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I just finished it and cried throughout the book. I have been to one baseball game in 63 years, and only know the names of a few baseball greats, yet I loved this story. I have searched the internet. Can't find Elgin Woodell. I even went on ebay to see if I could locate one of his baseball cards. No Elgin Woodell. You know your great at writing when you convince your readers that a character in one of your novels is real. That's right, go ahead and laugh.

The first two-thirds of this book were wonderful, but there wasn't enough conflict and suspense and as the end approached there was nothing to resolve. The book ended in a straight, predictable, and grossly sensational fashion that left me feeling cheated.

The author let me down on this one.

This was a fun book to read since it reminded me of some of the fun of being a kid playing ball. This book is about a 10-yr. old boy named Elgin and his love for baseball as well as his relationship with his parents who are divorced. His dad, who used to play ball, is in prison. Elgin has great talent and is so good at hitting that he is kicked out of little league because he's too good so he gets to play in higher leagues even though he's just a kid.

Another aspect of this book is to practice correctly and keep at it. Elgin practiced all the time! He played fastpitch in the alley or practiced with a pitching machine in the basement that he adjusted to throw really fast. Anyone interested in little league or baseball would probably like this book. I enjoyed it very much!

Karen Arlettaz Zemek, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"

When you finish this book, you'll be searching the Internet to find out if the Youngest Hero was a real person, it's so real. The perfect book for young and old men that love the game of baseball. The author allows you to get into the thoughts of the characters and you become a part of their life. It's the best there ever was. If you like this one, check out author John R. Tunis for other real sports books you can't wait to pick up again to finish.

This book was excellent. I loved every single minute of it. Even though I am not a big sports fan, this book was engrossing with it's facinating detail to the game of baseball. It gave me a new appreciation of sports, and what it means to the people involved in it. The characters were precious, and I truly felt like I knew them. Several days later, I still remember them well. THAT's the sign of a great book!

Don't let the amateur graphics on the book cover fool you.

I have ready most self-improvement books for entrepreneurs on the market, and this one stands out. Truly.

The chapters are short, so it's an easy read. Some very unique concepts in here that I've enacted already. This book runs circles around every other book for entrepreneurs. It's a combination of Donald Trump, Brian Tracy, Tony Robbins, and John Maxwell.

Best $25 I've spent in years.

Business consultant Steve Chandler and self-made millionaire Sam Beckford present 100 Ways to Create Wealth, a self-improvement guide to mastering the emotional and personal aspects of earning a respectable living. 100 Ways to Create Wealth lives up to its title by offering valuable tips, tricks, techniques, and attitudes to adopt; all suggestions are quite general and applicable to individuals enacting any business plan or enterprise. The recommendations, each of which is spared a few pages of discussion, include "Don't be a Wealth Wannabe", a warning against getting sucked into false moneymaking schemes such as pyramid scandals or dubious popular real estate trends; "Know Your Customer Better", an encouragement to focus on what the customer needs and stay in a positive mindframe rather than focus on one's own shortcomings; and "Open an Easy-Earned Money Account", which suggests creating a bank account solely for the money one didn't have to sweat bullets to obtain, and use that money to pay for guilt-free luxuries. An excellent supplemental guide for anyone going into business for themselves or otherwise looking to get ahead, without leaving principles or quality of life behind.

"100 Ways to Create Wealth" is the third in Steve Chandler's "100 Ways Triology." Steve and Sam Beckford collaborate again to provide the reader with inspiration, wit, and motivation. They draw on experience from their own careers for stories as well as using illustrations from their clients and from those who have coached them along their journey to success.

The book is packed with action steps to take to think like an entrepreneur, ways to invest your energy, providing transformative direction. These steps will help you, whether you are on your own way to your first million dollar success story, or well along that journey to becoming a multimillionaire. I personally gained new creative insights that will help me put into practice Steve and Sam's powerful principles.

The format of the book lends itself to a quick perusal, reading for specific personal application. It is a book I want to keep as a ready reference, available as a stimulating resource. This is must reading for anyone wanting to produce and benefit from the advantages of wealth. "100 Ways to Create Wealth" is a very positive reading experience.

I try to read everything that Steve Chandler writes because he is so clear in his writing, on target with his analogies, and consistently makes me view things in a different way. This book, written with co-author Sam Beckford is no different. As with many wealth building personal development books, this is not so much devoted to specific business ideas as it is to focusing on the business of you, the reader. If we all could only conquer the demons we battle internally we would all be wealthy - we might also recognize that in many ways we already are. As I read and thought through each of the 100 Ways, I was left with the desire for action. This is an inspiring and thought provoking book. The comparison to a modern day version of Napolean Hill's Think and Grow Rich is appropriate. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of reading this book, so much so that I am about to start it again.

The typical Steve Chandler book takes some things you already know and expresses them in a pithy and effective manner, and takes a few that you don't know and amplifies them in the same pithy and succinct manner. Those new thoughts invariably make you sit up, wrinkle your brow, and evaluate carefully. Dale Carnegie said "The ideas I stand for are not mine. I borrowed them from Socrates. I swiped them from Chesterfield. I stole them from Jesus. And I put them in a book. If you don't like their rules, whose would you use?" Well Steve does the same thing, which sounds simple, but is really quite difficult. He looks carefully at the world and offers you some ideas about how you can do better in whatever piece of it you are in.

I am not an entrepreneur, nor am I in a business where I can be promoted or hope to advance my career. I'm staying where I am, and happily doing so. Yet even for me there are many useful tidbits scattered around, little provokers to make me say "Hmmm, that's interesting." I'll focus on one tale which captures the spirit of their thinking. Sam Beckford is the owner of a string of music and dance studios. He was at a conference where the other participants were mostly martial arts studio owners. As they mentioned the size of their student bodies, the answers came "100," "175," "200." When Sam's turn came, he said "3000." Now every one there was at this conference looking for ways to increase their enrollment. Yet though they had a guy who had done precisely what they were hoping to do, no one came up to Sam and asked him what the heck he was doing. Their resource was the official program, the thing they had paid for. Staring them in the face was a resource that they knew had accomplished something, yet they ignored it. How often do we look at the established, designated, or approved sources, and not open our eyes to the data available to us?

I always enjoy Steve's mix of autobiography and humor peppered with quotes from innumerable great thinkers. And I like how he and Sam break the ideas presented into concrete pieces. I truly believe that nearly every problem, no matter how enormous, is just a collection of small problems, and solving the big one means solving the small ones in the proper sequence. Nice discrete ideas, small, implementable, and tidy, make this a book well worth reading.

I was not familiar with John Randolf Price before buying this CD and if I had known what I was buying I would have passed. No where on the front cover or on his book "The Abundance Book" does it tell you that it is a scripture based program. I was taken a little by surprise with all of the bible references and call me naive but I was not expecting that. I listened to the CD a couple of times and there are some good ideas but with so much bible reference it was not really for me. None of the printed material pointed to the content being scripture based and personally I think it should have been presented in a more straightforward way on the packaging.

I'm about 2 weeks into this 40 Day Prosperity Plan, using the CD version of the book. Initially, I loved to listen while I walked on the otherwise dull treadmill, or as I relaxed in the tub. That's how it all began. NOW, I am so immersed that I meditate each morning and evening, and I have fully begun to really understand the concepts. It will possibly take me the full 40 days, and that's okay, because I really am becoming addicted to the soothing sound of JRP's voice. It does, however, make good sense to buy the written version so that the meditations are easier memorized and meditated upon. The biblical references were something I needed to adjust to, considering myself non-denominational. However, that was easily rectified as I claim my own definition of God Source. I'll check back once my 40 days are up and let you know how the program is working for me. Thanks Price, for another priceless package. I thoroughly enjoyed the Super Beings years ago. And it looks as if this 40 Day Prosperity Plan is another winner! Blessings in the Mire

The 40-day Prosperity Plan has completely changed my life. I am now on my 4th round and I am constantly experiencing miraculous abundant changes and events in my life. When I started this program in February of 2004, I was skeptical. However, I persevered, and just before the first round 40-day period ended, I got a new job that is extremely creative and pays well. During the second round, I contracted to build a house, which, before I began this program, I'm sure would never have been impossible. It was as if the pieces of the puzzle all fell into place....as if the universe was orchestrating everything to perfectly arrange for this to occur.During my third round, I got a refund for a used car that was a lemon-- one that I purchased from a dishonest car dealer 8 months ago. This was truly miraculous because, at first, the owner of the dealership lied and told me he would refund my money, only to deny that he had said that. I meditated on the Source within for several days and eventually I was effortlessly led to people who advocated on my behalf.Finally he relented, refunded me all of the money I put down on the car and all of the payments I had made over the past 8 months. Then I turned around and purchased a new car for less money down and a lower monthly payment. So,once again, the universe orchestrated all of the "details" effortlessly. The most important lesson that I have learned doing this plan, is perhaps that not only can I acquire material things, but that by constantly acknowledging the Power within to solve my problems, I can have true peace of mind. I highly recommend this plan for anyone who is disciplined and committed to changing his or her life and realizing a powerful relationship with God. It REALLY works.

John Randolph Price knows things that most people do not know. The best thing about the 40 Day Prosperity Plan is that one does not have to fully understand it for it to work. I keep mine playing in my car cd player all the time and my finances just keep getting better and better. Gradually, I am understanding more and more of the high concepts that he shares. Thank you, JRP!

Very informative with high energy...The kind of exercise I have been looking for.

THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX
MARY E. PEARSON

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just woken from a year-long coma without any recollection of who she is. Her parents let her watch videos of her life to help her remember.

Slowly, bits of her life come back to her. She feels different and strange in her new Southern Californian home. Also with each piece of memory, new questions arise. Questions no one will answer. Where are her friends? Why is she living far from her Boston home? And what happened that caused the accident that left her in a coma?

Her grandmother, Lily, avoids her. Her own parents treat her as if she's a child.

Who is Jenna Fox? Later, her discovery will bring up yet more questions. Ones that involve bio-medical ethics and humanity. How far can a parent go when faced with the possibility of losing a child? And when do scientific advances cross the line?

THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX is a haunting tale that will leave the reader with many questions on the consequences of the actions that involve science. Engaging characters kept me glued to this chilling but fascinating look into a Twilight Zone world that might not be far from our own. I really enjoyed this story. Jenna's struggles and horror at finding out the truth will resonate with readers long after the last page.

A must read for those who wonder about the consequences of latest scientific technology from a human point of view. A discussion guide is available that lists where to find more information about bioethical issues raised in this tale.

Mary E. Pearson is the author of A ROOM OF LORELEI STREET, winner of the 2005 Golden Kite award. She's also written two other award winning YA books. She lives in Carlsbad, California with her husband and two dogs. Check out her website at www.marypearson.com Also check out www.WhoIsJennaFox.com for the teaser trailer.



Kim Rapier
Enchanting Reviews

I thought that "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" was a great read with a lot of substance. I couldn't put it down, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in science fiction and/or the future of medicine and bioethics. The mystery behind Jenna's origins was very well-played by the author. Although the angst levels became a bit overbearing at times, this book usually dealt with a complicated situation in a very realistic manner.

Overall, I highly recommend this novel.

Who is Jenna Fox? And why can't she remember her life? Where are her friends? Why can't she taste food?

The Adoration of Jenna Fox takes place in the future. A future that is striving to make advances in all areas of life, but those advances are regulated by an organization that intends to preserve life by their definition. It's also a future that is closer than we might think. You just have to read the newspapers, magazines or blogs.

Seventeen-year-old Jenna was injured in an accident and has been in a coma for a year. When she wakes, she doesn't remember her life, any of it. Her parents encourage her to watch the numerous home movies taken of her from the time she was a baby to just before her accident.

Slowly, memories return. But those memories include times she should not remember, such has her baptism as an infant. Jenna's mother lives with her and her grandmother in California and her father is living back east where he works. No one will give her a solid answer about why that is.

Jenna's mother is like a prison guard, never allowing her too much freedom-and her grandmother avoids her. She remembers her grandmother fondly but now she can't be bothered with her. There are whispers, arguments and disagreements between the adults and Jenna knows they are all about her. But why? The answers may not be what Jenna wants to hear.

Mary E. Pearson's The Adoration of Jenna Fox is a pageturner. It's fairly easy to figure out what happened, but that's only a portion of the book-and for me, it wasn't the most important part. The story is wonderfully eerie, the characters are fascinating and the ending is positively unexpected and very satisfying. It made me want more of Jenna Fox.

Armchair Interviews says: A fascinating book for Young Adult girls and boys and a lot of adults also.

"I hear Lily humming. My feet fumble like they have a will of their own, but I try to control them so she won't hear me. I lean close to the wall and peek into the kitchen. Her back is to me. She spends most of her time in the kitchen preparing elaborate dishes, She used to be chief of internal medicine at Boston University Hospital. Father was a resident under her. That is how he met Mother. Lily gave it up. I don't know why. Now her passion is gardening and cooking. It seems that everyone in this house is reinventing themselves and no one is who they once were.
"When she is not in the kitchen cooking, she is out in the greenhouse getting it in order. I can't eat her foods, and I wonder if that is part of the reason she doesn't like me. She clanks pots and then turns on the faucet. I make my move for the front door.
"The hinges on the heavy wooden door squeak when I exit, but she doesn't follow. The sound blends with the clanking pots and rushing water. I have been no farther than the front steps of the house, except for once when it was dark and Mother took me for a short walk to Lily's greenhouse. Mother told me from the start that I must stay close. She is afraid I will get lost.

"Lost adj. 1. No longer known. 2. Unable to find the way. 3. Ruined or destroyed.

"I'm afraid I already am."

From the very beginning of THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX, the story of a girl who has arisen from some sort of comatose state after nearly a year and a half, we can tell that there is something seriously askew, some sort of intense mystery about Jenna Fox to puzzle out.

Are the physical challenges (such as it being necessary for Jenna to consume only tasteless "nutriments") an important clue?

"One day I couldn't walk. The next day I could. One day my right eyelid drooped. The next it didn't. One day my tongue lay like a lump of meat in my mouth, the next day it was articulating words that hadn't been spoken in over a year.
"On the fifth day, when I walked out onto the veranda without stumbling, Mother cried and said, 'It's a miracle. An absolute miracle.' "

Are the memory gaps an important clue?

Jenna recognizes from the beginning that her memory is not normal. She can remember details of the French Revolution but cannot remember if she has ever had a best friend. In fact, she does not even remember her parents or her grandmother Lily. She does not remember her former life across the country in Boston. She is frequently looking up seemingly everyday words she doesn't know the meaning of.

Are the historical facts an important clue?

In the year since the accident, while Jenna has slept dreamlessly through her sixteenth year, "A second woman has been elected president. A twelfth planet has been named in the solar system. The last wild polar bear has died. Headline news that couldn't stir me. I slept through it all." There is also the information about the nine-point quake and its aftermath -- apparently it took place before she was born -- that devastated southern California, where Jenna is now living, and led to unimaginable global consequences.

Are the neighbor and what he reveals important clues?

On the first morning that Mother is away, when Jenna sneaks past Lily and out the door, she encounters the next door neighbor.

" 'Lost?' he says.
"I look back at my house. I look at my hands. I turn them over and examine both sides. My name is Jenna Fox. 'No,' I answer. I step forward.
"He holds out his hand. 'I'm Clayton Bender. You the new neighbor?' He nods toward our house.
"New? What is new to him? Is a year new? 'I'm Jenna Fox. Yes, I live over there.' I reach my hand out to him and we shake.
" 'Your hands are like ice, young lady. You still acclimating?'
"I don't know what that means, but I nod and say yes. 'I saw you from my room. I saw you squatting. You're curious.'
"He laughs and says, 'You mean you're curious.'
" 'My grandmother thinks so.'
"He laughs again and shakes his head. I wonder if laughing is another curious thing about him."

Things get curiouser and curiouser, beginning with Clayton Bender's continuing on to mention his seeing Jenna's family moving in just "a couple of weeks ago," but then immediately drops the subject when Jenna hastily responds that they've been there a lot longer than that.

Who or what is Jenna Fox?

That adolescence is universally a time of reinvention and fear, of feeling lost and feeling alone makes THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX an ultimate futuristic nightmare of a coming of age story.

" 'Pause," I blurt out. 'Back. Pause.' The disc player follows my commands. I look closer at the still picture. 'Zoom.' The thin red line becomes what I suspected. A scar.
"I walk to my bathroom mirror and tilt my face back. I run my fingertips up the length of my throat. I feel. I search.
"There is no scar.
"It's been seven years since that video was filmed. Do scars disappear in seven years?"

How far would you go to save your child? Is there a limit as to how much science and medicine should intervene when it comes to saving lives? These are questions that are still spinning around in my head three days after I finished The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson.

Set in a dystopian future where there have been enormous medical advances, 17-year-old Jenna Fox wakes up from a coma after a horrific car accident. As her memory gradually returns, she can't help but think that something is not quite right. How is possible that she can remember events from her infancy? How can she quote Thoreau's Walden word for word? Why does her grandmother seem to hate her? And why is her mother so secretive?

As Jenna struggles to find her identity and fit in with her peers, she discovers the terrible truth about the accident and her recovery that leaves her and her entire family in danger.

Mary E. Pearson's powerful writing and unique plot kept me up reading until 3:00 in the morning because I simply had to know what would happen to Jenna.

However, despite the seriousness of the book, Mary E. Pearson never lets you forget that Jenna is a teenager and adds some lighthearted moments.

This is one of those books that I feel crosses over into the "adult" realm, and teenagers shouldn't be the only ones to read it. Every person (adult or teenager) who has questioned the role of science and the possibilities it can play in medicine should read this book.

How far would YOU go? How far should science go? As a mother myself, I think I know what MY answer would be.

Last night I uncovered a family legend and found that James Oliver Curwood is my Great, Great Uncle; and a direct uncle to Marguerite Gaylord Tate the author of Twelve Walked Away, a true story about her and her son, my grandfather, crashing the Alps due to a navigation mistake after WW II. I know it seems far and almost unbelievable that I just now find this amazing discovery, but it is true.

I stayed up until eleven o'clock reading into one of his books, and I found it well written and full of wisdom.

I thought this book was wonderful. It should be up there with the best of them, like Jack London's "Call of the Wild". It tells the story of a wolf cub seperated from its mother, and the adventures in the wilderness it encounters. It has very descriptive details and shows us all the true meaning of love and devotion.

This book is definitely one of my my favorite books. Even though it seems a bit long, if you get caught up in stories like I do, you'll wish this book is longer. This book is beautifully written and such a great book in so many ways. You have to read this book. The author of this book is a great writer and this book will not let you down for action, adventure, and many other emotions. READ THIS BOOK! IT'S GREAT!

This is the story of a wolf/dog named Baree. Soon after he is born, he is separated from his "parents". Baree then begins the quest of having to survive on his own in the harsh envirionment of the Canadian wilderness. As Baree grows older, he has encounters with a near sighted owl, he befriends a bear,and tries to make friends with a colony of beavers. Then Baree comes up against his most perplexing animal,.....Man! Baree quickly wants the companionship that Willow(a beautiful young woman) offers. He follows her everywhere and has a strong bond with her that cannot be broken. He will do anything to protect her, and that includes keeping her safe from her family's enemy, a evil man called the Factor of Lac Bain.
The writer of this book expertly describes the feelings and thoughts going through the mind of the young Baree, and through out the book, we root for him all through hisd triumphs and tradigies. The wilderness is described beautifully and also becomes a "character" of the story as well.
This book is well written, easy to read , and holds the readers interest all the way till the satisfying conclusion.

This book is fantastic!It follows the story of a young half wolf, half dog pup who is accidentally seperated from his mother. He learns to survive in the harsh Canadian wilderness and meets friends and foe. He eventually comes to trust humans. The author obviously has a great understanding of animals as he explains in words exactly what the animals feel. The way this book is written is almost unexplainable-right up there with other fine authors such as Jack London. A must-read for any one who loves animals or has an understanding for them!

The young protagonist is jailed without benefit of counsel and detained and tortured. It's good to know nothing like this could happen in the U.S. Seriously, though, The Bathhouse is compelling, and for days after reading it (in one day), I thought about the resilency of the human spirit.

While the premise of the story setup for a gripping tale, suprisingly little was revealed to the reader beyond the confines of the bathhouse. Nothing about the revolution, the government, the counter-revolutionaries. I also find it annoying the way the author enables her narrator to totally disassociate herself from the pains of the tortures she was going through. She would be eavesdropping to the serenade of the toads or musing over the beautiful stars while being punished at night. At most, she'd say that her face is numbed from the beating. The narrative is very straight forward, the story is mostly driven by its events. There were two glaring misspelling of the word "waste" as "waist". In conclusion, the book is definitly a page turner but the author failed to go beyond the intiguing setting of the story.

Once in a while a book comes along that you start to read and you can't put down until you finish reading it. This is one such book. The naive school girl who is taken to a horrible political prison starts out as any young, innocent and naive teenager who is not interested or involved in politics. But once there, she witnesses and experiences what is happening to political prisoners, in this case women prisoners, behind the prison walls all in the name of God and all because they do not agree with the ideology of the ruling class. This is not a story limited to a country or conflict. It is a universal story that can happen, has happened and is happening in many countries. But, Farnoosh Moshiri somehow takes us along with her young protagonist through the events of this book so that it is as if we are experiencing them with her. The writing is powerful yet natural and flowing and you just can't stop reading until the end. And, when you close the book, it is as if you have matured along side the protagonist, all in the short span of a month for her and just hours for you, but the lessons will stay with you for a lifetime. I recommend this book to everyone, especially to young women.

What a fantastic book. Very insightful and informative. What one should take away from this book as well as Mrs. Moshiri's other novel "At The Wall of The Almighty" is how introspective Iranians are about their lives before and after the revolution. I believe that through these books, people in the west can come to a better understanding of this society and culture. We hear so much about war, terrorism, and the development of weapons programs that we overlook that the Iranians have a rich and beautiful culture and so much to offer us in the form of literature.

When a teenage girl is arrested by Iranian authorities, it's more like an accidental abduction. Her brother dabbles in politics forbidden by the fundamentalist ruling regime, but the girl is innocent.

Only there is no innocence in The Bathhouse. If you have been apprehended, you must have committed a crime. If you have committed a crime, you must be punished. The girl finds herself in a living hell, where torture is an art form. She - and all those around her - suffers in an accelerating cycle of pain and humiliation limited only by the imagination of her captors. And yet the girl finds, and creates, sparks of humanity in this most ihhuman setting.

The Bathhouse might be an attempt to measure the depths of institutionalized evil. In spite of being forced to contemplate so much unrestrained cruelty and violence, I could not make myself look away. And I could not put this book down until I finished it.

If 10 stars were available, that's what I would rate this book. The history of how we got into our current mess and what Progressives can do NOW to turn it around is communicated clearly, rationally, and passionately while remaining a highly interesting read. Having read dozens and dozens of related books over the past 3 or 4 years, this one may well be the most effective call to action of all. I was so motivated and inspired by it that I bought 12 more copies to send to friends and relatives. Don't even consider skipping this one...it's a Must Read treasure!

Ever wonder how Republicans manage to capture middle and working class votes while serving the interests of the wealthy? How they've managed to win the presidency and both houses of Congress despite disastrous economic, environmental and international policies? What it is about their communication style that makes it so convincing and effective?

Wonder no more. Paul Waldman has studied the masters and returned with a brilliant and entertaining analysis of their technique, along with a strategic plan for beating them at their own game.

This book is genius--great fun to read and filled with aha! moments. If you'd like a manual in the martial arts of political communication so that you can help progressives become winners, then this is a must-read.

I bought this book together with "The Good Fight" by Peter Beinart. While both books have their utility, neither is as good as Joe Klein in "Politics Lost." Waldman gets five stars to Beinart's four mostly because he is much more readable, has many useful tables including an analysis of the states where extremist Republicans as well as extremist Democrats are weak, and his book is generally focused on the left of center middle and the caring citizen as opposed to policy wonks that Beinart addresses in his book.

Page 111 is a very fine diagram of the issue columns that the Democratic Party simply does not address responsibly nor--a theme throughout the book--courageously. Over-all the book does a very fine job of defining the distinctions between conservatives and progressives, as well as the distinctions between what conservatives stand for and what they say, and what progressives stand for and do not say.

The author spends most of his time comparing conservatives to progressives (code for left of center liberals) which is something of a pity because he appears to have a very well developed sense of the issues and what the center and left-center can and should stand for.

There are two bottom lines in this book, and both of them make eminent sense to me:

1) Don't bring a knife to a gun-fight. The author points out in detail how inept and weak and unfocused the Democrats are at every stage of the political game beginning with high school and collage political clubs.

2) Stand for the public, for the individual taxpayer, for the blue-collar worker, the working poor, the lower middle class. The author stresses that this is a fight between those who respresent special interests and believe the government role is to liberate the marketplace (code for allow the looting of the Commonwealth) and those who should be representing the masses of individual workers and taxpayers.

The author takes a long view and believes that it will take a great deal of time to recover from the total abdication to the extremist Republicans. While this nice in principle, the book does not focus as well on what it will take to win over-whelmingly; for that we recommend Joe Klein's "Politics Lost." On the issues, Matthew Miller's "The Two-Percent Solution."

On a personal note, I would add that the author's focus on "Being Right is Not Enough" is perfectly consistent with my own view that "Vote Democratic Is Not Enough." Rove and Cheney have demonstrated, twice, that they can steal Presidential elections that are close--through Florida in 2000, through Ohio is 2004. Even if every liberal-progressive adopted the ideas in this book, they would not be enough. We need a multi-party focus on electoral reform and crushing the extremist Republican thieves (I am a moderate Republican), crushing the special interests, and restoring the Republic to the public---a Republic of, by, and for the People, not Corporations.

With wit and intelligence, Paul Waldman makes a compelling case for a progressive vision. While he examines and learns from conservative successes, what he is most interested in is what will energize a progressive movement. He admirably stresses the importance of a progressive agenda, as well as a narrative for progressives. He looks at the importance of both the short and the long term, and why progressives must have both. He is also very skilled at performing a kind of ideological ju-jitsu, in which he turns apparent Republican strengths into weakenesses that can be effectively utilized by progressives who that are both wiley and principled. On a couple of instances of this I am not wholly convinced, but I would nevertheless highly recommend this book to all progressives.

In 2004 a President who lied to justify an unpopular war and had the worst jobs record since the Depression still managed to win. The Republicans control all three branches of government and a majority of governorships and state legislatures. The national debate has shifted from real problems to distractions like gay marriage, partial-birth abortion, and flag-burning. Waldman believes this all adds up to a need for progressives to change.

Waldman believes progressives should create a single movement (not remain a collection of interest groups) devoted to fighting conservatism and advancing a progressive view. Ask an ordinary person what conservatives stand for and he'll likely respond with four powerful, easily understood ideas - low taxes, small government, strong defense, and traditional values. Ask him what liberals stand for and chances are he'll give you the obverse. Conservatives focus on emotions and the character of the speaker; liberals on logic and facts. (A good point - look at most advertising in the U.S.!)

A majority of Americans favor legal abortion, gun control universal healthcare, strong environmental protections, generous Social Security and Medicare benefits. Yet, they are stymied. Part of conservatives' secret is their institutions (eg. American Enterprise Institute, Heritage Foundation, Hoover Institute) are multi-issue and make political use of their products easy (eg. recording studios are available for interviews). Liberals, on the other hand, have single-issue organizations, poorly marketed publications, and poorly paid core staff.

Waldman points out that the South (heavy evangelical concentration) is a major problem for progressives; the problem is acerbated by Republicans use of racism (Reagan - welfare queens, Bush I - Willie Horton, Bush II - going to Bob Jones University with its ban on inter-racial dating, and avoiding a position on the Confederate Flag). Suggests progressives point out Dobson et al don't follow their own teaching regarding the poor, the GOP is guardian of widely unpopular status quo on healthcare (would help business as well), refocusing the abortion debate to "How can we reduce it?" and pointing out it went down under Clinton and up under Bush, support doing away with the Electoral College in the interest of fairness, and attack the notion of "liberal elite" via the GOP's tax cuts for the rich and its healthcare positions. Also suggests not letting Republican attacks go unanswered - eg. Kerry vs. Swift boat ads.

Defining Progressives: "We're all in this together," vs. Conservatives' "We're all on our own and out for ourselves."

Good material.

Bought this for a gift; after cursory flip-through, seems fantastic. Prose looks clean and tight, and visuals I did look at were phenomenal- might add to even this narrative, which was certainly a classic even before this re-working. Seems to have potential as great nexus; will probably lead to my tracking down half-dozen more sources for more reading. Hoping recipient will lend it to me soon-

I compared this translation of Beowulf to some of the older versions freely available for internet download.The other translations contain plenty of obsolete words that need a good dictionary to understand. Seamus Heaney's work contains none of these. This makes it an ideal book to read for pleasure during high school or freshman college. The other versions were meant for use in universities where obscurity of text is considered an advantage and not a problem. (In the UK, until relatively recently, a course in Old English was mandatory to obtain a degree in English.) Try this translation first. After you finish this one, go try out the others (But then you will need the internet to look up what a "ring-dight vessel" is.)

My first experience both in Beowulf as well as Seamus Heaney's poetry. A beautifully paced epic poem, with a powerful, resonant word-craft. Tolkien fans will see where the great man learnt his art. The photographs are well chosen and in one case, of a barrow on a sea-shore, peculiarly haunting. Some money very well spent.

I really loved this. It gave such a sense of the original, with the cadence and the alliteration.
I am not a scholar in this area, but it gave such a sense of the roots of our literature.

Despite the fact that this Kindle book advertises itself as the Seamus Heaney translation of "Beowulf" with illustrations by John D. Niles, it is in fact the Grummere translation (without illustrations). This is another example of misleading advertising for Kindle books.

In this final entry of the Blood Ties series by Jennifer Armintrout, we have a final showdown with Jacob Seymour, the Soul Eater. The Soul Eater consumes other vampire's blood and their soul. He has every intention of becoming a god. Carrie, Nathan and Max once again re-unite to bring about the destruction of the Soul Eater. I did not realize that this would be the final book. Jennifer, according to her website, is of the opinion that she would like the series to go down in a blaze of glory, not fizzle out. I have to agree that she definitely went down in a blaze of glory with this final installment. She took all the stories from the previous books and melded them into a fantastic last book. Carrie seems to finally come to a final decision as to whom she really loves. It is hard for her to separate the Sire/Fledgling relationship from the Man/Woman relationship. Does she love Cyrus because he sired her and later she sired him? Or does she love Nathan because she is his fledgling? All of the stories throughout the previous three books are nicely resolved. I never saw the ending coming. This book had a captivating story, wonderful action scenes and a touch of humor that I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to her new series that will be out August 2009. If it's half as entertaining as the Blood Tie series, it will be good.

I've read a lot of paranormal romance and urban fantasy, and this ranks up there as one of my top favorites. First of all, I think it's great that Armintrout decided to end this at book 4 instead of dragging it out in an endless amount of installments, like some other authors do. It is the perfect balance for me of romance, action, and horror. This book had a satisfying and climactic ending which wraps everything up quite nicely. I won't give anything away in terms of plot, but if you have enjoyed books 1-3 then you must read this one, which I feel was the strongest of them all.

Carrie and crew are ready for their final showdown with the Soul Eater. Many people don't escape unharmed and their is carnage and twists aplenty. This story finds a way to wrap up all the loose 'blood' ties and I was completely satisfied with the conclusion. I have wavered with these books and found them to be quite uneven. This book made it worth the entire struggle (sometimes) and joy (sometimes) to get here. Carrie finally gets her head on straight and sees herself and others as they are and how they need to be. She sees what is truly important to her and has to make some tough decisions. The other characters we have seen throughout the series play out their stories to a mostly concrete ending as well. Armintrout really gave her characters a chance to stand out and many of her side characters are more exciting and dear to readers (at least to me) than Carrie, Nathan, or even Cyrus. The action really builds and its interesting to see how they prepare for battle physically and emotionally. Its also almost funny at times to see Carrie's powers grow. This is the book that could have blown the whole series for me, but instead, its the book that will ensure that I will not hesitate to recommend it to others.

I just finished All Souls' Night today, and I was quite satisfied with it! I'd rate it 4.5 stars.

Carrie is back, packing more power and out for the Soul Eater. Max and Nathan also return, as well as a few characters you might not have expected (unless you read the reviews without spoiler warnings)! Magic plays a bigger role this time around, and I had several moments of surprise, horror, sympathy, anger, and joy.

The book is well-written, with maybe only one typo (think it was "laugher" instead of "laughter"). These days, that means a lot, especially considering all the popular UF out there with countless errors ("diety" in a certain popular series, anyone?). Although I enjoyed the content, the changes in point of view were a little uncomfortable sometimes. Although I appreciate Carrie's insights, I almost wish it had been done in 3rd person or omniscient if the other characters' stories were to be included.

***spoiler***


Also, the rising from the dead again and again lessened the impact of certain earlier scenes (in this book and previous ones) for me, but it made a lot in the book possible, including a great HEA. =)


***end spoiler***

Anyway, my only real complaints were the changes in POV and the rising from the dead, which are minor complaints about a well-written, interesting book that grabbed me and didn't let me go. I hope to see Jennifer Armintrout write another vampire series... It was great, and I've recommended it to friends who've never read any vampire books besides Anne Rice's, and they've liked Blood Ties a lot!

All Soul's Night is the satisfying conclusion to a series that has reinvented itself with every book. Vampires Carrie and Nathan are taking a breather before the final battle to stop the cunning Soul-Eater whose powers grow with each vampire soul he 'drinks, a battle that they are ill equiped to fight. After withholding his love for three books, Nathan is finally ready to love Carrie, but Carrie is now the one holding herself apart. Frustrated Nathan runs out of patience, calling Carrie on her pettiness and selfishness, forcing a little introspection on Carrie who at long last sees the cost others have paid for her selfinterest. Unfortunately this revelation comes a bit late and Carrie may loose Nathan for good when he willingly walks into a trap baited with his foster son Ziggy - the son who died in Nathan's arms but who is somehow `alive' but tied to Soul-Eater through the fledgling/sire blood tie. Believing his sire's lies, Ziggy delivers Nathan into torture and certain death -- Nathan is intended to be the sacrifice that will fuel the Soul-Eater's transformation into a dark god. Given Armintrout's willingness to sacrifice her characters in previous stories, I was definitely on the edge of my seat for a good portion of the book wondering if Nathan was going to survive the torture that make Armintrout's books fall on the `Horror' side of urban fantasy/ paranormal romance.

Most of the players in the story are ones that we've already met in the series. The magical Dalia who continues to revel in her depravity plays her evil part with glee but pregnant werewolf Bella is mostly on the sidelines. And even though the main thrust of preparing for the battle against the Soul-Eater lies with Carrie, dual natured vampire/werewolf hybrid Max who has his own struggles, Ziggy with his divided loyalties, and newcomer to the series Bill an ex-Marine blood supplier -- the only human amid all the vamps but whose acceptance may help to win Ziggy back his soul -- also play important roles. I could rave on about the character development and the great plot. I was impressed by the way that Armintrout builds the characters up for the final confrontation and actually gives them the skills to have a hope of winning.

I really enjoyed the final journey to Armintrout's Blood Ties world where sacrifices are always required, death is not always permanent and endings are not predictable - who'd have thought that a series so dark could end with a promise of light.

The Turning (Blood Ties, Book 1)
Possession (Blood Ties, Book 2)
Ashes to Ashes (Blood Ties, Book 3)
All Souls' Night (Blood Ties, Book 4)

I guess there are two distinct ways to tell Vampire stories, on the one hand you have the blood and gore variety (horror stories) and then you have the vampire love (romance stories). This definitely is not a horror story.

This is a very charming story. Parents murdered, little girl hiding in closet, murderers are killed, girl gets rescued. Usually, this is the happy ending. Notwithstanding, the girl's rescuers just happen to be vampires. A husband and wife, Martine and Lewis, save the little girl (Fiona) and adopts her as their daughter, but keeping her human and not turning her. (I hope the author will divulge more on why they didn't turn her in future chapters.)

As creatures of the night, where would they live? A little tiny town in
Illinois. The author, Samantha Bina, has described Fiona's life in illustrious detail, from the description of Fiona's adopted family members and townfolk, to the color of certain buildings in the quaint town. Very picturesque, filling our imagination and drawing us into Fiona's life.

Now that we're entrenched in Fiona's routined life, Samantha will take us
even further, by disrupting Fiona's tranquility. And so, a new family moves in that despises them. I suspect we're going to feel Fiona's pains next. Nice job Samantha.

I really liked the matter-of-fact tone of voice in this excerpt. Fiona relates her history without overdramatic emotion, and leaves room for all different theories of what happened the night of her parents' death. This makes it clear that her situation is one she's thought a great deal about and has heard people talking about for her entire life.

Fiona gives a great whirlwind description of her town, which is dark and a little depressing--a gret place for vampires to settle. I liked the details of the vampires Fiona calls her parents. Their family has an interesting vibe.

I wasn't sure how the Danvers family managed to get custody of a small child who wasn't related to them and who they didn't know before they came to town, especially since they were new in town themselves. Why didn't someone else insist on taking in Fiona when her parents died?

Sebastian is an interesting character, and introducing him so early and Fiona describing how he makes her feel sets the stage for some interesting tension to develop in this story.

I thought this was an excellent excerpt. The narrator is likable and complex, with a fascinating history and hints of a fascinating future. The supporting cast of this story are well rounded and strong, and there is plenty of space for intrigue to develop. I would love to read more of this story.

A sudden murder of her birth parents leaves Fiona Goodman to be raised by a family of vampires. For 18 years, she lives a peciluar lifestyle with a family that sleeps when she is awake and vice versa. When suddenly, a new family of vampires that have no problem killing humans move in and turn her life around.

Samantha Bina creates extraordinary characters with multiple layers of personalities. Fiona is both thankful and somewhat disappointed in the fact that she never got to live with her real family. Her brothers are both protectful of her enormously, but they don't prevent her from having a life with others.

A somewhat overused plot of a classic love story is infused with the blood and gore of vampires. Well presented with a quick introduction subtlely included with the exposition. The action quickly starts due to flashbacks and the quick arrival of the Turner family.

The story is somewhat near reality in that the problems are those commonly encountered. Overly protective brothers, and a person that likes you but isn't liked. This creates a more easily related to story for the reader.

An excellent twist on a classic tale.

I am a reader, not a writer. So my review probably will not help other readers (sorry). However, I do want to rate this story to help the author. I have an eclectic taste in books and read many many books for long time. So after reading couple of chapters, I know whether I will enjoy the rest of book or not. So I will just say that I enjoyed reading the sample chapters of this book and if this book becomes available, I will definitely buy it.

The author's intimate style will pull you in, and the characters will do the rest. You won't be able to resist this fantastic turn on the typical vampire romance novel.

Fiona Goodman, raised by vampires, is torn between two of them, and her small-town life is about to be turned upside down because she is promised to one, yet the other has her sweating and swearing she "can't stand him." We've heard that before, haven't we?

The free preview has me drooling to read the rest, and it will you, too! Check this one out, now!