Burns Books

First Degree Burn takes New York fire inspector Eddie Burke through a stunning, sizzling roller coaster of plot as he investigates fires set for money, for vengeance, and to cover up secrets of the past. Tensions build and explode, both inside and outside the investigation, as Eddie and art historian Caroline Drexel face the killers who hunt them and the memories that haunt them. I've recommended this book to many friends, all of whom loved it. Why? The smart plot, well-realized characters, and smoldering sex. Can't wait to see what Peter Lance comes up with next.

As a firefighter and cause and origin investigator hopeful, I collect arson fiction. I was pleased to find this book by a new author, and began to read with interest. The story grabbed me, and kept me reading. Fire Marshal Eddie Burke is not perfect, and it is his weaknesses that make him a more believable hero. The historical angle, about WPA projects and the power of suspicion in that era, was educational and intriguing. Since finding this book last year, I have been looking for the next installment in what could be a wonderful series, and was pleased to hear that the next Eddie Burke mystery, and perhaps a trip to the big screen, is on the way. First Degree Burn is definately a book worth taking on vacation with you.

"I was in L.A. last week and tried to post this review,but it never showed up. I am a native of Oklahoma and a Navyveteran. I now live in Newport, R.I. where I run a bed & breakfast inn and charter boat service. I don't have time to read many novels, but I recently found FIRST DEGREE BURN, which one of the guests had left. I have to say that it was a total page turner. One of the best novels I've read in years. I looked at your reviews and noted that most of the people have given it five stars, except for the last two. Oscar Davis and Mark Pierce. Are these guys for real? FIRST DEGREE BURN is outstanding. I learned so much from it about fire investigation and WPA art. The characters are great. I went to the author's website...and noticed that the book had received a starred review in Publisher's Weekly. What do they know that Davis and Pierce don't? All I can say is that I am a real person and I loved this book. I can't wait for the next Eddie Burke mystery. Feel free to contact me at tyler@edgenet.net"

Harlan Tyler Newport, R.I.

Loved that Eddie Burke Jr! I couldn't put the book down, and found myself at the last page 36 hours later. The story is intelligent with a huge amount of integrity. I found the characters to be fresh and crisp. Writer Peter Lance carefully leads you down each path with Eddie Burke, sometimes with such colorful detail that you can actually feel the heat of the fire. My only disappointment is that there isn't a sequel yet. Come on Mr Lance, what the heck are you waiting for? This book is a GREAT ride!

First Degree Burn is a riveting page turner. Lance is thorough in his historical and factual references about New York City, the WPA and fire investigation. As an ex-New Yorker and fellow journalist, Lance is right on the button. The Eddie Burke character is captivating and believeable. Lance is an excellent writer and story-teller. I strongly recommend this novel and look forward to reading the next Eddie Burke thriller...a movie would be sensational!

Companion volume to the PBS documentary of the same title. And it reads like it. Too slim to stand on its own. The pictures are fascinating, wish there had been more, oddly enough for a book derived from a TV documentary.

I enjoy reading almost anything about antique autos,the early days of the US auto industry, old car trips and stories about the history of early automobile travel in the United States. This is a wonderful companion to the PBS series video on the first successful United States transcontinental auto trip from California to NYC. Great olde tyme photos and a well presented memoir of the adventure. Of course you cannot "just" read the book...the video is a must!

Amazing document about a time in American history when there were only 150 miles of paved roads in the entire country. In 1903, an adenturous 31 year old Doctor from Vermont, now retired and living happily with his weathy young wife (on her funds), decided he'd attempt to be the first to man cross the continent via the latest technological gadget: the automobile. Being a non-mechanic, he hired an equally spirited 21 year old former bicycle racer who had been working as a mechanic in a gasoline-engine factory in California to accompany him. Most roads were little more than muddy wagon paths, and when those stopped the travellers could only follow along railroad tracks or trust in their sense of direction as they set out across the vast plains and desert. Nevertheless, they made the trek successfully.Equally amazing, his beloved wife condoned his folly and waited anxiously at home. They wrote letters to each other regularly, and these (preserved) letters were the author's primary source of information about his daily successes and frustrations along his cross-country 'expedition'.This book, a companion to the PBS documentary film (available on DVD) is filled with rare vintage photos. Few would attempt such a journey today, even with modern GPS equipped 4x4 vehicles, and the book and DVD are both splendid inspirations for anyone who loves to share in the triumphs of those few individuals who would fearlessly challenge what has never been done simply because they believe they can succeed.I only wish there had been more more detailed excerpts from the original correspondences included in this book. Still, a splendid addition to your library... and your education!

I had it in my head that this was going to be the audio from the wonderful PBS show but I was mistaken. It is a reading of the book. I should've looked more closely. The story, however, is wonderful. The voices from the narrative on the PBS show were more engaging and lively that those on this CD but the story remains just as good.

This is a brief account of the first cross country automobile trip, sprinkled with photographs taken by the "automobilist" as he traversed the nation's dirt roads just after the turn of the last century. Horation Nelson Jackson bet someone $50 in a club in San Francisco that he could cross the country in an automobile he had just bought, and do it in less than 90 days. He spent over $8,000 winning his bet (though he never collected the money).

The car (something called a Winton) had numerous breakdowns. After each one, Jackson would write his wife and advise her that "the worst is over now" after which the car would inevitably break down again. Jackson and his mechanic, Sewall Crocker, spent endless days waiting for parts and jury-rigging parts for the car. After Jackson and Crocker left San Francisco, two other cars, each with its own pair of intrepid motorists, left there also, all three headed to New York City. In spite of a number of hindrances, Jackson's Winton beat out the Packard and the Oldsmobile. Jackson even picked out a dog, named Bud, who wore goggles and rode in the front seat for most of the adventure.

This is a rather short book. It took me perhaps an hour and a half to read. It's full of illustrations and has a map showing the route Jackson took. It's also very interesting, covering a part of American history that I imagine many people had never heard before. I recommend it.

I enjoyed this book immensely. Waiting for more of the same to read. Yeah, it's wacky but with this book we were able to get a little better into the inner workings of Michael. It's fun - enjoy reading it. The only thing I didn't like was some of the language.

This book starts a little slow but as you progress, you can see and hear the characters from the show in your mind. This is very well written and if you like the show as much as I do, you will like the book.

If this series got any better in would be illegal, oh yeah and read the book.Most fun i had with my clothes on.

This book is terrific in a lot of ways. For one thing it is almost exactly like the show.It's also funny, witty, and never has a dull moment. This book is a must have for any other Burn Notice fans out there.

I LOVE the TV show Burn Notice, and also have enjoyed reading Todd Goldberg's brother, author Lee Goldberg. So I approached The Fix with great anticipation.

This book does deliver on a decent story with some good humor and a moderately successful attempt at sounding like the characters.

Occasionally, the author lacks a good understanding of the characters. In this example Michael is having his first meeting with his potential client:

page 71 "Dixon told me there might be trouble one day, she said . "But, I didn't expect this."
"Really?" I said. "Pretty prescient on his part." There was nothing about Dixon Woods, at least in Cricket's description, that made me think he was anything like a Special Forces guy.

Do you see my point? Prescient? Michael is not playing the character of a professor. I'm not trying to dumb down his character. Michael is certainly smart enough to explain complex technical procedures, and utilize a variety of quixotic vocabulary to act a part, but that is not how he, as himself, would talk. Just when you get into Michael's voice, the poor characterization and superfluous vocabulary stops the thought.

One of the biggest issues is the VERY poor writing scattered throughout the book. Let me give you an example:

Page 52 "You know what I wonder?" Sam asked. We were on the private ferry- which is pejorative to ferries, since this was more like a cruise liner that happened to carry expensive cars, along with the few clunkers belonging to the help, or just the help themselves, most too poor to own cars-halfway between the causeway and Fisher Island at this point, but had opted to get out of Sam's car to take on the view of the private isle.
"I can't even pretend to know." [Michael said]

And I can't even pretend to know how that got past an editor. And therein lies the problem. The writing often tends to be this convoluted. Another example:

Page 76 "When you're a spy, or a former one, or just one trying to figure out how your life got turned upside down, by someone else's choices, someone's else's agenda, someone else's ego and hubris and wonton disregard for who you are as a human, sometimes, well, a soft spot opens up for people in a similar situation."

Just when you get into the story you run into this extremely redundant writing.
I understand that he's trying to show Michael's frustration by using some repetition, but that can still be done without slowing the story.

Here's just one idea on how that could be tightened to still make you feel Michael's frustration without being bogged down.
My revision: "When you're a spy, or a former one, or just one trying to figure out how your life got turned upside down, sometimes a soft spot opens up for a person in a similar situation."

Add to that the very foul language that goes beyond what the TV show does, and you understand why I gave it 3 stars.

So expect to have parts that will be convoluted, but if you LOVE the spy genre and Burn Notice like I do, enough to muddle through the writing, then get it. I don't regret it. It was still a fun story.

I do hope that future novels have better characterizations, and concise writing. From one writer to another, I know how hard it is. But maybe either get a better editor or really go back and review season one and tighten the writing down. We all LOVE this show and DO want more novels!

Don't start a Mckinzie novel unless you have plenty of time or you don't mind being up all night. This is, by far, the best series out there in my opinion. I have read the series more than once and am dying for a sixth installment! Antonio Burns is a tough cop with a chip on his shoulder and a fine sense of justice. I believe he attracts female as well as male readers. He has a sensitive side and a need to make things right, no matter what the cost. I adore the development of his character and also love his brother, Roberto. Each is complex and interesting. The best thing about all the novels in this series though are the mysteries. Always a good plot and much suspense, plenty of action. I have nothing bad to say about Badwater. A kid drowns and the town wants someone to pay, it involves dirty politics and some shady characters. Antonio digs for the truth, even though it isn't pretty. GREAT READ!!! I would hope he has hit the bestseller list. He smokes authors such as James Patterson or Lee Childs. If you have'nt read any McKinzie, I suggest starting at the beginning with "The Edge of Justice".

I really liked the book. So much in fact that I was unable to put it down. The story is well written, the characters vivid and it has a very suspenseful plot. I disliked the ending because it seemed almost too commercial fiction (in that it wrapped everything up a little too neatly) in nature for such a great piece of writing, but still worth the read.

this book is as good as the others ! I highly recommend it !

The main character is a very conflicted Wyoming state drug enforcement officer, trying to stay out of trouble, but always being in the middle of the turmoil. Climbing is his release but also an integral part of the story line. The books are well written with interesting plot twists, and he writes about climbing so well that you are with him on every pitch.

Once again Antonio Burns has found a way to the dark side, where rules, procedures and politics clash with the right thing to do. And once again, Antonio is ready to risk it all, slide down that rope of despair as his reputation, job and liberty are threatened, all because he's doing the right thing. Poor guy, just can't get a break.

Antonio's not one to mess with, especially when he feels he's on a mission. He meets his challenges head-on: "QuickDraw" fits him.

But everything has turned to dust in Antonio's life: his brother's a cripple; he's lost the respect of his mentor and boss; he's being investigated by the DEA for a drug lord's disappearance in Mexico; his fiance's left him; his new baby cries when he visits, and his latest love has betrayed him.

Poor guy just can't get a break.

And now he's got steroid junkies and tweakers on his trail, and an innocent kid is being railroaded to a life term. Worse yet, Antonio's about to be fired.

So why not get away from it all? Go scale an impossible mountain. Commit suicide by rock. Rip yourself to shreds on outcroppings or sling yourself into granite. Or gaze at the Wyoming sky.

And then make things right...

Clinton McKinzie has scored again with this, his fifth Antonio Burns story. Antonio may be out of work and lacking friends, but he's still my guy. Bravo! Can't wait for the next adventure.

It's grueling work caring for victims who wind up in a burn unit: work author Barbara Ravage examines as she follows the Mass General health team working in the hospital's burn unit. Here are touching stories of victims severely burned, medical teams which care for them through a difficult recovery process, and insights into the latest advances in rehabilitation and treatment. The many case histories personalize the entire experience.

I'll start out here by saying that I am a medical non-fic junkie. I have read just about every medical narrative non-fiction book to come out in the last five years, and I am simply intrigued with the behind the scenes look at what goes on in hospitals and in the minds of doctors and nurses. I was in the hospital a lot as a teen and I think that is where my interest started.

So I am not coming from a place of particular interest in burns, more from a general medical interest standpoint. If you are specifically interested in learning about what goes on in a burn unit or what goes on in a patient's body after they are burned, then this is an amazing book. It is very informative. The author talks about historical fires and how they contributed to medical knowledge about burns, the physiological changes that occur in a human's body after becoming burned, and the medical treatment. She also personalizes the burn unit by showing actual people who suffered a burn and showing their progress.

But for me, coming from the perspective of wanting a thrilling and informative non-fiction read about the medical field (like Hot Lights, Cold Steel by Collins), this didn't fit the bill. The historical and informative parts that told us about advances in the burn field and what happens physiologically were too dry to hold my attention without having any specific reason to learn about them, and the people she profiled didn't capture my heart and interest.

So, if you are looking for a general interest read that will capture your attention even with no particular interest in the field, look elsewhere, but if you have experiences with burns or are a doctor, then this is a really interesting and informative read. It is gory in parts, so be warned.

This book is exceptional. It goes into details and explains what happens to the burn victim's body and why it happens. I would recommend this book to medical students...but is also a good read to those not in the medical field. It has a story like flow and is presented in a very interesting way that captures your attention.

Before reading this,I knew very little about burns and burn care, other than they were messy, smelly, painful and left terrible scars. This book covers the burn treatment floor, Bigelow 13, at Mass General, one of the best burn units in the country. Very informative, if a little boring in places. At times, the author goes into long biological speeches about layers of skin and how they regrow and blah blah blah blah blah . It can read like a high school anatomy book- not exactly something that captures one's attention for long periods of time. But the rest of it- the explanation of procedures, case histories and daily routines of a burn unit- was fascinating.

Recommended, but get some coffee for the slow parts, and DO NOT eat while reading this book.

On August 3, my wife was burned in central Anatolia. On August 15, we med-vaced her to the United States. On September 1, I bought this book. On September 20, I received the book. I was so rapt by the writing that I finished this book in two days. Understand, my wife was in the hospital at the time. Reading was not a priority. I visited my wife daily while I ran a family and my own business.

Sometimes a writer's capabilities can so overwhelm the topic. A good writer can make the worst topics readable. Burns, sores, sepsis, pain, and scars are what I neither care to read about nor wish others to read about. The sterile black ink on the white pages cannot deliver the sensations to you of the stench associated with the dead skin, nor show you the grotesque complexity of the red and yellow skin which bleeds easily and often.

I no more would ask a person to experience what my family has lived the past few months, than I would ask them to clean my plumbing. Burns are a horrible topic which Ms. Ravage has managed to make less horrible.

I used this book for something more than enjoyment. The doctors' mouths, often as clasped as the arteries of their surgical patients, tell little to the patients' family, and when they speak, the language is too often cliched with inexplicables and nondeterminatives. This book answered questions, told me what to look forward to, and outlined what to anticipate. This was my "Burn Patients' Questions for Dummies." But, written well.

I cringed. I cried. I swallowed hard. And, at times, I had to leave the book. The writng and insight were as razor sharp as the scalpels discussed and referenced in the portion discussing grafting.

Good work Ms. Ravage! You helped a great deal. I can only tell others in my predicament, read this book. And, after you read the book, you will feel better about what there is looming in the slowly progressing and little discussed world of burns.

The book is confusing. What is the reader supposed to believe? Clemens was a genius, or, Clemens was an imbecile? "Mark Twain an Illustrated Biography" starts with a preface that says: Sam Clemens was a "genius." Next comes the prologue, which states "his own overreaching drove him and his family into exile oversaes."---That statement could not be farther from the truth. A book that starts by rejoicing in Twain's genius and, then proceeds completely to ignore Twain's genius and portray an imbecile is confusing.To understand the confusion and, put the narrative on page 177 in context, review this sentence: "When she died, she was only twenty-four years old." What is the purpose of the word "only" in that sentence? Putting "only" in the sentence confuses facts and, by that confusion makes a biased sentence. Susy was twenty-four years old: An age by anybody's standards where she is old enough to be responsible for her own health. By combining that sentence with "only" and the pictures of a young Susy on pages 87, 94, 99, 103, 105, 119, 132, 146, 150, the book alleges that Susy was very young when she died, which is not true.It was the family publishing business alone that went bankrupt, not Clemens, a fact previously canvassed on page 157 but by page 177 forgotten; The financial recession of 1893, which was responsible for making the tour necessary and separating the family, was not Clemens fault and he would have to be an absolute fool rather than a genius to think otherwise, a fact previously canvassed on pages 155 & 156 but by page 177 forgotten; Clemens knew that he was in no way whatsoever responsible for the death of Susy; When Susy died, she was not the first child that Sam and Livy had buried; What Sam includes in his letter on page 177 are emotions experienced after losing their first child a son, not emotions consistent with losing their second child Susy. Canvassed initially, the book describes how Sam becomes inured to death by experiencing so many deaths in his life. Then on page 177 it is as if death is a brand-new idea, which Sam, has no familiarity with at all? It cannot be both ways, either he was inured or he was not.Sam's writing was so powerful that he easily conveyed feelings that he did not feel; Sam's writing conveys feelings that he does not feel to relieve Livy's feelings of responsibility and grief: Clemens is magnanimously taking responsibility for things that he knows he is not responsible for to soothe his ailing wife (Sam wrote a similar letter after the death of his brother Henry, see page 20, only an idiot would believe himself responsible for too much steam when he was not even on the boat with Henry.); Livy had been diagnosed with heart problems, which forced the family move to Europe in 1891, a fact previously canvassed on page 145 where it incorrectly states "They [doctors] recommended rest and treatment for Livy in Europe," the facts being rather that Livy was "ordered" to Europe by her doctors, but by page 177 the facts after being distorted are forgotten and without thorough study or instruction, the facts are presented with a vagueness that makes' them impossible to understand.Unequivocally, Clemens in 1906 stated for his autobiography, [Edited by Charles Neider, page 428], Livy was "ordered" to Europe by her doctors. If Clemens knew, Livy was ordered to Europe in 1906, it's only fair to assume he knew Livy was "ordered" to Europe when he wrote that magnanimous letter on page 177 taking responsibility for things that he knew he was not responsible for in 1896. And just as fairly, without any assumption, we may know that Clemens knew he did not cause the financial recession of 1893. Sam's stay in Europe, which he loathed and called exile, was never exile at all, but concession to his love for his wife, Livy, and the requirements mandated by her heart trouble.In all honesty, Clemens was being magnanimous when he wrote "Reproaching myself for laying the foundation of all our troubles. . . . Reproaching myself for a million things whereby I have brought misfortune and sorrow to this family."---found on page 177. Clemens was being far from honest, unless he was responsible for the financial recession of 1893, responsible for Livy's heart problems that forced the families move to Europe in 1891, and responsible for Susy's health when Susy was of an age to be responsible for her own health and had been living on her own separated by half-a-world from Sam and Livy for most of a year.For an entertaining book that does not confuse these important issues I recommend: MEET MARK TWAIN, published by Xlibris.

This is an excellent biography for many reasons.It is written in very simple language and makes a fast paced read.There are a multitude of excellent and relevant photos of Twain,all the members of his family and at many stages of their lives.There are numerous pictures of where Twain lived and homes he had.Also, many pictures of family life.He lived such an interesting life ,it takes a lot of pictures to make one see what it was all like.The pictures are so good that it would be impossible to convey the same thing in words alone.Along with the personal photos, there are all kinds of illustrations from every aspect of his life.The book contains 275 illustrations,and every last one is a real gem.The book is based on a film that was aired a couple of years ago and undoubtedly will be shown many more times;keep an eye out for it.
The book does an excellent job of showing Twain as a person and all the things that were important in his life;and there were so many.
The one thing that is really explained is why "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is possibly the first,greatest and most important novel in American Literature. If you hadn't thought about it,this book might convince you.
I read a lot of biographies,but I have a hard job in trying to think of one that was as well done as this.As good as the text is,I believe it is the wonderful photos and illustrations that puts this book over the top.
If you are a lover of Twain's work and life,you should make every effort to get hold of this super effort.

I wonder how many people could have led the life that Samuel Clemens did and kept their sanity. He went from riches to rags (even though it was his own fault...he spent money like it was going out of style and made some horrendous investments), which forced him, at the age of 60, into making a 10 month long physically and mentally draining around-the-world lecture tour. The tour enabled him to pay off his debts and regain his financial footing. Unfortunately, money was the least of his problems. The authors do not specifically state it, but it is clear (to me anyway) that Clemens suffered from manic-depression. At various times, and not coinciding with anything bad going on his life, he considered suicide. He had lifelong moodswings, as well as a volatile temper. (His daughters were afraid to be alone with him, as his behavior was so unpredictable. They made sure to visit him as a group.) The authors recount one incident where Clemens, angry over a missing button, opened an upstairs window and tossed all of his shirts out into the street. Saddest of all, Clemens outlived almost all of his loved ones. His beloved wife, Livy, who was almost 10 years younger than him, predeceased him, as did 3 of his 4 children. His one surviving child, his daughter Clara, suffered a nervous breakdown when Clemens was almost 70. A heavy load to bear, indeed, but somehow Clemens bore it and carried on. One thing that helped was his worldwide fame. Clemens was hungry for fame, even as a young man. He became well-known early in life, and remained famous and popular right up until he died. (He was a bit of a "ham." He would purposely time his walks for when people were emerging from church, and would then saunter past in his trademark- pun intended- white suits.) This book is an absolutely perfect blend of narrative by the authors, liberal excerpts from Clemens's many writings, "guest essays," and page after page of terrific period photographs. (The research done for the photographs, alone, must have been backbreaking.) The narrative and essays made this a good book. The addition of the excerpts and the photos turned it into a great book. The excerpts are not just from Clemens's well-known works, either. He was once asked to address an organization which consisted of descendants of the Puritans. The written text is reproduced in the book. Twain skewered the original Puritans for killing Native Americans and for kicking everyone who wasn't a Puritan out of Massachusetts, even though, as Clemens makes sure to emphasize, they left England under the banner of religious freedom. (You have to think that when the organization invited Clemens to speak, this wasn't quite what they had in mind.) One of the many interesting items included in the book is a list of the famous sayings "Mark Twain" supposedly uttered....but didn't. (He was so famous that it was assumed that anything clever originated with him.) Unfortunately, one of my all-time favorites was included in this list: "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." On the bright side, he DID say "The rumor of my death has been greatly exaggerated." One caution: the excerpts will make you want to read or re-read all of Twain. I've already ordered a copy of "The Innocents Abroad" as somehow, in my youth, I missed that one. Hats off to Geoffrey Ward, Dayton Duncan, and Ken Burns for this wonderful book!

Mark Twain: An Illustrated Biography is an informative survey of Twain's life which gathers material from a variety of published and unpublished sources, from his novels and lectures to his letters and photos. Students and fans of Twain thus receive much more illustration than in competing titles, in the form of vintage photos and color ads and drawings, along with a lively biographical sketch surveying Twain's life and times. Highly recommended; much more accessible than most.

This illustrated biography of one of America's most memorable and beloved authors holds quite a few surprises for the unsuspecting reader. Anticipating anecdotes from Mark Twain's life that would portray him as a kind, altruistic, and loving man, I was shocked to learn he was also an irrascible, guilt-ridden, tight-fisted lover of alcohol and cigars who was often looking for ways to get rich.

He was born in 19th century Missouri and raised during a time when major political, economic, social, and cultural issues were forging America's identity. The rugged 19th century also molded Twain into an outspoken critic of those forces, providing him with an unending stream of material for his cogent and waggish observations.

Amid a collection of excerpts from his novels and speeches, articles and essays, as well as numerous pictures and illustrations, the authors present an insightful analysis of the man best known for writing TOM SAWYER and HUCKLEBERRY FINN. What becomes obvious is the relevance, creativity and importance of all his work, not just the books we were assigned in high school.

This book is a treasure; the kind of book that can be referred to often. It can give food for thought for hours of reflection. It is Highly Recommended.

The alternate world in this book (Isaura) is remeniscent of the Irish Faerie world in the New Policeman. Pucker explores the life of a horribly scarred teen and his dying mother.
This is a well written emotionally satisfying book with a look at what it must be like to be tragically disfigured in a world full of beautiful people. Pucker is abused by his fellow man and tested greatly when he must choose between himself being healed and his mother being healed. A good read for fantasy lovers.

Imagine having the opportunity to go to a place where your terribly scared face would be magically healed. You have to find something in this world that might help save your mother. But if you come back to Earth, your scars would return. What would you do?

This is the dilemna Thomas Quicksilver, "Pucker", is faced with. Thomas has always been an outsider. He has kept the secrets of his crazy mother, his origins, and the hideous scars on his face a secret.

But his mother asks him to go back to Isaura, an alternate world, where both he and his mother were exiled nine years earlier. Ripped of her Seerskin, which helps her predict the future, she is flooded with predictions. So many that without her Seerskin, she'll go mad.

Thomas goes back with a group of others, who have a variety of problems and is 'changed.' For the first time he receives positive attention to his physical appearance, something he's craved since his accident. While in Isaura, he learns what it is to be desirable and falls in love for the first time. But the clock is ticking. He only has a few days to find his mother's Seerskin or she'll die.

I loved this book! Melanie Gideon does an excellent job of getting inside the head of a teen boy and the anguish he goes through with his scars. The reader will feel Thomas's pain as others call him Pucker when describing his scars. Also you'll feel the joy of his first kiss. Something he'd always fantasized about but never thought would happen to someone like him.

The only part I didn't like about this book is that it ended. I'm hoping for a sequel, which the book hints at.

Thomas Quicksilver was born in Isaura, a world that exists parallel to our modern Earth. In Isaura, everything is pre-ordained. Family dinners are dictated weeks in advance, not because anyone wants it to be so, but because a group of fortune tellers called The Seers have predicted what they will be. Each day, the citizens of Isaura visit the Seers to learn what their fate is for that day, and how it can be changed for the better. In Isaura, most of the hard labor is performed by a group of people called the Changed: individuals who were deformed or handicapped in some way on Earth but are made whole when they come to Isaura. Both of Thomas's parents were Seers, but he and his mother were exiled to Earth after the death of his father. Thomas was the one who found his father, lying on the kitchen floor dead and stripped of his Seerskin, a glittering golden membrane that makes it possible for Seers to do their work. His mother had been skinned as well. Thomas, afraid and alone, hid under the sink until he thought he could sense Cook, a woman who had cared for him his whole life, coming. He reached up to grab her, but instead, pulled the curtains out of the kitchen window down upon himself; she wasn't there yet, and the candles that were burning in the kitchen when he found his parents had set the curtains aflame. Thomas was burned to the point of deformity.

On Earth, Thomas's mother can use her precognition even without her Seerskin, and makes a living by telling fortunes. Eventually, she starts to sense everything that is about to happen to everyone near her, to the point where she can't be around people anymore because her head has become so crowded with images of their futures. She tells Thomas she needs him to return to Isaura, disguising himself as a candidate to be Changed, and recover her skin. He reluctantly agrees to do so, but once he is in Isaura he finds himself distracted. It turns out if he hadn't been so severely burned, he would have been stunningly handsome. The Changed girls all want to spend time with him, and he enjoys the attention he's never had. He falls in love with another of the Changed, begins to feel himself at home again in Isaura, and is tempted to forget about saving his mother and just stay there. Thomas is torn between his desire to live a life he's never known and his obligation to help his mother.

This is a book about redemption, though it comes to it in a roundabout way. Melanie Gideon has created a fascinating world, and paints a picture of a society that is apparently serene, but exists only because of a disturbing social structure. The world-building Gideon has done here is Pucker's greatest strength. Even when I was tired of Thomas Quicksilver, I still wanted to see how things would turn out for his world.

Thomas Quicksilver is not a flawless hero, and the flaws he has aren't charming. He is, however, an accurate portrait of a teenage boy. If you put down Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix because you found Harry's behavior obnoxious, you shouldn't read Pucker. If, however, you kept reading either because Harry's teenage antics amused you or because you wanted to see how he would grow through it all, then Pucker will provide you with a similar vision of a young man's growth. Thomas Quicksilver does some things that make him near despicable, not the least of which is dating a set of girls all at the same time, disparaging them while doing it, and pursuing another girl who is the one he actually loves. Still, these conflicting actions made him all the more believable to me. Teenage boys chafe against authority, love being an object of desire, and - especially when denied a "normal" experience, as Thomas has been - might drink too deep once offered life's pleasures. While some of Thomas's actions hurt his likability, they absolutely cemented his plausibility. In a book set in a world so different from our own, we need a foothold to understanding the world. Characters who feel the same things we feel and do things we or people we know might do can be that foothold, and that's how Pucker succeeds.

I would recommend this book to fans of the more recent Harry Potter books and anyone who likes stories where utopias are maintained through dystopian circumstances.

I was very interested in the plot of Melanie Gideon's book: The main character, Thomas Quicksilver, known as Pucker to some because of his burned face, is asked by his mother, Serena, to retrieve her seerskin from their former home so that she might be well once again. But there are two catches; first, Thomas will be returning to the place he once lived, where he received the burns on his face and where all the secrets of his past await, and second, he will be healed when he gets there.

My main interest was the idea that he would be healed and the possible changes that would result within him because of the difference in his appearance, something he had been ridiculed cruelly for most of his life. So, going in, I was very much looking forward to this book, but after getting to know Thomas' character in just a few pages, I dreaded picking it up again.

First of all, I expected some bitterness on Thomas' part, especially because of how he was treated due to his scarred face as a child. The boy was tormented. But after Thomas received his new face, his character became exceedingly conceited. If someone heals a person, one would think that they would be grateful and make the better of things while at the same time not treating other people the way they hated to be treated before they were healed.

Thomas in the story is apprehensive because he is unsure of where exactly to search for his mother's seerskin. So, not finding any information, he instead spends his time dating. That's right. Dating. He has several girlfriends, all of which he cruelly names the Connecticuts. In his defense, the girls didn't seem to have a single original thought in their heads, but I found his name-calling extremely spiteful, especially when his character continued to date them.

And then, later in the story came the moment when Thomas, in my opinion, showed his true character. I was so upset at this point in the story (I will not say what it was because some people might still want to read the book.), but suffice it to say that Thomas completely abandoned a friend when they needed him the most. By then, the story was over for me. There would be no redemption of character. I also thought that the situation that the characters were in, via how their world got the way it was, was not properly explained; that bothered me throughout most of the story, but maybe I missed something.

The rest of the story was overshadowed by Thomas' many, many flaws, none of which having to do with his outward appearance but his inward ugliness. And his search for his mother's seerskin was...boring.

Overall: The main character was so full of it and cold that I regretted ever having read the book. If a story doesn't have a character I care about, I hate it. A complete waste of time.

His mother is dying, but Pucker wants to stay gorgeous and have a string of girls throw themselves at him. He wants to live happily ever after as a mindless slave, and did I mention his mother is dying? Okay, I can understand the selfishness and conceit that overtakes him, I can see how he would be angry at his parents, I know I'm not suppose to like him because the author makes him unlikeable. But I thought he would do something bigger and more selfless at the end. After all, the Isaurian society is grossly unfair and rigid. Pucker's own father died rebelling against it. I wanted Pucker to do more, and he didn't.

Security Power Tools
Bryan Burns, Jennifer Stisa Granick, Steve Manzuik, Paul Guersch, Dave Killion, Nicolas Beauchesne, Eric Moret, Julien Sobrier, Michael Lynn, Eric Markham, Chris Iezzoni, Philippe Biondi
O'Reilly - 1st Edition
http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596009632/index.html

This is a detailed overview of tools that can be used to detect and defend against various security threats. The book generally groups software by category, with a section/chapter devoted to each tool. The software tool is thoroughly covered from download to installation to configuration. A fair amount of theory is covered for the various attack vectors discuss but the book focuses on practical, real-world examples.

The topics covered vary across a wide range but each is still covered with a good amount of depth which accounts for the books large size (856 pages). For each threat model covered, various tools that can be used for detection, avoidance, and protection are discussed along with user guides on how to acquire and set up the tools. The software discussed is generally open source and free of charge. Packages for all major PC operating systems are covered. Linux and Windows get the lion's share of attention but Mac and Unix are covered as well. Of course most of the Linux tools are Unix tools as well. Many of the Windows tools talked about are Linux ports.

I enjoyed the book overall and in particular I enjoyed the ability to "follow along" by downloading and working with the software packages covered in each section. Security professionals and hobbyist will certainly recognize many of the tools but a few might be new to many and even on the popular tools, some interesting features might not be know to all.

Summary:

- Practical explanations of each security topic are given for real world use.
- Focus is on example and practice
- A great book for security professionals and security hobbyist.

I think this book should have been titled more along the lines of "Network Attack and Defense", but that doesn't detract from its contents. This is a great network-focused coverage of some of the things that the bad guys will do to get into your network and, to some extent, what you can do about it. I particularly enjoyed chapters five and eight on wireless recon and penetration, which have great coverage on how to set up various wireless tools on Linux (which can be a daunting task for the uninitiated), as well as chapter eighteen on network sniffing (Practical Packet Analysis makes a good followup to this chapter). The last chapter also tacks on a bit on binary reverse engineering, which seems like an afterthought in the context of the rest of the book, but is still a good read. Overall, another great security book from O'Reilly!

This is a book that serves its purpose wonderfully.

Its chapters and articles are based on a series of assumptions. First, that the reader won't read the book from head to tail but bit-by-bit. Second, that the reader, although not a complete geek, has a deep interest in computer sciences and computer security, from a practical standpoint.
Given those two conditions, it is a wonderfully easy to read book which will participate in the answering to the following question: "what tool should I use to answer this ____ (fill in the blank) IT Security problem?".
That's a good thing for a "power tool book" isn't it ?

Security Power Tools (SPT) is O'Reilly Publishing's sister manual to their popular Unix Power Tools […]. It is written as a primer to various security tools, organized within seven sections, covering Legal and Ethics, Reconnaissance, Penetration, Control, Defense, Monitoring, and Discovery. While the target audience of SPT is security professionals, the book weighs in at just over 800 pages and probably has something for everyone working in a technical facet of IT.

Having said that, I really enjoyed reading this book. I read it nearly cover-to-cover, and while I was at least familiar with most of the material in the book, I was still able to find gems of knowledge, even in tools that I work with on a daily basis. Expect to read about some tools that you may already know about, like Nmap, Nessus, and The Metasploit Framework, but keep reading for a heap of other useful applications that you may not be familiar with.

One of the strengths of the book is the varying backgrounds of its contributing authors; just as the book covers a diverse tool set, the expertise of the authors is also diverse. The book was written collaboratively by twelve individuals, made up primarily of Juniper Networks' J-Security team […]. Despite an opportunity for vendor-bias towards Juniper products, the book remained vendor-neutral. The majority of the book focuses on open-source and free-ware applications, although there is commercial software covered as well. In fact, Chapter 9 - Exploitation Framework Applications covers Canvas […] and Core Impact […] exclusively; both commercial applications.

One of the chapters that makes this book unique is the chapter on Law and Ethics, written by Jennifer Stisa Granick. You may recognize Ms Granick from her representation of Michael Lynn in during the Cisco Gate ordeal at Black Hat 2005 (coincidentally, Michael Lynn is also one of the contributing authors of this book). She provides an insightful discussion on not only the legal implications of security work, but also the role that ethics plays in some of those "gray" areas that security professionals may find themselves in.

Another chapter that sets this book apart is Chapter 6 - Custom Packet Generation, which primarily focuses on the use of Scapy. The chapter is written by Phillipe Biondi, the author of Scapy, and he provides an excellent argument to "Decode, Do Not Interpret". He discusses the advantages of writing tools that will provide you with raw decoded information, without an interpretation of that information. For instance, if you scanned a port on a remote host, Biondi would argue that it would be better for your tool to tell you that the remote host returned a RST packet rather than telling you that the port is closed. Beyond this valuable discussion, Biondi provides a very thorough discussion of the uses of Scapy, along with several good examples. This chapter alone makes this book worth buying.

While I liked this book, there were also some problems that prevented me from giving it a 5-star rating. For starters, the preface describes the overwhelming amount of content that was edited out of this book to keep it within size constraints, yet there was quite a bit of content that detracted from the value-density of the book. As I mentioned previously, the majority of SPT is a security primer and should not be considered a reference. Given this position, I believe that there was too much step-by-step installation and setup content. As an example, Chapter 16 - E-Mail Security and Anti-Spam covered the installation and management of the Norton Anti-Virus client. I can appreciate the security-related value of anti-virus software, but I felt that a step-by-step walk through of a Norton product was irrelevant.

Additionally, while I previously stated that the diverse expertise of the authors was a benefit, the varied writing style detracted from the readability of the book. Content aside, I found some chapters to be fun to read while others were boring, due to a particular author's writing style.

In summary, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in an overview of where to get started in researching security tools for a particular purpose. While none of the discussions in the book are exhaustive, they will definitely get you started and arm you with enough information to know what you want and where to get it.

A classic ad for Snap-on brand tools featured the tagline, "I own the best, please don't ask to borrow them." In the new, complex world of IT security, picking the best tool for the job is no easy task. An indispensable reference on the subject, Security Power Tools, brings together a slew of expert authors who detail the best security tools available.

The main portion of the book is divided into six sections comprising 23 chapters that cover the following aspects of network security: reconnaissance, penetration, control, defense, monitoring, and discovery. The chapters cover tools for major operating systems from Unix/Linux, to Windows and Macintosh. The book is organized and progresses in a logical sequence that parallels real-world security scenarios and application of the tools.

Each section and subsection covers the subjects at hand, and then lists the appropriate tool for the job. The book not only lists and evaluates top tools but also explains how to access all of them, many for free, by downloading them from the Internet.

Many of the hacking countermeasures listed in the book may, however, require specific legal permission before use. Perhaps for this reason, the book opens with a chapter on legal and ethical issues. Yet the chapter does not read like a legal disclaimer--quite the contrary--it's both engaging and fascinating.

This book is written for experienced security professionals who need an authoritative resource for finding the best IT security tool for the job. At nearly 800 pages, the text covers nearly every available security tool known, making it the de facto reference to such tool selection. Readers will find it an invaluable guide

I was not very syked when I got this book. After reading so much about it I thought it would be a good buy for my daughter who I have trouble getting to enjoy or even be interested in doing well in math. It is written to the student, which I thought was odd. And is aimed at a higher age group than she is (7 yrs). I just don't have time to read so much about it and play the little games etc. Very disappointed.

I, like some other reviewer, got this book around 15 years ago - a Scholastic Book Club purchase. I didn't hate math at the time (certainly don't now!), but the title was intriguing. The book was a lot of fun! I love the illustrations and the fact that most of the text is in that handwriting font style (I think). It's very informal and makes fun of adults. There ae all these funny, crazy pages with topics such as how to get close to a pigeon or how many popcorn kernels it takes to fill up a room or your mouth (or something). There are also several games - ideas for tutors, teacher, parents... Topics don't get drawn out so long that a kid can't pay attention, and you can learn about stuff you wouldn't normally talk about in adding and subtracting class. Basically, you can learn math and logic in a nice, fun, comfortable manner. I hope this book is still at my parent's house.

This is an awesome book. I especially like the part that sets out to prove that grownups aren't as smart as they think they are. (Definitly true!) I think this book would be good for ages 9+. 8-year olds could do it but might need some help. I'm 10 and I was fine with it. Definitly worth it.

My 9 year old son did not like this book. He said, "you got me a book that says I hate Match, but then the author says that math is great. That makes no sense, Mom!" He's tried to pick it up a couple of times, but it has not sparked his interest.

I have a daughter that literally HATES math. From the moment I told her of this book, she's been intrigued. She's read the book and says it makes math more interesting. I'm very happy with my purchase.

It's important to note that this book is "written and designed for kids and grownups together." It isn't a book to simply thrust into the hands of a child and leave her to her own devices, no matter how much of a "smarty pants" she is. On the contrary, it is to be read and enjoyed together. Older children may successfully make their way through it alone, but with all of the opportunities for interaction and discussion that ... Smarty Pants presents (i.e., Math for two, What is a Paradox?), why would you want to miss the chance? Advance concepts are explained in concrete terms, and practical challenges abound; and the well-drawn pen-and-ink illustrations enhance and clarify the text.

The book is great but it should be rated for 12+ instead of 9-12. The book goes into abstract concepts very hard to understand for a 10 year old. I bought it for my daughter which is the best of her class in math and she was very frustrated with the book. To really appreciate the book you need a very good grasping and confidence with the basic operations, fractions, powers and geometry, that means well beyond the years where your kid is learning those topics.

My 10-year-old son is definately a math "smarty pants" and when this book arrived I just left it sitting around to see if he would "discover" it and and boy did he! It's full of fun math games and activities and he dove into it for hours; not bad for a lazy summer day activity. I highly recommend it for your "smarty pants" or even your not-so-smarty-pants if he or she is willing to play in the realm of numbers.

This book contains a number of engaging math and logic problems, something that we do a lot of. Unfortunately, the print is small, the pages are quite crowded and answers are often extremely hard to find, all of which really limits the book's usefulness both in our math program and as a "just for fun" book.

I don't care what anyone else says. This book is great. I'm 10 and I didn't think it was too hard or anything. I think younger kids might be confused, but I LOVE it!