Archer Books

Patricia McConnell is now my favorite writer. This book helps us to understand your dog more. Isn't that what we all want?

Forget Caesar...Patricia McConnell has written some of the best, most informative books about dogs, language, and behavior you will ever read...hands down. Every dog owner should read this book, and even those who don't have dogs...a lot can be learned.

As a trainer, I work with many fearful and reactive dogs. I found the Fear chapter in For the Love of a Dog very useful for helping my clients to understand WHY their dogs behave the way they do. The explanations of how dogs experience fear were excellent.

I think the whole book is terrific for a readers with an intense interest in dog behavior.

I was impressed with the information included in this book. Patricia McConnell knows how to tell a story and has a wealth of information to share. Since reading this book, I have purchased several other books by her, all very good.

This book not only helped me to understand, relate, and communicate with my dogs, but myself as well.
Buy this book if you want to become closer to your furbaby. I've read many books on animal behavior and communication and this one is at the top.
Spend a few bucks on this book. You won't be disappointed.

The content is great, and I was buying this book as a present to my customer, but the look and the quality of paper is very poor. The paper is brown, not white, and edges of pages are uncut. Half of pages are wider than other, and stick out from under the cover. It looks like it was printed and binded in some small shop, manually, and at a very low quality. Very disappointing experience. IT IS DEFINITELY NOT A DELUXE EDITION, AS IT WAS PRESENTED.

This trilogy is amazing! I had tried to read the 1920s translation as a teenager and was put off by the language, but the updated translation by Tunnally is great. As the intro describes, she translates closer to Undset's original style and it's much more comprehensible. Since finishing this book, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. The characters are so real and tragically human. Although I got very frustrated with Kristin and Erlend at times, I was still deeply invested in their lives and had a lot of sympathy for them. Simon Darre and Kristin's parents were my favorite characters though. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

This is a long novel, and like War and Peace it goes on throughout the life of its main character. Cold climates make for long novels, I think. I loved it because it handles the life of a Medieval Norweigan noblewoman and her family from childhood through old age and death. It is very accurate and compelling. It reminds me that some issues in women's lives are constant, no matter what.

first off..i did not know that this was back in print....secondly i am damned glad it is...a great alternative to all The DaVinci Code wannabes...there are no diabolical plots..no artistic chicaneries here...it's 14th century Scandanavia people!!!it's cold...it's hard living...it's LIFE..and there is a lot of LIFE in these pages...Kristin marries a way-philandering man but he's a major babe and she endures...she prevails, actually...i first read this at the tender age of 12...then 10 years later...come to think of it..i'm looking for something to read now that has TEETH to it...maybe i'll revisit KRISTIN...could do worse3, no???

Excellent quality of a very hard-to-find book. I purchased 2 copies and was delighted with both of them! Prompt shipping...can't ask for more from an online purchase!

In. My. Purse.

All. The. Time.

Seriously ---- This book is amazing. It has a permanent home in my purse... (it's not too small, not too big - just right) And I use it almost daily....or at least a few times per week. Sometimes I'm in a bad place and need a quick inspirational message, and sometimes I just feel like feeling better about something....Whatever the reason, you will LOVE THIS BOOK. I ordered 5 more after I got it to give to friends and family...that's how much I love it. I know when some open it they will think "ummm....ok..?" at first....but they end up thanking me later.

GET THIS BOOK you wont be sorry!

this book has been so helpful at valuable to me so many tough times like i'm going through now. the messages are short but powerful. this book will certainly help you restore your peace. like another poster said mine is getting worn out.

Each time my spirt is down, or I'm going through a situation, I turn to this book. I hold the book in my right hand by its spine, fan the pages with my left hand to stop at randum. The passages I've read, I have felt its deep spirtual feeling and I understand its meaning. Then I reflect on my situation and the passage fits. It helps me to understanding whats going on. It uplifts my spirit to deal with my situation. It give me insight to view my problem from a different angle. It also assures me that what I am currently going through will end. I will get through it. In my view, its a powerfull book. I have read several other books by Iyanla, even watched her talk show (sorry that went off the air), but like the bible, I keep Faith In The Valley near by.

This is my FAVORITE book by Iyanla Vanzant because of: It's size(small enough for your tiny purse), its lack of preach-i-ness and how the index is organized by subject. I feel its a synopsis of all the subjects covered in her other books. I also feel the book is applicable to women of ALL cultures. You can use it as a daily guide or you can use the index to find a subject for which you could use guidance.

I can not express how insightful and helpful this book is! It really makes you look deep into the reason(s) why you thought you needed a book of affirmations in the first place. This book is perfect for those "why me" and "I really can't take any more" moments when you feel like life, and everything in it, needs to give you a break. If you're a woman experiencing a lot of change in your life and it seems like you just can't handle another crisis (or is it a crisis afterall?), this is the book for you. I carry it in my purse!

While I appreciate the sentiments of Mr. Block and Mr. Delgado, it doesn't speak to me about the reason I should purchase Doors. I happen to have a copy of the book and I think it is very good. The story is about a boy, Derrick, who was constantly being teased in school by a schoolyard bully. Derrick relayed this to his mother, who then teaches him a very positive technique/skill for handling the way he feels. She teaches him how to use his mind to visualize the best places he likes to visit. She helps him to compartmentalize these places and selectively put them behind "Doors." Each door has a name. While the bully and his friends are teasing Derrick, he drifts off to a place where they cannot affect him. He teaches this coping skill to a homeless boy in Kenya, Africa. Derrick's mother helps him write to the boy, Quami, and they send him items to help him survive. Quami then creates his own door and includes Derrick behind his door. It's a great premise and a positive tool for children and adults.

Ditto to Ray's comments about the author. She is an impressive lady and Doors is an impressive book. I just picked up 10 copies from the lulu site...Christmas gifts for all the children in my family. Their parents will appreciate me finally getting them something educational, and fun at the same time. I've known the author for about 17 years. She's one of the most striking and well-put together woman in thought, appearance, and direction. Doors is great. I've had an advance reading of the second book, "Children of Ocha," which is wickedly funny and really good too.

Always in your corner, L.

It was obvious to me how passionate the author is about children. Doors give us a clue. I happen to know some other things about the author as well, like the fact that she leads an organization for children, she's a lyricist, and has written a good number of songs. She wrote Doors because she loves children...the message is clear in the story. I love this woman! I love her creativity! After knowing her for more than 15 years, I hope she'll do me the honor. Doors is a must have book!
--Ray

Before I comment about the book,its really important to talk about the author...Georgia is one of my good friends...n I have seen her taking efforts for this book...making and publishing of this book.The idea of using sketches in the book was fantastic which challenges us to imagine the scene and sequence....the characters in the book they actully talk to us....and I think this the thing which diffrerentiates Doors from others.This is not an advisory book but also challanges reader to think and decide....I expect alot more from Georgia now...some quality stuff like.....DOORS...

Derrick, a student, was being teased by the not so nice Sam. He came home sad. His mommy told him a story about The Doors. The Doors stored the things he wanted and didn't want and it helped him to deal with the teasing.

One day while Derrick and his parents were watching TV he saw that children in Africa were hungry. Derrick felt sad and wanted to help. He and his mother started sending food, clothes, money and Derrick included letters addressed to Quami, a five-year old he saw on the show. He told him all about The Doors.

Even though the bullying continued, Derrick sat quietly on the school bus knowing that The Doors would help him.

It was a good story a little sad too but we liked it.



Reviewed by:Marshae-age 10
Marquis-age 6

Attorney Lieber deserves high praise for his objective, informative presentation of the antitrust criminal case vs. Archer Daniels Midland, the agribusiness giant, that ADM, its powerful lawyers and Clinton's Justice Department did not want published. To his credit, he continued to pursue this case after most reporters backed off and swallowed the dizzying spin and disinformation that ADM's CEO Dwayne Andreas and his aggressive lawyers gave the media, crying crocodile tears as the "victim" of an allegedly deranged ADM executive, Mark Whitacre, who became the FBI's mole, and made hundreds of tapes incriminating ADM executives fixing prices in world markets with their competitors. Lieber correctly smelled the stench of a cover-up and adroitly guides readers to make their own
conclusions after compiling evidence, omissions from court records, and other factors that allow readers to infer that the judicial process was compromised by ADM's widespread political
influence before the trial even began. Although Dwayne Andreas,
the infamous political fixer and king of corporate welfare, got immunity in a highly secretive plea bargain to Justice in 1996,
after ADM agreed to pay a record fine of $100 million, his son
Michael was convicted and imprisoned with Terry Wilson for a
mere 3 years, and Dwayne (thanks to outraged and courageous ADM
shareholders) finally resigned. Tragically, Whitacre was
convicted, fined and sentenced to a harsh term of 9 years
because of ADM's swift retaliation against him as whistleblower, for exposing to the FBI the ... corporate culture of
ADM...(anything goes-but don't get caught-and here's your big
bonus (not reported on books)to keep silent, the unspoken words
being that an employee would be fired and crucified if they
blew the whistle.
Lieber's chilling comment (p. 322)should concern every citizen
or future whistleblower who believes in due process and our rule of law: "It was expected that ADM's attorneys would savage the
snitch. What was highly bizarre in the world of criminal law was the way the Justice Department joined in the frenzy to destroy Whitacre. This was an aberration...the perpetrator was a
politically wired corporation whose law firm- the president's law firm- had unbridled entree and influence at Justice. The
mole's lawyer had none."
Lieber makes a strong case that this American corporate history- "one of the most important antitrust cases of the century"- should be closely examined. Rightly so. Why was the court record sealed, why were key witnesses (e.g., Wayne Brasser) not deposed, who could have validated Whitacre's claims that the hidden bonuses were a quid pro quo for engaging in illegal price-fixing? The author's appendices are very helpful. ADM and Dwayne Andreas not only have lobbied for years to emasculate our antitrust laws (the "Magna Carta" of free enterprise) but know that the massive soft money donations to key politicians can grease not only the wheels of justice, but also ensure that ADM continues to get huge subsidies for ethanol and other favors from Agriculture Dept. (high fructose corn syrup,peanuts) that have cost taxpayers billions of dollars.
Rats in the Grain is highly recommended, and was a difficult book to write because of the case's complexity. James Lieber should be considered for a Pulitzer Prize.

I have not read this book, but it seems that the publisher's statement here at Amazon should include some mention of what this book can tell us that Kurt Eichenwald's exhaustive, prizewinning book, _The Informant_, does not. Eichenwald's book covers exactly the same material, and Eichenwald (the _New York Times_ reporter who covered the case) had the same access to Whitacre and other sources that Lieber had.

For obvious reasons, I would prefer not to give a "number-of-stars" rating to a book I haven't read. But Amazon demands it, so I've chosen a neutral "three."

Jim Liebert gets to the truth. Dwayne Andreas and others at ADM are not kind folks. Their ties with murderer/dictator Fidel Castro are real. Their contemptuous involvement with the illegal extraction of Elian Gonzalez from freedom and his subsequent delivery to slavery in Castro's communist prison is also very real. All in the name of appeasment to Castro. These people are stench and deserve to be imprisoned, if not worse. Thank you Mr. Liebert for telling the truth.

Lieber possesses a unique blend of talents to investigate the price fixing trial of the century.

The book chronicles ADM kingmaker Dwayne Andreas's rise to business and political power, charts the evolution of US antitrust law, and dissect's the testimony of key witnesses in the trial.

The chapters on the trial delve into ADM's chief defense: its executives were white-hatted American heroes intent on destroying an "Asian" cartel. You will find the race baiting and "we-are-heroes" defense surreal, especially since audio and video tape caught the conspirators red-handed and potty-mouthed.

Lieber presents shocking evidence to build a solid case that the US Justice Department often subjugated itself to ADM's political power and well-connected attorneys in the prosecution of informant Mark Whitacre for fraud and tax evasion. For example, Whitacre still maintains the nearly $10 million of ADM money he stashed in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands was "off-the-books" bonuses given to him by Michael Andreas with the approval of ADM president James Randall. Lieber provides multi-layered facts that endorse Whitacre's story.

The book's final chapters contain even more revelations: alleged document shredding by ADM chairman Andreas after the June 1995 FBI raid; ADM's hiring prostitutes to help steal competitors' technology; the never investigated role of ADM president James Randall--or Chairman Andreas--in price fixing conspiracies; the Justice Department's refusal to release public documents, and other sordid facts of sex, lies and videotape.

As you will discover in reading this book, justice was plea bargined away and the wishes of the Andreas crime family boss Dwayne were granted, one of which was sending Whitacre to jail for 10 years.

Lieber is to be commended for this historical document which will explain to generations to come how corporate crime destoyed our country.

Rats in the Grain is a tale of corporate criminals from Asia, Europe, and the U.S. whose price fixing conspiracy was finally exposed by a government witness working undercover for the FBI for over two and half years. The FBI tapes and documents sow ADM was involved in fixing prices, technology theft, prostitution, systematic campaign voilations and the transfer of corporate funds without the proper signatures to senior executives' overseas bank accounts to avoid taxes. ADM paid a $100 million fine and was allowed to keep the USDA business worth $85 million, which was unprecededented for a corporation who pled guilty to a criminal felony. THe second conspiracy involved ADM, the Department of Justice and ADM's lawyers working together with the media to paint a picture of Mark Whitacre, the government witness, as the real criminal. Whitacre who worked undercover for the FBI was also receiving illegal bonuses. Records show ADM was aware of this, yet the government and ADM claimed that no one except those around Whitacre were involved. The FBI agents with whom Whitacre worked while recording the crimes at ADM turned their backs on him. All the departments of government in place to administer justice for the people were administering the wishes of ADM's chairman Dwayne Andreas. ADM and the Andreases have spent millions in donations over the years. Adding that to the millions spent on lawyers clearly showed that justice was for sale. Part IV of the book the cover-up is a real eye-opener. It tells of people who sold their souls aiding and abetting in the obstruction of justice which included sending the government witness to jail at the request of ADM. Lieber's book serves notice that all is not well in the heartland and conditions are even worse in Washington.

He is large, ugly and not leaving their kitchen. He is a Wizard's Enforcer. He is Archer's Goon. But what is he doing in the Sykes' kitchen, claiming to be sent by Archer and demanding the "two thousand" promised by Howard's dad, Quentin, who had better come up with the payment--and quickly?

At first Howard is relieved to find the two thousand is only words, and that his writer father has already sent them. But he sent them to Mountjoy, the man with whom he usually deals. What does a man Quentin has never heard of want with them?

Howard is determined to find out, and before he knows it he is drawn into a bizarre plot that threatens not only his own family but the whole world.

Wickedly witty and full of Diana Wynne Jones's usual non-stop action and amazing plot twists (though the plot is not as convoluted as in many of her later books) Archer's Goon is a great read for both young and not-so-young.

(BTW, I find it extremely irritating that the BBC turned Archer's Goon into a TV serial but Television New Zealand never bothered to buy it. While it's probably available on DVD, DVDs from the BBC are horrendously and inexcusably expensive.)

This is my favorite of all her books that I've read (that being most of them). It's absolutely excellent, and the best example of her juxtapositions of mundane and esoteric reality there is. This trick of hers is something other authors try in vain to do - a very difficult trick indeed!

"A Goon is a being who melts into the foreground and sticks there."
"All power corrupts, but we need electricity."
"It pays to increase your word power."
- from the author's note

Although Jones seems to be classified as a "children's" author, I've found her a very fine fantasy writer with a sly sense of humor ever since I took amazon.com's advice and first read HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE. While ARCHER'S GOON (a stand-alone work rather than a volume in any of Jones' series) has a young protagonist, but like Jones' other work can be enjoyed by any fantasy reader, since she doesn't talk down to her audience.

On the morning the story opens, Howard Sykes faces a typical day of school, avoiding violin practice, and the usual clashes with his little sister (nicknamed 'Awful', with a voice like an ambulance siren). Just an ordinary day in an ordinary little town, right?

Then the title character, a huge thug promptly nicknamed 'the Goon', shows up.

"What's Dad done?"
"Told her. Sykes got behind with his payment. Archer wants his two thousand. Here to collect it."
"Who *is* Archer?"
"Archer farms this part of town. Your dad pays, Archer doesn't make trouble."

In exchange for being let off his taxes - and maybe other things - Howard's father has been sending 2000 words in an envelope to City Hall every month for years. Sykes tries to laugh this off, saying it's a private joke he used to break his writer's block years ago - but now one sibling after another of the seven siblings running the town wants to get hold of the last batch of words and figure out what Archer's been up to all this time. Despite being adults, the siblings don't get on any better than Howard and Awful do; they've just got a truce by which they've divvied up the city. (One sister runs law enforcement while her twin handles crime, for example; Archer runs city power, Hathaway transportation. The brother who got last choice got waste management.) We eventually meet each sibling in turn; in some cases, the main characters must work out where that particular sibling's HQ must be, given their discipline.

The siblings settled into town about a decade before the story opens, planning to use it as a base for taking over the world - but they can't even get along with each other except for staying out of each other's way, and some seem to have changed their minds about running the world. But at least one appears to be interfering with all the others - all of them seem magically constrained to stay within the city limits, although they all deny knowing who did it, how, or why. The siblings have different personalities, and one or two really *are* efficient enough at organization to run the world if they can get free of the town.

Sitting down and asking myself why I like this book so much, I think it's basically the same reason I like some of GK Chesterton's grand conspiracy stories: on the surface we have an ordinary, apparently completely mundane and boring setting - but underneath that surface, even the most mundane activity may cover the activities of some agent of a colorful conspiracy. For instance, Hathaway doesn't get out much, which explains the town's disorganized road construction programs and why potholes don't get fixed properly. Archer has his secret lair in a bank vault and likes gadgets. The brother who runs entertainment travels with an entourage of disco dancers and the local cathedral choir when he wants to foil eavesdroppers.

The Goon himself *looks* very threatening, and refuses to leave without Archer's overdue batch of words, but he's easily bullied about little things like where he puts his feet, and can almost be overlooked like a large pet or easygoing protector - a dangerous assumption to make, perhaps.

This book was way fun to read, full of humor, magic and character. Amazing to think that when Diana Wynne Jones wrote this even SHE didn't know what was going to happen.

Howard Sykes comes home one day to find a goon- a huge dirty guy, anyway- sitting in his kitchen, saying that he comes from Archer, and refusing to move until he gets the 2000 words Howard's father owes him.

But the words got misplaced by Fifi, a college student who stays at the Sykes's house. So Fifi, Howard and Howard's little sister, Awful (who can live up to her name at times) go to find it.

Well, one thing leads to another and they soon find out that the whole town is run by 7 wizards (who are all related).

For me to give you a play by play here would take too long, but if you're thinking of reading this or just looking for a great book to read, I HIGHLY recommend this.

I'm not gonna lie to you. This book is about a Goon belonging to Archer. To be exact, it is about the repercussions of living with a Goon for an extended amount of time. I've slowly been devouring the collected works of Diana Wynne Jones and so far I haven't been disappointed by a single one of her titles. Each book is even odder and more bizarre than the last, often causing the reader to clasp his or her head from time to time and shout, "How does she think this stuff up?". "Arthur's Goon" is no exception to this rule. A brilliantly warped view of absolute power corrupting absolutely and the power plays that go on between siblings (no matter what their age), this book deserves to be remembered as one of the best children's novels out there today.

Walter comes home one day to discover a Goon sitting in his family's kitchen. Your typical hired heavy, the Goon has been sent by the mysterious Archer to collect from Walter's dad about 2000 words. It seems that for the last 13 years Walter's father (Howard) has been writing 2000 words a month and sending them off to a mysterious somebody. Now the words have become misplaced and the Goon has been sent to collect. As Howard steadfastly refuses to type any more, things start to go a little crazy. It isn't long before Walter and his family come to realize that their town is run by seven power mad sibling wizards. These wizards have been trapped in the town and each one runs a different part of it. For example, Dillian farms (that means runs) the police force while Shine farms crime. Now it's up to Walter to solve the mystery of the seven mysterious beings and to figure out who exactly is behind their entrapment within the town.

Author Jones is equally a master at engaging peculiar characters as she is creating complex multi-layered plots. You grow to love the Goon as he grows horribly lovesick for a young college student staying with Walter and his family. And who wouldn't identify with Walter when he has to deal with his appropriately nicknamed little sister Awful. I would venture to guess that she's the worst little sister character I have ever encountered in a kid's book, and that's saying a lot. Then there's the mystery to contend with. As Walter meets more and more of the seven the reader slowly is given clues to understand who's behind it all. Not since Raskin's, "The Westing Game" did I have this much fun with a mysterious kid's book. And to be honest, I never guessed the ending until I was told. The surprise twist this book carries is a doozy. If you figure out who's behind it all before they tell you then you're probably the kind of person who downs Agatha Christie novels like pop tarts.

Unfortunately, I have a bone to pick with this book. Sad to say, either I wasn't bright enough for some of the loose ends here or they were just too darn loose. The ending of this story is never fully explained and (to be frank) I don't believe we ever do find out EXACTLY how the seven brothers and sisters were trapped in the town at all. Some of these points are glossed over so beautifully that it takes a full three hours after putting the book down to realize what it is that you have missed. Now I'm 26 years of age and if I can't understand parts of this tale it's probably a fair guess that your average 10 year-old reader with have similar problems.

Still, that's my only quarrel. There's so much to love here that I feel a little dour making these kinds of comments. I mean, how can you dislike a book where a character like Awful is constantly asking the seven wizards where they come in order of birth so that she can better understand the pecking order in the family? It's a delightful tale about family fights and what it is that exactly makes up a family at all. And then of course there's the goon. Last of all I display for you the fabulous goon that starts this book rolling and, quite possibly, ends it. Here's to goons, ladies and gentlemen! May they grace the pages of more and more children's books in the future.

This book is good for boys who like reading about fighting and action. This book's descriptions are vivid and feed the imagination. It introduces one of the four characters in the series, and leaves you wanting to read the other books in the series. When you're done with the series, you would wish you still had more books to read in the series.

This Book is awesome, I"ve read them over and over and I"ve shared them with my friends, who loved them. Everyone who's read them has loved them. I can't believe they weren't as popular as other series, but I love them. Well, you have to read them is all I have to say.

this book has everthing a science fiction book(or movie)needs.it has that touch of realism between all the super powers.the people have proper personalities.Ethans thoughts are realistic.I think this book is up with the best mindwarp books.one of the downfalls is it doesn't mention any of the other characters, even in passing soyou don't know what Ethan thought about anyone before they got their powers.if this isn't turned into a movie before i'm old enough to make movies I would like to make it, although I'd really like to act as Ashley.

I think that Alien Terror, by Chris Archer, is a very odd, yet interesting, book. It is a little scary, though, so if you really dislike scary books I wouldn't recommend that you readit. It is about a boy named Ethan Rogers that becomes "possesed" by an alien on his 13th birthday and becomes really good at martial arts. It takes place in Metier, Wisconsin. Even tough it is an Italian name, and it is supposed to be pronounced Mee-tee-ay, people pronounce it "meteor." There are also rumors around the town about UFO sightings above the local reservoir... That is all I'm going to say because I don't want to give away the whole story and plot.

I would give it two big thumbs up!

I though this was a really good book. It is the first in a ten book series. This one is about a boy named Ethan Rogers, the adopted son of the chief of police, in the town of Metier, Wisconsin. Metier had a reputation for UFO sightings, but nobody ever believed in aliens. Of course the kids always hoped that the sightings might be real, and that they might be the ones to spot the alien. The main character is not really an alien guy, he is a comic book freak always imaging that he had superhero powers. On his thirteenth birthday though he is not so pleased to discover he does have amazing powers. All of a sudden he can fight like a professional, even though he has never had any training. And he can see heat and heal quickly. And he is beginning to suspect that someone or something, is trying to kill him.

At twelve years old, Alex begins thinking that she might be a good enough swimmer to represent New Zealand in the Olympics in 1960, when she is sixteen. Juggling high school, other extracurricular activities, and competitive swimming is tough, though. It becomes especially tough when Maggie, who has been competing since she was two, moves nearby and begins training at Alex's pool. Maggie has an overbearing mother and an absolute dedication to swimming that means she mostly wins her events against Alex. Alex remains certain that she will be able to come out on top at the Olympic trials, though.

As that time comes closer, Alex becomes less and less certain of herself, and she finds herself getting more and more overwhelmed by the events in her life. Will she be able to set everything aside in order to focus on what may be the most important swim of her life?

This was a decent story about swimming and about the pressures of high school, which haven't really changed all that much in the last forty years. However, I was disappointed by the predictability of the storyline with Andy. On the second page of the prologue, before we had even officially met him, I already knew exactly what happened. It was a letdown when my suspicions ended up being true.

I read this book over and over again. It's well-written and handles emotions more complex than most books for this age group.

I was at the secondhand bookstore, reading a book about greatbooks for girls, and it mentioned one I thought I'd seen whilebrowsing the shelves earlier. I went and picked it up, 259-page"In Lane Three, Alex Archer" and decided to get it - itsounded good and was only ... anyway. I spent the next three daysreading little parts of it at a time, and could barely put itdown. The epilogue was especially good, and after finishing it Iimmediately wrote out a new Favourite Books List - there was a new onein first place.

I loved this book! It is an excellent read and is well written. The story is beautiful and the characters are believable. It's a story an girl can relate to, no matter their age. The emotions and trials of Alex are very real; it's hard to put it down until you're done! I recomend this book to anyone. Not only does it talk about growing up a teenage girl, but it describes things such as the personal struggles of competiting in a way that is different and refreshingly honest. Buy this book today!

This book was a great book. If you are a swimmer you can relate to all the training and the time you have for everything else. If you have ever dreamed of going to the Olympics this book shows you what you have to need and go through. Alex shows courage and faith in this book. The book also gives examples of a swimmer's friendships and dreams. "In Lane Three, Alex Archer" is a really good book, it tells the story of a swimmer's life when she is training and trying to have fun.

This installment in the Rogue Angel series shows that "Alex Archer" has really gelled with the Annja character and the story process. So far, this one has flowed better than the others, and those were well-done as well. Another little archaeological adventure has Annja getting to use her sword, of course, and reflect more on the repercussions of her actions and seemed a little more introspective than previous story arcs. The action flowed and this story progressed faster, probably because by now "Archer" doesn't have to rehash as much character history and can just get on with storytelling. I just finished this book and couldn't wait for the next installment.

This book follows in the vein of Destiny. A pleasant blend of action, high adventure and history. Alex does a wonderful job with the characters. The good guys are people who you like and root for and the bad guys are, well, bad as they can be.
The premise behind the story is great. The mix of religion, mysticism and mystery blend well with the action and history.
Annja yet again is called upon to defend the weak against the agression of evil. I recommend this book.

"The team failed," a slim warrior with an eye-patch told Tafari.
"How?"
"They went after the woman. They thought she would be the easiest to capture. Instead she killed three of them."
In Alex Aracher's, "Rogue Angel: The Spider Stone," that's pretty much how it goes for the bad guys who go after Annja, the story's hero, an archeologist with a secret weapon - the reassembled mystical sword that once belonged to Joan of Arc. The sword awakens a warrior's fighting ability within Annja (to nothing less than superhero proportions) and it's a good thing since her latest excursion into an archeological mystery eventually causes her to cross paths with an African warlord.
That poor warlord didn't even know what he was getting himself into.
I was unfamiliar with the Rogue Angel series and only read it at the suggestion of a friend. I'm glad I did because not only was it designed to be a quick read that throws you into the fast-paced action sequences, but it also brought the brutality of slavery and the horrendous economic conditions that plague Africa alive for me in a way that history books and news articles don't. That's what good storytelling is, I think, it entertains, but also opens your eyes to something you might not have seen before (without getting preachy in the process).
The book itself is a relatively quick read, by design, and is broken up into brief chapters for people on the go - read a little here and there, stop, then pick it back up later - the type of book that satisfies the reader on the go. (The writer seems to have understood who today's readers might be.)
I recommend this book for the action lovers out there who read sporadically, love history and world events, but don't have the time to become completely immersed in them - sort of a Flintstone's Vitamin of literature. Good stuff.

"Rogue Angel: The Spider Stone" is an old fashioned highball. It's a big shot of action in an ice cold world, lightning fast pacing to fill and garnished with a sacred stone from the heart of Africa. It's intoxicating and fun.

The action in this story is positively breathtaking. An experienced hand wrote this book and it shows. That hand has been in the dojo, doubled into a fist and smashed through some bricks. That hand recognizes the feel of steel, has cradled a blade and known a sword as weapon and a friend. That brings an edgy reality to the action sequences that pop right off the page.

Annja Creed is a heroine with a mission from the highest power. She's definitely not one of Alcott's little women "taught by weal and woe to love and labor ..." She's on the other end of the pendulum's arc with Laura Croft and Electra. She is a hero in the ultramodern sense, and that is the story's only flaw. She is unshackled by uncertainty, romantic interest, or existential introspection. I missed the depth that would have brought to her character. But this isn't a tea and crumpets romance, it is an unapologetic action thriller, and it earns its chops.

"Rogue Angel: The Spider Stone" stays true to its theme rooted deep in a constant opposition of light and shadow. Alex Archer's commitment to plain prose makes this story read fast and sure.

Annja Creed has the avenging sword and social compass of Saint Joan of Arc. And that's just for starters. This story takes Annja Creed across the world on a quest to protect a sacred stone. Yes, the trail is bumpy, dangerous and littered with plenty of bad guys. I'm glad I went Annja on this adventure. You will be glad too. Highly recommended.

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

While in Georgia exploring a tunnel involved in the Underground Railroad, Annja Creed, archeologist extraordinaire and successor to Joan of Arc, finds a strange artifact that dates back long before the Railroad. This odd stone is believed to be the ancient Spider Stone, a gift to a small African tribe by the god Anansi meant to see the tribe never dies as long as the stone is in Africa.

Intrigued by the legend attached to the stone, Annja ventures to Africa. She is accompanied by an agent from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) who believes the stone to be tied to drug lords plaguing the US. Along the way, enemies abound as always in a Rogue Angel story and Annja finds herself facing off against African Warlord Tafari while helping a young single mother who works for an oil company mining in Senegal. Then there are the concerns of a curse on all not of the protected tribe who touch the stone...

The legend of Joan of Arc's sword lives on with Annja Creed and she is creating her own legends now. Annja, who strikes me as a cross between Indiana Jones and Sydney Bristow, has grown and changed much since discovering her Destiny, and here in The Spider Stone that personal journey continues. She has gained much from her possession of the sword physically and mentally. She's attracting lots of attention too since wherever Annja goes trouble is sure to follow on her heels. Annja is also attracting some romantic attention as well and the hint of something blooming between Annja and Agent Andrew McIntosh of DHS adds appeal to the story.

As is typical of the Rogue Angel, there are many enemies after the archeological treasure Annja has found. From African drug lords to insanely wealthy oil business corporations, there is no lacking for action and excitement with the danger. Our journey with Annja takes us across the United States and deep into the heart of the Senegalese jungles as she follows the legend of the stone and the rumored curses attached to it all while trying to outthink and outlast her enemies. Still though I really wish there'd be a little more focus on the Joan of Arc connection rather than just as the reason Annja has her sword. Two of my favorite secondary characters, Braden and Roux make appearances again in The Spider Stone and they steal the show every time they're around.

I love the tidbits about the responsibility and career of an archeologist that we glean from every book. This adds a special touch that readers can enjoy. The Spider Stone is yet another fine installment in the Rogue Angel series and I look forward to the next book.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, May 2008. All rights reserved.

This fast-reading non-fiction portrays the author and and his companions in a two-year odyssey, traveling seven countries of South America. These fast-reading encounters are narrated with rare insights of a personal nature along with the attractions of the land, back-packing on a shoe string.

The sights of these Latin countries are presented with a refreshing, unusual point of view. Most episodes are humorous. Some are not-so-pleasant, even downright frightening. I enjoyed the book thoroughly.

Made me laught outloud!!! A great journey trought South America and the life of Jesse Archer. Looking foward to read more colums and books from him.

How many times have you resisted the urge to just take off when you felt trapped, frustrated or bored with your life? Jesse Archer didn't resist. He took off for South America and stayed almost two years. This hair-raising, often hilarious, and heartfelt book is a startlingly candid account of his intrepid travels and uproarious escapades.

Everyone should read this book for its vivid and sometimes appalling vignettes of what life is like for people living on the margins, out in the Amazon, way up in the Andes or in some urban barrio. Archer didn't just observe the life from a tour bus. Because he was traveling on a shoestring, he lived it. And there's a double journey in the book: the wild travel adventures across the South American continent, and also a wild journey of the heart.

But the book is far from being all third-world misery and messy personal emotions. As I said, it's both hair-raising and hilarious. Ever had a live alligator hauled into your boat? And wait `till you read about Archer's impromptu striptease in front of the toilet paper lady.

If you're not going to actually break free from your own life and light out for the hinterlands, buy this book, and travel along with Jesse Archer. He's such a good writer, it's the next best thing.
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I loved this book and read it non-stop. I started reading it while I was on vacation in Miami - I was reading it before going to bed, near the pool, in the pool.... I would finally stop reading and feel like I'd been in another place - it would take a few seconds to get my bearing. Fun, smart stories with an overarching story throughout the book. Highly recommended.

Archer's true and human spirit shines all the way through You Can Run. Each chapter is a delicious morsel of real experience that I savored as slowly as possible dreading coming to the end because no one else writes like this. Phrases and paragraphs have stuck with me for months, and I suspect for the rest of my life, because Archer can describe an experience in such a way that it becomes part of the reader. Archer's humor is present throughout the book as well as his love and facination with humanity. There were stories that had me in tears as the writer opened my heart to love, betrayal, lonliness and miraculous survival in impossible circumstances. I am thrilled that Jesse Archer continues to write and eagerly anticipate publication of his next book.