Blake Books

This book is very in-depth and was perfect for our classes and clinicals. It will also be very useful when I am a nurse.

Personally I prefer Davis' Drug Guide for Nurses, a little more complete in terms of Index and Drug Onset tables. Mosby's is still relatively useful however and has a good line of nursing references.

It gives the nursing process for each drug, reasons for using the drug,& etc. The only reason I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars is because of some meds were not listed in the drug guide.

I am a case manager in Workers' Compensation. Some drugs used in Ortho treatments are not there. Sorry, this book does not meet my needs.

This is the best medication reference book I have ever used. In the past, I used another drug book but this one, by far, is the best. It has helped me out with my LPN career as well as being an RN student. I highly recommend this book!

I loved these stories. Some of these stories were overly emotiomal for me.
I also love that the proceeds go to a womens shelter.
It is a group of stories that I felt most people can put themselves into at least one of the characters in each story.
If you are a person who likwa reality based stories these are for you. They did not feel like the authors put too much drama to make the stories more imoressive, they just felt like this could happen anywhere.

I really enjoy most of the authors in this anthology. The book is for a very good cause. However, I found it very dissatisfying. It wasn't just the length of the stories (in a 305 page book of 12 stories, don't expect length) because all girls should know that size isn't the only thing that matters! However, in this case, the novellas were chopped far short of a great read. Save your money, donate directly to the cause (battered women's shelter in ANY city), and invest in full-length books by any of the authors.

The problem with anthologies verses full length books is that character development is usually somewhat lacking. This book is no exception. But the advantage is that you can read a mini romance in one third the time -and some are quite good. Unfortunately I think 20-25 pages of romance is a bit short. Just when I was coming to really get into a particular story it ended. I suppose that is what is to be expected but I wanted more from my some of my favorite contemporary authors (Foster, McCarthy & Blake) instead of just teasers.

These romances are meant to each convey in their own way the power of love. Rather, I felt that I only got a tiny glimpse of that emotion. So even though your really getting a bang for your buck with 12 stories, the page constraints make the stories suffer. For the hefty price, pick this one up at the library instead.

*A notable exception. I particularly enjoyed "Angel In The Alley" by Patricia Sargeant. The story manages to set itself apart from the others by tackling the subjects of homelessness and abuse in a very powerful way. I was moved by Sargeant's depiction of the faith in human kindness.

btw -whose foolish idea was the cover? Is it me or doesn't this look like a self-help book? I nearly passed it over in the bookstore if not for Fosters/McCarthy's names.

Twelve romance authors contributed to this superb anthology in which each donated their proceeds to the YWCA Battered Women's Shelter of Cincinnati. Besides the worthy cause, each entry is well written and inspiring; focusing on a second chance at love by females previously battered (mentally and or physically) in their relationships. Readers will root for the stars who hesitantly risk their souls for love. The tales run the gamut of the genre with my personal favorites being "Unpredictable" BY Erin McCarthy as no one can resist a French fry eating dog and LuAnn McLane's home remedy "Chicken Soup for Annie". Yet the other ten are entertaining as well as there are no let down clinkers as THE POWER OF LOVE is the essence of living.

The authors are a who's who of the genre as every contributor is acclaimed for their works and more important to THE POWER OF LOVE didn't skimp in the short story format. Besides editor Foster, Toni Blake, Dianne Castell, Karen Kelley, Rosemary Laurey, Janice Maynard, LuAnn McLane, Lucy Monroe, Patricia Sargeant, Kay Stockholm and J.C. Wilder provide warm uplifting entries; this top grade authors list says it all for this charming compilation.

Harriet Klausner

"Sweet Dreams" by Lori Foster

Cara Compton has just had a very hot and sexy dream about her good friend and neighbor Jamison Lawton. When she meets him at the pool, all her dreams come true.

Lori Foster proves yet again why she is such a great romance writer. "Sweet Dreams" is sexy and romantic and the chemistry between Cara and Jamison is intense. I love this story!

"Unpredictable" by Erin McCarthy

Hannah Godwin`s psychic ability is sometimes more of a curse than a blessing. When she meets police officer Luke Warner and his canine partner Ralph she proves it yet again. Luke thinks Hannah is special and they could make a great team. He just has to convince Hannah of it now.

"Unpredictable" is really fun. Hannah is very sweet, Luke is very sexy, and Ralph is adorable. "Unpredictable" is a great story!

"After Hours" by Toni Blake

Marla shepherd is Michael Gates' administrative assistant. She's been in love with him for the last two years. Thinking her love in unrequited, Marla accepts a job five hours away. But when she tells Michael about it she gets the surprise of her life.

"After Hours" is a romantic fantasy. It's hot, it's sexy, and it's got a great happily ever after.

"Last of the Red-Hot Mamas" by Diane Castell

Middle-aged, divorced, and a mother of a teenage girl, Gloria thinks she's past the point of finding romance. She gets the surprise of her life in a hotel room one afternoon though. Gloria's about to be surprised again when the escort she thought she spent the afternoon with turns out to be someone else. Rab Langley wants more than one hot afternoon though.

"Last of the Red-Hot Mamas" is funny and sexy. It's got a classic romantic feel and a great leading man!

"Salesman of the year" by Karen Kelley

Jenny has always done what was expected of her. Even when it meant turning Devon down - the one guy in high school she desperately wanted. Many years later, Jenny is reunited with Devon; he is the real estate agent showing Jenny and her fiancé houses. Devon takes one look at Jenny and sees the feisty girl he used to know being slowly smothered, so he sets out to show her that what she has and what she wants are two very different things.

"Salesman of The Year" is a heartwarming story about finding lost love. It has an ending that gives everyone what they deserve.

"Dance the Fandango" by Rosemarie Laurey

Magda Stephenson's husband died just over a year ago and her children think it's time she moved on with her life. Little do they know, that's exactly what she's done with Juan Hernandez!

"Dance the Fandango" is a sexy story about new love, new beginnings, and happy endings. You can feel the love between Magda and Juan.

"The Girl Next Door" by Janice Maynard

Jason Ratcliff came home to his family's farm after his parents died in a car accident to take care of his younger sisters. Six years later, he's sold the farm, his sisters are doing fine, and he's going back to college to get the architecture degree he always wanted. Felicity Jones has been in love with Jason for years so she's taking a chance before he leaves to tell him how she feels. She wasn't expecting the reaction he has though!

"The Girl Next Door" is sweet, sexy and very romantic.

"Chicken Soup For Annie" by LuAnn McLane

Josh Wainscot is pastor of the First Christian Church and owner of the new thrift shop in town. Annie Alexander is quiet and shy. She and her young daughter are new to town. A case of mistaken identity leads to friendship but Josh wants more. With a helping hand and loving heart he gives Annie something she's needed for a long time.

"Chicken Soup For Annie" is a heartwarming and touching story. Annie is a sweetheart and Josh is charming. "Chicken Soup For Annie" is a story about starting over and finding true love.

"No Angel" by Lucy Monroe

Cheryl Gentry is Zack Alexander's personal assistant. After healing from an abusive relationship, she has gotten her confidence back but not where Zach is concerned. She likes him and she wants him. Turns out, Zach wants the same thing.

"No angel" is a good story about healing and new beginnings. Zach is very sexy and Cheryl is tough as nails. They make a great team.

"Angel In The Alley" by Patricia Sargeant

Sara Barber is starting over. After divorcing her controlling and abusive ex-husband Asa, she moved away and is opening a coffee shop. The day before her grand opening, Sara finds a homeless man living behind her shop. Raphael has nowhere to go so Sara helps him. What Sara doesn't know, is that Raphael has been sent to help her.

"Angel In the Alley" is a poignant and uplifting story. Sara is lovely and Raphael is kind and compassionate. Sara gets everything she deserves, and more in "Angel In The Alley."

"Hannah's Choice" by Kay Stockham

Hannah Pruitt has come back to her hometown after ending an abusive relationship. Mitch Donovan has always loved Hannah and now that she is back he is determined to find out why she left without saying a word. Hannah is trying to heal from the cycle of abuse that has plagued her whole life.

"Hannah's Choice" is about healing and loving. Mitch is a terrific guy man and Hannah is much stronger than she gives herself credit for. "Hannah's Choice is a wonderful story.

"The Mouse Who Roared" by J.C. Wilder

After overhearing her boss rant about her looks and personality, Amy Mouse decides to make some changes. She changes her career and her looks then heads straight for Jack O'Reilly- the man she has been too shy to get close to. Amy's tired of being shy and quiet, she's ready to roar!

"The Mouse Who Roared" is a fun story. Amy reinvents herself and gets the guy too. "The Mouse Who Roared" gives Amy what she deserves!

The Power Of Love is written by some of today's best romance authors. Not only are all twelve stories incredibly romantic but the proceeds of the book go to a good cause as well. I have a few favorites in The Power Of Love but I really enjoyed every story. Each one is uplifting and passionate. The Power Of Love. From rekindling old flames to finding unexpected happiness, The Power Of Love will be the most romantic group of stories on your bookshelf!

Nannette
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Did you know squirrels account for over 1 million trees planted per year because they forgot where they buried the nuts? If you like trivial information that is fascinating, this is the book! Purchase the other one as well. I love it as well as my students! There's always a chuckle to be heard when my students read it. I recommend it!

I actually ordered this book while on a daily special, so it was inexpensive. I enjoyed it because it is a quick easy read...great for dr appointment waits, etc. Nice format, fun info

A fun, interesting book and a good one to have on the kitchen table when you and your friends get to yakking about trivia, or just to start up a conversation. It also answers a lot of questions that you might get from one of your children, or if a teacher (who's expected to know all), from the students. I liked it and would recommend it to others, who appreciate knowing "useless information," like me and my passel of friends, always committed to learning "new stuff."

Just as the title implies, generally entertaining but too much emphasis on Movie stars for my taste.

A fun book, great for irritating bar conversation. Really does have useful information presented in a humorous manner. Entertaining reading.

This book is not a correct account of what happened in Rhodesia, but a correct account of what some people in power thought was happening. In some areas Mr. Smith was incredibly wrong, but in others he was very right. The western countries rubber stamp system of de-colonization allowed some very bad rulers to come to power, much worse than Botha or Smith could ever be. In principle I understand what Smith was doing, but he should have agreed to the UK's demands earlier. The only result of this positively is that South Africa learned alot from his mistakes.

As long as you don't believe every single word, this is a great insightful book. I agree with Smith on his take that Rhodesia made a terrible mistake by not joining the Union of South Africa, thereby allowing the 1948 election to happen there.

Regardless what has happened to Zimbabwe/Rhodesia is sad, and the west and later Africa should of never let it happen.

I highly suggest reading "Tomorrow is another country," by Martin Meredith for what I think is the best account of Rhodesia's story.

You've got to hand it to Ian Smith, he doesn't give up. Unfortunately, with Robert Mugabe massacring people left, right and centre people sometimes start to give Smith's arguments and rewriting of history credit they do not deserve.

In the world of Ian Smith as he would have you look at it, hearty Rhodesian farmers held the land in trust for grateful, happy blacks, while putting in place a slow and gentle programme of steady reform which would gradually empower a black population who were clearly not in any position to responsibly govern a great country. Meanwhile, he was brutally sold down the river by the mother country (Britain) who got foolhardy liberal ideas about self-determination and black empoerment.

The reality is somewhat different. Smith's regime has the dubious honour of outdoing Apartheid South Africa in the unpleasantness stakes. Smith's [associates] lived the high life while disenfranchised blacks were used for ... labour and segregated from white society. The failure of post-colonial governments such as Robert Mugabe's has aroused a new debate about the merits of a "benevolent colonialism." Whatever the merits of this argument, it's pretty academic because Smith's government was in no way "benevolent" and could never be held up as one of the better examples of colonial management. In fact, it could be a case study in ... abuse of power. What reforms the Smith regime implemented were hollow and deliberately rigged to make no real difference. Herculean efforts were made to stall the emergence of a well educated, politically aware black middle class which might ultimately challenge white rule. And if any of the "kaffirs" got too uppity they could always be dragged off to a cell to have electrodes attached to their privates until they changed their minds. Of course, this all came back to bite the Smith government in the backside because when it came to a shooting war, even moderate blacks had no real stake in preserving the status quo and little incentive to fall in behind the government.

During the run-up to the negotiations which resulted in the handover to black rule, Smith (who was acknowledged by everyone who dealt with him as a foul mouthed thug) toured London lecturing parties of the hard right faithful on the importance of teching the blacks to "know their place". Willie Whitelaw, not an ungenerous judge of character, described him as possibly the most unpleasant man he'd ever met. Don't be lured by the revisionist nonsense about a paternalistic, essentially benevolent regime. It was nothing of the sort.

Truely the greatest betrayal of a nation by the Western Democratic countries under the influence of the Organisation of African Unity. This book besides being a great read, depicts the struggle of a nation coming to grips with a change in British foreign policy. This change strikes the beginning of the end of a democratic and economically prosperous country. The sad reality of this book is that all of the Rhodesian peoples worst fears have today come true. Ian Smith lays the facts straight. A true leader, and a hard to find honest politician struggling against innumerable odds to keep Rhodesia alive. Unfortunately in the end it was not to be and the now Zimbabwe is a single party dictatorship with horrendous human rights violations, collapsed economy, and a starving people.

If you have any interest in the politics of Southern Africa during the end of British colonialism, this book is for you.

Few books detail the truth about Mugabe's Zimbabwe and the virtual ethnic cleansing of minority communities. Smith, the last minority president of Zimbabwe(then rhodesia) tells the story behind the UDA and his fight for moderation. This excellent book is an insider look at Smith's own understanding of his country and the fate of his nation. Zimbabwe, once a net exporter of grain, is now on the brink of starvation. Smith's book is readable and sheds light on what has been proven by history, the terrible suffering of Zimbabwe's people under the near-fascist dictatorship of Mugabe.

Seth J. Frantzman

Ian Smith was a man ahead of his times. His view of the inept leadership that Africans have offered their continent is correct.

It's too bad that inevitably down the road the so called "rich countries" will have to bail that country, with or without Magabe.

We shouldn't help. Let them lie in the bed they have made.

I actually liked this second novel better than the first. For some reason it was much easier to read.

Mountain takes a good premise and runs with it using genealogy to get to the heart of the matter. Natasha Blake is one of those needy people you want to slap on the side of the head and say "get on with it girl" in her personal life but professionally she is excellent.

If there is a problem in these mysteries it is Mountain's indecision as to whether she is writing a mystery or a romance novel. She has to lose those hokey younger couples which she insists on sending off into the sunset living happily ever after. I guess the reader is suppose to see this as a reflection of some kind of Blake's sorry personal state. For the most part they are ridiculously uninteresting and frankly not endearing as hard as Mountain tries to make them to be. If anything they add an amaturistic slant to the story. If Mountain wants to write romance than write a romance,otherwise stick to the mystery and how Blake gets to the solution-she does that very well. These side characters (including her dysfunction family) for the most part are irritating distractions. A good mystery writer knows that when it comes to crime there are few happily ever after endings.

Another great one by Fiona Mountain. If you are as interested in genealogy as myself or even an amateur sleuth this is a great read!

Fiona Mountain had a good idea for a mystery with Bloodline, but she ruined it with her ham-fisted way of telling a story. She seems never to have heard that the cardinal rule of good writing is "Show, don't tell", but repeatedly hits the reader over the head with the points she wants to make. She insists on calling attention to the parallels between Natasha's life and the mystery she's investigating, as if she (the author) were afraid a reader wouldn't be clever enough to notice them on her own. For example, in describing a scene that takes place in a garden, she says, "The exposed and tangled roots of the weeds were pale through the covering of dark soil", and then feels compelled to add, "The analogy of roots being ripped up wasn't lost on her." Trust me, if you make it to page 262 (where this passage appears), the analogy wouldn't be lost on you either, even without the authorial intervention.

In my review of Mountain's previous book (Pale as the Dead), I commended her for not letting her research get in the way. Unfortunately, that isn't the case with this book. Too often, reading it felt like reading the author's research notes. She even has one character -- an elderly woman who isn't an academic -- say that, in a conversation which took place many years ago, another character "quoted J. Hooper Harvey's Heritage of Britain". I find it hard to believe that the character would have remembered not only the title of the book, but also the author's full name, right down to the "J. Hooper". Sounds to me more like the author, fresh from the library, speaking.

The Natasha Blake mysteries are a bit like Sarah Stewart Taylor's Sweeney St. George mysteries (O' Artful Death, etc.), in that both series are about a young woman with an unusual job that causes her to get involved in solving mysteries from a different angle. If that concept sounds intriguing to you, I would recommend that you spend some time with Sweeney St. George. After reading Bloodline, I can't say the same for Natasha Blake.

Bloodline by Fiona Mountain is the second book in the Natasha Blake genealogist mystery series. After an elderly man hires Natasha to investigate the family background of his granddaughter's fiance, he is mysteriously murdered. The man's son hires Natasha to find out why. Mountain does a much better job this time of connecting with the reader. Natasha's connections to her friends and family deepen and develop as well. There are loads of subplots, including Natasha's insomnia which occasionally makes her take actions that had me shaking my head in disbelief. The story takes an unexpected dark turn as Natasha finds out that sometimes finding the answers to questions only creates more questions with answers no one wants to hear. This was a fun read that made me think a bit too. I look forward to the next in the series.

Young, attractive genealogist, Natasha Blake has been commissioned by a charming but strange old man, Charles Seagrove, to research the family tree of his granddaughter, Rosa's boyfriend. Her search reveals a murderess and a series of criminal types in the boy's background, causing Charles to forbid Rosa to have any further contact with the boy.When Charles is murdered by a shotgun blast, his son Richard asks Natasha to continue with the genealogical search as he feels that there are answers to be found in Charles's past history, which was bound up with his farm and a number of Land Army girls who worked for him during WW2. What follows is a fascinating series of revelations, all connected to the Nazi party's policy of Lebensborn, the plan to populate Germany, and eventually the world, with genetically and racially pure children, all of Aryan descent. It's a chilling indictment of racial purification and all that it entails. It was an interesting read with a heroine whose exploits I intend to follow in her other books.

So many years back, I came across a movie called "Chopper". It's about a guy, in Austrailia, who goes around killing/beating up & shooting drug dealers because he believes that the police want him too. Messed up movie & more messed up book. Believe it or not Mark "Chopper" Read is a best selling author with a more than checkered past. Though this is the only book in the series that I've read, I can imagine that the others are entertaining too. The bopok basically gives you a glimps into his life, & whilke blended with humor it can be pretty graphic violent as well. If this sounds like your cup of tea, then give the book a shot you're sure to love it.

The autobiography of Mark Brandon Read `Chopper' gives us a unique and seldom told insight into the criminal underworld of Australia, particularly Melbourne. The story begins by an infatuation with guns, explosives and military history crossed-wired with a young child who spent a lot of time drugged up in a psychiatric rehabilitation prison. Mix two vital ingredients together and you're left with a dangerous man.

Probably the most sought-after criminal in Australia, Chopper acquired his enemies through his friends' enemies and from robbing the bank robbers and other similar criminals. He's killed plentiful, but protests "I'm no murderer...I'm a garbage disposal expert" and from a certain perspective, his tales hold a strong point of view. The only men he has claimed to kill are murderers themselves, drug dealers and rapists. Any other men he has killed may well have been innocent, but Chopper was acting purely in self-defence.

Spending most of his life behind bars, Chopper inevitably made friends with other inmates and also confronted his worst enemies. Cleverly thought out antics and plots to burn down prisons are just a range of things Chopper and friends would execute in an attempt to relieve boredom and pass time. Nevertheless he claims: - "It is a madhouse in prison - and twice as bad outside,"

Packed with hilarious non-chronological stories about imbecilic big shot gangsters; Close attempts to wipe out Chopper; And a world where criminals fear Chopper over the law; this book will keep you thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

In his own words; "You can fool some of the people all of the time, And you can even fool all of the people some of the time, but in the real world of blood and guts you don't fool Chopper Read any of the time."

If you like books about facial stabbings with needle nose pliers, blowtorches on the soles of bare feet and short anectdotes about having ones ears removed, this is the book for you. Mixed in with some graphic imagery, is the witty humor of an Australian Robin Hood. He's a confessed torturer, murderer, theif, thug, extortionist, etc. Mark "Chopper" Reed's claim to fame is that he has never hurt an innocent person. Everyone he's hurt, mamed, killed has been a "crim" of some sort. His favourite kind crim to deal with is the drug dealer. To Mark they are the lowest of the low, and in his experience, the most spineless.

Yes, the imagery is a little graphic but the humor is witty and greatly balances the violence in this novel. Since the publication of "Chopper", Mark Reed has become one of Australia's best selling authors and celebrity. Also check out the rest of the 8 books in the Chopper Series.

The autobiography of Mark Brandon Read `Chopper' gives us a unique and seldom told insight into the criminal underworld of Australia, particularly Melbourne. The story begins by an infatuation with guns, explosives and military history crossed-wired with a young child who spent a lot of time drugged up in a psychiatric rehabilitation prison. Mix two vital ingredients together and you're left with a dangerous man.

Probably the most sought-after criminal in Australia, Chopper acquired his enemies through his friends' enemies and from robbing the bank robbers and other similar criminals. He's killed plentiful, but protests "I'm no murderer...I'm a garbage disposal expert" and from a certain perspective, his tales hold a strong point of view. The only men he has claimed to kill are murderers themselves, drug dealers and rapists. Any other men he has killed may well have been innocent, but Chopper was acting purely in self-defence.

Spending most of his life behind bars, Chopper inevitably made friends with other inmates and also confronted his worst enemies. Cleverly thought out antics and plots to burn down prisons are just a range of things Chopper and friends would execute in an attempt to relieve boredom and pass time. Nevertheless he claims: - "It is a madhouse in prison - and twice as bad outside,"

Packed with hilarious non-chronological stories about imbecilic big shot gangsters; Close attempts to wipe out Chopper; And a world where criminals fear Chopper over the law; this book will keep you thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

In his own words; "You can fool some of the people all of the time, And you can even fool all of the people some of the time, but in the real world of blood and guts you don't fool Chopper Read any of the time."

This man has a style of writing which can be compared to no other. He is witty, funny, illiterate, genuine and above all: psychotic.

The book starts off great but halfway lost its grip over me as it became a decoupled series of short stories where he tells of friends he has had in prison. Despite this, some of the stories are hilarious!

Having read the book, I eagerly ventured onto the Web in search of more stories and tales of the feared Chopper Read. This was far more rewarding than the book itself, but obviously something I would not have done had I not learned of his background via the book.

Chopper definately made an impression on me, that is, I even christened a boisterous new kitten after him: Mark Brandon 'Chopper' Read.

I was teaching the "English Romantics" to a small class of students. I needed something cheap. This did the job although it has no footnotes or annotations to the text. Introduction to each poet is helpful but limited in scope.

Bill Kurry

I think most readers know what they are going to get with a 'Dover edition or reprint'. An attractive, spartan looking volume( It has changed in recent years and their volumes are more colorful) without extensive commentary or note. The works themselves.
In this case it is a collection of the poetry of the great Romantics, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats, Shelley, Byron.
There are of course many anthologies of this poet, most with more elaborate notes and explication.
But I love many of these poems so much that I am happy to see them again in any new edition.
The poetry of the English Romantic period is among the greatest Mankind has.
On that basis primarily I would recommend this volume.

Dover Thrift Edition books are known for providing classical literature for a great price, without abridging the material (unless they say so of course). This anthology is no exception. The best poets of the English Romantic period are included, including two of my favorites, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth. Blake, Byron, Shelley, and Keats are also represented quite liberally.

Don't expect too much of this anthology outside of the actual poems themselves though. It is a Thrift Edition after all. The paper is strong, but not of the highest quality. There are brief introductions to each of the poets, but no real commentary or notes on the poems themselves. The editor does translate some of the ancient languages that the poets occasionally employ, like Latin and Greek. At the end there is an index of first-lines and titles. Also, I have to say, that these are not "romantic" as modern readers often use the term. "Romantic" refers to an era of art, music, philosophy, and literature where artists and writers allowed their emotions to overflow using a whole host of symbols, creating great works that owed more to the depths of the Imagination than the rational intellect. Coleridge was himself a theologian and philosopher and expressed many of his ideas of Imagination and eternal Symbol in his poems. Overall, this is a good sampling of some of the finest poetry available. Factoring in price and quantity, it is definitely 4 stars.

The price is certainly right. I used this book to teach a high-school poetry class. The selection of Blake is the weakest part of it: the selections from Innocence and Experience aren't ample enough to give a real sense for the book, and exclude some lyrics that I just couldn't do without (e.g. the "Holy Thursday" of Experience). The complete lack of notes (which originally I thought of as a plus :->) led to some unnecessary pain for students -- I remember one attempted close-reading of "The Extinction of the Venetian Republic" which toiled slowly through the poem, dealing with mysteries that wouldn't have been mysterious at all if there had been even a brief note on the political context of the poem.

On the plus side, there is not a bad poem in the whole book: every rift is loaded with ore. And it's an attractive paperback, nicely typeset, comfortable in the hands: it doesn't feel like a cheapo-cheapo book, which you'd rather expect from the price.

It has some of the best poems i have ever read in them! there is a need to buy this book if u are hopelessly devoted to love poems!

Was and always will be a Pete Burns and Dead or Alive fan! Was enthralled from the beginning and dissappointed that it ended much to quickly! Hoping for a sequel! A must have! Bravo!!!

Pete Burns is AWESOME!! He doesnt care what anyone thinks about him and i admire that!~

Maybe you've seen him on Celebrity Big Brother (UK). His unique appearance, lightspeed wit, and thunderous rows with the other housemates kept thousands of spectators glued to their TV sets and computer screens. Debate over his now legendary `gorilla coat' reached boiling point, and confirmed to a new generation of press and fans something that those who followed him during the 1980s have known all along: give Pete Burns a sacred cow and he'll make a meal of it. Fast.

In this long-awaited autobiography, Britain's most controversial singer and television star provides frank and shocking insight into the events and circumstances that elevated him from the streets of Liverpool straight to the stadium circuit and television studios. Although he and his band Dead Or Alive became a chart sensation in the mid-80s with "You Spin Me Round", Pete's intriguing androgyny and penchant for saying the wrong thing at the right time ensured his immortality.

Pete Burns has been a close friend of mine for over 10 years, so I suppose that I'm guilty of partiality where he's concerned. But I wanted to vouch for the fact that the Pete that you encounter in the pages of this book is the real deal, and not the result of editorial fancy, or sanitization for that matter. Pete wrote "Freak Unique" when he was struggling to cope with the emotional and physical toll that the year 2006 took on him. Theodore Roethke once wrote, "In a dark time, the eye begins to see." What Pete saw, he shares with us, no holds barred.

A funny, brash, and bittersweet read from start to finish, Freak Unique proves that there is more to Pete Burns than meets the eye. He's a glamorously decorated house with a brilliant, witty soul at home.

Its funny, one would think that as interesting a life as Pete had, he would have something unique or interesting to say- unfortunately in this book he does not. It is SOOOO boring and plastic- a real poor piece of writing. he should have put together a picture book of his looks- that would have been a better read. How could anyone have lived through the new romantic period and have so little to say about it?

I still love his music, and the show that surrounds him- but a writer and weaver of stories he is not. Thats cool Pete- stick to the music we still love you!
:)

I was really disappointed with this book. It was a rather shallow look into a life, that by all appearances, is probably fascinating. Considering that Pete is known for his forays into cosmetic surgery, it seems obvious that there should have been extensive pictures, illustrating his metamorphosis. Instead, there are very few, and they are mostly poor quality. Very little time is spent discussing his relationship with his (now ex-) wife, Lynne, a subject that surely deserved more attention. I hope Pete decides to revisit his autobiography at some point and does a better job with it.

Excellent, it gave insights into personal problem areas with practical ways of dealing with them.

Christel Nani has interesting, almost confrontational energy which gets her points across directly. The information is very basic, good for someone just beginning their study of energy anatomy. The quality of the recording is spotty and it was clearly recorded at a live event so some of the comments to audience members leave the listener wondering...

Good ideas here. I think I liked the Archetypes CDs better, but this one has a lot of useful information in it, and Ms. Nani's engaging plaint-talk style too. I recommend it for those who are exploring their lives and purpose.

I was expecting a guided meditation, so I was dissapointed.
It is a lecture format, andit is vvery good, but I really wanted a good guided meditaion on Healing the first three chakras.
I tried to revise my review, but cant figure out how to revise the stars.

I am the proud owner of BOTH Christel's golden CD nuggets :) It is like having a workshop with the two of them whenever I need one:) I am lucky to know that for certain, because I have had the good fortune of attending four workshops LIVE with Christel and Rebecca. A real WAKE UP call and eye opener.

I really enjoyed reading this book I thought the author really researched the backgound of the book very well.

I loved it. I couldn't put it down. It would make a great movie.

The plot was sickening. I felt nothing for the protagonist except disgust (And I felt "nothing" for the secondary characters). "Is this a joke?", I kept asking myself. Bringing out a book such as this takes publishing to a new low.

A great fun read! Non-stop reading! Talk about "Sympathy For The Devil",I had "Sympathy For The Werewolf!Great!

I found the book to be exciting and very thought provoking. It definately put another spin on the mystic world of the werewolf. This book breaths new life into the horror genre and gives the werewolf more of a sense of identity. It's great to find an author with such an imagination and an attention for details. The characters were well developed and the details of the background information (scenery, buildings, history) indicate to me the author truly researched his topic. I look forward to more of his work.