Cleaning Books

The girls and I loved listening to this Nancy Drew. It takes me back to my youth and the girls are loving the "old time" stories.

Out of the three other Nancy Drew books I've read this one was the hardest to figure out. The books are well written and good for light reading. This book was suspenseful in the sense that I had a hard time trying to figure out who the culprit was. The ending was surprising. I never really thought that person was the culprit. Good ending.

Thank you for you time,
feel free to comment this
review,
Loran

Originally written by Mildred Wirt Benson from outlines by Edward Stratemeyer, the Nancy Drew series was first published in 1930s. THE MYSTERY AT LILAC INN was the fourth book in the series, and it and those that followed presented its heroine as a rich, headstrong, and distinctly reckless teenager who sometimes carried a pistol and who wasn't above breaking the law when it suited her purposes.

As the series progressed and other writers began to generate Nancy Drew novels, the character changed and Nancy was "toned down;" instead of flatly rich, she became reasonably affluent; recklessness was replaced by commonsense caution; and while she might be willing to bend the law a bit she would never knowingly break it. In the 1950s and 1960s the earlier novels were re-written to reflect this change in character.

Every book in the Nancy Drew series repeats certain basic elements, but even so THE MYSTERY AT LILAC INN is something of an exotic. The original 1930 book concerned a jewel theft; the 1961 re-write kept the idea of a jewel theft but threw out the rest of the plot and very unexpectedly involved Nancy with everything from identity theft to espionage! And not only is LILAC INN surprisingly violent for a Nancy Drew mystery, it also permits the normally unflappable herione to show her temper more than once.

This particular story finds Nancy invited to act as a bridesmaid for friend Emily, who--along with her future husband--has bought Lilac Inn, a resort hotel they hope to update and operate once married. Accompanied by friend Helen Corning, Nancy visits Emily at the Inn, only to discover the property is beset by a host of mysterious happenings: employees have resigned, "ghosts" are stalking the grounds, and in short order Emily's inheritance of valuble diamonds are stolen. But this is only the start; before the story ends Nancy and her friends will cope with auto theft, blackmail, impersonation, and two attempted murders.

As is always the case with the original series, the book is very much of its era: there are no cell phones, computers, or similar modern gadgets and although she is allowed to loose her temper a few times in this title Nancy remains the "perfect good girl" according to the standards of the day. Even so, the unusual nature of this particular book lends a bit more spice to the proceedings than usual, the result is particularly enjoyable.


The Nancy Drew books are not great literature by any stretch of the imagination--they are too distinctly formula for that--but they are competently written, literate, and never talk down to their target audience. They are also good "comfort reading" for grown-ups who recall their childhood reading fondly. THE MYSTERY AT LILAC INN is certainly one of the better efforts, and both old fans and young newcomers will enjoy it.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

My friend was always very into Nancy Drew. She had bought a couple of the books, but then recieved a box set and was left with a few doubles, so she gave this one to me. I thought "Wow. Great. A cheesy mystery novel." It sat in my bookshelf for two years. I only have a few unread books left in my shelf, and didn't feel like going into my series of Louisa May Alcott books just yet, so I picked this book up yesterday. In the middle of the third chapter, I was sucked into a vortex and couldn't come out. I started this book at 4:40, took a half hour break for supper, and finished the book at 10:11. Normally when I read mysteries (which is very rare because I find them so predictable) I am able to piece together everything that will happen. Not in this one. There are so many well-developed characters to support Nancy, and the plot has multiple twists and turns. For girls from about 8 to 13, I think you will enjoy this book greatly!

I chose to read this book because my mom had told me that the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories was a good series of books. By the cover of the book I had thought that it was going to be about the typical scary haunted house book but it wasn't. Before I read the book I never imagined that it would have been this good. The main character of the book is a young lady named Nancy Drew. Nancy is invited along with her friend Helen to come and join their friend Emily and her fiancé on their wedding day and stay at the inn that they own called, Lilac Inn. In the book someone breaks into Nancy's house and steals her charge plate and some articles of clothing. They are using the charge plate to impersonate Nancy. The impersonator has been stealing all other sorts of things also from the inn. Nancy discovers thatsomeone is trying to impersonate her so now she is on the hunt for her impersonator/burglar who is causing all problems for Nancy. While on their stay Nancy and her friend Helen come to beleive that the house is haunted. Nancy and Helen think that the house is haunted because of the noises and mysterious things that are happeining. I suggest you read the rest of this book to find out who impersonates her and why. This was a very suspenseful book and I enjoyed reading it, it was one of those books where you couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next and there was not a boring moment in this book. This was really good book and that is why I gave it 4 stars.

Great book. As a mom of 3 young children ages 5, 3.5 and 19 months, I am always looking for ways to be better organized and keep a tidy home. This book is full helpful suggestions and tips.

I bought this book on a whim, and am very glad that I did so. Quite a few of the ideas in this book are common sense and/or things some people probably do already, but it is amazing how much information is packed into this book. For instance, there are some very handy charts for stain removal and food storage. I had never heard of a household notebook before, and I am implementing some of the ideas and checklists from the book and the website. I'm a very visual person and the colorful layout and motivating pictures appealed to me. I also liked that it was organized room by room. I know that I will refer to this book in the future, whether to find information or to find a way to revamp a stale cleaning routine.

There are many very good and simple ideas in this book. I am in the process of converting my home using these ideas. I love the recipes for "green" house cleaning products. Overall, this book is very helpful. The only thing I did not like was the organization of the book. I spent a lot of time flipping back and forth throughout the book. The author would introduce an idea and then not explain the idea until several pages later.

Unless your house has piles of clutter in every room don't bother
with this book. Because that's about all she tells you, over and
over in almost every chapter is how to sort and dispose of clutter.
I really didn't find it to be of much use at all in terms of the
best ways to actually go about cleaning your house. And her ideas
about shopping lists are really strange. She says that keeping a
shopping list doesn't work because teenagers won't write things down
when they use them up. Instead you are supposed to make lists of
every grocery item you ever buy and then photocopy them. Then people
are supposed to go through the printed lists and circle what they
have used up. Exactly why a teenager will do this if they won't just
write something on a list is a mystery to me. Also, what happens
when you want to buy something that you don't usually buy? I can't
imagine taking sheets and sheets of paper to the grocery store and
scanning through them to see what is circled. And how many times in
the book does she tell you to keep children's books in a plastic
dish pan so they can flip through them and put them back easily? How
is this an improvement on a book shelf? I found most of her ideas
rather impractical. Also, nobody in your house is allowed to have
any kind of a collection, because her idea about these is that you
let them keep three of each item and give the rest away. This will
not make you very popular with other family members who may have
carefully collected for years! All in all, I would give it a miss if
I were you, unless, as I said, you cannot even walk through your
house for all the piles of clutter!

I bought this book because I was looking for a way to learn how to be organized. I have never been a good house-keeper and have piles of papers, clothes, etc. I need remedial help. This book is not remedial; it shows organized people how to clean and declutter better. It was very intimidating and made me feel worse than I already do. I'm sure that this author has never been as disorganized or as messy as I am and consequently cannot understand the issues involved for many of us who have never been organized or had a regular house-cleaning schedule. Lucky for me that I found Sandra Felton's books for "messies"; I now have hope that I can create a cleaner, more organized home.

:0P such a great book. I love to see peoples faces when I leave it out. Full of lots of good laughs.

This book is a fast read. Its full of hilarious facts and great coversation starters for a drunk crowd! Throw it on the coffee table and see who picks it up. I'd recommend it!

*The Penis Book* is an interesting "gag gift" of a book that you can give to friends or keep for yourself. In it are interesting facts and tidbits about the penis. This book is designed for anyone (men, gay, straight, women) to read.

In the book, you'll read about if size matters or not. You'll read how straight and gay men treat their penises. You'll learn international words for the penis. You'll learn to vary your metaphors for "spanking the monkey".

There are quirky stuff in there as well. Such as what goes on in the "penis head" toy manufacturing company. You'll read what men think they'll be or do if they didn't have a penis. You'll also read what women would do if they had a penis. You'll read quotes about bulges and self-sucking and odd news.

There are also some little known facts and historical tidbits. A mechanism device was created during one of the World Wars to curb wet dreams. You'll read up on the different names for body piercings in the groin area, such as the Prince Albert. You'll learn of a festival celebration of the penis in Asia.

There are plenty of pictures in this little book. However, none of them are pornographic. There are pictures of penis candies, metal penises, cartoon penises, penis-shaped toys, tattooed penises, painted penises and many others. You'll get to analyzed paintings of penises. It's like a world of penises in this book!

Weird quotes and poems are also provided. You'll laugh, groan and maybe nod in agreement. You'll share with your friends or partner. You'll roll your eyes. You might learn a thing or two.

My favorite parts are the different names of the penis around the world and the different metaphors for "rounding up tadpoles". Some of them would just make you laugh.

There's just so many stuff in this little book, which will surprise you. So, get this book and embrace the knowledge of the penis.

While in DC last month I saw this book in a store and purchased 4 copies. I read the book and found it completely entertaining, yet informative. It is amazing to me how the penis rules the mind of a man. The book is full of interesting facts and I learned alot. I am going to purchase several more for gifts. I signed the books I gave away. "In the end, they are all dicks. Some are just more special than others." How true!

And now I know why they call it a "Prince Albert." Quirky art, Tidbits of history, and tips for men who wish to mingle with polite society. Something fun to leave in the bathroom for guests. Not much you won't already know, but it's funny to read again. All hail the penis!

I am writing this review on my Mom's ID.
I liked how this 14 year-old boy is trying to save his dog. The boy's name is Logan Moore and the dog's name is Jack and they are trying to find a safe place but there isn't anywhere to hide. Logan's father is a laboratory worker and is trying to find what's going on with all the dogs in the town. Then they find a mysterious disease killing all the dogs in the city and call it Psychotic Outburst Syndrome or POS. They are sending agents out to shoot the ill dogs. What I don't like about the book is the killing, gore, and the boot camp story. It's a very emotional and exicting book.I recommend it for kids 12 and older. It is a good book and I hope you will read it too.

I read this book several years ago, I must have been about 9 (although I have gone back to read it several times since). I bought it at a book fair, having seen a cute dog on the cover. I think, that at that age it was a little brutal for me, but nontheless a great read.

It starts by introducing the characters, and it's a bit tedious, but even some of the best books can have horrible beginings. The story soon begins with some mild scares when a sick dog attacks another. Once it gets started, however, it becomes a riveting read, but a bit harsh. It descirbes dogs being attacked, and diseased dogs going crazy. Even so, I still think that maybe it was even good because it makes everything in the book very real.

Different characters' points of views are shown with first hand accounts, and it never really says what was right, or good, just how they thought it happened. Every character has its flaws, some more than others, and there are no clear good or bad guys. They are all just people trying to live through a rough time.

I think the best part was definitely the end. It was so bittersweet and just... fitting. It really tied up the story so well. Some things may have been just a teensy bit obvious, but it still kept me on my toes with unexpected twists and turns. The whole thing really evoked my emotions well. It was also a definite tear jerker, the first of which I had ever read.

"The Last Dog on Earth" is a book that shouldn't be ignored. Daniel Ehrenhaft's book is adventurous. "The Last Dog on Earth" is so packed with risky themes, it is practically overflowing with many exciting enterprises. When Mr. Boone, a local deli shop owner, released his dog, Thor, on Logan and Jack, I thought all was lost, but later I was relieved to know both Jack and Logan were unharmed. Fourteen year old, brave Logan is daring because he risked his wellbeing for the sake of his faithful dog. "The Last Dog on Earth" has sharp meanders, like how a roller coaster is a rash thrill-ride.

If you are a `dog lover', like me, then this is a must read book for you. Imagine a female dog, Jack, who is a determined, loyal, and lovable dog. Now, do you think you would enjoy reading a book about a dog as wonderful as her? The bond between Jack and Logan is like what milk is to Oreo cookies, they 're inseparatable. Jack, a reddish-brown mutt, is cunning and will do anything to be by Logan's side, as this book portrays. Jack loves Logan, for Logan cares for her. This is something all dog owners could relate to.

After you read this book, you will realize why everyone considers a dog, "man's best friend".

Imagine a world where all dogs must be killed because of a BSE-like prion disease. Imagine a boy who is an outsider, and his adopted wild dog, both on the run, both endangered. The premise is great, the action is believable but the ending was rather dribbly, without resounding triumph.

The Last Dog on Earth tells the story of a boy named Logan Moore. His father, a scientist, has left him and his mom, and his mom has remarried a jerk named Robert. Logan hates everything and everyone, and Robert is prepared to ship him off to boot camp. But then Logan meets Jack, a mut who has no where else to go and has a special liking of Logan. Logan takes Jack in, but the two of them soon are on the run from people who would kill Jack. People are killing dogs on sight, due to a musterious illness called POS, a disease that turns dogs into raging carnivores. Logan and Jack must take on many adventures to escape many bad people and find a cure for the disease.
The Last Dog on Earth is a fun book, but it can get graphic at times. All in all, it is a must read for dog fans!

From the time they were very young, Lyric was always aware that her sister Summer was strange, with her fear of electricity and her need to whisper to the mountains that surrounded their coal mining town. But Lyric and her father have always just overlooked these strange behaviors and haven't thought much of them.

Then, when Lyric is thirteen and Summer is sixteen, they move to a Minnesota city where their father is going to try to find work in an automobile factory. Once there, things start to go downhill for Summer, who becomes more adamant about her conversations with people who aren't there. She spends much of her time in a fog, then begins to neglect her own hygiene. Summer becomes more and more difficult to live with, especially when Lyric and her father try to control her.

Eventually Summer is diagnosed with schizophrenia and after she develops a fondness for fire and for sharp objects such as razor blades, Lyric and her father realize that Summer's disease is more than they can handle, and they need help from doctors. The decision to seek help is difficult for Lyric, who still remembers the wonderful big sister she had as a child. She feels guilty for being embarrassed by Summer but finds it hard to feel any other way.

I liked that Lyric's feelings were portrayed realistically, especially her guilt about being ashamed of her sister. I liked that the characters weren't poor throughout the book. They had enoug problems without the author adding financial troubles to their story.

I didn't like that there was so little resolution in this book. I kept expecting some sort of big blowout that never happened.

The book Memories of Summer is a great book about a young teen girl that has schizophrenia. Lyric and her father have to learn how to control and take care of their delusional family member, which becomes harder and harder for them to do. This book is really good, and it goes deep into the topic of schizophrenia. This book has very strong parts and is powerful at times. Ruth White writes with great passion which makes the book more enjoyable to read. I thought that this book was really informative, but at the same time compelling. Definitely worth 4 stars!

In the beginning of this book it introduces you to the narrator, Lyric, and her family. Her sister, Summer, is older and her dad raised them both. She doesn't remember her mom, though, because she died of consumption when Lyric was three and Summer was six. They had lived in southwest Virginia since they were born, but they were always promised to go move to the city. As the girls got older, they begin to encounter more and more problems in their daily life.
I enjoyed this book because a few of the problems I could relate to my life and my friends. It has many common issues in it that people can relate to and can understand in depth. This book is not very long, but I feel it is a terrific book if you are looking for something you want to be able to relate to.

From the point of view of the younger sister, this story takes you into the heart of a family who discovers a member is suffering from skizofrenia. Memories of Summer will make you cry and laugh, sigh and shout. One of the most touching stories I have ever read, you really relate to the characters.

LURIC AND SISTER SUMMER MOVED WITH FATER TO RIGINIA .WHEN THEY HAN A FEWMONTHS THERE SUMMER STARTEDTALKING TO HEREIF THEN SHE HAN THE SAME, I LIKED THAT SUMMER AND LUYRIC ALWAYS UNDER STOD EACH OTHER AND HERER ARGUED. I DIDNT UKE THAT WHEN THEY MORED TO RIRGUIA THIS STARTED TO MY FAVORITE CHARACTER IS LUYRIC , BECAUSE SHE WAS ALWAYS TAKING CARE OF HER SISTER, MY FAVORITE PASSAGE WAS WHEN LURIC ANDSUMMER WERE MOVING TO VIRGINIA . I CAME TO TEXAS. READ 'MEMORIES OF SUMMER' IT IS A FABULOS BOOK THAT WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO CRY OUT OF ALL THE CHARACTERS HAVE TO SUFFER THE MOST .TRUE STORY.

This is a great book to read if you want to know about Prozac. It isn't written with all the medical lingo to where you don't understand. It is written for the average person and easy to understand and comprehend. Loaded with tons of great information. Highly Recommended.

This book reminded me of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No.1 or Guns, Germs, And Steel by Jared Diamond: they all have something important and interesting and beautiful to say, but they could have said in much less space and time. Stretches of Mahler's music are sublime, other stretches are bombastic. Diamond's central theme is fascinating, but the details are redundant. And so, Kramer's idea is important, but was all that psychobabble necessary?
At first I was put off by Kramer's use of testimonials to develop his theme. I have a thing about the use of testimonial information to support one's argument. Still, I suppose it was deemed desirable to do so in order to bring the book down to the "popular" level. After a while I got used to it and continued to read because I could see he might be developing an important idea. Jared Diamond's book has the same problem: neither book could decide whether it was going to be "scientific" or "popular".
I'm glad I continued to read Listening To Prozac. The final chapter was sublime. A long time ago, I had read "Love in the Ruins" by Walker Percy and had been very impressed with it. I have now put "The Thanatos Syndrome" on my reading list. To anyone wishing to find out what Kramer is saying, I recommend reading the last chapter only.
To a pharmacologist, diagnosis by reaction to pharmacotherapy is nothing new. A migraine headache is a migraine headache if it responds to anti-migraine drugs. To a pharmacologist, all drugs have side-effects: the therapeutic objective defines what is side-effect and what is therapeutic. To a pharmacologist, all drugs are a double-edged sword. You take the good and the bad. And so it is with Prozac, but I loved the way Kramer described it. I just wish he had been quicker about it.
All in all, Listening To Prozac is an important book that will have the sort of impact Huxley's Brave New World had. I look forward to reading The Thanatos Syndrome and learning about Heavy Sodium.
But Jared and Kramer should stick to scientific essays. You see, three ingredients are necessary to be a good writer: you have to have something to say, you have to be able to write, and you have to be able to tell a good story. Eliot and Percy are good writers. Diamond and Kramer are not.

This is a very famous and a very influential book. This was not the first time I checked the book out of the library but I now know much more about antidepressants and the related issues than I did when I first became familiar with Kramer's book. What I found on my quick survey of the book this time amazed me. This is not a book supported by research. It is a book of stories. The stories, one after the other, are about Kramer's patients (Kramer is a psychiatrist) and how taking Prozac dramatically transformed lives overnight. Consider these four examples.
1. Sam: "Sam not only recovered from his depression, he declared himself better than well. He felt unencumbered, more vitally alive, less pessimistic. Now he could complete projects in one draft, whereas before he sketched and sketched again. His memory was more reliable, his concentration keener. His memory was more reliable, his concentration keener. Every aspect of his work went more smoothly. He appeared more poised, more thoughtful, less distracted. He was able to speak at professional gatherings without notes.(Page x.)
2. Sally: After four months on Prozac, she looked brighter, calmer, self-assured, in control of herself. The most important effect of the medication, Sally felt was that it cleared her head...After ten months...she negotiated a small promotion and pay raise at a time when the bank was cutting back staff...More remarkable was the change to her private life. She started going to dances...(Page 147.)
3. William M: The patient's low self-esteem, which had been present since his earliest childhood, began to disappear...On medication William M. experienced a sense of self-worth superior to any he had felt before. (Page 203.)
4. Ms. B: For the first time in her memory she felt perfectly relaxed and happy sitting at home reading books or listening to music and felt less of the free-floating anxiety that was previously quelled by going out...Off Prozac, Ms. B. bar-hopped in search of men. Prozac moderated her sense of aloneness and allowed her to enjoy a variety of social settings.
Dozens of other examples could be cited. The point is, this is essentially the book. It is a book which convinces the reader of the almost magic power of Prozac by sharing stories like these. What is disturbing is that I now know the truth. Research investigations have found that the power of antidepressants has increased dramatically. They are now more effective because our belief in the power of a pill to cure social shyness, anxiety, depression, and a bad temper has increased dramatically. We have come to believe, as Kramer puts it, "biology is destiny" (page xiv). No where does Kramer explain that the longest of the clinical trial used to get approval of Prozac to market was only 8 weeks long. No where does he share that a tranquilizer was given to study subjects and the other tricks used to make the effectiveness of the drug appear greater than it really is. The dangers of long-term use (diabetes, Parkinson's disease, permanent muscle jerking, etc.) are never discussed. (Of course, these problems were still unknown when Kramer wrote.) See Timothy Scott's wonderful, and unlike Kramer's book, carefully documented book America Fooled: The Truth About Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, and How We've Been Fooled to find the dangers as well as what does bring good mental health. Yes, this book has been influential. Thus, Kramer bears some of the responsibilty for the myth surrounding antidepressants. (They do not work as well as exercise even--numerous studies.) It's funny how, as our knowledge grows, a great book beomes a harmful book, but it is just that.

This is another of those books that I have lent and given to many people dealing with mild to major mental illness and wondering what to do about it. This book gives the reader a better understanding of what ways the chemistry of the brain might manifest itself and shows case studies of what has worked for some people. The book discusses the morality of the use of medication in functioning adults. After all the years that have passed since the initial publication, I have yet to find a better or more reader friendly book on this important subject.

SSRIs are dangerous. Thats a fact. Frankly I am surprised by all of the comments praising this book, the people writing these reviews must all be psychiatrists wanting to believe in the fantasy of this "miracle drug." The truth is srris have terrible side effects, and can change your whole soul and personality. I know this from my own experience. Sure, yhe medications help at first, but then they turn on you, and at that point your psychiatrist doesn't want to hear about it and suddenly they don't care about you at all. In many cases SSRIs make matters worse, this is called-clinical worsening of depression and/or changes in personality, its on the label that comes with the medication. And what about the link between SSRIs and violent behavior, there is well documented information showing a direct relation to SSRIs increasing violent behaviors in patients. And what about case reports pouring through the internet of people revealing there horror stories involving these drugs. There is a very dark shadow side to these medications. In some people SSRIs can accually cause pssd(post ssri sexual dysfunction), in which case you loose most of your sex drive-permanently.

I'm not saying they don't help some people, but to look at only one side-the good side- of a medication is extremely dangerous and puts patients in danger and that is what worries me. If you want the other side of ssri medication, go to youtube and watch the video entitled SEROXAT, or simply start researching it on the internet. It is dangerous stuff.

Thank you Linda: I have looked at organization in a whole new way. Thanks for the pictures and the step-by-step guides.

I hope you plan on doing another book soon.

This book is a veritable goldmine of clear, practical, and actually doable suggestions for getting things organized just about everywhere in your home and office. As we plan to move into a smaller home, Linda's common sense suggestions and helpful photos have made us think of things that we had never considered before. Her listings of resources are a real asset. With Linda's help, I believe our dream of having an organized yet comfortable smaller space will become a reality.

THIS IS REALLY A BOOK THAT ANYBODY CAN LEARN SOMETHING FROM. Linda Koopersmith knows what she is taliking about, and I love how she shows a normal person with a normal wardrobe how to fold and organize anything! Her tips about creating space in your home can be used and understood by normal people, in other words, she does not make you feel like an idiot. She impressed me on Clean House, but I am even more impressed now that I have her book! This book is a super buy for anybody who hates clutter, and who loves to know where everything in their home is!

I first checked out the library copy of this book to make sure it would fill my needs, and now I'm going to buy it. This book is filled with helpful pictures and clear instructions on what containers/drawer organizers/wire-coated shelving, etc., to buy. Linda Coopersmith explains how to measure each storage space to buy the correct size containers. She even has a chapter on how to set up a home-filing system, and exactly what you can eliminate if your paper trail is too long! She also references several inexpensive sources (i.e. Lowe's, Wal Mart, K-Mart, Linens & Things, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc.) in order to make the most of your storage space. I love the clear, concise numbered format she uses to show us how to organize our homes. This is one book I will reference over and over! However, I have to admit that Linda does not talk about decluttering for those people who consider themselves packrats. Decluttering is a necessary first step for packrats. A good beginning book for this stage of organization would be "Flylady" by Marla Cilley.

This book was what I was looking for; it gave me ideas on how to create storage areas. I knew how to declutter etc. I just needed ideas on how to make the most of the storage areas that I already have. (Closets etc) Excellent Book

I was looking for a clean mystery and happened upon this book. I also wanted an "easy read" and this was one of those. I usually have to keep a list of characters as my bookmark to be able to remember who's who. That wasn't necessary with this book.

I should say that I figured out right off the bat who the murderer was, so I was almost disappointed at the end to find out that I was right. I would rather have been surprised. (This is why I've given it a 4 instead of a 5.)

I enjoyed Gabby's character and look forward to more books in this series. I want to know what happens next as we were left hanging a bit. :-)

I loved this book! Christy's debut mystery is witty, kooky, and gripping all at the same time. Lots of great characters and unexpected twists. It hooked me from the first line and kept me turning the pages til the end. I hope there is a sequel in the oven; HAZARDOUS DUTY is a recipe for spine-tingling fun.

Gabby St. Claire is a crime scene cleaner. Her days are filled with grime and blood, but the job takes her one step closer to her goal of becoming a crime scene investigator. A typical day turns into a nightmare when Gabby uncovers a murder weapon while cleaning. When her best, an only, employee is arrested, Gabby knows she has to help prove him innocent.

How will Gabby convince the surly detective to take her seriously? And what's with her new neighbor - is he friend or foe? Gabby must solve this mystery or her life will never be the same.

Hazardous Duty is the newest novel from author Christy Barritt. She is the author of eight books and contributor to a number of magazines and website. Barritt brings a new twist to chick-lit with her unusual crime scene cleaning heroine. The writing is smart, funny and captivating with a dose of emotion to round it off nicely.

Review by:
Jill Hart,[...]

Impressive debut for Ms. Barritt! I couldn't put this one down. Gabby St. Claire has an "interesting" job as a crime scene cleaner. In Hazardous Duty, she gets herself into a lot of troublesome circumstances. Some of her actions are quite stupid- she seems to lack a normal amount of concern for her own welfare. Her brash honesty (especially in the face of her suspects) is shocking, yet, at the same time you can't help chuckle over her diarrhea-of-the-mouth syndrome- once she gets her anger rolling she justs keeps piling on accusation after accusation.

Gabby was one semester away from being a crime scene investigator but was pulled away by family issues. You have to give her credit, even though she's not working some clean, normal job at least she's in the realm of her dream job. Her attempts to be a investigator in truth are honorable- you can't help rooting for her- but, at the same time you cringe in anticipation of the danger she's put herself in. As expected for her first, unofficial investigation, she gets in a lot of sticky situations.

The story didn't end quite the way I was hoping but there are some loose ends that suggests that it may not be the end after all. Though the mystery itself is not that complex, the actual perpetrator is still a surprise.

You're in for a thrilling read- block out a couple hours to delve through it in one sitting. Pretty much every chapter ends in a suspenseful cliffhanger, making it very hard to stop. Overall the pace is very quick; each chapter is pretty short so it's easy to get caught up in the story.

I was sad to see it end- I'm looking forward to reading more! Hazardous Duty is like soft-core CSI, NCIS, or any other crime show. Not as intense or gross but still an interesting spin on the mystery genre.

With an original plot, fresh characters and faith laced writing, Hazardus Duty scores on every level.

I enjoyed every page.

My dad gave me this book for my 7th birthday (oh so many years ago), and it is still one of my favorite books ever. It tells the adventures of Beremis Samir, the "man who calculated", from the point of view of his companion.

It fires up your imagination like Arabian Nights, and leaves with you a message that goes beyond the importance, truth, history, beauty and enjoyment of Mathematics: This book speaks directly to your heart, as it tells of justice and equality (beyond numbers), charity (beyond the use of gold), and humility, even in a genius.

A must read for adults and children alike!

This book contains math puzzles, but it is not simply a book of math puzzles. It's a novel with puzzles woven throughout. So even people who don't really like math might find it enjoyable. Because of its setting in the medieval Islamic world and mention of such places as Samarra, Baghdad, and Basra (heard, seen or read in the news every day) it is extremely relevant now. That's why I intend to approach social studies teachers about collaborating on a thematic interdisciplinary use of the book at my high school, but with or without their cooperation, I'll likely make it part of an ongoing project during one grading period.

One reviewer faulted the book because of religious references, but it's set in Baghadad and other parts of the Islamic empire in the 13th century. I think it would be disingenuous to omit them. Another reviewer faulted the author for the Gregorian date of 1321 on the dedication page. I think that's actually supposed to be 1321 in the Islamic calendar, or 1903. That makes more sense because the fictitious author dedicates the book to modern mathematicians like Leibniz and Lagrange.

A good read.

This booke is a excelent source of entreteriment, matematical curiosities and knologe! I a must for everyone...

This is one of the quirkiest books I've read. If you are one to hit the papers first thing in the morning to solve Sudoku, Kakuro, Mind bender, then go ahead and read this book. This is definitely your kind of book.

The Man Who Counted is about a mathematician Beremiz Samir and how he solves different problems with his knowledge of mathematics. Sort of like your Arabian Sherlock Holmes, just that the problems may not be that gory in nature. More like fights over camel distribution and such. He is not your regular human calculator, rather someone who sees romance in mathematics just as he sees it in nature, poetry. It is a collection of logical puzzles, stories, observations, anecdotes. The stories are written by Malba Tahan in the manner of storytellers of old.

The quirkiness doesn't end there. Malba Tahan is a fictitious person. The book is really written by a Brazilian mathematics professor, Júlio César de Mello e Souza's. This isn't just your regular pseudonym, Julio Cesar created a complete persona of an Arabic traveler Malba Tahan and wrote the books completely from his perspective.

The book uses interesting fables like dividing inheritance of camels amongst brothers to show how seemingly complex mathematics can be so simple and used in ordinary things. I think it can be a good tool for teachers, when mathematics becomes a chore for kids, to them the "cool" aspect of mathematics.

For those who enjoy solving logic puzzles, or even those wondering the point of Microsoft interview questions, this will be a good read. The problems may not seem like much, but the combination of storytelling with mathematics is an amusing read.

[...]

A very entertaining novel, with a collection of mathematical problems embedded, that are solved with ingenuity rather than elaborate mathematical equations. A must read for all ages.

This book is good but not great. I bought it because I was looking for Better Basics for the Home for my daughter to take back to her apartment at school. My local bookstore didn't have it so I bought this one instead. This book has some nice recipes for cleaning around the house and suggests some good essential oil combinations. I bought one for myself and for my daughter but it is nowhere near as comprehensive as Better Basics for the Home. In fact that is why I am on Amazon today - to order the one I wanted in the first place!

This book has great formulas, but many of them are the same "recipe" but they use different essential oils. Many of the formulas can be found online through a simple google search. However, it is a good reference to have on hand, just don't purchase it new.

I am a teacher who cleans houses in the summer. I am switching over to all environmentally friendly cleaning products because the of constant exposure to chemicals. This book has been the most helpful! I didn't want to buy the expensive green products they sell in stores because many aren't really environmentally friendly and they are expensive. This book has been invaluable. It has chapters on the kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, etc. There are many options and I love the new cleaners I'm using.

Clean Home is a great recipe book for some great home-made cleaning products. Our house smells better than ever before, and we don't have to worry about the two-year-old tornado (my daughter) touching anything that is toxic or cancer-causing. I'm pretty sure you can ingest every product in our cleaning cabinet with minimal side-effects. I would recommend this book to anyone with kids and everyone who cares about the air they breathe in their home. The best part about it? Once you get the ingredients and add the prices up, you'll be saving money versus store bought cleaning products.

You know, I was skeptical that basic natural ingredients and a little essential oil could beat the cleaning powers of many commercial products. After having tried about four of the recipes and using them regularly for a few weeks I am sold on this method of cleaning. It's not only easier and in the long run A LOT cheaper, but my house is actually cleaner with less effort than ever before. My husband says that the house doesn't smell "clean", it smells like a mountain. I also feel better about the fact that I am not releasing a mess of toxic vapors and poisonous fluids into the environment anymore. My daughter used to wake up every morning with severe nasal allergies but since I've been cleaning "Naturally" I have not recently seen her wake up rubbing her nose and sneezing for the first few hours every day. Another thing, sugar ants are very common in my area and usually infest most household kitchen surfaces after meal preparations, even after you wash those surfaces down. The antibacterial spray recipe I tried contains an oil stated to ward off ants... I guess so because those buggers haven't been back to my kitchen for weeks! So, I'm happy, and my whole family is happy too. We are all breathing a little easier and enjoying the benefits of a naturally cleaned home! I agree with one of the other reviewers that the mold deterrent recipe is just AWESOME! It works, NO scrubbing, and it smells fantastic! Most of the oils I was able to find at a local GNC, and the containers I use are cleaned, RECYCLED ones from all the old commercial stuff I used to use! It's a win-win!