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News Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

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The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells: The Ultimate Reference Book for the Magical Arts
Published in Paperback by Element Books Ltd. (2004-03-25)
Author: Judika Illes
List price: $39.97
New price: $37.86
Used price: $34.78

Average review score:

A great reference book!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-02
The book is amazing. It's so big and I payed the full price for it but its one of my best new age reference books I have. The spells come from all kinds of magickal forms. So you can weed out what you need and what you do.
Amazing book!!

Interesting reference
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-24
While this book is quite interesting, the authors seem to confuse, potions, charms, incantations, spells and magical ceremonies quite frequently. Also the majority of 'spells' listed are quite outdated or obscure.

Great for harry potter fans!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-22
I ordered this book after reading other reviews of it and was not let down at all! It exceeded my expectations! I loved the insight into each spell and there are so many. Even multiple spells to do one thing. Hope you find this useful in deciding whether or not to buy this book. Oh and go to amazon the Canadian version because its a lot cheaper.

Absloutely Amazing Book...best I've seen yet
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-17
This book is trulu amazing! I could not wait to get it, and when I did I was not disappointed. I spent 2 days reading this book and I can't imagine what other book you would ever need. It contains everything from recipes for inks, oils, incenses, and potions, to history, health warnings on herbs, spells, hexes, and antidotes. This is definitely a book that will be well used and well loved. It is a huge book with huge potential and would be a welcome addition to anyone practicing spellcraft. Highly recommended!!

Absoulutely the best spells book ever!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-05
I was looking to find a book of spells that was somewhat diverse that would encompas a large variety of not only "spells" per se but potions, rituals various other concepts re: Magical Spells & I have to say this is by far THE BEST reference book I've found to date! I have bought several other books prior too this one, however when I received this one...I haven't felt a need for more of late:) There is so much information packed in this book/encyclopedia it will take me quite some time to get thru it all! By far well worth the money! YOU need this book as a reference tool if you're seriously interested in wanting information pertaining to learning the ways of Magick & Spell Work! Wonderful find & read!

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Forests Of Silence (Deltora Quest)
Published in Mass Market Paperback by Scholastic Inc. (2003-05-01)
Author: Emily Rodda
List price: $1.99
New price: $0.01
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

Deltora is a quest of wonder
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-27
DELTORA QUEST are a fantastic book series for juvenile readers, filled with action and magic and adventure. THE FORESTS OF SILENCE is anything but silent. It absolutely SCREAMS fine work and captivates readers on the first page. The Shadow Lord is a non-appearing villain in this book, much like the main villains in LORD OF THE RINGS and ERAGON & ELDEST, but Rodda makes up for it easily with Gorl the evil knight, the sinister Grey Guards and who could forget the absolutely wicked Prandine. This book is a true modern classic and will and should be remembered for years.

One of the best series ever!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-03
This is absolutely one of the best series. Sure they are short books. There are 15 books in all. The main story is Leif and his friends Barda and Jasmine have to go on a very important mission to save all of Deltora. I'm not going to give any of the plot away though!

Unimpressed
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-12
I was rather surprised to see so many positive reviews of this book, but I guess I'm not the standard in this case.

When I bought this book I had never heard of Deltora Quest or Emily Rodda before and the only reason I paid money for it was because I wanted to read a marginally written children's fantasy. But this has nothing to do with my taste in books.

As I read it, I became increasingly embarrassed by the writing. The book's pace was unsettlingly quick so by page fifty the characters were already grown up and had families. It's meant as a children's story so the book is given some allotment of cheesiness, but it's taken to another level with the constant barrage of cliched phrases and cookie-cutter characters that are just plain boring. To be honest, it read like an unskilled preteen's idea of fantasy with a plot line thought up during third period math class.

The majority of my problem with this book doesn't lie with the plot because any plot can be made interesting with some crafty writing. This book didn't have crafty writing. The dialogue was weak at best and the occasional attempt at dated language was painful. The zooming plot line mixed with the excruciating descriptions make it hard to read.

I suppose in the end I got what I wanted, thus the two stars, but this book just isn't that good. Yes, it's a children's book and any child would like it, but even children deserve some quality writing and for a seasoned writer, this shouldn't be considered a huge success.

DELTORA QUEST!!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-13
Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda is one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. It is about two boys name Jarred and Endon who have been best friends since they where little. They lived in a castle, Endon was the son of the king of Deltora and Jarred was the son of a butler at the castle. Endon's dad has just died and he is about to take over the thrown. Jarred has done some research on the belt of Deltora and knows that if Endon does not where the belt all of Deltora will fall to the dark lord. One of the kings friends talks Endon into thinking that Jarred is going to betray him, so Endon has called the guards on Jarred but will he escape?
Deltora is vast land suppurated into 7 tribes who each had a magical gem. The story of the land goes that there once was a blacksmith. He wanted to bring the tribes together. So he makes a belt with 7 slots to put the gems in. After he made the belt He went to each of the tribes to ask them to set there gems in the belt. One by one the each put there gem inside the belt, then he put on the belt and all of the tribes where united and he was known as the king of delta but what he doesn't know is that someone is planing to kill him.
I would recommend this book to anybody with a great since of imagination and adventure.

First Fantasy
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-05
This book was my first fantasy book, and it made me a lifelong fan. Rodda's way of writing is magnificent, and her descriptions are amazing. For those who read "epic", if you want your kids to become like you, this is a great place to start, reminiscent of Robert Jordan.

Storyline:
Young Lief of Del, a boy living in living nightmare to all, is called forth by his father, Jared. The first half is taken in the POV of Jared, the second Lief. Lief and Barda set out to the Forests of Silence, to find the first gem of the belt of Deltora.

Pros:
-Nice unclichéd characters, although one reminds me of a character from the Wheel of Time, slightly.
-Good worldbuilding that stretches over the entire series; one that could almost be real.
-Great sense of danger; the monsters are unique in fashion; like the Oz tales.

Cons:
-Random seperations of characters; anger used in unhelpful situations.

News
Lady President
Published in Hardcover by New Future Publishing (1997-01)
Author: Xavier Joseph Carbajal
List price: $24.95
New price: $5.00
Used price: $5.73
Collectible price: $25.00

Average review score:

Fast, exciting and terrific!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-12-09
My daughter was reading this book for her government class and I started reading this. I could not put this book down. Even my husband started reading Lady President. This unique tale of international intrigue and political double-dealing is almost right out of todays headlines. President Marie Arcola is a tough, well created character and a role model for the women in our nation. I am going to bring this one to my bookclub and I hope to see a sequel soon.

A FANTASTIC PAGE TURNER!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-10-16
The ladies from my book club stumbled on this Lady President novel over their summer reading from two of their teenage daughters. My gosh! The way this story is told is as if the author could see the future. The situation in Iraq and Iran, the events from last September, the incidents in Washington, D.C. President Marie Arcola is very much a mirror of what women are going through in todays world. I am a manager of a big company and I can relate to the stereotypes in this novel. Many of my friends who read this book were surprised about the certain prophecies touched upon in this fast-paced story. And we are only two years away from a Presidential election.

Great fun and a good look at women in politics.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-05-09
I had to pick a bunch of books to do my government paper. Lady President was one of the books. My teacher said it was great for a fiction but since there has not been an America woman president I could only use it for entertainment purposes. Still this book was the talk of my class. And I did my paper on other women in American politics. My older sister and my mom read Lady President and they loved it. They thought President Marie Arcola was a strong, tough character. We also liked Senator Ttrevor Thomas and the other characters. Someday this story might be true or a story like it. I will be going to college in two years and plan to go into education. I know for a fact there is politics in the field of education. I think this book educated a bunch of my friends and I about America with a woman president.

Lady President is a wonderful story and idea
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-03-21
I am doing a high school paper about women in politics and I read Lady President. It is difficult to understand why women have to struggle in this country and I can identify with President Marie Arcola as she tries to get the generals and senators to cooperate and let her do her job. My teacher brought up this idea of an American woman president in class and the class was divided. Some of my friends read this book and were impressed. My government class has learned alot about other countries from this story. Especially Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. And the way the Taliban treated women. I think Lady President is ahead of its time and we hope to see another book with President Marie Arcola.

Lady President is surprisingly terrifying and quasirealistic
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2001-12-11
I am a San Francisco professor on Sabbatical. I was talking with my daughter about this extraordinary Lady President novel and I have brought it to my sisters attention. We were in New York City during the summer and two weeks after September 11th. Part of my teachings deal with how books and movies mirror our inner egos. In Xavier Carbajal's Lady President novel a tense dramatic statement is introduced for the future of America. Right off the bat, this author causes chaos: America has its first woman vice president and she wants to quit. Vice President Marie Arcolas life is near perfect. She has a wealthy, loving husband, two beautiful children and is ready to relax into a life of writing childrens novels. But terrorism makes the mark. My sister read this book a few months ago and she told me it was like walking through a maze of mirrors. I noticed this author wrote a Jules Verne sequel called Captain Nemo and another work on Edgar Allan Poe. Those other works are very different from this novel. I am curious as to how this author had the intuition to create Lady President. Although Hollywood and other writers have attempted to invent America with its first woman president, they will never come close to what Lady President has to offer. There is a sense of primal fear intertwined with every page. The author takes the lady president and asks us "What do you think? How is America with a woman president?" Now, since my daughter and I read this novel, my sister read it again and brought some interesting theories to light. My husband also read this novel and introduced a totally new revelation of Americas future: all the soldiers, the call to duty and the sacrifices made to fight true evil and our country now becoming a fortress. Mr. Carbajal left the end of this story with us wondering. We still have dozens of unanswered questions. I hope to see a sequel to this marvelous story.

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Sheep in a Jeep
Published in Paperback by Houghton Mifflin (1988-10-24)
Author: Nancy E. Shaw
List price: $5.95
New price: $0.50
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $10.00

Average review score:

Sheep in a Jeep can't be beat!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-29
I was first introduced to this book when a friend's toddler received it for Christmas. He loved it. That was 5 or 6 years ago. Recently we found it at the library and my boys loved it so much that we bought our own. My 2yo son loves it and even the 4yo still asks to read it. It's a keeper!

Wonderful illustrations with an educational background
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-28
Our school district had a paperback version of this book (not cardboard) as a part of the reading curriculum for the kinders and it was so cute I had to buy it in order to keep it at home. The facial expressions of these sheep are too adorable, the sentence structure is kept simple, and it rhymes. Plus, the kids love it :^).

It's a Jeep thing...
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-10
As a Jeep owner, when I saw this book at my library's book fair - I just HAD to get it for my toddler. A year later, we still love reading it. The rhymes are great and so memorable that we find ourselves using some of the lines whenever a mishap occurs in our daily lives. Whether you're a Jeep owner or not - this book is a MUST have!

Sheep in a Jeep
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-11
Good basic rhyming vocabulary with plenty of humor. Nicely done lesson on consequences of not focusing on the task at hand. Good clear illustrations. Good to hear now with lots of sound effects and to read alone later.

Sheep in a Jeep
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-19
Sheep in a Jeep is a fun book using rhythmic wording. The pictures are humorous. My disappointment was with the small size of the board book. No where did it say the miniature dimensions of the book. I prefer board books that are in the larger format of 8x11.

News
Aiming at Amazon: The NEW Business of Self Publishing, or How to Publish Books for Profit with Print on Demand by Lightning Source and Book Marketing on Amazon.com
Published in Paperback by Shepard Publications (2007-01-01)
Author: Aaron Shepard
List price: $12.50
New price: $15.89
Used price: $14.40

Average review score:

Hits the Target!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-02
Aiming at Amazon is a good common sense resource that covers the basics of publishing, building your book, and promoting on Amazon.com. The book is primarily geared for beginners in the book publishing game. However, it has some excellent ideas and resources for someone who already knows the basics.

The decision making process of how to market your book today is tough. You have to get above the Chattering Monkeys so people notice you. I understand there are somewhere in the neighborhood of 400-500 books published today...and that number is probably growing. Also, there are thousands of potential marketing ideas. Where do you start without pulling your hair out? That is the purpose of Aiming at Amazon.

Soooo.....the key question is: With a limited amount of time and resources, which marketing efforts should you pursue? As John Kremer says in his book: 1001 Ways to Market Your Books; 90% of your marketing efforts are ineffective. But, you don't know which efforts are going to be effective. Thus, don't invest too much time and energy in one area. In effect, test the waters with your big toe before jumping in!

Aiming at Amazon is focused at getting the most bang for your buck by using the many resources on Amazon to promote your work. This book accomplishes that task very well. And it costs only your time to market well on Amazon (not counting the money you invest getting your book published).

Just a few of the subjects covered are: Why to choose print on demand, the benefits of publishing with Lightening Source, how to get an ISBN number, deciding on a title and subtitle and designing the cover and graphics. It also covers: Create a real best seller, making it available, getting customer reviews, measuring success, aiming at other Amazons and more.

Overall this is an excellent resource for Aiming at Amazon!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

Focused, Valuable, and Competent
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-20
This book is exactly what an informative book should be: It assumes you know nothing (without being patronizing), explains clearly why the information is useful, gives plenty of pointers and important pieces of information (without being bogged down by them), and keeps a sprightly tone throughout.

If you desire to right in a niche audience, this book is all you need to cover the publishing angle -- highly recommended.

Finally, The Missing Link Between Dead Tree Books and E-Books
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-22
Using the number of dog-eared pages scale, this book should rank much higher than five stars. As soon as the UPS truck delivered the book, I started reading it. Unable to tear myself away from it, I then took it to my favorite reading room--the gym. There I spent two hours riding the exercise bike while I read the first two-thirds of the volume. After I left the gym I spent another hour finishing the 164 page main text. This book is long overdue. It fills in the gaps left by other publishing books such as the classic guides by Fern Reiss, Dan Poynter, Tom and Marilyn Ross and others.
Like any book on "a moving target" like Amazon.com, this volume will be in constant need of updating, but right at this moment, it's just what the doctor ordered for wannabe authors. It's full of surprises such as the title of one early chapter "Forget Bookstores." Other surprises include coming up with titles for books that reflect the exact nature of the subject plus one or two subtitles that while long, expand the list of areas covered in the book so that people searching for those subjects can easily find the title. The more key words and subject areas listed in the book's titles and subtitles, the more likely search engines are to locate the book and direct the potential buyer to it. When the same book comes up in several search areas, it will be higher up on the "final result list' of books the search engine compiles.
Other surprises include the different techniques for cover design. The Amazon listings are postage-stamp sized and have to be designed like a postage stamp, not like a book that will be sold in a bookstore. Much of this guidebook stresses the material that needs to be included in the book that may be different than that of regular books. It compares Print on Demand publishers and supplies numerous websites for further detailed research. Just the comparison of POD publishers is worth the price of the book.
During my first read of this tome I dog-eared at least every other page so that I could come back to it for further study and consideration. Some times I dog-eared both the bottom and top of a page.
Since I don't usually bother to write a review of a book that already has 72 reader's reviews, the fact that I'm doing that, should provide the reader a clue as to how important I found the information contained therein. I can't recommend this short book enough. (The author points out that shorter books are best for marketing on Amazon and why that is so). I've already ordered another book by the same author and will keep an eye on his website for updates. This book will show you how marketing on Amazon is entirely different than what publishers have traditionally done. It will give the writer step-by-step directions on how to successfully promote and sell your books on Amazon and it will provide the secrets for doing all this at dirt-cheap costs.
Be prepared to read and re-read this Hitchhikers Guide to the Amazon Galaxy.

Somewhat helpful
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-27
I've gotten some very good pointers and helpful hints about publishing my book. There were times that I felt Shepard was pushing Lightning Source and other times he comes across as very cocky about his books overselling others, etc. which is a turnoff to me as I'm not interested in reading that. I only wanted to know the easiest and best way to self publish my book.

Overall, it was somewhat helpful but decided to not use Amazon to publish after reading Shepard's book.

Ready...Aim...Don't Fire At Amazon
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-08
If you're looking for a book to help you get started before you've written your book, this book would be good. If you're looking for a book to help you use Amazon as a tool to increase your book sales, I'd skip this one. You're better off with "Sell Your Book On Amazon" or "Plug Your Book".

Other than writing an accurate review and encouraging others to write accurate reviews, from the author's perspective, most of Amazon's marketing programs don't work well. They are either abused to the point that customers find the information unreliable ("staged" reviews), or they don't achieve desired results (SNP or BXGY). So what's the point?

To quote the author, "In fact, the only way to keep up with the ever-multiplying features is to spend time on Amazon." Gee, I thought that was why I bought this book. Because YOU had done the work, and I could take advantage of your expertise. If I have to do it myself, why should I buy this book?

As in every book, if you can find one or two points which are of value, it's not a total loss. And there were a few helpful tools. Plus, the author is very honest about pushing the ethical limits for exposure, which is a fresh approach from other books I've read which encourage excessive, shameless self-promotion.

[...]

News
Civil Procedure: Examples & Explanations 5th edition
Published in Paperback by Aspen Publishers (2006-01-01)
Author: Joseph W. Glannon
List price: $41.95
New price: $25.95
Used price: $14.68

Average review score:

Buy It
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-11
I recently finished my first year at a top tier law school. This book did so much for me. If you are serious about getting good grades in CivPro, I think you should seriously consider this book. It forces you to understand the concepts and work through the rules, which is vital to doing well on exams. Don't stress about exams. This will help you.

One of the best investments I made my 1L year
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-22
This is by far one of the best supplements out there. It really explains everything and illustrates the material with great examples followed by explanations that are clear and concise. I would not recommend taking Civil Procedure without this book.

However, one caveat: this book may not cover all of the material in your Civ Pro class. Off the top of my head, I know it is missing chapters on class actions, Seventh Amendment right to jury trials, and interpleader (though it has impleader and other joinder topics). Despite this minor shortcoming, the material that is contained in this supplement is explained well and illustrated through great examples. Definitely a must have!

Very Helpful
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-14

This is an essential supplement if you are going to understand this God-forsaken subject. I took off a star because there are some important subjects that are not covered in the book for some reason (For example, there is very little on Rule 24)

Great choice
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-05
This book was very helpful for reviewing each section as we went through them in class. The explanation sections are wonderful and the examples are very helpful for exam prep.

Ok, but No Freer
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-12
E&E is a great series. I've found many of the books helpful in supplementing law school reading that can be at times difficult to synthesize. However, Freer's supplement on civil procedure is unbeatable.

Law school is about knowing the rule and applying the facts. E&E is great at helping you to know the rule. However, it doesn't help you figure out how to apply the facts, especially in a way pertinent to law school exams. Freer's book is full of examples and frameworks that assure success on your CivPro exam. This is especially true of the frameworks he lays out for analyzing Personal Jurisdiction problems and Erie.

Buy Freer and you'll be happier going into your final.

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Harlem Girl Lost: A Novel
Published in Paperback by One World/Ballantine (2006-09-26)
Author: Treasure E. Blue
List price: $12.95
New price: $7.32
Used price: $5.75

Average review score:

Actually Prayed...
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-06
I really enjoyed this book. It's a great read. A favorite for me. I was reading on the train one day and got sooo caught up in the book that I almost missed my stop! lol, this book also made me do something that I've never done before, which was pray for the character. That's how real the words become. You truly fall in love with Silver and her plight, that you want to root for her with everything... including prayers & tears ; ), well maybe just the prayers for me. Treasure has created a wonderful world and I'm sure you'll be pleased.

Oh Yeah!! !Great Book!!!!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-02

This was book was exceptionally brillant! The creative way the writer used his words to manipulate my mind and bring me into his world was powerful. Treasure E. Blue has given me a new outlook on the way I view society today. It's taught me to always be thankful for what I have and not for what I don't have. In life we have many challenges, and this book has made me realize that I'm not the only person facing obstacles. Thanks much! Now, if only I could get my uncle to write as good as you (Smile)

A Book Worth Reading A+++++++++
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-01
For me, after reading a book the reminants generally lasts a few days. However, with Harlem Girl Lost by Treasure E. Blue these reminants have lasted for several weeks now. Generally, I do not provide feedback on a book; but, in this case an exception has been made! I was able to relate to some of the characters in the book; which bought me back to the days of growing up in Harlem. Sometimes you think you could escape the past, but reading a fantastic book such as this makes one realize we all have made mistakes. This book has been an inspiration to me and provided me with one of those "ah haa" moments. I have recently started a mini book club with a few friends. Our first book, you guessed it...Harlem Girl Lost!!! I wished I had a read a book such as this many years ago, but as they say better late than never. I simply wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you for writing such a great book!!! Of course, I am now reading "A Street Girl Named Desire". Shhh, don't let my club know. At any rate, this book is worth the reading, I can't wait for the next one, or better yet a movie. Please continue to write, we need more writers like you. Best Wishes :)

Wow!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-24
This bookis of the chain!!! The characters are so real and the storyline was amazing, nothing was left out. All of my questions were answered. I would highly recommend this book to my fellow readers. I really hope that Treasure Blue will bring out another novel really soon because I will truely support all of his books.

Another rewrite would have improved it.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-21
Treasure E. Blue, Harlem Girl Lost (Ballantine, 2004)

It's an oft-bandied-about statistic in writing manuals that 95% of the books published in any given year sell less than five thousand copies total. So, when one reads about a book that, when self-published, sold sixty-five thousand copies-- to spell that out for you, outsold most books published by a factor of thirteen before it landed a book deal-- one expects something special. Or one should, anyway.

When Blue is on his game, this book is something special. It's a fast, ugly, whip-smart morality tale about life in Harlem. It chronicles the lives of Silver Jones, whose mother raised her to be someone who could get out of the decrepit neighborhood and start fresh somewhere else, and Silver's on-again off-again boyfriend Chance, school outcast turned slick, predatory drug dealer. The book (aside from a few flashback chapters that drag) keeps along at a breakneck pace, challenging the reader to catch up, spinning its tale as outlandishly as any of the blaxploitation movies Blue castigates in a passing comment.

That said, Blue is not always on his game, and when he's not, the book grates. His characters are often boilerplate, if not outright stereotypical (remembering that stereotypes apply equally to the good as well as the bad), and his plot harks back to those same movies. That said, this sort of thing can be mighty enjoyable in the right hands. Every time I got myself convinced that Blue's hands are the right ones, he did something else that annoyed me. Time and again it was the book's dialogue. I understand the whole "keeping it real" thing, but there's a point where you've gone beyond keeping it real and entered the territory of keeping it parodic. And, really, how many times do you have to use the word [censored] in a book to keep it real? Not this many, I'm pretty sure.

Not a bad book, but not nearly what it could have been. ** ½

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My Family and Other Animals
Published in Hardcover by Peter Smith Publisher (1983-06)
Author: Gerald Durrell
List price: $30.00
New price: $29.69
Used price: $29.99

Average review score:

You'll end up reading this one over and over again...
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-21
I must say this is one of the most light-hearted, hilarious books I have ever read. The story is of a world that one really may not get to see these days.. Go ahead and buy it..

Way better than Croc Hunter
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-06-30
In todays day and age of Steve Erwin and Jeff Corbin who go around hunting for animals, it is easy to forget where it all started. With people like Gerald, and the London zoo. In this book, he collects animals, deals with his demented siblings and his long suffering mother who has to raise four kids and fend off the advances of a really persistent Colonel who gets increasingly vulgar and `grabby' when he drinks. This is a rare story that combines a humorous story with humorous writing and I once caused passengers in a flight to turn around and give me strange looks, so hard was I laughing.

Skeleton of a Plot embellished with tonnes of vocab
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2003-11-17
My Family and Other Animals is a bare-bones story in terms of plot. The Durrell family goes to Corfu, lives through what could be termed as a soap opera, and leaves. It's humourous, but not particularly challenging.

However, the older Gerald Durrell utilises vivid vocabulary over and over when describing the setting and people of Corfu. Fifteen-letter words that paint a crystalline picture are used frequently, relieving the never-ending roller coaster that is the life of the Durrells.

Overall, this is a highly entertaining book that will keep you engaged for the week or so that you will spend reading it every spare second you have.

the funny Durrell
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-04-24
Gerald Durrell was not only a naturalist and a gifted writer about his beloved animals, but a loving brother and son whose descriptions of his family and their foibles will keep you laughing all the way through. This is one of those books which I've reread so many times I've lost count, and which I've given to many friends who needed cheering up. Always works, too!

I wish I could give it 6 stars!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-09
This book is absolutely, brilliantly funny. The wit and unique characterizations are woven with great descriptions of the animals and plants of Corfu. That Durrell can hold the attention of readers who have no interest in biology simply demonstrates what a fine work this is. Gerald's depiction of a larger-than-life expatriate family on a larger-than-life Greek island is a tremendous celebration of life. The variety of different Greek characters parading through this book rivals the variety of Corfu's flora and fauna. Absolute great read!

News
Inspired By The Bible Experience: The Complete Bible
Published in Audio CD by Zondervan (2007-11-05)
Author:
List price: $124.99
New price: $74.75
Used price: $71.90

Average review score:

Excellent Resource
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-14
This was a wonderful collection!! I travel a lot and have listened to the Bible on CD before but this is a classic...it is so well acted out that I have cried, laughed but mostly pondered the messages. Talk about making "it real"! Nothing takes the place of reading the Word for yourself but this is excellent...I strongly recommend it.

Totally Awesome!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-08
I LOVE this Bible! It really puts you right there in Biblical times and the way the actors read the text gives you a different perspective on how Jesus and the disciples (as well as other people) said things and might have been thinking and feeling. I really strongly recommend this Bible!The gospel of John Ch. 17 where Jesus is talking to his disciples before his crucifixion is incredible!!

Inspired By The Bible Experience: The Complete Bible
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-16
In the past we have purchased other Bible readings on casette primarily to study the Bible while traveling. This new version is so dynamic with sound effects along with the emotion of the reader that I want to pull off the road so I don't miss a thing. Our pastor who introducted us to this product has fairly thoroughly checked the reading with the same written version of The Holy Scriptures and finds them to be the same. Before, simply listening to some voice reading the bible was not that interesting. The Bible Experience has made listening to the Bible an enriched learning experience. The drama in the stories of GOD'S work and word are now so exciting. Our thanks and prayers to all involved in this project. However, nothing can replace seeking that special quiet place to read and meditate on GOD'S wonderful Word.

Amazing!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-14
I love the music score and the actors' voices, except a few small bit pieces. I love how they continually read the books without interrupting with chapters numbers. It is an Experience, as they say. I also really liked the sleek case the complete set came in. I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could.

A must buy and listen to!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-07
This is a must buy and listen to! I have difficulties trying to understand much of what I read in the Bible. Through spoken word, it brings to you understandable life to the Scriptures. I encourage this to anyone who would like to really grow in GOD'S WORD!

News
Learning the Tarot: A Tarot Book for Beginners
Published in Paperback by Red Wheel/Weiser (1998-10)
Author: Joan Bunning
List price: $19.95
New price: $12.64
Used price: $8.83
Collectible price: $19.95

Average review score:

Tiffany's review
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-12
I have very much enjoyed my book on how to read tarot. There is so much valuable infomation and I am learning so much.

Learning the Tarot: A Tarot Book for Beginners
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-13
I love this tarot book, I have been doing the tarot for years and own a ton of books on said subject, Mrs Bunning is by far the best tarot teacher, I took her on line course and have her site bookmarked and decided to purchase her book, all I can say is I wished I had run across her book and course years ago would have saved me a ton of money on tarot books that try too hard to be mysterious and bogs the reader down with too many technical and confusing terms. her book brought the tarot experience together for me in a way no other book has been able to do. the book simplifies and demystifies the tarot and allows the readers own intuitive powers to kick in. I find myself going back over my tarot journal years ago and saying ahhhhhhh its much clearer now. by far one of the best tarot book on the market also her course is a must for any serious student of the tarot, Mrs Bunning is a true teacher in that she teaches the student to use a common sense approach to allow the cards to tell the story.

Thank you Ms. Bunning!!!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-18
I first learned the Tarot in 1976. Now over 30 years later I am finding myself having to re learn them as a result of memory loss due to a brain tumor. I bought several books in hopes of being able to recover some of my memory and learn again. I found this book by Ms. Joan Bunning to be one of the best! The print setting is just right for me making it easy for me to see. I have many decks of cards but wanted to start again on the deck I first learned on, the Rider-Waite Deck. The layout of this book is one that is so simple but yet so very complete and I am enjoying it! Parts are even coming back to me. The "how to" format with 19 lessons in all starts at the very basics of the Tarot and moves on to more advanced concepts. Starting with part one, Elements of the Tarot, it covers the Major Arcana, Minor Arcana, The Spread, Daily Reading and much much more! The card descriptions are very comprehensive and again easy to understand and follow. Ever read something and say to yourself "huh? What did that mean?" well you won't do that here! Also there is over 175 illustrations using the same deck, Waite. There is even a Website for support!! I just love this book and I want to thank Ms. Bunning for bring the Tarot back to light for me!!!

Wonderful Book!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-19
Pay no mind to the "reviewer" behind the curtain who complains about only one layout and no reversal meanings. If you're a beginner, or like me, have tried for years without finding out how to read the cards, this is the only book you should buy, and is the only one you'll really ever need to explain the cards. When you're ready for other layouts and reversals, buy her other books! With Ms. Bunning's guidance, you will learn how to become one with the cards and develop your own style of communicating with them. Most of us try to memorize meanings, then while staring blankly at the cards, our minds lock up on us. What we need to realize is that the cards are the archtypes of humanity, and as we use them to understand their characteristics within ourselves, they actually "speak" to us about where we're been, where we're headed, how we feel, and what we have and haven't learned from our mistakes. They also tell us what we have yet to learn to reach our fullest potential. The focus of these lessons is on finding ourselves in the cards. Once we realize who we are, then we can read for others, as the archtypes that appear in our lives, also guide the lives of those around us. Don't rush. Take your time. Enjoy the adventure. You'll be amazed at how things come together for you. And, if you want a preview of her work, check out her website.

Learning the Tarot
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-28
I love this book. It is easy to understand and it certainly helps me interpret the cards when I do my readings. It is very self explanatory.


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