K Books

Of the many novels Louis L'Amour wrote about the Sackett family, Jubal Sackett may be his best. The story is set in early America in the wild Rocky Mountain country--before the mountain men arrived. The story is addictive. I listened to the CDs at home, at the office, and in my car. It may also be the most creative and imaginative story that L'Amour every wrote. It is highly recommended.

I loved the content and the reader. Louis L'Amour did extensive research for the book and did a fabulous job a capturing the adventure and romance of the era. It's hard to imagine the frontier with all of the modern conveniences we currently have but the author paints a reasonable picture.
The reader did a fabulous job of relaying the essence of the book.

A typical L'Amour book - a dashing, trustworthy protagonist, just trying to live in peace but able to defend himself if and when necessary. Jubal Sackett is loved and trusted by all except the villains, who themselves have absolutely no redeeming qualities at all. In other words, the characters are very flat and monochromatic, and as a result, they come across as very artificial.

One thing you have to hand to L'Amour, though - he writes book easily read in an evening.

A very good story. I would have liked to know more of what happened before it ended. I found out that there are 3 books in the series that I needed to read before this one so I ordered them today. I would recommend this series to my friends and family.

This by far is the best audio book Ive listened to.

The guy reading the story has an accent that fits the story perfectly. While this is a lengthy book it is never boring
The pacing is perfect and the story itself is riviting.
Do yourself a favor and get this on audio. You will not be dissappionted

By far one of my favorite books on RAC internals.

I especially like the section on Cache Fusion and how locking works with Oracle 10g RAC and OPS.

My only request is that it covered more details on command line utilities but other books cover that so not that big of a deal.

It really is the guru internals guide to RAC for consultants!

I have the other book by Gopal on Oracle 10g Wait tuning and that is a great tech reference as well.

I had the fortune to work with Gopal on a RAC troubleshooting project. While a book cannot replace the real person it is a good summary of his experiences learned over many customer engagements.
The book covers all aspects of RAC from the history lesson and installation overview, to locking and even extended RAC. My favorite chapters are 10 "RAC Performance Management" and 14 "RAC Troubleshooting". They should be mandatory reading for any DBA supporting RAC. Require your developers to read chapter 16 "Developing Applications for RAC" before they start coding.

On some of the topics this book is excellent.Looks like this book focussed on topics those are not covered in other books or manuals.

I suggest first read some simple installation and administration manuals.
Later refer this book for specific information.Then you can take more from this book.

THanks,
Mansoor.

I personally found very interesting the description of 10g Cache Fusion internals and GRD etc. which is covered in a consistent, readable and understandably manner in this book. I believe the book might also be interesting for 9i RAC DBAs as the author make comparisons between 10g and 9i RAC functionality and resource management internals. It is not a replacement for the official 10g RAC documentation but a must-have complement.

I did a fair level of research before purchasing this book. One of the reasons that biased me toward it was the fact that one of the RAC specialists from Oracle India carried with him as a reference.
The book goes into great detail on RAC internals and oracle locks/enqueues, and as the author points out, some chapters/topics require several passes to sink in. The book is no hands-on step by step installation/management handbook, although it does cover a two node cluster installation. The author focuses on understanding the concepts underlying Oracle RAC, as he sees this as key to being successful in managing and supporting the technology. As in all things computer, only hands-on experience brings this to bear.
I would like to see more practical information on the different ways in which services can be configured, used and monitored.
I also found the coverage of the $CRS_HOME/bin utilities too light.
All in all, a great reference and invaluable concepts guide which would be well supplemented with a practical hands-on book.

Peter O'Toole starred in the 1990 TV film version with Mare Winningham and it was titled "Crossing to Freedom." I remember really enjoying the movie although I have yet to read the book. I checked, but this movie doesn't appear to be on DVD or VHS.

This is a very well written story that shows how amidst war and destruction there are still people who can keep their humanity. The author also demonstrates that advanced age is no barrier to good deeds and perilous undertakings.

Nevil Shute describes the surroundings and characters with such detail it is hard not to see exactly what he wants the reader to imagine. Unlike any other book I have read, I was entranced. I have always been intriqued by stories about WWII, and this is a good one. When elderly Englishman takes a holiday in France trying to get over his sons death, he finds himself the leader of a band of children trying to escape the German invasion.

I was amazed that the movie has not been put on VHS or DVD. The movie follows the book fairly closely. Monty Woolley plays the elderly man, and Roddy McDowall and Anne Baxter play two of the children. Otto Preminger is a German Major. Made in 1942 it is both dramatic and comedic. I highly recommend you try to catch it on TV.

I have been a Nevil Shute fan for a long time. Many have never heard of this author. This is one of my favorites along with "A Town Like Alice" and "Trustee From the Toolroom". I'm glad to find it in print again so I can replace my very tattered copy and get my 16 year olds to read it!

I first read this book as a child when, identifying with the children who could have been my compeers, I saw the movie at least five times. I loved the book then, and I love it now. The story is simply told, from the point of view of an elderly Englishman, whom we first meet in his London club during the Blitz. Too exhausted to move to a shelter, he begins to tell his tale to a stranger, who has also decided to sit out the raid, while the Luftwaffe's incendiary bombs fall closer and closer. The old man's story unfolds slowly as tells of a fishing holiday in the Jura--the mountains that border France and Switzerland--in the early months of 1939. The story may, in fact, unfold a bit too slowly for some modern readers who have been exposed to the terse squibs that proliferate novels nowadays, but Nevil Shute is such a skillful storyteller that he draws the reader almost unawares into the narrative, rather in the manner of an expert angler reeling in his fish.

Even though I know the story well, I could not put the book down until the very end. I was, after all these years, inextricably hooked.

If you admire, respect, or just fondly remember Ronald Reagan you'll enjoy these CDs. Through the short radio commentaries you'll feel like you've gotten to know the real Reagan.

This product is simply amazing. Ronald Regan was one of the best Presidents this country has ever had. These recordings are amazing. Many of the issues that he addressed in his radio announcements are still relevant to today! Decades later!!!

This should silence the "nay sayers" about Regan's abilities and opinions. All these announcements were written by Regan himself between his term of Governor of CA and President. He clearly laid out his plan of defeating communism. It is amazing to hear how a "true" conservative thinks.

Each section is set up and reviewed so that you know the actual context in which Regan was speaking.

It was a true pleasure to hear Regan's views on Government, Freedom of Speech, and faith in the American people.

This series is a must for anyone who doesn't understand what it means to be a conservative. I just wish our current President (George W) would listen and practice Regan's example of what it means to be a conservative.

Ronald Regan knew how the world works, and the role the US Government should play in the lives not only US Citizens, but to the entire world.

I doesn't really matter if you're a dem or a rep, this is a voice that can speak to you if you're an american.

No, I didn't agree with everything the Gipper said but I always listened.

First rate audio. First rate documentary. First rate ideas.

No matter what your political affiliation is, there is no denying Ronald Reagan was one of the greatest speakers and leaders of our time. The collection of audio commentaries by the 40th president of the United States is an everlasting testimomy to the personality and opinions which reached out and captivated a nation. After listening to his warm voice and sharp wit,it soon becomes apparent how he could almost effortlessly attract and win most people over with his words. The collection of commentaries contained in this CD, were recorded from his radio days prior to becoming president and provide insight into some of the issues and concerns of the American public during the 1970's. Its such a great collection, that his voice, thoughts and charisma remain with you long after listening to the CD.

It was during the 2000 and 2004 elections that my father would often reflect upon the Reagan radio addresses of the late 70's, further convincing me that Reagan's greatest ideas were spread, not by text or television, but by radio, at first

To my father, and to many others, Reagan's Presidency started with these radio addresses, that gave Reagan the greatest opportunities in expressing his greatest concerns for our country, and his best solutions towards them

In turn, I was eager to hear some of these addresses, and I'm extremely thankful that scholars like Kiron Skinner have finally put them together

In this Audio CD, you will find a cluster of many radio addresses ---- humorous, political, storytelling, etc ----- most of them focus upon the Soviet Union, and many spotlight exactly how Reagan presented his thesis against the "Evil Empire" ---- listening to them makes you wanna travel in a time machine and cast a vote for President Reagan

They are also easy to listen too, as 95% of this audio CD is Reagan's addresses, and little of it is taken up by commentators or other authors --- the best part is that they take all of Reagan's best commentaries and play them through completely! No interruptions, and no quick takes --- just pure Reagan!

And as always, Reagan's optimism and love of storytelling definitely comes through

For me, I purchased this version off of the iTunes music store (iTMS), and loaded it onto my iPod, where I was able to listen to it during long drives over this last year ----- it made me feel like I was driving in the year of 1979, being convinced to vote for Reagan over Carter ---- I don't even know if President Reagan, himself, knew that his greatest immortalization would be within an Apple iPod???

In turn, its a great set! My biggest appreciation goes to Kiron Skinner, a very accomplished scholar of African American heritage, and Hoover Institute Fellow, who has put together this great set

My only criticism is that it is too short ----- even for 5 to 6 hours!!!! My deepest hopes are that Skinner considers a sequal

Thank you all and happy listening!!!!

Finally KA's books are getting interesting again!. I skipped some books after I started to get bored with the series. I got this one just to see if it was any good. (Ax is one of my favorite characters.) I was pleased with it and went on to get The Answer.

I would recommend this one to any one who has read The Ulitmate #50. You may have to back track some if you haven't.

I was impressed with this book but there was something missing from it. I usually love the "Ax" books but there was something wrong with it. Maybe it's because Applegate started to get more interested in her other series but the corny sense of humor that Ax has was gone. I was shocked with the way he reacted when he found out the Cassie let Tom walk off with the morphing cube. While we're on the subject, I didn't like that part of the series. What Cassie did was just plain dumb. You know, I can understand why she didn't let Jake kill Tom, but why didn't she get him herself? I may have lost some of you, but if you read THe Ultimate, you'll understand.

This is definately a must-read in the Animorph series, but that's just because of the plot.

In this book, humans are being rounded up and boarding subways at gunpoint. There is no doubt that the subways lead to the Yeerk pool, and the Animorphs are considering blowing up the Yeerk pool. Will they blow it up, or will they not? read the book to find out!

Even now, nearly one year since the dramatic end to this stunning
series, I can still remember this book. I haven't touched it since then, but the story, the action, the ending have all stuck in my mind. The most amazing thing about these books is that as they get older they get more mature. Less emphasis on stupid morality, more emphasis on kill or be killed. In this book, one of the last ones, the yeerks have stopped ...footing around and started mass infestation, via a possessed National Guard group, and a new subway system that leeds right to the Yeerk Pool. The Animorphs know they must finally destroy the pool. So, they break into a normal National Guard base, convince the troops about the invasion, and take several thousand-pound bombs with them. They then comandeer a subway train, load the bombs into it, and head for the pool. They slam into it, escape(after freeing most of the people), and the bombs detonate, destroying half of the city. After that, the Yeerk Mother Ship descends from the sky, and you know that the final battle has just begun. It is a slightly disturbing, upsetting book, but if you've ever wanted an excuse to read Animorphs, this is it!
In closing, I'd like to say that this series is one of the best of all time. Even today, one year from its end, the books are still on bookshelves. So, if you'd like a great sci-fi series, with humor, action, maturity, drama, and great characters, then I can recommend no better one. Animorphs has done to sci-fi books, what Harry Potter did to fantasy books: It took a dying subject and revitalized it. Animorphs 52, The Sacrifice is a plain example of this.

My son wrote the following mini-review:

In this installment, the National Guard teams up with the Animorphs to help the heroes defeat the Yeerks. They are successful in destroying another Yeerk pool, wiping out millions of the foul parasites. In The Sacrifice, Cassie finally admits to everybody that she is responsible for letting the Yeerks escape with the "blue box" (or "morphing cube" -- see The Ultimate), causing Ax to hate and distrust her.

With only two more installments remaining in the series, K.A. Applegate begins to set the stage for the death of one of the six key characters. Will it be Tobias, Rachel, Cassie, Jake, Marco, or Ax?

The book came very quick & in great shape. But I found the book at Walmart for less.

This is a very cute little story of an elephant becoming comfortable with who he is meant to be. The characters in this story help Sooki the elephant realize he is just fine the way he is. It's an easy read with a sweet ending. Nice illustrations as well.

After 60 years (this book was first published in 1947) this story still has a nice little message about being yourself, and expressing your talents.

This was (first published in 1947) and it is still delighting young readers and the young at heart to this day. Lots of words, so definitely a read to rather than read yourself for the very beginners

This is a fun and charming story of a happy little elephant that meets a tactless parrot. This parrot comments on the saggy skin of the elephant. He tries to improve himself, but without success. Sad and self-conscious, the little elephant decides to hide in a cave where no one can see how unattractive he is. Very soon something wonderful happens, however, and our sweet friend is happy once again. This children's classic will touch your heart and have you smiling.

I loved the book could not put it down. I was pleased that the author decided to take this family forward.

I have read many Janette Oke books over the last 4 years. I find that though they have interesting plots and characters the writing doesn't seem to bring the full potential out of the story. My own personal taste leans towards very real to life stories. I don't always find that in Janet Oke's books. I find that they are too warm and fuzzy for me. If you like those kind of stories or just want a book you don't really have to concentrate on I would recommend Janet Oke. If not I would suggest someone like Torey Hayden or Francine Rivers.

I was so glad to find that in the end of this book. Virgina finds love. I always think of this book when it rains.

I highly recommend this book. It is really wonderful!

This second book in Prairie Legacy is a continuation of the life of Virginia, granddaughter of Clark and Marty and daughter of Belinda and Drew.... of the Love Comes Softly series. Virginia is becoming an adult and her plans for college, marriage and friendship with Jenny are all challenged in this book, another great one by Janette Oke. The end leaves one reaching for book 3 of this series.

This product works well, slowly letting it the language sink into. It works words into your workbook readings, and encourages you to do your excercises. You really do have to have a good ten minutes dedicated to doing just that. I've had the cd on while doing housework or driving and without my full concentration it just doesn't work as well (this is kind of a 'no duh' statement, but thought I would emphasize it because I have trouble sitting still for ten minutes and repeating back to a cd, distractions keep creeping in like 'man, my mesa is dusty').

I am so impressed with Spanish in 10 Minutes a Day. I am just beginning to learn Spanish and am taking classes at my place of work. The book and CD's have been very helpful. I like that the book has the Spanish word, the pronunciation and what it means in English. I also like, the different accents of the speakers on the CD's. I have recommended this to several people in my class.

While the book is excellent (and was required for a conversational class I was taking at our local college), one definitely cannot learn the language from "scratch" in just 10 minutes a day. I subsequently ordered the companion DVD which has helped immeasurably with the pronunciation. Wish I had that from the beginning. I highly recommend the combination.

My husband and I purchased this CD along with 2 copies of the book to use in the conversational Spanish class we took before traveling to Mexico. I highly recommend that they be purchased together, as they complement each other well. This product is really geared for people preparing to travel to a Spanish-speaking country and it covers all the "survival" situations you might expect to find yourself in -- restaurants, the Post Office, traveling by train or bus, etc. The CD uses native Spanish speakers from several different places who have somewhat different accents, which is helpful in learning what to expect people to actually sound like. I use the CDs in the car and it's a great way to use my commute time for something productive. They present the material at a reasonable pace with enough repetition to be effective but not so much that it gets boring.
The book has flash cards and sticky labels that now adorn lots of common objects around our house. It seemed like a bit of a hokey idea at first, but it's really helpful to see "el lavabo" every time I go to the sink -- that sort of thing.
I recommend this product wholeheartedly. I had almost no knowledge of Spanish when I started with this a couple of months ago and now feel like I can communicate, at least on a very basic level.

I have purchased several Spanish courses and this is by far the best. I'm not sure that you can learn in 10 minutes a day, but if you devote enough time per day on this course, you will learn Spanish.

I don't buy any of it, not for a minute. But, this is a much more enjoyable read than several of the so-called "thrillers" I've read recently. Just suspend your disbelief, dive right in, and be swept away!

Aline, Countess of Romanos has written a spectacular book. I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading an autobiography and not a work of fiction. Aline is an agent for the OSS during World War II. She blends into Spanish high society and manages to complete her mission and introduce the reader to the thrills and chills of being an undercover agent. She also gives us a glimpse of Spanish Aristocracy, bull fighting and the inner workings of a nineteen year olds dilemma of befriending people who may be targets of her investigation. I have read all of her books but like this one the best. It is full of action, drama, and even a touch of romance. I have recommended it to all of my friends.

I have purchased 4 books by Aline Romanos. I absolutely love them. The fact that there is truth behind the story and that she really was an upper-class lady as well as a spy excites me. I find myself wishing I lived an adventurous life. She has a talent when it comes to recreating her life and exploits. I could not put it down!

Written like a fiction novel, this factual, first-person account of a young woman spy during World War II is absolutely enthralling. You'll get a first-hand look into what it's like to be recruited and trained as a spy, then go on your first assignment, mingling with the highest Spanish society while secretly risking your life to uncover essential Axis secrets. The characters in the novel are rich and compelling, and you never know what's going to happen next to the protagonist/ingenue Aline.

I read this book in the '80s and have remembered it ever since. I finally found it again and reread it. It's just as fascinating now as it was then.

The only drawback: If you read at night, you won't get much sleep because this book is nearly impossible to put down.

The most respected historian in the field of espionage, Nigel West, studied all of Aline's spy books marketed as nonfiction and concluded "...all four of Aline's books should be regarded as fiction, and nothing more..." Read "Counterfeit Spies, Chapter 3, by Nigel West, 1998.

This was actually the first Daniel Steele book I ever read. It was wonderful the story so well developed and the characters so full of life. In fact I have now read this book at least 3 times maybe even 4, truly a classic. Everyone should have this on their shelf to read when you get tired of just seeing words on a page that take you nowhere.

Audry is SUCH a great character! Her love of adventure and for her man, but her loyalty to her family is what really pulled the story together. Very enjoyable book!

I have read many of Danielle Steel's books. This has to be one of her best. It is about a young woman named Audrey who has been caretaker to her grandfather and younger sister. Then, she has this need to do some traveling, and see the world. She does so, first going to New York City (she lived in San Francisco). She meets two people named James and Violet, and she becomes a travel companion for the two. In England, she meets Charles, whom becomes her one true love, and they travel the world together, and no matter what threatens to break them up, they never give up on each other.

This is not as formulaic as many of Danielle Steel novels, but it is still wonderful and one of her best.

This book is so cool...it takes you so many places, you most likely have never been to. It's so fun to put yourself in this characters shoes & see what it's like. I love to read about countries I haven't been to...classic DS

I have been reading Danielle Steel for over 15 years and own all her books and this is one of my favourites - one I can read over and over again and still enjoy the story.
I was transported back to the 1930's and admired the bravery of Audrey travelling to China when it was probably a dangerous (and not "proper") for a young single woman to do so. This one made me laugh, cry and wish that all would go well for Audrey.
If you are a Danielle Steel fan you will love this one. Her earlier novels (like this one) are so much better than her later books. If you are new to Danielle Steel - this one is highly recommended. Enjoy!