Q and A Books

This is probably one of the best children's books ever written! It's a charming story full of plenty of peril and surprising personality for a rabbit and the artwork is stunning. Instead of being truly innocent and plottless, Miss Potter plays on the fears and actuality of being a child--children get into trouble. Beautiful edition.

This is the original Potter story. I prefer this illustrator to all that I have seen try to update the classic. I used this with Kindergartens to teach story grammar. It is still a winner with little kids to this day.

I bought this for some young friends of mine (3 and 4.5 yrs), knowing that it is a classic that they should know about and will enjoy--just as I did at their age.

The story of a young, gregarious and voracious rodent who can't stop himself from pigging out in a human's vegie garden. Lucky for him, he avoids the usual and deserved case of rabbits when they become pests, and no shotgun pellets for this little critter, as he finally wises up to himself a bit.

That is, until Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 2, anyway.

THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT, by Beatrix Potter, has enchanted both children and adults for generations. An exciting adventure book for the wee ones, THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT is the story of Peter, who is very naughty. Peter disobeys his mother, and goes to Mr. McGregor's garden, where he gets into all manner of trouble. While Peter does eventually make it home, he is wet, sick, and has lost his clothes (his second set of clothes in a fortnight!), and his mother gives him chamomile tea for supper. His sisters, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, who are good little bunnies, get bread and milk and blackberries for supper.

THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT gently teaches children to mind their mothers - good little children are given rewards, naughty children get into trouble. This simple tale engages and captivates youngsters who can easily relate to Peter's mischievousness. And while that lesson and Ms. Potter's story are both timeless, it is Ms. Potter's charming illustrations that are the true star of this book. Peter is drawn to look like a real rabbit; a rabbit that wears a very dapper jacket and a little pair of shoes. The soft colors and rich detail of the original drawings continue to delight children throughout the ages.

My three year old adores hearing this story. Whenever we read it together, she loves to shout "Stop thief!" with Mr. McGregor and to sneeze "Kertyschoo!" with Peter. She clearly gets great fun and joy out of this classic tale, as do I. All of Beatrix Potter's tales are delightful to share; however, THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT holds a special place in our hearts.

Seth is amazingly funny and witty. His writing style is not comparable to anyone.
He really goes deep in the subject (no pun intented) and is acurate everytime!

love, love, love it!

Great little guide to all the hot spots for any Broadway obsessed person - Q or otherwise. If you are a Broadway fiend be sure to read this before your next trip. Also gives great website recommendations for those like me -- too poor to travel. Every time I listen to Seth Rudetsky on Sirius Broadway, I think "I have a friend in the Broadway business."

Seth's humor and passion for Broadway are a gift to all who love The Great White Way. Thank you Seth!!!

I consider myself a begining Broadway buff, and this book was the perfect book to push me on the path of Broadway knowledge. First of all, it's hilarious; and I mean every page has something to make you laugh. Secondly, all of the inside info and web links made me feel like I was living in New York and was a louse for not having tickets to see the hotest show in town tonight. But this book you will not be sorry. I have a lot of current event/ history books about Broadway and this book was awesome.

This is a great little guide to broadway!
Lots of great basic information for newcomers peppered with insider tidbits to keep it entertaining for those who already speak the language.
Gay, straight, newbie, long time broadway fan, there's plenty in here for everyone!
A quick fun read that begs to be read aloud to the people around you (a better idea if you are at your home as opposed to on the subway).

This is the first book I've read by this author. I was intrigued by McGriff's writing style, which is not indicative of today's "quite typical" fiction books. The plot kept you reading because you just had to know how everything was going to turn out. With an ending that leaves you wondering "what's more to come?", Obsession 101 is a great read for those seeking something different from the norm!

This book was great from begining to the end. I was able to pick out the crazy by the middle of the story but that didn't damage the plot.

I simply loved this book, Rashawn Ams' character pulled me in. I thought the story was very suspenseful. I was really surprised by the ending, but on and poppin, Michelle McGriff's has great style.

This book, which is a continuation of Michelle McGriff's prior book For Love's Sake, is a fascinating read. It keeps you on edge the entire book and be prepared for many surprises and twists and turns. It has an air of the realistic. I found this book thrilling.

Finally coming to grips with the attack and rape that happened over three years ago, Rashawn is finally ready to come back to the place she calls home. Returning to her old job, friends and family have been a lot to deal with. She is sure that her nightmare is far behind, even though she looks into the eyes of her attacker's gift every day in her son, Reggie.

With an epidemic of the date rape drug, Get A--, people are coming up missing and dead and Rashawn is reliving the torment all over again. Waking up in awkward situations and feeling violated, Rashawn knows that something deadly is awaiting her. Will she have a second chance to put her attacker to rest, or will history repeat itself?

What I liked about Obsession 101 was that this was not a typical story that I have read before. It had laughter, mystery, romance and a little street all in one. If you are an avid reader, you know what I am talking about. The problem that I had with Obsession, however, was with the main character, Rashawn. She was an airhead. It took her way too long to figure out who her attacker was. She trusted any and everybody and the only protection she had was never in her vicinity. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to more work from Michelle McGriff.

Reviewed by: LaDonna

I liked this story a lot. Richard Bach always finds a creative way to communicate his philosophy about what's life, and always makes me ask myself some questions and challenges me to look for the answers inside me. I've read other books of the author, and this one is not so deep, it's more simple maybe. Anyway, it's a nice story.

Great book. It will appeal to you only if you are ready to read a book in its class. If you manage to read the whole book, you will gain alot from it. If you have acquired this book it must be meant for you. Read it!

This is one of the very few books which teach how to come out of comfort zone! If one wants to take risks, he/she needs to come out of so called 'safety zone'. These lines are enough to describe this book.

This is a dichotomy of inner child meeting up with grown man, in metaphorical terms. An autobiographical account of the author's life, although a mental stretch, will make the reader re-examine their lives and choices along the way. Made me laugh and cry.
Arlene Millman
author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY

I didn't feel there was any new content in this book, it seemed to me to be a different story on what Richard has already talked about in his other books. Still the basic story was good and worth reading.

I loved this book! I have finished it in 3 days, and it was hard to put it down. Extremely well written. I got such a vivid view of India through the eyes of Ram. I desperately want to read more now!!

I picked this book up on a whim from the library 2 days ago and did not put it down till I was done.

The 18-y-o protagonist, Ram Mohammad Thomas, has just won India's "Who Will Win A Billion?" by answering perfectly 12 questions. However, he is an uneducated impoverished waiter who doesn't know many common knowledge questions, so the judges are sure he has cheated and are beating him at the poice station when Smita, a lady lawyer, comes to hear his side and prove he is legitimate.

It just so happens that each of the questions related somehow to a story in Ram's life, and he relates each one, full of poverty, abuse, child labor, brushes with film stars, diplomats and the clergy, to show how he could know each answer.

Through it all, we meet a clever resourceful boy who never lets down his friends, such as Salim, his fellow orphan who wants to be a movie star, no matter what obstacles he faces. We are sure he is telling the truth about not cheating, but have no way of knowing how he did it until the very end.

I highly recommend this book, and am in fact buying it as a gift for several other people.

Easy to read, and lets you opportunity to participate in investigation by trying to gess outcome.
Gives some overview of reality in India.

In his debut novel, Vikas Swarup, an Indian diplomat, tells about life in modern India from the viewpoint of an orphan who changes several places of residence and jobs during his teen years.

The story is not told in a conventional way, however. The presentation is very original - in the beginning we find out that Ram Muhammad Thomas was arrested after having won the biggest television Q & A show in India (and the world), winning 1 billion rupees (24 million US dollars, by today's rate). He was arrested because being just a poor 18-year old orphan working as a waiter who won a difficult quiz show, the show organizers suspected he was cheating.

However, and this is how the plot unfolds, Ram wasn't cheating. Rather, by a sheer coincidence, all the questions touched on topics he knew about from discrete incidents in the past few years of his life. As he sits in the police department with a lawyer, he tells her about each episode, after which they see the recording of the relevant question of the show.

If the original way of presentation was the only good thing about the book, it would only be average. However, the book also provides an exciting and fascinating glimpse into the life in modern India. Well written and full of both common day-life and historical facts about the densely populated peninsula, it is both pleasant to read and provides lots of interesting information. Recommended.

Q & A is a very entertaining book on many levels. The view of Indian culture, the inclusion of crimes against humanity we see around the world, and the organizational structure of the novel itself create a fascinating story. You cannot help rooting for the underdog, even with his flaws.

I enjoyed this book even though at times I wanted to smack Stormy. She made me so mad with some of the decisions she made but I was happy she finally opened her eyes. Camden was a DOGdog and he deserved what he got. This book made me realize that women have to be very careful nowadays because so many men are on the DL. Yes, we are looking for love, but we should not risk her health our lose or respect to find it. Keep up the good work.

Latrese Carter gave us the book that really upset me this year: Not because it was a bad read--- far from it. I was upset because she outlined for all of us how settling for anything can cause you to lose everything.

Her characters spring forth with realism and with truth---just not for the people that they should. You feel sorry for some of them, true. But others you think that they believed they could invite the poisonous snake into your home and not expect it to strike at you.

Well written, and since I got a chance to speak with her this year, I can honestly say that she is as passionate about the book as I was about reading it.

A job well done!

"Liar Liar" by Latrese N. Carter was an excllent novel. She told a good story about people who live an alternative lifesytyle on the downlow. She showed how it affects the realtionships of everyone involved. It was a great explosive story of love and lies!

Thanks for sharing Latrese!

I really enjoyed every minute of this book. It was a good read. At times, I wanted to kill Stormy and Camden. The author done a great job.

LaTrese Carter steps onto the literary scene with a very creative freshman debut!!!

Stormy Adair Knight is our heroine, a strong, christian woman with a great career. All that's missing in her life is a christian man. Thus enters picture perfect Camden Brooks. The renowned good Reverend Brook's eligible, good-looking, saved, did I say good looking, and charming son. He knows that is he is all that any woman would want, could want, and rest assured, should want. That is until his secret is leaked to his fiance before their wedding date.

Stormy is the perfect example of how we turn 'the Word' around to fit our situations in life. My question is, 'just how many cheeks are you supposed to turn' before you realize that this relationship is NOT of GOD!!!

Ms. Carter does an excellent job of describing life in one of its truest and rawest trends that seems to be on the rise in relationships today. In the past you would have women calling you about your man, but now you have to check and make sure that it is a woman checking you about your man! Ms. Carter opens up with the intimacy issue that women face today with society making us think you have to 'have' a man, but is the cost some have to pay really worth the rush, the issues of gay men in the church, the issue of acceptance of men and their sexual choices and the fact that they can be who they feel without hurting innocent people because of society's condemnation...

There are many life lessons in the pages of "Liar, Liar" and I think Ms. Carter has awakened alot of questions that truly need answers today and not tomorrow. Great job, great storyline, very original, very insightful, and an excellent piece of work!! Keep on teaching us sista!!!!

This book has helped me tremendously in my daily life. It's become a daily handbook for me. What an excellent idea of the author!

Even the most secure of us let doubts creep into our everyday lives. Sharon Elaine has provided us with a handy source of reinforcing the positive attitudes we work so hard to acquire. Her concise statements allow the reader to get a quick "pick-me-up," and may even be used in meditation.

Life can be stressful, everyone is too busy doing a million things at once and it's easy to get bogged down and depressed. We need to take time out for ourselves, time to relax and take care of ourselves. In "The Book of Affirmations" Sharon Elaine reinforces this idea in a big way! This book gives you a detailed list of all different types of affirmations to bring you back into a happier, more peaceful place.

ANYONE WHO ENJOYS AFFIRMATIONS, MEDITATION, NEW AGE PRINCIPLES, ETC., WILL LOVE THIS BOOK!

This is an easy book to use, as it has all kinds of subjects for the affirmations. I think it's helpful. I've been down lately, and repeating these sentences has helped my attitude a lot.

I really like this book. If you are like me, it can be a real challenge to come up with a positive affirmation when you are feeling low, confused or filled with an emotion that is threatening your peace. Sharon Elaine's book is divided into many different subject areas and filled with a variety of affirmations in each area. I have used this book a lot and think that it is a great tool for changing destructive feelings/beliefs into constructive ones. I highly recommend this book!

I don't think this book was quite as good as the last one but it was still very good. I liked that he finally got a "student".

Merlin, working through and with Arthur has managed to establish
Camelot, and end the wars for conquest of Britain. He now sits as a
counsellor for Arthur.

He is aging, and his powers leaving him, so he decides to train a
successor. Arthur's relatives in the north have different ambitions to
Arthur and Camelot.

Mary Stewart's rendition of this legend is my favorite by far. I take the time to read the set every year. Wore my old copy out. Thanks seller for the great experience.

Anybody who loves tales of Merlin and King Arthur will love this book! This is the third book in Mary Stewart's Arthurian Saga, written from the viewpoint of Merlin, it tells the tale of how Arthur came to be the legend that everyone has heard of.

Unlike many tales of Merlin it is not a fairy tale of unbelievable magic rather it is a brilliantly written story of a man who is extremely powerful, intelligent and gifted, who has a vision of a united Britain and has found the one person who can fulfill this dream, Arthur.

Based on the Legend of Arthur it is rich in detail both of character and landscape, and genuinely takes the reader back in time to the days of chivalry and Camelot!

Arthur is now firmly on the thrown, but his worries are not over. Treachery is around him and within his own family, with the plotting of his sister Morgause and the bearing of his illegitimate son Mordred, the series continues to entertain.
The Series is completed with the next novel The Wicked Day (The Arthurian Saga, Book 4)

Rimsky-Korsakov said that the best way to learn orchestration is to listen to an orchestra, score in hand. Artistically this is true, but no education can come this way in learning about the instruments that perform them -- their capabilities, difficulty in playing certain passages, and practical ways of composing for them. Forsythe's book deals with the history, design, capabilities, and techniques of performing for each of the instruments, providing an encyclopedic volume that has yet to be parallelled, even after nearly a century. Anyone wishing to learn orchestration will find this indespensible.

The book is old, however, the information is great. Lots of references to common instruments, as well as more obscure instruments. (You never know when you will be writing for a serpent!) Definatley a great buy for the money.

This book is superb, very indepth. I bought it, however, thinking it was going to discuss topics such as instrumental combinations, balance of tone, and other concepts more typically associated with 'orchestration'. It turns out, it deals more with the various characteristics and capabilities of each instrument in the orchestra...EXCELLENTLY! Though it could've been titled 'Instrumentation', it is an essential, valuable book. This may not be the definitive 'orchestration' book your looking for, but buy it anyway - you'll be glad you did!

While Forsythe offers a great deal of depth and detail, much of it I found superfluous unless you are a musicologist, and I am a musicologist. But now my primary interest is orchestrating. The author includes too much historical background on the various instruments, such as the evolution of the horn, which you only need to know if you are analyzing Hadyn symphonies. If you are orchestrating a new symphony, you need to know current instrumental capabilities and practices, and the Forsythe book is now nearly 100 years old. Most of his information remains valid, but how will you know what isn't?
I read this and a few other classics (Berlioz/Strauss, Rimsky, Piston) -- all of which are worthwhile -- before getting some coaching from a composition professor, who recognized that I needed a newer text. He recommended Adler or Kennan. So I bought the fourth edition of Kennan's orchestration book, a good place to start. Continue later with Forsythe and the others once you've acquired the up-to-date basics.

This book is organized as a tour of the many instruments that comprise an orchestra, together with description about how each instrument sounds, and how it might be used. Its primary focus is the instruments, not their arrangement.

My interest was more the latter. I am an amateur, novice composer of short works, working to arrange and orchestrate my own music. I want to understand better when oboes are best used over strings, how strings sections "against" each other are sculpted, when interplay between brass instruments is most appealing, etc.

I respect this man, but his book is not for me.

I found both of Ellen's books to be very valuable, not only as study guides and 'memory joggers' but also in my everyday work place. They are both valuable tools no BA can afford to be without!

I'm a consultant for requirements and training and also teach a university extension program on the subject and this is a great book that describes the process from a-z. It uses a variety of sources and has selected what is a good best practices list. It also has some good examples and diagrams.

The organization takes a little getting used to, mostly because there is a lot of information in a small package. I wish there also was a better linkage between the material and the references so I could go directly to the source for more info. Other than that, this is one of the better books to have on your shelf as an overall requirements reference.

I have read several books on requirements; And I must say this one is exceptional in content and delivery.Thanks Ellen keep doing your stuff.

This is good reference material. I am a Sr. BA with BCBSA. I have been referencing this guide for helpful tips and methods to elicit requirements. It is a good compliment and addition to the library but do not rely on it to get you through if you do not have experience as a BA.

I bought this because I have and like Gottesdiner's "Requirements by Collaboration." The idea of the "Memory Jogger" was very appealing. That is, my requirement was to have quick access to the essential requirements of the requirements process that I could use as a content and quality sanity check throughout the development project life cycle.

What "Memory Jogger" delivered was a good basic text on the requirements process presented in a virtually unusable format.

The rationale behind the "pocket-sized" format is beyond me. This will not fit into my pocket. I'm already carrying a laptop, a project binder (or two) and probably a flip chart; one more reasonably-sized book isn't going to make much difference in what I'm lugging around. Indeed, its size, shape, and weight guarantee that the "Memory Jogger" will either constantly slip from the stack I'm carrying around or get buried under the stacks on my desk.

The more serious problem with the format is that the type is too small. In attempting to fold a reasonably complete text on requirements into the inappropriate format, the publisher has reduced point size as well as cramped character spacing. In some sections the spacing between words has been reduced to the extent that the text is virtually unreadable.

An additional issue with the small page format is that most sentences are wrapped around multiple lines - one example that I'm looking at right now runs to five lines, making it hard to read and comprehend. Multi-column tables are obviously even worse. Let me emphasize that this is not because the content is verbose or poorly written; it's because of the constraints of the format.

The reviewer who was looking for flip charts or fold-outs is on the right track. I would also suggest that a more extensive use of color would have been useful, say by tipping the pages of each section in a different color. This would be a nice, fast visual indicator - one could flip quickly to the green section or the purple section as one needed.