Blake Books

This book is not only informative it's fun. I did however, find a mistake. The order of Presidential Succession is incorrect. Two of the Cabinet members have been omitted: Defense and Commerce. This makes me wonder the accuracy of the information.

Facts Facts Facts Facts Facts Facts. Useless Facts Useless Facts Useless Facts Useless Facts. I like it. 'Nuff Said.

To anyone who loves politics and loves useless facts even more, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!!!!!!

No plot, no conclusion, just characters!!!! It's a great look at the unknown side of politics. Sure, noone cares about most of this stuff, but, hey, SOME PEOPLE DO! ME INCLUDED!!! TO NERDS LIKE ME, THIS BOOK IS A MUST!!!!

A great quick guide to the great, near great and never great in American politics. Will be useful for that useless information that pops up during the course of the day. Very fast read, great for the summer. While some information will pass out of use as fast as a Ken Starr subpoena, the bulk of the book is great histroy

This book is worth reading despite some flaws. One error occurs on page 167 where the book describes Jim Lightfoot as being a U.S. Senator from Iowa. Congressman Lightfoot never held that position. On page 197, Mario Cuomo is said to have become New York Governor in 1982. The correct year is 1983. On page 210, Ulysses Grant is incorrectly labelled the incumbent president in 1880. Rutherford B. Hayes was President that year, not Grant. On page 306, (future) Vice President Elbridge Gerry's name is reversed. On page 351, Governor William S. Taylor of Kentucky is listed as having been a Congressman from Kentucky. The Biographical Directory of the US Congress does not confirm this. On pages 72 and 73 is the list "Presidents' Relatives Who Wrote Books". One important one left out is "My Brother Lyndon", by Sam Houston Johnson. This book was written by LBJ's brother after Johnson left the Presidency. There are other lists which are also incomplete.

I had always thought about what would happen if a girl and a boy switched bodies and this book made it hilariously clear. In many of the chapters I found myself laughing out loud. The only thing I have to say that isn't entirely good is this: I think the book should have been geared more towards teens than older kids because there are some things that could be deemed a little inappropriate for kids in elementary school. But it would be perfect for kids in middle school and even help the readers learn more about the opposite sex.

I was browsing for movies in Netflix, and I came across a German film called "Hilife", released 3 years before the hardcover edition of this book, with the same plot, and a female main character named Emma. Coincidence? Hmmmm.....

This book is a simple way to portray the differences between male and female stereotypes in our society. In general, it does an ok job at that, but it can sometimes come off as abrasive when the girls insult the boys and the boys insult the girls.
Also, the book gets the terms "gender" and "sex" VERY confused. Gender is what you are on the inside (born a boy, feel like a girl inside) and sex is what you are physically.
This book was a cute, quick read for younger kids who aren't very bright-- it's message was pretty obvious and the style wasn't great.
Love the psychedelic desgins tho!

GENDER BLENDER is a fun but thought-provoking novel about gender differences for middle-schoolers.

Since they started middle school, Emma and Tom haven't been able to get along and be friends the way they used to be.

Emma hates boys--except Jeff, the cutest sixth-grade boy in school. She can only hope that he'll notice her! She gets straight-A's and is involved in a ton of after-school activities. She's worried about getting her first period, among other things. She's pretty much a typical overachieving sixth-grader.

Tom isn't what anyone would call a good student. He spends most of his time fooling around with his friends and playing baseball. He's got stuff to be stressed about, too, though. For one thing, he wants beautiful Kelly to notice him!

When their health teacher gives them an assignment on gender differences, Emma and Tom suddenly have an advantage over the rest of the class--though they don't see it that way. While jumping on a trampoline, they knock heads, and, suddenly, they've switched bodies! Can they learn to understand each other and get along in time to switch back?

GENDER BLENDER, while it is quite entertaining, deals with an important issue. Gender differences are certainly something to think about; Emma and Tom's health teacher is right--boys and girls don't really understand each other, especially in middle school (not to say that it gets completely better later, though...). Blake Nelson's novel deals with this issue in a fun, if slightly ridiculous, way, using likeable characters, as well. This is a great book for preteens of either gender!

Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce

This was a great book! Some of the things that they talk about isnt right for 6-9 year olds. But other than that it was great. It is like freaky friday except the people switch genders. It is very clear and well written so you cant get confused. Overall I really liked this book!

A long-time favourite and 'comfort book' for me. Bored housewife Susan discovers her fantasy life is epic fantasy, and the characters and story in her head illuminate and expand her understanding of her 'real life'. Susan's tribulations with the PTA, her husband's promotion and her kids intertwine with the struggle against the Dark in a fantasy land. Blake makes both stories gripping.
What I particularly love about the story is that fantasising is presented as something that strengthens Susan, gives her perspective on her problems and shows her how the issues of her real life are as meaningful as any epic battle. Too often fantasy or daydreaming is seen as escapism, as something that a girl must give up as she enters the adult world, as if the only way to embrace life is to abandon dreams.

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This is an interesting experimental fantasy: the conceit is that
Sue, a housewife and mother of three who's thoroughly sick of
cleaning her kitchen (etc. etc.), turns loose her lively imagination
and creates an Interior Life: a medieval good vs. evil (Darkness
vs. Light) fantasy that's a bit generic, but has some lively and
clever touches. Then the characters in Sue's imagination start
giving her advice in RL....

In RL/OTL, Sue's husband Fred is bucking for promotion to
manager at the local Home Depot. Fred's boss's boss is an
unctuous womanizer who comes on to Sue at a dinner party. She
swats him down; he keeps trying. It gets quite weird. Sue never
forgets that she's making up her interior voices -- she doesn't
think she's going crazy -- but she takes her characters' imaginary
lives (and advice) pretty seriously. Of course, Sue herself is an
imaginary character, created by a pseudonymous author....

Heydt intermixes fantasy and real-life with no typographic
indication of what's what [note 1]. This works pretty well, but can be
confusing and, at times, precious. As I got deeper into the book,
I got more interested in Sue and started skipping over the more
generic fantasy episodes -- though the fantasy does come to a
rousing and effective finish. And Sue's a new woman: she's
redecorated her house, reinvigorated her marriage, and gotten
the PTA involved in building a new computer lab at her kids'
school. The weird womanizing boss is still around, too.

The Interior Life was Heydt's first novel, and is to some extent
apprentice-work ("There is a great host," Denis said, "several
hundreds at least, on cats, coming slowly toward us."). I don't
regret reading it, but would add a mild caveat to the fulsome
praise in rasfw that led me to read the book. Perhaps I should add
that I'm just an occasional fantasy-reader.

Note 1). Apparently the author intended the typefaces to be
different.

Happy reading--
Peter D. Tillman

I really enjoyed this book. In fact, this is my second copy, the first having been loaned out until disappearance. Susan, a house-wife, who married straight out of high-school and had three children prontito, has just sent her youngest child off to school.

Her house is a Pit of Despair, in terms of clean up. As she starts cleaning up the kitchen Yet Again, she looks out the window and sees a very different view. She starts hearing the thoughts of Marianella, a servant to a noble lady with the Sight. They've just travelled secretly to join the lady's brother, who is mysteriously missing, although he's left the Sea-Keep in appalling condition.

The first thing Marianella does is clean up the keep while Susan experiences it as well. However, Susan discovers that her own house work is a great deal much forwarder.

On the side of Demoura, the land that Susan is imagining, there is the fight of Good against Evil; on Susan's more prosaic side of our world, she fights a less frightening fight of Good against Evil, by helping her husband secure a better job, dealing with some sexual harrassment, etc. Raising children. It's still Good against Evil.

I enjoyed this book immensely because it was entertaining & empowering. It spoke of strong friendships, improved relationships and improving circumstances. (It also talks about how to cook rice, plan dinner parties, dress like a lady, and deal with someone who is hitting on you.)

While I like Susan, we don't share much in common. I married 8 years after college. I waited to have children. I have a career- but I've still had to deal with the day to day details of housework, and raising children.

I really liked the way that she, and her "imaginary friends" worked things out.

I wouldn't mind having some of the same friends myself- Especially when facing a sink yet again full of dirty dishes!

It has been a few years since I read this book, and I was only recently reminded of it. I thought I would try to find other books by this author and discovered that the author's name is a pseudonym for Dorothy J. Heydt, whose works I have read and enjoyed for years in Sword & Sorceress.

I very much enjoyed the blending of fantasy and reality in this book. I liked the idea of the creeping darkness and the bioluminescent plants--heck the whole biology of the darkened part of the world fascinated me so much that I was inspired to work out the ecosystem for a vaguely similar world of my own.

After fifteen years, I don't remember much of the plot of this book, but I do remember getting a great deal of enjoyment from reading it, and I remember being fascinated with the world and the characters the author created. Definitely do buy this book!

Every once in a while, you come across a story that just reads 'true'. Not true as in true crime story (which would be difficult in a fantasy, but 'true' in a way that touches deeply, and stays with you for a long time.
This is one of those stories.
Not one to miss.

i didn't know anything about the gay porn world so i found this book super interesting and it's FUNNY!

What a decadent treat to follow the footsteps of an adult film performer such as Blue. This book delivers on every level and appeals to the voyeur in us all. It speaks to those of us who keep moving through life, strive for success and find strength in the ones we love. It's a clever, witty, charming reveal about a man whom many have known but few truly know, that is until you read the book. I confess... I loved it.

Having been in the adult industry for over 20 years and owning several production companies myself; "I can state without hesitation that Blue Blakes book is the most fascinating and hilarious account of what really goes on in front of the camera and behind the scenes of an adult movie!

It is an enviable treasure of anecdotes and hard hitting truth!

If you only wanted to read one book about the Porn industry; "This is the one to get!"

Through Blues personal memoirs; "He allows us to experience the trials and tribulations regarding his youthful obsession with acting and takes us on the wild ride that lead him into the heart of the X rated genre.
"Out of the Blue; "Confessions of an Unlikely Pornstar" is a masterful romp that will keep you wanting more!!!!

"I can't wait for the sequel!!!!!"

Dani Duran, Pres.

Arena Entertainment
Ajax Enterprises
Mach 2 Entertainment

What a kick! A great read, quick, sexy, intimate and hysterical. Make sure you have an apple martini nearby when you sit down to read this book.

Blue Blake does a fabulous job telling his story and lets the reader in on some juicy tidbits along the way. From England to New York to Florida and finally Los Angeles, California we get to share the exploits of Blue's extraordinary life. Not to mention all the sex!

The best part of this book is Blue's fantastic, always joyful outlook on a life that has presented him with several hurdles. He jumps them all beautifully and the result is a book full of humor, titillation and a glimpse into one of the most profitable industries in the U.S.

Did I mention all the sex? Have fun with this one.

I am a straight, married woman.

I am certainly not the target audience for this book.
But I am here to tell you that this was by far the most enjoyable
reading experience I have had in at least ten years.

If you are about to buy Augusten Bourroughs, David Sedaris, or John Updike, promise me you will at least buy Blue Blake's book at the same time. He takes a page from all of those writers--revealing, hysterical, and brilliantly sophisticated (which come to think of it are probably adjectives that describe the author himself) but makes it entirely his own. You will never laugh so hard.

What surprises most about this book, however, is how inspiring it is. Every time I picked it up, I would scream in delight at my husband that he HAD to read it. Obviously my joy was stemming from the raucous, delicious humor throughout the story. But more important, Out of the Blue is a tale of survival and hope, tenacity and raw ambition, and drives home the idea that following your dreams really is possible, making life-long friends all over the world along the way. In fact, this is the quintessential American Dream story. (Sorry, Mrs. Palin)

Mr. Blake takes us through his rough, poor beginnings in Nottingham, abusive father and all, without indulging in any sort of precious self-pity. By not falling into this common auto-biographical trap he ends up completely seducing the reader and leaves you wanting more upon more of his shameless beauty.

I am sending this book to all my friends, straight and gay.
And I am going to try and start living my life with a little more irreverent courage in the spirit of a man who has clearly never been afraid of the terrifying exquisiteness we call life.

i recomend this book to everyone and if you are a tibetan you must read it. this is one of the best books i have read on tibet and it gives you a very vivid picture of the october 1,1987 uprising in Lahsa and the events that followed. it inspired me and it reminded me as a tibetan that there are thousands of tibetans right now as we go about our daily lives, that are imprisoned and being tortured mercilessly in a dark, damp cell in some corner of tibet. it reminded me that i have a responsibility as a tibetan towards the freedom of tibet. i constantly sobbed throughout the book as i learned more and more how the chinese relentlessy killed tibetans and tortured them with cattle prods, riffle butts, electric batons and all kinds of horrifying instruments. the book also includes numerous interviews with tibetan refugees who have escaped the tyranny of the red star. Blake Kerr later travels to Dharamsala and meets the Dalai Lama. the book is very well written and i enjoyed reading it and the scant humur used in it. go read it...

I shared the same feeling when I read the bood, but when I went to Tibet by chance, I found so many lies in book. Tibet is a nice place, and most local people there regard Tibet as a China's province. Those people want Tibet's independence are just a small population, and creating all kinds of lies to get sympathies from all over the world.

I'm from Brazil, and here we have only few notices about the situation in Tibet. It's not easy to me to read in english, but it's the only way to be aware of the terrible situation on Tibet. Sky Burial is one of these books that bring us some conscience and desire to make something to help those people and that country. Since I read this excellent book , I don't buy chinese goods anymore and I do the possible to talk about the tibetans reality with my family and my friends. We, all the people of the world must help Tibet from the chinese hands, before it's to late.

This book brought me to tears. As an activist for the Tibetan cause, I thought I knew how bad things were there, then I read this book. It is fantastically written and includes photographs of China's atrocities in Tibet.

This book is the journey of a man. We watch him go from being a simple tourist and climber to being a doctor and a witness while being present at one of Tibet's largest recorded protests.

Anyone who cares about human rights should read this book

Add this book to Tears of Blood By Mary Craig and In Exile From the Land of Snows by John Avedon and Whispered Prayers by Steven Harrison. It is important to understand the brutal nature of China and what buying the "Made in China" label supports in both the government and those who control manufacturing and trade. Read, understand and act. This and other books will break your heart that the U.S. wants to become a business partner with the horror that is the government of China.

From the back cover:

THE WISH-LIST WIFE by Barbara Dunlop

This ain't no list of groceries!

Firefighter Adam Hollander has a problem: he needs a mother for his nine-year-old daughter. The solution: a list of qualities that'll capture everything he's looking for. Until Haley Roberts, his gorgeous new neighbour, hijacks his list! Despite having a nine-year-old daughter of her own, Haley insists she'll matchmake him a match in no time--she's as opposite from the list as can be, or is she?


MAD ABOUT MINDY...AND MANDY by Toni Blake

A match made by Mindy is one worth keeping!

Professional matchmaker Mindy McCrae has her work cut out for her. She has a 95-percent success rate with her clients, but Benton Maxwell III is going to drop that stat like a stone. He wants Suzy Homemaker, not a modern independent woman! But Mindy's determined to fulfill her part of the bargain. He wants the perfect woman? She'll become his perfect woman...in more ways that one!

And my review:

Given the high reviews, I really expected to like this book. Though romantic comedies are not my usual choice, I do enjoy a book with humor and wit.

But the running joke about the heroine in THE WISH-LIST WIFE being a lesbian? Not funny. Seriously, "I've decided to become a lesbian," is the first line of the book. Okay, the woman jaded about men falls in love. No problem--it's a romance staple. But the lesbian joke? Not really all that funny. Especially since the heroine didn't really have any same-sex tendencies, and just decided to give up on men and figured that claiming to be a lesbian would be the best way to repel them. After about the 20th time this joke was used, I got too annoyed to keep reading. Two stars.

MAD ABOUT MINDY...AND MANDY started off so well. I really liked this author's writing style, and she was really good at rounding out her characters. Even if the set-up is something that would never happen in real life, (no woman would pretend she has a twin sister and go out with a guy she despises) I though it was quite funny, like something you'd find in a light romantic comedy movie. Because the character development was well done up to that point, I was totally shocked when the author decided that it was time (by chapter four) to throw the characters into bed, especially with the heroine throwing herself at the hero. Ugh. I was just starting to like her, and that pretty much killed it. I don't find casual sex between practical strangers romantic. I don't have a problem with sex in the proper context of a loving, commited relationship. I don't like when it's thrown around as a plot device to create tension. That ended any interest I'd had in the book and I quit reading. Two stars.

Well, I guess I'm in the minority here, but I don't recommend this collection.

What a pleasure-filled read! Light-hearted and not the type of romantic comedy where the author is trying for punchlines all the time. This was truly enjoyable. Writing was crisp, dialogue was snappy, hero and heroine were realistic and lovable. Great read!

Ms. Blake wows us once again with this wonderful, light-hearted, and very touching story, Mad About Mindy... and Mandy. This is a delightful book about a well-crafted character who finds true love as she discovers her hidden personality. It will leave you smiling and definitely wanting more from this gifted author. I want to see more books by this author!

Ms. Blake wows us once again with this wonderful, light-hearted, and very touching story, Mad About Mindy... and Mandy. This is a delightful book about a well-crafted character who finds true love as she discovers her hidden personality. It will leave you smiling and definitely wanting more from this gifted author. I want to see more books by this author!

I purchased this Duets because I love everything Barbara Dunlop writes -- always laugh out loud funny with off the wall characters. The Wish List Wife was true to form. Haley, who has sworn off men, decides to help her new neighbor Adam find a wife, using his own wish list. Haley herself doesn't meet any of the requirements but, guess what? True love finds a way around requirements. Mad about Mindy - and Mandy, has a similar matchmaker with a list theme. The results in that one are also hilarious.

This book currently , is sadly out of print .I've seen quite a few and this really is the best one .The coverage of techniques , methods, materials is very thorough.This is not a "how to paint a sky " "paint a tree" techniques type of book.Books like that are for those interested in making crafts a la Bob Ross or Donna Dewberry.This one shows actual useful techniques available to the artist intent on creating art with acrylic paint.The paintings shown are excellent and while several reviewers have complained that there are too many B&W plates please understand that this is a reprint of an older book .A long time ago color printing was quite prohibitive and really is still very expensive today.In order to get books to people at a reasonable price they elected to print most of a book's photos in B&W and have only some in color. Black and white or not the artwork is really good and you shouldn't let it deter you from getting this .Please drop a line to Dover publications and ask them to reprint this again.

I ordered this book used,But It came to me looking like a brand new book.I saved about 50% on the cost and am very happy with the book.Real quality.

I'm new to painting and to acrylics. I've bought lots of books on the subject and this is one of the best. It has a very thorough review of materials and then goes thru each acrylic technique in some detail (thin washes, opaque, textured).

My only reason for giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is that too many of the pictures are in black and white which seems ridiculous for a book about painting.

But the quality of the contents more than make up for that one shortcoming. A great book to learn more about painting with acrylics.

I'd suggest also buying a book with technique demonstrations... I have bought several but am still searching for the perfect book.

This book has wonderful photos and plenty of information. I learned new techniques and I've been oil & water painting for 30 years ! I think it's great for anyone beginning in acrylics.

I've bought several books on this argument and i think this one is the best one. It starts from ABC and is rich of usefull tips. It's technical enough to tell you why things happens but not enough to be boring. I love this book. Just a remarque for the next edition: too many pictures are black and white.

It's hard to tell about books without being able to see a little more inside. I wanted a beautiful picture book. This one is a recipe book but not lots of pics. It's o.k.

If you are expecting a huge collection of recipes or instructions as to the protocols of serving Afternoon Tea, this book is not for you. However if you already have an idea of how to serve afternoon tea and simply need some traditional recipes, this may be a good book to use.

I really enjoyed the photography and the recipes as well. I would have liked more recipes for the savory courses, but I loved the petite sweets and the tortes and breads.

Not an exhaustive tea reference, which should be obvious since it is only 64 pages, but a good one.

Delightful tea book filled with delicious recipes and beautifully presented tabletop photographs to peak the imagination!

Fast ship. Great little book with wonderful tea recipes for sandwiches and desserts! If you are into tea with all the extras, you will like this!!!

This book is very pretty, and would make a nice coffe table book or tea collection book, but I was looking for something with more recipes that I would enjoy. Ultimately, I ended up returning this purchase.

Super, authoritative documentation of how we got the M16 -- the engineering, the salesmanship, the politics, and all the pitfalls along the way. Well written and very enjoyable to those who have a passion to everything there is to know about the M16. Carries up to the adoption of the M16A2 (1987).

Does not attempt to focus on nuanced distinctions between the M16 and various models AR15s you may find on the market. As the title says, it's about the devlopment of M16 as our battle rifle -- not the civilian AR15 version.

what can i say? if you are into AR15/M16's, this is the only book you need. very informative and interesting...get it!!!

This is definitely a book to have if you own an AR15-type rifle, but why is Amazon's listed price almost forty dollars more than the list price direct from the publisher?

This is the bible of the AR-Phile. It is full of the minutiae that will make a tech geek babble with glee. If you love the AR and want to know all there is to know about its history and development buy this book. Buy it now before it gets more expensive.

Mr. Steven's book tells the story of how this rifle was adopted and he goes into great detail. If you are uninterested in this level of detail perhaps this isn't the book for you. But for the enthusiast this is a four or five star book. It really depends on your level of interest.

This and John Masefield's other childrens book, "The Midnight Folk" are without a doubt two of the finest most imaginative examples of children's literature I have ever read. Far too little known to Americans, these books demand more attention, and like me many adults reading this for the first time will ask, "Where has this been all my life?"

The fascinating thing is the counter point this sequel to "The Midnight Folk" offers, while this fantasy is centered at the Christmas/Solstice/Yule season with all the magical symbolism that entails, the "Midnight Folk" offers a wonderful autumnal Halloween/Samhain mood. You will note that I combine the Christian and pagan holidays, Masefield does a masterful job blending these rich folkoric elements that will delight both children and adults. The verbal imagery is breathtaking as you can feel the sharp wind and icy needles our main character Kay feels while out in a winter's night skulking to find the answers to the mysteries of the titled box of delights. The villainous Abner Brown is both hilariously inept and frightening at the same time.

As the other reviewer noted, though a sequel to the "Midnight Folk" this work stands solidly on its own. I encourage you to track down a copy of this neglected masterpiece of children's fantasy.

As an adult I take a great deal of interest in and concern for exposing our children to excellent children's literature. While not well known this book is a wonderful one to be read aloud to a child with a good imagination or as a way of helping them to develop one. The character of Kay, a young boy, being cared for by a governess and household of servants helps youngsters from the ages of 7-10 to strech their imaginations and expand their vocabulary. The story is an engaging fantasy and fortifies the virutes of honesty, courage, and intelligence that we should all encourage. Much of today's children's literature may be action packed but is simplistic and lacking in character building ideas. The Box Of Delights is acutally the sequel to the Midnight Folk but can be read on its own. It won't bore the parent reading it either!

Follow Kay on his Christmas adventure!

Box of delights and its prequel The midnight folks are truly great classics of children literature, but beware: the editions present on Amazon are an heavily abridged version edited by Patricia Crampton (it's an english tv-movie tie-in, if i'm not wrong).
Check Amazon.co.uk for the complete version (published by Egmont)of these two wonderful, ageless classics.

This book is one that should never be allowed to go out of print. Children of today who enjoy fantasy (i.e., Narnia and even Harry Potter) will enjoy The Box of Delights just as much. I can only suppose no publisher has thought to reissue it because the author is long-dead and was more noted as a poet than a children's writer.

The BBC turned it into an excellent 6-part TV series which, although dated in its magical effects, is still extremely enjoyable. The production was also transferred to video tape (about three hours in length) and as far as I know is still available. We had no trouble obtaining our own copy a few years ago, anyway. In our house (where there are no children!) it has been viewed every Christmas ever since it was released on New Zealand television. With its 1930s Christmas setting of the English countryside shrouded in snow (and a wonderful story of villainy outwitted by children) it makes perfect Christmas viewing. But of course the book is always better than the movie! Borrow it from your library if a copy is available there.

My aunt gave this book to me for Christmas when I was eleven years old -- 18 years ago -- and I have read it every Christmas since! Now I am looking forward to reading it to my sons. It is a beautiful tale that leaves some of the simple magic of Christmas intact. A must read for all ages.