Novel, play, poem, song, diary of a lunatic? A bit of each? I enjoy opening and reading bits of the book, but I must confess I was unable to read it start to finish. I could not find, or more likely follow, Braschi's narrative thread. I'm glad something as innovative as United States of Banana exists.",5.0,Inspires Creative Awe!,1324512000,"12 22, 2011",9,13,helpful,0.6923076923076923,1 AD5E41KLIJGG2,0143114964,Magical Dragon,"[0, 0]","The first part he shows great studies about nutrition. In the second part, he draws conclusions that are not based upon the research he just talked about. Probably because his love of vegetarianism. If you want to be vegetarian because you love animals, that may be a great thing. But to say it's healthier without any proof is misleading.I really loved ""Eat, Drink and be Healthy"" by Walter Willet. He is a trained epidemiologist and was head of the Harvard's Department of Nutrition. He states the conclusions of the best scientific studies without interjecting many of his personal opinions.",3.0,Not science based,1394841600,"03 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1F7CMDX6QDJVA,0849921287,"shoutgrace ""savedbyhisgrace""","[0, 0]","Is it ever a wonder that Max Lucado is truly anointed by the Lord to touch your heart? In 'No Wonder They Call Him the Savior: Chronicles from the Cross', Lucado gets to the heart of the matter. Even to his Irish friend, Ian who had been there and done that. Tired of religion and theology. When everything else seems empty. What really mattered? He wanted treasure. The answer: The Cross.As it is written, from Paul in I Corithians, chapter 15.For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures....From the Cross comes Words spoken in the Lord's final acts. The words come from Luke, chapter 23. He spoke to all of us through time. He saw each one of us. From His suffering, His pain and His shame to our sickness, our sin and our doubt. His cry, "Father, forgive them." [Luke 23:34] was enough. To all the Bernhard Goetz's who lash out in anger for injustice. There is justice. To the criminal who died on the Cross next to the Savior there is hope. For those finding a way out there is pardon and forgiveness. To the solider or missionary who leaves loved ones behind. For Love is built NOT on passion and romance but on mission and sacrifice. That eternity is closer than any Good-bye, but in reality 'see you soon.' To all the Judith Bucknell's who cry in loneliness. He reached out from the Cross to your lonely heart. It was Jesus in his hour of abandonment, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' [Matthew 27:46]. When no one else loves you. He is going to love you. He always has. He was fulfilling prophecy. When you're tired and thrist. He knows that, too. God became flesh and dwelt with us to know everything we have ever done with compassion He carried it with Him to the Cross.The witnesses who were there and saw the miracle of salvation. Even those who ran away. There was a great price paid. He sacrified His life. We all know what had happened that day. The message is in our tears. No education, maturity or religion can separate us from His passion. From the Cross' wisdom comes the open arms of undying Love and a place to come home to. Only that wisdom lies NOT as men sees it, but in Faith in the Power of God. The evidence in an empty tomb. So what does really matter to you? I'd say a living God in the flesh, making the most important decision in your life, to spread the news 'in an information age, NOT regeneration.' In Jesus' words, 'Will you tell them?' 'Will you tell them I came back and that I'm coming back again.' Will you?NOTE: Contains a Study Guide at the end for each chapter for further study plus added notes. To Max, May God continually Bless you as you Bless us with your gift. In the Love of Jesus.",5.0,No Wonder Such A Wonderful Book,1048032000,"03 19, 2003",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ABLRWZA40GHJK,1400034639,"ct reader ""logos.hfd""","[8, 11]","This work explores war's universal power based on the firsthand experience of a talented correspondent. Vivid episodes illustrate the nature of human conflict (myth, nationalism, seduction, addiction, comradeship, alienation, etc) in conflicts around the world.Published on the eve of the Iraq invasion, audiences prevented Hedges from speaking, and ideologues launched smear campaigns to prevent sober dialogue. All unwittingly illustrated the irrational, irresistible, and intoxicating attraction of war so aptly described by the author.This work was pleasure to read.",4.0,Important,1134172800,"12 10, 2005",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A3DXXCKWO948Y6,0615827446,Carolyn Cassels,"[0, 0]","I was hooked from the first page. Bought the first eight, now waiting for the next (#9). Read portions at a time is fun. Now let's have the next!",4.0,Sexy & Steamy Serial,1374883200,"07 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A6D07P6DHMXIP,1414359519,"L. Courtney ""Book Mom""","[0, 0]","I've never been one to be really interested in all of the JFK conspiracy theories. My mother can recall the exact moment of the assassination. And I've read about the event. But I honestly haven't ever read or watched much about the different theories surrounding the event.Frame 232 is a fictionalized novel about what could have happened the day Kennedy was shot.In this story, Sheila inherits some old film from her mother. When she reads her mother's letter and watches the film, she realizes that all these years her mother has held on to the secret that could let the world finally know exactly what happened at the assassination. She seeks the help of a billionaire who has made it his mission to solve famous mysteries. When the two of them realize exactly what they have on film, their lives are immediately in danger. They have to put the pieces of the puzzle together while being chased by those who want the secrets to stay hidden.I really enjoyed this read. It was exciting and dynamic from the very beginning. The characters were interesting and compelling. The story was believable. The quick pace of the adventure definitely made this one a page turner.Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.",5.0,Great Suspense,1372982400,"07 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1OM0EUPUT116D,1434799808,Don Fosen,"[5, 7]","The questions in this book are good worthwhile questions that everyone should ponder, Christian or not. The answers are frequently superficial and sometimes logically inconsistent. I found the point about God not knowing the future to be outright silly if not blasphemous. Get anything by Philip Yancey if you really want to examine these issues.",2.0,"Good questions, silly answers",1202428800,"02 8, 2008",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3S3QIR1UTAGY4,0373278411,Diane,"[0, 0]",Always enjoyed the original series and I'm definitely enjoying the next generation. I think this one rehashed Nora' s attack one to many times and how she was or wasn't dealing with it. I also liked the hero. Other than that it was good and I will continue to visit Conard County again.,4.0,Conard County,1399766400,"05 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3TP31S61PPE3G,1607352990,AlexJouJou,"[4, 7]","Firstly I agree with Rachel in that this was an amazing look at a power exchange in its very truest sense. Ori is such a compelling character that it is as if he reaches out to you and sucks you right in to his world, his heart, his desires. He is so earnest and the inner dialogue written for him so honest that you just immediately feel for him.Raynard took a bit of time to grow on me but he was simply outstanding at knowing what Ori needed and when he needed it - and in that relationship the dynamics of what a dominant and submissive are or can be are so compellingly written there is just on question for you but to accept it. What happens after Ori's first full shift was not wholly unexpected yet it did shock me - and I think I felt as nervous and stressed as Ori with the situation as it occured! I won't spoil it other than to say that the characters will steal your breath away and keep you reading until the last click when you sigh just that dreamy sigh of satisfaction that says ""what a fabulous read"".",5.0,Amazing look at a D/s relationship that is beautiful and compelling,1291680000,"12 7, 2010",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A2OYJAGHGP8IVM,1582434646,"Craig M. Welsch ""Manic Reader""","[5, 6]","This novel has a great premise and actually combines two areas that interest me and I would assume would interest a lot of other obsessive readers like me, but too much of it fails to deliver and therefore falls flat. I very much enjoyed the combination of the two worlds (Scotland and Colonial America) but the author fails to explore any of the ""color"" that the premise offers. I would have liked to see more descriptions of the Native American culture through the eyes of the Scottish immigrant protagonist. It fails as a mystery, it fails as historical novel and therefore was a failure overall for me. I did not keep my copy of the novel as it is not something I would enjoy rereading. I donated my copy to my local library so that maybe someone who would really appreciate it might find it.",3.0,No delivery,1207353600,"04 5, 2008",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AOENSJXMTGVY9,1620610094,Belle,"[0, 0]",I'm so glad I waited till now to read the series so I don't have to wait long for t next book. So excited for the next book. A great addition to my kindle.,5.0,I love this series....,1376179200,"08 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AAPFCG9QSZSPD,149031802X,Anonomus,"[0, 0]","I loved that Emerson didn't hide who she was, that she embarrassed it, so she was a slut at least she was honest about it. Oh and Jaxon, yes please!!!!! Him and Jace seem like a dream, I'm waiting rather impatiently for the next book by Kimberly Lauren!!!!!",5.0,Absolutely adored this book!,1372464000,"06 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AKXIWXKNA35YB,1461071798,Mommy loves to read,"[0, 0]",I loved this book. It has a great message behind it. I laughed a lot and cried a lot more. This is a must-read for everyone!,5.0,Happy Birthday to Me,1369267200,"05 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DU9QVI0CYHCG,0425168964,redhot,"[0, 0]",I really enjoyed this book.I liked the way the characters and settings were done and I am certainly going to read more of this series.,5.0,very good start for a series,1316908800,"09 25, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17FMNXAZSQHPO,0307275833,"Maggie (Lynda) Harris ""Proud Book Worm""","[4, 5]","I am a new fan of Chuck's. I've read all his books in the past year and he is quickly becoming a favorite author.I loved Rant. I am a huge fan of non linear stories that make me pay attention and makes me want to reread parts to make sure I ""got"" it all. For those who need their hand held or for those who like having a clean ending where everything is explained this book isn't for you.Rant is a guy with interesting habits which include trading teeth for antique coins, having poisonous and rabid animals bite him for fun and maybe just maybe time travel.While the first few pages gives away the whole plot you really need to read the whole book to get it. The time travel element (if it was even real which Chuck leave up to the reader to decide) doesn't show up till half way through the book.Like most of Palahniuk's characters Rant is hard to pigeon hole. Was he a sociopath or just brilliant? Was he an incestuous rapist or a desperate man?Rant is my second favorite Palahniuk. I still prefer Lullaby more..",4.0,Almost my favorite Palahniuk book...almost.,1179792000,"05 22, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1L3ASUFB9GKGS,B009Y89O06,"Mary B. ""Gods girl""","[0, 0]","Loved it. It had everything you would ever want from a love story with cultural differences, and one very jealous social worker bringing problems. There was quite a bit of shyness on Jenny's part which wasn't necessary after a while. She was a social worker/ mental health worker after all,but given her habitual problems with the opposite sex I guess that was understandable. Clint, a desert storm vet and social worker ( one typo that called him Cliff) was a wonderful hero, with his own issues, but with a tender heart . I was fascinated with the Native American customs.The story takes place in the Cascade mountains of Washngton where the VA workers from the western states gathered to learn more about the vets they worked with. Lots of steamy love scenes. I just loved this story.",5.0,Jenny's last stand,1363219200,"03 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2Y263KUNVBN3H,B00BFQM4V6,Helen J.,"[0, 0]","I have been waiting for this book and this character since he nearly stole the story in book one of this series, Rogue Countess.Leif Riley, Viscount Neville, is a celebrated rake and professional lover of women who are married--just not to him. For his devoted attention and unique skills, they lavish him with gifts and gold. His reputation is that of a libertine, and it's well deserved, but its ultimate purpose is much less debauched. That goal is nearly within Leif's grasp when he finds himself head-over-heels for an innocent Irish lass debuting under the wing of his closest friend.Abbigael Granger has come to London to snag a husband before her secrets catch up with her. A rake like Viscount Neville is not what she wants or needs, but she can't forget his kiss. One compromising situation leads to another, and when they are caught, neither chooses to back out. A typical book would end here, but more upheavals await for this sassy, sexy pair as the professional lover must learn what it really means to fall in love.",5.0,"A Sassy, Sexy Book",1372636800,"07 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35JQNJCE24RF3,B00J5PQTF6,Sylvia,"[5, 7]","Once my book reloaded, I was able to read the entire book instead of 2 pages. Haley & Grant's story is wonderful. Love that Lauren and Chase had some parts in this book. I hope Haley's story comes out soon.",5.0,another hit by Jill Sanders,1397520000,"04 15, 2014",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A29M09QBG9TZLP,0439895979,"Shana ""That's my opinion- I could be wrong!""","[0, 0]","What's the premise of ""Beauty Queens""? Think ""Lord of the Flies"" meets an all girl's ""Gilligan's Island"". When a plane carrying Miss Teen Dream beauty pageant contestants crash lands on an island, only a handful of the girls survive. Two of the girls quickly come to the leader positions. The remaining girls quickly get into separate cliques. One of the girls trys to get the girls to do everything they can to survive. The other leader wants them to practice their talents and the dance numbers so that they will be ready for the pageant and/or making reality shows when they are rescued. Add in a secondary plot of a secret military base and some ship wrecked pirates and you're in for a funny read.This book had a satire and tongue-in-cheek humor. I thought it was amusing how the different characters acted and what's important to them in a life and death situation. Even though this book is comedic, it has some underlying seriousness that questions cultural expectations that we have about what it means to be a woman; like why are women always apologizing for expressing a strong opinion.The only things I really didn't like in this book were the sexual aspects and the foul language. If you're conservative about sexual encounters you might want to skip this one. It seems to be a book more for an older audience at times. Personally, I wouldn't let my 14 year old read this. Also, there's footnotes on various cultural subjects mentioned in the story which, were entertaining to me the first chapter, but started to irritate me after that.Overall, a cute satire, with some underlying seriousness which at times was entertaining. Though, I'd say this would be more for an over 17 audience. Over the top characters, a fun read, not to be taken too seriously! I'd rate it 3.5 stars.",4.0,Lord of the Flies meets an all girl's Gilligans Island,1309737600,"07 4, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KFBOVBQ5JR13,1455578452,Shirley Ross Brown,"[0, 0]",Robin Roberts is my hero. She had turned her "mess into a message." When you read this book you will understand what I am talking about.,5.0,Everybody's Got Something,1403481600,"06 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PHVLYS6T4YW5,1569474818,T. Berner,"[9, 11]","People read mysteries for plot, setting or characters. You're usually lucky to find a writer who satisfies with two out of three of these elements, but Martin Limon is one of the few mystery writers who does well on all three. His police procedural plots reflect the thought processes of the solid investigator that he was when he was in the military and he captures the odd clash of cultures between the Republic of Korea and the U.S. Army of the 1970s. Sueno and Bascombe, his characters are a wonderful combination of brains and brawn. Both characters came from bad childhoods to find a home in the Army. Particularly affecting is Agent Sueno's continuing discovery of Korean culture.That said, I agree with the two other critics. One suspects that Mr. Limon's agent bullies him into over the top scenes in order to sell his books to the movies (a roller coaster ride in a mine car in Buddha's Gold and, here, the destruction of a 30 foot statue of an MP by an armored vehicle). He is too fine a writer to have to rely on such grandstanding to produce solid entertainment. Also, his two characters have made the military a career and Mr. Limon clearly appreciates the finer aspects of military life, so he should acknowledge that along the way. True, the military, especially in the 1970s, had a rough time of it, but one of the attractions of his heroes is that they try to uphold the military virtues against a host of bad guys.Still, no Limon is worth passing up. You always have plot, setting and character.",4.0,Limon Always Hits a Triple,1197331200,"12 11, 2007",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A3J1DBKMCPUPHC,0385511396,P. Wheeler,"[6, 6]","As much a workout as a read, the nearly 600 pages about the life and times of the immortal bard leave the reader (at least, this reader) with the feeling that they have completed a marathon rather than a book.But don't get me wrong, even though it is hard work and I admit to taking a few breaks to read something a lot lighter before coming back to it, it's well worth the effort. Ackroyd gives us a well researched book that mixes biography with social history. Every fact and conjecture is examined, its provenance studied and the case for and against discussed. We're left with a life where every known, evidence-backed, fact is used to build a skeleton upon which the inevitably weaker anecdote and supposition that makes up the bulk of available data can be hung. The Body that Ackroyd then presents to us is probably closer than any other representation that I've seen or read.He gives us Shakespeare the businessman, sometime money lender and property speculator, Shakespeare the husband and family man, Shakespeare the (possibly) recusant catholic in a protestant England where catholic persecution was still common and, of course, Shakespeare the performer and writer.He deals well with the awkward question of plagiarism, Shakespeare's shameless `borrowing' of plot and prose from other writers by putting it in the context of the theatre of the time - much like our own media today; where if one network comes up with a winning format, the others all race to mimic it.The inevitable question of whether someone else actually wrote the plays is dismissed out of hand early on, unlike other books that devote a chapter or more to the subject, Ackroyd's case is that it's not worth discussing, that it is of interest only to the type of person who wants to believe that Elvis is alive and well and working in McDonalds. Instead he shows, throughout the book, how known incidents and influences from Shakespeare's life turn up in the plays in such detail that the question becomes moot.More interesting are the discussions about Shakespeare's religion and sexuality. He came from a dangerous background, heavily influenced by recusant and secretly practising catholics, many of whom were arrested. Yet religion played only a small part in the plays, certainly nowhere near as much as mythology and mysticism. The discussion and a possible explanation is a recurring theme all through the book. The other question that is fashionable amongst Shakespeare scholars, that of his sexuality, whether he was heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual is dealt with in one chapter that seeks to neither sensationalise nor moralise. Certainly eroticism had a major role in many of the plays and sonnets, although it may seem muted by today's standards. Certainly some of sonnets had more than one meaning and one of Shakespeare's wealthy patrons was (probably) an outrageous transvestite, but Ackroyd examines this, once again, in the context of Tudor morality rather than that of the 20th and 21st century and presents very reasonable conclusions.All to often however Ackroyd does fall into the trap of all Shakespeare biographers, the tendency to try to fill the gaps in evidence with opinion. While the opinion may be sound, the reader has to be careful to differentiate fact from theory. There is, for example an often irritating use of terms like ""it seems obvious that..."" and ""it can be safely assumed that..."" when, unless the writer is drawing on sources that are not mentioned, there is little to back up the claims.All in all, well worth the effort to read it.",4.0,"Annoying at times, but well worth reading.",1301875200,"04 4, 2011",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 ARILG9AYOD20K,0937274879,"C. Matte ""dinosmile""","[5, 5]","This is a beautiful book that will provide plenty of inspiration for both new and experienced bookbinders. The book begins by explaining the basic structure of a book and then sets your imagination loose. It contains a number of different bindings from the very simple to the more complex with clear instructions and illustrations. The illustrations for stitching were particularly helpful for me. Cover to Cover is great for beginners, as it starts with some very basic bindings (i.e. pamphlet stitch), but the gallery of artist books should make up the difference for the more advanced artist. Building upon the basic bindings explained earlier, the artist books are whimsical, creative, and lots of fun. Sometimes when I'm stuck for inspiration, I use this book to kick-start my creativity. Definitely get a copy of this book!",5.0,Highly Recommended,1046995200,"03 7, 2003",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1BLUV2O0HTOV1,1416950230,"David Orman ""David O""","[8, 12]","Initial chapters of the book focus on Floyd's childhood and early beginnings. It is a little slow here and one is tempted to dismiss it outright. However, once the stories and insights about the Tours come forth, it becomes an extremely interesting and entertaining book. His trials and tribulations with Lance and Discovery are quite candid.Toward the last 1/3 or so, get the medical dictionary out as it becomes a somewhat technical presentation of doping. It is also here that that is extraordinarily revealing.Believe him or not regarding the reasons or theories as to why so many errors occurred, it is hard to disagree that in fact, something is very wrong with in the world of WADA.I believe that Floyd is the true winner of the 06 Tour de France. After reading this book, you will as well.",5.0,Revealing Book,1182816000,"06 26, 2007",8,12,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A29SI70VWX82AL,B009MTO9UW,Arshad Ahsanuddin,"[0, 0]","The focus shifts in this volume away from the police procedural to the expansion of Mac and Tony's domestic lives in the wake of their coming out publicly and acquiring responsibility for two children in Breaking Cover. The character portrayals were believable and true to form. Interestingly, the major holes in the book seem to come from the police mystery part of the story. For example, I never really got a handle on the official relationship between Mac and Oliver. They say they are partners, but that would imply they were equals, and Oliver seems to repeatedly take charge of the investigation and assign alternate partners to Mac when he goes to interrogate witnesses. This becomes a major plot point later on, in a way that I didn't buy. Mac is not stupid enough to act in the professionally irresponsible manner that puts him in serious danger this time, regardless of the fact that the blame was placed on the head of his stand-in partner. Otherwise, it was a nice character study, and puts a much more positive spin on their established relationship than their furtive courtship.",4.0,Nice protrayal of consequences from the events of the previous book,1388620800,"01 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PLXC73Q6Y8HB,1934733210,"M. L. Ambrose ""mlambrose""","[8, 10]","I love faction and this has a time frame I enjoy. Interesting, but much too long. The author goes off on descriptive tangents that are unnecessary and distracting. I do love the characterizations of John Marshall (not what I would have expected), and Patrick Henry (pretty much as I would picture him). In all, an interesting concept. It says a lot about the high profile families of early Virginia.",3.0,faction,1331424000,"03 11, 2012",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A2DBYE3W64W6KD,B00D8T3GQU,Alix S,"[12, 14]","I loved this book! I would have loved it for $7.99, and that's saying a lot! Each of the stories was super engaging with great characters and satisfying plots -- no ""Why are these people still not together?"" feelings reading any of the four. And they were all woven together very skillfully, so that I never felt like I was reading the same old scene over and over again from different POVs. It's rare that I read a romance novel that still has me thinking about the characters a few days later, but this one was like that. Nice!",5.0,Excellent Read and a Great Value!,1370995200,"06 12, 2013",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 AKL856WHS4NZM,1936746352,Roger Leonhardt,"[4, 6]","When I saw the title of this book I was reminded of a book by Jay Adams called, ""From Forgiven to Forgiving: Learning to Forgive One Another God's Way"". When I first read Adams' book, it caused me to rethink my whole view of forgiveness.Seeing that this book was in the same vein, I looked forward to building onto the foundation that Adams started. That was not the case.Even though the author dealt with the subject from the same point of view, it seemed his theology is somewhat off.The premise of the book is ""Forgiveness is conditional"". That seems like a hard pill to swallow. Aren't we supposed to forgive and forget? Doesn't God hold us accountable if we do not forgive those who have wronged us?Both Mrkvicka and Adams agree that love should be unconditional but forgiveness should not. If we just forgive and forget, we do a disservice to those we are forgiving. We are not holding them accountable. We need tough love that does not say when wronged - ""It's OK, I forgive you."" We should say that it is not OK and I forgive you if you repent.Should we forgive the man that rapes a small child but has no remorse? The answer is no. Forgiveness wipes the slat clean. A slate should not be cleaned unless the person committing the crime has remorse, turned from it, and repents. That does not mean we do not love and pray for him. We are not to keep a grudge. but we are not supposed to sweep what he did under the rug either. By doing that we could be placing other children in harms way.Back to Mrkvicka's book. Even though the subject is the same as Adams, the theology and execution are not. Where Adams is clear and precise, Mrkvicka is murky and unconvincing. Theology is where Adams shines but where Mrkvickais lacking.Peppered through the whole book are jabs at those who disagree. He calls them ""New Age"" and ""deceived by Satan"". Even though this may be true in some cases, it does not serve the argument and should have been left out. Why not spend more time in the exegesis of scripture.Speaking of exegesis, where Adams writings are plenteous, Mrkvicka provides very little, if any. Where scriptures are introduced, he throws out 10 verses in succession, then explains in the Q and A section that scripture speaks for itself and need no interpretation. That seems a little lazy for a book trying to convince someone away from the majority view.All in all, the book was an okay read, but I would suggest bypassing it all together and picking up Adams' instead.I give it 2 out of 5 stars.I received this book, free of charge, from CrossLink Publishing and Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for an honest review.",2.0,"Where Adams is clear and precise, Mrkvicka is murky and unconvincing.",1369785600,"05 29, 2013",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1ASLBHC87EQG8,B00GF6BVXI,booklover10,"[7, 8]",I won a copy from the author....and I absolutely LOVED this! It was great to see more of a softer side of Dane and how much he loves Laney! I am looking forward to more of The Crew and getting to know Sawyer in the next book!,5.0,Dane is Yummy!,1383436800,"11 3, 2013",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 AT6JF8GKDMKS0,0553297953,Joss Delage,"[10, 12]","This is a great pre-cyberpunk novel. The main character, Jack Barron, is a TV journalist. His nemesis and arch-villain is one rich and ruthless industrial. He enjoys picking on that guy, and playing the part of the chivalrous, 1st amendment fanatic journalist. No problem...Then, one day, he for a change decides to run with a different story: someone has apparently been ... hmm ... buying young children from poor, very poor families... Over the course of a few weeks, Jack Barron will discover how those events are connected, who is behind all that (you have one guess...) and what is the goal behind them (do you like the idea of dying? Just asking...)Then, he will be face with the ultimate challenge... What exactly is the price of his silence?A very good book, much better written than many other Spinrad books (he's a little bit too weird for my taste, at times...) A great read.",4.0,"Cyberpunk, before Gibson & co...",957484800,"05 5, 2000",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A26QS0E09RKJE7,045146365X,"MrsLee ""Long time LibraryThing member. Love t...","[0, 0]","A great collection of short stories for the Dresden series. Several stories give perspectives from other characters in the series, some are a lighthearted break from the somberness of the series, and a couple of them made me weep. I enjoyed the snippets at the beginning of each telling why and when the author wrote it.",5.0,A wide range of goodness,1373241600,"07 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2RPZTZP8W80W,B00J6UKA9G,"Jasmyn A. Dieck ""Jasmyn""","[0, 0]","Kate is a computer whiz with her own store. But that store is at risk from the millionaire Will Thornton. He wants to knock the store down because it sits in the middle of his new development. Kate is determined to play the waiting game and hope he just goes away. Will has other plans. He thinks Kate is cute (in her own nerdy sort of way) and plans on flirting his way into getting her to sell.What follows is one of the more humorous and exciting romances I've read without actually becoming a comedy or suspense. Kate was hilarious. She's was perfectly awkward and totally unfraid to own her inner an outer nerd (there is a convention involved). Will seems to be the perfect handsome rich boy, but deep down there's more to him. As Will and Kate get to know each other both of their plans begin to crumble.But there's a third party involved that's willing to do a little more across the line type of stuff to try and get her to sell her store and it may just tear Will and Kate apart as well. I loved this book. I loved the side characters. I loved the setting. I loved the story. I don't think I would have changed anything and I've always had a soft spot for the nerd finding their perfect match.*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*",5.0,The Seduction Game,1397606400,"04 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGEH42MRTACCR,B006HMDQAG,Ambyr,"[6, 9]","No spoilers here...To be blunt, I have to compare this book to sex. It was pleasurable, unique, something different than anything I've ever had before , but man, there were times when I would have preferred to slow down and really get everything out the moment I was in before I moved on to the next part. But in the end, I enjoyed the experience so much. Yeah, it was really good for me :)I would have loved this story to slow down, give more details, let the characters develop more. It was all there, the characters, the events, the start, middle, end... but it lacked a true depth.In truth, that is a little thing overall with this incredibly unique story.What did I like best about Hurricane Regina? Well, I had NO IDEA what in the world could be coming next. Not one single idea what was to come. There wasn't a part where I knew what was about to happen. Most of the time, that's great in a book, to a degree, you want to know that you understand the characters and the situation enough to have a rough idea of what they are going to do. Here, however, it makes sense to not be able to figure it out.It's hard to know what Regina's going to do, given... wait, I said no spoilers. Well, we'll say that there's no way for us to be able to know what she's going to do next, so we'll excuse the total unpredictability here, it fits perfectly.And the ending was WAY out of left field, to boot.So in short, this was a shorter read that may have benefited from being expanded on, the characters developed more, and the events detailed a bit more. But overall, way forgivable.Would I recommend this book to anyone that wants a strange, twist on tradition, almost sci-fi almost philosophical type read.",4.0,So much here,1334275200,"04 13, 2012",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A35AEJJA8FV22J,0307275132,Vivica's Views,"[0, 0]",Mr. Russo consistently writes novels with storylines that are steeped in the humanities. He is a master at capturing the human dynamics of a situation with dialogue and narrative that is superb and he is one of the few installment authors that is not formulaic.,4.0,There's life in his prose,1041206400,"12 30, 2002",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1JAX1IP8V5GVR,1402745052,Computer User,"[0, 0]",An excellent book for protecting yourself from most common schemes to defraud you of your hard earned money. I found it up to date with practical advice about strategies to protect yourself.,5.0,Do yourself a favor and read this,1263513600,"01 15, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1IGVCKFDJA58C,0982328680,penny,"[0, 0]",It is shameful that something like this could happen and no one helped. I guess now days a person should believe anything can happen.,3.0,Shameful,1379462400,"09 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A320TMDV6KCFU,B00HRB1FX6,MNix,"[0, 0]","Several nasty shifters are gunning for his hide so it seems like the right time for tiger shifter Rico to join the relative safety of Mitchell’s Feline Coalition. Word is that the Alpha’s group is looking to add some extra assassin muscle so maybe they will let him in. Truth is, Rico is tired of looking over his shoulder every moment of every day though he’ll never admit it out loud.Accepted into the fold Rico will become part of Shane’s team and everyone knows not to mess with that leopard. As Shane shows him around the compound the tiger notices a shy little lynx shifter quietly working in the infirmary. A roof over his head, steady work, and the chance to get to know Eros, the sexiest shifter he’s ever seen. Settling down is looking better and better by the minute for one smitten assassin.It is the spark of lust and love at first sight! A powerful hired killer gives gentle confidence to an adorable medical tech in Assassin Found. Rico is a terminator by trade, raised by a cruel master, but the character is able to draw out his decency and fall in love. Assassin Found adds another enjoyable layer to the popular Lost Shifters series. Another romance is always welcome.This book was reviewed by Lisa for Joyfully Reviewed (JR), and was provided by the publisher/author at no cost to JR for the purpose of being reviewed.",5.0,"""It is the spark of lust and love at first sight! """,1405641600,"07 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2O43OY9GZ18DR,0964688638,Read-A-Lot,"[22, 25]","Wow! This is a must read by anyone who wants to understand the selling out of little Jews by prominent Jews. For so long, this has been whispered about, but these whispers have always been effectively crushed by American Jewry and Israel. The sword of anti-Semitism is quickly drawn whenever the subject is broached.After reading this book you can no longer doubt the existence, nor effectiveness of sell-out Jews. Their in-actions are no small matter in the ultimate extermination of millions.Attorney General of Israel, Chaim Cohen summed it up thusly:""For those (Hungarian Jews) and millions of Jews like them there came true the old curse, 'And lo, they were meant but to be taken like sheep for slaughter, for killing, destruction, crushing and shame.' These should escape? they had no feet on which to run. They should revolt? They had no hands on which to fight. No spirit was left in them..."" pg. 164This statement was uttered in a court as an excuse for the inactions of Israel's government, when they could have saved millions.The facts are deftly presented in this great and poetically written tale of truth. I won't go into a review of the details, that has been done already. And quite well, I may add. This book will reveal a painful part of Jewish history, that is rarely discussed. It is important to arm yourself with this kind of knowledge to prevent your being hoodwinked by the ""leaders"" and ""protectors"" of what is truth. A very worthy investment!!",5.0,"Finally, a document that can't be denied.",1145059200,"04 15, 2006",22,25,helpful,0.88,1 A1LWBT4OIUF49X,1432751018,avidreader,"[4, 5]","Entertaining and meaningful at the same time. Once you pick it up, you will not be able to put it down. Rabbit makes you think, makes you feel, and totally emerses you in the fight to redeem lost souls before it's too late.WOW! AMAZING! I am without words because I don't want to give it away to any who haven't read it. This book...I feel it, true.",5.0,A Unique Spin on Good vs. Evil,1271116800,"04 13, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2AEGAEODIRX75,0553592440,J. P.,"[19, 22]","[End of the Victorian era - England]HIS AT NIGHT is Sherry Thomas's fourth book, but the first of hers that I've read. Although I did not enjoy this book, I think Thomas is a talented author who has the ability to create interesting and complex characters.Not Quite a Husbandhas very good reader reviews, so I think I will be checking it out from the library and reading it before deciding that Thomas isn't for me.SUMMARY (from back cover):""Elissande Edgerton is a desperate woman, a virtual prisoner in the home of her tyrannical uncle. Only through marriage can she claim the freedom she craves. But how to catch the perfect man? Lord Vere is used to baiting irresistible traps. As a secret agent for the government, he's tracked down some of the most devious criminals in London, all the while maintaining his cover as one of Society's most harmless - and idiotic - bachelors. But nothing can prepare him for the scandal of being ensnared by Elissande. Forced into a marriage of convenience, Elissande and Vere are each about to discover that they're not the only one with a hidden agenda. With seduction their only weapon - and a dark secret form the past endangering both their lives - can they learn to trust each other even as they surrender to a passion that won't be denied?""OPINION:Elissande (24) and Penny/Vere (29) were interesting, multi-dimensional, and complex and if this book had been a regular non-historical-romance book of fiction, they would have made for excellent character studies and I think I would be giving it a much higher rating. This *is* a historical romance, however, and for me it just did not fulfill what I want from books in this category.A positive aspect of the book, aside from the engaging main and supporting characters, was the mystery subplot. It was interesting with some very good twists and even though I guessed some, there were others I was not at all expecting, but that made sense when revealed.My main complaint is that for me, the romance was just not there. First, this is my first Thomas book so I don't know how sensual her stories normally are, but other than one scene, HIS AT NIGHT was sadly lacking in sexual tension and chemistry (there were other instances, but they weren't very inspiring).Second, I don't find a romance very believable or enjoyable when for over half the book the heroine thinks the hero is - literally - an idiot and the hero dislikes the heroine. Second, I don't find a romance very believable or enjoyable when for over half the book the heroine thinks the hero is - literally - an idiot and the hero dislikes the heroine. They didn't spend enough time with one another as their ""true"" selves, without the masks and fake personalities to hide behind.Another point of contention for me was that the book takes place over just a few weeks, yet in that time two strangers meet, think the aforementioned negative things about one another for half that time, and then fall in love while still pretending to be/think those negative things - this didn't at all ring true to me. Though they're supposed to share a sense of kinship and have a miraculously deep understanding of one another, it felt forced and unbelievable.Do I think the characters of Elissande and Penny could fall in love? Yes. Do I think they could have a very happy and fulfilling marriage? Yes. But all of that is something I can picture post-book and I don't know about other readers, but I don't read romances to enjoy a great set-up: I want instant gratification, everything settled and in HEA-mode by the end of the book.Final note: the marriage between Elissande and Vere was *not* - as suggested by the book summary - one of convenience, but rather a direct result of Elissande's manipulation and scheming. Yes, she has a very good reason to go to such lengths, since she desperately wants to get her aunt and herself out of her uncle's house, but this duplicity still made me very uncomfortable.RECOMMENDATIONS:Marriages of Convenience~Slightly Married(Bedwyn Family, Book 1) by Mary Balogh, 5 stars~The Devil in Winter(Wallflower Quartet, Book 3) by Lisa Kleypas, 4 stars~At Last Comes Love(Huxtable Quintet, Book 3) by Mary Balogh, 4 starsHeroines Escaping Bad Home Situations~The Perfect Rake(Merridew Sisters, Book 1) by Anne Gracie, 5 stars~Honor's Splendourby Julie Garwood, 5 stars~Always a Scoundrel(Notorious Gentlemen, Book 3) by Suzanne Enoch, 5 stars~His Wicked Waysby Samantha James, 5 starsHeroes are Spies~Lord of Fire(Knight Miscellany, Book 1) by Gaelen Foley, 5 stars~Scandalous(Banning Sisters Trilogy, Book 1) by Karen Robards, 5 stars~ IRRESISTIBLE (Banning Sisters Trilogy, Book 2) by Karen Robards, 5 stars~ ANGEL ROGUE (Fallen Angel Series, Book 4) by Mary Jo Putney, 4 stars",2.0,Couldn't bring myself to believe they fell in love - or really even knew each other (2.5 stars),1274918400,"05 27, 2010",19,22,helpful,0.8636363636363636,1 A3RKCREU1U6W7M,0615910521,Kandy Butler,"[0, 0]",I still love Sean and Avery and am still praying for their HEA. I'm also praying that my heart can take more suspense with these two and their future. ONCE AGAIN H.M. WARD IS THE QUEEN OF CLIFFHANGERS. CAN I HAVE 12 NOW PLEASE!!!!!!,4.0,Sean and Avery Ferro ????,1382918400,"10 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GIUW3JPN2S3M,1482792621,Jan,"[0, 0]",Kristen's books in this series just keep getting better! Will and Meg's relationship is playful yet intense. The sex is great and the love between them gives it all meaning. I love the strong family connections! We would like a little Will in our lives!!,5.0,Best one of the Series!,1363478400,"03 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RVW427S6CZF9,0764204807,Christina Slike,"[5, 5]","Five stars for the Christian regency fiction title of The Apothecary's Daughter.Lilly Haswell is the bright and adventurous daughter of the village apothecary. She lives with her father and slow-witted brother. Lilly helps her father in his shop, making pills, growing herbs in the garden, making house calls and prescribing remedies. Her mother ran off and Lilly awaits for her return, wanting to be with her in the fun and excitement she figured her mom was having.When her maternal uncle and aunt visit and invite her to their London house, she is happy to accept. But after two years, she believes herself to be without real prospects - for a husband - especially when she finds out unpleasant news about her mother. An anonymous note lets her know that her father's health has declined and she must return home to restore the shop and her family, amidst having a rival apothecary in town, learning family secrets, and dealing with new medical laws that are not in her favor.Klassen's research was evident in this story with all the historical detail she included. It was a story that flowed gracefully with enough drama, enough romance, enough history to keep me guessing, to keep me anticipating the next turn of events. I did not expect the end, although I was not disappointed by it. It felt like a realistic story, a realistic ending, like it really could have happened. I also thought it was a nice touch to have apothecary-related quotes at the beginning of each chapter. It added to the ""ambiance"" of the story. Highly recommended!",5.0,Recommneded Historical Fiction,1254528000,"10 3, 2009",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A30AXXMTNQ1NJB,014131088X,Antoinette,"[0, 0]",This is the first book by Anderson that I've read and I will follow this author's work very closely now! My favorite aspect of "Speak" is that it is REAL! Anderson is incredibly adept at capturing the teenager/high school experience. You don't get teenagers speaking like their 30 or 10 but acting their age and experiencing the confusion and problems that go along with being a teenager. I also like how Anderson conveys how "PC" our society has gotten and subtly infuses references to the power of the schoolboard to control students' lives especially in regards to censorship. Standing O for this work and author!,5.0,REAL!,1010793600,"01 12, 2002",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AEER3AMNJRL72,0805208984,Tim Johnson,"[13, 17]","Oddly, I purchased this book some time ago but only read it over these past two weeks-a shame because it is a wonderful book and one that has expanded my understanding of all that happened during the centuries of the Crusades.Maalouf's nicely condensed book is a joy to read with many passages from medieval Arab chroniclers and an ability to, for the most part, thread his [and our] way through mightily complex Near Eastern dynastic histories. I say for the most part because, particularly in Part Three, he gets mired in that political dynastic swamp alluded to previously. Fortunately he uses that historical patchy ground to launch into a discussion of the rise and dominance Saladin in this political morass.Maalouf, because he is writing from a broader perspective than most Western Crusade historians, has illuminated the Near Eastern stage at the time clearer than the histories that I have read during these past years. It's strange reading the Crusade histories from this other perspective because it is like looking at a picture that you thought was familiar to you only to discover that you've been looking through a kaleidoscope and it is a little unsettling.A person studies the Crusades through Western histories and their organization usually follows each Crusade from People's through Louis' Afracan debacles; Maalouf however, never mentions these separate crusades-in fact you read of Conrad's drowning death as an event that caused the collapse of a huge band of reinforcements coming to strengthen the seige of Acre. So these separate crusades that we in the West look upon as normal historiography are passed simply as new bands of reinforcements for events already taking place.If I can criticize Maalouf, and I'm wary of doing so, I would say that for this reader he failed to present a comprehensive picture of all that was taking place in the Near East; rather he gives the reader extraordinarily detailed accounts of the details of dynastic history among a myriad of conflicting city states nominally under an umbrella government but in reality acting totally alone and for their own interests. And this is why the Crusades had any success at all-not western religious valor but eastern disunity.Maalouf has written a great book and it has my highest recommendation.",4.0,A must-have for a complete look at the Crusades.,1091664000,"08 5, 2004",13,17,helpful,0.7647058823529411,1 A1E77RS83KFHJV,0307730069,OceanDreamer,"[0, 1]","Rhoda thought moving to Maine to help start the new Amish community with her boyfriend and family, would be a fresh start for her. So far it's been anything but. Having survived the persecution in her order, and then the run in with the law on her new settlement, she thinks it's time things will slow down an go right for a time.But new tensions arise as her boyfriend, Jacob, is still being haunted by his past, and a now a stolen kiss by his brother.To keep things less complicated, Rhoda seeks shelter with their non-Amish neighbors. Now all she wants to do is go full throttle with her canning business. But it seems she hits as many snags and tough decisions there as she does in choosing the man she loves.It's time to put the past behind and move forward with the Lord's plans for their lives. Who will have to lay down the woman he loves? What will happen when Jacob is forced to deal with his past? Will Rhoda be able to see her dreams into fruition? There is something new in Every season.I really liked this book. Which reAlly is no surprise. I've been reading Woodsmall since her first book, and have never been let down. After I read book two, I couldn't wait to read her conclusion in book three, which I think says a lot about the authors ability to draw the reader in. Good plot and good ending, well done.I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.",5.0,Great conclusion,1389571200,"01 13, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AAVKU4DFGY3MI,0306800438,Sam Adams,"[0, 0]","I read this book on the recommendation of Eric Nisenson in his 1993 bookAscension: John Coltrane And His Quest, previously reviewed. This is a biography, but it is not a straightforward narrative. The author, I suspect, began with a large collection of quotations from others on Coltrane, or by Coltrane himself, or somehow relevant to his life, and wrote the book around them. They don't occur on every page, but nearly.The author's style is of a type I find irritating until I grow accustomed to it and let it pass. He's of the sort that thinks it profound or dramatic to have one sentence paragraphs, rather than to include the line in the paragraph above or below. For example, on page 79 there is a paragraph with the single sentence: ""He didn't."" On page 83 we get the paragraph: ""Except for tobacco."" The book does not flow. It jerks along episodically like someone without stamina telling you a long story. The narrative, like a collage, is incessantly interrupted by those quotations set off in separate blocks and the author trying to be dramatic with those silly one sentence paragraphs. At the same time, there is not a single chapter break or header reference to tell you where you are in Coltrane's life.There are several pictures, but no index or bibliography. There is a discography, which the publisher's blurb claims is complete. The book was first published in 1975.",3.0,Coltrane: Chasin' the Trane,1245628800,"06 22, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZNFUZZMYAQ4K,B00C8GBAZ8,Siv,"[0, 0]","I loved this story. There are some places that are confusing though ; due to missing commas and poorly written scentences. Still, the story is fixating and "new". I am really looking foreward to the next book, wich is about Cloud. Hope there will be more on Talon and Shadow as well. I felt like some of their story is lacking, but I expect there will be more in the next book.",4.0,great story,1383264000,"11 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2QHNEOSYT2DA3,0786863668,Ashley S.,"[0, 1]",I am excited to read the book I heard it's become a movie so that intrigued me about owning it,5.0,Good,1381795200,"10 15, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2W1GCOHYRBC8F,0062073168,minerva,"[0, 1]","While I was anticipating a really great book, this one was a big disappointment. The plot line was just enough to keep me reading for the good stuff, but it never really came. The English girl didn't seem to be the main 'even't and I was puzzled as about that. Not really worth the time to read, for me.",3.0,The English Girl,1377734400,"08 29, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3U41P3MHAEXYU,B00CK51IRC,"L. Sims ""Linda""","[5, 6]","Jason Cavendish the Earl of Coventry is a notorious rake, ever since he left the schoolroom women have fallen at his feet. Tall broad shouldered with sparkling blue eyes, he is lethal to the female population. His very recently deceased father had badgered him repeatedly to marry and produce an heir. But Jason had ignored his fathers request. But his father has had the last laugh, even in death he is controlling Jason, a clause in the will stipulates that unless Jason marries the woman that the old Earl has selected, only the entailed properties will go to him, so unless Jason complies he will have the estate and townhouse but no money. Furious at this, Jason turns up for his wedding blind drunk, immediately after the ceremony he passes out cold in his bedchamber. The following morning he wakes and orders his carriage and returns to London, without ever having spoken to his new wife, he cannot even remember what she looks like.Lady Olivia is disgusted at her new husbands behaviour. After a few weeks with no sign that the Earl will return, Olivia writes to her old school friend now married, Lady Elizabeth Lansdowne. Her old friend insists Olivia come to stay with her in London. When Elizabeth hears Olivia's story she has a plan. She takes her shopping for a complete new wardrobe, and the bills will be sent to Jason. At least he can pay for his new wife's wardrobe. At the first ball they attend Jason is there and Olivia is furious when Jason doesn't recognise her.What an absolute gem of a book this is set in the regency era, one of my favourite periods in history. The author has written a story that ticks all the boxes for me. With plenty of humour, romance and some drama thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed every word.A recommended read.ARC courtesy of NetGalley",5.0,SUPERB REGENCY ROMANCE,1370736000,"06 9, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2T7TZBOTP68C7,038089968X,"L. Mintah ""Author of the Heart""","[4, 5]","Chain Letter is one of Pike's earliest novels, written in 1986. Pike peppers this book with cultural references from the '80's, which make it a bit dated. How many teens in 2006 will have a clue who Natassja Kinski is and that she was in a sexy photo with a boa constrictor?The story starts out strongly. A group of friends have covered up an accident - or a crime. An ominous person calling himself The Caretaker knows all about it. The Caretaker wants each of them to do extremely embarrassing things - or he will kill them one by one. Will the friends stick together or turn on each other? Worse, what if the Caretaker is one of them?The best part of the novel was the setting of one of the character's homes, a deserted housing tract in the desert. Look at the cover and see the dark hills around the lonely house. Great setting and descriptive writing when talking about the tract! Good explanation as to why no one but this one family had moved in yet.Pike develops the characters well. Unfortunately, most of them are not likeable. The end was not smashing in that it was not a surprise, and Pike left loose ends hanging. Many incongruities in the final resolution were not explained.I was nauseated by the sickeningly sweet, sentimental, and totally implausible ending. Who cares about the budding romance between so and so? Oh, God, it was so Disneyfied! I also did not like the fact that Pike took the easy way out and had all the teens' parents away on long trips during all of the action.",2.0,"Not One of Pike's Best, But Still An OK Read",1140220800,"02 18, 2006",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1MRXD3LE8ZLX3,1476763526,Sonya Collums,"[0, 0]","I was so excited to read this book!! I literally lost my breath several times while reading this and had to have ""chapter breaks."" I am so proud we got Holder's point of view, no one knows the struggle of loosing the people you love the most!!! Thank you Colleen!!! To be on the selfish side, I still want more Holder!!!",5.0,Lost my Breath!!!,1373328000,"07 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A4GSZB2289F30,0062064835,bill k,"[0, 0]","Excellent. Great plot. Great characters...too bad one had to die off.love Dick Wolf, cantvwait until the next book. Combines both Law & Order & terrorism.",4.0,great start,1358553600,"01 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANG2L5PVEQAFZ,0761526463,"Prof. CJ ""The Eclectic Professor""","[16, 24]","Lincoln is often characterized as the Great Emancipator and our number one president of all time. These characterizations are largely based on myth, and the real Lincoln is not nearly so admirable, as Thomas DiLorenzo shows in this book.DiLorenzo's book is one of several important revisionist works that look at Lincoln, secession, and the so-called Civil War in a new way that rejects the federal-supremacist version we're usally fed in our government schools to justify what Lincoln and his cronies did. (See also WHEN IN THE COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS by Charles Adams, and Jeffrey Hummel's EMANCIPATING SLAVES, ENSLAVING FREE MEN for starters.)As DiLorenzo points out, slavery was only one of many important sectional issues that led to Southern secession, and certainly was not the most important issue in the eyes of Lincoln. Not only was Lincoln no abolitionist, he was by his own admission a believer in white supremacy. He didn't want blacks -- including free blacks -- to be able to vote or serve on juries, for example, and his favorite solution to the problem of ""what to do with emancipated slaves"" was to send them back to Africa.In fact, Lincoln's real pet project had little to do with slavery one way or another. His real goal was to enact the Federalist/Whig/Republican platform, which consisted of 1) high tariffs; 2) a national banking system; and 3) ""internal improvements,"" meaning corporate welfare to politically favored railroad and infrastructure special interests. States' rights would also have to be seriously curtailed as obstacles to these goals. As DiLorenzo mentions repeatedly, these -- not abolition or rights for blacks -- were Lincoln's real focus from his entrance into politics as a young man in the 1830s into his presidency. He barely mentioned slavery until his unsuccessful 1858 run for Senate, and even then he had little but political double-talk to offer on it.The primarily Southern Jeffersonian-Jacksonian faction in American politics had held that Whig platform back for decades, but Lincoln and his cronies got it all through as a result of secession and the war, which led to a virtual Republican political monopoly on the national stage for decades thereafter. In the process, they esssentially eliminated the Old Republic, which was highly decentralized and based on government by consent, and replaced it with a democratic Leviathan government that valued power and centralization more than liberty. As DiLorenzo points out, it shouldn't be surprising that many of the same men who prosecuted the war against the South later carried out the virtual ""extermination"" (to use Sherman's words) of the Plains Indians, who also stood in the way of centralization.Furthermore, DiLorenzo catalogs all of the myriad crimes carried out by the Lincoln government during the war, such as: illegal suspension of habeas corpus; arresting thousands of NORTHERNERS just for dissenting from his policies, even on issues unrelated to the war; shutting down dissenting newspapers; arresting much of Maryland's state government on mere suspicion of pro-secessionist leanings; deporting a member of the US Congress; and of course, the notorious policy of deliberate total war waged against Southern civilians, most notoriously through Sherman and Sheridan.DiLorenzo demolishes the notion Lincoln had of the ""Union"" as somehow perpetual and unbreakable -- in fact, that is an ahistorical fabrication that became accepted only at the point of bayonets. DiLorenzo also shows that nullification and secession were acknowledged by nearly all antebellum Americans (North and South, including almost all of the Founding Fathers.)Last, DiLorenzo places Lincoln's war and its effects into the context of the creation of the ultra-centralized, DC-based Leviathan empire that we now live under.By the way, to those who argue that anybody who doesn't worship the mythical Abraham Lincoln must be in favor of slavery, give it up. Please at least have the sophistication to engage DiLorenzo's actual arguments and evidence rather than dismissing the entire book as the work of a closet supporter of slavery (which DiLorenzo is NOT) just because he doesn't worship at the altar of Abe. There were plenty of Northerners (Herman Melville comes to mind) and foreigners (including the English philosopher of liberty Lord Acton) at the time of the Civil War who were ardent opponents of slavery and yet still believed in the right of secession and/or believed that many of the actions of the Lincoln administration were criminal and that the overall effects of the war would be problematic at best.Read this book and begin learning the ugly truth.",5.0,Much-needed Iconoclasm,1249603200,"08 7, 2009",16,24,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A18PCOAE02O3SC,0811212130,Curtis Lane,"[6, 6]","This book, in the Gothic-Oatsian tradition, follows an trod-upon product of our society--yes, a female. Beaten nearly to death by her alcoholic father--in the same beating, her sister was killed--our ""protagonist"" decides she wants to be a nurse during her two week hospital recovery. She half-meets this dream by becoming a nurses aide, but she never makes a full emotional recovery. Another key event keeps her anger just beneath the surface to errupt when it seems safe for her to do so. This books twists through some small, dark avenues and ends on a scene that is unforgettable, grotesque, and devastating.",5.0,"Dark, unsettling, though provoking",1022976000,"06 2, 2002",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A335YAUB8CMNUF,0764131990,The Actor,"[34, 35]","I was somewhat disappointed with this book. On the one hand, it introduced a lot of helpful techniques in a fairly clear and concise manner; on the other hand, I found it often lacked sufficient detail on how to actually apply them. As a result, when I tried the techniques I often didn't experience the dramatic gains in reading speed the book claimed would result.For example, this book helped me determine that one of my problems is subvocalization and showed me why this is slowing down my reading speed; unfortunately, the book says very little about how to stop doing it (and I did look carefully, including in the index).I think this book did help me a little, and I know what I need to do to improve my reading speed, but I'm going to have to read another book to figure out how to apply that knowledge. This book will probably be helpful if you already have some speed reading background; otherwise you may just find it frustrating.",3.0,Good techniques but not enough detail on application,1223856000,"10 13, 2008",34,35,helpful,0.9714285714285714,1 A1OBQ5I31GW1TG,B00EB3FDHM,"cntryrox ""kygirlzrok""","[0, 0]","Just A Little Crazy was about a cop on suspension who meets a firefighter. She is loud, rough, and not too sane. He wants her to open up to him and give them a chance. It was short but pretty good story.Quiet And Crazy is about a deaf woman who helps protect her niece from her crazy mother. Her brothers best friend is there to watch over them but finds out she is more than able to take care of herself.I enjoyed this because just because she was deaf it didn't keep her down. The sex is hot and fast.",5.0,Great,1376092800,"08 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2GYRVODCM3XJM,0800731573,Jean,"[0, 1]",I enjoyed this book. Just enough mystery to keep me hooked and wondering where the book would take me next.,4.0,The title grabbed me,1364169600,"03 25, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1V334TAFVHXVR,1477805311,Rego,"[0, 0]","This book started out amazing, however, by the end it was about near impossible to understand what was going on. Not my favorite.",3.0,Great Start- Confusing Ending,1379376000,"09 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXMZ93LE6IF76,0743596870,"dancing hiker ""connecticut reader""","[4, 8]","When I got this book, I looked at all the margins and snippets of information thrown in and thought that it would be a pain in the neck to read. I am glad that I didn't let that distract me from reading this book. I've been a GB fan for the last few years, so much of this I have already had heard. However, it was good to see this all laid out concisely in print, and, I'm sorry for the liberals out there who are offended ... much of what Glenn writes about is well documented. This is a rough time in this country, and no time to hide your head in the sand, although that seems appealing some days. It is what it is, and I'm glad we have folks like GB out there who are not afraid to tell us like it is.",5.0,good information,1262217600,"12 31, 2009",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 ADVLRJS633OTD,0316133787,"Susanna Hutcheson ""Copywriting for the Discri...","[7, 10]","This is a book that promises to help you age successfully.""Most people these days are living lives that predispose them to early aging."" The author opines that exercise, good skin care, good nutrition and restorative sleep are the answers.""It's commonly accepted that the body undergoes certain changes with age, and to some extent those changes are inevitable,"" he says.He adds, ""What is less known, though, is that the life you lead and the decisions you make every day are largely responsible for how quickly, profoundly, and noticeably you age.""The author promises that if you follow the advice in his book, make certain lifestyle changes, you'll retain your vitality, age gracefully and have a longer, better life.He offers lots of theories on why we age. I personally think all this has been well documented many times over. But, it doesn't hurt to revisit it.Lots of the information in the book is about repairing free radical damage. This, of course, is old information. Certainly it's based on science and it's proven. But, it's old and well-known to most people.It also discusses inflammation. That's certainly a big one and it too has been written about numerous times.The book offers ways to boost your brain. Aging of the brain is something all people dread. ""Every time you learn something new, new wiring gets laid down. The result: more processing power.""Major aging accelerators, according to the book, are obesity, smoking and stress. The book helps you get a handle on these --- especially stress.If you need motivation to get active and you need a guide to help you know what to do, this is the book for you. But, there is nothing especially new here. Those who already have a handle on this basic information may want to look elsewhere for their own unique, advanced needs.-- Susanna K. Hutcheson",4.0,Popular fitness author offers advice on aging well,1305849600,"05 20, 2011",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 A26HKCIBZNPS03,1616202548,"jamesh-lantern-media ""jamesh-lanternmedia""","[0, 0]","This is not a book I normally would read, but I passed by it in the bookstore at the right time. The title called out to me as I did a LOT of transcribing for my documentary and my first book, and the transcribing process, while brutal was memorable. So I picked up the audiobook and listened to it on my commute during the week.For the most part, I really liked it... I could relate to some of the thoughts that fill your head while you are listening to other people talk over and over... LIke I said, its really not the type of book I normally read, so things moved a bit slow for me. At one point, I just accepted that it was going to be more of a "psychological profile of a career" book rather than an action one.Its is during one of the action scenes where this book almost lost me for good, (Don't worry no specific spoilers) The main character was trying to get in somewhere in NYC where she was not supposed to be. And ended up getting in because the presumed maid just happened to leave the door unlocked. Again, in NYC!! That overly simplistic solution just took me right out of the story...I dont want to be more specific, but if you already know the scene, being the place it was, that door should have been locked and the maids should not have been in there! Its funny, I give Ms Rowland major credit in understanding the transcriptionist mindset and writing the lead character so well... But in the same vein, I think the character Lena would write that the door would be unlocked too..I also wasn't too keen on the final scene at the paper... I thought it also was too deus ex machina, but I was happily surprised that it wasn't the end-all be-all solution of the moment, so she gets a pass this time (really sorry for the vagueness, but trying not to spoil it) :)Bottom line - I did enjoy the story, and I'm glad I picked it up...It really brought me back to the thoughts I had when I was transcribing more than I wanted to :)Possible spoiler - stop reading here if you haven't read this...Could someone explain what I am missing about the Mountain Lion sub plot... Why was it there? Did it resolve and I missed it?",4.0,Pretty good story but not an action book :),1403827200,"06 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NQQ25QPH8AYM,1439197792,Barbara Lynn,"[0, 0]",What can I say? I truly enjoy all of the Elm Creek Quilt novels. I especially liked hearing about early California. It's almost like learning more about one's own family history because the characters in her novels become like family. Looking forward to reading more of Ms. Chiaverini's novels.,5.0,More of a Great Series!,1360540800,"02 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFUU54SUBW4R1,1594482535,"Maryellen Grady ""msgranddame2""","[0, 0]","(Even if only the small part of the world that is my community. It is so inspiring and full of very useful information on how to do it. I bought this book to read for a second time after reading a library copy and deciding I had to own it. It is so wonderful to learn how to make a contribution to man's evolvement and higher consciousness without even leaving my office. I highly recommend it to other writers, activists, and loving people.",5.0,"Thanks to This Book, Writing To Change The World Is My New Goal.",1388016000,"12 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3P278XXVTJ9OX,0786011963,A. Rowley,"[5, 7]","Stay at home moms are being killed in the small town of Townsend Heights. A serial killer is on the loose and the murderer could be anyone.This mystery novel is not one of Wendy Corsi Staub's better works. The plot is overly drawn out in the 462 page novel with the first two hundred some pages reiterating the exact same topic needlessly. The author introduces so many characters in the beginning, that it is extremely difficult for the reader to be pulled into the suspense aspect. Even the killer is predictable and non-climactic.The only believable part of this book is how well the author describes what it is like to be a hard working mother. And, although many readers will easily relate, most stay at home moms that pick up a book to read, want to escape the stress and frustration of every day life. Instead of representing the greater joys of motherhood, the author only keeps reiterating how tiring and unrelenting being a mom is. There is no upside to this story. The characters are poorly developed which leaves the reader feeling no sympathy or compassion for what each encounters.Is it worth buying?I wouldn't waste my money on this particular WCS book.",2.0,"Possibly, this author's worst novel.",1164153600,"11 22, 2006",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3HD1T2IKS0DD6,1939274001,S. L. Morris,"[11, 11]","I really enjoyed this story. I loved that the characters were not your typical "do exactly the opposite of what a normal person would do" character that drives me crazy. Beth would start to get freaked out but like the mature adult strong female that she is, she worked things out rather than make decisions in her head and act stupid like so many other romance heroines. Chad was also a great character because even though he had issues he knew he wanted to work them out and get better. He didn't even flinch about going to therapy when Beth suggested it....And he was so romantic! I would have liked stronger physical descriptions of the characters but otherwise thoroughly enjoyed this book.",5.0,really good,1363046400,"03 12, 2013",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A2TKKYKA2ZNBNQ,0615740065,ttich2,"[5, 5]","I could not put this book down. Marc Schiller had a guardian angel watching over him. The greed that fueled these men to kidnap and torture Marc is sad. Gene Rosen and Ed Du Bois are amazing men who believed Marc and did everything in their power to help him get some justice. Without the support of sister, brother, family and these men Marc would not have made it through this, had anyone believe him or gotten any justice. How sad to think that Marc told his tale of horror to the doctors/nurses who treated him and the police and NONE of them believed him. I am amazed that Marc has forgiven these men. But I also understand that he could not put this terrible ordeal in the past if he did not. You are an amazing man Mr. Schiller! My hat is off to you sir.",5.0,Pain and Gain,1366675200,"04 23, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2XLR0ZO8XYQWL,B0045EOJL8,Jerry L. Bortner,"[0, 0]","Very interesting and informative. I didn't want to stop reading, once I started. Very interesting and believable characters---good plot and setting.",5.0,Great reading.,1387497600,"12 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A34EX7WHDZDFG4,1403324913,Book lovin' diva,"[7, 10]","Allison Hobbs, I give you a thumbs up on your first novel. I couldn't put it down after the first few pages. I had no idea on what goes in brothels or ""massage parlors"" and this opened my eyes quite a bit.I was proud of the main character, Victoria, who took that risk to do what she had to do to provide for her son and keep a roof over his head.She sunk to lows she never thought she would have to go to and encountered women from all walks of life who were at ""Pandora's Box"" for various reasons.Very good read.",5.0,Hot & steamy,1113264000,"04 12, 2005",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 A1T24CW443O0XE,B00B2X2F8E,L.A.,"[0, 0]","I could not put this book down, it was just awesome. Loving your best friend is the best love story. Great job sharing the passion between them.",4.0,Awesome,1376697600,"08 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 APYDTJJ6GCH4C,0316031062,"Karen H., Phillips","[18, 19]","I had recently reread my childhood hardback of Little Women due to our son acting in a college rendition of the Broadway musical. Afterwards, I couldn't remember what had happened to the characters in the sequels, so I purchased the series for my Kindle. At times the reading got a bit slow, but I was glad I persisted. I have felt very close to Alcott's March family for years, and it was rewarding to see what became of them over the years. The sequels aren't nearly as good as Little Women, but if you're a big fan of the original, you may be curious enough to stick with them till the end.",4.0,"Nothing Beats Little Women, But I Had to Follow Up Through the Sequels!",1304899200,"05 9, 2011",18,19,helpful,0.9473684210526315,1 A102ZB5GBL5YMO,0615900011,net,"[0, 0]",There are some powerful Prayer Points. Helps me to stay on point.Really give you Power to tear down darkness.,5.0,Love it,1378425600,"09 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2CISZ4JLKQRJA,0143037757,C. Richard,"[0, 1]","When I first saw mention of Judt's POSTWAR, I put it on my book list. It took me a while to get to it, but I finally did. Although it did seem to have some good points, it had more bad ones.The book is too long (it takes forever to finish) and somewhat superficial at the same time. Add to this that Judt jumps all over the place and very abruptly - as another reviewer mentioned, subheadings would have helped. He also seems to flip flop on many points as other reviewers have noted. I found his overuse of the colon to separate clauses irritating, and his sentence structure was "overburdening" many times - don't editors fix this sort of thing any more?One of the main reasons I am giving this book a low rating is that I found it to be unfairly anti-American.Some reviewers say Judt is anti-Israel which is strange given the book's Epilogue. In any case, I did find the Epilogue to be somewhat contradictory and thought it a bad way to end the book - I like a "happy ending". This information should have been placed elsewhere in the book in my opinion with the contradictions removed.There were a lot of interesting statistics presented in the book, but this got tedious at times. I did find his summaries of the events around the collapse of Communism helpful, even if his analysis of them might be skewed at times. Same for the Yugoslav wars. I had hoped for something more in depth about life under Communism though.Being of French descent, I can get away with saying something here about the French, so I will. I have always been proud of my French heritage, but in the period covered in this book, the French have behaved on several occasions in ways that I find disappointing. I always suspected there was something not being acknowledged that was behind this behavior. Judt's analysis here (one of the times I thought he was right) confirmed what I had always imagined it to be - wounded pride for the most part.I used to think that European culture/outlook/ways were in many ways superior to American, but more recently I have come to think this is not really the case. Judt's book gave me further support for my newer way of thinking. In some ways that might be a surprise to him.Overall, I will put it like this. Read the book if you must, but don't say I didn't warn you about its bad points.",2.0,"Some Good Points, But More Bad ...",1230854400,"01 2, 2009",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A373G0BH0VXQMW,0553275852,Jo Manning,"[19, 21]","This is a perfect, beautifully crafted detective novel. Not surprising it was nominated for so many awards and won a couple of them. Wise-cracking Elvis Cole and his silent (but deadly) partner Joe Pike are a formidable pair. When Elvis sets out to find Ellen Lang's missing husband Mort and their young son, he can't help but repair her low self-esteem along the way. Elvis cares, and Joe (in his way) cares, too. Crais makes the reader care about all of his characters; this is a fully-fleshed novel that transcends genre, as the best genre writing does.Highly, highly recommended. The action never lets up; it's a great read, one of the best in the series.",5.0,A ten-star detective novel!,966643200,"08 19, 2000",19,21,helpful,0.9047619047619048,1 A37DOYMUD8TTI2,0983074119,Mary Ann Adams,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed this book very much. It provided an excellent plot and was not a book that was based on graphic sex.,5.0,Excellent book,1362787200,"03 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFVQZQ8PW0L,1932815724,Harriet Klausner,"[8, 9]","In Colorado, East Plains middle school teacher Bonnie Pinkwater works with the intelligentsia, but for the first time in a decade, they failed to finish in the top three at the Knowledge Bowl competition. Just after their crushing loss, the team's thirteen years old star Peyton Newlin vanishes. Everyone presumes that the teen ran away than have to face his abusive martinet of a father Colonel Ralph. Peyton's parents blame the defeat and their son's cowardly reaction squarely on Bonnie.The next morning someone murders brilliant student Stephanie Templeton. Feeling already a bit culpable but not sure why, Bonnie with the help of science teacher Armen Callahan, who is falling in love with her, begin investigating the disappearance and the homicide, which they believe is linked by a scholarship competition, but how is unclear. Other students die including Peyton while Bonnie and Armen seek the truth leaning towards violent student bully Jesse Poole though a coven of witches remain a prime suspect.THE WITCH OF AGNESI is a terrific teenage amateur sleuth starring a likable pairing trying to uncover who is eliminating the geniuses one at a time. The story line is fast-paced yet contains a strong cast though clearly Bonnie is the star. The mystery is cleverly devised and filled with twists and red herrings as Robert Spiller keeps his audience alert at all times as he shrewdly spills clues with multiple possibilities. Young adult readers will enjoy this wonderful middle school mysteryHarriet Klausner",5.0,terrific teenage amateur sleuth,1157846400,"09 10, 2006",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A3MPNN6IQDBNXR,1885167504,Skip Savage,"[0, 0]","I learned far more than marketing from this differently delightful guide. Spoelstra taught me how to wrangle with non-outrageous (conventional) business managers and win them over. He taught me how to create and measure success in marketing by getting caught up in building massive new revenue. He taught me that if you give your people enough love, encouragement and understanding, they'll make you outrageously successful. But the final lesson is this: unless you spend at least part of your time in the field hustling for new business directly, along with your employees, feeling what they feel in the pit of your trembling stomach, you won't know what you are talking about, they won't respect your judgement, and you'll cut yourself off from the best source of new marketing ideas you're ever going to get.",4.0,"Spoelstra is Practical, Entertaining and Vivid",1003795200,"10 23, 2001",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2V6KMOJUVFY8A,098357331X,"TeenBlurb ""Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult ...","[0, 0]","Demon Possession is a deliriously sexy read with a hunky demon and a beautiful pixie. Anya has no memories of her life or her people, she knows one thing and that is she is a captive. She escapes her captors and hides on another ship. When she is discovered by the Captain she must adjust to her role on a new ship and her intense attraction to its Captain.This book had me alternating between laughing and fanning myself! The attraction between Anya and Sebastian is just HOT! It was intense, erotic, and sensual. The passion and the desire between these two burned hotter then anything I have every seen!The secondary characters were just awesome. All of the crew on Sebastian's ship were like one big family, and some of them ever were. The squabbled and fought, laughed and snickered, and loved each other so much! They would do anything to protect one another, and to me that is a real family. To look out for one another and love each other unconditionally with all the flaws and imperfections.I am so excited about the books to come in this series! This is a must read that you will devour in one night!I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.",5.0,Demon Possession by Kiersten Fay,1375056000,"07 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17BWFCU3MGAR,0385537859,Doris Medrano,"[0, 0]","While I have not read the entire book yet (just the first 3 chapters as of today) I am very happy I purchased it. The book is in excellent like-new condition, shipped fast and packaged nicely. Thank you. Oh yes, the read is great.",5.0,This book is in excellent condition and I love it.,1380672000,"10 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AIWLG2TL16YON,1623360323,K. Ulmer,"[8, 8]","Until I read this book, I had no idea how unbalanced my daily foods were. Now I look at meals/snacks in a totally different way, making sure I get a carb a protein and a fat in each. I am eating alot differently now, and finding my calories NOT adding up excessively. A happy surprise. I am hoping eating this way can help me loose my last 30. It would really benefit my joints!",4.0,CERTAINLY WORTH A TRY!,1389830400,"01 16, 2014",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1ISNB60PLV1QM,B007Q2DRFU,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I loved the story. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is the abrupt ending albeit a good one just too quick, and the woman on the cover doesn't match the one described in the book.",4.0,Great Read!,1386979200,"12 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A22BNCXASMJETG,1893896455,"K. Davis ""aidkad""","[4, 8]","The previous review gives a great summary for Goblin Moon without giving away too many details.I was hooked from the 1st page and couldn't seem to put the book down. The enchantment and magic is alive in this present day fairy tale. It makes me dream of such a world. The story-line was nicely pulled together.I've read all 4 books in the ""Tales of the Order"" and each one can stand alone, but it is nice to meet up with old friends.I eagerly await The Craftsman.Thanks Candace Sams.",5.0,I HOPE THE SORCERESS SEEKS ME OUT,1112400000,"04 2, 2005",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A2IIDELWB0IWRO,0373250266,"Caroline P. Hampton ""Project Manager + Blogge...","[15, 16]","I really wish someone could explain to me how women get themselves into messes like Jo does in "Guilty Feet" by Kelly Harte? Because, we do. We ALL do.Jo decides to leave her live-in boyfriend, SURE that he'll chase after her and declare his undying love and passion. Bet you can't guess what happens next? ---------- he doesn't follow ------- Shocker huh? Well, it only gets better. Word is, he has another girl on the hook. Ijust don't understand why (supposedly) intelligent women allow themselves to be put into situations like this. It's frustrating --- but makes for amazing book reading :)"Guilty Feet" (a new Red Dress Inc book) is a hilarious and very true to life tale of regret and love. The thought of being "someone else" has appealed to everyone at one time or another -- the question is, can Jo repair the damage she has done. Or is it too late?I loved this book and think that Ms. Harte has a knack and talent for the "chick lit" genre. I look forward to more.Cheers!",5.0,My newest "Guilty" pleasure!,1056240000,"06 22, 2003",15,16,helpful,0.9375,1 A1TISYBQVLI06P,0743496728,Katherine A. Kennedy,"[0, 0]","I don't know what was stronger: The characters, the story itself, the subject matter(s) being discussed or a combination of all of these elements. It's hard to imagine anyone over the age of 15 NOT being able to identify with at least some, if not all, of the characters. This book is not only well told, but well researched. All of the characters were psychologically believable and the actions that they took served to strengthen the haunting ending.",5.0,Shocking book with very Real characters,1209859200,"05 4, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3WFBGC0J0GOO,0988367912,Chelly Madock,"[6, 11]","I just couldn't really get into the book. The characters annoyed me, and their interactions seemed forced to me. I didn't buy the two main characters falling in love so fast. I couldn't even finish the book; I'd try to start where I left off, but couldn't even read more than a few sentences without getting too annoyed to continue.I had liked the complicated family situation that they gave the doctor though, with his parents. I liked the basic storyline of the book, but it just didn't draw me in.",2.0,I couldn't even finish it,1344556800,"08 10, 2012",6,11,helpful,0.5454545454545454,1 A2UFP902YMPM64,0974789550,"N. Powell ""topazzz6""","[6, 7]","I love to read all types of novels but come on this could have been a better story but between the errors and the story never developing I would recommend that no one purchases this book. I only read it to the end because I didn't want to waste 15.00 dollars. Then at the end the author tells you how the story was not true of course it wasn't true and anybody who thinks it is better check their lightbulb in their brain.WHAT A WASTE OF CASH FO"" REAL PEEPS.",1.0,Come On People.....This Book Was Underdeveloped,1117152000,"05 27, 2005",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 ARNF0LG0K2QAJ,1477518703,Jacquie Barror,"[0, 0]","Edie Claire never disappoints me. Mystery, suspense, guess who dunnit, twists and turns, unusual form. I liked the book. Love the author.",4.0,Never Buried,1360281600,"02 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3EDOEVPELZP14,0002247399,"Amazon Customer ""cupcake queen""","[0, 0]","I wish books 4 and 5 hadn't been divided the way they had, but I still enjoy the story all the same. However, I hate getting all caught up on an ongoing series. How long will we have to wait for the next installment? And then how long after that for the final book? It says something good about a story when you are left wanting more and can't wait to see how it all turns out. Just don't leave us waiting too long, please.",4.0,And then...?,1389052800,"01 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33OC3S1EJ1207,0312573715,Stephanie,"[62, 63]","This is truly an incredible book. I have combed through every make-up book I could get my hands on, including Bobbi Brown, Carmindy, etc. and nothing beats this book.The reason is that the pictures and instructions are incredibly clear, without being over-simplified. If she recommends a particular color for a skin tone, she shows you, she doesn't just talk about it. If she mentions an application technique, she shows it (I can't tell you how many books I looked at that just described the technique, no pictures). Her skin care advice and tips are very useful, and the makeup ideas are simply beautiful. She provides a lot of timeless, flawless make-up looks, as well as a few funkier looks. Very inspirational.I refer to this book often, and I highly recommend it to everyone, even professionals who could use a reminder of skin care importance.",5.0,Highly Recommended,1266710400,"02 21, 2010",62,63,helpful,0.9841269841269841,1 AIB4Y2Y12ILW4,0515133094,D. Shields,"[5, 6]","The story is okay and the writing is fine, but I don't care for the sexually explicit scenes. The story could be advanced without the details. I'm not a prude, but she can dream about him without all the steamy stuff.",3.0,Explicit sexual scenes,1363564800,"03 18, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2QSIL0UEKYUHK,0735617228,"Craig Anderson ""canders""","[4, 4]","I am happy with this book, it helped me quickly with all possible security options with Microsoft C++ and little bit of .NET framework. The book drills well enough on the Microsoft specific implementation guidelines for authentication, authorization, cryptographic options, database connectivity etc. It helps most part, but the book is weak on security options related to XML Web services particularly technologies related to WS-Security and Passport (Identity federation options). I am not a Microsoft developer so I do understand the security holes with every Microsoft application..(never heard of a Java virus), so I always wondered why the authors did'nt suggest to secure their own applications from redmond. If you are a C# developer, I am sure you will like it...and it certainly worth a buy.",4.0,Good reference for Securing Microsoft Application Development.,1139616000,"02 11, 2006",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 ALJO98LZGRC3P,0373763514,Ann Alaskan,"[0, 0]","Always intrigued by Cy and this story completes his story. Like the inclusion of all of her other characters. Waiting for the rest of the their stories, esp. O'Rourke's.",5.0,One of her best stories,1354838400,"12 7, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3IHI4NHRADWI,0062304828,"Kayla s ""HsRamblingMom""","[0, 0]","Oh Cam - I love you even more now that I've read from you PoV. <3Now, you MUST read Wait for Me before you buy Trust in Me. K? Just making sure you understand.This novel is from the POV from Cam. It opened my eyes to him even more and proved even more why Wait for Me was one of my favorite novels of the year.",5.0,LOVE CAM,1386979200,"12 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2MSRVKO2AGJYI,000725394X,Katy Mcginness,"[0, 0]","This book started off well; I enjoyed the characters of Patrik and Erica, the setting was well portrayed, and Lackberg is a talented enough writer (even though at times her descriptions are repetitive and uninspired). But at a certain point the story began to lack credibility, and the characters behaved in cartoonish, stock ways. In one scene, for example, a primary character is returning to his childhood home and experiencing an array of emotions as a result. That's well and good, but when his girlfriend makes a comment along the lines of the house not belonging to him anymore, he absolutely flips out and the two characters rage in a way that did not seem believable. And the ending....well, let's just say that I'm not someone who demands colorful sunsets, rosy resolutions, or anyone living happily ever after, but this book ended on too depressing of a note considering how overall mediocre the story was.",2.0,Confusing and bleak,1392681600,"02 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1I3NWWHHJE9Y,B004QOAHPE,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Just started reading about werewolves,,just as entertaining as vampires used to read love stories but they got to be the same thing over and over, now this action is very good",5.0,Bitten,1369872000,"05 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2D59KBT80LZ7L,0307877094,"Bob Pr. ""Bob Pr.""","[10, 10]","This is the most frustrating book (IIRC) I've ever read. It was no doubt difficult for the author (Karen Abbott) to get close to the facts of Louise Horvick's (aka GRL/Gypsy) life since so much was invented either by Gypsy or her mother. But the author needlessly makes it more frustrating by not presenting Gypsy's life and times sequentially but, instead, presents Gypsy (and those important to her) in many jumbled time periods through 38 short chapters that consistently alternate the time periods they cover.For example:Ch.10: NYC, 1917-20Ch 11: Chicago 1941Ch 12: Vaudeville Circuit, 1920-24Ch. 13: NYC 1942.And Abott sometimes inappropriately interchanges present and past tense verbs. Her organization results in many topsy-turvy descriptions, e.g., the divorce from one husband occurs in a chapter preceding her marriage to a later one. Too many chapters (& paragraphs, IMO) intrude with the Minsky brothers buying burlesque houses without contributing much to the story--unless you're interested in real estate deals in NYC. And Minskys' also had a burlesque theater in nearby NJ which served many NYC customers but that one's never mentioned--very disappointing to my close friend who had a strip dance act there in the 1950s (before she became a social worker.)The resulting book is a bit like an Impressionist painting--a collage of small dabs of color which blur to form images rather than presenting well-defined characters. This seems to be deliberate: the author's (& editor's?) decision to put readers through some of what she went through in researching the material?There are other misses: GRL (& sister June) were obviously much twisted by their mother, Momma Rose. But Abbott has almost nothing about Momma Rose's relationship with HER mother. Momma Rose certainly meets the criteria for being a sociopath (anti-social personality disorder) with her lack of empathy, impulsive reactions, deceits/lies, murders attempted and accomplished, manipulations, revenge, self-centeredness, lack of remorse, etc. From where did this come?Abbott's book probably presents some interesting information about this family and their lives which had been previously unknown. But if the book had been organized in a different way, it would have been a far easier and more pleasant read.The many positive 5 star ratings by readers on Amazon influenced me to buy & read this book. But since then, I've gone back to read the 2 & 1 star (critical) reviews and agree with ALL I've seen so far. While this book possibly IS worth reading, it has been made unnecessarily complex. (ETA: 45% of the positive (5,4,3 stars) reviews were posted by ""Amazon Vine"" people who got a free book in exchange for their review; only 28% of the 2,1 star more critical reviews were posted by ""A.V."" readers.)This has made me VERY sensitive to whether or not a positive (or critical) review is made by a person with a ""Amazon Vine"" or ""Vine Voice"" label with their name. People with these labels tend to be overwhelmingly VERY positive -- and if they're less than glowing, I can multiply their criticisms by 10.After reading ""American Rose,"" I bought and read Noralee Frankel's ""Stripping Gypsy,"" another recent biography of Gypsy and found it FAR, FAR more valuable and easier to read. I highly recommend it. Also, the book by Gypsy's son, Erik Preminger, published under 2 different titles: ""Gypsy & Me"" & also known as ""My G-String Mother."" (And also read the 2 books by Gypsy's sister, June Havoc -- ""Early Havoc"" and ""More Havoc;"" both worthwhile.)But, IMO, it's much better to read Erik's book AFTER you've gotten a good view of what Gypsy went through growing up with Momma Rose. (Read ""Stripping Gypsy"" first so you understand how far, FAR better Gypsy was at raising Erik than how Momma Rose treated Gypsy & June. Like most other people, Gypsy was not entirely immune to passing on horrible child rearing practices but she did eliminate the worst and softened others considerably.)",2.0,"Jumbled, very frustrating",1311638400,"07 26, 2011",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A173ATNIXF52DC,1592331106,Wri316,"[9, 12]","Great book telling you what you should already know, but forget or get too lazy to do. Good motivator, pictures are too funny! Recommend as a flip through, tableside, gift for the girly girl book.",3.0,Frumpy to Foxy - A reminder!!,1120348800,"07 3, 2005",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A3LTJ22VDCATD1,0801064856,Mom of 4,"[4, 4]","I didn't realize I was being a ""Peace Faker"". I thought I was doing the right thing in continually overlooking offenses. Ken Sande does a great job of showing what the Bible says about conflict and how it should be resolved. I realized that I was not allowing God to use me to speak His truth into the lives of the people He had placed around me. I was content with everyone just getting along instead of growing more like Christ. Now I ask God to show me when to show His mercy and grace by overlooking an offense, and when to show His grace and mercy by speaking His truth in love. It has given me a great freedom to be who I am and be used by God.",5.0,Great Biblical perspective,1274054400,"05 17, 2010",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1KMCYSHPDHW1A,0785268154,Veronica Sites,"[0, 0]","As a chaplain, i recommend this book often and know the value of its message personally. Life is a series of learning opportunities. The message of this book would benefit students specifically in alternative programs at school that have made poor choices.",5.0,Get it,1388793600,"01 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MCF9IGWA3SB8,1480029858,MWorrell,"[5, 7]","At first I was intrigued by this book, but by the middle I was bored. The author kept saying ""the foe"" but never giving it a name until the end. Also there is not enough of a history to explain what is going on, and why the ferryman and flame can not be together. There is no explanation as to what a flame is, never did I hear about her as a weapon until I went back and read a description of the story on amazon. No where did it say she was a weapon, if so, it was so poorly written that I never caught it. No offence to the author, but, I will not read anymore books of hers if they are like this. There was so much detail in some areas, and not enough in otbers. Sorry not a fan of this book at all. I finished very disappointed!",1.0,"good start, bad middle and end!",1380844800,"10 4, 2013",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3CQ0ISMKVWZ7F,0312382189,Beverlee Fromkin,"[0, 0]","Joy and tears and laughter. I loved every minute of this book. I never wanted it to end and I certainly wanted Einstein to live on...which he will in my heart just as Marley does. I have an "Einstein" of my own and if she goes, I go. I related to almost every page in this book. Linda Francis Lee captured the essence of love between a dog and his master (mistriss)!",5.0,What a wonderful story,1389139200,"01 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DB11EOJ214OH,1844675688,Chess Parent,"[5, 16]","A portion of ""The City of Quartz"" that deals with LA's Jewish Community appears to be refreshingly devoid of political correctness. The author must surely lack concern that his work will serve as fodder for those rare few who still wholeheartedly believe that ""The Protocols of the Elders of Zion"" is actually a real document. To quote just a few pearls from ""The City of Quartz"": ""...in a decade when Downtown construction had virtually ceased, the Westside building boom ... generalized architectural Modernism as a distinctive emblem of the Westside society dominated by the Jewish elites"" (p.125) Or: ""... a group of prominent Westside Jewish liberals, led by the so-called `Malibu Mafia' (Max Palevsky, Harold Willens and Stanley Sheinbaum), undertook to create a broader and more affluent support base..."" (p.127)The author, a safe-proclaimed Socialist and Marxist, has obviously spent an enormous amount of time and effort researching material for what became ""The City of Quartz."" It was supposed to become his PhD dissertation but was rejected even by the local liberal academic establishment. Sadly, I agree with Mr. Davis' peers who rejected it: instead of a badly needed, well researched, and apolitical historical work, the outcome reads as just another slanted piece of journalism-in-a-book. The high brow style and overabundance of italicized terms (usually one word clichés from ""san culottes"" to ""lebensraum"") almost give it a read of your average New Yorker hack doing his usual LA bashing piece. Almost. The book is actually an inside assassination job by someone who, despite growing up in Southern California, could not find a single positive aspect of life in this vibrant metropolis. How sad.",2.0,Would have been a good historical work if it weren't so slanted.,1314230400,"08 25, 2011",5,16,helpful,0.3125,1 AGCOCRW8A56U8,0374226474,buddyhead,"[17, 24]","I didn't like this book when I read it at the beginning of law school, and I still feel the same way, now en route to graduate. I suppose it's a testament to the book's staying power that I remember it some 3 years later, though that's not a good thing in this case.I thought the book was unnecessarily melodramatic, as if the author was trying to make sure his law school experience read like a cliffhanger or shoot-'em-up blockbuster, and that he kept the reader's attention despite the tale not being that interesting to begin with. Granted, getting called on in class and vying for a law review position are mildly harrowing experiences, but I imagine they aren't like being on the front line of combat in war, or performing open heart surgery for 14 hours. However, the author sets the kind of tone to make you believe he equates the two. Although I realize law school isn't all laughs, I thought more levity would have been appropriate, and I kept wanted the author to "lighten up".",1.0,Lighten Up,953769600,"03 23, 2000",17,24,helpful,0.7083333333333334,1 ADBKEDZKYHU3A,0373811330,NC Reader,"[0, 0]","I reread this one after seeing a friend give it a high rating on another book site, and couldn't remember whether I found Constantia perky or clueless; now I remember, I thought she was both! Betty Neels' books are pure comfort food for my brain, instant pick-me-ups that I have collected over the years just to have on hand to visit and enjoy when the whim strikes, but some are favorites and others leave me cold. Too much angst, too cold of a hero, too whiny or wimpy of a heroine (rare for Betty, but it does happen), the Other Woman is too witchy, etc.In this book I liked Constantia and understood that as a private nurse she had seen a lot of rich, spoiled, unhappy patients and felt money didn't buy happiness - so the hero, Jeroen, goes out of his way to hide his wealth, title and position so she'll accept him. Fair enough, and it was touching to see how much Constantia enjoyed being part of Jeroen's large family and household - but it was too much of a stretch for me that a no-nonsense Betty heroine who could be a successful nurse and run a ward and deal with spoiled, obnoxious private patients STILL couldn't pick up on the obvious fact that Jeroen was a successful, wealthy man. So, another lovely Betty fairy tale happy ending, and very sweet how Jeroen fell in love at first sight with our girl and went to such lengths to win her - just not one of my personal favorites.",3.0,"Love Betty, but this is not a favorite",1390694400,"01 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LLP0VSTSABK2,1578562317,"Lynellen Perry ""lynellenDOTcom""","[5, 5]",This is a must-read book for peer counselors and for anyone in therapy or those who "should" be in therapy! Everyone has troubles and trials in life. But our response to them ... that's what gets us in trouble. Leslie Vernick has a wonderful writing style that shows how to look for the root of the problem and how to learn responses that are more affirming instead of destructive. Her gentle TRUTH principle approach is easy to remember and apply. I love this God-centered method of counseling/therapy/self-help and highly recommend it. I believe you'll find it to be a powerful gift in your life.,5.0,Inspirational and Practical,1071705600,"12 18, 2003",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2LZ46A45HCHMA,1463508611,Stefiann,"[4, 4]","Although I am quite well read in the subject of plant based nutrition, The Paradigm Diet was informative and inspiring. It has helped me complete my quest for the most ideal human diet. Dr. Dave is a fabulous author making the read very entertaining while educating at the same time. I contacted him with a few questions regarding my own diet and he helped answer my questions thoroughly being specific and detailed in his approach. I am very impressed with this author-not to mention he is an M.D. which adds even more weight to what he states. Get the book, read it, do it. You will be very happy you did!",5.0,"Excellent information, fabulous book!!!",1331596800,"03 13, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AK7D1BHZOSOL1,0671400525,General Pete,"[4, 5]",Even though I am a man I think I understand what the author was driving at. We all have a part of us that wishes that someone would come to our rescue and help us out with the problems that are constantly defeating us in life. What I got out of the book was that ultimately there is no one coming over the hill to save us and in the end we have to take care of things ourselves. I think its unfair to say that only women suffer from this personality quirk.I was first given this book when I was 13 years old and spending the summer at a camp for Special Needs children and looking back on it years later I can still see the parallels. There has been progress in recent years but disabled people are told every day in often unspoken ways that any progress they make on their own is a fluke and that they are never going to be able to survive on their own without the indulgence of someone more powerful then they are. Approaching life in this manner one can certainly survive but will never be allowed to reach their full potential.Overall-The author never makes the claims that so many of the modern inspiration fiction authors seem to do that by applying these methods one is granted an instant cure all but makes it very clear that life is about the struggle for self improvement against the inclination to fall back into old patterns whatever those old patterns are.,4.0,I say this book can be just as relivent to men as it is to women,1331164800,"03 8, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2N0HX2QVEWUBP,0553274872,"ETG ""Pandora""","[8, 8]","I never hit the bottom and I never drank in the morning and I never missed work, yet this book clarifies this baffling disease. It resonated with me and struck such a deep chord, I know I can never drink again. This moderation management stuff is bull dinky. This book explains the progressive nature and sneakiness of this disease. I'll never understand with my brain this disease anymore than I'll understand why a light bulb goes on when I hit the switch, but this book is the closest of read to explaining it. Get this even if you just suspect you have a problem. You could just be stage 1 or 2 as I was and if you don't act, you'll surely hit stage 3.",5.0,Saved my life,1266710400,"02 21, 2010",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A2RBKB57AZFUUK,0312651317,Florida,"[0, 1]",This is a great story by this new team of authors. Janet Evanovich is great and I love everything of hers that I've read.,4.0,Great story.,1359158400,"01 26, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A39U0ZKQCEO3NZ,0778327264,lucie,"[0, 0]","This book was all about relationships, interacting with other people in a stressful situation and accepting the help others have to offer",3.0,Rekationships,1396396800,"04 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15CQUYNFOF7OI,1589832779,John D. Croft,"[69, 72]","This is an excellent introduction to the latest research in Biblical Archaeology, presenting a middle ground between the Minimalist and Maximalist debate which has sought to polarise the issue over the last 15 years. Both Finkelstein and Mazar are leading exponents in the field of Post-processual Archaeology, but neither are afraid of examining where the Biblical record is confirmed or challenged by the findings of modern archaeology. For a balanced view, with good editorial summaries, this book looks at the various periods and brings the reader up-to-date with the findings of the latest ecavations.",5.0,Excellent Introduction to controversies in Ancient Israelite archaeology,1197158400,"12 9, 2007",69,72,helpful,0.9583333333333334,1 A18IQME5DCSH2L,0471705284,"Madelyn Pryor ""Goblyn Queen""","[19, 20]","Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get going loosing weight is the prevailing message of this quick moving, easy to read book. It is NOT a diet guide. Instead, it provides medical information and inspirational stories that let you know you're not out there fighting with your weight alone.The goal of the book is to take 10 diet myths, or 10 things that people tell themselves about dieting, and gently peel away the fallacies to reveal the truth. It refreshing, comforting, and motivational.The only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 was it is not a Weight Watchers guide. It leaves you at the end with just the loosest information of what Weight Watchers is, and doesn't tell you how to get started, just to join.Well, it worked on me. I'm waiting for my In Home kit, but this book isn't a sales tool, it's just a nice guide to get you started on whatever path you decide to take.Recommended for those who are trying to loose weight, or those who have already lost and are looking for motivation on staying healthy.",4.0,"Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get going...",1140912000,"02 26, 2006",19,20,helpful,0.95,1 AZT49G0MCYW0I,0926888021,Michael C. Haensel,"[7, 10]","This book is like a little devotional for weightlifters. That phrase sounds precious and fragile, but the book isn't. This is rock-solid motivational theory that will help you lift harder, day after day after day. Each short article (there are sixty in all) gives you a new tool to shift yourself into gear. This book is just the thing to start you on your way to more bulk, more power, more definition - whatever you want, this book helps you achieve it. When you're in a slump, it helps you pick yourself up. When you're moving, it helps you keep yourself going. The best thing is, it's always crystal clear that the force making this happen is YOU; the book just gives you the tools.Buy the book. Use the tools. Grow into your goals.",5.0,A quick shot of well-backed motivation,1163376000,"11 13, 2006",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 AHHU34NT0HTR1,006112429X,"T. Edmund ""TeD""","[5, 6]","My first impression of we need to talk about Kevin was that is must be a psuedo-psychologic tale of what sort of upbringing would result in a teenage boy engaging in a Columbine-type massacre.But much of this tale is playing on expectations, the author toys with blaise themes and cliche then throws them from a window to treat us to a hellish ride through a mother's life with a psychopathic child.Shriver, rides close to melodramic (I'm sure i've read some of of Kevin's horrible behaviours before, the author it seems has taken some nightmare of every possible senario and pushed them into this book) yet somehow brings us to tears with the realism of her story.Eva's narrative makes us feel horror, disgust, pity, frustration, hate and love. This book isn't a fact-list for what makes a serial killer, the author seems strongly in the nature camp, exemplified by the fact that its revealed from the beginning what he did, and his nature is obvious from the beginning.What this book is, is a exploration of the horror of family life with an eventual killer. Part facts of life, psychological thriller, parenting trials the book is impossible to put down.Even the slow, shrill and slightly boring beginning where we explore the married life of the parents before Kevin has its place. Everything about the book is important to understand the characters and to truly experience their lives.Its hard to find fault with this novel, it is a long read, which combined with the compulsion to finish it makes for many hours reading.The thought of why didn't the parents do something about Kevin sooner, enters the readers' heads but Eva explains herself, and I felt a strange empathy for Franklin, while I don't have a psychopathic child, I do understand that when family goes through something heavy, such as mental illness, denial is sometimes the only thing that gets one through.This is probably the only book that has actually made me 'think' (as in it'll make you laugh, it'll make you cry, it'll make you think. For a literary genre book there are a surprising number of twists, unexpected yet so fitting turns in the plot (towards the end I only just realised what was happening a few paragraphs before the event). And even up to the very last paragraph, you'll be shocked. I promise.We Need to Talk is an emotionally exhausting rollar coaster, but one that I'm incrediably glad I took. Possibly the best book I've read in years.",5.0,"A harrowing tale of gore, isolation, pain and imperfect redemtion",1263859200,"01 19, 2010",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A10MCQVJHMT36C,1481866842,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Loved their story. Great to see the male character fight to get back to the one he loves and wasn't afraid to share his feelings.,5.0,Elliott and Paige!,1364083200,"03 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DIRR3JME6UPQ,1936305062,Shugabean,"[0, 0]","Funny, Hot, Great banter, Sexy, awesome book. The sexual banter and tension was off the charts. Loved their strange yet appropriate nicknames for each other. Ready for the next one!",5.0,Loved it!,1403913600,"06 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A16BPF2Y7B8A2G,1612184197,"Anna Lemkau ""Anna's Book Blog""","[5, 7]","Shape-shifter Morgan Montgomery has been convicted of treason that comes with a penalty of death. Just before sentencing is announced, Queen Jenna gives her one last chance to redeem herself. Find her way into Expurgari (the Ikati's enemy) and kill them all. If she fails in this mission death awaits her. Morgan is sent on her way, but not alone. The very dangerous and very delectable Xander will be traveling with her. The temptation for the both of them will be great.Edge of Oblivion was a good read. But it was quite different compared to the other shape-shifter stories I've read. To me the story felt more fantasy than paranormal. Ms. Geissinger does an amazing job with including rich detail. Morgan and Xander were the shining stars of the story even more than the mission. I enjoyed them quite a bit. Going into this book I didn't know much of the world and felt a bit lost because I hadn't read the first book, Shadow's Edge. If you have interest in reading this series, I highly recommend starting with book one.",3.0,Edge of Oblivion,1349308800,"10 4, 2012",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A5Q1CO3SKIEUJ,B00BZPJRQW,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Love love love every book written. The series is fantastic. Keep them coming. Amazon is fantastic for all delivered books. They make everything right as always,5.0,mountain momma,1396569600,"04 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A24XTV2ZOLR02C,141430983X,"L. Besink ""nonfiction rocks""","[23, 52]","The one-star ""reviews"" say it all. Can't wait to read it.",5.0,Great book; great president.,1131148800,"11 5, 2005",23,52,helpful,0.4423076923076923,1 A3EWDVFYKUO0Q5,1500140872,Carrie Horton,"[12, 16]","She did it again everyone! Ashley Suzanne has a way of making you think you know WTH will happen and BAM...she pulls the dang rug out from under you, rolls it up and hits you with it!!Let's just say she got more then one Grumpy Cat picture for me!!!!!We first meet Rian and Garrett <------Good lawd he's a HAWT one ladies! Prepare yourself now! You will need my fan and possibly new panties after meeting Garrett!! Rian and Garrett are best friends. Garrett is really the only person Rian has ever trusted in her life. He's her security, her rock, pretty much everything to her. The worst possible thing happens Garrett's Dad gets transferred to a different base leaving Rian all alone, and things get far worse for her from there! My heart broke for her! She endured pain like no other. A stepdad that is a loser and a mother that won't stand up to him is what Rian is left with. Always bring the outcast until Garrett came into her life was all she knew. She was left once again alone, and feeling more lost then ever before.As time passes and a HUGE event plays out that I can't say Rian is forced to move in with her Aunt in another town. Just when Rian thinks things couldn't get any worse there he is her best friend Garrrett <-------again I'm keeping him!! Ashley has already signed him over to me! He stole my heart!! Gah! I have no words!! Ok--back to my review...so as fate would have Garrett and Rian are reunited and yes it feels that good! Lol! You will see ;) I was so happy for them!!! Buuuuuut.......Remember that rug that I mentioned?! The one that Ashley likes to pull out from under me and beat me with?? Well, she does it!! Don't worry I messaged her about this! I love all her books, but after Mirage I don't trust her one bit! She knows this and laughs....laughs I swear it! She loves it. <------- LAUGHS at me!! LolRian is faced with more pain, and again I can't say! Read it I promise you will want to know what happens! I loved these two characters! Also Rian's Aunt Elaine plays a huge part in her life. I connected with her immediately. This book isn't all sugar coated and a fairytale. It's down right heartbreaking at times, but that's real life right? Sometimes we have to fall, or in my case get that rug pulled out from under us to get back up and try it all over again! Rian will have you cheering her on as her crazy, but beautiful journey unfolds. You may wonder where does the term Raven fit? You will get that answer too.You will laugh, cry, cuss Ashley, laugh again and want more of these two! Garrett is book boyfriend worthy for sure!! <-------I'll wrap him up and swaddle him in a blanket!! He's hot, protective, loyal, and under all that tough exterior he's a big teddy bear!! <-----get my fan!!! Gettin hot up in here! 91,000 degrees!!I give Raven 5 HUGE shiny stars!!! It's amazing! You must meet these characters and love them the way I do. Oh I almost forgot there might be a Richard Simmons reference in it for y'all! Lol! Now go get it!!!",5.0,Sweet Baby Jesus!!! Garrett come to Mama!!!,1403136000,"06 19, 2014",12,16,helpful,0.75,1 A7SWCB46B4JL9,1461064724,Jenny Schwartz,"[4, 4]",""A Taste of Life and Love in Australia" by Margaret Lynette Sharp is a collection of gentle, heartwarming stories that quietly reflect on life.There is an effective simplicity to Margaret’s writing that means she, as author, doesn’t get in the way of her characters connecting with readers. Lines like “…the deep, limitless blue of our summer sky” from the short story, “A Storm in Summer”, draw you into a personal experience.I can’t put my finger on why these stories feel distinctly Australian to me (I’m a woeful reviewer!), but they do. I think it may be the easy rhythm of the dialogue. It feels like natural speech to me as an Australian reader. That being said, as I read the collection I found myself searching for an elusive memory of where I’ve read such pleasant, companionable short stories before — the answer is the UK magazine, The People’s Friend. Margaret’s stories have the same compassionate, entertaining humanity.",5.0,Heartwarming Aussie collection,1390521600,"01 24, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2S7CRFCDO57CR,1907519076,Tori,"[5, 7]","THE USURPER, book three in the King Rolen's Kin series, and, much like its predecessors, it's chock full of drama, action, and adventure. The only difference is that, due to my attachment to Byren, Fyn, and Piro, I was much more invested with what happened to them this time around. I was so attached that I tried to prolong ending the book for two days, which is why this review is being posted on October 1st.THE USURPER picks up where we left off in THE UNCROWNED KING; the kids are still coping with the loss of their kingdom, the loss of their brother, and the loss of their parents. Everyone blames themselves. Each sibling is convinced another is dead. Lots of good old angst. Then people start getting reunited, and characters start acting a bit brash and start getting arrogant, and we, as readers, are shipped off to different lands. (Yes, the stark difference between the first two books and the final book is that, while we do spend some time in Rolencia, it is not the only country we read about).The romantic in me squealed in happiness. There's lots of sexual tension in this book, and each character seems to have someone they're attracted to (whether or not they admit to this attraction, however, is another story). I think Byren's attraction is purely lust, whereas, I feel bad for Fyn. The ""intended"" pairing I found most exciting was Piro's. I'm still not entirely sure why, I think it's because I was more mentally prepared for it, thanks to book two.I loved what happened to Palatyne. It was so fitting and it made me grin/cackle. I wasn't expecting that to happen, which made the scene even better... he had it coming. I find with most authors that the final battles are usually anticlimactic; there's so much buildup that I can't help but anticipate a mind-blowing fight scene. Upon reading those final battles, I usually feel let down. Not the case in THE USURPER. I think I was too surprised to feel disappointed.It was also nice learning more about Isolt, who we only briefly hear about in the past books. I thought she was a brat initially, but I think Piro's perspective definitely influenced that opinion.I am so incredibly sad to see this trilogy come to an end. At this point, I'm not entirely sure if Rowena will write any other books as a followup, but I'm hoping she will. She leaves the ending open-ended. So open, that if there isn't a fourth book, I will be enraged beyond belief. There's enough covered to satisfy the reader for this book, yet, if you're hooked on this series like me, you'll be upset that there wasn't more. Highly recommend checking this series out if you're looking for a fantasy fix.",5.0,"Review from the book review blog, Book Faery",1285804800,"09 30, 2010",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3C5EHE22OLATS,0060192704,blah,"[0, 0]","It is a good book to have your daughters read. But they will look at you like, yeh right dad!",5.0,great book,1383004800,"10 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30IMCYZBOLRTJ,1477419497,Paulita,"[4, 6]","I stopped reading this book on my Kindle at 31%, which is about page 119.At first I thought the book was just slow to start. The book began with the main characters Maggie venturing to Cannes in the hopes of rescuing her (5 or 6 year old, the book listed different ages for her) niece from her rough French father. Her mother, Maggie's sister, was missing after getting involved with drugs. A British man stole the girl for Maggie and snuck them out of the country. Then we follow Maggie at home in Atlanta in her job for awhile. Suddenly, the evil French man shows up to blackmail Maggie and returns Maggie's sister, Elise, in bad shape.Elise begs Maggie not to tell their parents but to give her a few days to get cleaned up. She tells Maggie about the violence she endured at her Frenchman's hands. Then she informs Maggie that she will need to score some crack soon to keep it together.The next day, Maggie goes to work, which seems weird. Her sister was missing, presumed dead, shows up strung out and hooked on drugs, so Maggie goes into work at her advertising agency.That day, Elise is killed. Does Maggie tell the police that her sister was a crack addict and she may have let a drug dealer into the house? Does Maggie tell the police that Elise lived with a violent man who dumped her in a parking lot the night before? No, Maggie says her sister had been living in France; that she was an artist.Not only does Maggie not tell the police, she is dishonest with her best friend and family; her inner dialogue doesn't indicate that she thinks this should be an issue at all.Since I'm only 119 pages into the book, I'm going to hope I haven't given away any spoilers.I generally like the author's writing style and think the book could have benefited from some editing to streamline it and then just some honest reflection on what each character knows or should know.",1.0,Needs More Work,1366588800,"04 22, 2013",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 AGZNA9UFKL5V2,B005FIN9YG,Lenora Beck,"[0, 0]","I really enjoyed this book and the sequel. It was easy, light reading. There was a lot of humor and it was well written.",5.0,"Light, fun book!",1389484800,"01 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3M77GPST0EICR,0385425473,Norm Zurawski,"[16, 18]","Wild Swans is a riveting, yet harrowing tale of a girl and her life under the disarray that was the Cultural Revolution of Mao Tse-tung. The book encompasses her life growing into a young woman, as well as the life of her mother. The book could be considered a sort of biography of Jung Chang's mother as told through the eyes of her daughter.The setting is mainly post-WWII China. The KMT under Chiang Kai-shek are battling the communists under Mao Tse-tung. As history tells us, Mao was victorious and CKS fled to Taiwan to brutalize the people there. Mao won China and a much larger populace to brutalize. Either way, the civil war ended the way it did. And either way, brutality was assuredly going to ensue.This is the time frame of the book. Chang grows up in this, where her parents are both party officials in the Communist movement. Initially, there is a sense of privilege in the family. But this is not overtly the case, as her father's dedication to the ideals of the party overwhelm any attempts by the family to use that status as influence.The first 100 pages are good. They're enjoyable to read and it shows that the author can string words together in a competent manner. Chang is not a wordsmith, meaning that you aren't riveted by the craft of her words. But she is a very competent story teller. And this story deserves to be told. The harsh reality is that the history of post-war China is nearly as brutal as the atrocities the Nazis thrust upon the Jewish population in WWII. While not that horrendous, Mao's China became a festering pot of hatred and violence.But I digress. My point about the first 100 pages is to comment on the next 100 pages. They stunk. In fact, it was really hard for me to get through pages 100-200. The author goes on a bit of a melodramatic tear, where she seems to be writing through the pain of her mother, as opposed to taking a remotely objective view of her life at the time. Admittedly, this is a tragic story to relay, especially when your mother has endured such pain. Yet, for the reader, things were clearly exaggerated and complaints emanated from the book at such a pace that I nearly quit on the book.But I didn't, and I'm glad I didn't, because the story is worth it. I give this book 4 stars because of the other 400 pages. Despite those 100 pages where I could barely get through 10 minutes without wanting to stop, this book is outstanding. A highly recommended read in which your eyes will be open to a span of history that I, as an American, knew very little about. Considering the magnitude of this, it makes me ashamed that these histories are not taught in American schools.I imagine there are a million stories like this to tell. This is merely one of them. Considering Chang's status as a child of a party official, we see first hand how one family can go from the top of the ladder to the bottom of it. And in this transition, we see what Mao turned China into.In reading some critiques of this book, the subtitle probably is misleading. This is not so much a story of 3 daughters of China as it is a tale of terror that Mao's Communism brought to their family. Some of that terror was borne from the culture. But most was a result of Mao's policies. Chang asks in one section, ""What turned these people into such monsters?"" This is a good question, and very pertinent in getting to the point of the book. But that point is not resonant with the subtitle, namely 3 daughters of China.I don't think the book was meant as a history of the time, or a specific history of 3 daughters. But it was meant to say, ""Look at the hell that existed here. How can the world not know this?"" Chang does this, and she does it chillingly well.I imagine there are other books that encompass the story of China more successfully. And there are probably more moving narratives. But the emotion coupled with the history are an interesting read. I think the book is very well done and I think the detractors of this book were expecting something specific when they picked it up, thus the disappointment.But setting aside expectations, this book is a very good read. I expected nothing, as my mother-in-law lent it to me as a way to teach me about China under Mao. So I opened it with no preconceived notions. Again, I'm glad I did so. It was worth reading, no matter what I expected.If you've got any interest in Mao's China & how it relates to the plight of someone who lived through that time period, I very much recommend this book.",4.0,Chilling Narrative of Life Under Mao,1052784000,"05 13, 2003",16,18,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A1A8PBZ4C4FRJ8,B0054D1SSQ,BM3,"[0, 0]","I read mostly sci-fi/fantasy books and IMO, this series is some of the best I have read. It ranks right up there with the ""In Her Name"" series. The characters are exciting and the author changes up the pace and storyline just enough to make you not want to put the book down. The parallel universe plot line was an expected twist, but the author really pulled it off. The series could use better proofreading due to all the errors, but I still give it five stars. On to book IV.",5.0,This series still rocks,1376265600,"08 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGIUR77JJD6KX,0825442133,ibjoy1953,"[0, 0]","Jordyn Redwood is one awesome suspense author! I love this series and what an awesome series in this Bloodline Trilogy! I love the creative characters, and even though I’ve never had a job dealing with anything medical, I love medical suspense. And Jordyn Redwood did an fantastic job of so vividly describing the medical scenes and issues throughout this book. And the suspense! Wow! There are so many twists and turns you will not put this book down until you finish the last page, because you will just have to find out who did what!!! I loved it!If you enjoy fast pace suspense thrillers, this is a must for you! I received this book from the publisher Kregel to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.",5.0,Love this third book in this series,1384300800,"11 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A295LT2FACMB6W,1452102120,"H. Roth ""Long Term Cook and Reader""","[20, 25]","You may have seen Top Pot donuts at one of those corporate coffee shops found nearly everywhere these days. Top Pot started as a single bakery. Today, you can take advantage of the extensive experience and make donuts yourself at home.If you're interested in taking a home-donut journey, this cookbook could be just the guide book you need. Do consider a couple of factors. For those who are new to the kitchen, donuts may not be the place to start. Some of the recipes are a bit complicated. If you're not sure, start with a couple recipes for cake donuts. They are easier to master and get good results.Cooks with more experience with breads may very well want to tackle some raised donuts. Be sure to use your instincts when making the recipes at home. In some cases, I found making some adjustments based on my experience with yeast breads made a big difference in the results.The recipes and instructions for apple fritters were new to me. How fun to have a technique for making this family favorite in my house. I know we will want to repeat the experience.Surprisingly, the standout recipe is for a glaze. All my testers ended up putting it on every donut that came out of my kitchen on test day. I believe I heard the words evil, amazing, and lots of munching in response.Simplest Vanilla Glaze (small batch)3 cups confections'/icing sugar, sifted1 tsp light corn/golden syrup tsp iodized salt tsp vanilla extract1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp hot water, plus more if neededPlace the sugar, syrup, salt, vanilla and hot water in a large mixing bowl or in the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Using the whisk, or with the machines on low speed, blend until the mixture smooth and all of the sugar has been incorporated, scraping the sides of the blow with a rubber spatula if necessary. If the glaze seems too thick, add more hot water, a teaspoon at a time.You may look at this recipe and wonder if we really loved it that much. The answer is Yes! We really did--it didn't matter what glaze was intended for any donut, after one taste this is what everyone wanted on all of their donuts. With that sort of group endorsement it was clear which one I had to share here with all readers.For those who are confident in their kitchens and are ready to take their donuts to the next level, Hand-Forged Donuts is a great resource. A well-prepared book that is surprisingly easy to use in the kitchen, you won't go wrong if you're interested in serious recipes for donut-lovers.",3.0,Your Guide for Donuts at Home if You're a Handy Cook,1323734400,"12 13, 2011",20,25,helpful,0.8,1 A1L32FJA0MHV8A,0062187821,lynnz622,"[0, 0]",We are in a fairy phase and I wanted a beginning reader level book that would hold her interest. It works.,5.0,Pinkalious,1380672000,"10 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2Z5SAGLSV66EZ,146639952X,"Romance Book Craze ""Romance Book Craze Blog a...","[6, 6]","Daisy Gardner is not against marriage so much as against marriage to a rancher who is gonna take her out of town. See, she wants to be a detective and cannot do that if she is ""stuck"" on a ranch. She decides that the town needs a marshal and she is gonna marry that marshal so she can be a detective.Cole and Bosco are ranchers who have gotten themselves into a situation and Cole has gotten shot. He is losing blood fast so Bosco takes him to the closest town to see a doctor. When they arrive the whole town thinks that Cole is the new marshal and he is sworn in before he has a chance to explain himself.Through a sequence of events Daisy and Cole find their feelings for one another growing but what happens when the ""real"" marshal finally shows up?The characters in this book are the best. Cole is a strong, dependable man with a heart of gold, Bosco is simply a hoot, and Daisy is one fiery young lady who knows what she wants and gets what she wants. The secondary characters are a welcome addition to this book and add quite a bit to the story. I really liked how there are secondary love stories so quite a few people find their HEA. Oh and the widow sisters, ha, they are just plain hilarious.I loved the plot line and thought that is was very well though out and planned. The events are true to the time period and that is important to me in a historical novel. Ms Rogers did a fantastic job adding the perfect combination of story, dialogue, humor, and passion to make this a very good book. The only thing that I didn't like was the story tended to get a little wordy and I found myself skimming through some parts to get back the good stuff. Aside from that, this is a definite must read for historical western lovers.",4.0,Great Read!!!,1319673600,"10 27, 2011",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1NHYUK2PIG5WG,1609285964,Selena Robins,"[4, 5]","The chemistry between Elijah and Mary Jane is strong from the moment they meet, increasing with every encounter. A tortured hero, a strong heroine, both vulnerable and in danger, makes for high suspense, sizzling sexual tension and great love scenes. All the elements that make Denise Agnew's books a must read.",5.0,Beautifully written historical,1310601600,"07 14, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1TENDS01VJYFL,1494740257,Donald Tilleman,"[0, 0]","not your typical historical murder mystery thriller. engaging, and has more twists and plot turns to keep one guessing to the very end. i thoroughly enjoyed the thrill ride and it certainly led me to investigate the philosophical nature of Pythagoras, that i was totally clueless about before reading this book.no spoilers here bit pay very close attention, as the author barely provides enough clues to let you know who dunnit!most amazingly i suspended disbelief for long enough that i did not care to try and figure out the ending. generally i am digging for clues from page one, but i enjoyed the prose and narrative so much, that i decided to just enjoy the ride.",5.0,well written well translated,1404172800,"07 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AUGI9RAYNFA1J,0345528921,Emereld2,"[15, 17]","Perhaps it's time for one of my favorite authors to take a break. The last book of the Blossom Street seriesA Turn in the Road (Blossom Street)was not very good, and the Cedar Cove series had devolved into a Hot Mess. Even so, I looked forward to reading the first book of Debbie Macomber's new series. Unfortunately, the newest series set in Cedar Cove is not off to a promising start, and reading Macomber's essay on the main ""Inn at Harbor Rose"" amazon page is not reassuring as to the future of this series. Safe to say, the first two guests do not have ""amazing"" stories, but at least we are forewarned about the outcome (read the essay if you like; I'm afraid the pertinent part smacks too much of a spoiler to include in this review).There have been enough other recaps, so I'll skip that. The story is supposed to be about loss and redemption, but it focuses way too heavily on the loss and the redemption is too quick and neat to ring true. There is an element or two of romance, but this book does not belong in that genre. The war widow is old beyond her years, and I have the uncomfortable feeling that by the end of the series, she will discover she wasn't widowed after all. In the meantime, her husband's ghost is all too ""there"", and the heavy-handedness of that plot device is very unlike this author.I understand the author suffered a horrible loss last year. Surely she recognizes that one cannot resolve grief and all of its accompanying emotions in three days.Sadly, I can't recommend this book to anyone.",2.0,"Lots of loss, little redemption",1345680000,"08 23, 2012",15,17,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 A1FDW1SPYKB354,0312080743,David Von Pein,"[19, 41]","The theory put forth in the book ""Mortal Error"" -- a kooky-as-all-get-out hunk of nonsense that has Secret Service Agent George W. Hickey Jr. accidentally firing the fatal gunshot into President John F. Kennedy's head in the midst of an assassination attempt being carried out by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas' Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963 -- is a thoroughly preposterous and untenable theory, and there are several reasons why.To begin with, the very idea that Agent Hickey would have actually had the extreme misfortune of being able to ""find"" JFK's head just perfectly via his one ""accidental shot"" that was discharged from his AR-15 rifle (and miss everything else and everybody else, miraculously, in between himself and JFK) is just way too far-fetched a notion for anyone to seriously consider as fact.Giving credence to such a crazy theory would mean literally ignoring so many common-sense things (and ignoring so much evidence and witnesses), it's pathetic. Such as: You'd have to believe that Hickey just kept his mouth shut about the ""accident"" with his AR-15 rifle. And you'd have to believe that David Powers, a friend and personal aide of JFK's, who was sitting in the very same car as Agent Hickey, had somehow not even noticed this rifle blast going off just inches behind where he was seated (or you'll have to believe that Powers was ""in"" on the ""cover-up"" which would have followed, which is nonsense of the first order; Powers would be the very last person I'd suspect of covering up anything with respect to JFK's death).If Hickey had truly fired that fatal shot, you'd also have to swallow that every one of the many other SS agents in that follow-up car in the motorcade either ALL didn't hear the loud rifle shot from right inside their own vehicle...or that all of these agents lied later on when none of them corroborated such a shot from Hickey's weapon. Logical? Hardly.Plus: No witness that I am aware of claimed to have heard a shot being fired from around the area of ""Queen Mary"" (the SS code name for the Secret Service follow-up car), which is yet another annoying fly in this theory's ointment.And the biggie -- If a Hickey shot killed the President, then a logical and reasonable explanation needs to be put forth to explain away the two large bullet fragments that were conclusively proven to have been fired from Lee Harvey Oswald's very own Carcano rifle that were found in the front-seat area of the Presidential limousine. And this book does not contain such a logical answer to that critical flaw within such a ""Hickey Did It"" theory.Oswald fired three shots from the southeast corner window of the 6th Floor of his workplace (the Texas School Book Depository). The evidence supporting this fact is overwhelming. And it's obvious that his second shot (aka the ""Single-Bullet Theory"" shot) didn't produce the badly-damaged bullet fragments that were discovered on 11/22/63 in the limo's front seat. And, IMO, Oswald's first (missed) shot could not have caused the limo fragments either.If a missed shot, moving at approx. 2,000fps had struck the limo's windshield and/or chrome strip (which were slightly damaged during the shooting), that bullet would almost certainly have penetrated the glass and/or chrome area of the car. Such a full-velocity shot would not have simply dented the chrome, broken up badly, and then scraped the windshield. The FBI's Robert Frazier (who did extensive work for the Warren Commission after the assassination) testified to this, in fact.That leaves only the ""head shot"" to account for the front-seat bullet fragments. Oswald's third and fatal shot struck President Kennedy's head, causing the now-severely-slowed-down bullet fragments coming from JFK's head wound to continue to move forward, where the two fragments each struck one of the ultimately-damaged areas at the front of the car (windshield and chrome).Another thing that debunks the Hickey theory is the fact that out of the many still photographs and films taken in Dealey Plaza that Friday in '63, not one of them corroborates the theory put forth in this book. There's not a photo in existence that shows Agent Hickey with a rifle in his hands while riding through Dealey Plaza.Another of ""Mortal's"" errors is the notion that JFK uttered the words ""I'm hit"" just after the first shot (from Oswald's gun), which the author claims hit the pavement near the limo and sent some concrete fragments flying into the car, striking JFK.Now, prior to swallowing the above scenario which has President Kennedy actually speaking before the fatal shot hit him, I'd advise reading the official Warren Commission testimony of the two women who were also riding in that limousine with the President (Jacqueline Kennedy and Nellie Connally). Their testimony leaves no doubt about whether any audible words came out of JFK's mouth throughout the entire shooting timeline:MR. SPECTER -- ""Did President Kennedy say anything at all after the shooting?""NELLIE CONNALLY -- ""He did not say anything.""JACKIE KENNEDY -- ""And my husband never made any sound.""MR. RANKIN -- ""Do you recall anyone saying anything else during the time of the shooting?""JACKIE KENNEDY -- ""No; there weren't any words. There was just Governor Connally's.""There is also the official statement that was made by (and signed by) SS Agent George Hickey on 11/22/63, which says this:""At the end of the last report {gunshot} I reached to the bottom of the car and picked up the AR-15 rifle, cocked and loaded it, and turned to the rear. At this point the cars were passing under the overpass and as a result we had left the scene of the shooting. I kept the AR-15 rifle ready as we proceeded at a high rate of speed to the hospital.""So, Hickey says in that original signed report/statement that he didn't even TOUCH his AR-15 rifle until AFTER the last gunshot had already been fired in Dealey Plaza.Agent Hickey's complete ""Original Report"" can be found here:[...]In order to believe that the contents of this book are accurate, the reader must necessarily believe that the above-referenced Report signed by George Hickey Jr. of the United States Secret Service is nothing but a pack of lies.----------------""Mortal Error"" is just one more volume in the ever-expanding and bulging library of JFK assassination books. And it's also one more book, among many others, that can be filed in the category reserved for ""Groundless And Baseless Theories Re. The Kennedy Assassination"". In short, ""Mortal Error"" is nothing but a ""Monumental Error"" itself.",1.0,"""Mortal Error's"" Theory Doesn't Hold Up At All When Weighed Against The Evidence That Says It Never Happened",1137628800,"01 19, 2006",19,41,helpful,0.4634146341463415,1 A253275FSQQ90O,B00B4II2MK,wranglerlady,"[0, 0]",I love the books. There very exciting but they are to short. Now I have to wait till April for the next one. But there very good,5.0,Exciting,1362009600,"02 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WTALTG4E1AFS,0760337624,Howard Wexler,"[6, 9]","In the introduction to this book, author Michael Connelly says it started out focused on the two week period starting with President Kennedy's death and ending in the Army-Navy game of 1963. The book expanded to its present form because Connelly became convinced there was a story to be told about that 1963 Navy football team.If there is a story, Connelly did not tell it very well. You read the book and you realize how little you know about these ""special"" players. All you learn is that everybody connected with that team was a saint. The same goes for his sections about President Kennedy and the Kennedy family. Joseph Kennedy is seen as a loving father and model of virtue, Rose Kennedy is not mentioned at all. The closest thing to a flaw within the Kennedy family is that Robert and Ethel Kennedy expressed their displeasure at the team losing the Cotton Bowl to Texas as if it was some presidential order that had to be obeyed.The narrative of the football season is so ""Gee whiz"" it boggles this writer. Connelly trots out every sportwriter's cliché early and often.I am a great admirer of the service academies and have attended many Army-Navy football games. The real stories about the people who are in these academies is much more nuanced and interesting than the stories in this book.But maybe there simply was not enough story here to make it into a good book.",1.0,"Paper-thin Characters, Cliched Writing",1285718400,"09 29, 2010",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 ASSJWXLNP773X,1494215195,"Tobi from Forget the Housework, I'm Reading...","[15, 15]","First thoughts afterOMGosh!!! I'm going to be going nuts til winter!!!!!How distracted did I get??A Charming Spell is a wonderful continuation in the Magical Cures Series. Whispering Falls is in a pickle and strong sweet funny June is trying to fix all. I loved the twists and turns throughout the story keeping you guessing ""who done it"". A Charming Spell is a must read for all!",5.0,Another hit!,1373241600,"07 8, 2013",15,15,helpful,1.0,1 A360UDPE3213NW,0800757181,Cheryl A. Stallard,"[0, 0]",This book as all the rest is very good. The story line is great and anyone who reads it will enjoy it.,5.0,Review,1403136000,"06 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1I80RUW0PPULO,B007YUP5OK,HappyHeart1993,"[13, 15]","I read another story by L.C. Zingera, and my advice for this one is the same: please, please, please find a decent editor. The story, itself, is cute and sweet, with a nice little twist. But Zingera writes one run-on sentence after another; it's actually so bad in some places it becomes very distracting. There are commas in places where they don't belong and places in serious need of commas where there are none.The story revolves around Daniel, a wealthy business mogul; he's wealthy enough that he's well-known. When his chauffeur is called away on a family emergency, Daniel finds himself driving his own limo home; tired from a long week, he stops for a cup of coffee. In the coffee shop, he meets Lorianne, who is in the process of opening her own coffee shop. Daniel is so taken with Lori he decides to take an unprecedented two weeks off; he volunteers to help Lori get her new place ready. The catch is, Daniel doesn't tell Lori who he really is.Now that I think of it, there's another little interesting twist involving a ""contest"" for a million dollars. Daniel's friend, Harry, is convinced if Lori had money but believed Daniel didn't, that she'd dump him; in an effort to prove this, Harry talks Daniel into giving Lori a million dollars under the guise of a contest.I'll stop with the description there as we're getting close to spoilers. I wouldn't tell anyone NOT to read this story, but I can't give it a higher rating than 3 stars. Please, Ms. Zingera, get an objective reader to edit your next book; find an officer in the Grammar Police and tell them, ""You have to be cruel to be kind. I can take it.""",3.0,Still in Need of an Editor,1363996800,"03 23, 2013",13,15,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 A2KX7G5BC1ALQJ,1476783284,FFpassion,"[0, 0]","5 starsFirst let me say I am a HUGE Daniel fan, he won my heart in Losing Hope and I was beyond excited when I heard Colleen Hoover was going to give us his own story.Finding Cinderella was perfect, loved the connection between Daniel and Six and the instant rapport they have from the first moment they met :)As it's a novella I won't go into too much detail about the actual storyline as I don't want to spoil it for anyone but I will say all the characters and I mean all the characters will touch your heart in some way. Even Val added to the storyline, god I love the name Daniel christened her with, just so fitting lolOMG Daniel's family, they are fantastic. Once you meet them you can see where Daniel gets his personality from, they had me laughing and thinking I like the way they parent, maybe I should try that with my daughters :DAnd lastly Six, not sure I can find the words to describe how much I loved that girl. She puts up such a front that people think she doesn't care what's being said about her, she's her own biggest critic but seeing her with Daniel and watching her with him experiencing things she's never experience before like her first date or her first hand holding gahhh it was beautiful to experience that with her, them.Seriously I could go on and on, there were so many moments that touched me. The bromance between Holder and Daniel is as strong as ever and we get to see just how much they love and respect each other. The scene towards the end when Daniel needs Holder was so well written, loved it.My only complaint with Finding Cinderella is that it ended too quickly for me, I just wanted more and more :DHaving said that the ending left me with a happy and contented heart :)If you enjoyed Daniel and Six from the Hopeless series Finding Cinderella is a must read.Thank you Colleen Hoover for giving us Daniels and Six's story, loved every word and I will be reading it again.Looking forward to reading more of your beautiful words in the near future <3",5.0,LOVE LOVE LOVE!,1386547200,"12 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AOM2L693L354M,1481098225,Baker-Wright,"[4, 5]","The sequel did not measure up to the original Billionaire. But then I didn't expect it to since I thought the original Billionaire was one of the better and by far one of the funniest books I had ever read (and I read a lot). The sequel dwelt an awful lot on the cats that Joe and Karen had adopted and the cat problem in their tiny village. I felt like the writer was really excited to be writing her sequel but as she got into she realized tht maybe she didn't have enough new stuff to write about, so she kind of dragged out the episodes in order to get enough pages. I do admire these two people for chasing their dream and I will probably buy her next book about their experiences in the Middle East, but I am still a little turned off by the sequel so I will wait awhile.",3.0,Not as good as first Happier,1363737600,"03 20, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3G0JABVQ4GLAF,061579615X,Amy,"[0, 0]","This was my first time reading this writer and I can't wait to read the next book. There is some good tension between the main characters, good writing.",4.0,Really different,1375833600,"08 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A39650P2CZUUC9,0802126081,"Bonnie Brody ""Book Lover and Knitter""","[13, 16]","Sandrine's Case by Thomas Cook is an interesting novel about the death of a 46 year-old woman named Sandrine. Was it suicide or was she murdered by her husband Sam? The novel's structure is in the form of a courtroom drama and takes place on each day of the trial with each witness testifying for or against the accused. During the course of the trial, Sam reminisces about Sandrine and their original meeting and love affair, the early days of their marriage and Sandrine's personality. He also considers the last days of her life and the awful fight they had before she died.Sandrine loved words and was an astute grammarian. She had a tender side and originally had a dream of opening a school for poor children in Africa. During the course of years, her dreams died as she taught at Coburn College, a small liberal arts college in Georgia, the same school where Sam taught.While the trial is taking place, Sam is asked to resign his tenured professorship because of the negative publicity his trial will bring the college. If he doesn't resign, the president is prepared to fire him.I found the book rather long and it meandered just a bit too much for me to be completely vested in it. I found the characters interesting but not to the point of wanting to pick the book up all the time. I enjoyed the metaphors, quotes from other authors and the characterization of Sandrine. She came alive more than any other character. I have read other books by Thomas Cook and have loved them. This is not one of his strongest novels.",3.0,"""You're the victim in this case, Sam. Don't forget that.""",1374451200,"07 22, 2013",13,16,helpful,0.8125,1 A15Y2FQ5WNR63Y,0380813300,"James D. DeWitt ""Alaska Fan""","[5, 6]","James Gardner's stories postulate a universe in which humans are far, far behind the technological levels of the other alien species of the darn near omnipotent League of Peoples. For the first time in his universe, he takes us to Earth where, for unexplained reasons, humanity mostly has reverted to an early-1800's level of technology. Except that nanotechnology has made sorcery and psionics possible, and there are something called Spark Lords who have technology that is very nearly magic.And it turns out there are other aliens who are fighting battles on Earth. And one race of these aliens is Truly Evil; homicidal, ..., shape-shifting and disgusting. And let me caution you that Gardner apparently doesn't like cottage cheese, and you probably won't, either, after your read this book.The plot involves a handful of private school teachers who stumble into this morass when one of their students dies messily at the hand of the bad guy or guys. Naturally, most of them die in the course of the novel; naturally, the survivors save the day.Gardner has been rightly accused of indulging in silly science, and that tendency is full flower in ""Trapped."" As an enjoyable yarn, this story, like many of Gardner's books, is okay. But if you bring any critical thinking to the plot or the characters, the whole thing falls apart like a soggy tissue. A galaxy-spanning, transcendent hive mind that enjoys ...? Humans, aware of technology, who are stuck in a horse-and-buggy culture? Shape-shifting cellule organisms?There are also massive inconsistencies with the earlier books. Readers of Gardner's earlier novels know the League of Peoples has some pretty strong ideas about homicide; if, as Harriet Klausner has suggested in an earlier review, the Spark Lords are from another world, they sure better not ever try to leave Earth. . .Despite the silly science and the plot holes, this is a pleasant read. But buy the paperback, not the hardback, and keep your expectations - and your incredulity - firmly in check.",3.0,School Teachers Save the World...,1035936000,"10 30, 2002",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A81JTUY1FWSBI,1482658372,"Bandora Fox ""Bandora""","[0, 0]","I could hardly put this one down, after being so desperate to find out what happened next after Volume 2 ended. This one had a great amount of twists and turns while pulling at my heart strings at the same time. The only thing that I didn't like was the bad editing job as there were several grammatical and contextual errors that took me out of enjoying the fictional world I was in for that page but overall I was enthralled until the end and a little sad to see it end despite the beautiful ending.",5.0,A wonderful way to tie loose ends,1356825600,"12 30, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1HF6TJP5O3XW8,1477679995,rebecca,"[0, 0]",This book was amazing! I ended up buying all the other ones in the series. I would definitely recommend reading this!!,5.0,Captured,1387497600,"12 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HID4ST77BD3H,1468112422,S Squared,"[0, 2]",It had potential at the start. I kept reading and reading and fell asleep. That is NOT the mark of a good book.,2.0,Meh...,1365379200,"04 8, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2HOAGBD98VJ5I,0373837852,Awilda Miranda,"[0, 0]","The Rancher is a continue of stories To Love and Cherish (his mother and father history ),Wyoming Tough (his sister history),Wyoming Fierce(her sister brother in law). They all very good all of them. I hope Mrs. Palmer write the story of the last of the brothers Dalton Kirk. From Heart of Stone I loved was my first novel of Mrs Palmer. I have it in english and spanish.But I have to say all the mercenaries live in their and the drug dealer like the place too. In others stories always said something over the lives of others people she write like up date,but never mention again Boone and Keely.",5.0,The Rancher & Heart of Stone,1358035200,"01 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ADK1SRYEE79H,0380756250,maria 14,"[0, 0]","Lindsey can create some story lines that have potential. She falls short in creating likable leading ladies. With the exception of Reina, the ladies are always blah, Pretty but stupid. Try reading C L Wilson or Catherine Anderson for true ladies of depth and worthiness. Now Stephan had potential. Passion, strong, loyal, and flawed. But with Tanya your just thinking someone please kill her. I could not stand her. Dumb ending as well.",3.0,shallow leading ladies,1353715200,"11 24, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3O9DM73HBVZ7O,157806743X,"F. Michaud ""***""","[7, 9]","I really enjoyed reading this book. This book actually helpedme decide whether or not going into this field of work.I absolutely love CSI (but hate CSI Miami and CSI NY...too much Hollywood in those...ugh).This is a book about these professional's lives, NOT forensic science technology and the latest techniques used, etc..which I, for one, wasn't expecting by reading the overview of the book to begin with.If you want to get a feel of what it's like to live in these professionals shoes than this is your book, and a wonderful one at that!I like to read about stuff that people never talk about and that is so taboo. We should all get more comfortable with death and our immortal bodies.Thanks author, It was an enjoyable read!",5.0,Awesome book about the life of coroners & staff...,1139097600,"02 5, 2006",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A3ODGAW5Z2EJ1M,0226501175,Kevin Currie-Knight,"[5, 5]","If chimpanzees and bonobos are our close evolutionary brothers and sisters, then rhesus macaques are, say, our step-brothers: not as genetically close as brothers but close enough to help plan the family reunion. Unfortunately, they are rarely talked about as related to homo sapiens. Maybe that is because, as will be seen in this book, they are so danged nasty.The point of Dario Maestripieri's book is to give us an anthropological glimpse at rhesus macaques and their very Machiavellian behavior. And the point of doing that is to show that rhesus macaques are very, very similar to humans in certain, and not always good, ways. They are very territorial, trade favors for services, dislike ""outsiders"" (not of their group) with a passion, stage revolutions of the weak against the strong, etc, etc. Not to sound flippant, but the behavior of rhesus macaques is quite similar in kind to the behavior of human gangs (be they bloods, skinheads, motorcycle gangs, or la cosa nostra). Or to put it differently, rhesus society resembles a slightly less individualistic version of Hobbes's state of nature.Maestripieri has spent decades looking at how rhesus macaques operate, and the book reads like an anthropology text. Behavior is explained and anecdotes are given to support these explanations. We see how macaques organize themselves into hierarchies (and hierarchies within hierarchies), how (fragile) bonds are formed by exchanging favors for...umm...services, and even how they play oligarchical politics.To me, the big fault of the book is that the author never really argues the point that we should see rhesus behavior as an illuminator of our own behavior as much as he assumes it. In one chapter, he demonstrates that rhesus males have no part in child rearing, at the very end of the chapter suggesting that fatherly instincts are a recent development in humans. While I have little problem with this assertion (and suspect it may be true), the author leaps from description of macaques to pontificating on implications for humans without going through the middle step of arguing why rhesus behavior is any better a guide to humans than, say, bonobo behavior. (One negative reviewer took issue with certain similar statements the author made suggesting that rhesus females' non-participation in politics gives reason to suspect that human females do not have as much political instinct as males. I suspect that had the author argued why his rhesus descriptions are connected with his human speculations, these ""leaps"" would be less problematic.)The other slight problem I had was the authors tendency to confuse proximate with ultimate causal explanations for behavior. Several times he talks about several macaque behaviors, like females' having sex with weaker males only during times when they can't concieve, as cost/benefit analysis. Of ccourse, behaviors like this may have evolved because their benefits outweigh their costs, but the author often describes these acts as if they were MOTIVATED by cost/benefit analysis. (Occasionally, the author will correct himself here but go on in the same chapter to make the same linguistic conflation.)All in all, I gave the book four stars because I found it extremely interesting (on a subject often overlooked) and very engaging. The author succeeds in giving us great description about rhesus macaques. Where the author does not succeed is in convincing us that rhesus macaques can really illuminate human behavior any better (or even as good as) bonobos and chimpanzees, who are much closer relatives and just as similar behaviorally. Yes, we are similar in ways to rhesus monkeys, but so are we to many animals, most of whom are not close relatives. Pointing out behavioral similarities do not themselves justify analogies; those must be argued for, which is what this book lacks. If you read this book solely as a study and explanation of rhesus macaque behavior, though, the book is illuminating and entertaining indeed.",4.0,Good Anthropological Account of Rhesus Macaques,1261440000,"12 22, 2009",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AKMZ2I0PR6PYR,0618432949,"Grant McCreary ""birderslibrary dot com""","[24, 24]","This is perhaps the best bird family guide that I've seen. It is definitely the best identification guide to this difficult group of birds.The book focuses more on size and shape rather than plumage. Therefore, the photos aren't like other guides. They are not all uniformly sized super close-up shots of a single bird. Instead they are sized to better emphasize certain characteristics. They often show multiple birds of different species so as to give a better comparison of size, shape, and plumage.One of the best features of the guide is the questions in some captions. Most species have at least one question in one of their photo captions. The questions ask the reader to do such things as identify some of the species in the photo, or to pick out one particular species among all the birds present. The answers are contained in an appendix in the back. These questions force the reader to apply the knowledge and techniques imparted by the authors and look more critically and actively at the photograph.I can't recommend this book enough.",5.0,This is indeed THE guide to shorebirds,1172102400,"02 22, 2007",24,24,helpful,1.0,1 A3QDLEJ9RLF93K,0963277677,Wesley A. Ornick,"[4, 9]","It is hard to believe everything you read, despite the intentions and truthful beliefs the writer portrays or relays...could we be stemmed from a very ancient culture. is culture even the world. A race like, yet unlike our modern-day modern humans...only to find out in the past we were surrounded by intelligent and speaking animals of the forest, energy, consciousness and powers we cannot even begin to understand. it is labeled as New Age or non=fiction...very informative and intellectual to a degree...feels like I am on the psychiatric table accounting a view or series of visions I am beginning to uncover myself...very cool but takes a while to step back and analyze from different reference points...anything can point to truth, but where do we start to research it? many mysteries are waiting to be unearthed -- pardon the pun.",3.0,Starcrash people and remnants,1249776000,"08 9, 2009",4,9,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 ANOQPAOJOCHNF,B004DERHGO,Burt,"[0, 0]",The stories had good plots. It was not easy reading. I enjoyed the books. Here are six more words required,3.0,Good book,1388707200,"01 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2O1J6E7SXRHFN,0983221731,lmjcountry,"[0, 0]",I really enjoyed this book. It made me want to go back to Italy so bad. Chantal's describition made me feel like I was there with the group.,5.0,I loved the book.,1393977600,"03 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3UJN94DC0QRO1,0373802498,Jennifer,"[0, 0]","I was absolutely captivated byPoison Studyand couldn't wait for more of Yelena and Varek inMagic Study (Study, Book 2). The setting changes in the second book in the series, moving Yelena to her birth home, Sitia, where she will study and develop her powers. She is also reunited with her parents and her older brother, Leif. At first, everyone mistrusts Yelena, thinking that she is a spy for the Commander. But once they see how Yelena becomes involved in tracking a Soulstealer, they opinions begin to change.Now that Yelena has a place in both of these lands, she must decide where she really belongs, or find a way to unite Ixia and Sitia once more.Magic Study (Study, Book 2)introduces a whole new cast of characters, some likable and some hatable, but the whole time I was missing Ari, Janco, and Valek. Most of all, Valek. I was glad when they finally made an appearance halfway through the book. By the end, I wasn't as satisfied as I hoped I would be. The rogue magician was an alright storyline, the writing was paced well (though there were some grammatical errors that gave me pause; they should have been caught by a line editor/copy editor) and I definitely want to see where Yelena's abilities will take her and what her destiny will be.I think part of my mistake with this book was waiting so long to read it. I read Poison Study last year and only just now read Magic Study. I'll be reading the rest of the series in quick succession so that everything stays fresh in my memory.",4.0,"Didn't Live Up to My Expectations, But Still Enjoyable",1302480000,"04 11, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZFDTFT5UGZ18,1492155934,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Didnt even get beyond first chapter. Found it hard to read really bad grammar. Wouldnt even give one star.,1.0,terrible,1405382400,"07 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32K3ZLLQZLD9W,B00CY0G88W,Jordan Amit,"[0, 0]","Being able to handle your emotions is a very crucial skill in order to live through this world. Life is a constant moving up and down roller coaster of experiences, and things come at you when you don't expect them, whether good or bad experiences. Not letting these events affect you emotionally is a very powerful ability, as it allows you to witness life and ride it out, while continuing to push through towards your goals. This book helps you with advice on how to achieve this ability, and how to be prone to life's events and not let them affect you so strongly.",4.0,good book,1379980800,"09 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1SUPQ1LUEPZ8A,1477817182,kylady,"[0, 0]",What an amazing author. There were times when I was holding my breath not knowing what was going to happen next. To follow Emma's life from a child of being abused and unloved to adulthood with love and well deserved happiness.,5.0,Heart wrenching,1390176000,"01 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZOOJC5SSZWJF,1575661926,stardancer,"[5, 7]",Be careful with this book... if you're looking for a book with just raw recipes this isn't a good choice. There are many cooked recipes in this book. If you are simply looking for a healthy cookbook with some raw recipes this may be a good choice for you.,2.0,Not Raw Vegan,1156291200,"08 23, 2006",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3OIBIK4EYOKQ1,1581824599,S. Regn,"[47, 69]","All the venom, derogatory labels, and namecalling by the ""one star"" crowd put this book right into my cart. Thanks ""one stars"" for tipping me off to another wonderful read.",5.0,Key Indicator,1145232000,"04 17, 2006",47,69,helpful,0.6811594202898551,1 A1RTVNFC89C1NC,0741444186,Melodie K. Starkey,"[6, 6]","From start to finish, this short book keeps you rooting for Roman and his team, climbing those hills (and mountains) with them, feeling every punch in the ring and every triumph. Cobbett's attention to detail puts the reader right in the middle of every scene, even with something as small as a description of a meal. The ending is surprising and yet exactly as it should be. Bravo, Roman. Bravo, Miles Cobbett!",5.0,The positive energy flows!,1322956800,"12 4, 2011",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 ATKAWFUPX71EG,0736927999,Amazon Customer,"[0, 2]","In rereading some of the classics this year, I've realized that I'm simply not a huge Jane Austen fan (gasp!). However, I enjoyed Linore Rose Burkard's regency, The Country House Courtship. I loved Beatrice Forsythe's spunk; was glad to catch up on her older sister, Ariana and her dashing husband, Mr. Philip Mornay; and rooted for Mr. O'Brien to win Beatrice's heart, in spite of the interference of Mr. Tristan Barton. Ms Burkard creates the world of that era with accuracy and makes it easy to visualize. POV shifts within scenes halted me a bit at times and caused me to go back and have to reread, but on the whole it is a very satisfying read. I'd rather read Linore Rose Burkard than Jane Austen!",4.0,Preference for Linore Rose Burkard,1276387200,"06 13, 2010",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2EDZH51XHFA9B,B0057Q0MRS,"Robert Beveridge ""xterminal""","[0, 0]","Laura B. Cooper, <strong>Confessions of a Slut Wife, vol. 1</strong> (Laura B. Cooper, 2011)Six short-to-short-short pieces of erotica that get the job done well enough, though two-thirds of them don't quite fit the picture in my head when the term ""slut wife"" pops up (there should always be something extramartial involved, instead of just an unusual level of naughtiness, no? I wouldn't think ""sex outside for the first time whilst suffering empty-nest syndrome"" would count). Don't get me wrong, that doesn't make the stories any less pleasurable (thought note lack of character development etc. etc.), just not quite what I was expecting from this ebook. As long as you know what you're getting, though, it's worth checking out on the cheap. ** ",3.0,Not what it would seem to be (or is that just me?).,1335484800,"04 27, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2N029FTHX6BTS,067178577X,Michael Hickerson,"[4, 4]","The concept of New Earth is, on paper, fascinating.In execution, it's been a series that is, at times, utterly entertaining and frustrating. The frustration comes from the fact that there were a lot of potential conflicts brought up in book one that haven't yet been addressed by the series (methinks that Diane Carey will bring them up in the final leg of the series but that's honestly, not good enough).This leg finds the Kauld attempting to get to New Earth for the olivium. Their ingenous plan this time is to destroy the atmosophere of New Earth, thus killing the colonists. Certainly the threat is a good one but it isn't as well realized as I'd hoped. Also, while we get some reactions from the colonists, none of them are really fleshed out enough. Indeed, it's the same reactions we saw in the other three books--horror and disdain at the fact they've come so far to possibly fail.Kirk and company face a great dilemma and, as usual, must stop it. It's not that I don't like seeing Kirk and company in action. It's just that whole book as the been-there, done-that feeling to it. There's not much depth to the characters and while one of them faces a tragic loss a lot of balls are dropped in the course of the novels. (One potentially interesting plotline of Kirk and McCoy both being romantically drawn to the same woman and the possible conflicts this could bring up is simply dropped as McCoy just accepts that the woman chooses Kirk over him and moves on. There's a chance for drama here but it's not explored!)This novel ends some of the on-going plotlines while leaving things open for Ms. Carey to finish up and then create a series of on-going adventures for the Challenger crew. I think that this series could have used one driving voice behind them--such as what happens with Peter David's New Frontier novels. For good or bad, they're all by one author and thus have a more rigid sense of continuity and character development. I'd gladly have endured a more long-term series of novels stretched out over several months or years that lived up to the promise that was set before us than this collection of disjointed novels.",3.0,3 1/2 Stars,968112000,"09 5, 2000",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1QMN8SJYRREMT,0805093079,Dave Cunningham,"[5, 16]","It's a fascinating piece of history, well-told ... and I didn't want to like it, because I find Bill O'Reilly to be perhaps the most smug, self-important, cringe-inducing egotist on the planet. But he reads this material like a pro, the story flies on wings, and O'Reilly's ego never gets in the way. ""Killing Lincoln"" is aimed at history buffs, students of war tactics and conspiracy theorists. Anyone bored by those topics need not apply. But even if you don't care for O'Reilly, that won't affect your enjoyment of this audio book one iota. It's a fun ride.",4.0,Surprisingly digestible,1318550400,"10 14, 2011",5,16,helpful,0.3125,1 A1S0ODLTQUUW7S,B0056PFONW,Haley's Comments,"[4, 4]","I decided to send this book to a few people I know who were either out of work, or looking for new jobs. Having read it I thought Mr. Rega gave some good sound advice, and his personal experiences only add to the validity of his advice. If you need help with employment or know anyone who is having problems I suggest they read this book to get started.",5.0,A fine primer,1381795200,"10 15, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3MPISLETA2OAO,1402267185,MARILYN,"[0, 0]","Story held my attention. Very steamy, love story involving an Alpha SEAL. If you enjoy lots of excitement, this is the book for you.",4.0,Steamy novel involving a Navy SEAL,1386374400,"12 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AHEK2IP7GXE8R,1495300978,"Cristina ""stellyna""","[0, 0]","Took me forever to get into this book - it actually never happened. I finished it because I purchased it...it was predictable, repetitive and unfortunately boring...",1.0,Disappointed...,1398297600,"04 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5JCS1HO5SMP4,B0073H86H2,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","This is a great segue into writing for writers of any age. Read a short version of the original tale, then share this version. Have your writer read a few more short fairy tales and choose one to rewrite.",5.0,Great Twist on an Old Favorite,1380758400,"10 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1I6ZCHKMNQI1V,159309163X,"Urban Reviews ""Your Source for the Best in AA...","[5, 5]","Terelle and Kai are back with even more drama than you could ever imagine. Both of these women have lost a lot in their pursuit of Marquise who is now deceased. Terelle has suffered mental breakdown and has been institutionalized after losing her fiancé. But after two years of being in a non-responsive state, Terelle is awakened by a kiss and the voice of her lover Marquise. During her recovery, Terelle clings on to the hope that Marquise is still alive and that they will be reunited once again. But her best friend Saleema thinks she's delusional and worries that Terelle may be too unstable to raise her daughter. Meanwhile, Kai is in prison serving a life sentence for a murder that she did not commit but this still doesn't stop Kai's insane behavior. Kai indulges in numerous prison sexual encounters while her mind is focused on making Terelle's life as miserable as possible.The Climax is the perfect sequel to Insatiable by Allison Hobbs. This story picks up right where Insatiable left off starting with Terelle's mental breakdown. You will definitely find yourself pulling for Terelle's recovery so that she can get on with her life and be a mother to her little girl. Kai is back and is more diabolical than ever as she tries to get revenge on everyone she believes that has done her wrong including Terelle. Kai's actions were shocking in the first book, but some of the things that she did in this story proved that she was the devil's incarnate. Readers will be extremely delighted to know that Kai's dubious actions will not go unpunished. The Climax is full of heart-stopping drama, intrigue, and steamy sex that makes this book hard to put down. With The Climax, Allison Hobbs has brought a novel that will have you eagerly waiting for her next book.",5.0,The Devil's Incarnate,1204675200,"03 5, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2KPD20MEIU9RG,1591454824,Jenny,"[0, 1]","Rediscovering God in AmericaReflections on the Roll of Faith in Our Nation's History and Futureby Newt Gingrich featuring the Photography of Callista GingrichAs a reviewer for Thomas Nelson, I was given a copy of this enlightening book. Newt and Callista Gingrich have taken me on a walking tour I have yet to experience in real life. They have taken me from building to monument in and around Washington D.C. I have seen, through the beautiful photographs, intimate historical details of many of our Nation's treasures. This book was my own personal tour by two who are very familiar with the landscape of the Nations' Capitol. By all modern accounts, it would seem our country was founded on what we have become. The various inscriptions on national monuments, statues and art, depict a different story.I was completely surprised at each stop on the photographic tour to see so many references to God; beginning in the National Archives. On the first stop of the tour, you literally walk on the foundation of all Christian belief when you enter the building, the Ten Commandments. The religious imagery, the idyllic words of our Founding Fathers, all point to the One Supreme Being of God Almighty.True Religion affords to government its surest support. George Washington.",4.0,Foundational Truths,1263340800,"01 13, 2010",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2TBZAC0XYHLIB,1612181392,"Mary Bookhounds ""BookHounds""","[4, 5]","MY THOUGHTSLOVED ITFor anyone who has struggled to have a healthier new year and failed, this is the book for you! I fell off the wagon in my own health situation and I have high hopes for following this simple plan to get back on track. All of the ideas in this book are easy to put to use and very inexpensive. The first thing the author discusses is the importance of water. Water is pretty much a miracle for any dieter and those who really want to be in better health. The second thing that really caught my attention was the simple act of walking. Just by walking a little bit each day and increasing it weekly, you can easily get become more flexible, lower your cholesterol and lose a bit of weight.Each chapter builds on the previous and you can add each step or take your time with each step. I think for those of us truly motivated, you can get all through each of the weeks a lot faster than a year. There is even ""extra credit"" when you feel especially determined. I did have to laugh at the part about getting a dog to aid in making you walk. I had an Australian Shepherd, who without fail and no matter the weather, would wake me at 5am to go for a walk. I now have a dachshund that prefers to sleep in, hates cold and rain, and would like to chase things rather than walk. I guess this plan will have to make her more active as well.One thing that might be a challenge for some people is the chapter on food, where the author recommends organic and natural things only. Once you start substituting fruit and vegetables for processed food, you will gradually start to feel better. I know personally that organic products cost more and for a lot of people this in itself is something of a deal breaker, but these days there is a lot more choice and the prices are coming down on a lot of these products. Overall, this is one of the best books about changing yourself and your health situation I have seen in a long time.",4.0,BookHounds http://maryinhb.blogspot.com,1325894400,"01 7, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1WP67UJGTFWJM,B00BJL07CK,Kindle Customer,"[0, 0]",One of the best Urban Fantasy series I've read! I love that Anja got to travel to jolly old England and meet with the bigwigs and shake things up across the pond! And let's not forget about the Vampire Hunter! These books just get better and better...,5.0,"Another ""must read"" book in this series!",1384473600,"11 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A257R44GAG6XXI,1595554386,"P. Creeden ""The Book Ninja""","[7, 8]","The ""Zombie Fad"" is all the rage right now. Whether it will last as long as the Vampire Craze? Who knows? This book starts out with a bloody encounter then goes on to show the reader how the zombie ""virus"" is akin to the sin nature that is within us all. It does so in a fairly convincing manner, with a nod toward the graphic novel and other means of reaching the Y/A reader.For those who like horror and sci-fi, the jargon used in this book is fairly familiar and understandable. For those looking for a fluffy Christian Living piece, look elsewhere. This book is getting down into the muck and mire to reach those who need to hear the gospel in an updated and different way.Overall, this book is reaching out to the escapist, to those who don't want to read the typical Spiritual Living Guide or inspirational fiction. It will challenge many and bring them to a greater understanding of their need to overcome their sin nature, and hopefully help bring awareness of how it lurks in us all.I was given this book for free by Thomas Nelson's Book Sneeze Program in exchange for an honest, not necessarily positive, review.",4.0,A New take on the Zombie Fad,1317168000,"09 28, 2011",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A2IYLPSZJ6JGKR,0758232012,Lucy (Reading Date),"[5, 5]","The final installment of the Georgina Kincaid series is an enjoyable and satisfying read. The ending was predictable, but I think it would be disappointing if it ended any other way. I was pleased that the main questions were resolved and felt a sense of closure with the end of Georgina's story.This time the story takes place at Christmas and our favorite succubus Georgina is working part-time as one of Santa's elves at the mall. She and Seth are trying to make it work as a couple when she abruptly receives transfer instructions to move from Seattle to Las Vegas. It's a dream job but the timing couldn't be worse for Seth, as he can't leave his brother's family due to his sister in law's cancer. Her friends think the timing of the transfer and the specifics are suspicious and help her get to the bottom of it.All of Georgina's friends are back and there is a fondue party, secret Santa drawing, and Jerome even enlists the gang to win a bowling tournament against his rival. The Christmas setting makes a nice backdrop to the story, and you'll never guess who plays Santa! I've enjoyed this group of friends throughout the books and their humor that counteracts the sadness in Georgina's life. And where else can you find a demon like Jerome who chooses to appear as a John Cusack look alike? Her friends really come through for her when she needs them.This book ties up the loose ends very well and balances the storylines of Georgina's contract, relationship, and Seth's family illness. Even if you are not a fan of Georgina's romantic choice, there is some gratifying character insight and redemption to be found in her circle of friends. Roman and Carter are standouts in particular. The action is weighted more heavily to the back half of the novel, but I still enjoyed the lighter moments with her friends and family in the first half.I will miss this series but I'm satisfied with how it turned out. Though most fans will have predicted this series conclusion, the ending feels true and in keeping with the other books. Like Mead's Vampire Academy, this series is also a cut above the competition with its unique plot, characters and romance.",4.0,A satisfying conclusion,1318204800,"10 10, 2011",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1MSA0B6E53W0F,038534662X,Beverly,"[0, 0]","As a fan of Bill O'Reilly and his opinions, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was simply an extension of his award winning cable news show.",5.0,The Best of Bill O'Reilly,1396569600,"04 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NL1HJZYAD9QN,1416971440,Kate Coombs,"[7, 13]","It's worth noting that Nikki Grimes is a well-respected children's poet. So it makes sense to me that the allegorical motifs and the writing style of this picture book are poetic. Holding up America's first black president as a role model to black children--or to any child who aspires to great things--also makes sense. Whatever you think of his politics, Barack Obama is an important part of our nation's history. Nikki Grimes has, with Bryan Collier, crafted a lovely homage to the boy and the man.In looking over some of the vitriolic, snarlingly sarcastic customer reviews, I wish I were more surprised. Would these same readers be upset by a book about Reagan that lauded his life and accomplishments? I have seen a "history video" about him that had a truly worshipful tone, for example. To say that Grimes's picture book biography constitutes some kind of bizarre propaganda rather than simply a positive look at a US president is hateful. Don't read the book, then. If you don't admire Obama (or some other famous or historic figure), find a book about someone you DO admire.The fact is, the world needs more heroes who aren't TV stars or celebutantes. Let's read to our children about heroes, whichever ones matter to us and our families. It's nice to have choices about such books and topics, including this hopeful, poetic picture book about Barack Obama.",5.0,"Finding Hope, Choosing Heroes",1386374400,"12 7, 2013",7,13,helpful,0.5384615384615384,1 A2JYU0K1YZY08X,1596353082,bg,"[0, 0]","I felt this book was good on making cards, but LOW on explaining techniques. I thought by the name it would explain the techniques better, and the cards would just be examples. I was very disappointed and returned this book.",3.0,great card examples,1378771200,"09 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26BSS6AZ4NU2A,1402203292,Ranchwood,"[14, 14]","I always loved poetry as a young child and I am trying to introduce my children to poetry as well (ages 11, 6 and 3). When I received this book and first looked through it I was very excited. It contains many of the poems that I loved as a child including ""The Tyger"" by William Blake, ""The Land of Counterpane"" by Robert Louis Stevenson, and ""Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening"" by Robert Frost. This book does not just contain poems by ""dead"" poets but more contemporary ones as well. There are over 100 poems with great illustrations.An extra plus is the included CD with 52 poems read by 36 poets and artists. On the book page with the poem it will tell you what track the reading is on and who is reading the poem. Most are read by the poets themselves! I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to introduce young children to poetry!",5.0,Great Children's Poetry Book!,1136851200,"01 10, 2006",14,14,helpful,1.0,1 A35NAFXV5GHZ92,0316204366,"D. Limbach ""Gadget Guy, Digital Media Produce...","[0, 0]","Another outstanding book by Gladwell. Not all the stories are about a David taking on a Goliath. The story about class size and student performance is not really in the David and Goliath mold. The message is about overcoming monstrous difficulties or hardships on the path to some form of success. While the odds may seem stacked against you, you may find a hidden strength within you, and/or a trait/weakness in the thing that opposes you, which you can leverage.So don't be afraid to take on a powerful entity. Don't hesitate because the obstacles are intimidating, or you've had some major misfortune in life. You just may have precisely what is needed to succeed.I wish the book were about 100 pages longer. When finished, I found myself hoping there were more stories. I'll just have to wait for the next one.",4.0,There's Hope for the Underdog,1386288000,"12 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASROVJ5DQ3TER,0385480016,J. Bosch,"[5, 26]","Received the book today, opened to a random page which discussed finding a helper similar to her friend who loves to kill cats. Excuse me??? I threw the book straight into the trash can. I won't give people like that the time of day let alone take writing advice from them. If I want to be around cat (or other animal) haters and people who think cruelty is funny I'll return to software engineering (or go work for the NFL).",1.0,Tossed it in the trash in just 30 seconds.,1344211200,"08 6, 2012",5,26,helpful,0.19230769230769232,1 A1B9WI8TVGG0O,1484079833,Kmiller,"[0, 0]","Sometimes it is nice to read a love story that is not consumed with anger, jealousy, betrayal, and regrets. This was simply a beautiful love story about a man (Darius) worshipping his true love (Marianne) body, mind and soul without any angst and drama. The story kept at a pretty fast pace with all the smoking hot sex scenes that made you wish we all were Marianne by creating an ideal panty melting husband that idolized her.",5.0,Heart warming love story,1388102400,"12 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26E7BC4VXCYL3,1563638002,Riverbank Beggar,"[7, 10]","Nothing much different from last year. Indexes still suck, difficult to look up a drug by generic or proprietary name.",5.0,pdr,1329782400,"02 21, 2012",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 A2ORZ3QVBGOCON,061547683X,pipparina,"[7, 7]","Very enjoyable read. Some of the characters needed one to suspend belief but that was part of the fun of the story. Do you have just one true love in life? Perhaps.The plot kept twisting and turning. I didn't know who was a bad guy and who was a good guy. That made the story riviting - I kept reading to get to the big climax.It is a bit long and could use some editing, but that really doesn't take away from the book.Definitely worth your time.",4.0,Good twisted plot,1302480000,"04 11, 2011",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A2RBOMIK94AU2V,0470599278,K. Buchanan,"[0, 2]",This book I read while I was on the plane coming back from Las Vegas. I really enjoyed the way he got a billionaire to take notice. Its interesting he knows what is cutting edge and he now states that over many years he is no longer doing the written blog but that everything is now going video. He also extends a hand to help you in what you are wanting to do and is very helpful in focusing in what you need to do.[...]Keith,5.0,A book that really helps in making sense of the internet,1288137600,"10 27, 2010",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3AVJCB1ZD6ZY5,0425209245,R. Kyle,"[12, 12]","Wanda Nell Culpepper is a divorced mother of three, who works two jobs to support her family, and lives in a trailer park. She and her beautician next door neighbor, Mayrene, seem real unlikely detectives, but they've now got two successful murder cases under their belts and there's probably no stopping them now. And this reader is particularly glad about that.Ms. Evans has created a real small-town landscape in her mysteries. Everyday women with guts and common sense are solving their own problems and helping friends. Okay, they're taking the law into their own hands, but hey--that's where the fun comes in.The story opens with Wanda Nell getting a call from her boss, Melvin, who owns the Kountry Kitchen diner where Wanda Nell works. Melvin's in jail for the murder of fellow employee Fayetta, who in Southern parlance 'deserved killing' but Wanda Nell certainly didn't want to see her boss get jailed for the crime.So, Wanda Nell and her sleuthing partner Mayrene set out to clear Melvin's name. On the way, they discover a private men's club and enough scandal to set their small town on its ears. Plus, Wanda Nell has some surprises in store related to her son, TJ.This novel might have deserved a five had there been more doubt in my mind as to who the murderer actually was. Also, I think Evans needs to do a better job of drawing her characters. Still, Evans has created an interesting and convincing world. I like Wanda Nell and Mayrene and I'll probably find more of her books to read.",4.0,Trailer park tea cosy,1160352000,"10 9, 2006",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A3TQHWKAHXRMLU,B00JXW6GFE,Kem,"[5, 12]","I think it might be over. The last few KA books have not been that great, with the exception of The Will, but even that had one of the most annoying heroines I've ever read in it. It's gotten to the point where I can make a checklist of KA book prerequisites and I've said this in previous reviews for her books, it gets old reading the same thing over and over again. I was really looking forward to reading Frankie and Bennys book but I was beyond bored. I don't have a problem with her long books in fact in the past I haven't wanted her books to end, but this book was a complete snoozefest. There was no real angst or excitement. Although I really enjoyed seeing Luke Stark, in fact I think it's the highlight of the book.",2.0,KA has jumped the shark,1405036800,"07 11, 2014",5,12,helpful,0.4166666666666667,1 A4IRTU8WPISJ7,0785123490,Michael,"[0, 1]","A worthy read for avid comic book readers. The story has little to do with earth's heroes. The central focus is on thanos and other cosmic characters. Even though I'm not much of a fan of the comics relating to more off world stories, i found it to be a good read worth my time as a fan of older comic books.",3.0,A classic comic,1389484800,"01 12, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A12RGUI6K7I2RA,1439168199,William Bryan,"[39, 45]","I view the slaughter of over 1,000,000 Armenian Christians by the Turks as evil.I view the British genocide camps that destroyed over 200,000 Boer women and children as evil.I view Jewish Holocaust as evil...Cambodia Killing fields, Rwanda machetemassacre of 500,000+ Tutsis, etc...EVIL.If you agree, we might be able to have a dialog. Unfortunately, I debatedSocialist Workers Party members in 1979 who considered the mass killingsin Cambodia as necessary to create: ""A New Socialist Man and Woman"" andwere petitioning the UN and Prez Carter to intervene.I talked with Red Chinese in NYC before they had a seat in the UN and askedabout the 60,000,000 plus people slaughtered by Mao AFTER Mao had kickedthe Nationionalist Chinese out of China in 1949 (1949-61). ""CIA Lie! CIA Lie! said one of these ChiCom reps: ""We ONLY killed 25,000,000."" (smirk, smirk, ha, ha!)""We must destroy America's children,"" said the National Education Associationlobbyist (PAID Lobbyist) in 1993.WHY?""Because the US is a Capitalist Nation,"" answered this lobbyist whom I'llcall Ms. Claus because of her sweet granmotherly appearance. ""DestroyAmerica's children and eventually you'll destroy Capitalist America.""""Uh, what is capitalism?"" I ask.""It's a political-economic system that exploits the workers, pollutesthe environment, etc..."" Standard Socialist talking points where shesets up her own definition of her opponent (Straw Man Attack) then attacksher definition.""So, why did so many people die in the Socialist Paradises of Soviet Union,Red China, Cambodia...Why were hundreds of thousands of square milesin the Soviet Union destroyed by nuclear pollution, industrial pollution,horribly enept farming and forestry techniques?"" I ask._______________________________________Since 1993, I have a litmus test for determining if a person or politician is evil:""Milwaukee has a taxpayer funded school voucher program that currentlyhas over 22,000 children in it who use $5,000 per child per year vouchersto attend Private or Parochial schools. Government Public schools currentlycharge about $10,000 per child per year. This program saves Milwaukeetaxpayers over $110,000,000 per year, empowers parents, educates poor incomeBlacks and other minorities.In other words: Send a poor Black child to a violent, academically inferiorGovernment Public School for $10,000 per child per year or send that samepoor Black Child to a nurturing Private or Parochial school for $5,000 perchild per year?Obama: ""Send that child to the violent, academically inferior Public School.""I consider Obama to be evil? Do you? Comments?",4.0,"""We must destroy America's children."" Evil? Lefty Wet Dream?",1279411200,"07 18, 2010",39,45,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 A32843JLPJXJSU,0143113135,jim taylor,"[0, 0]",Im just getting into longmire series and another midnight oil burner - keeps you guessing as to what is going to happen next,5.0,just getting into longmire,1372032000,"06 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2U60CKGI5I1XN,0743246802,Sweetbriar,"[4, 5]",I've read this book and also Going Gray by Ann Kreamer. I might add that I have gone totally gray and I'm loving it. I think the author's intentions are good but I preferred Kreamer's book over this one. I read both b/c I wanted some inspiration before I took the plunge. I think the Going Gray Looking Great website is more helpful than the book itself.,2.0,Good intentions,1270771200,"04 9, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A31ZZ33X5L2XEF,037377768X,marirose shafnisky,"[0, 0]",Felicia was such an interesting character. You never knew what she would say or think. It's always fun catching up with the other residents of Fool's Gold.,5.0,great series,1372377600,"06 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A6P8Y2TY77FCH,006101141X,Pam,"[0, 0]","This is the first novel I have written by this author. I have to say, I thought the very beginning was a bit slow, but after continuing to read, the action picked up. A character's homecoming after years of absence meets family treachery and betrayal. After long her mother in childbirth, Mike (Micah) led a lonely childhood, which eventually resulted in estrangement from her sister and father. Years later she returns home to an ill father. Eventually she experiences a true homecoming.",4.0,A new author for me,1367107200,"04 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A192C0GNCUYLJR,1118120280,Maureen A. Maloney,"[0, 0]",Good book for a senior and it will help me to install the Windows 8 on my computerwhen I get a chance to do it. Most of the Dummies books are worth having as theywrite in language those of us over 60 can understand. Would recommend it for anyone.,4.0,Good book,1356566400,"12 27, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1FIDXRR8Q83N1,0671016776,"Jim Kirwan ""KentKirwan""","[0, 0]",Book actually arrived better than expected condition and is itself a great read. Highly recommend to any Tess Gerritsen fan.,5.0,Great Seller,1363824000,"03 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A13FIXZHIY969G,B00699M8K6,rosa da silva,"[0, 0]","Bella, romántica, picara y divertida, me encanta el tipo de hombre con tan buen sentido del humor que Lisa Kleypas describe en esta maravillosa obra",5.0,el diablo en invierno,1384128000,"11 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFVQZQ8PW0L,1432750283,Harriet Klausner,"[5, 9]","A Chronicle of Endylmyr: The Witches of EndylmyrCharles HallOutskirts Press, September 28 2010, $27.95[...]ISBN: 9781432750282The Eastern Khan plans to possess all known magical relics as the first step in world domination. He already owns some of these ancient arcane artifacts. The Khan knows that others are owned by Endylmyr. Obsessed with obtaining them, he sends his feared legions to Endylmyr and the other small communities to the north and west of his empire. His orders are to kill anything that moves.Those under attack form an alliance while also deploying the gizmos that have been dormant for centuries. Former mercenary Gylfalin is coaxed out of retirement to lead the counter forces alongside his cousin Pendaran the Archer with his companion Peregrine the magical falcon. Their side faces overwhelming odds against a brutal experienced army. Their hope lies with magical crystals that allow stealth movements in time and place, but no one knows how to deploy these artifacts. As time runs out and the slaughter begins, Angmere the wizard historian finds a clue in an ancient tome that implies three witches are the key to deployment. The scholar's daughter Gwynyr unites with Hellwydd and Hilst as the Endylmyr witches in a last ditch attempt to save their people.A Chronicle of Endylmyr is an entertaining epic fantasy that will remind readers in some ways of Raymond E. Feist's Riftwars. The story line is fast-paced as the western alliance struggles to survive against a more powerful enemy; their only hope is three women who must figure out how to safely use the crystals with no time to spare. Charles Hall provides an exciting thriller as from the north the witches try to save the city of Endylmyr from the siege of Khan and his vast lethal horde.Harriet Klausner",5.0,An entertaining epic fantasy that will remind readers in some ways of Raymond E. Feist's Riftwars.,1292889600,"12 21, 2010",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0345533313,Harriet Klausner,"[6, 8]","In Pico Mundo, California lives a man with two powerful paranormal gifts. He can communicate with the dead and using psychic magnetism that can visually hone in on whoever he is looking for. One night Odd Thomas sees Dr. Jessup; he knows that the man is dead and that his adopted son Danny is in terrible danger.When he reaches the Jessup home, he finds the battered body of the doctor on the floor but Danny is nowhere around. His psychic magnetism leads him to the tunnels of the Maravilla Flood-Control Project where Danny and his kidnapper traveled. He eventually finds the trail that leads him to the destroyed Panamint Resort and Spa Casino where explosives are taped on Danny. The ringleader Datura used Danny as bait to get Odd to the casino because she wants him to produce a ghost for her. As back-up she has two strong men under her spell to do her bidding. Odd saves Danny hustling him into a safe place while he plays with these vicious hunters in the hopes that a plan for getting Danny and him free of these psychopaths will come to him.This novel takes place a year after the events in ODD THINGS and readers find the vulnerable, likeable, and emotionally drained Odd Thomas still working with the authorities to put the bad guys behind bars. The villainous woman whose beauty hides an ugly heart and soul will creep out the reader with her perceived belief that she does the right actions. Dean Koontz is at the top of his genre with a sequel that his myriad of fans will treasure.Harriet Klausner",5.0,terrific Odd Thomas sequel,1133222400,"11 29, 2005",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A3M5DRTD2IR5F2,045121823X,"Marcia L. Luhman ""reading in the shade Tucson AZ""","[4, 5]","This was a fun read. The story was a little slow to get started and characters scattered but the author brought them together in her usual expert fashion. Katie thank-you for the great stories you do. This one is a mystery, adventure and a ablsolute HOOT. Readers do want a sexy moody vampire as the star of a story which you have given us, but than to put him in your crazy universe was fun. I loved the killer butterflies. Also the flower munching fairy(excuse me, model) as a supporting character was fun. Are we going to hear more about the vampire brothers? Will this family conect with others ? Katie please bring us more.",4.0,Paranormal Quirky Humor,1147392000,"05 12, 2006",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2SDFY5YGOLW11,0764206192,shejeeper,"[0, 0]",Tracie Peterson has a way of writing which helps one to feel like they are part of the time and era she is writing about. The story line moves fast enough to keep me wanting to read until I finish the book then I want to keep on reading. So glad she is able to continue to write as fast as she does. I always find myself coming away with a history and geography lessons after reading her novels. If they had written text books in the manner she writes I would have aced 16 years of school.,5.0,Tracie Peterson has done it again,1385769600,"11 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1OALWBN2QE2YG,0385525079,PK,"[6, 9]",This could have been a research paper instead of a full book. Most parts of the book are a complete waste of time. I am big fan of Greenblatt - so this is a real disappointment.,1.0,Lousy,1304467200,"05 4, 2011",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 AU7W2NU5KDRHH,1612120423,grande2011,"[0, 0]","I am enjoying this book -- lots of cute things to crochet. Just finishing up on a cute little dress for babies. A fun book to have, and you can use up some of your leftover yarn!",5.0,CROCHETING CUTE ITEMS,1370736000,"06 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2JSPDC2IFCSC4,0743437349,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I bought this book for my mother who is currently reading the series it arrived before it was suppose to so she was happy to receive it early! She says she is satified with this purchase!,5.0,Pendragon,1364774400,"04 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PI0MPH2CBRQF,188872207X,ahigherauthority,"[0, 0]","at least through amazon fulfillment. The volume is a nice predicate to the full assembly guide, especially for we lucky few who carried this weapon when it mattered. M16s were light, but this rifle had a certain stopping power and range that was worth (to me) the weight. I don't know or care about "match conditioning". I used this weapon for its intended purpose.",4.0,Bice delivers,1394668800,"03 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EFHOMGH1L5TN,0061703257,reader,"[0, 0]","I loved reading this entire book, up until the very end. I couldn't wait to see how it would turn out, but I found the ending to be a bit of a cop out.",3.0,Good suspense,1362787200,"03 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A9QTYNZW4K3HQ,0732259320,"Dandeleo ""dandeleo""","[7, 41]","I'm afraid there's little to add to Sara Douglass' long history of barely adequate books. An example of well-marketed, poorly planned/written, lack of original ideas, books. She started with the numbingly appalling Battleaxe - filled with every cliche known (and how do you carry a two-headed battle axe on your belt? Can you slip on a feather? Can a fight last for hours?) and she continues her tradition with this new series. In Australia, we have the advantage of having access to more of her work. I wish we didn't. Each time a new book of hers comes out I swear I won't bother reading it but I do to see if they get better. Maybe one day...",1.0,dross,961545600,"06 21, 2000",7,41,helpful,0.17073170731707318,1 A1C8MNQR6XDM52,1455521132,kimber,"[0, 0]","Couldn't put this book down...JILL Shalvis did it again...wrote a book that hit on all my emotions....I laughed, got angry, cried. This is a must read!!!",5.0,Read this book!!!,1399593600,"05 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SW2SH4B9VQD2,0061957917,sundancer's mom,"[0, 0]",This makes up for the fact that I was a little disappointed in her last book. I'm a big Kim Harrison fan and this latest addition to the Rachel Morgan series reminds me why!,5.0,Amazing,1362441600,"03 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3HVLNZWIWWDLH,1416516093,De-lite,"[5, 6]","I have read several of her other books and enjoyed them. I found myself having a few minutes to read, picking up the book, then doing something else. I wish that I had read the reviews before. Borrow the book if it appeals to you.",2.0,didn't finish,1181088000,"06 6, 2007",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1NIMX8OK4711,1477849262,Shirl,"[6, 6]","This was the best of the bride series for me. The story was down to earth and reflected real life events. The relationship between Karen and Mike was so filled with a friendship you could believe and feel. The growing attraction for his brother Jach, was also felt strongly. I liked how the characters were real hard working folks and it wasn't all about the rich, but about everyday people and their emotions and lives. The events that happened were so real and the surprises that followed were unsuspected yet so true to life.This book took you into it and made all the events believable. Great story and romance!",5.0,True Life Romance,1389312000,"01 10, 2014",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 ABN5K7K1TM1QA,1586486942,Dennis Littrell,"[261, 278]","This book is a companion piece to the documentary Food Inc. It consists of 25 essays on topics ranging from agribusiness, to so-called ""frankenfoods,"" to pesticides and hormones, to biofuels, to nutrition and global hunger. The essays are written by acknowledged experts including Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation (2006) and Michael Pollan, who wrote some of the best books I have read on food, including The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World (2001), The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (2006), and In Defense of Foods: An Eater's Manifesto (2008)--see my reviews at Amazon.The topics are presented in a fairly balanced way with one essay followed by an essay termed ""ANOTHER TAKE."" For example Peter Pringle's piece ""Food, Science, and the Challenge of World Hunger--Who Will Control the Future?"" argues that genetically modified (GM) foods are not as dangerous as some think and they can, with proper precautions taken, help us feed a growing world population. However in the next essay, using the term ""genetically engineered"" (GE) foods, Ronnie Cummins argues that such foods are dangerous and threaten to take away from local farmers the ability to grow food and give that power solely to agribusiness.In his essay, ""Exploring the Corporate Powers behind the Way We Eat,"" Robert Kenner recounts his experience making Food Inc. emphasizing how closed and secretive are the big corporations that produce and process our food. They wouldn't let him and his camera crews into their plants and they made the people who would talk to him feel threatened. There was no counter to this, possibly because the agribusiness people wouldn't participate in the book just as they wouldn't cooperate in the making of the film. This is damning. Secrecy and closed-doors suggest that they have something to hide.Nonetheless I have mixed feelings. There is no question that in an ideal world we would all have local access to organically grown and minimally processed foods--free range chickens and vegetables grown with natural fertilizers in a sustainable family farm environment where the animals are treated humanely. But we don't. Why? The usual answer is you can't produce food cheaply enough in that manner to feed a world of six and a half billion people. This book in effect argues that you can, and the real reason we don't is that the big corporations have a stranglehold on not just our governments but on the science and logistics required to deliver and present the food including labor, transportation, storage, and the markets. Small and local can't compete.However, what is hardly mentioned in the book and seems almost taboo to say is that the underlying problem, which is only going to get worse, is the enormous demand for food put on our resources because we have too many people living on this planet. I can see a Wendell Berry kind of agrarian paradise possible after we cut our numbers by perhaps half (more would be better) with a larger percentage of the population choosing to become farmers.Currently the Slow Foods, sustainable foods, organic foods, and the humane treatment to animals movements are mainly supported by society's well-to-do, its elites educationally and economically. The average person cannot afford to shop at Whole Foods, which is sometimes called ""Whole Paycheck."" Neither can your average urban or suburban dweller conveniently find his or her way to the local farmer's market, if there is one.But the main problem in the United States is public ignorance. The average person has little understanding of nutrition and is bombarded by conflicting claims in the literature as the big corporations pay for studies that support their interests. On television and elsewhere there's an endless stream of ads promoting fast and cheap food, adulterated food, and food that entices and seduces with depictions of juicy, fatty, starchy essences. A secondary problem is the loss of the tradition of the home cooked meal. As Joel Salatin writes in his essay ""Declare Your Independence"": ""Learn to Cook Again""(!). Much of the food that is bought at supermarkets and taken home to prepare is of the ""throw it in the microwave"" variety. With many if not most households having two bread winners or a single parent, who has the time and energy to prepare a complete home-cooked meal?So ultimately the stranglehold that agribusiness has on our society is the result of an unhealthy lifestyle pursued by most people, a lifestyle that has removed us from the land and thrown us onto the concrete and asphalt jungles of our cities and suburbs, has taught us little to nothing about our real relationship with the natural environment and the foods that have sustained us for thousands of years. Instead we live in ignorance in an artificial and unsustainable world of mass produced, sanitized junk food, force fed to us as if by gigantic steam shovels. Or, to change the image, like our cattle, hogs and chickens we are kept at the trough and stuffed to the gills with an ever flowing stream of denatured concoctions of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, sugars and additives until perhaps someday we'll burst. Obesity and chronic disease reign supreme and all our days we will dwell in the house of the overfed and the under nourished.I applaud editor Karl Weber and the others who contributed to this excellent book and hope it is widely read. And I wish the producers of the documentary a huge audience. Understanding and education come first. We as a society have to know there is a problem, and if this book and accompanying film reach a large number of people, that will be a giant step in the right direction.--Dennis Littrell, author of ""The World Is Not as We Think It Is""",5.0,From the front lines of the food wars,1242864000,"05 21, 2009",261,278,helpful,0.9388489208633094,1 AMKCZHXDOS2RN,0871318784,E. Spencer Garrett IV,"[8, 8]","I have used this book and its predecessor for numerous local campaigns. It is not written at a theoretical level but is a nuts-and-bolts primer for small campaigns. I have other books on the subject, but this is the one I recommend most highly.I find that many people who want to run for political office at the local level really have no idea about the mechanics of a campaign. By the time they realize that it is no easy task, they are too far gone or too dejected to turn their campaigns around. This book is an excellent guide for them to read before they start. I like the fact that Judge Grey demands a basic analysis of what it will take to win before a candidate commits himself.I also think the judge's willingness to make recommendations (i.e. don't run as an independent, his insistence that no campaign is too small for a campaign manager) sets his book apart from others. The title of this book is ""How to WIN a Local Election"", not how to run one. In fact, he capitalizes the word ""WIN"" himself. Often times these books are written by political science professors who lose sight of the objective of a political campaign-- to ""WIN"" !In short, this is an excellent primer for small local campaigns. Good enough that I buy copies to give to potential candidates before they throw their hat in the ring.",5.0,Great Book for First Time Candidates and Campaigners,1128816000,"10 9, 2005",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1DXZZZXGUR86D,0395389445,"Adam Pasztory ""adampasz""","[107, 110]","This book is fantastic. It's only about 200 pages, but densely packed with useful information, and every single page deserves careful study. The glossary of commonly confused words at the end is worth 10$ all by itself.This is not a grammar book (though there is an appendix that gives an overview of English grammar). It is a book designed to improve your writing. It helps you make solid decisions about sentence structure, placing punctuation, and choosing the right words. This book can help guide you through some of the thorniest and most subjective aspects of writing English.One of the neatest things about this book is that, in addition to the copious examples, the text itself serves as an example of excellent writing. Perhaps the major drawback is that after reading this book, you will end up being much more critical of the writing you encounter!",5.0,"If you write, you should read this book.",989539200,"05 11, 2001",107,110,helpful,0.9727272727272728,1 A5O3KDOAL3M5R,0618680004,"Singslinger ""Prog rocker""","[9, 13]","If you're an atheist like me, you'll love this book because it reaffirms everything you think is true, with the bonus of it having been written by a famous academic (or intellectual, whichever you prefer). If you're a religious person, you'll hate it because it attacks your belief system and undermines your faith, especially with that slight hint of condescension that pervades Dawkins' writing. That's really all there is to it because as another reviewer said, it's nearly impossible to read this book from a neutral, objective viewpoint.",5.0,I liked it because I'm an atheist,1185148800,"07 23, 2007",9,13,helpful,0.6923076923076923,1 AOFEF95ER28BO,B00KBBD10O,Kindle Customer,"[5, 6]",I love the story of Jennifer and Blake and I am glad they got together. This story is exciting and just great. I sure would like to read about their wedding.,5.0,That Man 3 (That Man Trilogy),1400457600,"05 19, 2014",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1PHC9C3APFTXA,0307741346,nurwho,"[4, 4]","Too much nonsense about how beautiful the female characters are. To hear Thad Roberts tell it he puts Hugh Hefner to shame; porcelain skin, silky hair, tight bodies, firm breast, perfect butt, button nose, long legs, flawless teeth. ENOUGH! The actual plot is not until the final 100 pages and even then it's just told surface deep. I guess that's all the author's research warranted??",2.0,200 pages too many,1313712000,"08 19, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1REDPBO5IG54E,0006158048,Charlie,"[0, 0]",This is such a good book. It's exciting and funny in places. The fight atop the cable car and the car chase with a bus through the mountains can be read over and over again without ever getting old.,5.0,"One of the best World War 2 ""thrillers""",1373414400,"07 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YD6DYSH1GQA5,1451646968,MarcyMay,"[18, 22]","My sister bought & then returned the book, but I got to speed read through this embarrasement of a bookie before it went back to Target...Kris is the penultimate narcisist; truly self absorbed in her ""fantasy world' and her greatness... She clawed her way to the top, *Hungering* for the rich & famous lifestyle (even though neither she nor ANY of her kids have talent??!!!); stopping at NOTHING to get there...It is dispicable of Kris to go On and On and On about Nicole & OJ, that is basically her 'claim to fame'.. The Brown family is disgusted by Kris and they OPENLY say how money hungry & greedy she is.But her ""House of Cards"" is about to tumble & collapse...deservedly so! Its ironic that it was Kim who launched them to the the highest heights with her grotesque SEX TAPE and now brought them to the lowest low with the MOCK MARRIAGE. Full Circle for this family of Grifters. Now they will actually have to get REAL jobs :-)",1.0,"""No Things"" Kardashian (anymore)",1321660800,"11 19, 2011",18,22,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A260HPXUTLD8VV,0060900075,"""gsibbery""","[171, 212]","This is an interesting book -- it is really two books in one -- "The Doors of Perception", in which Huxely recalls his first experience using mescalin, and "Heaven and Hell", which is considerably more speculative. Of the two, the latter is by far the better book. The former deals mainly with the mescalin experience itself, which I can assure you, is impossible to convey in print. One caveat here for potential psychonauts, however: Read Wilson's account of his own mescalin experiment in his "Beyond the Outsider" as well as Sartre's experiment with the drug. How one reacts to the chemical depends wildly upon one's own personality. Most people will not react the way that Huxely did, as he tended to intellectualise the whole world -- to think instead of doing. One cannot expect a simply blissful experience regardless of one's state of mind and personality -- these are factors in the trip. Huxely took a small dose and never suffered from ego dissolution common with higher doses. If he had, he may have had a greater insight into the ideas that he used in his "Perennial Philosophy". The Hindoos of India used to use soma (a undetermined psychoactive similar to mescalin in its effects) to achieve a sort of cosmic consciousness in which one regards oneself as being at one with the Brahman, the all-pervading universal spirit. What he did not mention is that mystics from many religious traditions mention that they can often get into states very similar to mescalin-induced ecstasies via meditation, something that is infinitely preferable to ingesting a foreign substance, as it is not of much use unless reproducible at will. His ideas in the latter volume are more along these lines, although he does mention some things that could be dangerous. He suggests that most people could benefit from a "mescalin holiday". I totally disagree. For the more indulgent, it could prove a disaster. Huxely was a man of exquisite self-control; others who do not possess such control may be in for problems if introduced to such a powerful drug (the "Beat" Poets come to mind). Also, to many it would be merely unsettling and disturbing, while for others a means of escape from the real world. His speculations about the brain being "Mind At Large", to use Broad's term, is intriguing, but offers no evidence in support of it. The notions that most religious experiences being closely related to the mescalin experience may prove insightful, but as for now, most use this book as an excuse for irresponsible recreational drug use. Comical, pathetic, even absurd at points, it nevertheless makes a point that many others fail to grasp, which he should have used to more effect in the "Perennial Philosophy" -- that at the heart of religion and human life, is an experience of reality which the conscious mind conceptualises until the world and life is less of an experience than a symbol. Zen students may find this perspective quite enlightening. For a more detailed look at psychoactive experimentation, see R. H. Ward's "A Drug Taker's Notes" and the notes from William James' experiment with Nitrous Oxide. Also, for information on reproducing the mescalin experience at will, look into research on Kundalini yoga and tantrism.",2.0,Interesting,968716800,"09 12, 2000",171,212,helpful,0.8066037735849056,1 A19XG7H2TAI3AX,0736919376,"Paula J. Miller ""Author of One-Eyed Jack""","[6, 8]","Written with well-known author, Cecil Murphy, ""Touchdown Alexander"" is a moving story about trusting God and living in true obedience.No one can argue that Shaun Alexander is a great football player. But in the telling of his story, Shaun shows us that although he's an NFL player, his life doesn't revolve around career. He is a child of God first, a husband and father second, and the MVP for the Seattle Seahawks third.His story if filled with instances he's chosen to follow God's prompting and the blessings he's reaped from doing so.If your young men are looking for a God-honoring role model in NFL football, Shaun's story is the place to start.",4.0,Obediance to God Isn't Just for the Little Guys,1157760000,"09 9, 2006",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A3BMC7S5MZIBTU,0671871005,"Mom2kea ""mom2kea""","[8, 9]","I read this book shortly after reading ""The Bride"" which I thoroughly enjoyed and read straight through until the wee hours of the morning. This one left me sorely disapointed. I must whole heartedly agree with the other reviewer who couldn't feel sorry for Brenna's looks. ""She was entirely aware of her flaws. Her legs, were too long, her hips too narrow, and her breasts too large"" Give me a break. She was the most unsympathetic heroine of any book I've ever read. I truly wanted to slap her through most of the book. Unlike the romance of Alec and Jamie in ""the Bride"", I never felt any love between Brenna and Connor. He was a jerk, who treated her like garbage throughout the book, on up to the very last scene where he still expects HER to come to HIM. Which she does, like the blond nit-wit that she is. Although, I was intrigued by the budding little romance between her sister and Quinlan, and could just picture him winking at her at the Church steps. That was probably my favorite scene in the book. I give it two stars instead of one because I did find myself reading it, and got some entertainment out of watching what a complete air-head Brenna was.",2.0,HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT,1029974400,"08 22, 2002",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A1T4GKH2CRK1CB,0596527241,"Amazon Customer ""michaellouisgriffin""","[8, 17]","This should not be called ""Mastering Perl"" but rather, ""A Bunch Of Perl Stuff We Didn't Know What To Do With So We Put Them In This Book."" You will find some interesting things but this book will not help you Master Perl. If you are looking for mastery try ""Perl Best Practices"",""Advanced Perl"" (1st and 2nd Ed) and ""Higher Order Perl.""This book has interesting pieces that you will learn from but it is mis-titled.",3.0,A Collection Of Perl Stuff,1199145600,"01 1, 2008",8,17,helpful,0.47058823529411764,1 A7QN3YS1SUO7G,B00FFYT3WM,"Donna ""Donna""","[8, 8]",A good quick romantic read. The story flows smoothly and is well written. No cliffhanger or no waiting for the next book.,4.0,Good read,1380758400,"10 3, 2013",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1J5SXOBDV5ATN,0375831002,tucker09,"[0, 0]","Really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read and my heart went out the the main character, her life circumstances, and the people that were close to her. I have always enjoyed reading anything related to life during WWII and this book gave a different perspective compared to any I have read before.",4.0,"Great read, especially for the price!",1389571200,"01 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1LUJN3H6ORFJC,0983157200,Victoria,"[4, 6]","So I am only a fourteen year old girl-so some older people will probably think ""Oh, what does this girl know?"" but I'm pretty mature. I read the Hunger Games in 5th grade. Last school year, I read 120 books....we had to keep track. I am a personal library for my friends. So, it's safe to say I am addicted to books. One of my favorite series id Vampire Academy, by Rachelle Mead. Half-Blood was entertaining, but replace the greek gods with vampires and you have a shorter, not as well written, copy of Vampire Academy.When I read this book, I was pretty disappointed. I'd read countless good reviews, but from the first page I couldn't help compare Half-Blood to Vampire Academy. Similarities start from the first chapter: *minor spoilers*1. It starts with the protagonist fending for herself and then being caught by the society she ran away from2. The guy who captures her becomes her trainer, and she is attracted to him (he is also ridiculously tall, and they can't be together)3. Protagonists' personalities are similar4. One good friend is similar (Mason/Caleb)**spoiler** mason dies and it seems like caleb will too5. Oh yeah, the main setting is a school6. The social society and standing of the two prominent races of VA and HB are...the same...7. The villains of the books are very similar - Daemons and Strigoi...they both even biteVampire Academy was published first and is longer and better written. Read it instead!And then you can read this. The small differences were refreshing ;) One thing I liked was that Alex (pro.) seemed real, and not like a 30 year old trapped in a 17 yr olds body overanalyzing every decision)In fact, I told my best friend who also loves VA the similarities and she so turned off by this book. So overall, an okay book, but give me a pen, a different set of gods and Vampire Academy and I could have written it myself.",3.0,"Enjoyable, but not very original - glaringly so",1338940800,"06 6, 2012",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A310BH3Z5SJ425,0471095702,"Amazon Customer ""caiusfabius""","[32, 41]","The premise is good, but this is not historical research. The author tries to mix the histories of three different units in the Roman military, and leaves out anything that doesn't fit. Of course, history is never 100% certain, but if the author wants to differ from the historical record in a written book, he must give adequate proof of his sources.This is a great Roman historical novel, with many attachments and references to history, but the author really messes up when he tries to ignore the proven history of Legio X Fretensis, saying it didn't really exist. Then he unsucessfully tries to fit the Roman civil/military officer into some framework of modern military ranks. If that doesn't confuse the dedicated historian, he again makes a leap of research and takes and mixes recruiting practises from the late Republic, the Caesarian civil wars, and the first century A.D. into a soup of concrete. It may look good on the surface, but it doesn't hold weight, and it is not good history.This is a quick read, and has been the subject of a lot of discussion among Roman military historians when there isn't anything more amusing to discuss over dinner. If you desire to know the history of the Tenth Legion of Julius Caesar there is a good chapter in the book.This is a cute Roman "military history" book, but please don't use it for serious research. Of course with the weak endnotes, lack of footnotes and glaring errors, even a weekend historian will want to choose something else when spending his or her hard earned money. (Buy this one used!)",2.0,Not worth a serious reader's time. Sad but true.,1042502400,"01 14, 2003",32,41,helpful,0.7804878048780488,1 A14FTCVGVTZ400,1461087090,Ian M. Walker,"[0, 0]","Fantastic. At times moving, evocative, intriguing and horrifying but overall compelling. I could hardly put this down until I had finished it.I've been a voracious bookworm for many years now and Rod Redux has cemented his place in my top five all time favourite authors.",5.0,Mr. Redux does it again. This author's imagination seemingly has no bounds.,1390176000,"01 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SEOAM01FQXK6,0439023483,J. Mederich,"[0, 0]","The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, is a young adult novel about the dark future of post-war America. The story is written from the perspective of Katniss Everdeen; a 16 year old girl struggling to survive with her mother and sister in one of twelve districts controlled by a dictating President Snow from the Capitol. The Capitol holds an annual Hunger Games to maintain fear control over the districts. The Capitol randomly selects one male and one female from each district to fight to the death on televised screens around the country. This years Hunger Games tell the story of Katniss and a district 12 boy, Peeta Mallark, who fight against all odds including the Capitol to become the winner of the Hunger Games.Read the rest of this review along with other books I've read at...[...]",4.0,The Hunger Games // One Book One Week,1333756800,"04 7, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18BJNMU94YVBL,1603209808,Jen,"[0, 0]",I bought this book as a gift for my son who loves football. He likes to know all of the players' stats and this book is perfect for that!,5.0,My football fan son loves this book,1382486400,"10 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2QKQ6ZPXZHOWR,0800662075,Keith,"[0, 0]","If you really want get a concise, easy to read survey of what contemporary scholarship has to say about Old Testament mythology in a religiously respectful way this is the book for you.",5.0,Respectful Modern Scholarship,1404345600,"07 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3U7OYM75C6CS2,0373778937,stacejb,"[0, 0]","With all Fool's Gold books, you know what you're getting into. There are misunderstandings, supportive friends, reconciliations, and a lot of heart. This story was no different.Larissa realized she was in love with her best friend, Jack. She decides sleeping with him will make it easier to fall out of love with him, only it does the opposite. Jack, dealing with his past, doesn't want a relationship. He deals poorly with his feelings, lashing out at not just Larissa, but everyone around him.The characters worked well together, and the plot was believable. My only issue is that I felt the ending was a little rushed. Jack went from fighting his feelings to accepting that he loved Larissa, and she just instantly forgave his poor behavior. That was little hard to buy, and I felt it could have been flushed out a little more.As always, it was nice to see characters from previous novels make appearances. While it would be helpful to have read the previous books to know who the characters are, it isn't really a requirement. It would be ok as a standalone, although having backgrounds on who's who would enhance the reading experience.Overall, another good addition to the series. I'm looking forward to the next one!",4.0,A Good Addition to Fool's Gold,1403740800,"06 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 APU63TQU832SF,0062317474,Andrea,"[0, 0]","Whenever there is a sequel to an awesome book, I always worry that it won't measure up. Recklessly Royal was fantastic. I was very pleased with the story.Cathy's character was quite fun. I adored her. She really added a lot of life to the story. David wasn't bad either. Finding love for Cathy is so hard, and she begins to think it won't happen.Hilarity ensues in this book, leaving you chuckling and the romance gives you warm fuzzies. I highly recommend Recklessly Royal to any lovers of the New Adult Romance genre. This book gets five glittery stars for being exceptional!",5.0,fantastic,1396569600,"04 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A56YG9AL7JKX6,0553591924,tweetypat,"[0, 0]","First book I have ever read by this author. Will definitely read more of her books! Loved the way in which the story was written. Suspense with twists and turns. Had an idea where this was going as far as ""who done it"" but was still surprised in the end.",5.0,Book Review,1330560000,"03 1, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BGVBJ16OJNYA,0451235134,E. Raye,"[4, 5]","I am convinced that either 1. Julie Garwood now uses a ghostwriter and not even a very good one, or that 2. She suffered a tragic stroke that has sadly destroyed her story writing ability. I have very little good to say about this trite, unimaginative, cookie cutter, boring story. The dialogue has got to be the worse I've ever seen from any book with Garwood's name on it. It was all so wooden, contrived and choppy, leaving little room for actual personality in the characters. This is a good example of a book that that is all TELL not show. The fun humor of past Garwood books is entirely missing, there is no fluidity to the writing at all and I was never able care about any of the characters. And the plot? Inane. It contains a host of unnecessary details and very untrue-to-life actions. I'm finding lately that some of my past beloved authors have started producing quantity over quality, hoping to ride the tails of their past great stories into a future of quickie reads that offer nothing substantial, all in the name of profit. I hope Garwood gets back on track. But I won't be buying the next title to find out. Not worth the risk.",2.0,Did Julie Garwood even write this?,1335312000,"04 25, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2MFR1HGGBO0ZN,B00CJGUJKE,rita greiner,"[0, 0]",the first book in the series had no sex in it and it was by far the best book in the series. I enjoyed this as well but really don't need to read 3 pages of one sexual encounter. Other than that I can't say anything negative. I haven't been reading for awhile because I didn't find a book that interested me and this series changed that! I would give it a 5 star if not for the long detailed sex scenes in the book.,4.0,... sex in it and it was by far the best book in the series,1405987200,"07 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A281NPSIMI1C2R,0026309106,"Rebecca of Amazon ""The Rebecca Review""","[8, 8]","""Imagine"" is a warm beautiful celebration of John Lennon's life as told in his own words and the words of those who loved him and supported his mission. His idealism is prominent, but so is his charismatic personality and comedic interchange with the media.John Lennon's art expands way beyond his poetic lyrics and melodies and we find him to be a much more complex man than we may have realized before. Here he expresses his romantic side in sketches we find displayed on walls while he and Yoko luxuriate in their newlywed bliss. Later they are shown in a way that almost portrays a more innocent side of soul love (gazing into each other's eyes and kissing is all you truly see) or a love that goes back to the beginning of time. It is as if they remove the outer trappings of life and put on each other's souls. John is then shown embracing his role as a father and balances his responsibilities all while maintaining a fascinating powerful presence.John Lennon's beautiful heart reveals itself most poignantly in a moment where he explains his lyrics to a homeless man with haunting blue eyes and then asks: ""Are you hungry?"" You could feel his concern for those around him in moments where he connects so deeply with souls still searching for their purpose. There is also a beautiful moment where John and Yoko build a little cabin/playhouse out on an island. They row across and walk into the house. Then as the camera pulls away, the silence of the scene says more than any narration ever could.Fan mania is captured very effectively during the footage of his early days with the Beatles, but the true beauty and appreciation for his music seems to evolve from the quiet sessions in the recording studio. The footage on this DVD seems more unique than most and also shows a concert on the roof and combative conversations with the media who seemed to truly not understand his dream. He spoke to the hearts of those who were tired of chaos and wanted peace in a world moving towards a more kosmocentric awareness.What strikes me as being the most beautiful aspect of this Deluxe edition is the uniqueness of the presentation and how well the story is woven together to create a warm memory so alive with John Lennon's presence, his music and his life purpose. ""Imagine"" is a strikingly honest portrait of a poet, father, artist and musician who still finds a place in the hearts of those who discover his magic.~The Rebecca Review",5.0,Captures the Essence of John Lennon's Life,1160352000,"10 9, 2006",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1VUPAQRYP1VAG,0399157700,ldr322,"[0, 0]",Love John Sandford's Virgil Flower's novels. So different from Sanford's other novels. HIghly recommend to everyone on Facebook and other places.,5.0,Love it!,1396483200,"04 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Y3KJMVHVOUE1,0141012692,"Benjamin Rossen ""Benjamin""","[13, 19]","Well, yes... the book is about an inventive boy and a search and all that. The other reviewers are right in superficial way. The book is really about this; that loving is painful, but that not loving is much more painful. This book is about love, which is not really surprising. Safran Fore's librarian in his last novel, Everything is Illuminated, remarked ""But all the books are about love.""This one certainly is.",5.0,"What is it about, really?",1131148800,"11 5, 2005",13,19,helpful,0.6842105263157895,1 A2R50Q500RHPRM,147674355X,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Tragic yet beautiful. I. Loved. This. Book. Thank you, Ms. Hoover! Keep it up! A forever fan of yours ~~AM",5.0,Hopeless,1357516800,"01 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NWYH7IB7184L,0800733118,susan,"[0, 0]","An Eye for an Eye is a bit different then most other Ms. Hannon books I have read. This book has more romance than suspense in it, but I believe the storyline warrants it. There is suspense! Fear not! Ha! It is just not a big part of the book.As usual Ms. Hannon weaves the Lord throughout the book in a relevant matter. Ordering the last kindle book in the series right now! Enjoy",5.0,Another Winner from Irene Hannon,1403740800,"06 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1RK5MF3Z781KZ,0446693057,Brenda Parker Brandy,"[4, 4]","Dorothy knows how to keep a reader on her seat. I have read all of her books and I love how she sets the people, plots and era's. She makes you feel like you are there in the time. I love how she brings in people from her other books into the current book. It is good to know what happend to them. The ending of this book was a real surprise. It sure made everything that happend to Jake make since. My only regret is that the 3 books ended. I hope they will start to put Dorothy's books on CD's/MP's so we can listen over and over. I can not wait for the next series.",5.0,POWERFUL!!!!!! POWERFUL!!!!,1096329600,"09 28, 2004",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AS3RIJUETILVC,0553381156,"Amazon Customer ""dynamicdoula""","[7, 7]","I think the top thing I love about this book is that you are not starting out with a 'here is your uterus' discussion. She assumes you know how to find your vagina and what basically is going to be happening to it. Ina May is warm and encouraging- the book itself leaves you feeling as though birth is not some insurmountable event in your life that you have to endure, but something that can be (dare I say it!)- enjoyable, fulfilling, courageous and wonderful.Her photos share the faces of ecstatic birth in all settings. The concept of sex and childbirth being tied in more than the obvious way is one that I hope catches on quickly.I am a labor doula in WA state and I tell my clients that if they read two books for birth, let this be one of the two they choose. Ina May had me captivated when discussing the relationship between our sphincters and the need to be relaxed, and feel safe for them to function properly. Additionally, the frank discussion about Cytotec use in laboring women is such a wonderful bonus to those of us who are sharing this information with our clients but have little mainstream material to share with them about it.I want to buy extra copies so that I can give this book to the women who call me for consultations- if nothing else, so that I can leave them with Ina May's wisdom!",5.0,A must have for birth workers and birthing women,1118966400,"06 17, 2005",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 AQ9JTZBF30IW0,1492299553,D. Frazier,"[0, 0]","I loved Zen as a young girl and I love her even more as an educated, artistic, and sassy young woman. This second dose of Zen finds her and her family coming to grips with the way they handle each other, in a sense. The way they love, emotionally manipulate, and challenge each are front and center, but deeper themes of acceptance and unconditional love is what invigorates this novel. Zen shows how to navigate difficult relationships such as the one she shares with her mother and grandmother, Frieda and Willie Mae. We witness not only familial prejudice but an underlying generational battle, old thought versus new, and how it's dealt with can be a lesson for us all. Charlie and Frieda headline with Zen but you're going to have to get your own copy to see how that craziness turns out. You will enjoy this intimate family story even if you have not read the first book,Zen Cooper: Woman-Child: Ghetto-Genius; you will love it even more if you have. I can't wait to witness Zen's further growth in the third installment,The ZEN Life (Zen Cooper)!",5.0,Gotta Give it Up,1389139200,"01 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EXFAY412L3ES,B00C9GW5HO,RKafka,"[0, 0]",Lot of insite here that I never thought of shooting better feel better direction to wlrk on my game borrowed but think l will buy,5.0,good golf book,1373500800,"07 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADHJEWN49XD4M,1477618392,Jenice Alexander,"[0, 0]","Pax and Mara are two girls with amazing inherited telekinetic ability. Pax's boyfriend was pretty stupid to allow himself to be caught doing the deed with another lady in his office. At the same time, Mara gets the boot from her long time boyfriend.The two girls plan the ultimate combined revenge! And just when you think they have the ultimate revenge planned, it get's even better!I couldn't put this book down and now I can't wait to find out what happens in Part II",5.0,The Ultimate Supernatural Revenge plot ever!,1399248000,"05 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QNX8YY704IX1,1482800810,Brian,"[11, 12]","This novel begins with Ghulab, the main character, as a seven year-old girl wandering the fields near her village. She is remembering her father and thinking over how her step-father is distant and unkind. Then a group of mercenaries descend on Ghulab, pointing their guns at the seven year old girl. The leader lets her be saying he will come back for her in ten years when she is ready for a man like him. This leaves Ghulab shaken.The beginning scene sets up what is a dramatic and intimate story of a young girl who grows up to lead her village and her people out of their conflict torn lives in Kashmir. Ghulab herself becomes a warrior, capable of making men involved in the violent strife fall for her and do her bidding but then stabbing them in the back before they can do harm with the victories she orchestrates.The narrative is well written, with a few small syntax problems here and there. Ghulab and the other characters are well defined, complex and believable. The plot has thoroughly engaging twists that make up for any awkward language, very well constructed.",5.0,A novel about a young girl who grows up to be a warrior for her people,1379808000,"09 22, 2013",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A2YKWYC3WQJX5J,1118497201,"Shannon Lastowski ""Queen of Caffeine""","[4, 5]","As a huge fan of bento style food decoration, this book is a downright gem!I confess, when I boil eggs I use theKotobuki Plastic Egg Mold, Rabbit and Bear...so you can just imagine how much I'm enjoying this book.Layering pecan halves to create a pineapple? So simple but one would never think of it, unless, of course, you have this book!This is like Pintrest that you actually USE, instead of pinning and never using.If you do theme/holiday entertaining, if you have kids, or even if you just have a great sense of fun and humor, you'll love pouring over and using this wonderful book.",5.0,"If you are creative in the kitchen, or WANT to be!",1382572800,"10 24, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2E55GY8VO5NGY,1484954556,Amazon Customer,"[12, 13]",OMG This is an amazing series and Gravity was one of the best in theBunch. Thank you ever so much for sharing your world with us.If anyone needs a good read this is the way to goI laughed I cried my eyes out.(which I just don't do with a book)So Dannika you moved me to both joy and sadness. Thank you,5.0,Gravity by Dannika Dark,1368748800,"05 17, 2013",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A1BI2HSV7KYFD5,1455575690,manuel moreno,"[16, 24]","First review! I've been waiting months for thisThis book is filled with great stories of the warrior brotherhood but most illustrate the corrupt leaders in Washington, foreign dictators and even in the Spec ops community. Almost half of the book is a detailed account of the Benghazi incident with insider information.You might read other books that get your blood going with awesome stories of shootouts and insane odds overcome, and while this book contains those, you get to hear the sad ending for some warriors. A new guy works hard to be the best of the best and is kicked out for something insignificant or a 24 year veteran is abandoned overseas for no damn reason but save some politicians butt.A great read for those who know a lot about SEALs or for those who understand the corruption in the government. The book was a little shorter than I wanted but well worth the price.Thank you to all those who have served in the armed forces",5.0,"great book, illustrates the red type and unfair political garbage SEALs go through",1393286400,"02 25, 2014",16,24,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A30RJI1W8J0E2C,1427201412,dmrbooks,"[20, 30]","Austenlands is a book that just doesn't quite work. You don't believe the heroine. You don't believe the story. You don't believe the ending. And you want to. It was disappointing and I was happy to see it end. There are so many great Austen-related titles (Letters From Pemberley, The Jane Austen Book Club, Old Friends and New Fancies)...this was really a disappointment.",1.0,Not fun and you really wanted it to be,1183161600,"06 30, 2007",20,30,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 AGWFGQUTWQ1LJ,0740785745,"Cathytg ""cathytg""","[0, 0]","I was pretty skeptical when I picked this up as a bargain on my Kindle -- the title gives no indication of what a little treasure How to Drink is.What I found inside was a miscellany. You get explanations of what various alcohol products actually are and how best to choose and use them, but mixed in are any number of recipes for drinks and foods to serve with them, nonalcoholic beverages like tea and coffee and fruit-juice concoctions, and fascinating background information about how various things are made, when and how they became popular, and why they have the names they do. Even a teetotaler would enjoy learning what Jane Austen's characters are drinking what they sip madeira, or how to make the perfect cup of hot chocolate.This is very ENGLISH book, opinionated and whimsical and beautifully written. It's as much fun to curl up with it and flip through the pages as it is to put her recipes and tips to use! And drinks, after all, should be fun.",5.0,Perfectly Charming -- a Little Gem of a Book,1359072000,"01 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19ZOVM99YGOKG,0393060977,Amazon Customer,"[15, 18]","The immediate subject of this book is the improbable lives of Isaiah (Cy) Oggins and his wife, Nerma Berman, two young Americans with large social consciences who became Communists in the 1920s. Cy was attending Columbia University, a hotbed of left wing activism at the time. Nerma was a firebrand for the socialist labor movement and met Cy during these activities. Cy and Nerma were enthralled with socialist ideology and the Bolshevik experiment in Russia. They joined the Communist Party of the USA (CPUSA), and to their lifelong regret, in 1928 signed on as undercover agents of the Soviet Union and set sail for Europe.During their 11-year tenure as agents of Stalin, every aspect of their lives was controlled by their Soviet handlers in Russia. After devoted service in Berlin, Paris, China and the USA, all at considerable risk to themselves, in February, 1939 Cy was recalled to Moscow, promptly arrested for no discernible reason, and enslaved in the Siberian Gulag for eight years in conditions so harsh that it was a miracle that he survived at all.Several years after he was arrested, Cy's imprisonment fortuitously came to the attention of the US State Department, which in 1942-1943 requested its war time ally to confirm that it was holding an American citizen, to provide the details of his crime and imprisonment, and to allow US representatives to visit him. These were things that the Soviets had agreed in writing to do at the time that President Roosevelt gave them diplomatic recognition in 1933. Interestingly, Cy's case reached the highest levels of the State Department, Secretary Cordell Hull and Acting Secretary Sumner Welles. There followed a year-long charade during which the Soviets first ignored the requests, then spent six months providing food and medical care to Oggins to bring him back from his near-death condition. They finally produced him for two perfunctory meetings in the Moscow Lubyanka in the ominous presence of KGB officers, and after a US request for his release, the Soviets simply refused. This at a time when the US was providing billions of dollars of Lend-Lease aid to the Soviet Union. Finally, after serving his term, Cy was executed by the NKVD in 1947 by injection with a nerve agent that sequentially disables all of the muscles of the body while the victim remains conscious and thus dies in slow agony.Although the author spent six years researching Cy Oggins and devotes 300 pages to describing his double lives, in the end Cy does not emerge as a real person. He is just an abstraction, a plastic character who despite his intelligence and education, devoted his life to a false and malevolent ideology, and suffered years of torture and an agonizing death for his trouble. At the end of the book, one knows about as much about Cy Oggins the person as one knew at the beginning. The facts and events are all there, but Cy does not emerge as a real person.The interest of the book lies not so much in the particulars of Cy Oggins's life, as unusual as it was, but in its value as a small anecdote of the real-life Communist party in the 1920s and 1930s. It is puzzling that during a period of national prosperity in the 1920s, so many of the intellectual and academic elite in the United States devoted their lives to a doctrine and a cause that on the surface was committed to social justice, but in reality was brutal and murderous in the execution. Perhaps part of the allure of Communism to people like Cy and Nerma was its place on the political spectrum in opposition to fascism, although Mussolini did not come to power until 1922 and fascism had not fully shown its ugly face until years later.Perhaps they believed that the CPUSA was just another socialist political party seeking the betterment of the country. But that seems unlikely from the events described here. The Communist terrorist bombings of 1919 and the resulting ""Red scare"" and Palmer raids of 1919-1920 had driven the Communists underground and publicly stigmatized the party. Even today, many in the academic community profess that the CPUSA was an indigenous American political movement seeking social justice for the masses. But the evidence, some of it derived from Soviet archives temporarily opened in the 1990s, is otherwise. CPUSA was a creature of the Soviet Union, created, financed and controlled by Moscow. The author casually relates that Nick Dozenberg, a Soviet military intelligence officer operating in the US, helped found CPUSA in the 1920's. Did Cy and Nerma know this history when they embraced the Communist cause?Interestingly, there are many significant parallels between Cy Oggins and Whittaker Chambers, the famous defector from the Communist underground who first identified Alger Hiss as a Soviet agent and indirectly catapulted the little-known Richard Nixon to the national stage. Both Cy and Chambers attended Columbia University, both joined the CPUSA in the 1920s, and both became underground Soviet agents. Chambers operated in the United States and Cy principally in Europe and Asia, but their experiences were much the same. A reading of Chambers's Witness, published in 1952, reveals striking similarities. Both were married to Communist zealots, both embraced Communism on purely ideological grounds, and both devotedly and unselfishly served the party for years, coming to realize in the end that the cause they devoted their lives to was ruthless and brutal. Chambers survived only because he secreted evidence of his spying operation and let the Soviets know that if they harmed him or his family, he would release this evidence. Cy Oggins was not so lucky, although Nerma and their son did manage to escape Paris in 1938 and found their way back to the United States, where they lived out their lives in relative peace in the country that Cy and Nerma loathed.The barbaric nature of the Soviet Union, which was run by one of the world's greatest mass murderers for almost 30 years, is effectively illustrated in the life of Cy Oggins. Once he entered the Soviet world, his life was literally not his own. Both he and Nerma knew that their NKVD handlers would just as soon shoot them as reassign them. In the words of Whittaker Chambers in Witness, few endeavors of a person ""require him to demonstrate, daily, in action, his revolutionary faith beyond all appeals of country, family, friendship, and personal interest."" At several points in their travels, the reader wonders whether they sat down on a park bench somewhere, looked each other in the eye, and said ""what have we done? why did we put ourselves and our child into this prison?""When Nerma became pregnant they were so fearful of their Russian handlers that Nerma had an abortion, an experience very similar to that of Chambers and his wife (Cy and Nerma allowed a second pregnancy to come to term, however, and that may have part of their undoing). When Cy barely escaped from war-torn Manchuria in October 1937, he was forced to stop off in Moscow during the height of the purges and was surprised that the Soviets even let him go. Later, when Cy and Nerma were reunited in Paris in February 1938, Meier writes ""The revolution of Lenin had faded into the distant past and been replaced by a spiral of violence."" Nerma had come to Paris from the United States, where several underground agents had recently been murdered by the NKVD. She knew that their lives were at risk -- ironically, not from the Western countries whose governments they were seeking to undermine, or from right-wing enemies of Marxism, but from the NKVD itself.The abiding mystery of Cy and Nerma, and the thousands of socially conscious young people who flocked to Communism in the 20's and 30's in the name of social justice, is why they embraced an ideology that they should have known was pernicious. These people, after all, were not casual observers of the world political situation. The new government in Russia, from the very beginning in 1917, was dictatorial and repressive, hardly a workers paradise or a bastion of democracy and human rights. During this period, there were numerous articles, books, and first-hand reports of the Soviet government's brutality - available to anyone who cared to look. And although Stalin's purges and mass atrocities of the 1930s had not yet occurred when Cy and Nerma joined the party, the Gulag work camps were first opened in 1922, Lenin's early forays into the use of terror famines were well known, and the Cheka had already carried out thousands of state murders.But certainly not long after their arrival in Berlin in 1928 Cy and Nerma must have realized that their Soviet masters were ruthless thugs. Whittaker Chambers realized in the mid-1930s that there was no essential difference between fascism and communism, that they were merely different flavors of the same political system, which as a matter of policy used terror and repression to achieve political and economic goals and maintain power. The true nature of Communism became painfully obvious in August 1939 with the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact between Stalin and Hitler that partitioned Poland between the two and enabled the Nazis to start World War II. It is tragically ironic that Cy and Nerma, who clearly had the courage to follow their beliefs and to betray their own country in the process -- to spit in the eye of the United States as an evil oppressor of the working class -- cringed in fear of the country they embraced as the savior of the world?Did Cy and Nerma eventually see that capitalism, with all its faults, was infinitely better than the communism of the Soviet Union, which in the 1930s intentionally and systematically starved millions of peasants to death in the Ukraine and Volga regions, condemned millions of its own citizens to slave labor in the Gulag, deported millions of others to die in the wastes of Siberia or Khazakstan, and murdered countless others? And all this in the name of an economic and political system for which Cy and Nerma were willing to die? How much better off were the zeks in the Gulag camps than even the lowest workers in the western democracies? Did there come a time when Cy and Nerma finally realized that they were serving a monster? The book does not provide clear answers to these questions, but suggests that Nerma, like many of the intellectual and academic elite to this day, remained loyal to Moscow and the Communist cause to the day she died.",4.0,Fascinating Story of Real-Life Soviet Spies,1235174400,"02 21, 2009",15,18,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1JPGO1PST2QBA,0446530220,Rita C Blackstad,"[0, 0]",AH ha! This reveals much more of the mysterious beginnings of the feud between brothers and the obscure woman character who appears in several later titles. DO strive to read this author in sequence for a richer understanding.,5.0,all things pendergast,1361577600,"02 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2Y0EXBTLBW99,1490417796,Bre,"[4, 4]","This book was a really good story!! There were some parts in the story were I cried. This story tugs at your heart strings Cassie doesn't have family so she was going from foster home to foster home. Cassie gets kicked out of the system at 18 and she finds a job at a cafe, she gets kidnapped by a man, she gets abused and rapped a lot by two different men. Jesse has been following the men for two years trying to get them because they killed his mother. If you want to know more about the story get it its amazing!! I will be recommending this book to friends!!!",5.0,My Savior Forever!!,1382486400,"10 23, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3T5NSG7LMRY0A,0578012456,Michael Gmirkin,"[0, 0]","I don't know what it is about this book... It seems like there's a ton of information in it, some of it quite good. It's got entries on outlining, roughing out ideas, drawing from experience, gettign feedback, voice/tone, forcing or tricking yourself into writing, finding hooks, finding an agent, finding time to write.But, whether it was too dense to absorb all at once or just kind of boringly written, I just couldn't make it all the way through the book. Perhaps someone else will be able to sit all the way through it from beginning to end... I couldn't take it all in at once and just started skipping around to interesting subject headings or pages that somehow caught my eye.Anyway, it seems like a decent enough ""write your own XYZ"" book (for essays, memoirs, maybe even fiction, though it's not necessarily targeted at that market). Overall, I think it should be a good book, even if it takes a few sitting to wade through it all...",4.0,"Lots of information, but just couldn't seem to keep my attention focused on it for long...",1290297600,"11 21, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A39SFN49449086,0786867531,Laura Pavlik,"[12, 15]","I read this book because I liked his show on E!Mysteries& Scandals. I have never a read a book with so muchego in it. I really did not care how many women he sleptwith or the stars he hung out with. Please, his littlestory about John Kennedy Jr. was such a joke. John hasmore class than to hang with Benza. I got tired of his"more on this later" you would forget what later was.And every other word was f***ing this or that. He is awanna be mafia guy, only problem is he would be not makeit in that world. His 15 min. of fame are over. No wonderhe got kicked off Howard Stern, he is a jerk. All the picsin the book are of him looking "tough". Sorry, AJ but youare all talk. Get a real job. I read the book to the endonly because I was laughing so hard. Now the pages linemy cats litter box. Lets hope for our sake he never writesa book again. Hey, AJ, can I can get my money back!",1.0,A Waste of My Time,1003363200,"10 18, 2001",12,15,helpful,0.8,1 A2PZTXQCEJDSGD,1401302726,"Kim ""Kim""","[0, 0]",I read this book on a day I was feeling blue about life. I enjoyed it. It was a nice escape from my own life.,4.0,Liked It,1388188800,"12 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A210M32C0NFTCL,0801072255,Larry,"[0, 0]","Good reference for ministers, pastors or layman that want to find help in counseling some one in time of need or for personal use.",5.0,Good reference,1389052800,"01 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3ULWQ7PA1DQ4S,0137145500,Annabel Ascher,"[0, 0]","I gave this book 5 stars partly for the concept and partly because the author, Bernard Cesvet, has chosen to create an open source community rather than just another book. He begins with a conversation with a friend on a trip to Europe in which they agree that one particular experience was not only the highlight of the trip,but also something they would talk about for years. This led to the question ""why"" and then to the application of the concept to business. Cesvet contends that today's consumer is not after a mere product but an entire experience complete with a story, and how well we tell that story helps determine the success of the product or service. The next step is to apply the engines to my business. I reccomend this book to all small business owners.Cesvet and his collaborators then proceed to outline the ten engines that drive conversational capital and how to get them. There is also a website set up to keep the conversation going. I have definitely been talking about this book and trying to get all my business associates to read it.I recommend this book to all small business owners that want to craete a better PR program.",5.0,Not Just Another Word of Mouth Book,1227657600,"11 26, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WUHZD5YD741L,0062014536,bhwrn1,"[0, 0]","Huh...well that was...anti-climatic. Review to come...really have to think on this one. Went from 4 to 3 stars now. I just can't stand to give it more. I need to dwell a bit more. Will write this review tonight or tomorrow.Ok, so I am finally going to review this. I will be honest and say that it was really hard for me to rate this book. There are things that I liked about, a lot. But I think the things I didn't like about it outweighed those and it brought my rating down. It actually pains me to give this only 3 stars when I rated the first and second book so much higher. I guess I had very high hopes for this book and they were just thrown to the wind. So, let's get on with it. I will try my hardest to keep this spoiler free, but I have to say that if you have not read the first or second book you might be totally lost and you will definitely read stuff you should not know.Blurb from Goodreads:They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.But we are still here.And there are more of us every day.Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven--pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.But we have chosen a different road.And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.We are even free to choose the wrong thing.Requiem is told from both Lena's and Hana's points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories convergeSo I'll start with the cover. To be honest, these covers with the girls face on them are just ok for me. They aren't spectacular. They give me a picture of what Lena might look like and that's about it. They tell me nothing of the story, or what is contained in the book. I would like to see something that reveals those things a bit more.As for the characters in this book, I don't find they are really well fleshed out. I don't find you get the depth from them that you had in the other books.Now, as for Lena, I disliked her a lot in this book. She did so much growing in the second book. She became this strong, tough woman who learned to fight for what she wanted and how to protect herself. But in this book, she fell back from that, becoming a wishy washy, dependent, annoying teen who was torn between her two ""loves"". In all honesty, I wanted to slap her across the face for most of this book. I felt like she was trudging along hoping that things would just work out. She could not make a decision to save her life. And she didn't fight for what she wanted. In book 2 she was strong and determined, in this one she was weak and almost uncaring.As for Julian and Alex, well, let's just say that you don't get much of them in the story. You get what Lena wants to show you, and it's not much. You get Lena's struggle to figure out who she should be with, when all along she knows in her heart what she wants but does not go after it. Totally frustrating and annoying. She pines away and crawls back into the shell she lived in when we read Delirium.While Hana's POV was interesting, I truly found that it was not necessary to the story. I understand how the two stories collided in the end, but honestly, I didn't need to hear from Hana's POV. She brought nothing to this story for me except to fill in what seemed like what would have been empty chapters otherwise.I can say that I truly love Oliver's writing. It's very solid. She really knows how to put words to paper and, for the most part in this book, keep you interested in what was going on. But in all honestly, the plot was thin and fairly unmoving. Nothing grabbed me and had me saying ""oh my goodness, I cannot put this book down!"" I needed to know what happened in the end and that was the only thing that kept me going. I was almost disinterested in what happened to bring us to that point.As for the conclusion, did it answer questions, not really. It kind of just hung there having me wondering why I even read the book. There was no closure and since I know this to only be a trilogy, I can't think of why Oliver would not let it go out with a bang. It was reminiscent of Mockingjay's ending, which I thought was rushed and also left things kind of undone and unsaid. And the fact that we really got nothing about Alex in this story, well, that was really disappointing. I want to know what happened to him while he and Lena were apart. Where was the swoon worthy Alex, the one everyone fell in love with in Delirium? If you're looking for him, you won't find him in this installment. If anything, he is annoying and really made me mad for most of the book, when he even made an appearance.So, overall, I was totally unsatisfied with this conclusion. I am disappointed in Oliver and how she chose to end this series. It's as if she ran out of steam and focus and didn't know where to go with what she created. I missed the heart pumping thrill and overworked brain I got with the first two books. It saddens me to have to give this such a low rating. In all honesty, after talking with a few other reviewers, I almost dropped my rating to a 2, but I believe that Oliver's writing really deserves better.So, should you read this book? If you read the first two, it really is a must, in my opinion. I don't think you can sit back and not finish it out. However, I would go in with lower expectations than you might currently have because, much to my chagrin, this book is highly over rated by most.",3.0,Disappointing ending,1372982400,"07 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARN5H240112QU,1491208295,For the Love of Books & Alcohol,"[0, 0]","“She’s mine. She always has been, she always will be”It only took 5 days for me to read the entire Love Me with Lies series by Tarryn Fisher. This story is intense from beginning to end. There are definitely three sides to this story. Olivia’s, Leah’s, and in Thief we finally get Caleb’s side. This was by far my favorite book in the series. I desperately needed to know Caleb’s version of events. So much of everything that had gone wrong seemed to be Olivia and Leah’s fault. What really happened on Caleb’s end? Why did he do the things that he did? What was his motivation, who did he really want to spend the rest of his life with?“Most men like danger. There is nothing sweeter than a dangerous woman.”We eventually get an answer to all of these questions and more. I felt so much anxiety reading this book. I knew definitively what I wanted the outcome to be for Caleb. But things were so complicated, could any amount of explanation or time be enough to make things right between Olivia and Caleb? Ms. Fishers style of jumping between the past with the present is one of the things I loved most about this series (besides Caleb of course) The present is evolving as it is now Caleb’s present and his reality. I loved him from the beginning of this series, but now being in his head, hearing his side, I loved him even more. He is far from perfect. He owns his role in all of the bad things that have happened. This only makes him more endearing. His love for Olivia is so pure, so raw, so unwavering, no matter what he has done or how much time has passed, he has always loved her. We also get a few chapters from Olivia and Leah’s POV. This only serves to further enhance the story.I will not spoil the ending. There is no possible way anyone could predict the final outcome of this story. I always get a little nervous when reading the final book in a series. One, because I know that it is ending and I will have a terrible book hangover, and two because I hope it ends the way I want it to. I was not disappointed in any way. No, things do not turn out perfect, but things have never been perfect for Caleb and Olivia since the beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this series and can’t wait to read more of Ms. Fisher’s work.5 stars and 1 expensive bottle of tequila to help with the anxiety you will feel when reading this! Enjoy!Read more of our Book & Drink Pairings at [...]",5.0,Another 5 Stars For Tarryn Fisher!,1398729600,"04 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A22F3BWM7RAHDA,1449341659,P. B. Sharp,"[15, 18]","I am somewhat of a graphic software junkie with PaintShop Pro 9 (my workhorse), PaintShop Pro X 4, 5 and 6, Painter 12 and Painter X3, Photoshop Elements 11 and my brand new Photoshop Elements 12 all installed on my PC. I tool around from one program to another zeroing in on the specialties of each but I have decided to reform and instead of going hog wild tooling around I would learn my latest acquisition, Photoshop Elements 12 from scratch and that requires the book .""Photoshop Elements 12 -the Missing Manual."" (There is also a ""Dummies"" version sold by Amazon that you may want to check out but ""Missing"" is very comprehensive.)""Missing"" is practically a tome, being well over 600 pages long, printed in full color on handsome shiny paper, the kind you can smell. Elements 12 is a superb imaging editor tool but you have to learn how to use it. ""Missing"" will appeal and is appropriate to a wide range of design workers, whether scrapbooker, photographer or graphic artist and the book covers both Windows and Mac. Both PC and Mac version CDs are included in Elements 12.Elements 12, as stressed by the book, is moving towards making the software 64 bit. The book says ""moving towards"" 64 bit. The software Elements 12 says it's 64 bit. The reason for the change from 32 bit is the amount of memory the two systems can utilize. 64 bit is able to use much more RAM than 32 bit, and Elements 12 needs the extra memory to function properly. Mac has always been 64 bit. Bit stands for binary digit.""Missing"" devotes a whole chapter on Quick Fix which allows the user to get off the ground right away. One difference from earlier editions of Elements is that you can proceed after using Quick Fix to further adjustment tools. General fixes include tweaking highlights and shadows. You can whiten teeth and correct blemishes.""Missing""will hold your hand all the way as you import, organize, correct colors and add oomph to your photos with exciting filters and special effects. ""Missing"" covers everything you need to know to correct your photos with basic procedures then moving on to become an accomplished digital artist. You will need a stylus to create original digital art from scratch, with the tools draw, paint and blend.The three editorial modes Quick, Guided and Expert will accommodate virtually all Element 12 users, but the sophisticated tools are only available in Expert; however, many of the Quick Fix commands are accessible from menus in Expert mode. Photoshop Elements 12 the Missing Manual covers all the bases and is highly recommended.",5.0,Everything is right here!,1382745600,"10 26, 2013",15,18,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2F6N60Z96CAJI,0312371551,Bookreporter,"[16, 16]","If you are not already familiar with J. D. Rhoades from his excellent Jack Keller series, then BREAKING COVER will hit you like a two-by-four between the eyes. Over the course of three novels, Rhoades has quickly established himself as a writer's writer, with his work being textbook exhibits of how the job of writing the edge-of-the-seat thriller is properly done.BREAKING COVER is a stand-alone work, taking place a step or two outside of the Keller mythos. Fans will not be disappointed by his absence, however temporary, as there are enough explosions, fisticuffs and general mayhem to fill three books.The opening scene takes place in a convenience store, where gas is sold out front and just about everything you can reasonably think of is inside. Rhoades nails the setting right down to the last nuance, including a description of the cashier that is so dead-on as to be jaw-dropping. It is one of those heartbreaking homemade ""Have You Seen Us?"" posters on the side of the cash register, with a picture of two missing young brothers, that is the early tipping point for the book. For, indeed, shortly after buying gas, a customer sees one of the boys, apparently being held captive in a white van. He follows the vehicle and initiates the rescue; although he should be hailed as a hero, he bails.The reason is that the rescuer is Tony Wolf, a former undercover FBI agent who dropped off the grid and out of sight several years before. Wolf has been presumed dead, not only by his former employers but also by his wife, Kendra, an FBI agent herself. When he fell off, Wolf was working undercover with a biker gang whose viciousness almost defies description; his self-initiated exit interview from the gang involved a fiery double-cross that left one of the gang leaders a paraplegic. Now that Wolfe has suddenly resurfaced, alive and well and on the run, he has both the FBI and a crew of gang members full of simmering revenge after him.Wolf, however, has not spent the past few years assuming he was in the clear; instead, he has been preparing for the inevitable. And when the day of reckoning comes, Wolf is more than ready to dole out street justice to those who have it coming. There are some factors, though, that he cannot anticipate, including a dogged television reporter who keeps getting in the way; his wife, who insists upon being a part of the investigation; and a traitor within the FBI's own ranks. The book has more than one surprising and explosive ending, and while you might guess one of them, it is doubtful you will anticipate them all.Reading BREAKING COVER is one of the few times I've become short of breath from turning pages so quickly. I kid you not. You should get a note from your doctor that your cardiovascular system is in shape before you beginning reading this. But it'll be worth every minute on the treadmill.--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub",5.0,One of the few times I've become short of breath from turning pages so quickly,1224028800,"10 15, 2008",16,16,helpful,1.0,1 A1WX5PFC4OJAJS,B00802J3A8,Antionette S,"[0, 0]",I love the book this is the first book that I read from Brenda stokes Lee and it want be my last I'm looking forward to see what's to come with mye queen and all her man,5.0,mye queen,1359590400,"01 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LB672JVYR1NQ,0672305100,,"[0, 0]",What a boring dissertation. I guess you have to think in those terms to be able to absorb the subject matter. I am certainly not able to do this stuff.,3.0,Only if you think in 1s and 0s,1405209600,"07 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RCSTINM7BTKW,0736402381,"Lee Mayhew ""rdeschain""","[21, 24]","How can you go wrong with Peter Pan and Little Golden Books?! My daughter (2 years old) wanted very badly to read her mother's vintage Disney Storybook version of Peter Pan. But we didn't want that 30+ year old book to get messed up, which it would in the hands of a well-meaning but enthusiastic toddler. So I went on a search and found this Little Golden Book that has the identical art and text as the original Disney hardback, but in the inexpensive and toddler friendly Little Golden Book format. Now my daughter can read about Pan, Hook, and Tiger Lillie to her heart's content!",5.0,Peter Pan is Golden!,1182902400,"06 27, 2007",21,24,helpful,0.875,1 A39AZGV0WPC313,B00BI8K6RK,"Spongy Bob ""sponge""","[0, 0]","this would be a great miniseries and thankfully there is a sequel. the supporting cast, the members of his team are less believable than the hero adn his childhood friend. well written, but needs a good proofreader, lots of homonyms in need of correction",5.0,their paths diverged,1394582400,"03 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFPQVUEI3D46K,0744004055,"Mr. Stanley M. Schmidt ""boymitch""","[67, 79]","My wildest expectations have been surpassed with this guide - it's FANTASTIC! The layout, pictures, details, explanations, maps, hints, etc...it's all there. Such a well done manual with an easy-to-use index system. All maps are numbered telling you what lies in that number. The spell categories and damages are in easy-to-read and understand tables.In know this review is short, but it doesn't need be long. The book is TERRIFIC. The information will take your game to a higher level and it's well worth every penny.I think Brady Games outdid themselves here! Nice job!",5.0,I never knew a strategy guide could be so gorgeous!! A++,1101513600,"11 27, 2004",67,79,helpful,0.8481012658227848,1 A3OSP6IBQ40VG9,1494208350,Kindle Customer,"[13, 13]",At last my craving has been fulfilled so happy. Love the book could not put it down as usual. Need more!!!,5.0,Vampire From Hell Returns....,1382054400,"10 18, 2013",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A1CEQVS413HIS6,B00FX982US,"Charlene Massey-Barber ""Pixie Lady""","[5, 5]","This short eBook will give the beginner watercolor artist the basics in getting started in this art form. The author demonstrates a painting, step-by-step, in words and in photos of one of his own paintings.",5.0,Very helpful for beginners,1381881600,"10 16, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AEPJXVDIZPMLA,0761424954,Maestra 028,"[7, 8]","I am a Spanish teacher who has not traveled to Ecuador but had trouble finding country-specific info for this country. Crowder did a thorough job. Partly reads like a travel guide but tons of Ecuador-specific customs, cultural explanations and etiquette points. Definitely recommend!",5.0,Great & Detailed,1245974400,"06 26, 2009",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 AY55D5ALZ6EYA,0399159126,Patricia,"[0, 0]","First off...It Nora Roberts! Almost says it all! I loved the story, the characters, and of course the superb writing!",5.0,Witness by Nora Roberts,1395446400,"03 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A12F1LH4D0UDK9,0743470117,"kellgo ""kellgo""","[4, 6]","This book is such a great read and highly entertaining. The characters are well developed and completely relatable. It's hard to believe this is her first mystery novel, she pulls it off seamlessly! She brings her readers into the life of Kate and her family and makes you care about the characters. I can't wait to read her other books.",5.0,"Great Read, You'll fall in love with the characters!",1151107200,"06 24, 2006",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A38ELBK7FLXGOY,0743217802,Richard Wells,"[18, 22]","""They Marched Into Sunlight,"" is a soulful work of non-fiction. Author David Maranis has given us a few October days in the horrible history of the Vietnam era that define the entire period. He writes with a strong sense of mission which is to chronicle the grief and glory of men at war as well as the confusion and altruism of a sector of the home-front that opposed it.Impeccably researched from primary sources, ""...letters...journal entries...archival documents, and interviews...,"" Mr. Maraniss holds very little back as he follows the 2/28 Black Lions from disembarkation in Viet Nam through the jungle, and into battle and its aftermath - including a return of some vets to the battlefield 35 years later. We are made witness to private thoughts and public actions, and a battle scene as detailed as anything in The Iliad - a touchstone for all war stories. ""They Marched Into Sunlight,"" encapsulates our entire Viet Nam misadventure, and is a classic look at infantry in action.In roughly alternating chapters Mr. Maraniss also takes us to Madison, Wisconsin, and with the same detail as the Viet Nam sections into the ""hearts and minds,"" of the participants of a protest against Dow Chemical's recruitment drive on campus - a seminal action of the emerging anti-war movement.To further enrich the story, Mr. Maraniss also provides snapshots of the machinations and be-suited terror of the beltway elite as LBJ and his staff decide the course of the war; and the private lives of the families the 2/28th left at home.In October 1967 I wan an infantryman thankfully spending my time in Germany, but even from that safety I can attest to the author's grasp of the Army in all its greatness and folly. After my hitch I was an active participant in the peace movement in Chicago, and I can again attest to the veracity of his portrait of the home-front - a confusion of beliefs, tactics, and actions guided by a genuine (though often self-serving) abhorrence of the war, the politicians who started it, and in some, but not all cases, of the soldiers who fought it.War is insanity and it infects and affects the national psyche as much as its active participants, albeit in different ways. Mr. Maraniss has written an elegant and touching case study of a few days of that insanity and illuminated the entire era.",5.0,SUNLIGHT,1069027200,"11 17, 2003",18,22,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0425243907,Harriet Klausner,"[4, 6]","In 1870 San Francisco, womanizing shipping mogul Bram DeLong announces that he and Comfort Elizabeth Kennedy are engaged. She is shocked by his announcement but Bram says to her afterward they will end their engagement soon. Comfort has not yet accepted.Bram's older brother Bode comes home injured after an attack by the Rangers gang of thugs. Comfort helps him with his injuries but when he learns the woman he cherishes is marrying his brother, Bode leaves. She is disappointed in him and accepts Bram's proposal. However, Bode will not walk into the sunset without fighting for the woman he loves especially when her unknown heritage before she became a mute foundling begins to surface culminating with the Rangers kidnapping her.Kissing Comfort is an exciting Americana romance starring two likable protagonists and an overall wonderful cast especially family though there is some stereotyping of tertiary characters. The intrepid title heroine makes the tale as her shrouded past may prove deadly while her hero would die for her. Fans will enjoy this fine historical as Bram's proposal sets in motion a comedy of errors that turns uncomfortably dangerous to the lead female.Harriet Klausner",4.0,exciting Americana romance,1315353600,"09 7, 2011",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A18IFDVABZLHM5,1469984202,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Howey has created a plausible world of secrets and lies, all for the sake of survival. Overall well-written, haunting (replayed scenes between readings!), a few minor, but necessary slow-downs -- connections, explanations, but even then, interesting and unexpected. He has created a world that's both new and yet recognizable. Great characters.",5.0,Unique,1391212800,"02 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1D1WEINYMOFOA,1410440478,Judith Warren,"[0, 0]","Kept my attention every minute and stayed up too late reading it. No worms-eating-eyeballs horror, just a great story. Enjoy.",5.0,Loved it.,1394150400,"03 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWVG9YK2ROTA3,145380837X,MsJuliaT,"[0, 0]","What a story, I just got through reading it a few minutes ago, it is 2:30 in the morning and I could not put it down until I finished it. It keeps you engaged till the end with its intriguing characters and intricate storyline. The characters are drawn so well, you can easily see them in your head and imagine all the things they are going through. I love to laugh in the middle of a story and have tears in my eyes at a happy ending. Not only did this story make me want to find her other stories, it makes me want to put on my Big Girl Dress and take on the world!I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good light hearted Nancy Drew kind of mystery!",5.0,I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!,1293580800,"12 29, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3OIFJ3TEZM65P,1401927289,"Mike Brown author ""Mike Brown Coaching (dot)...","[9, 9]","Ron & Mary Hulnick were my teachers at the University of Santa Monica for spiritual psychology. And this book is an awesome extension of what they teach there.One of the most powerful things that you will get out of this book is self-forgiveness. Self-forgiveness is really the key to freedom. And the tools that Ron & Mary provide are the most simple, straight forward, and easy to implement that I've every experienced.I strongly recommend this book and also attending the University of Santa Monica as well. Thank you Ron & Mary for all the blessings and miracles you have given me and the thousands of people you have touched :)by Michael Brown author ofYou Are a Gift to the World: Blessings from My Mom",5.0,This book is a roadmap to freedom and spiritual liberation,1312675200,"08 7, 2011",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A1XMECMQO6KKE9,B00CQ9P5QM,Dooter686,"[0, 0]",I was completely wrapped up in this book when it abruptly ended leaving me hanging. You have to love a book that you lose track of time when reading. I need to read the next book to get my fix.,5.0,Ugh. Have to wait for the next book.,1377043200,"08 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARC0QI29CWD0W,078514725X,G. Steirer,"[6, 7]","Avengers Prime collects issues #1-5 of Avengers Prime, originally published at the end of 2010. Continuity-wise, Prime takes place immediately after the events ofSiege, though it functions fairly well as a stand-alone story. Production quality is high: finished boards in red with gold foil-stamping, medium gloss paper, and a solid binding. Bonus content is limited to reproductions of variant covers.As for Prime's story, it is a lighthearted and somewhat silly tale in which Thor, Captain America, and a minimally powered Iron Man find themselves stuck in a mish-mash of dimensions formerly ruled by Asgard. Brian Michael Bendis seems to have intended Prime as a slight--and inessential--epilogue to his seven-year mega-run for Marvel (begun withAvengers Disassembledand ending withSiege). Readers used to the psychologically wrought and carefully plotted stories he'd churned out for New Avengers and Mighty Avengers will, however, almost certainly be disappointed by the lightness of Prime's story. Indeed, for all its fun, it doesn't offer anything particularly memorable nor important to the Marvel Universe. Art-wise, Alan Davis's pencils are--as always--excellent, though the overly monochromatic coloring done by Javier Rodriguez detracts a little from their luster.Unless you're a die-hard Bendis fan, you can probably skip this book. Thor fans might take some special pleasure in the plot (Prime's villains are The Enchantress and Hela), but since there are so many other good Thor books coming out over the next couple months, you're probably better off picking up an actual Thor book instead.",3.0,Unusually lighthearted and inconsequential Bendis Avengers story,1302220800,"04 8, 2011",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 AB073YS7FTWCA,0330490699,"M. Emrich ""embo55""","[4, 4]","I admire Follet like few other authors. He has a long career and unlike most popular writers who manage to publish more than half a dozen best sellers, his work never becomes formulaic. This is not his strongest work, ""Pillars of the Earth"" takes that honor for me, but talk about a page turner. The book's chapters are headed chronologically It takes almost half the novel to build up, but Follet describes this caper gone wrong with such vivid detail and makes it so damned exciting, that you'd better hit the chapter that begins at the stroke of midnight Christmas Day early in the evening, because I challenge you to put the book down after that point. Remarkably well done. Can't wait for the inevitable film of this one.",4.0,At the stroke of midnight this thriller soars...,1106179200,"01 20, 2005",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A34D9Q0JTF7N7K,193324111X,Susan,"[44, 44]","I recently discovered the Kumon books and I am super pleased with them.I will be reviewing all those I have so it will help other parents get a better idea of what's inside. The LET'S COLOR book is very nice and is part of the Kumon First Steps series for ages 2 and up. I must say that this book isn't for the very young only. My son is 8, and is a very normal child in every way, yet like some children, has not been very quick to develop fine motor skills for writing, holding a pencil, cutting, etc. He has enjoyed all his Kumon books very much, and they are not babyish. LET'S COLOR is a very nice book for children who would be overwhelmed by a whole uncolored page being placed in front of them to ""finish"". I like that most of each page in LET'S COLOR is colored already and is very colorful; only a white circle, square, triangle (nice for teaching shapes along the way) is left blank for the child to color in. My son is very pleased with just a small bit of coloring to finish the picture. He especially loves when his colored pencil ( I recommend Prismacolors over crayons) matches almost exactly with the color of the object and when finished, you can't easily see where he did the coloring. Later pages have you color 2 or 3 parts of the picture, such as blue, green, and yellow circles on the beach ball, or 3 different colored balloons, or the yolk of the egg. Then the last few pages are having the child color the 2 flowers, the mane of the lion, the icing and candles on a birthday cake, or different parts of a clown. Even these pages with more white areas to color, are not overwhelming to a child, as the full picture is only about 8 inches square. My son enjoyed the first ""scribble"" pages, where you drew hair on a boy, spaghetti on a plate, sprinkles on the ice cream, water squrting out of the garden hose onto the children, etc. He has enjoyed coloring in this book as we have our read aloud time in the evening. Kumon uses high quality heavy paper, and the coloring pages are printed on one side only. I highly recommend it to any parent of young children, and would make a nice little gift with a new box of colored pencils or crayons. These are attractive when finished to give to grandma and grandpa to hang on their refrigerator. I really think you and your child will have fun with this book.",5.0,A very child friendly introduction to coloring,1155168000,"08 10, 2006",44,44,helpful,1.0,1 A3ROF6FVMU1K2U,B00A9I4X74,quijibo,"[0, 0]","I wasn't hugely surprised when I found that the author is British, I love that self-depreciating sort of humour also captured perfectly in books likeHigh FidelityandGetting it.Men can read this and think 'yeah, I do that' and women can read it and think of their men, 'yeah, he does that'.",4.0,"Very British, very funny!",1384387200,"11 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFYYHRPSFBLWS,0449911942,Ash Ryan,"[0, 0]","As the title suggests, Rabbit at Rest is about death. It is obsessed with death, Updike's love song to it. He lovingly details Rabbit's aging and increasing frailty, from his clogged arteries and heart disease, to his decreasing sexual appetite, to his bathroom habits and his nostril hairs. He makes snide remarks about bodily functions practically every other sentence (which would be almost funny if it weren't just kind of sad and pathetic). He harps on such mundane aspects of life as if they had some metaphysical significance---or perhaps to insinuate that nothing does, which comes to the same thing. He writes things like (in this case, describing radio): ""We are noisy vermin, crowding even the air."" (Updike is basically a misanthrope with a flair for turning a phrase.) He writes that all material existence is sad because transitory, and there is no other kind.While this is all very wrong and unpleasant, there is a kind of internal unity and artistic integrity to it, and in places he seems almost as sincere as he did back at the beginning of the series in Rabbit, Run. Unfortunately, as the series progresses, it becomes increasingly about Rabbit's son Nelson, who is an even less sympathetic character and not nearly as interesting. I spent most of this book just waiting for Rabbit to die. But, if you've made it this far, all the way through Rabbit Redux and Rabbit is Rich, you may as well read this and finish the series off, as this is better than those were (but still not as good as the first).",3.0,A love song to Death,1329609600,"02 19, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A23573B7A1FBV6,0670033545,Thomas Wayne,"[8, 107]","This is the same old liberal tripe repackaged into another paranoid ""I Hate George W. Bush"" tome. Can't the left come up with anything better than this garbage?Here's a summary of every one of these absurd books, including Hightower's: George W. Bush is evil; George W. Bush is unintelligent; George W. Bush lied; George W. Bush stole the 2000 election; George W. Bush started the Iraq War to benefit Haliburton; George W. Bush lets corporations run the country...blah blah blah. It's the same tired crap with a different cover.Don't waste your money.",1.0,Absolutely Ridiculous,1092182400,"08 11, 2004",8,107,helpful,0.07476635514018691,1 A1I6U5AQAT3ZG9,0307270130,"E. B. MULLIGAN ""Bronwyn""","[0, 0]","I liked this so much I orderd the rest of the series and already finished North of Montana.North of Montana (1994),Good Morning, Killer (2003),Judas Horse (2008)White Shotgun (2011)White Shotgun has a complex plot that takes Agent Grey and her way too moody security expert lover Sterling McCord, to Siena, Italy. It turns out Ana has a half-sister, Cecilia Nicosa, and the Feds want Ana to spy on her shifty husband, Nicoli. Nicoli's mistress is MIA, possibly a victim of something called "lupara blanco" translated to "white shotgun" murder which was a new one to me.There is also an attempted murder of Cecilia & Nicoli's teenage son. Then Cecilia disappears, Even the police can't be trusted. Rollercoaster!",4.0,#4 in the Ana Grey FBI series,1403568000,"06 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GU6LMQ92P8XO,1612132286,Bookgirl76,"[0, 0]","**Spoiler Alert**A really great book. Hot characters both male and female. Both characters are successful at their careers but have never gotten over eachother. An orchestrated meeting by the male begins the story of these two off. The chemistry between these two was so freaking off the charts. Perfect amount of angst. Only real concern I had and I couldn't get past is the fact that the male and female characters were just so blase about his F Buddy. No joke, the female became friends with her man's ex like they were sisters all the while the male is running to his ex when he fights with the leading lady. So bizarre but because they had great chemistry I got past it. Though I am still so confused by this today. I am not a jealous person but I will tell you right now, if my man was still running to his ex (hook up or not) when we had a fight it wouldn't fly so well.",4.0,"Great book, some weird moments though.",1404691200,"07 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2M3CGV3IK2IN6,1928706029,"Bartolomucci Fabrizio ""iPhone developer with ...","[58, 70]","Though the advice of Achaan Chah about studying one's own heart rather than Abhidhamma should be kept in mind like a shining star when tackling anything regarding it, still the reading of this book may provide a framework for one's own mind where to insert experiences: one in which conventional items may not be needed for their comprehension.A final line: of course meditate, let go of the unwholesome factors, cultivate the wholesome ones and purificate you mind, but also consider buying this book and dedicate the high degree of attention it needs to be understood and perhaps the world will look even a little more different than usual afterwards :-)",5.0,A great buy for meditators,1070323200,"12 2, 2003",58,70,helpful,0.8285714285714286,1 A2RYA35DSUBBBN,0316209562,"S. Mahaffey ""neverjudge""","[0, 0]","A Navy Seals team are on a training exercise when they unexpectedly become involved in rescuing girls from a sex trafficker ring. Breaking up the sex trafficker ring gives the team leader an insight to a lead to catch a leading terrorist.This is a first novel as it sets up the reader with getting to know the individual team members and the supervisor who does not always appreciate the team. The story is action packed and full of excitement. It seemed to me that it was very realistic. I found the novel to be realistic.Disclaimer: I received a digital galley of this book free from the publisher from NetGalley. I was not obliged to write a favourable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.",5.0,Fast paced novel,1400716800,"05 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2KBHSK5BS35BH,1439126054,Leeanna Chetsko,"[4, 6]","Heart of a Patriot, by Max ClelandWhile reading ""Heart of A Patriot,"" I kept turning to discuss certain points with my father, as I was continually inspired and amazed by Max Cleland. In this book he briefly describes his childhood and coming of age during the Kennedy era, which inspired him to get into politics. He then delves into his time in Vietnam and the subsequent grenade explosion that took his legs and arm. He spares nothing in recounting his recovery, both physical and mental, and his sheer determination to walk again despite overwhelming odds was incredibly inspiring.Cleland used politics as a way to find purpose in his life - he wanted to *do* something. And he definitely did something - Georgia state senator, Veterans Affairs Administrator, Secretary of the State of Georgia, U.S. Senator, 9/11 Commission, and Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission.During the 2002 Senate race, Cleland lost his seat to a Republican, likely due in large part to a smear campaign that he felt ""took away his service."" His vote for the Iraq War authorization also caused him grief and doubt, and he discusses the thought process behind voting for the resolution in the book. I enjoyed some of the lighter information as well, such as the historical desks in the Senate offices.Cleland is very clearly a Democrat, and his book tells it how *he* sees it - and I find nothing wrong with that. Even so, if you may have political views on the other side of the spectrum, don't let that stop you from reading this book. While much of it is political, much is also not, particularly Cleland's battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after the disastrous 2002 Senate race. Some people have said that he sounds like a crybaby, but nothing could be further from the truth; he suffered from extreme depression and anxiety, and fought like a man to overcome PSTD and live a normal life. Cleland's struggle is inspiring, and I think it's pretty cool that a normal guy was willing to talk about his struggles so openly, in the hopes that it would help someone else.4/5.",4.0,Heart of a Patriot,1266278400,"02 16, 2010",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A16P5N8MNTXXU3,0739009400,"V. R. Hutter ""v_rh""","[12, 12]","My piano teacher recommended that I buy a book of Hanon exercises to strengthen my fingers, increase speed and technique. He also recommended that I buy a ""complete"" book of the Hanon exercises and the reputation and quality of Alfred piano books are excellent. I bought the book and it is just as described. Although it suggests that a piano student is ready for the book after one year of lessons, I have been taking lessons for a little over 3 1/2 months and I haven't had any difficulty thus far. Note: I am a highly motivated adult learner who has always wanted to be able to play the piano and will be 68 years old in February, 2011. My teacher was a classical pianist and has taught adults as well as children for over four decades and he recommends the Hanon exercises. One of the reviewers of the Hanon book indicated that it could lead to RSI which I assume means ""repetitive sports injury"" of which carpal tunnel syndrome is classified, but my teacher states he is not aware of any of his students having this problem through use of the Hanon exercises.",5.0,It's never too late to learn to play the piano well,1295481600,"01 20, 2011",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A2A9WISYMM5LAU,1937584607,"don jeffries ""dajeffries""","[12, 16]","Vince Palamara is THE expert on an area of vital importance to JFK assassination researchers and anyone interested in historical truth; the failure of the Secret Service to protect the President on November 22, 1963.Palamara interviewed them all, and their words clearly establish that JFK never interfered with the Secret Service in any way, and more specifically didn't order them off the bumper of the limousine that day in Dallas, as Gerald Blaine contends in his book ""The Kennedy Detail."" Clint Hill has intimated the same thing, both in his original Warren Commission testimony, and more recently in the foreword to Blaine's book and then in his own ""Mrs. Kennedy and Me.""Unlike most assassination researchers, Palamara has confined himself to a single aspect of this case, and his work has proven to be indispensable to anyone truly interested in what happened on that day in Dealey Plaza. ""Survivor's Guilt"" is one of the must-reads on this subject. I highly recommend it to everyone.",5.0,The Essential Read on JFK's Secret Service Detail,1382659200,"10 25, 2013",12,16,helpful,0.75,1 A3VSO43VH3H0AT,080217065X,Jane E. Applebee,"[0, 1]","This was an intriguing novel about the interplay of memory, mis/conception, mis/perception, and time. A man in his forties, Cedar, reflects as he reads the pages of Kat's retelling of their brief, youthful relationship: A relationship that has lingered melancholic in Cedar's memory. Cedar realizes he has created a personal fiction without intention because of his innocence and Kat's talent for drama and storytelling. Even seeing the wreckage that is Kat in middle-age does not prevent Cedar from envying her talented writing and brilliant insight into himself, both as a youth and as the mature man he has become. I enjoyed the book. I recommend it to anyone interested in how people think, create memory, rationalize, and revise memory.",4.0,Roshomon Lite,1272153600,"04 25, 2010",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AV08SZ4CV954T,0142407380,"LonestarReader ""at the BookMoot!""","[9, 11]","Oh the places you will go, Alex Rider!Ark Angel is the latest chapter in the saga of Alex Rider. I do not want to give away too much in case you have not read the previous books but be warned, ""spoilers"" follow. If you have not read Alex Rider vols. 1-5 then hie yourself to a library and begin now.Book 5 ended abruptly and very ""Ian-Fleming-ly"" with Alex on the ground, hit by a sniper's bullet. Ark Angel picks up soon afterwards with Alex recuperating in the hospital. There he befriends another patient, the lonely son of the multi-millionaire, Nikolei Drevin. Drevin is the developer of the Ark Angel space hotel project.As usual, Alex is embroiled in the events that follow against his will. Only Alex, however, has the unique skills and talents to combat the evil plot and danger that unfolds.Horowitz is at the top of his game in this sequel, the action is nonstop. The book actually contains several mini lessons in physics which make some of the predicaments almost believable. They are always fun.While booktalking with some 5th graders, I mentioned that I had read this book and a young fan asked fearfully, ""So, is Alex alright?"" He cannot wait to get this book.",5.0,Terrific,1145664000,"04 22, 2006",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A3X743R6QQ03V,0723257639,"Sonya Medema ""StyleSF""","[14, 15]",Amazing set of timeless books - small size perfect for small hands!Something your children can pass down to their children.,5.0,Beautiful set - same as ISBN: 0723284075,1155254400,"08 11, 2006",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 AAXG649HM1S5Q,B00ESPZ2C4,B. A. M.,"[4, 4]",AN ENCHANTING ADDITION TO THE DELIGHTFUL SERIES WITH HER SHIFTER CHARACTERS ARE WELL ROUNDED STORYLINE AND SUSPENSE INCLUDING SIZZLING EROTIC SCENES WHILE CAPTIVATING CHARACTERS BRING THE PAGES TO LIFE FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE. CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ADDITION TO THE SERIES WITH MELODY' S STORY WITH HER TWO MEN/MATES.,5.0,LOVING LACHLYN ..ASHLAND PRIDE TWO BY R.E.BUTLER,1377561600,"08 27, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1DTOHMM2Y5KY0,0072193069,"Michael J Woznicki ""Michael J Woznicki""","[5, 5]","I work people whose computer knowledge varies from very little to a serious computer user. This reference manual is one book that all levels can benefit from. This book is the perfect manual to answer the questions in an easy to understand format without all that technical jargon.The book is over 1100 pages and is loaded with pictures and figures to give a visual representation of the definition which makes is easier to understand some of the concepts covered. There is computer definitions, vendor breakdowns, and certification analysis and application definitions.Some of the topics covered are networking, computers, MACs and applications. Some of the technologies included are CISCO, CompTIA, ATM, FDDI, Ethernet and token ring. Also included is a cd-rom which has over 5000 more definitions not included in the book. Overall a great addition to my technical library.",5.0,Good reference manual to have around.,1007856000,"12 9, 2001",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2Q04HEECRC05J,B008AGS5CQ,Elizabeth,"[22, 22]","I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I think Faith Mortimer is an excellent author. I have read book 2 of The Crossing and am now reading another of Faith Mortimer's novels.Besides a very interesting story, I thought her descriptions of scenery were particularly good and one felt as if you were really there. This was an Amazon review purchase.",5.0,The Seeds of Time - book 1 of The Crossing.,1352073600,"11 5, 2012",22,22,helpful,1.0,1 A55MRYPUAX4QU,0393025284,Avid Reader,"[11, 14]","This is the story of how the world's two greatest (or worst) totalitarian powers reached an agreement to carve Europe between them. Hitler was obsessed with avoiding a two-front war as happened to Germany in WWI. This time, though, the situation was reversed. He sought to knock out the Western powers first before turning to the East. France and England were the major worries at the moment.Stalin also wanted a free hand as he sought to restore the USSR's border's to pre-Revolution range. This naturally included a division of Poland and the absorption of part of Eastern Europe. One is struck at the gall of these powers sitting at a map and drawing lines, dividing the civilized world into spheres of influece, knowing all the while that in the end, they will have to fight.The authors record the pre-talks, the feelers, the struggles of the Western powers to stop this deal at any cost. But Hitler was determined to press ahead and secure at least half of his border. There are several mini-tales included that were affected by the treaty - the tragic dismemberment of Poland, the Russian rape of Finland, the beginning of a pattern embraced by both powers and continued by the USSR after the war: The absurd claim that a government would ask either power to invade its territory in order to crush ""warmongers"".Both nations shocked their supporters - Germans were puzzled as to why such an agreement was needed with its arch-enemy. Leftists worldwide were struck dumb as their hero, Stalin, smiled and signed on the dotted line. But there was nothing to fear. As the fighting wore on and England refused to bow, Hitler planned the final punch - knock the USSR out of the war and England would be forced to sue for peace. It was almost a success but the supply lines and huge area became a quagmire and the lost retreat was in place. The treaty had served its purpose and like most treaties signed with totalitarian powers it remained in force as long as it was needed.",5.0,Outstanding research and reporting,1073001600,"01 2, 2004",11,14,helpful,0.7857142857142857,1 A3NIQK6ZLYEP1L,0385732554,Michael Valdivielso,"[15, 19]","The Giver by Lois Lowry is an interesting work of dark fiction. It is about a planned society set in the very far future. Kind of a young reader's version of Brave New World or WE. The main character of Jonas lives in a world where everybody is assigned a job at the age of twelve after years of very careful education and training on how to behave, work and play within the community. Those who do not fit in are Released.Jonas has been selected to be the Receiver of Memory. He will be filled with memories of generations past, like a jug is filled with water, to be used as a source of information by the leaders. He learns about pain and love and starvation. In doing so he can no longer live within the community, with people he has come to distrust and even hate.",4.0,With such people in it...,1153785600,"07 25, 2006",15,19,helpful,0.7894736842105263,1 AJJW014J7S6LW,1400275032,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","This book was touching for me. As a person of the African diaspora born in America, I realized how sheltered I have been in my own world. To think of children having to fight to servive such terror is hard to fanthom. I commend this writter for sharing his experiences. This book was vivid and real.",5.0,Hard to read but must do it.,1400112000,"05 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJE4WUGH46IOH,0340839937,Amazon Customer,"[5, 9]",A must read for any sci-fi fan. Herbert's Dune series is to sci-fi what Tolkien's LOTR is to fantasy. Great character development and a well thought-out plot. You won't be able to put this one down!,5.0,An epic Sci-Fi novel,1120867200,"07 9, 2005",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A17ATPLQLVAS1W,0984247521,Amber I @ AwesomeSauce,"[7, 7]","What a great book! As soon as I started it, I had to finish it. It went beyond what I was expecting. And the cover is amazing!!I loved the characters in this book. Cal and Yuki are fun and a loving couple. I love when best friends realize that they are in love and they start an amazing romance.This book was also neat with how they dealt with all the paranormal stuff. Like the spirit users. I loved how she wrote in about how the wolves came to be. That was really good. Yuki's dreams where also really interesting and I loved how all the symbols in there really meant something.The side characters too are also great. Emma and Simon, I think these two would actually be great together if it wasn't for the age difference. They seem to know how to push each others buttons.I can't wait to read the next book!!!!Check out this review plus many more at [...]",5.0,Awesome,1306713600,"05 30, 2011",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A373YV2EH338N4,0060876115,"J. Davis ""Voracious reader""","[4, 9]","From the very beginning Julia Quinn announced that Lost Duke and Mr. Cavendish were to be companion books - telling the same story from different POVS. Personally, I think she succeeded.Knowing that Mr. Cavendish was coming out, I re-read The Lost Duke a couple of days before to refresh my memory a bit. Mr. Cavendish is a superior story. Thomas and Amelia reminded me of JQ's hero and heroines in her pre-Bridgerton books. Their attraction is more believable than Jack's and Grace's.While I undertand why JQ spent a significant amount of time explaining why Jack didn't want to be a duke, I think that she missed explaining his loss of identity. When it came to Thomas, JQ did a significantly better job. Here was a man who had separate personality traits between the Duke of Wyndham and Thomas Cavendish, and she did it brilliantly.Amelia. I liked Amelia. She came into her own. Amelia became a real person, other than the Duke of Wyndham's betrothed. I was kind of disappointed to not read her POV in the carriage when she and Grace start swearing. I would have loved to have known what was Amelia's motivation was.",5.0,Better than the first!!,1223078400,"10 4, 2008",4,9,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A2G0X17OH21HYM,B007B1W1Z8,JP2013,"[11, 11]","Breathtaking love story! There's nothing I enjoy more than a well-written, heartfelt romance. I'm a huge fan of this author, and this book didn't disappoint. The story was profoundly moving and beautifully told. Lots of interesting twists and turns and well-drawn characters. A must-read for anyone who enjoys a good love story and reading about other cultures. Highly recommend!",5.0,Breathtaking love story! There's nothing I enjoy more than a ...,1405209600,"07 13, 2014",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A2JVHSSYN6ECWT,0961634529,Mary,"[9, 17]","While looking for an Ethiopian cookbook, I came across the discussion about ""rue"" and felt I had to point out that ""rue"" is indeed an herb, while the flour-and-fat thickening mixture used in cooking is actually spelt ""roux"".",4.0,re: rue,1146096000,"04 27, 2006",9,17,helpful,0.5294117647058824,1 A1TON0I2OLGYSG,B00ANZT31O,Bruce Gage,"[0, 0]",I thought this novel opened my eyes to the potential that I was aware existed but had never give much thought to the particular ramifications that would be faced by individual lives if such a far reaching disaster were to occur. Should be import information for every citizen even though it is done as fiction. Good plot and interesting characters coping with the unthinkable.,5.0,Need to Know,1399334400,"05 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QPF5HLTBJ8PJ,1418509930,A Professional Consumer,"[4, 4]","I have studied Genesis a lot in the past, and was looking for a good book for a small group study. Genesis is the basis for almost everything for Christians and Jews alike, and there is so much information it is daunting to try to teach/study it. However, this is an excellent overview book. Personally I am a Creationist, and this book is not at odds with that. But it also is not pushy about what you believe about creation, and presents several theories (ie, day-age, gap theory, etc) and gives quotes from several well-know authors/speakers. Same is true for flood: Was it world-wide or local? It gives both points of view.If you are looking for a book that revises what the book of Genesis says, this is NOT it. There are plenty of those out there. The book holds true to the traditional Biblical meaning of Genesis, giving us the basis for religion, marriage, family, government, etc, while leaving some room for interpretation on controversial points. Highly recommended.",5.0,Very good overview of Genesis,1230508800,"12 29, 2008",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2LXYUFE96D43S,0380808080,"paula_k_98 ""paula_k_98""","[7, 8]","To me, a sign of a good book is one where you start reading it, get interrupted and can't get back to it for almost two weeks, and find the characters still leap off the pages and grab you back into the story. That's what happened to me and I had no trouble picking up where I left off.Susan Elizabeth Phillips' latest book revisits old favorites and finishes out her saga about the Chicago Stars football team. Molly Somerville has finally grown up and come into her own. The super smart child that has always craved love, affection, and approval has finally figured out what to do with her life. She has given away her millions, created a series of children books, and writes articles for teens that makes her life livable, or so she thinks. Kevin Tucker is the star quarterback who appears to have it all, at least on the outside. Each continuously do stupid or dangerous things, looking for something to make them compete, even when they don't realize they are missing something.Combine this with a wonderful cast of secondary characters the includes an over the hill sex kitten from Hollywood, a famous reclusive painter, young newlyweds that can't keep their hands off each other or from giving out free sexual advice, and Phoebe. We all remember Phoebe, the sexpot who set the business world in pro football on its heels with her brains.The dialogue is wonderful in this book. It's sharp, witty, and refreshing. The story has plenty of unpredictable moments in it as Molly and Kevin both have to confront their lives and take charge. I must admit I hated the little narrative at the beginning of each chapter from Molly's books until I caught how they played into the story. Then it became funny.This was an enjoyable book all around. For those of you who haven't read the others in the Chicago Stars series, you will be fine jumping into this story. If nothing else, it will probably make you go back and find the other stories.Ms. Phillips, unless I'm mistaken, only publishes one book a year. Please write faster! I love your books and hate waiting another year to get my hands on your next book.",5.0,"Great Dialogue, Wonderful Characters",982454400,"02 18, 2001",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A1Z7V65GIRXPIA,0425245799,Amazon Customer,"[19, 22]","The premise was good. Luke rescues 13 yr old Isabella from a would-be rapist in the mountains of Spain during the war. She's the same age as his beloved baby sister so he wants to protect her. When he learns her cousin Ramon means to marry her and be as cruel as her would-be rapists, he gives her the protection of his name in marriage. She then lives out the rest of the war in a secluded convent with her nun aunt. After 8 years, he fails in his attempt to annul the marriage and is forced to come collect his bride. He's inherited his uncle's title and now has a duty to beget a legal heir. Bella grew up in the convent building fairy tales in her heart about her heroic rescuer who didn't bother to write to her or claim her for 8 long years (including 4 years after the war had ended).The story gives us all the cliche wrong first impressions, then discovery of hidden attraction. Bella has a tragic past that should give a wealth of interesting stuff to explore. Duty, honor, fear, misunderstanding and attraction. But Bella gets over her traumatic first sexual experience so quickly and is wanting to jump into bed with her stranger husband so fast one wonders if she ever really experienced trauma as a child.Luke's repressed past in Spain is dragged out and hinted about through 9/10 of the book only to resolved in a brief scene at the end.The characters seemed to go through the motions of falling in love without ever discussing their inner feelings or building a relationship based on more than physical attraction. There was no friendship, no respect, just sex and reasons to fight again.",2.0,"Good start, fizzled after first meeting",1331769600,"03 15, 2012",19,22,helpful,0.8636363636363636,1 A2RDR9EGQJEM76,1596058595,Corne,"[4, 4]",A very readible quick history about Spain. The book is a bit old so some parts of the intriguing recent history are failing. But these kind of books give a very quick and dirty overview of the character of a country. It is a small book that could be a bit more detailed (hence the 4 stars). I would although recommend this book.,4.0,Quick and dirty,1357516800,"01 7, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1AJYUWY3ZKEBG,0764210432,KrasneTigritsa,"[0, 0]","I usually try to avoid books like this. semi-allegorical christian fantasy is hard for me to take seriously, since everyone tries to copy Lewis and Tolkien, often at the cost of originality and flavor. however, there are a few blessed exceptions to the rule, and this, I am glad to say, is one of them. the world Carr creates is diverse, colorful, and believable. I am in love with the main character, Errol, who somehow manages to be flawed without being painfully inept, and heroic without being distant. his journey from the drunken wreck of the beginning chapters to the battle-hardened man of the ending is compelling enough to carry the story, but with the combination of magic, fighting, and political intrigue, it doesn't have to. the ending invites the reader into the second book-which surprise surprise, costs money-but is not abrupt. this book is well worth the time it takes to read it. I can't wait to get my hands of the other two.",5.0,"behold, a GOOD christian fantasy book!",1404345600,"07 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWNBZSEZ9P8BE,193361501X,Brian Connors,"[9, 17]","This is an interesting review to write, primarily because I never really got what this book was for. The flagship Best Recipe series is a culinary marvel on a scale simply not possible from the hand of one author -- a wall of self-contained, in-depth, thoroughly tested recipes, described in rather exhaustive fashion. If you can't find it in one of those books, they haven't written about it -- yet. And the America's Test Kitchen TV tie-in books go beyond the basics to cover all kinds of interesting territory in the kitchen in much the same fashion. Between the two series, I own twelve of their books, as well as two (really three -- long story) written by founder Christopher Kimball solo and one from former Cooks editor Pam Anderson. But this one? Its purpose escaped me for some time, until it was bought for me as a present. And I get it now.The simple fact is that not everyone who goes looking for a cookbook is a kitchen geek, and even those that are don't always want to read two densely-typeset pages of backstory before getting to the meat of the recipe. To top it off, The Best Recipe series alone is twelve volumes and counting -- at $35 a book, and especially given Cooks Illustrated's prolific production rate, that represents an investment of hundreds of dollars. You can get a copy of Escoffier, in French, and still pay for shipping and handling direct from Flammarion and still pay far less than you would for a complete set of The Best Recipe, to say nothing of the TV cookbooks, the hint guides, the two magazines, and the many specialty guides they've written over the years. That, essentially, is what this book is all about: hundreds of dollars and cook-years of kitchen wisdom distilled down into a quick, thorough, and lavishly illustrated kitchen reference.Most of what's in here is things that have been done before, though many of the recipes are simplified in one way or another (e.g. revisions to standardize on one particular type of AP flour). Other things help as well, though -- technique illustrations are far more common than in the other books, while the binder design (improved over the first edition) makes a cookbook holder unnecessary. Tables are available that simplify researching a recipe (especially compared with the equivalent search in the Best Recipe series, an experience not unlike studying for a college final with three or more books at hand). All of this comes together to provide a simple interface to a colossal body of culinary work, and does it quite well. Throw in Cooks' trademark product comparisons, and you've got a viable alternative to many of the other big-name books like Betty Crocker and the Better Homes and Gardens Red Plaid.It's not necessarily a must-have though -- if you've got another solid kitchen reference that you rely on (I've used Joy of Cooking '97 for years), this is something that will be nice to have on the shelf but very likely might be redundant for day-to-day use. It is, however, an excellent gift for a beginning cook (may I recommend Alton Brown'sI'm Just Here for the Food: Version 2.0as a nice complement to this book) or for anyone who never seems to quite master the art of the kitchen.",4.0,"The basics, the whole basics, and nothing but the basics",1176422400,"04 13, 2007",9,17,helpful,0.5294117647058824,1 A37ZQDPO9LURXF,1495960390,RHB,"[0, 0]","Well, just finished book 3 and wish they had been longer and continued on into more volumes! I wasn't prepared to like the books, but have to admit, I did. Romance that keeps you guessing...what is real and what isn't, who is lying and who isn't... and a mix of eroticism to top it all off. I will definitely read more by these authors!",4.0,Ex Games,1392336000,"02 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A20CJS1U3Q5PZA,0578125439,"Laurie Ann T. ""Laurie""","[0, 0]","I absolutely loved this book!! It was a little PG-13, especially compared to what I normally read, but good none the less. I didn't know what to expect going in and was frankly a bit shocked to discover the premise of the book. Being a woman, I have to admit that what Candace went through is probably one of my biggest fears and I pray to God I never have to experience something like this. Candace is just broken. It's so sad and painful to watch her try to forget when I don't know how someone could ever forget something like that. Enter Ryan. I knew right away who he was and knew what was eventually to come. He was so patient, loving, and the perfect someone for Candace. But Candace had to want to fix herself. I'm so glad she did. I'm looking forward to Ryan's POV coming later in the year. I sure hope that we get a glimpse into their future. This is a good love story.",4.0,Fabulous Read,1374451200,"07 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DBCBSY5P4LM7,0786837896,Frank L. Hicks Jr.,"[0, 0]","This book is written for the younger crowd, however it is just great for the young of heart of all ages. This is more about mermaids, especially a little one who gets caught by carnival folk and is destined for the circus. The pirates and a little girl from the village and also James of the lost boys all have a part to play as well as some dolphins with a sense of humor. Peter Pan is mentioned but doesn't make an appearance. The story is basically about all these folk getting together in an attempt to free the little mermaid, although the pirates have a separate agenda, stealing the carnival ship. The writing is fresh and enjoyable. the characters also are fresh and exciting and pop out of the story. It is a quick read and just the first book of a series. This is fun reading in a magical world. Very impressed with Dave Barry.",5.0,A Fresh look at Never Land,1329868800,"02 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A31C4V0IWZF4VP,0802119263,nadirland@hotmail.com,"[5, 6]","Burroughs scores some points for having the gumption to put something out there as unrefined and experimental as Naked Lunch-the book is the abysmal howl of the agonized junkie in the street. Unfortunately, howl that it is, it often falters and falls into the inarticulate. The reason being, what the cut-up method gains in striking imagery and jarring juxtaposition it sacrifices in meaning-it often tends toward nonsense. To see work that is stylistically as innovative, as evocative, that is far more haunting and adds up when the last page is turned, check out two underrated underground classics: Julio Cortazar's Hopscotch and Vincent Czyz's Adrift in a Vanishing City. Okay, Czyz's book is only two years old, it's not a classic yet, but like Hopscotch, it goes far beyond the simple stylistic power of Naked Lunch and both books mirror their lyrical prowess with structural genius (Hopscotch moreso than Adrift). These two are probably everything Burroughs wanted to accomplish, but didn't have the right drugs to pull off. As for eroticism, Czyz and Cortazar have scenes unparalleled in the raw poetry of sex (wait till you get to the scene in ancient Sodom in Adrift). Take it from a man who's spent his life underground eating from a can, these two guys blow the doors off Burroughs.",3.0,An Abysmal Howl,972518400,"10 26, 2000",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A26AJCTVPP07DM,1470180642,Cheryl T,"[0, 0]",This book kept my interest completely. I found it to be so heartfelt. story of a father and daughter who are separated thru the years.,5.0,Firefly mystery,1404518400,"07 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2OJW07GQRNJUT,1844135764,Steven H. Propp,"[9, 10]","Morgan Scott Peck (1936-2005) was an American psychiatrist and author of many best-selling books, such asThe Road Less Traveled, 25th Anniversary Edition : A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth,Further Along the Road Less Traveled: The Unending Journey Towards Spiritual Growth,People of the Lie (Arrow New-Age), etc. Author Arthur Jones wrote in the ""Biographer's Note"" of this 2007 book, ""M. Scott Peck wanted a 'warts and all' biography. He did not object to, or hide, much of the darker side of his personality and behaviour... And though he would not discuss their divorce, I was free to contact his ex-wife."" (Pg. 11)Of Peck during an interview, Jones says, ""He settled down into a cushioned rattan chair with his Camel cigarettes, a six-decade addiction. He was also a gin drinker. When on the lecture circuit he invariably had a bottle of the local brand... in his luggage; that and several cartons of the Camel cigarettes he still smoked at the rate of more than a pack a day."" (Pg. 8)Jones notes, ""There was another side to his sex life. From the age of sixteen onwards until his marriage, Peck had casual homosexual encounters... Peck would pick up men in the streets in New York City and 'go back to their place... They don't want any responsibility. You don't want any responsibility... there was never any romance associated with it..."" (Pg. 64-65)He records, ""Peck replied, '...that's some of the stuff [with his children] I would take back... I never learned to roll a joint properly. On the other hand they loved to roll my joints for me because Daddy was so much more fun when he was on pot... that's something I wish I could do over again, it gave them the added burden of the secret they had to keep.' Many around Peck have chosen to keep their secrets secret."" (Pg. 115)Later, he adds, ""his clandestine sexual life is a muted, unseen, unspoken backdrop to his marriage with Lily, a more corrosive backdrop in the long term than Peck actually wanted to admit. How one assesses the fact that Peck could conduct ... subsequent affairs and flings, while working on, believing in what went into 'The Road Less Travelled' on love and marital love, is a personal call."" (Pg. 123)The back cover of this book describes Peck as ""a wounded healer with a dark side,"" and this seems an apt description. Persons wanting an unflinching portrayal of Peck---""warts and all""---will be very interested in this book.",5.0,"THE CANDID STORY OF THE MAN WHO WROTE ""THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED""",1358380800,"01 17, 2013",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A1YXQ0H02LKJCS,0743572750,Annie,"[0, 0]",wow so loving this series can't wait to read the next installment .would recommend them to anyone not usually my type of book so glad I gave them ago :),4.0,Review for the mortal instruments 2 city of ashes,1401753600,"06 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1L0HZI35HF8OF,0553264907,Eric V. Moye,"[4, 4]",Forsyth at his best. A great story with initially unrelated themes which become masterfully interwoven. Characters (not caricatures) evenly drawn who inexorably collide in a manner which leaves the reader wishing for the length commonly shown by others. There are few thrillers of the past decades which can stand up to this writing.Not a book to pick up if you wish to do anything else over the next six hours!,5.0,One of the best EVER of the genre,940032000,"10 16, 1999",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A37BRR2L8PX3R2,075823127X,Jbarr5 (julie Barrett),"[0, 1]","Instant Temptation by Jill ShalvisThis Wilder family saga is about TJ. He's the planner for the group.Harley is a nature biologist and she and TJ have a sexual past but he was drunk and doesn't remember a thing.She is under pressure, the rent is overdue and she needs to make a choice about her job. TJ has offered tours, she can guide others that will keep her away a few weeks at a time.He's got a thing from her so bad that his way to avoid her is to escape to Alaska and do wilderness tours.If she can get the grant she can relocate to CO and get a good paying job there.Sexual tensions arise when she's out tracking the coyote population as part of her job and he shows up. They are able to talk and get things off their chests...",4.0,tempations,1372550400,"06 30, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A7PCBZV90G5U7,0060959606,LaLoren,"[8, 13]","I forced myself to finish this book just so I could be completely fair in my review, but this was a tremendous disappointment. I say disappointment because the first chapter about 14 year old Evie touring France with her family was great. It reminded me of my own childhood, and of recent outings with my own 13 year old. The next chapter about Mary Beth, the same age, was not quite as good, but still good. But in the third chapter the book made a tremendous slide downhill, which continued through to the end.First of all by the third chapter, Evie's family is not even close to the one described in the Chapter I. Except for the names they are totally different people. This starts a pattern that seems to continue throughout the book. The protagonist jumps from event to event, and characters change their entire personality somewhere inbetween with only a brief explanation given as background.There are also small, but sginificant errors (my pet peeve)that show the writer was not being careful. For example,a photo of her parents in the fifties standing in front of a blue Mustang-the fifties? Mustang? Just a bit of research would have turned up a car that was actually being manufactured in the fifties. Things like this are just sloppy writing, and make me wonder why I should spend time reading this book, when the author couldn't spend enough time to write it well.In retrospect my guess is that the first two chapters were short stories, and they were good ones. Perhaps Ms.Schappel should have quit while she was ahead.",1.0,This gets one star for the first two chapters,957225600,"05 2, 2000",8,13,helpful,0.6153846153846154,1 AM3J3T7294H1Y,1469241943,Cheryl,"[0, 0]","I enjoyed the different viewpoints that were used to tell the story. And I liked the main characters, though some were easier and quicker to like than others.",5.0,Entertaining historical novel,1358726400,"01 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AYB4ELCS5AM8P,1612184839,"John B. Goode ""JBG""","[20, 22]","I've just finished reading this book and it's one of the best books I've read this year. This is a crime fiction book that follows the criminal activity of a bubble gum thief and his crimes as they escalate and the efforts of the FBI to catch him.The book is easy to read and follow. The first crime was actually a little bit of a letdown as it only involved the theft of gum but it quickly got interesting as the novel and crimes progressed.The best thing I liked about this book were the characters. First of all, there was just the right amount. Not too many (in a 455 page book) to overwhelm the reader, but enough to make it interesting. The main characters were well drawn out and easy to like and it was riveting to follow them around the country like a treasure hunt as they chased the antagonist. Characters make the book and it's important to make them realistic, behave realistically and likeable and Jeff Miller has done a fine job in this one.This is also one of the longer books I've read this year. For some books, 455 pages might be a drag but the story was well crafted and didn't seem artificially drawn out. In fact, I wouldn't have minded if the book was a couple of hundred pages longer.The only complaint I have is the antagonist seemed a little too omnipotent and omnipresent to commit all the crimes. Overall I liked this book a lot, it was a good FBI procedural. This appears to be Jeff Miller's first book and I hope he will continue to write more, I can easily see the main characters here being developed more and star in another book.",5.0,Fantastic!,1351900800,"11 3, 2012",20,22,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A18S2A07LBNVNF,1440535302,Bucky,"[0, 0]","At first glance, one might be tempted to dismiss this book as one of those amusing little diversions designed to help the reader razzle dazzle others into thinking he is someone he is not by laying a thin veneer of knowledge over a core of ignorance. And to some extent, the book could be precisely that, if the reader never bothers to put any of the author's advice into practice. But to ignore the advice of this book while trying to pass as a thinker would be a violation of Maxim #5, and anyone who would do so has failed to learn even the simplest thing from this book and might as well give it away to someone more deserving.That said, this book is, under it all, filled with solid advice for anyone who wants to improve herself through intellectual endeavors. I particularly liked #1 in the Maxim entitled ""Never utter these five phrases."" (Never say, ""I don't read fiction."") Each maxim is about 2 or 3 pages long and explains with a mixture of humor and seriousness why this maxim is important. My favorite: Aspire to be a well-rounded thinker. Advice doesn't much more rock solid than that. The rest of the advice is (pretty much) equally good.",5.0,An Afternoon Well Spent,1343088000,"07 24, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A28P34VB5AQPEY,014043349X,Mark Silcox,"[7, 7]","This book seemed to me to represent a return to form after the previous two rather plodding entries in the Palliser Saga. Trollope's depiction of relations between the intensely private Plantagenet and the injudiciously extrovert Glencora is a dead-on accurate portrait of middle-class marriage, and the fact that P. is made prime minister gives Trollope the chance to show interaction between the personal and political spheres in a way that I found absolutely fascinating.The most intriguing part of the book, though, are the sections that deal with Ferdinand Lopez, a Jewish ""outsider"" to upper class London society, toward whom Trollope seems to have had a fascinatingly unsettled and ambivalent attitude. Is he a tragic figure whose relatively small-scale vices only bring about his downfall because he is trying to gain entry into a self-enclosed world of unearned privilege, or is he really the unscrupulous ""adventurer"" that the other characters all regard him as being? The fact that the author himself never really seems to have made up his own mind on this topic is perhaps a weakness in some sense, but it shows that Trollope was able to retain at least some of his intellectual honesty as the curious, inquisitive liberalism of his youth began to give way to the slightly paranoid toryism of his old age.",4.0,Outsiders and Insiders,1090022400,"07 17, 2004",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A1FY4NUEN1MEFD,1606841440,Y. Scott,"[9, 19]","Good: There's no vampires.Bad: Every man and woman in this book is attractive just because they are gorgeous. That's soooo boring! Time-traveling concept in this book is pathetic. I started to get angry because I've always loved well-written Science Fictions and Fantasies.There's nothing wrong liking paranormal romance books, but both concept and romance have to be written well to feel real. This is a book only for the girls who like romance books pretending to like Science Fiction. If you like that kind of book, you'll love this book. If you are not one of those, you'll get bored.",3.0,pseudo sci-fi romance,1304985600,"05 10, 2011",9,19,helpful,0.47368421052631576,1 A3DADSTU5Z5JG5,0988301318,"teri1012 ""teri1012""","[0, 0]","OMG, this was amazing. I couldn't put it down and was crying at the end of the book until I read that there is a sequel. Thank your for that. I was afraid it would have a very sad ending. Absolutely loved this book and Ms. Glines' writing cannot be beat. Thank you.",5.0,Fallen Too Far,1385856000,"12 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A7KMG18L02FJR,0385339151,KiKi,"[0, 0]","I've read Moning's Highlander series and enjoyed those so I figured this series (Fever) would probably deliver likewise results. I will probably continue to read the series hoping I will be better entertained than with this first installment.It took forever for the "interesting" part of the story to engage me whatsoever. Several times I almost stopped mostly because I tired of the main character Mac, and her perpetual ignorance to what was happening in her life. She wanted to be taken seriously when things began happening and yet acted childish in behavior. She had a real hard-on for pink...and poised herself as an immature "girl" forever telling the reader about her pink panties, nail polish, etc. She indulged in so much background information and thought she just enjoyed talking because she had a captive audience. Weird and frightening things happening right in front of her and yet she continued to dismiss the situations with casual and sophomoric logic.I did appreciate the intelligence of Barrons. It's a wonder he didn't throw her out the door and let her be consumed by the "monsters' that lurked about.I sincerely hope she grows up and has a more realistic of her circumstances and what's at stake in the future installments.",3.0,"""Mac"" what a pain in the ass.",1384473600,"11 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1DSK2JI3W8GDJ,0310336694,Biker Babs,"[8, 10]","Chasing Francis is a novel with an agenda. Every novelist has one but most don't thrust it in your face quite so blatantly. While the story is entertaining and thought-provoking, it is not a novel you want to take at face value, but rather to sift it through true Bible doctrine and theology and see what parts come out whole in the end. I enjoyed the quirky characters, humorous quips about the church and the world at large, and the description of Italian architecture and history, but...the author has an obvious bias against conservative evangelicals and apparently thinks a Catholic saint can ""fix"" them.Chase Falson is the pastor of the largest contemporary ""evangelical"" church in New England. He's seeing a psychiatrist to help him understand why he feels he's losing his faith. His uncle, who just happens to be a former Baptist turned Franciscan priest, now living in Italy, invites him to visit and go on a spiritual pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi.A third of the book is story, a third is the character's journal entries, which are mostly ""Francis history,"" and a third is a question and answer guide in the back. If half the stories are true, Francis was truly a wondrous human being, but he is not Christ and should not be the example we follow. The Bible says there is only one way to heaven. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. It doesn't mention Francis.Using the Sermon on the Mount as basically the only scripture backup, Francis supposedly followed Christ's words literally. He gave everything he owned away, including the clothes on his back. He believed being a peacemaker meant war was always wrong and no argument was worth pursuing.He portrays Francis as Doctor Dolittle, talking and preaching to animals and birds. Here is a quote from one of the priest characters. ""If we continue allowing the earth to be destroyed, we're actually working against the purposes of Jesus, who died for it."" (Really?! Jesus died for trees and grass, and mountains? I don't think so.) The author quotes Mark 16:15 ""...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,"" as justification for Francis' strange behavior.Francis was also into the ""arts."" Apparently Catholic churches put all that money into fancy buildings because it's necessary to behold beauty in order to come to God. One character said, ""Our neglect of the power of beauty and the arts helps explain why so many people have lost interest in church. Our coming back to the arts will help renew that interest.""Feeding the poor, being peacemakers, laying up our treasure in heaven rather than on earth, etc. are certainly things we as Christians should be doing. Christ was the true example of all those things, but he also said a lot of other things and spoke through the writings of Paul, John, Jude, Luke, etc about how to preach, teach, witness, love our neighbors and build up the church. I don't recall any verses about having art festivals or supporting ""save the whales"" with our tithes as means to teaching Christ crucified and risen.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program . I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: ""Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.",3.0,Book Review: Chasing Francis by: Ian Morgan Cron,1268611200,"03 15, 2010",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A2LJZAADYS1U7Y,1590202945,vic,"[0, 0]",Robert Coover is one of the most intelligent writers in US. This novel will inspire the writer in all of you!,5.0,Robert Coover is one of the most intelligent writers in US,1404086400,"06 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15NWDS2W1RIJG,B00GPQSAUA,"Amazon Customer ""cleopatra isaac""","[0, 0]",Once again Shaquanda Dalton did not disappoint me this series is one of the best out there that ive read.am so glad that Jaylen and Jessica got it together alittle bit and hope that in the nxt and final installment that they get married and live happily after.another couple that I wanna c get it together is Malcolm and Kayla they make such a cute couple.please dnt take me wrd for it try the book out for yourself and see what all the hype about it is for yourself.,5.0,awesome read,1388707200,"01 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2K6LYCNBPLW6D,B00I6HRHL4,Anne,"[0, 1]",Great continuation of the series but way to short for.meI was very.sad.when it.just ended all.of a.suddenIT.is a very.Good story but I.feel.That some important details could have been addedAll.in.all.a.Very.nice easy read.You feel like you already.knew all.the.townspeople and the ranchers and their families from the previous books,5.0,Tainted Mail Order Bride,1392076800,"02 11, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AK3BJ93AEVNHH,0778325881,"kindlefan ""indogirl67""","[0, 0]","If someone had told me the story of this book, I would not have believed it. From the first page this book pulled me into a harrowing story of one woman's defiant search for the truth going against a powerful family in the process. By the end of the book, I was left wanting more of Tara, Nick, Claire, Danny and Veronica. What a wild ride!The story starts off in 2004 where, in the process of helping a friend, Tara is knocked on the head. In the first chapter it is now 2007. She has been through a coma, divorced by her husband during the coma and become temporary guardian to her friend's daughter, Claire. In the first chapter, she finds out some more unsettling news, and Claire's guardian, Nick, returns from Afghanistan where he trains trackers. As Tara searches for the truth, Nick and Veronica--her former mother-in-law, get pulled in as well.I usually think books labeled ""romantic mystery"" are too unbelievable in the romance dept, but this one seemed realistic and love scenes were nice and mild--not explicit. I will read more by this author.",5.0,"Well-crafted, Intense and Shocking",1365033600,"04 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SYYQB2Y7QT3W,0380800160,"Shopper X ""avid reader and online shopper""","[0, 0]",Action movie material. Farfetched entertainment.Exciting look at the world of Asian organized crime.,4.0,Action & Adventure.,941500800,"11 2, 1999",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQ60BEJR9KTRJ,B007JR04EO,H.G. Estok,"[0, 0]","I haven't been a fan of vampires since Joss Whedon's ANGEL; the TWILIGHT series kind of ruined them for me. But here in Cole's short story we have a more Angel-like than Edward-like vamp by the name of Lazarus (undead for 1800+ years) who wants to continue evolving as an unperson. This involves hunting a shape-shifter whose blood he can drink and assume its powers. But not everything goes according to plan. Cole excels at establishing mood through vivid description, making the reader feel like we're right there alongside his first-person narrator, and in this story, I felt transported back through time to the late nineteenth century. The ending leaves plenty of room for a sequel, and Cole has made it known that this is just one installment in his Immortal Nights series of short stories. I, for one, can't wait to read the next episode.",5.0,Finally: A Vampire to Sink Your Teeth Into,1372550400,"06 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AHYH6E3JCMBDD,B00EZ6239G,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Believable characters, great plot line and smooth transition from chapter to chapter. And not your typical story, the author she gave you depth, and detailed setting information and backstories like why her mom had issues and stuff so it that made for flawed characters which make them more believable to me. I won't give it away by telling the plot line cause you need to read it and enjoy it on your own, but i highly recommend this one!!!!",5.0,FIYAH,1378425600,"09 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14L2ZKF864EBK,0515129925,Sunny,"[0, 0]","Nora Roberts can always drive home an easy read, interesting plot, and this is a trilogy you won't want to put down. It tells of a couple who adopt 3 boys of varied dysfunctional backgrounds and raise them to be worthwhile, productive individuals with strong love of justice and family. There is now a 4th book to the trilogy about the 4th boy who turns out to be a grandson, and the 3 boys keep their promise to raise this youngster. If you love Maryland and the Eastern Shore, this is very realistic.",5.0,My favorite Nora Roberts selection,1254700800,"10 5, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1AKQ1YUS4BT82,0425241513,"Katie Babs ""Katiebabs""","[4, 4]","There's a famous song from the 1934 Cole Porter Broadway show, Anything Goes called ""It's De-Lovely."" The chorus goes as follows- ""It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely"". I can't help but hum this song when I read a Kate Noble book. Her books are all of these things- delightful, delicious and lovely.Follow My Lead is a light hearted, on the road romance between the hero and heroine who match wits while falling in love with one another. The hero, Jason Cumming, Duke of Rayne made quite a splash in The Summer of You. I love Jason, and not only because he's a redhead. In that book he was too young and immature, but so very lovable and endearing. Now in Follow My Lead, Jason has come into his own. As a duke, he feels the next logical step is to get married because Jason is about to turn thirty. His sister Jane still likes to coddle him and wants him to find the best possible woman to be his wife. She prefers he fall in love with his wife, just like she has fallen in love with her husband. But Jason is more practical. When his brother-in-law, Bryne asks him why he wants to get married, Jason replies that marriage is the next logical stage in his life. How romantic of Jason to think this way.While Jason maneuvers through the parties, searching for his future bride, a Miss Winnifred Crane has come to London. Winn is on a mission to be accepted as a member of the Historical Society that only allows men. Winn thinks she has an ""in"" because she writes under a pseudonym, as the well-respected C.W. Marks. When she meets with Lord Forrester, the head of the Historical Society, she explains how he gave a letter of introduction to her father, inviting Marks to join the society. Forrester assumes Winnie's father was Marks and doesn't believe her. Winnie's cousin George then says he's Marks, which causes Winnie to take action. She'll prove that the painting hanging up in Forrester's office isn't by the artist he believes it to be.Winnie has a lot going against her. First of all she's a woman alone and her cousin George, who expects to marry her, wants to stop Winnie on her hunt. George has waited far too long to claim Winnie as his own and will do whatever he can to sabotage her. But he doesn't expect Jason to accompany them. The moment Winnie smacks Jason in the face by accident, he finds Winnie equally strange but fascinating. He'll escort her to the Port of Dover where she, George and their companion, Totty will board a ship that will take them across the channel to Calais. But Winn has something else up her sleeve. She has tricked everyone and plans to take a ship to Hamburg, Germany. Winn has lied to get out from under the thumb of George. Jason follows Winn, thinking she got on the wrong ship. But when he realizes what she's done, he's forced to go along with her.Winn rather go on the journey alone, but Jason being such a gentleman, won't allow Winn to go off unprotected. Unfortunately, Jason doesn't have any of his funds readily available and he and Winn must find ways to make money to keep from starving. They meet a few choice characters among their travels, and Winn is always looking over her shoulder because she knows George will figure out what she's done and come for her. As Jason and Winn rely solely on each other, they soon follow each other's lead into their arms and in their hearts.Plucky comes to mind, especially with Winn, who may have lived in a small town and preferred books over people, but when her father dies, and she ventures off to London, she's finally free for the first time in her life. Winn is honest and forthright, especially around Jason. I love a heroine who befuddles the hero, and Winn definitely does that where Jason is concerned. But Jason takes everything all in stride. He doesn't act lofty with his nose up in the air like most his lordish counterparts and his adventure with Winn is a breath of fresh air for him.One of my favorite passages in this book is where it finally hits Jason that Winn is the woman for him. When he first meets Winn, he doesn't find her attractive, but respects her intelligence and stoic manner. While Jason is doing some manual labor for money, he comes to the conclusion that Winn's hair isn't just plain brown, her face no longer small and her eyes sparkle. He loves how he finds out that Winn has breasts and she's full of energy and light. This is where his regard changes for her and he wants her as a man wants a woman he desires. Jason is smitten and nothing Winn can do or say will change his mind.I loved Jason and Winn's banter. Kate Noble had a way with words and dialogue. These two complete each other perfectly. The love scenes are not overly passionate, but have just the right amount to keep the reader happy. Also, Jason is more a beta than an alpha with an instinctual need to protect Winn, but never forces her to do what he wants. He treats her like an equal in every way.Follow My Lead is the best in what historical romance has to offer. If there's an author you should be reading, it's Kate Noble. This is one book that shines in every possible way.Katiebabs",5.0,Book That Shines! Also Has A Redheaded Beta Hero! (A- Grade),1304380800,"05 3, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1QSGE0SEYN00M,0440228611,7th Grade Student,"[5, 7]","Tug of War. It's a game where one team struggles with all its might to drag the other team to its side of the field. When two people begin to play ""Tug of War"" with your heart, a feeling of hopelessness surrounds you as your heart ""stretches"" between the two people before it snaps to one end. The power of The Last Silk Dress is so intense that Susan's thoughts seem to pull the reader in half as he/she wonders which way to turn. The Last Silk Dress provides an emotional story that will hold you within the binding of the book for hours to come. This historical fiction novel portrays the life of a fourteen-year-old girl named Susan, during the Civil War. It is filled with suspense that takes a turn down an unexpected path. Susan is a brave young Southerner, who feels that she must do something for the Cause in order to be accepted by her abusive, crazy mother. During the battles of war, Susan wonders, while confined in her home, about her long-lost brother, Lucien, who ran away from the family when she was so young. Under the most unusual circumstances, Susan meets up with her brother, who views the South as corrupt and evil. Susan is a daring young girl, who sets off on a mission to collect silk dresses so the South can make a hot air balloon to be used during war. Susan faces the loss of her father, a soldier who she had helped to heal, and her ""second-brother,"" Kenneth, who all had to die for the South. Now, Susan isn't so sure the South has any purpose at all. Susan's dilemmas and losses bring so much emotion into the mind of the reader that there is no possible way to keep the tears from rolling down your face. This story is written with description that sends your mind into the past and puts you by the side of Susan Chilmark. This character is filled with bravery, humor, love, and confusion, all wrapped up to form one spunky teen who is always forgetting her manners. Ann Rindali, the author, portrays her as life-like as possible, and Susan seems to stand up and walk before your eyes. After the death of her father, Susan uncovers family secrets that are sure to chill the reader to the bone. She is no longer sure if her brother, who had become such an important part of her life, will accept her. Wonder and suspense fills the reader's mind with questions as the pages turn and the outcome is exposed. This is an unforgettable story that I highly recommend. Tears, laughter, anger, and fright will all fill your mind as you escape into this adventurous book. Romance between a Yankee and Susan, murder, and treason all unfold before your eyes, unexpectedly, as Susan decides if her heart is really with the South.",5.0,A Wonderful Journey to the Past,952041600,"03 3, 2000",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 AUAGU5BWCPRA9,0142424188,Carlyn Greenwald,"[0, 0]","Set in New York in 1895, this book somehow manages to highlight all that is great about a Jack the Ripper book while adding such new flavors to the legend that it stands far out on its own. When fourteen-year-old aspiring detective Carver Young’s home, an underfunded orphanage, is shut down, he is not eager to let everything he’s known go, whether that be his best friend Delia, or his big dreams. But, in a streak of luck, Albert Hawking, a hardened former detective, takes Carver under his roof and introduces him to the New Pinkerton Agency. There, Carver is wowed by the investigative team’s beyond cutting edge technology and learns of a letter written to him by his mysterious father. Carver is eager to learn of his father’s identity, but through his efforts, bumping into such figures as Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt and his arch-nemesis at the orphanage, he learns that nothing is as it seems.For me, the first thing that brought me to this book was the premise – a good murder mystery, some Jack the Ripper, and a youth-stained brain solving a grand crime. And, boy, there was no disappointment with the plot. I’ve read my fair share of mysteries, and there have been some shocking reveals, but Ripper blows that notion out the window. After a non-stop ride of twists and turns, I sat there slack jawed as the identity of Jack the Ripper is actually revealed (and I’m hard to get that kind of a reaction out of). Truly, I felt like I did while watching the most recent Sherlock Holmes films – smart simply because I could follow the beautifully intricate mysteries.As well, the main character isn’t left blank in favor of the plot: Carver is brave, intelligent, clever, and perseverant. Even from the beginning, his humble childhood and misfortune build pity for him, but he comes out a very strong character, loyal to his friends and a rebellious ward without being a brat. Albert Hawking serves as the mysterious, quirky mentor, yet as the pages turn, his character layers and layers until he’s alive at the end. Even the secondary characters, namely Carver’s friend Delia and arc enemy Finn are given their moments to shine. And, whew, having Teddy Roosevelt in his glory is a real treat that adds to the colorful and complex cast.",5.0,Great Steampunk Ripper Mystery,1361664000,"02 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2T8UOH3KMI9H8,1480280216,"kay stevens ""novascotialandry""","[0, 2]",Well I read this little free book in about 15 minutes. This should be geared toward very young married couples who have just had children or just gotten married or even engaged. It's common sense and good advice.,3.0,Common sense,1375920000,"08 8, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3V7JQUU5J1GRS,B00BQO1ZGM,Failtelorn,"[0, 0]","Read most of these to the folks I work with, in a call center. Quite an amusing time. Worth getting.",5.0,Quite amusing,1367280000,"04 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17WDCQLYY5ZE4,0983493022,Bob Doerr,"[4, 4]","This is an exciting book. I recommend it to anyone who loves a stay-up-all-night thriller. The author has exquisitely conflicted the worlds of two people, an identity thief and a serial killer. Once you're into the story you know where it's leading, BUT who is going to walk away alive at the end??",5.0,A Great Thriller,1332028800,"03 18, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A328S9RN3U5M68,1576870863,Grady Harp,"[7, 10]","Every aspect of this new volume of Greg Gorman's art is of the highest quality....from the physical cover/paper quality/design/ typeface et cetera. Gorman's choice of models - men who are not buff beefcake for the most part - is refreshing and allows us to more closely appreciate his photographic gifts of choice of pose, lighting, and introspection. These models dwell in that continuum of emerging masculinity unhampered by too much experience or over-exposure to the various camera (and human) eyes. With the exception of Nicholas Gonzalez and Alexis Arquette (again, refreshing honest respect for male nudity in a world most celebrities avoid), the models are like people you pass as you walk down the street. The beauty of the resulting photo sessions seems a balanced collaboration between Gorman and his sitters. A beautiful book.",5.0,Refreshing stance,977529600,"12 23, 2000",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 A2LTEAUTDYHS85,0345334302,D. Baer,"[0, 0]","Having loved Ringworld, and also read Engineers, Throne, and Children, I believe this is the only one that is worthy of being associated with the original. It expands on the original story and helps answer questions left in the original without too much filler material (see Throne for copious amounts).I would recommend reading Ringworld, Engineers, then stopping. Look for Protector if you'd like to get more information about the Pak.",4.0,Worthy sequel,1227312000,"11 22, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19967AWBE5QLV,0152022260,Bryan Castleman,"[14, 72]",It's gross that people are trying to introduce this sexual lifestyle to children at such a young age. There should be a warning on the cover.,1.0,Everywhere Homosexuals,1308268800,"06 17, 2011",14,72,helpful,0.19444444444444445,1 AR5S7HA1BLY3,1595144110,"Ashley Berthel ""a_berthel""","[0, 0]","I do not know that I would recommend this for teens. Maybe for older, more mature ones. That said, the first two books in this series were great. The story grabs you and puts you in a well thought out world. The second two books were not so great. The world is still thought out, but the story isn't. I felt like the second half of this story just happened. As if the author did not have a plan. The ending of this book was less than great. Almost none of the plot lines were resolved and you are just left wanting.",3.0,"Started out great, but fizzled.",1302739200,"04 14, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AK15A19M01PKL,055328942X,Whoseblues,"[14, 16]","This is the 5th book (2002) in the Earth's Children series. After an extensive gap (12 years) between the 4th and 5th installments in the series, Auel offers up a very long, somewhat repetitive book with no real plot. The main characters finally arrive at their destination after the endless but interesting trip related in The Plains of Passage, we meet a boatload of new characters (to whom the same explanatory stories about all of Ayla's ""oddities"" must be told over and over, almost word for word, which is where a lot of the repetition comes in), and we get a lot of information about everyday life in this new place and about the structure of this new society. But nothing . . . ever . . . really . . . happens.This book seems to be an extensive stage-setting device, with Ayla's intellect and other powers coming to be recognized over time by Those Who Count in this new society (and, of course, resented by Those Who Don't), positioning her to do Big Things (and, of course, have Big Problems) in the next installment -- if it ever comes. It's almost been 5 years since this one was published, and the next book still isn't out. Without it, all of this stage setting is pretty much for nothing, in my view. If I were making the decision now to read the 750 sometimes repetitive pages of this doorstop, knowing what I know now, I'd wait to make the investment until Auel gets around to publishing the 6th book. Until then, the enjoyment you think you might derive from spending time with Ayla and Co. again won't really balance the fact that the book is repetitive and contains nothing you really need to know for its own sake.",3.0,A Bridge to Nowhere?,1175644800,"04 4, 2007",14,16,helpful,0.875,1 AWNGPHL3BUE62,B0089YLQWU,Smoozie,"[0, 0]",I'm not sure why this book is titled boo thang the whole story was about drugs and killing.. Confused.. Wouldn't recommend this book. I usually enjoy reading books by LaTonya but this one not good,1.0,confused,1388188800,"12 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3MTJXMKPL14C7,0062107380,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Loved it. Completed in one night. I could not put it down.Thank you Ladies For another wonderful book.Melissa,5.0,Awesome,1358553600,"01 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DECYNDZ38COQ,045122745X,Happy Days Ahead...,"[0, 0]",I love paranormal romances. This book was very disappointing though. Couldn't bring myself to read the next couple of books.,3.0,Hmmmmmm,1393027200,"02 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ACEA95FQS1AVP,0968677630,Jem,"[11, 12]","This is an excellent example of BDSM erotica! The futuristic/scifi setting gives it an originality many such books lack. Micah endures harsh training & humiliation when he is made into a Personal Body Slave for the alien Kudites. When Micah finally ackowledges his submissive nature, he chooses life with his new master, but there are dangerous consequences...My only criticism is the short length. The price is a little high for what is really a long novella. Despite that, I highly recommend the book.I also recommend ""Deviations: Submission"" and ""Deviations: Domination"" by Jodi Payne & Chris Owen.",5.0,PB500,1172707200,"03 1, 2007",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A4BURMGHTPF0C,0312342020,"Christopher White ""Finger""","[0, 0]","This is the first book I read by Burroughs, so I think that I had a bit of an advantage on other people who had read his previous work. I tend to stay away from memoirs to begin with. To me they are generally pretty boring and the authors usually end up sounding like either great whiners or petty bores. And some of the details that Burroughs writes about in this book may saddle him with that same tag, but the emotions that he is able to dredge up outshine any confessions that struck me as unnecessary or too one sided. Indeed, that seems to me to be the greatest strength of the book. The emotions are raw and unfiltered to the degree that they are intensely childlike, there is almost no filter of the mature adult. It is all the greedy emotion of the child who just wants the love and affection of their father. It is irrelevant that his father is in constant pain from arthritis and alcoholism. The child in the book only wants love and the precious gift of time from his parents, neither of which he gets. Other reviews have focused on the intenst narcacissim in the book, but isn't that the point? Who isn't completely focused on themselves and their own needs at that age? I thought the book to be a quite authentic look at the needs and wants(despite how selfish they may be) of a young child. Whether the details are true or not is beside the point; the emotions are crystal clear and almost piercing in their clarity. Focusing on what is true and what is not is a con game of the publishers who market this book. They bank on people reading the book for the sheer joy of reading about a train wreck of a family, or squealing in delight when we come to a part that rings false. The details are unimportant. The book is a faithful recreation of a childhood spent isolated and in fear of the people who are supposed to love you the most. Debating whether it's true or not is a waste of time.",4.0,An authentic look at a lonely childhood,1218585600,"08 13, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A9U1BQILTMSMM,0070328773,Laura Haggarty,"[15, 16]","This book is a gem! It's full of history and lore related to the sea and those who sail upon it. It has over a hundred pages of interesting information regarding the derivation of words and phrases used in everyday speech. My husband was raised on the seacoast of Nova Scotia, and I've spent many summers on the coast of North Carolina, so we are no strangers to the sea and sailing. This book made a perfect gift for him this past Christmas.",5.0,A lovely book full of seagoing lore...,953942400,"03 25, 2000",15,16,helpful,0.9375,1 A2EU9VP0MRMUGE,0758272839,Sarah (Feeling Fictional),"[0, 0]","I've been a huge fan of the Elemental series practically from the very first book so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this latest instalment. As much as I've loved the earlier books I'm afraid this one just didn't quite live up to my expectations, that doesn't mean it was a terrible book but it was definitely my least favourite of the series so far. This is still a series I'd highly recommend though, I LOVE those Merrick brothers and I'm super excited about Nick's book which is due to be published early next year.I've never been a huge fan of Hunter so that was probably why I didn't love Spirit as much as I've loved the previous books. He actually really grew on me in the beginning, I felt so badly for everything his family put him through and my heart just broke for him when everyone had seemed to turn against him. I absolutely loved the way Michael took him under his wing and tried so hard to help him but that left me feeling frustrated by the way Hunter refused to trust the Merricks. I know he has good reasons not to trust anyone at all but the Merricks were the only ones who were trying to help him and he kept throwing it back in their faces. That would have been easier to understand and believe if he hadn't pretty much immediately accepted new girl Kate into his life. He had only just met her, he had evidence that she had lied to him and was keeping secrets and yet he trusted her more than the people who had given him a roof over his head and put food in his belly. That just didn't make sense to me and it left me feeling really frustrated and annoyed with him.I also never found myself warming up to Kate, she kept too many secrets and I just didn't feel like I could trust her. I was never clear which side she was on and was wary that she was going to end up betraying not just Hunter but also the Merricks. I have to admit that even though I didn't love either main character I did really enjoy their text banter, it was so well written and very funny to read. There were also some fabulous action scenes that had me on the edge of my seat and some really heartfelt moments when Hunter finally started to open up to Michael and the others. I went into complete shock over the twist at the end and although I can't tell you any more because I don't want to spoil things for you it did help to explain some of the things I had problems with earlier in the story.Although Spirit wasn't my favourite book of the series it is still a worthwhile read that I'm sure fans won't want to miss. This is a series that I would highly recommend (I've said it before but it's worth saying again - I LOVE those sexy Merrick brothers!) and this instalment does include information that is going to have an impact when it comes to later books in the series. Now I'm just waiting impatiently for Nick's story because I know that one is going to be amazing.",3.0,Elemental book 3,1374019200,"07 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Z11QFE4G0RKD,B00DU1S3IM,staceyxile,"[0, 0]","This is a great little book. Some of the ingredients might be a little difficult to find, but there are A LOT of ideas/recipes.",5.0,Great Book - Very Fun!,1376006400,"08 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A13GCHQDOB29DU,081291113X,"Rational ""Sensible""","[11, 24]","I cannot imagine why people rave about this book. Any ""expert"" on pizzas that says to use ""bread flour or all purpose"" for the dough--as if they are interchangeable and it does not matter which you use...well, they must not know what they're talking about! This isn't a terrible book, it's just not, in my opinion, the great book that people claim it is.",3.0,Why?,1022630400,"05 29, 2002",11,24,helpful,0.4583333333333333,1 AS94XT7ZMWKID,1936185210,Amy,"[6, 6]","When I first saw this book, I was like eh,,another predictable vampire series. Then, I red the origin story, and I knew I found something special. Then, I was won over with the writing. It's rare to find a book anymore with amazing character development. This book was all about it! I felt what the characters felt, I wanted them to be safe, I actually worried about the main woman. I had to read, and read fast to make sure she would be okay. Finally, a paranormal romance that is written so beautifully, and has an ever changing plot that keeps you on your toes.",5.0,Pleasantly surprised!!,1402185600,"06 8, 2014",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2ELK34B7CT1VR,0937660981,Betty K. Orr-Welch,"[0, 0]",I liked this book and hope there will be more available in the series. Received through FB ereader and really enjoy the free books,4.0,book review,1338163200,"05 28, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NOLRC79VU539,0312945795,Melissa Nolan,"[0, 0]","Wild Card is about Nathan a Navy Seal who has to ""lose"" his life and make a new one as Noah. He is fine on his own until he relizes his old wife Sabella who doesn't know he is still alive is in danger. This book has a lot of sex in it. It seems like it is in almost every other chapter at least.",4.0,reread,1331251200,"03 9, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A22HJ3CC1AC0XL,068811718X,"Wabi Sabi ""bona-fide bibliomaniac""","[7, 7]","Reading this book to my children always brings the ""warm & fuzzies"" to all of us. My boys delight in asking me how/why each of the animal characters love and take care of their babies. The illustrations are such high quality that we always linger before turning the page. My boys seem to get swallowed up by the verse as well as the drawings. While the book could be quickly read, the tone is calm and slow...a perfect bedtime book. Everyone is happy and relaxed once we're through.",5.0,Kids love to hear how much they are loved & this book really helps illustrate just how much...,1131062400,"11 4, 2005",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3QZCA4LTTVGAD,0375706712,Michael J. Mazza,"[9, 9]",""Aye, and Gomorrah and Other Stories," by Samuel R. Delany, brings together 15 tales along with an afterword by the author. The copyright page gives the publication histories of the pieces in this book. The stories in this volume vary greatly in length: 2 fall into the 60-70 page range (and could, I suppose, be considered novellas), 2 fall into the less than 10 page range, and the rest are of various lengths in between; this nicely adds to the overall variety of the collection.Most of the pieces in this book fall firmly in the science fiction genre, although I consider a couple to be fantasy. Delany's locales range from cities on Earth (Venice, New York) to worlds beyond our solar system.Delany's stories are both triumphs of science fiction inventiveness and exquisite works of literary art--as well as being compassionate yet unflinching explorations of the human condition. His vision is richly ironic, and often tragic. His prose can be hauntingly beautiful to read--he is a particular master of visual description.Delany's explorations of emergent subcultures and institutions in many of these tales give the book an intriguing sociological aspect. His topics include crime, punishment, sexuality, loss, suffering, culture clash, space travel, and the fabric of consciousness and reality.The remarkable title story is a look at the emergence of a new sexual orientation and its related subculture in the context of expanding technology. "Driftglass" looks at a class of physiologically altered humans. "Omegahelm" is a shocking, fascinating story about motherhood and art. These are just a few examples of Delany's fertile mind. I consider Delany to be a unique and essential voice in the science fiction canon; this collection of his short fiction is a volume to be savored and shared.",5.0,A near-perfect fusion of artistry and imagination,1058918400,"07 23, 2003",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 AOFXJE92VZHJA,161218720X,"LaVonMoffett ""heavy reader""","[0, 0]",Jeff Wheeler is one of my favorite fantasy authors. Once again he has written a great book. The. Characters are fantastic and their description is amazing. The story leaves you breathless.,5.0,A unique tale,1403222400,"06 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33N45TBV05KH6,141656361X,Samuel Clemens,"[5, 9]","I am happy that Assaraf is living the life of his dreams, and someday so will I. I have used many of the techniques in this book, some of which are not new just put to you in a different way. One thing I particularly like about John Assaraf is that he demonstrates the benefits of having a degree from the 'university of life'. Far too many of us place too much importance on ""official"" universities degrees and rubber stamps. John Assaraf's sincerity comes through in this book, see for yourself! What do you have to lose?If you like philosophy I recommend Understanding: Train of Thought.",5.0,Have a wonderful life and...,1195084800,"11 15, 2007",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A19B0GTBYVO2OL,0060975768,"C. Blanc ""Chris Blanc""","[8, 9]","I would make this required reading for all potential leaders. Moore is not anti-war, but not pro-war, either; he recognizes it needs to happen, but he wants us to see it in detail. The first two thirds of this book are factual descriptions of the battles at Ia Drang in 1965, intelligently using monologues by those involved for paragraphs and even pages at a time. It is the battle through the words of those who were there, and in its detail and portrayal of context it is not only highly accurate but charged with a vivid sense of what the experience must have been like. After this, the authors speak on the political context of the battle, and then follow the families of American dead afterwards. To read that chapter takes a bit of determination. Gen Westmoreland gets lampooned and Chinese intervention get mentioned in the wrap-up after that, which is as tightly written as the rest, and includes criticism of American political methods and aims in the war. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in history.",4.0,"War in full, including human impact",1134777600,"12 17, 2005",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A4NE5J8TCP4QB,0743287037,Susan M. Sackrison,"[0, 0]",What more can I say. I love all his books. This is especially a good Christmas time read.Can't wait for the Walk #4 and the newest Michael Vey book!,5.0,It's Paul's,1391040000,"01 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A39Q9G7J70A056,1400169283,"Anna ""Anna""","[42, 49]","Best book out there on what is wrong with ObamaCare and why it has to be repealed. Every politician should read this - every TEA party member, Republican, Conservative, Libertarian,...anyone right of center or fiscally conservative should memorize the data in this book! I have been highlighting and writing notes in the margins on every page just to make certain I remember all the facts that Ms. Pipes lays out.Easy to read, easy to understand, and above all - easy to retell to those people convinced that government is the answer to every problem. Excellent price too - buy a few, and hand them out.",5.0,The last book you'll ever need on understanding ObamaCare,1283126400,"08 30, 2010",42,49,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A32ANYMUJX8IV6,161218202X,halepea,"[0, 0]","I surprise myself when I give this a 5 star. It is NOT what I would usually read, but there were times I was TOTALLY engrossed! There were some surprises (which always lends itself to sudden intakes of breath and, ""I just didn't see that coming""), as well as spots that were rather gross. The characters were what general society would look at and turn away from in disgust. Overall I found them likable (which surprised me) and quite ""regular"" people underneath their tattoos and piercings. I would recommend this book, especially if you want something that will hold your interest and not eat up your time since you can file this under ""riveting and easy read"".",5.0,Better than I expected!,1334793600,"04 19, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RRBVMPI8ROO4,0615706770,Debbie L. Beeson,"[0, 0]",I LOVED THIS FIRST BOOK. IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY CHAIR. COULDN'T WAT TO READ THE NEXT TWO!,5.0,WHAT A WRITER!,1397174400,"04 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WJH8M44GRJ4U,1585744972,Kenny Boy,"[0, 0]",Very thorough treatment of the subject and helpful reference on sources of info and supplies. Easy to understand and read.,5.0,excellent,1401408000,"05 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXHNVGLW1ZUPK,1620151405,"Deegal ""Deegal""","[0, 1]",I thought this book was very entertaining. It had a lot of twists and turns. This is not the genre I usually choose to read. I think it is meant for the younger reader. I am glad I read the book.,3.0,Interesting murder mystery,1375401600,"08 2, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A10EH95EUDO9W3,1572246901,"Banshee ""Beeyotch""","[4, 24]","I knew one. And I had to cut her out of my life twice; the second time permanently. Our ""friendship"" only lasted about two month, needless to say.People with BPD are already ""damaged goods"" who now exist to feed off you or DESTROY you altogether. You try and try to love, comfort, and provide for the creature in its human flesh to no avail at all, but if you don't please it HARD enough, it will hurt you and your kids, turn people against you, and ultimately, murder you or have you murdered in cold blood if you can't be its 24/7 slave.So honestly, I think creatures with BPD should not be allowed to mate or breed with normal humans at all. Instead, I think they should be institutionalized for life and kept safely away from the society, too.I truly apologize for saying this, but I already lost my best friend to her.:P",3.0,How to pamper the MONSTER living with you.,1314057600,"08 23, 2011",4,24,helpful,0.16666666666666666,1 A1LQLM3GH406WW,B0084UYHUW,Jeanna Yates,"[0, 1]",Easy to read... catches your attention... a trip to the candy store of books...quick and fun...would read another book by author,4.0,Candy store reading,1357430400,"01 6, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2GPYJD9BPMQCB,0373892640,Cordelia,"[6, 8]","As some reviewers have said, this book rehashes material from the first, then throws in a few recipes and glossy photos of the author. I'd recommend Snyder's first book, The Beauty Detox Solution--with the new one, you're mostly paying for glamor shots. I do find it annoying that she doesn't adequately explain what ""toxins"" are, just drops that buzzword everywhere (I'm thinking PCBs, BPA, dioxins, etc) and I wish she found her audience intelligent enough to understand the specifics. Still, she does reference a number of credible studies and sources, so if you're curious, check out the endnotes of either book.",2.0,get the first book instead,1367884800,"05 7, 2013",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A22WJ7GA7VQ5XH,B006V3FJ4M,Susan Franzblau,"[22, 22]","""The Witch Who Made Adjustments"" is typical, wonderful Vera Nazarian: Surprising, funny, scary, never what you think it is, with a little bit of wisdom tossed in. I scared the cat when I laughed out loud in the beginning and I swear I didn't move an inch during some of the later sequences. This story is as bewitching as the main character is bewitched. It's $2.00 and you'll want to read it again and again. It is good for all ages, too.",5.0,Enjoy yourself!,1326153600,"01 10, 2012",22,22,helpful,1.0,1 A2OD96CH38MOD2,0883687496,"Avid Reader ""Bill""","[13, 14]","This is a wonderful resource. The Original is a masterpiece. The problem is that the type size in the hardbound edition is Very Small. Not suitable for anyone with less than perfect vision and a lot of light. I am Very disappointed. This publisher, Crosswayd doesn't seem to pay attention to these details.",2.0,Tiny print size in Hardbound,1180396800,"05 29, 2007",13,14,helpful,0.9285714285714286,1 A2V21XLY1FDMPI,B00F96HGVG,CritiC,"[0, 0]","The writing for this story was decent, but the story was lacking and tacky. I still feel that i know nothing of these characters except the fact that they have determined to be a triple relationship for life.",2.0,Lacking,1401753600,"06 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QDBVNGUXV4H0,B00LNWHKDY,Mike James,"[0, 0]","I have been following this guide since Vol 1. But I must say that this book is defiantly for the more advance, so if you are a beginner then I would advice you to start with vol 1. My favorite part of this book was the pictures and also the step by step guide on how to do edging.",5.0,Great Series!!!!!,1405814400,"07 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2PHDT50K9DNUL,1105089231,"Small Town MOM ""Shannon""","[4, 7]",I love J.R. Rain and will buy his next book as soon as it hits the ewaves BUT I looked so forward to this book and I expected maybe too much?It left so many questions to be answered it did not even answer one question I had from book 2??!!! We found out who Fang was but didn't really find out who Fang was or what was gonna happen with him?What will happen with her children?What will happen with the ex?What happened to the little girl?What about the other supernaturals?The medallion?UGH! Worth the read but be prepared for unanswered questions until December 2011!,3.0,LOVE THE AUTHOR... BOOK FELT INCOMPLETE,1302480000,"04 11, 2011",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 ABPR008BGPZKU,0788749730,Lora,"[0, 0]",It had me with my Bible in hand.I couldn't put it down.sowellWritten.I can't wait for the next book. Wow,5.0,Wow! What a realistic account for the end of our world as we know it,1376179200,"08 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UH8RMD57P34Y,0061721832,Kathy K,"[17, 24]","Are you still operating under the principles that `Content is king,' ""When the going gets tough, the tough get going,' and `All things are created equal'? Then maybe it's time you took a second look at your business approach and brought it up to date for the new millennium. Given the global recession, the skyrocketing popularity of social media, and other trends of the 21st century, what worked for decades is no longer relevant in today's business world. ""Rules of Thumb"" provides 52 new spins--one for each week of the year--on the old rules of the game.I found this book less dry and more readable than most of its kind thanks to Webber's ability to paint an illustrative story with pertinent real-life examples. And when he sticks to outside illustrations, he does a fine job. However, he does have a tendency to slip in too many self-aggrandizing case studies from his time and subsequent break from Harvard Business School. If you're like me, you'll eventually grow bored of his HBS and HBR (Harvard Business Review) references. If you can get past that, however, you'll probably take away at least one useful nugget from ""Rules of Thumb.""",3.0,"Readable, but at Times Self-aggrandizing, New Rules",1240272000,"04 21, 2009",17,24,helpful,0.7083333333333334,1 A2G4W5XB66202N,0671620991,Maxim,"[9, 14]","this is a method that works for a lot of people, and worked partially for us, too. BUT at one point our son started choking! thank god we were right there and helped him unblock his passages. what if we were not as attentive? if you decide to use ferber, MAKE sure this is a completely controlled environmet and be right outside the door any time you are letting your child cry NO MATTER the hour.",3.0,a warning! choking hazard!,1038700800,"12 1, 2002",9,14,helpful,0.6428571428571429,1 A2PZBCDA9AETCO,1939786177,Kathy,"[0, 0]",Nicole has done it again. made me fall in love with another brother. this book is so touching and raw all in one. It has everything and I wasn't disappointed.. Such a tender story and so true in our life's Thank You Nicole,5.0,Wow Oh Wow!,1389398400,"01 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LA1XBFOSTS7E,0738715875,Leela,"[18, 25]","The book is 250 pages and quite substantial. The problem is that everything but the kitchen sink (maybe even the kitchen sink) is included, making it too general. There are many books out there on chakras and feng shui, and I felt that such information need not be included in it. I got the book the same day as Lon Milo DuQuette's ""My Life with the Spirits."" which was excellent. My suggestion to the author, would be to add more stories on his own experiences and specifically how he had helped his clients. What worked and what did not work, or backfired.",4.0,Substantial book: Here's where it could be better,1267315200,"02 28, 2010",18,25,helpful,0.72,1 AQZ6SW61G03WZ,0553062050,lOUIS kONIJN,"[0, 0]","Fantastic buildup narrative, background, descriptive narrative. You FEEL the experience. Best Lamour story ever. Absolutely recommended for western lore. Thanks Mr. Lamour",5.0,"Fantastic read, just could NOT put book down",1404518400,"07 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2540MKQ9Q6N7Q,038551641X,Jordan M. Poss,"[8, 10]","Steven Pressfield's latest effort, The Afghan Campaign, is a lightning-fast, energetic read but just not very compelling. This is probably the shortest of Pressfield's books, which is not at all a bad thing--his pacing has consistently improved and The Afghan Campaign is a quick, taut war story that moves at just the right speed all the time. I was never bored with this book.The plot is fairly straightforward: Matthias, an 18-year old Macedonian boy, joins the army and is arrives in Alexander the Great's army just in time for the beginning of the Afghan campaign, the harshest and most wearying of Alexander's military endeavors. The novel is essentially a Bildungsroman--the story of a young man's growth and maturation from boyhood to manhood. This is exactly what happens: throughout the story, Matthias grows and hardens into the man he is at the end of the campaign--though whether for good or bad is up to the reader to decide.The story is pretty harrowing. Pressfield follows Kurt Vonnegut's advice to ""make awful things happen to"" his characters ""in order that the reader may see what they are made of,"" and it works, even if it isn't always pleasant to read about. The ending, in particular, will determine whether or not you like the book as a whole.The book moves very quickly. It's right at 350 pages long, the print is unusually large, and the chapters are almost all under five or six pages long. I'm a slow reader, and I finished it off in a total of probably six hours of reading time. Like I said, Pressfield's pacing here is great. The plot never bogs down, and really picks up good speed and tension at the end.Unfortunately, the brisk pace meant some sacrifice, and in this case it was in the character category. Matthias's friends are all rough sketches--you get enough detail to identify who's who, but beyond one or two of Matthias's closest friends the characters never really shine. It's not a fatal flaw, but it is a shame, because Pressfield has shown in the past--especially in Gates of Fire--that he can create incredibly realistic and interesting characters. The end result is that I almost had a detached point of view while reading the story--I didn't really feel involved in what was happening to the characters in the intense way that I should have.The historical detail is good, and Pressfield adds his own invented slang to give some impression of what life is like with soldiers any time, anywhere. His efforts worked well--the daily life of a Macedonian soldier was very well-drawn.All in all, The Afghan Campaign was a good book. It's certainly not the best historical novel available, nor is it Pressfield's best work, but it's worth reading.Recommended.",4.0,Fast-paced soldier's story,1160265600,"10 8, 2006",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A1S1RWG0O0EFAE,0373243316,"Amazon Customer ""read & watch""","[0, 1]","I like the Desert Rouges series very much, but in this one the story was a l ittle to drawn out.",4.0,Good Book!,1357257600,"01 4, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AWAB7PKBO3BBT,030745195X,"FoodPornDirector ""Amazon junkie""","[5, 7]","David Chang's Momofuku tells the story of his auspicious rise to stardom as one of NY's hottest restauranteurs. It is written in a style that is wonderfully irreverent and makes the reader feel as though they are hearing his story first hand over a couple of beers. He offers no apologies about the fact that his success was almost accidental thus removing any possibility of pretentiousness in style. Like an open book, he shares some of his restaurant's signature dishes. For anyone that has been to the Momofuku collection, this cookbook is a must as it contains the recipes to his ramen, pork buns, and wonderfully simple but decadent soft boiled eggs. The only way to characterize this book is to reference it as a stew consisting of part autobiography, part cookbook, and part casual conversation shooting the **** with David Chang. But a distinct difference with other books I have read is that Chang delves into the entire history of a dish complete with sidebars from the sources, themselves such as Allen Benton's story of how he came into the pork business. Some of the recipes are surprisingly simple and can be made with basic ingredients found in any Asian market. Other dishes such as foie gras and duck confit, which may seem inherently complex to the home cook, are simplified and do-able because of the way Chang explains the preparation and process. If I were a personal friend of David Chang, this is how I would envision our conversations. If all other cookbooks by other famous chefs were written this way, I may just be able to open my own restaurant. Ok, this last statement may be somewhat far-fetched, but I feel inspired to do so, nonetheless.",5.0,Wonderfully irreverent and delicious,1255564800,"10 15, 2009",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1U52BQJG7MILK,0195066529,Epops,"[29, 38]","Gaddis is a well-published Cold War historian. His PhD (1968) is from the University of Texas. He now teaches at Yale. I have seen him on C-Span a couple of times; he has a flat, slightly nasal, Southwestern accent, is highly intelligent beneath his self-deprecating and slightly awkward manner.This book is based on a series of lectures he gave on historical method while he was George Eastman Visiting Professor at Balliol College, Oxford, 2000-2001, before 9/11.Although I have given this book a 5-star rating, there are a few negatives. He tries too hard to make a good impression on his Oxonian audience, with cornball humor and lame analogies. He obviously feels that he has to prove that he is a civilized, cultured person and not an ignorant Texas yahoo. He is too nice to the post-modern feminist deconstructionists who have tried to destroy Western culture and rewrite history. No doubt he is in an awkward position, surrounded as he is by such people at Yale. It's hard to blame him for trying to defuse their basic hostility toward everything he represents - caucasian, male, Texan, but he could have made his points without citing such trendy vacuities as ""Shakespeare in Love"", ""Being John Malkovich"", and Tom Stoppard.That said, this is a serious book about a serious subject, the structure of historical thought and method. He gives most of the credit for the modern understanding of the subject to Marc Bloch and E.H. Carr, whose work he cites throughout. R.G. CollingwoodThe Idea of History: With Lectures 1926-1928, who actually preceded both Bloch and Carr with many of the same insights, also appears frequently, but almost as an afterthought.Gaddis believes that while it is not possible to apply the experimental scientific method to history (""history"" is past, done, over with, finished, by definition), it is quite possible to use the descriptive scientific method of collecting evidence and using reason to explain it, much like a physician, paleontologist, geologist, or field naturalist does, and by doing so arrive at a fair representation of the past. The more objective and thorough the historian, the more accurate the representation. He also shows that a PERFECT reproduction of the past is impossible, and probably not even desirable.For the details of his argument, read the book, and ignore the lame analogies.My opinion of Gaddis is heightened by his graceful admission that he failed completely to anticipate the peaceful and almost bloodless collapse of the USSR.Highly recommended for those with a serious interest in history.",5.0,"A serious study of the philosophy of history, with a few lame analogies thrown in.",1135382400,"12 24, 2005",29,38,helpful,0.7631578947368421,1 A21XRK2P3Y6299,1612785751,Jean M. Heimann,"[9, 9]","In her latest book, Catholic Mom's Café: 5-Minute Retreats for Every Day of the Year, Donna-Marie Cooper-O'Boyle offers busy Catholic moms a wonderful way to grow closer to God by rejuvenating their prayer lives. She provides 365 days of devotions based on the virtues of faith, hope, and love that are brief enough to be enjoyed in just five minutes. Each meditation consists of four parts: Ponder, which is the reading of a Scripture verse or quote, Offer, which entails offering yourself to the Lord through an activity or idea, Pray, which consists of the recitation of a few short prayers related to the theme, and Savor, which is a final thought to ponder and carry with you throughout the day.As I read through each day's meditations, I found myself uplifted and inspired by the words of wisdom and also by the diverse and appealing range of themes presented. Each brief meditation is power-packed with spiritual nourishment and is certain to help moms grow in holiness. I especially enjoyed those meditations that focused on prayer and shared stories of the lives of the saints and quotes from the saints. While these meditations were written primarily for moms, at times, it seemed to me that many of them were almost general enough to apply to most women--even those without husbands and children.In summary, Catholic Mom's Café: 5-Minute Retreats for Every Day of the Year offers busy mothers a quick and simple method of meditation and prayer to help them grow spiritually, while remaining attentive to their families. These prudent and pithy meditations are ideal for helping busy women rejuvenate their prayer life. I am looking forward to contemplating each of these daily devotions over the course of the coming year in order to grow in the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, and develop a more intimate union with God.",5.0,Helps Busy Women Rejuvenate their Prayer Life,1367020800,"04 27, 2013",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 AKQP8M2GR7VCL,0385319673,Harv W,"[0, 1]","And doesn't let you go until the very end. This is a great pshyco-thriller, I couldn't quit turning pages.",4.0,Pulls You In...,1169769600,"01 26, 2007",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A521VQI1AT8OK,1440444978,"Barely There ""Never regret anything that made...","[25, 28]","This book covers two things1) how to do simple pronged cab settings with a basic wire wrap.2) How to wire fuse to create bails and simple settingsThe projects are not sophisticated. Thought with all of Jim's work, he shows you the basics and you can go beyond as you see fit.You can spend hundred of dollars on other methods, books, DVDs etc.If you want the basics, and simple concepts and less equipment, JIM McIntosh is THE answer.He even gives you option how to do ""metalsmithing"" with and without rotary tools, fusing, etc.It is a basic book. To me, you can embellish: twist a wire, fuse and add to the design.I loved it..but do understand:1) this is more like wire wrap or the next step after.2) this is very very very basic.3) extremely few finished projects...or embellishment ideas",5.0,Basics fro beginners with those who want very little equipment,1243900800,"06 2, 2009",25,28,helpful,0.8928571428571429,1 ADNP2WM7C8QX,0061795194,"SMF PT ""mfriede17""","[0, 1]","I was so looking forward to this book! I accidentally read the first of this series PRIOR to reading the Cynster and Bastion Club series--I was WAY lost! So I had to go back and buy and read all those before finally getting to the rest of the Quartet. Whew, it made much more sense!However, once I got to this book, I was quite disappointed! After all those women (in all three series) who were so very strong and so full of life--we end on a woman who seemed to fall short of the rest. I wouldn't mind if she was in one of the earlier books, then it would seem to meld better with the rest; but on the book that seems to be the culmination of all three series??? Come on...we can't help but be disappointed!On that note, I did enjoy the book for itself. And I so love how Stephanie Laurens does give us information about all the other characters, and she brings it all to a wonderful close! My biggest sadness is that I don't have any more Stephanie Laurens books to read, so I can't continue to follow them as they go along...*sigh*",4.0,At least we find out the whole story...,1293840000,"01 1, 2011",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A36UQQ11MAAG6V,0446404144,savtas,"[0, 0]","I enjoyed the style, the characters and found the book very readable. Hope to catch up on more of his works in the future. Savta S",4.0,Likeable Character,1374796800,"07 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3JBV80YK4KRC,0596000359,"Brian Bex Huff ""bex""","[5, 5]","This is an excellent book about how to organize the tremendous amounts of information that organizations have on the web. Whether you are creating a large dot com site, or a small intranet with multiple departments, this book will be extremely useful.Naturally, every web site is different. And if you do not understand the business model and goals of the organization, the web site design will suffer. Designing a web site (or a series of web sites) is a difficult task, and you need to ask a lot of people some difficult questions about their web strategy.This book does a good job of guiding people through this process, and the inevitable political pitfalls... From convincing the web group that the current design does not server their audience well, to what kinds of questions to ask the stakeholders and decision makers, to getting feedback from the end users.It also gives a pretty good overview of search engines, taxonomies, thesauri, navigation, proper language and labels, metadata, content management, and other tools that help you keep a web site organized and current.I have two main complaints. First, it didn't spend enough time on usability, so you will need another book along those lines (like Don't Make Me Think).Second, it didn't cover the dangers that a rigid thesaurus has on Google rank, and general Search Engine Optimization. So you'll need another book on that. Unfortunately, I've never read a on SEO that was any good, so I cannot recommend one.",5.0,Excellent book on information-based web design,1162166400,"10 30, 2006",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1NNDELI6HMWV0,1590200918,Christine H.,"[0, 0]","I haven't yet read Susan Hill's-The Woman In Black,so while waiting for it at my library I got her The Man In The Picture and I am so happy that I did.It is a short story-160 pgs,but such a page turner that I could not put it down until I finished it last night!It grabbed me from the very first page and kept up the fast pace of my desire for revelation,as each tidbit of the story of the painting was revealed.I am more anxious than ever now to read The Woman In Black.I prefer to see the film first if one is based on a book,so I don't have the same complaint as so many about the film not being as good as the book. I don't expect it to be,but this way,I really enjoy the film much more,I believe, than those who compare it to the book.I highly recommend The Man In The Picture to all Ghost story lovers.",5.0,Thoroughly Pleased By This Short Ghost Story,1338076800,"05 27, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ADEVDXQLIUXB,1607060221,"Patrick S. Dorazio ""Author of The Dark Trilogy""","[9, 10]","After the violent explosion that was Volume 8 of this series it was to be expected that this segment of the story about Rick would be told with a little bit of a softer touch.Rick and Carl are struggling to move on after the massacre at the prison and Michonne is off wandering by herself, killing the remnants of the zombies left at the prison.Rick and Carl both get to face their fears and try to cope with the loss of everyone they knew, not knowing if anyone at all survived but knowing that Lori is gone from them. Each of them faces this in their own way and Robert Kirkman's compelling storyline reminds me that while the zombie action and full on mayhem of Volume 8 was part of the reason I really enjoy this series the smaller, quieter moments of everyone trying to retain some sense of humanity also make this series great.The story leads us to some new people who perhaps are going to inject a spark of hope into the small group that Rick, Carl, and Michonne come together with, but that remains to be seen. Given the ups and downs that Rick has faced I can't say that I blame him when he tells Carl that he should trust no one and never, ever let his guard down.The saga continues with wonderful storytelling and keeps me wondering what is next for Rick and the few survivors of prison as they hit the road once again.",5.0,Picking up the pieces,1232150400,"01 17, 2009",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A2JCOVX9940QBQ,0061957895,"Kay G. Abernethy ""kayster""","[0, 0]",Kim Harrison's hollows series just keep getting better and better. This one is my favorite book yet. I love the attraction between Trent and Rachel. I really want them together. They are made for each other in my opinion. I didn't exactly see this coming either until Ever After. They are equally matched and make a great couple. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book which is out in February. I can never put the hollows books down once I have a new one. I am going to hate seeing them come to an end.,5.0,Kim Harrison's Books are the Best!,1388361600,"12 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A9RYUR5YP5PEM,0312863489,Marcy L. Thompson,"[0, 0]",". . . But the book is still pretty good.Treating ancient scientific theories as fact is a great idea. Doing that with two different, mutually incomprehensible, ancient theories is even better. Add to that a reasonably interesting plot, and this book ought to be a slam-dunk for five stars.The problem is the writing. The characters are not clear enough. There's a bit too much telling instead of showing. And the narration holds the whole thing at arm's length. Mind you, these are minor faults. For example, the characters are not cardboard or cliched or unbelievable; they just aren't quite as well delineated as they'd need to be for this to be a truly great book.I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I was aware the whole time I was reading it that it was a near-miss to an outstanding book.",4.0,The premise is better than the book . . .,1397347200,"04 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A339GR8L8GHNUG,1442140038,"Chareth Cutestory ""Lindsay""","[4, 6]","It was fun. It's always hard to truly enjoy a Jane Austen based book since they're so amazing so knowing that, you just have to enjoy these types of books for what they are. 'A LIttle Bit Psychic' was cute and entertaining and an interesting (in a pleasant way) read if only to provide another take of beloved characters.",3.0,entertaining,1264896000,"01 31, 2010",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2F19WG0YP3NTK,0758226969,Drew D. Ferguson,"[24, 24]","OK, I get all the haters who are pissed that Bart didn't ""deliver"" another over-the-top gay book. You're right. No arguments. What we get instead is an author stretching his wings. Sure, the content is different... sure it's not stereotypical or predictable... but, for crissakes, this is Yates we're talking about. He's never given his readers an easy book, mostly 'cuz he knows you're all smarter than that. Yeah, TDBWU is a different direction, a different story, but ultimately, it's all Yates. And Lord, the man can still rock a story.This is a guy stretching his wings, don't clip them. Read this book. The writing is top notch, the characters--despite their awful and too human tendencies--are real. Yates doesn't sugarcoat, but we're a a better reading public for it.",5.0,Be fair,1223596800,"10 10, 2008",24,24,helpful,1.0,1 A3O69UWO8C0VVA,1442359919,Blindsided,"[10, 15]","Diehard Stephen King fans know the man has a penchant for writing long, doorstop length novels. While considered by many to be one of the most prolific writers ever, others say his novels come off as long winded, or in need of some fluff editing. Joyland, however, is a different sort of book altogether. At a mere 283 pages, it's one of King's shortest novels written to date. The novel presents itself as a fantastic, cohesive piece of hard boiled crime. King said in an interview recently that the reason he picked publisher Hard Case Crime for this particular book is because they are known for publishing the sort of books he remembered reading as a child. He remarked that he would browse the drugstore selection, spinning book racks, while his mother shopped for groceries, picking out books with scantily clad women and teaser lines on the front. The real reason that King was able to make Joyland such an enjoyable read is not only because he's a fantastic writer, but because the book is an amalgamation of all the genres he loves to write about: crime, horror, mystery, and the supernatural.Joyland is simply a different sort of Stephen King novel. Although it is a novel about a crime, it contains more important, overarching themes deep within the plot. Contained within Devin's personal experiences is a bildungsroman story about a young college man who is trying to find his footing in life. We find Devin at the beginning of the novel struggling not only with his first relationship, but with his future troubles of unfair death and the unpleasantness of life. The actual mysterious part of the story takes a bit to get going, but King does a fantastic job with building this tiny, exciting world located on the edge of a boardwalk. The constant foreshadowing to future events and the green Victorian make the reader more and more curious about what the future holds for Devin Jones. Joyland might just be another notch on Mr. King's belt, but it just goes to show that he doesn't need to write a 1000 page tome to tell an outright fantastic story.Read the full review here: http://mediasnobs.com/book-review/joyland/",4.0,"Another smooth flowing, enticing addition to Stephen King's bibliography",1370304000,"06 4, 2013",10,15,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2HGCSCDMLTB4T,0553078755,"Robert Berry ""retroCRUSH.com Webmaster""","[8, 13]","I dunno... the central angle of this book, that all the world's schools of thought are wrong...EXCEPT THIS ONE, is a bit hard to take. The narrator character, disillusioned with his previous gurus and mentors, finds enlightenment from a psychic gorillia, who apparently offers little different than his former teachers, other than he's a big hairy ape. Some people like this book, but not me.",2.0,Planet of the Ape Celestine Prophecy,1018224000,"04 8, 2002",8,13,helpful,0.6153846153846154,1 A1L7ZSJQ6Z4XQX,193976940X,S. Atkin,"[5, 5]",This is the First book I have read by this Author and I have to say I like her style; she takes the story of Monsters under the bed and twists it into an Awesome Paranormal tale.I actually really enjoyed the Storyline it flows nicely even if you can guess you know where the story is going you still can't wait getting there to fill the emotions between Lia and Aiden.I loved Chelsea she and Lia became friends very quickly from when they first met I loved her feisty side especially when she needed to step in and tell Lia how it is. And nothing and I mean nothing will part these two the will be best friends forever.Aiden *sigh* I can't say too much as I don't want to give spoilers but he is just so cute he knows Lia won't be happy when she finds out what he has been hiding but that doesn't stop him from protecting her from the shadows. It was a lovely to watch their feelings grow for each other and it made me smile big when Lia finally gets to do something she has been dying to do.Lia was my favourite Character after everything she has been through everything she has been told watching her go from a scared little girl to kicking some serious ass so can she finally escape what has plaque her most of her life was a pleasure to read. I loved the scenes between her and her real father they were very touching and most of all I loved Aiden and her together and the ending was just super sweet. Lia does get a shock near the end but she does the only thing she can to make that evil been gone for good.If you're looking for a YA Paranormal with a great storyline and characters you will want to get behind this read this book you won't be disappointed.,5.0,Great Read,1381449600,"10 11, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2GRIM7XL93MSK,B00DPY9A22,Melanie Edgar,"[0, 0]","Loved this book it defiantly rocked me! I laughed, cried, & defiantly felt the love! This book is a must read!",5.0,Rocked,1392768000,"02 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1T6LIR09HYNI4,B0040JI19Y,DJMarch,"[6, 8]","This is the author's idea of what will happen and a lot of times it doesn't match well with the Bible.When he stated that the Two Witnesses could be the United States and Britain that was when I quit reading. I will give him credit for at least pointing to the fact that it was only a theory of his but it was a turn off. He complained about fictional writers making money by doing this, yet is doing it himself.Sorry to the author but keep it scriptural.",1.0,Pure speculation by the author,1375660800,"08 5, 2013",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A3FEX37WZSDZUY,193978607X,bookslapped,"[0, 0]","Thanks to Nicole Edwards, I have acquired an unhealthy obsession with cowboys. Yep, you read that right. If you know me at all, you know that this is weird. REALLY WEIRD. I'm a city girl at heart. I've never even met a real cowboy, but from the way Nicole writes them, I think it's about time I found myself one or two (sorry Matt!). I've even tried stalking some cowboys at the one and only country bar in town and I came up with NOTHING. It was a total disappointment. I swear I'll make it to Texas someday... So anyway, the obsession started with Kaleb and Gage (who I'll get to later in this review) and has continued with the youngest Walker brother, Zane, and his best friend, Beau. HOLY. HELL. Nicole Edwards knows how to write some STEAMY scenes people. Seriously guys, this woman has written some of the hottest scenes I have ever read... and I've read A LOT of books. I wonder what kind of research she does for her books? ;)The Epilogue in Kaleb left us with a huge cliffhanger... what happened to Zane Walker? After months of waiting, we finally find out that he was brutally attacked on the front steps of Vanessa ""V"" Carmichael's house by the crazy, Jake Sanders. After months of rehabilitation in the hospital and virtually no communication with V whatsoever, Zane can't seem to keep away from her. He has to know what's eating away at her and why this brutal attack on him has forced her to keep her distance. Zane's persistence finally wins out, which leads to an intense and sexy romance between these two. And what kind of Nicole Edwards book would it be with out adding a third person into the mix? Enter Beau. Zane's best friend. They have shared many woman with each other, including V in the past. So naturally, Beau enters this relationship to spice things up a bit, but when someone's feelings get in the way and they take their explorations a little too far, hearts might be broken and friendships are questioned.Zane is compassionate, fearless, and has a ginormous heart - especially where V is concerned. He's also an incredibly understanding and accepting friend, which gets him more points in my book. V had some issues to work out in this book, but I love how determined she was to work through her pain and once she let Zane in to her heart, it was a very beautiful thing to witness. Their love for each other was unstoppable. This book is packed with mystery, secrets, excitement, love, friendship, and a hot and crazy romance. The sex scenes are on FIRE ladies! Seriously, I think my kindle lit up in flames. Zane is not only a sexy erotica novel, but the characters also have so much depth to them and the storyline kept me on the edge of my seat. I love the anticipation of not knowing where an author is taking her story and characters and Nicole kept the suspense and heat levels high and I never once lost interest. I can't get enough of Nicole Edwards. She brings something really special to the ""erotica"" genre and I love that she isn't afraid to push the limits with her writing.I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT INSTALLMENT IN THIS SERIES. There were a few teaser chapters in Travis's POV (The oldest Walker brother, who happens to be very mysterious) that REALLY had me intrigued. I'm kind of IN LOVE with Gage (Kaleb's best friend) and some sneaky little secrets about these two were revealed in those few chapters. It has me REALLY excited and I will be IMPATIENTLY waiting for Travis's book! Zane gets 4 bookslaps! HAPPY READING! XO, Rachel check out our other reviews at: www.bookslapped.com",4.0,HOT! SO GOOD!,1370217600,"06 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ACEOOCYZRPWF3,1416978860,Nicola Manning-Mansfield,"[5, 5]","Reason for Reading: As strange as this sounds, I am terrified of bats in real life but I absolutely love anthropomorphic bats in books.This is an absolutely gorgeously illustrated book about a little bat who goes out by himself for the first time using his ""good sense"" to see in the dark. While the story is completely cute and fictional it also manages to convey exactly how echolocation works for bats. The background of the pages are all black and textured, as if they represented the bat's hair. The bats in the story are brown bats though and contrast well against the black background. Fabulous, adorable illustrations! Chiro, the little bat is so cute! The story is a nature adventure as Chiro discovers his nighttime world and it is a story of a mother's love as she sends her son off on his own but is waiting for him with arms wide open when he returns. Oversized, thick glossy pages, a quality book!",5.0,Gorgeous,1354492800,"12 3, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A29P2XP1V5D6HL,B00AY5NN3W,"Joann H. Arnold ""JoAnn Arnold""","[0, 0]","The Lost Dacoma Files is a book that, once you start to read it, will take you on an amazing journey in the life of Halika Dacome - in the 71st Dynasty of Capiok Dacome - Ruler of Xiryathan.Hmmm, am I taking you into the future or the past? Interesting question that I'll allow you to answer for yourself when you read this captivating story.Though Halika is the daughter of a King, at the age of 16, she becomes a warrior in a world of ongoing war. She is given the role of Legion Overlord which fits her natural instincts and skill. Not only is she unafraid to face the enemy, she is also compassionate and caring about those who serve beneath her.Alexandra brings Halika and the main characters alive in the mind and imagination of the reader. She has presented an intriguing book of science fiction.",5.0,The Lost Dacome Files,1383091200,"10 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A24N53S3KHJN0Y,0380776170,"Mary G Williams ""bigbluey2k""","[29, 32]","I swore off Daniel Steele due to death scene images that depress me years later. Be forwarned, the prologue to The Last Hellion may lead to symptoms of melancholia. The cure, I'm happy to report, is found by reading the rest of this wonderful story. Grenville is more than a match for Vere, both in Vinegar Yard and in the bedroom. My favorite part was the wedding night when our hero pounded on his best friend's bedroom door: ""The door swung inward and six and one-half feet of dark, arrogant, half-Italian, so-called friend advanced to fill the doorway. 'Ah, Ainswood. Come for instruction, have you?'"" Hilarious. I was also glad to see Bertie from Lord of Scoundrels get some respect. His thought processes are disturbingly familiar. Do yourself a favor and read Lord of Scoundrels, The Last Hellion and Captives of the Night. Great reads, all.",5.0,Hell of a good story,990230400,"05 19, 2001",29,32,helpful,0.90625,1 A1HMUR5S6BNU1O,B007CLETKW,Underspelled,"[0, 0]","Creepy and mesmerizing at the sane time. Well written stories about dark, uncomfortable things. Read this...if you dare! You'll have a hard time getting these stories out of your head.",5.0,very Good,1395964800,"03 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AARH1Y1HWY7UO,B00HZ50U5I,Terry,"[6, 6]",""Oh So Bad, An Ultimate Taboo Boxed Set" contains some of the hottest authors in taboo erotica today and I loved every page of it and the price simply can't be beat!While the stories all had a similar theme; all stories are off-limits and taboo PI relationships, they all have different storylines and each author had a unique voice.If you're looking for a some hot afternoon reads, or something to take to bed at night, then this is it.",5.0,Some of the best in taboo erotica,1393718400,"03 2, 2014",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A18TT79YJVQ65M,0743567498,"James F. Driscoll ""Jim Driscoll""","[0, 0]","For some unknown reason,I never get bored with this series.After mabe 10 years I still enjoy reading them.A former Marine who carries a 45 back up piece,you have noidea how many of My Viet Nam bothers kept their 45's forpersonal protection.",5.0,The best detective series out there today,1242000000,"05 11, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2651SEXJT20MJ,0141194529,Bill Lumberton,"[0, 1]",Le Carre is a master of the spy novel. This book is thrilling and has really well written characters. Highly recc'd.,5.0,Classic Spy Novel,1391644800,"02 6, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A370JG28AIX8MU,B00AY7OHC6,msKweiLi,"[0, 0]","I liked the super hero theam but I found it a bit predictable. It could have been longer and more cheracter development, with their friends.",2.0,Predictable,1363478400,"03 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A356O4DG52SUQR,0451207335,Eden Elizabeth,"[0, 0]",This is my favorite John Jakes novel. I love the way it covers the history of a city from the early 1700s to the 1860s. The treatment of the slaves is more clearly defined than most history texts will ever describe. I also much enjoyed the inclusion of the Caribbean nations' relationship to Charleston.,4.0,"The most ""historical"" of JJ's historical novels",1331769600,"03 15, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32ZEQ3RQ7BE78,0553291726,Lynn E. Mehal,"[0, 0]",I always enjoy Jake Lassiter and his adventures. I haven't read a Paul Levine book I didn't like. Highly recommend.,5.0,Levine at his best,1365033600,"04 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1H2AE8CEUPLA0,0307474593,Carol Poor,"[0, 0]",I have just discovered this author and I love the book! Wonderful book! I've read three others since this one and can definitely recommend the read (even though the one I am reading now has more inappropriate language than I care for). Good read!,5.0,Damaged by Alex Kava,1351728000,"11 1, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2VCGJLKGK2WJJ,0060725141,Rebecca Herman,"[5, 5]","All her life, Suze Simon has been a mediator, a person with the ability to see and speak to dead people. Because of this, her social life is constantly being interrupted by ghosts with unfinished business on Earth. But there is one plus to being a mediator: Jesse, the cute ghost who lives in her bedroom. Suze is determined not to fall for Jesse, but she does, and it's a relationship that will never work - he is dead, after all. And in spite of her complicated love life, Suze is determined to enjoy her summer break from school. Too bad her stepfather insists she get a job. She ends up working as a babysitter at a fancy resort, where her young charge is eight-year-old Jack Slater, who turns out to be a mediator himself. But then the ghost of Maria de Silva, the woman who had Jesse killed, shows up. She's determined that the truth never come out - even if it means killing Suze. This book contains a lot of amazing revelations that I won't spoil, so you'll just have to read to find out! I highly recommend this book to all fans of The Mediator series and Meg Cabot's other books.",5.0,Thrilling fourth book in the Mediator series.,1105660800,"01 14, 2005",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 ALLPAEJGNACFG,0812977866,David Cisek,"[0, 0]","I didn't laugh once; I may have chortled once, but only once. I don't know why Gaitskill and White protest it's funny--probably because they're younger than I. I have the feeling I'm way, way too old to laugh at all this misery. The dystopic vision is scary; that part is done really well. The groping love story within seems out of place in such calamity, though the concern for family is gripping. And though I did keep reading to the end, the ending seems a rush job for everything we were asked to invest ourselves in. I read his other two and really liked them and recommend them. Here, I'm not convinced our suffering for dire loss would be so shallow. Is that what's so funny I should roll around in Kapasian Tremors associated with the reversal of dechronification? Or is that JBF?",3.0,Not if you're old,1293494400,"12 28, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANQ7FGRAAI9BF,1494402246,ToshiPie,"[0, 0]",This was entertaining. I would recommend if someone was looking for a story from a males POV. It's nice to read a love story that's not about a billionaire and a virginal woman. This story was about choices and the grass isn't always greener,3.0,Cute,1388102400,"12 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARDEL78KSCDX8,0373210051,Laura Little Read Riding Hood,"[0, 0]","I am going to start this review with a story of my own ...Back when I was in high school I was not popular but not picked on either. It was a pleasant experience overall. BUT (you know there was a but) I had a nemesis. We will call her M. I doubt she reads this, but I don't want to call her out JUST in case. Anyway, M seemed to go out of her way to steal my boyfriend. Inviting him out, excluding me, showing up at his house, buying him gifts - all under the pretense that `they had been friends for years' - uh huh, not falling for it. It stressed me out and pissed me off and I was glad when I graduated, went to college, said boyfriend and I broke up, and I moved on with my life. I hadn't thought about M in a really long time.The reason I am telling you this story, is because this book threw me right back to the days where dealing with M was a daily occurrence. This whole book made me anxious and angry and upset. My chest felt tight and while I couldn't put the book down I was dreading picking it up at the same time. Whoa. That's never happened to me before.I would call that a win in my opinion. A book that takes you back to a time in life and makes you re-live all those same feelings is well written. Stressful as hell to read - but well written.As I have come to expect from Vincent the whole cast of characters were fleshed out and true to form. There are some character shifts which I am looking forward to seeing fleshed out in the next book or two.",4.0,High School Flashbacks!,1368489600,"05 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WSRYUAYS4LD9,0312630786,Mallow,"[4, 5]","Similies abound: avalanche, fire hose, etc. But the basic point is that Ms. West has consulted, sorted through, and assembled vast amounts evidence of the most shocking, dismissed, ignored, and now virtually forgotten episode of treachery by a broad cast of characters, most important those at the very top of the US government. In these days of Edward Snowden, one is predisposed to think only of individual, and mostly disconnected, acts. The FDR administration was, as Ms. West convincingly portrays, a virtual nest of traitors. Further, although it is not the point of emphasis of the book, the current predisposition to ignore and rationalize the subversion of government by Islamists is a clear target by analogy. The vastness of the material, and the extended and interlocking timelines and personalities, sometimes make the narrative difficult to follow and to integrate. But one should not be dissuaded, especially at the outset where the roadmap seems a little blurry. Stick with it, and you'll spend the last 2/3 of the book shaking your head, wondering how such treason could have been perpetrated, obfuscated, and ignored. (As one whose childhood was in the 1940s, retrospective speculation makes it even more amazing.) Tangential thanks also to Stanton Evans, whose book ""Blacklisted by History"", explores many of the same (domestic) events, and was a stimulus to Ms. West to extend the inquiry.",5.0,A Revelation,1371686400,"06 20, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A5URVWLRA0SBW,1416567844,"Amazon Customer ""classics_lover""","[9, 15]","In this book, Mr. Baker tries to show that the allies (and Churchill especially) were no different, morally, than the Germans and the Japanese in WWII -- and that, if anything, they were worse.The one point that Baker has is that both sides were morally imperfect. Yes -- by today's standards -- the young Eleanor Roosevelt was a bit of a snobbish bigot (not liking the society of ""mostly Jews"" in a certain dinner party ca. 1910), Churchill was a racist (as were most upper-class Eglishmen of his generation), and so on.But, quite apart from the fact that it is unfair to judge people of another generation by today's standards, the problem is that Baker uses this to try and claim that both sides are equally morally wrong: that Eleanor Roosevelt and Joseph Goebbels' were both *equally* antisemitic; that Churchill and Hitler were *equally* racist and *equally* responsible for WWII and the destruction it caused; and so on.To state this thesis is to disprove it -- but what made Baker do this? I suspect this is what happens when moral relativism is taken to its logical extremes. If one must never make *any* moral judgments about *anyone* from a different culture, and one notes no culture is more ""different"" -- alien in its values -- to western culture than Nazi fascism, the conclusion that judging the Nazis as worse than the Allies is really rude and impolite.Baker set out to correct this ""mistake"", with about the same success as flat-earthers who set out to correct the ""mistakes"" of Newton.",1.0,The Pitfall of Moral Equivelancy,1205798400,"03 18, 2008",9,15,helpful,0.6,1 A2BQM57ZYFF4A5,0786022183,The Truthteller,"[4, 27]","This book is primarily about John Gardner's history through the eyes of his enabling mother. The book is essentially a vehicle for her to excuse his behavior, by claiming that he was mentally ill and not evil. Few of the important characters were willing to be interviewed for this shoddy piece of trash.",1.0,Poorly researched,1343001600,"07 23, 2012",4,27,helpful,0.14814814814814814,1 A22KYIY810HDSL,0306810700,Dan Korzym,"[0, 0]","I actually became aware of this book when reading an action thriller. Being a sometime military history buff, I thought it worth the read. In my opinion, a history like this, containing a multitude of location and movement descriptions, needs maps to go with it. What there were were few and far between. There were some photos, again, a map or two would help put them into context. i also found similar events described several times in different locations of the book, making the chronology difficult to track. Much of the source material was from third and forth parties many years removed form the events, so the story is the author's bues judgement of who may have had the best rumor written down. Apparently there is little archaeological or physical evidence, particularly in regards to the approach to the Alps and it's crossing. The information about Hannibal's character and documented exploits is interesting though and was worth the time to read it.",2.0,Hannibal crosses the Alps,1394668800,"03 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QQPIUXWD4G0Z,0520201531,Octavius,"[26, 27]","The Roman Republic was strangely a very dynamic as well as rigid institution in which the causes of its demise have baffled scholars until the present day. Erich S. Gruen's scholarly work is one of the most concise studies on the politics and society of the Late Roman Republic. Throughout the book, Gruen exhaustively reviews the socio-political spectrum of Rome from Marius to Caesar and points to certain issues that collectively led it to its downfall. The book is also a challenge to previous works, particulary Syme's, claiming that the Romans clearly knew that the Civil War was coming.Having no written charter or constitution to guide it, the Roman Republic relied on tradition and ad hoc enactments as precedent. Unlike the democracies of today, Roman suffrage was collectively manifested by two voting assemblies representing either 35 geographical classes (tribes) or votes by defined classes organized on the basis of wealth (i.e. the less money your class had, the less its vote counted.) Each assembly voted on certain ranges of legislation and were further segregated by a caste structure distinguishing commoners and the elite patrician nobility whose family clans originated from the earliest days of the Republic or the Monarchy. When the time to vote did come, suffrage was limited to the physical confines of Rome in the Forum or the Campus Martius: if you were poor and lived over 50 miles away from Rome, you probably voted little.This system worked well in Rome for so long because, until about 90 B.C., the Roman citizenry was limited to those who lived in Rome and its colonies in Italy and overseas: other cities in Italy were treated merely as allies (socii) who had limited privileges in Roman society and no voting rights. The Roman aristocratic oligarchy thus had few problems in manipulating the needs and sentiments of these voting blocks. Those dynamics changed after Rome was forced to enfranchise all of Italy to settle a bitter insurrection by its Italian allies around 90 B.C. This resulted in a sudden surge in the size and power of the traditional voting blocks which, despite their attempts to organize them to their advantage, began eroding the traditional allegiances and methods of Rome's ruling families. The changing political dynamics gave populists and demagogues such as Clodius and Caesar much greater flexibility in projecting mass popular will on given agendas. Although corruption, plebicites, political trials, and outright violence to pass legislation was not new to Romans, these changes along with more subtle ones made them evermore common occurrences near the end of the Republic and, to a great degree, made the leadership of charismatic populists like Caesar to many an appealing solution to the woes of a failing republican system.Through statistical analysis and references to classical texts, Gruen shows that Rome's elite seemed quite unaware of the big picture that Syme claims was so evident and, that these major changes were seen more as business as usual. Gruen shows how all of the important political offices such as the Consulship continued to be filled by either plebeian nobles or patricians as usual and that there were no major changes or concessions made during that time. By accurately and concisely reviewing the composition of magistracies, senatorial rolls, and tribunes from the time of Sulla to the Civil War, Gruen offers a compelling insight as to how the optimate and patrician oligarchy was continuing to do business as usual until the Republic's final years. Gruen covers every aspect of Roman politics involving each class composing Roman society from patricians to plebeans, foreigners, and slaves. He studies all conceivable social institutions, how they were used by such classes and what their implications were in the broad context.As with any study of this period, Gruen covers much detail on the development of the First Triumvirate and its principal actors: Crassus, Pompey, and Caesar. He shows how each continued their political aims in methods that were a common staple to Roman republican politics such as strong-arming, bribery, nepotism, and patronage. Gruen's argument focuses on how the consequences of enfranchising all of Italy into the Roman citizenry after the Social Wars may have overextended the traditional stability of the nobilitas' oligarchy and yet not altered their perception of the new political reality. Gruen suggests that these new political dynamics may have fragmented traditional family alliances and their systems of rival clientelae to such a degree that it made their effective administration of the Republic impossible. Gruen also doesn't ignore the adverse effects of Rome failing to address the dangers of its professional legions whose allegiances were only to their commanders and not its political institutions.Altogether a brilliant scholarly work that is indispensible to the study of this most important period of not only Roman History, but of our present history as well. In addition Gruen's work, Fergus Millar's ""The Crowd in Rome in the Late Republic"" parallels the dilligent research and analysis on this subject with a stronger sociological emphasis on the location of the Forum as a political institution. This book is a study in erudition and I wouldn't recommend it as an introductory text on Roman history as its depth and scope would already require some advanced knowledge of the subject. I would strongly recommend both books to anyone who has more than a fleeting interest on this subject.",5.0,A Clarifying Retrospective Of The Late Republic,1109548800,"02 28, 2005",26,27,helpful,0.9629629629629629,1 A1FPSMVCXVVUM5,014034893X,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I read this book 20 years ago, and it the only series I have reread in my many years as an avid book reader.Don't miss ""Let the circle be unbroken"" and the other book that completes this series. You are drawn into the livesof Cassie and her family and it is a wonderful read. I have made sure that my two sons have experienced these books,as they are the definition of a perfect reading experience. I hope you enjoy this book, as over the years my thoughtshave returned to this family and the decisions they have made.Kelli",5.0,don't miss this series,1252022400,"09 4, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A176F5ID2GS6F5,1414308124,"Arf! ""Murphy""","[4, 8]",How can so many people give it two stars and it winds up averaging five? Is this the new math? lol,2.0,average stats?,1325548800,"01 3, 2012",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A1LX6E5702WTHP,1105086380,Penny Wells,"[6, 8]",Enjoyable reading. Looking forward to the next adventure in the series. Story line jumps around a bit but reveals itself in a way that makes the story more enjoyable in the end.,4.0,Everflame,1348185600,"09 21, 2012",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A37NZO2JUCB15R,0821764527,grammanutt,"[0, 0]",I have not read this book yet. anything by Fern Michaels is a must read for me. ask me later !!!,5.0,not read yet,1363478400,"03 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQS5LAL9IIP3N,0446603929,"D. Miles ""rdrmiles""","[0, 1]","With due credit to James Patterson, this is only the second of his books that I have read with the first being The Jester. Everyone I know who reads James Patterson, raves about his writing so I've got to give this guy another chance as See How They Run is one of the worst books I've read. Actually, only a third of the way through, I was so bored and disgusted with the plot and charactors that I skimmed to the end just to see if the so-called incredible ending was as I had figured out early on. The charactors were unbelievable, the plot development uneven and the actual story was, in my opinion, in very bad taste.",1.0,Distasteful Story,1053561600,"05 22, 2003",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2KMU5HCYPC9QL,B005XG0J2K,"Linda Hurst ""Your Bookie""","[0, 0]","I am not in the age group that chic lit is aimed at (being older then dirt), but I have immensely enjoyed the 3 stories of DeAnn Black's that I have read. This one was delightful, the only problem being I would have loved for it to continue. This would have made a great book, I would have loved to see more of Manning in particular. But, when an author leaves you wanting more that is not a bad thing!!",3.0,Sweet and Fun Urban Fairy Tale,1326153600,"01 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AR0T7CTQE6GTL,B008N0GV98,miscellanious,"[4, 4]","This is a full length, very sexy (not erotica), contemporary, romantic suspense.Jess is having a tough year. She was fired from her job as a reporter, and is now trying to write a book. She hightails it to a secluded house in Hollywood Hills, to overcome a bad case of writers block, where she is stunned to find Charlie, her Aunt's boy toy.But Charlie is really Caleb, an undercover insurance investigator, who is out to recover a stolen emerald, and Jess is his prime suspect.I very much liked this story. It's a good combination of strong character development, witty dialogue, and lots of lust. Caleb/Charlie can investigate me any time he wants!Also recommend from Kerry:A Hard Man To ForgetBreaking All The RulesFaking Mr. Right",4.0,A Kept Man (Connor),1373932800,"07 16, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2ATI05YRYU8Y6,0316153990,brkco,"[0, 0]","Love Michael Connelly books. This book was good, but went on a little to long and the story ran out before the last page. Would not keep me from reading any of his books!",3.0,More pages than story,1405036800,"07 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2OX26OL1ZMC1Q,0764202677,Carol Bardwell,"[0, 0]",JUST A GREAT BOOK . SO INTERESTING. WELL DEVELOPED CHARACTERS. WOULD RECCOMEND FOR EVERYONE. Would make a wonderful movie also.,4.0,GREAT,1400976000,"05 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AVCLC2XA0EZQS,1400322316,S. Cornett,"[0, 0]","I've recommended this took to all of my friends- married and single!! I've read my copy 5 times already and am now going through one little section each night for the 6th reading. It's hard to explain why it is so good-- it's authentic, practical and uplifting while giving good sound advice on living your best life whether you have a partner or not.It's one of those books in which you find new truths every time you read it.",5.0,LOVE this book!!!,1390867200,"01 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KJAS5UD5ZEY7,1607745100,Gwendolyn L. Carlson,"[0, 0]","My male Ragdoll's name is 'Henri' and this book is attitude and boy, does my Henri have 'attitude' plus the added charm of a lover!Great book keep out for all to read and then compare with my lover boy with attitude and charm, Henri, le chat is not black but a dark colour so 'noir' will have to do.",5.0,Henri is the 'man',1389052800,"01 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1C80B497LCYKA,1590520653,"Waitsel Smith ""Movie Shark""","[8, 8]","What's the problem with most Christians today? Either they're gung-ho on Truth or they're gung-ho on Grace. What was wrong with the religious Jews of Jesus' day? Either they were gung-ho on Truth (the Pharisees) or they were gung-ho on Grace (the Sadducees). But John 1:14,17 says that Jesus Christ was full of Grace AND Truth. You can't have one without the other and be like Christ.Randy Alcorn does a masterful job at fleshing out what is probably the biggest problem with the church today - why we're not more like Jesus - and he does so with the smallest number of words (only 92 pages) in the smallest amount of space (only 6.5"" x 4.75"" size book). It doesn't take long to read, but there's enough meat there to meditate on for an entire year, and to spend the rest of your life trying to master.But it's really pretty simple: Grace + Truth = Christ-like love. If it's so simple, how come we keep missing it? Using examples from scripture, his own ministry, and popular as well as church culture, Randy examines this question and helps us come up with an answer that works. My favorite part of the book is his discussion of the song ""Amazing Grace"" - where it came from (a former slave trader) and the impact it's had on countless lives (especially blacks).This book will have an impact on your life as well. It's small enough not to intimidate yet loaded enough to satisfy even the most voracious spiritual appetite. Plus, it's inexpensive enough to make a perfect gift. This is one book that ought to be on every Christian's bookshelf, and its message needs to be in every Christian heart.Waitsel Smith",5.0,DON'T LET ITS SIZE FOOL YOU - ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS IN CHRISTENDOM,1128902400,"10 10, 2005",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A37KEW14MD925E,0440241235,"Kindle Customer ""love country""","[4, 5]",Great tool for diabetics who wish to keep sugar under strict control by counting carbs.,4.0,Great for diabetics,1168560000,"01 12, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A37PV5GMP2ILJC,1847997074,Amanda Richards,"[8, 8]","This is an ideal collection of short stories for short attention spans, people who read on the go, people who think they're too busy to read, and big girls (and boys) who just wanna have fun.The witty storylines and sometimes absolutely brilliant concepts are well-written, to the point, and never, ever boring. The author, via the introductory pages, includes his thoughts and the inspiration for each story, so by the time you start the first story you're already at page 27.1. Selling Liberty: One girl, One sword, Two thugs, One twist2. The Happily Ever After: Red Riding Hood survives her traumatic childhood incident and changes her name to Redcape. She flirts with a stranger, dances around a wolf, and lives happily for a while.3. Au Naturale: A young man's experiences a real live natural woman. (Explicit)4. Just a Fluke: A man wakes up and finds out that he's not quite himself. The longest story is one of the best in this collection.5. Zombies: The shortest is the one that's actually all about zombies6. Breakdown: A rescue mission that goes awfully wrong7. Guardian: Old man with a mission8. Harry: When imaginary beasties cross the line9. Don't Fear the Reaper: A day in the life of Death10. Good Intentions: Two-bit hood fails ignition test11. Redbird and Eleanor: Back to the ""Hood""""Keepin' It Short"" Summary (KISS): Small collection - eleven short stories and a long introduction- and as promised, not all about zombies.To quote from the final page:""Parting is such sweet sorrow - unless it involved a chainsaw, in which case you're probably just glad it's over""Amanda Richards, June 16, 2008",4.0,"Back to the ""Hood""",1213574400,"06 16, 2008",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 ADZB4ZSOJ24ID,1935597760,lindley,"[0, 0]",What a wonderful story! I loved it from beginning to end! A quick read as you don't want to put the book down!,5.0,A Joy to read!,1392508800,"02 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AKN10HEQ1CMKR,B009S9VRS8,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","This book did all the research for me. Everything that I need to know about losing weight effortlessly and permanently through high protein low carb diet is in this book. It is very well explained and very specific. I love how the author mentioned and described of other protein diets. I am new to this kind of diet, this book gave me a lot of whole new ideas on what's on this diet that is so special. I am excited to start losing weight and still eating good food.",5.0,Well Researched,1371600000,"06 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5G3LUOW5F6T,160057162X,emmaya,"[0, 0]",This is ny newest almanac and it is already very well worn since I frequently use it when searching for crossword puzzle answers. There is also a lot of other useful information that one comes across while searching for something else. Very informative.,5.0,Used every day,1370908800,"06 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A20TZ1MQ0KMJRR,0061091847,Jaha,"[5, 5]","I picked this book up on a whim. I had just read the Westies and I wanted to learn more about the Italian mafia. Well this book was probably the best I could have picked up for an overview and it led me to some other more cetralized books. I see a lot of reviewers have complained that it centers too much on Gotti and yes this is true. In fact the book mostly focuses on Gotti and Castellano. I feel this is because there isn't much to go on for the older bosses in the way of written history. Davis does a good job of piecing together bits to create a history of the Cosa Nostra from the turn of the century to Carlo Gambino. You can tell that information is pretty scarce because he moves quickly through the bosses and the histroy and you get to Castellano after like 200 pages. Most of Davis's information comes from Gotti's and Castellano's tapes. Therefore the remainder of the book gets very detail oriented and recounts much of the history at a pretty rapid pace. One thing I think Davis could have done better would have to not be so repetitive about quotes. He used many of Gotti's and Castellano's quotes from the tapes and testimony over and over. But if you are looking for a solid history and are new to this genre of reading then this is probably the best you can find. Then if you want more precise novels pick up; Boss of Bosses, Bound By Honor, The Westies, Wiseguy, Donnie Brasco, Underboss, etc...",5.0,A solid Mafia history,1043280000,"01 23, 2003",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 ATXGAWFZAYEKT,0553804723,"Thomas D. Gulch ""tdgulch""","[18, 23]","These two folks make an enormous amount of unattributed statements. If authors do that, one would hope that they would reference a specific assertion to an actual source. No such luck in this book. In the first chapter they state that recent mri scans show women have more areas of communication in their brains then do men. This may or not be true, they cite no source for this statement so the non-comatose reader can check out the validity of their statement.Neither of them, from what I can deduce, are doctors. This entire book is 'science or studies show....'. How can one write a non-fiction book and not backup at least some of their statements. If you like pop psychology this book might be useful for light reading. The lack of footnotes or specific attributions kills this book for me.",2.0,"no footnotes, mostly urban legend",1244937600,"06 14, 2009",18,23,helpful,0.782608695652174,1 A1Q329PGKOGLDD,0374332657,Chad Spivak,"[13, 14]","I read this book together with my nine year-old daughter, and I must say that it is one truly amazing book. We both enjoyed it very much.Holes is the story of Stanley Yelnats, a young boy sent to a work camp for stealing shoes from a homeless shelter. This camp has no fences, as it is the only known place with water within several miles. Every day, Stanley and the rest of the camp has to dig holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep.Stanley matures quite a bit while at the camp, and he develops friendships with several of the other boys. The comradery built is remarkable and the overall story makes for really entertaining reading.Throughout the book, there are several flashbacks to Camp Green Lake 110 years ago. The reader gets a glimpse at Stanley's heritage, as well as the story behind the curse of his "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-grandfather."Overall, it is an excellent book. Louis Sachar does a superb job of "filling in the holes," and ties everything up together. Each flashback has a distinct purpose, making for a very cogent storyline. The plot twists are plentiful, which allows the book to leave a nice lasting impression. Holes is a must read for families with young children.",5.0,"This Book Is Good, and That's the 'Hole' Truth",969321600,"09 19, 2000",13,14,helpful,0.9285714285714286,1 A3JW41RZ7AI8VP,045141411X,"Bay Area Dodger Fan ""Bay Area Dodger Fan""","[0, 0]",Vintage Coban. Give it a try if you are looking for a good quick read mystery. You will enjoy it.,4.0,good read,1378339200,"09 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A39H3YB55KY03V,1582343128,"Mark Giordano ""justpushplay""","[0, 0]","Patrick McGrath's book _Ghost Town: Tales of Manhattan Then and Now_ paints a mesmerizing portrait of people caught up in painful events within and without their lives. It has a haunting quality to it that draws you in. The stories ""The Year of the Gibbet"" and ""Julius"" evoke a hypnotic atmosphere of their historic periods; you can feel the wintry cold and smell the smoke and dirt of the characters' surroundings. ""Ground Zero"" is an amazingly well-done portrait of a complex post-9/11 relationship where an analyst attempts to guide her patient in coming to terms with his new lover's past relationship, which involved both her former boyfriend (now dead) and his father. The pitiful yet magnetic characters are like Edward Gorey drawings brought to life. The stories contain subtly nuanced connections to each other not only in setting (that of the island of Manhattan) but also in specific geographic references, as well as themes of familial and romantic love, honesty, death and evil. Patrick McGrath uses such elegant and well-turned sentences, I felt like I was watching the ghosts of ballroom dancers waltz across a dimly lit stage in an old theatre; the title is an apt fit. Between its captivating style and its length, the book can easily be completed in one or two sittings. _Ghost Town_ is worthy of repeated readings, and I look forward to gaining additional insights into the layers of story upon picking it up again. A thoroughly enjoyable collection of novellas.",5.0,Multilayered and Mesmerizing,1230940800,"01 3, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33OD5D4ZA2O2T,1483966763,This Little Book Nerd,"[8, 10]","Katie Ashley has done it again. Her writing just blows me away at times. Her stories are always intense and heart warming. She has an amazing talent with words and putting them together to help draw you in.Jake is your egotistical bad boy rocker and he's not use to being told ""no!"" But under that bad boy rocker's wall is a soft hearted man wanting to be loved and to love. When he meets Abby, he's not sure what to think. He realizes very fast that Abby isn't your typical girl and she's not a groupie. She actually is everything he would want in a girl... The kind of girl he would want to bring home to his mama. But can he keep her after screwing up time and time again? Can his Angel save him?Abby isn't your everyday kinda girl. She's talented with music, actually cares about people (even ones she's never met), and she has love to give. When Abby firsts meets Jake... let's just say she was in for a surprise. As she gets to know him she sees past his walls, and see's the man inside. Though he screws up and even tries to push her away several times, it doesn't change her love for him. But is her love enough? Can she save him?This book is amazing and it had me laughing and crying at the same time. I couldn't put it down, nor did I want too. This is a must read and I will be owning it in paperback as soon as/if it comes out. I will be recommending to all of my friends... because I just loved these characters. They had a real connection and Katie did a wonderful job laying it out to where you could actually feel their connection. This will be a book I turn to again and again.",5.0,Music of the Heart,1364428800,"03 28, 2013",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A2FW4JUP68XYF8,0061122416,Rosencrantz,"[6, 9]","Last year, a student of mine declared this to be a favourite book. I asked to borrow it... someday. You see, I always have so many books sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read. And this one is such a slim volume; I figured, `How long could it possibly take me to read it? Best to save it for sometime when I can whip through it quickly, and have no other books to worry about.'Fast forward to this year. I still hadn't read it! So finally, we both got our acts together, and I borrowed _The Alchemist_, which I read, as I predicted, very quickly.It's both simple and thoughtful at the same time, a quality it shares with another fable, _The Little Prince_. As in St Exupery's book, the innocence of the protagonist is both endearing and bewildering. His quest to live out his dreams and his potential takes on mythical and metaphysical overtones - sometimes overly amorphous for my tastes. Yet the ending recalls the homely simplicity of the lesson Dorothy learns at the end of _The Wizard of Oz_.It didn't thrill or thoroughly absorb me, but I can easily understand why the student who lent me this novel returns to it again and again whenever she wants to reassert her sense of wonder and optimism.",3.0,A student's favourite,1069632000,"11 24, 2003",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2FHCV5MQWHUF1,0099478447,Perry Clark,"[20, 22]","One great benefit of the recent release of Neil Jordan's version of "End" is that it prodded me into re-reading the book, sending me off into a bit of a Graham Greene kick. Jordan's movie version makes some rather key changes (not for the better), while sticking eerily close at other times. The bottom line is the familiar one: the book is much better than the movie, especially in delivering the message Greene intended to convey. Faulkner described "End" once as the best novel in any language he'd ever read. (No doubt providing the impetus for innumerable doctoral theses in the meantime.) While I think "The Power & the Glory" is better, this is still a wonderful work, wrestling with the themes of love, faith, and religion as one.",4.0,Skip the movie; read the book,949363200,"02 1, 2000",20,22,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A11GU5Z86KUYNC,0470616164,M. Hughes,"[10, 15]","People have been training dogs for thousands of years. Every teaching method from the club and the kick to the always positive food reward, have been used with some success. With that in mind, it is certain that there is more than one way to reliably train. I'm sure the methods in this book work just fine but they are extremely lengthy. My attention span is probably shorter than most dogs so I doubt I could follow a ten or fifteen step program to teach the command `sit'. One absolute fact I do know, different approaches appeal to different people. We all don't think alike, don't learn alike and don't train alike. This book will definitely get your dog where you want it to go and teach the trainer some desirable patience along the way.",3.0,Detailed methods spelled out,1308614400,"06 21, 2011",10,15,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1QG6UJJY9WLUA,B00486U4EE,Luke,"[0, 0]","This story is full of surprises, intrigue, and non-stop action but, best of all, fantastic heroes, including Kyle, Tasha and, although not a main character until near the end, Reginaldo. The ending is one of the best I've ever read. It reminds me a bit of endings of James Bond adventures, clever, well-done, and immensely satisfying. It would make a great movie!The first book I read by Zack Hamric was Crescent Rising, which is his first mile a minute thrill ride. I was pleasantly surprised that Blank Slate was just as mesmerizing and exciting. What great stories - good guys are really, really good, and bad guys are really, really bad! I highly recommend both, and can't wait for the sequel to Blank Slate.",5.0,Non-stop thrill ride - WOW,1297728000,"02 15, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3N25EEIM4OXTX,0345533666,Fern Rouleau,"[0, 0]","This is one of the best books I have ever read. It was suspenseful and the characters were very believeable. The book was so hard to put it down, I finished it in a few days and read until midnight the last night because I had to finish it. Great ending and loved the Grand Jury questioning all throughout the book. Very very well written.In fact, I bought Landay's two other books since this one was so fabulous!",5.0,Defending Jacob,1391817600,"02 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZIEIBGJMFJJ,1583331824,V. Brock,"[50, 66]","Good points: While its coverage of fertility awareness is somewhat perfunctory compared to the other major books on the subject (by Toni Weschler and the Kippleys), it explains it in a new way. I particularly liked her comparison of vaginal sensation to sensation inside your nose - you can tell whether your nose is wet or dry just by paying attention to it, with no need to stick a finger in there. The same is possible with the vulva.Singer takes fertility awareness beyond birth control or pregnancy acheivement. She gives examples and tools for readers to use the awareness aspect of FA to become aware of many other aspects of their lives, including both physical and psychological health. I found the presentation and explanation of Susan Weed's Six Steps of Healing particularly inspiring.This is also the best presentation of fertility during breastfeeding that I have read (others I have read are ""Taking Charge of Your Fertility"" and ""The Art of Natural Family Planning""). Though I have heard good things about ""Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing"" and it might be technically better, many might be turned off by its religious content.Bad points: Singer mixes up theories for which there is strong scientific evidence and growing support (such as the dangers of phthalates), theories that have weak or no support in the scientific community (bras cause cancer), and statements that are outright false (pre-ejaculate contains viable sperm - the only three studies ever done found no such thing).She mixes up sound nutritional advice (excess refined flour and sugar is unhealthy) with false nutritional advice (plant oils, which contain high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fats, she says are unhealthy. She also says that no historical human community has long, healthy life with low levels of animal fats - ignoring the entire Meditteranean region.) and with advice that just doesn't make any sense (to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in cod liver oil - remember, oil is a fat - she says you have to take it with butter.)Some of her advice is just out-of-date. It was published before many of the studies exploring the huge number of benefits to including moderate amounts of tea, coffee, and chocolate (especially dark chocolate). She advices to completely avoid all these substances. She also goes on at length about how low temperatures are a definite sign of all sorts of problems - while a recent mouse study found that mice with lower temperatures live significantly longer than mice with ""normal"" temperatures.She integrates Chinese medicine theories throughout the book. To me, this was worse than the religious theories in ""The Art of NFP"", because those are easily identifiable as dogma. The Chinese medicine in this book is presented as scientific fact, when its theories have actually never been tested in clinical trials.I'm giving it three stars because its good points are pretty strong. But I would never recommend this book as a stand-alone reference for any of the subjects it covers, only as a supplement.",3.0,Thought-provoking but not entirely accurate,1167004800,"12 25, 2006",50,66,helpful,0.7575757575757576,1 A2RHHMZ7682G5Z,B006OOSWRO,"Zombies can't read ""Zombies can't read""","[0, 0]",Many surprises and a fast read. I am continuing this series. Downloaded the next e book already. If it wasn't so late I would be starting it right now.,4.0,Just to get you started wanting more!,1361577600,"02 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36YYST2A8RFYJ,B004BA5GU4,Neon,"[28, 32]","I really didn't know what to expect from this novel. Assumed the story was going about a hero who slept with any female human near him and would be a total jerk to the heroine. But, I was wrong. Expected Maddie to be a innocent young woman in every sense of the word and secondly act cold toward Garrett. Wrong again. The hero was a gentlemen and never betrayed the heroine, ever. That means never thought about sleeping with someone other than her and came to tell her the truth before anyone tell her differently. What liked the best was he never considered her to become his mistress later on. When they made love he wanted her to become his wife. In most novels the leading man wants have a mistress and not a wife. Has to much pride to say he is in love with someone he has not had sex with and tossed out of his bed. Hate jerks like that. Garrettwas the opposite of that. Maddie was immature sometimes, but grew through the novel. In all the novel was good. Worth reading.",4.0,Romantic,1308355200,"06 18, 2011",28,32,helpful,0.875,1 A26M5WXK23XWYR,0425209059,Janine Guastavino,"[0, 0]",this is another book good to read. its very romantic and interesting. once you start to read you cant put it down.,5.0,another fantastic book,1294790400,"01 12, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQ02PHY2EXL40,0394709411,"Mary P. Campbell ""math geek""","[9, 11]","This book is absolutely harrowing and makes one wonder how America lasted until the 20th century -- learn the 19th century origins of the U.S. drug problem (children got hooked on the morphine and the opium in the patent medicines given to them to calm them down, for example) and why the Prohibition might not actually have been an over-reaction to alcohol; learn how our public school system originated as a rote memorization factory in which children ill-fed, ill-taught, and ill-washed crammed onto benches while an ignorant man or woman, not paid enough for even room and board, tried to keep some semblance of order (for which endeavor one schoolteacher got stoned to death for her pains); learn how common were the transportation accidents of the day, in which railroad tracks went through towns without regard to the usual traffic and a propensity for cutting the maintenance costs meant dangerous conditions for those on and off the train.This book does not go into exhaustive detail (even if it exhausts the reader), and is illustrated with clippings from magazines and newspapers of the time. One other reviewer complained that photographs weren't used, but truthfully I don't =want= to see the photographs of the conditions. The drawings and the text provide enough horror, and I think Dr. Bettman did not want to put readers off =too= much. Also, the drawings from the press give one information that photographs would not have -- the perspective of the people at the time. Many of the drawings come with captions or some doggerel poetry, indicating how well people knew what disgusting things they were getting into.",5.0,the disgusting old days is more like it,980121600,"01 22, 2001",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A2UCNYMCIQBQ2L,1494262711,Cynthia,"[10, 10]","This by far is the BEST love story Sable Hunter has penned.A GREAT love story of Noah McCoy and Skye Blue. The McCoy family and friends gather together with love and support.You are introduced to the beautiful culture of Native Americans. It's a story that deals with abuse, love, prejudice, self confidence, support, tragedy and truth - LIFE.Life offers everyone different circumstances - opportunities and obstacles. It's all what you make of it. You have to be your own ""warrior"" - overcome, prevail, succeed. Things are not black and white - one way or the other - there is an in between.This is a drama filled love story that will touch your spirit. Thought evoking and emotional read.I love and enjoyed this wonderful, special story",5.0,Very Touching - LOVE IT!!!!!,1385337600,"11 25, 2013",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A3EH73VRDLWIPT,0743566572,Tara Little,"[0, 0]",This book is packed with action. This book places you right into a well developed story and takes you for a wonderful ride. The ending is out of the blue but I am still in love with this book.,5.0,LOVE!,1370995200,"06 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASOCY8MQGVX4T,1939962315,Angela Henley,"[0, 0]",May I am weird but this is my type of book. I really enjoyed each and every one of them.,4.0,Great,1399507200,"05 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AN89SW1O3B861,0671042262,Tricia,"[0, 1]","This is a very entertaining book that really held my interest, despite some implausible lapses among the law enforcement characters. I'm into computers and the Internet and I work in the software industry. I noticed a few technical errors and dated terminology in the book, but I have known hackers and the main character was extremely believable. There are lots of twists and turns in the plot and I found myself looking forward to picking up this book whenever I had a spare moment.",5.0,"Blue ""scream"" of death",1019260800,"04 20, 2002",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1IDL0RY0K1MRA,0345330706,Matt Dedinas,"[5, 6]","Harry Turtledove wraps up what may be his best series ever written in this, the fourth book of the Videssos Cycle. It is a classic tale of good and evil, light and darkness. Dr Turtledove brings to life the medieval Byzantine Empire in a fantasy world through his Videssos. As a lover of Byzantium, I have had few good fiction works to read about it. Dr Turtledove gives us a brilliant picture of this fabled-yet-neglected city in all his Eastern Roman works. He should be commended highly for bringing to the forefront this forgotten city.",5.0,Awesome!,998611200,"08 24, 2001",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1398A9KOOPQKZ,0316055433,T. Ayer,"[4, 5]","Disappointed. If Theo's great awakening was his summation in the last very longparagraph, Duh. I learned all that without getting wasted once.Took a long time to read. Lost interest in Las Vegas and every subsequent timethat Boris reappeared. Lost respect for the protagonist early and never got itback. Glad it was only $7.50 and sorry I recommended it to my friends. I bought it based on the fact that Charlie Rose had gushedover it.",1.0,Disappointed.,1386806400,"12 12, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1UP98ZHDA1GCE,B0006XUAP6,Dr. Cheryl Sanfacon,"[6, 6]",This was my first cookbook when I got married. My own copy was destroyed by a vegetable oil spill. There are many basic recipes that I longed to get back. I like it because it isn't concerned about fat calories etc. I know how to handle that and appreciate that I can modify the recipes myself.,5.0,FannyFarmer,1376006400,"08 9, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3OM15OUH9WJ8N,0758241380,Blondie,"[4, 5]",ms pearce is an incredible story tellershe did a good job explaining why lord m had an evil side but he was trying to protect the vulnerable side all the events build to a happily ever after that touched my heart and not just for lord m but also for the secondary characters as well it was nice to read one book with more than one story within and how they interacted to make onei did feel like the ending was hurried but the great story and the steamy erotic love scenes more than made up for iti was happy when i reached the end of the book which by the way i finished in 1 day ... i just could not put it down ... anyway i was so happy when there was a preview to the next book in the series as i am always looking forward to another book by ms pearce,5.0,WOW!,1272758400,"05 2, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AL2K7UE27R23E,039915423X,"Denise Every ""Act as if what you do makes a d...","[9, 14]","Stereotypical characters, with all the dimensions of a Popsicle stick. There is simply no depth to them. Jack, a major character, is obstinate and moody. He's appeared in several of Cook's books and I've not been able to develop the least bit of empathy or interest in him, he just comes across to me as aggravating. Mob characters and guns abound, and are utterly predictable. Cook tells, he doesn't show (typical for him) and the book seems more like a polemic against private specialty hospitals than anything else. Not that I think he's wrong about this, I happen to agree that's a bad way to deliver medical care, but what a boring way to deliver the message. Medicine, science, and forensics are fascinating subjects, rendered dull in Cook's hands.",1.0,Critically Lame,1188086400,"08 26, 2007",9,14,helpful,0.6428571428571429,1 A230DIPPG3803,B007ZF9KLI,Debra Robillard,"[0, 0]","I found myself wishing I could memorize all of it. The book contains information I've always wanted to know: how make old fashioned steamed puddings, bread pudding, cream pies, biscuits, all from scratch.",4.0,Excellent source for basic recipes,1369612800,"05 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AC2GB5YLTKEOH,1929242352,Amazon Customer,"[18, 18]","I, and everyone I've shown it to, have found this book very educational. I thought I'd just use it as a reference, looking up specific body language as needed (which is a very good use for it), but I find myself reading it cover to cover because it's so fascinating. I've had dogs all my life, and trained them and loved them, but I can't believe how ignorant I was about their body language. As I read the book I see these behaviors in my dog and wonder how I could have been so unobservant. I think even folks who know a lot about dogs and training can learn some things from this. I plan to buy more to use as gifts.",5.0,Very useful book,1180224000,"05 27, 2007",18,18,helpful,1.0,1 AM0QLU79O05JR,1903582849,Book buyer,"[27, 31]",Tom Cruise made a visit to Amazon UK and they promptly stopped carrying this book. nice huh?,5.0,Get it before its too late,1228089600,"12 1, 2008",27,31,helpful,0.8709677419354839,1 A2CDMDXZEFJV12,0393072223,"Dave Kuhlman ""interested reader""","[15, 15]","I have mixed feelings about this book. I'm a strong believer inreading. I think it changes lives. I feel that the ability to readdeeply and to think critically about what you read is especiallycrucial both in the practical sense if you want to be able to livewithout making lots of stupid mistakes, and in the intellectualsense if you want a rich and rewarding inner life. But, on theother side, I've learned so much from the Internet and it is soimportant to the work I do, that I am unwilling to give it up. (I'ma programmer, and the technical information that I need in order towrite the code I do is available on the Net.)So, in reading this book, I'm looking less for proof that I mustgive up the Internet and more for techniques and strategies thatwill help me to get the best and the most from both modes or stylesof reading and thinking.And, one technique that I use when I want to ""go deep"", or at leastto avoid ""the shallows"", is to take notes as I read, then to readthose notes, to write comments on those notes, and to write a bookreview like this one. Taking notes forces me to concentrate on whatI'm reading. Writing comments on those notes and writing a reviewforces me to *actively* work through some of the content from thebook. That's very much, I believe, in the spirit of what Carr istrying to guide us toward.But, perhaps some of the best guidance that you'll get from Carr'sbook is the encouragement to increase your awareness while you read,whether you are reading magazine articles on paper, books on paper,Web pages, downloaded PDF files, and (soon) ePubs. Try to be awareof when you do need to focus, and give yourself time to do thatconcentrated, more linear form of thinking. And, conversely, try tobe aware of when you do need to read or even skim a variety ofrelated topics, when you are following a number of differenthypertext links. And, when you do, make sure you have a rationalfor doing so.On the other hand, listening to Jake Shimabukuro play ""While myguitar softly weeps"" on the Ukulele at [...]... well, I'll have to rationalize that one as a break and asrecreation. He is a master at that instrument, by the way.Perhaps Carr's most ominous claim is that reading, skimming,browsing the Web changes your brain physically, and not, accordingto Carr, for the better. How much you worry about this mightdepend on who you are and whether you have kids. A parent mightwant to worry if a young (or not so young) child is spending mostof her life on the Web or with a mobile phone on the side of herhead and is no longer reading. That might have a lasting effect ona growing brain, and possibly not a good one. However, at my age(60+), any and all mental work and exercise is likely to the good,as long as I get some variety.So, what do you do, if, like me, you want to avoid a degeneratingattention span? Here are some suggestion you will find in Carr'sbook, in some cases by reading and inferring between the lines:- Do at least some of your reading on paper, or if on the Internet,read something that does *not* have hyperlinks. Doing that willreduce the lure of being distracted by every seemingly interestingrelated idea.- Read something long. Yes, you can read deep when you are readingshort pieces, but the ability to focus for long periods of time isone that you do not want to lose.- Take notes while you read.- Write a critique of what you read. Analyze and criticize thequality and the content. Try to specify some of the consequencesand implications.- Read something that has *no* multimedia: no audio, no video, andvery few if any photographs. In addition to reducingdistractions, the lack of images and video will encourage you touse your own imagination.What is the future of reading? There are a aspects to a full answerto this question. Here are a few:- Paper will be gone. And, that's good. We cut down too manytrees.- But, we will still have book-like content. There will still benovels and stories that you will read sequentially, withoutskimming and without skipping around. You might read them on anePub/eBook reader, but the experience will still be verybook-like.- Our reading material will all be search-able. In fact, welikely have cross indexing software that will enable us to quicklysearch the content of all the books and ePubs we've ever read.- We will be able to keep huge libraries. It will not beunreasonable to expect to keep a library of all the books you haveever read. Tera-byte sized hard disks are getting cheaper (lessthan $100 in the U.S.A. as I write this). And, perhaps in thefuture we will store much of our content on the Internet or in the(virtual) cloud.- And, reading in a focused, concentrated, and attentive way will beup to you, your choice, just as it *always* has been.If we no longer or seldom write on paper, will it change the way andstyle and content of our writing? Yes, it's likely to do so. Italready has done so for many of us. In the following ways:- Frequent edits and easier changes -- Cut, copy, and paste, as wellas search and replace give us writing powers that paper cannot- Easier collaboration -- We can pass our documents among us and canshare our work and the work of others more easily with electronicdocuments. Plus, our use of electronic documents will lead to thedevelopment of tools that enhance our powers of collaborationacross geographic distances. (The ability to post a book reviewlike this one is one aspect of that extended ability tocollaborate.)Still, there is something enjoyable about making marks on paper ...What we really need to ask is: why is writing valuable? I thinkpart of the answer is that writing forces us to have something tosay and to express it in words. Plus, writing encourages us toorganize our thoughts, for example to produce a coherent, logicalargument and to support that argument in a 5-paragraph essay. And,writing, possibly in the form of taking notes, helps us to be moreattentive to what we read, and to think through the ideas weencounter. This leaves aside the most obvious benefit of writing,which is that it produces a record that we or others can review andrethink later.But, these benefits depend very much on the kind and style ofwriting that we do, and also, it's likely, on the amount of effortwe put into it.Summarizing a bit: We need to be aware of and attentive to many ofthe ideas and problems and disputes that Carr discusses. Carrdiscusses lots of research from the fields of psychology andneurology to prove his points. That research is questionable, itseems to me, especially given the use to which Carr putsit. Thinking these issues through, however, and then being aware ofthem as we use computers and the Internet and as we read willtrigger suggestions about how you and I can become better readersand better computer users. You and I will need to define forourselves what we mean by ""better"".",4.0,"Strong on inspiration and ideas; questionable on ""truth""",1280016000,"07 25, 2010",15,15,helpful,1.0,1 A2VVMFQMCZ5B7R,1439127700,Joshua Reich,"[6, 8]","Over the summer, I try to read books that have little to do with ministry, church or being a pastor. Enter The President's Club: Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity by Nancy Gibbs & Michael Duffy. I can honestly say, there is no other book like this book. If you like history like I do, this book will simply fascinate you.The book starts with Truman and goes all the way until Obama, looking at how former President's interacted with sitting President's, what happened behind the scenes in their relationships, what was going on in the world during those presidencies.""I think we ought to organize a former presidents club,"" said Herbert Hoover. ""Fine,"" answered Harry Truman, ""You be the President of the club, and I will be the Secretary."" That unlikely exchange took place on January 20, 1953, at the inauguration of Dwight Eisenhower as President of the United States. Nevertheless, as Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy explain, the ""club"" really began in 1797 when George Washington retired from office and became, by his own design, the nation's first former president.In The Presidents Club, Gibbs and Duffy offer readers a treasury of insight into ""the word's most exclusive fraternity."" From the time of George Washington's retirement, the nation has known relatively few periods without at least one living former President. The last time that happened followed the death of Lyndon Johnson in 1973. In contrast, when Bill Clinton took office in 1993, no less than five former Presidents were living. Four are living today.While I didn't read this book hoping to find leadership nuggets, they were everywhere in the book. One of the things the authors continually emphasized was the only person who can understand what being the President is like are those who have sat in that chair. I think that could be said for being a leader, running a company, leading a church. While being the President is a larger scope, and considerably more stressful than leading a church or running a business, there are some similarities. While I was a student pastor, I was convinced I knew what it was like to lead a church. Now that I lead a church, I realize how little I knew and how few people understand what it is like.From that perspective, it turned out to be a great leadership read.Here are a few things that jumped out to me:-Judgment is not the same as understanding.-Their greatest problem was never doing what was right; their greatest problem was knowing what was right.-Others may hate you, but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.-Don't confuse being `soft' with seeing the other guy's point of view.-The greatest sin was remaining passive in the face of challenges.-A good leader sets priorities--he doesn't just list.-Promising great change and delivering it are two entirely different things.-Once a president takes office, he learns that the office is its own arena, and that the tactics, tools, and talents that had helped him rise so far so fast were useful only to a point.-Forced to choose between the unacceptable and the intolerable, leaders nonetheless have no choice but to lead.-If you're doing big things, most of the time you're never going to be around to see them.-If you aim for big change, you shouldn't expect to be rewarded by short-term history.",5.0,Simply Fascinating,1340668800,"06 26, 2012",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A2PIBC0YZO3JKL,0141039280,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","This is a wonderful book, it's a great summer read. I suggest it for people of all ages and races. This book inspires me to be a stronger person and to always try to do the right thing.",5.0,most read,1330905600,"03 5, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1T74XOZRMFYOG,0805431381,S. Goodman,"[6, 6]","When I started looking into home schooling, I asked veteran home schooling moms where to begin my research. They all recommended this book. It's been helpful not only in figuring out what I want to teach, but also how I plan to educate my kids. I appreciated the author helping me work through developing a philosophy of education in an easy and non-intimidating way. Plus her self-evaluations helped me confirm my own opinions on what my son's learning style and my teaching style would be. I have learned a lot from this book, but I bought it for my Kindle first and had to return it and get the ink and paper version. There are questionnaires to fill out that are necessary to get the most out of the book, so you need the paperback version. Also, there are tons of charts with helpful curriculum info that are impossible to read on the Kindle screen. The text itself is readable, but for the sake of the charts and fill-in-the-blank pages, get the paperback edition. I highly recommend this book for those getting started with home schooling. I think I will refer to it over and over again.",5.0,"Excellent book, but NOT for Kindle",1320278400,"11 3, 2011",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3E7YWI8VV7VCV,038553292X,Hrafnkell Haraldsson,"[6, 6]","Having recently read James J. Schneider'sGuerrilla Leader: T. E. Lawrence and the Arab Revolt(2011) and more recently yet, Peter Hart'sThe Great War: A Combat History of the First World War(2013), I was excited to pick up Scott Anderson's Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East (2013).Anderson is a journalist, and thus takes a different approach than Schneider, a professor of military history. Schneider's is more limited in scope, more focused, dedicated to the war years with only the briefest of biographical sketches. Anderson wants more. He not only describes Lawrence's campaigns, and in some detail, but he takes us back to Lawrence's childhood and school years and provides a great deal more detail of his time in Syria as an archaeologist. He also provides an account of Lawrence's post-war years and his attempt to cope with what he had seen and done in the Great War.Lawrence in Arabia is a very accessible book. If every history book were as well-written, I am certain history would be less of a forbidding subject. It is almost like reading a novel and it was a very difficult book to put down. I found it interesting that Schneider, the professor, dispenses with footnotes while Anderson uses them (though in my reader copy they were merely a collection of unnumbered notes at the book's end). Maps would have been useful and I don't know that the published edition will have any; the table of contents did not list any. Nor were there any photographs. Both are essential to any history book or to any book addressing geopolitics, as this book certainly does.One of the interesting things about this book is that the author does not limit himself to T.E. Lawrence but includes several other principle players in the Middle East leading up to the war, an American, William Yale, who was an employee of the Standard Oil Company; Aaron Arohnson, a Jewish emigre from Romania and agricultural scientist (as well as a Zionist and spy); and Curt Prüfer, a German diplomat, spy, and briefly soldier; and the most important Turk on the scene, Djemal Pasha, one of Turkey's ruling triumvirate and the man in charge of the Syrian front for much of the war. All of these men were destined to play important roles in the events to come and I think their inclusion is one of the more attractive things about Anderson's book, which gives you a far broader perspective of the events that shaped the modern Middle East than any other book I've read on the subject.Schneider's book is very much an examination of the war from a military perspective. It is less a biography of Lawrence than a study in leadership. Peter Hart's book is, as it says, a combat history of the Great War, and though it has little to say about Lawrence and his war (calling it a ""minor distraction"" to Lawrence's own ""sideshow of a sideshow""). Hart only devotes about a page to the Arabian campaign but he sums it up nicely in a way neither Anderson nor Schneider do, with a single sentence: ""his [Lawrence's] 3,000 Arabian irregulars tied down up to 50,000 Turkish troops over the last two years of the war."" It is possible to get lost in the details and to ignore the big picture, and that is a rather big picture.Anderson is unstinting and both his praise and condemnation of the flawed men and women he describes, including Lawrence, though surely not as hard on Lawrence as he was on himself. Anderson shows how the bumbling imperial powers of Europe created in the Middle East a disaster in the making (just as they had in Europe), and that America is not without blame as well, given how the Wilson's idealistic crusade against imperialism was more rhetoric than action.Most poignantly for Americans, perhaps, Anderson points out that Lawrence warned his government in 1916 about the threat posed by ibn-Saud's Wahhabists (whom he called ""marginal medievalists"") should the allies fail to support the moderate Emir of the Hejaz region of Arabia (which included Mecca and Medina), Hussein. As Anderson says, in 1923 ibn-Saud took over Arabia, kicking Hussein out, and ""for the next ninety years, the vast and profligate Saudi royal family would survive by essentially buying of the doctrinaire Wahhabists who had brought them to power, financially subsidizing their activities so long as their disciples directed their jihadist efforts abroad. The most famous product of this arrangement was to be a man named Osama bin Laden.""It is important to understand that it is difficult enough to get a complete picture of T.E. Lawrence, let alone from one book. I would recommend reading all three of the books mentioned here, for the various reasons I've given. While Anderson marvels at Lawrence's leadership, Schneider examines and tries to explain it, and Hart imparts the necessary military background to the campaign and sets it within the whole of the Allied war effort. Another facet of Anderson's book that might interest movie buffs is that he refers back to the film Lawrence of Arabia, comparing the film to actual events. For example, he points out that the capture of the critical port of Aqaba was, rather than a thrilling cavalry charge, a dull negotiation motivated by starvation on both sides.If Anderson's book falls flat in any respect it is in lacking a closing chapter dealing with the book's subtitle: ""the making of the modern Middle East."" Though Anderson does tie up the lives of the principle characters, he does not connect all the dots for us at the end. Certainly, the ingredients are all there, scattered throughout the book with the author's appraisals and conclusions, but these could have been tied up neatly with a chapter, or at least a few paragraphs, at the end.I can highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Lawrence of Arabia and the making of the modern Middle East.",5.0,Essential Lawrence of Arabia,1375833600,"08 7, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AC223Y0TN6IQX,0393038912,Paul Byrne,"[0, 0]",Truly enjoyed this original take on what drives societies. Diamond's format of looking at the concept in miniature before rolling it out to world history was very compelling.,4.0,GREAT,1382745600,"10 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NMTFGS0IZAIW,0679721134,Ned Goudy,"[0, 2]",the best advice in the book is to trust almost no oneand make careful alliances as i recall and work inin the poorest communities and exude being the real deal.my simplistic analysis. I kept the book for years but threwit in the trash recently on my last move...,3.0,Saul Alinksy trained folks who trained Ceaser Chavez.,1358035200,"01 13, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3BTL4FV6ODKAT,1419705644,"fredtownward ""The Analytical Mind; Have Brain...","[4, 8]","As a father who fails to ""get"" this show so well loved by his children, despite sitting down and trying to watch a number of episodes, I leaped at the chance to purchase this book because I figured that by reading it before giving it to my children, I could better understand the show.Well, yes and no.This book DOES contain some useful information for both experienced fan and total newbie; just not as much as a book that retails for almost as much as a complete season of the show on DVD,Adventure Time: The Complete First Season,Adventure Time: The Complete Second Season, andAdventure Time: The Complete Third Season, ought to IMHO.A big part of the problem was the decision to have it allegedly written by Hunson Abadeer, Lord of Evil, because this means we are treated to said imaginary author's (low) opinions of almost everyone and everything in Ooo and his threats to eventually destroy same. As it turns out this works a lot better in the longer entries about major characters, like those in Book I, which contain a considerable amount of informational content, than it does in the shorter entries in Book II, which are composed almost entirely of rant with little to no informational content whatsoever. With Books IV and V consisting almost entirely of pointless attempts at humor, that leaves Book III, which has a couple of useful travel guides. That adds up to around 55 useful pages out of 155, which is rather low for a pricey hardback.Methinks the cause may have been real author Martin Olson's attempt to shoehorn the Adventure Time content into the format of his other bookEncyclopaedia of Hell: An Invasion Manual for Demons Concerning the Planet Earth and the Human Race Which Infests Itwith considerably less success.Note: There is an alternative worth considering:Destination: Ooo: Land of Ooo in Under 20 Snails a Day (Adventure Time)is a phony travel guide to Ooo. As a paperback it is about half the price with a much higher percentage of useful informational content versus failed attempts at humor. There is also a considerable amount of overlap, but enough difference to be worth checking out in a bricks and mortar store and perhaps even purchasing both.",3.0,Disappointing,1379894400,"09 23, 2013",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A2NI1I0IYO25OZ,0061474843,"Amazon Customer ""book addict""","[7, 9]","After reading all of the varied reviews, which went from the disturbed to the elated, I almost didn't read this book. However, I am glad that I did. For whatever it is worth, I did not get the feeling of 'rape' that many of the other reviewers did. Maybe it was because I was prepared for what was to come. There was only one scene in which that term could have been loosely applied, and it did not detract from the flow of the story what-so-ever. I thought the story line was creative, certainly something that I have not seen in any other recent historical romance (and I read ALOT)! I thought that the characters were well developed, perhaps the male lead a little more than the female. And of course, as any romance reader would like, there is a HEA. So, don't be discouraged by all of the other unfavorable reviews, read the book for yourself and post your two cents as well! I recommend it!",4.0,My two cents...,1282176000,"08 19, 2010",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 ASLA66R1BK8AG,1492156361,"K. Carter ""Golf nut""","[0, 0]",Wow. The things that happened to this poor girl really scared me. Yikes. Really good story that kept me guessing.,4.0,Good story. Scary,1381104000,"10 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11I1I9QLMAM1A,1118317092,S. Power,"[0, 0]","There are so many books on team building and communication that I'm not sure why anyone would pay $50 for this one. It isn't bad, but I would recommend you save $30 (at today's prices) and getThe Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fableinstead.",3.0,"Not a terrible communications book, but there are better choices",1373760000,"07 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3U6XHJQC9KSBR,0310700787,Paul Lee,"[0, 0]","We got this version before the non-Toddler version (which is incredible - see my review over there), and I have to say, this Bible is just incredible. My kids now can recite most of the Bible by heart because it's written in easy to remember rhymes! They love this book and beg for more stories every night.We've given quite a few as gifts over the past year since we like it so much, and our friends have also raved about it. Don't wait - get it today!",5.0,Best Bible for targeted age group,1304208000,"05 1, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJ35D45FGZ6OX,0140280197,Steven Byrne,"[4, 5]","As a voyueristic peek into the minds and lives of the ethically challenged throughout history, the 48 Laws of Power is as entertaining as it gets. However, beyond that, it's only real value, is as a means of categorizing, recognizing, and hopefully thwarting, the tactics of the sleazebags among us. It seems to me that what the authors have given us is an updated and expanded Baltasar Gracian (The Art of Worldly Wisdom), without the charm. It's still a fun read, but one senses a certain shallowness that is not entirely compensated for by the wealth of historical allusions. Enjoy it for what it's worth, but certainly, take it with a (large) grain of salt!",3.0,"Fun and Informative, but No Guide to Fulfillment",957484800,"05 5, 2000",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2U2TG2LRUPYEF,0691140898,Petros Koutoupis,"[7, 7]","There are not many titles published on the tumultuous events that started approximately 1200 BCE. Out of the few, however, this title stands out among the rest as one of the best and most thoroughly researched. Cline exhausts the many sources at his disposal and provides the reader with enough archaeological and historical evidence to come to a more reasonable and up-to-date conclusion of the collapse of the Late Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean and general Near East. He does not only focus on the phenomena the Egyptians referred to as the Sea Peoples but also looked into the internal struggles, hardships, and at the economic and political relationships the greater nations held.Cline writes in such a way where the reader does not need to be an expert in the topics highlighted. He presents the evidence in an appropriate and easy to understand manner. The way the book begins is with events that led to the collapse of the Bronze Age civilizations. He then goes back in time, to the point these same civilizations appeared within the historical record and then moves forward in time to the point of destruction, revealing clues at each stage.",5.0,The most thorough research of a lesser known period of human history,1398729600,"04 29, 2014",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3IRBCCB3I5PPD,1844485862,"Anastasia McPherson ""Bibliophile""","[5, 5]","Stumpwork, the art of raising figures and motifs from the surface of decorative embroidery has been practiced since Elizabethan times. It is embroidery that is personal and quirky as embroiderers incorporate found objects into the work as well as using layered applique techniques. The RSN book provides thorough instruction in all forms of stumpwork, linking the stitch instructions to various projects, traditional and modern, large and small.As with all RSN books, the quality of the instruction and the photographs of the various steps are clear, concise and top-notch. Even multi-stepped, multi-layered techniques are broken down into manageable segments that anyone with minimal embroidery experience could follow. This book provides enough instruction and direction that the embroiderer could begin incorporating stumpwork elements into work after one moderately comprehensive reading of the book. This is my first RSN book and I am definitely a convert. No surprise that the most famous embroidery school in the world puts out an excellent instructional product, but it is still good information to have. Recommended for the novice to intermediate stumpworker.",5.0,Thorough Guide to Traditional and Modern Stumpwork,1331942400,"03 17, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2CKMAI6TGUJGP,0613685725,"Kyle Lassiter ""Therapist and Life Coach""","[4, 6]",Excellent book with easy to understand content. Useful for teaching kids one of the basic body functions without shame.,4.0,Good book on teaching kids body functions,1021161600,"05 12, 2002",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A3TASMTY7X4Y7D,B00IPI546E,Kim,"[10, 11]",Wow...is all I can say....Lucian is truly amazing and captures your heart...I'm not great at writing reviews...but this book had me before the first chapter ended not many books had done that to me..I couldn't put the book down..it had my heart racing at times and it had me laughing at others..this book is highly recommend and I'm so looking forward to the next round,5.0,Amazing,1393804800,"03 3, 2014",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A3QO5BV7WNTFSL,0452288037,"skspaz ""skspaz""","[0, 0]","My fiance and I have a 10-month engagement and it has been an absolute roller coaster for me. I heard once that women start breaking up with a man six months before they actually do it. On the positive flip side, I think that men start the engagement process about six months before they actually pop the question. That's certainly the case for my fiance anyway. He's been rock solid, totally committed, better-or-worse since we got engaged (which also explains why he kinda got a little nutso a few months BEFORE we got engaged). Me? I've been doing a pretty good job of alternating between Fun Girlfriend, Nagging Wife, and Emotionally Unstable Woman. And I hate it. I hate it! I'm supposed to be happy and attending Bridal Shower Teas and frolicking through fields of rainbows and unicorns! Instead, I'm finding I have to go through this crappy transformative and transitional process. I'm a successful, independent woman! Why I so crazy?Thank God I found this book! It's a road map to handling that process from Girlfriend to Wife a bit more smoothly, gracefully, and lovingly. I missed being loving toward my fiance. Sad to say, but it's the honest truth. Some women may have an easier time transitioning into the role of spouse. Others, for reasons ranging from fierce independence to past hurts, will have a more difficult time figuring out just where she fits. If you're in that latter category, get the book. It's an under-$15.00 investment. I totally believe it's worth it.Practicalities:*This book makes no assumptions about your religious beliefs or sexual orientation, however I believe all situations/experiences presented are between male and female. It also makes no assumptions about your living arrangements, family dynamics, or employment situation. It presents a variety of situations and experiences with a common theme: everyone is trying to merge their lives with another person in a new way.*The book is not meant as a couple's book, but I have shared parts of it with my fiance as a way of explaining things I'm dealing with. If you're looking for a good couple's book/discussion guide, I recommend The Hard Questions.*The Kindle version works just as it should.*You will get the most value out of the book if you actually do the exercises.*I'm finding it very helpful to read the book more than once as I experience different levels of ""processing.""*Not every situation presented will apply to you - some people live together, some don't, some have very close families, some don't - but you will find value in reading others' experiences and outcomes.Good luck and congratulations!",5.0,This book will save my marriage,1358380800,"01 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2QS615W43QBGR,1883647096,"Truth Wins ""Truth Wins""","[4, 4]","When my child was at 18 months of age, the pediatricians said she may have Autism. The neurologist and ped Psychologist confirmed the same. Peds suggested ""Early Intervention"", neurologist suggested ""Sleep aids"", Psychologist suggested ""Behavioral Therapy"", but all said ""there is no medical/biomedical remedy"". Then a noble friend recommended this book. We followed just 3 of many good recommendations in the book. This changed not only life of my kid, but all of the family. My message to medical community in US: ""Have an open mind, be innovative in thinking, logical and balanced. Don't let corporate pharmas spoon-feed you and influence your thinking."" Qudos to Dr.McCandles for her brave adventure.",5.0,Life saver for my child with Autism,1114905600,"05 1, 2005",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3EBW6SKKU9ZMK,0563370130,dmi7b5,"[9, 10]","I don't think this book is terrible. It has nice photography and the layout is easy to follow. The recipes are explained well, and are easy to follow. However, I've tried three so far, and all have been so-so. Not awful, but not something I would make again. They tasted like rather bland American cooking.",3.0,"Well, certainly not 5 stars.",1246147200,"06 28, 2009",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A1HBC0NBQJHT7X,0385493622,Bookphile,"[4, 4]","Though some parts of it were way over my head (suffice it to say that math has never been my strong suit), it was still an interesting history of math and the seemingly unsolvable theorem that plagued it for hundreds of years. It was really fascinating to see how passionate some people are about math, how they have the sort of strong emotions for their subject that I traditionally ascribe to artists. This book did a really nice job of showing the astounding potential of the human mind and it offered some pretty astonishing history of the study of mathematics.",4.0,Engaging even for the layman,1181433600,"06 10, 2007",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3A8LDU2UVG7SV,0099526832,Karl,"[19, 32]","This book drives home the fact that awards are more about politics than quality work.Reading this story is like taking a cold bath with someone you dislike. The hollow self-absorbed and inert characters drift around like zombies, completely unaware of the destructive effect they have on others. It's conclusion, the hideous protagonist's ""redemption"" through euthanizing a sick dog is as cheap, shallow and manipulative as any long distance telephone commercial.Reading Coetzee's other work, I am left with the distinct impression that this limp dishrag character of the old lecherous professor who reappears again and again in various guises in his writing is based on Coetzee himself. This would be forgivable if there was any evidence of self-awareness or an iota of transformation. There is not. Nor is there any insight into the complex social realities of South Africa - unless of course the horrors of Apartheid are the result of massive brain death in the entire caucasian population.If you expect to feel anything but repulsion by reading this, don't hold your breath. Expecting some humanity from this writing is like expecting comfort through an act of necrophilia.",1.0,Hollow and pompous,1290124800,"11 19, 2010",19,32,helpful,0.59375,1 A3KLA5NHX4AQY4,1569474710,"P. Herring ""pegfish""","[23, 24]","In Benn's first novel, BILLY BOYLE, we met a carefree young soldier with a good heart but a tendency to look for the easy way. My husband and I both enjoyed the book very much, for the history and the likeable Billy.In the second book, THE FIRST WAVE, Billy has seen things that cause him to grow up, in the same way that I picture my own father must have done when sent overseas in 1943.The mystery is clearer and the characters better drawn in this book, so I liked it even better than the first one. I like Benn's writing style and the interesting tidbits the reader picks up about army life in WWII. I plan to order the third book as soon as I finish this review, and I recommend Benn's books to historical mystery buffs everywhere.",5.0,Billy Boyle Grows Up,1222214400,"09 24, 2008",23,24,helpful,0.9583333333333334,1 ACYR6O588USK,0679723951,"Groovin' guy ""music historian""","[24, 28]","This is a book that I read with intense interest, I walked around the house, this book in hand.C.G. Jung is caught here, his childhood, his quirks. He remains a very fascinating man. This is the only book about C.G. Jung I've read.I particularly liked the chapter ""Late Thoughts"", though the book in whole is very curiosity inspiring.Loved it.",5.0,Read and Reread,1179446400,"05 18, 2007",24,28,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A2NXCX10SQH8P9,1257931326,Dian Sirkin,"[5, 5]","I just finished reading this book, but it was a slow read for me. It had lots of promise since the main character, Cassandra is a photographer (like me) who gets involved in a murder mystery (my fav genre). She becomes, unbelievably, the prime suspect in not 1 but 3 murders! She also goes off on her own to investigate and some of her antics are also not to be believed (climbing a tree to get into an apartment? Really?)There were also a couple of unresolved issues which should have been addressed. I would have liked more detail on why she was so afraid of fire, for example.The ending, however, was a bit of a surprise.",3.0,An okay book,1372896000,"07 4, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3SU3TXON36T0X,0553382551,"New Age of Barbarism ""zosimos""","[5, 7]","_Killing Hitler: The Plots, the Assassins, and the Dictator Who Cheated Death_ by British historian Roger Moorehouse is a fascinating account of the various brave individuals who motivated by a sense of chivalry sought to kill Hitler, the head of the Third Reich regime. While some of the assassins were communists or variously associated with either British intelligence or the Soviet Union, others were German military officers or devout Catholic mystics motivated by a sense of chivalry and righteousness. This book tells the story of some of these assassins, revealing both the power of the human spirit to overcome tyranny and the megalomania of Der Furher who cheated death many times. Hitler believed himself to be immortal, and following each failed assassination attempt would frequently boast of his powers and the role of the guiding hand of Destiny. However, as this book shows, many of the brave souls who sought to eliminate Der Furher believed themselves to be motivated by a higher cause, often having been previously immersed in mysticism.The first would-be assassin discussed by the author is Maurice Bavaud, a Swiss Catholic immersed in mysticism and nationalism, who sought to eliminate the Furher. Bavaud had joined a student group ""Compagnie du Mystere"", along with his friend Gerbohay. Together they discussed the merits of communism and Nazism and eventually came to the conclusion that Hitler must be eliminated. Gerbohay may have been a schizophrenic who claimed for himself a lineage from the Romanovs and was also completely immersed in mysticism. Bavaud set out to murder Hitler but missed his opportunity. He was later picked up by the Nazis trying to cross the border into France. However, he was detained and interrogated and eventually sentenced to death. While in prison he wrote letters to his family telling his reasons for wanting to eliminate Der Furher. While Bavaud's plan had failed, his courage will be remembered as a brave soul who stood up to the Nazi menace.The second would-be assassin discussed by the author is Georg Elser. Elser was a carpenter who had experienced firsthand the arbitrariness of a cruel father. While Elser was largely apolitical, he did support the communists at times, which led to his coming into conflict with the Nazis. Elser constructed a bomb to murder Hitler with and planted it at the commemoration of the Beer Hall Putsch. While Hitler was not killed by the bomb, Elser was forced to flee and was eventually captured by the Nazis trying to cross into Switzerland. He was accused by the Nazis of being part of a British plot to murder Hitler, and faced subsequent trial. Eventually he was sentenced to death.The author next discusses the Abwehr (meaning ""defense"") and the ""enemy within"". Here, the author discusses individuals such as Wilhelm Canaris and Hans Oster. A plot was hatched as part of the ""September Conspiracy"" to eliminate Hitler. The author also discusses the Polish resistance. The Polish resistance was able to murder Heydrich who drove around frequently in an open-topped Mercedes. They also plotted against Hitler but were unable to eliminate him. In addition, the author discusses various plots of the Soviets and British intelligence. While the Soviets believed that the triumph of communism was a scientific inevitability (fascism being the death throes of capitalism), some opted for a more direct route by attempting to eliminate Hitler and his forces. Ultimately however, the megalomania and brutality of Stalin must be considered for what it was, especially in light of the subsequent communist triumph in East Germany. Among the British, the debate over whether to use ""dirty tactics"" in violation of the Queensberry Rules continued to be debated. In particular, both assassination and kidnapping were considered. The author discusses for example the novel _Rogue Male_ of Geoffrey Household in which an assassination attempt was outlined under the guise of fiction, later to be put into practice, and Operation Foxley.Following these discussions, the author turns his attention to the German military itself. While originally having supported Hitler as an extreme nationalist who would restore German after the so-called ""stab in the back"", many officers in the military began to see the evils of the Nazi regime after witnessing the brutalities of the SS as they brutally butchered women, children, and innocents. The finer traditions of the German military included a strong sense of chivalry which did not allow for such horrors in war. This led to many of the military men to plot against Hitler. In particular, as part of a military plot individuals such as Henning von Trescow sought to eliminate Hitler. Perhaps the most famous would-be assassin is that of Claus von Stauffenberg, a former aristocrat who had been injured in battle. Stauffenberg was steeped in mysticism and his favorite poem was ""The Antichrist"" of Stefan George. Though this book does not go into it, others such as Erik von Kuehnelt-Liddehn in his book _Liberty or Equality?_ have pointed to the fact that Stauffenberg was a devout Catholic aristocrat who wore a scapular of Our Lady. (Kuehnelt-Liddehn's book is also interesting for a discussion of the possible legitimacy of tyrannicide/regicide under principles laid out by Saint Thomas Aquinas.) Stauffenberg attempted to murder Hitler with a bomb, but ultimately his attempt failed and he paid the ultimate price for his betrayal. Before being shot Stauffenberg's last words were ""Long live Holy Germany!"" Nevertheless, Stauffenberg's courage should never be forgotten in light of his heroic attempt to eliminate the Furher.The author next turns his attention to the enigmatic Albert Speer. Speer was an architect, who was entranced by Hitler. However, he came to despise him and may have tried to assassinate him. While the Allies regarded Speer as the most decent of the Nazis, Speer may have been somewhat of an opportunist when he admitted to his plans for assassinating Hitler during the Nuremberg trials. However, ultimately it was Speer's contrite nature and not his attempts to win sympathy with the Allies which saved his life at the trials.The author ends with a discussion of Hitler's final days in the bunker. Here, the insanity of the final conflict between Allied forces, Soviets, and the Nazis is shown in full. The author concludes that after Hitler and Eva Braun married they prepared to commit suicide. While the ultimate demise of Hitler remains debatable in that conclusive proof of his suicide has never been determined, this is a reasonable conjecture.This book offers an excellent accounting of some of the brave souls who risked their lives to eliminate the great evil of Adolf Hitler. Many of these individuals were Catholic aristocrats or German military men motivated by the finest of chivalric traditions. While they were nationalists or monarchists frequently, they had grown disaffected with Hitler after seeing the brutality of war and his cruelty towards innocents. This book tells their stories.",5.0,Hitler's Would-Be Assassins.,1149292800,"06 3, 2006",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3PPJRW62G34TH,161109884X,barbara,"[0, 0]","This was my third book by Melinda Leigh. It's amazing... how can they keep getting better and better? What talent! I'm going right to Amazon.com and get Midnight Exposure and keep the trend going.Addendum: Oh dear! Midnight Exposure was the first book in the series and Midnight Sacrifice the second. I'm reading them backwards. Dang, I hate when that happens.",5.0,How is it possible?,1370908800,"06 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GXXZGTALUK02,B00HHXH6NW,TheNW,"[5, 10]","This book has numerous grammatical errors. Dates and other specific information are missing. When did he win the Nobe Prize? In what field? His winning of the prize is mentioned several times in the opening chapters, but no further information is given. I never got to the "Life Changing Lessons" because the first chapter is a trainwreck and I could not read any more. A fine example of a book needing an editor.",2.0,This is not the book...,1389139200,"01 8, 2014",5,10,helpful,0.5,1 A2AM6KH74N8E3E,0375728228,sprite,"[0, 0]","This story made me believe in love again, gave me hope, broke my heart and then healed it and brought hope back in again! Exhaustively enjoyable!",4.0,Sad and heart warming at the same time,1362700800,"03 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1DVNTNEKQI1VT,0547744943,Edward Bowe,"[0, 0]",I grew up in Hoboken so I enjoyed the reference to Hoboken and the surrounding area. The storyline kept me interested.,4.0,Very Good depiction of the time.,1361923200,"02 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11XAIFA10G7TS,0739327364,"Holly ""Book addict""","[26, 26]","I am going to give a bit of advice regarding this book:1) If you have loved Fannie Flagg's other books or enjoy southern fiction, you won't go wrong with this one.2) Many of the reviews posted give away most (if not all in some cases) of the plot's twists and turns. Spoilers abound with no warning. Be careful about reading them if you wish to be surprised.Now that that is out of the way, I would like to share with you that Fannie Flagg knows how to tell a tale and do it well. Over the years, I have read just about everything she has written and she is a writer worth re-reading in my opinion. Some books have struck more of a chord than others, but all have been good. This novel is no exception. Flipping between the time periods of 2005 and World War II, there is a little bit of everything here and will appeal to a wide variety of readers. The unpublicized role of women in the war effort adds an historical fiction flare; the family secrets explored are worthy of some of the best women's fiction writers out there; and one of the over-the-top characters adds humor to what could have been a series heavy, emotional topics.While Ms. Flagg keeps the reader entertained throughout all the pages, there is real meat to this story that can't be ignored. She manages to convey so much without the reader fully grasping at the time how much is there. Only upon further reflection do you realize how masterful she is.I loved the book and will be recommending it to many friends with all varieties of reading tastes.",5.0,Marvelous,1383609600,"11 5, 2013",26,26,helpful,1.0,1 A80KKMUHNDOSB,1599474352,"Jim R. ""Reads a lot""","[9, 12]","This was a review pretty much of politics in the mid 1970's to the late 1980's and how this author sees the country becoming more dependant on Government.I am a free market believer and not one who desires more Government and less self-sufficiency. So this book made sense to me. However at the same time, it was very much a retrospective of the news from a 15-year period that tries to explain how we are where we are today, but I don't think 15-years is the whole picture. I think it runs deeper than that.",3.0,Not Very Deep -- More of a 15 Year Retrospective,1369440000,"05 25, 2013",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A22KJTQICOE2E5,0517591820,"Stacy ""Librarian""","[37, 39]","If parents are the first teachers, and home is the first school, then this is the instruction manual! Great ideas for helping young children learn in a way that they enjoy. Easy to follow examples trancend Montessori-these are activities every parent should do with their child.",5.0,great for parents wanting to educate in the home,890352000,"03 20, 1998",37,39,helpful,0.9487179487179487,1 ABMSLHPKJJMYM,1892597519,Heidi Waterhouse,"[7, 7]","Rachel is having a really bad day. She woke up in a shallow grave, mostly dead.She goes to talk to the people she trusts, but her day gets weirder and weirder, and people keep dying. Meanwhile, in a parallel story, a little girl is also having a terrible day. When Rachel and Zoe run into each other, it just gets worse and worse.I loved this story because it was creepy and interesting. I loved that, as usual, Moore creates a variety of characters who happen to be women, who are not all alike. Very little reference exists to their sexual commodity pricing.I am not very good at decoding comics images, so I struggled a bit with Rachel and a character who looks very much like her, but it turns out there is a story reason for that, so I let it go. Other than that, there are enough identifying characteristics to tell everyone apart. The art is evocative, clear, and detailed.Read if: You like Terry Moore's work. You are willing to exist in suspense. You want to support an author with multiple, diverse female characters.Skip if: Creepy devil snake will give you nightmares. You are suspicious of setups that sound a little Stephen King.",4.0,"A small town, a shallow grave, an ancient evil.",1334793600,"04 19, 2012",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A7771KESG89EN,0142180351,"Suz ""Loves2Read""","[0, 0]","I am a huge fan of Jennifer Chiaverini and she never disappoints her readers. This book was really intriguing and you, as the reader, gets to know Elizabeth Keckley her relationship with the Lincolns.",5.0,Fans of Elm Creek Quilters will love this book,1386720000,"12 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18VNFQ2NO8G62,0505523205,"Leslie Tramposch ""PNR Reviewer""","[6, 9]","If this is an example of humor, it doesn't bode well for Love Spells new humor line. I found myself on page 200 and still hadn't gotten into the story line. I never did! The hero is an MCP extraordinaire, his brothers a bunch of ignorant bumpkins, I just cant believe that a 20th century professoress could ever find a redeeming quality in these 19th century bunglers. Very disappointing read.",1.0,Pass this one up.,931910400,"07 14, 1999",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2JGAZF2Y2BDU6,1596682892,"drc536 ""drc536""","[4, 23]","I'm bummed because the DVD was added as an afterthought. Problem is that I purchased the first edition w/o the DVD. Had I known there would be a DVD version, I would have waited. Nevertheless, I will go ahead and purchase it (again) because Ms. Miller is one of my faves. I may come back after reviewing the disk and let you know what I think.",3.0,Wow I'm bummed but I'm going to get it,1297296000,"02 10, 2011",4,23,helpful,0.17391304347826086,1 A36LJXA4FLLXR3,B00BKK6FLC,WeeBeaks,"[0, 0]","I just have to start with the fact this is the best novella I have ever read. Usually shorter books/novellas are left with so much left out basically, feeling not a whole story at all, or just not very satisfying because the characters are left flat. This honestly seemed the right length for this tale, which was full and complete in the short time frame.Carrie is a librarian in her 30s, who answers an online ad from Brian, an attorney, to meet Wednesdays at lunch for kissing only. Odd, right? As the story goes on we see why that strange ad appeals to him, and how it plays out for her. This is a romance, so of course their Wednesdays are the start of something.Avoiding spoilers is a hard one here, but Brian has some things in his life that are overwhelming for him. Those are portrayed in such a real and stark fashion, showing Brian clearly, his character, his weaknesses, his strengths, his sadness and fear of hoping for better. He is actually the more delineated character in this, though Carrie was not skimped on given the short length. So much was packed in those few pages. I just loved this story, 5 stars from me, and I hope to read more by this author.I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.",5.0,Best Novella I have read,1396569600,"04 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZK41DERY219W,B009W9ZCDK,PansyPetal,"[0, 0]",A very interesting solution to a troubled teen problem. Too bad the courts don't really allow this type of discipline. It would be a so much better world if they did. I do like a good spanking story and this one was spankalious.,4.0,Interesting,1357430400,"01 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANP5IY7JZI8QZ,0809105543,A. J. Valasek,"[7, 7]","Even after 30 years, this book is still decades ahead of its time. Corporations and individual leaders are just beginning to understand the power that is bestowed upon them by using these concepts and are even slower to react. For the time being, this book will have to reside in the philosophy section since it's practical use is limited to individuals, not entire cultures; corporate or otherwise.This book is recommended since it will challenge you to change your focus of leadership from self to subordinate, from getting power to sharing it, and from clique to community. ""Primus inter pares"" (first among equals) is the central theme running throughout the book and although the theoretical construct is worth exploring, the cultural change necessary for it to gain a foothold is immense and will take decades if not centuries to overcome.Greenleaf is of the opinion that for this cultural change will happen, it will most likely happen within the confines of large corporate atmospheres, not churches, foundations, or universities. Unfortunately, it's like a scale with greed and hunger from power on one end and servant leadership on the other. I'm not sure ""The Prince"" will lose his weight anytime soon.Servant leadership is a hopeful dream that will take a lot of work to be popular in practice instead of in an MBA program or on a large scale. Until then, it will have to be one person at a time. The question is, will it be you?",4.0,Still Ahead of Its Time,1183680000,"07 6, 2007",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A2905T0QNGQNXA,0061128821,1130162,"[0, 2]","This book should be in the hands of all high/college students, to get them thinking, and solving all kinds of problems.",5.0,"""The Slow Fix"" The book for people that give a dam,and especialy for Politicians that don't care if they loose votes.",1362441600,"03 5, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 ABE3WWCJBTDPL,0764211323,Heidi B,"[0, 0]","Debut author Melissa Tagg knocked this one out of the park. Made To Last is at times funny and lighthearted, but the underlying theme of facing the wounds from one's past ultimately leads to a story about redemption and finding freedom in the truth. Miranda Woodruff is the star of a DIY home improvement reality show where she makes mysterious references to her husband...unfortunately, she isn't really married. Meanwhile, Matthew Knox, a reporter trying to break the big story and re-ignite his journalism career, starts shadowing Miranda's every move so he can blog about her. Their attraction to one another is evident from their first interaction and as sparks fly, he's faced with a number of dilemmas: handling his feelings for a supposedly married woman, revealing the truth that would jeopardize the future of Miranda's show, as well as struggling to do the right thing even if it means life won't turn out like he planned...I found the characters in Made To Last both humorous and complex. They each struggled with the mistakes of their past, doubts about their faith and trying to do the right thing when life is messy and painful. One subplot that I thought was unique and enjoyable in this inspirational novel was that several of the characters engaged in service projects while dealing with the messy circumstances in their own lives...it added another layer to the plot and was an unexpected bonus, in my opinion.Lastly, I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Blake/Blaze in Made To Last and the author did a great job of capturing our interest and setting the stage for her next novel, which I believe releases in the spring of 2014 and will focus on Blake/Blaze. Can't wait for that.If you are looking for an entertaining yet thought-provoking inspirational romance with a theme of redemption, then you don't want to miss Made to Last by Melissa Tagg. This would be a great book club selection because there is so much to discuss.A big thank you to Bethany House Publishers for sending me an ARC of Made To Last.",5.0,You don't want to miss Made To Last,1379203200,"09 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2UIXU97JYCPZG,030011320X,R. Albin,"[5, 5]","This is the first verse translation in decades of this important work of Medieval literature. The most widely accessible translation previously available is Hatto's enjoyable prose translation published by Penguin. Das Nibelunglied begins as the story of the adventures of the great warrior Sifried. After Sifried's violent and treacherous murder, it turns into a revenge tragedy whose main protagonists are Sifried's widow Krimhild and Sifried's murderer, Krimhild's brother's liegeman, the knight Hagen. Their antagonism culminates in the tremendously violent set piece that concludes the epic. A sense of nature of the concluding sections can be gleaned from two of the final chapter headings; How Hundreds of Warriors Died and How The Dead Were Thrown From The Hall.Based on the statements of knowledgeable scholars, Raffel has done a good job of translating the Middle High German poetry of the original. There is a fair amount of interesting verse, though Raffel's use of modern catch phrases is sometimes a little disconcerting. In terms of overall quality, Das Nibelunglied is not as poetically powerful as Beowulf or as interesting in terms of story and characters as the best Icelandic sagas.Recurrent themes are the importance of reputation and status, pursued to point of provoking warfare over apparently trivial issues, and the overwhelming nature of the personal bond as the basis for society. Das Nibelungenlied also reveals a remarkable preoccupation with luxury goods as status indicators and means of ensuring loyalty.",4.0,Very Interesting,1201305600,"01 26, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A246ECVNXCF6WR,155643958X,John Morin,"[5, 9]","I like the truth.....THIS IS A Must READ for any one who might think in the back of there mind's, that the medical Business has any thought for you. I knew deep down the whole medical system was a hoax now I AM SURE. I am going to live as a free and happy person the way God want's each of us to live. BY FAITH if it's not of FAITH IT IS SIN!!!! He made us and knows whats best, common sence works. I do not need someone to practice on my God given body. This Book is out-standing. To the point and bold enughf to tell the truth. THIS BOOK IS A 20 on a scale of 1-10 John Morin Milo,Maine",5.0,Doctors ARE MORE HARMFUL THAN germs,1302393600,"04 10, 2011",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A2V04A8AHC8FSU,1466354267,A.A.,"[0, 0]",Susan is an amazing writer. The reader will feel as if they are experiencing what the characters are dealing with each step of the way in the book.,5.0,Great,1386288000,"12 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2QSBOAAGW1I1H,B003LBSJT4,"Julie A. Dawson ""eFestival of Words Book Fair""","[9, 9]","Matt Freeman is a professional poker player that knows better than most that life is a gamble. When his most precious possession, his son Andrew, is diagnosed with cancer, he takes a gamble on an experimental treatment that miraculously works. But death doesn't like to be cheated, and when Andrew dies a few months later in a freak house fire, Matt finds his life left in tatters. Then one day he gets a strange phone call that propels him into a maddening world of intrigue. His son is alive and the center of a terrifying conspiracy that will require more than the ability to bluff to survive.The novel starts out strong. Anderson does a fine job of setting up the plot and building a relationship between the reader and Freeman. Freeman is a likable and well-developed protagonist that readers will want to support. As the plot moves forward, the readers will embrace Freeman's frantic quest for answers as their own.But after the initial few chapters, Anderson falls into the ""blockbuster movie"" mode. He jumps back and forth between Freeman's first person account of events and third person omniscient as if cutting back and forth in a movie. It doesn't work. The reader is connected to Freeman, but then every other chapter Andersen cuts away and goes to some other remote scene that Freeman cannot possibly have known about. It is jarring and disruptive to the flow of the story, and more often than not feels like a faux attempt to build suspense. Which is unfortunately, because Anderson does just fine telling the story from Freeman's point of view to not need literary gimmicks.Fortunately, Freeman is a strong enough protagonist that the reader will want to wade through the scene cuts to see what happens next. The plot pacing is well done and has enough twists and turns to satisfy the most diehard fan of paranormal thrillers. If you can forgive the author for interrupting the story by pulling you away from the protagonist at awkward moments, it is definitely worth reading.",3.0,3 1/2 stars--Amazon star rankings don't really suffice,1308182400,"06 16, 2011",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A31AHG3KW2XFWM,B006P5CH1O,Battles888,"[0, 0]","This book has helped me through some difficult days, after the passing of my son in November 2013 and I'm greatful!",5.0,Awesome Book!,1395619200,"03 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5W7M0ACBDO0L,0982923007,J. Keil,"[4, 5]","I hope this book gets published in every language on the globe. It would particularly appeal to the younger generation as an introduction to A Course in Miracles. I just happened to watch the two DVDseries called ""The Unconscious Mind"" by Dr. Ken Wapnick right before I read ""The Universe Is a Dream"" and found the material amazingly similar which is a great compliment to Alex Marchand. This book deserves a high 5(stars)!",5.0,A lighthearted but very accurate metaphysical description of ACIM,1320537600,"11 6, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3JM17QHAJCOWD,1401906060,Catherine Gallanti,"[17, 17]","First of all let me say that I have enjoyed most of Doreen's oracle decks. Generally speaking I think Doreen has made a great contribution with the creation of her many decks. A part from being all very beautiful, they provide people with easy and fun ways for both receiving guidance and for connecting with many kinds of beings beyond the veil. Her cards are always joyful, uplifitng and bring with them a feeling of magical enchantment. I am a fan!In this deck we get to meet the usual angelic energies plus a variety of saints from the more orthodox religious tradition. The cards are accompanied by a booklet in which we find a brief story of the life of each saint depicted in the cards as well as an overview of each of their special contributions. The angel cards are less detailed and more striclty oracle orientated.The cards are very good for connecting with the qualities that these saints supposedly embodied. The deck is very useful for stimulating and awakening those qualities in oneself. They are also good to use as tools for illuminating areas of the self that need developing or that need to be boosted to achieve one's goals.With their beautiful artwork and inspired energy, these cards will be a very nice addition to your oracle card collection :-)!",4.0,Very nice new oracle deck from Doreen,1136592000,"01 7, 2006",17,17,helpful,1.0,1 A2M4B44ZDBU139,0140444173,"Eamonn Gormley ""EG""","[4, 6]","On and off it took me about a year to complete it. The most striking feature of the book is the depth of the characters. After a while you feel like you know them, and you really feel for them. Personally I identified most with Pierre, probably because he was portrayed as something of an outsider in aristocratic society. There were some heart-wrenching moments during the French occupation and withdrawal from Moscow which had me afraid for Pierre's life. I had to remind myself that he wasn't real. The pursuit of happiness in the middle of a war and refugee crisis also struck a chord.However one theme which some people find off-putting is the interruptions to the story to give more repetitive reasons why history is an inexorable process that man cannot influence. I read through them but quite frankly I took very little of it on board because the ideas carry so little weight today. However this was not sufficient to spoil my enjoyment of this epic novel. I was inspired to go on and read biographies of Napoleon, European history since Napoleon and a history of Russia.It has given me a whole new outlook on life. I might even take up writing myself!",5.0,The most moving story I've ever read,994118400,"07 3, 2001",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A14NLQE68Z29I,0307277674,B. Convery,"[4, 4]","I wrote that dedication bit with a rose between my teeth. I'll preface by saying I read Angels and Demons when it was an airport paperpack (literally bought it in a terminal) on the rack next to all the Fabio-esque romance novels. I enjoyed that book when I read it.Little did I know that Dan Brown would turn into this, I'd forgotten about him until an International Marketing professor brought up how he just finished the ""DaVinci Code"" by Dan Brown. ""Dan Brown, Dan Brown,"" I said to myself, ""Where in hell do I know that name? Oh yeah, I read 'Angels & Demons' couple years back."" The professor chirped on about this ""amazing author"", his words.I wouldn't call Dan Brown amazing, though, not in every area of literature. Needless to say, I procrastinated in picking up ""The DaVinci Code"" because I guess I was being a little snobby. But I eventually did pick up the book. I wouldn't call Dan Brown amazing because he could work on trite dialogue and cookie-cutter character mannerisms. ""The Davinci Code"" reads very much plot-wise as ""Angels & Demons"".Plot is not what made ""The DaVinci Code"" such a critical success. The consiracy aspect of the book coupled with arguments backing the premise are what make it critically acclaimed. Detail of setting and scene, a writing that has the reader hiding in the shadows of the Louvre or running out of breath with Langdon ""to the next"" cathedral. Impeccable foriegn city description puts YOU THERE. This is what made ""The DaVinci Code"" such a success.I loved reading about the conspiracies presented in this book. It doesn't matter how much flak is fired in retort to the novelist. In fact, those fools miss marginally. ""The DaVinci Code"" begs the reader to open HER eyes and question things and not be ignorant. A novel such as this BEGS the reader to do research on HER own. I began viewing women in a reverant light after I read this book.Perhaps Dan Brown has an Oedipus complex and I hadn't had one before I read his book, but the idea of the feminine divine, regardless of religion, creed, institution, beaurocracy, government, is a wonderful concept that has been exposed by the book. Can you deny the beauty of a flower? This is the heart of ""The DiVinci Code"".Don't expect ""best ever"" characters or unfolding events. They are not on these pages. It's a controversial book just as valid as its nit-picking retorts.I really recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it yet. YES! That means the both of you!Now I'll put that rose back between my teeth and shut up.",4.0,Dedicated to female form,1116288000,"05 17, 2005",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1FS895F2MJZGO,039306235X,"Lorraine Sacino ""Bookaholic""","[0, 0]",Excellent book about the rise of India and China. Author easily explains the differences in the pattern of growth in these two countries and how they effect the U.S.A.,5.0,Right on,1256083200,"10 21, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1AGS7QHUX8YKR,1434851648,Melby,"[0, 0]","I had to push myself to keep going here. I knew the early settlement days were hard, but I found the details too gritty. Not exactly a beach read. I wouldn't read it again.",3.0,Pretty grim saga,1379462400,"09 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGIV1GVJWE8VJ,0312285485,Amazon Customer,"[24, 30]","This was a very interesting book but I can't say that I enjoyed reading it. The sense of loss that accompanies it was too great.Mr. Buchanan claims that Western civilization will die because of:1. Illegal, uncontrolled immigration2. A declining birth rate and the depreciation of the family3. A loss of religious faith4. A reordering of our morals and memory by atheisticmarxism/liberalismThe book certainly struck a chord with me because it discussed issues that have disturbed me for some time. Why does the media so often slander our national heros? Why is religion marginalized in this country? Why is the family and motherhood under attack? Why do homosexuals receive so much attention when they make up less than 3% of the population?Mr. Buchanan provided some answers. But he also raised some questions in my mind. If atheistic marxism has made a march through our institutions has it also marched through the military? He doesn't address this but it's a scary thought. If the changes in our culture is a phenomenon organized by marxism and liberalism what is its point of origin? Christianity has Rome. Islam has Mecca. But where are these rewrites of history coming from? Who is attacking the family? Is there a central command post?In his book, Mr. Buchanan assumes that the decline of Western civilization will be a slow process extending into the 22nd century. However, I differ on this point. The example of history cannot help us in this regard. Communications and transport have improved so much in the last century that the death of Western civilization will be swift, unexpected and terrible. How long did it take for the Soviet Union to collapse once the process started?Based on Mr. Buchanan's book, the prospects seem grim. I hope that it doesn't turn out that way.",5.0,"Insightful, but tinged with sadness",1018656000,"04 13, 2002",24,30,helpful,0.8,1 A3VC3U32E4GSZF,0876059035,Ashlie22,"[0, 0]",I'm a new parrot mom and I found this book very informative. A good buy and a must have for any new parrot owner's book collection.,5.0,A Must Have Book,1347408000,"09 12, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1CF10ASXO87UI,1494750910,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Mrs Hollowed, thank you for the emotional journey you have taken us on with Ally Brody and Cole Bloody Thomas. The twist and turns in this series are without a doubt some of the best I have ever read. Page turning and on the edge of youe seat reading. I have cried with both Ally and Cole, also wanted to shake them and throw my book across the room. Believe me, if you have not read No Second Chance and How Many Chances. You really don't know what you are missing. One Last Chance, you honestly do not know how this is going to turn out. I cannot wait to read what next adventure you have in store for us Mrs Hollowed. I truly wait on the edge of my seat and check to see what is next. Thank you again for the journey With Ally and Cole. I finished reading the book with tears streaming down my face. Happy tears or tears in disbelief. Read the journey to find out.",5.0,One Last Chance. Perfect title for a perfect book.,1387843200,"12 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27LO1D1TLTIVP,0985350318,Stephen,"[0, 0]","Just as original as the other book from Richards, the creativity and imagination is wonderful. At first it seems that there are just too many drastic and extreme plot twists for one book, but in the end all the pieces fall together.",5.0,Loved it,1400976000,"05 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AK7TPP9L0UF04,1480149195,PDA,"[4, 4]","I went through this book item by item and it answers all of your 'how-to-use-the-new-interface-and-find-your-way-around-Windows 8' questions. Worth 10 times the money (I only paid $1 for it). The instructions are written for the non-techie, easy to follow, clear and concise. A real pleasure to use and the whole book is quick to complete.If you have the new Kindle app, you can use this book as an excellent reference source using the Kindle search tool. If you don't have the new app, there is no index so the book becomes a poor reference tool.P.S. Mr. Sievers you should charge what this book is really worth, $10 not $1.",5.0,The Perfect 'Only The New Stuff' Book,1370044800,"06 1, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A22LC9UYQU6DND,0486258343,J and H,"[0, 1]","This I purchased in a three pack and I thought I was getting a 3 full size coloring books. But no, I got two tiny coloring books (The little ABC coloring book, The little animal ABC coloring books) and full size was ABC By Anna Pomaska. If you are seeking a full size one I suggest purchasing the 2.50 by Anna Pomaska. I can not believe the other two are so small a child could not coloring in them. Literally it is the size a small checkbook! Be careful if you decide to order in a three pack like I did as ""The Little..."" title should read Super Tiny Coloring book. What a waste of money buying this for a child! Very unhappy mother!",1.0,The size of my CHECKBOOK literally TINY! DO NOT BUY,1319414400,"10 24, 2011",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A29HT9J9U4QPV5,1570628130,Sean Hoade,"[7, 7]","Bhante Piyananda takes the hairiest of situations--punks confronting him on the boardwalk, catholic-buddhist marriages in trouble, murders in the monastery--and shines the light of metta and compassion upon them. He is a truly amazing person, and this is a truly amazing book. It will make you more mindful just by reading it, I guarantee!",5.0,Amazing insights,989193600,"05 7, 2001",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3NX9NSH4ISLKF,0375719687,"S. Rhinehart ""quote collector""","[23, 23]","I have several dozen quote books in my personal library, including the usuals like Oxford and Bartlett's. Among big quote dictionaries, the Quotationary is the best. I wish it had a key word index, but even without one, I find this book more enjoyable and useful than the others. It truly is fun just to sit and read several pages at a time.After reading dozens of quote books, I have seen ample proof that too many quote compilers spend more time copying each others' work than finding NEW material; this sometimes results in the same incorrect information showing up in several different books. The Quotationary is a very pleasant exception, and the source information has proven near-perfect in accuracy.If you can only buy one major quote dictionary, this one is an outstanding choice.",5.0,The Best,989539200,"05 11, 2001",23,23,helpful,1.0,1 A15QZ8AKUR3VQM,0765316978,Avid Reader,"[0, 0]",This trilogy is good. They were put in a hard spot and I honestly didn't know how the story would end. Would they all die? Would they survive? Would they be allowed to survive from all sides?,5.0,Amazing,1380585600,"10 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AAR8FOM8J2FBN,B00F1MU458,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","These books are absolutely great! They're a fast read, funny as all get out, and have interesting stories. I can't believe how the two old ladies keep talking to each other, but remain friends! I would recommend these books to anyone to likes mysteries as well as comedies.",5.0,"I love these ""old ladies!""",1398988800,"05 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15YL0V7B6GSAH,B00I7VVZAI,Eddiedoyle007,"[0, 0]",Not a bad book but not likely to live long in the memory,3.0,Three Stars,1405814400,"07 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3ULD92P0W49XB,0767903447,Michael McLarnon,"[0, 0]","Now if I could just hit my driver. It really did help, the controlled short swing for shots inside 150, I probably shaved four or five stokes off my game. Couldn't be happier.",5.0,This book really helped my short game.,1394064000,"03 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BYBT9FGTC2DJ,1482352915,Jennifer Raether,"[0, 0]",This is one of those books that is hard to get into but once you get started it's hard to put down. Good book.Wrangler,4.0,Notes to self,1356825600,"12 30, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A28PME31GOXXHR,0316713481,"H. J. Wakenshaw ""pootler""","[10, 10]","The pictures in this book are just stunning, and so clever. I've had this book for a year now (we keep it in our bathroom) and I've still not found everything!Each photograph is magnificent, and well taken, while the collages - for want of a better name - are really ingenious. Some objects take forever to find - the peanut pony tail, the mushroom car tires, and some are perfectly obvious, though you'd never have considered that a disposable razor could look like a vacuum cleaner. It's beautiful to look at and fun to explore. If only Steiner had left it at that and not tried to write poetry to go with it. The rhymes are unbelievably inane and stilted and take away from rather than add to the book.This edition may actually be too difficult for children, as many adults seem to have trouble finding all the objects. ""Look-Alikes Jr."" came out soon afterwards and is much simpler, though just as much fun; much more suited to the under 12's and the less patient!This book will last so long and provide so much enjoyment that it's well worth buying for the whole family.",4.0,Waaaay better than 'Where's Waldo"!,960768000,"06 12, 2000",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A7M450EMC5EQS,0310335108,Teresa E. Snyder,"[0, 0]","Although I'm not a big fan of Amish fiction, I did enjoy the book for the most part. The changing back and forth from current day to past times got to be annoying.The story line was good. At times l found myself disliking Sarah because she was so focused on the past, rather than the future; however, she turned out to be a very sweet, loving, one-of-a-kind person. Jathan was a little different. I really liked him through the entire book, up until he chose family over his love for Sarah. He did redeem himself at the end.Speaking of the end, the epilogue, in my opinion, was more of a prologue, or a continuation of the prologue, than a epilogue. I wanted to read about Jathan and Sarah in the years ahead, not more about Patty and Sarah fifteen years earlier.All in all, a good book about friendship, memories - past and present - a being the person God created you to be, rather than the person others think you should be.",4.0,Become the person God created you to be,1361059200,"02 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18WZK4H6HX5T9,0684843749,A. Wright,"[7, 9]","To be honest, I was a powerlifter for over 12 years, but injuries slowed me up quite a bit. After taking some time off, I was itching to get back into it. This book did not teach me much new information, however, it helped me stay strict to my routines and my diet.Whether you are just starting out, or you are a competitive bodybuilder, this is truly the ""bible"" for bodybuilding.Well done!!!!",5.0,Nothing more needed,1111968000,"03 28, 2005",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A3GGUBZMTQD1B9,0425214524,Esther Schindler,"[7, 7]","I've read every book in Michele Scott's ""wine lover"" series, and I really enjoy the premise. Nikki Sands is a failed actress (she had a short-lived TV series as a detective) who ends up as manager of a Napa valley winery. Whereupon she just happens to stumble on bodies, and for whatever reason feels it's necesary to find out The Truth herself. So far, so good.This entry, however, is... okay. Only okay. The mystery itself is fine, in regard to the whodunnit and the author's ability to share clues without spotlighting them. (Sometimes it's contrived, but that's okay for this sort of book.) Scott continues to intersperse recipes between chapters, and that really *does* work, in a very charming way; so does her lighthanded education on wine and food pairing.Where Silenced By Syrah stumbles is in the plot. In the earlier books, Nikki had perfectly good reasons to be an amateur sleuth. This time, her reasons weren't all that strong, and as I commented to a friend, ""She really *is* being a nosy parker!"" And while I recognize that other people enjoy the ""which man shall I choose"" romantic ambiguity, as Nikki has to deal with two compelling beaus... well, I grew tired of it. (Look, girl, make a decision already!) More to the point, it was a distraction from the mystery, and it got in the way of storytelling.Plus, this book is a little less polished than the others. At one point Nikki leaves the dog at the roadside while she runs after a bad guy, and the poor dog disappears for about 100 pages. I kept worrying that Ollie was _still_ sitting next to the road, until thankfully he appeared in the last chapter or two. Whew, the critter got back home okay. Yes, that's a trivial issue but (a) of such trivia are mystery book clues created (b) Scott made the relationship between Nikki and Ollie far more real than she did for some ""main"" characters who are barely charcoal sketches and (c) it shows that the book needed one more pass by an editor.Oh darn, that sounds way too serious. This is a fun book. It's not *quite* as fun as the others, but they were outstanding and this is ""only"" good. I took Silenced by Syrah with me on a cross-country plane trip, and at no time did I feel that reading the airline magazine would be a better use of my time. If you liked earlier books in the series, you'll like this fine, though you might grab another one off the Summer Reading Pile first. If you haven't read earlier books... well, this is okay, but you really should start with the earlier books just to gain from the character development.",4.0,"An enjoyable mystery, but ultimately put-downable",1182297600,"06 20, 2007",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A116N0S7QXDKJP,1603580581,Robert L. Bartz,"[13, 15]","While I enjoyed this book (it reads fluently), it seems that it tries to do 2 separate things. The first is an extended and repetitious treatment of how the U.S. has lost its world position and influence in the world-wide regulation of the chemical industry due to regulatory recalcitrance and inaction. The second relates how the impact of the U.S. policy of waiting for problems to ""emerge"" or waiting for the legal system to highlight ""problems"" (which may need regulatory adjustment) vs. the EU policy of ""precautionary"" regulation has put U.S. citizens ""at risk"" to numerous potentially hazardous chemicals. The second focus was of more interest to me and I thought there would be a more thorough treatment of these potential hazards.",3.0,2 books in one,1199232000,"01 2, 2008",13,15,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 AEEJGJUZR9HJR,B009YNXSK8,Shelly Hammond,"[8, 9]","This is a great collection of short stories by a bunch of different authors. You can read them during the holiday season but you really don't have to. Some are about the holidays, some about the season, and some just have snow in them. So really, you can read them any time you'd like and they will fit in perfectly!If you follow any of the works from these authors, it's likely you will run into familiar characters or styles of writing that you are used to already. If not, you may decide to look into some of the authors further and find more of their longer works. This is easy to do since after the short stories there is mention as to where the story would fit if it has characters from other books and where to find more information and books from the author. I found a few authors that I am going to look up after reading their short stories in this book.A good many of the stories will have you laughing throughout and some will have you dropping your jaw when you get to the end, but all will leave you glad that you took the time to pick up this collection of stories. This book was great fun to read and I think most others out there would also enjoy reading it.",5.0,Great Collection of Short Stories,1358812800,"01 22, 2013",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A20QJ42I8YJS08,0689841604,Music Lover,"[0, 2]","Review of a Boy at WarGrades 5-8During World War II, Adam, the main character in the story, moved to Honolulu and attended a new high school. At his new school he made a friend named Tom and one day after school, they went to a naval base to look at ships.While they were at the naval base, they heard a loud noise and they saw several planes coming toward them. Then they realized they were under attack by the Japanese army. They knew it was Japanese planes because they saw the flags on the side of the planes.Adam's dad was in the army, the morning before the war started he went over to his ship to clean it. He needed to go clean the ship because it was really dirty, but he did not expect a war because they did not tell him when they were supposed to attack.I recommend this book to people who like action books and are in grades 5-8 because it has some inappropriate parts. I liked this book because it's intense and it has a lot of action also, it's kind of cool because a kid gets to kill enemies. This happens when they ran out of soldiers because most of them died.The story is intense because it has a few mysteries. For example they don't know where Adams mom and sister are at. However I did not like the ending because it doesn't make sense and you don't find out what happens to the mom or sister because when the war is finally over Adam when to his house and Adam's mom and sister were not there.",4.0,A Boy At War,1305763200,"05 19, 2011",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3361XGKYF17S3,B00APSWJM4,Shiela,"[0, 0]",This book was so good. Player turns to loving one woman. I love the fact that he puts everything on line for her.,4.0,Good,1372118400,"06 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A38KPXZZ1AXYKR,0985008628,ecole,"[0, 0]","Fantastic book! I loved how the relationship between Jadyn, Phillip and Danny developed over their childhood and teenage years. Jadyn's character was really strong but still feminine. I really didn't know who she'd end up with until the end and the tension between the three was incredible! I was definitely swooning over both guys and wished I could have crawled into the pages and lived Jadyn's life for awhile!",5.0,Lots of fun!,1396310400,"04 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21QP0E321SNR7,0425269205,Orian,"[4, 18]","Having read all of the other Sookie Stackhouse books, I was happy to get the final installment of her saga. While I was a little disappointed in who she finally chose (I was routing for Bill) it did make sense. I will be sorry to not read about Sookie anymore.",5.0,Loved It,1374796800,"07 26, 2013",4,18,helpful,0.2222222222222222,1 A1J2UA7IYMLOZX,0002555328,Timothy Mulligan,"[0, 1]","This book takes a very pro-Wagner attitude. The author is obviously erudite, being dean of Christ College, Cambridge. He knows his stuff. He generally defends Wagner from the criticisms of him, though he doesn't deny that Wagner had flaws.The sentences are needlessly long and complex. This book cries out for a more aggressive editor. The content is good though.This book is comparable to Bryan Magee's "The Tristan Chord: Wagner and Philosophy," not in content but in approach. Magee also takes a very pro-Wagern, apologetic approach.",3.0,A defense of Wagner,1374883200,"07 27, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3O5455HQYGWF9,1470885409,Cliff Pinto,"[12, 53]","I read the book in its entirety and I find Blumenthal's spin and libel beyond disingenuous. Recalling the details of the book that I disagreed with are too cumbersome and too upsetting, so I'd recommend any person looking at this book's Amazon page to avoid this book like the plague.A quick tip: Considering that Blumenthal's book (and Blumenthal himself) has become (has been) the favourite of various KKK sites and internet personalities; Stormfront.org; former Grand Wizard of the KKK, David Duke; various other far-right, neo-Nazi and White Supremacist organisations and personalities, all of whom love him (and his book) with a passion, that's proof enough for anyone with a head on his/her shoulders that this book ought to be avoided like the plague.",1.0,"Utter garbage, meant for the trash can",1392249600,"02 13, 2014",12,53,helpful,0.22641509433962265,1 A2WWMB8JVVHZMQ,B00HHIW7AO,"Dheart APB online book club ""So many books so...","[0, 0]","Review of Bounce by K.M. Jackson3.5 starsI just finished reading Bounce and now I feel better ,the story is about a career woman named Sabrina trying to balance her life being superwoman . I felt she wanted to be great at everythinggreat at her job, great mother , great wife and when you work that hard at everything somethings suffer. But its not all of her fault, while Sabrina is running in circles trying to be the best at everything ,she learns her husband Sean has cheated on her with hiscoworker Dana ( The girl with the thin thighs). Will they over come his betrayal, you have to read the book to find out. The author takes her time telling this story , she takes you through the emotional journey of Sabrina and Sean to the very last page. I found myself being angry at Sabrina’s not being able to let go of her anger , but when a character makes me mad I know the author is on the right track. I liked the fact the the characters were complicated,and funny , I liked the side characters stories ( The Stepford Housewives ) especially Cassandra I can see her fingers up making air quotes when she says “ Black” . My guilty pleasure in this book is Sean I wanted them back together and every time the author put him in a scene I looked into his green eyes and said yes! Would I read this story again the answer is no because sometimes you read a book and it stays with youI will never forget Bounce.",4.0,Good,1402358400,"06 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1E7Q1VNW8HE9W,0307446549,MrsKinsey,"[0, 0]","The Christmas Singing is a beautiful novella about love lost, love regained, and reconciliation.Mattie is an Amish young woman with a delightful personality who is a highly-skilled and gifted cake decorator in Ohio. In the three years she has lived there, she has built a highly successful business due to her hard work and creative talents. Her decision to move to Ohio from her native Pennsylvania was due to a wrong conclusion drawn from seeing her fiance hug another woman.Mattie's former fiance', Gideon, is a carpenter with a secret that he chose to hide from Mattie in order to protect her from going through a difficult time. He let Mattie think wrongly of him, a decision that caused unnecessary suffering -- not just for them but for others as well.When Mattie's shop burns down, she is forced to go back to Pennsylvania where she is around Gideon for the first time in years. There is obvious and understandable friction between the two. Both of them learn a few things about themselves and each other in the course of the story which results in a beautiful reconciliation.While reading the book, I wondered if this was actually the second of a series. It seemed like the author was giving a brief synopsis of how another couple in the book discovered love for each other. I looked it up, and sure enough, this is book 2. The previous book is called The Sound of Sleigh Bells and will be on my To Read list very soon!Cindy Woodsmall is one of my favorite Amish Christian Fiction authors. I really enjoyed reading this book. I began reading it while on a trip to South Mississippi to visit family for Thanksgiving. When we pulled up into my mom's driveway, I had about 5 pages remaining in the book. It was rather hard to wait a couple of hours before I could finish the book. Even though I ""knew"" that she and Gideon would reconcile, it still felt like a cliffhanger wondering if they would or if she would marry another man, Sol, whom she had been seeing for the last couple of years. Speaking of which, I think that Cindy Woodsmall should write a book about Sol and another young lady who rubs him the wrong way. I just know they should end up together!I really enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend to it you.",4.0,"Love Lost, Love Regained, and Reconciliation",1322611200,"11 30, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AS2QERKY0N5NA,0062102222,Brian,"[5, 7]","Loved the book, very well written with a lot of laughs, craziness, and even a little heart thrown in. It's a quick read you won't regret purchasing.",5.0,Great book,1366934400,"04 26, 2013",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1F0S2EYC58US4,1937041174,"P. Patrick ""PPat""","[0, 0]","I have read many of the books in the witches series now and sincerely hope her writing keeps ahead of my reading, as I totally enjoy each and every one of these books1",5.0,Just keep getting better!,1361577600,"02 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1E371HE68KMWB,1565846346,"Pen Name? ""fluxus""","[4, 6]","Robert McChesney makes media study and criticism fun. He offers a huge background of historical knowledge, factual information and common sense logic to back up his claims for media reform. This is a large book, but not a boring read. The media landscape is (d)evolving at a rapid pace and the book may already be in need of updating, but the general ideas and arguments remain current. For the reader with less time on their hands, pick up either ""Corporate Media and the Threat to Democracy"" or ""It's the Media, Stupid""(w/John Nichols) which don't contain the breadth of historical and factual support of this book, but are very good introductions to the issues presented here and can be read in only a couple of hours.And yes, Professor McChesney is not ashamed to say he is a liberal-progressive, but I think that his work would be of interest to persons of any political stance who don't have strict ties to the major media corporations. Conservatives, liberals, progressives and moderates all have a stake in these concerns. The media is our modern town square, our public sphere. If the public is blocked even moreso from society's primary means of discourse, what chance does democracy stand?",5.0,"An excellent study, informative, entertaining and important.",1018742400,"04 14, 2002",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2OMQEK9OW2FY6,0595506518,Brad B,"[0, 0]","As the book will tell you, business is about making the right decision. I received an ebook copy of the book from the author and quickly found the book, as promised, to be a comprehensive introduction and resource reference. One of my favorite quotes, ""As CEO of your company, good decision-making requires that you have an ocean of knowledge two inches deep."" This book is without a doubt a good way to expand your two inch ocean and at the same time gives lots of great resources to more specific information.Right off the bat you will find that this book means business. I have to say I have read a lot of accounts of how and why you should outsource work in your business, but the explanation in the introduction is one of the most concise, to the point and local explanations. If you have a business need for an activity and you as a business owner must decide whether you should outsource the task or not, the ""Hire Yourself Question"" is extremely helpful. If you were going to hire the job done would you hire yourself to do it? If the answer is no, then it's time to start looking to hire someone. Brilliant.The bulk of the book is devoted to giving a business owner a basic education in a subject area, such as web content managers or outsourcing solutions and then provides a laundry list of providers and often what they charge and the list of their services. If business is the art of decision making, I found this book to be really helpful in identifying unknowns that I need to know. Flip to the back you will find one of the most helpful parts of the book: an index! Hooray. Need to know about rules for good copywriting, no problem look on 364. Need to become informed 2"" on WHOIS, look on 26. Oh indexes how I love you. At almost 500 pages of content I found it helpful to read the introduction to each section and if there was something I needed more information about, such as reviewing recommended vendors I would read further in that section.",5.0,Comprehensive Introduction and Resource Reference,1273104000,"05 6, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17YVJ9GIJXPOM,0451416090,Sue Seguin,"[0, 0]","I loved this book; I've read it several times, it's like meeting with old friends again. It is very elegantly written, almost like poetry (in fact, some of the characters do write poetry), but with a good solid story underneath. In other Chinese stories, I have trouble remembering who the characters are but in this book all the characters are well-rounded & memorable, I have no trouble telling them apart. It feels like fantasy, feels like history, has some funny parts, is sad in part, the characters are funny and flawed and lovable all at the same time. A great read!",5.0,A Little Bit of Everything,1377734400,"08 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3ULJLKJPX81GZ,0446353930,Sharon Meyers,"[0, 0]",It was men roughly taking women. I have never found that appealing but I found the plot line interesting. I will look to something different for next read.,3.0,Not the best but tolerable.,1378512000,"09 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AI5OR1HSYXCCL,1413453767,Steve Dietrich,"[7, 7]","Sadly it is only after his death that we have come to have widespread appreciation of Boyd's great intellect. This book is another great step in finding broader application of some of what Boyd taught.Chet Richards has done a great job of bringing Boyd's message to the business world.Some have questioned whether a view of decision making in combat was applicable to business. The answer is yes, sometimes and perhaps more often than you think. Boyd is probably even more applicable to political campaigns.Were I still teaching MBA students, some of the material from the book would be in the classroom, replacing more traditional materials.I would read Boyd first as a foundation for this book.Highly recommended.",5.0,Great Stuff - Boyd on Business,1171238400,"02 12, 2007",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3BMKEFYB0BUM2,0843953934,Violet,"[8, 8]","I loved the first forty percent of this book. Maybe it's just me, but there was something really HOT about Lydia's captivity to Ru Shan. Then other things happened that ruined the hotness for me. (Yes, that's vague, but I don't want to give spoilers.) Subsequent events seemed a bit implausible and some of the chemistry dissipated. Others might appreciate her change in circumstance more than me. I'm a little twisted. Having said that, the mythology was somewhat interesting. Prepare yourself now, though, because you are going to read euphemistic terms like ""jade dragon"", ""cinnabar gate"", and ""yang fire"" over and over and over again. And then there's the crayzay ending. Sigh. I wish I would have been prepared for the super-fantastical aspect of the ending. Had I seen it coming, it wouldn't have been the eye-rolling experience that it was.See, I said I was torn. :) I liked parts enough to read it in an afternoon, but other parts make me unsure if I want to continue the series. I probably will, though.",3.0,I'm torn.,1337299200,"05 18, 2012",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 AK7CAW3N1XZV6,0345505751,"Beth Cholette ""doctor_beth""","[0, 0]","As a psychologist myself, I have long-enjoyed author Jonathan Kellerman's series featuring psychologist Alex Delaware, and I have have read all of the Dr. Delawares novels. I must say, however, I was a bit puzzled by this newest offering it first. Kellerman breaks the mold somewhat here in than he does not open the story with a murder. Instead, we follow Alex on a new pursuit, involvement in child custody cases. Milo Sturges, Alex's once-detective, now-lieutenant friend, doesn't make his first appearance until Page 75--almost a quarter of a way through the book--and the first murder is over 40 pages after that.At this point, a more traditional Alex Delaware novel ensues, yet with some twits. The plot stems from a custody battle between two sisters. Alex's involvement in the custody aspect of this case complicates his ability to provide consultation to Milo's homicide investigation, causing some friction between the two of them. Also somewhat usual is Alex's struggle with self-doubt. Consistent with the past several books, however, we see very little of Alex's long-time love, Robin, in this novel--Kellerman seems to have given up on any type of growth in their relationship and has settled for the status quo.Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It was engaging, moved quickly, and had an unexpected ending. I do have a minor complaint about the latter, as things seemed to get wrapped up too quickly and too easily. Despite this, however, I found KILLER to be one of Kellerman's better recent novels, and I would recommend it.",4.0,A page-turning addition to the Dr. Delaware series,1398988800,"05 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A24UF5UVUYH57A,0899668747,Duke Durkin,"[0, 0]","Ageless, Gave me the feeling of a westward-ho type of experience. Hardscrabble macho genre, a great read for someone going in harms way. Toughness personified!,,,,",5.0,Old style oater,1365465600,"04 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ED17OZ022DEU,0811876438,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I have waited for a book like this for 40 years. It's what every serious home cook needs. We're kitchen chemists, and now we know why!Bravo!",5.0,ruhlman gets it,1329868800,"02 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3ER7FUF747XVN,0979354021,John G Holmes,"[0, 2]",The book was sent promtly and was in good condition. I enjoy passing my books along to others and this will help t let them know of the beauty of the traditional Latin Mass and how favorably BXVI looks on it.,5.0,I enjoyed the book Sacred Then Sacred Now,1378252800,"09 4, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A30APUIUZTH9TE,0425209628,"BB ""texasmom""","[0, 0]","This was an excellent gothic romance written in the 1st person (which I love). There's a creepy castle, a curse and a mystery.Sean Killdaren is a recluse, haunted by a curse involving his twin brother. Cassie travels to Dartmouth to try and locate her lost cousin who has gone missing while employed by Killdaren. I really enjoyed this book. The mystery doesn't overshadow the romance but adds an interesting aspect to the story. I'm a sucker for a tormented hero and a smart heroine. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book.",5.0,A Very Good Gothic Romance!!,1147910400,"05 18, 2006",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AM770XXIEKUZ8,1439191379,John,"[0, 0]","loved it a great series, read it in one night, couldn't put it down, now am reading 3rd int the series",5.0,awesome series,1355184000,"12 11, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YD2IND21YAGP,B00C3341BG,"John Patin ""sfsponge""","[6, 7]","...there are formatting issues that need to be resolved. Perhaps the author was trying for an avant-garde approach, but I feel that trailering different characters' quotes end to end without paragraph indents seriously harms the read. You end up with huge blocks of text and your perception of POV (Point Of View) can easily get confused. In short, it makes reading this story a challenge, and that is a shame. This could easily have been a 4 Star review, and even a 5 with a few editing fixes as well..... This is a dark, chilling, and disturbing read that leaves you thinking. It has an edgy story line that I won't reveal here (unlike one of the other reviewers who gives altogether too much away). Fair warning; It goes places that some readers might find distasteful, but there is a REASON for that. Given the nature of short stories, you don't usually find character interactions this involved, but it pays off at the end. What you have here is the raw version of just the kind of writing that wins critical acclaim from serious literati. I think a few fixes in format and editing could make3:53 a.m.a story that people remember and talk about. I hope the author makes those fixes, this story deserves them. Believe me, I don't normally read this kind of story, I'm a Science Fiction fan. I originally came to review the cover and ended up reading in fascination. This author has something; a future in writing.P.S. The cover is a perfect introduction to this story. I wouldn't change IT at all.",3.0,Worth more Stars - but...,1364774400,"04 1, 2013",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A97UMJZT3P69B,1935142011,CL,"[0, 0]",GREATLY well written. on same great page as Steve Alten's Meg series. Makes you fall in love(or hate) of the characters. brings to LIFE the creature as it's own character. and adds just the right things to get you thinking and dreaming..... would ABSOLUTELY LOVE a sequel to this one...,5.0,Wonderful,1399075200,"05 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A7MAP4C6Y391N,0061689017,Ravenous Reader,"[11, 11]","I bought this 2nd edition to replace my well-worn, overused copy of the 1st edition and was very disappointed. It is not nearly as comprehensive and helpful as the old book was. It does have more pages but the entries are not as detailed. I will be returning this as soon as my copy of the 1st edition arrives and I make sure it's the same as the one I tossed. In short, I recommend the 1st edition even though it's harder to find.",2.0,NOT AS GOOD,1338336000,"05 30, 2012",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A29IAVQCW3ESPV,081173417X,Jeff Gurr,"[0, 0]","This book fills in some of the blanks that other "Trapping" books left out. If I was a writer, I'd combine the other books with this one and have a "Complete Guide to Trapping" source.",4.0,Guide to trapping,1402444800,"06 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2MLMIWJS34YNM,0306809125,marginal,"[0, 1]","Preliminary Note: This is a serious and honest review. So, if you are one of those individuals who do not acknowledge the Holocaust, please don't bother and stop reading here.When you pick up a book dealing with the Second World War and on the index Khrushchev is lacking, Chuikov appears only once, but Rommel fills three times the space of Roosevelt, four times that of Stalin and ten times that of Zhukov, you know this is going to be a very particular reading. And so it was.To make a very long story short, there is no doubt that Liddell Hart is absolutely sublime in the way he writes the history of this war, with amazing detail and insight, always very clear and wise in his judgments. In spite of plenty considerations concerning politics and grand strategy, this is mainly a tactics/strategy focused history which could feel sometimes too overwhelming for those more interested in a more fluid and global picture of the events. On the other hand, the military `fanatic' will surely be provided with many hours of delightful reading.Who am I to argue with a master of the military? A nobody, really. But in any case, if I'm allowed to express my opinion, I would like to say that, in a book dedicated to the Second World War, giving much more relevance to the North African campaign than to the Russian one is difficult to comprehend. In this respect, I would have liked at least to have seen the same level of information, detail and engagement being given to the Eastern Front. One could almost say it's a moral issue. But this I can excuse. Liddell Hart is British and the North African campaign had a special significance to the UK. And he adored Rommel.What I cannot excuse is no mention whatsoever about the Holocaust and all the genocidal massacres committed by the German `Einsatztruppen SS' in the East. Not once in the book is the word Jew mentioned. Not once. One could argue that this was a side effect of the war and not the central theme. But it was the war in the first place that provided the tools for all those atrocities to be committed in grand scale, everything backed up indirectly (and sometimes directly) by the `Wehrmacht'. The Second World War cannot simply be disassociated from it, and I find it truly immoral to ignore this topic in the book, which had everything to gain with its inclusion.This is why I cannot rate this book with more than 3 stars. A pity really, because it deserved more.",3.0,The unbalanced account of the Second World War.,1399161600,"05 4, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2OAG0XVTS4ZX6,0988035030,CarolAnn,"[8, 8]","(THE DUKE’S MATCH GIRL is part of Lila DiPasqua’s Fiery Tales series but can easily be as a standalone.)**5 Delightfully Wicked Stars**I LOVED this novella! It was romantic, steamy and funny and kept me totally entertained from the first page to the last.Here are the things I loved about this novella:The story combines two of my favourite tropes…friends to lovers and second chances. I adored Leo… his willingness to admit how much he had hurt Suzanne and his sheer determination to prove how much he truly loves her. Suzanne is still feeling the pain caused by the death of her beloved father and wants nothing to do with the man who broke her heart. I love that she refuses to trust him even though she still feel the strong attraction. In fact, she leads him a merry dance. I love the letter she sends him when he asks her to spend Christmas with him at the Chteau Montbrison.'Your Grace,Your man has informed me of your offer. He was quite uncomfortable about relaying my response. It is for his ease that I put it to you here in writing. As to your offer— and I say this with the utmost sincerity— you may take it, and insert it into your exalted posterior.Sincerely,Suzanne'Oh boy! Leo wasn’t going to give up at the first hurdle and I was in awe of his ingenuity, especially when he uses a little bribery to enlist the whole town in his schemes. Everyone in the town bombards Suzanne with reasons why she should go with Leo. I loved this exchange between the innkeeper and Suzanne…“Well, perhaps you should consider that he is a wealthy man.”“I’m aware of that.”“With much power and influence.”“I’m aware of that, too.”“What about his enormous manhood?”That stopped her dead in her tracks. She turned. “Pardon?”Then there is the episode involving Gaspard…and the delightful picture of Suzanne’s two employees, Rosalie and Lucille, surreptitiously eavesdropping on her conversation with Leo.Suzanne is my sort of unconventional heroine. She has a brilliant mind and a great passion for science and I adore Leo for being proud of her abilities and loving her adorable little quirks and oddities.Of course, this is Lila DiPasqua…so expect wickedly delicious, sizzlingly sexy, toe-curling love scenes with some dirty talk from Leo…definitely not for prudish ears! There is a pretty hot scene in the carriage on the way to Chteau Montbrison and Leo does luscious things with ice cream!I’m a sucker for a sigh-worthy ending and this has a real heart-melting one. I won’t spoil it for you other than to say that Suzanne’s matches play a significant part and Leo…his words are totally swoon-worthy! There is even an added bonus of a charming Epilogue.THE DUKE’S MATCH GIRL is a fun and steamy novella and so curl up with a glass of wine and your favourite chocolates and enjoy!REVIEW RATING: 5/5 STARSSENSUALITY RATING: SIZZLING",5.0,DELIGHTFULLY WICKED,1386720000,"12 11, 2013",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A71W7G4TCTH3T,1250012651,"BBMoreB ""Heather Coulter""","[5, 6]","Ella is a whimsical character with an incredible job. Her faults are painstaking to the point she is isolated from the world around her. She is socially inept and does not appear to be have any friends, only a few colleagues. Until Kees, aka Sir Arthur, rescues her from being mugged after a fundraiser gala. The author does a flawless job a sifting Ella’s new reality and introducing magic into her world. However, I had issues bonding with Kees. He is so unemotional that I wanted to take a rock-hammer to his skull. I understood that it was a large part of his personality but I felt that it held back an otherwise fantastic protagonist.This reader was fascinated by the concept of ancient guardians protecting the world from dark magic and demons. The uniqueness of this tale added to its overall appeal. Yet, as I began reading I felt disappointment at the unsteady flow. I forged through this story with the hope that the author would revive my interest – she partially succeeded. I will follow the series; I believe it has incredible potential.The potential I anticipate is based solely on how the author set up the latent characters. Now that the world/rules have been established I predict that the next book will be a smoother, more organized, read.Disclosure: This ebook was provided to me free of charge for the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments, and ratings are my own.",2.0,2.5 Stars ~,1389052800,"01 7, 2014",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2NQNZBSLI7U62,084394482X,DDSDuncan@webtv.net,"[13, 16]","This is the first book I read by Lynsay Sands. And I absolutely loved it. The Highland setting and the Scottish hero and the heorine with her chastity belt all equalled one of the funniest books I've ever read. If you want to smile, if you need a laugh, and if you like Amanda Quick's books, you'll absolutely adore this one. I think Lynsay Sands is going to be a great new author.",5.0,This book will make you laugh so hard you'll cry.,936662400,"09 7, 1999",13,16,helpful,0.8125,1 A3MPFK9FLNEB6O,0553578944,"""znurts""","[0, 0]","This book starts us dealing with new characters and from my perspective, ones that are more interseting to read about. The Wraiths are the perfect thing to write about, this whole book seems so real! (As do all the other books by Allston) I recommend this book to anyone with a sense of humor!Yub, yub commander.",5.0,"Not what I expected, better!",1019001600,"04 17, 2002",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21QH2E3KFVMBM,0312949804,iheartjackbauer,"[30, 33]","Amelia Hathaway has been the caretaker of the family since both of her parents died. Having three sisters and one brother, Amelia always has her hands full. When her brother, Leo, unexpectedly inherits the Ramsay title, Amelia now has to worry about her brother. When her brother disappears (again), Amelia receives help from Cam Rohan. An intriguing Gypsy, Cam helped Amelia find Leo and sends her off with a kiss she won't soon forget. As she packs up her family for a move to the country, Amelia knows she'll never see Cam again.Cam Rohan wants nothing more than to live the life of a roaming Gypsy. Feeling stifled for years, Cam is ready to give up his job as manager of Jenner's and live the life he knows he's suited for. Meeting Amelia derails his plans some. Believing that once you find the woman you love that you can never let her go, Cam sets out to have Amelia for his own.Mine Till Midnight was a satisfying conclusion for the character we first meet in The Devil in Winter. Though I briefly thought he would end up with Daisy (4th Wallflower book), I thought he was much more suited to Amelia. Having two characters that are so alike was fascinating to read about. Cam is as independent as they come while Amelia has been taking care of her family for years with no interference. Suddenly Amelia has Cam trying to take over what she sees as her duty. Submitting to Cam while staying true to herself is a real battle for Amelia.Kleypas fans will really enjoy this newest historical.",5.0,4.5 stars. Cam's story won't disappoint,1192406400,"10 15, 2007",30,33,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 ASDRAIUQ97964,1484954556,lisa,"[23, 24]","Like every good series you have your notion of what should happen and to whom. To a point Dannika does take you there eventually. The first chapters had me laughing as I reaquainted myself with my friends. And then it happens, you hear yourself saying don't go there, don't do that, why are you alone and then bam the bad thing happens. You continue to read because you are sure if you put the book down nothing will work out right and justice will never be served. Soon you are the top of that ride again and you are okay but you know there will be a drop off and you start reading with just one eye open and bam the bad things happen again. You start to second guess your friends ""in the book"" cause they won't listen to you (well yes I know they can't hear me) so you look at the clock and it's 4:30 in the morning are you going to bed, HELL NO everthing is a cluster F---! But then you are breathing easier because you knew all along you were being taken for a ride and the hero will save the day........one more page and I think I can put it down now everyone is safe and then bam no........... the bad things happen again. I finished the book in one night/morning. I only woke the dog once with yelling. When I can feel as if I am there watching all of the drama unfolding before me, I am in awe of the talent of this author.",5.0,A gambit of emotions,1368748800,"05 17, 2013",23,24,helpful,0.9583333333333334,1 AWQ327G0JKCZH,1482319055,Melissa,"[0, 0]",I love how you went back in time to the beginning of their relationship. I just wish we got a little bit more of their relationship in the present.,5.0,A great love story,1374105600,"07 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ABOQN9OG3F49Q,0007172826,"Shady Rok ""Shadyrok""","[0, 0]",This was a throughly enjoyable book club choice. This is a delightful European period piece and well worth the read.,5.0,Try this little book on for size!,1383782400,"11 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2A7BWKQKPV0XM,1612179339,Ashantay,"[7, 7]","I enjoyed the heck out of Sixth Sense. Marilyn Baron has created likable characters and thrown them into the deep end of the pool with nasty villains, all to great effect. Her description of psychic talent is right on. This is a series I'm looking forward to following.",5.0,A Thrilling New Series,1385942400,"12 2, 2013",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A1CGHQIQL2HEX1,1616200790,L. House,"[0, 0]",Fast moving book which make the average wasp think that there are other American's who being in the United States may have better understanding of freedom than they.,5.0,Read enjoy the journey,1404864000,"07 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1KYP8LV8VTN10,0446520659,Steven Greene,"[14, 19]","After thoroughly enjoying Plum Island, which was also narrated by John Corey, I was really looking forward to reading the Lion's Game. This novel did prove to be a rather entertaining and compelling thriller, but it nonetheless left me disappointed in several regards.In Plum Island, John Corey's humor had me laughing out loud every chapter. Here, I found Corey's personality much less amusing and even annoying at times. It seemed to me like he was trying to hard. I also think this book would have greatly benefited from a good editing job. It would have been an extremely taut 400 page thriller; at nearly 700 pages it was definitely bloated. DeMille spent way too much time on utterly irrelevant detail such as conversations between the Lion and private pilots flying him about. Finally, I really liked the technique of interspersing chapters narrated by Corey with chapters describing the actions and thinking of the Lion. However, DeMille dropped this during the climactic final section of the novel so that we never really understood what was happening in the way we did earlier in the novel.Despite these complaints, I still enjoyed the book and I am glad I read it. I am just disappointed in that it seemed that it could have been so much better.",3.0,"Entertaining, but could have been much better",960422400,"06 8, 2000",14,19,helpful,0.7368421052631579,1 A2IWDJGE386TAC,B004KZOR8C,Treno,"[0, 0]","Yes some things are somewhat predictable but this author combined many of my favorite things all in one book. Military, FBI, MMA violence, a love story and friendships. OHH RAH.",5.0,Loved this series,1382572800,"10 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1D16U1YCWKUYG,1490553517,Jo-Ann Blanco-Russell,"[0, 0]",I love this series. I can't get enough of them and hope this write continues to produce more every year. I am sure there are enough scenarios to keep her writing for a long time. Thank you Leighann for entertaining me so well.,5.0,What a book!!,1381449600,"10 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ILKCTL36I6GE,0061992704,Shannon Montoya,"[0, 0]","Talk about a reality check! This has been one of the funniest books I have read in a long time. The mixture of crudeness, honesty and love makes for a great read!",5.0,Laugh out loud humor!,1365206400,"04 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQ99SFT1CS2P3,1612184677,sandra raffa,"[0, 0]",These books held my attention and made me want to get back to them at soon as I could. Never read Holland before but would look forward to reading some of her other books.,4.0,very good books,1395446400,"03 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Q2UGMPS8PRKH,0060927623,"Bryant M. Smith ""skip""","[5, 24]","Although a pretty good biography (apart from undue repetitiousness of quotations and lapses of good syntax), the book is woefully lacking as a military history. For examples: Bradley's failure to follow up the break-through of the COBRA operation is inadequately discussed. Eisenhower's major failure to foresee the logistical problems inherent in eastward movement of the Allied forces, counting as it did on ports in western and NW France, is not targeted, nor is his inexplicable failure toreplace Lee as Deputy CIF in charge of logistics examined. The sorry plight of a successful army out of gas on the brinkof victory undoubtedly prolonged the war and cost many thousands of lives. A friend of mine, a military history buff, oncereferred to IKE as ""Staff Officer Eisenhower."" He wasn't even a good staff officer!",3.0,Unworthy biobgraphy,1150761600,"06 20, 2006",5,24,helpful,0.20833333333333334,1 A2SRRRBLX3OSCM,B00A3K3EZU,Gary Simons,"[0, 0]",The one main character was strong and well written in the story. Kept you wondering what was to happen to him next. Also how his job through the years was to be turn out.,5.0,Crossing the Dead Line,1366761600,"04 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1H2DHCVL1VK0D,1601423071,M. Jordan,"[0, 0]","I really tried to like Average Joe by Troy Meeder, but I could never quite get there.There are certainly parts of the book I enjoyed and found helpful. I actually loved his story about Jim ""The Gardener"" and how we are part of God's tapestry of life.book coverI enjoyed reading about Troy's varied adventures. He works to draw some meaning of out of each of them.And that's part of the problem. Sometimes, he tries too hard. For instance, I never once believed him when he painted a picture of being trapped in a hole filling with sewage. I'm sure he was in such a hole; but the story of panic was not credible - especially since he initially said the hole as 5-feet deep, but then goes on for pages sounding as though he believed he would die in the hole.The bigger issue is that too much of the book is about Troy Meeder rather than about God. Don't get me wrong; I fully believe Troy has a great relationship with God and has done some powerful things to minister to those around him - but Troy paints his life anything but an ""average joe."" He's a cowboy, a pilot, a missionary, a pastor, a horse whisperer, a scuba instructor, etc. The book is as much about Troy's larger-then-life exploits as anything else, and that's what disappointed me the most.There are some good lessons in the book, but those same good lessons can be gleaned in many other places. The book didn't really offer any especially helpful insights, other than that Troy Meeder sounds like one pretty incredible guy.There is the obligatory study guide at the back of the book, but in the end, I can't recommend this book for any sort of study group. If you feel like you want to read about Troy's life and glean a few bits of wisdom, it's a reasonable light read, but that's about it.Disclosure - I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.",3.0,"Wanted to Love It, But Only Average",1325203200,"12 30, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DHHQ2NGXOUAH,0340898917,Barbara Rose,"[28, 34]","Eckhart Tolle brings us all powerful and transformative insight to shed the layers of ego that have your mind clinging to either the past or the future, seeking or reminiscing, longing or avoiding, and in its place, bringing you into THIS moment - in the here and now, where ALL reality exists, and gives you the power to change any aspect of your life from this moment, which is where all change comes from.Surrendering to the now is a fearful process because the domain of the ego is the past, and the emotion of the ego is fear. Love, on the other hand, exists now. One of the most powerful parts of this book teaches you to ""become the watcher"" of your thoughts. Just step aside and NOTICE what is going through your mind. Once you notice it, you can then be objective about it, rather than be consumed with fear, doubt, anxiety, worry, or anticipation.This book is a gift to humanity, a classic, and will bring you more conscious awareness of yourself, the dramas (the ego loves drama) and how to rise above it all by pulling yourself deeply into the present moment, fully. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who has much to work through emotionally, because it will teach you exactly how to move beyond pain and suffering, so you can create and live joyfully in the present.Barbara Rose, author of ""Stop Being the String Along: A Relationship Guide to Being THE ONE"" and 'If God Was Like Man'Editor of inspire! magazine",5.0,True Enlightenment BEING in the NOW. 10 Stars!,1081728000,"04 12, 2004",28,34,helpful,0.8235294117647058,1 A11CG6J45L2TJJ,0307989828,Reading Junkie,"[164, 169]","Author Pat Conroy always writes of his actual life in his fictionalized books.This book, however, is the nonfiction account of his life living with his abusive father, Don (the ""Great Santini), his long-suffering mother Peg, and his damaged brothers and sisters. Conroy himself states, that of the the seven children Don and Peg created, five tried to commit suicide, and one did succeed (Tom, who threw himself off of a 14-story building).Writing ""The Great Santini"" caused a rift in his family, father Don becoming angry and showing up at his book signings, reminding readers that the book WAS fiction.But, writing the book also helped heal the contentious relationship he had with his father, a relationship detailed in this newest book, ""The Death of Santini.""It is a difficult book to read, full of violence and pain, but also full of the beautiful language Conroy is known for. We do see the ""Great Santini"" stand up for his eldest son, and readers see that famous line from ""The Prince of Tides"" come to life: ""In families there are no crimes beyond forgiveness.""You will grit your teeth in anger, clench your fists with rage, and weep at the power of forgiveness shown in this book.It is well worth your time.",4.0,Hearbreaking and shattering,1382313600,"10 21, 2013",164,169,helpful,0.9704142011834319,1 A1BF800PNSSI8J,141653735X,Elizabeth Bennet,"[6, 7]","The idea for this book was great (although a little too Great Gatsby-esque at times), and I loved the detailed descriptions of the many beautiful pairs of shoes, being a shoe queen myself. And although this is not exactly ""high art,"" the writing was decent and the story enjoyable.However, by the end of the book, I developed a raging hatred for Genevieve. She is so silly and selfish, and she cares nothing for the feelings of others. She blames all of her misfortunes on everyone else, and I found it very dissatisfying that she never had to take responsibility for or suffer any consequences of her actions.In the end, though she'd treated her husband abominably, she just ran off & lived happily ever after. Not the way it happens in real life, people.",3.0,I hate Genevieve!,1188345600,"08 29, 2007",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1IE898UTM8I00,B005KDCOCE,"Lyn Meadows ""Readinghearts""","[99, 108]","How does a reader decide whether to read a book? A strange way to start a review, I know, but it is an intregal part of my rating on this book. If an author is new or unknown to me and my reading buddies, often I will choose to read or not read a book based on its published synopsis. Such was the case with The Ninth Step by Barbara Taylor Sissel. I had never given much thought to the title of the book, but it was apparent early in the story that it referred the the ninth step in AA's 12 step program, the one where a person makes amends.Let me just state upfront that the rating on this book has more to do with expectations and less to do with the quality of the story. I enjoyed the story of Cotton O'Dell and his quest to make amends in his life to those that were impacted by a single bad choice that he made. I thought the author did a good job with the character of Cotton, detailing his myriad of emotions as his quest for sobriety and redemption progressed. I actually think I would have liked the book a lot more if it had been marketed as such. At least then I would have known what to expect.I really wanted to give this book 4 stars, but just could not quite do it. Why? First of all, because the synopsis set up the story in a way that the author did not deliver. I felt that the story was really about Cotton and that Livie was a very minor player in the grand scheme of things. In fact, the best part of the story, Cotton's relationship with his mother, and with the Latimer family, isn't even mentioned in the synopsis, yet these are the relationships that make the meat of the story. I felt that there were many things in the synopsis that the author did not deliver on, while leaving out the things that really made the story fly. It was almost as is, somewhere along the line, a decision was made that the story would get a better following if it was marketed as a romantic redemption story rather than what it actually was. The chronicle of one man's quest to pull himself out of the thralls of alcholism and get his life back on track.",3.0,"Although a Good Story, not a Romance.",1331078400,"03 7, 2012",99,108,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 AQ9KEXE0NDY3N,1599951223,"E. Novo ""Elizabeth Novo""","[5, 6]","I have read a number of dating books and this is probably the best one.She puts you in a kind of dating boot camp with exercises and everything on a schedule, working on your dating habits from the inside and the outside. It was worth the cover price for the 'deadly dating habits' alone - I got a chance to see exactly where I was creating my half of the problem and was very helpful in addressing those issues. Truly transformative.",5.0,Excellent!,1241481600,"05 5, 2009",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3TMM8646XKJ52,1927947111,Joann,"[0, 0]","Book 3 was as electrying as 1-2. Can't wait for 4-5. Author is bringing all of us to places that we wish were real in our own lives. Said some not sure I wouldn't be slapped around every minute because of my own big mouth. But the sex sounds great.Thanks, Abby Weeks.",5.0,Another great read!!!!,1384819200,"11 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30411QNHGSW5Y,B00I52PPT6,Muffin,"[0, 0]","The Tycoon's Make Believe Fiancee had a funky start but in the end, it was actually a pretty nice read.",4.0,Short but good,1394841600,"03 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VOX8HO29UDE8,0425176657,Magicians_assistant,"[6, 6]","It takes a great writer to make a controversial story premise like this one really work, and make it tasteful, but Anne Rice (excuse me, Rampling) has done it with this one. Belinda is a 16 year old mystery. Who is she? She is intelligent, polished, mannered and sophisticated...so why can't she be with a 40 something handsome and sophisticated Jeremy Walker, illustrator of children's books? There is a bit of mystery behind it, and some secrets about Belinda's past that make an intriguing read, but the fact that Anne Rice has made a beautiful love story out of a subject that any other writer might turn into tacky middle aged men's fantasy makes it one of my favorite books.",5.0,A truly unique book,1139184000,"02 6, 2006",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AGZV8YDCZGY9G,1451645678,Lindie L Jensen,"[0, 1]","Again, I love this book even though I have not read it yet. Krueger is a very gifted writer and all of his books are ones that are very hard to put down.",5.0,Nobody does it better,1369612800,"05 27, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1P7B41D0H3MSO,0321773020,BamaTexan,"[0, 4]",I have been so busy with the first three volumes that I haven't gotten around to this one yet. I have no reason to believe that this one will not be just as good as the first three.,3.0,Haven't used this one yet,1359590400,"01 31, 2013",0,4,unhelpful,0.0,0 ARNAOSKQZMM2J,0375866566,Amanda,"[9, 14]","Sometimes, you just need a good dragon story. At least, that was my line of thinking when I picked up Seraphina. Sometimes, I just need a good ol' high fantasy novel about wizards, knights and dragons. Seraphina completely filled that high fantasy void and offered something even deeper and more amazing than I had anticipated.Debut author Rachel Hartman offers a unique take on classical dragons, where they can shape shift into humans and have a strangely logical side. And for decades humans have lived peacefully alongside these dragons, at least until now. Enter young Seraphina, a talented musician who gets wrapped up in the investigation of a murdered royal family member -that just might be pegged on the dragons.Hartman weaves an elegant tale of secrets, mystery and fantasy, all based around the concept of dragons readers have never seen before. While Hartman's approach to dragons isn't entirely unique (I've heard about shape-shifting dragons before), it's incredibly refreshing in a cascade of dull fantasy that continues to clone itself. And Hartman's exceptional writing skills help balance out the many elements here perfectly -not one item felt like it overshadowed another, and their was the perfect blend of action, characterization and plot to keep things moving while becoming truly invested in the characters and their struggles.But don't let that scare you off. Seraphina is an incredibly well-written YA fantasy debut that you shouldn't miss.",4.0,Fresh take on dragons,1341273600,"07 3, 2012",9,14,helpful,0.6428571428571429,1 AGDJEULN9811S,1456584014,Barb,"[0, 0]",Wow!! This book was awesome. A K Alexander is a terrific author. I will definitely read more from this writer. AWESOME!!!,5.0,a great read,1376611200,"08 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YG8N98PNAPXB,0800734602,R. Solomon,"[0, 0]","""Waiting for Spring"" was a pleasant read. I can say, without reservation, that Amanda Cabot is definitely one of my favorite authors. I have read a number of her works, and have yet to find one that I have not enjoyed.***I received this book from the publisher/author for purposes of review. The above is my honest opinion.***",5.0,Sweet romance,1357430400,"01 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YXREHXHVXTE9,1846033780,G. Meyers,"[6, 7]","Unless you are an aviator, a military person who has served around aviaton and aviators, or an aviation aficianado, your eyes will quickly glaze over by the extensive use of aviation terminology, military acronyms, and references to myriad personalities involved in this top secret project. It's much like reading one of Robert Ludlum's more complex spy thrillers; you can't put the book down for a few days without forgetting where you were or the characters involved.That said, the book is fascinating if only to skim through. It presents the story of a project (and projects) and the lessons learned that subsequently saved aviators' lives in air combat against MIG fighters.Having been a 30-year Marine non-aviator but with most of my time spent in aviation units I stuck with the book to the end. But I found myself at some point ""scanning"" the pages to pick up nuggets and threads of information to weave into a tapestry that told the story of the Red Eagles and all the associated multi-service projects and programs that went into this top secret Air Force project.I was able to learn the strengths and weaknesses of the various MIG designs and the combat tactics developed/designed to minimize their strengths and exploit their weaknesses and thus, hopefully, to allow our air warriors of all services to live to fight another day.One tidbit: I learned how the day's flight activities at Groom Lake (Area 51) and Tonopah were timed to make sure that Russian satellites passing overhead on schedule would not pick up images that would give away the fact that we had their MIGS and were flying them out of these bases.Because of the unnecessary, mind-numbing detail (for the non-aviator), I would have preferrred to read the Cliff Notes version of Red Eagles but I do not regret buying the book. It expanded my awareness and knowledge of ""black"" programs.G. Meyers, LtCol USMC Ret",3.0,Written by aviators for aviators,1362787200,"03 9, 2013",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 AOWB79ZBMRI2L,0984528199,"DaisyJo ""DaisyJo""","[0, 0]","I had never read anything by T.L. Haddix but quickly became drawn in to the story and didn't want to quit reading it once I started. I fell in love with Owen and Sarah and was happy in the end but didn't want the story to be over! Not normally a paranormal fan but am now!! Love, love, loved this book!! Looking forward to reading all of the books in this series.",5.0,GREAT READ!!,1395792000,"03 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1G0DH7UQ4ILS6,1482095262,Daniel Estes,"[0, 0]","EC Stilson's How to Avoid Having Sex is a breezy, eccentric read, and I believe many will smile and nod as the author relates the intimate details of sex negotiation between her and her husband. This will hit close to home for most readers.The book's overall style is equal parts inspired and equal parts disordered--some chapters connect while others seem out of place. I recommend it if you're in the mood for a unique kind of ironic humor.",3.0,"Somewhat disorganized, but still funny!",1367884800,"05 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2PU5IDX61XJ7A,068485001X,"Deborah Price ""Artlady""","[7, 8]",This stuff really does work! The very first thing I wrote down - happened the very next day!!! I was amazed. I didn't need any more convincing. I'm not even finished reading the entire book yet. I'm so excited to go through and do everything mentioned. The is one of the best books I've read in a long time.,5.0,Love this book!!,1312761600,"08 8, 2011",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 AVS56FK39L2ZN,0140434011,reci,"[0, 0]",This was an excellent tale of adventure and excitement. Seeing David grow and his dealings with Allan was unforgettable and I cried at the ending.,5.0,Kidnapped,1362268800,"03 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AIECDY3XT0E7C,1594034761,Christopher Paul Winter,"[20, 37]","Merchants of Despair is a difficult book to review. The reason is that, in his chapters on eugenics and Nazi Germany, he gets a good deal right. He also gets some things right about malaria and DDT. When it comes to climate change, however, he gets almost everything wrong. It seems he has taken the same dead-end path as former astronaut Harrison Schmitt.Dr. Zubrin gives us a well-researched and valuable history of the eugenics movement. With regard to population control, it is clear that there have been abuses and that the U.S. government has been involved in some of them. A good source is one he cites: Reproductive Rights and Wrongs by Betsy Hartmann (whom he makes sure to identify as a ""genuine liberal feminist."") The dumping of the Dalkon Shield overseas, after it caused a surge of toxic shock syndrome cases in American women, was exposed by Mother Jones. But Zubrin goes overboard in painting this as a deliberate continuing policy of genocide on the part of the U.S. government.The dangers of DDT are well documented. Being a broad-spectrum pesticide, it can kill beneficial insects like bees. It is known to thin the eggshells of certain bird species, so that the eggs break during nesting. While there is no solid evidence that it causes cancer in humans, it has been linked to neurological damage in fetuses and to diabetes in adults.Mosquitoes resistant to it began to appear in the U.S. around 1960. That and the ongoing discoveries of its health impacts on animals and humans led to its banning in 1972. But note that this ban includes an exception for outbreaks of insect-borne diseases. Also, DDT is not banned worldwide and continues to be used in significant quantities overseas.I don't have space here to fully cover what Dr. Zubrin writes about climate change. Let me just say that the sources he cites on climate science have been thoroughly debunked. The major ones are books by Christopher Booker, S. Fred Singer & Dennis Avery, Roy Spencer, Patrick Michaels, and Ian Plimer. (See note 74, page 304.) He also quotes a Heritage Foundation study that inflates the cost to consumers of 2009's Waxman-Markey cap and trade bill. By protesting a relatively small increase in the price of gasoline, he undercuts the case for nuclear power, which he advocates earlier in the book -- for costlier fossil fuels will make nuclear energy more competitive.Dr. Zubrin is a very intelligent man and a competent aerospace engineer. His Mars Direct plan is potentially a brilliant contribution to space exploration. However, here he allows his distaste for any restriction on human progress to overwhelm his better judgement. By all means read this book; there are things of value in it. But read it with one eye out for exaggerations and biased arguments.",3.0,A work of commendable scholarship betrayed by biases,1340150400,"06 20, 2012",20,37,helpful,0.5405405405405406,1 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0739412329,Harriet Klausner,"[13, 16]","During a rescue in the Pacific off San Diego, lifeguard Kelly Jacobs knows she is in trouble as the dangerous riptide threatens to drown her. As her life flashes by, she thinks back to her spouse, deceased Navy SEAL Nick who died in a training accident. She also reflects on how her feelings for Nick's best friend and fellow SEAL Joe "Bear" Baker changed into a deep abiding love and that she no longer is angry with God for taking away her beloved spouse.In spite of the impossible probability, Kelly expects Bear to rescue her from almost certain death. He saves her life, but she blows their friendship when she blurts out she loves him. However, before Bear and Kelly can even begin to work out their feelings of love to one another and the guilty betrayal they undergo towards Nick's memory, they must deal with the person who murdered her husband.TRUE DEVOTION is a stirring inspirational military romance that will encourage readers to deal with grief caused by the death of a loved one. The lead characters, especially Kelly, seems so genuine, most readers will feel Dee Henderson modeled her after their own battles with grief and love. Ms. Henderson writes from the spirit and it shows.Harriet Klausner",5.0,Uplifting,962150400,"06 28, 2000",13,16,helpful,0.8125,1 A33WE7BK576XPI,1416576770,"Ithlilian ""Ravenous Reader""","[4, 4]","I read the first book in this series some time ago and didn't really remember too much about it or the characters. This one is pretty self contained so that wasn't too much of an issue. Darker Angels starts off strong with an entertaining intro featuring a child that sees the future, and it keeps that pace with a case for Jayne and team to investigate. I continued reading happily until around page 150. At that point I realized the entire book was going to be made up of the one case. I don't mind reading a self contained mystery that takes up an entire book if there is something else going on that I find interesting, or if the mystery is complex and well developed. Neither is the case here. The characters are so boring I find myself ignoring most of what they said. They each have one personality trait, and basically chime in when appropriate. They aren't even important enough to be considered sidekicks. The mystery is long and drawn out, but not complex or entertaining at all. I didn't care who was behind what, or what weirdly named demon creature was friends with what other weirdly named creature. I don't care enough about anything in this series to continue it. If there was some sort of goal the characters were working towards other than cleaning out properties and entering what they find into a computer, then maybe I'd continue. I really don't care who Jayne's family had an affair with or what is special about them. This series is lacking a purpose, and I just don't enjoy it. I see that the team is quirky and fun, and that may be enough for some people, but it is no where near enough for me.",2.0,Darker Angels,1299715200,"03 10, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1BONHQNULETMN,1936009234,Mary,"[6, 7]","I have to admit that I am a pride and prejudice junkie. I have read so many variations that they all start to blend together at some point. I have to say that this one had me smiling all the way through. The story had very interesting twists and turns. I'm also very glad that I could rate it G, which is a big factor in my decision to purchase one of these variations. I will look for more books authored by Karalynne Mackrory",5.0,did not disappoint!,1369699200,"05 28, 2013",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1PRP69Y1R67QU,0425243214,Amazon Customer,"[356, 373]","Beckett Montgomery leads a pretty happy and satisfied life. He enjoys his job as a architect and loves that he, his brothers Ryder & Owen and their mom run a successful construction firm. There's one thing that's missing from his life and that's a chance to get to know Clare Brewster closer. He has had a crush on her since high school but never acted on his feelings.Clare came book to Boonsboro after her husband was killed and runs her own bookstore in town. Her three sons and she are happy with the life they built and Clare doesn't have the time to date. And she never realized that Beckett is interested in her.But suddenly things change and the two are no longer just good friends. Will they be able to get their own happy ever after?Like always I was super excited to read the new books by Nora Roberts and like (nearly) always I loved my reading experience. I enjoyed the relaxed pace, the cozy and lovely setting and the lovely characters. The pace and how the book is built was similar to the books in the bride quartet series which I adore. The pace might be a bit too slow for readers that enjoy fast-paced books, but for me it was just perfect.Boonsboro is a great place to set the book and thanks to all the little details Nora Roberts added to the story I was able to imagine the town and it's buildings very easily. And of course it's pretty cool that Boonsboro and the buildings described in the book really exist. Hopefully I will one day get the chance to visit the town.The love story was very sweet and I loved the way it progressed. Especially the way Beckett handled Clare's boys was amazing and so sweet. Both main characters were strong and I'm excited to see more of them in the next two books of the trilogy.There are two more plot elements in the story and both made it even more interesting. I want to tell you a bit about one of them, but will let you get surprised by the other one. One of them is a ghost, but don't worry, you don't have to be a big fan of paranormal stories to enjoy the ghost. The ghost lives in the Inn and I think her presence fit to the old building and it's history. The ghost is only a small part of the story so don't worry, the book is still a contemporary romance.I loved reading about the relationships between Beckett, his brothers and his mom. Their scenes together made me laugh and smile a lot. I liked all three brothers and I'm excited to read Owen and Ryder's story. Owen's will be next and it's already clear with whom he will get together. I definitely can't wait to go on with the series and read more of the three brothers, the women they love and Boonsboro.coverBeautiful!final appraisalLoved the book! The cozy, relaxed pace, the lovely setting and the sweet romance worked perfectly for me and made me excited for more books in the series.I would recommend this book to all fans of cozy and romantic books.Inn Boonsboro series1. The next always2. The last boyfriend (May 2012)3. The perfect hope (November 2012)",5.0,"A great book for fans of cozy, relaxed and lovely romances",1320105600,"11 1, 2011",356,373,helpful,0.9544235924932976,1 A2RBG714BIN15V,1591431468,Michael F. Burdick,"[33, 46]","I remember following the lengthy debates and fights that occurred on the Internet when the subject of SERPO was first being presented to the public. At the time everyone was so frustrated by inconsistencies and disinformation that it was easier to just forget about the SERPO story altogether than to try to make sense of it. Unfortunately, this new book by Len Kasten does not resolve any of the inconsistencies or add to the believability of the original story. In fact, he makes the whole story less believable by going back in history to deal with the Nazis and their supposed relationship with the ""reptilians"" (those non-existent creatures of ""Branton"" fame).I could probably write pages about how the SERPO journey, and its ultimate destination--Zeta Reticuli--does not make sense scientifically. How can a craft fly at 40 times the speed of light? How can there be two large ""suns"" in the sky on SERPO if the two stars (of the Zeta Reticuli binary system) are separated by a distance of ca. 3750 AU's--a VERY great distance? On a less scientific note, why does the anonymous informant place the ""Ebens"" on Zeta Reticuli, when most people have associated the ""grays"" with Zeta Reticuli? The informant has the ""grays"" living in the Alpha Centauri system.In order for the SERPO story to be beleved, I guess that one must suspend belief in the scientific world and just accept the story as is. If there is a truth behind it, one is going to have to weed out the disinformation and inaccuracies--a challenge that no one has yet been able to meet.",2.0,does not solve the mystery,1367712000,"05 5, 2013",33,46,helpful,0.717391304347826,1 A2ZKNGL20FBK2I,0811847977,konacoffee,"[4, 5]","Not too bad. I did enjoy the tips on handling nosy people who ask why you don't have kids. The comparisons of cars hit home. My two-door sports car sits out amongst ten-seater tanks in any parking lot. And no one has barfed on my leather seats either. The only things I didn't quite agree with were the advice to have adult only events, and eat at fancy restaurants. People will drag the screamers to anything, terrified to be away from them for a few hours. We once had a trivia group who all met once a month for potluck and games. One woman started bringing her bratty kid, even insisting he play too. I can't tell you how people were turned off. As for avoiding restaurants where fried are served with everything by a goofy mascot, true. But we have purposely went to posh eateries for anniversaries, etc, only to have the night ruined there too. It's not too much to ask that if we spend $75 on a meal, we have a peaceful one. Unfortunately there's no place to run! I even fall over ten year old boys in the ladies' room. Either he's too dense to go by himself to the men's room, or Daddy is sitting back at the table too lazy to take him himself. I wish books like these were placed in public areas. Author is right about looking for clues like anything labeled ""family friendly."" Our Army post here is always called FF and we knew right away what it meant. All kid oriented activites, all the time. If you're looking for something to do for just the adults, or you have no kids, you're out of luck! Where can I buy a Baby Not On Board sign for my car?",4.0,My Thoughts Exactly,1310515200,"07 13, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1OQNNY3RZNKGV,0982589441,Fred Furr,"[0, 0]","Except for the rather contrived ending, the story was well-told with an amazing attention to detail. I will continue to watch for more from this author.",5.0,Excellent,1362614400,"03 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3O22PG4MHDI4Y,1477817603,Kathy,"[0, 0]",I thoroughly enjoyed trying to decide if the characters were haunted by other worldly demons or their own. I think we all get to this point at one time or another in our lifetime. The difference is weather or not we can save ourselves when we do!,5.0,Supernatural or what?,1395619200,"03 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A22U5T9Q0GI5GV,0800794532,"Bill Bickley ""Brown Dirt Cowboy""","[8, 8]",A very interesting book on the power of daily contact with God through prayer. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to be in contact with the Heavenly Father and His Son.,5.0,An Excellent Prayer,1304380800,"05 3, 2011",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A3N74RXBP7RAB,0345438329,A. Y. Smittle,"[0, 0]","This was neat---not only did it have an "educated, wordly" knowledge of a small town, but it also took place in a snipet of time; and unusual one--1978. That was the year the biggest thing to hit Big Stone Gap occured---Elizabeth Taylor and her then husband, candidate John Warner visited the town. The story sort of uses that aspect as an "off point" of focus. Its really about Ave Maria, (thats Ah-vay to you) an Eye-talian woman who lives in town--in the town of Big Stone Gap. Her misadventures at the age of 35 are followed through the year; but apparently we don't end there, there are two sequels to this story. This was quite enough for me. It was sweet and quaint. Her friends and family woes were very personal and up front. Quite enjoyable. We know that a small town doesn't mean people have small lives, their dreams are just as big as us citified folk. Perhaps even bigger.There are people in this town without running water or telephone. They live in scary conditions. There are the feriners; there are the overweighters, the teen pregnancies. There are the smokers. This town has it all! Its a very detailed look at a woman who feels her clock is ticking---and needs to take a look at her life and what she wants to do with it. This book was a different line of interest for me. I usually don't read this bestseller, modern stuff. It kept me entertained, thoughtful and sentimental. Recomended.",5.0,A slice of small town life,1052006400,"05 4, 2003",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1N8HBMYNX3N3L,0451238117,Adoration,"[14, 15]","I really, really wanted to like this book because I love the series, but the best I could do was "meh."It seems like more and more authors who write series, or multiple books set in the same world, don't bother with the whole stand alone story anymore. If I wasn't familiar with Morganville, or who Claire, Shane, Michael and Eve were, I'd be so lost that the vampires would get me. But that aside, this story itself didn't really do anything. There was no point to it. It's like that filler episode every TV show has where they just play the "Best-Of-Clips" to fill the 45+ minutes and then tack on a five second revelation at the very end to make the audience feel like the hour they wasted wasn't for nothing.SPOILER ALERT!Naomi is the main villain and...she's not much of one. If the book prior to this would have been a TV episode, it would have had a "TO BE CONTINUED" at the very end because...dun dun dun...It picked up with this book. The Draug are dead, and the vampires are back in charge and they have nothing to be afraid of.END SPOILERSo life is back to normal, everyone's still pissed at the vampires for being vampires, and the vampires are putting on their big boy/girl britches and flexing their muscles because the Founder is flexing hers. So? How is that different from book one? Have the vampires learned NOTHING? Have the humans learned NOTHING? "We vampire, you human. We better. RAWR." And so on and so forth. Claire is still in the middle, Shane is still angry, Michael and Eve are still M&E; Co. So? The vamps hate the human/vampire union so there are threats. So? Why? What are they really doing to stir the waters? We don't really get an explanation. Why is anyone surprised that The Founder is acting like it's the good ol'days? According to Claire they're all used to it so this is familiar waters.But then things happen and as always the rag-tag gang is tested. But all it takes is one out of character move from Michael and the whole house of cards falls apart? Really? After books and books that solidify the bond between the housemates that bond just goes POOF into thin air because Michael does that one (albeit bad) thing? WTF was the point of the other 292929292 books saying how even though Michael is a vamp he's still MICHAEL?And the ending is just a wave of a magic wand and everything is fixed. Except that whole "Shane you hurt me" thing from Claire and in the end let's be honest...she'll forgve him. They'll live happily ever after and the vampires will learn their lesson and blah blah blah.This book is slow. Nothing happens till you're about 76% through the book, and then you have 24% to catch up and make the reader feel like the time they spent on reading it wasn't wasted for nothing. I almost missed the predictive Deus Ex Machina device these books employ and wished some overpowered, superstudly/evil/talented/etc character would pop up and raze the town from the map. Now THAT would have been something different.Unless the super secret device that Claire was working on is something that's going to make an apperance in the next book?",3.0,The most Meh of the Meh so far,1354838400,"12 7, 2012",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 A2GOI8BE5Y88DQ,0345444884,betty ann,"[0, 7]","Too much anger, hate and grizzly human torture. I feel sorry for Stephen King's wife. What a warped mind.each scene was just a repeat of the one before. How many times can you destroy a persons soul.Reminds me of a verse in "Sound of Music" "You must have had a terrible childhood".get a life.....Stephen KingBetty Lester",1.0,Stephen King is warped!,1370044800,"06 1, 2013",0,7,unhelpful,0.0,0 AY9PKG7E82D3W,B007BEDR4Y,Wilcox,"[0, 0]","It is with some reservations that I write this review at the end of season 2. My personal preference would be to wait until the end of the series. But Sean and David did such a masterful job of asking (begging?) for reader reviews at the end of season two that I just couldn't resist. The reason I hesitate is because, well, what if they blow it? What if I invest the money and more importantly the time to read the entire series only to find out that they screw the whole thing up in the finale ( think Lost)? If they screw the pooch before it ends, I'll let you know.The series so far is excellent. The biggest problem I find with most post-apocalyptic stories are the plot holes. Anyone who has read a few of the genre has encountered them, the best we can hope for is that these holes don't ruin our enjoyment of a story. So far Sean and David have done a masterful job of keeping their complicated story from turning into Swiss cheese. Lesser writers usually find themselves trying to write their way out of the pit at the expense of continuity and believability. Their characters are engaging and lovable (and sometimes detestable). So dig in and enjoy!I'm hooked, keep up the good work.",4.0,Excellent So Far....,1397347200,"04 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2GBJQ9THOYDAJ,0765305704,Michael K. Smith,"[4, 6]","Suppose you had access to a time machine and could go back to Athens in 399 BC and save Socrates from the mob's death sentence by hemlock. Suppose Socrates had his own philosophical and political reasons for not wanting to be saved and refused to cooperate. That's the underlying premise of this complexly plotted novel by an author I've never heard of before. The narrative is determinedly nonlinear, the action jumping back and forth among 5th century BC Athens, 4th century AD Alexandria, Roman England, 19th century London, and two different periods in the 21st century in several locations. Some reviewers have complained that this makes the story hard to follow, but I think the author was right in showing just how complicated time travel is (or would be) and how difficult to sort out cause and effect. Unfortunately, Levinson really isn't that good a writer and his prose is very badly in need of editorial assistance. He frequently makes poor word choices and the awkwardness grates. His characters are also pretty one-dimensional, acting erratically and unpredictably, which gives the reader no grasp on the continuity of the story. Sierra/Ampharete, especially, seems very casual about jumping into bed with another man shortly after her fiancé is murdered. Socrates seems not nearly so noble in his motivations as his admirers seem to regard him. And I find it very unlikely that so many people at so many periods of history would so casually accept the reality of time travel from a stranger. (The general response to being told about it, from Alcibiades to a Victorian publisher, seems to be: ""Really? You don't say! Okay, let's go!"") Several plot threads are left dangling, too: How does Sierra escape death in Alexandria? And what the hell happened to Heron, last seen smiling enigmatically? If you want to see how to handle a truly complicated time travel plot, peopled with rounded characters, read David Gerrold's _The Man Who Folded Himself_.",3.0,"Interesting ideas, mediocre execution",1146960000,"05 7, 2006",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A188Q5391NGXZJ,093581065X,Master's Program ECU Student.,"[0, 1]",Desert Survival Handbook : How to Prevent and Handle Emergency by Dennis Smith arrived. The author was listed as Lehman but it looks the same on the cover. It was in fair condition and was what I expected and was as it said. Thank you.,5.0,Desert Survival Handbook.,1355270400,"12 12, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A37MH7ICH80QOX,0399159088,Kate McMurry,"[6, 7]","Evangeline Ames is a spinster by the social standards of Victorian England. She believes she has little chance of ever marrying because her father, an obsessed inventor, left her penniless when he committed suicide a few years after Evangeline's mother's death. Fortunately, after years of struggle, Evangeline has come into her own. She has a budding career writing ""sensation"" novels which are serialized in a newspaper, and she works as a paranormal ""private inquiry agent,"" the historical equivalent of a modern private investigator (PI). She has the paranormal ability of being able to find anything, whether it is something lost, or some information that a criminal wants to hide. She works for an agency run by two women whose three investigators are all women with paranormal talents (the ""ladies of Lantern Street"" of the series title). The agency's primary clients are wealthy women who require a discrete investigation into men who might potentially be out to bilk either them or their heirs.Since Evangeline always works in disguise, rendering her presumably invisible and anonymous to the people she investigates, prior to her most recent investigation, she did not consider her work dangerous. But not long before the story began, someone tried to murder her. Though she successfully defended herself (using means that I can't reveal without a spoiler), it was a tremendous shock. She has come to the small village of Little Digby for a dual purpose, to recover from the trauma of the attack and also to have uninterrupted time to work on her current novel, which has stringent deadlines for regularly delivering chapters to her publisher.At the moment the story opens, Evangeline is struggling with writer's block and boredom. The only interesting thing in the neighborhood is the estate her cottage is attached to. Its gardens are notorious in the area for their weird and deadly plants which, rumor has it, killed the former owner. In spite of--or perhaps because of--these frightening tales, Evangeline has been gingerly exploring the outer areas of the estate, using her paranormal abilities to protect herself from stumbling into trouble with a garden that, she discovers to her delight, actually is infused with potent, paranormal energy.As it turns out, it is extremely fortunate she has been trespassing into the mysterious estate, because another would-be murderer invades her home, and Evangeline flees from him onto the mystical estate grounds. There she encounters her landlord for the first time, the current owner of the estate, Lucas Sebastian. He helps Evangeline head off the murderer, and in the process each learns that the other has paranormal abilities, something neither has ever before encountered in the opposite sex.I've been a fan of Jayne Ann Krentz's contemporary and futuristic romances for many years, but I did not begin reading her historical romances written as Amanda Quick until she added paranormal elements to them with tie-ins to her contemporary, Arcane Society books. I enjoyed the Arcane historical romances so much, I went back and read all the Amanda Quick historicals I had missed and thoroughly enjoyed them all.Crystal Gardens is not directly part of the Arcane world in that none of the previous Arcane Society characters appear within it and the Arcane Society itself is never mentioned. However, the book's paranormal elements have similar names and functions to those in the Arcane series, so those who are fans of Krentz's Arcane books should enjoy this story.In this book, Krentz employs a fan-favorite structure that she has used in essentially every one of her romantic-suspense novels: the hero and heroine meet, discover that each has a mystery to solve, that their mysteries are somehow tied together and, after much (often humorous) back-and-forth, stop fighting against each other and join forces. Besides this book, Krentz has also written multiple other historical romances set in Victorian England in which either the hero, heroine or both are PI's, and it is a theme that works well within the romantic suspense genre.Evangeline is a classic Krentz heroine. She is independent, morally staunch, and determined to the point of bullheaded stubbornness. Best of all, she is as willing and capable as the hero of being a positive, protective warrior, which is demonstrated by her regularly defending herself, the hero, and helpless victims from the depredations of the villain.In this story, as in all Krentz's novels, the heroine and hero are fascinatingly unique to the point of being eccentric--a tendency that is amplified in Krentz's paranormal novels by the addition of magical powers to the mix. The unconventional abilities and goals of Krentz's protagonists have inevitably led to isolation and loneliness, and in each other they experience for the first time real understanding, appreciation and acceptance. This is a huge reason why Krentz's romances are never just festivals of sexual chemistry. Instead, they always present a vital meeting of minds and spirits between the protagonists, making it possible for the reader to truly believe what all romance novels aim for (and many fail to achieve), that the protagonists are ""soul mates"" destined for each other.I personally find Krentz's overt use of recurrent themes and plot structures to be an asset, not a liability. It makes her a dependably entertaining writer. She knows how to write romantic suspense, and she does it well, every time. In addition, her characters are always strong, and their blood relations and families of affiliation can be counted on to provide entertaining and emotionally satisfying interactions, whether they are acting as mentors, allies, or humorously subverting the protagonists with ""friendly fire."" Most of all, readers can count on Krentz for her skill as a writer. Her use of paranormal elements is logically consistent, and her command of language is smooth, clear, and never calls irritating attention to itself with gimmicky flourishes. In short, her writing gets out of the way and lets the story take center stage.I rate this novel as follows:Heroine: 4Hero: 4Subcharacters: 4Fantasy World-Building: 4Romance Plot: 4Action-Adventure Plot: 4Writing: 5Overall: 4",4.0,"Book 1 in a new Jayne Ann Krentz paranormal, historical, romantic-suspense trilogy",1334793600,"04 19, 2012",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 ATYUCHXRF1OWE,B00359FHZ6,Mark,"[0, 0]","Absolutely loved this book! In fact, after finishing immediately purchased the next book. This book is extremely well written and kept my turning pages kart into the evening.",5.0,excellent read,1389052800,"01 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2Z61QVBMKSI6K,0131014161,"DaveHwriter ""DaveHwriter""","[0, 0]","I am doing a self-study of physics. Found early on that it takes a number of different general text books and several books focused on areas of interest (electromagnetics, in my case). So I have seen a lot of the books around this topic. I can safely say that this is one of the truly BEST general physics textbooks. Well organized text, plenty of pictures, and for those that want to get their pencils into it, lots of practice problems.",5.0,One of the Best General Physics Textbooks,1321056000,"11 12, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZ9YR63CDAIJS,1564518671,Kelci,"[0, 0]","I bought this for my classroom and only after a few weeks it started falling apart. I should have laminated it I guess, but it didn't hold up as long as I had hoped.",2.0,It's ok,1363651200,"03 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2BQI5KX1MOYXW,0385503490,nvr-FL,"[0, 0]","Everyone should read this book, but especially everyone of Dutch descent. This is the non revisionist (non English) history of the orginal Dutch settlement in the New World. It is a fairly easy read with real people as interesting, or more so, than any novelist could make up. It is fascinating. The author really did his research! A two thumbs up.",5.0,great history of Manhattan,1357430400,"01 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1A3ATZCVOKP11,0738708860,Chris Sellick,"[9, 10]","I wanted a book that would explain the benefits of colour and how and where to use it.This is the book I wanted.The book starts off with how we use colour everyday.It then explains interesting information on each of the colours:red,orange,yellow,green.blue,indigo,violet,pink,white,brown,black,silver and gold.There are sections on candle burning,kombolois,how to determine your colours,life path numbers and much more.This book has a lot to offer.Could have used a few colour photos as examples but as it,its the best book I found.",5.0,The ideal book.,1188604800,"09 1, 2007",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 AX7VRHP4NRBOH,0764209272,Sherri Wilson Johnson,"[0, 0]","Inescapable by Nancy Mehl was my first Mennonite book. I surprisingly enjoyed it. Nancy has a way of capturing your heart from the very first few pages. Lizzie Engel ran away from her Mennonite community when she was only eighteen. The last thing she ever wanted to do was return. But five years later, Lizzie finds herself in a dangerous situation and she returns home feeling it would be better to face the scrutiny and criticism of her parents and former community than to become a victim of the person who is sending her threatening letters. When Lizzie returns home, she feels safe for a while but then the threats start back up. She doesn’t know who to trust. This young woman is faced with mending broken relationships and with learning to let go of anger and resentment from her past. It’s really the only way she can learn to love and to trust. I loved the way Nancy mixed the Mennonite world, the secular world (which Lizzie has returned from), and regular non-denominational belief in God. She was able to keep me guessing, keep me engaged, and even mystify me quite a number of times. I received this book free from Bethany House in exchange for a review. I highly recommend it!",4.0,Enjoyed my first Amish read!,1394323200,"03 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1H72DULSEGDX7,0060293152,hiphopgirl_1000,"[9, 14]","Gail Carson Levine returns in another fantasy just as good as her beloved newberry winning Ella Enchanted! In the Two Princesses of Bamarre Levine writes of two princess sisters who are just the opposite of eachother. Addie is shy, quiet, and afraid of spiders. Meryl is strongwilled, brave, and loud.The male lead character is Rhys a beginner sorcerer who Addie has secret feelings for.The story begins as the Gray Death, the most feared disease among all the citizens of Barmarre strikes Meryl. Addie can't bear to see Meryl die for there is no cure. She is frustrated that her cowardly father isn't brave enough to go and find a cure for her sister. So she sets out on a secret mission with tools given to her by her sister, the physician,Rhys, and her mother she sets out on a journey that she will always remember. Inspired by her hero, Drault, Addie encounters beasts, orges, sepctors, and the Dragon Volley whom her sister Meryl had wished to slay. Addie using advice from Rhys manages to get the cure out of Volleys. However she is trapped in Volleys den and time is running out for Addie!This book was very enchanting. You would never be able to guess the ending. I think that was the best part of the book for it was really very creative and again enchanting!!",5.0,Great Fantasy,1001203200,"09 23, 2001",9,14,helpful,0.6428571428571429,1 AOT86E19KMKOJ,046502081X,"J. Groen ""Jerry Groen""","[11, 12]","I must say that when I first bought this book, I didn't know what to expect. The reviews weren't the best and this time in history wasn't one of my favorites.However, when I opened the book and started reading it, I was impressed. The pictures that it painted of this period of time, where very good. The Ottoman Empire of that period was a very dictatorial environment with the Sultan running everything and disobedience resulting in death. And, when they attacked a Christian city, the inhabitants were provided two options prior to the start of the siege - either surrendur or die. At the end of the battles, if the inhabitants did not surrender, the results were truly barbaric.This was the lead in to the campaign that resulted in a near run affair of the siege of a major European city in 1683 - the siege of Vienna. The city was under siege for 2 months - and the book shares the specifics of the bombardment, the Ottoman mining (which they were very good at), the assaults of Ottomans (after mines were exploded taking down some of the city walls), the defense and the potential loss of the city. As the book continued through this section describing these events, I couldn't put it down. I kept wondering what it must have been like to experience this. And, what would have happened to the thousands of people in the city, if the city was taken.The highlight of the book is the arrival of the ""cavalry"". A joint army of units from Poland, Saxony and other locations arrives in the nick of time, fights a battle with the Ottomans that ends with a successful heroic attack of the Polish Winged Hussars. You can just picture the result as you are reading the book - the hussars attacking with their lances, chasing the Ottomans and routing them.The end of the book is somewhat anti-climatic relating how the Christian armies then attacked and threw the Ottomans out of Buda (Pest), Belgrade and other Balkan cities and states resulting in the elimination of a future threat.As you read this, you can get a sense of why, to this date, there are animosities in that region between the Christians and Muslims what with the barbarism that occurred - beheadings, flayings, impalings, etc. for the poor losers. There was very little mercy towards civilians and prisoners.This is a great book on a fairly unknown period of history that also provides some perspective on why the Christian and Muslim animosities exist. For this reason, I highly recommend this book.",5.0,Fascinating Story of an Important Historical Event,1256083200,"10 21, 2009",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A8IPQ1Q1O7YX5,0307385868,"Roger Brunyate ""reader/writer/musician""","[4, 4]","Much of this story is set in and among the small barren islands of the Östergötland archipelago in the Baltic off the East coast of Sweden. And the novel suits the setting, bleak and emotionally icebound, but with a curious fascination that will not let you stop reading. It is written like an archipelago too, in very short chapters (206 in 403 pages), some little more than a paragraph, with a lot of white space between them. The style is unadorned and declarative; even emotional matters are stated flatly, as facts of the moment, with little sense of movement through time. But time does inch forward between one brief chapter and the next, almost imperceptibly, like a slow drip of water, gradually eroding any sense of normality and order.Mankell has always written simply and clearly; I enjoy his Inspector Wallander mysteries (especiallyTHE FIFTH WOMAN) for their combination of straightforward storytelling and psychological insight, set within a realistic portrayal of contemporary Swedish life. I know I will read others in the series with pleasure, but DEPTHS is completely different. Instead of the concrete present, it takes place in an uncertain past, at the outbreak of the 1914-18 war when Sweden's neutrality was still in doubt. Instead of being rooted in cities and towns on dry land, it takes place mostly at sea, on ships or tiny rocky islands. Instead of opening to a rich social world of human beings interacting with one another, it gradually closes in to the mind of one man, obsessive, misanthropic, ultimately mad, as he gradually loses all normal contact with his fellow human beings.The book begins in madness, a woman escaping from a mental hospital. She is soon recaptured, and we flash back to 1914 to meet her husband, Lars Tobiasson-Svartman, sane, upright, and well respected. A Swedish naval officer, he is charged with making depth soundings that will establish secret channels between offshore islands for naval vessels to use in case of war. Svartman pursues his work with obsessive professionalism; if there are strange things about him, we assume they have to do with details of his secret mission which will be revealed in due course. Only gradually do we see his obsession as part of his character, and secretiveness as his very essence. By the time he encounters a woman living alone on one of the islands, and gets drawn into a double life of secrets upon secrets, his downward spiral becomes inevitable. The poor woman of the prologue may have lost her reason, but the cause of her madness lies elsewhere.Imagine a Dostoyevsky on downers, cooler, less complex, but with the same dogged pursuit of his protagonist as he declines into psychosis. I hated this book, but have to admire Mankell's power as a writer. Even in translation, the man is good!",3.0,A Frozen Archipelago,1216080000,"07 15, 2008",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2O9XSEQFDJX0A,0764146955,Hannibaal,"[4, 9]","Excellent book. I highly recommend this book based on my son's feedback and his test results. Also, the book arrived quickly and was new and in great condition.",5.0,On time and just as expected,1337817600,"05 24, 2012",4,9,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A2T5CA50KXS9RY,0440211697,"P. Carbone ""Obsessive-Compulsive Bookaholic""","[0, 0]",I purchased this book years ago and immediately added it to my KEEPER shelf! It is a great alternative tale to the orginial PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.,5.0,Great love story,1307923200,"06 13, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19MLEHXMXNVWK,0743200144,"Chris MB ""CMB""","[0, 0]","Iain Banks has proven himself a master of various genres including science fiction, fantasy and plain old fiction. The Business is his latest contribution to the ""regular"" fiction genre. And Banks does not disappoint.The Business follows the life of a woman who works for ""the business,"" an age-old company shrouded in mystery. Without revealing plot or storylines, let me just assure that Banks continues to do all the things he does so well - excellent character development, mystery and intrigue, excellent storytelling and settings and an overriding sense of morality that seems to guide most of the characters in his novels. Again Banks proves why he deserves such respect as an insightful and innovative author.Frankly the only reason why I can't give The Business five stars is that, compared to some of his other works such as The Bridge and The Player of Games, The Business, while excellent, does not quite measure up to his potential. But almost any effort by Banks is worth reading.",4.0,Not The Best Banks but Worth The Read,989884800,"05 15, 2001",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2GXX77LTFZV7G,0399153497,Leslie Butler,"[12, 14]","I am so excited to write this book review because I absolutely loved Tied to the Tracks. The synopsis of the story doesn't really sound all that exciting: documentary company (Tied to the Tracks of the title) from New Jersey is selected to do the documentary of a famous southern writer, Ms. Zula May Bragg, in Ogilvie, GA. The catch is that the head of the documentary company, Angie, and the department chair of the college where the famous writer is a teacher, John, were once lovers, and John is engaged to be married to the youngest sister of the other rich family in the town.That said, the story was very exciting, fun to read, and enjoyable in all the right ways. The tension between John and Angie is so tight that the book fairly tingles with it.What I absolutely love about Lippi/Donati's work is her sense of language. She captures the cadence and rhythm of language in a way that makes the conversations and thoughts of the characters ""sound"" in your head. The telephone conversation between Tony Russo (one of the filmmakers) and his mother in New Jersey was a delight to read. I was also excited to see that Lippi accurately placed the origin of Frito Pie in East Texas. It's little details like this that make the world she built in Ogilvie, GA, feel as hot, humid, and muggy as it would be if it were a real town just an hour outside of Savannah.I know that a book I am reading strikes a chord with me when I start to have conversations with the characters and imagine what they would do in my world. The characters in TTTT came to life for me, and I had imaginary conversations with them all week. I am going to miss them now that I've read the book and have to place it back on my bookshelf.",5.0,Enjoyable in all the right ways...,1154649600,"08 4, 2006",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1KGWUYXUBEMB2,0805097767,J. A Magill,"[12, 17]","A first novel has a lot in common with meeting someone at a party: introductory information (context, clothes, blurbs) tend towards the shallow, first impressions carry a lot of weight, but it takes a while to settle if this is someone you’d ever want to speak to again (or, in the case of a novel, something you’d like to keep reading). Joshua Max Feldman’s “The Book of Jonah” comes with a lovely cover and blurbs sure to catch attention and an ambitious concept. In terms of first impressions, he quickly proves himself to be an able – indeed, exuberant! – writer. Feldman revels in language and characterization. His concept is bold, almost recklessly so, and he barrels forward without even a hint of doubt. Such energy carries the reader forward on a magic carpet of excitement. Yet the power of language can only propel that carpet so far; Feldman’s high concept goal of offering a loose modern retelling of the Jonah story sags as the book enters its middle section. At times interesting and engaging, each reader will judge how this novel’s strengths balance against its occasional reliance on the stockiest of stock characters, a tendency to lurch into melodrama, and the author’s apparent decision late in the game to simply abandon his concept as he rushes into the novel’s end.By and standard, Feldman’s novel is high concept with a capital HIGH, his goal being to craft a modern retelling of one of the Bible’s most enigmatic stories (and if you think Jonah’s tale is straight forward or explicable, then you are thinking of the Sunday School version). Thus we have brilliant corporate lawyer Jonah Jacobstein in the title role, a Jew so not religious as to border on irreligious (though he doesn’t ever even give it that much thought). If the original text offers us precious little about the ancient Jonah, Feldman opts for the entire opposite approach: he gives us his Jonah in every aspect (including several discussions of his naked form) analyzing his every motivation and doubt. Jonah is a rising star in his law firm. He is dating Sylvia (a sort of two dimensional WASPy ideal) and sleeping with Zoey (Jewish and artsy who starts out quite interesting yet grows flatter as the novel progresses). Everything seems on track to for Jonah to receive all he could desire: he drafted to work on his firm’s most important client, a sure golden ticket to partnership, moving in with Sylvia and seeing Zoey on the side for sex and decent conversation. Yet it begins to fall apart – as of course it must – when he begins to literally hear from God even as he finds out that working for the client will strain his ethics to the breaking point.Over laid on this Jonah story is a whole other plot involving Judith. As the novel moves back and forth between these seemingly unrelated strands, the reader of course knows that they will eventually come together, a thing at first anticipated and eventually simply longed for. While buoyed by Feldman’s skill as a writer, Judith who begins with much potential, quickly descends into the tragic land of characters dragged about not because of anything beyond naked authorial intent. She’s brilliant. She suffers tragedy (and without spoiling, it is a tragedy rapidly growing into a new literary cliché), and tragedy begets tragedy. Her story is there, you’ll pardon the double meaning, to service Jonah’s, and we come to just want Feldman to get it over with and let us in on the eventual meeting.As for Feldman’s prose, his sentences often read as a combination of the best of Philip Roth and Martin Amis: orgiastic in the page, and especially in the beginning, ebullient in effect. That he deploys these gifts to build fine characterizations only wets the reader’s appetite. Consider for example this fine first description when we meet Zoey: “Indeed, nothing that bothered her so much about herself bothered him at all; he even found the persistence of all the (to him baseless) anxieties charming. And as watched her frowning at whatever she was hearing on the phone, still chewing her thumbnail (a habit she had been trying to break for as long as he’d known her)…there really was so much about her he found charming: the inchoate worries; her candor, her wit; her idiosyncratic habit of only cursing in languages other than English; the drama of her facial expressions – she being a woman whose brow furrowed, whose laughter was loud and open mouthed, whose nervousness brought tautness from her forehead to her chin, whose almond shaped brown eyes narrowed and darted, and whose head tilted just so when she was flirting.”Now, this is a great description. We as readers are fully engaged in Jonah’s view through the lens of his heart. Yet the author seems to pay little heed the effort such sentences place on his reader. Unlike other writers who share his penchant to wallow in language, (Chabon comes to mind) Feldman piles such descriptions one on the other. Feldman’s keen eye which gives us one character’s “smooth hairless hands” and describes a punishing summer with “heat that seemed to trap each New Yorker in his or her own personal lobster pot,” entices his reader. Yet in offering seemingly everything this fine treatment, he makes it hard for his reader to figure out where to focus. Metaphors that delight at the beginning, pile up like a tragic highway accident and eventually simply exhaust. Yes, they are excellent (such as when Jonah sees a vision of everyone in his office naked, one woman “…with an arc of moles and freckles across her chest and small dark areolae capping her breasts like tiny yarmulkes”), but one almost wonders whether Feldman want to impress us with his overdrive prose or expects us to cry uncle.With the reader’s exhaustion, comes a certain cantankerousness. Loose plot points and cookie cutter characters (the immaculate, inscrutable, Asian genius with a weakness for hookers and fortune cookie dialogue for example or the rapacious, loutish, libertine casino magnate who is randy as he is Randian) ware more than they otherwise might. The whole Judith plot line at times arrives with all the subtlety of a dropped ACME safe. Moreover, one wonders whether Feldman made the conscious choice to go overboard in dissecting each and everyone of his character’s motivations, leaving little if anything to the imagination.For all these short comings, “The Book of Jonah” is often a fine read. Feldman’s sharp sense of humor can create cutting bits of social satire. As is often the case with first novels that show such strengths, one cannot but wonder whether there wasn’t something extraordinary that might have emerged with sufficient editorial guidance, a tragedy in and of itself. Given his obvious talent, I will certainly pick up his next book. Still, instead of satisfaction, this novel’s end arrives mostly with a sense of tired relief.",3.0,"Chasing the whale, instead of being swallowed by it",1389052800,"01 7, 2014",12,17,helpful,0.7058823529411765,1 A1A10XS819B5WK,1569243204,"Susan Clay ""TrueBlue""","[7, 8]","I read Dr.Livingston's book Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart and it became my secular bible; I read it and re-read it for comfort and advice. This book is more of the same; just good advice on how to live life in a meaningful way with as much kindness as possible for our fellow human beings. He is pithy and wise and I highly recommend both books.",5.0,Good sense is not that common,1189987200,"09 17, 2007",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A1PICZ0ICCSCS5,0801065739,William Petruzzo,"[5, 5]","Arthur W. Pink's The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross is more than a long title. It's also a detailed and challenging look at the last things Jesus said. The dying savior expended precious breath on the cross and we ought to listen carefully to what he says there.Pink uses one chapter, and a total of 139 pages, for each of the seven things Jesus said while dying: the word of Forgiveness (Luke 23:34), the word of Salvation (Luke 23:42-43), the word of Affection (John 19:25-27), the word of Anguish (Matthew 27:46), the word of Suffering (John 19:28), the word of Victory (John 19:30) and the word of Contentment (Luke 23:46). Each of the seven chapters is then broken down into seven profound insights (some more than others) on what Jesus said, why he said it, and the far reaching implications for us who hear it.Pink is a classic writer. No where near as classic as some of our Puritan friends. He lived from the late 1800's all the way through to the the 1950's. But a classic writer none the less. Seven Sayings is among the easiest Christian books I've read. The words roll off the page into your mind and there's no confusion about what he's saying. However, unlike most modern Christian literature, this is worth reading. He doesn't stay away from theologically important ideas and he never lets Jesus' words just stay information bouncing around in our heads. He always tries to help guide these things down into our hearts and lives. He's not always successful, but there's much to be said for trying.Pink adhered to a pretty rigid structure in this book. Seven chapters. Seven sub-sections, per chapter. Unfortunately, it seems that because of that there were points made that perhaps aren't especially relevant. Although an irrelevant point can still be deeply impacting. However, in terms of his immediate goal, it may have been better to leave them out for the sake of staying on topic.Aside from that one very minor complaint, Seven Sayings was an excellent read. A great companion for meditating on the Work of Christ and its impact on our lives. I recommend anyone and everyone read it.",4.0,A refreshing meditation on the nuances of the Cross.,1225929600,"11 6, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2USS6AUZ5JYH8,0965680959,mcv57,"[5, 19]","How to you spell charlatan : R-e-n-a-r-d. New age babble and creative novelity at its best. As an intelligent being, I found many flaws in the authors principles of the universe - none of the author's claims verifies any authentic validity to public record. If anything, the composition and theory resembles much of past author's principles on metaphyics - new age thought (Holmes, Stein, etc). Indeed, the author borrows some doctrine from ""A Course in Miracles"", another new age religion.Yes, I give one star for such elaborated fiction, the book is somewhat hypotheising . . . until reason actually enters the mind, ask yourself, ""has this guy raise the dead or made the blind walk."" NO, he is not the choosen one, nor has the members of the cult ""A Course in Miracles."" As a Christian, I wonder why so many people replaced God for such whim fable - are they tired of waiting?",1.0,One star for creative Science Fiction.,1195862400,"11 24, 2007",5,19,helpful,0.2631578947368421,1 A3NR6YPZDDTR7W,0425159418,"Mamalinde ""mamalinde""","[6, 6]","Another remarkably resourceful Texas cozy mystery, featuring China Bayles, former lawyer turned herb shop owner. China is on a post-Christmas overload, needing some soothing winding down time to consider whether to accept an offer to sell the herb shop, and whether to stick around Pecan Springs with McQuaid and son. She heads for some solitude at a quiet monastery where the sisters raise garlic. Full of garlic tidbits and trivia, the plotting is excellent and the characterization clever. Not only does China immediately find herself involved investigating some odd happenings, she also finds an old flame has moved into the vicinity.Ms. Albert sketches the setting so well, I feel as if I had a brief respite. And there is an exceptionally fun website for China (and friends) at mysterypartners.com, where you can visit between books.",5.0,Will Someone Get Away With Murder?,986256000,"04 3, 2001",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1Y8RCHBCSA5BK,0385537859,dave,"[0, 0]",The difficulty of having a hero with a singular talent is that it is difficult to use that talent in multiple ways. From the triumph of the da Vinci Code Langdon's adventures have gotten more absurd and formulated. This will be the last of Brown's books I read unless he can get a different character with a potential to grow.,2.0,Time to put Langdon to rest,1374451200,"07 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1S13OOZA8O1VP,B00BZAAY5K,Momof3,"[0, 0]",A super sweet fast read that has a few hot spots .It Leaves you smiling in the end. It would be a great beach read..,3.0,Book Candy!!,1374710400,"07 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3L9V7IC0UO55M,B00ET9VIZE,janet,"[0, 1]","The book was not as good as I had expected,but I finished the book. I am not sure if it helped,but it didn't hurt.",3.0,Stressbuster,1398988800,"05 2, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2PLOMP1K1EYI8,1467946516,runruby,"[0, 0]","I thought that this was a very compelling book! The action was enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. I found the characters and the story to be very believable.I found it refreshing that our heroine was believable. She was neither overly-aggressive, nor disturbingly passive. She was somewhere in the middle. She sometimes was defensive, sometimes offensive, and I think that is a true picture of how any woman works. The plot line was entirely predictable, but it didn't bother me, because although I felt sure I knew the end of the book, getting there was exciting! There were enough twists and turns to keep me intrigued and involved.My only regret in this book was that I felt that the author was FORCING us to read the next book. I prefer each book to wrap up and be done, as opposed to openly teasing the start of the new book. However, that is my preference, and may not be yours.Happy reading!",4.0,Compelling,1363305600,"03 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2QG0KAYV98S7,0609605836,"""ceciline""","[0, 0]","I absolutely love this book! The topic is personal to me, because I too like Venus, am constantly in battle with processed hair vs. the perceived validation of peers. Although this is a work of fiction, the descriptions are honest in detail about how we as women evaluate our beauty through our hair, and how others respond to it. I especially value the underlying message - which is that confidence and self-assurance comes from within- not significant others, friends, family or coworkers. The self reflection is amazing- and perfect for a reader like myself who is on the fence about cutting my hair and reclaiming my independence- or maintaining the expensive and time consuming look of permed tresses. This debut novel is witty, humorous, and all to true in chronicling Venus's evolution from weekly visits at the salon to battling hateful comments like ""pickaninny"" once she goes natural. I appreciate that the context was not just in first person, but instead we are able to hear the thoughts and opinions of Clint the sincere- too good to be true doctor of four years, and Kandi the beautiful heartbroken 3rd grade teacher who wants to win Clint's affection. Venus is a colorful heroine whom I really became attached too, and I found myself pacing my reading so that the story wouldn't come to an end. Go out and purchase this wonderful novel and enjoy!",5.0,"A wonderful story, no lye!",975888000,"12 4, 2000",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ACV5MOOTBQK9H,1781167427,fastreader,"[5, 5]","This is a collection of short stories within the Newbury and Hobbes world of England in the early 1900’s.There are stories of apparitions, stories of marvellous machinery, ancient treasure and a run in with someone who bested Newbury several times.If you have read the novels in this series by George Mann, namely “The Affinity Bridge”, “The Osiris Ritual”, “The Immorality Engine”, and “The Executioners Heart” you will be right at home.Even if you haven’t read any of the novels these short stories will allow you a peak into the world that George Mann has created for his characters.Much like Sherlock Holmes; Newbury likes to logic his way to a problems solution but sometimes he just goes charging in.EntertainingIt should be noted that the story entitled “The case of the Nightcrawler” also appears in the book “Encounters of Sherlock Holmes” which was edited by George Mann. As I have also read this fine book I guess it’s only fair that he have his story in this anthology.",4.0,Anthology of short stories within the Steampunk world of Newbury & Hobbes Investigations,1382918400,"10 28, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1UYW239TBQQQ6,060616944X,DiamondDoula,"[0, 0]","This one actually also teaches telling time, something I did not know when I bought it. My son enjoyed this one as well. Great idea",5.0,Cute,1398124800,"04 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2KPDSXH69XM78,0451214471,TxKifr,"[4, 4]","Great book. These are the stories of what well selected and trained guys can do when not hamstrung by risk averse commanders. The words ""hero"" and ""warrior"" get thrown around so much these days that they have lost their meaning. I am a vet so I feel I am qualified to say that everyone in uniform is not a hero nor a warrior. Heroes more often than not, don't come home. Warriors are few and far between. You can read about them in Plaster's books.",5.0,Shows what Special Forces Are Capable Of,1227312000,"11 22, 2008",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A22GGHISKRVAOX,0615591736,J. Michael Gallen,"[5, 5]",A good paranormal romance novel about a girl named Ana who falls in love with a shapeshifter named Chance. There are some minor grammar errors but it's an enjoyable read.,4.0,Good Modern Fantasy,1399507200,"05 8, 2014",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AKE301HB2410P,0800719425,"Perelandra Kilns ""Knowledge is Eternal.""","[5, 15]","It seems that the following review says more about the belief system of the author than it does about the book in question. However, I came across this book today, and made a note of it because I am always interested in reading about our nation's history for the pure joy of it. It is actually the first in a series of three, and from what I gathered after browsing it, seems to be a great compliment to the excellent American history books ""America: The Last Best Hope"" by William Bennett and Paul Johnson's A History of the American people. I look forward to digging deep into this one (and hope it comes out on a kindle format soon).The following review is a great example of what happens when a worldview grounded in truth is rejected:1.0 out of 5 stars Fundamentalist's Wet Dream, July 19, 2009By William W. Roberts ""wwrober""In 2004, I graduated from Hebron Christian Academy in Dacula, GA, a private, Southern Baptist high school, which, over the four years I was there, saw the quality of its educational offerings drastically diminish. My junior year, we began reading the Marshall series The Light and the Glory. I became intimate with the book, as it was tested on several exams and served as the cornerstone of my teacher's historical philosophy (though he would not have understood it as such, reading all history as he did through the lens of his religious leanings--it would have appeared to him as almost self-evident).The book is, simply put, the manifestation of an already dominant (if at times subconscious) national narrative of American exceptionalism. In fact, the roots of this narrative stem not from a history of some divine dictum that can be found somewhere in our past, but rather emerges from the Present. It is the result of a national need to see the United States as an unassailable force for good. However, the very field that Marshall seeks to engage--that is, the field of historical scholarship--has shown again and again that America is perhaps not unassailable, that it has often been the agent of oppression in many forms.This book is a dream, and not unlike those had by pubescent young boys, led to a worthless puddle of ejaculate.",5.0,A great complement to Johnson's and Bennet's Histories,1248134400,"07 21, 2009",5,15,helpful,0.3333333333333333,1 A6HYUCFV2SUNW,B006HMDJN0,Niina "For The Love of Reading!","[11, 13]","Jena has come to Texas to sign off her part of the ranch to Harmon Steele Great Aunt Sally's neighbor - or so her brothers think. With a mind of her own she wants to see the ranch first, what she doesn't expect seeing is a hot cowboy in the elevator who grants her one of her fantasies. Too bad it's going to be a quickly because she has a ""signing"" to go to.Harm's well and satisfied after the stint with a stranger in the elevator, too bad it had to be so short, but when he walks in to get the papers signed he's shocked to see Jena in the room with all her brothers, talk about little awkward. When Jena refuses to sign he takes her to Sally's ranch to persuade her, but a storm and crash change all plans.Jena knows it's not polite but she decides to give Harm one fantasy, just like he gave her one, he didn't know he had, as the crash causes a temporary memory lapse Jena tells Harm she's his girlfriend and they are talking marriage. Commitment phobic Harm sure gets a lot to think about, but Jena also begins to think maybe playing Harm wasn't the best of ideas, the man has a sexy possessive streak a mile wide and as his girl she's inside that mile.Harm's Hunger is one sexy short novella! It's my introduction to Bad in Boots series and I sure am sold! Staring off with a hot scene in the elevator is not a bad way to kick things off in my book, establishes undeniable attraction well and sets a sexy tempting tone for the rest of the book. Michelle writes completely believable characters and her use of dialogue is great nothing corny of fake about it - which makes for great reading!Jena was a little sneaky and I loved her for it! Her pretending to be Harm's girlfriend was a nice little walk on the naughty side, and her dilemma when he wanted to have sex was so much fun to read! Harm you just can't help falling for, he's a big built guy, strong, capable, caring, possessive and passionate - and okay I so have a thing for cowboys who don't take no for an answer. ;) Harm was a delicious mix of alpha male and cowboy in the best possible mix, and I loved seeing him begin to get out of his afraid of relationships mode as he contemplates what it would be like to be married to Jena.So why not 5 stars? Mainly because it was tad bit too short, I loved it a ton but I would have loved it even more if it had had more basic everyday stuff, they were isolated in the ranch during the storm and I would have loved some non-storm time after the storm passed maybe some cold feet on Jena and Harm going after her.The second bookTy's Temptation, Cowboy Romance (Bad in Boots series, Book 2)is out and I have a chance to read it as well and I have high expectations! But after all Patrice Michelle writes so well it's an absolute joy to read her work, so I'm not worried! ;)",4.0,Hot and a little wicked...,1332892800,"03 28, 2012",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A1I63EAIM6AO6Z,1555620094,Theresa Threadgill,"[0, 0]",Great book for quilting ideas. Good information for new learners. There are new quilters coming up and they need good information to allow them to continue on.,5.0,Quilts of Illusion,1383436800,"11 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27N0M5APOF0UD,1484013387,Dawn Mondry,"[0, 0]","I really enjoyed the continuation of Noel and Lanie's story. First loves reconnecting and starting over again. Noel and Lane, are made for each other, they are both stubborn and hot headed and feisty, but love each other more than anything. Noel wants Lanie to be his forever and is determined to make that happen. Every time he plans on asking Lanie to be his wife something comes up. The ending was beautifully written..Noel's set up for proposing to Lanie on the docks was so greatly described I felt like I was there. My emotions ran high and I got choked up as I read it. Noel.... the rock star bad boy which such a BIG romantic side to him it just HOT.....",5.0,"Hot, Romance, Love all in one......",1377129600,"08 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AYJ22I3NM8ZFR,0802471676,"James Forsyth ""www.jamesforsyth.net""","[6, 8]","This booklet is a great resource for any serious reader of the Bible. I take it with me whenever I take my Bible with me. I couldn't fault any of the choices Mr Kohlenberger has made regarding where to place readings in the chronology.The author (p9) uses and recommends the New International Version of the Scriptures. A fine choice. My favorite too. If, however, you wish to attempt to read the King James Version through, another booklet you may find handy is ""The King James Bible Companion: Over 500 archaic words defined"" 1999: David W. Daniels, Chick Publications. This could be used simultaneously with the booklet under discussion as it is not a reading plan and is also very slim for travel purposes.Two pleas to the potential user:(1) The readings list itself being only a few pages (aside from the commentaries and other material): Please avoid the temptation to photocopy for yourself or others. Mr Kohlenberger deserves every cent he can make from the sales of this excellent resource. I purchased several for my young people's group at Church, and have had very positive feedback.(2) Avoid denigrating the order in which God's Word has come down to us. Whilst following the guide is an excellent way to learn the Scriptures, avoid comments, particularly in sermons, like: ""Whoever put the Bible together must have been very disorganised."" Not exactly an edifying approach!",5.0,Highly portable Bible companion,1113264000,"04 12, 2005",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A298MJI79G3WB8,0892729066,"Joseph C. Klope Jr. ""Chet""","[0, 0]",New to vegetarian cooking and eating but I am really loving this book. Wonderful recipes with not too much complexity.,5.0,Wonderful Book,1394409600,"03 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A85A0CHS7KQE5,1416989412,"Books Obsession ""Ashley""","[11, 13]","For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.Wow, I'm still speechless to how terrific this book was. One of the best I've ever read? YES.This novel is filled to the brim with creativity, and a summary that will hold your attention even past the last page. I was really absorbed in Nora's story and her character felt so alive and real to me. Even by the first few sentences in the book, I was already hooked. And unlike some books that start out great, and eventually lose my interest, this one did the opposite. I was craving more of the story the closer I got to the end. And I actually read the last chapter extremely slow, just so I could savor it that much more.The twist at the end was GREAT. I was definitely not expecting it. Throughout the book I kept making mental predictions of who could be the ""bad guy"" or villain, and I was way off the whole time, ha! But oh man, the suspense in this book was killer. With Nora being stalked by a stranger in a ski mask, out to deliberately murder her? Creepy! But addicting to know what would happen next.Patch. The mysterious, sexy, bad-boy. He was one of the best male fictional characters - and I'd choose him over Edward any day! I loved how the author portrayed him, and kept him secretive. It made me long to know about his past, which he purposely tried to avoid talking about with Nora. Which brings me to my next point - their relationship. Wow the chemistry between them was so believable! Nora's a very smart girl with self-control, which I liked. She didn't throw herself at Patch, even though she wanted to, and tried logical thinking to stay away from him.",5.0,Simply Amazing!,1295654400,"01 22, 2011",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A3VSY8YBQGKH9T,B00IGGCCUQ,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Absolutely loved this. When faced with demons of this magnitude, fight with them, and come out a better person than before is what makes a good book great. The fact it is in dual PIC format makes it that much sweeter. I look forward to more great literary works from this author",5.0,Loved it,1397260800,"04 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 APSA3QOD3UA80,1439262225,"L. Cagnassola ""Laurie Cagnassola""","[8, 8]","As usual, Jimmy Moore does not disappoint. This book is a must read for anyone who is seriously interested in improving health, losing weight and understanding why low carb is the preferred way to eat. Two factors make this book so important and worthwhile reading now. The first is it comes to the market at a time when governing agencies like the ADA, AHA are beginning to admit the value of carb restriction for better health. Secondly, Jimmy provides the reader with information obtained directly from the researchers that have provided the science behind the changes in nutritional recommendations that are slowly emerging.Over the years many myths surrounding a carb restricted lifestyle have generated a lot of media and an influx of diet books that have put a negative spin on carb restriction and promote a high carbohydrate lifestyle while research scientists were hard at work in the lab proving otherwise. Medical doctors who switched their patients from the usually recommended low fat diet to low carb diets were seeing great improvements not only in body mass but overall health. These are the people Jimmy talked with - the people who actually achieved the results first hand, the doctors who cured patients with diet and the scientists who explained to Jimmy how and why this happens.This book is based not only on Jimmy's outstanding personal experience, but on years of interviewing doctors and scientists and digesting mountains of scientific research which he translates so personably into words that are easily understood by layman.Not interested in scouring through the medical and scientific journals for the current science on nutrition but still want the facts?Read this book.Laurie CagnassolaDirector, Metabolism Society[...]",5.0,Important read for all who eat!,1260403200,"12 10, 2009",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 AYQRKUZZY963I,B007UC0YWA,liz,"[0, 0]",i loved this book i can wait to read more from kirsten osbourne. i like how dallas welcome the girls sister into his house,5.0,steven dallas billionaire.,1374364800,"07 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AO27C7C84EQOK,0307275175,MicheleEdel,"[4, 5]",The author is clearly knowledgeable and tries to explain probability and other mathematical theories clearly with good examples. He also includes a basic history of mathematical thought which I found fascinating. Chapters 9 and 10 depart from the theory-discussion and talk about how randomness impacts our lives and was much easier to understand. I liked Mlodinow's writing style and found his approach very warm and friendly - even if some of the concepts are difficult to understand.,4.0,The last two chapters are brilliant!,1216684800,"07 22, 2008",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AITIU2DG1MM4A,0375867538,Timothy Haugh,"[6, 6]","As a parent and a physics teacher, I look for books about science that my children will enjoy. In I, Galileo Ms. Christensen tells the story of Galileo's life. It is written from the point of view of an aged Galileo looking back over his life as he lives out his days under house arrest for heresy. Though my children are a little young for the book and struggled a bit with the text, it has a lot going for it.First of all, the illustrations in this book are wonderful. They are not only beautiful to look at but they also have a style that has the right feel for a 16th/17th century Italian Renaissance story. In addition, the bulk of the story is told well, with a nice focus on the basics of Galileo's work and artistic reproductions of Galileo's own drawings. Of course, the church controversy is an important part of Galileo's story, but the use of it as a framing device brings is a prominence that may be too much for some children, as it's not something that is easily understood from this text.In any case, this book is an excellent biography of Galileo for readers 7 to 8 years old and up. There's also a nice chronology, glossary and summary of Galileo's achievements at the end. For parents wanting to get their kids interested in science, this is a good choice.",4.0,"Galileo's Life for the Smart, Young Set",1342742400,"07 20, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AJVC0VFJKOYWU,076115700X,Elaine Persing,"[0, 0]",It came today and I have just had time to skim through it and it looks very interesting. I look forward to using it.,5.0,Good Book.,1400284800,"05 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3JSZXAI2S8GC5,1477419497,Amazon Customer,"[0, 2]",I thought it was too wordy in spots. It took too long to get to the point and left you hanging in the end.,2.0,Not thrilled,1375056000,"07 29, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 APGJC13RI61U0,0373776578,Think about this,"[6, 6]","I've enjoyed this series, up until this one. The beginning of the book rambled on and on, and where's the plot anyway. Well, you have to wait for the last part of the book, to find it. Luckily, it gets alittle better halfway through. I think we have another author here, trying to punch out one book after another so fast, that the writing really reflets it. This installment could be the last for the Lords, but is the beginning of a new series. For me, it's a good ending for the Lords,so I'll stop there with this series.",2.0,Rambled on and on....,1332460800,"03 23, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3S599PFKP59VF,1475197071,Cesyanae,"[0, 1]","I was absolutely blown away by this book.When you think about the zombie apocalypse, you think of slow moving, dumb witted, reanimated people. But what if they aren't dead, what if they have their wits about them and what if their only aim is to kill you? Would you survive? When society collapses and the rules no longer apply, will you survive? When each person is now the law and you have to survive the fittest, will you survive?Despite the number of characters, it was not at all difficult to distinguish between them. The writer did a great job of making each character unique and identifiable. I especially loved the fact that everything was not set in the West only, you got a glimpse of what is happening across the globe.If you loved Stephen King - Cell, then you will absolutely enjoy this book.Kindle edition review:I gave this book 5 stars for story, however, the editing for some parts was very shoddy, and really breaks the reading flow. One page had about 4-5 words missing their beginning letters. Small words are transposed so it should actually be if. And the occasional missing words. Please, do not let this prevent you from buying this book. The errors are not consistent throughout the whole book and can be lived with.So go ahead, buy this book, you'll enjoy it :)",5.0,buy. this. book,1340064000,"06 19, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2FZADWKNZK48Z,0316000124,ruth weiner,"[0, 0]",Deon Meier is such a good writer and I love the South African background of all of his stories. I read one of his--Blood Safari--and then ordered all the others I could find.,4.0,Good South African mystery,1361577600,"02 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A4YI5D6XO628A,0370332288,"Anne Margaret ""tabewhite""","[0, 0]","My 13 year-old daughter and I read this as an extra-credit English assignment. We both loved it. The story itself is riveting, especially as told from the different perspectives of the characters, but the message of kindness is wonderful. I appreciated how the author allows the message to blossom and instead of hitting you over the head with it. The author proved that young adult literature doesn't have to be fraught with indecision and dispair, can actually be literature. I am recommending it to everyone.",5.0,This book is a wonder,1395187200,"03 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3S0H2HV6U1I7F,1461006953,Merissa,"[0, 0]","There is little hope at the beginning of this book. Reychel is a slave and has to shave her head every morning. Not only that but she is not allowed near any windows unless her master says so, which is usually when he calls her into a meeting. She is nearing her 15th birthday and is not looking forward to the 'honour' of having his brand burnt into her scalp.This story fairly skips along and you are introduced to a variety of characters and situations. Reychel has to learn that a darker side exists in most people. She is accused of being naive but her situation in life hasn't exactly been there to give her experience. Who should she trust and who should she not? This is something that Reychel has to find out but quickly as other people are depending upon her.I really enjoyed this story and am continuing on my Cloud Prophet journey as I am now reading Oubliette, book 2.Definitely recommended for Fantasy readers.",4.0,Anathema,1399852800,"05 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3JZZCE6HRQ36X,B00IGUOMGY,Melissa C. Gray,"[0, 0]",Loved it. The girls finally break them down.,5.0,Cheers to the Girls,1404691200,"07 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXEMDASOJUIWW,0953881024,"Cantbe Fooled ""Patriot""","[4, 4]","David Icke is a gifted prophet, in my view. He researches extensively, and pulls no punches in presenting his findings. I was shocked when i learned the truth over two years ago. Previously, I had believed the government's version of 9-11 for 6 years! What a fool I was. Now, if we'd only be told the truth about religion as well, and the churches start paying takes on their ill-gotten wealth!",5.0,"Amazing Facts, and this was known in 2002!",1260316800,"12 9, 2009",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A14I311IIUMBWC,B008EE81JG,"Gaele ""We read to know, we are not alone ~ C....","[0, 0]","Here we have taken a character straight out of Emma, and plopped her into the edges of society. That is, until Jane Fairfax's adulterous, abrasive husband is murdered.While we don't ""meet"" the husband, we do get a hint as to his character, or lack thereof, as seen through Jane's memories and the Bow Street Runner's discoveries.The story flows nicely, without the pretentiousness of many of the Austen-influenced sequels, the language and pace integrate the upper-class restraint while lightening the mood with interjections of the lower-class cant: a clever device that moves the story forward more quickly than holding to the faux genteel upper crust speech patterns and descriptions that so often mire the pace of Austen.As this book is part of the Bow Street Consultant series, I am hoping that this is the first and not the last using this set of characters.",4.0,Jane Austen homage: better than most,1342310400,"07 15, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2KDIAVN06UP7A,0451417909,"Wildwily ""wildwily""","[5, 10]","I truly enjoyed the novel. While I had a bit of a hard time figuring how all of the Others worked together and some of the underpinings of the world tie together, the writing was excellent and it drew me in.Some of the outer parts of the story did not ring true. It felt like a short story that got stretched into a novel. The Sanguinati in particular were a bit puzzling. How were the humans making these big plans without being detected? It seemed like the story was originally all happening in town and then suddenly the world had to be added and things started to fall apart.I look forward to the next one because the writing is excellent.",3.0,Dangerous,1362528000,"03 6, 2013",5,10,helpful,0.5,1 A1M8PP7MLHNBQB,1578067367,"John Matlock ""Gunny""","[25, 25]","As a communicator and popularizer of science Carl Sagan was probably the best known scientist of his time. Although a Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics, his speaking style and his far ranging thoughts about life here on earth and life elsewhere in the universe made him one of the most quoted scientists anywhere. Perhaps this was because of the great interest in space at that time, but that's not important.Among the large volume and widely based writing that Dr. Sagan did, he also was interviewed by numerous people. Collected here in this book are sixteen interviews given over a period of twenty-six years. The content of the interviews are likewise far ranging. They cover scientific things like the posibility of life on Mars (we still don't know for sure), to life elsewhere in the universe, to communications with other species, the scientific method, religion and life in general.Up until now these interviews were avaiable only from the individual sources, when available at all. It is great to see them in print once again.",5.0,Great Collection of Interviews with Carl Sagan,1142899200,"03 21, 2006",25,25,helpful,1.0,1 AH69NYYIEAUZA,1569478732,Taylor McNeil,"[5, 5]","It may seem like a pat formula - set a mystery series in an exotic, out-of-the-way locale with lots of local color, toss in a law enforcement officer who is caught between cultures, and stir. But Graeme Kent transcends any genre traps in his impressive debut, Devil-Devil, set in 1960 in the Solomon Islands, a South Pacific archipelago that was a British protectorate until the late 1970s. The protagonists are Sister Conchita, an American nun new to the islands with a talent for causing trouble, and Sergeant Ben Kella, a native of the island of Malaita educated abroad yet still an ""aofia,"" a tough peacekeeper for his Lau people.Kent builds the narrative cleverly, filling in the back story in careful dollops. He paints a complex portrait of the local islanders -- saltwater villagers and bush villagers alike -- as well as various expats and the conflict (and confluence) of foreign faiths and ""custom religion,"" as the native beliefs are called. Like Jim Chee in Tony Hillerman's Navajo mysteries, Ben Kella is a native cast into the white world, but unlike Chee, he isn't really conflicted: he's comfortable being a part of both.This being a mystery, the bodies pile up. Kella -- a renegade cop to his colonial boss, a ""white blackman"" to suspicious locals -- is the man in the middle who can't rest until the killings are solved. Kent keeps the action moving -- and the pages turning -- while educating us about a culture we'd otherwise never know about. Devil-Devil is clearly meant to be the first in a series, and I know I'll be back for the next installment.",5.0,First-rate mystery set in the Solomon Islands,1301011200,"03 25, 2011",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3DATAJDDLCDVP,1416965165,Amazon Customer,"[6, 7]","When I first got Morpheus Road: The Light in the mail, it was the first time I was hearing about it. I went in to the story with just the description on the back to go by. Man, was this in intense story! It is filled with action, so the pages moved quickly for me. My adrenaline was pumping throughout the whole read.It didn't take me long to like the main character, Marsh. Marsh isn't the super hot bad boy. He is a normal teenager and, well . . . a geek. In the beginning of the story you can tell he is clinging on to his childhood. He wants to stay in the time of model rockets and graphic novels. I actually felt he came off more like 14 than 16 in the beginning. But his character grows a lot during the story. Marsh's best friend Cooper on the other hand is about the opposite of Marsh. He is all about taking risks and hanging out with girls. You don't get to see a lot of him before he goes missing, but MacHale has added flashbacks of the boy's friendship that helps you get more of a feel for him. I enjoyed watching Marsh and Cooper's sister Sydney slowly come closer together, even when they didn't notice.There is a whole lot going in this story. You definitely need to pay attention to the details. Gravedigger is very creepy, but the things that are happening when he is around is what gave me the chills. I found myself up at night, swearing I heard water dripping or felt a breeze on my face. It didn't take me long to realize there was more than just a drawing of Marsh's coming to life going on. I enjoyed the suspense of trying to figure out what was causing everything.I did feel like sometimes there was too much going on. There were so many details going on at some points that it was hard to see the direction. Even now there are some things that happened that I don't know how they tie in. But I have a feeling somethings were set up for the next book in the series.The ending was awesome. It answered answered a lot of my questions, but then again it gave me more. The ending is when you see how complex the story actually is. The epilogue took me by surprise. It gives a glimpse into what we can expect from the next book, which makes me really excited for it! The Light was great start to what I feel will be a fantastic series. I can't wait to see what is in store for these characters.",4.0,The Action Doesn't Stop!,1271980800,"04 23, 2010",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 AFK9D6U1HKQER,0801038189,Konstantin,"[9, 10]","I liked this text a lot.First, there are not so many Introductory Philosophy courses with Christian perspective on different issues. Geisler's text is very good. He's not just presents available options without giving you a clue what fits into Christian Scheme of thought, but he explains which philosophical concepts fit perfectly into Christian Worldview and why.Second, it's pretty exhaustive volume. Even though it is introductory, still it covers a lot.One negative thing is - format and layout. Whoever published this volume should make it prettier :D to read. Content is good but the outlook is quite like an antique... :DAnyways, book is great. Buy it and read it. (as the matter of fact, anything by Geisler is good. Especially his Intro to Ethics and Christian Aplogetics)",5.0,Very useful text 4.8/5,1149811200,"06 9, 2006",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 AGWB4PICZMBDC,1564774953,Patty L. Earnest,"[0, 0]",I had barrowed this book from a friend and liked it so much I bought one for myself and gave one to my sister. It is well worth the money I spent to get it. It will pay for it self in the quilts I will make from the block patterns I get from this book.,4.0,1000 Great Quilt Blocks,1269475200,"03 25, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3E96SE8NCF08L,0764208098,Ridgehaven,"[0, 0]",Prepare yourself for many emotions while reading this novel -Ann Tatlock is an author worth reading! Check out all her wonderful stories...,5.0,A great story-teller!,1379894400,"09 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2E53XIXQRSBMX,B00IH487I8,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Great continuation...!!!! Very well written...!! The plot gets better and better!!! Wow!!Can't wait for the next one!! Well done Amelia Hutchins!!!!! <3,5.0,Fantsatic!!!!!!!!!,1400630400,"05 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AML0J0CBISL4M,0316954993,"M. Farr ""Jay""","[0, 0]","As I read the series the 2nd time I am much more aware of the meaning and challenges faced. He does a great job of looking at this critical event in history from one family's eyes,.",4.0,"Great historical novel, a view from one family.",1386028800,"12 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5EHM0WSWF83L,0979372518,Another Reader,"[0, 0]","Xu goes beyond the usual blog-based, simplistic discussions and examples. The text is concise and insightful. I continue picking up the book to delve into the latest topic of interest, such as, 3D geometries, models, and translations, etc.",5.0,Beyond Basics,1235088000,"02 20, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1G08OIVTNV11F,0671027379,Carol Schlotterbeck,"[0, 9]",Daughter Lara watched this video. She enjoyed it very much. I have a dog like that!,5.0,Marley and Me,1245024000,"06 15, 2009",0,9,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3HX9R5TTIOS27,0393011836,Laurel,"[6, 7]","This book is pretty interesting, but I was hoping it would answer some more basic questions about cooking and chemical reactions in baking and cooking. I guess I was hoping for it to be a little more scientific.",3.0,Interesting Information,1252713600,"09 12, 2009",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 AJVBK0URH4PO2,1477667415,shamrock84,"[9, 19]",Not really any new information unless you are clueless about Ann. I really didn't like it at all. I promptly deleted it from my kindle.,1.0,waste of money,1358640000,"01 20, 2013",9,19,helpful,0.47368421052631576,1 A2H003U5LTAO26,1555836585,Berkeley Bibliophile,"[0, 2]","Stories of personal journeys can be inspiring for their narration of the world or for the insights of self-discovery. The mean spirited judgements (and ugly details) Winters indulges in toward her ex and even towards people she meets along the way show she is in no way interested in learning about herself or growing. There are moments of good nature observation, but a lack of personal maturity makes the book a poor read.",1.0,Self indulgent and mean,1327622400,"01 27, 2012",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A13OFOB1394G31,0385237723,"E. A. Lovitt ""starmoth""","[19, 19]","In a way, I'm glad I moved out of Detroit before I read Lowell Cauffiel's true crime book, ""Masquerade."" I spent most of my career working, going to school, and socializing in and around Cass Corridor, which is where this book's characters spent their lives getting high, turning tricks, pimping, and oddly enough, practicing psychology.Detroit's Cass Corridor is an urban slum, made up more of apartment buildings, pay-by-the-hour hotels, and deteriorating storefronts than free-standing houses. Of those who live there, 73 percent are black, 49 percent have graduated from high school and almost all -- 98 percent -- are renters. It encompasses Detroit's biggest drug houses, the most hookers, the best Chinese restaurant, the world's largest Masonic Temple (where we used to go see performances of the Metropolitan Opera on Tour), and a gaggle of Wayne State University students who want to live close to campus and are too poor to look elsewhere. If you stand out in the middle of Second Avenue, the street that runs right through the Corridor (careful, you might get solicited by a cruising john), and look north, you will see what one local radio station insists on calling the 'Golden Tower' of the Fisher Building.This book is about a single murder in 1984 that stood out amongst Detroit's 600+ murders that year because of its brutality, and because of the odd character of the victim, who was a successful psychologist and marital counselor.The murder itself is an anti-climax and occurs near the end of the book. There is no mystery about who is going to kill whom. The meat of ""Masquerade"" lies in the interactions between pimp, hooker, and sugar daddy. How did a psychologist with a thriving practice in the 'Golden Tower' of the Fisher Building and a six-bedroom, six-bathroom Tudor in Grosse Pointe Park become so involved with an ordinary streetwalker and her pimp, that he spent over $1,000/week on their drug habits? How did he manage to keep his life in Cass Corridor a secret for over a year from his psychologist-wife?I can't remember the last time I read with such fascination about lethal relationships and the destruction they wrought on seemingly good marriages and friendships. Everyone involved ended up with nightmares, even the jurors.Many chapters begin with an ironic quotation from the lectures and books of the murder victim or his psychologist-father. Even though it isn't a whodunit, you're likely to form an obsessive-compulsive relationship with ""Masquerade"" once you begin reading it.The book does sag a bit as it inches toward the murder, and it is depressing as hell to read, but I've already searched the internet to see if I can get another fix from this author.",4.0,A deadly Detroit triangle,1129766400,"10 20, 2005",19,19,helpful,1.0,1 A2NBC7H0FTPLX0,0785250484,otis,"[0, 0]",Just one of several books I will request in the future that will be used for my continued Bible study.Thanks,5.0,Nelson's Concise Commentary,1379980800,"09 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3N10W4T5GBPR2,0674018257,Peter McCluskey,"[14, 18]","This book raises questions about peoples' reactions to conjoined twins that may have important implications for many other unusual traits. It eloquently questions common assumptions about the desire to seem normal. It has led me to wonder about the extent to which healthcare is used to make people more normal at the cost of making them less healthy.The book presents strong evidence that conjoined twins who remain conjoined are at least as well off as those who are separated, and some evidence that separations reduce the twins' life expectancy, possibly by a significant amount.Remarkably, of the twins who remained conjoined to adulthood, only one pair requested separation (they didn't survive it), and among those whose refused separation are a number whose twin had just died (which meant that separation appeared to offer the only chance for the remaining twin to survive).This doesn't mean conjoined twins are better off that way (those who have been separated seem equally satisfied with their status), but it strongly suggests that decisions to perform separations are motivated by something other than concern over the twins wellbeing. And it suggests that people who claim things like ""The proposed operation would give these children's bodies the integrity that nature denied them"" are imposing their values on others in ways which would be considered unacceptable if the victims had a little political power.The book reports a fair number of statements by doctors (and occasionally parents) which suggest they consider a normal appearance worth risking health to achieve. The book also theorizes that having a normal child is an important enough part of parents' identity to override their interest in their children's' wellbeing. The book also reports some indications that surgeons are biased toward surgery for unusual problems by the fame if can bring them.Unfortunately, there isn't as much evidence as there ought to be about the health effects of separations. The book claims (plausibly, but without supporting references), that ""most medicine is not yet evidence-based"", with most surgical decisions being based on storytelling rather than careful studies.The book raises some important questions about cases where doctors think the only way to save one twin is to kill the other. The author points out some strong similarities between the medical killing that is done in some of these cases and a hypothetical case where a heart is taken from a live singleton (i.e. not conjoined) donor to save another (which all would agree is wrong). One difference that she fails to consider is that if you consider the heart property, it looks like jointly owned property in one case and individually owned property in the other, and we should expect some differences to result from that (although doctors may still be more willing to kill one twin than that perspective would justify).One interesting example that the book provides of medicalizing a difference is the attempt to get doctors to recognize <a href=""[...]"">Drapetomania</a>, a ""disease"" which causes slaves to run away.How widespread is the practice of impairing health to make people more normal? Surgeries on intersex children probably create modest health risks. Commonly used medicines to deal with ordinary colds suppress annoying symptoms that are tools the body uses to fight the disease, and tend to make the disease last longer (see the book Why We Get Sick : The New Science of Darwinian Medicine by Randolph Nesse). A child with 3 arms makes doctors want to <a href=""[...]"">chop it off</a>, presumably at some risk.Are these part of a wider pattern that would help explain why increased healthcare spending doesn't seem to make us healthier?",5.0,Thought-provoking,1150848000,"06 21, 2006",14,18,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A6OEMGVJ017X0,0061143367,D. Merrimon Crawford,"[51, 56]","Last Rituals: Icelandic Novel of Secret Symbols, Medieval Witchcraft and Modern Murder by internationally acclaimed author Yrsa Sigurdardottir and translated into English by Bernard Scudder will thrill readers with the finely written mystery and more intimate look at a glimpse of Iceland as the background, a country that intrigues but often remains mysterious. The author combines an obscure part of history with dark psychological details while also creating a realistic and sometimes humorous backdrop in the characters investigating this unusual case.Thora Gutmundsdottir, a divorced mother who started her own legal partnership receives a phone call from Germany from the Amelia Guntlieb who had been given her name by one of Thora's former professors. Amelia's son was murdered in Iceland and the family needs assistance. The Guntliebs do not feel the local police investigated their son's case thoroughly. Amelia proposes that Thora work with Matthew Reich, a man who spent 5 years with the Munich CID. Although Matthew has the investigative skills needed, he does not know the Icelandic language well enough to ask questions and mix with the locals well enough to get real answers. Certain shocking details of Harald's murder are just too mysterious, eerie and gruesome to believe the murder is connected to a drug deal gone bad. Does someone have a personal vendetta against Harald? After initial reservations, Thora accepts the case and Matthew hands over a dossier detailing many of the particulars of Harald's life. Do the details of his murder relate to his studies of history or to some dark hidden aspect of his personal life? Are the gruesome details a measure of the killer's rage or a clue to the identity of some mysterious group? What does the strange symbol mean? Harald had gone to Iceland to study Medieval history. In particular, his research compared Icelandic witchcraft with witch burnings, execution and torture in Medieval Germany. Whereas women were often the target of witch burnings in Germany, in Iceland, the majority of witches executed were men. Does this difference have any bearing on Harald's research in Iceland? As the investigation narrows, the two discover Harald began to develop strange practices while in Iceland. An investigation into Harald's personal life in Iceland as well as in Germany unearths more and more secrets. Thora and Matthew's investigation takes them through the history of Iceland in many forms and the author gives the reader a fascinating view of both historical and modern Iceland. The more clues they find, the more mysterious the murder appears and the two are no longer sure whom they can trust.Yrsa Sigurdardottir creates the perfect balance between realistic characterization and a darker multi-faceted mystery that intrigues the reader as it unfolds. As the details of Thora's family life interfere with her investigation, the reader sees a glimpse of her as whole person ---one who cares for her children as only a devoted mother can but also as a person whose life has endowed her with a delightful sense of humor and a sense of compassion that underlies her investigation. The developing relationship between Thora and Matthew provides delightful humorous twists to accompany the terrifying secrets and relationships they uncover. The mystery itself grabs the reader's attention from the very beginning and heightens with each successive revelation of clues. Suspenseful twists and turns lead to a climax where all the pieces carefully prepared from the very beginning fall together and yet still surprise the reader in unexpected and unforgettable new ways.Yrsa Sigurdardottir's novel will appeal a wide variety of readers with an interest in Iceland from those with a mere curiosity for this unique country all the way to those with a more thorough knowledge from travel or studies of Icelandic literature. The author interweaves well known aspects of her native land such as the Icelandic horses, lava fields and various landmarks with a humorous look at the pronunciation of the Icelandic language and local driving customs into the plot and interchanges of the characters themselves. Those curious for a closer more in depth look at Iceland will appreciate the author's look at the effects of a small population, the history of Icelandic law and religion and the results of globalization on the daily life of local residents. At all times, the author integrates these details so closely into characters and the structure of the novel so that the pace of the mystery unfolds fluidly with a touch of humor and heightening of the mystery.Scholars quite familiar with Medieval Norse manuscript history and literature will be thrilled to discover the realism in Yrsa Sigurdardottir's portrayal of the intricacies of Icelandic manuscript history. The author details this history through Thora's investigations of Harald's actions and relationships so readers unfamiliar with this aspect of Icelandic history easily follow the unfolding mystery. The author creates the best of two worlds ---- the reader follows a realistic portrayal of Iceland's unique place in Medieval history and literature without being weighed down by a pedantic academic treatise but her attention to precision makes Last Rituals a more intriguing read than some of the missing codex, manuscript, symbol novels in current vogue. Yrsa Sigurdardottir's careful attention to detail and its seamless integration into the very heart of her writing style make Last Rituals one of the best recent novels in the genre.",5.0,"Last Rituals: Icelandic Novel of Secret Symbols, Medieval Witchcraft",1191283200,"10 2, 2007",51,56,helpful,0.9107142857142857,1 A2M6B16568F7KH,1612786669,ReneeSuz,"[6, 6]","Breaking Through is a collection of 10 essays by 9 Catholic women. These are real women who have struggled at times with Church teachings but have come to understand what it means to be Catholic. They explore simpler topics such as parenting and religious life but also delve into more difficult topics such as working women and single moms and even into controversial areas of contraception, same-sex attraction and the sex abuse scandal.This is not a book to be read in one sitting. I plan to go back and reread each of the essays when I have more time to ponder and think.",4.0,Real Catholic Women Speak,1348617600,"09 26, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2418FQIBDQOMP,B00H8UTBNC,prof carl,"[0, 0]","Each chapter is written from the first person of the main characters who populate the story. This helps as she builds the suspense of the plot as the reader knows more than the characters. The supernatural element of a sucubus is refreshing in the current climate that seems dominated by vampires that are far from Bram Stoker's. And the story includes a plausible inclusion of artistic works by Keats, Byron, and Schumann among others.",4.0,Entertaining and literate,1404950400,"07 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2D5XM37KOQ43F,0192834622,T. Harper,"[4, 8]","This book is really like modern day soap operas. There are a bunch of characters that participate in a lot of gossip about a subject that they really know little about. It gets bogged down in that at points, but it's still a great story. For a modern reader, it's easy to dismiss the subject matter as much ado about nothing. I'm sure that he had a lot of impact at the time that it was written.",3.0,Old-fashioned soap opera,1311638400,"07 26, 2011",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A35PCMVVLAJX6Y,0452263034,Quinton Fox,"[0, 0]","While I read this book as number eight in my chronological survey of the life and times of Harry Flashman and still have three books to go in the series, I can understand why the Flashman cognoscenti consider this book Fraser finest effort of this series.In this book our toady, womanizing coward ends up in the middle of the great Indian mutiny in the 1858-9 period. As always there is high entertainment with Flashman's picaresque adventures and a lot of historical context thanks to Fraser's meticulous research. What makes the book stand out in this superb series is it's accurate and objective analysis of the events leading to the Indian Mutiny -required reading with regard to the current conflict in Iraq- and the fully three-dimensional rendering of the Indian princess Lakshmibai.Fraser has responded to questions "how much of Flashman is in you?", "I think like Flashman, but don't follow it up with acting the way he does". As such, It seems like Fraser's esteem for this enigmatic leading lady translates into this book. Furthermore, the expert description of the battle scenes and the sights and smells of India turn this book into a superb example of historical fiction.Too bad that the Flashman character has so far been so poorly translated to the moving screen. Maybe, just like Dickens, Fraser's writing skills are so evocative that any reenactment ends up disappointing. Yet, since the in my eyes disappointing O'Brien series received the full Hollywood treatment, it may be time for another try to bring Lord Harry to a larger audience.",5.0,Flashy's Best?,1401148800,"05 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GA145UE162E2,0618574581,David M. Dougherty,"[27, 49]","The author provides an excellent study of Harvard, Yale & Princeton admission philosophies and policies, especially when those were directed against the author's own group (Jews.) Missing are the current exclusion policies that almost totally prohibit American patriots, Republicans and conservatives from entering these universities. Karabel notes that 35 of the Harvard class of 41 died in WWII as against none in Vietnam of the class of 1970, but interprets this only to mean that the sense of duty and sacrifice in elite universities is in decline.So why is the number of conservatives miniscule among the students of these universities? The answer lies in admission policies. The interviews and essays root out conservative, patriotic applicants and tag them for rejection regardless of academic brillance and scholarly performance. What is wanted is potential international leaders developed from students who will accept European ""progressive"" ideas, possibly study abroad or work in international organizations. William F. Buckley would be rejected today by Yale. The acceptable white male applicant will be tall, urbane, athletic, politically correct in orientation, reasonably intelligent, and preferably well-connected. Middle-class and lower-class white males from conservative backgrounds need not apply. If a graduate chooses military service, then the university has failed miserably, either in admissions or during the four years of conditioning.Karabel misses these current issues by a wide margin. Hopefully he will pick up where he left off, discuss the situation of the last twenty years, and give us thoughts concerning the future. I look forward to his next work.",4.0,"Great for the 20s, loses it in the 90s",1190246400,"09 20, 2007",27,49,helpful,0.5510204081632653,1 A3O0NVU7IFFDTA,B00EGRZTZY,"Jeanette S Cates, PhD","[13, 13]","If you're an author looking for strategies on pricing your book on Kindle, this is the book you need. You'll get actual examples, along with the thinking behind each strategy. And you'll walk away in record time KNOWING what to do. Required reading for all Kindle authors.",5.0,Solid Advice With No Fluff,1377993600,"09 1, 2013",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A16IJ17J6SS9EL,0875522203,"Steve Jackson ""stevejackson100atyahoocom""","[24, 24]","Generally, the best way to study a philosopher is to read an important work of his. For example, we study Plato by studying ""The Republic"" or some of his shorter dialogues. With others - such as Hegel - it's best to read various excerpts from his works, trying to get a sense of what he is up to. With a smaller number you should start by reading a book about the philosopher. Cornelius Van Til (1895-1987) falls into that third category. Fortunately, John Frame has written an excellent introduction to the thought of his teacher.Cornelius Van Til is acclaimed by many in the Reformed community as the most important thinker since Calvin. Frame shares this opinion, while noting some of the weaknesses of Van Til's thought and writing style. For those who don't know, Van Til was a Christian apologist who developed a system called presuppositionalism. While it's hard to describe briefly, its central claim is that one must presuppose the truth of Scripture and challenge the unbeliever by showing that his beliefs are inconsistent with his presuppositions. The unbeliever cannot justify his own beliefs apart from the existence of a theistic universe. Hence, only Christianity can be shown to meet ""every legitimate demand of reason."" Van Til didn't reject the use of evidence in apologetics, but instead thought that evidences must be presented in a manner consistent with the presuppositional apologetics (This concept isn't exactly clear to me, even after reading Prof. Frame's chapter a few times.)Van Til is hard to understand. First of all, his books aren't well organized. Second, he writes in such a way as to exaggerate the differences between his thought and other thinkers, and the differences between believers and unbelievers. If you take some of his ideas literally, Van Til appears to say that unbelievers don't know anything and there are no similarities between Christian and non-Christian philosophies.As an aside, Frame's approach to Van Til is somewhat controversial within the Van Til movement. Frame believes that once Van Til's thought is stripped of some of its more extreme statements, his apologetics isn't all that different from other apologetic systems. Second, he disagrees with Van Til on a number of issues. After you read this book, read the late Greg Bahnsen's excellent ""Van Til's Apologetics,"" which contains excerpts from Van Til's works along with Bahnsen's comments. Bahsen was a more consistent Van Tillian than Frame.""Cornelius Van Til: An Analysis of his Thought"" also includes a short biography of Van Til and a brief history of the Van Tillian movement. It includes a little too much of John Frame's biography interspersed in the text.. We really don't need to read an excerpt from Prof. Frame's seminary paper presented to Van Til. This is a minor point in an otherwise excellent book.",4.0,Best Intro to Van Til,1038528000,"11 29, 2002",24,24,helpful,1.0,1 A1PL8JA0TEHBVN,1133732534,Paulo Leite,"[0, 0]","Pro Tools is everywhere. And it is no wonder, since its quality is hard to match.This book gives you a great, almost complete course on the software. And you can be a newbie, because the book starts eary with just the basics. From then on, the learning curve is relatively easy and the book takes you by the hand through all the features, tools, menus, functions... and all the steps needed for you to master the software.the software is not simple. Therefore, the speed of your progress will depende on how easy you already are with the software... and how much time you can devote to really experimenting with it.The way I see it, this is a great book for anyone who already uses Pro-Tools and needs a great book that will solve real-life questions and doubts. Or this is a great book for those who are upgrading from older versions.RECOMMENDED!",5.0,A great source of knowledge!,1331769600,"03 15, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A224BKBLXVA859,B00HGWY9KC,Rocky Sunico,"[0, 0]","DISCLAIMER: I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion of the work.It's not very often that I encounter a book that tries to marry science fiction with a gay romance premise. This is not to say that this isn't possible - it just doesn't seem to happen quite as much for one reason or another. And this seemed like a decent attempt to build that sort of a narrative given a decently interesting science fiction premise.The story is very focused on its protagonists, contrasting Shane's frustration at being unable to wake Mark up out of his catatonia as contrasted against Mark's eager enthusiasm for trying to figure out how to get closer to Shane. But despite this rather personal focus, the story seems to gloss over a lot of things and sort of focuses more on only particular aspects of the narrative. Thus we don't get a truly clear picture of what the war is about. Nor do we get a good understand of why Mark and Shane actually got together.The resonance link concept was a nice one that certainly helped tie things together more. But at the same time it felt like a way to cheat us out of more story since we just assume that resonance alone was enough to get them to want to be together more than anything else. Even with the rarity of this special connection, I'd like to think that two guys would still need a lot more to go on in order to fall in love and to be truly on the brink of marriage.I was surprised at how the book had a pretty decent manner of depicting space battles and trying to contrast fighter tactics versus the sort of complex, strategic commands for larger capital vessels. Clearly the author had a firm idea of the "rules" that made this world work such as how main systems get temporarily knocked out after a jump across space. But at the same time I think we could have spent at least some time to discuss these different technologies that we discover and thus allow the reader to immerse him or herself further into the "reality" of the world.The core romance angle did feel a little forced and the mindscape sequences actually got a little boring and repetitive given the brain only provided one setting. One would like to think that even a brain on the defensive would try wildly different pattern and ideas in order to keep "attackers" constantly on their toes as they tried to adapt.Mindscape is a nice attempt at working in a geekier science fiction premise into a classic LGBT romance concept. It is a bit of a challenge to read given how we have two different stores since they operated opposing timelines, but for the most part the book had relative value.",3.0,"Interesting Concept, Less Than Ideal Execution",1403740800,"06 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MUG4FTFSAIVI,0425265625,Athrogate22,"[14, 15]","I gave Blood-Song 5 stars. I can't do the same for its sequel.Issues with this book:1) It dragged. Who could've thought after Blood Song that the siege of one castle could take an entire book? Or that the trek from the Northern Reaches could take an entire book? Did you read The Game of Thrones in between books 1 and 2? Are you going to take 6 years to write book 3 and torture us more? Vaelin Al Sorna aged 25 years in book 1 (estimate). He aged about 2 weeks in book 2. Why did you slow down so insanely? The change of pace was so drastic as to be jarring and distracting, and the book was filled with a great deal of excessive descriptions of human suffering, raping, looting, etc.2) The Ally, the Ally, the Ally. Are we ever going to figure out what it is? How it does what it does? Why it can do such things while our hero Vaelin gets a life-threatening nosebleed for using his gift for more than 20 seconds, and other gifted fall over dead after using it for 1 single heroic feat? Honestly, the beast master charms one animal and dies. The jedi moves one rock and dies. What's the point of having these "gifts" if they just kill you all the time, or inexplicably abandons you? And for that matter why can the most iron-willed brothers of the sixth order be enslaved so easily, so completely, with the use of the gift, and the user's head doesn't explode in blood?3) 2500 ships full of troops and sailors, an entire invasion army...hundreds of thousands of men, and the entire Realm can only muster some 60 thousand-ish. Oh, and after losing all of those hundreds of thousands, we are to believe that was just a drop in the bucket?4) The ending? You didn't write an ending. You just stopped writing. Right in the middle of a scene, you just flat-out stopped writing. That is absolutely terrible. If I could I would get my money back. I will be very, very careful before buying book 3. I pre-ordered book 2, but after reading it, I feel cheated. I will not be doing the same with book 3, and will only consider buying it if I am convinced by the reviews that you've gotten back to what made book 1 so great.",2.0,One word to describe this book...disappointment,1404777600,"07 8, 2014",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 A3OW8KY5DCAOZ3,1492817333,"Jennifer Wedmore ""Carpe Diem""","[0, 0]","I hesitated on what to say in this review. I am not a fan of poetry and actually skipped reading the poems written. I found the alot of the times it seemed the characters were speaking as if in a poem and not intentionally. The storyline had potential, the loss of her brother, the guilt..I understood the need for anti depressants and the toll it took on her mentally but feel the author didnt express it well. It didnt seem to have the impact I think it deserved.Part ll was more interesting but still I was not enthralled in the story. I did like the format of the emails and conversation.Part lll was the best. The story really got interesting and I was drawn in. I felt more of a connection between The Poet and LIz.Overall I think the description saying it had erotic parts was an over exagerattion and the paranormal was confusing. I would like to have known more about the ghosts.",3.0,Not a fan of Poetry,1401321600,"05 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1DB0KM6ODBSTM,0140431357,"B. Steele ""steelebjm""","[7, 8]","Some great discussions come out of this book. Thomas Hardy has a very distinct style, and uses the environment essentially as another character, so it may be beneficial to at least have some familiarity with England before reading. No one can read this book without having strong opinions about the characters, especially the two main men. This is one of the standout pieces of literature of its time and is well worth the read.",5.0,Perfect for a Book Club,1076371200,"02 10, 2004",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A2K4027IT8JXCI,1594744769,Abbey,"[0, 0]","I enjoyed this book greatly. It contains a lot of mystery and a lot of questions. The only precaution I would point out is that the ending of the story could leave the reader waiting for more, which may be a good thing if the author continues with the storyline for a future book, or books. The tale is written from the point of view of a boy, which makes the story relatable to anyone, even to male readers. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children also contains a mystery about the people in the book. It is all about finding the truth, and then fighting for a place and home that the characters love. What also made this book enjoyable is that the author found pictures from the past and placed them strategically throughout the book. It makes the story and the people seem even more realistic and what happens in the book a possibility, for readers who have a good imagination.I think anyone can find something in this book to enjoy. There is mystery and a little bit of peculiarity to the tale. It can make any reader stop and think and the tale can truly take the reader to a new land.",4.0,Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children,1375747200,"08 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2X8GJU7MDEP8N,0989278611,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",The 5 star rating is well deserved for this book. It took me less than a week to finish. I found it hard to put it down during my bedtime read. I absolutely loved it. It had me hooked from the first page.,5.0,Gotta read this,1371254400,"06 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2F8VPSJKBIGU,1455599182,Ruby,"[0, 0]",I have put off reading this series for so long. Now I am kicking myself & asking why I waited dollop long. I think every single man in this story is a Dream Man. I will definitely be buying the rest in the series & looking into her other books.,5.0,Hawk is so HOT,1403308800,"06 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11C08FBE0Q9VI,0671582089,"It's me ""logitechgirl""","[9, 10]","I'm not going to say this is a bad book. It's very motivating and if that's what you need than this will do the trick. However if you're someone who is already motivated, but is just stuck, then this is not for you. I was stuck and looking for practical tools to get me unstuck. I tried this book plus Tony's 30 day Personal Power kit & found them to be pretty much the same. They're meant to put fire under the butts of those who lack it. Since fire isn't my issue it didn't work for me. I also found it weird that Tony teaches in these about relationships & marriages and how to make marriage work etc.. when he himself carried on an extensive affair with the woman he's married to now WHILE he was married to his first wife. The woman he's married to now was at that point also married.. oy yoi yoi YOU want to charge ME 5 grand for one of your Relationship workshops? No thanks.I believe in looking into someone's history before taking their word. And Tony started as a salesman from a very young age- and that's all he's done ever since. He's never had any other type of job than sales, and he began selling ""success"" from when he was teenager! So in other words he has made his own success exactly FROM talking about how to make you successful. He promotes, he sells, He gets the fire burning under you. That's what he's been doing pretty much since he was 19. But he doesn't have the background to tell managers how to manage their firms & certainly doesn't have the success in relationships to tell people how to have golden relationships. Yet he conducts events where he tries to ""sell"" this in a way. I'm not saying he's wrong to do this or that he's a hypocrite (well, when it comes to the relationships & marriage techniques he is, but that's another story). I'm saying that Tony's books & events mirror his life's work in that- they get you motivated to DO..to take action. But they don't do much more than that. If that's something that you need- (alot of people do) then Tony is for you. .. just skip over the relationship stuff.",3.0,More for those who lack motivation rather than practicality,1272153600,"04 25, 2010",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A24JS1RSMSVKSG,B00DJFP8W8,Goofy Country Mommelia,"[0, 0]","James is a gifted surgeon. Melissa is a hardworking hospital administrator. The two of them clash over Betsey, a patient and Melissa's mom. How can they over come all these problems and find true love?",5.0,A Sweet Tale of Love,1402272000,"06 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AKF1XBBWAQR6L,0578133512,Star Stingy! AKA Mrs. M.,"[4, 4]","It is truly daunting to write this review. I feel like it may be one of the toughest & yet most important one I've ever written. It is very intimidating to follow up this story with letters, that create words, that create sentences, that depict my thoughts. It's tough because I'm doing it in response to letters that create words, that create sentences, that depict this author's ability to put pen to a page and knock your world off its axis. This author weaves a literary miracle that has blessed my heart & soul.The first time I read Fading earlier in the summer I finished with satisfaction. I knew I adored Ryan & Candace, Jase & Mark but it wasn't until a few weeks later after reading a string of forgettable books in the genre that I decided to read it again. I noticed countless small moments of significance that I missed in my first read. I read very fast and sometimes regret that wishing I had more will power to savor the books that are etched on my soul. With Fading it took more than one read to realize it was permanently burned in my soul. When Freeing was released I was beyond excited but also nervous. Nervous for the author having to deal with any backlash from publishing a love story with the main characters being gay. I was nervous that the sequel or follow up couldn't hold a candle to the debut. I devoured their story & was over the moon to have all my fears obliterated.Next came the uninhibited anguish while waiting for Falling. Ryan Campbell is the absolute essence of perfection to me. Every ""book boyfriend"" I have is a tortured soul with a damaged past who does NOT want to fall in love but does so against his will. I think when you peel back the intricate fabric of Ryan's heart you see clearly that though he has that same broken spirit from his harrowing past that he NEVER hesitated to love her. He chose to do so from the first moment of their time together. He viewed loving her not just as his privilege, but as his salvation. Even when she refused to acknowledge what his presence in her life meant to her. That is when I understood Ryan couldn't casually be compared to my other ""Book Boyfirends"". He is my ""Book Soul Mate"".This is the ultimate story of The Giving Tree, but it isn't until you read Falling that you realize Ryan isn't the only Tree. Candace gives Ryan every ounce of love, happiness & a life to begin living just as much as he saves her from herself. They aren't the only characters that become The Tree. Grace- Jesus, there are no words for her importance to this story & kindness she gives all. She is the perfect counterpoint to Ryan to pull Candace back to the land of the living. Jase- honestly, who wouldn't donate their vital organs happily to have him as a constant in their lives?! Mark- his importance is the happiness & acceptance he brings Jase. Which in turn brings that happiness to both Candace & the readers.I've anxiously awaited several sequels of late to be heartbroken with the results & not only with the newest release, but also because it tainted its predecessor for me as well. I was a bit terrified to read Falling & be let down, but most afraid of it altering the way I feel about Fading & Freeing. I can not express how grateful & blissfully happy I am that Falling surpassed both its companions for me.The start of the book is slow- ...Mostly because of your anticipation of him meeting Candace. Yet, I felt strongly that I needed to devour every word and relish it to be in the full moment of the story. At 37% I wanted to punch Ryan for being so blind. At 48% I was doing the full fledged ugly cry. From that point the story boldly picks up pace. There is retelling of events of Fading & Freeing, but I was gratified immensely by how much new information, back stories (we never knew or suspected) and ""behind the scenes"" drama taking place. I previously thought Fading ended at the perfect point. While reading Falling & I surpassed the part where fading ended I was mentally chastising myself. How could I have ever thought that was where the story should end? This history is paramount to the whole story, yet the previous was written so well (WITHOUT A VILE CLIFFHANGER) that the reader was just left with their HEA. Who knew there could be so much more to their HEA than where it left off. Yet without feeling like convoluted filler.I am forever indebted to the master of this masterpiece for her inspiration and courage to tell these stories. The only thing I would disagree with her on is where she says in her acknowledgements that though Candace, Ryan, Jase & Mark aren't real people she loves them.... Here's where I disagree. They are real....End of... & will forever have a part of my heart. 5 stars seems like a bit of an insult because I have rated other books with 5 stars before (not many but a few). This one deserves a whole new ranking system to honor it my opinion.Just FYI- to any skeptics. I do NOT know this author. I purchased my own copy. =)",5.0,~Fading~ Freeing~ Falling~FanF'ingTastic~,1386547200,"12 9, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 ASQ8KNNP3A7FP,0722535724,"Danusha V. Goska ""Save Send Delete""","[52, 76]","Rachel Pollack's tarot book ""Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom"" epitomizes the errors of New Age thought.Writing clearly is thinking clearly. Clarity is non-existent in Pollack's book. Her constant fudging of consensus reality is typical of the worst of New Age thought.If one wanted to use tarot for divination, it would be necessary to assign clear meanings to each card. Pollack doesn't provide that. She provides rambling stream of consciousness. An example: her ""explanation"" of the Chariot card. Here's a paraphrase: ""The Chariot could be about death, because, after all, in India people associate horses with death and funerals. And John F. Kennedy was assassinated while traveling in a limo! So maybe this card is really all about the soul's triumph over mortality! The Chariot might signify destruction because Shiva destroys the world while conducting a chariot. The Chariot could signify lingams, or yonis. But you know Freud relates horses to the libido. So maybe this card is all about sex! But forget Freud. What would Jung say? Maybe the Chariot is about the Jungian persona. Or maybe not. Maybe it's all about human speech. Only humans possess language - although we have taught chimps to communicate!"" (pages 64-9).Pollack's attempt to assign numeric values to cards is equally risible. If she doesn't like the number a card has, she divides the number, multiplies it, adds to it or subtracts from it, or places it in the context of an alternative numbering system, for example that used in ancient Sumer, thus coming up with a new number (page 120). ""This card takes any number I assign to it"" becomes ""It's true because I say it's true. It's true because it feels true to me,"" Pollack's narcissistic measure of truth. An image of salamanders with their tails in their mouths means one thing on one card (164) and a completely different thing on another card (169).At every turn, Pollack tosses out random, undeveloped references to material conventionally assumed to be ""deep"" and ""profound"": allusions to Greek and Hindu mythology, Kabbalah, Shakespeare, and televised science specials starring Carl Sagan (really). Here's the thing - Pollack exhibits no engaged understanding of any of the systems to which she alludes - it was Alexander Oparin, not Carl Sagan, who developed the theory Pollack credits to Sagan. Pollack repeats urban legends, for example the widely believed but false notion that full moons increase criminal activity (126). ""Michelangelo's famous painting shows a spark leaping from God's finger to Adam's"" (161). No, it does not.Pollack's misrepresentations, in several cases, are not random. Rather, they are part of the received dogma of New Age thought. These are:1.) Christianity is an oppressive, totalitarian, violent, misogynist, destructive system.2.) Before the evil Christians showed up, people around the world enjoyed peaceful goddess worship (46)3.) All over the world, once a year, priestesses representing the goddess would kill and dismember the male leader of the tribe (50, 84-5).4.) All religions have at their core the same truth: people must transcend ego and join with the one.None of the above postulates are true. In spite of their falsity, Many New Agers uphold them as dogma.The Goddess belief was thoroughly debunked by Cynthia Eller in her book ""The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory: Why an Invented Past Won't Give Women a Future.""James Frazer's ""Golden Bough,"" the source of the dying and rising God belief, has also been debunked.Pollack has a problem with masculinity and ""patriarchal society."" She provides negative interpretations for tarot cards depicting male characters, even cards usually perceived as positive. The Emperor card represents the best in essential masculinity. Pollack reads it as a negative card referencing ""force, aggression and war"" an old, stiff, rigid, lifeless, barren scene, society and its laws, people who have never realized that their father is just a human being, people who surrender control of their lives to their lovers. Compare this to her reading of the Queen of Cups, depicting an emotional and spiritual woman. Most interpretations acknowledge that this woman has her failings; she can be overcome by her heart. Pollack, though, reads this feminine card as almost all positive, while reading the male Knight of Cups and King of Cups as almost all negative.Again and again, Pollack insists that the pinnacle of the Tarot is to become a hermaphrodite. This is not true - tarot is a powerfully and traditionally gendered system depicting nurturing, maternal females and active, horse-riding and sword-wielding males. But Pollack herself identifies as a transsexual. The message: I am transsexual; therefore, everyone else should aspire to be a hermaphrodite.Forget the church; rather, read comic books for your spiritual guidance (26). Pollack is a comic book author. Schizophrenics are misunderstood by rigid, Christian society. Schizophrenics are really shamans (34-5). The Christian church crushed women (36). Pollack has never heard of, or doesn't want you to know about, 2,000 years of Christian women from Mary Magdalene to Junia to Hildegard to Teresa to Dorothy Day.Pollack's hostility to, falsification of, and envious, power-hungry insistence on supplanting Christianity with the High Church of Rachel Pollack renders her incompetent to explain tarot to anyone. Tarot cards are rife with Christian symbols. One example on a card Pollack mentions frequently: the World. This card represents the pinnacle of success and satisfaction. It depicts a central figure surrounded by a victory wreath and four animals: an angel, a lion, an ox, and an eagle.The World card is based on a very common Christian motif: Christ in Majesty. The four animals in the corners of the image symbolize Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors of the four Gospels. You would think that a book that purports to explain tarot would mention the very close relationship between the World card and the Christ in Majesty motif. It doesn't suit Pollack's purposes to do so, so she does not mention it. Like a Soviet-era photographer, she merely airbrushes out of her revisionist history anything that does not suit her purpose.Pollack tells us that all religions have as their goal each person transcending himself through his own effort, and uniting with an impersonal New Age super-soul. Differences between religions can be fudged in order to create the new Rachel Pollack church. Hinduism justifies suffering with the concept of reincarnation. You do a bad thing in your past life; you are reincarnated as an untouchable, and you are treated badly. That's okay, because you did bad things in your past life, and you deserve to suffer. This is just like the Christian concept of the Holy Spirit, Pollack insists, bizarrely (86). Paul meeting Christ on the road to Damascus is just like Buddha achieving enlightenment (119). No, these events and concepts from three different belief systems are not equivalent, and attempting to hijack and misrepresent them for Pollack's new church insults these traditions and misleads nave readers.Pollack says that the tarot's Death card rides a white horse because white symbolizes purity (103). One of the most well-recognized lines from the New Testament states, ""Behold a pale horse...his name that sat on him was Death."" Pollack appears to be unaware of some of the most famous scriptural lines and artistic motifs, cultural material that is essential to understanding how tarot cards come to appear the way they do.Tarot has undeniable value: artists create their own decks; users dialogue with their inner selves; decks provide cultural data for anthropologist and ethnographers. There are fun, thought-provoking books out there that reflect on tarot. One of the best is Joan Bunning's ""Learning the Tarot.""Learning the Tarot: A Tarot Book for Beginners",1.0,Epitomizes Everything That's Wrong with New Age Thought,1345939200,"08 26, 2012",52,76,helpful,0.6842105263157895,1 A3BMAKYTYEXQNE,B003XVYJ2S,Marsha Crom,"[0, 1]","I read the teaser, and it sounded funny, so I got it. Very disappointed. Did not like the style of switching between characters, it was so disjointed. It was also very short. the idea was good, but once I got into it, I didn't like any of the characters, and the plot was not thought out, the main device the author used was to gross out the audience. Too bad a good author couldn't use the original idea of a ghost looking for it's murdered body.",1.0,Could have been so much better,1326499200,"01 14, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1EVKGF2TNSI4,0061043559,"Christina P. Branson ""Strixaluco""","[4, 5]","The puzzle is clever, the satire is biting, and the jazz underworld atmosphere is fascinating. I just wasn't sure if I was going to survive that cricket match!",5.0,Easily one of Sayers' best!,958780800,"05 20, 2000",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3FMZ98X1GIYV9,0307700127,S. McGee,"[4, 4]","When first we meet Jack Luxton in this novel, he is sitting on his bed, staring out at the caravans on the hillside beneath his windows at Lookout Cottage. But Lookout Cottage isn't his home; while holiday caravan rentals may be his business, they weren't what he was brought up to do. His roots lie hundreds of miles away, the red Devon earth where he has buried first his father and now his younger brother, Tom, a casualty of a war thousands of miles distant in Iraq. And now Jack is back in his new home, sitting on a bed, his shotgun beside him, waiting for his wife to return to their house....Tom's death as a result of an IED explosion on an Iraqi roadside may be the catalyst for Jack's crisis, but the outwardly stolid former farmer has been conducting a kind of warfare himself for most of his life. The first battle was mad cow disease, as the Luxton family were forced to annihilate their cattle herds. Then came hoof and mouth disease, and his father's death only weeks after his younger brother left the farm in the middle of the night to join the army. Michael Luxton will see only one more ""Remembrance Day"" -- the day he and his sons traditionally donned their suits to venture into town for the ceremonies in front of its memorial cross, featuring the names of two other Luxton brothers, both of whom gave their lives in a previous war and one of whom won a posthumous medal that, along with the shotgun, has accompanied Jack Luxton into exile on the Isle of Wight.With the news of Tom's death, all order breaks down, and as Jack travels to an airbase in Oxfordshire to reclaim his brother's body and thence to Devon, to the churchyard where his parents are buried, we learn the full extent of the warfare that consumed the Luxton men, and Ellie's role in his departure from Jebb Farm, now Jebb Farmhouse and the property of a London-based investment banker. ""He had gone into caravans,"" Jack muses at the funeral. ""Tom had gone into battle."" But as it becomes clear, Jack's battle is no less devastating or traumatic than any of those Tom endured, although its scars may be less visible.This is the kind of novel that packs a powerful emotional punch -- not cheap sentimentality, but real emotions and real angst for which there can be no easy or glib response. Swift has chosen the metaphor of war to explore changes in English society in an unexpectedly delicate and moving manner, and their battles and struggles are unveiled slowly and painstakingly, in crisply impeccable prose. At times I had to stop and read some of the sentences aloud, to be able to capture their full impact. And at other points in the narrative, I simply had to put the book down and walk away, as the intensity of Jack's experiences became too much to cope with. To the outer world, Jack Luxton may appear as a stolid, unflappable man who has swapped his farmers' garb for silly, brightly-colored shirts picked up on the tropical vacations Ellie now insists they take as a reward for their ""liberation"" from their neighboring Devon farms. But the reader quickly comes to understand that beneath Jack's slab-like build and impassive face, there is another man entirely -- someone who mourns the past and whom we realize will never find a way to express that. Both his father and brother chose flight -- and it isn't until the closing pages of this suspenseful novel that we understand what path Jack will take in his turn.A moving and powerful novel, featuring wonderful writing. Definitely recommended, but not unless you're in the mood for an intense reading experience. 4.5 stars; rounded up.",5.0,A powerful tale of personal warfare,1336953600,"05 14, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1BYPHTHHZSMIM,1490440224,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Story, characters, and hot sex great. Fun read. If you have not read the other books in this series GOT TO GOT TO...",5.0,Hot Mama!!!!!,1371254400,"06 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARZ8XYTHXVVRP,0615581927,Emily C.,"[0, 0]",I read every chance I got. I felt every emotion Emily felt and understood her. I wanted to jump into the book and save her! I laughed with her and cried with her. I just HAVE to read the series! my new favorite author that ignited my flame for reading!,5.0,So many emotions...,1403222400,"06 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3FX30OP3CJAU6,1400095808,Sugeily Ramos Lorenzo,"[0, 0]","Te mantiene en espectativa, te presenta como el amor surge sin esperarlo.Buena historia, para los amantes del amor sin importar la edad!",4.0,Bonita!,1371168000,"06 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1TI7J8ORNJ8SG,1453736352,ruth,"[0, 0]","I really got involved with reading the book, but got upset when Elijah was killed by the fluke fall from the barn's peak. I hope the sequel to the book will reveal a happy ending for Jane and her six children. other than that, it is good reading material.",5.0,"Little wild flower, book 2 review.",1404950400,"07 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1JNQ85DXNWZ0B,149377767X,Martina Dalton,"[5, 7]","If you love romantic comedies, this book is for you! Peart's characters are hilarious, lively, and the best of friends. Main character, Natalie, has had a series of failed relationships and is wary of the very hot Colin. She nearly sabotages herself with her expectations that something is wrong with this seemingly perfect guy. And it's true, Colin really is hiding something from her... but what? Natalie's friends are funny and supportive of their best pal. (Think Sex in the City.) I would highly recommend this book to romance readers.",5.0,A hoot!,1383955200,"11 9, 2013",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0060781939,Harriet Klausner,"[5, 8]","Having a father known by the Ton as the ""Mad Marquess"" is not a strong enabler of acceptance by the ton; in fact it is a detractor. Residing at the family country estate in the middle of nowhere makes acceptance utterly impossible. Lady Roberta St. Giles knows that if she is to make a proper match, she must leave the shelter of her home and also leave her father to his poetry in order to begin attending galas especially now that she has selected her future spouse even if the Duke of Villiers remains ignorant of her choice.The Duchess of Beaumont Jemma has just returned from some French mischief so agrees to help a friend destroy the rogue Villiers for hurting her. She thinks the nave country mouse Roberta would be a perfect foil to ruin the rakish Villiers so she invites her to a party at her home. However, Jemma failed to account for her brother Damon Reeve, who will not allow Villiers to hurt the innocent pawn Roberta. As he ponders his altruism, Damon realizes part of the reason he wants to keep Jemma from getting hurt is that he loves her and believes she reciprocates although she insists Villiers is her true love.This terrific Georgian romance is a comedy of errors that showcases the brilliantly creative talent of Eloisa James as she uses a ton of the Ton to tell a delightful historical tale. The fast-paced story line is very humorous as Jemma sets up the game with the precision of a grandmaster and never slows down until the final checkmate occurs. The cast is three dimensional and not just the prime players as Ms. James uses aristocratic pawns to enhance an entertaining eighteenth century romance.Harriet Klausner",5.0,terrific Georgian romance,1180915200,"06 4, 2007",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A1ELPOA47BXIK5,1468308181,"O. R. Pagan ""Baldscientist""","[0, 0]","I am writing this past 1am, I just finished reading it and I could not wait to write my impressions. This is a most unusual book. I was curious about how would the author construct a coherent story with so many different characters and circumstances. Just think about the following, he explores beliefs and lack thereof in such disparate topics as creationism, holocaust denialism, the placebo effect, alleged alien abductions, Morgellon’s disease, the creation of false memories, climate change denial, psychiatry and some others, all from the perspective of believers and deniers.As this were not enough, he tried to unbiasedly interview Rupert Sheldrake and James Randi, who are polar opposites on virtually everything they stand for. Storr somehow manages to create a logical whole of all these points of view and narratives, and he does it brilliantly. He effective illustrates the point that scientists are human, with everything that it entails courtesy of our three pounds of brain matter.I liked the book, although I suspect that I would not like him personally based on his autobiographical expressions. I dunno, it’s an impression. Anyway, I hope that I am wrong.Back to topic, I **really** liked the book; in no small part because he even threw in a significant chunk of good neuroscience throughout, the neurosciences are a topic that I am fond of not just because I know a think or two about the matter, I happen to think that neuroscience is one of the most interesting scientific areas there are and I found that Storr had unique yet very logical points of view on itMy main complaint? He repeats the fashionable, yet unconfirmed and unreplicated trend of stating that the human brain is composed of 86 billion neurons as opposed to the “accepted” figure of 100 billion. I admit this is a minor point, but it is also a pet peeve of mine. I have read the original paper that reports this number (not just the popular article in The Guardian) and the authors themselves did not make the “86 billions” the main message of the report. I even corresponded with the responsible author about it.I have written about this matter in several blog posts as well as in my own neuroscience-themed popular science book, so I will not dwell on this any more.Carrying on, there was a statement that puzzled me: “We do not get to choose our most passionately held views, as if we are selecting melons in a supermarket.” The thing is that we do, and quite frequently too. Maybe not all of us, but a sizable fraction at least. To the author’s credit, a couple of paragraphs later he writes: “I am also concerned that I have overstated my argument. In my haste to write my own coherent story, I have barely acknowledged the obvious truth that minds do sometimes change. People find faith and they lose it. Mystics become Skeptics. Politicians cross the floor.”My favorite sentence? Easy:“I will try to remember, though, that as right as I can sometimes feel, there is always the chance that I am wrong. And that happiness lies in humility: in forgiving others, and in forgiving myself”Maybe I will,like him after all.Note: This review originally appeared in my personal blog baldscientist.wordpress.com",5.0,A most unusual book,1403913600,"06 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AH63LAQW1L3HO,B00AABHU70,Donna,"[6, 9]","This is a fun story told from the POV of a college freshman, a Yankee girl in the south. It isn't necessarily a book about clashing cultures or a young woman's coming of age. It's about fine art, restoration of fine art and thievery. Unfortunately, grammatical errors, punctuation errors, misspellings and misused words make the book difficult to read. One more editing would have made a huge difference in my reading pleasure. This author might want to consider learning the difference between lose and loose, between its and it's, where commas should and should not be used, and the logic behind hyphenated words.UPDATE: 5 September 2013--the author read this review and contacted me to say that she'd had this book edited by a professional and would I please re-read it and comment again. I'm about 50 years beyond my freshman year in college, but when I re-read this story I found myself smiling and becoming angry and frightened for the protagonist. NOW this book deserves 4.5 stars! It was a fun and fascinating story before but now it reads like it was professionally written and edited! Apparently the new editor still doesn't know the difference between loose and lose but it's not used that often and only caused me to stop and chuckle a little. Now I can highly recommend this book! Thanks, Paisley, for getting a good editor! I'm eager to read the next one in this series!",3.0,English as a second language?,1371600000,"06 19, 2013",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A6ERJM6WBLMLO,0988239809,Joy,"[0, 0]",Wow nothing indicated in description just how preachy. Way to many mentions of "god" and "him" with the capital H. I was looking forward to starting this since today 7/2/14 marks the start of my own 40 days till 40 countdown. Very disappointing as a Wiccan to not be able to read something like this. I much prefer to not have christianity shoved down my throat. If it hadn't been that "he" was mentioned multiple times within the same chapter I'd have dealt with it as with so many other things out there.,1.0,*eye rolling*,1404259200,"07 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8K02PFPPAK7U,1499190433,Jo,"[0, 1]","Wow. Totally awesome book, greatly written and the characters well developed. Couldn't put this book down, did not see that coming and am so looking forward to Phenomenal X 2...fingers crossed it's not far off :-)",5.0,Phenomenal!!!,1401840000,"06 4, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1AKQMOH85TFGH,B00A0N0K8Y,"Peter Mackay ""surgeonsmate""","[21, 35]","This is the most appalling twaddle. The first para was incomprehensible, the second had ""Evelyn"" - in a novel titled ""Eden"", who is married to someone called ""Noah"" - examining herself in a mirror. The next few pages tipped a truckload of backstory onto the stunned reader.A good novel isn't about the story so much as how it is told. Don't tie the reader down and ravish them. Dance with them, seduce them, tease and titillate. Put down the baseball bat, take up a rose.And, David, why do you hate the English language so much that you must torture it in every sentence?Top marks for cover design. Well done there.Interesting to see that mine is the first independent review. Everyone else seems to either review lots of free books. Or just one.",1.0,"David Holley, you need a writing class",1362268800,"03 3, 2013",21,35,helpful,0.6,1 A2H3WKM06RU328,B009BPHTKY,Daniel E. P. Whyte,"[0, 1]",The book covers about four thousand years and takes about that long to read. Very detailed and well written. Mr. Carroll did a wonderful job writing so it is understandable.,4.0,Iserael - Palestine,1389139200,"01 8, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AHWB3Y00UNOOV,1489519106,thatonegirl,"[14, 17]","I really enjoyed this book! I must admit I love all of Kendall Ryan's books because she always has such fresh story lines. This book is no different and doesn't disappoint. I was a little worried when I read the book description because I've already read several books about girl goes to college, meets bad boy, reforms him. With true Kendall Ryan style though, they both have their own reasons for behaving and changing the way they are. It doesn't just change out of the blue. She gave them plenty of time to evolve. I would definitely recommend this book!",5.0,Loved it!,1370736000,"06 9, 2013",14,17,helpful,0.8235294117647058,1 A3QY3X05NFVJ0L,0989450201,Donna James,"[0, 0]",I love Colton!!!!! I really loved this book and don't get me wrong I have read a lot of books lol. Anyways everyone has their own opinion but honestly I enjoy this one and to me if I'm a happy reader then I'm satisfy anyways happy reading everyone:-),5.0,wow,1381190400,"10 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3HCD8V6TW4DBV,1572810203,"Reading my way thru life ""Sharing what I read""","[7, 7]","I was drawn to this deck of cards long before I ever bought them! Big mistake in taking so long to get them because once I did get them, I loved using them! I was drawn to them because of the cartoonish and really cute images and the beautiful colors and scenes depicted in these cards.I grew up under strict religious beliefs, and it took me a while to come to terms with my fascination and interest in tarot cards. This deck felt very non-threatening to me, and helped me to familiarize myself with the tarot. It was just a good starting point for me.The sub-title to these cards: ""Journey into the Self"" -was also appealing to me, because I didn't feel like I was using the cards for taboos like fortune telling, or spell casting. -I was trying to find out more about myself and the world I live in.I really like the LWB that comes with the cards. For such a small book, it was extremely helpful and I liked the interpretations. The box is a really cute corregated cardboard.The images are based on the Rider-Waite-Smith deck in that the pictures are so similar. The RWS deck is far more detailed and true to life pictures whereas these are more cartoonish type.I'd highly recommend this deck. Choosing a deck, especially your first one, is a personal choice and you need to go with one that you have good feelings about and feel comfortable with. If you want to see the whole deck, you can view it at the tarot.com website.",5.0,These beautiful cards were a great starting point for me!,1147824000,"05 17, 2006",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 AK3VCPBJIV1JJ,0786950692,"Maurice G. Tousignant ""Gilvan Blight""","[5, 5]","Quickly: interesting, basically an addition to the Monster Manual.Summary:This is a hardcover Dungeons and Dragons 4th edition sourcebook containing 223 page about Undead. This is mainly a DM book and I would actually suggest player's not read it in the way I suggest they not read the Monster Manual: it takes away some of the fun and discovery.The book is divided into 4 chapters.Chapter 1 deals with undead lore. This strongly reminded me of the Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons book (which I just realized I failed to review here). There are details about Physiology, Outlook and Psychology and Society with a section in the back looking at The Shadowfell.Chapter 2 is called the DM's Guide to Undead and contains some great out of the ordinary encounter ideas. By out of the ordinary I mean social encounters, skill challenges and even idea on using Undead as Patrons. Three different Campaign arcs are given as well. Quite a few artifacts, some new rituals and a great section of undead Grafts round out this chapter.Chapter 3 presents a series of lairs. These are fully detailed encounter locations including 2-3 set combat encounters and many suggestions for more. There are 3 lairs included for each Tier of play.Chapter 4 contains almost 100 pages of new monsters. Most of these are typical Monster Manual style monsters and include some great new mobs like: ""The Brain in the Jar"" and ""Crawling Gauntlet"". Many old mobs are given new types (your typical undead, zombies, ghouls, skeletons etc). There are 7 famous undead stated out near the end of the book. These include famous characters like Vecna and Strad. Quite a few new templates are included. The final section of the book contains some great alternate powers for the typical undead types.The Good:The first section on Physiology and Psychology was actually rather fascinating. I loved the ideas of skill challenges and the sections on hauntings were rather good as well. I've already had an Undead patron in one of my games but that section gave me some great new ideas. Many of the new monsters are great. I so love the Brain in the Jar, the Tombstone Golem and the Flesh Cult (would make great Mid Paragon level baddies).The BadI'm not a huge fan of the artifact system in 4e and I was even less of a fan of the artifacts in this book. Most of them seemed to be designed more for an evil character then good. I can't see most parties wanting to keep the items. A few were good, like Kaz's sword needed to Kill Vecna but many just didn't seem useful. I actually would have preferred more theory in this book. I really loved the Draconomicon: Chromatic dragon book for all of the background, fluff and theory. To me that book was more about background and info then about stats. This book seems to be the opposite. It's more about the crunch and less about the fluff. It's more of a Monster Manual then anything, and it can as boring to read as a MM at times.The UglyI personally thought way too much time and space was given to the monster lairs. Sure they are neat and all but I highly doubt I will use more then one in my games. 78 pages of the book are given over to these lairs I will probably never use. Reading through them was uninspired as well as most of it was just a series of 'read aloud text' with a couple of combat encounters at the end.Overall:I wasn't as impressed with this one as I thought I would be. I really liked the Chromatic Dragons book and expected this to be as fun to read and it just wasn't. This one is a lot more mechanical with a lot more crunch. Now if all you are looking for is some new mobs, some places to fight those mobs (lairs) and some artifacts for them to have, you will be very happy with this book. Even saying that it's still a good book, there's some great stuff in here that will definitely enhance my game, it just wasn't as interesting or fun a read as I thought it would be.",3.0,"Good but not great, think of it as an expansion to the Monster Manual",1274054400,"05 17, 2010",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2F6NONFUDB6UK,089608650X,Malvin,"[45, 47]","Vandana Shiva's concise, intelligent and well-written book Water Wars examines the political economy of water, a scarce resouce that is fast increasing in value all over the world.Among many themes explored in the book, the author effectively contrasts two markedly different approaches to water stewardship: centralized vs. decentralized management systems. Centralized systems are associated with private for-profit capitalism whereas decentralized systems are typically managed by local community co-ops.Shiva draws from her extensive knowledge of her native India to describe how centralized controls imposed during the colonial and post-colonial eras have largely failed to meet the needs of the people and the environment. She discusses how dams built with World Bank and other foreign dollars merely reallocated water resources at an enormous cost to the environment and to the many poor people displaced from their ancestral homes. The author also points out that modern pumps installed in the name of progress have unfortunately succeeded in withdrawing water at an unsustainable rate, thereby causing thousands of wells to run dry and consequently causing suffering for many.On the other hand, Shiva relates cases where villagers have returned to native systems of water management that have succeeded in resuscitating wells, streams and rivers that had previously dried up. These projects are managed democratically by the villagers themselves with an eye towards sustainability and social justice (everyone gets their fair share of water but no one gets more water than necessary).Shiva also gave the book a spiritual dimension. She cites both ancient and contemporary sources to prove that water holds special meaning to people the world over for its unique life-giving properties. The implication is that it is perhaps immoral to regard water as merely the latest market opportunity. Clearly, respect for the natural environment and the needs of other people requires us to do better.Water Wars is a great book for anyone who cares to learn more about water management issues and democracy.",5.0,Articulate spokesperson for the people,1020902400,"05 9, 2002",45,47,helpful,0.9574468085106383,1 A1TNQ0PJRCAJWW,B0056372HA,AMS,"[0, 1]",Quick read. Fully developed in a few words. Characters came alive with story line. Left you wanting to know what happened next.,5.0,Great romance,1375920000,"08 8, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A15EI56DL57DZC,1482792621,Tonya Allen,"[0, 0]","This is my favorite so far, in the series. I love both Will and Megan.Megan is a nurse at Seattle's Children, she works with kids that have cancer. Will is the quarterback for the Seahawks. Their first meeting had me laughing. He asks for her number and she flat out tells him NO. Being the football stud he is, it shocks him and makes him more interested in her.After Jules' engagement party, Will finally knows why Meg won't give him the time of the day, even though they had a steamy bathroom kiss. He gets her to agree on a date with him.Will is a huge sweetheart. He isn't like how he acts with his fans at all. Meg finally sees that in him."But I wouldn't take advantage of you when you don't have your wits about you. When I take you, you'll know exactly what we're doing, what you're feeling, and I won't stop until your legs are shaking and the neighbors know my name." ~WillPeople from Meg's past pop up, like her horrible mother and her "brother" Leo. Will will need to either help her with dealing with them or step out of the picture. This is a great book and I can't wait to read more of the series.",5.0,Love Will,1400198400,"05 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A112CA5DLCSUH3,1938426568,gillian bennett,"[4, 11]","Could not get past 1/2 way through first chapter. Absolutely unbelievable and unrealistic, like reading mills and boon. Christ, if I wanted to read romance, I certainly wouldn't be looking under mystery/police procedurals. There needs to be a new genre added if these craptastic novels are going to be considered as mysteries, otherwise just file them under adventure/romance or something. Perhaps they are now finding they way to the crime section because no one looking for romance will read them?",1.0,unreadable.,1347148800,"09 9, 2012",4,11,helpful,0.36363636363636365,1 A2YXRT2XIJIO57,073932683X,John P. Jones III,"[55, 60]","Tom Brokaw is from one of the ultimate ""heartland states,"" South Dakota. He says that his lack of aptitude for science and math led him to journalism. He made it big: a face familiar to millions of Americans as an ""anchor"" on an evening news show. The voice was always one of reason. He has reached the ""summing up"" part of his life, with grandchildren under foot. Like many of us, he has wondered what has happened to the many virtues that America once had, and if we have the ability to reclaim our way. As he says in his Preface: ""I believe it is time for an American conversation about legacy and destiny."" From the ""Amen Corner,"": Past Time.Brokaw uses the metaphor of the family clock, an heirloom that they have owned for over 100 years. Time continues to move along that singular vector: forward. Certainly the charm of the book are in the anecdotal accounts of his family's history on the High Plains, as well as the stories of various Americans who have tried to make a ""difference,"" who haven't waited for someone else, but initiated their own actions and programs. The adversity of the climate, and the economic failure that was the Great Depression, engendered ""community values,"" in the best sort of way. Bravo for the ""good neighbor,"" but shouldn't we be asking why we need adversity to promote it; and in prosperity, we lose it?Concerning the issues we need to address, Brokaw focuses on education, the need to downsize our material needs, restore public service, and properly and humanly manage the wonderful new world of interconnectivity. There are some pithy formulations about our abuse of the environment: ""Will our freeways become our Easter Island giant statues?"" The author tells the stories of several individuals in the field of education who have helped turn around poor schools, such as Tony Smith, a principal at Taft High in Cincinnati, who ""partnered"" with the CEO of the local phone company. All too often though, Brokaw comes across with puff-ball bromides. In summing of Chapter 3, on education, he says: ""It is hard and noble work and, yes, it is not always done perfectly, but the failures of the system ought not to be blamed on the teachers alone. We all have a stake.""I had hoped that Brokaw would have taken us much further along on that ""curve"" that is the conversation he (and I) say we need. Oh so much was missing. The devastation wrought by the financial services industry, and more importantly, what we should be doing about it, was essentially omitted. How much money did the so-called ""Masters of the Universe"" take from the rest of us? We should all KNOW that figure: two, three, four trillion dollars? Do we need all those derivatives that ""regulate themselves"" except when they don't? What was the matter with ""heartland banking,"" succinctly expressed as ""5-9-2."" (the bank paid the depositor 5% on his passbook savings account; made mortgages at 9%, and since it was so simple (and transparent!) the banker could be on the golf course at 2 pm). Brokaw advocates thrift (and there is another ""amen"") but never comments on the almost 100% tax rate the Fed has imposed on all savers in order to help rebuild bank balance sheets (of course the three letter word is never used; they simply reduce the Fed fund rate to zero, and when they write another check for those collateralized mortgage obligations that went sour it is described as ""expanding the Fed's balance sheet."") Whimsical Easter Island metaphors? How about passing a law that all CEO's would have to have two portraits of Marie Antoinette in their offices... a before, and an after. All of this was missing.As was much else. Brokaw is famous for his book onThe Greatest Generationand how they beat Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in less than four years. So why did he never once address America's endless wars, the ""borrowing"" the wars entail, and if there is any ""light at the end of the tunnel."" Being a veteran myself, I appreciated his focus on the separation between those who served in the military, and the rest of civilian society. Brokaw said that we need to downsize our ""McMansions"" (amen), but never mentioned downsizing our 12 aircraft carrier battle groups. Do our security needs really require that many?He promotes numerous other ""received ideas"" without even exploring the possibility that perhaps the opposite might be better. ""We need more and better educated science graduates."" Do we? I have a degree in Physics, and have long wondered if my life would be improved by one more electronic gizmo. When I was in school I poo-pooed the ""soft"" social sciences. In retrospect, it seems that is exactly what we need: a new gizmo will not get the homeless off the street or end the meth epidemic, or reduce income inequality. Do we really need more immigration? Can you raise the question without being called a racist? When are too many people more than enough? Can we put a roof over our head and food on the table without being number one, competitively? Has not the recent scandal at Penn State underscored what happens when ""winning is everything""?So, yes, let the conversation begin, but move it further along the curve, beyond the point of merely rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. I have no idea what Brokaw's relationship was with Walter Cronkite. If Brokaw viewed him as some sort of mentor, he could recall the night that Cronkite looked the American people in the eye, and said we could not win in Vietnam. The hard truths. Brokaw still has time. And many Americans would listen. In the meantime, 3-stars for this effort.",3.0,Lite and breezy...,1321228800,"11 14, 2011",55,60,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A1ZLW3YL2Y1IKG,0061099503,N.G.,"[0, 0]","I could NOT put this book down!!! I love books which contain both ROMANCE and SECRETS. There were BOTH! We follow a young woman as she is given the long held journals of her mother. She knows her mom had issues, but she discovers issues that she would have never seen coming. Will she be able to understand and forgive? At the same time, she becomes involved with a divorced man with an awful secret! He has just served time for child molestation. Can she have him around her young daughter? Will she be able be with him? I would suggest you read this one!!!",5.0,GREAT READ!!!,1348272000,"09 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AH7CBIWDTHXWA,006112429X,Lois Lain,"[9, 18]","It's hard to review this book when I am so appalled at what it represents. I appreciate the author's attempt to get into the whys and wherefores of teenage mass murderers, but I'm not sure the book deserves the attention it's gotten. While it definitely presents the story behind one such (fictional) criminal, I don't believe that Kevin's story is every school shooter's story.I think the relationship between mother and son (a son trying desperately to get a reaction from a mother who not only was ambivalent about his birth, but doesn't like him as a child either) is overshadowed by the horrific detals of the larger story. The nuances of the relationship -- and the truths about how far a child will go to gain his parents' attention -- are lost in the carnage.A sidenote on the writing -- I dislike having to work so hard to read a book. I have trouble believing that an ordinary reader made it through this novel without a dictionary in hand. What's with the convoluted sentence structure and made-up words, and why did the author insist on using phrases such as ""lambent joy,"" """"immediate rapacities,"" and ""alien argot?"" And this, from a woman who supposedly wrote travel guides aimed at the average college student? I think not.All in all, a gripping story, but the sensationalism of the crime obscures the deeper, more accessible meaning.",3.0,Horrifying.,1171497600,"02 15, 2007",9,18,helpful,0.5,1 A2ERX35JDLDJIO,1452661197,Ren5245,"[7, 10]","I really wanted to love this book... It had all the elements: vampires, werewolfs, ect., but lacked in delivery. I'm not a fan when books switch between characters especially when it's more then two. There were just too many side stories going on that didn't pertain directly to the main one. The entire time I was reading the book I felt like I was missing something... too many characters with too much information was thrown at you in a short amount of time. Plus the way they interacted and talked about each other was like you should have detailed knowledge of them. You were given minimal information, which normally is fine but in this case it was like being dumped into the middle of a series. I think the problem is K-W has spent too much time with the characters of this world and although this is the first book in this new series she has lost her perspective. The best way I can describe it, is like when you meet a new group of friends and they have been friends for years with their own jokes and long history. Even though they make an effort to include you and share jokes/stories of the past but when the stories are retold the jokes aren't funny and you only get a partial view of the obvious deep history. If your heart is set on this book I would recommend reading her other books first (hopefully) it might help. As for me I think I'll pass... I loved her ideas but don't like being the third wheel.",3.0,Am I missing something?!,1331510400,"03 12, 2012",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 A3NSH09ID0RNDL,1481054317,Roxanne,"[0, 0]",I really enjoyed reading this book and it was wonderful to get some more insight into Maldynado's world view. This is such a fantastic series!,5.0,LOVE Maldynado!,1353628800,"11 23, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AL1XV4L25FZ2S,1118736761,GameMaker,"[0, 0]","It's kind of ironic that a book named "teach yourself VISUALLY" (yes, with caps), would do such a poor job on the visual aspect (grainy, small black and white pictures). But aside from that I have other gripes about the book too:1. The first chapter "Reviewing What You Can Do with OS X" is kind of a joke. It is just a really haphazard list of things you could do on a computer, not really necessarily having anything to do with this particular version of OSX, or even OSX in general (for example Twitter and Facebook).2. I was really hoping that in particular, the book would talk about "Mavaricks". A typical book about a particular operating system, would start out with a discussion about what is new in that particular version, since the prior version. But there is no such discussion here.3. The topics are just SOOO painfully basic: How to edit a text file, how to login to twitter, how to send an email. Honestly, anybody with any level of proficiency with a macintosh in the past, is going to be bored to tears by this book.I think the most important thing to understand about this book, is that it seems to be written at a level for someone who has very very little computer experience, or maybe has never touched a mac in his or her life. And even then I wouldn't recommend it, because of the abysmal quality of the visuals. Avoid this useless book. There are so many better ones out there.",1.0,Not Impressed,1393632000,"03 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A7UMC95YCRGTS,0312329113,"John C. Landon ""nemonemini""","[8, 12]","Although a journalist for the Wall Street Journal wouldn't pass as an historical materialist, a stethoscope put to the economic malaise of the Arab world fairly threatens to uncover the prime mover of its current troubles. With a series of vignettes hopscotching through Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, and Egypt, the author produces a significant diagnosis, with an emphasis on capitalist fundamentals that isn't market mania. Indeed, there is an ambiguity here. For all the emphasis on democratic capitalism by the West you have to wonder if these crocodile idealists with a nasty penchant for imperialism could havew done a better job crippling Arab economies if they had set out to do so deliberately. And the crippling of the economic potential of Palestine ranks as a bit of glaring contradiction to stated objectives.With so much money at stake in the status quo, it's better to blame Arafat.Beyond that, the social mix of dictators and elites in the Middle East as portrayed is not a nice picture, and the degree of incompetence shown gets the silver metal after the Western powers for sheer botch.The destruction of the Iraqi economy is especially depressing, as is the current American initiative amounting to considerable propaganda and the inability to restrain one's Halliburton compulsions. As the author notes, the systematic exclusion of Iraqi's from their own reconstruction fairly well shows the game in action, behind the market hype. The Iraqis had the electrical grid up and running in a few weeks after the first Gulf War.Briskly informative and useful account.",5.0,A question of economics,1091923200,"08 8, 2004",8,12,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2F6N60Z96CAJI,0312990715,Bookreporter,"[9, 9]","Robert Ludlum lives. There were those who believed that with the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ludlum and other spy craft practitioners would quietly fade away, having no credible villain to frame a novel around. Such true believers forgot that evil always exists; it merely takes different forms. Ludlum's work continued apace and --- as is amply evident by THE MOSCOW VECTOR and its predecessors --- even survived his passing, with the able assistance of Patrick Larkin.THE MOSCOW VECTOR is the latest of the Covert-One novels. Covert-One arose from a concept created by Ludlum shortly before his death. It is a secret organization answering only to the President of the United States, a group that quietly goes about the business of protecting the government and the documents and principles upon which it is built while operating outside of it. THE MOSCOW VECTOR arguably is the best volume in the series to date, and not because of the principals involved, who include the reliably competent Dr. Jon Smith and the quietly enchanting but dangerous Fiona Devlin. Nor is the startle factor of this tale provided by Wulf Renke, the mad scientist who is the method by which Victor Dudarev, the President of Russia, intends to bring about the reinstitution of the Soviet Union with the involuntary involvement of the former member states.Rather, the real star of THE MOSCOW VECTOR is the ingeniously dangerous weapon that Dudarev is using to put his plan into motion. It is a bio-weapon (not a virus) tailored to strike a particular individual's DNA, destroying silently and insidiously from within, while leaving no trace of its passage. It's a brilliant concept that's frightening in its potential. The targets of this lethal instrument are U.S. intelligence analysts, the duly-elected leaders of the former Soviet satellites --- and a certain leader of the free world who sits in the highest office of the U.S. government. Dudarev's plan is to remove everyone capable of stopping his invasion before it takes place.Smith, Devlin, and a couple of surprising but familiar assistants are in a race against time, not only to prevent Dudarev from hatching his plot, but also to stop the implementation of the bio-weapon as it moves, slowly but quietly, into place in the White House.Larkin's always competent and reliable storytelling abilities are augmented here by an ingenious weapons concept that is all the more frightening because of its believability. Those who have never sampled a Covert-One novel will find THE MOSCOW VECTOR an excellent place to begin, as Larkin brings Ludlum's Cold War villains full circle with a 21st century weapon to boot. Recommended.--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub",4.0,An ingenious and frightening continuation to the Covert-One series,1122940800,"08 2, 2005",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A1DX66FGHFB331,1595546863,"A. Amber ""Delighted and Inspired""","[0, 0]","Wren is a divorced single mom with a ten-year-old named Charlie. Charlie's dad is out of the picture after having ditched the family life for a life of adventure and fun in Europe, leaving Wren responsible for making a good life for her and her son.But Wren is a woman with a history. A history of deep hurts, guilt, and blame stemming from that one day in her childhood. It was the day that changed her life forever. It was the day her family fell apart. It was the day that her and the rest of her family had been running from ever since.When Wren and Charlie move back into the old family summer vacation home in Maine, Wren is faced with memories of that horrid day so many years earlier. And she continually finds herself running and hiding from the events that forever changed her life.And just as she and Charlie have settled in, Wren's grandmother Ruth appears at her front door. Ruth announces that she wants the family together one last night at the family summer home.With much hesitation, Wren agrees to the party that Ruth so desperately pleads for. And the plans begin with much reluctance on Wren's part.And then the family gathers at Cottage Cove (the name of their summer home) and they are confronted with the lies and demons of the past. And during this time, there is healing and forgiveness.I really enjoyed this novel. It was a slow start at first. It wasn't a book that I thought I would have a hard time getting through; I just found the plot development to be dragging a little in the beginning. However, as the book progressed, I found myself feeling involved in the character's lives. I love when books do that to me.This book was a very inspiring book as the family, and the main character, Wren, faced fears and past failures and truly experienced God's love and grace.I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest review.",4.0,Great Read About God's Healing Love,1312502400,"08 5, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AUEY946M1L939,067973743X,"John L Murphy ""Fionnch""","[58, 64]","Fonseca writes intelligently, integrating many sources and personal observations, but this book remains rather too narrowly intent upon rather journalistic glimpses of Roma life throughout 1990s East-Central Europe. She combines her own interviews and reading with reflections upon how ""gypsies"" and Jews coexist and play off each other's stereotypes in the eyes of the dominant culture that illuminate from her own perspective (her mother's Jewish) how marginalized peoples have to survive often on the less respectable fringes of a world that both inflates and diminishes the power of ""the Other."" Especially revealing is her exploration of ""the Devouring,"" the Roma cataclysm during WWII.Others have commented on the fact that she only delves in-depth into one Albanian family, and I agree that this concentration lessens the impact of the rest of her book, which follows in a more general survey Roma in Bulgaria, Romania, Germany with glimpses in the Czech lands, Poland, and the Balkans. She refers to other ""gypsies"" in the West and India, and I realize that publication pressures may have limited her ability to give all the detail she may have wanted to, or, on the other hand, that she chose a few representative places and events to stand for the whole panorama.But, I did feel that she sensed an exhaustion of the topic by the last chapter, a weary recounting of conferences and rather fruitless statements of purpose by ""professional Gypsies"" and the academic and public policy specialists who follow the Roma. She writes from an American identity but her prose uses Britishisms to arrive at an expat, mid-Atlantic style that makes her seem more detached from her subject than she may have meant. (Perhaps the influence of her now-partner, Martin Amis, in assistance when she worked on this book can partially account for this stylistic tic?) While Fonseca has done her reading and strives mightily at giving us an popularized introduction to the Roma, her chapters vary widely in interest and verve, and the book took me much longer to read as a result.Lively depictions of a train trip from Poland to Germany vie with desultory recitals of conversations with countless individuals who have little of interest to relate. Careful crafting of her sentences collides with boilerplate renderings of findings reminiscent of anthropological term papers. This may have been Fonseca working as best she could with the interviews she had, but a more severe editor could've pushed her to do more with what she compiled, or to cut to the best portions for a much smaller but more energetic account.",3.0,Ambitious but unevenly focused & paced,1117929600,"06 5, 2005",58,64,helpful,0.90625,1 A1FWN4WUV52QRH,1478295856,EH,"[0, 0]","Good read. A lot of mysteries and surprises. The British grammar was a little distracting for me, but I would definitely recommend.",4.0,Keeps you guessing..,1364428800,"03 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AT60XNU2UJIU4,0615972535,Jessica Helm,"[20, 29]","I have never written a bad review but this book is not good. it's weird. Strange. Odd. the descriptions are over the top. For example her hair is ""overflowing disobedient hair"", ""his rare surprised expression"", ""the room is silent save for the acute splash echo of pool water"", ""my body adjusts to this thick piece of him"". This may just be the most eye rolling book I have ever read. NOT GOOD. I wouldn't recommend it if it was free.",1.0,No just no,1393632000,"03 1, 2014",20,29,helpful,0.6896551724137931,1 A1IMZR1VUR3NOU,0553062050,Corvette lover,"[0, 0]",A friend got me interested in these books and I love them. The characters are wonderful and the adventures are filled with action and you learn a bit of history too. I plan to read them all.,5.0,great adventure,1354060800,"11 28, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A81XIM8XFKWX5,0876591128,Vicki Bohn,"[21, 23]","I checked this book out from my local library after seeing its recommendation in The book, The Well-Trained Mind. I would not say this is an ideal book for homeschooling families as two of the nine chapters are titled, ""Science Center Activities"" (pgs. 27-44) and ""Circle Time Activities"" (pgs. 61-74). The book was written for a preschool or elementary school classroom setting.In addition, the book is comprised of your basic science activities for preschoolers. If you want something new or phenomenal, you won't find it here. There are activities such as watching a scab heal, observing the full moon and making pennies shiny again. These are very basic activities that you may feel discouraged you paid for, but for people who have a hard time finding something new to do every day or for teachers who want a written curriculum, this book is well organized. Also, those who have not had much exposure to science in their lives, or do not remember it, may not know how much fun it is to play with an amorphous solid (Magic Matter p. 91) and would need something such as this book to remind them.For each activity, you are told if it's appropriate for ages 2+, 3+, 4+ or 5+. These suggestions are coming from college professors and can give confidence to those parents or caregivers who are unsure of what is & isn't appropriate for the average child.Preschool science is very simple and I feel that a book is unnecessary, but if you feel you need one, this isn't a bad choice. For homeschoolers, though, I'd also recommend Janice Van Cleave's Play and Find Out About series because they skip the classroom style activities. Amazon sells Janice VanCleave's Big Book of Play and Find Out Science Projects for $13.57. With 224 pages, that ought to keep you busy for a while! = )",4.0,"Not Bad, Just Okay",1203724800,"02 23, 2008",21,23,helpful,0.9130434782608695,1 AD7AGXXK41WMZ,0321602072,Ken Mask,"[0, 0]",The world around us is both the same and changing. The basics of life and ongoing existence are clearly outlined and covered in solid terms.,5.0,On and exciting,1393718400,"03 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A12QID1T8F4AKD,1938442989,"Infinity The Reader ""INFINITY THE READER""","[0, 0]",I LOVED THIS BOOK FROM BEGINNING TO END.. WHEN I GOT TO THE END I WANTED MORE.. IT'S LIKE I WAS IN THE STORY OR THE STORY WAS APART OF ME.. I CAN'T WAIT FOR PART 2 I NEED IT LIKE YESTERDAY.. I WOULD AND AM GOING TO RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS & ANYONE ELSE WHO LOVES TO READ.. FROM TIFFANY & TREE FIRST MEETING TO DIAMOND'S RIDE OR DIE ATTITUDE THEN VON'S CONFLICTED VIEWS.. A GREAT FATHER IN CITO I WAS JUST ALLLL IN!! THAT SNAKE ISH I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO GO IN ON HIM CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GIVE AWAY THE BOOK.. NINA IS A BITCH & IF I WAS IN THE BOOK I WOULD'VE DEAD HER MYSELF WITH MY OWN HANDS IJS..I KNOW I KINDA RAMBLED SOME IN THIS REVIEW ALL IN ALL THIS WAS A HELLA GOOD BOOK! IT SHOULD BE ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING LIST & THE ESSENCE LIST!!-AUTHOR V BROWN[...],5.0,ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I'VE EVER READ!!!,1343347200,"07 27, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WKETL5D94YS7,0671479903,Jeffrey O. Shallit,"[71, 166]","This is not just a bad book. It is a sick one.Bloom's obsessions are clear on almost every page: sex and rock music. Although clothed in a pretentious philosophical language, his objections betray what's really on his mind: he feels left out. The sexual revolution of the Sixties passed him by, and like the child whose playmates decide he's not good enough to get into the game, he retaliates by labelling everything about his opponents evil.The poet Philip Larkin had Bloom's number when he wrote in his poem, Annus Mirabilis:Sexual intercourse began/In nineteen sixty-three/ (Which was rather late for me)-Between the end of the _Chatterley_ ban/And the Beatles' first LP.Like many neo-conservatives, Bloom doesn't really understand the principle of free speech. He says it "has given way to freedom of expression, in which the obscene gesture enjoys the same protected status as demonstrative discourse." In other words, freedom of speech should only apply to those that Bloom approves of. (He also doesn't apparently know that the Canadian constitution guarantees "freedom of expression", precisely to avoid arbitrary Bloom-style distinctions.)Like many humanists, he is deeply distrustful of science. And so he continues to push thinkers like Plato as essential to understanding the world, displaying no comprehension of the intellectual revolution brought by, for example, Charles Darwin. Is it still fruitful to read the Greeks? Certainly. But to pretend that we have learned nothing in 2000 years, that the insights of science play no part in an informed understanding of the world, is to (again) play the part of the small child who insists, contrary to all evidence, that there is really is a Santa Claus.Ultimately, this books tells us not about the mind of Americans, but rather the small, sanctimonious, and quite closed mind of one university professor named Allan Bloom.",1.0,The closing of Allan Bloom's mind,974073600,"11 13, 2000",71,166,helpful,0.42771084337349397,1 A9LIET7K21PAO,0385324081,Thomas Stamper,"[14, 15]","James Jones loves the American Soldier. He loves the men from C for Charlie Company. They are the story. He describes many events that comprise a battle, the transport, the encampment, the waiting, the shelling, the shooting, the fighting, the bravery, the cowardice. We enter the minds of those who fight. Some fight for politcal advancement. Some fight for fear of being labled a coward. Some fight just becuase they love the company and men they're fighting with. The main characters are John Bell, a former engineering officer who resigns his commission to be with his wife. He opens the story as a lowly private. The fear of being killed hardly enters his mind. He's too worried that his wife is cheating on him to think about anything else. Corporal Fife, the company clerk and coward, learns to fight and love it. 1st Sergeant Welsh is the madman leader of the non-coms who does surprisingly little fighting. He likes to walk around and stir the pot. This is probably due to his two canteens full of gin. There are many other important characters, but interesting to me is a minor one named Witt. Witt, is the doppleganger of Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt from Jones first book of the trilogy From Here to Eternity. Witt, like Prewitt is a strong willed Kentuky boy who was once a regimental boxer. In this book he drifts in and out of the company as it suits him. The 1998 movie focuses on him much more than the novel.If you are interested in World War II, you'll enjoy this book.",5.0,A real sense of being in battle,945043200,"12 13, 1999",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 AZACNY1H74YWS,0786032871,Pamela_reads,"[5, 10]","I think the blurbs on the cover of Ryan Lockwood's ""Below"" are overblown, setting the reader's expectations at too high a level (""brilliantly terrifying,"" ""absolutely terrifying,"" ""nerve-tingling suspense,"" ""breathtakingly frightening""). Sorry, I liked the book and enjoyed reading it, but I would not agree with any of those assessments. Specifically, I really liked the opening section (chapters 1-17) which set up the book's premise, and I liked the characters, Will Sturman and Joe Montoya. I was less enthused with the female lead, ""brilliant"" oceanographer, Valerie Martell, who seemed to spend a good deal of time lecturing everyone else about what an expert she was. It's not that I wasn't interested in this information. Rather, the way it was presented seemed at times to be something of an 'info dump' that brought things to a dead stop until Valerie finished her spiel.I especially liked the chapters told through the point of view of innocent possible victims of the predator, as well as the chapters told from the point of view of the predator. The tension of wondering if or when the predator would strike kept me reading very speedily.""Below"" is not receiving my top rating, but it's a solid first effort by Ryan Lockwood, and I look forward to checking out the books he may write in the future. I am grateful to the publisher, Kensington, for sending my review copy of ""Below"" as part of Library Thing's Member Giveaway program.",3.0,A Solid Effort from Ryan Lockwood,1372118400,"06 25, 2013",5,10,helpful,0.5,1 A2V8X7TARNMC1,145163806X,Nekkosan,"[4, 4]","I don't recommend purchasing this book unless you have a grounding in prior Honor Harrington books. I did plod through and finish the book and feel badly about the two star rating. While I have read the entire Honor series twice, this book lost me.This is allegedly an Honor Harrington book but aside from one very short mention of her relative to some peace negotiations with Haven, she is not a presence until Page 129. In the meantime all you have are pages and pages of dialogues and background babble. Just how many conversations can you listen to before losing interest? Many typos and excessively wordy sentences (some more than 4 lines long) make it difficult to readThere are just too many characters and titles to keep track of. And, ""Permanent Senior Undersecretary Innokentiy Arsenovich Kolokoltsov"" is just such a mouthful that I finally gave up on most of them. Fewer, more thoroughly developed characters would have been much more enjoyable and given the book more substance. And what's with all the multi-national hyphenated names (e.g. Jacques Benton-Raminez y Chou)? I would like to know the details (sizes, capabilities, comparisons) on the myriad starships used in the ongoing battles between the warring political entities. While they are the same descriptions used in ancient Old Terra wet navy battles, if you aren't familiar with battleships, destroyers, etc. you can get lost. I've found star maps on Weber's web site which helps, so how about the warships, too? don't have $300+ to purchase Jayne's Intelligence Review.The first 10 or books of the Honor Harrington series were delightful; might as well go back and re-read again rather than try to contend with Weber's most recent offerings.",2.0,Very Disappointed Fan,1360800000,"02 14, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AM4SRHHYPB62J,B00DNPQSPK,CJ Black,"[0, 0]","So you read Friend- Zoned and then RUSHED to see if the promised second one was out yet? You easily found it on Amazon, or wherever, and dove right in, yes? Great! You are just like me!Nat and Ghost... Oh holey hell! Are they hot or what?? Gad! Those two had me breaking a sweat as I read this book!So Nat and Ghost, or Asher as he lets some call him, get it on in book #1 - just once. 99% of the time they are awake they act like that hate each other and could easily rip out the other's throat and not bat an eye. So what the hell? They both admit the sex was great and they'd do it again, so why not? Why not get together? The chemistry is VERY obvious!Ghost has secrets, that we learn a bit about in Friend-Zoned, and he is scared to tell Nat. He doesn't keep friends and doesn't think he is worthy of a girlfriend and all that comes with it so, after their one night fling and several days, he and Nat agree to just avoid each other.All is well, or seemingly, for months - until one fateful night as Nat moves into her new apartment. A complicated friendship, a chance date gone wrong, and madness ensues!Follow these two on an unforgettable journey through loss, hope, friendship and life. The end will leave you smiling from ear to ear!4 Stars because I felt the end just stopped. Like it needed to show the completion of the journey started in the Epilogue.I can't wait for the promised book 3!",4.0,"Friend-Zoned, again! Yay!",1377388800,"08 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A37OHLPPY6EBM1,0312545525,S. N. D.,"[14, 14]","I can only add to what are probably by now thousands of well deserved five star ratings here and elsewhere. I was once very much into yeast baking, but just don't have time for all the yeast proofing, doubling in bulk, punching down, etc. I bought the first book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day and Pre Ordered the sequel here. I decided to stick to the first book for awhile to enlarge on building my skills, experimenting with different brands of flour, packet yeast vs. bulk yeast. I have a very small kitchen and keep the fancy kitchen equipment to a minimum. It isn't needed here: I use the largest food grade Rubbermaid container for mixing and storing dough, and I mix it with a wooden spoon oiled with food grade oil. I have no problems doing that and getting enough of the glutens to come out of the flour to get a good rise. This is so much satisfying fun! The basic boule from the first book makes incredible pizza dough: 40 cents not $4 for store bought! And you can mix it in less time than it takes to go to the store! I just ordered ten grain cereal from Bob's Red Mill to try that bread in the new book. The store bought multigrain breads are horrible and make healthy eating torture. I can't wait to try it!",5.0,I'm Again Able To Enjoy Bread Baking with a Very Tight Schedule,1260230400,"12 8, 2009",14,14,helpful,1.0,1 A12FGRUDIJI1W4,0061934747,"Kathy E. ""Kathy""","[0, 1]","I strongly recommend you read the previous books in the series Song of Scarabaeus prior to reading this book.I've really been looking forward to this sequel. This was an exciting conclusion to a fantastic story that was full of twist and turns with plenty of action, planetary heist (literally), fast interstellar spaceship getaways, a creative terraforming nightmare and spectacular descriptions of exotic evolutionary planets so vividly expressed, I had no difficulties imagining them.I was fascinated at the clever and innovative ideas the author used to describe the human race migration in the future, from earth to populate hundreds of other worlds; and what society, on a grand ""intragalactic"" scale, might be like.The first book had what I defined as a mere ""flare"" of romance, unfortunately, this sequel had a bit more romance in it than the first. Thankfully it was not the main focus of the story.Children of Scarabaeus pretty much ties ups all the loose ends from Song of Scarabaeus and there isn't a book 3 slated for this series. However the story ended in such a brilliant way that leaves lots of openings if there are to be future books. This series has so many intricate layers and creativity that this epic story definitely too complex to be fully captured in only two books.I usually like to watch my SF (i.g. my beloved SGU, SG1, SGA, Doc Who, Torchwood, V, Farscape, BSG, etc.) and normally read my dark urban fantasy (Ilona Andrews [ Kate Daniels and The Edge series], Jennifer Estep [Elemental Assassin series], Jaye Wells [Sabina Kane series], Diana Pharaoh Francis [Horngate Witches series], Kalayna Price [Haven and Alex Craft series], J.A. Saare [Rhiannon's Law Series], etc.) but for the past few years, scifi is systematically being removed from many tv network's line-up; plus it's hard to invest in a show only to have it cancelled without being given a chance to build an audience. This series definitely satisfies my SF craving and is full of excitement and adventure.I highly recommend this book to fellow SF fans. To those fellow dark urban fantasy readers, looking for a good SF but don't want to end up with space romance; I highly recommend this book to you, as the style of writing is similar to an urban fantasy read.The author is already at work on a different SF series, I would definitely read anything she puts out.I also recommend:A Galaxy UnknownPeacekeeper: A Major Ariane Kedros NovelSpace Trippers Book 1: Trippin'The Scent of Shadows (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 1)Darkfever (Fever Series, Book 1)",5.0,Really 4.75 Rating,1304899200,"05 9, 2011",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1B8ZIULQQP3OM,0061709719,Patricia Tryon,"[5, 12]","Here's the question I ask myself when I consider my criticism of a book on the topic of new media: will the book empower and motivate me to do anything different that will improve my results?Yes, in the case of this book.Readers whose success depends on how well they use the opportunities of the Web will find much to consider. The book begins with a tale that is both cautionary and instructive about Dell's initial belief that what people say on the Web doesn't matter. It continues with an analysis of how Google has decided consistently to try different approaches to making available information and tools. Even if you don't want to follow Google's lead toward greater openness, it is a good idea to try to understand it as thoroughly as possible. This book, though certainly not definitive, is one you should certainly try to digest.I say ""try"" because there is one important difference between me and most (perhaps all) of those who have written negative reviews of this book. That difference is that I have have been the developer, designer, and content manager of successful sites on the Web since 1995. And I'd like to continue and expand my success. Jarvis' book suggests some strategies that I can use right now.If the Web is not your area of expertise and, further, if you are not doing much business in a 21st century model, then I can see that you might not -- like other negative reviewers here -- find much of value. In fact, you might be tempted to the reductionist and incorrect view that Google was simply lucky, very lucky.Nothing could be further from the truth. As anyone who runs a successful site can tell you, it's not a matter of luck. It is a matter of trying to understand and respond to what is needed by your users. Google's success, because almost everyone using the Web finds it very useful (notwithstanding some folks here), matters because what makes it successful will determine, at least to some extent, how well your work on the Web will succeed.So, if you are looking at the negative reviews here, take into consideration the experience and current work of the reviewers. If yours coincides with theirs, I agree that there's nothing to see here: move along. But if you are trying to succeed at disseminating information for the sake of your business (or because, as in my case, you simply believe that the information you are making available will be of value and use to some segment of Web users), this is a book to read carefully. And then think about its implications for your work, because those implications matter.",5.0,Why my views are different from those of others here,1233273600,"01 30, 2009",5,12,helpful,0.4166666666666667,1 A3J1CXQVLWL9JV,B00H3LM7UA,DIANN STOCKER,"[0, 0]",I love the Mitchell series I've re read it several times. I'm sure I'll re read again I laughed and cried. Excellent series.,5.0,love the mitchell series,1391558400,"02 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3FWVV13DJELLV,1599830132,Ms. Read,"[0, 0]","This was book was an ok read as well! Clarke was defiantly a dog and Persha should have used some common sense when it came to the way he was treating her.How could she even lower her self into moving into this man house which he shared with his wife and not think nothing of it. boy, the things some women do for love.",3.0,The things some women do for Love!,1183334400,"07 2, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2GYX7MZ67T0C7,0983731721,jbshorses,"[0, 0]",A delightful tale skillfully woven of an alternate version of the Robin hood legend. It can be enjoyed by young and old alike. Enjoy the adventure.,4.0,Robin Lady of Legend Review,1373932800,"07 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ACVMYXHAMDNW,B005PG5JD2,D. J. Raynor,"[0, 0]","these are very exciting murder mysterys, keeps you turning the pages, good read. You can read and read and hope for more from this author.",4.0,Emerald Moon,1368403200,"05 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A298AMOXR0ITYG,1590583930,Rosarita,"[0, 0]",Enjoyable story line and the cooking was really interesting. I will be reading the others in the series. Thank you.,5.0,Great fun.,1374278400,"07 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15S7GUPHX7RAO,006144295X,Gospel Lover,"[4, 5]","This is my first Lawson Roby novel. I read the first chapter through a publisher pre-release promotion of the book. I have to tell you Lawson Roby really hooks you in the first chapter! I was a little surprised at how eager I was for the book to be released. I purchased the Kindle Edition through Amazon as soon as it became available. I read the rest of the novel in one sitting. Perhaps it is the entire premise of the novel and all the twists and turns. As the other reviewer said, I couldn't put it down! I really couldn't put it down! I am going to check out some of her earlier novels.",5.0,Definitely a page turner!,1213833600,"06 19, 2008",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A12DWJL837CYZK,030740840X,C. Henry,"[16, 17]","The book is nicely produced and packaged, and the photos and directions are pretty good. However, I had problems folding a few of these things--I followed the instructions to the letter but wasn't satisfied with the results. I emailed the author asking for help with the problems I encountered but never had a reply. I agree with another reviewer that though the book is probably fun for newbies, many of the projects are identical to those in other books. But, there are some fun projects.",3.0,A few problems. . .,1273622400,"05 12, 2010",16,17,helpful,0.9411764705882353,1 A1NV6Y3PGEDL2O,1770411305,tim,"[6, 6]","Even 50 years after his death, Ty Cobb remains a polarizing figure.Immortalized as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, as well as tainted by an image of him in Al Stump's infamous biography, Cobb has emerged over time as someone who has been painted in many different lights.Herschel Cobb Jr. gives us a look at Ty Cobb, his grandfather, in his later years, through snapshots of the time he spent with the legend growing up.This memoir rings honest, but at times not the most interesting piece to read. It's the reason I only rated it at three stars, though a new look at the topic, it won't appeal to many besides the hardcore baseball fan.There is timelessness to the story presented. The picture painted by Cobb of his time with his grandfather is going to remind a lot of readers of the time they spent with theirs. Passages of being at a family cottage, static from a nearby storm cracking on the radio as a baseball game played, rang as true to me in my childhood in the 80's. Being out on the lake, riding in the boat, fishing, and the ice cream, this book was relatable.The darkest side of the tale, adding an unwritten edge to the story of Ty Cobb, is the way Herschel was treated as a child by what is shown to be an extremely abusive father, and addicted, disinterested mother. His home life was terrible, and conversations with family members throughout the memoir hint that his father's behavior is based a lot on how Ty was to his children, well before the author was born.Herschel, his older sister, and younger brother found themselves often spending summers with their grandfather, as he seemingly tried to make up for past mistakes a generation too late. It was an interesting look, and new side to the story for those of us who have followed other parts of Ty Cobb's life.He never apologized for any of the stories that exist about Ty Cobb. He didn't confirm or deny them. Beside one chapter where it does seem like he went out of his way to put Al Stump in a bad light (right or wrong), Herschel Cobb simply told his story of life with his grandfather; a new piece to the puzzle.",3.0,The literary struggle for the soul of Ty Cobb continues.,1363910400,"03 22, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A38JMLO9GYK00E,1401904378,Craig R. Campbell,"[6, 8]","I am a psychotherapist in Columbus, Ohio in private practice and I have been in the mental health field for almost twenty years. I have attended hundreds of seminars and trainings dealing with self-esteem and self-love. This program is by far the best, bar none. It is simple, clear, concise, and entertaining. Louise is a wonderful speaker. She also offers a post-religion metaphysical paradigm based on the goal of unconditional love that should be the gold standard for healthy spirituality in the new millenium. Thank you, Louise! You are a gift to the world, and I love you. Warmly, Craig Campbell, LISW, LICDC",5.0,Excellent! There is no better program on this subject.,1242604800,"05 18, 2009",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A2FZSFC8MU11FC,B005S0V67I,HarryC,"[0, 0]",Creepy tale. With this many reviews I just had to find out what the fuss is. Dang good story. Won't be able to sleep tonight.,5.0,Won't vacation in Mexico,1359849600,"02 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TOB6XI9XDCAR,147017961X,J. Whittington,"[0, 0]","Different point of view than others seem to have on this issue. Was interesting to read though, even though not quite what I expected.",4.0,Interesting!,1373155200,"07 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1D9Z20TCUH6ZX,0060590297,"The Spinozanator ""Spinozanator""","[18, 20]","Christopher Moore treats us to stereotyped outlandish and hilarious human (and vampire) behavior. The main characters are all budding comedians with a streetwise flair - one grows to appreciate the extravagant neurotic nuances of each personality. There are many large reality stretches, but we ARE talking vampires.If you appreciate your limitations (daytime, feeding urges), it's not too bad being a vampire:*superpowers - superhot redhead Jody feels a newfound freedom to roam the streets at night wearing very little, despite juvenile catcalls by potentially threatening testosterone-ridden gawker-groups. Safety worries? - not a problem, a nice one to shed. ""She slipped comfortably into the new slot the night had made for her, like tumblers of a lock slipping into place.""*enhanced senses - as in Gibson's ""What Women Want,"" there is far more to be ascertained about people you meet when you are from the world of the undead.*sex - every event is the incredible best.Perhaps the best character is Abby Normal, the hip-hop goth queen who wants to be ""taken"" to the other world and becomes the vampires' minion. She's ""not inclined to use hip-hop vernacular often, but there are times when, like French, it just better expresses the sentiment of the moment."" As in his other books, the high spots are the saucy dialogues between characters.This is only my 4rth CM book and I'm on my way to becoming an addict. ""You Suck"" is a winner.",5.0,Doesn't Suck,1169683200,"01 25, 2007",18,20,helpful,0.9,1 A3S0LG7590F4MG,1591797284,Kathryn Bennett,"[6, 6]","From the introduction ""Kundalini Rising comprises twenty-four essays on different aspects of the kundalini experience, including what transpersonal psychologists have to say about kundalini; understanding the yogic brain from a scientific perspective; the relationship between near-death experiences and kundalini awakening; understanding the relationships between kundalini energy and sexual energy; yogic exercises to catalyze the kundalini process; the role that kundalini awakening plays in the unfolding of our highest human potential; and more.""The book opens with personal accounts of kundalini rising experiences. If you, like me, have only the vaguest ideas of what kundalini is and what kundalini rising means, definitely start here.Each essay stands alone and the points of view do not always agree, adding at least an air of objectivity to the book despite lots of flowery and mystical writing. Many of these essays were commissioned specifically for this book and there is something here to interest most anyone with even a vague curiosity about kundalini. For those who want to go deeper there are extensive notes and references to primary materials but this seems to be a good place to start.",5.0,"Kundalini from many points of view, from personal to scientific to woo-woo",1251763200,"09 1, 2009",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3A6GXILVT9JNW,0399156356,Jeanne Tassotto,"[16, 16]","All most people remember about President Andrew Johnson was that he became President only because Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated and he missed being impeached by one vote. Apparently he also gave a secret Presidential pardon to a young vampire and got a Voodoo priestess to bind the vampire to whoever was currently President. It seems that there is a whole legion of other worldly threats to humanity, other vampires, zombies and of course mad scientists that the public is kept blissfully unaware of.As the novel (the first of a proposed series) begins an ambitious young aide has been sent to begin his newest assignment. one that he is certain will not be a promotion since he had been caught in bed with the First Daughter. Little did Zach realize that he had been selected to replace Special Agent Griffin to work with the President's Vampire. The good news is that it is a lifetime assignment, the bad news is that it just might not be as long term as it sounds.The action is quite fast paced, the outrageous plot elements are presented in such a way as to sound plausible and the characters are written well enough to come to life. As with most first novels of a series lots of time is spent establishing the premise and back stories which does slow down the first half to a certain extent. Once the groundwork is laid the action takes off leading to an exciting, if foreseeable ending. What distinguishes BLOOD OATH from large pack of thrillers-with-supernatural-aspects is the author's dry sense of humor. There are numerous little jokes sprinkled throughout, particularly in the excerpts of briefing book that open many chapters.This is a fun read. It is unusual and complex enough to keep the reader's interest but not so demanding that it requires prolonged focus, which makes this a great book to take along while traveling or waiting for the kid's soccer practice to end. This reader is looking forward to more adventures of Cade and Zach.",4.0,More secrets from the Oval Office,1270684800,"04 8, 2010",16,16,helpful,1.0,1 AAOC3QIM3X92M,030758836X,Amanda,"[0, 0]","I thought this book was a very fun beach read. It was a bit outrageous and unbelievable at some points, but who cares it is entertaining. I very much enjoyed it and was amazed at how many plot twists it had. I would recommend it for a fun relaxing beach read.",4.0,"Fun Read, Quick Read, Sometimes a bit unbelievable",1364515200,"03 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AAT6ZSAXB0BKQ,1596061251,Tejnarine Geer,"[0, 0]","He's not HP Lovecraft, but Lumley's foray into the world of Cthulhu Mythos is very satisfying. The stories are largely consistent with the mythos, but with some very agreeable tweaks. I especially liked The Taint, with a very modern twist on the old legends.",4.0,Good read,1370822400,"06 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AUS0RO7BR9RQ9,0060393491,M. Goodlin,"[5, 5]","You know the kind of book where you crawl into another world and become a totally different human being? That's this book. It takes you completely away from your life and home and you become someone else. It is thought-provoking, fascinating, interesting, enlightening, empathetic, humanizing. It is quite simply an amazing book. I loved it.",5.0,Amazing book!,1230422400,"12 28, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1N82E8STK9R5Q,B00H6TXWAS,Rusty,"[0, 0]","a good book. short and entertaining. now i have to fill this extra space with useless info so that my review can post, so dumb.",4.0,good book through and through,1402185600,"06 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1R8R7XKJJ3Q3T,0811853136,night player,"[0, 0]","Good read. Easy to understand. Much is basic information you already know, but there are some good suggestions that sound reasonable.Only negative is the illustrations have fine fine print that is not readable on a 7" kindle fire hd. You cannot zoom them to read the information.",3.0,Night Player,1402704000,"06 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1XA4BJ23AVBT7,B00CD36FS8,J. Sapa,"[0, 0]","He Watches Me is the first story in The Seen Trilogy by Cynthia Sax. Each book can be read as a standalone but I definitely recommend reading all three. Anna and Gabriel are great characters that even after the end of the trilogy, I was ready to read more.He Watches Me introduces Anna, a lonely woman who is house-sitting for a rich couple and Gabriel, the rich mysterious neighbor. I don't want to spoil the story but they meet and the sparks fly, great chemistry, great story, and interesting characters. Definitely recommend!!!",5.0,Great Novella!!!,1374364800,"07 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFDPGG7QUONIZ,0884271668,"Meir Ben David ""You will bring light unto the...","[8, 11]","After reading this book I felt that I paid some good money for repetition, advertisement and teaching of how to get your company to send you to do some course work. This is not what I was looking for.",2.0,How much repetition and advertisement do we need to pay for?,1131062400,"11 4, 2005",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A1ZVELOA9LU4MR,1484054881,Danica Page,"[0, 0]","Disclaimers: I received a copy of this book for review. I was not obligated to write a positive review nor did I receive any compensation for writing this review. The opinions expressed in this book are my own.My Thoughts: I have an unhealthy obsession for books exactly like this one. Alex and Serena both have damaged pasts and are carrying a lot of baggage. Both had come from abusive situations and were struggling to overcome them. It's a plotline we've all seen before and yet Kate Laurens' novel stood out among the crowd.I'm not really sure why this one stood out. I think it was the whole package. I really liked Serena and Alex's characters and thought that Kate did a great job crafting them. I also really enjoyed watching the two of them interact. They were pretty much attracted to each other from the get-go which can really bug me; however, in this case, it didn't feel all that unnatural and Kate did a great job of developing their relationship. They had great chemistry. Serena and Alex chose very different ways to deal with their problems. Some weren't necessarily the healthiest, but I loved watching them grow.This novel is New Adult and is definitely not intended for young audiences. There are several sexual scenes, none are too graphic, but they aren't exactly innocent either. There are also some instances of strong language as well.I thought that the manner in which Kate developed her story was masterfully done. I can't wait to read the other two in the series and plan on immediately buying them when they come outI would recommend this to fans of romance, New Adult fans, and people who like reading about grittier or darker issues. Lovely story that was cute, poignant, and entertaining.Love,Danica Page",4.0,Poignantly written and beautifully told,1366761600,"04 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30WX2XWMSX8VP,B004S7MR0M,A Customer,"[8, 8]","I couldn't believe how immature the lady was. She had grown children, but I felt her character was a 15 year old.It was like she came from somewhere that was extremely harsh and was brought up to despise men. She didn't realize that a man and a woman could be friends, colleagues, acquaintances, etc. The only thing a man did was lie and anytime he was with any woman he was taking advantage of her. Note that the book was dull in protraying this. My comments have more emotions than the book did.She also rarely owned up to her issues or responsibilities. She didn't like lying and judged others for it, but she lied all the time (especially about her feelings) and she kept secrets. She initiated kisses, but said the man kissed her.The book was just frustrating to read.This is really a 2.5, but you can't give half stars.",3.0,"Had potential, the lady was so immature",1346198400,"08 29, 2012",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1QS9CHFCEB3WJ,1451636008,"Daniel Murphy ""Dan Murphy""","[7, 8]","If the style Jeff Jarvis uses to write Public Parts (a bit of a play on Howard Stern's book ""Private Parts"") is any indication, I'd imagine that Jeff was the kind of kid in school that was perpetually being told to get back to his seat and sit down, and to quiet down a bit. But you know...it works. Jarvis has much to say about the fantastic challenges to commonly held ideas of privacy that the massive hyperdrive toward connectivity in the 21st century poses. His approach to getting it all out in this fairly short book is a bit frenetic, and his never-a-dull-moment journalism can be energizing, or off-putting, depending on your own preferences. Jarvis's approach is far more the shotgun than the high-powered rifle, which allows him to encompass a wide pattern of topics.While Jarvis acknowledges that privacy has its uses, he is a gigantic advocate of openness, of public access to information, rather than containment. He backs his advocacy with examples that range from the very personal level (where we hear about his urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction after his prostate cancer surgery) to the international level, where he argues that ""governments should be public by default, private only by necessity"". Good governments, he says, are transparent. Bad governments are invariably, and often lethally, private. While conscious of the collateral damage that can occur with making some forms of information public, I think he would agree with the thought that when all is said and done, when all the dust is settled, when all the fires of public outrage die down, being public with information is a large net gain to society compared to a culture of privacy.Particularly enjoyable to me was Jarvis's review of the stages of increased communication that humans have gone through: development of language, development of the written word, development of the ability to copy and distribute the written word (think Guttenberg), ability to cast the written word to millions of people simultaneously over the radio, ability to reach millions (now billions) over TV, and now the ubiquitous connectivity of Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, SMS texting, and whatever the newest iteration of ramped up communication will be. And each time (at least once history was being written down), the naysayers and the prophets of doom predicted (only slightly exaggerating here) the end of society as we know it. Which, of course, the prophets of doom were right about: society has ---now and many times in the past--- come to an end as we knew it. Few even wish it otherwise, Jarvis would guess. Millenials, who often have little interest in NRA slogans, would resonate deeply with ""You'll get my cell phone and my Facebook away from me when you pry my cold, dead fingers off my keyboards/keypads!""Flaws? Jarvis likes to use the word ""I"" and ""my"" quite a lot. He's more attached to name-dropping than a smoker to nicotine. Just in case you've forgotten that he has a blog, he reminds you of this fact with more insistence than the ""Your headlights are still on"" chime in your car. Ping, ping, ping. But don't let this ad hominem stuff distract you from this truth: Public Parts will challenge you to think, and regardless of your convictions before you start the book, you'll find yourself with new perspectives by the time you end it. If you don't have time to sit and read it, get the audio download version, and listen during your commute or during your daily (right?) exercise period. Privacy, as we've known it, is dead. How to handle information going forward will be a series of decisions we'll make as a culture and a country. If you're in the camp that likes to make informed decisions, rather than shoot from the hip/lip, Public Parts is a fun, fast primer to get you up to speed.",4.0,Contemplating Public and Private Parts,1320883200,"11 10, 2011",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A2SYCOC3ULYMBT,B00FXXXZGU,Bajasunrise,"[6, 9]","Couldn't get past the first few pages with the foul language and the main character's pretty disgusting attitude towards women. Coupled with his girlfriend's dark personality, this book was going nowhere for me. I rarely write reviews if I don't like a book, but I wanted to warn those who would prefer a good, clean mystery.",1.0,Not my kind of mystery,1403654400,"06 25, 2014",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2VX6A9UZBLEPI,0192806688,G. Poirier,"[7, 7]","In this book, the author discusses a variety of possible causes for mass extinctions. He claims to be objective in examining and assigning likelihood to each cause without taking any sides when there could be sides to take, e.g., what killed off the dinosaurs; however, he is clearly not convinced that K-T mass extinction was due mainly to a comet or asteroid impact and is at odds with other researchers in this regard. This book is not quite what I expected. It is quite technical and detailed and worthy to be read, perhaps more by specialists or those very well versed in this field than by general readers. I am a physicist who likes to include books on geology and mass extinctions on his reading list; however, this a book that I would need to read again, and slowly, to get the most out of it. In a first read, I felt that I could not see the forest for the trees - that's how detailed it is. Fortunately, there is a summary at the end of each chapter, telling the reader, in fewer words, the significance of what was just discussed. The book is well-written and authoritative. I recommend it but with the above warning.",4.0,A High-Powered Work on Mass Extinctions,1116547200,"05 20, 2005",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 ASK6BWWI2CHOP,1439156379,Fred Forbes,"[0, 0]","I'm normally a big Deaver fan. I enjoy his style and plot twists but this one got a bit preachy on the topic of the music world, snuck in some political content and a gratuitous appearance by Lincoln Rhyme and Sachs and some messy personal content related to Dance so the best I can say is that it is one of his more uneven works. Did not stop me from downloading his new short story collection, however!",3.0,Not one of his best,1358035200,"01 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NCRBVSC9MZWV,0192880713,Joseph R. Gayhart,"[6, 7]",Book so far is a wealth of historical documents adding to my knowledge about the early Christian Church. I am barely into the book as it supplements my Education for Ministry course; this third part of the course being one year in length.,5.0,Documents of the Christian Church,1128470400,"10 5, 2005",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1QQQST9Z1V33K,157322216X,"Readers Paradise ""Book Club""","[27, 29]","Writing a review for this book was a difficult task, not because of the content, but because most of what I want to say is already on the jacket of the book or has been said in another review. Then it hit me. Profile each character separately and then talk about how this book made me feel; so here goes. One of the three dreamed of becoming a dentist then persuaded his friends to apply to the Pre Medical - Pre Dental Plus program. Free college, free tutoring and help getting into dental school, the Pact was made. Neither of the three thought beyond the Pact. What would happen if one of us didn't make it, what would happen if one of us changed our minds?Dr George Jenkins was born in South Carolina to George Jenkins, Sr. and Ella Jenkins Mack. At the age of two his parents divorced, mother and two sons moved to Newark, New Jersey. George was the curious one; his curiosity was peaked by his third grade teacher Viola Johnson. She took the class to see Broadway plays, and gave them some culture and taught them to have respect for themselves. She constantly told the class, get those degrees! get those degrees!Dr. Sampson Davis born in 1973 to Ruthener Davis in Beth Israel Hospital in Newark, NJ. His mom married Kenneth Davis at the early age of fifteen and divorced him ten years later. Sam was very popular in his neighborhood, he loved numbers and of the three he was the analyst. He was also the man-child whom his mother looked to for things she couldn't do like reading her mail and making bank deposits to pay the bills.Dr. Rameck Hunt also born in 1973 lived with his mother and grandmother he called Ma. He was the skeptical one of the three. Both his parent were strung out on drugs at one time or another.These three inner city youths beat the odds placed at their feet. They knew how to count their blessing and recognize an angel when he or she walked into their lives. The Pre-Medical /Pre-Dental Plus program was and still is one of the programs under EOP (Educational Opportunity Program) If you have a dream don't allow anyone to snatch that from you. You too can become a doctor don't aim for the sky reach above it. Go on make your Pact today and prove them all wrong who said you couldn't. I loved this book and recommend it to everyone...",4.0,3 wonderful doctors who really know how to G-I-V-E,1026604800,"07 14, 2002",27,29,helpful,0.9310344827586207,1 A1OGUBAJVLFZ8C,0989042901,MMHomer1,"[0, 0]","I loved this book as a fun, romantic read that had all the elements of a good story thrown in. A great book for a summer holiday read.",5.0,"Fun, romantic read",1359676800,"02 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3ZQWCBV3RXUW,0738712914,"Rayla SunGazer ""Rayla""","[0, 0]",The artwork is ok other than so much blue. The cards are not the best quality. I don't like how they shuffle... they feel flimsy. I couldn't connect with them or read with them. I gave them away.,2.0,Just not what I expected,1309651200,"07 3, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AG1R7VZQ1DW5W,0758231741,Chele,"[0, 0]","I thought it was good, except some of the language they would not have used in that time period. If you look over that it was very entertaining. It has some really hot moments.",4.0,"A hot romance set in a time of arranged marriages, I liked it.",1364083200,"03 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3WG8QBOEJF24,B006C4AFSA,Morticia Grey,"[0, 0]","Laughed, cried, got angry, cried some more, got really angry, happy sigh, fell in love with hero, cried again then happy ending. My kind of book.",5.0,Heartstring tugger,1357516800,"01 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1L0OE617RO61N,0231164688,MFAnalystPro,"[4, 5]","I found out about this book through Nassim Taleb's recommendation in his book ""The Black Swan."" For Taleb to recommend a book on investing considering his views of Wall Street, it intrigued me.After finsihing the book I thought it was good - nothing great. The first half of the book was about one of the author's career path to where he got to be. I did not find the stories that entertaining. The second half of the book discusses how not to get emotionally involved and to have an investment plan. It's just common sense.In closing a novice might get something out of it but for a veteran like me, I have read better behavioral finance books. Check out Nick Murray's works.",3.0,Good Book - Not Great,1349654400,"10 8, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A25ZFY3M78E7YZ,B00FLF4JAG,Fantasy Book Lane,"[0, 0]","After the death of her beloved Prince Charming, Snow White settles into melancholy. Not even the marriage of her daughter can cheer her. While exploring the castle grounds, she visits the room once inhabited by her evil stepmother only to discover that the magic mirror is still there and functioning. Taking a look inside, the aging queen reflects on the events of her past.At first I thought this was going to be a new telling of Snow White with different twists and turns along the way. That isn’t quite what it is, though. This is a much more in-depth look at the old fairytale, which allows the reader to see the details of Snow White’s life. The beginning of the story is rather dark. It isn’t quite to the level of Carrie, but it’s close. We all know the stepmother is evil, but we are normally spared the details of just how bad this woman treated her young stepdaughter. This book fills in those details, allowing us to see the horrors a little girl experienced at her hands.It is clear how much Snow White loved her father, and how she laments him still. This is true to life, as a beloved parent is often mourned for the rest of a child’s life. I could sympathize with the character in this regard, and her pain felt real to me. Her sorrow at the loss of her husband and even the dwarves who had been her friends reminded me of the slow decline of Queen Elizabeth I. When all her friends had gone, she faded from a strong woman and eventually succumbed to time herself.This book contains vivid descriptions of the world that further help to immerse a reader. The prose is nicely written, and I particularly enjoyed reading about Snow White’s flight and succumbing to the poison that rendered her in a state of sleep. Her partial vision and being neither truly asleep nor awake is reminiscent of what some people recall experiencing under anesthesia. It seems a most unpleasant sensation, and it is nicely described here.I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.",4.0,A Dark Fairytale,1391817600,"02 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1G9F7VNR5MRWW,0976406497,Falcon7,"[15, 53]","Beware. Parts of this book are based on occultic sources such as contacts with spirit guides. My reasearch into occultism leads me to belief that demons are masquarading as such beings to propagate some lies, therefore I wouldn't put much trust into such revelations.",1.0,Beware,1226361600,"11 11, 2008",15,53,helpful,0.2830188679245283,1 A3V42Z3HA1LTMN,0977376125,"Tiffany Craig ""Reading in Black & White""","[0, 0]","I will admit that the title Sex, Lies, and Child Support: The Unholy Trinity did not have me in a rush to read this piece of work by E. Lemont Goode, Jr. But, I am so glad that I looked past the title and started to read it. Once I started, I was completely mesmerized. It was as if I was receiving a behind the scenes look into the stories that are told on all of the gossip websites and television shows.If you mix professional athletes, with women looking for an easy paycheck, and broken hearts, then you have a recipe for drama and disaster. Sex, Lies, and Child Support centers around Jordan who is a star NBA player who will go to great lengths to protect his family man image. The secrets, lies, plotting, and scheming done by the cast of characters in Sex, Lies, and Child Support: The Unholy Trinity will keep you entertained page after page. E. Lemont Goode, Jr. is truly a talented writer and I look forward to seeing what else he has in store for us!",5.0,Don't Judge by Title,1356134400,"12 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A77Z38ULG98AW,B00KMUZY04,Luigi,"[0, 0]",This was an okay story. I was sad about how some of it turned out. I can't say much more without giving away the storyline. I did like how Ellen adapted to the situation.,3.0,Not sure,1402272000,"06 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AIMEEEWRPXX06,0061969702,Tarcil,"[0, 0]","A beautiful addition to the series, finally a Bebbanburgh scene and the interaction with his sons is well written.I love this series and the main character. I feared that with the death of Alfred the storyline would suffer, but it didn't at all.",5.0,More of that good stuff!,1404864000,"07 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32TF4B40I15O9,038534922X,R,"[5, 11]","I'm glad I got this from the library instead of buying it. Nothing new here, and what there is is lazily presented in a visually ugly, picture-less block of text with margins as wide as possible so as to make it seem like a series of magazine sidebars is a book. You can't even tell what chapter you're in without flipping back to check. Jillian Michaels is exploiting her fans.",1.0,Phoning it in,1369008000,"05 20, 2013",5,11,helpful,0.45454545454545453,1 A25W5SLUOZ53GZ,B007VXL7M4,"Wayne B. Norris ""Power User""","[0, 0]","Disclaimer - Dan's a friend, one I've known since I had hair [he still has his!] But he scored again.",5.0,Dan's the man!,1340582400,"06 25, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1AILQ4YP2B1CT,0671024035,Leej Terrell,"[0, 1]","We've heard of technobabble, this book introduces us to Chrono babble, as in time travel related talk. I have found this book to be very helpful in explaining all of the time technical stuff they get into. Some books will leave you in the dark when it comes to its seeming gibberish expecting you're a real Starship engineer, but this one explains everything. It is extremely good in the respect that everything that doesn't seem like it'd fit into place does.",5.0,Chrono-babble,959731200,"05 31, 2000",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A4XEVW93F62C6,0321616952,"Brian Edwards ""brl4n""","[4, 4]","Overall good but I question the intended audience of this book. It seems to be directed at people who already know a lot about web design but then goes on to explain the basics. It glosses over a lot of the important issues and seems to ramble on and on about the trivial. The book doesn't really get started until part II. Part 1 could be 1/3 the current size if it didn't repeat itself every few paragraphs. I do like the philosophical/theory type of talk that Zeldman delves into but it just needs to be tightened up. Maybe in the 4th edition?Anyway, part II is where the book really shines. He explains a lot directly and indirectly by which I mean he selects examples that give you specific code but that also give insight into comprehensive design decisions even when doesn't directly address them. Chapter 17 is a perfect example of this. It makes you really ponder your design decisions.All criticism aside, I ordered the companion book ""Developing with web standards"" because I like Zeldman's third edition so much.",4.0,Good but,1259539200,"11 30, 2009",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A23O0Q7DQ8Z68O,1597056057,Geri --J,"[0, 0]",This was such a light hearted story that can apply to anyone. Forgiveness and reconciliation is always possible for committed people,4.0,Love this book,1389139200,"01 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1P4F6HIXU6WYE,0449003825,"Lee Mellott ""Work at Home Author""","[42, 44]","This book is about acceptance and learning to take care of yourself. By eating the foods you desire when you are hungry the authors claim you will melt to your natural size. The authors walk with you step by step to help cure your eating problem once and for all. This book is not about learning control, like eating low fat or healthy foods. This book is about learning to eat what your body truly craves when you are huhgry, enjoying it and stopping when you are full. This book can help you learn to love, respect and accept your body. No more body bashing! You can move beyond negative thoughts about your body and past your preoccupation with dieting. You can learn to take care of your body and appreciate where you are right now! And as you learn to be an effective caregiver you will gain freedom from dieting and progress to your natural size. This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it!",5.0,If you are tired of dieting chew on this!,972345600,"10 24, 2000",42,44,helpful,0.9545454545454546,1 A1UEJCH8G32OON,0758266022,Gail,"[0, 0]",Myra and Annie star in this book. But there is more story about their victim this time. And what a wonderful story it is! Also at the end Fern tells all how the Sisterhood series came about. I loved reading that just much as the story.,5.0,Another great Sisterhood book,1374451200,"07 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3I634PSI2OOU5,1611943728,Renee B,"[9, 13]","This is definitely the weakest of her 3 books. First off, it has almost 0 romance in it. You've got 2 people who've been hot for each other since high school, but never really a couple. They don't hook up in this book either until the last chapter and even that's not romantic. The plot was probably the most intriguing of the 3 books the author's written---at least to start off with. That storyline quickly became boring and tedious. And the coincidence of Nate's undercover drug case intersecting with Kinsey was too far-fetched even for fiction. I'd only recommend this one if it were free, which it's not even close to being.",2.0,"No romance, tedious plot",1386806400,"12 12, 2013",9,13,helpful,0.6923076923076923,1 A2RV7J9ZBQVVF6,0971164738,"Snehanshu Shah ""whizdog""","[4, 5]","This is an excellent study guide for PMI's PMP exam. Rita focuses on what you need to know for the exam. You can cover all the material in the book in about 2-3 days depending on your project management experience and familiarity with the PMBOK. In particular, the practice tests after each chapter are invaluable. They will help you understand the thought process required for the PMP exam. Many of the questions have more than one correct answer but the trick is to pick the most correct answer. Learning how to do that is crucial to passing and obtaining a good score.In addition to this book, I also read Kim Heldman's PMP Study Guide. I recommend that highly as well. It follows more of a text book format and is an excellent supplement to the workbook-like PMP Exam Prep.BTW., I passed the exam with ease and a lot of credit goes to Rita and Kim's study guides.",5.0,A how-to primer on passing the PMP exam!,1098576000,"10 24, 2004",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A22RY8N8CNDF3A,0060721545,"Loyd E. Eskildson ""Pragmatist""","[10, 17]","Some 450 books have been written on JFK's assassination, and a half-dozen government investigations have generated millions more pages of material on the topic, according to Fuhrman. Yet, he concludes that another book is needed because much of the material is irrelevant,and almost all the work of the Warren Commission was done by assistants with little/no experience in criminal investigations while under intense time pressure. Thus, questions and challenges have persisted since.The case is made more difficult because JFK's family limited the autopsy to his head, and this did not include sectioning of the brain to determine the bullet's path. (Fuhrman believes the rationale was to hide the fact that JFK had Addison's disease and was taking steroids, amphetamines, etc.) Nonetheless, Fuhrman proceeds, issue by issue.First there is the question about whether the rifle used was accurate and fast enough to fire three accurate shots in a few seconds. Fuhrman dispenses with this question by having a friend attempt to do so, and after his success concluding ""case closed"" on the matter.Resolving competing theories about the number of shooters was more difficult. Again, drawing on experts, Fuhrman makes a strong case that JFK was not also shot from the front - his head's background motion instead due to the ""jet effect,"" neuromuscular reaction, the limo accelerating, and Jacqueline's actions - also, a frontal shot would have created massive head trauma exiting JFK's head. As for the ""second shooter"" theory - Fuhrman points out that almost all witnesses reported hearing only three shots (matching the three shell casings at the shooting site), and that the grassy knoll postulated as the additional site was not a good shooting site and was near where Zapruder stood filming the scene (reported no shots from his area).As for Oswald being the culprit, he was an employee at the site, was given a ride to work that day by a co-worker who observed him carrying a long package, and he matched the description of the shooter, was stopped some distance away by a Dallas officer (Oswald shot him dead - hardly the act of an innocent), was observed going into a nearby theater and arrested there. Both the pistol on his possession and the gun left at the site had his fingerprints on them and were mailed to his post-office box - per order forms in Oswald's handwriting.Finally, Fuhrman comes to the ""magic bullet"" controversy - did a single bullet injure both JFK and cause all of Gov. Connally's injuries, without becoming deformed itself? Fuhrman concludes that this did NOT occur - instead the non-fatal JFK shot exited the President, hit the windshield trim, exited the vehicle, and was never found. Gov. Connally's injuries were caused by the third bullet - one that did not hit JFK. Fuhrman also concludes that the erroneous magic bullet theory ended up creating major credibility problems over the Commission's findings that persist to this day.Bottom Line: Oswald did it, and was the only one involved.",4.0,Clear Thinking!,1148256000,"05 22, 2006",10,17,helpful,0.5882352941176471,1 A33OHMIDTB3M5S,1484002245,"D ""Flirty and Dirty Book Blog""","[5, 5]","This ain't no one hit wonder. We're talking multi platinum, red carpet, glam walking smash hit! Michelle Mankin rocked Love Resolution.Here's the thing about books that are part of a series--the story gets diluted or loses some of its verve and power. There often will be too many tangents to the story or too many characters to remember; so not the case with book #3 in the Black Cat Records Series.Mankin has developed a story with characters carefully and thoughtfully interwoven with each other. And while they are all connected to one another, they all have their own fun, intense, rockin' story to tell. Love Resolution is the real deal. You get sucked in from the get go and Mankin keeps building and bending the connection between Marcus and Avery--like the amazing guitar riff that powers you through the ultimate rock ballad. Yet she beautifully overlays the story of the boys from Tempest and plays it like the hypnotic and deep sounds of the bass. The secondary characters are anything but. They provide the balance to this power hit--giving it a harmony that the melody can't be without. JR and Sam are still going strong and their relationship is ever so sweet and real. Bryan `Bullet' Jackson, front man for Tempest is sexy and comes across as the face for bad boy rockers. Yet there is something sexy and tortured about him. I must mention King, the drummer for Tempest (yes drummers, the guys in the back are the IT boys for me), has left me intrigued and wanting more story. He's like the B- side song that you never thought anything about until you listened to the lyrics. Then you realize what an amazing song it is. He made a very brief appearance in Love Resolution but he has some kind of draw or pull that you are left wondering what's his deal? And let's face it Michelle Mankin does not have characters in the story just for show. There are no empty lyrics in her songs.Love Resolution's plot lines are like a greatest hits album; all the best in one compilation. Mankin pulled out all the stops. She had me wanting to throw my e-reader, bawl my eyes out and do my happy dance. The story flows so fluidly. There is no disconnection from the previous book or from within the story. Whatever emotion you feel doesn't fade, it just enhances the intensity of the next one. It is encore after encore. Without giving spoilers, I absolutely love how Mankin does not leave us like we got ripped off half a concert but rather she invites us to be roadies and groupies for the next show; in other words not a crazy ass cliffhanger but enough to tease. Enough to go buy the current album and fill our soul with Love Resolution while we patiently wait for her next platinum single and sold out show.If you haven't jumped on this train, you are missing out. You may love country, R&B; or rap but I can guarantee Michelle Mankin will make a rocker out of you!!!",5.0,Raised the Roof and Rocked the House!!!!,1365811200,"04 13, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1PVQJT212MJ2X,1451674775,"Dottie Shows ""camera buff""","[5, 10]",A horrible tragic story I would not wish on anyone. I can't understand the pain and agony because I have not there. I have lost loved ones and my husband lost a son. My daughter has a brain tumor. But you must find ways to heal and Jacquie just seemed to dwell and pity herself beyond the realm making everyone around her miserable.,1.0,most depressing book I ever read,1386633600,"12 10, 2013",5,10,helpful,0.5,1 A24H4WUFUDPTAA,0805447504,"Christina Lockstein ""Christy's Book Blog""","[8, 8]","The Queen of Sleepy Eye by Patti Hill is a stand out book about the relationship between mother and daughter as well as faith of the heart instead of faith of the head. It's 1975, and Amy Montiero is finally breaking free from her mother Francie by going to college in California. But on the drive out there from Illinois, Francie gets sidetracked in the little town of Cordial, Colorado, and before Amy can say ""Help!"", she's working for the summer at a funeral home and trying to come up with another escape plan while Francie flirts her way through town. Amy is a fantastically three dimensional character. She's firm in her faith, until she starts visiting a hippie community where a handsome man named Falcon plies his trade making stained glass windows. He challenges her notions of what Christianity means and awakens feelings Amy was certain she knew how to control. Amy lives her life believing that her faith puts her above everyone else. She tolerates her mother's frequent failings, she shakes her head in disgust at the rigidity at the old ladies in the local church, and takes on a hippie family and an elderly widow as charity projects. Cracks start to show in her facade when first her best friend from home commits a sin Amy can't forgive, then a good friend is killed, bringing Amy to discover sin in her own heart. Hill writes Amy with compassion and humor. You can't help but love both her and Francie. The story is bookended with chapters about Amy and Francie 30 years later returning a stolen car. The two stories seem disconnected until Amy reaches out her hand in forgiveness and love to someone who least deserves it, offering up the grace she had learned so many years ago. Put this book on your must read list; it's a real winner!",5.0,Faith filled chick lit with depth and heart,1219104000,"08 19, 2008",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A39AIPJUXO9HYV,0316231754,Yo Mama,"[0, 0]",My two sons love the Middle School Series. These books are funny and well written. They are perfect for kids who might have a little trouble concentrating on more scholarly works.,5.0,Love the Middle School Series!,1387756800,"12 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A63YCZ6WRBJPU,B005NWMIP0,Becki Knopp,"[0, 0]",Was not what I expected but was worth the read. I look forward to the next book hoping for more,4.0,Great,1372204800,"06 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2S17FCUAOEIMY,0545265355,Jamie S. Nurdin,"[0, 0]",Great story but books appear cheap. Disappointed but will not return as it will cost too much to return ship.,3.0,Great story,1363478400,"03 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1TMPZUI14T9VT,0764206222,Aggieland Deb,"[0, 0]","Tamara Alexander weaves a delightful romp through the Antebellum South and Civil War times in A Lasting Impression, first book in her Belmont Mansion series. Amazing how different things were then and how much we take for granted with all the modern conveniences we have today that they could not even dream of then. Historically well researched, which makes the story and characters all the more real. Will no doubt read the next book in this series.",5.0,A Wonderful Trip Through the Antebellum South,1391385600,"02 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A10UOP8HQMY7GX,B00E825INK,stella,"[0, 0]","I am hooked on these books. Having read my way thru many current top 100 authors, I have discovered ""free"" and cheap e books. Not that Kimelman's series should be considered cheap, lower cost yes, 'not cheap' LOL. Read this series it's worth every penny.",4.0,Can't get enough,1379116800,"09 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VCH6QLSRT3LH,1611160103,virginia winfield,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed this book a lot. I don't read too many Scottish historical romances but I am glad I read this one. I recieved this from the book club network inc for an honest opinion.,4.0,Enjoyed,1391212800,"02 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZL60I0RJ386V,1608090574,"Jackie ""Gnosses""","[0, 0]",The latest DP LYLE book reaches out in a new way with twists and turns at every corner. Very exciting and very interesting. His authoratative approach to murder kinda makes one wonder.,5.0,Another great Lyle creation!,1348185600,"09 21, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3W3XC01BFJJMR,B00H59M0NE,Sue B.,"[0, 0]","I received this book as a gift and even though it is not my usual type of read ( I am more of the hard, dark and twisted book lover) I decided to give it a try on a quiet afternoon and it was fantastic!How many of us remember what it was like to be the outcast or the weirdo or the pretty one and especially the nerdy geek in high school and how it felt to re-visit those memories as an adult?? I certainly do and remember wearing my high school nickname with embarrassment, much like the now successful and very handsome Zeke does in this story.Amanda was his secret high school crush who seemed to have it all, but when they meet many years later under very different circumstances, their lives become entwined in a crazy love/business partnership that of course gets blindsided by a jealous co-worker, a dangerous EX and Amanda's inability to trust men in general.An engrossing and sweet love story, set in a beautiful beach resort. One of a series of Barefoot Bay romances. Enjoy!**** 4.5 **** "fun in the sun" stars!",4.0,A solid 4.5 star on the Barefoot Bay romance =),1394582400,"03 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJQDIT55SZ3ZX,0486290247,kindred spirit,"[4, 4]",I'm a kid at heart and have always loved to color. I am so glad that Dover has this line of coloring books that are so high quality and detailed that adults can use high quality colored pencils and be quite creative.They are so good to relax with and I do them when I watch TV as I cannot just sit there still and do nothing. This way I am not snacking and the hands are busy.I highly recommend these books to adults and teens. They are a bit too intricate for small children.,5.0,Another great fantasy coloring books adults can enjoy.,1222214400,"09 24, 2008",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A140YKU1WEMP7B,0446524573,John R. Schwartz,"[0, 0]",This book was a page turner and the plot unfolded little by little. You really did not know the stories outcome until the very end. I would definitely recommend it!,5.0,A page turner,1376784000,"08 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32EJXPADUYMI7,0743439988,tobriant,"[0, 0]",Nice three short story reads prefer the longer novels but still three very good stories with exciting plots and love stories,4.0,great read,1374537600,"07 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AOMZFOH0GFSFL,B0096DIM7U,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Good story to keep the interest of a 9 yr old. Books seem to be easier to read on the Kindle!,4.0,Cute story,1358899200,"01 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3HFEXNKJK7AZJ,0520253337,Eric Houg,"[22, 22]","This is an absolutely great book. It is a wonderful story and is told in a great, folksy, easy to read manner.But, the Kindle edition has sorely shaken my faith in both my Kindle and Amazon. When I finally got to the pictures section that many books such as this have, I realized I had been ripped off. Instead of the photos(yes, I have seen photos on several other kindle books) there were just the captions and a charming note to ""Refer to the print version of this book"".Well, I would really love to refer to the print version of this book. Is Amazon going to refund my money on their low quality, high priced digital version of this book so that I can read it?",4.0,Don't buy the Kindle edition!!!!!,1318723200,"10 16, 2011",22,22,helpful,1.0,1 A3UHS4GW81DEDR,0547223080,Silicon Valley Girl,"[0, 0]","Despite the suggestive title and swoony cover image, ""The Education of Bet"" is neither a Harlequin-style romance nor a work of Victorian pornography. Rather, it's a charming romp for young adult readers, written very much in the manner of the much-missed Georgette Heyer. Bet and Will have been raised as brother and sister. But Will is their guardian's heir, while Bet is the illegitimate offspring of a dead servant girl. Will wants more than anything to join the army, but he has to go to boarding school. Bet wants more than anything to go to school, but she has to stay home. What could be more natural than Bet masquerading as Will so she can go to school?Of course, school isn't exactly what Bet expects. She has to deal with abusive boys, uncaring teachers, and a disturbingly attractive roommate. How long will she be able to keep up the charade? ""The Education of Bet"" is a fast, fun read that makes it well worth your while to find out.",4.0,Bet reminds me of a Georgette Heyer heroine,1278460800,"07 7, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1LJ044IUL80DG,B00E8G7C62,Steven J,"[0, 0]","My kids really enjoyed reading, and learning more about cats from this great children's book. It had lots of fun & interesting facts about them that we did not already know. And, plenty of adorable pictures that cat lovers are bound to love just as much! If you or someone you know loves cats then do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this book! You'll be glad you did.",5.0,Cute & Enjoyable Children's Book on Cats,1377993600,"09 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QVJ1DJTVBFNV,1400162556,Pamela Cozort,"[0, 0]",Well written collection on behavioral research on dogs made more interesting with the author's focus in her own dog.,5.0,Well written collection on behavioral research on dogs made more ...,1404691200,"07 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AHBI8M8L9TQ3M,0553386786,B. Shelton,"[0, 0]",I love this author's writing style: she's very descriptive and really builds her characters well. This is a book that is hard to put down.,5.0,Wonderful Book,1356566400,"12 27, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2UBK1QAHJZHJI,0761944524,jenesaisquoi,"[5, 5]","This should be the first book you buy if you need help with stats and SPSS. When I first began doing empirical research I knew almost nothing about statistics or SPSS, and had to learn virtually everything I needed to know about complex multivariate tests on my own. I had suffered through many of the relevant, canonical books before I happened upon Field. It was a V-8 moment. Not only does the book explain everything in engaging, easy to understand, often hilarious terms (a favorite example is the caption of the photo of statistician Bonferroni: ""Carlo Bonferroni before the celebrity of his correction lead to drink, drugs and statistics groupies""), but again and again it answered questions I had that other sources didn't address in a practical way. One example out of many is how to calculate and interpret effect sizes, which SPSS doesn't calculate for all multivariate tests, or calculates using a measure that has been widely criticized. Field describes the rationale behind several measures of effect size as well as formulas for calculating them, including clear indicators of where to find the data in SPSS output.Other reviewers have commented that this book is light on theory. I don't know enough about statistical theory to know if this is a valid criticism. But, I do think the book provides ample and detailed ""whys"" behind the ""hows"" that I haven't found elsewhere and that were necessary to help me justify the tests I run and how I interpret them. The level of detail and abstraction, in my opinion, is completely appropriate for most researchers and students.",5.0,"Bless you, Andy Field!",1218672000,"08 14, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3M26SABH62FAL,0316603570,Th booklover,"[0, 0]","This has started out very exciting. I like the way each character is sort of broadened. The subject matter is quite interesting and very current. I only worry that people who are zealots will get ideas. The portrayal of the greed by Corp America is spot on! I imagine such things are going on all the time as demonstrated by events in the past several years. I am not saying anyone with wealth should give it away but shareholders, insurance policy holders, etc. should feel safe knowing they are being considered. So far, a very good read and not one of Patterson's ""hurry to press"" efforts.",5.0,A real good beginning! Gets you right on the first page!,1372636800,"07 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1OIDKENKC62S9,1582343284,Mycroft,"[8, 8]","Sure this is pastiche But it is crafted with care. The author shows great care in trying to give a good 19th century feel to his story. The fact that he brings Tibetan philosophy into his plot line should not be that much of a shock. I grew up on Sax Rohmer[Arthur Henry Ward], T. Lobsang Rampa[Cyril Hoskins], & Joan Grant ""far memory"" books. I love the Doyle canon but even Doyle was fallible. I enjoyed this book very much, in fact I hope the author writes another. FYI there is a glossary at the back of the book.",5.0,Sherlock Holmes in Lhssa,1109548800,"02 28, 2005",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 AQCVMNI0RS2JQ,0062119559,DIGlassworks,"[0, 0]",This book was almost as good as avg American male. Which is 5 stars for me. This one is almost just as good. Better than fiction,4.0,he does it again,1388361600,"12 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A34AK2G3DMQ6T3,0658001701,r3VOLution,"[10, 10]","This book has an excellent, easy to read discussion about why carbs are bad for health and how saturated fats are good. This book is a good intro for those seeking to understand the mechanics of how the body metabolizes food. It has a pretty good index of food ""bread units"" at the back. I am lowering the score on this book by 1 star because the food index should have been more extensive and listed many more common foods, especially vegetables. For instance, I really wanted to know where turnips and rutabagas stacked up against potatoes but had to seek that info out on the web. The author also says that he did not include a sample menu because everyone will undoubtedly eat different combinations anyway. That assertion is true, however, I would like to see a sample menu so I can gauge both ratios of protein to carbs on a plate and also get an idea of realistic portion sizes. For those of us trying to start out on this low carb path, it would be very helpful to have a general idea of what the meals should look like even if we substitute other foods.In general however, this is a great intro for the average person. Easy to understand the chemistry behind the claims and easy to discern what to cut out of the diet completely and forever.",4.0,Easy read to understand low carb,1315872000,"09 13, 2011",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 ARVET37SOADAZ,0440117402,Suzie Welker,"[0, 0]",Interesting book. Enjoyed how the author wrote about the Salem witch trials. Such an interesting and horrible time. Looking forward to reading more by this author.,4.0,Reviewed by KyBunnies,1395360000,"03 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A320TMDV6KCFU,0060542128,MNix,"[4, 4]",Claire sees the face of a murderer right after he has committed his crime. He chases her and she gets away but not without injury. She is unable to remember the murder or the murderer. Sean is the police detective who is in charge of Claire's case and tracking the serial killer who is pursuing Claire to rid himself of the only witness to ever see him. Sean and Claire are attracted to each other. Sean knows he can't get involved with a witness but he can't stay away from her either. This was a great first book from a new author! I enjoyed it will definately purchase Heather Lowell's next title when it comes out. I recommend this book to all lovers of romantic suspense!,5.0,Loved It!!!,1074470400,"01 19, 2004",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AL5WXW243US0R,1491272813,william,"[0, 0]",I loved the descriptions of West Point. I served in the military (Air Force) so have some small bit of knowledge as to military matters. West Point is one of our national treasurers. I enjoyed reading about its' workings.,4.0,interesting,1396828800,"04 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18737Z4JFKC7G,082482766X,Stuart-Little,"[22, 22]","This dictionary is an indispensable dictionary for anyone who has any need for a Chinese-English dictionary. It is organized alphabetically by pinyin. Looking up a compound term is very easy. I know of no other Chinese-English dictionary that has so many compound entries or is so easy to use once the pinyin is known.Another plus is it adheres to the National Standard of the People's Republic of China for Hanyu Pinyin Orthography. This means if you want to know the correct pinyin for a compound this dictionary is without peer. The rules for separating and joining words; rules for spelling fused phrase expressions are all given and adhered to. When I want to double check I have transliterated a Chinese term, book title or address correctly into pinyin this is the dictionary I use.In the one year that I have been using this dictionary I have only come across a few twentieth century compounds that not listed in this dictionary. A very nice feature is the entries clearly state when a character is a bound form and can not appear alone (modern usage only).There is no wasted space in this dictionary, each page is laid out in the traditional three column dictionary format. The characters and compounds are labeled as to parts of speech, whether it is a measure word or compound, what the area of usage is (Taiwan as well as PRC; slang, colloquial, linguistic, medical, legal, scientific, etc.) and whether it is chiefly in written material versus ordinary speech. Both simple and complex forms of the character are given.The appendices contain conversion tables for Pinyin, Wade-Giles, Guoyeu Romatzyh, Yale and Zhuyin Fuhao; character look up tables by stroke count (sub-indexed by stroke type) and by radical index. Also a table of standard and variant character forms is given.The typeface is modern, easy to read and is slightly larger than the type in my Webster's Third New International Dictionary. (I.e., the big dictionary found in all libraries that sits on top of a dictionary stand.)I own at least a half dozen Chinese-English dictionaries (including some very specialized ones) and two Chinese-Chinese dictionaries and this dictionary is the one that I use the most. A huge improvement over older (but modern) Chinese-English dictionaries.",5.0,"Indespensible, easy to use and comprehensive.",1131235200,"11 6, 2005",22,22,helpful,1.0,1 A1NPROXGAEEPHD,0385487622,"Amazon Customer ""Mrs. Snowman""","[5, 11]","Don't get me wrong, I was totally sold out on the Weigh Down Workshop ever since 1998. This book, and the Weigh Down program initially saved my life as well as my relationship with my boyfriend and with God, especially. I lost 100 pounds on the program and joined the church. Initially, I had written a positive review and given her book 5 stars. However, after being a member for 4 years I realized something was very wrong and that Weigh Down was no longer what it used to be, and that Gwen was not who I thought she was, and so that is why I have retracted my original review and given her only 1 star. I have met her, went to her house a couple of times, and even worked for Weigh Down! She has changed since the good old days. Yes, she changed, Weigh Down has changed, but God NEVER changes. What others are saying is true; it is a cult. Don't even think about joining a WD class and don't buy any materials published after 1999. I want to sound the alarm. It makes me want to yell, ""Fraud!!!"" When I think about it. I should know, I have been through it. Whatever you do, don't join the church or get involved in anything from WD after the 1990's decade.",5.0,At first I loved it but...,1031184000,"09 5, 2002",5,11,helpful,0.45454545454545453,1 AE61FFT0GUD2G,1413317553,"Frederick S. Goethel ""wildcatcreekbooks""","[26, 29]","I bought this to help a friend who has a terminal illness and who had put off doing a will (as well as other legal paperwork) for way too long. I found the software, once I got it to work, to be wonderful. It is intuitive, easy to use and it explains every step with a fair amount of detail. It also prints out everything you need to make each document legal in the state in which you are going to use it.The book acts as a adjunct to the software. It covers information about things that are not in the software....special signing instructions by state, what the purpose of each document is, etc.My problem with this is that I use Windows 7, and apparently there is a problem with some users of that software. There is a glitch in the software, and although it does not affect everyone, it does affect some. I was one of the affected. I couldn't get it to load on my desktop for anything. Finally, I discovered some comments about this issue on another version of the software and decided to try it on my laptop. When I loaded it there, it worked perfectly.Overall a great product combination, but it may not load depending on your operating system.",3.0,"Great Combination, But May Not Work For You",1355616000,"12 16, 2012",26,29,helpful,0.896551724137931,1 A2IPC51HL9UUYF,0060193395,"Amy Y. ""Tell me, what is it you plan to do wi...","[22, 24]","What I really like about Bill Phillips program is that the nutrition aspect is built around the idea of feeding your body, not restricting it. I found the book to be motivational. It is full of before and after pictures and success stories. What it lacks is depth and organization with respect to the actual program to follow. The exercise portion of the program consists of three days of weight lifting and three days of aerobic activity a week with one free day. The nutrition portion consists of eating six meals a day with somewhat vague guidelines of 1 serving of protein and one serving of carbs per 'meal' plus two additional servings of vegatables tacked on over the course of the day. There is a brief list of what 'approved' foods are in each category. I think this is really a common sense diet. A 'serving' is roughly the size of your fist. The author does not advocate a low carb diet but rather eating smart carbs and cutting out the junk. So basically, limit serving sizes, eat often, drink lots of water and don't eat junk. Again, one of the things I really like is the POSITIVE approach. He doesn't just say 'don't eat junk' but if you are putting something in your body, make sure it is full of stuff your body needs and can use! One downside is the big push to use Myoplex products which is a protein shake mix made by the company he owns- the book advertises it alot.",3.0,"Good idea, not much depth",1079740800,"03 20, 2004",22,24,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 ATOFFO1VNCAGQ,0385413505,Michael Delaware,"[24, 27]","This dictionary is an incredible tool for any writer. Whenever you need just that right rhyming solution in a piece you are writing, this will help you. A dictionary of this sort is a bold undertaking for anyone to compile, and my hat is off to the man who put this reference together. I have looked at other attempts at this concept, but I have found this to be the most useful of all. I do not think there is a better reference on the market in this catagory. This should be an absolute must for anyone in the writing profession to have in their reference library.",5.0,A Very Useful Tool For Any Writer,969148800,"09 17, 2000",24,27,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,B003R50F82,Midwest Book Review,"[10, 10]","Expertly narrated by Kate Hood, is an engaging unabridged audiobook of the novel Kimberley Sun by Di Morrissey. Lily Barton is a beautiful fifty-three-year-old adventurer searching for diversity and change in her life. The setting is a beach on the Kimberly coast in Australia, where Kimberley Sun carries readers through the story of Lily and her daughter Sami, Farouz, the son of an Afghan camel driver, Bobby, the Chinese-Aboriginal man who is caught up in the murder of a German tourist, and Biddy, the survivor of the Captain Tyndall and Olivian era as well as the peculiar artist taking mysterious refuge in the seclusion of the desert. Kimberley Sun is very highly recommended an outstanding telling of a truly enthralling tale as well as the sequel to Di Morrissey's Tears Of The Moon.",5.0,An outstanding telling of a truly enthralling tale,1150156800,"06 13, 2006",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A17R6IM7YQE5IR,B0080JHKY2,"John David Lionel Brooke ""BROOKE'S BOOKS""","[0, 0]","A must read book for North American tourists planning a trip to the Republic of Ireland, officially Ireland, the southern five sixths of the Emerald Isle. Packed full of useful tips, addresses, advice, names and memories for other pilgrims to this storied land. Personal observations make their 3 week whirlwind tour insightful and damn useful. Not overloaded with hyperbole but there is a lot of euphemisms, generalities and repetitiveness in the telling.Casual readers not planning Irish odyssey, may get weary of the commercialism injected into the narration. Especially the merchandising pitch that winds up this package. Perhaps all the names, rates and other facts laced into this whirlwind tour would be better linked appropriately in a compendium section, so as not to intrude in a smooth and non-intrusive read.Obviously the author must return again soon, and provide new planners to Ireland an update, as things and situations are in constant change. Overall Rosemary must have kissed the Blarney Stone to acquire her gift of eloquence in this compelling read.",4.0,GIFT FOR GAB,1397952000,"04 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2S6INIT9C1UVH,0972492623,M. E. Martin,"[0, 0]",I have read this book. A number of times and return to it like an old friend. Read and enjoy.,5.0,read again,1401667200,"06 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2PZ3T8RUK7AN1,1931859965,U Dream,"[28, 41]","Chomsky is a better lecturer than writer in my opinion. I found it very tedious to try and figure out exactly what he was saying in his very obtuse way. He makes frequent use of sarcasm--half the time I have to re-read a paragraph to figure out if he's joking or serious. Much of the time I was left in the dark as he assumed I understood his references to other sources of information. Much of it is very rambling. I would read a page to my wife and we would both look dumbfounded, asking ""what did he just say?"" There are people who find his viewpoints offensive. Such individuals (a generous term) don't like to hear about the terrible things the U.S. has done behind the mask of freedom and democracy. They must have their heads in the sand, for I've witnessed it with my own eyes. Chomsky is a courageous whistle blower. His sources can be checked for validity. (I really enjoyed the Chomsky documentary, ""Manufacturing Consent."") I just couldn't get in tune with his writing style in this book.",2.0,"Difficult, laborious read",1298160000,"02 20, 2011",28,41,helpful,0.6829268292682927,1 A3J802XBIRQT90,044990928X,alvord13,"[0, 0]","Lots of recovery, some good humor, and super relatable despite not having kids of my own. Worth a read. Period",4.0,very good,1398902400,"05 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EPDUITJWGG4E,1892764040,"Suzanne Tractenberg """jazz drummer"""","[0, 0]","This method book has been around for years and is still a very important part of drum technique literature. It provides terrific exercises for improving hand coordination and, as the title says, Stick Control. Another good one by Mr. Stone is: Accents and Rebounds.",5.0,Mandatory for the serious drummer.,1370563200,"06 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2CHCGZSB8YE4H,0375509151,"Miran Ali ""I don't like anonymous reviewers""","[7, 14]","An interesting survey of the aftermath of the Japanese surrender in South Asia and the Far East. Concentrating mainly on China, Korea and Indonesia. Spector completely ignores Burma and the Philippines. The space given to Hong Kong, Malaya and Singapore is cursory; generally the British role is not the focus of this book. This book only works as an accompaniment to the superior "" Forgotten Wars: The End of Britain's Asian Empire"" by Christopher Bayly and Tim Harper. While 'Forgotten Wars' concentrated on the British experience, 'Empire' looks at the American one. But there were many theatres where these interests were in conflict. The book ends in most cases around 1948 and has a quite unnecessary post script comparing the Iraq experience.",3.0,The Yanks Are Coming,1202601600,"02 10, 2008",7,14,helpful,0.5,1 A3C7R5VQQYEQPC,0879979798,Joshua Drake,"[4, 5]","I picked this book up in the used bookstore because I have studied armor, I enjoy sci-fi and the synopsis promised both. The book delivered. The author interspersed the action of battle with revealing narratives from the supporting cast. Without the style and tone switches the plot would not have had the same impact. When I finished this one a shiver ran down my spine. By far a shining example of the genre - in a word: Excellent.",5.0,Excellent,959212800,"05 25, 2000",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1R9IVZS3A7DWH,B00AEB5EHE,K. Ravi,"[4, 6]","I love WordPress. It is a time savvy and Google Loves WordPress site .I always want to know the in-depth knowlege, but really wasted money, But after reading this book I can say -""yes"" I know WordPress.This book has A-Z information and covered many topics but the following features really delighted to me.1.where to find the best themes freely and how to install them.2.So many plug-in for SEO purpose.3.How to use Social media.4.How to disable a page from showing in the sidebar pages widget--Not Even Expert know that.5.Easy way to put Bold and Italic in a sidebar Text widget.6.The easy way to use sites favicon.7.Gravatar.8.Describes top plug-in and there installing methods.9 How to maintenance your site.10 comment redirect and end post comment.11. Using social media-Like Pinterest, twitter, facebook and feedburner ( Great plug-in).12.How to secure your wordpress site.13.Mobile wordpress- Great information.14.The best apps for blogging- First times i got such a knowledge.15 If you want to post on your blog really cool to get posted automatically Social Media.16.How to make another person an administrator-- i am seaching this information for a long while but now this book describe how you make Editor, Author, Contributor and Subscriber with different user name and password.When i uses the wordpress first time , I bought many booksand be a member of different site (for only knowing about wordpress) but nobody gives me such A-Z knowledge.Finally I would Say this is a great book for Beginners as well as for Expert with a very low price ( I wasted more than $1000 to only know about WordPress).This books make you an Expert to creating websites very easily.",5.0,Big book for Beginners as well as for Expert to Know about WordPress,1354320000,"12 1, 2012",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 ABUEDVVXCRBWJ,1623152879,FireIsis,"[0, 0]","Crash diets are so out of style-- now, DASH dieting is in! Gone are the days of starving yourself, it's time to be healthy with deliciously balanced recipes and meals that can fit any occasion or holiday and there are even desserts! There's no excuse to get off track.The DASH Diet for Everyday also has tips for eating out and snacking, because the hardest part of dieting is being caught at an eatery with limited options! This book is even endorsed by the National Institutes of Health and the United States Department of Agriculture, so you know it's legit!If dishes like Mediterranean Spinach Omelet and Creamy Butternut-Apple Soup appeal to you, then dig in!",4.0,In With the DASH Diet and Out With the Crash diet,1390089600,"01 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WCBHZU9ZFHWG,B00IQWM1L0,Emily,"[0, 0]","If you are looking for a simple juicing book without all the bells and whistles, this is the book for you. It is broken down by ingredient with all the benefits of that ingredient explained. It is simple and to the point. The only juice book you really need. The recipes are simple and varied and there are lots of them Highly recommend",5.0,Simple and powerful. The only juicing book you need,1394496000,"03 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AHNWYCBLDJEBA,0875420281,"My Mother Was An Astrologer ""My Mother Was An...","[0, 0]",The most used reference book I own. Absolutely love all of Ted Andrews' books that I have bought - 3 so far - and this is the one that got me started reading him. Amazing and useful knowledge within these pages.,5.0,Fantastic guide,1404777600,"07 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PKJUAQFGNLSX,037543318X,B. Morse,"[0, 0]","I took this book as a loan from a well-meaning fellow reader...after explaining that I had read Da Vinci Code, and while I enjoyed the premise, the history, and the basic 'story', Dan Brown's writing style left me flat.....I have found nothing to change that opinion, really, with having read Angels and Demons.The story here is even more fast-paced and thrilling than Da Vinci Code...another secret ancient brotherhood (such as the Priory of Sion), a religious cover-up (the famed Illuminati, centuries long opponents of the Catholic Church) and a trail of bodies leading to a long-sought after prize by Harvard Professor of Symbology, Robert Langdon.With so many other reviews of this book, I won't outline the plot in any greater detail, but will instead focus on strengths and weaknesses, in my opinion.Strengths: Again, this is more action packed and faster paced than Da Vinci Code......and to me a better story. Not that I have anything against a fictional story that purports to reveal a 'hidden bloodline' of Jesus Christ, like so many others, but this story, to me, was grounded more in actual documented history than Da Vinci Code was. And for all his knowledge and cleverness, Robert Langdon, in this book, seemed a bit more of an 'everyman' caught up in a terrible plot...and truly seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. As a side note, though, having read this book now, you'd think that by the time Da Vinci Code took place, Langdon would have learned his lesson about getting caught up in such situations.Weaknesses: Maybe I've forgotten more recent history, but did cell phones EVER have a 'dial tone?' That particular detail just about deterred me from reading any further than the first 100 pages of the book....as far as I'm aware no cell phone ever had a 'dial tone'. If I am wrong about this, I owe Mr. Brown an apology, but....if not, it's glaring errors like this that turn me off to a book, typically, no matter how interesting the subject matter might be. I also found yet again a very 'pedestrian' style of writing here....too many chapters that start out setting a scene such as 'The Secret Vatican Archives are located at the far end of....' This sort of 'dumbed down' writing is exactly what normally deters me from reading modern-day thrillers....I prefer to use my imagination a bit more, and also to read authors who spend a bit more time incorporating details such as the location of the Secret Vatican Archives into their story in such a way that it doesn't read like a tour book. Suffice to say I like to read authors who use their own imagination to make me use mine when I read their works.Nonetheless, if Dan Brown ever gets around to releasing 'The Solomon Key,' (rumored to be another Robert Langdon novel) I will, more than likely, read it. Despite my criticism of his writing style, and some glaring errors in storytelling, I must say that (in Mr. Brown's favor)he does choose some very interesting topics to write about. Although I prefer the 'modern thrillers' written by Steve Berry if I do choose to read a book from this genre, Dan Brown at least does have a fertile imagination.",3.0,"More 'action-packed' than Da Vinci Code, but....",1230422400,"12 28, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQ8DU6XVA3USJ,0895295121,"Alejandra Vernon ""artist & illustrator""","[119, 121]","The benefits of juicing are enormous, by getting the essential vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables in a quick, digestible form. Juicing can provide a ""meal in a glass"" that can make a great snack or even a substitute for a meal in a calorie restricted diet, and for anyone who has to ""eat and run"", a tall glass of juice is the ultimate fast food.Part One is ""The Basics"", with excellent guidelines, including one page of ""Juicing Tips"" that I found useful.Part Two, ""The Disorders"", is the bulk of the book, and addresses common ailments and diseases, describes the condition, gives general recommendations, dietary modifications, nutrients that help, beneficial juices and suggested recipes.A wide range of disorders are discussed. Under ""C"" for instance, there is not only the obvious cancer and cholesterolemia (high cholesterol) listed, but also ailments like carpal tunnel syndrome, which is not usually thought of as being helped through nutrition (""The majority of carpal tunnel sufferers have been found to have low levels of vitamin B6"", page 93), and also that bane of 40+ women, cellulite: ""The good news is that cellulite can be reversed significantly"" (page. 100), and the book tells you how.Part Three is ""The Diet Plans"", and has suggestions for everyday meals, with basic healthy eating, ""Immune Support Diet"", and many different types of cleansing diets and advice.Cherie ""The Juicewoman"" Calbom and Maureen Keane have a long list of credentials and ""know their onions"" in the field of nutrition, and if you believe that what you eat has a direct impact on you physical health and stress level, this is a good book to have in your library. Also recommended is ""Prescription for Nutritional Healing"" by James and Phyllis Balch.",5.0,The Joy of Juicing,1117584000,"06 1, 2005",119,121,helpful,0.9834710743801653,1 A3TYJ2S73KS7MP,1477808833,Jason Taylor,"[0, 0]",Very detailed and realistic science as well as great character development plus a few interesting twists..Can't wait for next installment coming out in May 2014.,5.0,Great hard SciFi,1390089600,"01 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3N0UVZCDZ9YMD,B00J7XE8F4,"Tammy Hall ""Tammy Hall""","[0, 0]","What are to hearts supposed to do when society says you can't be together yet your heart deep into your soul is saying the exact opposite. What battle do you chose, either way you may lose. When do you listen to your heart and not your head in hope that it will lead you in the right direction. This is how A Question of Class grabs your attention and once you are there it'a too late you are hooked and in desperate need to know how this story plays out. I was captivated not only by the story but the characters too. I felt as though I had stepped into a portal and had taken a trip into the past able to watch history play out in front of me. I am a huge fan of history fictional it all is very enchanting! I can hardly wait to see what Julia Tagan has in store for us in her next novel. Thank you Ms. Tagan for bringing A Touch of Class into my little world as a reviewer.",5.0,Society can be wrong,1402617600,"06 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2T1NH5HGH8IJZ,0801020670,Mkildal,"[0, 1]","It has a companion volume in Spanish. I had to carefully compare the chapters as pagination, subject matter, and even illustrations were often different from this English volume.",5.0,Used it teaching pastors in Guatemala,1392422400,"02 15, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2KB6YCD8UPKPC,B00HOY8AN4,Danielle - Books and Motherhood,"[0, 0]","Wow! What a steamy read! I absolutely LOVED Legal Affairs. What happens when a best friends good intentions go horribly right AND horribly wrong at the same time? Just as McKayla. Her life gets turned upside down by her best friends gift of one night with the ""dating service"" One Night Only.Legal Affairs is as amusing as it is steamy. I'm looking forward to learning more about McKayla's legal career just as much as I'm looking forward to seeing more of Matt! The story of McKayla and Matt is one I can see playing out to be a very interesting and very sexy love story. I am on pins and needles waiting for January 24th to roll around so I can grab the next installment, Legal Affairs: Stipulation.",5.0,What happens when a best friends good intentions go horribly right AND horribly wrong at the same time?,1389398400,"01 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFZ5KONCL3R6F,0760338213,Jim,"[4, 5]","Bought the book as a gift for my guitar loving son. Was immediately taken by the quality of the book and the absolutely fantastic photographs. You can read the commentary, but the pictures say even more, much more!",5.0,Eye-candy for guitar lovers,1348704000,"09 27, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AQDIE4MKYG7WU,014241882X,Karjiana,"[0, 0]","I read the summary for this book and didn't think it sounded that great but gave it a chance anyway because I read another book by this author that had a summary that didn't sound so great and it's now one of my favorite books. So I started reading this book and I taught it took a while to really suck me in and when I finally was drawn in it slowed down again. I think it only stayed ""page turning"" consistently for the last 50 pages or so of the novel. It's not bad, but not worth a reread like the other novel, When it Happens by Susan Colasanti, I read.",3.0,A little slower than I expected,1350086400,"10 13, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2Y7O3OR7TBAAG,0800721209,Mark B,"[0, 0]","I don't read a lot of fiction that falls outside of the suspense/mystery genre', but Dan Walsh is one author I read who does not write that genre', and has quickly risen to become one of my favorite authors. I always know it is going to be quality reading, and extremely enjoyable also.This book is a bit different from his others, as it does have some suspense and mystery in it, and enough that my sister who doesn't like that genre' didn't like this book, but she said it is because she has three boys and the book scared her with the possibility of it happening to one of her boys.I however, loved it. Even though the mystery and suspense was something new for Dan, though there was some of it also in the Discovery, it was still obviously a Dan Walsh book.The book is set during the Cuban Missile Crisis, something I don't know a lot about, but it served as the backdrop for the book and I found that aspect of the book fascinating, as it gave an idea of what it was like here in the US when that as going on.As with any of Dan's books. there is a lesson in this one. The couple in the book is trying to fake that all is well in their lives, when it is not. Lying and forcing their sons to lie, causes something to happen that shows it is better to just be honest and open. Lying and covering up always hurts, and thought it doesn't always end in a near tragedy, no one knows the effects it will have.Some are saying this is Dan's best book so far. I loved it, but I still lean towards The Discovery as his best, and am really loving the series he is doing, so it is hard for me to say which is the best. He has become one of those authors who always writes a great book that does not disappoint. And as with any of his books, this is one I highly recommend, 5 stars for sure.",5.0,another home run,1396828800,"04 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ODKYLQAZX0F6,0679640231,Blair Colquhoun,"[5, 5]","It's a good book. The eyewitness account of a war correspondent during the Battle of Guadalcanal, Guadalcanal Diary's a book that should be read by anyone with an interest World War II. I read it in either junior high school or high school, I can't remember which, and I loved it.Soldiers and Marines were forbidden from using cameras and keeping diaries because if they were killed or captured,they'd provide good intelligence for the enemy. War correspondents, like Richard Tergaskis, weren't under any such prohibitions. World War II was the first war with embedded reporters. And you thought it was Operation IraqiFreedom. Didn't you? Well, 'tain't so! I highly recommend it.",5.0,Good book,1079740800,"03 20, 2004",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 ACRFJP93FJ2XJ,0982621418,Vecnden,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed Fiddlers Gun (Peterson's first book in this series) so much that I immediately downloaded this sequel and found it be be even more spell-binding than the first book in its depth of characters and adventure. But what really warrants a 5 star rating from me is the beautiful prose in this volume . . . I highlighted many quotes that I found worthy of savoring. It is so delightful to read a book that draws you into its spell so deeply that you fall in love with its characters and its adventures and you don't want to stop reading when you reach the end! Such a book is Fiddler's Green . . . Such a character is Fin Button.,5.0,lively and imaginative tale....beautifully written!,1374364800,"07 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXV0KHUF2E9H6,0151013772,M. Welch,"[0, 0]","If it's good enough to translate, it's probably good enough to read. One of those books that from the beginning is apparent that it is more than just a cut above the field, it's in another class altogether.",5.0,"outstanding, even if sailing isn't your interest",1393718400,"03 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1TA0757H0XHPL,1479126756,Lynda,"[0, 0]","This book is a fun, romantic and funny at times book!! Very interesting, entertaining, and truly romantic. I couldn't put it down!",5.0,Fun and romantic,1374019200,"07 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AYCJSA9HR7TKO,1400106656,Kerry Walters,"[419, 443]","In his debut novel, Aravind Adiga takes on some hefty issues: the unhappy division of social classes into haves and have-nots, the cultural imperialism of the First World, the powder-kegged anger that seethes among the world's dispossessed, and entrapment. But his skills as an author protect the novel from becoming one of those horrible didactic stories in which characters and plot are little more than mouthpieces and vehicle for delivering Great Truths. The White Tiger entertains and gives pause for thought. This is a good combination.The plot centers around Balram Halwai, a laborer born and raised in a small village utterly controlled by crooked and feudally powerful landlords. The village is located in 'the Darkness,' a particularly backward region of India. Balram is eventually taken to Delhi as a driver for one of the landlord's westernized sons, Ashok. It's in Delhi that Balram comes to the realization that there's a new caste system at work in both India and the world, and it has only two groups: those who are eaten, and those who eat, prey and predators. Balram decides he wants to be an eater, someone with a big belly, and the novel tracks the way in which this ambition plays out.A key metaphor in the novel is the rooster coop. Balram recognizes that those who are eaten are trapped inside a small and closed cage--the rooster coop--that limits their opportunities. Even worse, they begin to internalize the limitations and indignities of the coop, so that after awhile they're unable to imagine they deserve any other world than the cramped one in which they exist. Balram's dream is to break free of his coop, to shed his feathers and become what for him is a symbol of individualism, power, and freedom: a white tiger. But as he discovers, white tigers have their own cages, too.Of course, it's not simply the Balram's of the world caught in the rooster coop. Adiga's point seems to be that even the world's most privileged suffer from a cultural and class myopia that limits perspective and distorts self-understanding. The White Tiger is a good tonic with which to clear one's vision and spread one's wings.",4.0,Caught in the rooster coop,1211846400,"05 27, 2008",419,443,helpful,0.945823927765237,1 A1H3D9UIQQILUN,1623220513,Tamara Hoffa,"[0, 0]","Shayna is a princess who doesn't want to be. Adopted by the Alpha of the Ashwood Pack, Shayna fears her link to the rogue Onyx pack. She bares their mark, a brand she's had since infancy.Shayna longs for freedom... freedom from responsibility and a loving, but overbearing family.She is so isolated that she isn't even sure of herself when she meets her mate. And when she learns his history she is terrified of what his reaction to her brand will be.I loved Travis' little girl and his wonderful mother. It was great to see Shayna finally come into her own. I am really enjoying the Ashwood series and can't wait for the next book.I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review",4.0,great read!,1364515200,"03 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXLI0DNQFJR19,1611099633,antony Vaughan,"[0, 0]","Although it took me a bit to get into the novel as it was a bit like the other book subjects I read. It warmed to a good read with a great plot, and consistent story line. It is well written and carries the story well. You will enjoy the story and also learn a bit about the'horse racing game' in the world.",5.0,I enjoyed the read,1389571200,"01 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MOOPJ92CRZAZ,0321168925,Isaac Mann,"[7, 7]","This book is one of the better books I've come across as far as learning the tricks that you need to make realistic artwork and almost anything else. The tutorials do take a lot of practice and adjusting on your own to really figure out what they are offering. They dont go over things step by step by step like beginner books do so if you dont have the basics down dont bother. Once you get those basics down though, this should be the first book you get. It teaches you all the tricks of the trade that are necessary to be true masters of Illustrator.",4.0,Great but not for the beginner,1098403200,"10 22, 2004",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3TGNK32Q4JUOF,B007JL6IYU,"Lynda Giddens ""Analyst; Amateur Photographer;...","[6, 9]","I was able to download this short story for free from Amazon. The premise seems interesting - the sun is set to explode and instead of trying to build thousands of spaceships to transport humanity over many generations to another inhabitable planet, they've instead decided to turn the entire Earth into a spaceship by building ""Earth Engines.""I don't pretend to have a firm enough grasp of astrophysics to speak with any authority, but I find it implausible that humanity would be able to successfully enact a plan to turn the Earth into a giant spaceship once it's determined our Sun is about to change to the point of killing us. Therefore, the science in this short story is wholly unbelievable, but it's just the kind of over the top drama that would make a Hollywood blockbuster.There's no character development at all. The story is merely an idea poorly fleshed out. The progression is choppy and segues occur which make absolute no sense at all. For example, the narrator is talking to an officiant and is surprised to learn the Earth is about to be pelted from going through a rough, thick spot of an asteroid belt. Yet he turns right around (only a couple paragraphs later!) to explain to his wife all the inside knowledge he has due to his father being an astronaut about how we'll mitigate the damage.The first chapter or two have a nice pace and set up an interesting story, despite the inability to suspend disbelief. It goes downhill from there with its pacing issues and dramatic things happening for no good reason of plot advancement. The ending was entirely rushed and the ""conflict"" of the story lasted only a page or two and was senseless.Interesting idea, but terrible pacing and characters, plus way too many noticeable plot holes.",2.0,Interesting premise weakly told and full of plotholes,1346371200,"08 31, 2012",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1R642XKR910W3,B006LAAUHG,bookworm,"[0, 0]","A young writer trying to get a chance to write her novel, writing freelance articles and ghostwriting becomes embroiled in solving a murder?, becomes the possible victim of a stalker or a murderer. Good reading, keeps you on your toes.",4.0,Mystery within a mystery within a mystery????,1391558400,"02 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TRO6E197U0RF,0962833029,CBP,"[0, 0]",This book has wonderful information on how to care for your hair and stresses the importance of moisturizing daily. It is easy to read and is very insightful.,5.0,"Great, practical information",1281052800,"08 6, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1V5UIJIXYMLQ8,B004K6MJD6,beagle47,"[10, 10]",Dickens could write the alphabet and it would read as classic literature. A delightful if not slightly slanted Dickensian history lesson. Well formatted and well worth a read.,5.0,Enjoyable Dickens history lesson.,1308441600,"06 19, 2011",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A1ENAOQ3JKPZB2,1590171993,jean feldt,"[0, 0]","John Williams is a master novelist. One is enriched by his prose, his intrinsic knowledge of the subject. From the beginning until the very last word, 'Stoner' is memorable.",5.0,An exceptional read,1403136000,"06 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WFDR7KK2G7ET,B00CCRTFSC,A. Adams,"[11, 16]","I really don't know what these other readers were reading, this was one of the most boring stories I have ever read. I can usually read a book in one or two sittings, I have tried to read this for 4 days and I still can't get into it. It is BORING!!! I put this book on my wish list since it had such great reviews and when I saw it for 99cents I snagged it. Man, it wasn't even worth the 99cents.",1.0,was I missing something?,1367884800,"05 7, 2013",11,16,helpful,0.6875,1 A1XLUZUATJ8IB4,147828787X,Janiegirl,"[0, 0]","This book totally changes up the boy characters from the last book, but the characters are so compelling you don't mind. A fun sci-fi series.",4.0,Great series,1361145600,"02 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3H9PNABKQ51AX,0751541362,MMelville,"[4, 5]",I have (I think) read everything I can get my hands on from her. She soon will be coming out with a trilogy of Elenor of Acquataine. I can't get enough of her books.,5.0,Excellent,1370736000,"06 9, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2V3ML81KB1A4X,1582973113,Kathryn Bechen Ink,"[4, 5]","This is the best book I have read on what it's like to turn your writing into a profitable business. It's an easy read, yet packed with real life examples from Michael's many years in the trenches. His honesty about what it takes to succeed is refreshing, and I especially enjoyed the chapter on e-books. A great motivational resource and highly recommended.",5.0,Best Book on Writing as a Profitable Business,1176854400,"04 18, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3RNGNGS4BY9Z5,1477694919,"Crazy mom ""Susan S.""","[0, 0]",This was my first book to read by Kate Perry I was not disappointed and look forward to continuing on in the series and hopefully see how some of the intriguing characters introduced in perfect for you develop!Highly recommend! Read it over a busy weekend and it made me smile...I'll I ask!,4.0,a good read,1383523200,"11 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PY6SJT8UHL92,0534243126,Amazon Customer,"[4, 7]","I studied parts of this book years ago, during my grad school days. I found it clear, interesting and well organized. Some reviewers have complained of the low weight given to Bayesian statistics. This is true, this textbook is mostly for folks who want to learn about a frequentist approach. With this caveat, I think it's a very nice introduction to statistics for someone like me who uses statistics within the boundaries of basic applied econometrics. There are typos, but I believe you can find an errata online, which you should be able to locate easily with a google search.",5.0,A good book,1185148800,"07 23, 2007",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 AJKWF4W7QD4NS,140123562X,"N. Durham ""Big Evil""","[16, 20]","I've never been much of a Wonder Woman reader, mostly tuning out of the character's solo series after Greg Rucka's run ended years back, and since then her series just hasn't had the kind of appeal to me that it ever had before. That being said, hearing that the Wonder Woman relaunch under DC's New 52 would be written by Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Loveless, Joker, Hellblazer, and many more) definitely got my attention, and the end result is the best Wonder Woman story I've read in quite some time. Under Azzarello's pen, Wonder Woman is less the princess and ambassador of peace that she was in the past, and is much more the full-fledged Amazon warrior that we all know and love. Azzarello has tapped so deeply into Greek mythology with this first storyarc that it's compulsively addictive, and the balance of the order of the Gods in the background makes it all the more page-turning, twisty, and will have you salivating for more. Combine all that with the wonderful artwork of Cliff Chiang (and to a lesser extent Tony Akins, who fills in for art duties on the final two issues of this collection) and Blood winds up being a winner. Even if you've never read Wonder Woman before, check out Azzarello's new and exciting take on the character. You'll be pleasantly surprised and glad that you did.",4.0,Best Wonder Woman I've read in quite some time,1338940800,"06 6, 2012",16,20,helpful,0.8,1 A1OJ513JX4LEV6,0345530888,Maudie L. Leach,"[0, 0]","It was a wonderful book, I hated to put it down once I got into it. I have never read any of Danielle Steel's books that wasn't good. Maudie Leach",5.0,Until the end of time: A Novel,1395273600,"03 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFYR1GKBYRPH5,149231207X,Delores Campuzano,"[0, 0]","Seriously can't even describe the excitement and urge to read it all once I had... Can't even wait for the next! From Anything He Wants #1 to Now, I love the way the story captures me and leaves me begging for the next chapter, breathless and panting for more! Lol...",5.0,Why Must a Good Book End...,1381276800,"10 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A16J9STS34PWWC,0312868405,"Kieri ""Kieri""","[7, 12]","I am a big, giant freak when it comes to Newford, so, of course, I waited eagerly for months for this book to come out. When it finally arrived, I was vaguely disappointed. Why?-As has been previously mentioned, the last third or so of the book was ""Seven Wild Sisters."" SWS is a stunning story, and absolutely should be printed in a cheaper edition than the lovely but expensive Subterranean Press edition. However, though the Dillard stories are set in the same ""universe"" as the Newford Tales, they don't really go together. IMHO, de Lint probably should have waited for the next couple of Dillard stories (A Circle of Cats, Medicine Road) and published them--and the few short stories based on the Dillard tales--in one volume together.-All of the events of ""Tapping the Dream Tree"" are set BEFORE ""The Onion Girl."" While I do realize that it takes time to write good short stories, I (and every other rabid Newford fan) was looking forward to finding out more about Jilly's recovery and the aftermath of TOG. To find that the stories reflected none of the maelstrom of pain and wonder and hope that was ""The Onion Girl"" was very disappointing.-The short stories themselves are a bit lackluster. De Lint is a master storyteller, and there are a few of his stories (""The Moon is Drowning While I Sleep,"" ""Winter Was Hard,"" ""Wishing Well"") that still give me the goosebumps. Most of Newford's usually vivid cast seems tired and out of place--and, furthermore, out of character--in this collection. De Lint is usually a master wordsmith, coaxing poetry out of the most ordinary things in our everyday life. Here, though, he just seems to be relating events that happened to some people he hardly knows.De Lint has a lot on his plate right now, given the collaborations with the fantasy art genius Charles Vess, and with the new Newford novel ""Spirits in the Wires"" coming out soon. However, I hope that the next Newford collection is a little more like ""Dreams Underfoot"" or ""The Ivory and the Horn.""",3.0,"Not Up To The Usual Standard, Sadly",1041465600,"01 2, 2003",7,12,helpful,0.5833333333333334,1 AJOR7D8TIH3R4,0156031000,bert1761,"[11, 12]","While not quite the phenomenal success as his debut novel, "Ella Minnow Pea," "Ibid" again dazzles us with Mr. Dunn's originality and wordplay. The book has more laugh-out-loud moments than any other I've read in a long time. While the book also tells an interesting and moving story, the structure of the book -- i.e., telling the story through the footnotes to a lost biography of the protagonist -- does keep the reader at a bit of a distance, so that the story is not quite as involving as it might otherwise have been. Nevertheless, "Ibid" is a treat that I would recommend highly to anyone who enjoys a good laugh and an unusual story about quirky characters and situations.",4.0,"Entertaining, Clever and Unique",1078790400,"03 9, 2004",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A2T7GJONIZFP1Q,0312867549,"Maudeen Wachsmith ""BeachReader""","[21, 21]","In this sequel to her powerful novel, 1916, Morgan Llywelyn revisits the Irish struggle for independence. Although Ned Halloran, the main character in 1916, continues to be an important character in this book, this is the story of the events of 1916-1922 as seen through the eyes of Ned's friend, journalist Henry Mooney. Via a journalist's eyes the reader is treated to a very personal view of the events in the aftermath of the 1916 Easter Rising and Ireland's struggle for independence.As a journalist, Henry is privy to a lot of private information - some he isn't even able to print. In 1921 the events become more than just dates and places and the people involved more than just names. They become very real to the reader as Henry finds himself smack dab in the middle of much of the action. His friendship with Michael Collins is at the forefront of the story, but as Henry tries his best to remain neutral after the treaty is signed, it is clear it is going to be very difficult for him to do so.There's romance for Henry as well. He falls for widow Ella Rutledge, an Irish native of English ancestry, a protestant whose family allegiance lies with the British. Will he ever find true happiness with the beautiful, intelligent young woman when her family feels like they do?I was surprised to see that Llywelyn used Henry as the protagonist instead of Ned, but I applaud her for doing this as in so doing she was able to give a more objective point of view - something that might appear very difficult to do.Even though the reader may be aware of many of the historical events, he/she is still stunned at the brutality and the atrocities of war in a story which it is difficult to know which side to sympathize with as horrible, unspeakable acts of brutality were carried out by both sides. It becomes clear it isn't as simple as Catholics vs. Protestants.By the time the reader finishes these two novels (1916 and 1921) they are certain to have a better understanding of today's Irish "Troubles" -- although understanding doesn't mean condoning the violence.One can only hope that Llywelyn is planning to continue this series as has done such a spectacular job and as Henry tells Ned, "History tells what happened; literature tells what it felt like."",5.0,"HISTORY TELLS WHAT HAPPENED, FICTION TELLS HOW IT FELT",997574400,"08 12, 2001",21,21,helpful,1.0,1 A3UUNXU38QKISY,B006GWZWB8,Mighty's aBookwhore,"[0, 0]","Miss Fraser has a way of transporting us to this land of mystery, land of traditions, and of hot nights and even hotter men who love fiercely as they fought... sizzling !",4.0,loving it,1375488000,"08 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8A47R89D0I3P,0399143793,"Robert Flowers ""florida Bob""","[0, 0]",this is the second time I have read this book. I still love it. I will read a all the books in series again.,5.0,Great book,1384732800,"11 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFOW21HEV0L4P,1618976303,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I recommend this for young and old! The story is fantastic and the characters are delightful. I will definitely share it with my friends and family.,5.0,Fantastic story with delightful characters!,1391385600,"02 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A12AS5YHMMUEEK,B004774MKQ,Carolyn F,"[0, 0]","What becomes of a warlock man whore who finds his mate? Nothing, he keeps screwing around. It seemed like the author was trying to convey some sort of compassion for the hero, but I didn't. I'm glad this was a novella.",2.0,Glad this was a novella,1376784000,"08 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2URRWDMBQ34LE,073563887X,Lord Acavier,"[0, 0]","This book was amazing! Most of the book deals with how your application will display to the user through entertainment and graphical controls. There are also sections on how to integrate Silverlight into your presentation layer, whether that be browser based or through a desktop application. I particularly liked the Windows Phone section as I am beginning to dabble in the phone development.A picture IS worth a thousand words! You can describe input scope all you want to, but it wasn't until I saw pictures of the various keyboard layouts that I really began to appreciate what all the input scope could do for my application.If you're like me and need a little help adding that extra look and feel to your user interface, let this book be a step in the right direction. And keep in mind, Neil Armstrong's ""one small step for man"" began with smaller steps that turned into something great.",5.0,A very good read!,1309996800,"07 7, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGF1RNUOKQUT9,1932225277,"PJJ ""washingtonsheart""","[152, 176]","Setting the Record Straight: American History in Black & WhiteThis is an excellent book that finally shines the light of truth on the dirty little secrets of who really started the KKK. Everything this author writes he backs up with records in the library of congress in the bibliography of the book. So take off your partisan glasses and see the truth. This is not a republican diatribe, it is the truth and it's truth that is long, long over due.Read it as an American, not as a republican or democrat. Frankly both parties have let down the entire country, how anyone could defend either is beyond me. We need a 3rd party!Want the truth READ THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!",5.0,Setting The Record Straight: American History in Black and White,1245196800,"06 17, 2009",152,176,helpful,0.8636363636363636,1 AYB4ELCS5AM8P,0544096452,"John B. Goode ""JBG""","[0, 0]",This is a nice exciting book for kids aged 8-12 who won't be able to put it down. This is the second book of the series (the first book is Island of Thieves) and is about a family of miscreants where the 12 year old Tom goes on an adventure with his Uncle Harvey to India to find a jeweled tiger statue. This is an action packed book and will make you want to keep on reading. The only problem I have with this is that the book sets a bad example for your children. But overall I think this is a great book for children and would definitely recommend this.,5.0,Nice!,1391040000,"01 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DVS9Y4Z1HIDJ,1419607448,"Bob Lind ""camelwest""","[11, 11]","A well-conceived and written novel of romance, suspense and shady business dealings, ""In the Shadow of Stone"" introduces Jack Fontaine, a self-made gay man who is somewhat estranged from his family, except for his sister's daughter Jenna, and is a successful advertising executive who is in a rewarding but ethically-challenged relationship with one of his firm's copywriters. Jack's orderly life starts to unravel when he is summoned to the deathbed of his sister, who entrusts him with a video tape that is to be held in safekeeping for her daughter's 18th birthday. Shortly thereafter, it becomes apparent that a comment made by his lover Marc at work has resulted in their relationship being known, which threatens his job and makes him second-guess the wisdom of continuing the relationship. What follows is a painful revelation that Marc was actually sent to the firm to ""bring Jack down"" and, although he now insists he fell in love for real, Jack does not know whom to trust.Definitely original and engaging story by a talented author. Much recommended, 5 stars out of 5.",5.0,Shady side of business dealings make for great reading,1139097600,"02 5, 2006",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A5TVOEW8SNUD5,085768101X,Elizabeth Mish,"[0, 1]",It's a little slow. Not really like a supernatural show. Not as much smart ass from Dean. Too much goin on. Have read the other books they were great not so much with this book. Having a hard time finishing the book,3.0,Little slow,1377129600,"08 22, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AMWJLH3RK0IDF,0830828974,"PastoralMusings ""mslapastor""","[7, 7]","Introducing Paul is my first encounter with Michael F. Bird. I must say that I was very favorably impressed. He is a good writer. His writing is easily understood. His style is comfortable to me.Bird takes Paul, studies his life, writings, backgrounds, travels, and theology. That could make for boring reading, or very interesting reading. It would be difficult to fall anywhere between the two. Thankfully, Bird made this interesting.Bird's approach to Paul is relatively conservative, for which I am grateful. While he does not pretend to give us a complete biography, he shows us that we can all learn more about Paul's life. Bird's coverage of Paul's intentions, missionary work, and writings are good, too.I was especially grateful for the overview of Paul's theology. Bird did a good job with that as well as the rest of the book. While this is not intended to be a systematic theology based upon the Pauline corpus, it is none the less a good overview of what Paul had to say.The one drawback I saw was regarding Paul's views of roles of women. I believe Bird could have gone further and stated Paul's teaching a little more plainly.As a whole, this book is a five star book. It takes a large, difficult subject and presents it in a concise, accurate, and interesting manner.I recommend it to all Christians.",5.0,A Very Good Introduction to The Apostle's Life and Theology,1240531200,"04 24, 2009",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A2ZG03D6CNPGTJ,1580084222,"D. Bissonnette ""Memere""","[0, 3]","My husband ordered this book a couple of months ago and he and our son have spent many hours enjoying reading it and making terrific pizzas. I am the beneficiary of this,Yeh!",5.0,We're eating the best pizza!,1237507200,"03 20, 2009",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1G56KHOUOFWDW,0671002821,"Dianne Foster ""Di""","[10, 10]","Sooner or later, we all face the prospect of losing a loved one. Often the death of a friend leads one to reflect on one's own mortality. Sometimes undertaking an arduous physical challenge helps alleviate the emotional pain following loss. Often the loss of someone dear leads to enormous changes in one's life.Ann Linnea lost a good friend to breast cancer. In a state of grief buried so deep she was not fully aware of it until she had completed a good part of her journey, she set out on an extraordinary trip kayaking around Lake Superior. She and her travel companion were subjected to incredible physical stress, and they experienced sublime beauty. By day, they paddled against the surf, in the rain and broiling sun, and through the treacherous debris of the coastline. Sometimes they paddled at night, where she saw "dark lichen-covered boulders..illuminated by a full moon."Like Pirsig in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" Linnea alternately describes her evolving mental and emotional state and the intricacies of kayaking a long distance. "I wore heavy-soled hiking boots, teal wind pants, yellow waterproof parka"... she says. And a moment later, "The only other time in my life that I could remember feeling connected like this to the ancient spirit of a place was in 1988 on my second three-month camping trip to the desert southwest with my children."By the end of her book, Linnea has successfully circumnavigated Lake Superior, found the perfect place to scatter the ashes of her dead friend, and made some life-affirming decisions about her own existence.",4.0,Zen and the art of kayaking....,969840000,"09 25, 2000",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A213SZRIVJFRQN,1611099838,Kathleen hallkathleen hall,"[0, 0]","I love this series. Every book I have started reading, I can 't stop until they are finished. It is a great series and every book has held me breathless at times. You just never know what is going to.happen. keep them coming.",5.0,Turning to love,1372291200,"06 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXXLCJMDV07DU,B001FB5T4K,Molly D,"[0, 0]","I just love these old mysteries and Freeman's are not as slow moving nor as lugubrious and verbose as others. For myself, I find they are an easy read; that is, beautifully written, engaging and enjoyable.I especially liked the short stories and Helen Vardon and did not find the typos to be onerous, not finding above half a dozen in the last full-length novel. I am definitely going to be acquiring more of this author's work. Thank you Amazon for making these pieces available and at such reasonable prices. In fact, many are free!!",5.0,These cozy mysteries are the best!,1349913600,"10 11, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A38HEC658U7MUC,1935089471,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Unbreakable Love was an interesting book. It was not my favorite book but it was most certainly not the worst one either. There were some things I really liked, somethings I thought were sweet, some things that I really didn't like, and even some things I thought were a little cheesy. I guess all in all, my feelings are very iffy on it.At the very beginning of the book, I could have sworn it was going to be a switching POV type of book where one chapter is Jennie and the next would be Nate, and on and on. However this was not the case. It was sometimes Jennie, sometimes Nate, and sometimes another character completely. I understand that some of it was to gain information that is revealed later in the story BUT if that information is already going to be revealed later on, then there is really no use to have that extra POV in there to begin with. Does this make any sense? I just feel like the book probably would have benefited with the type of story that switches between main characters with each passing chapter (plus, I am a total sucker for any author who can do it well!) that way we could get a really good, in debt view on each character.Okay, enough about that little nuisance, now let's talk about characters!Nate was great! I mean, he is a guardian angel, a cute guy, he emits calm and serenity every where he goes, he is always looking out for Jennie, he sacrifices his own feelings to protect her on more than one event, could you get any more sweet? He is just such a great guy. But what I think I love best is he is a Guardian Angel and he is all sorts of perfect but this guy also likes to bend break the rules especially when they concern Jennie! He tries so hard to do what's best for her but sometimes his emotions get in the way and I sort of love that about him! It really shows that he is human (for lack of a better word because you know, with him being an angel and all, it's a bit wrong to call him human). Nate has his flaws, he is definitely not perfect but he is sweet and generous, and he really tries to do what's best for Jennie and that's all you can ask for.Jennie was also a pretty good character; she was easy to relate with but there were some things she did that really irritated me. I can totally understand why Nate would fall for her though. She is kind-hearted, sweet, loyal, just an all-around good girl however, she sure had her flaws too. She was quick to judge, sometimes thought irrationally, due to a past relationship she does not trust others very easily, and she is very stubborn. I know I posses all of these flaws and perhaps a ton more, but I just had a hard time stomaching them in this book. She feels a connection to Nate, they take it really slow, he makes sure he gains her trust and friendship first, and soon enough they are best friends. I liked that she let her guard down and let him in but the second someone said a horrible lie about him, she was so quick to believe it. She threw their friendship away so quickly and for such a petty reason, I had a hard time really liking her at that point. I understand that certain things needed to happen to push the story along but perhaps a few scenes could have been switched around to make Jennie a little less harsh and a little more likeable.As for the angel concept, I really liked it for this story! Guardian Angels are almost part of an agency in this book. The angels get assignments, people who need to be protected for a small amount of time so they can go on to accomplish great things in life, and they are to follow the rules and get the job done. As you've probably guessed, Nate was assigned to Jennie (and as I stated earlier, he was not so good at following the set rules). It is Nate's job to protect Jennie at all costs, don't touch her, especially DON'T fall in love with her, and get her through a very tough time in life. Not so easy when rules 2 & 3 are broken rather quickly. I really like this whole concept. It was easy to follow and simple BUT there were some details that really didn't need to be included. **spoiler alert** For instance, there was a very detailed reason behind Jennie needing to be saved and it had to do with a certain someone becoming President of the United States. Okay, I get that the paths these people will walk down in the future may be important but the whole President detail just made it a bit cheesy for me. I could have settled for a more vague statement like ""She will go one to do great things."" It's a minor detail but it was enough to irk me just a little. Some details could have just been left to the imagination and it would have made the whole story more believable.I know it seems like I am being all picky about this book but don't get me wrong, it is good! I thought it was a simple, cute, love story that was SUPER easy to leave and left me with a smile on my face. There may have been a few things I really didn't like, but if you are a fan of angel books, or heck, even romance books, I say give it a shot. It was a quick read and I certainly loved the author's take on Guardian Angels!",3.0,A cute love story and an intersting take on angels!,1327190400,"01 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5C9P5HPRID65,B006MZ4468,Rhonda,"[4, 4]","I really liked this book. Kate Huntington, a psychologist, is a wonderful character - a strong female lead, compassionate and loyal. The author is able to shed light on some very serious mental health issues through Kate's character, but in a way that it is woven throughout the storyline/plot. The other characters, each with their own unique voice, keeps the book entertaining. These are folks I wouldn't mind having in my circle of friends. I hope they show up in the next book as well. There is plenty of suspense and Ms. Lamb keeps you guessing who the bad guy or gal is. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.",5.0,Great Read!,1339459200,"06 12, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AUEHG0DB54B7K,0300098227,David A. Wend,"[29, 30]","I bought a copy of Andrew Birkin's book after seeing ""Finding Neverland,"" which sparked my interest in the real J.M. Barrie. My interest was to uncover some of the truth behind the story of the film knowing full well that films cannot relate all of what happened. I have never seen Peter Pan on the stage and only know the play from film versions, so I was also interested in where Barrie's ideas for his creation came from. This book is really an illustrated biography with each page having one or more photographs. The selection of photographs almost succeeeds in telling the story without the words. The book begins by traceing the life and James Barrie in the initial chapters; his education, family, the ealy death of one of his brothers (which may have been one of the influences of Peter Pan) and how he embarked on his literary career. The turning point of the book arrives where Barrie meets George Llewellyn Davies in Kensington Gardens, which leads to his relationship with the Sylvia Llewellyn Davis, her husband Arthur and their growing family.Mr. Birkin does a magnificent job in setting the stage with his background of the families of Sylvia and Arthur how Barrie's relationship with their five sons developed. We are given a lot of detail up the the death of Michael by drowning (certainly a suicide). The remainder of Barrie's life (from 1921 to 1937) is related in a brief epiloge. It seems that Mr. Birkin ackowledges that the key to Barrie's life was Michael and upon his death there is not much to relate.Mr. Birkin does a great job tracing the development of Peter Pan. I found my interest flagging, however, after the death of Sylvia, particularly in Mr. Birkin's quoting of letters, sometimes one letter being followed by another and another. I was wishing that he had extrapolated his sources into his own narrative of events and I often skipped reading the letters as they became tedious in advancing his story. Ultimately, J. M. Barrie remains an enigma for me; I know much more about him and his relationship with his boys but his personality is still mysterious. The story is also a sad one marked by many tragic events. One cannot help feeling that the lives of the Llewellyn Davies children were blighted by the tragic events of the early deaths of their parents, the First World War and the deaths of George and Michael.I would recommend this book highly to anyone wanting to know more about J. M. Barrie and Peter Pan but I also think that it is not a definitive book and more could and should be written about this author and his relationships.",4.0,An Excellent Biography,1109894400,"03 4, 2005",29,30,helpful,0.9666666666666667,1 A55MRYPUAX4QU,038078159X,Avid Reader,"[0, 2]","My feelings for cyberpunk have turned progressively more negative with the passage of time. More and more, the writing is beginning to sould like an an overly-long stream of existential consciousness with jumbled dialogue, forgettable characters, utterly unrealistic happenings and a plot that redefines that term. SOFTWARE was the best of the trilogy because it was more interesting and at least it was readable.WETWARE is really a series of vignettes of titled characters. Yes, there is a connection among the various players but on the whole, the work is a rambling barf of images and newly defined terms. Oh those blasted terms! The sheer volume of made-up words, future tech inventions, new speaking manners and hard-to-imagine ideas (the ""dimension"" thing still makes no sense after repeated readings) makes the book a chore instead of a pleasure. If Rucker had stressed either the terms or the inventions or the new crazed mode of speaking, that would have been sufficient.Maybe this Brave New World of nihilism, obsession with new experiences via drugs or tech toys, this existence instead of living, this cheapening of life - maybe that is what we have to look forward to but I don't have to read about it. The ending, perhaps meant to be transcendent, instead turns into action-packed silliness. It reminds one of the old novels where aliens from the planet Bogo warn Earthlings to stop their atomic testing or else. To top it off, we defeat these vastly superior species. My grade: D",1.0,"Unfortunately, I had to pay for this book",1228694400,"12 8, 2008",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2LAO8XCB99BUE,006173232X,msholly,"[0, 0]",This is a great resource to help educators consider what will help our students become more successful in life. Clearly outlines what skills we need to focus on developing in our children.,5.0,Highly recommended book for people working with children,1379721600,"09 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1731OP5LJ4ZDI,B004TQ9ZAC,Schnauzerbark,"[7, 7]","Great hymns arranged in careless presentation. Of course, it was free so I cannot complain. I would have appreciated if Kindle books made it easy to use index and searches for word patterns, etc.",2.0,Poorly arranged,1316217600,"09 17, 2011",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A1GAEE6BZJXPF4,1478341467,Cynthia Dumarin,"[0, 0]","I loved this book. Essa Alroc created a cast of characters that grabbed me right from the start and made me care what would happen to them. Then she took them on a wild ride that had me mesmerized, unable to put the book down until I was finished. Real, complex and intriguing, the heroines of the story, Sal and Tia proved to be strong though flawed and I found myself cheering for them all the way. The pace was fast, alternating between action, character insights and quirky laugh out loud humor. This book is well worth reading and Essa Alroc is an author to keep watching. I have a feeling we'll all be hearing a lot more about her as time goes by. She's a first rate storyteller.",5.0,Couldn't Stop Reading!,1356652800,"12 28, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AG2IEP1MJQHFS,160684170X,Kelly Houser,"[6, 9]","Isn't the cover of this novel gorgeous? I love it. It is, unfortunately, probably the only thing I liked about this book, which is a shame.The first 50-60 pages of this novel moved very quickly. I was drawn into the story and anticipated The Mephisto Covenant being a great read. After these initial pages, though, the novel veered off course for me. Here are my basic problems.First, the plot was extremely complicated. EXTREMELY. It was very hard to follow and track the rules of Faegen's world. There was an over-abundance of supernatural characters, each with their own special powers, in this book. Keeping their function and purpose within the novel straight was difficult. Due to there being all of these different characters with individual purposes (Skia, Mephistos, Luminas, Lost Souls, Purgs, Normals, etc.) the actual plot became hard to follow.Second, the characters were problematic. The characters, again, had a vast amount of supernatural powers, so there was that aspect to juggle. But the characters were mostly unlikeable as people. I couldn't connect to Sasha or to Jax. They weren't dynamic characters. I found them to be under-developed and flat. Because I couldn't connect to the central characters in this novel, I had difficulty caring about what happened.Third, there were aspects of the plot and characters that I found extremely off-putting. For instance, there is much of the plot of the novel dedicated to whether or not Sasha can make this enormous decision to be with Jax. There are various reasons why this is a hard decision for her to make, but I don't want to be spoilery. Sasha is very insistent that she cannot be with Jax and this is repeated over and over again, until suddenly, in a single page-turn, Sasha changes her mind and Jax is suddenly the love of her life. This is very shoddy writing and did not sit well with me.Also, the details surrounding Sasha and Jax engaging in sex and the ""marking"" that would take place made me nauseous. I felt this played no good role in the novel and fed into every antiquated notion of the loss of virginity. It also just came across as trashy.I cannot honestly recommend this novel. There are so many fantastic books out there that I wouldn't recommend such a mediocre work. I very much doubt that I will read any further installments in this series.",2.0,Just Terrible,1317081600,"09 27, 2011",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2ZESE2A13Q1NU,0439023513,"JDora ""Dora Are Games""","[8, 9]","Suzanne Collins can create a scary and believable pseudo-future. She can't create likable heroines.The problem is that too often Katniss gives the impression of being barely functional on anything beyond a biological level. Yes, okay, we get it; a lifetime of being forced to play the structural pillars for her family after her father's death have basically left her more than a little socially handicapped since she doesn't spare a lot of thought for much beyond taking care of her mother and sister. But at this point in the trilogy, she's still misunderstanding the intentions of her friends and the people she meets because OH HAI IM KATNISS I DON'T UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S MINDS I MISJUDGE EVERYONE LOL and it's getting really old. She keeps saying ""What could he have meant by that?"", and when the answer is painfully obvious it makes me wonder if she didn't sustain a whole bunch of head injuries that had to be edited out of the original book.It makes the predictable love triangle that springs up early on in the book even more painful to witness. Peeta's a nice guy, but that's basically his sole characterisation (oh, and I guess he likes to paint? WHAT A KEEPER.), and there's so little chemistry between he and Katniss that it makes his love for her seem silly and wafer thin. He says things like, ""You're the only thing I have to live for,"" and ""You're so amazing,"" which I suppose is romantic if you're an emotionally repressed teenage girl but doesn't really do a whole lot to provide a believable sense of passion and emotion between these two characters. At least Gale shares common interests and personality traits with Katniss, even if he should probably have BROODING HERO FOR HIRE(TM) tattooed across his forehead. Maybe they could go off in the forest and be boring together. Aw!The other, bigger problem tied to that is Katniss is an awful, awful narrator and her complete lack of passion in her delivery fails to engage you on any sort of emotional level. There's a scene midway through the book where she flees somewhere upon having a predictable bit of bad news dropped on her and starts screaming uncontrollably. Her emotions, related in her flat, deadpan delivery even when describing something that should be gutwrenching, cheapen the scenes that are meant to be powerful and instead leave me disinterested and disassociated from what's going on. And frankly for me personally that's too big an arrow through the heart of the book to ignore; if I could care less about the protagonist (and in fact just plain don't like her) then no amount of clever worldbuilding can save a story.Several times while reading the book I had to remark aloud, ""Seriously?"" and ""This is stupid"" and ""But SERIOUSLY?"" I admit I wound up skimming the last seventy pages or so. I just didn't care about any of it, and the few interesting concepts or characters introduced can't breathe alongside Katniss' unbearable navel-gazing. To be honest, I don't know if a different protagonist would have saved this one for me; Ms Collins' writing style is just too dry and tasteless for me to really get into. She has a lot of interesting concepts and clearly a very clever imagination, but her method of delivery doesn't feel like it's suited for a story that's trying so hard to connect with you emotionally and just fails on so many levels. We have the third book here (I bought them in a trio, and my husband pronounces them ""... alright"" after a heavy pause) and I'm not sure if I'll wind up reading it.TL;DR: If you liked the first book, there's no guarantee you'll like this one, so heavily laden with trite teen romance triangles and it's phenomenally bland heroine that it doesn't spend the time it needs to on plot and more substantial character development.",2.0,"Katniss: Emotionally Dead, Barely Functional Heroine Extraordinaire",1305676800,"05 18, 2011",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A1MCV6FTU0785D,0615814999,Dolores Ayotte,"[8, 8]","Wow...I'm finding it difficult to believe that ""Rapture's Rain"" by talented Author Chris Pennington is his debut novel. I started reading this fictional novel with no idea what to expect. It's not that I don't know about the Book of Revelation in the Bible or the terms Rapture and Tribulation...although I can't say that I've fully understood all there is to understand but then...I'm no theologian. However, I never thought I would ever enjoy reading such creative Biblical interpretations and mind boggling possibilities as those presented in this interesting novel. These unique ideas are far more captivating and appealing than some of the religious views that I'm more familiar with...which describe what might actually take place at the end of time.Jason Stover is a loving husband and devoted father. His wife Kristina is equally loving and devoted to her husband and to their beautiful young daughter, Nikki. Their lives are as near perfect as humanly possible in the world they call home until that fateful day...Kristina and Nikki mysteriously disappear from their backyard without a trace. Upon further investigation, it quickly becomes apparent that it is not only Jason's little family who has vanished into thin air but several other people are missing as well. Mike, Jason's close friend deduces that, these inexplicable disappearances along with other strange phenomenon, are supposedly connected to The Rapture that takes place at the end of time. Jason fights this theory tooth and nail until Mike manages to prove his case and convince him otherwise. Erin, Kristina's dear friend, quickly becomes part of this dynamic trio as they work together to protect and prolong their lives in order to eventually meet up with their loved ones.They discover the true meaning of faith which is often tested by the trials and tribulations that they are forced to face. Chaos rules with the rapid depletion of the earth's energy level. The food supply is dwindling and with lesser law enforcement services available just being outside the safety of one's own home can put a person at greater risk. Jason, Mike, and Erin put their heads together to figure out how to survive. In doing so they better learn to develop the kind of true faith that is required to accept the strange occurrences and many challenging and life threatening events taking place.This fictional novel is bound to stimulate the discerning reader into thinking about his/her own faith. Author Chris Pennington has done an excellent job of describing and clarifying the true meaning of faith. I think the reading audience will get a wonderful glimpse of the author's own faith, values, and priorities. Whether fiction or non-fiction, every author leaves a big part of themselves and their belief system in their written work. This gifted author has done just that...his true character shines through. A very thought-provoking novel indeed!Inspirational Author & Book Reviewer ~ Dolores AyotteA Woman's Voice - Inspirational Short Stories - Volume 1",5.0,Thought-Provoking...and Captivating!!,1374710400,"07 25, 2013",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A34LVQGBXNHG1V,B007FIQMHU,Jean Palmerton,"[0, 0]","A different kind of Native American sleuth. I enjoyed it very much. I think if you enjoy Tony Hillerman, you'll like this one too.",4.0,A fun read!,1388102400,"12 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DS232R9WNT1K,B0065DWMZM,Cynthia,"[19, 19]","I have been using Sharon A. Kane's excellent book to create delicious, digestible and allergy-free muffins, breads, and pancakes. Sharon is very detailed in her presentations because she has spent a good deal of time working out the EXACT way to succeed at putting these recipes together. I was so thrilled to find that there was a way to have SOURDOUGH and GLUTEN-FREE bread, buns, and muffins... and what a bonus to find that she doesn't include refined sugar or baking powder, eggs, or dairy! These recipes are schmeckin' good AND healthy!",5.0,The ART is: Making Gluten-Free DELICIOUS & Allergy-Free & Highly Digestible,1321228800,"11 14, 2011",19,19,helpful,1.0,1 A2OR4QUQSUMOW7,0812981669,"A. Brinskele ""Ang""","[23, 37]","Wow, this book was certainly well written but I don't agree at all with the others who have said, she talks about things everyone can relate to. I dont know if it is the way it is written, totally lacking any emotion, or the fact that this woman speaks from a very priveledged life but I found it less interesting than expected and it was lacking depth. I lost interest very quickly and found myself craving real life with in depth experiences.",2.0,Good writer but not necessarily a perspective most people share.,1332374400,"03 22, 2012",23,37,helpful,0.6216216216216216,1 A1G3K4DFVSYJ09,1585711950,"Nana Hondo ""Dida""","[0, 0]","I liked this book very much. I read it in less than one day. What really grabbed me was the dialogue that had me laughing out loud. I liked Wyatt very much. His interaction with Odessa was often hilarious. I agree that the romance scenes were limited yet the banter between Wyatt and Odessa was charming. I would have liked for the story to go a little further at the end to see more of their relationship after they declared their feelings for each other. Despite that, I liked this book and plan on ordering more of Jeffries' books. Whether you like this book depends on what feeds you. I was satisfied when I finished and can't wait to share it with my sister.",4.0,Fun to Read,1266192000,"02 15, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HBXMNI7W4O1S,080213016X,August747@aol.com,"[8, 10]","Clichy stands alone in the works of Henry Miller. While being another semi-autobiographical romance, it lacks the deep introspection, commentaries on art & literature and the constant "I am an artist, I am an artist. I am! I am! I am!" so often found in these type of Miller works, which makes this short volume so refreshing and enjoyable. It's mostly about sex, food & fun in Miller's Paris days while living with good buddy Alfred "Joey" Perles. It is erotic & stimulating without being pornographic or "filthy". It's more akin to mind candy than food for thought, which is A-OK with me. A very enjoyable, entertaining read.",5.0,A rollicking good time!,936057600,"08 31, 1999",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 ALUJ15UFI1422,1416544879,Norma Lehmeierhartie,"[12, 14]","This is not your typical cookbook. Tony Danza and his son, Marc, put together a collection of recipes that they grew up with from their Sicilian Italian family. Don't Fill Up on the Antipasto is more than a cookbook, however; it is a collection of stories about their family and includes black and white photographs.The upshot is a homey and sweet book that includes delicious and traditional Italian recipes.Danza writes how the food he grew up with was considered peasant food--vegetables, carbs and small amounts of meat and how healthy that diet really is. He notes how much of that has changed...and so have the expanding waistlines in his family. Lesson--save the heavier meaty dishes for special occasions!By the author of the award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet.",4.0,"Nostalgic and Nice, Traditional Italian Recipes",1211932800,"05 28, 2008",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A3EQY3TYCJ41Q2,0395080746,"William S. Grass ""Military history enthusiast""","[5, 5]","War As I Knew It is a treasure trove of memorable anecdotes, analysis and opinions on military affairs from the greatest Allied army commander of WWII. There are gems on almost every page, but I offer two here that made the greatest impression on me and which I feel most exemplify the philosophy of Patton first in how to conduct offensive operations and second how to deal with dereliction of duty.Patton's take on offensive operations is no better illustrated than in his discourse with Manton Eddy, XII corps commander, who was concerned about his unprotected right flank. Patton tells him to advance in depth, division following division, and writes that ""If I had worried about flanks I could have never fought the war,"" and ""...our Air Service could locate any groups of enemy large enough to be a serious threat."" This sounds more like Heinz Guderian than any American general.In section V of ""Reflections and Suggestions"" Patton states that soldiers who fall asleep at their post, shirk in battle or who are absent without excuse for a long time should be executed, and that army and corps commanders should have the authority to order said executions.These are only two of the most memorable passages from War As I Knew It, which is filled with innumerable other episodes and opinions on the conduct of war, as well as many entertaining ethnological observations.",5.0,A third generation warrior in a second generation army,1228176000,"12 2, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2MS1D63LDM6EO,1617752614,mercedes356,"[0, 0]","I enjoyed this book. Some parts were predictable, but overall it kept my attention. Would have loved for the story to be continued.",4.0,"Good, but short",1401753600,"06 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1JQIJWLJ7UH50,0060188707,pbrane,"[19, 22]","Just a head's up for people. This book is an abridged version of Don Quixote. It says so on the title page, which unfortunately the publisher doesn't allow Amazon readers to see (at least at the time of my review).It's a shame, too, because it is a nice edition at a more than reasonable price (currently $7.49): it is a hardback edition with a sturdy spine and binding; the pages are thick; and the font is clear. Overall, in my opinion, it's an aesthetically pleasing book.I did check the publisher's website before purchasing Don Quixote to see if I could obtain certain information (e.g. translator), but at the time when I checked, I couldn't find such information anywhere.I hope Ann Arbor Media Group will consider placing this sort of information on their website and/or online catalog one day.",3.0,Abridgment,1177891200,"04 30, 2007",19,22,helpful,0.8636363636363636,1 A1490AO5143P0M,1936096609,L. Brewer,"[41, 44]",Just got this book today from Amazon and I love it!!!! There are 10 patterns for little ones--an adorable acorn hat. Sock monkey hat and basesball hat you can do in your team colors. The most adorable little vests too. The best part are the great hats. 18 patterns- four that I have already ordered the yarn for. They are beautiful. There are 8 shawls. Three scarfs (one I have already started) and one cowl. Three socks patterns. One a very simple sock pattern that uses worsted yarn. 9 beautiful mittens or fingerless mitts. Two headbands. Two great felted bags I plan to do-plus felted bowls-a felted elephant. And a cute football dog sweater that is adorable. The pictures are great. The yarn used is worsted.sport and fingering. They call for cascade yarn which I love but you could substitute cheaper or more expensive yarns according your tastes or budget. But the cascade colors are gorgeous. THIS BOOK IS A KEEPER!!!,5.0,WOW!! Love this book!,1384128000,"11 11, 2013",41,44,helpful,0.9318181818181818,1 A6GX5L86MN8VS,0007442920,Richard,"[0, 0]","Divergent is the best of the series. I rated Divergent 41/2 stars. Insurgent is transitional to the next, and not as gripping!",3.0,review of Insurgent,1397001600,"04 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RYOBKW8RNSML,0966110579,"G Timm ""G Timm""","[0, 0]","I may have never read any of Sylvia's books if she had not offered this one free for kindle last month. But once I read it, I had to read the others. I enjoyed them all so much. Mystery whodunits that just don't slow down. And the fact that I got so aggravated with Kendall, just proves what Sylvia can do with words. She also makes me want to move to Arizona. Read these books. She has shocking endings to them all.",4.0,Thank you for free reads!,1296432000,"01 31, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3VQE7ADIC7XU5,159921220X,Peter,"[4, 6]",This would be one of the more enjoyable boxing books that I have read. The author is top-notch and writes a story that is engrossing and very readable.One can feel the pressures that Ward was put under in his life in and out of the ring and his toughness and determination to succeed shines throughout the book.,5.0,Terrific book,1205366400,"03 13, 2008",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,1426205279,Midwest Book Review,"[11, 12]","Complete National Parks of the U.S. is a 'must' for any collection catering to domestic travelers. While many competing books on the nation's parks are in print, this one differs with its inclusion of monuments, battle sites, scenic trails, and seashores with in-depth visiting details paired with color photos. Discussions of how to best view the park offer details not just on the park, but surrounding natural attractions. A powerful pick.",5.0,A powerful pick,1274140800,"05 18, 2010",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A5155DSQ8QWJ7,0439136350,Rob Szarka,"[6, 6]","Here's a spoiler-free review (save for the broad outline):Far more than any previous book in the series, Deathly Hallows is not for those who haven't read the preceding books. Indeed, I was happy I had resisted the urge to jump in before finishing my re-reading of the previous six books. For the devoted fan, though, Deathly Hallows wraps up the series quite well: masks are removed and accounts are settled.Whereas each of the previous six books, especially the first four, had their own mini-arc that was satisfying in itself, the pleasure in Deathly Hallow comes from seeing Rowling weave together the threads of the backstory to bring the tapestry of the entire series into focus.Having read a fair bit of Joseph Campbell'sThe Hero with a Thousand Faces (Mythos Books)--as well as plenty of fairy stories, legends, and mythology--I felt confident that I knew the broad outlines of the conclusion to the Harry Potter story; and I had guessed the identity of the mysterious R.A.B. and sussed out which team Snape was playing on. My guesses were correct, but that didn't spoil the pleasure of learning the details. Nor did it keep me from being surprised occasionally, e.g. by Dumbledore.In some ways, I found the story of the ""deathly hallows"" a bit of a distraction. On the other hand, the presence of a yoni/lingam symbol on the jacket of a children's book (at least in the UK edition) was amusing and got me looking more deeply at the other symbols in the story. Indeed, this was the first book in the series that I felt was solidly more mythical than muggle.As expected, people (and other creatures) die. I don't fault Rowling for that, but I often felt that their deaths were ""wasted""--that they were killed off with little meaning or chance to mourn. I was also disappointed that some characters who played a large role in earlier books were almost unheard from here, though to be fair we do a satisfying bit about other characters. I was pleased, though, that by the end of the story all of the characters were more human (even the ones who weren't, strictly speaking, human).The final chapter was a shock at first, in that its tone was so different from the rest of the book. (I was reminded of the final chapter ofA Clockwork Orange--the one that was left out of the US edition.) But as I lived with the story for a couple of post-Potter days, I realized that it was perfectly appropriate. The Harry Potter story has, at times, been delightfully subversive--even ""queer"". But, for the most part, the virtues of Harry Potter are bourgeois ones, and the boon he wins is an appropriate one.Thank you, Ms. Rowling, for an immensely enjoyable seven books!",5.0,A Satisfying Summing Up,1185753600,"07 30, 2007",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1M8BWGDXA9VRE,1475005148,KeyaDotCom,"[0, 0]","This book was really good. Some parts are unbelievable, but it's still entertaining. Will keep you on the edge of your seat.",4.0,CC III,1375660800,"08 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11ASN0V4DJJLG,0887404413,kerry lovejoy,"[5, 6]","Loved this Book I have been reading many Books on this subject, I am just New into Wood Carving and wanted some Photo's and details on how to do my Own. A great Book to have in your Library, with step by step Photo's, it gives you slow and easy details, so We can get it right, and if you want more on this try Utube, it will lead you, to more Books and Dvd's on wood carving, Tools you need and the Wood, have fun I am, and don't forget the Cheap Books, from Amazon, saved me heaps, Goodbye.",5.0,Great Book For Wood Spirit Carving,1335571200,"04 28, 2012",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A99XZEGZTEVXS,B004TGKIJO,Joyce Metzger,"[0, 0]","Dusky MacMorgan lives in a stilt house, off shore from Florida's idyllic West Coast. He is a former Navy Seal who bears the hot white pain of an old encounter with a shark. The scar is a constant reminder of the jaws of death, how to escape and how to endure. He's accustomed to squalls, storms, sunshine and hurricanes.And Androsa brought all those to him, and so much more. She is a fiery tempered Cuban-American, beautiful, and she wears a fine edge of honed bitterness. Her society was built upon family. Now, it had been torn apart.There was more gunfire, and soldiers shouting wildly. The place was getting hot as hell. There was a strange hysteria to Androsa's voice. The chopper hovered overhead, then banked away, back toward the mainland.The CIA' s infiltrators had vanished. Chaos and deception were rampant. Then, Androsa revealed the one secret she had held close for years. The military headshrinkers hadn't understood the conflict, or the reason why, a daughter couldn't kill a dictator father. And, the Cuban revolutionary who had come down out of the mountains of the Isle of Pines, could not destroy the woman who was his daughter.This book was well written action bearing the imprint of a vivid imagination. I had read several of the enticing brew, hard drinking books with Doc Ford before I read any of the earlier Randy Striker books. Randy Wayne White always excels.",5.0,Flordian Zabaglione,1364342400,"03 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2E7MZBNH11GL4,0374522596,Elsie Wilson,"[53, 53]","A fairly detailed investigation and explanation of three locations where Man is attempting to prevent the course of Nature. The first, the attempt, so far successful, to prevent the Mississippi from changing its exit to the Gulf (it wants to go through the Atchafalaya River, substantially shorter and more attractive to the water), which change would utterly negate the entire economic geography of lower Louisiana. The second, the use of seawater pumped by the hundreds of thousands of gallons onto fresh, hot lava, to prevent said lava from overrunning and destroying the harbour and town of Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. The third, the ongoing attempt to preserve Los Angeles from the self-destruction of the San Gabriel Mountains. All three goals are fully understandable in economic terms; what is not so clear, at least with the first and third, is how long the effort can be kept up. McPhee makes a good case that in human times, not geologic, Nature will win in both cases. One leaves the book with a feeling of excitement and pleasure in the Icelandic battle, a wonder at the power of the Mississippi and the stubbornness of the Army Corps of Engineers, and a sense of amazement at the futility and blindness of people who continue to live under the San Gabriels and hold the City liable for their foolish choices.",4.0,WARNING: Approach with care -- you'll be hooked.,966643200,"08 19, 2000",53,53,helpful,1.0,1 A6B92PTV0Z1SU,0470570970,"P. Kingsriter ""R.N. Guy""","[0, 0]","The TEACH YOURSELF VISUALLY DIGITAL VIDEO book cover claims it's ""The Fast and Easy Way to Learn"". In a world where a picture is worth a thousand words, I would have to agree.Every page of this volume features multiple brilliantly colored diagrams, cartoons, and photos that directly relate to the concept the authors are conveying. Many of the graphics are merely window-dressing augmenting the text. The cartoon of a Wagnerian Viking opera singer that accompanies the paragraph about acquiring talent release forms isn't necessarily informative, but it is fun. The graphics and photos become more substantive as you progress through the book into actual video production.The content included in this book is so comprehensive, it could probably serve as a textbook for beginning filmmakers. Lighting and sound? They've got it covered from the basics down to inexpensive light diffusion methods boom microphones. Composition? They cover various angles of event photography, shooting B-roll, and adding effects in post-production. Speaking of post-production, they explain everything from various video transfer methods to video editing principles. They even provide primers for two common home video editing programs (iMovie and Adobe Premiere Elements), though it's little more info than you'd gather from the software's internal tutorials.Whew!Don't be overwhelmed by the exhaustive content. It's all organized in very user-friendly and accessible fashion that will be equally appealing to young (and not-so-young) filmmakers.If you or someone you know is a budding filmmaker, this book would be an excellent primer to get you making great videos in no time. Comes highly recommended.",5.0,"Colorful, informative, THOROUGH!",1291075200,"11 30, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LGDXHXYBMGCY,0811827577,drollere,"[40, 43]","this is a stupendous compendium of reflective color variations, presented as specific combinations of the printer's four process inks -- cyan, yellow, magenta and black. the book moves systematically across the halftone screen variations of single inks (from most saturated to near white), then two, three, and four color mixtures. two color mixstures are shown as a grid of swatches spread across two facing pages, 5% increments across the column color, and 10% increments in the rows. mixtures of three or four colors are shown stepwise across several pages.i'm a painter, not a printer, but i find this guide easily as valuable as much more expensive color atlases (from munsell or the swedish ncs) as a way to analyze a specific color in terms of hue balance (as a mixture of the three subtractive primary colors CYM) and reduced saturation (increased black, or screen value below 100%). this is all i need to mix a close match using whatever paints i have available.the major drawback is that although the swatches are systematically organized, there is no index or page lookup table to guide you to a specific color mixture -- each page is headed simply "two (three, four) color mixture". if you know you want an orangish color (equal parts magenta and yellow), but aren't sure how bright or dull the orange should be, there is no way to find the relevant color pages adding cyan and/or black except by leafing through the book one page at a time. that's 260 pages, folks!the introduction to subtractive color mixing, computer color programs and good printing practice is concise and accurate. an extremely reliable and useful, if inconvenient, reference.",4.0,a color atlas without a color index,1004832000,"11 4, 2001",40,43,helpful,0.9302325581395349,1 A16TNN6HT129J0,B0049P1OW0,rjabber,"[4, 5]","Entertaining and light. An enjoyable read. Fast pace, unique characters, and unpredictable. I will look for other books by SW Douglas.",5.0,Entertaining,1334361600,"04 14, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2F7URKS0F2YFC,0957149832,Austin Campbell,"[5, 5]","With heart-pounding excitement through and through the 3rd book, and especially the shocking cliffhanger, the chance of the 4th book to better the last was slim, very slim. As a standalone novel, Son of Perdition (book #3) holds up, as in, you could read it first in the series and not be too lost on the story.The major difference between this book is that you MUST read the book before it or you will lose so much buildup and context. So as a standalone adventure, this one doesn't have it's own legs, but instead it has wings! Because the last book was building so much this one is twice as fast and is twice as exciting.At the opener, we are finally given closure to the aforementioned cliffhanger. The subsequent chapters give you a small breather before the rest of the book pulls you into a nefarious plot of world domination by the Antichrist his notorious Mark of the Beast. That is where this story takes a major turn. Instead of being your run-of-the-mill End Times story, Alec puts an outlandish spin on the Mark, but thanks to some foreshadowing - even as far back as book #1 - this idea works. I can't imagine it going any other way in the story that she has crafted. Where will the 5th book go from here? Thanks to another terribly awesome ending, the wait is absolute torture. I am pulling my hair at the thought of waiting more than a year to see what happens next.Wendy Alec not only outdoes herself in this 4th installment, but she sets the bar so far above its predecessors that only a Higher Power can impart the wisdom to top this one!",5.0,"Thank You, May I Please Have Another?",1358553600,"01 19, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3DGU01U8AUIZT,1401940447,Lynn,"[0, 0]",I really like these cards. They are very nice. I have been using them and they are very accurate. I have my client pick a card during a reading with them.,5.0,Energy cards,1396224000,"03 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1LIS1DJXN2P7C,1481242873,Butterfly,"[0, 0]","This is the first novel that I've read by this author and it is predictable, but a good story. The characters are pretty one dimensional, but interesting enough make you want to read more.",4.0,Enjoyable read,1398211200,"04 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1G9FX1KV45N41,1400060974,Gary Selikow,"[7, 11]","A vast tome revealing and analyzing the shocking reality of Jew-hatred today. Dissects and explores the roots of this frightening and revolting phenomenon.The author abundantly shows how it is a dangerous myth that anti-Semitism can only come form the far-right and points out that people who believe this falsehood are caught in a seventy year time warp.In this large volume, Wistrich captures the venom and records for our use and vital understanding about how all the ills of the world today are blamed by Islamists and the radical left on the tiny state of Israel, which is demonized and blood libeled , Israel's people are repulsively labelled as Nazis and accused of all manner of blood libels and their murder justified, ultimately resulting in what the author refers to accurately as a ' a warrant for genocide'.This book exposes the intensity of the culture of genocidal hatred extant in the media, mosques and universities today, to name a few of the sources.The three totalitarian ideologies that have caused so much death and destruction in the last century, Communism , Nazism and Islamism have all taken Jew-hatred and the new anti-Semitism, Israel hatred to the heart of their ideology.The Soviet Union from the 1960s demonized the Zionist movement and the Jewish State as bent on world domination and controlling the economies of the major Western capitalist states, and working for the enslavement of the Arab world and other Third World peoples. This propaganda has outlived communist rule in the USSR and is the staple diet of the Western Left and various parts of the Third World (such as Venezuela, Cuba and South Africa).Witrich pulls no punches in showing the horrific scope of today;s manifestation of the world's oldest hatred. If you substitute the word 'Jew' for 'Zionist' you will see little difference between Leftist/Islamist propaganda and Nazi propagnda of the Hitler era.After all the Nazis aimed for the eradication of the Jews of Europe, the anti-Zionists aim for the eradication of the Jewish State and the ethnic cleansing of the levant of all Jews. Israel accounts for 40% of world Jewry and is the largest Jewish community in the world. The destruction of Israel would certainly lead to the death or displacement of five million Jews, so in point of fact anti-Zionism amounts to very little difference to Nazi anti-Semitism.Witrich explores Israel-hatred in Europe, the Third World and the Islamic world and none of it makes for a pretty picture.Witrich condemns the sheer hypocrisy of left-wing Israel-haters "" The same radical left that foams at the mouth at the very mention of Israel/Palestine has little difficulty in closing it's eyes to the religious and gender apartheid in Islam, the murderous crimes of such Communist leaders as Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot, not to mention the mass murders in Africa from Idi Amin in the 1970s to Rwanda over a decade ago and Sudan today. While real massacres are ignored, a huge propaganda effort continues to be invested globally in pillorying Israel as a perpetrator of genocide. This far transcends the Left since it also involves the United Nations, the Arab states, the Muslim world, non government organizations and parts of the Western media who black out Israeli victims of suicide bombers""Most leftwing and liberal anti-Zionists in the West often mask their hostility by a highly selective humanitarianism that sees only Palestinians as worthy of compassion.Witrich disproves many lies and myths about the conflict including that Israel resembles Apartheid South Africa, and that the Zionists collaborated with the Nazis prior and during the Second World War.He dissects anti-Israel prejudice in Britain and explores the venomous rantings of the likes of anti-Jewish/anti-Israel intellectual and political bigots such as George Galloway, Jenny Tonge, Robert Fisk, John Pilger and Tam Dalyell. He also quotes those brave and lone voices such as Melanie Philips and Julie Burchill who have stood up to this hatred.Julie Burchill explaining why she left the highly noxious Guardian for the more balanced The Times explained that as a non-Jew she observed a 'quite striking bias against Israel...which for all it's faults is the only country in that barren region that you or I, or any feminist, atheist, homosexual or trade unionist could bear to live under"".Burchill points out that anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism are the only forms of prejudice that still unite left and right. She expressed her revulsion at the ""slime of hypocritical hatred""Their are frightening and revealing chapters on the Red-Green Axis in Europe and the repulsive phenomenon of Jewish elites who have dedicated their lives to hatred of and determination to harm the Jewish State, such as Noam Chomsky, Norman Finkelstein, Lenni Brener, Michael Neumann and Jacqueline Rose. In recent years Finkelstein who has openly praised Hamas and Hezbollah and condoned their terrorism against Israeli civilians has become 'the go to Jewish-icon for Islamists, neo-Nazis Holocaust deniers, and deluded leftists determined to believe that demonic Israel is the source of all their woes"".Denial of the Holocaust is another mainstay of Islamic Jew-hatred and Israelophobia.In exploring Arab and Islamo-Fascist Jew-hatred Wistrich traces the history of Hitler's close ally and collaborator Mufti Haj Amin Al Husseini , Arafat, the PLO, Nasser, Hamas , Hezbollah and the IslamoNazi Khamenei/Ahmadinejad regime in Iran.Shocking examples of this bottomless venom include the statements of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah that one of the central reasons for the creation of Hezbollah has been the violent eradication of Israel ""That is the principal objective of Hezbollah...As we see it this is a cancerous state and the root of all the crises and wars and cannot be factor in brining about a true and just peace in the region"".The spiritual guide to Hezbollah sheik Muhammad Husayn Fadallah has said that even if all Jews in Israel converted to Islam they would still have to leave or die, as their 'blood is tainted with the crimes of Zionism'Hamas and Hezbollah leaders have both expressed praise for the 'noble acts' of killing 'Zionists' ESPECIALLY they have noted WOMEN and children.In 2002, Muhammad Tantawi, chief Mufti of Egypt and sheik of Al Azhar has declared that Muslims must return to the teachings of Islam ""in order to fight against Allah's enemy and to cleanse the sacred ground of the Jews.""Tantawi issued a fatwa in 2002 stating that assassins should be considered as martyrs especially of Jewish women and children were killed in the attacks.The authior disproves the myth that Jews were well treated and prospered under Islamic rule through the centuries and actually points out that the tradition of the yellow badge that Jews were forced to wear by the Nazis during the Holocaust, originated in Baghdad, and has been revived in Iran today.The last two chapters detail the Iranian Islamo-Nazi regime and the goals and ideology of the late Ayatolllah Khomeini and the Iranian supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today,and Ahmadinejads's repeated vows to wipe Israel off the map and his nuclear weapons programme being built with the express purpose of doing so.It is worth concluding with the words of scholar Mathias Kuntzel that ""Just as Hitler sought to 'liberate' humanity by murdering Jews, so Ahmadinejad believes he can ;liberate' humanity by eradicating Israel""",5.0,Examining and revealing todays 'warrant for genocide',1296777600,"02 4, 2011",7,11,helpful,0.6363636363636364,1 A2HTN30TZ8C4K4,1609283198,"Adora Wilkes ""Dorable""","[7, 9]","The premise is good but the story doesn't hold up.It jumps from scene to scene without a good connection, giving a choppy effect and jerking you out of the story. The continuity is horrible and conflicts with information in prior books. At one point Aubrey is thinking about being 11 years older than Matt, which would make Matt 20 but then Logan is 18 and that would make Matt older since the short stories establish Logan and Sterling as in school together. Or are we supposed to believe Sterling at 15 is hanging out with an 18 year old. In some parts we are given to understand that it is a year later but others make it sound like it is many years later.And could the author please find a way of discribing kisses beside saying he 'slanted his mouth' over the other man's? This phrase alone is so prevalent that it now jerks me out of the story and that alone means I will stop buying her books. Also talk to a gay man about the mechanics of gay sex.Authors who get a lot of praise from their groupies seem to get lazy and JL is very lazy here. Maybe she needs some new beta readers or a different editor. I have come to the conclusion that the people passing themselves off as editors never got greater than a C in English class.",1.0,I want my time back,1300752000,"03 22, 2011",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A1FS6M4HJUMG02,0060175869,"""mcgee22""","[59, 68]","Barzun's work is at once entertaining and analytical. Although one may at first be skeptical about the accidental relationship between the themes he compares, Barzun ultimately runs full circle by articulating a cultural commonality, a narrative thread to the past 500 years.There are a thousand lanes in the literary city which Barzun erects: at each there is a scene which relates a unique persona, odd events, and concrete specifics of the ages. Although disparate, these events, ideas, and persons which Barzun covers are by no means inconsequential. Barzun argues (successfully, in my own view, judge for yourself) that several dominant themes and tendencies of "the West" are truly virtues, in need of being saved and perpetuated.No Pangloss, Barzun is more than ready to admit the faults and vices which have gripped "the West" throughout the past half-millenia". His hesitancy to launch right out into uncritical praise makes From Dawn to Decadence all the more objective.From Dawn to Decadence is immense, scholarly, and cleanly articulated. Barzun's unique faculty for fresh insight abounds, and his reluctance to end at the first layer of analysis gives the reader a fairly deep understanding of the themes and patterns of Western culture. Traditionally historical works impart the "what?" of history: Barzun reflects upon the "so what?" of human events. Both historical and argumentative, From Dawn to Dusk is a well-balanced inquiry into the relationship between ideas and events.",5.0,thorough and sensible,960854400,"06 13, 2000",59,68,helpful,0.8676470588235294,1 A20KO0BPMNREJL,B00IN5WJ08,Nicki,"[4, 4]","The things people do for love! Roxi turned out to be pretty crazy, but who could blame her being as though she had been strung along by Trey for so long. Although she did go a little far with things. She became too obsessed!! She honestly should have listened to her friends because they were only looking out for her! I can't wait until part 2 comes out. Just reading that bit from Amerie has my mind spinning. Great book!!!",5.0,WOW,1393286400,"02 25, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A27M94VLNMBYGE,0060731583,Amazon Customer,"[5, 7]","An excellent, easy to read, and well structured autobiography. Frank's book encompasses his life, from as far back as he can remember, until after he retired as the Commander of US Central Command. His is an amazing story of opportunity almost lost, of starting from the bottom, and making it as high up the military food-chain as he cared to go. Franks seems to be the guy who happened to be the right guy for the right job, at the right time.The general's accounts of Afghanistan and Iraq are filled with his justification for carrying out war in his own way, in the face of numerous critics. The only way it may seem defensive is that he never speaks of any failures. In fact, the book is skimpy on details about the initial phases of Iraq that the media has been looking into lately, that might have been crucial.Tommy Franks takes you where he wants to take you, shines the spotlight on the people he liked, and drops subtle bird-droppings on those that rankled him. He leaves you with a good impression of him and those involved with the wars on Afghanistan and Iraq, including President Bush. I very much want to believe him.",4.0,A Soldier's Soldier,1101600000,"11 28, 2004",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A16ESDSFA5XJYX,0932863299,M. G. Oneill,"[6, 7]","And this is one. It doesn't matter what your political persuasion is, this book will open your eyes and make you think. Sometimes you need to see another point of view to help you understand your own.This book was out of print until civil rights lawyer Michael O'Neill underwrote the second printing. Until then, it was impossible to find a used copy of this book anywhere. This is an important book, and I recommend you buy it now before it goes out of print again.",5.0,Some Books Just Have To Be Read,1068076800,"11 6, 2003",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A36A4AFGU82EBL,0786183616,"David St Lawrence ""http://making-ripples.com""","[105, 123]","I have been reading the accounts of John Kerry's exploits in Vietnam, both his versions and the versions of sixty other veterans who witnessed his performance under fire.This book is not what I expected. It is not an angry polemic, but a sober, almost colorless account of a man so driven by his career aspirations that he created a fictionalized world in which he starred as a heroic leader.You need to read Unfit for Command and draw your own conclusions.",5.0,He who would be JFK,1093564800,"08 27, 2004",105,123,helpful,0.8536585365853658,1 A1LPCA3QG7NPVS,B00LH9NI0C,darcystonger,"[0, 0]",So I wasn't sure about this book while reading it....however the last chapter got me and left me wanting the next installment of the series! That for me means 5 stars!,5.0,hmm,1405987200,"07 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21NUNVIHMCDSV,0394736656,Book Nympho,"[0, 0]","This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It's quite small but it is packed with so much food for thought and I'm left in complete awe a week after finishing it. I don't know how I'm going to sum it all up in order to do it justice but I'll give it my best shot.This book is often described as a feminist book but I don't feel educated enough to really speak to that. So I'll just be looking at it from a perspective of how fascinating it was to me as an average reader.The book starts out with three friends on an adventure to discover the mysterious land of women they've heard about. These three men seem to embody different male perspectives. There's Terry who is a playboy and womanizer, Jeff who idolizes women, and Vandyck who is the narrator and falls somewhere in the middle.Of course the men are curious about whether a world of women really exists. When they find it and fly over, they are surprised to find that it looks civilized, that there are buildings and farms and things in order. Terry is especially skeptical that there really aren't any men in this place because he just can't believe women are capable of building things and creating a civilized society.After entering the place the men begin referring to as Herland, they feel threatened by the women and try to escape which leads to them being captured. Although they aren't treated badly, they are contained in a sort of castle where they are given quite a bit of freedom but are constantly watched to ensure they aren't a threat. They are also assigned tutors and they begin learning the language, culture, and history of Herland.They quickly become accepted into the society as they continue to learn. Much of the book entails them exploring Herland and learning about the ways of the women there. The women also want to learn of the outside world and there is quite a bit of comparing and contrasting. It seems the author wanted to create some kind of commentary on the shortcomings of life in the outside world (the world as we know it).What impressed me the most is the world building of this book. The women of Herland answer all the men's (and readers) questions so thoroughly and I found myself totally convinced of everything they did, how they came to certain conclusions, and how their society developed the way it did. After having read The Giver which I thought had a very poorly built world that wasn't well explained, I was just blown away by all the thought that went into creating Herland.This book is incredibly thought provoking as well as it comments on society and the way things are. In Herland the community is very collectivistic and everyone works together to improve their society. They have a collective identity of ""we"" and think of themselves as a whole, without individual families or needs. Instead,""all the surrendering devotion our women have put into their private families, these women put into their country and race. All the loyalty and service men expect of wives, they gave, not singly to men, but collectively to one another."" (pg. 95)When the women realize their land can only support so many people, they work together to control the population. Although some women might desire motherhood, they realize it wouldn't be in the best interest of all involved. Instead, they channel all their motherly love into nurturing other children and caring for the people around them. This seems to be a judgment on our own overpopulation and what some might regard as a person's jealous desire to have their own biological children.Another interesting thing was the way the men perceived the women of Herland. They were expecting them to fit their idea of women and be very feminine. But if there are no men then the concept of masculinity and femininity doesn't really fit. How can a person be feminine if there is no other way of being (masculine) to contrast with? One of the women observed that, ""in a bi-sexual race the distinctive feature of each sex must be intensified."" (pg. 89)So is femininity just a concept and would women really act in ""feminine"" ways if there weren't any men? Would they need to differentiate themselves by dressing differently and having long hair?The men also realize how much they view women as women instead of just people. Because the women of Herland aren't feminine, they begin to see them as people, not as women. At one point it is stated, ""We were now well used to seeing women not as females but as people; people of all sorts, doing every kind of work."" (pg. 137)There were so many other things to think about that this blog post could go on forever. But I'll stop there and hopefully I've given you a glimpse of all the things you'll encounter in this book. I personally didn't find it to be overly preachy or declaring that women were superior to men. There were a lot of interesting ideas and I think anyone can learn a lot from reading this book and get ideas about how our world could be improved if everyone looked out for one another, for example.So I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of science fiction, fantasy, or speculative fiction. The world building is excellent and there's plenty of food for thought. I think I could easily re-read this several times and come away with something new each time.",5.0,Amazing book!,1350432000,"10 17, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A31L5PCBT6RSR2,148231312X,melissa,"[0, 0]","I loved S. Walden's book Good and with all the 5 star reviews on Goodreads, I knew this book would be another amazing read. It did not disappoint. Her writing style is amazing in that the reader engages with the characters from the very first page. The books surrounds Brooklyn "Brook" and her goal to exact revenge on the boy(s) who ruined her former best friends life; literally. She is a tough cookie with a charming wit. She is direct to a fault (or an asset?!) and her honesty is adorable."I swim for fun. I don't swim to compete. I just do it for me." Ryan said"But you look so good at it, " I said. "I mean, not that I know the first thing about swimming, but you looked really good. Good enough to eat. I mean compete! Good enough to compete!" I stared at his chest.lol....hilariously awkward! And don't get me started on Ryan....D-lish! God, he is sexy on paper (and how I imagined him in my head.) LOVED him! Gretchen was just as hilarious as her snarky and kick ass best friend.The story touches on some dark subject matter and there is one pivotal event that I can't believe took place. I was shocked, but I imagine that is just what Ms. Walden was working towards and she definitely achieved it. The epilogue was beautiful and gave me the ending I was yearning for. With the release of Better (Good book #2) right around the corner, I am excited about diving into another one of her fantastic reads. 5++++++ stars!!!!!",5.0,S. Walden knows how to write a great story!,1386979200,"12 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1LLO7KR1WSFPT,0312306342,"Leone Clark ""Obsessive Reader""","[23, 26]","I've read every Stephanie Plum book and I'm a dedicated enough fan that I'll read the next one just to give Ms. Evanovich the benefit of the doubt. If it remotely resembles this jumbled, supernatural ""holiday"" story, it will be my last Plum book. Aside from the fact that Joe and Ranger are just mentioned in passing, the entire story premise is ridiculous. If she would like to start a supernatural themed series of books, there may be people who would like them. However, I have lots of friends who read and share these books with each other and I haven't met a single one who liked the Christmas ""mini book"" and the few who've tried to read this one gave up. Sadly, I was trapped on a plane and had wrongly believed I would enjoy this book during the flight. Instead, I was just angered that I'd wasted the money. It was a truly terrible book.Shame on the author and her publisher for clearly going for a quick buck off the Stephanie Plum fan base when this book has almost nothing to do with this series! I cannot stress enough how bad this book stinks!",1.0,This book could not be worse!!!,1171843200,"02 19, 2007",23,26,helpful,0.8846153846153846,1 A309RPK3YWYV9Y,0060247517,Samuel Krikorian,"[9, 9]","I gave this book to my five year old niece only after strictly informing her that I would be repossessing it after a few years for my own personal collecion. Big Max is fun to read on a rainy afternoon, no matter your age. Is Big Max the world's greatest detective? He only admits that he tries to be, and that is all you can ask for.",5.0,"Always travel by umbrella, its the best way",1030147200,"08 24, 2002",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A3GR7HX4GYKCE9,0061735124,DaLaoHu,"[41, 43]","This is history at its best and history at its worst. At its best because it takes one subject (Vasco da Gama's pioneering voyage around Africa to the coast of India) and tries to place it within the broader scope of world history. This is something you rarely encounter in history texts, which typically focus upon their one particular subject as if it happened within an isolation tank. Yes, it's true that the Crusades were much more than just some medieval joust between Richard the Lion-Hearted and Saladin, but raged on in one form or another for well over half a millenium and are still a significant rallying point in the Mideast to this day. And this book should be applauded for taking the voyages of discovery, and in particular the voyage of da Gama, and placing it within the context of those continuing Crusades. Because a good part of what motivated the Portuguese crown to undertake these voyages was indeed a desire to connect with a mythical/legendary Christian kingdom in either Africa or India (or both) and unite with them to strike a blow against Islam. [Immediately prior to reading this book, and purely by chance, I had just finished reading a collection of academic papers concerning the legend of Prester John, and in truth there was an embassy from Ethiopia to Portugal which reignited this legend and was an important spur to the initiation of the voyages down the coast of Africa).That said, however, I must now turn to the worst. Although the author must be applauded for placing da Gama's voyage within the context of world history, he must at the same time be derided for trying to force-fit it into only one particular aspect of that world history. Because even by examining the author's own evidence, it quickly becomes apparent that although the voyages may have been initiated by a desire to defeat Islam and recapture Jerusalem, they most certainly only continued because they proved to be economically profitable. You quickly notice that for all the bombast, the Portuguese never made a serious effort to either connect with Ethiopia or to probe into the Red Sea, but instead concentrated all of their efforts on the trading ports of India and later on the Spice Islands themselves, the source of much of India's wealth. In short, it was convenient for the Crown to project a public image of being on a Crusade, but the bottom line was that it was mainly interested in filling the coffers of its treasury.Or as Kurt Vonnegut once so famously said: ""And so it goes.""There are other negative aspects to this book. For one thing, it is not well referenced. To give just one example, there are several pages devoted to the initial meeting between da Gama and the Zamorin (a local ruler) in India, played out for us in much detail. But there is not one footnote to reference for us where exactly this detail comes from. This type of omission happens far too often throughout this text. Also, in trying to (over)hype his thesis, he has the bad habit of throwing in contemporary phrases that are totally out of context for the period he is writing about. He talks about medieval ""superpowers"" and of certain Islamic states trying to create a ""new world order."" We also see such terms as ""putting boots on the ground,"" ""mission drift,"" and ""stay the course,"" which are merely cloying at best but deceptive at worst.There is more, but other reviewers have touched on some of it, and as I do not like my reviews to be overly long, I will stop at that.Still, I give this book four stars because it does read well and because, as stated in the beginning, it does place an interesting event within a much overlooked context of world history. In a sense, he is correct that the Crusades, far from being an isolated event in the past, have not yet truly ended.Read it. In this case, the ""history at its best"" outweighs the ""history at its worst.""",4.0,history at its best and at its worst,1319846400,"10 29, 2011",41,43,helpful,0.9534883720930233,1 AEUG8BRZVLYQ8,1616266392,Melanie White,"[0, 0]","Beowulf by Ronie KendigThe third in A Breed Apart series brings Beowulf, an explosives detection dog, and his handler, Timbrel Hogan. Beowulf and Hogan are assigned to assist with sniffing out some potential WMDs with a team in Afghanistan. A member of the team, Candyman, took a liking to Timbrel when they met. Using Beo as a buffer, Timbrel does her best to avoid him and get the job done. When Beo hits on explosives and it turns out to be a false hit, Timbrel's confidence takes a hit and she returns stateside. However, she was on a collision course with Tony "Candyman" Van Allen and the proof she needed that Beo has a perfect track record without a false hit. Add in a Hollywood starlet mother and Timbrel must face her past to march on to her future.Kendig kept the action rolling in Beowulf. She never fails to deliver a story which will increase your appreciation for our military men and women. I have to admit though Beowulf failed to keep my attention as her other books have.I found Timbrel to be a tough-as-nails chic. The problem is that she never showed a vulnerable side which justified Candyman's attraction to her. Of course Candyman's internal monologue showed exactly what he was attracted to and it wasn't her personality. In order to account for Timbrel's lack of personality, Kendig increased her physical attraction. Honestly between Timbrel's attitude, Beowulf, and their bond; I don't know why Tony stuck around or pursued her as he did. She never cracked enough to give him hope.When she did finally crack Tony was the one pushing her away. Tony's family history complicated his recovery from a potentially career-ending injury. His fears of a dim future created a distance that Timbrel had just attempted to close.Beowulf seemed overwrought with romantic drama. I don't recall any of Kendig's previous stories being centered on the love story before. The epic love story or OTP as TV viewers would refer to it was the weak section of Beowulf. When moving through the military action or even the tracking of the WMDs, Beowulf was a story I couldn't be pulled away from. The drama from the romance bogged the book down.I still have to rate this book high because I'm not sorry I read it. Compared to Kendig's other works it is probably her weakest in the A Breed Apart series. Kendig continues to deliver on the action though and it appears it will be Dean Watters turn in Raptor 6.",4.0,Beowulf another hero to love.,1389398400,"01 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NEBS1KBSLQJ9,0061015733,Kcoruol,"[28, 41]","I can see why so many have given this novel such poor ratings, obviously because the author has questioned the theory of global warming while exposing the hypocrasy and greed of environmental groups. How many people who read this book will stop sending checks to these groups? People friendly to these groups will then provide a poor review of the book.As for the book, it's as good as Clancey. The story moves fast and yet he is able to provide a lot of insight into the workings of these environmental groups. I highly recommend this novel to any one. Oh, and it is just a novel. Some of the reviewers have critisized it's scientific merit, that's why it's called a novel.If you are one of these environmentalist who believe the world is going to end any day now from global warming, then this book isn't for you. Go rent ""The Day After"" at your local video store. The movie's a stinker, but it feeds into the environmentalist paranoia.",4.0,State of Fear - For the Environmentalist,1103760000,"12 23, 2004",28,41,helpful,0.6829268292682927,1 A3V4VFRMWYU7DQ,B00I8MFVZ6,"H. Jacobs ""Helga""","[0, 0]","Another excellent written book by the Author. The Authors have truely impressed me with their research and the way they have brought about the concept of Love.Love is not just between two persons sharing an romantic relationship. Or of parents and their children. No there are so much more to love. Love can be shared through cultures, nations and countries. The Author guides you on a journey of how love can safe nations by learning from it through ancient times. Through the lessons of our history have shared with us.Thorough research fills these pages. It is clear this book was written to inform and guide. It is much refreshing to read a book that was written with the intent to inform and guide you and wasn't just another book written by a copy writer. These pages are filled with passion and love for all.A book of the power of Love that will have you be walking a spiritual journey from the first to last page. An awakening journey. The Authors have impressively used different stories from the ages of men and women who lived for love and peace. Who could see the true meaning and the power that lies with a four letter word... Love!An excellent and well written book that is easy to read and understand. A book of personal transformation and enlightment. A book to inspire all ages. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to read something different, yet be able to grasp something new and aspiring. Something to make you think and look at life totally different yet with a renewed feeling of peace and love within you that may not have been there before. Absolutely Excellent!",5.0,Something Old. Something New. Love will change you!,1392163200,"02 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AYK9N10ONDC08,0399154302,K. Bullock,"[0, 0]","Gibson is still a brilliant writer technically, but he needed help with the plot. Having Gibson write this pedestrian story is like hiring Rembrandt to paint your bathroom. Gibson's fans will find it an enjoyable read, but the ending is anticlimactic, to say the least. I think I'll skip his latest and re-read Mona Lisa Overdrive.",3.0,Disappointing,1309564800,"07 2, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35JYQRK6MTY6C,0446579807,Ed the Scot,"[94, 315]","This book attempts to set the record.It is amusing to find a poor argument repeated to such an extent, as though a logical fallacy, if stated over and over again, will somehow ""evolve"" into a reasoned argument. The behavior of a given individual or group holds no necessary implications regarding the validity of their principles. For every imaginable belief system you can find people who act consistently with their principles or not.There's nothing new here and you would have to have a weak faith indeed to be challenged by the author's pointless recitation of religious criminality and hypocrisy. The author is unable to provide an answer to one crucial question posed by atheism: if the world is the product of chance without any design or purpose how can there be right or wrong? If we are a purposeless collection of atoms then how could we recognize the good if there were such a thing? If man does not have a purpose, if he is not ordered to anything, then it makes no sense to critique human action at all.",1.0,How many non sequiturs can fit into a single volume?,1179360000,"05 17, 2007",94,315,helpful,0.2984126984126984,1 A302VHI9UCCHDJ,0684844532,Chana Siegel,"[0, 0]","I spent 4 years studying Latin in high school in the 1970s and loved it, as did my brother and sister. We took Latin because our mother had loved it in the 1940s. I'm a big fan of Hanson and I knew this was largely a book for those in academia, but the authors mount a stirring defense of the teaching of the classics in general and how the field might still be saved.Their advice for university scholars and mentors in the field is equally relevant to professors of the humanities now that college education is so very expensive.",4.0,"A book for specialists, but lucid and insightful for all",1379289600,"09 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QM5ZB79I7MT0,1608197719,Ripple,"[0, 0]","Michèle Roberts's ""Ignorance"" is a beautifully written, lyrical story about life in wartime France. Narrated mainly by two characters, Jeanne and Marie-Angèle, it jumps back and forward in time and is an enthralling mixture of guilt, faith, and survival. The two girls could not be more different. Marie-Angèle is the grocer's daughter while Jeanne is the daughter of a Jewish mother who washes clothes for a living. The two girls together go to the village convent for their education but come from different ends of the social spectrum. When the German occupation arrives, the two girls' experiences are very different but both are ""ignorant"" of each others plight and their judgements are repeatedly shown to be wide of the mark. In fact the book could just as well have been titled ""Judgement"". Just when you think you know one through the eyes of the other, you get the opposite view of things.If you like a conventional story and plot line, this may not be the book for you. The book's strength is in the lyrical, almost poetic descriptions and time periods jump back and forward. But while lyrical books can be tend towards wordy tomes, this is quite the opposite. The writing is concise and emotive and the result is enthralling.In particular, at the heart of the book is the way French society dealt with the women who had fraternized with the German soldiers during the war. The judgement of others is always black and white while the truth is often more complicated and everyone was really doing what they needed to get by.All of Roberts's narrators are female. As well as Jeanne and Marie-Angèle we also hear from Jeanne's daughter Andrée and briefly from one of the nuns. It is this last narration that is perhaps the most unexpected revelation.While the plotting and characterisation are satisfying, the real quality comes from her descriptions of French village life. In a few short sentences she is able to evoke the textures, smells and fabric of village life. Equally clever is the way that she contrasts how this is seen through the eyes of the two main characters as children and then later as adults. Powerful too is her ability to portray heartache and loss. It would take a cold hearted reader to not be moved by the plight of Jeanne in particular.It's simply a beautiful piece of writing; in fact, it's tempting to say that ""Ignorance"" is bliss.",5.0,"""Ignorance"" is bliss",1368403200,"05 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3OYUQHI75EH7X,0374275637,"Andy Hahn ""Author of "Striving for Intell...","[0, 0]","The discussion on the importance of the subconscious mind in everyday life has been going on since Freud, Jung, and Adler; and Kahneman's book provides up to date insights on this puzzle of human existence. He has provided many provocative reviews of experimental studies that have been carried out to discover the impact of our subconscious on our day to day decisions. I found the book well worth the effort of reading and now have a new resource for information on the workings of the brain.A few segments of the book deal with probability and statistics in support of the assumptions arrived at, and a back ground in these areas would make these parts easier to comprehend. Other than that I found little to fault in the presentation of the information so that it can clearly be understood and appreciated. Would definitely recommend this book for those interested in the workings of human thought.",5.0,Provides a great source of information on the workings of the reasoning brain.,1356220800,"12 23, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AOQS9AK9C3CFJ,0963525778,"Skycop150 ""Skycop150""","[9, 11]","I live in MA and on MyFoxBoston.com today it was reported that the author admitted that the story was fake and she isn't even Jewish!Quote from MyFoxBoston.com: ""BOSTON (FOX25, MyFoxBoston) -- Author Misha Defonseca of Dudley is causing quite a stir, after admitting that she made up her international bestselling book ""Misha: A Memoire of the Holocaust Years.""Here is the URL copy and paste to see the video report:[...]What a sad pathetic thing to do and what a slap in the face to everyone who lived through and suffered the holocaust. This author is a hack and should be outed as such. I am tired of people playing on the emotions of others to make money and gan fame. The news reported that this book has been translated into 18 different languages and is now going to be made into a movie in France. God have Mercy on this author for making up this story!",2.0,This story is a fake!,1204243200,"02 29, 2008",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A18BDOCEYYVCJ8,0743202228,Francesco Lovecchio,"[8, 9]","The book illustrates how the mind of a child works and learns. It is clear and well written and can be also entertaining. It applies to children with or without learning disabilities. The main thesis is that for better or worse, everybody is afflicted by a learning disability, even if that can be minor and didn't give rise to any problem at school. Defects can be unnoticeable and go undetected. Sometimes those problems lies in unexpected places. We can develop, consciously or unconsciously, strategies to come around those little difficulties. However, the book does not provide practical guidance to detect those difficulties or to cope with them. It provides an useful background but not a roadmap. Sometime the author comes up with commonsensical advise. However, it is a very good starting point.",4.0,Good reading to understand how a mind works,1121212800,"07 13, 2005",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A1FQ7YZT9ROIQ4,0615471064,David Hall,"[8, 9]","While there are very few completely original novels out there, I am usually satisfied with a well-crafted amalgam of other plot lines, combined in a unique way. ""Tommy Babcock"" fits this hybrid genre, and was one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in a long time.Here's what I liked about ""Tommy Babcock"": It is a great period piece, capturing the vernacular, and spirit of the late 1930s and early 40s. Tommy himself is an immensely likable character, with interesting flaws and strengths. I found myself guessing which real Hollywood stars provided Tommy's components...I settled on David Niven, and Humphrey Bogart...and in the end, didn't care, because Tommy became his own man. The story used historical tidbits effectively without cluttering up the narrative, and all but one were accurate. (David Niven, a Sandhurst graduate, returned to the British Army in 1939, not the RAF.) The best part of this novel is that the story is engrossing and entertaining. To ""kindle-ize"" the old cliche, ""Tommy Babcock"" is a real 'page-clicker'! (Sorry....)I sincerely hope that author Rich Turner has a sequel or two in the works, as I was disappointed to find this is his one and only novel!",4.0,Unexpectedly Awesome!,1315008000,"09 3, 2011",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A2SHXIKSCHUF5E,0983042942,"Ken Farmer ""Author""","[0, 1]","Just finished reading ""War Paint"", Wow! Has to be the best mountain man novel I've ever read. Totally engrossing. Benton knows how to paint (pun intended) a story. You see, hear, feel, taste and smell what the characters do. Kudos to W.R. Benton. Outstanding!Ken Farmer - co-author of the Black Eagle Force military series and The Nations historical fiction western series.",5.0,Now This is a Mountain Man Novel,1371254400,"06 15, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1A2UUBPN2AMTO,1461189322,Nina,"[9, 13]","I really enjoyed this novel by E Kelly. This is the second installment to E Kelly's Choosing Love series & it did not disappoint. I devoured this novel in one day because it was absolutely addictive! Although this is the second novel to the Choosing Love series, it can very well be a stand alone read. Amazon provided a thorough book description so I won't go it. I will note, however, that there are more to the story then what is summarized; hence, you will have to read the book to find out what happens! The plot and storyline were well-developed along with the characters in the book. Furthermore, this story was fast paced filled with drama and lots of heart-pumping, good ol' romance to make you swoon.Anna was a strong and independent heroine. Of course she had flaws and insecurities, but that's what made her more likeable. I also loved Daniel's characterization; he was sexy, sweet, protective, and loving. Anna was hesitant about getting involved with Daniel, but once they got together you can't help but cheer for their HEA. I also loved their sizzling chemistry which eventually led to several steamy encounters ;)Overall, Anna's Strength was a great read and one that I highly enjoyed! While the first of the series, Bronwyn's Stand, was more of a romantic suspense, Anna's Strength was more of a contemporary romance. Nonetheless, they were both fantastic reads. Therefore, I highly recommend Anna's Strength for those looking for a good & sexy romance that is a worthy read!*F.Y.I: Contains Adult Reading Materials: Few curse words & sexually explicit materials",4.0,Good Contemporary Romance Novel!,1333238400,"04 1, 2012",9,13,helpful,0.6923076923076923,1 A3LI194S8AIM03,B00DYITVR8,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","A American Alligator and a Black panther? Ridiculous concept ,but well executed. These books give a whole new meaning to the adage, of If a Bird and a fish fall in Love , where will they live? Kansans will find a way and a has created a place!",4.0,Love this Series!,1381449600,"10 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GLT8WEEWZTN1,0743255429,"Debbie the Book Devourer ""dletour7""","[8, 9]","Full disclosure: I'm a big Jimmy Carter fan. OK, maybe he wasn't everyone's idea of a great president, but I think he was a courageous one. Add to that former farmer, author, historian, humanitarian, Nobel laureate -- well, what's not to like?I'm afraid it was this book, his first shot at fiction. There were aspects of it I did like: I learned a lot about the Revolutionary War in the south; President Carter did give us a good feel for what life was like then; and I got a much better sense of the ambiguous feelings among the colonists toward both loyalists and patriots, something that your average high-school history text shies away from, preferring to deal in black and white, rather than the shades of gray that we should all be more aware of, especially today.However, the book lacked all of the qualities that go into a great novel. Fictional characters were merely cardboard cutouts propped up to deliver paragraph-length spiels that sounded like they came from a work of nonfiction. The characters' internal thoughts and feelings were presented stiffly, formally, and not very elegantly (a passage on one character's feelings for a woman-not-his-wife reminded me of the President's famous confession of having committed adultery in his heart). It was hard for one not up on southern Revolutionary War history to know just who was fictional and who not. The plot was largely based on history, which makes me wonder why Carter didn't just write a nonfictional account.Even though I feel like I learned quite a bit, and the viewpoint of the war from the south was interesting, I'm afraid I can't really recommend this book. There have to be less painful ways to learn about the American Revolution in the south. I do look forward to reading President Carter's fine nonfiction works, though.",2.0,Sorry Mr President -- you're not a novelist,1140998400,"02 27, 2006",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 ABIFNMZ4TAXAM,1588515591,"ardent_lover ""ardent_lover""","[72, 74]","Finally, a romance/mystery writer that can write her butt off. This novel will keep you on the edge of your seating and leave you wanting more. Now with the 2nd installment ""Forbidden"" of this ten book series, I am in awe of what streams out of the pen of the magical author. Hold on world, because this lady really rocks! As Christy French wrote, ""This writer possesses a wonderful descriptive talent."" Hopefully there's a movie deal for her in the offing, even as I write. Because this book would make one hell of a movie!",5.0,"Move Over Danielle Steele, Lori Forster, and Cherry Adair",1034208000,"10 10, 2002",72,74,helpful,0.972972972972973,1 A1V8ZE9BH0WTXE,1584794569,cinephiliagal,"[0, 0]","Now, you can't buy something like this expecting to make high quality home decor and/or jewelry crafts. This is not that book. The subtitle "20+ Hi-Style Lo-Budget Project to Make" is a bit misleading. I don't think anyone would mistake the crafts in this book for "Hi-Style."That being said, there are a lot of nice ideas in here for simple crafts you can do to use stuff you already have, and make some alternative jewelry and home decor that won't break your budget. Hey, it's no worse than the stuff you find at the dollar store... actually, some of it is way better and would last longer.Just don't expect Better Homes and Gardens-type stuff out of it, and you won't be disappointed.(As a BH&G; reader off and on my entire life, I find BH&G; often recommends projects and products that are way too costly and overpriced for home decor or room make-overs/renovations. If I had that kind of money, I wouldn't be trying to make it &/or do it myself!)",3.0,"some smart, some cute, some low-budget and kinda trashy",1379808000,"09 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3UWZCXPFK82T6,0385337515,R. Glueck,"[0, 0]",Major chick book in a major chick book series. I guess all the women who read it love it.Eh!,4.0,My wife loves this book and this series.,1371686400,"06 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HN9XRS85US7G,0356500276,Joe Thomas,"[4, 28]","I can't comment on the content of this book since I refused to buy it when I saw the outrageous pricing. I don't understand why anyone would pay so much money for such an old book (or any book) in digital form if the same book in paperback is less--often much less. I make it a policy to either borrow or buy a used copy of such books. Penguin, Macmillan, and Random House seem to be the publishing houses that routinely inflict this terrible pricing policy.",1.0,Dresden Files and Digital Overpricing,1375574400,"08 4, 2013",4,28,helpful,0.14285714285714285,1 A3LNB87V5EV4AU,0007172826,"Lorraine Cannici ""Book-A-Lulu""","[0, 1]",Tracy Chavalier is a master at having art history come alive and incorporate within it a beautiful story.,5.0,Chevalier is wonderful,1187827200,"08 23, 2007",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A102HQ38U10PPZ,0061435597,citywulf,"[41, 43]","As if providing their lifesaving Internet adoption database wasn't enough of a service to homeless pets, the wonderful folks at Pet ... Finder have now provided an exceptional comprehensive dog care guide.This book covers all aspects of dog care, with a special emphasis on the needs of the adopted dog. They take a realistic approach to everything, making care manageable. They don't even bother to mention compulsion based equipment or outdated training theories, because the advice they do give works, while building a bond of trust between you and your adopted dog. And they troubleshoot! Too many simpler guides provide only 1 option.As a bonus, the book is an enjoyable read. How many dog care books are page-turners? What a gifted author!I wanted to call this book ""Perfect,"" but I can't. The main thing it lacks is a primer on reading your dog's body language - in particular, stress signals. Your adopted dog is more likely to be stressed, and being able to read those signals is critical. So, to make this book perfect, you have to supplement it with Turid Rugaas's exceptional and affordableOn Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals. I would also have liked more discussion on choosing quality commercial dog food (get Whole Dog Journal's annual guide).If your dog has some really entrenched issues that need very specific help, you can buy additional, affordable pamphlets by either Turid Rugaas or Patricia McConnell.",5.0,Excellent Comprehensive Guide,1234310400,"02 11, 2009",41,43,helpful,0.9534883720930233,1 A3UNHSFNFYMNZO,0801870569,Antonia MacBain,"[0, 0]","I read this book at the same time that I was re-reading Winston Churchill's "Their Finest Hour." The contrast between what was happening in Berlin and what was happening in London in the years 1934 - 1941 was fascinating. William Shirer was a very brave man, suffering many indignities and dangers to tell the world the true story of exactly what Hitler was doing and why. His sympathy for the British cause is obvious, and at the same time, he is perfectly honest about America's failure to step in and help at this critical time in the history of the world. This was America's disgrace, not to see the truth about Hitler, or at least not to act on it, as Britain did.",5.0,A Fascinating Story,1356048000,"12 21, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ACEA95FQS1AVP,097210982X,Jem,"[27, 27]","""Brethren"" is the first in a projected four book series and it is historical fiction at its finest. A rich epic set in the Caribbean in the late 1600's, this is the story of the roguish William Marsdale. Readers will be hooked from the page one. Will left home to escape an abusive relationship, and to see the world. He becomes an accomplished swordsman and duelist, as well as a seasoned traveller. When he finally returns home to England, he is sent by his father to Jamaica to manage a new sugar plantation. Of course, he promptly puts someone in charge of it and joins a buccaneer crew! Buccaneer's have some ""questionable"" traditions, such at Matelotage. It is a partnership between two men to support each other in battle, share fiscal responsibilities and to provide company. These relationships were often sexual, but not always. Will unintentionally finds himself with a matelot. The bitter-sweet love that eventually develops between he and Gaston is believable and has great potential (which is explored in Volume 2,Matelots: Raised By Wolves, Volume Two).The cast of supporting characters are all fully developed and help propel the storyline as well as provide humor. Stryker and Pete are especially fun, and integral to the plot. Hoffman has done a lot of research into the time period and subject matter and it shows. The dialog and language are representative of the time, and extremely well written - I never felt lost with the old-fashioned terminology or phrasing. Her descriptions of the world and people are detailed without bogging a reader down. With a a lot of action, and an engrossing plot, this is a fantastic adventure story. I read this massive novel in only two days and can hardly wait for the rest of the quadrilogy. Volume 3, ""Raised by Wolves: Treasure"" is due in April/May 2008, and the final volume, ""Raised by Wolves: Wolves: is due in Spring 2009.I also highly recommendRansom, an exciting adventure about 3 british naval officers captured by pirates.",5.0,Unbelievable!,1161734400,"10 25, 2006",27,27,helpful,1.0,1 A2B9KQCMSB78KC,0446601853,Elvin Fullerton,"[0, 0]","The story moved quickly that kept the reader guessing.There were so many twists and turns in the storyline, I couldn't wait to see what happened next.",5.0,"a really enjoyable reading experience. The story line moved at a quick pace, but the ending was cleverly disguised.",1378166400,"09 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18LICJCP2ICD1,1481978063,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I really liked the book, it was very interesting to read a different take on different types of vampire and their power. I love the herione who was strong and didn't take crap from anybody. Who didn't easily fall for the guy. The only bad part was some grammar errors. I would love to see a series from this book",4.0,"Really enjoyed this book, really funny",1336953600,"05 14, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GHJ7SZEMAMQR,0061947032,"Kevin Fuller ""Kev""","[36, 39]","What a wonderful Legend! An apocryphal lost book recovered from the Vatican archives just in time for Christmas 2010!This is the story of the Nativity, yet not told in the third person, rather in the first, from the point of view of the Magi themselves.I will not go into the history of the book as the author does, but will cover some of the highlights. The Magi are not magicians from Persia, but are 'silent prayers', descended from Adam and Seth. Sprinkled with tantalizing theological tidbits (there is no original sin), the text summarizes the trek of the Magi from their 'country of the farthest East' to Jerusalem and on to Bethlehem. Christ is revealed to be pre-existent, as is the Nativity Star. I will not reveal the origin of the Star, but will leave it to the reader to discover for himself. But I will say this...what a fascinating read!Much here to digest, as the story is written simply, yet covers much complex Truth.",5.0,"enter wise guys, stage east",1291334400,"12 3, 2010",36,39,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A2L96XNI86JFAR,0316235024,Arnold Howard,"[403, 415]","Few crime prevention experts emphasize intuition. Instead, they talk about staying alert to crime. Sometimes crime prevention experts generate more fear than they alleviate.Gavin deBecker, on the other hand, makes intuition and freedom from fear the focus of his philosophy. Instead of imagining the bad things that could happen, he says, live without worry of crime.He also says to stop watching the news. It only generates needless worry and gives one a distorted view of the world. I have been teaching these same concepts for years as a black belt in karate, so it was refreshing to read them from someone else. I avoid newspapers and TV news--it only darkens our view of the world. It only makes crime seem worse. Give up news for two weeks and notice how your outlook improves.As a teacher of women's self-defense, I've heard many stories of intuition. Some people call it the "back ground music," because it is like the music that plays in a movie before something bad happens.As deBecker writes, act upon your survival signals (run, search your house in the middle of the night, stay away from an individual, etc.), even if you feel foolish doing so.Shed the fears in your life, because fear clouds the survival signals. Those who live in fear of crime are already victims.Some of the book is difficult to read, such as chapters on child abuse. But the book is still worth it. Buy copies for yourself and friends. If you spend time worrying about crime, this book could change your life.",5.0,A book that dispells crime prevention myths,937008000,"09 11, 1999",403,415,helpful,0.9710843373493976,1 A2TDE0GPWZHODP,1451657811,Books and Chocolate,"[15, 16]","Reading about chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi, her family, and the team of people who were intrumental in helping her see the potential for a life beyond the slum that is the only home she has ever known has been nothing short of a humbling experience. Although parts of Phiona's story are heartbreaking and some of the challenges seem insurmountable, her resolve to pursue her passion of becoming a chess Grandmaster despite the odds is inspiring.In a society where reality t.v. stars (and some athletes) are given non-deserved celebrity status for doing nothing more than behaving badly, it is refreshing to read about someone who can teach all of us something about faith in God in the worst of circumstances, humbleness, perseverance, and daring to dream for what seems impossible. For most people the motivation to be the best at something is fame and fortune; for Phiona, being a chess champion is a matter of survival emotionally, physically, and economically. It helps provide food for her family for another day or two, and shelter for another week or maybe even a month. It has the potential to open doors for education that she might not have otherwise.Once I started reading Phiona's story, I couldn't stop. When I reached the end I wanted more because her story is not finished yet. I want a sequel or some kind of postscript to know what has happened to her since the publication of this book. I find myself thinking about her every day, wondering if she and her family have been able to get out of the slum of Katwe and how she is doing in the next championship.This is the story of a real-life hero and role model that adults and teens need to read, and that needs to be shared with other children.",5.0,A Story That Needs to be Shared,1349827200,"10 10, 2012",15,16,helpful,0.9375,1 A1B689CLZ01R2Z,1478172894,"cjisanaleut ""analeut""","[0, 0]","This is a great book, although i did figure out the leak about half way through, I did not realize the relationship-that caught me by surprise. What a totally rotten bunch of people! Henry, who feels entitled to torture his enemies or those he just gets tired of by giving them literally cement overshoes and throwing them wide awake into the ocean-made me ill to think of his vicitms. His pride in teaching his only daughter how to kill her first man at 15, and her lack of emotion when he kills her own mother when she is six. The most frightening part is that there are actually these sort of awful, depraved people in the world! The plans to callously kill not just hundreds, but thousans of people, just because you can and feel justified doing it is such a sad commentary on today's world. Following the extreme efforts of the various police agencies in their heroic struggle to save the people they've sworn to protect is inspiring.",4.0,"Frightening, inspiring! Despicable criminals and down to earth police officers putting their lives on the line",1398470400,"04 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADENLBKHQOTDH,0764209280,"kindle reader Pat ""Patricia Lacko""","[0, 0]",This is a continuation of the Road to Kingdom and is a very interesting book. There are a lot of twists and turns to this mystery. But it's a very good book. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in mysteries or romances.,5.0,Unbreakable,1385164800,"11 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WJSBUBFGG2V9,0615845517,Angie,"[0, 0]",GREAT story!! Lots of suspense & red hot love scenes!! Enjoyed the intensity of ALL the relationships!! Hot! hot! Hot!,5.0,Great read!!,1398211200,"04 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26GKPEOH0OHWP,0873497503,"Elisha Granger ""Lulabelle's Mom""","[49, 50]","Although this is not the penultimate ribbon book, it's a great primer for the novice and experienced. The book lies flat and this is great when you are creating a piece. There are some new ideas and color combinations which I liked. This is a buy book.",5.0,If you love ribbon.....,1091836800,"08 7, 2004",49,50,helpful,0.98,1 A12P1YDGF5J7DT,1550227076,dragon slayer,"[9, 11]","This is not a biography. This is how the author thinks he feels about his life, his music, his passion.",4.0,"Neil Diamond, His Life, His Music, His Passion",1192924800,"10 21, 2007",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A6L7ERIFGS26O,0375413170,"Harry Marks ""EconTeacher""","[0, 0]","Armstrong's task, already too broad, is made even more difficult by her effort to use concepts such as kenosis, or self-emptying, in their various versions to link the four great spiritual/reflective traditions (India, Palestine, Greece and China) during the time when religions in the service of great political institutions were turning inward and becoming matters of individual conscience.The result is sumptuous. Intellectual sparks fly as the reader is invited to compare the very different traditions of Buddha, Jesus, Socrates and Confucius and see that underneath there is far more in common than appears at first sight. The key insights build on the work of others, but Armstrong remains as able as always to present a lucid version of complex and challenging ideas. Nearly every reader will learn some history in the sense of facts, but also some history in the sense of discerning big forces at work in the affairs of humanity.Armstrong does not gloss over the differences in the traditions. She does not try to force a sense of similarity. She delves into the political processes at work as well as the intellectual and spiritual currents which were developing individualist versions of all four of the great religious streams. The sense of religion's role in history that emerges is deep and rich.My major complaint is that the role of Zoroastrianism is hardly touched. Whether it linked the traditions of India to the West, or arose on its own, it undeniably shaped many of the concepts that became part of Christianity.In general, a great read.",5.0,Evocative and lively,1372032000,"06 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ACMD690GJ0FJ,1857883314,Ingo Leung,"[8, 8]","I previously applied '80/20 principle' at work while formulating some product marketing strategy, but never thought of applying it to my personal life; Koch's 'Living the 80/20 Way' offered me a surprisingly pragmatic guide to do so. The book is a quick read, & packed with insights, exercises & examples. It's mind provoking & made me think about how I should re-configure my life. I look forward to continuously applying the principle to my life & achieve 'more with less'.",5.0,Highly Pragmatic,1178841600,"05 11, 2007",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A26YAJDK3Z14US,B00DQ4QDPS,"Oleg Medvedkov ""How to Prevent Unicorns from ...","[5, 6]","Do you know how you read a book and don't really want for it to end? Well, I had that feeling while coming to the last pages of ""The Sartious Mage.""Jek Trayden is a titular Sartious Mage. Despite being only seventeen years of age, he is the most powerful mage in the Kingdom of Goldram among those who can manipulate the Sartious energy. The book starts with Jek performing a kidnapping. He, among some other freelancers, kidnaps Harwin, a young Prince of Zav, a territory that is threatening the war to Goldram. Methods aside, the goal is noble--to avoid the war, and bring the kingdoms to a negotiating table.The only reason Jek gets involved in such an enterprise is because of the reward. King of Goldram, Danveil Takary, promises him a cure for the ""Darkness,"" a condition Jek developed after becoming able to manipulate Sartious energy, and inexplicably related to this magic. Even if the cure takes the magic away from him, he will do anything to get it.Well, the King has different ideas. Jek, backed into the corner, on the advice of Micah Vail, the King's adviser, goes from one royal kidnapping right into the other. While escaping from the castle, Jek kidnaps Princess Lisanda Takay. On her wedding day, of all times.This is not a stereotypical ""a guy steals a princess"" story. Jek, by everyone's account, and as we can see from reading the book, is actually a very nice young man with a soft heart. The spoiled, demanding princess turns out to be a pretty reasonable and bright young woman, who is strong enough to keep the promises she makes. The circumstances in which the two find themselves, are not exactly conductive to build some sort of connection between them. But the adventures await and who knows what will happen...This is the second book I've read by B.T. Narro, the first being (The Rhythm of Rivalry.) ""The Sartious Mage"" is a marked departure in style from the first novel. This one is written in a first person POV, with Jek being the viewpoint character, while ""Bastial Energy"" had multiple characters and multiple points of view. The first person approach is more intimate for developing the main character but is more challenging for fleshing out relationships and advancing the story in general. However, and I think that most people who read this book will agree, the character development and the gradual building of relationships between the personages is this author's strong point. The storyline builds up gradually in intensity, without hanging in the middle, even when the only people on the scene are Jek and Lisanda. Secondary characters are well fleshed out and add to the ambiance and plot development, with Exo and Micah Vail standing out when they make an appearance.In conclusion: I am experiencing slight withdrawals after finishing this book; but I'll have to wait for the next installment to be published. Well, darn it. Give yourself a chance to get into reading ""The Sartious Mage,"" you won't be disappointed. Recommended.Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book for the purposes of a review.",5.0,A Coming of Age Fantasy that will make you wish for reading more of the same,1376265600,"08 12, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1Y8C8IDA6HHEV,0743496116,"C. Cox ""MarineMom""","[20, 20]","And I don't say that lightly. I've known other authors that I liked that had books tank and I either say so or remain silent. Liz Carlyle is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors right up there with Jo Goodman and Mary Balogh.This is a second book in the trilogy after One Little Sin. One of the reasons I love Ms. Carlyle is that she gives me what I love in romance books, interesting heroes, strong and capable heroines and the happily ever after (with some passionate lovemaking thrown in), but with plots that are unusual and a certain realism that just makes it all believable.In this book Quin, the Earl of Wynwood and Viviana Alessandri, a singer with a remarkable voice, met and fell in love when they were both too young and inexperienced to know what they were doing. The title of the book is most appropriate, because two little lies makes sure that both of them are unhappy until they meet again 9 years later. How they find each other and what happens next is where the story really begins.I thought the characters were superbly written. I loved that Quin was so obsessed with Vivie and vice versa. The things keeping them apart didn't seem so much like plot devices but more like life that had conspired against them. And if they made mistakes, well, at least they owned up to them. I felt the passion raging between the two as well as the fear and uncertainty. And I like how Ms. Carlyle often manages to slip in some social commentary or heavier themes than you usually find in a romance book but doesn't beat you over the head with it. This was an extremely satifying book for me and I can't wait to read the last book in the trilogy.",5.0,I love this author!,1135555200,"12 26, 2005",20,20,helpful,1.0,1 A1TUBKEWD01LLS,148956621X,Jen R,"[0, 0]","Okay so this is my second read through in preparation for reading the second book! It feels like I originally read this book forever ago and while I remembered the main plot points, I was forgetting the details so I thought let's give it another go before moving on. I mean I loved it the first time and it ends in a major cliffhanger. Seriously, I am like AHHHH!!!! What is going to happen?!?! Need next book now!! right about now. But no, I told myself write the review first, then move on to reading the second book, probably staying up way too late to finish it.So what did I think on this second reading? Well it started out and I was just like hmm...this is alright I guess. Why did I love this so much? This is just OMG this is the best book ever!! That was my thought process with this one. I quickly realized why I had fallen in love with it the first go round. Yes it starts off okay and fine and nothing really wrong, but as soon as Cassandra and Logan start having interactions it is just amazing. Their chemistry is unreal and you can feel it every time they are together. I love how they both were hurt in the past so they are cautious with people. This turns Logan into the playboy and Cassandra just doesn't go out on dates. I loved loved loved them together. Logan is such a sweetheart when he wants to be, once you get to know him and get past his cool exterior. Plus there is Oliver...how can you not love him? He is so cute, and they all just make like the perfect little family! I so want them all to live happily ever after!I loved how the author did not just do the insta-love thing. Like there was definitely instant attraction on both their parts, but they wanted different things so they tried to be friends. Friends that grew into more over time. Loved it. I cannot say enough good things about these characters. I loved them so much. They just made me want to read more and more and see if they finally get together! The entire book is anticipating them getting together. Then the end...well Logan messes things up. But he has his reasons. And it just ends in a NOOOOO!!! They must get together and live happily ever after!!! Scenario. I cannot wait to dive right into book 2! I hope it doesn't end in a cliffhanger as well as it was torture waiting for this second book to come out. Really I cannot believe I am taking the time to type this out first as I am like Logan - I'm not very patient and don't like waiting for things. AHHH!!! Go read this book now, but have the second book lined up as you will need it asap!!This review was originally posted to [...]",4.0,Amazing chemistry!,1380412800,"09 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ACENN4MLDY5XE,1844165388,vassvdm,"[0, 0]","The reason I think that 'Heldenhammer' is the best of the 'Sigmar' Time of Legends series (although not by a very significant margin) is that the characterization is slightly better in this installment than in the next two, especially as far as the protagonist is concerned.McNeill obviously went to some effort trying to bring to life the Empire of 2500 years ago, when isolated tribes attempted to survive in the dangerous forested regions of the Old World. He also gave us his take on the man Sigmar, what made him great without forgetting his shortcomings, longings and ambitions. The author is at least partly successful - Sigmar, his companions and his love story are mostly believable (though a bit one-dimensional at times), the descriptions of Reikdorf and the rest of what would become the Empire feeling like something of a dream world when compared to the numerous modern day accounts of the same land. Also, without giving too much away the novel features what is probably the most famous battle in Imperial history, and McNeill does a fantastic job of detailing it at length, conveying its size and the desperate odds facing the human very effectively.As a whole I give it 4.5 stars.",4.0,Probably the best in the series,1311552000,"07 25, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8KB5X8MIWA13,0312289723,"A. Thomson ""Avid reader""","[10, 13]","The first Stephanie Plum novels were fun, laugh-out-loud affairs; they provided a good escape without requiring much effort. Unfortunately what was once amusing has become annoying in many cases. The series is becoming stale - too formulaic. The escapades get more and more ridiculous. The requisite car demolition is no longer interesting. The back-and-forth between Joe and Ranger is forced. Her love life is silly. Perhaps she needs a new love interest - she isn't able to really commit to either Joe or Ranger. Some of the peripheral characters are still amusing, and sometimes I still laugh. But overall, Ten Big Ones was a big disappointment.",2.0,More annoying than amusing,1090627200,"07 24, 2004",10,13,helpful,0.7692307692307693,1 A7AYQNJ8QXBT7,0060519606,AM,"[5, 29]","Now when I was reading the Writing Magic book I just knew that the advice was not very good and the book was not entertaining. The only fun part was when you made the character portfolio, and that was it. The advice was not useful and it was geared more towards kids ages 10 and under than real authors. If you want to get a book about writing fantasy get a book from an author that doesn't focus mainly on unuseful advice. Plus she is constantly advertising her books.",2.0,"Advice was child like, and it didn't help a lot",1239148800,"04 8, 2009",5,29,helpful,0.1724137931034483,1 A1J5H10T9BBI9T,1492712728,Gabriel R.,"[6, 6]","This is one of the most exciting book on the dating topic that I've ever read. The information is extremely useful and to-the-point. This book made some good, certainly valid and useful points on how to attract and seduce women online and deal with relationships. It is not exactly scientific but more derived from experience. Where in the more scientific literature I am accustomed to reading I would have to read between the lines, this book states its opinions directly and in a manner which I could apply immediately. Simple and very effective.The concept revealed in this book can be applied by any guys of any age, who would like to win a girl's heart and take her to wherever you would love to. Recommend to anyone who wants to meet women, who wants to meet more women, or anyone who wants what he deserves from his life.",5.0,Enlightening and Straightforward,1358467200,"01 18, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1OD2VSSTABIS7,1596980133,R. Bullock,"[33, 73]","Excellent! This book captures key ideas and issues in plain and direct language. This is a good book for those seekers who might want a clear, concise introduction into the origins controversy. Wells' direct style wastes no words in demolishing cherished beliefs of Darwinists, and his carefully documented and referenced accounts of recent events shows at what length Darwinists will go to protect their turf. Very eye-opening.",5.0,Darwinism exposed (again),1158537600,"09 18, 2006",33,73,helpful,0.4520547945205479,1 A3J6L669S78DII,1466276983,stephanie gravley,"[0, 0]",The book lets you know what happens when a "boring neighbor" turns into a real relationship. Zoe gets fired and her neighbor Trevor is in need of some help around their shared building. One thing leads to another and they find themselves involved.,4.0,neighbors find love,1360713600,"02 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21P1O2USNGOK1,0809124467,"organguy ""organ guy""","[8, 8]","Francis and Clare both have some wonderful devotional writings, perfect for reading small portions at a time and then meditating on them. My only regret is that there isn't more of their own writings to read. This book, like many others, is filled with commentary and introductions to the writings which, although sometimes useful, often get in the way of simple devotional use. I tend not to like books where the commentaries and introductions take up more space than the writings themselves and that's nearly true of this book. Nevertheless, it's a good collection and worth having and reading.",3.0,Good devotional reading,1303689600,"04 25, 2011",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A2MF338Q12XI3H,0553099957,Frank Bierbrauer,"[4, 5]","Connie Willis's new novel ""To Say Nothing of the Dog"" is once again a wonderful experience in all things English, in fact, even more so than ""Doomsday Book"". Whereas, Doomsday book was the portrayal of the emotional suffering in England during the Black Death, this book is a more relaxed casual stroll through Victorian England. As was done in the Doomsday Book time travel is used as a tool to express what the author really wants to say. This time it's an attempt to save the space-time continuum from collapse when an object is transported forward in time with one of the historians who regularly scour historical periods for the truth. Supposedly, the ""net"", which is used to travel time, is safe against such things although this time something has gone wrong. It's the story of two researchers, one male one female, who attempt to repair the damage before it becomes unmanageable. Suffice it to say it is, as expected, a wonderful tale in all of its Englishness. It remains a mystery how an American author can so well portray the English way of life",4.0,A wonderful experience in all things English,1128211200,"10 2, 2005",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1CNXJXDF1X6OJ,1416550305,"Neil D. Brown ""readerdon""","[0, 0]",The world of art evaluation and theft and forgery is small and has enormous rewards with small risk. Amazing how little it is covered and this is an OK attempt.,3.0,One of too few,1403654400,"06 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ACM8EWZO9KYLL,0375411070,"John Knight ""JK""","[0, 0]","Carl Hiaasen is a nut. He has an off-the-wall, how-does-he-think-of-that sense of humor that is often rather black. For example, Jack Tagger, the forty six year old hero of Hiaasen's latest ""Basket Case"", defends himself from a nightime house break-in by pulling a giant lizard out of the freezer and belting one of his attackers across the face, putting out his eye. Sick? Maybe, but--in context--hilarious.Jack is a down-on-his-luck journalist relegated to the Siberia of obituary writing for having verbally accosted his newspaper's new owner in a shareholder's meeting. The owner, intent on a 25% yearly return on his investment, has cut back on reporting staff and is milking the paper. While churning out obituaries, Jack has lost lady friends due to his constant fixation on celebrities who have died at his current age. Down on his luck, Jack siezes one last opportunity to return to the front page when he stumbles on the probable murder of faded rock star Jimmy Stoma formerly of Jimmy and the Slut Puppies.The mystery is pretty obvious, but the sly dissection of modern America typified by Florida with its environmental depradations, overwhelmingly bad taste and capitalistic pusuit of the dollar is scathinly brilliant. It is a thirty or more years from John MacDonald's Travis McGee to Carl Hiaasen's ""Basket Case"", but their readability and their insight into modern culture are very much the same. This is an excellent, and instructive, read.",5.0,Only In Florida,1011571200,"01 21, 2002",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32S3D5U5LNDBD,0575081384,Pat's Picks,"[0, 0]",Fantasy is often poorly written or derivative. This is well written and creative. try it.Can't wait for the next installment.,5.0,Well Written Fantasy,1401408000,"05 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3UHD7ROK3640T,0988301318,jess,"[0, 0]","Great book, I can't wait for the next one and I'm really bummed because I thought this would be wrapped up in one book! Oh well, another series to stalk ;)Blaire is alone in the world. Her twin died five years ago and soon after her father leaves. Then her mom gets sick, and Blair spends three years nursing her until she dies. Alone and with nothing, she heads to her only family left, her a-hole father and his new family. There life is not as she expected, but she makes due. She deals with a new level of douchiness having to desk with rich people who treat her like trash - including her new step-brother who makes her sleep under the stairs. But Rush's reasons for keeping her hidden away are not what she expects. They develop a bond, but it is shattered by the secret everyone seemed to know except for her.I really enjoyed this book. I respectfully disagree with the negative reviews. I think the characters are believable and even though he comes off as an a$$ at first, I fell for Rush by the end. If you like YA/NA romance, you will not be disappointed!",5.0,Wow!,1361232000,"02 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19C0PEK8ZPUC0,1406926582,Doggoneit,"[0, 0]",Do not waste your time reading other books on the subject. This has it all and is an enjoyable read as well.,5.0,This is the Bible of Composting,1362182400,"03 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NBZDKEA6SCPJ,1476776016,Jen,"[0, 0]",I normally don't write reviews but I loved this book. There wasn't one thing I didn't like about the book. Loved the characters. Loved how Rush stood by Blaire. Yes I would recommend this book to others. I already have.,5.0,must read,1361923200,"02 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3V98ZMX2MU73L,0446518530,"iamcdn ""iamcdn""","[5, 6]","When I got this book I really didn't know what to expect. Sure it was writen by ADF by it could be a let down right? Wrong! The story revolves around an Earth saving space mission which goes wrong. The "unlucky" astronauts are ship wrecked on a planet far away from home. They battle group dynamics, alien equipment, alien creatures and others to find their way home.This book is highly imaginative, well written and smooth. I found the book to be compelling and deeply engrossing. If you want a book that whips you along the star lines at the speed of light and doesn't let you go.. Get this book!!!",5.0,An excellent book,969148800,"09 17, 2000",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2K0QLST7946WU,1449410162,"AQBoston ""Allie""","[0, 0]","This book is short & sweet, but the perfect length for a toddler reader! There is one very sturdy tab that the reader pulls on to move the alligator, or orangutan, or lion, etc's mouth to accompany the text. Our 15 month old is crazy about this book and we read it at least 5x a day!!",5.0,SO FUN!!!,1395187200,"03 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3V9ZQ7GGN56VJ,0123750792,"John J. Robinson ""jjr""","[0, 0]","""Physically Based Rendering: From Theory to Implementation"" is aptly named. This text book presents a selection of modern rendering algorithms through the documented source code that eventually builds a complete rendering system called ""pbrt"".""pbrt"" is based on the ray-tracing algorithm. According to the authors this software has three goals in mind: it should be complete, illustrative, and physically based. Completeness meaning that there should be lacking features found in high quality commercial rendering packages, illustrative meaning that they tried to choose algorithms, data structures, and rendering techniques with an eye toward readability and clarity, and physically based meaning that the foundations should be based on the laws of physics and their mathematically expressions.It should also be noted that the authors take the ""literate programming"" methodology first coined by Donald Knuth based on the idea that programs should be written more for people's consumption than for computer's consumption.In order to get the most out of this text your should already have a strong background in computer graphics and are probably enrolled in a graduate level computer science program. Knowledge of vector geometry and transformations are assumed. Also experience with programs with tens of thousands lines of source code would be beneficial, in my opinion.But if you think your ready, Matt Pharr and Greg Humphreys deliver on their promise with over 1,000 pages building the ""pbrt"" rendering system from the ground up. You'll get a full course meal consisting of primitive acceleration, radiometry, sampling and reconstruction, reflection models, volume scattering, monte carlo integration, and light transport.Overall, this can be an intimidating tome. I probably would not recommend this textbook to those that are wanting to jump right to section to learn more about a concept. Instead, you need to have a lot of time set aside to work though this book, which will consists of a lot of code writing. But if you have what it takes, I highly recommend taking the journey, for you will be rewarding with an exceptional understanding of the entire workflow of physically based rendering techniques.",5.0,Modern rendering algorithms through the documented source code...,1367193600,"04 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWCKN1WG7WXQ5,B004U34BZS,,"[0, 0]","The book was fine, it was interesting and kept me entertained but I feel it was too young for me.",3.0,A little young for me,1361836800,"02 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1XAEEP9OMXN5I,B00HFD3F2K,Anonymous,"[0, 0]",It is a sweet short love story. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a short romantic story to read.,4.0,Sweet,1390867200,"01 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SS100TPM3060,0441014941,"T. A. Kleinhans ""Fantasy Enthusiast""","[0, 0]","It's more of the same, except a bit more predictable than some of the previous ones. I saw the ending coming a mile away. But, it's like crack in a book form. I can't put them down once I get into them. So, I have no choice but to give it five stars. If you've liked the series thus far, you'll like this one too. If you haven't, you probably wouldn't be on this page. So, this review probably won't mean much, but there you have it.",5.0,"Predictable, But Addicting",1390694400,"01 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36J7Y41X0FV3N,0544114442,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I wish all companies would read and apply the strategy's Ton points out in her book! Her research is clear.,5.0,Great read,1403136000,"06 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A348ZHRLDDWSY3,1591930456,"L. A. Nicholas ""author of Naturally Healthy L...","[0, 0]","If you like to identify birds you see, but know nothing about birding or bird species, this is the pocket-sized book for you (there is one for each state).Birds are grouped by prominent color, and within each color by size, making it easy to find the one you saw. There are separate entries for different appearances (male vs. female, winter vs. summer plumage), with notes about similar species with which they might be confused, habitat, distinctive cries, nesting habits, and other things that will help you determine which species you saw.The index in the back has little check boxes by each entry, so that you can keep a count of which species you have already identified. I've got one for Texas and one for Indiana -- I love 'em!",5.0,Great guide for clueless bird watchers,1372377600,"06 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1OO1P9WIPHQL7,0743294254,"S. Gross ""wiseacre""","[11, 13]","If you liked Good in Bed, don't read this book. It destroys everything that was good and relateable and interesting about it's predecessor. Maybe this book should have been called Bad in Bed instead.Because I loved Good in Bed and In Her Shoes so much, I have gotten all of Jennifer Weiner's books the minute they hit shelves. But now I wonder why I bother, since her last three books (Goodnight Nobody; the short story collection; this book) have been huge disappointments. Certain Girls, however, is even more disappointing than her other books because it not only is a depressing, morose, and aggravating tale, it also simultaneously sucks the pleasure out of what I read in the first book.Aside from the fact that the characters names are the same, their personalities and temperaments are virtually opposite of the first book. The wisecracking heroine has been replaced by a paranoid bore. And the most interesting supporting characters have been reduced to one-dimensional footnotes. I guess the author mentioned them on occasion out of nostalgia, but all it really did was serve to remind us that the characters in the first book were more interesting and better developed.The plot itself is a not very interesting retread of the same old mother v. teenage daughter storyline that you can read in any young adult novel. Only here, the daughter is so obnoxious that you just wish someone would smack her already. And the ending, which closes the book on a largely morose note, is little more than a dramatic contrivance (although what it contrives to do, aside from ruining the book, is beyond me).Jennifer Weiner may have lost me at this book, now that the number of her books I can't stand has outnumbered the ones I love. She should have just left well enough alone by not messing with one of her best works.",1.0,Undoes all the good of the first book...,1211155200,"05 19, 2008",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A2HD75EMZR8QLN,0938045350,123,"[13, 21]","The title of this review says it all. The book is almost completely anecdotal. I am not going to leave my body to anecdote and chance. If I am to adopt a diet, exercise, way of life, etc.. I will do it based on science, not a hunch. I need to read about proof and I need to be reassured that the plan has been developed though a process of scientific rigor. This book falls flat on its face in that respect.I found that the author would contradict himself from page to page. I returned the book so I can't give a direct quote or page numbers but, on one page he says something to the effect of ""no rice during the day"" then on the next page he talks about exercise and says something like ""its okay to have rice in a recovery meal"" then directly on the next page he says ""under no circumstances should you eat rice during the day"". It was so glaring and ridiculous I just had to laugh and put the book down.If you are interested in this type of diet, but need more than anecdotes to be convinced, I recommend these 2 books.The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate LivingandThe Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance",1.0,anecdotal and full of contradiction,1353801600,"11 25, 2012",13,21,helpful,0.6190476190476191,1 A2V111ZXXYKAZB,147000870X,Amy DePriester,"[0, 0]",Here's the thing. I love Reed! I love Evie with Reed. The more I delve into this series the more it seems like she will not end up with Reed. This book has characters I care about but there are times when it is so over descriptive I want to scratch my eyes out! It takes a lot to get through these books they are not fast paced at all which is what I personally prefer. I have a good friend who has read the books after this one and I will wait to see how things will turn out before I purchase anymore from this series. After finishing this installment I am just fine with how things are..,3.0,Liked it but I am afraid to read anymore of this series,1395705600,"03 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AALTXK50E6ZXA,B00B1I5GA4,K. Lana Davis,"[0, 0]",not what I expected,1.0,One Star,1405036800,"07 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LNU3T5H9OMWC,1620510804,P. Romance,"[6, 6]","LOVING IT! Not since ""Don't Hex with Texas -Don't Hex with Texas (Katie Chandler, Book 4)"" have I enjoyed a book more. To my great fortune, ""Kiss and Tell"" focused mainly on my favorite supernatural couple, Owen and Katie. And I'll be honest. The back summary had me hesitating. Who else could be Katie's Mr. Right, except Owen? I was concerned but being the fan that I am, I had to see what happened next. Without a doubt, this has been relegated to my favorite books list.If you have been following the Enchanted, Inc series, don't hesitate. Get this book. There was action, drama, romance, supernatural elements and a new enemy to make this story bigger and better than the previous books. Being the romantic fan girl that I am, all I really wanted was for the books to focus on growing and solidifying Owen and Katie's relationship and ""Kiss and Tell"" definitely brings the love. They were absolutely sweet and yet, stayed true to their nature despite the odds. The writing was awesome as always. I was practically glued from chapter to chapter. If you are unfamiliar with the series, I would recommend reading from the start. There was a lot of back story that is needed to truly appreciate the nuances. I really can't wait for the next (and maybe the final) book in the series. With the way the story ended, it's going to be awesome.",5.0,Katie and Owen Love <3,1377475200,"08 26, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1MVH9VYEV5NOL,1588167461,jack,"[0, 0]","The book is a good reference on common fashion subjects (e.g., matching shoes with suit colors). It also has useful and entertaining advice on subjects where each of us must make his own rules (e.g., who should wear what jeans). I recommend it for most guys from 13-60 (I think men after age 60 are beyond fashion advice).",4.0,Solid advice,1280188800,"07 27, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1CTXKA2C7BSC8,0553590456,"Helen Hancox ""Auntie Helen""","[16, 16]","Morgan Kingsley is an exorcist with a rather unusual attribute - she's the host of the king of the demons, Lugh. In Jenna Black's world demons are beings who can live inside a human and can take over their body, giving them extra strength and the ability to heal themselves from most injuries. There are many laws about demons and humans and Morgan's job is to exorcise illegal demons. However since she found out that she is hosting Lugh her life has become more and more complex. Lugh isn't able to take over her actions unless she's asleep or in a very specific time of stress. In the previous book in the series, The Devil Inside, Morgan found herself working with demon Adam, his lover Dominic and with Lugh to try to protect Lugh. In this story her brother Andrew, now in a coma after his demon Raphael left him, wakes up and tells Morgan that he hated Raphael. Morgan also discovers that a demon known as Der Jäger has been put on the trail of Lugh and is no doubt after her. She teams up with Adam to try to find out what's going on in the battle between Lugh and his brother Dougal to be king, as well as trying to take care of Andrew and also worrying about her former boyfriend Brian. When Morgan discovers that some events in her history may have a bearing on why she is able to host Lugh she has to try to unravel what's been going on for over twenty years with Raphael, Dougal and Lugh and at the same time try to keep those she loves safe.I very much enjoyed this follow up book and found that the story was progressing well, although the interactions between Morgan and Lugh are fairly sparse overall. Morgan's hot-tempered and feisty nature was well written and her moral dilemmas throughout were interesting. I liked the way in which Morgan's difficult relationship with Adam White is changing as she learns more about the demon world and about the good and evil within it. This book was definitely a continuation of the previous story and it might be a little difficult for newcomers to the series to follow everything in this book but overall it was an excellent continuation of the story, although without overall completion of the plot.Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book Helen Hancox 2008",5.0,Second in series,1217289600,"07 29, 2008",16,16,helpful,1.0,1 A1AUR6FJ51PSRS,B00EZ8RBN2,Lori,"[9, 9]","Find this review and more at Lusty Penguin Reviews!Collette Cameron has written another spectacular Regency romance in The Viscount's Vow. Occurring two years before the events in Highlander's Hope, Cameron tells the story of Yvette's cousin, Evangeline ""Vangie"" Caruthers, and her forced marriage to Ian Hamilton.Traveling to London, Ian has one thing on his mind, ruining Vangie. At a ball, he dances with Vangie, who ends up fainting. Ian sets into motion his plan to leave her half naked, thereby insuring the loss of her good reputation. But, Ian doesn't leave soon enough and get caught with Vangie. As a result, Vangie's family forces Ian to wed Vangie. On their wedding night, Vangie asks Ian to wait until they know each other better. However, Ian is unwilling to comply with her request, believing she has been intimate with many men already. Although gentle at first, Ian's lust goes to his head and he takes Vangie hard, only to discover that she was a virgin. I couldn't help but feel bad for Vangie. Ever forgiving, Vangie puts her chin up and plans to make the best of her situation, which I just loved about her character. Feeling guilty and not wanting to hurt Vangie again, Ian distances himself from her, which unfortunately has the opposite effect, and he hurts her over and over again. After Ian's lies are exposed, Ian and Vangie's verbal confrontations are heart wrenching--so much so that you can't help but empathize with both characters. Ian's behavior through most of this book is contemptible at best. Nevertheless, you can't help but like him because you've seen glimpses of his good heart--especially when Ian gives Vangie a gift to help ease her suffering. When Ian finally tells Vangie those three magic words, she is not ready to hear them. But, Ian patiently waits for Vangie to heal from the emotional trauma and figure out what she really wants, which is a marvelous thing to see.I was completely enamored with Ian and Vangie's story and thoroughly enjoyed watching their relationship transform as the pages flew by. The Viscount's Vow is captivating Regency romance that shouldn't be missed.I received an eBook copy from the author for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.",5.0,A Captivating Regency Romance that Shouldn't be Missed!,1381881600,"10 16, 2013",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A2XCOMC9E719JL,0764208381,Brit Columbia,"[0, 0]","I got this book for free on a promotion and didn't expect to find it as enthralling as I did. When the book ended, I was committed to the characters and immediately ordered the next two books in the series. I am not that familiar with Amish ways and beliefs, but I enjoy historical novels and I am willing to enter into the belief systems of characters who live in very different worlds from my own experience. Paradise Valley was interesting and I felt that I learned something about the Amish. The characters were very real and human and I found myself rooting for them all. Dale Cramer creates a strong sense of family and community within this Amish community that is evident from the first few pages. The storyline was exciting and pulled me along. One of the things I found most interesting was the Amish refusal to fight or even defend themselves from bandits, yet they sort of fought back by proxy through the character of Domingo (my favorite character). They would have allowed him to bleed and even die for them because they were strangers in a strange land and they had fewer choices even than the few they would have allowed themselves back in the comparatively civilized world of the USA in the 1920's. It made me ask myself about the nature of strongly held beliefs that people hold on various subjects. How many of these beliefs are only possible for us because we are subsidized or protected by others, and to what extent do we have to regard this? Anyway, all that aside, this was a great read and I'm glad I discovered this trilogy and wish it had been an octalogy! I would have bought them all.",4.0,Very glad I discovered this author,1386460800,"12 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35M4O6GMGNB21,0140109625,Edward Tsai,"[29, 34]","I read this book a long time ago in college for a lit crit class. While admittedly I don't recall much detail of it, I do remember that it was one of few books I read in that class and many other lit crit classes that was lucid, cogent and clear in its argument and analysis. As a testament to its merit, it has remained on my bookshelf after all the others have been sold off to used bookstores. Moreover, it gave me one of the key insights about modernity that have remained with me to this day, and which has been useful in understanding why certain anti-modern societies resist modernization and why our contemporary society is so schizophrenic. That insight is that no tradition, which inherently protects realms of privilege, can be maintained in the face of the onslaught of the profit-driven motive underlying capitalism, which will always seek out new markets to exploit, such as the unexploited market as protected by tradition.",5.0,One of the best I've read,1094688000,"09 9, 2004",29,34,helpful,0.8529411764705882,1 A3JBZUC0MZ6FO0,0741482479,Bookman,"[0, 0]","This book kept me on my toes by introducing new characters at pivotal points. BonSey did a great job of making sure that everything moved at a fast pace, which will keep readers entertained and involved throughout the entire book. I enjoyed the St. John-Brown family just as much as the Canes. I can’t wait to see what BonSey has in store for us in the third and final book.",5.0,Good stuff,1383696000,"11 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A16QQ78I8J29PA,0425147517,Thriller Lover,"[4, 5]","Back in the 1970s and early 1980s, Dean Koontz was a struggling writer of paperback novels. In order to make a living, he wrote under a variety of names that was not his own. Koontz's most successful pseudonym was ""Leigh Nichols"" -- under this name, he wrote five bestselling romantic suspense novels. THE KEY TO MIDNIGHT is the first of these books, and was re-released in the 1990s under Koontz' own name.THE KEY TO MIDNIGHT is a highly enjoyable romantic thriller. It mainly takes place in Japan, and Koontz does a great job of describing Japanese culture, which he obviously has a lot of respect for. The two main characters are likable and complex, and the plot is fast-paced and interesting.This is not a horror novel at all, although there are a few graphic violent and sexual scenes. Still, there is very little in this book that is truly gross or disturbing.THE KEY TO MIDNIGHT isn't a masterpiece, but it's a fine entertainment by one the best genre writers working today. This book is easy to read and is a nice way to spend an afternoon. If you're looking for classic Koontz, though, my advice is to try one of his later novels, such as WATCHERS, LIGHTNING, INTENSITY or ODD THOMAS.",4.0,One of Koontz' Best Early Novels,1169510400,"01 23, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A6NS12SOGK8V8,1845964047,"canuck ""canuck""","[0, 0]","Amazing story, very depressing at times but has a fast pace with a lot of believable circumstances. It felt historically accurate and has very descriptive situations.",5.0,Ma Im getting meself a new mammy,1401408000,"05 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2JZU6Q2M83FZ,0310257476,"Nicola Gibson ""nic""","[96, 110]","Abstract:I do not recommend this book. McClaren is an incredibly talented writer. He loves human beings and cares very deeply about postmoderns and introducing them to Jesus. This book contains many good statements and insights, especially corrective ones, but in all is a historically careless theological mess and the non-expert will have dangerous difficulty sifting the wheat from the chaff. It is not orthodox in any confessional or historical sense and only generous given the authors assumptions. But man can this guy write as a polemicist! Phew!Review:This is a difficult book review for me to write for a number of reasons. The first is that I really want to like Brian McClaren. We have a lot of the same passions on the face of things. God's outreaching love-mission is the all-consuming passion of our lives- the desire to see the blessedness of God's good rule be the cherished benefit of the whole earth.It is also difficult because about 25% of what comes off of Brian's pen makes me giddy in agreement. He has some amazingly corrective insight and he writes so well that it holds all the more poetic weight.It is also difficult as one who knows that the American church as a whole will need a new kind of way in the 21st century. Until this book I had held out significant hope that Brian would be a central figure in thinking through the necessary issues and helping the new generations of Christian leadership be faithful yet impactful in the new cultural milieu.Lastly it is difficult because so many of my colleagues my age and younger are so taken with him. I know that by saying what I am going to say they're going to think me a dinosaur. A dinosaur at 28. Super. Maybe it could be of consolation that Chesterton, Lewis, and Tolkein all called themselves that.Summary:The seeming burden of Brian's book is to explain that a wholistic synthesis can be made of the great expanse of Christian tradition- not just within confessional or ""Evangelical"" Christianity, but across all self identifying Christianity if we are generous enough in our theological- or better, missional-theological- deliberation. Each group is onto something, and if we would read our Bibles to really get the point, and if we would look for the kernel of truth in the other groups, we would find a great, more wholistic, more whole-world-blessing Christianity that could well be termed A Generous Orthodoxy.Then in Chapters 5-20 he demonstrates this kind of thinking. In each chapter he takes a categorical word in wide Christian usage and explains how it captures something integral and important that should be incorporated in our generous orthodoxy.For the practical missional Christian who deals with people who reflect on life in a more postmodern, politically and morally semi-liberal, suburban/urban way, there is no doubting this creates a projected theology that is easier to explain plausibly to seekers or non-Christians of various sorts. It is certainly a postmodern gospel that will preach.Assessment:This book has some great material in it. There are a few great paragraphs and many great sentences. Taken out of their contexts and republished in a sort of McClaren ""Twilight of the Idols"" volume would be really cool. That's because I think Brian often has profoundly pastoral human instincts. He really feels the ""issues""- whether they are of orthodoxy or orthopraxy. In that sense he is a lot like Francis Shaffer who, for whatever else anyone ever says about him, he was a great lover of humans. But the reason I would have those thoughts taken out of their contexts is because the theology and history that comes after them is often just awful.Anyhow, here are some specific problems I have with the book as a whole:1. McClaren's lack of formal training shows at certain a points where he didn't do enough work. For example on page 183 where in a summary of Fundamentalism he says, ""Five fundamentals were affirmed, to which we'll return later"". I think anyone who has taken a first year college level American church history class would realize there is literally no relationship between the publishing of the Fundamentals and the five point of the traditional Calvinist TULIP (I mean besides the approx. 300 years separating them from Dort to the turn of the 20th century). The editor really should have helped him out with that one.2. It is very difficult to imagine anyone in a confessional tradition reading this book carefully and calling it ""orthodox"" even in his or her most generous mood. Brian does this kind of both sides of his mouth thing on several doctrines that have been pretty central and agreed upon throughout the history of the church, and his assertions that this is not the case, to someone like me in the field of theology just proves he has not read enough church history. Among these are the critical importance of right belief (affirmed at lest since Galatians, Colossians, 1 John), the inherent and culpable rebellious sinfulness of mankind (no wonder he seems to have little grounding for a doctrine of hell), the complete absence of any atonement theology of any form, the seeming inability to believe in a God that demonstrates the removal of love from a human object (which God does in many places in scripture) or that exhibits wrath because of sin, and his promotion of universalism while denying it (see his footnote that promotes one four views book and then two books on universalism, and his remark that if he were going to be a restrictivist he'd believe ""only universalists go to heaven-after all, they have the highest opinion possible about the efficacy and scope of the saving work of Jesus!"" Oh but that's a joke. I'm sorry I'm a professional rhetorician and he's got a masters in literary form as he says in the book, that's no mere joke- that's a sound byte argument in the form of a joke- the medium of debate in the postmodern age). Further, he claims Biblical authority and then considers himself more devout for closing his mouth where the Bible opens its. This is a far cry from Calvin's statement that where the Bible does not speak we should be reverently silent. More could be said on this.3. I found the whole project of part two of the book disingenuous, which brought out a bigger problem that I have had with McClaren's work the more I have read. First, I thought the whole of the second part disingenuous because it was basically a bait and switch that used a lot of what I would consider ""fudged"" arguments. Sorry, I don't want to say he's just lying, but some of it was so bad that it's hard, so let's just say ""fudged"". In most parts he takes a word that actually has an established meaning and then pretty arbitrarily switches the meaning for something somewhat associated with the group it labels. But if you know the meaning of the word, in most chapters he is actually explaining how he is not that thing, or even the opposite. For example, he's a Calvinist only in that he uses the five letters of TULIP to make his own acrostic. He uses no theological points of TULIP mind you (in fact he shows disdain for Calvinism), just the letters. He's a Fundamentalist, but he doesn't affirm ""the fundamentals"". He's a Methodist in that he wants a new form of spiritual formation that can transform a culture. (Let me say here as a Methodist and a very serious student of the Wesleys and the Methodist revivals that his discussion of Methodism was particularly horrifying. It was like he was just making up something he wanted to make up. Yet here he at least was referring to something integral to Methodist identity- so in that sense it was not as bad as some of the other parts.) Then he's an evangelical because basically he likes passion, courage and bravery to do things. And on and on. But some readers will come to this book thinking, and rightly so, that an evangelical someone ""of the euangelion (Gospel)"", that a fundamentalist is someone who affirms the confessional fundamentals of the faith, that a Methodist is someone who believes in Methodism and the Wesleyan theology that fuels it- which includes many doctrines he derides.4. This brings me to my growing frustration with what I perceive as excessive image management in his writing that there seems to be less and less evidence is an accurate representation of the author himself. In my assessment every word of Brian's writings are honed to come off well to the skeptical postmodern. Those of us that work with such people know there is a certain kind of religious teacher they will listen to, and the image of Brian in these books is spot on. Yet as I read I get frustrated. He talks as though very knowledgeable and then makes egregious errors in basic facts or seems oblivious to whole biblical themes or theological concepts. He comes off as humble and kind, but in places is anything but humble (see a particularly arrogant section in the middle of page 184) and in some places not kind at all and in others much too kind as to not be evenhanded (contrast this t normal theological writing virtue where humility is demonstrated by being fair. See anything by Kevin Vanhooser for a great example of this). In some places his very claim to humility that would come off well to the biblically illiterate postmodern will come off as deeply arrogant to the biblical Christian- for example when he plays that being agnostic about hell is humble. It is humble if God has not spoken, but if one believes in the authority of even Jesus (which Brian says he does) we might remember that he is the one that talked about it, and people going there the most (see C.S. Lewis ""Learning in War Time"" in The Weight of Glory). Again in image management: He seems to be a very open minded independent thinker, but it seems to me as I read more, his mind is closed around relatively few postmodern consideration and locked into a basically neo-liberal agnosticism seasoned with some of the New Perspective on Paul, some Radical Orthodoxy, and a bit of Stan Hauerwas. And finally, he comes off direct and honest, but as I meditate on his content and rhetorical tactics, I'm not so sure, and his radical redefinition of basically every category in the second half of his book is a good example.5. Lastly it is clear to me that Brian is very strongly influenced by theological liberalism. That is a bit ironic because liberal theology was called ""Modernism"" for good reason for most of the 20th century. To the extent that this is true, Brian's project will grow out of modernity. That does not mean it cannot be truly postmodern. It can. But liberalism is generally forming postmodern theologies that are building on modernity while I believe more orthodox evangelicals are looking to build a post modern theology that repents of modernity in many ways. For example I think this is what is behind Brian's clear move toward universalism (a 19th century liberal reductionism of the character of God controlled by a truncated modernized conception of love that is bound to non-covenantal freedom growing out of critical reductionist NT scholarship). There is a certain line of reasoning that is all too familiar to those of us that have spent the time learning about the actual Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy. My concern is for younger evangelicals who have been told not to worry about theological liberalism because it is dead and obliviously pick up Brian's book. It is never dead so long as there are conservatives maintaining a language of faith that liberalism can redefine (consider that in relationship to point 3- parasitically redefining another's language of faith to use its freight against them and for yourself).There is a lot more that could be said, but this is a book review not a rebuttal. I would not recommend anyone read this book unless it is read with a tutor that is capable of thinking through these issues. If one is dead set on reading the book, or if materially in agreement with it in its details I strongly suggest reading Don Carson's book Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church. At first I thought Carson was too hard on Brian, but the more I meditate on Brian's book, the less sure I am of that.",2.0,"not really orthodox, depends on what you mean by generous.",1129766400,"10 20, 2005",96,110,helpful,0.8727272727272727,1 A104BOQOO5T2SU,1596430532,"Kemie Nix ""Founder, Children's Literature for...","[7, 11]","A dachshund and a multi-colored stuffed bear play out the gentlest of misadventures, all revolving around the meaning of friendship. For example, Dog wants Bear to play with him. Bear is busy reading a book about a dog and a bear that are friends. Bear doesn't want to be disturbed while Dog brings an array of toys to entice Bear away from his book. A sentence in Bear's book finally makes him realize that he should play with Dog - with a nice twist at the end.Loose, broad black lines depict these two characters as they play out their stories against white backgrounds. The drawings seem deceptively simple but they capture emotions with economy. These twofriends are just too charming for words.",5.0,Gentle Friendship,1180656000,"06 1, 2007",7,11,helpful,0.6363636363636364,1 AJ13CO169MI7T,0060598859,"Babe ""restful reader""","[0, 0]","I thought it was an enjoyable and cute little story. To those who did not think it was up to her "Plum Series", well of course it was not. It was a whole different type of story, but Janet was still in there. She had just the right amount of romance and still enough mystery to keep you reading.It was a relaxing read, in my opinion, and still enjoyable and worth the time to read it! I liked it!",4.0,"Differnt story line, Same Janet!",1374364800,"07 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17BUXSHOUOP4M,1595550062,Alesia,"[7, 14]","But first a quick note about this book: The other Savage books I've read deal with a wide, wide range of topics. This one spends a great deal (50 percent?) of time on Iran, Iraq and Islam. These are important topics. After several dozen pages, however, it became apparent the title of the book wasn't quite specific enough. It is an intense read and you'll put it down only to give your brain a rest, or to run out and find someone to discuss it with!The good stuff about this, and other, Savage books:1. Michael Savage has a clear brevity and says what needs to be said. This will result in some sort nifty of ""Eureka!"" experience.2. Savage knows a LOT about current events, world affairs and history--you'll learn something new, 'most certainly.3. He addresses opposing points of view, really giving the benefit of the doubt--but only for as long as it's warranted (usually, not very long).4. Unlike a lot of what passes for political discourse, Savage sticks to the facts.",4.0,"Not as good as Savage's other books, but still better than average, & here's why:",1201910400,"02 2, 2008",7,14,helpful,0.5,1 A3DHZ0YL5EDKCQ,B00H0FIZAU,"Kindle Customer ""woodturner wedum""","[0, 0]","No great revelations. This was fun and fairly well researched. One kink that will irk discriminating readers is referring to National Park Rangers as Forest Rangers. The latter work for the Forest Service while National Park Rangers work for the National Park Service. Dept of Agriculture versus Dept of Interior. For those of us who work as NPS Rangers, it is a silly but basic sticking point.",4.0,Good read,1392681600,"02 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2L8MUGLOXP7OD,B00DPYZZXA,Lorenda Crane,"[0, 0]",It has a new twist to an old fairy tale. I enjoyed reading this and can't wait to read the rest of the stories.,4.0,New twist on and old fairy tale!!!,1395273600,"03 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TPQTY7F9JR9C,B00BCFWJ7E,BookishLove,"[0, 0]","I’ve had Christmas spirit since the start of November, but I can fully assure you all that even if I wasn’t, The Billionaire’s Christmas Baby would bring it on with a bang! Filled with holiday cheer and tears, Victoria James once again managed to amaze me, by tugging on my heart string until I couldn’t take it anymore.Hannah Woods spends three weeks tracking down Jackson pierce, the uncle of the baby that’s been left on the church doorstep. She finds him and my initial thoughts were: “What a jackass!” A rich, successful, very good-looking jackass. I was intrigued to see how Victoria James was going to change my mind about him. I never thought I’d cry tons of ecstatic tears when she did.Taking on the impossible, Hannah goes ahead and agrees to Jackson’s terms, and man oh man are they some extreme terms. I loved Hannah completely. She could put Jackson in his place without even trying. And I’ve gotta hand it to her, turning a complete Scrooge into a Christmassy guy? Well done!But really, enough about them. I really just want to tell you all what I thought about this story. This story was completely heartfelt and gut-wrenching, and it really made me want to bake some Christmas cookies, but I didn’t, because the book distracted me so much that they would just burn. Victoria James succeeds in once again bringing polar opposites together. She created a fantastic novel that’s definitely worth more than one read. In fact, I think this books should become a Christmas staple to women all over, because that’s how fantastic it is!And, thanks a lot Victoria, for making me ruin my perfectly good mascara!",5.0,Christmas spirit wrapped up in a book,1386633600,"12 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30T9709PHRXXO,0767914929,S. Euclid,"[11, 12]","This book is exactly what I was looking for. It very clearly explains anxiety problems and how to deal with them. The solutions are very straight-forward, practical and helpful.",5.0,Fantastic!,1124064000,"08 15, 2005",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 AGTP9IA9HI0LD,B00F3FNRAC,"Rob Natiuk ""Bob on the Job""","[0, 0]","Somehow the cover photo just doesn't give me the right feeling about love! But many good principles inside the book on how to love your enemies--or actually help them to love you. Yet, I would have preferred fewer "ways" that were more fully developed. And the first principle that seems to have been left out is, "Love yourself because God loves you." Hey, thanks, Lynn, a good title for my book--but you may have it if you wish! God bless you.",4.0,Gruesome cover--good advice inside!,1393977600,"03 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VRHPMR8HFEC8,0785260927,M. Raburn,"[0, 0]","Chances are, you are not the person at the very top of your organization. Even in the most progressive, least hierarchical models, there are most likely those who report to you, those to whom you report, and those in roughly the same place you are in. If you find yourself in such a place and you sense the need to improve your leadership skills, The 360 Leader by John C. Maxwell may be just the book for you. Maxwell is a prolific author in the area of leadership development. If you have read his other works, you will find a good deal here that is familiar (which is not a bad thing - reinforcing good teaching never is). What makes this book different is that Maxwell situates his leadership wisdom within the context where most leaders, burgeoning leaders, and would-be leaders are. The first section disabuses us of many common excuses for not leading where we are (this part is worth the price of the book by itself, read it over and over until you stop letting yourself make these excuses). The second section takes a realistic look at challenges one faces in the dangerous world of middle management. The next three sections explain how you can lead those above you, those along side you, and those under you (respectively). In these sections, Maxwell is at his contextual best. Even if you know some of this from his previous works, you will likely find some concepts you shelved for later applied in ways you hadn't thought of (e.g., in the lead-up section, principle #4 ""do more than manage - lead"" is one you may not have thought of with regard to influencing your leader). The final section reinforces the value of leading from where you are. There are also quizzes in the back (called a Workbook) to test yourself on each main concept, and each section has a (way too brief) review. You can also use the passcode included to access a free online self-assessment of where you are as a leader. Maxwell advises the reader to take the self-assesment first. This might not be necessary if you are decently self-aware as a leader, but those who have difficulty in that area would certainly benefit from this tool. Overall, this is a worthwhile contribution to the growing leadership literature and I think a great place to jump into Maxwell for the first time for the many who do not live at the organizational apex.",5.0,Solid Leadership Principles - familiar to readers of Maxwell,1318291200,"10 11, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1REUA9M4N6JXW,054723824X,"Ashley Megan ""amazonfox""","[48, 52]","In ""Kluge,"" psychologist Gary Marcus looks to the many and varied foibles, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies of the human mind and concludes that our brains are not, in fact, models of brilliance and efficiency, but are rather cobbled-together systems, designed for one purpose and pressed into action for another - the classic definition of a kluge.The most famous kluge is probably the case of the carbon scrubbers on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission. Crunched for time, engineers managed to create a system out of duct tape and socks (seriously) that worked adequately enough to clean the air on the space module- even though none of the materials they used were designed for, or optimal for, the job at hand. The result was ugly and inefficient - but it kept the astronauts alive. Likewise, Marcus argues, evolution has endowed humans with a hodgepodge of genetic material - the DNA equivalent of duct tape - with which to build all the sophisticated systems that supposedly set us apart from other creatures, like language, memory, and reason. The result is, for example in the case of language, ""a vocal apparatus more byzantine than a bagpipe made up entirely of pipe cleaners and cardboard dowels.""It's delightful metaphors like this that make ""Kluge"" such an entertaining read. Marcus is a talented writer as well as an insightful psychologist, and what emerges from his theory is both fascinating and well-argued. In each chapter, he looks at one aspect of the human mind whose fallacies he traces to the kluge effect. Our tendency to make irrational choices, for instance, isn't necessarily the case of a single, poorly designed system. Rather, it's caused by two separate systems in conflict - our older, more primitive hindbrain, and our evolutionarily newer, deliberate forebrain. Each system on its own is pretty good at what it's designed to do, whether reacting from instinct or reasoning through logic. It's when the multiple layers of our brains try to work together that we get breakdowns and inconsistencies - like choosing the transient pleasure of chocolate cake over the deliberate, long-term goal of losing weight.Marcus does a great job selling his theory. I heard echoes of Bill Bryson and Matt Ridley in his conversational, often humorous writing style. It's clear that Marcus doesn't just study the human mind; he loves it for the very quirks and eccentricities that define it. His book has a clear thesis - that the kluge effect is further proof of the theory of evolution - but I wish he had done a bit more to clearly connect his thesis to the evidence he provides. Still, I understand it's a fine line to walk, and by keeping the book slim and streamlined he's made for a much better read. Anyone interested in human psychology or evolution will greatly enjoy this well-written, well-researched account of ""Haphazard Construction of the Human Mind.""",5.0,An elegant analysis of our inelegant minds,1201305600,"01 26, 2008",48,52,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A1ZCM7D55GN9P2,0375508139,Linda,"[0, 0]","Corrick provides the reader with a supply of twists and turns that cause one to pause and think about what if that happened to me? Bolsover is a guy who seems to observe life and yet determines to engage in it when it comes to women. He studies his need to connect with other human beings and seeks to answer the deep questions of life which he learns only lead him to more questions rather than any answers. I do not read many novels since I am a nonfiction reader, but this book caught my eye. The character development of Bolsover reminded me of Anne Tyler's characters who seek to find a balance between engagement and contemplations over life. We just drop into Bolsover's life where he is and then drop out when he's done with us.",5.0,Existentialism Alive,1265068800,"02 2, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SLCJ37EAT9G3,0060524367,"John R. Sumser ""John""","[46, 54]","It's hard to dislike a book that skewers John Seabrook, not to mention Bloom, D'Sousa, and English Department faculty who think they are political scientists . . . but this is a difficult book to warm up to.The problem is, I think, that it's poorly written. White bounces between little jokes, truncated academic arguments, and insightful observations about American society while the reader just holds on to his racing prose. It's more a rant than an argument. If I had been his editor, I would have said, ""This is great, Curtis. It's good that you got this out of your system. NOW you can write an actual book about this subject.""I think I agree with his basic views, but his arguments wander off into fogs of compacted references and then are abruptly announced as completed: ""Now, having finished with the left, I'll critique the right."" Finished? Had you STARTED?I think my biggest disappointment with the book is that very little of it is actually about the ""middle mind"" (after reading the book, try to sit down and write a one page essay distinguishing the middle from the lower and upper mind)and virtually none of it is about ""why Americans don't think for themselves"" (which is the book's subtitle).I've been trying to think of people I could recommend this to (people who don't share the exact same educational background as White), and I can't think of anyone. I really don't know who the audience is for this . . . perhaps graduate students. I am going to use it in my class because I agree with his positions, but think analyzing his statements would be a great exercise in critical thinking.I think the point of a book like this is that it could persuade people who don't already agree with his basic stance. And, in this, I think the book fails.",3.0,His own favorite person,1070496000,"12 4, 2003",46,54,helpful,0.8518518518518519,1 AFU81GJ8D0H3U,0099478420,Christine Lynn Jones,"[134, 142]","The Heart of the Matter is not a mystery, a high-octane adventure, nor does it center on an extraordinary event. Rather it is a story of one man whose faith and character is put to the ultimate test. That man is Henry Scobie.Henry Scobie is a British assistant police comissioner stationed in a West African coastal town during World War II. Scobie is a devout catholic who is unhappily married but feels obligated to fulfill his wife Louise's needs and make her happy. An honest man, Scobie has remained faithful to his wife in their fifteen years of marriage and has upheld his duties as an officer of the law. But when Louise decides to get away for a while because she does not like the town they are in, Scobie's beliefs and convictions get challenged and he fails to measure up to the man he thought he was. He winds up falling in love with a nineteen-year old girl and during the affair he feels torn over his desire to be with her yet continue to keep his wife happy and to honor God. At the same time his work also suffers, as he begins to do business with some unscrupulous characters. His good reputation and sense of self-worth deteriorates day by day. Distraught and at the end of his rope, Scobie takes extreme measures to overcome his conflicts and the story wraps up with a shocking conclusion that leaves the reader with plenty to ponder.At times the plot moved slowly, however, Greene did a fabulous job at capturing the ambiguity of the human condition and providing insight into the inner demons that plague us all. Many of Greene's famous quotes came from this book, including my favorite, "Point me out the happy man and I will point you out either egotism, selfishness, evil--or else an absoulute ignorance." I think William Golding said it best when he stated, "Graham Greene will be read and remembered as the ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man's consciousness and anxiety."",4.0,Indulgence Leads to Demise.....A Thoughtful Read,980294400,"01 24, 2001",134,142,helpful,0.9436619718309859,1 A1VZK0IGG8DR3Z,0758200072,avid reader,"[0, 0]",Darius was just tooooooooo much. He acted like a spoiled entitled brat most of the time. Wellington and Lawrence I love them both. Lol. Jada is just Jada,5.0,slowly but surely becoming a Mary Morrison fan,1387411200,"12 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AY17DZYGNYJ0L,B00K8A9CCO,KOL79,"[6, 6]",Omg I was so drawn to this book and I was so into the writing that I could not put my kindle down. It is driving me insane that I don't know what really happened to Deacon. But it keeps me guessing and wanting more. I look forward to read the next book. CD is such an amazing writer can't wait to see what she comes up with next,5.0,Need More,1400457600,"05 19, 2014",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1P2CDESI9SV5U,1591791529,"Bunny Brooks ""cookie maven""","[0, 0]","This is a great CD for relaxing. Only track 4 is a bit disconcerting; deep, droning, aggravating cello music that does not seem to belong on this terrific CD. The other tracks are easy and relaxing. Take track 4 out and this is a perfect CD. If you don't mind skipping a track, I recommend this CD.",5.0,haunting/relaxing music,1396396800,"04 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A23UIU3BJUDKE1,B0055ECOUA,Mike Whelan,"[0, 0]","Great stories form great writers. I found it refreshing to read from the earlier english. While the modern english bibles are easier to read, the KJV has the poetry and rhythm that for me makes it more real and comforting.",5.0,Love the classics,1363910400,"03 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A346N0RBEXPBYK,0226734250,"EB ""eb61""","[7, 9]","I've read and taught from most of the editing advice books out there and met many of their authors. With due respect to all the heavyweights, if my office caught fire, once I'd pulled CMS and MW11 from the flames, this is the one I'd save. I'll be taking it out often for advice, entertainment, and consolation.If you're an experienced editor or a halfway smart inexperienced one, you'll already be following most of the suggestions here about organising and logging your work and correspondence, but it's nice to have those practices validated. More valuable to those of us who work in relative isolation are the suggestions on coping with impossible expectations, fixing your mistakes and living with your fallibility, and rubbing along with special-needs authors and colleagues.Many editors seem to think that only rigid formality and abject deference are appropriate for communicating with authors in queries and letters; Saller's friendly, informal, and straightforward tone in her examples is a pleasant corrective. And some of her stories had me laughing out loud.Like Dr. Spock and Miss Manners, Saller urges you to trust yourself and consider other people, advice that seems elementary but is often hard to heed. This is a great little book.",5.0,"Sensible professional advice, presented with humour and grace",1250121600,"08 13, 2009",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A1U5XB6PCIDLIK,1477628223,Dennis Waller,"[6, 6]","This book is about that ""magic spot"" After all, the sub title is "" The Untold Secrets of the G-Spot Power."" It's about the Tantric massage and how to learn its power. This book is as much about the physical aspects as it is about the spiritual side, it's erotic yet educational. And all the stories are of different women that keep the book enthralling and entertaining. This is a great book to share with your loved one, as it should really help in getting them to up open and say what they are really thinking. All and all, this is a great book that offers fun and serves to advance your knowledge of what to do in the bedroom, this is great stuff!",5.0,This is Great Stuff!,1355270400,"12 12, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 ABG3ZHJGFI26W,0425216586,mahikahn,"[0, 0]","Dakota Dream? If your 1st name was Dakota and your married last name was Dream and you got a divorce would you not change back to your maiden name instead of keeping a name that makes you sound like a stripper or a porn star? Her reason for keeping it didn't make any sense. On the other hand not much she did made any sense.She was 23 years old and acted about 16. I noticed in the last few Lori Foster books the female lead has been in their early or mid 20's. If I wanted to read a book with the woman so much younger than the man I'd get an old Harlequin. Dakota was a slob, wearing baggy clothes and no make up with a personality like a rabid badger yet every guy she ran across was hot for her?Also it's my own personal preference but I don't think a man who shaves his head can be particularly handsome.The sex scenes were boring and mostly stupid.I liked ""Causing Havoc"" and hope the 3rd in the series ""Hard to Handle"", which I already have, is better than this one.",3.0,Didn't do it for me.,1207008000,"04 1, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EOGSYK61BA43,B00BMV0FK6,,"[0, 0]","This series kept me laughing and on the edge of my seat.really loved every book!If you love action, mystery and technology these books are a must read",5.0,action packed,1392249600,"02 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2XQJQVDJXBBXG,B005U8GQT6,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I loved the book i could really picture what was happening. I felt kira's emotions and pain. I just cant wait to read the second book.,5.0,My review,1382832000,"10 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A113JYQIJZYSZZ,1466211970,"Anemone Flynn ""Anemone Flynn""","[4, 9]","The Gaia Wars by Kenneth G. Bennett was unfortunately the most painful book I've read for review yet. Some others I never completed, but I kept hoping that something interesting would come from this one.The main character, Warren, is a 13-year-old nature-loving orphan living with his uncle. At the beginning of the book, he sabotages the jet-ski and dock of a local developer in a ill-considered motion of `revenge.' While he has a momentary feeling of regret and guilt at the moment of the damage, his actions are justified by the author and passed off as a simple prank, instead of the dangerous sabotage they would be in real life. Soon, Warren is fighting an ecological battle with not only the local people who don't seem to realize what is happening to their valley, but also the developer who has been possessed by an alien and whose shape-shifting minions are taking over the town. The theme of wilderness preservation is not well-presented, with stereotypes throughout the book, from the arrogant son of the developer who is destroying local wetlands to the alien bad guy who wants to destroy our planet.This is the first book in a proposed series, so it does not wrap up the story; there may be time for Mr. Bennett to improve his characters and rescue his writing style from unbelievable coincidences and character actions. However, I do not think I will be picking up any further books in this series.I rate this book for 15 and older on the Aardvark scale for violence and poor environmental logic.I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it.You can find more of my reviews at: [...]",1.0,Needs Improvement,1329523200,"02 18, 2012",4,9,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A2GTUT8XFSRH9T,0446577367,Donna,"[0, 0]",I keep referring back to this to help me I. Everyday situations. This is a treasure for my Christian walk and in using the power of Gods word!,5.0,Powerful,1395705600,"03 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3ICDLUQ3V2QY2,0345497597,"Kevin L. Nenstiel ""omnivore""","[4, 4]","My favorite part of any fantasy novel is the middle. In the center of the book, the story could go any direction; the tale is made of nothing but possibility. Beginnings are freighted with scene-setting, and ends close doors that can never open again, but middles could unfold into anything. They are the most promising part of the book.That's the case with Gregory Frost's ""Lord Tophet,"" sequel to ""Shadowbridge."" We dispensed with beginning in the prior book, and most of this one is full of stirring middle. What fearsome blight brought the city of Colemaigne to ruin? How did our heroine's father bring it about, and how can she and her group make it right with nothing more than an unerring talent for storytelling? These are the sorts of questions that make for heroic exploits.The second book takes up just moments after the first, when old secrets begin to come out, and blood guilt must be paid. There are hints in this volume that something bigger even than the story is going on. If the myths and revelations of the gods implied that this world is built on the ruins of an older world in the last book, we get more of a hint what that looks like this time out. But this is only hinted; it's not really part of the story, which moves on without ruminating on anything that doesn't advance the heart of the story.The characters seem to leave ruin and destruction behind, no matter what they try. Violence and abuse shift from one person's shoulders to another. Scarcely a life they enter that they don't leave shattered. But their life and art bring joy and life to their world all the same, and in the final confrontation, Leodora has the chance to make amends for her father's transgressions. The characters are neither good nor bad; they are like forces of nature.This book is not without problems. Though the first book gave us a long and detailed exposition, we are still being introduced to significant characters very late even in the second volume. The final confrontation is very brief. Apart from a couple of brief mentions, Lord Tophet, the title character of the book, doesn't enter the story until more than halfway through. And in attempting to avoid the brutal finality that can make endings disappointing, our author gives us a denouement that feels very abrupt, leaving more questions than answers.But that long exposition also fills us with a pleasing sense of wonder at the world, which is the reward many readers seek in fantasy. Lord Tophet is a complex and compelling villain whose climactic conflict gives us a chance to peel through his many layers and Leodora's too. And that abrupt ending leaves so many possibilities open that the characters remain alive in our minds.""Lord Tophet"" is not high-minded literature that deserves academic study. But it is a stirring fantasy adventure that invites us on a journey in our mind. And that, in the end, is what fantasy readers look for in a book. That, and a middle that justifies the beginning and the end.",4.0,The Middle Justifies the End,1221264000,"09 13, 2008",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2U20P2DRHUWUW,1440447977,Ricky Sides,"[5, 7]","Hi there,I just finished reading Mr. Patterson's book The Jade Owl. I found the book to be fascinating and thought provoking. Numerous times as I read the book I found myself stopping for a while and letting my mind absorb Mr. Patterson's work.Mr. Patterson's descriptive narrative was such that I could easily visualize the scenes, especially the Chinese countryside scenes as he skillfully drew the book to its conclusion.I can't say that I've ever read a book that took on a gay theme in the manner that Mr. Patterson did with such skill. Most either descend to gay bashing or attempt to elevate the lifestyle. Mr. Patterson's representation did neither. Indeed it presented a neutral opinion regarding the lifestyle that I think a growing percentage of Americans share. The main character Rowdy certainly seemed neutral enough in that regard. I think perhaps Mr. Patterson is ahead of the curve when it comes to handling the delicate intricacies of gay themed books. Maybe, just maybe we can all learn something from this talented author about accepting other people for who they are without becoming judgmental. In this regard I consider reading the book to be a mind expanding experience.As to Mr. Patterson's main storyline regarding the Jade Owl I found it original and compelling.Bravo Mr. Patterson. Well done sir.sincerely,Ricky SidesThe Birth of the Peacekeepers.",5.0,A mind expanding experience.,1255219200,"10 11, 2009",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 AAWUXA65NDMYM,0754054446,HeatherHH,"[5, 8]","I've read about ten of Georgette Heyer's books now, and I'd have to say this is one of my least favorite. While it contains the wonderful characterization and witty dialogue that I've come to know her for, I had trouble with the plot of this one.I liked the premise, of a young lord impetuously marrying a childhood friend for the purpose of controlling his inheritance, especially with the young woman being inexperienced in London and prone to speaking before she thinks. And, I did enjoy the first part of the book. I really enjoyed the girl's interaction with her husband's friends. This book had great potential.However, the girl's faux pas became too much. Eventually, I could believe that she might not know that something *was* problematic, but I couldn't believe that she wouldn't realize it was something that *could* be. It didn't seem like she learned. Also, the misunderstandings of who loves whom were really overdone and dragged on to long. The last third of the book became very melodramatic with kidnapping, mistaken identity, etc, etc. With any other writer, I'd have put it down. It's a credit to Heyer's skill that I was able to still enjoy her writing skill, even as I was occasionally rolling my eyes at the overblown plot.I will not be reading this one again, and will not be keeping it. My favorite Georgette Heyer books which I would recommend instead areA Civil Contract(out of print),The Nonesuch, andThe Foundling.",3.0,"One of my least favorite Heyer books, 3 1/2 stars",1298332800,"02 22, 2011",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A1S61NWPC8KQMW,1495267822,Dawn shirk,"[0, 0]","Good plot, great suspense. Maybe a bit too much of side story, but still worth reading. especially if you like political thrillers.",5.0,Great read,1399075200,"05 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NUKCI14Y5CUL,1583332723,"Grcla ""Say something about yourself!""","[10, 12]","This is an excellent book and convinced me to go a vegetarian diet 9 months ago. The Kindle edition is, however, poorly formatted and the graphs are completely unusable and unreadable.",5.0,Excellent book but not on Kindle,1303344000,"04 21, 2011",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1VM59IGQWJWIG,0425264394,J. Campos,"[0, 0]","SPOILER ALERTThe villain has a nasty, deadly hook and face full of numb scar tissue. The perfect opponent for Reacher to brawl with bear handed. I could picture the hook gouging trenches across Reacher's arms and chest. Reacher's fist landing with a deadening thud against Allen's grotesque face. I was hoping for a grudge-match, instead we get a stereotypical standoff with the love interest as a human shield. Just boring.The rest of the book was great, maybe a little too much filler here and there but very good. Still a thriller.",3.0,Expected more from the ending.,1359936000,"02 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2L3VK6QQ91ILU,1933550139,Earth that Was,"[25, 30]","Murray Rothbard grew up in New York's jewish community in the 1930s where apparently, in politics, everyone was a socialist of some description. The only right wingers among his circle, were Murray and his engineer father. A concerned uncle, a Communist Party member, said young Murray would be safe in the bright egalitarian future to come if he only learned to keep their mouth shut. Murray apparently didn't learn the lesson, and this book covers much of the story of what happened to him.Posthumously published ""The Betrayal of the American Right"" is more than an autobiographical work. It's also a fully footnoted overview of the history of the American right, or at least of a significant slice of the right, in the period between 1910 and 1970, along with Murray Rothbard's insider's account covering more or less the second half of that period. Analysis and autobiography comprise the content with the former winning out in the overall page count. It could just as easily have been be called ""Fission and Fusion among the Fragments"" because it also provides a bird's eye and an on-the-ground view of the synthetic and ""antithetic"" process of political coalition building and disassembly, the original ""creative destruction"".The mainstream academic liberal conventional wisdom has it that the supporters of laisser faire were ""radicals"" in the first half, or maybe first two thirds, of the nineteenth century and were ""conservatives"" for the rest. Nay, says Rothbard. There were still a few laisser faire classical liberals at the close of the 19th century and in their opposition to the new American imperialism, two of them, William Graham Sumner and Edward Atkinson, the founder of the Anti-Imperialist League, who used to write to American troops in the Philippines urging their insubordination, were as ""radical"" as ever.In the early twentieth century, the H. L. Mencken and Albert Nock, both ardent ""individualists"", were generally considered part of the left, especially on cultural matters, opposing as they did Wilson's enlistment of America into the Great War and the newly minted Versailles Treaty. They found themselves allied with 'leftist' , mainly Progressives like Borah, Nye, LaFollette, Charles Lindbergh Senior and the pro-labor (arch-opponent of the Anaconda Mining Company that dominated his home state) Montana's Senator Burton K Wheeler. Nock and Mencken even welcomed the Russian Revolution, at least at first. During the twenties and thirties they criticised the Harding, Carnegie and Hoover administrations as corporatists, using the power of government to cement in place a cartelised capitalism. Their loose alliance with the Progressives split as they saw in FDR more of the same, but this time with a populist and egalitarian veneer. The Progressives were perhaps blinded by the veneer. Nock and Mencken were quick to spot that much of FDR's New Deal agenda derived from Wilson's war measures and indeed from Hoover. This insight was lost until resurrected by New Left 'revisionist' historians in the 1970s and only of late has begun to influence popular accounts of the period.The Progressive economic journalist, and early New Deal supporter, John T Flynn made parallel observations, originally criticizing the Roosevelt for failing to make sufficiently radical institutional reforms impacting big business and preferring the less radical path of borrow and spend populism. Flynn believed war lay at the end of the debt road with armaments being the one form of public spending both left and right would swallow. As the depression continued and FDR's experiments failed to find the magic formula, the administration, as Flynn predicted, turned increasingly to war preparations and foreign intrigues. The old individualists once again found themselves reunited with some of their former colleagues from among the liberal Great War anti-interventionists, a minority of whom now saw the new march to war as destructive of Progressive principles. (Although for lawyer and former new dealer Burton Wheeler FDR's attempts at court packing was the last straw).The majority of the liberal left however had no problem shelving whatever commitments they may have had to peace and neutrality. Historian Harry Elmer Barnes identified the same split as Rothbard and believed the majority liberals had become inured to power and preferred war to risking electoral defeat of the New Deal. As the relcalcitrant minority of old time liberal neutralists moved one way, the administration scaled down it's early anti-business rhetoric and welcomed big business back into the fold. ""Dr. New Deal"" became ""Dr. Win the War."" But business itself was split between the ""internationally oriented"" (i.e. pro-British) Eastern establishment, which welcomed European intervention in both wars, and their mid-western peers who opposed it.Old time anti-war Progressives, the individualists and more nationally oriented business people, represented by the Chicago Time's Colonel MacCormick and Senator Robert A Taft, were now fused into a new opposition coalition that Rothbard labels 'The Old Right'. In time they began to share their political and economic ideas not just their foreign policy objections. John T Flynn, for example, shifted to a more laisser faire capitalist position despite originally calling for tighter ""utility style regulation"" of corporations. The ""America First"" and the (broader still) isolationist movement was heavily influenced by the Old Right but not identical to it, embracing as it did a broader section of American opinion, including at times Trotskyites, Norman Thomas' Socialist Party and Charles Lindbergh Junior.Pearl Harbor was the nadir but not the end of the whole isolationist movement. The Roosevelt administration's bungled sedition trial against an odd bod assortment of mostly eccentric anti-war pamphleteers was seen by many as an official warning to the Old Right to cease and desist. During the war Old Right journalists, like John T Flynn, were denied access to journals that had published them for decades, some were thrown out of jobs and even smeared by the Communists, now relishing their chance to play super-patriots.(The smear continues to this day. Take for example Phillip ""Portnoy's Complaint"" Roth's recent fantasy novel ""The Plot Against America"" painting a fascist alternative history under an imagined 1940 President Charles Lindbergh Junior with Burton K Wheeler as vice-president in an anti-semitic America. As wikipedia reports ""Roth depicts Wheeler imposing marital law in Lindbergh's absence, whereas the real Wheeler had been a leading opponent of the martial law imposed in Montana during World War I. Author Bill Kaufman describes Wheeler as being, in fact an ""anti-draft, antiwar, anti-big business defender of civil liberties"""" . Wheeler, who ran for Montana Governor in 1920, on a ticket that included an African American and a Blackfoot Indian makes for an unlikely nazi. Perhaps Roth didn't know it, but back in the 1940s, in a pamphlet also entitled ""The Plot Against America"", the pro-war communists charged Burton Wheeler and Harry S Truman as fronts for fascism.)Wars, thankfully, end. Senator Taft, essentially the Congressional leader of the movement, failed to secure the Presidential nomination in 1948 as Eisenhower, who had also been offered the chance to run as a Democrat, swept in. Rothbard notes that the Taft's southern delegates were known as the 'black and tans', they were mainly African American, where the Eisenhower delegates were labelled the 'lilly whites'. The Old Right did not end there. The Truman administration's push for NATO and the Marshall Plan saw a revived Old Right opposing once again a renewed ""sphere of influence"" global power politics. Taft championed international law and went on to campaign against the Korean War, along with Joseph Kennedy and Herbert Hoover. But patients often seem to revive before death. The last major Old Right campaign was for the Bricker Amendment. This was an ultimately failed attempt to defend federalism by preventing Washington from exploiting it's international treaties power to invade the constitutional jurisdiction of state and local government. Treaty powers are an engine for federal centralization not unique to the United States. Rothbard rounds off his discussion of the Old Right with Robert Taft's eerie prophetic speeches warning against US involvement in Indo-China. Rothbard says Ike partially heeded Taft's warnings and opted for ""jaw jaw"" not ""war war"" via the Geneva accords. It would be for a new generation of new frontiersmen to completely ignore Taft.Interestingly the Kennedy brothers were both friends of ""Tailgunner Joe"" McCarthy. Rothbard discusses McCarthyism and the rise of anti-communism as the factor that tipped the mass base of the right from a quasi-libertarian anti-statist movement to a quasi-militarist ultra-nationalist one. He notes that McCarthy, never previously associated with the right-wing of the GOP actually had his first experience in ""red baiting"" copying attacks made by venerable democratic socialist leader Norman Thomas on a Democrat who was a mutual rival. McCarthy was surrounded by ex-communists and much red baiting had it's roots in the internecine conflicts of the far left. And it was the Truman administration that originally fanned the fires of the red scare, even if the flame they fanned threatened to scald them too. Didn't Herbert Humphrey once call for internment of communists? Still McCarthyism did bring a new wave of urban, working class and catholic rank and file into the right, along with the energy of initiative after decades of reacting. Rothbard admits he was attracted by it's populism and felt, as a libertarian, that 'voluntary McCarthyism', criticisms directed at government employees were fair game, even though he ultimately came to conclude with Frank Chodorov that ""..the right way to eliminate communists from government jobs is to eliminate the jobs"".Eisenhower must have felt much the same opportunistic attraction as Rothbard. His critics have noted that Ike was slow to defend his friend General Marshall from McCarthyite claims. Ike's unusual lapse here is usually attributed to simple party political opportunism. The Old Right had plenty of bones to pick with General Marshall over his role on the eve of Pearl Harbor, bones already being exhumed by the first wave of Pearl Harbor revisionists who were then in print. Interestingly, as Rothbard notes, McCarthy didn't pick any of these 'old right' bones. McCarthyism, especially as it began to target Army and business officials, was now widely seen as ""going too far"". When the political ""establishment"" of the GOP's centre right required it, the domestic anti-communist campaign was halted and it's energies directed entirely to the foreign communist threat.In Rothbard's account, critical to this switch and the replacement of the Old Right by the globalist and anticommunist New Right was the emergence of McCarthy biographer, former OSS agent, William F Buckley and his ""National Review"". The NR masthead fluttered with a whole crew of ex-communists including James Burnham, previously America's leading Trotskyite theoretician, and Frank Meyer, who once ran the Communist Party training school. Buckley and NR believed in sidelining the small government agenda for the unspecified duration of the Cold War. He also mustered up a gaggle of mostly European emigre ""traditionalist conservatives"" who looked back to the old Tory campaign against the French Revolution, rather than the campaign for the American Revolution, where the ""Old Right"", with it's strict construction constitutionalism had it's heart. Meyer proposed a ""new fusionism"" between traditionalist conservatism, libertarian economics and cold war anti-communism. This is where the Goldwater / Reagan / Bush movement that proudly marched under the ""conservative"" label drew it's source. In contrast the Old Right stalwarts like Taft always protested liberal attempts to brand them as ""conservatives"". Rothbard says the trad-cons were, in any case, only of ornamental value to Buckley.Rothbard airs, but does not explicitly endorse, the speculation that NR may itself have been a CIA front. There is certainly some circumstantial evidence to support this, the CIA often used ""ex-agents"" to pursue it's goals and NR had a small army ex-agents. It is now undisputed that the agency covertly subsidised small intellectual journals, mainly in Europe, which gave a platform to mainly pro-US social democrats. As intriguing as the idea is, someone surely would have blabbed by now. Although Rothbard himself wrote the odd economic piece for NR, his ""dovish"" views on nuclear brinkmanship were unacceptable. It was a mutual dislike. The New Right's mass base, Rothbard believed, positively drooled at the thought of nuking the Kremlin. The rejection by Buckley of articles criticising American militarism from former liberal, former America Firster and sometime McCarthy supporter John T Flynn, in effect reiterating the treatment Flynn had previously received from his former liberal peers, showed the wheel had turned full circle once again.Rothbard thus broke with the ""New Right"" dominated right and, although still an isolationist and free market libertarian, sought temporary alliances in the newly emerging and anti-war New Left of the 1960s. The British free market economist Samuel Brittain also, at least theoretically, found much of interest in the New Left. There was some return of the favour too. SDS President Carl Oglesby explicitly praised the Old Right, and, although Rothbard doesn't note it, Charles Reich's popular 1970 paen to the counter-culture ""The Greening of America"" displayed, at least, some sympathy for the `small town, individualist' values dear to the Old Right. Rothbard's keen eye provides some dissecting observations during his sojourn on the left too. He found their fashion for ""participative decision making"", essentially a process of non-decision making where out-boring ones rivals became the way power was pursued. And he saw first hand Nixon's opportunist genius in pulling the anti-conscription mass base rug out from under the New Left 'leadership' in the early 1970s, effectively killing it off as a political force. (For most of the one time radicals their personal future would be to fade to grey in the bureaucracy.)The strength of ""Betrayal"" is three-fold. It spotlights a little known and now politically inconvenient chapter of American history. And it combines historic overview with inside anecdotes yet equipped with academic grade footnotes and references to guide further investigation. This depth is also a weakness. Rothbard's focus, and his definition of ""Old Right"", is the libertarian and quasi-libertarian right almost exclusively. This is understandable in a semi-autobiographical work by a major libertarian thinker, but it's certainly not the whole story of the whole American right. The book, for example, tells us nothing about, for example, Henry Cabot Lodge or Lawrence Dennis. It focuses on a handful of threads but not the whole cloth. An attempt to document the whole right over such a period would require a tome, and indeed one has recently been written, Frohnen, Beer and Nelson's ""American Conservatism. An Encyclopedia"" (ISI Books, Delaware 2006). I stopped counting the number of it's contributors when my count exceeded 82. There are no prizes for guessing which of the two books is easier to read. In ""Betrayal"" the quality of writing and argument is sound, and often entertaining, but even with it's 1970 finish, this raises the question as to why Rothbard did not publish this book in his own lifetime. Perhaps he was aware of it's flaw and may have intended eventually to produce a more broadly focused book. Either that or a better title may have been in order.",4.0,Excellent historical overview but a misleading title,1200787200,"01 20, 2008",25,30,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3FISR1LV5TX2Q,1584282304,"Richard J. Cirminello ""rich""","[12, 14]","The first line of the book description is a blatant lie:""Packed with incredible images and step-by-step techniques... ""Images are well exposed, professional quality, but a bit dry and boring; can't recall having reacted to a single image thinking it was 'incredible.'Case studies are about as close as this book comes to presenting 'techniques.'I have been shooting with off camera flash for a couple of years and have amassed a decent kit of small hotshoe flashes as well as studio strobes, therefore the first four chapters (FOUR CHAPTERS!!), about gear, presented very little new or useful information for me.I was certainly misled by the title: ""Minimalist Lighting: Professional Techniques for Location Photography"" and had expected to read about ""Professional Techniques for Location Photography."" Well, sadly there was very little of that; the book is (another one) mostly about gear *yawn*The lone chapter that included case studies and lighting diagrams was interesting and contained the kind of information I was looking for, however ONE chapter of techniques compared with FOUR dedicated to 'gear and light 101' this book certainly lives up to 'Minimalist' in the title much more than ""Professional Techniques for Location Photography."" Too bad the price wasn't as minimalist as this book's usefulness.Even so, I don't think ANY single image was 'incredible' as the book description stated.I give it one star for the one chapter (out of five) of somewhat useful case studies.For anyone intermediate to advanced with off-camera flash photography I would recommend skipping this one; even beginners can do much better.EDIT: added another star to my review. After reading several other reviews, I concede that the material this book contains can be quite useful to some, however I maintain that the title which seems to target more advanced photographers is misleading.",2.0,Not for advanced shooters: Minimalist with Minimal info; title is misleading,1257984000,"11 12, 2009",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A37XGUQ1VH0XM6,0345323084,"OAKSHAMAN ""oakshaman""","[11, 12]","It always confused me that Andre Norton's first novel about the Stellar Patrol (1953) should deal with its demise. For that is what this excellently crafted novel deals with, the end of that noble service after 1000 years as guardians of peace and order in the First Galactic Empire.It is a time of decadence and dissolution in the Empire. Sector wars are carrying off more and more worlds from Central Control. Individual bureaucrats are usurping their positions to carve out private kingdoms. Only the incorruptible Patrol and its Code remain to stand in their way. Yet, the Patrol has seen better days. Their ships are old and there are no replacements- only cannibalization keeps them running. The supply ships come less and less often. Communications between sectors- and with Central Control itself is breaking down. There are fewer and fewer new recruits. The only thing still as strong as ever is the dedication, honor, and tradition of the Patrol.Specifically, this is the story of the last voyage of the Vegan Scout, Starfire. She was sent on a final, futile mission, along with her sister ships to remap and rediscover forgotten worlds near the galactic rim. In reality, she has been sent out by an ambitious Imperial bureaucrat to die- yet due to their ancient trust and loyalty the patrol obeys. Her Patrol crewmen and elite Rangers (think of them as Marine Scouts, but with finely trained telepathic powers) finally crash land on a world so ancient that all record of it has been lost. But sometimes endings come full circle- and beginnings are found and restored....If there had been no other creator of hard science fiction, or of fantasy, in the second half of the 20th century, Andre Norton would have been enough.",5.0,The Patrol- and incorruptible Service in a dieing Empire,1080950400,"04 3, 2004",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A11Q8ZUOFX6721,0800733118,"Susan Sleeman ""Host of The Christian Suspense...","[14, 14]","Do you have favorite authors whose books you await? Well I have a new one. Irene Hannon jumped onto my must read list after the release of her first book in her Heroes of Quantico series and cemented her placement with the release of An Eye For An Eye.Recently released An Eye for an Eye features FBI Agent Mark Sanders, but this time he's on restricted duty from after an accidental shooting and not partnering with his fellow agent Coop. At least not until a sniper fires at Mark in the park when he's talking to old girlfriend Emily Lawson.Trouble is Mark is uncertain if the sniper wants to kill him or Emily. And the reader is uncertain, too, until the very end. Along the way we watch Mark and Emily fall back in love as Mark and Emily are thrust together while he looks out for her safety. Oh and if you read Against All Odds you'll be happy to know that Coop is featured in the book but he's in the unique role of protecting Mark.An Eye For An Eye is Hannon's second romantic suspense novel. She has a long list of romance titles under her belt and that experience really shows as she fully develops her characters and their relationship struggles. She couples these very likeable and real characters with well researched FBI suspense and creates books that you sit down and read in one night because you can't put them down.If you missed Against All Odds, I recommend reading it first as it will make An Eye For An Eye more meaningful, but it's not necessary. What is necessary if you are a romantic suspense reader is to rush out and purchase both of these books and getting them read before the third and final book in the series, In Harms Way releases in April of 2010.",5.0,Irene Hannon has jumped onto my must read list.,1264982400,"02 1, 2010",14,14,helpful,1.0,1 A33FFCI97RCMMG,0743454502,"a midwest reader ""oliviamt""","[42, 46]","I've read and enjoyed all of Jodi Picoult's books and I must say, this is one of her finest.Historical fiction based on fact, moving from present to past and back again; quirky, likeable characters; elements of magical realism (reminiscent of Alice Hoffman); and the serious and controversial topics of genocide and genetic selection, are all seamlessly woven into this story about love and second chances.Unlike several of her previous novels, Second Glance does not include courtroom drama, but Picoult fans will enjoy her usual plot twists and signature ""wow"" ending. And as expected, readers will find themselves thinking and questioning their views long after they've turned the last page.Highly recommended for book discussion groups.",5.0,One of Picoult's finest,1048723200,"03 27, 2003",42,46,helpful,0.9130434782608695,1 A216HW4H2MY6OT,0393060691,lawguy20,"[5, 6]",As a self described 'bleeding heart liberal' I found this book to be a call to intellectual arms. Outstanding book with a powerful argument in favor of liberalism. Not only did Krugman clarify the whole health care debate in this book but he gave me a thorough understanding of the history of liberal thought in America. I am glad i read this book and it has re-enforced my liberal beliefs. If only members of Congress thought like this....,5.0,What every liberal is thinking and should be saying!,1253750400,"09 24, 2009",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2CCSCJLF8P0RP,B009IQNMTS,Ikie,"[4, 6]","As there is only one other review for this book I thought it only right to give my review so others will have a bit more information to go off of. I truly enjoy PNR books and this one fit the criteria that I look for.Since it is the first book in the series quite a bit of the story had to do with telling the history and setting the parameters of the werewolves, but it was done fairly well within the story. I will not bother giving a story breakdown as the book description on the Amazon page pretty much covers it. I will add that the alpha males are very possessive and protective.I can see the potential for other books in the series and will, for sure, buy the second book when it comes out. I would have given this a 3.5 if I had been able. It didn't quite hit the mark for a 4 star but came close. The price was, I felt, a bit steep for a first book in a new series as well as it only having approx 105 pages. I did take these factors into consideration when I rated the book.",3.0,Has potential for a really good series,1351123200,"10 25, 2012",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 AZB7MAHDCCHMW,0451211634,"Joseph ""Joseph""","[0, 0]",Interesting story and interesting characters. Good descriptive writing although I was a little dissapointed in the manner which the ending unraveled.,4.0,A good read,1365811200,"04 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2I1ZJEXOPDF79,3936709017,"Amazon Customer ""tdunkerley2""","[25, 33]","If you like professional lighting, covergirl beauty, interesting backgrounds, and modern photography techniques, then this book is NOT for you. If you mostly enjoy the Playboy style of glamour photography - then don't bother with this book. It really is just a collection of very plain-jane looking women without makeup and shot in perfectly boring domestic locations. The cover is probably the best shot of the book. The photographer even managed to take a few gorgeous women (Aria G., Jana, and a few others) and create the most boring, unflattering shots I've seen of these beauties. I gave it a rating of 3 for those that like boring, plain, flat lit photography. Sorry Dave!",3.0,Not what I expected,1065484800,"10 7, 2003",25,33,helpful,0.7575757575757576,1 A35RCD7ZMLKPYO,B004MPRZAW,Lfitz,"[0, 0]",I loved Allison's story...I love the Landry siblings....great book...Rick and Allison in the beginning were funny with their bickering back and forth and the slow progression in their relationship was a nice pace too...really nice story line.,5.0,Good book,1388448000,"12 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1HFBVC2S6VEY9,0451237382,"Sarah Frost ""Sarah""","[0, 0]","13/06 - Not nearly as good as the other Shelter Bay books. The story didn't focus on JT and Mary's story enough, there was too much time spent on wrapping up previous couples' stories and creating the beginning of new ones for future books. The romance was disappointing, not long enough and not particularly interesting. It was like Ross wasn't all that interested in writing the two very short scenes, like they were throwaway scenes - it's a romance book so it has to have a romance scene, doesn't mean the author has to put any effort into it. If you're a fan of the series I would almost recommend you skip this one, otherwise you might feel like giving up the series altogether and, hopefully considering the quality of the previous books, that would be a shame.",2.0,Disappointing addition to the series,1380240000,"09 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30DNZQPIYZ6KX,B00G0LERU2,Jana Gundy,"[0, 0]","I'm so addicted to this series and her goldi locks one as well. There is so much heart ache in this one and I really feel for Cindy. She definitely doesn't feel like she fits in while Timothy takes to it like he belongs in this other world. There is a new guy in this one and I must say, I love him! I can't wait to see what happens in the next one. I'm definitely excited about Goldi and Cindy meeting up.",5.0,Addicted!,1393545600,"02 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3S03YZTFOIGOE,0380753022,E. A. Farrington,"[9, 11]","The extreme popularity of this book bewilders me. Though it is well-written and there are numerous opportunities for really heart-wrenching romance, Lindsey fails to capitalize on any of these, and the heroine--though not wholly unlikable--is just frustrating. Her failure to realize that James discerns her gender does nothing to recommend her intellect, and the way she childishly mimics his habits reeks of girlish infatuation. But for all that, her personality is not particularly offensive. Her nave description of sexual arousal as a type of ""nausea"" is even endearing. No, my problem with Georgie is this: ""Her temper wanted to flare, but when James rested between her thighs, anger was the farthest thing from her mind."" This sentiment is repeated constantly, no matter how James deliberately humiliates or hurts her. I understand the ease in rechanneling anger into lust, but Georgie's legitimate problems repeatedly disappear when James kisses her into submission. He, in effect, sexually manipulates her into being pliable and content, and... it works. With no apparent resentment or even realization on her part. He treats her like a valueless sex object for the duration of the novel, and though it sometimes seems she will call him out on it, she ultimately does nothing. Instead, she settles for the ""tenderness"" she senses when they make love, a cringingly classic female mistake.Making Georgie's ludicrous gullibility acutely obvious is the comparison to her brother-in-law and his wife. James mockingly refers to how his brother's wife withheld sexual favors during a fight, confident that his own wife would never do such a thing. Sadly, he's right. Georgie's internal dialogues, depicted as between herself and ""her conscience,"" are invariably lost by her conscience and won by some hedonistic part of herself with no practicality and less self-respect. (James's ego is, admittedly, nothing out of the ordinary; but the delight I take in these novels is that the female usually manages to take the hero down a peg. George only lowers herself.)In short, this book was difficult to finish; I had absolutely no desire for Georgie to have her foolishness unpunished, and I could not bear for James to have his misogyny and manipulativeness forever unchecked. The relationship was shallow and unsatisfying. Overall, a disappointment.",2.0,Disappointing,1219104000,"08 19, 2008",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A17FUEQIMBHNEM,0312493282,Barbara Howlett,"[0, 0]",My grandson (age 3) loves dinosaurs and this book is perfect for him. He points to each one and names them.,5.0,Good Book for toddlers,1397692800,"04 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32HHUKZFIPYA7,1559275782,Pamela McBride,"[4, 5]",The chapter on changing habits was worth every cent I spent on this book! I intend on reading it again and again!,5.0,Changing habits,1142553600,"03 17, 2006",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2FHBHNKHRDS72,B00HFYQ346,"MJSanders1021 ""Reading by the Book Blog""","[0, 0]",This was a PERFECT ending to a WONDERFUL biker series. Muff has my heart and made sure his GIRL was protected and knew he loved and cherished her without a doubt. Yeah the sex was HOT too but I was pulled in more for the family bonding and the support this make shift family showed for one another.,5.0,YES!!!!,1388361600,"12 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GV5OKLYRXKNT,0743285026,Charles Albert Homsy,"[12, 26]","Thank you for inviting this review. President Carter's new book is a an authentic exposition of ethnic cleansing upon which the founding and expansion of the State of Israel is based. This reviewer visited Israel in the 1980's and observed the deep hostility between the Jewish citizenry and Palestinians both inside and oustide the then ""boundaries"" of the State. I returned to the USA to realize how little Americans knew of this hostility and its sources.In the late 1990's I used retirement time to read a number of primary sources on the events leading to the founding of the State of Israel, on the circumstances of that founding, on and the series of conflicts between that State and the indigenous and surrounding Arab peoples.From other studies I developed a much clearer understanding of the roots of the discontent in Israel/Palestine. These prepared me for reading President Carter's personal account of his involvement in this discontent and violence.He provides text, maps and historical perspective that did not surprise me. He is direct in castigating the US for abandoning efforts for resolution of the conflict. He is accurate in emphasizing the supremacy of UN Resolution 242 in mandating the withdrawal of Israel from ocuppied territories and ""accepting"" its legal borders.Shulamit Aloni, the Israeli Prize laureate who once served as Minister of Education under Yitzhak Rabin, has written recently in Yediot Acharonot, Israel's largest circulating newspaper:""The US Jewish Establishment's onslaught on former President Jimmy Carter is based on him daring to tell the truth which is known to all: through its army, the government of Israel practices a brutal form of Apartheid in the territory it occupies. Its army has turned every Palestinian village and town into a fenced-in, or blocked-in, detention camp. All this is done in order to keep an eye on the population's movements and to make its life difficult. Israel even imposes a total curfew whenever the settlers, who have illegally usurped the Palestinians' land, celebrate their holidays or conduct their parades.""I believe Aloni and Carter have it right. The sine qua non for peace is the reversal of the illegal taking of Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese lands since 1967. Jerusalem must be a converted to an international city with equal rights for all its residents and just restitution must be made to the refugees driven out of what is now the state of Israel in 1948.All praise to President Carter for taking such a public stand for honor and decency. All Americans will benefit from his courage.",5.0,Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid,1168732800,"01 14, 2007",12,26,helpful,0.46153846153846156,1 A22RY8N8CNDF3A,0393341372,"Loyd E. Eskildson ""Pragmatist""","[6, 6]","At least one-third of America's homeless persons are severely mentally ill, while another one-tenth the population of jails and prisons are as well. About 25% of all severely mentally ill individuals living in the community are victims of violent crimes each year; this same group is responsible for at least 5% of all homicides.Deinstitutionalization was a policy to move psychiatric patients out of public mental hospitals and place them in the community. The trend began after WWII, sparked by a series of exposes of dreadful conditions in state psychiatric hospitals and aided by the discovery of effective anti-psychotic drugs in the early 1950s. Unfortunately, essential after care in most places varied from inadequate to invisible.Additional impetus came from the legal profession via logic that civil liberties were violated when patients were involuntarily treated in most cases, including refusing to take medications.An estimated 4 million American adults have the most severe forms of psychiatric disorders - schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and sever depression. The most severe 1% are the ones most in need of enforced treatment.Relatively simple solutions that Torrey recommends include direct observation of medication-taking (backed up by required inpatient commitment if not complied with), the use of longer-lasting medications (eg. single injections that provide treatment over 3-4 weeks), and compilation of local statistics that reveal the true cost of untreated mental illnesses.",5.0,Important Reading!,1232496000,"01 21, 2009",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3HLM0Y2QIM9WL,B00G2FWOJW,sabrosita7394,"[0, 0]","This book is cute and funny, if you have a cat or love cats it is a must read. I loved it!",5.0,cute and funny,1398988800,"05 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2L5XWA1DRCFAH,0751536822,Akethan,"[0, 0]","I had recently read THE ALCHEMIST - looking for a book that would take me somewhere and - personally - prove cathartic.While I wasn't at all impressed with that book, THE FIVE PEOPLE... proved to be such a book. The moments after death, a life in review - and the people that have an impact and effect on a life are so often never revealed or recognized. Not while alive, anway. Albom's book proposes that five of these people will be there for you in heaven.Eddie (main character) has expectations of who may be among the five, after having met his first person - but still, cannot always know who these people will be. The book's language runs clean and brief - without becoming bogged down on a lot of religious/spiritual speculations about the nature of heaven or life itself.I took a lot out of THE FIVE PEOPLE... - and, as I see from other reviews I am not alone in this, it left me wondering who would be among the folks I'd meet in heaven. And who would I be waiting for in turn.",4.0,"Youth, Like Pristine Glass...",1100304000,"11 13, 2004",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3F7FDDLQJGL8G,0399141383,KenWG,"[0, 0]","Anther super read from John Sandford. Fast paced, great believable action and exhibits the capability of main character to sift through the details.",5.0,Anther super read from John Sandford,1384646400,"11 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3UYCO5X5RB5XU,0061243507,Daddyo,"[10, 19]",In a pinch this 224 page hardcover book makes good kindling or a combination of natural laxative bathroom reading + T.P.Other than that it's pretty useless,1.0,In a pinch,1325721600,"01 5, 2012",10,19,helpful,0.5263157894736842,1 A3EPHAH5SYSNJQ,0983486042,"Love reading ""J.T.P""","[4, 6]",I read this book in one day!!! Keisha Ervin is the best at what she does!!!! Awesome read hope there is a sequel!!,5.0,GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,1320105600,"11 1, 2011",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2L77ZX9ANYJLP,1455548987,Amanda,"[0, 0]",This book wad amazing. I laughed and cried and smiled. I hope that she writes a second book. I want more :),5.0,Amanda,1357430400,"01 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AD4ATFEYI5NNZ,1620291401,Sherri Nurse,"[0, 0]",What an exciting book! I stayed up all night reading this as I couldn't put it down. I just had to know what was going to happen next and it always kept me guessing and wanting to rush ahead. I loved all the characters and felt like I knew them all. I will definitely get the next book. Thank you Anna. Best book I have read in a long time.,5.0,Awesome Read,1393200000,"02 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A29A0GK4M4MKDP,0393035158,Yours Truly,"[6, 16]","Like most of us, Sam Harris holds a lot of conflicting thoughts and emotions. Informed Westerners know well the crimes committed by religion that he outlines. He seems to think he has laid out a consistent argument for disposing with the Abrahamic faiths. The first half of the book was on its way, to my mind.But what really is eating at Harris, it seems, is that there are Muslims who will destroy themselves in order to kill infidels, preferably Israelis and Americans. This thought frightens him so badly that he can't imagine a Muslim who isn't a potential suicide bomber. He quotes passage after passage from the Koran that demonstrates the religion's attitude toward the ungodly. He insists that all Muslims are fundamentalists who take these admonitions literally. The possibility that they will obtain weapons of mass destruction outweighs any possible call for restraint. If you don't agree with him, you're not a realist. If you do, then no amount of torture at Guantanamo or anywhere else is unjustified.Then he claims to be a Buddhist!The large number of people who have bought and reviewed this book demonstrate that the topics of religion, terror and the future of reason are compelling in our time. Perhaps Harris's book will spur others to reflect on the issues he raises. In the meantime, if Harris came to me, I would suggest he contemplate the consequences of the actions he recommends. I'd also have him re-read the Constitution and the works of the Enlightenment thinkers. Their case for reason had nothing to do with locking up and abusing people with whom they disagreed.",3.0,Contradictions Abound!,1153180800,"07 18, 2006",6,16,helpful,0.375,1 A1TD9JUXG1DGW3,0446519138,"Allie Kat ""sarahphin""","[151, 157]","Looked at one way, this is a collection of cheerful essays with homespun spiritual wisdom and housekeeping advice that satisfies our appetite for the nostalgic. Looked at another way, it's a terrifying reflection of a society of souls so sterile that we take comfort in being told it's okay to use scented bath products and buy flowers. Still, thousands of women have found meaning in the book, and they can't be all wrong.This book is more about abundance than simplicity. In places Ms. Breathnach does extol the virtues of simplicity and has you clearing clutter; in others she has you buying and hoarding and collecting everything, from fabric remnants, just in case some day you get the urge to staple lace to the pantry shelves, to autumn leaves for exuberant Victorian tableaus, (aka dust-collectors). These things are much more fun to read about than to actually do. I don't want to tie little circles of fabric to the tops of jam jars; even when they're bought that way, I'm the one who gets to cut them off and throw them in the garbage. Nor do I want to replace the buttons on all my clothes with cute ones, I curse enough if I have to replace one where the manufacturer did a shoddy job. I don't want to know what decoupage is; and most especially, I really, really, don't want to buy a hat to cheer myself up. Having hot mulled cider after raking leaves sounds charming (and I loathe cider), but the reality is that after raking leaves my back hurts, I'm exhausted and can barely crawl to the shower to wash the sweat and dead bugs off, and if I had to search for a hot mulled cider recipe I'd whack the nearest bystander with a poker.Since books are for reading and pondering, the pleasure in this one is in doing exactly that, and it does provide a lot of it. The problem I had with it was its overall frenetic busyness, which is in sharp contrast to its meditative advice. If you haven't already read it, go ahead, you know you want to, and somewhere in all its generosity and abundance you'll find ideas that appeal to you and that you can realistically use. But remember, if you can't keep up with the suggestions and images given for creating a perfect home, don't feel guilty. If you can, you're either a Stepford Wife or have a serious amphetamine problem.",4.0,A Satisfying Read.,964483200,"07 25, 2000",151,157,helpful,0.9617834394904459,1 A1ZZH31KBTONAH,0765326264,"Amazon Customer ""Gwen""","[22, 25]","First, I'm a dog lover and secondly a Lab lover at that. I was driving to work the other day and heard the author being interviewed on CHUM FM here in Toronto and thank goodness for traffic jams as I downloaded his book right away to my kindle. I stayed up until 3 this morning laughing, crying, cheering and wanting more. I think a lot of writers have tried to write from an animals prespective in the past but nobody has captured it as much as Bruce Cameron did. I saw each of my dogs in all of the ones that were portrayed in the book. I'm trying to write a review that isn't all about the comparrisons of my dogs to the ones in the book and it's hard. This is not a book just for dog lovers, this is a book for anyone. I think this should almost be mandatory to all new dog owners to read as you will never experiance the love of anything like a dog's love and Bruce captures that over and over again.",5.0,What an amazing book!,1279584000,"07 20, 2010",22,25,helpful,0.88,1 A6OXBGSDRTDNN,040303082X,Bibliophile,"[8, 20]","Wells's socialist stance may annoy some, but to me that's not nearly as irritating as his constant use of the term ""Aryan"" to refer to Indo-Europeans or, more specifically, northern Europeans. The A- word might have been in vogue in the 1920's, but it has been so much abused by Nazis that no self-respecting professional historians would use it nowadays. In Nazi Germany, ""Aryans"" practically meant Germans with no Jewish ancestry. (This is not to confuse with ""Arianism,"" the ancient Christian sect which bears a close resemblance to Unitarianism. Sir Isaac Newton was a closet Arian.)Still, Wells managed to cram together an impressive array of facts and figures from the history of the whole world (and not just the Western world). Not a bad job for a non-historian.",4.0,Not bad for an amateur,1099094400,"10 30, 2004",8,20,helpful,0.4,1 A1ZN10DEMK137N,B008J51XF4,"Love Monkey """A.M."""","[11, 11]","Marni writes a book with good straightforward advice to men. I sincerely appreciate that this a ""post alpha"" book helping men pursue women. Myself and other men are ready to move beyond that antiquated and inaccurate concept. I searched for alpha in the book and the word is not used even once, thank you! In the book Marni focuses on ""masculinity"" instead of ""alpha"". I find these to be dramatic distinctions. If you want to read more on masculine psychology and character, I recommendWill Work for Women: The Guide on How to Meet, Attract, and Date Womenfor relationship advice orThe Way of the Superior Manfor overall life advice.Marni focuses on helping men understand women from an objective perspective instead of a projective perspective. I think that the book is a quick read that would be a good addition for any men. Again for similar concepts that are covered more in-depth I might recommend ""Will Work for Women"".I do disagree with certain elements in the book including the underlying concept that women ""test"" due to insecurity, but it is at least a more advanced conceptualization than the ""bitch shield"" described in typical pua prattle. I also am not a big fan of advertising in books, but I didn't feel that took away from the book overall.",5.0,Good advice. A nice quick read.,1357689600,"01 9, 2013",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A3B0R9S4RD3KG3,B00ERFNR0Y,"Patricia Logan ""Patricia Logan""","[0, 0]","I loved this sweet thrilling read. Ms. Hauser should really write more fast paced thrillers. She has certainly done justice to two new characters that I have fallen in love with. Sweet innocent Beau and sexy Cody, man of mystery and intrigue. This book is a thrill ride from beginning to end. Please don't wait a second longer and pick up this wonderful story!",5.0,Brilliant,1389484800,"01 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A6QCDJMX4JUW8,147523144X,Gayle Padfield,"[0, 0]","We all know the tale of hardship on the Trail, but Victoria Murata weaves a mundane story into a page-turner, without dragging it out.",5.0,Interesting version of an oft-told story.,1404172800,"07 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3AVYI9MVS30KM,0345346912,David P. Graf,"[39, 56]","As a Navy brat who grew up in the postwar era, Midway was a big deal. Of course, I read and enjoyed Fuchida's book. However, I recently finished reading ""Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway"" by Jonathan Parshall. In this book, it's clearly demonstrated that Fuchida did more than shade the truth. He lied in such a way to push blame upon others for Japan's defeat at Midway. For example, Fuchida makes the claim that the Japanese were getting ready to launch their strike just at the time the American SBDs dive bombed their carriers. Parshall shows how that was impossible given both Japanese carrier practice and the logs of flight activity. Sadly, Fuchida's book has enjoyed an unwarranted popularily due to our ignorance of Japanese documents and our lack of desire to question something that fits right into our own prejudices.The Japanese historians consider Fuchida to be a liar. It's time that we do the same.",1.0,Mitsuo Fuchida was a liar...,1157155200,"09 2, 2006",39,56,helpful,0.6964285714285714,1 A2HFKEGAI5PUCK,0399112081,JimmyCrackCornIDontCare,"[5, 14]","The Gold of the Gods talks about, among other things, underground tunnels in Ecuador, the lost city of Nan Madol, and the Chinese creation story of Pan Ku.The author claims that space aliens were involved. But there is no real evidence supporting his theory, unless you except myths as fact. Overall this book stinks.",3.0,"Nice collection of mysteries, poor analysis",1008201600,"12 13, 2001",5,14,helpful,0.35714285714285715,1 A2Z4KA3EFQWZOX,1586481657,Seth J. Frantzman,"[4, 8]","This book is a masterpiece, illuminating through intimate stories the fate and everday lives of the middle easts vanishing Christians. The story travels from the Copts of Egypt, to the Maronites of Lebanon and then onto the Christians of Israel and Jordan. Because the story tries to follow in the steps of Jesus, it ignores the Christians of Syria, Iraq and other Arab countries. But this does not take away from this book, which is a wonderful one of a kind contribution to the slim reading on the Christians of Arab lands. The Copts number about 5 million and make up less then 2% of Egypt. Similar percentages are given from the Christians of Israel(including the West Bank) and Jordan. Lebanon by contrast is almost half Christian. Each of these countries now has a huge Christian diaspora, numbering in the millions, a Diaspora the unlike the Palestinians who live in UN supported refugee camps, has gone unnoticed and uncared for. Not one penny of UN money was ever spent to help the Copts of Egypt, who as one reading this book will see, are subjected to persecution, assaults and humiliation on a daily basis. The most startling revelations in this book concern the Christian community of Nazareth, where radical islamicists hijacked the Israeli court system to allow for a monstrous mosque to be built on a so-called Islamic holy place, a direct assault on the humble Christian community that lives in the town of Jesus. This book is also an amazing account of the lives of the Christians who have equally suffered from the 2nd Intifada(2000-present) where they are caught in the middle between Palestinian terrorists and the Israeli defense forces. Here we see the quiet community of Biet Jalla, destroyed when 3000 palistinian gunmen occupied it and a fierce gunbattle with Israeli tanks resulted. Here we see the sad story of the Maronites, who helped create arab nationalism only to see it used against them as they were ethnically cleansed from Lebanon. This is a must read for anyone interested in the true current social norms of the arab middle east and the rights of minorities.Seth J. Frantzman",5.0,A Masterpiece,1098662400,"10 25, 2004",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A3FUOHN96YPZD1,0061905879,"Gigimomma ""gigibookworm""","[14, 15]","because it was entertaining although I thought the pacing was a little off at times and the dialogue a bit stilted and quite modern in some instances. However, I am always willing to overlook modern dialogue and an over-used plot as long as the author manages to keep me interested for 338 pages and Ms. Ashworth certainly accomplished that.Caroline Grayson is a gifted botanist with the unladylike dream of traveling to America to study botany at Columbia University. However, her dream is shattered when her father announces that she's to be wed to the Earl of Weymerth. The Earl is also being forced to wed in order to obtain back his estate that was sold from under him while he was in the continent battling Napoleon.Caroline sees this a brilliant opportunity to put her plan into motion. She plans to wed the handsome earl and then ask him for an anullment (sp?). To her mind this should be a simple thing to do since she does not care for him and he certainly doesn't care for her. What Caroline never considered was that the Earl might want a wife and that she might end up wanting to be a wife to him thereby giving up the dream of a lifetime.This arranged marriage plot is certainly overused in historicals but in this book the author makes it work. As I understand this was the author's first book so that might explain the sometimes ackward pacing of the story. I disliked the extraneous plot involving an assassin from the hero's past. It seemed that it was inserted into the story as an after thought and did not really mesh with the love story being told. Also, there were many characters like Davis the horse trainer and Caroline's sisters that appeared in one or two scenes and were never to be seen or heard from again with no explanation. Another quibble was having two characters named Charlotte (one was the hero's sister and the other the heroines!) which made it very confusing. Also, the dialogue at times sounded much too modern for a novel set in the Regency period, this is a minor problem but it did jolt me out of the story a few times. Having said that, I have to admit that this was quite a love story and it does not really suffer all that much from the things I have listed above. The romance and the way the author turned overused plot devices and made them unique to her story was able to make up for those shortcomings very well.For example, the hero and heroine recognize their love early on which I found very unusual and the requisite big-misunderstanding is not dragged on interminably.Overall, this was a very satisfying read and I will be looking foward to reading this author's other works. :-)",3.0,"Actually, I would give this book three and a half stars",1053561600,"05 22, 2003",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 A3FWLWQC0PEGHX,0374104573,"BbP ""I buy 1cent books""","[27, 29]","I love daphneThis book (334 pages and 60 plus photos)is about love and life.David Sheldrick--11/22/1919 to 6/13/1977 a Kenyan farmer who became the Wardenof TSAVO NATIONAL PARK and his lovely wife Daphne 6/4/1934 who founded THE DAVIDSHELDRICK WILD LFE TRUST in David's name when he died of a heart attack in 1977.It is a love story-David & Daphne- and a story about the many orphans that havepassed thru their hands over the years. The joy and the tears. It was the elephantsthemselves who taught Daphne how to cope with adversity-to morn and grieve,but thenfocus on giving to the living. Kenyan wild life has suffered so much at the hands ofhumans. The animals forgive but never forget.Daphne has set up-THE ORPHANS PROJECT,FOSTERING UNIT,DESNARING UNIT,THE VETUNIT,COMMUNITY OUTREACH and THE ART STORE.Her fist loves were BUSHY,RICKY TICKY TAVEY,GREGORY PECK,HUPPETY and ELEANOR themajestic elephant. She and David lived with compassion and humor.DAVID and DAPHNE lead a campaign to end poaching and for conservation.Daphne made the only milk formual that keeps baby elephants alive. She is famousfor that alone. Many good rescue people have given babies regular milk and madethem sick/killed them.+++Daphne dedicates this book to the wilderness and all that it embraces. Daphne sayswhat we are is GODS gift and what we become is our gift to GOD.+++ (Remember this dailyin your life !)One of Daphnes daughters will take her spot upon her death.You can adopt a baby..$50 a year and get updates of your elephants life. I urge youto do this. I adopted a baby elephant named MAKENA born in 2005. She is still aliveand well.THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ..... R E A L L Y !bbp okc ok 63 retired",5.0,love and life,1337558400,"05 21, 2012",27,29,helpful,0.9310344827586207,1 A1LGWOQ7Q4AYQY,0373774303,"Kindle Customer ""Charmaine""","[0, 0]","I really loved the first story, the second one about Maris is also pretty good, but not quite as awesome as the first.",4.0,Great,1311897600,"07 29, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30H2335OM7RD6,0385318413,"apoem ""apoem""","[105, 107]","I think this is a fine book. I bought it expecting a list of things that my child should know prior to entering Kindergarten. Instead what I got was a book that I could use to teach my child. Excellent!I think it would be better with a comprehensive list of expectations and/or goals that every child should reach by the time they are through with Kindergarten. That is the teacher in my coming out.I found that the social studies section was amazing. I didn't realize that kindergarten children could comprehend so much.Word of Warning: This is ONLY the very basics that a child should be able to learn. This is NOT the be all end all of a kindergarten curriculum to use for homeschooling. However, it can be used as a place to jump start your learning. You will need to add more literature and poetry and math activities. However, it's a well rounded, full of information, useful book.",4.0,Very Basic,1016409600,"03 18, 2002",105,107,helpful,0.9813084112149533,1 AZJLMAKG5FY72,0316069434,Ladislav Nemec,"[5, 7]","I think Bosch has some kind of 'term limit' (LAPD special contract) that will bring this particular series to an end. I have mixed feelings about it. I think I read everything Connelly has written and, almost without exception, it is good to very good.On the other hand, lot of stuff is repetitive, not in details but conceptually. Connelly knows more than almost all of his readers about the real LAPD world but as a Californian living not that far from LA I would prefer if not so much of LAPD brass were so moronic with Bosch solving his case only by defying them and fighting them, sometimes being abused by them.This may be the reality but in my old age I would prefer to read more uplifting stories where hard working and truly dedicated cops do not have to waste so much time with their nasty bosses. That, of course, has been an intrinsic part of Bosch's stories and that is the reason why I would not mind if Bosch retires within a couple of years.Perhaps Connelly can create another dedicated and very smart LAPD cop who can spend more time solving cases and less time fighting his incompetent superiors.",3.0,Is Hieronymus going to retire?,1354147200,"11 29, 2012",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 AM4Q2A6CXK0QM,0399158812,"M. Watts ""Old Mare'""","[0, 0]","As usual J.D. Robb keeps you turning pages until all of a sudden you're done with the book. I've read all the ""In Death"" books and hope she keeps writing them. I'm hooked and will anticipate the next. Thanks.",5.0,Delusion in Death,1350518400,"10 18, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1K1JW1C5CUSUZ,0312427999,"Donald Mitchell ""Jesus Loves You!""","[11, 16]","Naomi Klein demonstrates that in totally unconstrained capitalism, the richest and least scrupulous do best. Why? They are able to eliminate government restraints and taxes and establish monopolies by pushing aside those with fewer resources and more self-restraint to make huge profits from charging everyone more and paying poor people less. This result has occurred consistently in Latin America, Asia, and now Iraq whenever a country needs an international loan from the United States or the international agencies that it dominates.As demonstrated in this book, the policy of the U.S. government has been to provide such an economic environment wherever possible. This result is often accomplished by subverting democratic governments to put military dictators in power, supporting the dictatorships with the latest military toys and training in torture, and making the economic changes be permanent so that later democracies cannot change them.With the Bush administration, the policy has been accelerated to include direct invasions such as occurred in Iraq. The effect of these policies has been worsened by the Bush doctrine of outsourcing as many military and government functions as possible to high-priced private firms without holding them accountable for results.The effect has been to subject nation after nation to widespread murder and abuse of citizens who don't agree with the economic policies, sale of valuable businesses and resources at way below market rates to rich companies and people, and to reduce economic activity levels by depression-standard amounts for 10-20 years.Only recently have people interested in placing democratic interests above those who wealthy companies and people begun to strike back by refusing to accept U.S. policy when it comes to requiring unfettered capitalism.The latest application of this U.S. policy is to use natural disasters to produce similar results as we observed after the Asian tsunami and hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.The intellectual fig leaf for this doctrine belongs to Milton Friedman and his academic heirs from the University of Chicago and the University of California at Berkeley. The economic analysis behind these ideas seems to have never considered the way to implement the ideas. Instead with each new powerless country or group, the limits of rapid change are pushed harder. Why? It's really a class war of the ultra rich who can buy politicians and put them in office who need something to tell everyone else about why it's all a good idea. Naive economists make good front men for this effort.When democracies work well, there's pendulum of public opinion that eventually swings well away from any extreme. Well, we are at such an extreme now in favor of letting the powerful grab whatever they want . . . as demonstrated in this fine book. I hope the pendulum swing will begin soon!The main weakness of this book is in repeating its arguments a little too much without providing enough new evidence each time. The evidence is there, but the better stories are actually in the second half. If you feel in the beginning that Milton Friedman is being run down too much, wait. You'll eventually be convinced that Friedman's ideas had all of the appropriateness of Marx's on how to run a country to create a healthy society for all. Save us from theorists!",5.0,Using Disasters to Make the Rich Wealthier While Making the Poor Poorer,1197331200,"12 11, 2007",11,16,helpful,0.6875,1 A19PP0ZDVOCKS5,1484050371,Bls1ksr1,"[0, 0]",This is my first book from Tiffany King. I definitely enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.,4.0,good story,1373760000,"07 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1H3MUI6NKMTZB,1565232135,CraftyCat,"[5, 5]","The examples and carving techniques shown in this book are excellent and well detailed. Two carving styles are demonstrated. The first uses straight knives such as a pocket knife, and the second utlizes wood carving tools. My disappointment with this book was in the limited scope of examples. When I think of pumpkin carving I think of Halloween. While there are two witches as examples in the book, there are also 2 Santas and the rest are a mixture of folk faces, such as those resembling trolls, gnomes, and the classical representative of the West Wind. Heavy, exaggerated male faces dominate. I would have greatly liked to see more Halloween themed ideas inclusive of skeletons, cats and ghosts. The book provides photographs of actual carved pumpkins, then ""patterns"" of those same faces, supposedly for the reader to use for their own carving. My idea of a pattern is a line drawing that can be transferred onto a pumpkin or gourd face, then detailed as you carve. The patterns provided are heavily shaded pencil drawings taken directly from the photographs, and not, I think, very helpful to use. The pumpkins in this book are only carved - not hollowed out to allow the placement of a light inside. I personally think one of the charms of carving pumpkins are the different shades of light and texture you get through the skin once you light it from inside. Overall this book is great as you see the work of a a master carver and his different techniques. If you are unfamiliar with textural carving, this book is a great reference. If you already have a grasp of the work involved in carving and want instead to get inspired to do Halloween themed pumpkins, check out the other pumpkin carving books available.",3.0,Good for technique but limited examples,1316908800,"09 25, 2011",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A22UWADLC6BVOE,157731087X,S. D. Shaver,"[5, 5]","I'm having a hard time figuring out who, exactly, this cookbook is for. The author leans heavily on a Tofu Mayo recipe that doesn't taste a thing like mayonnaise or even tofu mayonnaise; it instead tastes like a blasphemous form of Miracle Whip, and not in a good way.I should have loved the Artichoke Delight recipe, but I didn't. Because it was made with her Tofu Mayo recipe, and when I tried it I found the nasty sweetness of it overpowering.And then there is the ubiquitous Tofu Mayo recipe itself, which calls for honey in the ingredient list, which makes me wonder what the point is because most vegans don't eat that. Nowhere in the recipe does she list how long this mayo is good for, or how best to store it, something I would find worth mentioning on a base ingredient.If it sounds like I'm harping on this one recipe overly much, please understand: it is pervasive. It touches nearly every aspect of this book, and it strikes me that if you are going to make something that important to your recipes, wouldn't you first make sure it tastes good?Now to the confusion: who is this book for? Why is it tagged with vegan? It isn't; the aforementioned Artichoke Delight recipe called for the honey-laced mayo and yogurt cheese and parmesan. The effect is somewhat scattershot.Even at the dirt-cheap price I got this for, I find it not worth my money. It's going to the library. Far more recommended are Crescent Dragonwagon's ""Passionate Vegetarian"" or ""Simple Vegetarian Pleasures"" by Jeanne Lemlin. Buy this one at your own risk.",2.0,"AKA ""101 Uses for Tofu Mayonnaise""",1231372800,"01 8, 2009",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3W14EGHXEDZWB,1416563725,Nancy,"[0, 0]",Philippa Gregory is one of the world's premiere historical novel authors.I started reading her books because they were based on my ancestors'lives and I simply couldn't put them down and I had to buy the entire series!,5.0,Absolutely adore!,1387584000,"12 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1HM0RUG91BKQQ,1425997821,"Isabel ""Isabel's review""","[78, 80]",Is this book supposed to be a joke? Who even let this book be published? Writing an exclamation point at the end of every sentence just makes it seem more phony and I can't believe the publisher let it go! This is not considered writing. Do not read if you are looking for a sofisticated fantasy book.,1.0,is this a joke?,1205452800,"03 14, 2008",78,80,helpful,0.975,1 A2TPXUMGH953TX,1463717091,AKG328,"[0, 0]","Great characters, nice flow to storyline with surprises along the way. If TR Regan is reading this review add me to any news on book #3! I'll buy in a heartbeat!",5.0,awesome,1332374400,"03 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3OJAWIMUKNHTP,0974548006,"Rebecca Brown ""rebeccasreads""","[6, 6]","What an exciting book is SOCCER DREAMS! The energy, the crowds, the pace, the thrill of the sport -- all leap off the pages in full color. You can almost hear the sounds.Reporter Lauber's writing keeps up the pace, telling the history of a momentous era in Women's Sports:- taking us behind the scenes, into the bleachers & to the press conferences to rub shoulders with the best reporters. & we get to meet each member of the 1999 Women's World Champions too!SOCCER DREAMS is not only a great book about the sport, women athletes & the long haul to success, it is about a youngster's enthusiasm, passion, persistence...& success!Very well done & the perfect gift for your favorite children, students & sports fans.Rebeccasreads highly recommends SOCCER DREAMS for all, no matter their age or their passion, & do check out Rebecca's interview with this young author/reporter.",5.0,What a kick!,1078185600,"03 2, 2004",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2A6S9FGQIX5JK,0300187378,"brjoro ""brir""","[0, 0]","This is essential reading! If you are a fan of Greil Marcus you will of course want to pick this up. If you are a person who loves any kind of writing that treats rock and roll and popular culture seriously you will need to pick this up! If you are a fan of great essay writing this will be an essential read. I loved it. Too many great insights to go into but trust me this is a good one! I am not even a particular fan of some of the songs or genres that Marcus discusses in this volume, but I'm going to give them a chance now that I've read this book. Loved, loved, loved!",5.0,Brilliant!,1404604800,"07 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WDNAQ7VY8520,0316097543,Marilyn L.,"[0, 0]",Great mystery and great reading. It is in keeping with the JAMES PATTERSON style and will grab you. Good buy.,5.0,fan,1367107200,"04 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1W43M552CH40I,0345465547,Piotr Wilkin,"[32, 33]","After reading the Sword of Shannara, I had my strong doubts about Brooks' writing. Since I have a nasty habit of buying multiple books of the same author at once, I was wandering if the purchase would be worth it. Reading the Elfstones and the Wishsong soothed my doubts a bit. The books were getting constantly better and I certainly wasn't down for a big disappointment.But nothing could have prepared me for the Heritage of Shannara series. Compared to the (overall really good) books from the Sword of Shannara series, these are absolute masterworks. This time, it isn't four separate stories, but one story in four separate parts. And it is absolutely breathtaking. I must admit, the saga actually merits the adjective ""epic"" in all possible meanings. Brooks meticulously describes his world, giving it a feel unlike any fantasy world I have ever encountered save Middle-Earth. From the Sword of Shannara, which was an almost exact copy of Lord of the Rings, it seemed that Brooks was chasing Tolkien's ghost. Now, with this series, I might make the heretical statement that he might have caught up. I'm not saying this tetralogy compares to LoTR - Tolkien's masterpiece is uncomparable with anything else in the fantasy genre. But it is a wonderful work indeed.Brooks develops his characters extremely well. The descriptions, as usually for him, are very convincing and give us a very good feel of his world. And his ability to intertwine plotlines between the various characters, something that many authors (take Jordan, for example) had been unable to successfully do, is absolutely magnificent. He leads three main, independent plotlines, with side events all over, without ever making me feel there's any lack of coherence or casuality.What is even more important probably is that he managed to transcend the traditional genre cliche and the plot concepts are actually quite innovative. You won't be seeing the typical ""hero moves against bad guy and wins against overwhelming odds"" cliche very much around here, unlike in the Sword series. This time, the matters which the characters are set to handle run much deeper, the conclusions much less simple and the ways to them less clear. The development of characters is also something you'll surely enjoy here.You're still having doubts? Don't. This series is absolutely magnificent. You won't regret reading this one bit, I can't really think of a fantasy reader category that would outright dislike this book. If you're wondering what fantasy book to buy and the alternative isn't LoTR, then hesitate no more.",5.0,I don't think I can recommend this one enough,1113609600,"04 16, 2005",32,33,helpful,0.9696969696969697,1 A3254HYPWSLY3K,B008O53SPW,"Amazon Customer ""HPFangirl71""","[0, 0]",I loved the combo of romance and suspense mixed with the supernatural that Diana has woven into this story. Its by far a new fave of mine and I can't believe I've never reviewed this book considering how many times I've read it. I love the ease at which these two men fall in love with one another even though they obviously aren't looking for a romance and the murder mystery they are investigating is filled with lovely plot twists plus the sex scenes are steamy but in a very realistic way. Diana has outdone herself here and I can't wait for the sequel that is soon to follow this amazing story.,5.0,A truly magical story of love and mystery.,1395360000,"03 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2IMRMX7ESKQLA,1939383862,"A. Aikman ""book lover""","[6, 16]","I expected the usual teenage vampire drama, but what surprised and delighted me was the depth of the story line that actually flowed with logical thought. Throw in some southern charm and you have the Renfields. Can't wait to see how this saga progresses with the second book, when it gets published.",5.0,Better than a teenage novel,1403049600,"06 18, 2014",6,16,helpful,0.375,1 A3M12RFAVHZXQS,1481916025,CLC,"[0, 0]",See previous reviews - they're all the same. Good 'fluff' books - people I'd like to know; a town I'd like to live in. Oh wait - I DID live in Lexington for a while; and I rode for a woman in Nicholasville.,4.0,Love this series,1372636800,"07 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3MRJS8SXE3CMK,B00DH07FAI,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Dana has a way of capturing the audience quickly and keeping up the pace. Story line is great and appropriate for most ages.,4.0,Hats off to Dana,1387756800,"12 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GAVV5JT0OIKY,0307474720,"SamanthaG ""SamanthaG""","[0, 1]","....because my Spanish was not as good as I thought. Couldn't find it as an e-book or audiobook in English. Finally I did, but too late for my book club discussion.",2.0,Not a fair review....,1402876800,"06 16, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2WW9T8EEI8NU4,1613824718,Anne Wingate,"[22, 22]","http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RKRW0C/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_imgI first read this when I was seven years old, and I can't say that it made much impression on me. But future readings, up to my present age of 67, have convinced me that the story is a good one, and the characters are strong and believable. A rich brat who has been saying it would be fun for the liner he is on to collide with a small fishing boat has exactly that happen--but the fishing boat survives, and the brat falls into a new life in which he is expected to pull his full share of the load.At first he bristles with threats and promises, but nothing changes his situation. Work he will, or eat he will not. By the end--oops, I was headed for a spoiler.Just read it, and enjoy the characters and plot, remembering as you do so that Kipling has said that ""the magic is in the words."" He was extremely conscious of what words he used, and since I have been reading him since I was five, I internalized that saying long before I became a writer myself. The magic is in the words, and you will enjoy the words used in this book, unless you have a totally tin ear for dialogue.One of Kipling's best, written while he was in love with the United States.",5.0,Rich Brat Turns Real,1288224000,"10 28, 2010",22,22,helpful,1.0,1 AU0TU06DREUXE,1484807944,BeckyBWVU,"[0, 0]","I really enjoyed this book mainly because Kristen Proby makes it a point of bringing all the other couples and family characters from previous books back into the mix and it does give the series a family feel. Leo was great! VERY patient, loving, and sexy. Sam was funny and had some great one liners. (The ""Don't touch my nachos"" line...girl after my own heart). I thought we might luck into another conversation by the girls about orgasms (most hysterical part of the previous book and the most I had laughed in awhile) but their conversations were still fun. As much as I liked Leo, Will Montgomery is still hands down my favorite guy in this series. ADORE HIM!! Really looking forward to Caleb's book. He's always peaked my interest and with the ""mandatory family meeting"" that was mentioned but not shown on page, it was a great way to spark more interest in his story. Well played Kristen!",4.0,Loved LEO But WILL STILL RULES,1368230400,"05 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MCV6FTU0785D,1612529054,Dolores Ayotte,"[13, 13]","BJ Robinson has done it again! Her novel Southern Superstitions hits home and shows her devotion to God, her love for strawberry farming, and her appreciation for life's simple pleasures.BJ Robinson is a true romantic as she develops the love relationship between the two main characters, June and Andy in this well-written novel. These soul mates fall madly in love despite the initial lack of approval from June's mother, Myrtle. Andy, with his enthusiastic charm manages to win her over and take the place in her life of the son she lost at birth. Mrs. Myrtle, as she is fondly referred to, is the one chock full of superstitions. Whether it's a black cat that has crossed her path or her belief in good luck charms like a rabbit's paw to ward off evil, Myrtle has a way of constantly reminding the two love birds that bad luck is coming their way.Without giving away the plot of Southern Superstitions, bad luck certainly appears to be making its way into the life of June and Andy. Is Mrs. Myrtle correct in her superstitions or does she find her faith like her daughter, June, so desperately wants her to have? In the end, will she be proven wrong or...?I recommend that you read Southern Superstitions in its entirety to find out the answers!Inspirational Author & Book Reviewer ~ Dolores AyotteI'm Not Perfect and It's Okay",5.0,"Suspenseful, Romantic, Mystery!",1326585600,"01 15, 2012",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 AGQ3DZK1L8AIX,B00BTIDOO6,terrirose,"[0, 0]","I like how the characters from the previous books have not been forgotten, but are actually a big part of the ongoing story. Seems to be endless possibilities for future stories. I like the werewolf characters and the relationships between the human and their inner wolf.",4.0,I like this series,1379203200,"09 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TLJFI2JSJIOE,0439023483,"Ichie Pancake ""Ichie""","[0, 2]","My son has The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxed Set, however he lost this book 1 in school.He really liked it a lot, so we decided to get him one again.He re read over and over again...",4.0,My son loves it.,1372809600,"07 3, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3K13VC3Q467TO,0060090707,"vhstigers ""vhstigers""","[0, 0]","Sixteen year old, Peggy Fleming Farrell believes that her summer has come to the worst. Waking up at five every morning, rollerblading across town to work, and babysitting her younger siblings is not how she expected her summer to start. After wrecking two of her parents' cars, Peggy, who was named after a famous figure skater, has to take on a job at Gas `n' Git to pay back her debt. In addition, to make things worse, she gets her license taken away. You will have to read the book to see if Peggy's summer takes a huge twist or if everything just seems to get worse.I really enjoyed this book because it had a funny plot to it. Peggy just wants to spend her summer learning French and hanging out with her friends, but nothing seems to go the way she wants it to. I liked everything about this book and it was a very quick read. Every chapter has something new and unexpected. I hardly ever wanted to put it down.Mostly girls would probably like this book. If you want to experience ""sweet sixteen"" through another's eyes, this would be perfect for you. The main character definitely explains how there can be more work than fun and the disadvantages of growing up. Either way, this is an awesome book and I think you will probably enjoy it.",5.0,Not a Normal Summer,1132617600,"11 22, 2005",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A20YAEU6E07DHY,1621571580,Murray Duffin,"[0, 0]","I wish I could give this book 5 stars, because the main thesis it presents (global cooling for at least the next few decades) looks right, and the main response (thorium nuclear power) looks right. That said, Archibald loses credibility with his political views, especially that the global warming myth is promulgated by the UN in attempt to take over, or at least control, world food production. That is one of the more inane conspiracy theories around. It would require a degree of UN unanimity that is way beyond unrealistic. Things are unlikely to get as bad as he foresees for several reasons. Foremost is what appears to be a ca 1100 year climate cycle that was near it's bottom during the Little Ice Age, and is now about 70% of the way from bottom to top. The sun definitely seems to be entering a Maunder type mimimum, (the timing is exactly right for one), but the Little Ice Age saw three climate cycles bottoming in close synchronicity right along with the Maunder Minimum. This time two cycles will bottom, but one will be near it's top.Look for something more like a Dalton minimum, which is quite bad enough. Archibald also underestimates both the technology of renewable energies and agricultural alternatives. Things will get bad, but not as bad as he foresees..",3.0,Leave out the political views,1404777600,"07 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1KAUPAM8TGLV3,0782129420,Daniel Calbimonte,"[4, 5]","This book was a good way to start studying for the exam. After finishing the book you are almost ready.Maybe the following areas weren't completely covered:Cursors (it is focused on T-SQL syntax. Other books will describe ADO and ODBC cursors as well).The topic Retrieve, filter, group, summarize, and modify data by using Transact-SQL requires even more examples and more questions because this is a complex topic.",4.0,The best book to start,1085529600,"05 26, 2004",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A25IV1QKBLGKOV,B00C2TCQUE,May,"[5, 5]",hThis is the third book in the series. You do need to read the first 2 books to really understand everything and appreciate it! The second book ended with a lot of questions... The heroine is very strong and smart. Totally lovable and admirable.,4.0,Sexy read,1369699200,"05 28, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1JTG5X4VHJV27,014034893X,"Plume45 ""kitka12345""","[0, 0]","Twelve-year-old Cassie Logan comes of age that summer in 1930's Mississippi, as she learns the bitter truth about racial relations. Sharecropping was just a legalized substitution for slavery; her family is naturally the target of white suspicion, resentment and open hostility since they actually own propertyHer parents instill their love for the land and pride in ownership into all 4 children. The four adults valiantly protect the youngsters from harm, but no one can shield them from the frightful truth of generations of prejudice against blacks. Sometimes bigotry is the only way certain folks can feel Better than others and justify physical and social cruelty. Not all the white characters are bad in this story and one black youth goes to the dogs, as violence explodes before an overdue thunderstorm.The thunder is not only in the heavens, however, as decent blacks raise their heads to stand as people of quiet dignity--deserving of respect from all. But white scum donot recognize that personal integrity and honor are colorblind. It's easier to keep an entire race in moral bondage if one pretends they are innately inferior. This is a serious but fascinating read with brisk dialogue, fast-paced plotting, and intense characterizations, as three teenagers must grow up and face adult choices. Bigotry with no holds barred.",5.0,The Thunder in her Heart,948758400,"01 25, 2000",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1HDMY9GJ463WU,B008OXJJYS,angelica hanby,"[0, 0]",Oh my gosh this book... Amazing. I can't wait to get the third and then the fourth and then the fifth. I love books about angels and humans with suspense and romance and this series is a very good one.,5.0,Awesome,1366588800,"04 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26NJ9LWNH2NLX,0811875040,"RealDeal ""novgirl""","[5, 12]",I've been to her shop at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. The cookies are divine and the cakes are to die for. You can taste the flavors. And the cookies are so lite you could eat the whole bag. I really recommed the book and if you get a chance go to one of her bakeries you won't be disappointed.,5.0,Excellent treats!,1308096000,"06 15, 2011",5,12,helpful,0.4166666666666667,1 ABB0EQLJNKLJB,1404187804,"Jennifer Roberts ""Jen Roberts""","[0, 0]","Very familiar with the idea of the butterfly effect, where the wind of a butterfly on one side of the world could change the course on the other, I was extremely excited to see what Andy Andrews had to say with this title. I was amazed at what I found. Andrews did his research and wove the stories of the lives of men and women throughout history who created one path of change and therefore led others in history to continue with forward movement. He carefully unfolds the story through use of different font, short phrases (cliffhangers) on each page, and use of illustrations brings to life the emotions each historical character may of felt at the awe of hard work paid off. It was a joy to read, and a wonderful coffee table book. Definitely a conversation starter! I am honored to have in my living room.",4.0,More than your average coffee table book.,1283904000,"09 8, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3CQFLIOMTS898,B00JMF2RPU,stephanie a. allen,"[7, 7]",Wow can't not wait to read round 4. I love this story it has amazing characters and storyline. Lucian Bane is a talented writer this series has me hooked.,5.0,Awesome,1397347200,"04 13, 2014",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A2UBYH5T5K62Z7,0762439920,Romantic Heart,"[0, 0]","These are short stories. With good authors, a short story can captivate and entrance you with their brevity. Authors that are mediocre, however, seem to rush the plot and the reader is left wondering how the characters rationally progressed from Point A to Point B.The ""Mammoth Book"" is a good way for a reader to experience different writing styles, and then purchase books from good authors, and avoid the mediocre ones.",3.0,"Good, but not all great",1325203200,"12 30, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3C6B7DKYGNV8N,031621129X,"Carol C. Collins ""Gram""","[0, 0]",I like the characters in the "club" - each provides the reader with a different view of the case. James Patterson seems to keep on the track with the storylines with this group of his characters.,5.0,Women's Murder Club 13,1402185600,"06 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30PTLRE0P0GT,0983157278,Becca,"[0, 0]","I liked this book..... But will appreciate it so much more if it becomes a series.The story concept is interesting, there is lots of emotional tension and mystery which I love. However, this book just had the feeling of just getting started when "the end" appeared. There are many unanswered questions, many open ended thoughts and statements, and the characters are just beginning to become interesting and three dimensional (if that makes sense). It felt like once the book started to get really interesting it ended. If this is. Or a series book I may have to change my rating!Over all, not a bad read, just a lot of unfinished business.",3.0,Surely not the end,1379980800,"09 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1C6G520YS497U,1250028655,K. Sue,"[21, 23]","The subject of Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald is infinitely fascinating: a train wreck of a relationship between two beautiful people in a time in history of great upheaval. That's what makes this book readable. However I found myself rather frustrated throughout most of the first half of the novel for several reasons.This is a fictional account. My knowledge of the Fitzgeralds' life more or less comes from Wikipedia. I read this book with Kindle in one hand and my iphone in the other to try to look up claims of validity. I don't know how much of the events depicted are true and if Fowler's version is a feasible one. She claims extensive research of the Fitzgeralds' personal letters to each other as well as their friends' accounts of events. When Fowler is dealing with an event for which there is substantial documentation in the letters, such as Zelda's hospitalizations, her accounts come across as much more believable, intimate and a far better depiction of the personality concerned. When she is dealing with something that is rumored to have happened or is pure speculation, such as her hypothesis for the reason for the hatred between Zelda and Hemingway, the account comes across as juvenile and not well fleshed out. Many of the conversations in these cases were awkward and pedestrian, often with hokey romantic language. I cringed through them.I found the writing style uneven, again I think dependent on the amount of source material. In the last half of the book, which centers on Zelda's breakdown and hospitalization in mental facilities, Zelda becomes a much more relatable character and real person. We today can easily sympathize with a woman who is desperate to step out of the shadow of her husband and achieve something on her own. What was frustrating was that so often, especially in the first half, the writing was almost like a journal but without the formatting of a journal. The book is narrated by Zelda as a first person account and often takes the form of: all was well until this incident happened, and then she proceeds to tell the incident.The next reason for my frustration has to do with the way Zelda is presented. For someone who suffered numerous mental breakdowns, she is incredibly lucid and analytical of her own situation and mind. I think maybe the book could better have been told in third person or from Scott's perspective. I didn't feel a decent into madness as I had expected. I don't know what it is like to suffer a mental breakdown but this certainly didn't feel like it for me.Despite the drawbacks, the book is readable and it, as well as the Gatsby film, has helped put me on a Fitzgerald binge. The couple themselves and their circle of friends as well as the cultural and political influences of the time period could be the basis for many novels. Now my binge will have to include a pure biography of Zelda as well as her novel if I can track down a copy. Reading a book like this brings the stodgily presented literary figures from lit class to life in a much more interesting way.flag",3.0,frustrating fictional account of a fascinating couple,1369353600,"05 24, 2013",21,23,helpful,0.9130434782608695,1 A39XGN2OGAJ96D,0778327493,J Schaeffer,"[0, 0]",Just when I thought she couldn't introduce any more characters to fall in love with I get to meet Noah and Ellie. What a wonderful story.,5.0,Another 5 star story!,1358812800,"01 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21EAOIDC2EITY,B0026BXD4Q,Mark,"[0, 0]","Grudem points to all the good parts of doing business.He explains how God is for business and the Enemy is against it.He also gives warnings on how people misuse buying, selling and managing.The potential for good is enormous. There are temptations as well.This book is actually pretty short. Too short. But encouraging.",5.0,One can glorify God and do much good through business,1388102400,"12 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1OSQM61KC2V9X,B00FBK17PQ,Jess,"[9, 11]","Im starting to get really annoyed with purchasing ebooks that apparently have been awarded 4 or 5 stars with raving reviews only to get it and find ridiculous story lines and terrible writing.By the time i got to 20% of this book i was having so many wtf moments and having to reread things that still didn't make any sense and now when I'm at 34% I just cant go on. I'm at the point where I'm skim reading thru this more than I'm reading and the characters are just ticking me off with their mood swings. I swear Luke and Dallas have split personality disorders, one moment Luke is this sappy, loving and doting male (so bad sometimes that I just roll my eyes), then he's an douche biker who is spouting all this respect my authoritah BS giving out orders like he's talking to the dog instead of the love of his life...they've only known each other the shortest amount of time and he's demanding that she just trust him to do what he says no questions asked when really, he's the one whos been lying and keeping secrets. Dallas was just a door mat who tried to pretend to stick up for herself and tell him what for only to back track and get back with him straight away which was a joke!The writers got too much going on in the characters and story that she just cant keep up and deliver a story where readers can get lost in. There were a lot of gramatical errors too which would of been fixed if they did a simple spell check..There are so many more things that i could bring up but I've ranted on long enough :/ I feel bad for writing such a terrible review but i just felt so cheated when i got the book after reading all those wonderful reviews that i just had to write something.",1.0,Are we reading the same book??,1381881600,"10 16, 2013",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A2LONX7E5LHCJE,019528478X,"D. S. Heersink ""D. Stephen Heersink""","[26, 41]","The previous Annotated Oxford with the RSV translation has long been outdated, however excellent it once was. With the NRSV, one had hoped it would not take OUP so long to update its annotations too. Alas, it did. Those of us who could not wait for OUP to get it together simply bought the HarperCollins Bilbe Study. One or the other suffices, even if OUP's scholars have historically been among the very best. In terms of layout, HarperCollins is better.The NRSV is clearly superior to all alternative translations in English (just remember its mandate required inclusive language when it comes to human members, wherever it did not change meaning, which, when used, the NRSV notes the original masculine gender in its notes). It is also without an ulterior agenda, such as the NIV, ASB, and other Evangelical fundamentalists' skewing of meaning, nor is it bereft of competent language, such as NAB, REB, and NJB. Besides being the most literal, it is also the most poetic and literate translation. Bruce Metzger's (ed.)introduction to the NRSV translation is critical, albeit short, reading. The annotations of both books, HarperCollins and Oxford, are sufficient for nearly all purposes short of a commentary.Jean Calvin's Evangelical maxim that the ""Bible is the literal and inerrant Word of God which alone is sufficient for salvation"" is nonsensical and absurd as it is ridiculous (the Bible does not contain that maxim, which defeats Calvin's theorem). The Bible is first, foremost, and always the ""Book of Spiritual Perfection,"" a ""Collection of Divine Parables,"" or widely one perspective of Salvation History. All other claims about being ""literal and inerrant"" are simply preposterous and absurd (see, Metzger's other archeological and textual works that just make hay of such silly notions).All but casual readers will require a commentary, as context and parallels are vital to understanding the authors' objectives and their backgrounds that contribute to their meaning. Both the Oxford Bible Commentary and the New Jerome Biblical Commentary are excellent, one-volume commentaries. All others can be disposed-of as fundamentalist-slanted misinterpretations to ""fit"" preconceived notions and agendas. Northrop Frye's ""Great Code"" is one of the very best literary perspectives (he has several others). Any book by biblical scholar Raymond Brown will open treasures you would never have imagined are ""evident"" throughout the Bible (e.g., ""Birth of the Messiah"" and ""Death of the Messiah"" are breathtaking for the insights Brown demonstrates).Above all, remember, the Bible is not isolated verses (that's an interpolation), it is a number of different and varied stories with anagogical, not literal, meanings. Polysemy was well-understood in the early Middle Ages, where the literal, moral, figurative, and anagogical were always the ""steps"" to understanding. Catherine of Siena insists ""those who read the Scripture literally, do without understanding, because the light is clouded by their own pride and selfish love.""Never take an Evangelical slant as meaning for anything, since they take sentences out of context, ignore the ""big points"" and obsess over the trivial, and consistently demonstrate they are ill-equipped to read anything, much less the Bible. E.g., their preoccupation over homosexuality (which ignores David and Jonathan's love 2 Sam 1 and Jesus and his Beloved Disciple) can best be seen for the nonsense it is in Romans, Chapters 1 AND 2 -- they seem to skip 2. They can quote Paul's prologue with abandon, but then they abandon what that prologue leads to, which, after pillorying homosexuality, Paul insists that judgment of others is far worse than homosexuality, because it is idolatry (the worst of all sins, dear fundies!). And also remember, Paul rejects ALL sexuality, but ""permits"" men (yes, only men) to have sex within marriage, since it is better for men to marry than perish! (Women and slaves are not a concern of Paul's, see, 1 Tim 2:8-15 for example.) While in 1 Timothy, meander over to 1 Timothy 3:15, which states unambiguously that the Church of the living God, not the Bible, is the pillar and bulwark of the truth. Also, 2 Timothy 3:10-4:5 may be helpful, recalling that ""scripture"" in this text refers to Hebrew Scriptures, since Christian scriptures had yet to come into existence (in fact, this epistle was subsequently adopted as a part of Christian scripture, in the 16th century!)The Bible is a beautiful, provocative, and interesting collection of works that tell many different stories. But until Guttenberg in the 16th century, only elites had access to this literature, and yet Christianity flourished and prospered without anyone, but clergy, having anything close to what we call a Bible (no such thing existed even proximately until the fifth century). How, then, did people know anything, if they did not have a Bible? Answer: Because the Bible was merely a ""tool"" of the Church, for use by the Church, written by Church members, and collected by churchmen over centuries. Remember 1 Tim 3:15, in which the Bible itself claims the Church, not the Bible, is the pillar and bulwark of truth. The Bible is the ""Book of Spiritual Perfection,"" not the literal and inerrant Word of God. Approach the Bible accordingly!",5.0,Finally!,1167523200,"12 31, 2006",26,41,helpful,0.6341463414634146,1 A2Y43G2WSVZPMD,B0074FM6RO,"KFreeman ""wwcoyle""","[0, 0]",Bought this short book the day after Mandela passed away. It's and excellent read that gives insight into the man behind all the tributes and talk of legacy. A very human story about an amazing human - highly recommended.,5.0,"A timely, timeless read.",1386374400,"12 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZV10U7LAJQON,0316051632,"Jeffrey Lichtman ""Author of Baseball for Rookies""","[0, 0]","I really enjoyed this book. It covers not just the physical properties of the elements, but also the human stories behind their discovery and use. This is one of the best science books I've read in the past few years.",5.0,Interesting in many ways,1337558400,"05 21, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MY8CNQISO0YA,B002LIT32K,Debi,"[0, 0]",Wonderful book. I can't wait until tomorrow to hear the story teller to tell the rest of the story. Love this author's style.,5.0,Great Book,1402790400,"06 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8CTEVP7PA7RK,0976626616,"Rich da Witch ""TTFN & Blessed Bee...""","[0, 0]","Great book, Must have for the nature lover or prepper... The best part of this book is the detail, not just in what's ok to eat, BUT what's similar and NOT safe to eat. great color pictures ad wonderful descriptions. Explains the differences in good detail.",5.0,"Great book, Must have for the nature lover or prepper...",1401667200,"06 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2F9BEI1AIHZDB,013705842X,Rodrigo CAMARGO,"[76, 79]","What to say about Deitel books? When I was learning Java, a Deitel book teaches me how to program smoothly, and I did read all that 800 pages. After some frustrations trying to learn iPhone program, I decide to buy a book. First I bought ""The iPhone Developer's Cookbook"" because a friend of mine told me that this book could be perfect to start. Well, it was completely useless to me. Of course the book is not forbeginners. Then I decide to buy ""Beginning iPhone Development"" from Dave Mark and Jeff LaMarche. This is a great book, but I couldn't fix the ideas on my mind. I think it is very difficult, especially because I've never saw a Mac before. Although I am a Senior Java Developer, I've never heard about Objective-C or Mac programming before. So, again, the book is great but not for me. Then I bought two more books from Apress: ""iPhone Cool Projects"" and ""iPhone Game Projects"". Again, more frustration. I was thinking either I'm so dumb to learn this or I'm not able to do self-study. In a sunny morning I was searching for some news at Amazon and I saw that Deitel was written a new book of how to program in iPhone. I thought maybe was not a good idea to buy another book, since I couldn't learn from the four previous books I had. Thinking in how easy I learned Java from Deitel series, I decided to bet again. I can't describe how amazing this book is. It's very easy. It comes from the real beginning. At first, no delegates, no properties, no memory management. It teaches you using very easy and useful examples. The method is also pretty good. The book introduces you with the example, which works by the way, and after you see what it is then you move to development part. It's very motivational. The codes are clear and well commented. The examples are real, viable, specially the games, and you end each chapter with more hope to become a real iPhone Developer. Congratulations, Deitel. You did it again.",5.0,Amazing,1265673600,"02 9, 2010",76,79,helpful,0.9620253164556962,1 AOSP09OELDO6R,1419967096,Mary Albrethsen,"[0, 0]","When you read about some of the genetic engineering that is currently going on you realize the basis for this story series is only one step away from reality. I would not be surprised to find out that there are already scientists out there trying their hand at mixing human and animal DNA now. Ms Dohner writes an entertain story with humor, pathos, and understanding of the human condition. I look forward to reading the entire series.",5.0,an entertaining story with an interesting premise right out of todays headlines,1379980800,"09 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1XHQJWPYDGQJ4,1476729956,Amazon Customer,"[4, 5]",Easy to read and follow. I like that it tells you exactly what to eat including suggestions for each meal.,5.0,Atkins Simplified,1389571200,"01 13, 2014",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3R9X003XW0LNR,1605294616,"Deborah Verlen ""Deborah""","[5, 8]","Let's face it, much of what is in this book is common sense and information you could find on your own researching the foods. But, hey, why bother when authors Zinczenko and Goulding have done it for you!The book is put together well with lots of pictures, savvy advice about choices, but also presents, sometimes glaringly, information that pops you right in the gut about the number of calories and fat some of your favorite foods tally.Over 400 pages present easy food swaps to save you fat on your belly and money in your wallet. The swaps are for the most part just as delicious as the more caloric ridden choice. Some of the swaps may shock you. I know a salad I routinely order at a fast food restaurant has more calories than the chicken sandwich that I usually deny myself thinking it was more fat laden.This is not a diet book per se, but rather a fun way to look at fast food and what it contains and how you can take control of your life as you ride through the fast food drive through windows! It also makes for a great trivia book as you'll want to share the information with friends. You know that fast food burger you always order? Guess how many calories it has!!!",5.0,A fun way to cut calories,1248220800,"07 22, 2009",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A2H19TYZFH5RGY,0380774577,dusty rose,"[0, 1]",I love reading about the Vikings. This book was good but not the best I've read. I like that the author used historical facts and did her own spin on the romantic part. I wish there had been a bit more written on the lives of the people and the lands.,2.0,Interesting,1395360000,"03 21, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A13KDKLHSKQQSI,0061032468,R. Hazell,"[0, 1]","Peters can't go wrong! Both funny and informative. You move from one novel to the next and fall in love with an eccentric family, with Egyptology and with Egypt itself. Great way to learn!",5.0,Always great,1384214400,"11 12, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3G4HVQMMFL18R,0446573094,Vette Guy,"[0, 0]","Lots of twists and turns....very entertaining. Highly recommend, great story and in tune with current events.I look forward to reading more Baldacci",4.0,Engaging read,1365033600,"04 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1JXRXYVSUAW6I,0883687496,robert johnston,"[31, 31]","I've demoted my other devotionals. This is clearly #1. It's like a lifetime supply of Godiva chocolates.I've read the same material twice now without a notice. I've wondered about this. Is my memory going that bad? Am I paying more attention today than last May 8th? After 2 full years, I've decided that I'm OK. This devotional has an almost supernatural ability to appropriately align Spurgeon's theology and scripture with the ups and downs of my life. We perceive Christ in subtly different ways at different times. Spurgeon's genius is that he knew about this effect. Spurgeon demonstrably and differently challenges my perceptions of Christ in good times and bad. Those times are every morning and evening, day after day. Spurgeon captures, elucidates and brings to human understanding this precise, temporal understanding of the message.I venture to guess that 20 years of use will be a new read every day. It's a great value ... a devotional that never ends, that reveals Christ's operation in life everyday and that becomes the AM & PM must read event. It will work its 'magic' on any Christian.",5.0,A review TWO YEARS later,1241740800,"05 8, 2009",31,31,helpful,1.0,1 A2M3N4ENAXGXUI,0060936975,"Christopher Oler ""coler142""","[9, 9]","At its heart, this book, I believe, is an attack on the lack of debate of major issues in America today. Mr. Stein seems to have found some of his inspiration in friends and neighbors who have followed a similar path to their personal views. At every turn, he praises consistency in belief and exposes what he sees as hypocrisy among our nation's institutions. Striking a personal chord, he spends a fair amount of time talking about the state of university education and the demise (and hints of a comeback) of the true liberal arts education.I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book and was also thoroughly intimidated by the century old high school entrance exam. Not only would I recommend this to everyone in the middle and to the right, but to anyone with liberal leanings who are interested in exploring the rationale for their opposition's views.",4.0,A Lack of Debate in America,979084800,"01 10, 2001",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 AAZ5OJ2OOJ2DK,0373250533,Kristen,"[5, 6]","As an inquisitive Gentile, I thoroughly enjoyed Shapiro's The Matzo Ball Heiress. Not only was the main character, Heather Greenblotz smart and witty, she paved the way for an education of sorts...for me, anyway. Heather attempts to find herself, her roots, and a little romance in between filming a live Seder for the Food Network with her more than dysfunctional family. The book is fast paced and full of information about Jewish dietary laws and practices. But don't let that fool you...there is lots of story packed in, as well.I applaud Shapiro for creating a great summer read that educates as well as delights.",5.0,"Fun and I learned something, too...",1089072000,"07 6, 2004",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 APDVHUTTR05XR,0801025214,"Keith Heapes ""Heapester""","[0, 0]","I bought D.A. Carson's popular book titled ""Showing the Spirit (A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12-14)"" several years ago and waited with great anticipation for the opportune time to finally read this book on one of the most controversial subjects in the church today. My first observation about this study was the unusual book title. Carson doesn't let the reader in on this point until nearly the end of the book. This book was published twenty-five years ago in 1987, back when some consider it the peak of the traditional Pentecostal and Charismatic movement's popularity.SPOILER ALERT: There may be plot information beyond this point that some readers may not want to know. If so, stop now or continue reading at your own risk.This is not a Bible commentary, per se. Nor is it a complete study of spiritual gifts. It primarily covers the apostle Paul's exhortation, instruction and correction of faulty attitudes and practices by those in the Corinthian assembly concerning the ""charismata"" (grace-gifts), especially the gifts of tongues and prophesy, and a short study on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The reader must understand that Carson does not bring in everything scripture has to say about tongues and prophesy. He restricts his study to 1 Corinthians, chapters 12-14. That was his purpose and allowed him to stay on track and on top of Paul's argument. I complement him in this regard.I was surprised that Carson chose to use the NIV translation for this study. It's pretty well known that the NIV is a ""thought-for-thought"" rather than a ""word-for-word"" translation. I was curious whether this would become a problem as the study progresses. To a small degree I think it did. Carson spends an extensive amount of time on the first three verses of chapter 12. Most of his effort was to disprove a popular interpretation that in those verses Paul was trying to establish a criterion for determining which utterances by the Christians in the Corinthian assembly were from the Holy Spirit and which were not. According to Carson:""It is no longer necessary to hold that `Jesus is cursed' was actually ever uttered in a Corinthian church meeting: Paul's point is to draw a sharp contrast between what those who have the Holy Spirit (i.e., Christians) say about Jesus, and what those who do not have the Holy Spirit say about Jesus. The latter group might include Jews and Gentiles, whether within cultic contexts or not. Paul's concern is quite simply to establish an essentially christological focus to the question of who is spiritual, who has the Holy Spirit.""In doing this, Carson completely dismisses the modern notion that Paul believed the utterances (tongues & prophesy) in the Corinthian church were either authentic or derived from the ecstatic utterances popular in Corinth's mystery religions during the believer's pre-Christian practices.Every now and then, and mostly early in the book, in an effort to make his point, Carson used a few unusual analogies. One such comparison appeared when he poses this hypothetical question from a non-charismatic: ""What possible benefit for the entire community is there...in such private tongues-speaking?"" Carson adds, ""Clearly there is no direct benefit: no one but God is hearing what is being said."" Carson then makes the following most curious defense:""But Paul was granted extraordinary visions and revelation that were designed only for his immediate benefit (2 Cor, 12:1-10); yet surely the church received indirect profit insofar as those visions and revelations...better equipped him proclamations and ministry. In the same way, it is hard to see how verse 7 of this chapter renders illegitimate a private use of tongues if the result is a better person, a more spiritually minded Christian: the church may thereby receive indirect benefit.""Certainly the comparison between the unique ministry of the apostle Paul, including all of his special ministry preparation, visions and revelations, with anyone in the Corinthian assemble must be considered a completely absurd comparison. It appears those in Corinth were using tongues for both public and private use. Is there any reason to conclude that ""...the result [was] a better person, a more spiritually minded Christian?"" Other than his unsubstantiated defense of the private use tongues above, Carson doesn't spent much time with this subject. Unfortunately, his ""defense"" sounded like it might be more a presupposition than an exposition of the text.Once Carson began rolling through and dissecting Paul's arguments in chapters 12-14, he was clearly in his element. Combining chapter 13 (love ~ the most excellent way) as an absolutely essential element in properly understanding both chapters 12 and 14 was one of the highlights of this book. His exegesis there was superb. Referring to chapter 13:4-7, Carson writes: ""In these verses, love is not so much defined as [it is] described; and even this description is not so much theoretical as [it is] practical. Not one element in this pithy list is sentimental; everything is behavioral.""Another subject I found a little fuzzy was Carson's extensive handling of the evaluation of prophecy in the worship service. He interprets 14:29, ""Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said."" Carson understands the word ""others"" to mean those in the congregation (not the other prophets) and makes some distinction between the ""prophets"" in the church and those in the OT and the apostles in the NT. He never clearly explained why a prophet's utterances needed strict scrutiny. That generated an immediate question in my mind. If the congregation's prophets needed those who were assembled to evaluate whether prophesies were accurate or not, what is the point? That kind of scrutiny certainly isn't going on in the twenty-first century church! After giving Carson's view on OT verses NT prophecy some careful consideration it appears he has fallen prey to the doctrine of Fallible Prophecy also espoused today by such well-known figures as Wayne Grudem and John Piper. I won't comment any further on that.In this same regard, Carson includes the unpopular prohibition that women are to remain silent in the public assembly. Based on contextual relationship to the require evaluation of prophetic utterances, Carson insists the prohibition means women may not join in this evaluation process. He is quick to assert that women may prophesy, but may not judge prophesy. Allowing women to prophesy in the assembly (especially after forbidding them to speak or evaluate) seemed inconsistent with Pauline theology and was confusingly out of place; it was just another example of fuzzy areas in Carson's theology.Carson provided an extensive ""reflections"" chapter (52 pages!) at the end of the book. This was an excellent chapter and summarized his view on the major subjects in his study, just in case he was misunderstood earlier. According to Carson:1. Tongues will not cease until Christ's Second Coming. It is not a subsequent outward sign of a ""second blessing"" (Baptism of the Holy Spirit), advanced spiritual maturity or an indication of individual spirituality in general. The tongues of Acts chapter 2 and elsewhere in Acts were actual linguistic languages. Tongues in the worship service are also languages and must be done orderly (by 2 or 3) and each interpreted for the edification of those present; if there is no interpreter present, tongue-speakers must stay silent. Private tongues are not languages and are understood only by God, but not the speaker. Most of the tongue-speaking in the church today is not a linguistic language and therefore cannot be interpreted; it is mostly the result of a learned behavior.2. Prophesy must also be done in an orderly fashion (at the most by 2 or 3) by those recognized as NT prophets and each prophesy must be evaluated by the assembly for Spirit authenticity, and if not, discarded. Modern prophesy in the church is characteristically revelatory and is different from that of the OT prophets and NT apostles. (Note: This idea of ""fallible NT prophets"" openly ministering in the church is a new and disturbing idea to me which throws the doors open for untold problems and doesn't require the same serious standard the OT prophets were held to).3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not an individual ""second blessing"" which occurs subsequent to salvation, something that must be pursued by the individual believer. All believers are baptized with the Holy Spirit, uniquely joined with Christ, at salvation (1 Cor. 12:13).At the end of the book, Carson adds an interesting anecdotal story from his own early experiences as a pastor. After reading this I realized that what he and his church went through years before the writing this book just may have affected, whether he realized it or not, some of his conclusions pertaining to the ""charismata"" in 1 Corinthians 12-14.Although Carson's study is only 174 pages long, it is extremely detailed, extensively cited and definitely no ""page-turner."" However, it would seem that this study suffered to a small degree from its age. It would have been interesting to have seen if the expository material that has been published in the last 25 years would have had much of an impact on Carson and what he wrote in this book. One author who comes to mind is David Garland and his excellent books on 1 & 2 Corinthians, which were published in 2003 and 1999, respectively. If I understand Carson correctly, the phrase ""Showing the Spirit"" means the outward, visible and/or audible manifestation of the ""charismata"" (grace-gifts), like tongues.",4.0,Showing the Spirit,1337731200,"05 23, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZJPSX9FA2KJZ,B007QRD2RI,RJPP,"[9, 10]","KILLING CARLA by Billie Sue Mosiman is a gripping and most captivating novel.The killer got off on a technicality with murdering Sully's wife, Frannie. Sully is pissed and wants revenge. Frannie's sister Carla, wants to off the killer herself. They team up to get the killer, but he's playing cat and mouse with them, while he's killing more people.The author created a vicious serial killer who you will despise. The characters of Carla and Sully are quite likable. The story line is intense and at times, heart-stopping. I very much enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone who likes a fast-paced story, packed with action and suspense. 5 stars for this prolific author. I look forward to reading more of her books.",5.0,A HEART-POUNDING SUSPENSE STORY,1336176000,"05 5, 2012",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 ARYF8JUHY2S1X,0375703063,"Dianna Setterfield ""Compulsive Reader""","[7, 8]","I don't care if Ruby and Jack were together for true love or for need, but this novel was a definite story about love of some sort. I was touched, moved to tears, and laughed off my seat. A VIRTUOUS WOMAN was beautiful, heart-wrenching, sweet and honest. Definitely one of Oprah's better choices, but read it for other reasons, too.",5.0,"Wonderful, beautiful story of love",940982400,"10 27, 1999",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A1H1A0TR1K38SQ,0919345263,M Huston,"[0, 0]","A compendium of Alexandrian rituals for the the Sabbats and Esbats throughout the year with nice summaries of what each represent. While it can be dry to read cover to cover, it makes for a very nice start in understanding each of the holidays as well as provides an excellent framework for practicing/crafting your own rituals.",4.0,Excellent Overview,1361318400,"02 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1S65WEHI2EP95,1493580175,Denise,"[0, 0]",And I love this story. It was full of interesting characters...all of whom are Vampires. It's a Agatha Christy 'Then There Was None' Mystery meets Vampires. How cool!,4.0,I Stumbled Across This Novel...,1384646400,"11 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A4JLJWPDVFY3O,0310315506,Sara Ella,"[0, 0]","Reggie Beswick has no idea she is the long lost heir to the Hessenberg throne. She’s perfectly happy restoring old cars and living out of boxes in the house that never seems to really feel like home. And then Tanner Burkhardt shows up at her garage, claiming Reggie is a princess. Tanner needs Reggie to come with him and take her rightful place on the throne if Hessenberg is to be her own nation again. If she refuses, the Kingdom of Brighton will absorb Hessenberg at the end of the entail, taking away the island’s sovereignty forever.With humor, a budding romance, and even one’s sinister plot to overthrow Reggie as Princess, Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck is the sweetest romance of the season. Does Reggie have what it takes to lead Hessenberg? Pick up your copy to find out!What I liked…I read Rachel Hauck’s Once Upon a Prince last year, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but I have to say I liked Princess Ever After even better. I love how, even when unsure of herself, Reggie carries herself with dignity and grace throughout the entire novel. She doesn’t slink back and hide, but asks questions and eagerly seeks out what she can do to help. Reggie is a very likable, relatable character. She has wit and spunk, but also just enough vulnerability and humility to make her the perfect heroine—the perfect princess.Also of note, is how well Rachel writes a villain. I have to say I absolutely hated the main antagonist in Princess Ever After. I literally wanted to reach into the book and punch him. Everyone loves a villain, right? I won’t give away who it is (even though you find out early on) just because I want you to read Princess Ever After and find out for yourself.And then there’s Tanner. Ah, Tanner! Excuse me while I swoon. Tanner is, in a word, adorable. He is vulnerable, funny, encouraging, and even a little insecure. Rachel writes him so well that I could hear his accent through his dialogue. With his own tainted past and traitorous feelings toward a royal (aka Reggie Beswick) Tanner is the kind of male lead every girl wants.Finally, there was the mystery in Princess Ever After that drew me. I’m not talking Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys, but simply a question that arose early on in the book—one always lingering in my mind. Aside from wanting to find out if Reggie would take the throne or fall in love with Tanner, this other mystery helped keep me motivated to read until the end. This little tidbit (an no I’m not giving it away) added that little extra something that set Princess Ever After apart from other titles in its genre.Recommendation…Spring break is coming! I recommend grabbing a copy of Princess Ever After before you hit the road. It will make you laugh, cry, and most importantly Princess Ever After will make you a loyal Rachel Hauck fan. Her writing has just the right blend of romance, humor, and happily ever after.Disclosure:I received a review copy of Princess Ever After from LitFuse Publicity Group. I was not asked to write a positive review. All views and opinions expressed are solely and completely my own. I received no compensation other than a print copy of Princess Ever After, which is mine to keep or gift as I so choose.",5.0,Sweetest Romance of the Season,1394064000,"03 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WBY8PKRCZLXW,B00ESPZ2C4,J. Boutillier,"[8, 8]","I love R.E. Butler and her Ashland Pride. If her books are available to preorder I do it as soon as I can. If you like multiple pairings this series is for you. What I like the most about R.E. Butler's series even though they all have their villains it doesn't take up the whole book. She is one of my very favorite authors and I will always purchase whatever she puts out. Keep them coming RE, looking forward to Marking Melody.",5.0,Great!!!,1377561600,"08 27, 2013",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A2EVRQFL4MYQQA,1481953214,Jeni2948,"[0, 0]","Well Cassia is one of my top 3 authors! This series is emotional, funny, touching, with an undeniable heat that will leave you panting and wishing for a cigarette when you've reading it!",5.0,I loved it!,1394236800,"03 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1I96OYAUJ3HQE,0957484607,"Barbbe ""Barbara Stewart""","[0, 0]","gave it 4 but for some reason had a hard time reading this one. some i can pick up and not put down. Ash who is orphan goes back to her home of Dublin and finds out that nightmares are for real.. Connal is an outcast and assassin and she thinks he's a living hunk of ancient mythology. he's lived thousands of years.. they are in for one wild ride. pretty good over all, but for some reason and i love these kinds of books had little hard time getting started but once i did was ok..",4.0,Grim reaper thousand year old hunks,1404432000,"07 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQJYM0KCMWZJZ,0399152598,J. Holt,"[0, 1]","I've read 4 or 5 Cussler books and this will probably be my last. Once a novelist (note the word, ""novel"") starts inserting himself into the novel (again, read, ""novel"") then I start thinking mega-ego and get distracted.I made it through 3/4 of the book, nearly every page in agony with the insipid, unrealistic dialogue. I wish I had the book in front of me to directly quote the last sentence I read but it sounded like something you'd hear in a really, really, really bad action movie. It doesn't even approach being kitchie, if that was his intent.This is a really, really bad action novel/autobiographical fantasy.",2.0,last of my cussler buys,1153872000,"07 26, 2006",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A20R37WRPLUM1D,1609283139,Xanlthorpe,"[0, 0]","OK, so maybe I haven't lived this kind of life myself, but I swear that I have lived it through several friends or acquaintances over the years. The best part here though, is that I get to see the end and I like how it finishes. With my friends, well, some of those stories are still going on.",4.0,"Conflicted, enjoyable read",1351900800,"11 3, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AY75PVBOL103L,0143057529,Sherron,"[0, 0]","I liked this book a lot. This wasn't really a autobiography, only some info on the past. However the one thing I noted was Goldie acts as though her children are fatherless. I find this interesting, since Bill Hudson was and is their father. They even call Russell Pa. I read Hudson's book, and now I'm inclined to believe it. He stated Hawn did her best to keep the kids away from him, and with her money succeeded. I have three sons was divorced years ago. But their dad was always in their lives. They call my husband by his first name. Sounds to me like a selfish act on her part.",4.0,Selfish Act,1385164800,"11 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1L3ZX412OW0OS,038536315X,Joan F. Bowen,"[0, 0]",A real page turner and intriguing tale from the very beginning to the end. Grisham at his best! Great read!,4.0,Great read!,1390867200,"01 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3T6EHBCL5MLMQ,1616265426,Sheila,"[0, 0]","Southern charm is all through this book, if your looking for a book to just relax and enjoy I definitely recommend it.I would like to read the other books in the set, I can't wait to see what her sisters stories are.",4.0,"Fast easy reading, enjoyable!",1373155200,"07 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1T8DDG9TLIZ7D,1418450170,Marie Martin,"[6, 12]","Raising a Vaccine Free Child should be the goal of all parents, regardless of what you believe about vaccines. After all, a vaccine is a small amount of poison - aimed to trigger a blood battle in our veins. Or so we are told. In this book, you will find a well thought out discussion on the reasons the medical profession and the media hide the suggestion that vaccination is NOT necessary. In fact, you will learn that vaccination can be dangerous. It's a profound and powerful book, and every parent and would-be parent should read it. If you want more on why NOT to get vaccinated[...]",5.0,Powerful and profound!,1247011200,"07 8, 2009",6,12,helpful,0.5,1 AAIL33CYCT47J,0143036912,Gregory Baird,"[6, 7]","As lives go, Sean Wilsey's was destined for a memoir; the life that he was born into is just too over-the-top to be ignored. Insane wealth, eccentricity, betrayal, confusion, power, celebrity, depression, and redemption are all present and make for a truly unique life story made better by Wilsey's perspective. He doesn't write with anger, bitterness or resentment - even though it would have been very easy for him to lapse into self-righteousness - but with the even-handed tone of a man trying to make sense of his wacky life journey.It all starts with his parents; Wilsey's mother, Pat Montandon (who has subsequently penned a memoir of her own in response to her son's version of events, not so subtly entitledOh the Hell of It All: A Memoir), truly has no shortage of needs to suit her expensive tastes and desire for big-named guests to rub shoulders with. To say that she has an outsized personality, prone to mountain highs and canyon lows, would be a terrible understatement. This is a woman who had a fan club for her San Francisco-based TV show in the 60s; regularly lunched with Gloria Steinem, Alex Haley, Joan Baez and more in a 70s-version of Parisian salons; once tried to talk her son (barely a teenager at the time) into a suicide pact to get back at his cheating father, became an unlikely friend and ally of Mikhail Gorbachev over the course of several peace missions `behind the Iron Curtain,' and much, much more. She reflects such a powerful aura on crowds that meeting her, Wilsey recalls, ""is like meeting a celebrity you've never heard of."" Then there's his father, Al Wilsey, a butter magnate whose main loves in life are his helicopter, his name (and how often it appears in San Francisco's crowded society column), his wealth, and his women (emphasis on the plural). Together, the three of them lead an extraordinary life of privilege, minor celebrity, and seeming bliss. And then Al ends it all by divorcing his wife and marrying her best friend, Dede Traina - a wicked socialite who proves to be the fabled evil stepmother come to diamond-studded life.Suddenly, young Wilsey is adrift and lost at a mere ten years old. He's shuttled between his mother's sterile penthouse (which he calls `the marble palace' because every square inch is covered in either marble or mirrors), where she encloses herself like a bear in hibernation to overcome the profound depression that follows Al and Dede's betrayal, and Dede's mansion in Pacific Heights, where he must contend with two seemingly perfect stepbrothers, Dede's stunning hostility, and his father's newfound embarrassment of him (Dede's handiwork, as she maneuvers, Lady Macbeth-style, to have her stepson sent away to boarding school). And so begins Wilsey's quest - not to find himself, but to find a version of himself that his family will notice, admire, and love. But the more he fails to please them, the more desperate and angry he becomes, leading to drugs, stealing, lying, running away, flunking out of numerous schools, and a serious downward spiral as he gets shipped to school after school, reformatory after reformatory. ""I felt as if I was reinventing myself with every new place and every abandoned and replaced friendship. Reinventing myself, almost invariably, as a worse and worse person.""Of course, as all memoirs go, Wilsey eventually has an epiphany and begins to pick up the pieces of his shattered life, but what makes the resolution of his memoir so much more poignant than other examples is that he is clearly still in search of some resolution, as most people who have been hurt are. He needs answers and closure to a degree that he will never adequately get, and this superb memoir is his big gamble to get it all out, examine it as closely as possible, and try to move on with his life.Still, as with all memoirs, ""Oh the Glory of It All"" must be taken with a grain of salt. As Wilsey himself notes at one point: ""I am pure emotion and pure manipulation united."" Is his version of events the honest, 100% truth? I don't rightly know, nor do I pretend to; what I can say is this: Wilsey's memoir is pure joy to read, and I'll be feverishly recommending it to others (particularly to fans ofRunning with Scissors: A Memoir).Grade: A",5.0,"""A memoir, at its heart, is written in order to figure out who you are.""",1199836800,"01 9, 2008",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1COXZOCLEJVMC,0609803735,Che Zee,"[25, 33]","I was browsing around for natural cat health information, and read the review below, titled ""Disappointing"".I just found out today that cats can't tolerate garlic when I took my very sick, very anemic cat into the vet and realized that I may have contributed to the problem! I've used Anitra Frazier's book ""The New Natural Cat"" like a bible for years, and it is a good book, but maybe she needs to revisit the garlic issue, which she highly recommends as a treatment for cats.I've just been to the website the reviewer mentioned, [...] and it seems to corroborate what my vet was telling me today - and i was very unwilling to hear.The other reviewers seem to love the book, but I'd say that if you really want a great book on taking care of a cat, get Anitra Frazier's book instead -- just don't give garlic to your cat -- at least not till there's more information about it.",3.0,Regarding garlic for cats,1098057600,"10 18, 2004",25,33,helpful,0.7575757575757576,1 ACFDT3XY3J7B9,1938531035,B. Biddle,"[0, 0]",An excellent look at life at one Lutheran church and how all the personalities there work together (or don't at times) Suspect you could be just about any denomination to read this and see your congregation here. Amazing how our upbringing makes us assume we must act certain ways. A great thought provoker.,5.0,"A very funny, sad and true story",1398643200,"04 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27DHFFWMH042Y,0819560863,"Cathleen M. Walker ""geminiwalker""","[63, 63]","For those unfamiliar with the story of The White Rose, it is a testament to the power and courage of those who are willing to stand up for freedom and independence in a world gone mad. Once again I find this book paticularly compelling today, for obvious reasons. The pamphlets the White Rose students distributed (that they subsequently paid the ultimate price for) are reprinted in their entirety in the book. They are well written, beautiful in spirit, and as compelling today as they were then.The story is told with honor and reverence by the sister of Hans Scholl and Sophie Scholl, siblings and two of the students in Germany who brainstormed the pamphlets and were executed swiftly and denounced publicly for their trouble. In spite of that, or because of it, their efforts caused a ripple of resistance in the German republic that caused its fair share of trouble for the Nazi regime.Calling for a policy of passive resistance -- the ability for each one, individually, to sabotage any efforts of the fascist regime in power -- was a brilliant move on their part. No fundraising, no unending meetings, no need for mailing lists or computer databases. Sabotage rallies, sabotage in all areas of science and scolarship which further the continuation of the war, sabotage in all branches of the arts, and a refusal to give a penny to any government organized charity...such was the call of these noble individuals who had no great army, but who understood the power of the individual.I only learned of the White Rose within the past couple of years myself. Everyone should learn and understand what they did and why. It gives me hope.",5.0,It gives me hope,1091577600,"08 4, 2004",63,63,helpful,1.0,1 A21W4NZ1ZOD4UE,B00FAE7JT6,Amazon Customer,"[5, 5]","Absolutely loved this book! I thought I knew what to expect going in...fun and feisty. What else would you expect after ready In a Heartbeat? Boy was I wrong. There is fun and feisty, sad and heartbreaking, and hopefulness. Heaven Sent has the perfect combination of everything. Hilary Storm sure knows how to throw you for a loop. There were part where I wanted to cry and my heart hurt, but I didn't know who for.Ivy and Taron have a love/hate relationship that neither can deny any longer. Both have a past that comes back to interfere in their relationship. I loved both of these characters in In a Heartbeat, but I fell even harder in Heaven Sent. Taron is not the insensitive, only cares about himself person I thought he was. His walls are broken down and he does whatever it takes to show Ivy his true feelings and keep her safe.As much as Ivy tries to deny it, she can't fight her feelings for Taron. Even when she tries to push him away she can't let go. After a horrific night for Ivy and the truth comes out, she becomes dependent on Taron and all her friends. We see the protective alpha male make his appearance in full force. Everyone pulls together to help support Ivy, but will she really be ok and be able to move on?We do get to see Talon and Eaven, but they aren't the main focus. I hope to see more of everyone in future books. I cannot wait to see where Hilary takes this story. Love, hope, friendship and trust are all put to the test. Absolute perfection!",5.0,Absolute Perfection,1383436800,"11 3, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2NLMYDJBYVE26,1439228019,"Gazpacho ""Beverly""","[0, 0]","What is a consequence? Well, unfortunately many of us think it's a punishment or something that happens as a result of wrong done. But that's not necessarily true all the time. Consequences are simply the results of an action taken. Sometimes there are good consequences, and sometimes there are bad consequences. But there are also natural/neutral consequences. Children need to know that ALL actions have consequences and that it is natural. Thinking about consequences teaches us to think ahead.In this story, the Goopy Ghost is himself a natural consequence. The children are preparing their pumpkin to be a Jack O'Lantern. The design is drawn on the orange globe. The top is carved, and out comes the goop. Hmmmm...where should they put it? Out it goes into a stinky, smelly garbage can.A little bit later the goopy ghost is aware he has to find his home, but where? Creeping around inside the children's house, he finally finds his home--but changed. It glows! In search of another home, Goopy starts to wreak havoc. What did the children find the next morning?I love these fun, light-hearted stories of our friend the Goopy Ghost. He's not the scariest, nor the spookiest of ghosts, but he is certainly one of the silliest. The consequences of reading his stories? Most likely, more smiles!",5.0,The goofiest goopy ghost you'll ever meet!,1356739200,"12 29, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARU1HXHDV88LY,1585711306,"Kaddie 001 ""KZAM""","[4, 6]","The characters were believable and intriguing. My only criticism is in the timeline and how quickly the two seem to fall in love. They don't sleep together immediately, but I would have liked to seen them have a longer courtship than just a few weeks.However, Ms. Clark does a good job with the ""love at first sight"" theme, and Phillip is not portrayed as a weak man. He knows what he wants and he goes after it.",4.0,Enjoyable Read,1138492800,"01 29, 2006",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A384LTNK8QBPM8,1585713007,"JV ""Johnandvan""","[5, 6]","If you like contemporary romances, a handsome widower (Ryan) with a young son, who meets a woman (Lara) his son's school teacher and finally finds a reason to move on...then this is the story for you.. It is a romantic read full of sweet moments and hesitant moments between two people who may have a second chance together. Even the introduction of Shelly, Ryan's deceased wife was well done, as she prodded him to pursue happiness; and his son Justin well I just fell in love with him. All in all a really wonderful romantic read by this author...and well edited.",5.0,A really lovely romance,1207353600,"04 5, 2008",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 APNXW87ZSU15D,0895557665,P. Forrester,"[10, 10]","This book is excellent. Practical, down to earth, you will be able to relate to what the author says even though he lived over 200 years ago. It was recommended to me by my 19 year old son who received it from a Norbertine priest, brother of a friend of mine. For solid encouragement on the journey to increase the virtue of humility I recommend this book.",5.0,Excellent for Meditation,1279843200,"07 23, 2010",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A39J7PKYG68UL4,B00IA6QWP8,chanelle highley,"[12, 12]",Short and sweet!! Loved it!! So happy that there is another book coming but I want it NOW lol! I love this whole series and every person in them! Love Sawyer and wish there were more guys like him!! So much I could say but I hate when people say too much in reviews! Just read it and enjoy :),5.0,OMG Sawyer :),1391990400,"02 10, 2014",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 APKLDA2EZ98WO,1467930598,Barby Crabb,"[0, 0]","I needed a book to get lost in, and Darkness Falls did the trick. I have read a few reviews saying the book was lacking in grammatical correctness having poor sentence structure and spelling. I must admit I was so involved in the story and the rich visuals the author created that I never noticed anything wrong with the book. I look forward to reading the second book in this series.",4.0,Enjoyable Escapism,1380067200,"09 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2H8Q7AYXA4JM8,0061044741,Bast,"[4, 5]","Since I loved Ammie, Come Home and Shattered Silk when I was younger, I bought those two and this 'sequel' for my Kindle. I vaguely remember reading this one when I was younger, but I couldn't even finish it this time. First of all, who WERE these characters? Secondly, Why was Karen's name changed to Kara ? (That annoyed me more than her complete turnaround regarding her characterisation - she turned into the people she seemed to loathe!). Seriously, the name change of the character bugged me so badly I had to put the book aside. It just made me nuts. Normally, I'm a huge Barbara Michaels fan, and I really really wanted to love this book too. Alas, not meant to be.",1.0,What Happened to the Characters?,1205280000,"03 12, 2008",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A26GYOB9BOBCFQ,0743597176,Dawn Durtsche,"[0, 1]","this item easy to find, purchase and download. I would recommend to anyone. the item works beautifully for its purpose.",5.0,book,1355097600,"12 10, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 ANXSU1TKONKVF,0007163061,"Kevin C. B. ""Opportunistic reader""","[5, 6]","Engineering can at times be less than interesting, yet it was not always so. During the middle of the 19th century, materials and automated power made new endeavors that were once far-fetched dreams, bright new possibilities. Deborah Cadbury skillfully holds the reader enthralled during the tale of each endeavor, laying out the politics, players, economics, and natural obstacles that confronted the dreamer engineers who sought to make the world more civilized and safe for their fellow human. The one aspect of each engineer that struck me above all, was simply the nearly masochistic work ethic each of them displayed in their attempts to accomplish their dream.All but three of these engineering marvels are notable because of the large impact they had on civilization at large, not simply within the geographic area in which they were manifest.The three exceptions are monuments to overcoming fantastic environmental challenges to save lives and safeguard property that serve as examples of excellence and durability to this day.Another aspect of these marvels that presented itself unexpectedly, was the assistance from, or directly to the medical profession from at least three of these projects. It is actually somewhat frustrating to think how many lives could have been saved if only someone had listened to the medical professionals at an earlier point in these specific endeavors.To summarize, the subject matter is relayed in an entertaining fashion, with due consideration to detailing the people and their motives within the scope of each project, yet without compromising a suitable measure of objectivity. There are more detailed books regarding each project, but I believe "Dreams of Iron and Steel" manages an admirable compromise between informative detail and skillful story telling to merit five stars for excellence and motivational inspiration to succeed.",5.0,An excellent survey of fantastic 19th century engineering,1077235200,"02 20, 2004",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2F78L6BYKW5P0,031613290X,"Zara Hoffman ""Zara Hoffman""","[0, 0]","""My primary motivation behind buying a car, despite the scarcity of my funds, was that I refused to be driven around town in a car with red and blue lights on top. Nothing slows down traffic like a cop."" ~Bella SwanBella Swan is your regular teenage girl: she's awkward, shy, and of course a new girl in Forks, Washington. Daughter of the Chief of Police, Bella is already the talk of the school before she even walks in. But there's another famous family: the Cullens. When Bella originally sees them, she immediately knows they're different, but not sure how: The truth is the Cullen Family are vampires-who sparkle in the sun.Vampire MythologyStephenie Meyer is rumored to have dreamed the ""Meadow Scene"" (read the book to find out what that means) where a girl and a boy are sitting together. They both seem normal, but the boy is pale and his skin sparkles in the sunlight. That's where it all began.""But wait-the vampires sparkle in the sun? What happened to burning?"" You might be wondering. Stephenie Meyer reinvented a version of vampire mythology for her bestselling saga. Here's a list of things you should know before cracking open this book if you're a hardcore Vampire fan: Vampires don't burn, they sparkle in the sun; but they're not allowed to show that because of a Vampire Law. The Cullens are ""Vegetarian"" Vampires who feed from animals instead of humans. And finally, there are Vampire Royalty called The Volturi who are cruel and sadistic and enforce the Laws.CharactersBella Swan is the protagonist. Her father's a cop (see quote on the right) and is new to Forks Highschool.Edward Cullen is the male protagonist and a member of the Cullen Family (Clan). He has five other ""siblings"": Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper, and Alice. Each of them were found and rescued by Carlisle their ""father."" Edward is special among vampires: he can read everyone's mind-except Bella's.Jacob Black is Bella's old childhood friend and takes part of a love triangle in the last three books. He's also a werewolf.StoryEdward hates Bella on first sight, but because the two of them are a ""stupid lamb"" and a ""sick, masochistic lion"" they are attracted to each other despite the fact that he's a vampire who wants to drink her blood every moment and she's a fragile human.Other notesWhether you're reading this to see what all the hype is about or to read the original work the movie franchise was based on, it's a quick read- definitely chick lit, so if you're not into that, I'd keep moving, but this is definitely a fun book to occupy your free time.To read more of my book reviews, please go to my website and click ""Avid Reader""",4.0,Sparkling Vampires,1358380800,"01 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1LPH1S8VRJYTD,0061234915,Holly R,"[19, 22]","This was a fascinating book. It was truly fascinating and yet so depressing. It's quiet and moody and well, romance noir. The aliented, doomed hero and the femme fatale. Corruption, madness, and moral breakdown. It's all here. And it's sometimes hard to read.Claiming The Courtesan starts with the incomparable beauty Soraya and her protector the Duke of Kylemore, Justin Kinmurrie enjoying a postcoital glow. All is right with Kylemore's world, he possesses the mistress that is the envy of the ton and he's decided upon the perfect revenge against his interfering witch of a mother. Marriage to the courtesan, Soraya. What he doesn't know is that Soraya has been planning her escape of him and is in fact going to leave him within a fortnight. Enraged and humiliated, he tracks her down three months later and by gunpoint, kidnaps her and drags her to his tumbledown hunting box deep in the Scottish Highlands. He's determined to break her indomitable will and force her to acknowledge him as her master, her lover and eventually, her husband. He doesn't know that beneath Soraya's silken sensuality and urbane sophistication lies Verity, the woman underneath the courtesan facade, and Verity has a core of steel that refuses to bow down to his demands. Her refusals to accept him threatens to break Kylemore's tenuous hold on his sanity and his methods of ensuring her obedience grows desperate. She must submit to him. She must love him, because if she does not, the madness that lurks within the Kinmurrie blood could overtake him and then all he holds dear will be lost.Kylemore has the requisite tortured childhood and the type of evil mother that has ruined many a good man. He knows the threat of insanity that lies dormant in his family blood because he watched his father go down that path and to this day, it terrifies him. The only thing that stands bastion against his fears, is knowing he has his Soraya by his side. When she leaves, he is desperate to get her back. While he is desperate, I wouldn't call Kylemore pathetic. Anna Campbell, IMO, straddles that line well and as such, makes him a man who can be redeemed. He knows that what he is doing to Verity, the woman, is wrong. He literally can't help himself. He needs her. He needs her to keep the demons away and save him from himself. While that need and love battles back and forth from obsession and dependence, he will eventually stand on his own two feet. To see him do that at the end of the book was, well, for lack of a better word, fascinating. I applauded his ability to shake off the shackles of his parents and realize that despite the ever present threat of insanity, he can rise above it and be a better man. In all honesty, I don't believe there was an actual insanity gene in his bloodline, more like a debilitating capacity for horrifying self indulgence. With Verity removing herself from Kylemore's grasp/toybox, he at first reacts with childish fury. How dare she steal herself away from him, he thinks. When she stood up to him, she forced him to realize that his needs and wants can't always come first. He might have wanted to strip away the strictures of his dukedom, but he liked the power. When he comes to terms with that and realizes that Verity is a person, he can allow himself to step back a little, and learn to love the woman.Soraya/Verity was I thought, worse off than Kylemore. At least he knew he had problems, she didn't. She was forced to create the courtesan Soraya out of need and desperation and over the years, she completely split herself in two. Soraya, who could do anything or be anything and Verity, who remained clean and untouched. When Verity leaves Soraya behind, she thinks to immerse herself in good works and live a celibate and demure existence. While I completely sympathize with her anger and frustration at being dragged back to Kylemore, I think he ultimately did her a favor, because she needed to come to grips with both sides of her personality and meld them into one person.In my opinion, Kylemore raped Verity. Repeatedly. While I understand his confusion in Verity's claims that she was not Soraya, I still believe what he did to her constitutes rape and humiliation. The journey from Yorkshire into the Highlands was meant to break her will and he nearly succeeds. He holds the threat of her rape over her head the entire time and when he finally comes to her, she tells him plainly and in an unequivocal manner, no. She does not want him to touch her. In fact, she's practically exhausted herself with fear. He ignores her wants and desires and forces himself on her anyway. It is part desire on his part and part punishment. I hated Kylemore in those scenes. Anna Campbell doesn't stop at one scene, however. Kylemore comes back for more, night after night. She tries to run away from him repeatedly, into the deadly wilderness of the Highlands but he just drags her back. Whether or not he knows enough about her body to make her respond to him is irrelevant, he forced her to engage in sexual acts not of her choosing.Once all the inner emotional turmoil is dispensed with however, their sex turns into lovemaking. Verity realizes she has always been fascinated by the duke and once she comes to terms with the fact she can be both Verity and Soraya, both the Madonna and the whore, she acknowledges to herself at least that she loves him. She refuses to be deserted by him though and have her heart broken, so when he asks her to marry him again, she refuses. She won't make him a laughingstock and a pariah and neither will she do that to herself. This is when Kylemore realizes she is sincere and whole and that there is nothing more he can do but challenge her as she challenged him.After all this exhausting angst and inner turmoil, Claiming the Courtesan delves back into familiar romance territory with the damsel in distress and the rescuing hero on horseback and then the requisite groveling scene. While it's still dark as hell, this is actually a relief!What I'm trying to say with this exhaustive review is that Claiming the Courtesan was a fascinating read, but I wouldn't want to read it again. Too exhausting, too depressing and too full of emotional inner turmoil. This is not a romance to be swept away in, nor is it a book full of humor and love. It's full of everyday people and problems hiding behind a mask of Regency glitter and titles. This is not a pretty story and in actuality gets down right ugly at times. It's a grotesque gothic horror that leaves you feeling stunned and awed. If ever two people deserved a happily ever after, it was these two.",4.0,Fine line between love and obsession......,1221955200,"09 21, 2008",19,22,helpful,0.8636363636363636,1 AYEF5MIMPX9LI,1583332154,"CeecerPhila ""Ceecer""","[24, 28]","This is a wonderful cookbook. I was a bit worried at first when I saw that some recipes called for gelatin. Vegetarians and people wanting to avoid exposure to mad cow disease probably would need to use something else, I thought. I made an item and substituted agar flakes. It turned out okay, not the greatest. I have since left the gelatin out and had great results, so do consider leaving this item out and experimenting if you don't wish to consume certain products.My favorites so far are the focaccia (best I've had), raisin bread (ditto, with Earth Balance is spectacular!), graham crackers, multigrain bread, French bread (makes great banana or pecan milk French toast), and my boyfriend's new favorite rice noodle dish (which actually surpassed a delicious Thai peanut-basil one) is the Thai noodle bowl, with a few veg modifications. The pretzels came out a bit gooey but I will tweak it next time to work.I definitely recommend this book for people who have allergies and intolerances and those who want to expand the types of grains they eat. I have found that of all of the cookbooks I have (over 125), most call for whole-wheat flour, whole-wheat pastry, or unbleached white. Well, good health is dependent upon a variety of grains for the various nutrients they supply; Cooking Free is a way to achieve that.",5.0,Cooking Cruelty-Free as well,1151020800,"06 23, 2006",24,28,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A2D6MNUXGLA4XO,B00BSX4U04,Ms.VickiD.,"[0, 0]","I like this book and the whole series , I would truly like more from this author as she keeps things moving and interesting.",5.0,Good read,1369440000,"05 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27MSJH4529GRK,0394704967,Captain Cook,"[4, 6]","This book is like an ocean liner holed beneath the waterline at several points but with effective bulkheads. Although seriously flawed the leakage is contained and the ship stays afloat.Perhaps the problem is the ship's construction was never completed. Thomas Mann was clacking away at the typewriter just before his death at the age of 80, and more surprising than the fact that the novel remained unfinished is the fact that the narrative voice is that of a smug young man, a charlatan who has decided to regale us with a glib account of his early career.Because of the necessarily episodic nature of such a fly-by-night career, the story resolves itself into a series of loosely-connected episodes.This is definitely fortunate as some of the episodes are of incomparable brilliance while others are heavy going. In a story with more unity this would have the effect of sinking the whole ship, but compartmentalized as they are, we are able to enjoy Mann's purple passages without too much reference to the episodes that don't work.The episodes where Felix evades military service and the whole section where he recounts his Parisian days as elevator boy, jewel thief, dishwasher, and popular waiter at a top hotel, were particularly effective, showing Mann's deft touch for entwining character, psychology, and manners.After these bright spots, most readers will probably feel the last third of the novel, mainly set in Lisbon, is wasted. Here we have a lot of cosmic gobbledygook from Professor Kuckuck and the tedious courtship of the Professor's daughter, Zouzou, who never advances beyond an abstraction of a surly, spoilt young lady. There is still the occasional speck of gold to be panned here in these muddy lower reaches, but the river has by now lost most of its sparkle.",4.0,One Part Flaw Two Parts Masterpiece,964828800,"07 29, 2000",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2E9Q3T876TQ6C,0425231844,"L. Martin ""Book Junkie""","[5, 5]","I can't say enough good things about THE REEF! It shows a strong female character in a field that used to be dominated by men, and a strong sensitive male that isn't afraid to dream.This is a fantasy come true and involves marine archeologist Tate Beaumont and Matthew Lassiter and their families. The families run into each other while treasure-hunting for Angelique's Curse - a treasure that has eluded everyone, and many think it is only a myth. But this artifact is worth everything to some, even worth killing another.As this joint expedition continues, it holds all of the elements needed for a great story: mystery, romance, secrets that can't be shared, deceptions and threats. There are so many angles that could have been pursued the reader isn't sure which avenue Nora Roberts will take until she delivers them to it. This always keeps you on the edge of your seat, and gives you a first hand ""view"" of the undersea world of beauty and intrigue.I highly recommend THE REEF and only wish it would have continued - or at least had a sequel in the works! Great characters and fantastic plot will hook the reader from the beginning. One of Nora Roberts better works!",5.0,The Reef is Exquisite!,1115337600,"05 6, 2005",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2918IP6TQQG3S,0141035676,"Kate Runyan ""katethecook""","[0, 0]","A fascinating account of the family's twisted history, and a very vivid account, and a wonderfully researched account, which I really liked.",4.0,Secret Rooms,1394755200,"03 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GE2FFSPSIXAZ,1491218444,tooth_fairy,"[0, 3]","I tried to like this book but by time I made it to roughly the tenth chapter, I could read no more. A book is in trouble when I begin to scan through the page to see if it's worth reading. The writing was basic and uninteresting. At no point was I ever remotely spooked. Although the author does add links to hear EVP's and personal photos, I still could not muster my way through. What makes me shake my head is to how anyone could give this a decent rating? Although I didn't spend much to buy the book, I would still be disappointed had it been free.",2.0,Don't spend your money...,1387065600,"12 15, 2013",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1UJJMFTG7WCX7,0758266022,kathy,"[0, 0]",I loved this book . I enjoyed reading it and wish she wrote more . I've read every book she wrote.,5.0,great,1377734400,"08 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15O0HES96TN2D,1580626238,"Lynne E. Sullivan ""inquizative minds...""","[0, 0]",this book will come in handy this year for birthdays and holidays coming up. I love to make candles and this gives good helps,5.0,love candles,1380844800,"10 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A295HRL9ZPSOED,0765309386,Zachary Hiwiller,"[4, 4]","Normally, I am less enthusiastic about science fiction as I am about fantasy. SF has fewer degrees of freedom; it has to be both internally consistent and consistent with the world we know where as fantasy only has to be the former. But every once in a while a book has a ""What If"" that is just as compelling as anything else out there. In Spin, one night the stars go out - or so it seems. Satellites fall from the sky, looking as if they had been in orbit for hundreds of years. The premise gets even more surreal after that, but always stays in the realms of consistent internally and without the use of magic. Wilson leaves great cliffhangers, peeling back the onion further and further with every chapter. Only Mieville's The Scar did that as masterfully to me. What finally is most interesting to me is that in a market recently saturated with post-apocalyptica this novel shines as a sort of pre-apocalyptica: humanity knows it is the last generation, what will they do about it? Excellent read. Don't read too many reviews of it or you will get spoilered.",5.0,Surprisingly Compelling,1310428800,"07 12, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 ABUFRUH186JZ,1250007038,"Rita @ My Home of Books ""My Home of Books""","[0, 0]","Barbara Delinsky has another major hit on her hands with Sweet Salt Air, a book that is great for a beach read, but will be enjoyed any time of the year. The setting is a remote island off the coast of Maine and the story highlights the friendship between Charlotte and Nicole, two friends who reunite after an uncomfortable estrangement that left Nicole clueless. Now when her family's lovely beach cottage will be sold after the seaon, Nicole embarks on a project to write a cookbook that ties in the flavor of the community with interviews of the locals who grow and cook the food. But secrets lurk all around them, and Charlotte has a big one that involved Nicole's ailing husband.Classic Delinsky-style women's friendship story that doesn't disappoint with the drama. I really enjoyed it (having previously lived for years on the coast of Maine it brought back memories) and recommend it for anyone who is looking for feel-good contemporary women's fiction that is able to highlight the romance angle without explicitness. There is a twist in the plot that caught me by surprise and had me turning pages faster. A must-read for those who enjoy this genre! 4 stars",4.0,Classic Delinsky Friendship Story- Worth Reading,1377734400,"08 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AA2R1HZQKBNAN,0312382855,"Debbie's World of Books ""Debbie's World of Books""","[0, 0]","This book has been lingering on my TBR shelves since October of last year and I am glad I finally picked it up. I loved Joe Ledger's character. He was a total kick ass and yet still remained likeable. The supporting characters were for the most part also great. The only thing I wish Mayberry had not done was create the expected romance between Ledger and one of the women in the DMS. I really did not feel like it was necessary to the story. Still this was a great book to read. Early on we know there is a traitor in Ledger's group but no one knows who it is. I had my suspicions early on but then I started doubting myself and finally in the end had my suspicions confirmed. That alone made me stay up late just to find out who it was and what they would do.It also has a different take on the origins of ""zombies"" and actually freaked me out wondering if there really could be someone out there smart enough to create a weapon like this. You know there will always be fanatics and money hungry people out there who would love to take advantage of such a thing. I just hope we never get to that point.",4.0,A chilling take on the zombie genre,1264982400,"02 1, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A4KZAES10O6W4,1490373306,Theresa Chester,"[0, 0]","Extensive background information, too long to get to the point. I found it boring and tedious I would not recommend it.",3.0,Just OK,1382054400,"10 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EGHVR5W1J67A,076113963X,"W. Harwood ""willyl""","[29, 37]","This book aims at the music lover curious about where to go for the best in genres outside the one's comfort zone. As a reader of classical music review books since the early Penguin days, I have no idea where to start with rock or blues or jazz, for example. I can't judge how Moon stacks up in the estimation of enthusiasts in those fields. In the classical world, he does a decent job, with the help of specialists outside his experience. As a limited guide to standard recordings of the greatest hits, it's fine, espeically for readers with a shorter attention span who hesitate to take on Penguin, the All Music Guide to Classical Music, or the Third Ear Classical Music guidebooks. At least he has a good index, something which Penguin lacks.",3.0,Useful and Diverse,1219968000,"08 29, 2008",29,37,helpful,0.7837837837837838,1 A3A97DLV45IDVT,0345413377,"Christopher R. Wilson ""tynecastle14""","[0, 0]","His Dark Materials concludes beautifully with The Amber Spyglass, the most ambitious and sprawling of the trilogy. Pullman continues to handle the characters with great skill and nothing feels inorganic of the characters' behaviors. The final act is gut-wrenching and might evoke a tear or two.",5.0,Spectacular conclusion,1387411200,"12 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3TLEBYBQ17XI,0141188936,"Joshua Rosenblum ""Supergenius""","[4, 6]","Despite my general libertarian readings, I had never actually read ""Atlas Shrugged"" in its entirety. I certainly have problems with Objectivism as a philosophy and Rand's theory of sex is pretty laughable. And yes, the writing is not subtle and the characterizations are overly broad.But I believe that the people who focus on these factors are missing the point. Atlas Shrugged is essentially, an adult fairy tale. As such, it paints an overly broad picture to illustrate a moral point. Which is does extremely well. And, as in any fairy tale, the wicked queen is ugly and spiteful and the fairy princess is beautiful and can do nothing wrong. But Rand is not trying to portray a specific reality, or even write an engaging mystery story. Let's face it, for all intents and purposes, we all know who is John Galt - 500 pages before we meet him. Agatha Christie, Rand is not.But story of the ""mystery"" behind John Galt is engaging, because it highlights some disturbing facts about human society, that, like the villains in Rand's book - we often prefer to leave unsaid. If anything, the book is valuable because it portrays, with devastating accuracy, the slow decay of a civilization when it decides to privilege ""need"" over ""ability"" and ""feelings"" over ""reason."" Rand was able to create this engaging visualization because she lived it in Soviet Russia before and after the Revolution. I've personally seen the destruction wrought by those who put ""the public welfare"" ahead of individual liberty, both in the former Soviet Union and the Middle East, and I can say without a doubt, Rand has nailed why these societies fail.The book slows down once our heroine reaches the Emerald City and discovers the secret behind the mystery. But Rand's portrayal of the society's final death throes are interesting enough to keep you turning the pages till the end. There are not many fairy tales like this, and as such it is an important book - as well as a decent read.",4.0,"OK, I've Read It Now. Quit Bugging Me About It!",1275004800,"05 28, 2010",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2PSDONBASP8QJ,1484903250,"Mil ""good romance""","[0, 1]","For me it had a slow start, and even harder to finish..... I just did not like the story. Sorry!",1.0,Not my cup of tea,1385510400,"11 27, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3UC01VI50B6L3,0963457454,Herve H. Blandin,"[6, 12]","I do not doubt Mrs Tweedie went thru a soulful experience, but I have a hard time having any interest in her experience the way she goes on and on about it thru her diary (I tried to read it 20 years ago, and tried again now). First there is the problem that none of what she is elevating herself to can be put in words. Yet, it is worth trying, but here, we are left with daily accounts of what could amount for us as standing still in front of Black's proverbial doors of perception, knowing or assuming it's all one and infinite behind them, but expecting some of the transcendantality Irena experienced to somehow transpire thru the words. And having us glimpse, in return, at the glory of having let go of the ego and her experiencing the oneness with all things past, present and future.What is also keeping me back is that she lives more in fear and clinging (to the Guru's presence, amongst other things)) than in the felicity of what has been achieved at his side. So the diary in its honesty often gives way to litany, and as someone alluded, stays in the realm of her own personal struggles. This of course may be the idea behind the book, but for me, Mrs Tweedie lacked the talent, as a writer, to write about it in a way that would make her quest passionate and universal, and for the reader to identify with it with as viscerally as she did herself.A diary of the soul's transformation needs not be a diary of the day-to-day findings and shenanigans in doing so. 20 years later, regretfully, it proves to be too trying a task to read it thru again. I will rate not the quality of the experience Mrs Tweedie went thru, but her unability, IMO of course, to make a passionate read of it, in short, to make a book out of her diary.",3.0,Lacking literary talent to convey the experience of enlightenment,1310515200,"07 13, 2011",6,12,helpful,0.5,1 A96LBNAR5J5PW,1455503053,procres,"[0, 0]","I had high hopes for this book. I bought it and was barely able to force myself to finish it so I had resolution on the characters (I hate not finishing a book) only to find out there was no resolution, it was the first in a series. I wanted so much to like this book but I didn't bond with the characters, the world or the writing. I can say it was a very original dystopian world.",2.0,procres,1394409600,"03 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANMY2JKZL30MG,0786851481,NK,"[4, 5]","I just read this book yesterday and I really enjoyed it. It was creative and well written - a winning combination. It is marked with Eoin Colfer's style, so for all those Artemis Fowl fans out there, I definitely suggest it. It's more futeristic than Artemis Fowl and there's no hero like Artemis in there (he's pretty hard to match!) but the characters are intriguing and the plot is as well.",5.0,Eoin Colfer Quality!,1111363200,"03 21, 2005",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A23F61ZA7OAL7N,0374291357,"Reuters Breakingviews ""Reuters Breakingviews""","[107, 117]","If you've ever thought your boss is a psychopath, you may be right, according to psychologist Kevin Dutton. And if you're a top-flight markets trader, captain of industry, surgeon or soldier, you may well be one yourself. But that's OK, says Dutton. It may even be optimal.""The Wisdom of Psychopaths,"" an exploration of serial killers, monks, spies and CEOs through the prism of personality tests and neuroscience, is a good book lurking within a bad one. In this regard it perfectly reflects its theme, which is that among the dark traits which make a person psychopathic nestle behaviors and abilities that are not only necessary, but good, for individuals and society. In the seeds of evil, he proposes, wisdom may be found.An Oxford University research psychologist, Dutton may discomfit many readers with an almost adolescent joy in mixed metaphors and grating puns, relishing the shock value of his premise as he liberally applies the term ""psychopath"" to all kinds of people. It may sound like he is suggesting sadistic ax-murderers or serial rapists lurk within all men, but his point is rather more subtle. Perhaps this approach is a deliberate attempt to open the reader's mind to new ideas. Or perhaps he needs a more restrained editor.Still, a razor-sharp intellect with a serious academic purpose lurks behind the loose phrasing and wordiness. Dutton stacks up references to interlocking personality studies, brain scans and physiological examinations, comparing members of the general population with those behind bars and those who excel at certain sharp-end professions. His argument is that most ""psychopaths"" aren't violent, and indeed most aren't locked away. Many excel in society precisely because they possess, in a more moderate or controlled way, the same traits that land their more antisocial brethren in a world of hurt.The key traits include: ruthlessness; intense capacity to focus, excluding all distractions such as fear; powerful reward motivation; a disposition to action; acute ability to read emotions in other people, without being moved by them; charisma; mental resilience; and mindfulness, the ability to live in the present moment.Many people have some of these traits, he says. Those who can manage to flick them on and off according to circumstance have a powerful toolkit for doing well in life, particularly in high-risk, high-reward professions. Those with only partial control of such traits, or who have them jammed full-on all the time, may severely hurt others, ruin their own business or even damage the world economy. Those who lack any such traits should try to embrace a few, Dutton suggests.In examining CEOs, Dutton also cites a 2005 academic study that compared business managers, psychiatric patients and hospitalized criminals in a psychological profiling test. ""A number of psychopathic attributes were actually more common in business leaders than in so-called disturbed criminals,"" Dutton writes, listing attributes such as superficial charm, egocentricity, persuasiveness, lack of empathy, independence, and focus. The main difference lay in the ""antisocial"" traits, with the criminals' physical aggression, impulsivity and lawbreaking dials cranked up higher.One of Dutton's own surveys, in which visitors to his website take a personality test called the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale and give details of their professions, found that CEOs ranked highest on the scale, followed by lawyers, TV and radio workers, salespeople, surgeons and journalists.Dutton interviews ""functional psychopath"" special-forces soldiers, financial traders, lawyers and doctors, often in exotic locales, who speak of experiencing altered states of consciousness when entirely focused on their work, akin to the concept of ""flow"" or ""optimal experience"" of Hungarian psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. One of the most intriguing of Dutton's insights is the similarity he relates between certain psychopathic traits and those exhibited by experts in Buddhist meditation. Both are very good, for example, at reading emotions in people's faces, embracing new experiences, remaining in the moment and practicing detachment.To say psychological traits required in killing and in making a killing in the markets are not dissimilar may seem trite. Yet Dutton, despite his tendency to showboat, uses that observation as a starting point for a disconcerting and intelligent exploration of the outer reaches and useful inner depths of at least some human minds.[...]",3.0,Embracing the psychopath within,1352592000,"11 11, 2012",107,117,helpful,0.9145299145299145,1 A2NNO6YTXBB11T,1555716628,"J. Bando ""bookbuff""","[26, 30]","First off, I'm a former Marine that was at Mai Loc from 1 Sept 69 to4 Oct 69, and had the honor to be attached to Detachment B-52,Project Delta for Operation Trojan Horse I & II. And I have to saythank you to those SFs that I served with there. After finding outmore about this special group of Soldiers, I am very humbled and proudto say I had the privilege to serve with them.After wondering what was going on and who was I with for many years, this book filled in more pieces of the puzzle for me.R.C. Morris did an excellent job in writing this book and doing the research to make it factual. Highly recommend it for reference or just plain reading to understand what was going on. It is not a dry read.Just go buy the book, it's a hellava read.Sleep tight, the worlds best military is protecting our freedom!",5.0,Great book,1247097600,"07 9, 2009",26,30,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 A2PMWBNZFB690M,0801862930,Jason,"[0, 0]","Ambrose's history of West Point is probably the best I've read. He tends to split his organization into both superintendent's years and major historical accounts. The downside of this is that there's some overlapping chronology. The thing I was most critical about was the abrupt ending (followed by a droning letter on the 40 years since Ambrose wrote the book). I'm certain there's history enough of the Academy to write a book many times this size, but it's a good overview. Overall well worth it, and likely only needing a day to read.",4.0,"Good overview, but brief and with too much commentary",1373068800,"07 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AU3WO40RCS7YS,0804107688,Barbara W. Schwanke,"[0, 0]",Hamish keeps one guessing and laughing throughout his adventures. He is one of my favorite "reads!" Highly recommend for Highland Humor!,5.0,Typical Suspensful M. C. Beaton,1393113600,"02 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1KE3JBO3KQX2O,0984986707,Brian C.,"[5, 5]","This is really an excellent book. It is one of the best psychology books I have ever read. I am a philosophy student but I am very interested in psychology, and the problem of mental illness, both for personal and purely intellectual reasons. It is clear to me that we still do not really understand mental illness very well and, I think, a correct understanding of mental illness would have huge implications in terms of our understanding of what it means to be human and what we are at a fundamental ontological level. I think, for example, that a correct understanding of mental illness would be extremely relevant to the debates taking place in philosophy of mind about the reducibility of the mental to brain states, the status of meaning, etc.. The medical-model of madness, which treats madness as a brain disease, is currently the dominant model of madness. This book offers a critique of the medical-model and then attempts to work out an alternative model of madness that is more in line with the evidence and with the actual experiences of those who have suffered through periods of psychosis.Williams' critique of the medical-model is carried out thoroughly, with a firm basis in scientific evidence. The first part of the book includes a review of a lot of the current scientific literature on madness and concludes that there is very little evidence supporting the medical-model and a lot of evidence contradicting it. For example, the medical-model views things like schizophrenia as degenerative brain diseases. If that model were correct recovery would be impossible. There are, after all, no reported cases of people recovering from genuine degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's, but there are lots of cases of people recovering from schizophrenia (21) (41). Paris Williams also examines studies that suggest a strong genetic component to schizophrenia, he offers some critiques of those studies, and he cites a study that discovered that environmental influences (family dysfunction, etc.) have seven times more explanatory power than genetic predisposition (30). Williams also cites a study by the BPS that questions the validity of diagnostic categories like schizophrenia. There is almost no statistical clustering of symptoms which suggests that categories like ""schizophrenia"" might be social constructions (36-38). Williams also presents lots of evidence suggesting that the use of anti-psychotics is often more harmful than helpful in the long-term (42-57).After critiquing the medical-model Williams summarizes a whole host of alternative models of madness. There is a lot of overlap between the various alternative models. They all tend to view madness as a result of seemingly irresolvable existential dilemmas. Many of the alternative models of madness see madness as part of the psyche's self-healing dynamics. A lot of the alternative models view madness as the psyche's last resort in attempting to deal with an unacceptable existential situation. In the third section Williams presents his own DUI model of madness which incorporates aspects of the alternative models presented in the second section. Williams sees a dialectic operating at the heart of our being between isolation anxiety and engulfment anxiety. As unique individuals we all have different windows of tolerance in relation to each and we swing between them. The psyche tries to maintain itself within its window of tolerance. There is also a tension between our standard cognitive constructs, which tend to reinforce our dualistic views about the world, and the ultimately non-dualistic nature of reality that manifests itself in ""transliminal experiences"".Madness generally occurs when the dialectical tension between isolation anxiety and engulfment anxiety becomes unbearable, the window of tolerance shrinks to zero, and, there is a corresponding instability in a person's cognitive constructs, so that they become particularly open to transliminal experiences. Madness is the psyche's attempt to fundamentally alter a person's cognitive constructs in a way that will reduce the dialectical tension and the untenability of the person's existential situation. That is an overly simplistic summary of Williams' model that does not really do it justice. However, Williams' model is able to explain a lot that the standard medical-model is unable to explain. It is able to explain why there is a high recovery rate. It is able to explain why so many of the people who have experienced periods of psychosis claim that the experiences were ultimately beneficial in terms of their overall psychic health. It is able to explain why environmental factors are more predictive than genetic factors. It is also able to explain why the use of anti-psychotics often does more harm than benefit since they tend to short-circuit the psyche's natural healing processes.Ultimately, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done in attempting to understand madness. Williams intersperses six case histories throughout the book to support his model. They are all quite interesting and Williams' model is able to make sense of a great deal of their experience. However, all the case histories were people who experienced a very precise period of onset for their psychosis and they were all people who ultimately recovered. There are, in other words, a lot of similarities in the case histories. I would like to see the case histories expanded to see how Williams' model would apply to people who do not fit that profile. I have a family member who has suffered from psychosis her whole life. I have talked to family members who have known her since she was a child. I asked them if there was ever a time when she was ""normal"", for lack of a better term, and they said no. There was not, therefore, any particular moment when her psychosis started to manifest itself. She has just always been that way, even when she was a small child. I am curious how her experiences would fit into Williams' model. I would also be curious to see how Williams' model would account for people who experience a specific period of onset but never successfully recover.I would like to see Williams' model expanded to account for these cases. Any successful model of madness, of course, is going to have to be able to account for all the diversity in onset times, recovery rates, etc.. Part of the difficulty with models of madness is that they all tend to leave anomalies out. For example, there is some scientific evidence of brain abnormalities in schizophrenics. The problem with that evidence, as Williams himself points out in this book, is that some people who are schizophrenic do not have the brain abnormalities, and, I believe, though I could be remembering this part incorrectly, some people have them but are not schizophrenic. I think those kinds of anomalies suggest there is something wrong with the basic model. I am not suggesting that there is anything wrong with Williams' model. I think it would definitely be possible to work out Williams' model in a way that would account for people who did not have any particular point of onset or who never recovered. That to me, would be the next logical step. There is, obviously, still a lot of research to be done, but I think Williams' book is a great first step.",5.0,An important book on madness...,1371254400,"06 15, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A38IRMUVGLUEET,078522663X,john cummins,"[32, 53]","This highly touted book is a disappointment, already and I'm only to page 30. The premise that man is born to be wild, that God is a wild man, the lack of understanding of God, himself and who he is, is astounding. Even more astounding, or maybe rather, predictable, is all of the wild acclaimation about the greatness of this book. Eldredge's glib annoying words such as doctrinal nazis, don't go far early in endearing those of us that really care about scripture to him. But upon arriving at page 30 one finds that Free-Will is at the center of man's wildness. Man begins in the wilderness not because he doesn't belong in the garden but because the garden is not yet created. Man is/was supposed to extend the garden to cover the earth in reality, thus, bringing culture NOT anti-culture to the world around him (The Cultural Mandate, later called the Great Commission). NO, I've not finished the book, YES, I will continue but I fear that I can see where it is going based upon this OPEN THEOLOGY, and confused view of the 'risks' that our God takes as if, God isn't in total control. Scary and sad :-((john",1.0,What a disappointment :-(,1068508800,"11 11, 2003",32,53,helpful,0.6037735849056604,1 A23IB30KTQLBX6,0373210337,Jex,"[0, 0]","This was my first ever Steampunk novel, and I can't say I'm dissapointed. The Girl in the Steel Corset follows a group of rag tag supernaturals as they try to uncover a mystery and save the Queen. Killer machines, wax dolls, supernatural powers, the head of the underworld, a duke, murder, deception, cyborgs, love triangles (yes plural) and even a cowboy. A book that can pack that much into one storyline without making it feel overloaded surely requires praise.While being a young adult book, it doesn't have that whiny heroine feeling that a lot of YA books tend to have these days. Finley plays the role of the strong heroine that can do take care of herself. Her strange powers allow her to overcome impossible feats and has saved her many a time from injury or even death. She's a loner that moves from job to job attempting to not screw up when her dark side takes over. When she meets up with Griffin and the gang, she finally finds a place where she may belong. A place where people are different and seem to accept her despite her differences. Griffin plays the accepting friend role allowing Finley to stay at his house. His role seems to be the exact opposite of Jack Dandy, the seedy underlord and known criminal. Yet, with Finley's two halves feuding, she can't decide between the two. Will she go for good? or evil?Overall, this book had me sitting on the edge of my seat throughout the whole story. The mystery aspect felt like a good ol' Sherlock Holmes story, uncovering clue after clue until the pieces fit nicely together. There's action and adventure, but also romance and friendship. Everything one needs from a good book.Sidenote: I recomend readingThe Strange Case of Finley Jayne (The Steampunk Chronicles)if you're not sure on whether you'd like this or not. It's a short story that introduces Finley as a character and gives you a bit of insight into her world. While not necessary to read before reading this book, it definitely wets your appetite. Not to mention it's still free on Amazon.",4.0,"Murder, deception, steampunk, killer machines, it's all you want and more!",1328054400,"02 1, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Y29HAABQUNT9,0983909105,Ericka Wagner,"[4, 6]",This book has a good plot but horrid editing. You expect to see unnecessary embellishment and mistakes when reading memoirs but this is probably one of the worst editing jobs I've seen. Besides the bad punctuation it seems like the book jumps around and drags on a bit. You will find yourself rooting for her until she goes on and on about decadent details of her home instead of portraying emotions she felt at a truly disastrous time for her.,3.0,Quick read,1355184000,"12 11, 2012",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1H8QHPV5P1FR,193996248X,Linda Hall,"[0, 0]","Jan, I must commend you (once again) with an absolute marvelous novel.As I suspected, Travis' story was the best of the series and I adored the fact that Travis and Allie were totally enamored with each other.You are an author extraordinaire and once again, my ultimate compliment:- when I saw my book arrived this morning, I started reading it immediately up to the last page!Congratulations and luv,Linda Hall, South Africa xxx",5.0,In One Word :- Magnifique,1399852800,"05 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GF03MULYIIVZ,B00B2MQ17Q,A. Bay,"[0, 0]",The story of two best friends meant for each other... it was soooo cute...some crazy parts but hilarious and adorable!I absolutely loved the characters and wished there was a sequel!!! :),5.0,LOVED IT!!!,1368230400,"05 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1L7XZVGQ42EDT,054799219X,Jackie,"[0, 0]","These books, in the series, are great. The story is good, the setting in time is fascinating and combined ,it makes for a great read.",5.0,This is a great series!,1368489600,"05 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2JX6OYJ8ZAUIN,044658083X,Butch Mazzuca,"[0, 1]","This is the book that made me a fan. An easy read that fun, fast and keeps you on the edge. When an author can evoke emotions in me as DeMille has done, wow, that makes it an outstanding read",5.0,DeMille at his best,1370995200,"06 12, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2LNY91HT331GI,0553383884,L. Bentley,"[16, 18]",This author has a genuine voice that helps her characters be felt and understood. It takes a real talent for an author to allow her characters to be deep and fully formed. I appreciated reading a book with depth! The romance was an unexpected and fun twist. The details on the lifestyle and thinking of an Iranian woman was very enlightening to me as an American woman. I read this book quickly as it captured my attention and I needed to know what was going to happen with the characters. :),5.0,Interesting insight!,1171238400,"02 12, 2007",16,18,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 ATKPFONQH9ZE6,1936003171,Da Judge,"[10, 11]","This book is either a staggering indictment of the Kennedy family or a staggering example of how visciously untruthfulits two authors can be. It is a limitless sexual scorecard of how the Kennedy men had sex with just about every popular actressand actor in Hollywood. (Only Lassie got spared......though I shouldn't say that because I haven't read the last 50 pages!) I would say this bookis 'jaw dropping'. but with all the penises flying out from every page, it might be good to keep one's jaw shut! I am giving this book 3 stars because it reads extremely well, and does at least deserve some credit----even if it is just a highly imaginative book of fiction. (Though if it is true, this book rates 10 stars!) I wish someone would investigate the authors who wrote this book, and let us know whether any of this stuff can be believed. If you are expecting to find Camelot in this book, forget it. You will just learn how JFK and his brothers allegedly ""Came--A Lot"".",3.0,A Cesspool of Fact or Fiction?,1314921600,"09 2, 2011",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A3VPQGZ848UX27,0312853238,Siobhan,"[0, 0]",The book was a bit choppy at times but in the end I really liked it. There was so many ups and downs in this book with Ender. You feel for him as you watch him grow and become someone completely different. I very much recommend this book.,5.0,Good Book,1382227200,"10 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35AMXTYXUH9BT,0452010616,"David James Trapp ""author of Dog Days in Bedl...","[4, 4]","Margaret Chute's Stories of Shakespeare uses an novel technique. She writes treatments for 36 of the plays (those in the First Folio), a present tense chronology of the plot in simple, eloquent language. This book is useful for actors, students or the casual fan. The book also appreciates the beauty of Shakespeare's language by offering selected excerpts. Further, it recognises the humor, the history and the tragedy of the story and gives concise summaries so the reader can always follow the action. This is an excellent book.",5.0,An excellent summary of the Canon,1065657600,"10 9, 2003",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3I9XGR10XVXPT,B005G826C6,"dizzheart ""dizzheart""","[7, 8]","The author has an interesting premise - marriage of convenience between airhead bimbo and guy who thinks he's dying -- but she has set her story during the regency era and she shows little familiarity with the language and customs of that day. Between the grammar errors (""your"" for ""you're"", ""alright for ""all right"") and the too-modern speech (""Okay"" was not a word used in England during the regency), it's clear this book never saw a decent editor who could have pointed out the author's mistakes. It's a shame, because this author could be a good storyteller if the craft were there.",1.0,"Interesting idea, ineptly written",1335916800,"05 2, 2012",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 AHSWG0SLLNOH4,0374256802,Edward A. Joseph,"[6, 9]","In The Life You Save May Be Your Own : An American Pilgrimage, Paul Elie skillfully integrates the lives and works of Dorothy Day, Flannery O'Connor, Thomas Merton, and Percy Walker. The spiritual and artistic struggles of each author are unforgetable. A read that can alter one's life.",5.0,Mind Moving,1069977600,"11 28, 2003",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2C8R2CMIVU8DD,0800794052,Pat,"[0, 0]","what she went through, how she stood through it- with God's grace!! she was a strong woman, God was with her that's for sure. now on to reading other books she wrote.",5.0,Good reading,1383177600,"10 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A206C9S7VR7C14,1592286860,John Elliott,"[16, 17]","This book is primarily focused on the needs the military tracker, and that is the author's background. It does, indeed, attempt to present a systematic approach to the subject and largely succeeds. Although I am primarily interested in civilian search and rescue tracking, I found a lot to learn and consider in this book. An excellent complement to this book is ""The SAS Guide to Tracking"" by Bob Carss. Tom Brown's ""The Science and Art of Tracking"" also deserves a place on the tracker's bookshelf as well as Jack Kearney's ""Tracking: A Blueprint for Learning How"" and Tom Brown's ""Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking.""",5.0,An excellent book heavily focused on military tracking,1130198400,"10 25, 2005",16,17,helpful,0.9411764705882353,1 A36KAF0AZ2ZDUH,B0094A5HX2,"Rashida R. Guest ""book diva""","[0, 1]","The ending had me confused,how do you introduce another than end the book with him tryin to seduced penny?It should have been more to the storyline.This book I read over to see if I read it correctly! How do you start a preview for your new book without ending your last book?",3.0,Too short:(,1354838400,"12 7, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A272V1YOS136VR,0446572802,Sunny,"[0, 0]","This is the 2nd book in this series of three. So far so good. This, like the first was a quick read & I wasn't disappointed. It has a little of everything; adventure, romance, thriller. They are definitely worth their price. I'm fairly choosy so I reserve 5 stars for only life-changing books & 4 stars for something that shouldn't be missed & thus, for me, 3 stars are still very good & worth the time & money but won't be all that memorable in a few weeks.That being said, they do all seem to use the exact same formula when it comes to romance. All of the couples shouldn't be together for various reasons but have an undeniable & rare physical attraction that they can't deny. I bet the next book will have the exact same romantic scenario since apparently the main characters are Talia Vega & Jack Brooks. Three is definitely for this series.",4.0,The whole series is good....BUT...,1376438400,"08 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZH52JAC70RIR,1933112158,Robin Benson,"[29, 30]","I think it's only worth buying if you want an inexpensive introduction to the art of the pin-up. There are about two hundred and sixty paintings included but unfortunately they are crammed into a 6.5 inch by 5 page size with many three to a page (sort of large thumbnails) and this is the problem with all of the Collector Press mini books, they are too small to really get the best out of the subject. Other books in series reprint consumer ads in this small size!Another slight annoyance with this book is that it concentrates on artists from the twenties to the forties with a few from the fifties, so no Al Moore, Bill Medcalf, Freeman Elliot and no giants of the genre, Vargas or Petty! In fact the artists that are included seem to be mostly the ones that Collector Press have already published books about.Where would pin-up art be today without the foresight of calendar printer Brown & Bigelow to more or less create the concept and print millions and millions of girlie pictures that could even be used to tell the day and date especially in garages and light industrial units across America. Dozens of pictures in the book are from their calendars. Well done B&B;!Much better I think to search out author Louis Meisel's definitive book 'The Great American Pin-Up'. You even have two to choose from: the chunky coffee table versionThe Great American Pin-Up (Jumbo Series)and the less costly reduced sizeThe Great American Pin-Up (Midi)both are well designed and printed with over nine hundred pictures by every American artist up to the seventies.",3.0,Thanks to Brown & Bigelow,1153094400,"07 17, 2006",29,30,helpful,0.9666666666666667,1 A2K2GHY1EKLMRJ,0441009867,"S. Holliday ""Nae'blis""","[4, 4]","Well, this book has its good and bad points, and since there are stories I'd like to praise immensely, let's get the bad out of the way first. The bad apple that nearly spoils the whole bunch, and my sole reason for giving this book three stars is Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's revoltingly sentimental, cheesy ""In the Face of Death."" I laughed out loud quite a few times reading this tripe, and not because there is any humor involved, but because of the huge cheese factor. Okay, on to the good stuff. The higlights of this collection are S.P. Somtow's ""Vanilla Blood,"" and the always impressive Tanith Lee's ""The Isle is Full of Noises."" ""Vanilla Blood"" is the tale of a high school kid who was driven to form a murderous sexual cult, apparently under the influence of a group of vampires. The story is told in quite an unusual fashion, taking place entirely at a murder trial, and told in the form of witnesses' statements. There are some very humorous elements to it as well (at least, I found them humorous).The overall effect is quite unique, and this story stayed in my mind for a long time. ""The Isle is Full of Noises"" is a story of a vampire of a VERY unusual sort, and a woman's peculiar fixation on it. It may be a bit hard to read at first, but stick with it, it is well worth the effort. The other stories are not as great as these two, but are not bad by any means. ""Sheena"" by Brian Stableford, is a very touching love story. I enjoyed it immensely, even though it really has no horrific elements. Anyone who has ever loved and lost will find much to relate to in this one. Nancy A. Collins's contribution to the collection, ""Some Velvet Morning"", is a Sonja Blue story, so fans of the series will undoubtedly love it. Kim Newman's ""The Other Side of Midnight"" is set in his ""Anno Dracula"" world and features Orson Welles as one of the main characters! You can't go wrong with a setup like that! All in all, this collection is worth buying, just avoid that ridiculous waste of paper whose title I am loathe to mention again.",3.0,the good and the bad,1030406400,"08 27, 2002",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3QU0T2MAJ2VJM,B00D94X9G6,CRISSY,"[0, 0]","Ella is in love with her master and is unsure if he feels the same way. She can't imagine her life without him; she doesn't want to live without him in her life. We finally get a glimpse into the past of the dominant. An unexpected event happened and Ella now feels violated, once the trust between a dominant and submissive has been broken is it easy to get back. I really enjoyed this book more since we got a glimpse into the dominants life and learned more about it. I look forward to read the next book in the series.",4.0,Needing my Master,1376352000,"08 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASX24TWGPWY7C,0060193395,"K.A. Thompson ""thmprwrx""","[67, 75]","There are SO many "diet" books out there that want only for you to compromise your health so that the author can line his or her pocket with your cash--this is different. Body For Life make sense; it doesn't go to an extreme in either direction, and it's entirely doable... Bill Phillips has taken information the gymrats have known for years and presented it to the public in an easy to understand format. Give it 12 weeks, and you give yourself the gift of a habit of good nutrition and exercise habits. You can't beat that!",5.0,Finally Some Common Sense!,951868800,"03 1, 2000",67,75,helpful,0.8933333333333333,1 A1K1JW1C5CUSUZ,0446678325,"Donald Mitchell ""Jesus Loves You!""","[155, 163]","Review Summary: The hardest thing for you to find is simple advice about which financial structure to use for self-employment and small business activities and how to balance cutting taxes, having flexibility, and avoiding asset exposure. This book is the best simple version of how to do all of this I have seen. You will obviously need experts to help you do your planning to match your needs, but this book will prepare you to work knowledgeably with those experts. Over a career as a small business owner, this book may be the most valuable one you will ever read.Review: I am a big fan of Rich Dad, Poor Dad and wrote a review of that book that caused me to get a lot of e-mails asking tax-related questions. I am delighted to see this book because it means that those who wonder how developing passive income can cut taxes can start to understand why that occurs."Loopholes . . . are government incentives." For many years, Congress has provided tax incentives to encourage certain kinds of business development and investing. As a small business owner, you have the opportunity to benefit from some of those incentives, legally and morally.This book will be most valuable for those who know little about the structure of the income-tax code and regulations, how property is protected against legal suits, and ways of creating financial flexibility. The tools you can use differ from year to year, as the rules change. This book is good for explaining the general concept of how these rules usually work. It also tells you what kinds of advice and expertise you need from others. Most people don't know where to start, and this book gives you a step-by-step process to assess where you are today, get the resources you need to help, evaluate a potential strategy, create a plan to implement a strategy, and monitor how well your strategy is working and whether you need to make any changes or not.There is a tendency for popular books about business and investing to overpromise what can be accomplished. I thought that Ms. Kennedy avoided that problem. Based on my understanding of these issues, she describes things accurately and appropriately. When she gets into more problematical areas like VEBA, her cautions are well-stated and complete.I have heard many people try to explain these concepts simply, and her explanation is the briefest, accurate one it has been my pleasure to read. Knowing more detail will not help you all that much.The main drawback of the book is that it doesn't go into enough detail about the advantages of real estate investing. Rich Dad, Poor Dad makes quite a point about how taxes paid can be low on such businesses. Basically, the answer is that you get to charge off part of your investment as an expense (depreciation) and that there are special incentives for specific classes of real estate that reduce tax bills even more. So I expect that I will still get e-mails about why Mr. Kiyosaki is so positive on real estate businesses.After you finish reading and applying this book, I suggest that you think about how your family life should be structured for optimum happiness. If you think about that subject as much as you do the structure of your finances, you will truly be wealthy in all the ways that count.Live life with rich spirituality!",5.0,"Solid, Simplified Advice!",993686400,"06 28, 2001",155,163,helpful,0.950920245398773,1 A1RPLODHXR1TVZ,B00FDKT4OA,Luvlylady,"[0, 0]",4 stars of romance.. Love Ally and Brody’s there connection is undeniable they just fit. This book had heartbreak and romance and had me on an emotional rollercoaster! Cant wait to read book two.,4.0,LOved it,1387843200,"12 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A680RUE1FDO8B,1594031444,Jerry Saperstein,"[37, 39]","There have been a spate of books recently about Islam in Europe. ""While Europe Slept"", ""Menace In Europe"" and now ""Londistan"" by Melanie Phillips. Of the three, this is by far the best. Not that the other two titles are lacking anything. But where Melanie Phillips provides astoundingly extensive and documented evidence of the nature of radical Islam's pernicious invasion of British society, the other two titles are more anecdotal.This is not a book to be skimmed. Phillips crams every chapter with one frightening fact after another. In ""The Security Debacle"", she examines how the British security establishment was caught unprepared for the radicalization of native born British boys who went on to explode bombs in London subways and buses. She goes on to detail how bureaucratic inertia, plain stupidity and multiculturalism blinded law enforcement and security agents to the threat growing before their very own blind eyes.Some of her strongest criticism comes in the chapter titled ""The Multicultural Paralysis"". The Prince of Wales (Prince Charles) comes in for especial criticism because of his apparently strange views about Islam. The Prince claims, for example, that Islam is a solution to the problems of the ""spiritual pcoery of the West"". Phillips wryly notes that the late Princess Diana would have faced the death penalty under Sharia law for adultery. She goes on to recite examples of the see-no-evil multiculturalism that rules Britain and prevents effective response to radical Islam.Each of Phillips' chapters would serve as a stand-alone essay on the dangers of radical Islam and how Britain is failing to counter it in any meaningful way. This is not a happy book. It is a frightening book to anyone concerned with survival of Western culture and indeed the survival of the West.It may not be pleasant, but it is virtually a required read for every concerned citizen. It's happening in Britain and France and it can happen in the United States.Jerry",5.0,An outstanding analysis of the radical Islamic threat,1158105600,"09 13, 2006",37,39,helpful,0.9487179487179487,1 A3BNTC8FWHG5VA,1477808647,NomDePlume,"[21, 22]","The premise - that certain people are made to battle evil, informed by Jung's unconscious collective mind - could have worked. Plus, there are vampires and Jungian psychology, so the ingredients for a good story weren't lacking.The story fell apart with its characters. They were hollow, stock, and I really couldn't believe were real. John was a scientist, so of course he must be logical and dismissive of any intuition, right? Daisy the "Goth," endlessly ruminating on her gothy-ness, was the most unbelievable. She felt more like a canned mixture of 5-parts day-time talk show "goth kid in black with heavy eyeliner listing to The Cure" with 1-part attempted Lizabeth Salander. Baby, read some Byron and call me in the morning. I'll be here with my absinthe and Poe.Perhaps the characters were intentionally confined to rote behavior as a nod to Jung's personality types - but even that supposition fails. Jung allowed for a logical thinker like John, who we're meant to think dismissed Betsy for her entertainment of the collective unconscious, to make the intuitive decisions she does. Archetype devolved into cliché.To end on a positive note, I liked the narrative juxtaposition of past and present, with similar characters playing out the same themes. A little bit of history about Slovakia, a part of the world not often treated in fiction, was a nice change of pace.",2.0,Promising premise marred by descent into cliche,1390780800,"01 27, 2014",21,22,helpful,0.9545454545454546,1 A1KSGE7FCMX6SY,0446696080,Michelle Sutton,"[6, 6]","I found the subject matter of this book intriguing, especially the emotional baggage Claire hauls around, and how it affects her relationship with her children. The anger she held against her 'toad sucking' ex-husband was realistic. I can't imagine the pain of shattered dreams that infidelity brings to the heart of the wounded spouse with children to raise. Sharing Christmas, then being alone while the other parent has the children for the holiday. Ugh! That type of gut-wrenching pain can only be healed through a relationship with Christ, and even then, an ongoing battle for peace would ensue. I found the inner dialogue Claire used to reassure and calm herself as totally hilarious. Some of the one-liners the author came up with were to-die-for funny. I wish I could come up with stuff like that. I found Claire's emotional distancing from her children through her work, and her subsequent honest desire to right things with them, especially emotionally gripping. I felt her pain when the kids either didn't believe she was sincere, or that she only wanted to 'connect' with them because she had nothing better to do. And God bless Darcy. If I were in her shoes I would have lost patience with Claire long ago. Rick is lucky to have someone like Darcy to keep him going. I just hope Rick truly had changed because if he cheated on Darcy I'd have to hurt him. :) I don't understand what Greg sees in Claire, but I suppose because he can't read her thoughts like we can (the readers) he isn't keyed into her true feelings on certain issues. Claire isn't the most likable character because she's bitter, but she does represent many women I know and therefore I want to see her happy. I'm glad there is a continuation of this series planned. We need more novels about divorced heroines trying to find a new life and peace after such a horrible split occurs in the family. Many people are going through the same thing, and honest stories like this can make a difference in lives of hurting women. They may see themselves through Claire's eyes and realize they need to forgive to truly heal. God bless Tracey for writing something any woman can enjoy. Oh, and the going to food for comfort thing and petty little jealousy issues are just classic!",5.0,Entertaining and insightful mom lit,1139788800,"02 13, 2006",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3CK0HRPP70Y5I,0062100319,nashville76,"[5, 7]","I absolutely loved this book! I liked the 1st book, but I adored this one. The dialogue was wonderful, and the chemistry was oh so great. I wanted to to be Sophie. She and Harry were so good together, and Harry was just too adorable. I'm pretty picky about the books I read, and I definitely think this is one of the best books I have read this year. I now can't wait for the next one. Will it be Leonie or Clara??",5.0,Perfection,1340755200,"06 27, 2012",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2I17T9XB6LSGW,0385334206,Andrew McCaffrey,"[8, 9]","BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS is a book that is so full of strange ideas, altered realities, and different perceptions that it's a little like reading a nervous breakdown at times. There is so much going on, that you may find yourself going back and reading a page three or four times just to pull everything that you can out of it. And just when you think it can't get any more insane, Kurt Vonnegut places the author of the book into the story-line itself as the Creator Of The Universe, but goes out of his way to give this author a name different to his own. Confusing? Yes. Enjoyable? Absolutely.This book covers a wide range of topics. Racism, sexism, mental imbalance, chemistry, life, death, and literally hundreds of other subjects are discussed. The plot is set out in a very simple way so that Vonnegut has room to let his characters and himself entertain a variety of thoughts. The prose of the book is very detailed about the most mundane of material. Vonnegut can cleverly point to the absurdity of everyday things, merely by describing them in minute terms without resorting to overbearing judgments. By just reducing everything to its most basic components, he can show the flaws present in the most basic of fundamentals.This minutiae even extends to the basics of story telling. By placing "the author" inside the fictional narrative, Vonnegut can point out some of the fundamentals of writing. Since no detail about a person is inherently more important than any other, there are times were we get an information dump of seemingly random information about the characters in the story. The question that comes to mind: is all of this information really irrelevant? If the author saw fit to include it, does it matter that the data doesn't relate to the narrative?In summary, it's almost impossible to summarize most, or even much, of what Kurt Vonnegut has written about here. This is such a very densely written book that it would take twice the length of BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS in order to talk about it properly. And even with all of the ideas and thoughts contained within, the book never feels bloated or incoherent. It's philosophical, entertaining, bizarre, thought-provoking and hilarious.It's good. Highly recommended. Rush out and read it now.",5.0,One of the most perfect books I've ever read,996969600,"08 5, 2001",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A292163FE9C117,037543318X,"Norma Beishir ""author, The Unicorn's Daughter""","[0, 0]","By Norma Beishirauthor, Chasing the WindI like Dan Brown's work. Admittedly, it's not what I would write--normally, I'm not big on fiction that's too ""scholarly."" I read nonfiction to be informed, fiction to be entertained, but he's the exception to that rule. His plots are so outrageous they make me forget the novels read like textbooks at times. Okay, his characters are a bit too shallow, but if you're looking for a great, fast-paced story, here it is.I read this one after The DaVinci Code, and I think it's a much better book than DaVinci.NOTE: to the reviewer who commented that Brown had not explained how the camerlengo was so crazy after being raised by someone as sane as the Pope, I would suggest that his background spoke for itself. Nothing about his life was normal. He was born to two people who wanted a child but didn't want to have sex to get one (right there, he was cursed by genetics). His father never acknowledged him as his son--the papacy meant more to him than his own child. Even when his mother was alive, he didn't appear to have ever had a normal childhood. Then he saw her killed by a terrorist bombing. Psychologically, you just don't walk away from that sort of thing unscathed. I'll suggest that he was a sort of split personality--trying to live up to his beloved mother's wishes, but struggling with his resentment toward the same. No wonder he was as nutty as a bag of trail mix.3/30/09 Just saw the movie tie-in edition. The new cover is BORING. But then, this is Dan Brown. The publisher could package his books in brown (no pun intended) paper bags with his name written in crayon, and they would still sell like parkas in Antarctica![...]",4.0,A Guilty Pleasure,1215388800,"07 7, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZVW3VWAASU2Z,1613726961,Annie Allen,"[0, 0]",This is a well written and edited story. I had a little trouble with the main character. He started as the voice of reason and I found he was the one with issues. That said I liked this book.,4.0,Pretty good story,1398297600,"04 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WVJ0XNKZR0Y3,B00CCDB0UC,TootSweet,"[0, 1]",It is quite distracting to have too many grammar errors. A few spelling errors. And I just do not grasp what is going on with all those CAPS. If you're in high school it is permissible. But this volume three of six. And your proofreader either did not pick up on it or simply didn't give a poop. I'm seriously wondering if the author is concentrating on what he is writing. Too many redundant passages.,1.0,I don't know,1381449600,"10 11, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1I3VLAWHO4HL6,1579125883,JJovo,"[0, 0]","My mom loves to bake, so this made a perfect gift for her. She claims it's one of her favorites now: Not only are the recipes fantastic but they are legit heirlooms gathered by the authors themselves.",5.0,One word: GREAT,1385683200,"11 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RAJ41UOEE5XH,030758836X,echo_star,"[0, 1]","Great mystery, that I could not put down. Lots of twists and turns. This is Gillian Flynn's best book as far as I'm concerned.",5.0,Great read!,1383004800,"10 29, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AK7IYOL1RIN1Q,0375401792,"Q. Ellis ""queridaphile""","[7, 8]","I find it disturbing that many reviews, some of which are listed on this site, devalue this book because it doesn't deliver ""a point""; but I would find this, or any devaluation, disturbing since this is one of my favorite books by Morrison. There is something to be said for subjectivity in the enjoyment of any work; often this is what separates a fine or noteworthy novel from a disappointing or lackluster one. I would, however, question the validity of those who look for a conspicuous or conclusive ""point"" in a work of literature. It's not an expository essay, people; it's a novel, one that seeks to question your conceptions of class, race, and gender.Clearly, I'm a defender of this novel. I found it poetic and affecting. I did not find that it plodded on or lacked description or injudiciously pointed fingers. I found that Morrison's tale of an all black town's xenophobia provided an engaging backdrop for issues of identity, intra-racial color politics, and misogyny. I felt the characters' pain and triumphs and hatred and cared enough about them to be disappointed and overjoyed. Perhaps I brought so much of my baggage to the party, I simply had to show up to enjoy myself. After all, I am black ... and a woman; but I don't feel you have to be a black woman to appreciate this tale. I suppose you just have to be okay with not having ""the point"" served to you on a platter. Great works of art are often inconclusive, but they've done their part when they've triggered both emotional and intellectual responses that force one to question his or her stance on traditional issues.Again, these things are subjective; however, I love this book. Some of you will also love it. Others of you will not. Pick your poison.",5.0,Divisive and Fantastic,1177286400,"04 23, 2007",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 AX9YFM09A6JRC,0425197484,"Imogen Rose ""Author of the Portal Chronicles""","[0, 0]","What can I say, other than rip-snortingly brilliant! I loved every minute of reading this hilarious book... fantastic job, Mary Janice!",5.0,Bow to Queen Betsy!,1280793600,"08 3, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1TIQ1AFZVR31U,0062240595,"C. Ward ""quilting mom""","[4, 10]","This book is a fast read with a compelling subject. The authors lay out what Obama wants to do regarding upcoming UN treaties. Treaties usurp the sovereignty of the USA. They include the UN controlling internet content. A conference in Dubai in December 2012 takes up this question. The Laws of the Sea Treaty or LOST which means the UN would control 79 percent of the oceans--everything on it, in it or under it (oil) and tax/fine countries that violate it, supposedly giving the collected money to third world governments. The US Navy will not be the one keeping the ocean safe. Another treaty involves a gun ban worldwide which is against our second amendment.The authors also list the senators who are on the fence about signing onto these treaties. The Senate has the responsibility of ratifying any treaty, but if it does not act on it, the treaty goes into effect until such a time the Senate votes to reject it. The authors urge citizens of those states to contact their senator objecting to signing any treaty the UN has to offer. Effectively, if these treaties are signed, the US will become just like all other nations; there will not be a superpower that defends and protects people from tyrants bent on controlling them. There are over 170 nations in the UN, each with one vote, and they can outvote the US on anything, thereby forcing us to give them money they did not earn or that we did not freely give.It is a wake up call for us and I'd urge everyone to read this book and do what you can to stop the helicopters from coming. This needs to be done in the lame duck session before the Christmas holidays, as some outgoing Senators won't be there in January.",5.0,The UN wants to destroy the USA,1352505600,"11 10, 2012",4,10,helpful,0.4,1 A12UTXKZN1Q2WE,0061997102,L. Charles Wimer III,"[12, 21]","Days later I am still trying to figure why I read this book and what exactly I got out of it. So what I've come away with is this. The writer doesn't feel he was loved a child and had a tedious relationship with his father (and family) that he tries to come to terms with -- so he becomes a writer, adopts a couple of dogs and proceeds to climb a bunch of mountains. The book is extremely well written. If you are seriously into mountain climbing, Mr. Ryan goes to extreme lengths to ensure you part of the moment. The pictures of Atticus at the end are tremendous. I am assuming that writing this book was part of Mr. Ryan's therapy -- as this book is mostly a memoir with mount climbing and dog theme attached to it.",3.0,80% Memoir and 20% Mount Climbing and Dog,1347235200,"09 10, 2012",12,21,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 AREG5SZKOGE8Y,0800720083,"Athena Hall ""mama2six""","[0, 0]","When I was a little girl, my older sister would make me stay up late and watch scary movies with her. I remember lying awake the rest of the night, hearing every noise and jumping at every shadow.I might not be that bad anymore, but when reading a Lynette Eason thriller, I have been known to double check the locks on the doors...Lynette Eason has done it again. When a Heart Stops is part thriller, part romance and completely amazing!I am the person who reads a book or watches a show and can tell you who did what before you are even half way through. But not with Lynette's books! I get so frustrated when I know the killer is right there, but I can't quite put my finger on him (or her...). She keeps me second guessing right up until the end.I also really enjoy that her female characters are strong women with lives and are not waiting for Mr. Right to come and make everything okay... I think that is a message that comes across way too often in a lot of books and not one I want my daughters to accept. (Alright, off my soapbox now...)Poor Serena, someone is trying to kill her and the guy that shows up to help is her High School crush? Talk about awkward! Both her and Dominic are great, you know they are meant for each other, but everything around them is doing it's best to keep them apart, including an insane killer. Will they catch the bad guy before it's too late for romance?Note: While this is a standalone novel, you won't want to miss the first book in the Deadly Reunions series,When the Smoke Clears: A Novel (Deadly Reunions).I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed are all mine and I was not required to give a positive review.",5.0,"When a Heart Stops is part thriller, part romance and completely amazing!",1350000000,"10 12, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1FK6IQ111SJDR,0761152598,Chris,"[14, 16]","The Power of Two by Brian and Gerri Monaghan has some very good information for anyone who may be going through a serious illness with a family member. The patient advocate tips are invaluable.Brian fell ill with cancer and his wife Gerri stood by his side as his advocate making sure his treatment and recovery were handled properly. The book is interesting and easy to read, and the authors come across as very likeable people, and his outcome is one of success.My problem with the book is this--and I am quoting from the INTRODUCTION.""It's an unfortunate reality that too few have the financial capablity to seek medical help where their research leads them, BUT I DID (emphasis mine). Not everyone has the ability to stay at home and rest without the fear of losing his or her job.... I DID. Not many people have been able to reap the benefits of access to an emerging vaccine therapy simply because they knew one person who knew another person who knew someone else who was the person developing that very vaccine. BUT I DID.""So Mr. Monaghan has the financial ability to research leads, the finances to stay at home and recooperate, and knew people who knew people that got him the experimental vaccine. And I am happy that he was able to do these things. But--that is not the common man's story, that is not the rest of us.While I am happy that the Monaghans had a successful journey and I take nothing away from his suffering throughout the ordeal, most of us cannot do what he and his wife did. So to even hint that he survived because of good advocacy, and good humor and the support of family and friends is a little bit of a lop-sided story. I'm not sure the bulk of us would have survived this battle.For the most part we must work, we must take the treatments offered to us because we have no choices in this matter.The book does have helpful tips and information for advocating for your loved ones during these kinds of crises but outside of that, I can't relate to his circumstances. If you are looking for information on how to advocate for your ill loved one, this is a great resource.",3.0,Some Good Common Sense Information Here,1238198400,"03 28, 2009",14,16,helpful,0.875,1 A26FK80ZC20NYB,1439195862,"Amber ""@puresurplus""","[0, 1]","This was the best southern-fried, northern exposure-esque, supernatural romance that I've ever read! The balance of sugar & spice couldn't have been more perfect. I downright snortled several times and now have a compulsion to indulge myself with some ridiculously expensive lingerie. Looking forward to the rest of the series...",5.0,Snortle-ific,1384473600,"11 15, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AMROQIXWC0PE0,0764165569,"Heather ""Juniper""","[0, 0]","A beautiful well thought out overview and introduction to SteamPunk. If you have ever wondered what attending a Steamy event was like you will know after reading this book. Excellent source information and indexes, quickly enabling you to join in the fun! Beautiful photographs of Most Amazing Things.",5.0,An excellent overview of the SteamPunk Art Movement in all glossy pages,1373155200,"07 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1I2O9Y3X3HXLS,0152008667,Arthur W. Jordin,"[4, 5]","Dragon's Blood is the first novel in the Pit Dragon trilogy. Austar IV has been used as a dumping ground for convicts in the past. It is a metal-poor desert planet with only one notable feature: its dragons. These warm-blooded flying animals are raised for their meat and leather, but are also the star attraction of the many gambling arenas, or pits, that form the major industry on the planet.In this novel, Jakkin is a bond boy who is determined to steal himself a dragon and train it into a champion, the traditional way to become a master. His father had been a trainer before being killed by a feral dragon, but Jakkin knows nothing more of such techniques than is common knowledge. He has found a small spring in the dunes and planted it with reeds, blisterweed and burnwort for his snatchling. Then he waits for the eggs to begin hatching.While he is waiting, the bonder Likkarn finds that Jakkin has left behind a bath brush after bathing Blood Brother and comes after him in anger, beating him with the brush. All this hostility arouses Blood Brother to a manic state and the dragon rushes out of the stall, walking over both Jakkin and Likkarn. Likkarn struggles up and uses the extinguisher set on Kill against the dragon. The master, Sarkkhan, breaks Likkarn to a stall boy for that deed. When Jakkin fully wakes a week later, the hatching is already over; nonetheless, he checks the new hatchlings and finds one that has not been counted. Now he has his snatchling.For the next year, Jakkin trains his dragon in secret. He is forced to accept Akki, a bond girl, into the secret, because she has discovered and protected it on her own even before he became aware that she knew. At first Jakkin is slightly jealous of how well the little dragon accepts Akki, but soon the three become close friends. It is Akki that arranges a first arena fight for Jakkin's Red.This story is a tale of a penal colony much like Botany Bay after the second or third generation. Very few convicts remain, but the colony is no lush agricultural garden spot and life is harsh. Most of the population are bonders, indentured until they can pay back a bag of gold coins and go free. Sarkkhan is one of the few who have managed to gain more than freedom and become masters, holding the bonds of others.This story also relates the close relationship between a dragon and his trainer. Jakkin can communicate mentally with his Red and receive emotional tones and colors in return. The reader witnesses the exchange of thought and emotion between the pair, becoming almost a part of the relationship.The dangers of the planet are vividly revealed when Jakkin helps hunt down a carnivorous drakk female and her brood, eaters of dragon eggs and hatchlings. Later the male drakk finds Jakkin with his Red and he has to fight the flying hunter with a table knife. Another time he almost freezes to death in the Dark-After before he can reach shelter.Highly recommended for Yolen fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of human-animal bondings, exotic cultures, and strangely foreboding planets.-Arthur W. Jordin",5.0,A Dragon of His Own,1069718400,"11 25, 2003",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2Y63ORE7CPM7J,0307265439,Richard,"[6, 17]","Great book. Cormac Mccarthy has a wonderful knack for writing easy to read, yet dark and compelling fiction. Set in the Mad Max 2 style post apolcalyptic near future, this is a hugely enjoyable horror thriller, even if it is a little flawed (but so are most horrors technically). Borrrowing from many other ideas, not least of all that low budget flick 28 Days Later of which it shares a number of ideas (all good mind). If you like your horrors, gruesome, dark and not loaded with unneccesary overblown attention to detail then The Road is near perfect. This is probably Mccarthy's best novel along with Blood Meridian and The Crossing. I know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but the cover of The Road is, well, just plain dark, so judge away. I actually enjoyed this so much I'm tempted to read it again within a week. That's the highest praise I can give.",5.0,"Gripping, gritty, gruesome, grrrr",1159401600,"09 28, 2006",6,17,helpful,0.35294117647058826,1 A38IOPJOYGFS5G,0385519311,Colleen Messina,"[7, 7]","Suze Orman's ""Women & Money"" is a must read for all women! I feel so inspired by this book. Suze has outlined a wonderful plan that every woman can follow that will lead to financial freedom - AND at the same time - not be overwhelmed by the process. The five month ""Save Yourself Plan"" is brilliant (and easy!). Within the first month, I have already confirmed that I am contributing the same amount of funds in my 401K plan that my employer will equally match, and next week I am going to invest in a Roth IRA. She also offers a savings account plan with TD Ameritrade, where I'll earn great interest and make $100.00 on top of it just for opening an account and ""saving"" my money. I have never had a savings account before, so this is new and exciting for me. I'm almost 40 years old, and this is the first time that I'm really feeling in control of my financial security. I read some of Suze's advice to my boyfriend, and he too wants to read this book!The second month focuses on paying off debt. I feel blessed that I have a head start on Suze's ""Save Yourself Plan"". I read Ariel & Shya Kanes' Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment, How To Create a Magical Relationship and Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation. With Ariel & Shya's practical principals of instantaneous transformation, I have learned to be gentle with myself and to live my life with excellence - as if everything I do matters. I was able to see how I had been operating around money, without judging what I saw. This awareness was enough to unlock the cycle of debt that I had been creating in my life. I was out of debt ($30,000.00) within a year and a half after reading (and rereading) their books. I became appropriate with my spending habits without even ""working on it"". Life has become so easy! With the Kane's and Suze's inspirational books, I have found wealth - not only financially, but in all areas of my life.",5.0,Debt Free - New Reality!,1199318400,"01 3, 2008",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 AGQQVJU95IM87,0743264312,Maskirovka,"[5, 6]","Before I read this book, I used to think, ""Putin is no democrat, but at least, unlike Yeltsin, he's not a drunk given to irrational outbursts. Anything is better than that.""I don't feel that way after reading ""Kremlin Rising."" Putin has brought a certain degree of order and stability to Russia after the storm-tossed 1990s. But it is stability purchased at a very high price. As the author documents, Putin has deftly extinguished much of the trappings of democracy like an independent and aggressive media and strong regional governments. ""Kremlin Rising"" shows that Putin's Russia is essentially an authoritarian state disguised by a thin veneer of constitutional formalities.Another price of Putin's Russia is the terrible second war in Chechnya. Russia has done horrible things there and has paid a ghastly price for doing so. The butcher's bill of slaughtered school children at Beslan is proof enough of that.And there's another troubling thing about Putin's War. That is the possibility that the casus belli, the brutal and random apartment bombings in late 1999 supposedly by the Chechens, may have at least in part been done by Putin's minions. Now that is disturbing, and I find it even more so given the failure of the international media to press the man who George W. Bush --in an obvious gush of sentimentality brought on by 9/11-- calls ""Pooty-poot"" about this very important question.This being said, ""Kremlin Rising"" is not perfect. I think that given the fact that the book is a ringing indictment of Putin, it would have been appropriate to have a chapter of the good things that Putin has done for Russia. Putin is a bad actor, but he's no Stalin, and it would have been good to have that shown more clearly.I also don't think the author was fair to Putin on his handling of the theater siege, the one that ended with the Russians pumping knock-out gas that led to many of the rescued hostages dying needlessly. Sure that took the bloom off the triumph for Putin, but the author doesn't seem to realize that even with this collateral damage, it was a far better outcome than Beslan.But those are minor quibbles. Read the book and learn --and feel sorry for Russia.",5.0,Superb and Depressing,1121644800,"07 18, 2005",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AK8ZQ81R7HRNO,1590582195,"C. Lemons ""Lemons750""","[0, 0]",I enjoyed it. Very funny story. I find her to be a light and engaging mystery writer. Give it a try.,5.0,Good read,1387065600,"12 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2FQHYG3H0PVA2,B00I2V2TGM,Eliza Dickey,"[0, 1]",Gage Farmer's review says it best. The others were too kind. I wish I could take back the time I wasted reading this non-story.,1.0,No respect for the Reader,1391731200,"02 7, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AAEIK0DZ1F537,1610342364,Hotcha,"[0, 0]","Breakfast by the Sea (Siren Publishing Menage Amour)Forty-One Year Year Old, Paige Lambert, Returned To Her Childhood Home, Fixed It Up And Turned It Into A Bed And Breakfast. She Loved Jekyll Island As It Was Close To The Sea But Would Be Happy Living Anywhere Next To The Sea. Since Her Return, She Kept Close Watch On Ramone Carpasia, A Drug Cartel Villain So Evil That He Tortured Her For Days When None Of His Henchman Offered Any Help As Since He Renamed Her Jillian And Was His Wife! He Would Come Or Send His Goons To Get Her But She Had Prepared Well And Kept Guns And Grenades All Over The House. Her Former Life Was Not Sneaking Up On Her And She Would Kill Herself And Take Ramone With Her Before She'd Let Him Take Her Back!!Adam Bales, Leader Of A Five Man Special Ops Force, Booked The Bed And Breakfast For A Three Month Stay Under False Pretenses. They Had Intel That The ""King Of Hearts"" Would Soon Appear On The Island So He Told Paige That The Group Were Cowboys Looking For A Restful Retreat, Bui Instead Waited For Ramone........Jeff Jacobsen Had The Reputation As A Cold Bloodied Killer Since He Killed Every Woman His Handler Targeted Once He Slept With Them. His Mission Was To Kill As Many Of The Scum As He Could, He Had No Intention Of Ever Settling Down As He Loved What He Did!Wow Does Ms. Blaine Knock You To Your Knees With A Powerful And So Erotic Story As Not One But FIVE Men Protect Paige! Me Thinks That It's Paige That Needs Saving When Lust Fills FIVE Pairs Of Eyes!!",4.0,Breakfast By The Sea,1323993600,"12 16, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ATWVC3WQOZSFS,0393045420,Britt Arnhild Lindland,"[7, 7]","This book is a short read, but not as easy at is seems at the first sight.Catherine McKenna is a young girl, an only child struggeling to be free from the bounds the her Northern Irish parents. She has a very special talent for music, and her music teacher from childhood becomes a very special person in her life. She teaches her to read the notes between the notes, the Grace Notes, and this gives special meaning to Catherine's life and music. And also special meaning to the book. The book can be read as words within words, which makes the book full of grace notes.What fascinates me most with the book is the way Bernard MacLaverty shows us how to read or look at music just like we read or look at paintings. Having read several books about the stories behind Vermeers painting, MacLaverty also uses a Vermeer painting to show music.I can fully agree with a the reviewer Tobias Hill from The Times: "The strongest impression left by Grace Notes is that of its central image-og the 'notes between the notes' which seem to compose themselves - of a life happening while it's heroine is busy making other plans...If architecture is frozen music, Grace Notes is the literary equivalnt, full of its own powerful rhythm.Britt Arnhild Lindland",4.0,The notes between the notes,1021852800,"05 20, 2002",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A16JTSFMLXTR7C,1859841082,"Andrea Boykowycz ""b-wycz""","[19, 19]","The Coming of the Book is essential reading for anyone interested in book history, the development of modern literary languages, or the growth of capitalism in early modern Europe. It's an excellent example of the social history that the Annales school of sociologists and historians worked to produce: coherent narrative drawn not from specific important events but from the interpretation of massive amounts of data on the 'everyday' professional lives of early type founders, journeyman printers, shippers and booksellers. Most importantly, Febvre and Martin analyze the affect that the unique pressures of print as a capitalist enterprise (the capital investment in type, the costs of paper and of labor, problems in transport and marketing) had on the development of standardized print-languages, the development of 'mass' culture, and the spread and evolving functions of literacy.",5.0,start here,1012521600,"02 1, 2002",19,19,helpful,1.0,1 A34GJLGEN9GBOC,0394800230,"G. Gallant ""Gina""","[0, 0]",remembered this from when I was little,5.0,Five Stars,1404259200,"07 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3OM60SH5V2UNV,0062278290,Bookworm,"[0, 0]",Interesting insight in to an event in American history about which I had no knowledge. The way the story is told between the two main characters is interesting and compelling. An enjoyable and satisfying read.,4.0,Historically interesting and enjoyable,1387670400,"12 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18JH4B2N3C6B4,B00E2YJYSY,Author Kindle Alexander,"[9, 9]","I read this book during an incredibly busy time in my life. I shouldnt have. I found myself thinking about it all day long, waiting to get back to my Kindle to read more. I loved it. Its well written, it stays with you and you will def have book hangover when it end. The perfect story!",5.0,Worth every minute!,1374451200,"07 22, 2013",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 ACUOTBG3ROV87,1439216045,Mark C Spicher,"[0, 0]",Ok how did this person even get published? I am used to complex plots with a myriad of interconnecting characters but this author added people at will throughout the story and presumed you knew the history and why they were important. The ending was not an ending but rather a lack of ideas and a decesion to give up because the story concept just wasn't gelling. None of this mattered,1.0,"""Less than brilliant""",1404172800,"07 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 APV79UM61DVDE,1568380941,Douglas Nolan,"[0, 0]",This book is a reminder to us of just how important it is to maintain our connection with those around us.And how healing the human touch can be!,5.0,The Human Touch,1268784000,"03 17, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SY1YB1SWC9TT,B0078T6YHY,Barbie & Ernie Wenk,"[6, 6]",Rough and rowdy town turns respectable! Lovable heroines bring the Gospel to prostitutes and pimps! Believable real life issues of trust and letting go of bitterness. Can't wait to read more of this author and I hope she has a series to include the other two sisters. Eve though this is targeted for adults some teens can handle the subject matter.,5.0,Loved it! No sex,1369699200,"05 28, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A33TSMM2RHOUU1,B00E98A5IG,Louise S,"[5, 6]","Hoping this would make good sense, I thought I couldn't go wrong with a free pricetag! This may be an excerpt from a longer book by this author? In any case it targeted the very approach I needed to take to get in touch with a deep part of myself. It's early days but even from the little I have done, it's working - first on me, and then on the new man I'm getting to know. If you are willing to grow as a person with 'heart' this is the practical way to do so.",4.0,Great value,1375833600,"08 7, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3OX96ZWKEAODY,B00BQDXU7A,"Kristina Galton ""kindleadvocate""","[0, 0]",My kids enjoyed this book because it was so silly. The animal names are very funny. The animal descriptions were funny and all made a little bit of sense.,3.0,silly!,1402272000,"06 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NLBM5JBOOZNM,006017434X,"Media Vixen ""mediavixen""","[4, 4]","Paper Wings manages to maintain a unique, sweet, clear voice and vision. Another "fictional memoir" about being a child during the Kennedy assassination? "Oh, spare me!", right? Swick's book has an excellent, easy flow, and, although it's not a "can't put it down" book, you certainly don't want to put it down. Worth ordering though it seems to be currently out of print.",4.0,"You may have read this sort of thing before, but...",997401600,"08 10, 2001",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A25DOKE1QB9VV1,0345342763,"Jennifer Margulis, editor of Toddler: Real-Li...","[20, 21]","Every parent should have this book on their shelf. After my daughter was wrongly diagnosed with an ear infection (we were made to wait 45 minutes in the doctor's office and she was screaming because it was her nap time. Hence red ears) and given medicine for the ""pain"" when she was 6 months old, we stopped taking her to the Well Baby visits that always seemed so pointless anyway. Dr. M. mentions that ear infections are one of the most commonly misdiagnosed illnesses in America and that in Europe they are not treated with antibiotics anyway. His advice is sane and detailed and his book has often come to my rescue when I was not sure what to do. While you might take issue with some of the content, at least Dr. M provides you with an alternate opinion. Bottom line: Don't listen to what doctors say just because they are doctors and they say it.",5.0,Every parent needs this book,1134172800,"12 10, 2005",20,21,helpful,0.9523809523809523,1 ADQ8DGYJA8057,0441016294,"C. Stephens ""read read again""","[0, 0]","Follows Dawn as she begins to understand her strengths and her weaknesses. Very adult with deep sexual content. Be careful about what you want, it might ruin the happiness of those you love.",4.0,Leaves you wanting more.,1370131200,"06 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11NL2A0RDEGF,0151012377,Mary Reinert,"[8, 8]","This is so different than much historical fiction, but it was pure delight. These characters became so real and the setting was genuine. The author's depiction of the ""politics"" of a one room school in a remote rural area was funny and seemed right on target. At times I laughed out loud.Seeing Paul as both the state superintendent of schools and as a young student was so effective. Who would have thought that a bureaucrat's decision to close a small school would provide such a compelling concept for a novel. The effect of Haley's Comet on the school provides a perfect parallel for the effect of Sputnik many years later.The writing is clear, direct, and meaningful-- just like the characters. Highly recommend this for anyone.",5.0,Delightful & different,1151884800,"07 3, 2006",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A2H71D8B3T63RV,1477631763,"Julie ""I have to use a pen name because my re...","[0, 0]","First of all, don't miss the first in this series, A Gift of Ghosts, before you read this one. This story of a ghost befriending a teen girl and trying to reunite his estranged parents is a pile of fun, with plenty of suspense and more than a few laughs.",5.0,Fun and exciting!,1357344000,"01 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AN0XWUHSHRUG6,0821777661,Kristi Ahlers,"[27, 29]","I first thought I was in for a good paranormal/ghost story read, and I was until Ms. Blair went and blew me away by turning her fun story into an even better time travel book. Fans of both genre's will be in for a great treat that combines both witty characters, fast moving plot, and wonderful chemistry between two people that were destined to be with each other.Beth Pudding is about to have a chance of a lifetime fall into her lap. She has just inherited an old run-down keep in Scotland. She has to live there for six months and then the place is hers to do with as she will. This is a chance that Beth has always wanted. Living in foster homes most of her life she has missed out on the one thing she really wants, a place to call home. What she doesn't know is that her historic keeps comes with it's very own ghost, and he's a peeping tom to boot!!! Well, that's okay, she's lonely, he's lonely and there is nothing else to do so she speaks with him.Duncan can't believe that ""the one"" has finally come to release him from his centuries long curse. Problem is the wee lassie has a death wish and he has to rescue her from the loch and saves her from drowning. What's amazing about this is he is finally able to take human form once again. Not wanting to pass up the chance of ending the curse he binds his wee Beth to him while she in unconscience. She wakes up in a new century and one without indoor plumbing, and scarier yet, her ghost is very real. Can she serve historic Scotland and save her Highland Laird?As I said this is a great read. Plenty of humor, as well as real emotion can be found within it's pages. Ms. Blair is an author that I look forward to reading in the future.Official Reviewer for [...]",4.0,A Great Read You Won't Want To Miss!!!,1097625600,"10 13, 2004",27,29,helpful,0.9310344827586207,1 A3J80LRHHESKY5,1939962404,Shelley Peters,"[6, 6]","I am a fan of J.S. Scott's Billionaire series which is why I purchased this book. As usual she made her hero, Grady, a dominant man with a troubled past to overcome to get his HEA. For those following the series, Grady is a friend of Simon. Enter Emily, a sweet and determined woman, who needs a donation to keep the youth center she runs in the black with holiday gifts for the kids. Sparks fly, deals are made, Grady will help the center if Emily can show him why she loves Christmas. What starts simple becomes complicated as they get emotionally and physically involved. This story wrapped up a little too fast but it was a nice holiday romance. I'm looking forward to upcoming stories about Grady's siblings.Cali MacKay was a new author for me. Her Mermaid Isle series Christmas story was fine as a stand alone title. Aidan is a recluse with a tragic past. Chloe is trapped several days with him due to a blizzard. They have some hot moments followed with cool downs. In the end they find trust and friendship leads them to more. It looks like there are two more books in this series to check out. The last twenty percent of the book is a several chapter introduction to One Sweet Summer by MacKay and Mine For Tonight (free) by Scott. Enjoy a warm drink with your good holiday romances to get in the Christmas spirit!!",5.0,Two Merry Christmas stories,1383004800,"10 29, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AEW4IHZ0U40UE,B0095JX7F2,"Bear in the Canyon ""libros del oso""","[0, 0]","Steamy enough to keep me reading to the end -- not bad for a teaser to the series. Your marketing is excellent, but please fix a couple of grammar points: use the objective case ""me"" with a preposition, as in ""between you and me,"" NOT ""you and I"" -- don't want to sound like trailer trash if you're a serious writer. And congrats on the house and new business from an old small press from the 80s-90s!",3.0,Better than I expected,1371513600,"06 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A62MTL6WK2GIK,0515090506,"blee ""love movies""","[0, 0]",sometimes you just need a light book -- a quick read -- a quick get away ! These are the books for that! Fun!,5.0,quick read,1364342400,"03 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJOMVPSLRDG6O,0143170090,"lovemurakami ""tooty2""","[0, 0]","I've had this on the shelf for a while, decided to give it a whirl and I've got to say this is a totally compelling read. You start off with an court case involving a journalist, then you move on to a missing persons case from the 60's, then another layer of corruption and abuse is added and finally you end up with something you just didn't see coming. Fantastically written, it is just a shame he died after his third book was finished. If 2 and 3 are as good as this I will be very happy",5.0,compulsive reading,1231804800,"01 13, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2EB8GCB7WA6MT,1887840249,pkelley,"[0, 0]",This is the easiest timeline book we have used. We are using it with the available stickers and it really helps to give a visual of historical events.,5.0,Great reference tool,1362096000,"03 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QL7N6E8VR1WY,0385500858,Veronica Anzaldua,"[23, 68]","Books like this one make us singles feel bad. I want badly to find that special someone, but haven't had much luck. I'm already depressed enough as it is without these two authors telling me that someone with a wedding ring is better off than me. In their view, I'll drop dead sooner because I haven't taken that walk down the aisle. Gee, if that's the case, then I guess I better start writing my will tomorrow. I guess eating right, exercising, not smoking, or driving safely won't keep me alive. Only a wedding ring will! To all you single people out there, avoid this book like the plague.",1.0,"Gee, Thanks a Lot!",1007337600,"12 3, 2001",23,68,helpful,0.3382352941176471,1 A2L2UV0RVEF0VV,1578151317,Silvia Black,"[0, 0]","I read this book several years ago. I loved the bittersweet development of Richard and Kahlan. Zedd, at times seemed more as the crazy old uncle than a wise wizard. Though, if you get into this series you should not be the faint of heart. The following books delve into some pretty graphic violent scenes.",4.0,"Sometimes to gain ground, you need to slow down...",1356912000,"12 31, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWIXJLCC0WE8A,0830834397,Riesling Rev,"[4, 4]","In this little but very profound book, Dr Purves has given all pastors a way to approach ministry that will bring life and freedom and joy rather than stress, burden, and weariness. It's so easy to think that we have to do it all. Indeed, that is our great sin as pastors. We forget that we are not the Savior. I imagine that this book would be particularly good for ""successful"" ministers who have bought into the idea that their brilliance and hard work has brought about their success. Ministry, particularly in a big church setting, has a tendency to inflate egos. Ingesting a little Purves will provide a good remedy. I recommend this book to all pastors and anyone else engaged in ministry. Read it several times. Read it once a year. Send it to all your friends.",5.0,"Deep, brilliant, and all about Christ",1214784000,"06 30, 2008",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1ZFHTVIJ28TXT,B00BQRZEI4,KARAN ARORA,"[0, 0]",This book is good shortcut but it promotes the original version also . The book can be completed in one sitting and the quality of content is very good and stays on in mind .,4.0,Quick and quality read!!,1383782400,"11 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33IT7E8PHZRH0,0060520515,"C. Reaves ""Klawzie""","[0, 0]","Before I start with the meat of my review, I must say quite emphatically that it is not a romantic-comedy. Ignore the whimsical cover and anything else that might lead you to think so. I was under the impression that was what the book was about and was disappointed in my confusion.That is not to say that there are no romantic or comedic elements - the author seasons the story with just enough of it to keep me happy. However, this book is more realistic than romantic: a lot of the times, the bitter overpowers the sweet.I bought the book one afternoon and I believe I read it from about 8pm - 5am. Then I took a nap and finished it in the early afternoon of the next day. I was in a very subdued (not depressed, just subdued) mood at work later that day, having felt as if I were pulled through a wringer.As you can see, I did rate it a 4, despite my negative reaction to the book. The writing is just wonderful. I could not put the book down at all. And the book did have its moments that helped balance out my original intention of marking it a 3.In short (ha!) if you're looking for an involving, engaging read with real life drama - this is the book for you. If you're looking for something light and fluffy (like the book's 'Mimi's Remedies') - please do not pick this book up unless you'll save it for later.",4.0,NOT a romantic-comedy.,1111708800,"03 25, 2005",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MQHE3CUJN9O9,0672324695,Amazon Customer,"[16, 17]","This is a well written book that covers a lot of topics...in the end you'll have a very clear understanding of SQL Server 2K from both the administration and programming perspectives.I disagree with the other reviews posted on here about this book being too wordy or poorly organized. Perhaps those folks work for Oracle :-) There is a lot of material covered in this book, and for the most part, it's concise and doesn't adopt a condescending attitude towards the reader.In my search to learn SQL Server, I've found this book to rank at the top for general coverage of most of the DBA and programmer/user topics you encounter.Worth your time to read, and money to spend.",5.0,"Well written, worth your while to learn SQL Server",1071187200,"12 12, 2003",16,17,helpful,0.9411764705882353,1 AYNLZBD72W2SR,0892819006,Margaret A. Foster,"[30, 35]","Jean Markale is described as a poet, philosopher, historian and storyteller. His field of specialty is pre-Christian and medieval culture and spirituality. He is a very well known French author of over 40 books and is a specialist in Celtic studies at Sorbonne University in Paris.It is not surprising then that Mr. Markale has written a most profound study of the Celtic celebration of Halloween or Samhain from the perspective of an actual historian and philosopher. The original of this book was first printed in France in 2000 and was translated and brought to the English speaking market in 2001.I must first congratulate Mr. Graham for his extraordinary translation of this book. Not being fluent in French, I would never have tackled such a volume, but Mr. Graham has preserved, in my opinion, the poetic flavor of Mr. Markale's work. It flows rather than reading dry and halting, like many tomes on this subject.The book is composed of only four chapters: The Celtic Festival of Samhain, The Fantastic Night, The Festival of All the Saints and The Shadows of Halloween. This is followed by a conclusion. While the number of chapters is small, the content of each is enormous, giving page after page of facts, religious comparisons, philosophies and supporting evidence for the practices of this misunderstood holiday.I believe the best way to summarize what this book is about is to quote the author from his Conclusion:""It is a way not of ""taming death"" as Montaigne said, but of exorcising it by establishing a direct line between before and after, which will display the permanence of life in all its aspects and all its states. This is the appropriate lesson to draw from Samhain and its survivals, whether the Christian All Saint's Day or the folklike manifestations of Halloween.""His book weaves these final thoughts into understanding as he unfolds the various aspects of this philosophy. I will only attempt to outline the book by its chapters, as it is difficult to take any of his material out of context without it suffering. The need to read, meditate and appreciate the written word as presented by Mr. Markale is one of the wonderful plus' of this book. To read it with all the footnotes as well as endnotes intact is to grasp the full appreciation of well researched work that pieces together the myths and stories and history with solid evidence. He creates a very balanced approach to defining what the origins and mysteries of Samhain were how it survived forced evolution and he brings it all into modern day understanding. There is a very extensive bibliography and one worth exploring if you wish to cover this topic further.The Celtic Festival of Samhain examines the Celtic origins of this holiday. It examines the Celtic calendar, the division of the ""Light of the Year"" with the ""Dark of the Year"", compares the myths with evidence derived from recorded stories and histories and supports it with the culture of the Celtic people. He makes good arguments for the holiday occurring at the date assigned it, and then explores the practices or Rituals of the holiday. His conclusions are hard to argue with, as he produces some very strong evidence for his work. There is some wonderful material here, quoted from some common as well as obscure sources, and is both a pleasure to read and easy to understand.The Fantastic Night explores the actual Celtic practices and meanings of this holiday. This chapter explores the philosophical aspects as evident from Celtic cultural practices. The meanings of ""Other Worlds"", or how time has no meaning on this occasion, and how this is supported by actual recording of cultural ideas and ideals of the Celtic peoples; all is presented here for you to savor, meditate upon and draw deeper understandings.The Festival of All the Saints traces the evolving holiday, how it was forced into a mold created by those who failed to understand this holiday but could not remove it from the cultures of the areas. He traces how it was adapted and remade. But it is not a story of destruction but rather how the origins survived, maybe a bit worse for wear, and continued to thrive in spite of change. This is a very good look at the Christianization of the Celtic culture and how it created a very unique presence as ""Celtic Christianity"" and how it then proceeded to influence the rest of the Christian church.Finally, in The Shadows of Halloween we see how this holiday has come down to us today, how it has survived the ravages of time and continues to be a time when we remember those things of old and incorporate them into our new. The outward signs are reminders of the old philosophies and beliefs and we cling to them because it sparks recognition of values that are not just Celtic, but universal ideas that cross many cultures.His conclusions are very philosophical in nature, and are profound in the revelations he makes regarding our perceptions of life, death, time and rebirth. He uses many literary examples of how we have continued, over the course of time, to experience, again and again, the understanding of our basic need to acknowledge death and in the same breath, life. To quote again:""Everything is contained within the apparent masquerades of Halloween. The sacred is inseparable from the profane, and popular memory, still rebelling against the dominate ideologies, has preserved within its most intimate depths and restored on certain occasions a state of nature that was so dear to the Utopian thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau -- to wit, outside of time and space, the universal fraternity of beings and things.""Probably the best book on the subject, for its ability to successfully tackle the true meaning and origins of this very often misunderstood and sometimes feared holiday. A must read for anyone not afraid to expand their understanding and give more than a passing thought to the significance of Halloween. boudica",5.0,"From the viewpoint of an Historian, a Poet and a Philosopher",1098144000,"10 19, 2004",30,35,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A32RDQQ47DSMYD,0465016901,Aeneas,"[8, 9]","Alice Miller highlights in this book the importance of looking into one's own history in order to understand our psychological makeup and become free of behaviors that otherwise hinders us in being ourselves. I have come to understand irrational and debilitating aspects of my own behaviors, that stemmed from childhood traumas, and seen how these can be liberated once they are experienced emotionally. It is not done over night and not by just reading this book alone.The book is however a great encouragement and at the same time through stories and examples gives an understanding of where to look and clues to some of the behaviors that previously were simply confusing and puzzling. I wished I had read this book 19 years ago, when I first encountered therapy as it would have been an added help in understanding the process that I had started on. Another powerful book on this subject is ""The Narcissistic Family"".All in all a highly recommended book, as understanding the human 'machine' is vital in order to become free, as Gurdjieff would say.",5.0,An important book on the way to self discovery,1193356800,"10 26, 2007",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A18BHB6C2HGW5H,0439023483,Van @ Short and Sweet reviews,"[0, 2]","I've heard about this book for years now, but was never really interested in reading it. At the time, I was reading only urban fantasy or paranormal romance novels and didn't know what to make of the dystopian genre. After seeing the movie trailer for The Hunger Games, I was intrigued. I went out and bought the entire series. I am so glad that I read this book, it was way better than I anticipated. The characters and the world-building were exceptionally believable. Katniss, and all the other characters in the novel were well developed, and as a reader I felt connected to the characters. Whatever was happening to them in the book, as a reader I also felt their joy, sadness, and pain.The pacing of the book was great; it had me constantly turning the pages eager to find out what will happen next. I finished the book in 2 days, would have been sooner if I didn't have school LOL. The book is told from Katniss's point of view; and the majority of the book is full description rather than the usual dialogue that I read. The ending of the book had a lot of surprises that I wasn't expecting (example: what happened to the dead tributes). Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone whose looking for an action-pack novel. This is my first dystopian book, and surely it will not be my last. I look forward to reading more of Katniss's adventure in the next two books in trilogy. Like everyone this weekend, I will be watching The Hunger Games movie as well!",4.0,great!,1332547200,"03 24, 2012",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2GWV8CJLLCX4U,1479234826,P J LaRue,"[27, 27]","When Samantha becomes a victim of relationship abuse, she needs her friends Josie and Maxine more than ever. Josie has worked as a Domestic Violence counselor and knows the Family Court System. As the women plan Samantha's escape, they find that while they are friends, they don't really know each other. And once they learn to trust again, they share their pasts with each other. And the women discover that they have more in common than they knew.I highly recommend October Snow, as it is paced well and polished. While the characters are fiction, abuse is real and happens every day. It has been a week since I finished the book, and I'm still thinking about it. The characters and the story resonate with truth and the twist at the end fits with real life.",5.0,October Snow is a must read,1357257600,"01 4, 2013",27,27,helpful,1.0,1 A51RB929PRP7B,B004VF67ZC,Beth McCoy,"[11, 11]",I received this book for free but that did not influence this review at all. I wasn't sure what to expect with this book as no one had reviewed it yet and it was free. Boy was I surprised! The stories range from somewhat strange to pretty touching. They are well written and keep you very involved. They are short enough for a quick read but quickly draw you in and keep you interested until the end. I was honestly sad that it was over. Be sure and give it a shot as I am sure you will enjoy it as well!,5.0,Excellent Read,1331164800,"03 8, 2012",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A3KN8RX7ZZ1ULZ,1476756503,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Did I mention that I love this book. Characters, storyline, writing....everything. I love this author...I've read several books by her and I will definitely be looking for more by her. I was a little upset that they made her sound like a slut at first but then she admits to having only three partners plus after leaning her whole story I understood more why she acted like she did.I loved Woods...He was the perfect mix of sexy, possessive ans caring. Every time they were in a room together you could feel the nervousness and sexual tension between them. I can't wait for Simple Perfection. these books and the FALLEN TO FAR series are some of my favorite books I've read. Abbi is an Amazing author who creates such beautiful and complete characters. Her writing style is unbelievable and captures each moment perfectly. The stories that Abbi creates are masterpieces and filled with the perfect amount of love, drama, suspense that always leave me wanting more. Her stories are always so complete, never rushed, and she doesn't write words just to fill space. Every page written has purpose!!! she truly is remarkable.",5.0,Love it LOVE it LOVE it.,1367107200,"04 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A38Z8ZXX1BPFRL,034553283X,"Melodie ""2kidznus""","[0, 0]","Kelly Corrigan grew up with a Mother that took her job raising children seriously and her Father was always there with a hug,a hello, and cheering on all achievements. As Mrs. Corrigan so wisely observed; she was the glue that held the family together and her husband was the glitter for the fun side of family life.It wasn't until Kelly went to Australia and ended up being a Nanny for a family that recently suffered a loss that she slowly began to understand her mother. This understanding comes to her in bits and pieces as she cares for the 2 children and later in life when she has her own family. This story will make you laugh, cry and have a ah-ha moment or two. I want my daughter to read this book so her ah-ha moment will come sooner rather than later.Highly recommend for all mothers and daughters.",5.0,Every Mother and Daughter should read this book,1395273600,"03 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UVKGU1XNRF2E,0446525936,DogandMe,"[11, 12]","I brought home a human- and dog-reactive (aggressive) adult border collie about a year and half ago. He came from an unknown background, had been in shelters on and off for 5 months, and was a mess. I had no idea what to do.After about a month of wading through countless training books, all of whose philosophies seemed to tout some other ""miracle system,"" I was fortunate enough to stumble onto this one. Clothier's take on my dog's reactions to a frightening world gave me the perspective I needed to help him, rather than frighten him more. Most enlightening was her section about ""friendly"" dogs who charge at other dogs ""just to say hi."" Once I could interpret the other dogs' behavior and body language through my own dog's eyes, I could finally help him. I realized that a charging dog - regardless of intention - looked like an attacking dog, at least to Buddy. Knowing this, I could step in, intercede, to protect my dog. This was crucial in giving him the faith that I could handle the tough situations we meet in our day to day walks. Trusting me, he let down his guard, and has become a dog who looks ""normal"" to those who meet him. We even get ""Oh, he's sweet"" comments from people on our walks now! He may never be as easy-going as a lab, but I'd say he's 90% of the way to ""normal.""""Bones Would Rain from the Sky,"" along with ""The Other End of the Leash"" by Patricia McConnell, should be on every dog owner's bookshelf. The more challenging your dog, the more you need to read these books. And once you've read these, you'll be able to filter out the mush in the other books.",5.0,Changed My Dog's Life,1171065600,"02 10, 2007",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A38KPXZZ1AXYKR,1495361454,ecole,"[0, 0]","I received a free ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review and right now I'm doing a happy dance because I LOVED it!Sydney had a horrific childhood filled with emotional and physical abuse from her stepfather as well as sexual abuse from her stepbrother. Her mother has mentally checked out and does nothing to support Sydney. Luckily Sydney was able to go to college on Oahu far away from her family and is studying to become a marine biologist. She has supportive friends and a bright future, which she tries to focus on.Coen is also a marine biology student with an undeserved bad reputation. He needs a tutor and Sydney is hired for the job. He is also a personal trainer who teaches self-defense and Sydney is one of his clients.You can probably guess where this is going - boy meets girl, boy falls in love, yada yada yada. Luckily for us all there is SO MUCH MORE going on in this book! You've got a psychotic ex-girlfriend out for revenge, another man vying for Sydney's affections and a much-dreaded visit from the family from hell. This book was non-stop action and suspense to the point where I had to put it down a few times and walk away just to give my nerves a rest.Some of the things I loved most about this book:Coen is the ultimate book boyfriend, so swoon-worthy he made me melt. Where can I get a Coen for myself?The setting was wonderful. The author didn't just write that the characters were on Oahu, there were references to Hawaii throughout the book. I could feel myself there when she described the sun, the scent of the flowers and ocean, the breeze, even the colors. Loved it!!The epilogue was so sweet it brought tears to my eyes! The reference to seahorses in the last paragraph was so beautifully poignant I reread it several times. I absolutely loved it and won't forget it anytime soon.Thank you Ms. Todd for the wonderful read - you're awesome!!!",5.0,Loved it!!!,1391299200,"02 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ILNMO6DNPA0S,0970557469,"John Freeman ""JF, Philosophiae Doctor""","[16, 17]","Beyond all of the scare tactics like soy causes cancer and Splenda is going to give you three heads, Mercola has sound advice for dieters: give up the sugar, get back to the raw, natural foods, and exercise. It's kinda no-brainer stuff. However, the sensationalizing of certain things gets a bit overdone. Does someone have more risk from eating too much mercury from fish or from getting struck by lightning? If you eat a variety of healthy foods, including fish, the mercury in the fish isn't going to hurt you more than the omega-3 fatty acids will help you.Another thing Mercola promotes is sleep, which I wholeheartedly agree with. Sleep is one of the most vital keys to a healthy lifestyle, but the good doctor fails to show how you can get better sleep. The ""The Evolution Diet"" by Morse explains some very interesting facts about attaining better sleep through diet that the Total health Program fails to recognize. I would recommend that book over this and recommend to the doctor to quit sensationalizing!To our collective health!",4.0,Mercola offers good foods but also some scare tactics,1152662400,"07 12, 2006",16,17,helpful,0.9411764705882353,1 A1ZXZWQ69WOPUA,0099416557,moviebuff,"[0, 2]","I really wanted to learn about Paraguay. It is very hard to find any books out there that even touch on the subject. So, it was with a lot of excitement that I began reading this book and quickly watched my excitement dwindle to nothing. I finally gave up on the book. It is all over the place. He tries to make humor where there is none and incidents that are so trivial and boring, he writes as if they should be so exciting. I Love to read, but this book has beaten me. I give up. I refuse to waste anymore of life's precious time on a book that is a complete waste of time. What a disappointment.",1.0,Wanted to learn about Paraguay,1318464000,"10 13, 2011",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2L6F2RLXUQXXH,0984492771,Melvin Schulman,"[0, 0]",This is a terrific attention holder. You don't want to put it down because you want to know whats coming next,5.0,"Intriging, holds your attention and you don't want to put it down",1398643200,"04 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AK7D1BHZOSOL1,0446580406,General Pete,"[0, 0]","Apart from the obligatory chapter about Ronald Regan that one might expect from a John McCain publication I was surprised how much I liked this book. I was expecting to here the stories of a lot of soldiers, politicians and other military types but in this book you also get to hear from a fair number of scientists, doctors, athletes and merchantsOverall-If you want to try a new approach to biographies and don't feel like reading an individual book on all of these people this is the book for you the section each individual may not be large but they are more in depth then you might think. It is also refreshing to read a book where the title has some bearing on the text. This is exactly what the title says it is a book about people who had to make the ""Hard Calls.""",4.0,Much better then I thought it would be,1265155200,"02 3, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1JBDC24S4G7W,0763635731,Sparrow,"[6, 14]","I haven't read the other books in this series, and so cannot comment on whether it's representative of the author's work and views. I disliked Twilight for its horrific exultation of abuse, irritating characters, and general cliches. This does most of that just as badly or worse.I like most supernatural lit, but I think I may just be too feminist to enjoy books like this. Sexuality and desire, including the female versions, aren't ubiquitously Bad and Wrong. Men manipulating, stalking, controlling, and constantly watching girls and women isn't beautiful, poetic, or romantic, it's just creepy. There are far better stories about angels, vampires, and human girls becoming supernatural.Spoilers BelowDying for abstinence is never an acceptable choice, or something I'd want promoted at young women. I don't know where this story's insulting, anti-sex conclusion came from, but it's one of the most stupid and infuriating things I've read since I gave up on the Twilight series (after the second book). If it had been something along the lines of sexual assault or suicide, the ending might have made some sense, and I generally like good tragedies. This was just awful.",1.0,Twilight Ripoff,1237248000,"03 17, 2009",6,14,helpful,0.42857142857142855,1 A2PMG73SNWI2U7,0800732324,"HollisBookShelf ""Connie""","[0, 0]",A great inspirational read. This is book 1 in a series and am looking forward to reading the others. I got this as a free Kindle download and am really glad that I did.,4.0,Stuck in the Middle....,1311811200,"07 28, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PGYIQ49WBKQR,1556612443,"Michele ""Michele""","[0, 0]",I had no idea what this book was about. It was very intriguing and taught me a lot. I wonder what things are like now in 2013 in Poland.,4.0,Good,1374192000,"07 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1B7DR0K0VCMM,B008GWT0NM,mon,"[0, 1]","Sometimes when I look through my Kindle, I am actually ashamed at how many "Billionaire" books are in my erotic/romance section! I just love them so much that I can't stop! While this is a short read, I really enjoyed it a lot.",5.0,Loved It,1382313600,"10 21, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A138FC0LXII2JT,1404189769,"David Carter ""http://ChristStudy.net""","[0, 0]","The Treasure of God's word is a beautifully produced gift book that celebrates the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible which was published for the first time in 1611.The pages of the book have a parchment look about them and are gold edged, while the cover is of imitation leather, which gives the book a look and feel of a much more expensive book than it actually is.Inside the pages are a selection of verses from the King James Bible sorted into over 40 topical categories including such topics as God's Love, God's Mercy, Our Salvation and the Power of prayer. Interspersed between the categories are various short articles on the history of the King James - or Authorised Version as it is also known - Bible.My only disappointment with the book is with the articles, they are not only short but also in short supply. For some reason I was expecting the book to contain rather more substance on the history of this version of the Bible, especially given the fact that there is a 400 year history to draw on.That aside, I would have to say that this would make an excellent gift for anyone who appreciates the beauty of the language of the King James.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program called Book Sneeze. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.",4.0,Excellent gift for the King James lover,1299024000,"03 2, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2BZ7NWFY2DCUA,0062271334,Sandra,"[0, 0]","This story caught me from the get-go! I enjoyed it immensely. The storyline and characters were great, it was nicely paced, and I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!!",5.0,Very good story.,1384041600,"11 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BFEEL2F7O5XB,1401930786,"Crystal ""kavanava""","[107, 119]","I was curious about this book because a friend mentioned someone who had taken and was teaching the 21st Century Energy Medicine technique. If you have never heard of energy healing techniques this book may serve as a basic introduction, but beyond that there is little to be gained. If you want an introductory book on energy work, you might want to take a look atEnergy Medicine: Balancing Your Body's Energies for Optimal Health, Joy, andVitalityUpdated and Expanded. I found Ms. King's book disappointing Deborah King doesn't offer any details of her Template of Perfection technique. There are quite a few different healing techniques discussed in a simplistic way. This can be a blessing if you are just looking for a little tidbits or tastes of a variety of techniques and want to try simple uncomplicated exercises and techniques, but be aware this book appears to be an appetizer for readers to take King's workshops and seminars. The book, which is around 170 pages, is mostly Deborah King's story of childhood abuse and her path to and in healing with some exercises and information interwoven within. From a look at her website it appears her courses can be taken online so it makes me wonder about the quality of her ""initiations"" and how effective they are since the initiations are supposed to be consciousness expanding. And ultimately how effective her certified healers/teachers are.The inner flap reads ""you will learn both Eastern and Western concepts and techniques--from the earliest recorded healing practices some 5,000 years ago, to King's own powerful cutting-edge approach."" What this means is King borrowed from everyone. And if there was something cutting edge about King's technique she fails to show this. In one of King's YouTube videos she states she believes her technique named the template of perfection is a ""rediscovered"" ancient technique and she knew it was going to be more powerful than Reiki. It raises a flag in me when someone makes this kind of claim as she offers nothing to support it. If King's technique is more powerful than Reiki why wouldn't she let her technique speak for itself and explain to demo it? And if it's a rediscovered ancient technique in what way is it cutting-edge? In fact all the techniques in her book are ancient or existing techniques and combined techniques. For example, in a forgiveness exercise she names Hawaiian ho pi'no pi'no she uses the Microcosmic Orbit which if I remember correctly is Chinese. All the various techniques she mentions in the book, color healing, toning (sound healing), recapitulation, the chakras, etc. are nothing new. It makes me suspect King's template of perfection is probably also a combination of or similar to existing techniques.Referring to her template of perfection on YouTube video King says our life experiences can take us farther and farther away from the template of perfection we had when we came into the world. The farther we are from our template of perfection the more issues we have and when we get far enough out we can develop illness. By re-impressing the template of perfection we can return to our original perfected state and heal. In the book King doesn't go into any details such as what exactly one does to determine the template of perfection for each individual or how it is re-impressed as, of course, this is learned in her classes. It also means her technique can't be properly evaluated from the book.Readers should be aware that King takes the position the healer is there to bring about a cure. King discuses healing versus cure. One school of thought is that healers are not there to impose their personal will on the healing since they don't know what the highest good is for that person. The healer is not there to play God and the client may or may not receive a cure as part of the healing. Another thought is the healer is there to affect a cure as in the faith healing of Kathryn Kuhlman. King takes the view the responsibility for a cure is on the healer and states, ""Invariably, in the world of healing there are many individuals who are not physically cured even though they might be emotionally and spiritually healed, and I am constantly humbled by these failures. Fortunately, thanks to those who have successfully walked across the coals ahead of me...I'm reminded that miraculous healings are indeed possible. This brings me back again and again to focus on my responsibility to forge a stronger and more reliable connection with Divine power."" I am not sure why King assumes that it's an either or proposition. Every healer brings healing in his or her own way and should choose the path that speaks to his or her spirit.King doesn't state what level of initiation/conscious expansion she is at on the scale partially provided in the book (for the upper initiation levels you have to go to her website where I am sure the courses will be advertised). Some think that a guru or yogi who has not achieved the full permanent awakening of Kundalini is unlikely to bring any shaktipat (initiation of kundalini awakening) he or she may pass to an initiate to permanent awakening. I have to wonder if King's level of consciousness is sufficient to take her students permanently to the highest level of consciousness she dangles in front of them.May 2012: Value for the reader.In light of the posts, I lowered the rating on this book to 1 star and readers may see why by reading the posts if it interests them. I have nothing against earning a living, but as the daughter of an accountant I like to see people get value for their money and this book didn't do that for me. I'm not a paid reviewer, I do not receive free promotional items, I don't teach any method of healing nor am I a card carrying member of any healiing modality. I do energy work for free at local hospitals and at a local hospice. My interest is totally as someone who has an interest in energy work.Amazon limits me to 10 links in a review so I have to limit the links I can add. I'm not saying these are perfect materials on healing, but here are some of the things I have read so far that I felt I got something out of.Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field,You Hands Can Heal You: Pranic Healing Energy Remedies to Boost Vitality and Speed Recovery from Common Health Problems,Hands-on Healing: A Practical Guide to Channeling Your Healing Energies (Russian Research Center Studies),Your Hands Can Heal: Learn to Channel Healing Energy,The Way of the Shaman(basic book about shamanism, some discussion about shamanic methods of healing),Quantum-Touch: The Power to Heal (Third Edition),The Joy of Reflexology: Healing Techniques for the Hands and Feet to Reduce Stress and Reclaim Life(for hands and feet only),The Spiritual Dimension of Therapeutic Touch(not an instructional book about healing per se, but discusses healing with a mind more toward the spiritual aspects by the founders of Therapeutic Touch, Kunz & Kreiger). A book on Reiki is a bit harder to recommend as Reiki attunes practioners to Reiki symbols. If you want general info Reiki for Dummies will suffice for general info. There are books/materials/free YouTube videos showing how to do self attunements if readers want to go that route. Steve Murray's books/DVDs appear to be fairly popular for that purpose,Reiki The Ultimate Guide Learn Sacred Symbols & Attunements plus Reiki Secrets You Should Know.",1.0,"Nothing new, appetizer for King's courses",1311206400,"07 21, 2011",107,119,helpful,0.8991596638655462,1 A2QNJARWTF9H89,0061804215,"William D. Colburn ""buys things on amazon far...","[0, 1]","I liked reading this, but the author makes me hate him repeatedly.I stayed up late the first night reading about salad, and it made me crave salad, and then he went into about how poisoning the world with GMOs is the best possible future. I think he's just stupid. And it set up a love-hate relationship for the rest of the book.I like his enthusiasm and passion for good food. I hate him for betraying nature and siding against our future. If he had written a book about loving food and eating it, then I'd love it. But his choice of material, the future of food, delves into areas that frighten me. GMOs frighten me because they are wrong. Patenting life is wrong. Taking away the rights of the people to grow food is wrong. And the author supports these wrongs, and so I hate him. But there is still a lot to like here; he did research and talked to a lot of very interesting people. It really is a good book, despite the problems, and I do recommend it.",4.0,A good book that brings out the hate in me,1328400000,"02 5, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A19XU8J74L5B2R,0674048512,pkbrowning,"[0, 1]","Does covering your mouth when you yawn help others avoid the yawn contagion? How do you cure the hiccups? What's the Guinness world record for loudest belch? So this might not be the deepest realm of imponderables regarding human behavior, but precisely because such things tend to be overlooked, perhaps it's worth taking some time to consider that maybe such everyday considerations really can tell us something important about ourselves precisely these are the things that we live with, day in and day out. Provine's review of what we know about such things to date is both informative and humorous, and one need not fear being bogged down in heavy physiology or psychology reading this book. My only complaint is that it felt short, with the coverage of some of the subjects feeling superficial, although often that's unfortunately just because there isn't more information available because the topics have been overlooked by researchers.",4.0,An interesting look at everyday behaviors,1365897600,"04 14, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,0764524712,Midwest Book Review,"[8, 8]","Any who wish a very easy introduction to the finer art of canning and preserving will find Canning & Preserving for Dummies a winner. It provides a step-by-step guide to canning at home, pairing the latest equipment and safety guidelines with easy, fun techniques all tied together by the skill of an author who is a home economist and canning instructor. From recipes for preserves to handling jars, the 'caution' and 'remember' bulleted tips make for easy, quick directions.",5.0,A step-by-step guide to canning at home,1236643200,"03 10, 2009",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A27RUI7HGL5XWB,1602829489,"J Johnson ""jj""","[4, 4]","This book introduced me to the world of Mommies and their little girls, but that was only part of it. This variation on D/s was a whopping eye-opener for me and the primary couple was beyond fantastic. I apologize, but I need to publicly extol both Rebekah Weatherspoon and Bold Strokes Books right up front. I cannot personally vouch for the accuracy of this lifestyle as presented, but I can praise to the universe the 110 percent believability of the women depicted and spot on lifelike tangibility of the high powered work scenario.Suzanne Kim has a Korean father and a Jamaican mother, but that wonderfully and tenderly rarely becomes an issue...a truly remarkable testament to the author. Suzy needs to find a Mommy and she knows her way around the `digital world' so she plans out a highly commendable strategy and off she goes. The account of her previous Domme is somewhat horrific, but it only goes to show how spectacular Suzy's new relationship is right from the start. If I had a `little girl', I would really want Suzy to be her best friend.Pilar attaches a photo depicting a gorgeous Latin woman along with her elegantly brief posting on Kinklife.com that speaks right to Suzy's heart and probably dozens of others. From the start through the essential crisis moment, Pilar and Suzy's relationship provided a fabulously engaging, provocative, and soul-stirring story. I love it when I cannot put down what I am reading for almost anything and this book easily fit the bill. It would be an honor to have Pilar as a friend or associate. She was amazing and oh so human.Let me say without hesitation that everyone should read this story. However, probably folks who are more comfortable with sexually provocative f/f and D/s relationships will be completely satisfied. Nevertheless, I cannot imagine anyone with an open heart, curious nature, or passion for reading not enjoying this magnificent book. I am going to be redundant and say I totally recommend this!NOTE: This book was provided by Bold Strokes Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.",5.0,A very touching love story,1379376000,"09 17, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A35BPSOS4JTFN8,1471133524,Jenn,"[4, 4]","Well well well, Jamie does it again!! Travis Maddox will always be my boyfriend but Trenton was very close!! Did not expect a huge surprise like that!! Great book and I didn't want it to end! Wanted a epilogue..:(",5.0,Wow!!,1404172800,"07 1, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3W1RGNWEYZDUP,0385338600,Dan,"[0, 0]",This was a fantastic book from beginning to end. It always kept you wondering what was going to happen next and what the next page would bring. This was a good book i would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys court of law novels it was a mix between crime and court. Easy read get this book!,5.0,Great Read!,1393113600,"02 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AD2QADVAQF1CU,0062110837,Stella,"[0, 0]",I loved this mystical story and I highly recommend it. It's packed with history and legends. I hated finishing the book because I wanted to know more.,5.0,Wonderful fantasy!,1398038400,"04 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3W2T0SYF5YA0B,0425269205,April Ezell Wilson,"[30, 34]","Oy vey. I’ve been a follower of Sookie, Charlaine and Bon Temp for years. Admittedly, the last several novels were mediocre, but this one was wretched.I felt as though I was reading a cheesy harlequin novel. Sookie had the notable hard-ass quality, but the secondary characters were lacking. The story line was slight to say the least and after 335 pages I was exasperated. It did not flow well and the pace of action was really bad.A few things happened with her previous suitors and it was worse than anticlimactic. I felt there was NO closure with ANY of the characters. I’m left with nothing, and quite frankly, I’m pissed!I put a lot of years into this series and the ending is less than desirable. I wished it had been more fulfilling.I don’t think I’ll ever read any more of her work. Refund!",1.0,What in the wide wide world of sports was going on in this book- AWFUL!,1370995200,"06 12, 2013",30,34,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 A1M2DMCMN1TRGI,0465037380,J. Parker,"[0, 0]","Thomas Sowell is extremely polished and intellectual reading runs smoothly, enjoyable, and understandable. I look forward to reading more Sowell...",5.0,Excellent,1403481600,"06 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AHSTSNIWEQTI,0226474089,Chitown Reader,"[68, 68]","In this book Levi gives an overview of the process of legal analysis and demonstrates how legal "rules" are made. The book consists of primarily 3 parts. In the first part Levi demonstrates the process of legal reasoning in case law situations by tracing the history and development of the "inherently dangerous" rule. The second part is an examination of statutory interpretation, specifically the Mann Act. Finally, is a section on constitutional interpretation. This book is not for pre-law students it will offer the most once the reader has already been introduced to the basics of the law and legal reasoning.",4.0,"Great, quick read of the process of legal analysis.",946166400,"12 26, 1999",68,68,helpful,1.0,1 A39JZRZXQC6J1Y,0963188909,Wendy,"[0, 0]","Well all I can say is an interesting read, kind of out there sometimes hard to swallow as fact, but again interesting. for the price pick it up.",4.0,Enjoyed but somewhat out there,1368576000,"05 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WSI8HOWHFDOT,0312950489,Rocco Dormarunno,"[0, 0]","It's difficult to believe that more than 20 years have passed since I had first read Michael Connelly's ""The Black Echo"". Over the years, I have read just about every Harry Bosch novel. The last few, especially ""The Drop"", anticipate Harry's retirement from the LAPD, and I found myself gasping in denial. ""Harry can't leave!"" Something compelled me to go back to the beginning, to ""The Black Echo"". (Since I couldn't find my original copy which had been swallowed up by time, I gladly purchased one from Amazon.) I'm glad I went back to where it all started.It was good to find out that the novel holds up after all these years.While technology, police procedures and social values have changed since the early 1990s (notice I didn't say ""improved""), it didn't make the book feel as outdated as it might have. The reason for this is that this isn't the sort of crime fiction that relies on these elements exclusively. This is a novel about a character, his personality, his gut and his determination. This is about Harry Bosch more than it is about the mystery, really. (I won't go into the plot elements, suffice to say that it's compelling, credible and more than satisfying.) In this very first installment, Bosch is already identified with the endangered coyote that he crosses paths with. This animal treads that fine line that is supposed to separate civilization from the wilderness in and around L.A. (Harry doesn't acknowledge that line.) In one telling sentence, Connelly prepares us for what we could expect from Bosch in the books that would follow: ""It was always at the edge, at the entrance, that the moment was most thrilling and most frightening to him."" The novel is also a fierce reminder of how heavily his experiences in Vietnam had formed him. The memories of his horrific experiences there haunt his every move.It was also a little nostalgic to see some of the characters in their younger years, who would later figure into the Bosch series much more prominently. If you have read ""The Black Echo"" years ago, go ahead and revisit it. If you haven't, ""The Black Echo"" is a novel beyond the scope of ""crime fiction""; it is simply a brilliant novel.",5.0,Holds up marvelously after two decades,1371081600,"06 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35YAEKTV8E88X,0310723302,Brenda Casto,"[0, 0]","I have been collecting Bibles for quite some time,and I am always looking for a new Bible to recommend, especially to teens. Well with the Rock Solid Faith Study Bible there is plenty that makes this Bible stand out for me. It's a Bible created especially for teens to help them grow their faith and find hope for the future. Because it's a NIV Bible it is written in easy to understand language , and I found it to be filled with several exciting features that provides a unique study help that will help teens get rooted in God's promises and unwavering love.Here are a few examples of some of the features that are included in this Bible.1.Book Outline and introduction~ which is a brief outline at the beginning of each book of the Bible,along with a brief introduction to the particular book of the Bible.2.Rock Solid Truths which examines Christian beliefs and explorations of other religions.3.Rock Solid Promises calls out what is (and is not) promised in the Bible.4.Rock Solid Principles applies the Bible to relationships, sex, money and more.5.Rock Solid Plans: Explores God's plan in daily life.6. Unshaken People: Provides scriptural examples of overcoming challenges.7. Unshaken God: Points out God's unyielding attributes.As well as these features the user will also find reading plans,that are beneficial to a new Bible reader who needs a little guidance,as well as plans that allow the user to read through the entire Bible in either one or two years. In addition to this also included are topical indexes, a concordance and eight pages of color maps.For me one of the favorite features of this Teen Bible happened to be the concordance, I found it quite useful and pretty complete. I also enjoyed reading the little stories provided in the Rock Solid Principals. The only negative thing I could possibly say about this Bible is that the outside cover isn't overly appealing, it's a drab brown that I feel would appeal much more to boys rather than girls.Overall, I found this Bible easy to navigate and use. I think it would make a great gift for a teen whether they are a new christian or are just looking for an in depth study geared toward there age group. Recommended!A complimentary copy of this Bible was provided in exchange for an honest review.",5.0,NIV Study Bible For teens,1346025600,"08 27, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27VI8T91O3B7D,B00EDQIU4K,languagelover,"[4, 6]","Before you plunk your money down, keep in mind that what you are buying is not a book but an article. (I had to pay the $1.99 download fee to learn that this is what a ""Kindle Single"" means. Never again will I make this mistake!)As others have noted, it reads more like an outline than a book.The writing starts out strong, but gets clunky as this very brief narrative moves on. It wasn't proofread very well. There are lots of typos and missing words.Although it was interesting, it was not interesting enough or complete enough to warrant even the $1.99 I paid for it.If the author, or anyone else, writes a real book about the case, it might be worth paying for.",2.0,A bit of a rip-off,1379116800,"09 14, 2013",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1121LU5RSP5CH,0316205214,Diane Lynch,"[0, 0]","Hot Blooded (Jessica McClain #2) by Amanda CarlsonHot Blooded continues where book one, Full Blooded left off. Colin Rourke, Jessica McClain's mate, has been abducted by the evil goddess Selene. With the aid of her brother Tyler, pack mate Danny Walker, police detective Ray Hart, and vampire siblings Naomi and Eamon; Jessica goes on a quest to recover her mate. Of course, the journey is not so easy and the group fights numerous evil creatures along the way.Amanda Carson once again writes an action pack entertaining novel that you can't put down. There is never a dull moment in Jessica's life. Carson's character development is exceptional. You can't help but love (or hate) the cast. I look forward to reading what happens next in book three, Cold Blooded.Complimentary copy provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.",4.0,Hot Blooded (Jessica McClain #2) by Amanda Carlson,1373760000,"07 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PFOI55D2KSMZ,1423163001,sally sparrow,"[0, 0]",it was pretty good but i dont think it had enough percy and annabeth. it would have been nice if they were intertwined in the stories more if you get what i mean.,4.0,pretty good,1371427200,"06 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YJ1ILXOIG8BZ,192699647X,"Amazon Customer ""paranormalromancenovel(dot)com""","[4, 5]","I enjoyed this highland tale. Our heroine is feisty and not too much for following orders. Our hero is a laird all about giving orders. So I am sure you can imagine that sparks will fly as these two battle it out. When Duncan first sees Alera he knows he's keeping her whether she agrees or not, as is the Highland way. I do have to say that their first time coming together was not my favorite it felt a bit date rapish before she really realized what was going on in he was. However, despite that over all, Duncan was a likable hero for our Alera. He was supportive, took care of his loved ones and his clan. Alera was also a likable spirited character who was allowed a lot of freedom growing up and it showed in her mischievousness ways.This tale has treachery, a bit of the mystical (although not fully fleshed out) and of course there were stubborn highlanders! It kind of reminded me of a bootlegged Julie Garwood highlander book actually some of the details seemed right from a few Julie Garwood highlanders but whatev's it was still a decent tale. I got in a few laughs, I enjoyed the characters and it was a fun easy read. And I got it for 1.99 for my Kindle. Got to love a cheap read. =)I do have to admit some of the details were not fleshed out and were not all that cohesive. Almost as the author didnt want you to be bored so she through in some different plot lines but didnt quite know how to bring it all back together. It didnt really detract from this book all that much I just took it as it is. I just sat back and let myself be entertained.Rating 3.5",4.0,A good light read,1326326400,"01 12, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A12DLJESJKM1OQ,0316118788,Roy Chan,"[30, 36]","In his book, ""Flaubert: A Biography,"" Frederick Brown portrays his book by giving the readers a closer look at Paris during a period of radical change. He writes his book to illustrate a wonderful biography Madame Bovary as Gustave Flaubert. Interestingly and what makes this book fascinating is how Frederick Brown keeps his distance away from the audience to make us decide what the apparent contradictions in Flaubert's life really is. The 24 chapters not only offer a vivid, detailed, and accurate account of Flaubert's life, they also provide relevant historical background for Europe, France, and Rouen, Flaubert's birthplace. Flaubert (for those who don't know) was romantic and optimist yet his most famous work required a degree of discipline to keep his emotions out of it. He loathed the bourgeois, but perhaps was one of the greatest symbols of the social class in the middle nineteenth century when he hugged fame. Flaubert's loving relationship with his mistress Louise Colet really summed up the complexity of the subject of this fine work Mr. Brown provides in his biographical masterpiece in literature today. I really love this book a lot...since I am a fan of Gustave Flaubert. I highly recommend for those who are intellect and love to learn more about the life of Falubert and his career. Overall, 9/10!",5.0,Flaubert : A Biographical Masterpiece in Literature Today!!,1145145600,"04 16, 2006",30,36,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1DSRM2P0WGQNS,0965680959,"J. Moore ""Zombie Prep Network""","[5, 5]","Whether or not you believe two ascended beings teleported into the authors living room or not, this book contains cutting-edge spiritual wisdom. The heart of the material is truth that is at home with New Thought, Gnosticism, Advaita Vedanta and other systems.My warning to you is that reading this with an open mind will change you. Just toying with the powerful ideas presented here will start to undo your ego.Lapsed Christians may find the teachings about Jesus refreshing as Paulist dogma is stripped away so that the real lessons of Christ can be highlighted. Fundamentalists will be offended as Jesus is shown as a peer, and not an intermediary standing in the way of God's light,The book works well in parallel withA Course in Miraclesor, I believe, on it's own. Readers who are daunted by the sheer size of ACIM might start with this book as a bridge to it's teaching.",5.0,A new gnosis,1225324800,"10 30, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A12AN7TOF9TCG8,0060187271,"Ron Franscell, Author of 'The Darkest Night'","[22, 25]","The sacred and the profane. Faith and eroticism. Earth-drying sunlight and earth-rending flood. Night and day. Heaven and Hell ... could any of them exist without their opposite?In her new novel, ""The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse,"" Louise Erdrich weaves the intricate and the uncomplicated into a story that is, by turns, extraordinarily tangled and beautifully concrete. Opposites dependent upon one another.Maybe it's because Erdrich writes in sacred circles. Families, generations, places, events and individual characters swirl among her various novels. The Turtle Mountain-Pembina Reservation, which sprawls across the Red River halfway into North Dakota -- the setting for ""Love Medicine,"" ""Tales of Burning Love"" and other Erdrich tales -- is again the crucible where Erdrich re-mixes the lives of the Nanapush, Kashpaw, Morrissey, Mauser, Pillager, Lamartine and Lazarre families. In her work, you'll recognize Faulknerian rhythms: a northern plains Yoknapatawpha where the Sartorises, Snopeses and Compsons are known by Ojibwe names, where voices shift like sand.In circles where the literary air is more rarefied, Erdrich's juxtaposition of disparate concepts might be called *Manichean* -- relating to an ancient spiritual belief that life is governed by an endless battle between equally potent forces of good and evil, neither of which can ever annihilate the other. That's one way to look at it. But while her writing invites a number of interpretive methods and philosophies, it is Spartan and simply human, more Cather than Faulkner. In environs where landscape is less influential to life, readers might see only Manichean metaphors in rivers, forests and blizzards; in the West, it's just the way things are -- starkly contrasted depending on the time of day, the angle of sight, or the weather. The place that is good by day might be evil by dark. It is not just the stuff of Erdrich's writing, but her life, too.The pivotal event in ""The Last Report"" is a Dakota flood that not only sweeps Agnes away on the lid of a piano, but also represents her spiritual evolution -- her ordination, if you will -- into Father Damien. A heaven-sent event, delivered by the Muse of Metaphor into the fervid imagination of a writer in need of a symbol? In fact, it is a scene inspired by the 1997 flood on North Dakota's Red River. It is certainly an apt spiritual metaphor, but it is also a simple account of how fortunes are so swift to change in the Western landscape. Pick your poison, dear reader: Mysticism or reality. They both work.The part-Ojibwe Erdrich, like indigenous writers Sherman Alexie and Leslie Marmon Silko, deftly blends mysticism and dark humor in a complex, compassionate amalgam that, when burnished, not only reflects the Indian experience, but human existence in any color, at any moment in time.",4.0,A secret exposed,988502400,"04 29, 2001",22,25,helpful,0.88,1 A5FXBPYYQ5BZJ,0553583182,Brad Nealon,"[8, 9]","I would recommend this book TO EVERYONE IN THE WORLD... Even if you have no idea what this book is about- BUY IT NOW!!!I've read several on the subject and while this is a very basic outlook that doesn't go too far in-depth, it is still very informative.If you are the person who needs scientific evidence in order to believe anything, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU!If the above statement applies to you, I would suggest ""The Cat in the Hat""",5.0,BEST FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK ON SUBCONSCIOUS MIND OUT THERE,1169337600,"01 21, 2007",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A253KQC8OJZBO6,1461189268,Theresa Mascari,"[0, 0]",This book gave the reader insights as to what our government could possibly do the plot keeps . You interested and wondering as to what will be,5.0,Enlightening,1378166400,"09 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NW4BOUKIEVH9,1591453321,J. J. Bain,"[0, 0]","I can't really rate a book I have yet to read. When I do read it, I'll review it. I fell it will be good.",3.0,Unread but appears it will be good,1364342400,"03 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AE7NMAODMZ9ZX,1482319055,NsgInfomatix,"[0, 0]",I absolutely loved this book. The characters are genuine and loveable. I wish there was a sequel because I am going to really miss Sparrow and Ian. If you love a good love story you have to buy this book. Enjoy!,5.0,Great Characters and Story!!,1366416000,"04 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A287PN588RDZ52,B008KS3MG8,Kathleen Patel,"[12, 13]","This is the third book in the `Heirs to the Throne' series and I it may be my favorite. But then again, I happen to love anything that Diane Rapp composes. She is one of my favorite authors; with her musical prose I can truly envelope myself in the story.Dragon Defense takes us back to the two mooned planet of Drako. It's a unique planet where sentient wolves have lived peacefully with the humans for many generations, and even joined forces to fight an evil enemy.The daughters of King Donovan and Queen Krystal are now grown women, each with her own special talent. They have all come home to the kingdom. Together they are a powerful force. But will they be able to defeat the most powerful evil they have ever encountered? They must find him first.There is much work to be done, children still in captivity since the frightening reign of Jarrack. Strong alliances are formed; even the dragons of Drako join the forces.In the midst of all the danger, there is joy and triumph. New love may even start to bloom, intoxicated no doubt, by the fragrance of the night blooming flowers. ..",5.0,"I love them all, but this may be my favorite!",1342137600,"07 13, 2012",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A18OJH46CSHJR4,0451465857,"Lilac Wolf and Stuff ""Source of all Comfort""","[0, 0]","Summer is a flight attendant who has always kept her distance from the men she dates. But she just found out her boyfriend is going to propose in Paris. The plane crashes and he dumps her. Just too much for the poor girl to process. She goes to Blackdog Bay, a place famous for mending broken hearts.There she finds new friends, a great new drink called "Cure for the Common Breakup" and has she also met a man worthy of her commitment? She just may find home yet.I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It is a pretty fast paced story without being too heavy, and it is a lot of fun. Perfect beach read!",5.0,A Lilac Wolf and Stuff Review,1404086400,"06 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARHE73CT3GAMF,1466324600,"lisakttn ""lisakttn""","[0, 0]","After reading Christie Rich's Dreamscape and Tainted, I was hooked on her writing style and thought I would start the Elemental Enmity Series. I am so glad I did. I fell in love with the characters and wanted to know all about them. Rich vibrantly describe this whole other world and unfolds the story that makes you beg for more. I have the whole series and am in the heart of the second book. This is a page turner, at least it was for me. So excited for more.",5.0,HOOKED!,1404172800,"07 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZD6TCDR16T6Z,1477816534,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Can't wait for the next book in the series this tied up some questions but need to tie up more and see what the future holds,4.0,Excellent,1376697600,"08 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXX2E1TBY71CZ,1880507013,Jeff,"[0, 0]","""No, no me gustan nada huevos verdes con jamón"" Need I say more? Fantastic and it's translated in a really fun way that continues w/ the rhymes. Dr. Seuss is probably the best children's author of all time and I'm über glad it's available in a Spanish translation.",5.0,Classic book! Fun to read in Spanish,1327536000,"01 26, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AV8YUTLPII05T,0385338317,Scott Thomas,"[5, 5]","the repeating was extrememly annoying and distracted from the story. it was unbelievable from the beginning. the mother/wife was perfect and had a perfect family and her writing career was perfect. I know this isn't supposed to be reality, but come on. I forced myself to continue even after reading about a 100 times how much more Tanya loved her family than her career. I used to love Danielle Steele. she was an awesome story teller. I know she is a beloved author and I am just a reader, but it is so obvious to me that she needs someone to edit. this book could've been 200 pages.what happened to showing not telling? if you foreshawdow something over and over again, is it still foreshadowing??how odd that one minute in the book the marriage is perfect and the next he is with her best friend. there was no real explanation to that.I love Danielle Steele's older books",2.0,is there no editor??!!,1184112000,"07 11, 2007",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A33G0P4JYG8MX5,0801038553,Victor McCracken,"[27, 29]","The greatest strength of this book is also its greatest weakness. The author does a fine job of critiquing the culturally-accommodated "ministry" of the American megachurch. His arguments and comments are right on mark. However, what the author fails to do is give enough concrete examples of churches that fit the mold he is characterizing. This absence creates a variation of the "straw-man" dilemma: many church leaders will agree with Guinness' critique, but few will believe that it actually applies to them. One would hope that leaders of American megachurches will read Guinness' book and take heed.",4.0,A challenging critique,952473600,"03 8, 2000",27,29,helpful,0.9310344827586207,1 A1G3FNJOWGDW04,B00K2GAUC0,Callie V.,"[0, 0]","Loved this book! I stayed up all night to finish it! Very steamy! Love how the cover depicts part of the book! I decided to read this after reading Where I Belong by this author and since I loved that book so much figured I would this one too, and I did!! Can't wait for the follow up, please say it won't be long!",5.0,Amazing and steamy read!,1405814400,"07 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UZUQJBAB0EGU,B006FKBCOM,R-Him,"[6, 7]","InMyriah FireClaudy Conn tells a fascinating Regency Period romance about Lady Myriah, the daughter of an imperious lord who wants to force her into marriage with the broke and scheming Sir Roland. She runs away and encounters William, the wounded younger brother of Lord Kit Wimborne, who falls in love with Lady Myriah at first sight. Before this exciting tale is finished, someone is going to get burned by their desire to impose their will upon this remarkably free-thinking young woman.Who gets burned, who ends up with the lady, and what acts of misdirection and misunderstanding take place make this an exciting read. I highly recommend this book to all of those who enjoy historical romance.",5.0,A Fire That Burns the One Who Loves Her?,1371945600,"06 23, 2013",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A2MFNDNS1L7D16,0345339029,JOHN GODFREY,"[5, 6]","Although Mr. Morris goes into minute and somtimes mundane details of TR's life, I was never bored. Mr. Morris had, of course one on the most extrodinary characters in our history to work with. TR amazed his contemporaries & still captivates us a century later. He is a giant & it's very obvious how far we & our leaders today have fallen from his standards. Morris does not cheerlead for TR. But recounting his early life points the direction that even the people of his own time saw. This was the making of one the greatest Americans of all time. This is a 12 year old book but still the finest biography of Theodore Roosevelt I have read. I too eagerly await the second volume.",5.0,One of the finest biographies I've read.,954115200,"03 27, 2000",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2H1V6BL8SPU9X,B00F8FXG8U,The Nauti Vixen,"[0, 0]","I actually went back and read this one...AFTER I read the next in the series Drive Me Crazy - which I LOVED! It's going to sound weird, but I can honestly say I liked Drive Me Crazy so much better than this one. Crash Into Me was okay, but not what I expected after reading the other one first. I still say read this one - but don't judge the author until you read the next one in the series.....it is so amazing and funny!",4.0,Okay but not as good as Drive Me Crazy (book #2 in the series),1397088000,"04 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1BQ6NBKP3XU8U,B00M029T4O,Shannon Daniel,"[0, 0]","ARC received from author for honest review.5 hot as hell stars! I did not want to put this book down. Once you start it you will want to finish it! Hot, sexy, steamy! Alpha male Jameson will be your next book boyfriend.After a one night stand with her sisters boyfriend, Tatum's life is forever changed! She comes out of her shell and starts living her life, her way, others be damned. Her sexuality was awakened after that night and she immensely enjoys the sex she does have.When she runs into Jameson again after 7 years she's not surprised to find he hasn't changed so much but he's completely taken by surprise by Tatum's changes. He wants her and can offer her the world as long as she doesn't want more than just that.But can either of them deny the attraction and the chemistry between them? Can they fight the closeness they unexpectedly find?This is a dynamic, sexy, and hot read. There is a cliffhanger but the book is totally worth it. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in the series!!",5.0,5 HOT STARS!!!!!!!!!!,1405900800,"07 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2L1TF57PLT766,0425265234,A. Farage,"[5, 5]","This is the first in a new series written under a pen name by a mystery author I enjoy. Sophie returns to her grandmother's teahouse after she looses her NYC restaurant. She believes that the simpler pace of Gracious Grove will help heal her wounds. She soon learns that Auntie Rose’s Victorian Teahouse is a bustling business. When Cissy, an old friend picks Auntie Rose's for her bridal shower, her grandmother is most peeved as she owns a competing business next door, La Belle Epoque. When Cissy's mother-in-law-to-be dies at La Belle Epoque, Sophie realizes that she needs to be proactive to help find the person responsible.Although there are other series that feature teahouses, I like the niche this one fills as the small town teahouse. Gracious Grove sounds like a marvelous place to visit and enjoy the slower pace of life. It reminds of the small town that is nearby to where I grew up. The pace of the town may be slow, but there is always something going on beneath the surface. The characters seem realistic to me and I look forward to their further development in future books. Although the first book of some series seem to start a little slow, I was completely drawn in to these characters and the town.All in all, a nice start to another series to add to your list.Note: I received an advance copy with no expectations of a favorable review.",5.0,A Great New Series,1401753600,"06 3, 2014",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1OKXNPSAOACK2,0345315642,"Scott E. Miller ""New Line Theatre""","[18, 19]","A friend lent me a copy of "The Catch Trap" and the prospect of reading a book about the circus in the 40s and 50s seemed like pure torture. Still, for some strange reason I picked it up and started reading (about a month after it was lent to me). Over the course of the next week, I found it increasingly difficult to put the book down. I stayed up literally all night one night because I just couldn't put it down.Though I'm usually not a big fan of long novels full of lots of detail, this book is riveting. The characters are full, rich, complicated people with complex, endlessly fascinating relationships. When I finished the book, I was genuinely sad to leave these people I had grown to love. The Santelli family had become real to me, almost as if I belonged to them in some way, and Tommy and Mario were my friends. And I felt like I knew so intimately what the life of traveling circus performers had been like.In addition to great characters and a great story, Bradley does a superior job of",5.0,Probably the best novel I've ever read,871516800,"08 14, 1997",18,19,helpful,0.9473684210526315,1 A1W76AQQOW51OC,149539090X,Lauren Minus,"[0, 0]",I loved this book. Very different from books I've been reading but I loved the voice aspect. They way she writes makes you feel every emotion right along with the characters. I shed a few tears and laughs throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this!!,5.0,amazing,1402272000,"06 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A253YY6NKC1R7C,B001CMQ6P8,Lisa Marie Steele,"[0, 0]",this book was a very slow read. I never finished it. there are so many books I want to read to continue reading something that won't keep my attenton.,2.0,was very hard to get through,1396224000,"03 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A313BTE6EAFDEU,087542791X,RubyQuaynt,"[28, 33]","It's pretty obvious to me (as it must be to you) that more than a few of these reviews are written by outraged Christian Fundamentalists pretending to be kids. I'm not going to lie to you. I'm an adult Seeker working towards being initiated into the Gardnerian Tradition, which is one form of Wicca. There are many other traditions, mostly broken up into two camps: that of the British Traditionalist and the other of the American (often feminist and/or environmentalist), socio-political Wiccan practitioner. Silver Ravenwolf fits into neither of these categories.She is, instead, a self-made witch with rather a narrow viewpoint and a bun on herself. (She is also out to make a good buck, as she has on several occasions readily admitted.) It seems to be going around these days. So many of these self-made ""Wiccans"" are writing books right and left, expounding on this or that theory or technique with great energy and authority, and while some of them really do have magical ability, they are almost never actually Wicca. And because their scope is so limited, they almost never realize this.If you are interested in Wicca- the religion, the Mystery Tradition, into which you must usually be initiated in some shape or form- ignore this book and others like it (that goes for D.J. Conway, ""Lady"" Sheba, Raven Grimassi, Edain McCoy and their ilk) and instead concentrate on Ed Fitch, Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente, Vivianne Crowley, Patricia Crowther, Alex Sanders, Sybil Leek, and the earlier writings of the Farrars and Ray Buckland (specifically, ""Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft"" and ""A Witches' Bible"") for a British Traditional approach. For a more Eclectic approach, read Starhawk, Cunningham, Bonewits, Church of All Worlds stuff (Otter Zell and friends), and Faery Tradition stuff (Victor Anderson), etc. You will notice that none of these traditions will initiate anyone younger than age 18, but that does not mean you can't prepare- you would have to wait years to be initiated into some of these trads as an adult, so use the time wisely- you won't be sorry.Or, you can just read the tribe of Llewellenites I just mentioned if you simply want to practice witchcraft. Very few of them are accurate in their research, but that doesn't matter. If you have a knack for a spell, you can make up practically what you like and it will often still work, as long as you focus your Will. But I would caution you not to neglect protection for yourself, first (ie: make sure you can cast a mean circle and call up some benevolent protection). Otherwise, some pretty unpleasant things can happen in the ethers that will catch up with you on this level in time. And know that these people you are reading are far, far from the last word in the magickal community.",2.0,witchcraft - Yes. Wicca - No.,1091404800,"08 2, 2004",28,33,helpful,0.8484848484848485,1 A18HJAZMSOZW96,B00EP1ZZ14,Kim,"[0, 1]",I liked the story a lot. The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was the grammar/typos. The story itself was great.,4.0,liked it a lot,1378512000,"09 7, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2EMEQCVOTJQN1,0394726413,Michael K. McKeon,"[5, 6]","Reading this 15 years after it was written, I was struck by how quintessentially '80's this story is. The values, the slang, and the obsessions are a snapshot of the period. I lived in metropolitan NY at the time and was surprised by how distasteful I found McInerney's somewhat exaggerated, but none the less fairly accurate, portrayal of a particularly shallow period in the nation's most self absorbed city.Probably in the mid-80's reading about the carpe diem decadence of Manhattan yuppies was more entertaining than it is now; today this novel's satire and irony are mildly amusing, but hardly uproarious. While I recognize the point was to develop frustration and a lack of sympathy for the self destruction and self pity of the protagonist, I simply got grossed out reading about excessive snorting of cocaine, imbibing of vodka, and sleep deprivation. After the author made the point he proceeded to beat it to death to the point where it was beyond any credibility. The point, I realize, was to emphasize the incredible self indulgence and aimless waste that characterized this group during the era; however, it starts to d r a g.After I had found myself plodding through about midway into the novel the complexity developed and some of the earlier metaphors became more self evident. Fortunately it's a short book because I was ready to give up, but reading the second half I was glad that I didn't. The last third is thought provoking, and moving, with a significant message.I began this with expectations to be highly entertained by a witty, sardonic period piece. Instead, I found it generally an unsettling reflection of a recent era and specifically a tale which touched me.",4.0,A Yuppie's Cry for Help,981417600,"02 6, 2001",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A320TMDV6KCFU,B000NY11RY,MNix,"[11, 12]","Tempt Me:The next day after dumping her seemingly perfect boyfriend, Carrie and her friends take a trip to the Napa Valley. While her ex seemed perfect until the moment he proposed, the closer she gets to the wine country, the more Carrie realizes how close she came to making a huge mistake. And when Carrie meets, Tyson, a handsome winemaker, she sees what perfect really is.Taste Me:Full-figured Rose knows what it feels like to be dumped. Just before her trip to the Napa Valley, her boyfriend dumps her for a much thinner woman. When she arrives at the hotel, she is surprised to win a weekend of cooking lessons with the delectable chef, Jack Gerard. And Jack finds Rose's voluptuous curves delicious.Touch Me:Vanessa knows what she wants and knows how to get it. When she sees a painting she desires, she'll stop at nothing to get it. If it means taking on a gorgeous and sexy artist struggling to show his immunity to her wiles, so be it.Tempt Me, Taste Me, Touch Me by Bella Andre is a collection of three erotically charged novellas that will leave you panting for more! I devoured all three in the course of an evening and fell asleep with a satisfied smile on my face. I loved them all. Of the three, my favorite was Taste Me. I am a fan of rubenesque heroines and adore the men that love them. In Touch me, Taste Me, Touch Me, Bella Andre delivers three erotic novellas that appeal to the romantic in us all.AnnmarieReviewed for Joyfully Reviewed",5.0,"Tempt Me, Taste Me, Touch Me",1167955200,"01 5, 2007",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A13UMCD38SBR5H,0195151747,"R. Alembik ""Baudelaire""","[10, 12]","It was difficult to put this book down. I don't know what was more interesting, tracing the military developments or the diplomatic ones. Each was well presented and obviously thoroughly documented. I strongly encourage reading this book followed by a book on the Yom Kippur war (Such as the Two O'Clock War) for contrast -- so that the reader realizes that Israel and its leadership, although characterized mostly by episodes of sheer brilliance, do not lack for negative human qualities as well. I would recommend acquiring a good map of the region to accompany the book.",5.0,A complete view of the 6 day war,1035158400,"10 21, 2002",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A33872WCAUCJ60,039331989X,Tracy Davis,"[7, 8]","In Jonathan Spence's "The Chan's Great Continent", the author takes an interesting approach to Chinese history: examining how the West viewed China (and usually tranformed it into their own image). I really enjoyed the first half of the book, and thought that Spence's idea of Marco Polo possibly not really reaching China proper a very interesting and provocative theory, which I do agree with, based on the evidence. However, as I read the later chapters, there seemed to be endless repetition of the same points: Westerners who used Chinese characters to point to evils in their own society; Westerners who saw China as an earthly paradise superior to the West; and racist views on how Chinese were treated in the West, especially America. Not that I don't think these points important, but frankly, I became confused by the last chapters, dealing with the 20th century; I think the book runs out of steam by the last third, and Spence does not go into detail with some of the authors and events that he is describing. If you know little about China, the later chapters will not help your understanding. I do recommend this book, but knowledge of Chinese history would be beneficial to fully comprehend the excellent points Spence makes.",3.0,A good examination of how others view China,992822400,"06 18, 2001",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A3QS4WWC1LCA6H,013138094X,"Eric C. Sedensky ""late-to-jazz musician""","[0, 3]","About ten years ago, I was invited by a local newspaper to participate in an eight week stock picking contest with seven other individuals, each with a different approach to stock picking, presumably to find the best money making stock trading strategy. As the author of a gambling book,Winning Pachinko: The Game of Japanese Pinball, I was to make use of a ""gambler strategy"". I ended up placing fourth basically by losing less than most everybody else in what turned out to be a terrible bear market, but the winner more than doubled his fantasy $100K stake after just two months of trading using ""Japanese candlesticks"". So of course I've been curious about them ever since, but I've never seriously tried to learn about them or master their use. I thought this book would be the tool that would allow me to put candlesticks to work in my own active portfolio, so I decided to get it. Trading with Candlesticks provides a very thorough introduction to candlesticks, from the mundane information about their history and how they form, to what makes them useful (or not) and what patterns are likely to surface in stock (or commodity, or market) charts. The author discusses the intricacies of single stick patterns, double stick patterns, triple stick patterns, trends, frames of analysis, and much more. He covers reading the charts, signals, broad implications, and true and false signals. You could be forgiven, then, for thinking that all that information ought to enable you to make a fortune off of candlesticks, just like the winner of the contest I participated in years ago (double your money in eight weeks, anyone?), but there are two things holding this book back. The first is that after explaining a pattern and analyzing it, along with real life chart examples, almost without exception the author then says the equivalent of ""or, maybe not"". It usually goes something like this: ""This pattern of candlesticks means the bears have taken over and the stock is ready for a steady downtrend, unless of course it's a false signal."" He constantly second guesses, telling the reader to do his or her own analysis and confirm the trends before trading on them, but by that time, the trend may be over and the money making opportunity lost. I was expecting to get definitive explanations of the candlesticks meaning that would allow me to time my trading (and hopefully make money). Regrettably, all his theorizing does is give me a different tool that still makes me guess, so I don't see much to be gained by learning all the different stick patterns. (As a side note, I also thought that a lot of their example charts, which are generous throughout the book, didn't always illustrate the point being explained, but that's a minor detail and you wouldn't want to place too much emphasis on learning from two year old charts, anyway.) The second and biggest weakness of this book, however, is that there is no correlation between the trends being analyzed and explained and what was happening in the real world at that time. I would have expected to see something like, ""This pattern indicates an uptrend. Not surprisingly, the company announced increased earnings three days later and the stock took off,"" or maybe, ""This downtrend illustrated by this pattern started the day the CEO offered his resignation,"" or even, ""This sideways trend continued as the Fed continued to make rate cuts."" There is nothing to tie the candlesticks to the companies, businesses, industry sectors, and economic conditions that are so influential, and oftentimes critical, to understanding a stock. To my mind, the isolated world of candlesticks alone will not provide enough insight and information into a stock and its trend to allow one to trade with confidence, and that's a disappointment. So, if your interest is in the merely pedantic nature of candlesticks or you are a ""collector"" of books about the stock market and trading strategies, you may find this volume interesting. But if you are hoping that this book will allow you to put candlesticks in your arsenal of stock analysis weapons and that it will allow you to time your trades to increase your profits, I'm afraid you may end up as disappointed as I was. (One book I'm reading now seems to have some potential as a trade timing tool and it utilizes candlesticks to some extent as well:Mastering Trade Selection and Management: Advanced Strategies for Long-Term Profitability).",3.0,Great introduction to candlesticks that stops there,1304380800,"05 3, 2011",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 AVSDLLJMFLK48,1565631064,Yogi,"[42, 42]","This "book" is really small and inexpensive but has a wealth of information. I've bought several copies now for myself and to give away to others. I keep it with me at all times. I've been able to commit to memory many other scriptures after learning the methodology taught in this book. As one who never thought they could remember anything, I am a living witness to it's greatness. Pick it up. You won't be disappointed.",5.0,Great way to start a life long habit,1081900800,"04 14, 2004",42,42,helpful,1.0,1 A1UKMZV4WM3QJ1,1400074487,"Denise G. Evanoff ""Mom Three Ways""","[0, 0]","My family has enjoyed all of Lisa Tawn Bergren's God Gave Us books. This is the 6th book in the series and it is another treasure to add to our family's library. The lessons we learned in this book are that God created the world and that there are lots of different creatures in the world. While we are all different, we learned how special we all are to God. What a great lesson to teach my five year old twins! It also teaches how important the earth is to its creator (God) and that we should enjoy taking care of it. This would make a great book to read on Earth Day (April 22nd) or any day to emphasize taking care of our planet.This book was provided to me by the publisher. The views expressed are mine.",5.0,Great New Book!,1295136000,"01 16, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YUB9SII1HVZZ,140220521X,"Tara ""Tara""","[0, 0]","So, this book was recommended to me through several people. I bought it and let it sit on my kindle for a little too long. I finally read it and SO glad I did! I am a music lover so all the music talk was right up my alley. To see the main characters struggling to find their place in this world was a great story. I read about hurt, love, sacrifice, struggles.......then PLOT TWIST! Oh my goodness!!!! I love love LOVE this story and how the author showed that ONE choice can change the course of not only your life but those around you. Sometimes doing what you think is best is the most hurtful. This story is like no other but you don't know it until the last little bit of the book. You think you are just reading about a struggling muscian and his girlfriend. Nope. Such an amazing read and I don't want to spoil any of it for you. Do yourself a favor........go ahead and hit that one click button. You will thank me. I promise. Go ahead. What are you waiting for?",5.0,In my top 10 for sure!,1403395200,"06 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SN8KJ10J4FRJ,0811859274,knitsquad,"[0, 0]","I love this cookbook! Before I found it, I owned several books about getting toddlers to eat healthy foods. The recipes were time consuming and used expensive ingredients. Not surprisingly, my son hated everything I put in front of him. The author is very reassuring about using ingredients in moderation, and I must say that my kiddo has gobbled up almost all of the dishes I have made from this book. Not only that, my husband and I enjoy them as well and at this point, I can make the chicken finger recipe in my sleep! The lily pad pancakes are so freaking good, that I sometimes make them just for me.",5.0,Very fun book with yummy recipies!,1375747200,"08 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GHSD9VY8XS4Q,0312851189,Peter D. Tillman,"[5, 5]","______________________________________________Just a quick heads-up re this excellent New Mexico political/police-procedural/SF thriller, which I just reread.It's a terrific page-turner -- kept me up til the small hours. I enjoyed it more the second time than the first -- I hadn't remembered it as being so good, and put it on the reread pile after someone online commented on how good the book is.This is as good a portrayal of red rage as you're likely to see anywhere.There are nits to pick -- a 3 digit code to unlock the heavies' Uzis! -- but they won't bother you during the read.This was WJW's ""crossover"" novel before The Rift, and it's a far, far better book -- one of his best. Don't miss. Out of print, but readily available.Happy reading--Pete Tillman",5.0,Excellent political/police-procedural/SF thriller,1031356800,"09 7, 2002",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3FJOQ23K5PQB8,0671617354,"HeyJudy ""heyjudy""","[13, 15]","Author Sally Bedell Smith does her typically excellent job with IN ALL HIS GLORY, her biography of William Paley. Smith is known for her scholarship and her research, and it shows in this book.Like many self-made successful people, Paley led an interesting life. Smith chronicles his original involvement with the nascent television industry as his interest grew into the empire he built surrounding CBS.This is an important book for anyone interested in the development of that industry. As well, it is a fascinating peek into Paley's life. Here was a man who moved from the ghetto life of a child of 19th century European immigrants to becoming one of America's power elite. Once he was rich, he lived his life accordingly.His journey makes for fascinating reading.",5.0,Thorough Inspection of a Fascinating Man,1060992000,"08 16, 2003",13,15,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 A2PN7Z2VTHICL8,0805068465,"Schtinky ""Schtinky""","[5, 6]","'My Happy Life' is about a life that has been anything but happy, but our nameless protagonist doesn't see it that way. When a State Hospital for the mentally ill is shut down, our nameless protagonist is left behind, forgotten, in a locked isolation cell.She begins to write her story on the wall, talking to you as if you were there with her, and her story will stab at your heart even if it is a black shriveled heart. It will bleed for her, trust me.Left as a newborn in a shoebox near an orphanage, she has never known anything other than state homes and the occasional foster home. Our protagonist comes across as being mentally slow, which may explain her ability to retain her innocence through constant physical and emotional abuse, even turning such abuse into what she feels is a caring connection with others. She simply does not see the bad in anybody.From state homes to being kept at the mercy of an abuser, who gets her pregnant and then runs off with her baby, our protagonist somehow survives ever mean and vile dish that is handed to her, seeing only nourishment on silver platters.The tale of her life is sad, poignant, beautiful, upsetting, dramatic, and tender. Millet's prose is stylish, rich, and smacks of true poetic talent. She pulls you into her characters life so quickly and completely that you will not be able to put the book down once you start. Don't worry, its only 150 pages, but the impact it will leave on your is far greater than the thickness of the book.This is my first Lydia Millet book, and I am definitely buying more of her work. I consider 'My Happy Life' a must read, something for you to think about when you believe your life has gone all wrong because your DVD player broke and your Mercedes has a flat. Truly, a ten star book. Enjoy!",5.0,A story of innocence never lost through age or time,1136592000,"01 7, 2006",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1K20PLY0PXVUV,1477805885,Buzz Park,"[0, 0]","This is the first book I read by author Clint Morey and I enjoyed it well enough. The story was engaging, though fairly simplistic, and I enjoyed the characters. I thought the author did a good job giving each character their own unique voice.From the beginning of the book, it is relatively easy to predict the ultimate outcome. I was a little disappointed that the plot lines were completed a little bit too cleanly. The story did not give much in the way of unexpected twists or outcomes. Also, the protagonist is a little bit inconsistent in his attitudes toward the natives.However, I thought the story had a great message, "always do the right thing" and this book does not fall into the common trap of trying to be too dark. In many ways, this book reminded me of Lois McMaster Bujold Vorkosigan novels, which is a good thing.I am giving this novel a 3.5 out of 5 stars. I would be willing to read the next installment in the series (if there is one).",4.0,"Interesting Story, Good Message, A Little Predictable: 3.5 Stars",1387670400,"12 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AUZT1VPN2XUQT,B007Z4WSOK,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Omg this book had me laughing out loud ! I love that is big girls are getting the hot men I'm definitely going to read another of Celica Kyle's books !!,5.0,Love it,1402358400,"06 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1R4BL5MYUDNDJ,0812980921,"David Marks ""norcalidave""","[12, 15]","I love this book! It is so well written and so comprehensive, and I've learned so many things about our Sun that I never knew, or never imagined.The writing is exceptional, as is the author's research, and I simply can't imagine anyone who has read ""Chasing the Sun"", giving it less than 5 stars...This is one of those paperback Vine books that I've reviewed, where I am planning on actually purchasing one or more copies ofthe hardbound version when it is available (soon)!Anyone with any interest in our solar system, or the Earth itself, but most of all any interest in truly understanding our Sun (and its relationship to us),needs to read this book. It is a true gem, unlike anything previously written about this topic. You will love reading it, and learning from it...",5.0,An astounding book,1284681600,"09 17, 2010",12,15,helpful,0.8,1 A2B1GZIRD6W646,031204643X,David W. Nicholas,"[13, 13]","This book was at least partially the basis for the movie Glory, which starred Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, Matthew Broderick, and Denzel Washington (who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor). The movie is reasonably historically accurate, though there are parts where they took liberties with the truth. The book sets the record straight in a number of ways.The book, however, is largely a biography of Robert Gould Shaw. Shaw was born a child of privalege, and raised to be an abolitionist and a devout Christian. When the war started, he saw it as his duty to enlist, first serving in the ranks of a New York regiment, and later securing appointment as a Captain in the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry. When the Emancipation Proclamation was announced and the recruiting of Black soldiers began (this was part of the actual proclamation) the governor of Massachussetts decided to recruit his own regiment of Blacks, and appointed Shaw to be the colonel. The regiment served briefly in the siege of Charleston, South Carolina, before leading the charge on Fort Wagner, to the south of the city, in which Shaw was killed and the regiment decimated.This book, as I said, is mostly a biography of Shaw. Since he wasn't anyone particularly prominent, and since he only lived to be 25, there's not a lot to say, and the book is as a result rather short, about 150 pages. Shaw comes off as committed, intelligent, perhaps a bit naive, but brave and skilled. It's an interesting character study, and an interesting but brief account of this one action in the siege of Charleston. There isn't, however, much else to the book, so be warned, it's rather thin. If that's what interests you, however, it's worth the effort.",4.0,Really more a biography than the title implies,1079913600,"03 22, 2004",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A289W6X8Z6BDES,B00BTQTUDM,jessicaa hip,"[0, 0]","I loved the pictures and the words being on the same page as the pictures. It has a good plot about a grouchy kid that doesn't want to help, but learns it can be fun and help him feel good. I paid .99 which I thought was good for a book that didn't seem too short.",5.0,Great book,1369353600,"05 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AHFBQ0O5UY04W,0863270433,Eric Berman,"[0, 0]","I read this wonderful book while sitting in a comfy, peat- (turf-) heated parlor overlooking Cahersiveen, Kerry, Ireland. And the history was right there--the people, the events stepped right off the page into that lovely place. I would recommend FAMINE to anyone who descends from the Irish or who simply wants to understand the suffering and the eventual triumph of this gentle people.",5.0,Wonderful! The travails of the Irish revealed.,1403136000,"06 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5YK53UPP0P1E,1612182739,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I'm happy to see the introduction of a new main character in Alix London. I have read everything that Aaron Elkins has written plus all the Aaron and Charlotte Elkins books. A Dangerous Talent is interesting because of the subject matter (art forgery and its detection) wound in with the human interest story of Alix and her family. I love that the book takes place in 2 of my favorite places (Seattle and Santa Fe/Taos). I'm looking forward to reading the second Alix London book.,4.0,Good memories of traveling in the Southwest,1375142400,"07 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15BYU97X10H6I,8129115301,JMar,"[0, 0]",Interesting but frustrating. Two people love each other but both of their families make it hard for them to be together.,4.0,2 States The Story Of Our Marriage,1378339200,"09 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YHBAKSEMBYHK,0451215729,"Alvan A. Arzu ""Alvan A.""","[0, 0]",I liked the book and appreciate the plot turns and compelling story lines!!,5.0,Five Stars,1404345600,"07 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26H401I20D1I5,1892112000,"Jaime Fish ""Jaime""","[13, 24]","Proverbs also says to put a knife to your throat.. prov 23:2 that is not literal, God does not command us to beat our kids for all discipline. Especially not to to pull a nursing infants hair and to whip a 4 month old and whipping babies who cannot sleep and are crying, and to never allow them ""to get up and whipping a 3 year old until he is ""totally broken."", and a mother should hit her child if he cries for her and tripping their non-swimming toddler so she falls into deep water, etc These things do not sound very loving to me. I am ok with holy spanking but not like this book says. As long as we are disciplining and training our kids, it don't matter how as long as it is holy.",1.0,"Proverbs also says to put a knife to your throat.. prov 23:2 that is not literal, God does not command us to beat our kids for",1266796800,"02 22, 2010",13,24,helpful,0.5416666666666666,1 A1L7R2764ED46Y,1932470638,G. Hembrough,"[10, 13]","I like books about organizing and this was a nice addtion to my book collection. It has some nice tips. I also have a few other FC&A books that are nice. If you like clutter control, I would also recommend the book ""The House That Cleans Itself."" I really learned alot from that book!",5.0,NICE TIPS FOR ORGANIZING CLUTTER,1269734400,"03 28, 2010",10,13,helpful,0.7692307692307693,1 AZKGCE3LNX7WB,0152063684,Senora Gose,"[11, 13]","I received this book four days ago. I finished it last night, while feeding my fifth child, a three week old. That's just to show you how much I enjoyed it. I'm a busy homeschooling mother, and have my own business, but I just HAD to find out how this book completed itself.I will be holding on to this one as required reading for my own children (all 6 and under right now.) The book immediately grabbed me with the Map in the front, and the interesting introduction. The first chapter bogged me down a bit, as there were so many characters introduced with several different Names (a very important theme in the book) that I wondered how much time I would be devoting to it. But Chapter 2 began, and WOW, did it take off!I have never gasped aloud reading a book. I did with this one, SEVERAL times. I have never hurriedly turn a page, as the main character, Medford, was making a heavy-hearted decision, and I was SO anxious, I couldn't jump to the top of the next page fast enough.The words used are often Old English, and you get the feel of the Classics like The Hobbit or any of the Lord of the Rings or Narnia style. I am SO thrilled to have come across this book. A classic is something you read again and again and can apply new lessons or a new perspective to (in my definition) and this book excellently fits the bill with its laugh-out-loud moments, shocking turns, saddening scenes, and uplifting hope. The descriptions allow you to be on Island, and Medford's words help you to understand an outsider, if by some miracle you've escaped ever feeling that way.Thank you, Ellen Booraem, for sharing this story with my family! I can NOT wait until my 6 year old is old enough to enjoy and learn from The Unnameables.Sra. GoseAuthor of Spanish Fun Activity Calendar & Flip Flop Spanish: Ages 3-5: Level 1",5.0,A New Classic!,1217548800,"08 1, 2008",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A1BPG7H9OA71EA,1605043060,"jjmachshev ""jj""","[4, 4]","R.G. Alexander's 'Children of the Goddess' series just gets better with the second book, ""Lux in Shadow"". A quick warning that THIS book IS erotica and involves a menage of M/F/M. There are also scenes of M/M, M/M/F, and M/F including the use of toys, light bondage, a hot spanking, and sex in all the orifices I can think of. All of this is done well (and smoking hot) and rolled into the story of a vamp, a were, and a werewoman-with-special-powers-who-can't-change-forms. Whew!Lux is happy for his brother, Zander, and his new grathia (lifemate). But he just can't forget how he failed to protect his lover from the recent violence. And now he's plagued with desire for the handsome werewolf Alpha, Arygon, who he wants but feels he must resist to punish himself. Exacerbating the situation is their mission to find the missing sister of the man who almost killed them. According to their seer, this woman must be protected. It only takes one glimpse of the woman they're looking for and both males are hooked. But each will have their own internal demons to fight before they can be true mates.There's so much more going on, but I don't want to give it all away! Suffice to say this series has caught my attention in a big way and now my quandry is: Do I wait for the print version of book 3 ""Twilight Guardian"" or do I give into the lure of quick satisfaction and buy the ebook that's already available? Decisions, decisions. This series is one I don't confuse with any other paranormal or vamps and weres out there because it has enough differences to stand out in my memory. The first book was a twosome, this one is a threesome--but both books are ultimately about love, finding that special someone/s, and accepting their strengths and weaknesses as well as your own. All this and hot sex too.",5.0,Lux in Shadow by R.G. Alexander,1251158400,"08 25, 2009",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1Y7PVYQ9NOHLB,0312540302,Jake,"[8, 8]","Jack Sigler (aka ""King"") has always been beyond tough, never letting anything come before his duty to his country. As the leader of the Chess Team special ops task force, King has distanced himself from all attachments and meaningful relationships believing this was the only way to stay strong and focused. All of that goes out the window when fourteen year old Fiona Lane comes into his life. The lone survivor of a terrorist attack on the Siletz reservation in Oregon, Fiona is suddenly left with no family or home. The Chess Team has been tasked to protect and care for her until the terrorists can be brought down. Over time King and Fiona grow closer, forming an inseparable father/daughter bond.King is suddenly called away for a family emergency, only to find out later that Fiona has disappeared amidst a terror filled onslaught at Fort Bragg. Meanwhile, innocent people all over the world are being wiped out, all of them being the last speakers of ancient languages. King and The Chess Team will now have to split up in order to both rescue Fiona and put a stop to a madman's evil plans for mankind. King has faced his share of horrors and atrocities, but this time it's personal and nothing will get in his way.If you thought Pulse and Instinct were fun, just hold on tight my fellow thriller lovers. Jeremy Robinson pulls out all the stops in Threshold making this the most electrifying installment in the series so far. Robinson somehow takes the Tower of Babel, killer statues, giant lizards and insects, Stonehenge, and medieval lore and mixes it all together in this crazy, relentless story that is simply impossible to put down.In the midst of the madness and larger than life battles, we find a lot more character development than we've seen in the series thus far. Robinson gives us a nice glimpse into King's family that really sets the stage for future stories, and King's newfound fatherly instincts bring the perfect level of emotion that was lacking before. While one could argue that the plot here is too farfetched and over the top, you'd be hard pressed to walk away from this one thinking these characters weren't genuine. Even though most of this story revolves around King, Robinson balances things out nicely with storylines involving the rest of the Chess Team. Things take a surprising turn with one character in particular that looks to have lasting implications for the rest of the series.I have a blast every time I pick up a Jeremy Robinson novel and Threshold is no exception. I love authors who are dedicated to continually bringing fresh and original content to their fans, and Robinson continues to find ways to do this. If you are longing for a great thriller writer to follow and are tired of waiting a year or more between novels, then give Jeremy Robinson a chance. He's the perfect combination of quality and frequency in a market that is often lacking both.",5.0,Electrifying!,1302134400,"04 7, 2011",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A3FJVXGSTNW7SU,0553385534,Pax Deo,"[0, 0]","Wonderful prose, eccentric characters, insomniac tortoises, lifelong friendship and mind-boggling mystery. I'm addicted. Ordering the next book in the series immediately.",5.0,A unique and witty treasure,1394755200,"03 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KUO5HZJ8OG23,1475223897,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Wow, just wow! Words really cannot express how wonderful this novel was. I sat down to read, not knowing what to expect, and was blown away. The story is poignant and moving, especially when Whisper speaks of her loss. Loss for any one is a hard burden to carry, but Whisper is unfortunately doubly cursed as she loses both of her parents in one night, the victims of a tragic vehicle accident...or is it?Whisper comes to find out that magic is real and still exists in a multitude of ways, especially with her people, the Cherokee. Her tale takes you on a journey through loss and the eventual healing that does come, along with a love that has lasted generations.I loved this novel. I enjoy paranormal fiction, but this is fresh and new. Instead of snarling werewolves or lovesick vampires, Whisper educates us on the legends of the Cherokee. I loved the glimpse into a culture that is so different from what most of us know. What Whisper believes to be nothing more than a story is as real as you or I. The loss that she feels coupled with the eventual love she comes to feel for Dylan played on my heartstrings. I felt her loss keenly and the developing relationship with Dylan made me sigh. And the twists and turns, well they sure did keep me guessing, right up to the very end.I loved this novel, and this is one that I can very well see myself reading again and again. This is a book that will appeal to a wide variety of readers, whether you enjoy suspense, romance, drama, or paranormal fiction!",5.0,"Poignant, moving, and a thrill to read all in one!",1359072000,"01 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3C8UG1BOYZZMX,1582975418,"Rocky ""rockyeckert""","[11, 13]","I would hope this version is better than the 2008 and 2007 versions. Of the former, I sent my document to 5 publishers listed in the book. Three were returned undelivered since the publisher either long ago moved from the address listed in the book or no longer was in existence. One was returned with the statement that the publisher had moved 2-1/2 YEARS AGO! 2 out of 5 publisher deliveries is a % only good in baseball.",2.0,Falls Short,1242000000,"05 11, 2009",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A3ORFTG22S0DQL,1585671398,Kerryah,"[0, 0]","As author Tim Mackintosh-Smith's book is sub-titled in this edition, Yemen is the unknown Arabia, one that is in many respects, at least at the time this book was published (2000)least like its Arabic neighbors.The author is a long-standing resident of the capital San'a, and uses it as his base to explore the language and culture of greater Yemen, including some memorable expeditions into deserts and mountains, visiting remote villages and ancient ruins.At times I found my attention straying when the narrative became bogged down in technicalities that held little interest for me, but in the main I was happy to travel along with Mackintosh-Smith, especially when he visited places like Aden and the island of Suqutra, themselves atypical of the rest of Yemen.His exploration of Aden came at a time when the place was notorious for its nightlife (the early nineties) and incurred the condemnation of traditional Arabs. Good enough reason to visit it, the author felt. Consequently he finds himself in a night club with a disco ball and dance floor, plus a band that covered everything from Lebanese hits to Queen classics. To this reader's delight, he witnessed a local phenomenon in the form of the mutamaykalin, ""the Michaelesques - the fans of Michael Jackson"" who filled the dance floor.Mackintosh-Smith's experiences in Yemen culminate in the political struggles of the early 1990's in the wake of the first Gulf War. I was left wishing for a sequel to find out what happened next for the qat-chewing, language-loving author. Never fear, ""Yemen: The Unknown Arabia"" was his first book (which, incidentally, won a Thomas Cook Travel Book Award)and three subsequent volumes sit in my stack of travel books, awaiting my attention:Hall of a Thousand ColumnsTravels with a Tangerine: From Morocco to Turkey in the Footsteps of Islam's Greatest TravelerThe Travels of Ibn Battutah",4.0,An insider's view of an unknown world,1338681600,"06 3, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1S1O3YT8NS68A,037543318X,crazyforgems,"[17, 21]","I enjoyed Angels and Demons. I appreciate Dan Brown's take on the international thriller genre: a combination of religious history, contemporary issues and fast paced action.I purchased this book after I read the DaVinci Code, which I loved. This book is not as good as that one: clearly Brown matured as a writer in both plot development and his style of prose. However, I still found this book a fun and fast read.Brown again educates the reader on an historical religious sect: this time it is the Illuminati. Brown also uses exciting international settings-Switzerland and Rome-as backdrops. He has the same hero (a swashbuckling Harvard professor) and a beautiful, intelligent female sidekick.I would recommend this book for those who enjoyed the DaVinci Code, though I would caution the reader not to expect the same level of entertainment. I also would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the thriller genre. I would not recommend this book for individuals with strong religious beliefs who would prefer not to be challenged in this arena.",4.0,A 3.9 on a point scale of 5-Fun and Fast,1053475200,"05 21, 2003",17,21,helpful,0.8095238095238095,1 A385L0FV07CA7G,0312998813,"M. Wilson ""M Wilson""","[29, 34]","I hated it, I loved it, I liked it, I hated it again, then I liked it again. Let me explain!Before I begin, it is important to note that this book can be found in the Romance section. Correct me if I am wrong, but for a book to be classified as a Romance, shouldn't the romantic element be the driving force of the story, with all other sub-plots being secondary? Even in a Romantic Suspense, the suspense is secondary to the romantic element. That is not the case in this book. It is not primarily a romance. I'm ok with that because I enjoy a variety of genres, but this will probably bother some readers. It is actually a story about three sisters who witness their aunt's murder at Lover's Lane and decide to never tell anyone. They grow up and go their separate ways. Eventually, they all find their way back home and face the problems that tore them apart. Their knowlege about the murder was discovered and they became targets, but not before the oldest sister is caught sleeping with a married man and is being targeted by his wife. There is a lot of mystery and suspense in the book, but not a lot of romance. In fact, I was disappointed with the middle sister and her relationship with the appraiser. I didn't feel that their relationship was developed well. She was never really very nice to him, and the one time they made love seemed very forced as if the author stuck it in as an afterthought. Still, I give this book three stars, because I enjoy murder mysteries as well as other genres and do not only seek out romance books, but for those of you who primarily read romance, you should be aware that this story does have romantic elements, but they are secondary to the main plot...and could also be viewed as secondary to various sub-plots.I couldn't give it 4 or 5-stars, because it was just not that great, and because I actually finished the book I couldn't give it 1-star, and I was too interested in the book to give it 2-stars. The prologue was a turn-off for me and I almost stopped reading that early in the book, because I didn't feel that the author did a great job capturing the essence of teenagers. I felt that their dialogue was just not realistic, nor were their actions. I was bothered by Lover's Lane, where young lovers would park. I felt this was too cliche and I couldn't stop my eyes from rolling. However, I trudged forward. I discovered that the first chapter was much, much better than the prologue. There were parts of the book I enjoyed and parts I just didn't like. I did not laugh, so I cannot describe the book as a comedy in any way, shape or form. The characters were not quite as developed as I would like to see. I wanted Regina and Mitchell's relationship to be better developed. I wanted to see Mica and Justine develop relationships, but while the romantic ideas were not fully developed, the mystery was great, though somewhat predictable. (Can I use the word develop just one more time?) I would have liked a little more suspense in terms of the attempted murders. However, I was never really sure who the culprit was until the end and I loved that!For a murder mystery, it was pretty good, although could have used a bit more edge of the seat suspense. For a romance novel, it was pretty bad. All in all, I was fairly entertained hence the 3-stars!",3.0,An emotional roller coaster ride,1332547200,"03 24, 2012",29,34,helpful,0.8529411764705882,1 A2BN7BLI7COOOG,0385344325,anonymous,"[8, 11]","I've read every Reacher book, but this one was my last. [Unless imprisoned, or stranded on a desert island.] The plot was egregiously bad - improbable to the point of laughability. Further, it didn't add in any creative way to any sort of understanding of why Reacher is the way he is. Apparently, he just never liked having a lot of clothes, and never liked authority, or toothpaste, for that matter.spoiler alert: I never bought Devereaux as a suspect. What would be the odds that the spectacularly beautiful [from Lee Child's description] Devereaux would decide to kill other stunning woman because she wanted to be the only stunning woman around or because of her rage at perceived romantic rivals? Apparently, we were supposed to see her as the red herring killer because she had access to a deer trestle. The book trudges along to a completely telegraphed ending with many pie-eating detours along the way. [And Lee Child, if you happen to be reading this: blueberry pie does have nutritive value, in the BLUEBERRIES.]Are there any new mystery writers around who might be worth reading? I didn't enjoy Sanford's or Evanovich's last couple books, either. How did Dick Francis keep his series going so well for so long?",1.0,baaaad to the bone,1320192000,"11 2, 2011",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A3GWM1FHA3EQPM,1595548211,Marianne O. Schmidt,"[27, 28]","I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about a book with Amish romances; it just seemed like a bizarre concept. I grew up in a state that had many Amish people, so I was familiar with seeing them from an early age, in different situations. Some were more restrained, some were friendlier than others, but they always seemed to be at peace. I know now that their peace and contentment comes from a deep commitment to God and to their way of life. What's really nice about these stories is that religious faith is a natural part of the stories, and a natural part of the character's lives. It isn't intrusive as it tends to be sometimes in other books. Nobody hits anyone over the head and starts preaching at them, because that simply is not the Amish way. They speak of God and they think of Him often, and they pray, because they have a personal relationship with God. He is a natural part of their lives, and it's refreshing to see that treatment. We see that our characters are real women with real lives and real concerns, hopes, and dreams. The stories are simple and easy to relate to. I liked the fact that all three of the main characters appeared in each others' stories in supporting roles, although I would have enjoyed learning more about what happened to Miriam, the ugly duckling, after she began her romance with Seth, and I would like to know more about her sister Lydia who was widowed three years previously, and then meets the love of her life again. The stories are handled with sensitivity and respect for the Amish, which was really nice. Of all the characters, I was the most taken with Miriam, who grew up feeling ugly and unwanted after an embarrassing incident in her school days. She wasn't ready to reach out or trust any man, even though she admitted that she wanted a husband and her own family. It was interesting to see how she learned to open up to Seth, her tormentor from eighth grade, and interact on a more adult level. I found the story believable and poignant. I loved the story about Sarah, struggling with recovering from a miscarriage at Christmas, the year before, and her unexpected visitors in a freak Christmas storm. The stories were lovely, and I found myself wondering about the three women after finishing each story. The three stories are all set at Christmas, in the same year, so we really don't get much of a progression of events after the stories for Miriam and Lydia end. I for one, would love to read more about the ladies. I found Lydia the least interesting of the characters, but I still enjoyed her rekindling a long ago romance, with her first love, Daniel, who had broken her heart many years before. The writing isn't great, but it is comfortable and will keep you interested and entertained. I would definitely read more stories by any of the three authors, and I wouldn't be averse to another one like this, where all three stories were continued. Frankly, I'm tired and bored with explicit sex and language, so it was refreshing to pick up a book where people are real, but not tiresome. These women feel like people you already know, or could easily be friends with, in your own world. The friendship they have with each other is something we would all love to have, but rarely do. Most of our friends just aren't that nice!",4.0,Lovely Book,1253923200,"09 26, 2009",27,28,helpful,0.9642857142857143,1 AF03A958JD9GO,0811875067,"GamerGrl1974 ""Missy""","[0, 0]",this book is pretty good has lots of good pictures of michael jackson and such in it. as well as some good captions and some reading in it. very good for a fan of his from his earlier years and such.,5.0,good book,1261008000,"12 17, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMBP2EK9W5N33,0738730785,katie,"[0, 0]","So interesting! This book will be used year after year for a long time! A mix of spells, rituals, and gardening inspiration.",5.0,I will read again and again,1355097600,"12 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5CEUD94YF8KR,0060573775,Misty S. Carr,"[0, 0]","This is a great book and an interesting insight into Kurt's world. The long awaited Dresden Novel that he claimed to be working on for so many years. I didn't find it funny, but sobering. There are many many great quotes to be taken from it and I'm sure they have been taken many times. It is worth reading for it's history alone, but deeper still there are tidbits of meaning and reality for the reader. The ending is a bit different than I would have expected, but I really enjoyed it, and consumed it in less than a day ( as I did also, with Mother Night). It is sobering and somber, but a great book, either way. It deserves it ranking with the top 100 novels of all time, and should be allowed in High Schools as required reading with or without the cussing.I am happy to have added it to my collection. But sad that there will not be more books like it.",5.0,A great book,1218758400,"08 15, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMTI3H9BWL9DL,0151010196,"Shawn Mcginley ""Lindsey, the crazy book girl""","[5, 5]","Those who save Us caught me right from the start. World War II fascinates me- esp. the Holocaust and the Nazi regime. This book tells the story of Anna, a young woman who becomes a Nazi officer's mistress to save her daughter. This book made me cry- it made me so angry when people judged her! The novel doesn't have qoutetation marks, which at first set me off, but after reading the book I think it didn't need them. Without qoutetation marks, the story takes on a quaint, sepia feel. Jenna Blum did a wonderful job and I hope she writes something new soon!",5.0,"A beautiful, sad book",1214524800,"06 27, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2HL7R8R23NERT,1416540296,Bart King,"[19, 21]","The personal ad in this review's title is from the LRB, but is not among this book's selections. Nonetheless, it provides one with the flavor of the treasures to be found herein. Actual paraphrased examples from the book include:-- ""Writing this ad has given the biggest sense of accomplishment I've felt since successfully ironing my pants for the first time (on June 14th, 1998.)""-- ""Blah, blah, whatever. Indifferent woman. Go ahead and write. See if I care.""-- ""I used to have the sharpest mind in the land; now I can't even find my pen. Wait-- here it is!""-- ""Some chances are once in a lifetime. Not this one; I've been in the last 12 issues.""-- ""I am not an accountant.""-- ""Ppfffttttt, ssshhhhhhhhwwwwt, peeffwt, pffpt. Man, 36. Bad at whistling.""The only other thing that needs to be said is that editor David Rose provides some quite helpful annotations for the cultural references that might elude those of us on this side of The Pond.",5.0,"""Flatulent British gnome, toothless, does not seek romantic sunsets.""",1173744000,"03 13, 2007",19,21,helpful,0.9047619047619048,1 AVW0C6J9J61KX,0976812681,"Emily Chen ""Shelf Worn Book Reviews""","[0, 0]","I first heard about Northlander somewhere online, perhaps from a blog, and I'm glad I decided to pick it up. It's a great story, with multiple twists and engaging characters.Ellin's father is a talented and renowned physician. Rumors of his healing prowess reach even the frigid Northlands, a country that actively discriminates and disdains Southlings like Ellin and her father. Whenever Southlings enter the Northlands, they are treated with contempt and prejudice. However, the Northlander king is deathly ill, and desperate enough to send for Ellin's father as a last resort.While living at the Northlander palace and tending to the sick king, Ellin manages to make friends with king's five sons. Through conversations and time spent with them, she soon discovers that she has a mysterious talent... she can communicate mind-to-mind with several of the brothers.When their bravery and kindness end up landing them in jail, Ellin and her father despair at never being able to return to their home in the warm South. Through the help of some friends, they manage a harrowing escape, aided by Ellin's new found powers, and all seems to end happily.Except that we're still only barely halfway through Northlander! Ellin soon learns that her powers are putting her in danger, and there is a strange and mysterious organization out to get her for what she can do with her mind.I'm always impressed by authors who go above and beyond what is promised or assumed by the back cover summary. Northlander was a real adventure and had a lot of unexpected, yet realistic surprises. The writing was just a little stiff in some parts; I wouldn't say Burden was especially gifted stylistically. I feel like Northlander would be really awesome for the younger pre-teen or teen set. I will definitely be picking up the sequel.Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Young Adult FictionAuthor Website: [...]",4.0,Entertaining and Adventurous Young Adult Novel,1278288000,"07 5, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A31GIPRZZB33LA,0545275326,"Carmelo Montes ""Romad Easy""","[0, 0]",I bought the books for my 10 year old son to read them we saw the movie. I did not know he had read the series at school it didn't matter; he had two and half weeks off for Christmas and he read them again.,5.0,My son Loves them,1358121600,"01 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KWWFNXEIQALY,1111543275,David Zuckerman,"[0, 0]","Thos book has very good, simple explanations for medical terms. I worked in an emergency department as a medical scribe. It was my first job in the medical field and although I was taught/ picked up a lot, I didn't understand everything. This book has good tricks to understanding terms by breaking them down into the root words. I had to buy it for a medical terminology class (prereq for PA school) and am glad I read it; I'll be better prepared for PA school.",5.0,Great Introductory Book,1354147200,"11 29, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A16SLN8OIIK78B,0399142606,Justine Cardello,"[0, 1]","This book had no suspense, the characters were flat--in fact,Kay was so flat it made no difference if the author had made hereither a man or woman. She did seem androgenous, as did everyone in that book. There was no need to keep repeating about her color blindness--which the author made sure we were aware of on at least every page. It became clear who the killer was about one third into the book, and then it just dragged on and on--all these boring little sequences about Kay's akido class and her mentor. It was poorly written and read like a diary. Also, the author's perception of San Francisco seems way off--walking from the Hall of Justice to Pacific Heights is a long long way, all uphill, not something you do in ten minutes. He makes it sound like everything in SF is ten minutes apart by foot. And what woman prowls the streets of rough areas at night, alone, and with an expensive camera around her neck? Come on, give me a break.",1.0,One of the worst I've read in a long time,899683200,"07 6, 1998",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A21A2JGWH92TXZ,0446520659,"Mark ""MTF""","[0, 0]","This DeMille thriller was fun throughout, in spite of it being quite predictable. The novel alternates between Asad Khalil, a Libyan terrorist seeking revenge for the long ago death of his family, and John Corey, former NYPD and now working for a federal anti-terrorist group. Khalil's character does not come alive, but his tale of anguish and revenge is engaging. Corey is the stereotypical politically incorrect comedian and tough guy, and very entertaining. I feel like I have seen this character before in many mysteries, but none are funnier and more believable than Corey. His personality lifts this novel above most others of the genre. His romance is as entertaining as his chase of the murdering terrorist. Based on my enjoyment of this novel, I plan to read or listen to the prequel, Plum Island. This is not great literature, but is great escape fiction for those who enjoy this genre.",4.0,predictable but still fun thriller,1330214400,"02 26, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2IY2NE2WATW49,1250000971,"Mary-pat Sherman ""mps""","[0, 0]","Once again, I loved this continuation of the Clifton saga. Mr. Archer is the consummate story-teller. Every character is well-defined; the book is almost impossible to put down. There are really three protagonists: Harry, Giles and Emma. I like each so much I'm undecided as to who SHOULD receive the baronetcy. I can't wait to find out how it turns out; but I don't want it to go by too rapidly because I don't want to leave these characters.",5.0,I Love the Second Installment of Trilogy,1386115200,"12 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1I8WCIZUX9CX1,B00F766YYS,Claude D.,"[6, 6]","Tejano myths of emotion, love and tragedy. The author beautifully weaves these tales with insight and reverence for the local traditions in such a way that you are immediately taken by these legends. The reader will not be able to turn the page fast enough to find out what happens until the very end of each of these stories.",5.0,"Amor maldito, damned love",1383523200,"11 4, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2C1GJPAMJAA1N,0765307006,"Nico1908 ""NTF""","[0, 1]","I can imagine that this book is painful for readers who are - literally - serious fans of action/adventure novels. However, its absurd plot, the cliched characters and their silly dialogues, as well as the predictable and sentimental ending provided me with a satisfactory escape from a boring Sunday afternoon.I guess I'm easily entertained! :D",4.0,Amusing,1194220800,"11 5, 2007",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1NAWD82482GAW,1489589686,mmac,"[0, 0]",I loved all three books in the series. I was sorry when I completed reading all of them! They'll keep you up at night!,5.0,Great Trilogy!,1396396800,"04 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A23GIVZTYL0RLB,1414316801,Bruce Farrar,"[15, 20]","On the whole this is a successful harmony of the four gospel narratives that uses the convention of Japanese manga to produce a graphic novel life of Christ. Biblical citations run along the bottom of each page footnoting the story. However, as with any harmony, some inconsistencies crop up. For example, on page 74 John's version of the scourging of the temple is presented and then on page 218 a shorter version from the synoptic gospels is given along with the accompanying text, ""After entering Jerusalem, Yeshuah once again drove out the merchants and money changers."" An editorial chronology has been imposed to turn four different versions of the story into one. And since one is so different from the other three, the decision was made to imagine two scourgings at different points in history, one at the beginning of Jesus's public ministry and again at the end. This is a possible, but hardly probable interpretation.For the most part, these editorial insertions are kept to a minimum. So when these do occur there are all the more startling since the rest of the book adheres so closely to the original texts. Another example is Satan. He first appears as a black shroud with headlight eyes during the temptation in the wilderness and then again, editorially this time, in the same guise in the garden of Gethsemane to taunt Jesus before being transformed into a snake that's stomped by a purple-winged angel with a green sword, presumably St. Michael.",3.0,A successful harmony of the four gospel narratives as a graphic novel,1200268800,"01 14, 2008",15,20,helpful,0.75,1 A1ERF1KD3KB41N,0380811073,Andriana,"[5, 7]","You simply mustn't miss the third bow-street runners book! Its amazing! Nick, our hero, has lived an awful life in the slums of London. He's been through jail and has suffered a lot there and yet he has managed to pull through, become rich and is slowly becoming more respectable due to the fact that he is now a bow street runner rather than what he was before in 'Lady Sophia's Lover', which was more or less a criminal.THis is a story about a broken man who needs the right women to put his spirit and life to rights again. He's avoided women and sex all his life until the age of twenty-five because of the disgusting things he saw whilst he was in jail. So at the age of twenty-five he goes to a courtesan who teaches all she knows about the act of love. Then after three years he is set a case by one of his employers to find his runnerway fiance - which he does of course, hears her story, marries her himself, and finally falls in love. I thought this was a brilliant story because Nick never believed in love before and needed Lottie to show him the way after his sad previous life. I like that Nick has had sex with two women in his life but has only made love to one - thats what he says.And the ending... Its just amazing... The way he admits his love for her is just breathtaking, believe me! RECOMMENDED!",5.0,Kleypas does it again!,1073260800,"01 5, 2004",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1SHKOFJ3HUPMU,0385196148,"nora zabowski ""truthfinder""","[9, 107]","If I could give this book 0 stars I would for truthful content, however, it would be a 5 star rating on the ability to confuse the populace with twisted truth. Just enough scripture to make 'biblically uninformed' people think this is a good thing. Just the fact that the author was a Jesuit priest should send up red flags for any Bible believing Christian. This book is NOT christian and points the reader to believe in himself instead of the Lord Jesus, and uses every pagan belief system rolled into one 'new' idea, ...Lord Bless you, Nora",1.0,reader beware,1053475200,"05 21, 2003",9,107,helpful,0.08411214953271028,1 A2ARKWQO9ZNZTU,0870210920,Charles L. Ainsworth,"[9, 9]","H. P. Willmott has written three books of analysis on the critical first two years of the war between Japan and the Allied powers, including ""Empires in the Balance"", this one, and ""The War with Japan"". Of the three I think this book is the best. The book covers the naval war between the Allies and Japan from Pearl Harbor to after Midway. Willmott provides accounts on the combat between the adversaries, focusing on the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, and does a great job of giving inside details on Japanese operations, something which is often, unfortunately, lacking in other books by western historians.More importantly, however, Willmott gives in-depth analysis of the reasons why Japan basically lost the war during this time period. I think Willmott's arguments are sound. I have seen his reasoning quoted in many other books, including, for example, ""Shattered Sword"" the recent book by Jon Parshall and Anthony Tully about the Japanese at Midway. I see that some reviewers here take issue with Willmott's opinions of the Japanese campaign, or lack thereof, against the British in India. Having read ""Empires in the Balance"" I believe I understand that the point Willmott is trying to make is that, in the great scheme of things, Germany and Japan really had only one way to defeat the Allies, and that was by coordinating their efforts to completely destroy the British Empire.I would say that this is probably one of the best books on the first year of the Pacific War. The book also gives a good account of the Battle of the Coral Sea, which oddly has yet to receive the treatment it deserves in a single book. For these reasons I recommend this book to anyone interested in studying the Pacific War, especially the first year.",5.0,One of the best books of analysis on the first year of the Pacific War,1255305600,"10 12, 2009",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A2MUGFV2TDQ47K,1401943616,"Lynrie ""Oh HELL no""","[0, 0]","I pondered requesting an exemption from reviewing this product because it's a very personal journey and the outcomes are personal too. How do you evaluate that for others?This book and CD is a spiritual journey filled with practices and exercises (written, tapping, listening) for freeing ones's own spirit through forgiveness. Forgiveness for oneself, NOT for those that caused the hurts. Openness, gratitude and peace are a few of the ""gifts"" I received from this Forgiveness endeavor. NOT sure if the harsh winter and weird weather made me more inclined to undertake this effort but I'm happy I did.An ""old school"" black marbled composition book and my favorite purple ink pen set forth. This endeavor is somewhat religious and supercedes the boundaries of organized religion other than calling on GOD, The Creator or The Holy Spirit, rather than the chosen name of the higher power of one's own beliefs and traditions.If you're an Iyanla Vanzant aficianado from her early days, THIS is a return to those roots and not the fame-seeking spirit we saw publicly crash and burn. GOOGLE ""iyanla_print_forgiveness_intro-day1"" for an indepth excerpt of Day 1. However the CD that accompanies the book with the daily prayer/meditation enhances the experience. I can't find the Tapping video mentioned on the CD to share with you though. It was part of a perfect evening activity of journaling, meditating, relaxing and winding down into sleep. However, some nights were restful and others were RESTLESS as my emotional baggage was unpacked DAILY.In some cases depending on how my day went I needed some relaxing music and a glass of wine to unpack the day BEFORE embarking on Iyanla's Forgiveness Train. I'm an older gal with plenty of baggage. I share this to alert others that each person brings their own baggage to their ""Forgiveness Party"", it can be an emotional roller coaster and the outcomes are dependent on YOU. Discovering my list of negative triggers was earth shaking AND enlightening. The 21 day effort is just the tip of the iceberg for unpacking one's emotional baggage and ONCE isn't enough. This may become a seasonal, annual or an ""as needed"" effort and so worth doing it!(GOOGLE ""Huffpost Iyanla Forgiveness"" for video interview. If her voice doesn't appeal to you, the CD won't be appealing)",5.0,More Than I Bargained For ...,1396137600,"03 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2CUZ5H3Q5NIW5,1934356174,Giulio Campobassi,"[8, 9]","Ed Burnette's book ""Hello, Android"" (HA) has been a popular choice for many Android ""noobs"". It is an interesting starter book like the title indicates, ""hello"". It covers all the areas relevant to building an application. Like designing forms, data binding, SQL, some graphics and deployment to market. But what you won't get is a detailed analysis and explanation of the structure of applications and the API.So, HA is an intermediate developers book with java experience. I did find it a little frustrating at times that there was not much detailed explanation of the code. Ed ramps up the complexity by chapter 4 considerably. You have to plough through code without much explanation at all. So, although I understand his intent, increasing the complexity so rapidly is not really the best way to go in my opinion. I managed to get through the code myself, and I am not java guru, so it is possible. I suppose he is trying to produce something engaging at the end.Seeing as Ed doesn't provide much detail, perhaps he should have chosen a less complex sample to help introduce the reader. Bit of an oxymoron, as it's supposed to be an introduction to Android, but the complexity is quite high which could distract from the high level concepts he is trying to convey. It seems that Ed is taking you through the process and broad structures, more than dealing with the detail of the code.You will have to use online resources to research specific classes and their respective API's if you really want to get indepth knowledge about it. After all the book is only 270-ish pages long. You can easily finish it in a week of evening hacking. The online download of the code I found a little frustrating as it's not structured in a way that is easy to install whilst going through the book. I think it would have been more helpful to provide the code versions according to chapters, (chptr02/src, chptr03/src) etc. Because if there is not much explanation and you get a ""force close"" sometimes you just want to get the working code and move on.The other aspect of this book is that you need to follow the entire book. You can't just open it up and start coding from any point. Again, this is not such an issue as the book is not that long. I would recommend that you follow the book, don't skip stuff or you will come un-stuck.HA is good if you just want some instruction on putting something together to see it run in the emulator. Ed shows a good way to structure your application and you should be able to adapt it to your own needs. An experienced developer can start to put things together conceptually themselves, there is no spoon feeding here. I would have appreciated a little more explanation of detail, or a less complex example to build. However, with some perseverance, I found by the end of the book I understood the structure of android applications and can take it further through other reading/experience. So Ed has accomplished his goal by empowering the reader by introducing Android to you.I recommend it if you just want to dive in and not be too concerned with light explanations.I would then recommendProfessional Android 2 Application Development (Wrox Programmer to Programmer)after this one for heavier reading, and you will get through it faster by going via Ed's book first.",3.0,"A good ""get it done"" book, but could leave you bewildered.",1297036800,"02 7, 2011",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A3N66ZQIQP68GB,0345505719,Janet Bruce,"[0, 0]",Sometimes the descriptions got a little too much. I really enjoy the relationship between Alex and Milo. Not too graphic.,3.0,Ended with unknowns,1357862400,"01 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AITIU2DG1MM4A,0439577756,Timothy Haugh,"[37, 43]","To be honest, I'd never read Avi before even though he has written some very popular novels. But I make it a point to read every Newbery Award-winning novel so I read this book. Now I feel like I've been missing out and should go back and read more of this author. This is a very good book.Avi's novel tells the story of a young boy of fourteenth century England. He is a nameless, fatherless boy who becomes a fugitive when he is falsely accused of a crime on the very day his mother dies. Inadvertently becoming the servant of a strange entertainer named Bear, he slowly learns the truth of his world and himself. Forced to make some interesting choices at the climax of the novel, the nameless boy surprises the reader by becoming Crispin--but not in the way that might be expected.If I seem cryptic, it's because I don't want to give away the wonderful twists at the close of the story. Avi has written a wonderfully readable novel which I would recommend to any reader.",5.0,A Boy Learns His Name,1055894400,"06 18, 2003",37,43,helpful,0.8604651162790697,1 A3S7CNBM976KQK,B008L4VBQE,PegFF,"[0, 0]","This book contains a lot of good suggestions for making a good impression on prospective buyers. Some of the advice is a little mystical, but who's to say what does and doesn't work on buyers.",4.0,Useful short book on selling your home,1358985600,"01 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AT0CE9XS6BZTJ,1475294530,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","So far, this author has not disappointed. The series starts off quickly and continues through this latest installment. Now, comes the hard part of finishing an excellent book... waiting for the next one. Good job, keep writing and i will keep reading.",5.0,Excellent,1338595200,"06 2, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1CXRDXA8FJN0D,1570765545,WhaleDaughter,"[0, 0]","I had this book out from my local library, and when I didn't want to return it I decided to buy. I like almost all of the patterns in this book (I have to like at least 50% of the patterns before I'll buy a book). I'm currently knitting the cabled cape and the instructions are clear and easy to follow. I'm hoping to knit a few more projects before the holiday gift giving season arrives. The patterns in this book are simple but unique, and they range from finish in a night (like the cover hat) to finishing in a few weeks (if you're an "evenings only" kind of knitter). I do wish publishers would jump on board with my idea for all knitting books to be spiral bound, but aside from that this is an excellent addition to my knitting pattern library.",5.0,Such a great book,1382659200,"10 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HRNZGM9MPQFU,0575097469,jtvander,"[0, 0]","This is not Brandon Sanderson's best book, however all of his books are stunning achievements in epic fantasy. Great read.",5.0,Unique look into fantasy where there are no limits,1403049600,"06 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AVL5BM38XV2ZJ,0787903426,A Customer,"[10, 13]","Chapter 1 An Alien Point of View (on spanking)Chapter 2 Abuse or Discipline?Chapter 3 Why We Hit and What It Does to KidsChapter 4 Back to Basics: What You Need to Know About Effective DisciplineChapter 5 Changing Your Appproach to DisciplineChapter 6 Rewards and PunishmentsChapter 7 Anger and ResentmentChapter 8 Using Therapeutic TechniquesChapter 9 What We Need to Do NextSome of the topics discussed in this book:Discipline, Punishment, and Corporal PunishmentWhy Ads Become AggressiveWhat Spanking Does to KidsFamily FactorsWhat Is Your Orientation to Discipline?The Dos and Don'ts of PreventionDiagnose the Causes of MisbehaviorHow to Set Up a Reward SystemDos and Don'ts for the Effective Use of TimeoutsHow to Run a Family Council/Meeting8 Steps to Anger ControlHow to Produce Hostile ChildrenHow to Defuse Your Child's AngerWhat Not to Do When Your Child Blows Up7 Essential Qualities of Effective PsychotherapyUnderstanding and Avoiding Emotional MaltreatmentTeaching Your Child to Think and Act Rationally and Appropriately",5.0,An Excellent Book for someone who disagress on spanking kids,1010361600,"01 7, 2002",10,13,helpful,0.7692307692307693,1 A2LC58VDAI0PKG,0812982053,Joseph Williams,"[0, 1]","Smith has some data that makes something of a case for claiming that the economic vitality of the middle class is eroding. However, the book is poorly written, rambles too often, and gets bogged down in a political perspective that detracts from telling the story. I struggled to plow through the book because, frankly, it was boring more often than engaging.I do not disagree with Smith that the American middle class is in trouble. But others have done a much better job of explaining why this is so. Smith's 10 solutions are interesting to think about but just slopped down on the table without adequate presentation.Probably better to read the book reviews of this (gives you the gist) than to actually purchase and read.",2.0,"Interesting premise, poor execution",1402704000,"06 14, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AR2ALESEJRO4S,0983398038,"Buffalogal ""Jen""","[0, 0]","I enjoyed reading this book although I am not a teeanger girl. I downloaded it for my daughter to read on her Kindle. I needed somthing to read and decided to try this book out. I really liked the book. This is clearly written for teeanger girls, but anyone one who has been a teenage girl can find something about themselves in this character. She is likeable, down to earth, and totally real. I can't wait to read more books in this series.",5.0,A good book,1337212800,"05 17, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1COCAMO61JZFK,1933967226,Vonnie1195,"[0, 0]","I don't know where to begin reviewing this book. I read this book in ONE day. After I picked it up, I just couldn't put it down. I really don't want to add anything about the character's because the synopsis alone peaked my interest (trust me, it is so worth the read), and I am so glad I bought this book. I highly recommend buying this book",5.0,All I Can Say Is....DON'T SLEEP ON THIS BOOK!!!!,1194825600,"11 12, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZ0Q5RF4SME1X,1455807567,j Carl Allred,"[0, 0]",Another great read from Daniel Silva. All on and his team work their normal magic in rescuing the British Ambassador's daughter. Hard to put it down once you get into the story.Highly recommend.,5.0,My hero Gabriel Allon,1401580800,"06 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ACJQC9UIZW1PI,0375421092,Daphne Alexander,"[9, 11]","The landmark Herodotus is a very serious and wondrous volume, edited by (apparently) a Renaissance-type person: Robert B. Strassler. It is such a pleasure to read this,knowing that Mr. Strassler is a person of many talents. For example, he appears to be a musician(of a medieval instrument), president of a capital management corporation and chair of a music and humanities foundation. ( I say ""appears"" as this is what Googling him tells me..)This MAY well be the finest edition of Herototus ever produced. I am not qualified to say as I have not seen all the rest. It is a joy at any rate.Having started with ""Travels with Herodotus"" (presented to me by a Harvard undergrad who read it in the original Polish), I became so enamoured of the Polish journalist's quotes from the original work by Herodotus that I acquired Strassler's new edition of the Histories.It is a weighty tome, not suitable for most carry-on airline cases. But, it is superb--with explanatory notations in the margins, easy-to-read maps, and scholarly. Bravo that books and editors like this remain!!",5.0,Let's hear it for a Renaissance person!,1202428800,"02 8, 2008",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A1GXCURHNDNPL2,159998105X,"Marie T. ""snobird6""","[0, 0]","With the start of this book being so all-fired steamy I was happily surprised to find there actually IS a story to it! I should have known - Lora Leigh has always been a writer who could reel me in but deliver sexual scenes as well. But really, there's a story behind all the sex that shows how two people dedicated to love one another through time can do it. Believable? Who cares? (Although five years is a terribly long time!) However, these people use language that curls the ears, threaten loved ones with ""beating"", ""killing"", etc., which I find hard to match with good feelings. But that's me .........",4.0,The good background story surprised me! --,1339459200,"06 12, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3TBIZPEAVMU76,0312949804,Choua Xiong,"[5, 8]","I didn't listen to the reviews about Scandal in Spring, and I should have avoided that book, but this one was so much better. I loved the characters, esp. Cam... he was so sexy and romantic... it was all I wanted in his story. I really want to know if there'll be anymore books on the Hathaways... I am wondering if Leo will ever find another woman to love him... sigh... his story really was sad. But I wanna see his happy ending...",4.0,I admit that it was better than Scandal in Spring...,1191888000,"10 9, 2007",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A3AGDTKVTJ5VWT,B00F1ZYRBM,Lili Lost in a Book,"[0, 0]","I was lucky enough to beta read this book, and all I can say is: this book was aweeesoooome *sing songs*! The magic, the witches, the JULIAN! *swoons*If you don't know by now, and you probably should because I've mentioned this about a million and half times, I absolutely love witches and magic and witchcraft! Witches are just some of my fave supernatural creatures and I think it would be awesome to be a witch (yeah, I may watch too many re-runs of Charmed, but hey, I love that show ;)) This book (the series in general!) I thought incorporates the concept of magic beyond well! The special abilities some of the withes can do are just very cool, nothing I really have run into! Take Sadie's power for example, She can talk to any living thing...animal, plants...anything! I'm telling you, Jodi's spin on this magic thing is awesome!One thing that is super important for me that a book must have right from the start is action! This component is what must capture my attention within the first few pages, otherwise I get bored and, well, that is obviously not a good thing. This book though, BAM BAM BOOM! Action within the 1st two chapters! Yeah! And the action does not let down throughout the book!Another thing I want to say is that Audrey and Julian are just too sweet for my own good. I swear, they're going to give me a cavity! ;) My gods, the romance between these two...I loved it! And Julian? *swoons* I ADORED him! He's a really sweet guy (I have a weakness for sweet guys!) and I wish I had a Julian of my own *sigh* At one point even I was going through Julian withdrawal! (Read the book and you'll understand what I'm talking about ;))I also really liked Audrey in this book. She was a very strong and caring leading character that did what needed to be done to protect those she loves.I also liked the fact that there were new characters. They were great! After so much talk about The Land, I liked that we actually got to ""see"" it now! And this evil person with the black magic...man, I swear, I was suspecting everyone! Quite a shocker when I found out who it was! It was sad too, 'cause I really liked this character. The traitor!Audrey's Guide To Black Magic was a fantastic read with a great story line, very awesome and diverse characters (including a swoon-worthy love interest), lots of action, wicked cool magic, and surprising twists that will, well, surprise you! I highly recommend this series!",5.0,"The magic, the witches, the JULIAN! *swoons* It was awesome!",1379030400,"09 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A28VFWZS59XUVL,146995575X,philip morgan,"[0, 1]",when i first started to read this book I didn't know if I would like it but after chapter 2 I couldn't put the book down.it is well written and I like the way it all comes together at the end I would recommend to anyone who enjoys anovel with a twist.,4.0,very good,1355097600,"12 10, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3H7ADUP07D93H,080509069X,"J. Fuchs ""jax76""","[4, 6]","I really liked A Pale Blue Eye and absolutely loved The Black Tower, so I was really looking forward to Bayard's mystery centered on Thomas Harriot, the unsung scientist of Elizabethan England whose work stands alongside Kepler, Gallileo and Newton. Bayard's strength is bringing a past era to life, and he does that spectacularly well here with the parts of the book set in 1603 at Syon House, the London home of Harriot's patron, the Earl of Northumberland. Most of the novel is, however, set in the modern day, where a small group of scholars is trying to decipher a recently discovered letter written by Harriot and discover what it might reveal before a rival collector of arcane works can beat him to the punch. Sadly, Bayard just doesn't do as well with the present.More problematic is Bayard's weakness at constructing and resolving a mystery, and the one at the heart of The School of Night is quite convoluted, requiring a fair amount of exposition to bring it to a conclusion. It's also rather obvious along the way, relying rather heavily on conventions that have been used so much that the plot twists don't hold much in the way of surprise. A much better mystery along similar lines is Michael Gruber's The Book of Air and Shadows, which while also devolving into silly action toward the end, at least constructs a more convincing mystery.Bayard's writing is, as always, stellar, and his use of poetry and writings by Raleigh, Shakespeare, Marlowe and others is spot on, as is his description of falling in love.Worth reading, but if you are new to Bayard, A Pale Blue Eye or The Black Tower are better places to start.",3.0,A 3 1/2 star disappointment from the usually reliable Louis Bayard,1298678400,"02 26, 2011",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2660AZM74D59E,0738710474,Darmony91,"[26, 27]","In this book Christopher Penczak synthesizes channeled material with neo-pagan practice with excellent results. He has sifted through the voluminous output of trance channels and gleaned out the nuggets from the mountain of fortune-cookie platitudes, murky and meandering prose, and sentimental blathering that is the overwhelming majority of that literature. The result is very worthwhile addition to any spiritual library. The chapter on the Merkaba meditation alone is worth the purchase price. It also would be good as an introduction to anyone curious about channeled material. Highly recommended.",5.0,A book for Pleidian Pagans and Magicians,1180656000,"06 1, 2007",26,27,helpful,0.9629629629629629,1 A158XWPPLESFX1,0800757998,Philip G. Austin,"[0, 0]",I agree that fans of the Karon Mitford series will like these small vignettes that introduce the population of a tiny little Texas town. Some surprises along the way. An enjoyable read throughout.,4.0,Meet the quirky residents of a small Texas community,1394841600,"03 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2GENKYZ6PVJHE,0618430180,"Apache Wind ""Bookaholic""","[7, 7]","This book held you from the ""get-go"" and kept you caught in it's magical web of double-mirrors and fun-house antics. This is like the ""I see dead people"" film but in book form and not as guesome but more age appropriate. It would also make a great movie--one of the few childrens books I found complete and fully closed once it ended, and left feeling satified that I had made a good choice in purchasing it. Great book for those who like ghost stories with a twist.",5.0,Great Plot and Story,1185667200,"07 29, 2007",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A106016KSI0YQ,1400033888,Jay Dickson,"[15, 17]","Orhan Pamuk's Istanbul--melancholy, decaying, and haunted by the memories of multiple shattered empires--does not even really exist anymore in quite the way he describes: the parts of the city which seem to him most characteristic of gorgeous and splendid decay have been largely rebuilt today, so that what seems most characteristic to him of Istanbul is something contemporary visitors to the city will have to seek out for themselves behind the bustle of Sultanahmet and Beyöglu. But that makes his beautiful Sebaldian memoir of the city no less powerful nor evocative, and Pamuk draws a beautiful correspondence between the aging metropolis and his young self trying to find a vocation in a city that offers all kinds of possibilities to him he cannot fully see. (The memoir in many ways evokes Joyce's PORTRAIT, especially in the narrator's final recounting of a conversation with his mother when he decides upon his career.) This is a splendid introduction to Pamuk, the best-known Turkish novelist in the United States, and to his beloved city--even if the city he describes exists mostly in memory.",4.0,The haunted metropole,1149292800,"06 3, 2006",15,17,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 A3GMFMT78PLFF2,1451572581,"Glee ""Happiest Reading""","[15, 16]",This book has what her previous books missed which is the guy's point of view. Makes the story a lot more interesting and gives the characters more depth. The rest of the story is similar to all her other books with a lot of page burning mulit-partnered sex. Highly recommend this book to everyone. It has a well written romantic story without losing the great erotic sex. Loved it.,5.0,best Zant book so far,1262304000,"01 1, 2010",15,16,helpful,0.9375,1 A5Y7J8PCSEGR0,1603182349,DolphinChick,"[0, 0]","Great way to finish the story! I had to read it in an afternoon! I love the quotes at the beginning of each chapter in both books...perfect beginning each time! As in the 1st book we get to see how Jen lives with all the horrible things that have happened to her. In this book we get to learn more about her family and how all this has affected them. It doesn't candy coat how hard it was for the family left behind, especially her sister Judy, which I thought was described really well! We get to see how that relationship plays out which is great!I have mixed feelings about the revenge taken...on one hand I feel like death is way too easy an answer for those that choose to hurt others...but at the same time, I just don't know that I could be a part of hurting another person that way. But again I'm confused, because what ends up happening to the judge feels about perfect!!Either way ... it's once again an intense emotional rollercoaster ride of a book that is wrapped up beautifully!",4.0,intense emotional rollercoaster ride,1333929600,"04 9, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NH6L0FQ9SZ81,0812929640,"W. P. Danitz ""Man about Town.""","[17, 19]","Everyone either loves or hates Donald Trump! He is what we all want to be. He says and does what we all want to say and do. A very successfull businessman is probably someone that many of us would not like. In order to be able to do what they do , they have to have a large dose of ego and self confidence. They must be assertive. We the little people spend thousands reading inspirational books, attending seminars, and all the rest of that stuff to be successful, searching for that millionaire mentality, yet we condem it when we find someone who really has it! I enjoyed the book immensely. Yes there was a lot of DONALD, but so what? Read it, and learn!",5.0,He's the "MAN" !,947116800,"01 6, 2000",17,19,helpful,0.8947368421052632,1 A1Q0HY8QB4AG25,1451598777,"Debra ""avid reader""","[5, 11]","I do not understand how this book got so many good reviews. It was almost painful to read this at times. The grammar and syntax errors alone caused me so much confusion that I often gave up trying to unravel what the author meant to say in places.The story line is choppy. There are numerous characters and settings, and too little is done with each to enable the reader to get a decent grasp of who is who and what is going on without having to search back and forth through the book for refreshers.The potential exists for this to be a good fantasy novel, but I don't think it will ever live up to that potential. If readers had given honest feedback, the author might have worked this up. But, as it is, the false praise has insured that she will think a rewrite unnecessary. Too bad.I must confess, I am appalled. It must be far easier to get published than I'd thought, because I see that this book is now available in paperback. One has to wonder if it was the same editor who turned down King and Rowling, who accepted this book for print publication.If you get this for your kindle while it is still free, it still will not be worth reading, in my opinion.",1.0,Seriously shockingly bad book,1322438400,"11 28, 2011",5,11,helpful,0.45454545454545453,1 A3O61DZ8SS2QJ8,1576839265,"Sharon Hinck ""Sharon Hinck, author""","[6, 6]","In the tradition of ""Secret Life of Bees"" or ""Peace Like a River"", Ms. DeMuth introduces a young character's journey and invites us inside her skin. We feel the heat of the Texas sun, the pain of abuse, the longing for connection and family. Even though the subject matter is truthfully tough, each chapter is infused with grace. The writing is lyrical and hopeful even when confronting brutal realities. The story deepened my compassion for children who suffer in silence and reminded me that although there aren't always easy answers one person's acts of love can make a difference.",5.0,Grace lighting dark places,1143331200,"03 26, 2006",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1A4VOXTTTOBK2,0380731762,Christine Farris,"[0, 4]","Did not keep my attention so I put it down and never picked it up again. Have it somewhere, dont know.",2.0,feeling good,1358812800,"01 22, 2013",0,4,unhelpful,0.0,0 AOSCK4K3EMP67,1612184189,"Linda ""fussy customer""","[0, 0]",Enjoyed this thriller book. It was fast and action packed. Took me until almost to the end to find out who was trying to kill main character and why. The author keeps the secrets close until the end. Exactly how a thriller novel should be. Highly recommend.,4.0,Action packed fast and furious,1364256000,"03 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AHYBGHN5SSL7A,0802121624,Disy,"[0, 0]",This is such a good read! I could honestly not put it down. The twists and turns and plot were excellent. Read it! You won't be disappointed!,5.0,excellent story with twists and turns,1404950400,"07 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2QAVAG6KTCOYP,1426209487,"William Lewis ""bill lewis""","[9, 18]",this book would have been much more interesting if it had been condensed and had a lighter aspect to it. So far the only thing I found out which I knew already was that walking is good for you,1.0,Boring,1357948800,"01 12, 2013",9,18,helpful,0.5,1 A19MO1J1J4OR3G,1419968939,"T. Moorhead ""Loves Music, Loves to read!""","[0, 0]",This book in the Species Series was very intense at times! Dealing with a male Species that had no social skills and suffered severe mental anguish took a lot of guts for the friendly Doctor!!,5.0,Kind of a Scary Story,1372982400,"07 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A28A41PVJ0CFRD,0553287893,"Bob Bobby ""Bob""","[4, 4]","The notion that an alien civilization could be prospering not far from our home and could eventually try to contact us is not a new one. Many science fiction authors have written on the subject, but none have done it with as much flair as Arthur C. Clark in Rendezvous With Rama.Rama is utterly massive. Over forty kilometers long and weighing more than ten trillion tons, its arrival into our solar system is hailed by many to be the greatest discovery in history, to others it signifies the coming of a brutal Judgment Day. A crew of specialized scientists is sent on an intercept course with the foreign titan in an attempt to learn its hidden secrets. What they find far exceed their earthly expectations. Rama is hollow.What ensues is the greatest research expedition in the history of science, and what they find while exploring the vast plains and barren cities of interior Rama is overwhelming and mysterious indeed.A great portrayal of man's first encounter with an alien existence, the novel is both exiting and awe-inspiring to lovers of science fiction and every other lover of great literature and should not be overlooked. Remember though, as you explore the great splendor of the alien genius, that the Ramans always do everything in threes. Absolutely everything.",5.0,The Splendor of Foreign Titans,1148256000,"05 22, 2006",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1Z54EM24Y40LL,0394873394,csm,"[6, 6]","This is really a nice book to help with friends. It's funny how we received this book at the same time our neighbor boy is having the exact same trouble with someone who just moved in. In a time and era where ""bullying' other kids has become very popular to the point of articles being published in the local papers here, this book definitely handles what to do when a friend isn't quite the friend you had hoped he/she would be. This one ends with the friends being friends again and how they worked out their differences. One of the most important aspects in this book I think is that they always show either the new girl's mother or Mama Bear in the picture when a resolution needs to take place between the two girls. It is subtle, but I think this is lacking today - parental intervention when children don't exactly have the skills available to help them in a situation like this. This is a great book to have with something that unfortunately, has become quite a problem in Columbus, Ohio.",5.0,"Good book for an analogy, help with friends",1107993600,"02 10, 2005",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2SBOLHA0XP5T5,0143122916,Daniel Popowych,"[0, 0]","This book will stay with you. It is a story of pain, luck, and ultimately, freedom. If you like history, biography, or just a really good story, then you will not be able to put it down.",5.0,Harrowing,1381536000,"10 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3Q01QV2JBRU26,006230240X,Lelli,"[5, 6]","The story is okay in this book, but certainly nothing new. Like many other reviewers, I could not get past the lack of editing. It was painful to read pages due to the grammatical errors, punctuation errors, and misspellings. Don't even get me started on the run-on sentences, which occur at least every three pages. At some point, I stopped really paying attention to the story and was just highlighting all the errors. Furthermore, there are several inconsistencies in the story. For instances Shaw indicates that she was a freshman and 13 years old when she met Rule and his brother. Rule and brother, Remy, were, according to the story, 17 years old and juniors. This just doesn't make sense.With some editing, I think the story could be good. However, without it, don't waste your money on this one. Granted, this was only $1.99, but it seems inappropriate to charge someone for what reads like a rough draft.",2.0,Get an editor!,1358553600,"01 19, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1MPQWXSTD511G,161581695X,Karielle @ Books la Mode,"[6, 6]","Blurb: Jake Brenner has too many wild oats to sow to fall in love -- or so he claims. Besides, he's much too busy with his band, the Wayward Sons, to go looking for romance. His reticence has nothing to do with his embarrassing crush on Chris, the band's lead singer and Jake's erstwhile best friend. But that was before enigmatic wanderer Parker McAvoy signed on as the band's new lead guitarist. He can only deny his attraction to sweet, dorky Parker for so long before the urge to do something about it becomes impossible to ignore. The trouble is, Parker knows all about Jake's philandering ways -- and oh, yeah, he's not gay. Or so Jake thinks until a string of related events provides encouraging new insight. Can he convince Parker to overlook his colorful past and give him a chance? Or will this love song fade out before it even begins?What Stephanie Thought: I'll tell it to you bluntly: it's been quite a while since I've read a book I've enjoyed as much as American Love Songs. It's more than a book -- it's more than erotica. It's an authentic romance, and the story, characters, and dialogue are written to ensure they're something you'll keep in your heart forever, and never want to forget.I don't read much m/m because usually it's associated with explicit (read, horny) sex scenes. Not that I don't like erotica, but usually even sex gets tiring after the first several pages. Rest assured, there are plenty of steamy scenes in American Love Songs -- but they're so full of raw passion and underlying confusion, that they hardly seem too inappropriate.Jake Brenner is in love with the mysterious, the adorable, and the captivating Parker McAvoy, but unfortunately, as most love revelations go, he is the last to find out. For starters, they'd make the worst couple ever -- Jake's exhibitionist qualities clashing with Parker's bashful innocence -- and let's go with logistics; Parker isn't even gay. But then why does it feel like the sizzling yet undiscovered chemistry the two share seem so, so right? Parker's secretive and heartbreaking past will allow both him and Jake to realize the real priorities in life, as well as the consequences of overwhelming musical success, helping them both find their true selves along the way.For me, Ashlyn Kane's novel was a breath of fresh air, as well as a wave of sympathy-inducing nostalgia. Her original, witty plot is one that's hard to put down -- I read the whole book in one night! You'll be hooked by Jake and Parker's forbidden, but hectic love story. It's really difficult to write a novel about music, but Kane does it without flaw. Enjoy the thrill of rock stars, gay men, sex, and true love -- all put to a soundtrack that you will vividly create. Think Brokeback Mountain meets Kings of Leon; does it get any better than that?Kane has a way with words, but more importantly, she knows how to pull at a reader's heart, while still sparing a few giggles (or guffaws) all the way throughout. Her well-crafted ideas are spun beautifully with entertaining, realistic dialogue, and paired with creative blog posts, text messages, and other forms of communicative media, she is able to develop lovable characters and a story that is difficult to let go of. I wish Kane the very success the Wayward Sons achieved; if Grammys could be awarded to authors (and if you know...I had the authority to hand out Grammys like candy), she would definitely deserve one.Stephanie Loves: ""'Oh, for God's sake, Jake, put some pants on,' Allanna told him when he emerged from the bathroom wearing only a towel. She hadn't even looked up from her PDA.'Sorry,' Jake said snidely, 'I like to shower in the buff.'""Where Stephanie Got It: Directly from Dreamspinner Press for review.Radical Rating: 10 hearts- Extraordinarily amazingly wonderfully fantastically marvelous.",5.0,10 out of 10 stars!!,1300492800,"03 19, 2011",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A998SS1CT0EME,0140441840,Firecracker,"[9, 11]","One of the great novels written by Leo Tolstoy in 1899, who, by then was already past his prime when he wrote ""Anna Karilina"" as well as ""War and Peace"". This novel differed from the previous novels he wrote in that Tolstoy focused on the sufferings of the people and description of the underground movements that existed side by side with the aristocratic class. This was unlike the novels that he wrote before, when he wrote mainly about the aristocratics.The novel takes us to the Prince Nekhlyudov, who seduced a servant girl called Katusha(sometimes referred as Maslova) many years ago and is now shocked to see her being tried for murder on a trial which he himself is part of the jury. Katusha is no longer the innocent, loving maid that she was many years ago but is now a detestable prostitute. At once Nekhlyudov feels guilty, since his seduction was the cause of all that Katusha went through later, a baby conceded by Katusha but was soon lost. Soon Katusha's life began to fall apart. She drifted on the streets and became a prostitute. While at the same time Nekhlyudov, who once was a virtous young man and denounced private property, is now leading a degraded life.And this is where the novel starts. As the unlikely encounter in the trial soon crossed the two people's lives once again. Later Katusha was send to Siberia for poisoning on a blatant error on the part of the juries. So decided Nekhlyudov that he needed to follow her for a chance at redemption. Thus began the resurrection for not only Nekhlyudov but also Katusha, a resurrection that would lead both of them into a new, better lives.Tolstoy attacked the existing social order poignantly in this novel. Especially the Orthodox Church and the wealthy upper class. Tolstoy rebuked the two sides for treating the lower class people unhumanely, locking them up instead of changing the existing society to accomodate more equality. Tolstoy also placed a lot of emphasis on the moral issues concerning mankind and the society in general. Stating in the end of the book the ""Heaven on Earth"" that he would like to see.Another aspect is that this book touches all kinds of people from all classes. From the palace of a countess to the jails in Siberia, and from government officials to desperado revolutionaries. Tolstoy's depiction of the suffering with peasants and revolutionaries are really deep. And almost everything that Tolstoy writes in this book seems to relate to some sort of moral ties, not only did Nekhlyudov and Katusha change in this book, but also many other characters involved with Nekhlyudov, they are changed mostly to the worse side, we see how a society can truly alter, and even destroy, some people who started out guileless but turned corrupt.In conclusion, this was truly a classic book exploring deep into the psychialogy of each individuals with its emphasis on the power of human redemption and its blunt attacks on the existing social order. A brilliantly woven tale indeed.",5.0,Resurrection,1151625600,"06 30, 2006",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A3C9AHIMUTR68D,1466222808,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Humorous and engaging, delightful and believable. Cornthwaite's Mr. Knightley is so enjoyable to read about. I loved his self-deprecating humor with regard to his love for Emma. His relationship with his brother and the teasing correspondence they trade is immensely enjoyable. Ms. Cornthwaite also creates new characters and story lines that extremely interesting. You won't regret purchasing this book!",5.0,Teriffic Conclusion to a Great Story,1321574400,"11 18, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RNP5X8ZGZIEI,0312966776,Stephanie De Pue,"[0, 0]","""Black and Blue,"" (1997) is eighth in the Detective Chief Inspector John Rebus series, by the outstanding, award-winning, author Ian Rankin, currently the best-selling author of British mysteries in the United Kingdom. The book's a powerhouse, winner of the prestigious Macallan Gold Dagger Award for Fiction, and nominated for an Edgar Award. It can, like most of his work, be described as a police procedural, within the tartan noir school, and it is largely set in Edinburgh: the east coast Edinburgh is more or less Rankin's home town, as he has made it Rebus's. But Rebus/Rankin clock up some miles in this one, as the cases Rebus is working, or interested in, take him to Glasgow and Aberdeen.In the book at hand, Rebus catches the case of an oil-rig worker, who was based in Aberdeen, but called Edinburgh home, gruesomely murdered. At the same time, an old, unsolved cold case, that of Bible John, a serial killer of young women, who also moved, in the 1960s and 70s, through all three Scottish cities, needs revisiting, as a copycat serial killer, dubbed ""Johnny Bible,"" by the media, has arisen. (According to the author's acknowledgments, he based the fictional Bible John case on an actual, unsolved Scottish case.) Furthermore, renewed attention to the Bible John case also serves to focus media attention more strongly on the possible related misdeeds of Rebus's early mentor, Inspector Lawson Geddes, who has just committed suicide in his Spanish retirement home.Eighth in the series ""Black and Blue"" may be, but it is still written with unflagging power, wit and energy, crackling with sharp descriptions of Scotland, its capital, its people, diet, social life and weather. Rankin's evocative descriptions of his home town manage to give us its grit, and its beauty, and are incomparable; but he does very well with Glasgow and Aberdeen, too. The plot is satisfyingly complex, wide and deep: I'll give the voters of the book's awards no arguments on this one. Although the fact that Rebus is flitting in and out of three cities, and three cop shops, gives us an awful lot of characters, particularly cops, milling about. I generally can't finish a book at a sitting, who can these days, and I was occasionally confused among them all.And just what's tartan noir, you ask? A bloodthirsty, bloody-minded business, to be sure, more violent than the average British mystery, but, thankfully, leavened a bit with that dark Scots humor. Written (duh!) by Scots. James Ellroy, American author ofL.A. Confidential, has dubbed Rankin the progenitor - and king--of the school.Rankin was born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960, and graduated from the University of Edinburgh. He's been employed as grape-picker, swineherd, taxman, hi-fi journalist, and punk musician. His first Rebus novelKnots and Crosses (Inspector Rebus Novels)was published in 1987. His works are now receiving television treatment. If you love British mysteries, he's a dead cert. You can't go wrong no matter where you start with him, and this book's as good a place as any.",5.0,Rebus and Rankin Clock Up the Miles in This One,1289433600,"11 11, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGPK6ZZYKRJRW,044656429X,chintz22,"[10, 23]","Two Kisses for Maddy was enjoyable, clearly written from the heart and affecting at times, but ultimately not the book I was hoping to read. This is a narrowly focused book on grief and the grieving process examining Matt's first year as a widower with some information on his courtship and early marriage. It was this narrow focus that frustrated me.What he wrote about Liz made me want to read a more fleshed out version of his years with her. He doesn't discuss how he moved into his new relationship with Brooke less than 3 years after his wife's death, which I am now even more intrigued by since he had such a long and intense relationship with Liz. Because Maddy was an infant during this period we really don't get any of her personality development, something I was looking forward to reading about. He also didn't talk about the evolution of the blog as much as I'd hoped, nor how the blog changed his life and afforded him new opportunities (like getting this book deal, for instance).I'd recommend reading the book, but it isn't one that I would read a second time.",3.0,Not the book I'd hoped to read,1302739200,"04 14, 2011",10,23,helpful,0.43478260869565216,1 A3AJV6Y8HTGLXV,0615936113,Tara.BegMeForBETA,"[5, 5]","WOW! This fantastic novel has it all!Not only is it a brilliant, sweet, steamy romance, but It is absolutely FULL of twists and turns, suspense and mystery! I was thrown one curve ball after another, and never saw any of them coming! Predictable, it was not!And if you think you know your ultimate book boyfriend, well, I just know you're going to be replacing him as soon as you set your eyes on Trace Dawson!!! Holy hotness, the man is walking, talking, brooding sex on a stick!Within Temptation is a fantastic debut novel from an amazingly talented author and I cannot wait to read more of her work!",5.0,Simply an amazing read!!!,1399766400,"05 11, 2014",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2D8AF0ZBJG2PT,0739380338,Minnet,"[0, 0]","Again Rick Riordan has a hit! My 11yr old will stay up all night reading his books if we let her, we actually have to go in and take away the book so she'll get some sleep! This is a great book for boys and girls. I'd highly recommend all of his books!",5.0,Great read!,1277683200,"06 28, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5QQRB2QOY96U,0028604199,bunyun,"[0, 0]","this is so hilarious! In todays PC world, whether you are PC or aren't, you will appreciate the humorous slant on these stories - Garner did a great job!",5.0,hilarious!,1334793600,"04 19, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGF2NBIXW5R8X,1118012526,Michael,"[7, 7]","The book ASSUMES the reader is familiar with HTML4 and XHTML and refers back to them. This is a poor assumption. As a result you have chapters like 'New or Changed HTML5 Elements' and 'New and Modified Form Elements'... without the basic elements. If you're familiar with the details of prior versions of HTML, this may be a reasonable reference, but it is not for someone that does not have that experience.The book does not, cannot, stand alone as a reference for HTML5.",2.0,Poorly Designed,1334102400,"04 11, 2012",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 AUX9KZUUB3YCE,B0044DF5KO,R. Nicholson,"[4, 4]","""Crimzon & Clover I - Orphaned Dragon, Lucky Girl"" is the first in a series of short fantasy adventures by author M. R. Mathias. This Kindle e-book was a 168 Kb download (approx. 51 printed pages) and was free (normally $1.00) at the time of righting this review.This tale took up approximately 41% of the download, the remainder was excerpts of other books by the same author.<spoilers>This tale tells of a hatchling dragon, Crimzon, (whose mother has be killed) and an adventurer, Clover, who discovers the abandoned creature and provides him not only with sustenance but also a budding friendship. As they develop their relationship they encounter a group of treasure hunters who are hell bent and determined to discover the fabled dragon's lair.<end spoiler>Some thoughts on ""Crimzon and Clover""...1.) an adventure that many might consider in the Young Adult (YA) genre. Regardless, I really enjoyed this short work as it was generally well written and exciting... it just didn't have the same depth and diversity that fantasy readers might expect to find in a full length adult fantasy adventure.2.) intriguing, eye-catching cover.3.) Crimzon's hissing dialect had many words ending with 'esses'.... an annoying characteristic that you'd probably find in a YA tale as opposed to an adult fantasy story. I couldn't imagine this speech pattern for a full length novel.Conclusion:A fun fantasy adventure featuring a young dragon and a female adventurer. Short, well written and interesting. Just long enough.3 1/2 Stars.Ray Nicholsonraynicholsonsreviews@hotmail.com",4.0,Either an Adult-lite OR Young Adult short fantasy adventure... 3 1/2 Stars,1338595200,"06 2, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A26JLV4G341J0J,0425228738,"Melodie Stickrath ""Meledstick""","[8, 8]","This is a book that will stick with you. Kevin Fahey was a lousy cop and an even lousier husband & father. As a ghost he has begun to see what he missed in life. He meets the ghost of a victim whose killer he thought he sent to prison, only to realize that because of his & his partner's shoddy work an innocent man was sent to prison. By trying to find the real killer he sees a chance to redeem himself somewhat in his own eyes. This story will make you think about your own life and what it might be like to see it from Kevin's side and know you don't get a ""do-over"". Good to have you back, Katy!! We've missed you!",5.0,Thought provoking!!,1249430400,"08 5, 2009",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A3RAIR289B2A84,0615589499,Christina (Ensconced in Lit),"[8, 9]","I was asked by the author to take a look at her book in exchange for an honest review.Phoenix Angel (Shardwell Series) by the sister duo A. Gerry and C. Hall follows four teenagers as they maneuver through high school, romance, friendship, and... new powers?I was greatly entertained by this book from start to finish, which is hard to do with someone who has read as much as I have. I enjoyed the perspectives of the teenagers, and the plot never stalled. Many newbies spend too much time on backstory and ignore their characters. That is not the case with this book. Lily is by far my favorite of the bunch, a sweet girl who is full of sunshine, but has the potential (and does) develop the most over time. Her best friend, Maggie, much less likeable but has very dramatic powers, which I'll let the reader discover themselves. Kyle is not my favorite male character over time, but he's a nice kid and provides a nice romantic interest. As for the fourth, I'll let people figure that one out on their own.A couple of issues I had with this novel. First, the viewpoints go from each of the main characters but for some reason we are stuck with Maggie for the first several chapters. As I alluded to before, she is not the most likeable character. I see why the authors started with her, but I think it might have been better for us to take a break from this angry character's perspective earlier rather than later. Second, I'm not sure why it's called Phoenix Angel? Cool title, but not sure how it pertains to the story.Overall, a fun story with great characters. I'm excited to see what these sisters have up their sleeve next!",4.0,"Entertaining from start to finish with great characters, a successful first novel for the sister duo!",1344211200,"08 6, 2012",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A20JJ8634DG3FS,0793518326,"Johnny Guitar ""J.F. Guitar""","[4, 4]","Pro's-------1) A robust work - is it complete, is it perfect? Dunno.2) Contains Vocals notation and lyrics, Guitar(s) notation and tab, Bass notation and tab, and drums - makes a great way for your band to get all the beatles songs in one place.3) Price is very reasonable for what you are getting.4) Includes a nice discography of british single, british Albums, American singles, American Albums at the back.Cons------1) Basically the form factor is the con - pages are 10"" x 7"", the book is 2"" thick. Hard bound form factor and 1130+ pages means it won't lay flat on a music stand. More of a ""desk reference"" than a song book.2) Font and notation is fairly small -- kind of hard to read! Maybe I'm getting old.3) I saw some notation that looked non-standard, for instance references to string bends and so forth were not ""typical"" guitar notation.General comments------------------This is a great idea, and the authors are to be commended for completing this project and for making this available. I only just received it so I can't comment on the accuracy of the transcriptions so please rely on other reviews for that. Its a massive work and if you are a beatles fan, or have a band that wants to play beatles tunes - this seems like a must have.General improvements would be to increase the page size to that of a typical song book, improving the font size and notation size. Spiral bind it and put it in 3-4 volumes so it would lay flat on a music stand.You get a lot for your money here...a good value. Overall, I really like this because I play guitar, bass, and keyboards and it will be fun to work from these transcripts and lay down and combine tracks.I'd recommend this to any beatles fan that wants to take a shot at some of their songs.",4.0,"Worth every penny, here are pros and cons",1290729600,"11 26, 2010",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3QNLSY2ZRNTRQ,1484021959,Tina H,"[0, 0]",This trilogy starts off different than I had expected but the twist and turns throughout the trilogy kept me reading to the very end.,4.0,Good,1382400000,"10 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21K1NX9SSE3G7,B00C3N1E8Y,Joncir,"[0, 0]","I had some doubts when I first downloaded this book. But when I started it, could not stop! I was too excited about this novel. The scenes and areas re right in my neighborhood. I was like oh snap linden boulevard, drew street, the belt parkway, gateway friggin mall!!!! I loved it, a great read, can't wait for part 2!",5.0,"One word "" awesome""!",1371513600,"06 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NDI7O9AJDD69,1606019325,"Tina Pavlik ""Tina""","[8, 8]","Ms. Lana Dare has given us scorching ménage trios with a fantastic plot. The main characters were all three dynamic, strong characters who didn't give up on what was important to them. The men had individual agendas and could imagine themselves as a ""three-way married"" couple. The woman was quite inexperienced, but willing. There was no forced sexual content. The storyline was highly explicit and a large part of the book was their sensuality. Of course, this book is not for those underage.This book was beautifully written, highly emotional and covered several distinct areas. The abuse, murder and family connections were a big part of the story. However, they were not covered in depth. There were no offending parts. This poignant look at the struggles of the main characters is a book which was very hard to put down.I recommend this book as one, if you like this genre, that will long remain in your mind. - Brenda Talley",4.0,4 1/2 Hearts from TRS!,1282176000,"08 19, 2010",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A2XF6W84WL1IGQ,1471133567,TJsHoney,"[13, 18]","Loved Beautiful Disaster, thought Walking Disaster was a nice addition if you loved Beautiful Disaster. The Wedding started out great and slowly slid down hill. The story is okay, a couple of cute moments. This was from a major Publisher and we paid a publisher price for a novella but there were editing and timeline errors. Love Jamie McGuire but her publisher did a poor job of supporting her on this project with what they let slip through the cracks. It's an okay read if you loved Beautiful Disaster but I won't be telling all my friends they have to run out and read this book.",3.0,Will not be recommending,1386633600,"12 10, 2013",13,18,helpful,0.7222222222222222,1 A2Q5ABZU5WPW4S,0425215644,Noreen Peterson,"[0, 0]",Great book. So romantic. Truly enjoyed reading it. 's London is a great romance writer. All three books in this series were worth buying and reading.,5.0,Loved this book,1389398400,"01 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A78FRI0YR2R4V,0330480170,jay,"[0, 0]","good old morse. for us diehards , it is good to hear the osford cop's wagner rolling on in our heads.",4.0,good old morse,1381881600,"10 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PUGWT07RJQ72,0981661742,"R. Scott Lorenz ""(Book Publicist)""","[6, 8]","In the fast changing world of publishing most books become outdated in a few months. That's why this book is THE book to buy on the topic as it's been updated for 2011. It now includes the latest info on Kindle, iPad, Microsoft Word 2010, Espresso Book Machine, Nook, Pubit!, AuthorHive, Google eBookstore. There's also an extensive section on eBooks and eBook readers.If you want the roadmap on how to become a successful author and publisher then ""Become a Real Self-Publisher"" by Michael N. Marcus is the book for you. In a pull-no-punches style Marcus cuts to the chase in the often confusing and treacherous book publishing and book marketing game.As a writer and successful publisher of books for more than 30 years Marcus speaks from personal experience. He implores authors to become real publishers and not customers of vanity presses or companies that publish on demand which Marcus says does not exist. Why? Nobody publishes on demand; they ""print"" on demand, he says.Marcus compares and contrasts publishing options including: LULU, Outskirts Press, Infinity Publishing, Amazon, Author House, Book Surge, Xlibris, Lightening Source and traditional publishing in a ""no-holds- barred"" approach. I find his approach refreshing because so many authors I speak to as a book publicist really need someone like Marcus, who has no hidden agenda, to tell it like it is.Besides discussing the benefits and pitfalls about every type of publishing option in the marketplace, Marcus also offers tips on what to do if you get a bad review. Says Marcus, ""Don't let a bad review ruin your day or your life. Some reviewers have hidden agendas like working on a competing book."" Marcus points out that it is rare that 100% of a review is bad and that there are usually a few sentences that can be pulled for the purpose of helping you sell more books.""Become a Real Self-Publisher"" also includes a list of publishing terms authors need to know about such as: ARC (advance reader copy) and POD (print on demand ) ...as well as places authors don't want to see like the Slush Pile which is that place where unsolicited manuscripts end up awaiting an evaluation by a publisher or agent.""Become a Real Self-Publisher"" by Michael N. Marcus is a must read for all authors whether they are first time authors or on the New York Times bestseller list. It's written in a serious but entertaining style with a little humor tossed in. This is THE book I tell my clients to read. I highly recommend it.",5.0,A Must Read For First Time Authors or New York Times Bestselling Authors,1269561600,"03 26, 2010",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A1NATT3PN24QWY,1586485636,"Rolf Dobelli ""getAbstract""","[55, 59]","In this excellent, highly readable book, Charles R. Morris combines legal and financial experience with literary craft. No ideologue, no partisan and certainly no salesman, Morris traces the roots of the 2007-2008 mortgage securities crisis to its distant origins in the 1970s. He argues that policy missteps under the Nixon, Ford and Carter administrations, when Arthur Burns chaired the Federal Reserve, led to dollar debasement. He contends that the decline of America's currency and its business sector at that time led in turn to the Reagan administration's zeal for deregulation and Chicago-school economics. He details his belief that Alan Greenspan's policies took America from a relatively healthy financial status to a position perhaps as dire as in the late 1970s. Morris also reveals the privileges enjoyed by an out-of-control financial services system. getAbstract found this to be a trenchant and provocative read.",5.0,Lucid explanation of the subprime mortgage crisis,1208476800,"04 18, 2008",55,59,helpful,0.9322033898305084,1 A22IPVX4DE7TOT,1610350189,Dee O'Hara,"[5, 6]","This book is a 'must have' for anyone wanting to cut through all of the narrow-view approaches to improved health, and find readily-accessed ways to feel better today. As a nurse, I particularly find its practical solutions to be especially useful to other nurses. Caregivers and other health professionals should also benefit. Over the course of my career I have come to realize that keeping patients in bed after illness, injury or surgery most often hinders their recovery. Dr. Vernikos explains how space research has shown why this is so, and how our modern sedentary lifestyle is so hazardous to health, leading to premature aging.The second half of the book provides an easy to follow guide of how rediscovering simple, everyday movement forms the foundation of basic health and fitness. Health professionals will find the recommendations on rehabilitation and treatment of head injuries of particular interest: that using gravity is crucial to effective recovery whether from stroke or other brain injury.This is a great book for anyone looking for simple, easy ways to remain healthy and independent for life.",5.0,Sitting Kills Moving Heals,1323129600,"12 6, 2011",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1O5073PQJFQQY,0345497600,"E. G. Seshadri ""Dad of three""","[0, 0]","Unlike the more common Rizzoli/Isles novels, this one has several bonuses - a brand new cast where we have no predetermined knowledge or prejudices; a pretty interesting flip/flop of the scenes from contemporary New England to Boston two hundred years ago; and a unique look at life in early America. The intricate details of medical care in the 1800s and the description of life in the different classes of society make this novel stand out.",5.0,A different flavor from Gerritsen,1293321600,"12 26, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YQALBYMTYLH9,B0056PFONW,"Valerie McGilvrey ""-Valerie McGilvrey""","[15, 16]",I am already self employed and have been for many years. I bought this book because it was suggested to me by Amazon and I really love the voice of the author. Paul sits down with you to tell many stories and has the 'older brother' encouragement along with steps of how to get there and get out of the slumps. I do highly recommend it!p.s. I love bunnies!!,5.0,Full of inspiring mantra,1349395200,"10 5, 2012",15,16,helpful,0.9375,1 A113VGLEOCAE9G,1780383541,thegreatshoppingplace,"[6, 6]","My 11 yr old Daughter loves Taylor Swift and said this is the best book she has ever read on Taylor and that she has learned so much about her that she did not know, and she thought she new everything. She was so excited to get this book. I have been reading it too, and it is very well written and I would recommend this book for any Taylor Swift Fan.",5.0,Bought for my 11 yr. old Daughter for Christmas,1356912000,"12 31, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A10QMR1FOD3ZG8,0393064727,Francis McInerney,"[4, 9]","The thesis that Europe might have been better off in the eighth century under liberal Umayyad Islam than under Charlemagne's conservative European monarchy is interesting. But Lewis points out that Al Andalus was saved, if temporarily, from being over run by the conquistadores by radical Islamic conservatives, making his point in the end unclear.The book's title says that it ends in 1215. But after about 1050, the story runs out of steam.And what is an ""ideational matrix?""",3.0,Interesting But Incomplete,1215907200,"07 13, 2008",4,9,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A2B0CZ4TMQI4S1,B009Q6CTVW,E. M. Kelly,"[4, 4]","Thank you, D. L. Hart, for a book that is perfect for me at this time of my life. After living together for 5 years on a small farm we purchased together, my sister decided she didn't want to ""do this"" any longer and she moved out. I was left sitting in a house that was virtually empty because she took everything she could. And just the other day, I found that she even took my grandchildren's Christmas Stockings!And so, I stumbled upon this book and the title reached out and grabbed me. Such perfect timing!I'm struggling to forgive my sister for all that has happened these past six months and for what will continue to happen as I lose my home to the mortgage company. ""Secret of Forgiveness"" has given me some comfort. I know I'll be re-reading it in the months to come as I try to put my life back together. I can feel a sense of peace creeping into me as I read the book and it is the only book on my iPhone Kindle reader! I carry it with me so I can read a bit of it when the depression hits.If you are in a depressed situation and struggling to regain your life, this is the book for you. It may not be an instant cure-all but it is comforting and that is exactly what we need.",5.0,"Thank you, D. L. Hart!",1354838400,"12 7, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A18S0NGABUXKYS,006112429X,"K. L. Holt ""Karenlee""","[5, 6]","Just finished this book. Whew...!It's written completely in the form of letters from a woman to her husband (who's obviously not living with her anymore). In them, she's retracing the past, trying to work out the how and why of the fact that their teenage son had gone off to school a year or two before and killed 7 classmates, 1 teacher, and a cafeteria worker.It's not usually the kind of book I'd start on, but a colleague and friend really recommended it. I did not find it 'easy' reading. Aside from the subject matter, which I have something of an antipathy to, it's rather a long book for the letter style, and the sole voice adds to the oppresiveness of the subject matter. However - does this author ever have a way with words!! Her ability to describe thoughts and feelings in unusual and moving ways made it more than worthwhile. From the very first paragraph:""Since we've been separated, I may most miss coming home to deliver the narrative curiosities of my day, the way a cat might lay mice at your feet: the small, humble offerings that couples proffer after foraging in separate backyards.""It's a style, I think, that will either grab you right away or annoy the hell out of you. She (Eve) is absolutely not what you'd call a bad, nasty or evil woman - at worst, perhaps a bit self-absorbed. She's extremely intelligent, has a wry sense of humour, and is a succesful businesswoman who loves her husband very, very much. They were both ambivalent about having kids to start with, and she certainly wasn't prepared for a child like Kevin.The Observor called it ""An elegant psychological and philosophical investigation of 'culpability'"" - and that's what it comes down to. Eve picking back through her memories and motivations - the story is constructed as she tries to pin down exactly the subconscious things that drove her own actions and reactions to her son in an effort to make sense of it all. In a way, the book is every bit as much about her as it is about her Kevin - perhaps even more so. Their interactions are the dance that defines the story. I found it exhausting at times, but I also can't count how often I stopped to re-read a paragraph for the sheer pleasure of the deft virtuousity of the author's wording. Almost everyone is aware, I think, of how intricate and sometimes contradictory the workings of their own mind and heart can be, but rarely have I come across a writer who can pin that down, in all its complexity, in mere words.Something else I liked about it was the way it matter-of-factly (although not overtly) questions the universally acknowledged truth that a wedded woman with fertility and security must be in want of a child. I know that many do - God bless them - they're the soldiers who keep the human race going. But it's not for everyone. Parenthood is an awesome, exhausting responsibility. CNN has examples practically every day of 'parents' who shouldn't have been allowed to keep a dog. Many embark upon it, I imagine, out of pure ignorance or boredom, with precious little resources - mental, physical or financial - and with disastrous results. When I read about children who have been roasted to death in a car because their too-young single mother couldn't find a babysitter while she was at work, I don't quite know who or what I want - or should - rage and howl against.But in this book, we're talking about financially secure, intelligent folks in their mid-30s who debated the pro's and con's, discussed what they were getting into, had an idea of what they'd have to give up, and thought they were ready to make whatever personal sacrifices necessary - and still it went terribly wrong. This is not the social mileau where people leave their infants or toddlers to boil to death in locked cars while they're doing something else, but it does seem to be the one that produces the children of Columbine.In short, this book actually raises more more sophisticated questions about what being a 'good parent' is all about. It's also to its credit that it doesn't try to supply pat answers, although I did find oblique (and comforting for me) references to them in the very last pages. Definitely intriguing and rewarding to some, but not to all.",4.0,"Rewarding to some, but not to all",1186358400,"08 6, 2007",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1BLOI47AO1JUJ,1496145437,Tammy Miller-Devlin,"[0, 0]",How can I put in to words how much I love this book. Thank you Harper for outing this out. I did not know how much I miss the boys and their family. I can't wait on the next one!!!,5.0,Oh how I miss them,1400544000,"05 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A362SWBZIJJCTO,0615650139,Beni,"[0, 0]","This author has given us a glimpse of what it might be when we get to heaven. The story is plausible and richly detailed, and I'm SERIOUSLY looking forward to reading more of her books!",5.0,Wonderous story!,1393545600,"02 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGMICUF9ZWXAM,0385323069,Jay,"[0, 0]",This is a story that should be read by children and adults. It is a beautiful story and very well written. Much deserving of both the Newberry and the Coretta Scott King awards.,5.0,More Than a Children's Book,1262476800,"01 3, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2G43MVSGNXO5V,0553584863,latenight423,"[11, 12]","I'm beginning to feel ripped off - what would be one good book is stretched out by the publisher to three oh-so-indifferent books. Together, all three of this series might come close to one of Amanda Quick's earlier works.I can see why the publishers do it:** They'd have to charge $27 or more for one GOOD novel** By splitting the book, they get $23 each for three NOT-SO-GOOD novels** The split books still look the same because of wider margins and larger type stylesI can't see why the authors do it, though. Don't they see they are disappointing their readers, and ultimately might turn us off completely?I won't complain about plots or characters. I know before I buy a hybrid romance/mystery that it's a combination of both genre's and, therefore, neither the romance nor the mystery will be GREAT. You get 6 of one and 1/2 dozen of the other. If you buy one of these hybrid novels, you get characters like Tobias and the crew with several light mysteries thrown in with the lighter version of a romance novel.I just wish the authors and publishers would quit trying to rip me off. This three book series would have ACTUALLY made only one good book.",3.0,Publishers should stop splitting up books!,1080864000,"04 2, 2004",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 AN89MYMWS3FI8,0143038338,Book Shark,"[11, 12]","Dr. Dennett's book left a little to be desired. Can science study religion? Interesting topic indeed but Dr. Dennett in many instances took the scenic route to get to his points. Here are the strengths and weaknesses of the book:Strengths:1. Interesting topics2. Introduction of new ideas3. Well informed and intelligent author4. Good overall organization of book5. Makes good overall points6. The third of three sections was the best part of the bookWeaknesses1. It wasn't a fun, smooth read2. Took too long to get to points3. Too restrained, let loose Dr. Dennett4. Scientifically shallow5. Lacked convictionA mild recommendation. Slightly disappointed. In summary, Dr. Dennett claims that religion should be looked at scientifically and that it is no longer above criticism.",3.0,"Not ""Bright"" Enough",1272931200,"05 4, 2010",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A2PC5JR8WO2S30,1891105302,"Jessica Barker ""Frazzled Mom of Four""","[6, 9]","The recipes ask for more ""out-of-ordinary"" ingredients that I want to spend money on and the recipes take a bit more time because of the involved steps in the directions. One book that I liked that had recipes for special holidays and everyday meals was ""The Frantic Woman's Guide to Feeding Family and Friends.""",2.0,Not All That,1193702400,"10 30, 2007",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 AZXUFTJVXJWL0,0199229546,John Dynan,"[8, 9]","Joseph M. Siracusa appears to be of American extraction but lives and works in Australia as a Professor of International Studies at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. The evidence of his origins can be found in the opening passage of his book when he describes his own recollection of the feeble practices instituted by the US Government in the 1950s to counter the threat of nuclear blasts against schoolchildren. The truth is, as he says, ""America's schoolchildren would never have known what hit them"".The book is part of Oxford University Press's marvellous series of Very Short Introductions and while I had initial reservations about the historical elements of the book, Siracusa eventually won me over. The science of nuclear weapons is not well understood by the vast majority of people and Siracusa does attempt to explain it in layperson's terms. Having read Richard Rhodes' seminal work,The Making of the Atomic Bomb, I was reasonably well aware of the mechanics of the system but also very cognizant of the historical aspects, which are glossed over a bit too carelessly in this one, even for such a short book.Once the basics are out of the way, the post WWII global scene is dealt with and Siracusa moves quite well between the various policies adopted by countries in a changing world where the balance of power shifted quite rapidly from US monopoly to a policy of containment as the Soviet Union developed their own weapons. Various developments are well discussed, as the development of the hydrogen bomb and missile technology evolved into Mutual Assured Destruction: MAD.His explanations of the Reagan era Strategic Defense Initiative leads well into his perspectives on the end of the Cold War era and where it left us. There is an interesting discussion towards the end on deterrence policy and the role of missile defences in shaping policy. With the accession of G.W.Bush to the US Presidency, many SDI programs were re-invigorated and Siracusa explains the philosophical problems with recruiting friendly nations to support the program. He finishes with a short analysis of the possibilities of a terrorist bomb and how such a problem might occur.This book did not win me over at first and it took a bit of effort to get into it. However the author kept the pace going quite well and with ample information available to him, it would have been something of a challenge to sift through it all. The book shows some signs of being put together in something of a hurry: Los Alamos is in New Mexico, not Mexico (p.17) and the only Rumsfeld I know of is Donald, not David (p.100).The best part of the book for me would be the objectivity of the analysis, particularly when it came to comparing the various policies of the superpowers. That included some coverage of US decisions, previously unknown to me, which ultimately proved either futile or questionable. Not quite from the top drawer but definitely worth a look.",4.0,"New perspectives, good on science but...",1244851200,"06 13, 2009",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A1PL1A099PSLNE,1493685597,Julia M. Traver,"[9, 12]","Ms. Schertz is one of the reasons why the genre of "Austenalia" is looked down upon by much of mainstream press and is why it is the unique and extremely well-written novel which is finally picked-up for publication. I am not in the publishing industry -- and I first read P&P; in the spring of 1963 when I was in 7th grade. I have read all of Miss Austen's original novels and have studied them at the graduate level.Now, I do enjoy a fun novel since I do not watch television. However, I cannot recommend Ms Schertz's writing to anyone who I know. It is too declarative and in a style, I am sorry to say, that has barely left the elementary school. It "rushes." Self-publishing used to be called the "Vanity Press." This is a good example of why this name should never go out of style.",1.0,This writer needs a lot of editorial assistance and multiple re-writes -- with ALL her books,1387756800,"12 23, 2013",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A3TCEX54TCIEES,006230240X,"Ramblings From This Chick Blog ""Danielle""","[0, 0]","While I thoroughly enjoy this story and the authors voice I admit that at times it felt a bit rushed in places. The story is told through alternating p.o.v's and because of this there are some times that I felt like I was missing a pivotal moment with the characters. We are told about things happening rather than seeing them unfold.But still, I look forward to reading more from this author and this series.",3.0,Enjoyable.,1376006400,"08 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2RPZTZP8W80W,160504329X,"Jasmyn A. Dieck ""Jasmyn""","[0, 0]","This book was such a fun book to read! I loved all the characters - even the bad guys (but in a bad way). Moira is full of spunk and determination to live her own life away from the crazy man claiming to be her destiny. Unfortunately, he may just be telling the truth (or at least one version of it). Her boss and the PI's in New Orleans know that she's not human - she's something else, but she doesn't have a clue herself.When Mackenzie finds out the paranormal world is all too real, she decides she has to trust Jackson to help her figure out what is going on (she's a very confused lady). But what the uncover is far from pretty - it's an ugly horrible scheme that rocks the entire paranormal world, and Mackenzie is in the center of it all.The only thing I disliked about this story was just a little pet peeve of mine that kept coming up, otherwise it would have received 5 stars. Also, the sexual rating was a little tough on this one. While there isn't a lot of it or anything really unusual - there is some broken furniture or it would have received a 1 sexual rating.",4.0,Crux,1374278400,"07 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMZWHFSIZCI2W,1476709157,Michael Holly,"[0, 0]","I wasn't very enamored with Mr. Lescroart's last couple of books, and even wrote a rather scathing review about how he seemed to be phoning it in, and apparently dialed the wrong number. Well I have to say this one is classic Lescroart. It is well paced, detailed in all the right places, and the plot is well developed along with the characters.All of the characters are in place and all have a significant role in the plot. Well worth the read.",5.0,He's Back!,1404432000,"07 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14XUCN5OC998O,1741575346,"Dusty White ""Advanced Tarot Secrets author an...","[14, 14]","I hate guitar lessons. More than that, I hate guitar lesson books. Of course I want to play the guitar. It seems everyone in L.A. can play the guitar but me. I can play piano, and I can make random noises on my drum, but guitar books just don't seem to work for me. But I like this one--a lot!It's a picture book. There are a lot of instructional picture books these days, with lavish full-color illustrations and short paragraphs, snappy headlines, and they all make learning look easy, but not all of these pretty books are created equal. I know this because I have read every one I can get my hands on, no matter what the subject. What makes this particular picture learning book work is that behind the pictures and snappy headlines and short paragraphs, someone who knows how to teach took the time to put everything in order and not take things too fast. The result is that you don't get instructions that skip around or seem to jump ahead, leaving you behind if you are not keeping up with every step.There are several guitar learning techniques I have never seen before, such as the Easter Bunny Gets Drunk At Easter string mnemonic memory key. I tried to devise one of these for myself a few years back, but this one is much easier to remember, and the fact that someone who knows how to teach guitar finally thought to add this to page 12 (nice and early in the lessons) gave me great hope that I too could fumble my way into campfire fame, if not slash and burn rock stardom (well, someday). See the images of the book I uploaded to see exactly what you will find in this book.Chords are the basis for learning and playing guitar, and they are not so hard to remember as they are a pain to figure out what to do with. I have learned how to play several chords from other books, simply by looking at where to place my fingers, but then I get lost. Okay, so now I know a chord. What next? And what about single notes? Learning guitar can get very frustrating, very fast, when you are simply following along plopping your fingers here and there and not hearing any songs, and not being able to play something ""on demand."" This book removes that frustration by taking you quickly through a series of baby steps that familiarize you with the essential skills you need to play single notes and chords, and whatnot, and only then gives you progressively more advanced exercises.What I like most about this style of teaching is that each technique is its own segment in the larger chain, so that you can go back and focus on the one thing that is giving you trouble, and return to the part of the course where you were and practice properly (and successfully). There is no getting around the callouses you need to build up on your fingertips, but this book works equally well with electric guitar, acoustic, or even a lute!Advanced techniques appear (also in tiny, easily digested segments) after you have had time to play around with basic chords and single note exercises. Chord theory is laid out in ways that almost seem simplistic. I remember my friend trying to teach me chord theory a few years back. His IQ is somewhere north of 150 and so was his teaching methods. i understood the words he was saying, but nothing would stick when I picked up the guitar. With this book is was much easier, to the point of absurdity really. All in all, this is (in my humble opinion) the perfect way to learn guitar if you don't have a teacher to stand over you for weeks on end while you wrestle with your guitar. I like the spiral binding, as the book lays flat nicely while you practice. And it is short. In 64 pages you learn everything you need to actually play and practice--enough to get to that next level, that of learning your favorite songs by reading sheet music and impressing friends and strangers. It's simple, and it works, and the DVD is a nice bonus that shows you ""in real life"" everything you learn in the book.**Highly recommended** (and it is really inexpensive considering what you get)Thanks for reading",5.0,This may be the easiest way to learn the guitar--EVER!!,1227657600,"11 26, 2008",14,14,helpful,1.0,1 A1XA0NQ7Q6ECVV,1466398167,Kathye K,"[0, 0]",Great read. Interesting plot twist and enjoyed the strong women personalities and the men liking that about them. The physical connections were really good.Good read.,5.0,Great read. Interesting plot twist and enjoyed the strong ...,1404950400,"07 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A380JFP02KLOU,0763655279,"princess bookie ""Cin""","[0, 0]","My Thoughts: It took me awhile to get into this one. The first 50 or so pages I just didn't feel into the story. But once I got through that, wow, oh wow, this was so good.We are introduced to Matt who lost his brother T.J. in Iraq. He's a mess. He's failing in school and in life. He doesn't know who to turn too since he sure can't turn to his dad. His dad is a control freak, who wants Matt to enlist as well. He's bent on Matt doing exactly what he says when he says it.Matt thought he knew T.J. but once T.J.'s belongings arrive after the funeral, Matt goes through the lockers and gets to know his brother in a whole new light. He finds things out he never even imagined.There is also a little bit of romance in this one between Matt and a friend of his. That made the story oh so more sweet.This took me by surprise. It was a very emotional read for me. I felt like I really got to know Matt and T.J. in his own way too.Personal Effects was a bit slow at the start but don't give it up if you feel the same way. It gets so addicting to read because you want to know what happens and more about T.J. and who he really was. I felt like I really was in Matt's shoes. Every emotion he felt, I felt.Wow. Oh Wow.Overall: A really great novel about loss, grief, and trying to overcome it in your own way. Matt was such a great character and I'm glad I read this one. I just can't believe everything that happened, I'm still kind of surprised about it. And I never even saw any of T.J.'s secrets coming, which is unusual for me! Add this one to your debut list now!Cover: Like it. It fits the book. Kind of dark yet enticing.What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes________Taken From Princess Bookie",4.0,Personal Effects,1348617600,"09 26, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1FG91CM8221X1,0345440463,Miles D. Moore,"[35, 37]","As with another of my favorite books, the late Barbara Grizzuti Harrison's ""Italian Days,"" Carolyn See's ""Making a Literary Life"" is as much about the author as it is about the stated subject. See's subject, of course, is how to make your way as a writer--not only how to write, but how to get your writing published and make your name known in the literary world. Some of See's advice--such as writing a thousand words a day, five days a week--is eminently sensible; some of it--such as writing cheery thank-you notes to editors who reject your work or reviewers who trash it--is a little more difficult to swallow. But See's basic points are indisputable: the only way to be a writer is to write; the Biblical wisdom of ""a soft answer turneth away wrath"" holds just as true in the literary business as in any other; being a literary genius doesn't give you leave to abandon common courtesy. Of all guides to writing, ""Making a Literary Life"" has to be the most flat-out fun to read. You get See's observations on the art of writing (""The passive voice is really good for only one thing: the weaselly notes in committee meetings where nobody wants to get blamed for whatever happened""). You get her first-hand testimony on the damage wrought when the people around you don't support your writing (""My first husband, an elegant, brokenhearted artiste, knew for a fact that if you were smart enough to want to write, you were also smart enough to realize the extent of your own mediocrity""). You get the scoop on the eccentric behavior of all the authors See has met, from Amy Tan carrying two lapdogs in her purse to Harlan Ellison's confrontation with a bookseller at a literary conference (""He howled like a castrated bison; she responded with shrieks from `The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'""). While See says at the outset that ""Making a Literary Life"" is intended for fledgling writers without connections to the literary world, I think the book is just as useful for journeyman writers (such as myself) who have published a book or two but have no idea how to break into the next level. Quirkily, entertainingly, Carolyn See gives us some ideas how to do so. She's the soft-hearted yet hard-headed friend all of us poor scriveners seek.",5.0,As much a guide to Carolyn See as to the literary life.,1034467200,"10 13, 2002",35,37,helpful,0.9459459459459459,1 A1BRG2NKEI6B3N,0373777566,"Elizabeth Brown ""mslizalou""","[0, 0]","I was lucky enough to get an early copy of All He Ever Desired from NetGalley. I'm a huge fan of Shannon Stacey and especially love her Kowalski series.Ryan Kowalski has been in love with Lauren Carpenter pretty much his entire life. When she marries another man, he leaves his hometown rather than watch her with another man. When he comes home to help out his brothers with the family-owned lodge, he runs into Lauren as soon as he gets back to town. He plans to avoid Lauren like always when he is home until he catches her son vandalizing the lodge. He agrees to let Nick work off his debt and Lauren and Ryan now get to see each other almost daily.The chemistry between Ryan and Lauren was off the charts. Even when Ryan and Lauren were trying to avoid one another, if they were in the same room, you could totally feel their connection. I've come to expect some pretty sexy love scenes from Shannon Stacey, and she delivered yet again with All He Ever Desired. Much like in real life, things aren't perfect just because Ryan and Lauren finally admit and act on their feelings. Ryan's business and home are in another state and his business is starting to suffer with him being in Maine for an extended time. Lauren's ex-husband is a jerk about Ryan being in Nick and Lauren's life. Ryan and Lauren are an amazing couple and I loved watching them find their HEA.I also loved the amount of time we got to spend with the rest of the Kowalski family. The entire family comes in for Mitch and Paige's wedding. I fell in love with the Kowalski family in the very first book and can't wait until the next Kowalski book is released.All He Ever Desired official release date is November 12, 2012 and can be purchased at your favorite online retailer. For more information about Shannon Stacey and her books, check out her website.",5.0,Another Kowalski Winner,1352678400,"11 12, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A4K1SSFWR495O,141431311X,"C. M. Cotton ""Chris Cotton""","[216, 225]","I sell 1500 audio visual training products and 1000 book titles from the worlds leading authors such as Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy, Tony Robbins, Jim Rohn etc etc. I have therefore listened to about 200 tape programmes and read about 90 books on success, in the last few years.I recomend very few books as most are rehashed versions of classic authors such as Napolean Hill, Robert Allen etc etc.This book by Tommy Newberry, is rehashed material. There is nothing new or mind blowing in this book. When reading it you will read Zig, Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins, N Hill, Maxwell Maltz etc.What makes this book very very good is the way he brings you to conclusions, without you realising you have done it. An example; I have always struggled trying to set goals, usually the authors get you to brainstorm, pick a few suggestions and use them as goals. Newberry doesn't mention picking goals until chapter 3. By chapter 3, with your assignment work from the prevoius 2 chapters, the author has brought you to the right conclusions so you can EASILY set your 3 year goals.His approach is brilliant, each chapter builds up to the next one, so logical are the conclusions, you never have to jump a massive mental valley to find answers to the questions posed in the assignments at the end of each chapter.The author brilliantly takes you several steps futher than a mere goal setting book, he teaches you the basic fundementals of Physco Cybernetics and Visualisation. If you study success/goal setting and have failed in the past to get results, it will be down to the fact you have not reprogammed your "servomechanism" as in Physco Cybernetics/Visualisation. This book teaches you what other goal setting books do not, combing Maxwell Maltz's Cybernetics to Lee Pulos's work on visualisation.If I could give this book 10 stars I would because this book has got it all. The only thing it does not have is an author who loves himself, and loves telling his audience how great he is. A refreshing change from some other authors!HIGHLY RECOMENDED",5.0,One of the VERY BEST books on personal development,946080000,"12 25, 1999",216,225,helpful,0.96,1 A2P8FDN8TEI4WZ,B004A14RI6,Z.Ferguson,"[0, 0]",Am not going to lie but the first part of the book was a bit boring but has it got down to the ending it got exciting like I couldn't wait to see what would happen next......... well from me I definitely give this book a full 100 % can't wait to read book 2,5.0,Yes,1372291200,"06 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2PNS90BKGNM16,0679422714,"S. Shueh ""Book Warm""","[338, 358]","My initial impression of this book was it was just another book on a forgotten Chinese leader. It was not long before I was absorbed in the 56 chapters of this book. Using newly declassified Soviet source I became more aware what really was behind early Nationalist government and its dependence on Lenin's aid for controlling China. Chiang Kai-Shek (abbre. CKS thereafter) along with revolutionaries at the time who were invited by Lenin to master communism techniques. Those who favored a social class struggle and effectively applied a brutal social reform became communists; those who favored a gradual transformation became nationalists.Inspite of numerous Chinese, and non-Chinese language references cited, the authors did not carefully research and sometimes drew premature conclusions based on their grasp of the content. Some of the examples include but not limited here.During the Northern Campaign to unify China, Sun Yet-Sen probably had his own agenda than Moscow's envoys. Officially his motto was ""United with Soviets and Communists support the labor and farmers"". The alliance became problematic quickly after the alliance as book suggests. Sun died and CKS who rose to replace Sun still had to rely Lenin for support. CKS's 1923 tour of Soviet Union showed disappointment (pp 19-25 in Reference 1 and pp 44-45 not substantiated in the book). It failed to mention that anti-imperialism was high on CKS agenda. Rather, the book merely suggested ""CKS was being liquidated by Borodin with secret order"" from Lenin. However, it was not confirmed in any documents. The split (i.e., purge of the communists) initiated by CKS was more an expression of disappointment of Nationalist faction over the socialists after the Second Congress in 1926 (pp 43). It was not a decision made by CKS. Confidential documents seized by Peking government showed Chinese communists were linked to Soviet subversion. Furthermore, bad news from Changsha violence instigated by Mao affected Nationalist army officers and soldiers alike. The order to purify communists in Shanghai was a matter of time to gain stronghold by KMT by riding trouble makers (pp 45).The book states Mao was on Nationalist payroll to be a member of a standing committee around 1922. In those days the difference between Nationalist and Communists is the ideology employed. Sun's Huang-Po Military Academy started with 500 rifles donated by Lenin. Socialism and capitalism were openly debated by cadets, instructors and civilians. It was perfectly acceptable to switch from communism to nationalism or vice versa. It is somewhat similar to a Republican in America switches to become a Democrat. Even as late as 1949 the defected generals allowed their subordinates to choose side going to Peking or Taiwan (pp 308-9).The explanation about Chiang made a deal with Mao let the Reds go in exchange of his son's release makes a nice story (pp137). However, it is not substantiated with any credible citations. The situation is much more complex as the truth really lies in the diary of CKS and his son CCK at Hoover's Institute's vault. A lot of long march occurred in the uncharted territory of the Celestica Kingdom. My 2001 trip to NE Sichuan-Gansu following the footsteps of terrain and long march suggested it was and is exceedingly difficult today to pursue people in these steep hills. It would take millions soldiers to encircle and trap the red army. It was a lot easier for the regional nationalists chase reds out of their turf giving them to other regional commanders.The description of Dadu bridge crossing (pp153-155) is an interesting one as it would certainly rewrite the modern history of PRC and ruins its credibility. Edgar Snow wrote a different version story dramatize the event. Every Chinese citizen today was taught early about the courageous walk across the planks on the bridge under ""heavy enemy gun fire"". If nationalist soldiers defending the same bridge by Li were actually 50 kilometers away and soldiers defended the bridge not there, this would have devastating impact on the credibility of modern PRC government. This is substantiated as Mao had often said to Zhou En-Lai:"" We write modern history anyway we feel as fits"".Another example of premature conclusion was labeling KMT general Hu Tsung-Nan a communist sleeper (pp 301). During the 1947 retake of Yenan, it was not ""Hu K'ung-Mien, a representative of Hu, who passed on secrets to Mao"" (pp 301). Rather, Hu's personal secretary Xiong Shiong Zhuan, recruited from Tsinghua University passed the information to Yenan. Mao was so confident about the source he did not allocate military resource to resist Hu. 90% of the Red Army was sent Manchuria instead (pg 302). Hu did not suspect Xiong. Mao stayed behind playing hide and seeks with pursuers (pp 304). The same argument went for General Wei Lihuang whose strategy in Manchuria caused the demise of the Nationalist military and support from the US (pp 306-8), as well as chief architect of Huai-Hai campaign involving some spies generals who deliberately messed up the battle plans causing the collapse of half a million nationalist soldiers equipped with American weapons (pp309).The downfall of the Nationalists and lack of support from the mass was described vividly. Chiang's reliance of his relatives, using less capable civil servants caused so much discontent. It was rumored his appointees were there for themselves. Perhaps because of Chiang's inconsistent policy he was the cause of fall of his own government.As Mao's indoctrination advocate and promise to the majority (97% of Chinese were peasants) to stand up fight against the mandarin system installed for centuries. The Communists promise appears to win an upper hand than the 3% landlord or gentry's class who support the nationalists. With so much defection going on, Chiang began to have less and less confidence in his officials. He had to rely on his own Huang Pu cadets who were labeled criminals of revolution. At battle field he often sent two officers to spy on another to ascertain one would not betray him thus making the task tedious and ineffective.The argument from Taiwan has been that ""Communist moles"" were planted everywhere. What happened to the Nationalists moles on the Communist side? After their agents were sent to infiltrate the liberated areas they realized many Communist teachings actually were for the people. In this case they just gave in. The total destruction of CCP's tight public security system on people's privacy meant there was little or no way can an individual (mole) contact ROC even if he wanted to. Children were told at school to spy on their parents. All individuals require ID at neighborhood association and police knows everyone and watch strangers like hawks today. Any stranger temporally taking up residence is required to submit registration and is under constant surveillance.After Mao liberated Chiang's capital Nanjing (pp 320-1) Chiang and people's party (KMT) essentially lost the support of the mass. Unlike the Japanese or Russians KMT did not carry out a ""scorch earth policy"" when they left mainland (pp321). They did manage to take them treasured imperial museum collection and some light items of military or economical use to Taiwan. Chiang left China with little damage. KMT left 68 ordinance and ship yards alone. It did much little destruction compared to the Soviets or Japanese. Chiang, while autocratic but believing in democracy and being a Methodist himself is not like Mao. The book pointed out, this was why Chiang was defeated by the authoritarian Mao (pp321).The authors also went into great details about waves of purge campaigns after taking over mainland China (chapters 34-47). From waging a wasteful Korean War with loss of 400,000 lives (pp 378), persecution of the intellectuals, anti-anything not in line with his philosophy, Mao's best weapon was use one group fight against other rivals so as to intimidate the mass. His organizational skills surpass any state leaders. He now has total control on China.Since the time of its first ruthless emperor, Qin Shihuang, known for building the Great Wall, China had been under centralized authoritarian rule. But when the Republic was formed in 1912, hopes were high for democratic political change. However, external and internal wars, self-serving warlords, and abysmal nationalist leaders tragically retarded China's political modularization. In 1949, a peasant rebellion influenced by a communist ideology led by Mao supported by Stalin created the PRC and drove the Nationalists to Taiwan. Mao Zedong, the self-proclaimed new emperor, perpetuated and intensified mainland China's despotic political tradition. Today's China is once again on the verge of merging with capitalism. Yet democratic reform in the PRC is still far from a certainty, much less a success. Fortunately, there are reasons to be optimistic. For one thing, Taiwan is prospering. Over the past decades, the Taiwanese have proudly proven that Western ideas of capitalism, freedom, and the rule of law can thrive together with Chinese culture. It may be this type of reform which will work in modern China. That may take some time for the central government to accept.How Mao's well intentional programs failed miserably in the 1950-70 can be found in chapter 40 (pp 426 and on). Without any new technology people were pressed to carry out wasteful projects and most had to be abandoned. In 1957, Mao envisioned a scheme to beat Great Britain's steel production with another campaign. The rice fields were littered with home made dirt blast furnaces to produce steel (pp 431). Trees were cut to feed into those monstrous furnaces. People threw in their kitchen skillets to meet the useless iron production quota had no kitchenware to use. It was the kids, peasants who tried to please Mao who continued on with the non-sense talk"" bourgeois professors' knowledge should be treated as dogs' fart, worth nothing""(pp 434). His edict to consolidate families into a commune work unit became so unpopular and brutal it had to be abandoned.Mao's campaign to elimination seed eating birds turned China into a disastrous locust and insect invasion on farms from the eco-imbalance effort 38,000,000 people starved to death (pp 439, numbers are higher than reported from other sources). The death numbers never seem to bother Mao. He went in so far as telling Moscow in 1957 that China was ready to sacrifice 300 million for the sake of revolution. ""The Tibetans did not even own rice bowls any more. Under CKS and the warlord Ma Pu-Fang rule they had at least bowls(pp 456)"". During 1989 Beijing democratic reform demonstration, one of the leading military figure urged Deng Xiao Ping to slaughter 100,000 students in order to maintain stability.Today's China does not even remotely resemble Mao's idea! It was Liu Shao Chi and Deng Xiao Ping who transform from a backward isolate socialist state to a capitalist China. Is this the government people really want today?This is an excellent book to get an understanding of Mao. A barely literate peasant-like person led the most populous country for so long. A lot of Mao's mistakes and ruthless policy were reverberated throughout the text. It suggests that Chiang had a vision and was right in many actions taken. KMT did not have an opportunity to prove its rightness before it was completely destroyed. The downside of the book was there were not enough credible in depth research. The photos included were not original. Readers need to do more research to confirm findings.The authors have un-raveled the myth and holiness of Mao. This book will never be allowed to show up on book shelves inside China. In recent years a book written about Mao by his private physician has been smuggled into China. People just learned about his peasant-like life style but he is still king and god of China. Even a review of this book one will skillfully be filtered out on the Chinese Internet. The only thing I found was reviews I have done on Ba Jing's book. I sincerely hope that it ultimately gets slips into China so people there can discover, or perhaps have their suspicions confirmed, how the Chinese government has distorted its own founder and history skillfully for so long.Sam Shueh, digital librarianReference1.Chiang KS, Soviet Russia in China, Farrar, Straus & Cudahy, New York, NY.",4.0,The darkside of Mao,1168905600,"01 16, 2007",338,358,helpful,0.9441340782122905,1 A320TMDV6KCFU,B000MAH736,MNix,"[5, 6]","If their new drug doesn't pass muster with the board, scientists Laura Manning and Jay Cutler will not receive the additional funding they need. To prove the libido suppressant works and not just on their lab rats, they decide to test the drug on themselves.After Jay is injected with the lust-killing drug, it's Laura's job to test its effectiveness. Laura must employ her womanly wiles to arouse Jay. Using romantic music and sexy lingerie, Laura will do her best to entice Jay. If the drug works, Jay's libido will not respond. If the drug fails, Jay promises to more than satisfy!With Pleasure Control, Cathryn Fox delivers a very lusty tale. But don't worry, there is plenty of romance too! Jay and Laura's love story is very erotic and had me clenching my knees. And wiggling. A lot! I learned my lesson with Pleasure Control, never, ever, read a Cathryn Fox book at work. I thought the day would never end!Jay and Laura's love story is delicious. I am excited to see that a secondary character, Erin will have her own book in 2007, Pleasure Prolonged. This promises to be a hot and sexy series! For a romance with lots of erotic, pulse pounding sex, I recommend Pleasure Control.AnnmarieReviewed for Joyfully Reviewed",5.0,Pleasure Control,1185235200,"07 24, 2007",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A10TEHGUYWP4JT,0312136234,P. Lynn,"[0, 0]","Good Book. A good read and interesting thoughts. Book arrived in good condition, as described. Thank you.",5.0,Why government doesn't work,1201219200,"01 25, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A25RHN380YFZ6O,034541005X,Alice R. Grove,"[0, 0]","The Power of One is a great book. It is a book that is hard to put down. The story excites the emotions of the reader: compassion, humor, anticipation.",5.0,"Regarding ""The Power of One""",1314403200,"08 27, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2IK776FY6MEMG,1613820259,Skipjacks,"[0, 0]","They say a picture is worth a thousand words.Well, they say that if they have never read Victor Hugo.Hugo paints a vidid photorealistic picture with his words. Every tiny detail of the world he creates is laid out in his writing. Sometimes the fun of books is imagining the story world in your own interpretation. Les Miserables doesn't really allow for that, but it's not a bad thing at all. You see the world Hugo creates exactly the way he meant it due to the amount of detail he puts in. Because he is describing a setting half a world away from more than a century ago, with people suffering in poverty like most modern day readers will never know, Hugo's extreme detail lets you really immerse yourself in a world that a modern day reader just couldn't imagine on their own.If you've seen the play or the movie you know that it's an intricate story with deep characters and an very involved plot line. But the book takes all that depth and goes about a mile deeper.Again, this is not a great book to let your imagination carry you away. Hugo's intention was to capture just how miserable life in that era of France was for the common people. You get a sense of that when watching the movie. But you feel like you are actually part of it, living in that world, when reading the book.",5.0,The movie wasn't as descriptive as the book!,1399507200,"05 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GY6BTYZI16LC,B00H0GED9Q,nan8,"[0, 0]",just loved every bit of this book wow wow wow wowcant wait to see whats next with elle just love your work,5.0,wow,1396915200,"04 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1FJ6YD0TL90GN,1481042440,Mary Mooney,"[0, 0]","There is only one word for this book and author Kendall Ryan and it would be FANTASTIC! I loved this story. It drew me in from the first page and kept me glued until the end. Loved Cade & Alexa. He knew he wasn't good enough for her but fell hard for her. It was well written and flowed well. I did not read any reviews before reading this one, just friends telling me I needed to read it. And I love anything by Kendal Ryan. Read it for yourself, you will love it , hate it or somewhere in between. I am looking forward to my next read from this fantastic author!",5.0,Fantastic,1372291200,"06 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1JGWBBFUAK275,1490503617,Lindsey Alarcon,"[0, 0]","Marc Horn takes the reader on a journey of enlightenment. Vamphora explores the idea of humanity, it questions the essence of morality, and it allows the reader to question the rigid contours of society within the relatively safe confines of a fictional novel. Vamphora brings together the fantastical elements of science fiction and the gruesome, hard-to-bear elements of the racially charged world that surrounds us all. Will there be a ""happily ever after"" for us?",4.0,What is humanity?,1377820800,"08 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GAY5VH2LDFWK,0805210555,"Patrick A. Kellner ""PAK""","[22, 97]","Franz Kafka was born into a Jewish middleclass family in Prague in July 1883 and succumbed to Tuberculosis in June of 1924. Much of his literary work was published posthumously is reported to be amongst the most influential in Western Literature for it's time. Much of the work is reported to be incomplete and the larger portion of it is collected in this book ""The Complete Stories"".In the interest of full disclosure I did not finish the whole book. To be honest I couldn't bear to read another page of it. I know many will say that I cant give a complete review because of this but I am only giving my opinion of what I read which was all similar in one form or fashion so I am operating under the assumption the I would have found all of the stories I left unread as unbearable as those I did read. If you think there is a story I should have read let me know. Before going any further I would say that according to the pros (which I am not), Kafka's writing is of great academic value which I do not dispute. The problem is that this didn't translate into enjoyable reading for me.The Good: According to the critics and those of the academic community the good is practically limitless. Unfortunately for me I couldn't find any of it.The Bad: I just didn't enjoy a single moment that I spent with my nose in this book. The stories I read were boring and full of uninteresting characters, subject matter and plot-less storylines that tended to meander everywhere and go nowhere. To top that off the characters were generally placed in bad situations with no hope of a positive outcome and a lack of desire to look for one. The stories and characters are basically just overly morose and depressing. I slogged on this for as long as I could but found myself constantly wondering why I was reading it since I was enjoying none of it.Overall: Academic value = 5 stars. Enjoyment reading = 1 star and since I read for enjoyment 1 star overall. If you want to enjoy what you read you may want to try reading something else.",1.0,Since no one else has been willing I'll play devil's advocate,1225152000,"10 28, 2008",22,97,helpful,0.2268041237113402,1 AICCCJN3MMQTK,0802458343,"D. Redford ""Grand Rapids Howie""","[10, 14]","Two of the problems I've had, as the Emergent (Emerging) Church movement has spread across the country, is both trying to figure out what it is that ""emergents"" believe and then providing a gracious--and certainly Biblical--response. DeYoung and Kluck do this.DeYoung and Kluck, each writing alternating chapters, take the major themes and beliefs of the Emergent Church and hold them up to Biblical scrutiny. DeYoung's chapters are more theological; Kluck's are more practical and often feature stories which illustrate the points he is making.Among the strengths of this book is the amount of research which was done to make sure that the leaders of the Emergent Church are quoted accurately. While an admittedly difficult task, because the Emergent ""conversation"" continues, DeYoung and Kluck have done an admiral job of scouring both books and blogs. One thing those who may criticize this book absolutely cannot say is that the Emergent leaders were misquoted. They are not; they are quoted frequently and in detail. The authors have done their homework.If you are confused by the Emergent Church and what the movement believes, this is the book for you. You will not be disappointed.",5.0,Understand the Emergent Movement,1208649600,"04 20, 2008",10,14,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 ALGOOKNVFMVH6,0786017201,Mary F,"[0, 0]",Very slow. Seems like reading the trial transcript. I would not recommend it and won't buy another from this author.,1.0,Sleeper,1403481600,"06 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3F42CJXDOE8O1,0446364126,"D. A. Leonard ""devintvi""","[9, 25]","This is yet another in the long line of mob books, that makes the laughable claim that the "Mafia" was responsible for the deaths of John Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. Every serious historian has long ago concluded that the Mafia NEVER had anywhere near the power it would have taken to assassinate the President of the United States or a powerful senator like Bobby Kennedy. Sam Giancanna was a two bit, cowardly hoodlum, who hated the power of the "Irish" Kennedy brothers, and therefore began telling tall tales about engineering thier deaths.This book, written by Sam Giancanna's brother, is just another biased re-telling of the lies spread by his ego-centric brother. This book is not to be taken seriously, and neither was the idiotic Sam Giancanna.",1.0,"A poorly written book, about a vastly overestimated gangster",1086998400,"06 12, 2004",9,25,helpful,0.36,1 AHGAYIB198QK0,0373121962,justopinion,"[6, 6]","i can't really write a review without having to finished the book and man I'm pissed off after reading it. This book is written for women who likes abusive men. Which is not a romance and I felt disgusted with the heroine who doesn't seem to want better for herself. And our supposedly 'hero' is the biggest jerk and other names i've read about in a long while of romance novels. The author does nothing to make him likable or redeem him. Ugh, I'll be more careful to chose and read Jacqueline Baird books. Too bad the rating doesn't have negative value not worth your time.",1.0,why did I waste my time,1311120000,"07 20, 2011",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AG6ZDKXNY7M02,0300058543,David Sassen,"[12, 14]","As an aspiring Arabic minor, I found several problems with this book that just miss making it 4 stars.First, this book is in many ways only a supplemental to the audio cassettes, meaning that any study of the book alone will be unproductive.Next, the book is bound right to left, like an Arabic book. While this is a touch of authenticity, the fact that the book is not written in Arabic makes this extremely irritating. There is, as it turns out, a REASON why all countries that read left to right bind one way and all countries that read right to left bind it in the opposite way.These are not severe problems, but they do drop this book from 4 to 3 stars. The contents are vanilla Arabic teaching, no different from any other Arabic book on the market. If you don't have the money to buy the tapes, I highly recommend Teach Yourself Arabic instead.",3.0,Fairly good,965260800,"08 3, 2000",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A28J0609DD0K7C,0140096221,"Poe ballantine ""poeball""","[10, 12]","Rodriguez sinks his teeth into the juicy apple of race and somehow pulls off enlightening concrete distinctions between the single extant species of Homo sapiens remaining on earth. Essentially (and we allow here for the purposes of discussion some generalities) Rodriguez asserts that Americans/Northern Europeans are divorced psychologically from their historically inseparable neighbors, the Mexicans/Indians, because the Americans/Northern Europeans represent masculine, aggressive, individualistic, Protestant, optimistic, or ""comic"" values. The passive, Catholic, communal, familial, feminine value systems of the Mexicans/Indians he terms ""tragic."" (The tragic race, incidentally, is much happier and less medicated, etc., it's so substantially less destructive and selfish.) I grew up in Southern California, lived in Mexico for a few years, and three years ago married a Mexican woman, so I epitomize the fabulous collision of opposite worlds that this book describes (and really helped me to understand). Gorgeously composed, arrogantly honest, and a whole lot more. Intellectually one of the ten most important books of the last two decades. When I admire a book I immediately read it again. I read this one three times.",5.0,The Juicy Apple,1085356800,"05 24, 2004",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2G7JFHNUEC45G,0310205026,"Maria ""Maria Kanai""","[20, 21]","15-years-old acolyte, Quentin is wakened by a commotion in the temple of Ariel one night. A very badly wounded knight had stumbled in to the temple. His name is Ronsard(he is one of my favorite characters) and he has an extremely important message for his Queen Alinea. Ronsard asks if anyone could go and give the message for him. Quentin agrees to go but he can no longer return to the temple. The knight tells him to go to a hermit named Durwin and to give the message without stopping. So, mounted on Ronsard's horse Balder, Quentin rides to Durwin's house. He meets Durwin and also Durwin's friend, Theido. Theido and Quentin rides to Askelon where the Queen was, but they are caught by the crafty coward, Prince Jaspin. The Prince is the King's brother and he wants to have the crown. Quentin escapes and goes to the Queen. The message he gave was that King Eskevar had been captured by the evil necromancer, Nimrood. Then, the Queen, Durwin, and Quentin meets Theido. He had escaped and together they ride to save the King. Quentin learns of a new God, the Most High and he turns away from Ariel and the other gods to worship the true one God. Durwin teaches him more about God on the way.Can they rescue the King from Nimrood? Can they win the battle with Prince Jaspin's 100,000 men with their 10,000?This is a wonderful Christian fantasy. The next one, ""The Warlords of Nin"" is my favorite in the Dragon King Trilogy.",5.0,The Dragon King Trilogy is on of my favorite series!,1015545600,"03 8, 2002",20,21,helpful,0.9523809523809523,1 A2S7FL3HXOQD9N,0982499620,Alihikes,"[19, 43]","This book was sent to me unsolicited, apparently by a well funded conservative group called the Heartland Institute. It is scary to realize the amount of ignorance and lack of scientific basis behind this book. Don't buy it, and if you receive it unsolicited, look at it and then give it a proper destination.",1.0,Attack on climate change science,1368748800,"05 17, 2013",19,43,helpful,0.4418604651162791,1 A3NFO65EIFQRE1,0756406927,Laughing Dragon,"[10, 13]","Well, this book has officially ended my fascination with Valdemar. I don't know what the HECK has happened to Mercedes Lackey. I used to enjoy her books quite a bit. But alas, her latest book, ""Changes"", is unfortunately erroneously titled, because nothing has changed about Lackey's latest ""lack""luster trilogy starring her least appealing character, Mags. What a chore this book was to read! How I miss the days when Companions were these wondrous otherworldly creatures who chose put-upon youngsters to go on adventures with and perform heroic deeds in the name of Queen and Kingdom. Now the Companions are merely four-legged thought balloons that you can barely grasp the significance of and who lack any kind of magical resonance whatsoever. And that is such a disappointment. I remember the first Herald and Companion I read about - Talia and Rolan, the main characters in the first Valdemar book ""Arrows of the Queen"". Indeed, I can never forget them. Talia was like a lost little Dorothy in a strange, hostile world, taken to a fabulous land and brilliant future by Rolan, a mystical white steed. Ah, but as this latest book proves, those days are gone. In the ""Foundation"" series, Mags, its central character, is a downer and a dunderhead who's about as appealing as the central character of the ""Ernest"" movies. His hick sensibilities lack any charm whatsoever, and his Li'l Abner accent is tedious to read. And as for his Companion - when it comes to talking equines, Francis The Talking Mule has more appeal. At least Francis had personality, and a chemistry with his hapless owner. There is NO chemistry between Mags and his more erudite telepathic steed. Their dull communication makes you wonder how the horse puts up with that awful accent being broadcast right into his brain. Talk about animal abuse.The main problem with Lackey's latter-day writing is that she has a tendency to pad. A LOT. She'll come up with a kernel of an idea, then add paragraph after paragraph after paragraph of internal introspection by the main character which, all too often, only makes you more aware of how dull that main character is and how dull the story is as well, even from his/her point of view. It's all so boring and it just goes on and on and on. I don't understand why Mercedes can't see that and why she doesn't, if you'll pardon the expression, ""rein it in"" a bit. In her last *good* book, ""The Fire Rose"", the central character, Rose Hawkins, does indulge in a bit of introspection every now and then - but just a bit, and it's used cleverly to portray her world view and to define the world she lives in. But in Lackey's recent books - and not just her Valdemar books - the introspection comes across as filler, and very bland filler at that. In ""Changes"", unfortunately, the effect is akin to ladeling Stovetop Stuffing into an enervated turkey. And the result is an unpalatable mess.I think Lackey has written herself dry, and needs to take a breather. Maybe her husband could get a job and support her for a change while her creative batteries recharge. I'd hate to think that the ""Foundation"" trilogy is the best writing Lackey can manage nowadays. If so, then she's burnt out, and the world of fantasy authors has lost a once-great contributor. Sad.",1.0,Another phone-it-in book from Lackey,1324857600,"12 26, 2011",10,13,helpful,0.7692307692307693,1 A1BEUSG01WRSWP,0984899901,"CraftWrite ""Trai""","[0, 0]","""The Provider"" is a gold filigreed treasure in the world of historical fiction. The author's gilded voice transports readers to the lives of her characters. This is an elegantly written love story that evokes life when the American Dream was forged by immigrants who came to the United States in the 20th century. Rosa is completely compelling as she strives for a better life for herself and for her husband Sanya -- a tragic hero who absolutely romanced this reader.",5.0,Be Transported to Another Era!,1331337600,"03 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AAGEXT8KSULI2,1592332285,Jimmy Verona,"[0, 0]","I have bought copies of this book for myself, as well as gifts for others. Looking for good foods to eat? This book compiles an excellent list full of ideas of what to stock your kitchen with. 150 items can be cooked and combined in many different ways, and you'll instantly be eating healthy. Yum!",5.0,Quite Useful,1378857600,"09 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A39M2TVQSPOL71,0425246035,Tam B.,"[0, 0]","This book was a nice continuation in the story of Boonsboro but I think some of the criticism that I've read is justified.There was a lot of furniture / finishings talk. It didn't bother me all that much. The scene that did was the one with the warped table. It just seemed so unnecessary and felt really long even though it wasn't. Or maybe I'd just reached my limit at that point.I think the problem for me with this book wasn't the couple or their relationship but the fact that it didn't seem to get the focus that the couples usually do in the other trilogies that Roberts has written. In this case Avery and Owen really took a backseat to the inn, Beckett's house, the bakery, MacT's. Everything else had a priority. It's not that I don't understand that they were busy but the focus of the book was on everything else and not them. That is what was lacking. This felt like you were revisiting Boonsboro in general and catching up with everyone and not spending anymore time with Owen and Avery than you did anyone else.Whilst I'm not against the ghost, I do think that Roberts has done this before and she didn't really need to do it again. Or not to this level. The In The Garden books had us discovering a ghost's identity, dating her by dress, and being left clues by the ghost. Will possession be next for Hope as it was for Hayley??? Why couldn't we have had a benevolent ghost who just left the smell of honeysuckle and opened the odd door as an in built attraction and nothing more.I also think Roberts stepped away from formula with Avery and that's why the story was lacking. Typically the three woman are girl next door, girl with attitude and girl with sex appeal (think Three Sisters or Dreams trilogy). Avery should have been our girl with attitude and she didn't or there was no engaging of what attitude she does have in banter with anyone.So whilst this was a nice visit to Boonsboro I'm glad I got it at the library.",3.0,Almost but not quite,1340928000,"06 29, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1G8RLQ92M6121,1418447250,Thomas P Dooley,"[0, 0]","A very good read. Lots of detail as to the training of air crews, but also the period after the war when the forces were being demonized.",4.0,"Absolutely fascinating, W W 2 history buffs will enjoy it.",1361059200,"02 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGE6DEDXXCKYP,0374192715,Meredith Miller,"[0, 0]","This book could have been summed up in a paragraph. Wouldn't even need a two hour made for TV movie. Crazy lady crashes wedding, wants to see an old flame, cop, people are held against their will. Crazy lady captured!!",1.0,"Terrible, terrible waste of time!!",1404259200,"07 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27N26LP9DMB,076146316X,RAMONA ALLRED,"[0, 0]",this book will keep u reading! its cute funny and suspense full. Its heart warming i recommend this to teenagers,5.0,cute,1358553600,"01 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EL8DSKVEUHD6,0316789704,Eloise Homan,"[0, 0]",I love his books. I bought them for my kids and now I buy them for grandchildren and have bought for other kids also. They are a must have for all kids.,5.0,Books,1377561600,"08 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3N3SN2DDD4HCJ,1591454824,Robert Blake,"[17, 67]","Is it any wonder that little before the 2008 Presidential race Newt Gingrich published a book titled ""Rediscovering God In America?"" Not at all. What is surprising is how muddled and unclear this book is. The other issue here is that you kind of feel conflicted while reading this particular volume when the author himself has been proven to be the least qualified person to lecture us on national morality and God-fearing values. In the past few months since the book was published Mr. Gingrich has been exposed to have been having an affair at the same time he was pushing to impeach President Clinton for the same act, and just this week Mr. Gingrich made a stunning racist remark by proclaiming Spanish as ""the language of the ghettos,"" not at all a very Christian attitude. Those quirky facts about the man aside, the material itself is very simplistic and hollow. This does not feel at all like a deep, well-assembled examination of America's religious attitudes, instead it feels like a guy flipping through various biographies and national monuments and pointing out spots where buzz words like ""God,"" ""Jesus"" or ""Bible"" are mentioned or printed and chisled. There is a strange, almost disturbing trend in the most recent conservative publications in that they describe and cry for an America that apparently only exists in the minds of the authors and their fans. Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter and Gingrich all describe a country that looks nothing like what's around us. Gingrich here makes the argument that many of our founding fathers were religious, ok, point taken, but he exaggerates their religious devotion to the point of making them sound saintly when many of the same men advocated the genocide of our indigenous peoples and the establishment of slavery. True, men like Abraham Lincoln indeed believed in God and decided to fight against moral injustices in the syste such as slavery, but men like Lincoln are sadly less than one percent of what many of our historical figures have been. It's as if Gingrich wants to paint a pretty picture to support some sort of truce between secular politics and neo-theocratic ideas. But what is he actually calling for? Is he simply making a point about the United States having ""religious roots"" or does he want a deeper mix of religion with our political system? It seems as if Gingrich is trying to make a case for America being a ""Christian Nation"" yet this is simply unrealistic. The polls show most Americans believe in God, but how many Americans are actual devout church-goers or ever really bother to actually follow Christian doctrine? When has America ever been like that?! Even Gingrich is part of that lot having made the above-mentioned racist comments, but then again, some of our past leaders and politicians would have agreed with Gingrich if one looks at REAL history and racist colonial campaigns as seen in Cuba in 1898 and the Phillipines later. ""Rediscovering God"" is also written in a dead style, an overtly ""glorious"" prose that sounds more like the transcript from one of those political ads that try to show the ""glory"" of our history etc. etc. America is a beautiful, diverse country, but Gingrich here paints a strange, unclear picture of it's history and institutions. It doesn't feel much like a passionate, informative work, more like a vain attempt at showing off how much the man knows about how many people in our history have said ""I believe in God."" Or worse, it feels like a smug attempt at saying ""our religion is the best."" There is a strange parallel here with Ann Coulter's ""Godless"" where she also professes a Christian faith and yet uses it for Crusade-like calls. There is no depth in Gingrich's writing, it feels like a superficial, empty form of believing where Jesus would have been a capitalist and Republican. True students of history will probably be astounded at how un-objective the book is with it's one-sided treatment of events and dismissal of obvious, important facts. ""Rediscovering God In America"" is more of a campaign speech to the James Dobsons and Ted Haggards out there who desperately need another Bible-thumpin' politician now that George Bush has proven to be an utter disappointment.",1.0,An Unclear Manifesto For Conservative America,1175299200,"03 31, 2007",17,67,helpful,0.2537313432835821,1 AH7CBIWDTHXWA,0440241308,Lois Lain,"[0, 0]","I really enjoy this ""cozy"" murder mystery series, with amateur sleuth/wedding planner Carnegie Kincaid. Deborah Donnelly's story lines are always entertaining and liberally sprinkled with humor at the expense of Carnegie's Bridezilla du Jour.This particular story was a bit convoluted, with a number of new characters dumped on the reader simultaneously. Even at the end of the story, I felt like I needed a scorecard to keep up. All the same, Donnelly does a fairly good job of distinguishing even the most minor of characters.A good, but not overwhelming plot, coupled with a look into Carnegie's past, makes for a solid book. I must say, though, the cliffhanger ending is a bit over-the-top. If Aaron's truly gone, then I say good riddance. I wasn't too thrilled with him anyway.",3.0,"Unique, likeable characters and good plotting",1172102400,"02 22, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1SV835C23DMAR,0375822739,ellen close,"[5, 5]","This is a terrific quick read, for 5th to 8th graders, with a surprise ending. The two main characters are Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow, two 12 year olds who live in the city of Ember. Ember is a small city in an entirely lightless land. According to legend, it was constructed and stocked with supplies and foodstuffs many years ago by ""the builders."" It is a city that cannot sustain itself. At this time, food supplies are rumored to be running low, light bulbs are reported to be gone, and power black outs are becoming daily events. The generator is the heart of life in Ember, pumping light and electricity throughout the city, but for how much longer? Lina and Doon become partners in an effort to save the city, unexpectedly uncovering political deceit and discovering Ember's true history. Their resourcefulness will delight you. Ember sounds like a city in science fiction world, but is it?",4.0,Read about Ember,1113264000,"04 12, 2005",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A11NZJ0LVDH7W6,B00HFD4BSW,Julie,"[0, 0]","I read this book in one day (I am retired so can do that). I love the playfulness in Mary and Brandley's relationship, and the quirky comments that Mary makes. I laugh, cry, and just wish they lived around the corner so I could visit with them!",5.0,Can't get enough of the Mary O'Reilly books!,1390694400,"01 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2UASR7HS15H7S,0843948531,"Janet ""cjbookreader""","[18, 19]","Absolutely amazing how 4 different authors could construct a well-written, 4 part series that maintains continuity and quality! It's a credit to the authors Elaine Barbieri, Bobbi Smith, Constance O'Banyon, and Evelyn Rogers.Chase McBride is the illegitimate son of Tom McBride. Chase has fought prejudice and hate all of his life to become a renowned Texas Ranger. He bears the stigma of being a ""half-breed"" with poise and strength. You grow to love him as the story unfolds.Chase meets Faith - after rescuing her from renegade Indians. Faith learns of prejudice and hate after returning to civilization after being kidnapped. No one wants to associate with her since she was ""ruined"" by the Indians.Chase offers to marry Faith to help clear the stigma that society has placed upon her. Faith helps Chase face his past, and teaches him how to love. Their story is memorable.As the plot unravels, you become entrenched in the McBride family saga.This is a great start to an enjoyable 4 part series. Definitely read them in order:The Wild OneThe Half BreedThe AgreementThe LonerEnjoy!",5.0,2nd Installment of a great 4 part series,1021939200,"05 21, 2002",18,19,helpful,0.9473684210526315,1 AGCQUDUCJRV0B,0615553028,Princess Nhya,"[0, 1]","Solid 5.5 starsI love this book. This one is a paranormal mystery/romance that caters to and stimulates your intellectual side. I don't think I've read a PNR mystery executed quite this way before. It takes what we all have come to know, love, or maybe even hate about this genre and puts a new spin on it. While keeping it intriguing, entertaining, touching, mysterious, sexy & erotic all at the same time.This is the 1st installment to this series. And I am completely hooked. Rarely do I come across a first book to a series that doesn't suffer from ""1st book syndrome"" as I call it. You know, where you suffer through the world building, characters, or even plot? You suffer through something that makes it seem impossible for you to finish the book. Well you don't get that with this one. At all. And Mr. Giovanni Vecchio, *fans self*I don't want to say more for fear of ruining it, but if you read this you will become completely invested with these characters, their plight & journey. This 1st installment blew me away and I cannot wait to dive into book 2. I would definitely recommend this read.",5.0,SOLID 5.5 STARS!!!,1369008000,"05 20, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A24ZLCVW2715QT,0470149469,"Karen Franklin ""Forensic Psychologist""","[82, 84]","I bought this book because it was the only comprehensive beginner's guide to WordPress that I could find, and it was also up to date (important in this rapidly changing field). This was my first ""Dummies"" purchase; I've always hated that title and the implicit putdown it conveys.I was pleasantly surprised. Lisa Sabin-Wilson knows her stuff, she writes well, and the advice is practical and easy to follow. The book uses a logical progression, teaching us step-by-step what WordPress is, what it can do, and where you can go to find further resources. Sections address important topics such as plugins, self-hosting, theme selection and development, migrating your blog from another site, and much more.I was mostly looking for a guide on using WordPress as a website content management system (CMS), and although one chapter does address this, I wish the book had covered this in more depth. Also, I would have liked to read more about design and style issues. However, no one book can do it all, and at almost 400 pages this book was long enough. (Although it's a very quick read; it took me only one morning to get through it, and not all chapters will be relevant to every reader.)I recommend it to anyone wanting to gain basic familiarity with WordPress (and related technical jargon), see whether it's the thing for you and, if so, get started using it.",4.0,Practical how-to manual,1204416000,"03 2, 2008",82,84,helpful,0.9761904761904762,1 A17ZOXLL4EU7YL,1250019699,Georgia,"[0, 0]","As usual, Mary Kay has written a fun book. I was a little worried reading it that she was giving too many details about the florist business but her plot line was great and it carried the novel well. I couldn't wait to get to the end of it to see how she tied up all the loose ends. Can't wait for her next book.",4.0,Delightful book!,1403395200,"06 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AYLKR27PX1OGR,0988245108,"Smith ""SLI""","[14, 64]","I was really excited when this book arrived but found myself very disappointed after reading a handful of pages. For the most part the author doesn't give a lot explanations or reasoning behind what he writes. And a good deal of what he write is just copying a quote or sentence and putting a symbol next to it to show that he thinks it's a contradiction, about sex, violent, ect. A lot of the contradictions didn't seem like contradictions.There was also a lot of copying a quote then writing a question under it but never giving an answer, an explanation or any reasoning for it.The back does have a nice list of contradictions but it would have been significantly better if the author had actually listed the verses instead of just there locations in the bible. It would have made it much more convenient.Overall, I'm very disappointed. Especially considering it's high price.",3.0,Not what I expected.,1374883200,"07 27, 2013",14,64,helpful,0.21875,1 AFYYHRPSFBLWS,0811863999,Ash Ryan,"[8, 8]","What better way to get to know yourself than by ranking your favorites in all aspects of life? From the basics---like favorite foods, books, music, etc.---to some more thought-provoking ideas---such as jobs you might like to try some day and what would happen if your parents left you alone for a day---and ending with the self-esteem building ""List all the great things about you!"", they've even thoughtfully included some space at the back for you to come up with your own lists! Each list is paired with an amusing illustration to help get the creative juices flowing. A nice quality book with a durable soft cover. Buy one for yourself or as a great gift for friends!Also, don't miss the ""Listography"" and ""Love Listography"" journals, geared more specifically toward adults and couples, respectively.",5.0,Fun journal for the young...and the young at heart,1236902400,"03 13, 2009",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1J8L8I7IPSG0W,0849976170,DIANE RUMSEY,"[0, 0]",VERY SUSPENSFUL BOOK OF FRANK PERETTI'S. ALOT OF TWISTS AND TURNS AS PER HIS WRITING. GREAT AUTHOR OF THIS TYPE OF WRITING,5.0,NIGHTMARE ACADEMY,1396828800,"04 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A22S5DQB5U4T44,0818406429,TheLyingThief,"[7, 24]","A fairly well written book detailing the author's less than meteoric rise to fourth street on a poker table. I purchased the book thinking to find insights. Instead, I found the insinuation that if the reader be any less than a math geek, and particularly a game theoristic math geek, he would stand little hope to gain by setting out on the unhappy path to poker competence.Game theory is behind the assumptions that machines utilize when they are evaluating such treacheries as how to annihilate an enemy without him annihilating you. Although, to the best of my knowledge, no machine ever dreamt within its transistors of an al Quaeda (sp?) stealing an aeroplane and ramming it into the Pentagon. Still, the geeks swear that, if they cannot annihilate the hostile user of the aeroplane, they will nonetheless annihilate all humanity from something so specifically human as poker. Now, I'm very aware that machines are emotionless and ""behave"" as rationally as their encodings allow. I am also aware that investors and gamblers, who are given to tremble in the slightest wind of entrepenurial adversity, would happily transcend their human condition for the beatitudes of a metallic immunity to such uncertainty and distress. However, the passions and feelings, which the geeks among us villify and the rest of us fear, are mostly discredited because they go unharnessed in all but a few of us. I would say that intuition is the culmination of an educated passion; and for this reason I am most uncomfortable with authors and thinkers who want to substitute formulae for preparation. This piece of philosophical tinker aside, game theory, which the author espouses as the great future of poker ideology, is ruined in its base assumption: that men involved in games behave rationally. Economists, who are the least rational people I know, huzzah this idea, and have gone about importing it into their hypotheses of economic behavior. I suppose it makes them feel like generals. And this despite almost everyone consistently behaving in anything but a rational--defined as self-interested--way where economics is concerned. Welfare being one case in point, where the only participants behaving rationally selfishly in that game are its recipients.What has all this to do with a geek playing poker? The geek wishes to assure the reader that rationality is the centerpoint of the game of poker; that rational definitions can completely describe that game; and that machines will soon do it better than men. What in truth the geek may be doing, is convincing himself he is behaving rationally, when he has wasted some several hundred thousand dollars of his parent's money on an ivy league education, by forthwith venturing out to play, not chess, but poker.If you need an excuse to play poker, and you're an ivy leaguer, this book is for you. If you're a bit lazy about learning how to derive pot odds, post flop betting strategy and the like, this book may also be for you. If, however, you want to learn HOW to play poker--to the degree that it can be learned from books--read something a little more pedagogical, and a lot less biographical.",3.0,"well, i beg to differ",1128816000,"10 9, 2005",7,24,helpful,0.2916666666666667,1 A15F2H8K7K5KP3,0983797803,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Haunted on Bourbon Street is a good paranormal book. It has mystery, humor, and romance. Not a tough book to follow but fun.",4.0,Definitely a good read!,1400457600,"05 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3H374LWGUHJGQ,0875421849,"GOD OF CHEESE ""9;2;2""","[9, 44]",It's just regurgitating what it said from the first book. Who cares?,1.0,Bah.,1062547200,"09 3, 2003",9,44,helpful,0.20454545454545456,1 A3HJUORLHWZFSB,006073132X,"T. Hoeting ""Read 2 Me""","[4, 6]",Read this book! Absolutely fascinating-- I would read a chapter then sit and just think about it for a while. Who knew drug dealers lived with their moms??!!Levitt does a great job of taking what could be complicated material and simplifing it for us commoners,5.0,I never knew econ could be THIS interesting,1133222400,"11 29, 2005",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 AXTZ1UA7AKP43,0451211634,Debbie Kohta,"[0, 0]",Enjoyed the book . It kept you turning the page as well as trying to figure out who really did it.,4.0,very well written,1394323200,"03 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1TONI9A0YFOD6,0441006841,Bruce Rux,"[8, 11]","I have to preface this review by stating that this is the only Laurell K. Hamilton I've read to date, Anita Blake series or otherwise. I plan on giving her another shot, because I suspect she's capable of better than this piece.Vampire hunter Anita Blake leaves her St. Louis home to help out her sociopathic bounty hunter friend, Edward, and the police, on an alarming serial murder case: victims are being flayed alive, and kept alive - more or less - by means of some supernatural nastiness. Anita's expertise, and that of a criminal team assembled by Edward, are necessary to figure out the origin of, and cure for, the specific evil involved.I'll start with what works, which is Hamilton's sense of humor, prevalent throughout in her first-person narration of Anita Blake. Hamilton's other characters - at least the criminal ones - are well-drawn, interesting, and generally appalling.Unfortunately, virtually everything else doesn't work, starting with the fact that all Hamilton's well-drawn characters are appalling. None of the characters, Anita Blake included, has an emotional maturity level above age fifteen, tops. There's more testosterone-driven male-posturing in this book than in the entire World Wrestling Federation on steroids, most of it - inappropriately and comically enough - being done by Anita Blake. The plot is paper-thin, and moves slower than a lame mule across the Andes. Much of the violence in this book - and I am not opposed to violence in books - goes beyond the measure of good taste, even for the type of piece this is. The entire book is essentially a series of pissing contests between Blake and every other character - the entire police force, Edward and his entire psychopathic cadre, underworld vampires, underworld werewolves, and anyone else she comes across. She's also pathologically self-absorbed, diminishing her appeal. The ultimate payoff is terribly anticlimactic, and isn't worth the trip getting to it.It took me literally months to finish this book, and I only completed it out of sheer stubbornness. Hamilton is not a bad writer, however. If this, or any other of her Anita Blake novels stick in your craw, you might well enjoy her Princess Meredith series, beginning with A Kiss of Shadows - it's similar, but much lighter-hearted.",2.0,"Oh, Yeah? Yeah! Sez You!",1019606400,"04 24, 2002",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A68PNZNP9CY5Y,0380807351,M. A. Beauchamp,"[4, 4]","Maybe I expected too much. Somehow everything fell a little short. The heroine is sweet, hard-working, and well-intentioned but not too smart, and the hero is kind of flat. He's rich, of course, and I gather he's nice for a rich man. Several secondary characters were quite annoying, especially the manager-cum-minister who preached at every opportunity, and the needy, demanding sister who never took no for an answer. Jack and Sam fall in love instantly, knowing nothing about each other. Such quick and superficial relationships leave me cold but probably would appeal to fans of the ""Pretty Woman"" school of romance: Jack is so free with his money that he doesn't mind spending 320$ for a cute bra & panties set. He'll even buy her four! Wow, not.",2.0,Fiancee for a while,986083200,"04 1, 2001",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1E6XS6Z71G6LN,1475239068,Ashley Price,"[0, 1]","Project Based Homeschooling presents an inspiring image of outside the box learning that's good for any approach to homeschooling, from unschooling to classical. My oldest is still quite young, so we're at the exploration/getting our ducks in a row stage of homeschooling, and I know I didn't want to follow the format of public school, but wasn't sure what an alternative looks like. PBH provided that. This book emphasizes the importance of meaningful, self-directed work for all people, not just children, and the creation of an environment supportive of that. It's unfortunately light on the details, but the author's blog and accompanying forum can help with that. It's a quick read and easy to implement immediately. One week after reading this book I suggested a project to my 3 year old, she ran with it, and pretty much naturally followed the outline in the book. For the past 2 days my life has been a poster for how PBH works, and it's pretty impressive.",5.0,Inspiring,1356825600,"12 30, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A7N1JRLTA65IE,0486402703,Doc,"[0, 0]",Bought as a gift to give wth a Clarinet. The recipent was complementary and said it was very helpful. Seemed to be well organized and well presented.,5.0,Bought as A Gift,1379721600,"09 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2FGVT6OJAWJV7,0140298479,"""jayzie1""","[9, 10]","So often, sequels fail to live up to the promise of the original. Luckily this is not the case with "The Edge of Reason" which is as good as, if not better, than the original.This time around, Bridget finds herself singing Madonna lyrics in a Thai prison, waiting for the dustbin to ring dressed in nothing but her knickers, and falling in love with a certain Mr. Darcy. More of a romance and funnier than the original, this one is a winner (v.v.g.)",4.0,Hurrah for Bridget Jones!,951696000,"02 28, 2000",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A1W8ALB1XHREXD,0963687700,"Taalib A. Muhammad ""Seek Knowledge From The C...","[52, 75]","Had this stellar compilation of facts, dates, and events been authored by an organization other than the Nation of Islam, the reactions to this book may have been very different. Despite the obviously bias rantings by those reviewers who either approved or disapproved of the book, it is not a racist piece of literature. It is written in a non-judgmental fashion, void of overt criticism or condemnation of any group. The data is presented in a very matter-of-fact manner and the bibliography is extensive and impressive. There is not an iota of anti-Semitism here. Instead it is an indictment of ALL individuals who participated in the degradation, exploitation and economic realization of the American slave trade. For anyone to assume that Jewish people were not involved with other Europeans in the horrors of slavery represents the epitome of ignorance and self-disillusionment. I suggest people of all races; Christian, Muslim and Jew read this book with an open mind and draw their own conclusions.",4.0,Don't Believe The Hype! This Is Not An Anti-Jewish Book!,1109116800,"02 23, 2005",52,75,helpful,0.6933333333333334,1 A1JOSLASY59LS8,061519463X,Always Reading,"[0, 0]","Don't know how I over looked leaving a review but I just finished reading the 7th book to this series and don't want it to ever end. The plots and story lines are so intertwined that I could not figure out what was going to happen next. This first book introduces you to some of the main characters of the series but trust me, a lot more main characters are introduced as the series goes on and the plots thickens. This series left me having a love/hate feeling for Slim and so many others in the books. Great job with the series Mr. Richardson. Keep up the good work.",5.0,Great Read.. Great Series,1351036800,"10 24, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GP7RVHHI5GOP,B00J0KYFSO,Connie,"[0, 0]",This book is excellent. It does have some really sad times. It also has laughter. It's pretty sexy in some spots too... all around great read.,5.0,Excellent,1399334400,"05 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PTF51XI1VZ7T,0982306431,"Michael S. Marshall ""mike""","[0, 0]",If you are in to oldies but goodies music and and old time radio this is a great book. You'll love it like my Son in Law did!,5.0,Outstanding!,1359504000,"01 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2IN5KO0L2YPQC,0553591754,creative quilter,"[5, 8]","I couldn't put it down no matter what else I needed to do!!!! I was captured from the first page right through to the end. The characters are realistic with all the quirks of human beings, the story fast paced and the end riveting.Tim, the Father whose daughter has gone missing, pulls the reader into the story and doesn't let go. From his nutty girlfriend, to his ex-wife, to grasping at straws, he is human--a parent who has lost the most precious thing in his life. The more he finds out about his missing daughter, the more puzzled he is. Her job appears not to have existed, her best friend haunts Tim's every move, and there are some very bad people who seem determined to kill him. The police appear to believe she is just a runaway and are not interested in looking for her; until they decide perhaps Tim is reponsible for her disappearance. The story takes riveting twist and turns yet remains believeable throughout. This is a must read.",5.0,GET THIS!!!,1246492800,"07 2, 2009",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 ARMD5LRBY9NSC,B007SYLADC,"Karen Doering ""Parent's Little Black Book""","[5, 5]","Author Ann Swann has created the world of an 8th grade boy with sympathy and humor.While most 8th grade boys worry about being accepted by their peers, doing homework, the girl in their math class or sports, some have to worry about what is hiding in the shed.Since this is a short story I will leave the book description at that. I don't want to spoil the story.I enjoyed the story and it kept my interest from the first paragraph right through to the end. The style was good and the book flow well managed. There was enough back story to understand the character motivation, which can be difficult in a short story but handled well here. The only thing missing, for me, was sympathy with the creature which the story tried to elicit but just missed.Read time: Less than an hourKaren Bryant Doering,Parent's Little Black Book",4.0,CHEMS by Ann Swann,1334534400,"04 16, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AOAIRRB3NB7EZ,0312577214,Ladydee,"[0, 0]",Love this book waiting for her next one she is an amazing Author have read most all of her books.,5.0,Love this Author,1369440000,"05 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2QIH5TAPEKLDA,0062071130,Ashley Evans,"[0, 0]","Wow, did this book have me hooked! I started reading it, sat down, and somehow wound up on page 232, with no sense of how long I had been sitting there reading. I just got sucked right in and didn't want to stop (but got dragged away to a family dinner!).The way this story is written is awesome! It's done in such a way that you're hooked from page one and have to keep reading to find out more. The book starts off throwing you into the midst of things. Nikki is in the Everneath but you have no idea what that is, how she got there, who she's with, or how long she's been there. Slowly, we find out the story through alternating chapters. Nikki tells us about what's happening in her life now -- post-feeding, and then she tells us how the story unfolded pre-feeding and why she decided to become a Forfeit. We switch back and forth between the two different times to slowly piece together the story and learn how she came into that situation, and then how she's going to deal with it now.So six months before the `current time' in the story, Cole convinced Nikki to come with him to the Everneath, where he would feed on her energy and take away the pain in her life. 100 years later -- which is 6 months in normal time -- Nikki is back in her old life. She has six months to say goodbye to her family and friends before she is forced to return to the Everneath forever... but she didn't realize how hard it would be to say goodbye. Nikki struggles to find a balance between comforting her family and friends, but trying not to get too close to them since she knows she'll have to say goodbye again in six months... this time for good.This book made me so emotional! It was probably because I had to read about Nikki trying to find a way to say goodbye to her ex boyfriend Jack, and I hadn't seen my own boyfriend in 2 weeks. Just the nature of the story made me miss him even more! I kept thinking that if I had to be around him, but force myself to not get too close to him, and find a way to say goodbye to him, I would constantly be in tears. I don't know how Nikki held herself together! My eyes were literally tearing up for half the time I was reading.The one thing that annoyed me was how Nikki put up with Cole. He was a real jerk. He practically stalked her, showed up in her bedroom every night to bother her, practically threatened her little brother, etc. I really wanted Nikki to rage at him or throw sharp objects at him. She obviously wasn't pleased, but she didn't have the kind of forceful reaction I would have expected. She usually just calmly told Cole to stop and left it at that. If it were me, I would have really raged at the guy!Also, I'm a stickler for details and this kind of made me roll my eyes a bit:""Jack came over that night, so we could research the Daughters of Persephone. We didn't know where to start other than Google and the search produced just two results.""Of course then I proceeded to do a Google search for ""Daughters of Persephone"" and got:""About 12,300 results (0.23 seconds)""I'm weird and things like that just bug me. And just to be clear, Nikki wasn't saying that there were only two *relevant* search results, because one of the two was completely irrelevant. So she did mean two overall.I guess the story did move pretty slowly. It kind of drags on and takes you a while to figure out exactly what happened to Nikki to make her want to become a Forfeit, and then it takes a while for her to actually make progress with Jack in `current time.' But the book is so intense and full of emotion that the slow paced nature of the book is not not too big of a deal. There were a few parts were I was like, ""Okaaay, I'm ready for her to make progress!"" But most of the time I was really into the story and hungry for more!",4.0,"Emotional and intriguing, but a little slow-paced",1347580800,"09 14, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A24FQPD1U1QQZ,0316074152,DebbieKeepCalm,"[0, 0]","Gail Carriger continues to bring the funny in her third installment of the Parasol Protectorate series. Up to this point of the series, Carriger is still able to come up with exciting plot lines, crafty steampunk elements, interesting secondary characters and keeps the mystery going till the very end.At the end of Changeless, Alexia finds out that she is pregnant and Lord Maccon is most certain that he could not be the father of the child since supernaturals were not able to procreate. After berating her with the most horrible of names and charging her with canoodling with another man, Alexia hurriedly quits her husbands household. In Blameless, we pick up a few weeks after Alexia left Scotland and has settled back in to her parents house. Finding it completely insufferable living in her parents home, Alexia accepts Lord Akeldama's invitation for her to live with him. But upon arrival she discovers that Lord Akeldama and his company of drones has disappeared.Annoyed by all the scuttlebutt about her 'infidelity' and lady bugs trying to exterminate her, Alexia decides to journey through Europe to find answers about her 'infant inconvenience' . This wouldn't be an Alexia Tarabotti novel without a few failed attempts in taking Alexia's life. But with her inventor friend, Madame Lefoux and trusty butler, Floote, by her side; Alexia is more than able to run away from her assassins. That is until she runs right into the Templars, who turn out to be the most disagreeable hosts.Meanwhile, Alexia's husband, Lord Maccon, has turned into quite a boozer. Forgetting about all his Wolf Pack leader responsibilities, Lord Maccon has busied himself with visiting the local pubs and hitting some of Proffesor Lyall's precious collection of sheep parts. Although I was disappointed at the way he handled the news of his wife's pregnancy, I couldn't help but even love the guy more even though he was a sloppy drunk. I mean walking around naked in the streets of London and singing at the top of his lungs in the bath tub was rib-tickling.",4.0,Gail Carriger continues to bring the funny,1334880000,"04 20, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQA76AX85FU33,B00586XP5S,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Innocent and sweet. A good lite read and a pot of some hot tea on a cold winters day. Wonderful.,5.0,A good lite read,1389052800,"01 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1G9VWD3XHKQLM,1594865671,Books McGoo,"[30, 41]","A wonderful, clear and intelligent look at the problems of global warming. This is a great book to explain the issues of climate change to children ages 8+.",5.0,excellent learning and teaching tool about THE challenge facing us,1152662400,"07 12, 2006",30,41,helpful,0.7317073170731707,1 AG0FZHMZHX4NA,068482471X,Robert N. Britcher,"[15, 26]","Dennett has almost managed to do the impossible: antagonize the readers of his explanation of evolution so much that they wish it were not true. I have no doubt that, for many readers, this arrogant and angry man has had that undesirable effect. If you are comfortable being blistered by a school marm, intent not so much on teaching as showing off, this is your book.Dennett brooks no opposition, none. Other writers who support his position, but express it somewhat differently, are vilified. This is done by cagily imputing to the ""opponent"" motives that Dennett can not realistically know.This is a bloated attack on anyone, including you, the reader, who may not see evolution by natural selection quite the same way as Dennett. Nevertheless, Dennett makes several interesting, and often fascinating points, some excerpted from other authors such as Richard Dawkins. The notion that symmetry is preferable to asymmetry because, in symmetry, each part shares equally in the benefits of neighboring parts, rather than the skew of a few, is stunning; even if it is not so, it is thought-provoking and sounds right. The idea of an unthinkably large but finite, n-dimensional Cartesian space, occupied by accessible organic-genetic-structures, is marvelous. The idea renders imaginable the context in which the most unlikely but achievable connections (selections) can be made, given enough time. (In a remarkable footnote, Dennett criticizes the book written by the Nobel- winning biologist Francois Jacob ""The Possible and the Actual,"" explaining that Jacob did not cover what Dennett thought the title suggested, so Dennett would have to (sigh) cover what Jacob's book should have and did not in [Dennett's] ongoing chapter.)Further, Dennett suggests how this hooking up gets started and expands, under a process that is random but constrained by an increasingly constrained environment (as the combined structures occupy the space and ""forced moves,"" like a dump truck parked in front of a driveway).The logical pitfalls of what could have been described in 250 pages instead of nearly 600 are marked.Dennett cannot refrain from imputing artificial intelligence and computing into his descriptions. His view that natural selection through genes is an algorithm is central. There are many problems with this. The most obvious to me is that the algorithm, as Dennett uses the term, as the effective procedure, was created for speed, pure and simple. Natural selection, on the contrary, is ""deliberate"" (Dennett's word). The two could not be more dissimilar.Dennett takes delight in introducing mind into a mindless process (evolution). Computing is but one example. He uses up several chapters excoriating Steven Jay Gould on Gould's views of adaptationism. What is adaptationism? It is a way current evolutionists reason about evolution. Hello! What does the reasoning perspective of humans have to do with evolution? Evolution is what it is; and it did just fine before humans emerged at all.Dennett forcefully announces that biology is engineering. So now this mindless process of evolution is marked by planning and specifications and customer design reviews. In fact, Dennett persistently uses the word design in his arguments about evolution by natural selection (design space, et. al.). Dennett abhors the idea of a ""Designer,"" namely God, playing a role in evolution, but he keeps going there. A design is a plan; it expresses intent and provides a blueprint against which the implementation can be verified.Dennett seems to have wanted to write two books: one insisting that God and First Cause(s) play no role in evolution, describing evolution through natural selection in such a way that God could not have played a role. The second book is by Dennett the Geek, who revels in and loves to role around naked in cybernetics and genetics and ""etics"" of all stripes, memetics included. (The latter book comes across as Richard Dawkins inventing evolution rather than God.) Obviously (or ""dead obvious"" - one of Dennett's favorite pejoratives) the man could not decide which book to write, so he merged them.I urge readers of this review to acquire and read Darwin's Origin of Species instead of this book. Darwin was not out to impress anyone with his intellect; he did not know of genes, and had he, he would not have ritualized them to the exclusion of all else; and he surely would not have invoked computers to describe the epitome of irregular and languid processes. Further, Darwin is himself a sterling example of how natural selection can achieve ""fitness,"" rather than end in a false start.",2.0,"Dennett Showing off, Misses the Boat.",1242864000,"05 21, 2009",15,26,helpful,0.5769230769230769,1 A2B78S260XDBHW,B0075Q9LRA,"D. R. R. ""D. R.""","[0, 1]",I read it all in one day. Beautifully written and no editing problems. Very enjoyable. Look forward to more from this author.,5.0,Start to finish,1343865600,"08 2, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3U931DM0E6ITU,B00DINESOK,Bookworm Braxton,"[0, 0]",I purchased Dark Facade Series at Amazon. The book was very good it kept you on the edge wondering what was going to happen next. I gave it five stars if possible I would have given it more.,5.0,Dark Facade Series,1372377600,"06 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2RZAKIOKWI2PB,1605981044,S. DiBenedetto,"[0, 0]","Stanley is stumbling and bumbling and solving crimes again. He kidnaps a teenage girl, discovers dead bodies, and in other words, another day at the office for Stanley. His wife is so sarcastic but helpfull. Still he struggles to find out who is the bad guy. A good read. It seemed to go by very quickly.",5.0,"Stanley tries to not be distracted by pretty women, but he just cannot help himself. Who can?",1365811200,"04 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2XOV3ZKGDK55G,0805093036,"RBSProds ""rbsprods""","[16, 19]","Five ENGROSSING Stars! In this series of up-to-date essays, author, historian, and political commentator Chalmers Johnson (Blowback, Second Edition: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire (American Empire Project)gives an up-to-date extensive investigative assessment of our American imperialistic tendencies and realities. In a very frank manner, he looks at recent American presidential administrations and their policies which have resulted in our far-flung empire of over 700 military bases consuming billions of dollars spent on personnel and equipment to sustain those bases and presumably our national interests and security. He also looks at how the military-industrial complex and Congress promote these activities in a form of false ""military Keynesianism"" that produces just the opposite effect of the overall success it promises the country and the economy, as our power and effectiveness actually wanes. At a time when the author says we have a smaller number of combat brigades, ships, and aircraft, the military budget is spiraling upwards, putting us in a position of ""losing our democracy for the sake of keeping our empire"" based on four dynamics: ""isolation, overstretch, the uniting of local and global forces opposing imperialism, and in the end bankruptcy.""Beginning with the Clinton Administration and going through Obama's ""war presidency"", author Johnson takes stock of how we got into the current situation thru our hubristic idealism, our ""imperial presidency"", and the current, ultimate failure of constitutional checks and balances in reining in our expanding military budget. Beyond this we are facing ""blowback"" for our military adventurism from local and global forces opposing imperialism who have been directly and negatively impacted by the actions of the USA. The history lesson giving the run up from ""Charlie Wilson's War"" to the rise of Osama bin Laden to the 9-11 attacks to the current messy wars we face in Afghanistan and Iraq is particularly informative, but he goes far past this giving an arresting look at how our general and specific international policies have negatively affected individual countries, leaders, and the world in general over a substantial period of time. Particular emphasis is placed on CIA blunders around the world and over the decades while the agency promotes an aura of success for itself. Then he gives 10 recommendations on ""Dismantling The Empire"", some of which I believe are laudable but difficult to achieve in ""liquidating"" our imperial assets. HIs recommendation with regard to the CIA is not realistic. The book ends with a chilling warning: I hope our leaders get the messages from this extensive missive and act on it as ""our last best hope"". This fascinating book from the American Empire Project is highly-informative, very opinionated, frankly stated, deeply researched, and ""Highly Recommended"". Five INFORMATIVE Stars! (This review is based on a Kindle download in Mac, IPhone, and ""text-to-speech"" modes.) (The other books in the Chalmers Johnson Blowback trilogy, besides the aforementioned Blowback second edition book itself, are:Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic (American Empire Project)andThe Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic (The American Empire Project)",5.0,THE IMPERATIVE OF DISMANTLING OUR FAR-FLUNG EMPIRE,1282176000,"08 19, 2010",16,19,helpful,0.8421052631578947,1 A1IH1TZHX135Y0,1484861388,Dimples,"[0, 0]",NA writing makes you think you're a fly on the wall lol. It was really bittersweet. I really enjoyed it. Adam and his history... smh lol,5.0,Great story!,1376870400,"08 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AAYT7W0ZJBYJ9,0152060308,Laura Edeen,"[0, 0]","This book is so heartfelt, well written and glowing with lovely illustrations. Look for the narrator man hiding on each page for added fun. I love this story! Teach your children well.",5.0,this story makes me tear up,1360972800,"02 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGZVJ9FO3TZPN,0345386825,"Mary H. Lesser ""doc lesser""","[11, 13]","The first book I read by the author was The Eight, which I thought was terrific. The biggest problem I had with this one is how dated it's gotten...some of the background needed for the plot to work just hasn't held up over time. If you can suspend your judgment on that it's not a bad read. But if you've read The Eight, you're likely to be disappointed.",3.0,This is more of a historical novel than you might suspect!,1118966400,"06 17, 2005",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A2FC1XLFJUK5D3,0761521364,R.B. (mom of 3!),"[5, 5]","I just want to thank the author of this excellent book for taking the time to understand strong willed children and showing other parents how to also. I have been having problems with my 3 1/2 yr old daughter. Like most strong willed children, she is very smart and she can also be very sweet and kind, but most of the time in our house there is chaos. If you have never had one of these children, I'm sure you are sitting back saying, ""all that kid needs is a good spanking!"" and normally when kids misbehave I would agree, but that is what I have been doing and it has been completely ineffective. It only makes her angrier, and more frustrated. I have been trying time outs, but they also have not been working. Out of desperation I ordered this book, and it has explained everything so clearly. I was to the point of thinking that, despite her intelligence, there was something wrong mentally with my daughter. I knew she was stubborn, but I had never heard of strong willed children. This book showed me that not only is nothing wrong with my daughter, but that I can change her behaviour just by changing the way I react to her. I noticed today was so much easier, I clearly stated in a calm voice what I did or did not want her to do, and if she disobeyed then I (calmly) put her in a room by herself, set the timer and held the door shut. She has gotten into the habit of backtalking, which I cannot stand, but instead of yelling, spanking or otherwise drawing attention to it, the book instructs parents to ignore it completely, because the only reason she does it is to start a fight with me. There was a minimum of backtalking today! I have known for a while that what I was doing wasn't working with her, but I had no idea what the right methods were. Thanks to this book I have all the tools I need to calmly, wisely, and effectively parent my strong willed child.",5.0,Life changing!,1287446400,"10 19, 2010",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 ARS51XJO2K84O,1432825410,Linda L. Lattimer,"[0, 1]","If anyone were to ask Colt Morgan about love, he would quickly say it doesn't happen fast. It was a year before he even said those words to his first wife, Denise, and when she died ten years ago, he knew love was gone in his life. That was before Shay Brennan walked into in his life, practically stealing his breath away. Up until ten years ago, he was involved in his family's ranching business before he settled into real estate, which brought Shay into his life. Shay always wanted to go out West. Fascination grabbed at her soul at an early age so when her father passed away, leaving her a hefty sum, she decided to quit her job and head to a different scenery. Shay thought it might help her over the loss of losing both her parents within a short time period together, and the Black Hills of Dakota was calling her name. After purchasing a historic 1885 saloon, she had no idea she would meet a tall handsome cowboy like Colt. Not only does he have charm, but he is a downright gentleman. They soon realize they have things in common, especially after Colt has a dream about a strangling in the room where Shay occupies. When Shay sees a ghost materialize before her, she is inclined to believe there are indeed entities trying to reach out to them. Just when the two begin to draw closer, Shay has an eye-opening encounter in her basement. One question remains, can the two find a way to ease the troubled ghost calling out to them, or will the other entities, surrounding the saloon, stop Shay and Colt completely? Only love can shower this couple into finding out the truth.A Haunted Twist of Fate immediately grabs this reader from the first page. Each time I tried to put the book down, the characters would not allow it to happen. I was drawn into the lives of Shay, and Colt, and found instant connection with them. The chemistry they share is absolutely charismatic. Stacey Coverstone positively knows how to weave a story that engages from the get-go. She creates visual scenery of a western town that instantly becomes lifelike, with convincing characters that walk off the pages into the reader's life, once the story is finished. Ms. Coverstone injects all the steps that make this an unquestionable great read. It is indeed extraordinary and one that should not be missed. This is one to be added to the buyers list for sure! Impressive and completely spell-binding! Hold onto your seats and get ready for some spine-tingling action along the way.see the review at [...] - Linda L",5.0,A Haunted Twist of Fate,1324771200,"12 25, 2011",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2D3MU80ME36SV,1608195317,"david l. poremba ""the past in review""","[5, 9]","I will have to agree with other reviewers on the subject of not really learning anything new about the subject of this book - although nicely researched. It is also a shame that an author's ego gets in the way of the story. If the need to recite your creds is so critical, then so be it - your criticisms of other biographies really has almost no place here in the glass house you're sitting in.",2.0,"great research, but...",1340496000,"06 24, 2012",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A2RMXKAQCCHIEP,0758206607,"Reader 1000 ""Reader 1000""","[26, 28]","This is written by an African American women and geared toward African American women, but it can still be applied to anyone. Not a big deal; but I thought it was odd that it wasn't mentioned in the books description.I admit I have most of the books like this on the market. This is the only one that suggests marrying someone for love that happens to have money. In my opinion the best are:How to join the club of the Rich and Famous by Valentina Artsrunik and How to Marry Money by Susan Wright. These are best if you want to marry SUPER rich.",4.0,"Worth getting, but there are better books out there.",1106870400,"01 28, 2005",26,28,helpful,0.9285714285714286,1 AJ5RRHI4VW9RJ,0749009802,S. Groscost,"[0, 0]","The is a lovely live story. Quite romantic. The author's words paints beautiful pictures.Often, times travel stories have plot holes that make suspending belief a little difficult. But Ms. kearsley ties all loose ends up nicely giving everybody ... Well I don't want to spoil the ending.",5.0,Lovely love story,1373846400,"07 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2MW4MQJN2HH8K,0670033952,Terrance G. Jones,"[8, 9]","In college, too many years ago, I was not a ""hard-science"" major. Several years ago I became fascinated with String Theory after watching a Nova PBS show called ""The Elegant Universe"". Some books on this subject are like reading a Flemish dictionary. Lawrence Krauss can take a very difficult subject and puts it in plan language, easy to understand and interesting to read.",5.0,The Mysterious Allure of Extra Dimensions,1137283200,"01 15, 2006",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A1075DCK8ACF9S,1476751404,Book Lover in MD,"[0, 0]","I have read every book in the Beautiful Series but I skipped over Beautiful Player because the premise seemed so far fetched to me; a usually circumspect and conservative woman starts to have sex in public with a stranger...? Huh? Really? I wasn't buying it (figuratively and literally) but then I caved and purchased Beautiful Player and fell in love with Max. The authors really wrote a smart, caring, sexy, kind leading man that had me swooning. The genre of erotic literature is clearly exploding but there are just some god-awful books to be read in the category. Christina Lauren has never disappointed. The dialog is fresh, the sex scenes are sexy, the romance is fun. Can't wait to see what they come up with next.",5.0,I've read it twice so far,1394755200,"03 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1IXRA77CBNQ3J,1929976089,Susan Leatherman,"[6, 6]",This story Is so meaty and so well-written. Fox uses excellent vocabulary and intelligent descriptive language. Loved it. Refreshing and sophisticated.,5.0,Jimmy Fox scores!,1368403200,"05 13, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1QA8CFOV2I62J,078689072X,Pat,"[26, 35]","One star for just plain unbelievably stupid, lazy writing.The heroine is supposedly a cop. In one scene, she discovers a bag of small candy bars in her car at the police station parking lot one day. She has no idea how it got there, so some stranger left it. She and the cop taking an investigative trip to a hospital with her almost decide to drop the candy off at the children's ward of the hospital, but the partner decides to eat them himself. Turn out the candy is full of needles and blades.The author is too lazy even to work with a map and phone book to make some attempt to get logistics halfway accurate.I bought the book for the Chicago venue, with which I am familiar. Big mistake.Examples: At the beginning the crime scene was supposedly at the intersection of Monroe and Dearborn, but two pages later the location was described as at Monroe and Washington, which are parallel streets a quarter mile apart. Arrogantly lazy writing. The location description sounded like a neighborhood, when it is in actuality a Loop intersection of densely packed office skyscrapers.The building descriptions are made up and wrong. The description of attractive, modern looking Mercy Hospital was old and ugly. Etc.Then there are the offensive fat person references about every other page. What garbage.It's a waste of time to read the other books by this author, even though they're free through Amz Prime.",1.0,Has this author ever been to Chicago?,1335052800,"04 22, 2012",26,35,helpful,0.7428571428571429,1 A3KCMEJTRQHNAP,0152021639,Roz Levine,"[29, 29]","Poor Sage (one who shows wisdom, experience, judgement) is home with the flu and gets the weekly vocabulary words and assignment from her friend Starr (who is not a luminous celestial object seen as a point of light in the sky). Unfortunately, she does not quite get the last word down and that is the basis for her story. Instead of writing miscellaneous (consisting of various kinds of qualities, a collection of unrelated objects), she writes Miss Alaineus, defining it as (the woman on green spaghetti boxes who hair is the color of uncooked pasta and turns into spaghetti at the ends). Sage is devastated (wasted, ravaged) as the class, including Mrs Page (who is not a single side of a printed sheet of paper usually found bound in a book) burst into laughter and she turns red (the color of embarrassment). But as her mother explains, "There's gold (a bright yellow precious metal of great value") in every mistake (something done, said, or thought in the wrong way). And her mother was right. Sage uses this embarrassing error and goes on, to her astonishment (great shock and amazement), to win the gold trophy at the Annual Vocabulary Parade..... Debra Frasier has taken the boredom out of spelling words and definitions and written a marvelous, inventive and creative story, kids 5 and up will just love. Filled with hundreds of words and definitions, a terrific story line and detailed, expressive illustrations, youngsters will begin to understand and enjoy the power of words and how important it is to use them correctly. And as Sage triumphs (a true success), kids will see that making a mistake is not the worst thing that can happen, in fact it sometimes leads to great success (a favorable or desired outcome of something attempted). Miss Alaineus A Vocabulary Disaster is a special and unique book that should be included in every home library, and is sure to be a classic, in years to come.",5.0,Vocabulary Made Fun!,981072000,"02 2, 2001",29,29,helpful,1.0,1 A17YGJLQ8FXXLS,0091937957,Sheila Robbshaw,"[0, 0]","This is a delightful book, full of memories and anecdotes, with rich memories of a nurse's training in the 1950's - when Sister's word was law and no-one, and I mean no-one, dared to disobey. That system turned out excellent nurses too; the tough approach did no-one any harm, although it might have caused many students to fall along the way. Perhaps that's not a bad thing; it sorted the wheat from the chaff.The author told her story with humour and pathos, and she is to be commended for an excellent little book that will be enjoyed by young and old.",5.0,A trip down memory lane,1400803200,"05 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1FSI59SI6NCX9,1590300548,Edgar Hopida,"[4, 4]","Dr. Thomas Cleary as with many of his translated works on Eastern religion/philosophy and Islam, brings us yet another excellent rendition of a classic in basic strategy.Not only does he bring the Master Sun Tzu's classic along with its eleven commentators from various periods, he also provides us additional material whether it be essays from classical Chinese strategists, The Lost Art of War by Sun Bin, descendant of Sun Tzu, and of course Silver Sparrow Art of War which a version of the Art of War which contains previously unknown fragments that further illuminates the text we are so familiar with.This is a must for anyone interested in Chinese classics and for those who have an interest in basic strategy that can be implemented not only in the battlefield but in other aspects of life itself.",5.0,A good rendition of a classical manual on strategy,1207785600,"04 10, 2008",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2FSWI7Q6MZ9PX,1623803373,"Vanessa ""The Jeep Diva""","[0, 0]","Straight college boys figuring out they are gay and falling in love is one of those things in male male romances that just simply works for me. Lance is the straight guy for Plan B. Danny is the beautiful man that has Lance wondering about his sexuality. Danny has to deal with the struggles of getting Lance to see past the glitter and sparkle and the fact that Danny is a man. Danny is comfortable with his homosexuality. Danny likes the attention his looks get him. Danny likes dressing up and putting on makeup. Danny does not like being Lance’s dirty little secret.Oh Plan B is just smothered in awesome. For any relationship to work their has to be a certain amount of give. Lance and Danny have no problems giving each other pleasure. It is the rest of the relationship that neither one wants to give to. Danny has his dreams and ideals in his direct sights, as does Lance. Lance knows he can’t take a boyfriend into the NFL with him. Danny knows he is too amazing to be stuffed into a closet. Combine this and you have a book that refuses to let you put it down.There is a lull towards the middlish-end. There is a reason for it. Danny and Lance’s quasi relationship hits a stalemate. Both of these men know what they want for their lives (big picture) but neither can fit the other into that big picture. While the lull frustrated me, it worked for the book. For them to get together for the long haul they had to grow up. The way Peterson put this to play worked exceptionally well.",4.0,Plan B,1402790400,"06 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZY3GR7ZIOWVT,0821780662,Ne-Kwan Perkins,"[0, 0]",This is an awesome story abot Gideon and Magdelegns. Its very inspiring. I will definitely read this to my future husband to get him started in his romance mode. LOL.,5.0,Ms Frank is awesome,1357689600,"01 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YW7IL2F86AE3,1495472418,Jullie Anne,"[17, 20]","Reading Interview with a Master was an...experience...for sure. It was quite the opposite of what someone who is completely unfamiliar with the lifestyle might expect, nothing shockingly dark or wince-inducing. Although I believe the plot is best experienced when you know as little detail as possible and go in with a mental blank slate, I will say that it's easy enough to follow and you certainly don't need to be a BDSM "expert" to understand the story.Jonah Noble is a "master," a dominant. He exudes a seductive confidence that demands your attention. Throughout the course of the interview, Jonah details his path to becoming a master, reliving scenes of sexual exploration and ecstasy. He also divulges his beliefs about dom/sub relationships. His rules, his way of doing things. But, strip away the BDSM categorization, and you've got some highly quotable advice that everyday relationships can relate to. At one point, Jonah tells Leticia, "Write this down. I think it's important." I read it as: "Highlight this. I think it's important." However, not once does Jonah sound like he's preaching a How-To. I took the novel for what it was, and what Jason Luke himself said it was meant to be, an entertaining and compelling read.And what about the lucky reporter getting all of these juicy details? Leticia Fall is a small-town girl in a big city, still trying to climb her way up the journalism ladder. I liked that she was oblivious to certain aspects of BDSM, but it wasn't because she was particularly virtuous or "above it." Jonah actually coaxes out that curious, sensual side of her...and it is *oooh, wow* to see play out. Their fascination with each other progresses throughout the novel, and it's part of what makes this story so addicting. Not only did I want to know all about Jonah's past, I wanted to see what would go down between Jonah and Leticia in the present. I was swiping page after page, unable to put it down because I just wanted more!But, oh, how I wanted more. After I got through the ending, I actually had to cross my arms and stare at my Kindle for a couple of minutes, trying to figure out how I felt about it. It all spiraled down to the finish rather quickly. You're going to have to read the book and see what I mean! I just needed *something*!I'm deducting a mini 1/2 star for the ending (and that might just be out of stubborn yearning...), but everything else was exactly what I was hoping for! It was different, a little risky, and it was highly entertaining and emotionally captivating from beginning to end. Jonah Noble is one powerful, seductive Master, and you're going to wish that *you* were conducting this interview! Senses will be at an all-time high after reading every detail, and you will not want to put this book down!",5.0,"Meet the Master, ASAP!",1393804800,"03 3, 2014",17,20,helpful,0.85,1 A2YOFCOEKH3KB,1492305413,Bookworm,"[0, 0]",This was one of the most difficult reads I've endured. Yes endured! I was biting my nails as tears streamed down my face. Covering one eye (like that was going to help). Squeezing my Kindle until I thought it would snap. There was no way I could sleep until I completed it.This was absolutely brutal and I'm ashamed to say I loved it! I liked Q much better in this book and my heart absolutely broke for Tess. Nothing like Monsters in the Dark to keep the pages turning.This is a very difficult read and I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. Human trafficking is a difficult subject. Pepper Winters has written a mind bending soul wrenching story!,5.0,Brutal read,1401840000,"06 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQ5PCN00O2EQY,1250040698,Claudia,"[0, 0]",This is an interesting insight into the lives of the privileged. It shows us how shallow most of our leaders really are.,3.0,The Woman Before Wallis,1378512000,"09 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WMB61LQWT9J,0553803379,AC,"[4, 4]","I just happened to stumble across this book in a local neighborhood Walgreen's store and from the first chapter I was hooked. This has to be considered for a future big screen movie. The story behind the people with ""Violet Eyes"" becomes even more fascinating when you discover the various ways which their skills can be used since each of them can use their gift in a very unique manner. The story revolves around a FBI agent, with a painful past, assigned to guard a girl with violet eyes during their travel across the country trying to catch the person responsible for murdering other violet people. The motive is unknown for most of the story adding to the suspense. The integration of these violet people into our justice system adds to the fascination and the method of seeing crime through the victim's eyes makes it impossible for a criminal to escape justice. My only disappointment in the book was when I finished it. I now look forward to his second book due out sometime this month. You will not be disappointed.",5.0,A Gripping Plot,1102896000,"12 13, 2004",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A13L17KFS9LAI7,0671027344,E. Drayer,"[0, 0]","I admit, the first quarter of this book was difficult to get through. I guess I expected more than just the rumblings of a highschool boy, but after I got to know the character, I really began to appreciate him. It makes me think of the masks that we all wear, especially in Highschool.....and of the ones we sometimes drag out later in life. And there are always those people who never remove their masks. I feel most sad for them, that they feel like they have no one safe to talk to, to show their real self to.This book was about some very sincere friendships, and towards the end, an astonishing realization of why this kid had so many emotional problems. It leaves me feeling a sense of hope.",4.0,"Seemed slow and monotonous at first, but improved drastically in the middle",1384387200,"11 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A206U97FPE48UV,1419549936,Justitia,"[99, 111]","This is actually a review of the 2010-2011 edition. I reproduce it here because almost nothing has changed in the few months between publication of the last book and this 2011 version.The LSAT exam has rules of its own, and there is not enough time during the exam to figure out what those rules are. If you learn what they are before you go in -- you can spend your energy answering the immediate questions at hand rather than wasting valuable time trying to figure out what each question is asking.The purpose of both the LSAT prep books and the LSAT prep courses is to teach you exactly that: the basic rules of the LSAT exam questions.Whether you are someone who is good at learning from a book or do better in a course with a live classroom, only you can know. My experience is that the overwhelming majority of people do better in a course -- but some do better from books.Your LSAT score is the single most important determinant of whether and how good a law school you will get into. Law School admissions committees weigh it so heavily because the LSAT score has been proven to be an excellent predictor of performance in law school and ultimately a good predictor of passing the bar exam after law school.If you try to wing it once and see how you do, even if you repeat the LSAT exam, the LSAC which oversees the LSAT exam sends both scores to each law school to which you apply. The admissions committees, as a rule, average the two scores to determine where you rank in the 1000's of applications they receive.So it is best that you put your best foot forward the first time you take the exam and do the full and proper prep that you need before you walk in to take it. If you really want to go to law school -- hang the expense and just take the plunge. The price will be even higher if you don't.Whether you decide on purchasing Kaplan's book or not, I urge you to use at least one other. There are multiple perspectives on how to approach taking the LSAT exam and it is learning from varied perspectives that will serve you best.As to Kaplan's book itself, I have mixed feelings. I actually happened to have been tutored by Stanley Kaplan himself for chemistry while I was in high school. He was the most highly regarded tutor in my neighborhood area and he tutored in every subject. I personally found his tutoring style, both one on one and in a class, unsatisfactory. He taught gimmicks for succeeding on tests rather than understanding the material. I did not function well that way, though apparently others did or he wouldn't have been so popular. I was not surprised, therefore, to see that he built a whole industry around review courses and exams in all areas. It is one of the most successful companies of its type today.I am currently a law professor, a switch from another discipline -- so law school was a mid-career change for me. I prepped for the LSAT through books but, obviously, being an academic, I am a book learner. Let the prospective law school applicant be warned however: Based on a practice exam I took before my preparation, I was appalled to learn I could barely score a bottom-of-the-barrel respectable grade on my own resources. This includes a PhD from a prestigious institution, a number of published scholarly articles as well as a book and being a professor in my previous discipline. Despite my credentials, I still wouldn't have been admitted to the law school of my choice if I did not do well on the LSAT; the law school Dean was quite blunt about that. If I needed to prep for the LSATs, then I feel confident to say that pretty much everyone does. I used 3 different prep books (Kaplan's was not around then) and crash-studied 100's of hours before taking the actual exam and fortunately did very well.Reviewing Kaplan's book here, though the teaching approach has improved considerably over my personal experience, I find the presentation breaks down the LSAT exam into too-simple elements to be of much use for mastering the art of taking this test. Though there are many aspects of the pointers presented that are excellent, there are many aspects that are merely platitudes that don't teach you anything.The least effective, I find, is the section on preparing for the writing sample. For one, the pointers are useless for someone who needs to learn how to write something like that. The pointers are already known to those who already know how to write. Those who need to learn those pointers will not understand them, figure them out or be able to apply them.As an example, there is one part admonishing the reader to write well and clearly. Apart from the fact that the section itself is not written clearly and is a poorly structured paragraph -- saying ""try to make your prose as clean and flawless as you can"" teaches nothing. ""Use structural signals to keep your writing fluid"" is absolutely correct -- but if someone needs training on how to write -- they will have no idea what ""structural signals"" are and, indeed, there is no explanation given. ("", indeed,"" is a structural signal.)If you wish to improve your writing skills for the purposes of the test -- you would do best with an in-person teacher who will go over repeated writing efforts of yours and who will explain how to improve them as you go back to do the exercise again. Though the writing sample itself is not graded -- writing is the most important tool of a lawyer and the Kaplan book is correct that admissions committees look at the writing sample, especially for those applicants who fall in the gray area of whether to be admitted or not.On the other hand (another structural signal), the book, in breaking many other aspects of the test down to elemental points, can give a good starting foundation. For those who feel intimidated by the power the LSAT exam has over their future career prospects, Kaplan's simplifying approach can reduce fear and anxiety by giving a sense of command over the material, which is critical to doing well on an any exam.For those who feel they ""don't do well on these kinds of tests"" -- the book is an excellent starting point. It does a good job of reducing the sense of being overwhelmed by the process and enables you to see you can indeed nail this exam.So Kaplan's book can serve as an excellent foundation. I just wouldn't stop there. I would go on to another, more sophisticated book that builds up your mastery of taking this kind of test or work through another one concurrently with Kaplan's or, perhaps even better, take a course.Finally, as an aside, law school is an excellent way to start a career or do a mid-career change at any age. People in their 60's as well as their 30's & 40's do it all the time. If you are concerned about being older, you will not be, by any means, alone. Furthermore, in addition to reasoning and writing skills, experience is equally important to success, whether it be from life or another career, not only in law school but in any subsequent career that capitalizes on your legal training. So whatever your past is, good or not so good, it will serve you well in law school. And just because you go to law school, that does not mean you are slated solely for a career as an attorney. A significant percentage of law graduates go on to endeavors unrelated to law but related to their own interests that their legal training opens doors to.Honestly, in my view, being a lawyer is one of the most powerful and productive roles in our society. Doctors give the power of life; lawyers give the power of living life, both for themselves and for others, to and for any one they wish to help or support. There is nothing more satisfying than to open doors for the deserving who thought those doors were closed to them forever. And I am not just referring to helping those caught in the criminal justice system, this includes students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education and a career, families caught in battles over estates and family businesses, businesses trapped in hostile environments -- these are among the many scenarios in which a legal perspective can be very felicitous. Being able to be available to assist in resolving a conflict with fairness and justice to all involved gives one a great sense of value. And one can do this at any time -- totally apart from those endeavors that earn one an income.",4.0,Good but not excellent...,1291075200,"11 30, 2010",99,111,helpful,0.8918918918918919,1 A3D2FD9G2IZUJA,039303853X,"blooms ""as36""","[0, 0]",Like Barrett's previous book this collection of stories in a unique mixture of science or scientific personalities and page turning fiction. Perfectly written to be utterly captivating. Couldn't put it down.,5.0,Science and Fiction,1380412800,"09 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21NVBFIEQWDSG,0060746904,Armchair Interviews,"[4, 7]","If ever there were a timely political thriller, this is IT!Set in the Middle East, a battle for fundamental moral values of Islam is hidden behind the battle for control of the Saudi oil fields.Prince Nasir is tired of the opulent and nonproductive life style of the extensive extended royal family. The only way he can see to reverse the trend toward westernization of his culture is to align with the French to overthrow the current frivolous ruling family.The French government hires Col. Jacques Gamoudi, a Moroccan mercenary, and Ravi Rashood, the world's most-wanted terrorist, to be sure the operation appears exclusively Arab.Part of the overthrow involves destroying Saudi oil supplies, damaging the economy and sending the price of oil sky high. As the world begins to scramble for alternative sources of oil, the American government realizes the only country who had the ""foresight"" to have shifted their oil imports from Saudi Arabia prior to the overthrow was France.Admiral Arnold Morgan and Lt Col. Jimmy Ramshaws are summoned by the White House to help unravel this mystery. As soon as the involvement of Gamoudi and Rashood is uncovered, a search begins. The Americans want them as witnesses, the French want them dead.Armchair Interview says: A thrilling novel--almost too real to disregard.",4.0,Thrilling!,1134432000,"12 13, 2005",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A1ZTJFLLTYXNY9,0143120042,Marguerite Delbet,"[0, 1]","Anti heroes, great plot - a compelling read, and a bit of mystice mystery at the end to keep you on your toes. Most enjoyable!",5.0,Original,1361318400,"02 20, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3GRN6J64F2C3X,0785107711,"Joseph P. Menta, Jr.","[11, 13]","When Frank Miller was only drawing and co-plotting "Daredevil" in the late 70's and early 80's the issues were a lot of fun, but once he took over the writing chores... wow. "Daredevil Visionaries: Frank Miller, Volume 2" reprints the first dozen or so "Daredevil" issues featuring Miller as both writer and artist, and wait 'til you see the leap in quality from the undeniably entertaining stories seen in volume 1, where Miller was only the artist and sometimes plotter. How good are these stories? Well, right out of the box, we meet Daredevil's first love turned killer-for-hire Electra (in Miller's FIRST issue as writer!); get plunged into a major gangwar featuring the Kingpin, Bullseye, and the mysterious group of ninja assassins known only as "The Hand"; meet yet another previously unseen figure from Daredevil's past, his streetwise and battle-scarred teacher and mentor "Stick"; and experience all kinds of other fun stuff still talked about twenty years after the stories first appeared. And I haven't even talked about the memorable, operatic Daredevil #'s 180, 181, and 182, the classic issues that close this volume. By the way, the storyline of the upcoming Daredevil movie was heavily influenced by this fan-favorite run of stories, so why not experience them in their original form first? Great stories, great art, and even some humor (in the form of recurring, not-very-efficient crooks Turk and Grotto)-- what more can you want?",5.0,These are the Daredevil stories not to be missed,1043193600,"01 22, 2003",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A1TK7GFJ5QUMO5,1423116186,"EstrangeloEdessa ""... with a muffin.""","[0, 0]","I was actually surprised to find how much I enjoyed this book. I have a habit of clicking on any book with an interesting cover, reading one positive review, requesting it from my library, and then reading all the negative reviews so that my expectations are good and lowered. So I was expecting to like it, but that it would just be another in the thick stack of books I go through every week.It wasn't.Daelyn's voice drew me in right away. Or rather, her lack of voice -- due to a previous suicide attempt, she has to wear a neck brace and her throat is too burned out for her to speak. Throughout the novel, her reaction to everything people say comes in short angry little thoughts that convey her character far more than any dialogue ever could. I simply love the way she tells her story, the simple and believable statements of feeling. Daelyn's voice is what really pulls this novel together for me: without that detail, she would have been a completely different character to me, and the story would have been something else entirely. Something not nearly as good.And of course I loved Santana -- oh, Santana. A large number of negative reviewers have called him annoying, and I suppose he would be to some. But that just made him more endearing to me. Santana is dying too, because of something he can't control, and so I love that he has the bravery to go and do what he wants to do. He seems to me to be a wonderful example of a strong person. He is dying, and even though he's determined to fight his sickness every step of the way, he seems to have accepted the fact that it's going to happen and he's going to enjoy every last minute of his life, no matter what anybody else thinks of that. He's the perfect foil to Daelyn.What else to say? I love the way the story is told, the chapters ticking downward toward Daelyn's day of death. I read this book in less than a day, and every time I looked at one of those numbers, a little lower each time, I could feel my chest constricting a little more. Each chapter also unveils more about Daelyn's life and why she is so determined to kill herself. She goes online and posts on the Final Forum, and each post reveals another layer of information about her bullying, fat camp, and the many sources of all her constant insecurities. I found myself gasping a little with each new detail.Another thing I've seen people complaining about in the negative reviews is the ending, which is very ambiguous. This surprised me, as I though I had gotten a clear picture of what Daelyn was about to do, but now I realize that it was only my interpretation. Julie Ann Peters kind of leaves it up to the reader. And I, unlike the other reviewers, think this is perfect. I wasn't sure what Daelyn was going to do throughout most of the novel -- I'd read a review that made me think she had definitely killed herself, and yet there always seemed to be so much hope for her -- and the indecisiveness of the last page is like the last note of a song, stretching out and reverberating through the air even after the music is over. As far as I'm concerned, Daelyn's story is still going on.And the truth is, most times with suicide victims it's impossible to tell beforehand what they were planning to do to themselves. It only seems fitting that we face this same uncertainty with Daelyn. It feel realer than any neatly-stated ending could.The one thing I have a problem with is the cover of this book. It's too romanticized; Daelyn is shown as some kind of tragic heroine rather than the very real character she is. But I do know that authors have little control over their covers, and while it annoyed me, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story at all. And after all, it did get my attention enough that I would start reading. And that's something I'm very grateful I did.",5.0,By The Time You Read This...,1365897600,"04 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21Y68XIODER01,0761121323,"Jennifer A. McFarland ""jnnfmcfrl""","[12, 16]","This is the WORST book out there on childbirth. I bought this book with my first baby as it was highly recommended to me by my OB, and no wonder?! It teaches you how to be a completely passive patient with little or no information on side effects of medications and procedures done in the hospital. Don't waste your money, do an internet search on what you want to find out. I would recommend instead The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. The only plus side to this book is how it tells you month by month what your baby looks like, but again you can find that on the internet. This book makes you a good patient for the OB and not an active informed birther. Women do not NEED episiotomies, IVs, External Fetal Monitors, Epidurals etc. like this book makes it seem to birth safely. Please don't waste your money on this. Inform and empower yourself, be strong enough to be a bad patient and instead an awesome mom and terrific birther!!!",1.0,Should only be used as fire kindling...,1071964800,"12 21, 2003",12,16,helpful,0.75,1 A36F0U8F7Q0LE1,B00JOXGMH4,Dee W,"[7, 8]","I have always loved Ms Killough-Wallden's 'Kings" books up to now but I find myself struggling to finish this one. The story jumps around with way too much description of surroundings, etc. I found myself skimming through several pages looking for more?? story?? I don't know but I think I am done with this series. I hope the author will give us a new series soon.",1.0,Not A Happy Reader,1398124800,"04 22, 2014",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A15237K8RL37T5,1570624453,Vera Cousins,"[0, 0]",I love the video as the author relates the movements to health concerns. It has good music. It is easy to follow.,5.0,Tai Chi as a Path of Wisdom,1369180800,"05 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A39GKCZWTMG27E,1477817409,"Ginny Mapes ""Pacific Northwest writer, resear...","[0, 0]","Lines of Departure is the second book following Terms of Enlistment by Marko Kloos. Truely a third book is anticipated to complete the trilogy.A space war with a seemingly unbeatable alien life, know as the Lankies,has been wiping out Earth's space colonies. To make matters worse,the North American Commonwelth, NAC, also has to fight off their Warth-based enemies, Sino-Russian Armies, SRA.The story includes a long-distance love, fast and furious space battles and daring raids on enemy colonies. Meanwhile things are not going well for either the NAC or SRA. The Lankies have them on a steady retreat that will ultimately end up on Earth and the extinction of the human race.There had better be a third book in the works!",5.0,Saving Mankind,1394496000,"03 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1K1JW1C5CUSUZ,0307277712,"Donald Mitchell ""Jesus Loves You!""","[6, 6]","A popular exercise among self-help gurus is to ask their students to imagine themselves attending their own funeral. What would the student like to be said then? Who should attend?Everyman reminded me of that insightful thought experiment.Everyman opens at our narrator's funeral. There are some former colleagues from his advertising career, neighbors from the retirement village where he had been living, his daughter, two sons from a first marriage, his older brother and sister-in-law, his second wife (and his daughter's mother) and a former private duty nurse from a prior illness. You'll read his daughter's words which tell you the family's history.Then, the narrator takes over to relate his life. The primary themes are family connection, taking on adult responsibilities, physical attraction to the opposite sex, life mistakes, physical decline and passing beyond this life. The perspective is that of an elderly man in not very good health, who objects to his health challenges.The book is remarkably spare for a Philip Roth novel. I liked the contrast to his more elaborate works. This book is about the monologue in one's own head, and you don't need a lot of other material to capture that mind-set. A few incidents, scattered here and there, simply serve to elaborate on the narrator's character and perspective.But the book transcends its narrator's life to touch on the important life passages and challenges we all have or will face. If you are like me, you'll find yourself re-examining your own life and plans.As the book jacket points out, the title is intended to refer to an anonymously written fifteenth-century allegorical play themed to the process of summoning the living to death. You can add to your enjoyment of Roth's work if you read (or re-read) that play.The story also captures the sense of loneliness that many feel who lack the comfort of daily contact with their families and strong religious beliefs about the meaning of life.To draw you a word picture of this book, Everyman reminded me of an elaborate tombstone that contains numerous references to the deceased . . . from which our imaginations fill in the gaps.",4.0,"Connection, Responsibility, Attraction, Mistakes, Physical Decline and Passing",1155254400,"08 11, 2006",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 ATV9X3FTXRIM4,0131103628,Mike Christie,"[299, 303]","This book (widely known as K&R, after the authors' initials) has for over twenty years been the best way to learn C. When I got this book in 1980, I had access to a Unix system and worked through much of the tutorial material in it. On the way I learnt a great deal, not just about C, but about good programming style, code reuse, the value of clear comments--in short, I was introduced to the skill set of an experienced computer professional.The book was a trendsetter in several ways. For example, the very first exercise given is to print "hello, world"; this is now seen as the first exercise in innumerable other, more recent books, many of which may not realize that they are borrowing from K&R. The rest of chapter 1 (there's a chapter 0, an introduction; another geek-cool change which has been widely copied) is a tutorial that takes you through assignment statements, data types, if/else, for, while, printf, function definitions, arrays, and variable scoping, in less than 30 pages. If you work your way through the embedded exercises you'll have written utilities to strip tabs, reverse input by lines, strip trailing whitespace from input, and several others. This is much more challenging than most tutorials, but the effect on the student is that you feel you are being treated as an equal. The book doesn't talk down to you; it gives you accurate and concise answers. It's written for programmers, in other words.The next few chapters go back over the elements of C in more detail, and should also be treated as a tutorial. Going through this material religiously will be far more valuable than any college class could possibly be.There is a reference section at the back, which is good to have. But the real value of this book is in the tutorial approach: it is a rare pleasure in the computing field to find a book that is simultaneously clear, stimulating and informative.",5.0,A high-intensity tutorial and a great reference,952905600,"03 13, 2000",299,303,helpful,0.9867986798679867,1 A2UQL5NYUGIBLQ,0439023483,Shauna,"[0, 1]","What a great imagination Suzanne Collins has, but at the same time you saw a future that isn't all that unrealistic. It brought out very strong emotion in me.",5.0,Very emotional,1384473600,"11 15, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1ECFW1EU774WG,1595552901,"celtic melody ""bookfiend""","[0, 0]","This book has a nicer layout than some of her earlier books. Each recipe has the list of ingredients, nutritional information, diabetic exchanges, and a step-by-step meal preperation list meant to help you get the meal on the table in about 30 minutes. Unlike her previous books, this one does contain thumbnail photographs of most of the recipes.The issues I had with the book included:1) Heavy use of processed foods. I was surprised at the use of CANNED chicken and CANNED Roast beef!! I would expect a frugal cookbook to make more use of leftover meat which would ALSO cut down on sodium in some of these recipes.2) The use of fat-free shredded cheese. I live in a large metropolitan city and, none-I mean NONE- of the local grocery stores carries FAT-FREE shredded cheese. Low fat, yes. Fat Free, no. Unless, you count those tasteless rubber slices most of the stores have. It would have been nice if she had included information on using LOW FAT cheese and possibly CUT DOWN on the amount of that cheese used in the recipes.3) Not much use of fresh seasonal produce. True, frozen veggies are just as nutritious in almost all cases. HOWEVER, there are those of us trying to watch our grocery budgets and support local community supported agriculture.4) Large use of artificial sweeteners. To some people, the use of artificial sweeteners poses no problems. Others are more sensitive. Again, it would have been nice to use a SMALL amount of natural sweeteners such as maple syrup, agave nectar, brown rice syrup or at least give an alternate calorie count for recipes using these sweeteners.Nevertheless, my husband DID especially enjoy the:Hawaiian Lettuce WrapsItalian MiniMeatloavesMashed PumpkinWet Pizza Burrito CasseroleTart Cherry ApplesauceItalian Breakfast PizzaEuropean AsparagusSpiced Baked OrangesAnd, I will be making these again for him. But, whenever possible, I will use leftover cooked chicken or roast beef rather than canned.Like I said, some people can eat the processed, higher sugar/sodium ingredients with no problem. Others may be bothered by their use.I think this book will be most benefical to those who are beginning cooks or who are one step away from ordering takeout.",3.0,Relies A Little TOO much on processed food,1258588800,"11 19, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Z5HZLK28CNLW,B00DSDYXIG,Alina Chu,"[4, 4]","Interesting characters, loved the humorous interactions. Would love to find out how things worked out in their future. A story on the white wolf would be great as well. Gave it 5 stars for the characters and that I did not feel the story ended too soon. The existing editing problems I was able to ignore and did not distract me from being absorbed by the story.",5.0,Enjoyable Story,1376092800,"08 10, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1RAUVCWYHTQI4,0747592403,A. Ross,"[49, 55]","The eight short stories in this collection are set in the same England as Clarke's popular novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (which I have not read), an England in which magic is at least nominally present and faeries are human-like creatures with very considerable powers. All but one of the stories, which range in length from a few pages to 45 pages, have been previously published over the last ten years in various anthologies such as Starlight 1, 2, and 3, and Black Swan, White Raven and Black Heart, Ivory Bones.Although the leadoff story, which gives the book it's title, concerns Dr. Strange and a trio of witches, the bulk of the stories (and certainly the more memorable ones), revolve around the capricious doings of various powerful fairies. A somewhat less powerful fairy is at the heart of he second story, ""On Likerish Hill"", which riffs on the Rumplestilsken story. The third story, ""Mrs. Mabb"", is an excellent old-fashioned tale about a poor young woman whose fiancee has been ensorcelled by a fairy queen. ""The Duke of Wellington Misplaces His Horse,"" is a comic interlude featuring the famous hero of the Peninsular and Napoleonic Wars, and how he survives an accidental visit the the Fairy Kingdom.Another longer, and somewhat more engaging story is ""Mr. Simonelli or the Fairy Widower"", in which a Cambridge scholar turned local rector matches wits with the local fairy lord. Another long and fairly decent story is ""Tom Brightwind or How the Fairy Bridge...,"" in which a Jewish doctor and fairy lord making their way cross-country stumble upon a village severely in need of a bridge. What happens is somewhat obvious, but it's a story well told. The seventh story, ""Antickes and Frets"" is a somewhat perfunctory one about Mary Queen of Scots and some magical embroidery. The final story, which appears here for the first time, is the brief ""John Uskglass and the Cumbrian Charcoal Burner"". It's another classic story, this time of a lowly woodsman taking on a fairy lord, matching prayers to the saints again fairy magic.On the whole, the collection should be of great interest to fans of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and of intermittent interest to those unfamiliar with Clarke's work. The prose is generally highly formal and stylized, which matches the tone of the stories but becomes somewhat tiresome over the course of a book. Similarly, the plots of the various stories often cover the same ground (humans matching wits with fairies), so that reading the book straight through becomes a touch tedious. Taken individually, each story has something to recommend it, and I suspect that they would feel much more distinctive in their original appearances, alongside the works of many different kinds of writers. in that vein, perhaps the best way to approach this book is to read a story of month or so, mixing it up with other kinds of reading so that Clarke's voice retains its distinctive nature.",3.0,Fun with Fairies,1161043200,"10 17, 2006",49,55,helpful,0.8909090909090909,1 A8898AEE3H1FV,1480012351,Bridget Speer,"[0, 0]",good basic information to start making fermented drinks .... I am definitely making some ginger beer and water kefir and yogurt,4.0,good information,1369440000,"05 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0615280994,Harriet Klausner,"[17, 20]","Sophie Hegel left Florence to attend Yale Law School although her shyness makes public speaking a combat sport. At school during a debate she met decade older Stephen. In early 2001 with the Towers still part of the landscape, she graduates and passes the New York State bar Exam. Sophie starts work at New York City's Public defender Office and moves into Stephen's Manhattan apartment.Engaged to marry, they are having dinner together when she suddenly cannot eat or speak and barely can breath. Her throat feels stuffed by a ball the size of her fiancé's fist. She remembers as a seven years old having the first time the fist blocked her throat when she, her sister and mom left their dad in California to move to the Arizona penitentiary city of Florence. Finally deciding to learn what her condition is, Sophie finds out she suffers from a psychosomatic illness Globus Sensate; a condition that makes it difficult to represent her Sing Sing clients in a court of affluence, but 9/11 will soon teach her what terror truly is as she walks down sixteen flights.This is a terrific character study of a mid twenties woman struggling with a psychological disorder that attacks her physically at importune moments in a world and in her mind already out of control with unfairness. Whether it is Arizona, New Haven, or New York, Sophie struggles to survive feeling like an outsider; enabling her to empathize with her poverty stricken clients. Fans will root for this wonderful heroine who refuses to allow her delicate condition and her sense of not belonging from preventing her from doing her best for her indigent clients who face a system that scorns them as losers for being poor.Harriet Klausner",5.0,terrific character study,1262563200,"01 4, 2010",17,20,helpful,0.85,1 A2D0XVKNI8BN4A,0425194604,"K. A. Stevenson ""WIAPilot""","[13, 13]","""At Wick's End"" is Tim Myers' first book in his candlemaking series and I had ordered it expecting a light, fluffy read. I was not familiar with his work, but thought that I might learn a little about candles and enjoy a pleasant mystery as well.I thoroughly and completely enjoyed this book! And while, yes, I did learn a lot about candlemaking (at least enough to want to make me want to try the craft), I was absolutely enchanted with the characters that Tim Myers has brought to life!This introductory mystery details the life of Harrison Black who has unexpectedly inherited his Great Aunt's estate. Although the bank owns most of it, this estate includes River's Edge - a shopping mall of sorts, that houses eccentric tenants as well as his Great Aunt's candle shop, ""At Wick's End"" and an apartment to boot.Retiring quickly from his less than thriving job of selling junk computers, Harrison moves into the apartment. He soon comes to believe that his aunt's death was not an accident. Simultaneously, while immersing himself in learning how to run a candle shop, Harrison attempts to solve his Great Aunt's murder.What captured me so thoroughly was not only the great plot and the long list of ""suspects,"" but Tim Myers' accurate and very realistic portrayal of the problems that confront someone who has suddenly become the owner of a store.""At Wick's End"" is such a terrific book that I can't wait to read the sequel, ""Burning at Both Ends."" Great job by a fine writer!",5.0,Delightful Mystery!!,1106956800,"01 29, 2005",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 ADM24KXLNF75U,0441016766,Jenn,"[0, 1]",Ms. Briggs latest story is intriguing and a wonderful read. While I would like to see a little more of the romance written in the scenes I was very happy with the overall story.,5.0,Ms. Briggs does not disappoint,1235952000,"03 2, 2009",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2K28JHMIY3XKZ,0140083871,Charles Andrews,"[9, 10]","Why schools still mandate that student plod through that old New England tale of Holden Caufield and his stuggles is beyond me. Sams writes a fresh energizing book devoid of the cynicism of Salinger. I'd rather my children experienced the joys and pains of Porter Osborne, Jr. Of course I have insisted they read the complete trilogy. However, it was something they wanted to do once started. Of the three Whisper is chronologically and artisyically the centerpiece. Our educational institutions should wake up and discover Porter and his journey to define himself",5.0,Best coming of age book ever,904780800,"09 3, 1998",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A98DLSC8D0ISO,0983478260,FV,"[0, 0]","Addison Moore has a knack with writing stories that suck you in...eventually. It actually took quite a few chapters for me to get into the world of Laken, there was just so much disorientation on the part of the character that the reader starts out that same way. I love that they tied in a lot of elements from the Celestra series, so it appears this is going on at the same time as all of Skyla's business is going down. The thing that got me was the formula is slightly similar. Girl falls for boy A, boy A falls for girl but is keeping secrets, girl also falls for boy B who is into girl as well, throw in a couple other boys in the mix. Voila story. It's not as sordid as Skyla's life though, at least not yet. Laken is interesting, she isn't currently spectacular with her angel powers and she doesn't know if she's crazy or being screwed with. I would hate to live in the world of Fems and Spectators (AKA Zombies) that just seems terrifying, but the characters hold their own with them. By about 30% of the way through this book, I couldn't put it down, each chapter ended in such a way that you just couldn't put the book down so you could sleep, you just had to keep on going. UG then the ending, I don't know why I'm surprised there was a cliffhanger, when is there not a cliffhanger? Loved it. On a side note, it is very strange to read a story and see your name. I have a very uncommon name, so it is rare that I read anything that features it (even in passing), so I kept getting thrown every time I saw it. I can not wait for the next book to come out, I just oh so love the characters, Ms. Moore does a great job making characters you love to hate, and ones you just swoon over, and others that you're on the fence about. Fantastic!",4.0,Ephemeral,1356739200,"12 29, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1KR79PCFTFSA4,1595143068,lemmyrose,"[0, 0]","I was very pleased with this book, which was the last in the series Vampire Academy. Maybe not the deepest or best written read you could find, but for a YA vampire fiction novel, I thought it was quite well done. The characters were lovable but not perfect. They had faults and that made them more realistic and easier to relate with. The plot was fun and kept you guessing (I honestly could never have guessed who the culprit was in this book.) and the constant romantic tension between two of the main characters, Rose and Dimitri, completely satisfies the girly side of me. I thought this book ended the series very well, not rushed but fast paced all the same. I loved this series and I'll definitely read them again.",5.0,Fantastic ending!,1339718400,"06 15, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AB5I0EU3SERZM,1451658788,"Mary S. Wright ""Sensitive Person""","[0, 0]","The book was captivating, sensitive, and fun. It was a good mystery and kept my attention all the way through.",5.0,wonderful book,1363824000,"03 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2JT6BO9PW4Q8O,0671867369,David Traill,"[25, 28]","Despite what the Amazon armchair critics would have you believe, this book is really a fantastic effort to document the experiences of what was an elite Army unit in World War II Europe. I read this book only a few weeks before meeting a veteran from Easy Company, Sgt. Amos "Buck" Taylor, and I came away from that meeting confident that Ambrose was, in fact right on the money, and those who argue otherwise need to talk to someone who was there for their comeuppance. Few of us can conceive of, let alone would pass, the training that went into these soldiers before they left the States for England. Described in detail, it gives you that much more appreciation for what the men really did. Taylor's memories echo strongly all I read about Tocoa and Capt. Sobel. When the unit finally deployed in support of D-Day operations, their training gave them an enormous edge. Taylor's own experiences were not unique, but it wasn't long before the whole unit accomplished their goal and waited for the next time they would be needed. A strong theme throughout the book was the bond formed among the men of Easy, which I saw much in evidence that night. Mrs. Taylor also is a part of the reunions, and still marvels at what her husband did. The unfortunate fact is that Buck has never told her a lot of things, and has blocked many out- the book and conversation Buck had with us was the first introduction she had to many of the things her husband saw in war-torn Europe. Ambrose's diligent research is accurate, well-written and truthful. Ignore what those who don't know have to say- I've heard it from one who was there- Band of Brothers is a true story, and hard to put down, much like the men of Easy so long ago.",5.0,"I met an Easy veteran, and the book did a GREAT job.",998784000,"08 26, 2001",25,28,helpful,0.8928571428571429,1 A26ZAM8KFU0GY9,1591841380,Jim Estill,"[5, 7]","I recently read a book called, Wikonomics - how mass colaboration changes everything by Don Tapscott and Anthony Williams. It is a book about the social networking and collaborative sites that are becoming very popular. I found the book highly interesting since I try to follow trends and try to figure out what opportunities are available in which trends.Wikonomics points out that many times traditional business is afraid of open source projects like Linux and Wikopedia but others see a corneacopia of participation and economy. The thesis behind the book is that the collaborative social networking type sites actually increase business opportunity and do not take away business opportunity.The book had a number of possible subtitles including:Edit This Book!The Dividends of Collective GeniusWe the PeopleBusiness (The Remix)The new World of Collaborative AnarchyPlease Register to ParticipateThe Power of UsCreating a New page in Business HistoryUnleashing Our Collective GenuisThis Book is a StubHarnessing the Power of Your Peers(Your Input Needed Here)Peer-Powered Prfit in Life, Business, and Individual ChoiceThe Peer Advantage: Myth or Magic?Peer Producing the FutureThe subtitles describe what the phenomenon is.The book talks about the 4 principles of Wikonomics including being open. This flies in the face of some businesses which often try to keep their secrets to themselves.Peering: most organizations have a higher archaric set up and the nature of Wikis is they are based on peer.Sharing: again a conventional western society says, keep it to yourself.Acting Globally: Wikies are a great way to get global knowledge working together.It is a good book and a fairly quick read; fairly inspirational; however, I am still not sure what to do with it. Thinking...",5.0,Social networking is a reaility - now how to use it.,1181001600,"06 5, 2007",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 AJ6J0B7Y9E136,0989269868,Anneabelle,"[0, 0]",Better than the first book and I loved that one as well. A lot of other books all just blend together but this one has definitely stayed with me. This is my second time reading it too.,5.0,Loved it!!!!,1389744000,"01 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2VHCSX84LKGUH,0062019481,"Bubbie ""Bubbie""","[0, 0]","Enjoyed the book, liked that author did not use suggestive language to move plot along. Am interested in reading the second book.",4.0,Carpathaian series,1253750400,"09 24, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2FEGRJQNU51P9,0142000957,Joe Sherry,"[5, 6]","Killing Pablo chronicles the life of Drug Lord Pablo Escobar and the long hunt to capture and kill him. It was written by Mark Bowden, the author of the exceptional book: Black Hawk Down . Since this book was advertised as ""the manhunt for Pablo Escobar"", I went into the book expecting a kind of adventure story dealing with the killing of Pablo. Instead, what I got was a well crafted story detailing the early life (as much as is known) of Pablo Escobar and his rise to power in Columbia through the drug trade, how Escobar became such an international target, the many years of failed attempts to capture and kill Escobar, his many escapes, and finally how Escobar was tracked down and killed.Having read this book after Black Hawk Down , I expected the level of detail that Bowden presents, and if the story is less gripping than that of his other book, the story is no less interesting. We know how it ends, but we don't know how it all went down. The story of Pablo Escobar may not be very well known, but Mark Bowden wrote an excellent book that deserves to be read.",4.0,"very good, but lacking that intensity of Black Hawk Down",1047859200,"03 17, 2003",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2BNLDH0OFTQZB,1477818529,Anitha,"[0, 0]","Its a good read, but too much boring details, about the weather and places. Have to admit, it has very interesting twists. I just wanted to get it over with. Don't think will buy the other books from this author.",3.0,too much history,1353888000,"11 26, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A76YCUFC6WMW6,038073155X,"""ahmadku""","[0, 0]","I feel that in this book, Bronson has humanized Silicon Valley to an extent. The main characters in this book are actually fleshed out characters and not stereotyped uber-geeks.Some of the other reviewers said that the book glosses over the technical aspects of computers too much. I disagree. I don't think Bronson dumbed down the computer explanations as much as summarized them in normal language. Having a lot of technical info in this book would detract from the main thing, which is the story.All in all, Bronson has written a fine book. The book has lots of twists and turns and is a page turned until the end.",5.0,A fine bit of storyteling,960595200,"06 10, 2000",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2063PGBVLB18Z,B00439GLI4,MariaA37,"[0, 1]",Being a Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew fan of course I had to read this. It doesn't really have much to do with Nancy Drew--there are a few references--but it was an enjoyable read and had the feel of a Nancy Drew book.,4.0,Good!,1361923200,"02 27, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 ALN0TTRTLHA4E,0393316890,"Tom Munro ""tomfrombrunswick""","[27, 78]","This book is reasonably old the first edition coming out in the 1950's. It is written by Christians as a book to be read in conjunction with the bible. That is it generally accepts the truth of the historical sections of the bible and tries to put them in a historic perspective. To be fair to the authors they indicate the similarity of biblical creation stories to those of Babylon.The book however is rather partisan. The reality is that there is little in the way of historic evidence to suggest that much of the bible is true. There is for instance no record of the events of Exodus in Egyptian records.There is also no objective evidence for the existence of King David or King Solomon.Rather than looking at these questions, which are at the heart ofBiblical Scholarship the authors try to fit the biblical narratives into a historical time frame.The book is reasonably easy to read and an alright introduction to the period that it covers but in reality it does not look deeply into the real issues of the time. Christians will find it interesting but for those with other interests it falls short.",2.0,Not very good,1009929600,"01 2, 2002",27,78,helpful,0.34615384615384615,1 A2HNE5JZFEICH3,0984690166,Shantellovingmylife,"[0, 0]",Wow a page turner I couldn't sit this book down I can't wait to see what happens in part two of this story !!!!!!!!,5.0,excellent read,1383091200,"10 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AY6G2A5QAY47E,1585713260,"Amazon Customer ""vw books""","[4, 6]",I loved this book! It was a quick and refreshing read. The characters were solid and the story was believable. This would make a cute TV movie. I also loved the fact that the female lead was not totally messed up like many IR's tend to have. The male lead (Carter) was HOTTT!! He was witty and just right for Khela. I highly reccommend this book.,5.0,Great read!!,1221264000,"09 13, 2008",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A9P07NJ7UV0M,0553384260,"Meryl K. Evans ""Content Maven behind meryl.net""","[7, 7]","The book guides the reader through the three-part process to prepare, deliver and follow through in getting to a positive No. No doesn't come easy especially when trying to please a client who asks to move up the delivery date. You're afraid to say No because it means losing future business, respect and perhaps, your job._The Power of a Positive No_ not only helps you improve your negotiating skills in such work situations, but it also applies to your personal life. With the tips in the book, you won't fear the consequences of saying No and you'll find ways to make the situation work out for everyone.Have you fallen into one of the three-A trap? Tripping up in one of these traps means the person takes steps Accommodate, Attack or Avoid when encountering a No situation. These traps won't make anyone in the situation feel good about the solution. Accommodate means saying Yes when we want to say No. Attack means saying no poorly. Avoid means saying nothing at all and not taking care of the problem.The book digs up situations that you know you could've handled better. Applying the concepts from the book to past situations will prepare you for doing better next time without worry of blowback. Self-help books face the challenge of encouraging their readers to change. The idea of a positive no sounds difficult -- and it isn't easy either -- will come to readers if they take the time to understand and apply Ury's advice. Don't expect bandage style advice that can fix anything with a simple stick-on.Of course, you could prepare and set up a great response for a positive no, but what if the requestor doesn't take no for an answer? Ury shows how to prepare Plan B, a backup plan. He also shares a decent amount of real-life examples, large (court case involving a large company and a customer) and small (not having time to help), of how people handled such situations.Crack the book and it takes no time to become engrossed in Ury's clear and breezy writing style. The book flows and the length satisfies. Fans of the Ury's classic best-seller will appreciate this one and won't feel a sense of déjà vu in having read _Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In_.",4.0,Good Life Habit to Learn and Use,1183161600,"06 30, 2007",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A15L95LZEFDI9S,0316590789,"Trent Dougherty ""Socratic""","[4, 4]","This is a truly great children's book. It is my favorite fairy story of all time, seriously. There is adventure and compassion, deceit and intrigue, princes and trolls--it's all there. Fia is a wingless fairy and stands in for all who feel incomplete. In a rare occurance in modern books, her father is her greatest advocate. Her best friends (other fairies shun her, including her seven beautiful sisters)--a frog a rat and a crow--are also considered outcasts. By chance or fate she meets the Fairy Prince without realizing his true identity and he invites her to the Great May Dance. Amidst the ensuing Cinderella story, Fia exhibits great fortitude in saving all the fairies from a troll who--in a great swash of irony--wants the fairies only for their pretty wings. She is aided in this endeavor by her outcast friends and they all gain the respect of the fairies through this act at once compassionate and courageous. The large and lavish watercolor illustrations are equal to the text in this first husband-and-wife collaboration. I cannot recommend a book more enthusiastically for it's genre.",5.0,A Fairy Tail Worthy of the Ages,1089590400,"07 12, 2004",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1HJ0L8EW9YH4K,0778321967,knitter,"[0, 4]",This book takes place somewhere other than the East or West Coasts wehre a lot of Katherine Stone books do. I loved this one because although I am familiar with the area I was taken in with the characters. I love Katherine Stone books and this one didn't disapoint me.,5.0,A good Read,1124150400,"08 16, 2005",0,4,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2FAQUDJ836E85,0609808443,"Amazon Customer ""jonathan5158""","[6, 7]","Taking the publisher's own summary as a convenient framework:*Hitler's skills at spotting an opponent's weaknesses brought him an uninterrupted string of victories from the fall of Weimar in 1933 to the fall of France in 1940.*Bevin clearly hasn't read the German Army's official study of the French campaign: the plan used was adopted by chance (it was feared that a plane crash had ""blown"" the preferred campaign plan) and was considered a desperate gamble. There was no ""spotting of weakness"" - only chance fortune, followed by desperate relief. Indeed, if the Germans had possessed an uncanny notion of French weaknesses as they developed, the ""desperation campaign"" would have been the first option, not the last!*Afterwards, argues Alexander (Robert E. Lee's Civil War), he began believing his own press clippings. Invading Russia became a recipe for defeat when Hitler insisted on simultaneously persecuting a population he could have won over and pursuing offensives without regard for the operational situation.*This a cliche and wrong. The Ukranians were alienated by massive German confiscation of their food supplies and resulting famine. This wasn't carried out for the sake of persecution but because, with supplies of grain from the US cut off by the Royal Navy and supplies from Russia by the new war, Germany was in danger of starving.*Above all, Alexander continues, Hitler failed to see that Germany's way to victory led not through Moscow but through Cairo.*Hitler's problems were a lack of food, ore, and oil. Taking Cairo would have solved one of these, which by itself would have been no help at all. The loss of the ME wouldn't have forced Britain out of the war - it was already getting much of its oil from across the Atlantic and could easily have obtained the rest in the same way. Hitler went into Russia because it was his only chance at supplying all three of his needs. (See Tooze's Wages Of Destruction.)",1.0,Appalling,1313798400,"08 20, 2011",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A34PAZQ73SL163,0399153322,"Bernard Chapin ""Ora Et Labora!""","[55, 90]","I must admit that over the past few years, I've the misfortune to have had to read and analyze many of Dowd's columns. To say the experience has been painful is an understatement. For Dowd, the personal is not only political but also professional. Without the personal it's hard to imagine her having a profession. Many of her pieces involve the theme: ""Men should not be the way they are, and hopefully, if I instruct and nag them enough about the way they should be, they will change."" Predictably, only frustration and shallow prose has been the result.Like so many around the country, Dowd loves the concept of diversity but hates its application. This is particularly true in regards to male behavioral diversity. That men and women seek divergent traits in mates is not a fact she cares to acknowledge. Her stance in delegitimizing men is practically religious as to not do so would invalidate a great deal of her oeuvre, and the basis of her bitterness. Instead of admitting her mistakes and learning from them, Dowd has chosen to hide in the last refuge of every politically correct scoundrel: male-bashing.A fall from power is never pretty, Dowd's was slightly less ugly than Bela Legosi's. There was no reason for this to occur though as, if she wanted male companionship, particularly in the short-term, she could have had her pick of many men. Yet, such analysis fails to apprehend the psychology of the princess. Like many other older women, rather than admit time has lowered her stock, Dowd prefers to challenge biology with rhythm and blather. She forgets that it will not be long before we are all dust, and to thrive one must make situational decisions.Allow me to sum up her life thus far: girl grows up believing in feminism although girl retains romantic dreams of one day becoming Ginger Rogers, girl is blessed with good looks, girl is admired by men and believes this will last forever, girl regards rumor that men prefer younger females to be malarkey, girl never modifies beliefs as she ages, girl passes up many men as unworthy, girl's opportunities to select suitors become fewer, girl reaches the point where being referred to by the distinctly unfeminist term ""girl"" becomes flattering [okay, I made that one up], and finally, girl begins to recognize that victory, or even a negotiated armistice, is no longer possible. Ensconced in her feng shui home, our heroine gazes deeply into the mirror and sees a future best described with the words, ""unconditional surrender."" Yet, girl remains defiant and perkily refuses to end hostilities. She decides to pen a therapeutic confessional disguised as a mini-memoir instead.What Dowd and her kind will never understand is that resenting men gets them nowhere. Energy devoted to vitriol would be better used to objectively analyze their situation. It's time to ease stipulations and remember 1975 is but a distant memory. Biology is an eventuality, and being morally indignant over eventualities is a waste of time. There's no reason why women need to cloak their intelligence, opulent income, or vocabulary when they meet men. What they really need to do is just be nice and get along. Should these older women make such a paradigm shift, there's little question the respect they tender will be returned.",1.0,A Study in Bitterness.,1132531200,"11 21, 2005",55,90,helpful,0.6111111111111112,1 A28B2QE2N5FPQY,0767910052,SierraMuse,"[0, 0]","Everything Frances Mayes writes is dazzling - very poetic prose - and I enjoy her pithy observations and wry sense of humor. She always is contemporary with her take on things, and this travel memoir is no exception. It's very intimate, enlightening and entertaining. It should resonate with other passionate travellers because of the commonality of similar experiences during their journeys. She is a stellar writer, blessed with insatiable curiosity about everything, an exceptional intellect, a scholar's grounding, and a true poet's vision. This was very easy to read, and held my rapt attention, from start to finish, as all her books always do.",5.0,A Travel Memoir that Dazzles,1385596800,"11 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2RZGKCYMTUEWD,0452296919,"L. R. Bobbitt ""Reads4Pleasure""","[0, 0]","The women that visit Edendale Yoga do so because there's something about medical student turned yoga instructor Lee. Somehow she intuitively knows what each person in her class needs, even if she's unsure of what she needs herself. Through Tales from the Yoga Studio debut author Rain Mitchell introduces us to every day women from all paths of life who may have never met had it not been for yoga.A recovering addict with an unstable path, masseuse Katherine has enjoyed her time working at Edendale Yoga and values her friendship with Lee, even if she questions her marriage to Alan.Graciela comes to the studio in search of healing for an injury. If she's able to overcome it, she may have a chance to audition for a video that could change her life.Imani has been in hiding since she suffered a miscarriage months ago. Though she's a successful actress and wife, she longs to be a successful mother.Stephanie is driven and determined to be the best screenwriter and developer possible. Her abrasive ways tend to rub people wrong and when she finds her world crumbling, she believes she has no one to turn to.In their own ways, and sometimes without knowing it, the women of this book reach out to each other and build them up. This was impressive work from a first time author and truly a feel good read.What did you like about this book?The author introduces elements of yoga without making the book about yoga. In fact, even though the women meet through their time at the studio, most of their interaction takes place away from it.What didn't you like about this book?I appreciated the introduction to each character, but I didn't feel like I got a chance to really know them since there were so many of them. I realize that this is the first in a series, so perhaps as more is written, each character will be explored in greater depth.What could the author do to improve this book?Dig deeper. We barely touched the surface with these ladies. There's so much more to be told about each of them.",3.0,"Relax, relate, release",1299283200,"03 5, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NPVNPMXN8L2G,1403968594,"R. A. Barricklow ""Scaramouche""","[11, 16]","This is an outstanding presentation of exactly what the title conveys. It shows that callous corporate greed is being sustained by a government that is anti-worker, anti- social security, & anti-public. It is definitely Pro-Big-Business, at the expence of the majority of the citizens. The author explains the concepts easily and builds upon them incrementally to show you how they are pulling the wool over your very eyes. They take you for the dummies that they have been paying your tax dollars to dumb down. Wise up and read this manifesto on the maestro's shenanigans. You don't need agent99 to get smart. Start holding theses wolves in sheep's clothing accountable!",5.0,"Not ""your government"" version of economics 101",1142208000,"03 13, 2006",11,16,helpful,0.6875,1 A2QBBI8KTNDQDR,1477817522,gypsysmom,"[0, 0]",This book keeps you guessing with nice plot twists and turns. It is "murder lite" that entertains with suspense but does not weigh you down with gruesome details.,5.0,Entertaining Thriller,1395187200,"03 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A24GGYCJVV88K4,B00K5DRHOE,Cass,"[0, 0]","I really enjoyed this little tale from Inga's perspective. There's enough action and foreshadowing in here to keep the momentum of the novella going, and it seeds the romance between Ull and Kristia in the sweetest way. (That last page or two. Aww!) Ull is a very serious and intense fellow -- as you would be if you were the God of Winter being drafted into a different portfolio, one you really didn't want -- and it was fun to see Inga trying to get him to lighten up.Inga and Gunnar are definitely the focus of the novella, though -- Inga's drive to be taken seriously as a warrior by Odin, and Gunnar's desire to, well, spend some "quality time" with Inga. This is a sweet romance though, like the rest of the series, so it fades to black at appropriate moments. Part of me regreted that, to be honest, because it was so promising. ;)One touch that I really love in this series is that the gods are given a modern makeover. Even in Asgard they live in modern houses and wear modern clothes. It made the sprinkling of references to the more ancient parts of their world stand out even more. Fun!I felt Inga's frustration at the blokes' desire to protect her, given what a kick-butt warrior she is. At first I thought it was old-fashioned chivalry or even sexism (she's weak; we can't let her go to battle). It was a relief to discover it was more about politics, in Odin's case at least. Gunnar on the other hand just didn't want his wife in danger; I can respect that, because who wants to see their loved ones get hurt?Also, if this has intrigued you, here's one more thing to consider: Tur is a great opportunity to try a new author, because it's free. It can be a risky proposition buying a book by an unknown author, but you can, ah, suck it and see. (Speaking of Gunnar...)",4.0,A sweet paranormal romance novella,1405468800,"07 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21ZRFYYZIY8BH,0007444117,keep it simple,"[6, 7]","The story line breaks down in this third book. I loved the first two, but this one seems forced, like the author lost her vision for writing it. I actually went back and rewrote the storyline in my mind for the last half of the book. Such a let down after the first two were SOOO good.",1.0,Let down,1384300800,"11 13, 2013",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A2H4B8IN3GBQON,1402294484,MaryE,"[0, 0]","This book has the sexy black ops guys, the requisite sexual tension, but there were a few things that felt off. First, the villains were cardboard cutouts. They never felt really threatening, they just seemed to stumble into success at times. Second, Mac held such promise in previous books, but came across as a such a coward in this one. Yes, he was called on it in the end by Delilah, but his mental push/pull never came across as genuine. I got sick of reading about it, it went way beyond what was necessary.I had a big issue with an incident in the middle of the book, however. The characters, as defined by the author in this book and in previous books in the series, are described as really smart, really tough, people who can take care of themselves and others. Delilah is smart, together and knows how to handle herself and anyone who steps out of line. The Black Knights are super tough, super smart and have capabilities that go way beyond the norm. Yet at one point, our author writes a scene in which everyone goes against their characterizations. Delilah is suddenly a clueless ninny who is slow to pick up on what is happening and basically stands around letting it happen, doing nothing to help herself. Our heroes are negligent idiots who have sworn to protect Delilah but then let her go out on her own and then never hear a sound, despite a barking dog being involved. Utterly ridiculous.Either the author decided on a course of action and didn't think through making it happen or they lacked the imagination to make it happen in a manner consistent with her own defined characterizations. Whatever. Just don't turn smart characters into idiots to move the plot along - find another way.",3.0,"It was okay, but not the best of the series",1401062400,"05 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3OTL58PYZZWRG,0451234863,"Amazon Customer ""Precious""","[4, 6]","I had very very high expectations of this book but was disappointed. Merit is not developing as a herion at all. I mean I understand she's dealling with Ethans death and all but come on. Her single development in the entire novel is that she can fall gracefully? Seriously. I really love this series but come on. Even the supports are off in this novel I mean if this situation with Mallory came up in any of the other books it would have been awesome. A total surprise and the relationship could survive it, but as is in order for Merit to still be Merit at the end of the day she has to write her off as a friend and send the ""2 months"" between books just thinking about if she could be her friend again. But we all know that wont happen. Needless to say read the book as een if I tell you exactly what happens you wont belive it and will have to read it to full understand, but just know that ""I told you so"". LOL. I will read the next book just to see where this goes.",3.0,Not as good as I hoped,1320364800,"11 4, 2011",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 AMLBH94TSEHW2,0985665831,Red and Belle @ Red Reader Reviews,"[0, 0]","Another great read from Intisar Khanani! Almost a year ago, I reviewed her standalone novel, Thorn, and loved it so when I saw the chance to read a new book (and part of a series, no less) by Khanani, I knew I had to take it. Sunbolt tells the tale of Hitomi, a young girl with a secret that could leave her on the other side of the grave if she dared reveal it. But when plans fall apart and she's trapped alongside a deadly killer, it's their only hope of escape. What Hitomi doesn't know is that everything is not as it seems and the world has bigger plans for her than the average mage.It took a chapter or so to adjust to the present tense as it's not something I'm accustomed to reading, but after that I barely noticed it. The story flowed seamlessly and suddenly I was turning the page and poof, it was over. Hitomi's adventure from her coastal home of Karolene to the landlocked Godan captures your attention and makes it very difficult to put Sunbolt down. There's action and plenty of fantasy elements to entice fans of the genre, while appealing to YA readers with Hitomi's age. She is one of the stronger heroines I've read about, honor-bound in her own way and determined to make the best of a situation so she doesn't let her friends down. Hitomi faces a predator feared by most and stands her ground to protect those she cares about, and even those she doesn't know yet.While Hitomi gave the story life and I related to her with ease, she could'n't have done so without the rest of the Sunbolt cast. We meet a few of the Shadow League at the beginning, including the elusive Ghost who intrigued me from the start (and I hope to see again), hot-tempered Rafiki, and her easier-going friend Kenta. I liked them all (well, except Rafiki because of his attitude), and wouldn't have minded staying with them a bit longer in the story (although the plot didn't suffer). Then comes our dastardly villain Wilhelm Blackflame who I wanted to feed to a shark. He wasn't around as much as the other antagonist, Kol the fang (think of a vampire's relative, essentially), but I still couldn't wait for Hitomi to kick his ass. Sadly, Kol stepped in before that could happen and stole the villain spotlight.It's here we meet Val, a breather (I'll let you read Sunbolt to figure out what that is) and prisoner of Kol's, just like Hitomi. The two are thrown together and despite everything, they form a bond of friendship that I really enjoyed watching develop. It wasn't something cheesy or forced. They both suffered at the hands of the same enemy and, as the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, or something like that. I could see the potential for a romance between the two later in the series (which I wouldn't mind seeing at all), but right now, their friendship works. This is the first YA book I've read in a while that didn't have a romance, actually, so it's perfect for haters of love triangles.I'm not sure I have anything bad to say about Sunbolt. My only complaint, I think, would be that it was too short. I wanted more! I wouldn't count that as a fault, but that's just me. If you like to read original fantasies, particularly in the young adult genre, add this book to your to-read pile. Sunbolt is an enthralling adventure that will keep you hooked from start to finish. I can't wait for the sequel. And if you don't believe me when I say how great it is, you're just going to have to read it to find out yourself.",5.0,Enthralling YA Fantasy for All Ages,1372550400,"06 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3VQDYODZVCRIE,1418541532,"Tamera Lynn Kraft ""Faith Filled Historicals f...","[12, 32]","This Bible is a must have for anyone who loves God and loves to learn more about America's Godly heritage. America has a rich spiritual history. God ordained America for a special purpose, and He has a plan for the United States past and future. As you study God's Word, you can read what American Presidents said about the Bible. As you pray for revival in America, you can read about the first two Great Awakenings in America's history. Learn God's Word and the history of our spiritual heritage through the pages of this Bible.The only downside to this Bible is it's not a study Bible in the true sense of the word. But you can study how God has been relevant throughout American history. I give this Bible my highest recommendation.",4.0,A Must Have for every student of American History,1241222400,"05 2, 2009",12,32,helpful,0.375,1 AV5O3BX3U1KQI,0141192429,Jerry Caveglia,"[5, 7]","I had read somewhere that ""The Woman In White"" was the original mystery novel and was the classic to measure all later ones by. After a slow start I became very engaged with the subtle clues and flowery vocabulary. The book is a chance to experience a Victorian past that adds a special touch to an interesting story.",4.0,Historical experience as well as good story,1162512000,"11 3, 2006",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A7MJB85LT24NE,0385494718,"Carol Zilinsky ""Scotty Zilinsky""","[13, 14]","This is the sort of book that one would want to make required reading for all cognitive beings on this planet, as our future may well depend upon behaviors based on the information available here.Unfortunately, the complexity of say, the Santiago Thoery, although beautifully written, seems to be beyond the interest or understanding of most people. They might even start it and put it aside in frustration because it conflicts with deeply engrained ideas from philosophy, biology, and religion.In this book, Capra expands on the ideas presented in Web of Life, and makes them relevant to our present and future lives, as well as to Life itself. I cannot recommend it enough.",5.0,Should be required reading,1030924800,"09 2, 2002",13,14,helpful,0.9285714285714286,1 A8DJ9EU2QP2JM,0375706135,Wayne A. Smith,"[4, 6]","Having greatly enjoyed ""Confederates in the Attic"" and ""Blue Latitudes,"" as well as ""Baghdad Without A Map"", I am a Horwitz fan. This book, ""One For The Road"" was his first book, written as a 27 year old and about his hitchhiking journey across Australia.The book is thin and narrowly focused in comparison with Horwitz's later work, particularly ""Confederates"" and ""Blue"". While these books combine the road trip with the local history and background of related topics, ""One for the Road"" is all about the trip.The basics of the book can be summed up as follows: wait in the hot sun for a ride, get picked up by an Aussie (transplant or Aborigine), drive with the Aussie as they consume tinnies of beer as fast as they can pour it down their gullets, get off at the first pub in the next town to drink, find a place to sleep (often the dirt beside the road). Repeat 57 times as you wind your way around the continent.While Horwitz's wit and descriptive skills are evident, this is a drinking and travel book. The people he meets are all pretty much cut out of the same cloth. Part of the problem is that he often travels to two or three places in each day, leaving little time to reflect or penetrate the continent beyond the confines of the nearest roadside tavern.There are exceptions. He writes well of Ayer's Rock and the Aborigines who live in it's shadow. A day spent on a lobster boat in rough seas is also a diversion for both author and reader. His attempt to find one Jewish person in Broom with whom to share Passover introduces a few Australians whose existence can be described more broadly than by the number of beers they can quaff. But for the most part, this book plods on as relentlessly as the roads over which he travels.Bill Bryson's journey book of Australia is a much better read, with more varied characters and much more of Australia's interesting history and peccadilloes.This is not a bad book, but I am glad I read Horwitz's latter books first before trying this.",3.0,Young Horwitz,1063670400,"09 16, 2003",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A3H6DU359S0MPP,0932551718,S. Tift,"[5, 6]","Not just good for Psilocybes, this book helps you understand what Paul Stamets is such a master of. I had his Cultivation books first, but it was too technical for me to understand. So I thought I would look for a book directed toward psilocybe growers in the hopes that the directions would be in lamens terms and it was just what I expected. Now I grow all kinds of gourmets, but it is good for psilocybes.",5.0,Good for beginners.,1219104000,"08 19, 2008",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1D2C0WDCSHUWZ,006009494X,"E. A Solinas ""ea_solinas""","[4, 4]","Terry Pratchett's lovable nomes return in "Diggers," the second book of the Bromeliad trilogy. It's an improvement on the first book "Truckers," with a steadier pace and a new twist on this tiny-aliens-among-us plotline. It gets a bit silly at times, but doesn't wear out its welcome.When last seen, the peculiar, lovable nomes had managed to drive a truck away from the Arnold Bros. store, and had set up a new home in an abandoned quarry. Masklin and his little band are doing fine, although many of the more pampered nomes are having to get used to the idea of farming and living in a place with no heating and too much open space.Then everything changes. A human brings a paper to the quarry, and the nomes learn that the quarry is going to be reopened -- and the nomes risk discovery unless they can find a new place to live. When Masklin ventures off to the mysterious Florida, to find the descendent of Arnold Bros., a fanatic called Nisodemus takes the opportunity to rally the nomes in rebellion. Just then, Dorcas (a sort of nome technogeek) reveals the Cat (a bulldozer), which might help them against the humans.Terry Pratchett seems to have found more solid footing in "Diggers." The book feels a lot steadier and surer, now that he's established the groundwork. He weaves in a little subtle social commentary (particularly on religious fanatics); it's not as subtle as it could be, but it isn't too annoying."Diggers" is also faster-moving than "Truckers." His sense of quirky humor (like the idea of Florida being made of orange juice) is present constantly, but he doesn't do it in a mean-spirited way. You laugh with the innocent nomes, not at them. Probably the biggest problem is that "Diggers" ends on a cliffhanger of sorts, with the line "I'd very much like to know what Masklin has been doing these past few weeks."Masklin and the Thing aren't present for most of the story; they show up again in the third book, "Wings." So most of the focus is on Grimma, the girl Masklin wants to marry, and Dorcas the nome technogeek. Their characters are well-drawn, and their struggles to deal with the fanatical nome is tense and well-plotted.While it's not his best work, Terry Pratchett is in good form in the second book of the Bromeliad trilogy. "Diggers" is a good return for the nomes, and a fun fantasy read.",4.0,Return of the nomes,1083369600,"05 1, 2004",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3NOBH42C7UI5M,0805093141,"Amazon Customer ""kepela""","[0, 0]","This is a bunch of short stories written by different writers, so each as a different writing style. Some are good, some not so great and a few are really good. The stories and the writing is geared toward younger readers, and they may enjoy the stories more because they pay less attention to the writing. If you love animals, you'll enjoy reading this book and I'd recommending it for 8 to 12 year olds.",4.0,Because of Shoe and Other Dog Stories,1365120000,"04 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17FLA8HQOFVIG,0312422520,Linda Linguvic,"[4, 4]","This memoir by James McManus is a lot more than simple story about Las Vegas and gambling. He's a writer for Harper's magazine and, in the spring of 2000, was sent to Las Vegas to cover the annual World Series of Poker. Not only did he cover the story, but he also participated and managed to make it to the very last table in this very competitive game. While he was there, the trial of two people accused of murdering one of the heirs of the Binion family empire was going on, and he skillfully interweaves this story along with his experience of the tournament. In addition, he writes about his own background as well as his present life, including his relationship with his wife and two young daughters who are at home in Chicago. He's a fine writer and engaged me completely in his story. And, as the book moved along I was holding my breath as he described every turn of the cards.All the personal details about his life certainly enhanced the story. I got to know James McManus well as he struggled with the "good Jim" and the "bad Jim" in his personality. Not only did he share his background, but he also took me right with him into the clubs in Vegas where he indulged his curiosity as well as his libido in enjoying a lap dance. The reader also shared all his mixed feelings about how much he should tell his wife about this.The title refers to the card game itself. "Fifth Street" is the name of the final card that is turned up in this version of the game. The first two cards are dealt face down and then everybody at the table watches with anticipation as the dealer turns up the next five. This final card can make or break a hand. And for armchair travelers such as myself, reading this book was almost, but not quite, the next best thing to being there. It took me little while to get all the nuances and I found myself re-reading the details of some of the more complex hands. But once I got it, all I can say is WOW.I really enjoyed this book. And I learned a lot about poker too. Highly recommended.",5.0,I held my breath at every turn of the cards. Great writing!,1062720000,"09 5, 2003",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0312537425,Harriet Klausner,"[5, 6]","Millenia ago long before the Sumerians existed, werewolves, dragons, vampires, witches, a rebellions demon tribe and the Sidhe fought against the demon and were evenly matched until the witches betrayed their cause by changing sides and allying with the demons. All the supernatural species in the battle died except the leaders of each species who pledged their lives and allegiance to the warrior and sexual goddess Inanna. They became her mark, giving them powers and become known as the Shadow Guardians who guard the portals so the demons don't enter this world and those that do are forcibly thrown back to their own realm.The apprentice witch Sybil brought a Book of Shadows at a sale only to find out it contained demonic magic that entered her body. The Shadow Guardian Kenrick the alpha werewolf explains what happened especially since she asked for help of Inanna to get the demon magic out of her. Her plea makes her a Shadow Guardian as she now wears the mark of Inanna Part of the ritual is sex with each of the five Guardians who test her trust worthiness; she passes the exam, but Kenrick is the one she desires and he wants her as his mate. However, the betrayal though so many millennia ago still lingers in his bone marrow and he distrusts her.This heated paranormal romantic suspense starring five alpha males and one female who has sex with each of them and in all sorts of combinations. Obviously sex rules the story line as Sybil bewitches four of her teammates while the one she loves who claims her as his expects her to deceive them. Although the libido to the nth power makes the supernatural seem real while dominating the somewhat thin story line, fans who relish the heat will want to read this romantic urban fantasy.Harriet Klausner",4.0,heated paranormal romantic suspense,1260316800,"12 9, 2009",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AWGP4B4GTH9RZ,0399151575,Sylvia F,"[37, 41]","I went through the novel fairly quickly, and as long as you're looking for a fairly quick and easy read, you'll be fine. The characters are entertaining enough, the author has a knack for visual descriptions and the plot's not bad. Most of the new technology in the book is pretty appropriate - it gives us a bit of a sci-fi feel without giving Eve too much of an edge over what any cop would have now. (eg. They have a ridiculously responsive voice-recognition system yet Eve's car is a wheezing wreck.)As for Roarke, the incredibly rich love interest, it felt as if the author was forcing his sex appeal at times. I found myself trying to find out Eve's powerful attraction to him, besides the physical. He forces himself into her life multiple times, going so far as to break into her appartment. His excuse *every* time is his concern over Eve, which gets a little thin after a while - as another reviewer mentioned, for someone as prickly as she's written she takes it fairly placidly. It's hard to beleive Eve wouldn't be fed up with it after a while. Roarke's just not as interesting as the author wants us to find him.But all in all, it's a decent book. The murder culprit didn't really surprise me but it was still fun reading up to the mystery's revelation. I'm going to try a few more books in the series just to see where it goes.If you're in an airport surrounded by Tom Clancy and Anne Rice and thinking they just aren't your thing, you could do a lot worse than Naked in Death.",3.0,Engaging fluff,1027382400,"07 23, 2002",37,41,helpful,0.9024390243902439,1 A3PH1D55MN2VZZ,B00EAB5AJG,Russel P.,"[0, 0]","I'm glad i got this book as it introduces some pretty compelling evidence as to why it's important to have good sleep habits for my kids. It proposes some good tips and simple follow through, the do's and don'ts. The message i got from this book is pretty clear, consistency and routines are the key!Some of Cathy's advice were straight-forward, but they help me to take a few moments to ponder about your actions and consequences. So don't take this book for granted!",4.0,Good to know,1394236800,"03 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A125TCSLZ8IBCY,1879045397,Gloria E. Salavarria (skaggs@michiana.org),"[12, 14]","Children of my generation were taught to be polite but not to attend a church or temple outside our denomination. What a tragedy. For all our assumed good manners we missed opportunities to broaden our understanding and thus, our appreciation, of others. In a true exercise of good manners, this book is an open door, a welcome gift, to come and appreciate the variety of worship there is today.",5.0,A Welcome Gift for Our Times,902016000,"08 2, 1998",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A27NSZP2PPGW6Z,0375756140,Carra R Lane,"[4, 12]","The title reprises the astonishingly closing chapter of THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS, perfectly appropriately. At its spooky best, writing risks offering readers something very close to the heart's cry of a bright fellow human. This writing is very very close. Sufficiently exasperated, too.Ms. Roy is Indian, or some kind of vigorous hybrid, as if Mohandas K. Ghandi & Molly Ivins & James Joyce & Mary Wollstonecraft had somehow mixed up together, which is amusing to consider at the conceptual stage plus makes for plumb interesting salty reading. Arundhati Molly Saint Mary Magdelene Bloom Mahatma Roy? As Joyce himself may have claimed (if online resources are to be trusted), perhaps grimacing very much like Mona Lisa, ""Molly Bloom was a down-to-earth lady. She would never have indulged in anything so refined as a stream of consciousness."" Whether or not Joyce was strictly fair, Roy shares, with Mary Wollstonecraft's daughter Mary Godwin Wollstonecraft Shelley & a few others, a concern about the usual effects of mankind's most Promethean notions. What hath we wrought now, again? Terrifying!A natural wide ranging curiosity lightly mitigated by rather sketchy professional architect training leads where it leads? Roy can perform research, calculate costs so accurately that narrow experts may scream. Her Indian heritage might suggest this/that to USA gentle readers who have perused any good translations of the straight responses offered by some American Indians (Pachgrantschilias, Red Jacket, Pontiac, Osceola, Tecumseh, Black Hawk, Sitting Bull, Joseph, Black Elk, many others) as dutiful civilized soldiers exterminated/dislocated balky natives who hesitated to clear the way for a ruthless expansion we called Manifest Destiny, then (we might rename this progress continentalization, now?). Arundhati Roy walks/writes/lives in beauty. The English language rarely gets a writer like her, perhaps since English-speaking cultures hardly ever, maybe practically never, want one.",5.0,Bombs Explode; A Reservoir Begins to Fill,1004918400,"11 5, 2001",4,12,helpful,0.3333333333333333,1 APNRCMNBANYW1,0310252172,Miracle Man,"[0, 0]",Enjoyed first three quarters but kind of lost interest after that. Useful to openly discuss questions and doubts of faith common to all humanity.,3.0,Pretty good,1397260800,"04 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DT8Y1UUMV9WW,0061668214,Lola092563,"[6, 11]","Being from Boston, I really wanted to like this book but I couldn't get through the first 3 chapters. Couldn't suspend disbelief enough about Babe Ruth's supposed conversations - I admit, I hate mixing historical people into fiction. Also, this book falls into the ""macho blue collar"" character narrative. The dialogue and all it's trying too hard ""toughness"" I just found over the top. Does anyone really talk like a tough guy all the time; the Danny character was just too much of the Irish tough guy Cop stereotype. I felt like I was watching an over-dramatic movie.",2.0,Writing that tries way too hard,1225324800,"10 30, 2008",6,11,helpful,0.5454545454545454,1 A2BTAZ32ZMYIQP,0060394420,USA Student,"[5, 7]","I can't believe what a strong emotional effect these Kelly Wearstler interior designs have on me--some I love, some give me the creeps, but they all have such wit and power that I find myself looking at this book again and again--and I'm a shabby chic kind of gal. Of course it's disturbing that she features herself in so many of the photographs but I think she's a genius. Most design books have pictures of rooms are nice, or cozy, or calm. These are rooms are glamorous, smart, and sexy.Since I bought this book I've seen Wearstler's influence spreading everywhere. I just wish I could afford her to decorate my house.",5.0,Remarkable Design,1147132800,"05 9, 2006",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 AB9SJP9TX0WID,0425168182,"E. McCann ""Henry's Mommy""","[5, 8]","I ordered this book and was going to return it because it is such poor quality but it wasn't worth the return postage. I put it in the recycling bin instead. Seriously! I was surprised to see so many good reviews that I felt it was my duty to report otherwise. Try doing a web search if you are looking for Irish baby names rather than wasting the money on this book. You can see by my signature that we went a different route entirely (this was not caused by the terrible quality of the book, however! We decided our surname was good enough).",1.0,Not worth the return postage...,1162166400,"10 30, 2006",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 APCYUS72HNMTL,0800732138,luvs2read,"[0, 0]",I think this is the best of the series so far! Ms. Lessman weaved a much more intriguing story this time and there was not as much back and forth with affections from one man to the next. This one had a bit more depth with the issues each character was dealing with. I really enjoyed the book and wonder what will be next for this series...if anything. Thanks Ms. Lessman for hours of reading fun.,5.0,You'll like this one!,1404864000,"07 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35AMXTYXUH9BT,0684870274,"David James Trapp ""author of Dog Days in Bedl...","[7, 10]","Michael Lind's overview of the Vietnam war is a sober, thoughtful, apparently unbiased analysis of the policies and strategies of America's most divisive conflict. His basic conclusion is that the war was a necessary battle (ending in a Soviet victory) in the larger cold war, and this is appropriate. Most of his other conclusions are reasonable. He is particularly hard on the antiwar movement, including Robert Kennedy and other liberal icons, while he often praises Johnson and Nixon. The book does have a few weak parts. For example, in a post 9/11 world, some of his comments about America's willingness to go to war seem dated. Yet this is an excellent, balanced book.",5.0,A Thoughtful Review,1093219200,"08 23, 2004",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 A1IU7S4HCK1XK0,1461059941,Joanna Daneman,"[9, 9]","First, thanks to the author Barry Maz for making this book available for the Kindle and at an attractive price. If you have a Kindle and a uke, you should have this book.This is NOT a ""how to play"" method book. There are plenty of books for that, plus video tutorials available for free and for pay all over the Web. (check out Ukulele Underground.) This is a reference book on how ukuleles are made, the sizes they come in, the variations, the woods used to make them and other subjects, such as stringing.The string section was in particular very helpful for me. The types of material (nylon, fluorocarbon) are discussed, how they affect the sound, and when you might want to employ them. For example, if your ukulele has a naturally bright (loud) sound, you may want to put on the Worth brand brown fluorocarbon strings which will mellow out the tone. If you have a ukulele and you are not fond of the sound, try restringing it first.There is a section on electronics (pickups, mics) a section on training your fingertips to harden against blisters and pain and a section on common notation for ukulele transcriptions. There is much more. It really is ""what you want to know.""I think this book is a must-have for any player.",5.0,Valuable Uke reference--GREAT Kindle edition,1324857600,"12 26, 2011",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A1T17LMQABMBN5,0375413278,CoffeeGurl,"[4, 4]","This is a rather interesting novella. The entire story is set during a rendezvous at the heroine's apartment. During the throes of passion, Kay and Benjamin remember the circumstances that brought them together. Kay is hopeful -- albeit skeptical -- that Benjamin will leave his fiancee of eleven years and move in with her. However, Benjamin is confused and torn between the two women. Kay and Benjamin inwardly analyze their feelings for one another during what could be their final sexual encounter. Will Benjamin sort out his feelings, or does he want his cake and eat it too? There are some interesting revelations throughout the novel.Rapture shines with its sensual prose and brimming intelligence. Susan Minot does a splendid job in exploring the feelings the two protagonists are going through. She writes with a great deal of insight and prose. The erotic scene is the perfect backdrop for the story. I enjoyed reading this provocative novella and look forward to reading more of her work in the future.",4.0,Beautiful and provocative novella,1049932800,"04 10, 2003",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2231Z11ZPP64E,0312353839,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I'm enjoying this series. Sue Grafton is an excellent writer and keeps me guessing throughout the books. I'm anxiously waiting to start on the third book or this series.,5.0,B is for burglar,1375747200,"08 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1AFXJ8U72MD6L,0671756443,"MISTER SJEM ""sonofhotpie""","[0, 0]","It's like a lot of detective novels set in the 1980s except the real standouts are the fact that it's New Orleans and the author gets that particular sub culture. Burke has an elegant prose and his main character, David Robicheaux, is engaging.Robicheaux is a 50-something hard boiled detective who survived the Vietnam War yet is still haunted by it and thus turns to drinking (though it becomes evident later he was drinking before he went to war). He has since joined the police force as a detective and has a corrupt partner named Cletus who seems to have the best, crude lines. In this first novel Robicheaux gets caught up in the death of a black prostitute who everybody else seems to want to write off yet Robicheaux feels strangely compelled to poke his nose into things which leads to resistance not only from the mob but his own allies the police.The tale was certainly very good to great in overall quality and most of the characters are believable to compelling. Word on the street is that the series gets better in time and that's a real good sign as this was a solid and enjoyable book. Veterans of this genre will be more critical, I suspect. This is one of those rare instances in which I checked out the series after seeing the movie.Here are few excerpts from the novel:p. 1The evening sky was streaked with purple, the color of torn plums, and a light rain had started to fall when I came to the end of the blacktop road that cut through twenty miles of thick, almost impenetrable scrub oak and pine and stopped at the front gate of Angola penitentiary.p. 49""Oh, my, you shouldn't have done that,"" the man in the raincoat said.Erik grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the side of the tub. I kicked at all of them blindly, but my feet struck at empty air. Then Bobby Joe locked his powerful arms around my neck and took me over the rim again, his body trembling rigidly with a cruel and murderous energy, and I knew that all my past fears of being shotgunned by a psychotic , of being shanked by an addict, of stepping on a Claymore mine in Vietnam, were just the foolish preoccupation of youth; that my real nemesis had always been a redneck lover who would hold me upside down against his chest while my soul slipped through a green, watery porcelain hole in the earth, down through the depths of the Mekong River, where floated the bodies of other fatigue-clad men and whole families of civilians, their faces still filled with disbelief and the shock of an artillery burst, and farther still to the mossy base of an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, where my father waited for me in his hardhat, coveralls, and steel-tipped drilling boots after having drowned there twenty years ago.p. 80""Why are you so obnoxious, Motley?"" Clete said. ""Is it because you're fat and ugly, or is it because you're fat and dumb? It's a mystery to us all.""p. 121I slept through the rest of the afternoon and woke in the cooling dusk when the cicadas were loud in the purple haze and the fireflies were lighting in the trees. I showered and felt some of the misery begin to go out of my mind and body, then I took a taxi to the Hertz agency and rented a small Ford.Because most of the Quarter was closed to automobile traffic at night, I parked the car near the French Market, by the river, and walked back to Bourbon. The street was loud with music from the bars and strip houses, and the sidewalks were filled with tourists, drunks, and street people who were trying to hold on to their last little piece of American geography. My favorite bunch of hustlers and scam artists, the black sidewalk tap dancers, were out in force. They wore enormous iron taps that clipped onto their shoes, and when they danced to the music from the bars, their feet rang on the concrete like horseshoes. A tap dancer would stop a tourist, rivet him in the eyes, and say, ""I bet you a half-dollar I can tell you where you got yo' shoes."" If the tourist accepted the wager, the dancer would then say, ""You got yo' shoes on yo' feet, and yo' feet is on Bourbon Street. You ain't the kind, now, to back out on yo' bet, is you?""STORY/PACING: B plus to A minus; DIALOGUE/CHARACTERS: B plus; SETTING: A minus; WHEN READ: December to January 2010 (revised review end of July 2012); MY GRADE: B plus to A minus.",4.0,MY GRADE: B plus to A minus.,1294444800,"01 8, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A278IH02HYBAIV,0758284934,anderson,"[0, 0]",The book kept your interest....you cried sometimes and then you laughed sometimes... Hope she keeps writing the godmother series. Very good book..,5.0,very funny book,1390867200,"01 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3O42TFBT7KMGI,0670018201,Michael G. Radigan,"[37, 46]","In Worse Than Watergate (2004), John Dean asserted that George W. Bush's abuses of power were actually worse than those of his former boss, Richard Nixon. In Conservatives Without Conscience (2006), he contended that the Republican party has become dominated by mean-spirited authoritarian leaders and followers, who pursue an antidemocratic vision in both politics and government. In this, the last volume of the trilogy, he focuses on how subversion of appropriate ""process"" by both President Bush and the last Republican Congress has critically endangered the Constitutional scheme bequeathed us by the Founders.Dean overstates his case in the subtitle: the Republicans have not ""destroyed"" the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Dean makes a good case, though, that a clique of hard-right Republicans who do not represent the majority of the American people have largely succeeded in transforming what was once a republican democracy or democratic oligarchy into something resembling an elective monarchy. Dean persuasively contends that Bush, Dick Cheney, and the Federalist Society alumni that now populate much of the Federal bench are implementing a theory of virtually unlimited Presidential power (remember the ""unitary executive"" theory in Justice Alito's confirmation hearing?), using the President's plenary powers to conduct war and protect national security, that transcends even the imperial presidency of Nixon, and threatens to destroy the scheme of coordinate branches created by the Founders. He argues that rank-and-file Republicans have largely bought into the contempt for Congress, and for the parameters of the law, espoused by national Republicans, who in the last Congress essentially abandoned the traditional Congressional oversight role.Moreover, national Republicans, though still calling themselves ""conservatives,"" have largely abandoned the conservatism of Goldwater for which Dean still stands: a federal government of limited powers, limited Presidential power, traditional checks and balances, responsibility in managing the public fisc, avoidance of nation-building and foreign adventures abroad, etc.National Republicans have co-opted the honorable term of ""conservatives,"" and have turned the once-honorable word ""liberal"" into a form of verbal abuse, but they have done the opposite of what traditional conservatives stand for. Instead, national Republicans have embraced an authoritarian form of cultural and social ""conservatism"" that, while helping them win elections, has led to wholesale subversion of Constitutional process.In my view, Dean makes a good case that the current Administration, and the last Republican Congress, has shown a pervasive disregard for the law. In admitting that he engaged in surveillance of Americans without obtaining warrants, Bush became the first President to admit to an impeachable offense. In authorizing what amounted to torture, the Administration violated the Convention Against Torture and the Geneva Conventions. In suspending habeas corpus without the existence of a rebellion or foreign invasion, Congress clearly violated the Constitution. The firing of U.S. Attorneys General outside their terms without cause was unlawful and unethical, and AG Gonzales, in my view, committed perjury in testifying about it. Dean convincingly asserts that several U.S. Supreme Court nominees of Republican presidents committed perjury in their confirmation hearings. The list goes on and on, and since there have been no consequences for any of these unlawful acts, they are indeed indicative of ""broken government.""However, Dean's solution (don't vote Republican) is too simplistic. The current situation would be less troubling if it were simply the malady of one party. Besides, there are many Republicans at state and local levels who also find the excesses of the Bush II Administration disturbing. Our government is broken for reasons that go beyond the corruption of one political party.Dean has done a good job of identifying much of what is wrong with our government today. However, his analysis is incomplete because he doesn't adequately examine the degree to which our government has become politicized: elected officials spend an inordinate amount of time campaigning for reelection, and indeed time in office has become one long political campaign. Dean doesn't, in turn, look at the domination of political discourse by media, the ownership of most mass media by a few corporate conglomerates, and the corruption of the political process by politicians' constant need to raise large amounts of money. Media networks shaping the narrative around political candidates often have an agenda that leads news outlets to spin the news to the point of falsehood. Television and radio networks today neglect to report important stories, engage in disingenuous or misleading news analysis that essentially amounts to rehashing talking points of the major parties, or misreport or distort stories. The most egregious example of such a news outlet is Fox News. Unfortunately, Fox is not the only one.One of the many ill effects of this witches' brew is that poor and middle-class people, increasingly, have no voice in Washington. Large scale business interests -- ""malefactors of great wealth,"" to borrow the phrase of the great populist Republican Theodore Roosevelt -- have disproportionate political power.Since our Constitution was designed to prevent any one person or faction from amassing excessive power, it should be no surprise that those who have accumulated enormous power have little interest in preserving Constitutional processes.It's time for another Progressive Era. Karl Rove saw himself as Mark Hanna to Bush's McKinley. Where is the new Teddy Roosevelt who will roll back the Trusts?",3.0,The Most Biting In A Trilogy Of Indictments,1190419200,"09 22, 2007",37,46,helpful,0.8043478260869565,1 A1PSXVCX8LSBQX,0064401871,Mom of two little girls,"[0, 0]","This book is the perfect example of the dilemma for 'mind over matter'. The likable and pitiable Sara Crewe goes through horrors that no parent would wish for their children at any age, and throughout it all remains well-mannered a sweet to all she encounters. Anyone in the mind for an inspiring story would enjoy this book that focuses on the amazing aspects of a child's strong imagination.If only every ill-minded or unpleasant person in the world could take a lesson from the perfect Little Princess, Sara Crewe!",5.0,Take Heed Sara's Methods!,1373846400,"07 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A192NLEQY9B5I,0060098902,Gregory Bascom,"[0, 0]","This review relates to the first Scribner trade paperback edition, 2003, of the corrected text authorized by the estate of the author. It includes a preface and notes by Matthew J. Bruccoli, a publisher's afterward, a drawn map of the story site and a brief Fitzgerald biography.The green light in THE GREAT GATSBY is probably the most frequently cited example of ""objective correlative"" in fiction. T. S. Eliot coined the phrase objective correlative for the author's device of describing an object so that it reveals an emotional state, but without explicitly linking the object and the emotion in the narrative.Fitzgerald mentioned the green light three times in the novel. On page 26, when Nick is observing Gatsby gazing across the bay between East Egg and West Egg, Nick involuntarily glances seaward and distinguishes ""nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock."" On page 98, Gatsby says to Daisy, ""You always have a green light that burns at the end of your dock."" Finally, on page 189, at the end of the story, Nick the narrator tells us ""Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic* future that year by year recedes before us."" By then, the reader understands that the green light correlates to Gatsby's distracted longing for Daisy.*In his afterword, Mr. Bruccoli claims that Fitzgerald purposely used ""orgastic"" instead of ""orgiastic."" The Encarta dictionary accepts orgastic, but not the Microsoft Word spell checker or my WordWeb Thesaurus.For those interested in a timeline, do a Google search on: ""last day of summer,"" 1922, Gatsby. The results should be two hits, both good timelines. The one on geocities has at least one error, however; it has Cody dieing in 1910 instead of five years later.I found 113 proper names of persons, some only given names, some only surnames in the story. Of these, 74 are names of Gatsby's guests listed on pages 65 - 67. Fitzgerald mentions only two of those guests later in the story. He does not give ""Owl Eyes"" a proper name, but he figures as a significant character.",5.0,On the Green Light and other trivia,1096329600,"09 28, 2004",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3Q7LQVZUDM8Y5,0373696345,Colleen,"[0, 0]",I like the book and plot but felt the ending just sorta dropped off. The ending did not fit the rest of story for me. I had the bad guy figured out early and the marshall should have too.,4.0,Kansas City Cowboy,1361145600,"02 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3EZVEDN9LT8NP,1612182070,luvs2read,"[0, 3]","I felt the book started out good, with a great story line, then fizzled out in the last quarter, almost like the author got bored and wanted to finish the book. Not one I would reccomend highly.",3.0,Not great but OK,1306972800,"06 2, 2011",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2AFT2VCH2S01B,0787902772,J. G. Heiser,"[20, 20]","Brilliant, wise, humane and funny, Harvey's classic book on organizational behavior is entertaining and thought provoking. Many of his explanations about corporate behavior struck a chord with me--I read this one with a pen in hand, jotting down notes about specific experiences that I have had in phrog farms. If you are unhappy at work, maybe it is not your fault--maybe you are stuck in a degrading and unhealthy work environment.Harvey expects a great deal from leaders in business, politics, and even education, and is not reticent to criticize them for abusing their position of authority. He characterizes contemporary corporate culture as being a virtual conspiracy, assisted by a higher-education system that teaches students not to cooperate, but to actively resist working together. A radical idea that deserves some consideration.This is almost--but not quite--a spiritual book, and the author even claims the attributes of a preacher. It is a secular take on the theme Edward Welch discusses in "When People are Big and God is Small." The fear of other people has tremendous negative consequences--both personally and organizationally. Like Welch, Harvey's highlights the benefit of overcoming that fear and provides practical advice on how to do it.Anyone manager with a conscience should read Harvey, just to ensure that they are not perpetuating an unethical system.",5.0,Every manager with a conscience should read this book,953683200,"03 22, 2000",20,20,helpful,1.0,1 A23P6AMMJJWV6,147674355X,K. E. Burks,"[73, 108]","I know this review is going to get smothered by all the glowing ones. But come on, people. Five stars? For a story told entirely in unrealistic dialogue and overused gestures? A story void of scene setting, aside from the stars on the main character's ceiling? No characterization, aside from the hero having dimples (and the sentimentality of a melodramatic grandmother, but we'll get to that next). No powerful verbs whatsoever? If anyone ""grabs"" something ONE more time I think I'm going to lose my mind. Seriously. And all the smiling. He smiles, she smiles, they smile. Count how many times those verbs are used. One paragraph had the same verb (""fill"" if I remember correctly) six times. Creativity is a big part of writing, and it was not employed at all here.Now, the hero's dialogue. Who's speaking those words, an 18-year-old man? No way. And the cheek stroking, face holding, hair caressing he does to the heroine--I'm sorry, but I don't know what world this is supposed to be, but it's not Earth. He's not a human male. This is not how heterosexual human males act. Maybe it's how some women want men to act, but not me. I'd be creeped out big time. And telling me this guy has two personalities does not prove it to me. I honestly don't know what made the heroine decide that early on besides the fact the author wanted her to decide that. Having the hero punch lockers on one page and say flowery things about how he's not ""ready to love her yet"" but he is ready to ""live"" her... only proves he can punch lockers and say things the author wants him to say, in this strange world where men speak like women. He's not a realistic character. What 18-year-old man says this (below) to his girlfriend of a couple weeks?""I told myself to just stay away from you and let you be mad at me, because I do have so many issues that I'm not ready to share with you yet. And I tried so hard to stay away, but I can't. I'm not strong enough to keep denying whatever this is we could have. And yesterday in the lunchroom when you were hugging Breckin and laughing with him? It felt so good to see you happy, Sky. But I wanted so bad to be the one who was making you laugh like that. It was tearing me up inside that you were thinking that I didn't care about us, or that spending that weekend with you wasn't the best weekend I've ever had in my life. Because I do care and it was the best. It was the best f*ing weekend in the history of all weekends.""Read that aloud. No, have a man read that aloud. Need I say more? And punching lockers? It's borderline cliche. Dig for something unique and powerful. Make him do something we haven't seen over and over.Now, backstory. The hero is a little boy. What four-year-old boy says, ""Will you promise me something...Will you promise me that when he makes you sad, you'll think about the sky?"" to a three-year-old girl? This is not how children interact. Ever. It's an author with a puppet, trying to make her readers grasp their chests and cry out from the overblown sentimentality of it all. Trying to turn us into fools.This is self-published, yes. But that does not remove the author from the responsibility of quality writing you have to work on. Writing you have to dig for. It does not free the writer from learning how to craft strong sentences, or how to self-edit. Please don't make your readers trudge through sentence after sentence explaining every tiny move each character makes. Don't make your character ""reach up and wipe a tear from my eye."" Where else would that tear be, on her forehead? And of course she reaches. We don't need to know that. Just make her wipe a tear. PLEASE. And don't make a character walk into the bathroom, squeeze toothpaste on the toothbrush, put the toothbrush in her mouth, then come back out of the bathroom. We all know how it works. Just make her brush her teeth. Or, don't, because it's not at all relevant to the story. And the love scenes. Please spare us from where he puts his arm, where she puts her leg, where he puts his leg, where she puts her arm. I want to *feel* their love. Not be given the stage directions.We have to hold self-published books to the standards of traditionally published or self-publishing will never succeed. Heft by Liz Moore--that's a five star novel. You can't say you don't feel every emotion of those characters as if they were your own. Gone Girl--that's another. You're transported to that town. You smell The Bar. You feel his stomach clench every time someone catches something he's slipped up on. Those people are real people. And things happen. There's action. The dialogue is real. People aren't lying around having cliche-ridden, unrealistic conversations suited for a Hallmark movie. If you want your stomach to hurt from being a witness to child abuse, read Warchild by Karin Lowachee. If you want to feel the bond of love between teenagers despite the horror in their lives, read Lights Out in the Reptile House by Jim Shepard. That's writing.I suppose everything has an audience, even Hallmark movies and bad soap operas. But most would agree that isn't 5-star entertainment. Right? Taste is subjective, I know. A child's doodle is art to the child's mother, but is it going to go up in the Louvre? Best sellers have a wide appeal or they wouldn't be best sellers. It's very hard for me to believe I'm in such a minority on this one though. Pick any sentence out of this book and remove three words--not articles or prepositions, bigger words. Nouns, adjectives and verbs. Give that sentence to ten people. I'm certain all ten people will come up with the same exact sentence as the one in the book. If that doesn't tell you something, I don't know what does.And the ""plot twists"" everyone goes on about? A plot twist is ""Luke, I am your father."" It has to come out of left field. Every supposed ""plot twist"" in this book could be seen well before it happened. That's just plot. No twist. And a very predictable plot. But maybe not for someone who... I don't know... lives on Mars? Come on people! The writer may be that sheltered, but I can't believe so many readers are as well.Writing a novel is more than just spitting out words. It's a craft, it's what a writer must learn and practice and hone. It's what separates people who like to write stories in their diaries from people who build characters and build worlds--complete with real emotions, natural dialogue, sights, sounds, and smells. And this book falls so short of that. Self-publishing is such a great thing, and we need to demand more than what this book has given us. If we keep voting uninspired works like this as 5-star novels, self-publishing will become... hopeless.Edit: Just as I expected, this review got a steady stream of ""Yes this review was helpful"" votes until it suddenly got about 20 ""No"" votes overnight. This writer must have a mob of people voting the highly critical 1-star reviews down, so that the same mildly critical 3-star review always appears as the ""most helpful critical review"". Can anyone say scam artist? I'm going to complain to Amazon and try to get my money back even though I'm beyond the 7 day mark for Kindle returns. If you bought this book and feel the reviews lured you into buying a book not worthy of the good reviews it's getting, please do the same. If enough of us do it, Amazon will have to do something.",1.0,"Shallow Writing, Non-Existent Editing, and a Sentimental Grandma Stuck in an 18-year-old Man's Body",1359590400,"01 31, 2013",73,108,helpful,0.6759259259259259,1 A2O6N82ASKCSSN,0764334867,Susan Shedd,"[37, 37]","I've waited a bit to post a review of this deck because, frankly, I needed something of a shift in my own perception to work well with it. And boy, am I glad I stuck with it!I was so enthralled by the use of position in the Transparent Tarot that I assumed this deck would work the same way, and was a bit flummoxed when it didn't. Overlaying the cards DOES enhance the reading, but the majority of the images are balanced around the circular shape, so the resulting single image is of a different nature.And NATURE is precisely the point: this deck is all about the energies of the non-human world. There are some human references (the senses, for example) but these cards allow access to a vast array of natural and other-worldly energies -- seasons, elements, weather, animals, other-worldly beings -- the whole network of energies that we live in and are so often unaware of. Tarot decks recognize and work with elemental theory and/or astrology and/or directions and/or seasons...well, you get the drift. But the cards are mostly about human desires, human will, human endeavors, and how humans work in their world. This oracle, I finally realized, is about humans being allowed access to a map of the energies around us. Once we regain our perspective of ourselves as creatures in a large and complex ocean, we can do a much better job figuring out how to swim with the tide, so to speak.With that perspective, this deck produces a vibrant, shimmering picture of an energetic world that we are part of and can move with. This also allows for some amazing readings combining the deck with the Transparent Tarot. One of the most useful readings I do is a 2-card layout that asks: what is the current energy I (or the querent) am dealing with? How best can I(they) work with it? With the first card from the Oracle deck, and the second from the Tarot, this reading becomes even more useful. In the current climate, so difficult for so many people, I find that the question we are often asking is, ""What is going ON here, anyway?"" because the present is so confusing, we're not anywhere near ready to think about the future. Here a combination of 1-3 cards from the Oracle to map the energetic climate with 1 from the Tarot to show the current human actions gives a real heads-up as to whether all that effort we're expending is actually serving any purpose. Drawing a second Tarot card in answer to the question, ""What is a better way to work WITH these energies?"" and overlaying it with the Oracle card(s)can produce dramatic insight. Sometimes we find out that we really are working with the energies and that it's not us, it's just the way the world is working right now and we should be at peace with it. Sometimes we learn we're trying to push the river or make the sun stop in the sky and we should cut it out PDQ. I also love a focus question in the book: ""What is the story that needs to be told?"" (The book is very useful, though I find that I get more out of it as I increase my familiarity with the cards.)I find that working with this energetic map is making me more sensitive to these energies and that, in turn, readings with these cards become more finely-tuned to me personally. I was amused to notice this morning that my recent training in Celtic Reiki was showing up as part of the reading!My experience with oracle decks generally is that they are less complex and more narrowly focused than Tarot cards and with a different or more quirky world view. These cards, however, represent a vast and complex system -- one which tarot comes out of, perhaps, or is mapped onto -- and need a thoughtful, ""constructive"" (in the more literal sense of the word)approach, as they can discover and map the energetic field around us so that we can find the place where we belong. They really more than repay any effort you put into learning how to work with them!",5.0,Demanding & Complex,1282262400,"08 20, 2010",37,37,helpful,1.0,1 A3CQLQXVXOKLWL,0373803567,"Edward P. McLean ""E McLean""","[4, 5]",Sagara's early books were full of strong charaters and clean story lines. The last few have suffered from too much detail. It clouds the story line and exhustes the reader.,3.0,Concerned,1377820800,"08 30, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AHDJ6Q2QGL9DM,0380773538,Marifrances,"[7, 10]","Ms. Kleypas writes so well, it's almost frightening! I'm slowly working my way through all of her books and I will be disappointed when I have read everything that she has written. This particular book, "Midnight Angel", is so stunningly well-conceived, well-written, and well-plotted that you will fly through the pages in no time flat!The author mixes outrageous situations, lovable characters, a fascinating setting, and a sprinkle of dark magic with a deft and skillful hand. The characters seem so real that you might swear to yourself that you have actually met them when all is said and done! In addition, Ms. Kleypas' dedication to lively and unique historical details is just plain fun.This book is more than just a page-turner -- it's a remarkable achievement. Don't miss it, or you'll miss out!",5.0,Wow!,1019088000,"04 18, 2002",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 A2N7ZZIMWEJ1IH,1616203218,Miljohn,"[0, 0]",I found this book to be a treasure chest of literary gems on just about every page! I enjoyed the story and now have a new list of summer "must reads",5.0,A reader's treasure,1398902400,"05 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PFLXN4KTW5T3,0307341542,StephW,"[0, 0]","This was the second Gillian Flynn book I read... And it, along with Gone Girl, made me a big fan! Hard to put down. Couldn't get through it fast enough, but was bummed when I finished. If you like thrillers with a strong plot, give this one a go.",5.0,Addictive read,1373760000,"07 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A151OW029XD9JU,1400042356,Susan Tunis,"[0, 0]","This is one of those rare books that starts out strong and just gets better and better as it goes along. The novel opens with a one-page prologue set in 1998, where the novel's protagonist, 38-year-old Petra, has just lost her mother. Tucked in the back of her mother's closet, she finds an extraordinary letter, addressed to her, 25 years overdue.From there, the novel is told in two halves. Part I is set in 1974. The opening line is, ""His favorite colour was brown."" David Cassidy's, of course. Petra and her best friend Sharon are 13, and like every other girl in Wales they are hopelessly in love with him. Or perhaps not hopelessly. Hope springs eternal in the form of Petra's innocent fantasies:""I would be hit by a car. Not a serious injury, obviously, just bad enough to be taken to hospital by ambulance. David would be told about my accident and he would rush to my bedside. Things would be awkward at first, but we would soon get talking and he would be amazed by my in-depth knowledge of his records, particularly the B-sides. I would ask him how he was enjoying the fall and if he needed to use the bathroom. It would not be at all weird, it would be cool. David would be impressed by my command of American. Jeez. He would smile and invite me to his house in Hawaii where I would meet his seven horses and there would be garlands round our necks and we would kiss and get married on the beach. I was already worried about my flip-flops.""The beginning of the novel is about Petra and Sharon; mothers and daughters; and first love, insecurity, and what it is to be 13 years old. I'm American and these girls are Welsh, but the feelings they have are universal, and I don't know a woman who won't relate to their growing pains with nostalgia and perhaps a little remembered pain of her own.It is also about Bill Finn, the recent college grad with the unenviable job of inventing content for the Essential David Cassidy Magazine. The first half comes to head with all of the central characters at the infamous White City concert where a young fan lost her life. Cassidy retired not long after at the age of 24, and Petra, Sharon, and Bill grew up.The second half of the novel jumps forward approximately 25 years to 1998, and opens with the line: ""The day her mother died, she found out her husband was leaving her."" Thus proving that being 38 isn't necessarily any easier than being 13. It is while mourning both her mother and her marriage that Petra discovers the letter from 1974 informing her that she and Sharon were the winners of the Ultimate David Cassidy Quiz and an all expense paid trip to meet David on the set of The Partridge Family. Her mother kept it from her; she never knew.The Essential David Cassidy Magazine hasn't existed for years, but their old offices still house magazine publishers. When Petra dials the number on the 25-year-old letter, she does indeed reach someone who thinks a decades-delayed meeting with David Cassidy would make a great human interest story. And so it is that our three protagonists (four if you count David Cassidy) are reunited, all these years later, for a trip to Vegas that just may change some lives.""One boy with a shoe, and one girl without: it could be a scene from a fairy tale... reason cowered before romance. According to romance, there was no coincidence. That was the word that nonlovers used, sad souls in the everyday world, to account for the workings of destiny.""Does it get any better than that? I enjoyed the nostalgia of the first half of this novel, but I'm a grown woman. I know the adult pain that life brings. I LOVED the second half of this novel, for the relatable reality of Petra's life and compromises, for the humor that friendship brings to lighten the load, and for giving me a fairy tale that I could believe in.",5.0,And they called it puppy love...,1297641600,"02 14, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BNI4QVARHOJ1,0375822739,koolness,"[0, 0]",This story at fisrt you might not think its interesting but latter there are secrets revaled that you might have never know that would happen for example the part where she finds the mysterous box and there is a letter in there with a few letters missing in each sentence or numbered directions.She has to find out what that means it could have ment anything!!!And in another part its kinda funny to hear someone say what if the sky was blue??The girl in the story had asked her self that because they didnt have real light in the underground place where they live but up in the real world where we have light we dont need evey single light on to see we can just use the sun to help us.And even the part that they dont know what the little tiny lights are and that they were stars its inturesting to see what they think of the new world that they go into,5.0,A stoty that cant be forgoten!!!,1326672000,"01 16, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMKQYX8IDXPE7,0312534132,romancelover,"[4, 5]","What a treat this book is! I love Beauty and the Beast romances and this is one of the best of them. Charming. Witty. Warm. Emotional. The characters leap off the pages - beautifuly Rosamund who knows admiration for her beauty but longs for genuine love that sees past her spectacular appearance, smart, funny, gruff Griffin who might be a beast on the outside but who is pure deliciousness within. And then there are all the wonderful secondary characters. Christina Brooke has created a wonderful world in her Ministry of Marriage series and I can't wait to return to it. Highly recommended.",5.0,Mad about Mad About the Earl!,1325980800,"01 8, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1EZ9Z9UF4EVMG,B00EN3612G,Big Apple,"[9, 13]","I've read Thomas Baker's books before and was excited to download this. 'I Live in Chile' is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about this country. Baker's evocative writing makes for a stimulating, immersive read. I loved learning about Chile's history and how the modern state came into being. Great stuff.",5.0,Fascinating Read,1388448000,"12 31, 2013",9,13,helpful,0.6923076923076923,1 AGXUKIUHG0BMD,0312655460,Laura O'leary,"[0, 0]",I have read all of the Armand Gamache novels by Louise Penny. I love the characters and become entwined in their lives. The mysteries are always interesting and hold you til the end of the book.,5.0,Wonderful Review,1359849600,"02 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LE4F9NOBKVML,B00EGI4YS6,"Cathy ""Cathy""","[6, 6]","Elgin is the narrator in 600 Miles and he is on a journey from Arizona to California hoping to take in the city of Los Angeles in the process and his main problem is that he is walking there because the story is set several decades into the future in a world of complete chaos. The cause of the apocalypse is hinted at and appears to have been all out war between the state and the people but this all happened years ago; Elgin only knows a hand to mouth existence in a world which has sunk to basest depravity and his frequent dispassionate observations of ""skellies"" tells you how bad things are.The story is Elgin's life over the several months of his journey; the places he passes through; the people he meets. It is a love story in the most unlikely of circumstances and an exploration of Elgin's personality as he tries to cope with the tribulations and challenges of survival. The story is full of unexpected developments and at times is tense, exciting and shocking. It is a well written novel but what I thought was exceptionally good was the way Elgin's voice comes through with a slow deliberation resonant of a time much earlier than the Armageddon.The ending of the book is, I suspect, deliberately vague and lends itself to a sequel which I for one would be quick to download.",5.0,A Post Apocalyptic Love Story,1379116800,"09 14, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1LGCSJBSZL34I,0989117375,J L-S,"[4, 5]","Other Kindle Alexander books are ok, but this one is soooooo predictable, once you have read three pages you know how it's gonna end.Full of clichés and predictability.You feel like this is a piece of 'literature' produced by a computer with no human interference",1.0,Don't waste your money on this piece of trivia,1394236800,"03 8, 2014",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A377TVL6QVYDEX,B004TTHKJM,Dr. C. D. Connaughton,"[7, 11]","Only the text, not the audio video, will play on kindle. My review therefore applies only to the text.The text is an excellent summary of the case. It is free from the guilter bias and falsehood which is blatant in some of the other books about this topic. Although I have read six other books on the case, four 'innocenter' and two 'guilter', I still came across interesting information that I had not met before. There is a brief discription of other books and of the film of the case with a few critical comments about their contexts.I hope this book will increase awareness of the shocking miscarriage of justice perpetrated against Amanda and Raffaele.",5.0,the text is an excellent summary,1308700800,"06 22, 2011",7,11,helpful,0.6363636363636364,1 A1LJZWBVCB44RO,0756407680,"K. Sullivan ""No accounting for taste...""","[22, 35]","""The Dirty Streets of Heaven"" plays fast and loose with Judeo-Christian archetypes to create its own cosmology. Every human has his own guardian angel who functions more as an observer than a protector. Once an individual dies, the soul departs the body and awaits judgment. A literal trial is held at the site of death just outside earth's time. A demonic prosecutor condemns the deceased, an angelic advocate defends him (as distinct from the guardian angel who acts as an informant), and a heavenly principality (an archangel) renders the verdict. If the individual has led ""a decent life"" (page 116), he's received into heaven for eternity (although a preliminary sentence in purgatory may be required). Those whose lives are not ""decent"" enough are sentenced to an eternity in hell.These judicial proceedings can get rather contentious which is representative of the larger dynamic between the forces of good and evil (to whatever extent that characterization is fair). The heavenly host and the minions of hell have a precarious relationship. Their activity is regulated by accords and agreements (which also dictate that there are only two possible destinations for the soul) but they are bitter foes locked in an ongoing conflict. The final outcome is unsure. God's role is unclear, in fact, his existence is uncertain.Bobby Dollar is the incarnate angel Doloriel, an advocate for the recently departed. His troubles begin when a soul he's supposed to represent disappears. Tensions mount on both sides over this anomaly and only increase when more souls inexplicably vanish. Bobby's problems are compounded when both sides take an unhealthy interest in an artifact he may unwittingly possess.""The Dirty Streets of Heaven"" is, at its core, a hardboiled bit of noir with fantasy trappings. Bobby Dollar is the cynical, sarcastic, wise-cracking, tough-talking gumshoe - clichéd in almost every way except that he's an angel. His narration is self-aware and generously interjected with commentary. As a character, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was an exercise in adolescent wish fulfillment. In employment, he operates as a rogue agent without any serious repercussion. Romantically, despite his unwillingness to commit to his ex, she is unaccountably still willing to support him emotionally and sexually. He encounters a powerful she-devil (of the literal variety) who has the body of a goddess and, curiously, a heart of gold. After she feebly attempts to kill Bobby, they engage in a passionate affair (their explicitly yet poorly rendered lust-scene is more cringe-worthy than titillating). He gets in the most futile scrapes only to inevitably come out on top (thanks in no small part to his history as a special-forces type angel) with a snide remark to spare. Through it all, he craves attention and wallows in self-pity. He's much more enamored with himself than I am with him. In fact, if the options are an eternity with Bobby Dollar or one spent in hell, hell's looking pretty good. His cavalier seen-it-all bravado, self-amusement, and self-involvement were just too much for me.Looking past the main character, the story's execution was lackluster. The book was only 400 pages long, but that was probably 100 pages more than necessary. The narrative arc bogged down in a predictable cycle of find clue, get attacked by demon, go underground, repeat... Bobby's run-ins and interactions lacked authenticity (the denouement with a particularly nasty adversary was utterly bewildering). Heaven's action or inaction is never logically explained - the author just ignores it and hopes the reader will play along. The cosmology is painted with very broad strokes. If examined closely, the world doesn't hold together very well. In fact, periodically the narrator tries to preempt questions with half explanations or an acknowledgement that he doesn't understand either (e.g. why angels are given physical bodies). The writing itself was also disappointing. Much of the intended humor was puerile while several passages that were clearly meant to be clever fell far short (the defense of the adulterer, the reverse-curse, etc.). It's not an intelligent story.Finally, prospective readers should be warned that this novel is the first volume of an anticipated series. Most of the plot threads remain loose at the story's end. The book concludes abruptly providing largely expositional answers to what happened to the missing souls, the identity and whereabouts of the artifact, and whodunit. These explanations alone scarcely justify the journey.Despite these criticisms, many readers will undoubtedly enjoy ""The Dirty Streets of Heaven"" as mindless fun and light entertainment. There's plenty of action and mystery so long as you don't care about the context. But others expect more - and reasonably so. This latter type of reader will be sorely disappointed.",2.0,Sophomoric execution of adolescent wish fulfillment,1346025600,"08 27, 2012",22,35,helpful,0.6285714285714286,1 AGJP6O2AIO1BS,B00BM8DTHA,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",A lovely family story about a young woman. In need of a husband and how fate intervenes for a wonderful happily ever after. Enjoy,5.0,Lovely story,1404000000,"06 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXFW2365JOG9X,0385341903,Christine,"[0, 0]","I got exacting what I was expecting out of this book - a light, fun read. The premise seems kind of odd - invite the former lovers of your dying husband to see him on his deathbed - but the group that gathered and the adventures they had were entertaining. Bridget Asher created likable and realistic characters that the reader cheers for. Overall, I would recommend for anyone who enjoys chick lit.",4.0,Cute and fun,1291420800,"12 4, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3IX0CZIRBY0FK,1499732376,Amazon Customer,"[0, 1]",I couldn't put this book down. The characters were so real to me. And it's the only book of this type I've ever read that more good happened than bad. I really enjoyed that positive aspect! Well worth reading!,5.0,Wonderful book,1402185600,"06 8, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3BXWFPZER33H7,0376027940,"TahoeKay ""Kay""","[37, 39]","I just received my copy of The Sunset Cookbook. As a westerner, I feel like I now have a big fat cookbook aimed at me! Most general reference cookbooks try, more or less successfully, to be all things to all people. Nevertheless, they reflect the part of the country of their origins. (""Joy,"" for example, is as warm as the American Midwest.) This is not necessarily a bad thing as every region of our continent has made major contributions to the whole. It's just that those of us on the left coast and inland have never had our own basic cookbook.First impressions --PLUSES. 1000 recipes featuring the ingredients, especially our splendid produce, and common techniques of our region. A couple of examples -- 1) most of the crab recipes feature and were tested with Dungeness and king crab, and 2) there is an extensive chapter on grilling. Recipes appear to include a balance between iconic western dishes and newer interpretations. It is also physically beautiful with many color photographs.LIMITATION. Does not have annotated lists (and pictures) of ingredients such as is the case with recent Better Homes and Gardens and some other cookbooks.I can hardly wait to begin trying the recipes.",4.0,At Last!,1288310400,"10 29, 2010",37,39,helpful,0.9487179487179487,1 A24QZ9RP2HWUD4,0061015725,Zen Goddess,"[0, 1]","There is no Crichton fan who will be able to say this is his best, because it is not. I am a a lawyer with a pre-med degree so obviously Chrichton and other physicians in writing draw me. I love the way Dr C. sets up a possibility and brings it to life for his readers.This time he dreamt up a possibility, asked us to believe him, we tried, then he made us feel foolish. Still love the guy though.",4.0,Pushing it.,1042934400,"01 19, 2003",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2OS2JHUJ9B7E3,B00KV0X0UG,"Reanell ""Book Babe""","[0, 0]","This is probably one of my favorite series ever! Nathan and Lila's story is one that is full of angst, heart-ache, lovey hugs and so many deliciously hot moments. I was addicted to this series from book 1 Breach and began stalking K.I. after begging for more Lila and Nathan. K.I. knows how to write hot kinky sex, with a gripping storyline meant to keep you begging for more. I'm actually sad that this is the last of Nathan(my office god) and Lila.I loved seeing Nathan finally standing up to the 'Boob Squad' they got what they deserved, finally. Their relationship finally become what they wanted from the start, and my heart was filled with joy at how much they loved each other. Especially at the turmoil they endured in the beginning.I am in love with this entire series and recommend this book to everyone who loves a story that grips you by the seat of your pants and takes you on a journey you don't want to end. That is exactly how this series made me feel. I'm sad for it to end, but so glad I got to know and love these amazing characters. So if your looking for a wild and sexy romance with a whole lot of dirty talking this book is for you!",5.0,5+++Talk dirty to me stars!,1402704000,"06 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MZBERPWNBW3P,0762439645,"George Erdosh ""culinary scientist""","[7, 7]","Choclatique is an unconventional dessert cookbook featuring nothing but chocolate. The recipes are good with an enormous variety, many beautifully illustrated with full-page photos yet most home bakers would not find them useful. Engoron uses one of the five of his ganaches as basic building blocks in nearly all dessert creations. In many he uses two or three plus additional chocolate or other sauces. You need to have those ganaches ready in your refrigerator for even such simple items as hot chocolate (two ganaches) and brownies. Unless you bake chocolaty desserts several times a week, this is a very inconvenient way for the home baker. A 14-page introduction gives you all you need to know about chocolate and how to work it. Many personal stories are scattered throughout as well as several types of sidebars (they tend to be overwhelming). Each recipe gives preparation, baking and cooling times and equipment needed. It also rates its level by stars but no easily found explanation of what they mean. Many QR codes for smartphones without explanation have little meanings. Vegan, gluten free and dairy free recipes have icon designations. Index is not user friendly, poorly cross referenced. (As appears in Sacramento/San Francisco Book Review.)",2.0,Unusual Chocolate Bakery,1327968000,"01 31, 2012",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 AQ619VL5LFGEO,1463525435,"R. Mahala Burlingame ""38 Caliber Reviews""","[28, 58]","Update: 3-7-14 I read quite a number of biographies and autobiographies though I seldom review them, if they engage my interest I usually become too involved to give an unbiased review. I also read books on survivors of Shoah, so I am not without sympathy to great suffering as some have tried to claim. I found out today that the author is using my review as an example of what she and others believe to be ""spiteful anti-author"" sentiment.My review stands. I didn't like this book and the world did not end and Devin still sells her book. /End update.I wanted to find something in this rambling, defeatist, black cloud of words that was the least bit uplifting, inspiring but there is nothing and nothing pretty much sums up Jane's life.Jane sets out to tell us the story of a life, her life, marked by violence and neglect. I wanted to feel something for her, especially for Jane the child, but her writing was flat and devoid of any feeling, her litany of abuse, physical and verbal, read like a grocery list and too often I would find myself questioning Jane's lack of reaction and lack of emotion. She just seemed to wander through her life waiting for something bad to happen and until it did she was incapable of moving forward or sideways or backwards or at all.Her dreary, passionless recitation was not helped by a rather uncertain timeline, it was hard to tell if only days had passed or weeks or months. In the later part of the book when Jane told parts of her story in flashbacks it became even more confusing. By this point I had ceased to care much and just grimly read on wanting only to finish and be done.It's never good when you find yourself so out of sympathy with the victim. There were times when her actions or lack of them were so out of tune with what she was writing that some cynical part of my brain was wondering if she was conducting some sort of weird experiments so she could record them later in a story.When I finished I was left feeling that Jane really hadn't changed much. She was still making a career out of being a victim only now she was writing about it instead of just making notes for later. I know that seems harsh but it's what I came away with.I also came away with the desire to thank my late mother for all her love, advice, and encouragement, if I expressed a desire to do something she almost always was pushing me out the door to go and do it, and to thank my best friend's late mother for the words I've lived by most of my adult life. `There are worse things in life than being alone.'Being alone with this book was one of them.",2.0,The Life and Times of Calamity Jane,1326326400,"01 12, 2012",28,58,helpful,0.4827586206896552,1 AIVFVDHMXO7RA,0824525434,Catholic Bryan,"[26, 73]","Fr. Richard Rohr often speaks disparagingly against his own Church, its clergy, and its dogmas and doctrines. In some things he is right, in others he is not. Rohr seems to believe that he has found a way that is better and more enlightened, though the only thing he has found is a way that is more New Age, Oriental, and confused. While he certainly has the best intentions, no doubt, and while there is truth in the book, he unfortunately teaches a horrendous amount of bad theology and spirituality. So be aware. A few examples of many follow:*Some of Fr. Rohr's false teachings which are not authentically Catholic:- We are all divine, and we are all in heaven right now- God is Father 'and' Mother, He or She- Jesus 'found' God and Christ Consciousness.- Jesus embodies the Christ. Jesus is not the only Christ; we are all Christ.- We are all divine like Jesus- Teaches the false concepts of monism and true Self/false self.The Naked Now informs us that we are actually in heaven right now without realizing it. When we wake up from our psychic nightmare by becoming enlightened, ""we will realize that we never left heaven.""He also says on page 173 - ""In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus ... Your `state' is also divine. Hold it confidently, (the true Self in God)"" Notice the capital S in self symbolizing our divine Self. [No Sorry Fr. Richard - our state is 'not' divine and never will be].In stark contrast, the Catholic Church teaches that: ...""It is necessary in the first place to bear in mind that man is essentially a creature, and 'remains such for eternity', so that an absorbing of the human self into the divine self is never possible, not even in the highest states of grace"" (Some Aspects of Christian Meditation; emphasis added).",1.0,Warning - A Confused and NEW AGE Catholicsm!,1325030400,"12 28, 2011",26,73,helpful,0.3561643835616438,1 ALR2N71T0APWV,0807128031,Ozark Trail Outrider,"[8, 10]","As with the preceding volumes, this one is filled with the factual detail and the narrative excitement, the reader has come to expect from a Gordon Rhea book. His skillful hand has brought Grant's Virginia campaign to life with a great depth of detail.The battles leading up to the larger confrontation at Cold Harbor are fascinating. I found much new material that I had not been exposed to before regarding Haw's Shop, Bethedsda Church, and Matadequin Creek. All too often we forget how difficult it was for Grant or Lee to aquire accurate and useful information regarding the disposition of their foe. This seems particularly true of the Cold Harbor campaign. In many ways I found the lead-up to Cold Harbor to be somewhat similar to the lead-up to Antietam. Of course, this time, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had learned the craft of entrenching.As other reviewers have indicated, there is a wealth of information concerning the leadership difficulties that Grant faced and in particular his relationship with Meade. As a reader, I certainly came away feeling that Meade perhaps deserved a significant amount of the blame for the latter parts of the Union failure at Cold Harbor. Certainly, as the letters to his wife confirm, Meade's focus was on himself and not on his men or his foe.Lastly, I think many readers will find themselves questioning the time-worn idea that Grant simply sent his army to be butchered at Cold Harbor. Instead, I found that Grant's thought process may not have been so far out of whack. Grant did what McClellan failed to do at Antietam. He pushed the issue as far as he could. Unfortunately, for his men, it wasn't a day 2 at Antietam...but instead was a Cold Harbor indeed.",4.0,Gordon Rheas' Virginia journey continues.,1128124800,"10 1, 2005",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A8TYJ5P6HQMQI,B00AH9VS00,"A. White ""world traveler""","[0, 0]",good ideas with lots of hints and tips to make fixing these goodies easier and presenting them in pretty ways.,4.0,yum,1384214400,"11 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2UVQY19WTL7OO,1416990402,Matthew Wood,"[0, 0]",The book was long and hard to start. It picked up in the middle and the end was sad. I like that Sasha starts to talk with Jacob in the end. I also like that heather and Sasha are kinda friends.,4.0,preteen book.,1392595200,"02 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2XWHGC2PMDE5T,B005D75Z8C,Kindle Customer,"[0, 0]","This was a great story telling about the young Jack Reacher. If you have ever read any of Lee Child's books, you will enjoy this short story.",4.0,Love Jack Reached!,1395014400,"03 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AURJGSOLOT26C,0764206915,RKH,"[0, 0]",Really enjoyed this book and will read the rest in the series. Will try to find at library first and if not download on Kindle.,5.0,Loved it,1387238400,"12 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A233TLWYXFKAAQ,0811860582,MidwestMom,"[24, 26]","I bought this off of amazon because the patterns look really cute...and they are. HOwever, I must say that if you are a beginner this is not the book for you. First, they do not tell you what size crochet thread to use, or even what type of material. The book will simply say something like "" Lace Thread, Light Blue, 0.1oz (3g)"". This really does not mean a lot to me. I am used to reading patterns that say something like ""100 yds, size 10, 100% cotton crochet thread"". It is even more helpful when books tell you what brand they use, but once again this book does not list this. So, this poses the first challenge. Second there is no gauge. They do let you know what the finished measurement will be, so basically you will have to crochet the whole thing to find out if you are using the right size hook or not. That is a real bummer, and will probably mean a lot of wasted time. Lastly, the patterns are not written like traditional patterns. Traditional crochet patterns will go row by row, with everything abbreviated. These patterns basically break down the pattern into about 3-6 steps, giving you a general overview of the pattern, with you having to go by the chart to actually complete the pattern. If you are not used to crocheting by a chart this might be difficult for you. I feel if they are going to publish a Japanese book in English, they should take the time to go the whole way, and write it in a more traditionally English way. I will say though that the patterns are really cute. Some of the patterns I would like to make that look especially cute to me are: circle coaster, pot holder, tissue box cover, jar covers, round doily, square doily, and the lace basket. I will also note, that the pictures are excellant. I love full color photos, because looking at them gives me inspiration for crochet projects. Something really positive about this book though, is that if you are looking to get into crocheting from Japanese books from Japan, using this as a starting point to see if you can crochet directly from a chart is a good way to go.",3.0,Translated literally from Japanese---might be a problem for some.........,1205971200,"03 20, 2008",24,26,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A3NRIB6U1ZABZR,1596434023,Rachel A. Dale,"[17, 17]","Our librarian threw this new book in with our requested items because she thought we would enjoy it. Boy, was she right! Sweet, sweet story with unique and fascinating illustrations. I couldn't get enough of the pictures. I've already looked to see if Stead illustrated other books, but....sadly...no.I highly recommend this book for toddlers and preschoolers. LOVE IT!",5.0,So glad to have found this book!,1294876800,"01 13, 2011",17,17,helpful,1.0,1 AJC5SJU3L7DL1,0978924681,"Tonii Kelly ""ballyhugh""","[0, 0]","As the title suggests, I usually avoid the fantasy genre but in this case, the premise was too intriguing to pass up. Well worth the time to read, Weiland does an incredible job of taking an ordinary experience- a nightmare- and turning it into smashing story. Well done!",5.0,"Not a usual fan of fantasy, but wow!",1370563200,"06 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3CI9BAOHKWQOD,0373827962,"B.Morgan ""Blake Morgan""","[0, 0]","I stumbled across this in Barnes,and Noble.I was truthfully, drawn to the cover art, and after I read the back cover, I decided to purchase it. I am not really a romance-novel reader, but I must confess, this was truly a page-turner!I felt that I actually KNEW these folks, the way the author skillfully portrayed them. The only issue I had was that it was stated every couple of pages,that Charles could not marry her,and she could not trust, or marry him.I do believe that mentioning this was crucial to the tale,I just felt it may have been a tad much to mention it over and over again. Other than this ""complaint"", I loved this story!",5.0,"Hat's Off to Miss Adelaide,and this charming tale!",1230854400,"01 2, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A257R44GAG6XXI,1456330799,"P. Creeden ""The Book Ninja""","[6, 7]","Like a modern day Tolkein, Robert Dennis Wilson builds a world that fantasy lovers will be loathe to leave. This epic journey starts out a little slow, and so many characters are introduced in the start that it's hard to sort - but the payoff in the end is invaluable. Worth picking up for any lover of Christain Allegorical Fantasy.",4.0,Epic and Allegorical,1327536000,"01 26, 2012",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 AX08QJGPHH149,0671038176,Ben Riddle,"[4, 6]","While waiting for the Enterprise to rescue their severely damaged shuttlecraft, Kirk, Chekov, Sulu, and Scotty describe their experiences taking the Kobayashi Maru test, as taken by Lt. Saavik in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.This is a very interesting book. We've known for years that Kirk "passed" the Kobayashi Maru by reprogramming the computer, but the other stories were even more surprising:Chekov surrenders and evacuates his crew before setting his ship to self-destruct, much as Kirk & co. would do with the Enterprise in Star Trek III. Sulu absolutely refuses to cross the Neutral Zone, knowing that the Klingons would take it as an act of war and destroy his ship. And Scotty's story drives home the point that you should never send a devout engineer to do a captain's job. The stories they tell are personal, touching, and very heartwarming.",5.0,Life-altering decisions,1027123200,"07 20, 2002",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A14CHCIHA4LCVK,0395910897,Pepper Allen,"[0, 0]","This is a highly technical book, college or post grad level? It is useful here for the many many insects that live here, indoors and outdoors, in this very interesting insect group.",4.0,Textbook maybe,1378857600,"09 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1D22HCARO5PHB,0515124648,tbuckchase,"[11, 16]","This book was boring from the very beginning. I have read several books that did not start out very interesting but as I kept reading they got better. I wanted to give this book a chance so I kept going, finally about three fourths of the way through the book I gave up. Nothing about this book held my interest. The characters were all boring and the subject, unless you like archeology, were extremely boring. I would not recommend this book to anyone. It is the first time I have not finished a book.",1.0,I didn't even finish the book!,1360022400,"02 5, 2013",11,16,helpful,0.6875,1 A2TZ6DETANJ80Q,0132125897,Todd Ebert,"[11, 23]","I used this book to study for the geometry qualifying exam at UC Santa Barbara for Masters and Ph.D. students. I found it easily accesible, concise, and self-contained.",3.0,A good introductory book on Differential Geometry,968889600,"09 14, 2000",11,23,helpful,0.4782608695652174,1 ATLNKTE4CYSE1,0525951059,"M. Smiley ""book lover""","[13, 17]","Harlan Coben doesn't disappoint again with his latest Myron Bolitar adventure! Even though it had been some time since I've read a Myron Bolitar book - I instantly remembered Win, Esperanza, and Big Cindy and immediately was drawn into his latest caper with an old flame Teresa Collins. As terrorist are brought into this plot, I kept waiting for Jack Bauer to come and rescue Myron - but alas - he has Win! Coben definitely makes you laugh out loud with Myron and Win's antics and dialogue - he also keeps you up late because you can't wait until morning to see how the twists and turns end!",4.0,Long Lost equals lost sleep- can't put down!,1240012800,"04 18, 2009",13,17,helpful,0.7647058823529411,1 A33HRQDR30ODVX,0441016154,Danielle Reads Books,"[0, 0]","I really like Briggs's Mercy Thompson series so I thought I would try the Alpha and Omega series to get a little more insight into the other characters. Anna is an Omega wolf and Charles's new mate. Charles and Anna must hunt what they believe is a rogue wolf in the woods of Montana. Danger, mystery and magic ensue.I really liked the romance and there is also a lot of action in Cry Wolf. There is a big eye opener at the very end of this book in regards to Bran and his mate (something that is questioned in Mercy Thompson series but never answered). When I started listening to Cry Wolf audio book I was a little lost. Turns out there is an Alpha and Omega novella that precedes Cry Wolf. I recommend reading it first so you have background on how Anna and Charles were mated. The other thing that stumped me is (and I'm sure this will be answered in the next book) is Anna the Omega to Charles's Alpha or Bran's?Over all a really great book. If you like the Mercy Thompson series you will absolutely like the Alpha and Omega series.",4.0,Love Mercy Thompson? Read Alpha and Omega,1355184000,"12 11, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A37E6RW5BUX4U0,0312949812,Cherise Everhard,"[17, 23]","Merripen was savagely beaten and left for dead by his Romany tribe. The Hathaway's found him, nurtured him, and made the Gypsy boy part of their family. Win Hathaway always had an ethereal beauty and grace about her. After contracting Scarlet Fever she never regained her strength. It was Merripen who always looked after her, protected her and secretly loved her. Their bond was instant and goes back to their childhood there has always been some invisible bond between them.They are now adults and Merripen struggles every day to keep Win at a distance, believing she is better off without him, thinking being married to a Gypsy will only cause her problems. Win has returned from France after years at a clinic, she is healthy and more beautiful and tempting than ever. Merripen struggles with his wants and needs and doing what he thinks she wants and needs.I get all mushy and gushy for a great forbidden love story and this one was excellent. This is a completely tender tale with just enough tragedy and heat to make the struggle to happily ever after interesting and plenty of romance and real love to make me wistful and a little weepy. I blazed through this book in a day, and it's not a short one... But every page made me compelled to read the next and the next. The Hathaway clan is more intriguing as they continue to grow and evolve and I am schoolgirl giddy awaiting the next!Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways, Book 1)Cherise Everhard, October 2008",5.0,Love is a friendship set to music. - E. Joseph Cossman,1222819200,"10 1, 2008",17,23,helpful,0.7391304347826086,1 A3OUREPPQF7TB2,0142004839,J. Hanna,"[0, 1]","Charles Wilkes was a new name to me and his mid 19th century voyage was somtheing I knew nothing about. He led his little fleet on an epic voyage: he explored Antartica, charted the Pacific Ocean and explored the area that is now the states of Oregon and Washington. I am glad that I read about it but a condensed version would have been enough for me.",3.0,A long voyage and a long read,1359158400,"01 26, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2GRLKRPJUABQK,1583142894,"K. Kimbrough ""kkimbr7""","[6, 6]","What do four women and "Jo-Jo", an ex-cop, and the Love Goddess all have in common? Love Potions by Leslie Esdaile.Four women (Nikki, Victoria, Delores, Gail) all friends, and all finding themselves in the need for cash, decide to throw a few psychic-reading parties. For authenticity they develop a love potion elixir to sell to the clientele. Nicole Gordon is the resident "psychic" and Adam Bastille, an ex-cop private eye, comes in for a reading from Nicole trying to find out information on a case. He ends up walking out with a special elixir that has him falling head over heels for Nicole. Fortunately for Adam, Nicole didn't need the elixir for her to fall in love with him.This book is filled with so many different things (even a bit of mystery) that the romance of the main characters, Nicole and Adam, can and did get lost in the shuffle. However, the parties, "Jo-Jo", and the effects of the elixir made for funny situations and plenty of romance for the others. It is necessary that I mention one particular intimate scene between Nicole and Adam that is out of this world. (I read that scene twice) Despite some of the choppiness in the romance storyline, this book would be a good read on a lazy afternoon.KotanyaAPOOO Bookclub",3.0,I'll take one to go.,1038873600,"12 3, 2002",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3769JRQXK31M8,1600966950,J. Alford,"[6, 7]","Got interested in the history of Alaska after a recent cruise there. This book by Jack London is like reading a first hand account (he was there) of the ""Stampeders"" and the hardships of getting to the Yukon looking for a fortune that few found. Easy, interesting read!",5.0,"Jack London ""Daughter of the Snows""",1300406400,"03 18, 2011",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,1558212353,Midwest Book Review,"[8, 10]",LONGBOW: A SOCIAL AND MILITARY HISTORY follows the evolution of the longbow: a 6-foot weapon with a long-reaching history from ancient to more modern times in Britain. It became the most important weapon in the English military arsenal and won many battles: black and white illustrations throughout chart its progress and evolution.Diane C. DonovanCalifornia Bookwatch,5.0,Illustrations throughout chart its progress and evolution.,1160784000,"10 14, 2006",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A3D127NDHL3331,1935348949,"Amazon Customer ""jghbook""","[0, 4]",I read this book from cover to cover. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading this book.,4.0,Her Every Fantasy (The Smith Sister Trilogy Book 3),1283904000,"09 8, 2010",0,4,unhelpful,0.0,0 A17UT84AR48XZI,141654139X,Karen Harrington,"[4, 4]","Allison's writing is so clean, precise and unobtrusive that I nearly had the first chapter read before leaving the bookstore. I most enjoyed the shifting perspectives from one family member to another as the story unfolded among multiple family members.",5.0,Incredibly satisfying read,1196553600,"12 2, 2007",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3THLI10635V4V,B005BORI7S,The Every Free Chance Reader,"[0, 0]",I have it on my Kindle and it is a great reference book for punctuation. I like her style of explanation.,4.0,Great reference,1396224000,"03 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33TUFSP3ZRSS5,1565126319,"J. LEIGHTON ""Jacky""","[7, 12]","I, too, wonder how readers gave this book so many stars. I'm 18% through it on my Kindle and I can't finish this book. It's boring. I feel like it's going to turn into a romance novel. Yuck!",1.0,Borrrrrring . . .,1299542400,"03 8, 2011",7,12,helpful,0.5833333333333334,1 AWQ9YAY829WXB,1479385409,Michael Matthew Hoffman,"[0, 0]","Not as well written as Pillars of the Earth, but a compelling read, nonetheless. When I wasn't reading, I was thinking about it.",3.0,An interesting epic,1375401600,"08 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18TYCLZ5KEVLE,1456435299,"Tina Footen ""nampa4""","[4, 5]","I really loved this series of books and I'm excited that Tina's writing #4. There are great characters in these books and great plot development! This one is awesome. Make sure you read these in order, though, to get the full effect.",5.0,I loved this story!,1297036800,"02 7, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1SK7LUHTPBEU6,0385003560,DCBVK,"[0, 0]",An old story that needs to be read and read again. Beautifully woven story into a truthful background. May we never be doomed to repeat it.,5.0,Armageddon - end of WWII in Europe,1384387200,"11 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ABBI89HHCDBQ,1470124327,Rebecca,"[0, 0]","Colleen Hoover did such a great job on this book. Of course, I read Slammed first and fell in love with it. This is definitely one that I could not put down. I hope Colleen puts out some books that keep my attention like this one did.",5.0,LOVED IT!,1358812800,"01 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A38RRU80NOAL35,0778314529,Cyndi Lou 11,"[0, 0]",Love Robyn Carr when she is on a roll with a new series. Couldn't put down the Virgin River and wait for new books on the Thunder Point series. Great storyteller!,5.0,Love Robyn Carr when she is on a roll with ...,1398211200,"04 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1SB65BFKMMBGW,1612182917,"C. Terry ""Vermonter""","[0, 0]",I liked it but it was long and didn't really keep me engaged. I actually ended up listening to the last half instead of reading it. Too many details.,3.0,Classic I had never read.,1392940800,"02 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2I8BEGV2DJJOP,1449344763,Eric Lawrence,"[10, 12]","Google engineer Ilya Grigorik has written an amazingly comprehensive and accurate treatise on the performance implications of every significant aspect of browser networking. From basic HTTP all the way to the latest developing standards (SPDY/HTTP2/WebRTC) this book walks you through how the technologies work and the performance impact of each of the features described. The sections on how mobile networks (e.g. 3G/4G) operate contained accessible but incredibly detailed explorations of the architecture of these environments and the implications for performance and battery life.It's a testament to this book that if you read it in its entirety, you will be one of the most knowledgeable people in the world when it comes to browser networking.I was a networking program manager on the Internet Explorer team at Microsoft for 8 years, and I nevertheless learned a ton from this book. Best of all, unlike many books I read about complicated topics, this book gets all of the details right-- it was written by an expert in the topic, not someone looking to make a buck.",5.0,Comprehensive and Accurate,1381449600,"10 11, 2013",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A116QZVZDPF8GK,0671047531,Ronna,"[0, 0]","PURGATORY RIDGE is the third installment of the Cork O'Conner mysteries. Though no longer the sheriff of Aurora, Minnesota, when the local lumber mill is bombed, resulting in the death of a local Native American tribesman, Cork is asked to help in the investigation. Many possibilities for suspects eventually evolve as environmentalists and the local tribes are protesting the lumbering of a sacred stand of old growth trees called the ""Old Grandfathers"". Then the lumber mill-owner's wife and son, along with Cork's wife and son , are kidnapped with a ransom demand for 2 million dollars.Suspense builds with the addition of another suspect, the only survivor of a sunken ship from a number of years ago, who has been mourning the death of his brother during that sinking. He believes the mill owner's wife's family is responsible for the sinking by sabotaging the ship for the insurance money. With the building of suspects and clues developing into a serious case, the conclusion is a complete surprise.Krueger's mysteries are enhanced by the cultural differences between the Native Americans and the whites, with Cork being mixed blood, and his wife as the lawyer for the tribe. There are also marital issues between Cork and his wife, as they have come together again, after both strayed with other partners. They have three children, two of whom now help Cork run their restaurant. These many and varied issues greatly add to the interest of Krueger's books. The atmosphere of the Minnesota surrounds is also a character in itself, building suspense with the wild weather, and many land formations. Excellent continuation of the Cork O'Conner series!",4.0,"Ships, trees, family needs, and greed in Minnesotta --",1375488000,"08 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AAT3IB7EHQNWV,B00BJCBPIO,L Fear,"[8, 10]","I gotta say, I adored this book. Ms. Claire already demonstrated to me how well she could write paranormal when I read, Kindred, (book one in her seriously fantastic vampire series)...and here we go again. This read was exciting, well written, fun as all get out and not unlike a Kristen Ashley read - whom I also adore.Alpha-male, Dominic and "don't push me around", equally strong, Genevieve Cane are exquisite together. Just when you think things are gong to happen for them, something or someone seems to stop their momentum, but never for too long. The banter they share is intense, sexy-hot, witty and sometimes hilarious which is one of the many reasons I fell in love with them both. At times when things might become too much to handle Gen's emotions would take over, but not for long if Dominic had anything to say about it - which he usually did. Yep, another reason to make a girl swoon!Oh, and did I mention there's lots action, too? Gen's ex boyfriend, Brett, is not only a loser, but also a manipulator, abuser and a thief and when Dominic sees just how badly Genevieve is treated in his presence, let's just say, all hell breaks loose and quickly. I mean, what girl wouldn't want a god-like alpha male defending her honor? Uh, huh...and does he ever.If you're looking for a fantastically fun, well told romance/action/HOT/SEXY read, look no further. This, my friends is seriously your book! Thanks for the ride, Ms. Claire!",4.0,"Exciting, sexy ride!!",1366675200,"04 23, 2013",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A2BLITJITO97N5,0316777730,Ingalls,"[20, 39]","After the hilarious "Me talk pretty some day", I was looking forward to this volume. It was a big letdown. For one thing, the author comes across as a very unpleasant person, one who lacks any sympathy for others. Everything is "me, me, me", "I am so great and everyone else deserves to be poor and to suffer". He takes advantage of other people's kindness (something he could use a bit of) and then mistakes it for stupidity and mocks them even when they are good enough to keep him from starvation. I left the book feeling toward the author as if he were someone I would never want to deal with. An unsavory revelation of a man who I once thought of as a clever comic talent but now see as a creep. If anyone finds his essays here about quadraplegics and very poor working people (and their homes, which he loves to make fun of) funny, you are welcome to join the creepy human society of which Sedaris is now an honorary member. Too bad Sedaris is too shallow to be able to mix his humour with a bit of pity and warmth. He might rise above the merely vulgar and predictable misanthropy which he wallows in and become a first class humourist. An adolescent attempt at humour that goes nowhere and isn't funny. Stick with "Me talk pretty some day" and "Barrel Fever" if you are looking for laughs.",1.0,A disappointment,979689600,"01 17, 2001",20,39,helpful,0.5128205128205128,1 A22GHKAQRWC1WS,1482066300,Amazon Customer,"[0, 1]","This is a 17 year old girl telling her story, but using adult (or mature) language, thoughts and words. It is well written, but all the while I read it, I didn't really feel a connection between the author and his characters.",3.0,????,1395187200,"03 19, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3FVAWZNKW9GX,0689823827,"A.Trendl HungarianBookstore.com ""What should ...","[45, 47]","Thirty years ago, I was taught to read with this. Different pictures, same poems. I learned to imagine and believe in ordinary, yet beautiful things. Even today, in my own writing, I smile realizing how and when I learned a technique ... just by listening to my mother whisper these poems nightly.Aptly named, RLS has the reader remembering the wonderful days of playing alone and with friends, of delighting in the moment.Your child will gain an understanding of classic children's poetry, of the rhythm and rhyme. They sound eloquent aloud, and read gentle at bedtime.Anthony TrendlTreeFortBooks.com",5.0,I read this 30 years ago,957225600,"05 2, 2000",45,47,helpful,0.9574468085106383,1 A34FN1O4EGYWTT,B00EKNTNTM,LuvBooks,"[0, 0]","This drew me in right from the first page. The ""enemy"" in this story is not a villain or ""other woman,"" but rather the fear of committing one's heart because of the pain of childhood trauma and the feeling of not ever having been loved.Rebecca is fearful of giving her heart, but that's about all she's afraid of. She works for an organization that helps desparate people in countries where conditions are difficult, to say the least. When she hears about her cousin and cousin's husband being killed and leaving behind their baby boy, she bravely flies back to the US to try to get custody, even though all odds are against her.She loses custody to Luke, the baby's uncle (the father's brother), but ends up staying at his ranch to recover from some serious health issues resulting from her work and taking care of everyone but herself.This is a sweet romance, and Luke is the sort of hero you wish would leap from the pages so that you could meet him yourself! I highly recommend it.",5.0,Drew me right in!,1378684800,"09 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ATDVJ7SL7JDW2,1442485256,stina,"[0, 0]","SYNPOSIS:There was something wicked about Beau that drew me to him. What was wrong with me? Why did I want to sin so badly?Ashton is getting tired of being good, of impressing her parents and playing ideal girlfriend to Sawyer Vincent. Sawyer is perfect, a regular Prince Charming, but when he leaves town for the summer, it's his cousin Beau that catches Ashton's eye. Beau is the sexiest guy she has ever seen, and even though he is dangerous, Ashton is drawn to him.Beau loves his cousin like a brother, so the last thing he wants to do is make a move on Sawyer's girl. Ashton is off-limits, absolutely. That's why he does his best to keep his distance, even though he's been in love with her forever. When Ashton wants to rekindle their childhood friendship in Sawyers absence, Beau knows he should say no.Ashton and Beau don't want to hurt Sawyer. But the more they try to stay away from each other, the more intense their urges become. Its getting way to hard to resist.....REVIEW:I have been putting this book on the back burner for so long. Its not that I didn't want to read it, I just buy to many books at the same time. Well anyways, I picked it up two days ago and I finished it in the same day! A story doesn't have to have big words in them or a lot of correct grammer ( not that this story had bad gramner, just stating a point) it has to tell me a story with the words, it has to make me feel as if I am watching these characters lives first hand. And it made me feel as if I was in the story. When I read Breathe I thought this was a chaste story that was so sweet, it was a good story, but if you have read any of my other reviews I love me some hot bad boys. The Vincent Boys was so opposite. I feel for Beau and his soul that needed saving. This is a book I would read again. So go get it if you haven't read it, I'm so excited for book Two.I give this book five*****stars a book that told a love story which was as beautiful as a sunset.CHARACTERS:Ashton: She is both Sawyer and Beau's best friend growing up. She ended up being Sawyer's girlfriend, but Beau was always in love with her. She comes off as she wants to protect one or the other, but she came off to me as greedy. If you didn't want to hurt your boyfriend don't cheat on him.Sawyer: Clean cut, perfect Sawyer. No one is ever perfect, this is why I think their relationship didn't work out. Beauty is not perfection, if they were all honest with each other then it would of all worked out better. All in all he seemed like an all american boy, who deserves happiness.Beau: HOT! He is the misunderstood bad boy, that was deprived of love growing up. Of course the bad boy yearns for the good girl, because he feels she is to good for him. And she would have to the the preacher-man's daughter. Let me just say I would be his good girl ;D I loved Beau!",5.0,whatstinathinks,1348099200,"09 20, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A281NPSIMI1C2R,0743272099,"Rebecca of Amazon ""The Rebecca Review""","[4, 4]","Since I'm not interested in dating and my husband doesn't want to be fixed, I had to ask myself why I was reading a book about single women looking for Mr. Right. I guess I am curious and I wanted to know what Dr. Phil's ""Fix the One You Got"" entailed. To be frank, this is not a book for married couples who are seeking a more harmonious relationship. This is strictly a book for women who want to find Mr. Right.Dr. Phil spends a great deal of time explaining why you are worthy and what you should do to capture a man's attention. What are men really thinking during the dating game and how can you become the woman they can't stop thinking about? This book begins with some pretty amusing letters about dating and then takes an especially honest look at self-esteem issues.The chapters on how men think are very revealing. You can even amuse yourself by writing down all the qualities you'd like in a dream man. I was amazed at how many qualities my husband actually had once I wrote out my list.Overall, Dr. Phil gives some sage advice to women who want to play the dating game with a sense of purpose. There are ""icebreaker questions"" to use in any situation and lots of hints and tips for being a winner in the game of love.So despite the title of this book it is mostly for single women who are trying to understand male behavior. If you are already married then this may not be the book you are looking for and you may want to buyAll You Need Is Love and Other Lies About Marriage: A Proven Strategy to Make Your Marriage Work, from a Leading Couples Therapist.~The Rebecca Review",4.0,A Guide for Singles looking for Mr. Right,1202860800,"02 13, 2008",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A4H7AMKVEOX2K,1468141996,Jim Para,"[0, 0]",The story line moved along nicely. In particular it was easy to get into a story about what some people will do in the name of God & Jesus. Its one of the amazing things about human nature throughout the world where some of the most despicable things are done by supporting there actions with "I'm doing this because God wants me to". Read the story and you will understand what I mean.,4.0,Good story,1378512000,"09 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AT3NJHZMT67KH,0944092691,The Comtesse DeSpair,"[10, 10]","""Without Sanctuary"" is an amazing, but very upsetting, collection of lynching photographs and some of the stories that go with them. Although the images of the beaten, burned, mutilated, and hung victims are horrible enough on their own, the thing that truly disturbs me about these photographs are the spectators - men, women, and children - smiling, goofing off, and proudly posing in front of the corpses, just as if they were at a Fourth of July picnic or something. It's really frightening to think how cruel and vicious ""good god-fearing citizens"" behaved not so very long ago (the majority of the pictures date from the 1890's-1930's, though the most recent comes from 1960). I think this book is performing a great service by refusing to allow this country to forget its own barbarities of the not-so-distant past.",5.0,Upsetting But Essential,1165017600,"12 2, 2006",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A1G1B5UEDKOFJ6,0778322440,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I loved this one. it could stand alone or be read in sequence. it was just different enough to keep you guessing,5.0,Thriller,1398556800,"04 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1D19CFQM4GYTM,B008DQLKKC,"J. L. Stratton ""JL Stratton""","[5, 7]","I bought this ebook and became so enthrawled, I neglected everything until I was finished. I just couldn't put it down. The characters had depth and motivations I could identify with while, at the same time, being complex. I found myself effortlessly falling into the head of each of the characters, often thinking ""I could totally see myself thinking/doing that"" and the erotic parts seemed completely natural, not contrived or put in with no benefit. Of course, they were still extremely hot. Great story. Highly recommend! I'd give it six stars if I could squeeze another one out of this rating system!",5.0,A Modern Ageless Story,1340496000,"06 24, 2012",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1QH97JK6ZQC2H,0451216954,"Kelly ""kellylibrarian""","[0, 0]","I fully expected to love this novel, according to the many positive reviews here on Amazon. It quite took me by surprise that I DIDN'T LIKE IT at all. I wouldn't say I hated the novel overall, although there were certainly some parts that I did hate...like the Oracle. What does an Oracle have to do with vampires? I think the author tried to combine too many supernatural elements into one book. I just found the characters and story premise off-putting and a bit...bizarre, really.",2.0,"I WANTED to like it, but...No",1375660800,"08 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8GXM447MGWUE,0345393058,Steven N. Laux,"[12, 12]","This is a very inspiring book we can rely on when we need the reassurance we are not alone and that our life has special meaning. There are numerous, uplifting short stories covering a broad spectrum of situations where divine assistance seems to be the only logical explanation for the events. This read is potentially life-changing.",5.0,We are not alone and not on our own,1142726400,"03 19, 2006",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A3P6ZN88P8BEOA,1491296518,Anjie K.,"[0, 0]","So, I sat down with my BFF Reese to have a white chocolate mocha and catch up on her life. Imagine my surprise when she told me a tale about a gigolo.The writing style of this book sucked me right in. It wasn't so much narrative as it was conversational. And it worked. So freakin' well. Little additions like "you're welcome" had me laughing out loud.I loved how Reese fought to be friends with Mason. How she saw through the facade, and really saw *him*. And I loved seeing the caring side of Reese when she was with Sarah. The way she was with both of them added such a believability to the character, she was so real. None of the characters fell flat to me. I got annoyed with Eva, right along with Mason, but that just added to the story. She never got to the point of making me angry.Mason. What a broken misunderstood, noble, caring person. The things he did to take care of his family. What he put himself through. What he didn't want to subject Reese to. One of my favorite interactions between the two of them was when she told him she'd be his best friend and he responded that she already was. I had to laugh because I've had that same conversation with my husband.When they finally came together, and Reese freed him, I wanted to hug her. They were perfect. I was so happy that everyone got what they deserved in the end.",4.0,Good,1389398400,"01 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2MZJOP28USPYA,B00GXV16H6,Kat30,"[0, 0]","I'm not finished reading all the books yet, I'm on the 4th one, but I am really enjoying the books. Very good writing, good story lines and realistic. Not all "happy endings" story lines, but enough so that you are happy with the ending. Joe Dillard is no perfect person, but a good man. So when he does something he shouldn't do, you are actually rooting for him. He is also an honorable man and loves his wife and family passionately. I find that very refreshing. You will not be sorry if you purchase the series, well worth the purchase.",5.0,Really Enjoyable Read,1404950400,"07 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADV0KDRE6FKX2,B00DI01MF6,Kindle Customer,"[0, 0]","I got this book free for an honest review... well it gets down and dirty from the start, straight to the point and holds your interest. I liked it very much, it has ups and downs but it was a short but great read. I can't wait for #2... soon I hope!!!",4.0,Awesome Read!,1373328000,"07 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3APQ0IQ4YKN55,0743241657,"Ned C. Smith ""nsmith33""","[5, 6]","A delight and a disappointment. Steven Johnson opens the door (briefly) to many of the brain's multi-level functions and then closes it before the reader can fully grasp the significance and inter-relation of the areas and functions. True, the end-papers do help but I'm still left than more questions than an answers. Maybe it's really a "teaser" for the sequel.Still, I would recommend it for anyone like myself who is interested in the how the brain functions but doesn't have a Phd in the neurosciences.",4.0,Don't Stop There!,1088640000,"07 1, 2004",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1KNF8V0TT4LW2,1461057205,"W. Hoyt ""Pee Wee Shooter""","[0, 0]","WOOL - A unique spin on a dystopian future. Very fun read and a page turner. Everything Hugh Howey puts out is great, this is no exception.",5.0,"Great read, fun fiction",1369872000,"05 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1HG3VIYDQA71N,0812927362,ANDREW MCHENRY,"[8, 9]","After reading this you will be able see why Carter is renowned as a Sunday School teacher. This work began with material from lessons he has given in his Southern Baptist congregation. He enlivened it with examples from his life and how he has tried to live out the teachings of his faith. The result is a very warm, personal, and powerful biographical account of Christian discipleship in practice. It is not entirely gloss though; he also deals with times in his life when he struggled with his faith, and a few contemporary subjects like the "Jesus seminar" and the fundamentalist takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention.Good: The stories from his life are inspiring, particularly of his work against racism in the south in the 60s and his current work in mediating international conflicts as part of the Carter Center. I also was touched by the "personal edge" that this book brings. Carter talks openly about his marriage, conflicts with his sons, his career changes, and personal discovery of God's leading for his life. It's powerful.Bad: Occasionally he gives excessive focus to justifying some of his political situations in the 70s. But this is just a small fault....Opinion: As someone who can identify both with Carter's political/social views and many of his spiritual understandings, I found it to be wonderful reading. In recent times the Bible has been widely misused by the political right to justify all sorts of heinious public policies, and those of us who differ have often been derided as less than Christian. In this context Carter's book is extremely refreshing. It's by far the most inspiring read of the year. The book is rather pricy, but well worth it in my opinion.",5.0,A great autobiographical account of Christian discipleship,999043200,"08 29, 2001",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A3RH3HAMWFTRLP,1492110590,"Stephanie Samphire ""Stephanie Burgis""","[0, 0]","Intensely emotional and romantic - it was by far the most moving romance novella I can remember reading. I loved the geeky, sexy, sweet hero and the emotionally damaged but wonderful heroine, and oh, did I want them to find their happily ever after. And I loved watching it happen! I'd really enjoyed the first Laura Florand novella I read ("Turning Up the Heat"), but this is the one that made me LOVE her work and become obsessed with reading ALL of her books as soon as possible in one big delicious gulp!",5.0,Intensely romantic,1403395200,"06 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27HJBFDSTFVFG,0689869738,"A. Marbach ""badgroove""","[0, 0]",This is a simple yet beautiful bedtime picture book complete with matching song and music in the back of the book. The illustrations are serene and wonderful- my favorite being the ones at the end of the story after the child that is the focus of the illustrations has fallen asleep.The book has no real plot- but is a good book and song to use as an accompaniment to a bedtime ritual. This book is targeted at toddlers.,4.0,Simple yet beautiful bedtime book,1230854400,"01 2, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VEJ26ENHZL6K,0824948017,Jeanne Zornes,"[8, 8]","I'm on the same page with Jill and Mark regarding radically responsible finances, but I still learned a thing or two about simpler living through their book. This is more than a ""cheap living"" book because it first gets at the heart of living on less, and that's desiring less and being content with less. They've taken to everyday life the principles of ""simplicity"" writers like Richard Foster, and given us the tools to have happy but fiscally responsible families. I appreciated some of the fun ideas along the way, like suggesting kid games like ""drop the penny on the quarter at the bottom of the bucket of water."" The 10 Thrifty Thoughts defined in Chapter 7 were especially good. Some of the ideas may seem obvious to those of us who've lived frugally for decades, but there's a new generation out there that's racked up debt and never been taught the basic ways of cutting back. So, bravo! Get this book to read with your spouse. Recommend it for your young moms/young dads/young marrieds weekly fellowship. With Mark sharing the byline, it's NOT a ""women's book""--it's a family TEAM book.",5.0,Radically responsible,1269561600,"03 26, 2010",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1H2Z9UA0EGJD7,030759596X,"Ted Zaharchuk ""TedZ""","[5, 5]","Unlike most other books on the War, this one delves into the politics of the protagonist(s) as well as their contributions to the war effort. The first half or more of the book describes the contributions of a host of scientists to the war effort, as well as the well documented difficulties they faced dealing with the anti-intellectual military that they advised. This, in and of itself, is an important commentary. When a military mind has a war to prosecute, this is his ""moment in the sun"" and he rarely wants to listen to someone who brings charts and statistics to the table.But when faced with a disastrous outlook, even the most stolid military mind must adjust to the call of science. And it was a near thing! The tonnage lost, as well as the lives spent by the military mindset after America entered the war was shocking. As one US Admiral said to a British scientist that he met: ""These are my ships and I can lose any number that I want because we can just produce more of them!"".The scientists finally got some control over anti-submarine strategy when the US Admirals finally realized that unless they took control of the Atlantic they could not build up sufficient forces in the UK to initiate the second front in France.The scientific innovations that led to victory in the Battle of the Atlantic were of two kinds. There were physical improvements in the weaponry itself. The Leigh Light, Hedge Hog depth charges, bombers with longer indurance, asdic systems as well airborne radar are just a few of them. But perhaps the greater influence was felt by the ""systems"" improvements in cross Atlantic cartage. Optimum convoy sizes were developed. New tactics were developed to ""attack"" the U-boats as they crossed the Bay of Biscay on their way to the Atlantic killing grounds. Even the paint colour on bombers was changed to give the bombers an extra 15 seconds to attack the U-boat before it could submerge. By end of 1943 and early 1944 the U-baot menace was virtually eradicated. The German U-boat service lost almost 70% of its boats and manpower before the war ended!But an equally interesting part of this book deals with the ""utopian"" dreams and applications of the scientific ""boffins"" after the end of the war. Most of them were Marxists before the war and saw their operational research tactics as applicable to government and the economy. Many took radical positions and entered into politics in support of the Labour Party. Here their Utopian dreams crashed and burned as they gradually learned that the private economy contains consumers who don't ""play by the rules"" set by social scientists.Fortunately for the USA their war scientists eschewed politics (not all of them) and followed academic and business opportunities into the future.",4.0,Operations Research and Utopianism,1363564800,"03 18, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2U98U588AUS7C,0061493473,Foggy Tewsday,"[10, 10]","With centenary birthday celebrations for the estimable Great-Aunt Mary imminent, Ophelia and Abby have returned to their North Carolina home for the festivities. However, things are not going as planned: the usually sprightly Abby is becoming mysteriously listless while Great-Aunt Mary becomes ever more crotchety. It's not long before the malicious Sharon Doran makes her presence known. A thorn in the side as far as Ophelia's extended family is concerned, Sharon is not averse to using her brand of magick to get what she wants no matter what the consequences may be.Shirley Damsgaard again conjures up a very entertaining story. The setting is nicely evoked as is Ophelia's growing sense of unease: family secrets are gradually unearthed much to the matriarchal Great-Aunt Mary's chagrin. Ophelia and Abby's extended family, often referred to in previous stories, are introduced to the series in this seventh instalment. We have, of course, already met Aunt Dot before. However, under the watchful gaze of her sister, she is more muted in this story than inThe Witch Is Dead (Ophelia & Abby Mysteries, No. 5). One disappointment for me was that Ophelia's best friend, Darci, is absent from the proceedings except for one short scene. Her sassiness and sense of fun have always been one of the highlights of the series for me. Ophelia turns instead to her cousin Lydia for comfort and guidance here.Although each book in this series can be read as a novel in its own right, I'd recommend new readers to go through the stories in the correct sequence. There are a number of characters who reappear throughout the series and events in preceding stories are often referred to. This is a very gentle cozy mystery/paranormal series populated by an immensely likeable group of central characters. In my opinion, the opening novel,Witch Way to Murder (Ophelia & Abby Mysteries, No. 1)is the weakest in the series. My own favorite isWitch Hunt (Ophelia & Abby Mysteries, No. 4), but they're all entertaining stuff.Book seven of the Ophelia and Abby mysteries could be the final instalment of the series. The author reports on her website that although another story is not being ruled out, there are currently no plans to produce one. The good news, however, is that Shirley Damsgaard is working on a new stand-alone novel.",4.0,Return to Witch Mountain,1269734400,"03 28, 2010",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A1S0RJOVWCWBS4,0764207970,"kzm ""kez4one""","[0, 0]","Unrivaled was a pleasant read, but left me unfulfilled regarding my typical expectations for Miss Mitchell. It is a sweet story filled with details regarding St. Louis and the candy industry, but was little more than that. Lucy is a fairly two-dimensional character. Her internal struggles are alluded to more as past sin than current struggle, so the eventual personality victory falls a bit short. I enjoyed Charlie's character more, as he was more fleshed-out. The constant external and internal struggle with his father provided good fodder for personal growth and refinement.The romance between Lucy and Charlie was predictable (not unexpected for this genre) and somewhat spotty. I think the struggle was in the depth of their attraction. It started well, but the interactions between the two did not add to the reason for the attraction and left their love story without a third dimension.That said, Unrivaled is still a good, light-hearted read. While I would not recommend it as one of Miss Mitchell's best, it still qualifies as a quality read for those who enjoy Christian historical fiction.",4.0,Simple and light-hearted,1361664000,"02 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A396R6L5W7VHXB,1451628684,Sheri Newton,"[10, 12]","Deadly Stakes by J.A. Jance continues the ""Ali Reynolds"" mystery series, making for the eighth book in the series. Fans of the series will love Ali's investigation techniques, and close calls throughout the book.Deadly Stakes features the lovely Ali Reynolds, a ""police academy-trained former reporter."" She is the type of character who can go through just about anything, and still come out looking fabulous, oh and solve the crime or mystery before the police do.The characters are a bit unbelievable, so is the plot and subplots of the story, but who really cares? It is fiction and an escape from reality. It is a fun read and continues the Ali Reynolds mystery series. Fans of the series will likely love it, and I think newcomers to the series will enjoy it as well. Just don't expect it to be very realistic.* Thank you to the publisher of Deadly Stakes, Touchstone, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.",4.0,Deadly Stakes,1360540800,"02 11, 2013",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3L2JFQR9GC6RA,042526985X,Tianna,"[0, 0]","This book had so many twist and plot turns I never knew what to expect. Now I have to wait to see what happens next. So not fair! I don't want to give anything away to those that have not read it but if you are considering buying this one, stop and just do it. Awesome is all I can say. These boys are totally hot, dangerous and did I say hot!!!",5.0,"The good, the bad, and the HOT",1357603200,"01 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2VWE5SGNDS8HW,0373892349,"tachi1 ""tachi1""","[0, 0]","The book is uneven, it doesn't speak with one voice--some information is intelligently and professionally presented and genuinely useful, while some feels like an overheard conversation between teenagers.The question and answer format, while suitable for the health and beauty page in a magazine, just doesn't work well in a full length book. The cuteness factor of ""Belinda begs,"" ""Gabby asks,"" or ""Jackie just needs to know"" gets old fast.It is normal that not every question is of interest to every reader and, although there are major section headings (such as Hair, Skin, etc.) there is a certain randomness and lack of transition or organization in the topics covered within each section. A side-effect of this organization is having great difficulty in re-finding something you've already read. (The index, while extensive, is not especially helpful). One thing that is helpful is that, each topic starts with a question, follows with an answer of varying length and depth, and concludes with a ""The Bottom Line"" summary of the response and this paragraph is where most of the common sense can be found, the rest is elaboration. If you get lost or bored in the rambling in-between, you'd snap to attention at the synopsis and decide if you want to re-read on forge on.The Q & A format also leads to an unpleasant reading experience where its start/stop, start/stop with no sense of what's coming next. In a one or two page section of a magazine, that's not an issue. But in a full-length book, it is.I got the answers to a lot of questions that I've never wondered about such as what is the difference between a silicone and a polyquat and squalane and squalene. That is not to say that, often, I did come across really interesting and enjoyable information that relates to me or that I want to share with my daughter or sister or friend. The lip balm question addressed in the title (and the main reason for my attraction to the book) was answered to my satisfaction and confirmed my own non-scientific findings.I love trivia and I was expecting to love this book since it is, basically, a big collection of general health and beauty information of no particular depth or importance. I did enjoy it, but I didn't love it and it took me longer to read it than it should have. It sometimes felt as if the authors had ""answers"" they wanted to share and made up the questions themselves so they could fill the space (sort of what happens in Parade Magazine in the Sunday paper). Then, surprisingly, I'd hit a spot where the often-superficial information seems amazingly professional and scientific. There was no predicting where these kernels of significant knowledge would be inserted.There are parts of the book that, if the entire work was of that caliber, the book would rate five stars, and there are parts that would really rate 2 stars (fortunately, not the majority). I have to confess that I'm awed by the number of problems that people are anguished by that I was totally oblivious to (such as darkened armpits). I am either very lucky or very insensitive to human suffering. I can't assume that, just because of a topic is of no value to me, someone else might not find it genuinely useful and comforting, so I suspend judgment as much as possible on content. But, when it comes to presentation and quality control, as I said at the beginning, the book is very uneven.",3.0,"Uneven: some very professional, some not.",1311984000,"07 30, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2A3UYI8RQHSEL,1482357925,Sara,"[5, 6]","Really, really long and tedious! Page after page, and nothing happens. The writing is good but repetitive, the characters speak either ""lightly"" or ""playfully"" and they ""blush"" constantly (man, woman or child), and the details... having breakfast, chatting with friends, riding and nothing more: no conflict, no drama, nothing!The characters sketched also just carry Austen's names (and in many cases even that is confused), with sweet-tempered characters like Jane and Charles Bingley turning into cold and unfeeling personalities.Darcy is a one-dimensional static older man, marrying the 19 year old Elizabeth and acting very much like a father-figure , while Elizabeth feels like an older sister to his teenage son. Obviously they have discovered the secret to dull but harmonious marital bliss. Their greatest disagreement is over who has made whom happier, and who is more in love with the other!The book does come to a sudden end, but I don't see how anyone (as one reviewer claimed) could wish for more.Finally, having read the 600 plus pages story, I still did not understand what the title was referring to!",2.0,Overlong!,1386374400,"12 7, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1X51ZMMX35OCC,1426309333,Aimee,"[0, 0]","My 10yr old loved this. Of course he complained about it like he does all his work, but when he finished he admitted that he enjoyed the work.",5.0,Great for Homeschooling,1373587200,"07 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2AR9G90MRIXZT,0684846640,Brian McClafferty,"[4, 4]","Much of the criticism of this book seems to focus on the idea that there isn't anything ""new"" here. So be it. If the 7 Habits are all-encompassing and universal, then to expect 1, or 2 or 3 new ones is pretty silly. Repetition is the mother of learning, and having additional examples or frames of reference helps to add insight and examples of putting the 7 Habits to work. This, and other ""7 Habits"" material are merely supplements to the original concepts and ideas and, to me, are merely vehicles to aid in the development and understanding of their usage in everyday situations. Regarded in that context, there's probably room for more of this type of information in much the same way that there are now so many ""Chicken Soup"" volumes available. I'm surprised that so many reviewers don't seem to ""get it"".",4.0,"Don't Expect ""new"" habits, understand and gain insight",938736000,"10 1, 1999",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3LYLRNW15DPU6,033039780X,"NewWorldSmurf ""new_world_smurf""","[9, 9]","In a recent phone conversation, my sister mentioned that her 13-year-old daughter had just read Judy Blume's ""Forever ..."", which had provoked, in her words, ""a pretty decent conversation on sex and relationships."" I managed to find my dog-eared copy in a box of books destined for Goodwill, and despite the fact it was written over a quarter century ago, I was amazed at how true much of it still rang. Yeah, when I was in the sixth grade we giggled at the ""dirty"" parts (which, upon re-reading, Blume handled fairly tastefully), but overall it's a very realistic picture of a ""first love"" relationship. Modern readers may decry the lack of condom usage after Katherine goes on the Pill, but in 1975, the year the book was published, AIDS wasn't an issue. There's also two nice little subplots about teenage pregnancy and wanting to lose one's virginity that are also handled very well without ""Hollywood"" endings. The 1970s had a lot of excellent young adult authors, but Judy Blume reigned supreme, and ""Forever ..."" is one of the many reasons why she did. If your kid wants to read this, let them. Chances are a good conversation will come out of it.",4.0,"A provocative, thoughtful teen novel",1014076800,"02 19, 2002",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A2LQ6ZUS31FTR5,1579128351,L. Fischman,"[17, 18]","Anyone who wants to rely solely on their OWN internal belief system is NOT going to like this book. Drawing from a vast array of sources, the authors explain how presidents fared on a multitude of topics. They try to let the data tell the story. It's as simple as looking at the pictures, which are plentiful in this beautifully illustrated, multicolor work, which almost looks like a cook book! While numbers can be manipulated, you should get the impression that the statistics chosen were made deliberately simple, so hopefully underlying bias is reduced. The authors are not typical talking head ideologues: one is an economist at a Fortune 500 firm with no previous experience in the political realm, the other is a veteran journalist.You can look at the pictures and come to your own conclusions about how most post WW II presidents stacked up and by extension, their parties' policies. The authors back up their analysis through pictures with a lively and amusing text, which spans 50 years of history in trying to explain what the analyses show. While the work is occasionally a bit too sophisticated for a lay audience, the authors explain as they go, providing a great education on how things work.A warning: Republicans often do worse when compared against Democrats, but it's not as easy as that. On many topics the presidential results are mixed, and the reader is encouraged to question the data and the results. After having read this book, you will come away more educated and challenged, regardless of your belief system.",5.0,"Finally, a data driven analysis independent of political bias",1283212800,"08 31, 2010",17,18,helpful,0.9444444444444444,1 A255TOW74IKRE,1476744084,sdchamp,"[0, 0]","Make sure you read All Over You first to see how Sienna and Lucas meet! I couldn't stop reading, I had to know how their story ended. But alas you will have to wait until the next book to see if it all works out.",5.0,Awsome book!,1361232000,"02 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GVFMICOL87H5,B00IAIDXHQ,Louis,"[0, 0]",i thoughly enjoyed this well written makes you feel like you`r there there is enough history to make you think it`s real if you like old west history this is for you,5.0,great book,1398470400,"04 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VEE6QQANR83Z,0451452429,Amazon Customer,"[5, 9]","This is one of two works by Green that I've truly enjoyed, a well put together piece that combines fantasy and mystery.Green has a very direct writing style that's well-suited for the frequent action going on, making it easy to read although you may occasionally wish for a more descriptive flair. (Then again, there are some gruesome bits I most definately would not want more detail on.)In fact, he has a rather direct style in all things. His setting I found a bit simplistic but adequate, especially his system of magic (there are four royal children, each with an elemental gift: fire, water, earth, and air--a little too tidy and democratic for me). His dialogue is actually very modern, which again makes for easy reading but prevents this from becoming true high fantasy. (Not that I think that's what he's necessarily aiming for.)His characters are the true joy in the story, especially the protagonist. His cynicism and wru humor will keep you smiling and rooting for him as he lands himself in the midst of trouble: impersonating a prince whose father was murdered, with the prince's permission--but not necessarily the acceptance of everyone else.Things wrap up quite neatly, without any niggling loose ends. It's a fairly quick read that should tide you through any rainy day, but I won't award any literary merit to the author. Enjoy it for what it is: a light, amusing read.",4.0,A fun read,958521600,"05 17, 2000",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A226MYSFCQE6G6,0670022713,Deb,"[11, 12]","In _Women Food and God_, Geneen Roth illuminated how the way we approach food mirrors how we approach life. In her newest treasure _Lost and Found_, Geneen shares a similar discovery of how our relationship to money also reflects our core attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors for life in general. In both the cases with food and money, it's not about the actual material substances themselves, but how ""our relationship to both substances are expressions of unconscious beliefs, family messages, outdated convictions, and painful memories.""Writers write what they know, and just as her years of suffering with disordered eating allowed Geneen to write life-changing books on the subject, the loss of her life savings in the Madoff scandal resulted in the profound discoveries she is able to share with us in _Lost and Found_.When I read _Women Food and God_, I found myself having so many aha!-moments and writing down pages of notes to capture points that I wanted to be sure to remember. Similarly, while absorbing every word of _Lost and Found_ , my wow-this-is-a-fascinating-idea-I-want-to-revisit pages of notes started to become a book of their own.Here's just a sampling of some of the insights she stumbles upon in her lost-and-found journey:Seeing what you don't have:""When you believe in accumulating, you see what you don't have, not what you do have."" (p. 8)Obsessions as a way to change your mind's channel:""When we are obsessed with anything--food, drugs, alcohol, making or spending money--the obsession takes on a life of its own--and then defines how we spend our time, our energy, our resources. Obsession is a form of autism, a way to cover our ears and block out the background noise, a way to protect ourselves when the situation feels vulnerable or dangerous or anxiety producing. Obsession is a way to change the channel when you don't like what's barreling across the screen of your mind."" (pp. 48-49)Survival instincts hijack long-range perspectives:""When the imperative to shop (or eat or drink or take drugs) takes over, nothing else exists. It's why diets don't work, budgets get thrown out, credit-card debt keeps accumulating. The momentary imperative of survival will always, in every situation, hijack long-range perspective."" (pp. 50-51)Decoupling associations through awareness:""When we associate love with shopping for twenty or thirty years, or when we pair any kind of discomfort--anxiety, boredom, fear, loneliness, sadness--with danger (fragmenting, collapsing, falling apart), neural pathways get established in the brain; our responses to situations will endlessly follow those same pathways until we establish new ones. Until we uncouple shopping from connectedness or anxiety from danger, we will repeat the same behaviors again and again."" (p. 51)The courage to change:""It takes motivation to see through the patterns. It takes the courage to actually see that we don't want to see. It also takes confidence that it is possible to get to that other side. That there is something better than an immediate fix: knowing your own mind, contacting your own heart. Tell the truth. Understanding that feelings won't kill you."" (p. 52)It's not about the food or money:""Since both food and money--nourishment and worth--are inextricably woven into the fabric of love and lack of love, they trigger feelings of deprivation, abundance, sufficiency, giving, receiving, entitlement, needs, wants, pleasure, suffering--and survival itself.""(pp. 65-66).... ""Our relationships to food and money are reactive and unconscious. They are ways we express ancient, outdated beliefs about meaning and loving and living. About wanting and giving and receiving."" (p. 73)Absolute freedom:""The impact and meaning of a catastrophe are not in the event itself. The ability to tolerate it is a function not of what happens but of our relationship to ourselves and our own minds. In that simple realization is absolute freedom."" (p 94)The true disaster:""The big horrible thing isn't about the plane crash or the earthquake or the diagnosis. When those things occur, we act, we know what to do. We live or we die. Hell is what we do in the meantime. It is the ways we starve our souls as we prepare for the future that never comes as planned. The true disaster is living the life in your mind and missing the one in front of you."" (pp. 95-96)The cost of being loyal to the unconscious:""If you are not willing to face that which will destroy you, you will never discover that who you truly are can never be destroyed."" (p. 119)Addictions--trying to fill an emptiness that can't be filled:""The nub of any addiction is the belief in your own deficiency and the assumption that it can be fixed by a tangible substance...If you're trying to fill something that can't be filled with what you're using, the emptiness never goes away and you keep wanting more."" (p. 143)Questioning your beliefs:""Whether it's the relationship with food or money or drugs or alcohol or shopping, the main factor in any kind of change is whether or not you are willing to truly question your beliefs about yourself and the world. Whether or not you are wiling to listen to yourself in a way you've probably never done."" (p. 195)OK, I'll stop the review here before I give away too much more of the book. But, I'll close by saying that if you're ready to find answers by uncovering, questioning, and revising your deep-seated beliefs (whether it be about food, money, or other tangible stand-ins that may have put you in a trance), then you'll likely find _Lost and Found_ to be the perfect find.",5.0,"Losing the trance, finding the truth",1314230400,"08 25, 2011",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A18P5TUA8PPZK9,1564555437,A. Pratt,"[4, 5]","It's hard to buy these online, because one's responses to these CDs are so personal. I strongly dislike most of the ones I've purchased.Not this one. The beautifully simple sound of the gong, slowly, very slowly, repeated, is just ideal for meditating for those of us who need a little audio help.Wonderful!",5.0,"So many of these CDs disappoint, but not this one.",1214784000,"06 30, 2008",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2NTKJ2F8UWALF,0615583083,"Jarred L. Harris ""pensive witch""","[9, 10]","Whether you call it complementarianism, Biblically-based gender roles, or something else, sexism is alive and well in Christendom, and Pam Hogeweide calls it for what it is in this excellent book on the topic. Pam explores and criticizes many of the theological arguments used to rationalize and defend sexist attitudes within the Christian Church, offering personal stories from her own life and the lives of other women she has met and walked with on how this sexism has affected them and how they've sought to combat it. Together, she makes a reasoned, empathetic, and compelling argument for seeking true gender equality on all levels of church life and government. This book is a must-read for anyone who cares about women and how they are treated by their faith communities.",4.0,An excellent primer on sexism in Christendom and how to combat it,1327190400,"01 22, 2012",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A2W8E91R4R9NF5,0761143777,"Karina A. Suarez ""Karina A. Fogliani-Ahmed""","[6, 6]","I picked up this book at my local Borders store and, after skimming through it, I became instantly hooked at the way it engages the reader in the complex topic of self-achievement of the perfect manicure and pedicure. I have always been a fan of doing my own nails and hardly ever visit a salon; however, I had never achieved such wonderfully clean and professional results until now. With glossy photographs and an easy to read layout, nail expert Ji Baek has given us the ""secret"" to always having the most glamorous-looking hands and feet.Originally from South Korea, Baek was a musician who eventually got a condition in her fingers which precluded her to continue playing. It was then when she launched herself into research for her dream of becoming a ""nail stylist"" (of sorts). She runs the ""Rescue Beauty Lounge"" store in New York City, and has her own brand of nail polish, bath line and tools. Thanks to the step by step instructions, which are accompanied by excellent graphics and photos, one can finally say good-bye to the days of ugly looking hands and feet, as Ms. Baek's new book, ""Rescue your nails"" is the surefire ticket to fantastic, self-made manicures and pedicures. Throughout it, there are discussions on color theory, tools of the trade (including a very practical shopping list), suggestions and considerations for choosing a nail spa, as well as Ji's very own, proven program for NBA (Nail Biters Anonymous).A few things that I picked up from the book go from Baek's insistence in sterilization of the tools after each use, even when the usage has been at our own home - the idea made me run to my own manicure-pedicure kit and sterilize it right then and there (something, I'm ashamed to say, I had never done before); to the attention to detail and thought behind every color of nail polish in her line, with one in particular called ""Underwear"", that instantly caught my attention and cannot wait to try - a neon white which can be worn alone or underneath other colors to ""spark"" their brilliance in a unique way.As I get familiar with performing all the right steps to perfect manicures and pedicures at home, I am keeping the book next to my kit in the bathroom, since I do not want to miss any steps when performing them. The author claims in the cover that she can save the reader up to $1,080 per year in nail care. I have tried the techniques and they feel - and look - extremely professional. As for the savings, well... it is just an added bonus.",5.0,Become your own perfect manicurist and pedicurist,1269388800,"03 24, 2010",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3K67O9F8E2ZIP,0446400998,Dawn Korzekwa,"[0, 0]","WOW crazy twisting plot and you will not be able to put this book down. About the time I thought I had it all figured out Mr. Mayor would easily blow my theory up. I LOVED IT!! Nothing better than a page turner that keeps you thinking and guessing. He has a great ability with words to make you draw the scenes out in your mind, like you are watching it in a movie. This might be my very favorite Joe Gunther book yet. It is definately a must read!!",4.0,Skeleton's Knee,1333929600,"04 9, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1840GDAFEKJD2,B0080553FO,deeane,"[4, 6]","Whoa, I have read many zombie novels and this one ranks at the top of my list. Such awesome characters. This story grabbed me from the start and would not let go till the very last sentence. Well done!!! What's to become of the unlikely sidekicks Brett, Smith, Batfish and their dogs Spot and Sherman? I.Cant.Wait.For.Book.Two.",5.0,What A Ride!!!,1337990400,"05 26, 2012",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A30OX7LGMR0PTI,044656740X,Lupa,"[6, 8]","First things first--DO NOT center your entire financial plan around this book. The financial planning advice is incredibly vague, and not always realistic, especially if you know nothing about real estate.However, I found this book to be a valuable read as far as helping to change my attitude about money.The basic summary of Kiyosaki's attitude towards money is that if your only solution to the problem of not having enough money is to get a higher-paying job--you're not trying hard enough.He outlines a number of issues that were eye-openers for me, most importantly the fact that a lot of people, no matter how much money they have, can't manage it well. One example, which he didn't bring up but which came to mind, is M.C. Hammer. In the early 1990s, this guy was on top of the world as far as money goes. In less than a decade he was flat broke, and today he gets by on selling ringtones.Another point the author brought up was the idea of making your money work for you. While some people know the basics of investing and utilize them, many either don't know, or choose not to act on their knowledge. Also, people tend to play it safe, without really doing too much research beyond stable mutual funds.The biggest lesson I learned, though, was about how emotions--fear in particular--affect how many people handle money, me included. We have the fear of not having enough money conditioned into us by our society. That's why we're told to go to school, so you can get a good job--working for someone else. We're afriad to take chances, and we're also afraid to do anything that doesn't get the bills paid first. Granted, I'm not an advocate of putting all your eggs into a shaky basket. But that's where educating yourself on financial issues and opportunities comes in.Again, don't take this book as a whole. While Kiyosaki advocates taking risks in investing, he doesn't do that much risk assessment, nor does he have a realistic viewpoint of the average person's situation. He's had a lifetime of learning money management, whereas the average reader has very little, if any. Taking someone else's advice without being educated can be disastrous.Use this book as motivation adn inspiration--but make sure you do a lot of research, too.",4.0,Inspirational--but don't take it wholesale.,1158883200,"09 22, 2006",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A14TAF7EA1T1QL,1423121309,"Janina ""janina""","[0, 0]","This book is the the first book in the Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins. It starts off with a girl named Sophie who gets in trouble for casting a love spell that goes horribly wrong and gets her sent to a school called Hex Hall for kids who get in trouble for using there magic publicly. From there on, she finds herself having a few enemies and has to figure out a way to help her friend of a crime she's accused of and to learn about who she truly is.This was the best witch book I have ever read! Besides Harry Potter of course. LOL This book had one adventure after another and kept me wanting more. Page after page something different had occurred, which always kept me in suspense. I loved the characters. Sophie was amazing, I really liked her character. Archer?! What the frickin' heck!!!! I really like him, even though so and so happened. (not going to spoil it). And the ending, with Alice....Whoa! And the ending with Sophie on the last page....Whoa!Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and definitely a page turner! Recommend to everyone. Can't wait to read Demonglass..",5.0,Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins Review:,1322438400,"11 28, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SEN6HZ92DDSF,B00KC4I8XA,DutchyChick,"[0, 0]","So pleased that Kathryn decided to write about the other two O'Neil brothers and can't wait to read about Patrick's story. It felt so uncomplete without filling these last two brothers stories in. At the end of the last one I had an inkling that Rachel and Dylan would get together but also knew there would be fireworks and was keen to find out how it happened. I actually was impressed how well Kathryn made this relationship work. I would never envisioned that there would be a happy ending, it seemed impossible. I mainly want to read Patrick and Brie's story to see how Dylan and Rachel are fairing with the rest of the family.I think I will always love Bailey and Clay's story the best but this is also worth a read, purely from the fact I love the O'Neil family and wanted to hear more about there lives. I loved that Kathryn continued the story with the rest of the O'Neil's too, it felt like I had never been away from them, in fact it made me read them all over again from the beginning and re-read this new one again too. The great thing about Kathryn's writing is you don't feel short changed, she gives you a fully involved plot which lasts and you feel like you have eaten a full meal after you have finished and not like something is missing. Can't wait for the last brothers story and hope it doesn't take as long as this one did to come out.A great continuation of the series and well recommended.",4.0,Great Read,1401667200,"06 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1P4R66EUH6UYN,140190131X,Donna Pfirman,"[0, 0]","Book and CD in the condition advertised. The book arrived as scheduled, and it was packaged well. The CD new and unused, and works wonderfully. I have read the book an I am using the meditation CD in my daily routine. Thanks so much.",5.0,Fast read and great CD for meditation,1361577600,"02 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AIENS751TNKD6,0425239586,SophiesPlace,"[4, 5]",I was totally moved by the honesty and caring of this human being. He jumped on D-Day and was almost immediately captured by the Germans. He manages to slip away and finds the safety in the French village where his parents were raised. The story tells of his time spent with the French resistance.,5.0,An excellent read,1300492800,"03 19, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3FTPWYOJ9Y1WZ,0691137471,"joseph itiel ""unconventional gay author""","[16, 32]","It is easy to sum up the major points of Peter Leeson's book: 1) Pirates engaged in their business to enrich themselves. 2) Not being subject to any government or corporation they needed to find ways to run their enterprises in a cooperative manner, benefiting all members. 3) Piracy was a lucrative though dangerous enterprise for a long while, because the naval forces of various governments were not fully committed to suppress the trade.Describing all of this makes a few parts of the book interesting and edifying. For instance, it was advantageous for ordinary sailors to become pirates because it provided a steady job, with immeasurably higher income, much more humane working conditions and, for a while, with relatively little danger. All of this could have been written in an article. But the author chose to write a book.Most of the ""Invisible Hook"" consists of long and pedantic lessons in economics and political science. Many of the lessons are either self-evident or completely gratuitous. Here are two examples: The author writes at great length about the advantages for a business having a recognizable brand name. With pirates, it was a black flag with skull-and-bones. The flag alone, hoisted only when the pirates were close to their target, struck the sailors with so much fear - of being tortured and worse - that they were willing to surrender to the pirates without a firefight. The author then explains the great advantage for the pirates of not having to engage in battle. I wonder whether there are many readers who have not understood that point - without the benefit of lessons in economics - thinking that pirates used their flag because they thought it would make their ship prettier, or that a peaceful surrender was better than a bloody battle.How the pirates governed themselves democratically is an interesting piece of information. But Peter Leeson brings in Thomas Hobbes, Adam Smith, and James Madison. No, Madison was not a pirate, probably didn't know or care how pirates ran their lawless societies, and wrote after piracy in the Caribbean had all but ceased. I believe that when reading a book about piracy, readers would prefer the author to stick to the subject at hand rather than be exposed to completely extraneous and didactic information.While burdening readers with inappropriate references, the author neglects to deal with subjects that were pertinent to the economic lives of pirates. For instance: At some point the pirates needed to get rid of their loot and exchange it for money or gold. Where and how did the outlaws do that? How and where did they take their shore leave without the fear of being arrested? How and where did they buy food and acquire water? What good did all their fabulous earnings do for them if they could not, at some point of time, retire from piracy, assuming that they had managed to escape the hangman's noose? Leeson states a number of times that the pirates stole their first ships. Had they been organized beforehand as a band of thieves? How difficult was it to steal a ship anchored in a harbor? All these intriguing questions are left unanswered.Peter Leeson is a professor of economics at George Mason University. Princeton University Press published the book. Professors need to write books in order to advance their careers. It would have been better if the author had written a long and learned article about an out-of-the- ordinary subject rather than a dull college book about the capitalistic aspects of piracy. Readers are bright enough to figure out that the vocation of pirates was to enrich themselves.",2.0,Readers Are Brighter Than the Author Thinks,1264377600,"01 25, 2010",16,32,helpful,0.5,1 A18ECVX2RJ7HUE,0547152485,"willie ""roadie""","[0, 0]","This book of true sports stories proves that some sportswriters can be good writers - those who choose to write real athletes to tell their stories. All articles are well written and the editor has chosen stories that are not about the big names in sports, but journeyman athletes. This makes this book entertaining, engaging, and true to the craft of sportswriting - well done!",5.0,not just about the big names...,1293494400,"12 28, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36TY0FJ2RGCP1,0785267131,Brian F.,"[0, 1]",This book is simply amazing. It has helped me to better understand the Scriptures and has shown me clearly why I am on this earth. I believe it is a must read!!,5.0,A must read!,1371254400,"06 15, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2WPJ4Y7181Z40,1906860238,Michael J Price,"[4, 5]","Lynas makes a strong plea to reconsider a nuclear future as the backbone of electricity generation for a modern, green world. He argues that while wind and solar power are important these renewable resources will never be sufficient to cope with the world's growing demand for power particularly as nations like China and India enter the modern era.In order to combat CO2 emissions and keep global temperature rises below 2 deg C fossil fuels will need to be totally eliminated by 2030.Nuclear sourced electricity production has become much safer and cheaper over several decades. Lynas argues convincingly that nuclear power generation will become essential if the world is to enjoy a high standard of living as well as a low carbon future.It is no longer a question IF but WHEN. We delay nuclear at our peril.",5.0,The case for Nuclear plus,1374451200,"07 22, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1DGSUJ89KN91K,0819106089,"tepi ""tepi""","[75, 78]","A MANUAL OF AKKADIAN by David Marcus. 182 pp. New York : University Press of America, 1978. ISBN 0-8191-0608-9 (pbk.)David Marcus tells us in his Preface that the present Manual "is designed to teach Akkadian, [one of the languages] of ancient Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), to beginning students by the inductive method. By this method the student is immediately introduced to cuneiform writing, and Akkadian grammar is learnt directly as it is encountered." The Manual is supposed to have been designed for absolute beginners, and we are told that no background in any other Semitic language is required.After a brief Introduction which provides some basic information about Akkadian, its dialects, the dialects and script used in the Manual, and how to use the Manual, 21 Chapters follow, the first two of which cover Syllables, basic signs, verbal system, weak verbs, phonological rules, transliteration, and normalization.Each of the 19 Chapters which follow contain a cuneiform text which ranges in length from the 3 lines of Chapter 3 to the three whole pages of cuneiform given in Chapter 21. The texts have been drawn from three sources : The Code of Hammurapi; The Descent of Ishtar; and The Annals of Sennacherib.Each text is followed by detailed grammatical notes, and students are required to translate almost all of the passages by themselves since translations are provided only for the cuneiform texts in Chapters 3, 4, and 5. The book is rounded out with a 14-page SIGN LIST, a 42-page GLOSSARY, a grammatical INDEX, and a useful 4-page section of SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING.David Marcus, who is an Assistant Professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, may have been exaggerating when he described this work as "a self-teaching Manual," since Akkadian is not an easy language and questions began to occur to me at once for which I wasn't able to find answers in the book.But so far as I can see, the biggest problem with this Manual, which has not been set up in print but is a reproduced typescript, is that no instruction is given on how to write the cuneiform signs, and the signs themselves have been printed far too small.Cuneiform, as Stephanie Dalley points out in her 'Myths from Mesopotamia,' is "an ambiguous and exceptionally complicated writing system" (page xv). The learner needs to be able to see these highly complex signs printed large and bold and clear. But in a book with pages that measure only 8.5 by 5.5 inches, and which cram as many as five or six hundred of these signs on a single page, the difficulties of the learner are considerably increased.And to make matters even worse, the book has one of those detestable glued spines that cannot be opened flat, thereby adding further to one's difficulties. One wonders who makes these decisions, and just what is going on in their heads?Marcus's 'Manual of Akkadian' is, on the whole, a fascinating and well thought out textbook, and the thought that by means of it one can learn to reach so far back in time as to understand the words of the Mesopotamians is truly exciting. Working one's way through it would involve a great deal of hard work, certainly for those who are not linguistically gifted, but the rewards would start to come soon. What a pity that the heavy task of the student wasn't made a bit lighter by the choice of a more intelligent and practical format!",4.0,An interesting self-teaching Manual in an impractical format,992563200,"06 15, 2001",75,78,helpful,0.9615384615384616,1 A2F1A7DANSLFJ9,1481124021,HAWTsisterK,"[0, 0]",Loved this book!! Loved Chase!!!!!!!!!! The first book was so emotionally draining I was a bit scared to read this one. It gave me what I needed and thought both books were awesome and would totally recommend but read book 1 first and for that one you WILL need tissues!!!,5.0,OOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMGGGGGGGGG,1363651200,"03 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YPS2JU1CUWOS,0062008110,buthelake,"[0, 0]",I love this book. The section on St John is like a mini novel within the book. Bronte has in depth character development and uses each to the fullest. I regret the editors of the original submission deleted all reference to her prowess as a La Crosse player while at the Institution. That would have made her physical strength more understandable. One of my favorites. Also bought copies for two granddaughters for Christmas.,5.0,Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte,1326153600,"01 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2507ZYWGMY9BK,1477817220,Gcat,"[0, 0]",This book depicts a cat going to school and doing stuff a typical kindergartener might do. There is nothing particularly original about the story which is quite short. I think the illustrations are a bit below-average compared to other kid books.A cat lover who is of school age would be the target audience for this book.,3.0,OK for cat lovers of school age,1380326400,"09 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QANGO6EYTGP2,0982555032,Lynn S. Steigerwalt,"[0, 0]",I have always loved medical stories and I really enjoyed this book - I would definitely buy more by this author. A hidden gem.,4.0,Great medical novel,1344902400,"08 14, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3HB9AJ2HYGUVZ,1590305973,Janice,"[0, 0]",birthday gift for my son feb 13th at his request. sounds like it will be interesting and maybe both of us can learn some meditation,5.0,meditation could be helpful,1359504000,"01 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZ38LMB4M6SAF,0964729229,"Amazon Customer ""Inspirational Romance Author""","[0, 0]","Meet Jake Colsen, Associate Pastor. He has it all. A good job with more than adequate salary, a loving wife, two children, and plenty of respect and prestige.But then he meets John and his world turns upside down. Could this stranger be the Apostle John, still alive, still spreading the gospel?Over the next four years, through a series of conversations with John, Jake goes on a personal odyssey that makes him rethink everything he thought he knew about God and the church as a whole. In the process, he loses everything he thought was important, but discovers a whole new life, and a whole new relationship with the Father.The authors have produced a revolutionary look at the church world. This book has the potential to change generations of tradition, and alter the status quo of organized religion.If you're content with your spirituality; if attending Sunday services makes you feel like a satisfied Christian; if you don't need a spiritual jolt - a shot to the soul, then don't read this book. So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore will change the way you think about church and the body of Christ. It will transform your life.Take the hand of a mysterious stranger and find out who Jesus really is. Meet God, and become His friend. Turn your world upside down.",4.0,Thought-provoking indeed!,1245456000,"06 20, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADGJ7295WEF26,1580530214,Soda,"[6, 9]","This book is comprehensive and it has a lot of useful and practical substance. In addition, the writing is clear and easy to understand. In this book, the authors show that they really understand what business process/workflow modeling is about.",5.0,Excellent,1111449600,"03 22, 2005",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A3CZ763XOAIQTV,0060594241,A Writer,"[0, 0]","This was an amusing, fun easy read. I read it in two days while I was on vacation and laying by the pool. It's not an advice book, it's fiction. I thought Emily was quick witted and funny. Great book!",5.0,Why Not?,1141689600,"03 7, 2006",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1SSIDDDCCK1E,0345511816,Reality tourist,"[9, 9]","I was looking forward to the new Rita Mae Brown series. I am a bit dissappointed. While the characters are described well and the writing is Ms. Brown's usual fine quality, the plot failed to capture me at all. There seemed to be ""too much"" background and Jeep, the central character, was almost too accomplished in her long life to be true. However, this is fiction and the author has full poetic license!The plot seemed a big hard to handle for my taste, the water rights of the remote region in the West.There may be more merit as she develops this line, as the Mrs. Murphy series has truly run its course( a delight series as Ms. Brown's fans attest).I will try the second book and see if Jeep and her niece along with the dogs will be more interesting.",2.0,poor new series for this good author,1288224000,"10 28, 2010",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A1S40G9W589HCJ,1475225938,MR A O NOTARIANNI,"[0, 1]","I recently bought a selection of books about this subject and this one looked like it could be 'fun'. However, to my dismay it appeared to be mainly a female perspective which mixed actual issues related to narcissism with what felt like a general disdain for men (not that many of us don't deserve it). I am sure that for the right audience this book is a very good read and helpful in dealing with more than just narcissism. However, for me personally as a guy, who is also a victim of narcissism, it didn't really end up being useful.",2.0,Not for me but others may really enjoy it.,1380672000,"10 2, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AYZN4R2E1NSPF,148391366X,Kindle Customer,"[0, 0]",You never know who you can really trust and nevet know who not to trust. This book shows alot of that and shows hiw love can conquer alot and karma can be a mean beezie whenz she wants to be ESP if ur doing somethng mean becus of an old grudge. Cole want gonna fight bck bt im soo glad he did.. Anna is awesome in a crazy way lol.. Shes a fighter for what she think is right and for what she wants .. I love the Secrets series!,5.0,omg I couldnt get enough!,1371168000,"06 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFVQZQ8PW0L,1439153817,Harriet Klausner,"[5, 7]","In Western Australia wizard-geologist Jackson Slater is doing field work. His former fiancée wizard Sara Temple is in San Cristobel, Venezuela working on a luxurious hotel deal when the illness struck turning good well balanced people into homicidal psychopaths. When her mentor whom she considers her father since her parents died becomes ill, a panicked Sara instinctively shouts telepathically to the only man she ever loved for help. Jack still loves Sara and hears her cry and teleports to her side instantly as if he is one of Pavlov's dogs.Based on the mounting evidence, the Wizard Council fears the serpentine Omnivatics are siphoning off the life-force and power of wizards. They also believe the pairing of Jack and Sara is the only hope to prevent the malevolence from returning to take over the world in their evil way. The chosen duo believes they are a poor matching, but agree to work together to save the world; perhaps as a by-product they can save their relationship too.This is an exhilarating second chance romantic urban fantasy in which the paranormal elements of wizardry and the Omnivatics seem genuine. The lead couple is a wonderful pairing of two people in love, but with polar opposite beliefs when it comes to magic as she never moved pass the death of her parents so she stopped being a practitioner; they are not a yin and yang fit, but together in unity prove that in their case their love makes for an inequality as 1 + 1 > 2. Like she did with her Night T-FLAC trilogy, Cherry Adair provides an engaging thriller starring two wizards in love; this time trying to save the world.Harriet Klausner",5.0,This is an exhilarating second chance romantic urban fantasy,1279670400,"07 21, 2010",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3B7Z6FWHW1PP,1620612429,"Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf ""Melissa""","[30, 30]","I'm going to start off by admitting that I didn't go into this read expecting to be wowed. I'd seen the hype EVERYWHERE and sometimes that really tends to turn me off. Then I heard about what a Bad Boy Dante is...and I was pretty unsure... But something in me told me to give this one a chance. And then by the time the opportunity presented itself to read and review this one...I jumped. Yep...Dante had gotten to me and had me hopping!The pacing of The Collector is perfect...there was never a moment where I dared put it down..and I devoured it in a matter of days. There was so much snark that I was laughing and smiling constantly. I think that this is one of Victoria Scott's greatest gifts...that ability to write a pretty serious story but wrap it all up in tons of fun!As expected, from page 1, Dante rubbed me all the wrong way. He was beyond arrogant and conceited..incredibly self centered and selfish and well...he's a Collector...and... (*SPOILER ALERT* That is not a good thing!) I started reading, met and fell in love with Charlie and her friends Annabelle and Blue. I even started rooting for Blue - As you all know I have a weakness for the best friends and tend to always root for them if there is a love triangle (which there really isn't much of in this book-thank goodness!)Then, we start to actually get to know Dante...and lo and behold...there a soft gooey center that becomes very addicting, very quickly. Dante is definitely arrogant and then some, but he is also a beautifully tortured soul with goodness buried deep within. It just takes the right motivation, the right incentive and that goodness starts to slowly break free and chip through until we wonder: Can there be redemption at this point?And let there be no doubt...we want that redemption for Dante...as long as he makes sure not to lose any of that glorious swag of his along the way.Suffice it to say that I've become a Victoria Scott (and Dante) Fangirl and can't wait to see where Dante is going in book 2: The Liberator.NOTE: Review copy received in exchange for this honest review.",4.0,I've become a Victoria Scott (and Dante) Fangirl,1365033600,"04 4, 2013",30,30,helpful,1.0,1 AGC8LXWIPWJV3,B00BBFR4PW,NYbelle,"[0, 0]","I read this book from start to finish in one sitting. After the first couple of chapters you knew how the book was going to end. Regardless, I was sucked right into the story and would likely recommend it to others.",3.0,decent ...,1400803200,"05 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1HH1DPK1ASVDN,1401603351,"Zolton ""Veni. Vidi. Reviewi.""","[46, 65]","As a married man, I'm constantly in a state of conflict. Left to my own devices, I'm perfectly content to shovel food, guzzle beer, emit various gasses and generally befoul my surroundings like the coothless savage half-shaven chimp I am. But with the missus around, I'm compelled to be on my best behavior -- for the next forty to sixty years. Or until I drop dead of an aneurysm from trying to remember which fork to eat salad with, or which indistinguishable shade of white I'm supposed to paint the bathroom. Clearly, I need some help.This book was just what I was looking for -- a clear and detailed explanation of how to behave civilly and graciously in almost any social situation. If I could just apply the lessons from this book to my life, my wife couldn't help but be proud of me.Unfortunately, I started reading it during dinner on the couch watching TV, and got pizza sauce all over the first few pages. Some of the middle bits are sort of blurred from when I accidentally spilled beer on it, and a few pages near the end are... well, missing. Let's just say that there are certain advantages to reading a book in the bathroom when a toilet paper emergency arises, and leave it at that.What's left is great information, and I'm sure it'll really be useful.Also, all things considered, it's probably lucky I didn't opt for the Kindle edition this time.",4.0,I Feel Gentler Already!,1283212800,"08 31, 2010",46,65,helpful,0.7076923076923077,1 A2MLKDTPIVAGJ5,031604461X,Joanne B55,"[0, 1]","Using the word 'bizzare' while talking about a vampire book is silly, I know; but just when you think things couldn't get weirder, they do. I still read to the end and enjoyed the story and writing.",5.0,hmmmm,1380240000,"09 27, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1QY8MHNRQ7FKV,B008SGSV8Q,Babsy Webb,"[0, 0]","I love this book,because it explains the scriptures from the hebraic point of view,most of the time..I really liked the commentaries..Anybody who wants to have a deeper understanding of the scriptures from the hebraic point of view,should get it..",5.0,John Gills expositionof the entire bible..,1394409600,"03 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1IP06PRU4F0B5,1569476209,secret squirrel,"[4, 5]","My first time reading a Cara Black, and it barely managed to keep my interest. Character bits were trotted out but mostly undeveloped: a lost brother, dead policeman father, a mysterious terrorist mother, some political elites trying to bury old evidence. Meanwhile, the plot (girl PI in paris accused of shooting her dwarf partner) just sagged along, heaving under the weight of disbelief... why did the police continue to let her run about solving the crime, when every bit of evidence pointed to her? not poorly written, but life is short and definitely not good enough to pick up another one.",3.0,"not bad, but not good, either",1306972800,"06 2, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A335RDFLQ445DZ,0316545317,The Professor,"[23, 29]","I first read this book when I was a senior in high school and it was horrible, horrible, horrible. Part of that, of course, was my fault because I wasn't really prepared to read this book at that time. But at least part of the blame rests with Manchester. His book is horribly organized, there's a lot of name dropping, and there's a lot of head-spinning minutae that I found to be neither important nor put in its appropriate context.That was the first read.About nine years later, after college and law school, I revisited this work. I realized that as I grew, so did the book, but it's still wasn't great. This time around the names, references, and details made sense, but it was also clear to me that Manchester did not succeed, in my view anyway, in showing exactly what happened between the Renaissance and Middle Ages to mark the pronounced difference between the two.Recommendation: if you're already familiar with the Middle Ages, it's probably a 4-star book that will fill in some holes in your knowledge of the period (as it did for me during my second visit with this book). However, if you're unfamiliar with the era and are thinking about learning a bit about the Middle Ages and Renaissance, DO NOT START HERE. Try "A Distant Mirror" by Barbara Tuchman and perhaps something like J.M. Robert's "A History of Europe," or, if you're really ambitious, his "History of the World." After this, I guarantee Manchester's book will make much more sense.",3.0,Don't make this the first book you read on the era,1014768000,"02 27, 2002",23,29,helpful,0.7931034482758621,1 A35OE5GQ9K9CKU,B007P6JH7Y,"Bill Horton ""Spacey Bill""","[0, 0]","I've been reading Randy's This is True columns for years When I realized I'd missed more than a few year's worth I decided to pick up this book to see where it all started. I certainly was not disappointed. Right from the first page were the witty retellings of of strange news stories the antics of our elected and appointed officials and other people and animals in our strange, strange world. Randy's witty taglines to each story are the frosting on the cake.",5.0,"Odd News, Clueless Pols and Jerks oh my!",1391990400,"02 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3W3EJKHGYC9VQ,0435550268,B. Style,"[19, 21]","I really loved Gamow's 123 Infinity when I read it over 30 years ago -- so I had similar expectations when I picked up Gravity -- and thirty years ago, it probably was a five-star book.Most of the book deals with Galileo and Newton -- at a level of detail comparable to high-school physics -- a more contemporary book about physics for the layman might be a better bet for this part since other topics would be covered as well.There's one chapter about relativity -- and a final chapter about unresolved issues, with understandably very outdated material here. For someone with a basic working knowledge of classical gravitation, a book like ""Einstein for Dummies"" is probably a better investment if you're trying to develop a basic understanding of special and general relativity.However, if someone only wanted to read one book about gravity and had no real working knowledge of math or physics, and had no desire to learn anything beyond the basics, then this is still a four or five-star book.",3.0,A bit too oldie to be a goodie any more,1230940800,"01 3, 2009",19,21,helpful,0.9047619047619048,1 A32XGYDA14KT13,1400069165,"A book lover in Azle Texas ""BookLoverAzleTexas""","[0, 1]","I think that this is just one of many books being published to tie in with the 50th anniversary of the assassination of president Kennedy. This is also in my opinion, a weak contribution at that. For one thing it is a novel rather than a non-fiction contribution. A and the are plenty of those for sure.This is a novel based on "what ifs". Two men are haunted by their decisions leading up to that terrible day. There is a love story thrown in for effect. My opinion is to pass on thus one. The are too many good ones out there concerning the events of that day.",3.0,Pass on this one and spend your reading hours with a better contribution,1385337600,"11 25, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3SH2Z6PZ5XBXR,0965649288,A reader,"[21, 26]","I first purchased this book in 1972 and have re-read it many, many times. Though I certainly do not agree with everything Commander Rockwell wrote, many of his observations and conclusions, though dated by time, still appear to be valid even today.His concerns about the power and influence of organized and entrenched Zionism and the dangers implicit in this power and influence ring bitterly true after events such as 9/11 and the invasion of Afganistan and Iraq where American foreign policy has been increasingly hijacked by pro-Israel 'neocons'. In addition, his warnings about the violence and degeneracy of African-American culture and behaviour can be verified by simply turning on your radio and listening to the savagery, sexuality and baseness of so-called 'rap' and 'hiphop' music as well as by examining the barbarity and sexual promiscuity still found in the inner cities of Detroit, Washington, Los Angeles and New York.The genius of Commander Rockwell, who gave his life for his cause and his people, is clearly evident in his warnings and prognostications for the America of the future. Enlightened citizens should surely take them to heart.",5.0,Very Thought Provoking and Prophetic!!,1129075200,"10 12, 2005",21,26,helpful,0.8076923076923077,1 A38PRNJXOWU6NW,0425179184,M. J. Webb,"[0, 0]","I bought this book at a book sale for $.75. I am so glad I did not buy it on my kindle for anymore than that. Like other reviewers I agree this book is a chore to get through. I haven't even finished it yet. It doesn't usually take me this long to get through a book like this but goodness, it is not one of those books I couldn't put down. I did enjoy the recipes and the restaurants mentioned in the book. I will finish the book since I've made it through over half the book. I don't know if I'd read another book in this series.",2.0,Very slow and the main character is not very likeable,1386201600,"12 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1AE0V58O45XA0,1489555293,Sash,"[0, 0]",I so can't wait for the next bookLoved the story the good girl finally gets something great and the bad boy find what he's been looking forTheir are twist and turns and lots of happy and steamy stuffA must read,5.0,good read,1386028800,"12 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A224Q9ROT9VH21,0316034045,"Charles LaBorde ""Charles L""","[6, 6]","Most of the reviews have said it all before, but I'll throw my vote into the one-star ring. The book adds absolutely nothing to the stories of either Tut or Carter and speculates wildly on both parts of the story. In addition to having 3000-years-dead people speak in direct quotes, he gives his characters--and I do mean characters and not historical figures--modern sensibilities. Each time Patterson mentioned his ""research,"" I got the biggest laugh I have had in a long time. I gave up on his Alex Cross character several books ago. This slog of a read reminded me why. And the most astounding thing about it all is that 17 people have seen fit to give this work 5 stars!!!",1.0,A Book of Monumental Shallowness,1266364800,"02 17, 2010",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A16N1AGRUQZ778,0743550404,"Gregg Matthews ""Gregg Matthews""","[0, 0]","The Author Stephen King did a good job writing this e-book. As far as measuring up to any of his other e-books he could have gotten away with calling this a Short Story. The e-book was worth the $4.99 price tag. Having the same theme of a small coastal town off of Maine is a great idea and works for this story. I am an avid reader of the Hard Case Crime series, I think it is an excellent idea to group and categorize the small murder mystery books. They have an e-book of the month club that goes along with these e-books. I am glad Stephen King made an appearance in the Hard Case Crime series. I have and would recommend this e-book to a friend.",4.0,The King,1341878400,"07 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QQZSF83YG8RD,1561587621,"Dolly L. Caswell ""Dolly Caswell""","[0, 0]","Great ideas, I'm decorating one small area at a time, and this book is helping a lot. Ideas very clear and it's well written. Budget ideas especially good.",4.0,Great ideas!,1254873600,"10 7, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASHWW419B8VYK,1400074037,"H. F. Jenkins ""book reader""","[0, 0]","I am loving this book, it speaks to my soul, my heart and it is helpi me clear up some of the fogginess in my life",5.0,Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World:Finding Intimacy with God,1378166400,"09 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21L18863R7DHR,1423605705,D. Spencer,"[7, 7]","A wonderful mix of humor and simple instructions. Much encouragement for the beginner, interspersed with down home words of wisdom.",5.0,Sam Barry's harmonica book,1296172800,"01 28, 2011",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3H0M45NDECT8N,0684824906,Boots,"[0, 0]",I bought the book after I saw the film which helped me appreciate the characters. Lincoln turned his "enemies" into friends and supporters and then used them to succeed with his policies. Very interesting story.,4.0,A great story about a great man,1365206400,"04 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3ISVTHT22ZFJ9,0989769704,Anna,"[9, 9]","I try to read the reviews after I read a book to get other people's perspectives. As I read through these, I can't help buy wonder why so many of the recent reviews are SO negative.A lot of what I have read is saying that they didn't like Samantha. That she was too immature and clingy. But, to ME, that's the whole point of the story. *I*, for one, know that when I was at that age, I was probably jealous and clingy. I think a lot of girls go through that before becoming women. ESPECIALLY girls who are emotionally scarred from their past. I think Samantha's behavior was pretty normal, considering.As for the book (or books, since there are multiple) I really enjoy them. I can't really say much without giving the story away, but I somewhat feel that maybe if it wasn't a guy writing it, it might have been given better reviews. I think we just hate that men aren't like they are in our books, so why not take it out on a man who writes one?? Hehe!!!",5.0,Not sure why all the negative reviews,1383004800,"10 29, 2013",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A1J88YGZV7B2ZC,1565770218,A Customer,"[5, 5]","At first glance it may not seem like much, but this book is totally necessary for Saxon Grade K. It's fun and easy to use and my kid has learned a lot using it. After just a few months, he also enjoys being able to predict what I will ask him and what his response should be, which has given him a lot of confidence on the topic. We will definitely use it as long as it is required.",5.0,Totally Necessary,1322697600,"12 1, 2011",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2NKSOXLOUV5EL,0471293202,S. Gardner,"[4, 4]","This book is full of information from the people who have found success in the world of pastry. They tell about what training they received and how helpful it was to their careers, what their day is like, how they come up with new ideas, and what they believe the future of pastry is.The writing style lacks snap and, occasionally, clarity. The content of the chapter doesn't always exactly match the chapter title. But it is still a good resource for someone who is interested in the pastry business because the chefs that were interviewed for the book really love what they do. Their passion comes through, which I found to be inspiring.",3.0,Informative,1016150400,"03 15, 2002",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AYHAA2SXVTYWG,1416516328,"Lhea J. Love ""www.lheajlove.net""","[20, 20]","I had the pleasure of seeing Saul Williams perform poetry from The Dead Emcee Scrolls a few days ago. A problem that many spoken word artists encounter is that their poetry sounds great on stage and does not stand confidently alone on the page. Saul doesn't have this problem. His style is so pronounced that it encompasses many forms... you can hear his voice when you read the page, you can see his words when he speaks. The book is truly a treasure... you can dig, and dig, and dig... discovering new truths each time you pick the book up. He was asked by someone in the audience, how long did it take to write this book. His response was, ten years.Saul also spoke about how academians must study hip hop in order to truly understand modern poetry, because emcees are creating new forms of meter.This book is a testament to that.Enjoy.",5.0,You can feel the beat pulsating from the page...,1138406400,"01 28, 2006",20,20,helpful,1.0,1 A2UT6ND8BPS1GD,0767906721,"R. Buettner ""Cook Book Enthusiast""","[18, 19]","Broad selection of international recipes. Well written and organized. Recipes are spare in the Bittman ""minimalist"" style with interesting and informative sidenotes. Chapters organized from appetizers, soups, salads, fish, poultry, meat, vegetables to condiments, desserts and beverages allow easy comparison and contrasting of cuisines for the same foods. Each recipe is catagorized ""make ahead,"" serve at room temp/cold,"" ""30 minutes or less."" and indexed by cuisine. The index is very helpful for menu planning and selecting culinary themes. It is a fun book to read and easy book to use. For the novice as well as the seasoned home cook. Nice addition to cookbook library.",5.0,Culinary trip around the world for the novice and seasoned home cook.,1155427200,"08 13, 2006",18,19,helpful,0.9473684210526315,1 A29B3OHKNEQ0EJ,0307394867,PaulaB,"[5, 7]","Finally, someone who is not afraid to tell the truth about Ms. O. Everything I ever thought about her has been substantiated.",4.0,The true Oprah,1280620800,"08 1, 2010",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1DBDSU4MLSCSQ,1595146725,Morgan,"[0, 0]","This was a really great book about friendship and growing up. It was very much bittersweet, as is the process of growing up. There are pros and cons to becoming old enough to be independent and such. We really get to see the girls go through this journey together. I loved how the book would take place in present day, and then flashback to one of their previous summers together. Each chapter was also told from a different girl's point of view. It switched between the four girls. I liked that, and liked getting to really know each of the girls and what their life was like.There was a lot of romance. (Spoiler -->) Not all of the romance ended with a happy ending. Normally, I would have really been upset about this. However, I barely even noticed until the end of the book because of how well it was written. I felt that the relationship(s) needed to be ended, or whatever the case may be. I got very wrapped up into this story, and just went with it. For me as a reader, I take that as a sign of great writing. (End Spoiler)The one thing that I did not like was that there were a few spots that I had to push myself to keep reading. It did not happen very often, and I was always glad that I kept reading. Nonetheless, it was a little frustrating at times. For the most part though, I greatly enjoyed this book!4 starsI received this book for free in return for an honest review.",4.0,Five Summers,1371254400,"06 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32Q4AVVKFPGID,0312351607,Connie,"[0, 0]","I have to say, that the ending is certainly not what I expected and I did not like it!! But, since I am not the writer, all I can do is moan.The characters are fleshed out nicely - the story line is such that a longer story could have been written, and should have. Yes, I want more.That being said, this story will grab your attention. It seems to take place in a time period of the not too distant past - in a part of the country that still has rules of etiquette for certain classes of people.I really would like to see a sequel to this story. I just don't think the characters are done yet.",5.0,Please change the ending!!,1320451200,"11 5, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2G3LQSHOQUITP,0618858679,Athanasius,"[7, 16]","Nazi hunting is an inherently interesting subject, and this is particularly true of the Eichmann case.The author does a good job hooking and holding the reader's attention, but he ain't no Frederick Forsyth. His approach and writing is very much by the numbers; acceptably workmanlike, but it never strives for or attains a higher level. In addition, I had a couple of specific objections. First, he strongly implies that the fate of Bormann is uncertain, hinting that he may have escaped. In fact, the evidence is conclusive (and this isn't news) that Bormann died in Berlin at the very end of the war. Second, he overemphasizes the role, and misconstrues the motivation, of certain Churchmen in helping some of the Nazis escape. He implies, anti-historically, that the Church in general was pro-Nazi. Oh, please.One more thing: What happened to the tin box that had contained Eichmann's ashes? Was it also thrown into the sea? A tiny detail, I grant you, but I'd like to know.In summary, I recommend this book, but be prepared for a certain flatness.",3.0,"Good, But Not More Than That",1238284800,"03 29, 2009",7,16,helpful,0.4375,1 AMS3QJZN6QS47,1426209207,Anonymous,"[29, 31]","I read, last year on Andrew Skurka's webpage, that he was attempting to write an update to Colin Fletcher's ""The Complete Walker"". I was surprised at the audaciousness of his goal, but now I have read his new book and I feel that he has succeeded in setting a new benchmark for the first time since Fletcher. Whether a beginner or an experienced hiker, Skurka's new book should be the next hiking-related purchase that anyone makes. It can save you years of trial-and-error and thousands of dollars in less-than-optimum gear purchase decisions.""The Ultimate Hiker's Gearguide"" succinctly relates the current state-of-the-art in hiking gear and skills. Although he is not bound by it, Skurka is definitely a student of the ""ultralight"" school of hiking. Started 25-30 years ago by Ray Jardine (who is still active and still sells kits to make his excellent equipment designs; [link deleted by Amazon]), the history and current state of this movement is well documented in a recent series of seven essays by Ron Moak ([link deleted by Amazon-- see the website for Six Moons Designs]). For those who wish to continue the ""old school"" (I am about half and half, myself), Fletcher and others are still available, and the outdoor industry is still selling heavy boots, double-walled tents, and zippered sleeping bags.",5.0,A New Benchmark,1330992000,"03 6, 2012",29,31,helpful,0.9354838709677419,1 A3ADA4TND5VOY6,0060987103,"Charles G. Fry ""cgfry""","[8, 10]","Wicked has very adult themes, including some explicit sexual content early on, and is therefore not appropriate for children; caution is suggested for young teens. Wicked is also not for the young-at-heart looking for a happy return to the magical land of Frank Baum's Oz. Wicked warps the cheerful, wonderful Oz into a complex and much nastier, fully adult place. For those willing to allow Maguire to seriously mess with Baum's Oz, the juxtaposition of these two visions is what makes Wicked very interesting reading, especially early on.Wicked is the life story of the Wicked Witch of the West, known in this book as Elphaba, a subtle, interesting, and ultimately tragic character. The book can be construed as a study of good and evil. But it is also full of mysticism and non-human behavior. Elphaba is clearly something more, or different, than human, differences that go far deeper than her green skin. Wicked is full of oddities, too many to be taken as a serious study of human behavior at any significant level.So we are left with the interesting juxtaposition of Baum's and Maguire's versions of Oz, and with Elphaba. For some reason, Maguire never empowers Elphaba, keeping her limited on numerous levels. She is in essence a great character: we empathize with her, cheer for her. But once the spell of this new Oz wears off, Elphaba's limitations become frustrating and the story plods. In its final sections, Wicked disappoints. Even so, the young Elphaba and Maguire's Oz are compelling and unique.",4.0,Elphaba's story,1142121600,"03 12, 2006",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A2BFVDQTU9Z1L2,0232521026,"J ""peacemover""","[123, 128]","This powerfully written, yet simple book changed my life! In "The Wounded Healer," Nouwen addresses one of the main challenges of the human condition- our weaknesses. These wounds, as Nouwen refers to them, are so often viewed as sources of shame and guilt for us. He reminds us all, however, that these wounds, can be transformed into strengths, if we will allow them to be.By accepting that we are human and addressing our human weaknesses, we can then turn them into helpful resources to extend the gift of emotional healing to others. Because, in order to reach people, we need a point of connection. We can all relate to experiences of emotional woundedness, and within appropriate relational boundaries, they can become instruments of healing.Nouwen shares several stories, and conversations that he had with persons going through various experiences of emotional woundedness. One of the most poignant of these was a visit he made to a man who was about to go in for surgery to have a leg amputated. By offering himself as a compassionate listener, he was able to help the man find peace in the midst of a devastating loss.A point of clarification that Nouwen makes well is that becoming a wounded healer does not mean that we dump all of our problems on people, or seek to wear them like badges. Instead, by being aware of our woundedness, and facing it, we can become more sensitized to the needs of the people around us- after all we are all subject to human imperfection.If you are ready to find hope and a renewed perspective on helping others- read this book! I would highly recommend "The Wounded Healer" to all persons in caring professions, as well as anyone who just want to find peace in the midst of human challenges.",5.0,A testament to the power of finding strength in weakness,1003363200,"10 18, 2001",123,128,helpful,0.9609375,1 A1EGW3M0WINGFB,0316185906,"Nikki Blum ""opinionated reader""","[8, 9]","While not entirely a disaster of a novel, Lifeboat has more holes than the vessel of the title. It simply doesn't float. Lifeboat is a compelling reading experience that ultimately fails to satisfy. Set two years after the TItanic, the Empress Alexandra, a cruise ship named for the ill-fated wife of Czar Nicholas II who would soon be murdered along with her entire family, hurriedly sets sail from London at the news of the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophia, the triggering event of World War I. Among the passengers are a hastily married couple bound for New York. At the last minute, Hubby Henry appears to negotiate a place for his wife Grace on one of the overcrowded lifeboats already being lowered from the sinking ship.Command immediately falls to the only seaman of the lot, Mr. Hardie, predictably crusty, apparently knowledgable and seemingly committed to the survival of his charges. Of course his authority is immediately and repeatedly challenged, particularly as the prospect of a quick rescue recedes over the featureless horizon. Nothing in this novel is precisely as it appears. Hardie may not be as skillful as he seems. Does he have unsavory motives? Grace, too, is not the passive little bride Henry thinks he married. All her alliances have the taint of self-preservation. What we know, we know from Grace, that fixture of modern fiction, the unreliable narrator. Here, however, her views go uncorroborated and unchallenged. In the end, the reader never knows whether Grace's fevered imaginings hold water.Any truth at the heart of the story remains unrevealed. Questions artfully asked go unanswered, puzzling but meaningful glances connote nothing and, like several important characters, they simply evanesce.According to the buzz surrounding the novel, Ms. Rogan wrote this and several other works with little thought for their publication. Inspired by cases she read in her husband's law texts, this one ultimately found its way into print. Perhaps in the hands of a more experienced and confident author, we would be led to care what happens to Grace and why.The Lifeboat: A Novel",3.0,Full of Holes,1334880000,"04 20, 2012",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A36IUR5X0KICMA,B00HDWAZ5I,Thomiegurl,"[0, 2]","I struggled to finish this book. Not a favourite. I had a hard time with what seemed to be her struggle with forgiveness. Her reaction to her dad calling (after 20yrs) seems exaggrated, pure over reaction. I did not enjoy this read.",3.0,Estranged,1392681600,"02 18, 2014",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1MQIRNS7XQ009,0553586920,jeanie wickline,"[0, 0]",I give it four stars. It kept me guessing as to how Chloe and Jane would work out all the obstacles between them. A good read,4.0,Dance with me review,1403308800,"06 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A380J9FYT0FZTK,1622660226,Jen(LBW),"[0, 0]","I love an author who can transport me into the world that I'm reading about. I feel like that is the case with Lea Nolan's Allure. Honestly there were moments where I thought I talk with a southern accent. I felt like I was totally absorbed into the world while I was reading. That is definitely one of my favorite things about books.I think Emma grew through the book. Her hoodoo workings are definitely becoming stronger and she is learning some lessons about love of course. The thing I love about her is how she trudges on, even if things are going to crap. She will stop and say you know what I can't deal with this right now I have more important problems. There are often times where she seems really mature and of course other times where she is a young girl who has a boyfriend who is being, well. He is being what he is being. (can't spoil too much)Cooper I'm mad at you...There are some new characters both on the creepy and annoying side. I actually thought maybe one of them would turn out to be nice but no, that wasn't the case. I was glad for that though because you can't redeem everyone.Boo Hags freak me out. I mean seriously I think I'm going to have nightmares about them. I never want to meet a Boo Hag, I think I might put some brooms around my house.So this books has twist and turns and interesting plot lines. I loved how hoodoo plays such a role in the story and can picture myself in the garden and using the mortar to grind up herbs. It's such a neat idea for a story and so interesting. I don't think I've ever read anything like this besides this series. It's also one of those stories where you don't want to elaborate too much in the review because you don't want to give anything away. It was fast paced and easy to get lost in. You can zoom through the pages without even thinking about it. If only to get through some tough stuff. I will definitely continue on and read the next book.",4.0,enjoyed it,1380672000,"10 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1TDMSBYWU6QC0,B00BGUHBS2,Rossbcarter,"[0, 0]",I really enjoy the story. Although I wish that it was longer. I plan to read more in the series.,5.0,Great read,1362873600,"03 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LUN275GRCD96,0374179549,"Fredrick P. Wilson ""shinano01""","[32, 44]","This is a story that has needed telling for some time, and the author does a tremendous job of telling it in an entertaining and highly readable manner. The lesson that these troublesome young men brought to the world needs to be told and re-told again and again.The difficulty is that the lesson of these troublesome young men and their extended fight against appeasement, however so wonderfully told by Ms. Olson, for she mostly allows the words and deeds of the troublesome young men to speak for themselves, is very quickly forgotten in the last chapter, the aftermath of the book.It is easy for her to propagandize for most of the book, for her proselytizing is exactly in line with theirs. With the history of the 20's, 30's, and 40's behind us, it is easy for the preaching of Ms. Olson to end up on the side of light and reason, for who, now, cannot completely agree that Nazism was the great evil that had to be fought and that could not be negotiated with.In the aftermath, she departs from historical certainty, and preaches in favor of appeasement, which is quite unbecoming for this tome, shines an unfortunate light on the analytical capabilities of the author, and points out how horridly history can repeat itself and that appeasement is still a clear and present danger to Western Civilization and Democracy.In briefly recanting the history of the troublesome young men postwar, she ever so briefly recants the tale of the 1956 British/French/Israeli Suez war against the IslamoNazi (my term), Gamel Abdul Nasser, who helped the Nazi Odessa organization post WWII and modeled his regime on the structure of the Nazis.""Not for the first time, and certainly not for the last, the lessons of Munich and appeasement were wrongly applied to a later international crisis. Hitler had been a real threat to Britain's security and survival. Nasser was not."" - P 358.The actions of the USA, to put a halt to the confrontation with Nasser, emasculated England and France. It emboldened the Islamists of the Middle East and North Africa to be able to confront the now decaying powers of the West and believe that they could win. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, shortly before leaving office at the end of his 2nd term, said that interfering in Suez was his greatest foreign policy mistake, and that he should never have done it. It helped to embolden the Baathist IslamoNazis of Syria and Iraq that bedeviled the USA for over fifty-five years, and that in Syria, still bedevil us today. The threat was not just Nasser, it was Islamists, and Nasser was a symptom that needed curing. If Hitler had been stopped at the Beer Putsch -if only the USA had allowed England and France to stand up to Radical Islam in 1956.Although much more slowly moving than the crisis before World War II, by a factor of 15, this was one of the early events that made Europe turn away from the USA, and turn to the Middle East. This helped form a partnership between Europe and the Islamist world that allowed unbridled immigration into Europe, that will result in England, the rest of Western Europe, and Russia lose the most important war of all, not just that of Democracy and Civilization, but of mere existence, as demographically England and France have already surrendered to the radical Islamist and will be 100% Islamist countries by 2100.So Suez was not like Munich, it was more like the re-arming of the Rhineland. Approving that first step enabled the steps that followed for Hitler, and for the Islamists.Now the USA needs its own troublesome young men, or troublesome men and women of all ages, and it needs a Churchill to save the USA from the onslaught of Radical Islam, partially brought on by the ignorance and appeasement of authors like Olson who cannot recognize any threat other than the one in the past that these troublesome young men so ably vanquished.",3.0,Highly Troubling Young Author,1194566400,"11 9, 2007",32,44,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A1T2OWK4G45HIS,1400070821,"Rachel A. Mcaskill ""Rachel Ann""","[0, 1]","Claudette Fioré used to turn heads and break hearts. She relished the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle because she had what it takes: money, youth, fame, and above all, beauty. But age has withered that beauty, and a crooked accountant has taken her wealth, leaving the proud widow penniless and alone.Armed with stubbornness and sarcasm, Claudette returns to her shabby little hometown and her estranged sister. Slowly, she makes friends. She begins to see her old life in a new light. For the first time, Claudette Fioré questions her own values and finds herself wondering if it's too late to change.I enjoyed this book; however, not my usual character read.",3.0,Limelight,1257465600,"11 6, 2009",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1AFXJ8U72MD6L,0785129510,"MISTER SJEM ""sonofhotpie""","[0, 0]","NOTE: the first part of this review is about the series, in general, and the last part covers this particular volume.FROM MY REVIEW OF THE FIRST GRAPHIC NOVELI never got into the novel series but after reading this particular graphic novel I just might give it another try. This volume focuses on the Gunslinger before he became a legend in this post apocalyptic Spaghetti Western Fantasy tale. It covers the legends of his home realm life, how he earned his guns at an early age and his first mission which led to him meeting his first love.King was creatively involved in the making of this graphic novel. I suspect this will be a spoiler on some level if I ever reach book four of the novel series but that's all right as I wasn't going to give King's series another chance until I picked this piece up.The tone is dark, gritty and at times brutal and women don't have many options unless they hold a great deal of power. The artwork was impressively done with tight facial shots, focus on shadows and some nice running scenes sometimes all completed on one page. There's a nice map in the back to give you an idea of the overall world which I found very helpful as this was my first time experiencing the world. King was creatively involved in the making of this graphic novel. I suspect this will be a spoiler on some level if I ever reach book four of the novel series but that's all right as I wasn't going to give King's series another chance until I picked this piece up.BOOK FOURIn this installment Roland (the future gunslinger) and his pals (known as a ka-tet which is something like blood brothers who will die for you) take a backseat as the older characters of Gilead try to stop the impending doom. As you might guess by the title things get bad and then worse and Gilead obviously falls but most of our beloved characters escape (that isn't a spoiler as there are more books in the series and the characters are portrayed on most of the front covers, people).The first issue topped the March comic sales figures, with an estimated 123,807 sold, 20,000 more than the next comic, New Avengers.CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B plus; STORY/PLOTTING: B plus; ARTWORK: B plus to A minus; SETTING/TONE: B plus to A minus; OVERALL GRADE: B plus to A minus; WHEN READ: mid May 2012.",4.0,MY GRADE: B plus to A minus.,1337731200,"05 23, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1G37DFO8MQW0M,0140430482,"C. M Mills ""Michael Mills""","[4, 4]","Dombey and Son is a long novel dealing with Mr. Dombey an affluent merchant who has a family in crisis. Dombey's firstwife dies giving birth to little Paul who dies early in chapter 16 in a moving and symbolic deathbed scene. His daughter Florence is shunned by her father but is loved by Walter Gay a sailor employed by her father's firm. Colorful characters populate the many pages of this classic: Captain Cuttle and Sol Gillis who befriend Florence; the evil Mr. Carker and many others who appear in the lives of the Dombeys.This novel written in 1846 is more thematic, well plotted and serious than many of Dickens earlier works. Dickens had a cinematic imagination; the tale of Mr. Carker's flight is riveting. While not my favorite of the master's works this is agreat book with great characters and story. Well worth the timeto read it and absorb its lessons regarding pride and the need for love and beauty in the human soul.",5.0,Dickens and Dombey; A Dysfunctional Family of the Victorian Age chronicled in a huge three decker classic,1157932800,"09 11, 2006",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3GTI5ASF6TJTJ,0764206370,Sunnflwr,"[0, 0]","Just before I read this book, I had been reading quite a few disappointing free books. I read a lot in the summer, usually a book or two a day, and I would go broke if not for the free books. I realize that you get what you pay for in some cases, but there are some great free books out there as well, and this is one. I nearly didn't choose it- I was afraid that it would be too gritty and too sad, given that a child's death in the past and a missing child in the present are part of the storyline. There are some sad parts, but they are sensitively handled and hope is also a part of this storyline. Not all questions were completely answered, but that happens in real life as well. This story felt very realistic, both in the police work and home life aspects. Even the depiction of a marriage coldly crumbling, but not yet broken, rang true. Great book!!!",5.0,One of the best free books ever!,1311897600,"07 29, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ACL4CWH5KEWN,1887840249,Amy Jo,"[29, 36]","I personally thought this was a HUGE WASTE of my money. I know several are making good reviews about it, but I tihnk it is for convenience more than anything. I personally would have just bought a cheap notebook and written in the dates and times if I had known that is all this is. I thought certain things were ""filled in"" for you. NOPE.So....to clarify.....this is a spiral bound book....with pages in it.....with a date at the left of the first page a line, and then an ending date on the right of the opposite page. That's all it is....honestly. So......I think many who are homeschooling on a budget could just grab a notebook when they have school sales at Wal-Mart and do this on their own!!I would NOT BUY THIS AGAIN! EVER!!!! The concept itself is worth maybe $1.00 to me, the heavy pages??? So what??? Are they honestly charging that much more just because it has thick pages???? SO NOT WORTH YOUR MONEY!!!!",1.0,SAVE YOUR MONEY! MAKE YOUR OWN TIMELINE!,1303257600,"04 20, 2011",29,36,helpful,0.8055555555555556,1 A3KH1OB5BYYQ8H,B00IP1NFD0,Terence C.,"[4, 5]",I didn't buy this book for myself but for a gift for a loved one.But to be honest you wouldn't consider me a crochet type of guy. But I did buy the book and was curious if my decision to get this one was a good one. And I must admit it was. This book is very thorough and detailed. You do not have to guess at anything and it takes the time to show you all you need to know. And basically the person I bought this for said she loved it.,5.0,Crochet for beginners,1394323200,"03 9, 2014",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1D66IFUP4Z04S,0060988649,Lea Dimarucut,"[0, 0]","Just for the wonderful ideas all put together in this one novel, I give it 3 stars. But oh, it could have been so much better!I really, REALLY, wanted to like this book, and I do, but there is still so much potential waiting to be further developed in its pages. I feel like I could have gotten to know Winnie Rudge better; I find her quite fascinating and want to penetrate even deeper into the story of her life, that's why I was left hanging by the time I got to the novel's end. I really want to know what happens between her and John after everything. And what was the impact of the entire haunting on her?I don't know. Maybe author Gregory Maguire wants to give us readers the impression that Winnie doesn't care much to deliberate over such things that's why not a whole lot happens after all that haunting business.I wish a more absorbing sequel (for all its merits this one drags) were written.Read it if only for its promising plot and characters.",3.0,So Much Promise...,1044230400,"02 3, 2003",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3ICDLUQ3V2QY2,0880107022,"Kevin L. Nenstiel ""omnivore""","[14, 16]","This is more than a decorating or home-management book: Shannon Honeybloom describes how to craft a home that bonds families, nourishes children, and contributes to the community. She wants you to be healthy and nurturing, not just posh. Yet I note how the two go hand in hand, since the very traits that make a home healthy also make it gorgeous. Honeybloom's jargon-free text combines with Skip Hunt's elegant photos to show how Honeybloom has used modern psychological principles, childrearing values, and the teachings of Rudolf Steiner to design her home, and how you can do the same.This oversized and dazzling book looks deceptively like a home décor magazine, but it's much deeper than that. Even if, like me, you don't have kids, this book has enough detail to turn your house, even an apartment or a ready-built, into a nurturing home. How to invite people in, like the house to the community, and make the home one in which you and others want to take care of themselves and grow. Though slim and lavishly illustrated, this is not a book to skim casually; take time to sit and read this book in-depth, and you can make your home nourishing and wholesome for yourself and your family.",5.0,Make Your House Your Home,1275955200,"06 8, 2010",14,16,helpful,0.875,1 A3VHEASFGNI03M,B006IYMUVY,Denise Carr,"[0, 1]",This book is truly enriching. It will be good for a Bible study group and/or a gift for someone. People should consider it for their outreach minsitgry.,5.0,Wonderful,1359936000,"02 4, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2MJ8OL2FYN7CW,1845025059,"Lynne E. ""Lynne E.""","[11, 11]","KNIT YOUR OWN SCOTLAND, by Jackie Holt and Ruth Bailey, is an inspired collection of Scotland-themed patterns for knitted toys. The human figures--for example, Robert Burns (on the far left in the cover photo)--are quite recognizable; and the extras--for example, Nessie (in front in the cover photo, with tartan tam)--are delightful.Accompanying each whimsical pattern is a short text that tells you why the pattern is included in a Scotland-themed book. If you're Scottish by heritage, you won't need the text, but it's helpful to those (like me) who aren't Scottish. The included patterns are as follows:*** William Wallace/Braveheart (led the fight for Scottish independence)*** Robert Burns (Scotland's finest poet)*** Bonnie Prince Charlie (leader of the Jacobites' lost cause)*** Billy Connolly, with his banana boots (comedian)*** Andy Murray (tennis player)*** Nessie (the Loch Ness Monster)*** Scottish Terrier (iconic canine)*** Highland Cattle (shaggy-haired, horned bovines)*** Sheep (blackface sheep)*** The Saltire (Scotland's national flag, blue and white; plus a thistle)*** Bagpipes (knitted pipes are supported by dowels)*** Chocolate Teacake (Tunnock's finest)*** Scotch Whiskey (a fine bottle of Black & White, plus a white tumbler)*** Scotch Pie (double-crusted, minced mutton pie)Most of the patterns require knitting many small pieces on U.S. Size 3 (3.25mm) needles, and call for DK weight or finer yarn. There are so many different yarns specified (various different lines of Rowan, Sirdar, Debbie Bliss, Sublime, Anchor) that it may be something of a challenge (and expensive) to collect all of the exact yarns and colors called for in the patterns. However, this is a fun book to simply look through and enjoy. It left me smiling.",5.0,"Whimsical Scotland-Themed Collection of Dolls, Animals, Food, Icons",1360972800,"02 16, 2013",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A2W3B1G4UE81EF,0385335881,"Quinn Wyatt ""qthereader""","[0, 0]","I loved this book as much as its predecessor, "Confessions of a Shopaholic". We think Becky had finally gotten her act together at the end of the first book, but NOOOOOOO. How could we have been so wrong? This time she's in Manhattan, a shopper's version of Mecca. My one and only reservation with this book is the character of Luke. With all his millions, couldn't he help Becky out a little when he finds out about her financial mess? C'mon, Luke, you're supposed to be in love! Aside from his slightly harsh attitude at times, it all works out in the end. I really like the character of Suze - she's a friend in a million! Once again, Sophie Kinsella has written a really funny, engrossing book. It took me no time at all to finish this one - I couldn't put it down - and now I'm in the middle of the third "Shopaholic" book. Wonderful reading, very worth the time!",5.0,More Becky Bloomwood Hilarity!,1083196800,"04 29, 2004",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1KBPT6PUGFKH2,0312595387,Amazon Customer,"[9, 9]","I loved this book. The story of these three women, their relationship, and adventure in parenting is insightful, compelling, and fun. As a parent, I know it truly ""takes a village"" and really related to the story-line and enjoyed all the characters...in particular, the main character and her grandmother. I want to hear what happens next!",5.0,Excellent Debut Novel,1282003200,"08 17, 2010",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A1S2XAQNOZT1DC,0812994868,Maddox,"[11, 23]","Even a 13 years old should be able to understand that there is no such thing as a) everyone else and b) we/us, the latter with respect to autistic individuals. In both cases, there are only individuals which, as such, differ greatly from another. Autism is a spectrum disorder, i.e. affected people also differ from another. Without this constant ""we"" and ""us"" it would be just any personal description, not really informative, but tolerable. However, exactly this arrogant presumption makes the reading so pesky. If you know a person with autism, you know ONE person with autism!",1.0,Goofy Drivel,1381708800,"10 14, 2013",11,23,helpful,0.4782608695652174,1 A34NG31NRN7WJL,1250033896,"Liz Wilkins ""Lizzy11268""","[0, 0]","So another of my very favourite kind of books, those twisty turny psychological thrillers – this one had been languishing on my shelf for a while due to the ever growing to be read mountain, but finally it was time and it was a darn good read.Gen drifts through life, still grieving, having never really moved on from losing her baby. When a woman turns up one morning and tells her that Beth is still alive somewhere, a chain of events are set in motion that will see Gen’s world turned completely upside down.This was another utterly addictive read for me – helped along by a terrifically compelling character, Gen, who you immediately get emotionally involved with and by her Husband Art, an enigmatic and driven man who may well be hiding some horrific secrets. Much of the brilliance in this story for me came within the relationship of these two, cleverly drawn, keeping you wondering about the true nature of it througout. Is Art lying? Or could it be genuine concern for Gen’s welfare? In a lot of ways, as well as being a fascinating mystery story this is also very much a tale of a marriage and just how well you can know a person even after many years together.Offset by some great supporting characters – Gen’s best friend Hen, Art’s utterly absorbing Sister Morgan and various others, Ms McKenzie weaves a web of deception and intrigue around them that will have you often holding your breath, at other times wanting to knock heads together and with some very emotional and heartfelt moments. As a whole I found this difficult to put down – I always wanted to know just one more thing about these people and what exactly happened eight years ago…If I had any downsides at all they were slight – I did have to suspend disbelief on one or two occasions about the action (or lack thereof) that certain characters took at certain times, well you know these were the “knocking heads together” moments for me – and one of the characters in my head was a little too moustache twirly (sorry can’t put it better than that!) but overall this was absolutely terrific – and the ending blew my mind and gave me a sinister creepy feeling that didnt go away for a good few hours. Impressively achieved!Definitely recommended highly for fans of the mystery genre. Top notch.Happy Reading Folks!**Copy purchased in paperback via Amazon UK***",4.0,Cleverly drawn psychological mystery.,1401494400,"05 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PQ2HNW47ALUG,0525950583,Anita Pearson,"[4, 4]","Eric Jerome Dickey has officially jumped the shark! This book stinks.. There is no easy way to write this as I have been a fan of EJD since the beginning. Though I didn't like Gideon, I still bought and read and respected the Gideon books. But Tempted by Trouble is just too violent, the characters are so poorly developed even the race of the characters are unknown.I don't want to go into too many details and ruin the whole book for you.. BUT let me tell you that the ending SUCKS... I mean it is a horrible end to a bad book! It was so bad I wanted to throw it away, not give it to a friend, nor resell it on Amazon. I wanted to find the nearest garbage can and make a deposit.Also I put this book down when I found out the target of the next big heist. I only picked it back up when I was bored and stuck at the beauty shop for hours on end.Sorry when the next book comes out EDJ, I will wait for the library to get it in, and I am going to have to delete EDJ from my list of favorite authors.",1.0,EJD has jumped the Shark with this book,1289260800,"11 9, 2010",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2VOCPN7O4H7FZ,0615684424,"Kindle Customer ""DC Reviewer""","[0, 0]","Uptown Princess by QuianaThis was a great read. Quiana has given you a different kind of urban story. Young girls wanting to be fast and not paying attention to the warnings their parents give them is nothing new. But, as usual girls don't listen and Princess gets more than she bargains for when she hooks up with Mace. At a first glance Mace seems to be her knight in shining armor. Princess soon finds out that she should have listened to her mother. Quiana has done a wonderful job of telling her story and getting you into it as if you were living it yourself. This was a five star read and I can't wait for a part 2. Kudos, Ms. Quiana for a story well told.Happy Reading,The Official Dcbookreviewer",5.0,Fallen Princess,1352073600,"11 5, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WZJDFX12QXKD,B00GPP4168,Stuart Powell,"[0, 1]","Read worthy. Wish I had read it a year ago when I was learning to use FB for business and writer platform development. This book is a time saver and even though some things change very quickly, it's full of valuable info.",5.0,Full Of Valuable Info,1384905600,"11 20, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2PT42SJA2IX0,1484033663,K Kissel,"[0, 0]",What can I say that isn't in the caption. The twists and turns are amazing. Just when you think you have it figured out something else happens. I can't wait for the next part in the series so I can see how it all fits together.,5.0,Wow!! Keeps the reader on the edge.,1360195200,"02 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A362X1G4N4R9S9,0547859082,"doorcountydi ""Caribbean snorkler""","[0, 0]","I always like Pete's writing style, and this book is really interesting. I expected a different outcome when they both went back to the shelter, so that was a surprise.",5.0,Loved it,1369526400,"05 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A29BQ6B90Y1R5F,0804162654,S. Rhodes,"[6, 9]","Kingdom Hearts isn't a new game, and thus when the HD Remix came out it probably didn't seem like it was all that important to provide a guide. In the first place, the ""Final Mix,"" doesn't really include a lot of stuff that wasn't already in the American version of the game to begin with. That's not to say there are no differences, only to say there is enough of the old stuff here that using a previously released guide will not hinder you at all. Thus, if you are the proud owner of the Bradygames Kingdom Hearts guide from 2002... that will actually help you out just fine. And I mean it, that guide was AWESOME and had all the info you could ever want to master the first Kingdom Hearts. That shouldn't suggest that this guide is bad by any means. In fact, it covers just about the whole collection. The original game and Chain of Memories. If you're one to be a collector then this guide is also in a slick hardback edition.The guide doesn't waste a lot of time. Since it has to over two games it is understandably thick. It begins by jumping into all the basics of the first Kingdom Hearts game. And yes, it goes over just about everything. And has some info that you'll very much appreciate in other ways as well. In particular, you'll appreciate the charts concerning the abilities. The choices you make that determine how you level and the abilities you'll learn along the way are listed here in this guide. Likewise, the guide has charts that show how Sora and his allies will level. This includes the different rates at which Sora levels. It also shows what stats will increase at what level for every character. You'll be more than well prepared for anything that comes your way.The walkthrough itself is also very well organized and put together. Each section begins with a list of objectives and maps. Maps that are very detailed. Those who managed to get a hold of the guide made by Piggyback Interactive will probably note that they are, in fact, the same maps. They even have the same charts. This is a GOOD thing because this means you'll find EVERY item you need in any given area. They're fairly easy to navigate as well. There is always an objective list you can follow as well. But if you want a bit more depth, there is a step by step guide that'll take you through everything you need. It's overall just a really satisfying and simple to use walkthrough. The screenshots are crystal clear. There's so much data it's amazing sometimes. All the heartless are also detailed in every area with handy charts that tell you all their stats. Bosses are always called out as well. Most of the strategies and instructions will take you through the game pretty fast.It's also organized very well. After the walkthrough there is plenty to tell you of all of the games secrets. Most of them put aside perfectly. All the trinities are listed. It'll tell you what area and what map to look at in the guide to find it. All the Dalmations are listed. All the mini-games and hidden bosses. It's all comprised right here. Following that is an enemies list that talks about every enemy in the game etc. There are a couple of things beyond the walkthrough that it could stand to be more handy with. For instance, the synthesis guide could've been a lot more detailed. It lists ingredients, but a guide on actually getting the Ultima Keyblade would've been nice. It talks about it, but doesn't really guide you through it. Also, a much more comprehensive look at the the Gummi Ship might've been nice as well. In particular, a guide to building a really good one. I don't think it was necessary to actually detail the missions themselves, but a guide on making the perfect gummi ship would've been very helpful. Aside from that, most of the stuff in the guide is pretty good on its own. Very helpful. Lastly there is a trophy list. The good news is that getting a lot of the trophies doesn't require it's own separate trophy guide. Since most of the trophies are by completing a lot of extra events, the walkthrough will already help you anyway. Although it would've been nice had they had tips for players who wanted to do speed runs and the like.There isn't much new in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix. As I said, the American Version of Kingdom Hearts already had a lot of the things that were introduced to Final Mix in Japan. There is one hidden boss here that players will like. And yes, the guide will detail him too. There are a lot of spoilers, however. If you haven't played Kingdom Hearts before the guide talks at length about the plot at times. Though I'm not someone who minds spoilers, I'm sure someone out there does. Nevertheless, there's still a lot of useful info here. Perhaps what might've been nice would've been if some of it were better organized and cut down on some of the page flipping.Chain of Memories has a walkthrough that's pretty similar. It (for some reason) recaps the events of Kingdom Hearts before going into the basics of Chain of Memories. It'll help you learn about the combat system and the cards. It's not quite as in depth as what you saw in the Kingdom Hearts section, but then again, Chain of Memories doesn't have quite as much ground to cover. It'll still help you progress and tell you about all of Sora's stats and how they grow. The only key difference is that because there's less to cover in the basics it'll get to the walkthrough faster.The walkthrough here is slightly different in style. Where as the first Kingdom Hearts had an objective list and then a step by step guide, this one is more talkative. It's slightly less organized this way, but will still get the job done. There aren't as many detailed maps (something the guide will explain... and if you're familiar with how Chain of Memories worked you won't mind this at all anyway) but the walkthrough is well suited for it all. You'll also be happy to know that the guide does include a full walkthrough of Riku's story as well as Sora's. Previous Chain of Memories guides made mention of Riku's story but didn't really walk players through it or give a lot of tips. Here you get them.Chain of Memories doesn't have nearly as many secrets as the first game. Everything you'll want to know about Chain of Memories is located primarily in its walkthrough. There is still a trophies list and it still includes tons of appendices. There's nothing really missing from this guide.As the guide is covering two games, it can be quite large. In fact, it's easy to lose your place. This collector's edition guide has a ribbon bookmark that you can use. There can be a lot of page flipping (particularly in the first Kingdom Hearts section) but the ribbon bookmark will at least make it hard to lose your place.If you have a previous Kingdom Hearts guide this one isn't going to tell you anything you didn't already know. There is ONE bonus boss here that this guide covers that previous guides from 2002 won't cover. If you need a refresher, or you're diving into the heart for the very first time then this particular guide is going to be very helpful to you in a lot of ways. It's enormous and has tons of information. And with a bookmark it's easy to keep yourself organized. Whether your playing for the first time or returning, this guide is going to help you through Kingdom Hearts.",4.0,Dive Into the Heart,1382572800,"10 24, 2013",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A6NMI1Z2K59EJ,0310320313,Paul Adams,"[19, 23]","Peter Hitchens's The Rage Against God is a fascinating account of the world I grew up in--the postwar period in England when the old confidence in traditional authority, imperial power, morals and customs started to fall apart. I am a few years older than Hitchens and when I was at public (private) school, the old ways and beliefs seemed still strong. It was only a few of the more intellectual boys (like me) who were openly atheist. By his time, it seems the old confidence and authority of our elders and teachers was in steeper decline. Hitchens sees the ignominious debacle of the 1956 Anglo-French Suez adventure as a turning point. It shook the self-assurance of our island nation that was never defeated in war. It brought home the decline of empire and all that went with it, including the powerful navy from which Hitchens's father was let go. The shocking public sex scandal at the highest levels of government known as the Profumo Affair (1963) provided evidence of the moral decay accompanying political decline.So the ground was already prepared for the 1960s, with its unconstrained vision of how we could cast off all tradition, the collective wisdom and experience of past generations, and start from scratch without need of marriage, family, the capitalist state and economy, and especially the established Church of England. The C of E was associated with all things we wanted to overthrow--monarchy, tradition, conservatism (the established Church was sneered at as the Tory Party at prayer), and, of course, moral (especial sexual) restraint.Hitchens describes well the utopian illusions of that period and their disastrous social consequences. It was a cultural and sexual revolution that was, among other things, a revolt of the young against the prospect of falling into the fate of their parents--an adult world not only of hollow forms and beliefs (if they were truly believed at all) but, materially, a world of suburbs, the paraphernalia of babies and the demands they make on one to be adult and responsible, confining and restraining the autonomous self. (No wonder baby boomer couples had so few children!)Hitchens is justly harsh about this brave new world of adolescent pride and self-absorption, the sacrifice of the needs of children to the freedoms of adults (a prevalent theme motif of those who still are undermining our most child-friendly institution, marriage). His central topic, however, is militant atheism, the rage of atheists against God.In Part 2 of the book, Hitchens takes on three arguments circulated by his brother Christopher and other ""new atheists."" He shows how many conflicts fought in the name of religion are not about religion--for example, no-one in Northern Ireland believes that the Catholics and Protestants were fighting over religious differences about the Eucharist, the issue of ""justification,"" or anything of the sort. He also points to the much higher level of unrestrained violence perpetrated by atheist regimes, from the French revolution to the Bolsheviks, Mao's China, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge, and so forth. He argues that a non-relativist morality that goes beyond the Golden Rule depends on an absolute power above human society that is not subject to change at a tyrant's or totalitarian's whim. And he takes on the argument that the atheist states like the former USSR are not really atheist but depend on religious cults like that of Stalin.The most powerful part of the book is his account of the difference in practice between an atheist state with a cult of the leader and a Christian society, where the command to love God and your neighbor as yourself has penetrated the culture and survives, even if exiguously, in post-Christian societies like England. He shows how militantly (and successfully) the Bolsheviks sought to extirpate all trace of Christianity from Soviet society, aiming especially at children. One of the very first decrees of the Soviet state in 1917 was to forbid the teaching of Christianity in schools and many more repressive measures followed. Tellingly, Hitchens draws vividly on his own experience as a reporter in Russia as well as showing, by way of his experience of complete political and social disintegration in Somalia, how he became convinced that his ""own civilization was infinitely precious and utterly vulnerable and that [he] was obliged to try to protect it"" (p.98).Tellingly, Hitchens links this militant atheism of the Stalinists, this rage against God, to the efforts of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens to describe religious education as child abuse--a very serious charge, ludicrous as it sounds, that paves the way for more and more anti-Christian measures enforced by an ever more powerful state. For Hitler, Stalin, and Mao, the family and other institutions of civil society, including the churches, temples, and mosques, were a threat to the apotheosis of the state and its leader. All these regimes attacked the churches and the family, seeking either to extirpate them altogether or subordinate them to the state.Hitchens notes that he, along with Christopher and many others (myself included, but also the philosopher and Catholic Alasdair MacIntyre) were at one time Trotskyists. We were fiercely opposed to Stalinism and the kind of totalitarian state built by Stalin and Mao, and insisted on the fundamental differences between true revolutionary socialism and Stalinism. Hitchens will have none of this. Unlike Christopher and MacIntyre (and me for that matter), he has completely rejected and settled accounts with that tradition, which he says, rests on the self-delusion that things would have turned out differently if Trotsky had won out in the struggle against Stalin. I won't take up the argument here, but simply note that many of us who have abandoned Trotskyism in any form have failed fully to come to terms with it despite its complete incompatibility with current commitments.Another chord the memoir struck with me comes under the nice subheading, ""The Prodigal Son Returns Too Late."" He means that the Anglican communion he returned to was not the C of E he had left decades earlier. Even more than the Catholic Church in the West, the C of E had been infected with a liberal, secularizing modernism. Traditional teaching on faith and morals as well as liturgy, architecture, music and ancient practices and forms had been abandoned and the communion was falling into apparently irreversible decline. Hitchens deplores these developments, which include discarding some of the greatest literary treasures of the C of E and the English language--the King James Bible and Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer. But he gives no hint of finding a more orthodox home in the Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Church, a choice toward which faithful Christians still in the Anglican communion in the UK and North America are surely feeling pushed.",5.0,Excellent!,1279584000,"07 20, 2010",19,23,helpful,0.8260869565217391,1 A2NH4Z77A64LP,0425195260,"S. Brown ""tinkkytone""","[86, 95]","Okay...Hmmm...where do I begin.First of all, let me say that I own all of Jaid Black's books. I am an avid ebook reader, and I love steamy romance erotic fiction. Yet, this book was really neither.The heroine is a frustrated doctor who searches for love on internet. She is looking for a Dom, or Dominant, who can fulfill all her wicked desires. What she doesn't know is the person she finds is a serial killer preying on women like her. Yet, the police are aware of the connection between the internet and the victims, and when the heroine is attacked they immediately make the connection. This brings the heroine into contact with the hero, a police detective, (...).What follows is a basic premise replayed in numerous romances, both traditional and romance erotic. The detective moves in to protect her, and his Alpha ways fascinate the heroine. The have one very hot scene, but seriously that's it.What disappointed me most about this novel is JB abandoned her roots for mainstream. She kept the story extremely tame. So, true readers of her work should be seriously dejected because it didn't stay true to what makes her a good writer. Also, to add to the burden of the read, the writings is really sub-par. Add that with a basic and underdeveloped storyline and you get 2 1/2 stars....maybe less if you are really trying to point out errors.If you are a reader of romance erotica then you will be disappointed with this book. Simply because there isn't enough erotica to add with the romance. (...). If you are traditional romance reader looking for something different, you will be disappointed because the premise isn't different at all.To be honest, this book really didn't please me. Buy at your own risk!",3.0,Really more like 2 1/2,1085529600,"05 26, 2004",86,95,helpful,0.9052631578947369,1 A2VMTPQ1XE1RVC,0764506323,cs2001,"[7, 9]","Don't depend on this 2005 edition of Buying a Computer FOR DUMMIES to help you to buy a computer in 2005. This book has a lot of outdated information and missed a lot current information. For example:1) This book still talks about ""external L2 cache"", or Celeron with no L2 cache; still showing the picture of SIMM memory slots. We havn't see those processors & memories for at least 7 years!2) It still recommending about the floppy drive. Why in 2005 do we still need floppy drive & floppy disks? It should discusses more about USB flash drives.3) It does not mention about Athlon XP processor (an alternative to Pentium 4), DDR memory, & serial ATA hard drive.4) It still mentions the ISA expansion slot, but not PCI Express.5) It is a mis-statement that ""the only real reason to go with [XP] Home over Professional is you plan to play computer games...""; there is no different between Home & Pro for computer games; but Pro cost about $100 more than Home.6) It does not mention about Open Office which is an alternative to Microsoft Office!",1.0,Outdated information for you to buy a computer in 2005,1106179200,"01 20, 2005",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A1M2SL82SSBYZ2,0803737742,YA Book Lover,"[0, 0]","This book is amazing! I absolutely love the whole Voodoo thing this has going on. The characters were also amazing and the writing style and terms used in this were just nothing short of fantastic.The reader enters a world of modern day voodoo, where families have been bred in the art of voodoo for generations. They run typical white magic voodoo stores and have families. One day, someone comes in and asks for something off the black magic market and everything starts to unravel. Claire Kincaid starts investigating the events with her secretive boyfriend, Xander Toussaint, and soon discover there is more to this story than just black magic spells.This book had me sucked in from start to finish. I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes to read about magic and finding yourself.",4.0,Love it!!,1404345600,"07 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2L3FV6HLUVGV8,0143123564,"ibo girl ""voracious reader""","[0, 0]",I would gladly recommend this book for those interested in the history of France.It painted a very realistic picture of the era.,4.0,The Queen's lover,1361923200,"02 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQUR2R6RJSJ8K,1611099285,Yansy,"[0, 0]","In some ways, this book is really quite great - although fantastical and not particularly believable, the historical sections of this book are exciting, and read like Dan Brown novels. Basically, the story revolves around an additional gospel that was not included in the canonical Christian bible. This gospel has been preserved by an order of nuns, and threatens to transform all Christian theology. The historical section, is focused in the 15th and 16th centuries, and talks about how many of the women make their way to this nunnery, and how they work to preserve this text, against the backdrop of the Inquisition.I did not particularly like the modern section, which tells the story of Menina, who finally uncovers all of this, and is actually bizarrely connected to this story. Although the set up is interesting if ridiculous-she is a distant descendant of some of the women who sought refuge in the convent, the modern trials of the location, and her thrown together romantic interest are ridiculous. Before coming to the convent, Menina went through a major trauma which is vaguely dealt with in the story, but is used only to move the plot forward, rather than as a major focus, which I think it could me. In the modern day, there is some kind of police operation going on in this sleepy little town-and the police officer tells her all about it! Then, a story which could be a book in its own right, is resolved in a few pages - with no character development, details, or sense of completion.Overall, this story was quite enjoyable. This author is relatively new, and is not quite up to the challenge of constructing a narrative that happens on 3 continents in three time periods. It feels like the author took several stories and created a clumsy amalgamation. I don't regret reading this book, and I will probably read others from this author. However, she could use a good editor who calms down all of those ideas, and teaches her to focus on a more tight narrative.",4.0,Interesting Historical Zfiction,1372118400,"06 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AL9VHU4G3TPMQ,0192832719,"Michael ""Classics fiend""","[4, 5]","The publisher has fixed the issues with the kindle edition (see below). This book is a great read and the kindle edition is now as it should be.Below is the first review when the text was flawed by poor rendering of the text: First, there are no hyperlinks to the end notes, which are essential in a work that can sometimes be obscure. A real pain in this work. Also, the rendering of this text and another Oxford world classics text I bought (Tacitus' Annals) is rendered very poorly so that when you search for a term, that term will often not show up because it does not recognize the word. This is also shown when you highlight a passage and go to ""my highlights and notes"" to find that the text often shows up garbled because it has been rendered poorly. The translation and notes are fine, but the problems I'm having with the text make this a bad purchase.",5.0,Book used to be marred by poor rendering of text-now fixed!,1282262400,"08 20, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AII504GQZOG3E,0981563635,kieRa,"[0, 0]","A great book, the third and final book in the series of three.Similar to the book series Shadows of Aggar (The Amazons of Aggar) by Chris Anne Wolfe.The end will leave you wanting more!Couldn't put any of this book series down!My one regret... I read it to fast and now it is over.",5.0,Luv'd It,1320364800,"11 4, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2MBIHZZT5NA4F,0345514408,Katherine,"[6, 8]","This is a book that most people should be required to read. Although I'm not quite finished with it, I've already been struck with Maya Angelou's straightforward writing style. She's honest and up front. And she doesn't write like an adult looking back upon her life, but actually takes you back and puts you in her place and the thoughts that went through her head. One reviewer said that Angelou herself was racist. I don't think this is true. The truth is that there was a large amount of racism and segregation when Angelou was growing up, and you can't blame her for telling the truth about it, and to the person who claimed that including the rape was sick, you're not only being juvenile but are missing the point entirely. This is an autobiography and in autobiographies people recount events that have had large impacts upon them, that have shaped their lives, and being raped, especially at such a young age, would definitely have an impact on you. All in all, I find this book refreshingly honest, not to mention many times poetic.",5.0,Required Reading,1030060800,"08 23, 2002",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 AHVRXG7NK4081,1499221819,shellbelle,"[0, 0]","“I’m going to make you fall in love with me.”Matt Reed, I was already in love with you in Tall, Tatted, and Tempting. You stole my heart and I was really very frightened for you. I loved your compassion, sense of integrity, and sensitivity to others. I loved that you tried to hide your sickness from your brothers. I loved that you were more worried about them rather than dwelling on your own sickness. I loved that you helped Emily see her true self worth.“I W-A-N-T T-O K-I-S-S Y-O-U,” he spells out laughing.Matt Reed, I want to kiss you too! You deserve a hug to go along with it. But I don’t think Skylar would like me touching you. She might hit you in the nose. Oh, wait she already did that didn’t she? I hear that is Reed Brother kryptonite.“You in love with me yet?” he whispers quietly.Matt Reed, you are just making me love you more. You are amazing with Skylar and her kids. You are very lucky to have them in your life. They are lucky to have you in their lives.“Are you in love with me yet?”Matt Reed, how can you keep asking me this question? I have read your story. I have followed your journey. I have sat with your brothers on your bedside. I have watched you battle for your life. I have seen you give of yourself completely without any expectations. I have watched you get your heart broke and I have watched you find true love. So…yes! I am completlely in love with you! Now, let me get this review written so everyone else can fall in love with you too!It is no secret that the Reed Brothers series by Tammy Falkner is one of my all time favorite series I have read. Each book captures my heart and I love the Reed brothers. They are incredible young men that are devoted to their family. They are by no means perfect, heroic, rich, rock stars, or bad boys. They are just your average group of brothers making their way through life. They are compassionate, caring, fun loving guys with everyday life problems. They bond together, support each other, and love fiercely. They are normal guys living in a normal world. Each and every brother will steal your heart. There is one brother that will dig his way a little deeper. Matt Reed was dealt a crap hand in life. He has had to battle cancer and because of this battle one brother has gone to prison, one brother has given up his dreams to lead the family in these troubled times, and one brother has given up his scholarship in order to help pay medical bills. None of these brothers have been resentful for their sacrifices. They just want Matt to live.I think all the fans of The Reed Brothers series have been anxiously awaiting for Matt’s book to release. Maybe Matt’s Miracle is here!Maybe Matt’s Miracle will capture your heart and make you believe in miracles! You will fall in love with Matt!",5.0,“I’m going to make you fall in love with me,1404864000,"07 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GSEDX4AU3G3T,0761177450,"Steven D. Wittberger ""Steve Wittberger""","[0, 0]",I expected a little more international flavour. Too American for my tastes. No more input required nor expected.. Go away.,3.0,History Decoded,1386892800,"12 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KD7NK13WLJO0,1449563570,Mitsy,"[22, 25]","Wow. I can't believe this book has 4 stars. It was the most boring, predictable, typical nonsense I've ever read. There was nothing new, fresh, surprising, or different. I erased it as soon as I finished it and do not plan to read any more of her books.",1.0,Awful,1315872000,"09 13, 2011",22,25,helpful,0.88,1 A28WTCJ99QXBOI,1477817603,Brandy,"[0, 0]","This is a scary book. My husband had to stop reading it. The style of storytelling reminds me of some Russian horror films I’ve seen. Part of the scary factor comes from knowing there is a back story that is never completely explained to you. Your imagination supplies the rest. If you like thrillers, give it a try.",5.0,Don't read this at night!,1395014400,"03 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1U3D071GFHC5M,B0054H8W2C,Amazon Customer,"[4, 4]",I loved reading this book even through it was short. I had me on the edge of my seat. I was just like I was watching a horrow movie. I read this book and night after my kids went to bed and I swear I heard the same noise that was in the book lol. This is a must read book!,5.0,Horror Story! Loved It,1363046400,"03 12, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A22V8QHN61N013,0446518131,"F. McLemore ""4tun81""","[13, 16]","I agree with the advice in this book about having self-respect and self-esteem. But the authors have done what a lot of ""self-help"" authors do: taken simple common sense, repackaged it, and made a bundle. The advice in this book could also create a lot of ""princess-y"" attitudes in women: they'll think they have to behave like Her Royal Highness to get a man. And some of this advice is actually quite rude. ""If a man calls, don't call him back""? If a man calls, it's because he wants to talk to you. Guess the authors forgot that. Some MANNERS would be good here.I have a lot of men friends, and they'll tell you that if a girl plays too hard to get, they'll give up and go on to someone else. But much of this book advises women to do just that. Not throwing yourself at a guy? I wholeheartedly agree with that. But I thought the whole point of the book was to GET a man, not chase men away.Not to mention that one of the authors got divorced eventually. So much for HER advice. I also found it interesting that they call Carolyn Bessette Kennedy a ""Rules Girl,"" when they say not to live with a man before marriage - and yet, she lived with John Kennedy Jr. before their marriage. They don't even seem to know who's a real Rules Girl, and who isn't.This book should be labeled ""for entertainment purposes only."" It sounds like it was written by a bodice-ripper romance novel heroine who played hard to get, and landed the sexy hero - not by real women.",2.0,Big Problems With This Book,1300752000,"03 22, 2011",13,16,helpful,0.8125,1 A1Y49B2AWXAE17,1880410222,B. Hanks,"[15, 17]","This reference is good for a base of terminology for Project Management. Unfortunately, because the difference between an IT project and a Construction project is so great, the BOK can only address high-level concepts. The golden nugget is that what the BOK does address are time-tested standards that help all project managers.Why do you make a Charter? What goes in it? What do you get out of it? The BOK answers all these questions. By following the framework, your projects will have a fighting chance and not get caught up in a tangle of disorganization.As for the PMP-applicability of this reference, it does not address contracts, team-building, or ethics, which are all required for passing the test. When I studied for the test, I spent about 5% of my time studying the PMBOK and 95% on other reference materials. I earned my PMP after 5 weeks of studying, without memorizing anything from the BOK.",4.0,"Good reference, but you will fail PMP if you rely only on it",1081123200,"04 5, 2004",15,17,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 A1QKQZBAXE5YUV,0615587097,Hollyberry,"[0, 0]","Prank wars,A very good book! It was different then her other two books, but that just made it better. Even though it was different then all her other books, it still had Stephanie's humor that I look forward to in all her books. The book had me guessing until the very end. I would recommend it to all my friends. Another great buy from Stephanie Fowers. Buy it you won't regret it!",5.0,LOVED IT!!!!,1329177600,"02 14, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AR1FF1S9QUMRQ,0307595870,G. Davis,"[0, 0]","The person who finds little interest in characters talking about the plot, as distinct from always acting out the plot, might not like this book. These people talk and think and plan and surmise a lot. But they are all very interesting people, Harry Hole (apparently pronounced "Hooley") especially. I have now read all of the Harry Hole novels available in Kindle and will no doubt add the other two someday. There was never a time, while reading any of them, when I grew bored and set the book aside. Compelling, all of them, beginning to end. For me, anyway.",5.0,Convoluted but compelling,1361404800,"02 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A168ECX1UJLAFL,1416905944,MonaK,"[6, 7]","Hilari Bell never disappoints her readers, giving us fresh ideas and life-like characters with intriguing situations that keep the pages turning. I've been a fantasy and science fiction fan for several decades and enjoy the novelty of her novels. Although her books are labeled ""young adult"", even us seniors and those between will enjoy her work. If the other books in the The Shield, Sword, and Crown series are as spectacular as Shield of Stars readers are in for a treat they'll read again and again! This one is as great as Hilari Bell's Songs of Power and Matter of Profit, my two favorites of her books (and in the top 10 of all books I've read.)",5.0,Another Bell Masterpiece!,1197590400,"12 14, 2007",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1309XM25B9O5E,0345476697,"Jeanne M. Brightcliffe ""Book & Music Lover""","[0, 0]","If you like suspense, if you like well written characters and if you love exciting twists and turns than this is the book for you. Just make sure that once you start it you've left a nice open block of time to finish it because I promise, you won't be able to put it down!",5.0,Great Read!,1156291200,"08 23, 2006",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AG2CWGOS5SE9N,0446539740,"book lover ""Chris""","[12, 17]","I have always enjoyed Baldacci's books and this one didn't disappoint. It was a little slow going getting into it, but it did pick up and hold my interest. Fans of Baldacci won't be disappointed.On another note...I think it's crazy that so many people have given this book 1 star based solely on price and I really think Amazon should remove all non-reviews of the actual book material. If the rating is based solely on the price of the book it should be yanked to be fair to the author. Because, honestly, at first I wasn't going to get it based on the average star rating shown on Amazon. It was only after I read the reviews, and realized 90% of the one star reviews were from people crying over the book price, that I reconsidered. It is really unfair to the author.",5.0,Good author,1241913600,"05 10, 2009",12,17,helpful,0.7058823529411765,1 ANKFOUU59WBFE,1477567593,sock chick,"[25, 35]","....but this book is flat out unreadable.The author, not a professional writer, is very well intentioned, but should have employed either a ghostwriter or a very good editor. And definitely a proofreader. Spell check only goes so far.Most of the material covered within is suggesting you read from the references at the end; in other words, Google any of the key words and you'll find scholarly papers or books written by medical/scientific professionals that will provide the information the potential reader is looking for.Written without the use of a proofreader, the number of grammatical errors makes some sections so hard to read (you're guessing what word should have been used) and then the plethora of fonts and sizes~~cut and paste from the web~~even makes the Resource area almost impossible to use.The actual meat of the book, what the author did to change her diet to put HER cancer in remission (and be warned; every persons metabolism and cancer is so different, her own results may or may not be relevant to others), is a hodge-podge of a few recipes, some pseudo-scientific *formulas* and an endless list of supplements she used, but with no quantifiers. Were ALL the supplements used daily? Once, twice, or three times? On and off? In what amounts? Were there side effects? The list is staggering, both in potential cost and bodily effect, leave the reader perplexed. What was it that worked---the diet or the bombardment of supplementation?Since this is a one person episode and not a double blind professional trial, I again question the relevance of the book for people at large.The very basis of it was work done at John Hopkins University many many years ago and is available on their website, and other reputable medical sites. The idea is not new and has been published in slightly different formats by actual physicians.Please, save your money, do some research, and find a book or two that can really help you.",1.0,I never thought I would write a bad review......,1360540800,"02 11, 2013",25,35,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1RYVVES51WA86,0061139610,"Sharilyn ""Sharilyn""","[7, 9]","Mixed feelings on this book; I don't believe the author shows any ""without a doubt"" evidence that his father was anything but a genius/wierdo/creep. I also do not see any resemblence in the two photos he swears are Elizabeth Short from his dad's collection. I got the impression during most of the book that he is guilty of trying to force the evidence to fit his theory so he can claim to solve the crime no one else could solve. Speaking of, I got the impression at the beginning that the author is a little ""full of himself"".One more small thing--I couldn't stand the way he skipped around from chapter to chapter, instead of covering one subject matter and moving on. Five chapters later, he's on the same subject, again!! (mostly pertaining to witnesses & evidence)None the less, I'm glad I read it, but wouldn't recommend anyone to buy it full price.",3.0,Not convinced.,1158537600,"09 18, 2006",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A2865MQ91T2QMX,0385338724,SPS,"[0, 0]","When I purchase a book by Sophie, I know I am getting hours of fun reading.She keeps me entertained with every page!",5.0,I love Sophie!,1341705600,"07 8, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DSKHR28ML1Q8,B00E6BRNVS,Gail Rodriguez,"[0, 0]","This was a cute story line, but like so many romance novels there are either a hero or heroine & they fall in love at 1st sight &fight their feelings as long as they can then give in & end up together happily ever after.",3.0,Choctaw Hollow,1396137600,"03 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A17O3IALB0VVSA,1623781183,mapleleafmanny,"[0, 0]","This feels like a very different genre for author Lizzy Ford, but it still holds all the characteristic charm she has a knack for infusing into her books. Romance flows through without being an erotic novel. Lizzy has started a trilogy here that puts a new twist on the Biblical prophecies of the four horsemen.I wouldn't consider this my favorite of Lizzy Ford's books, but that won't stop me from reading it. I did find it a little confusing initially to figure out who's who and what the storyline was exactly but by the end of the book I feel like I have a better understanding. The story jumps you right into the action without too much chance for character development; I'm sure it's a hard thing to do though. Some books work best that way, and others work best with a slower start. This was probably the best start for this type of story.The characters are a little confusing with the whole first-gen and so on of reincarnated angels. I still don't fully understand it even after the first book being over and I'm thinking it may or may not be something that is further developed. I think it's just gonna be one of those story quirks that one just needs to accept and try to understand as best as one can.**I received this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion**",4.0,A different genre from the author,1383955200,"11 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1B0U680JNQKDG,0800733355,Shelby Olsen,"[0, 0]","I liked this book. it wasn't too mushy or bad. it was actually pretty pleasant. there was no surprise turn, which was good.",5.0,Very good,1393372800,"02 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2DGNNCEXOD69X,0545055873,Daniel Waisberg,"[0, 0]","Shaun Tan never disappoints, his books always bring a feeling of discovery, be it in the story itself or in what it awakens in the reader.Tales from outer suburbia is a collection of short stories which makes for an easy read. The drawings are amazing as usual.I warmly recommend this book, although if you are new to Shaun Tan religion (!) I would go forThe ArrivalorThe Red Treefirst. Enjoy!",5.0,Mystical and beautiful,1234828800,"02 17, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3MH7HTSGWRCJ0,0385511809,trainreader,"[7, 7]","Henry Perowne, a British neurosurgeon in his late forties, with an attractive intelligent wife with whom he's still very much in love with, a beautiful poet daughter, and an amiable talented Blues guitarist son, describes in detail one of his Saturdays in 2003. The day starts ominously enough, before dawn, where Henry thinks he observes a plane on fire crashing onto the London streets. This image will portend the rest of his day, which will include a minor traffic accident with an ugly encounter, a particularly competitive game of squash with an American colleague, several arguments and ruminations about the impending war with Iraq, visiting his Alzheimer inflicted mother in a nursing home, preparing fish stew for his aforementioned family and tempermental poet father-in-law, and one very intense scene in his house. Oh yeah, he also manages to squeeze in life-saving brain surgery towards the end of the day.I can understand loving or hating Ian McEwan's ""Saturday."" The supporters can point to McEwan's flawless writing and perceptive observation of current events and the human condition. The detractors can counter by referencing the tedious way McEwan over-writes a scene, such as a game of squash or the preparation of fish stew. Indeed, maybe only 50 of the 289 pages are stirring. One might even accuse the author of ""showing off"" his knowledge of certain esoteric subjects.Let's just say that I kind of agree with both schools of ""Saturday"" critics. Superbly written, but boring and plotless most of the time, unless one is particularly interested in these particular subjects.Some of the reviewers point to McEwan's overall theme of how seemingly small events can have profound consequences in our lives, even on the microscopic level (DNA). Something else that I think the author intends concerns the never ending struggle between the intellectual/cultured verses the unintellectual/uncultured. Perowne vs. Baxter, Sadam Hussein vs. Western Ideals, terrorism vs. order, poetry music and art vs. street life and crime; science vs. ignorance (and sometimes religion). But even in the highly cultured life of Henry Perowne, things can break down, whether it be losing one's temper in ""friendly"" competition, alcoholism, the degeneration of the brain due to neorological illness, or in an encounter with the ugly side of life. (It's interesting to note that Theo, as a blues musician, plays what was long considered a more ""primitive"" form of music, because of its slavery roots).Overall, I think that ""Saturday"" is a worthwhile read. Just don't expect a rollercoaster ride.",3.0,"One day in the life of Henry Perowne, British neurosurgeon extraordinaire",1169856000,"01 27, 2007",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A30VD87EPIJXSL,1480177687,Kassy,"[5, 5]","Don't skip this one because it's a novella and not a full length book. It's not expensive and it transitions Joy into Sydney. You won't feel that you didn't get your money's worth. Ms. Kimelman gives us a real adventure as well as the development of Joy from a grieving exile into a private detective/avenging hero.Wasting away in Margaritaville, Joy is approached and recruited by no longer detective Mulberry as a private detective in his ""business"". He sends a trainer to bring her physical abilities up to speed. She is already a natural as far as her intellect and instincts.This one sets up some characters and history for Sydney Rye #3, Insatiable, but it can stand on its own for a complete story and exciting read.",4.0,A must read for this series!,1364083200,"03 24, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AYOJ4CX2CZP7Y,0312353839,G. Henson,"[0, 0]","I found this book to be meandering. It just kind of moseyed along. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly good either. I wasn't really tempted to quit reading, but I did often check to see how much more was left. Kinsey is a great character, but this story was a seemed a bit mundane for her. She's worthy of better.",3.0,"Not great, but not awful. Just OK.",1384819200,"11 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1I6U5AQAT3ZG9,0547853149,"E. B. MULLIGAN ""Bronwyn""","[0, 0]","1917 Los Angeles California, teenage runaways inherit a magical legacy abilities to stop time and reverse death.Kate Witherspoon has lived a bohemian life with her artist parents and wants to be a movie director in the developing business of Flickers.Midwestern farm boy Julian Birch was crippled in childhood from polio.My 12 year old was lost at first so I got him the first two books to read (summary are below). He finished all 3 so i will look for moreby this author.The Vespertine published 2012 (320 pages); It's the summer of 1889, and Amelia is new to Baltimore, Maryland and eager totake in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset--visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. But when one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia's world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she's not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.The Springsweet published 2013 (300 pages): When seventeen-year-old Zora arrives in the frontier town of West Glory, Oklahoma, to help her widowed aunt, she discovers that she possesses the astonishing ability to sense water under the parched earth. When her aunt hires her out as a ""springsweet"" to advise settlers where to dig their wells, Zora feels the burden of holding the key to something so essential to survival in this unforgiving land. Even more, she finds herself longing for love the way the prairie thirsts for water. Maybe, in the wildness of the territories, Zora can finally move beyond simply surviving and start living.",4.0,Conclusion to a series follows the children of two earlier novels,1382313600,"10 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2H9VYBRSG191M,0743520815,Ellen Pate,"[6, 9]","These CD's arrived yesterday and I eagerly listened to the first 2 of the 4 disks. The concepts on these disks are timeless, and especially valuable today when the overwhelming narcissism of our culture/media sends the wrong message to our young people on what it takes to get ahead. His talk about ""the boomerang"" of self absorption is especially apt, as is the discussion about enthusiasm and gratitude.I have one caveat, however, that I think is a major detractor from these CD's. It's the music- not only dated and maudlin in its 'in your face' idealism, I know that something like this will turn the very people it's intended to instruct (the youth), from taking the entire package seriously.I'm lucky, I've home-schooled, my now college junior. He knows the value of well researched and honest advice (99% of other success seminar material is junk). He will listen to the CD's and look beyond the preachy music.This CD set is outstanding, but I suggest in the next issued set-to cut the music. It demeans the intellegence of the audience that it endeavors to attract. Butif you have mature and thinking kids, though, this will prove invaluable to their career success.",4.0,Timeless Wisdom,1160092800,"10 6, 2006",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2SPVQNKOW9YNN,1552852113,"Douglas Schifter ""food maestro""","[6, 13]","THis cookbook is a very good ""how to"" type cookbook. I ran into a couple of negatives however. First is the cheap paper this cookbook is made with. Don't get it wet by any means. A drop of water on the page and it will show up after it dries with a warped page. Drop any quantity of fluid and it will need to be replaced. Very cheaply made and no quality of construction at all. I have done a few recipes and I found one with instructions to coarsely chop some nuts for about 8 seconds. When I did that I wound up with nut powder. So watch your machine don't go by the timer. I like the recipes and ease of using them with the machine. There are many traditional jewish recipes which I like and if you wish a good cookbook in that vein then this is the one for you. If you are a Jewish Princess who wants to get in and out of the kitchen and impress for the holidays with your cooking then this is a stellar choice. Just keep it dry!!",3.0,Nice recipes but cheap quality,1248739200,"07 28, 2009",6,13,helpful,0.46153846153846156,1 A3MR2YM9ZLVQOI,1569700664,Aka no Joou,"[11, 11]","Shino Yuzuru is a third year high school student who is constantly being judged by his good looks, that are in contrast to his personality. It's not strange that when he hears the story of a junior's weird habit he feels quite curious about it; Seryou Touji is a sophomore that has adopted as a custom accepting any girl, who confesses first on Monday, as his girlfriend during the week. If he doesn't fall in love with them, the relationship ends in that Sunday and, since he is so popular, he is very lucky to get a new girlfriend every Monday, or maybe not so lucky. Shino is pondering about all this when, coincidentally, he turns out to be the first person to meet Seryou in that week. His curiosity takes the best of him, so much that he jokingly asks Seryou to be his couple of the week after hearing he would accept anyone. What will happen when Seryou takes his ""rule"" a bit too seriously...?Seven Days is presented to us as a boy's love manga, but it's certainly much more than that. This is a romance story with a premise that transcends any genre; the nature of falling in love. We all judge based on appearances, at least until we are able to know more, that's why the concept of seven days to fall in love sounds so compelling and very interesting. From that idea, the plot progresses slowly, instantly taking us to our days of innocent dreams, and creating a sort of magical purity between these teenagers, who wouldn't be able to enjoy such details if they weren't completely unexpected. The week promise is the thread that keeps them together and can definitely separate them at the end of that week.This manga would probably become only an endearing story, if it weren't for the breathtakingly beautiful way the game is presented to us. A sort of delicate, disheveled and yet beautiful art-style; a very clever way of placing simple words, playing with panel alignment and flashbacks to empower them; and characters with very interesting and quirky personalities. Tachibana Venio's story, combined with Takarai Rihito's art, worked with these details in a way that made Seven Days a light but brilliant piece. There is definitely a lovely harmony between all the elements, each of them enhancing the beauty of the other, until the point you can feel, for example, the tension and tranquility in Yuzuru's archery performance, just as Seryou would picture it.Character-wise, there is nothing more interesting than realistic, flawed personalities, at least for me. These boys are considered handsome, and they are very popular, but they have a lot of complicated and not so good qualities that people don't like to imagine while looking at them. However, they complement each other nicely, and their bad points can actually become charming once you get to look at them from different angles.Compared to most fast-paced boy's loves, Seven Days turns out to be very simple and original, in a way that strikes me as slice of life. In fact, every time I read this volume a strange sense of peace overcomes me. I can't help but think that I slowly fell in love too, but with the manga, because it artfully caresses any fiber of romanticist you might have. Shino and Seryou remind us what falling in love is about. Not the I love you since I first saw you or you are so hot/strong/powerful that I can't resist you type. It's the this is the real me, I'm getting to know you, and I really like what I see kind of love. Honestly, this is the sort of romantic development that I would like to see in most romantic stories. For now, they are just getting to know each other (makes me wonder about the 16+ rating, this is not yaoi), but we almost can't wait to see what will come on Friday in one of the best weeks of boy's love. Seven Days would serve as a really heartwarming introduction to boy's love with an unusual and well-thought ""game"" that leaves us thinking about the reasons we fall in love.Special Thanks to Digital Manga that provided the digital copy of the book.",5.0,Give me a week to fall in love,1288828800,"11 4, 2010",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A1E6WSA8D7QW0M,084991759X,"N. D. Harmon ""ndharmon""","[13, 13]",Max Lucado truly defines love. Not on the superficial levels. On the deepest levels. He uses humor and his every day life experience to show that we are loved (by God) and that we can love others althought sometimes loving is difficult.,5.0,One of the most meaningful books I ever read.,1068076800,"11 6, 2003",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A2TRFMBHSJAEHA,0307913090,Cricket,"[0, 0]","Having watched the HBO showing, I had to read the book. This was fascinating. Characters are built carefully and well, you love them, hate them, worry about them and in some cases mourn for them! It was had to put down to eat or sleep. The plot, obviously, goes on and on (there are 5 volumes!) but that is just something I look forward to.",5.0,Best read I've had in a long time.,1400716800,"05 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1377JOVMTWFSZ,1483949273,Alexis Cruz,"[0, 0]",Oh boy.....what a twist. The grey wolves series has me hook. I am impatiently waiting for the next one. Love them all.,5.0,Book 6,1363910400,"03 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LNKPXJ5ETJLG,0596002963,"""napraforgo""","[5, 6]","This is a book that will not find its way back to the shelf, my certainly didn't. I once picked it up to look something up and never put it back, it sits next to my keyboard.It is an alphabetic reference to all the HTML tags and it not only list them, it shows you how to use them correctly, what your options are etc. It also has a list of the HTML codes for characters, a hex-dec conversion table, and a color table that lists the color names, their RGB values, hex codes and the hex code for the nearest web safe color.Indispensable, a must for everyone who codes in HTML and very cleverly designed, too.",5.0,"Very cool, very usable!",999820800,"09 7, 2001",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1V4TZ4TXGBH3E,1401244009,Anarchy in the US,"[8, 8]","After seven years of doing Batman (about six years if you consider the comic wasn't published the first few months of the New 52), Grant Morrison's run on the Caped Crusader comes to an end. What originally started out to be a seventeen issues worth up to R.I.P, has now turned into a sprawling epic of Dick Grayson becoming Batman with Damien Wayne as Robin, to Bruce Wayne hopping through time and space, to finally becoming Batman again and starting a world wide corporation of Bat-people against international criminal agency known as Leviathan. Batman Incorporated volume 2 ends it all on a big action and emotional climax, but the final conclusion might or might not leave you a bit disappointed.BATMAN INCORPORATED VOL.2: GOTHAM'S MOST WANTED collects issues #7-13 and BATMAN INCORPORATED SPECIAL #1. Continuing from volume 1, Batman looks to have been beaten by Talia's bodyguard. Leviathan looks like it has Gotham and Batman Inc. on the ropes of defeat, but a member of the Bat-family steps up to save everyone with all their might to turn the tide of battle, which leads into this characters death. With little time to morn, the character's passing pushes Batman enough that he is dead set to end this war with Leviathan and Talia Al Ghul once and for all. Seeing as Talia will not stop unless she or Batman die, will Batman finally break his code of not killing to stop her?Much like the previous volume, Morrison focuses on action and tying up loose ends of his run on Batman, and it turns out to be a pretty good straightforward read without any of Morrison's hidden messages or metaphors to confuse readers. So if you are completely up to date on Morrison's long epic, you'll know what is going on. There isn't much to say without giving things away but it's pretty much Batman Inc. vs. Leviathan conclusion. So I'll just leave it at that. Again, here is the reading order of Grant Morrison's run on Batman:Batman and Son -The Black GloveBatman R.I.P.Final CrisisBatman: Time and the BatmanThe Return of Bruce WayneBatman & Robin (three volumes worth)Batman, Incorporated Vol.1Batman Incorporated Vol.1: Demon StarBatman Incorporated Vol.2: Gotham's most Wanted - ConclusionThe big element in this volume beyond it being the finale of Morrison's Batman is the death of the Bat-family member. I know many probably know of who it is by now from either it be the internet or read it the select trades who have the requiem issue on said character, but I will still not spoil who it is. I will say the character goes out in a blaze of glory and it truly impacts the whole Bat family in the many other Bat-books (in their respective issue #18s and #10 for Worlds Finest). It's not some hack-eyed death folks. This is a whopper. It also serves as the final tipping point for Batman going all out himself in a focused rage you have to see to believe. Again, all the plots of Morrison's run comes to a close, and with the theme of ouroboros,it fits the theme quite well considering the writers history.While Morrison writes issues #7-10 and #12-13, issues #11 and the Batman Annual Special are written by amalgamation of writers and artist within the comic industry similar to the Batman: Black & White, Legends of the Dark Knight, and Adventures of Superman series. They are essentially filler issues that have nothing to do with Batman, but Batman Inc. members. They do serve to be enjoyable in a way, if you are one who enjoyed the various Bat Inc. members.Extras include the usual alternate covers, but there is a special closing statement from Morrison himself and looking back on his work for Batman. I love these farewell messages after a long series is concluded, so this always special for me. It is also nice because Morrison summarizes any questions readers might have about something. And best of all, there is a timeline showcasing all of Morrison's Batman with additional suggestions to other books like Year One, Batwoman: Elegy, and A Death in the Family if (not necessary mind you) you wish to know more.Art duties are again mostly handled by Chris Burnham, who does his own Frank Quietly impressions to a fault. The art is detailed, uniquely designed narrative structure, and bolds well with Morrison's writing. Some occasion fill-in artist do a few pages here and there, but it doesn't detract from the story.So what are the flaws here? First of all, since this is the last chapter of Morrison's Batman, in order to proper understand everything (including the ending twist, especially), you'd best know your Morrison work on Batman. It's not really a flaw, but you'll miss out on certain things if they are not cleared up. And although this is pretty straightforward read from Morrison, he does have a few times the narrative jumps, but it's only a loose hiccup. For example, the same page the Bat character dies, Batman is shown flying off the roof with someone in hand, then the same page, he's holding the dead body. It's slightly rough, but I think you'll know what's going on.The real problems lie in the ending and death of said Bat character. With everything Morrison builds up upon, the ending might feel anti-climatic or underwhelming. I will say this without giving it away though: it does still fit the theme of ouroboros, the sense of something constantly re-creating itself; a constant circle. It's fitting of Morrison that works not only for Batman, but for Superheroes alike in that no matter who writes what, no matter what status quo happens, no matter how long it last, and even if a character finds a happy or sad ending...a comic character will always revert back to the original self and the cycle of stories that change the character will happen again. So you'll either love the idea or just be disappointed in it.And the death of the Bat-family member might really upset people (as it still does in current comics!). This characters death literally impacts ALL other Bat books (aside from Batwing and Batwoman), which is odd considering Batman Inc. is supposed to be Morrison's storyline before the New 52 and shouldn't effect the other Bat-books, but it does. And some might see it as a cheap way to get attention. So it wouldn't surprise me if some readers get taken out of the story due to the incident.Either way, BATMAN INCORPORATED VOL.2: GOTHAM'S MOST WANTED ends on an action packed and emotional ride, with a conclusion that I think fits right within Morrison's ideas. Most of the storylines get closed, the art is great, the fill-in issues #11 and the Annual Special are pretty good by themselves, and the extras at the end are welcomed. But the death of a major character and the conclusion might hate and despise Morrison or DC and make you feel cheated. And you might not really care for the stand alone Batman Inc. member issues. I'll give this book a 4 stars because I still enjoyed this book and what Morrison did for Batman. And yes, that it's all finally over for Morrison and Batman together. It was a fun ride and crazy ride.",4.0,Grant Morrison's Seven Year Run Comes to a Close You'll Love or Hate,1386028800,"12 3, 2013",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A3Q9JLHBNGKC14,0967398371,"Amazon Customer ""Francophile""","[11, 19]",Wide-ranging discussion of often unknown factors that prevent weight loss. Highly recommended.,5.0,X- factor,1178409600,"05 6, 2007",11,19,helpful,0.5789473684210527,1 A3CSV05GDOYKSB,0689306474,"David L. Tong ""www.davidleetong.com""","[0, 0]","It's a wonderful book to read to your kids, whether they've seen the movie or not.The book caters to a younger, kinder to elementary crowd but it's very well written and paced for bed time.Great find",4.0,"Great story, a fresh perspective from the motion picture.",1381881600,"10 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZOAP455JODFA,047194002X,Geetesh Bajaj,"[5, 5]","Although the book is a study guide for MOS, you don't have to be taking that exam(s) to benefit from this book. If you are intimidated by spreadsheets, and want to get started with a text book equivalent of your school books, this book fits the requirement.And of course, if you are a candidate for a MOS exam, then you'll love the book. I liked how it is laid out -- the exercises are ""real life"" and the scenarios are thoughful and well explained.",5.0,More than an MOS guide,1157414400,"09 5, 2006",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A34EK57S6PELWF,0452281253,J. Laydbak,"[4, 12]","As a book, this is not particularly good. The reader is not inspired to come to the proper conclusion, instead we are beaten over the head with it. While her philosophical ideals are interesting, the characters are not, the plot is weak, and the society entirely unbelievable.",3.0,"A treatise, not a novel",1302307200,"04 9, 2011",4,12,helpful,0.3333333333333333,1 AA0FVGDUXNXH,161218331X,Cyn,"[0, 0]",interesting writing plot. love the main characters in this book and the romance between the characters. can't wait to read next one,4.0,Great read,1390780800,"01 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALDV8DDZWWPYE,0547417713,Miss Darcy,"[25, 31]","My headline pretty much says it all. I love Julia Child, and I really enjoyed ""My Life in France,"" perhaps because that was intended to be a cohesive story for a public audience. These letters, while obviously connected, were meant for one reader, not thousands, and consequently the book doesn't really gel. It also seemed like the editor, who purposefully chose these letters out of hundreds, didn't quite have the knack of picking exciting pieces (or maybe there just weren't any). I expected this reading experience to be akin to eavesdropping on a juicy conversation between two great friends you'd love to be ""in"" with. Unfortunately, this simply lacks any special punch.",2.0,Wanted to love it---just couldn't get into it.,1337212800,"05 17, 2012",25,31,helpful,0.8064516129032258,1 A2A9LKOKDL1LRX,0062294822,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I was so disappointed in this book, the first ever by this author. But I felt like i just got started on it and it was over.I do look forward to her next one as the quick 2 bonus chapters made me want more .",3.0,favorite author,1375056000,"07 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2OCN5Z5Y8E8XJ,1940883148,Lisa Hines,"[0, 0]","Make It a Double by Sawyer Bennett is the second book in her Last Call series. This story focuses on Hunter's twin Brody and his life after prison.Brody is slowly adjusting to life after prison. He still doesn't like physical contact, does not drink anymore, and is trying to open up to his family. He figures he's already put them through enough as it is.Alyssa is still wicked ticked at Brody for calling her a rich, prissy, entitled bi*ch. She only offered him a volunteer opportunity at her animal shelter for his community service. It makes no sense.As the real story behind Brody's incarceration unfolds we learn why his opinion of the upperclass is so harsh. We also learn more about Alyssa's background and we learn with Brody about her past and why she is so down to earth.A beautiful and VERY dramatic story of second chances, wrong first impressions, trust and faith. I LOVED Brody's story. It will make your heart hurt for what he's been through and I can't wait for more in the Last Call series from Sawyer Bennett.",5.0,Review: Last Call #2: Make It A Double,1398124800,"04 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A6ERJM6WBLMLO,0099297701,Joy,"[0, 0]","Even more gruesome than what was depicted on screen. Hannibal continues to be the villain I love to hate. I rather enjoyed the ending, as compared to the movie, though that did have its merit also. I'm looking forward to the next. I sincerely hope that like its predecessors, it will not disappoint.",5.0,Spine tingling,1403827200,"06 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2EU9VP0MRMUGE,0425220168,Sarah (Feeling Fictional),"[0, 0]","Tally and Clay grew up together and were the best of friends from the moment they met until the day Clay killed her abusive step-father after discovering what he was doing to Tally. Clay was sent to juvie and Tally was so traumatised by the event that she begged her social worker to tell Clay she had died so he wouldn't come looking for her when he was released. Now Tally's job involves helping at risk children and when those in her care start to disappear in mysterious circumstances she can only think of one person to turn to for help. Clay is shocked when Tally returns from the dead and he is hurt by the way the person he has always loved the most is now so scared of him but now that Tally is back in his life he will do anything to keep her there. There is no way he's going to let her slip through his fingers for a second time and will do whatever it takes to prove he would never hurt her. As they investigate the disappearances it quickly becomes clear that there is more going on than meets the eye but can they figure out who is behind the murders and find a way to rescue the last boy who was taken before he is killed too?I have become a huge fan of the Psy-Changeling series since I started reading it and I love the way the world is getting more detailed and complex with every instalment. Each book answers some of my questions but leaves me with new ones and I can't get enough of the characters or the world. It's great that we get to see how previous couples are getting along and also that we are slowly being introduced to more and more members of the DarkRiver and SnowDancer packs. Nalini Singh has a way of making you feel invested in the lives of all her characters, even the ones you don't know very well, which is one of the things that makes these books quite so addictive.I have to admit that I found Tally a little irritating at times, the way she was so terrified of Clay and kept flinching whenever he even looked at her made me really angry when all he has ever done is love and protect her. Then as you start to find out more about her background and the things she went through as a child her actions become more understandable, I still didn't like the way she treated him but I could at least see why she behaved the way she did. She was terrified of putting her trust in him and ending up getting hurt again and for someone who has known pain and hatred since she was 3 years old that was bound to have an effect on her. When she starts to open up to Clay more I began to like her and I have to say I enjoyed the banter between them and the way she wasn't too scared to tease him even in front of other members of the pack.Clay was an easy guy to love, he is a respected member of the DarkRiver pack and has the trust and love of everyone around him. They are all protective of him and worry that Tally isn't good for him but once they see how much he cares for her and that she feels the same way about him they are quick to welcome her into their family. Clay is the kind of guy who will do anything to protect those he loves, he is loyal, loving and kind but he can also be arrogant and domineering. His animal side is always quite close to the surface which can make him come across as quite scary at times (you definitely wouldn't want to be on his bad side!) but around Tally he is actually a big softy. The things he says to her just melted my heart and left me with a smile on my face.Mine to Possess is another fantastic instalment to the Psy-Changeling series, I seriously don't think Nalini Singh could write a book that I didn't love! This is a series that needs to be read in order because the world building is too complex to skip around without missing half of the ongoing plot but it is well worth investing the time needed to read these books. I can't get enough of them and I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment asap.",4.0,Psy-Changeling book 4,1373068800,"07 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8SELDVSAMF3I,031604461X,"Jordan Reid ""The Ink Puddle""","[0, 0]","Bella Swan is marrying Edward Cullen, the [not so] man of her dreams. She will soon become a vampire and leave the life and people that she loves behind her to spend an eternity with him. The wedding, although a little outrageous for her taste and Jacob having wolf rages, was perfect. The honeymoon was equally fabulous, she finally did the deed for the first time with someone that she loves and was going to be with forever. She and Edward on a secluded Island with tons of things to do, but what Bella really wants to do is have sex with Edward, who refuses, again. Other than that their honey moon is perfect as well. That is until the impossible happens. Bella misses her period and starts having strange cravings. But that's impossible, Edward is a vampire, and vampires do not reproduce that way. Edward and Bella's lives are about to be turned upside down and the forever that they thought that they would have together might be caught sort by a disaster.[Spoiler Alert for those who haven't read the book.]When Breaking Dawn, the fourth and final installment of the Twilight series came out I was so excited I went to Walmart to get it at midnight. Although it started out really good, it was my least favorite of the series. I'm not really sure how I would have went about doing to story myself if I was Stephenie but I feel like a happy ending for everyone was way too forced with Bella ending up with the best of both worlds. Although I myself usually enjoy books with weird aspects, this one was a little too weird for me. But then again that's what's so great about the supernatural genre: anything goes.I did like how the book starts and ends with Bella's perspective but in the middle it's Jaocb's point of view. I also liked how all of the character's finally come together and there are no more secrets which is the way I feel books are supposed to end.",2.0,Breaking Dawn,1322179200,"11 25, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AS3HUBXKPE03W,1400043549,"J. Rudy ""IT Professional""","[6, 12]","In ""Of Love and Evil"", by Anne Rice, former assassin Toby O'Dare/Lucky the Fox is back looking to complete the restoration of his soul. Picking up where she left off in ""Angel Time (The Songs of the Seraphim)"", Toby meets his former lover and 10-year old child and travels through time to save another person who stands wrongly accused. Readers who love the lyrical prose of Rice won't be disappointed with the style. However, I was very disappointed with the rehashed plotline and the lack of pages (only 170 ???). It's been a few months since I read ""Angel Time"", but the plotline in ""Of Love and Evil"" seems to be very familiar. I love Anne Rice's writing, but this book left me disappointed. Unless you are a hard-core Anne Rice fan, recommend you wait for the paperback/Kindle version.SPOILER (Plot summary)Toby wants to reform his ways after spending years as a contract hit man. As part of his penance, Malchiah, the angel, takes Toby back in time to save a Jew who stands wrongly accused of poisoning a wealthy merchant's son. Toby, a Catholic, while fighting the discrimination of the day, uses his knowledge of poisons to figure out who is poisoning the merchant's son.From my limited recollection of ""Angel Time"", Toby went back in time to save Jews that were being persecuted in the Middle Ages. Swap out the countries, and it seems like I had already read this book.",3.0,didn't I already read this???,1285718400,"09 29, 2010",6,12,helpful,0.5,1 A1WJ3WG5EMM2IC,0131735365,"Nathan Ives ""StrategyDriven Principal""","[0, 0]","Little Red Book of Sales Answers by Jeffrey Gitomer addresses the questions all sales people ask, particularly those questions holding them back from making the sales and the money they should. Jeffrey's 99.5 answers address:- Personal Improvement that Leads to Personal Growth- Prospecting for Golden Leads and Making Solid Appointments- How to Win the Sales Battle AND the Sales War- Sales Skill Building... One Brick at a Time- Building the Friendship. Building the Relationship. Earning the Referral. Earning the Testimonial. Earning the Reorder.- Building Your Personal Brand- The Final AHA!Why You Should Read This BookI like Little Red Book of Sales Answers for its practical, easy-to-implement actions that help expand one's relationships and earn more sales. Jeffrey goes directly to the core of doubt many sales people harbor and provides them with the tools needed to create confidence and immediately improve sales performance.Each of Jeffrey's answers provides a step-by-step common sense approach to selling that anyone can implement. Truth be told, we at StrategyDriven have successfully implemented many of Jeffrey's recommendations.Little Red Book of Sales Answers actionably addresses sales persons' questions and doubts; enabling them to achieve more for their clients, their organizations, and themselves. For its immediately actionable sales methods, Little Red Book of Sales Answers is a StrategyDriven recommended read.All the Best,Nathan IvesStrategyDriven Principal",5.0,Lessons our business successfully applies,1369958400,"05 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1L950O1BZCEWS,B008732YPQ,"J. Rogers Barrow ""Prince Consort""","[0, 0]","Must we suffer in silence abuse and unfairness ? No ! We must pay them back. The evil must be made to suffer. They deserve to be thrown to vampires who will seek blood vengeance. The book is well done, and crafted with care. Good work, indeed.",5.0,Take Revenge,1390694400,"01 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LN7ATQPB3ZIA,0373776985,"L. Cialini ""Avid Kindle Addict""","[16, 18]","This book was fairly decent read. I was very absorbed in the first part of the book but about halfway through it started falling really flat. The tone was a little weird through out the book, it stayed relatively consistent however there were parts where one of the characters says something flippant, or it's worded flippantly and it kind of jarred. There is one section where she uses the word laved waaay too much] The sex scenes were not very engaging, I skimmed over most of them, I just didn't really feel the heat between ""Zachie"" (I kid you not, she calls him this at one point) and Annabelle. Overall I'm giving it 3 stars because I was really engaged in the beginning. This book had a lot of promise , but for me it fell short of expectations.",3.0,Wicked Nights falls a little flat,1340668800,"06 26, 2012",16,18,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A1LFE3TZIUBMS8,0821769359,"Amazon Customer ""Always reading reader""","[0, 0]","The story was awesome & kept my attention throughout! A lot of twists, and just when I thought the book was almost done, another twist kept it going. Was hoping for a pregnancy but that didn't happen! Keep writing!!",5.0,excellent,1386115200,"12 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMX0PJKV4PPNJ,0375832742,"E. R. Bird ""Ramseelbird""","[5, 6]","If the world doesn't sit up and take note of Ms. Sue Stauffacher soon, I'm gonna have to start rolling some heads. It makes no sense to me that while authors like Kate DiCamillo, Joan Bauer, and Sharon Creech hog the spotlight collectively, no one's given Ms. Stauffacher her due. I suspect this may be because her last name is difficult to spell/pronounce. Perhaps she should consider a pen name. Something catchy like, Greatest Living Children's Author, perhaps. I had read Ms. Stauffacher's previous work, ""Donuthead"" and had been impressed. A person doesn't pull off a book lugging around the moniker ""Donuthead"" without some serious writing cajones. The buzz surrounding her next work, ""Harry Sue"" was good right from the get-go. By now I've read this book cover to cover and I am convinced that this is star material. What we have here is a children's author that's going places. Ms. Stauffacher has that rare ability to suffuse her works with hope without ever overdoing it. Even when she's giving (as Harry Sue would say) a ""sucker punch to the heart"", you never resent her for it. What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is pure undiluted talent.First things first. If you're gonna read this book then you're gonna have to immerse yourself in a little Conglish first. See, the hero of this tale is Harry Sue. Harry Sue is a gal (YES, a gal) with a mother in jail and a father who was knifed in the joint. Her primo ambition is to be reunited with her mother (busted on an ill-placed meth lab) by becoming a steel hearted conette. Harry Sue knows all the jail lingo (she provides a helpful Conglish glossary at the book's start) but the steel heart part of the plan... well that's not turning out so well. See, Harry Sue's got a soft spot for a whole lot of different people. She currently lives with the mother of all negligent day care providers, her Granny. Granny may know how to put on a good show for the parents that drop off their crumb snatchers daily, but it's Harry Sue who's trying to find a way to bust 'em out of ""Granny's Lap"" (the name of the center). Along the way, she has the words of wisdom from ""The Wizard of Oz"" (NOT the movie), her best friend Homer Price (currently living without the use of his limbs), and her new art teacher, Baba. Things may go up and down with Harry Sue, but when you've already survived a ninety-foot drop delivered care of dear old dad, you're willing to believe that life's got a whole lot of surprises and shocks in store.This has ALL the makings of a sappy sugar-infused heartwarming puppy-dogs-and-ice-cream book. It has a girl who's mother is in jail, a quadriplegic friend, an honest-to-God Lost Boy of the Sudan, a host of adorable tots, and even a puppy at the end. Can you think of a better recipe for disaster? I mean, the quadriplegic I could maybe stomach, but a LOST BOY???? I say this and yet somehow, miraculously, Stauffacher pulls it off. Part of this has to do with the writing. When Harry Sue visits her pal Homer Price (so nicknamed for his crazed inventing ideas) she knows that he's been crying. ""I knew because I could smell Homer's tears. At least to me, they smell like hot pavement after rain"". Stauffacher has a way of dotting her serious moments with humor and her humorous moments with pain. The characters of the book are what really set it apart from the pack, though. Stauffacher stops being safe when she introduces the J-Cat (crazy) home health aid that comes to give Homer Price a grueling lesson in appreciating life. With my all-seeing eyes I can know that in the not-too distant future overly uptight and concerned parents with gasp in shock at some of the J-Cat's techniques, even as they find that neither they nor their children can quite tear their eyes away from the text.Then there's that whole ""The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"" thing. Seen through Harry Sue's eyes, Dorothy Gale is a pretty good role model. When Harry Sue saves the life of a girl she inadvertently almost killed, she wonders why she went and did such a good deed (thereby keeping her from ever becoming a hardened con). ""Why couldn't I be more like Dorothy? She wastes two witches without even trying and doesn't lose sleep over it"". Dorthy Gale. Witch killer. It makes sense when you think of it that way. With Harry Sue as your guide, you understand the fascination with Dorothy and the friends (or, in Conglish, road dogs) who constantly save her ""gingham-checked butt"". There are direct correlations between the two books too. When a kindly old neighbor kisses Harry Sue on the forehead, anyone who knows L. Frank Baum's classic tale knows what THAT means. Homer Price is her scarecrow, limply lying on a bed with a whiz of a brain. Even the dog Otto who appears late in the tale can have his letters rearranged to a familiar name. Stauffacher likes word games and playing with monikers. You could probably have said the same for Mr. Baum.Reading ""Harry Sue"", a person well-versed in children's literature has to keep batting away various other literary stars from clouding the text. Sometimes the book seems drenched in ""The Great Gilly Hopkins"". I wouldn't be surprised at all to find Harry Sue a descendent of that fellow delinquent gal. Of course, for all that I love ""Gilly"", I'm probably going to reread ""Harry Sue"", more often. It's more intelligent than it has any right to be and more fun that half the books out there today. Ms. Stauffacher gets better each time she publishes a book. At this rate, by the time she publishes her seventh or eight the things'll be emitting beams of light from between their pages. If you want something honestly touching but doesn't talk down to you or drown you in treacle, ""Harry Sue"" is the must-read kids' book of 2005. No question about it.",5.0,Saving munchkins from witches and trying to go to jail,1130544000,"10 29, 2005",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A28MY3G40ZQKFA,B00FUGYON8,Tricia,"[0, 0]","I received this box set from Priscilla West to write a review. These books are all very good full of love, passion and just sexiness! A must read! Everyone likes to read about sexy, dominant billionaires :)",5.0,Sexy,1382227200,"10 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AD9HAE7DPTQDG,B009LNKB4C,K.Dunst,"[0, 0]","I love unconventional romances, and this one was very well written. Sammie isn't looking for anything but a temp job to hold her over until her passport arrives and she can travel the world like she always dreamed. Nick has never had a serious relationship, choosing to keep things simple in the bedroom. When Sammie takes the temp job at Nicks business, she doesn't expect to meet the boy she once had a crush on, and Nick never expected to find a woman worthy of his heart. I love how they managed to come together for more than just passion in the end. I would read more from this author.",5.0,Resisting Nick,1384992000,"11 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3MUDAYXE0ANVM,006075995X,"Christy T. French ""author""","[0, 1]","I'll forego the book description, as I see that has previously been done, but suffice to say that "Divine Secrets of the Ya-YA Sisterhood" by Rebecca Wells is a book that will hold the reader's attention - one you can identify with, especially if you are a woman, and one that delves into the diverse relationships between women as well as mother/daughter. Can't wait to see the movie!",5.0,Wonderful Read,1023494400,"06 8, 2002",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1SEE91G8K02WY,1439142009,"Liz ""Avid Reader""","[4, 5]","I was really looking forward to reading this book based on the amazing reviews. I plodded along through more than half of it, but ultimately gave up. Perhaps the reviewers read something different? I kept waiting for the bigger, brighter screen described by the NYT, wanted the book to grab me by the throat, as a reviewer wrote here. Instead, I kept looking for excuses to read something else.While the book gave an interesting window into the 70s, it was not enough. Reno is not engaging. She is an observer, but doesn't provide enough of a filter to put what she sees in a meaningful context.At the end of the NYT review, it says:"This is the sound of a writer who loves to hear people talk." I would say that this is a writer who likes words. She turns a neat phrase, and for awhile, it's enough to sustain you. But ultimately it's not enough.The same review states, "As it wraps up, “The Flamethrowers” drifts; the final chapters are provocative but elusive. Not all the pieces are ultimately made to fit, which is intentional but also frustrating."Elusive? Nope. That's just a nice way of saying that the book has no conclusion.BTW - I read this in a book group. Of the 8 people who were there, only 1 finished it.",2.0,Couldn't bring myself to finish it,1393286400,"02 25, 2014",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3Q7HJR3MRPKJ6,0769652875,Kristena Rosselli,"[0, 0]",These workbooks are difficult to work out of. My students find these hard to understand and work through. They are okay as practice for one child to work on by themselves.,3.0,Okay Workbooks,1379635200,"09 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 APHPMICUB6YW7,031609756X,Calamity Jan,"[0, 0]","This book was okay, but I certainly did not feel it was up to what a reader would expect from James Patterson. I would not recommend this as a good read.",3.0,Not what I expected from James Patterson,1367193600,"04 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ATHV61VE3QG8,031603438X,Tess,"[0, 0]",I like to read stories about people. Keith Richards gives the reader a lot of information about how it was for the Rolling Stones.,4.0,Good Book,1401235200,"05 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14YUWXMDMN8EF,1495381358,"R. H. D'aigle ""Fated Saga, Demon Isle Witches""","[7, 8]",This is the first book in a series and I think it is a magnificent beginning! The characters are well developed and I love the setting being in Maine. There's just something about witches and maine that makes a great combo. I hope the author writes more. I will definitely keep reading. It has a great story telling pace and is a super fun read.,5.0,A wonderful start to this series,1376438400,"08 14, 2013",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A1P8GPJ2Q3BZTY,B00D7GHT30,Lisa Survillas,"[0, 0]",I've always loved Anna and Max. I wish this was a full length novel instead! I want more of them!,5.0,<3,1374796800,"07 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3H378252SR4YJ,0091795273,Peter L. Kraus,"[11, 14]","Yes, this book is long and times rambling. However, Clinton's descriptions of the politics of running for office in Arkansas should be read by anyone with an interest in state politics. Whether you love him or hate him, Clinton will be remembered as one who paid his dues and climbed the political ladder from the state house to the White House",5.0,a great look at politics at all levels,1091836800,"08 7, 2004",11,14,helpful,0.7857142857142857,1 APW0N6ZBZH9MD,B00HE61GPQ,"Renee' Davila ""madam "d"""","[5, 6]","I chose this rating because this book was slow and boring! it took me over a week to read this, and normally I'm a fast reader. The only reason I finished it was because I paid for it! Don't waste your money!",1.0,SLOW!!!!!!!,1393286400,"02 25, 2014",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1CK6676RAVB77,0312380127,M. A. Bosworth,"[0, 0]",Our family loves these books. we started out with C D B and can't get enough. It really makes you work and great fun!,5.0,Great fun!,1360022400,"02 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2AQ7NZKYI10IS,1420125125,Beth H,"[5, 6]","What happens when you take 4 of my favorite paranormal romance writers and put their novella length stories together in a book called Predatory...you get an magnificent read. Each story was fan-freakin'-tastic, riveting and long enough to suck you completely in. This anthology is a great way to try out each of these author's series, but for fans it gives you a grand snippet of adventures we've come to love. Page turning action, steamy romances and super hot alpha heroes Predatory hit the spot.This ARC copy of Predatory was given to me by Kensignton Books - Zebra in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication on May 7, 2013.",4.0,Predatory,1367884800,"05 7, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2YOFCOEKH3KB,149043013X,Bookworm,"[0, 0]","This book picks up right where we left off with the 'OH NO you didn't' cliffhanger. If you read my Collide review you know that I did not suffer too much since I didn't start Collide until Pulse released (intentionally). Thank goodness! I would have been sent to the loony bin otherwise.Loved, loved, loved this story and it's progression as well as some of the crazy direction it took. Whew! I'm happy with the ending, no I'm elated with the ending although I'm disappointed to no longer read about Gavin Blake and all of his talents. There are MANY. He is so damn loveable (sexy as hell rich wiseass) I don't even know what to say about it other than read this series and you'll see what I mean. Gavin Blake belongs in every romance lovers' book boyfriend list.While I found plenty of angst in Collide I was beside myself with nail biting, huffing and puffing, parking the Kindle for a reprieve (wine & chocolate), and all those crazy things us readers tend to do when we have no control over a story. Loved that!Possible SPOILER: My dearest Emily...I knew you were going to grow 'some you know whats' and you didn't disappoint me. In spite of all the difficulties Gavin and Emily faced and boy 'difficulties' is a mild word for what they went through at times, never underestimate the power of true love. Be ready for more of Emily's tears though. I can only assume that she drinks an insurmountable quantity of liquids. However, the wiseass has also rubbed off on Emily and her wit is heightened in the second book.There was one point in the book where Emily and I dumped endless tears together. Thank you Emily or should I be cursing Gail McHugh for taking me to hell and back? I don't know. Emotional moments like the ones you'll experience in this book are not rare so beware. There's a certain SOB that keeps turning up like a bad penny that needs to be returned to the mint for recycling.One thing I really loved about this book was the development of the family unit and what it means to be part of one. I think this is often overlooked in other stories that may have benefited by adding something that everyone can relate to or wish they were a part of. Pulse has that and I think it made it that much more real for me.The secondary characters continue to develop in Pulse and they were wonderful as was the author's ability to allow them to grow with the story. I understand from my book blog stalking that we won't be seeing them again in any future spinoff books (I get it) but I'll miss them.Indie authors...I love them! I have an endless choice when it comes to books that reside on my Kindle. Unfortunately, I know many will never see the light of day because I couldn't read all that I own in a lifetime and my quick one-click fingers are at it daily. I find out about these hidden gems through the book bloggers I follow. Those darn bloggers force me to revise my TBR at every turn. In this case, I'm ecstatic that I did. Collide and Pulse are not to be missed by romance readers. Shuffle your TBR and put them at the top of your list.I read from cover to cover. That includes acknowledgements, etc. My hats off to Gail McHugh for recognizing numerous people and bloggers who contributed to the success of this book. That tells me something personal about her and I truly appreciate an author who appreciates her readers, bloggers, authors, and the many others she was so gracious to thank. That's classy in my book! Do not mistake my personal like for the author as a reason for the 5 stars. This book merits it on its own, however, I may not have taken so much time to write this lengthy of a review otherwise. My time is valuable as a reader and a person who often does take time to write reviews. Heck most authors don't read them anyway. This is for you readers!Lastly, I cannot omit mentioning that I really noticed that the author's writing grew from Collide to Pulse. That is just one of the intriguing things I like about following the Indie author crowd. I feel like I'm witnessing those ""live and learn"" moments first hand when I follow a new author. It takes a lot of courage to put your hard work out there for others to critique, good or bad. A big thank you to Gail McHugh for sharing her story. It was great while it lasted. Thank you again for providing us with MANY wonderful pages (400+ in each) and the unforgettable Gavin Blake. Looking forward to more from you.",5.0,Gavin Blake is unforgettable,1374364800,"07 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMB0FZ2WOFYCU,B009VRA7NI,grandkids,"[5, 5]",I love stories of the pioneers. This was one of the best that I have read in a while. Lots of realism and how it really was back then. I would recommend this to anyone. It is long but It keeps you interested in what will happen next. Can't wait for another one from No Ann Cox. Thank you,5.0,Westward Journey book 1,1359936000,"02 4, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AUV6V6DO61JLH,0879759712,"Socrates ""radamus""","[5, 6]","I read this book years ago and remember thinking at the time that I wished there were more book like this written on other topics. The book is simple, straightforward, and written in such a way that if you have access to a good library with good research facilities you can retrace many of the authors research steps yourself. I was in graduate school at the time and would take breaks in the library from my real course work to look up some of his claims in the book, and I didn't find even one that was remotely incorrect. Since then that's an approach I take when trying to decide which side of an issue I'm going to agree with when I don't have the time or inclination to do a lot of research on my own. What I do is take a random sample of the claims being made by both sides of an issue, then first I decide if any of the claims by either side don't make much logical sense. If one side or another makes a lot of claims that don't make logical sense and the other side doesn't, then I don't really go any farther in my own research. Why should I waste my time researching somebody's point of view if they can't even construct logical arguments? Then I look up the easy to verify factual claims. If one side makes a lot of factual claims that turn out to be incorrect and the other side doesn't once again I don't go any farther. Why should I waste my time with what somebody has to say when they can't even get their simple fact straight? If somebody comes up with a new book about the Bermuda Triangle that gets rid of ALL the nonsense that Kusche's book exposes, but I'm not wasting my time on any book that has the usual nonsense in it.",5.0,I wish there were more books written like this.,1271462400,"04 17, 2010",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A18O7UO96BLN6G,B00I3M5W6O,Cheryl,"[4, 4]","I think Scarred Beautiful is my favorite of Beth Michele's books. So far.After losing both his mom and his sister to breast cancer, Matt is left with half a heart and the internal scars left behind. He was forced to grow up fast and take on the responsibility of his younger brother. This led to an almost compulsive need for perfection.After suffering horrible childhood abuse, and the loss of a loved one, Fran is left with only half her heart, external scars at her father's hands, and a countless list of phobias.During a work conference, Matt and Fran get reacquainted. As they spend more and more time together, they begin to feel as if the missing pieces can be filled by one another. Matt, so set in his ways and his need for perfection, falls hard for Fran. Fran, a loud, slightly obnoxious wild girl who is flawed both inside and out falls just as easily for tight-ass Matt. Their story is sexy and fun, heartwarming, and devastating all at once. And it's absolutely beautiful.I enjoyed every last line of this wonderfully written love story of healing, forgiveness, and finding your other half.Love believes in second chances.",5.0,"Beautiful cover, beautiful book.",1391040000,"01 30, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1PRADPZTI2BDR,0316097497,diane,"[0, 0]",it was great but not as great as some of the others. The others had more thrills than this one - hope the next one is better,4.0,11th Hour,1350172800,"10 14, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2B20MBD8NVU1K,0891075534,"Shayne Riley ""S. Riley""","[4, 4]","This book was my introduction to George Whitefield. All I can say about his life is...""absolutely amazing""! Dallimore does a superb job of relating Whitefield's life. I understand this is a condensed version of his two-volume set, however this work is marvelous. I would not hesitate to pick up the two-volume set, even after reading this compact version. This book is so good you leave it wanting to read more of Whitefield!",5.0,One Of The Greatest Preachers!,1233964800,"02 7, 2009",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1W052EIGXSZ28,B00ERSOTRQ,Cat,"[0, 0]",I found reading this book inspirational and motivational to make changes in the way I think. Thanks so much for pointing out how to give me more self confidence and courage. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to look take a different look at the world and their attitudes to it.,5.0,Excellent inspirational book,1377734400,"08 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8ZY9LI1KBU2P,1439176566,Mary Kate,"[12, 15]","I picked up Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Lessons for Making It Work as a gift for a friend who is a big fan of Project Runway, the show on which author Tim Gunn serves as a mentor. I've only seen an episode or two of the show myself, but when I started thumbing through the book before wrapping it up, I ended up sitting down and reading the whole thing. Gunn and his collaborator Ada Calhoun have penned an eminently readable and very entertaining book outlining Gunn's rules for living a life of integrity.Gunn argues that those rules - working hard, treating others with respect, knowing when to speak up and when to keep your mouth shut, etc. - are not now and never will be out of fashion. Into his rules, Gunn has woven a number of great anecdotes centering around Project Runway and around some well known names in the fashion and entertainment industry, helping to keep the overall tone of the book light and amusing.Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Lessons for Making It Work isn't the type of book I usually read - fiction is more my thing - but I found it both a lot of fun and nicely inspiring. Even though I wasn't familiar with Gunn before reading this, after finishing, I felt I had come to understand the essence of the man and to admire the manners and methods that guide his life. It was nice to read something from someone with whom I apparently share a good many values and who can eloquently communicate them without sounding the least bit preachy!Recommended.",4.0,Golden Rules Never Out of Style,1284076800,"09 10, 2010",12,15,helpful,0.8,1 ALK7NQU5DB5R1,1416597980,ESL George,"[0, 1]","The advice is good, but I've watched Frankel's show and didn't see any evidence that she actually follows a path of moderation. She seemed very food-phobic, easily understood when someone has had an eating disorder, but if you present yourself as a diet and nutrition expert--and you have your own television program--you probably should seem more comfortable eating and preparing food. (That look at the interior of her refrigerator was alarmingly...bare.)Maybe she had a good ghostwriter for this, but there are better diet books from better practitioners/models of truly healthy dieting.",3.0,"Good advice, but nothing new",1357776000,"01 10, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AGRWGUHRS7GRE,0671027379,N. Thompson,"[0, 1]","""Deception Point"" started with horrific excitement. The author, Dan Brown, kept you guessing what was going to happen next. There was no shortage of surprises, twist and turns surrounding the senator running for the presidency. His daughter is constantly challenged with hair raising events that will keep you trying to protect her.The staff of the president exploits their positions in unusual ways to help gain another four years in office.Is the president a participant in the events? You have to read the book to find your answers, enjoy!",4.0,Election Thriller,1256601600,"10 27, 2009",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1Z8GR4L8UKBXE,B00G2JLPC0,sweetdee,"[0, 0]",Book was really interesting I wouldn't mind reading about the revenge or how their Quita and bay's relationship went also see if j rock was a real jerk or what......did black really kill Kali had to...I liked lol,5.0,Nice,1386806400,"12 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A204NMYXBU0Q0Z,0470550473,Loydene D. Terry,"[0, 0]","I love this book. It showed me things that I had never considered in quite the way Lemov presented them. The only thing I would change about the book is that I would put the beginning things a new teacher needs to know at the beginning of the book instead of waiting until Chapter 5. If you haven't started this book, start with Chapter 5!",5.0,Why is this not given to each teacher with their certification??,1374019200,"07 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZ9L7619APPVK,0060799064,Rena A. Finney,"[0, 0]","Diane McKinney-Whetstone tells the story of Verdi who tries to settle for a relationship of convenience and predictability with Rowe and discovers that her heart still belongs to her one true love- Johnson. Walking away from what is comfortable isn't easy;however, Verdi decides to walk into what is right despite the past. When all is said and done the blues that exists between Verdi and Johnson cannot be denied and the love they share is enough to orchestrate another dance.",4.0,Inviting...,964656000,"07 27, 2000",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A12GJZ3T118DXA,1600850219,,"[6, 6]",I purchased this a few years ago and have been cooking from it ever since. This weekend I cooked the Chicken Pot Pie with Phyllo Crust and it was amazing. Last night I made the Lemon Chicken Soup with Orzo and it was amazing also. Every recipe in this book rocks -- and they are also very easy to prepare. What's so awesome is that the foods are wholesome and satisfying and they are healthy and good for you. This is one of the best light and healthy cookbooks that I own and I promise you will use it over and over again. Each recipe has nutritional content and calorie counts so you know exactly where you stand when watching your intake. Ellie also includes some wonderful light desserts and drinks (the vanilla hot chocolate is so yummy!). I have dozens and dozens of cookbooks -- some sit on the shelf rarely used -- this one is used all the time so I would highly recommend it. I am excited that Ellie has a new cookbook coming out soon -- can't wait for it! I still don't understand why Food Network cancelled her show -- I guess they had to make way for all these new and stupid shows that are more about marketing than cooking. For example: Pioneer Woman....I mean Egg In The Hole??? Give me a break.,5.0,Wonderful Healthy Cookbook,1316476800,"09 20, 2011",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AT0534LODATL0,0062197231,Scandalous Sanity,"[25, 29]","Yes, this book is about that.Rob Bell delves into the link between our sexuality and our spirituality, and the result is a work that will open your eyes to the relationship that God seeks with humanity.The basic premise is that we are all broken, always seeking a connection with others since our connection with God has been severed. We all want to be known and accepted as we are. Only God can provide us with this, but sex is the next best thing. So we all walk around with distorted concepts of who we are, searching for that connection through physical relation rather than spiritual.The book is engaging, and Bell has a talent for teaching by using stories(sound familiar?). He is able to weave Bible history, Jewish customs, and contemporary culture together to form a picture of the relationship God desires with mankind. I especially enjoyed a passage on page 70 that describes that Garden of Eden as good, and for it to be truly good, it couldn't be forced on people. Hence, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.A few criticisms, however:On page 63 Bell describes the universe as unfinished. He claims that ""God's intent in creating these people was for them to continue the work of creating the world, moving it away from chaos and wild and waste and formlessness toward order and harmony and good.""I just can't agree with that statement. When God created the universe, it was good. He rested on the seventh day, content with His creation. There was ""order and harmony and good."" Then we, humanity, screwed it up. I get the gist of what he's saying, but the statement just doesn't make sense.The other problem is on pages 20 and 22. Bell discusses a passage in which Jesus says ""If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away."" Bell later states ""And that's Jesus' point with the ""gouge out your eye"" teaching. His point isn't that you should mutilate your body if you find yourself lusting after someone. His point is that something serious--sometimes hellish--happens when people are treated as objects, and we should resist it at all costs.""(p.22)I agree with him on his thoughts on people(specifically women) being treated as objects, but I don't think Jesus is just saying that bad things will happen when we sin. To me, Jesus is calling us to a higher level of spirituality. He goes on to say it is better to lose parts of your body than to lose your soul(paraphrased). This means that a life dedicated to God means a neglect of yourself.(Read more about this at The Humble Way blog) I think Bell slightly twists a verse to suit his topic.Bell is also reluctant to name the author of epistles such as 1st Corinthians, etc. I don't know why, and it's not a big deal. I just wonder why. And, on a more petty note, this guy drops geographic names like Carmen San Diego:""...I was in Canada.."", ""...stayed at a wildlife lodge in Africa."", ""I was in London.."". These are just some of the examples. I'm just saying, dude travels a lot. Maybe I'm just jealous.But seriously, this is a book I would actually recommend spending money on, and it's also worth your time. Some people criticize Rob Bell for being weak theologically, and I can see their point. I wouldn't go to him for Bible commentary. But he definitely has insight into relationships, especially those concerning people and God. Read this expecting the relational side of God's love to be revealed.",5.0,It's time for a sexy party,1221609600,"09 17, 2008",25,29,helpful,0.8620689655172413,1 A11KHCK18RCIZH,0811877825,Amanda,"[0, 0]",My son was so tuned in to this book. Great night time read with nice pictures. Would recommend this book to any family.,5.0,Heavy equipment fun,1347926400,"09 18, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2PHJXZJCH8FCC,0399157042,Anna Baker,"[0, 0]","I'm in love with Juan Cabrillo and I'm so happy that Cussler picked Du Brul to co-write this book. He's for sure one of the best that Cussler has used. If you are a fan of knock down, drag out action, this book is for you and would make a great movie. Read it in two sittings.",4.0,In Praise of Jack Du Brul,1305417600,"05 15, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2C3IGYVWFMKQE,0446528382,Danial Hallock,"[0, 0]","This book blurs the line between an autobiography, a corporate history book, and a management instructional; and it does it well. This has been one of the most engaging books on the subject matter, taking a relatively benign subject (how a hard working nobody become a CEO and superstar of an appliance and technology company), and makes it personable.The language isn't formal, academic, or even moderated. If you're offended by the occasional use of foul language, you'll be offended on a few occasions, Jack tells it how it is. He recounts his climb through the ranks of General Electric, and how he managed to create the vision that led to GE's success.The book is an autobiography, and there's not a lot of dissenting view points. While Jack does mention that some of his decisions were unpopular, and how some of his actions were flops, the analysis of why these ventures failed are always introspective. That doesn't allow for a complete picture of GE's history during Jack's tenure with the company, but for those of us who aren't working for (or competing against) them, it suffices.More importantly, it's enjoyable. There are a few nuggets of wisdom (giving 'stretch' promotions at the beginning of a career, the No 1 / No 2 philosophy, encourage big swings and never punish a big miss) contained within the book, but it's not a management philosophy text book.You aren't likely to find any profound quotes or revalations contained in these pages; and if you can manage that expectation, then this book is a fantastic read.",5.0,An enjoyable autobiography; not a management textbook,1375142400,"07 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJRWIPMECGCED,B00HZ807TY,Jessica Clark,"[5, 5]","My mom has been dealing with Acid Reflux for quite sometime so, since she is of Polish descent and doesn't read much English, I thought I'd gather some information for her.This book gave me all the information I needed to educate her on Acid Reflux and how she can prevent it from happening. I appreciated that it thoroughly explained what Acid Reflux is, why it happens and how to treat it with both medical and natural and alternative solutions.I thought this book was very well written and extremely informative. I would recommend it to anyone that suffers from Acid Reflux and is looking to prevent it.Thanks for this great little book!",5.0,Very informative book!,1391904000,"02 9, 2014",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A20J0NBT6FWXXM,1603582053,"Robert W. Smith ""Robert Smith, Ph.D.""","[6, 7]","the author writes with a clear bias against the splendors of greed (okay, i'm trying to make you laugh). the looting of america provides countless examples of where wall street and corporations and executives worked with politicians to robs the american people. he questions it. he analyzes it. he even inspires the reader to take on the issues in a cogent compelling manner. yea, sometimes this author is prone to emotionalism. as an american who has been robbed by these folks' greed, i'm sort of prone to emotionalism at times, myself. this is written for anyone who is concerned about political - financial affairs, white collar crime ... while its author is brilliant, the book is written in a manner that is easily read by anyone who seeks answers. i give this an ""A-"" and highly recommend it.",5.0,social injustice to the extreme!!!,1252368000,"09 8, 2009",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1ZWZYP4O0VJMU,1419953966,Mystery Lover,"[8, 15]","Another great erotic romance by Lora Leigh. Great characters, great charisma, great stories. I highly recommend her books. I am usually never dissapointed. I can't wait for her next!",5.0,"Hot, Hot, Hot!",1184198400,"07 12, 2007",8,15,helpful,0.5333333333333333,1 AY7MBWTZLTRNV,1627980512,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Once again, Cardeno C has put heart and feelings on paper [so to speak] and blown me away, story is awesome, wonderful full of heart, feeling, tears, laughter and a lot of joy. Thank-you for bringing life to print once again, You do an awesome job!!",5.0,Excellent read,1379548800,"09 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3V7X6H19H60U4,0786927801,rexinia@aol.com,"[13, 44]","After taking a trip to the Natick Mall to purchase a Nile T-shirt and an Iron Maiden album, I stopped by the book store and looked through a copy of the new 3e fiend folio. It looks like they've brought in some creatures from Planescape, but made them into charicatures of themselves as they've done with the others. I really dislike the cartoonish art direction of 3e (1e had ametuerish art that got the atmosphere right).Anyway, the fensir (a personal favorite of mine, as my gallery at Elfwood might indicate) was unfortunate enough to be one of the creatures ""revived"" in the 3e Fiend Folio, although they now look like twisted parodies of themselves. It's as if the fensir pic was drawn (and written) by someone who was mugged by an Ysgardian troll as a kid and wanted nothing more to do with them. Now they're described as having grotesquely large Kilomulus-like noses and warty skin (as opposed to simply being varied in appearance from hideously ugly to almost human-looking with a propensity for large noses and ears). No mention whatsoever is made of their sexual dimorphism/culture (which is one of the things that made me interested in them in 2e, but 3e is politically correct to ridiculous lengths in regards to anything pertaining to gender). The creatures of 2e had so much more depth.And not just the fensir. Other old favorites are now just cardboard cut-outs with their most interesting aspects undermined and watered down for quick hacking. Other new creatures/ideas in the 3e manuals range from pointless (the plane of mirrors?), ludicrous (troll/barbazu crossbreed? what about the illithid/lizard man hybrid?), needlessly excessive (what about the endless and nonsensical templates? now you can play a vampiric/half-dragon/fiend/tauric/winged/bugbear/half-iron golem...I guess this means more 'freedom in role-playing'), and sometimes creative (I'll have to think a while for an example).Even the expansion books are nothing more than extra rules, templates, artifacts, skills, and monsters, far inferior to their 2e counterparts. It's as if the D&D; creatures aren't even real in the minds of WoTC. Though they aren't possible, the world of 2e and it's inhabitants were somehow plausible. I don't believe the 3e creatures exist for a second.Nothing new under the sun I know, but I still find this trend in 3e depressing...",3.0,Heartfelt rant from a 2e purist...,1053734400,"05 24, 2003",13,44,helpful,0.29545454545454547,1 AK1MDNIKU94NU,031286860X,J. Calton,"[5, 9]","If you loved Ender's Game, then you'll love...throwing it away after you read this.SPOILER ALERT: This book spoil's Ender's Game.The book is fine in non-relative terms, which is why I give it 2 stars: 4 stars for the book on its own, averaged with 0 stars for destroying Ender's Game = 2 stars. The story's good, the prose is fine, the characters are decent, the action moves along well...basically a good read.[0 stars for originality, but hey, this is genre fiction...why stop at a quadrology when the well still hasn't gone dry? C.f., Martin, Jordan, Goodkind, et al.]I can't really talk about it in more detail without spoiling THIS book (oh, the irony), but basically just imagine you read a requel (the time between a prequel and a sequel--known as retconning in nerddom) of your beloved Lord of the Rings eight years later, and in it you found out that there was actually an invisible fairy-folk following around Frodo and Sam, manipulating them to make sure their quest succeeded. We got another LotR book...yay?If you're 14, you'll be happy to see the story and characters you love again from a new perspective, but if you're an adult, they are destroyed forever.",2.0,"Goodbye, Ender",1333324800,"04 2, 2012",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A1LCYBA4HRCBAM,0451418433,"Will Baker ""Will Baker""","[7, 8]","Someone needs to write a critique of folks who may, nowadays, puke into a mic and just babble on for 1000 pages. This is a good example. I was attracted to Mr. Follett with Key to Rebecca; then, with Pillars of the Earth, I was revived as an admirer. But...Please do not waste your time on this trash. I have come to regard Mr. Follett as just another horny old man. Here he attempts to capsulize the WWII era from the contending forces and families: Brits, Americans, Germans, Russians. What it comes down to is this: ""Readers, you might not realize this, but WWII is just one big bed-hopping orgy"". And on top of this, his Marxist sentiments are forever shoved straight down your eyes.I am only on page 600+ of this, fortunately, library copy of this piece of nonsense. And I doubt that I have the desire or time to see it through.Will Baker (willbaker@nvinet.comPS: I am not aware of what assets (people) Mr. Follett might have to hand to put his thoughts to print...ie, 14 year-old transcribers...but the result is most juvenile. Not to mention his numerous historical errors. (ie, his recount of the ""Battle of Saragossa"" (Spain, 1937) has no basis in fact. The man has talent, Mr Follett. But the pressure of timely publication to attain maximum revenue must be hard to combat. And the result is very bad literature.",1.0,The Curse of the Made Writer,1354924800,"12 8, 2012",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A2ZP8SP00K7I8D,0609608746,"Brian Johnson ""PhilosophersNotes.com""","[4, 7]","""The only time we suffer is when we believe a thought that argues with what is. When the mind is perfectly clear, what is is what we want."" ~ Byron Katie ""from Loving What Is""THAT, in a nutshell, is the book.If you want to argue with what is, you will suffer. Period. In fact, ""If you want reality to be different than what it is, you might as well try to teach a cat to bark."" :)The question, of course, is ""How can we get to a point where we actually `love what is?'""Enter: Katie's brilliant book.For whatever reason, it took me a while to get to this book. I'm glad I did and I think you'll dig it as well.",5.0,Do The Work!,1208131200,"04 14, 2008",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A2T42RI5JFTOCI,1482634457,Olesarge,"[0, 0]",The main character in this book is who I would wish to be if push came to shove. If one likes the "bad guys" getting their butts handed to them then this is the book for you. If you are a big fan of the present Commander in Chief then you probably will not be thrilled with the flow of the story line.,5.0,Outstanding,1385510400,"11 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YBVBU27AKJ1J,0062297600,Tracy L.,"[7, 9]","I remember how much GONE GIRL grabbed me from the first page, and THE BOOK OF YOU had the same effect on me.This story is creepy and I mean good creepy. The author has an incredible way of making the reader feel as if this is not just happening, but happening to you. The main character, Clarissa, is being staked. Even more than that she is being terrorized. Her only source of relief is that she has been chosen to be a juror on a trial that will last for several weeks. Unfortunately, the trial is involves a victim who experienced her own terror.During all of this, Clarissa keeps a journal of what her stalker, Rafe, has been doing. She wants to be sure that she gathers enough evidence before going to the police. It is these journal entries that truly bring this story to life. I felt myself cringing as a read certain sections.Without giving the ending away, I will only say that it left me with that "punched in the gut" feeling. This debut novel couldn't be any better.",5.0,Excellent Debut...,1394841600,"03 15, 2014",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A2H9VMR8QRLINY,0515116475,granite,"[4, 5]","I liked this book quite a bit and I would certainly read something else in the series.The book is set in a stylized, contemporary New York where violence is an everyday occurrence, where the insane asylums are so full that a mere fascination with murder weapons is not a good enough reason to call attention to a person (have to actually kill somebody for that)and where people regularly turn a blind eye to violence committed against somebody else.Kathy Mallory is a 25-year-old beautiful detective, more at home with computers than with surveillance and field work. She used to be a juvenile delinquent, and, as such, the best person to go after the criminals who are so much like her. The case that gets her attention involves the death of her stepfather, an old police hand. Mallory gets on the case, solves it, while we get an insight into her character.Kathy Mallory is interesting and ambivalent. She is a challenge, not an easy acquaintance. A person who is acutely alone, yet doesn't feel lonely. A person of strong emotions that she expresses in symbolic ways rather than with words. A perfectionist workaholic, with a compulsive interest in cleanliness, which is quite inspiring. I almost cleaned my apartment after reading the book. In fact, I am still considering it. :) I don't dislike her. Rather, I feel sorry for her, and I certainly root for her in getting the bad guys. She can do things that I think are right but would never dare to do.The book has a unique, sinister feel. The main criminal is creepy and deserves the fate Kathy finds them (them, so that we don't have a spoiler :) at the end. The reason why I gave only four points is because there were way too many plotlines that fit together only at the very end and then somewhat imperfectly. I read these novels fast, but even then, I am generally able to put together what the plotlines have to do with each other. If we take away the last couple of chapters, we get a disconnected set of events. This, to me, means that the author hasn't given us a fair shot at solving the crime.",4.0,Creepy,1112572800,"04 4, 2005",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3BCM0IDT9UHCG,1934961000,Rand Hall,"[0, 1]",Just could not get into this book. Too many names and too little interest. Perhaps a russian history devotee might enjoy it.,1.0,not for me,1388275200,"12 29, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3HQS2YTR4GNC1,0440207428,Boyd Fellows Sr,"[0, 1]",I liked this book but it was a little too long for me and got boring near the end.I liked this book but it was a little too long for me and got boring near the end.I liked this book but it was a little too long for me and got boring near the end.I liked this book but it was a little too long for me and got boring near the end.I liked this book but it was a little too long for me and got boring near the end.I liked this book but it was a little too long for me and got boring near the end.I liked this book but it was a little too long for me and got boring near the end.,4.0,I like it,1365811200,"04 13, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2J0LCP14SECY9,0345464788,Specklebang,"[0, 0]","If you're a Parker or Donovan Creed fan, you'll love this amoral, tough crime novel and the 2 others in this trilogy"",5.0,One of the best crime trilogies ever,1371772800,"06 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2QNV5D7PZGIGX,0451223136,BookOwl1017,"[9, 11]","I have just finished the first page of The Secret Bride, and am already turned off by the poor editing. Haeger seems to have had a decent concept, but her editor obviously was unable to determine how to cut down her sentences. For example - ""The royal nursery at Eltham was tucked deeply into the lush countryside outside the city, near Greenwich, where Henry VIII's children, and their companions, were being brought up in an idyllic moated brick castle blanketed in emerald ivy, far from the complexities of court."" I felt like I was gasping for breath by the end of the sentence. I paged through the novel and was unimpressed by the long-winded descriptions and banal talk of the characters. I'll finish the book, because it's rare that I don't, but I am not looking forward to it. Haeger's writing reminds me of a warmed over Philippa Gregory novel.",1.0,Poor Editing!,1209081600,"04 25, 2008",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A3O0TDBOB3BFE,0312970129,Jane A. Scoville,"[0, 0]","It must have been easy to gather the facts and details of both Mary and Steve's early lives. The first part of the book is well-organized and developed through these specifics. The reader is quickly involved, interested, fascinated....The middle of the book details some specifics about Mary's relationship with her student.... And sadly, the last third of the book is caught in the tangled web of conflict of interests of lawyers, friends, relatives, principals as they fall victim to their greed: How much can they get for an interview? A photograph? Perhaps a letter from Mary herself?We know nothing really of the young boy Mary loved--so much that she lost a job she loved, her children, and her freedom because of it. Any reader would want to know what he is really like and whether he returns her great love for him. Yet we find that the author could not get an interview with him. And we therefore get only a surface image of who he is.The author is a good writer, the story is fascinating, but the reader finishes the book knowing little more than what he originally gained from the newspapers and accounts of the time.",3.0,It Began so Well,1365379200,"04 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VQEAFW83OTG9,0140249435,Cassandra,"[21, 27]","Growing up is hard for everyone..there are people who still haven't given up on childhood omnipotence, even as they become middle aged. This has an advantage- it keeps your mind off death. Believing you still can do whatever you want, act as you feel...this keeps you young, at least in your head! This is what happens to Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, who cannot accept he's not the star of the basketball team anymore, cannot accept he's older, has responsibilities, has a less than glamorous job & a less than exciting marriage. Instead of coping with his life, making the best out of it, Rabbit choses to just follow his instinct & run. While running away, from place to place & from relationship to relationship, Rabbit never finds what he's looking for, always returns to this empty feeling inside himself, this fear of death, of things ending, of things changing, of time passing. Rabbit doesn't face this fear though...he just continues running away. Rabbit Run is a sad, sad story, with a tragic ending, a story that could appeal to anyone since it talks about our deepest fears & anxieties. John Updike writes beautifully, I'm really looking forward to reading more of his books.",5.0,wonderful writing,950227200,"02 11, 2000",21,27,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A2NYY4BMH4PJWX,0062224077,L.M.A,"[0, 0]","Loved this story. Its just a fun silly story. Neil Gaiman is the narrator, got it on CD, and he does a great job reading as usual.",5.0,Loved it,1396915200,"04 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2M0MDTT7TYQAV,1596434872,Amy Snyder,"[7, 10]","Wow! What an intense read. Definitely geared toward an older audience, Bomb reads almost as an investigation novel, for younger audiences. To be honest, throughout most of the book I was forgetting that the book was juvenile because of it’s heavy content. I would definitely recommend it for older possibly middle school students. I know in middle school I knew little to nothing about anything related to the atomic bomb. But with all of the competition and war that is going on in our world today, the development of this weapon is a monumental moment in history. It is important for older students to be aware of these developments and how they impact not only our nation but our entire world and the interactions between the different world powers. The book was captivating in a way that I believe would hold the students interest. Far from a boring history lesson, I think this book can hold has the potential to teach students a vital lesson on this important discovery all while keeping them captivated with its “investigation” like flow.",4.0,"Heavy content, investigative flow",1362700800,"03 8, 2013",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 A2B1GZIRD6W646,0316105848,David W. Nicholas,"[355, 440]","What an odd book. Flyboys is the story of several air raids flown against the island of Chichi Jima, north of Iwo Jima, during 1944-45, by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and more specifically it's the story of what happened to those airmen who were shot down over the island. The author, to write this story, uses extensive interviews he conducted with participants from both sides, survivors in their late 70s and 80s. This is all well and good, and if the book stopped at that, I suspect I'd be giving it a higher rating than I am.What cripples the book is the author's belief that he has to give you a history lesson. As a result, he starts his account of the raids on the island by describing Japan prior to Admiral Perry's arrival in 1852. He takes a sort of anecdotal approach to things, recounting various events in American and Japanese history. His reason for doing this, apparently, is to give the events of the subject of the book context.And that brings us to the main difficulty with the book. The author has a rather skewed view of American history, one that's decidedly more critical of it than is warranted, at least in my view. Further, his recounting of fact is at times inaccurate and incomplete. There is one good thing he doesn't do: he doesn't attempt to minimize Japanese atrocities in WW2. What he does instead is insist that the Americans committed crimes just as terrible, the implication being that the Japanese were punished because they lost the war.Let me go over these accusations in some detail, so I'm not misunderstood and we're all clear. In the chapter dealing with America's 19th century history, he recounts the Mexican-American War and the Indian Wars and then tells you that they are instances of American war crimes that the Japanese took as proper behavior for a western country, and that this meant that if the Japanese became regarded as civilized they could do these things too. The difficulty comes in the recounting of the wars themselves.The Mexican war is dismissed in a few paragraphs, mostly recounting U.S. Grant's opinion that the war was sinful and wrong. He also said (in the same passage in his autobiography) that he thought the U.S. Civil War was punishment for the Mexican-American War, but that's left out of Bradley's summary of what Grant said.Bradley then recounts the Indian Wars by telling you of the Sand Creek massacre. Sand Creek was probably the most egregious and senseless murder of Indians during the Indian Wars. Using it as an emblem for the whole is similar to using O.J. as an example of how all football players treat their wives. While the U.S. was harsh and unfair with American Indians in the 19th century, it wasn't universally so, and the depth of the unfairness varied depending on where they were or lived or other factors. Bradley ignores all of this.Then Bradley really goes off the reservation, so to speak. Many people know the history (at least in outline) of the Mexican-American War and the Indian War, but the insurrection in the Philippines is by contrast very obscure. Bradley's recounting of the U.S. experience there is almost entirely from one source, one book called Benevolent Assimilation. I have a book called The Philippine War, which includes a critical bibliography. In it the author dismisses two other books on the war, then labels Benevolent Assimilation ""even more factually inaccurate"" than those two books. Bradley relied on this book almost completely for his account of the war. He should know that if you're going to write the history of something, you consult more than one source.The author also has a goofy habit of referring to people in an eccentric fashion in the book. This starts with the term Flyboys, which he insists on using (capitalized) as if it were a title or rank, when he refers to American and British aviators from the War. He refers to President Roosevelt as ""the Dutchman"" repeatedly, calls Curtis LeMay ""Curtis"", and sarcastically labels Japan's military leadership ""Spirit Warriors"" and their emperor the ""Boy Soldier"" (because he was educated in part by generals). It's all very weird, and a bit juvenile.What does all of this lead to? The author seems to have a feeling that all war leads to war crimes which all sides commit, and that the one way to prevent this is to prevent wars. There's a sense of moral equivalency running through the book that's annoying when faint and insulting when he gets more insistent about it. There's also, as a side annoyance, the pro-Marine bias that's so common in books that deal with them in contrast with the army (check out my review of Martin Russ' book Breakout if you want to learn my opinion of this in more detail). It's not stated much here, the one outrageous comment implying that the Normandy invasion was a cakewalk.The oral history part of the book is very valuable, however, and the author, to his credit, doesn't flinch in recounting the Japanese war crimes or their aftermath. For this I commend him, and give him the two stars he gets above the one minimum one. I would recommend this book, but only very guardedly, given the inaccuracy of the backstory in the early chapters.",3.0,Pop History with all its shortcomings,1068076800,"11 6, 2003",355,440,helpful,0.8068181818181818,1 AH0XQRV6SCDO,0739369466,"Jan ""Book Lover""","[24, 36]","Just finished A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity and I must say that Sister Lurana got it right. Bill is both bold and fresh and his take on politics is also bold and fresh and I really identify with him. He tells it like it is, apologizes to no one (nor should he) for his opinions. Keep it up Bill. There are those of us who really appreciate your views. We aren't Democrat or Republican. We are Independant thinkers, just like you, who want whats best for our once great country. I know that with more people like you, we can once again be A GREAT AMERICA.Buy this book. You will not regret it and you will learn much.",5.0,Bold and Fresh,1249171200,"08 2, 2009",24,36,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1T1FX0E0WJOD8,0307341569,becki,"[0, 0]",This book kept me guessing until the end. Very quick read and relatable characters but extremely dark material. Loved the twists and turns along the way. Made me want a sequel.,5.0,The story line fits the title! - very dark novel,1400716800,"05 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A20TALL2JP7RB6,B004XTS2KE,TJ,"[11, 14]","Were people paid to give this book good reviews? Heroine was clueless, Hero was underhanded and deceitful. Just about the worst book I've read lately.",1.0,Really Bad,1314662400,"08 30, 2011",11,14,helpful,0.7857142857142857,1 A102HQ38U10PPZ,0764132725,citywulf,"[6, 6]","I love this book for the honest answers to a multitude of important questions. Most breed guides read more like promotional materials than honest assessments of whether a particular breed might fit into your lifestyle.The weaknesses have been covered by others already: a)should have used 5 size groupings (toy, small, medium, large, giant); b)no sensible order within the size groups; c)some odd categorizations (they put Bassets in medium??); and, c) (probably because it is British), they left out some breeds common in America (Fox Terrier, Pointer, Cattle Dog, American Eskimo) while including some obscure ones (Dogue de Bordeaux, Neopolitan Mastiff, Skye Terrier).Nonetheless, it is very difficult to find excellent, portable breed guides instead of glorified breed standards or coffee table heavyweights. Recommended for anyone beginning to investigate breed options or, due to the many gorgeous and comprehensive pictures, those trying to identify breeds for rescue/shelters.",4.0,"Excellent, but not perfect",1203638400,"02 22, 2008",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2SX6I6DN9YGY6,1495296474,ibu646,"[4, 4]","Jason, Jason, Jason....really, you must stop this torture. First the Caretaker, now The Dark Age. I don't know if my heart can take much more. Beautifully written, concise language, powerful imagery and over-all Heart-wrenching realistic moments that took my living-breath away. A wordsmith-wizard you are indeed!",5.0,"Left me with a ruptured heart...Yeah, it was really that Good!",1390435200,"01 23, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1PN3R8DXRQ1C3,0393070999,Gary Malone,"[9, 30]","While I was in Galway University in 1994 the debating society set out to break the world record for the longest non-stop debate. I decided that my own contribution would be to make a speech lasting for one 24-hour period. For that, I needed filler. For filler, I needed Ulysses.Intellectuals are always urging you to read Joyce's novel. But even English-Lit graduates such as myself seldom rise to this dreary task unless they really have to. (When the book finally appeared on our BA curriculum, it was literally in its own course: that's what you call 'sui generis'.) So here was a perfect opportunity: I could kill time and read Ulysses. The book is the perfect literary equivalent of a screensaver: I could turn it on, and whatever process was meant to be running in the foreground (i.e., making an interminable speech) could continue in parallel.Result? I couldn't even do that. I read the first three chapters aloud one evening in my room and by the end of it realised that there's no way I could be so cruel to even an educated audience. I discovered that the book is both unreadable an unlistenable. Thankfully, Galway University managed to break the world record (at 28 days) without anyone puttying the cracks with passages from Joyce.And now along comes Declan Kiberd, with what must surely be the most bizarre book of the year: its entire raison d'etre is to argue that you should read one other book.If a novel requires a book-length defense of why you should even open it, isn't that defense somewhat self-torpedoing? A book should stand or fall on its own merits, not the tortuous apologetics of academics saying 'Oh, but you just don't understand ...'. Well, that's the reason even educated readers abandon Ulysses in the first place. Its gratuitous opacity grates as much as its wilful ugliness and its Dublin-guttersnipe vulgarity. After 900 pages, what if the journey hasn't been worth it? What if there is nothing in this novel worth coal-mining out of it, having devoted all that time and effort? What, in short, if Kiberd is wrong? Anyone who defends Ulysses knows that they can't make its opacity go away: it is the reason why the book has never found a common readership in even a century, and the reason why Kiberd is therefore too late. He doesn't seem to see that the one thing about Ulysses that has stood the test of time is its lack of popular appeal. There never seems to be a new generation 'rediscovering' it in the manner in which other novels are rediscovered. From my own experience, I can say that friends and favourite authors alike have been found quoting Proust, Tolstoy and Oscar Wilde. But Joyce? Never. The most sensible objection to the argument that the layman should devote time to reading Ulysses is the simplest: life's too short.It is a damning testament to the obscurity of Joyce's novel that the only people who can be found to defend it are literati, primarily the academics. And sometimes not even then: when the supervisor of my MA, for example, divulged to his students that he refused to read it, I could just feel the whole class brighten. Ulysses hangs over world literature like a heavy pall: it is an intellectual sinkful of dirty dishes which everyone seems to be putting off doing. When T.S. Eliot wrote 'The Waste Land', someone complained that he had 'given poetry back to the academics'. That's the right criticism, but the wrong target: it is Ulysses, that other 'modernist masterpiece' which deserves the stamp 'scholars only'. Joyce, after all, with his 4000-word sentences and his unending allusions to this and that, mired his book in obscurity from the start. His defenders grow catty: David Norris, annual organiser of the unbearable Bloomsday jamboree in Dublin, is merely the silliest.I don't doubt that my refusal to read Ulysses will in some quarters be characterised as philistinism, or perhaps evidence of a mind sealed shut against new ideas. But the truth seems pretty plain. It is Ulysses itself which is sealed shut from the reader; and as for philistinism, that belongs to defenders of the artistry of a writer who penned such lines as 'the snotgreen sea, the scrotumtightening sea.'",2.0,The other book I refuse to read,1262217600,"12 31, 2009",9,30,helpful,0.3,1 A1LJ3IRGRTECFL,1604860898,joe,"[0, 0]","I'd been hearing for a long time that I needed to read this book. And when I finally made the time, I couldn't be happier I did. Although "happy" probably isn't the right word. This is bleak, dark noir. Some beautiful language, some pretty turns of phrase, but this is harrowing stuff. If you enjoy well-written, rural (feeling) noir, and this is as good as it gets. Pike is a tough, misguided but good-hearted anti-hero, and the set up to the plot here is brilliant. You want sunshine and puppies and a cute mystery? Stick to Murder She Wrote or whatever. This is the real stuff. Gritty, dirty, and some passages are tough to read, stick in the gut till it hurts. But in the end, for me, Pike is life-affirming. Because this book ultimately champions survival and hope. Just takes a rough, rough road to get there.",5.0,Brutal and Bleak,1403654400,"06 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2UPOBE95SV1JK,0375501770,DUVAL,"[0, 0]","I am a committed fan of authentic memoirs and look forward to reading actual life accounts. Ted Conover wanted to write a story about prison life and was willing to spend a year as an prison guard to get it. Why would a prison establish rules that are not followed by inmates and not enforced by guards? I am not a physiologist but it is human nature for everyone, including inmates to question authority especially when we see others not following the rules. What is the process for a prison guard to be promoted to a supervisor? The supervisors Ted encountered seemed to be marginal at best and did not provide Newjacks on the job training. Ted writes about his assignments within the prison until he starts talking about things like the electric chair. It feels like he ran out of material and needed to insert some non-essential pages to hit the word-count or maybe he just wanted to get out of his writing prison. I wish there was a method to determine an author's tendency to write off-track. I read books because I am interested in the subject and only the subject. Ted does a good job describing the prison but he did not need to fill the remainder of the book with subjects he assumes will carry the readers interest.",3.0,Rambling On,1388361600,"12 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1A4HSS4TYWGO2,1936559021,GentlemanJim,"[4, 5]","The story line takes far too long to develop and it is a very slow read that left me continuously wondering what was going on & it was unfulfilling until the very end. It didn't make up for the ultra-slow developing plot and story line, but finished in the OK range (or it would only get 1-star). If I had to do it over again, I think I'd keep looking for a different book. This didn't hold a candle to the ""Adventurers Wanted"" series (see Adventurers Wanted, Volume 1: Slathbog's Gold) -- they are a much better/more enjoyable read.",3.0,VERY slow start & mediocre book,1329264000,"02 15, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A5HMT6ZOBUAVM,1586481282,"""michaeleve""","[27, 31]","So said Archbishop Desmond Tutu of Robert Mugabe. This is coming from a church leader about someone who often publicly boasts about being a devout christian. If the Archbishop's criticism doesn't bother Mugabe then maybe Nelson Mandela's dissmissive epithet - calling the man ""Comrade Bob"" hits more to home. Mandela throws cold water on Mugabe's previously illustrious reputation as a freedom fighter and liberator of his people.Mentioning Mandela is an appropriate starting point for discussing OUR VOTES,OUR GUNS because the author - Martin Meredith - is best known for his authoritative biography of Mandela. Here he applies his writing skills and powers of observation with the same results - a thorough analysis with keen insights into the personality. So who is Robert Mugabe and how is it that from a position of world acclaim as a hero at Zimbabwe's independence in April, 1980 - inhereting ""a jewel"" as Meredith quotes another African leader as telling him - he has sunk to such a low position today? Meredith says that a lot of this can be explained by over optimism and excessive expectations. In the 1970's he was the guerilla leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union/Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) which wrested control of Rhodesia from the minority, white-ruled government of Ian Smith. Following independence Mugabe emerged as a statesman. He was committed to reconciliation with whites and Meredith refers to Mugabe's speech on Independence day. He promised to ""draw a line through the past"" and said ""if yesterday I fought you as an enemy, today you have become a friend and ally with the same national interest..."" Meredith argues however that the hope in Mugabe as a model of the new African leader was badly misplaced. He says that Mugabe was never committed to democracy and his rule increasingly reflected his autocratic tendencies.The book is very clear however in showing that Zimbabwe is not a one-party state. It is a functioning democracy with the required basics of regular elections, a free press and an independent judiciary. Mugabe also has achieved some notable successes. In keeping with their president's love of education (Mugabe has seven degrees) Zimbabwean's are generally very well educated and highly literate. The country has one of the highest rates of literacy in Africa (nearly 90%). Despite being an avowed marxist and thus seeking radical solutions to economic problems, and his very ugly attack on Matabeleland where his army killed thousands of civilians in an attempt to quash dissent, Mugabe could nevertheless always count on international and domestic support (especially in rural areas). In recent years his support both at home and abroad has evaporated, largely due to his increasingly violent land reform policies. 'Reconciliation' is no longer a word in Mugabe's vocabulary and he now calls Zimbabwe's white farmers racists and neocolonialists.Meredith goes into all the social, economic, and political underpinnings of Mugabe's 22 year rule and the concomitant decline of Zimbabwe. One of the telling indicators of economic collapse is that this is a country that once had productive farms (albeit white-owned in a majority black country) and a booming agricultural sector. Today there are starving Zimbabweans. This book was no doubt published now because of its relevance in the lead-up to next week's electionsm - the most important in Zimbabwe's short history. As OUR VOTES, OUR GUNS clearly shows the events of March 9-1Oth will go a long way to deciding what kind of future Zimbabwe has and whether a line can in fact be drawn through the past.",5.0,"""A cartoon figure of the archetypical African dictator""",1015027200,"03 2, 2002",27,31,helpful,0.8709677419354839,1 A10TR7FH7DXFA2,0375752633,"Charlus ""charlus""","[4, 9]","Criticism for people who want to read something smart and insightful about books. It's a book for those who appreciate thinking long and deep about literature, who appreciate being introduced to aspects of language and content they may never have previously considered, who take literature seriously and feel no need to apologize for it. There simply is no critic writing today as consistently well about literature as Mr. Wood and this book is a perfect introduction to why he has acquired such a reputation at such a comparatively young age. You may find yourself disagreeing but you will be forced to think hard as to why.",5.0,repetitive to say...but brilliant,1084752000,"05 17, 2004",4,9,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A1QGW6B1NZYY8R,1433513056,"C. Hennessey ""Chris""","[0, 0]","Recently there have been more books written about the deity of Christ as well as books on the humanity of Christ. As more books have popped up, one has been written about Jesus' humanity that should not get lost in the mix. Bruce A. Ware has written a fantastic and thorough book that walks through biblical and theological reflections on Jesus' humanity. In The Man Christ Jesus, Ware looks at different elements found in Scripture that show the importance of understanding Jesus as the God-Man and why it matters.What I appreciated about The Man Christ Jesus was the intentionality to focus on Scripture and Jesus' life to show the importance of His humanity to our lives. Ware wonderfully exegetes different passages to show Jesus as a human and how He lived every day. One of the passages that he looks at closely at the beginning of the book that sets the tone for the entire book is Philippians 2:5-8. Phil. 2:5-8 says,Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.I show this verse to show one of the lines from this book that absolutely stood out to me and impacted me greatly. This line set the tone for the entire book, and to understand Jesus in His humanity and incarnation, and it's importance to all people past, present and future.Without comprehending the profundity of the purpose of the incarnation, as Paul describes it here in Philippians 2:5-9, we will inevitably trivialize what it means to 'do what Jesus would do' or to 'live like Jesus' (27).Please consider adding this one to your reading list this year. It's a potential quick read, but I would strongly recommend you thorough wrestling with this book to understand Christ more. Check it out here.",5.0,The Man Christ Jesus - Review,1359590400,"01 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19S6TS0C9F9TU,0615555497,Tamika Newhouse,"[0, 0]","Pocket Full Of Game takes you on a roller coaster ride through the lives of Fresh and Porsche, whose worlds inadvertently collide after two chance meetings. Fresh, along with his close friends, Cash and Bone, have a hustle unlike anybody else in the business. Their come up is all about profit, since their crew has taken to sticking up and killing the who's who of the drug game one by one.Porsche is a one-woman army running her own drug operation and trusting no one but her right-hand man, Chase. Using her beauty and street skills to stay at the top of her game. She has also vowed to never get involved with a man if he was also in the life and has kept that promise without any problem until Fresh crosses her path.When the two combine their hustles, they get more than they bargained for as they learn the hard way that all that glitters isn't gold.Deborah ""Sexy"" Cardona has written a true to form ""Hood Soap Opera"" with enough unexpected twists to pique your interest and keep you turning the pages. Sexy has mixed the perfect blend of suspense, betrayal, deception and love and the story holds your attention till the very end.",5.0,AAMBC Book Reviews,1354406400,"12 2, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A28D20IM3BNAJ1,0330317547,pswinn,"[0, 0]","Even someone who doesn't like westerns will love this adventure, you feel like you know the characters and are cheering them along on their epic journey. Well written story by a master of westerns.",5.0,Great Novel,1393977600,"03 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AD21ULV3BM08C,0316097497,"Mary Butler ""Ring Rider""","[0, 0]",Another fast paced thriller. Patterson's women's club does it again. A real page turner until the very end. I can't wait for the next one.,5.0,Patterson doesn't disappoint,1367366400,"05 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXPN8L8QI2Z4A,0756400066,"Dr.||\\//|| ""To Hope is to do Magic""","[6, 8]","This book is not a typical detective fiction. ...This book is a detective fiction essentially designed to pick on every aspect of the whole detective fiction genera. So it's a book with ridiculous action, jokes on top of corny junks, and crazy idiotic characters all played up to be probably one of the world's funniest bashes on detective fiction. It's great fun and non-stop laughs.... Buy this if your looking for a joke book with a story-line.",5.0,Joke-book with a story-line,1051574400,"04 29, 2003",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 AWTF7DDK3AVMB,0785260498,Jim,"[6, 10]","I read this hoping to find out more about the nuts and bolts of a down-and-dirty primary fight: what really went on, how things really work, etc. Instead this is basically a thorough compilation of every newspaper article on the primary race, but adds little to no additional information that I didn't know already.For example, I was hoping to learn how Ford got those delegates to switch their votes. What exactly did he say to them? Or promise them? Again, the nuts and bolts of retail politics. Instead we get a few mentions of meetings but little new information. I already knew the delegates went to state dinners; I wanted the ""why"" of their decision to switch. The Secretary of Agriculture called them to ""discuss"" crop loans? Now we're getting somewhere, but the book doesn't unravel it any more than that. It would have been nice to hear what the legalities were, and how they skated around them, and what Reagan and the press had to say about it.The book talks about a bluff that cost Ford 6 delegates in Iowa, but doesn't explain it. Or a threat by Reagan's people to walk out and hold a rump convention. How would that have worked? We never learn. The book might as well say, ""There were lots of arguments"" and leave it at that, such is the absence of explanatory material.Another example is Mississippi and Clarke Reed, who gets built up as Lucifer, practically. The book keeps talking about the epic battle over the unit rule, and how Reagan kept trying to reopen it. Then, several pages later while the nomination vote is taking place, the book casually mentions the unit rule was dissolved! Um, when did that happen? Isn't that a slightly important thing to mention?While the book does do a good job of covering most every aspect of the battle, it doesn't seem to be much more than a long-form synopsis of what most political junkies already know.The other problem is the muddled, bad writing. Sentences start out with one subject and meander on so long they end up with another. An assertion will be made, then immediately followed by examples that contradict it. Paragraphs summarize some event, then go back and replay it more thoroughly, losing any sense of build-up. There is no natural logical flow from one paragraph to the next. This guy can't write, and desperately needs an editor to teach him basic syntax.There's also an embarrassingly rapturous quality to this. Ford is a ""product of his times"", but Reagan ""made his times."" Ford is mocked and belittled in passive-agressive swipes, while Reagan is portrayed as the man who can do no wrong. The book makes sure to mention every abject Ford supporter admitting their mistake. The whole thing makes you feel queasy with the level of sycophancy.While I appreciate the attempt to cover this piece of history, a real reporter who was less interested in worshiping Reagan and with better writing skills could have looked under the hood more, or at least done a better job of summarizing it.",2.0,A poorly written account that has detail but no depth,1301529600,"03 31, 2011",6,10,helpful,0.6,1 A3HYOD7UJCBVLE,1595540687,"Cathy Elliott ""Crafting Mysteries & Suspense""","[9, 9]","I have so enjoyed each Walker book, but I consider Miss Invisible a cut above the rest. The writing is seamless and fun. A great example of ""big-girl"" chic-lit or would that be ""chunk-lit?"" The almost thirty Fredricka 'Freddie' is plagued by other important issues including: a history of abuse from her father and stepmother who always found fault in Freddie, harassment from her boss, being ignored everywhere she goes, and a rocky love-life 'at best'. In fact, call it a non-existent love-life. But Freddie's wit and resilience shine through in spite of her lack of self-worth. When God puts Deborah into her path, Freddie's world begins to change. For the better!The writing was so good, the story so compelling, the setting so enticing, the characters so unique and real, and the situations so gripping...I could not put it down. I carried it with me everywhere, hoping I'd need to wait for roadwork or at the Dr.'s office. It was THAT good. Loved it!",5.0,Another delightful read from Laura Jensen Walker!,1184803200,"07 19, 2007",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A11WBEK5XODYVM,098215125X,"C. E. Selby ""Eric Selby""","[7, 39]","I feel badly to be the first to ""review"" this new book. I tried to read each story. And I quite simply refused to continue to the end of any, including the shorter ones. I have an M.A. in literature albeit from years ago. So maybe this really is, as the blurbs say, a truly outstanding work of literature where old myths are presented in fractured and modern terms with contemporary symbols mixed with fractured old symbols. Maybe this is a book for graduate students studying contemporary literature. But I rather doubt this will be well received by most readers. And what genre are these ""stories""?",1.0,I Found This Unreadable,1287705600,"10 22, 2010",7,39,helpful,0.1794871794871795,1 A1LT69AU0WHVMS,155583891X,"Sanguine ""Sanguine""","[5, 7]","Groundless, biased assertions couched in meanspirted prose. The author appears to really dislike Hepburn, and that is neither professional nor engaging for the reader. A good biographer should 1) be able to substantiate sweeping claims, especially about a subject's sexual life, and 2) maintain a neutral tone when writing about the subject, no matter how distasteful the biographer finds the actions of said subject. This author has done neither. Don't waste your time with this book even at the library.",1.0,Unprofessional,1176940800,"04 19, 2007",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 ADSNB0O14IQTE,B008KXP65S,BovinitySupreme,"[4, 4]","If you scroll down far enough on the main listing page, you will find links to report the listing to Amazon. Unfortunately the link for reporting copyright infringement is only for use by the copyright owner.Amazon needs to take action IMMEDIATELY. I think the only way they will is if they get LOTS of reports from users. They've never taken action on a single report from me. Time to team up!Everybody scroll down to the ""Would you like to report this content as inappropriate? Click here"" link, click it, choose ""Violates the Amazon Kindle Terms Of Service"" or ""Other"" option, and provide a message that expresses your outrage. This was what I told them:This is the most blatant copyright infringement ever self-published to Kindle. It is an outrage that this listing is allowed to exist. This ""author""'s other listings include other infringements too.Do not wait for the publisher to contact you, remove these severe offenses immediately and terminate the ""author""'s account.",1.0,We must find a way to get Amazon to pay attention!,1342310400,"07 15, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A8OU2FHE8QWFS,0060175400,Gwyneth Calvetti,"[5, 5]","Barbara Kingsolver uses one of my favorite fictional conventions--the shifting viewpoints of different characters throughout time--to tell this tale of a missionary family in a futile setting. It is fascinating to watch the different characters change and develop-or in one case, to not change- as they struggle with a dogmatic father who fails to see that his mission in the Belgian Congo can not be realized in the way he would hope.As the family struggles with the political and tropical climate,the characters narrate throughout their lifetime how they see each other and their parents. These women are so well developed, that after a few chapters, one can tell who is speaking without reading the chapter heading.Although I become frustrated that so many novels portray members of the clergy in such a poor light, it is probably a reality that many do struggle with the balance between their beliefs and those of the people they are trying to convert. However, to tell this story in this way, and to see how the daughters dealt with such a man as father and how that affected their outlooks on life, he had to be this kind of preacher.Interspersed with the story is the background of the struggle for independence in the Belgian Congo. This is an engrossing way to familiarize oneself with the history of the fight for freedom that occurs with frequency on the African continent.",4.0,Well drawn characters spin their saga in the Congo,964137600,"07 21, 2000",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 ATG0IA1SRX1GJ,0099472287,Masuri Sokawa,"[0, 0]","""Out"" is a story of four women who work at a bentou-box factory and are tied even closer together by a gruesome murder.This book is absolutely horrifying (in a very very good way) and I recommend this to anyone who loves psychological thrillers. It wasn't scary in a ""pop out and AHHH!"" kind of way, but I couldn't sleep every night while (and a few nights after) I was reading it.I heard that this book even became a tv series in Japan!",4.0,The struggles of desperate women make a thrilling noir novel!,1170979200,"02 9, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A320TMDV6KCFU,0425225526,MNix,"[7, 8]","Lily Yu is with her lover and mate, Rule Turner, in North Carolina on personal family business. Lily is a member of the FBI's Magical Crimes Division and when you are mated to the lu nuncio of the Nokolai werewolf clan, nothing is as simple as taking time off to deal with personal issues. The trip is so that Rule can gain custody of his son and deal with a little bit of clan business.When bodies are found and death magic is apparent (a federal crime), Lily is pressed into service to discover what is going on in the North Carolina woods. Nothing is adding up and suspects are becoming victims as the investigation goes on. If that wasn't enough to confuse things, the mother of Rule's son has appeared and she has an agenda of her own. Lily and Rule have to use every one of their advantages and bring in friends to solve the crime and keep the entire family safe and together forever.Mortal Sins adds yet another chapter in Lily and Rule's lives. This time they have to track down an illusive murderer while dealing with unexpected issues concerning the custody hearing for Rule's son. I love the twisty turns that happen when Lily and Rule have to combine both their responsibilities and try to stay within their respective rules. Lily and Rule become more and more in love as the book unfolds and the danger come up close and personal. There were several places where I was wondering what would happen next and I have to admit that I could not figure out who was the real criminal was or how close it would come to Rule and Lily. I was very happy and shocked by the ending and can't wait for the next chapter in Rule and Lily's lives. Mortal Sins is a great paranormal suspense filled book that will keep you scratching you head. While it could be read alone, I would probably suggest reading the series in order as each book is building the lives of Lily, Rule and their friends and family.JoReviewed for Joyfully Reviewed",5.0,Mortal Sins,1242172800,"05 13, 2009",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A1LB4OX1C0S9R5,031257357X,Connie Horn,"[0, 0]",This book brings out so many emotions I can't even name them. I couldn't put it down! This book has you at hello. AWESOME!!,5.0,Heartpounding!,1355097600,"12 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1LRC1SULAKOG6,1844676862,Eric Woodard,"[4, 42]","It sounds like the author had a bad internship experience and has extrapolated that experience onto everybody else. Sorry to say it, but I get the feeling that the author has lived in academia for a bit too long - the real working world doesn't necessarily jive with some of the assumptions he makes.Don't want to do an internship? Then don't do one. Nobody is forcing you to do an internship. Let somebody else benefit from the opportunity.Most internships are awesome, treat students fairly, and mentor them. Internships are an excellent way for students to get exposure to the real world. They also provide a way for students with no connections/access to certain fields to get access to those fields.",1.0,"Sorry, but Ross Perlin just doesn't get it.",1308873600,"06 24, 2011",4,42,helpful,0.09523809523809523,1 A3GSSX9XHONVCD,B0072Z3800,Julia Busch,"[4, 4]","This great little book landed me at the words ""garlic"" and ""ginger"" and I was blissfully whipping through the recipes. I am very familiar with herbs, spices, essential oils and foods for anti-aging. And just loved the pureed Carrot Ginger Soup, Garlic Broccoli, Egg Salad with Tumeric, the Squash Brownies and so many of the other goodies. Well-formatted, nicely presented.",4.0,Anti-aging Through and Through!,1346803200,"09 5, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2X5GK7QISX6RL,0312375972,cw05,"[0, 1]","I generally do not read joint effort works of literature. However, this one was well worth the read. If you were to take Islam and switch it out with parts of Dan Brown's works as opposed to Christianity this is what you would get. Combined of course with some Israeli warfare and historical accounts. Looking forward to the next joint effort indeed. 4*",4.0,Good read,1291766400,"12 8, 2010",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 ABP5LUZQ1NXND,0399155945,Donald Couture,"[0, 0]","Good storyline, what was the major problem is resolved fairly easily becomes more complicated as the plot moves along. Spenser being the romantic and fair play detective that he is reserves judgement as to what is going on and the people involved. A good read that moves along a t a fairly good pace.",4.0,The Professional Review,1397520000,"04 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GS9W8YNNUA7B,0394872177,"Brianna M. Tichinel ""Brianna""","[0, 0]","My kids love this book and they loved to go to the store with me, this is a great way to help our children to see that the foods we most often want are the ones that are not good or healthy",5.0,Bears do it again,1358812800,"01 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TX179XAT5GRP,0061214809,"TeensReadToo ""Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier.""","[4, 5]","As far as Reese is concerned, Progress Center is just a fancy name for juvie jail, and he's been there long enough to know. He was found guilty of stealing prescription pads from a doctor and selling them to a drug dealer. It wasn't easy to stay out of trouble on the street, and it's not much easier inside, either.The only person Reese trusts at Progress Center is Play. Diego, Leon, and Toon may hang with him, but they have their own agendas. It doesn't take long to find out the new guy they call King Kong is bad news, too.When he's not in school with the other guys or getting his quarters ready for inspection, Reese is part of a new work program. He is cuffed and transported to a local nursing home where he helps out with cleaning and interacting with one of the residents. Mr. Hooft, a scrawny old guy in his seventies, calls Reese a criminal, and whenever he gets a chance he tells people he's a murderer. Despite his gruff exterior, Mr. Hooft shares his life story and offers Reese some life-changing advice.Reese experiences several setbacks when he punches the new guy for picking on Toon, and when detectives haul him in for questioning on additional charges they hope to pin on him, which would add years to his lockup time. His only motivation is a little sister named Icy, whose faith in Reese never wavers.True to his hard-hitting, gritty style, Walter Dean Myers gives his readers an inside look into juvenile detention. He reinforces the cold, hard facts of life that in the neighborhoods create the tough situations that tempt kids like Reese and lead to a life of crime. He doesn't sugarcoat life inside the detention center. Readers see it for what it is and the destructive atmosphere that often hardens kids like Reese instead of rehabilitating them. LOCKDOWN is an honest look at a side of life that might change the choices of some young readers.Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka ""Readingjunky""",5.0,Courtesy of Teens Read Too,1267574400,"03 3, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3Q86MZSVUUAD8,B0099VJW46,L.I. LINDA,"[0, 0]","Thank you Sandra Calixto for the inexpensive,creative and pleasant homemade beauty products.Printing your own labels on the computer would also be a creative idea.",5.0,Wonderful Ideas,1348272000,"09 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A258MA9CXCWQSX,1556436475,Robert McRobert,"[6, 6]","I thank the authors of this cookbook and Cafe Gratitude for their generousity, in sharing their restaurant receipes with all of us.The ideas are fabulous and the ingredients are not difficult to find. I can actually eat these food combinations without going yuck. It's a great cookbook and they are truly on a mission to convince everyone how eating raw can be as pleasurable as eating cooked food.If you liked this book you are going to enjoy these ones:Raw Food And Health: The Raw Food Classic By The Founder Of The Raw Food MovementThe Advantages Of Raw FoodThe Black Art Of Cooking: The Raw TruthThe Unfired Food Diet Simplified: The Raw Food GuideUncooked Foods and how to use them: How to use Living and Raw foods for health",5.0,Great information abou raw food,1254960000,"10 8, 2009",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A6UDN0THLPW59,0802415547,"Cindy Thomson ""Author and Family Historian""","[4, 4]","From Dust and Ashes raises the bar for Christian fiction. It's intriguing, the plot is believable, the characters fully developed, and the research is so well done the reader feels as if he or she is actually there. The story is not preachy, yet Tricia manages to show God working in people's lives in a very real way.The author could not have picked a better topic in which to develop the theme of forgiveness and she does it beautifully. An SS wife has compansion for the recently freed prisoners, two former prisoners accept her help and forgive her, an army soldier forgives the SS wife, and the wife forgives her husband. Only with God could this be possible, and Tricia Goyer tells the story well.",5.0,Great story!,1089158400,"07 7, 2004",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A383UE1TUJZEOO,1477421599,"Sue Fleckenstein ""Sue Fleckenstein Author of""","[9, 9]","I have been trying to get into a regular exercise routine for the last few months. I am great at getting one started and then seem to let things lapse. What I liked about this book is the concept of short and sweet. I have done some interval training in the past and know that it can be effective. I love the idea of picking out a spot in between two trees and making that your circuit, so to speak. I can easily do this as I live out in the country and have lots of trees outside.I like the idea of changing up your routine and this book does a good job of explaining why and how High Intensity Interval Training works. I plan on getting out my bike and fixing the tire and doing some interval training while cycling. The book is just the right length with a good amount of detail, but not too much as to put you off the idea of HIIT altogether. An informative and enjoyable read.",5.0,Very Informative,1336953600,"05 14, 2012",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A1NHACPF1RYE07,0312949804,serious_ly,"[0, 0]","Mine Till Midnight is Lisa Kleypas at her best, and that's the highest compliment I can pay romance novel (or for non-Kleypas books, its very like Lisa Kleypas at her best)!",5.0,Lisa Kleypas at her best,1395014400,"03 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36MDVJ59IZNXH,1416550518,"MC ""MC""","[4, 6]","I really enjoyed the Forgotten Garden and was excited when I got this book. I am not even sure I made it to page 100, I felt like it was going in the same direction as the Forgotten Garden, just changing names and it was BORING!",1.0,Felt like she was writing The Forgotten Garden,1289606400,"11 13, 2010",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A3ENVHXOY03P5B,1250004470,"Seaotter ""Wholly His""","[8, 9]","My reason for reading ""The Real Crash,"" by Peter Schiff is that I strongly believe we have no more road to kick the can down, but are at the edge of very long drop off and the book's title let me know I wasn't the only one who felt that way. You can not continue indefinitely on a wild spending spree, without sooner or later going bankrupt. And bankrupt we are. As Schiff says, we need to get honest and declare bankruptcy. The longer we wait the harder the crash will be. Schiff not only describes the problems, but also gives common sense solutions to turning problems around. Not easy nor painless solutions (there are none), but ones that will enable our economy to regain its soundness. Schiff discusses everything from deregulation to returning to the gold standard, ending the income tax, ending Social Security and Medicare, health care, and dropping out of college (one of my favorite chapters).One problem I had with the book and one of the reasons I did not give it five stars is that I found the author to be a little cynical at times. He seems to imply that ""everyone"" wants something for nothing. For example, people want to stay on unemployment compensation as long as possible, lay around and milk the system for as much as they can. Tell my husband that after he got laid off after 32 years at the same job in 2008. He now has another job in his field, but it took awhile to find the job and he worked part time at a low paying job while he searched for one in his field and also received reduced unemployment benefits at the same time.He also implies that no one in Washington is willing to get serious about fixing our broken economy. Read Jim DeMint's, ""Now or Never,"" Tom Coburn's ""The Debt Bomb,"" and Rand Paul's, ""The Tea Party Goes to Washington"" and you will see this isn't so. DeMint is a senator from South Carolina, Coburn is a senator from Oklahoma and Paul is a senator from Kentucky. While these books pull no punches about the seriousness of the problem, they aren't cynical either.Also, I resent his suggestion that people with under one million dollars to invest, which he can't help because of the current laws store up food now and if the crash is slow in coming eat stale food when the real crash does come. He doesn't mention it will be stale, just cheaper now. I remember going to church pot lucks and eating stale rice after the Y2K scare. If the man can't give any better advice than that, he should shut his mouth.",3.0,Be Prepared,1343433600,"07 28, 2012",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A1ZIBQE61ABNE0,1414358474,"AvidReader ""rjporter10""","[27, 29]","I wanted to love the book, i am always looking for more Christian mystery writers to add to my must-read list, but I found my mind wandering half way through and realized I didn't even care how it turns out...never a good sign! There just wasn't enough believability and genuine intrigue for me. I found myself wanting to tell the main character to stop whining rather than wanting to root for her! There was a little too much over-explaining for my tastes as well, I prefer stories that flow seamlessly without the author having to completely spell every single little thing out over and over again for the reader.The writing style seemed slightly disjointed, but nothing that was too distracting. It seemed as though this must be the author's first novel...although I did not check, so not sure if that is the case. If it is, hopefully the series will get better, but I don't think I'll be looking for the next book.",2.0,Not quite...,1340928000,"06 29, 2012",27,29,helpful,0.9310344827586207,1 A3II0IBBI99HWM,0743260244,W. Langlois,"[6, 9]",Against All Enemies should be required reading for anyone who plans to vote in the next Presidential election. It provides two decades of perspective by a dedicated U.S. government professional who focused on terrorism and on how we should deal with it.,5.0,Front Row View into How Presidents Dealt with Terrorism,1088812800,"07 3, 2004",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A302Q4RLR2RK2L,0615528910,"Kindle Customer ""BJK""","[0, 0]",Wonderful story about love lost and finding a new love and new life. Excellent story with a happy ending (the best kind). Hope you enjoy this one as much as I did. Happy reading.,5.0,Loved this story,1399766400,"05 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SRZQU1SZG4RR,0345448278,"Erika Borsos ""pepper flower""","[7, 8]","Christine Kling creates a cadre of believable characters with outstanding personalities who fit together as tightly as a person wearing a skin diver's suit. From page one, the reader is drawn to Seychelle Sullivan, a 30 year old, female tugboat captain who is repairing the flusher on her vessel. It should have been fixed by B.J., her handsome shipmate of Samoan descent, who often accompanies her on towing jobs. Seychelle is interrupted by a May day call on the VHF channel ... which grabs the reader's attention and holds the suspense to the very last page.This book is a totally satisfying reading experience. The author's obvious familiarity with nautical terms, which she liberally sprinkles throughout the book, enlivens the mysterious new environment into which the reader enters. The heroine is even more engaging because she works in a ""man's world"", in a unique occupation that is nearly extinct due to modernization. Little by little, we learn that Seychelle and her two brothers inherited the tugboat named, Gorda, from her dad who died three years ago of cancer. Right from the start, the reader identifies with Seychelle as she struggles to attain towing jobs in a very competitive industry. Seychelle is the first responder to the distress call ... she discovers an unmanned yacht out in the water, one which her former boyfriend had captained ... worse than that, she discovers a pool of blood and the body of a young lady who was stabbed to deathSeychelle's mind works over-time, fearing the worst - that her former boyfriend, Neal Garrett may have committed the murder. She follows protocol and reports the event through proper channels. The Coast Guard and Fort Lauderdale detectives enter the scene, after which she is thoroughly grilled by Detective Collazo. It gradually dawns on her that she is the ""prime suspect"" in this gruesome murder. As anyone would do, she takes great risks to follow every hunch and clue, to collect evidence, any information ... to clear her good name and discover the truth.As a first novel, the book is astonishing in its depth, breadth, and superb detail - holding the reader's attention from beginning to end. As other reviewers stated, ""I could not put it down"" which is the highest compliment one can give any book.Erika Borsos (erikab93)",5.0,Riveting Suspense - Couldn't Stop Reading 'til the End,1131408000,"11 8, 2005",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A7UIZD6FPNN6H,1481060953,Lizzy,"[0, 0]",I definitely liked this book better than the first. It's the relief that you've been waiting for. Great read!!!I thoroughly enjoyed it.,5.0,Great read,1361318400,"02 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27OW0P38B28OP,0804161283,"T. Hill ""Relytia""","[8, 8]","When it comes to game guides, I almost exclusively buy them if they're for games of the Adventure or RPG genres, with an exception here and there.Mario and Luigi: Dream Teamfits that bill and so I bought this guide, and I'm glad I did. It's a great guide for the most part, with only a couple issues I can think of that weigh it down a bit.The guide is very nicely organized. It starts out with a very comprehensive intro/basics section that should catch up just about anybody, including those who have never picked up a Mario and Luigi game before. It covers controls, the battle system and its intricacies, the RPG mechanics (aka. leveling up, stats, equipping gear, badges, items, etc), the basic theme/mood of the M&L; series, story, and anything else you can think of. Great start for newer players, but imminently skippable for experienced gamers familiar with the series.The majority of the guide itself is a comprehensive walkthrough of the game. It is by far the biggest section of the book, coming in at a whopping 370 pages. Yes, this game is HUGE, quite a bit bigger than past M&L; games in fact, and the guide really reflects that. The book itself is 495 pages, but there's a reason why it is that thick that isn't just limited to the fact this is a big game, and I'll cover that later in the review. For now, just know that the walkthrough is deep, it is detailed, and it is very well-written. Dream Team is a more difficult game than some of the series' past entries, and having a helpful guide while playing in the more difficult spots is a luxury you'll be grateful for. Throughout the walkthrough are screenshots that help make sense of things that are being discussed, and every new section you come to features a large map of that area and where all items/blocks/shops/etc can be found. What's really nice is that each map actually tells you what item is found in each block, a very nice feature. So whether the walkthrough is discussing events in ""the real world"" or ""the dream world,"" the guide is a very good source to know what to do and where to go if you get stuck, and for completionsits looking to find all collectibles, it's fantastic. Battle strategies, whether for minions or bosses, are also very well-written. Great job!The next thirty or so pages contains a section devoted entirely to every real/dream enemy and boss you will face. Included for every enemy is a fantastic summary of what strategy to use with them, as well as every stat they have in-game, which is helpful if you want to know the exact stats for their hp/pow/def/spd/etc.Lastly, the last 70 or so pages contains a ""Quick Reference"" section that breaks down into two things. 1.) A fantastic atlas that features every map/area in the game that you find in the walkthrough section of the guide. What makes this nice is that, if you want to revisit an area for collectibles, you don't have to flip through tons of pages to find it in the guide itself. Now you can find it quickly in the atlas section and since all maps in this section also feature the legend for all items, you'll face minimal hassle when revisiting areas. Bravo Prima, bravo! Besides the atlas, there is also 2.) An appendix that features every number or stat you could ever hope to find in abstract grid format. It's very useful for miscellaneous things, like figuring out what expert challenges are what and where to find them, or what happens at each level/rank up, etc.The overall presentation of the guide is pleasant and colorful, much like the game it is written for. Dispersed throughout the guide are very nice pictures of official art made for the game itself, mostly character art, that are a joy to take in. I enjoyed reading this guide.I've been very positive about this guide, haven't I? You may wonder why I gave it a four-star rating and a warning in the title. Well, to put it simply, the guide suffers a bit because of its format. For some reason, Prima has gone to a paperback novel-like size format for all their 3DS guides recently. For more straightforward genres likeplatformersorgames that benefit with having a handy dandy pocket encyclopedia, it works great, but for a deeper RPG like Mario & Luigi, it doesn't work so well. I wish Prima had published this in their older, larger format instead. As it is, all of the words, maps, pictures are much smaller than they would be in a normal sized book, and the guide suffers for it. Maps are very detailed and well-labeled, but you sometimes have to strain to catch finer details. Screenshots are too small and for some reason the printing quality of them feels somewhat smudged and lacking in crisp detail. The fonts used are perfectly fine, but because the smaller format forces the book to be thicker due to less content covered on each page, the guide ends up being more page-flipping intensive, something that annoys me in game guides. This is compounded and made even worse by the fact that the thick binding often makes the book close if you're not holding it open (which is impossible to do while playing such an action-packed game as Dream Team), resulting in you having to search out where you were at when it closed on you, frequently. If you bend the spine too much to keep the book open, I guarantee it'll crack and pages will start falling out soon. What a shame that such a great guide is hampered so badly by its poorly implemented format!Also, the actual cover to the book is downright hideous. The dust jacket looks great, but the actual cover, designed to look like the transitional zone between the real/dream world in the game, is a blurry, smudged mess that looks like a fourth-grade schoolgirl's obnoxiously colorful binder/school-box ate too much cotton candy mixed with glitter and vomited all over the book. Yuck!Overall, I'd say the guide is worthy of 4-stars. Don't let my criticisms of the format deter you too much. It really is a great guide, and I like it quite a bit. It's fantastically written with exceptional organization, the info it has is super helpful, and the maps are awesome. There are a lot of strengths in its favor, with some format issues and a hideously ugly cover making it clumsily stagger along the way from time to time. If you can look past those clutsy flaws, then by all means, get the guide. I think you're more likely to be glad that you did. Hope this review was helpful. Thanks for reading. Toodles",4.0,A fantastic guide hampered by some format issues,1377388800,"08 25, 2013",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A3HY7DE45OAY0G,B0039NMTFO,Reviewer,"[0, 0]","I like stories about couples who reunite but I found this one a bit boring. I thought the reason they split in the first place a bit odd when Mandy could have easily gone to school where Kip went to play Hockey.I didn't really connect with the characters of Mandy or Kip. I found Kip going through his box of memories from his time with Mandy a bit girlie. Even his messages to her on facebook were a bit girlie. He wasn't very manly for a hockey player!I got bored reading it. Yes it has some sex scenes but there was just something about how it was written that didn't hold my attention. OK for a freebie, but doesn't make me want to read more by this author.",2.0,I didn't connect with this.,1360368000,"02 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36QC6GS79GLHJ,1409134237,RWH,"[0, 0]","An author I had never read, set in the 1500's with the words Queen Elizabeth I and Chess - something I could never have imagined myself reading. However, my parther is a huge Matthew Reilly fan and he was confident that I would enjoy his writing style, based on the books that I do enjoy. So, I downloaded the short story prequel to this which was for free and gave Matthew Reilly a go and absolutely loved it! This book was so difficult to put down, it was so filled with mystery and very fast paced and the historical information was interesting. I was so enthralled in this book and just kept wanting to read it right to the end. There was never a dull moment and from the first page to the last page, it was absolutely thrilling. Fantastic read, and I can't wait to read more books by this author.",5.0,Am a new Matthew Reilly fan!,1398556800,"04 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWD6SR6I52C5C,1601901453,Casteela,"[0, 0]","Its an ok map if want just an over view of the island with point of interests marked, but you will need a magnify glass to read it, was worth the money spent on it.",2.0,Not like a actual state map,1353801600,"11 25, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJVYSYD8AW77S,0962067172,A. Crisp,"[5, 8]","I purchased How to date young women after working in an office with young chicks and wanted to understand their attitudes way of thinking and found that book truthful, straight to the point and amusing.Which is why I purchased this book to help me learn somemore I was hoping for the same straight down the line real world talk and I wasn't disappointed, this book Don has taken the best of letters written to him on the topic and helped the reader understand some more, from their own experiences, misunderstandings or mess ups.",5.0,As it is equal to or better than the first edition,1150329600,"06 15, 2006",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A1WLXX089AP3CL,0753186578,High Planes Drifter,"[0, 0]",I knew I had to read the book because of my love of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series. I admit that I was more that a little apprehensive that it was written by someone other than the original author and feared this might lead to my disappointment. Eoin Colfer did not approach this task eagerly as emulating an artist of Douglas Adam's stature is never a simple task and a failure can mark a man's career forever.Having accepted this monumental mission I do believe that Colfer performed an excellent service to Adam's fans and family. His work was made more difficult by the eccentrically intricate details Adam's was famous for combined with the harsh pre-emptive attacks from critics who felt the whole attempt to add a sixth book to the trilogy was akin to some form of blasphemous treason.I am happy to report that I was pleasantly pleased with Colfer's contribution. This book serves as an excellent encore to a science fiction fantasy loved by millions and a sound tribute to an author admired by fans from every corner of the universe.,4.0,Excellent Encore,1259452800,"11 29, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36YPGBD56VDR6,1499564112,Ben Cross,"[0, 0]",Glad he picked up again. This story has a lot left to it and should be interesting I like the second generation,5.0,good start and good read,1404604800,"07 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2GPKC42QA6737,0195282175,"Jeremy Garber ""urbanmenno""","[28, 29]","This is the first Bible I've ever purchased for myself, after careful deliberation between many different versions. I found the Access Bible the best balance between pure, dry scholarship and completely evangelical footnotes that I don't feel comfortable with. The Access Bible has helpful full-color maps, a small concordance in the back, and an index. What I find most helpful, however, are the notes sprinkled throughout the text that help me gain insight into the way people thought and behaved in the time that Scripture was written. I recommend this Bible for any thoughtful believer who wishes to approach this most amazing and influential book with both spirit and mind fully engaged.",5.0,Dive in and Learn,1000425600,"09 14, 2001",28,29,helpful,0.9655172413793104,1 A27RSV5NHZK73Y,0781810450,"Richard Arant ""Toun""","[68, 78]","A handy but not quite pocket-sized dictionary of 18,000 entries that must have been compiled using up-to-date source material. Look up coalition, extremist, bomber, martyr, military occupation, resistance, torture, prison, fanatic, graveyard, reconstruction, genocide, or refugee, and you'll find what you need. The Arabic script is crystal clear and of more than adequate font size. Short appendices include the days of the week, months in two forms plus the Islamic months, and country names. The phonetics for both the Arabic and English entries are easily understood, the dictionary being intended for both students of English and Arabic. This may be the only dictionary out there that you would actually ever be tempted to carry around with you. Lots of value for a very reasonable price!",5.0,"Nicholas Awde means ""quality product""",1092355200,"08 13, 2004",68,78,helpful,0.8717948717948718,1 A2RJ480AA1Y2RL,0425154114,"J. Fortner ""jennfortner07""","[0, 1]",I am in the process of reading this book but so far so good! It is flowing and easy to get into. I am happy that I purchased it. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Jodi Picoult's writings. I received this book in a very timely manner and was happy with the product when it arrived!! I would purchase from this seller again!,4.0,So far so good!,1252454400,"09 9, 2009",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3P1WJQ3SAXK4V,0778327906,Kay Lewis,"[4, 5]","Kathleen Bridget O'Leary doesn't just weave a fantasy in her mind....she works to make her dreams come true. However, even in the best of her dreams she never conjured up any man as dashing, good looking, or as captivating as Dylan Kennedy. He surpasses everything she ever expected or dreamed of in giving her heart over to a man. However, there are a few little problems with this wonderful rogue. He has made an art of lying and he doesn't know what love is. Kate has her work cut out for her as she struggles to not only survive the great Chicago fire of 1871 and its aftermath, but to also prove to Dylan that love does exist.I haven't been so totally immersed in a book or loved the characters like I have those in "The Mistress in a very long time. This is the first novel by Susan Wiggs I've read and she immediately climbed to the top of my list of favorite authors. So, if you have this book....curl up and enjoy!",5.0,A dream novel!,980899200,"01 31, 2001",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2BERXQUDY3O95,0892819073,George Washington,"[44, 45]","After highly anticipating this book, I must say that I was disappointed. After purchasing the book which suggested that it would reveal ""Secret Teachings of Warrior Sages"" I found out that Mr. Danaos can only share knowledge cryptically (his words). And unfortunately he does not do this well. The amount of actual practical methods taught in the book are condensed to 8 pages of basic Qigong/Chi Kung and meditation. If you are looking for how to achieve any levels in the Mo-Pai nei kung system, then you must actually find John Chang, or one of his disciples. Having said that, I must say that there are good points to the book.Some of the theory was interesting if you could sift through the esoterica and historical presentations. I do think that Mr. Danaos knows his stuff, but I feel that he is either unwilling or unable (prior secrecy agreements) to share what he has learned. I liked Mr Danaos' first book so much that I really wanted to give this one a good review, but I cannot. Still may be worth purchasing for your library. I think it is.3 Stars...",3.0,A bit of a disappointment. Still some good stuff,1016841600,"03 23, 2002",44,45,helpful,0.9777777777777777,1 A2JGIR6QYKGUNU,0316920290,"Jack Rivers ""video cutter""","[0, 12]","What can you say about lists? They are mostly uninteresting, but a few are cool.",3.0,The Book of Lists,1218931200,"08 17, 2008",0,12,unhelpful,0.0,0 A17JKJW561MSBY,B00DGHOFEG,Brenda Byrd,"[0, 0]","I am not quite the Senior the author is and not ready to publish anything about my age.This is a wonderful book with the advantage of many illustrations. I love the narratives. The writing seems to make the book more personal and some parts are really funny. The reader never get's bored, at least I didn't.There is a garden in my future.",5.0,There's a Garden in My Future,1371945600,"06 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GKZBRGH7IM9T,0802439489,Allen Nelson,"[0, 0]",worth its weight in silver. I would reccomend every christian read this book and learn the warfare tactics of the evil one. no more couch potatoes.,5.0,excellent,1354579200,"12 4, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33Y8C4818EJL0,1612182925,"Live, Laugh, Love...","[0, 0]","This was a bit slow to get started, but it was easy to keep track of the characters and gave me a chance to get to know them. This will be a terrific book club choice. This book involves many facets of relationships, grief, loss, cancer, sisterhood, motherhood. Great discussions are sure to be abound as well as more than just a few tears.",4.0,"Heartfelt Story of Motherhood, Sisterhood....",1348444800,"09 24, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32R0ZHR7S3GYH,0062202235,"April A. Renn ""aarenn(AprilR)""","[0, 1]","SWIMMING IN THE MOON by Pamela Schoenewaldt is an interesting Historical Fiction set in 1905 Italy and Cleveland,Ohio. What an interesting story on immigrant life in the 1900's. Young Lucia,and her mother must flee the Bay of Naples,in Italy, where they end up in Cleveland,Ohio. Lucia's mother, Teresa, has a beautiful voice but she also has demons. Teresa becomes the Naples Nightingale and works on the Vandeville circuit. While young Lucia is clever,hardworking,and struggles to fit into her new life in America....but she is not alone in her struggles. ""Swimming In The Moon"" is a beautifully written story that is the greatest of stories, the love between a mother and daughter. With her attention to details, her vivid descriptions and characters who are alive with passion,you can not go wrong by reading ""Swimming In The Moon"". Fast paced story of the struggles of immigrants and the life they wish to create in the new America. A powerful and compelling story!! Received for an honest review from the publisher.RATING: 4HEAT RATING: MildREVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More",4.0,A POWERFUL AND COMPELLING STORY!!,1378252800,"09 4, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1HL5K1RLN59ZV,0060929510,Cynthia Jewell,"[0, 0]","As the cover says -- keep a box of tissues nearby! I was so captivated by the story, I literally could not put this book down! I was on the last chapter during a visit with friends, and I knew it was rude, I just could *not* put the book down!!!The writing is a bit rough and simplistic, but this true story more than makes up for it.There are a number of violent and scary scenes -- those who empathize deeply with animals should be braced for some agonizing, and unforgettable nightmarish scenes. They are scattered throughout, so aren't easy to skip (and it would be hard to skip anything.) The power of this story is worth it though.It's a bit heavy for young readers -- the violent scenes are pretty gruesome, plus there is some (discretely) implied intimacy. There are two other children's books of this story -- a picture book and a Young Reader version -- so look for those if you're looking for something for a kid younger than high school.",5.0,One of my all-time favorite books!,1355529600,"12 15, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A20XKCRKQNTQEB,086713089X,Chrissy Faught,"[0, 0]",I wanted a book of basic fairy tales that included vivid pictures. This book is perfect. The fairy tales are the classic versions and the pictures aren't cutesy but beautiful. I would highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to share fairy tales with children.,5.0,Fantastic Fairy Tales Book,1382140800,"10 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PWW8D03381TO,1492206083,Swimom4,"[11, 12]","Celeste lost her husband and was left a widowed mother of 3, but her life was no worse for the wear thanks to one man: her deceased husband's cousin, the knight in shining armor Adrian Hebert. The relationship these two had was like that of an already married couple when we meet them, only without the intimacy. They were a well-oiled machine of a family, with Adrian stepping in and taking the part of the man of the house without question. When Celeste made the leap and clued him in on how much she was attracted to him, though, suddenly things weren't so perfect. When your relatives are more mafia outfit than loving family, falling for the cousin everyone hates is never a good idea.Celeste and Adrian were in a tough spot; with a family that didn't take no for an answer and liked everything to go just so, making waves was not something either of them wanted. Celeste knew that Adrian was the black sheep that no one wanted around, and her father made it clear whom he wanted for her next husband. Whoever told him arranged marriages were a good idea needs a reality check, but that didn't stop daddy dearest from sharing his thoughts on the matter. Unwanted proposals aside, there was no denying the attraction between Celeste and Adrian, and no denying that they both wanted more, so these two played quite the cat-and-mouse game around each other as they tried to avoid both their desires and their family.As Celeste faced her feelings for Adrian, secrets from her past were revealed that put a whole new light on her family. She hadn't had an easy life, and it was so hard to not hate the people who were supposed to love and protect her but instead just hung her out to dry. It made me appreciate Adrian that much more, because not once did he ever put himself before her or toss her feelings aside. Even in the moments when he was tearing her heart to pieces, he did it because he thought it was best for her. I was so happy when Celeste finally found her backbone and did what was best for her own family, because it was a really heartbreaking but sweet moment for both of them.I liked that this was different from the typical romance story, with the whole mafia-style family dynamics and leading lady Celeste being older as a mother in her late 30's. It was unique and I appreciated reading something really original. I did feel like there were some areas that weren't as fleshed out as they needed to be, though. The Hebert family and Adrian's relationship with them are a huge factor in the story, but the details were mostly from vague references. They were certainly a fascinating group of characters, so it would have been fun to see more behind the scenes. And I wish the story could have started out when Adrian first took his starring role in Celeste's life instead of two years later, because we miss out on the period where Celeste and Adrian really fell for each other. I just didn't feel their connection as deeply as I hoped to because of it. I was relieved when a traumatic event towards the end of the story really drew out the emotions from both of them, though, because it made their relationship more captivating. And the ending was really sweet, so it wrapped up on a positive note for me! I enjoyed this story, and it was a sexy/sweet and distinctive contemporary romance read that pulls on the heart strings!Quotes:This is bad. Very bad. I'd always had that forcibly dormant attraction to him, but now that I've tasted him and felt him, I doubt my ability to force it into a state of lifelessness again. ~ Loc 150""Promise me that you're mine. Mine to watch."" He pierced me with that gaze. ""Mine to kiss."" He leaned in and placed a quick kiss on my lips. ""Mine to love."" His hands tightened on my thighs. ~ Loc 2470""Strength isn't the ability to feel strong, Celeste. It's the ability to overcome weakness. You may feel all sorts of ways, but that's not going to stop you from doing what needs to be done."" ~Loc 3996Watch soon for this and other of my reviews at: [...]",3.0,Sweet and unique!,1379635200,"09 20, 2013",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A3F8LMJKR5HAH4,076531178X,Annie,"[0, 0]","I bought this boxed set for my husband because he liked Terry Goodkind books and these books are supposed to appeal to fans of his. I have read them both and I have to say I liked these books a lot more! I couldn't put it down, I thought it was just fantastic. The characters are likable, the magic is complex and different, the action is great, and I love the visual descriptions. It is very well written. And I am not a huge fantasy fan, I mostly read the big bestsellers. I always try and guess what's going to happen in the books I read, and this one is full of surprises. I absolutely loved it! It's the best book I've read in a while. It is definitely an under-appreciated book. The other two books are ok, overall I liked them, but this one is relatively self-contained and I would recommend it to anyone.",5.0,definitely an under-appreciated book.,1283904000,"09 8, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AAJWHQ8KPNRB0,0787955140,Samuel J. Okoro,"[6, 6]","Like the other books from this series, ""How to Acquire Clients"" is very hands on, and is presented in Alan Weiss' inimitable, tell-it-like-it-is style.It begins with the proposition that successful selling occurs at the intersection of need, competency and passion - all of which, fortunately can be controlled by the consultant. Contrarian as ever, Weiss makes the case for generalising as a way to broaden your appeal, while customising your approach for high potential prospects.In the second chapter, you are told to focus on the economic buyer (the fellow who has the budget and dicretion to spend on your services). You are taught to identify, meet and interact with the economic buyer as a peer. You also learn indirect methods of getting to the economic buyer where direct means fail.Further you learn to match your approach to the predisposition of the buyer, follow a plan for controlling your meeting by setting objctives for each meeting, providing value early, listening 75% of the time and ending with an action plan suggested by you. You also learn to rebut obections which generally fall into no trust, no need, no hurry and no money (though they may be disguised as other issues).Ever realistic, Weiss also teaches you how to ""steal"" clients from other consultants by plucking low-hanging fruits, positioning yourself through high vsibility, providing a bold contrarian solution to issues etc. You also learn to ensure repreat business and how to be selective (avoiding clients you do not want and getting those you do).Overall, the book provides top value for money.",5.0,Guaranteed Techniques that Get the Sale,1161475200,"10 22, 2006",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A32QNQQRE7P6PF,0061257052,terry,"[0, 0]","The book was slow to start off, but being Italian as I got into the book I could see my own family. Very funny",4.0,very valentine,1361491200,"02 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WZFG1UT3IP4X,0615600875,Amazon Customer,"[0, 1]",This book is very interesting and has a lot going on. It had me yelling out often. I only gave it 3stars because after all of the excitement the ending was rather unsatisfying. Dino seemed like he was still on the fence about all of his many relationships with women. We never really were able to understand his feelings for Nikki beyond obligation. There is no true closure. The previous book Before Redemption was much better. The only way this book could be redeemed would be if there was a 3rd book to tie up the loose ends.,3.0,In need of closure!!,1384905600,"11 20, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1ORNZEDAM2C66,0764207946,"D. Kinney ""mom of 2, wife of 1, daughter of t...","[12, 12]","A trained pilot...a plane crash....only one survivor. This is what Dale Black experience at the young age of 19. But that is not all he experienced. He experienced heaven, and this was an experience like no other.I am glad that Dale shared his experience in this book and am glad he followed his grandfather's advice to live a life that reflects his heavenly experience, and not a life that capitalizes on his experience. I am also glad that Paule Black encouraged her husband to write down his experience after living a life of purpose. It wasn't just the experience of heaven that is amazing, but also the obedient life that Dale had lived.I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the truths that Dale lived. He realized that his responsibility is not to provide the living water but to point the way to the well, ""the well of Living Water that God offers each of us through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ."" I pray that I can be like Dale and point the way to the well.To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Bethany House has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine.",5.0,An experience like no other,1278892800,"07 12, 2010",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A3KY41MH7JS8TQ,B00CL0QMG8,"Amazon Customer ""Julia""","[0, 0]","Incapable of putting the book down, I must know what is to come of Ankh and Luca. The story is full of action and a building romance. There are questions and yet I don't have the answers yet. Yet being the key word, I cannot wait to pick up the next part in this amazing Novel in III Parts. Skinless will leave you wanting more and determined to pick up the next book as you reach the end of Part I. The suspense is killing me!",5.0,Oh the suspense...it's killing me!,1390262400,"01 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A6T1TYLOIXQE5,1932927646,"J. Watson ""Jessica""","[8, 10]","An easy-to-read format! Instead of preaching at you all throughout, the book takes commonly asked questions and then answers them for you. This book is a must-have for anyone who is unfamiliar with the antiquity of the Church or who has questions about the Dead Sea Scrolls, Mary of Magdala's role in Christianity (and history in general), the Nag Hammadi, or Dan Brown's credibility in the claims he makes in his novels.Something else I like about this is the fact that they priced it reasonably so it was obtainable for all. There is no fancy binding here and they are not trying to make a profit off of this book. Rather, they are trying to spread the message that Dan Brown's book, The Da Vinci code is false in most all of its claims.",4.0,Not just for Catholics...,1145491200,"04 20, 2006",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A2DYDEAVSNGZH9,1482680858,lisaf,"[0, 0]","This book is real, and that pretty much says everything. If you want some sweet rock star story where the characters never fall prey to the rock scene, if you want a heroine that can resist her heart and attraction to that one toxic guy, then forget this book. For the rest of us, this is real, this is the rock world, loved it!",5.0,This is Real!,1388793600,"01 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NIPCHM9RVM2A,042519213X,Amazon Customer,"[4, 5]","Ten years ago Clare Cosi used to manage the historic Village Blend coffee house located in the heart of Greenwich Village, New York, but after her divorce from her handsome, philandering, charming husband, Matteo, she moved to suburbia with her young daughter, Joy. When Joy begins culinary school in New York, Clair gets a call from her former mother in law to come back as the manager of the historic family owned coffe shop, the Village Blend. Clare and Java her cat, have just completed their move into the upstairs beautiful apartment, when she walks into the Village Blend early in the morning to find Anabelle, her assistant manager, unconscious on the floor, surrounded by coffee grounds. The police feel that it was an accident, since there isn't any sign of a struggle or forced entry into the shop, but Clare knows in her heart that Anabelle was pushed and she's determined to find out who wanted her dead before Anabelle's step mother sues the Blend for everything they have. Cleo Coyle, the author imparts her vast knowledge of coffee in a very fun and painless way. Clare is a woman of strong character, humor and curiosity. She also has a strong affection for her employees, so the motivation for finding the culprit rings true. I also enjoyed the other characters, Mike Quinn, the dectective, her ex husband Matteo, and her formidable French former mother in law. The various coffe quotes scattered throughout the book are a fun aside for the reader. I really enjoyed ON WHAT GROUNDS and look forward to reading the nest book, THROUGH THE GRINDER. An added plus: there are several recipes in the back of the book for the different coffees and desserts mentioned in the book.",5.0,Black or With Cream?,1174521600,"03 22, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AS0UNA9TQGZW6,0060007737,"J. Olson ""www.ilovehits.com""","[5, 6]","Interesting read but here's my question. As this book points out, there can only be one brand for the internet. Dell is the king of the 'PC ordering system', and then they say Yahoo is king of search engines. I understand that this book was brought out before Google was such a player, but that goes to show you that their laws of internet branding does not work. Yahoo and Google are the Pepsi and Coke of online search engines. There is healthy competition and so while the 22 Immutable Laws of Branding is dead on target and a great read, I feel the add on '11 laws of internet branding' is not 100% correct.",4.0,Decent but Google ruined their main points....,1119744000,"06 26, 2005",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3I4GZJZO155GG,0307275558,Naida M.,"[0, 1]","This book was a fun, light read. I started reading it around 10:00PM at night, I figured I'd get in a few pages of reading before bed... 4 chapters later, I didn't even want to put it down. It reminds me of one of my fav tv shows, 'Ugly Betty'.I heard this book is based on a true story and I find it very hard to believe anyone can be as impossible as Miranda Priestly's character.",4.0,"Where, in a just universe, was this acceptable behavior?",1232236800,"01 18, 2009",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 ABRZNCFE4CUZR,0385660065,"D. Sonaike ""Happy American""","[0, 0]","I read this book in a day. I had bought the book not based on reviews, as I never do, but based on the recommendation of my Afghani friend. I was looking for something to lull me off to sleep so I started reading the book at 9 p.m. I could not put it down. By 3:30 a.m. I finally put the book down as I was about done reading it. The story broke my heart into a thousand little pieces. As someone who have suffered discrimination at some point in my life, I felt for Hassan. To know that for millions of people in the world, their fate and future is determined for them based on their looks or economic background is truly heart wrenching. This books also lives the saying about evil prevails when good people stand by and do nothing, and how important it is to bring people to account for ills done to all peoples no matter what their stature is in life. I love this book and absolutely recommend it.",5.0,Easy read could not put it down.,1194134400,"11 4, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1KLFC7HYZV658,0615659292,Dorothy,"[0, 0]",Just needed to review this book. This was incredibly written. Each individual was expressed clearly. The relationships and the people were very real. This is a story that won't be forgotten. Had everything you could possible want in a book.,5.0,Absolutely Loved It,1352764800,"11 13, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GQ7EGAQY2UYX,161188053X,"Amazon Customer ""nevermore""","[12, 13]","Good Lord, I expected this story to be somewhat sappy, but there was enough saccharine to flavor a swimming pool of Tab. Also, there was no plot to speak of, just a check-the-box bucket list and too much maudlin sentimentality. I expect the movie version to be on the Hallmark channel next year.",1.0,I just got Type-II Diabetes,1366934400,"04 26, 2013",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A2BXKZJ9YJDJIW,0758220391,"Tedra ""Twintosser""","[11, 13]","really? just who is giving this drivel 3 or more stars????I love me some romantica (romance/erotica)this isnt it.it just going from bad to worse!Those looking for romance you wont find it hereOK Lord Nick and his brothers receive a letter from a Fae king informing them thatHe has fathered 3 daughters with human mothers. He is dying and wants themTo marry his girls to protect them.First off seriously you send a letter? Something that important you don't send a assistant, a courier, uh a house maid? Any living body? Really?Okok I can suspend belief and wave it away, Oh the daughters have no idea that they are part fae either.2. oh the men are satyrs and have 2 penises huh ok weird.3. The summon ""shimmerskins"" as sexual vessels, that conveniently don't need foreplay (their orfices magically wet themselves - authors words),Heck even dole out a believable fake moan for the ""lusty"" satyr lords to make it real. (by the author I know exactly what Erotica writer you stole that idea from)Is it any wonder why the Satyr men view women as vessels for their sexual appetites. I cant for the life of me think how this is even healthy for them to think of sex and woman, as if its nothing.. I didn't find these guys sexy in the least, not at all. They were screwing around with a mystical blow up doll sorry whats to like about that?4.Oh throw in that the main hero after marrying one of the daughters(jane) stil has threesomes and other sexual relations with other woman, even though while married. Of course wife had to sign an agreement into the marriage, that she had to be faithful, and had to produce children, else she would be tossed aside.But wait! Im not done!5 Does Jane want a divorce once she finds out her husband is screwing around! No! she tells him that she should act like his mistress so he wont stray (cause wives and mistresses are 2 different things. One is to bear children, the other is to have sex with) Seriously it makes me wish that she had just decided to stay as his wife and be blissfully unaware of what she was getting in to.6. of course all that sex makes her husband like her more, but he doesn't say love - not once in the entire book.7. once a month there is a Calling where he has to have a round of all night sex and get her pregnant or he uses his shimmerskins. Not bad, he gets her pregnant, then refuses to not having any kind of sex with her while she is pregnant (gestation is only amonth) telling her every time she tries to seduce him, that its ""their way"" its how it is they have to abstain blah blah, finally one day its his calling again and he has to have her he cant abstain( how convenient!) and even though she is cringing inward with thoughts of his screwing her into a miscarriage, they have sex. Which makes her go into labor, the whole time she is in labor she thinks the baby is dying.8. Maenads want the satyr lord for themselves, the typical lesbian orgy loving ones, that have f/f/trysts and kill young men once a month. Im sorry to say these were the only interesting characters in the book.At once point the maenads get so laughingly easily onto the estate and force jane and her 13 year old sister in to the satyrs sex room complete with toys etc. Im sure what would lead to a thorough scarring to said 13 year old. Soon she is out of the picture so the lesbo maenads from hell can rape her older sister with d*ldoes, whips and vibrators (oh my!) and such, getting in a few unwanted orgasms in before passing out. next day everything is swept up and lesbo maenads from hell are mind swiped and and nothing else if ever said. NO wow honey are you ok? How did you end up naked wrapped up in vines in the gardens? Oh my moms aunt was really a murderous lesbo maenad, and so were her 4 best friends?! Nothing!But wait it get s worse!9. Hubby has to go back to elsewhere (by this time Im skipping pages its so bad) and he decides that wife and his brothers need to do a ""sharing"" so he pretty much coerces her to have sex with his 2 brothers while he watches. HE even makes her drink an elixir to do it, because she isn't turned on enough to go thru it. I mean she isn't even thinking wow that's kinda hot nothing. Infact at one point one of them was thrusting too hard and hurting her and she just let it happen. Disgusting. I have to wonder if the author is some sort of sadist.10. and really what in the heck is a ""seeker"" this sounding like it belonged in a sci fi book rather than a ""mystical"" story. In any cse its gross!",1.0,wow this is bad SPOILERS SPOILERS,1332115200,"03 19, 2012",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A2VCGJLKGK2WJJ,034542848X,Rebecca Herman,"[11, 15]","This book is the longest in the New Jedi Order series yet, at 606 pages, and it's also the best. In spite of the long length, there's not a single boring moment. In fact, the book sucked me in from page one.Early on, we learn that the Yuuzhan Vong have developed vornskr hybrids, called voxyn, that hunt Jedi. When the Jedi discover all the voxyn are queens, Anakin Solo proposes a mission to go behind enemy lines and destroy the original voxyn, so that no more can be created. Anakin leads a strike team that includes Jacen, Jaina, Ganner, Tahiri, and several characters from the Young Jedi Knights series. They arrange to be "captured" by the Yuuzhan Vong, as that is the only way to get behind enemy lines. The mission to kill the voxyn queen is the main plot in the book, but there are also several other plot lines, including one focusing on Han and Leia, and another on Luke and Mara, who are determined to protect their infant son Ben.To go into any more detail would most likely spoil this amazing book, so if you've been following the New Jedi Order series, I'll just recommend that you read this book. It's so vital to the overall storyline and full of tons of unexpected plot twists. There was really only one thing I didn't like, and that was the death of a major character. While the death was certainly well-written and heroic enough, the choice made of which character to kill was a poor one. Other than that, the book was superb. My only other complaint, besides the death, is that the next book, titled Dark Journey, won't be out until February. Star Wars fans will not want to miss this thrilling book.",5.0,Easily the best New Jedi Order book yet.,1004400000,"10 30, 2001",11,15,helpful,0.7333333333333333,1 A3HY7HC3O457GE,014311882X,Anthony J. Adam,"[0, 0]","I wasn't quite sure what the book was about exactly when it was recommended to me by my book group friends, but I'm glad they made the choice. Blum presents the history of the development of forensic medicine in New York during the 1920s, when a few brave doctors challenged the political machines and transformed investigatory medicine from almost nothing into a central component of crime solving. Each chapter is devoted to a specific poison - most are fairly common, such as carbon monoxide - and cases involving serial killers, wayward spouses, and the underworld element. Well-written and reasonably fast-paced, although occasionally a bit too detailed.",4.0,"Almost a 'How To' Guide, But Not Quite!",1353024000,"11 16, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21U533V9T2XUH,1570671443,Rumpus,"[25, 28]","if your interested in a healthy diet, of any type, this book is a MUST. for those already or considering vegetarianism, i have not yet found anything that compares.this book focuses on the ""How to be healthy"" and leaves preaching (in things one may or may not agree with) aside, so it is an awesome source for everyone. omnivores and veggie/vegans (health, AR, environmentalist or any mix) will feel comfortable reading and reaping the benefits from this book.in depth but easy to understand explanations of basic dietary needs, info from many studies, and how to make the most of this info in one's everyday eating habits.it takes time to explain the macronutrients (to include protein requirements and essential amino acid intake), individual minerals and vitamins, essential fatty acids and more.a book that i'm extremely pleased to have come across and to have in my library.",5.0,"information, not judgement",1109116800,"02 23, 2005",25,28,helpful,0.8928571428571429,1 A1CDS4YZYPMZVJ,1570980217,"Jay Carson ""motorholio""","[4, 4]","I'll try not to sound gushing, but this is a great book. Well researched and documented. Academic but readable. Objective but engrossing. My wife and I picked this up in West Yellowstone, and couldn't put it down. We read it through during our stay in Yellowstone Park, and it definitely added to the experience. I have read various disaster books, but thisone sets the standard. Definitely a buy, and take it with you next summer.",5.0,No Swimming Allowed,1004140800,"10 27, 2001",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3326UC548HDXO,0373131755,Harlequin Junkie Blog,"[0, 0]","Challenging Dante by Lynne Graham: Dante Leonetti has very strong suspicions regarding his mother's new assistant Topsy. He believes she has ulterior motives for working as his mother's assistant and he is determined to protect his mother from her by exposing her. Topsy is searching for her father and that is the only reason she took a job as a PA to Sophia, whose new husband may be the man she is searching but she does not expect to feel such a strong attraction to Dante, which may prove fatal for her plans.Challenging Dante was a well written harlequin with a well executed plot. The story is based on misunderstanding and prejudices from both the protagonists sides who fall in love in the end when their misconceptions about each other are proved wrong. Dante was a very typical harlequin hero with the usual characteristics. He was dominating and quick to jump into wrong conclusions regarding the heroine. Topsy was a feisty, math geek and virginal heroine who had to lock horns with Dante at every possible situation and therefore the book is very aptly titled Challenging Dante because that's what she does throughout the book.The romance was filled with seductions, interesting conversations, secrets,confrontations and sizzling sexual tension.There was never a dull moment in the book because something was always happening. I liked the way the characters got their HEA and the way they fell in love was also believable. What I did not like was the excessive secret keeping and though it was a nice addition, sometimes it was just plain frustrating.Overall Challenging Dante by Lynne Graham is a nice read and though it is not as great as the remaining books in the series, Lynne Graham's fans will still love this one. The heroine was quite feisty and readers looking for a sweet heroine will be disappointed.Recommended for Lynne Graham fans and everyone who liked the A Bride For A Billionaire series.",4.0,A Bride For A Billionaire #4,1384128000,"11 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WETFLJM0D6R0,0312150520,"ewomack ""ewomack""","[22, 26]","Can historical source material make for an exciting and engaging read? This book answers that question in the extreme affirmative. It contains documents mainly from the 18th century, but it reads like a political thriller. It also provides valuable peeks into the formation of the United States as we know it today. Magma hot controversy surrounded that formation. The press on all sides fervently spewed accusations that seem nearly heretical even today. Did John Adams want to be king? Was George Washington a bumbling and incompetent general? Did the French win the revolution for us, thanks to the diplomatic powers of Benjamin Franklin? Was Thomas Jefferson an atheistical French sympathizer? In light of these claims, Who is really the ""father of our country?"" Many unconventional opinions see light in this book. Some cherished political figures get shredded to bits, sometimes by their own words and sometimes by the words of others. In the end, no one is safe from abuse. Not even Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. Shocking claims await on almost every page.The drama begins in the city of Philadelphia in 1798. At this time it served as the capital for the very young United States (the government moved to Washington in 1800). John Adams holds the presidency. George Washington still has a year to live. Benjamin Franklin has been dead for eight years. His grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache runs a newspaper called the Aurora General Advertiser (or just ""The Aurora""). For reporting on certain congressmen's less than professional behavior (spitting, insults, etc), congress bars the paper from the floor of both houses. The Aurora gets shoved into the balconies of congress, far above the whispers of congressman that Bache so often reported on without approval from the House Speaker. Congress marks the Aurora as a troublemaker. This begins the first section of the book, where the Aurora accuses president Adams of wanting to be king of the United States. More than mere conjecture or metaphor spurned this accusation. Adams presented his idea of ""titles"" to Congress on May 9, 1789. He suggested a verbose title for the president: ""His Highness, the President of the United States of America and Protector of the Rights of the Same."" Along with this, he proposed that the president and all senators should hold their offices for life. These ideas deeply disturbed Bache, and the exposure of Adams' goals became a predominant goal of his paper. In addition, Bache accused the Adams administration of purposefully alienating France. The Aurora and other news sources of 1789 reported on the terrifying prospect of a French invasion of the United States. It never happened, and Bache yelled foul from his printing press. The more he yelled the more the Adams administration responded. The Sedition Act, supposedly created to silence the Aurora, came before Congress and passed in 1789. On top of that the the Alien Bill also passed, which enabled the president to deport any illegal alien without trial. Bache argued the unconstitutionality of both Acts. The inevitable arrest came soon after. Bache posted bail for trial for indictment under the Sedition Act. The yellow fever epidemic of the same year altered the proceedings. Other arrests and trials of newspaper editors continued. Many were convicted, spent time in prison, and paid heavy fines.Part Two of the book goes back in time to before the American Revolution. This section will raise the most eyebrows. It begins with an accusation that George Washington started the French Indian War of 1756. The section goes on to argue that Washington bungled the Revolutionary war so badly that Benjamin Franklin had to go to France and beg for help. Surprising letters from Washington's Generals and other government officials dot the entire section. Other revelations include Alexander Hamilton's avowal that monarchy best suits the new constitution's checks and balances, Adams' ideas behind a two house legislature, Benjamin Franklin's support of a unicameral legislature, and the alleged flouting of the French Treaty of 1778 under the Washington administration. Washington in particular fares badly in this section.The Third and final section returns to 1798. William Duane now heads up the Aurora (you can guess what happened). He continues the fight against the Adams administration's policies, particularly in the critical election year of 1800. The government arrests Duane under the Sedition Act, and even the United States Senate arrests Duane for ""breach of privilege"". Duane spends much of this section in hiding. This section also sheds some light on the origins of the Second Amendment concerning the subject of standing armies. Much, much more gets coverage in this section. Far too much to summarize here, but the election of 1800 (Adams vs. Jefferson) receives more than ample coverage.Throughout, the reader gets more perspectives than just the Aurora's. The Federalists (Adams' party) also get plenty of space. Numerous passages from the Gazette of the United States and Porcupine's Gazette (both Federalist papers of Philadelphia) provide vitriolic responses to Bache's and Duane's Democratic-Republican claims. Candor was not something practiced by the press of the time. Articles sometimes resulted in personal assaults on editors with opposing papers cheering on the abusers. Rough times indeed.Though the book provides many perspectives, the book mainly argues that Bache and Duane's Aurora saved the United States from monarchy (even Thomas Jefferson made this claim in 1823), and that freedom of the press provided the means. The book takes a decidedly anti-Federalist stance.Engaging and powerful, this book will provide at least another perspective on the founding of the United States and its major personalities. It accomplishes this mostly through excerpts from newspapers, The Annals of Congress, and personal letters of the time (the book contains over 2000 direct citations). At times it feels close to time travel. A long and arduous but ultimately extremely rewarding read.",5.0,An eye-opening political thriller...,1094601600,"09 8, 2004",22,26,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A2AFALLSFJP3SF,0399155813,D. Betancourt,"[0, 0]","I got this book at the library just because of the cover and the storyline on the back seemed to be an ok book, after finishing My Soul to Take i really thought Black Hills was going to be a bad book....(I was really close minded) WRONG! i almost took it to the library and one night at 11:30 pm (Friday) i gave the book a chance, well i didnt close the book until 5 am! the story was so so so so good. The last time i read a book that i couldnt put it down was Twilight and that was almost 2 yrs ago i finally found another favorite book! I finished the book in 2 days. I loved the characters specially Lil and Coop they both made me laugh and also made me sad at times. At the end of th book i so wanted more i even went to the computer to see if Nora was thinking on writing a sequel to this one, more i dont think i will get that lucky. Read the book, give a chance like i did and you will find a good book.",5.0,LOVED IT!!!,1267574400,"03 3, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36RS7KTNOBROF,0451191722,Bob Waskiewicz,"[15, 16]",""Talking to Heaven" has opened my eyes to my Spirit and my Guides,or Guardian Angles.Everything makes sense after reading James Van Praah's Book.The good days,when everything goes your way,and the bad one's, when someone's trying to block you from doing something.I really wanted to know about my dreams.James tells us thats the closes we come to our spirit.When we dream about a family member,or friend that has died ,Its for real.There's so many wonderfull stories of people finding out that there loved one's are still with us in our everyday lives.The one that really touched me was Charlie.James had no idea who the spirit was,untill he was shown pictures on a refrigerator,and described them to Susan,the deaf woman who was there to find out if her loved one was alright.Charlie was her Dog.I almost cried.I have two dogs,and I know they have a soul.I was so happy to read that part of the book.James also teaches us how we can have the same power that he has,but you have to work at it through Meditation and other exercises.The main part about this book is what we already know.Love is the only way,through God.We are all part of God.",5.0,Everyone of us has the Power of James Van Praagh,991699200,"06 5, 2001",15,16,helpful,0.9375,1 A5DLHOZ0RLXRE,0451195922,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I bought this book recently and absolutely loved it. The main character suffers from Tourette's Syndrome which plays heavily throughout the storyline. I liked the way Daniel Hecht incorporated the finer medical details with a very gripping story. This book will take you on an emotional ride, keeping you turning the pages...and possibly jumping at any "bumps in the night". Every time I thought I knew what was happening, there was a twist. I can't wait to read his other books.",5.0,Daniel Hecht's Skull Session is a Must Read,1389312000,"01 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1K1JW1C5CUSUZ,0385512058,"Donald Mitchell ""Jesus Loves You!""","[22, 23]","Never Eat Alone is a rare, detailed glimpse into how those with no special access can connect to those they want to meet. For many people who are good at connecting, this activity becomes a way of life. It's a profession and a hobby. As such, connecting can become all consuming. Many will find that aspect of Mr. Ferrazzi's story to be unattractive. But I found his candor in this regard to be refreshing.If you step back from his enthusiasm for connecting, the mental attitudes and processes he describes are just what everyone needs to use who wants to be better connected and accomplish more.All of us know more than any one of us. If you take two equally talented young people in any field, the one who is better at connecting will live a more successful life than one who tries to go at everything as a lone ranger.I have known dozens of master connectors. They all do some variation of what Mr. Ferrazzi describes in this book. Here is how I would distill those lessons:1. Decide who you want to meet to further your objective of accomplishing more.2. Learn more about the person.3. Find what you can do to help that person in an area where they care.4. Develop a strategy to meet briefly face to face.5. Share what you want to do to help when you meet.6. Stay in touch with more ways to help.7. Attend events where other master connectors attend and link into fields which are not naturally yours by becoming acquainted with these master connectors.8. Study those who are very good at this.If you keep in mind the sheer pleasure of making a difference as you do this, you'll soon be a superb connector. I recommend undertaking this task on behalf of something you are passionate about such as a charity you support.One of the best parts of this book is that Mr. Ferrazzi is generous in sharing his mistakes. The world doesn't end for you as a connecting queen or king if you offend a poo-bah. You just pick yourself up and do better next time.I liked his humility about his limitations in other fields. Peter Drucker would have approved of Mr. Ferrazzi's decision to work on what he has a talent and love for, connecting, rather than try to become more competent at things that are difficult and unpleasant for him . . . like quantitative analysis. The story about how he got his start at Deloitte is worth the price of the book.Another strength of the book can be found in the excellent description of why people find President Clinton to be so compelling in person.Skip books about networking and relationship building. Read Never Eat Alone instead!",5.0,Connect for the Joy of It All!,1134432000,"12 13, 2005",22,23,helpful,0.9565217391304348,1 A3KZVA45AUJIYZ,0060937130,Peter Menkin,"[7, 8]","Many years ago, about 35, I was talking on the phone to a friend who told me ""God is love."" This shocked and surprised me so much that I had to get off the phone. The idea was new to me, a child of atheist parents. Now I find that Paul Tillich in his book, ""Dynamics of Faith,"" writes of the ultimate concern (God) in terms of love. Imagine that I was so unknowing and ignorant, in a way lost, and presently continue in my discoveries of God. And of love.Paul Tillich is someone who will help a reader on the way to know and learn about what God is and who he is to mankind. This includes who he is to the individual man or woman. I have started at the end of the book to work my way to introduce the reader of this review to Paul Tillich's wonderful book.First, who was Paul Tillich. This from the Encyclopedia Brittanica 2006 Ultimate Reference Suite (the Brittanica designed for the computer):German-born U.S. theologian and philosopher whose discussions of God and faith illuminated and bound together the realms of traditional Christianity and modern culture. Some of his books, notably The Courage to Be (1952) and Dynamics of Faith (1957), reached a large public audience not usually concerned with religious matters. The three-volume Systematic Theology (1951-63) was the culmination of his rigorous examination of faith.The writer is a man with a powerful way with words, imaginative gift of communicating theological ideas, and a teacher with a strong mind. His writing will strengthen the reader's mind and provide means to approach ideas. He says there is ""...the healing power of the state of the ultimate concern."" In the last chapter, ""The Life of Faith,"" he goes on, ""The concern of faith is identical with the desire of love: reunion with that to which one belongs and from which one is estranged. In the great commandment of the Old Testament, confirmed by Jesus, the object of ultimate concern, and the object of unconditional love, is God."" This is a book for people who like ideas. We are, each of us, being reconciled to our ultimate concern throughout our lives. This is the dynamic.Published in 1957 by Harper & Brothers Publishers of New York, this one of a series of books planned and edited by Ruth Nanda Anshen, is a first edition. I do not know what it is worth as such, perhaps a few dollars more than a new copy. I found mine in my Church library, an Episcopal Church. The book is a statement in favor of the Protestant way of faith. He is unabashed in his favor for this way of religion. It is even an argument for Protestantism. Catholics will find this an informative and useful book, even one required as reading in many seminaries. A woman friend who attended Nashota House told me she had to read it when she was a seminary student, though the seminary is Protestant it is part of the Episcopal Church catholic tradition.The other books in this series by the publisher are part of what was called World Perspectives. I cannot speak to the other works, but this work remains contemporaneous, as you could guess by what I have written so far. Editors in that series: Niels Bohr, Richard Courant, Hu Shih, Ernest Jackh, Robert M. MacIver, J. Robert Oppenheimer, I.I. Rabi, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Alexander Sachs. Many of these names I know, but then these are more of my parent's generation in some ways than mine (I was born after the Second World War). But though unchurched in their lifetime, my parents were educated people, if just by their own devices: intellectuals and artists.You'll find the book takes off right at the beginning. The first chapter is titled, ""What Faith Is,"" and the first sentence goes: ""Faith is the state of being ultimately concerned: the dynamics of faith are the dynamics of man's ultimate concern. Man, like every living being, is concerned about many things, above all about those which condition his very existence, such as food and shelter."" Not the first to say it, nor the most important, I will add my voice to others and declare the writer writes so very well. It is a pleasure to read for the writing is so good.This remarkable and brilliant book, I cannot go without praising it again, talks about courage. Paul Tillich finds courage an important ingredient to faith, the kind he explains and extols. He says it is in doubt that we find faith, for faith without doubt is static. We are all with some doubts, and from doubt we grow faith and renew our faith in the ultimate concern.Not so long a book, but 127 pages, I think a reader will find it edifying. Edifying is a good word for this work. We are destined to have faith, for the writer says we are a species with a spiritual nature and desire. """"Faith sees in a concrete piece of reality the ultimate ground and meaning of all reality. No piece of reality is excluded from the possibility of becoming a bearer of the holy; and almost every kind of reality has actually been considered as holy by acts of faith in groups and individuals""-- a graceful book.--Peter Menkin, Easter 2007",5.0,Remarkable and still contemporary statement on Ultimate Concern,1179187200,"05 15, 2007",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A10UHK2W41BJOQ,0307353400,"M. Spalding ""M Spalding""","[0, 1]","Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and BetrayalVery interesting true story of a double spy (Britain and Germany) duringWWII. After the correspondence from wartime had been released, the author pulled together thousands of details and presented a very informative behind-the-scenes look at the life of a spy on both the Naziand British sides of the war. A fascinating peek at wartime in bothcountries, as well as the amazing life of a double spy!Not a fast read, but a very interesting one!",5.0,Agent Zigzag by Marcia,1207440000,"04 6, 2008",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1HYCKSY2EJ50O,0345513746,Amazon Customer,"[4, 5]","The Empowered Patient is a must have guide to protect your health and wealth from improper treatment. If you, your family member or friend are facing health issues, I highly recommend you purchase this book and use it to advocate for the best treatment from doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and insurance providers.Elizabeth Cohen, speaks from her own experience and research. She provides you detailed facts and resources that will inform and equip you to verify or even challenge, the decisions of a health care profession.The Empowered Patient will discuss:-- Websites that will allow you check on your doctor.-- A worksheet to prompt you to ask the right questions and get facts from your doctor.-- Special questions for complicated problems.-- How to get out of medical debt.-- How to control your care at the hospital.-- How to research your condition on the Internet.This information alone will make a difference in your treatment. However, this book provides so much more information that it really should be called: ""A Handbook For Patient Advocacy.""James GartonAuthor of 25 Ways to Make Money Online",5.0,A Handbook For Patient Advocacy,1282176000,"08 19, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3Q278JFRXRBOB,B003X976CA,Dee M,"[0, 0]",I really do love when the authors give you the guys point of view. This is also a great book to read to understand more about what's going in with The Elite and The Selection!!,5.0,Love him,1381190400,"10 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGQWGK37EWZUT,031299446X,Neil G. Matthews,"[0, 0]","While I enjoyed this book for the realistic way in which it portrayed the difficulty of fighting against determined terrorists, the author unfortunately skimped on realism when it came to the characters. The worst case of this is the support character Robin. I actually began paging back to find if I was reading about the same person as her abilities seemed to change dramatically and incongruously everytime she reappeared!Characterisation aside, the book kept my interest; there are plenty of casualties on both sides, with luck a strong determining factor on how engagements eventuate. The course of the book wasn't predictable either; right up to the end of the book you're kept guessing. It seems that the author gained experience on this series which he put to excellent effect when writing the Deep Black series.If nothing else, this book really brought home to me how difficult it is for a democratic country to protect its citizens against terrorists and highlighted one of the major downsides of being a head of state.",3.0,Fighting terrorism more realistically portrayed than the characters,1319414400,"10 24, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A10ZSTSM57JRVK,0307275558,"K. Ryan ""txkat3""","[10, 12]","I picked The Devil Wears Prada in the airport for a light read while travelling on business. It could have been a really fun bit of chic-lit, but the main character is sooooooo whiny and unlikable that any of the books merit are overwhelmed. The story has some bones, and Meryl Streep will be a dynamite Miranda.Skip the book. Go see the movie instaed. Two hours of your time is all this book is worth.",2.0,Nothing likable about Andrea...,1151625600,"06 30, 2006",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A6DVHVI9YROB0,0399146644,"klqkauai ""klq919""","[6, 10]","This Stone Barrington thriller is as lackluster as they come. The plot has some potential for development into a decent storyline, however, Mr. Woods has become lackadaisical in creating interest in Stone and the other characters we have come to know and love. The unsettling ending just adds to the frustration of getting this far and feeling disappointed once again. Better luck next time, Stuart. You don't get my vote on this apathetic tale.",2.0,A major disappointment if you're a Stuart Woods' fan!,975974400,"12 5, 2000",6,10,helpful,0.6,1 A1TM5INVJCQ7TY,B0022NGHXC,Sofie,"[0, 0]",Psychokitty got me hooked on the Max Thompson books. I eagerly await for something new by Max since I think I have read all of them even the bio.,5.0,Max is just like one of my cats...,1366416000,"04 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2L8FG5XISR240,B00B7MIEMG,Deborah,"[0, 0]","This series just keeps getting better and better. Wow! It has all the elements that I love: Romance, mystery/thriller, wonderfully developed characters and a great story! I can't wait for the next installment.",5.0,Hot! One of the best stories I've read this year.,1362873600,"03 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANXWWYTRN002H,B00CMU1IN4,Chickenscratch,"[0, 0]","I laughed so hard watching these two in their verbal sparring. It was fun, sweet, sexy, and very well written. Can this author please show others how it is done? This is how you keep my interest, finish well and leave me wanting more. Kind of like the perfect guy...Highly, highly recommend.",5.0,Loved Every Word of This Great Book!!,1401494400,"05 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2GZMLMA9LI8O1,1478121734,Ivo Dias de Sousa,"[4, 4]",Very good book with very interessing concepts. But it is very short. I will try the stuff. I will trr to love myself :).,4.0,Good and very short,1343952000,"08 3, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AB8QOOI9Z06Q,B006IC3C72,Avid Reader,"[12, 16]","I normally wouldn't bother reviewing this book because self-help books are helpful for some and not for others. To each his own. I downloaded it when it was offered for free out of curiosity, but I wanted to warn anyone who is thinking about paying $90 for this that it is quite self-promotional. I was turned off from the start by the author's continual references to himself. It's like going to a party and meeting someone who is very optimistic and positive...about himself. If you are attracted to that kind of person, you may be inspired by Arthur. I would rather read an autobiography by a famous person I admire.",1.0,Too self-promotional,1331596800,"03 13, 2012",12,16,helpful,0.75,1 A37F1G84K35FCZ,0375505741,taking a rest,"[11, 15]","This is the first novel that I have read of this author's work in hardcover. ""Blood Of Victory"", is the newest work from Alan Furst, and it follows the issue of all of his previous novels in soft cover format. I have read all of his tales and have found him to be a very solid, consistent writer. His publisher is amongst the shrillest when praising and promoting his work, and I do not know that this helps. Whether or not Alan Furst joins the ranks of writers like John LeCarre is up to readers not his publicist.All his previous works have included questions for discussion at the book's end; this book does not although I would guess the soft cover will. One of the points that have always been raised is that the protagonist in his books always is alive at the end of the novel. I believe this is becoming a problem for Mr. Furst does not write about the same character in a series of events, rather a variety of characters experiencing events in a common time period. His stories inevitably include great risk to his primary characters, and when he removes the possibility of the mortality prior to the book's start, he removes an element of suspense. Since his genre involves clandestine work prior to and including World War II, the missing element cannot fail to become a handicap. He also has several reference points that he mentions in many if not all his books. While these elements are repeated they are not critical to a given book, but they can cause a reader to feel they are out of step with some crucial detail or event.The plot this time centers on the oil fields of Romania, their critical importance to the German war machine, and the variety of attempts to prevent the flow of oil via the Danube. This issue was very real during both of the 20th century's world wars, and Alan Furst uses these historical events to very good advantage.Mr. Furst has an excellent command of the political history of his chosen time period, and this makes for credible reading that is also well crafted by a talented pen. I have enjoyed his books and will continue to read his work in the future. I hope that he decides to allow for more uncertainty in his work, and by doing so maintain a higher level of tension for his readers.",4.0,One of His Better Tales,1031788800,"09 12, 2002",11,15,helpful,0.7333333333333333,1 A20BKHVTAFTG16,1594202672,"A. Maurer ""Coffeechug""","[0, 0]","I have a backlog of books that I need to write up reviews for.Lately I have been trying to read a wide variety of books. I am challenging myself to read all types in hopes of gaining new insights and ideas. Needless to say it is working and along the way I have found some really great reads.This book, And The Pursuit of Happiness, is one that jumpstarted me back to book reviewing.Screen Shot 2014-05-19 at 12.49.52 PMI just completely fell in love with this read. Perhaps it was due to the fact that I had no idea what it was about. I picked it up on a whim based on the cover. There is little to be gained from the inside jacket.With my latest craze of doodles and zentangling I really enjoyed all the paintings and drawings. It reads fast, but the story is powerful and really connected to me.As an educator it made me realize once again we can make any content engaging. Here the author is writing about history but in the context of the people as people and always around food. Brilliant! As she charts her journey you just fall in love with the flow, looking at the images, and seeing history in a new way.It was the perfect read at the end of a school year.For me I loved one passage more than others and it was the motto of Marquis d Lafayette and his family motto of "Why Not?" A great question to ponder and live by.So why not read this book. I think you will enjoy and if not, then at least you tried something new.Off to the next read.",5.0,Coffeechug Reviews,1400976000,"05 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1JXV4SWMTR3XF,0955997313,D&D,"[219, 233]","Icke is one of the very few conspiracy whistleblowers who has developed a relatively advanced spiritual awareness from which he can provide a useful context and understanding of the material he has uncovered. He always puts forward an intriguingly different way to view the world, far from what is taught in schools and ""higher"" education (much of which is so boring because it is just not true).Chapters 14-19 propound new and amazing information and the rest of the book overlaps with his previous works and newsletters, refining and updating his analysis of the many facets and details of the conspiratorial nature of civilization, as well as the physics and metaphysics underlying our reality.Yes, much of the book reprises - in hugely believable detail, with many new facts and those reviewed from previous books - all his old themes: Illuminati hybrid bloodlines, reptilians & ETs, mind control, satanic rituals, the global political and economic machinations, secret societies, the assault on our health and ability to use higher consciousness, and much more. This is understandable, since a great deal of what Icke has predicted over the last two decades has come horribly true. He makes it easy to see through the craziness in governments at all levels - local, national and international - and to understand what is coming next (tighter and tighter controls, installed step by tiny step) and why - but this subject is available in Icke's previous books.His ""both new and different"" material is mainly sandwiched in the middle of the book. In chapters 18 and 19 in particular, Icke introduces groundbreaking information going well beyond his previous books: I was hopeful, moved, even enthralled. Icke addresses the subject of how humanity was driven out of paradise and into slavery, as well as, in the last 30 pages of the book, the initial steps of how we can start to recover what we lost. What we experience here is similar to watching a movie in that we cannot alter the experience unless what is being projected onto the screen is changed - and those who currently control our world are terrified of this possibility and of our magnificent powers, currently hidden from us by the blinders ""they"" have created.Oh yes, Icke reveals hidden reality, in an admirably clear and understandable way, and also includes fascinating recent scientific research in support. This book is a big step forward, going where few (if any) have gone before, with some truly original content.For more information that can help us get out of our enslavement, I recommend ""Freedom"" by Veronica Chapman, Max Igan, Frank O'Collins and Dean Clifford on lawful vs legal, Santos Bonacci on astrotheology, both Tsarion and Shannon Dorey on a truer version of history - and there's so much more that can be learned now!",5.0,lifting the corporeal veil,1276646400,"06 16, 2010",219,233,helpful,0.9399141630901288,1 AUHP1DAS26KCF,B00AFF9AXS,"BY GGCastillo ""eBook Lover""","[4, 4]","I love reading about animals and therefore this short book satisfies and informs of some pretty cool creatures. Since I read the Kindle Fire edition, I decided to only give it a three star because the video links that accompanied each animal took much to long to load and play from the YouTube sites. I tested the YouTube Videos 'directly' from the same reader and they loaded much faster, so I assume the time differences were the ""middle-guy"" links from the book. Hey, three out of five ain't bad. The book is a good little read!",3.0,"Short, Sweet, but Satisfying!",1359849600,"02 3, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A62WRGO2WCOU7,0425266745,shell4shell,"[0, 0]",great book! Interesting from the start..it makes you fall in love all with all characters! must read! read alot of books and love this one,5.0,must read!,1356393600,"12 25, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AX2NZD7LH86Y3,B0098T5T2I,RW,"[0, 2]","99% the same as the others in the series. If you are an aficionado, not much depth here. Could be condensed much more and made into one book covering the main species.",3.0,"An overview, not ultimate in any way.",1364083200,"03 24, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3H4L6EWVN5VA7,0385334141,"Nathaniel D. Selby ""Life is sandy""","[9, 12]","Authors have long had a great flaw in portraing good and evil in humans. The characters portrayed in art almost always seem to be either good or evil. Vonnegut, one of the best observers of human nature manages in this book to portray we humans as we really are, a composite of many things.Our hero, Howard, is a American spy in Germany during WWII. A profession that would be the most nobel and great characters in anything but a Vonnegut work. Here he faces a delema, his cover is that of a Nazi propagandist. He is in fact the finist most convincing Nazi propagandist. The question is which side did he help more.On the other side of the coin is a absurdly insane American Nazi dentist/embalmer. Yet oddly enough this character has gaps his his racist record. He never writes his insane essays about the inferior teeth of jews and blacks while he's married and loved.There is an American war hero turned alcoholic who's drivin to take what little joy in Howards life away from him.A Jew who survives Hitler by forging papers and joining the SS.A camp survivor who wishes nothing more then forget the whole bloody thing and get on with his life and his mother who gains wisdom through her suffering.Vonnegut turns the world inside out in what I consider the best literary treatment of human morality ever written",5.0,The Best of Vonnegut,1094947200,"09 12, 2004",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A1L9O8FL2REQTE,1845502051,"Mark K. Wickersham ""Wick""","[0, 0]","After listening to Pastor McConnell's testimony several months ago and seeing his autobiography for three bucks, I dropped the Washingtons for this incredible account of how the Father radically tranforms people's lives. Is There Anybody Out There? is not your typical Christian story, and there is very little reference to God in the first half of the book. Pastor McConnell had an extremely troubling upbringing that led to a life behind bars yet God got a hold of Him and changed him forever. Pastor McConnell hails from the UK and uses slang when he writes of his younger years so some of his language might be slightly unfamiliar to American readers. Initially the first-person point of view is written in a very direct and choppy manner much like what we might expect from someone who is living a life of disorder. After Pastor McConnell becomes a Christian, he continues to write honestly, but we also read how he lives boldly in a new way. This book is a reminder that a Christian is not only one whom Christ has saved, but one whom Christ has regenerated. I highly recommend this book for both believers and skeptics.to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. Romans 16:27",5.0,To God Be The Glory,1363392000,"03 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ODOV9W7G3GF3,0062326201,Monique,"[0, 0]",Dallas is the coach’s daughter and Carson is the new second string quarterback. The night they meet that little history isn’t known but once it’s out in the open things definitely change.I really enjoyed these two. Carson is super sweet and very hard working; I liked his country roots as well. I liked Dallas and understood her hesitation when it involved Carson. For me this was one that stood on its own without the need of constant sex or even sex at all. I laughed a good amount of times with these two and their sexual tension was pretty dang hot. I was honestly left wanting more especially when it came to her dancing and her relationship with her Dad. If I’m being honest I’d like another season with them and possibly him going back home and Dallas meeting the parents.By the end I was definitely left wanting a story about Ryan but I think Sila’s story will be equally entertaining. Can’t wait for book 2.,4.0,Really Enjoyable,1400976000,"05 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3AEKY4R4UGI7P,0525953728,Edwardo,"[8, 10]","I normally read Clive Cussler , Tom Clancy & Dan Brown.Not only is this book Real but it is also written in the style of a great novel like from the blokes above.I live on the beach here in Thailand with other retired & some military vets & they were sure put out that I had pre ordered the book on Amazon & not told them.I learnt a lesson last night too Mark Owen,, don't take your book for sunset beers with the boys !! Dam near a War to get it back !!Great story, well put together & I think that books like this will do more for the good than what the Brass thinks.Good work mate, Ed",5.0,This book is on the Edge !,1347494400,"09 13, 2012",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A3QGRSZ7VTV0SY,0671021311,Rabbi Yonassan Gershom,"[11, 12]","It took the death of James T. Kirk in Star Trek Generations for William Shatner to finally become -- oh no! -- a TREKKIE! In this candid and hilariously self-depreciating book, Shatner admits that, for all those years as a cast member, he had been totally clueless about what Trek fandom was all about. To find out, he dons a really tacky rubber alien mask in order to mingle anonymously with the crowd. (The book has photos of him wearing it -- I wonder how many fans will see them and think, "Oh no! I was standing right next to Bill and never even got his autograph!") When the undercover experiment is over, he has a new respect for what happens at a Trek convention. And when he asks the fans what to call the book, they suggest, "Get a Life!" So he did.One of the funniest parts of the book is in the first chapter, where he describes going to a typical speaking engagement, from panic on the plane (this ex-starship captain hates flying!) to being met at the airport by an enthusiastic fan who invaribly can't find the car, then being driven at top speed to the convention, where he is smuggled in the back door past the smelly garbage dumpsters, through the hotel kitchen, then along the "secret" passageways used by the cleaning staff, to emerge backstage -- all choregraphed by security teams using codes like "The Eagle has landed" to try to keep his exact arrival time a secret from the crowd. Whew! No wonder he had to put on a mask to enter the real Trek universe! I, for one, am glad he did, because this is a very entertaining book.",5.0,"Finally, Bill Shatner "get's it"!",958953600,"05 22, 2000",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A2XCLJ6SC95Z0S,0399151435,Big Book Fan,"[0, 1]","Daniel Silva's Michner like ability to weave fact and fiction truly amazes me. The research he puts into his efforts combined with the twists and turns in his plots and his character development are all woven together to make for one hell of a fine read. Now that the holacost trilogy is finished, I can't wait to see what his future offering(s) will bring.",5.0,Another Silva Mega-Hit,1204243200,"02 29, 2008",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1BHTB2I53RRP,1416559132,MikeD,"[20, 104]","Mr. Levin's book reads like a legal brief or one of his posts at NRO.Only words, no connection to emotion whatsoever.It's a crime this beautiful story didn't have the help of a co-author who was able to express the feelings involved in a less self centered manner.",1.0,Great Story - Terrible Book,1196899200,"12 6, 2007",20,104,helpful,0.19230769230769232,1 A2MHRBM9MKRNTN,0991127390,K. Bias,"[9, 10]","(Quote)I thought the prince was supposed to wake sleeping beauty. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that I wasn't the dragon or the prince. But the one in need of a rescue so epic--that my world shattered. The scary thing about waking up? You're reminded how much of your life was a nightmare--and again remember why you went to sleep in the first place.~GabeI fell for Gabe in Ruin. He is the cocky, tatted, sarcastic playboy friend of Wes and Kiersten and Lisa's cousin. But now we see into his head and realize under that easy-going facade is a broken man escaping his past. He is suffering loss, pain, and changed his entire existence and reinvented himself. But the past has a way of resurfacing and it is now all bearing down on Gabe.(Quote) I was at a crossroads all right. One path led to my future--the other to my past and utter destruction.Saylor is trying to graduate to make a better life for her family She is smart, dedicated, and does not think she should lose focus.Their first meeting is heated and electric...a shock to both of their systems. And they continue to spark, taunt, torture, and fight at every encounter.Gabe is struggling to come to terms with his past and his present as they collide. He has been living a facade for a long time and at times it is hard to maintain and keep all of the pieces of his personality and past compartmentalized. He hides his vulnerability, pain and shame under sarcasm and and half-truths. He pushes people away, even the ones that he cares about in an attempt to protect them. He is scared of opening up and letting anyone see who he was and what has happened to him. But while denying his feelings, he often lashes out at those around him. He has so many layers to him, so many walls, and so much that he keeps hidden. But once you dig down to his core, he is vulnerable, scared, and has a huge capacity for love.(Quote) I wondered if there would ever come a day when Gabe would finally be free enough to be himself--the person he was born to be, not mask number one or smile number two. I wondered if he even knew how lost he really was--or if he was happy making the maze his home, the mask his identity, his life a lie.And somehow Saylor starts to get in and under his defenses. They share a love and passion for music. But where she is controlled and a perfectionist, his music is all tied into emotion. She understands pain, but he helps her bring out more intensity. She sees the many sides of Gabe and is both agitated and fascinated by them. She is tough, but vulnerable, spirited but sweet. Their interactions had me laughing at times and wanting to smack him upside the head at others. But their connection was hard to deny.""I'm falling for you too. I haven't fallen. Falling. As in still falling, still in the air, still trying to get used to the idea that I've just nose dived off a cliff with every intention on making sure landing doesn't break my fall.""I loved that Wes, Kiersten, and Lisa were a big part of this story. I really enjoy Wes and Gabe's close friendship. They support him and deal with him no matter what persona he is sporting or how obnoxious he gets. And at times he really was negative and aggravating. But it was all part of his defense mechanism and trying to deny that his life really needed to change.And as everything comes crashing down and he is pulled in so many directions he will need his friends to help him through and not let him succumb to the darkness. Gabe really went through a lot through the course of the story. I would have never guessed his back story or the pain that was involved. It was messy, complicated, sad, emotional, tense, and heartbreaking. I loved the Gabe we first met and at times wanted to shake the one that emerged, but my heart also broke for him as his story slowly unfolded. And I could see the motivation for what he did and how he tried to deal with it all. And Saylor showed strength and maturity while trying to help this damaged man find his way again and heal. It became more intense and emotional as the story went on and I became even more emotionally invested.One thing I adore about this series are the little quotes at the tops of each chapter. Some are funny but many are inspirational and come from various characters. We got a lot of Wes' sage advice in those sections as well as through his interactions with Gabe. I really love this series and the characters. The camraderie, the support, and the devotion these people have for each other making them a pseudo family is really heartfelt and special. Rachel Van Dyken's writing style flows easily in clearly marked points of view. She really makes you feel all of the uncertainty, fear, insecurity, unhappiness, pain, passion, and joy the characters feel. The plot lines are interesting, complicated, surprising, and engaging. I am looking forward to another novella for Wes and Kiersten titled Fearless on March 9, 2014 and am hoping Lisa gets her own book as well. She seems to also have an intriguing back story.Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review",5.0,Gabe's story!,1393891200,"03 4, 2014",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A31B8RZ8YDMRX1,0991401719,mmbear,"[0, 0]","I think that you will love reading this fast paced and exciting book about a mother/daughter adventure that defies all odds. One is an archeologist and the other is a hydrologist (not sure what the heck they do except it's something to with water) and how they get themselves involved in a high stakes spy drama that has to do with stealing water out of the Middle East.And then there is the father and son duo, who in all likelihood are also spies for different governments that have to come over and help rescue them once they get kidnapped by the bad men. It is almost comical the way these 2 ladies keep getting into trouble and instead of having the good sense to leave this awful place, the daughter, Maggie, decides to keep bumping heads with them, insisting she cannot let them steal the water.Her father and brother have to come to the rescue but not without help from some old friends and not before the women experience several hair raising murder attempts.It's a good story and I think you will find it both amusing and full of adventure, some romance and most definitely some bad guys who will stop at nothing to get what they want.",5.0,Great Adventure Story,1403568000,"06 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASHEID509GYZ,0578141809,Susan,"[0, 0]","This book? Blew. Me. Away. E.K. Blair is a genius at the mind ****. I have read some great books this year, but this book brought me out of a book funk.The lives these characters endured was beyond belief. It's no wonder they turned out the way they did. This is a dark read, which I love, and one I would highly recommend.",5.0,"Dark, twisted...loved it!!",1403308800,"06 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2M8N4XHRLMTFB,083560828X,"HenryC ""Islander""","[0, 1]","The first 4/5 of book extrapolates physics to accommodate authors theories of time travel and while sometimes repetitious, is very interesting. But, after that good start he goes off the rational and logical to the RELIGIOUS! I now think the first 4/5 of book was to bait the reader with his obviously great talent to explain science, but his goal is to convert! He goes on and on about forgiveness of oneself and others to change the past and future, etc. Except for the extrapolations, I do not recommend this book!",3.0,"First 4/5 is logical science, last 1/5 is pure religious converting preaching!",1374451200,"07 22, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1KDY2GAGWSNIF,B00FAUTMBI,Loreen Silvarahwk,"[0, 0]",This is a great book for those who want simple but fun things to knit. If I can knit these - anyone can.,5.0,Awesome patterns!,1385596800,"11 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GRN6J64F2C3X,0061031321,"Joseph P. Menta, Jr.","[4, 6]","I'm not giving this a lukewarm review because it's shabby or poorly written or otherwise sub-par, only because it simply didn't turn out to be my taste. ""Thief of Time"" consists of vignette after vignette and conversation after conversation on the nature of time, humanity, and the absurdities of life, all done with a humorous Monty Python-esque and Douglas Adams-ish bent. Individual scenes are somewhat amusing (I like Monty Python and Douglas Adams) but the whole thing sort of meanders and spins its wheels. I like momentum and story and progression, even with humorous satires, and this just sort of lost me time and again (no pun intended). But, as stated, strong fans of offbeat humor and satire may like this more than I did. I hear a lot of good things about Terry Pratchett, so I'll probably eventually try another of his ""Discworld"" titles (apparently it doesn't matter where you start). But I think I'll take a break for a while.",2.0,Underwhelming visit to Pratchett's Discworld,1207612800,"04 8, 2008",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A333Y5TBB5WW1C,1580087590,Michele M. Fischer,"[0, 0]",This is a great book. I am no longer satisfied with "quick" bread baking. The recipes are not hard nor are they complicated. They just take time so plan ahead.,5.0,Get this book!,1385769600,"11 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASF25QFZD3HCY,1932714006,Indiana Lee,"[6, 6]","Timothy B. Smith's ""Champion Hill Decisive Battle for Vicksburg"" is a must read. A little known battle but one of great magnitude. Many historians have often over look the battles that led to the doom of Vicksburg. Leading up to to Champion Hill were the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond and Jackson. Timothy B. Smith keeps the story flowing and leads you breathless to the climax at Champion Hill. Such research is much needed and is so well written I could not put the book down. This book is a instant ""Classic"". The book has lot's of maps to help the reader understand the battle geologically. The timeline is easy to keep up with, which is often very hard to do in a Civil War battle. Also included is a very nice selection of photo's to illustrate the participants as Timothy weave's you though the thick Minnie's. One minute you are charging forward with victory and the next minute you are running for your life!",5.0,"One minute you are charging forward with victory, and the next minute you are running for your life!",1147478400,"05 13, 2006",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AHOECEWOK91RX,1596985011,Mrs. Wendy M. Porter,"[6, 15]","This book details with complete source information the global warming myth! It is not an opinion, it is backed with exhaustive scientific explanations --- excellent read.",4.0,Book review,1178928000,"05 12, 2007",6,15,helpful,0.4,1 A2D9YPTNDG4XK,014303538X,D. Licona,"[19, 32]","""The Reformation"" by Diarmaid MacCulloch is an exhaustive account of the Reformation throughout Europe, touching upon the North American colonies. MacCulloch, a professor of history at Oxford, recounts in detail the issues surrounding the reformation debate as well as the horrors committed on both sides. I found his writing style to be hard to follow with sentences at times approaching paragraph length. To the author's credit, he has improved since his writing of ""Thomas Cranmer"" in this regard.MacCulloch does not seem to believe in the existence of absolute truth. From this worldview it is not surprising that much of the conflict during the Reformation to him seemed like ""two bald men fighting over a comb."" Having the Bible available for lay people to read in their own language is vital for one to understand and evaluate the truth or falsehood of Christianity. Not having Scripture available to all led to indulgence abuses and a works-based salvation. It took Martin Luther's exegesis to share anew the good news of salvation by grace, through faith. Though no one condones the executions, etc. on both sides of the debate, the excesses do not negate the importance of the issues.I found annoying MacCulloch's attempt at bringing in the issue of homosexuality at every possible turn. Had I not known of his ties to the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement already, I would have become suspect. His idea of King James I being a homosexual, simply because of his favor shown (by the giving of gifts) towards certain young men in his court is laughable. Certainly, one would need more proof than that to make such a charge, even in our tabloid world. I appreciate MacCulloch's acknowledgment regarding the Bible's very clear teaching on the sin of homosexuality. He states, ""Despite much well-intentioned theological fancy footwork to the contrary, it is difficult to see the Bible as expressing anything else but disapproval of homosexuality."" His honesty is refreshing.",3.0,Two Blind Men Fighting Over A Comb,1239148800,"04 8, 2009",19,32,helpful,0.59375,1 A1W9KRN8WQ4DUE,B00BSZU9AM,Alena W.,"[0, 0]",Although for someone well used to putting lemon in her water to refresh the idea is not a foreign concept. But it was great to see the addition of mint and basil in some of them as well. I'm sure they'll taste great and be wonderful substitutions to juice. Would recommend to anyone looking to cut some sugar and get more vitamins/minerals in their diet.,4.0,I liked it.,1371427200,"06 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SGFRVQX5E1G4,0373210639,Listful Booking,"[0, 0]","This companion to <i>Pushing the Limits</i> was just as touching. In <i>Pushing the Limits</i> we meet Beth who is in a tough situation with her family and relies on her friends Noah and Isaiah. At the beginning of this book, Beth is put into a really rough situation that she eventually (and unwillingly) gets pulled out of. We finally are able to learn more about what happened to her and why she is as distrusting as she is. We are also introduced to Ryan, the jock who is more than just a jock. He has his own issues with his family that he must overcome as well.Beth is a tough girl who tries to act like nothing is wrong and she dislikes everyone except her closest friends. We learn about what happened in her childhood that completely changed her life and why she tries so hard to take care of her mom. While she comes across as tough, the way she cares about her mom and the lengths she goes to make sure she is okay, shows that Beth definitely has a deep heart. As she spends more time with Ryan she softens up and becomes a more relaxed version of herself.Ryan is a baseball player whose family has basically controlled his life thus far. He discovers other interests that his family does not approve of, but with the help of his estranged brother and Beth he finds it in himself to stand up for what he wants. At the same time, he helps Beth come into her own and break free of the chains that have been holding her down in life.The writing in this story still had the flow that I enjoyed from <i>Pushing the Limits</i>. While I expected Beth to end up with Isaiah it was a nice change to her life. I don't believe she would have grown so much as a person if she didn't end up with Ryan. There were some parts that seemed either pointless or as though the story was moving in circles. I am looking forward to Isaiah's story since his part in this story was lacking and I did feel bad for how things turned out for him.",4.0,Valid Character Growth,1386547200,"12 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFW8ZI9871YR1,0984026525,franken3,"[5, 5]","I loved the characters in this story and the post-apocalyptic world. As some of the other reviewers have said, it felt like a real story first and then science fiction. Beautifully written with a care for the language and with real emotion. It wasn’t about hardware, but about people trying to figure out a great mystery about their world. I read the book in one sitting over a Saturday because the read was so compelling. I also loved the details about that world. Really well detailed unusual and not like every other post-apocalyptic novel.",5.0,Compelling Story,1387843200,"12 24, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A39BB196X0I2N1,1574090356,"""kingsransom""","[26, 26]","Violet Jessop went to sea as a stewardess on an ocean liner in 1908. She continued as a stewardess through the glory days when a transatlantic ship crossing was as much a society event as a mode of transportation. She retired at age 63 in 1950, long after traveling by ship had ceased to be chic. During her career Violet Jessop lived through three ocean disasters:1. the September 1911 collision of HMS Hawke with Olympic,2. the sinking of Titanic in 1912, and3. the sinking of the hospital ship Britannic during World War I.But the reader who picks up this book expecting a gripping first-person account of the sinking of Titanic will be disappointed. Jessop treats that experience in a mere two or three pages. She dismisses the sinking of Britannic in a couple of pages and doesn't even mention the collision between Hawke and Olympic.From our current historical perspective, it's easy to judge that the most important event in Violet Jessop's life was her presence on board Titanic. But for Violet the best part of her life was her early childhood, before her father's death, in South America. Her book tells in lovingly remembered detail of her days on the Pampas before her father's illness and early death sent the family back to England and into financial need. Violet went into service on a ship not because of the glamour of the work, but because it was a job that required little education.Violet, who lived from 1887 to 1971, completed this manuscript in 1934, probably for some contest that she apparently did not win. Her nieces discovered the manuscript after her death and submitted it to Sheridan House for publication in 1996.This woman who is the subject of this book should not be judged for when and where she happened to be in history, but the kind of life she led.",5.0,A Remarkable Life....in an Unexpected Way,970704000,"10 5, 2000",26,26,helpful,1.0,1 A2IEQ2QLPYH8I3,B00C11XQLG,Whitney,"[0, 0]","I read the blurb about Henry (The Beck Brothers, #1) and I had to read it.It's about Claire a single mother of a two year old getting a new job that is a whole lot better than one she's ever had before. There she meets her boss, Henry, the most beautiful man she's ever met. Things progress really slowly between them. They each feel that they can't act on the attraction between them because they work together. But the do start to build a very strong friendship.Lots of things happen between them as their friendship progresses. They start to do things to help the other showing them how much they care about each other. And Claire has her son Ethan to think about. But Ethan and Henry also have a quick relationship. Ethan trusts Henry, and is easily taken with him. It was really sweet the interactions between Ethan and Henry.One main event in the book brings Henry and Claire together, and they actually have a better relationship afterwards. I also love the fact that the book introduces all of Henry's brothers, so we know that the story can continue with them.Claire and Henry are each very likable characters. Claire is sweet and kind. And Henry is completely changed because of her. This story holds a beautiful romance, with lots of extra stories on the side. And of course an adorable little boy. The only thing that bugged me was the whole issue with Henry's mom. That got old really fast, and then I thought it was just kind of stupid. I really enjoyed this book, and can not wait to read the next book.",4.0,Sweet romance,1370649600,"06 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2QAOP52OEB5EV,1401209149,"dasn0wman ""dasn0wman""","[4, 11]","This book contains six stories all concerning Superman's inevitable death:1 FasterThis is about how Lex comes up with a plan to kill Superman by using the sun to overcharge his cells. Some good sequences here, but nothing really special.2 Superman's Forbidden RoomSuperman invites Lois to his Forbidden Room as he hopes to enjoy some probable last moments with her as well as celebrate her birthday with a special gift. Again, nothing out of the ordinary.3 Sweet dreams, Super WomanSome of Superman's pals request a contest to win a date with Lois. Totally ridiculous.4 The Superman/Jimmy Olsen WarExposure to black Kryptonite causes Superman to turn evil and Jimmy with the aid of some extraterrestrials, tries to stop Superman from ruining his reputation on earth. Very uninteresting.5 The Gospel According to Lex LuthorPretty epic. Kent interviews Luthor on why he is the way he is. There are some pretty fun exchanges between the two. I guess they were saving the best for last.6 Funeral in SmallvilleProbably the best story in the book as Supes visit Smallville one last time but encounters some strange superheroes there. Can't say too much on this one because there is a nice surprise. This story alone is worth the purchase.The artwork may take some getting adjusting to. It is very different with the detailed features like the face, hands, and feet appearing very small with very little shading and everything else really wide and spacious making the character appear very static and fat. With Superman, this is not much of a problem because this makes him resemble the classic Superman, but Lois Lane is a big disappointment because she does not look anything like Lois at all. The colors are very bright and clean, but again, very little use of gradient or shading. I'm not really a fan of this type of art because while beautiful as a static image, you really do not feel any excitement or action from this type of art.",3.0,This Is Not My Favorite Superman,1221696000,"09 18, 2008",4,11,helpful,0.36363636363636365,1 A1FVDU2LQRUXCS,0310436249,Sunsational,"[0, 0]","I needed a lighter weight Bible to carry to church and other excursions. This Bible is just what I was looking for, red letter, and large print. I would have liked to have tabs, but I guess I will add them.",4.0,Just what I was looking for. . .,1375488000,"08 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A272MI76LRGNGR,0380978997,paticia a jones,"[0, 0]",Each series just keeps getting better and better. As always good wins over evil and expectations of the next book keeps you wanting to read more and more.,5.0,Acorns Rebels,1371168000,"06 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2APIDG2YR9JL8,1467913006,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Sexy Zane!! I want one. Excellent story.,5.0,Excellent story.,1404691200,"07 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2DAGLJW0BLBVF,0977187802,Laurel Johnson,"[7, 7]","Jo Kelly has hard-earned experience to share with those wishing to become extras. She's worked as a background actor in films, TV, commercials, and music videos. During her marriage to the late Jack Kelly, star of the TV series ""Maverick"", Jo had an insider's view of how Hollywood works. Her book is packed with priceless information, presented with compassion in an easy-to-read format.Most of us have dreamed at one time or another in our lives of working in Hollywood. Readers with that goal in mind today would do well to keep Jo Kelly's book close at hand. She's provided you with the absolute essential information to expedite your dream and protect you from scammers. Listed in this book are the names and addresses of legitimate casting and call companies, how to identify and avoid scams, do's anddon'ts, wardrobe and makeup tips, non union vs. signing with the Screen Actors Guild, and much more.Jo Kelly writes from the heart. She obviously cares about the hopes and dreams of others, and provides necessary information from good and bad experiences she's had. This is the quintessential handbook for any person hoping for a shot in show biz. Highly recommended.",5.0,essential reading for show biz hopefuls......,1144108800,"04 4, 2006",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A1B857BQD12YTK,1934291056,Ardy B. Mattox,"[0, 0]",Alas I had to work in between breaks to read I loved the main characters and am glad it ended well enough to have that satisfactory ending.(I've been the spider catcher bazillions of times while hunting)I loved that the book was hard to put down and quick to pick up again.,5.0,this was a really good book,1399680000,"05 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGV0RUQJHFW3S,1877733016,cortezhill,"[6, 8]","Suppose you had never heard of Christianity, and that next Sunday morning a stranger standing in a pulpit told you about a book whose authors could not be authenticated and whose contents, written hundreds of years ago, included blood-curling legends of slaughter and intrigue and fables about unnatural happenings such as virgin births, devils that inhabit human bodies and talk, people rising from the dead and ascending live into the clouds, and suns that stand still. Suppose he then asked you to believe that an uneducated man described in that book was a god who could get you into an eternal fantasy-place called Heaven, when you die. Would you, as an intelligent rational person, even bother to read such nonsense, let alone pattern your entire life upon it. --- from book's first page",5.0,The Born Again Skeptics Guide to the Bible,1196899200,"12 6, 2007",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A1WTCSBFHDKJMS,0812982886,"Rocco B. Rubino ""Rocco R.""","[4, 5]","There is much to like about this latest look at our 34th President. The author does a masterful job at telling Ike's story up to and including his tenure at COlumbia University. But his treatment of Ike's presidency leaves a lot to be desired. Stephen Ambrose's Eisenhower the President will remain the definitive account of Ike's 8 years in office, and his post presidency. There is so much that this author leaves out of this time period, there isn't enough space to recount it all. This book just simply ends with Ike's death; no mention is made of his contacts with JFK and LBJ over Vietnam, as well as his reactions to some important COld War incidents like the Bay of Pigs. For this, you'll need to consult the Ambrose work, which is far more thorough than this.SOmewhat disappointing; yet an adequate work- Pre-presidency.",3.0,"Adequate treatment of Ike's life; Presidency, not so much",1338422400,"05 31, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1DYXCF4148PJT,0821228498,William D. Tompkins,"[4, 5]",A real treasure of intimate photographs of the entire kennedy clan by the photographers who was granted access to them before jfk became president. this book is a treasure.,5.0,very intimate photographs of the whole kennedy clan,1074384000,"01 18, 2004",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AKYVOE1ODD82F,0061375381,Ken Nail Jr.,"[4, 6]","The SomnambulistI have just finished reading Barnes' first novel and, while I enjoyed a number of things about the book including its complex plot, I cannot for the life of me discern why one of his major characters is called the Somnambulist and why he should want to use that term for his title! I concede that the character is interesting, if incredible, but has so small a role as to make me question whether it was worth the author's time to create him. The parallels with the career and views of Sherlock Holmes were ineluctable, but the main character - Edward Moon - does not compare in skill to Holmes. Inevitably, one wonders what there was about Moon to recommend him as a detective; the character Barabbas was better conceived and executed....literally. Ken Nail, Jr.",2.0,Why the title?,1208304000,"04 16, 2008",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A12Y8H4K01GR7Z,0399143130,"Jennifer White ""dezdmona""","[0, 0]","I know this book is ""homage to Emily Bronte"" but I found myself comparing Hollis to another character from Louisa May Alcott's novel, A Long Fatal Love Chase. And just as I came away from that book I also came away from this book thinking that love isn't always like it is in a Jane Austen novel. Love is different for many people. They way we show love is also different. I didn't care need to psychoanalyze Hollis to determine why he was so controlling and so possesive. Instead I asked myself why am I NOT like that. Maybe the sincerest form of love is the one that controls you and everyone around you. Aside from that the novel was well written. I found myself starting to underline passages that seemed to me to be uterly profound. ""Sometimes love is like a house without any doors."" I pondered those words for a long time before reading on. ""Unfinished buisness always comes back to haunt you, and a man who swears he'll love you forever isn't finished with you until he's done."" My friend thought this was kind of creepy but I feel like this was a true testament of love. I loved it!!",5.0,not all love is a Jane Austen novel,1057795200,"07 10, 2003",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1866F60GC4Z8O,0441006841,M. Green,"[13, 15]","So, the title says it. I'm done with Laurell Hamilton. Honestly, I did not even finish this book. I stopped with about 100 pages left. I'm sick of the author's fixation on sexual assault. In most of the books she's either had someone get raped, or attempted to be, or put in a porn film against their will. I was well aware that there was some sexually explicit content in these books, but there has been to this point, so little actual consensual sex. So I'm finished.Other gripes about the book: the werewolf politics yet again. ""You came in to my territory without paying me tribute"" *snoooooze*As a medical professional: When Anita was injured in the hospital and hurt, they said her blood pressure was 60/80. Not possible. The numbers can potentially be equal, but the second number cannot be higher than the first. Maybe I'm just nitpicking here, but that's how it goes.Also irked by one of her lines when Anita was referencing women's weight: ""Anything under size 5 isn't a woman, it's a boy with breasts""Wow. Pretty insulting to your female readers who happen to be petite. Just like,oh your own main character endlessly is described as being so. That's a very catty line and I found it very insulting.So enough Hamilton for me.I'd rather read an author with either less sex or more HEALTHY sex than this endless victimization of her characters. I'm just glad that this book was borrowed and I've never paid a dime for one of Hamilton's novels.",1.0,Last Laurell Hamilton book I'll be reading,1211068800,"05 18, 2008",13,15,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 A5O3EOTKXWPX2,1880685361,Brian White,"[10, 11]","If you play poker for money, you need to get this book. A clearer guide to poker success does not exist. In my opinion, it is better than Harrington's Volume II which is its closest rival.What makes it better are the extremely detailed post-flop hand analysis. Post-flop is where most of the money is won or lost, it is the hardest part to learn, and, not lending itself to a hand and position ""re-raise, raise, call, fold"" chart, it is the most difficult to teach.Rather than just codify a list of do's and don'ts, Harrington clearly articulates the principles involved. His text clearly indicates both basic and more complicated principles and demonstrates how complex well-played poker can be.As for Harrington's ""conservative"" style, his books reveal that his style is not nearly as conservative as the ""rocks"" at your local card room. (The ones who regularly cash from players trying to be Gus Hansen.) If you can Harrington's style, you will be cashing from them.",5.0,Best of the three,1151366400,"06 27, 2006",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A1W32YO4HRP2FF,0982788088,Sabrina Dent,"[6, 12]","If you are a long-time Michelle Scott reader and fan, the fact that this book is basically Christian chick lit is probably one of the major selling points. If, like me, you were just browsing for a light, casual read, this fact - which is not transparent in the description here on Amazon - will come as an unpleasant and unwelcome surprise. I have no issue with faith based or Christian-foundation books, I just don't want to read them and resent the lack of bias disclosure.",2.0,Christian Chick Lit,1335916800,"05 2, 2012",6,12,helpful,0.5,1 A3E0LIKTUENFJK,B004Q9TD7W,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I love character based SF/Fantasy. Minalan the Spellmonger is a great character as are the people that surround him. I have reread it several times and enjoyed it just as much or more with each reading.,5.0,Great character focused story,1379548800,"09 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1V7RL4ODXXWDM,1606150111,"Jennifer Bogart ""@ Quiverfullfamily.com""","[17, 17]","Inspired by the work of Dr. M.A. Thomas in India, Julie Ferwerda enthusiastically embraced his God-given vision of sending out One Million Arrows (children trained to reach the nations with the gospel) into the world. While Thomas has been faithfully laboring to raise abandoned and orphaned children for the Lord while training them for future roles in ministry and evangelism, Ferwerda has expanded this vision to include our own biological children here in North America, and any whose lives we may touch through giving.Ferwerda both encourages families to raise their children whole-heartedly for missions and ministry, while examining the impact that families can have mission-ally and financially as they seek to reach the world for Jesus. Recent years have seen a huge re-evaluation of the approaches used to impart discipleship upon children. Increasingly parents are turning away from reliance upon formal church ministries and embracing visions of family discipleship within their homes. Author Julie Ferwerda offers a unique approach to creating a family on fire for the great commission in One Million Arrows.One of my favorite portions of the book was the inclusion of the paths different families have taken to raise their children with a passion for Christ. Many homeschooling families have shared their stories and the fruit their children's lives have borne. Likewise, the stories of many orphans who have been raised in Christian homes with a heart for ministry are also shared along with some of their impact upon the world.Ferwerda's passion is unmistakable, but at times her message of spreading the gospel through the lives of children who have been abandoned and consequently raised in Christian homes seems a bit cold. There is little discussion of God's heart for placing orphans in families (regardless of whether they reach the world for Christ), the tender joys of adoption, or even the delights of parenthood. Her tight focus on raising children with hearts for evangelism does at times give an all-business, no-nonsense, raise `em up, get `em out, feel to her work.With such a strong emphasis on numbers, I'm surprised that a strong emphasis on bearing more children and adopting more children into our families wasn't included in One Million Arrows. Though Ferwerda does briefly mention the possibility of having more children oneself, it's a one-sentence statement. She then focuses mainly upon financial support to international orphan ministries (100% of the book's proceeds are designated towards such ministries.) An excellent resource section at book's end provides an abundance of ministries to investigate for charitable giving.Though I'm already somewhat familiar with the principles of family discipleship, reading One Million Arrows gave fresh inspiration, and a renewing of my vision for our family. It is so easy to become distracted in this temporal life, but Ferwerda keeps us focused on those things that have eternal value, and encourages us to run the race with both perseverance and joy.",4.0,Fresh Inspiration,1267747200,"03 5, 2010",17,17,helpful,1.0,1 AQY5XBYSENNZQ,0761457259,Quickbeam,"[0, 1]","I picked this up because I loved The Glass Swallow and wanted to read more from this author. I found this book far more intricate and adult. Having spent a lot of time in Norway, I found the description of terrain and weather absolutely riveting. Golding has a lovely way with descriptive style. The saga of Freydis, Enno, Toki, their father and the Sami is very engaging. The book was a bit long for some juvenile readers but I found the pacing and plot brisk.Some readers may struggle with the language but I did not find it problematic. There is a short glossary in the back of the book. I particularly liked the description of Freydis' status in this book as that seems to be a fair historical representation of the rank of women in the culture.As others have mentioned, the ending has sadness to it but it does so with honor and meaning. Quite a good read for the adventurous child/teen or for any adult who likes fantasy and Nordic tales.",4.0,"Very enjoyable read, excellent sense of place",1377648000,"08 28, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1APNR15UXR4JT,1935487817,Robert Steven Thomas,"[21, 23]","I have read and own all of Childress' previous books and also respect his many contributions to the ""Ancient Aliens"" TV series and disseminating so many of these controversial subjects to a larger audience. At the same time I really struggled with giving this particular book the 5-STAR rating which you see. In the end I decided that the information in the book, plus the author's personal involvement at these paradigm-changing archaeological sites was paramount; plus his effort and contributions in this regard deserve to be more widely recognized. My problem is that, for someone of this author's stature to prematurely release a book containing so many grammatical errors and not have the book properly edited is a disappointment. It isn't the end of the world, but be prepared. Now, regarding the book's specifics: Extremely advanced engineering was, for a fact, put to practice in remote history.(My highly demonstrative statement comes as a result of over 40 years of personal research and study on these same subjects.) While there are examples all over the world, the megalithic structures described in this book in Peru & Bolivia represent some of the finest examples. Being better informed on these anomalies is where you will find this particular books value. I believe the information could have been organized and presented more effectively, but, David's direct presence, narrative and many photographs speak for them self. Being accompanied by Chris Dunn in his most recent field research on these monolithic ruins also adds mountains of credibility. If you are interested in having more direct knowledge of the facts which clearly establish that advanced alien technology was put to practice in a remote chapter of human history, this book belongs in your library. Robert Steven Thomas, author of:Intelligent Intervention",5.0,NEW & UPDATED INFORMATION,1359072000,"01 25, 2013",21,23,helpful,0.9130434782608695,1 A2EBLL2OYEQJN9,0060882352,Jessica Lux,"[5, 7]","Conjoined twins Nora and Blanche inhabit a modern America in which rights for ""twofers"" are a hot-button political issue. Nuclear testing in the mid-1900's has spawned a strong and vocal minority of two-headed twins. Should 6/5 of a person be allowed to full Constitutional votes? Is masturbation by one half of a twofer considered incest? Twincest? If a twofer commits a crime, which one is responsible? If one twin's ex-lover falls in love with the other twin, is there awkwardness in future sexual relations? Let's not even discuss twin pairs who share one torso but have different sexual orientations.Despite the setting, Jackson's novel is not traditional science fiction, but rather a psychological drama. Nora's twin Blanche has been asleep for over a decade. As she starts to exert some unconscious control over their shared body, waking twin Nora wishes to exterminate her. Nora is caught in crosshairs between the extremely vocal twofer-rights community (a parody of itself) and the underground right-to-vivisection separation community.Jackson's debut novel is a lofty attempt to address the complex issue of identity. It is filled with symbolism--the splitting of the hydrogen atom as a symbol for radioactive fallout genetic mutations, a dollhouse which represents the dummy houses used in atomic bomb testing in the Nevada desert, Boolean operators and Venn diagrams for describing twin relationships, and an identity puzzle for Blanche and Nora. Even the title of the novel has dual meanings in science and personal identity. The story is told in chapters that alternate between the present, Blanche and Nora's childhood, collected scientific publications, twofer propaganda, personal lists, and lyrics.The storytelling style is fresh and unique, but the base material is muddled. The core of the novel is Nora's desire to rid herself of Blanche--but is Blanche really asleep and not in control? The symbolism is heavy-handed at times, and the on-going semi-insanity of the main character grows tedious. The twofer-rights activists are painted as a satire of themselves, but even that grows old. Once you throw in a ""normal"" roommate who is undergoing surgery to become the internal twofer that she truly is, the book becomes an impossible mess of science, politics, relationships, and psychology.",3.0,Psychological drama in a science fiction setting,1176163200,"04 10, 2007",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1HF628AEZ3O7G,0393073777,"J. V. Simson ""BioInfo""","[0, 0]","The author is a famous primatologist, and I had read a previous book of his, "Our Inner Ape," which I enjoyed more. This book seems to be more about defusing the rancor between militant atheists and people who adhere to some form of religion. While taking an evolutionary perspective, he tries to suggest that religion might have some value in human culture. He also urges us to admire the bonobos, matriarchal in social organization, more than chimpanzees, patriarchal and war-like, as models of pre-human primates.",4.0,Bonobos more closely related to human than chimps?,1402444800,"06 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26YL4L59C9UGI,0099491222,Jane Brenda,"[7, 13]","If there's a school of Uncanny Realism, then "Codex" is its new avatar - and a reader's delight, too. The ghost of Lewis Carroll's Alice haunts Grossman's Manhattan - it's a maze of high-rise rabbit-holes, leading to encounters with equally scary/seductive Old Money and Tech Wizardry. Edward, the hero, is no innocent (an investment banker, yet) - but in a new twist, betrayal shocks him into a kind of innocence.Oh, and page for page, Lev Grossman writes with more wicked charm than any novelist I've read since Michael Chabon's debut.",5.0,surprise & delight,1078704000,"03 8, 2004",7,13,helpful,0.5384615384615384,1 A1ST9PG26FSN2H,069105052X,Thomas Paul,"[9, 12]","If a book claims to be a history of a place, then it should at least give the reader decent coverage of the history of that place. But this book fails in that most basic requirement. The author is much more interested in discussing Alfons Mucha and how the Munich Agreement affected this relatively unknown artist than he is in discussing how Czechoslovakia ended up the victim of Hitler. But that fairly well reflects the book as it is more a history of various Czech authors and artists than it is of the Czech people.The back of the book makes the claim that the book is a ""comprehensive history of the Czech people."" Unfortunately this is not true. Turn to any page and instead of reading about an event in Czech history, you will read about a sculptor or magazine editor and how they felt about some event that is never actually explained. The book is a struggle to get through if you are not already familiar with the history of Bohemia. If you don't know much about the Slansky trials of the early 1950's, don't expect to know more after reading this book other than what books were banned. And for some unexplained reason, the author decided to end his book in 1960, just before the the reforms that led to the Velvet Revolution. I learned much more about Czech history reading ""Under the Cruel Star"" than I did reading this book.Perhaps the book would have been better off described as a review of art and literature in Bohemia up until 1960. At least the book would have been more accurate in its description. After reading this book, I do not feel that I understand the people of the Czech Republic any better than when I started. I can truly say that this is a book that I did not enjoy reading in the least. If ever there was a book that made me feel I wasted my money, this is that book.",1.0,Not a history - More of a bore,1221004800,"09 10, 2008",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A1AOV46R6WPSSJ,B00G9II270,Jennifer Brannan,"[0, 0]","Oh Ms Tabke does it again! I absolutely loved the first two and even though I usually despise the cliffhanger endings of some books I find myself drawn to these. I anxiously waited for the release of this book and was not disappointed. I so look forward to the final installment to see how it ends for Simon and Kat. Poor, poor Kat.",5.0,Hurts So Good!!,1383609600,"11 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A369LTOTC27G90,1490927042,Tricia Wilkins,"[0, 0]",Absolutely loved this book!!! Would recommend to anyone (and I did). Cannot wait to read His ever after! Look forward to more from this author!!!,5.0,Love!!!!!,1381795200,"10 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1LUMS0A7PCIVK,1609282914,Barbara A. Hill-kidd,"[27, 30]","Not to say there isn't hot sex going on..because there is -- plenty of it.... there is just so much more to this book.I am not going to give you the breakdown of the story.I am going to say that for fans of the Rough Riders Series, Lorelei James has moved the entire family story forward. We get a glimpse into how the other characters from prior books are doing. We also learn more about the McKay Ranch Holdings and how the business is organized.I liked that we also learned the history of some of the Parental Characters and how the current status came to be.Now onto Jessie and Brandt. Jessie has been a victim of a hard life, abandonment, widow-hood, being kicked out of her home by her father-in-law. She is just starting to heal and learn who she is and what she is made of. Brandt is a good man. He has flaws but he is a stand up guy who tries to do the right thing. He has loved Jessie for years.By introducing the child of his late brother/Jessie's dead husband, the characters in the story must face instant parenthood, putting anger towards a ghost to rest and creating a future for themselves.I thought the writing was wonderful. Ms James dealt with killer emotional issues with insight but never got bogged down. I am not a fan of books where a character has been so hurt that they are professional victims. I worried that Jessie would fall into that category but no- she learns to face life and love again.We learn that a hard part of living is letting go of anger and hurt and the acceptace of people who hurt us is how we become stronger and move forward.This is not a light read. You will laugh and cry so it will stay with you long after you finish.Isn't that the test of a great story--one that you can use the tools in your own life and help you move forward?",5.0,This isn't a Sex Story,1289433600,"11 11, 2010",27,30,helpful,0.9,1 A1VA170GUYGTB,0262612089,Paula L. Craig,"[19, 20]","A great book, very readable. It does have some equations, but they are not essential to the argument; feel free to skip them. I found the explanation of how the deficit has been fudged to conceal the huge future liabilities of the U.S. government fascinating. A ""balanced"" budget can conceal big liabilities. Did you know that Dwight Eisenhower was the most profligate President of all time? Read the book and find out why!Depending on which historian you consult, I was born in either the last year or so of the Baby Boom or the first year of the Baby Bust. Either way, according to the authors' calculations I am going to end up paying more in taxes to support Social Security and Medicare than I can ever hope to receive in benefits. My eight-year-old son, of course, is in an even worse position. I liked the book's characterization of today's children as being taxed without representation. Amen!As far as Social Security, the authors' proposals are the most realistic I have seen. They certainly deserve serious consideration. I am somewhat more skeptical of Kotlikoff's and Burns' Medicare reform ideas. There have been dozens of attempts to rein in Medicare costs, but none have made any difference. The problem is that decades of insulating people from the real cost of medical care has put their expectations completely out of line with fiscal reality. My personal opinion is that we will have to abolish Medicare altogether, at least temporarily, so that people will be able to understand what high-tech medicine really costs when they have to pay for it themselves. This lesson might not be as bad as it sounds. Keep in mind that there are countries that spend enormously less than we do on health care, and yet have health nearly as good as ours, or in some cases better. Having someone there to hold your hand when you are sick has a surprisingly good cost-benefit ratio compared to conventional American high tech medicine.I differ with the authors on a few things. The authors mention the World War II Greatest Generation in a way that seems to suggest that it is the Baby Boomers who are to blame for our present fiscal problems. This is true in the sense that it's the demographic bulge of the Boomers that is causing many of our problems. But who is responsible for the Boomers? The World War II generation, that's who. The WW II veterans came back from the war with the idea that American know-how could do anything, that prosperity would go on forever, and that they could invite as many new people to this party as they wanted. Well they were wrong, but they're still voting benefits for themselves, and they have apparently long since forgotten the Depression Era lessons they learned about debt being a bad thing. Today they are the most pampered seniors of all time, with people like me paying for it all. In my opinion, the Social Security/Medicare systems have created an aristocratic leisure class in America. The Greatest Generation? I would suggest that today's seniors start wising up. Otherwise, they may be remembered as the Worst Generation.The authors suggest exercising and taking other steps to preserve one's health as a good way to prepare for the coming fiscal crisis. I think it's important to add here that Americans' lack of exercise and poor eating habits are not only personal failings. They are the natural result of designing our cities and towns around cars, making it difficult to walk anywhere, and subsidizing agricultural production. For a start on the subject of urban design, see Shoup's book ""The High Cost of Free Parking"" and Kunstler's ""The Geography of Nowhere.""Kotlikoff and Burns are careful to make the most generous assumptions possible about future economic growth and government revenue. I think their projections are way too optimistic. For one thing, they ignore the fact that much of today's economic growth is illusionary. The most common way of measuring economic growth, GDP, is a measure so inaccurate as to be completely misleading. It takes no account of the effects of population growth, exhaustion of resources, or decline in the quality of life. More accurate measures of economic growth, such as the Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare and the Genuine Progress Indicator, show that there has been little or no real economic growth since the 1970s. The passage of Hubbert's oil peak, global warming, and the numerous other environmental problems of today's world are going to have an even more serious negative impact in the future. For more on this, see Kunstler's book ""The Long Emergency,"" or Daly's ""Beyond Growth.""The authors are skeptical that our government will be able to pull itself together and solve its fiscal problems without resorting to printing money. I hope they're wrong, but I have to agree with them here.The authors don't mention this, but there's plenty of research showing that wealthier people are not happier. If we focused our efforts on improving America's quality of life instead of piling up more money, we could be a lot happier even with less. The coming crisis doesn't have to mean misery; we have a choice.""The Coming Generational Storm"" is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in economics, public policy, or in making sure our country has a livable future.",5.0,"If anything, too optimistic about America's financial future",1147392000,"05 12, 2006",19,20,helpful,0.95,1 A3HMTBP4VQPWVF,1479336211,megbear99,"[4, 4]","Blueblood was intelligently written, with believeable characters and a good story line. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read! I highly recommend this author's books to readers of crime fiction.",5.0,Good read,1374364800,"07 21, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A387XSDW4SKR6D,0615757375,Tracy Johnson,"[0, 0]",Definitely a book to read. Fell in love with all the character. I laughed and I cried and then I cried some more. Beautifully Exquisite.,5.0,Exquisite yes,1389398400,"01 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SYMLB8JSW5VD,0399153225,"Rosa ""Bookworm""","[5, 6]",Although for the most my part I enjoyed Point Black. Ending was climatic. This book has too many unanswered questions with not enough answers. Which leaves you somewhat dissatisfled with the outcome. Otherwise it is a nice read.,3.0,Action-Packed with a Muddled Ending 2,1126828800,"09 16, 2005",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2G9UDL72YUTT8,0778327493,Book and Dog Lover,"[0, 0]","Forbidden Falls is a continuation of the Virgin River series (I believe this is the 8th book in the series). I've read the first three books and really enjoyed them (especially the first book Virgin River, which tells Mel and Jack's story).This tells the story of Noah and Ellie (or Allie, as the poor editing sometimes shows). Noah is a Presbyterian minister who's bought the run down church in town and with his inheritance, is cleaning it up. He hires Ellie, who's down on her luck, to be his assistant. Once again we have the single/widowed pastor with the assistant who could be an embarrassment (here cause she's an ex-dancer (only because she needed the money)) but she has the heart of gold. Are these the only kinds of women that pastors go for, cause it seems like I've read this storyline waaay too many times.As with the other Virgin River books, we hear of some of the other residents in town - here we have a ""situation"" with Paul and Vanni and we learn more about Jo Ellen and Nick Fitch (the resident groper). If you read Paul and Vanni's story (in Second Chance Pass) and didn't care for Vanni, she doesn't improve here. There's very little of some of the other residents (Jack and Mel, Preacher and Paige, Mike and Brie, and so on) which may disappoint readers who want to know more about these characters.I enjoyed this book, but had a real problem with the legal situations in this book - why Ellie needed this job so bad and Paul and Vanni's story. Sorry, neither one of the scenarios were believable at all. But I could put those aside and just enjoy the book.You don't need to have read any of the previous books to enjoy this book. It's a light, quick read. But if you've never read any of the series, I wouldn't start with this book - I'd start with Virgin River - it's a great introduction to the series and a terrific book.",4.0,Nice continuation of the series,1265414400,"02 6, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A20G3FM6LLSNV8,0140502343,"Alexandra Dyshlyuk ""Sasha""","[0, 0]","Despite the fact that this old classic was written in 1936, the moral of the story is still very relevant. It's OK to be different from others, be yourself.My 4 year old daughter loves loves LOVES this book. She has read it so many times she has memorized it. She will recite it to me occasionally.Also, the illustrations are very lovely. I think this book should be in every child's library.",5.0,The best book ever,1377302400,"08 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WZ6CX7V8UCRR,1615215603,Ron Soderquist,"[0, 0]","I was thrilled when I found that a church was using the same principles of discipleship that I had read about, taught and practiced after studying "The Master Plan of Evangelism" by Robert Coleman. Putman's book is excellent and instructive as are the other two books written by him, "Church is a Team Sort" and "DiscipleShift".",5.0,real-life discipleship is the New Testament in action!,1386720000,"12 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A22WRCL3T66COU,1579128580,Moniqueici,"[0, 0]",I love Paris and I love architecture and this book puts them both together. I even found my friend's apartment building!!,5.0,Paris and architecture - perfect,1386547200,"12 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2F6NONFUDB6UK,193559723X,Malvin,"[4, 9]","""No Reserve"" by Martin Redrado is a fascinating memoir by the former president of Argentina's Central Bank (2004 to 2009). Documenting his struggle to protect the country's financial integrity against political opportunism, this surprisingly engaging book provides the reader with keen insight into the rarefied world of high finance. Although probably best read by those with a background in economics or finance, the drama surrounding the events of Mr. Redrado's principled stand against the president of Argentina makes for a very compelling and engaging read.Mr. Redrado comes across as the kind of level-headed decision maker that one would want in a central banker. Sporting a Harvard education and Wall Street work experience, Mr. Redrado is certainly qualified to be included among the short list of elites who have responsibility for directing the world economy. Mr. Redrado earned international respect for his dedication to promoting sound economic principles during his tenure at the Argentine Central Bank. Indeed, Mr. Redrado's successful navigation of the Argentine economy to safety through trying times would be a remarkable feat anywhere, much less in a country whose history has frequently been marked by extreme economic and political turbulence.On that point, Mr. Redrado devotes nearly half the book to discussing macroeconomic principles and policies within the context of Argentine politics and culture. Although some of the discussion topics at times trends toward the arcane, Mr. Redrado provides a valuable perspective on the practical challenges of managing the economy of a mid-sized nation. Inspired by Brazil's success, in 2005 Mr. Redrado accelerated Argentina's debt payments to the IMF; resisted attempts to use Central Bank funds for various kinds of political schemes such as to fund purchases of auto loans and bonds; responded quickly to defend the peso following president Cristina Kirchner's imposition of a disastrous agricultural export tariff; entered into a peso trade deal with Brazil; and more. Importantly, Mr. Redrado recalls how the Central Bank reserves accumulated during the boom years of the mid-2000's proved vital because he was able to distribute significant funds to the Treasury when the international crisis of 2007/2008 hit, thereby cushioning the blow for Argentina.The second half of the book documents Mr. Redrado's dramatic confrontation with Kirchner's administration. Mr. Redrado writes that by 2009 it would have been unwise to flood the Argentine economy with pesos at a stage in the economic cycle where previously idle factories had already been brought back into production: such a move would inevitably produce inflation which, in Argentina's case, has often been followed by capital flight and recession. This is just one of the many logically sound reasons that are cited by Mr. Redrado to explain why he drew the line against Kirchner who had tried to illegally bypass the Congress in order to requisition billions from the Central Bank which, Mr. Redrado believes, would have been used to fund a campaign to enhance Kirchner's political dominance. As a consequence, Mr. Redrado had to endure a dramatic confrontation with a line of police officers who were tasked with banning him from entering his place of employment as events unfolded in the courts and on the street. The details of how Mr. Redrado and his supporters would find the strength to fight and the savvy to ultimately prevail produces many pages of captivating text that should not be missed.Mr. Redrado goes on to assess his legacy at the Central Bank and his vision for Argentina's future. Obviously he is satisfied with keeping the integrity of the institution intact and preserving Argentina's wealth which he believes should be used to fund economic opportunity for its people. Mr. Redrado seems pleased with the Central Bank's education and arts programs which he believes have played a positive role in shaping young minds and hence Argentina's future. Assessing Arentina's cultural, environmental and human assets, Mr. Redrado quite sensibly proposes that the country invests in its food processing industry in order to provide a route for investment in stable, well-paying jobs for the Argentinian people.Suffice to say that after reading this book, I have become a big fan of Mr. Redrado. I highly recommend this remarkable book to educated readers everywhere.",5.0,Keen insight into the rarefied world of high finance,1293235200,"12 25, 2010",4,9,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A1NIJ0IR9JQ1V3,1477818359,slr322,"[0, 0]","Love, romance, laughter, small town gossip and crazy family members.. ..what else could you ask for?? I really enjoyed reading this book.",5.0,A cute story,1401408000,"05 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2KNS6FN9Y63JQ,0802713742,Robert Ehrlich,"[7, 7]",As a born and bred New Yorker I was fascinated to read about the close to home battles fought in the early days of the Revolution. Those concrete NYC masses were once bucolic fields and small hamlets. Battles were fought where we now have massive bridges and urban sprawl. Schecter tells the story with an engaging style of a novel. He does not overwhelm us with tactics or military details. He tells a more personal account of the men and women who fought in this battle. What is also interesting is how the loyalties were clearly split among New Yorkers. This was not a revolution of unanimity. The British Loyalists felt that their attachments to the crown were as patriotic as the cause of the revolutionaries. Well done Mr. Shecter.,5.0,"Brilliant, entertaining account of a close to home battle",1037404800,"11 16, 2002",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A20UW59XU8O2JA,0470068353,Bookworm,"[4, 11]",There are few good ideas in this book. Not productive use of your time for the experienced and there are not books much better for the wannabe flipper. The author produces a much better show that she writes a book.,1.0,Few Good Ideas,1207612800,"04 8, 2008",4,11,helpful,0.36363636363636365,1 A3ZZ9AI0R3TVJ,1401310443,San Francisco Diva,"[0, 0]","I always love a great adventure story and this one is right up there. even though I saw the movie first, I was spellbound by the book. This is a very well written and researched book, with information about the merchant marines I knew nothing about. I couldn't put it down.",5.0,TERRIFIC!,1390521600,"01 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZCZ5V33I94LR,1455516694,T. Roach,"[0, 0]",Respectively written and lacking in gossip. However the author does a brilliant job in exploring the family dynamics and thecharacter of Conrad Hilton. Personally I wouldn't want him to be my father! Zsa Zsa Gabor steals the book. What happened toFrancesca Hilton is one of the saddest stories I have ever read.,4.0,A Complicated and Thorough Study of Family Dynamics ( and not always pretty!),1404691200,"07 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1RRV2KVA2AXLZ,0312370288,"Kara J. Jorges ""Avid Reader""","[6, 7]","I'll admit I had some misgivings about a book with such an outrageous plot, but that was also what drew me to it. Done well, a far-fetched story often delivers a great read. This book did not disappoint.Major Jack Collins has just joined the Event Group, a super-secret agency headquartered in the desert of New Mexico, when an emergency occurs. Two F-14 Tomcats have been knocked out of the sky over the Pacific, and the surviving pilot claims a flying saucer did it. The incident immediately grabs the attention of Event Group leader, Senator Lee, who had been involved with the recovery team that went after the saucer that crashed in Roswell, New Mexico in 1948. He believes the first crash was an act of war, and thinks that a similar crash is no coincidence. He gathers Event Group teams and pours all their resources into finding the crash site.Meanwhile, not one but two saucers have crashed in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. Three beings survive: a little green man, a malevolent gray one, and a hideous monster sent to Earth to destroy all life here. They crash not far from an old prospector, Gus, and Buck, his mule. The two alien men are smart enough to lay low when the monster gets loose. Gus is just lucky, and despite his fear, he follows the injured cries of little green Mahjtik whom he dubs Matchstick, then he takes him home to his cabin and gives him some soup. Mahjtik tells Gus of the dangers Earth now faces from the Destroyer and urges him to get help.Meanwhile, a rival organization to the Event Group has turned on one of their agents who has gone rogue. They stole the UFO remains in 1948 and murdered the soldiers transporting it, and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on the newly-crashed saucers. They've got moles from the Event Group to the White House, but they don't count on the resourcefulness of Henri Farbeaux when their attempts to eliminate him fail. Farbeaux quickly assembles his own team and slips like an eel into the town of Chato's Crawl, Arizona, where the Event Group sets up headquarters near the crash site.At this point, the action shifts into overdrive when the Destroyer births over 100 babies who grow quickly and share their mother's voracious appetite. Their nest is right beneath Chato's Crawl, and they wreak havoc on all the teams sent to kill them, as well as munching on a few reporters. Monster book lovers will thrill to the last third of the book as dozens of the otherworldy beasts ravenously chow their way through cops and soldiers while they fight back with amazing weapons. The action is unflinching and nonstop until the good guys prevail. Not all the bad guys are vanquished, however, leaving the door open for at least one sequel. Once the dust settles, the conclusion is almost too thorough about tying off loose ends, but after the wild adrenaline ride, at least it wasn't jarringly abrupt.If I wanted to pick it apart, this book does have a few flaws, but mostly it was a gripping, imaginative read with several elements combining to create an intriguing plot. I like the way the author wove Roswell lore into a great monster book with not one, but over 100 hard-to-kill monsters that could easily devour a T-Rex or a megalodon without batting an eye. I'll knock people over to get at the next book by David Lynn Golemon.",4.0,"UFOs, Little Green Men, and A Hundred Bad Monsters...Oh MY!!!",1212105600,"05 30, 2008",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A3R6GY8PI7QK4O,B005WO86NW,str8Kim,"[4, 6]","This was a sweet quickie. The story was good, and kept me interested, and Julia and Freddie had some powerful chemisty. This is a ""sweet romance"" so there are no love scenes in this one, so please don't be disappointed when it is finished and they are missing from the story. I did like the relationship between Julia and her dad, but wish there was some type of conclusion with the building of his apartment since that was a huge chunk of the story. It would have been nice to read about his reaction to it. Overall I think the author is talented, and if your looking for a fast quick read this one is for you.",3.0,Sweet read,1325030400,"12 28, 2011",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A152JY3XTGV2N1,0373871791,"Sheri L. Custer ""SheriC""","[0, 0]",I enjoy all of Marta Perry's books and this one is no exception. I would suggest reading all of her books. I would definitely recommend this book.,5.0,Hunter's Bride,1357516800,"01 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARAM6WHIU854L,0312141041,G W Thielman,"[9, 13]","I read the first edition of _Existential_Pleasures_ shortly after embarking on an engineering career and found the book inspiring. A _tour_de_force_ at the defense of the techies in the face of approbation by the fuzzies. Engineering students are required to take non-technical courses to complete a bachelor's degree. (A benefit to me, since it improved my grade-point average. But I still grouse over the lack of technical requirements for fuzzies. I don't expect English Lit majors to solve eigenvectors or design microwave antennas, but are statics and trigonometry too much to ask?) I could accept the judgment that engineers are boring, but I groused at the notion that we lacked morals because some of us worked in the defense industry or that we weren't out "helping" people in personal interaction as do physicians, attorneys, social workers or school-teachers. Fortunately, Samuel Florman writes the prose that articulates what many engineers are unable to express--the nobility of the engineering profession. (This avoids the debate as to whether engineering is a "profession" rather than a vocation, since engineers rarely work for themselves as independent contractors. Although that is becoming less common even in the medical and legal arts.) Thanks to technical innovation and public works projects, more people live at a higher standard of living than ever before--lifespans have lengthened more due to supplies of water and electrical power to cities than from medical advances, and might be even longer but for litigation follies by lawyers.Florman, despite a rather communitarian attitude (see earlier reviews), takes to task the utopian anti-technologists who demand a less technologically dependent society -- Luddites a colleague once called neo-neolithicans. Florman identifies the reason for elite resistance to innovative change -- namely fear -- the gnawing apprehension that their control as the enlightened (see Thomas Sowell's book _The_Vision_of_the_Anointed_) may be jeopardized by things they do not understand and whose implications cannot be predicted with confidence (if at all). A hint of this concern was expressed by Oswald Spengler in _Decline_of_the_West_predicting engineers to be the "priests" of the future. But that was before Dilbert.The second edition is the same as the first, but with the addition of four essays taken from subsequent books _Blaming_Technology_ and _The_Civilized_Engineer_. The chapters from _Blaming_ includes a critique on then-fashionable fetish of "small" (as in village-level self-sufficiency, not nano-technology) and on the recognition that engineering, while a risk averse discipline, learns through failure -- often resulting in tragedy, although the tone seems reminiscent of the film "Shape of Things to Come" which I found both inspiring and alarming. One chapter which touches on the politically correct is the volatile topic of women in engineering. Florman points out that women are a small and glacially growing minority in the technical disciplines, and debate rages over the causes. I believe Florman is at least partially correct, that ambitious women recognize engineering as a politically noninfluential field, and perhaps also envision it as beneath their dignity. (Personally I suspect that the narrower intelligence distribution of women compared to men contributes to the paucity of female participation in engineering, irrespective of whether men and women collectively possess different facilities in spatial perception or verbal expression. Unlike me, Florman has the prudence not to antagonize hypersensitivities and makes no suggestion of this.) One interesting observation Florman makes (which appears consistent with personal observations) is that women who embark on an engineering career are typically mavericks compared to men--perhaps out of necessity in a male-dominated field. Whether any of that changes (whether or not it should), only time will tell.",5.0,an inspired apology for the technical artisans,971136000,"10 10, 2000",9,13,helpful,0.6923076923076923,1 A1JQMFFNZJWTAI,1591331595,"Terry L. Antaramian ""celtic queen""","[0, 0]",Starts slow but picks up about a third of the way through. Well written and entertaining. Great read for a free book.,4.0,Starts slow...,1361577600,"02 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2VR6MIAADZGML,1891423002,Thomas L. Ogren,"[10, 10]","Just read Kirby Jonas's The Dansing Star and I flat out loved this book. Dansing Star is about a fellow who was raised by Indians, but goes ""white"" again. As such, he is not quite accepted by either the Indians or the whites.Dansing, the main character, goes off on the trail of some bank robbers and eventually is on the trail of a man who killed the woman he loved. He gets into all manner of trouble, and the group of criminal brothers he gets stuck with...well, they are something else!All the characters are well drawn, the conversations sharp, clean, always interesting. The story moves along very fast...the book is a real page-turner. There is a good deal of history in this book too, all of it well told, fascinating. More than any western I remember reading, Dansing Star gives an honest point of view from the Indians side of things.This was the first one of Kirby Jonas's books that I've read, and it was great fun to find a new western writer whose work I enjoyed so much. I passed the book on to my brother, who loves westerns, and he was keen on it, too. Jonas is a darn fine writer, the book is just flat out terrific and I expect anyone who enjoys a good action story will appreciate it. I highly recommend The Dansing Star.",5.0,The dansing Star is a Winner!,1108339200,"02 14, 2005",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A1KDPZ64WRIEXC,0142418730,Marcus A. Lewis,"[25, 28]","Casey and Lacey Nicefolk return for their second adventure. We first met them in ""Adventures of Vin Fiz"" (2006). It's refreshing to see a writer of Cussler's stature extend the excitement of his adult novels to the preteen set. What a great way for parents to encourage their children to read. While mom and dad are poring over one of Juan Cabrillo's tales, their kids can be reading the same author right along with them. Brilliant!",5.0,A Cussler adventure for the preteen set.,1273881600,"05 15, 2010",25,28,helpful,0.8928571428571429,1 A7R4EAQ4KHLIY,B007V65PV0,TJLMill,"[7, 9]",This was a great M/M/M/F story. I am not sure how she will keep up but definitely kept my interest. It has hot sex scenes and twists and turns that kept me turning pages.,4.0,Three to One - what odds,1350950400,"10 23, 2012",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A1AIJUCU29SMXE,014310487X,"Bluestalking Reader ""Bluestalking Reader""","[7, 9]","Mildred is sturdy, dependable and can always be counted upon to have a cup of tea ready in a crisis. But does she yearn for more? A comedy about spinsterhood that leaves a touch of sadness in its wake.",5.0,Mildred Lathbury is an excellent woman...,1098403200,"10 22, 2004",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A1AA07LUK34AQ8,0873647432,"mruseless ""mruseless""","[10, 11]","I really enjoy reading MacYoung's books. They are the no-holds-barred version of martial literature. As someone who has trained for years, but only had the unfortunate test once, I'm not sure that all of Marc's advice is useful for those outside the "Life". However, I will probably refer to this book for a few new outdoor training ideas. His section on jumping fences and other low objects is full of good ideas.One recurring theme rings very true: "The only thing one man can do against a gang is get killed." I've met too many martial artists who think they can take on an army.",4.0,A fun read,1019088000,"04 18, 2002",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A2FOJZH8ME60YD,0989628604,Elaine M. Niles,"[0, 0]",this is a slightly different romance/suspense genre. interesting locale and very different characters. if you like sala's other works you will like this offering.,3.0,sala twister,1400630400,"05 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A16CHDWGA6D1GM,1480185213,L. Galdis,"[0, 0]","Excellent story telling and great characters. If you are looking for a Novel with lesbian characters or plot that isn't cheap or just about sex...this is the one. Not a big fan of the civil war but it was only a backdrop grace/Henry and Virginia are the story and love is the point. I really enjoyed their journey. Hope this author writes other ones like this. I would put this up there in quality of The well of loneliness, Fried Green Tomatoes and The Color Purple.",5.0,Finally a Novel...with a capital N!,1361664000,"02 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZE73RFY0GD3K,0671867369,J. Reynolds,"[6, 6]","This unfortunate Capt. Herbert Sobel, the original commander of Easy Company, was a strict martinet in the early days of their training, when all the guys were green. He whipped them into shape and instilled discipline, creating an efficient unit that went forward into parachute training then combat. (Sobel had been so harsh with the men, they were in better physical condition than the instructors at jump school.) As training developed, Sobel stressed night operations to the point some of the men joked they could function better in the dark than in daylight.It's too bad the battalion leadership didn't become aware that Sobel was a problem until after his noncommissioned officers nearly mutinied. Sobel turned out to be incompetent at field problems, in addition to continuing his chicken ways (which are appropriate for initial training, but not for further development). If someone had recognized that Sobel was superb at molding totally untrained men into soldiers, and would have best served the Army solely in that capacity, the man could have been utilized throughout the war for basic paratroop training. As it was, he went forward with Easy Company and his incompetence propagated relegation to humiliating supply-officer duties.And just when you think this guy's life couldn't have gotten any more pitiful (having to salute, for instance, superior officers who had once been subordinate in rank to him), you reach the "Where They Are Now" chapter -- and you really feel sorry for this fellow. It was appropriate that Ambrose recognized Sobel's contribution to the excellence of Easy Company, but (good grief!) the sad man's ultimate outcome in life was just pitiful.If Sobel's career had been confined to basic training, he would have been considered a great soldier by everyone whom he trained. As it was, he was terrific to a point, and then everything disintegrated. An extremely interesting, gripping story -- Enjoy.",5.0,Just When You Believe Things Can't Get Worse,1080604800,"03 30, 2004",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AY089FCEGRV2G,0091912652,Nick R.,"[0, 0]","Fantastic book. Felix is a great writer, give lots of insight into becoming rich, and has a funny writing style that had me reading through the whole thing within 4 days.",5.0,Great read. I recommend it to EVERYONE who wants to get rich.,1386806400,"12 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A349W71CIS5HFP,1936560143,Sandy Nicholson,"[0, 0]","More than just a list of websites to get ebooks. The information I got from Steve Weber in "kindle buffet" opened my eyes to so much more. It's very easy to read - not too technical, and gave me the confidence to convert and transfer files from my PC to my tablet on my own. I recommend it to anyone who wants to do more with their kindle than just read too!",5.0,Great information here!,1403654400,"06 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Z20HZHTBEQXY,1582556830,Hungry Heidi,"[0, 0]","I carry this drug book every time I work, very useful it is used often.",5.0,Useful work product,1214092800,"06 22, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33SGDCK6CGS8Y,B00DJB6KE2,GL fan,"[5, 11]","I was excited to finally read this book, but it fell flat for me. Started out slow with the back story about her parents and life in Georgia, then life in LA. I felt like Grey's character had very little growth. She was insecure, crying, confused, overwhelmed, and just annoying throughout the book. I could not get into her. This book wasn't nearly as gritty as I thought it would be. There was insta love between Grey and Dawson, and the book is mostly about Grey running away from Dawson.",2.0,Could not get into Grey's character,1376611200,"08 16, 2013",5,11,helpful,0.45454545454545453,1 AFUQ93IMBSVR4,0141326085,Misty Baker,"[0, 0]","A few weeks ago I posted this book as a ""gift idea"" based on its ""Amazon's Top 10 of 2009' ranking, and after FINALLY reading it... I'm glad I did.""Beautiful Creatures"" was fascinating, and not it that wow-it's-another-cool-book-about-witches-and-curses way, more the, I-can't-believe-I-just-read-a-book-that-incorporated-witches-incubuses-voodoo-flashbacks-hurricanes-and-history-lessons-concerning-the-""War of Northern Aggression"" way. (holy crow that was a mouth full.)Unlike the majority of YA Fantasy novels out there, this little gem was actually written from the guys perspective. His name is Ethan Wate and he is popular. That is of course until the beautiful (in a Goth way) Lena shows up and shatters his hum-drum small town world into a million little fragmented pieces. His mother is dead, his dad is a recluse and his days are filled with basketball, annoying High School stereotype girls, and a maid/voodoo priestess named Amma who absolutely does not tolerate tardiness or words like ""heck"" and ""hell.""Lena on the other hand, is dark, and shy, and mildly psychotic...or at least that is what the rest of Stone Wall Jackson High thinks; but to Ethan, she's the girl that he has been seeing in his dreams. Literally. His nightmares are constant, and this ""mysterious girl"" who shows up one day, driving a hearse and wearing a necklace made of trash, is indeed the girl that keeps falling from his grip in his various different nocturnal scenarios.Both are faced with challenges they never knew existed, (Can a Caster and a Human really be together?) both are forced to look long and hard in the mirror and see who they REALLY are, (Am I Dark or Light? ) and both of them, despite there better efforts are unable to stay away from each other. (Insert typical teenage angst here.)There are moments of soapy horror, hypnotic green eyes, a necklace that is actually a portal to the 1800's, 3 crazy confederate sisters who are obsessed with squirrel hygiene, telekinetic grave robbing, and 1 very crazy ass mother who likes to steal bodies and play with fire.The writing was average, but intriguing, the plot was enthralling, and the ending was sad but fitting.Overall??Good read, I'm happy that the Kindle faeries decided to treat me with it.Happy reading my fellow Casters and remember; The right thing and the easy thing are not always the same.",4.0,Reviewed by Kindleobsessed,1270512000,"04 6, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33P6MJXJGRAOJ,B0088GGSR2,"K. M. Spear ""Cubbies Girl""","[34, 34]","It all comes back to Book Bash. I've never been so excited to attend an event in my life. There were so many great authors appearing; most of them I had read their work or heard of them. I had a blast meeting and chatting with a good number of them and thought I had met all that I cared about. At the time, I was correct. My biggest regret is not discovering the Emi Lost and Found series before my Florida trip.Through many contests and friends who like author pages, I had managed to like Lori Otto's author page. However, I hadn't a clue what she had written. My book twin (an online friend who shares the love for the exact same books as me) had told me prior to Book Bash that I should read the Emi series. With a TBR list as long as mine is (over 800 books now), I said I would eventually. She urged me to do so before the event but I didn't listen. So, after returning, I came across a FB post by Lori Otto and it was titled, ""Book Bash - Lessons Learned"". I automatically assumed that it could only be a happy article considering the success of the event.I started reading it and instantly my heart broke for this woman. The guilt kicked in as well. I'm sure I walked past her table and never glanced over. I was on a mission to see about 20 authors and sadly, she wasn't on my list. I have never felt more horrible in my entire life. Read the blog post here: [...]I shared this post with my aforementioned book twin and she immediately made fun of me for skipping Lori's table which only made me feel worse. She once again stressed that I needed to read this series ASAP. And as before, I told her I would at some point. A few weeks later, I saw another post from Lori that asked if any bloggers would like to review the Emi Lost & Found series. I should add here that I had absolutely NO IDEA what these books were even about. I hadn't read the synopses or any reviews, but figured, ""Why not?"" My book twin swore I'd love them, so I sent Lori a message. Shortly thereafter the series bundle was in my email. By now I had been warned that I'd need a lot of tissues to get through them. Things were backed up on the blog, so it took a few weeks before I began this venture.A few things about me before I start my thoughts on Emi:1.) I've been reading since I was 4 years old. I can count on one hand the number of times I've bawled my eyes out while reading. The very first was Charlotte's Web and I never was able to forget it. I'm not a crier whatsoever. It takes extreme sadness before I'll get upset enough to form actual tears.2.) I do tear up in books. When something is sweet, I will get a welling up in my eyes, but nothing more.3.) I've read hundreds of books and can easily choose a top 5 of all-time. I pretty much thought this list was permanent and impossible for anything newer to break into.In this day and age, technology allows us to do nearly everything. Before, authors had limited options - if you didn't get a publishing deal, there were no alternatives. Nowadays, many choose to self-publish and I actually have found I enjoy indies more than big house published works. But there's also a downside to self-publishing and that's advertising and getting your name and books out there. In the grand scheme of things, not many people have discovered Emi yet. This series feels like a secret that I've been let in on. And as much as I usually love to keep things I love to myself, I feel the need to share this one.I'm not much of a note taker or highlighter when reading. I'll typically highlight a couple quotes, if any, in an entire book. The Emi Lost and Found series changed that for me. My Notes app on my iPhone got more use in the past week than ever before. You're probably thinking, ""A week? I thought you loved this series. Why did it take you so long to finish?"" The answer: emotional devastation. Yep. I can't think of any other way to describe what took place while I participated in my favorite hobby. I'd been warned but didn't take said warning seriously enough. I went in blind and got the full experience. I wouldn't change a thing in the way I went about it. My recommendation for future readers is to avoid spoilers as much as possible. Don't even read the book summary on Goodreads. Trust me, you'll appreciate everything much more this way.I'm not even going to post a summary here. All I want to do is post some of my thoughts and emotions that I experienced throughout. From the title, you realize it's most likely the story of a woman named Emi - and it is. But it's A LOT more as well. This series runs the gamut of emotions. I felt everything from pure joy and happiness to absolute devastation. All of that just in the very first book, Lost and Found. It's written from a male point of view (which I absolutely adore) and it was wonderful to get to know the girl from how HE saw her. It's so easy to fall in love with EVERY character in these books. Every. Single. One.Can you get PTSD from reading a book? Because I still haven't recovered from the distress I suffered at the hands of Lori Otto. I absolutely LOVED book one. It is literary perfection. Great love story, great characters, perfect pacing - why would I need Kleenex? Oh. The end of the book makes things clear. I cannot even lie, I needed a break after finishing. You get left hanging and though the direction the story is heading seems clear, you're holding out hope that things will turn out the opposite of what you're fearing. After about a half hour (and a quick chat with the book twin), I started book two. The immediate reaction was relief. Seconds later this was followed by complete heartbreak and heartache. Cue the ugly cries. Instant, complete, and utter devastation at the hands of my iPad. I felt betrayed. How could she (Otto) do this to us?? It wasn't fair! I should mention this was within the first few pages of book two, Time Stands Still. After sobbing for what seemed like an hour (it was probably 15 minutes), I decided I couldn't continue that night. Instead, I took a two day reading break. Yes, this affected me THAT much. I did some more chatting with the book twin and she assured me that I needed to get back to the story. She promised things would get better. So I did it. I went back and tortured myself some more. Intense doesn't begin to cover it. I cried. I sobbed. I bawled. A lot. Constantly. Take my word when I say that you and Emi will become one. I felt every emotion as if I was in the story. I could have been Emi. Eventually, the story got better - by better I mean happier. Things were starting to look up and then I got sucker punched again and again and again. It was starting to feel like this sadness would never end. And I had mixed feelings about how things were playing out. I wanted happiness but it felt like that was a betrayal. But things DO get better. Significantly so. And you finally feel like the devastation is bearable. The end of book two caused my ugly cries once again. Those stuck around for the beginning of book three, Never Look Back.Book three is beautiful. The story is ready to conclude, and as much as you want it to end, you also don't. You want it to go in forever. This book is about moving on and it too is filled with some agonizing moments. These characters have come a long way since the first book and it's beautiful to watch them grow.This series is phenomenal. There isn't a weak book to be found and that is extremely rare. Each book is written from a different character's point of view and this adds to the magnificence of the overall story. You really get to know the characters and never have reason to question their decisions. I was captivated from the first page and was spellbound until the very last page of book 3. Emi Lost and Found is so real that I felt physically sick and experienced actual pain. I literally had to squeeze my chest because my heart felt broken. And this reaction happened throughout, not just in one instance. Even during my reading breaks, the story stuck with me. I found myself thinking about the story and the characters and wondering how things would end. And of course, frustrated with things they did. Not to mention the fact that I was upset with the author for what SHE did. Before you start, make sure to get a reading buddy - a partner to experience it all with. You'll need all the virtual handholding you can get.Emi Lost and Found is the diamond in the rough, the needle in the haystack - books like this come along once in a blue moon. Never has a book or series hit me this hard. NEVER. I've never been this emotionally attached either. I have a feeling this one is going to be hard to let go of. It's insanity that more people aren't reading these books. It has to be said: this is the most brilliant, emotional, touching, and captivating series ever written. Emi Lost and Found has taken the top spot on my All-Time Favorite Series List - nothing else comes close. The rating scale doesn't even factor high enough for me to be fair. Just know that it's incomparable in every aspect.After finishing, I realized I owed Lori an apology. I was part of the readers who let her down at Book Bash. In turn, I lost out on meeting someone who created the most realistic and unforgettable characters I've ever had the pleasure to discover. So, here is my apology, in the form of my rambling review. And I hope that all bookworms find Emi for themselves.Also, a special shout out to my book twin for harassing me daily to read this series! You rock!",5.0,THE BEST BOOKS YOU'RE NOT READING!,1376179200,"08 11, 2013",34,34,helpful,1.0,1 A3KRGT8S4QJC9W,0981562701,GarW,"[0, 0]","As an avid reader of mystery novels, especially legal thrillers, I've found all three of Ms.Young's books spellbinding thrillers. She keeps me guessing to the very last Chapter about who ""done it!""Keep ""giving birth"" to new books, won't you, Pamela?Cordially,Dr. Gar W",5.0,Another winner!,1388793600,"01 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQA4HUWG7Z96Z,1470192209,Sandi,"[0, 0]","Can't wait for more books to come out! I read all three!!!! You must read this series, I love it!!",5.0,Good Read!!,1359849600,"02 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A39UU3WKDDX73A,0307377849,celticsfan34,"[4, 6]",I'm glad plants can't read. They'd be both amused and horrified to see how Berwin has attempted to link her uninformed botanical interests to her character's shallow endeavors to regain her middle-aged mojo. Reading this book is like staring at a Georgia O'Keefe painting while dropping acid - but not in a good way.,1.0,"Metaphysical, horticultural twaddle",1250640000,"08 19, 2009",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1ZZ7JP6M0MWFA,B00FYW9VHC,"Shirley A. Czerniak ""WIannie""","[0, 0]",Loved this book. Couldn't put it down.,5.0,Great read,1405468800,"07 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A329C41VQ8OBAX,1581823045,ray,"[0, 0]",Positive message delivered without being preachy. Main character was timid stay at home housewife who changed her world without changing her circumstances. Curious...,5.0,Great book,1383436800,"11 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1A8ZEITUIPUBC,0674006631,Karlyn Kohrs Campbell,"[0, 0]",This is a collective biography; that makes this book unusually challenging to read and use as a basis for generalizing,3.0,First Generation Americans,1379203200,"09 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3R3DVVPASEIZQ,0465018831,Poison Ivy,"[0, 0]","The book is informative, but definitely not what I expected. It consists of short paragraphs about Dyson'sopinions about different people and topics. I read half the book, but I didn't finish it, because it didn'tsustain my attention.",3.0,Not What I Expected,1360368000,"02 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1G7FCJBBREFIR,1936460149,Margaret F. Kubena,"[0, 0]",this was an ok read. it did not hold my attention to the same degree as the martian or tears in rain.,3.0,not bad,1370476800,"06 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AE6MI0H9VDT39,0486421198,David McCann,"[0, 0]","good, not great.this collection selects no two stories by any one author;and not-the-best stories by the authors selected;and no story dated later than 1927.further: some American authors past and presentarguably are < among > the world's best writers of short stories;but several of the short stories featured hereare not < American > in any nontrivial sense.still, some of these stories do tell well.and their diversity! astonishingly, the final three storiesare set within the same nation within the same decade.",3.0,notso great American Short Stories,1402099200,"06 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TWYE00PM3Z88,B0057CXAK8,Carrie Ryder,"[4, 5]","It took me a little while to finish this one (even though I couldn't put it down). I found myself taking my laptop mini with me to work so I could read this novel during lunch and my breaks. Most of what I've been reading lately have been shorts that I can finish in one sitting so it was good to get back into a full-length novel.This author brought me through the whole range of emotions, everything from anger, shock, joy, tears (oh yes I sobbed my eyes out in a couple parts!), laughter and happiness. I admit that when I reached the conclusion of the story I felt very inspired to try to live my life a little bit more the main character, Katie. Very good story and I will be reading the next book she has available.",5.0,"Long, but worth it.",1312329600,"08 3, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3QZ4G18WM9LDX,0615474616,Vicki Coble Tucker,"[6, 8]","This book is a must read. Loved it and did not want it end. Very well written. Made me think and I will be reading this book over and over. I borrowed this book using prime and will be purchasing it tomorrow. I want two copies, Kindle and hard copy.",5.0,must read,1366848000,"04 25, 2013",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A1CVD4957DVJBX,0140449175,"minny goodthings ""min""","[11, 20]",Loved all of these books. The unfortunate Baudelaires are truly unfortuate and with a guardian like Mr. Poe it is better to be homeless. These inventive orphans have the unfortunate circumstance of being forced to live with one unknown relatative after another real or imagined. I am not detered by the unfortunate circumstances that surround these poor children but actually find comfort and truly wonderful ideas for new inventions!,5.0,Series of unfortunate events,1122681600,"07 30, 2005",11,20,helpful,0.55,1 A2YBYVTV8FNK4E,0006514642,"JD ""JD""","[12, 16]","Reading this book was like being trapped in a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. Like many other reviewers here, I am a Gregory fan and have read her other works, some of them more than once, with great pleasure. I was so disappointed by this one. I can only echo the other reviewers who say the main character is not likeable as she tries to undermine the marriage of the lord so she can take the lady's place. Alys even attempts murder, betrays those who love and help her - she is monstrous. There wasn't a single sympathetic, likeable character in the whole book. I read to the end just because I had invested so much time in the story already, I wanted to see what would happen - specifically, without revealing too much, with the dolls - to see if Gregory could save the work and make it worth my while. It failed me utterly.I imagine the author would say Alys is so awful in order to create an opportunity for redemption. But by the end you care so little for her that you don't want to see her redeemed. You want to see her get what she deserves. She is evil, scheming, and heartless, betraying everyone, everything, and every impulse of basic human decency. I was so relieved when this book was finally over. If I could have given it zero stars, I would have.Also regarding the sex scenes, of which there are plenty, they left me pretty cold. It was like this was an excuse for women's porn, i.e. the kind you find in a cheap romance novel - which no matter how amateur the writer, I personally find is usually more titillating than this was. I hope you won't waste your time or money with this poison book.",1.0,Horrible,1216339200,"07 18, 2008",12,16,helpful,0.75,1 A2Q54RQ3YKGPFH,1401942423,Amazon Customer,"[10, 12]","Your Hidden Symmetry: How Your Birth Date Reveals the Plan for Your Lifeis the latest book by Hay House author, Jean Haner. I received a free copy of her e-book from Hay House Publishing for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and are based solely on my experience.I had enjoyed reading one of the author's previous books titled,The Wisdom of Your Child's Face, and was interested to see how she connected the art of Chinese face reading with what she describes as the Nine Star Ki--a system of energy based on the natural life cycles of every aspect of Earth life. At first I thought this system might be similar to numerology, because the Nine Star Ki chart featured in the second chapter is also based on the year, month, and day of birth. However the author stressed that this was not a system based on numerology or astrology, as is evidenced by the unusual grouping of the months in the chart.The 3-number combinations in the Nine Star Ki chart are said to represent: the overall personality, the emotional self, and the challenges/true calling. In chapter six, there are brief overviews of each of the 81 possible number combinations, including their healthy and unhealthy expressions. I was surprised to learn that my ""overall personality"" number mirrored my numerology life path number. This was also true for other members of my circle. Chapter 11, titled, ""Your Personal Seasons,"" is where the reader can learn which number energy is influencing which year they happen to be in, or any past or upcoming years. Again, my personal seasons in the ki chart mirrored each of my personal years in numerology. The descriptions of the second and third numbers of the 3-number patterns however, were way off in most instances, and certain number descriptions matched the personalities of ones who had completely different number combinations. Nonetheless, I'm aware that this system is not an exact science, and like other divination tools, is not to be taken literally.The book was very entertaining though, and I can see where the Nine Star Ki system could possibly provide more insight when used along with face reading.",3.0,Another way to learn about your number energy patterns.,1367107200,"04 28, 2013",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AZFX7FLEHCWXM,0802774873,"Mary G. Longorio ""Texasbookgirl""","[15, 15]","This was my favorite book while I was growing up. I would check this out from the Grand Prairie Public Library and head to the backyard with book in hand. Using pots and pans and cans and whatever I could scrounge, I would assemble the recipes, Sand Torte being a favorite. Although this was written for children, the magic still holds. Written in easy to read and imagination engaging language, this inspires the reader to try the recepies and to let their imagination soar. Delightful ink illustrations and witty writing makes this enjoyable reading into adulthood....a bonus, I found my new copy in the cookbook section of my local bookstore. A classic for the child in all of us.",5.0,Still enchanting after 30 years,974851200,"11 22, 2000",15,15,helpful,1.0,1 A1EF8AM1PHO9QY,1414300204,Gary,"[0, 0]",If your a guy like me sometimes we have trouble seeing things through the eyes of others. This book helps open up some of those gray areas and lets us see what's really going on. It is also easy to read and understand. I will for sure reread the book. I appreciate Gary Chapman and his God given talent for this kind of stuff. I am now planning on reading the 5 love languages next.,5.0,Just what I needed,1361491200,"02 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ATISXNK0FT0G0,0451216954,Kristy,"[0, 0]","Read the 1st book in the brotherhood series and you won't quit until you read all of them. Hot, sexy, kick-ass vampires that do have personal issues. Has some cool humor in it as well.",5.0,Hot vampires,1366675200,"04 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3D9EHWO0UQH11,0446525774,"Mary Vusich ""m.v.""","[4, 5]",I have enjoyed Mr. Baldacci's previous books but this one has been difficult to get through. Previous reviews have captured enough of the plot for me to figure out the conclusion so I think I'll quit reading while I'm ahead. Complex and boring!,1.0,Saving Faith,948326400,"01 20, 2000",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2V23FZU5UNXFK,1475162154,RSB,"[7, 12]","Oh my gosh...this has to be the very worst book I've ever read!! I think he may have thought he was clever, but the author made it so silly, so asinine that I kept jumping ahead to see if it got any better. I'm sorry I bought it and even sorrier that it was ever published! I'm normally a book hoarder, but this one went directly into the trash after I muddled my way through about a quarter of it, then skimmed through more pages and finally jumped to the end...I couldn't find a place in the story where I was entertained. Don't buy this book, it's a waste of money and your time.",1.0,"The Worst Book I've Ever, Ever Read",1355529600,"12 15, 2012",7,12,helpful,0.5833333333333334,1 A3G2FTD1OH3K2P,0142000280,Mr Matthew Thomas Howe,"[0, 0]","There are so many books out there that purport to make you more efficient, waste less time, get better results, etc. The majority of them vastly oversell themselves. ""Getting Things Done"" is not one of those. This book is a quick read, with some extremely easy to follow steps, and has improved my work and personal life immeasurably.Prior to reading this book I had a massive problem, like many people, with procrastinating at work and forgetting things to do at home. Having read this book, taken the steps onboard, and used Evernote to manage my various lists, I am getting the things done at home that used to drive the Mrs crazy when I'd forget, and I am getting so much more done during office hours at work, that I don't know how I wasn't fired from previous jobs before reading this book!I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I've bought multiple copies of ""Getting Things Done"" since I read it to give to family members, and everyone that reports to me at work. I've yet to hear of anyone who read this and didn't come away with some actionable steps to take in their life to cut down on procrastinating and inefficient to-do lists, etc.A great book.Total read time: about 3 hours.",5.0,Life-changing,1360713600,"02 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2QGOD0PT54FWZ,1499291019,Erica Erskins,"[0, 0]","I loved this book and cannot wait for more books about The Hangmen. This is such a refreshing MC read compared to the other MC books available. I also loved how every character has their own personality and they don't all act the same. You can tell the author put in a lot of time researching extreme religious sects/cults to bring the commune to life in the books.Can't wait to read more about Rider, Ky, and especially Flame.",5.0,Holy Hotness,1401926400,"06 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A7RMQ8T3HC4HK,0758246846,Rebekah Montgomery,"[0, 0]","Reading her work, I would not have taken Kristina McMorris for a first-time novelist. Her debut, Letters from Home is historical fiction flawlessly delivered and masterfully told. She transports us back in time a nation in the middle of the harrowing tragedies of World War II, and gives us not only a beautiful love story, but several perfectly woven stories of lives forever changed in myriad ways as they were touched by the war.Her characters were astonishingly real. I marveled sometimes at the details of this historical period that she knew so well to make each of them come alive. From the soldiers in the field to the women and men trying to live a normal life at home her details were impressive in the life they gave these characters. As these characters explored the meaning not only of love and war, but of family and duty and home itself, I found myself more than once feeling like I had slipped into a piece of my grandparent's lives and aching a little bit, missing them. Missing the parts of them I knew, and the parts of them I never will.""They were kids back in their dad's Iowa fields, dozing out in the open, naming shapes made of stars in the sky. A sky that offered them promises, futures as limitless as the universe.A sky that lied."" (Ch. 6)Not only does she give us a sweeping love story, she offers unique stories and perspectives that I wasn't expecting (like as unlikely a soldier as ever in Betty who ends up in a remote army hospital in New Guinea) , she tackles her stories with aching beauty, loss and longing. But not least of all there is a sense throughout the book of innocence being shed, of real people being forced into seeing the world through vastly changed eyes and maintaining throughout it all something miraculous - hope.Letters from Home easily will remain in my mind as one of my favorite historical fiction of the era. It felt in many ways discovering, accepting and finally coming home. I have no doubt we will see great things from Ms. McMorris in the future.Review copy provided courtesy of Author in no way affected my review of this work.This review originally appeared on Aurelia {Lit}.",4.0,"Impressive Debut Amidst Love, War & Letters from Hom",1300233600,"03 16, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANEDXRFDZDL18,0743272102,Serene Night,"[11, 13]","I was prepared to like this book, especially after the rave reviews found here on Amazon, and Audible. But I found that Haunted Ground: A novel, quickly lost my interest. Why, you may ask? Because the author has too many characters and she head-hops between them constantly. Each section is narrated by a new character, and frankly I lost interest. I prefer books with one, possibly two voices but not a half dozen. This is particularly disconcerting in audio format. Plus, I found the drippy American character with the tortured past and murdered sister a bit trite and maudlin.Feh, overall, 2 stars. If she had stuck to a single or maybe dual perspective it might've captured my interest.",2.0,Too Much Head-Hopping,1127606400,"09 25, 2005",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A2FVZB61ZBQYKP,014311882X,Texas Tilly,"[0, 1]","The author attempts to use historical documents to tell the story of poisons as murder weapons and the development of modern forensics. While the writer is not a chemist, and would not be expected to write like one, the story is a good one.",4.0,Interesting History,1387324800,"12 18, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0060731664,Harriet Klausner,"[4, 4]","After twelve years as a nurse, Pauline Sokol could not take it anymore so she quit. Her roommate Miles got her a job as a fraud claims investigator for Scarpello and Tonelli Insurance Company because his Uncle Fabio owns the firm.With Miles' boyfriend glitzy transvestite and star investigator Goldie Perlman ill, newbie Pauline is assigned to look into prescription fraud at the Hope Valley Senior Citizens Center. Pauline goes undercover as a senior citizen working as a temporary at the center's pharmacy with Goldie preparing her for her role to observe prime suspect Sophie Banko. Pauline also struggles with the attention given her by two male peers. Nick is a clean cut hunk while Jagger is an exasperating handsome pain. With three advisors to assist her at uncovering the prescription scam at the clinic's pharmacy, Pauline wonders if Goldie can help her better understand her sudden seemingly alive love life that was dormant as a nurse.The second Pauline Sokol insurance investigation case is an amusing tale that once again focuses in on a medical scam enabling the former nurse simply to go undercover though trying to pretend to be elderly is not that easy accomplished. Her love interest has expanded since mysterious and sexy Jagger introduced her to the job and seemed to want her under the cover with Nick apparently interested in her too. Lori Avocato provides a humorous investigative tale starring a likable flake and her eccentric cronies though at times the quirky behavior distracts from a fine who-done-it.Harriet Klausner",4.0,amusing insurance investigation case,1119916800,"06 28, 2005",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2941E5V0PSLO4,B00FBTHEA4,"Martin L. Reaves ""Mott""","[4, 4]","Don't turn your back on Trent Zelazny...ever. The boy just doesn't play fair.Zelazny's latest offering (to my knowledge) is People Person--a nasty little slice of business that you will read in one sitting, right before taking a long walk to clear your head...and try to avoid watching the neighbors, whether or not you consider yourself a people person.Jeffrey Carlisle is a people person, and a heck of a nice guy. The story opens with Jeff staring into an empty ditch, looking for clues as to the whereabouts of his long-missing sister Jessica. The ditch is as empty as Jeffrey, offering no solace or respite from a life steeped in almost mind-numbing drudgery.There's not a lot I can tell you about this story without spoiling it--it's a novella and what transpires in these few pages happens at once slowly and quickly. In many ways nothing at all happens...until it does, until you are comfortably pacified.But here's the thing: Zelazny somehow manages to make the mundane compelling, which may be the ultimate testament to his brilliance. That's a rare gift. Show us a man repeating the same scenario over and over, walking around his kitchen, peeking out at the neighbors...and make it riveting?There is of course more to this story than a lost man's boredom and aimlessness, much more. But it is our duty to live with Carlisle--to feel his loss, to wander lonely stretches of road, to wonder why bad things happen to good people. We must walk a mile in his shoes, and as the story unfolds try to deny how well those shoes fit our own feet.Bravo, Mr. Zelazny. Again.",5.0,A Wink And A Shiv,1379980800,"09 24, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3OU5W6F32SC5S,0393332152,"James H. Cahill ""Jim Cahill""","[5, 12]","After consuming many books and other media about the seismic event of of the 20th Century, I thought I had heard and seen (movies too) it all. Discovering this masterpiece for kindle was a real treat. Vincent Bugliosi weaves the story as just that- a story that unfolds minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. When presented as real people and a real story without the conspiracy hysteria the book cranks along at a tremendous pace. I felt the human side of this story better in this book than anything I've ever read on the topic. I couldn't put this kindle book down and consumed the entire 600+ pages in three days. A must read for any history buff who is interested in the story as it happened without reading between the lines-just the facts in this case is an incredible true story. The Dallas police do an execptional job in cracking the JFK, JD Tippitt case within 12 hours and then their inexperience with dealing with this new medium of television (bright lights, hysteria, magnify images) costs them dearly as they lose the suspect Lee Harvey Oswald in their custody to vigilante Jack Ruby. I have never understood how Ruby got to the moment of truth so unimpeded-with such easy access and the perfect moment to kill Lee Harvey Oswald. I do now. I also feel I for the first time can feel the Ruby side of the story as very human, very real. This book was a delightful read... with enough perspective and a truly open mind, you can get the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth on the JFK assassination saga right here. Highly recommend.Four Days in November: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy5 stars!! Terrific on kindle.",5.0,"The Truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!",1249862400,"08 10, 2009",5,12,helpful,0.4166666666666667,1 A26NQSAHO0D4I1,0345487540,WhiteBoxerDog,"[5, 6]","I have read almost all of Elizabeth Berg's books (the exceptions being The Handmaid and We Are All Welcome Here) and this one is not a disappointment.I found it to be charming and intriguing. The story is simply written and fairly slow, but that is part of its charm.The characters were well presented and the sibling rivalry and arguments rang true.Having watched a documentary recently about wives and girlfriends left behind during World War 2, this book seemed very realistic.I do not understand the negative reviews on here, and would whole-heartedly endorse this book.",5.0,Very enjoyable,1179014400,"05 13, 2007",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2BY7IHZD552GE,1467938351,"Lisa M. Filipe ""A Tasty Reader""","[8, 9]","In this Continuation of Treading Water, we follow Clare Harrington while she tries to find her place in the world after missing the last three years of her life. She heads to Stowe, Vermont in hopes that some time away from ""her home"", will help her with her recovery, mind, body and soul. What she doesn't expect is to meet Aiden O'Malley, the handsome man she hired to restore her bothers vacation home. While Clare and Aiden learn more about each other, her middle daughter Kate heads to Nashville, Tennessee to try and ""Make it Big"" in the music industry. While living in Nashville, Kate falls hard for Reid Matthews, who was supposed to be looking out for her, instead of trying to keep his eyes off of her. But when their secret relationship is ripped wide open, will Kate be strong enough to stick up for what she believes is true, or will other Oppourtunities arise that will tear them further apart.WOW...is all I have to say. Marking Time is a Kick Butt sequel to Treading Water. Just like with Treading Water, Marie creates a story that not only takes on through a sea of emotions but on an adventure from Stowe, Vermont to Nashville, Tennessee, back to Rhode Island.I really enjoyed getting to know Clare as a person, and not just the girls mother. She needed to find herself again, not as Jack's wife, not as a mother, but as Clare, the woman. And boy...did Aiden help!! hehe! I liked their flirty banter, I liked to see Clare making a life for just ""herself"", where before, she was more involved in everyone elses life. She was able to heal and with the healing, find LOVE again, with a great man, who was lonely for way too long.The book travels back and forth between Clare and Kate. Kate is starting her own adventure in Nashville, where she wants to be discovered. I really liked Kate, even from Treading Water. I loved the relationship she formed with Andi towards the end, always thinking she was very loyal. I have to say, the relationship between Kate and Reid was sweet, and you could tell that he really was in love with her. I don't want to give anything away, but I have to be honest and say that I think things between them happened for a reason, and you were able to tell the difference in maturity level between the two. Once you read the book, you might agree!!Marking Time was a beautifly written book that takes you on a roller coaster of emotions. I was sad, happy, laughing than Angry....I have to say I was angry A LOT, haha!! I say angry, but on more of an Empathetic level.....I was angry for the characters and angry at certain characters. But all in all....Marking Time hits the Mark, and will touch your heart.Marie Force has created a world with these characters that we will all be asking for more of. The third book, Starting Over, will be released late December, and I have a feeling that it might just be my favorite, yet!!",4.0,Marking Time...Hits the Mark,1323561600,"12 11, 2011",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 ABF4SRK2V3WVU,1580176569,Luvthesun,"[6, 6]","I enjoyed reading through this book when I was just making kit wines, and when I got my hands on some real grapes it was invaluable! Definitely a book every home winemaker should have in their library. Very nicely organized, easy to find your answers when you're covered in grape juice and need them fast!",5.0,A Must-have in the home winemaker's library,1226275200,"11 10, 2008",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,1897448090,Midwest Book Review,"[7, 10]","There is more wisdom to the Judaic religion than simply the Torah and the Talmud. ""The Zohar: Annotations to the Ashlag Commentary"" is a scholarly examination of the most formerly secret of Judaic texts for use with another set of sage Jewish writings in the Kabbalah. The Zohar itself focuses on one's relationship with God from religious, spiritual, and philosophical perspectives. A must for anyone who weighs much thought into the great intellectual subject of religion, ""The Zohar"" is not just for Rabbis anymore.",5.0,Not just for Rabbis anymore,1231804800,"01 13, 2009",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 A2RB0OEG9361S0,1477805311,Fritz,"[0, 0]","Great combination of action, mystery and intrigue. The characters were well developed and interesting. The story was well developed and hard to put down. I anxiously awaited each new episode. Great serial.",5.0,Exceptional story,1375401600,"08 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1RHBMPG3AZTC,0689842309,"Sandra McLeod Humphrey ""Children's Author and...","[0, 0]","Double Dutch is all about secrets and friendship and fear, and overall I found it a good read. I loved the characters (especially Yolanda) and I liked the story line, but the novel lacked some of the emotional depth that other teen novels I've been reading have had. Still a good read but also a little disappointing.",4.0,Mixed Feelings,1225929600,"11 6, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AGCU0OQHC6TN5,1478209518,Cathy,"[0, 0]",This was a good story with lots of twist and turns. Karma working over time. I'm done with this review.,4.0,Good read,1388793600,"01 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HGA8KRZAYZGC,1419952129,cindy,"[0, 0]",This series is great no matter which book you start with. This is the first in the series of supernational love stories between "normal" and someone with a little extra surprise! This one is my favorite!,5.0,first of a series!,1370822400,"06 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26P735KBFGO9B,0451181859,Samantha Rayis,"[27, 29]","Do not buy or read this book unless you're interested in the thoughts of a very sick woman. Tony's so-called adopted mother clearly cooked this scheme up to make money and garner attention. There is no Tony. Get real, people. Books like this only hurt the real survivors of child abuse and incest.",1.0,This is a fraud and it makes me sick.,1118275200,"06 9, 2005",27,29,helpful,0.9310344827586207,1 A61QLJY10QM07,006018793X,Penn Jacobs,"[17, 18]","In his novel ""The Magic Mountain"", Thomas Mann wrote that only the truly exhaustive is interesting. George Weigel may have taken Mann's maxim to heart when writing this massive biography of Pope John Paul II. Extensively researched and meticulously cross-referenced, this 900-plus page book seems to approach its subject by subtly appropriating methods and styles associated with the Pope, viz.,1) Weigel places the focus of the book on the person of Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II), rather than on abstract questions of ecclesiology, theology, or politics;2) he approaches his subject discursively and from as many different perspectives and backgrounds as possible, taking the reader through fascinating presentations of Polish culture, World War II realities, Cold War geopolitics, Marxist socialism, the turbulence of the Second Vatican Council, the history of post-Revolution church-state relations in France, etc.;3) he adopts a motto of John Paul II's phenomenology and attempts to understand his subjects ""from the inside,"" to try to arrive at a sympathetic and experiential depth view of his subject; and4) he presents the action of the book as a drama that unfolds, as poetic, and as prophetic vision.A demanding read, not that it is exceedingly obscure or technical but due to the encyclopedic breadth of its narrative and its digressions, it is nonetheless a compelling read, particularly in the initial chapters and through most of the chapters on the pontificate. (The later chapters lose a bit of their edge, largely, one would think, because it becomes most difficult to frame contemporaneous events, absent the perspective that the passage of at least a few years.) The first quarter of the book concerns Karol Wojtyla before his election. This launches the book forward, since he is depicted so distinct and vividly in spiritually heroic and charismatic terms that, although the reader may be very familiar with John Paul II's pontificate, the reader will be pulled forward in the book by the strong desire to see how this man, the ""Lolek"" of this book, rises to the challenges of the papacy.Weigel's writing is at all times respectful of the Pontiff -- he obviously admires John Paul II greatly. Weigel, an orthodox American Catholic, does not shrink from pointing out instances where he believes this papacy has stumbled or failed, such as His Holiness's (at least for the time being) frustrated initiatives to restore unity with the Orthodox Churches.This biography also points down further avenues for understanding a slice of 20th century history -- works by phenomenologists such as Husserl and Scheler, the writings of Edith Stein, the documents of the Second Vatican Council, and Wojtyla's plays, philosophical treatises, and religious writing. It's always a particular reward when a book points to further areas to explore.The College of Cardinals elected Wojtyla pope when I was still a teenager. Most of the import of it was lost on me, sadly -- adolescence has its own priorities. Weigel's book allows a chance to view that time through a new lens, to see movement and patterns in current history to which may have been missed the first time around.",4.0,"John Paul II, ""From The Inside""",1108425600,"02 15, 2005",17,18,helpful,0.9444444444444444,1 A196K9WYJCWQB5,0330319922,"Jennifer Dickinson ""yogini, knitter, quilter,...","[7, 19]","This is the last time I read a book just because it was on the Catholic Church's list of banned books. That is why I read it; I'm not making that up. Not a fan of censorship, but let's just say that I understand. What would otherwise be a provocative social commentary is really just a gore/rage/mysogyny fest that left me: (1) nauseated, (2) freaked out, (3) wondering what all the fuss was about. I mean, Ellis is quite obviously a decent writer, and had some purpose for writing this book. I think the same theme/purpose could have been achieved without being so cavalierly mysogynist, violent, and just plain yucky.",1.0,Gack.,987379200,"04 16, 2001",7,19,helpful,0.3684210526315789,1 A2GPLTXJ6U9OFK,1492248304,Jeanine Palinkas,"[23, 23]","I was so excited to read Loco's story! I realize the writing style took a bit of getting used to, but once you're in, you're HOOKED!I love the way the story plays out. 8 Operatives, 8 different points of view on the same scenario! Each with their own awesome ending. I'm truly enjoying this series and looking forward to more!",5.0,Great!!,1390608000,"01 25, 2014",23,23,helpful,1.0,1 A28B0ZF4FYIXZ7,1601627564,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I stayed up all night to read this book!!! Awesome!!Reyna was "hoodwinked and bamboozled" by her pastor and her mother to go after a dude that she didn't even like! Now what kind of foolishness is that?!I love Wanda B. Campbell, this is a story of how we can make a huge mess out of our lives, but God will still turn things around for our good. I like how the story doesn't portray things turning around "in an instant", but with the process of time, change is made. And at the end of the day, God gets the praise.",5.0,Page Turner!!,1383264000,"11 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GNN9XP4WEPOD,147937136X,Aaron Givens,"[0, 0]","A Newbies Guide to Kindle Fire: Kindle Fire HD 8.9, Kindle for dummies. My sons bought my wife a Kindle Fire for her birthdayand I purchase a Kindle Fire HD for myself. Neither come with a manual or instructions so I purchase the Newbies Guide toKindle Fire for the both of us. It was money well spent to educate yourself about the function of the Kindle Fire to email and textdownload music, movies, books, talking books, games and a whole lot more. This will be the last manual you buy for your Kindle.Aaron and Almeda Givens",5.0,"A Newbies Guide to Kindle Fire: Kindle Fire HD 8.9, Kindle for dummies.",1384300800,"11 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A23E21NZQ2HWAT,B005GF314G,lovely,"[0, 0]","Great writing. I felt as though it were a true story or something. I read so many books, it really is ridiculous. So when one jumps out and kicks you in the face and wraps itself around your heart, well you get the point.",5.0,Truely loved this action/thriller/love story.,1370217600,"06 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GGH8EDL15Y3W,140031870X,Amazon Customer,"[5, 7]","Although I have heard about the grown-up version of Heaven is for Real, but have not read it as of yet, I was excited to have the opportunity to review Heaven is for Real for Kids. Being a mother of three young children, I am always happy to see Christian books geared toward kids. And this book does not disappoint. Very captivating and well illustrated, Heaven is for Real for Kids is the story of Colton Burpo's ""trip to heaven and back"" when he was almost four years old. The story, re-told by his parents, Todd and Sonja Burpo, is the story as Colton has told to them.I enjoyed reading this little book. I appreciate the fact that biblical scripture is included to reinforce how Colton's experiences through his brief visit in heaven line up with the truth of God's Word. Though I read this book in digital format as an ebook, I would not hesitate to give printed copies as gifts.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: ""Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.""",5.0,Heaven is for Real for Kids,1319500800,"10 25, 2011",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,0974767891,Midwest Book Review,"[4, 4]","""Step Up To The Mic: A Positive Approach To Succeeding In Voice-Overs"" by Rodney Saulisberry is the quintessential instructional guide for establishing a productive and commercially successful career doing voice-over work in the advertising and entertainment industries. Now only does Saulisberry draw from his many years of experience and expertise as a successful and sought-after voice-over performer, he draws upon the advice of Nancy Cartwright (the voice of Bart Simpson), Don LaFontaine (known within the film industry as the `king' of movie trailer voice-overs), Frank Welker (the voice of Scooby Doo), Robe Paulsen (the voice of Pinky in the Warner Brothers animated television series `Pinky and The Brain'), and Harlan Hogan (author of ""VO: Tales and Techniques of a Voice-Over Actor""). Aspiring voice-over actors will learn how to control their mental, physical, and emotional well-being through transforming self-doubt and performance anxiety into confidence and professional level performances. Enhanced with a compilation of informed, informative, and even inspiring essays, affirmations and exercises, ""Step Up To The Mic"" is a welcome and practical addition to academic and professional Performing Arts Jobs/Careers reference collections. Also very highly recommended as an instructional introduction to a career in voice-over work by Rodney Saulisberry is his previous ""how to"" book; ""You Can Bank On Your Voice: Your Guide To A Successful Career In Voice-Overs"".",5.0,A welcome and practical addition,1165536000,"12 8, 2006",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AV2DUAZG4WVSS,0061979171,Douglas N. Bills,"[0, 2]",this is a good translation of what God has to say to man. If you read it you'll be blessed or ruined.,5.0,Spiritual Library,1367366400,"05 1, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 AIBRTGBN07D6A,0425192008,Scott,"[5, 6]","""The Laughing Corpse"" is the second book in Laurell Hamilton's ""Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter"" series, about a young woman who has a full time job raising zombies form the dead, and a part time job killing vampires. It follows ""Guilty Pleasures"" and focuses on a runaway zombie that is terrorizing the city.I have read the first and third Anita Blake novels and was somewhat intrigued, so I picked this book up. I am not much of a vampire fiction fan, and Anita Blake was my first foray into the genre. After reading my third Laurell Hamilton book, I will probably move on to another author.The difference between this book and ""Guilty Pleasures,"" is that there is no focus on vampires. The book does go into some of Anita's relationship with Jean Claude, the master vampire of the city, but spends maybe 10 pages on their relationship. Hamilton could have easily removed every bit of story involving vampires from this book and it would not have changed the plot one bit. It is 95% about zombies and voodoo. Unless you're into that, the only good thing about that is the male readers are thankfully spared all of the ""vampire erotica"" that fills her other books. ""The Laughing Corpse"" has only one mention of a vampire's nipple in the entire book, which is a surprise if you're familiar with the other books in the series.I have to give it three stars because the story was pretty enjoyable, but I won't be reading anymore of Hamilton's novels due to the writing. It's not too bad if you can get over the incredibly annoying use of the first person narrator. I got so sick of Anita's comments and having her every thought vocalized. How many times does she have to say ""Bully for me,"" ""gag me with a spoon,"" and ""point for him?"" It gets real old after the third or fourth chapter. My other big complaint was that this book needs a new editor. It wasn't loaded with mistakes, but I found at least 6 or 7 pretty glaring grammatical or spelling errors. There is no reason why a published novel that has an editor should misspell ""too"" as ""to"" or leave out entire words in sentences by mistake. I've also started to notice that Hamilton reuses many things from other books. Of the three Blake novels I've read, all three have very similar crime scene stories. We hear the same comments about how bloody they are, and how sick she gets at them. It's hard to describe, but if you read several of these novels you will get an eerie sense of deja vu.For those that enjoyed Guilty Pleasures but aren't into the zombie scene, I would recommend skipping this book and jumping straight into book 3, ""Circus of the Damned.""",3.0,Where are the vampires?,1145491200,"04 20, 2006",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A35U8NE1FV9FKH,B008KCUV18,Katie,"[0, 0]","A super e-book about John Cena which you can instantly download and test your fellow Cenation members knowledge of The Champ. 50 John Cena trivia entries, many of which will be new to you.Katie",5.0,Captivating,1342656000,"07 19, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AA03WHI0GOGLJ,1479258490,Tim the toolman,"[25, 27]","I've read several other books on Kegel exercizes and this book is probably the worst, and I'm amazed several people said it was ""Amazing"". The writter isn't clear, trys to spice things up with a goofy mystique style of writing, and discribes Kegels as pushing out, as in letting out a fart. Excuse me, but that sounds like a reverse Kegel, not squeezing your PC. A PC squeeze is the same sensation as shutting off a urine flow, lifting the floor of your pelvic area, lifting your genitals and/or scrotum. In fact I tried to stop my urine flow exactly as she discribes in the book and nothing happened to the flow, only a shart. :-) Then I did a proper Kegel and stopped the flow cold. Either this writter doesn't know how to Kegel or they are confused between a RK and a Kegel. Guess you could say, writter doesn't know jack ship. :-)",1.0,You've got to be kidding!,1353888000,"11 26, 2012",25,27,helpful,0.9259259259259259,1 A10S1Y9W8E4T81,148399600X,Captain Awesome,"[11, 11]","In book one, Dulcie O'Neil started out as one of my least favorite characters. She was frustrating in her determination, head strong (often getting her into trouble) and ruthlessly independent. However, over the course of the six books in this series, she grew to be a favorite. She was still frustrating at times, but she never swayed from her beliefs and she was always true to herself. These are characteristics I could respect. Though I will miss the Dulcie characters, this was a great end to the series. Without giving too much away, it was fullfilling to see the results of Dulcie's toils over the past 6 books and to finally have Dulcie find peace.",5.0,A Fond Farewell,1358726400,"01 21, 2013",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A3SQ5LI1Y8SK6J,0375422331,Jackie Tortorella,"[4, 8]","There were moments in this book, but overall I was left a bit disappointed by the author's lack of insight into the man himself. I have always held Newton in awe, and wondered what his IQ might have measured. Perhaps what I was looking for in this book was not the author's intent in focus. I've read many scientific books that detail the theories and history of Newton's contributions. In this book I hoped to find more of an inner glimpse into Newton's psyche. What it did reveal was disillusioning--Newton was apparently petty, jealous, and socially inept. For those who are looking for a biography, this doesn't cut the mustard. For those who are not already familiar with the scientific thought of the day and with Newton's accomplishments, this book will be much more satisfying.",3.0,Doesn't capture enough of the inner-Newton,1084752000,"05 17, 2004",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A2GNGJVLZ881JE,1596916109,Roger D. Launius,"[75, 90]","The historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway--who is also a longstanding friend and colleague--have set the bar very high in scholarly anaylsis with this book, located in the vital center of the debate about global climate change. ""Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming"" is a serious analysis of the opposition to global warming from such contrary scientists as Robert Jastrow, S. Fred Singer, and others. Well documented with 64 pages of endnotes and rigorously analysed, the authors demonstrate the ties between some senior scientists and political and business interests who stand to lose if decisions are taken that direct changes in American policy.The effort they describe has been built about sowing the seeds of doubt, hence the title, and what Oreskes and Conway would contend is the obfuscation of some entities in the fray. The individuals that have undertaken this effort cut their teeth in the service of corporations that had everything to lose if findings about the dangers of DDT, tobacco smoke, and acid rain settled in the minds of the public. The continuation of this effort, and its particular permutations in relation to the issue of global climate change, are documented in detail here.As the authors make clear, it has been obvious since the 1970s that some elements of the business community have been irate about the use of scientific studies by government officials as justification for regulations that circumscribe their actions. Those opposed have been successful largely through a questioning of the science on which the government has based its actions. The authors note that the attack on this science has been so broad and sustained that it represents a coordinated and frightening destabilization of scientific consensus. Oreskes and Conway draw connections between key contrarians of global climate change with their actions earlier in other scientific endeavors, and shows their linkage to key corporations, think tanks, and political groups.",5.0,An Outstanding History of a Critically Important Subject,1275609600,"06 4, 2010",75,90,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A31VT0MLORI5JQ,0062021346,C. J. Larson,"[0, 0]","This is my all time favorite of this series. It is very different from the rest, but I can't tell you why without spoiling it for you. Just trust me, this one is good.Enjoy!",5.0,My favorite if the series,1369785600,"05 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADXV3DMCA02P6,0307744434,readingaccountant,"[0, 0]",I liked the concept and character's in this book. I did not find it hard to put down.....I felt it was a little slow going but I made it through to the end. The imagery was very good but the story skipped around and added to the desire to put the book down for me.,3.0,Interesting thought,1399766400,"05 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QQZF3WL207UK,0965046958,Christine Whittington,"[5, 5]","Mannix, who came to carnival life via the U.S. Naval Academy ("I didn't want to be a naval officer; I wanted to be a witch doctor!") and the Ivy League, brings his sideshow cohorts to life with this lively, witty, and sharp (sorry!) account that exudes a warmth as only a book written by an insider can. Mannix has always wanted to be a magician, and "runs away to the carnival" as an adult, first learning fire-eating when stepping in for fire-eater Flamo the Great who "exploded that night in front of Krinko's Great Combined Carnival Side Shows." He goes on to learn sword swallowing, sharing some of his insider's techniques (don't let the sharp tip touch the pit of your stomach; make sure the hilt doesn't come off and let the blade slide down your gullet.) If you are interested in the body on display, go ahead and read all the excellent academic pomo books about freaks and the "body as discourse," but be sure to read this one, too. It's an absolute gem. You will enjoy it to the hilt!",5.0,Mannix's readers get the point!,991440000,"06 2, 2001",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3VTFSU7KIIJXJ,0825439280,Wayne Stiles,"[0, 0]","Cradle My Heart: Finding God's Love After Abortionreaches its hands into the secret places of your heart--feeling around in the crags and cracks so deep, hidden, and dark you didn't even know they're there. But the probing creates a surprising result.Healing.Kim Ketola's authentic voice and gifted pen guide readers through the difficult journey of an honest appraisal at what abortion causes--and more importantly--at what it doesn't have to cause: lasting and debilitating guilt. Kim interweaves her personal story with countless others--both biblical and modern--people who have found the relief that comes from no other place.""Your worst failure,"" Kim writes, ""can be God's greatest redemption.""The message of hope that flows from each chapter ofCradle My Heartis that God offers genuine hope and true healing. It's there for the taking.This book shows you how you can have it.",5.0,Your Worst Failure Can Be God's Greatest Redemption,1388448000,"12 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3M5O71UZ6RG7R,B004QGY35W,luv2wryt,"[0, 0]","What an awesome start to Hunter's newest Shadow Falls Series. I LOVED Della before reading this novella, and now I can hardly wait for Saved at Sunrise to come out next spring... LOVE this whole series, and am so excited to read more about some of my favorite characters.",4.0,Turned at Dark,1374883200,"07 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8F0JFB4YCSI3,1589232305,V. McIntyre,"[16, 16]","This is a really good book on tailoring jackets. I'm a person who needs to see it, and this book has ""400 how-to photographs"" that do a good job of giving close up photos of exactly what is being described. This book is certianlly worth adding to a sewing library.",4.0,Lots of pictures,1174089600,"03 17, 2007",16,16,helpful,1.0,1 A13PJ1OVSJB7AN,0393081575,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Disgusting, but funny as hell.It's the subject, of course. I don't expect that Ms. Roach is a disgusting person.I'd enjoy finding out.",5.0,Mary Roach is a riot.,1381622400,"10 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,1879384620,Midwest Book Review,"[8, 9]","Unexpected Returns: Understanding Secular Stock Market Cycles is an in-depth answer to the simple question: why is the stock market acting differently in the 2000s than it did in the 1980s and 1990s? Based on years of extensive research, and written by the founder and president of Dallas-based investment firm Crestmont Holdings, Unexpected Returns explains how and why secular market cycles affect the market over periods as long as years or decades. Presenting advanced financial theories in terms as simplified as possible for the lay reader to absorb as he or she progresses through the book, Unexpected Returns covers the history of the stock market, secular cycles, so-called ""financial physics"", solid investment philosophies and strategies, and much more. Highly recommended for anyone with a serious interest in learning just how the stock market works, whether for theoretical or down-to-earth practical use.",5.0,How and why secular market cycles affect the market,1118534400,"06 12, 2005",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A192Z1UVDNK88E,0812976886,Mom of Sons,"[4, 7]","Anna Quindlen is such a wonderful, wonderful writer. She knits with words like your grandmother knits with worsted yarn. She's got a way with words that makes me stand back and say, Wow, that's a nice sentence...a nice phrase...a nice paragraph. Unfortunately, although I tried night after night for many weeks now, with this novel on my nightstand, I never got past page 40. At times I let it lapse so long I had to go back and re-read pages to refresh my memory; what exactly is happening, and who are these people? Nothing much was happening, and I didn't know who these people were, by page 40. I did, however, know that the doctor dad has his name stitched in blue on his crisp white doctor's coat. And that the mom hates the feel of the kitchen's terra cotta tiles under her feet because they are cold. Beautifully wrought details, that just lost my attention every single time I picked the book up, bored by the lack of energy and plot every time, so I found that I either fell asleep, or switched to another book, or to TV. Sorry for the poor review.",2.0,One true Quindlen read,1275177600,"05 30, 2010",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A3QZAK4BXJBC2W,B00DQ0LK8W,Mindyg123,"[0, 0]","This is a another fast paced exciting book by Mark Tufo, I couldn't put it down. Riley is a dog who along with Patches the cat, Ben-Ben the dog, the baby Zack and Riley's owner Jess are trying to make their way to Colorado during a zombie outbreak. They run into some really nice people but also some very bad characters along the way, Riley is the main character and how she tries to protect her ""family"". This book needs to be read after you read books one and two to really understand what is going on with the characters, can't wait for book four. This is a definitely must read if you are into end of the world books.",5.0,WOW!!!,1372982400,"07 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AB2Z9PY049WEL,0140390162,Timothy Kiser,"[0, 0]",If I every grow up I'd love to be able to write like Thomas Paine. It's refreshing to read something with such clarity and insight when juxtaposed to the banal ranting of our current news reportes. You're welcome.,5.0,When I Grow Up.,1358208000,"01 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2M5X3VQKWHYXO,0805083391,"Kathleen Fuller ""Kathleen7""","[0, 0]","Paul Ekman is a wonderful writer that helps us to understand others. If you've ever wondered if someone was being honest with you this book will be very helpful. People often put on whatever face they want you to see, but if you read this book you will learn the nuances to help you distinguish fact and fiction.",5.0,A must have,1380412800,"09 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WOJFZADS8SPH,1435700910,mystery fan "kathy","[18, 21]",I bought this for my 9 year old after her Dad passed away. She commented it would be better for younger kids and seemed more appropriate for a Grandparents passing. It did seem to me to be geared more towards the 4-7 year old age range.,2.0,for younger kids,1289692800,"11 14, 2010",18,21,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A7UMC95YCRGTS,0684844532,"John C. Landon ""nemonemini""","[33, 35]","Having majored in 'penniless student of Greek' in college I was surprised to read here that I was in what could be the last generation of this tradition. Although much of the diagnosis is open to debate, perhaps faulty on several points, the controversy has perhaps obscured the basically accurate point the authors seem to be making, that of the passage of a great tradition of learning. The author's indictment of the method of teaching certainly rings true. I arrived with a lot of advanced placement and my knowledge of classics peaked the first week of my freshman year as I ended in a permanent huff over pedantic Wilamowitz style philology and disappointed that that was all there was going to be. So university was at least an opportunity to educate myself in the Western tradition by ignoring the professors. Majoring in classics was a big risk, what a waste.This is such a provocative and interesting book that one need not agree at all points to find it important reading. And it is strange and sad a high tech civilization seems both unaware and indifferent to the disappearance of this form of education. Part of the problem is that for all its science modern society has no coherent view of history and the authors attempt to rescue the study of Greece from faddish theory is convincing. Their 'utopian' proposal to remedy the university graduate scene is radical indeed, small wonder irate colleagues counterattacked.This book raises questions beyond its basic thesis. We need a new type of university educational system, that's for sure.",5.0,Elegy for Hellas,1083888000,"05 7, 2004",33,35,helpful,0.9428571428571428,1 A2CV6KXDKFYIN1,0786227478,regency reader,"[4, 5]","***SPOILER ALERT***A few days ago, I read and reviewed another book by Edith Layton called Lady of Spirit. I complained that it was too long and never really went anywhere. The Choice on the other hand grabs the reader within the first few pages and sucks her in throughout the entire book.I read and fell in love with The Duke's Wager, a novel also by Layton. I bought Lady of Spirit based on the positive Amazon reviews and found it flat, boring, even annoying. But not so with The Choice, another book I bought based on the positive reviews. The Choice is witty, romantic, and very touching.I have not read any of the other books in the series. It's obvious that many of the other characters lead novels of their own. In The Choice, you have Gilly Giles, a street rat evolved into a lady. Gilly is a breath of fresh air as far as heroines go.Damon is one of the men who fall in love with her. We all read these types of novels because we want to be swept away by a wonderful, wholly unrealistic man. Damon is such a man. In most novels I have read, the male lead always has some type of flaw. Maybe a dark secret, a past hurt, something that makes him vulnerable and as such, even more tempting to us female readers. Not so with Damon. He's an ideal. Nothing dark or sinister. In fact, I might find his utter perfection quite annoying if he weren't so darn likable and funny.It's Gilly, the female lead character, who has the ""flaws."" And Damon loves her BECAUSE of them. What woman doesn't want a man like that? One who not only accepts her for what and who she is but delights in it? And really, he is quite funny, and I'm a sucker for men with a sense of humor.Drum is another man who eventually wants to win Gilly. It's apparent that Drum played a major role in the previous novels of this series. As such, his character is underdeveloped in this one. He did not come across as very likable to me, but I'm sure if I had gotten to know him through the previous novels, this would not be so.By the time you get halfway through the book, it becomes apparent which suitor Gilly will choose because of the number of pages devoted to their relationship. But that doesn't detract from the story at all. This is purely a romance. Many other romance novels use a plot device in which the romance buds as an aside. There is a minor plot device here at the very beginning but the entire novel is mostly devoted specifically to the blossoming of a relationship.My 1 minor complaint is that the climax of the novel (at least what I felt to be the climax--the scene in which Drum finally declares himself to Gilly) is very anti-climatic. It could be because Drum was so underdeveloped in this novel. I couldn't understand how Gilly could prefer him over Damon. It was her love for Drum that stood prevented her relationship with Damon to progress during most of the story. So when in this scene when Drum declares himself, she realizes, Oh, I didn't really love you in ""that way,"" Drum, I loved you more like a brother--well, it seems a little trite and too neat and easy. And to me, Drum came across as a somewhat of an arrogant jerk so I never cared for him and didn't care that Gilly tossed him over. I think the author could have handled that better, in a way that made the audience sympathize with him more because I'm sure he'll be back as the male lead in his own novel next.But aside from that, the author did a wonderful job of portraying genuine emotions. I was in tears several times throughout. A lovely read.",5.0,Funny & Touching -- a Keeper!,1289692800,"11 14, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1R6ZXPSWEX1TP,045121577X,LBreezee,"[0, 0]","I feel like I say the same thing for each book I review, Harlan Coben is a genius! This story had everything, twists, turns, murder, lust - but none of it was what you'd think! That's why he's the master storyteller. Matt Hunter, an ex-con, trying to create a new life for himself and the woman he loves. He gets a picture on his cell phone, and the race is on!! I won't spoil any of The Innocent for you, you need to read this without any giveaways. Let's just say from the first page until the last you have no idea what will happen next. I could not figure out how Matt Hunter's wife didn't do what I thought was obvious. I didn't want her to be guilty but I couldn't see how she wasn't. And I love Loren Cruse, I love her doggedness, and I'm so glad she talked with . . . too much info, you just have to read it! I love every Harlan Coben book, I haven't been disappointed in one book yet! I love that he gets right to the point, he doesn't use a lot of filler, and he's face paced. You never know which way the story will go, and that's the mark of a great writer. My only complaint - well, I have two. First, I never want his stories to end. I want to know what happens to them beyond the last page; I don't want to leave their world. And my second complaint is I need him to write faster - a new book every month!! I can't wait for his next one. Harlan Coben has a fan for life!",5.0,You Can Go Wrong with Harlan!,1369180800,"05 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15NB9R1ZQA15M,0671026011,avid reader,"[0, 0]",This was a very well written book with a well developed plot. It has interesting characters and who were beautifully described.I believe this was the first book written by Jeffery Deaver that I have read but I know I will read more of his books in the future.,5.0,The Empty Chair review,1373760000,"07 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3G9W210H8VW4G,1453860959,Ashley,"[0, 0]","I think my love for everything zombies indicates their may be something wrong with me, but zombies terrify me so I love them. They have pussified the vampire genre and novels with real life serial killers never frighten me, but zombies always freak me out. I think it's because it's the thought of being eaten alive. I guess if the wrote more shark novels I would be terrified of them as well.Amanda Hocking once again creates a female lead that doesn't need to be saved. Her name is Remy and she is currently a 19 year old who so far has survived the zombie apocalypse. The quarantine zone that she has been living in is overrun by zombies and she is separated from her brother, who had been staying the medical wing. One of the soldiers inform her that her brother had most likely been taken to another quarantine zone northeast of where they currently are. She immediately heads in the direction that she believes her brother has been taken.Along for the ride is a 13-year-old named Harlow whose entire family has been killed. Harlow has unwaveringly put her trust in Remy (trust me I know the names are so hip it's annoying) and she is determined to follow Remy anywhere. Along the way Remy and Harlow met up with a tiger who loves humans but eats zombies, a medical student name Blue, and a Lazlo. Lazlo was a rock star on the rise when the virus hit so his life skills and survival skills are severely lacking.The four of them make their way northeast and pick up new traveling companions along the way and lose them to various violent ends. The novel doesn't break any new ground when it comes to zombie fiction, but it's a quick and fun read. Remy is a great character because she is a woman on a mission and no one is going to stop her from that mission.Apparently yet again I have picked up a novel which has plans to be a trilogy. The novel had a satisfying ending so I don't feel cheated that there are other books planned so if I run across the novel's counterparts I'll probably pick them up, but there is no pressing need to have questions answered.",4.0,Hollowland by Amanda Hocking,1310515200,"07 13, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WZZFJSNLR631,0425243001,Bookaholics Reviewer,"[9, 11]","Never Enough by Lauren DaneContemporary Romance -Sept. 6th, 20113 1/2 starsNever Enough is a slower romance as two opposites find an unlikely passion when a child connects their fates.Gillian Forrester was young when her older sister had an unplanned pregnancy and does not want the child. When Gillian saw her young nephew, she knows he was meant to be hers. She called him Miles and made him her own son.Thirteen years later, her older sister has a dying request: She wants to reveal Miles's father and ask Gillian to let him know of Miles's existence. Gillian is shocked to discover the father is a famous musician named Adrian Brown. Being very responsible, Gillian knows she must at least try to contact the father but is appalled by his rudeness. But Adrian's family wants to pursue Miles parentage and hope that he may be Adrian's son. Adrian's sister and brother persuade him to contact Gillian again. Despite his poor manners (again), Gillian decides to let him into Miles life and unexpectedly they find an attraction. But will two completely opposite personalities be able to compromise or will Adrian's paranoia prevent him from finding real love?This was a bit of a departure because I felt the romance takes a while to occur. Gillian and Adrian are often at cross purposes which brings a lot of tension to the story but sometimes felt a bit tacked on. I admired Gillian who wanted to honor her promise to her sister and also give Miles a father even though she really wanted Miles for herself. Adrian is rather spoiled. His fame has made him very wary. And his rudeness and disbelief are very believable. It actually felt a little improbable that he would personally contact Gillian initially and not his lawyer. His early mistrust and the way he treated Gillian were a bit of a turn off, and I was glad when he learned to appreciate Gillian's quiet beauty. But Adrian's continuous lack of trust and constantly seeing the worst in people eventually grated on my nerves. So while I really liked the heroine, the hero was a bit of a disappointment.A thoughtful romance with an amazing heroine but features a hero with issues.Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club",3.0,A thoughtful romance with an amazing heroine but features a hero with issues.,1315267200,"09 6, 2011",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 ADNUPXA2YJD63,1496126289,kay,"[0, 0]","I want to start off by saying this was not my normal reading preference. But I did love this story. It had my laughing, cheering and wanting to kick the characters butts at times. It's not your typical first time romance but a first time, last time kind of love. I liked that Laura and Seth are portrayed as real people with real problems and hang ups. I would recommend this book to any true love romantic.",4.0,One forever love,1403740800,"06 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A157MQE1QWITE9,0804107386,B. Norris,"[0, 0]",The book kept my interest from the very beginning. It also didn't feel dated. I am looking forward to reading more of Skip Langdon's adventures,5.0,Engaging,1361836800,"02 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A29D28KSUWTQP1,1490467912,MarieElize,"[0, 0]",nice 8) want more and more and more....... can't wait till the next book in the series oh don't have to already bought it...,5.0,MarieElize,1396915200,"04 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QNGMX40UGGN3,0515140872,"D. Flynn ""avid book reader""","[4, 6]",SHORT story...almost like it was written in a hurry to meet a deadline. Doesn't come close to the other books in the series. Almost seems like it was written by another author.,3.0,Not up to snuff...,1194393600,"11 7, 2007",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A3392S40UOGRFT,1555716199,Ross Safford,"[0, 0]","This was a well written memoir, but what struck me the most was Berg's honesty about his bouts with alcohol. It could have destroyed his marriage. I was hoping to learn a little bit about his post-war life, but I was disappointed.",4.0,Brutally honest,1401062400,"05 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2P0E4SW0VVZK9,0985008660,FictionReader,"[0, 0]","An awesome YA contemporary novel. Stalk Me is fast-paced, witty, steamy, and impossible to put down! The tagline ""Hollywood meets Gossip Girl"" couldn't be more accurate. Despite the all the glamour surrounding her, Keatyn is a complex and relatable character. It's great that her ""suitors"" are all very different from one another, showing depth and motivation (by the way, I'm a guy, but... Team Cush FTW :). Jillian Dodd creates an edgy tale mixing romance, humor, and suspense. I love the turns of phrase and the brilliant one-liners. Can't wait for the next one in the series.",5.0,Edgy and addictive!,1348272000,"09 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A384WU5G41TT6Z,0310920086,"Victoria Carrington ""Homeschool Parents""","[15, 18]",My son is 4-years old and he can not get enough of these Bible stories night after night. He also has the Leap Pad version of one of the stories but he does not like that nearly as much. I feel that the stories are complete enough for his age but omit potentially disturbing details that simply are not needed until later. My husband and I also enjoy getting a little Bible refresher from a simpler point-of-view.A good Bible for any young child and not bad for parents either.,4.0,My Son Loves This Bible,1113868800,"04 19, 2005",15,18,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3S0LG7590F4MG,1118018370,Kathryn Bennett,"[5, 5]","Here's what I like -~ All hacks have a clear descriptive title so you can skip over things you don't want.~ All hacks are graded by skill level as - Easy, Medium, or Advanced.~ The potential problems from implementing a hack are clearly identified - usually these are security issues. If you don't understand these or don't want to manage the risk, then you can easily avoid that type of hack.~ A lot of the hacks reinforce or support GTD (Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity) which is a protocol I like and sometimes struggle with - so anything that automates GTD is a boon to me.~ I immediately found several useful hacks at the easy level which I already knew about but this book pushed me over the edge into actually using them. The first one was installing the adblock plus extension to Chrome. Also, I knew about some but not all the ways to ""Google like a Pro"" and I have found these very useful (Hack 90).~ There's lots of hacks here that I might find somewhat useful. I'm not implementing them now but I'm glad to know they exist and something about them so that if my work changes so that these would become more useful, then I can easily find and implement them.Here's what I don't like- Hey, enough about my computer, tell me how to fix my life! Just kidding - they define a lifehacker as someone who uses clever tech tricks to get work done. And they meet that goal.",5.0,"Even if you just take away a few hacks, it's worth it",1317945600,"10 7, 2011",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2NYR51TZFUPPV,B0086D3PM8,"Rich Meyer ""Rich""","[14, 15]","The second part of a series, even a popular one, doesn't always turn out the way we would want it. For every The Empire Strikes Back or Iron Man 2, there are dozens of Highlander 2: The Quickening or Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The Devil is a Gentleman, however, harks back to the former, as this is a very satisfying book.For the uninitiated, Niki Slobodian is an Abnormal. In the dystopic world she loves, that is a bad thing. This book opens with Niki having the man responsible for it being a bad thing dropping by for a chat. The result of that little talk is the springboard for the entire novel, which is one of the more action-packed paranormal novels that I've read this year. I hate to draw fictional comparisons, but imagine Hellblazer (John Constantine) combined with Buffy the Vampire Slayer or the Dresden Files, with just a touch of Raymond Chandler and Dante Alighieri. There's a good level of characterization and plot combined with a noir feel, or at least as noir-ish as you can get with ghosts and demons running around. This is what a good pulpy horror/paranormal novel SHOULD be. And, on top of it all, it was very well-written. I was a beta reader for this book and enjoyed the experience immensely.I would definitely recommend The Devil is a Gentleman. I would also suggest you pick up Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, the first Niki Slobodian novel as well. You don't need to read that one to fully enjoy this book, as you'll get a good introduction to the world she lives in through immersion in this book. They are both great reads!",5.0,Excellent follow-up to the original!,1338336000,"05 30, 2012",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 A3JLHM16H41PLO,0142417807,Lea Kelley,"[0, 0]","Lenny Walker is seventeen when her older sister Bailey dies suddenly. Lost in a tailspin of grief, Lennie isolates herself from her grandmother, her uncle, and her best friend Sarah. Only two people get through to her: her sister's boyfriend, Toby, and the new boy in town, Joe Fontaine. Lennie thinks that only Toby can understand her grief, while Joe Fontaine will never know Bailey, and he'll never see Lennie as Bailey's little sister. Can Lennie find her way through this heartbreaking love triangle to make a life for herself without Bailey?I love love loved this book. Any book that can evoke equal parts laughter and tears is a winner, and I defy readers not to fall all the way in love with Joe Fontaine. The Sky is Everywhere is both an awesome love story and a moving portrayal of the awful nature of grief. As a person who experienced something very similar at nineteen, I absolutely recognize in Lennie the all-encompassing grief and guilt and confusion that is left behind, especially in a teenager. Jandy Nelson's debut novel is very impressive and a real joy to read, even when the tears are streaming down your face. I highly recommend it.",5.0,WhatMissKelleyIsReading: bookitty.typepad.com,1268956800,"03 19, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21XU7GSW9UA0L,1571208488,"Sue ""quilter""","[0, 0]",I bought this book before having the honor to take a class from her. Everything Elly does is excellent! I can always recommend any of her books!,5.0,Elly's books are always the best!,1308182400,"06 16, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2EKGKEXXAGMIM,0879308915,Tampabay,"[0, 0]","Interesting to ponder what could have been for this great talent, we are fortunate he started as young as he did so that we got a glimpse of his amazing work",4.0,Another life cut tragically short....,1380672000,"10 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A22Q9JHKDRD0LX,0316441589,Lespaul1216,"[5, 5]","I'm a music major and my instrument is guitar.The truth is, I've always wanted to sing.I decided to buy this book.This book has everything, you can save thousands of dollars on lessons by just buying this.I bought this book six months ago and read it and guess what.I actually sang Wasted Time by Skid Row almost perfectly, I can officially say that I know how to sing and it is because of this book.By the way, I have never took singing lessons nor been in any vocal musical class either.I bought this, read it, and followed everything that Roger Love said.I recommend this book to all people, this book won't just teach you how to sing but will teach you how to master speech.",5.0,THIS BOOK IS AMAZING,1237852800,"03 24, 2009",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A26K09X3RG2HD2,B00D7APP2I,talpaz,"[0, 0]","Mommy do you really love me?" is a very inspiring and well written story. I really loved the conclusion: "Every mother has her own way of loving her children.”,5.0,Inspiring story,1377734400,"08 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A343Z68SCUHE3P,1477492208,Catkeeper5,"[0, 0]","If you can get past the first chapter, you will enjoy this book. Mr. Roman is not a Douglas Adams, but he isn't too far off the mark. A lot of the events were predictable, but even so they made me smile.",3.0,Who are the Ultimate Inferior Beings,1385942400,"12 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A380JFP02KLOU,006212126X,"princess bookie ""Cin""","[0, 1]","My Thoughts: We are introduced to Zoe and Will. Zoe lives with her father who is a drunk. Her mother is dead and he abuses Zoe pretty often. Hits her, calls her names, etc. Will has been tossed from one foster home to another. Neither one of them has gotten a break so when they meet each other they are instantly drawn to one another.After a few months of dating, Will decides he is going to leave and take Zoe with him. They run away together. Will has some of his own money plus steals some to get where they need to go.Nobody But Us is the story of two teenagers on the road, hoping for a better life than the one they know. It's also a story of abuse and how it can affect us.This one also switches back and forth between perspectives so we can see things from both Zoe and Will's point of view.I just never really felt connected to the story nor the characters. I could see where they were coming from but I just couldn't really connect to either of them. Yes, this is a real and crazy story but it just wasn't my favorite debut of the year yet. Both characters do make mistakes and aren't perfect.They both want better things but its just hard to get there for both of them. It's a pretty realistic story.Nobody But Us was a heartbreaking story but I just didn't feel much towards it. I liked it enough to keep reading, but it was just okay. The ending though, wow. I didn't really see that one coming.Overall: It was just alright for me. I'm glad I gave it a chance but I tend to try to stay away from abusive books, I don't know! This story does have hope and some intensity!Cover: I do really like the cover! I would pick it up definitely!What I'd Give It: 3/5 Cupcakes________Taken From Princess Bookie",3.0,Nobody But Us,1359676800,"02 1, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3HNSM3PLTBMPD,0802817130,M. J. Keel,"[15, 16]","I have examined the Scriptures and read books on both sides of this complex issue trying to find the truth (see my listmania list to follow my journey), but this book is by far the most thorough, biblical, and thoughtful book I have read on the subject of baptism. Jewett comes at the discussion from a distinctly Reformed view due to his adherence to covenant theology (a view I share) so this book may not be useful for those of Anglican, Lutheran, or Catholic persuasions.Starting with church history , Professor Jewett examines infant baptism back to the time of the Apostles examining sources and the defense of some of the best defenders of infant baptism like Joachim Jeremias. Then he moves on to theological questions concerning the covenant of grace, the definition of baptism in Reformed creeds, and the actual practice of baptism in Reformed tradition in their light. What he finds is: weak evidence for the Apostolic foundation of infant baptism and foundational inconsistencies between the definition of baptism given by the Reformers and their disciples and their practice of infant baptism.Even if you disagree with Professor Jewett's conclusions this is a must read for baptists and paedobaptists who want to make sure they are true to the bible and the biblical principles of the Reformation.",5.0,Convincing,1175644800,"04 4, 2007",15,16,helpful,0.9375,1 AM9GQ0WV92QRY,0307387208,"mystery nut ""mystery nut""","[0, 0]","some of the reviews say that 'the issue is the simpleness of how the p.i. and the father get from place to place' or 'the way they move things along. I vehemntly disagree. The way the P.I. figures out how to get to the place where things start moving, after months of dead ens, is incredible. and then he continues in novel ways to get to the end.the story of a missing boy and the reason for his being abducted: for men who like young boys, gave me the willies and i did skip sentences so i wouldn't have to envision what happened to him BUT the ending is fabulous.yes there was too much devoted to what was going on withe the parents and their marriage but so what. The main character is definately one for a series. I loved, loved this book and couldn't put it down.",5.0,read this book!!!!!,1210550400,"05 12, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3OYF7G1T8ES30,B00EEPZHI2,Reader and Reviewer,"[0, 0]","I really enjoyed this story. It was a good sweet tale. I loved Jo. I really wish she would get her own series, going from family to family helping them get their HEA.I did have a few issues, which knocked the rating down a bit. I thought the dialogue was over the top. There was so many "my Anna" and "sweet Anna's" that it made the story a little cheesy. Who really talks like that? I realize this is another time period, but it was still OTT. I also wished there had been some sort of confrontation with ex-husband. That guy just got off way to easy.",4.0,3.5 stars,1385078400,"11 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A25AMBAAZLNTQT,0875526071,"Robert W. Kellemen ""Doc. K.""","[15, 15]","Paul Tripp has added a vital resource to the biblical and nouthetic counseling movement. His well-chosen sub-title teaches that the pastor, counselor, lay spiritual friend is just as much in need of biblical wisdom for living as are those who come to them for help. The well-chosen title reminds us that ultimately we must point others to the Ultimate Spiritual Friend and Soul Physician--Christ.Tripp's core theological premise rings with biblical clarity--we are worshiping beings, built to worship God, but marred by the Fall into sin so that apart from the redemptive work of Christ, we worship anything but God. In the words of Jeremiah, we dig cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water, because we have forsaken God our Spring of living water.Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of ""Soul Physicians,"" ""Spiritual Friends,"" ""Biblical Psychology,"" ""Martin Luther's Pastoral Counseling,"" and ""Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction.""",5.0,Biblical Counseling,1139616000,"02 11, 2006",15,15,helpful,1.0,1 A3SLF7U21DAXZZ,0307582884,C. Ballard,"[0, 0]","After reading the book, you still know very little about the Maze and the purpose of the Maze. In spite of that, the action is intense and the series is a hit with my students. It's a good one to recommend to boys.",4.0,"For interest, I give it a five but for confusion a four.",1353801600,"11 25, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LSD2GJXYMSUF,0671725505,Maria Danielle Combs,"[0, 0]","This book was a wonderful story about the Highlands of Scotland. The story combined history, lore, romance, and mystery to create a tale that was captivating from the first page. The characters were so compelling that it was easy to follow the life of the main character, Muriella.",5.0,Loch Awe,1398297600,"04 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3E9H5ZVB53NO0,0142421375,ASpoon,"[0, 0]",Audio version – the narrator did a terrible job of narrating this story. All his voices sounded the same. This story had WAY too many unnecessary details. We don’t need to know what every character is doing every single time you mention their name. It’s like the author needed something to fill up the pages because the story was lacking. I can’t believe that the first thing they thought was this troubled teen was “kidnapped” instead of her leaving. I mean this wouldn’t have been a surprised if she ran away…considering her family life and some things she confided to Theo…I can see why this is an adolescent book.,2.0,Abduction....Of My TIME!,1398124800,"04 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2CBZMETQJTNEE,0801860970,"fdoamerica ""fdoamerica""","[26, 26]","There is no better short book available on the mind and thoughts of Albert Schweitzer than this book. His theology on Jesus and Paul, his thoughts on Bach and organ building, his philosophy on Reverence for Life are all laid out here.George Marshall (see my review of Marshall's excellent biography: Schweitzer) once asked Dr. Schweitzer what professors would best provide him an education on Schweitzer's thoughts. He replied that Marshall should not go to professors but ""read my books! No one can express the ideas of a man as well as he has expressed them himself.... read my books"".Bob Frost of ""Biography Magazine"" once wrote, ""Albert Schweitzer is not exactly forgotten today, but his name won't crop up in daily conversation. Fifty years ago, though, people talked about Schweitzer all the time. An American magazine selected him, ahead of Albert Einstein, as the "world's greatest living nonpolitical person." He was the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary, won the Nobel Peace Prize, and appeared on the cover of Time magazine. Fueled by idealism and burning spiritual passion, this medical missionary led one of the most intense lives of the 20th century.""Be apprized that ""Out of my Life and Thoughts"" is not an easy read. Dr. Schweitzer's theology and philosophy, though dense, is not incomprehensible. And due to the translation from French to English, you many find yourself reading a passage multiple times to get the gist his thoughts.That said, for students of this great mind, this is a must read. Strongly recommended. 4.5 stars.",4.0,"For students of this great mind, this is a must read.",1044662400,"02 8, 2003",26,26,helpful,1.0,1 APWK2EKIA0PVN,1451627408,Fiona's Mom,"[0, 0]","Crossword puzzle books are getting harder and harder to find! I really like these Simon & Schuster puzzle books because they have a range of difficulty levels so I can pick a puzzle based on my mood or how much time I've got to spend. These puzzles are not boring and the books are not hard to handle, considering they are not spiral bound. Also, the puzzle squares are a good size and the paper they're printed on erases well. The soothing cover photography puts me in a good frame of mind.",5.0,Not easy but not impossible!,1352073600,"11 5, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1LS33FFI5E0JY,0783149956,Susan Barlow,"[0, 0]",I purchased this for my son and he really has enjoyed it very much. I highly recommend it to anyone,5.0,Great collection!,1365206400,"04 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1BJW0D7UP44U1,0425263770,momof2,"[4, 6]","Let me start by saying I am a huge KGI series fan and have read them all. This is not the typical KGI story and they style was different but I think it fit the main character's personality. Was it my favorite so far, no. (that would be Nathan/Shea story and Steele /Doc's story) That is not to say I did not like and enjoy the book. This book was not has emotionally charged for me and seemed more subdued. I loved that characters added to the series. As a KGI fan, I recommend you read it!Excited for the next book but can't wait for Banks to write Rusty and Skye's stories!",4.0,Liked this one,1389139200,"01 8, 2014",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A25LX2M6664QB1,B005R9RP7A,sonny,"[0, 0]",I find this series very additive noy just for the Chandler character but all the characters incorporate from other great books from this author. I have started the JAck Daniels series as a reuolt and will try to get the books on the characters that I have been introduced to in this series.,5.0,Again a great book about Chandler,1357344000,"01 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASIJ69N9P1IR1,B009HJLV3A,"R. H. Curtis ""robertoshidokan""","[0, 1]","This list contains good simple and inexpensive suggestions for increasing site traffic/visits. Many are non brainers and you think, "of course" and others were new to me. A very ice compilation of actions you can take now and others forthe future.",5.0,My site visitors doubled after reading the first 20 pages!,1361836800,"02 26, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AQOFM8XMLK8Z0,0142428868,Avid Reader,"[82, 86]","I've read the Blind Side and the Tuohy's book and I agree with the first reviewer that Oher's book does add quite a bit of information not in the other books. Aside from details on his childhood, you get a sense of the kind of person the author is from his reactions to the people around him and his circumstances. My impression of the author is that he is a man with unusual maturity, compassion and kindness towards others all the more remarkable given the lack of nurturing he received early in life. He also comes across as funny and intelligent. The book definitely gives the reader a better idea of what Michael Oher is really like and I was surprised to see how insightful he seemed to be, not because I thought he was stupid, but because he is so young and yet expresses a maturity beyond his years. An inspirational book for teenagers or anyone else.",5.0,Adds to the story,1297123200,"02 8, 2011",82,86,helpful,0.9534883720930233,1 A1F54ZJJ8EOEA9,0375404031,paiige@aol.com,"[11, 12]","First of all, I think the pictures in this book are fantastic! I was really able to witness the expedition more clearly with the aid of the excellent photos. Secondly, I found the book very interesting because I often wonder about Antarctica. This book showed the harsh conditions as well as perseverance of the expedition. The personal comments were added qualities that made the Endurance more powerful. Overall, I recommmend the book for a interesting visual and personal history of the Endurance.",4.0,Wonderful Glimpse Into the Antarctic,943920000,"11 30, 1999",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 AUTXRA4OOHSXI,0312306261,"Laura C ""Mystery Maven""","[7, 15]","I have read every book in this series and really liked them all until about Hard 8. Now they are just all the same. It's time for Stephanie to grow into a new direction already. She's still stomping off to the donut shop, can't keep bullets in the gun, sleeping with one guy and lusting for the other and getting cars blown to bits. What was once funny is just now tired, predictable and rote. I find myself angry at Stephanie for being so stupid. Let's see some personal growth and new characters.",2.0,"Please, Stephanie, get a clue",1119571200,"06 24, 2005",7,15,helpful,0.4666666666666667,1 A2T110FW5JH644,0446559857,"Holly Weiss ""Crestmont""","[36, 37]","Phillip Yancey is one of the most influential writers in the Evangelical world today. ""I write books for myself,"" he says on his blog, ""searching for a loving, gracious God."" Yancey writes about God's grace instead of the God he feared because of the hellfire and brimstone preaching he received from what he calls a ""toxic church.""Yancey brings us a new format in his book, What Good is God. He takes us on a global trek to ten distinct groups of people to determine if the faith he writes about holds up through the tough issues he encounters in the ""refiner's fire of oppression, violence, and plague."" We see underground Christians in China, the horrific lives of those thrown into prostitution, recovering alcoholics in Chicago and life on campus in a 1960s Bible College. The idea for the book came to him while on an airplane. After his book tour in India was bumped because of the terror in Mumbai in 2008, Yancey instead spoke to a small group in an Indian church. His theme: How do we find comfort in the midst of disaster and suffering?During his quest, Yancey, the journalist observed with a practiced eye while Yancey, the believer, probed his soul for answers. His sojourns through the dark places of our planet and its broken people are metaphors for his own spiritual journey. The message of What Good is God? echoes that of a pastor preaching from a passage in Romans following the Virginia Tech campus massacre. ""Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.""The design of the book was refreshing. Effective illustrations precede each chapter. The poignant cover shows a small lantern perched high above an unnamed modern city. Faith in God makes a difference--not just in a small 18th century church, but in the indescribable suffering of today's world.Compassion may have been the only gift Phillip Yancey felt he could give to the broken and injured he met on his travels. The message of What Good is God, however, is clear. Good exists in this flawed planet because God is here. By encouraging believers to allow the light of Christ to illuminate the darkest places of our experiences, Phillip Yancey reassures us that our vigilant God is present, no matter what tragedy we stumble upon.Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont",5.0,Sojourns of journalist a metaphor for spiritual journey of believer,1287532800,"10 20, 2010",36,37,helpful,0.972972972972973,1 A2JPRB1L1HPFJK,1400205360,Latasha Shells,"[0, 0]","I'm living a limitless life. Thanks and blessings to the author Derwin and his family. Because of this book I have been able to experience a revival. This book is being used for my online bible studies. He talks about going from religion to grace of God. And the very acceptance of God. From orphan to adopted unto God's family. This book has very good purpose for those looking to seek God who feel they haven't been loved and labeled by their past mistakes or present. You will recognize that God has turned you from messy, from damaged, to his masterpiece. From lost to found. And his transformation church ministry is a gift from God and the treasure is the birth of the book of the limitless life. It's biblical like other books. But the difference is his story of deliverance from pain to purpose of not being good enough was his label. And it didn't feel so good to not be good enough. So he was able to understand the very things he struggled with obstacles sodid his dad who started showing up at his football games who weren't always there. His dad had an addiction. It's what goes on in the world today. But his mission has hit accomplish. If you've been living that life of false labels that people have titled you with. Forgive them because your label became unlimited. There isn't nothing you can't do. This book is water to my soul. Life. Enjoy spiritual enrichment.",5.0,Masterpiece,1402531200,"06 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2E0YPCYX4O2JN,0393068471,"Liz Holden ""Why does amazon think the url of ...","[0, 0]","Packing For Mars is just fascinating. Mary Roach is a great science writer - easy to understand, funny, with a good sense for interesting details and asides. This is all about the details and minutiae of space travel. What sort of interpersonal problems occur? How do our organs react to zero gravity? What happens if you throw up in your space suit? Etc. It's great.[...]",4.0,"Fun and Educational! (now I never want to be an astronaut, though!)",1301184000,"03 27, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2VV4XBQD3YEYJ,0615750966,Pleiades,"[4, 4]","I should begin by saying I have been following Michael J. Totten's journalistic work for about ten years. During my career, I worked many of the same areas he writes about, though in my case, it was as a member of the intelligence community, not as a journalist and writer. Speaking as a professional, I have great respect for his writing and his insight.That said, I felt a little nervous about Taken. Great non-fiction authors are rarely great fiction authors and I have learned to be wary of those who try to cross over. I am very happy to say that Michael Totten is an exception. Taken is brilliant and harrowing and needs to read by vastly more people than are ever likely to read it. I will say little more about it than that. That little consists of this:Read this book to understand why you never want to undergo something like this and you never want anyone else to undergo something like this either. Read it to understand that if you inhabit that comfy bubble that so many do, where you can smugly feel that the world's problems are not your problems, you are wrong.Read this book to understand that to the terrorists, there are no noncombatants.You can learn a lot from this book. You owe it to yourself to do that.",5.0,"A Harrowing, but Must-Read Book",1369094400,"05 21, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2RJJPU0R483SP,B007QR7T2M,L. Pettis,"[0, 0]",I love Parick! It was so great to read all about him and his experiences. Can't wait to find out what will happen next!,5.0,We Love Patrick!!,1340582400,"06 25, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2L3ERVMZUIE04,0099458322,Mark T. Gonzales,"[4, 6]","""Kafka on the Shore"" is an incredibly clever book. Those not familiar with Japanese Literature will find this to be a very good place to start. The characters are likeable and difficult to forget. The one complaint that I have with it is that the book seems cautious of its own brilliance and presents its resolutions to bluntly to show a proper amount of trust towards the readers abilities.",4.0,Almost Brilliant,1130544000,"10 29, 2005",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A52H6EQJ2XSQE,0325030871,Jen,"[5, 6]","I chose to use this collection as part of my school's approach to RTI. So far, I'm enjoying the exploration of reading strategies, and so are the students.",4.0,Working well as RTI,1315180800,"09 5, 2011",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A30TW4WB4TI432,1475297815,Avid Reader,"[0, 0]","Love Drug is a great addition to the Femistry series. I just love Tricey, Lyric, Vic and of course Star. Volume 7 keeps the story going and leaves you wanting more. Can't wait for the next part. Exciting and entertaining!Great job Jessica!",5.0,awesome read,1336694400,"05 11, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1IJ27IE2NZAQ9,0441016170,"Ann Jennings ""Pleasure Rider""","[0, 0]",the story had lots of surprises and interesting twists. The trilogy had great momentum and flow and I was kind of sorry when I finished the books. Look forward to reading more by Mr. Carlson.,5.0,Great Characters with lots of depth and personality,1387497600,"12 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXU9I139K72FK,0545123267,M. Bolash,"[0, 0]",well im an avid reader in 6th grade (12 1/2) and I did get into it but... it wasn't interesting... I would reccomend warriors by erin hunter,3.0,well...,1287100800,"10 15, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AVPQ7DDTD0RX,0758215789,Dawn Chambray,"[7, 8]","A lot going on here. It took me awhile to get into it but at the end it turned out to be pretty good. Between threesomes & pretend men, this book was enough to make you go whoa! I'm sure these new characters will show up again in another Carl Weber book. My favorite Coco. If I could be like anyone it would be her. Money, Power & Sex.",3.0,Different,1211846400,"05 27, 2008",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A3F9Z47NP0YV8A,0425230155,H. Wise,"[0, 1]","Harris will never be known as a deep read, but I found this series to be her darkest and yet, most interesting so far. This book concludes a series and is faithful to the characters she has created. If you only know Harris through True Blood, try this series out. I doubt you will be disappointed.",4.0,Solid ending to a good series,1268092800,"03 9, 2010",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3AGEBI9G5M48N,0988662027,Breader,"[23, 26]","This was just okay for me. How the characters find the truth of his best friends death was good, but I do not like with there is a lot of repetition in feelings in ever chapter. Also gets old when the 2 main characters you know are going to get together eventually try to pretend that they are not going to. These two people had feelings for each other for years and denied them. For Sara to harbor such hard feelings that carry her thru years of relationships because Aiden did not make out with her is a bit over the top. And Sara's dads feeling were just weird as well. I kept thinking she was a stolen child or something. I did not get that whole plot. Was not my favorite Barbara Freethy.",3.0,Really enjoy Barbara Freethy usually,1362960000,"03 11, 2013",23,26,helpful,0.8846153846153846,1 A2LF6KGOA6GQ8O,1483959813,Robin,"[0, 0]","Couldn't finish it. Maybe I'm just too old but I just dragged on and on. I really couldn't see any reason to have two more books in this series, it surely could have fit into one if the author had cut out all the drivel. Poor writing technique, bad grammar, and not much plot.",2.0,Snooze.,1403827200,"06 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFVQZQ8PW0L,0425217183,Harriet Klausner,"[4, 7]","Nine hundred years old vampire Gwenna Carrick has spent the last three centuries hiding from her nasty former spouse Roberto Donatelli. However after three hundred years of ennui, Gwenna cannot take it any longer especially residing in her brother's Vegas hotel and casino. She decides that the Internet is not enough even if she enjoys being part of an on line vampire slayer group. So she finally comes out of her sheltered life to have some fun in the night life of Vegas.On her first night out on the town, Gwenna meets a corpse drained of his blood; she thinks that is not a very charming way to return to the living. Not long afterward she finds other members of her on line slayer group dead; drained of their blood too. Police detective Nate Thomas leads the investigation, but he rejects the idea of a vampire; instead he assumes a sick human is murdering people and somehow removing their blood. He also knows that Gwenna is the link as she is part of the slayer group and everywhere she goes a body is sure to follow. Gwenna wonders if Roberto is behind the killings even as Roberto vows to keep the beautiful woman safe as he assumes she is the ultimate victim of a deranged serial killer.The fourth Tale of Vegas Vampires (see HIGH STAKES, BIT THE JACKPOT and BLED DRY) is an amusing entertaining paranormal romantic police procedural. The story line is fast-paced as Gwenna comes out of hiding in spite of having to avoid a bunch of corpses. Nate is a hero who will do anything to keep his beloved safe. Their erotic scenes are worth the price of admission even with a clever whodunit; this is a sure bet for sub-genre fans.Harriet Klausner",4.0,amusing entertaining paranormal romantic police procedural,1199404800,"01 4, 2008",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A242HC2N95ZC2S,B00D19Z9EO,Alexander Cunningham,"[0, 0]","If you have enjoyed Robert Asprin or Jody Lynne Nye, I think that you will enjoy the style of Dominic Green. Very irreverent while having the ability to create thought provoking social commentary.Enjoyed it so much I bought Littlestar. Highly reccomended",5.0,Cheeky Fun,1392768000,"02 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A37PV5GMP2ILJC,0439576520,Amanda Richards,"[9, 10]","Another thoroughly enjoyable adventure of our teenage millionaire criminal mastermind, but this time the stakes are much higher, so high that for once, one Butler just isn't enough.Artemis has used his ill-gotten fairy gadgets to create an electronic device the same size as, and a gazillion times more complex than Rubik's Cube. There's just one drawback - and of course it's a BIGGIE - it provides an access route to the Lower Elements, endangering the fairy way of life.Having accidentally handed the cube on a platter to Jon Spiro, a ruthless American businessman, Artemis is faced with the challenge of his life, but he's helpless without the good folk of Haven City - plus reinforcements.This time, Artemis needs two strong women behind him to make him look good - the fairy of his dreams, Captain Holly Short (a Sandra Bullock/Kim Possible mix) and Juliet Butler (a Lucy Liu/Uma Thurman type). Teamed with the dwarf digging sensation, and Haven City's resident centaur genius, Artemis still has to use every last ounce of his cunning and intellect to formulate a retrieval plan, while surprises lurk around every corner.Can Jon Spiro break the Eternity Code before Artemis can retrieve the cube?Can Artemis survive this last encounter?Can the LEP mind wipe make Artemis forget his friends and adventures?Can Artemis give up his life of crime and become a part of a normal family unit?The first three answers will be revealed to you as you read this book.The last? Yeah right!!There's never a dull moment in this book, and it's Colfer at his funniest.Amanda Richards, October 12, 2004",5.0,"""Squeeze my little toe"" - The funniest of the bunch",1097539200,"10 12, 2004",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A1S4WQF00WKK0O,1439133042,Rodger Raubach,"[17, 18]","First off, I will state that I enjoyed this new addition to the Legacy of the Aldenata series immensely. The approach taken is altogether different in it's focus from the previous 10 novels (i'm excluding ""The Hero,"" as I see it as a sidebar effort), in the development of the characters central to the plot.Readers should recall at the end of the 4th installment, ""Dance With the Devil,"" the highly intelligent battlemaster of the P'ooslenar, Tulo'stenaloor, was confronted by the exceptionally brave and forthright Indowy, Aelool, and given an ""offer that you can't refuse."" The offer of an escape form the sure annhilation by the humans in the hills of the Appalachians given to the old Posleen war leader was too tempting to refuse. The present work takes up it's story line at that point.Indowy Aleool is a member of the Bane Sidhe, an ancient group of humans, Indowy, and other species opposed to the predations of the Darhel, the galactic corporate sharks (think: lawyers, bankers, and other rapacious callings). The Bane Sidhe makes an offer of escape from Earth via an Himmit stealth ship to the orbiting junkyard surrounding the planet Diess, and assisting the Posleen in stealing one of the interstellar-capable craft left there for salvage by the Darhel. Indowy Aelool manages to infect the guidance system of the stolen ship with a computer virus that is designed to take the remaining Posleen on an ""Iliad-like"" journy through the galaxy (Hence the title"" The Tuloriad"").Parallel to the Bane Sidhe arranged escape of the remaining Posleen, we are re-introduced to Father Dan Dwyer, S.J., Captain, USN, formerly Chaplain of the USS Des Moines a.k.a. ""Daisy Mae."" (""Yellow Eyes,"" Kratman)Dan and his now paramour, ""Sally"" the avatar of the USS Salem are now romantically involved and are planning marriage. A visit to Rome and an audience with the Father General of the Jesuits and subsequently an Papal audience leads to sending forth a Missionary expedition to the remaining Posleen. The Mission combines a wide variety of Early religeons in order to give the aliens an choice of Godly paths. The USS Salem is assigned the task, after conversion to a space cruiser, to carry forth the Mission.We are again introduced to ""Guano"" (Guanamarioch) as the ""Reverend Doctor Guanamarioch,"" after his ordination as a Baptist minister of God. Guano has become very human in his lifestyle, having taken a monogamous cosslain ""wife"" and having a single sentient male offspring, Frederico. Guano and his earthly family are invited to join the Mission to the Posleen, along with Father Dwyer and Sally. A Moslem cleric, Al Rashid, is included along with some animists from Africa, Shintoists, Buddhists, etc. to form a representative ""Mission,"" from the variious religions of Earth.A small contingent of the Vatican Swiss Guards is sent along by the Pope for Father Dan Dwyer' protection. We are introduced to many of these guards in due course of the subsequent tale.The remainder of the story unfolds as Tulo'stenaloor's group of refugees wander from planet to planet, following a Posleen trail of tears. Ultimately the virus takes the remnant back to the Posleen home world, where Tulo decides to take his followers in a new direction--one leaving behind the warlike heritage and attempting to find their own destiny aside from the machinations of the now-despised Aldenata.As expected, the humans make contact and the missionary work progresses.I'm going to leave the readers hanging in suspense here--don't really want to spoil the ending; let me conclude with a 2-thumbs-up recommendation, however. This IS a different tack for the Ringo/Kratman collaboration, and it does conclude the epic of the Posleen/Human wars very well. It's a pretty upbeat and satifying read! A five star effort.",5.0,"A Different Direction for ""Legacy of the Aldenata"" series!",1253836800,"09 25, 2009",17,18,helpful,0.9444444444444444,1 A1AUB1E5IASDJ4,B008LQKVWW,AM Bishop,"[7, 10]","Have you ever watched a movie and wondered what would happen if a certain hero of one movie crossed paths with a beauty from your favorite tv show? Would they work out or would they become a cautionary love tale?Well if you want to discover what would happen if a character like Alex Hitchens (fromHitch), before he got his `love advisor' business off the ground, came across a character like Olivia Price (fromScandal: The Complete First Season), before she let her workaholic tendencies lock her in a doomed relationship, then this novel is for you!Author Farrah Rochon presents Dexter Bryant, a man determined to get his unconventional business venture off the ground while vowing to never compromise his heart again, and Asia Carpenter, a workaholic PR crisis-management boss that lost her fiancé because of her career responsibilities. The story has a strong plot and riveting characters that will make you root for the Dexter and Asia to realize the magic occurring between them.Ms. Rochon reveals the depths of Asia's psyche and reluctance to put complete trust in men, while illustrating why Dexter's past business mistakes propel him to redeem himself. I enjoyed the dialogue, passion, and realism of the characters and the fact that the novel is set in New York and New Jersey area was a bonus. (As a Jersey girl, I can appreciate anyone that can have their character navigate the NJ Turnpike between Camden and Manhattan with ease.)Farrah Rochon shines a light on the essence of her characters and gets them to value love in its purest form...self-acceptance. Once Dexter and Asia face the inner demons that drive them in their professional lives, they're able to face the unresolved passion brewing between them. I highly recommend Ms. Rochon's novel 'The Rebound Man' for her superb writing style, her strong heroine, her smolderingly handsome hero, and her flair for endearing, secondary characters.Angeline M. BishopAuthor ofNorth Star",5.0,Worthy of Love after Life's Hard Knocks,1342483200,"07 17, 2012",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 A1CTB1BBVRVG0B,0374313822,Neil Roseman,"[6, 6]","This is a bedtime book for little kids that will be appreciated by adults too. The very simple story adresses a young cub's concerns about going to sleep with the lights out (whether the cub is the little tiger in the book, or your own little cub in their bed.)As mentioned in the other reviews, Kate Banks text is lovely -- simple and poetic; easy and fun to read. But, it is the illustrations that are really special to me, and how well they work with the story that really elevates this book to the level of classic. The illustrations are beautiful, simple and bold. Very little kids will be captivated -- and their expressive power will be felt by adults too.Whether you buy books for a small child or just collect picture books for their artwork this is a must have.",5.0,"Beautiful modern ""go to sleep"" tale.",1072137600,"12 23, 2003",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3K2T4SX8X2F9T,0310727618,Evangeline Han,"[21, 22]","The Merchant's Daughter is an adaption of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast that contains resemblances to Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. We have the ugly, deformed male character and the beautiful female protagonist. The circumstances to which Annabel goes to Lord Ranulf le Wyse is unmistakably similar to Belle's circumstances in Beauty and the Beast. Reading a novel that is similar to a fairytale, I couldn't help but compare both. By the end of The Merchant's Daughter (I completed it in less than 2.5 hours), I found myself liking the story even more than the Beauty and the Beast story.Firstly, there is the Christian element in the story. It's no secret that I enjoy reading good Christian YA fiction. There is plenty of Bible reading done in the story, and secular readers wouldn't be able to give it a miss since the Bible reading sessions play an important role in the plot development. A glimpse to the treatment of clergy during the Middle Ages is given an important place in the book. I read quite a few literature books involving the Middle Ages era, and the depiction given of clergy in The Merchant's Daughter is accurate.Then, there is plenty of ""control"" in the romance part of the story. When Annabel and Lord Ranulf finally cemented their relationship, it was in perfect timing. I liked the way the romance was not rushed. It was slowly revealed bit by bit and that made the story even more enjoyable. The surprises when it comes to romance in this story is endless.Lastly, Lord Ranulf doesn't magically change to Mr. Perfect Looks. I don't want to give away too much of the story here, but suffice to say that once a person looks revolting, he is very likely to look the same unless the fairy godmother waves her wand over him. Although The Merchant's Daughter is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, it is the real version of the fairytale.Annabel is the vulnerable heroine in the story. Bailiff Tom put out all the stops to make Annabel become his wife. At such, Annabel needs a protector. Logic would say that Lord Ranulf becomes Annabel's protector when the incident waiting to happened happens. True and not true. This causes the story to be even more interesting. Beneath Lord Ranulf's harshness, he is actually quite a nice person. Just because he's deformed, it doesn't mean that he has no feelings and a conscience. Bailiff Tom is a character every reader can easily dislike. There is nothing good about him. Right from the first mention of him, a reader can easily gauge that he is a shady character. No surprises there.If anything, The Merchant's Daughter is one of the best medieval romance books I've read so far. Combined with a thrilling action and romance that complements the sometimes subtle historic setting and lifestyle lessons, it is light enough for anyone looking for a clean, leisure romance story. Additionally, the Christian message is brought across strongly, but not aggressively.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the NetGalley of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: ""Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.""",4.0,Superb medieval romance,1323648000,"12 12, 2011",21,22,helpful,0.9545454545454546,1 AMWXWAPMGLYJ4,1477808736,"S. Richardson ""book fiend""","[0, 0]","I started the book with some high hopes, as the last book I received for free via this system for Prime members was quite good. I don't enjoy the writing in this book though.I kept trying to read it, but it didn't grab me. Some of the action was interesting...the guy who dies in the accident and what he says, what Jess's dad says to him...all compelling and should be cliff hangers...but I don't want to go where this book is leading...vampires.If the writing were a bit better, possibly I would read it. However, like comparing Twilight to Charlaine Harris' series, or Bram Stoker...the writing here seems only slightly better than Twilight.",3.0,not thrilling,1391299200,"02 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2JGMJ4MMTOA2F,1593156286,"Patricia Altner ""PVN""","[4, 4]","The complete story takes place over four days with only two characters.Nicole Whitcomb is racing against a snow storm on her way to the Denver airport. The storm comes quickly. While driving through treacherous mountain roads Nicole skids into a ravine. Desperately hurt she loses consciousness. Fortunately there is a witness, albeit an unwilling one.Michael Tyler lives in splendid isolation at his beautiful home in the Rockies. While plowing snow on his private road he watches as Nicole's car spins out of control. With the brutal storm no 911 help will be available for several days. Reluctantly he checks things out only to discover that the attractive female driver is still alive. Michael has had no face to face contact with anyone for an extraordinarily long time and wants to keep it that way. Now, however, he has no choice. This beautiful lady will be his guest until the snowplows make it to this area.I loved this story. This charming, beautiful romance convinced me that love will always find a way. Both Nicole and Michael are very accomplished, especially Michael whose vampiric life has given him many centuries to develop his various artistic talents. Both individuals are wounded souls and each can understand the other's pain in a way someone else might not.What struck me was the spiritual - and I don't mean religious - aspect of the story. Michael shows through his character and actions the power of redemption. How that comes about is told to Nicole one night when his affection for her, which is deeply reciprocated, becomes almost overwhelming.Nicole has her own demons to deal with. Michael gently prods her to unburden herself, which she does. These two remarkable people help each other to heal and feel hope.Understand that this theme of healing and redemption while strong does not make for a sappy, sentimental story. Two vibrant, believable characters who have suffered severely find refuge from a storm literally and figuratively.For those who want a bit of zest the author includes a couple a deliciously steamy love scenes.James is the gifted author who also wrote Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker",5.0,Love In the Snow,1296000000,"01 26, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A10K3UW1E99ERA,B00EUBGT7I,Linda B,"[0, 0]","Good, but not great... Good young adult read. Characters and story are well developed. Characters are all lovable and there is a happy ending.",4.0,Y A Love Story,1400284800,"05 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1A1MEASBX3J5G,0793526779,Slo-Hand,"[7, 8]","Al gives you 10 different forms of the most important chords used in jazz and arranges them logically by sound compatability. If you learn even 5 of these forms you will be better off than most guitar players. One very wise reviewer once said,'In music it's all about the chords' !' There's a whole lot of truth in that because from the chords you can derive arpeggios, figure out modes and even derive tonal centers. Al says you should learn 4 things in equal amounts. They would be 'Chords, arpeggios, music reading and scales. He includes a few of his own compositions for you to learn eventually and recommends 'Classical Studies for Pick Style Guitar'. There is no tab and no CD. Those items may have doubled the price of the book. Al does not advocate guitar tab. I highly recommend this book !",5.0,Excellent Value,1155254400,"08 11, 2006",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A3U6KAYPA15SAT,0060890681,Susan Torchia,"[0, 0]",Story with fun and interesting characters that make you smile sometimes and break your heart other times. Every family has its secrets and this one is no different.Very enjoyable and easy to read.,5.0,Fun and intriguing,1391040000,"01 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AVRTJ8DM02V7J,0385507607,"camcneil ""camchapters""","[4, 4]","Alice Hoffman does it again. The Probable Future gently pulls us into the life of a small New England town through generations of the Sparrow women. Though the setting is contemporary with three generations of living Sparrows, we look back often enough to understand how their present day struggles relate to the Past. It reminds us to ponder our own heritage, how we got to be who we are and where we are. Of course, there is something magical about each woman and that is fun. You'll have to read the book to discover why it is of special interest to March babies. A nice, curl-up-under-the-covers read.",4.0,Attention: March Babies !,1063411200,"09 13, 2003",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AHTRJ7DESVW2B,1419698184,Shawna,"[7, 8]","I think that The Siren's Dance is a piece of non-fiction that provides a great balance between narrative and informative aspects. Not only does it captivate its readers through the painful experiences of the characters, but it also educates. I knew very little about Borderline Personality Disorder prior to reading this novel. However, after reading the passionate and yet violent story and the actual symptoms, treatment, etc. from the DSM IV that are provided at the end of the book, I feel like I have a pretty good grasp. I read this book in a day- it involves the reader in such a way that it is impossible to put it down. I don't see this book as a warning to not involve oneself in a relationship with an individual suffering from mental illness. It simply conveys the complexity and possible difficulties that come with a relationship of that nature and allows the author to offer how he dealt with it...and to explain how it ultimately overpowered him.",4.0,Captivating and Informative...,1110412800,"03 10, 2005",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A2PTX5ZMWW6Z8,B005OKAZ8I,sally tate,"[8, 13]","An excellent start to a great trilogy... couldn't put it down, and then had to get the next immediately. I buy and read alot of books, but rarely feel strongly enough to write reviews for one, much less all three of a series of books. Yeah, it's that good.",5.0,Great Trilogy,1318291200,"10 11, 2011",8,13,helpful,0.6153846153846154,1 A1NATT3PN24QWY,0814472109,"Rolf Dobelli ""getAbstract""","[41, 52]","Men's movement guru Warren Farrell says don't blame discrimination for the gap between men's and women's salaries. As he teaches women (and men, we suppose) tactics for bagging bigger bucks, he says that men earn more because women have a tendency - or perhaps a biological instinct - to prioritize family over career. Thus, Farrell maintains, women work shorter hours, take more parental leave, and are less productive, less well trained and less committed. If you are a male who has prioritized hearth and home, perhaps you have made some of the same choices that Farrell says cost women higher salaries. The book is full of footnotes, charts, graphs and sidebars, as Farrell cites U.S. Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics data (as well as, occasionally, himself). However, his analysis of the numbers usually hinges more on single studies or interviews, personal experiences, newspaper articles and conversations than on historic, social or economic trends that offer deeper explanations. Farrell outlines some real factors - danger, discomfort, late hours and heavy lifting - which increase the pay for certain jobs. He tells women that they can earn more by entering nontraditional fields. We recommend this book primarily for readers at the start of their careers or in the midst of transitions where lifestyle and financial considerations compete. Though the information about salary-based job searching is practical, if you see the world through egalitarian or feminist lenses, you may find yourself getting a little testy.",5.0,Highly Recommended!,1113264000,"04 12, 2005",41,52,helpful,0.7884615384615384,1 A9VNUPMICVUKZ,0873419995,"Becky G ""beckyg184""","[33, 35]","I am new to the world of machine embroidery, altho' I've been sewing for 35 yrs. I was hesitant to begin, knowing there were lots of variables that needed to come together to make successful designs, and I didn't want to ruin anything. This is a great book if you are just starting out, and probably a great reference even if you are not. All the information you could want regarding types of materials, tools, and techniques is here. I was even having trouble when I was practicing a design I had downloaded, and this book helped me figure out what I needed to do to make it work.",5.0,"Great for beginners...perhaps for more experienced, too",1112572800,"04 4, 2005",33,35,helpful,0.9428571428571428,1 A2MF2QVSCUI27G,0743270185,"Luan Gaines ""luansos""","[0, 2]","This book is a compilation of anecdotal essays by Tanya Tucker and ninety-nine of her friends, each sharing a moment, a memory, of that one day when the blues needed to be chased away . For Roseanne, it was a moment of rage, when she took a baseball bat to her ex-husband's prized motorcycle, only to realize it was her own. What could she do but laugh? Ian Duncan wonders if his submission will be the only one bemoaning lost love, his ""Broken Heart Blues"". George Stevens, Jr., calls it ""when I feel a little bit down"" and suggests literally changing the subject: a walk, nine holes at the golf course, calling a loved one to say hello. Instead of running, Garth Brooks went home to face his past and find his place on the smaller stage of daily life.Page by page, the famous and the not-so-famous share their thoughts: Willie Nelson's ""An Alternative to the Blues""; Wesley McNair's ""The Back Seat Blues""; ""Around the Farm Blues"" by George Jones; ""The Cinematic Blues"" of Dan Lauria; Tom Rymour's ""The Jurassic Blues""; and ""Weird Al"" Yankovic's ""The Warm Weather Blues"". These short essays won't solve the problems of the world, but they do offer a variety of alternatives for dealing with the downside of life, whether changing the scene or the thought, a testament to the universal experience we all know so well. Entertainment folks have their own stories to tell, the emotional roller coaster of fame and fortune, their stories in the end as familiar as our own. Luan Gaines/ 2006.",3.0,"(3.5) The Blues, everybody gets 'em sometimes...",1141689600,"03 7, 2006",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A23MUTIFNDR8U3,0801025141,satisfied in IN,"[0, 0]",You can never have enough object lessons. Kids learn by doing and seeing how the Bible relates to them. These object lessons spark conversation in the home and classroom. The book arrived quickly and was in excellent condition.,5.0,"Older book, But Great Content",1388275200,"12 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AY1CFL50DKNT6,0385319207,"Chyrl K. Hillis ""Curious Reader""","[0, 2]",A real page-turner!Quindlen gives her readers a chapter by chapter reason to keep reading. She brings homethe family conflict and personal challenges of caring for an ailing parent. Role reversalsare common in this day and age - whether we like to admit it or not.Well written and impossible to put it down!KK,5.0,KK,1286150400,"10 4, 2010",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 AV6P4ECX34EMX,1593274769,Ward Hoelscher,"[0, 0]","This book is quite simply one of the finest books for anyone wanting to learn how to get into the basics (and a little bit of the mid-level stuff) of OpenBSD. Each of the BSDs, while coming from the same lineage, have for many years diverged - sometimes dramatically (FreeBSD's recent switch to a new package managing and ports system comes to mind). It's important to have close at hand a recent book with a solid overview of any high-to-mid-level OS functionality, suitable for quick reference, not so much for the "tl;dnr" crowd, but for those who have attempted to RTFM and found a slightly less abstruse approach to information would be helpful from time to time.Granted, my experience with the BSDs came after about a year of light distro-hopping and settling on Slackware (with a simultaneous soft spot and wary eye on Mint- still can't trust something derived from Ubuntu), so I was already somewhat biased against man pages. Linux, as most users will tell you, has some fairly sloppy and vague documentation in the man pages. Going to the BSDs was a breath of fresh air (Examples? Known Bugs? Yes!) Even so, sometimes one needs that extra human touch. Michael Lucas' "Absolute OpenBSD" is precisely that.Without this book, it would have taken me considerably longer to figure out how to set up a comfortable single-user environment for a hand-me-down laptop (HP G42 DX515.... don't ask), and certain questions about daemon control, among other things, just would not have occurred to me. This book is an excellent choice for those who are considering one of the BSDs but are not sure which one to use. Those who believe in OpenBSD's reputation as primarily a firewall or server OS would also be well-served by reading this book, which explains the basics of customizing the environment - X11, the shell, and the terrifying hinterland that is /etc.I strongly recommend this book to anyone considering not only OpenBSD as an OS, but also for those who are looking into the other BSDs as an OS. There are, as I mentioned earlier, substantial differences between the BSDs, but they are reasonably close to each other, and this book allows you to learn more about the BSDs without getting lost in the man pages.",5.0,One of the best OS books available,1401753600,"06 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26CJ23VD8D4VY,B00273BHC8,"A. Colson ""romance_queen""","[8, 9]",You can read the excerpt to get the story..but this was a real written book. A sweetlove story with plenty of heat!! A cowboy and a hero all in one!! You will not be disappointed!,5.0,Good read..with love and sex who can go wrong?!,1299196800,"03 4, 2011",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A29I38KDR45ZLY,0515131679,"Goddess of Blah Book Reviews ""Goddess of Blah""","[29, 37]","This story was fraught with plot holes, unrealistic police action/scenes, inconsistency, one-dimensional characters and childish prose.The writing was my main point of contention - it really bugged me.Most of the time I was thinking ""just get to the point"" - the ""twist"" was really predictable. In fact most most of the story was predictable but the author just dragged out the action by including really inappropriate scenes (like an I LOVE YOU moment - sod your I LOVE YOU's!!!).======================The WritingThe writing style was hilarious. The author endeavours to create a dark and dramatic setting by doing the whole short sentences to emphasis things which aren't even note worthy. Or she just writes funny because I was cracking up. Examples:He pierced her eyes with his. He just said, ""Black."" And for some reason the word sent a chill right up her spine.Yep I'm puzzling over the ""some reason"" too. All he did was respond to her question on how he likes his coffee. And it's ""piercing"" gazes and whatnot. I wonder what would occur if she asked him how he likes his chili!'There was something dark living inside that man. It peeked out at her just now. Holly recognised it at once, because she had seen it many times.In the mirror.'I guess all that black coffee darkened his insides - poor dear. If he took sugar with it - I wonder what else would be peeking out at her - gosh the mind boggles.Just say he had a dark and mysterious (cue: evil music) aura and be done with it.'Her impressions were three. Big. Dark. And moody.'I cracked up reading this. I just couldn't take anything seriously.'""What is what?""""The reason you've been watching Amanda all night.""He looked at her sharply. ""Just curious, I guess.""""Why?""""Why do you want to know?"" he asked.""Just curious, I guess.""She was good at sparring, witty and quick.'If that's his idea of 'good at sparring' and 'witty and quick' then clearly Syracuse is far more remote than I'd suspected.Anyway there are some epic fails to be typed up on here but I don't have the time or inclination. Nuff said.========================The CharactersIf you were looking for the cliche Detective and his love interest than look no further.Detective Vince O'Malley is described as ""Hard-edged"" - I think the blurb was referring to his head because this dude is not the brightest bulb. He's such a cliche with his Irish name, dark, brooding looks and tough-man ""I'm haunted by ghosts"" broken man persona.Holly Newman, heroine extraordinaire is really irritating. Her defensive attacks, irrational thinking and just blatant stupidity is beyond anything that's bearable. Short, skinny and ginger - she reminds me of those skinny overbearing secretaries in Detective films.==================The Crime/ SuspenseIf you don't mind plot holes, clues that are so blatant and incorrect police and forensic information than you'll be ok with this. Some of the clues are so obvious and childish it became ridiculous.Additionally, the whole Police Cop vs FBI thing was reckless, stupid and illogical too. The Protagonist, Vince, actually kept a crucial piece of evidence. I cant believe how stupid this is.There are loads of plot holes, inconsistent evidence taking (certain things happen too quickly and certain other things are SLOW) which makes no sense.",1.0,"childish with glaring plot holes, awful writing and characters",1378944000,"09 12, 2013",29,37,helpful,0.7837837837837838,1 A36MQW22BD8LJU,1577686888,"Amazon Customer ""paxbear""","[19, 21]","Mercer Meyer is best known for his series of ""Lil' Critter"" books (""I Just Forgot"", ""Grandpa and Me"", etc). In ""One Monster After Another"" he's created a whole passle of strange-yet-lovable creatures with fantastic names like the Stamp Collecting Trollusk, the Letter Eating Bombanant and-my favorite-the Wild N' Wooly Typhoonagator.At the beginning of the story, Sally Ann writes a letter to her friend Lucy Jane. However, before the mailman can pick up the letter, a top hat-wearing Stamp Collecting Trollusk steals the letter from the mailbox (Sally Ann's mother is seen gasping in fear as she looks through the window in her housedress and hair curlers). BUT, before the Trollusk can collect the stamp-he carries a huge mail bag at his side that's overflowing with collected stamps-a flying creature called the Letter Eating Bombanant flies out of Nowhere (a street sign points ""TO NOWHERE"" and, opposite, ""TO TOWN"") and snaps up the letter.Of course, the story hardly stops here. Another monster, the Bombanant Munching Grimley, snaps up the Bombanant, intending to eat him. BUT before it can do that, another series of misshaps takes the monsters (and the letter!) on another series of adventures. Does the letter finally get to Lucy Jane?? Heh, heh, heh... Read the book to find out!!""One Monster..."" is a kids' classic, and it is such a shame that the book is no longer in print, especially considering that the other books by Meyer are always on school and bookstore shelves. The book is oversize and the illustrations very finely detailed so the reader can all but walk into the book itself (indeed, in my imagination as a child, I did that very thing, always following my favorite creature of the moment on their adventures). The illustration is immediately identifiable as Meyer's work: it has that characteristic heavy outline and crosshatch that is the hallmark of his illustrating style, although these creatures are like no others in the body of Meyer's work.Buyers who are searching for the book may wish to periodically check in with Amazon.com's auctions or zShops, as I've seen the book for sale there a few times (though I can't imagine why anyone would wish to part with it!). If you find it, KEEP IT. Turn it into a family heirloom and read it often, it's one of Meyer's finest works. In the meantime, petition the publishers! Write your congressperson!! Get this staple of childhood back into print!!",5.0,classic Meyer worth tracking down!,986342400,"04 4, 2001",19,21,helpful,0.9047619047619048,1 A2156IT3ELT9QB,B00505DKNE,Dolores A. Bibb,"[7, 8]","In Diary of a Vampeen, Christin Lovell introduces us to another ""Vampire"" species. This particular species is part human...part vampire.Lexi meets Kellan and they fall in love...actually they are ""soul mates"". Really a sixteen year old with a ""soul mate"". Anyway, this seems to be a romance with vampire tendencies. We even have a vampire fight thrown in for good measure. Yes, a vampire called Kiera tries to kill Lexi after her transformation, but alas, Lexi wins that battle.Most of the antics and attitudes in this book really make you think ""high school"" and that is good since this is a young adult novel. However, there were quite a few grammatical errors that kept distracting me from the story, even though I tried very hard to ignore them.While I wasn't totally happy with this novel, I did continue reading until it was finished. How else could I write a true review? I don't mean to totally trash this book. What I always say is read it yourself and see what you think.",2.0,Make up your own mind,1318982400,"10 19, 2011",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A2PCFKHNZ7Z82F,B00JI6MP4Q,Gary Harvey,"[0, 0]",Time travel is very good story with good characters. Far too many blank pages stop flow of story. Too much sex and sex details take away from the story. NEEDS UPDATING TO FILL IN BLANK PAGES.,4.0,"time travel and Morna is very good story, but lots of blank pages too much sex",1402876800,"06 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A60CH9GMIWU7R,0062102567,fire56,"[0, 0]",I love survivors. I read all of the warrior books and loved them. While I was waiting for the next warrior book dawn of the clans thunder rising I found about seekers and read survivors 1 empty city and loved it!!! I am going to get the 2nd book of survivors(it's already out!) and Im waiting for the third one. Please hurry up with warriors and survivors Erin Hunter! I recomend this book to dog lovers. I also recomend you read warriors unless you're a cat hater. I felt that survivors is showing you how dogs survive/live and what they do and how they feel about humans(longpaws) and warriors is showing you what cats do and how they survive/live and how they feel about humans(twolegs)! Hooray for Survivors and warriors!,5.0,survivors is awesome!,1373760000,"07 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DIE9SB0FSQDS,0618509283,Robert Silverstein,"[12, 13]","I have just finished reading Philip Roth's latest novel and came away from it with a different perspective than, perhaps, other reviewers have shared. The story is about what would have happened if FDR had lost his run for a third presidential term to Charles Lindberg, an American hero as well as an isolationist and Nazi-sympathizer. The impact of this on the American Jewish community is told through the eyes of a young boy living in the Weequahic section of Newark, New Jersey. The Jewish community is frightened by some of the actions and inactions taken by the new Lindberg administration. Rather than opposing Hitler's actions in Europe, the US agrees not to interfere. In the US, a government program sends Jewish children to spend a summer with non-Jewish families in other parts of the country; government pressure forces companies to transfer Jewish employees to other cities in order to disperse the Jewish population. Some Jewish families decide to move to Canada to avoid real and perceived US government actions while others elect to remain in their homes living in fear of what the government might do to them.Rather than being a story about what happened in a fictionalized altered history of America, it may well be the story of the turmoil faced by Jews living in Europe in the late 1930s and early 1940s as Hitler rose to power. Many Jews fled their established homes, communities, and businesses in order to seek refuge in the United States and elsewhere out of fear of what Hitler would do to them. Others chose not to leave thinking that things for them would get bad but not intolerable. This caused great conflict within families as the decisions to stay or leave were argued. History has shown us that those who fled were correct in their assessments while those who stayed behind paid for their decisions with their lives. The personal and family conflicts that must have occurred in every Jewish household in Europe over what each family should do are also described by Roth in this novel.To understand modern European history and the Jewish experience, one must understand the impact that the Holocaust had on the Jewish culture. Moving the issues to a fictional family facing fear and oppression in the US is a highly effective way of telling the real story of the conflicts faced by those European Jews. Some hoped for the best and received the worst believing that the worst could never happen. The book causes the reader to ask him or herself a primary question: what would you have done if you had lived in Europe at the time of Hitler's rise to power?",4.0,A New Perspective on an Old Story,1121040000,"07 11, 2005",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A2JGRRJIOZ8TDV,0143059165,Cathi Rosengren,"[4, 4]","I love Frederick Forsyth books. The man has never written a bad book...until now. The book is interesting in the history of the region, of the Taliban, of Al Quaeda....what he forgot was characters. Characters that you care about, or at the very least can remember their names. What an incredible disappointment, I felt like I was wandering through a history tome, I recognized the genre, I have a degree in history.Read at your own risk--of boredom.",3.0,The Afghan--pure torture,1160352000,"10 9, 2006",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A4F0LRFEKR19B,1607377446,Donna Aldredge,"[0, 0]",Once again Ms Sinclair hits it out of the park! I plan on reading this series over and over. Wonderful book about bdsm lifestyle and testing your limits.,5.0,Another hit,1362873600,"03 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3OFI5NSLW2CTB,1941098126,EkM,"[0, 0]",This is clearly not a book for the weak heart!! The "hot" level is off the charts along with a great story! Great read but one you won't be able to put down! Would love to read more about Kyrie and Roth!!! PLEASE give us more!,5.0,"Roth could ""OWN"" me!!!",1399161600,"05 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A25KWUNS12HJ1Q,0985777338,Karen,"[0, 0]",this was a good book. it was cute and a story that i have never heard of before - meaning it wasn't a typical love story.,4.0,good read,1368662400,"05 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A345Z40DHXK6BN,0316405345,Chris Fiorentino,"[0, 0]","I'm not a Patterson reader, but I saw this and the story sounded intriguing so I gave it a shot. It has a great pace and I do enjoy the "two-storyteller" types of books. However, this one was just OK. First, the protagonist is a real bitch. She really has no redeeming values and she constantly does things that make you hate her. I found myself liking the antagonist even though he was responsible for some pretty hideous things. At least with the antagonist, you know what you got...the villian. With "Emmy" you got a twisted, stubborn, big-headed...well, bitch. I predicted the ending about 3/4 of the way through the book, so it isn't THAT surprising.Overall, the book was OK, and I did finish it in a day, but that was more because I had nothing better to do than the quality of the book. 3 stars...average at best.",3.0,I liked it but it definitely has its flaws,1404172800,"07 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3EYEZ5NH2HFFY,0671871005,Abbys,"[4, 5]","Since Julie Garwood is one of my favorite historical romance author, I've read and enjoyed all of her works in that genre. However, I am sad to admit that I didn't particularly enjoy this one. I didn't even want to write a review here for fear of ruining her overall rating. Inasmuch as I admire Julie Garwood, I also must be honest. In my opinion, THE WEDDING fell short in compare to her other works. The usual Garwood magic that draw readers to the story wasn't in this book at all. The primary characters was not as impressive but then they are not disappointing either. They are just alright. The plot also didn't seem to pull me in. However, it is not dragging nor boring either. The first part was funny and somewhat interesting but the latter part became a "so-so" read. Perhaps it is only me and my expectations of Ms. Garwood's work. Perhaps it is because I've read all of her books which made Connor and Brenna's story simple and somewhat familiar to me? I don't know. I only know that this book was just an ordinary read. It was not as "drawing", "pulling" nor impressive as I expected it to be. The add-on consolation of this book are the secondary characters especially the appearance of Alec and Jamie. They are the main characters of THE BRIDE, which is the prequel of this book. I enjoyed Alec and Jamie's story way better than this one. Perhaps I am even being generous by rating this book a 3 stars but as a Julie Garwood fan, I couldn't bring myself to give her a lower rating than this. Afterall, I thought THE WEDDING was overall a "so-so" read. It wasn't worst nor bad at all.... Only, it's also not Julie Garwood's best work...far from it. Now, that's only my own opinion. If you are a first time Julie Garwood reader, pick up any of her books but don't start with this one. She is truly a gifted and an amazing author. This one just happens to be a short flaw. I guess, everyone is entitled to that.",3.0,A "So-so" Read...,997228800,"08 8, 2001",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A12A08OL0TZY0W,0316563560,Luc REYNAERT,"[21, 27]","This book was a sensation in China, because it depicts for the first time the youth drug scene in that country.The main character of the book left her family at a very young age and lives a kind of hippy life in different cities in China. She jumps from lover to music to drugs in an unending circle, looking for some happiness.This novel is a kind of diary but, unfortunately, it has no plot. As a matter of fact, the author added a number of scenes to the book after the first edition. It should be easy to add another hundred pages.Into the bargain, it is a magnified example of what an author should not do: dozens of pages of expressions of her emotions. But that is not the aim of art (writing). A writer should arouse the interest and the emotions of the reader, not express his own. After a few chapters this novel becomes boring. One litany of lamentations is enough.One can feel sorry for her, but one does the same when one sees real junkies in the street.By the way, this subject had already been better covered in the West (W.S. Burroughs).Two stars for the courage to write about this subject in China.",2.0,'Scènes de la Vie de Bohème' in China.,1057276800,"07 4, 2003",21,27,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A1WX0BPLMGR3S9,B00961NCMW,Amazon Customer,"[6, 6]","At a writers conference, one of the questions asked most often of the presenting authors is ""Do you plot, or are you a pantser?"" This book is a primer on plotting and/or pantsing, and full of useful and practical information. The excerpts following each contributor's chapter is a lovely way to introduce their characters and stories to new readers and potential fans. This book will be on my reference shelf, and the bookmarked sections will be useful in the future.",5.0,Plotting Primer,1348358400,"09 23, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2AARS5HHLWUZW,0425246035,bonnie,"[0, 1]","You have to love a man who finds a woman who changes her hair color as often as he changes socks interesting, and amazing, and totally cool. She just doesn't fit into any of his columns but he keeps coming back for more. Families and love and goals and respect allroll into a good time to be had by all.",5.0,spreadsheet meets whirlwind!,1352851200,"11 14, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2CKCSBZJ19VYI,0140433430,popcorn,"[20, 26]","eckhart reads like a combination of an open-minded seeker-pope and a buddhist or taoist master. this book was a wild introduction for me to a very interesting thinker, unfortunately one mostly hidden among the jutting rocks of religious history.",5.0,wow,1143072000,"03 23, 2006",20,26,helpful,0.7692307692307693,1 ABOTQXNUBA1MM,383651981X,Mark F. Braun,"[6, 6]","Weighing in at 15 lbs., Paul Levitz takes the reader on the ultimate ultimate tour of the true history of American comics. 75 Years Of DC Comics: The Art Of Modern Mythmaking is oversized; a mammoth tome that is untoppable. Lugging the thing out the door, I felt like Moses carrying the 10 commandments, and Levitz's 700 plus paged history is no less spectacular.Taschen put everything into ""75 Years"" and scrimped on nothing. The design is over-the-top and the images are so great they are sacred. Covers are reproduced and to their credit, in less-than-pristine condition, making me wonder if any of MY old DCS wandered into this monolithic work. Fantastically, there are original pages shown in their present state, covered with side notes, eroding veloxed logos and pasted-in changes laced with browning rubber cement. These pieces of iconic artistry are reproduced so well that one can see the white-out, the blue lines, and the faint pencils that underlay world-famous inks, and here even the inks are granted the chance to look more artistically delicate than dynamic in that the beauty of brush-strokes are shot to reflect their grey-scale lyricism.I won't kid myself into thinking that I'll ever really read this entire juggernaut, although Paul's writing is outstanding and written from both an insider and a fan. Sections are gathered in the lingo of the comic fan from pre-golden Age through the Bronze and following ages of comics. Image, Charleton and other publishers now gone or absorbed are here, too, and rightfully so: There would be no WATCHMEN without Ditko's QUESTION or the original Captain Marvel family. Speaking of Marvel, one will chuckle at the outright theft of the first Justice League's cover by Marvel's Fantastic Four #1 cover, delivered a few months after DC's work first appeared. ""75 Years"" takes us up to 2011's daring new class of artists and writers, from the gritty Azzerello mastery of grit (100 Bullets) to the new masters (Alex Ross, Bruce Timm and beyond). The tous are here as are the film strips, the ads, and the way it all permeated our lives for nearly 8 decades. Paul Levitz, you deserve every award, ever; this is a magnum opus worth far more than Amazon's reduced price from the original $200.I grew up on the BRAVE AND THE BOLD, SHOWCASE and every title is here, including a few I've forgotten and some that still live in boxes and plastic bags in the basement. I've watched as unscrupulous dealers lambast old dog-eared books that have been shown the greatest love of all: having been read and reread. Taschen's pages here are imperfect, happily read pieces that have the heart and soul of modern mythology racing through its veins. Here is, perhaps, the finest comic book homage ever produced, or likely to ever be produced. For the next 700 pages, you, as I did, will return once again to the thrilling, joyous times of pulpy adventure and silly stuff that comprise the dreams of a few generations all of whom dared to dream of flying, truth, justice and the God-bless-us-all American way. I suspect that, 100 years from now, this will be the best guide to what Americans, and many of our world neighbors, truly dreamt was possible.",5.0,A dizzying DC history,1293667200,"12 30, 2010",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3FA3BPKD4BZTE,0879306645,Ricardo Mio,"[0, 0]","If you grew up in the second half of the 20th century, Top 40 Radio was important to you. It was your friend--intimate, human, entertaining--and a means of connecting with youth culture across the country. And, according to Ben Fong-Torres, the author of “The Hits Just Keep On Coming” it did as much or more to foster racial integration than any legislative act of Congress.Fong-Torres couples exhaustive research with a gift for story-telling. As he tells it, in the 1950s radio was in dire need of an overhaul. All the major radio networks--NBC, CBS and the like--were selling off their stations left and right and moving into the Next Big Thing--television. And all the advertising money and major talent was following their lead. Radio was being relegated to the minor leagues of local broadcasting. In other words, radio was dead.Or was it? While television was sinking its hooks into American culture, something was happening in local radio around the country. In Cleveland, DJ Alan Freed was discovering a generation of white kids who couldn’t get enough “race music” (a.k.a. rhythm and blues). In Los Angeles, Hunter Hancock was making the same discovery.Meanwhile, in Omaha, Nebraska, the program director at KOWH named Todd Storz had noticed that people in the local diner kept were punching up the same songs on the juke box, over and over again. Even after the dinner crowd cleared out, the waitress punched up the same songs again. When he asked her why, she replied simply: “I like ‘em.” That gave Storz an idea. With the waitress’s help, he wrote down the titles of all the records they’d been hearing. Since the less popular records, although available in the box, had received not a single nickel, the list was short.Storz returned to his station, instructed his DJs to dispense with playing country, jazz, and classical, and to play only the songs on his list with special emphasis on repeated playing of the ones at the top of the list. That way, anyone tuning in to KOWH at any time was liable to hear their favorite pop tunes. KOWH, which had been last in the ratings, rose to Omaha’s number one radio station.At about the same time, a program director named Gordon McLendon in Dallas, Texas was making the same discovery. He expanded the station’s playlist to 40 tunes, added special promotions and jingles which he coupled with less talk and more music, and called the format “Top 40 Radio.” Ratings soared, advertising dollars poured in, and before long both Storz and McLendon bought more radio stations and expanded their concept into other cities. Other stations jumped on board, and within a few short years Top 40 Radio was a coast to coast phenomenon. With less air time to speak, disc jockeys were forced to talk faster and before long supercharged radio personalities like New York’s Murray the K were ruling the airways.What Top 40 Radio did was make the industry democratic. Before, disc jockeys brought their own records to the station and played their favorites, whether it was jazz, or country or big bands like Glen Miller, Duke Ellington and the Dorsey Brothers. That changed with Top 40 Radio. Disc jockeys now played what was selling in record stores. Program directors collected the data, drew up weekly playlists, and DJ’s played songs from the playlist. Period.In the beginning, Top 40 Radio had little to do with teens. It was simply disc jockeys following a tight playlist. Then, in 1956, Elvis Presley performed on television for the first time. His label, RCA Records, did the unprecedented by releasing five Presley singles all at once, which climbed to the top the charts and crowded out the likes of Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford, Perry Como, and Doris Day. At the same time, the “race music” played by Alan Freed (now in New York City) and Hunter Hancock in Los Angeles (and in cities like Memphis and New Orleans) was finding a national audience among teens and began cracking the Top 40 playlist. Advertisers got the message and began redirecting their pitch to the growing teenage market.Suddenly, radio was Big again. By 1960, the number-one stations in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles were all Top 40 and local DJs were the new stars of the airway. One of them was Dick Clark, who also hosted a national television show from his home base in Philadelphia.In Los Angeles, meanwhile, Top 40 Radio was undergoing yet another overhaul by a failed DJ-turned program director named Bill Drake. If Top 40 Radio seemed frantic at times, Drake made it more so. In order to play more music, he shortened the playing time of records to around two-minutes and aired fewer advertising spots. When Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys arrived at KHJ “Boss Angeles” one afternoon with his newest single--”Good Vibrations”--the DJ working at the time said he couldn’t play it because it was too long. In order to get permission, the DJ called the program director who in turn called Bill Drake (who was out on the golf course somewhere). Finally, back down the chain of command, Drake gave his blessing and the DJ was allowed to debut the Beach Boys’ next big single, despite being over three minutes long.Like some pied piper, Drake spread “Boss Radio” from station to station, from Los Angeles to San Francisco, to Detroit, Boston, Memphis, and finally to New York City. In every city “Boss Radio” took over the airwaves--except in New York, where WABC and WMCA had the Top 40 market locked up. Why did it fail in New York? WABC’s “Cousin Brucie” Morrow offered this explanation. “To me, what’s wrong with consultants (like Chuck Blore) is that they’re strangers, they’re out-of-towners. They may know their area . . . but I don’t think they understand New York. Every market has its individual spirit and feeling.”With FM radio on the rise, by 1968 Bill Drake had more than New York to worry about. FM was “the Next Big Thing” and mirrored what was happening in the market place. Kids were no longer buying singles but albums, and FM radio was playing them. The industry was changing. FM DJ’s weren’t frantic ravers but objective voices of reason who played entire album without commercial interruption. With its wider frequencies, FM sounded better and could be heard in stereo. AM had no response, and innovators like Bill Drake knew it. They switched Top 40 from AM to FM but never with the success they had once enjoyed. Radio was still Big, but from 1970 onward, it was no longer ruled by the Top 40 format.Now, some forty years later, Top 40 Radio continues, but like everything else in radio it has become a niche industry, catering to a small but dedicated group of listeners.Fong-Torres concludes: “Top 40 Radio can last forever--especially if people realize, as the format’s forefathers did, that teenagers and young adults want only a few things in life: a sense of belonging, a sense of identity, and, socially, a sense of what’s happening . . . and no matter the onslaught of changing technology and the resultant myriad entertainment choices, radio remains unique in its ability to cater to the local community.”",5.0,Memories are made of this,1395446400,"03 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UQBFCERIP7VJ,0770432778,Margaret Picky,"[0, 0]","The easiest and most relaxing way for people with children to see Disney World is to leave the little ones at home. If it is necessary to take the children, a little planning will save a lot of time and trouble and make the most of an expensive vacation.Fodor's guide to "Walt Disney World with Kids 2014" has a good overview of all aspects of planning the vacation to minimize hassle, stress, and expense and see and do more. Just one or two of the tips will pay for the book.",4.0,Through guide to planning a trip to Disney World with children,1391385600,"02 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1LJE5IEP7BAK8,0743205022,"J. Gillespie ""gettingthere""","[5, 9]","A Yemeni merchant points to his infant son.""This is my jihad,"" he tells journalist Peter Bergen. The proud father is Osama bin Laden's peaceful cousin. This tender scene represents the incongruous but frequent decency Bergen encounters in this well-documented, beautifully written account of bin Laden, al-Qaeda, and a reporter's quest to understand both.The publication date of Holy War, Inc., was accelerated after September 11th. Nonetheless, the work represents years of meticulous research, courageous reporting, and unprecedented access to some of the world's most treacherous terrain and vicious killers. Although some reviewers and even the author claim there is a ""jagged"" feel because the publication date was pushed up, this really isn't noticeable. The writing is fluid, harrowing, often playful, and even poignant at times.Cleverly divided into chapters that feature the countries where al-Qaeda made its bones through murder and mayhem, Holy War is a witty, gritty travelogue. Bergen's dry humor and glib narrative makes this an eminently readable book as the author explores the terror group in places as far-flung as Kenya and Kashmir. Along the way, Bergen paints a compelling portrait of bin Laden, whom he met and interviewed for CNN, and the other twisted terrorists for whom the wealthy ""sheikh"" serves as a cult leader.The author explores and documents what makes these killers tick. The theme is that al-Qaeda essentially is ""Holy War, Inc.,"" a conglomerate of bloodthirsty organizations. There remains little doubt at book's end that al-Qaeda and its affiliates are a well-run cartel whose CEO's can be replaced at will. Bergen also is able to admit what some have not: bin Laden the man remains an enigma with a background shrouded in secrecy. Many of the claims about Osama, including his participation in battle, may be total myth. Bergen is careful not to make any definitive assertions about the murky details. What isn't in doubt are the deadly, cruel intentions that comprise bin Laden's demented philosophy. Bergen explains how these ideas were formed, who shaped and shares these beliefs, and the degree to which they are accepted, and rejected, in the Islamic world.Like many of the better observers of Islamist terror, Bergen isn't resigned to an inevitable struggle that will pit Muslims against the West ad infinitum. In fact, the author makes a very strong case that Samuel Huntington's clash of civilizations theory is inherently flawed. The book's afterword shows that in addition to being a great reporter, Bergen is a superb analyst.This is best displayed, though, in the aforementioned scene in rural Yemen. The author visited bin Laden's ancestral home shortly after the USS Cole was attacked. Contrary to bin Laden's beliefs, the locals there worship at the shrines of Muslim saints. The local mullah sincerely tells Bergen the Cole attack hurt both Yemen and the United States, and expresses heartfelt grief over the loss of life. The mullah invites Bergen to convert to Islam, and there is no doubt that the religious leader's intent is sincere and grounded in his faith. The same cannot be said of bin Laden.If you want to buy only one book about al-Qaeda, this should be it.",5.0,"Witty, gritty terror travelogue the one al-Qaeda book to own",1058400000,"07 17, 2003",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A2EY8OBDTND88Y,1595141758,Mary Alice Miller,"[0, 0]",This was an OK book - predictable but kinda fun. I realized the series was just never gonna be more than mediocre writing and teen bs,3.0,Ok not great,1394928000,"03 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GRN6J64F2C3X,1781162662,"Joseph P. Menta, Jr.","[4, 4]","Almost a dozen books strong, the ""Quarry"" series is good, gritty fun, this latest entry included. Our man, code name ""Quarry"" (you guessed that, right?) is a former hitman who now makes a living offering protection to the targets of other hitmen. How Quarry knows what hitmen are out there and who their targets are is once again quickly explained so we can get to the story at hand. This time out, Quarry offers his services to a pretty inoffensive small-town dance instructor who has apparently gained the enmity of someone... to the point where that someone wants the dance instructor not only dead, but tortured for hours beforehand. Pretty weird, huh? Quarry certainly thinks so, and is genuinely curious about what's going on.The Quarry books jump around in time and can be read in any order; this one is set in the early 80's so there's a lot of entertaining detail (both from Quarry in particular and author Collins generally) about the culture of the time. But, as in past adventures, that observational detail (much of it humorous) definitely serves the book's primary purpose of telling a bang-up story heavy on mystery, danger, and sex.I also had to smile a little this time. The world of antiques (antiques stores, antiques shows, etc.) often shows up as a plot point in Max Allan Collins' works, and he even has a series (co-written with his wife) that regularly sets mysteries in that world. The funny thing is, the business of antiques is usually treated affectionately by the author. Here, the advance hitman Quarry is observing during the course of the dance instructor case kills time while off duty by cruising antiques stores and making purchases for his own antiques business, which in itself is funny. But what's really funny is the merciless contempt Quarry expresses about all the ""junk"" and ""trash"" the guy constantly purchases, especially the ""horrendous"" and ""cheesy"" framed artwork that no one in his right mind would possibly want. It was just a lot of fun to see author Collins use his Quarry character to playfully slap that world around a little after the generally respectful PBS treatment it receives in his other books.Anyway, back to what's really important. ""The Wrong Quarry"" delivers a tough action story, very attractive women interacting in an explicit manner with our hero (term loosely applied), an involving mystery as Quarry tries to sort out what's going on, and just enough observation about the era to add a little extra flavor. In short, I've greatly enjoyed all the Quarry books and that fact hasn't changed with the arrival of this new one.",5.0,"""The Wrong Quarry"" is the right choice for fans of action, thrills, and mystery",1389052800,"01 7, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A22QC93JS1I7KC,0989050882,Marianne E. McCreight,"[4, 5]",I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the others in the series. This author is one of my new favorites.,5.0,great book,1387670400,"12 22, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AD2W53AQMUMXH,1118209206,Karen K. Porter,"[0, 0]","Too many questions are not answered, so I'm quite disappointed - it omits the simplest things, which are what I need to ask.",2.0,"I like this, but it simply doesn't cover enough - not too helpful.",1395014400,"03 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A16TBHK57NCE86,076420839X,Laura Fabiani,"[0, 0]","This is the first Amish-themed historical fiction book that I read and I loved it. Cramer managed to keep my interest throughout the story with real characters facing difficult and life-changing situations. Although the book cover and the synopsis would lead a reader to believe this is a just a romance, it's really more of a family saga taking place in the 1920s, and Miriam's struggle with her feelings for Domingo, a half-breed Mexican man who isn't Amish.Miriam's parents, Caleb and Martha Bender moved their ten children and their families to Paradise Valley in Mexico to pioneer a new Amish colony. But life is difficult because of the bandits that roam the mountain range and disease that hits the small colony. The Amish people are gentle and will not resort to violence to protect themselves. They rely on their faith and this theme, along with that of God's forgiveness is strong and well-suited to the story without overwhelming the reader.The characters are well-rounded with strong traits and flaws that made me care about them and their outcome. I loved Miriam's strength and her relationship with her younger sister, Rachel. She wasn't afraid to do what was right even if it was unconventional. Domingo was courageous, as was his sister Kyra, and true to himself. He respected Caleb, who he worked for, and he was a man of principle. He was kind, yet could be fierce to protect those he loved. And the author succeeded in making him a sexy man in an Amish novel!The author deftly drew me right into their conflicts, and I was transported to the dusty and dangerous mountain range of Mexico where there was plenty of action with the bad guys. None of it was predictable and I read this book quickly to see how it would all turn out. There was a scene that left me in tears. The ending was realistic and left me searching more works from this author, which I now want to read. (This is the second book in the Daughters of Caleb Bender series.) I have to mention one last thing that endeared me to this author's writing. He includes a character who is mentally disabled, portrays her realistically (I've worked with this population) and gives her a role that made me cheer.I am Dale Cramer's newest fan. If you like Christian historical fiction that is well-written, clean, with a great plot and memorable characters, you should try this author. Not to be missed.Note: This book includes some scenes of violence with bandits who attack. It is not gratuitous or over the top.Disclosure: This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.",5.0,an Amish family saga I loved,1344729600,"08 12, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QY0B7JYR688P,B00AYIII66,Reader,"[0, 1]",Warning this review contains spoilers.This book was good up until main female character looses her job in the organization she founded. This make no sense since the founder of a nonprofit especially one as strong as the main character would have remained the president of her nonprofit and not be able to be fired without due process and a full investigation into a single complaint. This ruined the book for me and made me angry that the author would be so short sighted in this regard.,2.0,Bad near the end,1399593600,"05 9, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A332VXS3L1JSY3,B00CPV1INK,Robin Lyn,"[0, 1]","Just added a new author to my favorite's list! Since this was written in first person I was a bit hesitant to read it as first person stories can be difficult to make it work. Nicolette Pierce makes it work and I am loving the adventures of Nadia Wolf. Thankfuly this book was free or I may never have given it a try. I liked it so well, I purchased the second book in the series and I can not wait for more stories about Nadia and her adventures!",5.0,Wonderful!,1372464000,"06 29, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2KPJ9GLD49568,1846030188,"Gary E. Binder ""Gary from Nebraska""","[6, 6]","Many WW2 history buffs are familiar with how the US 9th Armored Division found an undestroyed bridge over the Rhine River, staged a daring attack and how the last physical barrier into the heart of Hitler's Germany was crossed. Mr. Zaloga looks not only at the actions around the small town of Remagen itself, but how this event changed Allied strategy in the final weeks of the war. For the history trivia fan there is good information presented about the terrain around Remagen, about the various units from both sides that were involved in the fighting and about the efforts to protect the bridgehead. By grabbing a foothold on the far side and steadily building up and widening it, the Americans were able to coordinate with the large British crossing operation later and create a huge encirclement of the major German forces protecting their industrial heart. To quote a tag line from a 1969 movie ""the Germans lost a bridge, thirty days later they lost a war"". Very readable and organized text with good illustrations. An excellent addition to your collection.",5.0,small battle - big result,1168819200,"01 15, 2007",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A198C7HAYB1LM3,058208069X,Jennifer Gibbons,"[42, 46]","During the 70's and 80's, a flood of new information on historical witchcraft became available. Levack's book is the best survey of this new data, which has revolutionized our understanding of the Great Hunt. It's not a very "daring" book; it sticks to the facts, to the things we're sure about. There isn't a lot of speculation in it. But it's a great antidote to the badly researched books, like Anne Barstow's _Witchcraze_, which flood the popular market.",5.0,Best Summary of Modern Research,919296000,"02 18, 1999",42,46,helpful,0.9130434782608695,1 A8T4X9WAUZ0RH,1931543402,Glenn Becker,"[7, 7]","As an intermediate knitter new to (but obsessed with!) lace, I've found this book to be unique and excellent. I started trying to knit lace with a couple of patterns I found online, but was practically in tears over those. I had decided I simply couldn't knit lace at all until I found this book. I began with a nine-line lace pattern and can't wait until I get good enough to try some of the thirty-line ones! I know this book will challenge and inspire me for some time to come.",5.0,One of my favorite knitting books!,1147651200,"05 15, 2006",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A2YP89W9LOTD9A,1616265779,warriorprincess,"[4, 4]","I wanted to like it, but it just didn't seem believable to me. The main character is a runaway slave who is trying to pass as a white person. The first problem that I had with this book, is that it is unclear why this woman is a slave to begin with. She was born free, and both of her parents were free. Her father was white, and her mother was half white. When she is orphaned, a neighbor kidnaps her, and she accepts the fact that she is now a slave. Didn't the other neighbors notice what had happened? How could no one else notice that two girls (who are now the sole owners of their parents' farm) have been kidnapped by another neighbor?Anyway, she lives as a slave for years, but one night she escapes. This brings me to unbelievable fact number two. She escapes from Barbados, but does she try to make her way to a free state or to Canada. Nope. Not this woman. She heads to a southern state and tries to find work and pass for white. At first I thought she was only going to stay there until she had enough money to travel to safety. Nope. Once she gets enough money, she buys fancy ball gowns and starts to date the son of a wealthy plantation owner. Say what? I was baffled. And the romance was just too much. She hates the fact that he owns slaves, but he is too handsome to resist. Excuse me??? Is this supposed to be romantic? The hero seemed weak, nave and indecisive. The heroine is just not believable. The story was too tame and fanciful to be believable. There was never any real sense of danger, almost as if the author was afraid to scare or offend the readers by showing the true horrors of slavery. I get that the author was trying to create a conflict and create romance. But all this book did was belittle the seriousness of slavery for the sake of a fluffy romance.Another problem that I have with the book is the way the black slaves are overlooked. The main character is able to have love and romance because she can pass for white, and the supporting characters realize, ""Oh, she's a person too. We should accept her even though she is one quarter black."" So she gets a happy ending because she looks white. But the black slaves go on with life as usual. The main character makes some feeble attempts to address her professed hatred of slavery, but once she is accepted by the hero, she seems to forget about her friends on the plantation, and embrace her life as a white woman. As far as I can see, the message was, as long as you look white, you are worthy of love.I liked the author's other stand alone book, The Falcon and The Sparrow, but I was thoroughly disgusted with this book.",1.0,I wanted to like it,1373155200,"07 7, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3NIG7BYTCDH84,0743491912,"Moongirl2001 ""moongirl2001""","[12, 14]","I initially thought this would be a really good book. Right up my alley. I heard the author on Coast to Coast with George Noory and since I am interested in this type of subject anyway I figured I'd read a fiction novel. I usually stick to non-fiction.Big mistake. What a waste of reading time. The first half of the book was mostly a big conversation with nothing much happening. I kept reading, hoping it would get better. It got worse. The second half of the book didn't make any sense. The author tries to describe the surroundings but does such a poor job it just ends up confusing the reader. This book was so bad that I didn't even bother to read the last few pages.That's right. I wasted all that time on reading the whole book only to put it down before finishing the last few pages. What does that tell you?Bad book, bad story, poorly written. Don't waste your money.",1.0,Boooorrringgggggg......,1137196800,"01 14, 2006",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A23WAJ8S3CEWP6,0761517111,DWPC,"[30, 33]","I enjoy listening to Mr. Svejda on KUSC and enjoy his enthusiasm, immense knowledge, and many opinions. Almost without exception, I can refer to this book after hearing even an obscure piece for the first time and find a thoughtful discussion of it and its composer.My complaint with his reviews is his lack of concern for recording quality to which he openly admits. He has a tin ear when it comes to good recording engineering. Even the recordings he describes as well recorded are often duds in terms of sound quality. For me, there is little enjoyment hearing a fine performance that sounds as if it were recorded in a freight elevator through a fluffy blanket.Those like me who, while not minding less than audiophile grade recordings of the musical giants who preceeeded high fidelity, find little excuse for the inexcusably poor recording quality of so much classical work by contemporary artists and ensembles, should take his recommendations with a grain of salt. Several times, I've bought cds recommended in this book only to be dismally disappointed by a poorly executed recording.",3.0,His recommendations are often poorly recorded,1009238400,"12 25, 2001",30,33,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A1V87M15KZJ5S9,0451218019,Gone Fishing,"[0, 0]",Very good read. Another great adventure with dusky. Riveting suspense and some great characters involved with the plot. Look forward to the next series.,5.0,Musky,1370304000,"06 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3FZY0GS6CFDXL,0525945598,C. Greene,"[0, 0]","I enjoy Dana Stabenow's Liam Campbell series. Sometimes a little dark, but always interesting. She is a very "visual" writer. It's easy to "see" the places and characters, and she develops the story line very well.",4.0,I Like Liam,1369699200,"05 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A337HLYVUSPGTA,0471433381,ReBorn,"[7, 11]","This is a good book on ordinary differential equations. Examples are very helpful to learn how to do problems. They are pretty much the best way to learn how to solve the equations. Also, there are answers to every problem in the textbook, so you can check your answer. However this book has some nuances which you should consider: Main important points on how to solve ODEs are not highlighted (only some are, and those are mostly the theorems). The important stuff IS in the chapters, but you gotta pick it out for yourself. For that reason I recommend getting some used ODE book for cheap, that has all the important concepts highlighted (Edwards/Penney comes to mind).",5.0,"Good, but a supplement is recommended",1116979200,"05 25, 2005",7,11,helpful,0.6363636363636364,1 A3P58GF81NQO6S,0753512025,"Posh Girl ""poshgirl""","[16, 16]","Okay, well, first, I must say I dont know much about cars, but I have a learned a little more just by watching Top Gear. Jeremy, James, and Richard really make the show interesting to a girly girl like me. Their humour in presenting things is great! And you get alot of the same humour in this book by James.So if you are a definite Top Gear fan get this book and read...lots of references to the show. Also, those who just love cars or even British culture will enjoy this book.Lastly, thanks to the guys on Top Gear who have made this American girl more interested in car things and helping me to decide to buy a Mini Cooper Sport.",4.0,Entertaining and I am not a car enthusiast,1204934400,"03 8, 2008",16,16,helpful,1.0,1 A2UV2OM2DVQ2I,0156007460,"J. W. Bean ""Journalist-Reviewer""","[4, 4]","I have read ""In Search of the Miraculous"" before, many times actually. I consider it one of the most important books I have ever read. So, I am very glad that Amazon chose to offer a Kindle edition - extremely glad. But the scan really, really needs to be cleaned up. Some of the scan errors are insignificant, like arc for are and End for find. Other matter more, and unexpected (and erroneous) capitalizations are more bothersome here than in most texts because capital letters are used quite intentionally, and in sometimes surprising ways in the correct text. Nonetheless, I remain glad that the edition exists, I just hope it is going to be cleaned up in the future.",4.0,The Bok Deserves Better,1373155200,"07 7, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2A0C8XR3966J4,085720873X,"Nan L. Thompson ""Nana""","[0, 0]",I loved this book and didn't want it to end. Now I begin to read all the books by Mr. Flynn. I love Mitch Rapp - he is the best of all - can't wait to start the next one.,5.0,Excellent Book - Loved it !,1385942400,"12 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2FD4CIFQJW7JI,0374226474,"C. Mendoza-tolentino ""CMT""","[4, 4]","I read this book because the law student at Northwestern mentioned that although it was dated, it's an important book in terms of understanding what law school was/is like. As a person who will be attending law school next fall, I was somewhat disappointed with the book, but most likely for reasons out of Turow's control. If the book was meant solely as a description of his first year and nothing more, then it would be a tight account of many of the difficulties this person had as he navigated what he describes as the toughest year at arguably the best law school in the country. But that being said, Turow's account seems to take a slightly different angle in that it aims to primarily critique the collective law education process while being critical of the professors and other students (pseudo-fictional amalgamations of the actual people he went to school with and was taught under) at Harvard. I think what got to me was the constant oscillation between the pride he had at being at so prestigious an institution with the shame he almost exhibited as he slowly changed as a person as the year progressed, becoming as competitive and almost bitter as those around him. It's a tough sell when much of the book comes out as whining and because it's so time specific, the whining doesn't seem like the kind of thing that can sustain the book for readers from this decade let alone readers in the future. I think the book is important as a period piece, an insider's guide to law school, but there's just something that it lacks for a broader audience. If I wasn't going to law school, I would have said the book was a waste of my time, since it doesn't seem to do enough other than provide the perspective of a very neurotic, though intelligent and successful writer's take on his tough transition from being a graduate professor of literature at Stanford to a law student. If this review seems a little confusing, suffice to say that if you want to go to law school, go ahead and read it, if not, take a pass. You may as well read a blog online.",3.0,Mixed Bag,1182729600,"06 25, 2007",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2GLAPOV43H6WH,0307951154,Thomas L. Cupit,"[0, 1]",if you are a fan of harry hole mysteries (written by jo nesbo) then you will be sad that it appears that harry is killed in this one. if you have not read them i suggest you start with the ICEMAN maybe which is not the first. i started with REDBREAST but this is a very long difficult read. as always harry will come to several solutions before the final one. in this one he has been doing well in HONG KONG and is on the wagon. a very very enjoyable read.,5.0,the last case of HARRY HOLE,1351900800,"11 3, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AS09YZV00HGLO,B009MA3WN6,wild flower,"[0, 0]",I can't say enough about these books. They are great. I would recommend them to anyone. I loved them. A lot of action with just enough romance. I loved them.,5.0,Loved this series.,1384646400,"11 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ABLYAAM1KJX8Z,0151002681,"Kay A. Douglas ""Avid reader and traveler""","[7, 7]","Those of us who live in once completely rural areas, or even those who are confirmed city dwellers with a sense of the need for clear boundaries between rural and urban will find a lot to think about while reading this book. From the edges of her rural community, Holland watches the passage of a way of life as developers buy up local farms and transform them presto chango into "countryside estates," houses which look, as Holland notes, like they're "dropped from the sky." What I especially liked about this book was the way it chronicles on a very personal level the regrets the author feels as this process takes place. It's a sort of quiet requiem for a way of life she has never fully participated in, but admires. From where I sit, across the Potomac River, watching the suburbs creep into Montgomery County's "agricultural preserve", her musings are painfully familiar. But they aren't bleak, which is this book's saving grace. When I finished the book I had a clear, almost intimate feel for the author sitting in her little house on the mountainside, "still there."",5.0,A Finger in the Dike: Standing in the path of the suburbs,881020800,"12 2, 1997",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3MGP5KH79KY7K,0446520950,Patricia C. Carlson,"[0, 0]",We have not read this one yet. Why did I give it such a rating? It is a David Baldacci book. Any and everything he writes is worth the best rating. I know when we do it will not disappoint us.,5.0,Fantastic writer,1386028800,"12 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1T9P4HXF0F2NS,0399159347,Silver's Reviews,"[5, 6]","A simple letter, but was it really that simple? A letter written long ago. A letter indicating it was not allowed to be opened. A letter that made John Paul's wife, Cecelia, quite curious.What harm would be done by opening the letter? Cecelia was dying to open it, but the message John-Paul wrote on the front of the envelope said it could not be opened until his death. When Cecilia asked her husband about it, he said he had been sentimental when he wrote it, and that she should just put it away. Obediently Cecilia, the good wife, put it away without opening it.Hints about the contents of the letter will peak your curiosity as it did Cecelia's. When she did open the letter and found out what John-Paul had written, she couldn't believe it. How could this be true? Cecelia the perfect wife and fixer of everything couldn't fix this.Cecelia was the perfect wife, mother, and town citizen. She knew everyone in town, and she knew everything about the city residents. She remembered Tess when she came back to her childhood town because her husband didn't love her any more. Rachel was also part of Cecelia's circle. Rachel had a few heartbreaking situations in the past. But...what Cecelia found in that letter was going to be more than a heartbreak for Rachel.THE HUSBAND'S SECRET was focused on this letter, Tess, Rachel and Cecilia. The letter's secret had to do with an unknown connection between Tess, Cecelia, and Rachel and something that happened in the past that linked them together and something in the present that caused more heartache and pain.When the book begins, you will think it is going to be a book about a husband's affair, but it is more sinister than that. It actually is a tragic secret.THE HUSBAND'S SECRET is about more than keeping secrets, though. It deals with a parent's love for his/her child and about the lengths parents go to in order to protect their children. It deals with right and wrong, and it deals with the thought - do we really know our spouse or significant other?Don't be mislead into thinking it is simply a book about secrets between a husband and his wife. It is far more than that. It is a book about secrets whether they are large or small and about our decisions to reveal the secret or to not reveal the secret.THE HUSBAND'S SECRET is an excellent read that will keep you pondering life, pondering the decisions we make, and thinking about the secrets most of us have. What is your secret? 5/5This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher and LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.",5.0,Will Make You Ponder Your Own Secrets If You Have Any,1375228800,"07 31, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AFFGYGNO989PD,0060560053,"Elizabeth H. Cottrell ""RiverwoodWriter""","[4, 5]","I begrudgingly gave THE FAMILY a ""3"" because of its important and fascinating topic, but it gets a ""1"" on its cohesiveness and desperate need for more disciplined editing.The true story of fundamentalism in America and its manifestation in the halls of power today is well researched and frightening in its implications for the way things get done in certain spheres of influence. The author finds himself in a position to become an insider with a group of people whose ultimate goal is nothing short of ruling the world. He gets access to records of the group and conducts extensive research and interviews to follow the threads and figure out who is doing what.Sadly, there are two things that sabotage the effectiveness of this book. One is the author's inability to write a paragraph without lengthy parenthetical additions. More often than not, these distract rather than enhance the main points. Secondly, the author seemed unable to leave out any small tidbit of information he found, and the result was a messy and confusing tome that could have been greatly improved by dedicated and skilled editing.",3.0,Important but disappointing...,1308441600,"06 19, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3JNORDYBXNHH0,B00HK3TPWO,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Great short story. Interesting twist. Loved the ending just perfect for a nice quick read. Doesn't leave you hanging for the next part.,5.0,Great,1393977600,"03 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3S2DDHIIKKH94,B00IPI546E,Dana,"[24, 25]","I loved this book! Lucian Bane completely impressed me! The concept of the book was great, Lucian and Tara's chemistry showed from the start. The sex scenes were hot and his words completely made me swoon. I would sign up for Dom Wars if I could have Lucian Bane! Highly recommend. Can't wait for book 2!",5.0,Lucian Bane.. New Dom in town! Great First Book,1393545600,"02 28, 2014",24,25,helpful,0.96,1 A26AQHVNHHUJXN,0143113496,,"[0, 0]","This was the first time I read anything by Tana French. I was pleasantly surprised. I was absorbed in the story from the first page and couldn't put the book down. The story takes place on the outer fringes of Dublin in a small neighborhood near a wooded area where an archaelogical dig was being performed which gave the story an original twist. The murder of a young girl on the site where twenty years before two children went missing and were never found makes police question whether the two incidents are related. I think anyone who likes mysteries would love Tana French's ""In the Woods"".",5.0,Great mystery,1312934400,"08 10, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A13HUHXEQPX3YI,0385514727,Lightning TigerFists,"[9, 9]","As noted by other reviewers, this book does not present an unassailable case fortified by careful documentation. But if you don't expect it to, you'll get two excellent books in one: the personal story of a man who gains new appreciation for America's character after losing his idealized vision of European life in the course of actually living there, and a sweeping indictment of the political correctness and specious pacifism that could allow radical Islam to eclipse Western civilization on the European front.What makes Bawer's account compelling is not any claim on his part to be authoritative, but specifically the risk to his own person and the challenge to his beliefs and stereotypes that his experiences represented. Quit arguing with his approach long enough to stand in his shoes and you'll be alarmed, I'm certain.For Muslims offended by his take on Islam, I can sympathize. I often feel the same way when, as an evangelical Christian, I am lumped in with abortion clinic bombers and Fred Phelps. I am EAGER to denounce their behavior without equivocation and stand against them at every opportunity. That's all you can do with radicals (secular or religious) with a taste for hate and violence, because they must be vigorously opposed.",5.0,One Man's Impassioned Account,1207612800,"04 8, 2008",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A2E3F04ZK7FG66,0596803540,calvinnme,"[37, 38]","This is the book you want if you want to build applications for the iPhone, you are an experienced programmer, and if you do not already know Objective C. The only book as good as or better than this one isBeginning iPhone 3 Development: Exploring the iPhone SDK. The first two-thirds of that book guides you through iPhone OS programming in general, concentrating on the display. Later chapters cover more advanced topics. What that book has in detail though, it somewhat lacks in perspective. In other words - it fails to step back and give you the big picture. This head first book excels in the big picture as well as the details.This head first book covers everything you need to know just as long as programming is not something that is new to you. In particular, object-oriented concepts should be familiar to you as well as programming in a procedural language such as C. The book takes it from there. If you have used the head-first series of books before then you know what you are in for. The book uses cartoons, crossword puzzles, Q&A; sessions, fake interviews with devices and programs, and strange looking photographs to make your brain remember what it sees. The book is not a reference book on Objective C, and honestly, if you are going to go far with iPhone application development, then you probably should have a conventional book on that very topic after you finish this book and all of its exercises.This book also gets you going by building an iPhone app in the first chapter. It will also do odd things that make you think about a design, such as leading you down the wrong path in the design cycle so that you remember the right path. For that very reason it is important to go through this book from beginning to end and do all of the exercises. You won't get the most out of it if you do not. Highly recommended if you are teaching yourself this subject.The table of contents is not yet listed for this book, so I show that next:getting startediPhone app patternsobjective-c for the iPhonemultiple viewsplists and modal viewssaving, editing, and sorting datatab bars and core datamigrating and optimizing with core datacamera, map kit, and core locationleftoverspreparing an app for distributionNone of these chapter names will probably mean that much to you until you finish the book. Highly recommended for the experienced programmer who is a novice at writing iPhone applications.",5.0,One of two books that excel at teaching the beginning iPhone app developer,1257638400,"11 8, 2009",37,38,helpful,0.9736842105263158,1 A1OX8NQSKINQ1Z,0470736291,"RT ""RapidCityMom""","[18, 18]","If you are looking for a guide with a lot of photos, this is not for you. But if you want a guide that gives great tips on places to stay, eat, and see...this is that guide. Included is a lot of history of the area, especially the wine region, which I found interesting. There are nice maps of Niagara Falls, Ontario and the surrounding towns. There are suggested iteneraries for one, two, or three days trips. I found a lot of good money saving tips such as where to buy multi-attraction passes, and the fact that there are a lot of taxes added to restaurant bills (thats good information when you are expecting one price and its 25% higher due to the taxes!). I also appreciated that there were tips about attractions that were ""overrated"" so that I wont spend time or money on those places. We are going to visit this area in June and this is the book I intend to take, it has helped us make decisions on what to see and do during our time there.",4.0,Nice Guide,1269561600,"03 26, 2010",18,18,helpful,1.0,1 A151OW029XD9JU,0062067753,Susan Tunis,"[161, 189]","Here's the thing... I'm wary of science fiction. It's not my favorite genre. But this book is absolutely the real deal science fiction, and in a nutshell, I LOVED IT. Of course, it didn't hurt having Terry Pratchett as one of the co-authors, making everything just a bit less intimidating. Discworld and Good Omens fans may gravitate towards this book expecting broad humor, but I'll tell you right now that while there's plenty of humor, it is nowhere near that overt. No, this is totally legit science fiction. I detect the presence of Stephen Baxter. Who knew these two would collaborate so beautifully?The story of The Long Earth is a bit of a challenge to summarize. Oddly, I have read a ""product description"" of this book in several places that bears ABSOLUTELY no relation to the plot or characters of this book. (And I find myself wondering if that is the description of book 2 in what will apparently be a series?) In this book, the citizens of Earth have just learned a new trick. A possibly mad, and definitely mysterious, scientist has invented a device called a ""stepper."" It's simple enough to be constructed by a schoolchild, and inexpensive enough to be powered by a potato. The scientist puts the plans for the stepper on the Web, and then essentially disappears. Starting in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, and rapidly spreading across the planet, young people are the earliest adopters of this technology. They are the first to discover the multiverse.""Most of those first-day steppers had come quickly back. Some had not. The poor tended to be more likely to stay away; rich people had more to give up back in Datum. So, out of cities like Mumbai and Lagos, even a few American cities, flocks of street kids had stepped, bewildered, unequipped, into wild worlds, but worlds that didn't already belong to somebody else, so why shouldn't they belong to you? The American Red Cross and other agencies had sent care teams after them, to sort out the Lord of the Flies chaos that followed.""Pratchett and Baxter take their time setting up this premise, and do a fine job of world-building. This is very near future stuff, but they give a realistic look at the socio-economic and historic impact of the discovery of what may well be an infinite number of uninhabited (by humans, at least) earths. It's big. Eventually, though, a plot shakes itself out, having to do with an exploratory expedition to the far edges of the multiverse--the ""Long Earth."" This trek is undertaken by two uniquely gifted individuals. Joshua Valiente was one of the first steppers, and a natural at it, it turns out. Of him, it is said:""But of course, Joshua, you do notice. You watch, and listen, and analyze, and inside that roomy cranium of yours you play yourself little videos of all the possible outcomes of the current situation that you can envisage... It's one of the qualities that makes you so useful, that watchfulness.""The ""person"" to whom Joshua will be most useful is the other major protagonist, Lobsang. ""He is unique. He is a computer, physically, but he used to be--how can I put this?--a Tibetan motorcycle repairman."" Lobsang was the first computer program to successfully prove in court that he was a reincarnated human. Joshua continues to have doubts: ""Was Lobsang human, or an AI aping humanity? A smiley, he though: one curve and two dots, and you see a human face. What was the minimum you needed to SEE a human being? What has to be said, what has to be laughed?""I won't tell you any more of what transpires, because I was genuinely delighted by the storytelling. As you can see, even from this brief report, there IS plenty of humor to be found in these pages. But this is no Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. In fact, there are all kinds of hard science on display, ranging from evolutionary biology to quantum physics to planetary geology. Someone did their homework; the science sounds accurate to me. The authors have struck a fine balance between the plausible, the wondrous, and the absurd. They've introduced some characters with whom I was truly delighted to spend time, and with whom I very much hope to have the opportunity to visit in the future. They've crafted a very complete and satisfying tale, while at the same time leaving the door open to future storytelling possibilities... Almost as if there were infinite possible stories that could be ""stepped"" to from this original world. Where's my potato? I'm ready to explore.",5.0,"""Somewhere out there in the Long Earth you'll find almost anything you can imagine.""",1339977600,"06 18, 2012",161,189,helpful,0.8518518518518519,1 A3JCNLSNSA04G8,B008913086,Chris A. Mahar,"[6, 6]","It's like he was trying to fit every story ever told into a formula. When reading some of the plots, I found myself thinking of episodes of 'I Love Lucy', or some similar old TV show or movie. 'B, impelled to marry A if she loses to him in a contest of skill', wait, I saw that on 'Annie Get Your Gun'. Lots of great corny but faithful old plot gags like that in this book.Some descriptions, like 'comes finally to the blank wall of enigma', or 'emerges happily from a serious entaglement' are pretty general.The android program that goes along with the book is pretty handy for getting ideas for where to go next when writing a story. I rarely take all of any of the ideas whole, but often take parts of them.Very nice feature of the ebook is the links. You can click on 'lead-ups' or 'Carry-ons' and go straight to that section.Bottom line: This book has given me ideas I've used when writing fiction. It was worth the money.",4.0,"A little arcane, but I get ideas from it",1354147200,"11 29, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2INOHBE14TY6T,1593764251,Dubarnik,"[61, 89]","I recently came across two of Tim Wise's books in a local book store - White Like Me and Speaking Treason Fluently. I gave them a quick scan and decided that I wanted to read them both. I work in education and have seen white privilege at work; it's a topic I care about.As I began this book, White Like Me, I found the reading enjoyable. Even better, I felt my own beliefs about racism and white privilege were being affirmed.However, I won't be finishing the book or reading anything else by Tim Wise. On two consecutive pages, Wise makes commenst that are racist to the point that he's lost credibility with me. Let me explain.When explaining why high school debate team is ""so white"", Wise states (p. 33) ""The substance of the arguments made and the way in which the arguments are delivered also tend to appeal to whites far more readily than people of color, for whom the style and substance are often too abstract to be of much practical value."" That is a disgusting comment. To generalize that people of color would not be interested in abstract argument because it lacks practical value is incredibly arrogant, demeaning, and racist.Amazed as I was by that statement, I was willing to overlook it until I read the next page (p.34). Here Wise explains that the entire process of debate is ""a white one."" He writes, ""...whites (and especially affluent ones), much more than folks of color, have the luxury of looking at life or death issues of war, peace, famine, unemployment, or criminal justice as a game, as a mere exercise in intellecutual and rhetorical banter."" He then claims that being able to debate a position such as ""whether or not full employment is a good idea, presupposes that my folks are not likely out of work as I go about the task."" He adds, ""To debate whether racial profiling is legitimate likewise presupposes that I, the debater, am not likely to be someone who was confronted..."" with racial profiling.Wise seems to be saying that because of their position in society, people of color are unable to engage in intellectual and rhetorical banter, to take equally either side of a position. He's saying that because they have experienced discrimination, they can not step outside of their own experience to discuss the discrimination from all sides. Again, Wise's arrogance is palpable.The perfect counterpoint to Wise's claims is the current debate about healt care reform. People of color, some with health insurance and some without, are debating the pros and cons of a government-run health insurance option. They are able to discuss it intellecutally and rhetorically. They are able to look at both sides of the issue. They are able to overcome the multitude of ways in which the health care industry discriminates against them.Tim Wise is clearly aware of ""white privilege"" and it's role in the continuing oppression of minorities. But his opinions and perspectives contain the covert and subtle racism that now characterizes much of American thought towards ""people of color"".",2.0,Not the anti-racist he thinks he is,1251504000,"08 29, 2009",61,89,helpful,0.6853932584269663,1 A3N6PCOSINNGFF,0099526786,Bruce Loveitt,"[7, 7]","This is another great read from Mr. King. A week or two ago I finished his wonderful "Michelangelo And The Pope's Ceiling" and at that point decided I'd have to read "Brunelleschi's Dome". Over the past year or so I'd seen "Brunelleschi's Dome" in various bookstores and I'd skimmed through the pages- never buying it because I thought it looked too technical. I was put off by the various technical illustrations and thought, "Oh, this is really a book for an architect or engineer". But I was wrong. While there is no denying that the technical aspects are a major part of the book, the illustrations are very useful in helping the lay reader to understand the ingenious solutions that Brunelleschi came up with to overcome the numerous technical difficulties involved in the construction of such a large dome. By going into the nitty-gritty of the construction process, Mr. King allows us to appreciate Filippo's accomplishment. After all, this was a man who was a goldsmith and clockmaker- not an architect! And even though the book is under 200 pages in length, Mr. King manages to include a lot of interesting information other than the material which concerns the construction process. We learn about the lives of the masons who worked on the dome- how many days they worked (only about 200 per year, actually. They had off Sundays and religious feast days, which came about once a week. They also couldn't work in bad weather); what they ate and drank (surprisingly, although they were a couple of hundred feet above the ground they drank wine! Considering water quality at the time, wine was considered healthier. Florentines also believed that it "improved the blood, hastened digestion, calmed the intellect, enlivened the spirit, and expelled wind". Mr. King adds that wine "might also have given a fillip of courage to men clinging to an inward-curving vault..."!). Fillipo was very safety-conscious. Because of his precautions, only one man died during the 26 years Brunelleschi was in charge of the project. A good thing.....these were the days before workers' compensation and survivors' benefits! Another interesting theme of the book is the rivalry between Filippo and Lorenzo Ghiberti. Years earlier, Ghiberti had bested Brunelleschi in the contest to see who would be awarded the commission to cast and put up the bronze doors for the Baptistery of San Giovanni. Ghiberti won that competition. This time around Brunelleschi came up with the winning design. However, Ghiberti was still involved in "The Dome" project and there was no love lost between the two men. There was a lot of nasty backbiting behind the scenes of the "this guy doesn't know what the heck he's doing!" variety. Despite the fact that Ghiberti's baptistery doors are considered to be an artistic masterpiece (and were recognized as such even back then- even the persnickety Michelangelo marveled at the workmanship) the following anecdote will give you some idea of the ill-will between the two men: Lorenzo, who was generally an astute businessman and was always on the lookout for good places to put his money, had bought a farm in the hills above Florence. Mr. King writes, "As the farm, called Lepriano, did not prove a successful investment, Lorenzo was forced to sell it. Years later Filippo was asked what he thought was the best piece of work Lorenzo had ever done, to which he replied- "Selling Lepriano". If we add "comedian" to his long list of accomplishments, we see that Filippo Brunelleschi was indeed a true "Renaissance Man"!",5.0,Filippo's Dome Vs. Lorenzo's Doors,1045008000,"02 12, 2003",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A2EZORXTWQA1K6,0672330695,W. Culpepper,"[0, 0]",Probably the best book I've seen out there on really comprehending Windows 7; it goes into much greater technical detail than all the other overly simplistic books I've seen.,4.0,Very Nice coverage of Windows 7,1395532800,"03 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A234X1MVIMPMMC,0761456406,"Akima Rolle ""Book Junkie""","[0, 0]","Michelle Obama: First Mom is a great story about the first lady Michelle Obama from her upbringing and all of her relationships with her family especially her girls. The book is light and fun giving my little niece some history about the first lady.The inside illustrations were so beautiful which leads me to believe that the cover picture is horrible by design to possibly embarrass the first lady, because I was sort of offended by the cover.I really wish that the publisher would have chosen a more flattering picture of the first lady because more people would pick up the book, but having this bad cover will likely deter people from buying this book because it seems a little offensive.I love the book but wish that the cover was better because I believe that more people would purchase this book for their little ones, but this book cover was a turn off and a big fail.",2.0,"Love The Book, Hate The Cover!",1368144000,"05 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RNR9PSUQX12X,0380752948,"Chexley ""ChexednutTexts""","[0, 0]","Reading romance is always a pleasure for me. Johanna Lindsey had a definite potential with this novel that kept me wanting more, but didn't deliver. This was greatly disappointing, as I am looking for other authors to become acquainted with.I was aggravated that out of nowhere, Jamil's assassination problem was solved and Caroline was thrown together with Marshall. A few more pages could have been dedicated to the relationships that were hanging out there in the undercurrent. She concentrated too much on the sexual tension between Derek and Chantelle, which is all fine and dandy if you want to mush up your brain with a straight and heavy dose of fluff.",3.0,A pleasant diversion still under construction.,1344988800,"08 15, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1LT7LA7GELTBY,0312626681,Eric D. Austrew,"[4, 6]","This case study in, as the subtitle says "(Not) Getting by in America" was in many ways surprising. I thought I had a pretty good handle on the fact that there are people in desperate straits out there, that being in desperate straights is awful, and that it would be better if no one had to do it. But some of the problems that are described in this book were things I had never even thought of. One of her main contentions is that many of the working poor are borderline homeless, living, ironically, in expensive motels because they can never get far enough ahead to save the deposit for a real apartment. The lack of medical care and desperate penny-pinching wasn't surprising, but what struck me was that the author, daughter of a union organizer and left wing journalist, was consistently surprised at the importance that her co-workers placed on the jobs they were doing, quite apart from the monetary rewards or managerial incentives.This struck me as especially tragic, because it just reinforces the fact that most people take satisfaction in doing something well, and it's obvious from the lives these people lead that they aren't in the habit of shirking work. Shouldn't hard, quality work bring you a life with the basics we should all have? A thought provoking, if not especially surprising book.",4.0,The Working Poor of America get a voice,1090195200,"07 19, 2004",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2F5DM5AVT0BNJ,0061995363,C. Gallicano,"[9, 10]","I have toted this little paperback around for about 25 years. The pages are grey and the cover is grimy. But I am reading it again for the joy of it, and again, realize it is one of my favorite books. Alice Toklas writes in the most enthusiastic, humorous and inquisitive prose that a ""cookbook"" could ever be presented. She writes each chapter as a special creative venture, and the reader learns how to cook all kinds of home-made French meals following her systematic and patient narrative. Her commentary on dining and cooking with the amazing stars of the art and literature world in pre-war Paris is breath taking in its simplicity and familiarity with said egos!There are many references to certain menus she and Gertrude Stein dined on- from the country cottage farmer's table to haute cuisine. And wherever they dined, Alice was certain to beg for a recipe to take with her. These recipes add a wonderful scrapbook feel which gives you some absolutely perfect hand me down hits.My book is the British version I believe, and has the hashish brownie recipe. I tried making it back in the '70's however it was pretty grainy since we didn't use the high quality product Alice most likely had access to. The intro to the brownies is hysterical - she advises the reader to make these on a rainy afternoon and serve to the bridge group ladies or the local DAR chapter meeting. Very tongue in cheek.",5.0,I love you Alice B Toklas,1169510400,"01 23, 2007",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A3SAQR2X87572M,0061257095,L. Bardo,"[0, 0]",A novel that would keep you up all night and hard to put down. I was strongly attached to each chapter of the main character's journey. I laughed; I shed tears. It was such a moving story that would resonate in your brain for a very long time!,5.0,Words are not enough,1363996800,"03 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A24Q00XT2X2JHX,1118505646,Ian Berry,"[0, 0]",If you haven't yet established your blog and learned how to share and spread you content in many ways then this book is a great place to start The case studies of people who have done very well in niches are full of good ideas,4.0,Dominating niche markets,1364515200,"03 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQXPG6NVIQ976,144235948X,Bookworm :D,"[0, 0]",I just love this book so much. I love it so much that I reread it about a million times. It's just a book that never gets old and you'll never get tired of reading it. I would like to applaud Jamie McGuire for writing such an unforgettable and one of my all times favorite book.,5.0,Exceedingly extremely amazin,1391644800,"02 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJTYZCWKUL97Z,1571741062,"Scott Meredith ""SeeOtter""","[49, 50]","A very odd book.I do not take exception with Moody for ""backtracking"" on, or no longer appearing as a true believer in, NDE's reality. That would be his right if he chose to do so, but it isn't clear to me that he is in fact backtracking. In fact, that's the entire problem with this book - not that Moody is suddenly undermining the valdity of the NDE by calling it entertainment, but more that it simply isn't at all clear what he's doing here - if anything.Moody is not being explicit enough about what is the exact target and logical scope of his claim that ""It's all entertainment"".It is one thing to say: ""I don't know if NDE is real or not, but the human discussions of NDE are a form of entertainment."" But at times he gets slippery and seems to imply that not only are the human discussions of the NDE a form of cultural (human created and exploited) entertainment, but that in addition, the NDE experience itself is somehow being offered to us by some transcendent power or will in the universe in order to entertain us.That last is a very different and rather interesting and radical claim, if he's really making it. The book is so badly written that it appears he never draws a clear distinction between the NDE (and other paranormal stuff) as a cultural topic within the normal human material and semantic space vs. the NDE as a (possible) ""real"" ultimate experience with its own transcendent validity (which again may also be 'entertainment' in a cosmic sense, but that concept is radically different from the claim that NDE accounts and speculations function as an entertaining topic in ordinary live human discourse.It may seem like splitting hairs, but it is a real logical confusion. Suppose I bought a book on earthquakes. For me at least, the aspect of greatest interest would be the reality of earthquakes, their frequency and severity, research on early warnings, building reinforcement methods and so on - things deriving from an understanding that earthquakes are real.But if the books author went on and on about the entertainment value of earthquake movies and stories and the shock value of dramatic photos and what not, saying that these materials function culturally to enteratain us, and then only hinting slyly that earthquakes might or might not be real (and if real, they might or might not be experienced as a kind of entertainment) - I guess I'd agree but who cares?I want to know: Do earthquakes really happen? And if they do, let's just talk about them straighforwardly rather than get into this side discussion of the possible entertainment value of earthquake related derivative works. It isn't exactly false, it just doesn't matter much. Anyway Moody just doesn't make clear whether he's making the radical claim that the universe/God itself is providing a true death survival mechanism for us humans (in order to entertain us), or if it is merely the prosaic claim that we humans are entertaining (or scaring) ourselves with such stories.At a high level though, Moody has a good concept with an ancient pedigree - the ancient Hindu's clearly labeled all of material creation as ""lila"" - the great play of the gods.",3.0,Moody doges and weaves,1112832000,"04 7, 2005",49,50,helpful,0.98,1 A9H1YQ2PW2GDU,B0060739N2,gospel singer,"[0, 0]",Love this short story. Good story how Santa delivers gifts to children no matter how bad the weather r what it takes to get there.,5.0,Kissing Santa,1383609600,"11 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EJG6SB511A,0764206192,mandaandtom,"[0, 0]","The Icecutter's Daughter is a new book in the Land of Shinning Water series by Tracie Peterson. Merrill Krause promised her dying mother that she would take care of her father and all her brothers. She has only known hard work on the Minnesota farm and loves working with the horses. But as she nears her 21st birthday, she can't help but wonder if anyone will ever overcome their fear of her protective brothers to ask to court her. The other main character in the story is Rurik Jorgenson. When Rurik's Uncle Carl begins to decline in health, Rurik heads from Kansas to Minnesota to help with the family business. Rurik tells his betrothed, Svea, of his departure and thinks that this will be good for them to be apart in order to know whether the Lord really would have them married. Rurik and Svea's fathers have arranged their marriage, yet Rurik is pretty sure this is not God's will for him. Both Merrill and Rurik want what God has for them, but neither have any idea of how God will fulfill that in their lives.Tracie Peterson did a great job at setting the icy scene of Minnesota. I enjoyed learning about ice harvesting...something I had no idea they did back at the end of the 1800's. It was interesting reading about other things such as arranged marriages, old customs and traditions from back then too. After reading the beginning of the book, I wasn't too sure if I would really get into this book since it was talking about the farm, horses and such. But once I got to know the characters, I had a hard time putting it down. I'm looking forward to reading Tracie Peterson's next novel in this series which is coming out this summer called The Quarryman's Bride. You can read an excerpt of the first chapter at the end of this book. I would definitely recommend this book as a great summer read!**I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.",5.0,The Icecutter's Daughter,1369180800,"05 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1E6QSKO586SVZ,161218359X,Cynthia Carter,"[0, 0]","This is the third of a series. I probably should have read the other two first, but I assure you I will. Non stop action for all who like Vampire stories.",5.0,Omega,1366329600,"04 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MJMYLRTZ76ZX,1590309847,magellan,"[156, 167]","As others have already written very complete reviews, I just had a few miscellaneous comments, mostly on how to understand Musashi's seemingly paradoxical ideas about technique.This has become a legendary book. Written by the famous swordsman, sometimes referred to in the west as ""The Lone Ranger of Japan,"" Musashi claimed to have been in over 60 sword battles, triumphing each time, so it's no wonder Musashi's name has become legendary in both Japan and the west.The book sets out Musashi's philosophy and correct Way of the Sword. But the principles Musashi espouses are bound to sound perplexing to many people. Musashi says that the best stance is no stance, that too much strength is bad (your sword may shatter when clashing swords), and that even too much speed is bad (it may upset your balance), and that none of these are the true Way of the Sword. The best technique is, in fact, no technique.This sort of philosophy is bound to be more than a little confusing, so I'll see if I can clarify it a little. I'm not sure I understand Musashi either, although I've studied martial arts for many years and have read my share of eastern philosophy, but I'll give you my ideas on how I relate to them just in case you find them useful.Basically what Musashi is saying is that once you've learned a technique and committed it to memory and especially ""muscle memory,"" it becomes fixed and is no longer adaptive. Your body becomes channalized into this form or technique, which then becomes limiting, preventing you from achieving true mastery, which is the ability to adapt and flow with any of the infinite number of situations you may encounter. Fixity is therefore dysfunctional and is not the true Way of the Sword. This might be what Musashi means when he speaks of the Way of Emptiness being his way and the true Way of the Sword. In other words, his technique is no technique because it is empty of all fixed, unchangeable, and unadaptive aspects.There is an analogous principle in Zen. In Zen, the highest level of technique is called ""the technique that can't be seen."" This doesn't mean that the technique is so fast it's invisible. It's that the technique is so advanced and subtle that its principles aren't obvious and easily seen. Musashi's ideas seem to reflect this Zen Buddhist principle also.Interestingly enough, this idea has some support from western research into learning and the brain. In learning theory, there is the idea of ""stereotyping,"" (which has nothing to do with social or racial stereotypes), where motor movements that have been learned become fixed into a certain sequence or pattern, but which is not necessarily the most efficient or effective. My learning theory instructor used the example of shaving strokes. He realized after some years that he always did his shaving strokes in the same way, after having learned how to do them, but that they weren't necessarily the best way to shave, anymore. Now that he'd been shaving for years, he ""re-engineered"" his shaving strokes so that they were more efficient.This may apply to the martial arts too. After we've learned a certain movement and achieved a certain level of skill with it, we may become complacent and never go back and question the movement again. All because we believe we've achieved a level of ""skill."" I notice Paul Vunak, an important martial artist in Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do and the Filipino martial arts, also emphasizes the learning of principles rather than ""technique,"" and specifically mentions this in his seminars. The idea is that once one has learned the principle behind the technique, one can do an infinite number of those techniques, depending on the situation.Another interesting physiological principle that is almost as paradoxical as Musashi's ideas has been found by western science. There is a phenomenon in neuromuscular physiology known as reciprocal inhibition of flexor-extensor pairs. This means that during muscle activity the opposing muscle tension is inhibited to reduce effort on the flexing muscle. So if you're trying to do a straight punch, the tricep tenses and the bicep relaxes, thus reducing resistance. The paradoxical aspect arises from the fact that by performing a small jerk backwards in the opposite direction to the punch the outward extensor motion can be speeded up. In kinesiology they refer to this as a ""pliometric jerk,"" and is how basketball players jump higher. But it also has equal application to the martial arts, and I've had good results using this to get more speed and snap in my own techniques and for my students.Anyway, I just thought I'd offer a few suggestions from my own experience on Musashi's book, although I can't say I fully understand it either. But I hope you find them helpful in some small way in your own understanding and training.",5.0,Some comments on the philosophy,1056153600,"06 21, 2003",156,167,helpful,0.9341317365269461,1 A1LUJN3H6ORFJC,0062026542,Victoria,"[0, 0]",Loved everything. Ranks up in favorite series. Loved the romance and characters and the character development from the first book expecially. MC became a wonderful heroine and grew a lot. Story was also very original and well-written.,5.0,Great conclusion,1393891200,"03 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMSDCMXKN9U2X,1250006333,Sara,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed this book so much! Satisfying and tear jerkingly delightful.I especially love the extra bit at the end. Where you get to know more. What happens after the end of the book.Now time to go to sleep. Just finished the whole series in 3 days and its 1am now.It's that good.,5.0,Fantastic!,1359072000,"01 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQ47K9JLG8XVA,1476783284,jennifer kreider,"[0, 0]","How could anyone not love Daniel?? Awesome characters, I was happy to see more of Skye and Holder too. Loved this book!!",4.0,Short but sweat,1384473600,"11 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BZTYUUWCB7BP,0738733032,"Stephanie Leroux ""StephLrx""","[0, 0]","Love that's destined to cause feuds and wars. There's something about that type of love that has readers coming back for more. Personally, I think Talia Vance created a wonderful romance between her two main characters, Brianna and Blake. However, SILVER isn't just a simple love story. Brianna is a teenage girl who, until recently, was ignored by everyone. Not ignored in the sense that no one liked her, but in the sense that no one was actually aware of her. Because of something paranormal. Her high school years were spent in the shadows of her friends as she saw them fall in and out of love. But for Brianna, going out with a boy wasn't possible because boys literally had no clue she was there. I think this theme of being invisible in high school is very interesting, even though Talia Vance isn't the first one to elaborate on it. I mean, probably everyone ends up feeling invisible, once in their lifetime, so it's a great way to have the readers form a link with the main character.As a huge fan of Greek Mythology, it was no surprised that the Irish Mythology from this book enthralled me. The mythology and the world Talia Vance has created is refreshing and very interesting. However, it does feel like the author was in a rush to write out her story and I truly think more time could have been dedicated to details of the paranormal aspects. As a descendent of Danu, an Irish goddess, Brianna is considered a Bandia and must learn how to manage her new and destructive powers, all on her own. Especially controlling her attractiveness and appeal from anyone surrounding her because being recognized and noticed might not be in her best interest. Since the book left me wanting more information on the Bandias, I found myself searching the Internet for more details. My search didn't reveal much so I'm assuming the author elaborated quite a bit on the myth surrounding Danu and truly made it her own.That being said, I hope we learn more about the Bandias in the future books.I think a lot of the book's appeal comes from the fast pace and the easy flow. Never a dull moment, the story is very youth oriented because of the gossip and teenage quarrels, but it adds so many interesting bits. Conflicts between Brianna and the group of men set out to destroy all the Bandias also creates interesting action that's sure to please any type of readers.One last thing I want to mention is Brianna's love of horses. Obviously horses are a symbol of Irish culture and her dedication to horses was a great way to foreshadow her Irish roots. I think small details like this make novels so much more complete and enjoyable. For a debut, I think SILVER was well written but I really hope to get more information about the world of the Bandias in the future release. SILVER will surely be stacked on many shelves this fall because it's a debut YA novel you don't want to miss. Let yourself be enthralled by the Bandias and I'm sure you won't regret it!An advance reader's copy was provided by the publisher.",4.0,A Shinning Debut,1348358400,"09 23, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NBRQWA4ZR3C0,0316175668,Casey K. Conrad,"[0, 0]","I really did enjoy reading this book with its magical, mythical elements involved in the story. The characters were well-developed and you really could feel what the characters were going through - sadness, joy, loss, etc.The writer has a wonderful way with words describing the background and scenery - she really made it come alive.As some reviewers mentioned, the books is in 3 parts - I really did enjoy the first 2 parts. I also did enjoy the third part; however the ending felt so abrupt with many questions unanswered. I'm sure that was part of the mystery the writer was aiming at, but I did feel a little let down at the end.Otherwise, it is a wonderful, beautiful book which really keeps you involved.",4.0,A book to leave you with many questions?,1375056000,"07 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35JTVM6A5T2VF,0553381849,Richard R. Horton,"[7, 8]","_The Fall of the Kings_ is Delia Sherman and Ellen Kushner's sequel to Kushner's first novel, _Swordspoint_. This novel is set some 60 years later. One of the heroes, Theron Campion, is the son of one of the heroes of that first novel. He is a somewhat self-indulgent but basically good aristocrat who fairly seriously attends the university, partly to avoid becoming too entangled in what he considers the empty life of most of his fellows. The other hero is Basil St. Cloud, a rising young history professor who believes that the story of the rise and fall of the Kings of their country, and of their advisory Wizards, has been seriously misrepresented. After the last King was deposed and killed 200 years previously (by a direct ancestor to Theron), the official view has been that the Kings were irredeemably corrupt and that the wizards were also corrupt, and that their magic was simply trickery and manipulation. Basil believes that while the later Kings were bad, the first Kings were very good, and he also slowly finds hints that the Wizards may have once been able to do real magic.Basil and Theron fall in love, and as their relationship deepens, strange things begin to happen. Theron continues to have strange dreams which involve turning into, and killing, a deer. Basil runs across a curious book that purports to be a Wizard's spell book. Basil's rivalry with a stodgy fellow professor threatens to bring Basil's most controversial views into the open. The northern part of the Kingdom, from whence came the first King and the Wizards, is the source for a group who secretly yearn for the restoration of the Kings, and this group includes one of Basil's students. The authorities start looking for sources of rebellious sentiment, and they are inevitably led to naive and innocent Theron and Basil. And Theron's fears drive him towards a lovely young woman as a potential wife, naturally angering Basil.It's a pretty fun book to read, with a nicely depicted academic/bohemian milieu. The ending is fairly logical but I found it unsatisfying and a bit abrupt (though I wouldn't be suprised to see a sequel, and I hope we don't wait another 15 years). I did think some characters were ill-treated by the authors (such as Theron's putative wife). I also admit I found the implied support for royalist positions and some rather brutal magic a bit offputting.I'd rank it a notch below _Swordspoint_, despite in some ways being quite a bit more ambitious. Enjoyable, not a classic.",4.0,Decent and enjoyable sequel to a minor classic,1046995200,"03 7, 2003",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A2K9O5L6224E4E,1596294019,Sharon Murray,"[6, 6]","This is a clear, concise, well written account of the Battle of South Mountain which occurred on September 14, 1862, a prelude to Antietam. The excellent maps, which in my mind are essential to any battle history, enable the reader to understand how the the terrain and the placement and movement of troops across that terrain played a key role in the outcome of the battle. Both this book and another written by Hoptak entitled ""The Battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862"", published by the Western Maryland Interpretive Association are a must read for those interested in two of the three key battles in Maryland Campaign of 1862.",5.0,The Tale of Three Gaps,1314489600,"08 28, 2011",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2QHS5ZI50PYJ9,1455134767,R Edinborough,"[5, 8]",It is absolutely horrifying to see how ill equipped the current president is to hold such an important office in America.,5.0,Great read!,1402790400,"06 15, 2014",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A37RIFPSOPL9SH,B008BIAFF8,Diane Jewkes,"[7, 7]",The Wanting Heart is a page turner. If you like romantic suspense this is a must-read. The characters are multi-dimensional and compelling and the story never slows down building to an explosive climax that will have you gripping your book (or reader)until the very end.,5.0,A Great Ride Start to Finish,1349222400,"10 3, 2012",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A2POYW39B2OJRL,B00C5TOQ7M,chops26,"[0, 0]","I LOVED this book! Such a cute story that made me laugh out loud along the way- if you're looking for a great story with a lot of laughs along the way, you've found your book!!!",5.0,So charming and clever,1369872000,"05 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFM83R1R2A5GI,071563318X,MDStien,"[0, 0]","This book is a masterpiece. I picked it up mostly as a token item to help with my infatuation with zombie movies. The satirical style in which it follows survival oriented literature is a hoot, and as the author intended makes you seriously consider 'Am I prepared for the zombie apocalypse or (insert catastrophe here)?'I can honestly say thanks to the easy to read style, well done critique of nearly every conceivable zombie related environment you could imagine, and dozens of helpful tips on how to defeat the undead, this book got me into prepping. No not for the zombie apocalypse! The style is one which makes you think 'What if I got stranded on my own? What if the power was out for days on end? What if a riot overtook my part of town?' and it's these various 'what if' scenarious that allow you to honestly examine these ideas from a non-judgemental point of view with friends and family.So if this book can get more people into prepping I say great! It gives you some laughs along the way and lets you unwind after a busy day. Buy this book, suggest it to your friends, have fun with it!",5.0,Thought provoking and satirical,1353196800,"11 18, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3VOXY9KCR75ZB,0989769704,Kelli,"[0, 9]","I understand how authors want to leave things on a cliffhanger to allow for a sequel. However... don't spend one whole book on the ""build up"". Just as it was getting interesting, it stopped.I guess that might just be a personal pet peeve of mine, but it's a turn off for me.",2.0,Waste...,1378944000,"09 12, 2013",0,9,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2VCGJLKGK2WJJ,006440899X,Rebecca Herman,"[7, 7]","Fifteen-year-old Danielle, her parents, and her pesky nine-year-old brother Peter have just moved in to a creepy old house. Peter is so annoying that sometimes Danielle wishes she didn't have a brother. For example, when Danielle and her friend Addie are practicing pretended to be hypnotized for a school talent show, Peter insists on getting hypnotized, too. And after that, things start to get really weird. Peter is acting strange. He's forgetting things. Little things at first. But then big things. And strange voices are calling to him from the dark basement of the house. A mysterious guy in a long black coat is following Danielle around. What is causing Peter's amnesia? The mysterious guy? The hypnosis? Danielle's wish? The house itself? Read the book to find out! It's R. L. Stine's first new book in quite a while, and starts off a terrifying new series called The Nightmare Room.",5.0,What is happening to Danielle's brother?,966902400,"08 22, 2000",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3NJTCBI8WIF1G,0141040580,Lawrence Meyer,"[29, 53]","This should have been one short book or maybe two short books, had achieving originality been the author's intent. The two short books would have been about (a.) U.S. and British diplomatic relationships during the war and (b.) British people who as soldiers, officers, volunteers (or whatever) participated in the war on U.S soil. But instead the author chose to regurgitate the main lines of the familiar military and political narrative of the Civil War, with episodes of (a.) and (b.) mingled in. Many of the episodes and characters of (b.) are trite, minor, and uninteresting, even if they are British. Many of the plots and characters of (a.) are already very familiar to students of the Civil War.Writing American history in a more transatlantic key is much in vogue and I can name a number of historians who are doing that well. Perhaps that is what the author was aiming for. But I think she missed the mark. So compelling is the moral drama of the Civil War that the author's British spin on it comes off rather cool and unengaged. About midway through, even her attention to the main war narrative wanders a good bit and she meanders into platitudes and inaccuracies by the time she gets to Gettysburg.No, I don't think this book is a keeper, or one I will be reading again. And certainly all the claims on the book jacket for what the book will do for the author's fame are like the book itself, bloated.",1.0,bloated,1321228800,"11 14, 2011",29,53,helpful,0.5471698113207547,1 A3THAEKDPJ0ZT8,073948804X,Shanie B,"[0, 0]","This book is truly amazing. I've never felt so many emotions from a single book. I was in tears from the things Mo had to endure with Quan, and ecstatic at how Boss turned out to be her prince charming. It had me from the beginning until the end. I could not put this book down... The lesson of this book is don't settle for less than you're worth. The one who loves you will not hurt you.",5.0,AMAZING.....,1369008000,"05 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1B8YOKGNY600,B007ZJGOTK,Nate R,"[6, 6]",The thing I found most useful about this book were the end-of-chapter jump start action items to complete. Several of these tips alone will make entering sweepstakes and contests much faster and easier. This book is a no brainer for the price.,5.0,Great tips for making entering sweepstakes easier,1342656000,"07 19, 2012",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AOKDEAUY3IHW6,0987650408,"C. Medina ""RedCat""","[4, 4]","When I first heard from my first physical therapist that I needed to bend backwards to stop what had become 2+ years of low back issues, I thought she must be crazy. Fast forward 4 months and I wish I could give Robin McKenzie a giant hug! His treatment program has literally saved my back and changed my life. This book is almost unbelievable in the simplicity of the plan, but it works like a miracle if you have the kind of back problems he developed this system for. This book clearly explains what causes the pain, and how critical a role your spine plays in the pain. This was a breakthrough for me as I assumed my pain was all muscular, and did not understand the role of the spine and disks. The book explains it all with great diagrams and pictures, then goes thru how to treat three phases: acute pain, recovery, and maintenance/ prevention of future episodes. You MUST follow the program exactly and stop any other things you are doing. I was inadvertently making my pain stay longer by doing what I thought would help. Check with a doctor and/ or physical therapist to make sure your back issue is the kind this program works for, and if you are, then prepare yourself for a miraculous change!",5.0,This book saved my back!,1376092800,"08 10, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AXIO51VZN815F,1480231436,Don Kidwell,"[0, 0]",Book leaves you with a warm feeling and hopefully a good night hug when you are done! (Part of my Children's Book Marathon on 2/27/2014 to try to look thru the thousand books I had downloaded the last 6 months).,4.0,The kind of book you'll want to read along with your young child or grandchild while they are sitting in your lap :),1393459200,"02 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AU5HUS2XJBDZZ,0099555352,Mark Stevens,"[4, 5]","Strong start. Weak middle. Beyond-improbable, unsatisfying finish.There are several major themes embedded in ""The Man From Beijing."" One is that Swedish district court judge Birgitta Roslin tries to convince investigator Vivi Sundberg that there might be a connection to China in the case of a horrific mass murder in a Swedish hamlet of Hesjovallen. Birgitta is also investigating for personal reasons, because she has a family connection among the victims. There are several major improbabilities early on--such as the idea that the crime scene would be so loosely guarded that Birgitta could break into one of the houses where the crimes were committed and walk out with one of the victim's diaries--but I forgave this moment because the rest of the opening section was so well drawn. I was ready for tension. The opening few sections are captivating, although I kept thinking we would go back to Vivi's point of view (never happened).Then events shifted to a much more global theme. I felt like I had entered a Nelson DeMille story--which can be a good thing. Mankell first takes us back to the fate of two poor Chinese peasants who make their way around the world in the mid-19th century, including some colorful and interesting scenes around railroad construction in the Western United States. But to what end? It's a long way to go to motivate one character for the events that follow. When the action switches to China, Mankell lost me. Mankell gives Birgitta a good reason to be from away work and then, remarkably, she and a long-time friend (who were once fixated on Chinese politics) wind up together in China. From this point forward, events never gelled. The over-the-top coincidences in China didn't help. The fact that Birgitta didn't tell her friend about being attacked felt completely unnatural. Birgitta doesn't tell her husband much, either, even though she claims to be trying to revive the relationship. She's hard to root for.By the time we return to the central issue of who attacked a whole village and left so many bodies behind, the tension has evaporated and ""The Man From Beijing"" ends with a fizzle.",2.0,Good Start & That's All,1273190400,"05 7, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1CFQBMN5T4H1J,1416997857,Scattervision,"[0, 0]","This is not a great series. The writing is okay, but not stellar. The story lines are simplistic and barely hold the reader's attention. There were multiple reviews here on Amazon that said, "This series is SO much better than the Twilight books!!" I'm not a big fan of Twilight, either, but no... this series is not better. The only improvement this series makes to the supernatural world is that the vampires in Mortal Instruments don't sparkle (thank goodness..how stupid is it to have sparkly vampires?).I do not recommend the Mortal Instruments books to anyone over 15. Seriously.",2.0,Not great,1378771200,"09 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1I6ZCHKMNQI1V,159309261X,"Urban Reviews ""Your Source for the Best in AA...","[17, 18]","Nicola is a newly divorced and beautiful woman. But she harbors a lot of bitterness and resentment due to things that happened in her life. She takes out her aggression through sex and takes out every man in her path. But when she set her sights on an unsuspecting family, there may be disastrous consequences for all that are involved. Nicola first gets involved with a young music executive name Carlos. Carlos is a playboy that's not looking for a long term relationship. Carlos quickly changes his mind when Nicola starts a steamy affair with him. Unbeknownst to Carlos, Nicola also has his brother Jonathan in her clutches. Jonathan is a young man that has successfully practiced abstinence until Nicola seduces him. Things get even more confusing as Carlos' mother reunites with her first love, who is also the father of his older brother Tarik.Nasty is an entertaining and thought provoking novel by Dr. XyZ. This author brought us a twisted tale that has very realistic consequences. Dr. XyZ did a wonderful job of linking all of the characters to one another. This story serves as a public service announcement of how the HIV and AIDS epidemic is still alive and well. It also shows the end result of promiscuous behavior and how everyone needs to be responsible for their own protection. It would have been nice if the author delved more into the past of Nicola's mother, but maybe that will be explained in a future book. Nasty is a gripping and raw debut novel by Dr. XyZ.",5.0,A Public Service Announcement ( 4.5 stars),1262736000,"01 6, 2010",17,18,helpful,0.9444444444444444,1 A18GMU5LCZ5G2O,082630656X,James Stripes,"[7, 7]","in every high school class, now that it costs next to nothing. This is colonial American history every bit as significant as the writings of John Smith (Virginia colony) and William Bradford (Plymouth colony). It also offers more accurate ethnographic information. Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was a remarkable man who understood more than most would-be conquistadors, and whose experiences among the indigenous inhabitants of North America convinced him that the Spanish had much to learn from these new peoples they sought to dominate. Cabeza de Vaca's narrative makes clear that at the very beginnings of colonization, there were efforts to reconcile the profound diffenences that gave rise to five centuries of cultural conflict. His attitudes stand in such marked contrast to Hernanado De Soto, Francisco Coronado, Juan de Onate, and others, that it is perhaps too easy to romanticize Cabeza de Vaca.This book is based on one of the reputable translations of Cabeza de Vaca's work. It has useful historical and literary assesments of the work. It might have been improved with a map or two.",4.0,Assign this book . . .,952300800,"03 6, 2000",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3TJOBVQ95HK9Z,B00CD7QO5S,ouida stokes,"[0, 0]",This book contains hot guys and the girls that takes them down. Great writing and story from a great author. Can't wait to read the next book in this series.,5.0,Hot guys,1388966400,"01 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2B6QGRZJ85H62,1476724024,cheryl l. white,"[0, 0]","Martha Grimes' latest Richard Jury, Melrose Plant, and the rest of their quirky friends have not aged well. The 80s London and England scene which served Grimes so well in earlier novels now seem uninteresting--even the once-catchy pub names are just not stand outs in this mystery. Grimes doesn't make the reader care much about Trueblood or the rest of the gang, but instead marches procedurally through the novel without ever putting flesh and blood on the bare bones character outlines. Jury's sidekick, the hypochondriac Wiggins, brings some humor to the table, but not enough to make the reader want to continue reading. Maybe Jury and his gang of friends should retire at this point, and Martha Grimes can turn her talent to new, and hopefully more entertaining, plots and characters.",3.0,Richard Jury needs to retire,1404172800,"07 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 APK7MR727YKBX,0596520832,Ayp,"[5, 7]","I would recommend this book to anyone who is starting to learn SQL.This book is a begineers book teaching various SQL statements like SELECT, INSERT, DELETE. The book starts off with the available database models like Network, Object and Heirarchical models and then goes ahead and explains the commands. The commands are written for MySQL which is freely available for download and install. The author also explains the variations in Oracle and SQL Server where appropriate.The commands are grouped together and covered one by one. The topics covered are statements like SELECT, INSERT, DELETE, aggregate functions, joining more than one table, set operations like union, intersection, views, indexes, constraints, transaction etc.There is also ""Test your knowledge"" at the end of each chapter which helps you to reinforce what you just learnt with the solutions at the end of the book in case you are struck and don't know how to proceed.This book just introduces all the beginners concept in a nice way. The examples are simple to follow and learn.PROS : Covers all SQL commands, Show different variations among Database vendorsCONS : Begineer book (no indepth knowledge)",3.0,Good book for begineers,1278633600,"07 9, 2010",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1TTXVO1QJ85CN,0671730363,"Renee Fizer ""Renee""","[4, 5]","I honestly didn't expect to like this book. I read some of the reviews on here, and it made me uncertain. But i thought i'd give it a shot. I'm very glad i did.This book was well written, and you actually cared about them.Beatrice Lacey: She does everything and anything possible to stay on the land she loves. She goes from a young girl of 14 or 15 who adores her father, only tro plan his death, enjoying her first lover, to a jaded woman of twenty or twenty one, who has sacrified her own soul,consience and chance at love to ensure she and her son never leave Wideacre.It's actually rather sad to read at times. At some point, Beatrice realizes she's lost her way, and finally is just waiting for death it seems. Nothing can make her feel alive again. Her character just goes from this woman who loves her home and fights her brother to keep to the old ways so the poor don't suffer, to being the cause of their ruin. It's sad. And it creeps up on you in this book before you even realize its happening.Harry Lacey: He goes from a self indulgent, beautiful boy, almost a god of the harvest in Beatrice's and Celia's eyes, to selfish boorish man. He never fully understands whats happening to him. The relationship between himself and his sister at times seems so oddly normal its bizarre in itself.This book is definetly a page turner. you want something different, this is it!",5.0,Wow.,1188345600,"08 29, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AAIL33CYCT47J,1401324509,Gregory Baird,"[17, 17]","I had the privilege of attending a book signing with Gail Simmons hosted by Tom Colicchio, and at that event Tom described this book as a ""love letter to food"" and the culinary industry. I don't think a more succinct, accurate description of this book could possibly be found.Full disclosure: I am a confirmed Top Chef fanatic, and Gail is probably my favorite judge. She has the best shoes, at any rate (sorry Tom). My partner and I saw her give a cooking demo in Bryant Park before Christmas, and we both eagerly attended the aforementioned signing. So one could make the case that I am biased when it comes to Gail--was, in fact, inclined to enjoy Talking with My Mouth Full no matter what she wrote inside.To that I would respond that I am not without my criticisms of this book. There's an awkward sentence here and there. She has an overwhelming tendency to list things--at one point spending at least a page and a half going through the ingredients and foods one could encounter at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic (which Gail oversaw for a time).So she isn't, technically speaking, the best writer in the world, but she IS a fantastic storyteller, and that more than makes up for it in my opinion. Gail has a winning personality and it shines throughout her memoir. Yes, the listing offends the English major in me, but I can see that the reason she indulges in it is that she has such a genuine fondness for it all. Even after all these years working in the culinary industry she is still in awe of it all. Those ingredients and flavors at the F&W; Classic make her feel positively giddy. This is a woman who LOVES her job and the industry she works in, and that love is so palpable that the reader can't help but fall under its spell.I have a profound respect for anyone who pursues a career based on an all-consuming passion, and the story of how Gail found her way is fascinating. I also respect people who are willing to put in the work to make those dreams a reality, and Gail has done that. She wanted to write about food, so she knew she had to learn it inside and out. She went to culinary school and worked in some very prestigious kitchens (including Le Cirque). She worked with Jeffrey Steingarten (the venerable food writer for Vogue and author of the classicThe Man Who Ate Everything) and Daniel Bouloud, eventually finding her way to Food & Wine and, in a nice twist of fate, Top Chef. Gail modestly attributes most of her success to luck--being in the right place at the right time--but the truth is that she let her passion lead her and she worked her butt off to get where she is.Along the way we get enlightening glimpses into Gail's life, the inner workings of restaurants, and behind the scenes information about how Top Chef is made. We hear her first-hand experience of how hard it is to be a female chef in an industry that is overwhelmingly male.For a grittier look at the inner workings of a restaurant you can look to Anthony Bourdain'sKitchen Confidential Updated Edition: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (P.S.)(a fascinating read), but for a feel-good passion play about the funny things that can happen if you follow your heart (or stomach), Gail Simmons does not disappoint.Grade: B+",4.0,A Love Letter to Food,1332806400,"03 27, 2012",17,17,helpful,1.0,1 AGSC3P3CRKUYD,0809039435,"Singlemalt ""Singlemalt""","[11, 13]","I had read Alex Kerr's first book, 'Lost Japan,' shortly after arriving in Japan 6 years ago. At that time, I was impressed with his writing and observations. Well, 6 years later, I'm still here, and his writing is as on the mark as it ever was. Having listened first-hand to the empty promises, year after year, of a succession of impotent governments, seeing the wasteful gov't spending and ineptness of the system, I can only sadly agree with what Kerr says in this very lucid, intelligent book.Another reviewer called it 'shrill,' but I also noted that reader had come here on a two week holiday. Hardly a position from which to develop any sort of balanced perspective, much less write such a criticism. Read Kerr's first book, and it lacks the harsh tone. This second book is intended to sound the alarm (it will be published in Japanese in May), and seems to really be intended as a wake up call. There are dozens of books out there that lack any kind of criticism AT ALL of what is going on in this country, but the majority of those of us who live and work here will likely welcome this book, surely in the hope that the Japanese public and some enlightened individuals or groups in the government (if there are any) will have the guts to tough it out and turn this baby around before it hits the rocks.I would have to say that this book has far more 'objectivity', being written by a 35 year resident of Japan who most definitely loves the country and its people, than a review written by a 2 week tourist.Buy this book and see the real thing, the Japan nobody ever talks about.",5.0,Alex Kerr knows his stuff,1016409600,"03 18, 2002",11,13,helpful,0.8461538461538461,1 A2PJGSE5HI6IEJ,1623220289,"Allyson Brann ""Allyson""","[9, 10]","If you haven't picked up the Holiday, Montana Series...I highly recommend doing so! Her Lucky Love is the fourth in the series and probably my favorite so far! Brayden and Ally's story is touching, heartwarming, just an all around great read! Brayden has been in love with Ally for years but stood in the sidelines! Allison is a single mother of 3 whose deceased husband was extremely abusive both physically and mentally! Allison is going to put her kids first no matter what, she was strong,protective,courageous,loving with stubbornness thrown in! Ally struggles with letting another male in her life and the magic that surrounds her! She finds out the hard way not all magic is good! This book that made me cry, laugh out loud, smile, turn page after page in order to find out what happened next! I was sad to reach the end! I truly can't say enough good things about this book! I highly recommend picking it up! I am looking forward to Jackson's Story!",5.0,Wonderful Book!!!!,1362268800,"03 3, 2013",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A1RAUVCWYHTQI4,0156659751,A. Ross,"[11, 12]","As I'd previously read and enjoyed Calvino's The Baron in the Trees, I thought I'd try this collection of two novellas. While I more or less enjoyed the two stories, they're not quite as good as The Baron in the Trees. The first tale is of a knight whose every action is perfect, but has no physical body, he is literally an empty suit of armor. His perfection is an aphrodisiac to a female knight who has contempt for all other men, but finds him irresistible. Meanwhile, a naive young knight follows her around like a puppy. Meanwhile, another young knight seeks out the Order of the Holy Grail, who he claims as having fathered him. There's a kind of Shakespearean comedy element to all of this, especially in the hasty and tidy conclusion. However, one has to read it as a fable instructing us that though we seek spiritual and earthly perfection, they may not turn out to be what we want.The second tale is of a nobleman cut in half whose two halves live separately on: one evil, one good. This is a more straightforward and compact story, and clearly a warning against extremism of any kinds. The evil side is truly nasty, and the good one starts out beloved, but eventfully gets too pushy and interfering for everyone's good. Eventually the two halves are rejoined to make a balanced personality and everyone lives happily ever after.Both stories can also be read as existentialist meditations on the meaning of existence. They can also be read with an eye toward the horrors of WWII and the nature of evil. In the first tale, Charlemagne and his knights are bumbling fools for the most part, but still manage to engage in a bloody war. In the second, a carpenter's expertise is enlisted to create more and more elaborate torture and hanging devices, while a doctor abandons his commitment to helping people. In any event, if you like Calvino's other fabulist work, you'll like these two novellas, but they're probably not the place to start if you're unfamiliar with his work.",3.0,"Ok, but not his best work",1018396800,"04 10, 2002",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A1BOYIVNU078VH,1469241943,Judy,"[0, 0]","It is a good book, but there are so many stories going on that it is sometimes hard to keep up with. I did enjoy it and would read another by this author. Very realistic.",4.0,War Brides,1404777600,"07 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2N1N7JLMA3Q70,161448158X,b00kworm,"[0, 1]","Unlike any crash diet or dietary supplements, this book gives you the tools to not only lose weight and become fitter, it also helps you maintain those goals! Easy to understand and follow principles will change how you think and feel about food and your diet and excercise regime... you will change your thinking patterns to help you keep off the weight long term! If you are looking to not only lose weight, but also be a healthier, happier you, i highly recommend this method for you.",5.0,Longlasting change,1338508800,"06 1, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A37GRFP6VMUXKT,0060806575,"Douglas S. Wood ""Vicarious Life""","[4, 16]","As a big fan of P.G. Wodehouse, it pains me to assign only three stars to `Thank You, Jeeves, but I have my reasons. Jeeves and Bertie go their separate ways over Wooster's `banjolele' playing, so the first objection is that a large chunk of the book lacks the necessary goodish portion of Jeeves that nourishes Wodehouse fans.This reader's other two objections are intertwined and, I hope, a bit subtle. The story is just plain dated. A gag about white men wearing black-face runs on and on through the book and it's just not that funny anymore. This objection stems not so much from race consciousness as it does from the fact that the gag just falls flat - if not on the first instance then certainly by the umpteenth replay.And then there's Bertie's repeated use of the N-word to describe a group of minstrels. Now Wooster does not use the term as a straightforward epithet; he likes the minstrel show and wants to practice with them. His attitude is patronizing, but not hateful. And the word has or used to have somewhat different, perhaps slightly less offensive, connotations in England than in the US. No doubt the use of the word accurately represents the unspoken assumption of racial superiority that permeated the British upper class. The best you can say is it's an anachronism today. By the way, Jeeves calls them Negro minstrels, also an anachronism, but never intended offensively. Maybe Wodehouse was trying to make a point.The BBC TV series adapting the Wooster and Jeeves stories is highly entertaining. For this reviewer, these adaptations brought the characters to life in a way that improved upon the mental images I had formed.Jeeves & Wooster - The Complete SeriesAnyway, there are plenty of other better Wooster and Jeeves stories, likeThe Code of the Woostersthat are far superior to Thank You, Jeeves.I highly recommend Jeeves and Wooster, but this volume can be left aside.",3.0,No Thanks,1190505600,"09 23, 2007",4,16,helpful,0.25,1 A19NQXHC9ZJUA0,1569757887,Elaine Cunningham,"[5, 5]","I've read several anthologies devoted to werewolves and other shapeshifters, but I consider this collection to be, hands down, the best I've come across. All too often, short fiction anthologies are like CDs: a couple of good selections, a lot of so-so filler material, and at least one miss. In this collection, there's not a single wrong note.Award-winning editor James Lowder has a knack for finding great stories and arranging them to create a subtle flow of style and theme. In this reprint anthology, he could hardly go wrong. Ursula K. LeGuin, Charles de Lint, Neil Gaiman, Tanith Lee, Peter S. Beagle--the table of contents is a fantasy writer hall of fame.This anthology is a treat for fantasy readers, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys intelligent short fiction.",4.0,Outstanding collection of werewolf tales,1280188800,"07 27, 2010",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1OVFEIEPVFW7L,1559363703,Charles H Wadhams,"[7, 8]","This work is the dialogue of the rock musical ""Next to Normal"" which portrays a bipolar mother's struggle with her life. I found the book very helpful, since I attended a preformance of the show currently running in Portland, OR. I join the local critics in praising the work. It must be seen by any family encountering mental health issues in their lives. It is a marvelous, unique presentation for theater-goers. The book enhanced my understanding of this fast moving show.",4.0,Something new and different in theater...,1336953600,"05 14, 2012",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A2OYS51L2ZJGEL,0786891424,birdiejos,"[0, 0]",Great mystery with a little comedy and just overall decent book! If you loved the tv series you will love the books!,5.0,great writing!,1395619200,"03 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1COLGAVVMQL5J,0989050882,Jenn,"[0, 0]",The book was great can't wait to read the rest of the series this author knew how to get u going.,5.0,Great book,1396828800,"04 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3VJ27010XUWTF,0307593916,"C. Wong ""Book worm""","[8, 9]","A bestseller in Korea and it should be here too. This is a short book that get involved in Korean traditions and family secrets.When you read it, you may feel that it is simple but it is not. An Korean woman approching old age gets separated from her husband in the Seoul train depot. The main focus this book is the mother but viewed through four different sets of eyes. The young college educated writer daughter, the precious son vowing to study to get a prestigous and good paying job. Prestige and status are very important in Korea. Also there is a father who only thinks of his wife as the mother of his children and lastly the mother herself.This is the first time that I have ever read a book written mostly in second person. I thought it would make the story difficult to follow but it just makes the story seem more real. It is amazing to realize that this is a translation, the writing seems so natural to me. The traditons of North and South Korea have differences. And like China, the standard language is mainly spoken around the capital with dialets in other parts. The writer daughter in the story represents the social change that is now happening in South Korea. Before, the traditional women seems meek and subordinate but as demonstrated in the book still has some power. But this book is more than a demonstration of social change, it is exploration of family secrets and complex interaction of the different persons in the family.Even food plays a part of this story. There is tremendous amount of work that goes into the preparation of traditional food.I enjoyed the description of how the mother prepared Kimchee as that is one of my favorites. Outside of that, I think that you will be amazed at the amount of work the old mother does each day.This book will take you on a parade of different emotions You will not be disppointed in this book. I recommend it to everyone interested in Korea and the inner workings of a family.",5.0,An Emotional Journey,1304726400,"05 7, 2011",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 AA6RI5JUGGN3L,0061128856,RS Habs,"[0, 0]",The beginning of the book grabbed me right away. Unfortunately the rest was a bit blah and dragged out much longer than necessary. The resolution of the mystery was also unsettling to me. It's one of those books that felt a bit like a waste of time once I finished reading it.,2.0,great start but that's about it,1360540800,"02 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1R7UWWVJAP5V5,147782300X,BOOKTALK WITH EILEEN,"[4, 4]","Whisper Horse series:Take Me HomeCountry RoadsThe Place I BelongAbout the Story: Hannah Linden, a veterinarian has buried herself in a little small town in West Virginia, far from her professional woes and her ex-fiancé in Boston. She considered herself lucky to find someone who would hire her after she told them what happened in her previous job. Something else Hannah hadn’t expected, is her growing love for the town, its people and her patients.She becomes emotionally touched with Matt, a young teenager who spent a day with her at the clinic learning how important animals are in people’s lives. Hannah finds Matt’s father complex and charming – someone she needs to stay away from to keep her heart intact.Adam Bosch, Matt’s father and world-renowned chef, when learns of Matt’s existence cannot come to grips with the idea of being a father—he would destroy anyone close to him. Adam has issues he struggles with daily and knows he must keep a distance from people. He’s an alcoholic and has stayed away from the bottle for nine years, but when he drinks he's afraid that he would be abusive as his father was. Adam convinced himself he can’t be a father nor could he get married. What would he do to his wife or child? Adam fills his life with cooking and has a restaurant in Sanctuary that people fly in by helicopter to dine. That’s his life and he doesn’t need more, but when he meets Hannah, things begin to change.When Hannah helped Adam with his troubled son he was drawn to her physically and emotionally. She was light to his dark. And he couldn’t stay away.My Thoughts: This story had three things going for it that I really liked.The setting is in a small town up in the mountains. There is something a small town has that a larger one doesn’t and these types of stories draw me. It’s as if there is some healing quality to living in a smaller community with the type of people who live there.Coupling that with a story with animals, it was even more endearing. The little pony that became Matt’s whisper horse tugged at my heartstrings. Trace, Matt’s dog even played a heroic role within the plot. They were as much part of the story as Adam, Hannah and Matt.Lastly, the story dealt with social issues and diseases we grapple with today and laymen need to further understand how they affect our lives and behavior.They say that an author should write what they know. Nancy Herkness was born and raised in the mountains of West Virginia and was able to capture the feeling of a small town in words because I saw it very clearly in my mind.Her story was evenly paced with no slow points that dragged and she kept me reading hours at a time.The heat between Adam and Hannah was quite sizzling launching them both into territory both were afraid to face. Both had quite noble character.Her writing lifted words from the page to my imagination. The dialog came natural within a well-crafted whole. Herkness is an excellent writer showing me a life that I’ve never lived until now. The idea of animals sharing our emotional burdens is not new to me however, her story was unique with the idea of whisper horses.When I read Herkness's novel it reminded me of author Susan Mallery's series Fool's Gold. If you enjoy her books, you'll surely enjoy Nancy Herkness's novel--an all-around well-crafted story, romance with a sizzle, in a small town contemporary setting with a heart-warming happy ever after ending.About the Author: Nancy Herkness was born and raised in the mountains of West Virginia, where she rode a pony much like other children ride bicycles. Herkness discovered her love of reading and soon after a passion for writing romance when her grandmother gifted her a Georgette Heyer novel.After graduating from Princeton University with honors in English literature and creative writing, she had successful careers in retail, computer programming, and marketing before finally returning to her first love--writing.She’s the author of the Whisper Horse series as well as several other contemporary romances. Herkness is one of 2003’s Best Up and Coming Authors in the Affaire de Coeur’s readers’ poll. She is also the winner of several writing awards, including the Golden Leaf Award, the Aspen Gold Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.",5.0,A heart-warming story of love which heals souls and removes inner demons,1401840000,"06 4, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A245AST0T0AZTJ,0195046455,J. Lindner,"[21, 22]","Of all the "companions" to the Bible available, this is the most comprehensive. The editors have done a fine job compiling most topics referenced in the Bible into a concise single-volume tome. Each book of the Bible is covered, as well as books of the apochrypha; the list of characters covered is nearly complete; and the many themes of modern religious scholarship is, at least to the novice, very comprehensive. There are a number of maps at the end to rival Biblical atlases.There are at least two omissions that perhaps should not have been left out. There is no individual entry on Caesar Augustus (though he is mentioned within the context of the Roman Empire). Augustus dominated his world, in fact Herod and Pilate were mere role players within the greater Roman imperial framework. The fact that Herod and Pilate gain more attention in both the Oxford Companion and the Bible, reflects the regionality of the Bible, but for comparison purposes, a specific entry on Augustus would have helped gain perspective. The other omission is the town of Emmaus. In itself this is insignificant, but considering the resurrected Jesus chose this town to first appear is no small matter.Omissions aside, this book lives up to its name. This is indeed a fine companion to the Bible that any interested person should consider purchasing.",5.0,Oxford Companion to the Bible,1010966400,"01 14, 2002",21,22,helpful,0.9545454545454546,1 A21P9AX2HIJVR5,1561486779,"B.Douglas ""Beau""","[25, 28]","In my opinion this is the best Journal I have ever used. The only revision I would make is to make it a yearly format. Otherwise, it is well constructed and fun to use. It is a good tool in the weight loss battle.",5.0,Best Journal Ever,1262908800,"01 8, 2010",25,28,helpful,0.8928571428571429,1 A1NH1F3H8TC4C7,0989769704,john f. beyerlein,"[11, 11]",I loved the story. It was romantic and interesting. I looked forward to reading the story and wondering if Adonis would keep loving Samantha and build up her confidence.,5.0,LOVE HER ALWAYS,1388620800,"01 2, 2014",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A21F7RLJQ3PDMI,061589285X,Lisa Miller,"[4, 4]","I can't believe I have to wait for the next installment, I think they need to be longer, I just start to get into it and then I'm at the end. We need to know what the outcome is going to be. Will Mel be angry or will she be happy for Avery. Please hurry and release the next installment. Thank you.",5.0,Hot and Sexy,1379980800,"09 24, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1CIW2OEVAJRM2,0061125288,Godly Gadfly,"[5, 6]","""The Silver Chair"" was the fourth book published in the Narnia Chronicles, but chronologically is the second last in the series and is published as such by most modern publishers. The story revolves around cousin Eustace (a familiar face from ""Prince Caspian"") and his classmate Jill Pole. Eustace and Jill narrowly escape school bullies and find themselves in Narnia. In Narnia, Aslan himself commissions them on a quest to find Caspian's missing son and heir, prince Rilian, who has been abducted by an evil witch posing as a beautiful woman and a horrible green snake. They are joined in their quest by Puddleglum, a charming Marsh-wiggle whose extreme pessimism ( ""he's always expecting the worst and he's always wrong"" p.93) is matched by his bravery. Together they escape the perils of giants, and by rescuing Rilian from his enchantment in the Underworld and restoring him to his father, they prevent the Green Lady from by achieving her evil ambitions in becoming Narnia's queen.As with all the Narnia Chronicles, on the level of children the story functions as a perfectly comprehensible and exciting fantasy adventure, but on an adult level it imparts powerful spiritual truths about Christianity by means of numerous recognizable Biblical allusions. Lewis intended ""The Silver Chair"" to portray the ongoing war against the powers of darkness. He emphasizes the truth of Deuteronomy 6 that in this war the signs of God's Word need to be carefully remembered and obeyed: ""And whatever strange things may happen to you, let nothing turn your minds from following the signs ... it is so important to know them by heart and pay no attention to appearances. Remember the signs and believe the signs. Nothing else matters."" (p.24-26). Failing to follow these signs makes the task more difficult, but not impossible. These failures, however, constitute sin, which is clearly portrayed as the fault of man: ""We must just own up"" (p.123) and ""We've brought the anger of Aslan on us. That's what comes of not attending to the signs."" (p.132) The only solution is to drink from Christ the living water, for there is no other source of water apart from him ""There is no other stream"" (p.20-21). There are also strong allusions to the doctrine of predestination: ""You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you."" (p.23) ""There *are* no accidents. Our guide is Aslan; and he was there when the giant King caused the letters to be cut, and he knew already all things that would come of them; including *this*."" (p.160)As always, in all the upheavals and conflicts of Narnia, Aslan is the one constant, and it is his vital involvement that enables the children to complete their Narnian quest, just as it is Christ who inspires, comforts, guides, and saves in the real world. Narnia may exist only in Lewis imagination and ours, but these underlying truths about Christ ensure that a journey to Narnia is never without profit for the real world.",5.0,Book 6 - A guide to the unending enchantment of Narnia,1020297600,"05 2, 2002",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AKMIZXSMU76EH,1449052924,Linda,"[32, 32]","I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the sequel to come out. It explored some themes I had not thought of. It was fast-paced and had good characters. I would like to see some of them more fully developed in the next book, like Lev, Ariella, and the Code Breaking team. I thought building in and telling the reader what each person's name meant was a great touch. It helped bring the story together. I don't usually write reviews for books, but I did for this one because I truly enjoyed reading it. Keep up the good work, Mr. Lyman, and thanks for the good read.",5.0,Excellent Story,1296950400,"02 6, 2011",32,32,helpful,1.0,1 A1YSRWA3COIQ2R,031237982X,"Rose Dawson ""Rose Dawson""","[0, 0]",A must read in the continuing this book series. Keeps you on the edge and you want to find out what is going to happen to Zoey Redbird and her friends!,5.0,Great Read in Continuing the Series,1396224000,"03 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A22MCHR6N4QYQ3,0312599064,"Cheryl A. Croston ""Raven""","[0, 0]","I am really enjoying this series and I'm far from being a teen. I love that I can read and enjoy each book, send it to my daughter to enjoy, and it finally reaches my granddaughter, who intends to keep them forever.",5.0,Great series!,1368144000,"05 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AR0NIJCJ53WXV,1583947248,"Blues Man ""casual reader""","[0, 0]","Thic Nhat Hanh (the Vietnamese Buddhist teacher, nominated for the Nobel Peace Price by Martin Luther King Jr.) coined the word interbeing, and Charles Eisenstein fleshes out the idea here that our world and ourselves are an interconnected web. Anything we do affects the whole.George Lakoff ( cognitive scientist) taught us about deep frames and emotional resonance with an idea before logic can kick in. Frank Luntz (Words that Work) talks about the same ideas but is a political conservative if you prefer. In this book Charles Eisenstein uses the ideas of these deep frames, linked to our story of existence, to point out what the Buddha did, long ago. We construct our reality in real time, using a whole store of information that we combine with incoming stimuli to create an acceptable understanding of our world. We have a map in our heads. We experience reality through that map. Change the map (story of existence) and you will change your experience. Change everyone's maps and experience, and change the world.Rupert Sheldrake has fleshed out ideas of morphic resonance and the 100th monkey for us and Charles Eisenstein points out that by changing our story to a new one, and acting accordingly, we become a force in changing the universe. It is a quiet sort of activism. It is not necessary to force a company to stop producing "pink slime," just develop a story with no need for the "product," and watch the world remove it from the marketplace.There is even a bit of Abraham-Hicks in this book, of visualizing the new story of the transformed world and "allowing" it rather than wasting energy in a pushing against or a "war" on the old story.This book is a great exploration of these ideas and turns traditional activism on its head. I think I will read this one again!",5.0,A transformed world is a mirror of the transformed self,1400198400,"05 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AC1K4OQOZ90RS,0399150927,"E. Bukowsky ""booklover10""","[4, 5]","California criminal defense attorney Paul Madriani is back. This time he is defending Emiliano Ruiz, a former military man accused of killing Madelyn Chapman, the arrogant and fabulously wealthy CEO of a successful software company. Ruiz worked for a private security firm providing executive protection for Madelyn, and it is no secret that the two had been lovers. The prosecution claims that Chapman wanted to end their affair, providing Ruiz with a motive for murder. The state is seeking the death penalty.Ruiz is a closed-mouth client whose lack of cooperation troubles Madriani. To make matters worse, the prosecutor turns out to be Larry Templeton, who is known for his brilliant and ruthless courtroom tactics. Madriani knows better than to underestimate his opponent, a Stanford Law School Graduate with a record of eighteen wins in court, and no losses in a capital case. All of the evidence points to Ruiz. The defendant's military issued firearm was the murder weapon and the perp appears to have been an experienced sharpshooter. Who, other than Ruiz, had the motive, means, and opportunity to kill Chapman?""Double Tap"" is an engrossing courtroom drama with lively characters, dry humor, and crisp dialogue. Martini explores some topical themes, including whether it is ethical for the United States government to use spyware, a software program that allows bureaucrats to snoop into the private lives of its citizens in the name of national security. Madriani thinks that this case may be more about government secrecy than it is about a love affair gone sour. Another theme is America's ingratitude to its combat veterans, who have served their country at great cost to their own mental and physical well-being. Madriani's Uncle Evo was a veteran who suffered horribly after he came back to the states, and in his memory, Madriani wants to make sure that Emiliano Ruiz gets a fair shake.""Double Tap"" has its flaws. At over four hundred pages, it could easily have been trimmed. Martini indulges in a great deal of needless exposition, explaining key details more than once, and the ending is predictable and a little too drawn out. Still, Martini has written a thriller with heart and compassion, and enough suspense to hold the reader's interest until the last page is turned.",4.0,Madriani tackles a hopeless case.,1128211200,"10 2, 2005",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1BM2LXXFMELAC,B00CFOJU3C,U2 Fan,"[0, 0]",I can't wait for the next set of books. I really like this one. I have read the whole series.,5.0,Best band series,1375315200,"08 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3H3PRY3Z7M5I0,B007QODP5A,be wonderful!,"[0, 0]","It was the book's cover and the WIZ-thing that caught my I, when I saw it passing through my timeline on facebook.As I myself write a lot about of motivation, the title made me go and buy it.Little did I know, how much value this little book would offer to me!It's the first book by Stephen I read-and it won't be the last one! That's for sure!I really appreciate the kind and determined way, Stephen uses to connect with the reader on a deep level, always sharing his own practical experiences.You can read this book in one session and when you apply the 10 simple and proven steps, Stephen shares, it will have a lasting effect on your life and your achievements!Maybe you have been looking for a quick and effective guide, giving you easy to follow stepping stones towards your loftiest goals: You have found it!And it's easy and fun to read!Thank you Stephen!",5.0,A True Gem!,1361836800,"02 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2CDDAJE10KCD5,0596521898,Frank Stepanski,"[8, 8]","It seems like Photoshop has been around since the first personal computer, well not that long but close. Photoshop is the most widely used photo/image editing tool on the planet and used by professional and amateurs world wide. So there are so many books on Photoshop that it is hard to figure out which one is right for you.This book by far is the most easy to understand book I have ever read. The color illustrations and screenshots are beautiful and very helpful, the writing is concise and to the point, and the added 4 HOURS of Lynda.com videos make it perfect.Now this is a book that is geared towards Photoshop beginners or people who need to upgrade their skills from older versions of Photoshop.Deke McClelland is a great author and has wrote many Photoshop books but this latest version really is a winner.He goes into detail of all the skills that somebody who wants to master Photoshop would want to learn such as correcting color balance, applying masks, using filters, building layered compositions, and printing output with commercial reproduction.Each chapter is taught like a lesson from a classroom and you can pick and choose what part you want to begin so you dont have to always start at the beginning.Just the 4 free hours of included video tutorials is worth the price of the book.A great buy and worth every penny.",5.0,Great Photoshop CS4 Book,1232409600,"01 20, 2009",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1WTYALNQNQG99,0156006103,Larry L. Looney,"[11, 11]","This novel is a pretty amazing creation - Elizabeth Graver has created a story and characters here that are at once compelling and, although set firmly in the mid-19th century, have a lot of valuable insight for us in the present. I picked up this book after being impressed by her newer novel, THE HONEY THIEF - and I have to say that I enjoyed this one even more than that wonderful novel.The central character here, the narrator, Aimée Slater, is, I think, the key to the book's depth. Born in the first half of the 19th century, she is both a product of and a reaction to the age. Her parents are good, if simple people - she and her family live on a farm in New Hampshire. She has siblings - the closest to her in age being her sister Harriet and her brother Jeremiah. All of the other children seem not merely to accept, but to seek the niches awaiting them in society and family - Aimée is headstrong and independent, always questioning the `why' of things. This trait exasperates her parents - and sets the course for her life at an early age.Straining to break the stifling bonds of her household - but still holding a deep love for her parents in her heart - Aimée embarks from the rural area where her family lives to Lowell, Massachusetts, to work in one of the textile factories that have sprung up there. She does this against the wishes of her parents - especially her mother - but they give in to her when they realize that their hope of convincing her to do otherwise is nil. In the city, she encounters a world she has never seen before - and at fifteen years old, she is scarcely emotionally equipped to cope with it, despite what she may think. Like many other young girls away from home for the first time, in a time when sexuality and eroticism were repressed to the point of complete non-discussion, she is left by her first love affair pregnant and alone. Her mother makes no secret about being completely shamed by Aimée's situation - but at the same time, she finds a wealthy family who agrees to adopt the babies when they are born, who will support Aimée monetarily during her pregnancy. After the birth of her twins, even though she has agreed to the adoption, she is devastated by their departure - it is a sadness that, along with other events she has experienced, that will color her life.One of the most moving passages in the novel, for me, was the depiction of an incident of a suppressed memory from Aimée's childhood being triggered by a scent. When she was a girl, one Christmas, her father produced a piece of chocolate candy - a rarity - without telling her that she was meant to share it with her sister. So taken was she by the taste and scent of the treat that she popped it whole into her mouth. Her father reacted angrily - another rarity - and forced her to spit out the candy, slapping her and calling her `a selfish girl'. Unused to such treatment from him, the young girl was traumatized by this - only as an adult, when offered a piece of chocolate, did the scent cause this memory to resurface.Another incident that casts a lasting shadow over her life - and that of her brother Jeremiah - is an instance of brother-sister `touching' that occurred in the upper loft of the barn. As depicted in the story, I believe that it was more a result of a combination of natural curiosity, combined with the emotional repression and ignorance of the times, incestuous perhaps in one sense, but not an out-and-out case of abuse. I say this because it didn't involve any sort of attempt by either participant to exert control over the other - both children were left very uncomfortable by it, and it never happened again. Nonetheless, it changed their relationship forever, and it created a darkness that hovered over Aimée long past her childhood.The sense of reality with which the author illuminates both of these incidents is incredible, and done with great insight and sensitivity. Any time events such as this are depicted in literature - or in film or on stage - in a sensitive and intelligent manner is an important step forward in society's understanding of them, and as such is extremely valuable.The progress of Aimée's life - her emotional healing and growth - is told beautifully and realistically, without dripping sentimentality. She manages not only to heal her own emotional wounds, but also to reach out and touch the lives of those around her as well - and that touch is a blessing, coming from such a source. The story is a moving and compelling one - and it is one from which the reader can come away feeling his/her knowledge augmented in relation to this process. It is different, of course, for everyone who passes through it - but this story, of one woman's determination, pain, healing and courage, is an inspiring one, as well as being an `old fashioned' good read. I came away from this book uplifted and moved, and very impressed with Ms. Graver's writing abilities. Her sensitivity to her characters, combined with her apparent exhaustive research into the era, make this quite an accomplishment.",5.0,"GREAT WRITING FROM MANY ANGLES, ON MANY LEVELS...",1037145600,"11 13, 2002",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A1JMS6N320LA5P,0306808668,"Old Man ""Bass""","[6, 13]","The author draws on extensive archives to provide almost an hour by hour description of the military conflict between the Zulu people and the British and Dutch settlers of what is now South Africa. The detail is sometimes overwhelming -- names of British officers, dates, etc., are not always readily kept in mind.Because there are no Zulu archives, the material on which the book is based is British record of the campaign, a record that contains some interviews with Zulus who were in the battles.Not in the book: an explanation of the Zulu economy and society that supported their army. The reader learns of the politics and economic constraints that influenced and limited the British side of the war, but the Zulu army appears on hilltops, spears and rifles in hand. We learn little of how they were supported nor of how they were organized to fight.",3.0,Military history only,1121644800,"07 18, 2005",6,13,helpful,0.46153846153846156,1 A2DQXRGO2V9QYS,1484015800,Mark Crandon,"[0, 0]",There is not a lot I can say other than I either enjoy a book or not. This book had a great story and I enjoyed it very much. I'm looking forward to the next book.,5.0,Great reading,1377561600,"08 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1HA6KZZNDCME9,037383702X,Deborah Wiley,"[6, 6]","I am always excited to pick up a new Debra Webb book. This one did not disappoint! Lacy, Cassidy, Kira and Melinda all share a secret: 10 years ago, they helped hide the dead body of Melinda's abusive husband, Charles Ashland, Jr. Ten years ago they also swore never to tell anyone what they had done. Each thought they were protecting one of the others from murder charges but now Charles' body has been found and the truth has to come out. Lacy is torn between her vow of silence to her friends and her emotions for her first lover, Police Chief Rick Summers. Lacy gets a mysterious call saying that the person knows what they did and shortly afterwards, Cassidy is murdered. Two other people disappeared 10 years ago- Bent Thompson and Pamela Carter. Pamela Carter was having an affair with Charles and was rumored to be pregnant with his child. Bent has now returned to the town and is blackmailing someone as he has the murder weapon in his possession. I won't reveal who the killer is but suffice to say that this book kept me guessing as to the killer's identity. Debra Webb's books are always enjoyable to read and this one was no exception!",4.0,Another great read from Debra Webb,1142380800,"03 15, 2006",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1T4HYVKAOF62W,B007A0JZ5E,"Catrina Barton ""KittyB78""","[11, 11]","I received this E-book as a prize in a giveaway.Very heavy on the descriptions, which bogs down the pace of the story. The flow is pretty decent though.The way Mr. O'Brien used math was brilliant. The story consists of an interesting blend of many different cultures, giving an exotic feel to the overall plot, nice touch.An interesting blend of characters the mainly held PH D's and other credentials. Although to be honest I felt there were too many main characters, which made it hard to really get inside any character's head.The relationship between Kepler and his wife is light but very touching and I adored seeing how they flirted in their native tongue. Personally, I would have liked to see more of the couples' intersections together. Overall a nice read.",3.0,Good Thriller,1333584000,"04 5, 2012",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A1NR8MBLKUP5R5,1453805869,Leah Petersen,"[18, 21]","I wanted to like this SO MUCH.The sample sold me on this one but pretty soon after it took a nosedive and never recovered. I agree with other reviewers who said the writing was weak and shallow, the characters flat, often incomprehensible. Things seemed to happen because the author wanted them to, not because they were logical. I loved the premise, even after I got fed up with this I still skimmed for a while because I really wanted to follow this story. But it became too frustrating to even keep up with that. I wish I'd paid more attention to the negative reviews and not been fooled by the number of 4 & 5 stars. (??)",1.0,So Disappointed,1325462400,"01 2, 2012",18,21,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A24FBV7TSKSRQE,B00H7PCBIU,Chris L. Wallace,"[4, 5]",I read a lot of diet books and this one like many has a lot of useful information. Now to put it into action. I can recommend the Dash Diet to anyone.,5.0,Just need to use it now!,1386892800,"12 13, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3PUL1CK9C5I9,148413933X,marci,"[4, 4]","I was expecting the usual some drama then romance but this book had so many twist and turns omg it was great. I could not put it down. You have serial killer, corruption,murder,mystery. I really recommend his book.",5.0,Great adventure,1371340800,"06 16, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1DKT4F0ZLE22K,1401900186,Linda,"[0, 0]",I really enjoyed this book. It was very helpful to someone like me who believes in a higher power. I liked learning about many different religions. I bought this book after an angel visited me in a dream. I wanted to learn more about that particular angel. I was truly happy that this book was so easy to navigate even on my old kindle. I would recommend this book to anyone. It's not just about angels.,4.0,Archangels - kindle version,1354060800,"11 28, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BV55D1OHENEU,0553294091,Dana K. Wolcott,"[41, 44]","Puh-leeze. "Once an Angel" was the first book I ever read by Teresa Medeiros, and to this day, it's *still* the best book I've read by her. The characters are charming, the plot is witty and full of humor, and the villians are well, villians. I find nothing ripped off from anywhere - Teresa weaved a great story together and made the story fast-paced and interesting.To this day, the image of Justin sitting at the piano playing at a God-awful hour of the night, reminding Emily that she owes him a dance has stayed with me. When a writer can do that for a reader, I know she's done a good job, and it's a good job well done. I have been a devoted fan ever since.If you like a good romance with humor, adventure, likeable characters, and a good setting, this book is for you. :) I'm eagerly awaiting her next book which can't be released soon enough!",5.0,"Nope, Once an Angel is not a rip-off",952128000,"03 4, 2000",41,44,helpful,0.9318181818181818,1 A19MWRPPOCG9WL,159185413X,"wvapenny ""PMc""","[0, 0]","I am so happy with this book. It is much different than I expected. The bait is not what you would think, but I have been trapped by it many times. It is a book you need if your feelings get hurt a lot.",5.0,Gives Great Direction,1361145600,"02 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ACLLL23JWV4SZ,0141012692,A Reader,"[12, 20]","Possible spoilers.1) I am clearly the only person willing to say it, but the main character is clearly retarded and/or autistic. There is no other way to explain him.He wanders around meeting everybody in New York with the last name of ""Black"" with no supervision and ends up being humored by pretty much everybody (who all seemingly decide it's somehow reasonable to a) invite him in b) not call child services to call the mother and wonder why a nine year old walked for hours across the city to meet a complete stranger.2) There are so many passages that are groan worthy. Foer plays with the type, he plays with the format, he does everything that would get you an ""F"" in high school English and is rewarded with a best-seller.3) It's disjointed. It jumps from Oskar to the past (horrible letters that make little sense) with little to no purpose.4) It's ridiculous. Oskar goes to DIG UP HIS FATHER'S GRAVE and arrives home at 4am to a mother who says she doesn't wonder where he was because she trusts him. Let me remind you, the kid is NINE!5) There is no point. None. The retarded kid misses his father. The end.Awful...just awful.",1.0,Epic in it's horribleness,1284076800,"09 10, 2010",12,20,helpful,0.6,1 A3FPJTOQ434Y66,B0075AEXUG,Rebecca,"[6, 7]","Finding new works and new authors can be challenging for prolific readers. It is common to fall back on old favorites for a lack of really good new material. Or wait expectantly for the next works from a favorite author. I stumbled on this and the Gifted Apprentice while looking for something new. I wasn't sure what I would find, but the price was worth giving it a shot. These were 'up till 4 in the morning because I wanted to finish the story' books. Absolutely brilliant! Will I pay for the next installments? You betcha! Would I pay full price for the next books? Oh, yes I will! Mr. Rose, with these 2 short stories, has become one of a handful of 'favorite authors' and I will gobble up everything I find! Well done! Definitely worth your time, and definitely books that will fall in to my 'old favorites' stack for re-reading. And re-re-reading.",5.0,A new master storyteller!,1332460800,"03 23, 2012",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A25A10CM83UGXB,1493526545,genie533,"[0, 0]",This book was an adjustment for me - intense action and light on character self-exploration - I liked it. It's great to watch the supposed-underdogs beat the odds! I want more!,4.0,fun to read!,1392768000,"02 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1EE7GNNURXTS3,1416541454,"Cindy Asselstine ""Paranormal Junkie""","[0, 0]",Well written paranormal romance that left me wanting more. After struggling to finish the first book the ending left me wanting for more. Now I can't wait for the 3rd installment.,4.0,Well written fantasy - Romance,1236556800,"03 9, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWG2O9C42XW5G,054503521X,"David ""Black Widow 2014""","[0, 0]",this si one of the best goosebump books that r.l. stein wrote. it's my favorite,5.0,one of the best,1248825600,"07 29, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1W2GRXFUPC7C9,1455134767,DENNIS LARKIN,"[7, 10]","" The Amateur" by Edward Klein is just an Eye opener into the persona of the man serving in our White House. You must read this, you will not want to put it down.",5.0,"The Amateur, by Edward Klein",1351382400,"10 28, 2012",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 AU5HXI8X6HT2G,0634041584,"Alika ""Music4Life""","[0, 0]","Thank you for good service and good product! I like it! I wish it would be a colorful book, but it's ok. Thank you!",5.0,"Picture Chord Encyclopedia: Photos & Diagrams for Over 2,600 Guitar...",1394841600,"03 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1P0TVG29WEWHY,0062237225,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Candis wrote a beautiful story about finding love after loss. The characters were down to earth. It makes you want to go to Sweet, Texas in hopes to find the same love ad devotion. I can't wait for the next book in the Sweet series.",5.0,Fun and heartfelt story!,1374537600,"07 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AMH8CI3N56NIU,0446530697,"Bernadine Davis ""Sis Davis""","[0, 0]","This is an awesome short read. Each time you read it and I suggest more than once, something spiritually insightful is revealed. Love it, love it, love it.",5.0,Great Read,1384473600,"11 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QM51ZYX1YAJZ,0895260697,"NicheGuy ""Niche Guy""","[10, 19]","A well-written account of Donald Rumsfeld, providing a glimpse of his Chicago heritage, education at Princeton, career in business and politics. The narrative demonstrates how friends and contacts are developed over many years but are really established early in life. It also shows the value of developing a network, a professional Rolodex, which shapes a career and career moves.Scarborough effectively draws the timeline of Rumsfeld and how time, experiences, instinct, and personality made him an effective, results oriented manager of the Pentagon. Rumsfeld's in depth knowledge of events, his intense work ethic and demanding approach helped redefine the military as well as prepare the U.S. to more effectively know our enemy. Rumsfeld was given a depleted military infrastructure with an inadequate budget. Scarborough takes the reader through the process with which Rumsfeld reestablished civilian command and leadership to the Pentagon.The author uses many secret and classified reports he had access to, drawing a frightening picture of enemy capabilities not just today but well into the future. Reprints of documents and reports are offered in the Appendix to substantiate what some might say are simply opinion or conjecture on the author's part. This book is not a totally simple read but it is very in-depth in its pursuit to provide a picture of the daunting task of rebuilding our military and at the same time being confronted with preparing and initiating war.",5.0,Rummy's Command....CEO of the Pentagon,1092441600,"08 14, 2004",10,19,helpful,0.5263157894736842,1 AMNGYQA6EPYKY,1469252228,"Leslie Scoopmire ""softballscoop""","[0, 0]","Anne Lamott's gift of insight has provided a work that helps explain why it is that we pray in a time that needs prayer now more than ever. Although written by a Christian, this work also appeals to those who are spiritual yet uncomfortable with the label of "religious." Lamott's honest account of her own struggles and failures nonetheless does not undercut but enhances he authority. This is a --shh!-- work of thrology that is practical and yet beautiful.",5.0,Realistic and spiritual at once,1355011200,"12 9, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQYJED62L1MB1,0062011995,Heidi (YA Bibliophile),"[0, 0]","What a beautiful book! Greek mythology in a contemporary setting = win. I love it. I am always interested in the way authors take the myths and make them their own. I loved the way Ms. Angelini built up her take on myths in the modern day. It was interesting to discover the connections and the reasons behind some of the characters actions. I loved figuring out who everyone was and what was happening. Helen, the main character, is ignorant of her own history so we are discovering things along with her. For the most part I enjoyed this but there were a few things that I thought she would have figured out earlier. All in all it was a very satisfying read! It was engaging and kept me interested for the entire nearly 500 pages. The main events come together but there are strings left for future books. I am anxiously awaiting the next release!Random Highlights:*Helen's Dad. I loved him. The way he interacts with Helen (and even Claire) was fun to see.*Claire: Can she please be my best friend?* The boys: They are so swoon worthy!*Basically all the characters: You really get to know them. I loved it!*The nicknames. I give people nicknames all the time! It was fun to see what names the characters gave to each other :)*The mythology: Obviously!*The setting. I have a thing for books set in the East and down South. This one is in Nantucket.",4.0,Greek mythology continued,1307145600,"06 4, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALRTPXOFE85N4,B00FDUDQW6,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","This book has it all - romance, mystery, crime and ghost. I enjoyed the romance and the unique story line.",4.0,Great writing,1405555200,"07 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2GDAZ3X61VBQL,0345525345,Erika Yac,"[0, 0]","I read this book rather quickly. It was very easy to get wrapped up in the story. At one point I couldn't put the book down. It follows 3 main characters who all have some kind of chaos in their lives. The story weaves a simple act of kindness and demonstrates how it can bring people together. I found the characters to be likeable, sometimes they made me laugh, at times I cried. Overall it was a great book. I loved the recipes in the end that was a double treat!",4.0,A wonderfully told story,1307664000,"06 10, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SSX11I9I5QHM,142012398X,Martha B. Carraway,"[0, 0]","Deep Blue is a really good, interesting book. Lots of information about finding treasure at sea. Characters seem very real and location sounds fantastic. Enjoyed immensely.",5.0,Deep Blue by Kat Martin,1348012800,"09 19, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33EMFFJOHSZYG,B008Z76FC2,djb,"[0, 0]","enjoyed your book, keep writing , liked the story, you did a good job, i would recommend this book to anyone and i plan on buying all your books, thank you",5.0,daddy by december,1369180800,"05 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3HW73BT0ILIR4,0786927143,"""slightlyaskew""","[0, 1]","...Now as for the book itself. Fantastic. This is shaping up to be a thoroughly enjoyable series and I'll be happy to have it sitting on my shelf. Readers really get a close up of Menzoberranzan and I hope in later novels we get a closer look at some of the other Drow Cities and hopefully hear of some of the other Drow Deities. I feel that Vhaeraun and Selvetarm have been horribly neglected throughout the FR novel line. If Pharaun was a thief, he and Ryld would be the equivalent of the mortal versions of Vhaeraun and Selvetarm I think. Vhaeraun the devious god of stealth and Drow Males while Selvetarm is the god of Drow Warriors. If they don't take advantage of the current situation, I think that would be a missed opportunity on WotC's part. I have faith in Salvatore though and I think he'll give readers and fans what they want to see.",5.0,It's not a defect,1026432000,"07 12, 2002",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2KALEV4WIZE80,0991379632,Tami M Silvara,"[0, 0]",This book is hot! it has a pretty good plot and story line. can't wait to read what happens next between Alayna and Hudson,4.0,Fixed on You,1386720000,"12 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1XGQ6FEZSIJ2A,B00C5UH7UY,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","This story had a lot of twists and turns. It kept me wanting to read more. It ended nicely,I really enjoyed the story.",4.0,Very enjoyable,1366243200,"04 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1XEFHQZP8Y35W,0141040343,Silver Screen,"[5, 6]","For many years I considered Jane Austen's ""Pride and Prejudice"" to be one of those many required readings from high school that was meant to be tediously plowed through. Was I ever wrong!While the language is more proper and formal than what we are used to today, and certainly the customs and arrangements are very different, P&P; is in many ways a simply timeless love story about two people who seemingly dislike each other at first sight, but who are truly so right for one another. A century or two will not diminish this romance!At the heart of the story is the Bennet family, a family that has been ""cursed"" with five daughters and no sons to inherit the family's home and estate - - lovely, softspoken oldest daughter Jane, spunky and spirited Elizabeth, bookish, serious, almost dour Mary, silly, giggly Kitty and flirty, precocious and spoiled Lydia. Mrs. Bennet's sole consideration and worry in life seems to be finding appropriate husbands for her daughters, mostly so that once Mr. Bennet dies, she shouldn't be kicked out of her home with nowhere to go. It will quickly become apparent to the reader that Mrs. Bennet's favorite child is Lydia, mostly because Lydia seems the closest reflection to Mrs. Bennet's character herself.Into this story comes the Bingley and Darcy families - - sweet, good natured Charles, who quickly falls in love with Jane, his critical, judgmental sister Caroline, who secretly yearns for marriage to Charles' best friend, Mr. Darcy, who seems uninterested in the entire endeavor.As with most romance stories, the road to true love is a bumpy one. Mr. Darcy, although obviously finding Elizabeth attractive, feels that her station in life is beneath his. Elizabeth finds his pride and aloofness infuriating. Jane and Mr. Bingley, although in love, are torn apart by his sister, who believes that a marriage to one of the Bennet girls would be most unfortunate for her family. Add the arrival of Mr. Bennet's cousin, Mr. Collins, who as the next male of kin will inherit the Bennet home - - and his frantic search for a bride and Mrs. Bennet's efforts to assist him; Elizabeth's dear friend Charlotte, a spinster of twenty-seven who accepts what life has offered her and makes some difficult choices of her own, in order that she might be merely content with her arrangements; Mr. Darcy's haughty aunt, and Mr. Collins' benefactress, Lady Catherine De Burgh, who has serious aspirations of her own to make Mr. Darcy her daughter's husband; the seductive Wickham, who shares a secret past with the Darcy family and catches the impressive Lydia's eye, nearly bringing downfall to the Bennet family.All in all, this was an incredibly satisfying story on all fronts - - a rich character study, an earnest romance, and comedy. The ending seemed almost rushed and an afterthought - - but perhaps because I had fallen in love with the stories and characters, I simply did not want P&P; to end.Highly recommended.",5.0,Beautiful Classical and Historical Love Story,1140480000,"02 21, 2006",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A10JYXTKKX35T1,0425243214,Annie Jegorow,"[0, 0]","Loved this one and ordered the next book in the trilogy before I finished it, most enjoyable and look forward to reading on.",4.0,Great,1369526400,"05 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UMSOUC3QP83E,0306816083,C. cox,"[4, 6]","Some of the essays in this book were written by philosophers and as such they tend to be quite dry and boring. Most of the book contains witty articles that are quite easy to read.All in all the book supports my belief that god, the tooth fairy and santa claus are equally fictitious and the bible is no better than grimm's fairy tales.",4.0,a good book,1233964800,"02 7, 2009",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A20NCRLKBT36W2,1933836547,"Diane C. ""gabby""","[13, 15]","I bought this book based on several five star reviews and was very disappointed in it. There were several characters that were essential to the plot, but the author never developed them so that you got to know them.They were much too one-dimensional. The 2 main characters continually changed their feelings about each other. One minute they hated each other and the next they were making love to each other, only to hate each other a few pages later. I thought all of the plot twists were convoluted. It seemed as though the author threw in as many plot twists as she could think of. By the waythe editing could have been better...you murder someone in ""cold blood"", not ""hot blood"". This book started out pretty nicely, but quickly got to be ridiculous. I did finish the book because I felt as though I had made too much of a committment to the book to put it down, but I was left feeling extremely disappointed. This book could have been so much better if the author hadn't felt compelled to throw everything in but the kitchen sink!",2.0,Poor character development,1282089600,"08 18, 2010",13,15,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 A2BGDD7626KZVS,0399158316,"Clint Potts ""Of course, that's just my opinio...","[11, 11]","I have been a Randy Wayne White fan for years. As a frequent visitor to Ft. Myers and Sanibel Island, I loved the rich depiction of the southwest Florida that I know and love, recognizing the locations from fishing trips with local guides and my own explorations with my family. The Florida setting was perfect for our mysterious marine biologist with a dark history that he couldn't quite escape. I was always amazed that Randy could keep the excitement relevant, novel after novel after novel. Well, he's run out of ideas, folks! Now his entire novel spans a totality of 1-2 days in the life of super-spy Doc Ford, while Doc spends most of the book pondering and remembering his technical exploits in marine biology and weaponry. In sitcom terms, Doc Ford has ""jumped the shark"". ""Tampa Burn"" was the last decent Doc Ford novel. I'm quite sure that Randy will continue to honor his publishing agreements and crank out another book each year or so, but I think I'm done. All that is left is to hire a slew of partner novelists like Tom Clancy did and start milking the Randy Wayne White brand.Page after page of Chasing Midnight was just laborious. This isn't even as good as early Striker novels published under a pseudonym.All of the things that attracted me to Doc Ford are gone. Florida is gone. The reluctant spy is gone. The interesting neighbors are gone. The old high school buddies in trouble are gone. The originality is likewise gone.When I'm next in Florida, I'll still stop in at Doc Ford's Rum Bar and Grille, hoping to remember that original cherry high, but I'm afraid all I'll find is a decent grouper sandwich. Doc Ford is gone. He jumped the shark.",2.0,Marine Biologist Doc Ford has jumped the shark,1332374400,"03 22, 2012",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A1OJB1AQVIKFG1,014009587X,Eric Krupin,"[15, 22]","A travel book can have a dislikable narrator and still be an enjoyable reading experience (i.e. Dervla Murphy's "The Ukimwi Road" - see my review - or any of Paul Theroux's productions). But since "Nothing to Declare" is more of an "inner journey" than a road trip, the author is pretty much the whole show. And by the last page, I was very glad to part company with her.She spends a lot of time stoically lamenting the cruelty of men - both solo and accompanied by her neighbor, a veritable poster child for oppressed Latina womanhood. But judging by the shabby way Morris treats the Mexican man who dotes on her (i.e. sniffing at his enthusiasm for domestic chores while chasing other men at the drop of a hat), her relationship problems would seem to be mostly her fault.This sort of hypocrisy appears throughout the book. Although her only reason for coming to Mexico is to escape the shambles of her life north of the border, she sneers at the other expatriates living in San Miguel - "writers and painters, or so they call themselves", "losers", "mediocre Americans". She blithely claims to be in contact with ghosts and prefers not to waste her palm-reading ability (!) on the unworthy, yet wishes a New Age healer she consults would "skip the mumbo jumbo".I won't deny the author's writing skills succeeded in holding one's interest. And judging by the comments here (and the fact that it's still in print after a decade - no mean feat), more than a few people have responded to this book. But I won't be travelling with Mary Morris again.",2.0,Once is more than enough,983836800,"03 6, 2001",15,22,helpful,0.6818181818181818,1 A16YQCUEKQ8TKD,034549590X,"naruvoll ""naruvoll""","[4, 5]","I had actually about given up on the Meredith Gentry series. I was bored by it and couldn't care less what happened anymore. Fortunately I had a day where nothing else appealed and Lick of Frost was $5. This book did what the last three books should have. It did it quickly and intensely, reminding me of early Laura K Hamilton. This book makes me want to read the next book in the series instead of me giving it one more chance like the last three. I just wish I had skipped from book 2 to this one.",4.0,What the last three books should have been,1209513600,"04 30, 2008",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AKK83N5KFLZPI,0547628382,chibilee02,"[0, 0]","Considering how much I loved Grave Mercy, the first book in the My Fair Assassins trilogy, I had high expectations for the follow-up Dark Triumph. Usually I’m asking for trouble with this but I’m happy to say that I loved this second book just as much as I did the first. It managed to continue with the story the first book laid out and yet had a different tone and feeling than its predecessor.What I enjoyed the most about this book is the personal nature of the story. Even though Grave Mercy told Ismae’s story it didn’t get personal in a way that this book did regarding Sybella. I was very curious about Sybella when she was first introduced in Grave Mercy. I loved reading about her story and getting to know her. She is a character that makes you sympathetic towards her especially when you read about all that she had gone through living under d’Albret’s roof. But just like with Ismae, Sybella goes through a growth as she gains insight into the true nature of her powers and parentage. Characters such as her and Ismae are ones that I enjoy reading about and rooting for. I especially love the part that Beast plays in that growth. I think many can relate to the idea of finding someone that understands you and are so similar in nature to you that you don’t feel so alone in the world anymore. I liked Beast’s more prominent role in this second book. He was a character that I grew to love from the first book and was happy to see him in this book. It was great reading the interaction between these two strong but scarred individuals and finding that love between them. How fitting for me since Beauty and the Beast is one of my all time favorite stories.Through all this, LaFevers still was able to give attention to the main plot regarding the duchess and her fight for her country. This book gave more insight into the depravity of d’Albret and really painting a whole picture of how horrible of a person he is and why it would be awful for Anna to have wedded him. Having this knowledge just gives the story a deeper sense of desperation to find a solution. I also liked how the story also peeled back more of the abbess’ persona especially in her interactions with Sybella. You soon come to realize that all is not what it is that you learn at the beginning of the first book.LaFevers did another excellent job with Dark Triumph. She gave you something familiar but yet different from the first book. I thought the personal and emotional touch to this second book was what made this book so good. This was more darker and edgier than the first because of Sybella’s history, but it didn’t take away from the book itself. In fact it made for a more moving read which balanced out the action and conspiracies within the story. Considering how much I loved these first two books, it is no big surprise that I will be eagerly awaiting the final book in this trilogy, which in my opinion cannot come fast enough.",5.0,Loved It Just As Much As The First,1403049600,"06 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LBI1WDXUO55M,1589793218,Sunflower,"[0, 0]","You'll have fun recreating these recipes resurrected from an era of high class dining on our legendary dining cars of a by-gone era. Fred Harvey set a standard for dining on a scale that has not been recreated since the demise of our wonnderful, cross-country rail passenger system!.",5.0,"Calling all ""Foodies""",1402444800,"06 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3AYI75KQP3ULF,0061964395,Shefali Dua,"[0, 1]",Loved the quick read and plan to implement what I learned.The comparison between multipliers vs diminishers was engaging.I'm excited to know there is more I can do to make me and my crew become more productive.Liners to remember:- Ask the bigger questions- Leaders are not the center of gravity- A chat with Benjamin Disraeli left you thinking you are the smart person!- Be like Shai outstretch people to their best potential.- Leave people a challenge on a daily basis,4.0,Loved it!,1332633600,"03 25, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2O7IGCCOK45PW,0446178098,"Amazon Customer ""readergirlAb3""","[0, 0]","Yes, we all have to give Wahida her props because she is an excellent writer. However, this book took these established characters too far...People are making comments that the characters had to go through things...PLEASE STOP!!!Anyone having read the other books in the Thug series know all these couples have been through plenty...Trae cheating was horrible but Tasha sleeping with Kyron,wow...In the next book Kyron's ass needs to go back to jail...I can not even comprehend how a women of Tasha's caliber would have gone there...Even if she was being made to cheat, Kaylin's brother...To many connections and relationships can be destroyed behind something so careless...That is why that story line is to unbelievable to me...Maybe Trae and Tasha need to get back to the New York/New Jersey area...Because they went to LA and lost their minds...I think the person who mentioned the possibility of her writing changing now that she has been released may be somewhat true...It may just be that her life is busier now.",4.0,Good Read...Disappointing Results,1249862400,"08 10, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NFQWTJ8FWGQJ,074341120X,"Sherwood SK ""Web Developer""","[5, 5]","This book starts out hilarious. The writer's knack for humor shines through. The jokes are scathingly accurate in the portrayal of Silicon Valley life, and the characters are recognizable in nearly any company. With a fantastic robot vs. machine battle and a hilarious system administrator (complete with multiple facial piercings), this book keeps the humor level strong.Toward the end, it tends to slow down as the writer abandons straight humor and tries to develop sympathetic characters, out-of-place poignancy, and an emotional ending. It seemed like a poor attempt to be Douglas Coupland and capture the emotional power of "Microserfs" which, with such a strong, hilarious beginning, was really unnecessary.One warning for the lay reader: A person will get a good deal more out of this book with at least a little knowledge of the technology lingo: enough to get the jokes but not enough to realize when he's making it up as he goes along.",4.0,"Great fun, if sometimes trite",981936000,"02 12, 2001",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1R9AFG6TL9YJN,0553354132,Charles Hughes,"[0, 0]",As a Christian who knows our roots are in Judaism this volume helps to bridge the perceived but false difference between current scientific thought and our shared faith in the Creator. He is an excellent and credentialed apologist. Devour his works!,5.0,The Genius of Shroeder,1357516800,"01 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A28EC5LRZCDEHJ,B00CQUIIBU,William Meisel,"[0, 0]","As others have written, this is a puzzle where you are given "typewriter art" and the first letter of the word it represents, and you have to list the last letter of the word (or phrase, if it's more than one word.)It's fun, but since you are only asked to list the final letter of the word you are looking for, you may guess correctly just from knowing how spelling works in English, and how likely a given letter is to be the last letter of a word. It might have worked better if sometimes you were asked to list the second, or fifth, or whatever letter of the target word.Still - Recommended.",4.0,Fun Puzzle with a Minor Flaw,1386633600,"12 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2GIFXKY15N1ZL,B00CJV1DVS,Genji,"[0, 0]",The author is getting better with each novel! Lovely to see. This is the best yet and I'm ready for the fourth.,5.0,Third,1404691200,"07 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8BE8Q59EXJCS,0373775563,"Dina ""Dina""","[5, 6]","Ugh, what a nightmare! This was one of the ""strangest"" anthologies I've ever read. The first story ends with a cliffhanger, the second has some of the most idiotic characters I've met, and the third makes no sense at all.Ready, Set, Jett by Lori Foster (3 stars)This story is a prequel to LF's new series, Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor. Jett Sutter and Natalie Alexander are ""neighbors with benefits"". Their no-strings affair should be the perfect setup for a man intent on maintaining his bachelor status, but for whatever reason, Jett feels uneasy about it. He doesn't want to marry Natalie, of course, but having her using him only for booty calls isn't enough anymore. He wants to see her outside the bedroom, even date her, but he knows someone has hurt her in the past and she's wary of getting emotionally involved with him. Will he be able to get past her barriers and, maybe, reach her heart?I liked this story, but the cliffhanger wasn't necessary. In fact, all the events connected to it could have been left out of the story, as they added nothing to the development of Jett and Natalie's relationship and were only there to hook readers to the upcoming series. It had been a while since I last read a book by Ms. Foster and I had forgotten how much I enjoy her writing and how good her love scenes are. She made me care and root for Jett and Natalie's HEA, and the ending was satisfying enough. (In case you're wondering, Jett and Natalie do get their HEA; the cliffhanger has nothing to do with them.)Gail's Gone Wild by Susan Donovan (1 star)Gail Chapman's seventeen-year-old daughter Holly wants to go to Florida with her friend Hannah for spring break, but Gail knows better than to let the two girls take that trip alone. After some thinking, Gail concludes that she deserves a spring-break vacation more than them and decides to enjoy it at Key West, offering to take the dynamic duo (Holly & Hannah) with her. Gail is supposed to be the chaperone for the girls during their vacation, but after meeting Key West neighbor Jesse Batista - a sultry, sexy, earring-wearing sea captain with a big secret - she's the girl who's about to go wild.Oh boy, what can I say? I thought the premise was absurd, the romance didn't engage me, and I disliked all the characters in this story:1. Gail was an hypocrite: her concern about her daughter's safety and ""virtue"" simply disappeared after she met Jesse and she had no qualms doing everything she'd told her daughter not to do. Granted, she was thirty-six and her daughter was only seventeen, but she should have thought about the kind of example she was setting. Plus, her ditching her chaperoning duties and saying that she trusted her daughter didn't make sense, considering how she'd made a point of forbidding the two girls to spend spring break by themselves because they couldn't be trusted to be behave. Huh?!? I guess lust short-circuited her brain.2. Jesse was a lecher and a liar. He was introduced to Holly & Hannah when they were fresh out of the swimming pool and wearing skimpy bikinis, and he couldn't help noticing Hannah's ""hellacious curves and video-ho bikini"". A thirty-eight-year-old man having that kind of thought about a seventeen-year-old girl is too disgusting for words so all I can say is, eew eew eeeew!!! Then, Jesse decided to hide his identity from Gail - he was a successful author with eight New York Times bestsellers under his belt - so he could be sure she wasn't after his money and fame. He went so far as to ask a friend who owned a bookstore to hide his books so Gail didn't find out who he was, disregarding the fact that Jesse's name was the only marketing hook his friend got to face the competition of the new chain store that was threatening to kill his business. With friends like Jesse, that poor bookstore owner didn't need enemies.3. Holly & Hannah were stereotypical dumb teenagers, and I'm still wondering why did they deserve to have their own POV in the story. Nothing happened with/to them, so what was the point?This was my first read by Ms. Donovan and it was very disappointing. Most of my friends like her writing so I'm willing to give her another try, but I'll wait until this story is out of my mind.Just One Taste by Victoria Dahl (1 star)This story is supposed to be a prequel to VD's new series, Donovan Brothers Brewery, but it's more like a teaser or a sneak peek because it has no ending. The story just stops and we're left with no resolution. WTF?!?I don't know what to say about the plot(?), so I'll just copy/paste/edit some lines from Ms. Dahl's ""Dear Reader"" introduction:The Donovan siblings run Donovan Brothers Brewery right in the heart of Boulder, Colorado. Tessa is the youngest of the family and the only sister, but she keeps her brothers wrapped around her little finger... while she keeps them in the dark about her extracurricular life. Jamie runs the front room at the brewery with ruthless charm and a devastating smile, though he can't manage to get control of his love life. And then there's the oldest brother, Eric...Eric Donovan took charge of the family and the brewery at the age of twenty-three, and he doesn't have a rebellious bone in his body. He's the soul of responsibility... until the night he meets Beth Cantrell in a hotel hallway and decides there's something to be said for an occasional walk on the wild side. Even the most straitlaced guy needs to loosen up once in a while, and Beth is a woman experienced in smalltown discretion.That's it! Eric and Beth meet at a business convention, she somehow mistakes him for his brother Jamie and he doesn't set the record straight, they have wild-monkey sex and, after nothing was said and all was done, they part ways. The End.Reading this story was a complete waste of my precious time. I'm sure everything that happened in it will be rehashed when the series is released, especially because Eric and Beth's book will be the last and readers will have forgotten this ""prequel"" by then. I could have ignored the lack of purpose in this story if Eric and Beth had been interesting characters, but alas, I didn't care for them. I never understood why she thought that being seen with him would ruin her reputation as an ""erotic boutique"" (aka sex shop) manager, and I thought his excuse for lying (by omission) about his identity was flimsy at best.This was one of the most frustrating reads of my life and I'm sorry to say that, contrary to its goal, this story made me not want to read the series.",2.0,Very disappointing,1299196800,"03 4, 2011",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A78XPAORLH0GX,0989752615,Amazon Customer,"[7, 7]","I really enjoyed reading this book. Cynthia is down to earth and not easily influenced by others. Their story was very inspiring. I had no idea that they were that broke and I loved the insight they gave to filming for the Real Housewives. They shared info without trashing anyone which is great. I didn't feel they were preachy or self-absorbed but two people sharing their story. I feel I have a better sense of who they are. While I don't know if I agree with their decisions as far as their attitudes toward blending their family, it seems to work for them. Some of the lines they wrote that stood out to me was "She didn't live for them. She lived for herself..." That was really inspirational because Cynthia could have not been with Peter and not accept the fact that he was broke, lived with his parents, have 5 kids by 4 baby mommas and takes huge risks with money which occasionally puts in him in the poor house. She loved Peter and despite others warning her about him, she proceeded with the marriage. I believe this was her first marriage and she was by no means the one who wanted to get married. Surprisingly, it was Peter's idea. Cynthia stated she could live her life and not worry if she ever got married which is not something every woman says. I learned something and was inspired by their story.",4.0,Good Read,1383264000,"11 1, 2013",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3STWHRHZLL8OX,1118356462,Ruthie Ramirez,"[0, 1]","If you've ever had the desire to write a book for children, but you didn't know how to begin or how to understand what your audience will respond to, then you should read this book. Yes, it's one of those Dummies books and like those Dummies books, it is very easy to understand and it deals with the subject in a very straightforward manner, from the various formats and genres of children's books to how to find your ideas and how to create compelling characters. This book will really get you on the way to writing a book for children. There is a wealth of information here, a lot to digest, but the writers have made it all very easy to take in.",5.0,Will Really Get You On the Way to Writing Children's Books,1359676800,"02 1, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3KJ9UTP3TSDJW,0143116770,"Professor Emeritus P. Bagnolo ""Slugger/BIGGUY""","[8, 12]","Einstein's God: Conversations About Science and the Human Spirit. If you are not me, and you aren't, just as I am not you, you would want to have read a work more challenging. I would have preferred to see her encounter those vastly argumentive and hostile to the existence of God; men like Richard Dawkins. I hoped to see her go at it with him, because I would like to go at it with him. She didn't and for me the book is weaker than I would have liked to see it.I was a Ford Foundation Fellowship Recipient in Cultural Anthropology and went on to a Masters in anthropology. I mention this because though I wanted to become an architect/artist, I also wanted to play Indiana Jones in real life and know more about how, when and where our species evolved-came to be, and exactly what or if there was this Fellow called God.I found out through my studies most of what I sought. I went from a child prodigy who believed the family legends about their being a ""chosen"" family, peopled with Prophets, over the eons of their history, to a young man who was an agnostic.I asked hostile questions about God and studied anthropology to verify my feelings. Instead in the details of cultural and physical history of our species, mixed into the mitochondrial DNA, the THEORY of evolution and the Big Bang Theory, there was not enough scientific evidence to convince me that inert matter created itself. I saw such self-creation by inert, unintelligent, gasses, dust and debris, an absurd, ridiculous concept, a far worse scenario than some of the pagan fairy tales about Creation. I believe there is a God, but One which is the Master Artist and Scientist, and utilized both to initiate a universe which from seeds planted by the that same Master Physicist, evolved, with occasional pokes from the Initiator-the Master Artist, Physicist, Scientist.I have read several Bios of Einstein, and the latest, cemented the Einstein I knew as a small boy. In the Isaacson bio in which papers only first released in 2006 were published. Here was the Einstein at last which I knew, and that is why in my monthly allotment of books for Vine I chose, EINSTEIN'S GOD. My fault, not Krista Tippet's. I expected one thing based on her title, she wrote another.I found, once I realized this was not literally a book about Einstein's God, but it was about something else entirely, unfortunately, it stirred, for me, minimal interest.It was written not in the spirit of learning for people like me who are seeking the truth through argument and discussion, it was written by a person influenced by her idol a grandfather who was a minister, a believer, which is fine, however, I was expecting a non-partisan effort, but got a partisan effort, a mix of theology, philosophy and a bit, but not enough for me, of science.Tippett tries to smooth the war zone between science and theology/religion, however, missing is the tension between science and religion because for SOME so-called scientists, science IS a religion, whether they know it or not, but for the clergy, religion is NOT a science, and the best of them know that.There appeared herein to be a lack of attention to detail, of tight focus, of a riveting centre, of immersion, absorption. Instead there was s sort of meandering, and that is exactly the difference between science at its purest, and story telling. Science is at its worst when it is interfered with by meddling people like Richard Dawkins, who twists science from what it is, into a religion, and one of hatred and intolerance.Had I written this book, I would have tackled a long list of atheistic scientists; women, and men like Dawkins to see what made them tick and what makes them hate so much. I would have focused on the man represented in the title. The arguments alone would glue me to my task and the reader to his reading.Ms. Tippett did not really develop much of her own ideas to the conversations, and there was far too much amiability for my taste. A book which advertised itself by its title EINSTEIN'S GOD needs by its very nature to be argumentive, to contain differing points of view, instead of preaching to the choir... and the people interviewed, while they had interesting views, preaching not only to THE choir but to a multitude of choirs all of which were underscored by religion. Problem is, Tippett never tied all of the existing views of her interviewees together to create a consensus, or a diversionary end result, with a string or strings of minimal consensus-in short, it lacks an epilogue, as another critic already noted. The order of the offerings were given well by that same Amazon Vine* reviewer, so I will not bore you with them again.Although as I read the book I enjoyed some of it, some of it I found annoying because it was, for me, a bit, in some cases, artsy, immaterial, but maybe some of that was because I expected something else. But found myself often speaking aloud about, ""where's the science which hooks the thing together?""Why did no one pose this sequence;1)-The first Law of physics is ""Matter can neither be created nor destroyed...""2)-Before the Big Bang, there was nothing, not even space.3)-debris, gasses, and dust merged into a Singularity, a point of immense density and imploded, exploded, expanded, to fill space into a Big Bang (which is no longer in vogue).4)-Hence, if 1 is true and that has never been denied, and 2 is true and has never been denied, where-from came 3?End of story.Big Bang, like Evolution, is/was a theory. The 1987 Berkeley computer study showed that we would not carry the Mitochondrial DNA of Homo Erectus, or Neanderthal, as I had predicted in 1973, and recent physical mitochondrial DNA applications of both and HSS showed my own projections to be correct. We do NOT carry the mitochondrial DNA of either. Therein and the newly debated, outmoded Big Bang, being replaced with a multitude of ideas, we still have theories and no proof of either being factual, thus placing Theoretical Physics, where it should, be, right next to my creation Theoretical Theology, both of which are subject to phantasmagoric and creative projections., of value yes, of proof no. Both are religions of sorts, theology and science and until we can turn theories into truth and make certain that when we pose them they are labeled, as, ""These are Theories, based on some Circumstantial and a some Physical Evidence, they are NOT facts! Until we can supply/display proof the arguments will go on. These are the things I would like to have seen covered and argued, but I read the wrong book for that, and again, the title misguided me. If the Creator chose to allow Creation to be from a distance through evolution, I am more than happy, and actually I do believe that is what He did do. We just do not have all the pieces to tie it together and may never have them all. Those who think that theories indicate fact are as foolish as those who ignore proof, and see God as an ancient magician, who spurned science. He does not and we ought to be educating people better than we do. tolerance should be the cornerstone of religion and science, not hatred.Tippet's attempt, was embraced by some, mostly biased theologians, a few scientists, and in my mind the book was of little substance or significance in the real arguments which daily circle the globe in both scientific and theological circles and those biased to either and those who minds are not locked in stone as are many scientists and religionists.My purposes for reading are to LEARN, not to have my prejudices supported. In short, I learned little here, and shall keep on reading and searching for even more enlightened studies, but while Krista Tippett's zeal is admirable, and she does write well, for me, this book disappoints. The title should have been something like, ""Exploring The Minds of Scientists Who Believe in God.""",3.0,I WAS EXPECTING MORE,1270512000,"04 6, 2010",8,12,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1TS6347PMFKY1,1561581127,Hunter Buchanan,"[0, 0]","The title to this book says it all. One of my better book that I have purchased. Just a down to earth, good, useable, informative book.",5.0,Book review,1390867200,"01 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3Q2O00LIZ1ZUY,076531312X,sleepy in Seattle,"[5, 9]","Pretty weak overall. The middle 100 pages or so could have been left out, they seem to be mostly filler that doesn't advance the story much. Also the ending is quite predictable. Not in detail but what will happen in general.Also Mr.Robinson should not have used RAH's name to preach his own political views. Esp considering that RAH would probably have disagreed with him.If you want to read something that reminds you of RAH, read Red Thunder from Varley for example.",2.0,weak,1162771200,"11 6, 2006",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A1LQZZDPV96TQI,014131088X,Kelly H,"[0, 4]","So, so good. This YA novel is told from the point of view of a girl who becomes an outcast the summer before she starts high school. She's so bitter and withdrawn that it's obvious she's in pain for some reason--and not just because she's lonely. I think any teenage girl (or boy, for that matter) would do well to read this book.",5.0,"So, so good",1154822400,"08 6, 2006",0,4,unhelpful,0.0,0 A32KR6QPZTNMTL,080211962X,"Betty Byrnes """MJBliss"""","[73, 191]","Amazon why must we be forced to give this book any stars? ""Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson"" doesn't deserve anything but a huge red X. DO NOT BUY this book filled with regurgitated media slander and lies. Don't throw your money away!!! Randall Sullivan who works for Rolling Stone Magazine has not evolved from Rolling Stone Magazine's hate fests against Michael Jackson to realize that the truth is freely available from people who worked, lived, loved, followed, shared much valued time with Michael Jackson. Those well written books are flying off the shelves. It's time to grow as a person of character Randall Sullivan! If you dare... pick up a well written, truthful book about MJ and read it. There are many on Amazon.com.Follow in the footsteps of truth!! Read one of the 5 intelligent books by Joe Vogel which are pain painstakingly researched and excellently written. You can start with: ""Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson"", or the precisely researched and well written book by Aprhodite Jones: ""Michael Jackson Conspiracy"", or the amazingly artistic, detailed and beautifully compiled book by MJ's very close friend for decades, Michael Bush: ""The King of Style: Dressing Michael Jackson"", or the deeply personal, touching and beautifully written book by Frank Cascio: ""My Friend Michael"". These are only a few books of great quality about MJ. There are many others which hold genuine, factual accounts and true life experiences of Michael Jackson... not the seedy, low life regurgitation of old media lies in this book by Randall Sullivan.Your need to capitalize on the ugly Jackson family drama to once again drag out the old, exhausted, dirty slander against Michael Jackson is as repugnant and despicable as the Jackson family drama itself. Believe me it is not a hook to sell your book but a turn off!Readers please do NOT believe the positive reviews here for this collection of salacious, disgusting media fiction about MJ. These reviews are planted and written by other editors from Rolling Stone Magazine, Randall Sullivan's co workers. More typical lies from these low life, bottom feeders who make their money$$ and living off spreading lies and filth about Michael Jackson. REALLY??? It's time for the the mud slinging and belittlement of MJ to STOP! All you have in this book is that you attempt to turn MJ into a freak again? The whole world, seemingly except for you, comprehends and despises the media slander and world wide media bullying perpetrated on Michael Jackson in his lifetime. Still you persist!! Proving bullies will always be bullies.These old sensationalized, disparaging, fictional tabloid stories are just that OLD & DULL and not worth spending our money or time on. Rolling Stone Magazine has ALWAYS used Michael Jackson's name and image to gain the readers and $$ sales; however the story is always the same backstabbing slander as proved in this book and recent Rolling Stone articles about MJ. In the end it is typical elementary school yard bullies who bash and defame MJ's name and reputation for $$$. This book by Randall Sullivan who works for Rolling Stone Magazine is no different. It takes no literary skill to achieve this classless, talentless copy and paste journalism.Again don't waste your money or your precious time with this filth. There are many artistic, accurate, honest and beautifully written books right here on Amazon for you to enjoy and learn about the real life person of Michael Jackson.",1.0,Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson,1352764800,"11 13, 2012",73,191,helpful,0.38219895287958117,1 A34A9O56HTFXTQ,B00COVGG9W,Susan J. Miller,"[0, 0]","It was a good short chapter, not a novella. I liked the surprise ENDING. Unfortunately I won't continue series because I cannot see purchasing chapters, would rather purchase a whole book.",4.0,"Good, but to short",1389139200,"01 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1TL0MLWRTYDYE,1857885619,"Gretchen Neels ""Business Consultant""","[0, 0]","There are many books out there showing people how to get ahead, but not enough information is available for those who finally reach positions of power. Many new to management, as Roberta points out, screw things up badly and are then forced to do damage control. If you're new to managing others, or have been doing so for a time without great success, save yourself some heartache and read this book!I found the chapters, ""Should You Care Whether Your Employees Love You?"" and ""Dealing With Difficult Employees"" especially well done. This book is actually two books -one for those heading up the ladder, and one for people on the top rungs trying to get their employees motivated, engaged and productive. ""Suddenly in Charge"" will get you pointed in the right direction, whether it's up or down.",5.0,Highly Recommended for New Managers,1297900800,"02 17, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BNPWP8G46EC,0615613373,Amazon Customer,"[5, 5]",Can't wait to read the rest. Wish this one was longer. I am enjoying supernatural readings again. Thank you. = ),4.0,Ahhhhh,1380326400,"09 28, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A459IW7H5B95Y,0888394470,"Bernard Finnigan ""Teacher, Reader, Author Ext...","[10, 13]","I have run into many ""facts"" made by dubious bigmouths...I have yet to hear one that wasnt an embarrassingly obvious beg for attention and/or woeful misinformed and out of date faux pas.Krantz does not ask anybody to take anything on faith. He proves his case with mathematics. If anyone has anything to refute, then they may proceed with math, if they are up to it. The skeptic apologists talk big, but NO ONE has ever stepped up and taken Krantz head on. No one ever talks about the extra wide shoulders, no one talks about the fingerprints on the feet, no one ever talks about the Native American tribal carvings. Krantz has the proof, and none of these items has ever been refuted. As such, Krantz wins. As a brave soul and as an intellectual.",5.0,"As a Physicist, the Science here is unshakable",1010707200,"01 11, 2002",10,13,helpful,0.7692307692307693,1 A16W82ARY5BCU5,0373218478,akashelli@aol.com,"[0, 0]","I love Nora Roberts!!!!!! and this book was a triple treat. Anyone who has family that has set them up on dates, will relate to this. Only these stories have all the ingredients--energy, attraction, intelligence and love.--Hope there is more cousin out there .",4.0,I think we can all relate to this stuff,886291200,"02 1, 1998",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWFKFVDD9P6GU,1600585744,"Steven Holdren ""Qurras""","[6, 7]",This book is for both the Art lover and the Dragon enthusiast. It shows how verious Artist may have tacked the job of painting a dragon. As an artist mayself I found this a great buy.,5.0,Step by step,1278460800,"07 7, 2010",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A2GPC7IGJQILQK,0782129730,"Daniel J. Barthel ""danbarthel""","[5, 7]",Great book. Outstanding print quality with good color illustrations. Mikkel's advice is easy to follow and produces great results. The only one to buy.,5.0,A winner,1010880000,"01 13, 2002",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1CYRTQ04LYI55,0395720273,"therosen ""therosen""","[0, 0]","I am sure that there's a message hidden underneath about knowing what you want and not having pretensions, but I can't quite elucidate it. That said, my kids seem to get the humor and enjoy hearing the story over and over again. I know it's more than just the rhymes. This was our 2nd in the Sheep series after Sheep in a Jeep, which was also a hit.",5.0,The sheep are a hit,1404604800,"07 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXTPPB5MDQGEF,0811864952,Wendy Meeks,"[0, 0]","My daughter (age 7) loves Ivy & Bean. I purchased this box set without knowing much about the books, but she has fallen in love with the characters and I often hear her laughing while she reads. We've read the first book together as a family and I agree the characters are pretty funny. The Treasure box is a great extra in this set. I would recommend for any girl who is just starting to get into chapter books.",5.0,Daughter loves it,1390953600,"01 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A13G1TKIKHGV3F,0810988909,M. Heiss,"[9, 9]","Our family are fanatical about Walter Wick's ""I Spy"" and ""Can You See What I See?"" Those pictures can be complex and very detailed, and we've gotten pretty good at them.Finding the objects in these works of art is even more difficult, ut very worthwhile.This is a high quality book, and the selected art is interesting, especially the more recent (20th century) pages. The objects to search for were sometimes cleverly chosen to show the artist's sense of humor or something unusual. It's worth a look, and it would make a great gift for a creative kid. I especially love that it includes collages, and textiles, and paintings -- lots of ways to look at America.Great book.",5.0,"Interesting, but difficult",1291161600,"12 1, 2010",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A1J4Q6UCH1T9FI,0380730847,adrienne_j,"[4, 5]","I never hesitate to spend good money on a hardback book by Faye Kellerman, and I was not disappointed with her latest. I think this is her best book since Justice, which will always be one of my favorites. The story is a combination of a great mystery, deep characters, and a fun relationship between Peter and his devout Jewish wife Rina. I am definitely glad that I did not wait for it to come out in paperback!!!",4.0,F. Kellerman wins me over again,998179200,"08 19, 2001",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3DJFA2T4PKZ1O,1593370687,"K. D Kirk ""workingpants""","[21, 21]","A pithy and poignant look at the greatest game ever invented and how and what it can say about life lessons. Anyone who has played chess (regardless of skill level), who has at least half an introspective brain (which nearly all chess lovers do) has long recognized the parallels between the principles of chess strategy and the applicability to life strategy. What author and Chess Master Peter Kurzdorfer has done is actually do what many others I suspect have wanted to do for many score years....actually capture some of those principles in writing.Its not an overly deep read, on either the chess or philosophy, but it is a very satisfying read on both topics. Don't look for in depth middlegame strategies or 1400 opening strategems, but expect a solid treatment of fundamentally sound chess as well as fundamentally sound 'know thyself' type tips.Warning: While this book is very applicable to novice and amateur chessplayers, reasonable knowledge of elementary chess and of notation is required to enjoy it. Never fear, learning chess notation takes minimal effort. One drawback, however, is that I do not recall seeing an explanation of algebraic chess notation in the Tao of Chess, and it could benefit from that.Overall, if you like to play chess, even just periodically, this is a good 'take on vacation' type book or one to spend time with across 4-5 weeks in evenings at home after work.",4.0,Chess and Life Philosophy,1090540800,"07 23, 2004",21,21,helpful,1.0,1 A2IS1CNPSK6B13,074356619X,"The Highwayman Fan ""Prosperity & Ambudance to...","[5, 12]","I purchased the DVD version, during the tail end of the 'O' show and I puchased this CD version, soon thereafter. I listen to the CD version getting ready for work in the morning and in the evenings. I incorporate the Secret in my life as well as my family. I'm glad that I just checked for the hardcover and yippeee...the price is reduced. All in all, this is very much appreciated. Thank you Rhonda Byrne.",5.0,Excellent,1177200000,"04 22, 2007",5,12,helpful,0.4166666666666667,1 A308QC9XPFHFGJ,0451223896,"Malfoyfan ""Cath""","[0, 0]","I think part of why this book is so good is that it's true (been there, done that myself) and the other part is that it's just downright hilarious. I have not laughed this much while reading a book and enjoyed a book this much in a long time. It's really hard to be funny when writing about painful self truths but Lancaster pulls it off extremely well. I like her sarcastic, mean sense of humor, probably because I share it; for me, at least, she really nails what is messed-up about weight loss plans. Don't miss out on this one. Can't wait for her next book.",5.0,Funny and true,1231804800,"01 13, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33DWT2APDBNX6,1932458174,"laser_mechanic ""laser_mechanic""","[15, 20]","Some of the exercises shown in this book, such as the ""Furey bridge) nothing more than a neck bridge taken to extreme) have the potential to do one thing, to hurt you!Be careful and look at the routines and exercises with a grain of salt; do your own research, get informed as some of this is wrong in so many levels.Some of the info and routines are valid, in spite of the shorcomings of this book.",2.0,Some of these exercises could cause injury!,1223164800,"10 5, 2008",15,20,helpful,0.75,1 A19X9V07RI9AIL,0375859551,"Amazon Customer ""Jessica Caffey""","[0, 0]","This book was a cute and quick read just in time for Christmas. I have heard numerous things about it and decided I needed to see what the fuss was all about.This book goes back and forth between Dash and Lily. Two strangers...one red notebook...and dares. Dash finds this red notebook and there is a note in it in girls hand writing...challenging and daring the reader to continue reading and follow clues.Dash, having nothing better to do on his Christmas break, accepts said challenge. They leave the red notebook in places and send them on challenges and hunts...getting to know each other through this book of dares.Lily is an awkward 16 yr old left alone with her brother for Christmas and is in need of something to do. When she see's that her challenge has been accepted, she sends this challenger on many quests and writes to him back and they embark on this journey.This, like I said, was a cute read. Very creative and loveable. I rated this 4 stars because it isn't something that I think I will read again. It was well written and had an engaging story line, just not something that I can relate to at my age.I would recommend this because it was a good Christmas read and helps keep the spirit of Christmas alive.",4.0,Cute read...,1389225600,"01 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALTDIYK3768UU,0792267966,Conrad H. Blickenstorfer,"[26, 28]","What can be said about Jacques Cousteau and his groundbreaking book that hasn't been said a thousand times? He is undoubtedly the defining figure of modern scuba diving, his books, films, and documentaries known to millions or billions. Even the name of his ship, the Calypso, is known the world over. It's a small volume, this book, just 160 pages, yet it's absolutely mandatory reading for anyone interested in what Cousteau termed ""the silent world"" under the surface of the water that covers 71% of our planet. The Silent World is the bible of modern scuba diving.Jacques Cousteau himself died in 1997 at the age of 87, but the legacy of his pioneering work with diving and diving physiology lives on. It is all well documented and disseminated worldwide, thanks to this French explorer's unique combination of instinctive understanding of the world under the surface and his equally unique knack of spellbinding the world with his words and images. A total master of public relations and getting the word out, Cousteau managed to grab attention and media coverage wherever he went. Critics went so far as suggesting his media talents exceeded his actual contributions to understanding the seas.At first it's hard to figure out why this slim volume became such a success. It's not a textbook, it doesn't cover the history of diving or even much of Cousteau's own research, and it's not an adventure book. Though Cousteau was French, he wrote The Silent World in English as he had attended American schools in his youth, widely traveled the US, and, of course, extensively lectured in his enchanting French-accented English. Yet, The Silent World clearly reveals its author's non-English origin and decidedly ""non-English"" thinking. The writing, while precise, often suggests that Cousteau frequently described a word or concept that existed in his native French, but did not directly translate into English. As a result, the writing at times seems a bit flowery and, well, foreign, and you need to read a sentence or paragraph two or three times to figure out what it actually means. Cousteau's liberal use of metaphors, artistic nuances, poetic concepts and words that have since fallen out of currrent language only serve to make The Silent World even more unusual of a literary treat.Anyone looking for technical explanations, precise history, a logical flow of events, or anything one might expect from a world-famous documentary maker and researcher will not find it in this book. The Silent World is a totally unique, very compressed tale flowing from Cousteau's mind. Read half a chapter and you know the man; he's a unique combination of inspired philosophical observer and gifted researcher with uncanny intuition. While others conducted their research methodically and ploddingly, Cousteau always just seemed to know what to expect, how to behave, and what to seek and avoid to make it all seem easy. He and his close associates and friends Phillipe Tailliez and Frederic Dumas used their ""aqualung"" to experient liberally in sort of a ""Hmmm.... this is probably what will happen, let's go check it out!"" approach.Using this, Cousteau describes the difference between ""helmet divers"" and the newly liberated users of their ""aqualung"" -- what we now know as air tanks and regulators. The book casually touches on all the principles of diving physics and physiology, the stuff we learn in our PADI and NAUI classes. He describes sea life, how it reacts, where it lives, how it behaves, and what is dangerous and what is not. They see just how deep they can go. They check how colors change. What nitrogen does and why we need recompression chambers. He offers his views on treasure hunting (not worth it; if you find real treasure authorities and hordes of lawyers will soon apprehend it). He reports on atrocities he witnessed underwater, like the needless destruction of corals and cruel killing of fish. He debunks myths of sea monsters, seeks answers to geological phenomena such as the Fountain of Vaucluse near Avignon, one that almost cost him and Dumas their lives in a pioneering effort at extreme cave diving. He describes what fish do and how they react. And sea mammals and other sea critters. Sharks remain an enigma to Cousteau as his conclusion is that you simply cannot understand or predict them.So The Silent World relates, in 14 fascinating self-contained chapters, pretty much everything we know about diving today, 60 years after Cousteau began researching as a ""manfish,"" all the principles we know, and it's all neatly and attractively presented in tales that always mix research with adventure. Cousteau never preaches or lectures. He just explores, pushes, interprets, and reports. Maybe Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a showman as much as a researcher. If so, good for him as otherwise we may never have had the opportunity to learn from him and enjoy his remarkable insights. -- C. H. Blickenstorfer, scubadiverinfo.com",5.0,How a showman/researcher/storyteller/philosopher defined modern diving,1163203200,"11 11, 2006",26,28,helpful,0.9285714285714286,1 A1WWJ19KPQ2QY8,1930448589,"Quilter ""Quilter""","[0, 0]",This is a nice book to have for improving food choices and seeing what dreadful thing you just swallowed. I first ordered the eletronic version and it is impossible to navigate. Stick to the hard copy and be happy.,5.0,Very good reference,1392681600,"02 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2DN30AO9YWBJP,0140120416,"""austin_ed""","[140, 141]","The main strength of this book is its completeness. By using this book alone it is possible to obtain a good understanding of basic Russian. No other reference is necessary, thus for a single volume course this has no equal. By any standards this is a good book.There are weaknesses. Dependent on your point of view, the focus on an academic type course of instruction with rigorous grammar might not appeal to some (and attract others), as stated in the introduction, one of the books objectives is to bring the reader up to UK 'A' Level standard (Roughly equivalent to the first two years of an American College course). This isn't one of those 'jaunty' conversational type courses, as reflected perhaps in the lack of an audio medium such as a CD or Cassette being available.I'd recommend this book to Russian Students and those wanting a sound academic grounding in Russian. For those whom wish to just converse in basic Russian (lets say for a tourist or business trip) it may be better to look at other courses that are combined with an Audio package.However if you have additional access to a Russian speaker or are based in Russia I'd not hesitate to recommend this book as your first choice of instruction.Again, as a single volume, and if I could have only one Russian book this would be it. No question about it.For those reasons I'd give it 5 starts for a self-contained course, 4 stars for an academic instructional course, and 2 stars if you just want a quick intro to conversational Russian.",4.0,Solid Introduction,1012176000,"01 28, 2002",140,141,helpful,0.9929078014184397,1 AW1493ZQTQ2ET,0521796792,Irfan A. Alvi,"[4, 4]","This book is primarily a collection of key papers on heuristics and biases published during the two decades between 1982 and 2002, generally in the tradition of the work initiated by Tversky and Kahneman. The book essentially picks up whereJudgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biasesleft off. An introductory chapter also provides an historical overview of the topic and outlines the scope of the book.The paper-based format of the book means that the content is relatively detailed and technical, with specifics of many experimental studies, and thus the book is oriented towards an academic audience rather than the general reader (for whomThinking, Fast and Slowis a better choice). Likewise, the book is NOT a systematic textbook on heuristics and biases, so look elsewhere if that's your interest - almost no one will read this book cover to cover, nor is that generally necessary.I give the book 5 stars for achieving its goals for its intended audience, and I hope this review is helpful in clarifying who that audience is.",5.0,Very good for its intended audience,1358726400,"01 21, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1RHX2BDQ6L27Z,0446544787,"Detra Fitch ""Always hunting good books.""","[6, 6]","Set mainly in Kildare, Ireland. When they were children, lady Elizabeth ""Eliza"" Blacknall and William ""Will"" Denton were often together. They had been close friends. But in the year 1790, Will purchased his commission in an English regiment and went to England, leaving fifteen-year-old Eliza behind in Kildare.Seven years have now passed. Eliza is now a widow, Lady Mount Clare. The young Irish countess is still the vibrant, intelligent, and independent lady that Will recalls so well. Will has returned, as an English soldier, to crush the Irish uprising. And it seems that Eliza is in the middle of it all. The last thing he wants is to see her neck in a noose when Lord Lieutenant Camden and his generals unleash their forces. All too soon Ireland is embroiled in bloody conflicts. Will's regiment is ordered to the front lines. Will worries not only about Eliza, but his mother too. Battle lines become blurred and Will must choose between all he cares for and his honor and duty to the king.**** FOUR STARS! I found this story to have a deep and serious plot, very political. But the romance between Eliza and Will came across to me as unbelievable in the early parts of the tale. After all, early in the story Will admits to Eliza that he is determined to climb high in the English ranks and about how he believes in the Crown. He seemed to truly believe in his English duty. So I found it difficult to accept that he would put it all on the line for a lady from his past, no matter how close they had been. Otherwise, this story is intense, with action and high drama. I proudly recommend it to all fans of Historical Romances, as well as to fans of History. It is MORE than clear to me that the author has done her research and understands this era very well. BRAVA! ****Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.",4.0,"Daughters of Erin, Book One",1265328000,"02 5, 2010",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A3DDWPHJPL3K65,1480189243,Jess,"[0, 0]","In the first few sections of the book, I found the author to be obnoxious. He flaunts his success and wealth shamelessly. It was full of his experiences and the lessons he learned along the way. It could be laugh at loud funny at times and other times heartbreakingly serious. But the emotions are undeniable and that what makes this book so good. He pulls emotions out of you with his stories.",4.0,Damn,1396483200,"04 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A22I98GKUA4QF5,0743573749,happycamper45,"[37, 39]","This is really an audio book from the authors' popular YOU series. The actually tracks on breathing number 3.5 and appear at the end of the second disk. They are lead by Lisa Oz and are good, albeit brief. I was disappointed.",2.0,Misleading Title,1212624000,"06 5, 2008",37,39,helpful,0.9487179487179487,1 A2F1BFWMVST0WC,1594032556,K. Unger,"[82, 87]","This book was recommended by a Federal Judge at a conference on ethics. It is a scary, insightful indictment of criminal prosecutions and the growing trend of prosecutors and judges encroaching on the legislative branch's power to enact laws through manipulation and overreaching interpretations of vague federal laws. It is not only a MUST read, but it is a MUST act upon as well. Kudos Silverglate!",5.0,"Thought provoking, brilliant and scary",1256256000,"10 23, 2009",82,87,helpful,0.9425287356321839,1 A1RY10QK9QQTK2,B009NEIMFE,Diane S Petrie,"[0, 0]",again good story kept interested and did not know the awnser till the end of story and not much about the next book,5.0,like Bucking Bronc Lodge,1370390400,"06 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QGZRRHYS0WJ6,B008WB0I1A,Rajun Kajun,"[0, 0]","Love Micha, Sam and Trace. What a great way to get to know them better! Thanks, Sony's Lynne for letting us get to know them better.",5.0,Monday's calling,1358899200,"01 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANO5QEXJP7FMA,0446359637,nanad,"[0, 0]","This was one of those books that grabbed my attention from the first page. I loved the small town setting in the south. The main character Jade was a smart, strong woman from the beginning who learned a hard lesson what it's like to live in a town that is run by tyrants, a man and his son that are so bad, so mean, and so hateful toward women. From the beginning you want terrible things to rain down on these men and their followers, including Jade's best friend. And then there was the wonderful couple Mitch and Cathy that befriended Jade and helped her get her life on track and make it possible to finally bring justice to the people that nearly destroyed he and finally have peace and love in her life.",5.0,Revenge can be so Sweet!,1384992000,"11 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1CBAXZIXO7PKP,1555834248,Michael J. Armijo,"[4, 4]","I loved this book. It's simply a journal of the past (THEN) & the present (NOW) that keeps you interested all the way through. It got me all hyped up to the end...the meeting--sorry, I can't give away the story. Quite a page-turner!It made me want to write my own story in a similar venue....perhaps one day...I will.",5.0,A Diary of Past & Present,1007596800,"12 6, 2001",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3H6IFZPQORY04,B004HIM7MU,"GeeBee ""caffeine-junkied insomniac""","[13, 13]","This book was enthralling and I had a hard time putting it down. The characters are well-developed and I really enjoyed the storyline--which was clean, but with enough twists and turns to keep the book interesting. I especially enjoyed the fact that there was no overblown use of coarse language or explicit scenes. The scenic descriptions made me feel like I was there--even when I didn't necessarily want to be! I can't wait to read another McClure thriller now that they are more accessible to those of us in the USA.",5.0,a Mystery ahead of its time!,1295049600,"01 15, 2011",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A1P8YMIUHSTTKA,0920256651,K. Wallace,"[4, 4]","Mate challenges the priorities of our Western urban lifestyle, and most of his ideas about the loss of community and the strange shift in priorities of our electronic culture ring true. Of course his generalities are just that--I live in a Southern California suburb and we know our neighbors, drink wine with them, share meals, and our kids run around the neighborhood with friends. We even have a vegetable garden. But in Mate's opinion, most Americans live in McMansions, communicate via Facebook and Twitter, drive Hummers and eat fast food while playing on the X-Box.But still, Mate is persuasive, and his generalities do contain a lot of truth to them. And in the end had me convinced to buy an old farmhouse in Tuscany and join him in the country to live an ideal life of hard work, good friends, fine food and endless wine. But when I went on-line to look into my options, I couldn't find a farmhouse in Tuscany to restore for less than $500,000. I imagine that one would have to sell a lot of olives and bake a lot of bread to even make the payments. And what to do during the two years it would take to restore it?? Could we live with the neighbors? Have the farmers of Tuscany sold out and cashed in for apartments in Florence or Rome? Are the kindly neighbors who always have time for a chat and glass of wine now rich holiday snobs from Switzerland, England and Germany, who only see their houses in August?The principles in the book are mostly common sense lessons about values and priorities, and as such a welcome and needed reminder about the importance of family and friends, the value of lasting substance and quality over needless consumerism. Mate unfortunately ventures into petty political name-calling (Bush is portrayed as a numbskull, and Obama the savior of the western world) and we get glimpses of the tactics that speak to the worst of the far left mindset. I think that had he managed to steer clear of the politics, and been a little more balanced in his critique of our country, he would have made his point without alienating a big part of his readership.But like the woman he describes who burst our with anger when Bush was elected, I suppose he just couldn't help himself.",4.0,Head to the Country?,1306022400,"05 22, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2BZCHIDR5FTYA,0821777467,Detra Fitch,"[11, 11]","Wilhemina ""Willa"" Linnet is the younger sister of a country vicar. Now of age and due a Season in London, her brother makes it obvious that he did not wish to spend the money for her to have a Season. Sir Daniel Braeburn offers for her hand, not out of any love or passion, but as a practical solution to her brother, Jerome. Logical Willa decides to test her prospective fiancé before committing herself. To that end, upon seeing a man in the garden and thinking it to be Daniel she takes off her spectacles and begs a kiss. However, it is not Daniel who kisses her, but his prodigal brother, Alexander. Willa's experimental results: No wedding! Daniel cannot compare to the heat and desire Alex stirs within her.Alexander ""Alex"" Braeburn is dozing in the garden. When the shapely young beauty begs for his kiss, he believes himself dreaming and obliges her ... more than once. But a lady such as Willa is made for marriage and he has no interest in such. Once back in London, he can forget all about her.Enter Willa's Aunt Honore! Lady Alameda takes Willa as her protégée and whisks her off to London for a Season. Having seen the tender Willa and Alex have for each other, but neither admitting such to themselves, Honore decides to play matchmaker. (And she does it so well!)Sure enough, Alex claims he has no desire to marry, yet as others begin to vie for her affections (even his own two best friends), Alex realizes that losing Willa to anyone else would be the greatest mistake of all.***** Wonderful reading for Regency fans! The author created a strong character, Willa, and gave her a brain to match. No simpering, faint-hearted miss here! With some fun and witty times, a bit of romance, and some magical moments, this novel is gem! This story will remain in your thoughts long after you finish reading it. BRAVA! *****Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.",5.0,BRAVA!,1104796800,"01 4, 2005",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A32UIU20HTSM0T,0679882812,DIY Coffey,"[0, 0]","I don't really like this book because it's too weird for learning in my opinion. Some of the words and some of the animals are a little too made up. I think doctor Seuss is great for an older kid who already has a firm grasp on talking and maybe reading, but not for a infant/toddler that is learning. I feel like they are trying to make sense of everything and it's your job as a parent to feed them consistent information to help their little brains find the patterns.Because it made sense to us, we didn't use abbreviations or baby talk with our daughter. We just explained everything - a lot - using correct English and grammer. Along with a lot of talking and reading, it's worked for us. Our daughter started talking before 18 months and was saying complex sentences @ 20 months. She even starting naturally conjugating verbs. We've since read that this is what you are supposed to do. I'm sure a lot of that is just because we got lucky and she's good at language, but I definitely feel like the consistent and continuous explaining had a lot to do with it. In my opinion this book and Dr. Seuss in general would only serve to confuse at this early stage and I'm not willing to take that risk. There are plenty of other great options to choose from, save the Seuss for later.",2.0,Not Good For Learning,1389312000,"01 10, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27BY97QQS36V3,038080901X,"Tanya L. Schaub ""TSchlaack""","[7, 7]","Interesting story line that I had not read much about before. The hero (James) has gone off to the war in Spain and when he comes home he obviously has posttraumatic stress syndrome, which of course no one including him understands. At the same time, the heroine (Verity) is being sold, by her husband at an auction in a little town square. One thing leads to another and James ends up buying Verity from her husband. It is interesting to see how things progress. Verity is not made into his mistress instead she is introduced as his cousin, though many know differently.The story progresses as you find out what happened to his previous wife and see how Verity comes to care for the town and those around her. Including the bad tempered James.I enjoyed this story and recommend it to others as not the normal romance.",4.0,A dark hero and a bride sale????,1035504000,"10 25, 2002",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A1MBWYU4STT6AB,0664246982,Peter D. Glickenhaus,"[8, 9]","If you're looking for an exhaustive treatment of critical scholarship issues, this book is not for you. Its intended audience is the layperson or young college student.Professor Dunn's book deals with four issues which provide a response to the television series, Jesus: The Evidence, which first aired in the mid-eighties, and, according to Dunn, misrepresented the scholarly consensus in early Christian studies. Rather than provide a balanced overview of scholarship, this show favored the eccentric views of a minority of scholars, and thus misled many viewers. This book is a brief reply, and deals with four salient issues:1. The Reliability of the Synoptic Gospels2. Finding the Historical Jesus in the Gospel of John3. Beliefs of the Resurrection in the Early Church4. The Early Church -- Christianity or Christianities?Brief, lucid, and a fine example of deftly blending scholarship with a concern for the contemporary church, this book is a must for every layperson not yet exposed to critical scholarship.",5.0,Concise and Balanced Introduction to Critical Scholarship,1090022400,"07 17, 2004",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A3PA7EVNXI8PX,0143170104,Christine,"[0, 0]","If you've read the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo then this book is a must read. It is a good follow-up to the first book, and it kept me wanting to know more. I can't wait to read the 3rd.",4.0,Yay! A good follow-up to the 1st,1286064000,"10 3, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MWRUARWA920U,0615933262,P Walker,"[0, 0]",Loved this book! Had some situations I did not see coming. Looking forward to the next book in the series.,5.0,Go Nic !!!,1403481600,"06 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AO8L24OAQKO5A,1455521175,MAINEiac,"[0, 1]","It's been a LONG time since I've read a David Baldacci book. But, this was a great read. Some readers complain that it had a slow start. I didn't think so...if it did, it ramped up quickly. I was quickly engrossed in the book and finished it in record time.",5.0,Great / fast read!,1372982400,"07 5, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 ATOWWYAWOFIO7,0689815298,someone,"[4, 4]",i never knew bats were so interesting before i read this series. If you're an animal lover you'll like it.,5.0,Batty,1127260800,"09 21, 2005",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1X4EQN5WWMMS6,B00EX16M54,M Cail,"[0, 0]","Corbin Malone is a cop assigned to babysit a crime scene and a bunch of ghost hunters, at an abandon insane asylum, Ruby Hill, which also happens to be the place his brother had died.He doesn't believe in ghosts and thinks the whole thing is ridiculous. But the public has attributed the mysterious deaths to a ""phantom killer"", so they brought in the ghost hunters to prove there is no such things as ghosts.Ashley Pearce is a ghost hunter and Corbin's ex. She has her own reasons for being at Ruby Hill, but Corbin isn't happy to see her.Together they not only discover Ghost exist, but they can be deadly.",3.0,Ghost Story,1380672000,"10 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1KXLY5ZZ4N0KO,0312349491,Wallaby,"[10, 12]","This episode of Stephanie the girl bounty hunter is better than the last several. There is far less repetition of trips to the donut shop, or bizarre transvestite characters and over the top slapstick. This one is better written and the plot is more interesting. Most reviewers on here seem mostly interested in developments in Stephanie's love life..WILL she marry Joe? and quit flirting with Ranger? It is possible that marrying off Stephanie could cool off interest in the series (Look what happened to Rhoda Morganstern and many others) I think Mrs. Morelli could have many more adventures if Janet can come up with more crimes. I almost did not buy this one-- the last couple were pretty thin but this book has breathed new life into the series. I hope the next one is as good.",4.0,Better than the last half dozen of this series....,1182643200,"06 24, 2007",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A8WXLST0944GZ,1416569790,J. Powell,"[4, 8]","..and at the end of it I was depressed.The author simply drags this out too much.This is a lot of information crammed into 400 paes, mixed with Psychological history, ranging from Freud to Pavlov, and the efforts of the drug companies to ""market"" depression, along with the authors own individual struggles as both patient and counselor.Frankly, there is so much info, I couldn't finish the book.Chapter 9 begins:""This chapter is going to be full of words like catecholamine, and iminodibenzyl and phenothiazine. I'm not exactly apologizing for this, but I am warning you: this might be a good time to take a stretch and get some coffee...""Amen to that, and that's what I did.",2.0,This is some mountain to climb!,1280620800,"08 1, 2010",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A3FTPZVM2L0BGM,0446520659,Jim,"[0, 0]","Ok, maybe one or two, but wow what a ride. When I first started reading I told my wife I would only be reading a short time while she got ready for bed, twelve chapters later I was having too much fun to stop. I read this book almost non-stop the whole weekend. You will enjoy every minute of it.",5.0,Never a Dull Moment,1378339200,"09 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AKONN742O5IUI,0399162410,D.S. Cahr,"[0, 1]","Like a combination of The Passage and Divergent, this is a fantastic, fun YA thriller. Post apocalyptic (but not dystopian exactly) it has keen insights into teen characters with literate takes on a brutal occupation by "Others." Very clever, and looking forward to the next book in the series.",4.0,A YA Version of The Passage,1369785600,"05 29, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2FSUG981QRSD,0843957352,Unknown,"[0, 0]","Our heroine Does not think her boyfriend embezzled funds from work and killed two people. The detective in charge thinks he did. So our heroine and her best friend set out to solve the mystery themselves.in the sideline, our heroine and the hero cop find themselves attracted to each other.Theila And our heroine finds out that her boyfriend is married.",3.0,You just have to love this zany character. She and her cohort are best friends. They put themselves to work solving the mystery.,1380067200,"09 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANVIEQLT0WNHS,0451219155,Paul Busick,"[0, 0]","Entertaining chapter in the continuing saga of Dismas Hardy. Fun read, and reasonably good plot. I enjoyed it. Bought another book in the series after reading it.",4.0,More Dismas Hardy,1403136000,"06 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WOFS8KPCI2GL,0028642589,Michael,"[9, 11]","Like most ""Idiot"" books, this is a great introduction. Not a lot of depth in some places, but that is better left to specific subject books. What this book does well is get you acquainted with terms and different varieties of bikes so that you can avoid making a complete fool of yourself. Also gives good resources for further education. You wouldn't want this to be your only bike book, but it is a good place to start.",4.0,A great introduction,1052697600,"05 12, 2003",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A1VDYGAH4L5ZYV,0758211570,"Antoinette Jorge ""I'm Blessed!""","[4, 4]","After waiting a year to hear your voice. It is a blast of pure enjoyment! You continue to bless us with with your writing and never ending tales of ups and downs and lifes everlasting spins. Continue to give voice to your dreams! You have again made the characters JUMP right off the pages of this book! The old familiar stomping grounds in Brooklyn. I was there! I finished this book in 1 day and did not want it to end. Chile, if i could get my hands on Katrina -- like you said ... I would pluck her eyes out; snap her neck; knock all her teeth out of her mouth in 2 seconds and still have 58 seconds to whip her [back]! LOL!!! Loved it all! Sibling rivalry-- I am the only girl with 4 brothers! I learned to fight fast! Gloria you showed out in this one! May God continue to bless you and your writing!! (...)",5.0,By GEORGE!!! Gloria has done it again!!!!!,1140998400,"02 27, 2006",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1MC6BFHWY6WC3,0759298157,D. Blankenship,"[5, 5]","I first read this paperback back in the late 60s, I was pretty impressed at that time. After giving it a reread recently, I was still impressed but not quite so captivated as when I was much younger. This is a very, very good group of short stories. My favorite was the title story, of people trapped in a computer. This was quite forward looking of the author when you consider when the story was first published. I do have to agree with a couple of the other reviewers in that I am not at all sure if the author had full control of his narrative at all times. On the other hand, this is sort of a part of the charm of the book. I can well see how this book recieved the Hugo and Nebula Awards during those times. If you are a student of the SiFi genre, then this is one you will probably want to read and own. Recommend it highly.",5.0,ALWAYS AN INTERESTING TAKE AND INTERESTING READ,1152489600,"07 10, 2006",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2A46OWYMZSOS3,145162607X,Susan,"[0, 0]","Delightful! Courageous women, chivalrous men, a very good read. I didn't want it to end. Phillipa Gregory has an excellent grasp on women's history.",5.0,Love this book.,1395878400,"03 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NT7YCWP98Q9T,1479359084,Heidi,"[0, 0]","Another perfect story from Karina Halle. I'll be on ""pins"" and needles waiting for the next installment. Hurry hurry hurry!!!",5.0,She's done it again!,1359158400,"01 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27PKSP8KI7I6M,B0081C1LPM,David Timmermann,"[7, 8]",The guy is so full of bs. Yeah he lives in colorado at 7000 ft. So what? Most of the state lives higher than that. Big whup. Sure it's free. But it's a waste of your time. Anyone can find better information on tabata than he gives just by googling it.,1.0,Don't get this,1353456000,"11 21, 2012",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A3DIGM3KB4E11V,0802828957,"Jeri Nevermind ""loves to read""","[14, 14]","Hurtado has written a number of brilliant books on the subject of earliest Christianity. Now he asks an obvious question: why not consider all the evidence?There are some 400 Christian related pieces of papyri dated to before Constantine. From the second and third centuries we have 12 fragments of Matthew, 1 of Mark, 7 of Luke, 16 of John, and 7 of Acts, 4 of Hebrews, not to mention many others. Hermas, for example, is well represented.Why is this evidence so rarely used?Investigating the subject, Hurtado makes many interesting points. While the orthodox Christian writings seem to have been transmitted with great care, the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas ""was transmitted with a noticeable fluidity in contents and arrangement"" (p 34).It appears that Paul's epistles were bound together in codex form sometime around 100 and ""this edition of Pauline epistles was prepared with a concern for textual accuracy"" (p 39), as Zuntz has argued. Hurtado wonders if this might have been one of the reasons the early Christians preferred the codex to the roll. Various scholars have suggested other reasons the codex was preferred. It might have been less costly, held more text, or perhaps it was simply a familiar form, as an early missionary carried a traveling codex. Hurtado can only suggest the possibilities; no one can yet give a reason for the Christian preference for the codex.The nomina sacra is yet one more textual mystery. Christian scribes abbreviated the first and final letters of some word, something like a contraction. It is likely that ""the abbreviation of Jesus' name as lH arose from early Christian piety"" (p 118). The tau-rho is yet another example of Christian piety and seems to have spread widely and quickly among scribes.Aspects that cry for greater investigation: Christian manuscripts were also unusual in the amount of reader's aids. Does this indicate aid to gospels being read liturgically? What can be gleaned about the meaning and importance of how the early Christians read the gospels based upon these aids?",5.0,A plea to look at all the evidence,1210550400,"05 12, 2008",14,14,helpful,1.0,1 A35OG5VFDZ8I9C,0970170904,Jennifer N. Leach,"[0, 0]","I recieved this book from the author herself, and I enjoyed every bit of it. This book is filled with mystery and you're trying to find out who is good or whose bad. I'm still trying to figure out who sent the curse in the first place. This is a really good book and kinda of scary. I recommend it to everyone.",4.0,Excellent,994636800,"07 9, 2001",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1L3VGCOZK8GB7,1439190356,"Jeffrey P. Bampos ""Goddess Guy""","[0, 0]","Incarnation is set in the late Victorian era with the additon of steampunk aspects such as widespread electricity and advanced weaponry and science. The novel revolves around Lucy Weston, the ""real"" person behind the fictional Lucy in Bram Stoker's ""Dracula"". Lucy is a vampire, but a nice one and takes offense at Stoker's book and seeks him out. She discovers that the vampire who made her was not Dracula at all, but the King of the English Vampires. If you read the novel Elizabeth: Vampire Slayer, you will see a tie in as to who this king really is. The story is briskly paced and full of detail. I hope to read more Lucy stories in the future.",5.0,A New Look at a Dracula Character,1350777600,"10 21, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TEW18JCLT1UV,0786715502,Mom of 6,"[11, 12]",Buy this book if you are thinking of adoption. Buy this book if you have adopted. Buy this book if you drank alcohol during your pregnancy. Buy this book if your mother drank while pregnant with you. It will answer all your questions and point you in all the right directions.,5.0,From One Adoptive Mom to Another....,1136246400,"01 3, 2006",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A3TXLPHISSF5S3,0142402753,J2014,"[0, 0]",Love the author and all her books. This another great one. The story is wonderful and the illustrations are as well.,5.0,Great Book,1395878400,"03 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VZEVB8NFN28Q,0061939897,Robert Herring,"[17, 29]","This is a fun book to read. If you think it is only for Palin lovers or political junkies, you are wrong. It is an upbeat story from someone who has a positive outlook on life. You will realize the Palin painted by the media and the rabid opponents does not exist. She is one tough cookie and an excellent role model for young people. I found reading about growing up in Alaska made me feel like I had missed out on something great. Her anecdotal stories are charming and her inside knowledge of the 2008 campaign provided an informative counter to the repetitive media spin. It is not the revenge-seeking tome the unwashed attackers claim it to be in their one-star reviews. I found this book far more entertaining than the hate-filled media version of her life. One example is the way she was attacked as an idiot for taking 5 years to finish college, which is actually fairly normal these days. She relates how she worked to put herself through college (where she earned good grades). Read the media account and you would think anyone who didn't attend an Ivy and graduate in four years is an idiot. Read her book and you learn you should not be deterred if you can't afford college. Just work hard and you can do it. I prefer her positive outlook to the bitter world of her detractors.I must admit that the book was not as humorous as the one-star reviews here...The Palin haters were as amusing as ever.",5.0,Fun to Read,1261785600,"12 26, 2009",17,29,helpful,0.5862068965517241,1 A36IQ1PDKM9NE,B008R8U1LU,"B. Campbell ""argomd""","[0, 3]","It was almost immediately clear that this was written by a journalist and not a scientist. My personal prejudices lie on the continuum between scientifically-literate and sober journalists and highly-articulate scientific specialists. Oh, well.The author early-on mischaracterizes ""theory"" as an exalted belief, coming into existence out of the ether by fiat or magic, well before any testing takes place. He glibly conflates ""ignorance"" with scientific uncertainty; I expect climate change deniers everywhere to eagerly jump on this trope, as if they haven't already.For such a brief work, an unusually large portion of the text was devoted to the personal idiosyncrasies of the scientist-subjects. Lots of needed science slipped off the pages as a result. But I would have been spared the vision of a geologist ""marking"" his samples so personally. Both the author and Dr. Raymo showed more forebearance in the field than I would have done.Will a non-specialist or non-scientist be significantly educated by this work? I would not recommend it to my college students or colleagues. I'll have to go elsewhere for a more complete discussion of isostatic rebound, glacial anomalies on past gravitational geoids, new intercomparisons of various (inter)glacial cycles, time lags in CO2-sea level associations, thermal expansion of oceans, et al. It wasn't a book, but it could have been a much better-edited monograph.I was hoping for better from my first Kindle single. Onward and upward! (or back to books)",2.0,Surprised not to have been better educated by this work.,1353024000,"11 16, 2012",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 AJ172WUCJBNVU,1588512592,Susie Ellis,"[9, 9]","What a fun book this is, especially Ricki and her best friend, Charlie. Charlie has a problem with assertiveness and Ricki just can't say no - which ends up getting her in all kinds of trouble. Ricki is the kind of friend we all love to have - a bungler with spunk who's a little zany, which makes life situations funnier than they would normally be. The WAR group is a great idea and the core group, Ricki, Charlie, and Melanie, hilarious.If you like contemporary romance intermingled with comedy and suspense, this is the book you're looking for. I'm glad I found this author.",5.0,Thelma and Louise Tennessee-Style,1062892800,"09 7, 2003",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A2LQ7U52Q0L4P6,0736943366,Karla Hanns,"[0, 0]","This book, A Baby for Hannah follows in Jerry's tradition of the writing of Amish fiction written true to the Amish faith in all aspects.I have read each and every one of his Amish novels and this one was every bit as good as the others. I love the series that Jerry has come up with- and follows through with!You feel as if you know and each and every character. When they are going through their periods of trials and challenges, you travel along beside them. Jerry's ability to exhibit the fact that the Amish, although they practice their faith, with peace and forgiveness, still go through difficult times the same as you or I. I felt Hannah's fear of losing her baby once again, as I did Miriam's happiness of finding true love. But this road to happiness had its bumps. Jake, Hannah's husband, as a young preacher, must deal with many difficult decisions , along with family concerns.This book, again exhibits humor, drama and the Amish romance as do all of Jerry's books. I just LOVED this book, couldn't put it down, once started!!!Can hardly wait to see what the next book brings.Book provided by Harvest House and Jerry Eicher in exchange for a review.",5.0,True Amish Fiction,1311206400,"07 21, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A23X3EDQ14LC98,0830745017,"Jo Franz ""Author/Speaker www.jofranz.com""","[4, 4]","What a great book!I loved how Vonda writes about the lies we easily buy into--through stories to which I could easily relate while laughing out loud! Her take on the Proverbs 31 woman is especially enlightening since we try to ""do it all"" unsuccessfully and feel like failures. With outstanding suggestions, such as getting over life being all about ""me"" by ""Serve on Your Birthday,"" she shows us exactly how to live in truth instead of lies. And the biblical references at the end of each chapter give us the opportunity to dwell of God's Word, letting it soak into our being and help us live in the truth instead of the opposite. I'll be quoting from her book when I speak!",5.0,Seeing the Truth!,1203638400,"02 22, 2008",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A18RWUG5OVTR1O,1416917527,"OOSA Online Book Club ""O.O.S.A. Gets It Read!""","[0, 0]","""Joseph"" is a moving story about a young high school student facing many problems for someone his age. His father is away fighting in Iraq; he left Joseph's mama because he was fed up with her and her addictions. Joseph is living in a homeless shelter in a rough North Carolina ghetto. He tries to keep his life a secret but his mother always finds a way to mess that up. He has just enrolled into a new school and tries to act like he's a normal 15-year-old, instead of a homeless youth raising his mother who's never sober enough to show Joseph the love/affection he needs. He tries to hold his torn family together and survive each day, one day at a time. I highly recommend this book to all readers and give it 5 stars with 2 thumbs up.",5.0,Joseph,1229817600,"12 21, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A29WIZJ1KPCP3U,0764210238,G Gage,"[0, 0]","A survivor of tragedy and a childhood spent in an orphanage, Lydia has worked hard to establish a comfortable and secure life for herself, and she's proud of her job as a translator for the Boston Navy Yard. Along comes a blond-headed archangel who's acquainted with her boss and calls himself ""Bane"", and even if he is a shameless flirt bent on destroying the order of her desk, he's willing to pay an extravagant amount for translations of various foreign documents, and she needs the money for her apartment. Her questions about Bane eat at her conscience, even as she appreciates his money. Why does he need menus translated? Is he simply throwing her foreign nonsense in order to keep up their association? Who is he and where does he come from?Bane was an awesome, and I loved him. After finishing ""Against the Tide"", I learned that Bane made his first appearance in another of Camden's books--""The Lady of Bolton Hill"", and I wish I had read that book first. I will certainly be reading it now! Bane was a character, and had a great mix of admirable qualities and flaws. I found his willingness to risk Lydia consistent with his lack of non-business relationships. I mean, his association with the admiral is the closest thing he has to a friendship, he was raised by a psychopath, and until Lydia, all he knows is his dedication to hacking away at the lucrative opium empire. Rather than a woman wanting a coddling, over-protective gentleman, he needed someone who would embrace his risky lifestyle and rise to challenges with him. And given Lydia's contradictory craving for adventure and obsessive need for order and security (great paradox by the way), I thought she and Bane went together like peanut butter and jelly.My favorite part of the book is the flirting between Bane and Lydia in the beginning--Bane waltzes into the Navy Yard office, on a mission to mess with Lydia's orderly desk while passing by to the Admiral's office. And the scene with the cow, just beautiful, lol. The romance happens early on in the book, but the characters' hunger for companionship combined with flirtation and interaction time, worked to make it believable. A few times, I was slapped by pivotal decisions, and wished I could've seen the flow of thought that proceeded those decisions, but for the most part, the author handled transitory passages with skill, knowing when to zoom into a scene, and when to summarize.There were a few things I thought inconsistent with the late 19th century time period, for instance, ""Turkey"" instead of Anatolia or the Ottoman Empire, and the hero massages the heroine's feet (I don't think a modest 19th century woman would have allowed him, but then, given her circumstances...)It's clear to me why ""Against the Tide"" won this year's Christy and Rita awards. The character development, the building suspense, the stunning set-backs and flawless way the author built the plot through character action (rather than writer contrivances)--simply awe-inspiring. Great pacing, and the setting details never got away. Not to mention the fascinating history behind the world's indulgent use of opium. I knew that adults used opium freely back then, but I didn't know they gave it to teething babies!My favorite bit of the book's brilliant flirtatious banter:Lydia says, "" `Besides, you looked awfully dashing yourself, conducting business with the governor at the State House. I'm surprised you didn't have a trail of women following you.'Bane flashed her one of those negligent smiles. `Well it is true I'm terribly sought after. I can hardly walk down the street without women pestering me. I am a victim, really. You should be much kinder to me.' """,5.0,Deserving of this year's Rita and Christy awards,1377475200,"08 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZKYPYJO5R9BZ,0425242668,"Lady Jaye ""Kaykay""","[5, 10]","2.5 stars.Dragon bound was a joy to read.This one not at all.In a nutshell: Tricks has to leave the Wyr to go off and become the Dark Fae Queen. Tiago is sent with her for her protection. Things happen. Tricks (now known by her real name, Niniane) and Tiago fall in love. More stuff happens.Then comes their Happily ever after.Ms. Harrison's quirky and fun writing is what ultimately makes this book likeable.But I was sorely disappointed with the story and even more so with the characters. Tiago was a very badly-behaved character who had no excuse for his attitude; Niniane was reduced to a whiny, bratty simpering ninny who was nothing like the Tricks we loved from Dragon Bound. I will not be re-reading this one.",3.0,Unlikeable Protagonists.,1312329600,"08 3, 2011",5,10,helpful,0.5,1 ADWN35C0UCCLP,B00B36DEIK,Cathy Pickering,"[0, 0]",This is a good book to pass a rainy weekend with. Keeps moving. Would recommend to others who like thrillers.,4.0,readable,1376352000,"08 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A31HW7RMXYLWHK,0764204653,T. Witthaus,"[0, 0]","I came in late on this series, having seen the first two novels made into movies, so I jumped right into this third installment of the story. I had very high hopes, having enjoyed "The Shunning" and "The Confession" produced on Hallmark. The beginning of the story started out great, and I was looking forward to seeing it all unfold. However, it only went downhill from there, and at 65 mph... The dialogue, situations, and characters' responses to situations were utterly ridiculous. In some of these situations, the action was SO SILLY I found myself actually laughing out loud.Spoiler: Once Katherine/Katie finds Jesus, the story got very preachy. This was something I didn't expect (though I should have), and it really turned me off. I would have given this story one star, but the beginning was engaging and interesting.Sadly, I will never get those hours back that I devoted to reading this novel! Please don't waste your time.",2.0,Unrealistic and preachy,1369612800,"05 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8YXCAV8NQ5PP,0778327426,"Judith D. Collins ""Judith D Collins Must Read...","[0, 0]","Another page turner by Diane Chamberlain! I stayed up until 3:30am so I could finish (the twist regarding Laura, Joe, and Ray/Gilbert, was brilliant). This book reminds me a little of Jodi Picoult's subject matter as highlights (muteness, suicide, and Alzheimer's, the mentally ill, and other controversial topics). If you begin reading and feel it starts a little slower than most Diane's books, do Not give up, as trust me as you will find the same suspense and excitement as you move along and will not be able to put it down.I loved Brandon and Laura's characters as you fall in love with them and you could really sympathize with Sarah and Emma. Ray sounded like a jerk from the beginning, so never understood how Laura could fall for him (will not spoil this to say more). The Alzheimer illness was very realistic as my sister cares for a woman who is similar in that they remember the past, but not present.A heartbreaking story about a dying father's wish for his daughter Laura to locate a woman in a retirement home with Alzheimer's with no clue of the relation or connection (which he has been funding for years) with warnings and threats from others to stay away. A husband with hidden secrets and mental problems commits suicide while his (adoptive daughter), Emma witnesses the tragedy and become mute.In the meantime, as Emma begins therapy, Laura seeks the biological father Brandon, from nine years earlier, who has no idea he is a father and a bachelor. The request from her dying father was to take care of Sarah in the rest home and Laura enjoys her visits weekly and hears stories and experiences from Sarah set in the 50's, detailing a time when she was married and in the middle of a huge scandal while working as a nurse in a mental hospital (which they were doing some very unethical procedures and research nightmare). Combine this with whistleblowing, and undercover work, and threats to your family and you have a nightmare!It all comes together in uncovering Emma's silence, the memories of love, despair, and evil and the much awaited connection between Joe/Laura/Emma/Ray. A must read!",4.0,A Must Read!,1362096000,"03 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2OIMJEGOCTQ87,0800719026,Lisa,"[5, 8]","I'm actually surprised this book didn't work out for me. I'll be honest, I'm not a ""fluffy emotional"" parent. I do believe in natural consequences, time outs and taking stuff away. I have told my child, when they are hurtful to me, that I'm not doing them any favors in the next 5 minutes, but I just could not get behind this book. I think one of the reviews stated it best when they called it ""passive aggressive parenting"".I can't and won't bide my time, waiting for the opportunity to have a ""teaching moment"" by denying something to my child because she misbehaved 3 hours earlier. I don't need to ""stew"" on the problem for hours and it just feels like I'm waiting to ""get back"" at her. That's not the type of person I want my kid to become as an adult so I'm not going to model it for her.My oldest daughter is a very strong willed little girl. In many cases, this book advocates walking away from many situations, which maybe works some of the time but not most of the time. If I walk away from her, many times she's not going to diffuse herself just because I turn my back on her. She's going to scream for 45 minutes, escalate the problem and probably end up in a worse situation than how we started. I'll also mention, in some situations it can be dangerous, and some of the examples in the book would definitely border on unsafe.I feel there is a lack of empathy in this book for the child. It's very ""my way or the highway"". Sometimes kids act out because there's a legitimate problem not because they are a hard time giving, whipper snapper, ankle biter, whatever type of kid. I also agree with some previous reviewers that the tone is ""old fashioned"".Lastly, the thing that REALLY bothered me, was coming back after reading about half the book to figure out why there were so many stellar reviews. I was most displeased when clicking through the reviewers to see a handful of ""one off"" reviews just (and only) for this book or the reviewer only having reviewed several books by the same author... all of which are 5 star. That is quite suspicious.",1.0,Definately not for me,1372032000,"06 24, 2013",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A3O5O58VKLTXUY,0060520841,Marion Delgado,"[5, 20]","I did several Lexis-Nexis searches that were what Bernard Goldberg lied and claimed he'd done. The results were never close to what he said, and in fact were often the exact opposite. Those of us posting on blogs and forums about this realized Goldberg was making a centerpiece of his book searches he had been too lazy to do and too cynical to think his target audience (Regnery-buying Limbaugh and Hannity and Coulter fans) would ever be exposed to.All of his books depend on outrageous claims - media owners lie about their politics, the man who was tossed over the most trivial lack of provenance on one of his stories' sources (and the typographical nonsense in the right-wing echo chamber was proven false top to bottom, by the way) actualy ran CBS news. All polls that show Americans to the left of Bush are faked, as are all social statistics and the casualty counts in Iraq.They're fascism porn. And Goldberg's leading the charge to debase education, the national debate and news.",1.0,I was one of the people who dug into this fraudulent book's claims,1207526400,"04 7, 2008",5,20,helpful,0.25,1 A1BLEZFQNIPBE1,1561799017,"Kelly ""Kelly""","[52, 73]","I checked this book out from the library to see what all the 'hype' was about. Mostly, this book just makes me sad. It appears that the author views discipline as a mind game and looks for ways to creatively assert whatever means necessary to bend a child's will to the parent's whim.While I agree that a child should learn right from wrong, and should behave appropriately, I don't think it's respectful, helpful, or even good parenting to attempt to squash their spirit in the process.There were a few things that she suggests that could be helpful. Putting lunch money by the pet's food to help as a reminder to feed the animal every day. By and far, the majority of her 'tips' in the 'toolbox' don't really fit that criteria.I've been a parent for over ten years and I have never felt the need to strike my child or use hot sauce on their tongues to prove to them that I am in charge. My kids are well behaved, respectful, kind and caring. They do well in school. They listen. So, if you are a parent who is wanting to raise their children in an environment of love and respect this book will only sadden you and at times anger you. If you are a parent who believes in mind control as parenting and who gets off on borderline sadistic tactics for your own amusement and who doesn't believe that their children are people who deserve respect then you'll probably find this humorous and entertaining.What I found the most disturbing about this book is that the author managed to write about her beliefs in discipline in a manner that left the reader feeling that if you didn't employ the same disciplinary methods then you weren't a good caring Christian parent.I wish that I had never picked up this book, and I left a request that it be taken off the shelf at the library. Then, I came home and hugged my children.",1.0,Not a very good parenting book,1153180800,"07 18, 2006",52,73,helpful,0.7123287671232876,1 A3NUM3JIE6II0F,0380817926,C. Fletcher,"[4, 5]","Damn Dan Simmons! He's got me wishing away my favorite season, spring, before it's even here-all for of a lousy book. This year, summer promises to deliver, along with its usual high energy bills and Olympic-sized pools of sweat, OLYMPOS, the concluding installment of Simmons' two part sci-fi epic that began last summer with ILIUM. And, of course, I wouldn't be willing to wish away all those beautiful spring evenings lying in wait unless the first book in question had been a good one. A damn good one.Well, ILIUM is a damn good book. It's also by far the best sci-fi novel I've read since Simmons so eloquently and entertainingly finished his HYPERION series seven years ago with THE RISE OF ENDYMION. And just so you know that this review aspires to some level of credible objectivity, I have to admit I haven't loved everything Simmons has ever written. In his twenty-plus years of publishing, he's made a few missteps. But when he does manage to hit the bull's-eye, as he does with Ilium, he hits it dead-on, sending a loud, reverberant thwonk through the shadowy hills of genre fandom, all across the far-reaching plains of mainstream readership.Ilium shows off the best of what sci-fi is capable of achieving. Simmons again creates, as he did with his HYPERION novels, a smart, scientifically- and poetically-informed vision of the future that manages to illuminate the here and now with a breathtaking crystal lense. ILIUM dizzies the mind while it stirs the heart, inviting Stephen Hawking and William Shakespeare to share a playground.It's not surprising that Dan Simmons, a former school teacher, who has often written about other writers, from Hemingway to Mark Twain, should take as the inspiration for his latest sci-fi epic from the work of one of the world's most influential literary figures: namely, Homer.ILIUM is the first of a two part sci-fi re-working of Homer's ILIAD. But it's more than just a futuristic dressing-up of one of the world's oldest war stories. Simmons has more in mind than just handing Achilles a light-saber and letting Hector slow down time in order to dodge spears á la THE MATRIX (a movie which took more than a few cues from Simmons' own HYPERION novels, incidentally). ILIUM brings together some of the most modern scientific musings on the nature of reality and stirs them up with a good dose of immortal wisdom from the western literary canon.Simmons' protagonist, Thomas Hockenberry, is a modern-day Homeric scholar who finds himself somehow transplanted a thousand years into the future for the purpose of observing what is ostensibly a restaging of the Trojan War by mysterious post-human entities. The clouds of dust that Hockenberry chokes on are real, as are the spears whistling next to his head, and most incredibly, so are the Gods flying overhead in their whirring chariots. Hockenberry's job is supposed to be a simple one: keep his eyes open, stay out of harm's way, and make sure things go down like the old blind Greek intended.But of course Simmons is too good of a storyteller to let that happen. Before long, Hockenberry finds himself perilously embedded in one of the goddess's jealous murder plots, and in order to save his own skin, he's soon forced to attempt something drastic that would be more at home in the pages of Nietzsche rather than Homer.Simmons drops just enough clues as to what's actually going on in this bizarre future world where Greek gods fly the not-so-friendly skies and post-literate humans fax themselves halfway around the world to attend the latest cocktail party in order to promise that the conclusion will make for one interesting, mind-expanding piece of science fiction. If you've read Stephen King's latest DARK TOWER novel, WOLVES OF THE CALLA, you'll see that Simmons and King, not for the first time in their careers, seem to be going in the same direction, on parallel tracks. Of course, only the future will tell. Luckily, 2004 promises King's last two DARK TOWER novels, along with Simmons' OLYMPOS. So the future, at least, is not that far away.",5.0,Stephen Hawking and William Shakespeare at play...,1077408000,"02 22, 2004",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3AUL23GMCOP2A,1932236872,Andrew S. Rogers,"[6, 6]","I read Bill Kauffman's remarkableAin't My America: The Long, Noble History of Antiwar Conservatism and Middle-American Anti-Imperialismnot long ago, and while I think ""Look Homeward, America"" is every bit as educational and inspirational, I probably should have read it first. Personally, I found ""Ain't..."" a more satisfying mix of polemic and personality, in that it was heavier on the former while ""Look Homeward..."" is stronger on the latter. But taken together, the two books are a solid defense of the almost-forgotten, certainly suppressed, patriotism of localism, liberty, and peace.The author's argument in ""Look Homeward, America"" takes the adventurous reader into a world of ideas and ideals a long way from public elementary school civics classes, and equally far from the conventional taxonomy of ""liberal"" and ""conservative."" At times, Kauffman's attempt to describe Gene McCarthy and Daniel Patrick Moynihan as ""conservatives"" -- even of this eclectic sort -- reminded me of a book I read a long time ago (Say the Right Thing: Talk Radio's Favorite Conservative Quotes, Notes and Gloatsby GOP activist Floyd Brown and Seattle talk radio host Kirby Wilbur) which included so-called ""conservative"" quotations from people like Chairman Mao and William O. Douglas. Saying a few ""conservative"" things does not make one a ""conservative,"" however you choose to define it. So I admit to some skepticism here. However, I am certainly willing to be convinced, because I have gained a great deal of respect for Bill Kauffman's view of the world, as well as his remarkable skill as an entertaining and engrossing writer.I learned quite a bit from ""Look Homeward, America"" though, as I said, I personally found ""Ain't My America"" a stronger book. I am now reading Kauffman's brand-newForgotten Founder, Drunken Prophet: The Life of Luther Martin (Lives of the Founders), which is itself proving to be a remarkable book. For best results, I would view ""Look Homeward..."" as the first part of a trilogy that includes those other titles as well. If the picture Kauffman paints in this book intrigues your intellect, tugs at your heartstrings, or both, you'll only benefit from following the author into those next books as well.",5.0,"Counter-intuitive, counter-revolutionary, intriguing and inspiring",1226880000,"11 17, 2008",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A11PLGX6L5KBYD,B00JTD8ISU,Mrs. Emma Stuck,"[0, 0]","The Sweetest Sound by Lilian DarcyOrthopedic surgeon Dr Charlie Barnett barely has time to buy new socks, let alone time to fall in love.Spanish street musician Ramona Garrido-Lopez isn’t looking for love, either. With her parents depending on her, their only child, all she really wants is to make them happy.Despite the sparks that fly between them, she and Charlie couldn’t possibly be serious about each other, when they’re committed to lives on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean could they?As Charlie goes through his final year of orthopedic surgical residency at the hospital, he finds pleasure in the busker's music outside the hospital. He finds her attractive, mesmerized by her music, and approaches her for conversation rather than just dropping money into her hat. It takes a few attempts, but finally he's able to persuade Ramona to out with him.Ramona's a musician, actress, waitress, realizing she may not "make it" in New York and is resigned to go back home to Spain to help salvage the family winery she's been sending all she can home to help her parents. She has the plane ticket, it's just a matter of time. She doesn't need the complication of Charlie, but yet she's attracted.They get into a routine, however both seemed to never make the full commitment to the relationship until it's almost too late. After all, they both knew it might not be forever their lives messy with the stress of the residency for Charlie and Ramona's loss of heart for her dreams of a career in NYC. But as much as they both fight it, the chemistry together is beyond the physical, and there is love--but how far can they go before admitting it, and will admitting it be enough to keep them together.Is there anyway that she can have her new dream and her dream man at the same time? This is a companion story for The Sweetest Thing.I highly recommend reading this book. The Sweetest Sound by Lilian Darcy is a wonderful well written 4 stars book.I am looking forward to reading more books by Lilian.River Bend SeriesBook 1: Late Last NightBook 2: The Sweetest ThingBook 3: The Sweetest Sound",4.0,The Sweetest Sound by Lilian Darcy,1398729600,"04 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A23VLY7WB5PJFK,B00CMCCCLE,"Whither Humanity ""Whither Humanity""","[20, 22]","I am going to try and keep this short. Avoid this book. It's horrible. The writing is about what you would expect from a bright eight year old. The sentence structure is atrocious, the spelling clumsy, the names of the characters so preposterous that I actually twitched a few times as they were introduced, wondering if the book was some sort of elaborate practical joke.There might be a plot, but for the first time in the literally thousands of novels I've read, I am going to have to throw in the towel. This is the worst attempt at a book I have ever come across. Ever.The dialog is impossible to take seriously, the character development is non-existant, the story (as far as I got before screaming and running away) is a derivative pastiche of better authors works...... retold in grade-school level English.It's just bad.Perhaps somebody out there will wonder if I'm being too harsh? To decide that, do yourself an enormous favor and download the preview before purchasing.Good luck!",1.0,"Bad. Very, very bad.",1368662400,"05 16, 2013",20,22,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A332MW6OA1LYDF,0974577685,John Noodles,"[41, 43]","I think this is one of the better Law-of-Attraction types of books that I've read. I haven't been using the techniques long enough to pass final judgment on them one way or another, so my assessment of the book is based primarily on the presentation and consistency of its reasoning.The first part of the book consists of a very simple--well, simplistic, to be honest--presentation of quantum theory in a manner designed to show how what we think creates our own environment, invites the circumstances we experience. It is quite an inductive leap to go from admitting that a researcher's observatin of an atomic particle affects that particle's behavior to asserting that what we think about manifests in our world, but that is, after all, the cornerstone principle of the law-of-attraction industry. I have to give the authors credit for doing more than just cheering us on. (A better, and more thorough presentation of this science--presented for a lay audience--can be found in Lynne McTaggart's ""The Field."") I would have liked to see this gone into in a little more depth, but that, I think, is largely a matter of taste. I suspect most readers won't require more than they get here.The bulk of the book is devoted to ""making miracles."" It gets pretty New-Agey at times, but I think the authors strike an acceptable balance between this and practical instruction. Even if there aren't metaphysical underpinnings at work creating ""miracles,"" the advice they offer is of sound practical value.They differ from, say Joe Vitale in his ""Attractor Factor"" by admonishing us *not* to articulate goals/desires with a time limit. They also include a chapter entitled, ""In The Fullness of Time, Or Why Is It Taking So Long,"" which seems like little more than an apology for the failure of these methods to yield results (when and if they do fail). We get the typical excuses: ""Maybe you aren't ready for it yet""; ""Chaos precedes harmony""; ""Your subconscious fretting is sending out negative vibes""; and so on (not their exact words). Well, maybe. If this stuff works, though, it has to work even for people bearing the burdens of the universe on their shoulders, for people who have been so crushed by life that it is damn nigh impossible for them to expect the best, for people in desperate situation. And there are plenty of people like that.I liked the authors' use of anecdotes. They used them well, to illustrate points, not to try to prove them, as other authors have. And they used just enough--not to many, not too few. The stories were well-chose and inspirational.Overall, a good book.",4.0,One of the Better Ones of its Type,1155600000,"08 15, 2006",41,43,helpful,0.9534883720930233,1 A3MP6A8J5OIEQA,039915986X,Tom Jahn,"[0, 0]",I general like all of Stuart Woods books. They are great light reading books to get your mind away from a busy and hectic work schedule. But this one was a little too light.,3.0,A liitle watered down,1359590400,"01 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AS9FBCI03M24R,0785271686,Vicky V,"[0, 0]",I appreciate the level of honesty Pastor Benny had when writing this book. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants a more insight to relationship with God and how to press in.,4.0,Very honest reading,1316131200,"09 16, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2POIIFWE8IOHV,156496423X,M. Arnold,"[12, 13]",This is a great "thumb thur" book. It has really nice pictures of outdoor areas that are very "architectural".... Not helpful for the "average joe" looking for ideas to create your own backyard/outdoor patio/room.,4.0,Outdoor Rooms,1090886400,"07 27, 2004",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A17JV6KA80P8LG,0811821102,Andrew B. Hurvitz,"[4, 4]","This book is a collection of photographs taken in the late 1930's on the beach at San Onofre. It shows the innocent and fun times of the surfers, vagabonds and young people of that era whose lives would forever be swept away by World War II.The subjects of the photos display a remarkable athletic naturalism, unlike the steroid artificiality of today. They surf, drink beer, and lay on the sand, ride the waves, enjoying life to the fullest-- splendidly isolated from the darkening events of the world.Beautifully photographed in black and white with some color, it brings back a time before Southern California was choked by overdevelopment and young people could enjoy the sun, water and natural beauty of this state with fear of skin cancer, water pollution and violence.",5.0,A touching elegy to a bygone period of California life.,899769600,"07 7, 1998",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A140VFNVVJH8HF,0345416899,Michael Poore,"[0, 1]","This is not a scifi or fantasy novel and not what I expected from this author. It is however a well told story as are the other novels that Card has written. This one is about magic. Its set in Baldwin Hills, California. Based on the descriptions in the story and in the Acknowledgements section at the end I can even look at the location for the story on Google Earth.",4.0,A well told story. Imaginative.,1268265600,"03 11, 2010",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2KBF2OYR359AJ,0060590297,"Steven R. McEvoy ""MCWPP""","[19, 22]","Have you ever been reading a book and completely loved it, only to have the author make a boneheaded twist in the plot and you went from loving the book to hating it? Unfortunately, that is what happened with this book. This book started off so well - the first words in the book are: ""You bitch, you killed me! You Suck!"" This book is a sequel to Bloodsucking Fiends. Our hero is Tommy Flood, known by his pen name C. Thomas Flood.In the previous book, he was in love with a vampire, a tall sultry red- head who woke up one day a vampire, and Tommy was in love with her and her protector. This book begins with Tommy waking up and he is now a vampire also. At first he thinks it is cool. But his conscience gets the best of him. He likes the power, and the greater abilities, but he does not like the taking of life, or even just taking blood.This book also overlaps with Moore's A Dirty Job. The focus of this story is the changing life of Thomas Flood and his girlfriend Jody, and there is a second parallel story of Abby Normal, vampire wannabe, who is a servant of the vampire flood. She fetches coffee, finds new lairs and such.It's hard to write a hate-it review, when what you hate is the ending of the book, without spoiling it for those who are reading it or will read it. But I can state with all sincerity, that of all of Moore's books, this is not more fun, it is not more entertaining and it is not more Moore. It was in fact far, far less.Like most of Moore's books, this one is at times incredibly witty and always funny. But without spoiling the ending, the last chapter makes me hate this book. There are so many other ways he could have ended the book, yet he chose a cheap and easy way out. The end of this book is so poor that you regret having spent the time and effort reading it. What should have been a light fun romp through the nightlife of San Francisco, becomes a flop because of the ending.(First Published in Imprint 2007-03-02 as 'Hate It' from the 'Love it/Hate it' book review column.)",3.0,Great Start - Sucky Ending,1172793600,"03 2, 2007",19,22,helpful,0.8636363636363636,1 A2VF25F0XZHXMW,0765337177,London Fog,"[10, 11]","Rarely have I read anything that opened so superbly as 'The Revolutions'. It was impressive with its fantastic, yet simultaneously authentic depictions of the Victorian fascination with all things occult, the peculiar events Arthur is thrust into, and the romance between him and Josephine which very much showcased what a strong grasp on characterization the author started off with. This book begins as serious historical fiction - with a steampunk twist - reminiscent of Dickens in many veins. The circumstances of the story itself may be off the beaten track, but the descriptions, events and players were so well drawn as to exceed my wildest expectations.After the incident with Josephine, however, it devolved so rapidly, I had to convince myself I was not dreaming, and that the book had actually switched to a Martian setting, where we follow one of the characters who has become stranded on the Red Planet and sift through pages of exposition regarding her experiences therein. All the same, I would gladly have allotted this five stars - and then some - even after it began falling to pieces, as there were still plenty of scenes that made the read worthwhile, that gave glimpses of how outstanding a story it began as.Alas, this was a truly excellent novel irrevocably ruined as it derailed further and further off of what it had been and devolved into something that had no place in this book, not after nearly two hundred pages of setting up the events taking place in London. It not only destroyed the atmosphere so grandiosely achieved, but made the character of Arthur seem inconsistent. The writing was captivating, the characters were fantastic; I had been completely drawn into this world only for the author himself to pluck me out of this wondrous version of London.It strays from the lively atmosphere of Victorian seances into something utterly nonsensical that overshadowed the entire story. The Martian angle would have been great in another book entirely. Despite my complaints regarding the ending, I believe that if a good hundred or so pages were eliminated, and less time elapsed between the start of Josephine's predicament and the point at which she is rescued, even then the last several chapters might have been salvaged, and would have given the book as a whole a Jules Verne feel.Instead, it began to shift from the scenes on Mars to an often overdone element of magical realism - I felt the magician's war unraveled it not only in terms of plot, but with too many erratic changes in the characters. To an extent this extends to the author as well, as his views on the occult and God seem to swing like a pendulum. Then to be bounced back and forth into the heavy science fiction aspect of the Martian world was just too much for me. Somewhere around Chapter Twenty-Seven I became disgusted with what 'The Revolutions' had turned into. From previously adoring this work and being completely invested in Arthur and Josephine, I felt how the story played out was a severe disappointment due to its sheer absurdity. Although I enjoyed a good deal of this book, I had to push it away in frustration after completing it. This could have been one of my favorite stories... as it stands, I hope to entirely forget it and the promise it held at the outset.",3.0,Outstanding Novel That Devolved Into Utter Absurdity,1398384000,"04 25, 2014",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A2FYK4HWXZRLPN,1882577965,Gregory McMahan,"[38, 99]","Potential readers of this book have a right to know that this book was not authored by Julian Lincoln Simon, as the title indicates. Rather, the book was authorized, or commissioned, by the late Professor Simon shortly before his lamentable death. Although Professor Simon did agree to collaborate with Mr. Moore on a book, and fully intended to write a book along these lines, and prepared some material for a possible use in a manuscript (and we have no way of knowing if any of this material was indeed used, and in what form), the final text is most likely not what Mr. Simon had in mind. After receiving permission from the Simon estate to go ahead with the project, Mr. Moore freely chose to engage in a comical sort of economic, environmental and social axe-grinding, as opposed to a balanced, well-reasoned exposition on some of the more remarkable trends in human history. A comparison of this text to any other book written by Dr. Simon while he was alive would demonstrate a difference as clear as night and day.Now, let me be clear on what this book really is. The book's introduction, written by Mrs. Simon, contains the greatest amount of useful and objective information in the book, and it is where the truth about the contents of the book are told. As for the rest of the book, the motivation for and the assummptions underlying the text are explicitly stated and are as follows: big (and thus bad) government is bad and unnecessary, America's founding fathers are right about everything and are Great Thinkers, (high) taxes should be lowered (even if they are already low by comparison), all government regulation interferes unnecessarily with free enterprise, and freedom and democracy are things that everyone can take for granted. Therefore, in the service of these assumptions and motivations, the book suffers from a glaringly selective presentation of the 'facts'.The text has many problems from the standpoints of content, presentation and point of view, and these problems are too numerous to fully explore here. Although Mr. Moore talks much about exploring the improvement of humanity's lot, virtually every single example of 'improvement' or 'progress' is from the American context, and from this, Mr. Moore would like us to believe that, via extrapolation, the improvements seen in America have also occurred, at about the same level, everywhere else in the world. This alone reveals a level of myopia and intellectual naivete that quite frankly is very unhealthy and dangerous. Mr. Moore would like us to believe that everyone lives like Americans do (or at least yearns to), even when overwhelming evidence shows this clearly not to be the case.The text also employs some very bad intellectual sleights of hand, making the information in the text fall below that of even the minimum academic ethical standard. For example, in each of his 100 trends, operational definitions are not clearly and specifically established, and in some rather disturbing cases, only the data which will establish a clear upward or downward trend is presented, but the full range of data somehow do not find its way into the graph. Undergraduate-level mistakes in statistical analysis, such as presenting data in terms of number of incidences as opposed to rates (per capita) of incidences, comparing one snapshot under one condition in time to another snapshot under completely different conditions, and most important, the failure to adequately disclose underlying causes of phenomena before jumping to conclusions, abound in the text. Finally, if one merely played with the definitions, or simply played with the calculations for the statistics cited, as Mr. Moore has done, one could make the very same conclusions that Mr. Moore makes.In particular, one blurb on Page 2 of the book brings home the misguided message and deeply malicious intellectual trickery of the book. Here, the author notes that according to an article in the Associated Press, which noted that one of the hottest selling grocery items in the year 2000 was gourmet pet food, and that one of the most challenging nutritional problems in America is obesity- not in people but in pets. The author uses this to demonstrate how affluent we Americans have become, and as a proxy, albeit a comical one, of (American) socio-economic improvement. Yet it also hammers home two disturbing and depressing points- a greater concern, matched with an extensive outlay, for pet health in America (even as one in three Americans go without adequate health coverage), and the truly depressing fact that pets in America receive better health care as a group than most human inhabitants of the planet- especially those of the third world. Examples like this do not adequately show 'progress' or 'improvement', and the author uses these and other equally egregious socio-economic snapshots and trends to pooh-pooh the notion that the situation in the world is very bad. Perversely, they demonstrate how grossly out of touch the author and many Americans have become with the state of most non-American humanity.I believe the real title of this book should be: It's Getting Better FOR AMERICANS All The Time, as the biased examples of this book clearly demonstrate. Furthermore, as long as no one asks thorny questions such as: Which Americans? or Is it getting better for Americans on an equal basis? or It Is Getting For Americans, But At Whose Expense?, I expect the author to encounter few if any problems. For those readers having little or no background in basic statistics and no prior knowledge of the various topics in the book, I recommend that they read Damned Lies and Statistics by Joel Best for both clarification and enlightenment. Otherwise, given Mr. Moore's clear intention to distort issues, I fear that many gullible but inquisitive readers will be harmfully misled.In sum, this book will appeal to those who would greatly prefer to have others do their thinking for them, and who need reassurance of their belief that everything is just fine in their little corner of the world. Given that we live in what one man called a Global Village, and given the inter-connectedness of political, social and economic activity in the modern Global Village, that a book like this of such dubious intellectual merit can be taken literally and seriously by many Americans truly boggles the mind.God Help America.",1.0,Egregious Examples of 'Progress' And 'Improvement',1102723200,"12 11, 2004",38,99,helpful,0.3838383838383838,1 A3PTC5MRS552UK,0880387297,"A. Hughes ""human""","[7, 14]","How can one possibly review the DMG? It is the most important book in roleplaying.To me, it is much more valuable than the christian bible.It also has pretty pictures.That is all.",5.0,OMGDMG,1270425600,"04 5, 2010",7,14,helpful,0.5,1 AWEJ5JKD3MQMU,1594204993,"Timothy J. Bazzett ""BookHappy""","[18, 20]","You won't find any sappy sentimentality or off-putting macho muscle flexing in Phil Klay's REDEPLOYMENT, a collection of twelve stories that all deal with combatants and veterans of the Iraq war. Nope. These stories are about as real and honest as anything you'll find being written these days about how the crucible of this war has affected the young men and women who were part of it, and, who have been irrevocably changed by it.While there is not a false note to be found in any of these tales, the one that I found perhaps most affecting was "Prayer in the Furnace," told by a Catholic priest, a Marine Corps chaplain whose own faith is severely tested as he struggles to give aid to Marines severely traumatized physically, emotionally and spiritually by repeated combat tours. Men whose brains have been buffeted by blasts from IEDs and whose consciences are deadened and wracked by unspeakable atrocities witnessed - and committed - on a near-daily basis. The chaplain's role in a combat unit seems sadly marginalized, however, and although he turns for guidance to the writings of St John of the Cross and Augustine, in the end he feels frustrated, powerless and ashamed. (This story in particular I felt could be the basis for an equally powerful novel.)There are also stories here of veterans trying to adjust, to assimilate back into civilian life; and struggling, feeling set apart, different. A former JAG officer who never saw combat, but did the paperwork, now a law student ready to enter a high-paying career, still feeling "more like a Marine out of the Corps than I'd felt while in it ... to everyone I met, I was 'the Marine.'" ("Unless It's a Sucking Chest Wound")There is the very dark humor of combat vets, as displayed in "War Stories" in which the narrator jokes about hitting on girls in bars, and using his friend Jenks's awful disfigurement from burns sustained in an IED explosion, saying, "Who's gonna call bulls**t when you're sitting there in the corner looking all Nightmare on Elm Street?""Bodies" tells of a young Marine who works in Mortuary Affairs, a job which, of course, requires him to handle the mutilated bodies of both U.S. dead and enemy dead. But the title takes on an even more poignant meaning when he goes home on leave and seeks out his ex-girlfriend from high school. After dealing so much in death and dead bodies he needed desperately to feel the opposite. Convincing her of this, they lie quietly, their bodies spooned together."There was a warmth to her that flowed into me, and though she was tense at first, like she'd been earlier, she relaxed after a bit and it stopped feeling like I was grabbing her and more like we were fitting into each other. I relaxed too, all the sharp edges of my body lost in the feel of her. Her hips, her legs, her hair, the nape of her neck. Her hair smelled like citrus, and her neck smelled softly of sweat. I wanted to kiss her there because I knew I'd taste salt."There is little or no eroticism in this scene. It is more a depiction of a simple yet urgent need for human warmth and contact - of an ineffable longing, of loneliness.I could cite other examples of how each of these stories grabbed me, made me pay attention. Oddly, I am suddenly reminded of that desperate closing scene from DEATH OF A SALESMAN, in which Willy Loman's distraught widow cries out, "Attention must be paid!" Because these stories without question deserve our attention. In a country where the burden of military service is shouldered by a mere one percent of the population, these Marines and soldiers deserve not just our attention, but our utmost respect and gratitude.REDEPLOYMENT is a damn good book. It will deservedly join the ranks of other fine fictional works coming out of the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, books like THE YELLOW BIRDS, YOU KNOW WHEN THE MEN ARE GONE, and THE WATCH. Well done, Mr. Klay. Highly recommended.- Tim Bazzett, author of the Cold War memoir, SOLDIER BOY: AT PLAY IN THE ASA",5.0,Pay attention. As real and honest as it gets. Highly recommended.,1393891200,"03 4, 2014",18,20,helpful,0.9,1 AOPWTAT0JV0KO,0811878139,Kellswitch,"[0, 0]","I love this book, if I'm feeling down just looking at the images in it makes me feel happier.I first came across Inhae Lee's work on her blog of the same name and loved it enough to buy the book when it came out.The sheer creativity and talent in this book is mind blowing, the images are both simple and incredibly complex and the humor just shines through.I really can't stress enough how happy these images, characters and stories make me.",5.0,I love this book,1325376000,"01 1, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11MXGX1L59JCG,0553213881,"Katherine Freeman ""KathyEloise-daily cook at ...","[0, 0]","The book is a little small in size, but, it is enjoyable to read.It takes sometimes reading the material twice to digest the information and taking it in, to process the writing. It is a classic book and feel it would benefit any and all that are interesting in nature and ""god in nature."" Better to be in the mood to read these writings rather than forcing one's self to read it when not in the right frame of mind to be receive the writing.Be open to the the spiritual side of nature and beauty it beholds for our everyday healing of the rat race life we live.Be of good cheer and kindness, and know we go back into the one mind of the universe of nature and we move to the next dimension.God is within all of us. We are part of nature.",4.0,Ralph Waldo Emerson -,1271289600,"04 15, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HKQKPPF4A9O5,0743284690,Glenda G W North,"[19, 19]","If all this book taught were the concept of and ability to value yourself, it would be a wonder for just that. But that's just the beginning. A friend of mine said that through 3 years of therapy he only learned all the causes for his anger, but the method Steven Stosny explains in this book taught him how to stop being angry. It's not just a feel-good book, it can help you make real, positive, permanent changes in your life and in your marriage. Dr. Stosny's not only has deep insight into attachment relationsships; he makes it easy to understand and act on.",5.0,Learning to Value yourself is the beginning...........,1139529600,"02 10, 2006",19,19,helpful,1.0,1 A3E02KBFI21TY0,0312554168,"Angela Risner ""The Sassy Orange""","[12, 13]","Emily Giffin's books are chick-lit plus in my book. The ""plus"" is for the fact that they are almost a bit painful in that the characters are incredibly realistic. In so many of the chick-lit novels the characters are so exaggerated that they run the risk of exhausting the reader.But Giffin's players are all incredibly normal. You know people like this. And that makes it almost uncomfortable when you are reading it and realize that these situations occur every single day, perhaps to you or to someone you know.Although this book contains characters from Giffin's other books, you won't be lost, as all relationships are explained enough to get you through.This is a tough book to read in some respects, as it deals with infidelity. Where really, no one is wrong - it's the chance you take with any serious relationship that lasts longer than a year. After that, the mystery is gone and if you are not careful, if you don't pay attention to each other, you can allow your curiosity to be sparked by someone who does find you fascinating now.I have seen it over and over again. When I was single, I was approached by married men all of the time. I turned them down, but always asked what they were looking for that they weren't getting at home. Was it sex? Sometimes. Was it love? Not really. It was attention. It was being made to feel as if he was the only person in your world.You gave that to him when you first started dating. And maybe even through the beginning of your marriage. But then when kids or your career took over, that changed and he became just an afterthought. You can't imagine your life without him, because you don't really see him. It becomes no different than expecting the toilet to be there when you want to use it.It works both ways, too. Women can feel that same way - that they are a fixture, rather than an appreciated part of the team.I enjoyed the book, but I warn you that it's not an easy-breezy summer read in the end.",4.0,Well written but almost painfully realistic,1276214400,"06 11, 2010",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A3IR2O2V9V2DI4,1416967990,The Compulsive Reader,"[0, 0]","Average Emma Healy doesn't really fit in with her family of overachievers, with her professor parents and smart, talented siblings nearly two decades older than her. Instead, she coasts by with her ""polite but detached"" smile and feigned interest. But when rummaging in the attic one day, Emma finds birth and death certificates for the twin brother she never knew existed, dated two days apart. She suddenly feels like she's discovered the missing link, someone so much like herself. Before she knows it, she's enlisted the help of Peter Finnegan, the shy, studious guy next door, to go with her on a road trip from New England to North Caroline to visit her brother's grave.Jennifer E. Smith's second novel is full of heartache, loss, and new discoveries. The emotions in You Are Here are conveyed perfectly and beautifully, making it a sensitive and thoughtful read. Peter's passion for maps and places provides a wonderful vehicle for the many ways in which Smith relates Emma and Peter's dizzying journey of self discovery to the readers, and are a unique element. Emma's wish that a sign that read ""You are here"" is all it takes for a person to find themselves is one many can relate to, and many will be able to find a little piece of themselves in the characters' search for identity. Despite the sad undertones of loss and grief and family secrets, You Are Here does have some subtle humor that creeps up on you every now and again, making it a quick and enjoyable read.Both Peter and Emma are searching for something they have lost, and both learn valuable things about their families and each other by the end of the novel. You are Here has a satisfying, optimistic ending that will make you smile, and is a heartfelt and insightful novel that once again proves that Jennifer E. Smith is an author to watch.",5.0,"A journey of heartache, loss, and discovery",1252540800,"09 10, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALZZY4400ONE1,0375725601,D. Kaplan,"[0, 0]","The book starts out being very interesting, but then getas down to so much minutia that it gets to be like a diary, and not overll too interesting. Too much historical detail.",3.0,Too Much Detail,1387152000,"12 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2RIKEU4LPWXVA,0061801747,GranMary,"[0, 0]","My granddaughter, Ashley, loves tea parties, so I know she will love everything about this book. She, too, is very ""Fancy"". The ideas for decorations, games, food and drinks are great. I know she will get much use out of this book.",4.0,Tea Parties,1302998400,"04 17, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1H4XM5M1XIHQK,1480245607,Nathan Dunn,"[4, 4]","I picked up this book by Lambert Klein for my Kindle to learn some more about WordPress. I have been using WordPress for the last couple of years unsuccessfully. Part of it was ignorance, part of it was pride. I always felt that it was the easy way out to use an application like this instead of building my own.This is the first book I have read on the topic. I was able to skim through some of the first little bit of the book because I do have a bit of technical knowledge. That said, I did learn quite a bit from this book.I thought the book layout was very well thought out. It took you step by step through every facet of starting a blog. For me it started in section 3 with setting up WordPress. It shows you all the features and what all of the options do and how you should set them to get the most out of your SEO. Section 4 is all about setting up enhancements such as plugins and themes. All very importantSection 5 is about creating content and making sure the posts are set up for the best SEO they can be. Section 6 is about monetization and traffic. This arguably the most important section. Most people build blogs to either make money or to drive traffic to what content they are trying to share. Section 7 is about analytics. So you can track all that traffic you just drove to your site.If you are new to WordPress or SEO this is a great place to start and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for more information on the subject.",4.0,WordPress Dominated,1343779200,"08 1, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2MDOHH5TMP9UJ,158617343X,Dennis Muzza,"[8, 8]","This is the uplifting story of Dr. Takashi Nagai, a brilliant Japanese scientist who lived in the first half of the 20th century, became an unlikely convert to Catholic Christianity, became a war hero in the war with China in the 1930s, survived the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki but suffering the death of his wife, university colleagues, and decimation of the Christian community in that city, and towards the end of his life, terminally ill with leukemia (contracted before the nuclear attack because of his work as a radiologist) he was dedicated to providing spiritual comfort to the people of Nagasaki and Japan, both through his writings and his example, and by the time of his death had become a much admired and revered person in Japan and the world.The story of Nagai itself follows important parallels with that of many great saints within Christianity: somebody who is an independent spirit, perhaps a bit rebellious but also very sensitive, highly accomplished in what they do, goes through difficult times which hasten a spiritual conversion (in Nagai's case the death of his mother), after which even harder times lead to growth and strengthening of faith, culminating, or I should say blossoming, in radiance and fulfillment through service and love to their fellow human beings. But the way the story is written by author Paul Glynn, providing the reader with the full historic and geographic context, make it all the more engaging and compelling.Unlike many of the great Christian saints who lived entirely in Christian environments, generally in pre-modern times, Nagai's story is set against the backdrop of a Japan where Christianity is very countercultural (the chapter on Nagasaki's hidden Christians, who for more than two centuries after it was banned secretely passed their faith from generation to generation, without priests or churches, is worth the price of the book by itself), especially so at a time when the country was rapidly modernizing and leaving all religion behind, and was a particularly unlikely choice for a young, agnostic scientist of Samurai descent who was a very patriotic Japanese. The accounts of the war with China, the detailed and horrifying telling of the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki, and the aftermath of the war and American occupation add even more poignancy to the story and, leaving aside the spiritual side, is worth reading just for historical interest.But ultimately the story of Nagai is the story of the triumph of the human spirit, how we can transcend and become fulfilled in even the most difficult circumstances, and provides a far more compelling case for Christianity than any of the self-righteous screeds we get these days, as it is grounded in the living example of someone who walked the talk and became a beacon of hope for all humankind.",5.0,Moving spiritual biography,1293753600,"12 31, 2010",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1QK7J7OXLHJK6,0761524215,"Lisa Manske ""natural mamma""","[29, 38]","This book assumes a lot of time is available to teach students civilized ways of treating others. It does not serve those of us who teach middle or high school--we generally have 45 minutes per day, are required to complete the text in one year, and have students whose attitudes and habits are almost solidified. This book has some great ideas which may work in elementary classrooms. If you teach adolescents, I recommend books by Lee Canter or Randall Sprick.",1.0,Not for middle/secondary teachers,1023840000,"06 12, 2002",29,38,helpful,0.7631578947368421,1 A2J9DEBDKDGK3X,B005C2COA0,"Alexia Bingham ""Lexie""","[0, 0]","This romantic fiction novel is so well-written and engaging, and the characters are so incredibly believable, that I forgot, for a while, that I wasn't actually with Kitty and Robert on their adventures. Not one to download any novels even remotely related to fantasy, para-normal, or the like, I decided to take a chance on Out of Time (not even sure why, to be truthful), and am thoroughly thrilled that I did. Have you ever read a fictional book that forces you to consider it, for a length of time, after completion? This one does just that.",5.0,I need a Colonel Upton!,1341878400,"07 10, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PIL6YNGKXBDK,1442346965,stephanie Harben,"[0, 0]","Stephen King never fails to get you right back into his characters from the dark tower. Roland is his usual brooding self giving off his Clint Eastwood best. Always waiting for him to say, "do you feel luck punk," haha. Can't wait for more. Keep pushing out those books Mr King",5.0,Excellent,1361232000,"02 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AP7V29A7CI7XP,097782022X,Kimberly,"[0, 0]","I purchased this book for my kindle, just like many did because of the title. This book was way more than I expected!!! This book is a HIT!! Not only did it have the erotic vivid language, but it also had great story line which pulls you in even more. It was well worth the purchase, I hope this book has a sequel, because I would love to know what happens next.",4.0,More than what I expected!!,1310601600,"07 14, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3VP3JOYGOBOMH,B004UMH05M,Horselady,"[0, 0]","I liked the fact that this couple was over 50, thought it would be inspiring. I was just plain confused. I thought they were starting on the west coast, Portland, Oregon, then suddenly they were in Boston buying bikes, then talking about Astoria (?). Next thing I knew they were actually back on the west coast. Then the story kept changing from first person to 3rd person in the same paragraph, which made it very choppy to read. They could have written this much better and gotten both of their stories told. I think this is a case of a blog turned book that didn't work . And there were constant blue highlights to look up other sites. Their very first day, I think he/she/they must have said 4 times in the same paragraph they should have waited another day. I just couldn't get into this book at all, there was no continuity. Very disappointed.",2.0,Confusing,1390953600,"01 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3EBDDWMU8MUJS,0394759982,Dr. Harry Smallenburg,"[0, 0]","Himes outdid himself here--a white man has been murdered, and there are riots in Harlem, and Himes's two detectives are assigned to find out who's inciting them and solve the murder. The trouble is, there are multiple possible inciters--from Muslims to Black Panther types to angry Black Christians. Unlike the typical detective novel, where a crime is solved, the crime virtually takes a back seat to the social unrest. The problems in Harlem seem beyond solution. At one point amidst the helter-skelter activity, one of the detectives says the riots aren't instigated by any one person or group: they're caused by anger, poverty, oppression, powerlessness.",5.0,Chaos and Anarchy,1403049600,"06 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GBI6FKX2GPVC,0873499670,"K. E. Badger ""srt medic""","[4, 5]","this book has been reviewed by myself many a times and still i am hoping for the author to provide an update to this book and do a better job of explaining what pouches, packs etc.i tried to make up the backpack survival kit with the external pouches. no go. i did not have the room that he did. but it made a very good base for my bug-out-bag.",4.0,its a keeper,1262044800,"12 29, 2009",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1XF7ITLEAB0S1,0802121519,meri,"[0, 0]","This is one of many books I downloaded from various Amazon promotions. While it was a quick read and Paris as a setting is always an interesting setting, I was disappointed. I felt like I kept waiting for something to happen and for it to get a little ""meatier"". It had a lot of great reviews, so maybe it's just how I related to the writing style and the story. The ending especially left me flat and hanging a bit. I felt the story was just getting somewhere, then it just ended. I would have liked more depth and follow up there (without getting into too many spoiler details!).",3.0,"OK quick read, but fell short of its potential",1386806400,"12 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NDDUWL5RSWUY,B00AW5NBRC,cheryl,"[0, 0]",I learned some things about the kindle fire hd. This book is helpful I some ways. There are some typing errors. The part about getting YouTube is a little wrong. You don't want the handset or whatever they called it. You want the one that says kindle fire.,4.0,Kindle fire hd,1359936000,"02 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2W8RO603SFHJR,0307352072,Carole Kaplan,"[0, 0]","As a former Los Angelino, I found this history of the LAPD' s war on mobsters like Mickey Cohen and Bugsey Seigel and the corrupt politicians fascinating. It's well documented and profiles not only the criminals but the career of William Parker and his rise to power.",4.0,Interesting Historical Read,1396310400,"04 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1JBP9R0PA5DW3,0446199532,"G. Robinson ""Extensive reader""","[8, 13]","This falls just short of truly outstanding. A few jarring editorial errors keep it from 5 stars but it gets real close. For various reasons Kitty and Ben decide to get married in Vegas. Ozzie sees an opportunity for her to go to TV and sets it up--it all gets complicated from there.We expect complications from the local weres and vampires but not at all what we get.This is not a book report--I don't need to prove I read it--nor do I need to blow the plot. Kitty and Ben become more developed and 3 dimensional, there is an interesting set of villains and some new challenges as well as more supe stuff. Very well done.Over all just short of an outstanding read.BTW the cover actually has something to do with the book although I have no idea where the title came from--Oh well can't have it all!Interestingly I got this a day ahead of schedule and gulped it down.",4.0,Short of outstanding but an excellant read,1233014400,"01 27, 2009",8,13,helpful,0.6153846153846154,1 A2H83XJ1VKCXUG,0747545707,Dew,"[16, 16]","This is a wonderful book! It is indispensable to students or anyone who reads books that have been written in the past, or for those with a curious nature.The dictionary is in alphabetical order with stories of how each word came into the English language and has evolved over time.For example:Alcohol - Originally, alcohol was a powder, not a liquid. The word comes from Arabic al-kuhul, literally `the kohl'--that is, powdered antimony used as a cosmetic for darkening the eyelids. This was borrowed into English via French or Medieval Latin, and retained this `powder' meaning for some centuries (for instance, `They put between the eyelids and the eye a certain black powder made of a mineral brought from the kingdom of Fez, and called Alcohol,' George Sandys, Travels 1615). But a change was rapidly taking place: from specifically `antimony,' alcohol came to mean any substance obtained by sublimation, and hence `quintessence.' Alcohol of wine was thus the `quintessence of wine,' produced by distillation or rectification, and by the middle of the 18th century alcohol was being used on its own for the intoxicating ingredient in strong liquor. The more precise chemical definition (a compound with a hydroxyl group bound to a hydrocarbon group) developed in the 19th century.",5.0,Wonderful!,1104624000,"01 2, 2005",16,16,helpful,1.0,1 A3LNZKV31R04C4,0671786660,Betti Trapp,"[6, 7]","Even Steven was one of the better books I have read in awhile. The story begins with a young couple, camping outdoors on a romantic weekend with the hopes of overcoming their pain of not being able to have a child. Mysteriously, a child comes running from the woods, screaming, a toddler. The couple then becomes involved in a game of cat and mouse, a web of murder and drug smuggling, kidnapping, and intrigue. Their lives are turned upside down in a matter of an hour. The story is fast paced and interesting, and will keep you turning pages. The ending is....well, can't give that one away, let's just say it is an interesting turn of events. This author has a great grasp on how to entice and hold onto a reader.",4.0,"Full of activity , excitement, and danger.",985046400,"03 20, 2001",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A3902IXDBI0AA6,1442360925,KelJb,"[8, 12]","I couldn't put this book down. If you like the hunger games, you will like this. Whether or not you think this could be real or not it's still a great book.I can see our country going down this road very fast if something isn't changed! It's scary to think about and defiantly leaves you questioning the things that are going on, which is precisely what this country needs, people who question. Don't believe what ANYONE tells you, Question with boldness and go out and seek the answers yourself!!!",5.0,Great Read!,1353456000,"11 21, 2012",8,12,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1HY6EMN6QTUVB,0345479904,"Lauren Sheldon ""Romance Writer""","[0, 0]","This is my favorite of Judith McNaught's romances simply because of the high level of emotion that she gives the characters and the wonderful details that she puts into her writing. Yes, as some of the other reviews have pointed out, there are some problems with it, and at times it reads a little more like a serial romance than a full-length one, but these problems are minor in comparison to what she does right in this novel. The supporting characters are also well-developed in this novel, unlike in some of her others where they come off as one-dimensional and saccharine, and always the heroine is strong and capable of taking care of herself when it comes to dealing with the hero. I reread it often and highly recommend it. If you like the heroes in Paradise and Remember When, you'll probably like this one, too.",5.0,Great emotion and detail,1307836800,"06 12, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A25NZ4IJGCD1GV,1439229635,"Dave Carpenter ""Peak Performance Scholar""","[26, 31]","I am a huge fan of LinkedIn and believe it is an awesome business tool. As a result, I devour every book published on the subject. Author Jan Vermeiren's new book goes to the top of my list of most useful books on LinkedIn.As the author points out, his book is not intended to be a primer. It is purposely void of the step-by-step instructions on how to build one's profile. Instead the book is focused on ways that users can leverage the power of LinkedIn.Although the focus of the book is advanced techniques, I was pleased to see that the author started with the fundamentals of effective networking or connecting. And, I loved that his fundamentals emphasized giving before receiving, a concept that I have long believed is critical to effective networking but is so often overlooked by so many.I especially liked that the author has set up free tools for staying current with the rapid pace of change with LinkedIn.Proof of the value of the book, at least for me, is that I got an implementable idea -- for a new group program I am launching -- directly from a recommendation made by the author. And, the idea is huge for my business.Jan Vermeiren, I now owe you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.",5.0,Best Advanced LinkedIn Book Todate,1241222400,"05 2, 2009",26,31,helpful,0.8387096774193549,1 A311JCV2S8OCMB,1601422806,S. L. Campbell,"[0, 0]","With a sweet dog face like that, who wouldn't buy this book? I'm not even a dog person, and I fell for Mia, the unwanted dog.This book, written by Kim Meeder, tells the story of Laurie Sacher, a young woman who finds God through the blind, obedient example of her rescue dog, Mia. Blind Hope has beautiful black & white photos sprinkled throughout, and the chapters that focus on Laurie and Mia are touching to the point of bringing me to tears, at times.I loved how poignant the comparisons were between blind Mia's trust of her owner and our need to trust a God we can't see. My favorite quote is from page 127:""It was my dog once again who modeled the truth that if I'm going to know and follow someone I love, it makes little sense to try and accomplish that if there's a huge gap between us. To truly imitate the movements of another, I need to mirror them as closely as possible. My dog has taught me that it is indeed doable to know someone you can't see with your eyes.""While I don't think any of the spiritual insights are going to be major ""aha"" moments for anyone, they seemed more profound due to the nature of this sweet, blind dog trusting its owner.Having said all this, I didn't like the parts of the book where Kim Meeder and Laurie Sacher had conversations. The writing made things seemed forced, and I didn't believe that the conversations took place in the way they were written. I believe the book would have been better had it been written simply as a story from Laurie's point of view.Still, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to my friends who, like me, need to feel a nudge toward a deeper trust in God.Thanks to the publisher, Multnomah, for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.",4.0,A Touching Story,1297987200,"02 18, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1TPUTRP62W61X,080410915X,"J. D. Truby ""J David Truby""","[18, 20]","I wish Dennis Foley could write an updated version of thevery important lessons to be learned from his great book, SPECIAL MEN. His book should be read by anyone going intothe military, and required re-reading for those who are careerists, ratherthan warriors. The lessons to be learned from this book are that vital.I enlisted two years prior to Dennis Foley. One of my mentors , Col John Paul Vann, told me the difference between a warrior and a careerist. One of Dennis Foley's mentors, the late Col David Hackworth, was the epitome of why we need more warriors and fewer careerists in our military. LTC Foley is another great example of why, as well.SPECIAL MEN is a great autobiography, beautifully told and written. One of its lessons is how we mismanaged to lose the war in Vietnam, by losing it in America first. Sadly, recent leaders of our country learned nothing from Vietnam and are mismanagingus in a war today that is far more important to our nation's survival than was Vietnam.As LTC Foley points out, we cannot afford a military run as a popularity contest. We cannot afford an undisciplined military. And, he is writing primarily about the 1960s and '70s military.What must he think of today's PC-driven, kindler/gentler bureaucratic military?But, I know what he thinks of the young men and women serving in ourmilitary, because a true leader and a good officer never changes. Like his mentor, David Hackworth, whom I knew, DennisFoley cares about his troops...honestly, deeply and always. Itshows on every page of this book.With more Dennis Foleys running our military we'd never lose another war. But, since he's no longer in the military, and is now writing about the military, I sure hope that more folks heed his important messages.Personally, I have a few ROTC cadets from a nearby university working for me parttime. As each graduates, he or she gets acopy of SPECIAL MEN from me as a graduation present. It's the best I can do for them.",5.0,With More Foleys We'd Never Lose A War,1146355200,"04 30, 2006",18,20,helpful,0.9,1 A3LKZG1E74DI5J,0399162380,M. Hill,"[0, 0]",I couldn't put it down. It was a great read and kept me so wrapped up that I was even late for work once because of it! it's one of those stories that you wished continued on...,5.0,Awesome story,1403395200,"06 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A6IX1RUC693HT,0007444117,MomoMonique,"[1175, 1329]","I know everyone is harping on the ending, but that isn't even the problem in this novel. I don't expect much YA novels to be Hemingway, or Rowling even, but reading Roth's monotonous and continuously stilted, short sentences for the duration of this story made me long for some artistic flare. A bit of purple prose, even.My main problem is that Roth, for having decided to alternate POVs to both Tris and Tobias, has created no discernible tonal differences between the two. Neither develop a distinct personality and that leads to a boring read. If each chapter title did not state whether it was in Tris or Tobias' view, then I would not have been able to tell who was the narrator, aside from situationally figuring it out. Both viewpoints really do read that similarly.Again, the very minimal diction (not to be confused with the bare style of The Road, an artistic masterpiece in simplicity) also leads to little passion. For all the kissing that Tobias and Tris do (a lot), there's little romance and tension. Unfortunately, this style also renders the rest of the novel, including all those action scenes, as repetitive and somewhat boring.Finally, about that ending. I give a lot of leeway to authors. They can do whatever they want, even if it devastates me, as long as it serves a purpose. In this case, I don't see how the ending served the story for the better except for ""shock-value,"" mainly because the end is filled with too many plot holes. Plus, by the time I even reached the end, I was already bored to apathy.And just to be clear, my low-ish rating of this novel was not affected by the ending. I found the rest of the novel to be far more problematic.",2.0,"Boring, repetitive and monotone",1382400000,"10 22, 2013",1175,1329,helpful,0.8841234010534236,1 A2XL13A9ERA0XY,1931513724,"M. J. Lowe ""www.mjlowe.info""","[7, 8]","The Wizard of Isis, opens moments after the close of Winged Isis, and this fifth title in Jean Stewart's Isis novels is possibly the best of the series. As with other Isis books, Wizard is fast-paced and action-packed reading. Tomyris ""Whit"" Whitaker and Danu Sullivan ended the dogfight that culminated Winged Isis by chasing two jets (one carrying a nuclear weapon) back across the barrier between Freeland and Elysium. In their enthusiasm to defeat the invaders, Whit and Danu find themselves trapped in the racist, patriarchal, theocratic country. Occupying the eastern portion of what was the United States, Elysium arose some nine decades prior to the book's setting in a panicked response to a population-devastating pandemic.Having established her futuristic, post-apocalyptic world that divided what is now the United States into two extremely divergent cultures, Stewart explores the possibilities of pockets of resistance inside the oppressive Elysium, where women who are not willing to subjugate themselves to men are literally enslaved or killed. She sets this resistance in the difficult terrain of the Appalachias. Dubbed ""Amazons Outlaws"" by the Elysium authorities, Stewart suggests that these women banding together for survival in mountain enclaves might easily carry the archetypal characteristics of the independent woman, the fighting ""Amazon.""While the women warriors of Freeland were lucky enough to preserve and further develop their technology, these Amazon communities have been struggling to maintain what has reverted to a pre-renaissance trade culture in the last three generations. For several years, they have received an added boost in the form of a very psychically powerful Witch. Whit is concerned that the witch might be a nemesis from her past. Certainly, the witch's motivations and control over the community do have a dark side.One of the interesting points about Stewart's Freeland democracy is that it is not some mystic tofu utopia. The political struggles and factions are a lively, complex element of the society. While these women are not afraid to defend neither their homeland nor their loved ones, the method of rescue for Whit and Danu is subject to debate by the ruling council. During these council negotiations, Kali, Whit's life partner, and Tor, Danu's girlfriend, decide to circumvent the time-consuming political haggling by launching their own rescue mission. Needless to say, this impulsive venture compounds the problem.As non-mainstream, speculative fiction, Stewart's Isis series raises some frightening questions about our political system, health care, and our environmental responsibility. These issues ring even truer today than when the series first appeared in 1992. Indeed, Stewart's Isis has long been a warning parable for our times. She furthers this exhortation in regard to the controversial issues of freedom, independence, diversity, safety and community; issues with which the United States has been struggling with since the terrorist attacks of 9/11.An exemplifying moment is a scene of Danu reciting the Preamble to the Freeland Declaration of Independence concluding, ""We are the summit, the democratic ideal that mankind has been aspiring to throughout the ages. It is our duty to protect liberty and freedom in order to ensure it for those who come after us."" p111 Despite the ironically sexist and unlikely use of ""mankind,"" the ideals stated so eloquently sent shivers through this reviewer.The point becomes more blatant near the book's climax when Kali tells a crowd of Elysians ""A long time ago, your ancestors exchanged freedom for promises of safety, and you're doing it still. You stopped being Americans."" p 210 (Kali was doing great until those last four words since the Elysians present at this moment were not likely to remember or have knowledge of ""America"" given the repressive cultivation of illiteracy some 90 years after the fall of America.)Despite the heavy political topics, bleak circumstances, and explicit violence, Wizard of Isis has some charming to downright funny moments. When an imprisoned Kali faces the local Elysian warlord, her strength of will and defiant nature prompt her to use what weapons she has left, namely her wit and voice (and perhaps a touch of her psychic abilities) to strike out at her captors. For this reviewer, the humorous pay-off of this scene is practically worth the book's purchase.Wizard of Isis has all of the qualities that readers have come to expect from Stewart. The story is thoughtful and intelligent, action-filled and exciting. Her characters are interesting, complex women (and men). While she deals with archetypal elements, not all of her women are noble and heroic and not all men are evil. Indeed, one of the themes of Wizard is the idea that most Elysians are trapped themselves rather than actively supporting the regime. With a signature high-energy climax, Wizard of Isis adds a few surprises to the Isis Saga and it will be interesting to see where Stewart takes readers next.",4.0,Thought provoking and Fast paced!,1085702400,"05 28, 2004",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A3HLJQCY6GKRVK,0553287346,"F. G. Hamer ""MadManxMan""","[10, 16]","I shan't offer an outline of the story, since there are enough reviews to do that. The book is excellent with a well plotted, thoughtful story of murder at an English public school. What struck me as curious was my fellow reviewers' observations about 'an English public school being a mandatory setting for writers of English mysteries' and 'the hypocrisy and brutality that underlie the British veneer of politeness' To comment on the first observation, I have read many, many mysteries written by English authors. I can count on the fingers of one hand, the number that have been set at an English public school (actually, private schools!). To claim that such a setting is mandatory is rubbish. In fact, what Elizabeth George does is to use her story to probe into the system. She does this well (accept that from a former pupil of a British public school, who knows how the system works). On the second observation - 'the hypocrisy and brutality that underlie the British veneer of politeness', I can only say that at least the Brits don't wish everybody 'Have a nice day' when they don't mean it. I think that is a better definition of hypocrisy! And since when were the British regarded as brutal (save for certain bad habits in the wars of the 19th century - habits shared by many other nations)? I also believe that these reviewers are confusing English with British. It's time to understand the difference. Read Jeremy Paxman's 'The English : Portrait of a People' and you'll be better equipped to make scathing comments about a culture that you don't understand. I'm not defending the English, I'm merely pointing out that some reviews lack depth and substance.",4.0,Maybe it helps to understand the system better,998611200,"08 24, 2001",10,16,helpful,0.625,1 A12TCY12RMA0YE,0061231673,Dayna,"[0, 2]",im a a woman i bought this for my boyfriend as a quick read and i read it. at parts i was like are you kidding and others i was intrigued. im sure its not the average american males head but deff the under 30 male head. i liekd it and would reccomend it i read all 400 pages of this is abotu 2 hours. each little chapter is abotu 2-3 pages and some of the stories are hilarous. and it ends on a good note,5.0,wow,1226534400,"11 13, 2008",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3OT4O6HO7PHYO,0062047779,Irene Egan,"[0, 1]",Another well written love story by Lori! Made me cry and fall in love with cowboy Brady and his Princess! I really loved this book and I think you will to.,5.0,It's all about the love...,1385942400,"12 2, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AQ4YL3WWSNW35,1481802224,mgkc1975,"[0, 0]","The cover of the book made me want to read it. He is so hot with those smoldering eyes, good choice by the author. The story was good took. This book showed the development of two long lost friends who become lovers. Drake is an intense individual and by the writing, an exceptional lover. I enjoyed how the story played out. I definitely recommend.",4.0,Holy Hotness,1399161600,"05 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A23US54A0OILE4,0310330718,Robert Busko,"[170, 192]","Dr. Ben Carson's America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made this Country Great is perhaps one of the most significant books published in many years. It is certainly the most profound book I've read this year.Dr. Ben Carson grew up in poverty. His mother realized that the path out of poverty required a love of reading. She required her son to read a book per week and write a book report and hand to her. It took a few years, but eventually he discovered that his mother was illiterate and unable to read the book reports. Still, she instilled upon him a love of reading that did lead him to a better life.Dr. Carson, as a black youth, experienced racial hatred and discrimination first hand. He reacted as anyone would; with anger and aggression. One incident he relates is attempting to use a knife on another youth. Lunging at the boy, the knife hit his belt buckle and snapped. Had the belt buckle not deflected and break the knifeblade, he might have killed the boy changing Ben's life forever a robbing us of a very talented surgeon.Dr. Carson realizes that the path to success lies in getting a good education. The founding fathers also believed that the nation's health rested with an educated electorate. He asked the question ""what are we becoming"" as we get away from our basic values; reliance of education is one of those values.Dr. Carson also believes, rightly, that physicians should be more involved with their communities in leadership roles. He points out that four of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were physicians.Most who read the book will know that Dr. Carson is a neurosurgeon and tops in his field. He is an excellent example of what it means to be successful today for all Americans, not just black Americans.America the Beautiful is a valuable read in a nation that seems to have lost itself.I highly recommend.",5.0,An important read for us all.,1329350400,"02 16, 2012",170,192,helpful,0.8854166666666666,1 A6XL6BQ5Z6MHL,0689859414,Gwynne C. Spencer,"[0, 0]","This handsome book is the kind of book that kids would sequester themselves in a treehouse and read for hours, comparing notes, sharing insights. It's one of those rare series, Spiderwick, that keeps kids and grownups waiting eagerly for the next volume because the world it portrays is so real, so rich and so rewarding. Perfect gift book for a ten to thirteen year old boy! If you haven't read SPiderwick series, never fear: they'll be around for many years.",5.0,Perfect Gift Book for Spiderwick readers,1158451200,"09 17, 2006",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A9M5AODJUR18I,1451657706,Ashley LaMar,"[0, 0]","In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner has the potential to be an epic historical fiction novel. Readers are swept up in seven-year old Raami’s world and experience the heartache of death, starvation, and brutality alongside her previously privileged family. Ratner creates a wondrous fictional story set in the gorgeous landscape of Cambodia and sharing with readers the stark contrast between human resilience and the tragedy of war. This could have easily been a CTC 5-star book and it is a New York Times bestseller but the issue, for me, was the narrative voice. Ratner’s decision to write from the point-of-view of a seven-year old girl instead of in a third-person narrative is what made this book an awkward read.There is no denying Ratner’s talent for creative writing and storytelling. She captures reader’s hearts and attention from the opening pages as young Raami watches her mother’s grace and elegance while questioning her own awkward clumsiness. Raami sees the world around her as only a young girl can – with eyes full of magic and wonder. It’s a beautiful way to introduce an exotic locale like Cambodia to readers and draw them into Raami’s privileged world.Unfortunately, this innocent childish perspective begins to feel awkward as the story progresses, civil war takes over, and Raami’s family must fight for their very survival. The language and vocabulary begin to exceed the reasonable voice of a little girl. The narrative voice no longer fit the story and at this point I, as a reader, began to disconnect from Raami’s plight.The lofty descriptions, so poetic and brilliant in the beginning of the story also begin to detract away from the struggle of the family brought on by the civil war. During the early chapters these are necessary so that readers can visualize the locale and feel a part of the story but as the war takes over and the family is suffering the continual heavy descriptions of the local flora is uncomfortable and distracting. The novel would have been better served for the heavy-handed descriptions to focus on the systematic violence, sickness and suffering rather than on every locus or jasmine in the landscape.Ratner is a wonderful storyteller and the plot of In the Shadow of the Banyan is a story that should be told. Within these pages is a character that readers will fall in love with and mourn for as her little world falls apart around her; however, Ratner’s choice of narrative and overwhelming constant landscape descriptions drag down the novel during the latter half of the story causing many readers to disengage before the final page.Review by Ashley LaMarClosed the Cover",3.0,Review by Closed the Cover,1398729600,"04 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ISJ6GF6EGDAT,0988695103,megnk1,"[0, 0]","This is a very well written story of teenage heartbreak. I was fighting the tears early on in this novel when tragedy strikes. However I found that there could have been a little more turmoil, it needed a little more angst, for me, between Josie and Liam, as the forgiving may have come a little too easily. But then again if you have one true love, I guess forgiving can be easy. And true love is what these two have.I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author. The teaser at the end of this one left me desperately wanting more... I think this series will only get better as it goes, can't wait!",4.0,Sweet,1360368000,"02 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A10FBJXMQPI0LL,0744008190,"M. Thakery ""middle_path""","[62, 66]","It's actually more like a 2.25 or a 2.5. . .There are some absolute basics missing from a book touted as the ""Master Guide"". Not only are there no indicators on the maps for vendors, quest givers or Gryphon masters, but there's not even a stinking INDEX!! So you're looking for a city a town or a keep and you go to the book. . . Guess what? You're S.O. L. buddy, unless you want to look through EVERY ONE of the maps individually.Add to that the missing portions of the maps, poor spelling, horible grammar and mediocre layout and you just don't have something worth twenty-five bills. Very disappointed. . . Contemplating creating my own guide.On the up-side, they did get the guys that write Penny-Arcade to add some of their cartoons.",3.0,3 stars because I was feeling generous.,1164412800,"11 25, 2006",62,66,helpful,0.9393939393939394,1 AGD67N9KXFHP1,0062080636,Nancy Jean Rose,"[0, 0]",A highly functioning immune system is critical to your body rejecting illnesses and staying healthy. This is something that we all want and need and this book provides us with guidelines to that end. A worthwhile acquisition for your library.,5.0,Improve your immune system,1359763200,"02 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,1402769229,Midwest Book Review,"[17, 20]",I Can Make You Confident: The Power to Go for Anything You Want includes a guided hypnosis CD and offers the author's insights on how to activate confidence and motivation. Any library strong in self-help guides will find this a positive survey of easy techniques to short-circuit fear and create confidence and self-belief in a few minutes. Any general self-help collection needs this!,5.0,Any general self-help collection needs this!,1289433600,"11 11, 2010",17,20,helpful,0.85,1 A257WQPGKQCQQP,156455726X,D. White,"[29, 31]","For what it's worth, I have found that regular practice of just the ""Relaxing Breath"" that Dr. Weil teaches has had a profound effect on my ability to handle and neutralize stressful situations. While my wife was undergoing treatments for breast cancer my stress level was obviously very high, and I found the breathwork to be an immediate ally to help me cope. I can't begin to thank him enough.",5.0,Has helped me tremendously,1112313600,"04 1, 2005",29,31,helpful,0.9354838709677419,1 A1FV1R49LH807M,0061721794,Elizabeth Hoerman,"[0, 0]",This book was nothing like I thought it would be. The story line was complex and weird...in a good way. Looking forward to book two.,4.0,Good in a weird way.,1375056000,"07 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3UP4939HUSWSB,B007SHINV6,Amazon Customer,"[0, 2]","It took this woman FOREVER (like 40 years) to figure out how to leave her mom and step dad. It wasn't really something I learned from or a book I enjoyed. No one (including her sister) helped her remove herself from the situation and so it went on and on and on. It's sad how a person can be completely demoralized but this was sad, boring book, without much insight into why it took her 30 years to figure out that her mom was a bad person. It would have been nice to hear medical experts help describe how this went on for so long, why she didn't leave. It would have also been nice to hear from the sister and find out why she never said anything either.",2.0,"Boring, long, drawn out, frustrating",1356134400,"12 22, 2012",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 AFKSSNW1PDETA,0375866272,FortuneBrve,"[0, 0]","This book is part mystery, part coming of age, wrapped in a narrative of the friendship of two young friends.",5.0,Wonderful,1372377600,"06 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18OLZIT0DGVJR,0195174550,"S. L. Smith ""SansSerif""","[0, 0]","I read Eben Miller's Born On The Color Line because I want to learn more about the civil rights movement, and had never heard of the 1933 Amenia Conference. In fact, I was stunned to learn that the Jim Crow local/state ""separate but equal"" laws were technically still in effect at the time that I was born and for several years after. For over a decade, I even worked in Wilmington, Delaware, and never once heard about Louis Redding - an accomplished lawyer and a great mind - who leads off Miller's book.Using the Amenia Conference as a framework, Miller dedicates a chapter to each of the key participants in that event. My favorite chapter is that of Juanita Jackson, an earnest rallying voice who lent a spitfire energy to the Amenian agenda.Because Born On The Color Line is so very well researched, it does often read like a dissertation. I had to fight the urge to skim, and was not always successful. But I learned a tremendous amount about this aspect of the Civil Rights movement, and it made me want to learn even more.",4.0,"Important, Enlightening, and Very Well Researched",1348185600,"09 21, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASA9U2T0BQDM4,0985008660,Mindy,"[0, 0]",I loved this book. It has action and adventure but romance too! It might be a little of 13 but it was amazing,5.0,Whoa!,1388620800,"01 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3J6W6ZZI5K9VN,1484045327,"B. Smith ""music lover""","[0, 0]","Even though I have known Heather for years, I had no idea of the talent she had. This first novel was well-written, a fun read and had enough facts, places and landmarks that it rang true throughout. Can't wait to see what she does next.",5.0,From a friend,1371859200,"06 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A25ZIONJ3UGPZ7,0385338236,Rosamond1,"[123, 161]","I'm afraid this is going to be the last Mary Balogh book I buy. It's painful to admit this to myself because, since discovering her novels (my first was No Man's Mistress) and then glomming all her back titles from the last 20 years, I've spent many a happy hour in her Regency romance world.But Balogh's titles of the past six years--the ""Slightly"" and ""Simply"" books--have all disappointed me and Simply Magic is, sadly, the worst of the lot. I continued to buy and read Balogh, in spite of my disappointment, because I'd hoped she was in a slump from which she'd emerge. But after reading Simply Magic, I'm giving up that Balogh will ever again write the heart-rending, angsty gems (The Temporary Wife, The Notorious Rake, Heartless, Dancing With Clara, Lord Carew's Bride, et al.) that made her reputation.Where to begin with what's wrong with this latest effort? With the uninspiring beta hero (among the most irritating I've ever encountered in the genre) who's unbecomingly dominated by his morally-challenged mama (and who sheepishly admits to the heroine his knees shake when he has to give his steward an order)? Or the emotionally stunted heroine whose behaviour seems like that of someone clinically depressed throughout most of the story--complete with a sort of disassociation of her mind with her body when it comes to sex? And then there's Balogh's unfortunate penchant, which has become more and more pronounced in her recent works, to clog the story with so many extraneous characters and tidbits about their lives that the reader feels the need to take notes.The biggest problem I have with this book, however, is that it reveals Balogh's abandonment of what I believe is THE crucial premise of the romance story. Balogh spends a great deal of energy on making the point to the reader that the ""love story"" is not the cake in her heroine's life but the frosting. In her recent novels she takes pains to show the heroine doesn't require the masculine essence of the hero, in its highest form of romantic love, for her emotional, spiritual and physical completion. Her recent heroines are emotionally self-sufficient, have employment they love, and while it would be ever so luscious and easy-around-the-manor to be married, it's not a core, primal necessity for their life's fulfillment.There's always a moment in Balogh's recent books where the hero has this epiphany, when he ""gets it"" that the heroine will be just fine without him. The story is not allowed to move on, in fact, until the hero has that bit of feminist-tinged dogma firmly implanted in his head. I suppose all of us modern types are supposed to nod in agreement but, in a romance novel, I find the whole presentation dreary to the max. (Can we not escape the death of romantic love anywhere? Not even in its supposed last bastion, the pastel cover romance novel?)I read romance novels to experience the archetypal wonder of romantic love between a man and a woman--a love that torments and creates upheavel but also redeems, completes, saves. Romantic love is full of messy dependency, jealousy, and a lot of shadow--that's what makes it romantic. It gives a vision, a much needed vision, that continues to persist and inspire--and has great power to explain the behaviour of men and women toward each other. Balogh used to write books that glorified that archetype. Often employing the stock characters of the genre--the dark, tortured hero, the empathetic, nurturing heroine. But then she ""saw the light"" (or something) and her works have devolved over the last several years into neat, passionless feminist samplers that have more than a politically correct whiff to them--and all the depth and complexity of a ""Can This Marriage Be Saved?"" column--or worse, the Regency equivalent of a Glamour magazine editorial about balancing career and ""relationship.""Simply Magic reminds me of a kind of romance prozac. It calms, tones down, erases and tames the wild beasts of the masculine and feminine romantic archetypes. I don't want that drug. I want to feel.",2.0,Romance Prozac,1175040000,"03 28, 2007",123,161,helpful,0.7639751552795031,1 A6VH2QB0T9VMC,1401228755,"Dylan Luciano ""Marvel Man""","[8, 10]","First off I don't want to pointlessly bash this book. Walt Flanagan does very solid artwork here and like the other review said is better then his work in Cacophony. In fact as a whole this book is better then Cacophony. I don't feel like Smith gets the voices of all the characters in this book (his characterization of Catwoman is pretty bad) but as a whole he does a good job.But this book deserves 3 stars for a multiple of reasons. One of them is the fact that Kevin Smith still hasn't grown up when it comes to writing these books. Comic books can be dark, gritty, and serious as well as upbeat and fun but I like to think that many of them aren't as immature as this book gets. I have to admit that the examples of immaturity are small but they make a good impact when you read them. Not to mention the book gets silly even for a comic book. (At one point Bruce thinks his girlfriend is a robot and acts nowhere near the way you think he would, along with the fact that the book is filled with multiple immature sexual references)The second reason why this book fails is the fact that you don't actually know and are given no reason to care about them. Taking a page from the Jeph Loeb book of writing, you care more about the mystery of the guy helping Batman with a Goat mask then you care about anything else. (I have to admit that I was surprised by who it was, even if I should have guessed it) But the book does end on a good note and makes me want to at least read the next volume.",3.0,Smith gets a little better.,1293667200,"12 30, 2010",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 ACSEUE5VAJIPQ,1482694573,grant18,"[0, 0]",In my opinion this is a typical Forster novel. Excellent usage & grammar but overly long & not very interesting plot.,3.0,"The star choice ""It's Okay"" got it right",1392940800,"02 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36TRJCL6ZC38L,0764204777,mntw1231,"[0, 0]",I had re-read a couple of pages because I was lost. I would love to find out if she found true love.,3.0,It was aslow read,1398816000,"04 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1RLKWBB3O6QOM,B00846ZUB6,Joan,"[0, 0]",A journey with a combatant from a border state takes us through several battles.I felt my heart strings pulled by the stresses gone through from this point of view.,5.0,This is a very personal view of the American Civil War,1403827200,"06 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3C8XAHK0RPFTY,1480198455,Frankie Uhl,"[5, 7]",very original story with a nice twist in the end. Can't wait to read book 2 in the series.. Zombies rule!,5.0,Fantastic,1358294400,"01 16, 2013",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 AC5I6F57ZTLYZ,0618680004,Vigolo,"[5, 8]","This book really changed my life. Coming from a religious background and having even pursued it adamantly when I was younger, reading this as an alternative turned into a veil being lifted from my eyes. I realized for the first time what a silly, stupid thing religion is and why it should be open to debate like any other subject instead of shied away from. My life has become a lot more free, happy and positive than the one I had in the shadow of a thunderous, angry god that was watching my every move and waiting to roast me till eternity for questioning or even doubting him - and please spare me the defense that god is good and kind and merciful because anyone who reads the holy books can tell you that this is wishful thinking. Mr Dawkins is a genius in my eyes - all the defenses and arguments that are presented as 'proof' of a divine being are demolished by his flawless logic and great intellect. I can only hope that a lot more people will read this and embark on a journey that has the promise of a wiser, happier and more humane life at the end of it.Some people told me that the book is too aggressive and that it only reflects his own point of view. To that all I can say is - he wrote it to present his own point of view, not as a 'what is religion?' textbook so I see no problem there. And I don't find it aggressive. The arguments posed by fundamentalists are strikingly cliche and similar for almost every religion out there and I was shocked by how many I had never really thought about in depth but taken for granted and undeserved belief before this book shed a different light on it. As the most destructive force in the history of humankind religion deserves to be tackled as harshly as any war criminal guilty of genocide should - if not more. So don't expect a meek 'This is what I think but I respect other ideas, too' approach with this book. Mr Dawkins, I think, has good reason to go in with guns blazing.",5.0,a life changing book,1240012800,"04 18, 2009",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 AUUNZ18QYNMJZ,0307388751,D.J. Stroud,"[0, 0]","Jeanine Basinger's hilarious and affectionate sketch of Maria Montez, star of Cobra Woman, is alone worth the price of this book: "It's one thing to become a popular movie star when you get to play Queen Elizabeth or Madame Curie. When you have to clomp around in wedgies and harem pants, saying, "Scheherazade fears no man," your challenge is quite a bit bigger." Basinger illustrates Golden Age Hollywood's star system by examining the careers of those men and women who rolled off the assembly line successfully, and those who got chewed up in the machinery. Aside from her film scholar bona fides, Basinger was sitting in the theater chomping her popcorn in the 1940s and 50s when these movies were contemporary, not classic. She knows what audiences responded to then and what the fan mags were like. And that audience response is what drove the star machine. Sure, the aim was to make money, but the end result was a lot of glamorous, escapist entertainment. I found this book a delight from beginning to end. Basinger's writing is chock-full of cheeky one-liners and asides. Persona is "typecasting with its hat on." And this on aging male stars: "As long as they avoided the booze, maintained a waistline smaller than Rhode Island, and could hold down a toupee in a stiff breeze, there was a chance of a long career." Charles Boyer's appeal in a nutshell: "Charles Boyer became a Hollywood star because he was French. Not French as in "born in France" (although he had been), but "French" like Pepe Le Pew." And here's Ronald Reagan "coyly posed at poolside in tight black bathing trunks adorned with a snappy white patent leather belt (Lookin' good, Mr. President!)" And she generously passes on delicious quotes, like this one where Joan Crawford warns a party guest away from a chair the religious Loretta Young just vacated: "Loretta was just sitting there. It probably has the mark of the cross on the seat." This book is a gem.",5.0,"Geef Me Dat Cobra Jool!",1354233600,"11 30, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QFPQIOJ5MKE1,1480439703,rose rivero,"[0, 0]","As usual, Pearl writes a story that makes you not put the book away till you have finished so try this for pleasurable reading.",5.0,pearl buck,1398643200,"04 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1835Y2087GJU8,0425258211,bookfanatic1979,"[0, 0]","Every time I get involved in a series, I'm always wondering if the author will decide to call it quits. Sometimes it's for the best, sometimes I'm just not ready to say goodbye. Luckily, there are enough loose ends and open plot devices in this book to almost guarantee Bartlett has many future plans for Glory and her gang.",3.0,Obviously There Are More To Come,1364947200,"04 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A13L54TCG4NSNO,B009JUB3NU,D Nice,"[0, 0]","I love the S&M series and waited with baited breath for the conclusion to S&M III, only this isn't a conclusion and leaves the reader wanting some type of closer. I also felt that the best friends fantasies were weird and not necessary to the plot of the book. I love Scott and Mari and I just want to know how their relationship ends! Driving me crazy.",4.0,Not another cliff hanger!,1354665600,"12 5, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3IL4QYV3PJKJY,0743477278,"MzCarmen ""Reading Mom""","[0, 0]","Sasha Boriannai is back, and this time around she's making the rules. Platinum Images is her new PR business. In an effort to begin a new chapter of her life she's out to prove to the good ole boys, that she can do the job just as well as they can.But, will she have a chance to demonstrate what she and her company are capable of?While moving up the corporate ladder, she's trying to let go of all the ghost in her history, but she can't hide forever. The temptation is finding its way back when Phoenix Carter, a blast from her past is in need of her help. Will she be able to keep a level head?Fourplay is a good read, but not as fulfilling as Threesome.",4.0,"You Can Run, But You Can't Hide",1167350400,"12 29, 2006",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A25LUXY2UYTSC,067964444X,A. Stern,"[52, 57]","I was in talk therapy for three years, two times a week, with a great therapist. I learned every detail and nuance about how my past effected the decisions and choices I had made. I learned to recognize this complex relationship between past and present almost in real time. This often helped me make better choices, and I'm thankful for that. But something was always missing. I knew where I wanted to get to and what was holding me back. I simply couldn't make that leap. A character flaw of mine? Maybe. I think it might also be a flaw of talk therapy. It bonds the trauma of the past with the present. I needed to bond the present with the future. And then I was lucky enough to get to read The Tools. It explains how to do just what I needed.In a nutshell?-If you ever find yourself in a rut-If you, like me, have been in psychotherapy but still have bad habits that hold you back-If you are in a creative field, or want to be-If you ever feel uncomfortable speaking to people (one or a thousand)-If you wish you could make bolder moves with your life-If you have unhealthy relationships-If you worry about things to a point where it stifles you-If you want to get things done but somehow don't-If you know someone who fits any of the above...then please buy 'The Tools' by Dr. Phil Stutz and Barry Michels. They are two therapists from LA who are brilliant. This is not a self-help book per se, but instead an answer to the part of talk therapy that doesn't actually change your life significantly enough and fast enough. (I've never picked up a 'self-help' book in my life...) Obviously, understanding your past is critical in knowing who you are. But the future is what you have to look forward to. 'The Tools' will help you make the most of it. The authors each had incredibly successful private practices treating some of the most successful people around. This book shares part of their unique, groundbreaking methods that have evolved over decades. For less than $15 you, or someone you love, risk finishing that project that's been laying dormant, having a healthier relationship, improving your confidence, and/or otherwise changing your life dramatically for the better. I just spent $30 on a T-shirt that didn't do any of that for me. Take a risk on this book: if you read it with an open mind your future might be more fulfilling than you ever dared think it could be.",5.0,Must buy. Must try.,1338249600,"05 29, 2012",52,57,helpful,0.9122807017543859,1 A17FULBKGR2R22,1484858913,Ginny,"[5, 5]","First of all Kathleen Brooks this book rocks and I think it just might be my favorite so far. The book starts with the prolog and Pierce and Dr Oldham testing Pierce's invention and deciding where to do the field testing in secret. Pierce is standing up with his brothers for Mile's wedding and in walks Tammy looking oh so hot on the arm of a very handsome Greek named Demetri, Pierce was shocked at the reinvented Tammy but he is with Jasmine. He tries to talk to her at the reception but things go from bad to worse and she walks away with Demetri. Pierce wakes up the next morning and finds Dr. Oldham murdered and himself as the only suspect, he can't remember and is very badly beaten, this is when the roller coaster get going good with so many twist and turns ups and downs and Tammy defending him the whole time Pierce slowly realizes he is in love with her but all these terrible things keep happening. The other side story is that Ahmed has adopted Tammy as a little sister and when they start coming after her he takes it personal. This is a must read and full of action from fights, gun shots, bombs and oh so much more and what an ending can't wait for the next book Thank you Kathleen Brooks for a suspenseful, hilarious great book",5.0,hop on the Bluegrass Roller Coaster and hold on for a wild ride,1369180800,"05 22, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A214Y9OG56IZ9R,B0078XGJXO,Charles Thorne,"[147, 307]","If I may paraphrase the entire book, ""Waaaaah!"" The thesis is that since land and materials and the labor of skilled workers are all inexhaustible and free, people are charging too much for what is a renewable resource, such as cruel and twisted men that take glee at people far more successful and talented than they are. I hear that there's a book by Breitbart that's interesting and the profits go to a grieving widow.Righteous Indignation: Excuse Me While I Save the World!",1.0,The Title Is The Best Part Of The Book; Too Bad He Stole It,1330992000,"03 6, 2012",147,307,helpful,0.4788273615635179,1 AUR6SACNOTU2E,0451465849,Fatima Dowling,"[0, 0]","This is good writing, made me late to work twice, took me two days to read, best book so far in 2013 and I read 1-2 books a week, all I want is for Lisa Gardner to write faster and more book",5.0,Happy..,1364428800,"03 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AEKTBKMJHBJMN,0800795180,Margie,"[0, 1]",I don't think that this woman could be more offensive if she tried. She completely debunks Islam as a religion; I don't think she ever studied it or the culture of Yemen before her trip. She's so totally self righteous that everyone else is wrong.,1.0,Horrible,1381190400,"10 8, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1X8BQQGCEHQ1V,1439138672,"Kim Cantrell ""Soap Box Bandit""","[7, 10]","If you even glanced at the news during early 2001, you undoubtedly heard the story of missing Washington intern Chandra Levy and her affair with former California Congressman Gary Condit.From the moment she was reported missing, Condit was the prime suspect.Not only was it his affair with Chandra, but his affairs with numerous women - and his strict demands of same about disclosing the relationship - that placed him in the unwelcome spotlight.So much so that many believe D.C. officials overlooked a much more viable suspect.Ingmar Adalid Guandique was convicted of attacking two women in D.C.'s Rock Creek Park. The locations of these attacks would be eerily similar to where Chandra's body was found.Washington Post reporters Scott Higham and Sari Horwitz set out to solve the murder of Chandra Levy once and for all in their May 2010 bookFinding Chandra: A True Washington Murder Mystery.My thoughts? There's quite a few.First and foremost, wrong title. Very little of this book was actually about Chandra. A few details here and there, but nothing in-depth as those of us dedicated true crime readers enjoy.And speaking of being marketed as ""true crime,"" I'll just say wrong genre. This would be better placed in a the braggadocio journalists catergory. I grew really sick and tired of reading about how this journalist did this, this journalist did that. Just tell me the story about the crime, the investigation, the forensics, the arrests, and the trial. I could care less that Connie Chung landed the biggest ""get interview"" of her career.The repetition was horrendous. You can read half of this book and you know everything there is to be said. The second half is nothing but a repeat of the first, just jumbled around.I've got two recommendations when it comes toFinding Chandra: A True Washington Murder Mystery: Higham and Horwitz should stick with newspaper reporting and true crime fans should skip this book.",2.0,More Focus on Celebrity than Crime,1281657600,"08 13, 2010",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 AZMQIH4R96GUI,0801485452,Bobby Boylan,"[0, 0]","This text by Hasker is, simply put, brilliant. It is scholarly, well-read, and well thought out, and Hasker goes an A1 job in refuting Molinism (Middle Knowledge); Compatablism and also shows just how useless ""simple foreknowledge"" is, while presenting a cogent, theo-philosophical defence of the Openness of God.As someone who is well-read in Calvinism, Determinism, and Open Theism, among other issues, this is perhaps *the* text to get on the question of God's foreknowledge and its relationship to the freedom of man and time.Other volumes I highly recommened would be Boyd's ""Satan and the Problem of Evil"" and the second edition of Sanders' ""The God Who Risks.""Robert Boylan[...]",5.0,A Must-read!,1252022400,"09 4, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALKRNN1N2NU1J,1615726993,Chris Saunders,"[0, 0]","Evil Stalks the Night is the latest rewritten and reissued offering by the prolific Katherine Meyer Griffith. Ironically, it was also the first of her books to be published, way back in 1985. The story centres on a young psychic girl called Sarah and her family, who live in a nondescript American town called Suncrest. Nondescript, except for the fact that an evil entity prowls the woods behind the family's home. One by one the entity takes Sarah's family members, and a fair few local children, much to the chagrin of the townsfolk, who then find it within themselves to lay the blame on Sarah's surviving family. Sarah takes flight and rebuilds her adult life in a different part of the country, but the reader is never left in any doubt that it can only be a matter of time before she is brought back to Suncrest, and a final battle with the evil that still stalks the woods in search of human blood...Evil Stalks the Night is a tremendously involving and atmospheric book, boasting a riveting storyline and fine interplay between the central characters. KMG has the story-telling qualities of your favourite grandmother. Highly recommended.",4.0,Great horror suspense story...,1354579200,"12 4, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2BMZ3JXVHTGJA,0446572446,Beverly Murray,"[0, 0]",I have been a fan if the Curtis Black family from the beginning. I always look forward to the next installment. I enjoyed the book.Some are better than others. I was not disappointed.,4.0,Nice Read,1356048000,"12 21, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AN5M5EQPC4QXO,0960695400,Jennifer Green,"[0, 0]",This is a really fun easy way to look at your personality. it is useful to give to couples so they can understand each other better. Just remeber this is only one of many theories and not everyone will fit the mold.,4.0,FUN way to look at personality,1168473600,"01 11, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WSI8HOWHFDOT,0140185348,Rocco Dormarunno,"[17, 17]","Graham Greene just doesn't get the recognition he deserves as a short story writer. As a novelist, his reputation has been well-established, fortunately. This collection, "Twenty-One Stories" is a fine sampler of Greene's abilities in the shorter genre. Many of the elements that feature so prominently in his novels also figure in these stories: the spontaneity of violence; ruthless polictics; looming secrets; greed; and the complex situations that life drops on you.Here are some brief looks at my favorite stories:"The Destructors" is Greene's examination of horrific, calculated vandalism in the extreme, made even more horrifying by the coolness with which it is carried out.An event in a man's past comes back to haunt him in "The Blue Film". Strangely, the haunting specter doesn't frighten him so much as saddens him.Purely-plot driven, "The Case for the Defence" is still a brilliant tale worthy of an Alfred Hitchcock Presents."Brother" explores the nature of political allegiances and the risks of making them known.Lastly, "The End of the Party" is a harrowing tale of identical twins playing hide and seek at a party. The ending paragraph left goosebumps on my skin for days.For those who have never read Graham Greene, "Twenty-One Stories" ought to be your starting point.",5.0,Master storyteller of 20th century Britain,1084924800,"05 19, 2004",17,17,helpful,1.0,1 AWY56V0LIB3P,0060393491,Stephen McLeod,"[15, 17]","It's hard what to make of Wally Lamb's big new book. It has, at its heart, a tale of devastation, pseudo-Greek tragedy. The book's conceit, the senseless day of slaughter at Columbine High School in Littleton Colorado in the late 90s by two disaffected teens should be what this book is about. Indeed, we are given a sort of TV view of the masacre, and the book pays it a lot of attention. For a while.But ultimately, Columbine remains unexamined. Instead, this weighty tome rambles through lots and lots of what turns out to be frustratingly tedious Family History, which may be fascinating to our protagonist, to me sounds like trying real hard to make this book into what it cannot be, but is anyway: a Great Big Novel.I really liked quite a bit of the buildup to the tragedy, the imperfect veil of tears that entwines itself into every endeavor, every feeling. The story of the marriage might have been the better counterpoint, but it gets swallowed up in the novel's own self destruction. Slowly but surely, the central terrible act of the book is pulled ever so slightly off the stage. A central character's reaction to that tragedy gets trivialized into boring jailhouse conversations.But then it turned into a (self-serving) ""Quest"" novel, and it fell apart. This might have been a lean nouvelle, except Mr Lamb is not known for writing short novels. If this ever makes it to movie form, I would seriously consider dropping the whole subplot about 19th century answers and secrets revealed that mean everything to some character, but to the reader, not much. Problems are too acute and then too easily solved so as to get on with things. Nothing so illustrates this as the book's semi-resolution into Alcoholics Anonymous orthodoxy: Everything is exactly the way it's supposed to be.I think the family story is one that seems important to the author, but the Columbine massacre resists being taken in by the family reveltions of an ultimately not very interesting guy (our protagonist) and the weaving of the two stories fails to persuade. I cannot recommend spending money on this book.",2.0,A Disappointment,1232323200,"01 19, 2009",15,17,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 A1AZPWPP64IJIA,1484169077,Jodieo,"[4, 4]","People, this book is different. Like wayyyy different.I honestly couldn't tell you what I imagined it would be like going into it, but I can definitely tell you it wasn't what I got. Shooting Stars is not a version of The Alexa Montgomery Saga even though it's a spin off. It doesn't have an Alexa or a Kayden. So there's my disclaimer.Instead, it had a Charlie. Quiet, like Kayden, but not at all kick ass or snarky. More like a quiet dreamer, type. Romantic. Laid back. And happy to live a simple life. It also has a Surah. A princess who wants to unlock her shackles and be the person she has wanted to be since forever. A person that says and does exactly what she thinks and feels like. A sorcerer that has lived through terrible times and lost her whole family bar her father. Surah, the girl with a beast. Enter Samson I just adored Sam. He was wonderful, and loyal, and honest. He was everything a best friend should be. Well maybe a little more hairy than most, but all the same. Invaluable.""How much do you love her?""...""More than the moon loves the night and the sun loves the day.""The story had mystery, betrayal, plenty of detail into this world full of magic, vampires, wolves and beasts, romance & song, and villains that are easy to hate as well as characters you hate but don't know why.HD's writing is good. Although this book is alot slower than Alexa's books I still needed to find out what the outcome would be and was rooting for Surah to break loose of society's confines and just let loose. I didn't get to see that yet, but I have a feeling that with time, it will come.I will definitely be picking up the next in the series as there's a bunch of questions I need answering. Well done Ms Gordon!'She understood the words of Charlie's song now, her song. It really was as if it had all been written in the stars.Fate, sealed with a kiss.'I was given this book to provide an honest review. It doesn't reflect in my thoughts, they are honest and my own.",4.0,Very different from what I was expecting but very enjoyable!,1363478400,"03 17, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1B01IFY94QYI7,B00GKP6SG4,Mary Leo,"[8, 8]","I love when a story not only surprises me, but also keeps me reading despite my wanting to put the book down to do other things. This story succeeded on both counts! To me, the new adult genre is all about the characters finding their spot in society, learning how to fit in, and finding their unique path. Vanessa and Duncan set out to accomplish these things in spades and I loved every minute of their struggle. The escalating romance between them is beautifully crafted, especially since this is Vanessa's first true love. Add to this the underlying challenges of schizophrenia and Whitefeather has hit on a deeply moving, beautifully crafted story. Highly Recommend!",5.0,Loved it!,1388534400,"01 1, 2014",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 AH4GX00VXDBJB,0312278462,Abacan_Empire@yahoo.com,"[14, 17]","Cities of the Red Night has been hailed as the consummate sequel to Naked Lunch; at first glance the style, tone, and typically hideous imagery would seem to support this. However, there the similarities end. What motives may have gripped the author are unclear, but the general smoothness of the script and kinder degree of readability seem to suggest that he was at his more lucid state of mind when writing this. This is not to say that Red Night is necessarily any better or worse than its precursor - it is coherent, concise, and in places very compelling - but the very fact that there is a traceable plot and storyline will probably surprise those who accustomed to Naked Lunch. Conversely, anyone who picks up this novel in the expectation of an easily understandable yarn is likely to meet an unexpected shock: Red Night is by no means ideal for the conventional taste (it is coherent for Burroughs; it still requires acclimatization). Whilst individual stories weave and occasionally intertwine, the majority of the book is a collage of non- or only vaguely-connected tales.The book begins with a renaissance flavor, concentrating on the machinations of a splinter group of South American rebels against the Evil Empire of the Christian faith. It then takes an unexpected turn for the surreal with a sudden cut to the present: the life of Clem Snide -"Private Asshole"- and various doctors analyzing a mysterious disease. After many somewhat nebulous theories concerning time travel and inter-corporeal experiences, the novel winds up in the waging of climactic battles in long-forgotten cities.Those familiar with Naked Lunch will be at home with the constant themes of homosexuality, drug use, and bizarre death throughout. This time, however, Burroughs attention is no longer focussed upon the life cycle of the junk fiend which won Naked Lunch its cult following - Red Night is a tale of strange cultures, unexplored territories, time travel, and spirit-possessions. Although the occasional familiar ! face is noticed - Dr. Benway, the xiucults, and mugwumps - the majority of Red Night is a departure from the predominantly 'cut-up' style of his other work.Whether this is good or bad is uncertain. Red Night is enjoyable to anyone who enjoyed Naked Lunch, but unlike Naked Lunch it tempts the reader into expecting a definite ending or final realization...a dangerous thing. If there IS a message inherent in the novel, it is likely to be even more difficult to grasp than the fragmented (though clear) storylines, and the reader will be hard pressed to find it. But that is hardly reason enough to condemn the novel- after all, it is a piece of work which makes no explanation for its unworldly nature, nor gives any apologies for its violent and frequently repulsive subject matter.",4.0,"Impressive, though incomplete, tales from the past.",891475200,"04 2, 1998",14,17,helpful,0.8235294117647058,1 A3D8KQA0KIJRJ7,B006M3YJRO,T Day,"[0, 0]",I love Denise Domning's writing. She has great characters and keeps very close to the ways of life in history. Her characters fit the time in a very believable read.,5.0,love,1394323200,"03 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A12HYMIF3856GN,0061229687,Jessica Price,"[7, 11]","Oh boy, oh boy. My first real paranormal romance -- not YA, not vampire hunting with a side of relationship, but an honest-to-goodness real-live romance novel. I read it on the way to Chicago.Ah, the eternal question: where the [insert expletive of choice:] are the editors?I spend a lot of time wondering this. I see movies like, for example, The Da Vinci Code, and am astonished that apparently, in every single stage of production, everyone involved failed to notice -- and remark upon -- the fact that ""This can't be this -- the fleur de lis!"" is not a line that should have ever been written, let alone spoken on screen. Honestly, people, you all failed. What scriptwriter thought this was a good line? Why didn't the editor smack some sense into him? Didn't Tom Hanks notice that this tortured syntax was awkward to say, not to mention an untenable abuse of the English language, when he had to wrap his tongue around it? Why was the director okay with it? Didn't anyone notice that no one @(*#%^ing talks like that!?Getting back to novels, I may blink at one or two grammatical mistakes or run-on sentences or really, really lousy pieces of dialogue, but I accept that even the best authors occasionally have brain blips and even the best editors can't catch everything.But when it happens on practically every page, I start to get annoyed.THE ACCIDENTAL VAMPIRE had what sounded like a cute premise: Elvi Black doesn't know how she became a vampire, and since she's taking her cues from Dracula, she's getting a lot of it wrong. When her best friend sneaks a personal ad for Elvi into the paper, the novice neckbiter meets up with Victor, an ancient vamp who will -- oh, never mind, I'm just going to quote the back of the book here, because this sort of campy goodness really should be shared:FATE GAVE HER FANGS. HE'LL SHOW HER HOW TO USE THEM.I figured, oh hey! Humor! They're not taking themselves too seriously! This can't be that excruciating!Le sigh.Elvi is an idiot. She goes five years without food (although not without blood, obviously) because vampires in movies don't eat. It never occurs to her to try it and see what happens. She gets rid of all the mirrors, despite the fact that she can see herself in them, because vampires don't have reflections. And the townspeople for whom she's a mascot of sorts are just as stupid as she is.It wasn't funny; it wasn't even cute. It was just painfully, painfully stupid.Along come her prospective beaux, all of whom are fine hunky males of the bloodsucking persuasion. And that was when I realized:Holy crap, this really is porn for middle-aged women.Not just sexual porn (although there's plenty of that sort of thing going on as well) but emotional porn. When the other vampires inform her that yes, she can actually eat, Elvi runs out immediately to the grocery store and is escorted by all the men, who enable her lack of impulse control enthusiastically. When she's laid up, they all bake for her. Everything she does, no matter how mundane or how careless, is fascinating to them.They're not even romantic -- just slavish.Then there's the explanation for vampirism. Vampires are from Atlantis, and they have things in their blood called ""nanos"" which keep them ever-young, but are fueled by blood.Apparently, for all their highly advanced technology, these Atlantean fraktards weren't creative enough to figure out what came after their dangling prefix. Seriously, guys, nano-whats!?The author spent a lot of time repeating herself, verbatim, sometimes within the same paragraph, all of which made it really hard to finish the book. I rarely ever skim a text rather than actually reading it, but at some points I had to or I wouldn't have been able to finish it.She also goes to great lengths to emphasize that Elvi and her best friend Mabel are older women (in their sixties). How enlightened! Except it makes it that much harder to forgive the characters for having the reasoning powers of a developmentally disabled toddler. For most of the book, someone is trying to kill Elvi. Oh, the suspense! SPOILER: It's her neighbor and friend, whose son is wearing pale makeup and fake fangs. The neighbor learned from watching Dracula that the only way to cure vampirism is to kill the vampire who bit the kid. So they go through elaborate assassination attempts (despite the fact that they really like Elvi and don't object to her being a vampire) without ever bothering to notice that their son's pallor rubs off on his clothing.Most of the suspense for me came from wondering who was putting the Stupid Juice in the town's water supply, but alas, that mystery was never resolved.Oh, and as contrived and sappy as you can imagine the denouement being? Triple it.I don't understand. There's just no reason for it to be this bad. Does anyone actually enjoy this sort of bad writing? I mean, I feel like you could have the domestic-man-porn and the sex and the vampirism and still have something that's not so frustrating to read. Sure, you're going to feel a little silly for reading it, but it shouldn't be this headache-inducing.",1.0,Where were the editors?,1282435200,"08 22, 2010",7,11,helpful,0.6363636363636364,1 A3M9P1JS0PGQU4,0890516448,Sarah J. Bailey,"[10, 11]","I'm a history buff, I love reading and watching about history. Give me a history book, whether it's a book or textbook, and I'll sit for hours (or as long as my children allow) and read. I had the chance to review the American History text and teacher's manual by James P. Stobaugh which is written for the 10th grade student and I must say I can't wait until I have a 10th grader! Not really, I'm not rushing my children to grow but this is such a wonderful history curriculum - I enjoyed just reading through it on my own and I learned stuff that I hadn't been taught in public school - never ceases to amaze me how much revisionism I was exposed to.This is divided into 34 chapters which amounts to 34 weeks of study for the student, within each each chapter are 5 lessons - I don't know if highschoolers have to do school five days a week but if you only school for four I'm sure this can be altered to fit your family's schedule. Each lesson should take between 20 and 30 minutes to complete with the included reading and the critical thinking questions, some open ended, some not. At the end of each week the student will take an exam over what was learned that week. Even though I don't have children in this grade, I appreciate that this course work is to be completed independently with the parent checking and grading the work turned in. All responsibility falls on to the student to complete the work given in the time frame allowed.You'll find a lot of information in the text of the student book such as:narrative backgroundcritical thinking questionsconcepts/generalizationshistory makerhistoriographies or historical debatesworld view formationhistory and world view overviewThe only other items the student will need on a daily basis is a notepad for the writing assignments and a pencil or pen. Your student (or yourself) will go through the ""Natives of the New World"" through the ""Civil War"" and the ""War on Terrorism"" - they will get an well rounded education of the history of the United States of America before she was the United States and beyond - based on a Biblical, non-revisionist text. James P. Stobaugh and his wife have home educated their four children since 1985.The teacher's manual will making grading your student's work much easier and faster with the choice to grade weekly or daily. The student questions are wonderfully organized at the back for ease of use in testing as well as reviewing. I really like the teacher's manual gives a brief overview of the chapter in the first thoughts area and then an outline of the learning objectives complete with what questions/assignments go with each. This makes it very teacher friendly and helps in the teaching if the teacher doesn't have time to read through each lesson first.I cannot say enough about this wonderful high school history curriculum for students who want a Biblically sound version without God removed from history. I want to also say this text is not boring like some school texts, it's very engaging and the illustrations are beautiful and sometimes strikingly painful, depending on the area of history being studied. You can purchase the student and teachers books at Master Books.**Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this curricula from Master Books in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.",5.0,Good non-revisionist history,1338249600,"05 29, 2012",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A1GEWNI23QAC7F,0393058476,lightning,"[0, 0]",This was an excellent read for the serious student of early American history. It reminded me that the battle over the budget has deep historical roots. I could hardly put it down.,5.0,An Excellent Early American History,1399075200,"05 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASPR6BDSO29WI,0671534513,Marlyn,"[0, 0]","This book is a must read. It will put in the room and all the places that FDR and Eleanor roam. Doris Kerns Goodwinis an enthralling writer and brings to life that which we knew too little of! The myriad of details that many of us livedthrough but knew not why are encompassed in her writing and I will forever appreciate her research. More, please",5.0,Excellent,1369699200,"05 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADGLSK19H8VC,0891123180,David Porter,"[5, 6]","I was quite interested to read Living Jesus, as I was teaching a series on the Sermon on the Mount at the time. I have to say that I was not disappointed! Randy Harris, a professor, and Greg Taylor, a pastor (his name is in smaller print), worked together on this book. Where Taylor comes in I'm not quite sure. Harris seems to be the `I' behind the word, as far as I can tell.Harris speaks of personal experience teaching the words of Jesus found in Matthew 5-7, and of leading a monastic/non-monastic type of group in endeavouring to live out Jesus' words. The book is well-written and engaging. It helped me further my understanding of what Jesus said as recorded by Matthew.One word in particular which I liked (I used the word myself before reading this) was `embedded,' referring to how Christians are to be salt and light in the world. We are in it but not of it, but we have to engage it, or be embedded.On Jesus' teaching about pigs and dogs, Harris and Taylor enlarged my understanding. I'm no expert, but I've done enough reading and studying of the Sermon on the Mount to be familiar with and comfortable teaching it. And yet there is always something new to learn or to consider.Whether you have no idea what the Sermon on the Mount is, or you are an expert in it, you will benefit from Living Jesus, in more ways than one!Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes, but I am not required to submit a positive review: my views expressed here are my own.",4.0,Living Jesus: A Review,1339718400,"06 15, 2012",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AJ9TYQZB57O74,0989391906,Waleska,"[0, 0]",I really loved the story. It's original and nothing like any of the books I have ever read. The cover was fantastic and it made me curious to find out what the story was about. I fell in love with the main characters. They made me laugh a lot. Very well developed characters. There were points in the book when I felt really immersed in the story and my heart felt a pang during the emotional parts. It takes a great writer to pull the reader into the story like that. I would recommend this book without hesitation. I absolutely loved the illustrations! I also learned a lot of neat quotes from the world of animation. Loved that!,5.0,I loved the story,1391644800,"02 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A34B564NW4W4FK,1410419835,Michelle from down under,"[4, 7]","If you have read book one to six, then by now you have noticed that there is alot more danger and action increasing in these books, and book 7 is even more amplified. Yes its a little tragic, but its not too descriptive or too over the top of horror, its a quick part of the book. Lets keep in mind the theme of these books. The drake sister are all powerful, they all seem to do super jobs, Elle especially is working deep under cover, she goes through alot and suffers through her job, although its really is a sweet love story, not loosing its intensity on how the drake sisters love quickly and wholly, Elle's story is no different, they are magical they heal quick , they love their partners immensely , this is no different. Who is looking for realistic its a book about witches and special powers, please its exactly what we should expect!The sisters end up all together, in this magical world with amazing partners and a bright future ahead with the next double generation on its way.Please do yourself a favour and read it.",3.0,"Read it, Read it , Read it!",1333843200,"04 8, 2012",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 AWXXUOYG8Q8M3,1564775224,Plein Jane,"[74, 76]","Because I already own both of H. Schultz's books, you'd think by now I would be whipping up a domino storm. Alas, though I have been knitting since before the invention of the lava lamp, I was pretty much unable to produce the desired fabric of squares by following his instructions. Anyone can knit a domino square, but things get tricky after the first one's finished. How--and where--to join the yarn to begin the next, adjacent square is not clear in his directions, or at least it was not clear to me. Also, his instructions rely on charts which are not the way most of us on this side of the pond learned to knit. So Werner's book is definitely worth the price if you want to actually MAKE something with this technique.The garments are stunning, but not so weird as to be unwearable. Most have a southwest kind of feeling to them, not surprisingly since the author lives in Taos. The colorways are exciting and the garments are photographed advantageously--by which I mean a knitter can actually SEE the garment in good detail.I suspect a couple of errata here and there, but as I have not finished reading the book through I'll leave that problem to future reviewers. But the technique is so easy once you get the hang of it (I am smacking my head that I didn't identify my error sooner!) you will sail right along with no problems.There's just one more thing I'd like to add. The author's tone gets a little preachy, with a kind of I-am-such-a-free-spirit-colorwise-and-you-aren't presumption that is rather off-putting. Furthermore, she says more than once that ""it's just yarn!"" and no one is going to die if you put yellow next to purple, or some such example. While this is not exactly revelation teaching to most people, who love yarn and color every bit as much as the author does, it would be well to note that she is using mostly Noro silk and wool yarns, which are extreeeemly expensive if one considers the variety and quantity required to produce any of these garments, let alone the coats. It might be ""just yarn"" to someone who is getting a deal on it from the manufacturer, or is perhaps independently wealthy, but for those of us who have to pay full retail (plus shipping and handling, since even your average LYS can't afford to carry a full inventory of the stuff)these projects could conceivably represent an investment of at least a couple hundred dollars. We've all been disappointed by color projects we thought would be brilliant but turned out to look like clown's pants, so if the average knitter tends to err on the side of sound color theory, it might not be entirely due to a lack of imagination or personal freedom. Some of us work for a living, though we would vastly prefer to knit all day, or hire somebody else to do it for us, and the purchase of even just a knitting book is a real treat which doesn't happen every day. Would it be too much to ask that when we curl up with that special book, selected with care and insight from among so many others, we could please avoid being talked down to, even just a little bit?",4.0,Much better instructions than previous books on this subject. Whew!,1128124800,"10 1, 2005",74,76,helpful,0.9736842105263158,1 A124S6MYD45PIQ,0786269669,J.L. Populist,"[8, 8]","The print in this book is large as advertised.This hard cover has a good,sturdy binding.It's a smooth flowing read.Sheeran's words are in quotations while Brandt's words are in bold type.The Prologue in this book lays the groundwork for how Frank Sheeran eventually came to confess his involvement in the Hoffa disappearance.He explains why there would be no body to recover and how trusted people close to Jimmy Hoffa had to be involved.The information in this book verifies information in other mafia related books that I have read.Some examples:Hoffa's claim to possess audio sex tapes involving Bobby Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe.Joe Kennedy recruiting Sam Giancana to steal the 1960 Presidential election.Multiple mafia figures and their involvment in the assassination of John F Kennedy.A lot of the organised crime figures in this book are mentioned in most JFK assassination books.It's interesting that Frank Sheeran claimed that he deilvered three rifles to David Ferrie in Baltimore shortly before the assassination.Jimmy Hoffa strenuously opposed the mafia's aiding Kennedy in the election.He was right in the end.The Nixon administration's corruption was detailed.One of the bigger contributing factors in Jimmy Hoffa's murder was the access to Teamster funds.Hoffa apparently was not as lenient as Frank Fitzsimmons in collecting debts.This book is believable to me.Each individual reader will have to assess for themselves whether this book is credible.It's one of the best mafia related books that I have read so far.",5.0,The Hoffa Disappearance and more.,1176076800,"04 9, 2007",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 AT7CXVV43ZSRX,014311686X,"Reading Fan ""Romans 8:1""","[4, 5]","After reading this book, I don't know what was stranger, a famous person's shadow double-life or society's hostile attitude on mixed marriage. Either way, the title `Passing Strange', is appropriate; it means `SURpassing strange', an old phrase enjoying a comeback these days. In a nutshell, an internationally known and respected white scientist, Clarence King, a close personal friend of the US Secretary of State, posed as a black porter so he could marry the girl of his dreams, a black lady from NYC named Ada. To do this, King consistently lied to both his white friends and family and his black (or mixed) family for years, and went on extended work trips passing between cultures to make enough money to pull it off. He couldn't reveal to anyone on either side of the color line what he was doing or his world would have fallen apart. It was hard to relate to this since today not even an eye is batted at a mixed marriage. So the shadow life and the racial attitudes are what this story is about, and the fall-out of a mixed marriage that played out for generations later.Mixed marriages were simply not socially acceptable in those days (late 1800's and early 1900's). Hard to imagine today when even the US President is of mixed origins. So, King must have been an exceptionally good liar to pull it off. Also, he was an extremely engaging type, one who had a `genius for friendship' as one of his friends put it. His friends faithfully loved him though it often cost them lots of money he borrowed from them and could not pay back.This stunt wouldn't have worked in this era of Youtube and 24-hour news. But then the societies of black and white were so segregated and the news reporting so limited that even a famous person could disappear and appear at will.I found myself wishing that King had had the courage to make his marriage public. But that would have probably ruined his life and many others. If he had been open about it, he would have been a real hero instead of a shadow figure. And it would not have taken over a hundred years to hear about him.",5.0,A Shadow Figure Instead of Hero,1246320000,"06 30, 2009",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AXNBXLKNYHYPZ,0312963599,"MK Writer ""hedwig_owl""","[7, 10]","I guess that on my quest to read as many Marsh novels as possible, my expectations have grown. While it was fun watching Alleyn falling head over heels in love, neither the plot nor the characters particularly grabbed me. I think the artists all came off a bit as stereotypes, at times downright annoying. Not a bad read, but far from Marsh's best.",3.0,A bit disappointed,963964800,"07 19, 2000",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 A1B0ICBR7GK8I5,B00D1CAD9W,Bluesman9600,"[0, 0]","As a short story, describing one Firefighters nightmare and experience and fear is riveting. I read it it a few minutes and was struck by the story and how it was written.",5.0,Exellent & Riviting,1370995200,"06 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASFLUV7TDBWUA,0060937661,"Gwen Geisinger ""Brooklyn Girl""","[6, 7]","Discovering Owen Parry has been a delight and a wonder!! Where has he been hiding and why have I never heard of him? I have already bought the rest of the books in the Abel Jones series and am salivating over them. I agree with another reviewer- if you are a woman who would normally be hesitant about the War theme - please, please do not let that stop you from reading this book. It is the next best thing to taking a trip back in time within the heart and soul of a character one absolutely falls in love with. And about the male reviewer who objected to the love story and scenes with Jones' wife - please Mr. Parry - keep this lovely and beautiful theme in your novels!! I read this book with a real feeling of awe. It is one thing to immerse yourself in historical research. It is another to do what Mr. Parry has done. It seems a miracle that he has made one see, hear and feel what it was like in 1861. I am in love with all the richly drawn characters. This book has been a revelation!!",5.0,This book has made me very happy!!,1103760000,"12 23, 2004",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A3PQJ5H7K5QSEX,073946289X,gammadeb,"[0, 0]",Greg writes so you feel like you're living in Natchez. You can hear the insects buzzing and you feel the atmosphere of the South. He keeps the story going at a good pace so you want to keep picking it up to find out what's next.,5.0,Loved it!!,1378771200,"09 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1V4QK4OE1A0QS,0440243149,"Stacy Alesi ""I am the BookBitch""","[8, 8]","TAILED continues the adventures of taxidermist Garth Carson, only this time he has a briefcase and a ""real"" job. He's putting his experience to good use, he's appraising taxidermy collections for an insurance company. But before you know it, bodies start piling up and Garth becomes a person of interest - never a good thing. Another terrific, fast paced & funny caper from Wiprud.Just a comment about the ""review"" by John Sederquist - I find it very odd that the only ""reviews"" Mr. Sederquist has left on Amazon.com are on three of Wiprud's books, and they are not reviews by any stretch of the imagination. He obviously doesn't read the books, but he does leave a nasty one liner. Obviously there is some sort of personal vendetta going on here and I'm not sure why Amazon allows this sort of thing to continue book after book.",5.0,Get ready to laugh!,1180396800,"05 29, 2007",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A14W5SD2E2BGT7,1482553112,Joyce Wetherbee,"[4, 4]","Wow. I just couldn't put this book down. Rhyan was my favorite character from Save My Soul, the first book in this series so I was glad to see him get a book of his own. Miserable since his charge chose to spend her life with her soulmate instead of him, Rhyan is striking out at everyone. But angels are people too, and the archangels have finally had enough and take a drastic step to bring him to his senses.Feeling sorry for himself and not in a mood to accept any sympathy or understanding from his friends and fellow guardian angels, Rhyan finds himself cast into Hell after making a few hate filled statements. Stripped of his angelic powers, he must complete a task in order to not just his own soul, but someone very special. His soulmate and wife.Making an ill-advised deal with Lucifer himself, Rhyan sets off to find his way out of Hell. Of course, since we're talking about Haigwood's universe here, nothing is as straightforward as you think. An old foe returns and help comes from unlikely quarters. Desperation definitely makes for strange bedfellows.If you liked Save My Soul, then you will definitely enjoy Hell's Gift. Have a seat and buckle up, because you're about to go on a wild ride. Oh please, let book three not be too far into the future.",5.0,"Rhyan Gets His Own Story, and Oh My...",1379116800,"09 14, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2OWR5G2OAQF7C,0060755490,Sincerely Yours,"[18, 18]","This book has changed our way of eating - the easy way. It is motivating to read how each 'super' food benefits your health, great little recipes to help incorporate the new food in your life. I liked that the book touches on the subjects of porton, sleep, exercise and blood pressure. It is an all rounded book that pulls a lot of good facts into one easy to read source. Forget about diet books ... try this and I have already noticed a change in my health: more energy, improved immune system, loosing weight the healthy way (you do need to exercise!)I strongly suggest you start incorporating each food type into your diet as you go through the book, or pick what appeals to you first. Otherwise, you'll have a good read with no action. Great if you have cholesterol/high blood pressure as a lot of the superfood seems to focus on these key areas.",5.0,A little book for everything you need to know about long term health,1173312000,"03 8, 2007",18,18,helpful,1.0,1 A1K1JW1C5CUSUZ,0671027034,"Donald Mitchell ""Jesus Loves You!""","[13, 15]","In business, those who are the most "emotionally" intelligent always rise to the top. Why is that?As a management consultant, I am always asking our clients and potential clients what their major issues are. It almost always boils down to persuading someone else to change. In many situations, the person describes the situation as getting worse rather than better.As I ask more questions, I soon learn that the person I am talking to is totally thinking about the issue from her or his perspective, not the perspective of the person they want to influence. Carnegie describes a situation where he and his son couldn't get a calf into the barn. They pushed and pulled, and nothing worked. A maid came out, stuck her finger into the calf's mouth to simulate feeding and the calf followed her right into the barn.As you can tell from that example, Carnegie is a student of the stimulus-response school of human behavior. The book is divided into four sections: Handling People; Getting People to Like You; Getting People to Agree with You; and Being a Leader. Each section is comprised of a few principles, which are each exemplified in a short chapter with a number of examples. Handling people has to do with avoiding the negative and unpleasant, appreciating the other person, and making the other person eager to accomplish some goal of their own.Each section follows the same format. Basically, it's the same way that you train any living being. You provide positive feedback to the person which makes them feel better, the person responds positively to you making you feel better, you then help the other person to link what you want to share with them with something they want.Many people will be offended by this idea. I have long studied that reaction and find that it relates to one of two basic assumptions: (1) the decision to act should be based on the objective merits (if I deal with emotions, I am being manipulative) or (2) I want you to acknowledge that I am right, that you are wrong, and that I am superior to you because I am right. Both of those perspectives get in the way of establishing warm human relationships. If you would rather do things without emotion, your life will be very dull. If you would always like to be right, you will be very lonely (even if you really are right).Let's look at a more fundamental question. Can these techniques be used for questionable purpoes? Probably, is my answer. However, at some point, the person's manipulative game will be found out. See Robert Cialdini's book, Influence, on what happens to smugglers of influence over time.The best results will come from those who have integrity and are principled. They and everyone else can see that they are pursuing something with another person that is in the best interests of that person, and that there are no hidden agendas. Here is where I think Carnegie is a little weak. You get the impression from the book that hidden agendas are okay. My experience is that all agendas should be totally upfront. Don't pretend you are trying to help someone, when all you are trying to do is sell them something they don't need. Do encourage them to get the information they need to make a good decision for themselves about your idea, product, or service. Leave the whole circumstance with a stronger, more trustworthy relationship than you started with. That's how I interpret the Dale Carnegie principles.If you really would like to get better results in your human relationships, this book is essential reading. To skip this book would be like skipping reading and arithmetic in grade school. It contains essential tools that everyone needs to understand. Since these things are seldom taught in schools, this is a good place to start.Modern gurus of human relationships and effectiveness like Stephen Covey and Tony Robbins have a substantial debt to Dale Carnegie. If you read all of them, you will tend to reinforce your new habits. I like the Covey and Robbins approaches as a complement to Carnegie, because both authors focus on having principles at the center of what you do. That will help reduce the risk of turning Carnegie into techniques that lead to suboptimal results, instead of a mutually reinforcing virtuous cycle for everyone.Researchers consistently show that success in many fields (such as business, politics, and teaching) is very closely related to one's social skills. Many people will work very hard to be more successful, but skimp on the relationship aspects. That's a mistake. Work on the relationships first.I also recommend Daniel Goleman's "Working with Emotional Intelligence" to understand these concepts and the new book, "NLP Masterclass," to help you extend these lessons with specific skills.Enjoy having easier interactions with others, having more friends, being more influential on important subjects, being more open to being influenced by others, and leading where it needs doing!After you finish reading this book, think about where you are trying to pull a calf where you want the calf to go.",5.0,Positive Feedback Creates Positive Change!,981763200,"02 10, 2001",13,15,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 A27QZ19ACTWSTN,1482616319,Grammie,"[0, 0]","I read this awhile back, and am trying to remember why, having met all my requirements, clean, a mystery, and a female detective, that I was not that fond of it.",3.0,Nice clean read.,1398038400,"04 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LZA698SQPCXE,0345531450,"Trevor L ""God is on the side of the army with...","[0, 0]","Witchful Thinking is book #3 in the ""Jolie Wilkins Series"". This book takes place after the huge underworld conflict. Jolie is now the queen but she seems more concerned with her relationship (or lack there of) with Rand. Overall I didn't feel like this book moved the story arc in a good direction but I'm hoping this is all a setup for a return to form in the fourth book ""The Witch is Back"". If you read the first two, you might as well come along for the ride.",4.0,Jolie the Conflicted Queen,1362096000,"03 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8L7IZ4XDAEHL,0394839102,Suzannah,"[0, 0]",I remember reading this book when I was a child and have so enjoyed reading it with my 4 year old son. He is reading it to me now. The illustrations are fun and get kids interested in the story. There are also just a few words on each page so it makes it a great choice for beginning readers. I highly recommend!,5.0,My 4 year old son loves this book!,1368144000,"05 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AO1BAEKHGHNPH,0800720423,Britt98,"[0, 0]","A beautiful addition to The Ballantyne Legacy, Love’s Awakening is full of intrigue and forbidden love. Ellie and Jack captivated me from the very start. The possibility of a future together just seems so impossible. Their families have been enemies for a few decades by this point and the futility of either Jack or Ellie pursuing what is in their heart just tugged at me.Jack is part of the dreaded Turlock clan, a powerful family with powerfully dangerous secrets. He just knows that the upstanding Ballantyne family would never allow Ellie to be his. Ellie feels pressured to marry. As she begins to realize that Jack has taken up residence in her heart, will she be brave enough to admit to her family where her true feelings lie, or feel forced to wed a man she does not love?Love’s Awakening is a powerful tale combining a beautiful love story with rich historical detail and interesting information regarding the fight to transport slaves to freedom as they crossed Pennsylvania.I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I look forward to purchasing a copy of this novel to add to my personal collection.",5.0,Beautiful Addition to The Ballantyne Legacy!,1384819200,"11 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TWBMSMBXFJKE,0307264203,K. L. Cotugno,"[12, 27]","Many books have been written about ""what it means to be a woman, to love."" The situations presented here are iconic, trite, over-written-about, and lack any substantive tension. I read through to the end because it is well crafted, but the subject matter has been done to death before, and Miller, unfortunately, brings nothing new to the table.",2.0,Well written but shallow,1202083200,"02 4, 2008",12,27,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A3R8SJ9V2872CI,0062014536,Ashley,"[0, 0]","The first book Delirium had be instantly hooked. Everything about the book was great. When the second book came out I couldn't wait to get my hands on it, but found myself a bit lost by it. My feels had started to change and I didn't get as in to it as I did her first book. This book was just..I don't know. It made me almost wish I never read the series. I can take almost any endings to a book, even if they are dramatic and heartbreaking. What I cannot stand is a book that doesn't end. Some people like a permanent cliff hanger, I for one do not. I did not write the book, I don't want to write my own ending.",1.0,Disappointment,1388188800,"12 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AM9JNLVGHTFTO,0373767056,Kindle Customer,"[4, 4]","If you are a fan of standard issue Silhouette and Harlequin books, then you will enjoy Ms. Jackson's new book. The author aderes to this genre's basic formula, but with a little twist. The IR theme added a little flava to the book and I read it in one sitting. Renee is a social worker and Tag is one of Manhattan's most eligible bachelors. Despite the color difference, they decide to persue a relationship with each other. This decision leads to malicious gossip by coworkers and has Renee rethinking whether she wants to remain involved with Tag. Tag does his best to put her at ease, but Renee ultimately has to come to terms with the implications of their relationship on her own. Does she follow her heart or bow down to what society dictates is proper. Delaney's Desert Sheikh was far better, but this book did not disappoint me.",4.0,A quick and enjoyable read...,1139961600,"02 15, 2006",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3EVJ88ATZLJXS,1608208958,D. Stumpf,"[0, 0]",Everything Kaje writes is a thoroughly enjoyable read. I have all her books and plan to buy any and all others that come out.,5.0,Great read.,1384300800,"11 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TUA4VWCMNXI,0143113259,John D. Cofield,"[31, 35]","Marguerite, Eleanor, Sanchia, and Beatrice of Provence were the daughters of Count Raymond Berenger of Provence and his wife Beatrice of Savoy. Their homeland occupied a strategic corner of southern Europe and was known for its wealth and high culture, making them highly desireable wares on the international marriage markets. The daughters made brilliant marriages to the Kings of France, England, the future Holy Roman Emperor, and the powerful Count of Anjou, brother of the King of France.Nancy Goldstone writes to illuminate the roles the four women and others connected to them, like Blanche the ""White Queen"" of France, in the power politics of Europe in the thirteenth century. In emphasizing the power these women held behind the scenes Goldstone does a good job of refuting the common misconception that women's voices were stilled, by choice or by necessity, during the European Middle Ages.Goldstone is not a professional historian, but she does an excellent job of depicting the world of the thirteenth century, when Europe's medieval civilization was in full flower. She provides colorful and accurate pictures of the lives the four sisters led: their castles and palaces, ceremonies, luxuries, and sometimes privations. Although much of the detail on the womens' lives must be inferred because sources at the time rarely paid much attention to females, Goldstone never makes the mistake of assuming too much or over romanticizing. She interweaves the sisters' lives and the careers of their husbands and of their countries so skillfully that her book becomes an excellent example of history at its best.",5.0,"Power Politics, Thirteenth Century Style",1179705600,"05 21, 2007",31,35,helpful,0.8857142857142857,1 A2RUEO5VWVYL6Y,1592332617,D. Olsen,"[31, 31]","First, I agree with the previous reviewer who stated this cookbook is like a Hodgon product usage manual. Many recipes call for their muffin mixes, gingerbread mix, etc. I live in Oregon and have not seen Hodgson products. Also, the recipes aren't always clear. The Carrot Cake Muffins caught my eye, but it calls for an 8 oz can of pineapple and doesn't note if you should include the juice or not. As far as gluten-free (GF) - most of these recipes just substitute rice flour. Anyone who has tried GF baking knows baked goods made with straight rice flour go right into the garbage - you only make this mistake once. You need a mix of different types of flours to make GF baked goods edible. If you have access to Hodgson's products and aren't buying this for GF recipes, it might work for you. It seemed like some of the recipes came right off the back of their muffin mix boxes.",2.0,Glad I got it from the library,1210464000,"05 11, 2008",31,31,helpful,1.0,1 A2XZZ2LYI8T9SY,1596980133,Bradley,"[19, 43]","Thank you Dr. Wells, you are saying what I have been thinking for years.Thank you for this very fine book. Although I am in the technology field, my father was a scientist, and one of my undergraduate majors was in science.Dr. Wells, your ""Icons of evolution pushed me from thinking that evolution was obvious, to seeing it as a philosophy with very little science to back it up.I was taught in college that the job of science was to explain and predict, and Darwinism does a very poor job indeed of doing either. Yes, there are plenty of smart people with degrees that say that everywhere they look they see evolution, but an argument like that is totally unconvincing unless you are already predisposed to believing.Your new book, and especially the very, very unscientific criticisms of you and your book, have very much discredited the followers of Darwin in my mind. You talk like a scientist. Your opponents talk like they are out of ammunition.Keep up the good work, and perhaps soon this stain on science will end up on the ash heap of history where it belongs.",5.0,"Thank you Dr. Wells, you are saying what I have been thinking for years.",1171065600,"02 10, 2007",19,43,helpful,0.4418604651162791,1 A138TFP89MTA10,1449407854,"Kansas City Kid ""obsessive birder""","[11, 31]",This book is a real disappointment. One of the first recipes is for Seitan and there is no explaination of what it is. From the ingredients and process it appears to be a dumpling or some kind of bread. Most importantly there is no nutritional information for the recipes. The only color in the book is green and in some areas that made it hard for me to read the information. There was no glossary or description of unfamiliar ingredients. All in all not a great purchase.,1.0,Not helpful,1359072000,"01 25, 2013",11,31,helpful,0.3548387096774194,1 A33EVEMS61JYRQ,0553268937,"Julie Merilatt ""julzddm""","[4, 4]","This book was selected for my book club, and I was indifferent about the subject matter, but Pat Conroy's writing, his unique voice, enthusiasm and humor quickly drew me in. His memoir is an unabashed testimony of the socioeconomic status of an isolated black community on an island off the coast of South Carolina during the tumultuous year of 1969. When he accepts a teaching job on the island, Conroy is confronted with the inadequacies of a system that does not regard the education of black children as a priority. In a south that is warily transitioning to integration, racism remains prevalent. Conroy deviates from the role of disciplinarian and textbook driven curriculum to transform illiterate children into students who care about education and bettering their lives. He is truly inspiring as he encourages the children to become fervent about learning.At times I was confused by the bureaucracy of the administration and frustrated by the chain of command, but Conroy defiantly challenges the status quo when defending his methods and his students. The students themselves are a riot and Conroy conveys their ignorance to expose an innocence that is uncorrupted and malleable. The dialogue is humorous and Conroy effectively delivers the local color in his portrayal of the island and its inhabitants. I was so enamored with the story that it left me wanting more. I would have loved if there were an epilogue that depicted the island or Conroy's students ten or twenty years later. Regardless, this was a moving and inspirational tale of one man's effort to change lives.",5.0,A Wonderful Inspiration,1247356800,"07 12, 2009",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1N528QZ6Z32I8,0062082930,"Amazon Customer ""Webhead""","[0, 0]","I grew up reading Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, but I didn't get into them until I was in late elementary school. My 5 year old daughter is a fan of the Fancy Nancy and Gigi series, so when I saw that Fancy Nancy was going to come out with a more advanced book and that it featured Nancy as a kid detective, I had to get it. So I did, and I read it to my daughter during a trip, and she loved it. She made me read it through 3 times in a row over the course of a couple weeks. The story and content are very age appropriate for my daughter, and this is coming from a fairly conservative and over protective dad. About the only on the fly editing (that I remember) that I had to do as I read it was truncate the name of the Nancy Drew book Nancy has from (something like) "Nancy Drew and the Witch of River Heights" to just "Nancy Drew book". That kind of a minor modification. Otherwise, the book was easy and fun to read with her and for me! It also had the unintended consequence of making my daughter ask all kinds of questions about Nancy Drew, which led me to discover that Nancy Drew now has a "junior" version out called the Clue Crew. I've since picked up about 10 of those books in the last 3 months and my daughter has me read them to her religiously. I believe she's turned into a detective genre junky! :) Nancy Clancy has a second book out that I have not yet purchased because the theme apparently is about boys and romance, and like other parent reviewers, that's not the theme I want my 5 year old daughter focusing on right now. So with the 30+ Nancy Drew books out there, we have plenty to read until the (hopefully more age appropriate) Nancy Clancy book comes out, at which time I'm sure I'll pick it up.",5.0,thanks nancy clancy!,1370390400,"06 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1G9T3GH0YSEMT,1433520095,J.C.,"[0, 0]","Give Them Grace is by far the best Christian parenting book out there. I wish I'd had this book in my hands in my earlier years of parenting when all I was instructed to do in other parenting books was to give my kids ""the law."" Give Them Grace is one of only a couple books you can find on how GRACE- His unconditional and extravagant love- transforms our hearts and transforms our parenting, and returns the joy to parenting.",5.0,The best Christian parenting book out there,1353888000,"11 26, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33UDDOH82EROT,0060505281,Rory Coker,"[14, 25]","The most telling remark I can make about this book, which I picked up for about $5 off a ""publishers' overstock"" pile in a bookstore, is that I learned far more facts about Mencken from the brief, anonymous wikipedia.org entry than from the 432 leaden pages of character assassination found here. And... that I wish I had my $5 back.Teachout (whoever that is) seems to appreciate Mencken as a writer and despise him as a person. There are two aspects to Mencken's character that can be best understood by noticing two stereotypes he fits into. Teachout notices neither. Let me illucidate: (1) Mencken fits into the familiar modern stereotype of ""nerd""--- he lived with his mother for most of his life, and did most of his work in the same bedroom he occupied as a small child. He was a compulsive worker, tended to avoid entanglements with women, was overweight and out of shape... need I go on? He held at arm's length any female he knew who was interested in sex (to judge by the contents of their surviving letters to him), only married after his mother died, and married an invalid whom doctors had (correctly) assured him could not live more than 5 years. After her death, he immediately moved back to the old homestead, living now with his unmarried brother and two servants inherited from his brief married days. (2) He was self-educated, and so never examined the received prejudices about ""alien and inferior races and cultures"" and the unworkability of ""democratic"" institutions he had absorbed as a small child. The writer H. P. Lovecraft (whom Teachout might never have heard of, and who was also and not coincidentally an ur-nerd) invites very close comparison with Mencken in many, if not in all, such aspects. Like Lovecraft, he wrote many public and private diatribes against the Jews in the abstract, yet had many close Jewish friends and associates. Like Lovecraft, he tended not to view with alarm the rise of fascism in Europe.Mencken is still of great interest as a social and political critic, as a scholar of American english usage, and as the master of a prose style so forceful and vivid that it practically leaps off the page and strikes you between the eyes like a vaudeville slapstick. What Mencken needs is for more of his books to be brought back into print and adequately publicized. Teachout, to his credit, has worked effectively to get more of Mencken into print, but still, on a recent visit to two large bookstores, one carrying new books and one used books, I was able to locate precisely ZERO works by Mencken on any topic.Let me give HLM himself the last word: ""As democracy is perfected, the office [of the President] represents more and more closely the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."" [HLM in the Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920.] We had to wait 80 more years, but....",2.0,Whisper of the hatchet...,1135728000,"12 28, 2005",14,25,helpful,0.56,1 A1LWN99N7EWY0Y,1478273984,M. Utt,"[48, 54]","The Marriage Bargain by Sandra Edwards just didn't deliver anything that a good book should. The storyline is rushed and the farther into the book, the more rushed the story becomes. It seems like the author became tired of the project early on and just wanted to finish it.The characters are poorly developed and are not true to their description. For example, the author tells the reader that Camille is an honor student, yet the character's vocabulary and intellect don't mirror that promise. Things are thrown into the book for no apparent reason and are not believable. For example, about half way through the book, Ms. Edwards just throws out the statement that Camille is a virgin but she presents the character as anything but that in the book. When someone has never been with a man, they would not be comfortable walking around a near stranger and his employee, wearing nothing but a silk robe. She has supposedly gone through college and some time after that without being physically intimate and then she thinks nothing of a business arrangement ""with benefits."" Nothing in this book is believable.",1.0,Sadly lacking,1332979200,"03 29, 2012",48,54,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 AOAMT7BE79XND,0486451429,Grandma Becky,"[0, 0]",This collection of letters from a woman homesteader showed what a woman could do when needed. She had many adventures that most do not get to experience..,5.0,Woman of Strength,1366848000,"04 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2A64GC4MHXU8E,082542030X,"Greenstone ""TL Farley""","[13, 15]","How thrilling it was to discover Amazon had 'The Witness of the Stars,' available for review. Published posthumously, the work displays the integrity of E.W. Bullinger's efforts to apply several major disciplines of scholarship as he introduces this edifying unveiling of God's Glory proclaimed across the sky. Mr. Bullinger entered the Lord's presence nearly a century ago in 1913!'The Witness of the Stars,' provides scholastic, historical, and Biblical insight into God's own testimony as to the past, present and future of mankind. What a wind of refreshment in a world seemingly helpless and out of control.A first mention of the thesis that God has written the Gospel in the Stars was introduced to this reviewer while in Bible School, 1975-76, by since graduated Evangelist Lester Roloff. Mr. Roloff had been inspired to examine this field partly because, as a traveling evangelist, he actually flew his own plane from meeting to meeting. He testified to ever being humbled during night flights across the earth. Having been introduced through Scripture's own declarations concerning God's setting the Heavens to declare His Glory, Psalm 19:1, Mr. Roloff went on to pen his findings.And then how encouraging to read the reviews already given. Only the first handful of entries were able to be perused, yet, they proved the depths discerned on a mere first reading of 'Witness.' This book is a must purchase for any seeking truth.One reading simply whets the appetite to discover and plumb the depths of Mr. Bullinger's myriad offerings.Kudos to Amazon for making this book on eternal truth available to the world. Salutations to all in the Lord that have confirmed one's own impressions were in perspective.{Ps: Feb. 06, 14 -- Professor of Astronomy Dr. Danny Faulkner, answersingenesis.org, examines this concept and most recent appearance in the 19th century, clarifying many misconceptions inadvertently ascribed to by Bullinger in his article. He does conclude nevertheless that the Heavens yet Declare the Glory of God!}To Him be the Glory!TL Farley,author,When Now Becomes Too Late - The imminent Rapture. {I Thess. 4:14}",5.0,The Heavens Declare the Glory of God!,1115683200,"05 10, 2005",13,15,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 AX4VBDA51QX9I,0312680686,Michael Kohlhaas,"[6, 7]","What is this book, really? It might be a history of Germany, from Charlemagne to 1933. Yet it is also full of the author's travel notes, in a country he claims to like. But wait--does Mr. Winder really like Germany, or this book meant as a sneaky hatchet job? Or does it just seem like a hatchet job, because of the author's jokey personal style? Or perhaps the main point is not so much Germany, as nostalgia for pre-war Europe. Or is it all of the above?As a history, this book makes easy reading, and I have to say I enjoyed it. It's a lightweight run through German history, with amusing odd facts and observations. But it's only for those who already know something about the subject. A beginner would be quite misled, because of its superficial, hit-or-miss coverage, and moreover, the author's personal biases, which are far too intrusive for a genuine history book.The confusion about the Mr. Winder's point of view arises from his rather awful sense of humor. He constantly condescends, and his default attitude to practically everything is one of mockery. Too many things are dismissed as ""pathetic"" or ""silly,"" or with words implying mental inferiority, such as ""demented"" and ""idiotic."" This constant stream of put-downs cheapens the book, and disinclines one to take it seriously. But did the author intend us to take it seriously, or is he simply trying to be funny? It's hard to tell.Whatever Mr. Winder's intentions may be, the result is rather annoying. His attitude toward Germany reminds one of a child let loose in a toyshop, although a rather inferior one, which fails to please as much as the child expects. So many things are described as ""funny,"" or simply ""fun,"" with the word being used as an adjective: a fun statue, or a fun city. Is the function of German culture and German history only to provide ""fun"" for Mr. Winder? To be fair, he does give credit for many German accomplishments, but in general he seems to see Germany as a backward place, populated by Monty Python characters who do laughable, foolish things. Perhaps he thinks that his own nation--England--was a loftier place down through the ages, but if so, I think he is wrong.In the end one finds oneself wondering what sort of person would write such a book. His contradictions and condescension would tell us a lot about Mr. Winder, if we cared to know.",3.0,An odd sort of history,1383177600,"10 31, 2013",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A26AFNUMN84GUB,1937733130,jewelz d.,"[5, 5]",SERIOUSLY...wow! I have read these books so fast and am still in shock over what the check just happened! If you haven't started this series yet you really need to START! Hook line and sinker from the beginning,5.0,Aaahhhhh!!!!,1357171200,"01 3, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A13CMG4T0EVF8A,1105654443,Sienna @ Lost to Books,"[0, 1]","The idea of travelling around dimensions caught my attention with this book and I thought it could be a really interesting concept that could explore many possibilities and events. The idea that people live different lives in alternative dimensions with varying degrees of happiness and problems is not a new concept to me, however I have never read a book that involved this so I was keen to see how Helenowski developed the story.However I must admit that this book was pretty disappointing and nothing like I imagined it to be. For me I had no connection with the characters as the book lacked in detail in many ways. We find out that Jane's parents die in a car crash which leaves Tina traumatized in one dimension but that's about as much detail we gain into a character's life. In the first few pages I was introduced to atleast 10 characters and none had a background which increasingly confused me as they were introduced.The book also lacked detail in the description with Helenowski choosing to 'tell' the audience what was happening rather than 'showing' them. When reading a book I love to be able to create the world in my mind and sadly I was not able to do this with Order of the Dimensions. I couldn't picture the surroundings, e.g we were told Jane had weird feelings, was at a market, or it was a historic building but that was it, nothing was said about what kind of feelings Jane was having, where it was or how it felt. Because of this the book did not sustain my interest very well and I found myself easily distracted as I couldn't get immersed in a new world.The plot line was pretty simple didn't have much depth, with the same event happening over and over again and even though it made things easy to understand it was little repetitive. Every time some action started Jane would end up travelling into another dimension where everything would repeat itself. Besides this there were frequent grammar, punctuation and spelling mistakes which made the writing a struggle to read and it seems the book needs to go through another round of editing.Overall this book has the potential to be an interesting concept with new and original ideas, however at the moment, for me it is underdeveloped and lacking in detail. I would have liked to read more description, back story, romance and information about the places they visited as I'm not sure where some bits took part. I'm sad to say I didn't really enjoy this book as I don't think it met its full potential.",1.0,"Good concept, same about the writing",1358640000,"01 20, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AUN58PVBPSI59,1463630778,Debbie,"[0, 0]",This is the 5th book I've read by Catherine Ryan Hyde and I will still keep going! I have not read a book of hers that I didn't love! On to the next one! This might have been my favorite so far!,5.0,can't get enough!,1401321600,"05 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11W3HT9C31U53,0060586621,Carla Bridger,"[0, 0]",It is funnyHolds my attentionI look forward if any more are to come in this series .Good read,5.0,Terry Prachett is always a winner,1401408000,"05 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1R0YKXYNA6DK,1940223202,Brbara MRT,"[0, 0]","This is the second book of the series and it was even better than the first. Samira comes home after years of teaching kids in impoverished countries and finds a sexy werewolf named Riel intent on claiming her as his mate (can we have it any other way?). Riel is so HOT and sweet! However, someone in Sam's family is intent on killing for her inheritance and Riel is the only one who can help her. Sexy story + intrigue + hot and protective alpha male = Incredible book!! Can't wait for the next book, hopefully it will be Troy and Nat's story!",5.0,Keep them coming...,1400198400,"05 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AYYWYHBZPIM4K,0765304414,CAC65,"[0, 0]","Never heard of Indian vampires, but the Thurlos created a very believable universe. Can't wait to read more Lee New novels.",4.0,Navajo Nightwalkers.,1379462400,"09 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A234X1MVIMPMMC,0446178098,"Akima Rolle ""Book Junkie""","[4, 5]","This was a four star book,but Wahida Clark is my girl and can write her behind off so she gets the other star just for that alone. First of all I love Trae and Tasha, but Tasha really got on my nerve this time. Trae could have communicated a lot better and made things easier for him. The stories were all over the place. Sabeerah's part in the book was really not necessary, because nothing came of it and it was just crazy. Detective Rick's character was not developed and he could have been a really good character, but it went nowhere.Tasha's character was really done wrong in this book. I hope Ms. Clark comes back and redeems her in the next book, because that was not the girl I know and love. I can't wait for the next Thug book, Thug fan for life!!!",5.0,Thug Lovin' still going strong!,1249776000,"08 9, 2009",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3GAC3Z3YCRIDU,0060727535,fan95,"[0, 1]",didn't like this book at all. I didn't realize when I bought it that it would be written in the first person. the book wasn't in as good condition as I thought it would be. The best thing about the book was that it was large print.,3.0,johnny cash book,1387411200,"12 19, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3HNY0S8M0NUPD,1481244612,Billie,"[6, 7]","I loved book one, so when I ran across book two I didn't even read the reviews and just bought it. For one the writing is horrible and nothing like the first book , second Leah turns out to be a mooch, shady, and kinda trampy!!! I couldn't even finish the whole book . So very disappointed:(",1.0,Very Disappointed,1357171200,"01 3, 2013",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1K53DS8PO6D5G,0849922070,Haden,"[0, 0]",A must read for all! I have recommended this book to many people and have also purchased copies to give as Christmas gifts!,5.0,A wonderful book!,1353456000,"11 21, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A31X14F4RE4J73,039332270X,Ace,"[6, 7]",This is a non fiction book by Joseph Roth whose other books are mainly fiction - he was a prized journalist and writes like the best of both worlds - this book is an extraordinary picture of a period of life which we don't know enough about - because WW II got in the way and rendered information about Jews and life in Germany and eastern Europe in the 20's and 30's sort of academic and moot - It is an important and compelling and sad book - sad because we readers know facts that the author doesn't - we know what happened and he doesn't know the future. It is a valuable book which I have recommended and given to many friends.,5.0,extraordinary book,1204070400,"02 27, 2008",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1D2M7MNOWAUKX,1626360251,Ebha,"[0, 0]","The front pages (pg. vi) of the book state " Gun prices in this book should be considered 'Retail'; that is, the average price a collector anywhere in the United States may expect to pay for a firearm in similar condition". However, at least in my experience and with the guns (both rifles & hand guns) I have purchased and sold this book is between 25 & 30% below retail sale prices. For instance pg. 148 lists the Sig P239 DAO with a NIB value of $625 with an additional $125 value added for the Siglite Night sights. Even on discount gun sights this firearm sells for anywhere between $800 & $950. I would love to pick up this firearm with the nightsights for a mere $750. BTW the MRSP on this item is over $1,100. The book also completely leaves out one of Sig's most popular selling items the P238. Another example is the Stevens Crackshot 26. Yes this is an old rifle but I have seen 3 sold in my state and all went for considerably more than the top dollar value listed in the book. This book is ok and it is close on value with some items such as some of the Rugers & Taurus models but again I must advise this book is missing key guns in the manufacturers line up. The Taurus PT800, 809, 840 as well as PT740 are all missing. The too frequent low balling and missing items make me wary of the value this book really provides. Using this book for hagling on a purchase maybe but for selling or gaining a true value this book has missed its mark. I think for the money you are better off with the Blue Book of Gun values book. It is much closer to reality on many more firearms.",2.0,Book low balls values.,1397952000,"04 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A37E24TK5D22J,B0068QK3VG,Kaie,"[5, 5]","From the beginning for the book March acts like an ignorant person who can't even say menstruation right and an insult to any other 15 year old out there. The whole time she seems too innocent doesn't know things that any other 15 year old would know (using her mom as an excuse for her mom not giving her ""the talk"" and not knowing how puberty works). Don't get me wrong the plot idea was good, but the way the author writes the story makes March seem way too young and immature for her age and the story didn't have enough substance for me to get hooked into the story thus getting only 1 star from me.",1.0,Just bad..,1331942400,"03 17, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A3PA9CXWLKTOB,0385503245,Chicago,"[28, 32]","I'm not really surprised by the number of people who gave this book one star just because they assumed it attacked their beloved President. Perhaps had they read it they might have learned something new.There is a lot to be admired about the Bush family. Machiavellian at many times, rarely humble ever, this thorough study of the last four generations of business leaders and politicians presents a 'warts and all' picture of one of America's most powerful families. While any political biography may present a portrait of unethical behavior and personal screw-ups, it doesn't take much digging to find that the Bush family has more than most. Whether it's Prescott Bush's theft of a Native American skull as a part of a fraternity requirement or George W's sabotage of political rivals, the fluid values of this 'whatever it takes' group have never been clearer. Forget duplicity; their drive to get what they want spans the entire spectrum. From changing rivalries (Prescott was a founder of Planned Parenthood until a political rival called him on it and he changed his stripes for political gain) to country-club insularity to attempted destruction of naysayers (think Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame, for starters), the lengths to which this true dynasty will go knows no bounds. Their ability to climb the ladder of advancement is a force to be reckoned with, and for that I recommend this book. Ethical persons will use it as a cautionary tale; others will use it as a road map.A survey of Americans has shown that George W. Bush is someone many people would love to have a beer with; I'm sure he's a fun guy to hang out with, but even his friends from Yale are appalled that this shockingly mediocre class clown and former chief party animal has the most powerful job in the world. He does not take advice from anyone, including his father. Surprisingly little space is devoted to the current President; however, it is hard to go more than five pages without a head-shaking episode involving one family member or another, and page after page it becomes astonishingly clear that the apple has not fallen far from the most twisted branches of the family tree.The Bush family vehemently refused to cooperate with Ms. Kelley in researching this book, and have a history of blacklisting those who do. It's a shame, because in keeping mum it only serves to give a silent endorsement to the charges (as they might say) presented in a very thorough and comprehensive way. Still, history will show that in the end, the record stands, and regardless of the author's reputation for dirt-digging, its sources cannot be repudiated.",5.0,"Hey, I actually READ the book!",1123977600,"08 14, 2005",28,32,helpful,0.875,1 AL5RP8DS1NUV3,0439023491,,"[0, 2]","I often seem to need to put disclaimers for my reviews, and I apologize if that's aggravating, but this review is no exception: I haven't read 'Hunger Games.'I chose to read 'Catching Fire' anyway as a bit of an experiment. I don't believe I've ever read a sequel first, and I thought I'd try with this book because I'd heard such high praise for 'Hunger Games' that I wondered if the author's skill could stand on its own and make me believe in a world everybody else was already privy to. Does it? For the most part, yes. It might not be fair to judge completely on that count, but my four stars aren't necessarily because I didn't understand the world; they're for other matters.Collins is very clearly a television writer. She's got a muscular, quick prose that doesn't pander to children and, generally, a skilled sense of pacing and an ability to build to an intriguing climax. She's also hyper-aware of how much she can get away with. I know some readers are surprised by the amount of violence inherent in her work, but there's honestly not much different here than in 'Harry Potter' - people die at the hands of other people, and in a fantastical setting, it's a bit easier to get away with that.The oblique Roman Empire-influenced dystopian setting is a fun ploy; I found myself muttering characters' names aloud to see if the spelling hid some kind of slant reference to a Latin name or word. Plot point number one I'm probably missing from the first novel: I'm not entirely convinced by this future post-global-warming America. I didn't want it to read like 'The Road' or anything, but it seems like a bit of a wonky construct. Where's the rest of the world's involvement with us (and our Olympic-sized games - you can't tell me other countries wouldn't want a piece of that)? Why are social strata - again, always a tricky near-future construct - differentiated by who uses a telephone versus who heats their house with firewood? Again, this might be an incorrect judgment to make without the first book in hand, but at the very least I should understand what happened to the rest of the First World, much less all the other countries out there who might have their own Hunger Games, especially since the crux of this work involves something that would definitely affect the rest of the world.My only genuine cavil with this work is a certain unevenness I can't quite put my finger on. There are some elements I find truly gripping, in a very adult way, and there are some elements that are weak enough that I'm not sure why the author spent so much time on them. The overall ramp-up to the Games seems to take an awfully long time considering that the Games are central to the characters' world. The Victory Tour, while necessary, feels like a bloated plot point instead of something that should have flung me precipitously into the heroine's dilemma. That being said, though, the gripping aspects are most definitely gripping. Katniss - although, in plot point number 2, she spends an inordinate amount of time in bed with a boy for a heroine of a book rated for seventh graders - is a solid protagonist with excellent life skills. The secrets of the plot, as revealed, are juicy and compelling. And the cliffhanger ending is spot-on.After a seemingly never-ending phalanx of asinine vampire books, it's definitely refreshing to come across a book like 'Catching Fire.' It even has a TERRIFIC title and a killer jacket that makes you keep flipping back to the cover to see if you can figure it out. I'd give the book 5 stars except for my reservations about its unevenness. And I'm definitely going to read 'Hunger Games' - maybe that will change my mind!Update: now having read 'Hunger Games', I see that the small problems I had with the background plot in 'Catching Fire' still remain - a slight unevenness and some lingering questions - but I unreservedly loved both books!",4.0,It's a heartbeat away from 5 stars...,1251244800,"08 26, 2009",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1DQZBHEU98PBT,0156006529,Theresa W,"[5, 5]","This book really places you in these peoples shoes. You feel the desperation and unhappiness of their lives. Then you feel their longing for each other, and the fever to be together. The ending is pretty predictable, I won't spoil it though. But, it's a fun read, very quick, and I enjoyed it because I was engrossed. I love her writing, often it's like poetry. I enjoy her themes-- love, loss, choices...I was a little disappointed with the ending, but over-all I thought it was a good book",4.0,You're in their shoes,1020729600,"05 7, 2002",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A19GP20DYUOKVW,0553808052,"Regina Niesen ""Gina""","[0, 0]","A massive disappointment.The good stuff first so that you guys don't think I'm nasty giving it a poor rating because I was in some kind of bad mood. But honestly I couldn't see what the fuss was all about.I guess it was a compelling read. Although I'm not quite sure why -- I can't say that I cared very much about the plot and, although I love psychological thrillers I couldn't say that there was any massive driving questions that had me chewing my nails. I read it in a couple of hours and there were some points in the book that I felt the tension that readers should feel but the feeling didn't last long, which was a major disappointment. This really could have been much better.The character who had the most appeal to me was Robbie, a young man who has lost his mother and who finds no support or comfort from his emotionally wrecked father. One who is willing to succumb to the poison that is Alice so as to feel even an iota of happiness that she able to give him despite the destruction she brings to his heart and mind.However, this is where I have to bridge the gap between praise and criticism. I relished the Alice parts because James showed elements of Alice's character, and the depth of her narcissism, with fairly subtle stuff like Alice not wanting to travel because no-one would know her abroad. However, James isn't satisfied until she has beaten that horse to a bloody pulp. James, you are wrtiing for a YA adult, but YAs are not morons. They know a narcissist when they see it even if they don't know the psychological term. The reader doesn't need a psychology master's student (Philippa) running around telling us that Alice has ""issues."" We understand how badly Alice's mother abandoning her must have screwed her up and that it's probably the reason behind her actions -- we don't need that vomit-inducing, sanctimonious paragraph that Katherine delivered at the end. We get that Alice is not 100% monster. We don't need Katherine laying out all of Alice's problems and giving us a mini-justification.Even worse, we didn't see nearly enough of Alice's charm. Katherine kept telling us that she had it, but being hot/pretty and having charm and charisma are two different things. When Alice's sanity starts to slip, she doesn't seem charming - she just seems loud and obnoxious. Maybe that is the point, but the only scene (yes, one scene in the 300+ page novel) that I felt any sense of Alice's charismatic presence was in the ""morning after"" scene where she sobs all over Katherine with her full of bologna apologies.James doesn't seem to know how to both show and tell about things in her writing. There needs to be a balance of writing what is happening (telling) and writing descriptions of actions that readers can infer meaning to (showing). Sadly, James never showed us anything, she only told us. Case in point: ""I don't want to leave Mick."" ""Alice could be so charming sometimes."" ""I was Rachel's number one fan."" We never really see any of Mick or Alice's more endearing qualities; Katherine just sort of tells us that they have them, and we're supposed to believe it without any real evidence.Another thing that annoyed me is that I had no idea of time frame or setting. It's true that Beautiful Malice is non-linear, with HORRIBLE flash forwards to an adult Katherine but it spoiled the best twist of the novel, Katherine has a child. The book opens with Katherine and Alice's first real meeting and blabs through that for a while, then skips forward to Katherine and Robbie's first meeting, then skips forward again, with no indication of how long, to when Katherine and Robbie and Alice are all BFFs. That was just very confusing to me. I also didn't know where this was all taking place. The writer is Australian but I am not sure if that is the setting. The only description we get is they live in a city and that Katherine moved from the suburbs...but of where?? I can't stand not knowing the setting of a story. Just a pet peeve of mine.The climax was poorly written. It was vague, confusing, and uninteresting. Why is it that James could write about rape (admittedly in a vague way), pregnancy, sociopathy, abduction, guilt, sex and nudity, but she couldn't write a good scene of violence? I'm not an overly gory person, but I felt that the ending was just such a cop-out. My blood was not pounding. My heart was not racing. More than anything I was scanning the pages thinking WTH is going on?One more major point...I don't like how Katherine was made to feel as if it was her fault. I don't even like the thought being put into young girls heads that because Katherine had to do something to save herself that she feels at fault. No young woman should ever feel guilt is she is attacked. This is where I feel like the novel should not be labeled YA. Even though James tries to make it clear that Katherine isn't at fault, just the mere mention of it makes me sick. So IMHO this book should not be read by young readers. Not only is there the vague suggestion of blame if someone is attacked but there is bad language, sex, and drug use by minors. I wouldn't want my young daughter to read this book. So let this be a warning to parents who are deciding on whether to let thier teen read this book. I would say it is 18+, NOT FOR TEENAGERS.There is probably more, but on the whole, Beautiful Malice was just a half-baked, inconsistent disappointmnent. There are no relationships, no tension and no real mystery. Next time no more of even the suggestion that if a girl is attacked it is her fault! Generous 2 stars.",3.0,Definitely not a YA read!,1328140800,"02 2, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2XAQOWHRPY98K,1442486597,"Rick R. Reed ""Seattle Book Lover""","[0, 0]",Amazing thriller seemingly based on the Amanda Knox case. Great page turner with an author who really knows what she's doing. Highly recommended.,5.0,Amazing Twist I Didn't See Coming,1391472000,"02 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1U1GX406J7HRM,1455503053,NatasaLikes,"[0, 0]","Pure is a very dark and atmospheric story that has (most of) the right ingredients to make it a hit with readers. The world is well developed and realistic, far exceeding the meager worldbuilding in most dystopian books and while it might not have the most original and creative storyline, its execution is moderately decent.There are a few things that prevented me from giving it five stars and this is almost all because of the characters. While the curt writing style is very good at creating a post-apocalyptic world that's creepy and dangerous, it failed to make me connect me with the characters--the only one I found remotely interesting was El Capitan and his brother Helmud--and this really influenced the way I experienced the story, and not in a good way. If I'd been more invested in them I'm sure I would have enjoyed it a lot more than I did.[The following is a spoilery paragraph, read at your own risk]Just want to put in something I remembered. Did anyone notice how El Capitan was constantly saying he wanted to kill a Pure before he died? And when he comes face-to-face with Partridge, he does exactly nada (in fact, he saves his freaking LIFE). I can't decide whether this is a sign of bad editing or foreshadowing for the sequel. Hm.I guess it's the multiple points of view that ruined it for me. While they work for certain books if they're really well executed, in Pure I found them quite annoying since they didn't add all that much to the story. The constant switching back-and-forth stunted the development of the characters and I can't help but think that with some good editing they could have been condensed into a single POV and the book would have been much better for it.Despite all that I really like the world we see in Pure, especially the explanation of how humans were altered after the Detonations. The idea that every person who wasn't in the Dome when the Detonations hit got ""fused"" with whatever was closest to them? Genius. It's even more remarkable since this is partly based on the events of Hiroshima, where the nuclear blast caused some of the nearest people to physically merge with objects.So, kudos to the in-depth backstory that mixes real world history and science with fantasy because it makes it that much more convincing and plausible; it also shows that the author did her research and not in a lazily passive way in order to fit the general purpose of the story. Admittedly the exposition-less infodumping got a bit tedious after a while, but its creativity was good enough for me to overlook that part.As for the plot, it's decent but nothing new. It's pretty much about a conspiracy theory that's initially blown off but turns out to be true and then has our MCs scurrying all over the place trying to save the world, among other things. Some plot twists were unexpected but generally I found the plot to be boring because I've read it countless times in other books, the only difference being that it's in a dystopian setting.I think other people might find Pure to be more enjoyable than I did. I didn't like it all that much but I have to say the worldbuilding was fascinating and the story decent enough that I'll be reading the next book to see what's going to happen.",3.0,Fascinating worldbuilding dragged down by average story and characters,1336435200,"05 8, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GPQ66C9EBUF0,1489594035,Kindle Customer,"[0, 0]",I just loved all the Mama B books. I only wish there were more. Read each book in less then a day and a half because I simply could not put them down.,5.0,Loved Mama B,1394582400,"03 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YHGI70S6YVFS,0061351806,William Suddaby,"[18, 29]","Wise, vastly knowledgeable, witty. A refreshing conversation with one of the country's more successful diplomats, long experienced in world affairs. Albright's observations on meeting Kim Jong-il in North Korea is worth the price alone. Her character judgements of world leaders is fascinating, enlightening. No mere book can be the answer to all the world's dangers, but Albright suggests plenty of ways, intelligent and insightful, to avoid mistakes and hopefully lead the country out of the mess brought on by an extremely unpopular, inept administration.",5.0,Some Good Advice,1201392000,"01 27, 2008",18,29,helpful,0.6206896551724138,1 A3H823MCJOPT90,0061849278,"Lady Dragoness ""Lady D.""","[14, 15]","Watermark is the story of a young woman, Auda, who is different than others because she is albino and mute, and her struggle to survive in the middle ages. Ignorance and superstition are common place in Auda's time; she must combat these enemies, along with the Inquisition and society's senseless fear of anything that's different. I found the map of France, included in the front of the book, to be quite helpful.I love the way this story unfolds, starting with the drama attendant upon Auda's birth and then, what seemingly passes for a normal life, until Auda has become a young adult. The true details of history and paper making included in the story as well as the carefully developed characters and their actions make this novel a page turner. There are both kinds of characters in this story; those you love and those you love to hate... still, I wasn't entirely prepared for the shocking ending... and, no, I'm not gonna tell... well, okay I'll just say this: it wasn't completely unexpected, but I did wish someone else had turned out to be Auda's betrayer.In some books, the supporting addenda are almost as interesting as the main story. This is especially true of Watermark. In addition to the great story, and the aforementioned map, my copy of Watermark contains:* An author's note that I recommend to readers finishing the book,* A glossary of words originating in five other languages which were used in the book and which may be unfamiliar to many readers,* A chronology of important events in the middle ages, and* A selected bibliography for readers who may wish to read more about the historical events and influences behind the novel...and that's not all, but I'll leave the rest for you to discover on your own.I highly recommend this intriguing novel to lovers of historical fiction, and to those looking for something different to read. This review has been simultaneously published on Amazon.com, Dragon Views and LibraryThing.",5.0,Engrossing Tale,1277078400,"06 21, 2010",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 A3OM0ZDFHEPJJL,0312568908,Reeka aka BoundbyWords,"[4, 5]","But..but WHY!? What..just happened!? UGH. I did not enjoy this book. I'm not exactly sure if I'm capable of pointing out all of the ways Vortex took a turn for the worse. But I shall try..We left Jackson right after he made one of the hardest decisions of his time-traveling life: he went back in time to a few months before him and Holly ever met. He based his reasoning on love, on wanting to keep Holly safe-it was his most selfless act to date. In Vortex, we learn that Jackson has joined forces with his father, and is in training to become a CIA agent. As expected, the training is brutal, and the more he learns about the inner workings of the CIA, the more he learns about the constant threat they face from the EOT's (Enemies of Time- the time traveling ""villains""). To carry us nicely to the climax, Jackson bumps into Holly about halfway into the book. To say things get messy from this point forward is an understatement. Sadly, this is also where the book just stopped making any sense to me whatsoever.I'm not sure if the author decided ""Ah HECK with it! I WILL confuse them AFTER ALL! Muhahaha!""..because that was the exact state of my brain while reading this book: confused. I completely got, and appreciated, what Julie Cross did with the first book. She took a ""complicated"" theory of time-travel, and made it decently easy to follow. I feel like with Vortex, she decided that maybe she was way too easy on us the first time around, because the jumble of timelines, mixed with a whole slew of side characters, made my head throb. I couldn't keep track of what, where, when, who..and mostly importantly..WHY!? Okay, it seems unfair to throw ""why"" in there, because this book IS a 3-part series, and questions can always be answered in the next book. But nevertheless, I just felt like there were so many exaggerated plot twists-it bordered on contrived. I kept hoping it would right itself, and tone down just a bit..but obviously, no such luck had me.Lastly, Jackson and Holly's ""relationship""...*le sigh*. So unfortunate. I also kept hoping that I might start rooting for the ""connection"" they were apparently supposed to have, but UGH..I just wanted it to stop. Alike the first book, there was just ZERO chemistry, I felt NOTHING between them, and everything that Jackson said in regards to his feelings towards her just made want to punch him in the face. I know..a bit much? Maybe. I wanted him to just give it up already, and fall for one of the female side characters that I actually grew quite fond of.I want to say that I won't be reading the final book in this series, but I'd only be lying to myself, and to you. And I love you guys, so I won't lie: I WILL read the last book. Hopefully there is some massive redeeming in there.",2.0,This sequel took a turn for the worse,1370476800,"06 6, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A67XAOZSBQJ99,0306818531,R Moskovitz,"[4, 4]","Dr. Agronin has created a partial map of the minefield that must be navigated in the final stage of life. Most helpful is his description of a final developmental stage, in which the losses of mobility and cognitive agility may be compensated by an increased ability to think holistically and make judgments that consider multiple perspectives. Wisdom then makes up for the loss of some of the finer details of memory in the normal aging process. As I enter the Autumn of my own life, I appreciate his encouragement that there is still room to grow.For those who have suffered more devastating assaults upon cognition and identity, Dr. Agronin has searched for ways to help them preserve the last vestiges of autonomy, diginity, and connectedness with others that are so essential to providing comfort and peace. With compassion and wisdom beyond his years, he has walked the line between helping some to go gentle into that good night and joining with others in raging at the dying of the light. As I face the mystery of how my last years will unfold, I can only hope to find caregivers as compassionate as Dr. Agronin and a system of care that still fosters such artful practitioners.Richard A. Moskovitz, MD, author ofLost in the Mirror: An Inside Look at Borderline Personality DisorderandCarousel Music",5.0,Still room to grow,1311984000,"07 30, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2O1FLF439GX3P,0802434282,E. Johnson,"[23, 24]","Enns does an excellent job in taking a very complex subject (namely, theology) and breaking it down into a very readable format. While he certainly has his personal theological bent, it is not very apparent throughout much of the book, as he seems to honestly tackle the different styles and beliefs of doctrines. He is very effective in objectively (as far as it can be done) describing the various systems of belief. Numerous charts found throughout the book accentuate the discussion of the different chapters. The glossary in the back includes 1-2-sentence defintions, and while this is perhaps too simple, I could see this being advantageous for a beginner who is easily overwhelmed. For someone who would like an overview of theology, I would think this book should be a most valuable research tool.",5.0,Very thorough yet simple in style,967507200,"08 29, 2000",23,24,helpful,0.9583333333333334,1 A2T3GJC8H4QIEI,B00BHZ0OE4,BudwickOnBooks,"[4, 11]","I will agree with the other review. Amazon should not let this book on the market. The person that wrote this does not speak or write English. The book is hardly readable. I think it was done with voice recognition software by someone with terrible English skills. Don't pay the 0.99 you won't understand the book. Amazon, do your Kindle users a favor and delete this one. I give it zero stars. I have nothing against self-publishing on most cases.",1.0,Terrible,1364601600,"03 30, 2013",4,11,helpful,0.36363636363636365,1 ADPBVUKID3CA5,B008EK92MU,"ANGEL ""ANGEL B.""","[7, 7]",Treasure Blue has once again created an awesome story. I wish this had been a full novel instead of a short story. I can't wait until he drops his next one. Well done Treasure! You might also like...Child Support,5.0,A Short Banger!,1347667200,"09 15, 2012",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A12A08OL0TZY0W,0452285216,Luc REYNAERT,"[4, 8]","Al Franken 's book is a terrible expose of the constant newspeak used by the Bush II administration in order to hide the real agenda. The newspeak veils the stealing of the presidency in Florida (to defend democracy), tax cuts for the superwealthy (no heritage tax even above 100 M $), the screwing of the environment ('the rewriting of the Clean Water Act's rules allows mining waste to be dumped directly into many heretofore off-limits water ways'), draft dodgers as warmongerers or vicious lies about opponents.The result of its policies are presented as gifts for all citizens, but 'single mothers loose health coverage for their children', and unemployment is surging (but statistically hidden).Al Franken plays all the accords of the harmonic spectrum: from the spectacle of absurd and blatant lies on TV channels, over ludicrous governmetal programmes (sex abstinence education), to sarcasm ('During the 6 years that the 2 Bushes have been president, there has not been a new job created. Extrapoling from that, if the Bushes had run this country from its inception to the present day, not a single American would have worked) and raw cynicism ( the WSJ calls those people who earn so little that they don't have to pay any taxes 'lucky duckies').Al Franken unveils the administration's unhuman but divine message: prosperity means that God is rewarding your rugged individualism. When you are poor, you should blame yourself.On the international front, Al Franken lambasts the lies about the WMD in Iraq, the ditching of the 'lousy' Kyoto Agreement, the anti-ballistic missile treaty, the germ warfare protocol, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the International Criminal Court and the land mine treaty.He ridicules a member of the Bush II administration for having calculated that the reconstruction of Iraq would cost next to nothing. For this brilliant forecast he was rewarded with an international financial top job.All the cover-ups, false messages, blatant lies about disastrous and deadly policies were gladly swallowed by completely gagged media. The latter are controlled by 5 big conglomerates, which are living out of the hand of big corporations through their advertising spending.Al Franken sketches poignantly a sad picture of a country that should be the greatest democracy of the world.Not to be missed.",5.0,No sense of decency,1151884800,"07 3, 2006",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A1V8Y43GY2SQ4N,B00KWISN5E,Liv,"[0, 0]","Well, for one Dair continued to make me laugh out loud in this thrilling 2nd installment. His fellow author buddy, Turner tickled my funny bone even more with his 'keeping it real' a la Dave Chappelle observations and advice.One of my favorite plot points was seeing Dair take Iris's earlier advice about going the indie publishing route for his next novel, a passion project that he has always wanted to do. And of course, I was seriously in awe of how inventive R.K. Lilley's descriptions of two people getting their freak on were. The sex scenes were varied and thankfully well-written. R.K. also has a knack for pacing, skillfully using humor and suspense to move the plot along.One of my favorite passages;'I was emptied, done, but I wanted every part of me to touch every part of her. It was much more than the drive for sex. I knew that now. It was a craving for intimacy that made this thing between us so unquenchable for me. Iris made me feel human again and I needed that more than I'd ever realized.' Dair, Ch. 13Who is Iris? Where did she go during her 2-month absence from Dair's life? And why does she finally return to disrupt, enthrall, and shake up Dair's orderly universe all over again? Are any of these questions answered to Dair’s satisfaction? Not exactly.I think I know who Iris is from one clue, so I'm definitely looking forward to Dair (The Wild Side # 3) to find out how far off base/dead on my guess is. It looks like I have a book date the evening of July 25th, and I can't wait.",4.0,Another thrilling installment,1405728000,"07 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1IHWGM24YA0LR,031615427X,Rebecca,"[0, 0]",So many twists and turns!! Keeps ya on your toes it does. So good!!!! I couldn't put it down! Excitingly ecstatic,4.0,Omazin!!!,1354579200,"12 4, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3C2FRZ67Q0GG1,1493700650,Dorothy,"[0, 0]","Casey and her mom, Allison, whom she calls alternately Allison, Mamalicious and other fun nicknames, decide to road trip to find new men and new adventures. They make a list of qualities they look for in a desirable man, starting with the letter A (for alpha male) and ending 26 traits later with Z (zealous about making me happy) (or something). They pack Casey's white convertible and set out from their hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee and head south and west for a two-week toot. They visit Gulf Port, Alabama; Denver, Colorado; the Grand Canyon (Arizona); Las Vegas (Nevada); and Malibu, California. Along the way, they meet a few men, drink some-a lot-too much and spend time together talking in the car.When they first meet Dan in Gulf Port, Dan sets Allison up with his uncle. Casey and Dan leave for three hours while Allison stays behind on the porch with the uncle. They talk. It is unclear what Allison knows from that conversation, about Dan. She keeps it to herself, though (through the whole book).I loved the great dialog the author writes. What fun characters and what a great adventure. Look forward to more books by this author!",5.0,Keep track of your hair elastics,1385942400,"12 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21VNCWPT9YGCK,0936348070,Karla Skinner,"[15, 17]","Recommended by a contact on a survival board, this book is one of the true staples on how-tos. After reading it, cover-to-cover, I can only agree. He was absolutely right. I'm still using it as a reference for my on-going activities and preparations.Don't be a sheeple. If you are at all concerned about What-ifs? or really want to know the nitty-gritty of preparedness, get this book. Enough said. K.I.S.S.",5.0,One of the best.,1168300800,"01 9, 2007",15,17,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 A1S4PELMLAASDW,0345486501,"Karyn L ""avid book reader""","[6, 10]","Love Linda Howard, but I have to agree with others who found this plot not up to par. It makes absolutely no sense that the two ""best"" guys in this crime group, the two who always get the job done, would come to the decision to take a whole town hostage to accomplish their goal. Linda's had some weak plot elements in previous books, but they were wrapped up so well in other compelling story aspects that you could ignore it. Can't do it here. Very glad that I got this book from the library.",2.0,Hated it!,1152057600,"07 5, 2006",6,10,helpful,0.6,1 A1V4TZ4TXGBH3E,1939346134,Anarchy in the US,"[0, 0]","I know it's a bit hip to ride the bandwagon of comics currently of those to suggest reading something outside of the Big Two (Marvel/DC), but I have to admit, a great deal of refreshing comics are coming out of other companies. Image and Dark Horse are knocking it out of the park as I type this. Nothing against the Big Two, seeing as I am a massive DC person --just check most of my reviews on DC--, and both Marvel/DC are putting out great stuff to be fair. But I think I am joining the hip crowd of those other comic companies, seeing as I am hooked on Valiant now, thanks to dabbling in X-O Manowar and Quantum & Woody. Does Harbinger get a passing grade as well? Oh very much so!HARBINGER DELUXE EDITION VOL.1 collects #0-14 of the series that makes up the first three tradesHarbinger Volume 1: Omega Rising TP(Issues 1 - 5)Harbinger Volume 2: Renegades TP(Issues 6 - 10)Harbinger Volume 3: Harbinger Wars TP(Issues 0, 11 - 14)Peter Stanchek has been running from the law for years trying to suppress his abilities that haunt him. Peter finally gets caught by an organization called Harbinger and finds out his powers are that of a psychic. He can read minds, create force fields, lift objects, and many other things he never knew possible. The Harbinger organization is lead by Toyo Harada, a wealthy businessman and the world's most powerful psychic that wants Peter to join his group that has numerous Harbingers with psychic abilities just like Peter. But something goes awry and Peter see's the organization has an evil group with Harada at the helm. So Peter goes about the country, recruiting other psychics to help him battle Harada's inevitable reign on the world.Writer Joshua Dysart keeps a majority of the classic Harbinger storyline and characters intact, but adds a modern day touch of workmanship. Character and world building are told through dynamic action from Peter taking on Harada's corporation, while the slower moments give insight on the characters inner turmoils. So although this is an action heavy series (it and X-O Manowar), Dysart still finds ways to flesh out the cast. All the characters have troubled past, so when we do get to know them, including Harada's own origins, we do sympathize with what the characters are doing. This makes it where we get behind our heroes, yet understand that even Harada is trying to the right thing even if he is the antagonist. This is what makes Harbinger a great read.Art duties are mostly handled by Khari Evans and Trevor Hairsine that both make detailed action and destruction when need be, while showcasing emotions vividly. The fill-in artist Mico Suayan, Barry Kitson, Phil Briones, Lee Garbett, Pere Perez, and Matthew Clark do commendable work.I usually add some possible negative feedback on everything I review, but I did not find much that might bother readers. Maybe the character of Kris Hathaway who does seem to be a little too angry to the point of annoyance once in a while (even hypocritical). And the buildup for the confrontation of the Harbinger Wars won't happen until next volume. But again, I didn't find any faults consider the oversized format and additional content for the price you are getting.So yeah, HARBINGER DELUXE EDITION VOL.1 is another reason why so many are praising the Valiant line of comics and I am not afraid to see why. It's got great storytelling, compelling characters, plenty of action, lovely art, and all at a reasonable price in this deluxe edition format. I definitely will pick up the next wave of deluxe hardcovers in the future likeBloodshot Deluxe Edition Book 1 HCandArcher & Armstrong Deluxe Edition Book 1 HC. New readers should give this a try.",5.0,Haven't Read Valiant? This is a Good Place to Start,1390262400,"01 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1J0FXKLB8S6K,1402237669,"Irene ""Irene""","[4, 4]","I truly enjoyed most of this book, and I very much admire the research Mrs. Higginbotham obviously did. The first 50% or so, was quite ""readable"" to me, but gradually there were so many Edwards, Richards, Henrys, Johns, Katherines, Elizabeths, et al that it became somewhat confusing. And I am familiar with this period in English history, so it's not that.I don't know if I will read another of her books. I guess I'm disappointed because I had just finished reading Elizabeth Chadwick's ""Greatest Knight"", and much preferred her writing style.All in all, ""Stolen Crown"" is a good, very different ""take"" on this era. I would recommend boning up on the Woodville family and Richard III before tackling this one!And it really needs a glossary!",4.0,This Book Needs a Glossary!,1302307200,"04 9, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2033X6QD7NKBQ,1439102767,Lynn Daniels,"[0, 0]",What a great read I learned a lot what a great author this book makes me want to learn more.,5.0,A perfect title,1395446400,"03 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3K4NQ28G56C2C,0316224588,AT,"[0, 0]","He's back. Same Rebus, same suspense, same fun. If you craved the return of our old, severely flawed hero,no disappointment here. It's a shame it takes so long to write good books and reading them zips by so quickly. Rankincan't be beat - oh, please write some more. Right away... Rebus is no doubt keeping busy and we need to know what he'sup to.",5.0,Relief,1359849600,"02 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3KGFSJUXG9M1V,0985030275,C. Somers,"[0, 0]","Intriguing story of a young boy and his descent into the mafia world. A fast read, I was disappointed when it ended.",5.0,Riveting story,1390608000,"01 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AEDXDA5AIK3VS,0399157565,"Amazon Customer ""Bowdrie""","[0, 0]",As a long time fan of Patricia Cornwell and her Kay Scarpetta character I thoroughly enjoyed The Bone Bed. Great story line and not predictable.,5.0,Another great read be Cornwell..,1357171200,"01 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33KIW9Q846230,044022179X,"Vicki Darling ""Fbgirl""","[0, 0]",This is a great story. It is related to the Bob Lee/Earl Swagger stories but can very much stand alone.,5.0,Great Book! Excellent Author!,1367366400,"05 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AKEHRMET3KTJ7,0345434250,Jack R Rennels,"[0, 0]",I've read all of Anne Mc Caffrey dragon books that I could find. I liked or loved all of them. This is the first book of her's I've read not on the subject of Dragons and I like it also.,4.0,Good,1364515200,"03 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21RC9DRZB0E1S,1609804783,J.B. Lyle,"[64, 65]","Urgently recommended, because it's about who's buying and stealing American elections, how they do it, and how to keep them from getting away with it.Having read this author's other books, most recently Vultures' Picnic, I already knew he wrote with ferocious, if often appropriately hilarious, journalistic passion--plausibly claiming, however, to be non-partisan. In light of what he writes about the Clintons and Obama as well as Karl Rove and the Koch brothers, it does appear that he turns a blind eye to nothing and puts it all out there. Based on the evidence in this book, today in our country one political party is the overwhelming champ at wielding money to influence voters--and in case that alone doesn't produce the desired outcomes, disenfranchising them. One state's House Leader notoriously acknowledged--though he didn't intend a tape of this to reach a general audience--the real purpose of burdensome new voter ID laws, which he said would allow his party's presidential candidate to win his state.Other methods of suppressing or stealing votes include purging and/or caging voter lists, as well as spoiling, ejecting, blocking, rejecting, ""prestidigitizing,"" tossing, and stuffing ballots. If the reader isn't clear on how any of these methods work, not to worry, it's all explained, complete with photos and documents. As in his other books, Palast provides links to additional layers of information. In the middle of this one is a comic book by widely-published Ted Rall, as funny as it is full of facts.Palast, an investigative journalist, or ""gumshoe,"" as he calls himself, tells the reader who the Billionaires of the title are, what they've done to get so rich and what they're doing to get even richer. They want it all and they're on their way to rigging the system even more in their favor than it already is. But, we're urged, don't despair! Palast lists things we can do to ensure that: (a) we get to vote, and, (b) our vote is counted. As Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., says in his Introduction, ""There's still time to steal back your vote."" Good news, in the runup to an election as serious as a heart attack.",5.0,Who's stealing your vote and how to stop them,1348012800,"09 19, 2012",64,65,helpful,0.9846153846153847,1 AOFIZNZFX66UK,146798759X,chevon roberts,"[0, 1]","I love this book. YOU will not regret buying or reading this book. The main characters and the supporting characters were great and well developed. I fell in love with David in so many ways, I came to love him and enjoy his development throughout this book. Their love story is worth reading. Everytime I thought this book was going to end it just kept going which was great, it kept me guessing. I kept thinking about these characters afterward and plan to re-read this book. it goes in my re-read section because I love it that much. you will not regret reading this book. the story of love, forgiveness, finding one's self and family is what is best about this book. Read it and you will not regret it.",5.0,"LOVE, LOVE This book.",1390262400,"01 21, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A83ET0YDLUN69,1572246502,Dr. R. A.,"[4, 8]",Personally I thought the book read a little slow. Overall its a good book for decreasing anxiety and some of the mindfullness practices are similar to meditation practices in other books. I basically think its a book on meditation.,3.0,Reads slow but the advice is book,1363824000,"03 21, 2013",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A1KPDKD7VYRE3B,B002PA0LW0,T. S.,"[48, 51]","EDIT:As the book to which this is a prologue has been released, I would recommend buying the book instead of this prologue. Consider the review below a historical curiosity -- it was written well prior to the actual novel's release.-This is the prologue (about forty pages printed, or about 500 kindle ""locations"") to the new book in Robert Jordan's _Wheel of Time_ series, _The Gathering Storm_; it's coauthored by Jordan (who sadly died about a two years ago) and by Brandon Sanderson, author of several excellent but less-well-known fantasy novels.The quality of the Wheel of Time series overall has been somewhat of a sine wave, with definite peaks and definite valleys, and despite a marked increase in quality in the book immediately prior to this one (Knife of Dreams, which came out in 2005), Jordan's death and the series' checkered history gave real reason to fear that the handover of this series would not go well.So far as this preview goes, at least, the handover has succeeded. There's a real spark and fire here; if you're a fan of the earlier books, and you haven't gotten completely jaded to the entire Wheel of Time series by now, this prologue will probably be good enough to get you excited about the upcoming book (or, at least, it got *me* excited. But I've always been a Wheel of Time fan).Because of the nature of the coauthorship (Jordan wrote some sections of this book before he died, and the rest was completed from outlines and notes), it's hard to know how much we're seeing here of Brandon Sanderson's work and how much of Jordan's, and there were one or two moments where I as a reader wondered whose voice I was reading. But only one or two. The puzzle-like interlocking complexity of Jordan's world and the compelling characters (major and minor) are definitely still here, and these few pages were a thrill to read.We won't know till we read 'em whether the remaining three books in the series are going to live up to the peaks of what's gone before, or crash down into the valleys. But this prologue has me excited (which is its job, I suppose).edit: I should also mention that the first chapter of this book is available online for ""free"" (email address required) at tor.com; the second chapter is available as an audiobook at the same location.",5.0,The spark's still there,1253145600,"09 17, 2009",48,51,helpful,0.9411764705882353,1 AL5OEDM8TPTKV,0740792563,James Hiller,"[9, 15]","This is absolutely one of the greatest gifts Amazon has ever sent!It's a fairly large blue case, imprinted with the presidential seal, and embossed on the side. When you open the case, the black velvet lining immediately catches your eye. On the right side, a beautiful replica of the Lincoln blble awaits. It's a small Bible, pocket size, with a gold plated ""catch"", and a beautifuil red cover. Inside, they replicated Lincoln's actual writing and notes from the Bible.On the left side is a replica of the inaugural announcement. Also, information on the Obama's, as well as historical information on the Bible itself, are all tied together with a black ribbon.This is a stunning piece to add to my Lincoln book collection. If you have an Obama fan in your family, you can't get any better than this wonderful, sentimental gift.",5.0,A stunning gift for any Obama/Lincoln fan!,1263772800,"01 18, 2010",9,15,helpful,0.6,1 A23IM721S4BABB,1478273577,Kat,"[0, 0]","I love this series. I am totally addicted to the Zombie Games series. I read all four of the available Zombie Games books within two days of buying the first in the series. Dead Endz was probably my favorite in the series so far to be perfectly honest. I love book 4, Road Kill, as well, but I prefer Dead Endz. The world being built by Kristen with each subsequent book is just amazing and so gripping. This series is not boring at all and is fast paced enough to keep you interested throughout the entire book.",5.0,Probably my favorite in the series!,1379289600,"09 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1K11J4SBIOWNP,0983520801,Boudreaux,"[0, 0]","This diet plan is very different from calorie counting, high carb, high protein, etc. It brings into view a different, common sense approach to weigh control.",4.0,Another diet plan,1393027200,"02 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZTSS5KWXFN59,0316101966,Mandy,"[0, 0]","You know it's not a good sign when you're super glad a series ends. This series had such potential. The world Saintcrow built is great and the secondary characters are interesting. Good pacing. Honestly, after book five, those are about the nicest thing I can say about it.By the end, I just wanted all the main characters dead and the book over. Dead. Dead. DEAD. I even know how it should have ended. Dante kills the Devil. Japh kills Eve. Dante gets mad and kills Japh. Then she kills herself over the guilt. The End. *sigh* I wish. Speaking of, the ending was completely unsatisfactory. It wasn't quite ""it was all a dream"" or ""the narrator's in a psych ward."" But, it was definitely inadequate.I won't be reading any more of this author's books because of her annoying writing quirks. Saintcrow is seemingly incapable of writing solid, uninterrupted dialogue. She is also unbelievably repetitive. Books one and two have a disturbing amount of nipples hardening in anticipation of battle. Book five must have used the nickname ""Sunshine"" about six billion times. If you cut out all the repetitive parts in books three through five, you would be left with a nice little novella.",2.0,Ugh.,1379462400,"09 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A179RWZZ4611EB,0394735307,Hande Z,"[11, 26]","I have the Royall Tyler translation and was looking forward to comparing that with Seidensticker's work, but I found that the editors or proof-readers responsible for this edition (Seidensticker's translation) did the publisher and all concerned a disservice in not spotting the error in the Introduction (page ix was missing and in its place page x was repeated). I initially gave this a solitary star because this sort of error should not have been made. However, I have since persevered and read it in comparison not only to the Tyler translation but also the 2010 Arthur Waley translation (Tuttle Publishers) and personally found that Seidensticker reads most easily among the three. Seidensticker's first line read: ""In a certain reign there was a lady not of the first rank whom the emperor loved more than any of the others."" Tyler's: ""In a certain reign (whose could it have been?) someone of no very great rank, among all His Majesty's Consorts and Intimates, enjoyed exceptional favour."" Waley's: ""At the Court of the Emperor (he lived it matters not when)there was among the many gentlewomen of the Wardrobe and Chamber one, who though she was not of very high rank was favoured far beyond all the rest;"" sic. Not familiar with Japanese, I am unable to say which was the more faithful translation.The Introduction by Seidensticker himself was about as informative as that in Tyler's. Denis Washburn's Introduction in the Waley translation was mainly a long synopsis of the story.",4.0,Poor Editorial Work Good Reading,1203552000,"02 21, 2008",11,26,helpful,0.4230769230769231,1 A1CNRPJPYAUU2H,B00KC8Q522,Books123,"[0, 0]","Juvenile, infantile, that's what the writing is. The motorcycle club members appear all to be in high school, and the heroine herself is a freshman nitwit. I actually had to stop at around 15 percent. Just very embarrassing.",1.0,I Want To Unread This Book...Terrible.,1402876800,"06 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1D2C0WDCSHUWZ,1593076673,"E. A Solinas ""ea_solinas""","[11, 12]","The world of Neil Gaiman looks pretty normal -- until you see the dark, eerie, bizarre things that swim just under the surface.So expect nothing less from the primly-titled ""The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch,"" a graphic novel adaptation of Gaiman's short story. Michael Zulli's matter-of-fact artwork serves as a solid complement to Gaiman's eerie story of an ordinary, innocent outing for three friends and one biogeologist -- and the strange disappearance that came from it.The narrator and his pals Jonathan and Jane are planning to go out for sushi and a circus, but are ""lumbered"" with a prissy, stuffy acquaintance named Miss Finch. While Miss Finch tortures the others with descriptions of the parasites in sushi, the little group arrives at the circus. But this is no child-friendly funfest -- instead they're taken into an underground labyrinth by a vampiress.Devils, freaks, monsters and an Alice Cooper ringmaster are all down there, but the four visitors are very unimpressed. Then a strange apelike creature offers to give someone in the audience a wish, and pulls Miss Finch into the darkness. And when the remaining three friends venture into the next room, what they find is not what they expected of Miss Finch...""The Facts In The Case Of The Departure Of Miss Finch"" sounds like a Victorian-era mystery, perhaps something by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in which a spinster is kidnapped or murdered. In the hands of most authors, it wouldn't be much more than that, even if it were a fantasy story. But in the hands of Neil Gaiman, that story becomes something much more.Instead this story dips down into a darker area, and gives readers a glimpse into a strange world that defies the everyday, where you're not sure what is illusion and what is supernatural. In fact, the Theatre of Night's Dreaming is the real star, as Gaiman devotes plenty of time to showing us the perverse, the weird, and the outright ghastly -- and the climactic encounter with Miss Finch (""which, as I have mentioned, was not her name"") is a silent masterpiece of graceful intensity.With, of course, tongue in cheek, such as the ringmaster's warnings (""... on pain of DOOM, bodily injury, and the loss of your immortal soul! Also I must stress that the use of flash photography or of any recording devices is strictly forbidden""), Miss Finch's ghastly fluke conversation, or the wry observations of the three writers.Michael Zalli's artwork has graced other Gaiman works, such as ""Sandman."" So it's not surprising that his slightly faded, striking artwork is an excellent complement to Gaiman's detailed prose. And he's excellent at the subtle stuff, such as the close-ups of Miss Finch's face that show how pretty she is... right before a wide shot that makes her look like a frumpy spinster.Despite its dull name, ""The Facts In The Case Of The Departure Of Miss Finch"" is an eerie little nugget brought to colorful life, and it's definitely one of Gaiman's more intriguing short stories.",4.0,He shivered at the memory...,1216339200,"07 18, 2008",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A1BCVPSEZ5NSXK,0756669170,Doulos,"[18, 21]",".Summary:Every Dorling Kindersley Guide has been a great and interesting book... and delightful to have and use, even if you are not traveling to that location, but are only interested in learning more!The Guides are well organized in a logical and easy to follow manner. They are beautifully illustrated, well developed with accurate information (it is unusual for hotel and restaurant information to be that accurate), have enough history to help the reader understand the people and cultural background, and have a lot of useful travel information and useable maps in the appendixes.The really great attraction to this book is several fold; it is:............Very complete............Easy to read............Beautifully and artistically completed............Good shopping, safety and other tips............Gorgeous photographs too numerous to list.Specifics:The guides are organized as follows:How to use this guideIntroduction to Historical and Geographical informationGeographical Regions............Introduction London........................Intro.........................History........................At a Glance........................Through the Year........................Riverview of London............London Area by Area, each section includes:........................Introduction to street by street area........................Detailed pictorials of area buildings........................Architectural drawings, pictures, cut-aways of buildings........................Specific stops, historical monuments, churches, buildings, etc.........................Four Guided WalksTravelers Needs - includes full list with rankings and notes............Hotels............Restaurants, pubs............Shops / Markets............Entertainment............Children's LondonSurvival Information............Practical........................Tourist info., Etiquete, Personal Security and Health........................Currencies, Telephones, misc info.............Getting to London............Getting Around London............Street Maps............General Index............Phrase BookDiscussion:The book begins with ""Introducing London"", including a complete map, a review, the city's history, and London thought the Year - including events, etc.Areas with an ""At a glance"" overview, then has subsections of specific blocks, or forums, then specific locations, churches, historical monuments, bridges, galleries, etc.Architectural reviews include various views, and cutaways; given greater understanding and better perspective. They are all attractive, if not works of art - honestly.The travelers' Info. offers good and valid info. on prices, currencies, customs, important words, etc. I used the reviews on hotel's restaurants and nightclubs, etc. and found they were useful and accurate, and helpful with my touring and site decisions.The books are so well thought-out that it has multiple maps, with various lookup tables, and the book's flaps are designed to be used as bookmarks for map pages.Conclusion:Each book in this series is a great help, and beautiful collectible resource. As the President, CEO of an International Meeting Planning Corporation we have many resources and techniques to learn about places we have meetings / groups at as well as the cities and sights. But, as a traveler, this book really is top notch and I would recommend it to anyone going on a personal trip, or wanting to learn about a city, or location. We have used some of these books to augment our research to investigate cities for our groups.",5.0,"Great Travel Guide, Beautiful Coffee Table Book!",1024963200,"06 25, 2002",18,21,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 AN0XWUHSHRUG6,0061081973,Kristi Ahlers,"[7, 7]","This was a wonderful story about a strong willed woman who will not let herself down and is true to herself. She finds love were she least expects it and it's more touching and wonderful for that fact.Queen is the oldest of three girls. Her father has died, but even when he was alive he was not there for his girls. He did manage to teach them not to trust men, slick comments, and things that seem to good to be true. He was a gambler, and not a good one so they lived on the fringes of society in a small backwood Tennesse town, that is until Johnny dies and the girls decide that it is time to move on. Queen bids farwell to her younger sisters as they each take a different road. Queen gets on a bus and heads to Arizona. She wants to be as far away from coal smoke and mountains as she can get. Fate steps in and soon Queen finds herself headed toward Colorado and her destiny.Cody Bonner has suffered much in his life. He was an Air Force pilot but after the death of his wife he retires so he can be home with his 3 sons. They have suffered cruelly at the hands of their grandmother and he will do anything to keep that woman away from his kids. The grandmother feels that Cody is not fit to be a parent and has had the kids in and out of court trying to prove it. A set of circumstances lead Cody's boys to a chance encounter with Queen. From there the lessons that will be learned are heartwarming and are learned by all. Love does save the day.This is a wonderful book and a does justice to this strong willed, but soft on the inside woman. This is second in the series of the Gamblers Daughter trilogy but stands alone if you have not read the first one. Wonderful characterization, fast paced, and romantic. A perfect way to spend the evening.",4.0,A Queen Of A Tale!,1047168000,"03 9, 2003",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 AL7Q27F8I3ETF,B003GFIW56,Sylvette,"[0, 0]","What the author is trying to do here is fairly ambitious. The good news is she mostly pulls it off.The book is narrated from the point of view of a 14? year old girl who, along with her mother, aunt and sister can hear peoples desires/needs. She is prep-ish, popular, upbeat and views her power as a gift to get people what they wish for, if possible. She is a pleaser. Joy is rudderless when she cannot tell what people want and powerless when they wish for things she cannot obtain, like a new BMW. Jessica her older sister is shorter, angry and a misanthrope of spectacular degree. She is hostile to everyone and boosts the hostility with her gift. Surprisingly Ica is not a JD (juvenile delinquent) although she does cut class and generally alienate everyone. Ica, is wreck.The two sisters started life close and broke apart as their differences increased. The ""there but for the grace go I"" difference between Jess and Joy is what they hear. Joy only hears positive thought while Jess claims to hear negative as well. Joy does not believe this and does not understand the pathology of Jess's hostility to everyone and particularly to Joy herself. Jess claims people are awful and Joy never sees it. Jess says their mother is a liar while Joy is close to her mother and emulates her codependently.The author spends about 1/3 to 1/2 of Joy's world view. The plot really begins when Joy confronts Jess about her behavior and stands up for herself in a moment of strength. Its a pretty big deal for a pleaser and she knows it. Jess leaves, stating ambiguously ""I have to go"". This sets of the basic tension for the rest of the book climaxing when the two sisters find each other again.Once her sister leaves Joy experiences a number of events that change her world view. Notably, her mother is acting oddly at her birthday. She temporarily looses the ability to ""Hear"" during her party. Her mother leaves to visit her aunt unexpectedly, telling Joy that Jess is at an orientation for college. And finally, Jess begins to hear negative thoughts, causing her to re-evaluate her friendships.Joy's change of world view is the central story. It is ambitious and fairly well done. Joy slowly learns there are different type of friends. She finds her mother is a liar and a psychological mess, seeing in her the abysmal destiny of the pleaser. Joy finds her crush is kind of a dick and his JD brother is kind of awesome and so on. Finally she comes to understand her sisters view point without also becoming a copy of her sister.At the end, side characters like the father, mother, BFF and the crush are all given some dimension. No one, not even the ""drug dealing bad guys"" are all bad or cardboard characters. I particularly like revelations concerning Ben, her big crush. He starts dreamy and is revealed to be a shallow womanizer, calling Joy's BFF ""Frosh Number One"". But in the end he shows a human side to his brother. I also like that Joy's rescue of Jess is not a rescue at all. She simply finds Jess in an exciting way.My only criticisms would be that Jess seems to be too hostile. For someone who is smart and clairvoyant, she fails spectacularly to explain even the smallest thing to Joy. Also, Joy changes her world view a little too easily. In a weekend she makes the transition from self satisfied pleaser to a genuine kid with some backbone and understanding of the world.",4.0,An Ambitious Debut,1348012800,"09 19, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3E2OZ67KZEDGL,0393045250,"P. Graham ""ptg1""","[10, 23]","I am convinced that Lee Harvey Oswald, alone, killed John Kennedy. I believe that he did this because he was a militant communist (or Marxist, if that matters to you) who virulently and violently hated America. He killed Kennedy not as an agent of the KGB or (I think) Fidel Castro, but as a result of the insidious influence of Soviet and Cuban propaganda. Oswald was an early exemplar of a personality that may have been unfamiliar in 1963, but became all-too-familiar by the late 1960's and remains with us today - the severely emotionally disturbed loser who finds his or her home in radical left-wing and anti-American causes. Had Oswald not killed Kennedy, there is no doubt that history would find a more hirsute Oswald a few years later in a group like the Weather Underground, the SLA, SDS, etc. I believe that the scientific evidence proves Oswald's guilt beyond any doubt, and I have become satisfied with the answers to what appeared to be troublesome issues with Kennedy's head movement and the path and condition of the so-called ""magic bullet"". It is an open and shut case.However, the story of John Kennedy has become so distorted by adoring historians (and media) who project onto him what they so desperately want him to have been - a commanding, intellectually brilliant President who followed today's left-wing agenda - and what they so desperately want him to have done - ""pull out"" of Vietnam, make peace with the Soviets and befriend Castro, eliminate racism and every other -ism with a wave of his hand, bring an end to the so-called military-industrial complex and emasculate the CIA, solve poverty, bring ""Heaven on Earth"" to America, and on and on and on - that it is utterly incomprehensible that a fellow on the left would have attempted to kill him. The real culprits just HAD to have been those forces (allegedly) threatened by the left-wing agenda that they so desperately want to believe Kennedy would have pursued.As a result, any evidence that appears to indict Oswald as a leftist and the lone gunman had to be discarded through what has become a degenerating spiral of fantastic and ultimately self-reinforcing theories. As evidence of Oswald's guilt mounted and as first-generation conspiracy theories were disproved, new theories necessarily became more and more fantastic, involving a wider and wider group of people and governmental authorities (until everyone must have been clued in on the killing other than JFK and Jackie Kennedy). The more people that were necessarily involved, the more sinister and powerful appeared to be the ""hidden forces"" behind the killing of Kennedy, and the greater the threat that a living Kennedy would have had to have posed to their dastardly plans. At this stage of ""thinking"", the government, its investigations, and its evidence, necessarily possess no credibility whatsoever (which, in its own way, ""proves"" that Oswald was just a patsy).Today, we face a legitimate danger that the history taught to our children will, in one form or another, accept that John Kennedy was assassinated by a conspiracy, and that the truth was covered up by the government. Vincent Bugliosi's ""Reclaiming History"" is an attempt to prevent this travesty. Unfortunately, in that, it is a failure.For the most part, the blame must fall on the shoulders of Mr. Bugliosi and his editors. The book is excessively long and it is hard to imagine that many readers other than those with an avid interest in the assassination will plow through its 1,600 pages (plus an untold number of pages of notes). The problem is that Mr.Bugliosi's book will not change the minds of many, if any, readers who will actually read it. Obviously, he will not change the minds of those of us who believe that Oswald was the lone gunman. Nor is it likely that he will change the minds of those who believe there was a conspiracy for the simple reason that they already reject the foundation upon which he must build his case. For example, if one (wrongly) assumes that the FBI was complicit in the assassination, he or she is not going to be dissuaded by an argument that the FBI could not have been complicit because there is no evidence linking the FBI to Oswald, and, on the basis of evidence, in large part, gathered or developed by the FBI, Oswald was the lone gunman. In addition, if one (wrongly) believes that Oswald was not even a gunman, but was a patsy, he or she is not going to be convinced by Mr. Bugliosi's arguments that the mob, or the KGB, or the CIA etc. could not have been involved in the assassination because such groups would never entrust the task to someone like Oswald. On the other hand, the readers for whom Mr. Bugliosi could (and should) make a difference - those not too far gone, those with a passing knowledge of the assassination or those who have received their history of it from the despicable Oliver Stone and his film - are also those least likely to attempt to read this book.The book is also not well edited or written. In particular, the pervasive ad hominem attacks on certain conspiracy theorists and pro-conspiracy witnesses are wearisome - even for those of us who do not find them to be worthy of sympathy. Mr. Bugliosi's attacks are gratuitous, beneath the author, and ultimately serve to demean him.Finally, Mr. Bugliosi, like so many others of his generation, cannot get past an idealized vision of John Kennedy and his historical significance. The reality is that Kennedy was an aggressive Cold Warrior - arguably as aggressive toward the USSR as any Cold War Presidents other than Eisenhower and Reagan. As did Eisenhower and Reagan, Kennedy pushed back hard at Soviet and communist expansion - through overt (e.g., Vietnam) and covert (e.g., Cuba) operations and in speeches and policy (""Ich Ein Berliner""). This should be evident based upon nothing other than Kennedy's extreme actions against Castro - the invasion, repeated assassination attempts, extensive sabotage, etc. Notwithstanding what modern leftists so desperately want to believe, there is no evidence in the record or in his personality to suggest that Kennedy would have done anything other than continue his aggressiveness against Soviet and communist expansion.Yet, astonishingly, after presenting an effective demolition of the myth that Kennedy had announced that he was going to withdraw U.S. forces from Vietnam (forces that had increased from 500 to 16,000 under his administration), Mr. Bugliosi concludes that he believes Kennedy would have done so, thereby avoiding the cataclysm of Vietnam - simply because of Kennedy's ""rationalism"" and experience in combat first-hand. So, with the same (Kennedy-appointed) advisors (Rusk, McNamara, Bundy, Rostow, etc.), and under the same geo-political,political and military pressures that compelled Johnson -- every bit as ""rational"" as Kennedy -- to escalate troop levels, Mr. Bugliosi just believes that Kennedy would have pulled out. Mr. Bugliosi also says that he believes Fidel Castro's post-assassination statements that he had nothing but respect and admiration for Kennedy (you know, the guy who kept trying to kill him) and that Kennedy's death was as much a tragedy for him and Cuba as it was for the rest of humanity. (Castro wouldn't lie because, to Bugliosi, Castro was so intelligent.)It is starry-eyed nonsense like this (even from someone as hard-headed as Mr. Bugliosi) that keeps us from getting at the root of all of the conspiracies, and understanding a straightforward truth: A violent and mentally unstable communist (or Marxist) - having been incited by an endless litany of Soviet and Cuban propaganda against this country and the anti-communist policies of the Kennedy administration - decided that he must do what any good Marxist revolutionary would do given the opportunity.",3.0,Condense It!,1194998400,"11 14, 2007",10,23,helpful,0.43478260869565216,1 A1DH9TIAY0G4S9,0553569082,Miphyl,"[0, 0]","Riveting til the end, good descriptive court action ending was so good. Truly a great writer felt like I was in courtroom",5.0,Spellbinding,1387756800,"12 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PQP4FDHZ9258,094201832X,"S. Sur ""Beads of Glass""","[4, 7]","I ordered this book based on the reviews here.I was stunned to see the book. There was nothing in it to inspire.It was on geometry which I know and love, and knitting as sculpture.I did not want shocking arty strange fiber museum pieces. I wanted to learn something new.I returned it.",1.0,Rave reviews and a disappointing book,1317254400,"09 29, 2011",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A3AGI3OFH9QK7A,0758232012,Pamela (@SpazP),"[49, 53]","Originally posted at Wicked Lil Pixie Reviews.4.5 StarsThis is a spoiler-free review but assumes familiarity with the Georgina Kincaid series.And here we are... The End. Succubus Revealed is the last book in Richelle Mead's Georgina Kincaid series and I cannot begin to tell you how bittersweet reading this book felt. I wanted to hurry up and read it, yet slow down and savor the story. Ultimately I settled on ""screw it, full speed ahead!"" and read it in one seating.We find Georgina working as a Santa's elf at a high-end Mall, far away from her former ideal job at her beloved bookstore, which she had to leave after what happened with Seth and Maddie. Ugh Maddie. Blech, do. not. like! But that's another rant for another time. Georgie's been ordered by Hell to transfer her succubus services to Las Vegas, but when she goes out there to scope out the scene, things seem a little too intentionally perfect. With Seth Mortenson's sister-in-law still ill with cancer in Seattle, this transfer is yet one more hurdle in their attempt to be with each other. Sweet cheesus will Georgie and Seth ever be able to be together?! You'll have your answer by the end of Succubus Revealed and I get sentimentally teary-eyed all over again just remembering it.I did find some parts somewhat predictable, which made the beginning a little slow for me. The first half of the book was slow-moving, but by the middle, things start Happening with a capital H. Some readers probably have figured out several revelations that are hinted at in the last book, Succubus Shadows, but it is the raw emotions Ms. Mead is able to evoke that make this book so fantastic. I think Seth and Roman fans alike will be pleased with the outcome and with how things play out. The plot twists involving Jerome, Carter, and Roman separately are quite powerful. While I would have liked to have seen a few more things addressed, maybe a little more things flipped upside down in true Richelle Mead fashion, I was pleased with the way this ultimate love conquers all series was drawn to an end. The Georgina series will continue to be one of my favorites and I highly recommend it. They are very very sexy, highly emotional books, and I am glad Ms. Mead had this end in mind for Succubus Revealed. The Georgina Kincaid Series reading order:Succubus BluesSuccubus on TopSuccubus DreamsSuccubus HeatSuccubus ShadowsSuccubus Revealed (The End!)",4.0,Bittersweet end to the Georgina Kincaid series,1314662400,"08 30, 2011",49,53,helpful,0.9245283018867925,1 A2UVGLVHNL308W,B00LNM8EXE,Dragonfli13,"[0, 0]",There is no other author like London Casey/Karolyn James!!! I have not read a book by her that was not amazing and Crash and Burn is no exception... Can't wait for the next book!!!,5.0,You HAVE to read this!!!!!!!!,1405814400,"07 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2COQ0R2JB4AD1,0312377037,CHP,"[0, 0]","This is an intricate mystery. The various strands and plot-lines eventually emerge as one mystery, a murder that complicates life in the village on various levels. This novel is well-written and capable of holding the reader's attention. Louise Penny knows how to hold the reader's attention.I have not read all of Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Gamache novels, but it seems to me that the little village of Three Pines where the action takes place is populated by characters with hidden pasts and buried secrets. Over time perhaps the major members of the village will be personally involved in situations requiring the detective services of Chief Inspector Gamache and his team.Louis Penny has written a gripping novel that is a good read.",4.0,"The Brutal Telling, by Louise Penny",1400112000,"05 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NPLA19LD5E23,4766111753,Rio A.,"[7, 7]","Ozawa does a wonderful job again! He inititally starts the book on drawing your character using perspective giving a numerous amount of pointers and examples. Then giving basic action poses (walking, running, sitting, standing, laying down, etc) and going into variations of those actions by using multiple examples of characters. A typical example page consists of a stick figure in a particular pose, a block figure, and the actual finished character in the same pose. Front and back, or other view of the pose is common and he even gives pointers and tips of details to look out for.Besides teaching you how to draw real believable characters, this book is an excellent edition that you may later use as a reference book for poses. Like his earlier books, Ozawa covers nudity tastefully and this book can be used by young artists without fear. A book well worth the money, imo.",5.0,A book worth your money,1101081600,"11 22, 2004",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A1L8HRCM60W0W7,0747545707,Shashank Tripathi,"[18, 25]","...but take a look at ""Wikipedia"" ... or the online Merriam-Webster ...both of which between them contain a much more comprehensive (and updated) etymology of words and their origins. Being online they are also siginificantly faster for most people than rummaging through the pages of a fat tome. In my experience, the online stuff is also more detailed, for instances, check up the words ""veranda"" or ""rickshaw"". Hope this is useful.",4.0,WITH APOLOGIES TO THOSE WHO PREFER THE GUTENBERG FEEL...,1058745600,"07 21, 2003",18,25,helpful,0.72,1 A2ELPONE3SPM6A,1600599249,"JL Cooley ""Mom 2 2""","[0, 0]","I bought this for my almost 7 year old to go with a sewing machine for Christmas, and we already have cut and pieced the quilt from the cover. Just a fun book with cute projects. Well written and great photos. Love it for the young and old alike!",5.0,Such pretty projects,1356393600,"12 25, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1CQJYMTE8C6WJ,0451159594,Amazon Customer,"[4, 5]","WARNING! If you are reading ANY Michael Slade book, BE AWARE that most, if not all, are meant to be READ IN ORDER from the very first book! If you read a book in the series out of order, you may well find referrences or statements that will RUIN THE PLOTS and ENDINGS of his PREVIOUS NOVELS should you decide to read them!To all those complaining and waffling about the mutiple-personalities angle - *THAT* folks, was the POINT of the whole book!WHAT would we find if we could get inside the mind of a hardcore psychopath? WHAT do we get when we rip away the mask? WHO do we find behind that mask? And the answer will scare the HELL out of you!Frankly, I enjoy matching wits with a talented mystery writer and, like virtually everyone else who read Slade's first novel HEADHUNTER, I was led around by the nose to the very end.Ghoul however - while a great read - didn't remotely replicate that mental challenge of HEADHUNTER. I snapped to the gimmick relatively early (Still, no easy trick) and it was simply a matter of watching the crafting of the story and further clues to validate my theories. Slade writes like a DEMON in every novel and readers will seldom be disappointed in his(their) prose or pace.Unfortunately, I need to say something bordering on ""Sladist"" blasphemy here. The Slade group, when they are on top of their game, simply can't be beat! They make Silence of the Lambs and PSYCHO look like psychological tinker toys. Unfortunately, that ""Got game!"" scenario has become the exception rather than the rule - especially since Jay Clark began writing with his daughter. Uninspired is the word that springs readily to mind.The FIRST FIVE novels were super, even though there was a slight amount of plot and writing ""slippage"" becoming increasingly apparent between books. As Slade is a formula writer - ala apparently unrelated past/present connections - it becomes far too easy to quickly guage the overall quality of writing and plot between any book and the ones before it. Evil Eye, to my thinking the absolute WORST book in the series, Slade apparently just gets LAZY and leaves readers with an unfair ""It's either ____ or ____ who's the killer. Oh, okay it's ____. The end."" ending in which the reader has no way of deducing from the clues which person was the actual killer. He just picks one of two suspect's name and fills it it in. No excuse for that.For those who genuinely enjoy a dark jaunt into the minds of ultra-violent psychopaths, Jay Clark should know the subject about as well as anyone. He's a former DEFENSE ATTORNEY for the CRIMINALLY INSANE.Bottom line: BUY THIS BOOK! But buy HEADHUNTER and read it FIRST!After book five, expect a major change from stellar brilliance to ho-hum/Please God, let the NEXT ONE be better!",5.0,Some reviewers here just didn't GET IT...,1106697600,"01 26, 2005",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 ASZISCNFK627J,0929239520,gatha,"[0, 0]","I always wanted to understand the Book of Revelation, It also has made me open my eyes to what I must do to bring others to the Lord Jesus now. We have work to do. Not for only our Family but everyone.It showed me that we are closer to the end than I realized.I tried to buy at least three books this weekend to give to friends that need to read this. All the book stores did not have them.At times it scared me. I question myself to where I was with God. These people do not have a Kindle.",5.0,WOW!! A most read. It is perparing us for the END TIME The end time is here,1367107200,"04 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1V2KXRU8HMD17,1467945749,C. Brunner,"[9, 13]","I have so many mixed feelings about this story. It is about a world that is environmentally collapsed. The world is filled with pollution and economic disaster. The US is not the stable place that it is today. This is a harsh world that is very fleshed out and believable. The premise is a group of people that crew a submarine to go on a rescue mission deep into the depths of the ocean. Something has gone horribly wrong on a research sub submerged deeply in the ocean. There are several different factions vying for control over what happens during the mission. Oh and of course the Z is for zombies. If you do not already know this, this is a zombies on a submarine story. I have read just about every scenario to do with zombies, so I was intrigued by this new take on the genre. I found the submersible and the sub to be very claustrophobic. It seems like a very scary scenario. There are also fast zombies and some small bits of intelligence to them. These are more like the 28 days later/dead island (for those that like the video game) infected than the night of the living dead slow, dumb ones.One of the big strengths of this book is the detailed characterization. One of the previous reviewers mentioned a similarity to the characters in the TV show Firefly, and I can see why they felt that way. You do get a gun for hire, mercenary feeling with this ragtag group. One thing that I found confusing was the similarity of the names Ivan and Iain. I found myself a few times having to go back and say now who was this again. I guess that this is because there were so many things going on with the different characters. I felt that some of it was a little too much to try to keep track of.Also there are a few editing and grammar errors to warn people that have a big problem with that. I felt that personally the errors were very few so it was not a deal breaker for me.Overall, I liked this story. It was a nice bit of entertainment if you don't get too caught up with all of the cloak and dagger parts.EditedI gave it three stars because that is what I thought the overall quality of the story was. Although the story was good, it had many flaws. I actually ended up skipping through entire pages just to get to the end of it. There is no bloodshed or zombie action until after 60% of the book. There was not a wrapping up of all the loose ends. There were parts that were boring. This book has promise. In my opinion, I think it would really benefit from a good editor, but the story was original and the characters were entertaining.",3.0,Claustrophobic Zombie Story!,1324684800,"12 24, 2011",9,13,helpful,0.6923076923076923,1 AFVQZQ8PW0L,014241882X,Harriet Klausner,"[14, 17]","Although Lani and Erin are as opposite as two high school girls can be, they are BFFs. Lani the introvert is reflective and somewhat reticent while Erin the extrovert is bodacious and bold. Lani prefers to be alone rather than just go with the flow while Erin wants to lead the flow.Erin and Jason start dating. Lani, who has not shown an iota of interest in boys, is stunned by her attraction to her BFF's boyfriend though she hides it. She struggles not to betray Erin, but increasingly believes Jason should be her boyfriend as the horoscope reader believes they are destined to be together. Still she refuses to step out on her BF, but her avoidance efforts become impossible to sustain as fate intervenes when Erin leaves for the summer and Jason hangs with Lani.This is an entertaining teen relationship triangle starring two BFFs and the boy between them. The lead trio is terrific as each feels genuine and the use of social networks is a cautionary reminder of to keep your personal relationships' dirty laundry off line. Teenage readers will enjoy Something Like Fate wondering who if either will end up with Jason and what will happen to the friendship as the lead trio provides a deep angst-laden tale.Harriet Klausner",5.0,entertaining teen relationship triangle,1273104000,"05 6, 2010",14,17,helpful,0.8235294117647058,1 A3MFGULNTMAJS9,0307267679,Jill I. Shtulman,"[14, 15]","It can't be easy to be Joan Didion and it certainly wasn't easy to be her adopted daughter. As most readers know, Ms. Didion had to endure the cruelest kind of one-two punch: the death of her husband John Gregory Dunne followed by the death of Quintana Roo at age 39.And now, years after writing The Year of Magical Thinking, she revisits this dark year in Blue Nights: ""This book is called ""Blue Nights"" because at the time I began it I found my mind turning increasingly to illness, to the end of promise, the dwindling of the days, the inevitability of fading, the dying of the brightness. Blue nights are the opposite of the dying of the brightness, but they are also its warning.""I quoted this prologue at length because the book is less about Quintana than it is about her mother, the author. Ms. Didion eventually states, ""The actual subject was not children after all...the actual subject...was this failure to confront the certainties of aging, illness, death."" Or, in other words, ""it's now about me.""The author eschews the word ""privilege"" (""Privilege remains an area to which - when I think of what she endured, when I consider what came later - I will not easily cop."") But it is hard for the reader to NOT think of Quintana Roo as privileged, at least from a material sense. Joan Didion asked for - and received - a beautiful baby girl from St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica (the girl HAD to be ""beautiful""), purchased miniature wooden hangers and expensive dresses. Quintana, at the age of five, had stayed at the St. Regis and the Regency, The Dorchester in London, and so on.We learn that Quintana was not a happy child or adult who was terrified of an imaginary ""Broken Man"" and lived with a fear of abandonment. But more than that, we learn that Didion needed her daughter and that her own vulnerability may have trumped Quintana's overriding need for protection. Whether Joan Didion was a good - or at least a good enough - mother is for her to judge, although there is evidence that she loved Quintana to the best of her abilities.The more important question in this book is whether memories - or art - can save us from life's worst tragedies. There is deliberate repetition here - a lot of it - as the author strives to create order from chaos, presumably to answer that question in the affirmative. Yet at the end of the day, there is an elusive, even insubstantial quality about the book as it gradually shifts to the diminishing sense of her own possibilities.",4.0,"""The fear is for what is still to be lost.""",1321228800,"11 14, 2011",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 ASAM6EGR6JQ08,1841950890,"Borowy26 ""Hank""","[0, 0]","Following the death of their manager, Brian Epstein, the Beatles tried to assume control of their own careers and to promote other artists as well. Apple Records was one component of the impossibly utopian Apple Corporation developed to nuture aspiring artists. Despite the best of intentions, the business rapidly disintegrated into a state of anarchy and chaos as most costly socialist schemes are apt to do.John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were not especially well suited to play at being business executives or philanthropists. During the course of these pages, the actual members of the Beatles, individually or as a group, turn up only ever so often, usually at press conferences and receptions. On a day to day basis, Derek Taylor, a former music reviewer, who became Apple's press secretary is holding down the fort while Apple hemmorhaged money left and right. Apple's ultimate failure hastened the dissolution of the Beatles as an amazing influential and successful pop group. The Fab Four went their own separate ways as solo artists and several members were estranged for years.Despite some genuine talent, artists such as James Taylor, Mary Hopkins, and the group Badfinger were promoted by Apple, Apple Records produced only middling results apart from the Beatles franchise. Richard DiLello accepted a job as an intern and stayed on board until Apple closed up shop. He witnessed it all and records his kaliedoscopic recollections of a lengthy Roman saturnalia.Afterwards, there was only sweeping up and chartered accountant work left to do.",4.0,A Bittersweet Bit of Fun,1217289600,"07 29, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2A8G12LNY14W5,B00KQUNQ8C,Brian Leow,"[0, 0]","What I loved about the book is that it teaches you that, to become successful, it's not about having all the fancy technologies and tangible items, but it's about having the correct mindset which enable you to become successful, that's the most powerful thing.",5.0,Being grateful,1403136000,"06 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A31CWVNVR0IL9A,0385509952,Swing King,"[28, 28]","Anthony de Mello is loved and respected the world over; he was a Jesuit spiritual director and retreat leader from India who held numerous conferences, retreats, and workshops for those looking to further their spiritual lives. His Christianity was the mystical variety, a position which has placed his writings under the skeptic's scope since his death. But anyone who has read his splendid works knows firsthand the wonderfully kind and open heart he had; there is not doubt in this mind that Anthony was teaching the true spiritual roots of all Christianity.In this particular work de Mello unabashedly borrows from the very best of the world religions to present us with an eclectic pté of spiritual awakening. Calling upon Zen Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu, and early Christian sources, among others- Anthony reveals mystical revelations which are layered as you progress through the book; taking each and every one of us on a wonderful spiritual journey. He uses a generic master for each allegory, this master could be a Hindu Swami, a Zen master, a Sufi mystic, even a Christian monk - to present us with some of the most intriguing food for thought you may ever encounter. This book is much like a collection of Zen koans, anecdotes that perhaps are not fully absorbed the first time you read over them. These stories can take time to marinate their way into not only your brain, but more importantly, your very ground of being.These teachings will awaken your mind's eye if you let them, allowing you to realize spiritual life is so much more than simply contemplation. It requires above all: ACTION. Enjoy.",5.0,Allegories Collected by a Modern Christian Mystic,1078617600,"03 7, 2004",28,28,helpful,1.0,1 A9SHKU188OMFI,0380750848,Meredith,"[8, 8]","Chandos is the greatest hero of any romance novel. There is no man more fierce, dangerous, intriguing, or gorgeous!!! Courtney is the luckiest woman of fiction! This is such a good book that you'll probably finish it in 1 day (I did). Read the other reviews, EVERYBODY LOVES CHANDOS!",5.0,I LOVE CHANDOS!,1055980800,"06 19, 2003",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A2FVD19WG49BWZ,0062272853,Joe,"[0, 0]","All of us should have a set of rules to follow, follow these and you will be a better person and an American!",5.0,Adopt these rules and become a success!,1377907200,"08 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3V3WCUX7JCYN,0425149145,Sally Gobel,"[0, 0]","this was a good mistery,but the ending could have been alot better!!! The British humor was entertaining!!! I'm not sure i would reccomend it to my friends!!!",3.0,DO NOT DISTURB,1374192000,"07 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3R36D0QBO36HE,0471381802,Irvin Goodman,"[41, 48]","This brand new 300 page course can be the path to wealth for everyone, not just the big money folks. Robert leads us down the path of wealth, without regard to where we currently stand financially. He provides the basic steps and tools, shows exactly how simple it is to attain wealth, with a minimum of effort, only discipline. He covers retirement, low-risk methods, big consistent gains, and provides great ideas in easy to understand language. There's even info on the best tax shelters for you. His "Money Tree Formula" shows how to create lifelong streams of cash flow, simply. He emphasizes that "every dollar bill is a money seed," helping you realize the value of each single dollar in attaining financial success. Simple to follow charts and worksheets show you the facts and help you plan and track your financial success. Mr. Allen says "divert a few of your ill-spent dollars and funnel them into some well-timed investments, you can achieve financial success." You'll learn the really simple "key" that we generally ignore as we look for the golden goose. I completely agree with his premise that "procrastination is expensive." This is probably the main reason most of us never attain real financial success. One of the best books on gaining wealth that I have read. I intend to put his theories into practice. Consider doing the same. A great idea book.",5.0,Five Star Method To Help All Of Us Be Financial Winners !,959904000,"06 2, 2000",41,48,helpful,0.8541666666666666,1 A31YIFM5UMVH4H,0887306292,"J. K. Kelley ""literary mercenary""","[14, 15]","The authors have done a pretty good job at guessing what the future might hold, as we look back from several years after its publication. (As some gifted souls have so insightfully noted, the computer industry does actually change fairly rapidly, thus a book from the early-mid 1990s might be sort of dated in 2000.) What is impressive is how well it's held up over the years.The analysis of Gates' psychology, the corporate culture of Microsoft and its evolution, and the various spasms of its early years are all right on the money, and particularly interesting in light of the current DOJ proceedings. The material about Ballmer will be of interest to anyone keeping current with his rise in management at the company. It also paints an irresistable picture of the IBM that once was certain it could tell us all how we would use computers.Strongly recommended.",4.0,"good research, good insights",949104000,"01 29, 2000",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 A18EB0Z5MPT6UE,0976406497,Ryan Jones,"[24, 27]","For those with a critical eye and open mind, willing to suspend all preconcieved notions and say ""What if?..."", this book will make fascinating reading. Laura Knight-Jadczyk has condensed years of research into an explicitly-referenced, information-dense book that blows apart many of the widely accepted notions of humanity's past, present and future.If you've always felt something was ""not quite right"" about the state of affairs on planet Earth, this book provides a thorough explanation of the basis behind such a nagging intuition. No area is considered ""off limits"" - Science, Religion, History, Myth, Philosophy, Government, Pop-culture, the ""UFO phenomenon"", War, Psychology, Human nature... it's all in there.The writing style embraces the spectrum between the pleasantly conversational and rapid-fire cross-linking of concepts, facts and figures that will make your head spin. It is a book that will sustain its value over many re-readings, and provide much food for thought with personal lines of research and exploration of other literature. Heck, the bibliography alone is 18 pages of fine print! I'm into my second reading of it and still feel like I haven't even scratched the surface.If this book is an accurate picture of the current objective reality of this world, then humanity may have a glorious future ahead of us - if we have the strength to choose it; collectively, and individually. The alternative might be not so appealing. With all the bad news on TV these days - bird flu, climate change, war in the Middle East... is it too far-fetched to consider that there might be unseen forces shaping the flow of events? I personally don't think so, but it's up the individual reader to decide that for themselves.I think LJK has done us all a great service in putting the information out there in a concise way. And if it's all just a tall tale, then it's still the best one I've ever read, so I'm willing to consider my purchase justified, however things turn out.Very highly recommended for anyone of a questioning nature.",5.0,A Work with profound implications for humanity.,1142121600,"03 12, 2006",24,27,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A34Z1JOLW27A3S,1622821661,Pete,"[6, 7]","Romano Guardini (1885 – 1968) was a priest in Germany who wrote many books during his lifetime. In recent years his books have been reprinted once more in the English language. Such is the case with Sophia Institute Press and their release of Meditations Before Mass. This book was first published in German in 1939 than translated and published in English for the first time in 1956. The book is just as relevant today as it was then.One thing to remember when reading the book is that is was written pre-Vatican II. Some of the text used throughout the book is that used prior to the changes made to the Mass after Vatican II. This by no means takes away from the beauty and usefulness of this volume.The book is laid out in a manner that basically walks you through the Mass. From the time you enter the doors of the church to the end of the Mass and your expectant waiting for the return of Christ. The meditations within the book are practical and apply to us today even though they were written decades ago. The reason for this is that the Mass is timeless so his well thought out wisdom in regards to the Mass apply to all times.Each of the thirty four meditations are designed to be used prior to Mass. Either in the pew or in your home before leaving, the meditations are certainly fruitful and will lead you to seeing things in a different light during that days Mass. Each of the meditations will take about 10 minutes to read so you will want to start them accordingly.The early chapters of the book deal with how to approach Mass. Stillness, Silence and the Word, and Silence and Hearing, all deal with the value of being silent in the presence of God and how it important it is to focus and listen to the words being proclaimed at Mass. Next the book leads the reader through the different aspects of the Mass: The Sacrifice, The Altar as Threshold and The Altar as Table. The Eucharist is covered thoroughly in later chapters: The Bread of Life, Christ’s Offering of Self, Truth and the Eucharist and the Mass and The New Covenant. Many more topics are covered in between, these are just a few examples.Overall I found the book to be a very compelling read. I believe anyone using this book will come away with a better understanding and appreciation of the Mass. This book is a true treasure waiting to be discovered and learned. Though written nearly 80 years ago, it is as relevant today as when it was first published.See more of my Catholic book reviews, weekly book giveaways and authors interviews at my Patheos blog, [...]",5.0,Meditations Before Mass,1393459200,"02 27, 2014",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A2TZV2TDNDRN3H,0307749649,Jill,"[0, 0]","This was a faced paced read, and as always, another great Jack Reacher mystery. Another hit from Lee Child. Thankyou Amazon!!!!",5.0,Excellent Read,1390435200,"01 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A268TLHCWT9BIC,0312429967,M. King,"[18, 33]","I absolutely loathe the trend towards torture porn in some modern day horror films and for me this felt like the literary equivalent.Obnoxious and vile people being obnoxious and vile to each other and everything looked at through a veil of misery.No joy, no real humour unless you are a sadist, this is just a, thankfully small, burst of nastiness calculated to spoil your day.",1.0,Not for me this untold misery,1336348800,"05 7, 2012",18,33,helpful,0.5454545454545454,1 A18VVDLRLG9SVO,0451527550,Kimberly Wells,"[6, 8]","Have you ever wanted to yell out to the heroes of your favorite movie ""DON'T DO THAT YOU IDIOT!!""? This book is sometimes frustrating because you, the reader, can see where the plot is going and want so badly to help the story's characters avoid what seems to be the inevitable. A naturalistic picture of life, and an often-missed text which deserves more attention. It doesn't make you feel good-- but it does make you want to be sure that people have choices, that this sort of thing isn't allowed to happen, that life isn't a series of ""sport"" that the gods (a vindictive type of gods) play with us. Powerful, powerful writing, vivid details and characters you just want to smack. Read it!",5.0,"Bleak, but powerful",1016150400,"03 15, 2002",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A3EB87GTQFCIPS,1611090407,Sherry,"[0, 0]",Good tale. I'd be interested in reading the rest of the series just to see how creatively the author solves the problems of communication from beyond the grave!,4.0,Good story,1359158400,"01 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AFMBR3EQ6PMWN,1416563687,Krista,"[0, 2]","Elizabeth Woodville is a widow who attracts the attention of Edward, the recently crowned King of England. Edward marries Elizabeth in secret. When the secret is revealed, Elizabeth ascends into royalty. She uses her power to put her relatives in high positions. Before long, Elizabeth gives birth to several daughters. However, her family will only remain on the court if she gives birth to a male heir. Then, Elizabeth becomes pregnant again, and this time, it's a son! After that son, she gives birth to another boy. Suddenly, England is caught in another war, and both her sons are kidnapped!Before I read The White Queen, I had never even heard of the Plantagenets. As you can imagine, my knowledge of world history is rather limited. Anyway, I read The White Queen with an open mind, and I had no idea if Gregory remained historically accurate or not. After I finished reading the novel, I wikipedia'd and learned exactly what was fact and what was fiction. Did my lack of knowledge about the Plantagenets affect my likes for this novel? I don't think they did. When I learned the actual history, I realized that the changes Gregory made felt necessary. Of course, if you like your historical fiction to be accurate, then this may not be the book for you.I enjoyed reading The White Queen. Elizabeth Woodville is a great protagonist. I can definitely see why Gregory would write a novel about her. Readers will enjoy her rags-to-riches story. Picking the time period with the Cousins' War was also a smart move. This time period really gave Gregory a lot of material to work with and helped create a fascinating story. The only real complaint I had was that the story dragged around the middle. The novel became boring. Here's an allegory: Have you ever sat in a history class where the teacher discussed something that should have been interesting like a war, but the teacher made it dull? The White Queen was like that in parts of the novel. However, the novel was definitely more interesting than boring, and I look forward to the rest of the series.Overall, The White Queen is a fascinating story about a little known queen.",4.0,An interesting queen.,1254009600,"09 27, 2009",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3S4OBRB9FZJPR,0061671851,Kiwifunlad,"[0, 0]","The bare bones of the plotline: a late 20's woman, Lillian, is being stalked by a thug/cretin, Blackway, in a small logging village in a thinly populated area soomewhere in New England. Castle Freeman weaves two storylines and entertains the reader with the stark facts of Lilian's attempt to track down Blackway with the assistance of the young and not very bright Nate the Great and Lester an aging but resourceful loggerman. Interspersed with this account, four men sit in Whizzer's Office of the Dead River Chair Company recalling incidents and events in the history of the place and provide insights into the circumstances behind Blackway's reasons for terrorising Lillian. The story is wonderfully paced and the dialogue of the four men had me chuckling aloud. It is a contemporary story but resonates of the red neck and bigoted Americans who live in isolated communities. It also raises the question as to who is responsible for law and order. A short easy to read novel but not without both humour and punch.",5.0,"An Engaging Entertaining Read about ""Woodchuck"" America",1311465600,"07 24, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AW4AD8VETCBG4,0679752862,pisces,"[9, 29]","So much of this book was just a cut and paste from her previous articles.The Lakewood scandal was already covered by her in 1995's New Yorker Magazine.She has page long quotes from her previous novels ""Run River""...which were good; but ""Where I Was From"" was supposed to be all new material.She skewers much of California life and society. Unfortunately the people she picks on are the least worthy. Little Leaguers, middle-class, fans of Thomas Kincade....In a book about California, why didn't she go after the show biz industry, or Politicians......they are the one making the big bucks....not suburbia.She is a good writer, and I'd read more of her....but not too soon. She comes off as angry, and she isn't someone you want to spend everyday with.Hers is the kind of writing that is good for every now and then.In all fairness, maybe with her latest ""The Year Of Magical Thinking"" .......she's not so angry.But this one is very insulting, and feels very phoned-in what with all the pages and pages of endless quotes from other/old material.",3.0,"Why are you so mean, Joan?",1142640000,"03 18, 2006",9,29,helpful,0.3103448275862069,1 AI84O9M8IYFB0,0060198338,Cheryl,"[0, 0]","Fascinating plot -LOVE Keller!! Interesting, but not too wordy or overdone. Lawrence Block has done it again. Very good book.",5.0,Hit List,1376265600,"08 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AF3AHE8I2NW4,0439023483,"Lori ""Lori""","[0, 0]","I tried to avoid reading this book because of the dark content. I avoid anything too serious and too depressing because day in and day out my job requires me to work with people with horrific and sad lives. Why would I want my leisurely time spent on entertainment that reminds me of my stressful job? But upon the insistence of my friends I relented. I'm glad I did. I could not put the book down. The characters are very well drawn out; the plot is fascinating.What bothers me, however, is how much the author underestimates adults. In reality, adults in the districts would not allow 74 games to go on without a rebellion. I would guess they may let one game pass--see the horror of it--and sacrifice themselves to never let that happen again. We are very protective of our children. When we have righteous anger, we would sacrifice ourselves for the innocent. While I find these obedient Hunger Games parents and adults perplexing, I remind myself that this is a science fiction novel and that most likely these games would never happen in real life. I would bet a future like ""Logan's Run"" would happen before we torture children for entertainment. Western civilization seems to value the youth more than older adults.",5.0,I enjoyed it more than I had expected,1323043200,"12 5, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARL2DFB9R3Q4S,1933417072,"MSPHOENIX1 ""Michelle""","[0, 0]","I truly enjoyed Raj and Sarah's story. It was well-written, and included mystery, suspense, and one very sexy hot bad ass vampire that left me wanting to keep turning the pages to discover what happened next. If your just looking for filthy read, this isn't the book for you, but if you're looking for a book with substance and more than one kind of foreplay, look no further. It's off to the next book in this appetizing series :)",5.0,What a page turner!,1362528000,"03 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZNGCNKCHW11,0449130703,"Norman Strojny ""retired tech-person""","[5, 6]","""The Number of the Beast"" is for adults who read a lot and have intelligence and have read a large bunch of Heinlein's earlier fiction. Heinlein was getting old and wanted to knit all of his work into a coherent whole and go in a somewhat new direction. He chose this story as the basis of doing just that. Meanwhile, I think that he had some enjoyment and fun while writing this book.I gave this book five stars because I had read every Heinlein book that I could before this book appeared. So, I did not get lost and I did have some idea of what was going on at all times. My own reaction to this book was: ""Wow! The old man still has much of his ability!"" Now that I am a retired old grump, I can better appreciate how insightful and wonderful that reaction was.This is not Heinlein at his best. However, I think that it is very good Heinlein. I think Heinlein did not take himself terribly seriously at this point in his life and put some of that attitude into this book. Taking the book as entertainment rather than taking it more seriously will help the reader considerably. Heinlein gives us good 'hard' science fiction mixed with a strong addition of fantasy.If you are new to Heinlein or if you are not a confirmed fan, this book is not for you, yet.",5.0,Six to the sixth power and then take that to the sixth power.,1225065600,"10 27, 2008",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A29M2RX1Y7I59D,1551660210,"meade ""ggmeade""","[0, 0]","This piece of drivel was full of stereotyped characters, none of whom were likable. There was a weak-willed doormat for a heroine and an immature jerk for the hero. A waste",1.0,"abusive jerk makes a horrible ""hero""",1390348800,"01 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1Z54EM24Y40LL,0688093388,csm,"[5, 6]","What a cute book this is! The poor elephant really, really has to sneeze but all his ""buddies"" beg him not to. You see, the last time he sneezed he blew all the stripes off the zebra, blew the bees' stingers out and they ""had to make do with rose thorns and glue,"" blew all the fur off the bear, and turned the crocodile's nose inside out. The pictures are darling, the poor guy is doing everything he can from blowing out the sneeze and it's just really cute. He even has his trunk suspended in water. However, it's the mouse that scares him silly out of sneezing and then, when given the logic of an elephant being afraid of something so small as a mouse, the elephant starts to laugh and laugh. Pretty soon, the mouse has to tell him to stop because the elephant's laugh wreaks havoc as well. Such a cute book and we have to read it ""all the time"" in this house. Great story and I highly recommend it!",5.0,Fantastic book!,1139356800,"02 8, 2006",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2A118C3EOJLL6,1453720693,Ann,"[4, 4]","The previous 2 bks in this series were good, but RC Redemption excels. Best so far. Roxie is saying no-no to Hank but doing the yes-yes. Love it! The Rock Chick posse is expanding and Tex gets wilder and crazier. Fun bk with some touching moments for Roxie coming out of an abusive relationship. With a little help from her friends, Roxie finds the strength to overcome, along with great big thanks to the Hot Bunch and Nightingale Investigations for saving her. Getting a hint here the delicious strong and silent Luke just might want a Rock Chick for himself.",5.0,3rd times a charm....,1325548800,"01 3, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A22OFULCDFR5OM,0786224967,LuvGirl,"[5, 7]","I was enjoying this book at first. It was different from the average romance read and I appreciated that. It started to lose it's appeal after a while though. The heroine didn't seem too bright and I just lost interest in rooting for her. I also was not convinced that hero fell in love with her. They didn't seem to spend enough time with each other, and he was definitely too worldy for her. They did not make a good couple.In the end things didn't come together as I would have liked. Loose ends were not tied up the right way. I know some readers will disagree with me, but the situation with the baby did not turn out to be a happy one for me. Therefore, it left me with an unfulfilled feeling. I will admit though that if you want to read something a little different from the romance novels out there now, this book is unique in that way. I gave it 2.5 stars because it was interesting enough to finish.",3.0,2.5 stars,1265760000,"02 10, 2010",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2LAS1VYM0UICB,0425157164,"""rebelunion""","[13, 13]","Dale Brown almost always writes gripping stuff. Shadows of Steel is no different. While Dale Brown certainly takes quite a few creative liberties and some of the scenarios in his books may seem far fetched, Shadows of Steel is generally realistic. Iran is the key country in this book, and Brown gives them the military might to hold all the power in the Persian Gulf. It's up to Brown's hero Patrick McLanahan to destroy the Iranian threat using America's finest, the B-2 Bomber.The only real problem I had with the book was its cover. If you read Cyrillic and know your Russian navy, the aircraft carrier on the cover is the "Kiev". Brown's carrier in the book is the "Varyag", a totally different ship than the cover, and which was not completed and currently remains in dry dock in the Ukraine, rusting away indefinitely. Despite the incorrect cover, I praise Dale Brown for his originality in predicting the sale of the carrier to China, something which is very likely to happen.Another good book by Dale Brown that every serious military techno-thriller enthusiast should have on their bookshelf. For people who don't like all the technical information that is critical in a book in this genre, stay away! Dale Brown puts all the technical information in his books for a reason, to make them realistic. People who get overwhelmed by these kinds of books shouldn't write negative reviews just because of that. If you don't like technical information, don't read techno-thrillers. But don't put down the author for authenticity. Still, serious fans will enjoy this book.",4.0,Good Book - Inaccurate Cover,950918400,"02 19, 2000",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A2EHCZF0WV2JHA,148397555X,stacey d. clack,"[0, 1]","It was another great one. I wondered why he didn't like Joe, but I do now. He knew he was the one person that could catch him. Can't wait to read the next one.",4.0,Wow,1390089600,"01 19, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2E9Q3T876TQ6C,037351008X,"L. Martin ""Book Junkie""","[6, 13]","DANCE OF DREAMS is the follow-up book to DANCE TO THE PIPER, but doesn't focus on one of the O'Hurley clan. It has us continuing with the same cast of characters but focusing on Ruth Bannion who was a child in DANCE TO THE PIPER. Also includes is Nickolai Davidov - the former dance partner of Ruth's step-mother, Maddie O'Hurley, and now a big time choreographer. Ruth has always had two loves - dancing and Nickolai. She just needs to convince him that she's no longer a child.DANCE OF DREAMS deals with fears - fears of the professional dancer and the cut-throat competition of that profession, fear of rejection and the fear of losing true love. With a background of dance practices and performances, Nora Roberts tells a love story that is anything but typical.At times while reading this book, you'll want to grab one or both of the main characters and shake some common sense into them. However, it's a good story that's well told and brings people into the lime light with whom the reader can relate, even non-dancers.",3.0,Continuing the Dance,1115251200,"05 5, 2005",6,13,helpful,0.46153846153846156,1 ATBPZ2H5RV4WR,0446616990,"Barbara A. Mazzuca ""Risqu Reviews""","[4, 6]","Valerie Grace is a fallen angel. She has to find her way back but doesn't really understand why she was kicked out to begin with. Now all she has to do is get use to being human,(ug!) find a place to live, and figure out what went wrong. She's not alone tho, she has a human turned rat best friend.(who doesn't?) She has to make sure she isn't tempted by the Tempter Demon Nathaniel who is trying to convine her that since Heaven kicked her out maybe she should give Hell a try..and lets not forget she has to find the stolen Key to Heaven and then maybe she might be able to go home.... Alot for a gal who just dropped from the sky. This is a page turning wonderful story full of hope and sometimes along the way we find that our demons aren't always that bad. And home is where the heart is.enjoy your dreams :)",5.0,Not disappointed,1153699200,"07 24, 2006",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2ON53GR80JS8S,B00EFB84EY,"Justirishgirl ""aut viam inveniam aut faciam""","[4, 4]","A lot of things are wrong with this book. For one, there are a lot of obvious grammar mistakes that would have been eliminated if someone took the time to proofread it. There are missing quotes, incorrect punctuation and missing words. Also sentences are jumbled together and at times it is unclear who the speaker is.Another problem I have is with the story itself. SPOILERS. The main character is an idiot. Among other things she stays with the cheating and abusive ""hero"" and allows herself to be treated by crap by others as well. The hero has sex with other people while they are together. The hero told her that he had to screw, in his words, a ""hog"" (which he received an award for) because it was expected of him by his fraternity brothers. He seems unable to keep it in his pants. The heroines theory is that he has low self esteem and screwing is one of the things he is good at, that makes him feel better. Cry me a river. The hero according to the heroine, forces her to have an abortion when he gets her pregnant. Also he gets mad at her and ends up seriously hurting her on two separate occasions, including running her over with a car. But those were just mistakes. She breaks up with him for a minute but then cannot help herself and goes back to being with him. Her roommate lies to her, treats her poorly and lets frat boys stand in line to screw her and yet the heroine is willing to hang out with her. In my opinion the person who has the most issues with low self esteem is the heroine. I think we are suppose to feel sorry for her because she is a nice person and people treat her so poorly. Unfortunately I didn't. She just irritated me. The only thing good about the book besides being free is that it was a short and eventually I finshed reading it.",1.0,Needs a lot of work,1382659200,"10 25, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A14I311IIUMBWC,0670023663,"Gaele ""We read to know, we are not alone ~ C....","[12, 14]","Think back to the first book that transported you on a journey to elsewhere: not a rapid movement, but a gentle realization that the world in the book is all around you. For me that was Through the Looking Glass. I found much of the same wonder and enjoyment in this book: a subtle return to those moments when reading where all outside influences cease to exist, and hours pass before they return.Emily Croy Barker uses a smooth and beautifully descriptive writing style, to craft this story that incorporates references to classics, poetry and poets and the age-old battle of dark versus light. It is not a quick read at over five hundred pages, but a thoroughly charming one.Nora is a grad student, stuck on her thesis and recently single. She hates her life at the moment, her self-esteems is shot, and she wants nothing more than to escape: from the sympathetic looks, the abominable men, her own feelings of failure and those few extra pounds that never seem to go away. And escape she does: an early morning wander in the woods leads to an old cemetery with a poem that attracts her. Lacking paper to write it down, she memorizes it, speaks it aloud and moments later, her world changes.From here we are brought into a world of the impossible and improbable: where healing is by magic, clothes and people are always beautiful, the sun always shines and the most important event on the calendar is the day's entertainment. Using time-periods that are iconic in their shapes, feel and essence to readers, Barker manages to use that sense to define fashion, style and furnishings with a nod to those eras: the 20's, the 60's, Elizabethan and Georgian and Victorian. There were moments early on when Nora's complacency with the scene changes and situation made her difficult to understand, while some piece of the reader knows that she is under a spell, a bit of reinforcement of Ilissa's power and influence on her memory and questioning earlier would have made it easier to understand her apparent passivity.Aruendiel, however, was far more solid in his consistency and behavior, preferring the term `magician' to `wizard', although their capabilities are similar: in this world wizards tend to use their skills on a whim, to suit their current fancy. And Nora had been spelled, several times over, which presented a severe risk to her own mental health and safety. Nora shows her tendency to gravitate toward more `alpha' and knowing personalities in her growing feelings for him: even as he must teach her to survive a return to Ilissa and eventually back to her own world.This book is a wander to the end, throughout the story we are really given few clues to time passing, much like Nora's inability to solidly define how long she had been away from her own world and life. These allows and insists that the reader simply drink in the moments and descriptions, and enjoy the slow unfurling of the plot: use their instincts as each new character is introduced to determine if they are friend or foe, and see if Nora really is able to find her way home. Not as action packed as some high fantasy stories I have read, there is forward progress with each chapter as we learn more, see more and watch Nora navigate this new and different world that is full of the impossible.If you want a directly forward moving story, loaded with action and dramatic spell-offs: this is not the book for you. However, if you want a gentle moving story that is filled with beauty and description, a unique look at magic and its use, and a main character that has issues that many can relate to in their own lives: this is the book for you.I received an eBook from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.",4.0,"subtle return to those moments when reading where all outside influences cease to exist, and hours pass before they return.",1375488000,"08 3, 2013",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A1T4I6GEUP9LXA,0380789345,"L. Hayes ""mrschassis@yahoo.com""","[25, 26]","then this is the book for you. I usually love Ms. Quinn's books. This one was well written and witty. The only problem is that through the many incredibly stupid "mishaps" that move the plot along, all the two main characters do is argue, bicker, argue and fight. I read to escape this sort of childish bickering. Also, these characters behaved completely wrong for the genre.The book had some very bright moments, but overall, it gave me a sunburn.",3.0,if your idea of romance is constant fighting......,960336000,"06 7, 2000",25,26,helpful,0.9615384615384616,1 A1K8Z79FV6V45,0756638763,Kristol L Schwenn,"[0, 0]",Gave this to our cute little grandson and he was so pleased. I wish they would have had more stickers,4.0,Great gift,1391817600,"02 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2Q9KC6JXDG5JA,0758278454,"Ali","[0, 0]","I read this book quickly, but I expected more of an adult novel than this. Izzy, whose mother murdered her father, years ago, and is now in prison, is placed with a new foster family, and once again, in her teens, has to start a new school. Of course, there are mean girls. Her foster mother wants her to help catalogue items at a now defunct mental hospital, where they find a trunk belonging to Clara. Clara's voice is interspersed with Izzy's , every other chapter. Clara has been sent to the mental hospital to keep her away from her true love, Bruno, whom her rich father does not approve of. The book held my attention and showed the terrible treatment of mental illness generations ago, but, as I said, I think it's geared more to young adults.",3.0,More young adult fiction than expected,1390521600,"01 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AX4UNG6A89OPT,1490523103,Cute_80,"[0, 0]",Very good book a little short though. It could have done with a little extra at the end. Overall a good read,3.0,caz,1384819200,"11 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3VBNEXAEVNG5Q,149958492X,Stephanie,"[0, 0]","I pre-ordered this. I am so glad I did! I loved all the authors especially my fave, k Bromberg! Hot! Hot! Hot!",5.0,Yay! So happy,1399593600,"05 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A4X1Q4ZGWFG2H,0836117867,Genevasgirl2,"[0, 0]","I chose this book because my sister recommended it. It will be a book I use everyday, and also one I will give as a gift.I would love to have it reprinted in the old style spiral, which is easier to use in the kitchen. I noticed the spiral in the used book section of Amazon.",5.0,Lifetime of great Recipes.,1360454400,"02 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NV4Y2QGMWI2Q,1612785727,Cassandra I.,"[0, 0]","I am in love with this book and the stories that are within it. As a person thinking about conversion it was so refreshing to read stories about other female converts and the struggles they faced during and years after this process. For me, I have always felt like I would not be a “good enough” Catholic because I was not born in the faith, and that thought process has made me feel less than adequate. However, the stories of these women have really given me a new perspective on what it means to be a woman in the Catholic faith. There is no “perfect” Catholic woman, although we all think there is and continue to compare ourselves to this fictional ideal…so just be YOU! YOU are good enough for God! You don’t have to give up all of your hopes, dreams, personal style and ambitions….you just have to fully trust that God will give you what is perfect for your life! This is the perfect book to pass along to a friend.",5.0,Great Book for Any Women thinking about Becoming Catholic,1375660800,"08 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A29BKUBPWA1BP1,073870718X,soundwaveclick,"[0, 0]","interesting take on christianity. Gnostic ideas give me a double-take back from some of my skeptical opinions. not an in-depth volume, but a good primer.",4.0,revalations,1360195200,"02 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A7WNQN5D1E4HW,B0061EKDB0,Erin Davies,"[0, 0]","An Unintended Journey by Catherine Gayle: A very simple story, but a sweet one, notable for its content as well as its construction. I would have loved to see this heartwarming tale expanded but understand the nature of anthologies prevented Gayle from elaborating too much into Abigail and Wesley's romance. Still, Gayle made an impression on me in only a few short pages and I can only hope to encounter her work again in my literary wanderings.A Caribbean Jewel for Christmas by Suzie Grant: A well-written page-turner, I would have liked this one more as a standalone novel. Though I thought the exotic fusion creative, I didn't feel it blended with the other pieces of the Regency Christmas Summons Collection as well as it might have. Randall and Jewel's adventure is without doubt the most exciting addition to the series thus far, but not my favorite as it stands in such stark contrast to the other installments of the series.Winning A Lady's Heart by Christi Caldwell: According to Goodreads, Christ Caldwell's only published work appears in this anthology. It makes me sad for I would greatly enjoy reading more of from her. Alexandra and Nathan's story was my favorite installment of this book and one of the strongest pieces of the series in my humble opinion. A delightfully humorous and moving holiday romance.",3.0,A Summons from the Castle,1358640000,"01 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1G97AAF51KL2R,1936560143,A. E. Floyd,"[0, 0]",This book has really helped me make the most of my new Kindle. Lots of great links and info to help you become an expert!,4.0,Very useful,1360281600,"02 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3FHSO1SKHU378,1594032548,"Larry Underwood ""Author - St Louis Cardinals ...","[8, 10]","French economist Guy Sorman has delivered a groundbreaking treatise which debunks several myths about capitalism that have been floating around since our recent financial crisis hit a little over one year ago. In the process, we learn that government intervention of economic policy (i.e. socialism) is the biggest deterrent to economic prosperity; not a failure of capitalism. That's why the Berlin Wall came tumbling down in the late '80s and why the Soviet Union broke apart a couple of years later; they realized capitalism---a free market society---leads to prosperity. They finally got it right.Certainly, the model being displayed by America and other successful free market societies helped facilitate that dramatic transformation; score one for the Reagan adminstration; our champion of smaller government and bigger economic growth. They weren't called ""The Big '80s"" for no reason.In the meantime, nearly a billion people in China, Brazil & India have benefitted from the free market, as a continuing collapse of ""state socialism"" has fueled this progress. In short, we live in a global free market economy, thanks in large part to the growth of the internet, which has essentially connected the entire world over the past fifteen years; that trend will only grow stronger.Sorman concludes that the study of economics has recently become more quantitative; in fact, we are now experiencing a scientific revolution in economics. With this comes the understanding that economic cycles---some good & some bad---results from innovation; a process of trial & error which is necessary for a free market economy to flourish. The only detriment to the economic balance of nature is when our leaders enact bad economic policy.This is a call to action for any free market society. Clearly, socialism doesn't work & big government needs to go on a diet.",5.0,The Scientific Revolution in Economics,1255478400,"10 14, 2009",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 ATV9X3FTXRIM4,0307932885,Mike Christie,"[5, 6]","Shaara starts the story of Gettysburg with half a dozen pages describing the land, the armies, and the key men on both sides: Lee, Longstreet, Chamberlain, Meade, Hancock, Pickett, Stuart, and more. Then there are four sections, one for June 29, 1863, and three covering the battle itself, July 1 through July 3."The Killer Angels" is written as if it were a novel, and this is its strength. Stuart, scouting with the cavalry, was late back to Lee with little information, and this is often cited in the history books as a key point in the battle: Lee did not know to start with just how many Yankees he was facing. Shaara makes this come alive: we see Lee in his tent, worrying about where Stuart is; we hear gossip about court-martialing Stuart; we walk with Longstreet, thinking black thoughts about Stuart's irresponsibility. Time and again key points become vivid and unforgettable when seen through the lens of fiction. Pickett's charge; Chamberlain's defense of Little Round Top; Reynolds' death; Longstreet's urging of a defensive stance.The book contains material that is invented by Shaara. He went to great pains to make it accurate, but he says in the introduction: "I have not consciously changed any fact. I have condensed some of the action, for the sake of clarity, and eliminated some minr characters, for brevity, but [. . .] I have not knowingly violated the action." The book can't be used as a reference work on the battle. However, if you read it, the battle will be etched in your memory in a way that no dry textbook could ever achieve.Powerfully written, and highly recommended.",5.0,Memorably brings Gettysburg to life,971481600,"10 14, 2000",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 APPH8NE3BMVR0,0060724277,Darnelle Lewis,"[0, 0]",This book would be better for a psychologist. I didn't feel that it was helpful to me as an average reader.,3.0,OK,1354147200,"11 29, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A13FZ0BX35CSY9,B007EHUDCM,"Edwin H. Holmes Jr. ""ehh2""","[4, 4]","A New York detective and a pretty FBI Special Agent team up to track down a Russian serial killer. And that's just the beginning. Without giving too much away,the plot moves to Russia and starts to become pretty spooky. A mix of crime and religious mysticism. This is a great book. Detective De Sade reminds me of a Russian Dirty Harry. Definitely a 5-star read!",5.0,A Russian Dirty Harry-Great Read!,1336348800,"05 7, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A21MX9OL84KZEN,0140440720,"Randi Thompson ""Darthdita""","[7, 9]","I randomly picked this book up, hankering after some ancient text. Lo and behold, I picked up the juiciest book in ancient Rome. This is no dry, linear blah blah about the first 12 Ceasers, oh no! Seutonius gives you all the incest, the murder, the blunders, the insanity, the triumphs...it's got it all. Actually, if you know nothing about the first 12 Ceasers, start here, because Seutonius gives you all the good stuff.",5.0,Want to know all the juicy tidbits about the first 12 Ceasers?,1144540800,"04 9, 2006",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A3S4FP9OQRZ1VZ,1609825039,Mom in FL,"[8, 8]","Another great installment to the Baumgartners. It might be the last. I thought this was a sort of sweet story. Women bonding over lost children or inability to carry to term. Thankfully I have never experienced that, and I can't imagine the utter sense of loss. And of course, Doc and Carrie are freaks in the most positive sense of the word, lol. They love each other, and they love including others, so they include Dani. I thought Dani's ""gift"" was extremely selfless, and I cried a bit at the end, but it was a great story. Don't worry, though... lots of luscious hedonism along the way, as with many Selena Kitt stories!",4.0,The Baumgartners are always on,1297123200,"02 8, 2011",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1CSNMHP22V338,0988047217,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","My expectations were fairly low when I got this book, as it was an author I hadn't read before as well as being a free Kindle book. However I was pleasantly surprised and would be willing to actually pay for the next book in the series from this author. It was a fun start to a new series, and a world I want to see more of.",4.0,Great start to a new series,1343865600,"08 2, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A37BRR2L8PX3R2,0451233077,Jbarr5 (julie Barrett),"[0, 0]","The Beach Trees by Karen WhiteWhat first attracted me to reading this book are the words, beach and trees, 2 of my favorite things.This is a story about Julie Holt who has traveled to Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina with a 5 year old boy, Beau.Rayvon is the older woman who answered the door. Monica's son, Beau is now her charge and she had to explain about Monica's death. She knows of the family heart problems.Monica's paintings were how the two women had met in New York.The house in Biloxi and Beau were now hers. She was told to bring the boy to his grandmother and she'd have more answers. She was given a framed picture, a portrait of a woman from the waist up.It's a priceless form of art made by her grandfather. She is so lost with all the clues.She keeps in touch with the detective in MA with leads to a person who might've taken her sister-Chelsea.Love the descriptions of the New Orleans area as I am familiar and have seen what the damage was of my cousins house and surrounding area.Julie needs to make a decision as to what to do with the painting and work, school for Beau.She hopes by being around them can piece why Monica left the area and help make decisions as to the house.Love the symbolism of the beach trees since the hurricane.When they work together they discover many things from the past that when pieced together actually start to explain why Monica had left and why others left and why she took the painting..",5.0,The Beach Trees,1349049600,"10 1, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VJEBGZ4K06N1,055214262X,Doris N.,"[0, 0]",Was fasinated the way she weaves back and forth in time..she doesn't force you to believe....you just accept the possibility.,4.0,Susanna Kearsley' work,1359417600,"01 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJPDE59V7L6BN,0385338600,"Tania D. Doran ""TD""","[0, 0]","The story is a riveting account of a young girl's trauma, her family, father's response and ensuing trial. It kept me on the edge of me seat! I highly recommend this book to those who live a well written, engrossing and thrilling novel about trials and ethical dilemmas. True, it was a simple account, and certainly not an ethical treatise. Just a great story!",4.0,excellent story,1390953600,"01 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A38XPV57025Y2S,B00A0NOF7G,Elizabeth Kressler,"[0, 0]",A real fast read and I am glad I bought the rest of the series. I just started the thirdbook in the mystery.,5.0,lexy Baker,1395273600,"03 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A366P0J1REX6KQ,B00KF0URBM,TT2515,"[0, 1]","OMG! I can't say how many times I gasped out loud while reading this book. As if the first one didn't leave the reader with the cliff hanger of all cliff hangers, the second installment started off with a bang. So many questions were answered but so many more were asked as well. The fact that Andrew isn't actually divorced and his wife is on parole was a twist that I never expected. I am so curious to know why. The fact that at the very end of the book you find out first that Andrew's name is actually Liam and that he had a daughter is even more shocking then finding out he was married. These books are absolutely amazing and I CANNOT WAIT until the next one comes out. When will that be??????",5.0,WOW!,1400457600,"05 19, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2315RPZOACK7W,B00GFRK264,Kat-A-Tat-Tat,"[0, 0]",This prequel was helpful for further character development. Read "The Birth of Vengeance" (if you haven't already). I look forward to the next book in the series.,4.0,A good bit of back story,1401580800,"06 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AIU1H103JNQEP,1477848150,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I like the concept and was enjoying the book until it came to explaining what was happening and I got totally lost. Too many names being thrown out and the explanation flits all over the place.,3.0,So hard to follow,1393804800,"03 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1O1ZLOE21IGEH,039916443X,Josephine D King,"[0, 1]",starts quick and holds you so you can't put it down. Love this series. looking forward to the next one,5.0,Super Deluxe,1397692800,"04 17, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1E0RPGCXS4L2G,0385479565,TheHighlander,"[4, 5]","The true story of an Ebola outbreak in Virginia. This is an outstanding book that traces some of the history of the Ebola and Marburg virus's and their emergence in the world, what let up to the outbreak in Virginia and what response the military and Center For Disease Control had.The writer does a wonderful job painting the characters that were involved in the outbreak in Virginia from the military and the Center for Disease Control. He shows how the major players scrambled to identify the unkown virus and their reactions when they first realized what they had. A new strain of Ebola. Only the fourth type of filovirus, the most dangerous in the world. Read as they tried to figure out if this virus was airborne or not. You can feel the impending doom.The book is frightening as it describes the virus's and how they kill. How they multiply and move among hosts. This book is not for the faint of heart. The descriptions are graphic and can turn your stomach if you actually try to imagine the thought of it. It leaves you with the realizations that a virus on the level of Ebola can spread across the globe in a matter of 24 to 48 hours and within 12 days people will be dying. People will be dying fast as Ebola kills 90% of the people that become infected. This book gets you to thinking that the ultimate end of the human race will not be the nuclear bomb, as once feared, but a virus, a level 4 biohazard.This book kept me rivetted, I could not put it down. The fact that it was true made it that much more intense and frightening. This book should be read by everyone.",5.0,Terrifying and True,1039564800,"12 11, 2002",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A32QYN293I0YQT,0399900578,lisa beth adams,"[0, 0]","Right from the start, the story grabs you and doesn't let go. Didn't want to put it down and probably wouldn't have if sleep didn't interfere. Great read!",5.0,One of the most exciting books I've ever read.,1358121600,"01 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANEYAM9NN6BS5,0615148077,"Tess Graham ""Roger'smom""","[5, 6]",This book is a quick read and is easy to understand. It's motivating me to stick with the 5-bite diet.,5.0,Really helping me with changing my behavior,1318464000,"10 13, 2011",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1813R8GNPSA13,1416918302,sunny,"[0, 0]","I'm not even going to bother finishing this one...I just find the main characters so incredibly bland, I dislike the main character Virginia because she seems to be strong at first but then she's just another annoying character. The one character I actually found sweet was Walter, but oh well. Drew is so FLAT. And when they ""fall in love"" it's really not anything special...just lots of protagonist rantings about how much she misses him...how much she loves him...yadda yadda @_@ I feel like there's no development at all and I could at least expect THAT much from a romantic comedy. Btw. It wasn't funny at all. I'm really disappointed. I LOVE Jennifer Echols but I feel like ""The Boys Next Door"" and ""The One I Want"" set the standards so high that this really can't compare.Seriously. How much lamer can the plot be if the main reason why they fight is because of some DRUM MAJOR spot? Or where they make a huge deal about this ONE racist comment (which, I understand is REALLY kind of a big deal, but the female protagonist handles it in such a childish way that I literally had to skip that chapter to retain the little bit of respect that I had left for her).",2.0,trivial conversations and not even cute..,1335139200,"04 23, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A377PFKUWVGULN,B004FV4TO8,"The Wandering Reader ""~ Love, Kisses & Magica...","[4, 4]","If you LOVE cookies ~ and are adventursome, this is the cookbook for you. Granted, not the easiest to navigate, but take a few moments, scroll through it, see what looks appealing (put fav's on an index card ~ try it, if you hate the results, toss the card ~ Put ""keepers"" in a favorite tin). I found many new Fav's in this book. In this ""Chocolate Chip"" collection (remember, ALL the recipes have chocolate chips), you get LOTS of promising recipes. Here's a short list out of the 25: Soft, Crispy, Banana, Pumpkin, Cranberry, Tropical, Peppermint, Toffee, Peanut Butter, Cherry, Hazelnut, Coconut, Granola and Biscotti.",5.0,25 Cookie Recipes,1294876800,"01 13, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A35WUAAFBUOW57,B00E5PBUZK,T. Robbins,"[0, 0]","The story is so short that I'm not exactly sure what happened here. I imagine the 2 main characters felt the same way, but I like it and certainly hope there is more to this story.",4.0,The birth of an uprising,1375142400,"07 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A16W9E27VW9IND,0757300561,Manuel Gwiazda,"[12, 12]","If I have to choose an introductory book for a Jewish fellow who is looking to read a short essay with a comprehensive content about the history and essence of the Jews as religion, nation, and race, this is the bookWritten with an easy language and very clear and concise concepts, nobody will have the same view of everyday world after finishing these rich pagesThe author Historian and Rabbi, makes at the beginning a survey of the biggest ancient civilizations (Greece and Rome) considered the producers of the ideas, ways of life and principles that gave rise to the development of the Western World and shows how traditional school teaching was wrong, in fact the first seeds of the principles ruling today Western civilization originated in the five books of Moses,On a second part it dedicates some chapters to briefly explain the Dark Middle Ages in Europe and how the Church distorted and censored Jesus preaching, based on the holy values of the Books of Moses, in order to promote mass ignorance and monopolize economic powerFinishes with very convincing elements explaining how the United States from its very beginnings with the Mayflower pilgrims arrival in Massachusetts helped to constitute a free democratic nation following the values of every individual right to life, freedom, justice, education for all and social benefits based on the mandates of the Jewish Holy Book, the TorahThe above US chapter (""America the beautiful"") and the author final conclusions are in my opinion the most juicy sections of the book, as they provide the best insights, teachings and pieces of wisdom that he can convey to us from this outstanding essayIt you happen to be Jewish, it is a mitzvah (a divine command) to perform acts of kindness, everyday, so buy one volume for your best Jewish friend, first, and another one for you thenYou will never regret it !!!",5.0,Awesome crystal-clear work,1089849600,"07 15, 2004",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A11UFWQ18I7UC2,0801056500,"Tina B ""chick lit lover""","[11, 12]",This book is a great book. It is full of great ways to think and "hear" how the Lord speaks to us. It is full of information and ways to communicate with God. I recommend it for anyone who may not know where to start.,5.0,Great Book!!!,976147200,"12 7, 2000",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 A96K1ZGW56S2I,1596434317,"tvtv3 ""tvtv3""","[0, 0]","Written and illustrated by George O'Connor, ZEUS: KING OF THE GODS is the first in a graphic novel series entitled "The Olympians" that tells the story of the ancient Greek gods and their mythology. ZEUS: KING OF THE GODS isn't just an origin story about Zeus. It's also an origin story about the creation of the universe and the world according to the ancient Greeks: from Kaos came Gaea (Mother Earth), from Gaea came Ouranos, and from Ouranos & Gaea came Kronos, and from Kronos came Zeus. ZEUS: KING OF THE GODS explains what happened to Zeus' ancestors, how Zeus freed his siblings, and the war that raged between Zeus and Olympians and the Titans. Although tastefully done, the story doesn't shy away from the violence surrounding the creature of the universe. The story is wonderfully illustrated and lends itself well to the visual medium of a graphic novel. At the end of the book, there is a note from the author, some notes about the text, a few charts about various characters in the story (Cyclopes, Metis, and Kronos), a bibliography, and some study questions. Overall, ZEUS: KING OF THE GODS is a great book that anyone with an interest in Greek mythology is sure to appreciate.",5.0,Origin of the Universe and the Rise of the Olympians,1403308800,"06 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RJY8A174VJ4T,0007442920,"Me, My Books and I","[0, 0]","I just had to buy this book after reading and very much enjoying Divergent, I couldn't wait to find out what was next for Tris in this crazy futuristic world.I loved how it jumped straight into the action and I found myself instantly transported back to where Divergent had left off - amidst danger, fear and confusion. Tris was struggling to come to terms with recent events and her uncertain future, she had faced so many difficult things and I think some of it had finally started to catch up with her. Luckily for me there was lots more action to come!Tris and Tobias' relationship was tested many times throughout the book, I just couldn't predict the outcome of their disagreements and I liked this because it kept me on my toes. I was just as surprised as Tris when an interesting fact about Tobias' life was revealed and I couldn't wait to see how it would affect the storyline.I learned more about the other factions this time and that was something I enjoyed, there was also more information about the Divergent and even the factionless so I felt like I got a better view of the city as a whole.Tris had to make some big decisions and once again I admired how well she dealt with everything that was thrown at her, I had to keep reminding myself that she was only sixteen! Whilst she was in a particularly sticky situation I found that I couldn't figure out if events were real, a simulation or just a dream - my mind was racing with all the possibilities.There was a big secret that had been mentioned in Divergent and the mystery ran throughout this book too, by the end I was desperate to know exactly what the secret was so when it came to the end and all was revealed I felt a mixture of relief and shock! The ending was truly amazing, leaving me wanting to read the next book straight away but unfortunately I have to wait for its release in October 2013.This was another fantastic read with an unpredictable, intense atmosphere and many heart-pounding twists and turns.",5.0,Another hit from this series!,1369958400,"05 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SU3TXON36T0X,0312376960,"New Age of Barbarism ""zosimos""","[6, 6]","In the book _Day of Reckoning: How Hubris, Ideology, and Greed Are Tearing America Apart_, published in 2007, political pundit and former presidential candidate Patrick Buchanan presents a gloomy picture of America's decline from a once vibrant republic to an ailing empire. Buchanan's philosophy is fundamentally ultra-conservative and populist however he has been active in revealing the sham neoconservatives for what they truly are as false conservatives. Buchanan is also staunchly anti-war and has opposed the endless interventions called for by the neoconservatives under the Bush regime. In fact, as he argues persuasively in this book, when nations overreach themselves by meddling in the affairs of other nations, the results are disastrous. Some have attempted to smear Buchanan as an ""isolationist"" for this reason; however, his arguments are sound and reveal a disturbing fact about the nature and decline of American empire. The elite however simply do not want to hear these hard facts and have pushed America further and further down the road to decline.This book begins with a discussion of ""How nations perish"". Buchanan argues forcefully that nations perish by over-extending themselves in war. Buchanan notes how various nations around the world have entered a period of decline and how an emerging New World Order threatens the very sovereignty of all earthly nations. Buchanan also shows how declining birth-rates threaten nations and in particular how declining birth-rates combined with an influx of foreign immigration (much of it illegal) threatens the very foundation of the United States. Buchanan is unafraid to bring up the taboo topic of race, arguing in effect that racial distinctions remain important and that a politically correct emphasis on racial diversity is killing America. Buchanan also shows how the culture war is being lost by traditionalists, thus eroding the fundamental underpinning and foundation of the nation. Buchanan then discusses the end of the Pax Americana, showing how the American century is coming to a close. Buchanan maintains that with each subsequent war, beginning with the Civil War, World War I, and World War II, America has created a situation whereby the republic has become severely damaged. Buchanan then turns to the idea of the end of a unipolar world. Buchanan traces the hubris of the Bush II regime following the events of September 11, showing how Bush II was converted to neoconism and ended up becoming a proponent of worldwide democracy. Dreams of a New World Order (clearly aired by Bush I in fact), caused Bush under the guidance of the neocons to invade Iraq and thus began the debacle that has played out in that war. Buchanan argues that far from being a conservative notion, belief in a universal democracy and an erosion of the nations is in fact rooted in Marxist revolution and that perhaps it is best to think of the neoconservatives as the new Jacobins. Buchanan then shows how America has entered a period of imperial overstretch brought about by those who dream of American empire. This overstretch has sunk the U.S. in endless debt and threatens to be the downfall of the United States as a nation. Buchanan also questions who the future belongs to. Buchanan considers arguments for an Islamic future for example, but finds some of these problematic. Buchanan also considers the possibility of an Asian future (under the control of the Chinese) finding such arguments more convincing. Buchanan also considers the possibility of a European future, but shows that Europe has become so severely weakened that such a notion is severely undercut, or the possibility of a second American century. Buchanan then considers the possibility of a world government, showing how a North American Union is being foisted upon the United States through supposed ""free trade"" agreements in hopes of ultimately achieving a world government. However, as Buchanan shows such a possibility will be disastrous and will demand a staid uniformity amongst all nations, thus completely destroying the notion of national sovereignty. Following this, Buchanan shows how America (and Christianity) has been ""deconstructed"" by politically correct elites. Buchanan takes the stance of a fierce culture warrior, arguing that such political correctness will be the downfall of the nation. Through such weakening doctrines and through an influx of illegal aliens, the national foundation has been undermined. Buchanan shows that what has made America great is no more, with politically correct elites seeking to deconstruct and undermine that fundamental truth. Next, Buchanan turns to a discussion of free trade showing how free trade agreements have harmed America. Buchanan supports the system of the German economist Friedrich List which amounts to a scientific system of protectionist tariffs which List argued were necessary to protect the American colonies. Buchanan shows for example how China is quietly winning a trade war against the United States, but that through a simple system of tariffs this influx of goods produced through Chinese slave labor could be corrected. Buchanan also shows how huge multi-national corporations are effectively raping the system. Buchanan makes some good arguments here showing that with the loss of their benefits, workers will demand more government action. Thus one can see that with the ""corporate welfare state"" destroyed, there will be calls to further the powers of the welfare state. An example of this occurs in the health care crisis and the calls for ""universal health care"". Thus, Buchanan argues any libertarian should see the damage done through the supposed ""free trade"" agreements. Buchanan also shows how larger sections of the United States have become foreign owned, showing how various toll roads for example or American ports are now owned by foreign nations. Such foreign ownership is a sure sign that America is in trouble given the fact that national sovereignty is threatened. Buchanan ends this book by showing how in effect the day of reckoning is at hand for the United States. With an out of control national debt, America ensnared in a unwinnable war (with eyes towards Iran and even further), and an influx of illegals combined with a declining birth-rate for European Americans, the situation looks extremely grim. What is necessary to be done remains problematic, and certainly the upcoming election offers few genuine choices for the American patriot!This book serves as a timely warning to the United States that we must mend our ways before it is too late. Ultimately the situation presented here does not look good for traditionalists who see the United States threatened by an ever growing New World Order. Indeed, the oblivious elite are reaping the benefits from such a thing while the American nation and empire enters its death throes.",5.0,Are We Going the Way of the Roman Empire?,1211760000,"05 26, 2008",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1YWZZ5DID73DU,1936096153,Binnielula,"[0, 0]","Love the colors of Noro's line (although I have yet to buy a skein that hasn't been knotted together at some point, which REALLY annoys me) and I like the patterns. The books are beautifully produced. This one is a great source of information.",5.0,Love the Noro books,1354752000,"12 6, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27GZIZPAHB5A1,0982449305,nesterenko Anastasia,"[0, 0]","It seems that the book was written with the solepurpose not only show the innocence of poor Rchard, but also give him happiness he was denied in history. But it became rather a boring read.",3.0,Rather cheesy,1399075200,"05 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ASIQNV9BEADZ,0312947933,Avid Reader,"[6, 9]","I loved her first books. They were funny, engaging, and well written. This book didn't even begin to get a hint of a plot line until after page 120. It's basically a submissive sex book with a teeny tiny plot. Unfortunately it looks like the next book is going to be the same. I hope the author goes back to her first books and writing well again. Don't waste your money or time. I skimmed the last 50 pages and yep, nothing was there either. Really disappointing.",1.0,Disappointing,1223251200,"10 6, 2008",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2C5B8EJN16WPV,B00BCLIGWU,William S. Fraley,"[0, 1]","I wasn't sure I 'really' liked this new character, but when I couldn't put it down I realized that this was a typically brilliant Michael Connolly novel. Enjoy.",5.0,A new character,1380412800,"09 29, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A13VAINN7WAU6S,162380647X,E. Hart,"[4, 4]","I've read most of Amy Lanes' books and am a big fan. I didn't think she could top the ""Promise Rock"" series, so good I've read it twice and plan to read it again when I need a special treat. So I expected a lot from this book, and it delivered. Strong and memorable characters, devotion, passion and romance all neatly bundled in a well written, book lover's delight. You'll not be disappointed. I certainly wasn't! And I hope Ms. Lane develops novels for a few of the book's supporting characters, such as Jai. He deserves love, too!",5.0,Excellent In Every Way,1367452800,"05 2, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A15JGT0FQBG1SN,0446614165,lovesbooks,"[5, 6]","Don't be fooled. ""Words of Love"" was first published in the 80's and it shows! Deke. 43, has the domineering, possessive, ""I know what is right for you"" personality of romance heroes then. Laney, 28, is petulant, game-playing, childish and child-like, and mostly unreasonable. Deke is, aside from his domination, totally understanding, loving, and able to put up with too much from Laney. Other reviewers mentioned that this book was one bedroom scene after another, and they are right. However, because Deke does not know Laney at all when he seduces her (actually, she is almost totally the aggressive one--drunk, after experiencing severe panic at being in an elevator during a power-outage), I thought it was beyond unbelievable that after he spends the night with her and she runs off, he spends six months tracking her down. He says he has fallen in love with her, that she is different from all the other women in his life, that he could see how sweet she was when he ""takes"" her virginity. When he does discover her, he is delighted that she is pregnant. Laney, in turn, throws up to Deke constantly that he took advantage of her (true, but she WAS the aggressor), and she continually snipes at him. In short, the characterization of this novel is dated and superficial.",2.0,Book Published in the 80's,1135468800,"12 25, 2005",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A11XAIFA10G7TS,0345528719,"Holly ""Book addict""","[4, 4]","I had never read a book by Nancy Thayer until last summer when I read ""Heat Wave"" and truly enjoyed it. It started out fairly predictable but by the end there was a plot twist that really hooked me and I thought the character development was very good for a summery beach read. When I saw she had a new novel coming out this year, I immediately started watching for it and was quite excited to see become available on VINE. It felt like Christmas had come early when the book arrived and I settled in for a fun read.This particular novel is set on a lake in the Berkshires and features three women: 1) Bella, a 3rd grade teacher, who has returned to the family home to take care of her mother after she has broken her leg and to help with the small shop she owns 2) Natalie is a struggling artist to has been living in New York and trying to find time to pursue her art while working low-paying jobs to support herself. Her aunt wants her to house sit for a year and she views it as the perfect opportunity to work on her painting full-time and 3) Morgan who is a stay-at-home mom of a young son who is struggling to deal with a husband who has accepted a new, high-powered job and is never home or is always working when he is home. The three women all live in houses around Dragonfly Lake and meet at a neighborhood cookout.I had some concerns about the book in the early pages. There were so many characters thrown out in such rapid succession that I grabbed a pen and started marking up the book to make sure I could come back to the page where they were introduced and remember who they were. It seemed rushed, but I didn't make any firm decision on how I felt about the book as all this happened in the first 8 pages and there was a lot to go. Unfortunately, as I moved through the novel, my heart sunk as I realized this wasn't turning out to meet my expectations. I love beach reads and wasn't expecting high-brow literature, but this ended up feeling more like a Harlequin romance to me than anything else. The three women meet once and become lasting friends. Each one meets a man, feels the animal attraction to him and loses every sensible thought they ever had. The characters felt shallow and undeveloped. It was hard to believe this was written by the same author as ""Heat Wave"". If I had read this one first, I wouldn't have picked up any other novels by Ms. Thayer. I have to admit that as the novel moved along, it got better but the ending was pretty abrupt and way to pat for me. I have been told that some of her earlier books are fabulous and I think I will go back and look for those in the future.I was so sad to have this reaction, but it was with a sign of relief when I finished the last page and knew I could move on to reading something else.",2.0,Didn't work for me,1337212800,"05 17, 2012",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1C1LMYN2UVT1C,078513297X,Owen Sloan,"[6, 9]","After reading this series, I damn near gave up on comics all together and to be honest, I stopped reading this series 1 issue short of completion entirely because I just couldn't care less what happened.The story was full of twists and turns that went nowhere. Oh boy that's the real Captain America on that ship! Oh...no turns out it wasn't...etc., repeat, repeat. Granted that is the point of the Skrulls, to trust no one, but it became something empty and useless. There eventually was little drama, why bother caring for this person its just a skrull, oh it isn't?!...oh nope, see just a skrull...huh. Furthermore the fight scenes were just cut and paste. Generic skrull punches hero in big city battle...yawn.The only decent thing in this storyline is the artwork. Kudos to Yo.Other than that, Secret Invasion was my first taste of Brian Michael Bendis and like a rotten piece of fruit, I threw it right into the trash and learned to never read anything else by him.",2.0,God-flippin-awful,1251849600,"09 2, 2009",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A3MDNOMA9CVP2O,161026083X,Narelle Spencer,"[0, 0]",You got to know Duncan in the other books but he comes into his own love a happy ending x,5.0,Love a happy ending,1390867200,"01 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1K1JW1C5CUSUZ,0446578215,"Donald Mitchell ""Jesus Loves You!""","[7, 8]","I like books that contain two voices but merge the perspectives: I learn more that way and the material is a lot more interesting. Imagine my happy surprise when I realized that You, Inc. not only has that feature but also combines the concepts for several books: one on sales; one on entering the workplace as a young person; and one on manners. The resulting mix is interesting and lively.While many books about the business world are all about techniques, independent of your identify and values, the Beckwiths don't have that limitation. They see presenting yourself honestly and approachably as good for everyone.The book is also deeper than many books that focus in those areas. You'll find lots of snippets of research information that properly reinforces their messages. For example, we tip more when people make us feel good than when we get great service. But how much time do most of us focus on how the other person is going to feel? Well, we should do so a lot more. In essence, a lot of this book is simply explaining the practical reasons why the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you) is so widely admired by various religions and ethical thinkers.This book will make a great gift to any college or post-college soon-to-be-graduate who is looking for a job. It will be a lifesaver for people who find that they've stalled in their careers . . . or might even be on the downside.I personally found that I could use the book as a sort of compass needle to help test if I'm relating well to others. I was helpfully reminded not to share with people too many things that I do (that will overwhelm and confuse them) and to act consistently.I thought that Selling the Invisible was an exceptionally good business book. I suspect that You, Inc. will be a more helpful one because so many more people can use the advice in this valuable volume.But if you are looking for ways to accomplish things other than rapport, you won't find much help here. So you'll need some other books. But that's all right. No one book can give you everything you need except the Bible.",5.0,Great Ways to Establish and Maintain Authentic Rapport,1174953600,"03 27, 2007",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A76GHL48VQ621,0143038591,C. Good,"[0, 0]","_The Oracle: The Lost Secrets and Hidden Messages of Ancient Delphi_ by William J. Broad is a really great book.It starts out with ancient history, when the Oracle at Delphi was one of the most famous figures in the world. Homer mentions her as already being famous in the eighth century before the common era. And she continued to prophesy until after 300 CE, a span of over 1200 years. She was the most famous prophet in Greece, and Greek cities, rulers and Greek colonies all around the Mediterranean sent her tribute. At a time and place when laws were very unforgiving, slavery was widespread, and women had very little power, the Oracle was a position held exclusively by women, one of the most powerful religious or political positions in Greece, and the Oracles' prophecies regularly emphasized tolerance, forgiveness, the importance of intent as well as action, and the freeing of slaves. There are still many thousands of inscriptions of thanks from freed slaves on the excavated temple ruins today.However, early Christians had no tolerance for her prophecies. The temple was abandoned, the Oracle forgotten, and for well over another thousand years, the only people who remembered her was the occasional scholar reading old Greek and Roman accounts.The site was rediscovered a couple of times in the Renaissance period, but did not get any sustained attention until the 1800s. Greece did not gain its independence from Turkey until the early 1800s and had little resources for archaeology for some time after that. Various other European countries did have active archaeological societies and groups, which sometimes fought with each other over who would get permission from the Greek government to excavate Delphi.The English Victorians of the late 1800s were fascinated by the place, as were the Americans in the same time period. There was a strong interest in spiritualism, mysticism, and unknown powers of the mind during that time, and it was particularly interesting to read how some of the early founders of the English Society for Psychical Research (the SPR) were quite interested in ancient accounts of the Oracle at Delphi.The French eventually became the main archaeologists in the very late 1800s, and what they found was . . . nothing special. Yes, there was a building, yes, there was clearly the remains of a temple, but the sweet vapors the Oracle had inhaled during her prophetic trances, which had been recorded numerous times over the centuries that the temple at Delphi was active? No trace, and no trace of anywhere they could have come from.So the Oracle was designated a fraud, faker, or perhaps someone who indulged in mind-altering drugs. There was no mystery.And then in the 1980, a geologist named de Boer was in Greece to help evaluate possible sites for nuclear power plants. De Boer spent part of his time in Greece reading classical history and literature (there was a lot of time spent waiting for government permits) and he developed a great respect for Plutarch, who had been high priest of Delphi for a time and who had written extensively of Delphi. De Boer himself had grown up in Indonesia as a child, and had survived being in a Japanese slave camp in World War II from the time he was nine and a half until he was eleven, which meant that he was not terribly afraid to question academic authorities, as there was not much they could do to him that would rival what he had already been through.De Boer found the old site at Delphi and immediately recognized clear signs of active geology and very active faults in the nearby mountains. For all the archaeologists who had looked at Delphi in the late 1800s and early 1900s, very few of them knew much about geology or appreciated how much the very active geology of Greece could change the bedrock underneath the Delphaic temple.This began an effort over that took over 20 years to study the history and geology of the temple of Delphi. My copy of Broad's book is dated 2006, and some of the most important articles about the research weren't published until 2003. Along the way, de Boer worked with Hale, an archaeologist; Chanton, a geochemist, and Spiller, a physician. They documented the geology and archaeology of Delphi, the presence of volatile hydrocarbon gases in nearby faults today and likely proof that similar gases came up from faults underneath the temple of Delphi in antiquity, and they conducted research into the effects of various hydrocarbon gases on human perception.Throughout it all is the recurring theme that specialists become specialists because they reduce messy reality down to what is easily measurable and repeatable, and while specialists can come up with some amazing things, they also become so preoccupied with the answers from their own specialties they refuse to consider larger possibilities. Of the four men who studied different parts of Delphi in different ways, all came away with an appreciation that perhaps the world is a bit larger and less easily explained than it looks. In each case, it took a new look from their own specialty and help from other specialties to get an idea what the Delphi might have been like when the Oracle was still there as a prophet of Apollo.Broad writes that the discussions he had with the various researchers while writing the book paralleled a raging controversy within science as a whole: how much mystery and sense of the grand is science stripping out of life by narrowing itself down into more and more isolated specialties, each of which is only willing to look at measurable data from within its own specialty?It is a really good book, one where I learned a lot and that gave me a lot to think about. I highly recommend it.",5.0,"A really good book, I really enjoyed it.",1404777600,"07 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1AJTVWW258ARC,031621082X,Tommie,"[0, 0]","this is a great way to spend any time. wonderfully written..I was drawn from murders to mother instincts.past,present,and future,all in one",5.0,Great,1395792000,"03 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ABQEKKRD6WZFA,1846039908,cpt matt,"[19, 19]","There are several pleasant surprises in Steven Zaloga's book on the T-34/85 vs. M-26 Pershing. The first is that the author also includes the M-4A3E8 Sherman (late WW2) tank as well. Zaloga points out that the Sherman and T-34 were more contemporaries than the Pershing, which was developed later. The focus of the book remains on the T-34 vs. M-26, but it's a nice bonus to have the Sherman included here since it did see a lot of action in Korea. Another is an analysis that shows increased tank kills to the tank that sees and shoots the enemy first. Sounds very simple, but it is important in the evaluation of any tank. One big difference of this book vs. others in the Dual Series - more narrative about the battles fought than technical discussions about ammunition, trajectory of shells and ballistics. These are not dismissed, but not as detailed in other Dual books.The early phase of the Korean War belonged to the Soviet built T-34 with 85 mm cannon. Since South Korea had no tanks, and the few US tanks that arrived in South Korea were no match for the T-34, the North Koreans in six weeks almost managed to conquer all of South Korea. Gradually, the M-26 Pershing tank was introduced and begins immediately proving its superiority.The book has excellent photos of both tanks, inside and in action. There are color 3-D cutaways which show the inside of the turrets. Everyone always wants to know which tank is ""the best"" A summary is provided in the book - the Sherman could knock out the T-34 easily and vice versa. The M-26 Pershing had armor sufficient to protect against the T-34/85 and the 90 mm US cannon would sometimes go through the front of the T-34 and all the way through the turret, engine and back out. As the US knocked out virtually every North Korean tank, the battles shifted to those of infantry support and mobile artillery, for which the Sherman was better suited.Tables included show tank losses by cause, number and types of tanks in US inventory, firepower and performance comparisons. One minor criticism - in books this small, every word counts. The battle at No Name ridge is reviewed in caption and almost verbatim in the text. One or the other would have sufficed. The two page color plate of the battle is fantastic, showing how terrain and circumstances dictate tactics - normally, you would never want tanks so close to each other.This book sets out to do all that it is meant to do and a bit more - it shows the two combatants (three including the Sherman), gives you a great overview of the ebb and flow of the Korean War and how armor contributed to the US recapture of South Korea. Highly recommended for all armor buffs, good for modelers, anyone who wants to see the continued tank development from 1945-1950.",5.0,T-34/85 vs. M26 Pershing Dual,1290816000,"11 27, 2010",19,19,helpful,1.0,1 A26TPS7SVNGWA,1599908735,Daria Kasparian,"[0, 0]","I loved the first book and I was so excited when this one came out I love miri she is such a spirited girl that makes me smile. This book really expressed the characters and miri's love life. It was peder vs timon. The academy girls also are back and better then ever when they go to the lowlands. Miri becomes enrolled to queen's castle a school for Icelanders. Britta finally is almost married to Stephen, but people are not happy about a noble becoming princess and everyone goes against her. In this book Miri goes on an adventure of a life time and the suspension is extraordinary. I give this book 5 stars.",5.0,Review from Phoebe,1390780800,"01 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A28EC5LRZCDEHJ,1561841978,William Meisel,"[11, 34]","Okay. The author's main thesis is that your evocations don't work because you have to follow the directions in the original grimoires EXACTLY. If you mix stuff up from different systems, it won't work. That's why you just get psychological reactions INSIDE yourself instead of some actual presence OUTSIDE of your magical circle.The author (who for all we know could just be a pseudonym of Hyatt and Black, but let's assume he exists) presents a particularly ""easy"" grimoire with a detailed commentary on how to use it (though you need access to a lot of Catholic implements--Holy water, etc. to make it work.)This is interesting reading certainly, particularly compared to the droves of magic books published by Llewellyn.Does it work? Alas, I'm only an armchair magician. I can't help you there.",3.0,FALCON PRESS ALERT,1102896000,"12 13, 2004",11,34,helpful,0.3235294117647059,1 A2DO3GA5M3FW1Z,0764112589,"Marvin W. Luse ""Marv Luse""","[6, 6]","I wish all reference books were this good. Very thorough, well written, interesting, extremely useful-- I can think of nothing but good things to say about it. I have yet to stump it with an obscure culinary term. Much practical information on the purchase, storage, and preparation of food items. It's a good one to keep on the nightstand for late night reading. If you enjoy cooking, you should own this book.",5.0,Wonderful book,980294400,"01 24, 2001",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1TJ2KFMOI8PLO,0801010535,"Mathur Mark ""Theologian and amateur philosopher""","[9, 21]","I was hoping this huge commentary would be the comprehensive commentary on Luke I've been looking for, but it's not. Bock does a good job in many ways, but he does not treat the obvious theological issues that the various texts actualize. E g today I studied Luk 22:31 where Jesus tells Peter of Satans request to ""sift you like wheat"". The obvious question that pops up in a readers mind is ""Can Satan request such things? And why does God grant him that? And how do God and Satan relate to one another?"" Unfortunately Bock does not discuss such issues, but merely skims on the surface >:-( which is very frustrating. Since I bought Bock I am often forced back to Geldenhuys older and much smaller commentary (the older NICNT series), who most often does take a shot at the real relevant issues of the text.",3.0,"A good complement, thats all.",1109376000,"02 26, 2005",9,21,helpful,0.42857142857142855,1 ASB4QD6YZJ7EX,0060761784,C. Bailey,"[6, 6]","I have fallen in love with this cookbook-I am originally from NC, and this brings back so many special memories-I love the inserts about Coke, Cheerwine, Little Debbie, Lance nabs, etc- and the recipes are super. They taste good, plus the directions given are very clear. ---I have ordered 4 more for gifts-I think friends will really enjoy this special cookbook.",5.0,wonderful-!,1206921600,"03 31, 2008",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A1YOWNSSSXFJ0,B0082XJGCU,Andy L.,"[0, 0]","I bought this for my Kindle, and couldn't even make it past the first 50 pages. I wanted to learn history of my ancestors (my mother was of Algonguin heritage), but it wasn't worth my time.",2.0,Dullsville,1371945600,"06 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJA3QOYYV4E5S,1416566759,she reads,"[5, 7]","Being the third book in the series, and having some characters and relationships spill over from book #2, I'd suggest reading in order. HOWEVER- Cindy Gerard is a rock star goddess of suspense/action romance and this would be satisfying all on it's own I suspect.What I love about this book (and Cindy G. in general) is that she balances the romance and sex with the adventure and suspense. It's not just a story of hooking up or finding true love. There is a LOT going on and she knows how to keep me on the edge of my seat. This conflict of this story is centered on a very sick criminal who deals in human (sex) slavery, and sets his sights on our heroine.I'll admit that parts of the action might be a tad far-fetched, but friends it's called FICTION! And something that is very realistic is Cindy's clear research of weapons and military. I really enjoy her books and the story, the heat, the chemistry, and the fantastic writing make her one of my favorites- in fact my #1 fave of this genre.The men of Black Ops are such a great base for her series, and I especially love that while characters float in from previous books, each of these three books is their own very separate adventure.",5.0,no lie- this is fantastic!,1232150400,"01 17, 2009",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A68K30RGRHF05,0399159495,Lan the Answer Man,"[14, 17]","Michael Brandman's new Jesse Stone novel is a pathetic parody, but ""a parody of what?"" is the question. It is certainly not a parody of Robert Parker's wonderful Jesse Stone books. Fool Me Twice bears almost no resemblance -- in style, story line or depth of characterization -- to Parker's series.Ace Atkins clearly understands Spenser, and I have no objection to his post-Parker Lullaby, but this sad piece of work by Brandman (oh, the unintended irony of his name!) is like reading a bad screenplay that takes the complexities and genius of Parker's small town police chief and turns him into a one-dimensional goofball.Surely, the Estate of Robert B. Parker isn't in such need of money that it will allow this sort of thing to be continued. Please, no more Michael Brandman mangling of Jesse Stone!",1.0,A pathetic parody ... but of what?,1347753600,"09 16, 2012",14,17,helpful,0.8235294117647058,1 A14T7FCS484VDK,1478297778,Sierra,"[0, 0]","I honestly think anyone of any age will enjoy this book! It's been awhile since I have read a great mid-evil adventure story. I think this author must of done quite a bit of research for this book and very well written! This is a superb tale of a young boy with a stead-fast heart shielded by strong morals,and a lineage that makes him a valuable target to the most evil driven men from both near and far. The author did a wonderful job with the characters and wove in some unexpected twists, which is my favorite part! I'm going to have to read the next one though, I have to know what is going to happen next! I enjoyed reading this book on my holiday weekend outside, it got me away to a different land than good ol' Nebraska!",4.0,A great mid-evil adventure story,1401408000,"05 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3N7L0EEZTC59Y,0345525612,"M. Fechter ""wordsmith78""","[0, 0]","I loved the first book and was curious about the second book. The characters were hard to like at first, but the author did a GREAT job of getting the reader to care for--then root for--her hero and heroine!",5.0,Loved!,1389052800,"01 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AT07HH44KLYYQ,1612187137,Carolyn Mull,"[0, 0]","Sweet clean love story. If you have read Caroline Fyffe's book "Where the wind blows, you will remember Chase & Jesse from it. It's always nice to catch up with ole friends. This was an adorable story of a life long love. My only complaint ....not long enough. Read & enjoy !!!",5.0,sweet !,1402963200,"06 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1943HVHPARLGI,0446583251,"Joshua Brown ""The Reformed Broker""","[7, 9]","Only every once in a great while, does the perfect author come upon the perfect subject matter for a book at the perfect time in history for it to be written. But despite the rarity of this serendipitous confluence of factors, we've been fortunate every now and then. In the case of the new book 'Young Money: Inside the Hidden World of Wall Street's Post-Crash Recruits' by Kevin Roose, we've just pulled all three pairs of cherries on the slot machine. Lucky us.For decades, the inner workings of Wall Street's training program have been the subject of rumor, innuendo and fascination. Although we'd gotten glimpses of it - notably from Michael Lewis's 'Liar's Poker', the literary antecedent of Roose's book - we've never truly had an account bring us this close before. 'Young Money' offers us an almost first-person narrative of what it's like to go through this apotheosis - this process by which an inexperienced undergrad becomes one of the highest paid corporate employees in America over the course of just a few years.The author spent years tracking and keeping in touch with his subjects, real-life Masters of the Universe-in-training, as their sanity teetered on the precipice and their extra-firm relationships broke down. We get a front-row seat for post-Credit Crisis Wall Street, witnessing all the attendant uncertainty that surrounds both our young protagonists as well as the unsettled firms they're dying to work for.The book will, of course, affect different people in disparate ways. The veteran banker or trader, who's lived through these rites and rituals of labor, will read 'Young Money' with perhaps some combination of wistfulness, regret and mirth. Less-experienced industry aspirants may enjoy it as an affirmation that they are hardly the only ones who've had to pay their dues before, even if the book calls into question just how bright that light at the end of the tunnel truly is. For the rest of us - those who've never gone through the big-firm hiring-and-hazing process - 'Young Money' is more likely to make us glad of that fact than to regret it.Regardless of what your background may be, financial sector professional or curious civilian, the book is written in plain English and reads at a breezy pace, despite the heft of insight contained within (I read it in a weekend). 'Young Money' is, at its heart, the story of ambitious people and what they're willing to endure to make it on The Street. It's also an inadvertent explanation for why The Street never loses, and always emerges from every crisis stronger than before - the resilience of the "human capital" these firms attract is Exhibit A. Lastly, the book is, improbably, both a motivational story as well as a cautionary tale all at once - you can fight for what you want too, but be careful what you wish for!I recommend 'Young Money' to all audiences, there is plenty in here for any reader with any level of familiarity with the topic.2014 has its finance book to beat.",5.0,2014 has its finance book to beat,1393113600,"02 23, 2014",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A24A6UB8302GFM,1480074616,BrittanyG,"[0, 0]","The sequel to Letting Go was just as good. In this book we find out how Ty really feels about loosing Van to his cousin Colt. The only thing that keeps him going is Colt's cousin Miranda's daughter Izzy.(I know that sounds very backwoods of me but..) Ty completely falls in love with this beautiful little girl. Izzy changes everything about Ty including his perspective of women. He cannot imagine his life without her and soon feels the same way about her mother, Miranda.Miranda is beautiful, sexual, and sensual and unfortunately the whole town knows it. She is in a one way relationship with Izzy's dad Tucker, who is not willing to stop his drinking and illegal work to become a family man. Once Miranda catches him cheating and Tucker admits to never wanting their daughter, she is devastated. Ty is there for her and Izzy but Miranda can only see him as another man that cheats. The closer she becomes to Ty and sees his growing love for her daughter, she can't help but to start to have feelings for him herself. Of course their families forbid them to start any type of relationship but is forced to send Miranda to Ty's farm when Tucker starts threatening her life. Once at the farm, their feelings for each other cannot help but grow into a powerful, all consuming love. This is one of the best sequels and will not disappoint.",5.0,"Hello, Tyler Mitchell!!!!",1356307200,"12 24, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A16CG8LV97N8Q2,149960548X,"Dee Williams ""Dee""","[0, 0]",All I can say is wow!!! Karmel divine did it again . Will leave u speechless. A must read!! That all I will say don't want to spoil it for others,5.0,great!!!!,1400976000,"05 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1QPL6O2VF5DVK,0307381668,"Byron Fike ""blf40""","[166, 186]","All I really want to do is walk my dogs without them pulling on their leashes. Cesar makes it look so easy and, unfortunately, his book does not give me the magic, step-by-step formula that will instantly transform my dogs into perfect little walking machines. Alas!On the positive side (and surely more realistic), the book gives wonderful insights into how to communicate so that your dog understands what you want. His threefold formula of exercise, discipline, and affection is simple and effective. My two little dogs (1 yr. old puppies actually) are happy to get a morning and evening walk, have boundaries at mealtimes and limits on where they can go in the house and what they can do, and , of course, get lots of affection.If you want a step-by-step manual don't buy the book. Milan states up front that he is NOT a dog trainer. However, if you want an interesting read that helps you understand how your dog learns best, I'd recommend buying it.",3.0,"Exercise, Discipline, Affection",1201824000,"02 1, 2008",166,186,helpful,0.8924731182795699,1 A22B13EJTZKCTM,0765331322,"K. Eckert ""Devourer of all books fantasy""","[0, 0]","I had been wanting to read the Girl Genius graphic novels for a long time. When I ran into this Ominbus at Half Price Books I was super excited. This was a highly amusing and entertaining read. It has a complex story, wonderful characters, a fantastic world, and is a hilarious read.Agatha Clay lives in a world where inventors are king and help to keep the peace. The best inventors possess the Spark which enables them to create powerful and creative inventions. However, Agatha’s inventions always fail. Then her locket gets stolen by a soldier on the street and Agatha start developing some interesting abilities. It ends up Agatha might have the Spark after all and this makes her interesting to Baron Klaus Wulfenbach and his son Gil. Baron Wulfenbach is trying to maintain order in the city.This book was so much fun to read. I love the characters, the world, and the story. I wasn't a huge fan of the illustration style (it’s a bit cartoony for me), but it does fit this quirky and manic story very well. The colors are bright and fun. All of the characters are also illustrated in a way that makes them all look kind of manly, this bothered me a bit but I prefer it over strangely proportioned female bodies, so I guess it’s okay.The world is complex and just spectacular, I really enjoyed the blend of steampunk and magic. The characters are hilarious, complex, and fun to read about. There is a lot going on in this story and so many things I am curious to learn more about. How will Agatha use her Spark? Will Gil figure out how to actually talk to women? Will the lost Heterodyne family ever be found? Is Baron Wulfenbach evil or is he just trying to keep his city safe?Overall I really really enjoyed this graphic novel. I laughed so many times reading this and enjoyed the characters so much. I can't wait to read the next installment in this series. Highly recommended for fans who are looking for an over-the-top, laugh-out-lot steampunk graphic novels series. It was a lot of fun to read.",5.0,"Excellent steampunk, hilarious, and just so much fun to read!",1395014400,"03 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AI4XIILRPLVNX,1401324843,KitKatDoe,"[0, 0]","I'm looking forward to using this carb cycling method to lose weight. The book takes you step x step thru the process of eating healthy, of exercise fun, and includes delicious, simple, everyday recipes that you'll be sure to use again and again. A great resource all in one book/magazine.",5.0,excellent resource!,1401235200,"05 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2KW3O9TMOT4TC,1442303093,Ken,"[4, 4]","Okay, the Stephen King written Kindle ad that was the first third of this story almost made me stop reading, but, as a King fan, I stuck with it. Sure glad I did. Not only is this classic King (the weird entering every-day life), it's a bit of a Dark Tower tie-in as well. Tightly focused and a quick read. If you're a bibliophile, you'll find the UR facinating on several different levels. How cool would it be to stumble upon URs with unknown King novels? Sign me up!",4.0,A Nice Surprise,1237593600,"03 21, 2009",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2VOIN0KY3KZ0W,0758220413,"ydwright ""ydw""","[4, 7]",I have to say...this did not live up to expectations of the series for me. The heroine was spineless and annoying throughout the entire story. The hero was more naive than I could stomach. I am sad to say that I skimmed a lot of the story because of my disappointment with how things progressed.,1.0,SO Disappointed,1253145600,"09 17, 2009",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A2ZB3LUN5X8H1G,059600754X,Todd Hawley,"[8, 8]","This book is in effect a ""user's guide"" for checking out the Linux operating system without having to ""commit"" one way or the other. You insert the CD included with the book in your CD drive and start up your computer, voila you have a Linux machine. The CD contains a number of different Linux software, including web browsers, OpenOffice.Org, email program, file organizer, even software to play music and videos.The book describes all of the software on the CD and guides your ""tour"" as you check all of it out.Starting off with a description of what Linux is and the KDE desktop, it then goes on to describe using the various programs included on the CD: web browsing, file management, Linux games, email and chat, digital image editing, Open Office, even a chapter about typing commands direct from a terminal screen command line. It brings back memories of using Unix prompts at various companies I used to work at. Linus increasingly has more and more excellent software available, and the book's next to last chapter describes some programs that aren't on the CD, but can be easily found elsewhere. And for those who decide to ""take the plunge"" and switch to Linux, the book's final chapter explains the major Linux distributions available. There's even a troubleshooting section at the end of the book. This book besides presenting an excellent introduction to Linux makes a great argument for leaving behind the world of Windows for something better.",4.0,Take It For A Spin,1124841600,"08 24, 2005",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A3J1BICV8GQJ7Y,0373776985,Wendy Vissman,"[0, 0]",Loved the book. I have read the complete series leading up to this new one and it seems like this one is going to just as good as the other one! Can't wait to read the next book!,5.0,Wicked Nights,1376956800,"08 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WVOME6AWEYNI,0006550436,Priscilla,"[0, 0]","This is my first Amy Tan book. Having bought it at a sale (3 for $10), I was ecstatic to finally found one book I’ve been meaning to read for quite some time.The Bonesetter’s Daughter talks about the estranged relationship between mothers and daughters. It is about the women who shaped Ruth Young’s life. The story shows that it is not too late for people to forgive each other and themselves.The Bonesetter’s Daughter is bold and troublesome all at once.The first part focuses on Ruth, a workaholic in her mid 40s. It talks about Young with her life partner, Art and his two adolescent daughters, Dory and Fia. Things start to get complicated when Young finds out that her mother, Lu Ling, is showing signs of dementia. The late Precious Auntie, whose real identity shows later in the book, is a constant figment in Lu Ling’s life. The relationship between Ruth and Lu Ling is fustrating. There’s resentment and bitterness.The second part evolves to Lu Ling’s young life. Sisterly love. Marriage. Curses. Family secrets. I’m not a believer when it comes to superstitions; I find them silly. To quote from the book, it is bound by grudges, debt and love.The Bonesetter’s Daughter builds up slowly. It reads well and is rich with humanity. The last 70 pages offers commentary on forgiveness and pride- as Ruth finally understands what her mother and grandmother has done for her.",5.0,Rich with humanity,1383868800,"11 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DDARHIJ9T0N9,0226567702,Kerry B.,"[12, 15]","As a counterpoint to this book, those who believe that the British Army was a learning organization ought to carefully read ""Ministry of Defeat: The British in Iraq 2003-2009"" by Richard North. The British Army's structure based on the territorial regimental system was divisive and outmoded 70 years ago. Many of their own officers said as much back then. Whatever success they might have accomplished in 1950s colonial warfare was in spite of the regimental system, not because of it.In his book ""The Two Vietnams"", the late Bernard Fall warned that any comparisons between British victories in Malaya and the situation in Vietnam in 1960's was nothing but a dangerous self-delusion, or worse, an oversimplification of the whole problem. Mr. Nagl should have followed that advice before he wrote this book.These conflicts did not share much in common beyond the jungle setting and political ideology. The author's first error was not underscoring the fact that the British-led security forces did use overwhelming force to neutralize the insurgency in Malaya. By the mid-1950s the communist guerrillas were impossibly outnumbered (by more than 50 to 1) and they had no external support from foreign countries. Food control was easy for the British because Malaya imported 2/3 of its rice, and geography isolated the guerrillas from potential suppliers needed to maintain and expand the insurgency.The most important dissimilarity is that the British did not have to fight a huge conventional field army like the PAVN, which ultimately numbered in millions of troops and thanks to China and Russia, it was armed with modern infantry weapons, tanks, heavy artillery, jet aircraft, SAMs, and radar controlled air defense. The last time the British fought pitched battles against conventional forces in Malaya, they were crushed by the Japanese Army in 1942.The communist insurgency in Malaya amounted to little more than a few thousand guerrillas equipped with no sophisticated weapons. The small arms they did have were generally in poor condition, and ironically supplied to them by the British SOE during World War II. It was the British who raised and equipped these guerrillas to confront the Japanese occupation forces.Geography also spared British Malaya from other communist threats. South Vietnam was bordered by three countries that were either communist or in various stages of revolt. Compared to Vietcong guerrillas and the North Vietnamese Army, the Pathet Lao and Khmer Rouge were not much of a threat to U.S troops, but they did receive foreign military aid, and they were far more dangerous than the guerrillas in Malaya.Unlike the Vietcong, the communist guerrillas in Malaya had no protected supply bases outside the borders. The Vietnamese insurgents were natives, but in Malaya about 90% of the guerrillas were foreign immigrants (Chinese). The massive British resettlement program of Chinese squatters was an idea that did not work with Vietnamese families who did not wish to be moved from their long-established homesteads.A self-promoter like Sir Robert Thompson would not admit it, but the political realities of Asian self-determination may have played a bigger role in the outcome than the British armed forces. Prompted by bitter memories from the Fall of Singapore and reminded by the Fall of Dienbienphu, British officials knew that the days of white colonialism were numbered. That is why they agreed, in the middle of their Emergency, to let go of their rule and leave Malaya in exchange for the cooperation and support of the people. This was a significant concession made by the British and it cannot be stressed enough.Finally, it would have been nice if the British Army offered more than lip service because they helped trigger the Vietnam war in September 1945. Major General Douglas Gracey was ordered to accept the surrender of Japanese troops, and he disobeyed instructions when he chose to restore French rule. The day before Gracey arrived in Saigon, French agents armed the Legionnaires who were released from captivity. They stormed government buildings and looted private homes. They attacked the Vietminh and other activists competing for power, as well as innocent bystanders. French and Vietnamese civilians seized on the opportunity to settle old scores. British troops sided with the French and General Gracey asked the Japanese prisoners to help because his own Gurkha troops were unable to contain the riots and open warfare. He wrongly believed that this series of actions had no serious political implications, which caused great embarrassment for Lord Mountbatten. The Japanese troops were rearmed and told to disarm all the Vietnamese militants, and remove the provisional Vietnamese Executive Committee at the Governor General's palace. Public utilities were disabled by the fighting and Martial Law was declared, sparking the conflagration that lasted 30 years.The British armed forces were not successful at countering insurgencies in Java, Palestine, Cyprus and Aden so their collective experience is not a good model for addressing current troubles in Iraq and Afghanistan.",1.0,Flagrant Disregard for Historical Accuracy,1332979200,"03 29, 2012",12,15,helpful,0.8,1 AEFTIUQHSVUFX,0192815113,Joe Z,"[0, 0]","If you fish and you're a reader, then this is right up your alley. Verbose, dated, yet, well, fun. Not so much a practical guide as a fun read for people who love to fish. I've found more practical advice in A Treatise of Fishing with an Angle (modern spelling) by Dame Juliana Berner. Her book is more succinct and the flies she recommends are still with us today! But, be that as it may, The Compleat Angler is a wonderful, mid-winter, sitting by the fire, waiting for spring, read. Enjoy. 5 stars, easy.",5.0,Cantebury tales - with fish,1347926400,"09 18, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33JTERU1TAND2,0849948428,J. Higginbotham,"[0, 0]",I heard Ken speak at a Women of Faith conference last year. This book will inspire you to get up and get moving and to become the whole person that God has meant for you to be. Very inspirational book.,5.0,Fully alive.,1361145600,"02 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2O1FLF439GX3P,0842322272,E. Johnson,"[17, 17]","I haven't done a one-year reading of the Bible for several years. I think I got burned out from using another Bible set for several years in a row. But I've really enjoyed this one. It is a straight-through-the Bible format, which is something I normally haven't done (I think because I wasn't excited about having to wait until the fall to get into the New Testament!). But I have been fine staying in the OT as long as I have. I enjoy the commentary, and most days I get something out of the writer's insight; this commentary has also caused me to often focus on a particular point, giving me a new appreciation for it. In addition, it's nice that they have every 7th or 8th day ""off,"" meaning if you miss a day, you can still catch up with that freebie. This has saved me several times whereas I otherwise might have given up--I'm a perfectionist and would practically quit than just pick up after missing several days. But I've been able to stay with it this entire year. I definitely recommend this Bible for those who need structure in their daily devotional life.",5.0,I like the style,1119052800,"06 18, 2005",17,17,helpful,1.0,1 A1E45C97JEF57H,0913990760,Edward Alexander Gerster,"[5, 5]","As a longtime vegetarian, I was surprised at the wealth of information -- and great variety of recipes that Louise Hagler has compiled in this volume. The end products are appealling to both the eye and the palate, and there are many recipes that are quick and simple to prepare. Highly Recommended.",5.0,"Great healthy recipes, nice format, well photographed.",911001600,"11 14, 1998",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2631RBPRTXWCK,0062231103,LRT,"[0, 0]",I've read ALL of Beverly Jenkins books and this one is just as fascinating as all the rest. she is one of my favorite author's. all her books are worth the money spent.,5.0,Destiny surrender,1389139200,"01 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32UEYHRSMBFOU,0385492677,"P. VEASEY ""avg guy""","[0, 0]",For someone trying to understand mindfulness this is a good read. Little humor with the process of trying to understand Buddhism.,4.0,A good read,1366329600,"04 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AO515JZ04EWR8,076792262X,"Amazon Customer ""Proud to be an American""","[10, 14]","If there is anyone that thinks it is possible to negotiate with the likes of bin Laden, they need to read this collection of communiques. These stark documents illustrate the megalomaniac, and mentally unstable condition of the head of Al Quaida. Raymond Ibrahim presents some of the most frightening writing since Mein Kampf, and the Communist Manifesto. This is serious reading for anyone that wonders what Al Quaida is really up to.",4.0,Frightening !,1217808000,"08 4, 2008",10,14,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A1L13SR6NFDPZV,0425241432,Pauline Wiles,"[0, 0]","Perhaps I shouldn't have picked a mid-series novel for my first foray into the cozy mystery genre.For established fans, this book probably works just fine. But the author needed to work harder to grab first-time readers.The main characters didn't engage me and the long list of female secondary characters (most of whom only seemed present so they could get bumped off) confused me. The final reveal left me underwhelmed, as it was clear from early in the book that the murderer had changed identity... hence they could plausibly have been any character of the right age, still left alive at the end. Most tellingly, I found the pace dragged - an entire chapter was spent setting up for a party - and by 75% of the way through, I realized I didn't much care whodunnit: I just wanted to finish and move on to my next read.If you already love Cleo Coyle, go right ahead. Otherwise, this may not be the place to start. Two-and-a-half stars.",3.0,Probably fine for established fans,1358812800,"01 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1FFP7LPBEQ61D,1452659370,A reader,"[4, 7]","The book convinces me that MacDonald deserves a new trial. I'm agog with the parade of injustices--not merely errors, per the title, but active and conscious decisions on the part of investigators, prosecutors, judges, and journalists to slant the narrative against MacDonald because it fit their needs.Although I never had serious doubts about MacDonald's guilt before, the Helena Stoeckley business always bothered me. It's never been denied by anyone that the MP first responding to the emergency call sighted a woman in a floppy hat and boots standing in the rain on a corner a few blocks from the house. Within minutes, the injured MacDonald, supposedly giving a narrative he had made up on the spot, after his sudden, unpremeditated killing rampage, identifies a woman in a floppy hat and boots as one of his assailants. What are the odds? Further, what are the odds that that woman, once found, would be willing to confess to having been there? Or that she would have a circle of friends including people who fit MacDonald's descriptions of the other intruders? And that one of THEM (her boyfriend, Greg Mitchell) would confess the murders to a number of people? Again, the odds?Stoeckley is far from the only part of the story. There's blood evidence, fiber evidence, crime-scene evidence, much of it compelling and all of it going toward reasonable doubt. There is really an unbelievable volume of stuff that we have never heard or seen before, mostly because it was actively hidden by the original CID investigators or later government prosecutors, or, on faulty legal logic, disallowed by a judge (in the 1979 trial) who should have recused himself for conflict of interest and was plainly on the government's side. There are clear discrepancies, for instance, between the original lab notes on the blood typing and the pajama top punctures and the narratives that were later presented in court. But the defense was never shown the original notes, hence the discrepancies were never brought out in court or in the press coverage.Another instance: The hair found in a brush in the house wasn't human, it was synthetic. It was nearly two feet long, and made of a substance called saran. The prosecution maintained the hair came from one of the children's dolls. But the doll experts they sought out--two women who worked at Mattel in 1969--said that saran was not used in doll hair at that time, and further, that the only way you could get a two-foot-long hair from a doll's head would be to dig under the rubber surface of the scalp and tweeze out a hair that had been doubled. (Break it off from the surface, and it would be only half that length.) One of the doll experts refused to sign her affidavit because the agents had her saying the exact opposite of what she had told them. The point, again, is not that the hair proves the presence of Stoeckley or another blonde-wigged intruder, merely that it is consistent with MacDonald's version of events, and so would have gone toward reasonable doubt. And there a dozen other things like that, each undergirded by testimonies and circumstances pointing to likelihood or at least DOUBT.Not that troubling questions aren't left, chiefly, of course, that MacDonald survived while his family were so brutally and decisively killed. He brought a lot of trouble on himself by doing the Cavett show and lying to Freddy Kassab about having killed one of the assailants, etc. But reasonable doubt was all MacDonald had to prove under the law. And there is reasonable doubt up the wazoo in this case; it's just that no jury ever got to see or hear it.I concur with the NY Times reviewer: 85% convinced he's innocent, 100% convinced he deserves a new trial.Main drawback is a writing style that is occasionally clunky. But it's at least as good as McGinniss, and better than the average for pop-crime books.",4.0,Look at the evidence,1351123200,"10 25, 2012",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A19XVZAM5D6QH2,188352332X,"Susan Koppelman ""Susan Koppelman""","[5, 5]","So compelling was this novel that I couldn't put it down and couldn't pay more than superficial attention to anything or anyone else while I was reading it! The other reviewers here have said enough about the plot and characters that there's nothing I need to add to entice other readers on that account, but I would like to add that the writing is so strong, so brilliant!, that had the characters and their stories, their loves, their troubles, their triumphs, not enthralled me, the sheer beauty of the prose would have. I will be buying copies of this as gifts for those to whom I usually pass on my books because I don't want to let go of this one. I can't wait to read her other books and I'd love to see this one become a best seller. The author doesn't preach, but she sure does teach--about power and love and independence and forgiveness and bonds between people and respect.",5.0,Read this book as soon as you can!!!!!!!!,1033257600,"09 29, 2002",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2JHK96UU04BZL,0446563072,OneItalianFlower,"[0, 0]","I was not interested in Seth Grahame-Smith's 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' but idea of Abraham Lincoln being a vampire hunter was quite interesting to me, as Lincoln is one of my favorite historical figures. To that end, the idea is quite fascinating and in general, well executed. My main problems are boiled down to thus: the narrator, who in the few pages he uses to his own story, was incredibly irritating; the plot occasionally jumps around so that you have to re-read it a few times in order to understand what place in time you are now in (this is a problem mostly in Lincoln's older years; it is more fluid in his youth); and last, the ending! It was completely out of character, in my opinion. Not of Henry's but of Lincoln's. Other than that, Grahame does a good job of making his idea believable, his characters speak and act appropriate to the time period, and it is a pretty good read.",3.0,"Great Idea, Decent Book",1279584000,"07 20, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15E7TEDWMCYAH,0152166696,DREAM517@aol.com,"[7, 7]","I LOVED THIS BOOK! When I first read the summary, I thought, okay vampires - the usual story line....NOT SO! The story started out with a 16-year-old girl named Kerry. After a late-night trip to the laundrymat to retrieve a lost teddy bear for her brother, Kerry becomes involved in helping Ethan, the handsome stranger caught in a kidnapping and as an accused vampire. I immediately take a liking to Kerry and I can see how she became attracted to Ethan so quickly. The story was great with the "vampire rules" thrown in, twists between truth and lies, love and hate, trust and betrayal. Wonderful story, one of the best I've ever read! A must read! Kudos to the author!!",5.0,Great Vampire Story and More!,890265600,"03 19, 1998",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A2BGTNW1J3VBHL,0312427468,"L. P. Schneider ""booklistener""","[0, 1]","I think my expectations for this book were too high. I'd read many rave reviews here plus the Stephen King piece about the all-around poor handling it received from its publisher. And the book starts out very strong.However, I agree with those who've called it slow. I think it bogs down in the section about the Walker family. Too much space devoted to what came off to me as generations of caricatures. Berlinski's non-missionary characters are much more well drawn.I think Berlinski is talented. Also very interesting and imaginative. I look forward to his next book. I hope he gets a better editor.",3.0,Good for first novel,1214438400,"06 26, 2008",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1C14R13OE4CYI,1414333064,Lisa Bartelt,"[5, 5]","At first, I was not excited about this book because I'd just read one by Susan May Warren with a similar premise: dying marriage, wife has an accident erasing part of her memory, husband tries to rescue marriage. I wondered why a publisher would release two books with similar themes so close together. The more I read, though, the more I realized they weren't as similar as I first thought.Dry as Rain is written from husband Eric's perspective. Just after he has strayed from his marriage with a co-worker, he learns that his wife, Kyra, has had an accident. She hasn't forgotten him but she doesn't remember the problems they've been having or that he was not living in their house. As she showers him with the kind of love they shared early in their marriage, he begins to want his marriage back. Only he wants it on his terms and not God's. Eric hopes that Kyra will never remember the events that led to their separation or find out about his infidelity.It's a painful and awkward journey at times because I just wanted him to come clean. And I didn't really like Eric. I thought he was shallow and a self-centered. His transformation, though, is worth the read.I appreciated Gina Holmes' willingness to take on this topic in a novel. Forgiveness and infidelity are not easy subjects, and she handled the story and characters with grace.",4.0,A meaningful look at marriage,1341100800,"07 1, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2WJWCH89A9MSC,1555976042,JJGites,"[10, 30]","Blah Blah Blah. I will grant that there is a nice style to some of the writing. But the characters are no more than vehicles for pointed dialogues - or worse, internal monologues - on central planning, operations management, communism and capitalism. When a character embarks on a 9km walk, I cringed because - sure enough - he will spend the time musing on the study of economics. I think I have read that the author had never been to the Soviet Union; this shows in the many cultural mistakes in the book. I waited months for publication of Red Plenty....and could not even finish it",1.0,Plenty of disapointment,1330905600,"03 5, 2012",10,30,helpful,0.3333333333333333,1 A113VSQSORQRQU,159276309X,"Naomi Manygoats ""Cookbook lover""","[5, 7]","I am not Catholic, but love books about this very special woman- Mother Teresa. Her life brought hope and love to so many who were living without it, and comfort to many who were dying alone. This is the first book to my knowledge that has dealt with her very first hand experience of a direct message from Jesus when she was on a train. For many years, she spoke very little about that experience, and it was not until the last few years of her life that she bagan to speak of it.The author is not a typical biographer- because he met with Mother Teresa many times and talked with her- in particular about her experience on the train, and what it meant to her. She was made aware of the true meaning of Jesus words on the cross 'I thirst', and explains how this is a message of how God thirsts for us, and how we should thirst for God. This topic is dealt with in great detail, and shows us how all of us can be a guiding light to people wherever we are- that you do not have to travel to the slums of Calcutta to be a 'Mother Teresa' to those where you live.This book contains a beautiful message- and Mother Teresa looked at everyone as if she were looking at Christ in disguise. What a timely book for our day, when so many are materially rich, but lacking in love.",5.0,"Very Uplifting, Inspiring Reading for Everyone",1223164800,"10 5, 2008",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3G4W0C5IW7VXN,0440223784,Yolanda Powers,"[0, 0]",Did not enjoy it as much as the first book of the series.Did not enjoy it as much as the first book of the series.,3.0,The reply (Area 51 series),1363305600,"03 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AVZF4LV5V673T,0609809040,ForexTech,"[19, 65]","I picked up this book, thinking it had something new on healthy eating. Big error! Barnard presents nothing new. Eat whole grains, don't skip meals, eat several small meals, fruits, vegetables and the other lingo that any health conscious reader already knows.I was expecting to read about how food xyz sparks gene abc and causes weight gain or loss. Instead, I got a lot of theory without intelligent analysis of the data.His blasting of fat is a joke!! He postulates fat-free eating?! That I would say be careful, fat is good, it is just the type of fat. Cut down on the saturated. He even says no to Olive oil!! Now that totally put me off.His write off on meats, chicken etc is another joke. Argentina main food is meat yet less than 2 in 10 people are overweight. Studies have shown that the bad rap for meat is misplaced and I agree. I think we should examine what we feed our meat. All that genetic modification is the culprit!In all, save your money. Nothing new, trust me...unless your are a beginner, even then, be careful.",2.0,Nothing new. Not for health knowledgeable readers,1066003200,"10 13, 2003",19,65,helpful,0.2923076923076923,1 AKXSTJQH1YUL7,0345410033,"Leo E. Walsh ""ebraynz""","[18, 20]","""Games People Play"" is a thought-provoking book, still salient after all those years. It got me out of a bad relationship, and made me see myself in a new light. It goes to show that new and improved isn't necessarily better.I had spent a couple of years chasing a drug-loving girl with a heart of gold. I was enchanted by the night-life some of our acquaintances were exposing me to. The darker sides of town are really quite interesting if you view them from within, but my corporate lifestyle, as well as my general avoidance of drugs, had effectively closed me out of this lifestyle after my experimental college days. Thanks to this book, I saw the game I was playing; ""Patsy"" to a bunch of druggies and alchies.""Games"" has been helpful in my quest for a real Adult-Adult relationship. Even in business, I find myself striving for Adult-Adult relationships. Knowing the games, it makes it easier to spot them and react to them. It also helps me see where others are coming from.The book itself wasn't earth shattering for me (Peck's ""Road Less Traveled"" was), but it was one of the more thought-provoking pop-psychology books I have ever read. I like the fact that it doesn't simply rehash Freudian or Jungian psychology, but builds a new quite useful framework to look at relationships. My problem with the book is that it is too short. I wanted more depth. Because of this, I was wavering between four and five stars, so the four star rating is really a 4.5.",4.0,Interesting,990576000,"05 23, 2001",18,20,helpful,0.9,1 A23GFTVIETX7DS,0316248193,Debbie Lee Wesselmann,"[39, 46]","This companion to the author's earlier Blood Sugar Solution Diet contains recipes for Hyman's Basic, Advanced, and Reintroductions phases to help people enjoy cooking and eating at home. Whether you are diabetic/prediabetic, need a gluten-free diet, want to lose weight, or just wish to eat more healthfully, this cookbook might help you get your body back on track. Although I don't fall into the category of Hyman's ""moderate to severe diabestity,"" I found that, just by testing and eating the recipes, I lost three pounds in one week. (That weight loss was not replicated in week two, but I did lose an additional half-pound.) I didn't strictly adhere to the diet plan; I just ate healthy, home-cooked meals, most of which were prepared from this cookbook. I imagine that a concerted effort to follow the plan would yield excellent results. The recipes are mostly delicious and satisfying.Before I can talk about the cookbook, however, it's important to note the philosophy behind it -- that many health issues can be traced back to an insulin imbalance caused by poor food choices. Hyman has crafted a diet that controls the levels of insulin and blood sugar through low glycemic-index/low glycemic-load meals. He also focuses on the anti-oxidant, protein, and nutrient-dense qualities of specific ingredients. Because restaurant food can be loaded with fat, sodium, and other hidden no-no's, he advocates preparing most meals at home using organic and preservation-free foods, and he tries to keep recipes as easy and as affordable as possible. No flour or gluten, no dairy (initially), no sugar or other sweeteners (including artificial sweeteners), no alcohol, and, in the case of the advanced plan, no grains. Yes, the diet is Draconian in concept; however, if you have blood sugar issues, this kind of eating is essential to your health. But Dr. Hyman claims that many others can benefit from it, including those who have high blood pressure, weight problems, abdominal fat (that is, an apple shape), and high LDH/low HDL cholesterol readings. Even people who don't fall into the above categories can benefit from the diet to prevent such problems.Despite the sound dietary advice, I do object to certain parts of Hyman's philosophy. One, he claims that ""food is medicine,"" hardly a motivating factor for those of us who love to eat. All I could think of was nasty, bitter food, stuff I had to eat no matter how awful it tasted. Fortunately, that's not the case. Next, the questionnaire to determine one's level of ""diabesity"" seems designed to ensure that everyone is diagnosed with it. Only one ""yes"" answer puts one in the mild diabesity category. Furthermore, even though you may be slender, physically fit, with low-normal blood pressure and low-normal blood sugar, you can score in ""moderate to severe diabesity"" and steered toward the Advanced Plan if, for example, you are non-white, have an alcoholic in the family, and have had cataracts. It strikes me as unnecessarily alarmist to equate risk factors with actual symptoms. And Hyman maintains that we should not eat anything that our great-grandmothers wouldn't recognize as food - but then uses ingredients such as spirulina powder and liquid amino acids in a few recipes. Still, the general philosophy of no flour/no sugar has been proven to promote weight loss and to control blood sugar levels. This is basically the lean-protein South Beach Diet without the dairy and with more attention to specific nutrients such as antioxidants and ""fat-burning"" foods. Unlike many diets, this one seems both healthy and sustainable.If you are still with me, then here's the scoop about the recipes: most are delicious, no matter which section they are taken from. The majority are quick and easy to prepare, and none require any special cooking skills. Some are vegetarian or vegan. All recipes include the basic nutritional information per serving for those who are counting calories, carbs, fat, sodium, and protein. I loved the garlicky lemon mix of kale, kalamata olives, and toasted pine nuts in Dr. Hyman's Raw Kale Salad. Spiced Ground Turkey Wraps with Watercress and Avocado, Lemony Greek Pan-roasted Chickpeas, and Brazilian Black Bean Soup are some of the standouts. Some recipes are just okay. For example, the Curried Cream of Cauliflower Soup and the Coconut Shrimp with Lemongrass Quinoa both sound more interesting than they taste. Certain ingredients appear in recipe after recipe: garlic, avocado, cilantro, kale, salmon, and quinoa. The only area of each plan that I couldn't stomach were the breakfasts because I'm not a protein shake sort of person and I don't eat eggs as a dominant ingredient. Berry Blast Chia Porridge with Hemp Milk, anyone?At the end, there's a section for desserts, with minimal use of non-refined sweeteners, but the author discourages dessert except as an occasional treat and only after following the diet for at least six weeks. The promotional description of the book makes it sound as though you will be free to chow down on rich smoothies and cakes. Not so. The Raspberry Banana Cream Pie Smoothie, a breakfast in the Basic Plan (not for diabetics or ""moderate to severe diabesity"" individuals), uses frozen fruit, nuts, spirulina powder, and green powder - no cream, milk, or yogurt. You get to drink cup of it, about a small juice glass, for presumably your entire breakfast.If you have access to large or specialty grocery stores, you should be able to find most, if not all, ingredients. People who live in more remote areas may have a tougher time. If your grocery store doesn't carry quinoa, kale, or unsweetened almond milk, chances are that you will have difficulties assembling ingredients for many of the recipes, although you'll still find a bunch that use easy-to-find food. The main takeaway from this book should be an understanding of the kinds of meals you should eat, even if the recipes are taken from other cookbooks.Oh, and if you follow Hyman's advice to toss out all processed, preserved, and sweetened foods in your pantry, please consider donating non-perishable items to a food bank instead of adding to the landfill. Although Dr. Hyman believes those foods are poison to the body, they are still food and can help individuals who cannot afford otherwise to eat. Note: I received an advance copy of this book.-- Debbie Lee Wesselmann",4.0,A Cookbook for the Health-Conscious,1361836800,"02 26, 2013",39,46,helpful,0.8478260869565217,1 A3OVN0ISYKV5CQ,146765101X,sagen,"[4, 8]","The author's message seems to be that corporations are bad (hmm I bet her publisher is a corporation and Amazon is a corporation - both where she makes her money) and the saviors are terrorists - that just killed hundreds of innocent people (including Amy's mom) that had lived in oppression on Godspeed. I do not like books that push social agendas and or have misguided themes or ones that came from the 70's. I appreciate a good story line and I like fiction just not one with preachy messaging.I do believe teenagers can be intelligent but what makes this book so unrelatable is that every adult is so stupid. If this were the case then mankind would not have made it very far. I do not believe that Amy's parents are so ignorant and misguided to trust a complete stranger. I also do not think that the military is so arrogant as she paints it. I have met several people in the military and they are usually very smart and reasonable people especially if they are in positions of authority.I never could get into this book. I paid for it so I really wanted to. I caught myself rolling my eyes and cringing at times. Amy also seems to be very insensitive towards almost everyone. She treats Elder poorly, her parents rudely, she's arrogant, self centered and goes off kissing ""the new guy"" right after hocking up with Elder. Amy is so unlikeable and I found this even more so when she aligns herself with the terrorists that murdered her parents and lots of farmers from Godspeed. Maybe she had to work with them to achieve peace but she just seems to like them too easily. Definitely the weakest book in the series.",2.0,Weird Messaging,1361145600,"02 18, 2013",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A382W5WRKUDMET,0072263148,Bruno,"[0, 0]",This book is really what it say in the cover. Its a great beginner manual that will set you on the right track to start your swing programming career. In here you will get the basis to start building your own desktop apps.,5.0,Great book,1330646400,"03 2, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1K6M9A0171OK8,0062107380,JulieK,"[0, 0]","As the stars indicate, I liked it. I read a lot, so it's been awhile since I read this but I do remember I liked it and didn't feel it was a waste of money.",4.0,Cute storylines,1363478400,"03 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SVJYWK8BB38H,0141185260,Susan Howson,"[8, 9]","I remember this awful woman I had for 10th grade literature - the kind who wouldn't allow for any interpretation beyond "The scarlet letter A stands for Adultery" - who would not stop gushing about The Great Gatsby. Her almost daily comment regarding Fitzgerald's classic was that "every word was carefully and purposefully placed."I never believed that that could be the case with any piece of literature (I mean, Fitzgerald really thought about every article and preposition he wrote?), but Pale Fire immediately made me think of her words.I have never read a book so thoroughly enjoyable - linguistically, conceptually, phonetically, ironically. I loved it in the same way I loved Eliot's The Wasteland, Lynda Barry's Cruddy, and the film 21 Grams. It plays with narrator credibility - an always fascinating theme - in a way I've never seen before.Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed.",5.0,Now my favorite book,1080086400,"03 24, 2004",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A3L1VJMHFWONCB,0945053290,"CDP ""Double00Buck""","[0, 0]","The engineers project type book, Timer, Op Amp, and Optoelectronic Circuits & projects is a selection of circuits you can build or expierment with if you like or are learning electronics. It is very similar to Radio Shack Notebook series booklets offered in years ( 70's) past, for the study and experimentation with electronics. This book is nore booksize and has a lot of pages packed with diagramed circuits of the previously mentioned components. Get one if you are into project electronics and would like some ideas to build on in the future. Worth the price if you can still get a copy, do so.",5.0,"Timer, Op Amp, and Optoelectronic Circuits & projects",1353196800,"11 18, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DPZR4HCZV8XZ,1463717091,Don lass,"[0, 0]","Lizzi is a good character. Now that this initial trauma is behind her, the future cases should be interesting.Don",3.0,Good story,1357776000,"01 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A37BWHEERG177T,076420971X,Anjaya,"[0, 0]","I was caught off guard by the book PROPHET. It totally captured my attention from beginning to end. Who would have thought that a mere girl of Parne would become a prophet of the Infinite? Ela loved the Infinite but even she was surprised when He asked her to be His prophet. Loving the Infinite with her whole being, Ela was willing to lay down her life to do His will. She was abused, wounded,and kidnapped. Through all the danger the Infinite asked her to face, Ela was faithful to do His bidding. In the midst of terrifying visions and horrible creatures Ela found something even more surprising than being a prophet, she fell in love. Enter Kien an ambassador from Traceland. Once a prisoner of Istgard's king, Kien becomes a believer in the Infinite through Ela's influence. Kien determines to do what he can to protect Ela and her younger sister, Tzana. Through battles and doubts, Kien proves himself loyal to Ela and the Infinite. Ela knows that the prophets of Parne die young so she pushes aside her love for Kien and presses on to complete her mission for the Infinite. This story is a fast-paced page turner and I hated to see it end. I look forward to the next book in this series.",4.0,Awesome Story,1348617600,"09 26, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AWQM62HCW9F76,0451465067,Amazon Customer,"[7, 7]","THANK YOU ! I enjoyed reading your Jane Yellowrock novels. Please continue to write more, This is a writer worth reading.",5.0,Wow,1365033600,"04 4, 2013",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A2KHLWSZZDQVBF,1479218685,Brandi,"[0, 0]","I loved this book... :) At first I thought I would not like it. I got the feeling it maybe was just not be my kind of book. Then I got to reading it. The thing about any bouquet toss at a wedding is that it can be gentle or extremely rough. The bouquet that started out so beautiful can remain intact or fall to pieces. This book allows for the beauty of a toss and the roughness of a toss to fall to pieces. Daphne, Mayse and Tanner were all my bouquets each was tossed in the beauty and roughness... At the end toss became irrelevant because of the bond that held it together.... Life is the toss in the book Daphne determined each time how to accept the toss... If you need a good read this is your book...",5.0,:),1365724800,"04 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZ8P7PK5Q9UD,0375413596,M.J.S.,"[5, 6]","This was a very easy & enjoyable book. I love historical fiction and truly looked forward to reading this book but,(here comes the bad part)... when I finished it I felt like I had eaten my soup, and salad but never got the main course. It was not a satisfying read. I think it needed more character development, and descriptions. I think it could have been a lot better.",3.0,Enjoyable.,1027814400,"07 28, 2002",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A1CM67RZ8ML762,0803498691,Dorothy Williams,"[0, 0]",The author Matthew Williams writes a good hometown type mystery. The characters seem like neighbors. Easy to read and the description of the setting is so good. I would buy the sequels.,4.0,I really liked this book,1398729600,"04 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2NA5SB73GKEG7,1574216945,Nicki Derbyshire,"[0, 0]","All polymer clay artists should have this in their collection! Great ideas, if there was anything I could say that could be even better is a bigger one with even more projects in!!! Love this book. :-D",5.0,Fantastic Book,1395187200,"03 19, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZZJ7PQMOANVH,B00J0KYFSO,Nancy Scott,"[8, 8]","Loved, loved this series. Take time to read them Outlaw was the first. Angel and Coles story. I loved Crash and Shannon's. Can't wait for the next.",5.0,Awesome,1395360000,"03 21, 2014",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A37BRR2L8PX3R2,0553576003,Jbarr5 (julie Barrett),"[0, 0]","Tidings of Great Joy by Sandra BrownRhia tells him she's pregnant from their one night of lovemaking on Christmas Eve.Taylor is a mayor elect. They decide to get married and worryabout the annulment later on. He wants to be married so he canconcentrate on the election. They will live at his house andfinancially take care of them. She quit her job so it'd notjeopardize his new career and be a conflict of interest. Maybeshe'd start her own firm in the art field.something goes terribly wrong, medically.",5.0,exc,1330473600,"02 29, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1C3FANN2F8B59,0060002484,P. Condon,"[8, 9]","Amazonia by James Rollins is one incredible book. It grabbed me from the start and the action and intrigue didn't stop until the end. Just when you think you know whats going on, there's another twist. This book is entertaining and a definite page turner. You will want to read it in one sitting. Good luck trying to put it down. This book is incredibly well researched. Anything that seems almost unbelievable in the story is so well described and explained that it becomes very believable. I don't want to give away the story but it is an adventure from beginning to end! Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Amazonia for yourself and while you're at it, pick up Excavation, Subterranean and Deep Fathom. You will not be disappointed!",5.0,"Incredible, You will love it!",1019692800,"04 25, 2002",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A15XIGZI7XEGX1,B00FEZLWCG,janice,"[0, 0]",I found myself skimming over pages. This book just moved too slow. It was a book I could put down. It did not keep my interest.....,3.0,too slow,1392163200,"02 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3GGHEP5RMOC04,0877286884,"E. M. Hodge ""Cuindless""","[43, 49]","At first this book drove me absolutely crazy. I hate Isaac Bonewits writing style, his tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, his pedantic editorializing and especially his endless political rhetoric.At this point you're probably wondering why I gave this book 5 stars.The reason is because this book is phenomenal. I had to ignore, or at the very least wade through his smarmyness, but what I found when I did so was pure gold. He explains in perfect but simple detail the fact and opinion behind magical practice, from classical hermetics to modern parapsychology. I grew by leaps and bounds while I read it.This work was the first of its kind: A truly interdisciplinary review of magic and paranormal phenomena. While the author can't be called non-biased (by any stretch of the imagination... on any topic), he is well-researched, logical and thorough. I cannot recommend any book more than this for a beginner in the realm of magic. I wish it had been my first.",5.0,A Great Beginning Point,1102550400,"12 9, 2004",43,49,helpful,0.8775510204081632,1 A1Q98FHV5QJWC3,0345607600,Ntropi,"[0, 2]","I can't tell if I'm too stupid to understand the book or if it really is as scattered as I think it is. Had I not read the introduction or other reviews, I am not sure I would have been able to follow much of the storyline. The book has me thinking more about my ability to read and interpret subtleties than the incredulous plot.",3.0,I'm not quite sure about this one,1380585600,"10 1, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2L4XXZNOGYGN8,0152018484,"Rita ""Hunna bunna""","[4, 4]","I bought this for my 4 yr old daughter who has a kinda ""thing"" for pirates. She and I were so pleased. The illustrations are captivating - especially the two page spread where he says ""Thats how I became a Pirate"", his arms flung out as he shouts to the world at the front of the boat. Whimsy, fantasy, the culmination of any child's dream.....I saw represented on this page.....As an adult I just found the illustrations excellent and downright funny at times...My daughter loved it and so do I!",5.0,A piece of Art in more ways then one....,1108425600,"02 15, 2005",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 ASQWHC0GM3CBP,B008R0Y59W,"Denise K. Hardnock ""Denise H.""","[9, 13]",The Bugout Bag is a fantastic eye-opener for preparedness in all types of situations. We have to be ready to roll when a crisis hits and Sandy is the prime example. God bless those hit by this. In giving to the RedCross remember to send Bugout Bag supplies for future emergencies. Great book but we have to act on the knowledge.,5.0,Bugout Bag,1351728000,"11 1, 2012",9,13,helpful,0.6923076923076923,1 AAMPMMGUZJ3EM,0312050631,"D. Merz ""Deenie""","[0, 1]","Florence King tells her story of growing up as a pioneer liberated woman in the early 50's in the South. Her family is nutty but loveable except for her mother. Granny and her father were fun. Love how the book flowed, almost like fiction. I am a BIG fan of Southern writers and would place Florence King at the top of my list.",5.0,This is a fabulous read!!!,1363824000,"03 21, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3BCDQJAQP6WYY,B00AMU765K,MrScience101,"[0, 1]","It's weird that this takes place several thousand years in the future, but they still use navy ranks and military style, co, xo, etc. The main character falls for one of the others and they have some sort of weird fantasy while jumping. I've never been a fan of the indescriminate instant love with unbelievable blonde beauty's in sci fi books. It's almost like hey I know we have only known each other for two days and been on one date, but will you have sex with me? Craziness. Thankfully in the epilogue they stay together, and they get interrupted in the story before anything happens. Other than that there is some mild swearing and violence.",3.0,interesting short story,1380672000,"10 2, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 ARP4C4J6BOXNA,1451623747,SorrowOVtheNight,"[11, 16]","Why do people buy and read such clap-trap. Books are meant to expand ones mind, transport you to another world for adventures, give your mind something to Think about.This is nonsense. Indeed all books (Ghost-wrote) about fake celebrities should be burned, why waste your hard earned money and Time reading about someone else's life? Explore your own life, it's all you've got! Read books that contribute in some meager way to your existence, do not empty your coffers to fuel this woman's partying and alcohol addiction!So, that's it and I did judge this book by it's cover and what I know about that stupid show.",1.0,What is this? I don't even...,1319500800,"10 25, 2011",11,16,helpful,0.6875,1 A3N2U5JWZYJR6B,0789729296,"vbguy ""vbguy1""","[48, 49]","First, I totally agree with the reviewer who said this book isn't for you if you're not trying to pass the exam. It's all about the exam and is not intended to be anything more than an exam study guide.I read this book, the Microsoft Study Guide for 70-300, and most of the Osbourne book for this exam. I'm totally convinced that this book is the best of the three. Having recently passed the exam, I can say without hesitation that this book was a big help. The other two books overemphasize the Microsoft Solutions Framework, which is a Microsoft System Development Methodology. While you will need some perspective on the MSF to pass the exam, this overemphasis is very misleading.If you need to pass the exam, my suggestion would be to use this book as your major source of study. For any areas that you don't feel really well-versed in, read applicable MSDN articles to get the Microsoft spin on security, layering, deployment strategies, requirements analysis, design, globalization/localizaton, etc. I do recall that the test had a few questions on ORM and not many on UML.I would be inclined to rate this book more positively were it not for two things. First, the sample test that came on the CD really bore almost no resemblance to the real rest. It was laden with typos and got into some really esoteric things that the exam didn't deal with at all. Secondly, the book delved into some areas, like Yourden/DeMarco-style Data Flow Diagrams and some organizational theory, that I think are not relevant to the exam. These topics not addressed in the exam nor in the Microsoft Study Guide. Further, I don't think there's anything in the MSDN Library that would imply that they would be covered. I also think that Exam Cram isn't extremely accurate in how the MSF is represented.But, it does seem to be your best option for this particular certification exam.",3.0,Best Book for 70-300,1060732800,"08 13, 2003",48,49,helpful,0.9795918367346939,1 A1GN8UJIZLCA59,0446313645,P Magnum,"[16, 17]","Hunter S. Thompson became a self-described political junkie from his days on the 1972 Presidential campaign trail. Unabashedly throwing his support behind Democratic candidate George McGovern, Dr. Thompson takes on a dizzying journey from hotel room to hotel room across the country lauding his man McGovern and railing against his enemy Richard Nixon. The book provides as much detail about Mr. Thompson's activities as they do the campaigns themselves, but hell, Dr. Thompson is alot more interesting. One of the most poignant moments is when Dr. Thompson rides in a limo with his enemy Nixon and they discuss football, which is a passion of both men. Dr. Thompson actually sees some humanity in Nixon and breaks down the facade that Nixon and most politicians erect. He shows a human side to a man who is often looked upon as inhuman. Dr. Thompson still despises him and his views, but by peeling away a layer, he can expose things that lay beneath the surface. For people like myself who were too young to experience this campaign and the times, Fear & Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72 is a brilliant and amazing ride through the times.",5.0,Gonzo on the Campaign Trail,1009411200,"12 27, 2001",16,17,helpful,0.9411764705882353,1 A3IX22S8ULA9K8,1482008238,BW,"[18, 24]","A Trickster Eric Novels reviewI read Talented as part of a GoodReads group. It's marketed as a science fiction intrigue but the main focus is a love triangle. My review will be split into five categories: plot, characters, world building, polish, and overall. Be warned that there may be spoilers but I will do my best to avoid them.1. PlotThe start is good: an attack on Elite Headquarters that turns out to be a mere hazing to the pledge hunters carried out by the full fledged hunters. Its dramatic and exciting and it pulled me in. The next scene is a tender moment for Natalia (the protagonist) and Donavon (her boyfriend). This is also good because it transitions nicely from the reveal and allows for teasing from her teammates, setting up a sibling-like dynamic with them.The first seven chapters are great. There's swift character develop, plenty of non-intrusive world building, some romance between Natalia and Donavon, and comedy relief from Erik. The next seven chapters drag. There is no more world building, Natalia's relationship with Donavon takes up more screen time, and a lot of nothing goes on before the first mission begins.The first mission itself wasn't bad. A new team with a pledge team member isn't going to get the most exciting mission. This is realistic and reasonable; a good choice. Erik's actions at the end are surprising and provide a Chekhov's gun for later use.It's after the first mission that I have issues with this book. The plot dissolves into relationship drama and anything involving The Coalition ( the bad guys) slips into the background. Their next missions aren't developed in the slightest. 'went off without a hitch' is their entirety. It is at this point that the reader will notice the lack of a driving conflict.The Coalition is scantly developed: anti-talented group that took over seven states in the backstory. There's nothing else about them. The Agency, for its world building, is sparse about its activities. Hunters 'hunt' information and people but what kind of information is ambiguous and what kind of people is implied to be protestors. Though this DOES serve a purpose in the plot it doesn't help the lack of direction in this area which contributes to the over exposure of the relationship drama. The following chapters see this trend continue; hunter missions becomes subordinated to set up more relationship conflict. I feel Miss. Davis was bored by the stable Natalia/Donavon and exploited it for conflict.Chapter twenty four is a breath of fresh air. It has a detailed mission with suspense and hints at a dark side of The Agency. However, as soon as the mission is over, the relationship conflict resumes dominance. It's like the start except Natalia is cuddling with someone besides Donavon.The final arc I really like.For starters the stakes are high: it's a mission that determines whether or Natalia can graduate from the hunter academy and become a full fledged hunter. Since she is a telepaths and telepaths don't normally become hunters her reputation and that of her team captain and her adoptive father/boss are riding on her performing well.There's plenty of detail in her actions and what she has to do to succeed. She makes mistakes but is able to improvise. She feels guilt over using mind manipulation. There's suspense and a clash with the Big Bad of the Coalition, Mr. Crane. It has the excitement of a climax but it doesn't resolve anything. I would have liked to see Natalia go back to Elite Headquarters for her graduation because that was how the book started; her starting her pledge year.2. CharactersLike the plot, the characters start off great. Natalia is a Nice Girl who takes her missions seriously but not obsessively and makes time for non-hunter related things like dates with Donavon. Eric is established as a funny charmer who girls swoon over and Henri as their Reasonable Authority Figure captain. Later, Penny is brought in as a quirky sociable friend for Natalia and works well as her foil. Like the plot, it sours.Natalia comes off as schizophrenic because in one scene she's 100 percent focused on being a hunter and avenging her parents and then in the next she's pining after Erik or feeling guilty about pinning after Erik because her boyfriend is Donavon.Erik shifts from being a funny charmer to a jealous angst guy that clashes with Donavon. At the start he goes to the city every other night for a one night stand and then after the first mission he's serious about Natalia and no mention of him looking for chicks is ever made again.Henri is pushed to the sidelines because he doesn't have relationship trouble. Penny's purpose (until the climax) is reduced to teasing/pushing Natalia toward Erik. Donavon goes from a Nice Guy to a jerkass to borderline evil.From chapter seventeen to twenty four the sole focus is a love triangle of Erik/Natalia/Donavon and triggered by Erik bandaging the wounds Natalia received on the first mission. She's lived with him for an extended period of time and yet suddenly she's distracted by his eyes and chest, etc. I wouldn't mind if the conflict weren't so generic. Donavon is her childhood friend that she feels safe with and Erik is a ladykiller that excites her with good looks. It's 'comfortable vs thrilling'.3. World BuildingThis part is my favorite. Miss. Davis obviously put a lot of thought in this world and how it would work. Entire chapters early on are dedicated to explaining the source of Talents or how The Agency works or the origin of The Coalition. Best of all, the exposition is slotted into its own, brief, chapters; no 'as you know' between Natalia and someone else.My personal favorite is the Mandatory Testing Act, more broadly known in fiction as a 'Superhuman Registration Act'. Unlike many examples this one has been in effect for one hundred years and become a fundamental part of society.However, there is one problem. The origin of talents is explained by nuclear waste leaking into oceans and soil and thereby mutating it, yet scientists in the same chapter claim the can't find a mutation that could cause talents. Unless the true origin of talents or finding the specific mutation is a plot point then there is a contradiction in her premise.4. PolishThe book looks unpolished. Words are missing semi-frequently. Commas are overused. Sentence structure is bland and could use trimming.5. OverallAfter completing the book I feel Miss Davis wanted to write a romance but wanted to rope in a Periphery Demographic by including super powers and CIA-like missions. There's nothing wrong with that but you have to deliver. About 80 percent of the story is Natalia's relationship problems. Only three missions receive any development and the first two are completed in pages. Romance might like it but everyone else should stay far away.Trickster Eric Novels gives ""Talented"" an F.",1.0,Deceptive premise and trite love triangle,1364169600,"03 25, 2013",18,24,helpful,0.75,1 A2FY65DGCZ0I6H,0553812173,Open-Minded Reader,"[7, 17]","In order for me to quit a book it has to be really bad. This book fits the bill. It jumped from scene to scene and character to character so quickly that I never developed any real feelings for any of the characters. It addition, while I felt that the descriptive language was good, I think that those words would have been better spent on character-development. I tried to give it to my husband to read and he couldn't stand it - mind you, my husband will trudge through almost anything. I am shocked at all of the good reviews that this book received. It is sub-par. Do not waste your time or money on this book.",1.0,Not well-written,1247616000,"07 15, 2009",7,17,helpful,0.4117647058823529,1 A2QVXKUH3882QH,1570623503,Wisdom Lover,"[12, 13]","Larry Rosenberg has given us a book which combines his humor with profound seriousness. He uses an older Buddhist teaching on specific contemplations which are joined with mindfulness of the breath. However, don't expect a book which operates on the ""meditation is cool and relaxing"" premise. This is definitely written for a committed meditator, or one who is ready to take the next step in his practice, and go beyond ""meditation to feel good"". Yet, the by-product of following the practice and become more awake is certainly deeper serenity. This is a great book to help you with the ups and downs that occur as your meditation and life practice deepen. He takes each of the 16 contemplations, such ""aware of the body, breathing in, aware of the body breathing out"" and gently lays the foundation for incorporating each of them into your practice. If you enjoy the Vipasanna approach, I would really give Larry Rosenberg a read. His approach is friendly, down to earth, relevant to your meditation and no holds barred.",4.0,"A ""Breath of Fresh Air""",1116028800,"05 14, 2005",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 A2WCA2GRF78DWN,0345447581,"Jennifer Juday ""Working Mom & Cook""","[4, 5]","Once you start MARQUE AND REPRISAL, it's a hard book to put down. I heard Elizabeth Moon read an excerpt from this before it was published, and had to wait impatiently for many weeks to find out what happened next. MARQUE AND REPRISAL is a delightful read for anybody who enjoys a good space opera. If you like strong female characters, you'll love it.MARQUE AND REPRISAL is apparently the second volume of a great new series from the reliably fine Moon. I missed the first in the series (TRADING DANGER). I will go back to read it, as I loved this one. If you read this out of order (as I did), note that Moon does a great job of telling you what you need to know. I never had the annoying sense of having missed something.MARQUE AND REPRISAL delivers everything I look for in a space adventure series novel. The book kept me up late, as chapter after chapter had me asking, ""What then? What's next?""At the beginning of MARQUE AND REPRISAL, we meet Kylara Vatta, reluctant tradeship captain. She wanted a military life, a life of adventure, but was expelled from the Slotter Key Spaceforce Academy. Life is looking boring and mundane. Very quickly, though, life becomes anything but boring or mundane. Someone is out to destroy the Vatta family. Someone who had connections with the Slotter Key government. Ky Vatta is up against a conspiracy. They are almost certainly out to get her, too, and she does not even know why.Over the course of the book, Ky gathers a motley crew, a cast of characters we enjoy meeting, and that we will look forward to seeing more of in future books. A very few Vattas survive, and one hooks her up with a charming and unreliable con man, Rafe. We even rescue a Jack Russell terrier, Puddles. I don't want to say much, as I don't want to spoil any surprises.MARQUE AND REPRISAL delivers a satisfying ending, but leaves enough still to explore that we can hope for many more volumes of this highly entertaining series. I am going back to read TRADING DANGER, and can't wait to read the next installment!",5.0,Great Space Opera! Moon Delivers Again!,1099180800,"10 31, 2004",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1U0ED7K1DFUOZ,1466384964,Cathleen Grey,"[0, 0]","What a a great read. A wonderful twist on Lucifer, angels and the war between good and evil. Once I started reading this story I could not put it down. Thanks you to the author for making this a ""freebie"". I am looking forward to reading Book 2.",5.0,A Surprisingly Good Read!,1350172800,"10 14, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALPZPU5H1E1ZE,0553297988,RangerLady22,"[0, 0]","Okay I have seen some reviews that are less than complimentary and while I agree that Kevin J. Anderson is NOT Tim Zahn, I still throughly enjoyed this book series. It is not as heavy nor as well written as the Thrawn trilogy and should appeal to those SW fans that are not hardwired to Zahn's type perfection. Try it for yourself and see.",5.0,Not Zahn but a great book nonetheless,1390867200,"01 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LVA2PY2K90RT,031237982X,KBF,"[0, 0]",This is a great story to go with her series. I love reading these books andcan't wait to see if there will be more.,5.0,Book review,1385337600,"11 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AS42P4NZECH0B,0615644627,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","It has been a while since I was moved enough to write a review, but this story, OMG. Ms. Joseph thank you for the amazing conclusion to this poigniant love story. with three very different, but amazing people in their own ways. Icrid alot but lol too, whata great ending to story.",5.0,burn for you,1349481600,"10 6, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3FFKU2MTCOBM1,0240813987,"new yorker ""drealyea""","[0, 0]",Although my career was spent primarily in live performance it spilled over into video/film. If I'd had the kind of guidance this book offers I suspect my career path might have become more video/film centric. Highly recommended for those starting out. Also a fun read for veterans.,5.0,A book I wish I had years ago,1295481600,"01 20, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2EOMC3VZGI5E4,1457514508,DiF,"[15, 15]","Like a trip back to Father Knows Best or Leave it to Beaver, the author brings life to the characters, introducing their deepest secrets, crazy quirks; in general, making them friends.Then, as things start to disrupt their idyllic existence, they decide, individually, to take measures to alleviate the person causing the problem: permanently. I Love Lucy meets The Professional. It's crazy! It's funny! It's murder.And its a crazy fun read.",5.0,Murder..........funny???,1392595200,"02 17, 2014",15,15,helpful,1.0,1 A2VCGJLKGK2WJJ,0439115272,Rebecca Herman,"[8, 8]","The battle for Earth is now open war. The Yeerks are blowing up everything in site. The public knows the truth of the horrific alien invasion - but it may be too late from anyone to stop it. A new Yeerk pool is being built in the ruins of the devastated city. Jake comes up with a plan to capture the Yeerk pool ship, but it's a dangerous plan - one that will almost surely have a high cost in lives. What the Animorphs don't expect is an offer to form an alliance - an offer that comes from the Taxxons. The Taxxons are desperate to escape their never-ending hunger. They will help the Animorphs, in exchange for the morphing power. Meanwhile, the Yeerk whose host is Jake's brother Tom is planning to betray Visser One - and offers the Animorphs a deal of his own. But can the cannibalistic Taxxons and a Yeerk be trusted? Only one book remains in the Animorphs series, and this was one of the best yet. Written by K. A. Applegate herself, instead of a ghost writer, the story moves at a fast pace. The cliffhanger ending will leave you eager to read the final book in the series.",5.0,The end is near......,987120000,"04 13, 2001",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A8YT1R2REG3V2,1484989953,Steve W Davis,"[0, 0]","Very intense story. I had not read the preceding books in this series, but I still understood the story. Very graphic violence. Not for the weak of heart or stomach.",5.0,A different kind of story,1379548800,"09 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AAF8K1LRPQU85,B00IFEH5HE,Paul S,"[0, 0]","Wanna live on a cattle ranch in the best of times? Up before the sun, have a steaming coffee and a good smoke on the porch. Ride and rope. Smell the horses, castrate the cows, taste the Rocky mountain oysters, eat a mountain of flap jacks and lose a few teeth in a friendly fight.And not a politically correct notion in sight.",5.0,Thank you for smoking,1400284800,"05 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A391VTDTFIM6X3,0615926118,"George R. Johnson ""Randy Johnson""","[0, 0]","BETRAYAL is the second of author Tim Tigner's thrillers I've read and I like it even better than the first. He mentions at the back that it was written back in the mid-2000s shortly before liquids were banned on air flights.An important distinction.Odysseus Carr Is a special agent for the FBI, part of a counter-terrorist response unit. He's part of a team sent into Iran to take out a terrorist training center disguised as a hospital.When Odi becomes suspicious, his boss relieves him of command and sends the team in. It all goes wrong and the team is all killed. Odi barely survives and is saved by an American doctor, half Iranian, working in the hospital.He'd been set up and now he's out to get those responsible and find out why. Working with the doctor, he gets back into the country.Odi has several things going for him. He's got a doctorate in chemistry and has several patents, as well as one no one but him knows about. He's also got a twin sister in the FBI as a profiler, who's also seeing the Director, a man with political ambitions.As he moves his investigation, and retribution along, the betrayal of the title hits him again.I like Tim Tigner's writing. He knows how to build suspense, ramp up the action, and keep it all rolling smoothly along. I was almost sorry to reach the end.Oh well, he has another on my TBR pile.",5.0,First Rate Thriller,1382400000,"10 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A380C702FXX01N,B00C4BI1YK,David Gur,"[0, 0]","A book about a little girl who is too occupied to take care of her cute dog, who goes away and looks for a new home. In his travels he meets new friends. A nice book with an important moral!",5.0,An important moral,1365724800,"04 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3M0MDV9VWNYA3,0452288185,thebuyer,"[0, 1]","You can spends years trying to understand courtship and personal development, only scratching the surface on your own. This book points you in the right direction to being a mature, solid person in relationships, teaching how to mentally approach challenges and deal with stress.If you like proper psychology that shows you how to maximize your potential, this is the book to read. There is not a better guide on the psychology of relationships and maturity. Men can find almost as much useful knowledge from the content to last a lifetime.",5.0,Useful Guide To Courtship And The Minds Of Women And Men,1360195200,"02 7, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3D29ZXLZNXR96,1484893344,Diane Field,"[0, 0]","good book,enjoyed it very much.I love the Amish booksand this one was so enjoyable,recommend to all who lovethe Amishreading",5.0,Amish Faith,1368144000,"05 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 APRMX3QK8NCQG,B00DT4PSHE,bomber,"[0, 0]","Good writing and the story was great, It held my interest and I was in with the hero. The plot was believable and he author described the country side and you was on he horse and with the lady's he was with and n the bars.",5.0,wades war,1389398400,"01 11, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3DW9HFYIYTOWG,0803733836,Amy,"[0, 0]",Love this series! Snowmen All Year is an excellent addition. It's one of those creative books that kids request over and over and the grown up doesn't get tired of reading.,5.0,Fun to read!,1385856000,"12 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A24ZMNWTW8AQUR,0441011632,"SciFiChick ""The SciFiChick""","[0, 0]","The Nightside books center on John Taylor, a private investigator who has special abilities that help him find things in a dark, magical place called the Nightside. I love how these are written in a sort of classic pulp fiction detective novel, yet very fresh and fun.In Nightingale's Lament, the third book, Taylor is hired to find a famous singer in the Nightside whose audience seems to be committing suicide after her shows. Many more creepy (and yet fun) characters are introduced in this story that either aid or try to kill Taylor along the way.",5.0,More Creepy Fun,1160438400,"10 10, 2006",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1RO8J8ZPCSE1L,0618680004,"Debbie Armstrong ""WISMOM4""","[9, 28]","Frustrated. That is how I felt trying to read this book. Spirituality is important to me and I like to read about all different paths. I think there is so much out there to learn if only you are willing to have an open mind. This includes learning from atheists as well. Their logical critical thinking is something I can appreciate. When I was younger and trying to throw off the repressive religion on my childhood free thinkers helped me figure out what I believed. Eventually after trying on atheism I learned it was not my path.For a long time I have wanted to read Richard Dawkins work. They did not have ""The Selfish Gene"" on the shelves the day I hit the library but they did have ""The God Delusion"". Being an opened minded person who loves to read about other paths I thought, ""Sure I'll try this one!"" There were sometimes I wanted to throw this book at the wall. I found I could only read a few pages at a time because I just got so frustrated. I had heard that Dawkins was hmm, rough around the edges. In this book he really came across as an arrogant jerk. He says early on in this book that he is looking to change minds. There is no way he stood any chance of changing my mind coming across the way he did. Add to this the fact that it seemed to me he kept repeating himself over and over. There is a mean spiritedness that infuses everything he says. There is an attitude that anyone who disagrees with him is stupid. I read as much of the book as I could stomach. I almost never quit on a book. It is just one of those things. I want to finish no matter what. I want to know how it ends. In this case I could care less.I will say that there was some good content there. I learned some things about people that I did not know. Darwin and others like him. Mostly historical things. Some of these people and ideas I will seek out to read more about. It will be good to do that without Dawkins harsh commentary running in the background.Now on to less combative reading!D",1.0,Frustrated,1350777600,"10 21, 2012",9,28,helpful,0.32142857142857145,1 A1FY4NUEN1MEFD,0439023491,,"[14, 22]","I, too obtained an ARC at BEA. I thought I was very lucky to get Catching Fire before September. I was so wrong! Now I have to wait longer than others to read the last book, and it's pure agony wondering what will happen next.The Hunger Game was a great book, but Catching Fire is even better. The story is getting deeper and more complex. As another reviewer stated, it's a ""rollercoaster ride of a read"". You'll never be able to guess what happens next. And once you start, you can never stop until the end. Relationships between Katniss, Peeta , and Gale are also getting more complex. This separates the Hunger Games from other shallow YA romantic fantasy. Their relationships reflect social issues and humanities this trilogy deals with.It's categorised as YA fantasy book, but I highly recommend it to adult Science Fiction fans. The Hunger Games trilogy should be and will be a classic like 1984, The Giver, and Fahrenheit 451.",5.0,Getting deeper and more complex,1249344000,"08 4, 2009",14,22,helpful,0.6363636363636364,1 A1FGI08A0V87FB,0345313534,"Holly L. Healy ""hbombs""","[0, 0]",I could not stand the characters in this book. The hero thought raping his wife was okay and she seemed to get turned on by it. Yuck!! Then instead of helping her grieve he leaves her. He was a total jerk and she was so contradictory that it was as if she was written as three separate characters with the same name. The stepson was just as bad. I am an avid reader and can usually find something redeeming in any book - - except this one.,1.0,"Horrid, Horrid People",1368576000,"05 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5DBLM6CW6E09,054799219X,Athena Squirrell,"[0, 0]",Clean but intricate plot shows all levels of society working together for good. People of town o Ann . Appear stupid.,5.0,Good read,1370217600,"06 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2RKM6ICEORMWN,0143122991,Debbie Johnson,"[31, 57]","If Paula Broadwell were able to write as well as she can do other things, this might be a good book. But it's not. It's garbage: poorly written, poorly researched, biased, lousy editing, all in all, trash written in a trashy manner. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.",1.0,"total garbage, written by a hack",1352678400,"11 12, 2012",31,57,helpful,0.543859649122807,1 A3K0S346DLN9JM,0778315991,terrylynn,"[4, 5]","Carr comes through again with another visit to Thunder Bay where we get to meet up with FBI agent Laine Carrington and Garage/Body Shop owner Eric Gentry and it would be hard to find a pair more different than these two people. Laine is in Thunder Bay for a year long break after being shot and the last thing she expects to do is fall in love with an ex-con. But Eric is one of the few who decided to turn himself around and he is a very appealing character... handsome, hard working and honest to the bone and the attraction between the two is believable. They just find such joy in being together that it makes you wish that falling in love was this smooth and easy. But when Laine's father becomes ill and she has to return to the other side of the country, both fear that time and circumstances will keep them apart and Eric's ache for her while she's gone is palpable.As always, Carr smoothly weaves in a good mixture of secondary characters who are also facing life changes, doubts and questions about their future. Eric's good friend and top mechanic Al is a sympathetic character and you can't help but admire the surly teenager Justin who fights like hell to keep his family together under trying circumstances and is determined to shoulder the burden alone. But in Thunder Point, no one suffers alone for long.The author touches on several relevant, hot button issues such as Alzheimer's and the toll it can take on a family, dyslexia and the shame some adults feel when they can't read, turning your life around after prison, SIDS, abandonment, the foster care system and the strong bond between twins. Although some of these issues are serious ones, they don't make for a depressing story but an uplifting one. There is no bad guy here, just a group of good people trying to deal with life one day at a time and finding love in the most unlikely places. Good plot, believable dialogue, appealing characters, romance, redemption and learning that sometimes you have to take chance on love all make for a great story and a satisfying read.Another 5 stars for Robyn Carr and the newest addition to her Thunder Bay series. Next up it The Promise coming out in June and The Homecoming in August 2014.",5.0,Life is A Chance...,1393632000,"03 1, 2014",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1TCQMJXTL8CH8,0983239223,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",I truly enjoyed this read. I felt it really picked up at the end. The only one t hung I was not fond of was every single person in the book was gorgeous or handsome; even a little mediocre would have done.,5.0,Nice,1379635200,"09 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LC8C1U2H1YBC,1611748992,Dalani Tanahy,"[0, 0]",This story kept me engaged start to finish. I highly recommend and i look forward to reading more from Mr. Evison.,5.0,Really enjoyed this book,1371081600,"06 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A245N2DVTX0PF1,147017541X,Anonymous,"[7, 8]","Laura McClure has created an interesting new sleuth in Ruth Reid, who is alternately funny, depressed, and fiery. She lands herself in hot water when she agrees to help out a union drive after its lead organizer is murdered. And then somebody tries not just to kill the drive, but kill her, too.In Ruth's world, no one wears a white hat. The company ruins the health of its workers. The union betrays its members. The organizers are prima donnas. The journalists are sluts. Still, many of them struggle with their deficiencies, shortcomings, and failures, trying mostly to do the right thing, and succeeding some of the time.Ruth's efforts to find out who killed Victoria while she works the union drive are helped by a cast of strong characters, from her wayward niece and health-nut next-door neighbor to her uncommitted boyfriend, the labor leaders that betray her, and the company bosses she fights. Along the way she makes a lot of new friends, figures out a few things about herself, and even finds out who murdered the organizer.This book is an extremely enjoyable whodunit, and its setting in the center of an unsettled labor organization feels realistic. It's sometimes dark, sometimes funny, pretty much always tense, but always entertaining.",5.0,Awesome read,1337126400,"05 16, 2012",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A2QNISWDGCAYSM,0345443403,kathy,"[0, 0]",Had never read this author but was glad I did. Great read and fast because I could not wait to get back to it waiting to see who done it.,4.0,First time with this author,1376956800,"08 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5FXEKOXLEV6Q,0007442920,Miss_Mimz,"[0, 0]","This was an intense, thrilling and logical follow up to Roth's first volume Divergent. The tone is darker, the stakes are higher and all bets are off! I felt it was a logical and believable follow up to book 1 and it definitely left me anticipating book 3.Check out [...] for my full, in-depth review of Insurgent!",5.0,A perfect sequel to Divergent,1346889600,"09 6, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2F5AGLLVLG06E,B00AEWHNI6,Stephanie Moore,"[0, 0]","Ashley Hill is off to a promising start in her writing career. The Harvesters is a thrilling, suspenseful read, and at less than thirty pages, her tale pays homage to the almost lost art of the short story. Nicely done!",4.0,"Thrilling, quick read",1370995200,"06 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3T3DRX965B6P9,0989283410,Alves,"[0, 0]","From beginning to end I was completely in awe by this book. When I first finished reading the first book I wasn't a big Kyle's fan, but with this book I completely felt for him. Lilly's and Kyle story is so sweet, passionate, and full of excitement. I read the whole book in one day. I could not put it down it was so good. Lily's character is so much stronger than Emmy's I think but I love them both and also liked that its gave a piece Emmy and Luke story too. This book is a must read.",5.0,LOVED IT,1378339200,"09 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1F3ATEM6K5UA1,B00FVFT7YO,Nidnoi,"[7, 7]","This is a great book that help you understand how to reprogram your mind in every way. You want to success in life, love, career, wealth and everything. This book could guide you to success in everything that you want. But the most important thing is you have to believed in the power of affirmations. If you ask me, yes I believe. Well, Good Luck! :)",5.0,How to reprogram your mind for success with everything in your life!,1382400000,"10 22, 2013",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A1N2IOANTKPCV8,1481977563,GBG,"[0, 0]",It was so fascinating and funny and she is a great author! I can't wait to read a lot more of her books!,5.0,AWESOME,1371168000,"06 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NKS6VILREERB,B00EFDZ288,"Amazon Customer ""puppylady""","[0, 0]","I agree with some of the other reviewers. I picked this version because of the additional notations. Ran into some issues with my reader though. When I went to check the notation, many times my reader would not go back to where I was in the story....aggravating.But the story itself? Oughta be reading for all schools. The more educated society can become about racism and bigotry, the faster it can be put behind us.And it needs to be so.",4.0,must read,1392422400,"02 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2Z0KUJIOCP5NX,1470077892,BookwormGirl,"[0, 0]","I really enjoyed this particular book, because while it was labeled ""contemporary romance"", it had a genuine story line. Plenty of mystery, suspense, and romance. Sorry my review is a bit vague, but I don't want to give any of the story away. It's definitely one of those books you'll want to stay up late reading, just to see what happens in the end! Don't hesitate.",4.0,Great Read,1358640000,"01 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A292NDEAXUNW62,0768426979,Richard R. Blake,"[5, 5]","David Hess tells his story of being embraced by God's presence in the toughest of times after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. This was the beginning of Dave's desperate battle against death.A praying church, a loving family, and the promises of a miracle working God all worked together to point David to the open door of hope that took him through the dark hours of chemotherapy, blood transfusions, platelet transfusions, delirious fevers, infections, pneumonia, and a ruptured appendix.Throughout his hospitalization David's faith encouraged hospital staff, other patients, and the members of his church. Seeing the miracles of healing in others, changed lives, and with the miracle of David has been called to a ministry of point other to the open door of hope offered by the Lord Jesus Christ.I found the final chapter and the reunion with his individual family members tender and heartwarming. These emotion packed moments that reveal how having ""dad"" home affected each family member differently as they faced the prospect of losing their father.Each chapter includes a section titled ""My Personal Journal of Hope."" Insights and probing questions included in these journals challenged me: to step our of my comfort zone, to develop a new dependence on Christ, and to make a difference in someone else's life.""Hope Beyond Reason"" is a positive testimony relating the story of Pastor Dave Hess and battle against death. David's writing is heart-wrenching and inspirational. David offers an open door of hope to everyone during their desperate hour of crisis.",5.0,A Pastor's Battle Against Death,1222992000,"10 3, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A34ADVKDAVPNMS,0671024108,Mark Wagenschutz,"[4, 5]","I've read a large number of Deaver's books, from the Lincoln Rhyme series to The Blue Nowhere, The Devil's Teardrop and A Maiden's Grave. As such, I've come to enjoy his work, as well as expect certain things from him. Deaver puts many twists and turns into all of his stories, some expected, some from out of the blue. But throughout, Deaver has kept the going fast-paced. Not so with Speaking in Tongues.Tate Collier is a former county prosecutor who is still having issues with his ex-wife and estranged daughter. But now, his daughter has run away...or was she kidnapped? Deaver attempts to have the reader travel through his many twists and turns again, but it just doesn't seem to work this time. The villian's ability to manipulate everyone involved in the case merely by reading their eyes and therefore revealing their innermost secrets is a bit far-fetched. The pace of the book was slow compared to his other books, only reaching the traditional Deaver pace with about 60 pages remaining.Overall, I'd rate this as my least favority of Deaver's work so far. If you have a few days to waste, go ahead. But borrow the book or check it out of the library - don't spend money on it.",2.0,Simply Average,1048896000,"03 29, 2003",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2PJ9HYQMF0Q8L,1477805028,Mrs Karen Raynes,"[5, 5]",Loved the story line - the chemistry and life connection with the two main characters. 5 out of 5 for me. Disappointed to get to the end - I wanted more. Look forward to reading more of this author's work:),5.0,Loved it,1346371200,"08 31, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2TEJMBABE42EB,0470449756,rSquare,"[0, 0]","I bought this for a friend (because I have Prime), The Official Guide for GMAT Quantitative Review, 2nd Edition, and The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 12th Edition to study for the GMAT. She used all three to study and she passed the GMAT with a decent score.",4.0,Passed the Test,1365206400,"04 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AVLM2NKKWDFV,B00JEUHX5C,readermouse,"[0, 1]","I gave this book 4 star basically because I think all three books in this series could have been done as one book. The writing it good, I liked the characters and wanted to follow them on their journey. I can not find any other books by this author, I hope she keeps at it and refines her writing skills. I would read another of her works. Yes this is the same review as I wrote for part one on this series.",4.0,Interesting Pt 2,1396569600,"04 4, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A358XP3X4U0X45,1595230041,bookloversfriend,"[10, 13]","Contrary to popular belief, not even a ""village"" can substitute for a mother.Unlike many ""committed"" treatments of this subject, this author adopts a scientific approach, citing studies and reasoning in a clear and cogent way.The problem: (p. 20)In 1975, 33 percent of children under six had employed mothers.In 1993, 55 percent of children under six had employed mothers.In 2000, 70 percent of children under six had employed mothers.The ideological battles are exactly what you would expect. Militant feminists regard these numbers as good news: more women are employed. Family people regard these numbers as bad news: children are growing up without their mothers (or fathers or grandmothers, as it turns out).But there is more bad news: enraged children, fat children, drug-addicted children (not yesterday's drugs like marijuana but prescribed drugs, legal drugs), rage-driven pop-music-addicted children. With a younger generation like this on the way, who needs terrorists, Reconquistadores and the like? We've got them anyway, of course, and nothing is being done about them. To see how the problem of alienated children fits into these other problems, read While America Sleeps: How Islam, Immigration and Indoctrination Are Destroying America From Within. America is one ""village"" that is bent on self-destruction.",5.0,the motherless society,1175817600,"04 6, 2007",10,13,helpful,0.7692307692307693,1 A1WU88210QREA2,0679890521,Sun Set,"[6, 6]","This book is written for grades 2-4 but is an interesting read for older children as well. Not only does it encourage your child to extend their vocabulary but also endorses history. This short story explains what the Trail of Tears was, defines the Indian removal policy, and introduces John Ross, Thomas Jefferson, Sequoyah, Andrew Jackson, and Tsali in a way that is easy to comprehend.As the Trail of Tears; this is an heart wrenching true story that all children of all races should read. I found myself struggling to control my voice which was on the verge of tears as I read to my five year old who was touch dramatically by the sorrowful pictures. I also noticed that my children remained attentive engrossed in this tragic event of their forefathers. I think that other children, even those not of the red race, would also settle down and desire to read in hopes of learning about the infamous event that touches so many people's hearts.It is a wonderful idea to introduce young children to other ""American cultures"" and American history early.",5.0,Great illustrations,1218067200,"08 7, 2008",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AA726IIV1H01,1492886181,shelly regnier,"[0, 0]","I liked the 1st two books better than the 3rd. The story in Italy is amazing: suspenseful, seductive, creepy, and mysterious.",3.0,Good story,1401753600,"06 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A296MQ307WWJ6E,0307932508,Dallas,"[0, 0]","I like these books, but this one had too many similarities to an earlier book. I guess it must be hard to keep coming up with different situations for all these characters, but I kept thinking I had read this one before.",4.0,Was this a repeat?,1401408000,"05 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1IV830RXQSYW6,1451686528,T. Anderson,"[0, 0]","Madame Serpent covered a very dramatic beginning to the life of Catherine Medici. Jean Plaidy brought to life a cast of complex, exciting men and women who dominated the Renaissance and told their story as if it were fiction, although reality was almost stranger than fiction. Italian Woman is not quite so layered, but it is still an excellent read.",4.0,Good successor to Madame Serpent,1372723200,"07 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1MH21UPS7N2A2,0982633602,"James A. Anderson ""Author""","[5, 8]","I purchasedSCARS: An Amazing End-Times Prophecy Novel ~ Thriller Christian Fiction ~ Top Ratedback in April but only got around to reading it this month. Had I known it was so good, I would have moved it up my reading list.Patience Prence's novel is a wonderful uplifting, spiritual thriller that is highly entertaining and gives one pause for considerable thought. It is a Christian thriller but not overly preachy like so many in this genre. I really enjoyed it and plan to recommend it to friends and family, members of my church, and to suggest to my church that they purchase a paperback copy for its library.Contrary to what some mean-spirited reviewers say who gave it only one star, this book is not poorly edited. It makes you wonder if they actually read it. In fact it is one of the best edited and proofed books I've read in some time. I'm a professional editor and retired journalist. Ignore their comments.Prence is a very good writer who spins a page-turning story with excellent characters and description. Her quotes from the Bible -- the greatest book ever written -- add some thought provoking content to her fiction. Whether you are a believer or not, this book has something for everyone and an important message about faith, life, love, hope and not listening to false prophets.I don't lie awake nights worrying about the end of the world. I take each day as it comes and enjoy my gift of life, trying to give something back to this world. The world will end one day. Scientists tell us the sun will burn out in a million years or so -- not a problem to concern me.Patience Prence can be justifiably proud of this novel and her gift to this world. It is a memorable read. I highly recommend it to all.",5.0,"Uplifting, Entertaining Thriller",1321056000,"11 12, 2011",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A1JNFD7XN9IR9D,0312360738,"J.D. Haller ""Librarian in Another Life""","[0, 0]","This book was too short! I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Westcliff and St. Vincent and their respective wives. Hannah and Rafe pull off the main couple job fairly well. Overall, Kleypas delivers a tasty reunion of Wallflower goodness. I wished the book was longer! How about a Wallflower New Year??",4.0,"Wallflowers Revisited, and Well Done, too",1228780800,"12 9, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WJ3L42O8E2QT,0373731566,"Cece ""die_hard_romantic""","[0, 0]","Devon'S marriage to Ashley is one of convinience. In order for Devon to merge Tricorp hotels with Copeland's he should marry Ashley. Ashley's father is willing to marry her off to Devon. Later on, during their honeymoon, she comes across evidence of what had transpired between her father and Devon,though at this time Devon has seriously began to like her, like her bubbly personality. He realises this as he notices the change in her. Ashley tries to change herself to fit the kind of woman she thinks Devon wants as a wife. It was really sad to see her going through this, suffering.Later Devon, after realising how much he hurt her, tells her he wants her back, her real self. The real Ashley. It was good to see this transformation, from a man who was only interested in what he would gain materially, to one who is hopelessly inlove with someone who, at first meant nothing to him, but a way to enhance his business.Really looking forward to read more from the author",4.0,A fun read,1335916800,"05 2, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32FA38MDJDTBQ,1466417609,JPaul,"[0, 0]","I have read only the first book, I found it a bit challenging to follow all characters in the story.",4.0,1st in series,1398902400,"05 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3EXIZWHSNVNME,0912882301,"Cynthia ""Andante Cantabile""","[8, 8]","What a quaint old book this is! Washington Irving is best known for spooky stories set in the early part of 18th century America but here he looks back to the England that he traveled to in his younger days. There's a grand old country family with it's patriarch who entertains his extended family and even part of the village he heads. Irving describes these pre-Victorian (where lots of our modern traditions hail from) traditions as simple but still very enjoyable. As will most likely always be the case food and drink are a very important part of the celebrations as well as decorative greenery and children's games. In this case Squire Birchbridge, as he's known by all, has a right hand man who's a distant relative who keeps things organized and moving along by herding the children, letting visitors know of the family traditions, and even preparing the Christmas Wassail. The Squire delights in the country customs and shuns London for his country life preferring to read books from previous eras that describe English country gentlemen's lives. He's also a keen amateur musician.....ok not exactly a musician but he does like to hunt out old verse and put it to traditional hymns and get the locals to perform them.Here's one of my favorite passages from the book. It describes a thrown together church choir and orchestra:""The orchestra was in a small gallery, and presented a most whimsical grouping of heads,[98] piled one above the other, among which I particularly noticed that of the village tailor, a pale fellow with a retreating forehead and chin, who played on the clarionet, and seemed to have blown his face to a point; and there was another, a short pursy man, stooping and labouring at a bass viol, so as to show nothing but the top of a round bald head, like the egg of an ostrich. There were two or three pretty faces among the female[99] singers, to which the keen air of a frosty morning had given a bright rosy tint; but the gentlemen choristers had evidently been chosen, like old Cremona fiddles, more for tone than looks; and as several had to sing from the same book, there were clusterings of odd physiognomies, not unlike those groups of cherubs we sometimes see on country tombstones.The usual services of the choir were managed tolerably well, the vocal parts generally lagging a little behind the instrumental, and some loitering fiddler now and then making up for lost time by travelling over a passage with prodigious celerity, and clearing more bars than the keenest fox-hunter, to be in at the death. But the great trial was an anthem that had been prepared and arranged by Master Simon, and on which he had founded great expectation. Unluckily there was a blunder at the very outset; the musicians became flurried; Master Simon was in a fever, everything went on lamely and irregularly until[100] they came to a chorus beginning ""Now let us sing with one accord,"" which seemed to be a signal for parting company: all became discord and confusion; each shifted for himself, and got to the end as well, or rather as soon, as he could, excepting one old chorister in a pair of horn spectacles bestriding and pinching a long sonorous nose; who, happening to stand a little apart, and being wrapped up in his own melody, kept on a[101] quavering course, wriggling his head, ogling his book, and winding all up by a nasal solo of at least three bars' duration.""This description made me laugh out loud! Irving also describes the Squire's many relatives, both young, middle and older aged as almost having stepped down from the manor house portraits since they all resemble one another so much.There's also a village myth that a crusading knight Bridgebirch, who's buried in his armor, legs crossed to symbolize his having taken part in the Middle Eastern wars, as being restless and walking the church late at night or the church grounds trying to redress an old wrong or let people know where he's buried the family's treasure. One of the very best parts of this book is the lovely contemporary illustrations. Irving's ""Old Christmas"" is a delicious seasonal treat.",4.0,Delicious Seasonal Treat,1261094400,"12 18, 2009",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A36WFHXNXB7ENM,146815477X,country_girl,"[0, 0]",I absolutely love this book! I got hooked on Bluegrass State of Mind and could not put it down. I finished this book in record time! It is such a great and easy read. Easy to get into and tons of fun! :),5.0,Love,1348444800,"09 24, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21OFMU4ID0USM,0982192169,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","Verrrryyy GOOD! I love the characters!!! It is soooo good...and it was interesting hearing how it all came together, I loved the twist in the end. Just a great love story!",5.0,FAVORITE!,1361232000,"02 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,0312545622,Midwest Book Review,"[8, 12]","The Age of Autism: Mercury, Medicine and a Man-Made Epidemic draws some startling connections between mercury and autism, showing how mankind has been poisoning itself and how mercury has been indicted as the possible cause of a number of 'modern' conditions. The authors probe how mercury exposure has caused catastrophic health conditions - and shows how medical and manufacturing interest have exposed the public for decades. This should be in every general lending library!",5.0,This should be in every general lending library!,1295481600,"01 20, 2011",8,12,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A3IM8U84XCFTZK,0982518404,Ripkitty,"[0, 0]","Semper Cool is a very interesting book written by a born storyteller. Barry Fixler has a way with words which kept me reading even after I should have turned out the light.Barry tells of his time in the Corps and his RVN tour in a very accessible way. There is no doubt of what what he is saying, or that it's true. Some other reviews have criticized his narrative as self-aggrandizing, but I found it to be simply a statement of the facts as he knew them. Barry was simply an average man in a difficult situation, and determined to make the best of it. His stubborn streak didn't hurt, either.A recurrent theme throughout this story is him helping others, and it's especially true at the end of the book when he organizes the fund drive for the crippled Marine. Saw a need and met it.If you doubt Barry's courage or commitment, check out the You-Tube clip of his store security camera during the jewelry store hold up mentioned at the beginning of Semper Cool. His combat training is still paying off 40+ years later!Thanks for this book, Barry.",5.0,Amazing book by a great storyteller,1338422400,"05 31, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AENHSQXVKZLLJ,1496109686,nonnie71,"[0, 0]","Kendall Ryan did it again......another great book! Usually a series of books about the same couple seems to drag on and the story suffers along the way, but not this series. Do yourself a favor and read this series! I'm starting When We Fall as soon as I hit send on this review.",4.0,I love this series!!,1401235200,"05 28, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3STJTYMU0GAZY,1416531572,"Little Richard ""koolcatblue""","[6, 8]","Mick Foley is a pretty good author to be a wrestler. I enjoyed his previous two books and thats why I picked up the third. That being said its not that great of a book to be honest. In the book if Mick gets things to go his way then Vince McMahon is God. If things doesnt go Mick's way, Vince is the Devil and the people that help him are demons. Out of the three books that he wrote this is the worst of the three. Check the book out of the library if your looking for a good read when you have nothing better to do. Otherwise save your money. Foley is good but this book stinks.",3.0,Sorry Mick Gotta Tell It Like It Is,1174003200,"03 16, 2007",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A22BF9WD6AL67N,1932815104,tracy b smith,"[0, 0]","A very fun read with a strong female lead character! The history was good, and the background plausible. I want to read more from this author!",5.0,Really enjoyed this!,1360022400,"02 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1L1YO23NAZTBE,1909520470,"Mrs. S. Kleinschmidt ""science nerd""","[0, 1]",This was so boring I couldn't get one quarter of the way through it. I won't be purchasing novels from this author again.,1.0,Don't bother,1402012800,"06 6, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2VSHFRI4IPZAI,1586178326,judith,"[0, 0]","I like Michael O Brien's writing, but this one has not held my interest and I am not motivated enough to finish it.Perhaps I'll try another one of his books. JA",3.0,boring,1392336000,"02 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AOIQR1ALQM4DP,0785211942,"PAM ""cat fairy""","[7, 7]","For me, reading the Bible has been like listening to one end of a phone conversation. You don't get the full meaning. I have been left with so many questions, like what it means to heap burning coals on someone's head, or why people who spoke in Aramaic read Hebrew and wrote in Greek, although they were ruled by Romans. Without knowing the cultural background, you can't understand the full context of Scripture. This book gives you 'the other half of the conversation.' It is so in-depth that a nerd like me can read for hours. It is simply so interesting that my husband and friends went out and bought copies for themselves. It is a must-have for anyone who is really interested in 'learning' the Bible.",5.0,A Must Have For Serious Bible Students,1223424000,"10 8, 2008",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A1V1ABSS2NOTSP,0307587827,"Sparky Malarky ""Sparky""","[0, 0]","This seemed a fair and balanced account of a remarkable story. Well worth reading. I do wish the writer had told the story in chronological order, however. It is a long account, spanning many years, during which the family moved several times. I feel it was really three stories: "Pilgrim's" early life, the family's years in the southwest, and the family's years in Alaska. The writer kept jumping from one to the other and it made the narrative hard to follow.",4.0,Good story,1376265600,"08 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2CNPSOGDSUB20,0192839047,Andrea Rasmussen,"[4, 4]","When will I learn to listen to my mom? She told me to read this book several times, so finally I did, and I am so GLAD! This is the best action book I have ever read. Sword fights and princesses, stuffy British sister-in-laws, and a bad guy you can't help but love. Ah, arrogance, sometimes you just have to admire it--and this book has it ALL! I recommend to everyone age 10 and up who enjoy a good, fast read with excellent plot development, engaging characters, and just enough romance.",5.0,Perfect Action/Adventure Book,985046400,"03 20, 2001",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1T5TBS04IDSCR,B0064H8NE8,Amazon Customer,"[0, 1]",After reading the first one in this series I bought the second and finished it in a day!!!I love my new found author!!!,5.0,getting your Mojo on!!!,1348876800,"09 29, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3Q04XXGGED746,0307291448,"Jan Peczkis ""Scholar and Thinker""","[5, 5]","This information-packed volume has so much! I can only focus on a few matters in my review.The author, a Briton of Jewish descent, is quite candid about the Zydokomuna (Bolshevized Judaism). One of the early leaders of the Cheka was Genrikh Yagoda (Iagoda), who is thus described by Montefiore: ""His great achievement, supported by Stalin, was the creation by slave labour of the vast economic empire of the Gulags."" (p. 85). Bearing in mind that Jews constituted only 1-2% of the Soviet Union's population, Montefiore points out that: ""In 1937, 5.7 per cent of the Party were Jews yet they formed a majority in the Government."" (p. 270).The author continues: ""Yet Kaganovich insisted that Stalin's view was formed by the Jewishness of his enemies--Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamienev. On the other hand, most of the women around him and many of his closest collaborators, from Yagoda to Mekhlis, were Jewish."" (p. 270). Also: ""Stalin was surrounded by Jewesses--from Polina Molotova and Maria Svanidze to Poskrebysheva and Yezhova."" (p. 237).This work does not address the question of whether Lavrenti Beria was Jewish. However, Stalin considered Beria too close to Jews, and perhaps a secret Jew. (p. 485, 550).Stalin was two-faced on anti-Semitism--condemning and criminalizing it while being one himself. (p. 270). Even towards the end of his life, when he became strongly anti-Semitic, Stalin never stopped using Jews for his own purposes. For instance, while making accusations against Jewish doctors in early 1953, Stalin still found occasion to award Ehrenburg the Stalin Prize, if only as a decoy. (p. 561).The collectivization process is described in some detail. The Holodomor cost the lives of millions of Ukrainians alone. (p. 75).Stalin was as Polonophobic as he was anti-Semitic--to use Montefiore's own term--until the 1940's. (p. 270). The late 1930's Great Terror combined classicide, indiscriminate mass murder, and conventional genocide. Montefiore comments: ""Simultaneously, Yezhov attacked `national contingents'--this was murder by nationality against Poles and ethnic Germans among others...A total of 350,000 (144,000 of them Poles) were arrested in this operation, with 247,157 shot (110,000 Poles)--a mini-genocide."" (p. 204). And this was against Soviet Poles!Apologists for Soviet conduct have alleged that the 1939-1941 Communist-Nazi alliance was merely a superficial one, and a tactical expedient designed to give the Soviets more time to prepare for war. Evidence to the contrary is provided by Montefiore, who writes: ""Zhdanov's son Yury remembers Stalin and his father reading a specially translated MEIN KAMPF and endlessly discussing the pros and cons of a German alliance. Stalin read in D'Abernon's AMBASSADOR OF THE WORLD that if Germany and Russia were allies, `the dangerous power of the east' would overshadow Britain. `Yes!' Stalin noted approvingly in the margin."" (p. 272).The scope of Stalin's persecutions of Poles increased after the 1939 German-Soviet conquest of Poland. 1.17 million Poles were deported from eastern Poland, into the depths of the USSR, by November 1940. 30% of the deportees died there. (pp. 277-278). The decision-making process that precipitated the Katyn Massacre is described in considerable detail. (pp. 296-297). Both Montefiore-identified Jews in Stalin's inner circle (Mekhlis and Kaganovich) supported the slaying of the Polish officers. Soviet military officials were opposed to it. Lavrenti Beria, according to his son's unverified statements, was opposed to the massacre (Montefiore thinks probably on practical grounds: The Poles may be needed later), but had to go along.The author repeats the Soviet line about the Red Army being ""exhausted"" just as it was nearing Warsaw in 1944. (pp. 420-421). But then Montefiore turns around, and recognizes the Soviet betrayal of the Warsaw Uprising for what it was: ""The extermination of the Home Army completed the `black work' of Katyn Forest for Stalin who had no interest in coming to their rescue."" (p. 420).In conclusion, Montefiore thus summarizes Stalin's legacy: ""Perhaps 20 million had been killed, 28 million deported, of whom 18 million had slaved in the Gulags."" (p. 571).",5.0,A Fascinating Work on One of the World's Greatest Mass Murderers,1264896000,"01 31, 2010",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A14OGGWR54LN3Y,B005O0QJKQ,"J.J.Collins ""J.J.Collins""","[5, 5]","Green Desert by Author - Lada Ray, is an enthralling, captivating read. The author's ability to take a topical subject and combine it with talented descriptive writing and creativity, always thrusts the reader into the very heart of her books.Green Desert introduces us to daring investigative Journalist - Jade Snow, and is set against the backdrop of the American forces occupation of Iraq. The author uses exceptional imaginary throughout her story, to capture sheer mayhem and volatility of Baghdad, post the Saddam Hussein era.The book has two central characters - Mohammed, a bright and ambitious young Iraqi man, who at the outset, harbours hopes to study in the West. On the other hand, we have the Oklahoman American Solider , Bill O'Shea, on his second tour of the country and missing his wife and family back home in the United States.Jade witnesses the devastation of an explosion and the tragic aftermath of this unfortunate event takes us on the very real and moving journey, one filled with harsh realities and the subsequent very personal and real repercussions of war.This journey is made all the more remarkable, as it is only after reading an unexpected hand delivered letter from a young boy in the street ,that Jade can discover the hidden truth of these two men.The letter allows Jade to use her investigative instincts to follow its contents in uncovering the truth, revealing the heart-wrenching pain and sacrifices of a young man caught in the middle of a war zone, trying his best to keep his family alive and safe. Only by tracing Mohammed's story through the contents of the letter can Jade learn the truth about Sergeant William O'Shea.This story will have you questioning the morality and justification of war, and what are the long term consequences of decisions to go to war. Is it a case of a ""Rich Man's"" War and a ""Poor Man's fight?"" or it is more a matter of a Western failure to understand Middle Eastern culture and their interpretation of freedom and democracy.A powerful story in which Jade uncovers how two very different men, are intrinsically linked, despite their national and cultural differences.A gripping and entrancing story.",5.0,"A powerful, gripping and entrancing story.",1339545600,"06 13, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A22KJ8B7ZWLNAJ,0452298385,Juliet Delaricheliere,"[5, 9]","A very mediocre story. Good use of language, plot not that great. I would not recommend this book unless you are on a desert islandwith nothing else to read.",1.0,Not great,1352073600,"11 5, 2012",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A912C7977MO6O,0911469036,Smallchief,"[35, 35]","I was always interested in survival and eating wild foods and I tried several (with indifferent results) during my boy scout days. Thus, it was that ""Stalking the Wild Asparagus"" was a revelation to me when I first encountered it as a young man. Somebody else in the world was interested in eating wild plants! Quite a few somebodies, it developed, because this book ran through a lot of printings and Euell Gibbons became a folk hero and TV star.Gibbons identifies and discusses the culinary virtues of about 50 different wild plants and animals. Among the familiar plants he identifies are dandelions, cattails -- the ""supermarket of the swamp"" -- and daylilies. He tosses in a few animals worthy of pursuit and ingestion by the modern day hunter/gatherer: bluegills, turtles, frogs, and carp. One is immediately impressed that Gibbons knows what he is talking about. He tells you what you need to do with the plant or animal, gives you a recipe or two for its preparation, and adds a bit of personal experience and folklore about the plant. He even gives you menus for wild-food feasts.There is something of the primeval in the attraction of children to gathering their own food, even if is only raspberries growing beside a road. For a few, such as Gibbons, it becomes a lifelong passion. His strength as a writer is infectious enthusiasm. I usually find nature writers to be preachy and sanctimonious. Gibbons isn't. He seems impervious to the thought that he might be considered as crazy as a loon (not one of the animals he proposes for eating). He can say with a perfectly straight face, ""Let's go nutting.""""Stalking the Wild Asparagus"" has found a permanent place on my bookshelf and due recognition as a nature classic.Smallchief",5.0,The Forager at Work,1120953600,"07 10, 2005",35,35,helpful,1.0,1 A277GP2U2TXH51,0307710319,grumpydan,"[0, 0]","In ""The Forest of Hands and Teeth"" Mary lives in an isolated village protected by a wall from the forest which is filled with zombies. The village is protected by the Guardians and governed by the Sisterhood. This is all that Mary knows and she longs to see the ocean (a story her mother told her all her life). When the village is overrun by the zombies, Mary, her brother and others take off to try and find a new life for themselves. Carrie Ryan had written an intense story of teenage angst in this world of post-apocalyptic zombies. It was an uncomplicated read and the story was compelling.",4.0,The Forest of Hands and Teeth,1258502400,"11 18, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32QMTXGV0UO2E,0670022489,"Gretchen Sleeth ""seawatch888""","[0, 0]","I read this book and listened to the audio at the same for a more in-depth experience. It was so worth it. The author's storytelling was interwoven with beautiful descriptions of the Arctic landscape. In fact it felt like the land and snow were characters themselves. I mean this story could not have existed elsewhere.The characters were delightful and the mystery took many twists and turns. For people interested in the audiobook, the reader is perfect.For a debut book this amazing.",5.0,A grand adventure!,1362528000,"03 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TZCACPKFU919,1442187697,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I was kinda iffy when I first purchased this book, but I am so glad I did! The plot was pretty complicated but it was so well written that it was easy to follow. I would definitely recommend this book.",5.0,Interesting,1359417600,"01 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A281Y1LZ4J7BKF,0060776323,Nancy Pepper,"[0, 0]",My students loved listening to this book! They also loved the Jitter Juice and asked for it again the next day!,5.0,Love this book!,1378512000,"09 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3SQV69Q3F8FU9,0345538080,rgregg,"[0, 0]","Stephen Talty has written his second police mystery featuring Absalom Kearney (known as Abbie). His first "Black Irish" was a terrific read and this is also a simply entertaining tale. One of the reasons is that Abbie is such a likable lead character. She is smart, dedicated and willing to break a rule when needed to catch the bad guy. She's not one of those investigators who has some type of unusual quirk or mental defect. She is simply good at her job and has the respect of her fellowThis novel begins with the escape of a mass murderer known as "Hangman" in unusual circumstances leaving behind a dead New York Corrections Officer. "Hangman" gets his name because he hung his victims all of who were young women and shortly after his escape, more young women are being killed or kidnapped.Abbie is made the lead detective to capture Marcus Flynn (the hangman)) before the body count gets too high. In order to figure out his movements, she must revisit the past crimes and interview both family and others who were involved with Flynn both before and after the initial killings.Most of the story is centered around Abbie's movements, thoughts and actions and she is compelling in her ability to put together clues which provide her with theories of why the crimes of the past were committed and what the next potential move might be.This is a fast moving story full of short quick chapters and there are clues spread throughout Talty's book which if caught by the reader will help them to solve exactly what is going on before the surprise twist at the end.A few red herrings add to the charm of the writing and keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The relationships of some of the family members of prior victims of Flynn's murderous spree ratchet up the suspense and put difficult obstacles in Abbie's path to solving the crime and finding the latest kidnap victim of the Hangman. And a group of former cops who are more than willing to skirt the laws to capture or even kill the bad guy are a key part of the drama. Will Abbie find these former officers of use to her despite their illegal methods? Read the book to find out. And as I always avoid spoilers in my review, I will continue that tradition but there are loads of shocks in store until the final pages.Few wasted words or chapters make this a wonderful read. Though it is not a complex novel, it is enough of a superbly written procedural with some violent scenes but not overly gruesome ones to make it worth a few hours of a police mystery fan's time.If you haven't read "Black Irish", pick it up to understand how Abbie became a cop and her relationship with her father and others.I would rate this book only slightly below the quality of "Black Irish" but that's not a complaint because the first book in what I hope will be a long series was simply superb. This is still a great read!",4.0,A second police procedural featuring Buffalo detective Abbie Kearney....fun to read,1394323200,"03 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2K5V6VTCIO2LQ,1612787878,JoAnna,"[5, 6]","I love this book. It strikes me as very Chestertonian, combining plainspoken truth with sly wit and humor. New and veteran NFP users will catch themselves nodding along in agreement (or adding notes to various sections of text that say, "Exactly!" or "Truth!" or sometimes simply "LOL!").I also wish I'd had this book ten years ago. My husband and I have been using NFP to alternatively avoid or achieve pregnancy for that long, and many of the trials and tribulations described by Ms. Fisher are ones we know all too well. It would have saved us a lot of heartache and tears if we'd realized that we were not alone in our struggles.",5.0,I love this book!,1381708800,"10 14, 2013",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2008D02JTB3OR,0312875169,Russ Hall,"[4, 4]","Though Blakely is known for his historical westerns, SUMMER OF PEARLS is a languorous and warm tale of the South. It is a retrospective -- reminiscent of the style and strength of Mark Helprin's A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR. The detailed growing-up revisit to the past is told by a narrator now in his 80s, but who relates the most eventful summer of his life when he was a boy of 14. The tale is told with the wisdom of years, with language painting a rich and detailed picture, and with the narrator's enduring love for the setting and people around a very real lake on the Texas/Louisiana border.Ben Crowell is an engaging and real character who encounters romance and treachery as he observes and experiences the emotional spectrum of a town swelling in a boom that is destined to be short-lived. But it is a window of time all the more fiery for it. This summer casts the mold that teaches Ben respect, the value of friendship, and how to be a gentleman.From the hero Bill Treat, to that low-life Judd Kelso, the book is peopled with fully-realized characters in conflict. The beautiful Carol Anne "Pearl" Cobb, booming Captain Trevor Brigginshaw and Ben's closest friends, Adam and Cecil, all contribute to the shaping of young Ben. As old Ben looks back on that summer, his quest is one of discovery, and that quest will work equally well for the reader who will be caught up in turning the pages of this compelling story. There is adventure, wonder, and discovery enough for everyone.",5.0,It's About to Get Southern,968803200,"09 13, 2000",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3DU9B5DZUAS5V,0446554979,"ahusberg ""mfingers""","[0, 0]","This is a wonderful series, with spectacular writing. The characters are interesting and the twists and turns are great. Once you start it you can't put it down, esp. as you near the end.",5.0,Prendergast at his best,1374710400,"07 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A93ZSJWZ4375R,0786707224,Jussi Bjorling,"[7, 9]","Although Werth's account is more popular than scholarly, he tells a complex operational story extremely well. Unlike most accounts of the Eastern Front, this book manages to resolve the mass of details into a limited number of coherent campaigns without dissolving into day-by-day drudgery. Werth does not pay as much attention to details away from the front, and the reader with a strong interest in these will want to supplement this book with outside reading.",5.0,The best history of the Eastern Front available,963360000,"07 12, 2000",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A2NNDK5PYNW4UB,0373827822,Mandy Bryant,"[0, 0]",Melodrama to the max. It read like a 12 yr old girls thoughts. The author's use of language was too flowery.,2.0,Sappy,1375833600,"08 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15HGNTO74HFQS,0451200799,Julie M. Minneci,"[0, 0]","This book kept my interest and I finished it quickly. It moved along at a good pace, and I LOVE when there's a twist I hadn't anticipated!",4.0,"Quick, good read",1357171200,"01 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1HR7OQGNB2OS5,B00B1C2KU4,Steve in Scottsdale,"[0, 0]",I received a complimentary copy of Endpoint in exchange for an honest review. This book was such an enjoyable surprise. The plot had lots of twists and really captured my interest. You always have the feeling that there's more going on that what you can see and the author did a wonderful job keeping me in suspense. I liked the characters a lot and found myself rooting for them - and that's always a good sign for me. I am happy to enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a really enjoyable fast-paced page-turner.,5.0,Very enjoyable!,1383609600,"11 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJOR7D8TIH3R4,0385337450,bert1761,"[5, 8]","The blurbs all over the book cover refer to Charles Dickens. What else would you expect of a novel whose central character is a one-handed orphan who comes to live among thieves, graverobbers, a deaf boardinghouse keeper and the dwarf who climbs down her chimney, and a mentally challenged giant murderer with a soft spot for the protagonist, Ren? But quite unlike Dickens, who, because of the serialization of his novels, often created books that were overstuffed with detail, Hannah Tinti has written a book that, while creating a very vivid world, she has populated it with two-dimensional figures rather than real characters. In addition, there is not much of a plot, and the climax seems to be little more than a mess. Of course, one roots for Ren -- but how could you not love a resilient, resourceful, loyal one-handed orphan with a heart of gold? But the reader doesn't really learn much more about him than that his good nature seems to have been inspired by the stories in ""The Lives of the Saints."" (And Ren hardly endures in one's memory the way Oliver Twist, Pip or David Copperfield does.) And we get to know even less about the other ""characters."" (Emblematic of this problem with the novel is the fact that some characters don't even get real names but instead are referred to merely by descriptions of their physical features or apparel, such as ""the Harelip,"" ""the Top Hat,"" and ""the Bowler."")I was particularly disappointed by ""The Good Thief"" because I really enjoyed the author's previous book, ""Animal Crackers."" But perhaps therein lies the real problem. Hannah Tinti may well just be the type of author who writes brilliant short stories, but cannot craft a satisfying novel.",3.0,Entertaining but unsatisfying read,1217721600,"08 3, 2008",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A39PF0QG0HC6RQ,1250015375,tnysgrl,"[5, 5]","Just finished reading Hollow Bones, and I was not disappointed. I love a thriller with a little romance mixed in, and this fit that bill perfectly. And there was plenty of suspense to keep me engrossed in the book for hours at a time. Great read!",5.0,Another winner by CJ Lyons!,1377561600,"08 27, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2U0R04KZZLHAW,0758265816,Damaris,"[0, 0]","I have read every book by this author and have absolutely loved every page, this series has been one of the BEST ever.....a must MUST MUST read !!!",5.0,The best !!!!,1364688000,"03 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2UXS5AEDWJEMB,0817437126,Andy Todes,"[65, 73]","you have to really laugh at human nature. on one hand you havesome people here saying "understanding exposure" is one ofthe best books they've ever read. and then you have other people panning the life out of it. as far as i'm concerned, i'm well and truly in the first camp -- i just can't believe how anyone could disparage this treasure trove of simple, practical advice. as someone stated before me, this book -- and particularly peterson's "learning to see creatively" -- was the catalyst behind my professional career. (i also love garrett's "the art of black and white photography"). peterson simply takes the confusion out of photography -- so you can focus on what really matter: framing the shot. you want to be able to understand what you're doing, so you can do it without thinking. peterson's books are a stepping stone to that level of awareness. and of course, you must shoot, shoot, shoot. i took 5,000 shots the year i read "learning to see creatively" -- a testament to the infectious enthusiasm peterson brings to his subject...good luck. and thank you, mr.peterson!",5.0,MAKES IT EASY,961113600,"06 16, 2000",65,73,helpful,0.8904109589041096,1 AZ1MSBAOKUE7R,0156376091,Buxx,"[5, 28]","This is a pitiful excuse for a novel. I read about 6 books a month, and rarely, once I have started one, do I give up on it. After about 150 pages I threw this one in the trash. I wouldn't even give it to a friend or donate it to charity. It defiles the paper it is written on...why? Because it is soooo booooring. Rather than wade thru this thing, paint a wall and watch it dry.",1.0,Bad,1175644800,"04 4, 2007",5,28,helpful,0.17857142857142858,1 A1J6B00Z1D6PS4,B00BECBVNS,"Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man ""Jimmy Moore""","[34, 35]","How in the world did we ever get to the point where a modern-day industrialized nut and seed oil would somehow be considered ""healthy"" for us to be eating while natural fats from butter, coconut oil and animal-based foods that have been consumed throughout the history of humankind and were actually the foundation of the diet of our grandparents and great-grandparents are somehow supposed to kill us? That doesn't make any sense at all which is why this new book by Australian attorney David Gillespie is so sorely needed at this time.You might recall David has been at the forefront of bringing attention to the dangers of consuming sugar in the form of fructose mainly in his highly-acclaimed booksSweet PoisonandThe Sweet Poison Quit Plan. Now he's turning his attention to this subject of TOXIC OIL warning people of the dangers of consuming vegetable oils (which ironically aren't made from vegetables at all!).The truth is that even ""healthy"" soybean, peanut and canola oils all have a very high percentage of omega-6 fatty acids and our bodies were never intended to deal with such a huge influx of these fats in our diet. What has happened as a result? Chronic disease, massive changes in your cholesterol panel, macular degeneration and even cancer...it's not a pretty picture that Gillespie paints for us, but it is the truth about what is going on.He does an outstanding job of going into great detail about the history of fats, when we shifted from natural real food fats to hydrogenated oil sources like Crisco (that's a wild story!) and the proliferation of seed oils into our food supply. You'll be so horrified by what you read in the pages of this book that you'll immediately go to your cupboard and start throwing out food immediately. It's an important first step in getting back on the road to health again.If you're just not sure what a polyunsaturated or vegetable oil fat really is, TOXIC OIL lays it all out for you in very clear language with key terms to look for. When you learn about all the processing it takes to extract oil from seeds on page 58-59, I think you'll be shocked. For anyone to think that this is a more natural and healthy oil for humans to be consuming vs. real fats like butter and animal fats, you've got to be kidding.One of the challenges is we live in a society where these vegetable oils are in just about every packaged food out there. If you don't believe me, just walk around your local grocery store and start randomly reading the ingredients list on most of the so-called ""food"" they are selling to consumers. That's why returning to eating a real foods-based diet with meats, vegetables and fruit as opposed to highly-processed boxed meals, packaged foods and fast food is so critically needed.David Gillespie helps you circumnavigate through the supermarket to find the good foods that avoid these bad fats. You'll become a pro at reading labels to determine exactly what all those fancy terms like extra virgin, grass-fed, pastured and the like really mean. This will help you bob and weave between the aisles so you don't accidentally fall victim to marketing ploys that would have you getting more than you bargained for.Towards the end of the book, you'll get an excellent meal planner guide and delicious recipes to show you that it is possible to avoid vegetable oils in your diet with the proper attention to what you are doing whether you are at home, in a restaurant or in any situation. And there are even tips for getting your kids in on this as well. This book gives you the whole picture on the vegetable oil story and why it's probably better if you get them out of your life sooner rather than later.After reading TOXIC OIL, you'll never eat vegetable oils again if you truly care about your health! If you still don't believe me, then I highly encourage you to pick up a copy of this book and learn for yourself. You've been lied to and it's time to learn the truth.",5.0,You'll Never Eat Vegetable Oils Again After Reading This Book!,1361923200,"02 27, 2013",34,35,helpful,0.9714285714285714,1 AILQ1G3PB3249,0440407524,"""iloveprovence""","[17, 17]","Shiloh is a wonderful example of realistic fiction for children. The story revolves around Marty, a small town boy in the hills of West Virginia. There isn't much money, and putting food on the table is difficult and all consuming for the adults of his community.Marty spends his free time roaming the hills with his rifle, until he discovers Shiloh, a dog, whom he learns lives with constant abuse by his owner. Marty determines to rescue Shiloh and care for the dog he immediately becomes attached to. He finds, however, that simply wanting something, is not a determinant of taking possession: he is stunned that the abusive owner has rights, which is confusing and heartbreaking for him.Throughout the story, Marty is confronted by moral issues which he must wrestle with as he focuses his attention on loving Shiloh and finding a way to make life better for the dog. In doing so, his values are questioned and his morality is strengthened. He must learn to solve moral dilemmas by analyzing the choices he has. He realizes that adults don't always do the right thing, nor do they always have the answers to questions. Most, important, he learns to recognize that he has the ability, within himself, to realize the resolve it takes to do the right thing in the face of adversity.Young readers will experience these dilemmas with Marty, and the story provides youngsters with the opportunity to develop their own moral skills along with him.",5.0,Both boys and girls will love Shiloh!,959731200,"05 31, 2000",17,17,helpful,1.0,1 AP1NJGS4QNH41,1576736792,Dreaming of Paradise,"[5, 6]","This was an excellent book! It really made me think about God, angels, demons, and spiritual warfare. It also made me think of all the times that I have been decieved by the devil, and have not even known it until later!This book is based on The Screwtape Letters, a book by C.S. Lewis. Lord Foulgrin's Letters centers around the life of a middle-aged man named Jordan Fletcher and his family, which consists of his wife, daughter Jillian, and his son.Jordan Fletcher had always felt like something was missing in his life. Unfortunately, he did not know what that something was until much later. Although he was a successful business man, and had almost everything that he wanted, he just could not figure out what he was missing.Unknown to Fletcher, someone is watching someone...and that someone does not have Fletcher's best interests in mind. Somone is trying is plotting his downfall and trying to destroy him. Someone that human eyes cannot see is assigned to him and is trying to keep him in the dark.A demon (a fallen angel) named Squaltient has been assigned to Fletcher and is trying to keep Fletcher from realizing that God loves him. Not only is Squaltient trying to keep Jordan from seeing the truth, but his boss, a demon named Lord Foulgrin, is also trying to destroy Jordan!As you read this book, you will see letters that Foulgrin writes to Squaltient, instructing him on how to make Jordan and his family hate eachother, how to keep Fletcher from becoming a Christian, and many other things.One of the things that I liked about this book was how Alcorn gave his characters depth. Jordan Fletcher seems like a confused, selfish, and angry man at first, but later on in this story, he has a real change of mind and heart. His wife acts just like a sad and frustrated women who is not a Christian would. Foulgrin seems like an angry, evil, blood-thirsty villain.If you want to read a great book that gives you a better prespective on the visible and invisible war that rages everyday, than read this book!",5.0,Makes you think...,1057190400,"07 3, 2003",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2X76XYN6MBJZ0,0671008870,Michael Le Houllier,"[5, 5]","If you are looking for the greatest bit of prose ever offered in the genre, you will be disappointed. Michael Jan Friedman is not my favorite Star Trek writer. However, despite the fact that this novel does what I HATE Star Trek novels to do, bounce back and forth between the ""present"" of Tne Next Generation and the past of the Klingon Empire 1500 years ago, it does offer an insight into the history of the Klingon Empire.What are Kingons? What is their legacy? In ""In the Name of Honor,"" which takes place in the time period of ""The Original Series,"" we learn of the ideological struggle and change going on within Klingon society. In that novel, the teachings of Kahless gain a new vigor in Klingon society. However, decades later, that ""fundamentalist"" Kahless teaching comes under assault. The present-day Picard is off on a mission to determine that is going on within the Klingon Empire. In this novel, we learn the truth about Kahless. This novel isn't about fighting, it is about doing what is honorable. What we don't know at the conclusion of this novel is the eventual long-term impact on Klingon society due to what has been discovered about Kahless's life.This isn't the best written Star Trek novel, and I really hate bouncing from a past time to the present. However, if you want to get a look at Klingon culture, this is one of the few novels that afford that opportunity.",3.0,"Not the best Star Trek novel, but offers some perspective",1126569600,"09 13, 2005",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2EF1KIQ7TMPPF,0062273345,"Nitty's Mom ""Dog lover""","[4, 4]","The Year She Left Us is a beautifully written debut book about the lives of three generations of Chinese American women who are bonded together by love and loss. The book is told through alternating chapters by Charlie and her daughter Ari, with a few carefully interwoven chapters from Les and Gran. A single woman, Charlie Kong longs for a baby and against the advice of her older sister and mother travels to an orphanage in China to adopt. Charlie names her baby Ariadne (Ari for short) and delights in her motherhood. Ari is given all the love she could ever need by the Kong family of women. Charlie is a kind soul who lives her life doing for others. She is a public defender, and after the abrupt ending of a serious relationship devotes herself to her daughter and family. Les, her confident older sister is a judge hoping for a federal magistrate position. Their mother Gran, is well educated, outspoken and family oriented. Like Ari, she was born in China and has not come to terms with heartbreak in her own past. ""The future holds promise while the past is full of ghosts.""Charlie is convinced that Ari will have it easier as an adopted child, as she can decide later if she wants to inform others that she was adopted. Charlie makes a lifelong friend in Robyn, who she meets when traveling to the orphanage in Kunming, her daughter named Asia Jade (A.J) also becomes Ari's best friend. A.J. is adopted into a white Jewish family and never looks back at her parentage . Ari, as Gran lets the reader know ""looked back, a fatal error. She never should have visited the orphanage full of bad associations""Ari's feelings of of abandonment culminates in her total withdrawal from her family after she and A.J. travel back to their orphanage for the second time, the summer they turn eighteen. The words teenage rebellion is taken to a new level as Ari's destructive behavior becomes inexplicable even to herself.This is a uniquely constructed story, where the excellence lies in the conflicting emotions that the reader feels. Ari's pain is palatable as she spirals out of control to the point where she inflicts bodily harm on herself. Ari's selfishness and outright cruelty can both alienate and anger, as it brings sadness to her family who struggle within their own complicated lives. Ari was so frustrating, that at times I wanted to put the book down. Later, it become evident that Ari was truly suffering and was coping the only way she could in order to survive. Her erratic and seemingly disjointed behavior begain to make more sense. To different degrees, all of the Kong women have trials they also must face and demonstrate growth at the end of the journey. Like or dislike, Ari inspires real feelings, while asking the age old questions ""what do we owe the one's we love?"" Very special and highly recommended. Up there with the ""Joy Luck Club"" which is high praise indeed.",5.0,Dazzling debut!,1399248000,"05 5, 2014",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 ANNZTCL4SW6M4,0307408841,Susan Nall Sheehan,"[0, 0]","This is my second go at this fine book. It is unique, gives a bird's-eye view of life from an outsider'sperspective of the exact weeks and months during which the good true Germany acquiesced it's heritage in favor of dumb, cruel brutes. Exquisite and stark. Must read.",5.0,As good the second read!!!,1377907200,"08 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AEGAQXKE86RXN,006172680X,Bonnie Ferrante,"[0, 1]","I almost gave up on this book after the first chapter. I really disliked the protagonist. However, I'd heard good things about it so I persisted. By the fourth chapter, I was hooked. A fabulous book about growing up, bullying, insecurity, cliques, self-image, and karma. Powerful.",5.0,redemption is possible,1350086400,"10 13, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3L9HL2XX40LRL,B007RZ2N7Y,Patti Zapf,"[0, 0]",I rated this book based on the fact that it kept my attention from start to finish. I feel the plot was well written & the characters had the unusual balance of good and evil.,5.0,Bad Doctor/Good Reading!,1384992000,"11 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21SVQPB3BMIZO,0615214797,Shadow Walker,"[18, 20]","I went into this story knowing that it was self-published and written by a teenager, so my expectations were already very low. I figured that, okay, the prose would be stilted and clunky and that the plot would be nothing outstanding. No big deal, right? I mean, I read bad fanfic on the Internet. This couldn't be that much worse.But no.... I was wrong. So very wrong.I think that this is the worst self-published book I have ever read, and considering that vanity publishers will publish ANYTHING, that's saying something.The story and characters are nothing special, but that was pretty much a given. What really made my eyes water was how AMATEURISH the writing and everything else is. The formatting of the book is completely wonky and inconsistent; there are line breaks between paragraphs, but not all the time. The rest of the time, the paragraphs are smushed together, which can make it difficult to tell one paragraph from the next, because there are no indentations to signify a new paragraph. The font is HUGE, which explains the 800+ page count. The author should have made the font half as big, but I guess boasting about a 400-page book doesn't sound as impressive.And then there are the random italics and quotation marks and capitalization that make absolutely no sense. Here are a few sentences from the very first chapter of the book:""It took Maya several months to make a couple of new friends but she made also some enemies. One of them was 'Alana Terence'! She was a member of the 'Gothic Movement' and she had a very rebellious spirit.""(Please note that both ""Alana Terence"" and ""Gothic Movement"" are italicized in the book, as I can't replicate that here.)Seriously... what? Why are those words inside quotes? Why is ""Gothic Movement"" capitalized? Why are those words in italics? It is completely nonsensical and really takes you out of the story. I realize that Gloria Tesch was only a young teenager when she wrote this, but I think that at 13 or 14 you are old enough to at least know the basics of writing. I was a HORRIBLE writer at that age, but I knew enough to not go around capitalizing or italicizing random words for the heck of it.In short: Don't read this book. Please. Don't be like me. I picked up this book out of morbid curiosity after seeing all the bad reviews, and I now regret my rash decision. I wish I could have my $15 back. You can buy two McDonald's combo meals for $15. That's a lot of food!Please learn from my mistake.",1.0,words cannot describe how awful this book is,1332288000,"03 21, 2012",18,20,helpful,0.9,1 AK0QCD0IUGPAL,1478332875,Tina,"[0, 0]",Despite a lot of grammatical errors throughout this book it was a pretty good quick read. The message was clear and you wanted to get to the end to find out want happened.,4.0,Good,1358640000,"01 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2FRPXX02QXABF,1890768308,J,"[0, 0]","This was the first in the series I read. It was a great book which started with 2 mysteries, one a murder, the other a family dispute).The murder mystery evolved into an additional mystery which was also solved.For me to continue might lead to telling spoilers.The only real negative I have (minor) is the amount of time spent on Rusty, the honeymooners' dog. During the book, about half of the scenes with Rusty could be eliminated without destroying the story line.While I intend to read this series and other books by Ms. Shelton, I would not reread this book (this is why I don't rate this 5-star).I recommend that if you mysteries, this is a perfect mystery to enjoy.",4.0,Three mysteries,1388966400,"01 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RD3AQ7AS93N8,B001QIGZX6,"Stephen J. Prosapio ""Author, GHOSTS OF ROSEWO...","[4, 6]","I've noticed that there are little to no reviews for Joe Hill's individual stories from 20th Century Ghosts. Having read the entire anthology as well as his other novels, I thought I'd write an introductory review of these stories as they relate to Joe's work as a whole. Please note that although I may rate this short story less than 5 stars, I rate the entire book as a solid 5-star work. My ratings on individual shorts are somewhat an indication of how much I enjoyed this particular one...but more so I tried to rate it based on which would give an uncertain reader the truest idea of if the entire book is for them--which ultimately I'd recommend. If need be, please see my 5-star review on the Kindle version of the novel which is a verified purchase.It's hard not to give too much detail about a short story, and I don't wish to ruin anyone's surprise and enjoyment of this particular work. The writing as always in this story is intense and vibrant. The story is one of the more grating and creepy in the anthology. This wasn't my favorite story personally, but reading this one will give you a decent idea of what Mr. Hill's work is like.Stephen Prosapio=============Author,Dream War",4.0,Very creative,1292457600,"12 16, 2010",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1I7M44ZEXC52Q,0785229213,PadreCov,"[45, 62]","I've been a pastor for many years, and you can bet I've heard every trite sermon illustration, every ""wisdom nugget,"" and every cheap counseling shortcut in the book. Now I actually have read the book! Andy Andrews has managed to shoehorn some of my favorites(?) (""Keep Your Fork"" and the ""Worry Percentages"" for example) into a quaint little story about a mysterious figure who helps a number of people through issues and problems. Oh joy.This is so contrived and ridiculous I actually laughed at loud. Life and its problems are infinitely more complex than this, and all Andrews offers are ""band-aid"" platitudes I've heard countless times. Marriage crumbling? Learn the ""4 Love Languages"" and POOF! Problems disappear. Feeling like you've passed the most productive years of your life? Listen to this list of late-bloomers like Winston Churchill and Grandma Moses and VOILA! Hope is restored.I've learned through the years of preaching sermons that illustrations are just that: ways to highlight and illustrate a point. But the thing is, you've got to make a point first. Andrews skips that and treats the illustration as if it were the point, and in doing so bypasses true wisdom and life-change altogether. Along the way he doesn't just tug at the heartstrings, he yanks at them with all his might as if it was his own private game of tug-of-war with your emotions. And it's clear he plays to win, but unfortunately he doesn't play fair. He cheats, and in doing so misses a great opportunity to expound the value of observation, perspective, and ""noticing."" Too bad.",1.0,Trite Illustrations Novelized,1311984000,"07 30, 2011",45,62,helpful,0.7258064516129032,1 A3UZJ6YR9B6UKC,0743269357,"Molly ""Book Nerd NYC""","[28, 31]","I had high hopes for Judith Levine's book ""Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping"". Maybe I set my expectations too high. Can I really expect one book to convert me into a non-consumer? I wanted gems of wisdom on how not to spend money; how to talk myself out of buying that cup of chai or latest Jonathan Lethem book.How does one spend an entire year without shopping? For starters, Levine and her husband stocked up on supplies before beginning this year-long project, which began on January 1, 2004. Even on December 31st at 10 PM, they purchase items online from Red Envelope. Did they really need that ""small concrete baby elephant"" two hours before the project was to begin?Next Levine discusses the plethora of food, clothing, boots, and sporting gear in their Vermont home (they also own a condo in Brooklyn, NY). Then she moves on to explain why they have three automobiles. Three pieces of transportation for two people who spend half the year in the city. The couple also plans to purchase necessities such as unprocessed food, The New York Times, and gasoline. By page 25 I was already outraged, but willing to push on with naive hopes that her reform will rub off on me.Throughout the book Levine makes side trips to talk with economic, consumer, and cultural critics. She attends meetings in Brooklyn with a group that's a part of the Voluntary Simplicity movement. I liked these sections of the book. It gave me a general understanding of why many (if not most) of our citizens spend and consume in order to be happy.There are some funny moments in the book when Levine must decide what defines a necessity. Are Q-tips a necessity? What about tissues when one can use toilet paper instead? What about $125 pair of slacks in SoHo? Sadly, the answer to the latter question was yes. I found myself becoming very judgmental of the author even though she consumed much less in 2004 than I do in any given year.I was really hoping for a book with topics on buying green, not buying at all, etc. Instead, I read a book about how to justify each purchase one makes. Very disappointing.",2.0,I'm not buying this book...,1165017600,"12 2, 2006",28,31,helpful,0.9032258064516129,1 A79U01AE98EV8,0312427743,MACLEAR,"[6, 6]","Reading some of the complaints regarding this novel one might get the idea that there are readers out there who are still stuck on plot. ""Nothing happens in the first one-hundred pages""! This is a finely crafted novel that delves deeply into great themes, it is not, nor was it meant to be a ""thrilling page-turner"" ala King or Grisham. One wonders what these negative reviewers would write if they were to read ""Ulysses,"" ""In Search of Lost Time,"" or ""Moby Dick"".Johnson's writing is prose poetry. The reader does not hustle through the pages unless he does not read for anything other than who-did-what-to-whom-and-when-and-how did they do it. This text requires a slow, but concentrated, reading so that the prose, filled with elusive references, ""new fired from the mint"" metaphors, and engaged with painting lush, contradictory characters as they tread cautiously over war-torn terrain. Johnson gives us the haunting picture of the sixties with all of its crudity, its toxic self-seriousness, its righteous (and unrighteous)rage, its painful pleasures, and its sense of organized chaos. Enjoy.",4.0,hardly a novel driven by plot,1295136000,"01 16, 2011",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2UI8NSCPKY7ZB,B00C4Z6KVW,Cadena Russell,"[0, 0]",This was easy reading and an excellent book I can't wait till another book in this series comes out. Definitely worth reading!,5.0,great book,1393286400,"02 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A369VS3F6SQMKB,0192839179,John Martin,"[0, 0]","The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes is a must read for all fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and, indeed, all mystery fans. While these stories are not the most famous of Holmes' cases (The Red Headed League, The Hound of the Baskervilles, etc.) there is still plenty of the standard Sherlock Holmes fare. Holmes and his trusty companion, Dr. Watson, take on an assortment of 12 cases with such titles as The Illustrious Client, The Marazin Stone and The Retired Coloured Man. While most of these cases involve a crime of some sort, a few ( Thor Bridge and The Blanched Soldier) tell of human tragedy and display both Holmes acute reasoning powers and his compassion.There is no much more than needs be said. The stories are short enough (average of 15-20 pages) to be read in a single setting. I personally read one a day while having lunch and found this method to be an enjoyable addition to my mid-day meal.",4.0,More of Sherlock Holmes,1214524800,"06 27, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1NRCDYXLLD5T8,B00CHP64IS,Victoria Smith,"[0, 0]",I love it...this seems to be a very good book but it seems like it is based off of Fifty Shades Of Grey.,5.0,Love it,1379116800,"09 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1UOWBS792WX41,B00J9P60YC,Between the Covers Book Reviews,"[0, 0]","WARNING - this book will leave you with a definite book hangover!! And an empty box of tissues!!!All I can say is Wow.This is a story of a girl, Abby, that has been given a second chance at life and how she discovers what life is all about in the process. On a chance meeting with Beck - the boy who assumed his place in her heart - they go on a road trip to find independence, to find freedom, to find life, but end up finding love and finding dreams worth fighting for.My review could be 4 words: GO READ IT NOW!Yes I feel absolutely ripped apart after reading this, and yes, I want you to feel the same....hahaha, trust me, it's worth it. It's worth finding this beautiful story on finding the life you were meant to live.I love Abby - she had accepted death and her fate and then suddenly she's given a new lease on life. She is so innocent and so beautiful. She's torn between continuing on the life that she's lived for so long and finding a new one. I really wanted to jump into the book and give her a hug.Beck was cocky, and hilarious, and absolutely the best personality to bring Abby out of her shell. He was brilliant!!Their road trip takes place in Texas - and as a native Texan - that was just the cherry on top for me. I have been fortunate to have visited some of these places and could find imagining the salty air of Corpus Christi beaches and the hot, dry air of Odessa in the summer.Absolutely amazing!!!",5.0,Absolutely Amazing!!!!,1398038400,"04 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2VIZ6YCQ4BCTA,0143142291,Callan Mori,"[0, 1]","but still not one of his best. Read ""Intensity, Hideaway, and Lightning"" and do the comparison yourself.",4.0,This one is one of his more scarier novels ...,1212019200,"05 29, 2008",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AKDXXW89ZLCJS,0886776856,Cybele A. Baker,"[0, 0]","After finishing this book I can only partly understand why folks are disapointed by this book. Yes it is more of a stand alone novel than a part 3, but really how much was there that needed to be said after book 2? Nothing that I could find, so this is a perfectly decent book with a nice suspenseful plot. It is, however, rushed and a bit sloppy in places.But my goodness moral depravity? Where on earth did that come from? There is nothing of the sort in this book, there is some pragmatic thoughts by characters because of the stubborness and bad decisions made by others that those characters could not prevent. But nothing to suggest such a term as moral depravity.To sum up it was a fun book with a nice and interesting plot. But I too would have liked another 50-100 pages of plot for a better ending...not just abruptly stopped as it was.",4.0,Much better than the reviews say,1069200000,"11 19, 2003",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PCYN3UIBZ2FZ,0143122916,Amazon Customer,"[0, 1]",What an amazing read. It's hard to believe how brain washed people can be and what they can do to each other. Even their own family. I recommend this. I read a lot of books about North Korea. Their society is more of a fantasy world than what you'd find in the fiction aisles!,4.0,Good read,1336780800,"05 12, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2LNHLLIDZLZ21,0316084751,Step Into Fiction,"[4, 8]","This series does NOT disappoint. However, it's such a bummer that these books came out about a month a part and now we have to wait for the fourth book. The wait is going to be excruciating. But it will be worth it, if they're as amazing as BLOOD RIGHTS, FLESH AND BLOOD and most recently, BAD BLOOD. Amazing books; I'm looking forward to more. (I may go insane from lack of Mal & Chrysabelle...)Let me start this review off by saying one thing I admire about Kristen Painter is she is never afraid of killing. Some authors have trouble killing people (whether it's a main character or not) but Kristen doesn't struggle at all. Especially with Tatiana. I've lost count on how many ""people"" she has killed. And Tatiana has no regrets doing it. It's kind of exciting to see who might kicked it in the next book.That being said, BAD BLOOD was absolutely amazing. Much better than FLESH AND BLOOD, this is saying something because FLESH AND BLOOD was really good, as well.It seems like both Tatiana and Chrysabelle have gotten distracted in this book from killing each other & I must say, I really enjoyed that. Instead, they both have different missions in mind. Tatiana was handed something precious by one of the ancients and was told to take great care of it which she most definitely will. Meanwhile, Chrysabelle is solely focused on getting her sigma's back and finding out whom the identity of her brother is.But that's not the best part of this, oh absolutely not. Do you want to know what it is? Of course you do! Both Chrysabelle and Mal FINALLY acknowledge their feelings for one another. They go above and beyond what I was hoping. Well...there was a really sexy scene that was cut way too short. It involves a piano. That is all I will say. But they're not where I need them to be...and I can't wait to read books 4 & 5 to see it happen! It makes me so excited and you know, it will SO be worth the wait, I know it will.Creek has become likable. If you remember I said in the previous book that I didn't like him trying to go after Chrysabelle and I stick by that but in BAD BLOOD he realizes where his place is and it's not with her. I may have squealed a little bit, to be honest. But let's not tell anyone this. He plays a much bigger role in this book and it's exciting to see what he does and how well he does it. He also fits in really well with the group that has formed, with Fionna, Doc, Mal & Chrysabelle.We get to know more about Damian, who was Tatiana's Comar before he escaped her toward the end of FLESH AND BLOOD. I like him from the get go. He was smart enough to get away from that bitch and I applaud him for it. (He's still alive to talk about it so I say kudos to him. Most don't live to tell about how they crossed her.) Who knows how big of a role he will become...The absence of Dominic didn't upset me too much. Actually, I hardly even noticed he wasn't there. But seeing more of his right hand man, Mortalis, was really awesome. We get to go back to his prior home, New Orleans and it was just spectacular seeing more to him. I love him and I really love him even more after this book.To summarize, this series just keeps getting better and better. I cannot wait to see what else is to come. With how this book left off it has me tapping my fingers, sitting here waiting and waiting. My fingers may bleed If you love fantasy, have a thing for vampires (that do not sparkle) and are looking for two characters that are so right for each other it hurts - pick up this series. You have three books to read while we wait for more!",5.0,Bad Blood Is Oh So Good For You!,1322438400,"11 28, 2011",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A1TH0PXCDG82Y6,0988367912,jello,"[0, 0]",I like this story . It has epilogue and prologue. They fell in love so quick and secretly got married. Lack of trust separated them . After everything he did to hurt her it didn't take long for her to forgive him at all. Good love story .,4.0,jello,1394668800,"03 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18N173LG4ZBNJ,1591790697,Hydeh Aubon,"[6, 6]","David Whyte is the author and poet of the soul, of the deep searching place within and of the wondering being.He refers with such modesty to the incredible work of others, and for that you get to know of poets and poems that you weren't familiar with before or at least did not recognize them untill seeing them in light of what he refers to.Like a true teacher, he helps you to dare to do what you already had within you. Like a genuine guide, he leads you to the realms you had unconsciously and conveniently forgotten or overlooked.David Whyte's writings are very deep and beautiful. But,when he speaks his expressions, his words could be more touching if he did not repeat himself over and over.Somethings get imprinted in your mind (not heart) forever because you've heard them repeatedly but memorizing is different from feeling.It is like someone holding a flower in front of you and insisting upon your looking at it, it is like each time you turn your face away, they bring you back to the flower(over and over). Yes, you'd remember the flower, its color, dimensions, fragrance and so on. But maybe it is when you are just passing by the flower and you intuitively/unknowingly turn around to look back and see the flower again because you wanted to because something touched you , is the moment that you are naturally receptive to the flower.Of course it matters how someone speaks, what words s/he uses. how their tone of voice is, how and when they emphasize on a word, how they flow as they speak and how sincere they are.David Whyte is excellent on all the above. If only he would give space to his listeners to absorb what he just read/said at their own pace. Words touch different people in different ways.All that said, this audiotape is very rich. It fills your backpack with amazement and inspiration on your personal journey through the Great Unknown.",5.0,spiritual poetry,1229212800,"12 14, 2008",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A2WU74E1XXAI9Z,0765330539,mystery fan,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed the book. I love dogs and know first hand how wonderful they are for being a best friend.,5.0,Great book but a tear jerked.,1390694400,"01 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A101ZSV902JYNY,0470187573,Scott Guthrie,"[29, 30]","Bill, Scott and Devin are long-time ASP.NET experts, and the authors of several best selling ASP.NET and .NET books.This latest book is outstanding and provides an excellent end to end resource for almost all things ASP.NET related (UI, AJAX, Data Access, Security, State Management, Deployment, etc).The book is very well organized, with a nice balance of text, code samples, and screen-shots. All code samples are provided in both C# and VB - making it applicable to developers of all language backgrounds.The book does a good job of covering new .NET 3.5 material - with good content on LINQ, LINQ to XML, and LINQ to SQL, as well as the new ASP.NET 3.5 data controls - including the ListView control. It has chapters on ASP.NET AJAX and the ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit. It also has some great IIS7 material.One of the things that is particularly useful is that the samples and chapters are written with Visual Studio 2008 and Visual Web Developer Express 2008. The book does a great job of explaining both the core ASP.NET programming concepts, as well as showing off how to use the tools to easily take advantage of them.All in all a great book and a fantastic addition to any ASP.NET developer's library.",5.0,An Excellent ASP.NET Book,1206662400,"03 28, 2008",29,30,helpful,0.9666666666666667,1 A1IX6CRJA4ZVCK,B00CRHZR6G,Kim McNiel,"[5, 5]","I absolutely loved this book. Take a journey with Vicky as she goes through not only hard and tough times, but now has to make an extreme choice. Alone for the first time, she has to live with her decisions. She is one tough cookie! Author Janus Gangi did a marvelous job.",5.0,Wonderful story,1368921600,"05 19, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1L7VUE5CKTS5P,0061974587,Carolyn Blacknell,"[0, 0]",Perfect for any age. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire book. On to the ranger apprentice series,5.0,nine,1353974400,"11 27, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AC7L2OPELDQT3,0989768465,Jemlgm,"[0, 0]","Hot steamy read! Erika gives it all to Blake. With Erika's past it makes it hard to give it all but threw Blake's relentless pursuing they come together for a greats start!If you are looking for a great read, look no further. I rank this book right up there with the greats. It has hot sex, intrigue, drama and mystery all wrapped in one book. Definitely one to recommend!!",5.0,Highly recommended read!!!!,1402012800,"06 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3EUMTJH0KQSV8,0312064888,George G. Kiefer,"[10, 13]","This is not Abbey's grand work nor was it intended to be. This is a small collection of one-liners and pithy observations of a highly talented, self-admitted misanthrope. ""Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell"" is a prime example.Abbey was a truck riding good ole boy and was about as politically correct as a punch to the head. His backpack was not designed by Gucci and his boots were mostly army surplus but he spent a life time outdoors, not behind a desk finding fault. His writings, his actions and his public appearances brought more awareness of nature and its plight to the public than did the combined number of his critics by a factor of 1000.Borne just before the depression, he did not see all wild game as Bambi or Thumper but, as a child, watched as his father hunted for the table. Abbey may not be for everyone, but, by the same token, neither is Mr. Rogers.",4.0,4.5 is closer to it.,993427200,"06 25, 2001",10,13,helpful,0.7692307692307693,1 A1DBXYD39X5OPR,B009AYWTLA,Melissa Eggleston,"[6, 8]","As a serial monogamist who has been through at least six ""major"" breakups, I wish I had been given this book when I was 20! It would have saved me a whole lot of pain and wasted time. I liked this book because it was really straightforward, easy to understand, and PRACTICAL. When I have a problem, I need clear action steps that I can take myself, and this book delivers. There is particularly great advice about dealing with negative thoughts and the ""ex-diet"" is totally right-on, based on my experience.The author is quite funny, and I found myself laughing out loud at times. She's really straightforward, kind of like a friend who tells you like it is (even if you don't want to hear it, you know it's the truth!) But she's not harsh either. Also, there was a bonus video/slideshow included that had more tips about what NOT to do after a breakup.All in all, I found this book to be heartening and practical. I can already think of a number of my friends (some with recent breakups and others just stumbling through the dating scene) who I would recommend it to.",5.0,Heartening and Practical,1348012800,"09 19, 2012",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 AQYFCAJA99B08,B009PJ6YHK,Miss H. B. Grimmette,"[0, 0]","Sherlock Holmes makes a cameo appearance but it's Mycroft Holmes who dominates and solves the mystery of the Romanov pearls. The author has a fondness and knowledge of the period, but Dickinson also has a sense of humour. Like the original Conan Doyle stories the Mycroft books aim to entertain, rather than be ""literature"".This story is as much about Mycroft solving his depression as it is about solving the case. Will give this story four stars, the the overall series five stars.",4.0,"Four stars for this book, five for the series.",1351728000,"11 1, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANVYIHMIX448K,0060740957,S. Faizi,"[5, 11]","This book is not very useful. It has too much ancillary information while leaving out the primary information. You will get more confused after reading it. It seems the author has just collected any bit of information on thyroid without much study of why and how the information is relevant and thrown into this book. The causality is seriously missing from this book. After reading this book, one comes from the impression that everything is caused by thyroid and everything damages the thyroid. Bunk!Save your money and by another book on the subject.",2.0,Not a very useful book,1283731200,"09 6, 2010",5,11,helpful,0.45454545454545453,1 A2NJO6YE954DBH,0785121366,Lawrance M. Bernabo,"[8, 8]","""Ultimate Knights"" was the last story arc on ""Ultimate Spider-Man"" that writer Brian Michael Bendis and penciler Mark Bagley did together in establishing a new record for most consecutive issues done by a writer-artist team (the previous record had been Stan Lee and Jack Kirby doing the first 102 issues of ""The Fantastic Four""). Volume 18 of these ""Ultimate Spider-Man"" trade paperback collections contains issues #106-110, and knowing it is the last story arc by Bendis and Bagley (inked by Drew Hennessy) together makes me think that explains why they throw so many Ultimate Marvel superheroes into the mix for this last roundup. I have to say that I thought there were too many superheroes running around in this one and that they overly complicate the end game that is the payoff here.As the cover indicates, we start off with Daredevil, who back in ""Ultimate Spider-Man Annual"" #2 had warned our young hero off of trying to be a teenage superhero. Now, as his alter ego, lawyer Matt Murdock, Daredevil offers Spider-Man to be in on an opportunity to help take down Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime in New York City. That leads to a meet of a group that includes not only Daredevil but also Iron Fist, Shang-Chi, Dr. Strange, and Moon Knight. The plan is to send Moon Knight, or rather Ronin, a new aspect of his fractured personality, undercover as a new hit man for the Kingpin and infiltrate the crime organization with the goal of bringing it and the Sidney Greenstreet-clone at the top of it down. The problem is that Moon Knight is so submerged in his Ronin persona then when the Kingpin order's him to capture Spider-Man, that is exactly what he does.The high point of this story ends up being a very interesting little talk between Fisk and Peter, in which the Kingpin makes it clear that he ""owns"" Spider-Man in a way that young Peter Parker could never have imagined. On the one hand ""Ultimate Knights"" does not really have a counterpart in the original ""Amazing Spider-Man,"" but it does resonate off of what has happened the past year with Marvel's ""Civil War,"" where so many secret identities have been revealed. Bendis and Bagley deal with what happens to essential loners like Spider-Man and Daredevil when somebody like the Kingpin knows who they are; there is an inherent limitation in that superheroes never just go out and kill the people who know their secret identity, although convenient deaths often become a part of the equation. But not with Bendis and Bagley, who feel compelled to find a more creative way to maintain the equilibrium of their characters in a chaotic world. Besides, this one ends with a nice little ironic twist and you know how much I like irony.Ever since ""Ultimate Spider-Man"" hit the century mark the problems created by those who know that Peter Parker is Spider-Man have become more prominent. Now that Aunt May knows that changes a lot of things, and the next major story arc, ""To Kill a Goblin,"" is going to deal with what Norman Osborn intends to do about Peter being Spider-Man. On the romantic front, Kitty Pryde has left the X-Men and the Xavier Institute and enrolled at Midtown High, to the surprise of Peter and the anger of Mary Jane. However, that is all backburner stuff for now because Spider-Man has more pressing concerns. Finally, I must say that it strikes me as strange that this volume does not include issue #111, ""The Talk,"" which was a stand-alone story and the last one drawn by Mark Bagley before Stuart Immonen took over the penciling chores on the title (actually the two took turns penciling #111). That transitional issue works better as a coda to Bagley's run on the book than as a prelude to the start of Immonen's gig.",4.0,Bendis and Bagley set a record as Spider-Man and Daredeveil take down the Kingpin,1190764800,"09 26, 2007",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A2P4O3WUT2NINE,1416572341,Bo Bipidty,"[19, 24]","I have to agree with many of the reviewers that indicate the information is extremely basic and the illustrations rarely add much, if any, value to the discussion. Since the target audience is probably women in the 35-55 range, the tone and silly cartoons would be more appropriate for a preteen target audience. I find the tone of the book patronizing at best, insulting at worst. I purchased this book after hearing Dr. Roizen interviewed on the radio. He indicated there were certain ingredients in soap and shampoo which should be avoided, but said you'd have to read the book to find out. However, I have yet to find any comment about this in the book! Perhaps if anyone else finds this info in this tome, they could post a comment. This was the type of factual, information I was looking for and have come up empty handed.My other issue with the book is it's size. The publisher should encourage a smaller, more interesting and informational text, rather than these giant books that 2/3 of which is a waste of time. They want you to think that you're really getting your money's worth with this giant book, think again. Since most of his books are purchased by women, I suppose Dr. Roizen assumes women have the time to waste plowing threw these tomes, looking for the occasional tidbit of value. He has some great information, so I wished he would treat his book audience with more respect. In the future, I will stick to watching him on TV or listening on the radio as this is far more useful time spent.",1.0,Not very informative,1231200000,"01 6, 2009",19,24,helpful,0.7916666666666666,1 A1NWPOFCB9C7IL,0544027760,ReasonableGoatPerson,"[0, 0]","The extent of my knowledge of Idaho is 1. Potatoes and 2. ""I da ho? No, you da ho."" That's it. And now Godforsaken Idaho, Shawn Vestal's short story collection.I have to say, I found the modern stories of a better quality than the ones about much earlier times; those I found a bit boring. I had a hard time connecting or finding any interest in the characters and situations. Mormonism is my sleep-aid, it seems. Maybe other readers will have better luck staying awake. Anyhow... If we were going by the modern stories alone, my eyes stayed open and I liked what I saw. And the afterlife story, the opener, that was my favorite of the collection.Occasionally aiming for the bullseye and hitting it more often than not-- you know, that dead-on observation, a thought or feeling perfectly expressed-- makes me excited for more from this obviously gifted writer. Sleep and archery, hits the spot.",3.0,Vestal Virgin,1391558400,"02 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27IELWEZY98LJ,0143170104,Nyghtewynd,"[5, 7]","As someone who doesn't read a lot of fiction, I highly enjoyed Larsson's tale of the convoluted life that is Lisbeth Salander. The author does an excellent job at building a noir atmosphere that fits the plot, and Larsson's habit of quickly switching the third-person narration from character to character is manageable by the reader. While the plot includes some dead ends and some false information, it's still easy to find a rooting interest in the story, and the last 100 pages or so are impossible to put down.That being said, there are a couple of flaws that keep the text from being fantastic. Larsson apparently attended the Stephenie Meyer school of exposition, which means that the center of the book tends to be dragged down by its own minutia. Similarly, the heroine (Lisbeth Salander) is such an engaging person that, when she disappears, the plot also slows to a crawl.Overall, Larsson produced an entertaining, if long, read that keeps your attention and draws you in to a world where you're not going to be able to wait for the final book of the trilogy.",4.0,Entertaining (If a Bit Wordy...),1268611200,"03 15, 2010",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A2N13QBSFBYFV0,0936184973,"Consequences Schmonsequences ""Daffy""","[7, 7]","Cooks Illustrated is like Consumer Reports for recipes. They experiment, evaluate, and come up with, well, the Best Recipe for anything you want to make. I've had their original Best Recipe cookbook for some time. My son recently gave me the Light version. I've made many dishes from both books and have yet to come across a recipe that isn't (you guessed it) the Best Recipe. I especially love the Best Light Recipe because they don't lower their standards to cut calories. Their turkey chili, for example, is better than most full-fat beef chili recipes I've tried. You get full nutritional info, of course, which makes it a snap to calculate Weight Watchers points. If you could only own one cookbook . . . (you know the rest)",5.0,You need this cookbook,1169856000,"01 27, 2007",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A12UADHB0QU9ES,1497591716,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]",Enjoyed the writing style and story line of this book. Something different than the usual aliens-take-earthmen-as-slaves plot. Can't wait for the next book.,5.0,A nice twist on the Earthmen as slaves story line,1402531200,"06 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AVGV5ARMQX80W,1612183549,Berly,"[0, 0]","The story had a unique twist on the vampire genre that made it a fun read. It had an alpha male and a female character that was not a push over. If you like to read about an alpha male, you want a female character that can hold her own. Overall, a great read if you enjoy the paranormal.",4.0,"If you like vampires, then, you will enjoy the Penton Vamipre Legacy.",1379116800,"09 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A37CVTDBQXA321,1611099854,Ann M. Pitman,"[0, 0]","I really enjoyed this book, though I did struggle with the back and forth between characters and time frames. It took me quite a while to figure how what the story was about, but I stuck with it. It was a good book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery.",5.0,Great book with good characters,1392508800,"02 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ATS7LYGLUX34L,1401220347,Daniel V. Reilly,"[48, 55]","Kingdom Come, through it's generation gap tale of Batman, Superman, and various other classic DC Super-Heroes fighting for humanity against the new breed of ""Heros"" that are indifferent to Human suffering, also functions as an allegory/wish fulfillment for creators Mark Waid & Alex Ross: Their hope that modern fans will stop embracing mindless walking-death-machine characters (Note the Liefeld-esque ""Americommando"", preceeding the Liefeld Captain America revamp by years, and the character of Magog, instigator of Kingdom Come's Kansas disaster, a thinly veiled jab at Marvel's Liefeld-created Cable.).Ultimately, despite the apocalyptic premise, Kingdom Come is a very hopeful and optimistic tale, with good prevailing over evil, and Waid and Ross get their point across quite well: Do we REALLY want heroes to act less-than-heroic? Would you rather entrust your life to Superman or Wolverine?Ross' art is lovely, and Waid does a fine job on the script, maybe his best ever. The only problem was, unlike other ""Iconic"" graphic Novels, like Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen, I think a strong knowledge of the DC Universe and it's denizens is a must for understanding the story. Thinking back, I don't think there were any expository captions in the book at all, and the cross-generational connections can be very overwhelming, even to a comic-geek like me.Overall, I think fans will be in heaven, and newcomers will at least get taken on a great thrill ride.",4.0,A Feast For Longtime Comic Readers.,1028592000,"08 6, 2002",48,55,helpful,0.8727272727272727,1 A2JUV4Z8P5HA8O,0345520734,J. A. Farber,"[4, 9]","For the truly uninformed: Mass Effect is a series of excellent role playing games by Bioware set in a science fiction future that is part hard science fiction, and part action packed space opera. It is witty, exciting, and fantastic reconstruction of many beloved sci-fi tropes and themes.That being said, the grander Mass Effect Expanded Universe has not, sadly, been up to par.To say this is true of Deception is like saying the Chernobyl disaster was as devastating as a glass of spilled milk.Look, we know this book sucks. I know it, you know, the American people know. However, if we judge book by its entertainment value and not just it's prose, I think you'll find, viewed as what NOT to do when writing a book, Deception is immensely, side splittingly entertaing.Others have already cataloged, indeed, assigned via phylum and genus the vast array of character, timeline, canon errors and all-round general insanity. Characters switch personalities, brain surguries are performed in back allys, autism is cured by aging and deadly assassins steal their target's cereal. It reads like parody, and that, perhaps is how the book is best interpreted. There were certain pages where, literally, I could not stop laughing. It is the same sort illicit thrill you get when laughing at some idiot's serious work of performance art involving man's inhumanity to man as depicted by sock puppets. You cannot imagine how anyone thought this was a good idea.It may be fair to say this book is the Anti-Christ of video game tie ins. With good reason. I am sure William C. Dietz is a nice man, with a caring family. I admire his ability to get paid for his efforts. And to be fair, there is no way this book got past Bioware's editors/fact checkers without at least implicit approval. No less than Casey Hudson, his nose the size of a jumbo jet I'm sure, gleefully proclaimed via twitter he had just read the 'excellent' manuscript to Deception prior to the book's release. Let's not be to quick to shoot the messenger without aiming the blame back at Bioware/EA for allowing this abortion to come to term. Yet, again, I cannot bring myself to hate Bioware, their efforts fully focused on what will no doubt be another excellent addition to the Mass Effect story, the soon to be released Mass Effect 3.Simply put, this is Mass Effect's very own Star Wars: Holiday Special. It's own Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Something so terrible it warps back in upon itself and becomes hilarious. So buy it, and revel in it's glorious awfulness. And never let yourself believe you cannot write a book after reading Deception.",3.0,"A terrible war crime of a book, but dang if it isn't funny!",1329264000,"02 15, 2012",4,9,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A2C0TT0XH8WFK6,0312253265,G. Smith,"[15, 35]","After reading the review and seeing several CURRENT documentaries on this Jon Benet, I think Thomas is a lying dolt. The Ramseys took 3 lie detector tests which were filmed and shown in these documentaries. Smits found the 2 (count them, one, two) suspects trail and one had been murdered, the other remains at large. DNA tests were positive in excluding the members of the family. Just what do these rabid supporters of the Ramseys' guilt base their opinions on? As for one detectives' kudos for Thomas - he can't even spell Jon Benet's name correctly. Thomas was unqualified, as were all of the Boulder police to handle this case. I am full of sorrow for the Ramseys' and the hell this murder put them through and as for being the most hated couple - not so, their neighbors and friends were all supporting them, in Colorado and in Georgia. Patsy is at peace now and all the haters must be delirious with joy. Shame on them!",1.0,"Oh, for a zero rating!",1153958400,"07 27, 2006",15,35,helpful,0.42857142857142855,1 A29QJDHPEPXTLF,1479386928,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","The action just intensifies in this sequel! I cannot stop reading, I have to know how it ends! This is a page turner and I have to recommend it to everyone in my short review. I just cannot keep my heart from suffering with Adele and Tristan. I HAVE to know what happens next and when a book does that to you, you know it is a good one.",5.0,great book,1355011200,"12 9, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3K8I0N0C6IYXC,0345499646,"Adrienne E. Sanderson ""Adrienne E. Sanderson""","[10, 10]","Harold Schechter encompasses all aspects of the death process from forensic science to the burial process. This in-depth look at a subject most of us shy away from is handled respectfully, yet candidly. A real eye-opener.",5.0,The Whole Death Catalog,1251676800,"08 31, 2009",10,10,helpful,1.0,1 A2QP1HWWV5BRHD,0679890505,"T. Thompson ""mrtee073""","[7, 8]","I discovered these books in my work as a teacher of reading to 2nd grade students. And students just love them!Let me start by saying this is an excellent series of books. The way that Mary Pope Osborne incorporates: science, social studies(history/geography) and many other important academic elements into her stories is phenomenal!The stories are exciting and well written. They have a way of drawing kids in and keeping them wanting to turn pages.In our guided reading groups we usually read a chapter or two per day and the students frequently beg me to read more! That is how much kids love these books! Isn't that refreshing?This particular installment in the Magic Tree House series finds Jack and Annie traveling back to ancient Rome! They happen to land in Pompeii in A.D. 79 on the day that Mount Vesuvius erupts!This book incorporates two very popular elements for young children: volcanos and magic. It is undeniable that young students are intrigued by the power of volacanos. They love to read about them and this particular book is a great way for them to start researching.Jack and Annie's adventures never fail to thrill readers and keep them interested.I highly recommend these books for students in early elementary school. They are excellent for students in 2nd grade. Enjoy!",4.0,Magic Tree House is Magically Magnificent!,1051574400,"04 29, 2003",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A27WBO5JI9OMKJ,0446525871,JennCA,"[0, 0]","This was a fun read, and one of the few non-Pendergast novels I have read from Preston and Child. The authors introduce a character is this book (Eli Gunn), that they carry over into their Pendergast series. The plot is engaging, and the character development keeps you invested.",5.0,A great read,1390780800,"01 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LRCKITORISW4,0307277887,Melonie,"[0, 0]","I like the style of writing. The characters were perfect. I never seen the TV series, but this makes me want to watch it. It was a great ending. I did not see it coming.",5.0,Love it,1395878400,"03 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3D6GY45R37QLC,0767931343,Hello Kitty Ellen,"[6, 7]","I was really disappointed when I started reading this book and found out the first 1/3 of it or so is really about the author's breast cancer! I was hoping for a feel-good pet story. I found the author to not have much of a sense of humor, or humilty which might have made me feel more sympathetic to her. Instead she seems very entitled and whines about how she and her husband - wealthy Manhattanites - can only afford 2 weeks in the rich enclave of Martha's Vineyard each yr (but the owner of the rental cottage pities them and throws in 1 week free each yr!). Even though the author writes/edits for the NY TIMES she is not a good writer IMO. The end of the book, when they are searching for the lost dog, is filled with minute details of every encounter they have with the local townspeople helping them look for the dog (like he was married in 1946 after graduating from Harvard and they have 5 kids, Evelyn, etc.). All of these details MUST have been garnered in later interviews, when she knew she was writing this book, yet she never mentions this so as you are reading its like she has stopped to do in-depth interviews while they should be out searching for the dog! A much better cute cat book is Homer's Odyssey.",2.0,don't let cover fool you - is not story about a cute dog,1296345600,"01 30, 2011",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A3GB6UHPLZZCD7,B0084V2MW6,H. A. Grant,"[8, 9]","An innocent goat discovers truths about life in this wise and witty contemporary fable. I found myself holding my breath at one point because I was so worried about little Midnight's fate. Well done. I'll never think of Nevada, petting zoos, or camels in the same way!",5.0,A priceless contemporary fable,1338854400,"06 5, 2012",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A2T7JK9FLC8V0N,034580662X,"S Riaz ""S Riaz""","[8, 8]","Nancy Mitford wrote eight novels in her lifetime, four of which were published before the war and four after. This book contains two of her pre-war novels, Christmas Pudding, which was first published in 1932 and Pigeon Pie, first published in 1940. In all honesty, they are an odd pairing. Christmas Pudding contains some characters from her first ever novel, Highland Fling (1931) and Pigeon Pie - a romp about spy rings in the period of the so-called 'phoney war' would make more sense with Wigs on the Green, Mitford's satirical look at 1930's fascism. That said, both novels are interesting in their own way.Christmas Pudding, as I said previously, is Nancy Mitford's second novel and does feature some of the same characters as those who featured in her first book, ""Highland Fling"", although it is not a sequel and you do not need to have read that first for it to make sense. Although set during a Christmas house party, it is not particularly seasonal either, but is rather full of the minor intrigues and romances which Mitford delights in. There is a debut author, whose utterly serious novel has been hailed as a comic masterpiece, much to his distress; the fearsome Lady Bobbin and her children - beautiful but bored Philadelphia and the bizarrely named Bobby Bobbin, the charming Amabelle Fortescue and the return of Walter and Sally Monteath, a new MP who delights in the discovery he has (possibly) been targeted by bolsheviks, plus many others who delight in names such as Squibby, Biggy and Maydew... This is not Mitford's greatest novel, but, even not yet at her best, she is still better than most other writers. There are unsuitable love affairs, oddly pragmatic advice, bizarre characters and a lot of fun packed into this novel, which looks at the world Nancy Mitford knew imtimately and wrote about with such detail you feel almost nothing missed that sharp, satirical eye.Pigeon Pie was written before Christmas 1939, although published in 1940, and concerns Lady Sophia Garfield during the time period when war had only just been declared. She lives with her husband, Sir Luke, a German sympathiser, who feels let down by the outbreak of hostilities between England and Germany. Sophia and Luke are fond of each other, but it is a fairly open marriage and she often has her admirer Randolph in attendance, while Sir Luke has the company of Florence Turnbull. When Randolph says that Sophia must do her bit, she joins a First Aid Post (despite her reluctance to look at peoples knees) and determines to do her best. It is the time of the phoney war when, in Mitford's words, Europe seem to be picking their teams. Her flippant approach in this book and Wigs on the Green, led to them losing favour after the war. However, remember that when Mitford wrote this she had no idea of what was about to happen a few months later, either in the blitz or in the war. Her scenes of Lady Sophia waiting for an air raid to bring some excitement to her shift is actually both realistic and understandable, when neither the character nor Nancy Mitford had yet experienced the bombing that was to come. Although Lady Sophia is keen merely to enjoy as comfortable a life as possible, she is irritated by her nemesis Olga Gogothsky's boasting that she is involved in espionage. One night, attempting to creep back to bed and book, like a sensible woman, Sophia overhears something she shouldn't and realises that she is in the midst of a German spying ring. Can she be brave and resourceful enough to do something about it? This is actually one of her better pre-war novels and a great deal of fun. Sophia is a lovely character and the book well plotted and often very funny, as Lady Sophia remains blissfully aware of what is going on around her for so much of the novel. Mitford is always a very sharp and funny writer and it is good to read her lesser known pre-war novels.",4.0,Christmas Pudding and Pigeon Pie,1383609600,"11 5, 2013",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A2OA6SU4ASQO66,009950569X,Elvis,"[0, 3]",This is a quality product that is more than marginal. It is written in an easy to read manner. I would recommend this product.,3.0,Book to read,1358467200,"01 18, 2013",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3POO0WLANEBFN,0762738316,casey,"[8, 13]","just a word to the wise, don't trust the recipes blindly, or your efforts will fail miserably. The cook should read the recipe and be prepared to make the necessary adjustments.For example, a simple recipe for cooked plain rice is 1 part dry rice to 2 parts liquid. This book gives that ratio and suggests cooking for 35 minutes for a ""soup."" I know if I did that I'd have a pot of burnt rice - not soup. Not sure what the author meant but there's something wrong with the recipe. Maybe use cooked rice? Certainly more liquid for dry, uncooked rice.Another recipe suggests 0.5 cup oil to deep fry bananas. What?? A half cup of vegetable oil would just fill a pudding or fruit cup.It's errors like these that make me more reluctant to try other recipes in the book. Is the seasoning off? Again, one has to know how to cook before trying any of these recipes.Book is great and shares quite a bit about the history of Vietnam and Little Saigon.I just wish the author tested her recipes before publishing them.",1.0,words of caution with the recipes...,1339459200,"06 12, 2012",8,13,helpful,0.6153846153846154,1 A1I6U5AQAT3ZG9,0385529813,"E. B. MULLIGAN ""Bronwyn""","[0, 0]","Lucky for me it's more than a cookbook.The story of a modern Daniel Boone, growing up in Michigan, one of three sons of a hunter. Beginning at age eight when he shot a squirrel, to age 13 his first deer, then hunting his way through college, a career as a fur trapper, hunting sheep in Alaska, canoeing the Missouri River for deer and ending in Brooklyn age 37. Brooklyn?I especially liked that I share his disgust at catch & release fishing - if you fish it, you have to eat it - anything else is sadism (my words).My brother in law is the cook in the family and I wanted to see if this would be a good gift for him and I struck pay dirt following each chapter are ""Tasting Notes"" where the author speaks of cooking wild game.I also enjoyed it for the history of the land he has hunted as well as the history of the hunt (I too was a big Daniel Boone fan growing up!).I think more pictures (everything but dead things) would have made this a keeper.",4.0,Ha! On me! I thought this was a cookbook!,1353715200,"11 24, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19F0H720RYZ9H,B00DXWETOK,Windstorm,"[0, 0]",Children will enjoy the many colorful pictures of flamingoes and will learn about the different species of flamingoes and why they are pink.,5.0,Lots of great pictures and information,1374019200,"07 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A235GSW0NYK1JC,0312874413,"Mark E. Cooper ""Fantasybooks""","[15, 17]","I had really high hopes for this story after reading a review at a website for writers. I expected Birget to be whisked away to another world, well okay she was, but I didn't expect it to take nearly a third of the book!A slow start isn't so terrible, but Birget is supposed to be this woman with an amazing capacity for magic. Great! I like that kind of thing, but when I read this I found everyone BUT Birget doing it! She is supposed to be the heroine of the story and she hardly does anything!The two sorcerers Kilami and Sakra steal the show. Kilami is a bad guy and is well fleshed out, and Sakra is the good guy. To my mind Sakra is the hero not Birget and should have gotten top billing. Birget could have been so much more, but the way she is written she comes across as a waste of space! If she is to be the heroine, shouldn't she be heroic? At least she should DO something instead of watching the world go by!By the way, the second book (Usurper's Crown) is a waste of time. Don't buy it unless you like prequels. It is about Birget's mother and just rehashes everything revealed in this book about Ingrid and Avanasy all be it in greater detail.",3.0,"Okay, but could have been a lot better",1063584000,"09 15, 2003",15,17,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 A3471YLZO0GNNG,1411693957,doug k,"[9, 14]","Dean Baker has become a prominent progressive economist. He is a prolific writer, his work ranges from very good to very sloppy. This book tends toward the low end. His main point is a good one, that conservatives don't really want free markets, they want all sorts of help from the government. That is why they want to control the government. However his examples and proposals include some questionable ideas: e.g., (Ch 1) favoring open immigration of professionals to lower professional wages (why not allow more Americans into the professions? The exodus of medical professionals is a huge problem for many poor countries.) (Ch 2) simplistically blaming the Fed alone for high unemployment (Fed ease enabled two huge speculations in the last 15 years); (Ch 4) proposing to eliminate patents and copyrights (a bit extreme); (Ch 7) details the advantages small businesses enjoy but fails to make any coherent proposals for reform. Other chapters fail to make their cases clearly.He leaves out some very important violations of free markets. E.g., he doesn't get into the very great direct purchases and subsidies of governments at all levels (Defense Dept. and Halliburton come to mind), or the work of the 14,000 or so lobbyists in DC. There is no mention of the dozens of US interventions in foreign countries to support right wing dictators and protect American businesses. Dean does not examine how the transportation and land use policies have been designed to benefit industry. There is no section on serious environmental damages by corporations that have been allowed by government. Nothing about agriculture subsidies Etc. And nothing about the very large tax cuts by Reagan and Bush II. The roles of state and local governments (e.g., economic development incentives) are largely ignored.There is no general discussion of what a mixed economy should look like - healthy competition and free markets plus a legitimate government role. We desperately need better ideas and criteria about this. This book does nothing to provide that. It appears to have been thrown together in a hurry. No editor is mentioned in the Preface, a good editor would have told Dean to start over.A related book worth looking at is The Sixteen-Trillion-Dollar Mistake (Paperback) by Bruce S. JanssonOther good books:Hill, Steven, Europe's Promise: Why the European Way Is the Best Hope in an Insecure Age, University of California Press, 2010Jansson, Bruce S., The Sixteen-Trillion-Dollar Mistake, Columbia Univ, 2001Kenworthy, Lane, Social Democratic America, Oxford University Press, USA, 2014Krugman, Paul, The Conscience of a Liberal, Norton, 2007Nace, Ted, Gangs of America: The Rise of Corporate Power and the Disabling of Democracy, Berrett Koehler, 2005Piketty, Thomas and Arthur Goldhammer, Capital in the Twenty-First Century, Belknap Press, 2014Pontusson, Jonas, Inequality and Prosperity: Social Europe Vs. Liberal America, Cornell University Press, 2005Ritz, Dean (Editor), Defying Corporations, Defining Democracy: A Book of History & Strategies, The Apex Press, 2001Schmitz, David F., Thank God They're on Our Side: The United States and Right-Wing Dictatorships, 1921-1965, The University of North Carolina Press, 1999Schmitz, David F., The United States and Right-Wing Dictatorships, 1965-89, Cambridge Univ, 2006Stiglitz, Joseph E., The Price of Inequality: How Today's Divided Society Endangers Our Future, W. W. Norton & Company, 2013Zepezauer, Mark, Take the Rich off Welfare, South End Press, 2004",2.0,Written in a hurry,1250553600,"08 18, 2009",9,14,helpful,0.6428571428571429,1 A31WQRAH742KX3,0140178406,Asunsetorange,"[5, 7]","Despite all the highly-rated reviews, I must agree with the Publisher's Weekly review above. I just couldn't get into this book. Even though the slight ""mystery"" aspect was there, it was a little too cookie-cutter for me. Nonetheless, I do realize we all have different tastes in books. For me, I need a little more suspense.",2.0,"A quick, yet unfulfilling, read......",1128211200,"10 2, 2005",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A3DYRB324GRJ11,0345526104,G,"[19, 24]","If you want a real style guide, check out one of the What Not to Wear books, or even the Lucky Style Manual. This book is just an exercise in narcissism. Unless your name is Jessica Quirk and you have her EXACT proportions and taste in clothes (i.e., pretty boring) you're not going to find anything useful here. The title says it all: What I (Jessica) Wore. You won't find any real style help for YOU!",1.0,Totally irrelevant,1315872000,"09 13, 2011",19,24,helpful,0.7916666666666666,1 A12D8DYPHD4U4Q,087604612X,Ginger,"[0, 0]","I love Edgar Cayce teachings, the simplicity & straight forwardness of what he has to say. Many people have learned from him & carry on his teachings. To think of what it must have been like for him to do these readings & have his spiritual understanding in the early 1900's is amazing.",5.0,Love it,1400284800,"05 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1BNTP7D2D32YP,0060084332,Arvad,"[8, 11]","Initially I was going to give this book 4 stars, but since most of the information that the author bases this book on has not yet become general knowledge, as can be witnessed by the large number of other reviews of this book, I decided on 5 stars in the hope of drawing attention not only to this but many other books dealing with this war that document hitherto generally unreported information.For me the chief strength of this book lies in the fact that its basic premises are independently corroborated by in depth U.S. military analysis and studies done since the end of WWI.A reasonable expectation, based on all available evidence, is that the war would have ended with a negotiated peace in 1916 if not for the fact, among others, that within four months of the beginning of the war, the allies, chiefly England and France, were spending in the United States (using 1990 adjusted monetary value) well in excess of one billion U.S. dollars per week to purchase military goods and services. This expenditure lasted from approximately January of 1915 to January of 1917, by which time the well was truly beginning to run dry. Looking at this time frame, it should surprise no one that the United States declared war in April of 1917.This expenditure was the main reason that England, at the beginning of the war the worlds premier economic superpower, ended as a debtor nation thus crippling its empire.For the United States this massive economic windfall, along with a historically unprecedented propaganda campaign targeting the American people, led the Allied governments to believe that it would be impossible for the U.S. not to join them against the Central powers. It was this belief that was the foundation for the wars extension beyond 1916. In the event this belief was justified.While there are many individual points that can be argued the overall direction of the book is correct. Due to the geographical position of Germany the german armed forces necessarily embraced doctrinal innovation and practice to a much higher degree than other nations and consequently were able to maintain a greater degree of military excellence than their opponents. A point that is continually overlooked in histories of this conflict is that the german military forces, in the west, were always outnumbered by the french and british forces because the bulk of the german army was fighting in Russia. They could shift forces around to obtain local numerical superiority or more often parity, but they did not have the numbers they really needed until Russia was out of the war.The American military was able to push the German forces back chiefly by trading treasure and blood for blood. This is why the U.S. world war one casualty rate was higher than any other armed conflict in which the U.S. was involved, with the exception of the death total for both sides during the the American Civil War. Put a different way the daily number of American casualties, KIA, MIA and wounded in this war, were greater than any other conflict that involved American troops.To the best of my knowledge no in depth history of the breakdown of command leadership in Germany during this period has been written. If the german military staff structure had been operating as it had at the beginning or the middle of the war, Ludendorff and Hindenburg would have been replaced as a matter of course after the bogging down of the March 1918 offensive. Obviously something had changed in the german administrative system during the months leading up to this period.Another little realized fact is that with the exception of the United States, World War One ended in June, 1919 while the U.S. concluded a separate peace with Germany in August of 1921.This book is an excellent counterpoint to the majority of histories that have been churned out since the end of WWI. Equally recommended would be Niall Fergusons ""Pity of War"". For those interested in the aviation aspect of this war, ""Bloody April Black September"", by Franks, Guest and Bailey, and ""Sclachtflieger"" by D.S. Abbot are also must reads.",5.0,Interesting and Worthwhile Overview.,1269216000,"03 22, 2010",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A3AAQ6SULIEYCX,0316069515,Tom Kuhn,"[0, 0]",This book was a great read and reminded me of why Connelly is one of my favorite authors. The story line was intriguing and consistently interesting. Very highly recommended.,4.0,Connelly at his Best.,1390262400,"01 21, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AA5MF3BSUBPFD,032180824X,Stephen Rauscher,"[4, 5]",Photoshop Elements 10 is powerful software for photo editing enabling amateur as well as professional photographers to perform magic with their photos. The software is also powerfully difficult to master without some help. Photoshop Elements 10 Book for Digital Photographers is an almost indispensable tool for learning how to work with Photoshop Elements. The authors take you through all the aspects of the program in step by step detail making it much more accessible and doable. I knocked off one star from the rating only because this book assumes you have a knowledge base from using pervious versions of Elements; however if you don't have that base that means you have to buy their Elements 8 book.,4.0,ELEMENTS 10 EXPLAINED,1329523200,"02 18, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1S89E9Y9P0P2C,0800732324,danni,"[0, 0]","I was pleasantly surprised with this book. When I first started reading about how Ken was a religious fanatic I almost stopped reading. Religion is something I tend to shy away from (childhood horrors) but the writing was tasteful and I had a hard time staying away from the book. Funny, romantic and serious, I will definitely have to check out more books by this author.",3.0,Surprising,1364774400,"04 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A4OB09H9TNF6K,B00EISXKVG,Margaret E. Haar,"[0, 0]",This book was fun to read. Was easy to down and helped to past the time in the evenings. Thank you,5.0,Enjoyable read,1381449600,"10 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A18Y6RF6S79076,0989450236,Magic Within the Pages,"[0, 0]","Reviewer : Kaylene - Magic Within The PagesRating : 5 StarsWill always be one of my top “I Race You” trilogies ....Fueled, is the second book in the Driven Trilogy by K. Bromberg which continues to follow the life of a hot, sexy, rich racing car driver and bad boy bachelor Colton Donovan and his heart stopping, breath stealing, life giving girl Rylee.This book takes off right where the first one leaves off and is a very strong book filled with lots of bumpy, captivating, angsty reading. We learn more about what drives Colton and the horror of his childhood. We also see more of the life event that plagues Rylee’s mind and why she is so closed off. They eventually start to open up to one another and even though they seem to be on different paths relationship wise, you soon see that Rylee is working very hard to reach Colton on some basic fundamental level. We watch this relationship start to bloom until she says three little words that break them both apart. There is miscommunication and stubbornness which tends to make you feel like you are living the story with them. You want to reach in and give Colton a slap over the head on quite a few occasions.Spiderman, Batman, Superman, Ironman !!!!I read the first and the second book in the series and now that the third has been released I am re-reading these books again so I can remember everything for the third book in the series. The second time around has not changed my mind I absolutely fricking love these books. They are page turners full of angst and are thoroughly entertaining. It is funny, heart wrenching and damn hot. This book has a rather large cliff hanger but luckily for me I have both the third book in the series which I will be diving straight into. I highly recommend this book and it will always be on my top five trilogies of all times list. Five stars to this book.**Personal Read**",5.0,5 STARS ALL THE WAY!!,1398211200,"04 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3TS0TJURIZI9J,1551660040,tngrandma5,"[0, 0]",Second book of trilogy and much anticipated after reading the first one. wish there were more of these. She has a great imagination and characters are great,5.0,Tomorrow and Always,1365465600,"04 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A361L0ECLHAQZ7,1611097711,Beeswidow,"[0, 0]","This story had a great premise but I don't think it dealt enough with the effects of amnesia. Sexual "scenes" were a little more than I needed, and once again I felt that an author gave her characters a mainly physical attraction to each other. Overall it wasn't bad but I'm glad I didn't pay a lot of money for it.",3.0,Disappointing,1368748800,"05 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A117MD0411T7PJ,1466274743,Ashley,"[0, 0]","Charley ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time. But wait, rethink that. Was it really the wrong place and the wrong time? While Charley surely didn't enjoy her ordeal as the hostage of a bank robber, there were a lot of good things that came out of the situation. God works in mysterious ways, and He definitely used mysterious ways to work through Charley and her captor.The first half of the book seemed rather slow. I think that it could have been cut down and would still have contained enough story to be good.The book was very suspenseful, especially during the second half. There were several twists to the story that absolutely shocked me!",4.0,Full of Twists and Turns!,1388707200,"01 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2T98VYODFPGT5,0449015831,Anne,"[23, 23]","This is a gorgeous looking book. So pretty - beautiful photos, nicely laid out logical format, indexed correctly and pretty ribbon bookmark attached to the book.I'm giving it a 3 star rating, however. I am an experienced home baker who has no issue carefully following recipes. I've tried about a dozen of the recipes These recipes - I'm not convinced they are all correct in their measurements. Yes, some of the recipes turn out quite well but others - while I followed instructions to the letter - ended up strangely unsatisfactory. For example, the Chocolate Toffee Biscotti recipe. Followed as written, you end up in a bowl full of powdery ingredients rather than a biscotti dough. I make biscotti quite often - I think there's an error in quantity. I tried other recipes - and was equally unastonished. To support my claims - let's add that my young children didn't enjoy the recipes as much as other books'.Even the recipes that did ""turn out"", I have found nicer recipes in less ""pretty"" books. I realize the bakery is called Butter but some of the recipes were too sugary, too oily or as I said above, just didn't work and required much adjustment to save the waste of ingredients.Perhaps it's just me as the other reviewers gave this book such high ratings. I just wanted to share my experience.",3.0,Pretty book but ....,1389916800,"01 17, 2014",23,23,helpful,1.0,1 A7KEINUEC29RP,0451464559,"Stefanie A. Strosky ""Voracious Reader""","[0, 0]",Another amazing adventure for Harper Blaine. I loved the entire story. The plot and all the history and facts about the waterways in the Seattle area were so detailed that I could really picture the story as it unfolded. The addition of the dobhar-chu (from Irish folk-lore) was also equally interesting and really added dimension to the story. The author also delves deeper into the character of Rey Solis (police detective that appeared in previous Greywalker novels) and we get to know more about his past; as well as his family which seems as if it might prove to be a focal point in a future Greywalker installment. You will have to read the book in order to find out what I mean in regards to that. But seriously this is not a book to pass up if you have read previous novels in this series; or if you love urban fantasy.,5.0,Amazing Urban Fantasy Series,1354838400,"12 7, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11QKM5T84W66H,0805093079,Daniar,"[0, 0]",Great book,5.0,Five Stars,1404432000,"07 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ICKSJ6T7WIBO,0060843233,Arthur Digbee,"[0, 0]","Crossan's main argument in this book rests on a distinction between civilization/violence and resistance/nonviolence. As he puts it, this is the difference between ""peace through victory"" and ""peace through justice."" He sees Jesus as part of a Jewish tradition of resistance to Babylonian, Roman, and other empires. Crossan recognizes violence in some of that tradition but he emphasizes (rightly) that Jesus stands as the fulfillment of the nonviolent strand. Resisting the violence of empire while standing for justice therefore lie at the heart of Jesus's message. Working for justice in the United States today represents the continuation of Jesus's mission.In providing this interpretation of Jesus in the Jewish tradition, Crossan repeatedly struggles with violence in the Hebrew Bible and in the New Testament book of Revelations. Like others, he sees Revelations as a critique of empires from within the Jewish tradition. He strongly rejects the millenarian interpretation that has become popular in the United States, seeing the end-time violence as a result of civilization's injustices. Christ's only coming, he maintains, has already happened, and Revelations describes the world in which we already live.Though not fully persuasive, this interpretation is well worth reading. Crossan is certainly correct that many fundamentalists in the U.S. share a lust for violence in the end times that is not at all warranted by the text or by the life of Jesus.Crossan does not move beyond the biblical texts to consider precivilization societies such as hunter gatherers. Though not based on the institutionalist violence of the state, intersociety relations (wars) were much bloodier per capita among hunter gatherers than modern wars are. As Crossan rightly notes, they were generally more equal than civilization is, though gender inequalities were greater among some hunter-gatherers than in modern civilizations. Any critique of civilization should confront these realities and their implications.Finally, this book always left me with the impression that Crossan's politics determines his reading of the scriptures and the Christian tradition, instead of letting his studies determine his politics. He is ideological, not eclectic, in his positions, and he often intends to impose his worldview on Jesus rather than doing the reverse. Though I often agree with Crossen, I'm generally suspicious of his reasoning.Nonetheless, this book provides a provocative and challenging reading of Jesus and the New Testament. If you are open to rethinking your views of the Christian tradition, I recommend reading it.",4.0,"A provocative, if ideological, interpretation of Jesus's life in the Roman Empire",1215302400,"07 6, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZGHESQDCI77M,0062049690,"Shiloh True ""Rabid Reader""","[4, 7]","The description of Lawrenson's novel contained all the elements that I normally gravitate toward --- and more. A Modern Gothic romance, set in the south of France, with fields of lavender and an old homestead with a ghostly occupation. Then you add in a very debonair, but mysterious love interest. Perfect, right! Well, not so much.I read THE LANTERN several months ago and have been too conflicted and ambivalent to write a review, until now. The conflict arises because Lawrenson's vividly descriptive prose ranks with some of the best I've ever read --- very reminiscent of some of my favorite classic literature. She literally places the reader in Provence, knee deep in fields of lavender, enveloped by the scent. Her environmental descriptions are nothing short of poetic. Unfortunately, after a while, the descriptions become redundant and tedious. I wanted to get to the meat of the story. I kept waiting...and waiting.If only Lawrenson had been able to build her characters with the same artistry as the environment, THE LANTERN would have been beyond compare for the genre. But this is where she dropped the ball. I never became emotionally connected with ANY of the characters. Moreover, the structure of the book offered a challenging format, with alternating chapters that almost could have been stand alone stories if not eventually intertwined, in a rather convoluted manner. Then, after weeding through this rather slow read, we are ultimately gifted with a predictable conclusion.In conclusion, THE LANTERN is not a book I will ever read again, nor can I recommend it to anyone, unless they just want to cuddle up with a cup of Chamomile tea, for a vicarious trip to France. The novel could be enjoyed for the bursts of talent, if expectations are realistic. That said, I could not award less than three stars because of the mastery of parts of this work. Lawrenson deserves to be recognized for this accomplishment. With a little work on character development, pacing and structural format, I'll be first in line for her next novel.",3.0,"Beautiful, but flawed",1332115200,"03 19, 2012",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A38X6RT6A2AYX6,0765325950,Anthony B Hays,"[0, 0]","Not the ending I was expecting, but still mostly satisfying. There is the possibility of more in the series, but I really hope they leave it alone. I do not want this series ending up like Dune and having it completely destroyed by those trying to make a profit off of it.While Robert Jordan did not write it, his notes allowed the new author to keep the book true to the original story line. I am not sure if Robert Jordan could have done a better job, but I honestly did enjoy how the new author concluded the whole series.",4.0,A conclusion,1377388800,"08 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2U7IYKYBLXOHZ,1480039217,"Colorado customer ""Colorado customer""","[17, 19]",The story was good.....I loved Miles.....the knight......I really liked the whole book .....I am a little upset with the author as she ends the books without an ending.......instead she prints at the end. "to be continued" I would have given her a 4 plus if she had not left the reader hanging................I have to ask myself if that was to insure another book sale???,3.0,Colorado Kindle reader,1362355200,"03 4, 2013",17,19,helpful,0.8947368421052632,1 A219699J7JUVWG,1481258672,"Jodie Brennan ""JYBrennan""","[0, 0]","I'm not sure if I would recommend this book to a friend. I enjoyed reading it, but it seems to be to much of a romance novel for my liking. I enjoy historical fiction, but keep the forbidden love out.",3.0,"hmmm, fun read, but...",1372464000,"06 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2VBYTPARYVTW9,0890843791,The Park School,"[10, 11]","A Fathers PromiseBy Donnalynn HessAges: 10 and up.A twelve year old boy named Rudi lived in Warsaw, Poland during 1939 to 1945. His life was going to be changed forever.The Nazis forced Rudi and his father out of their apartment. They had to find a new home so they lived in a bombed out office building. There were holes in the walls and everything was cracked.Later Rudi's best friend Salek had his dad taken away to a concentration camp. Later in the book his dad comes back.In the end of 1939 Rudi's dad hears that the Germans are after Rudi's dad. Afraid that he will be taken away, Rudi's dad sends Rudi to live with a resistance group in the woods. While Rudi is in the woods he sees a truck taking people to a concentration camp. A nightmare was about to come true. His dad was in the truck.Rudi finds the resistance group and stays with them for about one year. But then the leader of the group, Oscar, leaves to go to Warsaw to capture German soldiers. Rudi lives in the woods with a girl named Ingrid who he found abandoned in a haystack. Rudi lived in the woods for six years. He wanted to go back to Warsaw. He tried to find his father. After a month of searching Rudi was not able to find his father. Read the book to find out if he finds his father or not.This book is fiction but it could be a real story. I would give this book five stars out of five stars. This book never has a dull moment. It has a lot of detail and makes you want to keep reading. This was Ms. Hess's first novel.A Fathers Promise was the best book I have ever read. If you like Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, you would love this book. I am so surprised this book did not get an award. I think it should have. This book is very powerful. It is so sad what the soldiers did to the Jews, and what became of Warsaw.In the back of the book there are photographs of Hitler invading Warsaw. There is also a map of Poland in the back. Everybody must read this book! It is so good!By Shira,A Fifth Grader",5.0,A book you must read!!!,1146096000,"04 27, 2006",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 ANBTDP1V7HAF8,0451194071,Kris,"[5, 5]","This book will hold your interest, no question about that. That's probably the author's point. As has been pointed out on this website, there is much pornography and voyeurs (like me) will peep in. His sex scenes are okay.But do women really behave this way? How can a male author write in the first person as a female? I know, all the authors do it, but like he says in his ""epilogue,"" remember it's only fiction.It's only fiction because these educated people are apparently NEVER interested in anything intellectual, much less spiritual. That's why they seem so narcissistic. It's all about ME, ME, and ME, no matter who the character is. Darnell's decision to follow his Tammy Rainbow in the end is, well, fitting with the narcissism.But why shouldn't they be narcissistic? They have no children, none of them, since Jake ordered all of his aborted...so much for his seed...he'll no doubt get over it and have others. The children we meet at Stephan's parents' home in Baldwin Hills, briefly, are wanna-be gang-bangers. This part is realistic. Stephan's stepfather and mother are also very realistic.But for people with supposedly interesting jobs and college degrees, don't you think they might have some interest in their work? Besides receiving and making calls to their beaus? That part is unrealistic.So, in the end, Mr. Dickey will please himself and his pocketbook. He'll be the person Darnell wants to be, a published author who makes the big score and doesn't have to drudge in the mundane workaday world like everyone else...but Darnell being an attorney? Well, he does owe his wife, I'd say, but that's fiction, right? Leave the wife who stood by you while you went through law school, because (a) she had a brief affair and (b) she doesn't like having intercourse in the garage?Well, Darnell COULD have inspired the rest of us to go against our SELFISH inclination to watch out for NUMBER 1. But no, he doesn't do that. Attorney and bookwriter and all, he just shows us how to get for ME....the narcisstic way of life (certainly has much intellectual backing, for example, Ayn Rand, Robert Ringer, many, many more).I like to think that we can rise above this animal level. Mr. Erick Dickey probably knows how to rise above his own narcissism, since he's such a clever guy, but would writing about that make him money? Maybe his other books are more along those lines. I'll have to read them and find out.Diximus.",3.0,Read 'em and weep,1050451200,"04 16, 2003",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1M4NJYP0WNL8Q,1582343594,"Marc Ruby™ ""The Noh Hare™""","[54, 56]","I bought 'City of Masks' based on a new release description expecting a standard fare ghost story (which I like), read the inside cover and thought it was a ghost romance story (which I don't like) and came very close to putting it on my 'read someday' pile. Fortunately I didn't. While it is a little of both of the above, it is quite a bit more as well, For the mystery reader looking for something both unusual and a little scary, Daniel Hecht has turned out a solid, entertaining read.Cree Black is one of a team of spiritual investigators who specialize in ghost removal. She is a clinical psychologist who discovered during a terrible loss that ghosts exist and she is sensitive to them. This sensitivity extends to those who are haunted as well, and Cree's exorcisms are often intense personal crises. When she responds to the call of a socially prominent New Orleans family who is being haunted by a violent and menacing spirit she quickly is up to her neck in tradition and ectoplasm.A pig headed ghost repeatedly molests a woman in a family mansion, a news reported dies without any explanation, and the head of a family finds herself desperately trying to preserve what honor and sanity are left for her heirs. Hecht's style bores deep into all the main characters, but deepest into the heart of Cree, whose own ghosts have brought her life to a standstill. To solve the mystery of the apparitions she will have to start the tortuous journey of unraveling her own issues.Hecht accomplishes this without histrionics. Without overpainting the atmospherics and real violence that lurks beneath the surface of New Orleans and the Mardi Gras. The end result is a novel so believable that you sometimes want to take notes. Many of the characters, sympathetic and otherwise, quickly take on a life of their own against a finely drawn background of wealth and poverty in Louisiana. I believe Hecht has written a sequel, to which I am looking forward.",5.0,Family Spirit,1076457600,"02 11, 2004",54,56,helpful,0.9642857142857143,1 A2B9SJGYCX36MB,0345527461,Romance Reader,"[13, 16]","This was one tedious book! The plot was improbable, to put it mildly, but that wasn't what bothered me most. The dialogue was like a Möbius strip that endlessly looped back on itself until I was beyond irritated. It felt as if the author was trying to reach a word count without putting in the time or effort to come up with anything remotely resembling an original story line.The gist: I want you, but I don't want to get pregnant because my mother died in childbirth, but I want to kiss you and hold you, but I don't want to go too far because I don't want to die in childbirth, but I don't want to lose you, but I know I will because you want to have sex, but I don't want to because I'm afraid I'll get pregnant and might die in childbirth like my mother. Sheesh! Poor, blue-balled Ransom! On and on it went between Emaline and her sexually frustrated fiancee until I wanted to poke myself in the eye with a sharp stick. With Hannah and Flint the refrain was equally uninspired and repetitive. He loves Emaline, but he wants Hannah. He can't have his brother's fiancee/wife, but he loves Emaline eternally and beyond measure, causing him great emotional turmoil and pain. Well... maybe, maybe not. He transfers his emotions fairly quickly. For Hannah, Flint's love/lust/fascination with Emaline is the issue that is repeated over and over again.This rhetorical tail-chasing went on for 400 pages. There was very little story, very little emotional connection or character development. The rich-nasty-greedy-rancher-trying-to-steal-the-honest-rancher's-land-and-cattle trope provided filler. There was the obligatory Indian raid and kidnapping of a white girl. (She will reappear in a future book, I presume.) My favorite character and the only truly likable or interesting one in the book, Hannah's much maligned mail order husband, was bumped off early.SPOILER ALERT: Near the end Hannah discovers that her long-lost sister Miranda (from Johnston's earlier novel Texas Bride) is, by sheer coincidence, married to Flint's brother Jake. Oh happy day! BTW, there's a rich-powerful-evil-greedy-rancher in Texas Bride, too. Ho hum.",1.0,Tedious Beyond Belief!,1358985600,"01 24, 2013",13,16,helpful,0.8125,1 A1WKQ94M45D8MG,0805093931,"Denise Crawford ""DC""","[5, 7]","What a fun summer thrill ride -- and a fantastic debut for a new series featuring retired SID detective Marten Kane. Two wives of well-known San Francisco entrepreneurs are seeing a psychotherapist -- they don't know each other, but one man, Ryan Kroll, knows both of them -- very well. In fact, he knows their most intimate secrets, fantasies, hidden horrors and insecurities. AND he intends to use that knowledge against them in the most personal way possible. He seeks them out, contrives to meet them, and begins a love affair with both Elise and Lore and uses the knowledge he has stolen from the therapist's office files to control and manipulate them. What is his goal?Enter Marten Kane -- the ultimate ""fix it"" man -- he has both the discretion and the intelligence to figure out what Ryan Kroll is doing and to try to stop him before he carries out his plans with the two women.I enjoyed this book and recommend to all fans of the suspense thriller genre! I am eagerly looking forward to Paul Harper's (a pseudonym for David Lindsey) next installment in the Marten Kane series.",4.0,How safe are your secrets?,1309824000,"07 5, 2011",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 AH0V6U4V7OHJM,0989256502,Robert Doran,"[5, 5]","A very imaginative book with many positive messages. Author's Brueggman and Paddock have created the world of Fruzzles. Fruzzles come in many different colors, and many different talents. Wow, what a perfect reflection of our own world. This book teaches young children, not only the acceptance of but also the joy in accepting our different colors. But that is far from the whole story. The book also teaches self acceptance, specifically acceptance that you will not be good at everything you try, Not only that but it brings home the message that it is important to explore what you might or might not be good at and to not be afraid of failure. But not only that, the book drives home the point that everyone is good at something, everyone has their own special talent, and the best thing you can be good at is helping others. A Short Book Packed with Positive Messages",5.0,A Short Book Packed with Positive Messages!,1390435200,"01 23, 2014",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2O2B7CTL6BCDM,B005M3IN72,Lynnette H. Roberts,"[0, 0]",This was a great read. The turn of events was fact and the ending somewhat surprising. It was a quick read and I've already purchased the second book in this series.,4.0,Death by Divorce,1351641600,"10 31, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1BUK34M2MAS2V,0615733808,Charly,"[0, 0]",Mob Boss series is my favorite by this author. This book was very good and I can't wait for Tommy's story to continue!,5.0,Wow!,1354924800,"12 8, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1RV02ZG5F9ERB,1402225059,Edward Terry,"[27, 68]","This book is filled with anecdotal stories that seem too perfect. One of his friends takes a specific problem and their health issues completely resolve. Health-related issues are rarely that simple and straightforward. He also offered a one-sided view of supplements, practically guaranteeing results. He does not paint an objective picture of how some supplments may help, whether via direct effect or via the placebo effect and howo is many cases, they offer no relief whatsoever.As a former pharmacist, I was also dismayed by his oversimplification of the evils of pharmaceuticals and the pure goodness of ""natural cures"". I'm the first one to agree that a lot of health issues could be greatly improved by lifestyle changes such as exercise and nutrition and that the medical establishment relies heavily on prescriptions for treatments.He does supply references, but few of them are from peer-reviewed journals or reputable sources.",1.0,Just like most other books. A lot of claims but no science.,1263254400,"01 12, 2010",27,68,helpful,0.39705882352941174,1 A2HSLWV2F2W6MU,0061735108,"Rachelle ""Sewsable""","[0, 0]","I really had problems putting this book down, I had to buy it after reading the first one to find out what happened next and I don't regret it at all. I do love vampire books, but the story still has to be good; just bunging vampires in does not make me read it.",5.0,A gripping read,1377734400,"08 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WIZ46G7PTO8X,0446564370,denise,"[0, 0]","I love the new boy, I can just picture him, long and lanky. He's a great addition to his stories. It running at all times keeping you going at a fast pace, the pages don't turn fast enough.",5.0,Crew,1358294400,"01 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1W05NSMY0JFUO,1401303013,"1000Books ""1000Books""","[0, 0]","This book gets 4 stars because it is entertaining, informative, and brief enough to not be laborious. If you like books that deal with a conceptual idea and then provides many examples so that you can have stuff to talk about afterwards, this should fit the bill. Is it the best in the genre, no. But is it not bad, and fairly interesting. Yes.It did not get 5 stars, because it is not the sort of book that all lovers of this genre will enjoy, namely because of the book's structure and the wording of the subtitle. First, there is some validity to the reviewer that suggests the chapters are a bit disjointed. However, I didn't mind this. I felt the different questions which formed the title/thesis and ""disjointedness"" allowed the book not to be overly repetitive, a failing of many of the books in this genre of leisure non-fiction. That said, a friend of mine who read the book also remarked that the book felt too all over the map and so, I can not give the book 5 stars.The second minor issue, as pointed out by another reviewer, is that the author does not fulfill all the claims of the title. The author does not explain ""How complex things can be made simple"", at least, not in any direct manner. There are hints that his point is that the human mind somehow reduces complex action into something simple, but that most are unaware that they are doing something rather complex. However, those that think this book is about HOW to make something complex simple, would be better off in Business, ""How to"", Speech and debate sections.4 stars is a solid rating though, as it does fulfill the title and the first half of the subtitle, which is no small task. The book introduces the concept of simplexity in a number of different formats. It is quite fascinating to think about how the brain processes and learns. It's fascinating to see that monetary value and actual skills value do not quite mesh. Kluger introduces a number of interesting studies that are rather pertinent despite being in a variety of different disciplines. It definitely made me consider what exactly is the going on with the man v. machine debate.If you are working directly in the man vs. machine debate as your job or academic discipline, that this book may be good for you to read so that you will have an even better ability to articulate these complex concepts to the average human being. It will most likely not tell you anything you don't know. If you are not in this discipline, than I would guess you could find this as interesting as other books within this genre of non-fiction.",4.0,Not a bad leisurely summer read or airplane read,1253664000,"09 23, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2KW3O9TMOT4TC,0843956445,Ken,"[5, 8]","I have been a big fan of Keene since reading THE RISING. While GHOUL is my least favorite, it's better than a lot on the shelves. Simply put, it's Keene's version of CUJO. Do monsters really exist? In what form? Should we fear the supernatural or one another? The relationships between the three main characters and their respective relationships with their parents are, in my opinion, the most interesting part of the book. The scenes of domestic violence are quite disturbing. As always, Keene is an awesome writer with clear, descriptive prose; unfortunately, the ending is a bit of a rush job. Still, I am looking forward to Keene's next, DEAD SEA.",3.0,Quick Read,1170979200,"02 9, 2007",5,8,helpful,0.625,1 A3DQ8EHPL6KWZ5,B00GCS59P0,anne ferguson,"[0, 0]",I chose this rating because the text is clearly set out and I find it useful to read it slowly and then reflect on the subject matter.I would recommend it to the busy person who wants to spend a short time each day reading God's Word. A great little book.,5.0,A useful daily insight into God's word,1389571200,"01 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PM9DMVYG9HDK,0767906810,"Yuni ""nut_stud""","[4, 5]","This book was such an addictingly delightful read that I couldn't put it down! I read it from cover to cover within an evening. As other reviewers mentioned, this is an unusual cookbook in that it doesn't have photographs at all! In addition, interspersed within the recipes are anecdotes of the author's experience when she explored the various Parisian patisseries. The recipes are sumptuous and as you can imagine of any authentic Parisian pastries, a tad involved. Nevertheless, there are also the relatively simple and delicious ones, such as irresistible Madeleines and crunchy little cookies (Croques).My favorite part of the book is the little tidbits about how Dorie Greenspan managed to get the different patissiers to part with some of their signature recipes. I also like the hand illustrations of Paris and the patisseries. The drawings are reminiscent of the illustrations by Quentin Blake for Roald Dahl's books. This book will also double as a Parisian guide for gourmands and dessert enthusiasts! Overall, this is an enjoyable, delightful read!",4.0,"Delightful cookbook, even without photographs",1228780800,"12 9, 2008",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2JP1ENVJX2VYV,1401301045,Kathy Kaiser,"[4, 5]","I enjoyed Donnelly's first two ""Rose"" books. They were the sweeping sagas I enjoyed so much in my youth (that are harder to find these days). Both books had their overly-dramatic, soap-opera moments that made me roll my eyes, but the main characters in those stories were extremely likeable. However, Willa Alden, the main heroine of The Wild Rose, left me flat. I didn't care for the fact that she was presented in the first few pages as a cold, manly woman carrying on a casual affair with a man she didn't love as well as being an opium addict. Hmmm. You'd think Donnelly would have tried harder to present Willa in a more positive light if she wants us to care about her. Maybe these initial facts could have been presented later in the novel once we actually like the woman. I, personally, never warmed to her. Of course, other readers may not have the same difficulties as I did. I also found the ""twists and turns"" predictable and rather boring. Been there, done that in many other World War I epics. I think The Wild Rose will suffer from following in Ken Follett's footsteps. The first book of his WWI trilogy was published before this one and is a much better book. However, I think Donnelly does a good job with descriptions of the time period, conjuring the tone of the suffrage movement in England clearly. I enjoyed being reintroduced to characters from the first two books. The action is fast-paced and doesn't drag. But sadly, this is a mediocre finish to what started out as a riveting trilogy.",3.0,Not as good as the first two books,1307145600,"06 4, 2011",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,0764162977,Midwest Book Review,"[7, 8]","Metal can be just another easel. ""Enameling on Metal: The Art and Craft of Enameling on Metal Explained Clearly and Precisely"" is an introduction for those who want to explore the possibilities of enameling on metal, using metal to be another way to express oneself artistically. The special materials needed, the tips and techniques that make metal art truly stand out, and so much more, ""Enameling on Metal"" is an intriguing and fascinating read that shouldn't be overlooked by artists looking for new mediums.",5.0,An intriguing and fascinating read that shouldn't be overlooked,1287187200,"10 16, 2010",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 AIBOC10VC1RKW,1494289105,megan,"[0, 0]","Until you blew me away. I know I'm one of a few, but even in bully, I couldn't hate him. His book just made me love him even more! Tate is amazing I love how she grows with him. She is determined not to let him rule her. She is a fighter. I didn't think I could love a character more than jared but my God I can't wait for jax`s book!!!!",5.0,Amazing,1386547200,"12 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2KL6KH920PWFN,0989675327,JulieBrown,"[4, 7]","I will never look at Santa the same way again! This book is a fantastic, suspenseful thriller with excellent use of the Jingles that we know and love to new ones that will chill you to the bone! Excellent execution of storyline and fabulous dialogue. I recommend this book to crime, mystery and horror fiction fans alike. Great Job, R.J.!",5.0,Fantastic Page Turner,1374624000,"07 24, 2013",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A2W97R3TKQGBPQ,0446573558,luv2read,"[0, 0]","Love the Hamish Macbeth series. Light, enjoyable reading but engaging in a laid back sort of way. Never can tell who ""did it"".",5.0,Enjoyable,1367625600,"05 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A157W22HZJY934,0857205668,booklover,"[0, 0]",This is a good read. I am almost done with it. you should try it. It is amazing what this author can do.,5.0,Fabulous,1382313600,"10 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A982HXZ5LZ0DT,0984887873,"Clynax ""Lover of a good read""","[0, 0]","I love Letty. She is true to herself and makes no apologies. Shades is hot and can handle his girl. This is a funny, engaging read. It is in your face and not for people who don't like loud and unsubtle. I don't know what it says about me, but I loved it and am off to buy book 2.",5.0,Not for the timid but an enjoyable ride.,1392336000,"02 14, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AYHAZAG1JLRYR,0446618659,"Wendy Toliver ""YA Author""","[5, 9]",I really enjoyed this novel and am looking forward to Shannon's next novel. I recommend it.,5.0,Exciting and Sexy!,1173225600,"03 7, 2007",5,9,helpful,0.5555555555555556,1 A2TATE2CUDF7GW,0892967412,Amazon Customer,"[0, 0]","I picked up this book by chance. I don't watch the Jimmy Fallon show, so I was pleasantly surprised to find this absolutely hilarious book of sarcastic thank you notes. I was laughing so hard at some of the notes, I started weeping and literally had mascara running down my face. About 10% of the notes are just so-so, but the gems in the book make it worth the purchase price. Buyer beware, there are a few curse words scattered throughout the book. This is a fantastic book, but definitely along the lines of a funny gift, coffee table book, or bathroom rack read, as opposed to a lengthy read. Highly recommended if you need a good laugh!",5.0,Laughing so hard my mascara was running!,1392163200,"02 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1E8C4SAEIV04P,0988771314,Chelle,"[0, 0]","This is a great book about truly finding yourself and having to make your own mistakes along the way. As hard as it is for all of us to discover in the long run, hindsight is 20/20 and the main character Jane finds that in making plans and the way she saw things for her life the tables are turned on her. When she tries to set them right for herself, it happens again. Finally stepping back completely she does what she's needed to do all along and finds HERSELF. But her plans never seem to be her own control or is it?I really enjoyed this book and am going to recommend it as often as I can.",5.0,Is this book about the character or myself,1371513600,"06 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2JA1YFEJOI8D9,B00085T9KE,"R. Saeli ""book junkie""","[8, 11]",This is one of those rare times when the movie is much better than the book! If you love the movie the book won't enhance it. It's too serious and a bit depressing.,3.0,The Bishop's Wife,1190160000,"09 19, 2007",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A2UH9MBTGW5AYB,0446359637,Audrey J. Burton,"[0, 0]",Really got into this book and had a hard time putting it down until I finished it. I would read more of this author's books.,5.0,Hated to put it down,1365638400,"04 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14R2TRNC07U9Y,0060899190,Jennifer Suarez,"[4, 4]","This book is so amazing. The concept of people sharing their deepest secrets to a complete stranger will touch your heart and make you think. Some of the postcards in this book brought tears to my eyes. I wish I could talk to the people and help take away their pain. Other postcards had me laughing out loud.No matter who you are you will find at least one secret in here that you can completly relate to. The secrets prove that no matter how different we all are, inside we are all the same.This book is nothing short of amazing and I cannot wait until the next two are available for purchase. If you buy this book you will not be disappointed.You can easily read this book within a day, but it will stay with you for a lifetime. And please remember, a portion of the sales go to support a suicide hopeline.",5.0,"Can be read in a day, but will stay with you for a lifetime!",1155168000,"08 10, 2006",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A25YGE1O32HW8,1414334842,scrapbook fan,"[0, 0]","Compared to the other books in this series, this wasn't my favorite. I think the ending redeemed this book, as all of the lying that most of the main characters were doing was pretty annoying. But a decent story.",4.0,pretty good,1374451200,"07 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A57H497OM1IJN,1573443840,"Jason Frost ""RubiconReader""","[12, 12]","""Erotica for women"". That phrase usually causes me to pass a book by. I'm a guy through and through, and one stereotype on which I proudly stake claim is that my erotica has to be very visual and very descriptive! Would a book that states its ""erotica for women"" feed that need? In this case, YES. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! The stories in this collection are highly charged and they create that unmistakable `I'm getting horny' feeling. They're so good that you almost stop daydreaming about the stories, and start thinking about what it would be like to run into some of these writers!`Temptation' is the perfect story to start off! I've always been of the mind that the best erotic stories are the ones where you can replace the characters in the story with yourself. In `Temptation'... I'd gladly trade my soul in this life AND the afterlife to be Miguel! Other stories that had me wishing I had Aladdin's lamp:`Waxing Eloquent' - only in L.A. style loving.`Winter, Summer' - sexy, shocking, with a surprise.`Panther' - animalistic & sexy.`Communal' - my second favorite story and if I could go back in time, I would live in a college dorm like this one.`Flash' - title says it all.`Confessions of a Kinky Shopaholic' - Sophie Kinsella eat your... ummm... heart out.`Princess' - this story puts the ""X"" in taxi.`Chasing Danger' - how far would you go to apprehend a criminal?`Whore Complex' - OK Rachel... *whew*Aside from writing goose bump causing erotica, Rachel can also pick the right stories to put in a book. I truly think you will be pleased with this current collection. If you aren't, check your pulse and call me. And one more thing... this is easily one of the sexiest covers I've seen in a while.",5.0,"'Fast Girls' = fast, erotic reading.",1276819200,"06 18, 2010",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A1KZ3GZL595YAR,1439102430,"Darlene A. Cowan ""Darc""","[0, 0]","No surprizes, nothing new. If you like characters will enjoy Bones and the crewbut otherwise it was a waste of my time.",2.0,typical,1369785600,"05 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALJ7EX7ZRX845,B00BB3KD0W,Queenie Johnson,"[0, 0]",An interesting read short sweet and to the point. A good read unexpected an easy flow but worth the time.,2.0,Chasing Sam,1396224000,"03 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3AYQKBGDWBIB6,0615722261,Michael Bradshaw,"[4, 8]","The insanity of this silly story is beyond description. The writer has twisted historical events into something akin to Alice going down the Rabbit hole. Obviously he and his editors have no real knowledge of Mormon's, Utah and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was born and raised not far from what is now called Hildale. And know that nothing, like what is described could not, even in Fiction, happen as purported. The so called Plot is easily predictable, and stupid in its execution. I read this out of curiosity, and I'm now disgusted that I wasted four hours of my life that can never be reclaimed.",1.0,only because there is no way to rate -5 stars,1390176000,"01 20, 2014",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A3LT25IKTBABSA,B00BSJXV4O,Amazon Customer,"[4, 5]",A short story where the last 15% of the Kindle text is a preview of the author's next book. In Europe we pay often more for a Kindle version; for us here the book cost 6$. It is simply too expensive.,2.0,"Too short, too expensive",1364256000,"03 26, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A391ZY40SNFBHG,0060529709,Bohdan Hodiak,"[17, 25]","I read this book because the reviewers said a new literary genius was on the horizon. The reviewers were liars. There is such a thing as writing above your means and Foer does it in spades. He simply does not have the experience and knowledge to really pull it off. But no doubt about it, the book is a triumph of marketing.The fractured English of Alex may seem amusing but it's manufactured. If you have been around people who taught themselves English, as I have, you know their problem is not picking the wrong word, using ""rigid"" for ""thorough"", for example, but in the syntax and pronunciation. What they do is like the young man who wants bread in a restaurant saying to the attractive waitress, ""I want some broad."" Foer doesn't know this.He also doesn't know that there were no independent Jewish towns in Ukraine. There were Jewish ghettos in the towns. So you could destroy the inhabitants of the ghetto but not the town. The town would remain in existence. Also, the invading Germans were not interested in torturing or humiliating the Jews. They just wanted them out of the way as quickly and efficiently as possible. The purpose of the executions was reprisal and to terrorize the living.If you go to see the film be aware it has little to do with the book. All the Ukrainian characters speak Russian, not Ukrainian. I was told that was because Eugene Hutz, who played Alex, could not speak Ukrainian so the script was changed. If the story of Alex the grandfather seems unconvincing in the movie there is a good reason. In the book he was not Jewish. In the film he became a Jew who rejected his Jewishness, became an anti-Semite, became reconciled to his Jewishness, and then committed suicide. Quite a switch. Also, the ending of the movie is quite different from the book.I want to point out that my quarrel is not with Foer but with the critics. That he could write a book, that attracted so much attention, at his young age is a fine achievement and good for him. Foer has a good heart and there are fine things in his novel. Just don't expect a masterpiece.Since so much of the book covers ancient history, my advice is, if you want to know something about Jewish life in old Ukraine read two great authors who got it right: Isaac Singer and Sholom Aleichem.",2.0,A triumph of marketing,1150243200,"06 14, 2006",17,25,helpful,0.68,1 A1QF81TW14N20Z,0375858296,Zinnea,"[0, 1]","I really, really liked "Navigating Early" by the same author, and since this one is the one that won (wow, that's a lot of 1's!) the Newberry, I really expected it to be a good read. Unfortunately, it kind of rambles on as though it's building towards some sort of climax, and then it ends in a fairly unsatisfying way.My fifth grade kid made it about halfway through before finding it tedious and asking me if I thought it was worth finishing, and I had to confess that it kind of wasn't. It's actually the only book he's never finished, or asked that sort of question about before. And "Navigating Early" is his all time favorite book.That said, I can see how a lot of people like it. And as far as literature for kids goes, there are worse books out there. It's definitely not completely "stupid" the way a lot of books for kids are.In 40 or 50 years there still might be kids reading "Navigating Early" (the way kids today still read "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Where the Red Fern Grows"), but I seriously doubt that kids will still be reading this one. It just doesn't make much of a long-term impression, and I can't imagine this being a work that makes a lot of children develop a love of literature for the first time.",3.0,"Pretty boring, but I've read worse.",1395878400,"03 27, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1ZGXWRAUE9USP,B00IVRZMZC,"Dennis (Julie) Garrett ""Julie""","[6, 6]","I have read each an every book in this series...each book better then the last...Sanctuary is action packed with excellent fight scenes good battling evil. Fighting to save our world as we know it. The love is stronger, the sex is hotter and many sacrifices are made to keep the balance of the superpowers that protect our world a secret. I highly highly recommend not only this book but the series in a whole!!!",5.0,Fan-freakin-tastic!!!,1394236800,"03 8, 2014",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A217S8G2RMXYQH,B009FEVC3Q,Kelsey Tanner,"[9, 10]","This is a heartwarming novella with a cozy atmosphere just right for a winter read. When Eve's car gets stranded in the snow out in the English countryside, little does she know the handsome and kind man who rescues her will change her life. After the death of her parents, Eve lost her sense of belonging anywhere and has been focusing on her career. Tom, a former banker, has his own pain in a failed marriage that left his daughter Polly motherless. He has relocated to a farm that is beautifully depicted by the author. Polly is adorable and immediately wins both Eve's and the reader's heart. It is through her that Tom and Eve recognize their attraction. I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful and satisfying Christmas story and recommend it highly.",5.0,A Wonderful Christmas Read,1349568000,"10 7, 2012",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 AYCMAGHIL2TS2,0446528056,T'nia,"[0, 0]",This book really shows what love is like. No matter what John and Savannah will always love each other. Awesomeness,5.0,Beautiful!! :-D,1375920000,"08 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YH7CQRWMG4E2,1468161660,Jennifer,"[0, 0]","Beautiful book! Great read, highly recommend some tissues! Sad, but beautiful. Funny and a couple oh no moments. I read through the book fairly quickly, wish there was more to the story.",5.0,OMG,1404259200,"07 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26OYIRIBTVE4V,B004KSQYCG,"H. Knight ""Entertaining with books""","[0, 0]","These are a bvery good series. Howeverr like another viewer, I agree with, Hannah needs to make a decision about which guys she wants to be with. This is very unrealisitic. Her mom and sisters are all a close knit family and it is fun to read. I like the cookie receipes that she puts in the books.",5.0,Receipe lovers,1363737600,"03 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11P853U6FIKAM,1480257850,Apple Pie,"[0, 0]","This was such a fun, western romance in a small town in the 1800's. The main male character is rich, so the modern household improvements were interesting. The circumstances of the two main characters getting together were unique.",3.0,Fun Romance,1364342400,"03 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3BBN3RGS9M9G4,1430304391,Miriel12,"[10, 11]","If you've been disappointed by other Phantom-inspired novels, I urge you to read No Return. It's a beautifully written take on the original story, but in a contemporary setting. Filled with memorable characters, great plot twists, and ultimately a beautiful love story, it's definitely a cut above the other published ""phanfic"" out there.",5.0,Wonderful modern-day POTO story,1178928000,"05 12, 2007",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 AUGU89R1XNKX9,B0096PK3GG,desert hounsi,"[4, 4]","I got the sample of this thinking it might be a good, inexpensive book covering basics that would be good for a gift. However, the sample was so riddled with errors, from incorrect punctuation to syntactical problems, that I just couldn't justify even the inexpensive price, because I knew the friend I was going to give it to would be as annoyed by that as I was.Also, I noted the book was often vague, and didn't explain things in enough detail for a beginner, which it seemed this was aimed at.Really, writers, if you're not up to snuff on the very basics of writing (punctuation, sentence structure, etc), then get your work proofread by someone who can catch those things.",1.0,Too many errors,1386979200,"12 14, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2VOJUG3TSJNML,0312337361,mkupmvn,"[6, 8]","I always suspected that the HR Department was not there to help you. Now I know it for sure. Ms. Shapiro blew that myth wide open. I have never read a business book that was such a page turner. Reading this book showed me how to get ahead in my next job. I have made too many mistakes for that to happen in my current job! The favorite part for me was when Ms. Shapiro explains WHY tattoo's and piercings are not acceptable on the job, no matter how 'artsy' or 'creative' the environment supposedly is. I don't have either, but I've always thought they were inappropriate for work. I have recommended this book to every single one of my friends, employed or not. One of them is even experimenting with the ideas in this book for six months to see if it makes a difference in how she is perceived at work. If you have ever been unsure about how to use office email, or how to decorate your desk, who you should hang out with at work and how to handle those dreaded 'yearly reviews' then read this book. Loved it, loved it, LOVED IT.",5.0,HR is not there to help you,1159574400,"09 30, 2006",6,8,helpful,0.75,1 A2QNPELJST9DHO,0307459535,KMiller,"[0, 0]","Awakening by Stovall Weems is a new offering from Waterbrook Multnomah publishers about developing a deeper, more meaning spiritual walk. The book focuses on surrendering your life fully to Christ and encourages the disciplines of prayer and fasting as helpful tools to develop a closer relationship.The content and admonitions in this book are timely. The writing is engaging and clear which makes for a rather quick read. The book contains a 21-day plan section which provides a tool you can use to help you make a habit out of time in prayer and fasting. For some personalities this tool would be extremely helpful. For others it would be ridiculously frustrating. As such, I would recommend this book to those who appreciate the development of disciplines.On another front, the first thing that stood out to me about Awakening was that the binding was the low budget option. Interestingly, the cover price is not low budget, so that was a little confusing. My husband and I are book people - I think it comes with the territory when you go to school until you're 27 - so we appreciate a nice book. This one, however, feels flimsy. This doesn't necessarily say anything about the content but it does give the reader a signal about the import of the book. As a side note, I'd love to learn about the philosophy behind which kind of cover material is used in publishing. Regardless, this one just struck me as a binding I would expect from a self-publisher but not from a publishing house.Note: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.",3.0,Awakening,1325030400,"12 28, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19E6R1MOE1JSM,0609606131,"""strongbeliever""","[14, 28]","My only complaint about this book is that it is too short. Another 100 pages of evidence and argument would turn it from a solid and compelling analysis into a truly definitive study.Having said this, I really can't fault the book. It is well researched, logically argued and attractively written. In fact, it is so well constructed that I read it pretty much over a single evening.And the book is compelling. I read it both as a scholar and as a father to young children. As a scholar I looked for consistency of argument and reliability of evidence. The book is strong on both counts. As a dad I looked for advice on ways to keep my children's environment safe. The authors - both of them experts and authors of important peer reviewed scholarship - provide timely and sage advice.Yes, this is a "dramatic," "sensational" book, as some critics note, but I certainly don't believe the authors set out to persuade readers through shock. They lay out a clear, sensible argument and reinforce it with evidence. That's what scholars should do, right?This book is not the last word on the subject, of course, but it is a timely and important book, and will doubtless spark debate and get people thinking. That's a valuable contribution. Highly recommended.",5.0,Timely and Important! Worth reading.,955843200,"04 16, 2000",14,28,helpful,0.5,1 A1X2X8GQZ6MUZX,0425263908,Desmon,"[0, 0]",This has to be the best book I have read all year. Hands down. Written well. Awesome story. I am so glad there is more to it...in fact three books. I couldn't put it down.,5.0,WOW!!! I Loved this book,1353456000,"11 21, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ERCLMFK3S8IA,148237711X,read-anything,"[0, 0]",I found the first half of the book slow and not particularly interesting. I do try to give anything without too many grammatical errors a fair chance and was pleased I kept plodding on with this one.The second part of the book moved at a much faster pace and kept me reading until the end.,3.0,"Almost gave up on this one, but glad I didn't",1367366400,"05 1, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1RN93FCV9O6CK,B00DJC4AF2,Lovetoread,"[0, 1]",I enjoyed the suspense and was glad that I didn't guess the ending of who done it. The characters were well developed and I look forward to the next book.,4.0,definitely held my interest,1388448000,"12 31, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2UCRS4ASHLKFP,0312379188,Andrea Kelley,"[0, 0]","The fact that the character had a deadline gave this book some intensity. I could have done without his little side trips to his friends, especially knowing an innocent man's life was hanging by the wire, but I liked the characters and it held my attention. I would recommend it.",4.0,This was pretty good.,1370217600,"06 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1AMUJB81XGXD1,0786719737,Philip S. Wolf,"[36, 41]","As it is all a matter of Opinion, some of us will not agree with the Title of this Book as the End All / Do All Collection of The Greatest War Comics in the History of the Universe.By not including ANYTHING from the DC or Marvel, War Machines, this Book has excluded: Sgt. Rock, Nick Fury, Enemy Ace and The Haunted Tank. Where are the EC Titles of the 1950's ? Not a mention of Joe Kubert, who without doubt is the Greatest Artist of Wartime Comics? Even if Greg Irons is included here, this is not even fair to him as he has Greater War Time Stories than the one that the Editors decided to use!But, to be fair about it, One of the Best War Tales of Modern Times IS included in this Collection. ""I Saw It"", is a Modern Masterpiece, that belongs in any Best War Comics Collection. Will Eisner has a Superb Autobiographical Story here, the Fantastic; ""Last Day In Vietnam"". The First Episode of: ""Charley's War"" {A Personal Favorite of mine} is in this Book, and it does belong here.Again, with the Omission of the DC and Marvel Comics, this is a Mis-Leading Title. There are some Fine War Comics included herein, and at 512 Pages, this is a Good Value for your Dollar.This is a Good Collection that could have been so much better!THREE STARS !!!",3.0,Missing In Action,1201046400,"01 23, 2008",36,41,helpful,0.8780487804878049,1 A1UC1S05T936DJ,0843959339,Michelleviolet,"[0, 0]",I not only love love loved this book but I absolutely adored it. Leslie Langtry is absolute heinous and an amazing writer.,5.0,OMG to good,1394668800,"03 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5G317XA7V31N,1939455006,"Leah ""Leah""","[7, 8]","So I tried to take my time reading this book because this has been such a great series to read and I want to savor every every juicy detail and pixie fart. So that didn't happen because Ms. Casey keeps you hooked from the first sentence. I laughed, cried, giggled at pixie humor, and just could not put this book down. The characters are wonderful and it was great to get to know the expanded fae family. Great storyline and i definitely want to continue reading to the end of the series. I just don't know what us readers will do without a story this unique and such fantastic characters. I literally cannot wait for the next one!",5.0,jayne rocks!,1349222400,"10 3, 2012",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A3JXJKMOAIZ5AQ,0465020208,gramma paint,"[0, 0]","Incredible research done, and greatly appreciated. Joyce Tyldesley brings youclose-up to the discovery and personalities involved in the archaeological searchof Tutankhamen's tomb.",5.0,Learn about the discovery in detail of Tutankhamen,1396656000,"04 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8T21IR0E5JJI,0679432949,"Jery Tillotson ""author""","[13, 18]","I enjoyed this study of the colorful, unconventional Boudin family. I agree with other readers that there was too much space given to the father, Leonard Boudin, an intense, civil rights attorney, who specialized in representing the radical left. So it's not surprising that his daughter, Kathy Boudin, became a radical protestor of the Vietnam War and a loud, snarling member of the Weather Underground. While other members of this pathetic group finally threw in the towel and turned themselves into the law after careers as bombers, killers and trouble-makers, Kathy Boudin stuck it out. You read in horrified fascination how she became a key member of the killers who murdered two police officers in a foiled Brinks truck armed robbery. Even behind bars for 21 years, she played the role of wronged martyr. I remember during the sixties, when the Weather Underground was at its peak of fury. My college roommate dubbed them, The Marx Brothers of Terrorism. He hit the nail on the head. No one knew really what these rich, wealthy white kids were protesting. None had ever worked anywhere in their lives. Even when they supposedly went underground, their wealthy parents and friends supported them and gave them safe houses. Yet, you caught occasional glimpses of them on television as they shrieked and cursed and acted like lunatics. In their own pathetic little reality, they dramatized themselves as great revolutionaries who would foment a nation wide revolution to destroy America's values. No one knew what they wanted to replace them with.",3.0,"Fascinating, flawed study of a terrorist",1098748800,"10 26, 2004",13,18,helpful,0.7222222222222222,1 A276Z3OL222ECU,0963784625,Amazon Customer,"[24, 27]","This review may have a date which precedes the release of Bugliosi's book, ""Reclaiming History"". I have entirely changed my review of this book, posted long ago, and have noticed that Amazon reviews seem to always retain their original placement date. With that said, my review of this book is actually in a way a review of a different book, a set of gross errors maligning this book and Barr McClellan personally. I originally read ""Blood, Money and Power"" quite some time ago, and it changed me from a ""lone nut"" thinker to a conspiracy believer. Bugliosi, in his book, ""Reclaiming History"", takes to task virtually all of the popular conpiracy books, ""Blood, Money and Power"" being no exception. Bugliosi, with his tremendous, undefeated win record is somewhat of a real-life Perry Mason, and I have respected and enjoyed his previous books. HOWEVER, Bugliosi does a real hatchet job on Barr McClellan and this book, and I don't mean ""hatchet job"" in a successful way. Bugliosi seems to paint McClellan out to be a criminal and a liar, a deceiver of his readers. Bugliosi is such a master at his trade, I originally felt disgust and anger at McClellan for taking his readers on an erroneous joyride. Here's what Bugliosi says in ""Reclaiming History"":""On November 20, 2001, I spoke over the telephone with Darby. Eighty-seven at the time,... I told him that I had trouble with his finding a 'match' between prints found at the sniper's nest on the sixth floor and the fingerprint exemplar card of Malcolm Wallace. 'Why?' he asked. 'Because,' I pointed out, 'the unidentified latent print found on the sixth floor was a palm print, not a fingerprint, and unless you've come up with something new, I've never heard of anyone matching a palm print with a fingerprint.' Darby, SENSING HE HAD BEEN TAKEN (emphasis added), told me that he had been given 'two fingerprints, one from a card, the other a latent...Of course, you can't compare a palm print with a fingerprint.' Bugliosi then says, ""So much for Malcolm Wallace at the window and another desperate attempt by the conspriacy community to implicate anyone other than Lee Harvey Oswald for Kennedy's murder.""This is a real injustice to McClellan (and Nathan Darby - in this reader's mind, the implied assessment being: ""poor old fool"") and is totally without merit. Bugliosi seems to imply that since there was only one unknown print, a palm print, that McClellan must have fabricated a hoax on Darby, having him compare, in effect, the exemplar print to itself. He doesn't say this, but it seems to me to be implied, particularly by Bugliosi's verbiage, ""Darby, sensing he had been taken..."". Can one really detect in a phone conversation that the person on the other end of the line is ""sensing he had been taken"" or that the person on the other end is sensing anything for that matter? Seems like poetic license to me.I was so bothered that McClellan may have erroneously changed my viewpoint on the assassination for nearly three years, that I found a university site on the web that hosted the entire published works of the Warren Commission, not stupid conspiracy buff garbage, but the actual, unadulterated Warren Commission material itself. Most people don't realize that while the summary report (nearly 900 pages) was published in great numbers and read by many Americans, to publish the entire 26 volumes of the findings on a large scale was deemed so prohibitively expensive that the government printing office only printed 2,500 sets, 1,340 of which were sent to selected libraries. With the advent of the internet, this material is now within the hands of anyone. Bugliosi, so meticulous in detail, didn't apparently realize, nor does Barr McClellan make this point clearly enough in this book, that the print in question is NOT an unidentified print, of course, but rather a fingerprint that had remained initially questionable and in time was attributed to Dallas police officer Robert Studebaker. The specific print is part of Commission Exhibit 656, labeled print #29. Bugliosi seems to have made a rare (very rare) short circuit in his analysis, assuming that the only print in question would be the only one left as unknown by the examiners for the Commission. Once again, there was no intent to deceive on the part of the Commission and its experts. Wallace would have been no more in their minds to check prints against than Santa Claus, and this is 1964, so forget the futuristic idea of matching prints against databases. Out of the people known to be there, this partial print was deemed to most likely belong to Studebaker.In his lynching of McClellan, Bugliosi also says, ""Since McClellan doesn't suggest or provide evidence that LBJ had anything to do with the misconduct of Estes, which was the subject of the Marshall investigation, one therefore wonders if McClellan ever questioned why LBJ would order the murder of Marshall, Estes' investigator."" THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE! In this book, McClellan makes numerous references to LBJ being directly involved with Estes. He even tells of one incident where LBJ had ordered his personal pilots to pick him up and fly him to Pecos, in order to meet with Estes. The pilots didn't want to, because the weather was bad and in their opinion too dangerous to fly in. Apparently, Johnson insisted. The pilots were killed on their way to pick up Johnson while trying to land in bad weather. McClellan also talks of Estes' campaign contributions and direct rake-offs to Johnson from his deals, laundered through the firm's corporation, Brazos-10th corporation, in return for favorable agriculture contracts. To say that McClellan doesn't address this at all is terribly inaccurate on Bugliosi's part.IF... the print in question can be confirmed by numerous print examiners to belong to Wallace, then doesn't it mean, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Wallace was there? If your print is there, you were there. No matter how unlikely, incongruous, or fantastic this may seem, this is an issue, even 44 years later, that must be explained.While it may seem inappropriate to some to give here such length to another author's book, with Bugliosi's how-do-you-dare-oppose-him, Perry Mason reputation, coupled with the fact that he laid into this author with a machete, readers contemplating purchasing McClellan's book, but possibly hearing of Bugliosi's disdain for it need to be aware that Bugliosi's attacks against it are unfounded. In all of the assassination-related material I have read through the years, from Bugliosi's book, I am left with a new respect for the honest attempt made by the Warren Commission and no doubt that Oswald killed Tippit and shot Kennedy, so ""Reclaiming History"" is an important book, BUT Barr McClellan's book has equally impressed me with a belief that Wallace was there, at some point, and if he was, no matter how incredible or incongruous, it implicates the Clark law firm, acting in the interests of Johnson. Bugliosi (Perry Mason) doesn't shake one bit the believability of this book.Oswald, as young and foolish as he was, had to think that getting the rifle out was as important as getting it in, otherwise, he will surely be named for this crime. If the rifle stays, then he better get out of Dallas, get out of the United States, and drop out of sight. Oswald never confessed, and didn't seem like a man ready to die a martyr's death. He vigorously evaded capture in the Texas Theater. Indeed, he attempted to shoot one of the arresting officers during the scuffle but the releasing hammer of his revolver instead pinched the webbing of the officer's hand between his thumb and forefinger. We know that Oswald left his wedding ring with Marina that morning, a note telling her to buy their daughter some shoes, and over a hundred dollars, probably all the money he had, but it doesn't seem like he ever had the idea he was going to die or be captured. It seems more like the actions of someone that thinks he is going to go away for awhile, and in order to do that, he would have needed some financial help (and a ride!). Heck, he can't even drive himself to work! I don't think he had plans to go back to work the next day or ever again, and I don't think he planned on sticking around Dallas just to see what would happen. As for Wallace's (IF involved) plans for Oswald, he's a convicted murderer himself. He won't have a bit of problem putting a bullet through Oswald's head and burying him where he'll never be found or setting Oswald up to look like a suicide. This plan originally worked with Henry Marshall, Marshall's death not being reinvestigated and deemed to be a murder until after Wallace was already deceased. The story of Marshall's death and Wallace's likely involvement is outlined in this book, Blood, Money, and Power - further evidence that Vincent Bugliosi must not have even read it if he says that McClellan doesn't even make a supposed connection between Johnson and Estes' criminal activities.Some not wanting to believe Johnson would get within a thousand miles of this thing because it would be brazenly insane should have no problem seeing that it was brazenly insane to venture so close to Doug Kinser's murder (Johnson's sister's ex-boyfriend). Wallace walked in to his business, shot him, walked out and drove away. Witnesses got the license plate, Wallace was quickly tracked down, put on trial and found guilty of first-degree murder with malice aforethought. The jury recommended the death penalty, but guess what, Wallace, of course being defended by the Clark law firm, was sentenced to five years, sentence suspended and walked out of court a free man. Clark - Johnson - Wallace.Henry Marshall, the Agriculture Department agent investigating Estes: Murdered. Officials ruled the death a suicide even though the old man would have had to shoot himself with a rifle five times. A local resident had been asked for directions to Marshall's place that day. A police sketch of the man looked nearly exactly like - guess - Mac Wallace. Estes - Johnson - Wallace - Probably Clark once again pulling strings to get a suicide ruling in such a ridiculously obvious case of murder.IF, repeat IF they would be so brazen (and successful) in those cases, they would think it totally doable to set this Kennedy one up as well. Wallace's role may have been the easiest in the assassination of all three murders: Be there to make sure Oswald follows through, tell him he will meet him in an hour at 'X', take a little drive with him and pop him.",4.0,Bugliosi owes McClellan an apology,1100649600,"11 17, 2004",24,27,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 AI5T5WPUCWR7B,0470289066,Andrew Malekoff,"[6, 6]","I liked this insider's view on the formation and development of the Eagles. The book is well written and revelatory, confirming some of what the public might have already surmised about what happens behind the scenes in the lives of rock groups. The book is written from one band member's perspective and it is difficult to know, from this book, what the other band members truly thought of the author and his role in the band, as well as their perspectives on the development of the Eagles. To the extent that this information and insight is missing, it adds to the curiosity of interested readers, who can now search the internet for interviews with his bandmates and business associates to round out the full story of the Eagles. Although, never knowing the full and true story, adds to the mystery, that always makes things more interesting than the full and unvarnished truth.Overall, a good read that I recommend highly to fans of the Eagles and to anyone interested in learning about the development and transitions of a working group as an insiders sees and experiences it.",4.0,An Insider's Insights,1220054400,"08 30, 2008",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AXZRD2218ZWAM,1612184456,C. Brock,"[0, 0]",Meh... The book was okay but a little bit silly. It was good for a mindless read. It was not horrible.,2.0,Meh...not horrible,1391644800,"02 6, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11VUG7M2C79VV,1940574137,"TAKEOVER PUB ""~TakeOver~""","[0, 0]","I have several books by Mz. Robinson but this was actually the first book I read and it was refreshing after reading so many books where the kingpin meets girl and change her life LOL you know the books. Kharem was a good guy that was presented with a proposition and exceed, however he did make some poor choices which karma came back and gave him what he dished out, the suspense, sex, baby mama drama, cheating, and more was so on point. Great job Mz. Robinson! #GStreet",5.0,Refreshing,1393113600,"02 23, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2B00A7Q330AFZ,0764566164,Kayleigh W,"[13, 13]","My sister gave me a copy of this book at my baby shower after receiving a copy at her baby shower earlier in the year. I have to say that it has proven to be one of the most practical baby gifts that I received. When my baby was a newborn, I referred to the book a couple of times a day -- so often, in fact, that I made a point of carrying the book in my baby's diaper bag if we were going to be out for the day. It's just the right size to fit in a diaper bag or the bottom of a stroller. One weekend I happened to leave it behind when we were visiting frienda out of town and our baby developed a fever. I wanted to look at the fever guidelines in the book, so the friend we were visiting called around until she found a friend who owned a copy of the book, and then drove over to borrow that person's copy of the book. That's how attached I'd become to the book! (Mind you, a friend of mine developed an even more extreme attachment to the pregnancy book written by the same author. She kept one copy in her desk at work and a second copy at home. That way, she'd always have a copy within easy reach!)So what is it that makes this book so special? A couple of things. For one thing, the author uses a friendly and reasuring tone that puts your mind at ease and makes you feel confident in your mothering abilities at a time when you may be second guessing yourself a lot. She also has a great sense of humor. (And there are days when your sense of humor is your only mothering asset.) The book also happens to be well written and extremely detailed. If there's a topic related to babies that you want to know about, chances are it's covered in the book.The book also includes Web resources, a detailed glossary, a list of organizations such as infant health associations that every parent should know about, growth charts, immunization schedules, babyproofing checklists, charts summarizing the symptoms/treatments for the most common childhood illnesses, month-by-month infant development charts highlighting the key social, emotional, intellectual, and physical developmental milestones, tips on playing with your baby, advice on promoting healthy sleeping and eating habits, and much more. The book has proven to be an invaluable resource and I intend to let all of my friends know about this terrific book.",5.0,One of the most practical baby gifts I received,1073433600,"01 7, 2004",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A1BBM1KCDAYWWX,1475195621,f.lastbame,"[0, 0]","This was a really good book with a happy ending! Lots of action, some mystery, some young puppy love, and a kick-butt lead heroin! Gotta love some flames!",5.0,Very good book!,1367539200,"05 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A11RCBT60CAPUM,073946289X,Deborah Stuart,"[0, 6]","Really gives you a feel for Natchez, even if you've never been there. Great followup to The Quiet Game, though you can read this one independently. Narration was great (audio version).",5.0,Great Book,1144195200,"04 5, 2006",0,6,unhelpful,0.0,0 ACM2CJ98ODME5,1468187953,Monica,"[132, 153]","The grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors in this book are embarrassing for the author, in my opinion. It doesn't take an editor to know that the plural of employee is NOT ""employee's."" (It showed up very many times, so it wasn't a one-off typo.) It doesn't take an editor to know that ""she seen him"" is NOT correct. (It was used in the narrative, not in the dialogue.) I could give many, many more examples, but I'll spare you. I was dying to get out a red pen and mark it up.In my opinion, the writing was extremely amateurish; I felt like an 9th grade girl wrote it. It was HEAVY on description (and not very interesting description), so I found myself skipping several paragraphs at a time. I called it quits at about the half-way point, and deleted it from my Kindle. I only made it that far, because I'm the type to always finish a book, even when I don't really care for it. Unfortunately, I just wasn't invested in any of the characters, and was much too distracted by all of the errors to finish this one. So I guess I *almost* always finish a book.The plot *could* show some promise, I suppose...but it would need a major rewrite.",1.0,Couldn't Finish,1329523200,"02 18, 2012",132,153,helpful,0.8627450980392157,1 A13OWJOBS7Z90I,1401902421,"Kathy Dannel Vitcak ""Me Being Me!""","[56, 57]","I have to start with this...I absolutely LOVED this book, but the CD is AMAZING! I admit, I am a bit of a collector when it comes to different meditation CDs and programs, but this CD is one of the best I own. The book is very well done, laid out beautifully and has a very pleasing usage of photography to accent what is being said. But the CD is what blew me away. For the last three months, since I got the CD, I have listened to one and on occasion both of the tracks every single day! The 20 minute one is the perfect length to start your day off beautifully - grounded and prepared to meet the world. John's sincerity just palpates through the audio, you can just feel how much he loves his work! The CD has not been removed from my little bedside CD player and every morning before I get out of bed I just pop on my headphones and start my day with John! I urge you to just click and buy this item. I cannot imagine you will be disappointed!",5.0,The CD Alone Is Worth The Price!,1151798400,"07 2, 2006",56,57,helpful,0.9824561403508771,1 A37789DEO1607F,0615456685,mona lisa,"[0, 0]",A few grammatical errors but a great plot and characters that grow throughout the story. Do check it out. The errors don't hinder you're ability to understand what's happening.,4.0,Great read for YA,1365552000,"04 10, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3MMRFCDOUFCUR,B00FM04W8Y,Romance Bookaholic Traveler,"[0, 0]",Short! Sweet! Incredibly hot! This male character is alpha all the way. The female character is sweet & strong. I love how protective he is of her.,5.0,Hot!,1384905600,"11 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YYQNSNMGIG7D,0739431234,"Jennifer Dieleman ""book worm""","[0, 0]","This is the best Civil War story that I have ever read. Lynn Austin did a fantastic job of writing the true feelings of one young girl. Caroline never agreed with slavery, but it is all she has ever known. This book follows her decision to do something different that will change the world. I found this book very well written and I couldn't set it down. I love books that tell the story of the Civil War. This story outshines anything else I have read about this time period. Lynn Austin is an truly amazing and gifted author who is able to intertwine Gods love through every theme in her books. This is a must read for any fan of History, or Lynn Austin.",5.0,Candle in the Darkness,1217116800,"07 27, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1BC6D94NAFZL5,B001UV3EUG,Annie B,"[4, 4]","I found Blind Malice to be an enjoyable read on many levels, especially for a debut. Being from NC myself, I enjoyed the setting very much and found it true to place. The visual descriptions and writing style are very, very good. The mystery falls into the cozy mystery style and is well thought out and plotted. The descriptions of flora and fauna are truly outstanding. Made this non-gardener want to go plant something.All that said, I did feel that Rachel and other characters could have been better developed. Personally, I probably would've enjoyed the book much more if I had gotten to know Rachel better. Hopefully, in future books of the series Rachel will be more fully developed and become more personable.I also wish the book had been longer. It reads more like a novella, which is fine, as it suited my mood at the time, but I think it should probably be labelled as novella rather than a novel. For me, a little more depth and length is required to truly merit the label novel and this lack of depth is what caused any disappointment I felt in the book.I liked Blind Malice enough,though, that I will certainly read more installments in the series and can recommend this first one to anyone who loves plants, flowers and gardening. That's where the author truly knows her stuff and shines most brightly.",4.0,Enjoyable debut,1300924800,"03 24, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AWLQ9T7RKNRH9,1592854869,Donna M.,"[0, 0]",Concise and pointed. Great information . Has a good understanding of bb principles and emotional responses to issues we face.,5.0,Great read,1354320000,"12 1, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2X4SI8PXSY4YU,0385494181,Carol Robel,"[0, 0]","This is an amazing book for anyone of any religion. It is very spiritual and informative and made me really ponder over many questions it brought to mind. It's a book that one needs time to digest and will be one that I will keep to read many times again. It is amazing and Ron Rolheiser is such a wonderful, gifted writer and has an amazing skill to help me deepen my spirituality.",5.0,The Holy Longing . . . a Great book!,1401494400,"05 31, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ADEVDXQLIUXB,1579128289,"Patrick S. Dorazio ""Author of The Dark Trilogy""","[11, 11]","The latest edition of zombie stories overseen by John Skipp contain numerous solid tales from many instantly recognizeable authors. Unfortunately, if you are like me and have read quite a few anthologies out there, you are seeing a lot of repeats, so beware. This book is broken up into ""Old School"" and ""Post Emancipation"" tales. In other words, pre and post Romero type zombie stories.Its hard to go wrong with the likes of Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Max Brooks, Ray Bradbury, Theodore Sturgeon, Joe Lansdale, amongst others, but again, if you are like me and have picked up several different anthologies over the years you have read upwards of a third to a half of these stories already. This is not to say that this is not an excellent primer for folks who want to get a good cross section of zombie stories, from the extremly subtle to the up in your face, but be prepared to see a lot of familiar stories between these pages.Another reviewer has provided a TOC so I will pass on doing so here. My strongest recommendation for picking up this book will go to those who perhaps have only dabbled in zombie lit and want a really strong group of short stories to look over that go from one extreme (Ray Bradbury's tale, 'The Emissary,' is ominous and foreboding and only hints at the dead coming back to life) to the other (Adam-Troy Castro's story, 'Dead Like Me' has a man essentially destroying everything that resembles life inside himself until he so closely resembles a zombie he is virtually no different) in regards to how involved the zombies are in each story line.I am not a reader who laments the lack of literary refinement amongst authors who write in the zombie sub-genre today. In fact, I enjoy quite a bit that is coming out from some of the smaller publishing houses like Permuted Press and Library of the Living Dead. I also enjoy some of the bigger players in horror and beyond as they take their swipes at the rotting buggers. This book is a good combination of some of the best of both worlds, with today's raw, exuberate violent apocalyptic experience and the more subtle literature from days past.Again, this is a terrific anthology for anyone who wants to take a look at some really quality stuff in the zombie world, but be warned that if you already have a zombie anthology collection you probably will see plenty here that you have seen elsewhere.",5.0,Good anthology though plenty of repeats,1258502400,"11 18, 2009",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A303DASA54TDCC,0151008116,"FJC ""Flynn""","[10, 16]","This is not a great book. It is merely an okay book with pretensions to greatness. Yann Martel (or the narrator) claims that this is a story to make you believe in God. Wow. That sets the bar pretty high. The book begins with a story about a little boy that loves all religions with equal fervor. But this theme is forgotten almost entirely. Overal, the book feels disunified, as if Martel didn't have a clear idea about what he was trying to say or how he wished to say it. The component parts don't necessarily work together. On top of this, Martel's prose is occasionally quite clunky. There were more than a couple of sentences that made me grimace. Martel obviously has some talent but also needs to mature a lot as a writer. I won't say you would be wasting your time reading this book, but there are a lot of books that in my mind would take precedence.",2.0,Way overrated,1057881600,"07 11, 2003",10,16,helpful,0.625,1 A2QQJ1W9820UR5,0385720599,"Glenn M. Frazier ""New Christian""","[13, 16]","This book, written in 1999, is a must read for anyone wanting to evaluate America's chances in the current conflict.Soul of Battle is about a special intersection of ideology and warfare. Hanson proposes that democratic ""armies of a season"", led by philosopher-generals, in pursuit of a just cause, can be phenomenally devastating beyond what any material measures would predict, when taken on an anabasis (march upcountry) into the heart of an oppressive, militaristic society.To illustrate this thesis, Hanson captivatingly narrates the details of the marches and men lead by three generals: Epaminondas, William Sherman, and George Patton. The first lead the yeomen of Thebes to crush the supposedly unstoppable Spartans in their homeland. The second lead his famous-and often misunderstood-""March to the Sea"" that eviscerated the Confederacy and ended their will to fight. The third, despite constant interference from above, lead the brand-new Third Army in a mad dash into the heart of Nazi Europe. All three were vilified by members of their own side, worshipped by the men they commanded, and unexpectedly victorious over and devastating to the slave-owning regimes they went up against.The first thing that grabs me, reading this book, is how compelling Hanson's narratives are. Some of the minutiae he examines would, in the hands of another author, make for somewhat dry reading. Hanson, though, has the refined gift of not only loving his subject matter to death, but also of being able to convey that love to a fairly broad audience.Hanson is a professor of Greek at California State University in Fresno, as well as a frequent contributor of opinion articles to outlets like National Review. However, he is also a fifth generation farmer and a great believer in the ""yeoman-citizen"" who puts down his work to go and fight evil for a season, much as his father did in World War Two. This perspective comes out strongly in his sympathies for the Theban hoplites, the midwestern soldiers of Sherman's Army of the West, and the unassuming Americans of Patton's Third Army.The book is enjoyable, but is Hanson's thesis true? It's certainly compelling as he argues it. Much of what he says flies in the face of the accepted wisdom regarding why soldiers fight. Citing letters and diaries of soldiers, though, he does show that ideology and idealism were significant motivating factors for these people-these folks fought to do more than merely ""protect their buddies"". He also takes on the accepted wisdom regarding the generals that have partially overshadowed Sherman and Patton (Grant and Eisenhower, respectively). Comparing Sherman to Grant (who were friends), he notes that Grant's efforts were focused on the ""terrible arithmetic"" of grinding down the lives of the Army of N. Virginia, while Sherman fought a largely battle-free campaign to destroy the Confederacy's will to fight. Eisenhower was a logistical genius and part of the new breed of ""corporate generals"", a mastermind of management and organization; Patton, on the other hand, was the general who saw that the conservative approach directed by Eisenhower was unnecessarily long and-while ""safer"" from the strategic perspective-ultimately far more costly to the individual lives, not only of allied soldiers, but also to enemy soldiers and civilians held in helotage or worse.Let me back up a moment. Before opening this book, I would always have characterized myself as a fan of Alexander the Great, Robert E. Lee, and Douglas McArthur. Sherman has never interested me, Patton always bored me, and of Epaminondas I knew nothing. Hanson has fully converted me in all regards, now.This is a good book, but there are many good books. It makes it onto my Warblogger's Bookshelf because it is also of real relevance to today's conflict. The most disturbing aspect of this book is the trend over history that the three generals exhibit: as command and control has become more all-encompassing and farther reaching, as armies have continued to reward good ""peacetime generals"" and politicians have gained greater influence over the day-to-day decisions of the military, the potential effectiveness of these rare and critical philosopher-generals has steadily decreased over time. The kind of person you want leading your democratic army when confronting real evil is generally someone that will be rejected by polite society; they are at their best when they may act on their own. Had Bush and Powell, the first time around, not halted Schwarzkopf's Iraqi anabasis before it was completed, we would be looking at a very different Middle East, right now. At the same time, as Hanson himself has said in many places, a democratic society's auditing of the military that serves it is an important foundation of the free society we enjoy and defend.Hanson's thesis is multipart and, in the end, complex; sometimes it feels like he is trying to cover too much at one go, dashing about to keep all of his plates spinning. This is a small criticism, though, as he does manage to pull it all off in what amounts to a wonderfully written book filled with compelling stories, all supporting an important statement on the nature of war.",4.0,Democracy's Weapon,1021852800,"05 20, 2002",13,16,helpful,0.8125,1 A3ISHIGGK4JD1X,0062508865,Reeshiez,"[41, 51]","While this book is definately an excellent introduction to the life of Mohammed, Karen Armstrong clearly doesn't have the knowledge required to write an in-depth and more accurate biography of the prophet. The sources armstrong uses are mostly western and whilst she does depend on many early islamic sources, she does not do so critically. Tabari, a scholar that she quotes several times in a book, recounts different versions of early islamic history side by side (she mentions this point in the book) however she only uses those versions that are in lui with the mainstream interpretation of islamic history. Ismaili's, Shi'ites, Sufis, kharijites and other minority sects have different interpretations of the early history of islam, and whilst I am by no means saying that their versions of history are truer than the mainstream sunni version, I believe that is important to also give their viewpoints. For example, Armstrong give a rosy picture of the Caliphite period which came after the death of the prophet, whilst minority sects are more critical of this period. She also gives little importance to the members of the prophets family like ali and fatima whilst in shiite islam they are considered central figures who were persecuted by Abu Bakr, Omar and Aisha. She calls Fatima the daughter of the prophet a weak figure whilst in reality she is a very strong women who went to the mosque after the prophets death, and in front of an audience of mostly men, demanded her inheritance which was taken from her from abu bakr. Although muslims disagree on whether it was right for abu bakr to take her inheritance from her, it is important to note that not all muslims see abu bakr as a good persons and many shia portray both him and omar as cunning and deceiving. I am not advocating the shi'ite version of history, but I believe that armstrong should have examined the discrepanies between the two versions (and also the other minority sects) thus giving a less biased viewpoint of early islamic history.Another problem that I have with armstrong is her apparent lack of understanding when it comes to the arabic names of the biblical prophets. For example, she mentions that mohammed may have confused mary, the mother of jesus with miriam the sister of aaron because they are both called mariam in the quran. In fact Christian Arabs call Mary, Mariam also and they call Aarons sister Miriem (note the slight difference)All in all though, it is an excellent biography and I highly recommend that you read it.",3.0,Good but needs more thorough research,1119139200,"06 19, 2005",41,51,helpful,0.803921568627451,1 A8IPQ1Q1O7YX5,0679736859,"Roger Brunyate ""reader/writer/musician""","[8, 9]","The old dilemma: award stars according to the author's mastery (close to 5) or to reflect my own enjoyment of the book (2 or 3 at most)? There, right on the front cover, is a quotation from the San Francisco Chronicle: ""A thriller... by Ireland's master of the exquisite and uncanny whose brilliant use of prose narration places him in a league with Joyce and Beckett."" True -- yet it made me reflect what a dubious legacy Joyce bequeathed to Irish intellectuals who followed after.""My love. If words can reach whatever world you may be suffering in, then listen...."" The book begins in words, with this incantation, and it continues in words. Not events, not characters, not time and place, not even any tangible reality, but words pure and by no means simple, creating the atmosphere of a dream that may at any moment turn into nightmare, words spun out, questioned, erased, words rich in apparent meanings that the next moment may well be denied. The narrator must have a past, but we are not told what it is; even his name, Morrow, is assumed, chosen almost at random and since regretted. His love is referred to within the same paragraph sometimes as ""she"" and sometimes as ""you""; he calls her ""A... It's not even the initial of her name, it's only a letter, but it sounds right, it feels right."" The town house in which they meet seems impossibly vast at first description, though later it shrinks to more more normal proportions. Although some facts and details eventually emerge from the swirling verbal fog, the prevailing atmosphere is one of hallucination. Banville is indeed a master of words, but he uses them less to pin down normal meanings than to create a shifting web in which meaning itself is questioned.Nonetheless, several narrative strands do begin to come visible; quite separate at first, they gradually intertwine, but never become entirely connected. The narrator appears to be some kind of expert in Flemish baroque art, and he is called in to authenticate some paintings in an old deserted house. On the fringes of this are a number of lowlife characters (many of them quite bizarre), a hovering police presence (called ""Guards"" in Ireland), a possible theft, and some unexplained murders. The narrator also looks after his Aunt Corky, a woman of equally mysterious background, who is in some kind of home. But his most significant relationship is with A -- an erotic obsession that escalates through physical passion into some of the darker reaches of sexuality; these sections are among the best in the book, because at least they use the realities of flesh to anchor vagaries of feeling. Another kind of quasi-objective anchor is provided by the catalogue descriptions of various paintings that come in between the chapters. But even these artworks are displaced; although supposedly painted by artists from the Low Countries (all imaginary), their themes from classical mythology are more typical of the Italian Baroque. Yet the progression of subjects, with their undertones of eroticism and violence, parallel the narrator's developing obsession in a way that, to an art historian, may actually be clearer than the main narrative.The one negative in my review of Banville's Man Booker prizewinning novel,THE SEA(written ten years after ATHENA, in 2005), was a certain self-consciousness about the style; however, as it becomes apparent that the narrator is a writer, we come to understand that stylistic fingerprints such as questioning his word-choices or narrative technique reflect on the character, not on Banville. But in ATHENA, we never learn much about the background of the man who calls himself Morrow, so the same stylistic tricks seem more like the author showing off. If you admire verbal legerdemain and have a liking for Mannerism or the Baroque, certainly give the book a try. But it is not for everyone. [The color cover of the Vintage paperback edition, incidentally, is entirely misleading. Its bland watercolor portrait is the polar opposite of Banville's highly-wrought style, and its subject totally lacks the fascination of the erotic earth-spirit in the book.]",4.0,Bizarre Baroque,1215043200,"07 3, 2008",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 AB1SU5GBW87SH,0312265999,N. Egwim,"[14, 14]","I loved this book! The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because I wanted MORE information about the subject. It's nice to finally find a book that actually focuses on the history and politics involved with our (Afrikan) hair. We seem to overlook why we do certain things with our hair and it's nice to find a book that begins to look at those things. Hopefully the book will help to enlighten others. I consider myself to be someone who knows EVERYTHING about Black hair and I learned many new things from this book that I was not aware of. Also, it's not a long book; you can breeze through it in a day or two.",4.0,It's about time!!,1012435200,"01 31, 2002",14,14,helpful,1.0,1 A3BU2ZR7GAFKUT,0849917395,Connie Hukvari,"[0, 0]",I have been involved in prayer and or financial support for some time for the underground Christians in countries other than my own. What we think we know and hear is like a drip of water in the ocean compared to the individual stories of those who are extremely devoted to our Jesus! I have ordered one more copy for a sister and plan to order more for others.,5.0,WOW,1371513600,"06 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQQBRDQ2QJOO8,0545229243,Andrew C Wheeler,"[0, 0]","Shaun Tan is a massive talent -- his last two projects were the wordless graphic novelThe Arrivaland anOscar-winning short filmof one of the books included in this volume -- so it's wonderful to see some of his older projects brought back to give an American audience another chance to find them. (Tan is Australian.)LOST & FOUND collects three picture books by Tan -- ostensibly for children, since that's what the picture-book form was designed for -- but very readable and thought-provoking for older audiences as well. It moves reverse-chronologically, starting with 2001's THE RED TREE, a quiet, deeply thoughtful and almost meditative book that the over-scheduled or harried youngster nearest to you needs to read. Next is 2000's THE LOST THING, the source of the movie of the same name; it's a visually inventive story of one boy, the thing he found, and the question of where we all belong. Last is Tan's first book, 1998's THE RABBITS, written by John Marsden. Tan only did the art for RABBITS, but it's brilliantly caricatured work that tightly integrates with Marsden's understated words to make a gorgeous and cutting fable of the conquest of Australia.Each book strikes a distinctive tone -- RED TREE is melancholy, LOST THING has a note of whimsy with an underlying seriousness, and RABBITS is a cold-eyed view of inevitable losses. Each one is unified by Tan's paintings -- subtle, engaging, and intrinsically devoted to telling that particular story.If you buy this for your children -- and I do recommend that, very highly -- make sure that you read these stories first. (And maybe go back to THE ARRIVAL as well, which is a masterpiece of hope, estrangement, and the immigrant experience.) And then you might well find yourself stealing into their rooms to read these stories again, especially on those hard days when you need to know that there will be a red tree for you as well.",5.0,Three fine books from the author of the masterpiece THE ARRIVAL,1305417600,"05 15, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AROQES6647CHO,1596381310,"Erik Raymond ""Ordinary Pastor""","[4, 4]","Every now and then a book comes your way that seems to weigh about 30 lbs. more than its peers. A couple of years ago The Shepherd Leader by Timothy Witmer was that book.I should say at the outset, in a manner that I'm sure Witmer would appreciate, the book's great impact is not due to the author's creativity with words or concepts. It was quite the opposite actually. Witmer dusts off the biblical concept of shepherding and provides a very helpful guide to ministry.When I say shepherding I am not saying anything that pastors, or people who have been around Christianity very long, aren't already familiar with. We know that pastors are shepherds and elders are pastors. This is drilled into our minds. However, what Witmer so helpfully does is remind us that pastor/shepherd/elder is not just a noun-but a verb!Along these lines, the author writes in the introduction:Therefore, this book is designed to be a practical guide 1) to convince you that shepherding provides a comprehensive framework for what you need to be doing as a church leaders and 2) to provide a practical guide to help you start a shepherding ministry among your people, or to improve the one you already have.And this is pretty much what we have in The Shepherd Leader.In Part 1 we see the biblical and historical foundations for shepherding or leading the people of God. Here Witmer helpfully draws some lines of continuity between our day and both the Old Testament as well as the Apostolic era. This he does with helpful interaction with the contemporary resistence to the concept of authority in general and the church in particular.In Part 2 Witmer identifies what Shepherds are to do. This is where he gets very practical. It becomes convicting and affirming depending upon where you are. But regardless, it is helpful, refreshing and instructive.The chapter titles explain what you are getting here. Each chapter is represented in italics: Shepherds Know, Feed, Lead, Protect, the sheep.In Part 3 the author helps you to put it all together, or implement an effective shepherding stategy for the local church.One of the recurring lenses that Witmer uses is the Macro and Micro concept. That is what the shepherd leader does on the large scale and what he does on the small scale. I found this to be very helpful. It helped to united the too often estranged elements of pastoral ministry. What I mean is, often times churches are really good on the individual level but then lack in the public ministry of the Word. Others do a lot of preaching and teaching but neglect discipleship. Witmer won't have that (because the Bible won't have that imbalance). He helps to show the better way of active shepherding via relationships, visitation, preaching, leading, small group discipleship and general communication.As a church planter who is working to establish leaders this book is gold. My copy is dog eared and highlighted all over the place. It is what we use to talk through pastoral ministry with any potential elders or interns. Our other elders and I rarely reference Witmer but are very often dropping Shepherd Leader references in our conversations. Thankfully, it has permeated ministry.If you are a pastor let me give you a few more reasons to give this book a serious look. He hits these perennail pastoral burdens:How do you handle your back door issue? Lots of people come but not as many as you'd like get plugged in and serve. What do you do about that?How do you handle fluid membership role?Is there a way to anticipate counseling needs so that they don't always have to go to triage?At the end of the day, what is my real responsibility before God for these people?How can I develop an effective shepherding plan?How do I develop more leaders?What do I look for in these leaders?I could go on and on. The book is great. It's under 300 pages so it's not exhaustive, however, it's what is needed.",5.0,Must Read for Pastors,1298592000,"02 25, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A1MTN1IQZU8BAG,0425224325,Herb Hunter,"[10, 11]","A good overall primer on the current financial mess as well as some worthwhile suggestions on how to prosper/prepare for what may be happening next. Some of it might seem paranoid, but others would say he's only prudent.It would be even better if he didn't take so much time trying to sell everybody on his newsletter, but it doesn't take away from the quality of the books message. However, some closer editing might serve the author well (especially considering that this is the second edition) specifically the part where he quotes Alexander Tytler. The quote he mentions roughly says: ""Democracy only lasts as long as it takes for the people to realize they can vote themselves benefits from the public treasury.""While it is a true statement, five minutes of Google searching can tell you the quote was never uttered nor written by Alexander Tytler. It was quoted by Reagan in a political speech (probably thrown in there by a careless speech writer) and has been unfortunately repeated in conservative circles as much as ""May you live in interesting times"" is repeated by intellectuals, pseudo and otherwise. That one was wrongly cited as a ""Chinese curse"" by RFK in a speech he made in South Africa in 1965 (there is no such expression or curse in Chinese).Nevertheless, this is a quick primer for anyone who hasn't been paying attention or wants a straightforward explanation to the train wreck we're all witnessing now.",3.0,"A good primer, but needs some touch ups.",1228176000,"12 2, 2008",10,11,helpful,0.9090909090909091,1 A2XAKQQPBE17R,0679600728,L. R. Donato,"[4, 8]","i dont even know where to begin.first, the entire thing is written as if it were the denoument. every page feels like the last. it unfolds at breakneck speed with the feeling of a shocked recollection piecing things together as it progresses. the prose is solid and seamless. the story is engrossing and told with incredible uniqueness. we gloss over it again and again, each chapter is like another layer. instead of telling a linear story, faulker tells the same story from each point of veiw, in each dimension, revealing and completing more and more everytime. just brilliantly wrought. A must read for Sound and The Fury fans, this brings you even deeper into Quentins soul than you may be able to handle.read this book. if you dont want to buy it, read it.ps. Thomas Sutpen is the shit",5.0,a work of frightening genius,1152489600,"07 10, 2006",4,8,helpful,0.5,1 A1PHSXXR5PDU4G,0843960183,D.L. Snell,"[5, 5]","As John Everson's first novel, Covenant definitely has some problems, but the book is undeniably an absorbing read.The story follows reporter Joe Kieran on his quest to solve the mystery behind the annual suicides at Terrel's Peak, a cliff overlooking the ocean where each year people jump to their deaths--deaths that Joe believes to be murders, sacrifices to some false god. His investigation uncovers legends of an evil entity living in the caves of Terrel's Peak, a supernatural monster that sups on the unfortunate souls who smash against the rocks below; his search also leads him to a circle of friends, women who have lived in Terrel their entire lives--women who have each lost a child to the peak. As Joe digs deeper into the town's dark past, he begins to realize that he might be digging his own grave--and that HIS life isn't the only one at stake.Unfortunately, Covenant's most noticeable flaw is awkward prose. For the most part, the writing is clean and direct, but some clauses are so cumbersome, or phrased in such a strange way, they're hard to overlook, especially approaching the end where I believe Everson was stretching for words he hadn't used. Also, some of the metaphors, similes and sexual euphemisms ring absurd. These hiccups made me very aware that I was reading, a death sentence for some books.Nevertheless, Covenant's story and concept make it easy to overlook the flaws. Joe's step-by-step investigative reporting lends a procedural flavor, a pragmatic lens through which the reader can view something extremely chaotic. It creates a sense of realism, and it renders the speculative elements that much easier to believe. It also spins a mystery; the truth, the whole truth, slowly unravels throughout the narrative and doesn't fully unwrap until the climax--this has to be the most satisfying part of the book. Everson knew to take the most interesting element and hide it, leaving just enough bait to keep the reader drooling. Overall, the story arc deserves high praise.In the end, I really enjoyed Covenant and was able to set my differences aside. If you pick this up, know that it is a first novel, and with that in mind I think the sins of the book will be easier to forgive.",4.0,Sins of the Book,1229644800,"12 19, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AIDNIKV6B9DO0,B00HCQAVS6,JudyD,"[0, 0]","If errors bother you, don't bother, but if you love a really interesting exciting story line, this one's for you. Lively character development and can see where this can be developed into an interesting and engaging series that can take off in a variety of directions.",4.0,Really good story line but lots of errors,1392508800,"02 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2TYFAVX2IEAII,0312352298,M. Smith,"[6, 14]",With all the high reviews posted for this book I was disappointed. The author skimmed over some topics which deserved much deeper exploration. the relationships which were meant to be deep I found to be shallow. The ending seems rushed like the author didn't know what to do with the main characters.,3.0,disappointed,1170892800,"02 8, 2007",6,14,helpful,0.42857142857142855,1 A1N9RUILC0380G,1612182615,Drusilla Jackson,"[0, 0]",I bought this for my husband who is a big Star Wars fan. I surprised him with it for our anniversary and he loved it. I loved it ! It is just so cool to watch it open up and reveal what is inside. The book itself is beautiful and is a good read if you have kept up with the liniage of the Sith.,5.0,Loved this Vault Edition,1360713600,"02 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2H0F3EP5Q7Z0O,1780285140,"Mrs Mommy Booknerd ""Mrs Mommy Booknerd""","[14, 14]","No matter your religious views I am sure we all want our kids to be kind, respectful, confident and calm kids. This book tells tales that bring those lesson to life and so many more. With beautiful images and inspiring and uplifting stories this has become our new go to bedtime book. I love that my kids go to bed feeling good about themselves and with a new lesson blooming in their minds! 5 stars!",5.0,love,1368835200,"05 18, 2013",14,14,helpful,1.0,1 A24902ORGG82ND,0151001820,LoriDee,"[5, 6]","The Club Dumas isn't your typical mystery. Lucas Corso isn't your typical detective. So if you would enjoy something outside of the formulic mystery genre this novel will keep you reading late into the night. I couldn't put this book down. Like the main character Lucas Corso, I just kept getting more into the ""game"" as the story went on. Arturo Perez-Reverte has created an intriguing novel about about the world of antique booksellers and dealers. The reader is treated to details about the literary world and the quirky people who inhabit it. Lucas Corso describes himself as a literary mercenary who could possibly sell his soul to get the best aquisition. We follow him as he begins the story helping his only friend Flavio Lapont by authenticating a manuscript written by Dumas himself. Simultaneously, he is hired by a client to verify the fact that the book The Nine Doors of the Kingdom of Shadows is a forgery. Somehow these missions become intertwined as Corso's life becomes enmeshed in the mystery of the Dumas manuscript ""The Three Musketeers"" and the satanic significance of the Nine Doors novel. During his quest, Corso encounters a mysterious female and various characters that he names after characters from the ""Three Musketeers."" As the mysteries become more sinister and life threatening the pace picks up and the reader is swept into the bizarre world of the people who hold the other copies of the Nine Doors book and the simultaneously flowing plot about the Dumas manuscript. This isn't a light read but heavy on inferences with an ending that may leave some unsatisfied. I loved the detailed story with the references to historical facts interwoven with fantasy about the devil. An excellent novel.",4.0,Devilishly Good Read,1055548800,"06 14, 2003",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AD9ZUOXVI62B6,0691099863,"J. Nelson ""History Lover""","[12, 13]","I remember years ago reading an article about excavations at Mycenae uncovering a multitude of dams trying to keep flooding under control. Apparently after one dam was built, the water came through in two other places. When those were dammed, more flooding started elsewhere, resulting in more dams, etc. The author of the article pointed out that the Greek word for water was Hydra -- the same as the multi-headed monster that sprang two new heads for each one Herakles chopped off in the ancient story.This book examines the same phenomenon across diverse cultures and time periods. Peeling back layers of time and distance, the authors search for, and reveal, the kernels of truth behind the legends. And what a wonderful journey they share! Full of asides (frustratingly tossed away without comment at times) and journeys that turn back upon themselves, this is a book you will savor and linger over.Many of the thoughts will cause you to turn back pages to reconnect the dots yourself as they walk you through the processes of their evaulation. This will enjoy a fond place on your bookshelf among the favorites you treasure.Incidentally, Ms. Barber's other works (""Women's Work"" and ""The Mummies of Urumchi"") both share the same chatty style and interesting asides. Check them out. You'll see what I mean.",5.0,A wide-ranging exploration of myth development,1129161600,"10 13, 2005",12,13,helpful,0.9230769230769231,1 AVGGEAI1YGSAP,0312331754,Tucker Andersen,"[111, 136]","Robert Ludlum was often credited with being the creator of the modern day action/adventure/international conspiracy genre that provides a riveting reading experience and at the same time reinforces the cynicism so prevalent regarding our powerful political institutions. The sales of his novels certainly reached unparalleled heights, with each successive book further embellishing his reputation and delighting his legions of devoted readers. As difficult as it usually is to identify the most memorable character among the many created by a writer as prolific as Ludlum, the adventures and experiences of Jason Bourne in THE BOURNE IDENTITY almost undeniably created a character who universally captivated Ludlum's fans and whose presence seemed to demand that Ludlum return to create a series that would further enlighten his readers about both Bourne's future and his past. Thus, over the next several years THE BOURNE SUPREMACY and THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM formed a powerful trilogy which has led to the character coming to life on film, with the timing of the release of this book roughly coinciding with the movie sequel starring Matt Damon.Ludlum's fans know that Jason Bourne was the identity created and embellished by the CIA for a legendary undercover CIA operative whose real name was David Webb. Unfortunately, a deep cover operation in which Bourne/Webb was engaged went perilously wrong, and Webb has struggled for years to recover his lost memories and return his life to a semblance of normalcy. He has officially retired from the life of clandestine ops, has a wife and family and is a professor at Georgetown University. However, his deep friendship with his former CIA controller (Alex Conklin, who plays a key role in this story) allows him to maintain contact with his previous world. Suddenly, Webb finds himself the target of an incredibly skilled assassin and after his escape he finds himself at the center of a very complicated plot to frame him for several murders. Thus, cut off from most of his usual resources in the international law enforcement community, he must retreat into deep cover and use all the skills developed during his career as Bourne to stay alive and untangle the web which has been spun by a master at the high stakes game of international political intrigue and terror. The story is fast paced, the action almost non-stop, and the storyline sufficiently convoluted and the misdirection frequent enough to maintain the reader's interest. There are several other interesting characters, and a really dislikable villain, although I cannot go into details without providing spoilers.This is the first book that I have read by Eric Van Lustbader, so I cannot compare it to his previous work. Fortunately, he did not choose to attempt to imitate Ludlum's style (this fact might disappoint some readers), but rather chose to continue the Ludlum and BOURNE LEGACY by adopting the trademark Ludlum techniques which I have previously described but utilizing his own methodology to tell the story. Much of Jason Bourne's backstory in the jungles of Vietnam is cleverly interwoven as an essential element of this tale, I hope that some day it will be revealed how much of this was created by Ludlum before his death and how much was this author's invention. ( Many of Ludlum's fans remain curious regarding his role in the creation of THE JANSON DIRECTIVE and THE TRISTAN BETRAYAL, the two novels completed by others after his death.) This book is also much more philosophical in tone than most of Ludlum's work, but that factor is essential to the story.I highly recommend this book despite one meaningful flaw and one personal dislike. My dislike is the descriptions of torture and violence, which while infrequent were a little brutal for me. More importantly, there were a few instances where the escapes were a little too miraculous and the feats of physical prowess were unbelievable rather than improbable. All authors in this genre walk the fine line of implausibility veering into impossibility, and in some cases I thought this author wrote his characters into situations which left him without any believable methods of achieving the objectives of his narrative. I want to emphasize that despite these criticisms this is a pageturner with the type of palpable tension which epitomizes the Ludlum style. I was fortunate enough to discover Robert Ludlum when THE SCARLATTI INHERITANCE was first published, and read every subsequent book immediately upon publication (except THE ROAD TO GANDOLFO, originally published under a pseudonym) and enjoyed them all tremendously. Not only will this book provide enjoyment to Ludlum fans, but clearly if it achieves commercial success THE BOURNE LEGACY will include a further sequel. The conclusion of this story and the new addition to the cast of characters certainly foreshadow such a development.One final recommendation for Ludlum fans - as you may be aware Ludlum was a fan of the writer Gayle Lynds and she was his coauthor for three of his last books. While the plots were not as complex as the books for which he was the sole author, this collaboration allowed him to increase his productivity in the years preceding his death. While these stories never achieved the success of his other work, they alerted me to the work of Lynds, and I strongly recommend two of her works which I have read. The initial volume (which definitely should be read first) is MASQUERADE (review 3/4/2004) and the sequel is THE COIL (review 3/16/2004).To date these have not achieved the success which they deserve in my estimation, but they are definitely Ludlumesque in plotting and complexity, although with much greater character development.Tucker Andersen",4.0,(4 1/2) Jason Bourne Outlives Robert Ludlum,1089244800,"07 8, 2004",111,136,helpful,0.8161764705882353,1 A3GRN6J64F2C3X,1442362383,"Joseph P. Menta, Jr.","[0, 0]","More of a combination horror and adventure tale than an outright horror novel, Stephen King's ""Doctor Sleep"" was engrossing and fun. For those looking for more of a direct horror sequel to ""The Shining"", you do get that in the early chapters, as the young Dan Torrance (still called ""Danny"" at that point), has a few more encounters with the ghosts of the old Overlook Hotel (kind of like the way the henchmen in those old James Bond films would show up for one final confrontation after the main villain was defeated). But then we jump ahead and get a different type of story, one where grown-up Dan is a struggling recovering alcoholic who has made- at best- a shaky peace with his special abilities and his past.The story takes off when Dan is distracted from his own issues by a young girl also blessed (or cursed) with the ""shining"" ability, a girl who is targeted by a traveling group of psychic vampires who feed on children with her unique attributes. While there is definitely suspense about the story's outcome, I especially enjoyed the fact that the otherwise cute and friendly young girl, Abra, was shown to be extremely powerful and extremely strong willed, and regularly stood up to her attackers with only minimal help from Dan, who basically just gave her a little guidance on her powers. No patronizing damsel-in-distress scenes here.Likable yet nuanced supporting characters (including Abra's parents and Dan's friends from Alcoholics Anonymous) and decent attention to Dan's own issues round out the proceedings, all making for yet another strong, late-career entry from Mr. King.",5.0,"""Doctor Sleep"" will keep you awake",1388102400,"12 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A36JIRQLI6SA2B,0316056863,"Cathesper ""Cathesper""","[5, 6]","I have never seen 30 Rock, don't ever watch SNL, and only know who Tina Fey is from her Sarah Palin impersonation. Therefore, I was not at all prepared to fall so in love with her book. What a joy and delight this has been. It's laugh out loud (another thing I never do) funny and incredibly refreshing to read. Tina Fey has a new fan and she deserves millions more.",5.0,It's more than just a good book,1303344000,"04 21, 2011",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2TX179XAT5GRP,0618883908,"TeensReadToo ""Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier.""","[8, 8]","One night, Polly is awakened from a sound sleep to find her older sister, Bree, kissing her. As Bree's blood red aura trails behind her like the tattered wings of a ruined fairy, she tells Polly that she's leaving for the woods, so that she can try to be alright again. Half asleep, and not sure if she's really seeing her emaciated, drugged out sister or an actual fairy, Polly lets her go, with no argument over how much Bree has destroyed since she started using drugs.No one believes her when she tells them Bree has run to the woods, so it's up to Polly to provide everything her sister will need. Winter is almost there, and a developer is coming soon to trade out the trees for a housing development. Following the guidance of her grandmother, Baba, Polly knows that she could rely on herself to survive alone in the forest, and, with her help, so can Bree.Luckily, Polly finds that she doesn't have to be alone. Others may not be able to see the colorful bands of light around each other that display exactly who they are inside, but they will believe her. Under the protection of the hidden grove that Baba has shown her, Polly and her friends will learn that, with a little magic and a little faith, anything is possible.Beautifully written and with vibrant imagery, this book will strike a chord with anyone who has found magic and solace in their own secluded spot of wilderness. The explanations that head each chapter of the different wildflowers and their medicinal uses are also fascinating, as is the descriptions of various auras and what they mean. The back cover states that the author wrote this as a gift for her daughter, and she will be writing one for her son next. I'll be looking forward to reading that.Reviewed by: Allison Fraclose",5.0,Courtesy of Teens Read Too,1206835200,"03 30, 2008",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A11JU33HMT5XPU,1416575731,"S. Lawrenz ""Lendorien""","[0, 0]","In 1994, during the Rwanda Genocide, I was living in Africa with my parents in a country to the south of Rwanda. A teenager at the time, I could not truly comprehend what was going on or the immensity of the depravity being committed on one tribe of people by another simply because of their ethnic group. Now nearly 20 years late, the event is spoken of with horror akin to the crimes of Nazi Germany, and rightly so.Sebarenzi's book, God Sleeps in Rwanda is his autobiographical account of his experiences with ethnic strife growing up, his education and his experiences during the genocide. It also covers his growth as a politician. His successful entry into politics took him to become the speaker of Rwanda's Parliament. A voice for good governance and reconciliation, he came to odds to Rwanda's president Kagame over the latter's increasingly iron-handed tactics and autocratic rule. Eventually, fearing assassination by Kagame's security forces, Sebarenzi was compelled to flee Rwanda for his life. He Came to the United States and became a voice for reconciliation.God Sleeps in Rwanda is a book about healing, both spiritually and on a grander level. There is a sense of niavete about his writing, as if he feels as though kind words and good deeds will win over the depravity and corruption of the human soul. It is a wonderful message he pushes in the book, one of forgiveness and reconciliation, something surely could not be an easy thing to expect after something as horrible as the 800,000 murdered in 1994's genocide.That Sebarenzi can still have hope for Rwanda after the brutal killings and the increasingly iron-handed rule of Kagame speaks a lot about his philosophy. One can hope that someday Sebarenzi can be proven right and real reconciliation and forgiveness for those who wronged so many can come to a region that so sorely needs it.God Sleeps in Rwanda is a worthy read and a heartbreaking one for its honesty and the disappointment that runs so deeply through it. Still, if enough men like he can stand up for such principles as he espouses, things in countries like Rwanda can surly move to the better.",4.0,Heartbreaking and inspirational,1337299200,"05 18, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1G2JXUZGPYIT0,1484857062,"Claire Taylor ""Claire Taylor""","[4, 5]","O.L. RamosThe Keeper: AwakeningThe Keeper Series #1This was a great read that left me wanting much more from the story. I'm not sure I could choose between Michael and Vincent, both have redeeming qualities that leave you loving them by the end of the book. A full paranormal world that comes to life with the descriptive nature used, I fully enjoyed reading this from start to finish.I received an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.",4.0,Great paranormal read,1380412800,"09 29, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AHB5W6JNLGGKM,1483901890,stick99,"[0, 0]",I don't even know where to start with this review ! This was an amazing book ! I loved this series from start to finish ! The writing was fantastic and the characters were awesome ! This series is a must read for everyone ! Do not let the supernatural element turn you away if you don't think you are into that stuff ! This book is for everyone ! Thank you S.L. Jennings for an absolutely wonderful story ! I can not wait for more from you !,5.0,Fantastic !!! Loved this series !!,1363305600,"03 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1KOW4DE05KS5I,0470287470,Nancy L. Morris,"[0, 0]","Vey good instructional book, that has many good instructtions for knitting different patterns, that I will be trying. Thank You!",5.0,Knittin For Dummies,1388534400,"01 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1WI9BLVSUCLVZ,159698502X,John Elsegood,"[10, 12]","Author Hugh Hewitt has produced an appealing pro-Mitt Romney book that highlights the former Massachusetts Governor's political and business career and gives cogent reasons why he should not be discriminated against because of his Mormon faith.Romney alone of all the candidates has had to overcome the 'religious problem'to a greater extent than past Catholic contenders, Al Smith (1928), JFK in 1960, and another JFK in 2004. His Mormon religion was used against him by a member of the Kennedy clan when Romney ran against Ted Kennedy in the 1994 senate race and more recently, and importantly, by Mike Huckabee in trying to cement his lead in the Iowa Caucus race due in early 2008. While I am a lot closer to Huckabee in a religious sense than I am to Romney that attack, by the now front-runner in Iowa, was a low cheap shot and Huckabee deserves censure where it counts -by the American voters.America is the Great Republic precisely because it stands for across-the-board-freedoms and tolerance and Hewitt rightly warns that those Christians who wish to make Romney's faith a matter for intense debate and clause-by-clause scrutiny should be aware that they are opening a pandora's box for future attacks, by secularists, a cynical media and rabid atheists, against candidates of faith of a more orthodox persuasion.For those who may doubt that then the news today (23 December 2007), about former British PM Tony Blair announcing his conversion to Roman Catholicism, is instructive. Mr Blair said he was never able to discuss his religion in public in the UK, unlike politicians in the US, for fear of being seen as a 'nutter.' Thus far has the public square detioriated in the UK and if Romney is subjected to a barrage of criticism and derision for his faith then it will establish the same pattern for the future in the US- namely politicians of faith will be fair game and intimidated into surrendering the public square to the haters of religion.Like any other candidate for office Hewitt believes that Romney should be judged on his policy positions and for conservatives there is a lot to appreciate about Mitt: from his defence of traditional marriage as a Republican Governor in the bluest of liberal Democratic states, his strong defence and national border credentials, low tax policies, school choice, and a pledge to continue to appoint judges, as he did in Mass., that interpret the law instead of trying to make the law.As for Romney's pro-life change, Hewitt effectively catalogues some of the leading Democrats who changed the other way (to pro-choice) but somehow they don't receive the same attention from the secular mainstream media. Also what some might call Mitt's 'flip-flopping' can be described by others as him becoming more consistently conservative. Didn't a chap called Ronald Reagan move from being a liberal-abortion law governor to a consistently pro-life president? Come to think of it wasn't the Gipper once a Democrat? As Hewitt implies, being accused of being a flip-flopper is a very politically loaded term and frankly at times just plain silly as it it takes no account of a considered re-evaluation and changes of circumstances.Hugh Hewitt has written a timely book for all Americans to consider about a central character in a fascinating struggle for the Republican Party presidential nomination.In writing this review on my 29th wedding anniversary (23/12) I am reminded that Mitt Romney is the stand-out family man of all the candidates- devoted to his wife and children and with no hint of scandal- and given the tumultuous history of the Mormon Church in the 19th century, plus some of those less faithful who seek to denigrate him today, you have to say politics can be an amusing business.",4.0,Will American voters be sMITTen?,1198281600,"12 22, 2007",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2N568NZRH5B5A,B00I2E1ARI,ruth johnson,"[0, 0]",The book started out ok but seemed to get worse and the ending left you hanging. When I got to conclusion I felt as if I had wasted my time reading this novel.,1.0,Disappointed,1401321600,"05 29, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3NQXMLKCDFZSN,1484087011,TessTN,"[4, 5]","It was a good story, and I enjoyed what there is of it. However, there is a formatting glitch on the next to the last page, and the book ends so abruptly with no real resolution that I wonder if it's all there as intended.",2.0,Is this book complete?,1371081600,"06 13, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1L1YL29TT1Z7W,0316015482,Catherine W. Hughes,"[7, 17]","When Lucy the bear brings home a boy to be her pet, her mother tells her that ""children make terrible pets."" Unconvinced, Lucy takes the boy with her everywhere, from playing to eating to napping. However, Lucy soon finds out how difficult having a pet can be. When the boy chooses to go back to be with his family, Lucy learns a valuable lesson: ""Children DO make terrible pets."" This book is a good resource for families with children ages 3-6 considering having a pet. It will surely spark some worthwhile discussion.",3.0,People and Pets,1292889600,"12 21, 2010",7,17,helpful,0.4117647058823529,1 ADBE735U6ULXF,0345526821,"Dr W. Richards ""wmr-uk""","[17, 18]","If you're expecting a novel like Echoes or Tara Road, don't buy this book. If, on the other hand, you admire Maeve Binchy's ability to tell you all about a character's life, personality, interests and dreams in a few pages, then this is the book for you. The Lilac Bus is a series of 'postcards' or brief character sketches of a number of different people, all of whom travel home from Dublin each Friday evening on the same bus. Each has their own preoccupations and concerns, and Binchy manages to give us some fascinating insights into not only the individuals here, but into the tight little society to where they're travelling, with its own mores and habits.",4.0,Wonderful series of character sketches,959385600,"05 27, 2000",17,18,helpful,0.9444444444444444,1 AV9RZV7C8LDWB,1470124327,nappinghouse,"[0, 0]",it was nice to have a follow up after Slammed. But this one is not as charming without the poetry.,3.0,not as good as Slammed,1358208000,"01 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3T8885W9ZV3IF,030758836X,Beth A Aversa,"[0, 0]",I bought this book because it was well rated and then wondered why it was. I skimmed through the book and know that I won't read this author again. Perhaps others would like it.,3.0,disappointment,1387497600,"12 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AIW4F5SZPACH8,0982715803,Sylvia Grecco,"[0, 0]",I could not wait to start reading this book after I finished the first one in the series. It was fantastic and held my interest to the very end. I started the last one immediately after the end of this one.,5.0,Bruce Trilogy Book II,1365811200,"04 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3QSM5XHPL1T6Y,1569758468,"Greg ""Saganite""","[9, 13]","Another reviewer seems shocked that a book named ""The Good Atheist"" doesn't include a list of bad atheists. At first I was ready to criticize that point as obviously off-target, and then remembered how surprised I was to learn thatFox's Book of Martyrs - Or A History of the Lives, Sufferings, and Triumphant - Deaths of the Primitive Protestant Martyrsconsisted almost entirely of martyrs. He is also mistaken about Margaret Sanger not being in the book--she is, but not listed as a eugenicist. I think it's possible to celebrate a person's accomplishments without necessarily listing them by their flaws. I think reformer Martin Luther was more than merely a virulent anti-Semite, for example, although he was that, too.But enough reacting to what other reviewers might have said.""The Good Atheist"" has a solid premise and in an accessible, easy-to-carry package presents(with welcome help from an introduction by the talented Julia Sweeney, perhaps best known in atheist circles forLetting Go of God) the radical notion that a person can be good without a god. Not only good--but remarkable, fulfilled, compassionate, and yes, purpose-driven. In fact, the first section of the book makes the powerful case that a religious believer acting as a slave to her deity isn't actually ""purpose-driven"" in a sense we should admire, because the purpose is someone else's and is often taken up under threat or by bribery. Barker argues convincingly that a mind free of superstition and servility is necessary for a fulfilling life.But nowhere do I see him arguing that it is sufficient.For that, Barker turns to the inspirational (we need a better word) example of the many, many atheists and non-religious folks throughout history who have contributed so much to human existence. Writers, artists, activists--nearly every major field of human endeavor gets mention. Barker was under no obligation to include bad or indifferent atheists because the point of the book is to demonstrate to the faithful that life without gods can be moral, fulfilling, and purposeful, and to give atheists examples of things fellow nonbelievers have accomplished.At that level, it is a success and I recommend it. But if you wish to dig a little deeper, I recommend two resources that provide a more comprehensive treatment of similar topics: regarding living the good life as a nonbeliever, check outThe Atheist's Way: Living Well Without GodsandThe Choice of Hercules: Pleasure, Duty and the Good Life in the 21st Century, and for a wonderful compendium of atheist quotations, seeThe Atheist's Bible: An Illustrious Collection of Irreverent Thoughts. If you're in a hurry or not a big reader, Barker's book will suit you just fine, but if you're one who likes to dig deeper, you might find the fleshed out volumes more satisfying.",3.0,"Pretty good book, as long as you know what to expect.",1295481600,"01 20, 2011",9,13,helpful,0.6923076923076923,1 AIK7I9BYWV9Q1,0786891246,"R. C Sheehy ""deadsox""","[6, 9]","I found this book to offer an interesting perspective less on the death of Princess Diana and more on the way that this death has changed the Monarchy and the way the media has reported on it. The book also reports in some detail on the lives of the two princess and offers insights into how their behavior may have been different, or not, had the Princess not died so young.Still the work is weak because it relies on too many third party news article sources as well as unnamed parties. This in turn makes this work one of the weaker ones as the London tabloids are well known for being exploited by palace intrigue to bash one member of the Royal family for benefit of another. Not a bad read but basically fluff and not even close to a good biography or journalism.",2.0,Good but very gossipy work,1189987200,"09 17, 2007",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2I5VP31U3M19Y,0789751984,Scanf,"[0, 0]","This book is for true beginners to programming. Its goal is to give you an overview of C with the minimum of stress. Chapters are short, with very clear writing and attractive layout.It starts by leading you through installing Code::Blocks, a free coding environment that works on Windows, Linux, and Mac. The text is very easy to work through. It is mostly just type this text, click that button, and inspect the result. Each chapter is a description of some language feature then an example program to run. There are no exercises, review questions, or any of the activities usually found in programming books. At the end of the book is a complete Draw Poker program for you to compile and run.On the down side, the sample code has errors and access to the errata sheet, if it exists, requires registration. I do think the sample programs tend to be longer than needed to illustrate a point.The intent of this book is to survey the basic features of C with a minimum of work from you, and it does a good job of that. Just remember that programming is a skill, which can be gained only through significant effort. This book will not bring you to the point of being able to write substantial programs, but it will prepare you for a C tutorial that assumes some programming background. If you are a total novice who needs to be led by the hand, but are ready to put some effort into it, I would suggest Gookin'sBeginning Programming with C for Dummies.",4.0,The easiest introduction to C,1401062400,"05 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A23W32F5K1SBMQ,0373829388,"Mrs. Maria R. Perrotti ""mazadia""","[0, 0]",what a cute story!,5.0,Marriage of Inconvenience is a wonderful romantic story>,1404086400,"06 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALOC0W2ISSEJA,1598633600,Jeremy Raven,"[4, 4]","This was a great choice for me to purchase this book and I have to thank all the positive reviews on Amazon for it. Some people were apparently confused by the title on the first edition and so it was altered on the second. This book is for people who want to learn C++ as opposed to people wanting to learn game programming. This is the perfect choice for absolute beginners. The author explains things really well and assumes you know very little about programming. His writing style is concise yet light and quite methodical, starting off with basic programming structures and building his way up to classes. This book alone will not teach you everything you need to know but it surely was an excellent introduction for me into the world of C++ and the fact it used game creation as a vehicle, this made it even more interesting for me.",5.0,Excellent learning material,1266969600,"02 24, 2010",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3V50UPHHB426I,030735346X,Diana Migliaccio,"[7, 10]","it was great, just like everything else that Ann Coulter does. Exciting and right to the point.",5.0,guilty,1235174400,"02 21, 2009",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 AY5A0MX5QSN0E,0446576433,"Martha R. Boland ""MartiB""","[0, 0]","Although he claims to be neither right nor left, many of his examples are apologies for current President. However, his overall premises are thoughtful and really "fleshes out" and eventually explains how the current lobbyists and special interests are "the way of Washington,DC" and why it would be difficult to change nay impossible, under current circumstances. It is a scholarly book and not for someone looking for an easy read. It does offer a comprehensive look at the multiple layers of how money, buys not only influence but also access, issues considered, and thereby shapes the national policy, leaving the vast majority of informed citizens without access to meaningful influence on all arms of the federal government...... Doesn't sound like a republic to me. Recommend a thoughtful read if your patience is willing.",3.0,interesting point of view,1377388800,"08 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A19AJVM9DV5L36,0743219597,William J. Christensen,"[0, 0]","I enjoyed reading three of the PD James books. She writes well. I found the structure of the stories to be remarkably similar. I think I enjoy other writers in a more favorable light--Grisham, Kellermans, Burke, Connly, Baldacci, Coulter etc.1) the dirty deed2) interviews3) Deductive reason leading to the identification of the guilty party.",3.0,"INTERESTING READ--good, not outstanding",1317254400,"09 29, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2IB7Y8Z9VXL6F,1611183898,Alberta Slocum,"[0, 0]",The storyline kept my attention. The female lead's character didn't really keep me interested but the male lead's did. It ended too abruptly,3.0,Enjoyable,1373587200,"07 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8XZJ8Q6POCHF,0312424094,historygirl,"[21, 30]","I read it and simply do not understand why people rate this book so highly. I felt like I was under a rain cloud, and I half expected mold to grow out of the pages. Everybody in this book is crazy except for Lucille, who makes the sensible decision to leave her delusional family and start a new life on her own. I wish the book followed her instead - she was the only one that showed any bravery and originality.The rest of the time, I'm assuming we're supposed to feel sorry for the crazy aunt and the other sister, who fall deeper and deeper into mental illness. Personally, I finished the book faintly disgusted by them both. I wish the author had invested a bit more grit and toughness into her characters, and a little less naval gazing.",1.0,"If you like lots of water, no plot, and a lot of self importance, this one's for you",1248912000,"07 30, 2009",21,30,helpful,0.7,1 AUOL8284BYMV7,087337469X,David C. Veeneman,"[143, 153]","I ordered this book to educate myself on the process of obtaining a patent. I don't plan on writing my own application--I believe pretty strongly that, even with a good book of this sort, self-filing is a very bad idea.I know from some work that I have done that patents are regularly thrown out in court because of technical defects in their language. I am personally familiar with a case in which a major patent was overtuned because it misused insurance industry jargon. But if that's not enough to make your hair stand on end, consider this: Who is going to license or buy a do-it-yourself patent? Probably not Microsoft, GE or Ford.So why am I buying this book? I suspect that the second major cause of patent failures is the inventor who turns the process over to a lawyer and isn't involved. I want to know the process so that I can be a more intelligent, actively involved client. I rely on my patent lawyer for his legal expertise, and he relies on my for my subject matter expertise. The better I understand the process, the easier it is for him to communicate with me.'Patent It Yourself' is a good text to use for that purpose, even though it is aimed at do-it-yourselfers. If I know the process well enough that I could do it myself, then I know enough to work with an expert in the field, and to respect his or her expertise.",4.0,"Good, But Be Careful!",1053302400,"05 19, 2003",143,153,helpful,0.934640522875817,1 A1V21E4ZTG2KHD,0446579939,reader77,"[0, 0]","Found myself re-writing the story in my head so many times. Not as good as some of his others. Usually I love his writing, this one seemed lacking a bit, Good, not great.",3.0,good story,1403740800,"06 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3M174IC0VXOS2,0778324516,Gail Cooke,"[23, 23]","Those eagerly awaiting a return to Seattle's Blossom Street will be pleased with Macomber's sequel to The Shop On Blossom Street. Many remember that cancer survivor Lydia Goetz opened a shop, The Good Yarn, which soon housed a knitting class of four women who forged friendships and helped each other through life's rough spots. The same kind of caring and helpfulness are found in Back On Blossom Street. Those who enjoy a feel-good listen will find it here.For those who don't understand the healing properties knitting offers, Lydia explains it thusly, ""Knitting was my salvation. That's something I've said often, I know, but it's simply the truth. Even now, after nearly ten years of living cancer-free, knitting dominates my life. Because of my yarn store, I've become part of a community of knitters and friends.""She is now beginning a new knitting class and this time the work is on prayer shawls. Among the knitters are Colette Blake, a young widow employed at the new shop next door that offers flowers and floral arrangements. Colette had been romantically involved with her previous employer who is now frequently ordering flowers - all too much for her to process. Clicking needles right along side her is Susannah Nelson, the owner of the flower shop.Making a return visit is Alix Townsend, the daughter of ne'er-do-well parents who is now engaged to Rev. Jordan Turner. The wedding, which she had imagined as a small, meaningful occasion is quickly becoming a major social event. Now, just a few months before her walk down the aisle Alix is beginning to wonder whether or not she is cut out to be a minister's wife.Add to these worries Lydia's sister's daughter being the victim of a car jacking and Lydia's gradual awareness that her history of cancer may prevent her from ever having children of her own.However, according to the author's premise, there is healing in friendship and often a solution to one's problem is discovered in the words of another.""Back on Blossom Street"" is a warm, pour yourself a cup of tea listening experience, especially as read by Laural Merlington, a voice performer with some 30 years of experience who narrates with grace and good humor.- Gail Cooke",4.0,WARM AND HOPEFUL - GOOD LISTENING,1178150400,"05 3, 2007",23,23,helpful,1.0,1 A1VYPOWLOJ7Z8S,1456339850,Melanie Rigney,"[0, 1]","I'll be honest. It took me a long time to get into this book. The rapidly changing points of view, even in a single scene, were disconcerting, as were the grammatical and typographical errors. Even as I struggled to get through it, I loved the image of Peter struggling with the sea within. And then, WHAM! Peter got up the courage to tell Jesus he was the Messiah. That scene and the remainder of the book were amazing... so poignant... so personal. I found myself noting all sorts of wisdom for contemplation and meditation. This is a lovely little book that may change your faith journey. Stick with it, even if you have problems getting into it. It'll be worth it.",4.0,Word Pictures That Will Resonate in Your Soul,1381881600,"10 16, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AU2SAEZGB8TUG,1410458792,Glenda Rainbolt,"[0, 0]","I really enjoyed this book, but I didn't think it was as good as his first two books! Lots of interesting twists in all of them! He is a good author!",4.0,Good book,1397260800,"04 12, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2DGJ7YYN7WL7K,1938601122,claire,"[4, 6]","disappointed by this book.i normally love grim reaper series (Darynda Jones, charley davidson comes to mind), but this...seem to just touch on it slightly.Mostly it was about a woman getting over her husbands death, finding out he was a grim reaper (and we didnt find out much), the induction (which went on for pages all about health check, psych checks, paperwork filing, a physical test, walking around the building, going into ""command central""), looking after her 3 children.The biggest scene was her daughter being in a car accident similar to how her father died, and being ok with jsut a broken arm.Didnt find much about the characters. Only 2 reapings done throughout the book, which was a little lack lustre.I found myself skimming the last 20 pages, as nothing else happens.it feels like a preface for a book. but i was expecting more of a story here too, and there was none.i dont like to not like books, as i know the authors spend so much time and energy and effort into writing them, and i guess you cant please all the people all of the time, and im sorry i didnt like it!Read on behalf of bewitching Book tours",2.0,a disappointing paranormal read,1384041600,"11 10, 2013",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1HXT93O2GU5RR,1451608527,BRIAN KILLINGSWORTH,"[0, 0]",Very suspenseful. The story line had you hooked from the first chapter. I am anxiously awaiting his next book and recommend him to any lover of well wtitten suspense.,4.0,A who done it till the end!!,1364515200,"03 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A26UNIPEVYE9DE,034552795X,Amazon Customer,"[7, 9]","~Title: Wife 22Author: Melanie GideonCategory: Literature and FictionWife 22 is a novel about a middle aged woman who is trying to find herself by corresponding on-line with a researcher for the, Marriage in the 21st Century Study. The researchers sends her questions and the author only displays the answers, the questions - I found out just recently - are listed in an appendix at the back of the book. I found this to be distracting and annoying from the get-go. I didn't like the characters, and I especially found the main character irritating. For these reasons I only read less than half of this novel (over 3 months ago). I kept thinking that I'd go back and finish it, but the truth is...I simply lost all interest.",1.0,not for me,1345939200,"08 26, 2012",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 AEHP1Y8QYT8JK,0151012709,Deborah,"[0, 0]","Loved this book. Read it many years ago & still think about Merle to this day. Loved Marley & Me too but did not cry in it & just remember the book as chronically amusing. Enjoyed other books about animals, e.g., Seabiscuit, but this book really captured the spirit of this animal & the love that it resulted in. I can cry & smile to this day thinking about Merle & his owner.",5.0,Still think about Merle years later.,1339459200,"06 12, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3R2M6DGECQOO,1564146200,Terrie,"[18, 22]","I bought this book because its title led me to believe it was a book that might give my husband and me some ideas and insights for making our experience of our religion deeper. The book turned out to have some interesting food for thought, especially about the books and authors and community leaders of our Craft, that paved the way for many of us to follow and explore. I didn't find it useful as a tool for Wiccan couples. It seemed to focus a lot on finger-pointing and ""shoulds"" and shouldn'ts"". For example, a 6 month celibacy period is recommended at the outset of any courtship. Four stable marrieds, preferrably the four parents of the bride and groom should give their public consent before permitting the couple to handfast. A Wiccan should marry someone who is Wiccan. The priestess or priest who officiates at the handfasting shouldn't have any divorces or domestic problems in their past because like attracts like. And so on. This book was written by a man who repeatedly mentions in the text that he is not part of a ""couple"" but would like to be.Much of what he says in the book about the way The Craft has become trivilized and diluted I would agree with. Its trendiness and its treatment by current publishers as a fad do draw people to it that are not and never will be serious about it. However, many who are attracted to its sense of theatre and who at first seem to be focused only on the outer trappings of costume and romanticism are attracted to these things because they are creative, independent, sensitive and romantic souls who have not found their way in mainstream religions. To constantly put these searchers down and to use the petty names like newbies or, as this author does, ""Rubs"" meaning they rub him the wrong way, is arrogant and divisive and immature. This book brings up many things to think about and details some valid criticisms but I think it was less ""frank"" than it was insensitive in its way of pointing these areas of failure out. Many of the books and authors mentioned and criticized by A.J.Drew were extremely helpful and useful and while times and attitudes have changed since these books were written, they remain as valuable stepping stones along the path that so many of us have travelled. Along with the should and shouldn'ts in this book there is a lot of blame and a lot of mockery. There is some posturing as though, on one hand, there is one true Wicca and then on the other hand, there are the myriad lame ways that so many impostors do it. He gives us info on how to spot a Wiccan guru, ( guru being a negative term meaning phony, egotist, attention-seeker). These people aren't real clergy. Gurus are people who may have sent out public coven calls. Other times they may be tormented poet-philosophers. They are the outsider, the person no one understands. Their lives are either in neutral or reverse, never improving on their state of being. This author seems to indicate that the people who are fit to be clergy or leaders are the people who have it totally together and in this book's context that would be happily married couples. I think this book would make a wonderful series of debates within our community. I think it would be great to sit around a fire with some drumming going on steadily in the background and the stars wheeling overhead, maybe some mead being passed from friend to friend, and to share A.J. Drew's thoughts and feelings back and forth for examination and contemplation. I think it would be good for the community to take a close look at ourselves as seen critically by one of us and good for A.J. to get some feedback. I personally feel that some of his views are naive when it comes to couples and extended families, even communities. I think that in a world where so many are searching for a better way in their spiritual expression, that the purist (oh my, that sounds alot like Puritan)approach is just what we do NOT need. This book is interesting, in some ways helpful, because it questions and dissects, but keep in mind, it is not a text book or a witch's bible, and just because it was written by an experienced practioner of the Craft does not mean it's the way you SHOULD do anything. Unless it harms someone, that's up to you.",3.0,"Food for Thought, Needed Criticism, and Some Nonsense",1041033600,"12 28, 2002",18,22,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A2F7XU97CYFHDY,0470445904,Aaron C. Brown,"[58, 60]","Edit: I'm not going to rewrite this review, it's an honest account of what I thought after reading the book. But I've raised the rating to five stars and want to add the comment that I appreciate it more after letting it settle for a year, and after rereading some parts. I still think it's sloppy and doesn't give enough credit to others, but I take back the mean line about not having read the references and not understanding Minksky (I think I must have been a bit mad after wading through the sloppiness). On further reflection, the good points have grown better while the flaws remain the same.What I like about this book:* It contains important new ideas that can help any risk-taker with quantitative skills succeed* It challenges conventional wisdom* The meat of the book is based on practical experience, not just things that seem right to the author, but things he has tried, and generally with successWhat I don't like about this book:* $95, this should be a $25 list book available for $15 on Amazon and $9.99 Kindle* Sloppy argument and editing, to the point that some passages are not intelligible (doubly annoying in view of the first criticism)* Lack of appreciation for other people's thought, which leads to missing useful linksAn example of the sloppiness (and there are many) is on page 21, ""The key to the portfolio approach is the variance of two random variables is less than the sum of their variance."" This makes no sense. He might mean ""The variance of THE SUM of two random variables is less than the sum of their varianceS,"" but this is true only if their covariance is negative, while portfolio theory is more concerned with the positive covariance case. If the variables are uncorrelated, the variance of the sum is equal to the sum of the variances.He might mean, ""The STANDARD DEVIATION of THE SUM of two random variables is less than OR EQUAL TO the sum of their STANDARD DEVIATIONS,"" which is true, but a stretch from the original. Confusing variance and standard deviation is not something a quant is likely to do. Things like this destroy the value of the book for most people. Readers not confident of their quantitative skills will likely give up and figure the book is too hard (or worse, believe something false). Remaining readers will probably stop after the third or fourth example, figuring the author doesn't understand what he's writing about. Even those who continue on have lost whatever thought the author was trying to express. This stuff is hard enough even when expressed clearly and precisely.The book's summary of quantitative finance is backed up by lots of references, but I would bet that the author has not read all the references. He doesn't even seem to be familiar with Hyman Minksky's work, and he was a graduate assistant for Minsky. Nassim Taleb is not cited and he has a best-seller that covers some of the same ground.Unlike most people who dismiss the achievements of academic quantitative finance, the author does not concentrate on how unlikely the assumptions of the models are, instead he deconstructs the equations. But the point of the research is not the equation, it's the identification of the variables, the supporting argument and the empirical evidence. Financial equations are usually trivially simple, but that's not the same as obvious or useless.For example, the Capital Asset Pricing Model, which is the major target of the book, is a relation between immediate horizon ex ante expected returns of securities. The author assumes that this is a natural and obvious way to think about markets and valuation, then criticizes the equation. But there are lots of other potential ways to frame the issue: prices, values, cash flows, long-term returns, ex post returns and others. And ""expected return"" only makes sense in a rigorous context (who does the ""expecting,"" and when?). The author scorns rigor, but then uses the concept of expected return in a model with divergent expectations among investors, without discussion of whose beliefs define the expected return, and fails to distinguish that concept clearly from ex post average return and market-clearing return. He would probably call these questions ""hair-splitting,"" as he does to similar objections in the book, but without answers his ideas don't make sense. Nowhere in the book does the author discuss time horizons, everything is stated in terms of a single one-year period. His theory requires that investors pay for risk, but he doesn't consider that risk can be created free (two risk-lovers can flip a coin for money or, more realistically, zero-sum securities can be created with offsetting risk). Why would something that can be created free have a positive price in the market?However obvious the equations are now, people believed different things in the past, and acted on them. It was only after years of gathering empirical evidence and debating opposing views that the ideas changed practice. More importantly, it is only with this precision and data that the anomalies the author builds his theory on were revealed. No one ever discovered an anomaly without starting from the standard theory, without a standard there are no anomalies. The author implies repeatedly that academic finance ignores or explains away these anomalies when, in fact, they are the focus of research and other people have advanced explanations similar to his, and more radical ones as well. The author has seen far because he stood on the shoulders of giants, but he calls them midgets and tells the world he did it in spite of them.Okay, with all that, why should you read this book? Because when the author stops his sloppy and foolish top-down theorizing and begins to reason bottom-up from what he knows, he has some brilliant, incisive and useful points. He describes the multiple facets of risk in a new way. It combines ideas from probability theory, behavioral theory and economics, but has a unique structure. It might be a brilliant theoretical advance, I'm not sure, but it is definitely an actionable view. This is risk that makes sense in the trenches. It is pragmatic and will not lead you into silly errors, as almost all other versions of risk can do (of course, some but unfortunately not all of the people who use these other ideas know that, and emphasize that you have to use them with care). This is risk defined for risk-takers.For one example, and there are many, more than the examples of sloppiness, the book discusses Sharpe ratios on page 245-55 in a quantitatively reasonable way. This is very rare. Or a gem from page 177, ""The list of good alpha ideas is highly parochial in practice because a good idea is an improvement on the state of the art, which is peculiar to a specific art."" If this seems obvious to you, you are probably a risk-taker, and will find lots of good quantitative analysis in this book. If this does not seem obvious but you got as far as page 177, you are probably a quant who needs risk-taking explained in blunt terms. Both of you will find great value in this book.The most important single insight is that alpha is not a discovery, but an invention. It's not something you get rich just for finding, it's something you seek because it's an opportunity to invent your way to wealth. Alpha is not a block of gold lying in the street, it's noticing that in some niche, you're a sighted person in the valley of the blind. You are good at telling the difference between good and bad positions of a certain kind, and not enough other people are equally good or better to remove the profit opportunities. Finding this alpha is only step one, you have to work at mining it. Alpha shows you how to mine in a good place (for you), not a played out shaft.This idea is integrated into a reasonably complete financial theory. The foundation seems solid but, as described above, its superstructure is jumbled and ugly. Also, it has only been subjected to limited testing, so you try it at your own risk. It could change radically or even evaporate as people other than the author attempt to apply it with different skill sets and opportunities. For all of that, this is essentially reading for quantitatively-inclined risk takers.",5.0,A frustrating mixture of valuable insights and deep flaws,1248134400,"07 21, 2009",58,60,helpful,0.9666666666666667,1 A28Y3AFPCK9IF,1939000203,Ker2,"[7, 8]","Good story. A bit wordy in the beginning with Zachary's problems and brush with the law. I enjoyed the tale of racism and father and son reclaiming their Native American culture. Uncle Jasper was terrific. My one HUGE problem is that the love story was way too back burner. I mean these two were each other's big blazing first love in high school, they hid it from their friends and her parents, etc and then it gets ripped apart and all these years later they are living in the same house to deal with their son. HELLO amazing opportunity for sizzling drama as these two reconnect, but there was not much sizzle. I'm not talking about sex scenes, but some kind of intense yearning and confusion between the two. I found it wayyyyyy toooooo subdued for the set up and was disappointed.I enjoyed their reunion, but it was too little. Not to mention our heroine ruins their one and only erotic rediscovery moment by saying to Lucas ""Let's take this to the bedroom, i""m horny"" SAY WHAT?? Total flat tire there for me....deflated the drama of the moment and knocked it down into meaningless-ness when it was supposed to me their big emotional need filled reunion. And not just that, but Tyne our heroine is painted as a worry wart, anxious uptight, colorless single mother and instead of showing her melting over time until she can't deny herself any longer (she questions herself a lot, but's it's more cold analysis. We needed more contact between the 2) we get her tossing out this strange, awkward line instead. It's disappointing not amusing, if that was the author's intent.. Also the author unfortunately uses the words ""penis"" and ""vagina"" Uh, please please don't. Not very sensual terms. At all.Lots of issues going on in this story: bi-racial, cultural divides, getting back in touch with one's cultural roots, bigotry, children out of wedlock, forgiveness, choices, the past, etc. All handled smoothly.****By the way, I loved the old cover. LOVED IT!!! Perfect. (It's gione now!) There was our couple in the throes of their big true love as teens.....needed more of that passionate can't live without you spirit in the story!!! New cover, not so much. noticed another publishing house author got this original image on her new book...interesting corporate maneuver!!!",3.0,Thoughtful but needed more fireworks!!!,1377648000,"08 28, 2013",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A2Q1L1DVG9LOOS,1423180348,Sanmar,"[0, 0]","My great nephews (age 3 and 4) recently saw the Peter Pan play at a local high school.I purchased this book with the Cd and they would listen to it at least twice, 2 times daily.If your little ones are into Peter Pan it's a great gift, cheap price and they can follow the story in the book.Enough said.",5.0,Best 6 bucks I've spent,1374105600,"07 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1JBBR4MNGQ70G,054516043X,Falkor The White Luck Dragon,"[0, 0]","MALICE is set in England though the female protagonist, Kady, hails from California perhaps making the book more friendly to US readers. The book begins with an urban legend. The premise of the legend is if kids perform a certain ceremony and say the right words an ominous villain known as ""Tall Jake"" will take them away to the comic book world of Malice. Turns out Tall Jake is more than a legend and several kids get trapped in this nightmare world and there isn't a happy ending for all of them. Black and white comic book pages illustrating the story are included though the graphics really were not that interesting. Scary, gory and sad in places this may really interest some young readers but is not for all. I get the feeling that this is the start to a new series........",3.0,Not For The Faint Hearted,1269216000,"03 22, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2V5MQELCPW5WI,0312424094,vanishingpoint,"[47, 57]","A ton of people love this book...but a small minority does not. I'm afraid I belong with the latter. The first two chapters were almost unreadably slow, though things did pick up both emotionally and plotwise as the book went on. There's no doubt that it's well-written -- Robinson's prose is at turns lyrical and stark, but I never felt involved with any of the characters. It wasn't exactly that they weren't believable, but rather that their motivations were never made clear.But as you can see from the other glowing reviews, my reaction is atypical. You may very well love this book -- but just in case you don't, you're not alone!",2.0,The Minority,1022716800,"05 30, 2002",47,57,helpful,0.8245614035087719,1 ADE9OU2OLWS3N,1400062152,Stone Cold Nuts,"[4, 5]","The premise for this book was great, but he couldn't achieve a balance between writing for a popular audience while coherently presenting his thesis throughout. Still, he's included some very interesting facts. Although similar ideas have been put forth by others, he does a fair job of finding the crux of the matter. Pinpointing our woes down to the abandonment of our hunter-gatherer origins rings true.",3.0,Great Concept But...,1279756800,"07 22, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3PRABNQ31OVBS,0740769715,S. Desprez,"[5, 5]","and the recipes actually look really interesting, but i could just read it for the pics alone. the gray type is annoying but readable, not a deal breaker for me.",4.0,such wonderful pictures-worth it for that alone...,1202688000,"02 11, 2008",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1AQ26YCP4ZC9T,0892817356,"Maureen ""Motherhen""","[5, 6]","Dr. Schmid's book on healing, nurturing traditional foods is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to understand what *real* nutrition is all about. It shows the problems with our US Government-approved dietary recommendations and why following such dogma is making us all sick (while profiting pharmaceutical companies and the whole medical system)! Get past all the vegetarina/low fat/vegan/cholesterol-is-bad doctrine and learn how to *really* be healthy, just as countless people through the millennia have done!",5.0,Tradional Foods Really *Are* Your Best Medicine!,1244764800,"06 12, 2009",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AVHACTPAGE53N,B003D7LUVA,geoff thomas,"[6, 6]","At 750 locations, not a long read. But a good story was told.I would compare this favorably with Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist or even the Fortress in the Eye of Time by C.J. Cherryh and the other ""fortress"" books, or even her Faery in Shadow.Claire has told a good story of the Faerie and I enjoyed it.Just the right touch of slightly twisted.Just sayin......",4.0,"A good short story about the ""fair"" folk",1282262400,"08 20, 2010",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 AHD101501WCN1,0452279070,"Shalom Freedman ""Shalom Freedman""","[0, 1]","Doctorow is a master of creating the spirit of his time. In this case turn - of- the- century America comes alive, and fictional characters blend with important historical personalities to create a sprawling tapestry of American reality. This is insightful and amusing and a great pleasure to speed- read through. The question however is what happens to our sense of the 'real' when the 'real' are so clearly fictionalized. Do the fictional then seem to us less real, as they do to me, mere playthings in the mind of the writer? So in this work unlike in the 'Book of Daniel' which I found more emotionally powerful and convincing I had difficulty 'feeling deeply' for the characters of the story. The show goes on, new ones enter and old ones transform into something else. But the heart, in my case, was not held in the deepest way.",5.0,Entertaining panoramic historical American fiction,1297555200,"02 13, 2011",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1K1JW1C5CUSUZ,0689843615,"Donald Mitchell ""Jesus Loves You!""","[37, 41]","Chances are that most teenagers today have or had grandfathers who served in World War II and grandmothers who helped with the war effort at home. Yet those experiences seem like ancient history to many young people. This superb volume should help bring home the message of why the American war effort was so important, and the magnitude of the sacrifices that were made on their behalf. Hopefully, these materials will then encourage these young people to ask their grandparents about their World War II experiences, and help create more connections to and understanding of those worthy elders.This book is a brief pictoral history of the war from the American perspective. The book's format is to take about 30 themes and develop them briefly. The tools used are brief essays, moving quotes from participants, photographs, and battle maps. Most subjects are handled in two pages (including photographs), but some go on to become four pages (such as the Holocaust). My only complaint about the book is that some photographs are reproduced in one color that makes the detail hard to see. Black would have been less appealing, but the photographs would have been easier to examine.Those who know Professor Ambrose's work will recognize the quotes. Sergeant Mike Ranney of Easy Company in the 101st tells this story about speaking with his grandson."'Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?''No,' I answered, 'but I served in a company of heroes.'"Quotes like that are worth the price of the book for conveying the World War II experience to this generation of Americans.The book is good for pointing out problems and injustice. You see black Americans training with World War I guns. You see Japanese-Americans being interned in concentration camps. The concentration camp at Belsen is displayed. The devastation at Nagasaki as well as the radiation burn scars on a boy are portrayed.Many of the famous World War II photographs are here, such as the flag-raising on Iwo Jima, V-J Day in Times Square (the sailor and the nurse), soldiers wading ashore on D-Day into the surf on Omaha Beach, and the Navy battleships aflame at Pearl Harbor.Professor Ambrose certainly knows this history better than I do, but I wondered about his description of the Japanese emperor's involvement in the decision to launch the attack on Pearl Harbor. The version here seemed closer to the original story favored by General MacArthur that the emperor was manipulated by the military leaders than what I have been reading other historians say, which is that the emperor was right in the middle of wanting to go to war.Some of my other favorite photographs in the book include Hitler at a Nuremberg party rally (showing the propaganda machine in all of its might), Guadalcanal after a tropical storm (with tents underwater), an Army corpsman tending a wounded soldier, St. Lo after the liberation, an American soldier rescuing a shell-shocked girl in Manila, and Stalin, Truman and Churchill at Potsdam.Lesser known parts of the war are covered here, such as Rosie the Riveter (including a photograph of women learning to weld).After you read this book, I suggest that you also take time to tell your teenagers how you feel about America's involvement in World War II. Many of the participants are naturally reluctant to say very much. Your own sense of this incredible struggle can help fill the gap in understanding as well.If you feel comfortable, you may also want to talk about the cold war.Be glad that D-Day was a success!",5.0,World War II for American Teenagers of Today,991785600,"06 6, 2001",37,41,helpful,0.9024390243902439,1 A14OJS0VWMOSWO,160542126X,Midwest Book Review,"[4, 4]","Some families suffocate, others leave no air at all. ""Plum Blossoms in Paris"" tells the story of an American girl in Paris, embracing her adulthood after a sheltered life. When she finds a man who latches onto her fiercely, she finds herself split between exotic love and the family she fled from. ""Plum Blossoms in Paris"" is a charming romance and coming of age tale, highly recommended.",5.0,"A charming romance and coming of age tale, highly recommended",1284249600,"09 12, 2010",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AB0R2FLXIB66P,0446527130,3bunnies,"[0, 0]",Much of this book was too predictable. Maris left a little to be desired. She just did not seem as smart and worldly as she was portrayed. I did enjoy the twists even though I had predicted the majority. Daniel's fate was unnecessary as well. Overall I did enjoy the book though.,3.0,A little too predictable,1384128000,"11 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ACEDKUL4N743J,0253203120,jim keller,"[0, 0]",a little short on content but still very informative -- I had watched the movie and just wanted to see how the book followed the movie,5.0,excellent,1378166400,"09 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ADXFNHK7PEZHL,149098416X,nana if five,"[0, 0]","I really liked this second book.I read it in two days and can't wait to read the next one. Its already downloaded and ready to go plus its the weekend I'm all set. It has witches,vampires,demons with a twist of love triangle. I reallyliked these books and author. D Montgomery",5.0,A really page turner,1377820800,"08 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A4QC76NMWE5OC,0253210585,"Michael Taylor ""Michael Taylor""","[8, 10]","Jordan's book is an excellent biography of an overlooked and almost forgotten general of the Civil War. While Hancock was an excellent fighter and tactician, he is often overlooked in favor of Lee, Grant, Sherman, and Jackson. Thankfully, Hancock's important contributions to the Union are chronicled in Jordan's interesting text.The book is full of interesting anecdotes of the following periods of Hancock's life:1. Early childhood and life leading up to West Point.2. West Point years.3. Service in the Mexican War and just before the Civil War.4. Excellent leadership at the Civil War battles of Antietam, Williamsburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Petersburg.5. Role during the Reconstruction Period.6. Political aspirations and almost presidency.7. Final years.As I read Jordan's book, I came to appreciate Hancock more and more. Jordan is able to keep the reader's interest throughout the text. For instance, while I was much more interested in Hancock's Civil War service instead of his politics, Jordan was able to keep me interested in Hancock's run for the presidency.The only reason I did not give the book 5 stars is because the maps were few and of mediocre quality. When reading a Civil War book, I like several maps to enable me to better understand troop movements. Adding more high-quality maps would have done much to better clarify Hancock's movements during a certain battle.Despite this minor complaint, I highly recommend this book as the definitive biography of and excellent leader!",4.0,Excellent Biography of an Overlooked General!,1053216000,"05 18, 2003",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A3UQ8W8MN7JPT8,B00IQWE2JE,"R.L. bailey ""lilli""","[0, 0]","Review of Damaged- By Indigo SinR.L. Bailey5 of 5 angel wings5 of 5 flames for heatWhat do you say, about a book so good, you read it in less than three hours? Well, if you read Damaged, by Indigo Sin, you will see what I mean. Damaged tells the story of Monica, a street pickpocket, and Seth, the man who discovers her. Monica at first seems like a typical street thief, lifting wallets and snatching jewelry right off the arms of the rich college kids who prowl the night going from club to club. She’s not doing it to get money for the reasons you would think though, she has responsibilities that no twenty-four year old should have. Namely, her teenage brother and sister, who she snatched away from a drug addicted mother and stepfather who makes you believe in the death penalty.“Stuffing the new prize into her pocket, Monica chewed the inside ofher cheek and waited for her next opportunity. The weight of the baubles inher coat felt like a ton of rocks, weighing her down.Stealing is wrong. You’re better than this.”Monica barely manages to steal enough to keep her family in food and pay the rent. There is no such thing as luxuries for our girl. She just wants to keep her family together. One night, she meets Seth, after he chases and catches her. He is intrigued, curious and when he discovers that his target is a woman, Seth is more than interested. As a cop assigned to find the street thief, when he looks into her eyes, he knows he can no more turn her in then he can cut his own hand off.Monica is damaged, from a brutal past that no one should ever have to endure. The truth is so devastating, that from a readers stand point, even though in your heart you know what’s coming, when it finally does, it takes your breath away. Monica is a survivor because she’s managed to turn off any human feelings, other than those that pertain to her siblings, Sarah and Jack.Through a series of events, Seth convinces Monica and family to move in with him. Finally having some stability, the reader sees our heroine slowly open up, and start to believe that maybe her life really is getting better.“Standing at the sink, Monica wrung out the washcloth she’d beenusing, before draping it carefully over the faucet. Cooking and cleaning hadbecome something she truly enjoyed in the few weeks living at Seth’s. Forthe first time she felt like she had a home. Not just a place to sleep, or aplace to tolerate. A place she felt safe—able to relax. A genuine home.”DAN. Just the name sends chills up the spine. The man who damaged our girl when she was just a child. I don’t want to reveal too much, for to do so would ruin it for the reader, but I can say this, he truly is one of the most evil characters I’ve ever read, because there are men like him in the real world.Indigo Sin has written an extremely thoughtful, well put together story. The reader can really FEEL what the hero and heroine go through, and the characters are well thought out and very well developed. The love scenes are slow to build, letting the reader savor each and every emotion Monica has right along with her. This story more than once brought tears to my eyes, and this is a book that I will read more than once. Congratulations Indigo, you have a winner here.Arc given to reviewer in exchange for a fair and honest review.",5.0,YOU MUST READ THIS!!!,1393804800,"03 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2ZCXF9DDZYNFQ,0451226143,Ruth B. Ingram,"[6, 7]",This is another bang up action mystery from Beverly Connor. She has just about coronered the market on forensic mysteries. Her novels are well paced and her research is well done. The characters are lifelike and easy to dislike the villians. I am always assured of a good nights entertainment with Ms. Connor.,5.0,"Action, adventure mystery",1234224000,"02 10, 2009",6,7,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A3R2I26IFPI0OZ,B00CIZY16O,"JudyAnn Lorenz ""cherokee1234""","[0, 0]","The widows learn the black coated riders claim to be PREACHERS? Packing iron? It is difficult for these strong women to accept the David brothers are good men and want to defend them, defeat the outlaws and set churches up in the Western community. That little woman the widows have rescued is an Irish immigrant, part of a wagon train. There is yet another woman in the destroyed train, a strong woman from Australia.The widows aren't the only ones who resist the WORD coming into the community for good and strength. The gunfighters make a serious move and learn the truth about the ability of the Preachers with guns.Murray Pura closes this episode with a hint. Will there be acceptance of the Preachers on the part of the Widows? Will they be able to team up against the outlaws and bring peace?",5.0,Widows and Preachers Team Up for Right,1382140800,"10 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1CL9KOTODJJCQ,0983388989,Oliver tang,"[18, 19]","I do not like writing reviews.But I love this book very much and must tell the world! The photography is first rate and the notes and ideas are masterclass in interior design.This book tells you how to add character and color to your interiors using your collections. And for those who are unsure of what to buy to add the WOW factor to their home, this book will give you lots of ideas.I especially like their web-links, for those who want to know more than the superficial.Even if you are into the minimalist decor, i bet you will find inspiration from the very original photos and ideas.If you are undecided to buy, then hear, hear!Highly recommended.",5.0,Awesome!,1359417600,"01 29, 2013",18,19,helpful,0.9473684210526315,1 A3A1R01UJXLTP3,149484172X,Kimberly Bradt,"[0, 0]",I really like that Princess was bad a$$ but there were a few times that she wimped out that didn't sit well with me. All in all I enjoyed the book. Would like the intimate scenes to have more va va voom. But will check out more by this author,3.0,not bad,1392508800,"02 16, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A34F8D9942V54B,0718178122,Mary Milgrom,"[0, 0]",I thought this book a bit silly. Would anyone go looking for a partner like this? I must admit I had a laugh in some parts. I wouldnt really recommend it.,3.0,The Rosie Project,1373760000,"07 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1ZNK08P1I75XK,B007CR8G00,"no one ""Liz""","[0, 0]",great for learning new words and when you are just plain stuck. starts out simple but very good hints all the way through. especially the two letter words.,5.0,Want it,1399593600,"05 9, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3LJST1RMWS5X0,0800719956,"Mustang Fyant ""The Laughing Cowgirl""","[0, 0]",This story picks up several years from where The Choice left off. The two main characters in The Choice Sol and Mattie are in this book as well. Very good storyline and each person learns something from the "English" as well as the "Amish". Delightful reading!!!! I could not put this book down after I started reading it.,5.0,Riveting!!!!,1387929600,"12 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8JX4YVDGR4G,155634127X,Daryl Smith,"[6, 9]","I must confess that I am fairly new to GURPS, but I am an enthusiastic convert. I have played, or experimented with, numerous RPG systems over the years, such as Dungeons and Dragons, Rolemaster, Spacemaster, Chivalry and Sorcery, and others. While all these systems have their strengths, and certainly their weaknesses, I must say that I think GURPS is the best overall RPG (Role Playing Game) system that I have ever seen. What makes it so great is the brilliant way in which it manages to combine simplicity with great depth, realism and flexibility. Once a character is created almost everything you will need to play that character is on the character sheet. There is not much need for constant reference to dozens of different tables and charts, as in some other systems. GURPS also allows you to simulate any gaming environment you can imagine, from traditional medieval fantasy to futuristic sci-fi or space opera. The book is well organized, and the material is presented in a clear readable format. I find that I can quickly and easily find most of the information I am looking for. The artwork is consistently decent; apparently almost all of it comes from the same artist. Also, unlike many RPG books, the typos are refreshingly kept at a minimum. As are all of the GURPS books I have seen, this is a professionally put together product.The basic game mechanics are not complex, and once understood allow you fairly easily simulate almost every conceivable situation. For example, there are straightforward rules on determining whether or not an archer's bowstring has snapped when an arrow is loosed, or for determining if a sword breaks on a parry, or how much damage a shield can take before it is no longer any good. Indeed, the combat system can be as simple or as complex as you want it. In the advanced combat system the body is divided up into at least six areas where one must designate what kind of armor is being worn. A character may have on a helmet and a breastplate, but if he has not armored his arms and hands or legs and feet, those areas, while relatively harder to hit, will be more vulnerable to taking serious or critical damage, if they are struck. This combat system can be used to create a more sophisticated tactical environment than any of the other systems I have played, which more often than naught reduce combat to a series of dice rolls where opponents merely stand toe-to-toe with each other swinging back and forth until one is no longer standing. In GURPS different weapons have different advantages and disadvantages depending upon an adversary's armor. Thus in combat you must consider how an opponent is armored and what weapon they are using vs. your armor and weapons, and act accordingly. Also, in each turn you must also decide how best to move. For example, should you try a feint maneuver to fake your opponent out, stand back in an all out defense, or do you make an all out berserker charge heedless of your own defense? The rules also let you decide whether you want to try and merely wound or disarm your opponent, rather than kill them. While my examples above focus on primitive or hand-to-hand combat, the rules for advanced weapons, such as automatic rifles, futuristic beam weapons, and explosive devises are equally detailed, realistic, and playable.So far, in my admittedly limited experience with GURPS, one of the only areas I can offer any genuine criticism is with the limited number of attributes. To achieve simplicity GURPS uses only four attributes, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Health. In my mind, the Intelligence attribute is entirely too generic, and tries to cover too many different character traits. In addition to representing raw IQ, the Intelligence attribute also represents such divergent character qualities as willpower, discipline, wisdom, and education. On this one point I think GURPS sacrifices realism for simplicity. Certainly a character's raw IQ is not identical to his or her willpower or mental discipline. Also, intelligence is not identical to wisdom or even education. All is not lost, however, for supplemental rules in ""Compendium I"" do allow for the addition of a Willpower attribute. Also an individual game master can easily insert additional attributes, as they deem appropriate. This criticism being noted, I should state that it will not stop me from using the system, and tweaking it as I see fit. This is one of the strengths of GURPS in that the rules and basic mechanics are given in such a way that they can be fairly easily adapted to any style or system of play; thus the ""G"" for ""Generic"" in GURPS.Everything you need to play GURPS, with the exception of dice, is contained in this one basic book. The supplements are excellent and add additional rules and details for various types of campaign environments such as futuristic space, fantasy, supers, Feudal Japan, horror, Ancient Rome, or you name it. Whatever your gaming preference, GURPS can accommodate you. I highly recommend this system for anyone interested in RPG adventuring. Steve Jackson Games definitely has their act together!",5.0,Very Impressive RPG System,1006560000,"11 24, 2001",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 AO1X52E1B28LO,1580535089,Moshe Reuveni,"[17, 17]","What strikes me most about this book is its friendliness and readability. The book is written in an easy and flowing manner, using day-to-day language. It's assembled in template style, which makes it extremely easy to implement its ideas. While this may not sound like much, these attributes make this book quite an entertaining read that scores high on effectiveness. Supplemented by an effective website...it does still suffer from some lack of depth and detail, though.The fully detailed ""Sample Master Test Plan"" provided by the book serves as an example for its mixture of usefulness coupled with a relative lack of depth. While quite effective, and certainly a nice feature that's easy to learn from, it is not the most fully detailed test plan I have ever seen, nor is it a match for a big scale project's master test plan. However, it is the best example for a test plan that I have seen in any testing book.Further comparisons with other testing books I've used make it clear: Applying the Pareto principle on it, this book gives you the 20% that you need in order to perform 80% of all you will ever want when it comes to testing. It may not sound like much, but this is a mighty achievement.The bottom line: This book will probably serve anyone who is into software testing. However, if you are looking to kick-start your organization into proper testing methodologies, or if you are new to the software testing arena, it would be a sin not to give this book a try.",4.0,User Friendly,1050192000,"04 13, 2003",17,17,helpful,1.0,1 A2TRGTKSMGWK6Q,B00AQJ71EI,Littlebit,"[0, 0]","This helped me out so much,pointed out things I didn't know,gave me apps I didn't have .Thank you for putting in the time to put this together and making it free.",5.0,Loved it!,1388361600,"12 30, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ARFHGTY8KJR2C,089019078X,"Paul ""Paul""","[6, 6]","Eat nearest to nature" Dr. Norman Walker is my guru of health teachings he was a doctor but never went to college instead colleges went to him and bowed before the great master of holistic nutrition and colon health!! he learned on the job with real doctors from all over the world that he made friends with and taught him first hand plus the libraries in france and italy and all over europe and america he read and knew everything ever written about health and the human body and read and spoke several languages he was a master scientist of human anatomy and physiology of the highest level he is still considered the greatest holistic nutrition expert that ever lived and will never be replaced by anyone we can only hope to copy him and promote the legacy of real life and longevity that he taught in his 8 books and 3 charts get them all my favorites are become younger and colon health this one on weight loss is fantastic and better than any diet crap book ever written this is the way of real health not a # on a scale or calorie count b.s.,5.0,THE MAN!!,1360713600,"02 13, 2013",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A18FND7EZQMH2Q,0316201642,Bobbi Alvis,"[0, 0]","I heard about this book on the CBS morning show and couldn't wait to read it. Basically it is two stories going on at the same time. A fictional author wrote the main story (which I absolutely loved) and these two college kids are writing in the margins back and forth to each other trying to unravel the mystery that surrounded the author. Every so often there is a clue or reference stuck in the pages sobe carful not to spill them all out. I gave this 4 stars because after about 100 pages, I got very tired of the margin notes and started skimming over them. I focused on the main story instead and really enjoyed it. Wouldn't be surprised if this book gets made into a movie soon!",4.0,Very Cool book!,1388793600,"01 4, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AJH3KCZV2139W,1601548621,"JudyJubo ""JudyJubo""","[0, 0]","This book was absolutely fantastic. What a great ending to an awesome series.I read 5 to 7 books a week and enjoy finding new authors. Kaylea Cross is an author I will definitely be putting on my ""must have"" list.Please say she is writing more great stories!!!!",5.0,Can't get this book out of my head!,1312502400,"08 5, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A15Q40EB61T9KK,0060973943,Melinda Gottesman,"[8, 10]","The most incredible thing about this book is the fact that it's true! Burton led such an extraordinary life! I would recommend this book to anyone who is curious, but reluctant to travel, experience, and live. This book is also excellent for anyone who is interested in language, religion, or travel. Burton spoke 26 languages, experienced firsthand an assortment of different religions including Hinduism and Islam, and shows just how much one person can accomplish in a lifetime. Only 4 stars due to some dry bits in the book, but never a dull moment in Burton's life...",4.0,Wow.,960768000,"06 12, 2000",8,10,helpful,0.8,1 A1ZFFAUAYGIJPZ,B00BT0J8ZS,VONDI,"[0, 0]",I've downloaded the complete series. And I will be following up on Mating as soon as I've slept a few hours. I couldn't put this one down. Thanks for writing it and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.,5.0,Fantastic,1368316800,"05 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30LBVMTCY4XX,0312424442,Lyz,"[11, 19]","I actually listened to this on audio CD. Do you know how many CD's it takes to get thru this mess? 25. Yes, TWENTY FIVE. Why 25 CDs??? Because Tom Wolfe loves to hear himself. You know the person at the party or in the meeting who won't shut up? The guy who drones on and on and on? That's Tom Wolfe. Tom, we got the point. Move on. PLEASE move on. I don't need to know every detail of every tree, every article of clothing, every chair in the library. To make it worse, the characters themselves are not likeable. They are whiney. They are self-centered. And there seems to be no redemption. There is just NO ONE to root for. There is no reward for listening to the 25 CD's. It's just a big pile of YUK.",1.0,Miserable- NO STARS,1136332800,"01 4, 2006",11,19,helpful,0.5789473684210527,1 A1PL9LU5BMQGYI,0062049879,BreReader,"[5, 5]","I've enjoyed all of Tessa Dare's books. This was even better that I could of imagined!! I normally ""figure"" out how a book will go when I'm reading it but this one threw me for a loop....A loop I loved. The intimacy was awesome as well as the story line. Don't miss this one!!!!",5.0,Absolutely awesome!!,1333497600,"04 4, 2012",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 ALZD4P4FUWUQN,1601630115,"Henry Stonehall ""Henry Stonehall""","[6, 12]","Ufology has all sorts of writers; those who create stuff and nonsense, and those who have substance, facts and intellect like Dr. Boylan, Maximillien de Lafayette, Dr. Michael Salla, Dr. Lynne Kitei, Dr. Greer, and Stanton Friedman.This book shows that Stanton Friedman researches his material and presents FACTS, no BS! The man is serious and meticulous. Are you looking for a reliable source of information? Then, go no further...get Friedman's book.",5.0,Truth right before your eyes,1213833600,"06 19, 2008",6,12,helpful,0.5,1 A2WZNM833CJH82,1616147393,Grandma,"[4, 5]","There are few people who wanted to loveRocket Girl: The Story of Mary Sherman Morgan, America's First Female Rocket Scientistmore than I did. I am female and a scientist, a chemist, well aware that all too often those girls who do dare to do science and math often come up short when it comes to handing around the kudos. Rosalind Franklin comes instantly to mind, a King's College scientist whose work was the critical basis for the discovery of DNA by Watson & Crick. More than a few scientists have long believed that Franklin should have shared in the Nobel. Sadly, she did not.I also happen to be a just a bit older than author George D. Morgan, our mothers of the same generation. I fully empathize with Morgan's desire to fill in all the missing pieces of his mother's life. My own mother came to visit me in Germany about the time that my eldest child was four months old. As we were leaving the Frankfurt airport she looked around at the scenery, said ""Why I haven't been here since . ."" and clapped both hands over her mouth. I never did find out when or why she was in Germany, nor get answers to any of the 101 other questions that I had. My mother took an oath of secrecy, as did more than a few during the war years, and she took her secrets to her grave.That said, I'm afraid that I findRocket Girl: The Story of Mary Sherman Morgan, America's First Female Rocket Scientistfar more STORY than HIStory. Some of this simply reads as untrue, starting with the milking of the family cow by 8 year old Mary. I've been around cows and cow barns most of my life and I've never heard of anyone hobbling the cow with a belt and then milking them in a mud puddle rather than the barn standing close by, never mind the fact that 8 year olds generally don't have the hand strength to milk the family cow. Our introduction to the North Dakota farmer that was Mary's father, passed out in a chair encircled by empty wine bottles (wine?) made the appearance of the silent mother and brothers so very abusive that I could not help but consider the possibility of sexual abuse as well later in the story a huge surprise.I believe that Morgan has misinterpreted some things, not the least of which is his idea the Mary may have been fired from North American when she ""retired"" at the time of his brother's birth. Well into the 1970s middle and upper class women did in fact almost universally leave their employment to ""raise a family"" when children came along. There is nothing whatever unusual in Mary Morgan having done so. Moreover, she was working in the field of chemistry, developing fuel. Even today, many private employers insist that pregnant workers not be involved in activities like this. In fact, several years ago there was a flap here in Vermont when it came to light that a manufacturer of batteries refused to hire women who were not sterile, simply because of the enormous potential danger to the fetus should they get pregnant. When Mary writes on an employment application in the 1970's that she had left her previous job to ""raise a family"" she was quite likely telling the exact truth.There is one other thing that I find I must mention. There are two groups of scientists. One group works in academia. Rosalind Franklin belonged to this group. Their discoveries and inventions are their own, as are any intellectual property rights that might result from their work. The other group, including Mary Sherman Morgan, work for private employers. It is virtually always a condition of employment that because they are performing work for hire, any and all intellectual property rights (often including even the right to be named as the ""discoverer"") belong to the company, not the individual. This is as true today as it was in 1953.Grandma's $0.02 - I foundRocket Girl: The Story of Mary Sherman Morgan, America's First Female Rocket Scientistto be far more story than history, poorly documented, often misinterpreted and confusing to the reader.",3.0,More Story Than History,1377475200,"08 26, 2013",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 AEVXVGKWK247F,0425267512,IndigoRaiyne,"[0, 0]","I wish I'd liked this book. I wanted to. I was so excited when I saw it at the store. It's my favorite kind of romance, high school sweethearts reuniting and making it work as adults. What's not to like about that? Sadly, it cannot be found in this book.First, I found the whole concept weird. The story is set in a small town in New Hampshire that's like a mini-Scottish village. It's dying because it's main industry, Hemmertex (no idea what they even did), has moved. The only way to save the town is to revive the annual Highland Games. I didn't understand how attracting tourists to a weekend event would benefit the town in the long run, but I'll go with it.Enter Jen Haverhurst. Jen is a successful event planner in New York City. Her sister, who runs their late aunt's bed and breakfast, has asked for Jen's help in reinventing the games, making them what they used to be. Jen has some vacation time so she takes off to Gleann to save it. In returning, however, Jen must confront the boy she left behind to pursue her dream of college and success.Leith was Jen's high school boyfriend. They would get together in the summers when she came to visit her aunt. He wanted her to stay and be with him; Jen wanted to leave to pursue her dream. They now have a second chance with her return.It sounded so promising.The parts of the book (the middle) that dealt with Leith and Jen handling their relationship and trying to make things work was good. I liked reading about the two of them together and things seemed almost normal.For the most part, I didn't like Jen. I didn't like that she treated her older sister like a child and could never forget what Aimee had done in her teens. However, the author doesn't do a great job of convincing the reader that Aimee is a competent adult.I didn't like that Aimee, who is a grown woman with a daughter, was so weak. Aimee was dating a married man (it was never really explained why his wife was OK with this, why his daughters were OK with this and why the wife and Aimee were going to open a B&B; together. The whole thing was weird.) Most of the townspeople are, in fact, weird. I think the author was trying to go for cute and folksy, but they just came off crazy.I didn't have an opinion about Leith one way or the other. He was just kind of their. He was somewhat of a local celebrity because he did well in the Gleann Highland Games and he started a successful landscaping business. However, because Hemmertex had left, so had all his clients so he's going to have to finally leave home.Overall, I thought there was the promise of a good story but the book never delivered. I never cared enough about the characters to get really involved in whether or not they ended up together. I don't know that I will continue with this series.",3.0,Long shot,1384732800,"11 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2JHN8GV03HPEI,078688469X,Gary Bauer,"[4, 23]","This is an insult to the intelligence of anyone that has any knowledge of the history of WW2 and the events of the Holocaust. I guess the allied forces should have invaded Normandy with a bunch of pies, rubber noses and floppy shoes. Sometimes clowns simply don't have a role to play and this is one of those situations. Benigni bringing up the name of Primo Levi was an insult to all of Levi's philosophical attempts to explain what happened to him and Europe's Jews.",1.0,Shallow beyond belief,980121600,"01 22, 2001",4,23,helpful,0.17391304347826086,1 A33ULGLKE24W5N,B00KPJEI9K,Ms.Meesh,"[0, 0]","**3.5 stars**Diamond Love by SC. Miotto is a contemporary romance where love is pushed to its limits and boundaries. Where love knows no reason, no distance and no age. A love that has all the odds stacked against them. Diamond Love is no ordinary love story but a story that will keep readers engage as Victoria discovers herself and awaken sexuality. When new love is found, what happens when secrets and old lovers reappear to destroy and shaken the lives of Victoria and Colin? Is their love enough to be a diamond in the rough?",3.0,diamond love: a love of many layers,1402185600,"06 8, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1KP12IVP6LAGL,0978736842,"Chris Cudnoski ""infowars.com""","[14, 17]","Either this publisher or another would do really well to publish a compilation of the writings and speeches of Ron Paul, an 11 term Congressman in Texas. He's got some 10+ years of weekly columns called ""Texas Straight Talk"" on his house.gov website.Mr. Paul's biggest fault is that he tells the truth about what is going on in our nation in too honest and straightforward of a manner. The average person needs to be coaxed gently into a new belief system, especially when it calls on a people to return to its founding documents and philosophies, which our culture paradoxically considers ""antiquated"" and ""outdated"" precisely because they are over 200 years old!When I found out about his own presidential bid last year I started a project by compiling and condensing several years of these writings, so if anyone wants to collaborate on a ""Pocket Paul"" project, contact me through a reply.Here's a nugget of wisdom from Ron Paul, on the current economic crisis:...Everything will be attempted by government in the short run to remedy the worsening situation - everything, that is, but freedom. Therefore everything attempted will fail. Unfortunately, government will continue to consolidate and abuse power at an accelerated pace. Government will get bigger, in the short term, and as monetary policy goes from irresponsible to absurd, I have every expectation that we will soon shift from some prices falling to an inflationary nightmare.But there is hope. As all these attempts fail, more people will demand freedom, and see that it is the only way. Government can only get so big before the country goes broke.It is regrettable that we keep forgetting what history has shown over and over to be true, because truly, it is a hard and destructive lesson to keep learning. Perhaps it is just something that every generation has to learn for itself. The political and cultural changes that come from these economic transitions will be key to the direction and quality of life for future generations. But I am hopeful because of the strength of the American people and the increased number of voices recognizing that liberty really is the only way to peace and prosperity.",3.0,How About A Pocket (Ron) Paul?,1232928000,"01 26, 2009",14,17,helpful,0.8235294117647058,1 AV9SRE5OO38RQ,0007124015,L. McCall,"[4, 4]","The writing, of course, gets five stars.Until recently, my favorite story was represented on my bookshelf by yellowed paperbacks from the `70s. I went shopping for a durable hardcover edition that would better reflect my love of Tolkien's masterwork.Having enjoyed Alan Lee's work as a designer on the Peter Jackson films and his exquisite illustrations in the book CASTLES, my choice did not take long to make. I was not disappointed.Lee's watercolors are detailed and evocative without imposing on the reader's own imagination. Although there are several portraits and battle scenes, characters are usually dwarfed by the vast landscapes and imaginative architecture that Lee excels at rendering. Tangled untamed forests, crumbling castles, and savage mountainscapes abound. These illustrations hold up to repeated viewings. The prevailing atmosphere may seem grim to those readers who may expect vibrant, children's book colors. The picket-fenced charm of Bag End, for example, is sombered by autumn leaves flying before dark gathering clouds.Although I highly recommend this edition, I cannot quite give it five stars. The print quality of the text pages is not up to that of the color inserts. The type is nice and large, but it is often broken up or flecked with fuzz, as if the plates are wearing out after multiple printings. Also the maps are weakly reproduced, unlike the large red-and-black foldouts I enjoy in my copies of THE SILMARILLION and UNFINISHED TALES. Indeed, these are quibbles, but for the hefty suggested retail price, I hoped for perfection!",4.0,"Wonderful story, beautiful illustrations, sloppy text pages",1093305600,"08 24, 2004",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 ADWG7ET0OYRHH,0470177470,"T. Nadeem ""Book Maven""","[4, 5]","This is a bit out dated but good book. If you aspire to start your own business or are already in one, you will find a wealth of information in this excellent book by Tyson.This is a wonderful book of basic business start-up info. The only thing missing was a section or chapter on how to effectively distinguish yourself and your business from the growing community of entrepreneurs. I combined the info in ""dummies"" with Marion Gold's ""Personal Publicity Planner: How to Market YOU."" Now that's a winning combination for small business owners with few dollars to spend on advertising and promotion.SMALL BUSINESS-The Art of The Start -40 Successful Concepts for A Small Business Start-up - You Start, Grow And Succeede-Marketing Intelligence - Transforming Brand and Increasing Sales - Tips and Tricks with Best Practices",4.0,Good Book for starting a small business,1239408000,"04 11, 2009",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A8G9GETA2OLMZ,0345434471,P. Schumacher,"[19, 20]","I have all of Crais's books except the newest one, The Forgotten Man.And this is the best of a very good lot.The Elvis Cole books are better than the non-Cole books (Demolition Angel and Hostage--now a major crummy motion picture).And one reason is Joe Pike.Pike is a mythic creation: sort of like the Eastwoodian Strong Silent Type on steroids.This book tells how Pike got that way.It also has a very nice turn with Who Dun It.Read all the Elvis Cole books, but if you can only read one, read this.",5.0,Crais's Absolute Best,1111017600,"03 17, 2005",19,20,helpful,0.95,1 A137A5BR7IDRZL,0982499620,meadowreader,"[60, 96]","Reading the reviews is great fun, particularly the attacks on the book and its author based on his association with the Heartland Institute. In part those are entertaining because they so blatantly try to substitute various versions of the Ad Hominem fallacy for substantive argument, combined with equally blatant and fallacious Arguments from Authority. It's all especially funny when the critic admits that he has read only a small portion of the book and couldn't even find the end notes. What comes across most clearly is that some of these folks are not used to being challenged and having to defend their own position on its merits.But what's truly hilarious is to see folks from the science establishment pretending not to have their own financial and other interests at stake in this debate. It's too funny! Climate change science is a taxpayer-funded mini-industry: Lots of research institutes -- does the green energy industry help fund those? -- that provide fat salaries and well-paid, high-status, high-visibility positions inside and outside of academia, endless paid-for conferences in fancy international locations with premium hotel and other accommodations, specialized journals to publish your articles and thus fatten the vita for academic promotions and pay increases, research contracts and grants by the boatload, invitations to sit on government panels and advisory boards, lucrative consultant posts, and on and on. The Earth- and Atmospheric Sciences never, ever had it so good.The notion that climate scientists are an unbiased and disinterested source of commentary on a book like this is preposterous. All the Ad Hominem sputtering and Assertions from Authority are just another version of the panicked attempts to shut off debate with nonsense about ""settled science."" Baloney. Only by blind luck could true knowledge in an area this complex and poorly understood be represented by computer models that are replete with errors of specification and measurement. It's farcical. The outraged defensive reactions you see here from representatives of the climate science establishment are exactly what you always see when any heavily-invested interest group sees its gravy train in danger of being de-railed.Pop some corn, sit back and enjoy, because this show is just getting started. There's a photo on the web this morning of two Meteorology profs at San Jose State, one holding this book over a lit match held by the other. Book burning used to be the province of religious fanatics intent on eliminating heresy. In a way, I guess it still is.",4.0,Entertaining comments,1367712000,"05 5, 2013",60,96,helpful,0.625,1 A2KMRDXAVC6RQP,0374143463,"G. Polley ""blogger and writer""","[0, 0]","What kind of a man was Roger Casement? Diplomat, human rights advocate, anti-colonialist, irish nationalist, immensely popular because of his human rights advocacy and, ultimately, a convicted and executed as a traitor. He was also, apparently, deeply conflicted and homosexual, which was made public when British Intelligence began to reveal tidbits from his private diaries after his arrest.""The Dream of the Celt"" reads like a biography -- a story told rather than shown -- in which the author's presence is dominant. And therein lies its problem, because, though interesting, it bogs down and I began speed reading through the last third of it. Very different from Vargas Llosa's earlier historical novel about Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo (""The Feast of the Goat""), where different points of view kept me involved and interested, ""The Dream of the Celt"" left me wondering when it was all going to end. Granted, Roger Casement was no Rafael Trujillo, but he was -- and is -- a fascinating figure. I wish Mario Vargas Llosa had made his story about him a bit more compelling of a reading adventure, as the elements are definitely there.",4.0,A biographical novel,1370649600,"06 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2V3P1XE33NYC3,0385509650,Jeffrey Leach,"[86, 94]","Imagine a world in which human beings no longer worry about procuring food. Imagine a world in which disease becomes a thing of the past. Imagine a world in which mortality gives way to human/machine hybrids that can live for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Sounds good, doesn't it? If so, imagine a different sort of world, a world in which a small class of people in possession of this sort of technology genetically engineers babies. Imagine a world in which these same people turn traditional humans into slaves. Imagine, even, the technology in this possible future spiraling out of control and turning the planet into gray sludge. Sounds scary, doesn't it? These two scenarios play a central role in Joel Garreau's ""Radical Evolution: The Promise and Peril of Enhancing Our Minds, Our Bodies--And What It Means to Be Human."" Another scenario plays out in the book, one in which human beings prevail over sudden technological changes and, by doing so, accept or reject which forms of ""radical evolution"" to adopt. The subsequent conversation on these three themes fills pages with marvels that boggle the imagination. Could even a fraction of these events really occur in the next twenty to thirty years?Garreau thinks so, and he begins his examination of GRIN (Genetic, robotic, information, and nanotechnological) advancements by seeking out the wunderkinds working at DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). These are the folks brainstorming such projects as vaccines to prevent pain, suits that can allow soldiers to carry hundreds of pounds of weight with ease, and dozens of other incredible inventions. It was their predecessor, ARPA, which created what we now know as the Internet. As amazing as the ideas flowing out of DARPA sound, it's nothing compared to what inventors such as Ray Kurzweil see in our immediate future. Garreau's conversation with this scientist ushers in the first of our three possible destinies, something the author labels the ""Heaven"" scenario. In this situation, human beings essentially become deities. Immortality thanks to nanotechnology and genetics research becomes the norm. Computers emerge with the power of hundreds of human brains. Heady stuff, indeed. Unfortunately heaven must have a hell, and that's where people like Bill Joy and Francis Fukuyama enter the picture. They see our future as a bleak existence in which out of control nanotechnology devours every resource on the planet, or one in which humans use this fabulous technology against one another.Both the heaven and hell scenarios paint human beings as a passive force in the face of increasing technology. The ""Prevail"" scenario takes the human factor and places it center stage. A position advocated by a guy named Jaron Lanier and others, prevailing over the rise of GRIN essentially means people take a hands on role in new technologies. Rather than losing control of robots and genetic engineering, argues Lanier, humans will use them to strengthen the connections between individuals. The example of cell phones, where people use them to stay in constant touch with others in ways unanticipated by their creators, serves as a prime example of how we bend technology to our will instead of the other way around. No new social classes will arise in the prevail scenario based on technology, nor will the world give up the ghost because of nanotechnology run amok. One assumes that genetic engineering will not sink to the sort of eugenics programs National Socialist Germany dabbled in during the 1940s. Prevail means humanity will change, since change is essential to the human experience regardless of culture or time, but we all will still keep that nebulous essence that makes each of us human.Intriguing ideas and predictions abound in Garreau's study, far too many to document in a short review. It is possible, however, to point out the flaws in the book. There are several. Perhaps the most annoying aspect of ""Radical Evolution"" is the author's penchant for a ""gee whiz"" writing style. It's like reading a book written about Superman by cub reporter Jimmy Olsen. Then there is Garreau's almost unquestioning assumption that the marvels documented in the book constitute an absolute future reality. Sorry to burst your bubble, Joel, but a list of futurists proved incorrect over the ages would run the length of a New York City phone book. The truth is that none of us can adequately predict what will happen two weeks from now, let alone what sort of things could occur in twenty, thirty, or one hundred years. Then there's a troubling emphasis in the book on simply documenting the things science could do for us instead of on the possible problems that could sidetrack any one of these advancements. Garreau does examine a few potential roadblocks to the march of GRIN, but the focus definitely falls on the wonderful and awesome.I'm happy to see another reviewer identify what is surely the most egregious problem with the book, namely a lack of discussion on transportation in general and fuels in particular. How will any of this stuff come to pass if a substitute for oil does not emerge? Petroleum products aren't just important in transportation; they also provide a number of synthetics and lubricants that technology cannot function without. How can we solve the food problem if we cannot invent a means of transportation that runs on something other than gasoline? Anyway, I'm being a bit harsh on Joel Garreau. ""Radical Evolution"" is an entertaining and informative read that also poses fundamental questions about our relationship to technology. If the section at the back of the book is any indication, Garreau isn't the only guy writing about what GRIN might mean to the future of the human race. I imagine this book would serve as a good introduction for those seeking to learn more about our possible technological future. I give this one four stars for sheer interest.",4.0,I'm not looking forward to having wings!,1125446400,"08 31, 2005",86,94,helpful,0.9148936170212766,1 AKR4DH6WLF6GG,0980139406,Linda Bulger,"[4, 5]","Alida Brill and Dr. Michael Lockshin bravely reveal their own realities in this lyrical book about living with chronic illness. Alida Brill has suffered from aggressive auto-immune disease since childhood, the disease and her negotiation with it shaping her life. Michael Lockshin is her doctor, and from Alida and his other patients he distills the art of listening to what is important.From both doctor and patient we hear of the power imbalance, the investment of trust in treatment decisions, the awareness that priorities are not straightforward and can't be measured in a logical, linear way. We learn that effective partnering in health care involves negotiation and that no fear or hope is irrelevant. We learn that people will risk anything to achieve a goal if it's important enough to them, and that in a nurturing, caring relationship, this must be respected.Alida Brill's writing is often heart-wrenching in its honesty. Her desire to give affirmation to other sufferers permeates the book, and her observations about loving and trusting in intimate relationships are crystal-sharp. There is a continuum from full health to life-threatening illness, and it never pays to assume you know where on that continuum you will stand tomorrow.Dr. Lockshin opens the book with a riveting essay on the unique time scale of chronic illness. It can't be cut out or cured or even rehabilitated in the time frame we associate with many medical encounters. Instead, the ""now"" in the life of a person with chronic disease incorporates the experience of the past and the unknowable future. The acceptance of this concept is a necessary negotiation.Dancing at the River's Edge: A Patient and Her Doctor Negotiate Life with Chronic Illnessis about so much more than living with chronic illness--it's a book about living in a world full of people with individual realities and hopes. Whether or not your life involves a daily accommodation to health issues, you will find something in this book to stretch your awareness and enrich your life.Linda Bulger, 2009",5.0,A brave book,1236124800,"03 4, 2009",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2KBU6Y0FDZJXZ,0843962658,"koolaid ""adventure woman""","[0, 0]","There was not one thing I did not like. It was very entertaining. I had a hard time putting it down, then I would wake up in the night and start reading it again.....not wanting it to end. Very good.",5.0,Can't put it down.....,1369440000,"05 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A103M7E0BSFC83,B00F5BW9MQ,read-along-with-Sue,"[0, 0]","Seeing the world through Lia's eyes, I think, this is how I can sum up this book.From her teenage college life when she was such a bitch, one of those bitches who really isn't a bitch but uses it as a smoke screen. One of those bitches who you hate to have around. Don't we all know or remember one of those in our lives? I sure do.Moving on in time we see Lia mature, backtrack and move on.I think this was wonderfully written with a lot of feeling for the character, so much so, I thought she was sitting right by me telling me her story. I couldn't do anything else until I heard how it ended.Superbly told.",3.0,Superbly told,1399248000,"05 5, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1RL0AMW0ZU1U,0971376085,"R. G. May ""Bibliophile""","[25, 43]","As one of Jehovah's witnesses, I have had hundreds of discussions with people concerning the Trinity. I was familiar with many of the arguments presented in the book, however I was surprised with some new ones I had not heard before. Finding these new points, and the scriptural explanations that ensued, was worth the purchase price of the book.However, my one concern with this book and its author is what is the motivation in undertaking such an exhaustive and time consuming project such as this. If the reviewers make up a typical sample of the book's readership, then one thing that is evident is that minds are not being changed. Those in favor of the Trinity throw up their time honored, albeit erroneous, defenses. At the same time JW's and those sympathetic to them write in praise of the book's scriptural approach. The truth concerning Jesus' relationship to his Father is so crystal clear in the Scriptures, and the arguments to refute this truth so contorted, that one wonders why one would target such an audience in the first place. Winning arguments with a trinitarian - easy. Spending precious dedicated time and resources in an efficacious manner - difficult.",3.0,A nice explanation - but why?,1070668800,"12 6, 2003",25,43,helpful,0.5813953488372093,1 A2P6PVWZS4NGV0,037543318X,Michael Bulger,"[7, 9]","This is not the sort of thing you read and keep proudly on your bookshelf, perhaps with the intention of going back to it again and again. Working in the vein of Umberto Eco's masterful (but flawed) "Foucault's Pendulum," Dan Brown spins a Ludlumesque thriller centered on a centuries-old secret society, the Illuminati, and their use of a brand-new science-fictional technology stolen from a European institute to attempt to destroy their nemesis, the Vatican. To say that the premise is a bit daft would be obvious; to note that the prose is barely literate would be superfluous (I doubt anyone is buying this expecting a brilliant command of the language). This is complete crap, and after a quick and frustrating scan of this book you can be sure that I now will _not_ be picking up Brown's latest in this series, "The Da Vinci Code," despite all the good press it's gotten.But even if you approach this book on its own abysmal level, you will find a lot wrong with it. The treatment of science, of scientists and of scientific institutes is perhaps a step above your average James Bond flick, but not a large one. And the philosophical argument underlying the science fiction here--the creation of matter as a way of rationally supporting the existence of God--is laughably poor (no halfway intelligent Christian or atheist would be challenged by the fictional breakthrough described here).To get some idea of where this novel is coming from, take the first few chapters, in which Harvard "symbologist" Robert Langdon is faxed a photo of a corpse with an oddly symmetrical brand burned into its chest (said brand, naturally, consists of the word "Illuminati," but in a form that reads the same when turned upside-down). We read that the symbol makes Langdon's heart pound, makes him feel as if he's been hit by a truck, makes him tremble, etc. For god's sake, why? It's just a symbol, and supposedly one he's never seen before, only heard of. Why does it not occur to him that _anyone_ could have fabricated a seal reading "Illuminati" in two directions? I mean, they made it up for this book, right?Brown is enough of a professional to move his narrative along brisquely, and to sprinkle each chapter with enough forewarnings of what is to come, and enough cliffhangers, to keep the average reader going. But it's all artifice over a hollow core--the characters are cardboard cutouts from a Ludlum novel; no one behaves in any fashion that might resemble a normal human being; and it is quite clear that while Brown researched enough to bluster his way through a superficial discussion, he really doesn't know anything about either science or religion. Only worth your time if this sort of dreck is what you really like to read.",2.0,"Moderately entertaining, but utter trash.",1065225600,"10 4, 2003",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 A2NWPGXD0069EE,1610391527,Kenneth E. Mayer,"[10, 14]","This is the fourth book I have read by George Soros. I won't delve into his faulty logic. But if you have already read books by him, pass on this. This is more of the same. There isn't anything marginally new here.If you haven't, give this a try. His theory of financial reflexivity is very interesting. But when every book revolves around it, you are wasting your time. And he isn't a fan of the free market system, which is contradictory because he used the free market system to short the Pound and almost break the Bank of England.",3.0,"If you read a previous book by Soros, avoid this one.",1329782400,"02 21, 2012",10,14,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 ABT26V97Y686Q,073870718X,Lee & Steven Hager,"[44, 46]","Although the title describes the book as a ""Practical Guide to Gnostic Christianity,"" the reader will quickly discover that the author, the founder and Master of the Sophia Fellowship, focuses the majority of his attention on that particular school of thought. That being said, Malachi does explain many fundamental tenets of Gnosticism that will be helpful to anyone who is curious about the subject of historic and contemporary gnosis. Malachi clearly points out profound differences between Gnostic and mainline Christianity. While Christian religions claim that the absolute word of God is contained in specific holy writings, Malachi explains that, ""Any inspiration or revelation flowing through an incarnate human being will naturally be limited by the capacity of the individual's own knowledge, understanding and wisdom."" Therefore, Gnostics understand that no matter how enlightened or inspired a writer may appear to be it is ignorance to, "". . .assume anything spoken or written by a human being is the `absolute word of God.'""Malachi points out that spiritual insight is always received through the filters of the times and location of the receiver. While most Christian religions instruct their adherents to adapt themselves to a strict interpretation of a message written for another time and place, Malachi makes the point that gnosis, "". . . grows, evolves, and tends to assume whatever form is necessary to the time and place in which it appears."" When reading an ancient text, Gnostics assume that some of the information will necessarily be obsolete and should be discarded. While this appears to be sacrilege to the literalist, Gnostics see this as a necessary component to spiritual growth. Readers will especially benefit from Malachi's repeated emphasis that gnosis is the result of personal spiritual experience. While this may be off-putting to those who prefer ""spectator"" religion, everyone hungry for direct spiritual experience will be encouraged by much of the information included in this book. Lee & Steven Hager are the authors of Quantum Prodigal Son: Revisiting Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son from the Perspective of Quantum Mechanics",4.0,Spiritual Spectator or Participant? Gnosis offers a choice!,1174435200,"03 21, 2007",44,46,helpful,0.9565217391304348,1 A34C2RNBEQYFX5,B00FGDYLI8,Nikki,"[13, 13]",I just happened to stumble onto this book and I was so glad I did! Now I follow the author and read anything she writes! This book was awesome! At first I was super mad at Lucas with how he acted but when Lindy came home totally changed I knew he had to be kicking his own a**. The story is different then any I've read and it's sweet how much he loves her! Sweet sexy read and is in favorites list on my iPad!! I've read it 2-3 times since I've purchased it.,5.0,Loved it!,1392508800,"02 16, 2014",13,13,helpful,1.0,1 A1FWEU37YJBORI,1593375794,Adam,"[5, 6]","I really liked this book and was pleasantly surprised by it. It is not one of those extremely basic beginner type books that does little more than explain the rules of the game and tells you to play tightly. It's quite a bit more advanced than that and I found myself agreeing with most things the author had to say. My only problem with the book and the reason I didn't give it five stars is his treatment of internet poker. He more or less claims it is rigged and is strongly against it. He also makes silly claims like it is impossible to play more than one table at a time well etc. Obviously he is more of a live game type of guy and that is fair enough but he is wrong about internet poker. The hundreds of internet millionaires are proof of that. I myself have made a substantial amount of money playing internet poker.That gripe aside, this is a very good book and well worth a read.",4.0,Very good except for one thing.,1182643200,"06 24, 2007",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2X1M00LBR01DW,1596981008,medieres,"[10, 114]","Mark Steyn thinks he is as funny as Woody Allen. His passion is musical comedies. Yet he claims not to be fey. He can be very witty, acerbic and insulting.He is unremitting and insanely ambitious and egoistic.He is intelligent but utterly unintellectual.A great many things he says about liberals, the most detestable mindset ever invented, are entirely justified.What mars his thinking, and ruins any value of his writing, is a virulent and unmoderated not to mention intensely racist zionism. It never occurs to him that traditional american values are contradictory to those of the supremicist ideology of zionismHe never examins the extent to which america has become a vassal state of the zionist entity. Nor does he mention the pernicious influence of the israel lobby, second in power in washington only to the ARP lobbyAs a polemicist he can be impressive and entertaining. As a political observor and intellectual, he is both blinkered and boringThis book, like everything he writes, is based on spreading hatred and fear of islam. Amazingly, it never occurs to him that islam and judaism are two sides of the same coin. Like most ignorant North Americans, he uses the word 'anti-semitism' exclusively to refer to people of the jewish persuasion. As more educated people know, both jews and arabs are of the 'semetic' lineage and language groups.At the end of the day, Steyn would like to be seen as a figure of international impact. In fact, he is a canadian.",1.0,blinkered and bigoted,1315699200,"09 11, 2011",10,114,helpful,0.08771929824561403,1 A2I1O94YTA2FMV,0307885151,Barbara Rice,"[0, 0]","Never, ever would it occur to me to walk into a bookstore and say, ""Gee, I think I'll buy a book about physics, protons, and the origin of the universe."" But because Bill Bryson wrote this, I bought it as soon as it was released. Not only does he explain incredibly complex and obscure subjects so that an ordinary non-scientist reader can grasp them, he does so with humor. Moreover, he interjects the human element into these subjects - the jealousy and rivalry between scientists and how those petty battles affected research and eventual outcomes.I can't say I totally understood everything - some of it was just too abstract. But one thing I do recall that made an impression: you know that fuzzy screen on your TV when you come to a ""dead air"" channel, with the ensuing noise? Some of that is coming from the furthest reaches of the universe. I loved that.",5.0,A BOOK ABOUT SCIENCE WRITTEN FOR THE NON-SCIENTIST,1254182400,"09 29, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2AT443ER3JY2J,B007VVEYJE,coakinna,"[6, 9]","After reading this book, my cramps improved, but so did my PMS and a whole bunch of other symptoms. I was having horrible pain in my hips and back and that has improved too. I really liked the idea of making changes to improve overall health instead of just using some remedy to fix my cramps, because my health has been improving a lot. To be honest, this book included more work than most self-help books I have read, but then again, most of those other books didn't help, so I guess that makes sense. I would recommend this book to anyone dealing with menstrual cramps or women who just want to feel better.",5.0,Helped more than just my cramps,1338854400,"06 5, 2012",6,9,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1BA72K4VK1UN1,0374528373,"Patrick W. Crabtree ""The Old Grottomaster""","[5, 5]","...and there is no shortage of lunatics and deviants in this book! Here, Dostoyevsky has expertly shared the tale of a much-demented father and his multiple (""probably"" four, all total) sons, both claimed and un-claimed.Some readers will say that the father is a natural sick-o and some will point out that he's mentally ill, brain-ravaged by alcohol. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but the story is mostly about how life for the boys (young men) is essentially and frequently trashed by this scoundrel of a father, even subsequent to his murder... yes, we do get the opportunity to savor that great satisfaction but that fact, having now been revealed, is not really a spoiler, nor is it by any means the end of the story. In fact, the story pretty much spring-boards and feeds off the death of the father. Up until that point in the book, we are simply, (and sometimes humorously, in a dark sense), regaled with the father's madness and the appurtenant widespread misery that his heinous behavior yields for both his offsping and on society in general, not excluding the local religious leadership.The work is bulging with ethical issues (typical Dostoyevsky, really), but they certainly do not cloud the story line in the slightest.If you enjoy rampant madness, intermittent justice, and fine literature, this is the book for you. My favorite character is Smerdyakov and the new reader will see why, since I have this wierd love of mad (but devious) book characters.If you are mentally wrestling between either reading this particular work, or, ""Crime and Punishment,"" solely on the issue of ""fun readability,"" this is the pick of the two. However the latter IS also a magnificent literary achievement and a classic example of Dostoyevsky's excellent Russian literature.A fine read for all young adults, but especially for young men. Unfortunately, if you wind up like I did, you won't get around to reading it until you're 50 or so, and will, thus, not fully benefit from the many life lessons which are conveyed in this magnificent work of world literature.",5.0,I love Dostoyevsky's Russian madmen!,1178668800,"05 9, 2007",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 AZYTJ9WE6FFU5,157293350X,J. Gillease,"[0, 0]","It is the way to start each day on the right path, at least it is for me. Keep God in my eavery day.",5.0,I like Jesus Calling and Our Daily Bread,1357516800,"01 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AUSA0LJOM5534,B00BJBQWZ6,Lyn Perry,"[0, 0]","Engaging, intriguing, and beguiling combination of modern day fantasy, horror, and a touch of X-Files/Fringe science fiction. What you end up with is Shudderville, an episodic saga that you can consume at your own pace like a weekly television show or binge on all at once like an ebook version of Netflix.WISH by Mia Zabrisky is a collection of the first 8 stories (Season One). Some are stand alone, others continue a storyline from earlier. All interconnect in some fashion, slowly unraveling the mystery (while all the while raising new questions to be answered in Season Two) behind the bizarre and odd happenings that seem to all link back to two creepy old men, once friends, now bitter enemies.If you like your stories to take strange twists while propelling you forward, this is a series worth diving into. Recommended for adults and mature teens. Definitely start from the beginning (even though I started with Episode 9; which was very good, but ultimately led me to how it all began). Will definitely keep reading.",4.0,"Combo Pack of Horror, Fantasy, and Fringe-like Science",1404086400,"06 30, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2J7RQK9E9N5K,B00ADSAWBQ,"Kristen Fredericksen ""Book addict""","[0, 0]","The quality of the writing in this book was not terrible, but it wasn't great. There were a lot of typos that slipped past the spell-checker. For example, the author had a habit of separating words that should have been combined, like ""side walk"" and ""no where."" In one instance, a question ended with a period. What really mattered, though, was the pacing. The book description says it's ""action packed,"" but parts of it are kind of boring. Maybe I felt that way because I expected there to be a lot more magic in the book. Instead, it was almost entirely focused on Rebecca's quest to protect the girl. The girl's personality wasn't fleshed out very well, but the author made it easy to sympathize with her. I liked these two characters, which is why I finished the book. I wanted to see how it ended. Unfortunately, the major conflict in the story was resolved too easily. This was the most action packed sequence and it was over fairly quickly. If Carl Purcell could find a better editor than Jim Parsons to fix the typos and smooth out the pacing, this would be a decent book.I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it.",3.0,"promising, but needs more editing",1359590400,"01 31, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3G5EGFZ6ZCIJ1,1463717091,"Gigi ""{{~.~}}""","[4, 9]","NOT my kind of book. I can see the other two books will be the same. This book gives me the creeps.Don't need to have this information. Unspeakable crimes against children and young adults.Will return as unfit to have in my house.I READ FOR ENTERTAINMENT.A SICK MIND HAD TO PUT THIS ALL ON PAPER.I write this a as a warning to others who enjoy reading for pleasure.This reading is sick, sick, sick.Am returning all three of the books, 2 1/2 unread.",1.0,"GORY, GROSS",1374364800,"07 21, 2013",4,9,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A325OCI8Y9IPIE,1250014409,Avid reader,"[0, 0]","I just love these books. They have everything you need in a book humour, sarcasm, emotion and the list goes on. Prepare to sit and read until it's finished- no work will be done. Can hardly wait for the next one/s.",5.0,Another great book in this series!!!!,1397347200,"04 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2G9W9AETK2S9Y,0061916048,John Miller,"[0, 0]","The Financial Lives of the Poets is a tale about Matt Prior, former newspaper journalist, current recession victim, and aspiring financial adviser. Further discouraged by an unraveling family life and a creative yet mostly failed internet business venture, he believes he may have found the answer to his problems inspired by burnouts befriended at the local 7-11.This book is a showcase of Jess Walter's writing talents, wrapping memorable characters, great dialogue, and even some poetry into an entertaining look at a contemporary economic issue that's affecting a lot of people.",4.0,Excellent novel by a great contemporary author,1361750400,"02 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1L0SUHFS9LHPA,0439895979,"Jessica Weissman ""poet and computer programmer""","[0, 1]","This book, by the ever-inventive Libba Bray, is one fabulous and smart satire of consumer culture, beauty pageants, reality TV, politics, and a few other things. I love a good satire, and this one delivers. Plus, unlike many funny books, it doesn't start of well and then poop out before the ending. It's all satire-plus-plot all the way.Now the basics: a planeload of teen beauty pageant contestants, each of whom has a secret of some kind, crashes on a deserted island that turns out to be the secret headquarters of a huge and evil Corporation that wants to take over the world. Many of the BQs die right away. The rest are soon making their dresses into fishing nets and hammocks, and otherwise surviving in some very funny ways. The book is regularly interrupted with satire/parody ad copy for products, tv shows, and other stuff that lets Libba Bray show off her copywriting skills and generally make you laugh.You get these girls, all of whom have been publicly following The Rules fairly closely, away from society and its expectations for young women, and they become...themselves. In interesting ways. In a succession of chapters we see each one work through her something-to-hide in some inventive way, and turn it around.And then the ship full of pirates from a pirate reality show turns up. Throw in some guys, and things get even funnier.Eventually the surviving girls get over their differences, work together to foil the evil plans while not breaking many nails, and get off the island. Lots of stuff, physical and metaphysical, blows right up.If the idea of a planeload of beauty queens landing on a deserted island doesn't strike you as funny from the get-go, this book probably isn't for you. If you don't want to almost-witness (but not quite! and not explicitly!) a fair amount of teen sex, this book isn't for you. If you don't have some tolerance for stereotypes (albeit stereotypes made inventive use of), stay away.Otherwise you're in for a real treat - full-on satire with explosions. And the girls win (not that I'm giving anything away there). Prepare to laugh. Don't read this on the subway during your morning commute, or people will glare when you laugh too loudly. I know this from experience.",5.0,"Satire, beauty queens, and lots of explosions - wow!",1307836800,"06 12, 2011",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A34F4IHXZYZ7KS,B007GXQ78S,Kindle Customer,"[0, 0]",This is one of the most uplifting love story I've read this year. It will stay with me for a long while,5.0,"Radiant, brilliant, breathtaking",1404259200,"07 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A10ESA3ZO99N10,0199239185,Kamikuza,"[0, 0]","SO much detail—reads more like a Master's dissertation or paper submitted for peer-review, than popular science. Bit of a struggle to get through: don't try to read it late at night! It loses some of it's interest due to the writing style and that spoils what is a fascinating story about our origins.",3.0,"Very detailed, but a bit dry.",1371254400,"06 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A35LFMLR990G8U,143352077X,Boothefox,"[0, 0]",After 16 years being a christian i thought i knew what my faith is about. Nop. It appears i was playing in a sandbox. This book makes you either go further and grow up or admit that you have never intended to become Christs follower. It's not for the faint of heart. It's scary. But... It's either... or...,5.0,Cuts the bullcrap out of your faith,1401148800,"05 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1K5LVT31CG1IH,0345803485,Kristin,"[4, 6]","I don't get what all the hype is about. Be it good or bad. I found the story to be mediocre and the writing was pretty amateurish. There were a lot of filler pages in the story between emails being sent back and forth between Ana and Christian, and the many pages of the contract Ana has to sign in order to become Christian's submissive. I think with a good polishing by an editor and maybe some re-writes on the authors part would benefit this book a lot.-Book Sniffers Anonymous",2.0,"Good potential, poorly written and executed",1345334400,"08 19, 2012",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1OTTK9JG7MR8H,B00KXJO6BC,"Crafton ""Crafton""","[0, 0]",I can never get enough of this author's writing. This was a great addition to this series and can hardly wait for the next.,5.0,Another great hit!,1403568000,"06 24, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A163XZU3HM4EHV,1941098053,Stacy Hahn,"[16, 23]","The Ever Trilogy was quite the journey full of heartache beyond any other, pain, friendship, but most of all undying love! Saving Forever helped put all the pieces of my broken heart back together after reading the first two books. Cade's love for Ever, Ever's forgiving heart and love for Cade as well as the friendship and love between Eden and Carter made this one beautiful story! Way to go Jadinda these were your best books yet!",5.0,Amazing! 5 stars are not enough!!,1392422400,"02 15, 2014",16,23,helpful,0.6956521739130435,1 A7L8VLKOQO8CJ,0062102567,Froggy,"[0, 15]",i was surfing the web and BOOM there it was and i was like omg and i cant wait for it to come out,5.0,OMG,1335744000,"04 30, 2012",0,15,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2VF8IACI2KR2C,0977329615,"Amber Polo ""author of The Shapeshifters LIbrary""","[9, 9]","Ten years is a long time to wait, but fans of Donna Boyd's ""The Passion"" (1998) and ""The Promise"" (1999) waited not so patiently for the third in the Devoncroix Dynasty series. Now there is ""Renegade"" - published by the author whose real name is Donna Ball and whose other names include Rebecca Flanders, Donna Carlisle, Leigh Bristol, and Taylor Brady.I discovered her work when I first shared my fantasy manuscript filled with shifter dogs and a few werewolves. A dog trainer friend told me I must read ""The Passion."" I found not the werewolves of scary movies, teens from ""Twilight"" (2005), or the children's fantasy world of Harry Potter (1997). Here was a race of creatures living among us - our business leaders, sports stars, and glittering celebrities - like us, but more gloriously beautiful and intelligent. They embodied the best and the worst of humanity. I believed in that possibility as I imagine did many of her fans.Step into the world of the Devoncroix werewolves and look at the world differently. I loved returning to the castle in Alaska and leaning more about their lives in Italy. ""Renegade,"" like the others is an exciting, well-crafted mix of urban fantasy, suspense, mystery, romance, shapeshifting werewolves, and historical fiction.More please, Ms. Boyd. Don't let the lupinotuum keep you from sharing their stories.",5.0,Welcome back to the Devoncroix series,1322870400,"12 3, 2011",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A3SLAEU4AZWIYE,0814706959,"Eric J. Swanson ""Eric Swanson--Co-author of T...","[10, 17]","Look, the only reason you'd ever buy this book is because you are chained to a dissertation or research paper. First ask yourself, ""Have I gone mad? Do I really want to do this?"" If so you need some book on qualitative data and this is as good as any and served as a guide for me as i did my doctoral dissertation.",4.0,Its more interesting that watching paint dry,1182643200,"06 24, 2007",10,17,helpful,0.5882352941176471,1 A3QZCA4LTTVGAD,0830822062,Michael J. Mazza,"[10, 35]","I was given a copy of Don Everts' "Jesus with Dirty Feet" by a member of a campus Christian group at the University of Pittsburgh. While the book has some strengths, I find that its drawbacks are much greater.The bulk of the book is an explanation/defense of evangelical Christianity in poetic form. Each of the poem's 8 chapters focuses on a particular aspect of the faith: "Jesus," "Repentance," "The Bible," etc.Unfortunately, Everts' faith is a feel-good, self-congratulatory form of Christianity which is incapable of taking on the hard questions. At his worse, Everts strikes me as ethically irresponsible. At the very opening of the poem, for example, he casually dismisses "everything from the Crusades to / the perpetually complex and powerful / Vatican machinery" (13). I am sure that some readers will regard these lines as a bigoted anti-Catholic jab, but I am more concerned about his easy disposal of the Crusades, one of the most tragic and violent parts of the Christian legacy. Real human beings died as a result of Christian fanaticism during the Crusades; are these lives so easy to toss away in a single line?Throughout the book, Everts encourages his evangelical readers to indulge in masturbatory fantasies of "persecution" and alienation. Of his type of Christian Everts writes, "these Kingdom Dwellers. . . / they're illegal aliens, / foreign ambassadors, / a threat to national security" (61). I doubt that many of the privileged campus Christians who will use this book to stroke their egos really know what it's like to suffer true persecution; unfortunately, Everts fosters shallow martyr fantasies over real introspection.There are some good moments in "Jesus with Dirt Feet." Everts' chapter on the Bible, for example, contains some genuinely insightful poetic language. But as in the rest of the book, Everts' message is compromised either by ignorance or moral cowardice. Why, I wanted to ask him, has the Bible been so potent a source of proof-texts for supporters of genocide, slavery, racial segregation, the disenfranchisement of women, anti-Semitism, anti-gay bigotry, and other evils throughout history?Reading Everts' words I was reminded of the ninth chapter of the "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass," which describes how a Christian slaveowner savagely tortures a disabled slave woman while quoting a Bible verse that appears to justify his actions. Everts' vacuous feel-good Christianity fails to address the seductiveness of Christian fanaticism, the problematic nature of many biblical passages, and the long list of victims of "faithful Christians" through the centuries.Everts condemns the many versions of Jesus which have been popular in various circles: "my grandparents' soft Jesus who blesses nice people who don't smoke or cuss, the liberationists' machine-gun toting Jesus, the atheists' papier-mache Jesus" and others (7). But in his arrogance Everts substitutes yet another hollow (and potentially dangerous) cliche: the trendy "coffeehouse Jesus."People interested in a truly challenging and meaningful vision of Christianity would be better off reading the works of Thomas Merton, Carter Heyward, Martin Luther King, John McNeil, or some of the other Christians who have, like Jesus, challenged the status quo. For the true Christian pilgrim, "Jesus with Dirty Feet" is an insulting waste of time.",2.0,Moral evasion and verbal masturbation,972691200,"10 28, 2000",10,35,helpful,0.2857142857142857,1 A238T67UZ2V189,1490553517,BookMarven,"[0, 1]","I liked the book, but there was no depth to the charaters or the story. I will not be buy any books in this series.",3.0,it was ok,1372982400,"07 5, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2EJJOADEPJSP0,0451467973,Lisa DiNapoli,"[0, 0]","I do not know how she does it but from the moment i picked up my first book by AL Jackson I have been devouring them as fast as she can release them and Jared and Aly's story has to be my favorite so far! All of her stories are just powerful and this tale is no different, you laugh you cry and you truly feel the heartbreak and more importantly the love between her characters. I wish I could tell you all the amazing things about the come to me softly books but honestly I'd just end up writing most of the story and giving everything away and that would suck. I do wish the timeline had been more consistent but it that's such a small thing in the scheme of things. I greatly look forward to her next book (and i'm definitely hoping for a least a peek into Jared and Aly's future)!",5.0,And she does it again,1403654400,"06 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1GWUXXEL9H5UH,1608190463,CeceMarie,"[0, 0]","Mornings in Jenin" is based on the true story of life in war torn Palestine & Israel. The terrors of war & the ironies of the Middle East conflict are well portrayed in this extremely well written story.,5.0,Engrossing Read,1401148800,"05 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3A0ST7V00YP4R,068485743X,Mortedore,"[0, 0]",The self publisher would be advised to consider this instruction before delivering a regrettable work.Valuable if you already have a manuscript or if you have yet to begin.,5.0,Invaluable Advice. Excellent Presentation.,1382313600,"10 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1DU1CJEP60TLQ,149040399X,Pamela,"[0, 1]","-SPOILER ALERT!-I absolutely love Barbie Bohrman's debut novel, ""Promise Me."" The author delivers an engaging and well-executed story that will bring about various emotions in you as you follow the captivating story of true love of Tyler and Sabrina from when they first met to when they meet up again ten years later. The author does a brilliant job making the story and the characters feel as realistic as possible. She includes insightful and multifaceted characters that you'll fall in love with be it the protagonists, or the two supporting characters, Alex and Julia. Julia is the definition of a true best friend. She's supportive and comforting of her relationship with Sabrina; while witty and entertaining leaving the reader wishing for just such a friend. And Alex - Wow! What a nice surprise. I found him to be classy, almost mesmerizing. The author strays from the mainstream of the always jealous, demanding and overbearing boss fighting his rival (the hero) for the heroine's affections. Trust me when I say you'll fall in love with Alex like I did and hope that he too will find true love. This is a definite must-read as ""Promise Me"" is a first-rate novel worthy of reading. I look forward to more exciting works by this new author.",5.0,Amazing Debut Novel,1369872000,"05 30, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2HCEQ77NTZDEF,014131088X,vtown,"[0, 0]","Melinda Sordino, a student at Merryweather High School, is in big trouble. Everyone hates her, she's lost all of her friends, and she doesn't know what to do with her life anymore. Over the summer she busted a party by calling the cops, and some student even got arrested. But, there's a reason why she called. Something that happened that night is still haunting her. She never told anyone about it. Now, beginning her freshman year, she's not doing homework, not talking, and just letting everything slip away that was once good in her life. Read to find the changes Melinda makes and what happened the night of that summer party.Some likes of this book is that Melinda always says how she feels. I like when she does this because I know some of the reasons why she does the things she does in her book. I also like how Melinda doesn't take any mean remarks from anyone. It shows that she's not going to let people push her around. A dislike I had in the book is that the beginning doesn't really tell why she's lost all of her friends, and why her life is bad. Then again it was a good thing the book was like that because it made me want to keep reading to find out what happened.I would recommend this book to mostly teenage girls. I think teenage girls would be able to relate a lot to the book. They would be able to relate to things such as all of the groups of friends in the school and high school life. Overall this book was really good and I really recommend that teenage girls read it!",4.0,What Happened to my Life,1132617600,"11 22, 2005",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2XCVC8TMKZ321,038552403X,Maisy,"[0, 0]","There have been some mixed reviews here but I enjoyed this book and read it very quickly as I wanted to know more and what would happen next. The characters although in their mid 30's seem a little immature in the choices they have made and have to face head-on the big finanical loss that awaits them as well as the realisation that the careers they are aspiring to of film director and musician just might not happen. I think it took them a long time to face the reality and I wondered how they survived as far as they did and how they managed to pay the house at all! It does look at the great American dream and what owning a house represents to people, while Jeremy's viewpoint is the complete opposite. They are both ambitious and creative but I found them to be idealistic and irresponsible (but that is just me being judgemental of their decision making and hey I don't live in Hollywood so can't really understand what its like!). After their marriage turns sour Jeremy gets the chance to do what he wanted but does self indulgence and complete freedom (or too much freedom) make one happy? I think this 'coming of age' even at their age is something we can all relate to at some point in our lives. Jeremy is a bit of a difficult character to like and care about and he seems like a bit of a loser at times (and I wanted to slap him at how shallow and stupid he was being!) and Claudia although intelligent is perhaps too trusting and easygoing. I don't know why teaching is such a career beneath her but I didnt think it was that bad (though perhaps the school was!). Aoiki is an interesting character - crazy yes but she does liven up the scene! I'd recommend this book and would definately read her other book.",4.0,A worthwhile read,1366588800,"04 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AVVEYC8242WBE,1611605377,"anastasiaig ""anastasiaig""","[0, 0]","...talking about novels for vacation plane flights. This very fast paced book better have a swift sequel, because I have a vacation coming up! This is a well written, interesting new take on the epidemic novel, instead of losing sight in the battle to fight the disease it branches off into another direction and makes you think about the after effect of the disease and its place in history even in the early stages before anyone realizes its scope. Just enough ""huh?"" and ""wait...why?"" moments to make you eager to find out what happens in the next book. Also very likely to spawn some new turns of phrase for the next generations average Sam. Next book. Next book.....!",4.0,"Goodbye Clive Cussler, Hello Carrie Rubin",1354752000,"12 6, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2DL1Q3PFCM9VD,0061242993,Voltaire,"[13, 15]","After reading a few paragraphs of the sample of this book I was hooked. I can't imagine having to witness at eight years old a bunch of punks beating up my mother on a public tennis court, knocking her teeth out, and being helpless to stop it. And then on top of that,his mother hit balls with him the very next day. As Jimmy says it was the day in his young life that shaped who he was to become;namely, by his mothers example, someone who would not let anything deter him from achieving his goal-which was to become the best tennis player in the world.Jimmy doesn't mince words about his feelings for his opponents but his respect for the other greats comes through too.After all, it is a very short list of players who ascend to the number #1 ranking. I've always felt Jimmy Connors name should come up more than it does when they talk about great competitors and the intimidation factor they instill in their opponents. Yeah he was brash and cocky but I saw more than a few of his tournaments in person in 1974 and 1975 and as they often say about Jack Nicklaus...""He knew he was going to beat you,you knew he was going to beat you,and he knew that you knew he was going to beat you. It was the same way with Connors in those early years...TRUST ME!!!! Jimmy lasted so long because as he says he loved playing tennis whether he was winning or losing. Back then the money wasn't what it is today and you had to go on the road and play exhibitions and tournaments galore to make the money these kids today can make with one or two decent finishes. Reading the book,you realize he and Ilie Nastase were practically joined at the hip at these exhibitions and - unbeknownst to me- what an international star Nasty was then.I never cared much for Jimmy's commentary on tennis the few times I heard him cover an event live but the man brings his A game to this memoir. It is a compelling page turner,a very human account of the life and times of (if I may steal a phrase from Bud Collins-the esteemed tennis writer) the brash basher from Belleville.",5.0,The Road Warrior,1369008000,"05 20, 2013",13,15,helpful,0.8666666666666667,1 A1FBW433YPQYRC,B00HZP587I,Kim,"[0, 1]",Yet another great read from the wonderful mind of Charlie Richards. Her series of shape SHIFTERS are always a great and fun read.,5.0,Great Read,1391040000,"01 30, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1H4IE2SXBETYA,0062030205,"Susan J. O'connor ""Ant""","[5, 7]","I bought the book to read Linda's story. The story she tells just does not ring true. If you watched the show Hogan knows best, and followed all that went on in the divorce, her boyfriend...etc. It does not ring true.",1.0,just can't believe it,1330905600,"03 5, 2012",5,7,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A29ULS46UWWKZK,1936850702,"Cherie Reich ""Cherie Reich""","[4, 5]","A thrilling novel, TAMED by Douglas R. Brown had me at pet werewolves.In the jungles of Costa Rica, the werewolf is a very real thing, and Bernard Henderson plans to cash in on this knowledge with his WereHouse, a place where werewolves are trained to be faithful pets. Yet when a werewolf pet goes rogue and attacks its owners as well two paramedics, it's up to a team of hunters to stop them, until one learns the terrible knowledge of what a werewolf is really made of. They must race to bring the WereHouse down before they're hunted too.TAMED excites with its take on werewolves. These aren't your young heartthrobs. No, they've become pets, can be vicious creatures, and are so much more. Brown's style lends to a fast-paced, heart-stopping read with its staccato sentences that pack a punch. The characters are well-written and believable. As the secrets are exposed, the twists and turns will keep the reader guessing to the very end. The horror and real life collide with edge-of-your-seat tension. With its humor, a touch of romance, and lots of horror, TAMED is a suspenseful, fantastic read.Douglas R. Brown's TAMED does for werewolves what Michael Crichton's JURASSIC PARK did for dinosaurs!",5.0,The Jurassic Park of Werewolf Stories!,1328140800,"02 2, 2012",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A224I5WR8UQDDC,0007171684,Megan Ellinger,"[0, 0]","Overall: B for Adults/A+ for young adultsGeared towards young readers, this is a wonderful reinvention of Cinderella--complete with glass slippers, fairy godmothers and a prince. That being said, Ella is far from the meek Cinderella. At birth, she is afflicted with a curse that keeps her constantly obedient to anyone's demands. Despite this, she manages to fight ogres, befriend a prince and keep her evil stepsisters at bay. I loved that Ella is an updated role model for young girls; she presents an independent personality and the ending emphasizes how believing in and being yourself is incredibly valuable.This was a quick read (GoodReads says 240 pages in paperback) and it felt like the proper length. Since the intended audience is fairly young (I'd say 9-12 though GoodReads puts it at 9-14), the text is uncomplicated but not too simplistic.Audiobook Details:The reader, Eden Riegel, sounds quite young but does an above average job with the reading. She does voice intonation, though the different voices are not as clearly identifiable as other readers and some even sound quite similar to each other. The reading contains some background music in parts and this is probably my least favorite feature since it reminded me of midi music from the mid-90's. The first few times the music played, I kept looking around the room to see if one of my kids' toys was going off.Run time--5 hours, 34 minutes",4.0,Ella Enchanted--Audiobook Review,1257811200,"11 10, 2009",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3TQW5KBBPZHNC,044656429X,"K. E Pearce ""kpearce""","[25, 38]","I've been reading Matt's blog since early on. Maddy was born (and Liz died) around the time that I was a few month pregnant, which increased my interest in his experience.His emotion was so raw and his recounting of both challenges and successes was fun and funny. It was and is an amazing blog to read. He also take great photos and Maddy is adorable.As a fan of the blog, I pre-ordered the book.I hate to say it, but I was really disappointed. I don't know if someone that hadn't read the blog might enjoy this book more, but as a blog reader, here's what I didn't like:- Everything wonderful and adorable about Maddy was stripped out of the book. I think that this was probably an editorial decision to make this a book about dealing with the loss of one's spouse. And without a doubt, I got more of the (reflective, obviously) emotions that Matt was experiencing at the time, but I felt like Maddy wasn't a part of the book AT ALL.- A lot of the more ""sociological"" issues -- like people asking him where her mother is and asking if he was going to give her up weren't as heavily discussed as they were in the blog. Personally I found that stuff really interesting.- The grandparents and family that seem to play a strong role in the blog were reduced to minor characters in the book. I imagine that editorially they wanted it to be about Matt.- There were moments/stories in the book that were written to be emotionally significant (and granted, they could have been), but knowing Matt's blog writing, they seemed a little fake.As a blog reader I learned:- Tons more about how Liz and Matt met, which was interesting.- More about Liz. That was nice. She was obviously a great person.- More of the nitty gritty about Liz's pregnancy.Weird for me, having followed him since, is knowing what happens in the next 2 years (the book ends at Maddy's first birthday party, which makes sense), in particular that he started dating someone new (which I think is fantastic for him) -- but this made it harder to read, knowing how it ""turns out"" -- I guess like reading a book/seeing the movie.I want to give this book to someone that doesn't read the blog to get a fair review. But I imagine that a lot of his fans/readers will read it and might be surprised at the differences too.",3.0,I wanted to love it more,1301702400,"04 2, 2011",25,38,helpful,0.6578947368421053,1 A2E1JY4UWFH0H7,0312106122,Jennifer Corwin,"[5, 6]","I love books on Egypt and enjoyed the book enough to over-look the inaccuracies and enough to overlook how the plot blends from life of father to son without significant transition. However it was very irksome how the slave/narrator character was so much larger than life. It got so out of control as to be unbelievable. Not to mention that the book was unnecessarily long. It started off well enough but finished poorly, leaving me empty. It's worth a read, but I'd check my library first. If you want a good egyptian read Id recommend instead ""The eye of horus"" by carol thurston. A similar story line but more cleanly written, with a glorious begining, middle and end.",3.0,Worth it if youve finished the rest of your library,1151884800,"07 3, 2006",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A3K6XA6UH9YUO9,1616260858,Noelle the Dreamer,"[0, 0]","The first thing you notice when you hold a copy of Wanda Brunstetter's latest novel is the singular format: you can hold the book in your palm at 7.3 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches, a mere 4 ounces! I admit to like this 'new' approach very much.A New York Times Bestselling Christian author, there is something comforting in Wanda's wholesome writing and you just know it will be clear, concise, and a reflection of her deep respect for the Amish community.Whilst some might perceive the slow progress of the plot as tedious, let's remember this is after all part 1 of 6 in 'The Discovery' series and the author is merely establishing a background for her story.In 'Goodbye to Yesterday' we discover the slow economy is hard for all including Amish Meredith and Luke Stolzfus. Married only a year, Luke is having a difficult time handling the stress since losing his job at the furniture store.When the opportunity to learn a new trade comes his way he jumps at the occasion. This might just help him to fall back on his two feet and support his family. The drawback is that he must travel to Indiana to pursue this offer and with a winter storm brewing, Meredith is apprehensive at this temporary separation.There is also something very special she had hoped to share with her husband but now is not the time and all too soon, Luke is on his way.Whilst traveling to Indiana to learn his new trade from his uncle, Luke however makes a dramatic encounter which changes their lives perhaps forever.I remember well childhood similar formatted stories but I admit the conundrum of the story is enticing only up to a point. I have grown fond of reading a whole book versus time released chapters. Sadly, I might very well forget part 1 and never know the rest! Still, it is a matter of choice after all!In so far Goodbye to Yesterday remains a good story!4 Stars!I received this book free from HANDLEBAR as part of their blogger review program. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.",4.0,There is something comforting in Wanda Brunstetter's wholesome writing,1361318400,"02 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASECXJBCQR8RT,0874779758,Daniel Rosenberg,"[7, 7]","Some of Zubrin's ideas are rather wacky (like the prospect of humans somehow firing up a brown dwarf into a full-fledged star), but for the most part, this book is thought provoking and raises numerous good reasons for mankind to launch itself into space. His argument that we will stagnate if we remain solely on earth is quite convincing, as is his theorizing that our galaxy teems with other civilizations. For the most part, you can skip Zubrin's equations and tables and still enjoy the book.What really shines through is his passion about humanity's potential. We could do so much, he argues, if we could just get beyond the petty fighting that bogs us down on earth. After reading this book, I'm absolutely convinced that Zubrin is on the right track. He may be an engineer, but his real strength is the ability to transmit clearly and simply the reasons why we can't shut the door to the universe. I haven't read a better book about space exploration since Carl Sagan's Cosmos and Pale Blue Dot.",4.0,Truly thought-provoking,1022198400,"05 24, 2002",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 AUHQHUSIWXZVX,0963796836,M. Randle,"[8, 19]",Not enough room for exercise and working out. Mostly just for tracking what you eat. I was disappointed.,2.0,Journal,1190764800,"09 26, 2007",8,19,helpful,0.42105263157894735,1 A1Q5995PAKL7K5,1569754454,James L. Fletcher,"[25, 27]","I am 70 and this book is amazing to/for me. The excercizes are easy and seem to be helping me. I am very stiff, particularly in the lower back, due to arthritus and I am feeling better after only two weeks of excercizes to date, and I think I will stick with them.",5.0,A book to please,1256083200,"10 21, 2009",25,27,helpful,0.9259259259259259,1 A1TTXVO1QJ85CN,0671708317,"Renee Fizer ""Renee""","[0, 0]","I really enjoyed this book, as the final installment to the series.IN this valume, we see Camelot falling apart as the Grail Quest consumes the companions. Lancelot and Guinevere finally consummate their relationship.The relationship between Arthur ans Mordred, his son by Morgause, comes to a head, and the story ends as it usually does. But, this story makes it all fresh. Its morew realistic them MZBs story, without all the magic interfering. Don't get me wrong, MZBs book was, and still is,one of my favorites. But its nice to see a book(or trilogy) where for once, religion isnt such a large part. Its the people more at center stage. This book is more historical fiction then fantasy.",5.0,great ending to a good series.,1208304000,"04 16, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2F94VKWJFRLBB,0375503803,"Andrew Watt ""writer, teacher, poet, magician""","[4, 5]","In this collection of new and selected poems, Billy Collins riffs on a variety of themes. In ""Nostalgia"" he asks if we remember the 1340s, or even this afternoon. In ""Japan"" we feel the weighted wait of a moth on the surface of an ancient temple gong. He reminds us not to beat poetry to death in a backroom with a rubber hose. In essence, Billy Collins reminds us to dance in delight with our words; it is indicative of his success that the best parts of this review are mere paraphrases of his own verse. Tolle, lege: take up and read.",5.0,Billy Collins sings the Muse,1014163200,"02 20, 2002",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A1SKNS2DGG46XM,0743487869,Gary Griffiths,"[18, 19]","Laced with liberal references to previous works, ""The Black Angel"", fifth in John Connolly's private investigator Charlie ""Bird"" Parker series of thrillers, is by far the author's most complex and ambitious effort. While Connolly's rich and lyrical prose always carries an element of the supernatural, ""Angel"" treads without apology into a heavily theological and mystical territory featuring allegorical fallen angels and the cult that worships them. A young prostitute has disappeared in New York, and Parker is called upon by the mother to try to find her. It turns out that the prostitute is also the niece of Parker's sometime partner Louis deepening, if possible, Louis' usual brand of malevolence. The trail leads Parker and team into a richly convoluted maze constructed of 15th century monasteries, secret crypts and creepy ossuaries, cadaverous art dealers, and the ""apocrypha"", ancient canonical text considered too controversial to be included in the standard books of the Bible. While unraveling the dual mysteries of Louis' niece and the legendary fallen ""Black Angel"", Parker confronts perhaps his most formable adversary yet, the mysterious and repugnant Brightwell, a corpulent villain as ageless as he is obese.If you've never read John Connolly, ""The Black Angel"" would not be a great place to start. Neither Parker nor the Louis/Angel team of hired mayhem are in the best spirits, each haunted by their own guilts and ghosts of the past. Notwithstanding, Connolly delivers another unconventional and offbeat PI thriller, at the same time brutal and beautifully written. A must read for the Connolly fan, while the uninitiated would be better off starting with ""Every Dead Thing"".",4.0,A Mystery of Biblical Proportion,1122681600,"07 30, 2005",18,19,helpful,0.9473684210526315,1 A1HONQXGRX6PL8,1554947596,Dave Slayton,"[0, 0]","This book and its companion Winning Suit Contract Leads are both great! They completely overturn much of the traditional ""wisdom"" on what are the correct leads to select against various auctions. To give one example: they show that leading 4th best from your longest and strongest is the WRONG thing to do on most hands. The only thing I found irritating is that when they list the computed score for each possible lead, they order them in the order of the suits, spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs, instead of what would have been better: in order of how well each lead scored. So for each hand you have to scan through the two columns looking for what lead was best at IMPs and MPs, instead of the best lead(s) always being at the top of each list. Also, in the end of chapter quiz answers, it would have been nicer if they gave a short blurb about why they think the best leads were in fact best, instead of just listing the best and second best leads. In several cases, the ""best"" lead seems like it should be something else, given the content and conclusions from the chapter, but there's no explanation why. Despite those problems, however, these books are so revolutionary I still think they merit 5 stars!",5.0,Discard (nearly) all you thought you knew about opening leads,1371081600,"06 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2WSI8HOWHFDOT,0060514957,Rocco Dormarunno,"[0, 0]","By accident, I have lately been reading mystery novels in which the writers have used the distant past as part of the settings for their plots. Tess Gerritsen's "The Bone Garden" reached back to early 19th Century Boston. Lisa Scottoline's "The Vendetta Defense" used Mussolini-era Italy as a backdrop for most of that work. In "Killer Smile", Scottoline once again skips back through the decades, this time to the internment camps for Italians that existed contemporaneous with the Japanese camps during WWII. To me, this was the most successful of the three novels.Part of the reason for why I feel this was the most successful was that Mary DiNunzio has more at stake here and more closeness to the events than the protagonists of the "The Bone Garden" or even in Scottoline's "The Vendetta Defense". Her psychology rings true. She is still grieving, though to a lesser degree, for the loss of her husband. This makes her vulnerable to the plight of a young Italian man, Amadeo Brandolino, who lost his beloved wife during his incarceration at an internment camp. This leads to his alleged suicide. Mary's grief ties in with Amadeo's to the point where she imagines she can hear his cries and pleas. This was as convincing as it was heartbreaking and haunting.Another element that helped the novel was the depiction of the elderly and their own ties to the past. The residents of Montana who had interracted with the Italian detainees have their own stories and secrets. All this created a melancholy texture to a mystery that was, in its own right, credible and engaging.",5.0,Looking Back with Sorrow and Anger,1387238400,"12 17, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2IVGA1BLAX6HT,0143116177,David Keirsey,"[9, 14]","Only the educated are free -- EpictetusI think if your interested in how the world has worked, does work, and will work, you would benefit from reading this book. Ferguson has taken advantage some of his excellent previous work (e.g., The House of Rothschild, The Cash Nexus, Colossus, Empire) and created a well written account of the history of ""money"" - in all of its forms, from ancient times to May 2008 (hardback version).I particularly like his dividing up of the subject in logical chapters: Chapter one is all about ""cash""; Chapter two is ""bonds""; Chapter three is ""stocks""; Chapter four is ""insurance""; Chapter five is ""property""; Chapter six is about ""currency"" and (globalization and deglobalization). The last chapter is more about human and societal nature. The last chapter is insightful and informative, as is all his chapters.So obviously I recommend the book, but since I doubt I can contact Dr. Ferguson personally, I will take this forum to quibble about some fine points that he does not realize he is unaware of. Namely his good and insightful analogy between biological evolution (Darwinian) and human societies. Yes, they are related. Actually, there is more here than meets the eye. Ferguson acknowledges that societal evolution is similar but not the same as Darwinian eucaryotic evolution. His comparison is pretty good. But there is Lynn Margulis' work at the procaryotic world (e.g., Mergers & Acquistions in societal terms) that one can use to understand a broader view of biological evolution, which has relevance to the standard neo-Darwinian dogma of Dawkins and Gould AND societal evolution at the corporate level (and the web) that Dr. Ferguson outlines so well in his book.Otherwise it is a great read.",5.0,Only the educated are free,1227484800,"11 24, 2008",9,14,helpful,0.6428571428571429,1 AWG4HA6SVTMY5,B00AQ5DYMA,LE Crase,"[0, 0]",I picked this book up a while ago and have just gotten around to having a look at it. My New Year's resolution is to cut down on the grocery bill as it has gotten out of hand just lately. When I first opened up the book I wasn't expecting to find so many tips for saving money. I especially liked the information on stocking the pantry and the shopping smart tip. Combined with the frugal meal ideas makes this a must have book.,5.0,Must Have Book!,1357603200,"01 8, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A27SH9554CC7PE,1469252317,F. Richards,"[0, 0]","I absolutely loved this book. The sex was hot and I loved the passion between Trey and Taryn. There were some amusing times to, notably the love/hate relationship between Greta (Treys grandmother ) and Taryn and Dominic's oh so lame pick-up lines, as cheesy as they were. I loved how it built to a thrilling climax with the confrontation between the two Alphas, and I was surprised by who the traitor was revealed to be and the reasons for them doing so. I certainly can't wait for the next book in this series and hope that there are many more to come.",5.0,Feral Sins,1363392000,"03 16, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2THV5HO847XOO,0801013992,Syandra Ingram,"[0, 0]","This book explains why the gospel really is good news. This can be a blessing to anyone, for it reveals the heart of the Father and the meaning of the Cross. It may especially be a blessing to those who are already trying to break free from the bonds of religion.",5.0,This is good news!,1376006400,"08 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A24EE2942GIM0T,1479332321,readymade,"[0, 0]","I loved this book, truly. Having never read 50 Shades of Grey and with no intentions to, I bought this purely out of a love of IR romance. And this one is a winner! The only thing I would change is having the best friend and the twin brother get together so quick. I felt like that should have been wrung out for the maximum sexual tension. Otherwise this is a keeper. Impatiently waiting for the sequel!",4.0,Loved it!,1381276800,"10 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3IMPL1YKNNPWU,031237206X,K9friend1,"[10, 13]","Two years ago I jumped on the South Beach Band Wagon and pretty painlessly lost 35 pounds. I felt better and looked younger than I had in years. Then, slowly and insiduously, I fell off the wagon. I avoided the scale and tried to ignore the fact that my new wardrobe was becoming a bit, well, snug. Finally I broke down and stood on the scale. It was a ""Come to Jesus"" moment. I was shocked to realize that I'd regained 15 pounds.As luck would have it, the new and updated South Beach Diet Supercharged book had just been released, so I purchased a copy to refresh my memory on the philosophy and mechanics of the diet.Good carbs, good fats. It's simple, really. Dr. Agatston explains his recommendations and provides solid data to back up his theories. I was pleased to see that the updated version also included some fascinating information on what type of exercise is most beneficial, and why. Sprinkled throughout the volume are personal success stories for some extra encouragement. I must say that the book left me feeling motivated and ready to get back on track with an eating and exercise plan that truly make sense to me.This book is highly recommended if you're serious about making positive changes--and not just for the sake of your appearance. The South Beach Diet Supercharged gives basic ground rules for embracing a much healthier life style.",5.0,Super Charged and Motivated,1216166400,"07 16, 2008",10,13,helpful,0.7692307692307693,1 ANABWANU01UT4,0451206096,"""demarkes""","[0, 0]","My main problem with these short stories, are they're too short!Many of the stories enclosed in this volume grab the reader and make them want more... only to turn the page and find the ending.Sure, an explanation of when the story was written, how Mr. Little came about the story, what publication he wrote the story for precedes every one... I still hoped for more in the body.This collection reaally introduced me to the author's style of writing, and since I've read this I've gone out and bought some of Mr. Little's other novels. Now, Mr. Little rates among the top of my favorite author list!!",3.0,Good intro to the author...,1029283200,"08 14, 2002",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1DPPR0FYZ8B4A,B00BUKRA8Y,"Wonder Woman ""Book Addict for steamy reads!""","[0, 1]",Thanks Lauren for the bachelor party. That was fun! I miss the Murphy's and the Chase Family. It would have been nice to attend the wedding as well but I'm happy to hear how everyone is doing. Now that Anne a nd Royale are broken up I hope someone else in town is interested in each other.,5.0,Awwwwww!!! Please give us more!!!,1383091200,"10 30, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A38JZ6MJ7YYJDV,B008OL62IQ,Ilonka Molano Ovalle,"[0, 2]","Just plain awful.... I wasn't expecting a masterpiece, but at least some coherence. No chemistry between the characters, just crude sex scenes",1.0,Awful,1355184000,"12 11, 2012",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1X1388G49SSLI,1888118040,john gomer,"[0, 1]","this is an eye opener, but in the same time it is a well written book, read it, enjoy it and learn from it..",5.0,Well thought out and written,1187827200,"08 23, 2007",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 ALRQYRWQ7LRQ3,144236839X,Alan F. Sewell,"[38, 51]","This book begins by opening a delightful window into how computer automation has the potential to create a ""paradise"" of wealth, health, abundance, and even immortality during the next century or so. You can almost imagine living in this heaven-on-earth environment sometime around the 23rd Century.At the same time it explores the paradox of why so many people today feel like they are on an economic treadmill leading to poverty. The advance of information technology seems to have created a ""winner take all"" effect where the 1% of super-achievers or super-manipulators obtains the lion's share of the wealth, while the other 99% are pauperized by unemployment and falling incomes.The book is entirely non-political in exploring this paradox. Author Jaron Lanier doesn't have any axes to grind against business or labor. He is a committed capitalist but one who doesn't mind pointing out the warts of capitalism. He is also critical of the ""featherbedding"" instigated by labor unions while making it clear that he respects what labor unions have accomplished in bringing so many of our workers into the middle class. This is the kind of non-ideological perspective that is essential to getting to the root of our current economic malaise and discovering ways to revive the economy on a sustainable basis.I definitely agree with Lanier's hypothesis that advanced data gathering and analysis (big data) gives certain entities advantages in the market place. But I don't think that factor alone is as decisive as he thinks. I found myself disagreeing with some specific ideas in the book. For example:==========The distributions of outcomes in fashionable, digitally networked, hyperefficient markets tend to be winner-take-all.==========IMO this is not necessarily true in all cases. Hyperefficient markets are, by definition, markets that operate with a minimum of inefficiencies. Inefficiencies occur when there is a separation between the producer and the customer. A market that has layers of brokers, wholesalers, and retailers between the producer and the customer is inefficient because each layer of ""middlemen"" extract fees for moving a product along the distribution without adding any value to the product.Efficient markets tend to cut the parasitic, non-productive ""rent-seeking"" elements out of the transaction. Wealth is created and distributed more equitably when the 99% deal directly with each other in an efficient market based on transparent information rather than having their transactions loaded with fees and marks ups by middle-men who operate on the basis of privileged information that they keep secret from the buyer and seller.To the extent that computer automation makes markets more efficient by placing the 99% directly in contact with each other, it makes the economy more efficient while providing a more widespread and equitable distribution of wealth. This is one concept of many where my conclusions diverged from the author's.This book should be read with an open but questioning mind. I enjoyed Lanier's take on every one of the dozens of concepts he discusses, even those I disagreed with. I will reread the book periodically to gain a deeper understanding into the concepts that interest me.",4.0,Read with an open but questioning mind,1367971200,"05 8, 2013",38,51,helpful,0.7450980392156863,1 A3KR3N21N470FU,B00KCZETIM,Nilda,"[0, 0]",This mail order romance is some much better than some I have read lately. It clean and well written. It does have it twists and turns but it all comes together in the end.,4.0,Good Book,1405814400,"07 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3D95M97Q9ZXQS,0446579920,LA Frost,"[0, 0]","Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life -- boating, swimming, and regular barbecues with his good-natured buddies -- he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is, until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Despite his attempts to be neighborly, the appealing redhead seems to have a chip on her shoulder about him...and the presence of her longtime boyfriend doesn't help. Despite himself, Travis can't stop trying to ingratiate himself with his new neighbor, and his persistent efforts lead them both to the doorstep of a journey that neither could have foreseen. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage and family, The Choice ultimately confronts us with the most heartwrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?I really like Nicholas Sparks as a writer. I think he creates very believeable characters. The plots can sometimes be a little schmaltzy, but then sometimes that's not a bad thing either. His books are definately character driven. I found Gabby a little bit hard to connect with. The introduction made her somewhat unlikeable, and while she grew throughout the book, some of her choices and attitudes left me shaking my head a bit. The conflict that our man Travis faces at the end of the book is heartwrenching though and really made me question what would I do in that situation. While I didn't like this book as well as some of his other books, Nicholas Sparks delivers another good read and I enjoyed it.",3.0,Have tissues...,1225670400,"11 3, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A119RW19UWK7PH,1893831248,"Amazon Customer ""Emergency Nurse""","[18, 56]","I'm a nurse practitioner who has studied nutrition extensively. I believe this book has very dangerous advice. Vegan diets are only a modern creation. No traditional diet ever went without eating any animal products. In fact, humans will die within a few years of not consuming any animal products due to the lack of Vitamin B12, which we cannot produce eating only vegetables/fruits/grains. Our digestive systems are more similar to a dog/cat versus a cow; even chimpanzees eat meat. Also, our cells are made of cholesterol, which is only found in animal products. Brain matter is mostly saturated fat, which is why human breast milk is very high in saturated fat & cholesterol- both are vital to nervous system development and brain growth. Fats are necessary for vitamin absorption; also crucial for hormone production; saturated fats in particular. Studies have shown that women who consume low fat diets have higher rates of infertility versus those who consume higher amounts of saturated fats. And the most recent studies show that those who consume saturated fats have a lower rate of death versus those who eat vegetable oils. Vegetable oils and refined carbs are what is causing obesity and chronic disease in this country (look at the native inuit diet- low rates of cancer, heart disease, obesity, while eating exclusively whale meat/fat & fish!). Check out westonaprice.org for more info- my FAVORITE website on nutrition! By the way, I'm 120 pounds, 5'5 and very healthy! I eat butter and grass-fed organic beef every day! And feel GREAT!",1.0,Dangerous nutrition advice,1384300800,"11 13, 2013",18,56,helpful,0.32142857142857145,1 A2LTQYDTX08Z9H,B00E3LZTYE,Amazon Customer,"[7, 7]","This is an awesome read. Its very different from Robin's Fox novels, and that's a good thing.She takes one very shy woman who just happens to have CP, and one very athletic woman who doesnt care that the other is ""different"".Its a great read because it reminded me that not all people with CP are the same. And just because someone is different doesnt mean that they dont deserve a chance at true love.",4.0,Great read,1375401600,"08 2, 2013",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3CU9X34KCJO49,0553383485,K. Nettles,"[0, 0]","Fred Harvey was young and poor when he came to America, but he had a sharp, observant mind and an entrepreneur's spirit. His first job was in New York, where he gained an appreciation for a good cup of coffee and learned the possibilities in providing good, wholesome food at a decent price. Later on, as he traveled extensively on the railroads, he recognized the business opportunity in providing restaurants and related amenities to the captive prisoners, err, passengers, on the trains who ranked below the more profitable cargo in the minds of railroad operators. Working with a network of contacts, including George Pullman, Harvey started a restaurant business that catered to the traveling public: clean, fast, tasty and affordable meals. In the course of building a considerable corporate enterprise, Harvey pioneered and refined many of the corporate and personal practices that we take for granted today: the service standards that inspired Walt Disney and Howard Johnson, food service hygiene, shopping malls, chain bookstores, and the Santa Fe style, to name just a few.Fried mentions, but does not belabor the point that Harvey also was the first to employ a sizeable workforce of women and minorities. Interestingly, Harvey and his heirs apparently made no self-aggrandizing fuss about it, but their actions most certainly speak louder than any words. The black ""office boy"" who rose to office management, the thousands of young women who found independence far from home and helped settle down the West, the minority staff whom Harvey insisted upon hiring for the Pullman diners -- they all stand in testament to a man who offered up a meritocracy and promoted from within.There's an tremendous amount of American and corporate history in this book, some of it threateningly dry arcana, and yet Fried pulls it all together into an immensely enjoyable read. Highly recommended for history buffs of all stripes, students considering a career in the hospitality industry, and railroad fans.",5.0,America Travels on Fred Harvey's Innovations,1268870400,"03 18, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32S7VND9RPLJ,0786705930,"Urban Mystic Dee ""Dee""","[4, 11]","Random Harvest is heralded as James Hilton's finest work. I guess people in 1941 enjoyed long books that gave excruciatingly detailed accounts of the lives of people who did nothing out of the ordinary. Imagine reading about someone watching TV, going to work, and drinking beer for 300 pages, and all the while this person has amnesia; that should give you a good idea of what Random Harvest is about. The ending is, contrary to the rest of the book, extremely fast paced and rather unexpected. This surprise ending makes up for 200 of the 300 boring pages, but not enough to merit more than three stars. I highly recommend if you're going to actually buy this book to spend a little extra for the original hardcover version (though it's harder to find). You'll still be disappointed with the story but having a first edition should give you the sense that it's special somehow.",3.0,200 Pages too Long,1150761600,"06 20, 2006",4,11,helpful,0.36363636363636365,1 AKE23HG4F85TP,B00K8EV3MM,"Jen Berg ""book lover""","[0, 0]",""I'd rather die fighting, than die for nothing at all."Phew, holy heck where to begin with this one! This story started out quite slow for me, and at one point I had considered not finishing it. I am so glad that I kept going! At a little over halfway through the story it began to pick up in a huge way! By the end, I was sitting on the edge of my seat at four in the morning wishing that it wouldn't end! My biggest complaint would be that it ended on a cliffy. Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't like cliffy's and I usually do anything to avoid them! Well, I wasn't able to avoid this one, and now I have to wait holding my breath until the next book. And believe me, I will be waiting very IM-patiently for the next book! Monica James is an author I have not heard of before; but I was lucky that she reached out and offered me an ARC! Well, thank you Monica..I am so very glad I took a chance and read your book as Mia/Paige, Quinn, Tristan, and Tabitha;AKA, "the group of Misfits," will be etched into my heart for good now! I truly hope that each one of them find a HEA. Will they? I have no clue? There are some major things that go down in this story, and when I say major...I mean Major with a capital M!This story begins with a young lady named Mia who is on the run from something she has done. She changes her name to Paige and takes off to a town where no one knows who she is or where she comes from. Mia has a horrible past, and she has been through very heavy duty events from the time she was 8 years old. This is a girl that has done many hard core things all in the name of survival.She settles into a new town/new life and quickly meets some people who become very important to her, and teach her the definiton of what love and family is all about.Quinn and Tristan are the local hotties who have a bunch of piercings, and some very sexy smiles! Both of them develop an interest in Paige (Mia), but there is no question in Paige's mind that her main attraction is to Quinn! Sparks fly whenever they are together; but both are hesitant to act on it because they are scared to hurt Tristan. Most of the time though, when an attraction is that explosive, there is just no way to stay away from one another. Will Tristan be the one to break things off with Paige, or will they give in to their desire?This story is quite unpredictable at times, and just when you think that you know what is going to happen; a wrench is thrown into it and something changes. There were things that happened in the book that got my blood pumping and my emotions on high. Once the slow parts were over with, this story held me captivated. Do I reccomend it? Hell yeah, just make sure to be patient with it! I promise it gets better and I can't wait until the second book! A great read, and an author who I will be watching closely to see what else Monica James brings to the table!I Received an ARC from author in exchange for an honest review..Thank you",4.0,This Story Packs a Punch! Excellent!,1399939200,"05 13, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2OWJSM1Y9Y8OV,1592983073,dear,"[0, 0]",A+ for good travel reading material. Not to dense and just right to keep all attention on the plot. Good YARN.,4.0,A+,1380153600,"09 26, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2U4UW8C54HWXN,1568586965,Paul M. Clements,"[18, 50]","Kimmel would have us believe that male anger arises from men's loss of privilege. He thinks that socio-economic and legal changes in society are mostly benign and positive. The truth that he utterly fails to see is that it is not privilege men lose, but their most basic rights, their children, and their homes. When a man is accused of domestic violence, for example, he is immediately considered guilty, and the accusing woman is always accepted as a victim. He then can be thrown out of his home, separated from his children, and forced to expend large sums of money for legal defense. On the other hand, the woman gets the house (apartment, etc.) with all his clothes, tools, and papers under her lock and key. She also gets the children, and a big chunk of the mans' pay. One false accusation, and the man goes to jail for up to two years. Having filed a DV complaint against a husband or boyfriend, the woman can now be supported by lawyers doing pro-bono work, and agents from DV agencies. But not men! Guardian Ad Litems (GAL's) and many children's counselors, represent the mother's case, never the fathers'.Even without DV, the woman, who files for divorce in 88% of cases, will be given custody of the children in our family courts, in 90-97% of cases. If he's lucky, the man will be allowed to see his children every other weekend. And he must fork over 40% of his net pay in child support, or face jail. In those rare cases where the man is custodial, he will get a support award in only 29% of cases. Even then, only 5% ever receive a penny, and no attempt by the state to enforce the order is made. How many non-custodial mothers have you seen on wanted posters?There are Status Of Women agencies in almost every state. But not one single Status of Men commission. (NH's was disbanded by the legislature) Almost every branch and agency of the federal government, and many state governments, have an Office For Women's Health. There are none, nation-wide, for men.Television programs and comic strips typically present men who are weak, slovenly, inept, stupid, careless, unfaithful, violent, uncaring, and unaffectionate, while all the women are the opposite.Women are considered a minority, and qualify for priority placement in college. Almost all elementary school teachers are female. Armed forces, and police forces also favor females. Government jobs (Post Office included) also give preference to females.It seems plain to see that men have lost a lot more than privilege. Most of what they've lost has been TAKEN away, unjustly, by judges, the government, and news media.When you consider the facts, it's plain to see that single mother homes are detrimental to children and society. Children raised in single mother homes are 5 times more likely to commit suicide, 9 times more likely to drop out of high school, 10 times more likely to use drugs and alcohol, 14 times more likely to commit rape, they comprise 72% of juvenile murderers, they are 20 times more likely to end up in prison, and 32 TIMES more likely to run away from home.The public cost of births to teens, 17 and younger, is estimated at $7.6 Billion per year. The cost of welfare to support fatherless homes has been estimated by a federal agency at $100 Billion/yr. A private study put the figure at $112 Billion.In spite of all that, Kimmel considers societal and legal changes to be mostly BENIGN??? Tell that to the guy living under a bridge. Tell it to the family of a murdered child, or a raped daughter, or to the 80% of fatherless children who occupy prison cells. Tell it to the father who hasn't seen his children in ten years, or the teenager shooting up in the alley. Apparently, the view from Kimmel's ivory tower is pretty narrow. He writes with a clear bias against the males he writes about. It makes EVERYTHING he writes suspect.",2.0,Kimmel's Omission,1385596800,"11 28, 2013",18,50,helpful,0.36,1 A1064B4PA9WBJ5,0007386648,Diane E. Oliva,"[0, 0]",This was one of the best books that I've read. It certainly taught me things about World War II that I hadn't known. I bought a second one for my cousin to read; he's currently battling a health challenge and told me that this book inspired him greatly.,5.0,A wonderful book!!!,1383696000,"11 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1F5E97GUR7EOB,1935670913,"Free Kindle ""Fiction Lover""","[4, 6]","As a publishing acquisition editor, and author, I've tracked John's rise with interest. At writer's conferences I use John's experience to show authors how they can make money writing. Face it, John's success isn't normal. Freaky, is what it is. But John ""gets"" the new publishing model. Anyone who's serious about staking a claim in this new frontier should read this book not once, but several times. Perhaps the best advice I can give potential readers are John's own words from his book:On the importance of book sales: ""If McDonald's were a book, it would get a huge publishing contract. Not because it's great literature, but because it has a proven track record of sales.""On quality writing: ""What is the definition of a great book? Seems to me it's awfully subjective. Some of the worst books I've read were considered world-class literature.... Your book doesn't have to be world-class. It just has to sell.... When you achieve success, you become the standard.... The more you sell, the more talented you'll become in the eyes of the public.""On the allure of traditional publishing: ""Most author hopefuls won't consider themselves successful until they've been validated by a publisher. To me, that shows a lack of confidence.""On reaching your goals as a writer: ""If you don't have a plan for writing and marketing your books, the only way you can become successful is by pure chance.""On target marketing: ""The best way to write a best-selling book is to know who your audience is (and what they want) before you start writing.You get the idea. This book isn't about learning to become a great writer. This book is about learning how to become a great book seller. Regardless of who you're with, a large New York house or your own lonely self, this book is a must for every author who wants to sell books. Is it worth $4.95? Yes; it's priceless.",5.0,Worth Every Penny,1308700800,"06 22, 2011",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A2WH05Z1AARUU1,0425179184,Beaux Badger,"[7, 10]","Absolutely one of the worst books of all time. It took at minimum sixty pages to realize the heifer was missing and then it was downhill from there. I had such high hopes for this book, but it is not worth your time, so don't bother. I was mentally ticking off all bayous convenient to NOLA so at least half of the characters could be dumped.I will give the author another chance, but if her main character is as snotty in the rest of the books, forget it. That goes for the rest of the characters.",1.0,I am glad I am not the only one who thought this was horrible.,1165190400,"12 4, 2006",7,10,helpful,0.7,1 A16CO67ZI6XRUM,1590304829,"Stephen P. Smith ""Cornell Ph.D.""","[21, 25]","Wallace (and Hodel) do a very good job in ""Embracing Mind."" They break the book down into three parts.In Part One, Wallace takes another look at science, and where science may drift off into scientism. Wallace (page 22) tells us where scientific materialism carries hidden metaphysical assumptions - "" what did that interpretation boil down to? The five principles examined previously: objectivism, metaphysical realism, the closure principle, universalism, and physical reductionism."" Without going into detail what the principles entail, I will merely summerize what Wallace (page 23) concludes: ""So strong was their enthusiasm for an all-embracing scientific worldview that they often allowed their hopes, dreams, and beliefs to masquerade as facts. They were especially impressed with Darwin's theory of natural selection. According to their own interpretation, natural selection meant that organisms best suited to win the competition for scare resources survived, passing on their advantageous traits to succeeding generations.""Wallace (page 24) writes: ""Social philosophers influenced by scientific materialism created social Darwinism, the view that nations and individuals competed for economic supremacy in an arena where only the `favored races' or toughest individuals would succeed. There was no room here for any softness or idealism and, of course, such a philosophy gave at least tacit approval to war, imperialism, and racism. In like manner, Karl Marx reduced all aspects of culture to economics.""Writing on modernity, with its scientific progress, Wallace (page 25) writes: ""We have been exposed to this philosophy throughout our lives - in the classroom, in the media, by our doctors, and through the decisions of government agencies ruling on health, the environment, and elsewhere. It has been pounded into us consistently for so long that we've come to accept it as common sense. This, we are told, is what `non-believers' accept as truth.""Wallace (page 75) writes on the study of mind and brain: ""It wasn't until the late nineteenth century that science attempted a formal study of the mind. Given the enormous influence of scientific materialism, it is not surprising that a physical approach - the study of behavior and the brain, the `gray matter' - held sway. By the early twentieth century, nonmaterial qualities attributed to the mind (thoughts, feelings, images, dreams, and so on) were neatly avoided by correlating them to the physical brain, with its internal physiology, and to physical behavior. This, mind was simply redefined as the brain.""Wallace (page 82) writes: ""By relying on the argument of mere correlations between mental phenomena and brain physiology, cognitive psychologists remind us of astrologers, who rely on correlates between patterns in the heavens and events on earth, rather than astronomers, who have actually explored the skies scientifically with telescopes.""Wallace (page 83) writes: ""Shouldn't cognitive scientists first be experts on their own consciousness, deeply exploring their subjective nature, before they tackle the complexities of the mind-brain connection? Given the rigors of science, wouldn't such self-knowledge be useful for scientists in general? After all, the scientific mind behind the eyepiece of a physical instrument (and behind the devising of theories) is the fundamental instrument of all science. Must not this ultimate black box be opened and carefully examined if science wants to be certain that its theories and data are something more than complex imaginings or projections?""Wallace (page 84) concludes: ""The preceding discussion should make it clear that science's attitude toward the mind has been hampered by historical baggage. According to the dictates of its Christian background, science explored outer, objective phenomena and avoided the inner, subjective realm. Lack of self knowledge hampered scientists by blinding them to subjective distortions that have prejudiced the scientific enterprise.""Wallace (page 102-103) writes: ""What of those students who do take an interest in science, believing that the practice of science follows the open-minded, exploratory spirit of the scientific method? They study textbooks that either imply or boldly declare that as-yet-unproven theories are definitely true or will certainly be proven true in the future. They are exposed to an attitude toward science that promotes conformity to the foregone conclusions of scientific materialism even as it pretends to favor free inquiry. Those people who see the contradiction are left with the choice of buckling under or striking out on their own. Alternatively, they may become discouraged with science altogether and choose another career.""Wallace (page 105) writes: ""The materialist approach to medicine has led to the desire for a `quick fix' - just pop a pill and let chemicals take care of it. Drug, tobacco, and alcohol addiction follow the same logic. There may be more to mental and physical illness than just chemicals, but the physical bias of scientific materialism has largely marginalized alternative therapies that show promise.""In Part Two, Wallace looks at a more promising science that can study the mind. Wallace (page 142-143) writes: ""Through intense and lengthy practice, the attention can be honed into a precision tool that, figuratively speaking, lights up the mind's interior. First one undergoes a sustained, rigorous training in developing stability and vividness of attention. One then uses one's enhanced powers of mental perception to learn to distinguish between the phenomena that are presented to the senses (including the sixth sense of mental perception) and the conceptual superimpositions that one under normal circumstances compulsively projects upon those phenomena.""Wallace (page 144) writes: ""A guilty conscience is no more conductive to contemplative practice than nervous agitation or drowsiness.""Wallace (page 155) writes: ""The Middle Way proposes an alternative explanation for the appearance of phenomena of the universe - regularities. Certain things tend to occur together or in a sequence. Whereas causes imply to us some power to affect, the Middle Way defines appearances as mere regularities.""Wallace (page 156) writes: ""If we conceive of one stage as an absolute, permanent, independent entity, by definition it cannot have any relationship to anything else. By definition, two completely self-contained, independent, permanent, absolute things cannot affect one other. If they did, they wouldn't be self-contained, independent, and so on. But if we back off that position and say that there is simply a `relationship' between them, Middle Way philosophers will point out that we are now viewing these things (such as seed and sprout) as relative, conventional realities. A relationship composed of regularities doesn't require absolute realities or absolute causality, and the relationship itself lacks any such inherent existence independent of the things that are related. Seed and sprout and their causal relationship, though existing conventionally, are now seen as `empty of' absolute existence.""In Part Three, Wallace takes up ""tools and technologies of a Buddhist science of contemplation.""Wallace (page 213) writes: ""From a Buddhist standpoint our mental afflictions, or distortions, stand in the way of enlightenment. From an empirical or scientific standpoint, such biases impede the search for truth, especially since the mind is truly the primary scientific instrument. Whether we are trying to use the mind and scientific instruments to probe stars and galaxies or we wish to understand the nature and workings of the mind itself, our mental projections and illusions of knowledge cloud the picture.""",5.0,Here are some quotes,1211846400,"05 27, 2008",21,25,helpful,0.84,1 A2KBF2OYR359AJ,0765301482,"Steven R. McEvoy ""MCWPP""","[14, 15]","It is hard to believe that a series of books has kept my attention through 10 books. Yet that is exactly what Brust has done. Every time a new book comes out I go back and reread the entire series up to that point. I read the first ones back in the 80's in high school as they came out, and I thought that the Character of Vlad Taltos was the coolest. He is a member of House Jehreg and a sometime assassin. Vlad once read quickly becomes an immensely popular protagonist. I have introduced these books to numerous friends and all have loved him and the books.Issola, in the book before Dzur Vlad, is wandering around the countryside with a price on his head, and lamenting about how his life got so turned upside down. Vlad in Dzur, gets to do what he likes best- he starts stirring things up and seeing where the pieces fall.One of my favorite elements of this series is that you never know how Brust will start chapters off. Each book has had chapter headings in a new and unique way. In the one book it was quick wit ""No matter how subtle the wizard a knife between the shoulder blades will seriously cramp his style."" In another it is a list of cleaning and repairs to an outfit. In this one it is a recollection of a meal at Valabar's - a restaurant that makes appearances throughout the series. If Brust is able to create the meal described in these snippets he is not only a master wordsmith but must be close to a master chef.Brust had Vlad come back to the capitol city because his estranged wife is in trouble. He rushes in where angels would fear to tread. He steps into the middle of a power struggle with organized crimes' two sides of the family. He fears getting friends killed or injured, but is more than willing to risk his own neck. However, as Vlad is getting older, he is also mellowing some and maturing.Vlad realizes that he cannot do it himself. He challenges his patron Goddess to help as much as she can. He also enlists the help of some of those who have offered, but warns them not to take too many risks. Vlad is a little more subdued and subtle in this book compared to some of the earlier ones. However he is just as enjoyable as a character and the journey with him through the adventure in Dzur is as exciting and thrilling as the previous books.Like the meal described at the beginning of the chapters, Brust's books need to be savored and enjoyed at the pace they come at us. Just as Vlad describes the meal step by step and makes comparisons between preparing a meal and preparing a hit, Brust leads us to discover more and more about Vlad as we go through the courses in this book.Like each of the previous 9 books in this series, Jhereg (1983), Yendi (1984), Teckla (1987), Taltos (1988), Phoenix (1990), Athyra (1993), Orca (1996), Dragon (1998), Issola (2001), and I'm sure, the forthcoming Jhegaala (2008) this book is a great read. The series is planned to be a total of 19 books, making this one the middle point as far as volumes. It leaves a lot of questions unanswered and the readers salivating for the next volume.(First Published in Imprint 2007-08-31 as ""Series still captivates after 10 books."")",5.0,Brust does it again!,1188518400,"08 31, 2007",14,15,helpful,0.9333333333333333,1 A1ENV91MFAEVA3,1492706671,JoT,"[6, 6]","Peaches Monroe series, that follows the journey of Peaches, is an absolute MUST READ.While I was reading each one of the books in this series, I was completely consumed by them and glued to. It was just me and the story I was reading.Mimi gave us one of the most real and believable, witty and funny lead female character in Peaches Monroe.Her journey to finding her HEA was amazing and beautifully written and has your complete attention. All the twists and turns, ups and downs will keep you guessing till the very end.One woman. Three men. Three men that made her feel totally different things.Dalton Deangelo: makes her hot and bothered and her heart skipping the beats, and he also broke her heart.Keith Raven was there when she need someone to help her broken heart pick up the pieces.Adrian Storm makes her feel safe and comfortable in her own skin.In Starfire, Dalton is back and with an irresistible proposal. A wedding proposal.Ok. I admit that I really hated him at the end of the first book and until he came back again I was totally rooting for Adrian.But since the moment he came back he was bit by bit crawling and finding his way back and when he finally confessed that he loves her I was completely goner for him. Again.I'm totally in love with Peaches Monroe series and highly, highly recommend this series.I couldn't picture the better conclusion to the series than this. It was fabulous.≧◔◡◔≦ 5 ✰ read ≧◉◡◉≦>>>ARC received in exchange for an honest review<<<",5.0,An absolute MUST READ,1393113600,"02 23, 2014",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 APF6SHYNUQSNC,0847685160,"Eric Zuesse ""commentator""","[4, 7]","Most of the negative reviews of this work cite its author's being a follower of the conservative University of Chicago political philosopher, Leo Strauss. Though I despise Leo Strauss as much as they might, their criticisms are off-base, because West here documents that conservative interpretations of the U.S. Constitution are false. He documents that the predominant intentions of America's founders were progressive: condemning slavery and seeking its abolition, supportive of equal rights for Blacks and Whites, supportive of equal rights for women and men, supportive of voting rights for the poor, etc. Leo Strauss's support for Plato's ""philosopher kings"" reigning over a powerless deceived citizenry is alien to West's book.West's documentation is sound. His criticisms of other historians, even including of liberal ones such as Charles Beard and Gordon Wood, are on the mark, but will inevitably offend the vast majority of historians, who have built upon falsehoods they've derived from such historians.This book is well organized, as a topic-by-topic critique of previous historians' misrepresentations of the supposed conservatism of people such as Thomas Jefferson -- whom, for example, West convincingly documents did believe in equal rights for Blacks and Whites, notwithstanding Gordon Woods's having asserted to the exact contrary.Though Leo Strauss was an extreme conservative, West has provided here a book which argues, in a more thorough way than has previously been done, for interpreting the original intent of the U.S. Constitution as having been progressive. West's book is, in fact, the best presentation yet of the case that jurists such as Antonin Scalia, Robert Bork, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, William Rehnquist, and Sam Elito (misspelling intentional), base their rulings upon a false ""history"" backing their ""original intent"" of the Constitution. West in this book outlines a powerful case for interpreting the Constitution's original intent as being vastly more progressive than even today's liberals. West carries Gordon Woods's ""radicalism of the American Revolution"" to a point that is even more progressive than Woods understood or imagined.The only flaw I find in this book is that it should have been longer. West should have cited, far more than he did, the vile, extremely conservative, views that America's great Founders were fighting against in their shaping of America's Constitution. Fortunately, those conservatives were, at worst, only accommodated, not writing and controlling the Constitution. The Constitution was severely wounded by these accommodations (such as regarding slavery -- necessary in order to keep Southern states in the Union), but West should have made that point, and not diminished it by underemphasizing the barriers that America's great Founders had to overcome in order to produce a basically progressive Constitution which could hold the nation together for at least a long enough time for America to become powerful enough to matter to world history. I think that America's great Founders got the balance remarkably right, but West should not have underplayed how difficult a challenge that was for them to achieve.West's book is a much needed corrective to the current drift of American politics toward the extreme Right. I hope that he will write a revised version that is three times as long, and that will make use of far more of the supposed ""contrary evidence"" so as to make his own points even more convincingly than he has here. West's book is the most dangerous I've ever seen to today's Republican Party.",5.0,responding to the negative reviews,1315008000,"09 3, 2011",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A188B28FFQ8VLU,B00DH2JTE6,debbie curto,"[5, 5]","""A Heart's Home, A Novella"" by Laura J Marshall gets 5 stars. Even through I like longer stories this was great for reading before retiring for night. This novella pulled me in from the first page. Asyra lives in India, she is a child of a mixed marriage,and lives with her uncle. And she doesn't know where she really belongs. At the beginning of the story she is traveling with Braddock to go to England to become Braddock's brother wife in an arranged marriage. But on the way there is danger and Asyra and Braddock fall in love! I kept reading just to see if the story would end the way I wanted it to! I am happy to say it did! I would recommend this book to anyone, the only thing I disliked about this story was that it was too short but then it is a novella. I would like to know more about Asyra and Braddock. I was given a kindle copy for my honest review by the author.",5.0,A Heart's Home,1372550400,"06 30, 2013",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A2WMAO5JM1JUT1,1937856690,James M. Overby,"[0, 0]",A good story of the things seen and done while a reporter working in war zones. The yoga descriptions were too detailed for me but some might find them informative.,3.0,A good story of the things seen and done while a ...,1404345600,"07 3, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2CXWAOZS0B610,034547046X,"C. Briggs ""Sparkster-chan""","[4, 5]","The above is the first thought that enters my mind when I think of Negima!. That is NOT to say children should read this--there are enough gratuitous panty shots and naked bodies shown to make a mother faint. It is slightly Potterish, but only in the fact that Negi is a young, British wizard who wears glasses.What makes me enjoy this manga so much is the humor. Negi is an adorable character, and watching him deal with his new charges is highly amusing.Also, I have to agree about Del Rey. They've done an excellent job in translating the sound effects (every single one, if my eyes haven't deceived me--something Tokyopop doesn't seem to see fit to do) and keeping Japanese suffixes intact. The only error I really saw was one instance where Takamichi's name was printed "Takamachi". But only once.Now we just have to wait until August for the next one... ^^;",5.0,Harry Potter for the twisted,1083974400,"05 8, 2004",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2C2D3O8PBHE0I,B00KEEBS76,"Jim Murdoch ""Author of Pursuit""","[11, 11]","Having read Daimones and Once Human, the first two books in this series, this third book takes the post apocalyptic experiences of the genetically upgraded human, Dan Amenta, to a whole new level. From a dying race, subjugated by an alien race, the Humans, under Dan's leadership, rise to be a force to be reckoned with.The Rise of the Phoenix is a gripping read and uses third person narrative as well as the familiar first person from Dan's perspective. This allows the author to extend his point of view beyond what is happening in Dan's presence. Massimo has excelled his previous work in bringing us a exciting, heart pounding adventure with advanced technologies and a galactic world not to distant in the future.If you loved Daimones and Once Human you will not be disappointed with The Rise of the Phoenix. A must read for science fiction fans, and those wanting a moral challenge.",5.0,the crescendo and more,1402099200,"06 7, 2014",11,11,helpful,1.0,1 A31E3N0BFELXKD,0399162410,Melissa F. Walaitis,"[0, 0]",So I started this book last night. I finally fell asleep about 2am. I am completely hooked. So hooked that I can't read anymore. I don't want it to end. So I sit here holding my book and refusing to read another word because then I am another word closer to the end of the book. This is ridiculous. I have three children. I have two jobs. I need to get my life back!,5.0,I want my life back!,1388620800,"01 2, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2CIP9YKAXOAZ0,1558747524,Elar Alexander,"[9, 11]","never read those, positive thinking , chicken soups and all that stuffs.but i think this was very inspirational.make your wishlist was the best. i made a wishlist last year after reading this book, and today i can see 1/2 of them alreadyfulfilled, believe me,it changed my life.focus is really powerful.read to give your opinion, don't let others opinion decide for you.",5.0,"Was impressed, being just a student",1078704000,"03 8, 2004",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 AGI7KEK4UMII7,0547807686,John puttock,"[0, 0]","Ok, this book takes a long time to get off the ground. Maybe that's because the Middle Ages in Germany sucked so much there isn't much room for romance. If your going to do a bycicle tour of the part of Germany these people lived in the guided tour is worth the price.",3.0,Germany in the 1500's detective novel,1353888000,"11 26, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1I57084EFN1K8,006109918X,keetmom,"[0, 0]","""Talking God"" features Tony Hillerman's much loved Navaho policemen, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, in a novel and for them alien setting - Washington DC. It is also unusual in that it focuses on the criminals from the early on, bringing them into the story from the start. There is some very clever police work as usual, but the focus of the story are deeper questions of identity and cultural preservation. Does the Smithsonian Museum have the right to retain cultural relics and ancestral remains that have profund meaning for living communities because they were deemed by previous generations to be curious artifacts left behind by forgotten peoples? How are memory and respect best handled in a modern society? Who are the best cultural champions - the professional conservationists who want to display the works or the real life descendants who have ongoing spiritual and family needs? Hillerman asks his readers to think about some of these controversial issues that are hotly debated across the globe.",4.0,Who best speaks for and honors the past?,1381017600,"10 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1PQ9XPPU873GB,0142405957,NICOLE S,"[0, 0]","This was a cute story for the kids to read. I loved it. It was a summer read for one of my friend's children. So I read it in the summer too. The moral: too much of something may not be so good. Because, the child's desire to eat chocolate for breakfast lunch and dinner led to a strange case of ""Chocolate Fever."" So, although it is not true, in life, ""Too much of something isn't good either"" Balance.",5.0,Cute Story for the Kids,1318550400,"10 14, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2SAU6PP9IX6SO,1482734451,L-3,"[0, 0]","A bit slow - it was OK, but was too descriptive - not enough action. :) Maybe I need to plunge in deeper. L-3",3.0,2nd Book,1376352000,"08 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1V9YS5H2JEPGC,1463689292,Kindle Customer,"[0, 0]",A good start for the series. I think this got the readers attention and the rest of the books in this series are then a great follow up -- hard to put down books.,4.0,A good start,1379462400,"09 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3CLBKSX0IGXB8,0140177388,"William A. Conelly ""WmC""","[0, 0]","For the pure Joy of Life, out of all the pages and pages of all his other works, to my mind, Cannery Row casually stands alone.",5.0,Coastal California in the Great Depression,1384300800,"11 13, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1TF1RZNO0V8WV,1440550778,Karen Mondala,"[4, 4]",Love this book! It even includes a recipe for the coveted Banh Mi rolls.I especially loved the recipe for the Meatball Bahn Mi!The fabulous sauces can be used to dress up weekday dinners.,5.0,Fabulous Banh Mi recipes.,1378166400,"09 3, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A3SVUMFBYHIJWK,0061080608,HPH,"[0, 2]","From the first chapter of this recent book, Catherine Anderson creates characters that you almost know. The story is wonderful with plenty of humor and predictable happenings that the pages just skim along. The reference to the title continues to stump the reader until the end. As always the author's detail and ability to project the reader into that time in history makes her one of my favorite writers.",4.0,Another Great Read,1338249600,"05 29, 2012",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2G09684ZOK8X2,0778314472,"Star @ The Bibliophilic Book Blog ""-Star""","[7, 8]","When Hank Cooper gets notification of his friend's death, he comes up with his toy hauler to Thunder Point, a teensy town with interesting people and a beautiful view. As Cooper works on rehabbing the building standing on his friend's land (which is now his), he gets to know and care for the people of Thunder Point. For a rambling man, can a great community and a wonderful woman be enough to entice Cooper to settle down?I have enjoyed several of Ms. Carr's ""Virgin River"" novels previously and I was excited to read the first in the new ""Thunder Point"" series, `The Wanderer'. I fell in love with the people of Thunder Point, from Sarah and her little brother to the cougar-y real estate agent. The characters were very three-dimensional and I felt for them and with them as the events unfolded. The beautiful Oregon coast is a wonderful backdrop for `The Wanderer' and it really made me want to visit there. Cooper is a genuinely good guy, who works hard and doesn't play around. Sarah's been hurt before - very badly - and does have trust issues, especially when it comes to her heart and her brother. Yet somehow, Cooper and Sarah make a connection as are others in the town. Ms. Carr has a way of making her characters come to life and having you root for them to succeed or fall in love, etc. I hope the rest of the ""Thunder Point"" series is as good as `The Wanderer'.Thunder Point Series: The Wanderer (1)",4.0,The Wanderer (Thunder Point),1364515200,"03 29, 2013",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A1NRMLRE2QKZ08,0316044695,~Shawn~,"[0, 0]","A friend of mine, half jokingly I think, said to me why don't you read a true story rather than your normal vampire, werewolves, witches and ghosts. He recommended this one to me, saying this was one of 2 that he really enjoyed and has read a few times. so I read the sample, not really expecting to like it, and found that I really did, so I bought the book and that night read 6 chapters of it.Today I took the book planning to read a chapter or 2 and finished the book, I just couldn't put it down.I believe this book will stay with me for a while. I loved reading everything that he wrote, I never felt bored, there were a few times where I had tear filled eyes and was wishing that was not what those men really endured. I sat here thinking WOW I don't know how they did it and how there are people still doing it.I send thanks to the man who suggested this book to me, because I enjoyed every minute of it and understand things better. Kudos to the team and to Marcus, thank you for sharing your story and serving, as well to all that serve.",5.0,Amazing read!,1357430400,"01 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3JAQE7SI5490Z,1580054455,Teagerin,"[6, 10]","If you are contemplating getting it together and getting healthy, but you just can't organize it all -- THIS IS FOR YOU! By now we all know there is nothing "magic" about getting fit (mentally or physically). This book brings the physical, mental and diet all together. The fact that it is organized into a 28-day plan just makes moving on to the next day easier. It is not a hurry up to burn out concept, but more of a blending of all we need for a great foundation to health that we can ALL use!",5.0,Just What I Needed,1371340800,"06 16, 2013",6,10,helpful,0.6,1 A22RY8N8CNDF3A,064179164X,"Loyd E. Eskildson ""Pragmatist""","[19, 38]","The book has a bad reputation in some quarters, leading to pressure to cancel appearances by the author. In reality, it is mainly a lot of material already covered, though Klein does try to spice it up.The book opens with a report of Monica Lewinski having a meltdown at a Radio City Music Hall affair honoring Bill Clinton on his 50th birthday. She is upset that her ticket is in the ""cheap-seats; later she's near the receiving line with her back toward President Clinton, and brushes her hand against his (*), supposedly in Hillary's view.Who knows what really happened - sounds like something out of the National Enquirer, and lacks any sort of documentation. Nonetheless, the apparent rationale for the story is to introduce two of the book's ""themes"" - that Hillary has known about Bill's philandering all along, used it to gain sympathy (a plus running for U.S. Senate), and with the exception of Vince Foster, has never been into heterosexual activity.Klein also claims that Chelsea was the result of a planned rape by Bill during a Bahamas trip that left a lot of broken furniture for viewing by the anonymous source the next morning. Further, Bill didn't realize the outcome until two months later when he read about Hillary's pregnancy in the Arkansas Gazette. (Wonder what Chelsea's reaction to that story is!)Then, just in case you might think that Bill Clinton has reformed, Klein reports that he's still at it in Chappaqua, their new home, and Hillary continues to tolerate it in her quest for power and the Presidency. (She apparently adopted this as a goal at age seven after realizing that her becoming an astronaut was not likely to heppen.)In between Bill Clinton's dalliances, Klein also briefly covers Hillary's early childhood (punched out several boys), years at Wellesley (faculty predominantly lesbian, as well as a number of Hillary's friends), conversion from a ""Goldwater Girl"" to liberal, role in Watergate investigation, run for the Senate, etc. Also reports that Patrick Moynihan and his wife regarded Hillary as duplicitous, though they ended up supporting her.Klein is clearly biased against Hillary (sometimes I am too), and ends by accusing her of remaking her image while in the Senate (choosing Armed Services Committee instead of more powerful Finance Committee so that she could appear more security-minded; refusing to back ""lost"" liberal causes). But Klein admits that this is not atypical political behavior - even Nixon did it.Bottom line: This is not serious material, nor worth reading. However, it does communicate a convincing case that Hillary is a pragmatist as far as marrying and staying with Bill. So what! If Klein wanted to harm Hillary he would have done better to avoid the salacious material and instead report material such as how her refusal to turn over Whitewater documents led to the Ken Starr investigation, and her end-run around Congress on health care reform that led to a complex (1,342 page) document that was widely ridiculed and ""credited"" with helping ""create"" a Republican takeover of Congress.",2.0,"No Expose, or Smoking Gun Here",1135900800,"12 30, 2005",19,38,helpful,0.5,1 A2KPBQ4UQRCGK5,1933308273,"Katie ""me myself and I""","[8, 8]","Second edition, a sequel to her mother's fine book. The book is a perfect companion to her DVD. It is amazing how much one can learn from this fine quilter and teacher.",5.0,good book,1325203200,"12 30, 2011",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A1HS9F7J51E9CB,0399149155,sweetmolly,"[16, 16]","""Quarry"" is loosely based on a 1969 Santa Barbara murder with a victim who remains unidentified to this day. Grafton became interested in this unsolved case and sponsored a forensic sculptor to do a likeness of the victim, which she included at the back of this book in hopes that someone will recognize the picture. This seems to be the year for big time mystery writers to take a hands-on interest in unsolved crimes what with Patricia Cornwell's six million dollar investment in the Jack the Ripper case.Two retired detectives call in Kinsey Milhone to assist them in reopening the cold case of an unsolved murder of a Jane Doe victim. The trail leads the trio to small town Quorum CA. On the surface, Quorum is God-fearing and conservative, but appearances are deceiving, and soon Kinsey is up to her tumbled hairdo in suspects.The book is a bit of a slow start to get everyone in place. I question the wisdom of having two cohorts that are both dying. Not only is it depressing, a lot of time is spent to and froing to emergency rooms and discussing diets and the horrors of smoking. I do not object at all to Grafton's love of placing senior citizens in her stories, I just wish she would be sure their health warranted the tasks she sets out for them. Like many other reviewers, I could do without the ongoing soap opera of Kinsey's rediscovered family. ""Quarry"" is back in the familiar groove after a really fine departure in ""Peril"" where Grafton extended her scope and vision. She does her usual fine job of characterization and descriptions that add so much to her novels. The plotting is excellent, and the ending is nicely surprising. I'm just hoping Kinsey can soon find a friend who is under 65.Ms. Grafton heeded her fans. The final report is back in place, the whodunit is crystal clear with no ambiguity that might possibly make the reader think for a few minutes after closing the book, and the motives are straightforward with no complexities. This is the type Kinsey that pays the bills.-sweetmolly-[Amazon.com] Reviewer",3.0,True Crime for Kinsey,1042934400,"01 19, 2003",16,16,helpful,1.0,1 AEK7AKOFC3RZ,0615406092,joyfulnoisemaker,"[22, 27]","Comprehensive and compassionate, a book that both chronicles the history of this movement and addresses its importance in American society today. Favorite chapter was on responding to charges of ""hate"" in dialogue with advocates of the homosexual movement.",5.0,Comprehensive and compassionate,1327968000,"01 31, 2012",22,27,helpful,0.8148148148148148,1 A2D0UVBNZ2BFR5,1884519016,S Wood,"[20, 24]","""Occupy"" is a selection of speeches (as well as one interview) made by veteran radical Noam Chomsky at Occupy events in the U.S. late last year.The speeches are a mixture of Chomsky putting events into context, an extremely brief history of the Neoliberal era (the ""Thirty Years of Class War"" referred to in the title of this review), a eulogy for the late Howard Zinn (ofA People's History of the United Statesfame) and some reluctant but spot on advice on the pitfalls and difficulties of organising and carrying forward the Occupy movement. A guide on what to do if your arrested at an occupy event in the U.S. (compiled by the National Lawyers Guild) has been helpfully included, and makes interesting reading even for those to whom it is not directly relevant.This is a fine short (probably not much more than 10,000 words in total) collection, though readers may wish to skip it for (or subsequently move on to) some of his more recent and substantial works such asHopes and Prospects, or return to his earlier classics such asDeterring Democracy,Year 501: The Conquest ContinuesorManufacturing Consent. An interesting book for readers wishing to learn more about Occupy as well as the protests across Europe and the uprisings in the Arab World (which Chomsky touches upon) could do far worse than reading Paul MasonsWhy It's Kicking Off Everywhere: The New Global Revolutions.",4.0,"""the First Major Public Response to Thirty Years of Class War""",1336003200,"05 3, 2012",20,24,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A2X26XGMXGV3N1,0375705902,Invisible Man,"[4, 4]","I had moved to Nebraska to do a Ph.D. in philosophy, and before my first year of school had started, I was in the public library reading through the fiction stacks. I saw Hemingway and Gaines, Carver and Alexie. Then I saw LaValle. I pulled down this book and started to read.I never stopped. I dropped out of the philosphy program and started writing fiction. That's how powerful these books were, especially LaValle's.Slapboxing with Jesus is my favorite short story collection by a living writer. These stories are amazing, and LaValle's voice is like no other. I've marked up these stories, studying technique, dialogue, pacing, etc (I didn't get into creative writing programs, so I'm going at it alone). The margins are so marked up that I'll soon purchase a new copy of Slapboxing.These stories of Queens kids are some of my favorites, especially ""Chuckie"" and ""Class Trip."" They have served as models for my own writing, and I never tire of reading them. Also recommended: LaValle's ""The Ecstatic.""",5.0,A great contemporary writer,1133740800,"12 5, 2005",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 AXVARDPMDG3T8,B00902EY6U,"Patty Devlin ""Author of Choices- Part 1,2, & 3""","[7, 8]","""""""Oh breanna- you are the best! I don't know how you do it. I went from laughing my butt off to holding it imagining the tingling of the stapping poor Serena was getting. But, once again you pin pointed the need in women everywhere- let me quote Preston, """"... because somewhere deep inside there is a little girl who just wants to be loved and protected... who wants a daddy to hold her and care for her... to kiss away her hurts and teach her right from wrong... I'll definitely come back and reread this when I need my daddy fix...""""""",5.0,MY Daddy Fix...,1346198400,"08 29, 2012",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A1G6JEQT9KH2IC,B004SQX4G4,Charlyne Eichner,"[0, 0]","Growing up many of these dishes were common to our table, church suppers, picnics, or holiday dinners. I have two old PA Dutch cookbooks, they are worn and many recipes are known by heart. If you don't have this cookbook you are missing out.",5.0,Tastes like home,1382400000,"10 22, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A461OPOOF9JJT,0340837950,Jeff A. Spain,"[8, 15]","I just read this again after some 30 odd years. I didn't like it the first time and like it even less now. I have read all of the books by Heinlein and I feel this is his weakest one. Oddly, it is his most popular book with the masses. Less about SF than being preachy and trying to explore sexual mores. I remember this being controversial in the 70's, but it is not even shocking by todays standards. I think it is the frnak discussion of sexual attitudes that has kept this book popular for so many years. Highly recommend you don't read this until you have read the authors many other wonderful novels. Stranger in a strange land is the weak link in his long run of superb SF stories",1.0,Over hyped,1288828800,"11 4, 2010",8,15,helpful,0.5333333333333333,1 AKBEKORV5VUQA,0385337515,"Hope D R ""Hope D R""","[0, 0]","I love the Outlander series. I love the way Diana Gabaldon writes. For the ones reading and following the Outlander series, you know that any book Gabaldon writes related to the train of this story, is just necessary to have. There is no way of saying if one of these books is good, or more than good, because there is no way of putting it like that. Each new book is like a new window from where to peek, a new aspect to savor the delicious Outlander stories.The Scottish Prisoner is one window to the world of specifically one of the characters in the Outlander series: Lord John. This character leads a very interesting life, and while Lord John's presence in the Outlander series is very good on its own, Gabaldon decided to give the reader more to dig from about this secondary character. The life of Lord John definitely is a piece that can be perfectly attached to the huge Outlander puzzle, while being able to stand alone, all by itself and fabulously. This Lord John's book, plus the others about him, is very important to undestand many things about this interesting Outlander character.From Lord John's stories, this book is the one that talks the most about Lord John's relation with one of the principal characters in the Outlander series: James Fraser. This book will give a new light from where to see some parts in the Outlander books.",5.0,Another delicious piece for the big Outlander puzzle!,1325980800,"01 8, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AV2AGR9FSHF5N,0471683469,"Dale C. Maley ""Index Fund Investor""","[27, 29]","Over-all, this is a very thorough review of the rules of retirement.I am a believer in the passive index fund approach to investing as opposed to the actively managed approach.Carlson advocates 3 levels of investments for the accumulation phase, and all 3 are based on an active versus passive management approach. The first level is his Core level and he recommends actively managed value stock funds.....or actively managed balanced funds (stocks and bonds) like Vanguard's Wellington. I think most investors would be betterserved using a combination of Vanguard's Total Stock Market and Total Bond Market funds for this core portfolio. The ratio of stocks to bonds depends on the investor's risk tolerance, as well as their need to take risk. Using Vanguard's passively managed index funds versus Carlson's actively managed approach should result in higher returns to the investor because of the lower annual expenses of the index funds.Carlson recommends large cap value funds because his theory is that in retirement....retirees can give up some returns in exchange for lower chances in the portfolio declining with value stocks. The Fama-French 3 factor study would suggest that large cap value stocks will outperform all large cap stocks....if history repeats itself in the future. If you believe that history will repeat itself, you could choose a Vanguard large cap value index fund instead of the Total Stock Market fund.Carlson's other 2 levels of portfolios focus on trying to pick in advance, which asset classes are currently not over-valued.....or be really aggressive and take on high risks with private equity funds. These two strategies are high risk and I know of no long term data which supports this approach performing better than a simple index fund approach. I don't believe either of these 2 strategies is appropriate for most investors.Bengen's and Bierwirth's studies back in 1994 were seminal events in financial planning in that they found 4% was the maximum SWR (Safe Withdrawal Rate). If the stock market experiences a prolonged drop early in a retirement period, SWR's higher than 4% will cause the retiree to exhaust his portfolio before this death.In 1998, the Trinity Study also found the same basic results as Bengen and Bierwirth.....and recommended a maximum SWR of 4%.I have read about some mechanical rules which suggest that you can withdraw more than 4% if you spend less money in years the stock market is down, and more money when it is up. Carlson suggests the Yale distribution rule....in which 30% of the annual distribution is based upon portfolio value. I had not heard of this specific rule before, and I will have to do some Monte Carlo analysis to determine its effectiveness.I found the book easy to read.....and I agree with his recommendations except for the construction of his investment portfolios.The Richest Man in BabylonBogle on Mutual Funds: New Perspectives for the Intelligent InvestorThe Millionaire Next DoorThe Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning PortfolioA Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing, Ninth EditionThe Coffeehouse Investor: How to Build Wealth, Ignore Wall Street, and Get On With Your LifeThe Bogleheads' Guide to Investing",5.0,Agree with 90% of the recommendations,1190505600,"09 23, 2007",27,29,helpful,0.9310344827586207,1 A6KG8W9C0VW7X,0688082742,Forza,"[23, 25]","Well, I seem to be one of that rare species of person who didn't feel passionately one way or another about this book.On the ""pro"" side, I agree (mostly) with his main premise: the impact of television on society and individuals is mostly negative -- and in particular, I don't see any benefit to television commercials at all. It's great to have a book out there that raises awareness of this. Fact is, our psychology is built in such a way that we are not ""good"" at television in the same way we are ""good"" at the natural world. For instance, it is TRUE that we have a natural bias that seeing is believing, and intellectual knowledge of what is true and false can get you only so far in overcoming that (as decades of work in cognitive science, much of it done since this book was published, will attest). Mander does a good job of highlighting many of the affects of television on the psyche and society (and why). I also really appreciated his perspective as former public relations and advertising executive. Plus, he raised a few interesting points that I had never thought of: for instance, the way that editing many rapid cuts can forcibly engage our attention, even if we don't ""want"" to be watching.So I'm not sorry I read it. But I was disappointed by several other things, some attributable no doubt to the fact that it was written in 1977, some not so much. First of all, I found some of the science to be flimsy at best (I study cognitive science for a living). For instance, the entire section about natural light and television was frankly bizarre. It was most frustrating because I worried that these areas of quackery would turn off a reader who recognized them as such but wasn't familiar enough with psychology and cognitive science to recognize that the other 80% of it WAS pretty well supported (especially after decades of further research that Mander couldn't have known about). I can see from some people's comments here that it has done so, and I'm sorry for that.Secondly, many of his points just aren't relevant now that television technology has changed so much. For instance, he talks a lot about how television is biased to show certain things (inanimate objects) and not show other things (faces) due to limitations caused by resolution and television set size. Some of this is still true -- I think war and soundbites will always be inherently favored over peace and long thoughtful monologues -- but some of it is not: e.g., with the advent of plasma TVs, resolution isn't an issue. And with people's increasing ability to be actively involved in television content (via TiVo, capturing the media and mixing it up themselves, etc), much of the nature of our interaction has changed.Mander can't be faulted for not knowing about these things thirty years ago, but it does make me wish for a more current version of this book. As it is, the book is definitely worth reading: but you should keep in mind that it's dated and that not all of his scientific claims are very well supported.",3.0,"Interesting, but far less satisfying than I expected",1180915200,"06 4, 2007",23,25,helpful,0.92,1 ATODJJ17CL103,0060850639,"Enchanting Reviews ""Lisa""","[0, 0]","SPIRITJ.P. HIGHTMANParanormal Young AdultRating: 4.5 EnchantmentsThere's only one way to describe SPIRIT: a spellbinding page-turner. From the moment I picked this book up, I couldn't put it down. J.P. Hightman crafts a riveting story that grabs hold of the reader immediately and doesn't let go until the startling, goosebump giving conclusion.Tess and Tobias Goodravens, seventeen years old and newly married, are already seasoned ghost hunters. Now on the hunt for `The Ones Who Got Away', witches who somehow managed to escape the Salem Witch Trials, Tess and Tobias find themselves heading to Blackthorne, a tiny, haunted town in Massachusetts. Tess is already feeling anxious about the upcoming experience, while Tobias too is a little uneasy, but he does his best to hide his true feelings from his wife. Along the way, the couple are forced to take a train ride that will have extreme life changing consequences.Wow, what an unexpected paranormal read. Aside from its unique setting and time period, Tess and Tobias are two of the more unusual characters I've ever run across, which I think made them all the more endearing. I loved the whole thing, the twists and turns, the unusual characters that populated the story.An amazing tale, SPIRIT will leave the reader with goosebumps as they near the startling conclusion that will leave them speechless. I can't wait to read more from this talented author.J. P. Hightman is a professional screenwriter and the author of the saint of dragons and samurai. He divides his time between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.LisaEnchanting ReviewsOctober 2008",5.0,Enchanting Review: Spirit,1225411200,"10 31, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A30AO422P01XK0,0330334611,Daniel Mackler,"[11, 20]","the good points: the story itself is interesting and moves along for the most part making the book readable, and it's gets into some interesting detail and perspective in terms of mexican landscape and culture and horses, and it's not bad for an adventure story, which is why i finished it.the bad points: the book is almost entirely emotionally shut-down (written at about the emotional level of a fifteen year old, and not a very mature one at that), it totally idealizes machismo (glorifies being emotionally detached and tough), gives no reason as to why the two main american boy characters are close aside from some "mysterious" bond of loyalty which seems not to grow or change throughout the book - and their occasional philosophizing is trite and sillyfurther bad points: the main character grows to comically mythic proportions by the end of the book, almost as if he's become immortal and cannot be killed by the silly and foolish mexicans - on their own turf no less!, which to me is not only unrealistically pro-american but idealizes the myth of the invincibility of youth, which is dangerous...other trivial points that annoyed me: author's use of stylized grammar shifted throughout the book. for example, in the beginning ten pages in the prose (not the dialogue) he spelled the word "didn't" as follows - "didn't" - but then after that point, and for the rest of the book, spelled it "didnt", with no apostrophe. annoying! and also, i felt the author was a show-off and a tease with his use of spanish dialogue. as i happen to speak spanish it was fine by me, but i find it annoying when authors gratuitously use foreign languages at length and do not translate, leaving the reader potentially out in the wind...",2.0,"some good points, but overall not worth reading",979948800,"01 20, 2001",11,20,helpful,0.55,1 A2DNTX6VOZFUSV,B003GDIA0U,Saleana (Triquetra Reviews),"[0, 0]",There was no background story and we just jump to the sex. If that's what you're looking for then it's a quick read,2.0,could have been a little better,1402790400,"06 15, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2CP1WK6JHGC6W,0596005768,Eric Wuehler,"[82, 82]","I think I'd generally agree with the previous positive reviews. You should already be familiar with CSS, JavaScript and HTML - this is not a CSS starter book. It's more geared toward start to finish answers for common CSS questions, most of which I found I could easily adapt to my level of understanding. There is an in-depth description about how to create a very nice looking calendar with CSS (using HTML tables) which I liked a lot. However, for me personally, I will probably stick with O'Reilly's CSS: The Definitive Guide.I'm sure it was done for monetary reasons, but it would have been nice if the figures were in color - or at least the figures supporting the elements that deal with color. It was tough to distinguish between shades of grey or follow the arrows with the words ""blue"" or ""green"" on one end pointing to an area. I know, I know, picky picky. :) So - while I'm being picky... :) The foreward mentions ""...compiling hundreds of CSS recipes into this single book"" - but by my count, there are only 89 Problem/Solution/Discussion sections (aka recipes). I would like to have seen ""hundreds of CSS recipes"", which would have provided greater variety to the solutions.",3.0,"Interesting CSS solutions, but a little thin",1094688000,"09 9, 2004",82,82,helpful,1.0,1 A3PGGI7A6XCNF1,0399148337,Frank J. Konopka,"[7, 7]","This series of books about the converted IRA killer and his friends is one of my all-time favorites! Let's be frank, however; this is not great literature. The characters are mere brush strokes, there's very little exposition, the plots are see-through, and there always tends to be a happy ending. That being said, the books are just full of non-stop excitement, to the extent that you overlook the flaws in the work. Once you start reading these books, you're hooked from beginning to end, and sometimes it's impossible to put down until you've finished reading, even if it's the wee hours of the morning, and your eyes are burning from lack of sleep! That's the highest accolade I can give a book: that it kept me up way beyond my bedtime. It'll happen to you also.",5.0,Sean Dillon: "As ever was",1018828800,"04 15, 2002",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3PYAKA7270DI3,0345316223,Mitchell Glodek,"[4, 6]","I read a 1950s hard cover of this Hal Clement novel, a sort of hard SF archetype well worth reading.""Mission of Gravity"" is suffused with what some might call a naive optimism about science and technology-- its like a love letter to physics and mechanical engineering. Lacking any literary pretensions, it is a straightforward account of how explorers deal with a series of technical challenges on a planet with a very unusual environment. Clement's fascination with science is infectious, and the book charmingly succeeds in accomplishing exactly what it set out to do; unlike some later hard SF novels which get loaded down with incompetent character development or boring philosophical digressions, Clement keeps his book lean and focused, and never tries to do something he isn't good at. A classic.",3.0,Hard SF classic,1188432000,"08 30, 2007",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A1GP668WA6X6MH,B003PJ7CRC,Taunya L Clark,"[0, 0]",I chose this rating because I loved this book. There was nothing I didn't like about this book. I would so recommend this book to people.,5.0,Loved it,1372464000,"06 29, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2YZIQ557AVO9F,0446538965,Library lady,"[4, 9]","Without a doubt, Ravens is one of the worst books I have ever read. Therefore, I am giving it one star because the website will not allow zero stars. I purchased the book based on two different reviews in major newspapers, as well as remembering his past work, The Juror. I expected better after a 14 year hiatus. While the premise is interesting, the problem with the book is that the reader cannot come around to have any sympathy for or support any of the characters. The author does not develop any characters enough for the reader to connect with them. Most good characters have flaws that the reader embraces. These characters are people who are so shallow and self-serving that you would not want to have any of them near you under any circumstances. The subplots are mere sketches, void of the details that would have made the book much more interesting. As a result, you have a nightmare of a book - not just the plot line for the characters, but also for the reader. As a librarian for over 30 years, I have read a lot of books, and I can usually find something redeeming about each experience. Believe me when I say this one was a total waste. This experience has taught me to take the time to read the sample of the book on Amazon.com before purchasing. If the author didn't want to put the effort into his work, then his editor should have had the fortitude to talk him into paring it down to a novella or short story. Nobody did their job in bringing this book to publication. I only wish that I could return it or exchange it for something else. I'm not even donating this to the public library.",1.0,Don't waste your time,1250640000,"08 19, 2009",4,9,helpful,0.4444444444444444,1 A2FVS0ICPWXWC0,0857208675,Col Keats,"[0, 1]","The 2nd prequel for Mitch Rapp continues to broaden out the character we have all grown to know and love as the cold blooded assassin of scum bag terrorists. We can appreciate the background on Irene Kennedy, Stansfield, Hurley and how everyone got from the proverbial there to here. A fun story with interesting characters and twist and turns and blood shed and heroes and villians and even a little more romance than normal. A solid addition to the world of Mitch Rapp. A world we hope really exists, because if we aren't taking it to them, we should expect they will continue to take it to us. Life can be pretty fragile and knowing there are competent and well intentioned folks out there covering our back makes us all feel a little safer.",5.0,Kill Shot is a killer,1330819200,"03 4, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AN2WDDRGJTSML,1935149334,Jetpack,"[16, 17]","As the author correctly notes, usually the Norway campaign gets a few pages of mention. Well, with this very lengthy tome, you will learn tons about it.The author does a wonderful job of describing the Norwegian government and the status of the Norwegian military. I especially appreciated the comparison of pre-WWII Norway to the more ready pre-WWI Norway military.The Altmark incident is well explained, and quite interesting.I've never understood the early Allied plans for Scandanavia, and it seems clear that the author doesn't understand what Chamberlain, Churchill and the French were thinking either. If they had provoked a war with the Soviet Union, or pushed Norway and Sweden into the Axis, it could have had terrible results for the British.The maps are quite good for a Kindle edition.In case you need more information, the Bibliography is quite extensive.If you still need another reason, then the unfortunate Chamberlain speech in which he indicates that ""Hitler missed the bus"" should be all you need to know.Get this now if you have any interest in WWII.",5.0,Excellent history of a little known campaign,1300752000,"03 22, 2011",16,17,helpful,0.9411764705882353,1 A2O8ST58HUE5UO,1432739913,Rhonda B,"[6, 12]","This book was disappointing. It was poorly written, with seemingly irrelevant prose at the end of each chapter (I actually thought it was a problem with the synchronization of the Kindle at first since it was so disjointed). The concept would have been sound and what attracted me was the scientific aspect of the novel, but the author tried too hard to weave in religion, action, and mystery without fully developing the story. The best part of this book was the fact that I ordered the Kindle version which was very reasonably priced at $.99, read the book in a few hours, and don't have to worry about which one of my friends I could pass this lackluster book over to next. I don't recommend this book unless you have a few hours with nothing else to do (and even then, you can certainly find a better book to read) and keep your investment at less than one dollar. (I do recommend the Kindle, however, since this allowed me to keep my investment low and quickly find another book to satisfy my urge for a good story. Keep it up Amazon - great service!)",1.0,"Disappointing, but well worth the Kindle price of $.99",1261699200,"12 25, 2009",6,12,helpful,0.5,1 A14OC67MXL92FA,0340839937,"Kindle Customer ""soul_survivor""","[9, 10]","Dune is one of the most popular science fiction novels, and with good reason. If nothing else, it's ambitious; a complex plot draws on elements from ancient and medieval history as well as Islamic culture, blending ecology, politics, messianic religion and mysticism to create a long, sometimes engrossing, sometimes baffling tale of a young superhero who revolutionizes galactic civilization.The novel has several flaws; much of the mysticism is not luminously clear, and much of the dialogue is stilted. Herbert's style is in the process of maturing here; it's a quirky and distinctive voice, and his writing is generally of high quality, but the pacing is uneven, and many readers will find the book difficult to get into. (I started it seven times over a period of several years before it finally caught on for me; and Herbert himself admitted the book was not an easy start.)With so many details involved in the story, it's not surprising that there are questions and plot holes. Some readers may find the characters two-dimensional, and Paul Atreides, the hero, remains remote. Still, Herbert deserves credit for tackling so many issues in the context of a science fiction adventure, and also for constructing what's basically a Van Vogt-style superman story whose central character is opaque, rather than the straight-up-and-down hero a more simplistic writer might have created.Many of Herbert's ideas don't fit comfortably into a single novel, even one of this length; I found that I came to enjoy both his writing style and his ideas as I read further books in the series.This is a worthwhile book that deserves all the attention it's garnered, but many readers should expect to be patient and to make a certain effort to get used to Herbert's approach to storytelling. The opening chapter is a stunner and immediately grabs your attention, but the book shifts gears after that and takes another fifty pages or so to pick up the pace. But stick with it --- it's fascinating and rewarding.",4.0,Nothing else like it,999907200,"09 8, 2001",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A18LI83Q1F5DKU,0985959614,LaGina,"[0, 0]",A book about a vampire from ancient Egypt? I like vampires and i love anything dealing with Egypt so this was a win win book for me. The story was different and it had its good points that out weigh the slow parts if the book. I really did like this story.,4.0,LaGina,1393459200,"02 27, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1YX1T1D22KQ9S,0441017207,Ramona Kekstadt,"[0, 0]","This a really great book. You have to read these in order. The characters are really great. Dawn,Kiko and Bresi....and the boss. The thing is that no one knows what the boss looks like. He is called the Voice...All you hear is his voice over the speakers. The first Trilogy is Night Rising,Midnight Reign,Break of Dawn.The next books are Drop of Red,Path of Razors, and Deep in the woods.They are really great books..Chris Marie Green is an awesome writer, and hope she comes out with more books.",5.0,Vampire,1272931200,"05 4, 2010",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2K40JBQHJY1HH,0785260382,David R. Bess,"[25, 35]","Murrow here gives some good, unique insights as to why men tend to shy away from church attendance and involvement. He explains that today's church has become much more feminine than the New Testament church in its meetings and ministry. He provides helpful tips on getting more men involved in congregational life, with an underlying theme of restoring more masculinity to Christian gatherings.Among church growth/Christian living books, this title is unique. I recommend it to church leaders wanting new insights on how to get men back into the church.",4.0,Unique Insights!,1130025600,"10 23, 2005",25,35,helpful,0.7142857142857143,1 A29KQRAQXIXVBV,1584793678,"Nancy L. Middleton ""celticmoon""","[18, 19]","As a less-than-expert level knitter, this book just called to me from the shelf; here were projects not beyond my reach. As an ever practical Yankee, I love creating objects that are useful as well as nice to look upon, and this book is full of such items. As an artist, I appreciated the quick overview of color management. Good use of color often distinguishes beautiful creations from those that are merely nice.Sources for materials are given in the back, but I like to patronize local businesses when possible, so I didn't always use the precise yarns suggested in the patterns, but as long as I kept the weight the same and checked my gauge my projects so far have been very satisfactory. Another reviewer mentioned the leg warmers she and her daughter wished to knit but were unable to find the materials needed for the project. I, too, was unable to find circular needles so short, but I used double-pointed needles instead and although this lengthened the time it took me to finish them, the end result was just as beautiful.I truly enjoy this book; it offers projects of various skill levels but with enough solid information and direction to coax even beginner-intermediate knitters such as myself to try.",4.0,A truly lovely book,1105574400,"01 13, 2005",18,19,helpful,0.9473684210526315,1 A3OJV8A6D434X5,0452296722,E. Jacobs,"[4, 5]","This outstanding work of historical fiction encompasses the life of Mary Anning, an extraordinary woman who lived in the early 1800s and defied the conventions of the time by earning a reputation as a fine `fossil hunter'. Set in Lyme Regis, a small community in southern Great Britain, the story follows Mary's life from the time she was struck by lightning as a baby until she reached fame for finding several important fossils, including one of the first, if not the first, plesiosaur skeleton.The book is not just about fossils. It is also about a friendship between two women who strayed outside the accepted roles of their time. In addition, it provides remarkable insight into what it must have been like to have lived in a time before evolution was proposed as a theory. How to fit these skeletons into the worldview of the time, that of a static world where all God's creatures had always lived and always looked the same? It must have been incredibly disturbing to a large number of people when Mary Anning discovered fossils of animals unlike anything ever seen on earth.While this book is not a page-turner, it is a lovely story. It's a gentle, thoughtful walk through the life of Mary Anning, a remarkable creature herself.",4.0,"An interesting, thoughtful story",1263600000,"01 16, 2010",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A3H5UJJJ415ZRZ,0316187429,F. Simmy,"[0, 0]","Love it! I bought all his books that he had written after reading this book, but none were as good as this!",5.0,Shatter,1383436800,"11 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32R72XSI2FWFO,0985865377,BayliBooks,"[0, 0]","I need the next book, now! :/ Why oh why is November still a couple months away...I feel so sorry for Chloe and the boys. I really feel for all of them. There is no clean cut choice in the matter. All of them are always going to hurt in some way. I completely understand why she does what she does at the end of this book.But dang it, my heart hurts. I know who I want for her but that doesn't mean I dont love the other choice as well. Even though I've obviously never been through what Chloe, Kellan, and Jonah have been through - I feel like I have because of how Heather writes these characters. I literally felt like my heart was breaking every time one of the characters felt that way.I can't wait to see what has happened with the Guard. How will Chloe live this life she has chosen? What will happen when the boys find her? Will the Elders find her first? So many questions!I will be anxiously waiting for the third book!!!",5.0,Even better than the first!!!!,1378944000,"09 12, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AV2F65J6CL7NN,1616201126,Lauren,"[11, 15]","The Explanation for Everything is a rare treat: a page-turner that embraces and engages big, philosophical questions. Grodstein has written a love story about ideas and religion, or possibly a philosophy of love, or maybe just a terrific novel about faith and skepticism and love and grief. I loved it, and it moved me, and it has burrowed into my brain, where I believe (I believe!) it will stay for a very long time.",5.0,moving and smart,1377561600,"08 27, 2013",11,15,helpful,0.7333333333333333,1 A29NTGB8MOGW36,B00422LLWI,Laurie,"[7, 7]","This is a terrific book. Harry Potter meets Jim Chee (Hello,Coyote)in the Big D. Bevill not only whips up a great story, he is articulate and, Thank you God, he can spell, punctuate (usually) and use correct syntax.It's nice to read a book without having to translate or interpret garbled junk.If I were an English teacher, a good many contemporary ""writers"" would fail, red pencilled to death. Bevill would get an A- and graduate with his class. I really appreciated this on all levels.",5.0,Really good read,1310947200,"07 18, 2011",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 A3P6ABNNSE6IO7,0316098329,"Alexis Nolfburger ""readet""","[0, 0]","This novel is thrilling, entertaining, and scarily life like. The whole novel can be broken up into two different stories- therefore the first half is quite different than the second, but both are excellent reads. Don't hesitate! Read this novel!",5.0,A STELLAR NOVEL,1308960000,"06 25, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2JP0URFHXP6DO,1586857355,Tim Janson,"[85, 86]","i used to be one of those people that ate out for lunch every day. But I've come to the realization that the $100 to $125 a month i'm spending eating out fast food can be better spent on other things. Ramen Noodles have stepped up to become a quick, and cheap way to have lunch, especially in a busy office such as the one I work in. They come in so many flavors now to boot. I laughed when I saw this book but how can you go wrong for $10?Regular Ramen noodles are just fine by me but Toni patrick puts a charge into them with some amazingly creative additions. For example, spice up a plain can of tomato soup with some noodles or add some fresh veggies to make a Ramen vegetable soup. Not all of them will work for your office lunch as some will require baking and a bit of cook time. I personally love the parmesan Noodles or the Alfredo Noodles which are very quick and easy to make. Or there is the one person Ramen Lasagna with just a cup of sauce, and some ricotta and mozzarella that can be made in a 4"" x 4"" pan. perfect for a toaster oven if you have one at work.I really can't get into some of the breakfast recipes but perhaps the kids might. But this book did help spice up lunch a little bit and turn more boring, but cheap Ramen Noodles into something more.",5.0,INEXPENSIVE AND SURPRISINGLY TASTY,1124755200,"08 23, 2005",85,86,helpful,0.9883720930232558,1 AG9CB9Q1A75EN,0312998589,Madd Witch,"[5, 5]","I've been following this series and I've pretty much loved every one of the books, ""Nerd in Shining Armor"" and ""The Nerd Who Loved Me"" are both firmly tied for first place. I just don't think ""Gone with the Nerd"" really measures up to the rest. What really killed this book for me was Flynn. He's just not nerd enough for me. That and, I'm sorry, the fact that he's on the verge of proposing to his girlfriend yet can't hardly keep it in his pants after a scant few hours alone in a cabin with Zoe, just irks me. It's a major flaw in his character that pretty well puts me off. I don't find myself rooting for this relationship to work out because, despite the fact that he realizes he's not really in love with his girlfriend, he's basically become a cheating jerk in my eyes.I gave it 3 stars because the writing was still there, the ending was sweet, and I kind of enjoyed the Bigfoot thing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for ""Nerds like It Hot"".",3.0,Not My Kind of Nerd,1142985600,"03 22, 2006",5,5,helpful,1.0,1 A1DY5L17DR3ROX,1484118782,eszie,"[0, 0]","This book was so Surreal! I'm sure many people can relate to Natalie's problem and hopefully find the help and support they need. Once again love proved to be its powerful and help overcome many challenges. It was a great read, couldn't put it down the minute I started reading it.",5.0,An awesome book!,1373155200,"07 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3TGMKCXIQ2RN4,0641934173,"B. W. Davis ""fantabulist""","[4, 4]","This book comes recommended from a wide variety of sources, including the infamous, ""Everybody seems to like it, but I just couldn't get into it."" (Because I'm a difficult person, those kinds of anti-recommendations are sometimes the most effective; it's as though I have to prove that I can get it. That's why I gave Twilight a try. Couldn't get into it."") It's a lengthy tome, to be sure, and full of the all the period nuances one could hope for, meaning loads and loads of people sitting around talking and expressing polite disdain and doing nothing. But it's also probably one of the most original (if retrospectively obvious - you have to love that) and tangible fantasy/alternate history books I've ever read. ""Tangible"" probably isn't the right word, but there's real, worldly substance in a Jane Austen novel, and this story has the same kind of flesh one can sink their teeth into. (Oh, go on with you, people who will argue that Jane Austen portrays a completely unrealistic, white-washed British society that sweeps aside all of the injustices and violence and cruelty inherent in the period. Just give me a little slack.)Mr. Norrell and Mr. Strange are magicians, and perhaps more importantly, English magicians (what other kind of magic is there?) reviving magic after a very long drought in which magic has become largely theoretical. The renaissance of magic starts rather slowly, as one might expect (in fact, it starts even slower than one might expect, since the first of the new breed of practical magicians is the jealous sort), but picks up steam until it is barreling toward a conflict of monumental scale, and the book is essentially the same way.What works: If you give it enough time, almost everything works. This book is the ""but SHE did it"" object of fingerpointing from many future fledgling authors, I'd expect. Start with a bang, in media res, as everyone says you must? Not so much here. Must every sentence characterize or lend to the plot? No - there are many wandering divergences that amount to painting individual leaves on the trees in the background of a painting. One of the first major characters we recommend doesn't seem to have a stated desire (Mr. Secundus, for those following along in the book), and yet he's a perfectly acceptable blank slate character to do the things that need to be done to move the story along where it needs to go. He's accommodating that way. The magic that is done is unexpected and momentous, much more fairy tale than dungeons and dragons. There is no system. The characters have all of the complexity one would expect of a person in a good novel - that is to say, their unrealistically focused nature is applied to the plot in thorough, surprising ways. (I suppose that is rather vague, but I'd hate to spoil the plot.) Needless to say, there are fairies and enchantments and towns cast in Perpetual Darkness, when they aren't being relocated here and there on the map to frustrate Napoleon.What doesn't: It's dreadfully, despairingly long. When one is just beginning and the boulder of the novel is barely shifting, just beginning to roll, it's easy to see that there's still 98% of the novel to go and wonder if anything is ever going to happen. When one decides to go another 10 or 15 pages or so and then sees that they're STILL at 98% and STILL nothing has happened, there might be a bit of teeth-gnashing and hair-pulling, if one were the ashes and sackcloth type. But the boulder does roll, and it does pick up momentum, and soon enough it is crashing along at a wonderful rate and one just can't put it down, even when there are still thirty chapters to go. Also, as delightful as it is that there is no ""magic system"", magic still does seem extremely vague for the first two-thirds of the book.The Takeaway: If you read this, be willing to devote some time to it. Not just a weekend, but a month. Have another book to read at the same time, so you can alternate until Norrell and Strange begin to pick up steam. (Really, until Norrell begins to pick up steam. Strange is all steam from just about as soon as he appears.)",4.0,"Slow to start, but worth the wait for momentum",1319328000,"10 23, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A2UZDPCFN2H9AP,1489523413,"Jab Jab","[0, 0]",I enjoyed everyone of these novels so glad you had characters from first series involved in these I would recommend this to everyone who loves to read vampire novels and I hope there will be more with the same characters the future love to see if nay turns after having the babies,5.0,Great great great,1390608000,"01 25, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2HOBVQG02B5FE,B00GB1OAB2,yves,"[4, 12]","This book was horrid! It was confusing too. The heroine was an alpha female throughout 3/4 of the book, which was annoying. I hate when a woman is considered to be stubborn when in reality, when what she really is, is immature, idiotic, selfish and reckless. Which, describes the heroine in this story. Suddenly she's the fearless warrior, alpha female, then when she gets to the castle, she's the fearful and cowardly damsel in distress. How unrealistic and annoying. As for the hero, he was no knight of honor, he was as dishonorable as they come. He constantly betrays the heroine, his betrothed and finally his own brother, therefore, the title is all wrong, it should have been titled, knight of DISHONOR. I disliked both the h/h, and all the characters in this book, except for poor port Jared. Please, Don't waste your time with this book. By the way, the sex or love scenes were not porn, they were lacking very much. Besides, there were only two love scenes that were no explicit in the least.",1.0,KNIGHT OF DISHONOR!!!,1387065600,"12 15, 2013",4,12,helpful,0.3333333333333333,1 A1N25JPFSIDG7Z,B00KIR5SAM,JustMe,"[0, 0]","PTSD can be pretty serious and scary. And difficult to heal. Untreated it can even take lives. Cody is on the edge, living inside his own nightmare. Lost and hungry, he is fortunate to land on the doorstep of people who care. Brick is not quite finished with his own problems, but helping Cody, is helping him too. Gradually they get a purpose to their lives. The bit of suspense in this story is about what Cody might have seen while staggering around.It is difficult to believe that people who had served their country well, can be court-martialed just for being gay, but apparently it could happen. i am glad that it is possible to reverse the decision. There is a promising future for Cody and Brick.",4.0,Painful topic,1403395200,"06 22, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AO8RJE8TIFJZA,0983627002,"PaganDeva2000 ""pagandeva2000""","[0, 0]","I enjoyed the story for the most part; but the ONLY thing that annoyed me is that the author seems to want to waste many pages on casual conversations between the characters. Of course, we need to know how they interact, but, after a certain point, I was saying to myself ""COME ON, now, get to the meat and potatos of the story"". Otherwise, I would certainly seek out this author once more, to see if that improved.",4.0,Would Read More By This Author,1329868800,"02 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A107XRUY6ATL6A,1420100904,mary granger,"[0, 0]","a friend asked me to order this for you, she said she really enjoyed it and thank you so much",5.0,books,1363305600,"03 15, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A190IEBYANFNGN,0843958626,Shauna S. Roberts,"[48, 51]","Dr. Monica Gardner leaves her cheating fiance and never-satisfied parents behind in St. Louis to take a job at a hospital in post-Katrina New Orleans. Dr. Eli Holmes, known as ""Super Doc"" at the same hospital, is not so super outside its doors--his policy is to dump every girlfriend after four weeks and to never date doctors. The two get off to a rocky start, but must find a way to work together to save a crucial hospital program that provides prenatal care for women who can't afford it. Can Monica learn to trust, and can Eli break his rules for the right woman?""Deliver Me"" delivers a satisfying, uncontrived love story with many laugh-out-loud moments. In addition to the two likeable main characters, the author treats us to many appealing side characters: Eli's two boisterous brothers, his matchmaking mother, Monica's fun-loving and loyal best friend, and a couple (Eli's patients) whose marriage may fail because of the wife's secret. The beautiful recovering city of New Orleans is almost a character in itself. Don't miss this debut novel by Farrah Rochon!NOTE: The cover may be gorgeous, but its dark, mysterious, and even dangerous feel in no way conveys the mood of the book. This is a happy book about two good and dedicated doctors who put all their efforts into their careers and need to learn to find satisfaction in their personal lives as well.",5.0,Exciting debut by a new romance writer,1172016000,"02 21, 2007",48,51,helpful,0.9411764705882353,1 A18FL68LES8XY7,0399148876,"Robin ""Robin""","[0, 0]",This guy writes a great mystery. I cant get enough. once i get started i cant stop reading till i finish it. Then have to get the next one.,5.0,great.,1376438400,"08 14, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQU97PQUU6PW5,0060012358,"Katherine "">^,,^<""","[0, 0]","This was a fun read. It is short--under 300 pages--so it goes by quickly. The story is set in the Discworld universe, though it is not officially one of the Discworld novels.The story hinges around a boy, a talking cat, a ""clan"" of rats who are also able to talk--the result of eating magic-contaminated trash. They run a scam, moving from town to town faking ""rat plagues"" and then doing the pied piper thing (the boy plays a pipe) and getting rid of the rats--for a fee.Then they get to a different sort of town, and the adventure begins.Good fun, cute characters, engaging plot... go read it.",4.0,Just as good as you'd expect Pratchett to be!,1057363200,"07 5, 2003",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A8WQUBDTLIR76,B00BWM2WLA,Shanna,"[0, 0]",An interesting and informative introduction into the world at Witchwood Estate. I look forward to reading more in this series and seeing where it leads :),5.0,a great start,1398470400,"04 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5GYYHY2KI5CI,0385339712,tregatt,"[14, 20]","Commander Joseph Sandilands of the Metropolitan Police (who had been seconded to the Bengal police for six months) is happily counting the hours to his departure from India (he didn't take to the country or the climate) when he receives an urgent missive from Sir George Jardine, the Acting Governor of Bengal, asking him to reinvestigate a few mysterious deaths. Apparently the officers of the Bengal Greys have been experiencing some rather rotten luck: over the years, the wives of at least five officers have died of accidents. And now with the suicide of Peggy Somersham, rumours are flying about the ill fated unit. Especially as someone keeps putting roses on the graves of the dead women on the anniversary of their deaths. Nancy Drummond, Sir George's married niece, and a good friend of Peggy Somersham's however believes that Peggy was murdered. And she wants someone to reinvestigate all the deaths of the officers' wives. And while Sandilands agrees that there is something very fishy about all these deaths, he is not too sanguine about getting any kind of result. A look at the files reveals that the previous police investigation into the past deaths was shoddy at best, and he knows the futility of trying to look into a cold case. But, ably assisted by a young Indian police officer, Naurung Singh, and the delectable but very married Nancy Drummond, Sandilands is determined to discover who may be killing off the wives of the Bengal Greys and why.The mystery turned out to be an interesting and engrossing one; it also unfolded at a smooth and brisk pace. There were even a few plot twists and some red herring suspects. So that, on the whole, I should have been over the moon with this book. But I wasn't. And that was mainly because the principal characters (Sandilands and Nancy) really failed to capture my interest and concern. They seemed a little dated (esp their conversations). I'm big on historical accuracy, but I'll admit this was one instance when I'd been really happy if Nancy hadn't sounded as if she stepped out of a school girls' annual. Another thing I found disappointing was that the authour had not gone very much into the social history of 1920s India. I rather think that if she had, the novel would have been slightly more evocative and atmospheric. Sometimes I felt (while I read this book) as if all the Indians had been shipped off to Jupiter, while the English cavorted about the country side to their heart's content.I suppose that part of the reason why ""The Last Kashmiri Rose"" failed totally to satisfy was that I had just finished (re)watching a couple of episodes of that excellent PBS' mystery series, ""Heat of the Sun."" And compared to that (even though ""Heat of the Sun"" takes place in 1920s Kenya), ""The Last Kashmiri Rose"" lacks a certain depth, as well as a charismatic and engaging detecting duo. All in all, I'd say that ""The Last Kashmiri Rose"" deserves a 3 1/2 star rating for possessing a really good mystery plot.",3.0,"good mystery plot, though a little lacking in depth",1030492800,"08 28, 2002",14,20,helpful,0.7,1 A2RM3PRMD28H4W,B00I2O79ZA,VStrawmier,"[0, 0]","I loved this book! It's historical romance set in modern times and every single page pulls you in with charm. You'll love the characters, their families and the way the story twists and turns. If you're looking for a great weekend read, this is one you'll love from start to finish. Joanne Troppello should write many more stories just like this one, if you ask me!",5.0,Perfect Love Story!,1396310400,"04 1, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3E3FODTE3AUGK,0425239896,kmcg,"[0, 0]",Georgiana goes under her mother's house and finds her mother's fiancé's body. This just wasn't as well written as the earlier books in the series. I have really enjoyed the earlier ones and felt they were all 5's. It was too easy to figure out who the murderer was. Is she writing too fast or is she getting tired of this character. I love Georgiana and the fact that she doesn't ever let her mother get her down. I hope she continues thtis series and that the next one is back to her earlier level.,3.0,Not as well written as the earlier ones in the series,1337299200,"05 18, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A311MCMRPBT7U6,B003XYEBZU,ebor56,"[15, 17]","Mediocre read with serious flaws but still some entertaining value. The story is a wild mixture of abstruse conspiracy theory, James Bond on steroids, and Vince Flynn. The editing is barely acceptable, and the entire job feels rushed. The writing style reminds of teenage phantasies, and I often had to read sentences several times to make sense out of them.There are some good ideas in there, but this does not help raise the level of the book beyond mediocre.With a bit more thought put into the storyline to prevent the massive dead ends, a reduced bodycount and some serious editing, this could be way better. Pity, really.",3.0,Mildly Entertaining,1293321600,"12 26, 2010",15,17,helpful,0.8823529411764706,1 A2H2KBHATV4PJR,0786148829,MountainEcho,"[115, 139]","I haven't finished the book yet, but thus far I don't see any glaring inaccuracies as alleged by a couple of early reviewers. One hastens to note that the self-styled ""American Graduate Student of Arabic Language and Literature"" who wrote one such review seems to think that the crusades, which began in the 11th century, were contemporary with the early (and, yes, bellicose) history of Islam, which, of course, finds its own origins in the 7th century.Seems peculiar to put the blame for Islamic mayhem on a Christian militarism that would not arise for another four centuries. (Post hoc, propter hoc, while not conclusive, is certainly a better start than its inverse.) Seems even more peculiar to accuse someone else of unspecified inaccuracies while forging such a ludicrous deformation of history with one's own hot breath.",5.0,"Seems quite accurate, informative, if controversial",1159228800,"09 26, 2006",115,139,helpful,0.8273381294964028,1 ATFFAZSD2HU2A,0451463137,Rey Franklin,"[0, 0]","This book does not drag on like many fantasy books, it gets right to the nitty gritty, but the issue with that is that it gives VERY LITTLE BACKSTORY OR HISTORY necessary to carry deep emotions for the charachters.The ending is very predictable. The book is about a place called, ""The Realms."" there are 9 kingdoms who are all under the administration of the Speaker of the Realms.The Speaker is an old dude who is sickly and it is his time to hand it over to one of the queens, The Queen of the North (no this North is desert and stone, not ice and snow) but that goes arry due to two super villains who have no redeeming qualities or depth of character in this book (Jehal steals the show in book 3, he is awesome in that book) who conspire for good ol' fashioned POWER.If I could tell what they look like or the swell swords Kemir and Sollos look like it beats me. The author never describes their physical appearance in the book.Then there is a gift, Jehal is marrying the Queen in the North's daughter (one of them) and the Queen is supposed to give him the only white dragon in the realm named, ""Snow.""Well that goes arry for a reason we don't know and from that point on you just guess a lot at the book. Initial books are supposed to spark some mysteries but not have a soap opera feel to them as this one does.The worst book in the series, read through it for the information needed in books 2 and 3 which are far better than this piece of junk.",2.0,"The worst in the series, stale, stale and stale.",1362528000,"03 6, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AC5EJZL52J1R,B00JGU7XP0,James Bailey,"[0, 0]","Having just recently read Neal Doran's first book, 'Dan Taylor Is Giving up on Women,' I preordered this one. It's a romantic comedy with plenty of conflict and drama propelling the story along. This one is told mostly from the perspectives of James and Rebecca, a married London couple expecting their first child. As with Doran's first book, it should appeal to both male and female readers.While James and Rebecca are ecstatic about their pending arrival, they are hardly immune to the stresses that most expectant parents face. And then some. Rebecca is worried about her Dad's arrest for indecency at a public restroom; James is even more stressed by losing his job as an accountant when his company makes him redundant. Both men have secrets that come out eventually. Both make decisions that make things worse before they get better.There was a lot more to 'Not What They Were Expecting' than I expected. For a while I was wondering why Rebecca's father's issues were so prominent, though eventually they became a central enough component to the plot that it became obvious. Both sets of parents are very different, with Rebecca's conservative mum and dad set off against James' militantly liberal ones. Maggie may seem a bit over the top at first, but the more I read, the more I recognized her in people I know who need to spend a little less time trying to save the planet and a little more time having fun.Having a relatively young son myself, it's not so long since we went through the childbirth experience: the highs and lows of doctor appointments and mood fluctuations, all of which are well captured here. Fortunately I didn't have to deal with many of the other obstacles thrown at James and Rebecca. It's more fun to read about someone else going through all that.Having gone with 4 stars on 'Dan Taylor,' I'll round up to a 5 this time around. The story is slightly meatier and it really moved along, especially over the second half of the book.",5.0,Comedy that captures stresses of expecting--and then some,1399420800,"05 7, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1R9FIR8QBBV8S,0312424442,Joan Anderson,"[7, 9]","I quickly got hooked on the plot line of this story and read through thebook in a week. I graduated from college 12 years ago and identified withmany of the observations that were made in this book. People say thatcollege isn't high school, but boy are they close. Take a bunch ofhormonal adolescents and throw them together, what do you expect to happen?Many college students are living on their own for the first time in theirlives and suddenly answerable to no one but themselves for weeks at a time.I've seen reviewers mention that Wolfe made a much bigger deal aboutCharlotte losing her virginity than he should have condsidering the currentnorms of behavior. I think those people are missing the point.Charlotte's virginity was a huge deal to herself. She went againsteverything she believed in, in the way she lost her virginity. That's thehuge reason she fell into her depression. She couldn't rectify what shedid with who she was. That's a big deal, no matter who you are.What bugged me so much about this book is that Charlotte learnednothing from her experiences unless you count learning how to manipulateothers. Charlotte never fully recovers from her depression. She neverdoes return to her true self. Of course she was bound to grow up, but herchange had such a cynical and pessimistic edge to it. Even at the end ofthe book she realizes she is still alone, except for her boyfriend. Hersecond relationship is certainly more positive, but at the end of the dayit's just her manipulating her boyfriend instead of being the one manipulated.The only character to make personal growth is JoJo and his epiphany is,Hey, he's at college to learn, too! That's pretty pathetic.The other criticism that I have been reading is that Tom Wolfe is tooold to understand the youth culture of today. To that I say, Give me abreak and get over yourselves! Not much is being done now, that didn't goon in the 50s. Was every kind of student represented in this book? Ofcourse not. That's why they're called c-h-a-r-a-c-t-e-r-s. Could you findpeople like this on any college campus? Certainly. Perhaps Charlotte isnot representative of a certain person, but as more of an intellectual andmoral ideal. Perhaps the characters were representative of people'sperceptions instead of reality. Writers still mess with that kind of stuff,don't they?I liked this book because it presents itself as a breezy quick read, andthen it makes you think.",4.0,Who is Charlotte Simmons?,1104624000,"01 2, 2005",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 AXRI0U9CTVCL7,1455598992,Musing Maddie,"[0, 0]","Taken by Storm by Kelli Maine was at best, okay. I had been urged by a few Kelli Maine friends to read her work and was hoping to be wowed. Sadly, and this could be because I haven't read the first book in the series, Give & Take, I was not.Maddie and MJ had a history, one that had resulted in friendship, love and joy, but led to separation, sadness and a sense of betrayal; particularly on MJ's side. He didn't realise that Maddie continued to love him, but had been sworn away from him.It seems that the patriarch of the Rocha family, Enzo, has been deceiving his entire family for many years. MJ was the secret child of Merrick, the Hero of the first book, Taken, and Gina, his deceased girlfriend. Maddie knows a secret, that could devastate her long-time love MJ. Fiercely loyal Maddie had left MJ to keep her father safe, despite breaking two hearts in the process.Maine successfully delivered a story that was filled with angst, passion, and tortured characters. There was also a good dose of sexual chemistry, with a dash of sizzle. I liked the way the story was told, with touching glimpses of the past. I felt compelled to continue reading, but I just didn't feel connected to the characters, and found the secrets and lies a little unbelievable, and therefore, wasn't captivated.For those who enjoy a light romance, with sordid mysteries to unravel, tension and sexy Hero's, I would recommend this series. It didn't grab me, but that's not to say it wouldn't be another's delight.Thank you NetGalley for the provision of Taken by Storm in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was received for this review.",3.0,Deceit and Desire in one package,1371945600,"06 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A33X6REP438GKQ,0345803485,Mskitti,"[12, 12]","if i could give this -1 star i would,the way everyone was going on about it i thought it must have been the 2nd coming or something, boy was i wrong, save your money, go see a movie, read the bible, grow tomatoes,compose a ballad, anything, just don't bother with this book. it's like a teenager trying to write an erotic novel with a dictionary, very hard to read and i even flicked forward thinking it might get better, but i couldn't get past the first chapter and when i moved forward it wasn't any better.it's badly written, it's got a bad plot (sorry no plot) it's simply an erotic novel trying to hide behind a bad story line like they used to in mens porno movies in the 70's. it's trash don't bother.",1.0,OMG,1349222400,"10 3, 2012",12,12,helpful,1.0,1 A9KAY47NCPQS,0373892780,"Beatrice Izzey ""Nanny Dog""","[10, 12]","Refreshing breath of cold hard reality instead of supposedly steadfast, one size fits all ""rules"".The focus here is on straight people, and meeting someone to ultimately marry, and not just to have a good time with.Yes, sleep together on the first date if some guy and gal just like each other A LOT and there is a STRONG physical chemistry and a ONCE IN A LIFETIME special vibe. Then why wait. I think only a few couples fit this definition, and they are very lucky to be so well matched and have found each other.But for everyone else, perhaps the vast majority, no, don't go so fast if you are not that kind of couple. This book DESPITE its flippant provocative title, instructs that you should trust your gut feelings if you have questions or doubts. Helpfully, the book instructs that if you have some doubts but want to give a guy a chance, then you should communicate that clearly. Sounds fair right. But I guess some other advice books have been advocating that women should act haughty and cold and already booked way in advance and wait until marriage.Also, a stereotype of women is that they won't say what they really want, so this book advises that it is fair and productive to verbally encourage men to not give up.Written in a breezy chatty readable fun way.To destigmatize women who did sleep with someone on the first date, there are lots of anecdotes of happy couples that did sleep together on the first date.I would add, however, that I have known couples who did so and who have strong long lasting marriages and also couples who broke up or divorced quickly or eventually because of irreconciliable financial or sociocultural views. So having chemistry is great, but having the same views on the mundane stuff is important too and should not be discounted.",5.0,"Despite flippant provocative title, book distinguishes between STRONG MUTUAL CHEMICAL LOVE and SLOWLY GROW TO LOVE EACH OTHER",1374105600,"07 18, 2013",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 AQLKG5111HY85,0374180652,"PST ""A Reader from Germany""","[0, 1]","I am not a philosopher, nor a lawyer. I bought the book, because the title sounded interesting, and it said that Prof. Sandel's lectures were more for a lay audience.The book is relatively easy reading, no long and convoluted sentences, no excessive use of long and obscure words.He covers the opinions of several philosophers, but I do not know, if he covered them adequately or correctly - all I can say is that what he writes makes sense and is easily understood by a layman like me.What I got out of the book was something which seems obvious to any reasonable person: There is not ONE right way to justice, reasonable people can disagree, however there are inconsistent ways, e.g. the fundamentalist right...Overall, easy and interesting reading!",4.0,Interesting,1331251200,"03 9, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A86R2TZFYPU7U,0307712508,shannon schmidt,"[0, 0]","I liked this book. It is so interesting to know that she is still such a huge part of our world and where we're heading, healthwise.",4.0,Very interesting read,1376784000,"08 18, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A294SHLWPSG1BP,1426211635,Ryan Winkleman,"[8, 8]","I got this from Amazon Vine in advance of a trip to Costa Rica (which I took last week). The trip was a prearranged adventure tour, and we also added in some extra activities for our "free" time. However, the areas that we visited (Tortuguero and La Fortuna/Arenal) are included in this book. The book is selectively informative, alternately going into lots of detail about what you can expect at a certain place and then turning around and having whole paragraphs just bouncing back and forth between "highlights" that are distinguished by being in bold text. It is mostly helpful, though, if it suits your needs for helping you learn about the country and/or plan a trip there on your own. You will certainly get a taste for it by reading the chapters and looking at the pictures. If you, like me, already have a trip planned out, this will probably be less helpful. To be honest, I left it at home and didn't feel like I was missing anything.This book is best if you are looking for location-specific activity suggestions. If you're looking for restaurants, hotels, etc. then I'd suggest a traditional travel guide.",3.0,Best for those looking purely for activity/tour suggestions,1386633600,"12 10, 2013",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 A3DE7IZ1FI525E,0425257355,Skirlie,"[19, 27]","Pamela Clare is better than this. I've been a massive fan since I read Ride the Fire in 2006. I wait forever for each novel and they're divine. Not this one.The suspense greatly overshadows the romance. It's not balanced at all. It falls in the easy trap of lots of sex = romance. The character development is rubbish. Then there is the absolutely infuriating failures in logic (after the spoilers).I read First Strike before the release of this book. In my opinion, I don't see how this book can stand on its own without that background.***spoilers***Laura is Swedish. I don't care if she's got dual-citizenship. For all intents and purposes she's Swedish. She was raised there, her living family is there and yet for some reason she moves to the US at 18. Why? She's not an expat kid who spends her summers in the US. Her dad (the American) isn't an influence because he died when she was six. Apparently she moved just 'cause. I've lived out of the US for 8 years in multiple countries. You don't just leave home for no reason and the first couple of years in a new culture are HARD. They absolutely affect your personality. But this major, major life event is just a passing mention in the book.Javier is divorced. That gets a one sentence mention and he never tells Laura. His PTSD must have disappeared by magic because it's resolution is never mentioned either.Klara. OMG the glaring *record scratch* moments in this book are all tied up in the unnecessary need to include this child. As if Laura's ordeal wasn't bad enough on its own. She had to make it overly complicated with Klara and then wade into WTF territroy.Depo Provera?!? Tubes tied? What is this? 1982? Laura is Swedish. Sweden has one of the highest rates of IUD usage in the world (over 40%) and it's free with their healthcare system. Laura's not in a relationship, doesn't usually pick up guys in bars and doesn't want kids. Why is she getting shots every 4 months?! And WHERE is she getting them? Having been through the cluster that is trying to get reliable birth control ONCE A YEAR while living in the former Soviet Union - every 4 months in a war zone? No. Just no. Condoms or IUD are the only two logical choices here. If Klara absolutely had to have a place in this story (still not convinced of that) then she could just be on no birth control.Other Klara problems:Laura changes Klara's diaper at the end of the book. Klara is two years old. Raised in Pakistan. She almost certainly would be potty trained.Klara has blue eyes. The genetic probability of this is nearly zero.How did Javier fly with Klara to Sweden without a passport for Klara?I think she just forgot the KISS principle on this one (keep it simple stupid). No need to bring up birth control at all and then Klara is realistic. But why does the story need Klara? Javier is already Laura's hero for being the SEAL that rescued her. The extra hero mission to get Klara? Overkill. Adding another element of horror to her abuse? Not necessary. (I actually think it would have been better if Klara was Javier's kid and that was the motivation for Laura staying alive, but I digress.)Fingers crossed that this is a blip in the amazing talent of Pamela Clare. I'll read the next one. Hoping there is still another Gabe & Kat or Bethie & Nicholas out there.",2.0,Overwritten plot drowns out the leads,1384214400,"11 12, 2013",19,27,helpful,0.7037037037037037,1 A3J2E0LW0U1IPA,0722539878,John Renesch - "The Great Growing Up"...,"[11, 15]","Anita Roddick is an exceptional woman. She is also an exceptional business owner. This book contains a wonderful mix of shared personal experience - including the joys, wonders and pain of being on the front lines in a company dedicated to socially responsible values. Roddick is a true pioneer, alongwith a handful of other business owners throughout the world, blazing trails for businesses with a conscience. There are no maps for what she's done or what she is continuing to do, to make the world a better place.Thank God for people like Anita Roddick!",5.0,An inspirational book by an inspiring author,977875200,"12 27, 2000",11,15,helpful,0.7333333333333333,1 A31YQOH12YHEVA,0345500911,Vicki L. Reynolds,"[0, 2]","Hello,Bought it for the hubby, Anne does it again, he gets her books & completely forgets the world, & all of the crap in it.GOD BLESS,Vicki",5.0,Sky Dragons,1376784000,"08 18, 2013",0,2,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2T3PQY7F28D02,0061370908,S. Hanson,"[7, 8]","Let me start off by saying I adore Supernatural. It's the best show on TV (seriously) and I would definitely call myself a 'True Fan'.But I'm kind of shocked by the cries of outrage over this book. I feel like I was reading a different book altogether from some of the other reviewers.Firstly, like with most book adaptations, you can't expect the world. I did not go into this expecting an episode of Supernatural. It was not written by any of the writers of the show nor was it combed for errors by Eric Kripke. I did not expect to get intense character investigation, revelations or anything like that because I wouldn't WANT it unless it was done right. With the writers of the show.A lot of what was said in the reviews was correct. A few continuity errors, personality misses, etc. But it wasn't anything I couldn't live with.You have to go into the book knowing it's a fluff piece. It's supposed to be a little dalliance from the show. It's not perfect, far from it. But there were some very fun aspects that I loved and some laugh out loud moments.One thing I enjoyed was the author's clear enjoyment of the music of Supernatural. (a huge part of the show) Dean geeking out over one of the character's record collections was fantastic. The author even included a playlist of sorts in the back of the book which was awesome. Also, he dropped a Murphy name cameo in there from Jim Butcher's Dresden series (READ THEM), naming her as the 'cop in chicago' who knows about the supernatural. I confess, I a fangirly moment there. It's clear the writer had fun in the world and with the characters and I had a good time reading it.Was it perfect? Nope. Was it an episode in a book? Again, no, but it was entertaining.I can't dictate what people should and shouldn't like, some people need that perfection and truth to enjoy these spin off books but I'm just not one of them. If you are a stickler for things like that (and no harm if you are) then PLEASE avoid this book because you will be disappointed. But if you just want to kick back and read something silly and fun and with Sam and Dean it's worth a try...and worth supporting the show for sure. ;)Sidenote: I have read fanfiction for this show that blows my mind. (and trumps what is in Nevermore by a longshot, sorry Mr.DeCandido!) It would be an incredible thing for publishers to put together a book of fan stories blessed by the show writers.",4.0,Not as horribly offensive as other reviewers claim...,1254960000,"10 8, 2009",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 A1ZENB34HH2EIM,0062130145,"SAlaska ""S""","[0, 0]","I nearly read this in one sitting. I couldn't put it down.I wasn't attached to the characters at first despite their traumas revealed at the very opening. It really wasn't until the end of the book that I cared about them. For me, that was part of the ""Arclight""; as I began to understand the characters throughout the course of the story, I began to find them compelling. And, without a spoiler here, I have to say I was ashamed by the end of how I had viewed some characters. I always appreciate it when a book teaches me something.A note about the scariness factor of this story. I am a wimp. Like, really. I watched ""Sleepy Hollow"" on a dare and had to sleep with the light on for two weeks. I do not do horror well. But while ""Arclight"" definitely kept me on edge, I wasn't terrified. Which to me is a plus. But if you are looking for a horror tale, this one might not be it.Overall, I'll be watching for more from Josin L. McQuein!",5.0,"Read it in one day. A little scary, but not a horror novel.",1374969600,"07 28, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2LEUUL0RVWG9Z,1940448018,nicole,"[0, 0]","This was a great sequel to Lost and Found. The suspense of Jesse's decision leaves you on edge... I loved their story, it is different than the other books out there. Great read!",4.0,Great Sequel!,1383782400,"11 7, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32CM5M8X0BK37,1453696113,"T. Mortensen ""candycanechild13""","[8, 9]","I am really surprised there are so many 5 star reviews for this book. But I suppose there are readers out there who would prefer this style of writing.This was an interesting story - I was very pleased initially to read the blurb and see that it was a free Kindle book. Had it not been free, I would be really disappointed and definitely want my money back!The story was childish - not childlike, as in wondrous or awe-inspiring, but childish. A previous reviewer put it perfectly: I felt like I was reading a high school author's attempt at the murder-mystery. By the end, it felt almost like a long episode of CSI with some sex scenes thrown in - and that's not a compliment. The characters were so poorly written they were more like characatures of the type - independent woman, tough-guy cop, patient cop partner, bouncy little sister. The entire investigation was a joke - including the boss who repeatedly turns a blind eye to inappropriate procedure. All the dialogue was very hokey, forced and fake-sounding. The romance was more than a little creepy - and if I had to read the words ""stunned by beauty"" or ""literally unable to move"" one more time, I would have had to break something.I had high hopes for this book at first - but by the third chapter or so, I was merely slogging through to find out the ending. There were chances for it to improve many times, but sadly, it never did. The ending was slapped on and felt very anti-climatic.I hope Ellis' other works are of higher quality - if not, I'm surprised she is published at all!",1.0,'Spoilt' just plain rotten!,1300406400,"03 18, 2011",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A1HACP80YXJRPP,1412974887,Mateo,"[32, 36]","There is much to like and to dislike about Northouse's book. Its main strengths are the breadth and currency of its survey of leadership theories and its simple and practical organization. On the other hand, Northouse privileges and effectively endorses certain theories over others; his rambling and gushing review of authentic leadership (the longest chapter he writes) reads like a T.V. commercial, while his treatment of the much more extensive research on leadership traits is relatively short and frequently dismissive. His bias, along with occasionally clunky prose and endless in-text APA citations, is inappropriate in an expensive text book such as this. Ironically, the two best chapters--that is to say, authoritative, broad and yet detailed, and more capably written--are not written by him, but by invited experts. One gets the strong feeling that the author has grown tired of many of the theories in his text. My recommendation to the publisher would be to keep the format but have each chapter written by an expert in the related field, and to conclude with an attempt to identify any common threads or crucial differences among the many theories. In summary, this is not a bad place to start for people interested in reading about leadership theory, but it is by no means the place to end.",3.0,A Regrettably Biased Survey,1280448000,"07 30, 2010",32,36,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A2E5S6B1ZE60X3,0373617488,Heather M. Riley,"[8, 9]","Sniper Reno Manchahi lives each day for revenge. His wife and little girl were murdered. When he threatens the General responsible, he's put in jail with a twenty year sentence. Coming from Apache heritage, Reno is in touch with nature. When he hears a hawk cry out with a message of freedom he's not sure he can believe it.That day he's made an offer. If he's willing to use his skills as a sniper for a special assignment, he will gain his freedom. He's asked to travel to Ecuador to dispose of El Espanto, a mysterious figure scaring the guards away from an emerald mine. The catch is that he can never return to the United States.Calen Hernandez leads a double life. By day she's a billionaire in charge of an oil empire. By night she's El Espanto protecting the poor esmeraldos from the cruelty of the guards at the emerald mine. When Reno comes to town, she knows that he's the sniper brought in to kill her, but despite that she finds herself drawn to him.Soon Reno and Calen find they have a common destiny. They are Warriors for the Light and they are called to a higher duty. They will fight with others like themselves to save the world.Not only is UNFORGIVEN the first book in Silhouette's new Nocturne series, but it's the first in Lindsay McKenna's new Warriors for the Light trilogy. This book is a wonderful start to both series. Reno and Calen are both vulnerable and real. Right from the start you care about what happens to them. The tension between them keeps you going until they come together in a wonderfully emotional scene. I can't wait for the next book from Lindsay about the Warriors for the Light.[...]",5.0,"Personally, I liked this one.",1172102400,"02 22, 2007",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A3T8O4FZQOKNQ3,0936384832,"Marty O. ""Bibliophile""","[9, 9]","This book walks Priest, Deacon, Acolyte and lay ministers through the liturgy in a parallel guide, so you can see what each person needs to be doing and what others are doing at the same time. The book also discusses why things are done the way they are and when there are different approaches which is preferable. Highly recommended.",5.0,Useful guide to Liturgy,1152403200,"07 9, 2006",9,9,helpful,1.0,1 A2PZH5BEEQWJW9,0399157573,Evangelyn J harthun,"[0, 0]",The suspense was very good and the explanation of what formed the mans mind to be such a demented criminal was interesting as well as shocking to the reader. The twists and turns of Marino's relationship with Kay Scarpetta are always interesting.,5.0,Another good mystery by Patricia Cornwall,1386720000,"12 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ALW66VX5USY2S,0316228532,"Saga Ruby ""Saga Ruby""","[6, 15]","So expensive. So eagerly awaited. So disappointed.I kept looking down the page on my Kindle to see how far I had read. Halfway thru, I started skipping pages and, finally, chapters.In addition, Hachette Publishers pushed an illegible e-copy and I spent the better part of a day trying to get this mess sorted.Amazon stood tall in correcting my e-copy. Their service rep was so very helpful and understanding about my frustration. A tip of the hat to Brian and to Amazon.",2.0,Not my cuppa,1348963200,"09 30, 2012",6,15,helpful,0.4,1 A1R0798K5DDQZP,0064431436,"Liz ""Andrex""","[0, 0]","I have lost count the number of times we have read this book. It is an older style book but still appealing. The man sits down under a tree for a nap, only to wake up to find that all his caps have disappeared. Where are they? Up in a tree on the heads of monkeys? How does he get them back? Not by asking that is for sure!Your little ones will really smile as the monkeys mimic the man's actions.As mentioned the art style is old but it doesn't deflect from the story. Happy reading!",5.0,Monkey escapades with caps :),1389916800,"01 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2T2TD8TI4GPMI,B008CM88AM,RDeRo,"[0, 0]","I started reading these books and was quite interested in continuing the story, then I saw the episode 1-5 book and bought that.",5.0,great!,1363737600,"03 20, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A308QWW0ECT7CI,B0089DQ43M,Kelly Kay,"[0, 0]",I enjoyed how this book was written starting out with one story and then weaving in more. So glad to have read more from the characters of Book 1 too. Can't wait for more!,5.0,The Catalyst,1374364800,"07 21, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3PWF2AQ5XYALW,0764552678,G. Reid,"[9, 11]","I am a Golden Retriever owner and lover. This book is very valuable to first time Golden Retriever owners. It covers all of the basics of having a Golden live with you. It has comprehensive coverage of the puppy period. Always remember, your dog is very intelligent and if he could speak language you would be amazed at his intelligence. Even though your dog does not speak language, it does not mean that he has any lack of intelligence. His intelligence is just of a different type than human intelligence.",5.0,Comprehensive - Very Valuable If This Is Your First Golden,1112832000,"04 7, 2005",9,11,helpful,0.8181818181818182,1 A2FF5IXCVFJ0ZK,0525951792,Ms Chie Vious,"[15, 15]","A certain book store was closing down so I went shopping for seven children and my siblings. I had to laugh when I saw Jill Zarin had a book published. I scanned through it and literally felt disgusted. The best advice I can give anyone considering buying this book is to (a) scan the book first (b) otherwise, buy this book and pass it on to your daughters, written in the cover, ""Perfect Guide on How NOT to Behave, Act, or Treat Men."" This book sets women, their values, and their friendships SO far back it will make a dead feminist spin in her grave.",1.0,scan at a bookstore before you buy,1305936000,"05 21, 2011",15,15,helpful,1.0,1 A8INT3NMHRUS4,1451684835,"Kimberly J. Karas ""a New England mom""","[0, 0]","With her fortieth birthday coming up, which will also be the date that she and her fiance Grady tie the knot, Lucie Walker goes missing. When she is found, she is knee deep in cold water far from home and had no memory of her life or even her own name. An anxious Grady comes to reunite with Lucie and bring her home. I wondered, as Ms. Shortridge wrote, just why was he so nervous? Something was off about him, he was apparently caring but not altogether forthright when they are thrust back together. He seems insecure and maybe a bit confused?When it's time to discharge, Lucie doesn't want to wear home the clothing she was found in. She has the opportunity to go through the clothing bank at the hospital where she trades in her stiff and high priced suit for something more comfortable, something that felt more ""her"" so to speak. She finds a new liking to sweets, when he tells her she never liked candy, she shrugs the information off as irrelevant. She likes it now, she is someone new now. This is what happens when Grady brings her home, everything about the ""old Lucie"" doesn't seem appealing to her (or to the reader.) On the one hand she is a bit jealous, wondering if Grady loved her more before she disappeared. Alternately one would wonder just what was there to love, her former presence was very fussy and uptight. Great at her job we are told, always ate right, always dressed right, though she was definitely lacking in social presence. The couple doesn't seem like they would have been in sync but it's very clear that Grady was in love with the woman she once was. Makes the reader wonder so many things.The book not only unravels the mysteries of why she went missing, what was the source of her amnesia, going far beyond that she learns about her life before Grady and he learns more about her than he ever knew before as well. As much as I enjoyed the psychological suspense, I also enjoyed the way this fresh character Lucie Walker came to pull herself together bit by bit, the way that she and Grady got to know each other almost as a fresh start. That's not to say it was an easy one but getting to know one another better, having a second chance to make a new impression on his family, etc. You will wonder about their future just as much as you wonder about their past.The book is a quick and smooth read, interesting and entertaining. I enjoyed it.",4.0,A new life for Lucie Walker,1374883200,"07 27, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VFOCYMC77Q8H,0307277887,"B. Orlosky ""Lady Disdain""","[0, 0]","I'm a bit of a Dexter fanatic. After watching just one episode of the Showtime hit, I was hooked, reeled in, and left wanting more and more. I adore the idea of a serial killer who not only kills bad guys (ala The Crow, etc.), but also ENJOYS and NEEDS to do this ""work."" It's rather twisted, yet seems just. How can that be?Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately, I'm not sure, I watched the show before I read the books and I must say, Michael C. Hall's portrayal of Dexter is so amazing and wonderful, I found myself saying throughout the reading to Book Dexter, ""Why can't you be like TV Dexter?"" Even the plot lines, once again, on the show, they're fantastic, in depth, and gripping. In the book? Eh, not so much.Still, I recommend this for any deeply devoted Dexter fan so you can see for yourself how this twisted good time started, but I have to be fair and recommend the show even more. It takes the book and kicks it up a few notches. It even slices and dices THOSE notches with ease and cleans up afterwards like a breeze.",3.0,"Dexter, the Show is Better, But Thank God for Inspiration",1214265600,"06 24, 2008",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A14GK0E64J0WAS,082941777X,Paul Allaer,"[8, 11]","For whatever reason I have a lot of business contacts, acqaintances and even friends in the Jewish community. I wish I had found a book like this years ago! I stumbled upon this recently, and immediately knew this book was meant for people like me.""What I Wish My Christian Friends Knew About Judaism"" (270 pages) is a delightful book. The author, in plain and simple language, gives an introduction of what ""being jewish"" is all about. Most chapters are easy to understand 2 to 3 pages addressing particular aspects of Judaism, such as what a bar mitzvah is, what the holy days in the Jewish year are, even explaining the Jewish calendar (just add 3,761 years!). Confused about ""Orthodox"" versus ""Reformed"" Jews? It's explained here. Wonder how the Jews feel about controversial issues like homosexuality or abortion? It's in here! Don't understand the concept of ""kosher"" food? Read about it here! And so on.The author brings this book with obvious warmth and respect for us Christians. I cannot emphasize enough how important I feel this book is. In my opinion it should be required reading in all high schools and colleges, as it promotes a mutual understanding and respect that is sadly lacking far too often in our society.",5.0,Should Be Required Reading in HS and Colleges,1104624000,"01 2, 2005",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A1WS0MZBFZ7VX3,0805028846,"John F. Panarelli ""Old amazoner""","[4, 5]",I ended up giving this book as a gift to my 10 year old nephew. He enjoys it immensely and keeps asking for more. The patterns look very realistic and are very active when unfolded.,4.0,Very fun but nore for a kid,1171238400,"02 12, 2007",4,5,helpful,0.8,1 A2UEYDWQLKFJM0,1604078561,K. Hodges,"[0, 1]",While I haven't solved all of my issues I already own the book on kindle and the words therein contain what I feel to be alot of wisdom. This 4-cd set is no different. It contain all the exercises in the book but read to to you aloud and in more detail.,4.0,good stuff,1355356800,"12 13, 2012",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 AXVNMF2Y6F3N8,0911038108,Jorg Gunnderson,"[35, 44]","(Ulick Varange) This prophetic masterwork is at once a sweeping historical-philosophical treatise in the Spenglerian mold and a clarion call to arms in defense of Europe and the West. Matchless prose, historical insight on every page. The brilliant young American author, a magna cum laude graduate of Notre Dame law school, sees through Allied wartime propaganda, and philosophizes with a hammer in favor of a coming Western empire of ""absolute politics."" Scholar Revilo P. Oliver praised Imperium as ""a work that we must study and ponder, if we would act intelligently in our time ... The great value of Imperium is that it forces us to reconsider our position realistically. We cannot afford the least sentimentality or illusion ... Our situation is too desperate",5.0,A Prophetic Study,1041465600,"01 2, 2003",35,44,helpful,0.7954545454545454,1 AE79AVNEV04FW,1440454299,The Mighty Jagrafess,"[0, 0]",because people are gonna get mad but i guess haters gonna hate what'd u expect lol haters are my motivators,5.0,i hope all these reviews help,1372809600,"07 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ANI9SIWM6S7NA,0544319494,Oregon Dreamer,"[22, 22]","Having just finished Book of Souls, I find that I must now go read the first book Natural Causes. I should have done more research before starting so I would have read them in order, but so enjoyed the book that I want more.Inspector McLean seems the type of police officer that listens to his ""feelings"" and is not afraid to follow them even at the risk of riling his superiors. If I were ever a victim of crime, that is exactly the type of officer I would want working on my case.The authors use of a bit of paranormal with regards to the book of souls was an interesting twist that only added to the plot.I plan on keeping a look out for the next in the series or anything else by this author.",4.0,Interesting twist.,1344211200,"08 6, 2012",22,22,helpful,1.0,1 A2IWNNIUNJX762,1495423786,"Ruffian ""I'm semi-retired at 67 and a recent ...","[0, 0]","This is a definite 4.5 star read...there are two reasons I did not go the full 5 and by the time I type them out, I may completely change my mind. As you all know, I read at a visceral level and from that level this book is not only a 5 but beyond. I think I felt every emotion there is to feel; at the end of the book, I wanted to throw my Kindle on the ground/wall or any hard surface to see it shatter. Similar to how my heart felt at the end of the book.Please go to the 'pro' bloggers for detail and storyline...because I really don't want inadvertently deliver spoilers and they do such a better job. I can say quite sincerely that this is a lovely story, it's a love story, and it's an emotional minefield. The characters are well developed to the extent that I feel like I know them, can see them interacting/talking and understand their points of view. It's a lovely story that follows a predictable path (for the most part) between two people who commit to each other very early in life...they just know they are meant to be together. It's a love story because this love never wavers in spite of some dreadful 'stuff' and the introduction of a third party. It's an emotional minefield because of those two previous statements...however, instead of being sappy, soppy and immature, the author, Lesley Jones, delivers a bang-up and mature effort presenting all the complexities of Sean, Georgia and Cameron. Not to mention the Georgia's family dynamic. It's beautifully crafted. You just have to read it.The major flaw in this book has not to do with the story, dialog, character development or voice of the writer...it's the editing that pulls this lovely book down a half star. I also understand that it is in revision as we speak and will be made available in a better edited form soon. After I was informed of this by a blogger, I dove right in and, sure enough, one does "auto-correct' internally. There will be a sequel to this book for which I am extremely thankful. I am also glad that it will be a while before it's available...my heart, spirit and soul need time to recover before meeting my friends again.",4.0,The Title Nails It!,1401062400,"05 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3RS7BID70YQG6,0764209132,Danyelle0423,"[0, 0]","Callie Kincaid came out west with nothing except the clothes on her and her son's backs and she's determined either chase down her runaway husband or find shelter with his brothers. However, her plan doesn't work quite the way she intended. Within a few minutes of entering the west she's engaged in a shoot out and is now injured and at the mercy of none other than her husband!Years ago Seth Kincaid survived a fire that altered his life forever and then he went war and came back crazier than ever. There are pieces to his past that he doesn't remember, but you would think he would remember having a wife let alone a son! However, he doesn't and his newly discovered wife doesn't seem to happy about that. Seth wants nothing more than to start over and make amends, but Callie just wants to shoot him. Now Seth has to convince her that he's different and worthy of trust.The more time Callie and Seth spend together the more the attraction that Callie can't forget and Seth wants to remember comes roaring back and Callie is finding it difficult to not trust the man she married. Seth wants nothing more than to be the husband and father he couldn't have been as I'll as he was, but convincing Callie that he's different is going to test everything he knows and possibly show him he isn't as different as he once thought.Will Callie be able to forgive the past and move on with her husband or will she spend her life alone because of her lack of mercy? Will Seth be able to prove that he's different than the man that walked out on her or will he lose the best thing that ever happened to him? Will Callie and Seth find that the love that they felt for each other is gone or never really existed at all or will they find that the love they felt for each other is still there and as strong as ever? Will this Kincaid family end on a happy note or a sad one?----------------------------------Having never read the first two books in this series, I didn't know what to expect and I was hoping that this wasn't a continuation series. Thankfully, the series isn't a continuation series but there are aspects that can get confusing at times. Also, though the book wasn't terrible, it wasn't fantastic either. There seemed to be some scenes that were continued from the previous two books and at times, some of those scenes are a little too unrealistic. Having started this book with no real expectations, I wasn't really surprised by the outcome or execution of the novel.The storyline of this book is solid, though at times too unrealistic. I liked the action scenes of the novel, though they seemed a little unrealistic, at least the beginning did. The bullets flew with very few reloads on either side and the heroine was concerned with conserving bullets for her husband one minute and the next she's firing blindly into the bushes! I also felt it odd that Seth can't remember anything about his wife or their brief time together until all of a sudden. Though I know that happens, it seemed a little too sudden in this book. I did like the direction this book wanted to go, though. It was a nice storyline if it didn't seem too rose-colored. I mean what person goes through a shoot-out in a stagecoach without getting hit with a real bullet?The romance in this novel was actually nice. It had some passion, which I prefer, but not too much to seem like the author was trying too hard to force it. Most of the romance revolved around him not remembering but knowing that what he was feeling wasn't something that was new. I didn't like how angry Callie got when Seth tried to figure stuff out about her. I would imagine that if you loved a man and he suddenly forgot you, you would do almost anything to help him remember. Callie was just mad that he didn't remember. The more emotional or intimate scenes were sweet and I wished that there were more of them. This romance had the makings of a special one but kind of fell short where it mattered.The hero and heroine were a tad bit hard to feel sorry for or feel for because Callie was completely unforgiving toward her husband and unwilling to help him remember anything about their life together and Seth is so busy convincing people that he's changed that he doesn't stop to consider that maybe he hasn't. The worst part of that though is that we're not really given any proof that he has changed just that he says he has. There is a lot that prevented me to getting into the characters, mostly the women of the book and that made the book suffer.This book wasn't bad, it just wasn't what I usually get in a romance or historical and I'm not sure that's a compliment. Though I loved the premise of the story, I didn't love the execution and felt that the story really didn't follow the path of the synopsis and had major twists that weren't even hinted at in the synopsis. Though, I wasn't completely satisfied with this book, I feel like the author is right on the edge of a good western romance, if she improves just a little, and because of that I do plan on reading more from this author, just with less gusto than I read this book.Overall, it's you're average romance but a slightly lower quality action. It's perfect for a person who loves western romances with a little action and suspense. I think that adults and older teens could read this without much trouble, but it probably shouldn't be handed to anyone much younger than that. I give this book a three out of five.*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.*",3.0,Over The Edge,1355529600,"12 15, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1VLMT5D3T47QW,0062049690,"Janique (Gillette, Wyo)","[7, 8]","This is not the type of book I usually purchase, but since joining the Vine program I decided to take the opportunity to explore other genre's. I am so glad I did. This is a beautiful book, that draw's you deeply into a world of sights, and smells that stay with you long after the book has ended.The Author has a wonderful way of writing that isn't over done, and allows ones own imagination to fill in the blanks. Often times writing can be so descriptive, so flowery that it's impossible to experience anything other than words. Some of the chapters are only 3-4 pages long, and yet they are rich, and lushly done.I initially tried reading this book in small moments, a chapter at a time, and this caused some initial confusion for me as there are two different stories. The first in the present, the other in the past, both at Les Genevriers. However, once I had time to sit, I found I enjoyed both equally with much less confusion. It would be helpful if under each chapter it included Les Genevriers, and the date to allow readers to slip in and out of past and present more easily:)This book was listed on the Vine program as a Gothic thriller, but I thought it had more of a mysterious feel, than thriller. The only part I found chilling was when the truth is revealed about Dom's first wife, but mostly because I have had my own experience with such a person. There are other sinister characters as well, mostly told from Benedicte's perspective, and add a bit of dark history to Les Genevriers, which is as much a character in this story as the people surrounding it.The romance in this book was as near to perfection as one can find. Two people in love, with vibrant, satisfying inner lives, content to greet the morning to talk over tea, or coffee, hike the property, work in the garden, and then slip off to their private haven's. She to read, write, and research, he to read books on quantum physics, and string theory, and of course his music. Coming together again at the end of the day, outside under the stars over food and wine, and what I assume was fantastic conversation. It is more cerebral than most. Definatly would not put this book in the romance genre, but perfect anyway.I have to admit I found her constant questioning of their relationship, and obsession with Dom's first wife (which were mostly self inflicted) annoying at times, but it is what weaves the past, the missing girls, and later the bones found at Les Genevriers together that create the story. Without it the book would have been quite short, and having read it in two evenings, I was already wishing I had savored it a little more. This book will delight the senses, and keeps your attention. A book you'll want to crawl into and stay awhile! Recommend.",5.0,Lovely,1310169600,"07 9, 2011",7,8,helpful,0.875,1 AFH8BK0JQ4F17,0307943232,Patricia Humm,"[0, 0]",My dad and I love this author. I buy him all the books and he reads them and then passes them on to me. He is almost finished with this one and I just got it for him for Christmas!,5.0,Approved by Dad,1356739200,"12 29, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1XHKMF2IOZXHI,1468015524,"Joseph P. Yager ""OtterBored""","[5, 6]","UPDATED in response to some of the negative reviews I've read.This book contains a little mystery mixed with some great 'tech' sci-fi linked together with a tidal wave of action. It's a dark vision of the future. There's space travel. There's a conspiracy to flesh out. When you understand what the author is going for you will enjoy this ride. The experience is supposed to be a rush from start to finish. The range of characters are a good batch from the imperfect protagonist Paxton to General Ireland's squad. There's just enough detail to know who's who and keep the story along. If you've sampled the beginning, you have an idea of how this book is paced. At the beginning, the action starts and it doesn't stop.I agree this tale doesn't contain long expositions and lengthy explanations that needlessly draw out the story. For this book it doesn't feel like it was necessary. In fact it would've have felt choppy and misplaced. Mr. Patrick wanted to keep this work simple, keep the pace fast, and jet you toward a satisfying conclusion. In this respect, he delivers. If you haven't picked up a copy of this book, do yourself a favor and get it. This independent author's first forray is a must have and the beginning of an incredible career should he continue to pursue it.Have you ever been to a concert before the band made it huge and wished you could have met them or helped them along their journey? Here's your chance to aid a promising new writer. Click download.-J.P. YagerAuthor of Void Star",5.0,Great Techno Sci-Fi,1324857600,"12 26, 2011",5,6,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 A17OSOO1PIUG7U,0547125518,"Barbara Jackson ""MadTaz""","[0, 0]","This is an authentic historical record of how the horses changed the lives of Natives living on the plains of America. The horses came from runaway from explorers and tribal interaction. It is interesting how the horses and the Indians both were examples of survival of the fittest. They went from subsistence hunter gatherers to more efficient yet more respectful of nature societies. From having to drive a herd over a cliff when they were on foot to selecting individuals as their prey made for a much more healthy way of life for the tribes and the buffalo. The story is factual yet heartbreaking in many ways as one sees how the cruel policy of ""controlling"" Native Americans by separating them from their horses and trying to make them into what amounted to slaves in all but name is an abject lesson in bad policy. The book only provides the facts, draw your own conclusions. The beautiful photographs alone are worth the price of this book. Many of them are over a hundred years old and show what inspired the artistry of Charles Russel and Frederic Remington.",5.0,The pictures alone are worth it,1338854400,"06 5, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A3C955GO2W4D66,1477680055,alison alley,"[0, 0]",Short but very very good. I loved the book although I wish it would've been longer. I can't wait for the next one,5.0,Good,1363996800,"03 23, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A6QG9LM5WL0AQ,1451682050,"C. Irish ""Read On!""","[4, 6]","Astor Place Vintage is the best book I've read so far this year. I enjoyed every page of this little gem. The reason I like this book so much is because the characters became like friends. There is a shifting narrative in APV both taking place in New York City. One character is present time, Amanda, who owns a vintage clothing store, and the other is Olive who lives in 1907 New York. With shifting narrative's I often like one over the other but not in this book. Both characters are equally absorbing and interesting and for me became like friends. While I wasn't reading the book, I actually worried about one character or the other from wherever I left off in the book. This is just a mesmerizing read that celebrates women, past and present with their failures, struggles and accomplishments.The story goes like this: Amanda, picking up some vintage clothing, finds an old diary sewn inside a fur muff when she goes to a New York mansion to pick up some clothing from an old woman. The finding of the diary takes the reader on an adventure with Olive Wescott, a less than typical young woman who longs for more than marriage in a day when men ruled most everything. This adventure is intermingled with Amanda's life and her struggles with career and love and belonging.This is just a great book all the way around and Stephanie Lehmann who generously let me read her book early, is my new hero.I learned a lot about vintage clothing, New York architecture and the department store of the early 1900's as I enjoyed the trials and stories of Olive and Amanda. This is a book to savor this summer. It's a magical book that will transport you to the bustling city of New York today as well as New York 100 years ago. A most excellent read.I almost forgot to add another thing I thought was cool about this book! There are vintage pictures of New York throughout. I have a vintage picture of the Flat Iron building that I adore hanging on my wall. I love the vintage pictures Stephanie Lehmann added to this book. Seeing the places while you are reading is just a great touch.",5.0,A Shining Gem,1370908800,"06 11, 2013",4,6,helpful,0.6666666666666666,1 A3OF52KN9SSYS1,1591793459,Alayne Gelfand,"[0, 0]","This beautiful calendar gives me warmth and beauty in an otherwise baren office. Lovely to look at, every image reminds me of my grandmother who was Russian; these images are often eastern European. I've been looking at this calendar for several years and am extremely glad I finally made the choice to buy it.",5.0,Gorgeous tradition,1362182400,"03 2, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A21GTH20R33D6B,0744015162,Rondy,"[0, 8]","boring book... it doesnt say much about batman. just some pictures on the video game. cover doesn't even tell you what the contents are, and its all sealed. buyer beware!",2.0,felt kinda cheated,1383350400,"11 2, 2013",0,8,unhelpful,0.0,0 A1D33G7EWFASGN,B002PKBL5G,"Amazon Customer ""Dar""","[0, 0]","This is the beginning of the Partholon series. I mistakenly picked Elphame's Choice from the library and felt very lost. So after a bit of research, I think this is the book I should be reading.***Yep, that felt like a beginning. Though there is a creature similar to a vampire and I am not sure if the main character is human. I am not used to reading books about other humanoid beings. I did pick up that the MC's best friend was centaur. It was an okay read. I am going to find the sext in the series to continue the story.",3.0,Quick read,1334102400,"04 11, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2H55QWV8QGH67,B00DG261BG,"S. Dean ""shoe lover""","[0, 0]",A little new info but mostly just stuff we can assume from the other books. I do look forward to the others.,4.0,interesting,1380844800,"10 4, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A34RUGVOMHMLO6,1442347600,Karla Varga,"[8, 11]","I just finished reading ""This Is Herman Cain: My Journey To The White House"" and I was left feeling that there is still hope for our country. Herman is just what we need to get this country back on the right path. He is a real American success story having risen from being poor to becoming a CEO of Godfather's Pizza and saving it from failure. He has true business savvy and knows what he is talking about and it shows. What I especially found refreshing is that, unlike most, if not all, politicians, Herman Cain answers the questions asked of him instead of being evasive and he does so in a way the average person can understand. He has a real plan for getting us out of debt and boosting our economy and he lays it out clearly. He means what he says and says what he means. I hope he does become the Republican nominee and should he be fortunate to do so, he'll most certainly get my vote. The book is an easy read. He addresses the issues and even includes examples of his wit and humor. I highly recommend it!",5.0,America needs Herman Cain!!,1319068800,"10 20, 2011",8,11,helpful,0.7272727272727273,1 A2M2GUZOHVKO7A,1400031664,"M. S. Blomgren """Stella"""","[0, 0]","I was disappointed in this book which I read for my bookclub. We read The Great Gatsby the month before and Bohjalian's novel certainly suffers from the comparison. The prose is often clumsy and the original premise is not very believeable. The ending felt like a trick rather than a resolution. I would suggest that one go straight to the masterwork, Gatsby, and skip this ripoff of his characters and plot.",2.0,Clumsy,1348790400,"09 28, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2PXLRZJ1Z6CIG,0843955430,Ja'Maul Redmond,"[4, 7]","This is a truely an Horrific Book. But if you're into sci-fi/supernatural horror, then forget about reading it. Girl next Door is about the everyday horror we humans experience called Child Abuse. This book holds no punches. I read about 200 pages and actually had to contiplate whether I wanted to finish it, not because it was bad but because it was so vivid and disturbing. It starts off like a junior high school read. I'm not sure if this is how Ketchum writes (this is my first book by him) or if he decided to write in a simplistic style because it was narrated by a twelve year old boy. Either way it's affective. It pulls you in quickly with it's simplistic style and then holds the reader captive with it's horrific details.I know this story is based on true incidents but even if it wasn't, I completely believe that horror like this is happening even today, probably even while I'm typing this review. True evil comes in the form of Human insanity, ignorance, and learned hatred. This book slaps you in the face with that reality. Anyone that can ignore the significance of this book is probably the same people that ignore or down play our world's contributions to racism, classicism, and sexism. The characters of this book in a way represent a microcosm of what this world was,is and probably will be in the future. While we hide behind our safety nets of enjoying Science fiction and supernatural horror of the likes of Sixth Sense, The Others, and Signs, real life horrors of child abuse are happening everyday. Well, this book forces you to deal with it. It is as close to experiencing child abuse without actually being abused or witnessing abuse.I am not saying , you will like this book, But I am saying that this book should be apart of our pop cultured, american heritage as much as Tom Sawyer,Roots or War and Peace. Child abuse is REAL,, terrifing and truely evil and this book proves it.",5.0,Closest to a five star book I've Read. 4-3/4 stars,1049587200,"04 6, 2003",4,7,helpful,0.5714285714285714,1 A33GOIRVHTG94J,141143434X,S. Neff,"[4, 4]","We bought this book for our son who is bored with his second grade homework. Some of the early activities in the book are similar to his assigned homework, but most are more advanced. He was able to pick up the work and enjoyed doing it far more than his assigned schoolwork. The problems are far more engaging and require critical thought and problem solving skills.My only criticism is that the book is only activities and problems to be solved. There is no introduction or explanatory text and since the book is designed to be advanced, there are likely to be concepts that second graders have not been taught in school. For example, I had to explain to my son what range, mode, and median was before he could complete those problems.",4.0,"Great activities, mix of levels",1318809600,"10 17, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A38XLKE4YEY0G5,0300186517,old new lefty,"[17, 18]","I was hoping for much more when I first got my hands on SYRIA: THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF ASSAD by David W. Lesch. This country has been much in the news, and I've been following its deterioration quite closely. Beyond that, I've paid decades of attention to Syria since the time of Hafaz Assad.So, when I picked up this book I was expecting some insights into the structure and nature of Syrian society in general and the Baath Party in particular. After all, in examining any society it's essential to have some understanding of its deeper structures and divisions.Instead, I got pretty much an extended feed of news releases that I've been following since the Arab Spring first hit Damascus. Now if you're totally ignorant of the situation over there, I suppose that this book has some utility. But for anyone who wants to find the underlying strengths and weaknesses within the Assad regime, or how different sectarian elements inside of Syria have traditionally supported (or attempted to undermine the Assads) -- you will not find it in this book.The author makes a great deal about his personal contacts with Basher Assad and other high level Syrian officials. However, this is a very limiting perspective. It's somewhat like someone coming to Washington,DC -- interviewing some nabobs and trying to come to some conclusions about the nature of the USA. Such analyses are shallow, grounded in the ""great man"" theories of history. And unfortunately, I know almost as little about the nature of Syrian society as I did when I first picked up the book.In the final chapter, the author tries to give some scenarios as to anticipated paths that Syria will follow given the current state of disarray in that country. And even here, he fails. While in other parts of the book he pays some attention to the nature of power politics on the international scene, in his scenarios -- the actions of these players is almost nonexistent.For my money, I would have probably spent a wiser use of my time if I had perused Robert Fisk's old columns on Syria, or I'd gone to the BBC and Al Jazeera archives.This book is superficial in its treatment of both Assad's power base and Syrian society in general.",2.0,Lesch's book is a disappointment,1355356800,"12 13, 2012",17,18,helpful,0.9444444444444444,1 A1B3AONKPEFU2L,0751306460,"Lillian A. Kelly ""BookbuyingGrandmom""","[7, 7]",Good instructions. Good techniques. Good information. Bargain price.This struggling artist is happy with her purchase. Now if I can just defeat my fear of the blank canvas..........,5.0,A pearl in a sea of empty oyster shells,1247356800,"07 12, 2009",7,7,helpful,1.0,1 AP6EHTUS9ALW6,0345479734,"Stan Sikorski ""Magus Disciple""","[0, 3]",I'll let you know how this compares to his other novels when I finish this.,4.0,Love Irving!,1275696000,"06 5, 2010",0,3,unhelpful,0.0,0 A2XJV8WWLH4XX,1565122704,"Dee from Gary, Indiana","[9, 10]","This is a compassionate and compelling story, a must for everyone to read. I admire Mr. Galli and would never want to be in his shoes. I wept while I read, identifying very much as I have sons and he lets you know just how in a minute your world can change drastically. A must read for everyone. This is a poignant story, one everyone should read. When so many people gripe and complain about their so-called ailments, this book makes it very clear that but for the grace of God, there go I. Definitely worth purchasing! I recommend it to everyone.",5.0,A book you just can't put down!,962323200,"06 30, 2000",9,10,helpful,0.9,1 A1JKKTL7N9K0QA,1880685086,J. Jeffrey Donahue,"[8, 8]","This was probably an awesome book when published in 1976, but the book has not been really updated since then, in spite of being reissued in 1997 as a new edition. The only real updating as far as I can tell is the addition of footnotes here and there explaining that some of the specific advice for certain situations may not be valid for the modern double blind structure. This book has a lot of very worthwhile ideas, but most of them are better explained in more detail in Sklansky/Malmuth's Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players, which I highly recommend. Another awesome Sklansky et al book is Small Stakes Hold'em, which I find extremely useful since I don't play in the big leagues. Overall I would rate Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players as much more valuable book than this one, even if you are not yet an advanced player.",2.0,Out of Date,1203724800,"02 23, 2008",8,8,helpful,1.0,1 AAQUTHL4SOBQL,1576737330,Evelyn,"[0, 0]",I was not expencting to hear that you can get what you wnt just by asking God. I had heard the novel Jabez before and I loved it. This was dissapointing.,2.0,Dissapointment,1374192000,"07 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2K7OZTQV6NTX3,B00H8ZL1M6,Sue hayes,"[0, 0]",A romp to read. Was wonderful to see where character Sam started out and where she ended up. I'll read this author's books anytime.,5.0,What,1392854400,"02 20, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 ASQYH3Z7VX7WD,B00H3M921G,Minga Book bud Portillo,"[6, 6]","When will Rebecca write something that I don't love.. NEVER.. This installment is about Caleb and LIly . The reluctant prophets for the Realm. Many years ago they were attracted to each other but her family promised her to another. And once you are mated you are mated for life. Lily's mate did not live long and she became a prophet and committed to the Realm. Though her mate was no longer alive she still could not be with the one she loved. Caleb.. The mating process was to be that no other male could ever touch a mated woman... EVER. So Caleb went away and fought in the war.. Angry that he could not be with the woman he loves. He fought like no other. But when one of the prophets died, Caleb became a prophet right along side Lily.Now that Lily has been infected with the virus that takes away the mating process. ( something the kurjans thought of so they can steal the mates of their enemies . Caleb thanks you by the way. ;).) Caleb is not letting this chance go by. He will make Lily his own. Fate would not take Lily away from him again..I am so glad that Caleb and Lily got their story, We have seen the struggle between the 2 from book 2 and I was rooting for them since then.I love this series and I am anxiously awaiting for the next book in The Dark Protectors series... Bring ON JANIE AND ZANE!!!",5.0,Anything but Tame,1400112000,"05 15, 2014",6,6,helpful,1.0,1 A30L23E8H151S7,1939962315,deb1210,"[0, 0]","I really enjoyed this boxset! It was hard to put down once you were reading it! I really liked how the author gave us insite to what the characters were thinking, but not saying!. We get that alot from the female pov but not much on the male side. It definitely made Simon more real to me. Loved the story! Now onto Sam and Maddie!",4.0,devoted,1370908800,"06 11, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2503LT8PZIHAD,0545349184,"Gertrude, the Innocent ""Live well, laugh loud...","[0, 0]","More so for me than the dinosaurs!This is a charming little book about a prophecy and 5 little dragons who are to bring an end to the great war, interestingly enough, ""when the land is soaked in blood and tears."" Bad news for the dragons but it's not good news for the Queens, either:""Of three queens who blister and blaze and burn,Two will die and one shall learn.""This story is filled with love and friendship, laughter, courage and fear, loneliness, and sorrow. It is about trust and respect, mother love and betrayal.I've never read Sutherland books before even though I have her Avatar series in my classroom books. They've always been popular among upper elementary and middle school readers and this series is looking like another winner for younger children. I generally tend to read books before they make it into the hands of children but Sutherland comes with excellent recommendations.Yes, I am off to see the... I mean order the next one,Wings of Fire #2: The Lost Heir.WHAT do you mean, Preorder?",5.0,"Fun, fun, fun!",1352764800,"11 13, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A32GGN1JBWWETX,1401938906,"Joeann Fossland ""ePRODiva""","[0, 1]","More than once...Pam's sense of humor and insights made me gleefully happy! I've been sharing this book with everyone! Try it...you'll like it, if you want more access to creating a blissful existence",5.0,this book made me smile!,1398124800,"04 22, 2014",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3HJGMA4MOO63T,159030599X,Pandababy,"[77, 78]","Take one (former) shopaholic. Give her a Ph.D. in psychology and ten years experience treating over-shopping. Publish her book about how to get free of the vast consumer conspiracy surrounding us, and you have Dr. April Lane Benson and her vital new book: To Buy or Not to Buy.This is not a comfortable book for me to read. I find my behavior unmasked and as undeniable as my shoulder-length gray hair. Have I used shopping to feel better about myself? Yes. Have I used shopping to avoid confronting a situation I want to avoid? Yes. Have I used shopping as a weapon to express anger? Yes.Sometimes yes to all of the above, and other questions in chapter one. Like a trip to the dentist, confronting my negative behavior and the psychology behind it can be painful, but also healing. I love this book, because there is healing in getting the rot out. Dr. Benson offers a way to find authentic happiness to replace the false esteem of keeping up with (or exceeding) the 'Joneses'. She points out the relentless consumerism driving our economy, with tentacles invading our conciousness through stores, malls, television, catalogs, Internet and even cell phone shopping. She uncovers the true cost of credit card purchases, and documents the ways invisible forces demand that we buy ""more more more and now now now"".Knowledge is power. Self-knowledge is the power to change. To Buy or Not to Buy is a tool that can enable us to get free of our compulsive shopping. If you are confident that you don't have any shopping addictions, I challenge you to go to browse inside her book - consider the many ways we can fool ourselves into buying things to fill an emotional hole rather than a material need.I recognized some of my buying patterns in her analysis, and also patterns of friends and relatives. Our materialistic society is even more insidious than I suspected. There is compassion and not condemnation in Dr. Benson's words. I recommend her book and I will be spending the next three months working through all the exercises. I have two pages of notes this morning, a start to the journal she recommends keeping.There is no such thing as an insignificant cavity - as we all know, sooner or later it will destroy the tooth. I am going to be working on the occasional - but not insignificant - ways that I over-shop, and expect that the result will be good, even if the process is sometimes painful.",5.0,Find Your shopping weak spots and how to fix them here.,1242518400,"05 17, 2009",77,78,helpful,0.9871794871794872,1 A1NY28967H5TIQ,0515122068,MaryGrace Meloche,"[9, 12]","This is romance? Try full-blown alienation. These two people do not like each other. I don't care how much the author tries to proclaim their love. I couldn't find the love scenes -- they waltz together and he appreciates her height? Ok . . .Skillfully titled, these two characters cannot and will not ""forgive"" one another. A misunderstanding during their adolescence has developed into hatred. Ms. Balogh urges the reader to consider the characters' inner thoughts -- wishing us to believe these two quarrelsome people love each other! Unfortunately, the message is not delivered! Even at the story's end, the reader reads the love declarations with uneasiness.Briefly summed -- the tale of a future earl, Kenneth Woodfall, and a wild, independent, free-spirit, Moira Hayes. Throughout one ill-fated summer, our lovers share an obsession, meet in secret, and fall in love. However, something goes terribly wrong and they replace youthful love with aggravated mistrust and betrayal.Found in these pages is one of the most unconventional consummation scenes ever read in romance reading. They say if you live long enough you will experience it all -- add a new experience to this lady's life.Mary Balogh may have faltered with the storyline but her writing is still first-rate. Moira's denial of her pregnancy and her waning health are quite believable. The author favorably portrays the book's secondary characters. Balogh has written Moira's betrothed, Sir Edwin Baillie, as a pompous, silly, flabbergasting man -- reminiscent of Jane Austen's Mr. Collins from ""Pride and Prejudice"". The reader will cherish the brief hilarious scenes featuring this absurd person -- anything to avoid spending time with our two love fragments.Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.",3.0,A Clever Title.,1076025600,"02 6, 2004",9,12,helpful,0.75,1 A3CWYHCXT9LCMT,0425246035,avid reader,"[11, 12]","I love Nora Roberts but this book is a very poor showing of her work. She tries too hard to come off hip and contemporary by cursing constantly and making the characters seem so shallow. If this is her new trend,its probably time to find a new favorite author.",2.0,this is nora roberts?,1336003200,"05 3, 2012",11,12,helpful,0.9166666666666666,1 AJMTHZZ89MLO8,1557836701,Nicholas E. Sarantakes,"[8, 9]","I am currently writing a book on the making of ""Patton"" and was eager to read this George C. Scott biography, given the actor's key role in that film. I write this review with mixed feelings. David Sheward has done an impressive job of interviewing Scott's friends and family in an effort to develop the man's personality and character. He has also consulted the numerous interviews that Scott did throughout the years. These resources are usually the only type of primary resources available for doing the history of the film industry. When I was in school at USC, I quickly learned that Hollywood does a horrible job of preserving its written records.The result is that Sheward has some news stories tell about Scott. The man was a brilliant actor with few peers, but he was horrible insecure and full of self-loathing. When things went wrong, be it on the set or in his personal life, he got angry, really, really angry. He overcompensated with the bottle and alcohol only fueled his rage. Film buffs, however, have known about Scott's personal demons for years; he was quite upfront about them.The ultimate problem with this book is that it offer its readers no new insights into the man. Sheward--through no fault of his own--never interviewed his subject and had no direct access to letters, diaries, or oral histories. As a result, you get a feel for how Scott moved through the acting profession and how many people felt about him, but the man himself seems a little absent from his own story.",3.0,To Have and Have Not,1228521600,"12 6, 2008",8,9,helpful,0.8888888888888888,1 A137SY2CCOWTP6,1433533073,David Kenney,"[4, 4]","I never thought as a pastor I would end up reading a book by the author of more than 200 scientific papers and the editor of three textbooks on surgical physiology. Thomas A. Miller, MD has had a distinguished career in surgery spanning more than 35 years and he currently is Professor of Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.His book, Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead is a wonderful look at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the perspective of a modern day surgeon. Miller argues that many people might believe that Jesus was a man who actually walked the earth, but do they actually understand what it means to say that someone was crucified, dead and buried and then 3 days later came back to life?Even before beginning his argument, Miller asks whether the bible can be trusted as a historical source or whether credible scientists today would even consider a resurrection possible. Chapter by chapter, Miller takes the reader through the events of the final hours on the cross and overlays his scientific mind to what transpires.This is a wonderful book that I highly recommend for pastors, apologeticists or anyone who is looking for a more scientific approach to the cross. Each chapter is packed with real scientific data, and sometimes even detailed medical pictures that help the reader see not only the existing evidence, but the physical process of Christ's crucifixion.Miller's book is barely 170 pages and it isn't hard to follow or read. Miller has a wonderful writing voice that makes this book a terrific find. I highly recommend this book.Thank you to Crossway publishing for providing me with a review copy.",5.0,Great for Good Friday and Easter prep,1363305600,"03 15, 2013",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A25RLM72241Q2F,0060838744,"Apple ""Apple""","[0, 0]","This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The author intended to create a work of art parallelling Melville's work of art and she clearly accomplished her goal. The strength of the language that tells the story of Una the wife of Ahab, the obvious research into 19th century social mores, women, historical characters, religion, economics, slavery, locations, astronomy, Melville and his writings, whaling, and political issues is evident in every chapter. The presence of so many bits and pieces, not simply laid out in front of the reader, but provided obliquely as nuanced points at diifferent parts in the story kept me reading late into the night. What really captured my attention were the words. I didn't want the story to end but the final epilogue was lyrical, luscious, lucid and lovely as it rolled all of the previous chapters into a complete whole. I closed this book with a pleasant sigh of enjoyment. Hopefully others will like the main characters own "wind flung confetti - words streaming from [her] hand". I am envious of anyone who can aspire to write such a book and then accomplish it. I will definately place this on my re-read shelf.",5.0,"Lyrical, lucious, lucid and lovely",1385251200,"11 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AXK6CWSUVV82Z,1601541449,Lindsay,"[0, 0]",I was hooked to the last word and will gladly move to book two. I suggest this as a good read and wouldn't hesitate to buy it,5.0,Instantly Hooked,1361750400,"02 25, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQ5UX3AVZPAPN,0141185260,"""cmerrell""","[6, 73]","I agree with the reveiwer who branded Pale Fire as brillinat but empty. I found no humour in it whatsoever, just an artist trying to make sport of his readers.",1.0,Senseless and Unenjoyable,987292800,"04 15, 2001",6,73,helpful,0.0821917808219178,1 ADZSB398MCL23,B0058NWYWQ,"Happybunnytsu ""Merry meet merry part till mer...","[0, 0]","Ii read few her book i just have keep buying them character come to life with words, taking you along for ride leaving you feeling good and wanting to read more, Very good on historical depictions",5.0,LOVE! it,1362441600,"03 5, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1T2ZO4ARVSUGE,0544026888,"D. Greenbaum ""DoctorDave""","[34, 35]","The book claims to be about dealing with competition but in fact is focused on one concept: the Unique Value Promise (UVP) which is ""the power of why"" plain and simple. The book delivered none of these for me.It was not unique and rehashed the basics most kids selling magazines door to door. Differentiate to stand out. Does anyone need to be told that? That's really the entire focus of the book.The book provided little value. By the time I reached the end of the book I was still waiting for practical advice instead of self-aggrandizing by the author and constant references to proprietary and undisclosed tools such as surveys and interviews. The book set the stage to go to the author's website to buy additional products or services. Paying for a book that only gives you the tip of the iceberg is of no value to me.Most important is that the book doesn't deliver on it's promise. This doesn't cover dealing with your competition, but rather deals with finding out why your customers buy your product suggesting taking at least 100 clients out to dinner or coffee for extensive interviews. If you have a large work force and have clients and staff that have time for it, great. The concept is unrealistic for small business owners. No research the competition, no learning how to zig when they zag and fails to recognize the fact that if your competition can commoditize your UVP rendering it moot.Instead of a progressive forward thinking strategy of the marketplace, this felt more like a time-share seminar from the 1950s and I didn't get a free TV after putting up with it for several hours.",2.0,"Narrowly focused on sales, little about true competition",1368576000,"05 15, 2013",34,35,helpful,0.9714285714285714,1 A3BELBR0IEL2DX,0375501347,aunty anny,"[0, 0]","I fell in love with Amy and isabel. The author has her way with words, bringing you right into her characters lives.. All of them are relatable, real, and sometimes sad. This book and Olive Kittredge are her best.",5.0,The best of Elizabeth Strout,1382572800,"10 24, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AQ1TD4X5T2TZZ,0520245989,"LD Lewis ""Journalist & Author""","[77, 95]","The monumental task of seeking the truth about Israel, Palestine, Zionism its propaganda and censorship just got a much needed tour guide. Finkelstein shows you the way. This book tells you what those protecting the political movement of Zionism do not want you to know: the apartheid, the genocide, the war crimes, the racism and the hate that define it. The real history rather than the pretty fantasy. I know. I've been covering the Middle East for five years. This is exactly what Americans need to know if they want to end terrorism. This book goes to the nucleus, the core cause, yet uncomfortable at times when one realizes what Israel is doing increasingly mirrors the Americans in Iraq. This book connects the dots. Historically accurate, meticulously researched and documented, Finkelstein shows you exactly where the propaganda is, how it is twisted, then he shows you what is the truth citing reports and witnessed histories by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other well-known and respected sources. When you finish the book, you will know what is really going on in Israel/Palestine. The truth, not the fantasy.My only disappointment regarding Beyond Chutzpa is that I would have like to see expanded focus on other authors and writers (besides Peters & Dershowitz) using lies, distortions, threats and manipulation on this subject including Jay Cristol, Charles Krauthammer, William Kristol, Dr. Beshore and above all Bible forger Cyrus Scofield, the first propagandist on this issue in 1908. Finkelstein's approach is effective, setting their false statements next to the real facts allowing you to see the depth of deception, lack of scholarship and misinterpretation for yourself. He unravels the carefully orchestrated propaganda machine one example at a time.Beyond Chutzpah is essential study for anyone interested in the Middle East and for every marketing, journalist or public relations professional seeking to understand propaganda and how the bad information often gets out and the good does not. This is a classic case. Dershowitz tried to prevent this book from getting out. Barnes and Nobel is afraid to carry it, (citing it is ""too controversial""). When you read it, you'll know why Dershowitz is so afraid of it and is pulling out the stops to keep you from reading it. The Harvard lawyer has no clothes!",4.0,Chutzpah Nails the Truth,1125360000,"08 30, 2005",77,95,helpful,0.8105263157894737,1 A13D5S4OXQUPRM,B00CLU8OO6,Doc Rick,"[0, 1]",There are many different ideas in this book on creative ways to save money. some of them I can see doing and some are not practical for me however everyone has different beliefs about saving money.,4.0,Good Ideas for Saving Money,1368662400,"05 16, 2013",0,1,unhelpful,0.0,0 A3LLMXR3QJR60T,1475086237,Tassy,"[0, 0]","I really liked this story. It is about a woman who is extra good at her job and is sent to a small town on business. She finds a different way of life and true love. She returns to her home in order to move back to the small town and, just like in real life, hits a lot of snags. It all works out in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Sherrill Willis wrote a very interesting tale and it was well written.",5.0,loved it,1390694400,"01 26, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A2VJSNUHS8LJFG,0671792253,Parrott,"[4, 4]","I just re-read ""Class,"" and since Fussell hasn't updated the book, I can comment on the original release. Almost 30 years later and there's still enough universal, unchanged truth here to keep it relevant (well, if you're over 40). Fussell tells us upfront that in defining American social classes, he did not consider ethnicity and limited the effect of religion and politics. Approaching the subject this way enables him to focus on the ""visible and audible signs"" of one's class - the ways of speaking, dressing, and decorating our houses that are chosen. What he doesn't say, but the reader figures out quickly, is that the choices have been made for every one of us by our forebears. Your real position on the social ladder is permanently fixed. If you're not to the manner born, you will not be invited for drinks at the manor. This is a touchy subject for Americans because while we may acknowledge the existence of a social structure, we deny that places in the structure have high barriers to entry. When this book came out in the 1980's, up-from-Prole housewives ripped the plastic covers from the living room furniture. First-generation college graduates went shopping for Oriental -look rugs. No management trainee would be caught swigging domestic beer from a can. People from the Bronx and Birmingham met in the Mid-West to erase dialects that would surely slow, or derail, their movement to the next station. Then, and now, some people took much too seriously this humorous, ironic description of ourselves and the beloved institutions to which we belong. Fussell's greatest feat is mixing TV-reinforced stereotypes with truly identifiable traits, and invoking Studs Terkel to support his arguments. By the penultimate chapter, many readers are red in the face from laughter or pique, or both. Let's face it, most of us readers are Middles: according to Fussell's observations, neither Uppers nor Proles are going to read this. Yes, ""Class"" may upset the Middles. Just about everything we hold dear is dismissed as status-obsessive and conformist. In the closing chapter, we finally get a way out: You can throw yourself into ""Category X, "" a melding of old hippies and celebrity outliers. It's worth the read if only to encourage us to drop phony euphemisms and take up a second language.",5.0,"Proud Proles, Mundane Middles, and Unimaginative Uppers",1316995200,"09 26, 2011",4,4,helpful,1.0,1 A28WJUJF6D2ULA,033039780X,Dai-keag-ity,"[7, 11]","Judy Blume has only one critical flaw as a writer, and that is the way she ""dates"" her books by filling them with momentarily-apt slang terminology, and references to events and fads of a particular era, so that within a short space of time, they begins to sound outmoded and nailed down to one time period, even when the experiences and emotions she tells of are universal and seek a long-term audience. I was mystified by that. I think maybe in Forever she is less guilty of that than in some of her other books, but I remember finding some examples in here. Without this ""flaw"" Forever would rate another star in my review.Forever is well-written. In its story of first love (and, yeah, first sex) it presents its characters realistically and the plot is timeless but clearly connected by certain aforementioned references to the decade in which it takes place. After thirty years it almost comes off as something from the historical genre rather than as Blume clearly intended it.Judy Blume is a First Amendment champion who has bravely opposed censorship on a number of occasions. She delves into topics that would scare off other writers and manages to be ""up front"" without being condescending, frank without being lurid. She's a fine writer and knows how to craft a story. She also deserves the criticism with which I began this review: she imposes an expiration date on the cultural overtone of nearly everything she writes. In the case of teenagers whose memories might only stretch back a decade, this is a flaw.Another note. Anyone who reads Forever expecting a salacious account of graphic sex is not going to find it. Exactly why this book has been controversial and banned from school and public libraries defies logic and is simply a shame. Some Americans who don't flinch at violence in books recoil at even modest sexual themes, and that odd discrepancy in our national character is something I've never understood. The decades-long hostile reaction by certain members of our society to the novel Forever is the greatest example of this I can think to cite. This book may reach into campiness in a few scenes but it's not indecent. It's good and it's worth the read for those interested, teen or older.",3.0,Unfortunately Blume Made One Big Mistake,1125705600,"09 3, 2005",7,11,helpful,0.6363636363636364,1 A24PT9ISWEDTHY,0312674724,Courtney @ Fuzzy.Coffee.Books,"[0, 0]","This was definitely different than the other books on my shelf. It was actually an Amazon recommendation - I've said it before, but I love Amazon recommendations! The Amazon summary is way better than the Goodreads one.What I liked: 1) Gaia. She was a strong main character, very personable, and I felt like she was easy to relate to. 2) The story. I've been on a dystopian kick recently, and this was a new twist on the concept. 3) There were a lot of intricate plot details that really made the story. Those details really made the difference. 4) The plot twist. I've found that because I read a lot, some stories tend to become predictable. But at this plot twist, I honestly did not see that coming. Even looking back on it, I can't see how I would have gotten there. 5) Leon. I always like heros. Blame it on Disney, but I have a serious White Knight complex. And Leon definitely fits the bill. :)What I didn't like: Nothing.Overall thoughts: This was a clever and creative new dystopian that I was sucked into from the very first page. This was one of those books that when you close it, you have to bring yourself back to reality. It is going to have a permanent home on my re-read shelf, and I plan on enjoying Gaia's story over and over again. And luckily, book two of the series, Prized is set to come out November 8th, 2011 and I'm really excited to dig into it!",5.0,Wow. This was Great!,1315267200,"09 6, 2011",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A28XGSF88NLYH1,0292712030,Chocolate Girl,"[0, 0]","After hearing Mr. Cadet on Oprah, I didn't stop until I ordered his book. I could not put this book down once I started reading it... it was truly a book filled with so many graphic details and the emotions that were evoked were feelings of anger, pity, empahty and sympathy that I never knew existed within me. While, I am not from Haiti I just couldn't help feeling such empathy for the children and people of Haiti who were/are exposed to this type of existence. In 2007 it amazes me that slavery, in any form, exists in the world. This book haunts at the reader to examine him/herself and see what can he/she contribute towards the world whereby the end result will be equality for all mankind. My heart goes out to all of the Jean Robert-Cadets in the world. At the same time I wonder how could his father have loved his mother so much that he would allow such treatment of his child, especially, once he was made aware of his circumstances. As for the people who contributed towards the hell of a life that Mr. Cadet experienced as a child and took that luggage into adulthood...they should know that Karma is alive, well and active.This book, touches any and all emotions of the reader, it enlightens and paints a vivid picture of what some children have to endure on a daily basis. This book is definitely a wake up call for all people of the world to come to our senses and treat people with dignity. It brings home the fact that we are all products of our environment and we must cherish our most prized possessions, our children of the world. We, as adults, must realize that they are innocent and it should be a reasonable expectation of them to think that at the very least we will provide and protect them. I applaud the steps that Mr.Cadet with the assistance of God and his wife is taking to conquer the strong holds that his childhood put upon him.Keep the faith Mr. Cadet and break the cycle. Life is too precious to not live it to the fullest. Continue to look towards the hills from which cometh your help...I have been educated and taught a lesson that will never be forgotten simply from reading this book. This lesson that one will get from this book crosses all color lines. We as a people have to raise up and do to others as we would want done to us and our love ones.",5.0,Extremely Enlighting...,1183766400,"07 7, 2007",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A912QKZ7UYI8L,0679401407,"Chris Gladis ""Chris""","[17, 19]","Let me get this out of the way right up front: I can't think of the title of this book without the Church Lady from the heyday of Saturday Night Live popping into my brain. And now she's in yours, too. You're welcome.So. Who is Satan? A fallen angel? The great adversary of God? Saddam Hussein's bitch? If nothing else, Satan is the great scapegoat, the one on whom we tend to pile all our troubles. Your church is running out of money? Satan. Your kid is doing drugs and listening to that awful hip-hop music? Satan. Queers getting married? Definitely Satan.For some, Satan is an actual being, a true agent of evil whose purpose is to ruin all that God has made. For others, Satan is a symbolic representation of the evil inherent in the human condition, an abstract form made real in order to better understand it. In other words, there are as many versions of Satan as there are people who invoke him.But how did the whole Satan thing get started? Where did he come from and how did we get to the Satan that we all know and loathe today? That's what Elaine Pagels was determined to find out when she wrote this book.While most of the book focuses on the New Testament and a history of the early Christian church, it was the ancient history of Satan that I found most interesting, mainly because it concurred with a pet theory that I've had for a long time: Satan was never an enemy of God. Satan was God's quality control guy. It was his job to look for weaknesses in the system, to probe Humanity for its faults and flaws so that it could be made better. Thus the serpent in the garden (which, just as a note, was never actually revealed to be Satan), and especially the story of Job, where God allows Job's life to be ruined on a bet. My guess was that he won a nice, crisp one-dollar bill.The Satan of Olde was an agent of God, there to make sure that things went the way they were supposed to. He caused trouble, he stirred things up, yes, but that was his job. Much like the office manager that you despise because he always harps on you for checking your Facebook account during company time, even though you both know there's nothing better to do right now, but he just enjoys watching you suffer and enforcing his stupid little rules.... That guy is, at least in his own mind, working for the greater good of the company. He may be a dick, you may wish great misfortune heaped on him and his progeny, but he's doing the job he was given to do.Sounds great, but Satan's downfall from ""annoying but necessary agent of God"" to ""vile and demonic enemy of god"" was planted a long time ago, before Christianity was even on the horizon.The Jewish religion, from whence our concept of Satan arose, has always been one of Otherness. Israelites and Enemies. Us and Them. From its earliest days, God made sure the Israelites knew that they were a small force against the world, with only Him to protect them. He told Abraham straight out that He would bless him and curse his enemies. Therefore, the descendants of Abraham had to be on constant guard from enemies both from without and within. With a Satan already set in their theology as a tester and troublemaker for God, it was not a far leap to look to him as the cause of the multiple troubles that the Jews had over the years. Around the time of Christ, the Essenes were a distillation of that concept. They were a small Jewish sect - a minority within a minority - which believed that they were the only true Jews and that everyone else had gone soft. The Jewish majority was corrupt, led astray from the true path to God, probably by Satan.When the Christians showed up, a minority with an even more tenuous existence than the Essenes, they found this concept very useful. Telling their story from the point of view of an embattled minority, they found Satan to be a very useful opponent against whom their Messiah could fight. He was an excellent symbol that stood not only for the earthly conflict that was taking place between the Christians, Romans and Jews, but a greater spiritual conflict that involved all humankind in a battle between good and evil.Pagels' basic thesis is that the concept of Satan, whatever else it may be, was used to not only encourage persecution of The Other - Jews and pagans, to be precise - but to also keep the Christians themselves in line. The book is actually a history of the early Christian movement and how that history was reflected in the writing of the Gospels. In fact, just like in the Bible, Satan doesn't really appear much in this book. Rather Pagels looks at how the early Christian movement fought for its survival against enemies without and within, and then how Satan became a spiritual catch-all for those who disagreed with them.It's a fascinating analysis of the early days of the Church, and just how chaotic and tumultuous it was. There were so many churches with so many different interpretations of Jesus' life and death, so many Gospels being written and so many opinions on the very nature of God's universe that it's surprising the whole thing managed to come together to be the world's largest religion.What's more, it shed some light on something that's always annoyed me: the persecution complex that so many Christians have. The best time to catch this is in December, when pundits in the States start going off about the War on Christmas as though the last twelve Christians in the country were holed up inside the Topeka Christmas Shanty with shotguns and eggnog. Every time a judge tells a town that they can't have the Ten Commandments on the lawn of their town hall, or a Wal-Mart tells employees to say ""Happy Holidays"" instead of ""Merry Christmas"" there is always a vocal group of Christians who claim that they're being persecuted and that they're on the edge of extinction. All this despite the fact that Christianity is the most popular religion in the world, that there are more Christians in Congress than any other religion, and that every single President in US history has been Christian. Despite all that, there seems to be a knee-jerk need to feel persecuted.This book offered a very good reason why this is: because that was how the religion was founded, and it is the fundamental narrative of Jesus' story. If Jesus had been part of the Jewish majority, his story would have ended very differently, no matter how radical his ideas. The early church was born of persecution, first from the Jews and Romans, and when they were no longer a danger, from pagans and heretics. And under all that, the hand that is always set against them, is Satan. As long as Satan is there, the Christians will always have someone there to persecute them. Without that cosmic, deathless opponent, Jesus becomes just another political rabblerouser executed by Rome. Certainly no Messiah would have allowed himself to die unless it was a gambit in a much greater game against a much more powerful opponent. Without Satan and the relentless threat attributed to him (and, by extension, those who are seen to ally with him), Jesus's sacrifice becomes meaningless, and the whole religion follows with it.It's a fascinating book and a great look at the early days of the Church. If you're into that kind of thing, go pick it up.Many thanks to my mom and stepdad, who pointed my attention towards it.-----------------------------------------------------""How, after all, could anyone claim that a man betrayed by one of his own followers, and brutally executed on charges of treason against Rome, not only was but still is God's appointed Messiah, unless his capture and death were, as the gospels insist, not a final defeat but only a preliminary skirmish in a vast cosmic conflict now enveloping the universe?""- Elaine Pagels, The Origin of Satan-----------------------------------------------------",4.0,Things make a lot more sense now....,1293840000,"01 1, 2011",17,19,helpful,0.8947368421052632,1 ADACW2WM0I835,1482766116,Bonnie Pombo,"[0, 0]",The story is the second in a series. THe relation between Ryder and Willow is nicely developed. There are no hanging loose ends but you can guess where the series is going within the pack.,4.0,not 3to11,1368921600,"05 19, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1BVCH82W0M2W2,0465013589,"Paul Tognetti ""The real world is so much more...","[12, 14]","As the year 1965 dawned the American people were feeling pretty good about themselves and the nation at large. They had begun to put the horrific events of November 22, 1963 behind them and looked forward to a peaceful and prosperous year ahead. On the surface at least all appeared to be copacetic. Lyndon Johnson was at the peak of his popularity and declared that the nation that he led had ""no irreconcilable differences"". It was his intention to continue to advocate for the progressive agenda he so firmly believed in. But in the first few weeks of 1965 a series of unforeseen events would begin to spiral out of control that would eventually cut into to Johnson's popularity and ultimately cost him his Presidency. The noted historian and author James T. Patterson believes that 1965 was a watershed year in American history and has documented all of the major events of that tumultuous year in his sterling new book ""The Eve of Destruction: How 1965 Transformed America"". For those of us who lived through it ""The Eve of Destruction"" serves as a stark reminder of just how transformative 1965 turned out to be.No one can argue that Lyndon Johnson was a savvy politician who knew how to get things done. His legislative agenda for 1965 was ambitious to say the least. Over the course of the year the largely Democratic Congress would pass a host of important bills including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Voting Rights Act, immigration reform, Medicare and Medicaid, the Higher Education Act while also creating the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. But despite all of his successes racial divisions were beginning to rear their ugly heads. On March 7 a protest by civil rights activists in Selma, Alabama turned violent when police attacked the demonstrators. What would become known as ""Bloody Sunday"" would unleash bottled-up racial tensions and resentment in cities all across America. Black Americans were becoming impatient and with very good reason. Later on in the year race riots would break out in the Watts section of Los Angeles. And then there was the escalating conflict in Vietnam. Patterson recalls the events that would ultimately cause the President to decide to commit more and more troops to the conflict in Southeast Asia. Ever concerned with his legacy Johnson did not want to be brandished as ""the President who lost Vietnam"". He reluctantly and very quietly escalated this nation's involvement in the conflict and did so with a minimum of consultation. By April an estimated 15000-25000 people would come to Washington to protest the war. It was at the time the largest peace demonstration in American history. Clearly, it was LBJ's lack of candor with the American people that spawned the anti-war movement in the spring of 1965. Patterson introduces us to all of the major players who were advising the President in 1965 including Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of State Robert McNamara and General William Westmoreland and the influence that each of them had on the decisions that were made.Meanwhile, major changes were beginning to take place in the culture as well. According to Patterson ""The spread of social programs in the Johnson years, stimulating ever grander popular expectations had the unintended consequence of intensifying the demands of rights-conscious interest groups in America"". Yes, the genie was finally out of the bottle and many might argue that these developments would serve to divide the country in innumerable ways in the decades that followed. 1965 was also the year that American popular music began to evolve as evidenced by Barry McGuire's #1 hit ""Eve of Destruction"" and The Byrds ""Turn, Turn, Turn"". By the end of the year it was becoming abundantly clear to most observers that the mood of the country had darkened considerably and that there was no turning back. For better or worse America would never be the same again.In retrospect, until you stop and focus on a year like 1965 you simply cannot comprehend the monumental impact the events that such a watershed year can have on a society. I found ""The Eve of Destruction: How 1965 Transformed America"" to be a compelling and fast-moving read that attempts to tie all of these disparate events together and to make sense of it all. Frankly, in some cases you can while in others it is simply not possible. In any event, I will never think of that year in quite the same way again. As it all turned out what transpired during 1965 not only had implications for LBJ's liberal agenda. Indeed, after the tremendous shellacking that Barry Goldwater took in the 1964 Presidential election many would argue that the events of 1965 would help to spawn a conservative renaissance in America. ""The Eve of Destruction"" would be a great choice for history buffs and general readers alike. There is an awful lot to chew on here. James T. Patterson has certainly succeeded in making history come alive for his readers. Highly recommended!",4.0,"A year of disappointment, discord and discontent.",1356307200,"12 24, 2012",12,14,helpful,0.8571428571428571,1 A2DTYY6R8S8MCK,0981652565,AEL,"[7, 9]","I bought this book after reading a few fiction books about school shootings and disturbed teenagers; I decided to read a nonfiction book on the subject, and chose this particular book because reviews indicated it was more fact-based than other Columbine books. I was in 8th grade when Columbine happened, and as a result don't remember a lot of the coverage from it, so I was really looking forward to getting a comprehensive look at what happened that day, how the investigation afterwards went and what happened beforehand that led up to this tragedy. Unfortunately I came away disappointed.It's obvious that Kass is a reporter and not an author of books; the entire book reads as a super-long newspaper article that's poorly organized and lacking cohesiveness. As others have pointed out, there's no index, so it's next to impossible to keep track of all the characters involved, especially in law enforcement. Kass writes about people in this book the same way reporters do in articles: mentioning the full name once, then referring to them mainly by first or last name only from then on. It works in newspaper articles where it's easy to reference back, but it's a mess in a book. The entire book is sloppy and awkward in organization, wording and grammar. Here are two actual sentences from the book to illustrate:""At federal court in downtown Detroit the city is gray in both color and character."" (WTF does that mean?)""Philip Duran, who introduced Eric and Dylan to Manes, pleaded guilty to the same charges as Duran and got four and a half years."" (He pled guilty to the same charges as...himself? Hmmm. Also, just personal opinion here but...even though the word ""pleaded"" is formally correct, it's a stupid word. Pled is better.)Kass also begins thoughts, but doesn't finish them. For example, early in the book we're told that Dave Sanders' death was one of the most controversial, and later on it's mentioned in a random paragraph that his daughter got a much larger settlement than other victims' families because of ""different circumstances"". Yet we're never given details about exactly what the controversy is and what the different circumstances are. Instead, he spends a big chunk of the book telling us all about one victim's family: the Shoels. There's virtually no discussion of any other victims' families; it felt like Kass had a personal problem with the Shoels and decided to focus on them to settle the score.In fact, the whole book feels that way. Kass focuses on random things that he has chosen to care about, tells you all about open records requests he was personally involved in, but never fleshes out a complete unbiased story. It's just bits and pieces scattered all over the place; it left me feeling confused. The whole book felt like a egocentric blame-fest: Kass telling us what a noble crusader for information he is (down to hunting down neighbors of one of the killers' grandparents--how annoying!) and what information hoarders various government agencies are, families falling all over themselves to sue each other and law enforcement officials (who all settled for $ rather than push through to a trial), blah blah. There was so much focus on the minutiae and not enough focus on the big picture and what to do next.There were so many extraneous details (a chapter devoted to the flippin history of Colorado, family histories of the Harrises and Klebolds that stretch back generations but add nothing to the story at hand, pages and pages devoted to the lawyers who represented some family members afterwards, etc) AND a lack of details I actually cared about (the controversy of Dave Sanders, broader focus on the victims and their families, details of police/paramedic response, survivors' opinions on what was behind the shootings, what can be done better next time, etc). And finally, the book had no conclusion. It just kind of...ended.Indeed, Kass says he's writing the book to tell us the story of Columbine and figure out how to prevent or stop school shootings, but he never offers any concrete conclusions about how Columbine specifically or school shootings in general can be prevented. What, exactly, does he think should have been done? Yes, Harris and Klebold wrote some scary things and did some weird stuff leading up to Columbine, but what should anyone have done about it? Kass seems to blame law enforcement for missing some red flags prior to the shooting, but he also says that the diversion program the killers were in a year before the shootings only served to fuel their fire, so what type of intervention might have worked? That information was sorely lacking. Again, just lots of blame but no suggestions for how to fix it.That's probably because the answer to how to stop school shootings is: you can't. There's much to be gained by investigating, but sometimes you have to accept that not all bad things are preventable. Sometimes bad things just happen. We should still investigate what could've been done different leading up to and in response to the crisis, but the notion that you can somehow compile a profile of school shooters and use it to magically eradicate school shootings just isn't realistic. But getting back to the book, my problem is not that Kass didn't come to the same conclusion as me: my problem is that he didn't have a conclusion at all.I threw him an extra star for all the research that obviously went in to this book, and for the portions that I did find to be interesting, but for the most part I felt that this book was a waste of my time. I feel only slightly more informed about Columbine having read it, and I think I could've become equally informed by just reading the Wikipedia page.",2.0,Meh,1345766400,"08 24, 2012",7,9,helpful,0.7777777777777778,1 AFI0XPOV8JH5F,0395665698,B. Leblanc,"[10, 12]","Even though I was enthralled by Robert Stone's engrossing tale, I couldn't help stopping in my tracks time and again in order to re-read a passage and enjoy the sheer elegance of the author's style. Few authors can match this combination of storytelling skill, this amazing erudition and this control of the english language. If such a comparison means anything, I would suggest that Mr. Stone writes somewhat like a darker version of Robertson Davies. The book requires attention, but it generously rewards the reader who takes time to ponder the events as they unfold. The characters are richly described in nuanced tones, and the dialogues sound amazingly authentic. Highly recommended to everyone who loves a complex yarn dealing with difficult issues such as faith, fate, and the human condition. Definitely NOT recommended to action/adventure afficionadoes.",5.0,When writing is more than telling a story,951091200,"02 21, 2000",10,12,helpful,0.8333333333333334,1 APZRP7S4TAHIQ,1118020359,strappers girl,"[0, 0]",I love to cook and Casseroles are the things I like to cook the most. I love to have a lot of different choices of what to make for dinner. I would recommend this book to others.,5.0,love it,1381276800,"10 9, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 AZOIH147N96X9,0061099732,"Avid book reader ""JSC""","[0, 0]",I read this book page after page until it was completed. The written explanations of how the Outer Banks lives and breathes was how I also remember this part of North Carolina. I did not know how the story would end and was very surprised with the ending. I have admired Siddons way of telling stories for many years. Thanks for a great read!!!,5.0,Outer Banks Mystery,1348272000,"09 22, 2012",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A9IY4CDCROY4U,0809129809,"D. D. Klak ""Packer Backer""","[0, 0]","If you read HEALING OF MEMORIES, read this one. It ties in also with HEALING LIFE'S HURTS. They are a good package deal to embark on.",5.0,connections,1378166400,"09 3, 2013",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A09533821SFZV7237XJHH,0062082108,Wid Dockhorn,"[0, 0]",loved the way of introducing each book of the new testament and then reading and comparing this book with the Bible.,5.0,Great way to read the new testment,1400371200,"05 18, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A5GNK2RHDIP4H,0373210663,"cattack ""Cattack""","[0, 0]","I really liked the finale of the Soul screamers series. It was tied up nicely and it was a fast read! I love me some Tod he is such a cutie! Sometimes I got sick of Kaylee always feeling the need to be the mortar and fix everything. However, over all I really liked the series. Some of the teen series get annoying because they are so G rated and babyish..this was not and I like it! Fun series!",5.0,The end..,1402963200,"06 17, 2014",0,0,unhelpful,,0 A1STV8PGA8X97I,015603297X,"Lora York ""IslVoter""","[7, 8]","Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto EcoThis book is The Da Vinci Code on steroids. Nevermind that The Da Vinci Code was written in 2003 and this first in 1988, I'm gonna postulate that Eco's documented jealousy of other writers stealing his genius comes from Dan Brown's novel. He puts himself in league with whomever supposedly ghost wrote for Shakespeare. Trust me, Umberto, you're no Shakespeare!As it is, Umberto Eco, a Professor of Semiotics [Huh? It is the study of cultural sign processes (semiosis), analogy, metaphor, signification and communication, signs and symbols] - cannot help himself--he must associate this with that, this with that until it borders on mental illness. The Dan Brown book features a ""symbologist"" professor--very similar. Aha! I've found yet another connection! That is the kind of twisted logic this book is all about.But Professor Eco is also a ""literary critic"", and as such, should know what constitutes good novels. Each part needs to contribute something to whole or it shouldn't be included. Two-thirds of this 641-page book could and should have been edited out so that it actually was a compelling mystery. But Eco can't do that. I think some consider this a classic because they are afraid to admit they didn't follow much of what the novel drivels on about.So why did I chose this book? I understand the impulse of the mind to make connections-between all kinds of things. Often, it's difficult for me to find others who are similarly interested--or care-- about the connections that I constantly see between this behavior and that, this theory and current events. I thought Umberto Eco sounded like a kindred spirit. But the book is an extended metaphor for Six Degrees of Separation (or Kevin Bacon. however you chose to play it).I had heard many theories about Knights Templar / Masons, / the Illuminati, Rosicrucians and other organizations ruling the world. I had just recently gained a rudimentary understanding of Kaballah and cabalists,which is a major theme --the idea that the knowledge of the Universe can be gained by rewriting the Torah into all it's permutations by reorganizing the words (?letters). It's the old 100 monkeys writing the classic novels of the world theory. And I think that's how he decided to write this one! I thought with a little French and Latin, I'd be OK.The beginning images of the huge Foucault's Pendulum, which swings based on some intangible point out in space, with no width and depth, and traces the lines of evidence of a rotating Earth were compelling, so I continued.There are portions of the novel that contribute to the plot, but massive portions are erudition about obscure topics which no one would care about after the first 25 side tangents. Here is a typical paragraph from the 641 dense pages of the book:I knew nothing at all about Trithemeius, but in Paris I found an edition of his Steganographia, hoc est ars per occultam scripturam animi sui voluntatem absentibus aperiendi cert, published in Frankfurt in 1606. The art of using secret writing in order to bare your soul to a distant persons. A fascinating man, this Trithemius. A Benedictive abbot of Spannheim, late fifteenth -early sixteenth centuries, a scholar who knew Hebrew and Chaldrea, Oriental languages like Tartar. He corresponded with theologians, cabalists, alchemists, most certainly with the great Corenelius Agreppa of Nettesheim and perhaps with Paracelsus...""Other than to reinforce the theme that ""Everything is related"" it serves very little purpose. But there are unending sections like this, usually untranslated Latin or French or Italian. To say finishing this book was a slog is a gross understatement.What I did find a little interesting was the man behind the book. He does seem to have a mistrust of his own writing skills as well as a resentment of others who do write. All main characters are essentially the same one. Never in real life would you find three people who loved the pursuit of endless minutia for it's own sake the way the three main characters do. You could interchange any one of them for the other. It is not by accident that one of the publishing companies is called Manutian (minutia). [Eco also apparently hates publishers and considers them stupid.]He inserted unfinished sections of things he had written before, as the writings of another character. It is sprinkled as well with personal memories that had some impact on him. But the as to the discipline of including only what contributes to the storyline of a novel, he is incapable.I will say that I probably picked up some new vocabulary, and perhaps some new information about Nazis or cabalists or almost everything else. But probably not since I was never sure if he was exaggerating the information and connections like some grand Tin Hat Theory.I remember reading someone else's review of this book saying she finally made it through with a dictionary in hand. But no one would ever finish this book if they looked up each obscure reference he makes.But, who's the fool here? I finished the damn thing!",3.0,Minutia Gone Amok,1289865600,"11 16, 2010",7,8,helpful,0.875,1