Attractions Books

This book is basically a culmination of the species found in their field guides with additional information. It was very useful to help us learn more about the animals and plants we identified (using the field guides) during the inspection of our land once we got back to the hotel room. The section on natural attractions is very informative and we look forward to using it during our travels in the state.

I love to use field guides on my travels and this book did not disappoint me.

I read the premise of this novel and thought it couldn't work. But I'd read other books by Samantha Hunter and enjoyed them, so I gave it a chance.

I loved it! I could put myself in the shoes of this heroine and really enjoy her adventures. Thanks for a great story!

This is a romance adventure steamy novel. Lauren is recently divorced and decided to have an adventure - packs up everything and starts driving. She comes across Brett who found his fiance with another man moments before they were to marry. Lauren and Brett fall into lust for each other but over time it turns into something else. A nice afternoon read ,Enjoy!

If you enjoy this genre, I would also suggest Wedding Survivor by Julia London, Glory Days by Irene Peterson and Squeeze Play by Kate Angell.

Former country singer Phoebe Jacks understands that "if it has tires or tentacles, you're going to have trouble with it". Her former husband Ralphie Styles is a prime example. The charmer married her and divorced her; married her best friend Cimarron and divorced her; married another close pal Tiffany and divorced her; and married for the fourth time Darla Jo. Though before he said I do to his current wife, Phoebe did not know her. Still the bartender remains a business partner of Ralphie and even became a friend of numero four.

However in Oklahoma City at four in the morning on IRS day, a red van runs over Ralphie before leaving the scene. The OCPD suspects number 4, but Phoebe disagrees and wants to insure justice occurs. Ralphie's best friend private investigator Rio Navarro arrives in Oklahoma City to uncover who killed him. He suspects one of the ex-wives of the current pregnant widow, but soon exonerates Phoebe though he wonders if his lower head persuaded him as he is attracted to the courageous loyal woman as much as he realizes a killer stalks her.

This is a fun romantic suspense with the emphasis on the Ralphie wives club more so than the investigation. Rio is amusing as he wonders how his late best friend put up with this harem of spousal hens while the Jacks wild witty words of wisdom will leave readers laughing. Although the whodunit never takes center stage until late in the plot, fans of lighthearted romps will enjoy the antics of RALPHIE'S WIVES.

Harriet Klausner

Any book that's opening line is:

"Remember. If it has tires or testicles, you're going to have trouble with it."

Has to be one of the best!

Ms Rimmer has written a book with equal mystery and romance with her trademark larger-than-life secondary characters. Ralphie is dead but he's one of these as well as Goddess Jacks whose witticisms are the beginning of each chapter. Goddess is writing a self-help book--it will be great!

Phoebe Jacks, Goddess's daughter, is the first of Ralphie's wives-she was 19 and he was 47. She and her best friends, Cimarron Rose and Tiffany also #2 and #3 wives of Ralphie's have been friends since birth. Ralphie Styles was the manager of their singing group, Prairie Queens. Life was good at the time!

Ralphie and Phoebe are the owners of a bar, Ralphie's Place, in Oklahoma City, OK. Phoebe runs it and gives Ralphie half the profits but she doesn't mind he has become her good friend in fact he's a good friend to all the Queens. Rio Navarro is a Harley riding Los Angeles, CA native who's a P.I. and Ralphie's heir--he's Phoebe's new partner! Most of the people in OK had never heard of Rio. Ralphie had mentioned Rio to Phoebe a few times but she didn't expect this tall,dark handsome man to be Ralphie's good friend and heir.

Ralphie has a new wife #4 Darla Jo who is just 21 and very pregnant. Ralphie was the victim of a hit-and-run at 4am in a section of town that Ralphie didn't frequent did seem strange. Had he made one of his wives mad enough to run over him?

Rio decided to take a look into the hit-and-run but needs Phoebe. What chemistry Phoebe & Rio have! Ralphie wanted them to get together, he'd been trying to get Rio to come to Oklahoma for some time--he knew they'd be good together! He was right too!

Solving the crime takes time and both Phoebe and Rio are trying not to fall for each other but.....

I'd love to tell more but I don't want to ruin the book for you. Very good pacing of the mystery and Ms Rimmer has given us hints as to the murderer but......


I love RALPHIE'S WIVES and can hardly wait for Ms Rimmer's next HQN.

I must say, and this happens very often, I got a little emotionally attached to one of the characters, and because of that I read the last couple of pages reluctantly; but that's a good sign. That means Ms. Sparrow developed her characters well. Well developed characters is always a sign of a good book to me; I actually wept for the sake of a fictional character's well being. If you read the book you'll know who I'm talking about (it's not Tony, by the way). I recommend it to the highest degree because its' enjoyable, I read it in a day and a half, and I know others will enjoy it.

Very nice - enjoyed reading it immensely. A compact and lovely story of a woman who makes step by step changes in her life. The hatred and at last the romance between Emma and Jack has a nice touch. If you know how an office works you will enjoy this book even more.
Hope to hear from Ms. Sparrow again. :-)

Do you really get what you pay for? Sometimes you get more---which is what happens if you buy this slim, do-it-yourself guide. At ten dollars , you're not likely to find a better, one-source tutor to define and clarify the options available for building a beneficial presence on the Internet. The authors take an aggressive, persuasive approach to pointing out the advantages as well as some shortcomings inherent in the seven primary categories of making contact via cyberspace: "social" networks, identity management sites, blogs, webfolios (websites that act as resumes), discussion groups, online publishing, and online public speaking. Yes, these all make up the full package.
Sautter and Crompton both have a wealth of experience that becomes apparent after delving into any of the chapters. Granted that the "seven days" in the book's title is more a promotional premise than a promise, it does serve to caution the reader that more than a quick read is in order. The arrangement of topics is especially well organized and thorough, as evidenced by the details that fill a seven-page table of contents. Chapter sections are bluntly identified---textbook style rather than cute titles. All in all, the structure of this guide is exemplary.
Now for the specifics, beginning with the authors' first chapter. Don't skip it unless you are already well sold on the virtues and operating procedures of cyberspace inter-connections. The text lays out the groundwork for the overall grand plan of networking, pointing out its validity to job seekers, recruiters, and established workers looking for more business. From there on in, the plan unfolds in easy-to-read segments (no industry "in" language allowed), beginning with a very concise self-determination guide on the kind of identity you want for yourself online. What then follows is the overview of seven selected categories of networking mentioned earlier.
First on the list---and foremost in the hierarchy of importance---are the specialized "social" networking sites that cater to business, offering opportunities for online meeting and dealing. Going beyond naming several of them, Sautter and Crompton chose to hone in on LinkedIn as the pre-eminent choice for both beginners and experienced professionals. Devoting twenty pages to this monster-size medium (20 million members representing some 150 industries), they guide you through the initial stages of setting up a profile and then advise how to customize your account. While there are recent publications devoted solely to the LinkedIn experience, the sizable summary contained in this chapter will be more than adequate for initiating your participation.
Once past this recommendation, the authors then identify and comment on the remaining half-dozen tools that comprise their networking package. Blogs come next and, here again, there are specific guidelines for creating a blog and for responding to others. The point is well made that doing the latter is a valuable plus inasmuch as your name will become more visible more often on the Internet, possibly enhancing your own profile in terms of topic knowledge as well as gaining more contacts at no cost.
No longer the most important item in your Internet portfolio, the personal website dominated by your work resume nevertheless has retained value in performing as a permanent calling card. Now labeled "webfolios," these operations provide a reference point in your communications and don't demand the more urgent sense of timeliness inherent to networking sites or blogs. Some suggestions are presented before going on to discuss the remaining options for making contacts. More than a mention is given for discussion groups (finding them and participating), but only brief commentary is provided for electronic publishing--newsletters, articles, podcasts, and webinars (the Internet version of seminars).
Concluding this plainly-written guide is a worthy resource compilation. Not only does it identify a number of useful assessment (exercises and tests) websites that relate to the networking experience, but it lists current, as of 2008, blog sites, professional association directories, search engines, and sites relating to publishing. If you get the impression, by now, that Sautter and Crompton have produced a virtual partner to assist you in achieving an effective cyberspace presence, you are so right!

I am an executive recruiter and thought I had a pretty good working knowledge of Linked In. I have recommended this book to about 50 people since I finished reading it (the first time)- and know of several that have already gone out and purchased it. They are thrilled with it as well!

I could not do the one day at a time thing- I had to read it all and then go back and do each step : ) Rest assured this book includes many ideas on how to increase your effectiveness with on line networking- Linked In is just one of the great topics.

I like the way it is written- with the tips highlighted on the side of the page as well as the key points that are noted at the end of each chapter. They want to make sure that we "get it"!

7 DAYS TO ONLINE NETWORKING has information for everyone from the beginner to the very advanced user. Not only do you become familiar with the "where to begin" of particular sites, but also the "what to do and NOT to do's"- and more importantly the "WHY" behind it all.

The progression in the book brings us to the next step (blogging)as well as the different levels of involvement, what that does for you as a credible resource, and how it can impact your career. They include the "HOW" to do this as well! The Recommended Resources section at the end of the book is broken down into categories with associated websites that are the "Icing on the Cake".

Diane Crompton and Ellen Sautter did a tremendous job on the book-the information is invaluable and I can't believe this book costs less than $10!

Thanks Thanks T Harv Eker and Thanks God i found it... his book and seminar changed my life..
yes the book is awesome... Seminar is excellent... it changed my life and helped alot to become wealthy... if you want to become wealthy read his book and attend his seminar and act on it... if i would price this book and seminar its worth is more than $10,000 .... the people who gave negative reviews are blind i think they didn't read the book properly or didn't attend the seminar with proper attention...
Thanks
Sunny

After reading a couple pages of this book I realized I made a mistake and this guy wasn't the real deal...
More and more I read through it I realized he is just trying to milk the self motivation business and come out with a book to generate some cash, and advertise his seminars like every few pages! Talk about over kill!
To sum up his book can be done in a couple sentences!
1: surround yourself my millionaires and hopefully some of their energy will brush off on you...
2: only you can make your dreams come true!
3: change your frame of mind to think rich...

Wow! Took 200 pages to tell us that...

I think this book just shows how he has been milking this business.
He goes around the country and gives speeches to people who are weak and desperate for change! He has found a niche market which pays him money!
He comes out with books, and tries to relate with stories of hardship etc... But frankly he really doesn't have a clue! the prices he charges just goes to show you he is ONLY OUT TO MAKE MONEY! the way he makes it is off peoples hopes! I'd rather give my money to Deepak Chopra than this guy!
He is marketing himself throughout the book so that's very ugly at times also...
The book goes on and on and on about nothing, he repeats himself over and over again! The book is nothing more than a business venture for the author to make some more money!
Smart move on to generate more wealth, but unfortunately the book is full of hopes and dreams, but doesn't give anyone any advice on how to generate wealth!
I felt the author wanted to jump into this market so he needed a book!
He came up with a premise of mindsets! Frankly speaking false hope.
Pass on this book if you have already read a self-help book, because this book just regurgitates the same as every other book...
"You have to make it happen, you can do it! The power is within you blar blar blar"

If you are looking at a book to help generate wealth and help with investing money, look elsewhere...

This book is a common sense and user-friendly approach to identifying and changing self-sabotaging behaviors at their core. I suggest it whole heartedly and I will be having all employees read it as mandatory reading.

Who spilled the beans??? Well the one and only author of "The Secret of the Millionaire Mind" spilled the beans, that's who! Once you read this book you'll discover once and for all what The Secret of a Millionaire Mind really is!!! Most significant information for transforming your life, and taking the next step to move forward into manifesting your prosperity!

Judging by the high numbers of people that are purchasing this book I would have to say that "The Secret of the Millionaire Mind" is not a secret anymore.

I'm most certainly thankful that I heard about this book!!!

Another great book is:

Nexus: A Neo Novel, an enlightening novel by Morrison & Singh

Nexus: A Neo Novel

Addressing any rational ADULTS who may be reading these reviews; I would like to point out a few obvious facts so that you don't lapse into making a poor purchase.
Each human being is an individual and leads a unique life comprised of a flowing series of unique opportunities. Each human being makes decisions about these opportunities based upon many, many factors revolving around "self" and also around external elements/circumstances. THEREFORE, it is utterly impossible ( and completely insanely ridiculous ) to try and achieve "success" by studying others. Your life is YOUR LIFE. The circumstances and ongoing flow of opportunities which make it up are not the same as the circumstances or opportunities or people or places making up the life of a Donald Trump. Obviously you cannot pattern your advance toward "success" or wealth by looking at Trump's decisions or behavior.
This book is absurd in the extreme. Who can get inside ANYONE'S MIND at any time for any reason? Are human beings robots manufactured on a factory assembly line....with the same software installed for functioning? Of course not!!! The only person who REALLY knows what Donald Trump ( or any other person - wealthy or not ) thinks, it is Trump himself....not his parents, not his kids, not any of his trophy wives, and certainly NOT THIS AUTHOR...only Trump REALLY knows Trump's thinking and reasoning!
And remember, the unique opportunities in each individual's life hang on their time in history, their location on the planet, the other people they've associated with, and so on. And in every case, all of this is totally different from one individual to the next. So, THERE IS NO "MILLIONAIRE MIND"....THERE IS NOTHING STANDARD IN HOW MILLIONAIRES THINK. In other words, don't fall for this sort of sucker bait.
If you want to get wealthy, spend a lot less money than you make and put what you save to work making more money for you. That's all that anyone can really do that is "standard procedure" to gain wealth. Everything else is a matter of what sort of opportunities come your way and what times in your life and how you do or don't uniquely deal with them.

I actually saw the DVD first and then read the book. I loved them because they gave great examples without being too sensational or dramatic. However, I know that many people will take issue with the "Channeling" that seems to be going on.

However, if any of that bothers you, just pay attention to the "concepts" that are taught and the examples that are given. They are the same that are taught in many other formats including Dr Wayne Dyer's "The Power of Intention" and the movie "The Secret" (which I really didn't like much).

Anyway, for anyone looking to learn how to improve their ways of thinking in general, attract more positive activity and people into their lives, this is a great resource for learning and reminding oneself.

The Hicks are nothing more than ex-Amway peeps who repackaged their speil into a new-age 'channeling' picture...to capture your money, mind, and YES...even your soul!!

This sums it up:

Regarding the Hicks' (FAKE) Abraham message-

..."maybe it makes some people feel better to believe that the poor, sick and disadvantaged people on the planet actually "chose" to be that way, but it never has me.

"I cannot stand this message. So, in other words, if they are choosing to be that way, then why should anyone ever help anyone else ever again?? Trust me- social change doesn't happen with a bunch of white, upper middle class folks sitting around a crystal pyramid and an Abraham book in their living room sending out good vibes and positive thought!

It is more like this: "Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

It takes action! It is not some friggin magical, mystical recipe that the Hicks - and the Secret - would have you believe.

Beware the persons who promise a quick, magical fix and beware the persons who claim to have a special direct link to God, or Source, or what have you."

Better to read:

"How To Be An Adult" by David Richo!!!!

This book is chock-full of positivity. Read it before you fall asleep, and wake up on the good side of life. I keep it by my bed so I can reread it whenever life throws me a curve.

This book and others like it are just about the worst thing that people can imagine about the Truth. It is psydoscience at best and totally wrong at its worst. Scientists can measure attraction and understand what gravity does but it has no valid explanation of why there is gravity or where is it's basis. To mock the name of "Abraham" from the Bible and to put forth the ludicrous idea that you can attract to yourself whatever you want is a complete and utter false teaching.

Esther Hicks gives channeled inspirational information from spirit guide Abraham who provides confirmation that you create your own reality.

Abraham explains that what is most important is to feel good, since this will create a positive energy vibration that will attract more good into your life.

Great read together with:

Nexus: a Neo Novel by Morrison & Singh

Nexus: A Neo Novel

I have found this to be probably the most exciting book on the Law of Attraction that I have read, and I have read a plethora of them, what I liked about it was the author's obvious ethusiasm in writing about a topic she so eagerly wants to share with others. Whilst many have been critical of her writing style I actually found that is what was so good about it, the fact she just allowed to her energy flow through in her writing and as she says herself we need to let go and stop being such "serious adults" and return to our fun loving nature of our inner child essence. I loved the way she goes fully into the way that it's our FEELINGS that magnetises our experiences into our reality, not just thought alone. The Univeres responds to our feelings (vibrations we're emitting)not thought alone. This why many people have done positive thinking and affirmations for years with little result. And the author keeps on reinforcing this message throughout the book - because they cold statements that lack the necessary emotional charge. As fantastic as this book is I am now working through her "Excuse me You're Life is Waiting Playbook" which follows on from this book and although I have never been drawn to exercise type books, this quite different and very inspiring also as she goes into great depth about the whole process of analysing our psyche to determine our feeling processes, and turn them around to lead a life of absolute Joy and abundance. Also she comes from the perspective of the Divine Spiritual Beings we are. So many books claim to be life-changing, often a trite line, I can say if you apply her techniques you will change your life around.

Lynn makes the connection between just visualizing a "want" and getting into the feeling place of actually having it - powerful information once you really get it.

I read the book first,but I wanted to listin to the author also.Boy was I surprised at what I heard,this lady is very down to earth and tells her stories to where you can understand and apply them to your life very easly. She comes across very human and reachable, where her solutions and answers are not out there,they are easly applied. It's a shame she is no longer with us.

I loved this book for many reasons One being it deals with ones well being. Yes many people I have recommended this to and even given as gifts, have found it difficult to put these good feelings into practice. I feel it is or was difficult as it proves the authors point that we have been taught backwards. No one person is to blame as it has been handed down for eons. We are what we attract as we are all magnetic energy fields encased in a body called human. I agree there are no victims in this life, victimization , like death , is an illusion. What we think about, we bring about regardless if you understand it or not. If you look around you will see how people do indeed create their own reality positive or negative and you are not "doomed" unless you believe/feel that you are and even those feelings can be changed. The reason why so many people get themselves into such tough or disasterous situations is the fact that they do not pay attention to what they are attracting, therefore focusing on. I feel and now know, Miss Grabhorn was into the law of attraction, an invisable powerfully magnetic force that we command regardless if we are aware of it or not. Just think of the law of gravity. You cannot see it but it is in full force 24/7 as is the law of attraction. For those skeptical regarding this work I wish to close with: Just because you don't believe in something does not cancel the reality of its existance. As you are focusing on your skepticism you are bringing about more skepticism.

Lynn Grabhorn believes that the direction our lives are headed (for the better, or for the worse) is due to our emotional feelings, not our thoughts. I believe that's a very powerful, useful message that we all need to remember, especially when we're experiencing those dreaded "downward spirals" in life.
The fact is that many of us wait for something good to happen to us in order for us to feel good. But that's getting things backwards, and if you take this approach, you may be waiting for a long time. Actually, if you make yourself feel good first and just be happy,you'll increase the chance of good things happening in your life. Ok, easier said than done; but that's the main message of the book.
The problem is that the author doesn't provide a good, effective plan for changing the way you feel in an instant, or even over a longer period of time. In fact, to say that your "thoughts" are insignificant and it's "all about feelings" is misleading, because your thoughts determine your emotional feelings. The fact is, what you focus on determines how you feel emotionally. So you can change the way you feel in an instant, simply by changing your focus. You can also change the feeling of others around you by using the same strategy. For example, if you tell a joke to someone who is in a serious state and they laugh as a result, what has happened is that their emotional state has changed, because their focus has changed. Of course, even though this concept is simple, that doesn't mean it's always easy to use that strategy. But I've found that the more your use it(once you've become aware of it), the easier it becomes to use it effectively. Just change your focus to something that makes you feel good, and you WILL feel good.
So in sum, I gave this book only three stars, not only because the author downplays the importance of thoughts in determing our feelings, but also because I believe the book lacks a powerful, organized plan for changing one's emotional state, either in an instant, or over the long term. Fortunately, Anthony Robbins has a good plan for that in his book "Awaken the Giant Within".

I was really excited to receive this cd of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes. But I found the sound erratic and the acting and dialog stiff. Way too bad, since I love this story.

Ray Bradbury'
s book was something that I've wanted to read for quite some time. Unfortunately, I had already seen the film so I had a plot in mind as well as a mood. Bradbury as always strings metaphores together like we do popcorn on the Christmas tree. It's his main setup for atmosphere and that is the books great strength. Unfortunately for me, the characters of Will, Jim and Will's Dad are flat, underdeveloped and dull. Without a back story, I really don't have a sense of caring for the characters and as hard as I tried that didn't change. This was typical of Dickens at times. He created characters and then threw them into the story for development. I never found this technique particularly inviting for me.
The story is simple enough -- a carnival comes to town creating strange and bizarre situations that invite temptation. Jim wants to be older -- but we aren't given a good enough reason why. Will's Dad wants to be younger and the idea feels more universal than centered on the character in question and it falls short. The carnival can do this of course but at a price. That alone feels as rundown an idea as I've ever read. Everyone has that statement. The ending feels more of a fable than anything else and perhaps that's what Ray wanted out of the story. Perhaps he would have put 'once upon a time' and 'happily ever after' were it a different time.
The message -- don't fall into temptation and don't let misery eat away your soul. I don't know, the book has great mood and atmosphere but had the same feel for me as 'Tale of Two Cities' -- I couldn't want to finish it and move on to something else.

Usually I connect Ray Bradbury with weird enough stories that always seem to have plenty of heart. And I am not saying that this does not have plenty of heart, but rather than the usual strange sci-fi Ray Bradbury makes something truly horrific that has actually caused me nightmares. Through the innocence of children and a traveling carnival Bradbury makes an intelligent and creative story that deals with the hidden desires of humanity itself. It's weird, terrifying, and altogether Bradbury classic.

This is Bradbury's finest novel, in my opinion. All of Bradbury's fiction is lyrical in nature, but in this work his prose flows quickly and magically from the first page to the last.

The book is closer to horror than sci-fi, but I regard it as simply a great novel and believe that its universal theme of good vs. evil qualify it as literary fiction of the highest order. It is a book I read every few years to remind me of what language is capable of doing and to listen to the voices of Bradbury's unique small town characters as they attempt to deal with the mystifying forces of Cooger and Dark's Pandemonium Show, a traveling carnival.

The one-star reviews appear to be from the usual students who were forced to read the book. Don't be deterred. If you like a scary tale that also examines love and the human heart, you can't go wrong with SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.

I read this book for the first time about 16 years ago, when I was 10 or 11 years old. I was so impressed by the book, which had gripped me with its enchanting prose, that I immediately re-read it. Over the next couple years, I read several other works by Ray Bradbury and I periodically tried to imitate his style for school projects. I loved the book.

I just re-read it for the third time, and I was still bewitched. Ray Bradbury's writing is impressive! He is poetic, and his writing perfectly fits the spooky subject of the book. In the book, there are dark characters whose bodies are covered with tattooed illustrations or who have been squashed down to resemble dwarves, and Ray Bradbury's writing, which is full of images, metaphors, and poetry, captured these characters and provided a great accompaniment for the book's story.

Rereading it, now, after many years, I understood the book in a different way. The book's repeated discussion of immortality stuck with me, and has a different significance for me now. Also, between the first reading and this third, I had learned a bit more about Ray Bradbury's life. Did you know that Bradbury claims that, at a young age, he met a circus performer called Mr. Electrico? According to Bradbury, this performer, who had electric current pumped through him in front of a crowd of people, pointed his sword at Bradbury and declared: "You will live forever!" Knowing this story had a significant, and I think positive, impact on my reading!

Finally, I'm glad that so many reviewers have liked this book. That's great. At times, I wondered whether other people would like Bradbury's wild writing, which jumps around, and calls forth images, and which captures the dark magic of the performing freaks. On a few rare instances, the prose felt forced, or seemed vaguely pretentious, or felt too overdrawn . . . But, when the writing seemed like this, the sour impression would only last for a moment before the story once again swallowed me whole.

I was very glad that so many readers have found Bradbury's prose appealing.

Rules of Attraction is a first-person narrative that alternates between a few egocentric, hedonistic college students as they become intertwined in a love triangle. There isn't a dull moment in the book in large part due to the story and Ellis' provocative style of writing. The characters are quite shallow and far from morally inclined, to the point where some will readers get sick to their stomaches. This is Ellis' intention though as the underlying message of his writing is a critique of the moral state of modern culture. Unfortunately, his themes tend to split his critics often due to misunderstanding. The book is amazing and important. Read it!

I bought this book almost exactly 20 years ago, back in 1988. The first time I read it, my reaction was: this is a real piece of trash. On the surface, it appeared that Ellis put almost no effort into this book, that it was just a stream of consciousness regurgitation with little or no cohesion or substance. What a difference 20 years makes! TROE is perhaps the most well worn book in my collection--one I've read over and over and over. Despite its relative thinness, TROE is a masterpiece in multiple literary dimensions: setting, characterization, social commentary, and (yes) even plot. One of the most overlooked (underrated) aspects of his book is the different spin each character puts on the same event. This makes it one of the only books that realistically illustrates how we all see the world through our own prism--especially as young adults. As a college professor, I have some insight into how today's students think and act. Aside from a few references to the Internet, this book would describe college life today just as well as it did in 1986. Well done, Mr. Ellis, well done.

After reading "Less Than Zero" I was excited to give another Bret Easton Ellis novel a try, and this turned out to be one of those books I never wanted to end. Every page was full of something interesting and thought provoking and what at times seemed shocking also seemed like the harsh, honest truth. And this has become one of my favorite novels that I know I'll read over and over again.

The events are intriguing, the use of different narrators is great and very effective, and the writing style is perfect. Ellis really knew his characters well and had me believing these were real people.

And as always in the three Ellis novels I've read (Less Than Zero, The Rules of Attraction, Glamorama), I felt some disgust towards the characters' actions yet admired them at the same time and part of me wanted to live their wild and eccentric lives.

The characters in "The Rules of Attraction" all use alcohol and drugs without a second thought, sleep with the most convenient person available and have no idea what they want to do with their lives. Not only are the main characters of Sean, Lauren and Paul aimless and careless of searching for a purpose in love and life, but the entire school of Camden seems to be exactly the same way. While Ellis may go a bit overboard with his portrayal of existential ennui at American colleges, there is more than a grain of truth in what he shows us about this country's young people. I would recommend this book for any kid about to go off to college so they know how *not* to be like while they are there, and for any adult who has bittersweet memories of their own college experiences.

If you were a WASPy, spoiled, vacuous student of a liberal-arts college in the mid-'80s and you jumped from one empty relationship to another and mulled obsessively over every mundane detail in your aimless life while thinking in run-on sentences, this book was written just for you. But I can't imagine possibly being interested, much less intrigued, by The Rules of Attraction. Ellis' second novel is only notable for being almost entirely unexceptional.

Most of this story is recounted in a first-person narrative by central characters Paul, Lauren and Sean, among a handful of other friends, relatives and acquaintances. They spend most of their time ingesting all manner of drugs, legal and otherwise. They jump into bed with whoever looks good at the moment. They usually avoid anything resembling responsible behavior by habit. And when they aren't whining over every minor misfortune that befalls them, they're trying desperately to fool themselves (and us) into believing that the few positive aspects of their lives are so much more engrossing than they actually are.

In terms of accuracy and structure, there isn't anything particularly objectionable about this story. What exists of the plot was cunningly conceived, and the dialogue is entirely authentic. Ellis possesses a very keen wit, but it's utilized far too infrequently; for every hilarious incident that's depicted here, there are a half-dozen that very nearly put me to sleep. These characters are realistic, decadent, impulsive and thoroughly boring. The story moves along at a lively pace, but these people are so self-absorbed and their respective tellings of each sequence are so pedestrian that slogging through this rather short book is quite a chore. Even contradictions found in comparison of any two self-serving, entirely subjective accounts of a common episode aren't terribly engaging.

The most frustrating aspect of this story is that the only interesting characters here are confined to its periphery: flighty Victor, fastidious Patrick (Bateman, the titular antagonist of the much more entertaining "American Psycho") and Eve, Paul's emotionally estranged mother. If these characters had been afforded a greater share of the narrative, this book might have been a much more engaging read.

Setting aside the minutia of this critique, it must be noted that this entire genre of popular fiction has been rendered obsolete by the Internet. At any time, I can access a wealth of blogs scribed by self-obsessed wretches who are every bit as dysfunctional as the spoiled brats of this banal, miserable volume, most of whom have much more intriguing exploits to relate. I can read about and laugh at their pathetic lives for free and this book doesn't convey anything profound either, so of what use it it?