Languages Books

I am taking Spanish and we have a terrible book full of silly pictures. So I ordered this book and passed it around to our class to review. We all were impressed with the way Spanish is taught thru this book. Very comprehensive and easy to learn. This is a must!!!!

I'm still studying with this book, and it is extremely helpful! Vocabulary is quickly provided to the reader and before you know it you're spouting simple Spanish sentences instead of just given phrases to memorize. There are exercises after each new thing you learn, making it easier for content to stay in your mind and actually learning it. An answer key is provided at the end of the book to check your work.

Hoping to perhaps retire to Mexico, I am endeavoring to learn Spanish on my own after 30+ years has passed since I had to take Spanish in college. Although it certainly is not sufficient by itself (because one needs to actually hear the language being spoken), I find it is one of the best books I've purchased for learning the Spanish language. The material is very well organized, and I concur with those reviewers who rave about the book.

The vocabulary lists, especially, are very helpful to me. I find that, in browsing them as I work through the chapters, I can refresh myself on what I used to know and pick up new vocabulary. It's encouraging to realize that, even with my native English vocabulary, I forget the meanings of words I don't often use and a dictionary is always at hand if I don't understand something. I feel like less of a dufus, in other words. The lists in Fundamental Spanish are plentiful, but each list is not overly long, so I can literally review a list when I'm watching TV, when a commercial comes on, and pick it back up later. Having the book in Kindle format, of course, makes it very easy and convenient to always have the book with me, so I get far more instruction and practice than I would if it were sitting on a bookshelf.

Highly recommended.

Fundamental Spanish is excellent for students and teachers of Spanish. It provides an accessibility into particular grammatical subjects as well as providing excellent content for learning or reviewing Spanish grammar. Without a doubt, Fundamental Spanish could be used as a text for beginners (adults/college prep) who have a grasp of grammar in general.

The book was required for a Spanish Class, was received in a very timely manner, however, the price listed on the back of the book was $26.95. Amazon charged $29.00 in addition for the shipping. What was that about??

I bought this book as part of my project assignment. I liked the fact that it was both in Spanish and in English. It teaches the Spanish alphabet through beautiful illustrations of the Mexican culture and farm workers. It is first class print and one can tell that much time and effort went into the preparation of the book. However, I did not like the fact that 'happy' farm workers covered most of the pages. I believe it is stereotyping the Hispanic population to some degree and as someone who has also worked in the farms under the blazing sun, I wasn't smiling most of the time... Overall, I recommend the book provided that parents/teachers exercise caution while using it because of its stereotypical elements.

This is one of the best bilingual alphabet books I've encountered. It is suitable for children of all ages, including adults. The poems written by Alma Flor Ada are symbolic and elegantly ilustrated by Simon Silva. Silva brings his farmworker roots to his illustrations in this life of the harvester themed book. I can't say enough about the illustrations, suffice to say, they are simple yet stunning colorful depictions of the farmworkers life. This is first and foremost a Spanish alphabet book, with an English translation; it begins with Arboles and Trees, which as you may note are not exactly both A words. Besides the excellent ilustrations, brilliant author (she has a PHD, has done postdoctoral work at Harvard and is a Fullbright Scholar), DR. Aida brings to life the alphabet with her insightful poetry. She uses simple language to convey matters of the earth and a rich cultural heritage. Not overly flowery, her use of language is one that evokes the simplicity and toughness of the life of the farmworker. Her educational and lifetime experiences, reflected in some of her some of her books like A Magical Encounter: Latino Children's Literature in the Classroom (2nd Edition),Under The Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba extend from a broad palette of knowledge that is dedicated to children. This book is one that every child can benefit from, regardless of race. Families, teachers and students will love this book. It is a book to be cherished from one generation to the next. This book belongs in all young bilingual families homes, community and school(K-12) libraries. There is something for everyone to enjoy in this gorgeous, soulful book.

I highly recommend this book. It has beautiful illustrations and poems, and teaches Mexican history. It is larger than I expected, which is great. A great value, I would have paid a lot more!

This brilliantly illustrated bilingual book is a delightful adventure into the world of language and art, "simple words and sun-drenched paintings", as Alma Flor Ada and Simon Silva take young readers into orchards and fields, alongside the people who harvest the bounty of nature, dedicated to the living memory of Cesar Chavez: "Your example and your words sprout anew in the field rows as seedlings of quiet hope." The illustrated alphabet is Spanish, text in both Spanish and English: arboles (trees) "the companions of my childhood"; duraznos (peaches) "like a gentle caress in the palm of my hand"; tomates (tomatoes) "red tomato in the kitchen, in the little tacos my godmother loves to make"; zanahoria (carrot) "The carrot hides beneath the earth. After all, she knows the sun's fiery color by heart."

Nothing less than a celebration of a shared heritage of working the land and the language of nature's bounty, the bilingual text is rendered with an eye to the beauty of words and the images wrought from the earth's palette, a rich history of the cycle of growth and those who labor to carry their fruits from field to kitchen, from the hands that toil upon the land to those that prepare the rich foods that grace the tables of grateful families. Saturated with vivid color and the dignity of hard work, Gathering the Sun is nothing less than brilliant, a reflection of the author and illustrator's appreciation for all aspects of growth, from field to heart to spirit, acknowledging "honor and pride, family and friends, history and heritage, and... the bounty of the harvest." Luan Gaines/2006.

Right away, one can see that this is much more than your run-of-the-mill alphabet books. Two extremely talented people, author Alma Flor Ada and Simon Silva, collaborate on 28 short poems that celebrate the pride of the Latino familes that work the fields as migrant farmworkers. In fact, this book is dedicated to the memory of Cesar Chavez. Alma Flor Ada has written extensively on what it is like to be a Latina immigrant in such books as "Me Llamo Isabel," and Simon Silva has illustrated such like-themed books as "La Mariposa" and "El Campo."

The poems tell of the harvest, from Arboles (trees) to Zanahoria (carrot), with C and Ch telling the story of Cesar Chavez. The poems are both in English and Spanish; in both languages, the verse is rendered with great sensitivity. The beautiful illustrations convey not only the hard work of the fields, but also beauty and hope, not to mention a strong and serene sense of family. The people give thanks to the wind, sky, rain, sun, field, flower, and Earth for all the delicious fruits, while extoling honor, both in hard work and caring in the family. I can think of few other books that tell of these things, which most people take for granted, more beautifully.

I recently read this book. It is an incredible read that sweeps you away into its depths. I too, like one of the other review writers thought it was a biography until the very end. And he/ she was right, it does seem to add to the excellence of this book. By the way, to all who may be interested... they are making a movie out of this book. HOPEFULLY it lives up to the book. If you haven't read it... do so!!!

When I read the earlier reviews I thought this was a sequel to the Memoirs of a Geisha, which is a great book. I don't see what I missed, what should have told me, so let me tell you directly: This is NOT a sequel, this is NOT a new book by Golden, it is Memoirs, but in GERMAN!!

Do not buy this book unless you read German; buy the Memoirs you will find elsewhere in Amazon. But if you do read German and are looking for a great novel, have at it.

"Memoirs of a Geisha" was a great read, but "Die Geisha" is not a sequel. It is the same book, but it is written German for our German readers over seas.

By the way, if you haven't read the English version called "Memoirs of a Geisha", you should do so because it was a great book & I'll give it 5 stars. Too bad there is not a sequel. This book left me a yearning to read more ;) ......."easy reader"

I read this book the first time 5 years ag. Since then, I get the book out every year and read it again. It gives me the same fulfilled feeling I got the first time through. This is one of the best books out there that leads you through an amazing journey of life's triumphs and tragedies and the decisions you must make. It teaches you the importance of respect, tradition, and why it is so important to maintain our cultures lest we loose of forget them. Don't pass on this one!

Um, people, this book is not in German. It is in French. Don't buy this expecting either the English version or the German version.

EDIT///

I just realized that Amazon considers Die Geisha (German) and Geisha (French) to be the same book, so the reviews show up below both books. Beware, make sure you get the correct language.

I've never read another book like "Good Books Lately: The One-Stop Resource for Book Groups and Other Greedy Readers." It's clever and smart without being condescending. Completely accessible! The book is a blend of history, anecdote and How-To. Whether you're in a book club, or just an avid reader on your own, this book is helpful. It gives great tips on being a more active reader and participant in discussion of books.
I had the good fortune of attending a reading of this book by the authors, Kira Stevens and Ellen Moore, and they are even more charming and clever in person! I was in tears with laughter listening to their encounter with Oprah - very funny stuff! Don't worry, the Oprah story is in the book, so you can get a good laugh too!

At last there is a lively resource book for book group discussions! With easy to follow chapters, this book gives the reader the tools to deepen any book group discussion. Whatever book type your group prefers, Kira Stevens and Ellen Moore have created a one-stop easy reference guide. I find that I often return to the book before book dicussions, making Good Books Lately an invaluable investment. The authors have made the analytical art of book discussions accessible, and fun. For all of us "greedy readers" - this is the ultimate reference for book lovers everywhere.

Everything one could want to know about starting a book group in a helpful, informative, and entertaining format. A great read from authors who are not just PhDs in English but clearly women who love reading and writing. In addition to detailed descriptions of just about everything one would need to know to get started and keep going, the authors provide lists of books that have proved to be most popular with reading groups. Loved the part about their meeting with Oprah. This is the sort of book just to keep handy to refer back to when you need inspiration or validation in what you're doing whether it's preparing for a group meeting or analyzing a book on your own.

What a great book! Most how-to books can be dull or hokey, but the advice in this book is interesting, creative, fun and often hilariously funny. The authors take an important topic and make it very accessible. I was pretty nervous about starting a book group before I encountered "Good Books Lately," but now I'm encouraged and excited! After just starting this book, I felt like Ellen Moore and Kira Stevens were good friends of mine! This book's a great reference that I'll use and recommend often.

I absolutely loved this book on book groups. A friend of mine recommended it because I was complaining that our book group had gotten a little dull after 7 years. Now, we have reinvigorated our group with the help of this book. Every book group needs to read this book. Ellen Moore and Kira Stevens are absolutely brilliant and incredibly funny.

My husband has had this book since his 3rd birthday in 1982. Now, he reads it to our little boy who loves it too. He just giggles away at the ending. Highly recommended!

My 2-year-old son loves this book! Beautiful book & lots of fun with all the animal noises. :)

My 3 year old loves this book. She makes all the sounds and we both make the loud owl screeches at the end of the story that wakes everyone up! Good-Night Owl is a favorite in our house!!

My little girl loves this book. After reading it to her everynight for a week she can recite the entire book. The book teaches the individual calls of different birds and other animals. Great illustrations and big text. This book is one of our favorites. Happy nighttime reading!!

This is one of our favorite books. My 2 and 3 year old love the various birds and noises they make (great learning tool), the repetition makes it easy to remember. The story is lots of fun. The kids get a big kick out of the ending too! After a few reads, we can basically recite the book and often re-tell the story to ourselves while driving in the car. I would highly recommend this book for any family with little "owls".

I have studied Modern Greek for 1 1/2 years using the Teach Yourself series. If you are not serious about advanced learning, then this is not the book for you. In the opening chapters I understood more of the Greek words than the English ones. Voiced plosives , labiodental fricatives, phonemes, etc. They describe how to sound out the correct pronounciation of the Greek letters and letter combinations using words like that, rather than giving examples of similar sounds using familiar English words. These descriptions along with my prior knowledge of the language did help me to understand the subtle differences that the "beginner books" could not. Once you get used to the over-the-top intellectualism you will find that this book explains the highly complex Greek language in detail like no other. The Teach Yourself series is easy to understand, but generally leaves one wondering "why", while this book provides quite the opposite experience. In the end, I've realized that it may be more valuable to understand more about the English language than the Greek language before purchasing this book.

I have been learning Modern Greek for only 3 years. I had tried many books and courses but was greatly confused by the verb forms - "the What" and "the When".
Then one of my teachers in Athens recommended this book - I found it on Amazon, bought it and immediately things became clear ......especially the explanation of Aspect!
I could go on - but I won't. It is by far, The Best Yet.
With gratitude, Jim Trueman

It is the best of all the greek grammars and I knowa lot in greek, french and english. The explanations are clear ; greek language is a very difficult one but this grammar answers all the questions.

This Greek grammar is, quite simply, the best and most comprehensive available. The detail is excellent and, whilst frequently employing technical linguistic terminology throughout, it can be easily understood with little or no knowledge of such. Highly reccommended, indeed - a must, for anyone who wishes to gain an in-depth understanding of the Greek language.

I'm giving this book a 4-star rating because it was definitely "comprehensive"...but, a little too comprehensive if you need just an explanation of the basics. This book is rather large and goes into some horrific detail on Greek Grammar...probably even more than fluent Greek speakers know. For what it is, it's good...but it's just not what I needed. I think I'll try the reference Greek Grammar book...I'll let you know how that goes.

Langenscheidt's Deutsch als Fremdsprache (German as a foreign language) dictionary is an excellent reference for the student of German. I bought mine during my time at the University of Heidelberg and found it immensely helpful, and still do as an aid to keeping my German in tune.

The dictionary has over 66,000 references. The definitions cover not only the basic meaning of the words, but also situational usage, idiomatic expressions, and all the standard dictionary fare of pronunciation and part of speech. Also included are many illustrations, often used to point out differences between kinds--for example, under the entry "Schusswaffen" or "firearms," is an illustration showing the differnce between rifle, revolver, and pistol, with the appropriate German vocabulary. Browsing the entries and illustrations can actually become addictive, as reading one entry will send you to another, expanding and reinforcing your vocabulary.

Not only is this dictionary more precise than even the best dual-language dictionaries, the detailed definitions will help the speaker understand both how and when the various words are best used.

Highly recommended.

This dictionary is the perfect supplement to a bilingual German dictionary. It contains explanatory, easy-to-understand definitions for some 66,000 German words. Each entry contains the part of speech (and gender, for nouns), pronunciation where nonstandard, conjugation (verbs) or declination (nouns), a clear definition, and often examples, related phrases, synonyms, antonyms, and other helpful data. This is extremely useful for those speaking German as a foreign language. A word of warning: this dictionary, of course, should only be used by those with at least intermediate proficiency in German, as the dictionary is monolingual-German.

As other reviewers have said, this is a terrific dictionary for serious students of German. Words are given detailed definitions together with explanations of how to use them and example sentences. Usually this gives much more precise information than would be possible with a translation, and it is also very nice to think entirely in German. This book is one of my most valued possessions. I had to get a new copy because my previous copy was so tattered.

Now I would like to add a couple of points to what other reviewers have said.

First, there is also a very nice software version (unfortunately using Windows). This makes searching a lot faster. In addition, it has a really cool feature called "Pop-Up Search". When this is enabled, if you are reading any German text on your computer, you can right-click on a word, and the dictionary entry will appear in a bubble.

Second, although this dictionary is pretty big, there are many German words which are not in there. (Indeed, German has more or less infinitely many words, since you can keep sticking words and prefixes together to make bigger and bigger compounds...) So as a backup you might also want to have a really big translation dictionary, such as Collins Unabridged --- or if you are advanced enough to use it, a real German dictionary such as Duden.

Conclusion: I recommend using this dictionary as soon as you know enough German to be able to use it. Look words up in here first, and if you can't obtain the information you need, then try a big translation dictionary.

I have found this dictionary to be invaluable to my pursuit of fluency in German. Building a proper vocabulary in German, independent of one's own primary language, is important to being able to fully learn another language. I am now able to read, speak and write German without the labor of translating from English into German and vice versa. I recommend this dictionary coupled with reading simple texts at first such as children's books starting from a young age level up to an adult level with many intermediate levels in-between as one progresses. I lost my first copy that I bought in Germany several years ago and recently I bought a replacement online. I have not looked through a German-English dictionary in the last few years, and I'll never again search through one.

I have found this dictionary to be invaluable to my pursuit of fluency in German. Building a proper vocabulary in German independent of one's own primary language is important to being able to fully learn another language. I am now able to read, speak and write German without the labor of translating from English into German and vice versa. I recommend this dictionary coupled with reading simple texts at first such as children's books starting from a young age level up to an adult level with many intermediate levels in-between as one progresses. I lost my first copy that I bought in Germany several years ago and recently I bought a replacement online. I have not looked through a German-English dictionary in the last few years, and I'll never again search through one.

Great book for the basics of Bible study and good for refreshing yourself in the proper study methods. I like EW Bullinger's writings. A lot of depth.

This book does very well at providing the bible student a clear foundation and understanding for building upon. In his initial teaching, he uses scripture to show that, scripture is not something we are to interpret, but that God has given us the Bible and the Holy Spirit to interpret Himself. Bullinger is very explicit that he wrote the book for those who accept the Bible as the Word of God and chooses not to provide proof of its inspiration.

Dr. Bullinger was one of those rare Christians that sought to find the truth at any cost. He was not content with the "status quo" of traditionally orthodoxy. His books remain monumental to seekers of truth. His books dig further than any modern writer has done on the subjects he undertook. His Greek Concordance and dictionary are still widely used today. His awesome book on "Figures of Speech" is still considered a classic.

This book under review is one of my all time favorite books of all time. I would go so far as to say that if I could have only one book outside the bible for reference, this would be the book. Its subjects cover vast amount of material and go into great detail shedding light on the bible. This is the reason why it is called "How to Enjoy the Bible". It is certainly enjoyable to read the Bible when you understand it.

This book is not for those who are faint of heart. If you love religion (what man says) more than you love God this is not the book for you. However, if your really want to understand the bible, E.W. Bullinger can open your eyes to new understanding. With this new understanding you can receive release from the fear based dogma that enslaves TOO MANY CHRISTIANS. This work gives you the foundation to open the bible and begin to really search the scriptures for yourself, and find out for yourself what God is trying to show you. I have just read this book for the second time, and I am more impressed with it now than I was the first time I read it. Mr. Bullinger gives you the keys to understanding the bible, but it is we who have to study it for ourselves. If you have never read this book before please get it. I can't begin to tell you how much it has done for me.
Your fellow brother in Christ,
Marc

Dr. Bullinger offers his book on the condition that the reader make it a priority to make his own charts, do his own word studies and dig into the word for himself. He offers an excellent guide to get started on that journey with this book.

From the Book's Conclusion: "As with ordinary bodily food: others may prepare the food and serve it up in various forms: they may cook it in more senses than one: they may present it in 'made dishes': they may carve it, and cut it up, and even put it in the mouth, as with babes; but, after all, there is no more that they can do. They cannot eat it or digest it for us; they cannot assimilate it for us; even so it is with the spiritual food of the Word of God. Notwithstanding all that has been said in the foregoing pages, the great necessity remains: the work of Bible study must be, to the end, intensely personal and individual."

The individual believer is called upon to study to show himself approved unto God (2 Tim 2:15). This is a lifelong task and one that must be entered into with great resolve.

Dr. Bullinger's book will prove to be a great help in your desire to rightly divide the Word of Truth, even if you don't agree with all his conclusions and interpretations.

I have spent no less than two-hundred hours scouring the internet for articles on how to write a query letter.
THE INFORMATION IN LUKEMAN'S BOOK IS THE CREAM OF THE CROP!
He graciously explains the basics while offering valuable tips that delve into the minds of those mystical creatures-- literary agents!
Thanks to HOW TO WRITE A GREAT QUERY LETTER, I feel extremely confident in the knowledge I've gained.
This book should be in every author's arsenal.

This is a very useful and practical ebook, because it not only details and reasons how to write such a letter from formatting to following up, but also reveals some astonishing facts, for example, a literary agent can receive 10,000 queries a year (pp. 5-6), 90% of all query letters are related to fiction (p. 38), and receive 10 rejections a day (p. 53). This short can serve as a handbook when writing a query.

I heartily recommend this thorough essay. I had minor quibbles with a couple of details because of the genre in which I write, but Mr. Lukeman addresses those quibbles right in the essay.
Do your research, he instructs. He outlines what to research and why, and anyone who follows that advice alone won't have to worry about if they've got it right for their specific genre.
If every writer followed the advice in this essay then we'd have happier, less busy agents. Be part of the solution. Download the essay and write better queries starting today!

This is a great little ebook. I can't believed it's being offered free of charge right now. I learnt a lot about not only writing great query letters, but business letters of any kind. Very useful and helpful advice. Excellent product.

How to Write a Great Query Letter provides an easy step-by-step process which concisely answers the question - What does it take to write a query letter that will get read? Lukeman offers ideas for research before you draft the letter, formatting and printing tips and reinforces the three-paragraph rule. Chapter seven discusses how fiction and non-fiction query letter should differ. Chapter eight deals with common makes made. This Amazon Short offers ideas on how to submit the letter and keys to following up. The checklists, examples, and clear verbiage will be helpful to new authors and those that have been in the game for a while. Definitely, a great deal for the price!

"How to Write a Screenplay" is a superb guide to the craft of cinematic storytelling and the process of rendering that story into the standard screenplay format. The book also includes detailed guidance on the pitch and development stages of the screenwriting process. Schwartz effectively delivers his lessons because "How to Write a Screenplay" seamlessly marries form and function. The book itself is in the form of a screenplay, and therefore serves as an ongoing example of the points it presents. This is an extremely effective pedagogical approach because the reader's attention is not divided between separate narrative text and examples, but fully engaged at any moment in an interesting story that illustrates its points in concrete terms.

In the introduction to his book, Schwartz states he has seen the quality of his screenwriting students' work dramatically improve after utilizing this approach; I have no doubt that this has been true for him, and will also apply to those who read his excellent book.

This is by far and away the best book I've read on screenwriting. It's really insightful, informative, and entertaining. I found myself laughing while learning! As others have noted, this clever little gem is a fast and fun read, a how-to book that is actually written in the form of a character and story-driven screenplay. Like a good movie, I kept turning the pages, wanting to "see" what would happen next. Before you get to the feature length screenplay (titled Screenwriting for the Hell of It!),it has a funny short script about pitching, and takes you by example through the steps of development. I can see why a great director like Wes Craven recommends it. Very cool!

The latest edition of HOW TO WRITE: A SCREENPLAY appears in its revised, expanded edition to add a chapter on 'The Pitch' and features a screenplay-like format which sets it apart from others on the market. Danny, the hero in this story, is hopelessly in love with a star who won't date him until he proves he can write an outstanding screenplay for her. Learn the basics of writing and marketing a screenplay through a format that lends to lively insights: perfect for any public library or school collection catering to aspiring screenwriters.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

In summary, like a good movie, this is highly entertaining and educational!
There, now that that is out of the way, let me say I was initially skeptical about this book and its overwhelmingly good reviews. The reason is a character flaw (I think): I don't trust positivity.

However, it wasn't too expensive and Amazon would ship it to me in record time so I thought, what the heck and ordered it. It's a small book, and I was expecting it to be. After all, it's in the format of a screenplay and those shouldn't be more than 120 pages or so, right?

On starting to read, straightaway, I was hooked. The story used is a bit corny, but--I couldn't believe it!--I wanted to know more: what did Virgil want? Who was the stranger in Bebe's apartment? Does Danny finish the screenplay? And right along with all that, I was actually learning about structure, character, theme, dialog and exposition; all in a way I never would have thought possible.

And at a speed I never thought possible either! I was learning how to write a screenplay and how to make it interesting and watchable, without the impediment of translating jargon and quasi-indecipherable jibber jabber. I blew through it in less than two hours and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. One of my highest recommendations and kudos to the author for finding a pleasant, funny, and incredibly insightful way of transferring knowledge.

The addition of a section on "pitching" in Mr. Schwartz' Second Edition is the icing on the cake of his excellent guide to screenwriting. Having worked inside the studio system for several decades as a story analyst, development executive, and producer, I've seen many cases where a screenwriter had a good story and/or script but failed to sell it because he/she blew the "pitch." As he did with screenwriting in the First Edition, Mr. Schwartz provides the keys to successful "pitching" in his user-friendly format: keep it simple, clear and entertaining. I will continue to recommend Mr. Schwartz' book to writers, producers and development execs as a very useful tool in developing, and NOW in selling screenplays.