O Books

This book was donated to each soldier in my husbands unit at Christmas time to send home to their children. It has been the best of the kids books for my five year old. She has taken this book with her to school to share with her class, and we read it every night before bed.
It puts not just what a hero is in words that little ones can relate to it also explains what Dad does and how he lives in ways that they can understand. Having a place to put a picture of their hero inside and one of them also makes it even more personal for your child or children. My 15 year old has even sat down and read this book with his younger brother(11) and sister(5). I would tell anyone that has a child or knows a child dealing with a deployment to buy this book...maybe even two so one can always travel with you!

This is a perfect book for the 4 - 8 year old child whose father is called to deploy overseas.

Written in a simple and elegant style that young children can read (or have read to them ); the accompanying pictures just beg to have Billy or Betty color them in and personalize the story. The two authors, one a mother of a deployed soldier, and the other a teacher, have collaborated on producing a book that is designed to explain, if not comfort, Dad's absence to his children.

While the term "hero" is grossly overused, if this book can help comfort a young child on dad's second, third, or forth deployment, then the book has done it's job.

Not only is the book highly recommended, but it would be certainly be helpful if the book was distributed to the children when Dad goes off on yet another deployment.

This book is just wonderful! It really does explain what military daddies do! There is a place to put a picture of their dad in the beginning of the book and at the end a place to put a picture of your child/children because they are heroes too! It is a long book so like the other reviewer said it was probably meant for 4 and up. I bought it for my almost two year old and it is just great. She loves all books, so this is just another to add to the list.

This book is a wonderful resource for families with a deployed father, and it's fun to read too. This book focuses on the positive aspects of dad's deployment - what he eats, where he sleeps, what dad is doing for others, how to keep in touch, etc... And I also love that it emphasizes the child's role in the sacrifice - they are heroes too! The story and the illustrations will captivate children of all ages and help them feel better about being away from their dad. Highly reccommended!

If you are or have a military dad who is serving overseas then the book " My Dad's A Hero" is a perfect gift for his children. It will help you with your young children in understanding where daddy is and what he is doing. It is an uplifting little book with wonderful illustrations by Jen O. Robertson and a nifty little story line by Rebecca Christiansen and Jewel Armstrong.

I would think that even the youngest child could get something out of this book if read to them as they looked at the pictures on each page. Second to 6th grade students could read this book but all children will enjoy looking through it. The message is positive and comforting to small children.

I highly recommend this book for military families. It is a good little book and will be read over and over by small kids. I give it a children's book rating of FIVE Teddy bears!

As a parent of three kids now 12-20, I can remember reading this book to them for years, and them going back to it. I've recommended it to my astronomer friends. It's just a plain wonderful book, one of the most memorable of the very many I read to my kids over the years.

It's a lovely book, but -- based solely on the reaction of my just-turned-four book lover who wants to be an astronaut/basketball player -- I'd say it will go over better with the older kids. There's a lot of interesting, subtle, and funny stuff going on in the illustrations -- but it's like observing an ant farm in terms of the scale. The town-continent-solar system-galaxy progression is really nifty, but a lot of the time, distance, and really big numbers are just too abstract. Having the setting in Australia is a really nice feature, since Earth's continents seems to be a topic of interest and comprehensible. I'm glad I have the book, but it will probably be resting on the shelf for a while for my guy.

As an astronomer and educator, I love to let people know how amazing the universe is. My Place in Space is a fun way to introduce children to the wonders of astronomy and awaken their curiosity. It's especially nice because of the two confident children, Henry and Rosie, who show us that children too can be wise. With vibrant illustrations and accurate text even adults will enjoy it and be left wanting to know more. I have given a copy to everyone I know who has children!

I absolutely love this book. I am a teacher of both English as a Second Language and the gifted, and I have used it with both populations. The space pictures are beautiful, the other pictures are hilarious, and the information is both simply given and interesting. I would take exception to the rating of baby-preschool, both because I know high school students who enjoy it and because there is violence (albeit comical) in some of the pictures. For example, if you look at the playing field, you will see what appears to be a person getting decapitated with a tennis racket.

This book is an excellent tool to use in teaching geography to children. It gives them a visual picture of where we are in the universe as well as helps them to see the size differences between countries, continents, etc. I use it every year with my third graders, and they love it!

I am a beginner backyard bird watcher and I really enjoyed this book. It has some great pictures to help you identify birds, or even just to look at. The book doesn't stop there, however, it gives you nice detailed information of bird behavior, sounds, nests and habitat. I recommend this book to beginner or intermediate bird watchers.

This book is a really nice reference book for the backyard birdfeeder. It's not just a bird identifier book, it has chapters on bird survival and behavior. I'm glad to have it my small bird library and refer to it often.

...to receive this fine book! Trying to identify the birds visiting my backyard feeder with old field guide books was not working. They simply had too much information geared for experts. This book is nicely laid out and clear, offering tips for attracting, feeding, watering and identifying the birds visiting your backyard, as well as instructions for building bird houses, feeders, and so on. I put several of the ideas to use immediately! If you are an amateur backyard birder, this is the book for you!!

This lovely DK (Dorling Kindersley) has the trademark vivid photographs on every page. Detailed information on discouraging squirrels, plans for making your own feeders of different types and lists of various birds you can attract using various methods.

Each bird page has a detailed photo of the bird, a map of the United States showing where and when you can see the bird, behavior and description of sounds and songs, nesting habits, and the best kind of food to attract and benefit the birds you want.

Information on bird baths and nesting boxes is also provided.

A great resource for those who love to have God's creatures in their yard, but don't know the best way to attract them.

This revised edtion will make an excellent gift for the beginning or intermediate backyard birder. Photographic plates thoughout serve as good visual aids. Photos are exquisite in detail despite the size of some color plates. This book also contains plans for feeders of various types. Overall, a good addition for any birding enthusiast.

This book is a fascinating insider view of the horrors of a Japanese WWII POW camp. Great for WWII buffs and non-buffs alike.

This book was excellent. The first-person point-of-view made the action seem like it was happening to me! I have read a lot of WW II books, but I learned a lot from this one.

This book blew me away. I literally couldn't put it down. I would give it six stars if I could.

Never Surrender is the most intense WW II book I have ever read. The fact that it was written in the first person by an actual survivor of the battles and the POW camps really brought the story home for me. The main character in the true life adventure is also the book's author. Sometimes he is on the periphery of battles and at other times he is right in the middle of it!

I was very surprised by the humor and wit of the POW survivor, Earl Anderson, who wrote the book. Many times, I found myself laughing at a hilarious anecdote told by the writer a moment before I was holding my breath as the writer's life was in danger. The writer uses the interesting technique of telling the story as if it is happening in the present. This brings an immediacy to the story that is not present in other WW II books. I was shocked and fascinated as the story unfolded. The writer's personal experiences reveal truths about the Philippines battles and the Japanese POW camps that I never knew about before. This book is an entertaining adventure story as well as a harrowing tale of survival. I would recommend this book to anyone and not just to those people interested in WW II.

This was an amazing story of one man's need to survive. I liked how it dealt with the history of the time as well as what Earl was going through. Well written.

Wouldn't it be great to have all your needs met by a harem of men. Feeding, cleaning, sex, protection and did I mention lots of sex. This kept me up half the night reading. I love all of Kaitlyn O'Conner books

Eden Chisholm is the project leader for the planned colonization of New Savannah. She and her all female crew have spent fifteen years in space reaching their destination. They plan on using "frozen pops" to build the population.

But when the crew arrives, they find that the planet they plan to inhabit is already inhabited, by a group of men from the planet Xtania. These men are part of a "brood" that has been banished because their queen failed to produce a female heir.

Baen is the leader of the Xtanians. The men see the female colonists as queens to be worshipped and adored. Each queen is expected to have a harem and produce their own brood. The females have been without male company for fifteen years, and the Xtanians are very much like human males. But not every female agrees that the men are harmless, which makes for some tense situations.

The Ninth Orb is an entertaining and well-written tale that held me captive. I loved watching the colonists and the Xtanians try to overcome language and cultural differences and come to terms with how to live together.

Lovers of science fiction will enjoy The Ninth Orb. I know that I did.

Amelia
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I have to tell you - I love every thing Kaitlyn O'Connor has written. She writes excellent science fiction romance that is well-balanced between the two genres. This was no exception!

A group of women from Earth are sent to colonize the ninth planet of a star system. When they get there, they find it already inhabited by a group that consists only of males, some of which have wings and horns. The story is about the conflicts between the two colonies and how they solve the situation. Great characters, great SF, great love scenes.

Having already read Abiogenesis and Cyborg by this author-both of which sit comfortably ensconced on my keeper shelf-I was pretty sure what to expect from Kaitlyn O'Connor. I was a fan at the ending of Abiogenesis-funny name, great book-and after reading Cyborg and The Ninth Orb, I'm a confirmed fan.

The cultural worlds O'Connor builds are fascinating; sex is just the double-fudge icing on the cake in an O'Connor tale, and she could write futuristic fantasy without a hint of sex, and I'd buy and eagerly devour the book. The Ninth Orb is no exception; the story of a colony of earth women who have prepared for five years, and traveled through space for fifteen years to reach the world they are settling, it's full of the kind of twists and exotic cultural shocks that keep a reader glued to the page.

The women are taking drugs which will keep them looking and feeling about 25 for at least a few centuries, so the extended travel and prep time doesn't interfere with the story. They've brought along semen-cicles (frozen semen *G*) to enable them to populate the colony with children, once they're settled, and none of them has seen a man since leaving earth, 15 years before.

When the women finally reach the planet they've already named Georgia, it is to find a colony, comprised solely of men, already settled and thriving. This admittedly improbable beginning is easily overlooked as we're taken into the interesting culture of the men, all of whom have horns (yes, some horny men jokes are inevitable *G*), and some of whom (the warriors) have wings as well. The story swiftly takes you in as we see the women struggling to deal with the unique problems arising as they cautiously investigate merging their group with the men's.

The culture of the males-called Xtanians-is a lot like that of ants; the men are the fighters and providers (workers), with each brood having one queen (a brood being one litter, or multiple birthing a queen has had). Broods seem to run from two to eight in number, and the males have been sent to the planet by their mothers because there are simply too many of them on their own world.

Since the women come from earth, the process of adjustment is an interesting one-and doesn't immediately develop in the way we'd imagine. There are problems of the kind that you might not expect from this type of plot and genre, and they make the story much more interesting than the norm. Still, there are plenty of very sexy scenes (one featuring a ménage-a-quad), and the plot never grows stale.

The romantic aspect is also dealt with very satisfactorily, as the colony's project leader, Eden Chisholm, falls headfirst for Baen, a warrior who, according to his people's custom, is not supposed to mate at all, existing only to protect his queen (there's gratitude for ya! *G*). Time and propinquity eventually manage to conquer this Xtanian taboo, but the colony still faces a dilemma as it struggles with each culture adapting to the other. So much so that a contingency plan for escape is laid into place by the women.

In a genre where story is largely a vehicle for the erotic scenes, Kaitlyn O'Connor is not afraid to give more than is either expected or required of her, and with writing like this, still manages to incorporate sex scenes that sizzle above and beyond the norm as well. Authors like this are enough to give erotica a good name. *G* Or for the author to become known as the thinking woman's erotica writer. With writing this good, even the few editorial flaws present are easily brushed aside, and, as always, the only real complaint I have with O'Connor's work is the same: too short! It's a complaint I'd love to make more often. *G*

Reviewed by Lee M



Copyright © 2006 CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. All rights reserved.

The story wasn't bad, even if the main character was somewhat frustrating.

Ms Van Dyck approaches her story with love, humor and reverance for the mother/daughter relationship. I loved the intertwining of all the characters, from past to present, each character intermingled with each other culminating into a web of laughter, tears and hope!

A must read anyone who is (or knows) a mother, daughter, or grandmother.

Thanks Janice, can't wait for the next one !

The subject matter of this book is particularly interesting to me as both a mother and a daughter. I found myself glued to the pages, compelled to continue to explore and experience more of the deep shared truths, and the secrets of what goes on in the mind of both sides as they meander through the journey. This book is masterfully written as the author succesfully reveals the viewpoint as both mother and daughter, and how those viewpoints ultimately come together and find harmony and beauty.

This is a story rich in dialogue to stir the heart of the mother/daughter that there is in every woman. A story about the mother daughter relationship,the toughest in the lives of many grown women. As the story unfolds we hear about Amy's mom and grandmother,its clear that the issues between mothers and daughters are universal.What Amy and Eve are dealing with has happened before in their family and they are trying to get it right this time. I liked the flashbacks to the grandmother and great-grandmother and the struggles they faced. Written with warmth enthusiam,and intelligence. A wonderful read.

All in all, a good read and something to think about. This is a book about a mother and daughter finally figuring each other out. Eve is 22, and she returns home to her mother after her boyfriend breaks up with her. She blames her mom for the breakup because her mom never liked the guy. They spend a weekend trying to figure each other and themselves out. Her mom, Amy, is trying really hard to help, but she always seems to come up short when it comes to what Eve really needs. Chapters alternate from Eve to Amy's narration, and each character is very insightful about what is really going on in their lives. I liked the characters; I think the dialogue and narration ring true, so you really believe that it's a naïve 22-year old and her 43-year old mother talking. A rolller coaster of emotion, sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's sad, and the characters really draw you in.

The O'Mally Trilogy is a compelling story of three women and three generations. The author pulls you directly into each woman's life. You will experience all the frustrations and joy shared by each character. The ending will leave you wanting to read again.

A must read for any woman with daughters.

Twila Porter

Loved it - great for reading on the plane. McGregor's Bride is a little bit better (but I have a weakness for Highlanders.)

You will not be bored with this book! As a matter of fact, the action is romantic, humorous, and sufficiently engrossing that the book is hard to put down. You wonder what in the world will happen next? What is the beautiful, hot-tempered, impetuous Kate going to do now?! From start to finish, the book entertains, while giving you your money's worth (and then some!) in the romance department. On a scale of milk toast to hot chili peppers, the book's romantic heat leans more towards the peppers. This is a spicy romance with wit aplenty. It is obvious that the author has spent a lot of time doing her research - you can put yourself into the action with confidence that you will be living a fairly accurate picture of the times. I can't wait for Barbara Dan's next book - who knows what the next the time and place will be?! The only thing you can depend on is that it will be another wild, witty romantic adventure.

Barbara Dan treats romance fans with a brand new rip roaring western romance with sexy passionate Irish characters that are very much like a mixture of two all-time favorite John Wayne movies, The Quiet Man and McLintock. Kate McGillacutty has grown up with all the conveniences of a wealth, but unfortunately without the closeness of her father, as her parents have been estranged. Her father decides it is time he needs an heir to his fortune and brings Kate and her mother back out west in order to arrange a marriage with the foreman of his mine. Kate and her father strongly disagree and when they argue she decides to outsmart him and his plan by marrying the first man she sees on the street. The handsome, down on his luck, Irish aristocrat, turned actor, and now just plain passed out drunk, Peter O'Rourke is her choice. He makes a side deal with her father to not only marry Kate, but accept a lumberjack foreman job. The main part of the plan is to take the pampered Kate with him to the camp in order to teach her the value of hard work and then return her in the spring for an annulment and remarriage to the foreman her father wanted her to marry all along. Kate is furious when she discovers she has been fooled and decides she is going to show everyone. Both Peter and Kate have much to prove to themselves and each other running and supporting the lumber camp, not counting on their desire that soon spins out of control. When the lumber camp burns in a forest fire they run for their lives and spend the night in a cave where their intense passion can no longer be denied and realize they are meant to be together. When word comes that Peter is now the heir to his family's title, he hides that little bit of information and not only does he end up fooling Kate's father into a deal so he can become a lumbar baron in his own right, but he fools Kate as well, who thinks he robs a bank for her. The sparks fly once again between the firey Irish couple with the families coming together. O'Rourke's Bride is a well-written story with passionate characters that will make you smile and laugh. It is a pleasure to read a brand new western romance that is so much fun. I can't wait for more from this author.

I just finished reading O'ROURKE'S BRIDE and I must say that I haven't enjoy a book so much in a long time. It is set in a part of the coutry I know, so that was fun, but there is nothing trite or contrived about how this book unfolds. I especially enjoyed O'rourke. Let's have some more books like this from Barbara Dan.

The best 3.99 I spent and will most likely spend much more on this author. I love reading new authors, its risky, but sometimes you find a gem. What makes a promising talent? 1. Wit - if you don't have it - you can't fake it. Some people show this talent early on in their writing - think Jane Austen. 2. Humor - not the same as wit but just as important. I cannot love characters who do not possess a sense of humor or spew out humorous remarks. 3. Hardship - do the hero and heroine develop and become better human beings thereby bringing forth or enhancing their love? 4. Wisdom - what have they learned? how have they changed? Some authors stick nonsense into what should have been a maturing of the couple. It takes real talent to pull this off. 5. Touchable characters - do they make you jump out of your seat, can you talk to these characters?
Barbara does a fantastic job- the story is compelling although the writing will take time to get better as she is just starting out but already the dialogue is getting there. Keep pushing that pen Barbara, you have one devoted fan who cannot wait for more. Just caution - don't let stereotypes set in - e.g., although Kate's dad is your stereotypical controlling father - his irrationality comes from his love for her, instead of showing a one dimensional character - make sure to develop the important supporting roles as well they are crucial to the main characters development and growth in the story. Give them a spot in your heart as well - "bad" or "good" characters require a realism that comes from a personal relationship with the author making the bad/good line fuzzy. Make them yours and they will be real to your readers. Thanks for a great debut book - I will be waiting to see your talent progress.

These boys are hot!! The calendar rules!! Especially the September pic( Ashley's pic!!). U should definitely get it!!!!

I just want 2 say how happy i was when i received my o-town calendar. It was a lot better than i thought it would b and it came really quick. I've made my mate well jealous as she wantsme 2 now order her 1. Thank u so much for me bing able 2 order it as the shops in england r (bad) and don't stock it.O-town r fab!!!

otown is awesume their self an the calender is just another item u can get to show u love em'

I bougth this Calendar and it is great. I love the guys and the pictures are hot. Buy it if you truely love O*Town and what they do. Ashley, Dan, Jacob, Trevor and Erik are the best.

If you're a real fan of O-Town, Lou Pearlman's newest pop sensation, you won't want to miss this great 2002 calendar with beautiful pictures. These pictures have never been seen anywhere else! The calendar starts in September so you'll be ready for school. If you're a truly #1 die-hard fan, you'll buy it and love it!

I have tried a number of the recipes in the book and they are delicious and not difficult to make (no exotic or hard to find items). I have also found myself looking for the "friendly" fish when purchasing and avoiding the ones identified as endangered or stressed. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Ocean Friendly Cuisine is a great overview of fresh and saltwater bounty that can be enjoyed without the descimation of a species. The recipes reflect the inspirations of a lot of good chefs and organizations that quite simply love to cook and to present a variety of seafood that reflects the complexity of what is fish and shellfish. It's important to free ourselves from sinking into a culinary sameness that seeks to destroy specific species of fish such as the Orange Roughy, Chilean "Sea bass" not a bass, Red Snapper, Black Grouper, Atlantic halibut, bluefin tuna and wild abalone to name a few. This cookbook shows the way.
There are more fish in the sea than we are usually exposed to and the insights of this book, the Montery Aquarium, Seafood Choices Alliance, Sea Web and the chefs and restaurants involved in this effort go a long way to show how great the underutilized seafoods are today. I am lucky enough to have recipe included in this book, and can attest that the recipes represent the best of contemporary cuisine, cuisine well worth cooking both at home and professionally. If we shop wisely and dine with attention to the details of sustainable seafood then we can make a mark on making this a better world through taste and farming/fishing. As M. Cousteau tells us in the forward, seafood is our last hunted species commercially sold in markets and restaurants and we should respect the life cycle of our greatest food.

To J. Fraioli's credit he brings it all togther. There are so many flavors and textures in so many different seafoods that it is amazing how cooks are lured into preparing the same fish over and over, and Ocean Friendly Cuisine joins the ranks of interesting and easy to use books that inform, teach, show, and lead the cook towards being better at cooking and at being a part of the world. Tilapia, trout, farmed abalone, PEI mussels, wild coho/chinook/silverbrite/sockeye salmon, Opah, trevally, blue crab, stone crab, farmed oysters, clams, striped bass, white bass, octopus, sea urchin sablefish,white sturgeon (farmed), wahoo/ono, and this is just to name a few, a few who each have a distinct flavor and texture all it's own. The book has ample illustrations to show how beautiful fresh seafood looks. Ocean Friendly Cuisine explores the suggested seafood and shows how to ask questions when you shop either in the International markets, by purveyor, butcher shop, grocery store, or online for the best possible fish of the day. We should always be able to have a true fresh fish of the day, and by respecting what is sustainable this will always be possible.

I'm a Personal Chef specializing in dinner parties and I bought this book as inspiration for fine seafood entrees.

What originally attracted me to this book is that almost all the recipes are illustrated and the overall theme: no fish in this book is in danger of being over harvested. I like the idea of being a responsible cook.

All the recipes I've tried (including the pistachio encrusted trout with cilantro-citrus hollandaise) have been accurately written and the end result matches what's described in the recipe. It's obvious that the recipes in this book are tried & true and not just a bunch of random recipes thrown together in a book.

I highly recommend this book for the experienced cook who's looking new ways to prepare great seafood.

Access to fresh seafood is a 'must' for complete appreciation of OCEAN FRIENDLY CUISINE: SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD RCIPES FROM THE WORLD'S FINEST CHEFS - but those with such access will find here an exceptional guide which explains different seafood available to cooks. The Monterey Bay Aquarium endorses the contents of a guide to how seafood is harvested and how chefs prepare dishes cooked with seafood from fish farms. Each dish has been designed by a leading chef - and each explores the possibilities of seafood. Color sidebars of information comment on environmental status of each fish while introductions and color photos provide discussions of the ecology and nature of each: a perfect - and unusual - compliment to the gourmet dishes.

This is a beauiful and informative book with scrumptious recipes.
It gives detailed information on sustainable seafood and offers insights into eating choices that are environmentally friendly. Packed with exquisite photographs and high quality recipes, this book is a must for any seafood lover.

I'm a working DBA but my exposure to PL/SQL has been light. This book not only teaches how to write the code but introduces better ways to perform typical tasks. Easily worth the money.

This book is a must have for DBA's!

It highlights so many of the powerful features and functionality of the Oracle Database, encapsulated within the PL/SQL language, that the first 5 chapters is worth the entire cost of the book!
(Especially Chapter 3 - Table Functions!)

Not only is this a must have for DBA's, it should also be required reading for PL/SQL developers, data warehouse developers and database architects alike.

It's no surprise that learning Oracle is one of the most challenging things to do for any person that works in the IT field. This massive database application has a long and storied history, becoming one of the de facto standards for storing database on massive scales. A huge chunk of the web is stored on Oracle systems, and it's a system that keeps growing and expanding over time.

With the complexity involved, it's nice that a book like this has been written so that DBAs can quickly get their feet wet with Oracle and learn the ins and outs in an efficient manner. At a size of 400+ pages, this is a nice guide to learn the basics of becoming an experienced Oracle DBA. Containing 8 chapters that cover the basics, this book covers Oracle up to Database 10g Release 2. It's up to date, written well, and a perfect companion resource on any DBAs desk.

**** RECOMMENDED

Simply put, this book is a must have for any Oracle DBA. Many new and advanced features within Oracle are implemented using PL/SQL. As an Oracle DBA, you must have a firm grasp of this powerful language and how to take advantage of features in Oracle10g that include:

*) Security
*) Auditing
*) Encryption
*) Optimizing Performance
*) Automating Tasks
*) Scheduling

To start, Oracle PL/SQL for DBAs provides a solid foundation of the PL/SQL language including syntax, data types, cursors, control logic, exception handling, abstract data types, procedures, functions, and packages. The introduction is well written and packed with many explanations and examples. The book continues further to describe in great detail the use of cursors and table functions in chapters 2 and 3.

At this point, the Oracle DBA should have a firm understanding of the language and move on to more DBA-specific features that involve the use of PL/SQL. Chapter 4 explorers the fundamentals of encryption and how to implement advanced encryption techniques within Oracle. The chapter focuses on the use of the PL/SQL packages DBMS_CRYPTO (Oracle10g R1 and higher) and DBMS_OBFUSCATION_TOOLKIT (earlier releases prior to Oracle10g R1). Algorithms like DES and Triple DES along with other encryption fundamentals like hashing and key management are explained in easy to understand terms and illustrations.

Chapter 5 is dedicated to Row-Level Security. The authors do a fantastic job of explaining policies and how they work. Once again, the extensive amount of accurate examples is what makes this chapter easy to understand and implement. Special attention is paid to the use of the PL/SQL package DBMS_RLS and using it to create policies and control user access. A special section is provided on troubleshooting common errors with row-level security along with how to interpret and resolve them.

Chapter 6 explains the use of Fine-Grained Auditing (FGA). Like previous chapters, the authors lay the foundation for why, how, and when to use this powerful feature along with specifics to how it works with different Oracle releases. The DBA will learn just what is captured with FGA and how to customize it to their environment. FGA makes use of the PL/SQL procedure DBMS_FGA. Detailed examples are provided for creating and editing policies along with methods for administrating FGA.

Chapter 7 deals with generating random numbers and how to take advantage of DBMS_RANDOM. Here you will find great explanations of how to check for randomness and following statistical patterns. Again, all of this is put together with accurate examples.

Chapter 8 was my favorite - Scheduling. This chapter focuses on DBMS_SCHEDULER - Oracle10g's replacement for DBMS_JOB. Sections are also provided on how to prioritize jobs with the use of Database Resource Manager (DBMS_RESOURCE_MANAGER).

I enjoyed this book from front to back. Very well thought out explanations, real world examples and illustrations.

Are you a developer or database administrator? If you are, then this book is for you! Authors Arup Nanda and Steven Feuerstein, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that allows you to take advantage of the PL/SQL-based functionality in the Oracle database that is the most critical for DBAs.

Nanda and Steven Feuerstein, begin by providing a whirlwind tour of the PL/SQL language, touching on all of the topics DBAs will need to become familiar with--from the basics of the PL/SQL block structure, identifier construction, and program data declarations, to the use of control and error-handling statements, to the construction of procedures, functions, packages, and triggers in PL/SQL. Then, the authors describe PL/SQL cursors and how you can improve database performance by taking advantage of such features as cursor reuse, cursor soft-parsing and soft-closing, and various characteristics of implicit cursors. Next, they explore the use of functions that can be used as data sources for queries and that are used frequently in Extraction, Transformation, and Loading (ETL) operations. The authors then explain how you can use Oracle's tools to build basic encryption and key management systems to protect sensitive data. They continue to explain how you can define policies on database tables so that you can restrict which rows particular users can see or change in those tables. Then, the authors show you how you can extend traditional Oracle auditing to capture both database changes and queries. Next, they discuss situations in which you may need to generate values. Finally, they describe the use of the DBMS_SCHEDULER package in scheduling jobs to be performed at regular intervals.

This most excellent book is here to help you get your job done. More importantly, this book is focused squarely on the language topics of special concern to DBAs.