Buck Books

It helped me a lot while I was traveling in Germany and learning the language.

If you learned German in high school or college and know the vocab and grammar but don't know how to find a cigarette or a club (without sounding stupid), go ahead and buy this book. It will provide phrases that you never learned in high school but will be invaluable while you're traveling around German-speaking countries, especially if you're young and hip. If you don't already know German, buy something with fewer typos. There must be a typo on every 4th or 5th page in this book. (Although I haven't actually counted.)

Two notable phrases from this book:
"Where can I find lesbian club?"
"I'm still a groupie after all these years."

After I had bought this book and set about seriously reading it, I discovered too many errors. At first I thought I had not remembered my high school German, but after checking dictionaries I realized this guide book was very flawed with incorrect translations. It reminded me of the Monty Python sketch with the Hungarian tourist and his Hungarian-English phrasebook: "Oh my nipples explode...." When I went on my European vacation I didn't take this guide along.

The study of the German language is a personal hobby of mine, though I have never received any formal education on the subject. For any casual speaker of Deutsch, like myself, this phrasebook should prove to be invaluable. While it does contain numerous errors, the sheer volume of material covered easily offsets the book's grammatical oversights. For the price, it provides what I consider to be an impressive level of immersion, especially for those of us who have never had the chance to visit Germany or Austria.

This is one of the hippest, most up-to-date German phrasebooks on the market...which is unfortunate, because it also contains more errors than any other book written by Germans about the German language that I've ever seen (and I've seen plenty). Typos (p.47: 'reffen' for 'treffen'), mismatched paradigms (p.41: 'to have' used for 'to be'), mismatched phrases (p.68: 'with child/pensioner' confused with 'concession'), factual errors (p.50: 'ab' called a preposition; p.51:'anstatt' and 'trotz' listed as acc./dat. prepositions), uncorrected computer glitches (p.36-38: 'ibt' and 'ebt' for 'isst' and 'esst'; 'wei' for 'weiss') and organizational gaffes (a footnote on p.62 referring you to p.62) are just a few examples. There are also misleading definitions due to the differences between British and American English: A 'chemist' is defined as a 'Drogist', which is fine if he works in a British drugstore, but a chemical scientist is a 'Chemiker/in'.

I caught about 46 such errors. On the other hand, the book is more fun to read than the typical phrasebook and has all the useful cultural info and quirky personal insights that mark the Lonely Planet series. Still, when there are so many minor flaws, you've got to wonder about the whole product.

Bottom line: I'd recommend it only if you can have a qualified German teacher proofread it for you before you use it.

I'm not sure what the other reviewers were talking about (esp. since this book has maps AND pictures), but I found this guidebook to be indispensable when I was planning my hiking trips in Utah. I found the ratings system simple and informative, especially since there's a short explanation of the system in the book's beginning. It's a first-rate guide and I recommend it highly.

My biggest problem with this book besides no maps and scant detail on hikes is this... No pictures! Notta, nil, nothing. This book desperately needs a major revision.

A disappointing hiker's guide to Utah. Lists lots of hikes, gives a 1-5 dificulty rating, 1-10 "appeal rating", length of hike, location, cursory instruction to get to trailhead. Hikes are organized by 6 regions in the state. The hike's description lacks info on altitudes (Does it climb 600 or 6000 feet? Does it start at 6000 feet so I need a coat?) The book's only map is a state map showing location of all the hikes - no individual maps of trails or roads to trailheads. Almost every hike suggests where you should go to buy a topo of the area. Why repeat this boilerplate for every hike? The trail descriptions don't explain the reason for the appeal rating. (Is it great red-rock vista, or a nice stream, or just developed campsites that make the hike a "7"?)

So many hikes in this book covering all regions of the state. What I initialy liked about this book, and which is its strong point, is each trail's length, physical difficulty rating, and beauty rating. Such a nice way to lay out a hiking book, thus you can ask 'where could I do a two night backpacking trip at a certain elevation in a certain part of the state?' Trouble is, for example, at least one late spring a couple years ago, I found a hike in the La Sals starting near Castle Valley/Moab which sounded perfect (moderate elevation- snow melted but not hot desert) but the beginning of the hike was on private cattle property- the trail was difficult to follow and closed by multiple gates! After a couple hours I had to head back to the car and rethink my mini-vacation. I've had similar trouble with a couple other trails- difficult to know what you're supposed to do in these situations; keep going and hope for the best?

On page two of this book I came upon what I thought was a whopper of a typo. Lord Darlington, Marquis of Thursgood, was described by this author as being 20 years old. As I read further, I realized that Gayle Buck actually meant it, she had made this lead character 20 years old! What age would the heroine be? Well, that didn't matter because she never told us.

Five years ago (remember, when he was 15) Sylvan's father was killed in a curricle racing accident. The family was left with a mountain of gambling debts and the family home was mortgaged to the hilt. Sylvan and his "man of business" (the author never even bothered to give this poor soul a name!) worked tirelessly to work off all the debts and were now solvent. (For this "man of business" think angel, a la the Cary Grant character of Dudley in the black and white movie THE BISHOP'S WIFE. There can be no other explanation for how this man and a 15 year old boy could save this family's fortunes.) Sylvan has six younger siblings and his mother to care for. He has managed to marry off one of the sisters (she must be 19) and betroth another one (must be 18) because now it has come to his attention that Bethany (his youngest sister at 17) has formed an unfortunate attachment. Because there is now enough money, the mother, brother and sister leave for London for Bethany to have a Season and to help her forget the unfortunate attachment. All of this load to be carried by a 20 year old young man? (And by the way, the other three siblings are never mentioned but it can probably be assumed they must have been boys. Wonder which garret room this author consigned them all to while mother, brother and one sister whooped it up in London? Remember, they all had to be younger than 17. Maybe they were all away at school?)

I looked everywhere to try to find out if this book, copyright 2002, was actually a rewrite of a previous book. I never found anything to say that it wasn't written in 2002. It is only 5 years old. Why is it so completely dull and boring? Surely in 2002 authors were allowed to have their characters show passion, maybe some sensuality? Not here they didn't.

The heroine of this piece is Miss Abigale Fairchilde who is too timid to say boo to a goose! I don't especially like a super feisty heroine but I would like for her to at least not be afraid to finish her sentences. This (very) young girl was so timid, and reticent, and shy, and tongue tied that she could hardly speak two or more words strung together. Everyone bent her to their will. She never wanted to harm, hurt, injure or inconvenience anybody, whether the harm, hurt, injury or inconvenience was real or just possible or even imagined. My goodness she was dull! And then, at the end, she became super action woman with a streak of stupid a yard wide. Someone should have done her a favor and taught her how to say the word n-o. You know, NO! Bethany's scheme was stupid, just say NO. Lord Fielding was boring, just say NO. Her sister Melissa was an interferring busybody, just say NO.

There are not many good things for me to say about this book. It didn't have any four letter words in it, it certainly didn't have any sex in it (that is either a good or a bad depending on your personal preference), it could be read in any waiting room in the country without embarassment, the cover art was good. That about sums it up for me.

This is a pleasant tale but nothing really spectacular. Another reviewer has synopsized the storyline so well, I will not retell it. I did enjoy the shy Abby as she began to flower and come into her own. She started to develop some backbone but unfortunately it led to rather bad results. This book ends rather abruptly and we gain no insight into whether Abby retains any of this outgoing nature.

The hero, Lord Darlington is only twenty and really is awfully young to marry. Yes, he has been handling the estate (badly neglected and in debt) since he was fifteen but I think he would have enjoyed a little more town life before settling down! I couldn't figure out how his siblings were all younger and two sisters were already married or betrothed.

The secondary characters were good but not well-fleshed. Peter, Abby's brother-in-law was actually the most interesting to me. He maintained the same personality throughout the book unlike his rather wishy-washy wife (Abby's sister).

The events of Lord Darlington's sister's ruination appear to be the main focus of this book. Maybe there is a sequel about Bethany Darlington since the author left her in a precarious position. In reality, I think eloping would have been better for her! Why Abby chose to stop it herself without consulting someone wasn't very smart.

This was a slow-paced tale with very polite characters. Interesting enough to read - not emotional in any way. Gayle Buck's books are normally of higher caliber than this one but pleasurable enough for an afternoon read.

This book is so boring it's hard to stick with it to the end. I have a feeling the person who wrote the blurb on the back cover didn't manage it, because it doesn't characterize the plot at all well.

It's not the fact that neither the hero nor the heroine is described as drop-dead gorgeous or hilariously witty or fabulously rich. One does get weary of reading about characters that are so wonderful in every way.

But there doesn't seem to be any sizzle in this romance. I mean, what is it about the heroine that takes the hero's fancy? He dances with her a couple of times and thinks she's a pleasant girl. Same with her. She likes him better than her first suitor, but you don't see any strong emotion from her.

But she doesn't seem hopelessly silly until she tries to rescue the hero's sister from a fortune hunter. I mean, if she knows the guy is a fortune hunter and not seriously attached to the girl, why doesn't it occur to her that SHE could be a target as well?

And that's another thing: why would a fortune hunter latch onto a girl from a family only recently rescued from poverty???

Another wallbanger. Save your money.

"Lord Darlington's Darling" is a different kind of Regency romance in that the heroine of this novel does not fit the incredibly beautiful, confident, witty and feisty mold that is so popular right now. Indeed the heroine of this novel, while she is held to be attractive, is so shy and tongue-tied, that she frequently comes across as being a little diffident and unsure of herself. But given that I've been reading quite a few Regencies lately where the heroines (if they had had the good fortune of being born in the 20th century, could have all run for parliament, and won!) were all so incredibly perfect, I was in the mood for shy, demure Abigail Fairchilde, and all the angst she faced during this, her second London Season.

Abigail's older married sister, Melissa, is sponsoring Abigail in what will be her second season. (Abigail had the misfortune to fall ill during her first season), and Melissa has all but picked out Abigail's future husband for her: Lord Fielding, a sober gentleman of some means. And while Abigail is not exactly over the moon about the prospect of marrying Lord Fielding, she obediently allows Melissa to shepherd her into an 'almost' understanding with Lord Fielding. And then Lord Darlington comes to town together with his mother and his rebellious younger sister, Bethany. Lord Darlington and Abigail had met during her first Season, and now they meet again at Almacks. The pair resume their friendship much to Melissa's chagrin and displeasure. And while neither of them will admit it openly, both Abigail and Lord Darlington are tantalized and taken with each other. Could it be perhaps that Lord Darlington rather than Lord Fielding holds the key to Abigail's heart? What then of Melissa's hopes and expectations that Abigail will marry Lord Fielding? Will she allow Abigail to follow the dictates of her heart? All this soon becomes moot when Abigail allows herself to become involved in Bethany's ill-advised romance. Will Lord Darlington be able to forgive Abigail this betrayal?

Lord Darlington has spent the past few years rescuing his family from the jaws of poverty, and he is both soul weary and bitter from the experience, especially given that all the responsibility has set up a barrier between him and the rest of his family. And then his mother brings him unwelcome news that his younger sister, Bethany, has gotten involved with a fortune-hunter while she was at school. Lady Darlington's advice is that they take Bethany to London for the Season, where it is to be hoped that the diversions of a London Season as well as new friends, will take Bethany's mind off her unfortunate 'connection.' The last thing he expected was that he would fall in love himself. However Abigail seems to have a rather serious beau already, and one that her family seems to approve wholeheartedly at that! Can Lord Darlington compete with the sober, serious Lord Fielding?

I couldn't decide whether or not to give this novel 3 stars or 4 -- for while I enjoyed the change in heroine-type, I did think that the plot romance was not so terribly original or different. And the last two chapters, where Abigail acts totally out of character and behaves in a really foolish and stupid way, was really stretching things just to be able to tie things up neatly and tidily. I also found that because of all the intrigue and 'backroom' machinations that revolves around Bethany and her ill-advised romance, the developing romance between Abigail and Lord Darlington sometimes got lost amidst the pages. And this really threw me -- to realise that I had finished the book and yet wouldn't be at all characterise their romance, whether it 'sparkled' or fell flat! My advice then would be to enjoy this romance novel for it's demure heroine and all the angst she goes through as she tries to juggle the expectations of her sister, Lord Darlington, Bethany, with her own desires, and to ry and forget everything else.

I have read other books by Gayle Buck so just expected subtle romance and wasn't disappointed. I was pulled on by the story and how it would unravel and wasn't disappointed. I can't give it higher than a three.

Nothing much went on in this book and the characters are not explored very deeply. When the Hero declares his affection, my thought was "where the heck did that come from? Oh, I guess we're getting to the end of the book". A suitable book for younger readers. A tame kiss is as racy as it gets.

This title doesn't say very much, and neither does the book, in my opinion. I love books -- reading is one of the joys of my life. As a published author, I also know how hard it is to (1) - get a book published, and (2) - read reviews of that book. The reviewer almost never sees a book the way the author does, and that old saying about 'having a book published is like walking down the street naked' is only too true.

But if the book really disappoints, is it fair for the reviewer not to say this? Should the book be given all sorts of terrific accolades, if it doesn't deserve them? I don't think that's being fair to anyone - reader or writer - any more than a mean-spirited review is fair, when the only result can be allowing the reviewer to think "oh! how wonderful and clever I am!"

I kept hoping this book would wake up - come to life - do something different, perhaps. Unfortunately, it never did. It is NOT awful, not by any means: it just isn't wonderful, either. There is very little emotion, and almost no sexual tension. In fact, there's very little romance, although there is a wedding being planned at the conclusion of the story. But two more distant lovers would be hard to imagine.

There is a crochety grandfather, who wants to dictate to his family; a set of girl twins, now nearing eighteen, who were unfortunately separated at a very young age, and have just discovered each other; and the grandfathers godson, returned from the wars. All of this could have generated so much more pizazz. I've read other books by this author that brimmed with life and activity. Unfortunately this one just sort of sits there. Patiently waiting for something, I know not what. Godot, maybe.

As a Psychologist, I believe mealtimes are sacred events. Family bonding takes place and culture is often passed to the next generation at this event. After reading this book, the author would have you believe all food in America is poisoned and will kill you. I agree with the first reviewer, save your money and don't buy the book.

The author supports his thesis with weak scientific arguments. I wish I had saved my money and not bought this book.

This book is definitely the most in depth book on environmental nutrition there is to date. It delves into the many issues relating to environmental nutrition including pesticides and other food contaminants, organic foods, sustainable agriculture, and the governmental surveillance of food and environmental toxins. It not only discusses food toxins, toxins in the U.S. food supply, and the impact of toxins on the body but also addresses current nutrition practices and their lack of connection with then environment. The book also discusses in depth the chemical structures of pesticides, food additives, and other substances and how the chemical structures relate to the compounds' reactions. Nevertheless, the book is written in such a way as to be understood by all. This is an excellent read for the layperson and scientist alike!

Clif notes is always good at what they do

Of course, I always read the Cliffs Notes, ONLY after I have read the book. These notes were not very good at helping to recap some of those specific details that Cliffs Notes should help one with. I would try Barron's Booknotes here.

In my mind, the purpose of these notes are to help you remember details from the book. These Cliffs Notes do not have the summmary that most of the Cliffs Notes do, so I found them t be not very useful. Don't waste your time or money. And if you were thinking about using these notes instead of reading the book, I assure you that this edition is one of the Notes that does not allow this to be possible!

This is a sketchy little book with a few recycled ideas from better business start-up books.

The author probably dashed this book off in a day after leafing through a few other business start-up books. The suggestions for start-ups are very, very sketchy and mostly unrealistic unless you have a lot of capital and/or specific knowledge of that business.

I wanted to find something to do during retirement that would bring in some extra money. I got lots of ideas from this book. The best part of this book, to me, is that these ideas are do-able. I won't need to borrow a lot of money to get started.

Well, this book, though wonderfully written, is very boring for most young people of today. Some in the older generation may enjoy how the old Mrs. Wang is able to do so much in her old age, but there's no action or adventure that the youth of today long to read about.

It was neat, because of the way the grandma was, she didn't believe in things unless she saw it. It was cool when she killed the whole army, but I would have been better if she would have been rewarded and live to tell her story. I think this is a good book on the way that old people are and how they think of present day stuff.

Well, we (our class) had to read this story in Literature. It was ok, but it wasn't one of my favorites.
Setting:
by the banks of the Yellow River in China in 1937 when the Japanese were attacking the Chinese.
Conflict:
1. Will Mrs. Wang succeed in saving her village from the river? (main conflict)
2. Will Mrs. Wang succeed in saving her loved one from the Japanese? (secondary conflict)
Rising Action:
While checking the level of water Mrs. Wang's grandson tells her the Japanese are invading China.
During the night, Japanese planes drop bombs on the village
Mrs. Wang makes sure that all of the people she loves are safely out of the village
She helps a man in trouble because his plane crashed.
The Chinese soldiers tell her that the Japanese have killed everyone in a neighboring village, including her brother and that the Japanese are on their way to her village
She sees the Japanese soldiers approaching
Climax:
Mrs. Wang opens the flood gates

Resolution: the flood water kills the Japanese soldiers and saves the people that Mrs. Wang loves.
Falling Action:
Mrs. Wang drowns in the river

Characters:
Mrs. Wang (main)

Was highly disapointed after reading the recipes in Backpacker Magazine and then not finding them, nor similar items in the book. I was impressed with and interested in hardtack and corn dodgers, which neither one appears in the book. Also, a more complete title of the book includes "Gourmet Cuisine", had I known that at the time I probably would not have orderd it. I just want to get by with the basics and do not care about a five star meal. I eat to live , not live to eat. James

I found this book very good. One of the best recipes is the pizza. It may be hard to believe you can make GOOD pizza in the bush, but I have cooked it numerous times for my family, and they ask for it everytime we camp out. The dessert recipes have been good as well. This is a good book for someone like me that is just learning how to cook good food out of what you carry on your back.

While it is true that eBay has all this information online, I spent hours there this monring just trying to find out the simple information in the booklet. EBay should have something like this available on their site for those just wanting the basic facts.
A few more pages on the selling side would have made it better for my uses, but now that I know the basics,I can skip all that.

Nothing new in this book. If you go to any help page on ebay you can find this information not worth the time or money