Cameron Books

This book is good. Is Grant Morrison anyway, and i don't care about Igor Kordey's art, i think it's just fine, besides, the story of Xorn is one of my favorites in the whole new x-men storyline.

Grant Morrison did the unthinkable when he had Professor Charles Xavier outed as a mutant. For the first time since the X-Men's creation back in the 60's, people realized that the reason Prof. X campaigned so hard for mutant rights and human/mutant relations was that he himself was a mutant. Now, living his life without hiding his true nature, as well as the ability to walk due to mutant healer Xorn, he realizes that many people accept him and the X-Men more than ever due to their honesty, while other humans feel that he has lied to him all these years. Still, he counts the situation as an overall victory. However, humans are still fearful of mutants, especially since, a few issues back, they began to realize that they were on the road to extinction, while mutants would replace them as the dominant species on Earth.
In New Worlds, we see individual humans dealing with increasingly freakish mutants (the days of Beast's large appendages in his pre-furry form being the scariest thing related to being a mutant are LONG gone). On one of Xorn's first missions as an X-Man, he is asked to help stop a large mutant monster that supposedly ate a small boy. However, things aren't what they seem, and the conclusion of his mission causes him to question why humans are worth allying with. On the other hand, human governments have restarted their efforts to maintain humanity's presence on this planet by going back to the program that made Wolverine who he is today. Weapon X, the project that gave Wolverine metal claws and a blank memory, was merely the 10th (hence the X, as in Roman numeral 10) stage, and now the government is up to 12/XII. Jean Grey and Prof. X are taken hostage by a European mutant terrorist who tells them that he needs their help destroying Weapon XII, or it will destroy a European branch of Xavier's X-Corp.
The issues in New Worlds heavily focus on Grey and Xavier, leaving most of the other team members with little to do. However, Cyclops and Emma Frost are shown to begin the psychic affair that becomes a big part of Morrison's run. Never before has Scott Summers doubted that Jean was the woman for him, but now, with the presence of Frost, as well as his recent possession by the mutant terrorist Apocalypse, he begins to question if he still loves his wife the way he once did.
Also, the new students are further developed here, and the new, young Angel (a girl with fly wings) meets Archangel, the man who used to go by the codename Angel and was one of the founding members of the X-Men. The new students are detested by many of the older students, due to their bizarre powers and physique. Mutants have now become so common, that some begin to look down on others for being so incredibly different from them, which is strange, seeing as how they themselves are looked down on by humans.
This collection was very good, though not as good as the two preceeding it, and far from the best X-book I've read (that honor definitely goes to Whedon's Astonishing X-Men, though I haven't had a huge exposure to the X-Men). Still, it is entertaining, and serves as set-up for the following arcs.

This collects issues #127-133.

I read this in one sitting. I couldn't wait to get home and start the next one. Morrison's New X-Men graphic novels are like a book that you just can't put down.

The mutant called Dust makes her first appearance (ever) in this book, albeit briefly and she's not really in the next volume. There's also a teaser to upcoming relationship troubles regarding Scott Summers.

The only bad thing about this collection is Igor's art. (I didn't realize Siryn was involved in the action until several pages later because of his art.) The writing by Morrison is great. Rogue agents, Weapon X, and a trip to Genosha's remains are the main topics.

Grant Morrison has bred new life into the X-Men. The stories and characters are fleshed out, fresh, and kept interesting. I love what has been done here. The art is still as good as in the previous volumes.

The third installment of Grant Morrisons run on the Xmen slows down the pace slightly as it tries to expand on certain plotlines. Scott begins to have an affair with Emma, Xorn tries to help a confused mutant, a dangerous threat is unleashed in France, Fantomex is introduced (UGH) and Polaris tries to cope with her fathers (Magneto) legacy. The story is quite interesting, unfortunatly the art isn't up to snuff. The storyline where the Xmen are attacked in a subway in France is atrociously drawn, too much is going on and the hideous art made it very hard to understand what exactly is happening. I wouldn't reccommend it. EP

Art is at its best and storywise one of the best in the Morrison era. Actually in this volume starts the good stuff plot wise that will lead to the next also amazing volumes. The class of specials is my favourite subplot, these guyz are so cool! Although this is the most "to the ground" story it is my favourite. Morrison plays with the standardised themes in the X-Men that made the series so boring and predictable.

Higly entertaining!

Riot at Xaviers is a trade collecting New X-Men #134-138. I had heard great things about Grant Morrison's run on the title but this trade left me very unsatisfied. The story follows one of the Institutes most powerful students gathering up a gang of students rebelling against the system. I was very unsatisfied with the storytelling, if i needed to sum up my thoughts in two words they are: Boring, irrelevant. Frank Quietly's artwork is horrible in my opinion and this is the first time i have purchased a trade and wanted to send it back.

I've had mixed feelings about Grant Morrison's run on New X-Men. On one hand, the stories he has told thus far have been good, and are responsible for introducing Cassandra Nova, Xorn, and the Special Class of X-Men. But I have sometimes found the pacing to be a bit off, and the art tends to really bug me. In Riot at Xavier's, those two problems are pretty non-existent. For once, the art is consistently good and the story is told at the right speed.
Quentin Quire is a star pupil at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. He is an Omega-level mutant and has the potential to be the world's next great telepath, on par with Jean Grey, Emma Frost, and Charles Xavier himself. His intelligence and little patience causes him to be unliked by his peers, especially the popular Slick, Tatoo, and the five Stepford Cuckoos. Upon learning that he was adopted and finding out that a respected mutant was the victim of a human attack, he decided that he had had enough of trying to pursue Xavier's dream in the world that hates and fears him, and he decides to give people a reason to hate and fear him. Displaying how affective his powers can be by showing the handsome Slick's true, and grotesque, form. He assembles a gang that dresses similar to how mutants were dressed in racist depictions made by humans to generate fear of mutants. Calling himself Kid Omega, Quire leads his gang in acts of violence against humans and instructs them to challenge Xavier and the X-Men.
Cyclops, Beast, and Emma Frost must deal with Quire's uprising while Xorn, the newest teacher and X-Man, leads the "Special Class". This class consists of the most bizarre and grotesque mutants at Xavier's. In a cruel twist of irony, mutantkind has gotten to the point where the ones that appear human can show a sort of racism to the ones who do not appear human. Members of the Special Class include Beak, Angel, Ernst (a young girl with the wrinkled face of an elderly woman), Martha (a brain in a jar), and Dummy (sentient gas). He takes them on a trip to the woods where Beak and Angel begin to get intimate, and the U-Men return.
As Quire calls for the students to let go of Xavier's dream (he goes as far as to wear a "Magneto was Right" t-shirt in front of Xavier), we begin to see a darker side of Charles Xavier. He begins to show signs of oppression and hatred to Quire. Granted, the kid is out of line with many of the things he says and does, but it is interesting to see Xavier, who is based on Martin Luther King, begin to act to a fellow mutant the way some humans act towards mutants.
A few things I noticed in this story line was that the X-Men didn't seem to do very much themselves. This is the story of Quentin Quire and Xorn's Special Class. Xavier and the X-Men are present at the events, but it seems that this story is about the students. I also must say that it seems unlikely that a bunch of punk kids can take out Wolverine as fast as they did, but Quire is an Omega-level mutant. Speaking of Wolverine, he and Jean Grey were barely in this story. However, Jean does factor in to a very important sub-story.
As I said, this is definitely Grant Morrison's strongest arc of New X-Men yet. His stories probably aren't for everyone, and they are definitely not the best comics I've read, but these are entertaining and poignant stories (also, if you are a fan of the phenominal Astonishing X-Men, these stories directly tie into Joss Whedon's masterpiece).

Riot at Xavier's, the fourth collected volume in Grant Morrison's New X-Men run, continues the strangely gifted writer breaking the unwritten laws of the X-Men mythos. An Omega level telepath named Quentin Quire, spurned by the death of celebrity-like mutant, begins forming a gang inside the school as their opening day to the public approaches. Loaded with snappy dialogue, Morrison's master storytelling, and superb art by Frank Quitely (who actually managed to ALMOST do all the art for a full storyarc), this volume ends on a tragic note, along with some hard choices to make for Beak, and Jean learning of the psychic affair between Cyclops and Emma Frost. However, this volume is only the calm before the storm, and is followed by the pivotal events in Assault on Weapon Plus, and the cataclysmic events in Planet X and Here Comes Tomorrow.

Since when have comics become a medium for projecting current topical events (drug use, puberty-induced angst, teen pregnancy)? Morrison is a gifted writer, but its obvious that the guy is trying to kill the title.
Things are complicated enough in the X-Men titles (New X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, Ultimate X-Men, Exiles, etc.), but this takes it to a new level. Who are these people? What do they bring to the table in terms of advancing the storyline? Why is Xavier just sitting around and letting his students kill people?
And what's with the art? I can forgive on the condition that this is the same guy who penciled the original Aeon Flux, but thats about it.

Frankly I was not convinced that starch blockers work but after reading Dr. Rosenblatt's book, The Starch Blocker Diet, I am convinced this is a very plausible solution to elimination the majority of starch calories from any diet plan and thus lose weight gradually. The science and research over the past thirty years is impressive and logical. Even low carb dieters can benefit from including starch blockers in their diet. Enhances any diet plan in my opinion. Highly recommended for anyone looking to lose weight simply, safely, and sensibly. I bought my copy through the used book vendor on Amazon and frankly got a brand new book for less than $10!

This is not just another Weight Loss book! It is a guide to healthy eating and living!

It is an instruction manual for the body and how different foods affect your energy, mood, alertness and general health. When reading the book I was reminded of the phrase, "You Are What You Eat". When I first opened the book, I was initially disappointed with what I thought was "fluff". I thought I was buying a book that would tell me straight out, "Eat this or eat that". However, after reading the first couple of pages in the introduction, I was glad I didn't get the type of book I had expected-I just could not put it down. The Authors mix health education with mystery and history to make this book a wonderful read. Several times while I was reading, my jaw dropped over some of the information.

I had tried Starch Blockers in the 1980's just before the FDA pulled them but I did not know their history (The Howard Hughes and Dead Rats connection). I thought that Starch Blockers were just another gimmick of the "Health food" industry for a quick fix to overeating. Starch Blockers got a bad (but deserved) rap in the 80's because a few "Quick Buck" artist produced an inferior product based on solid a research into controlling Blood Sugar Levels (Not Weight Loss) . I found in reading that our blood sugar levels control our moods, energy, alertness and the ability to gain or lose weight. Among other things, I have learned about food allergies and food reactions from this wonderful text.

More importantly, I have learned that Starch Blockers by themselves are not a "Magic Weight Loss Bullet". This book details how (and why) to use Phase 2 in conjunction with proper food selection and exercise to create a non-self defeating weight loss (Not Diet) and wellness program. Reading this book and following its advice will make a program using the Phase 2 Starch Blockers more effective.

(...)

A Total Health Communications story entitled "How to Make Sense of the Low Carb Diet Craze" written by the author of this book named Dr. Steven Rosenblatt takes a closer look at livin' la vida low-carb and why so many people are flocking to it to satisfy their weight loss and health needs.

Before I get into the article itself, though, let me ask a quick question. What doesn't make sense about doing low-carb? You do it, it works, you lose weight, you look and feel fantastic and the foods you eat are incredibly delicious. Nuff said, right?! Well, the good doctor in this story wants to go even deeper into the reasons why people are so obese in this country and why they shouldn't turn to the low-carb lifestyle to deal with it.

Over half of the population has purportedly been on some kind of low-carb diet at least once in their life and many have lost weight. But Dr. Rosenblatt says: "Unfortunately, for many of these people, the weight loss is temporary."

This is the biggest excuse I always hear so-called experts in the medical profession bring out when talking about the low-carb lifestyle. You can't keep the weight off when you do it. It must not work because everybody gains back the weight. It's so unhealthy for you anyways, so why don't you just start eating a more "balanced" low-fat diet instead?

UGH! Sound familiar? That's what we've been fed time after time in the media about low-carb. Don't blame the method of losing weight and getting healthy on the failure of individuals to stick with it! The way of eating itself is not only effective, but permanent if it is strictly adhered to. My 180-pound weight loss is staying off for good because I continue to eat low-carb although my "diet" is over.

Does this mean you can never splurge on a carb-loaded meal ever again? Of course not. But you now know you cannot eat that way all the time. It's the same concept with low-fat and low-calorie diets, too, but with low-carb you can actually eat foods that you want and like!

Dr. Rosenblatt said Americans are more aware of the "problems related to low carb diets than they were about the hazards of the low fat diet."

What problems with low-carb? I haven't had any in my experience. It's interesting that he also keenly points out there are also "hazards" associated with doing a low-fat diet. I wish Dr. Rosenblatt would have expanded upon those comments a little more to reveal what problems exist when doing a low-fat diet. This is something you have never seen in media accounts about low-fat weight loss recommendations. It's yet another example of how medical experts and the media are depriving people of the information they need to make good decisions about their health.

He goes on to say that while low-carb will help you lose weight quickly, you can't keep it off and it will cause long-term damage to your health.

If you haven't heard this from your friends and family yet, brace yourself for it because it's coming. Oh, that diet is so dangerous, you better be careful. Didn't you know Atkins is a one-way ticket to a grave? Your health will go down the tubes so quickly doing that diet.

Again, I must say, UGH! How can so many people be as uneducated about the low-carb lifestyle that they are willing to buy into the propaganda promoted in the media? It only takes a little bit of learning about low-carb and why it works to be convinced of its tremendous health benefits and long-lasting effectiveness.

This statement by Dr. Rosenblatt shows just how incredibly ignorant he is about what doing low-carb is in the real world: "The simplest reason why low carb diets don't work in the long run is that they're like every other diet: They're boring. After a while, people get tired of them and quit the diet. Unfortunately, after they fall off the diet, former Atkins followers are likely to start eating lots of carbs, yet they keep eating the high levels of protein they've become accustomed to. When they add the buns and fries to those bacon double cheeseburgers, you know what happens: rapid regain of weight."

Okay, I'm breathing slowly to keep my blood from boiling. Three, two, one...okay, I'm better now. Let me clearly state that if Atkins ever becomes "boring," then you need to start getting a little more creative with the way you prepare the foods you eat. It is NOT boring when you put a little thought into what you can eat and spice it up. I provide several examples in my upcoming book of some quick and easy recipes that are sure to satisfy you completely while doing this eating plan. Let's not blame the diet for any disinterest by its participants.

But, while we're on the subject, I'll tell you what's really boring. Stuffing your face with rabbit food and restricting yourself to a certain number of calories or fat grams in a day. Besides being hungry all the time (I did this "diet" for myself back in 1999), you can't keep it up because the food choices are so mundane.

If people get off the Atkins plan, then of course they will gain back the weight. But you can't point the finger at low-carb. People need to be strong and learn to stick with something that's working for them over the long-term. I'm sure many of these people who go back to eating carbs have become so frightened by media accounts of the dangers of low-carb that they decided it wasn't worth it to them. Therefore, we could ostensibly blame so-called health experts and the media for perpetuating the obesity epidemic in the United States!

Another popular phrase used by Atkins opponents that Dr. Rosenblatt so graciously repeats here is that doing low-carb "causes loss of muscle mass."

While I by no means have a bodybuilder figure (yet!), I can say with all integrity that I have never been as strong as I am today. I workout every day and lift weight several times a week as part of livin' la vida low-carb. It is just plain junk science to claim any dangers with exercising and strength training while doing low-carb. I am living proof that this is a big fat lie and is yet another attempt to discourage people from doing the low-carb lifestyle.

Addressing the key element of low-carb, Dr. Rosenblatt said ketosis, or the fat burning mode during low-carb, is harmful in various ways:

- Insufficient glucose to fuel the brain

My brain and other parts of my body are doing fine without sugar, thank you.

- Your body's attempts to eliminate ketones (by-products of ketosis) puts a strain on the kidneys.

My kidneys have actually improved since being on low-carb because I'm getting better urination flow (TMI!) from the additional water I am drinking.

- Diets high in protein can increase calcium loss from the body, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.

Take a pill! You can get all the calcium you need in a supplement.

- Diets high in animal protein are usually high in saturated fats, which increase the risk of heart diseases.

Who says you only eat animal fat and protein on low-carb?! Nuts are good sources of good fats and so are many other foods. Furthermore, your body needs fat to lose weight (gee, what a concept!) when you are doing a low-carb plan.

- Diets low in carbohydrates are usually extremely low in fiber, since carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables and grains provide most of the fiber in our diets. Low fiber diets have been associated with increased risk of type II diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer.

What evidence is there that eating a low-carb lifestyle has very little fiber. In fact, I'm eating more fiber now than I've ever eaten before. It is a key element to being successful on Atkins. Furthermore, it will help keep you regular and you don't have to count dietary fiber carbohydrates in your total carb intake. In addition, I supplement my eating plan with two daily fiber pills to make sure I'm getting enough fiber on a daily basis. By the way, I don't have diabetes or cancer and actually have a better chance now of never having either of these conditions thanks to the healthy alternative low-carb has offered me.

The claim is made in the story that "all of us need and want carbs."

No, all of us don't want and need carbs, Dr. Rosenblatt. Only people who wish to remain fat and unhealthy want carbs. People who are livin' la vida low-carb have lots of energy and a positive outlook on life because we know we are doing something pro-active about our health without the dangers associated with overconsuming carbs. We are extremely satisfied with the foods we eat on low-carb.

At the end of his article, Dr. Rosenblatt peddles a so-called starch blocker supplement as part of his "Starch Blocker Diet" book. After trashing the low-carb approach for the entire story, it's not until the last few paragraphs that we finally see his true motivation for attempting to discredit the Atkins lifestyle. He's trying to sell his weight loss product and books.

I think it is highly unethical for a medical professional to write an article like this one allegedly as a public service to educate the masses about health issues when all he is trying to do is get them to make him money.

Shame on you, Dr. Rosenblatt!

I finished reading The Starch Blocker Diet a few days ago and went to CVS pharmacy to get the recommended supplement. After almost a week of taking two pills prior to meals I have lost three pounds and my hypoglyecemia is getting under control. I was skeptical before reading this book but there actually has been some groundbreaking research done on the new generation of Starch Blockers called "Phase 2". This book is easy to read and follow and includes specialized food lists and recipes. I recommend this book highly for anyone addicted to carbs like I am.

I bought the product and read the book. This book is very motivating and exciting, I enjoyed reading it and learned new ideas about eating differently. I have to admit that the book did confuse me at times. One minute the author is saying....you could lose weight and inches even if you aren't that active, then another section is saying....work out for an hour every day if you can. That is just one example. Anyway, by taking this product I've experienced no weight gain but maintenance for a month. I didn't lose any pounds, so that was disappointing. I felt great after eating starchy meals. I noticed that my moods were stable, I felt less guilty, and I was better able to concentrate on what my body was telling me. Getting a little gassy and bloaty was no big deal either. One downfall to me was that I felt "out of it" at times...maybe because I was taking two at every meal and working out or working all day, so all together it took it's toll on me, I thought it was the starch blockers, "no brain power." So I suggest to not overdo the blockers. I liked the book, but I really don't know how well these blockers will help you lose the weight you want. I now only take it with my dinner or whenever I have to go out to a restaurant. Looking back, I was probably better off without them...only because at times I felt as if I was thinner before I started even taking Phase 2. If it works for you, that's great, but it is a "money blower" if you ask me, but they do have it's benefits. I'll still purchase them because they are not harmful and to make it worthwile, I'll only take it when I feel a need to, therefore, I won't blow my money on them all the time.

"If you have every truly loved a film, you will surely find yourself within these pages" is a caption, on the back of the book,that truly expresses the feelings that Emmett James writes with in this childhood to adult story of his life so far.

I went back in time with him at the beginning of each new chapter as he used a movie title to describe the content of each section. He is detailed in his writing about his childhood of family outings to the movie theater, where he went from falling asleep before the movie began to sitting through a whole movie. His love of movies spread from just going to the movies to wanting to be an actor. He doesn't get the support for his acting in England, so he decides to try making it in Hollywood. Emmett James gives a wide eye view of how hard it can be for those people trying to `make it' in Hollywood. He explores having to live in a YMCA, forge his travel papers to stay in the U.S., disguise himself to get in to an Academy Awards party, be characters he didn't like and knock on the door of a producer's house to try and get part. His break finally comes when he gets a small part in a BIG movie called "Titanic."

Even after finishing this book, I am unsure about how I feel about it. When I first started, Emmett James' candor and English slang usage about his life almost turned me off to the book. I slowly got use to his writing style and respected his ability to speak so openly about life. He did make me smile and laugh at his use of relating certain movie titles to different parts of his life. "Grease" reminds me of a special summer camp I went to that changed my life before going in to high school.

I am glad I finished the book. It definitely was an eye opening view in to the life of an actor and the extremes he had to go through to achieve a dream he had since childhood of being in the movies.

[...]

Emmett James has been in love with movies his whole life. He grew up in a nondescript London suburb where, to him, things seemed very ordinary, even boring. He can remember his first movie at the age of about three, Walt Disney's The Jungle Book, which he largely slept through. The beginning and the end are clear, though, and he liked what he saw. Now, how to stay awake? The answer? Every child's best friend...SUGAR, of course!

In this funny and upbeat memoir Mr. James takes us on a "This is your life" kind of ride by linking his past to the films that shaped his world. The yearly television viewing of The Wizard of Oz and the terror of the Wicked Witch inevitably caused him to have a bladder accident. Plus if it looked remotely gloomy outside he was jumpy, watching the skies for a rogue tornado. Poor kid, England has gloomy weather fairly regularly.

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial inspired a love for the BMX bike and eventually led to a short lived life of teen crime, causing his parents to move the whole family from London to Cambridgeshire, a fate worse than death to the author. Especially when the new home, built in about 900, turns out to be haunted. The author's room is the scene of a hair-raising ghost sighting.

Emmett's love of films inspire him to be an actor and so, at the first opportunity, he moves himself to Hollywood looking for his own piece of the American Dream. He finds it, too.

I happen to be about the same age as the author and as I was reading I was thrust back in time, back to my own movie experiences. When I had to be taken out of Walt Disney's Bambi because I cried and cried when his mother was shot. When my best friend and tough girl astonished me by crying at E.T. (I'd never seen her cry before).

This is a story to take you down your own memory lane and remind you of the wonder and magic of the movies.

Before reading this book I had no idea who Emmett James was and it wasn't until after I had finished it that I even thought to google the name. But as I said the book sounded interesting....to tell the story of ones life using the films that affected it as a backdrop. Each chapter is titled after one such film. While a reader might initially think that when you see the title Star Wars that you'll get more movie review/synopsis than anything else but that wasn't the case. There are times like in the first chapter in which the only mention of the movie that gave the title its name was to say that all he saw of it was the title and end credits because he had fallen asleep on that first big outing to the cinema with his family.

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The writing was engaging and made you interested in James' story as well as in learning how the films that he highlighted out as having the most influence on certain periods of his life. There were times though when I wish that James would have gone into a little more detail about his experiences. Much of the book it seemed as though he was only telling the surface of a thing and there lacked depth. Almost as if he was afraid of revealing too much of his inner thoughts and feelings. Despite that the the writing was good and the pages flew by. I managed to read the bulk of it on my short flight from Providence to Charlotte and finished it not long after taking off for Aruba.

While reading this book I also began to think about some of the films that James mentioned and the mostly good memories of childhood that they evoked. After reading the book you also begin to think about those other films that have had influence over you throughout the years. So if you are a lover of films then you will probably enjoy this book as well.

Admit One is a quick, easy read that will have you laughing out loud with every turn of the page. James has a real knack for making his readers feel like they are sitting in a coffee shop listening to him tell his story. While I was reading, I could completely see the movie of his life formulating in my head. I laughed so hard I was crying. I remembered similar movie going experiences he was sharing. I nodded my head as I remembered moments in my life which could be compared to the movies he was relating to.

Each chapter of Admit One starts off by referencing a movie from the year James is telling us about. The first chapter tells us the Jungle Book was his first introduction to movies at a movie theater. Though he feel asleep after the opening credits, after the massive sugar-dosing that we have all experienced as young children at a movie theater, he was amazed at the transformation his brother had after the movie.

And so began his dream of being an actor. Despite showing up to a Director's hotel room in superhero tights, and having to wear fake breasts in a boxing ring, oh, and the soft porn lap dancing role, he finally made it. Emmett James is doing what he set out in 1967 to do.

This book is a fun read that will have all readers, whether they like memoirs or not, laughing out loud at the easy conversational way James lays out his life. This book will remind you of silly moments in your life that paralleled movies, but more importantly, this is a book that affirms the possibility of living out your dreams.

--excerpted from the original full review on Old Musty Books

Emmett James's Admit One is an absolutely delightful read.

Emmett starts with his youth in Croydon, South London. Each chapter is wrapped in the context of a movie that in some way impacted his life. Thinking at once of all the ways in which this could become a too-cute and ultimately annoying trick, I was delighted when the book deviated immediately from the expected. When Emmett saw the first movie he used to frame a chapter, Disney's The Jungle Book, he was so young that he fell asleep within minutes, and saw only the beginning and end credits. Yet the experience of going to the movies with his family, and the effects it had on his mother and brother, profoundly affected him.

When I finished Admit One I was surprised to note that it was put out by a publisher I'd never heard of before. It had been such a fun read, so filled with quotable quotes, that I fully expected it to be an offering from a big-name group. Well, their loss. Emmett writes with a tone that can shift from wryly humorous to childlike delight, self-deprecation to sly jabs in an instant. I was hard put to keep from constantly laughing out loud and reading selections to everyone around me.

At a time when folks are getting burned out on tragic memoirs, Emmett takes both the good and the bad in his life and mines them for sharp, witty humor instead. It's exactly the breath of fresh air we need.

I bought this at a store (not on Amazon) because it was on sale... and wasn't sure I'd ever use it. The truth is, I HATE scrapbooking. I'm not one for stamping borders and gluing photo frames and sticking stickers and all that. I liked this because it gave me a guideline for saving those little college keepsakes and put a funky, fun twist on it. I actually started looking for things to save just to put into the book. (Granted, I did it all with a Sharpie and some tape.) It never got me to start "real" scrapbooking though... I still can't stand that. :)

Today I'm buying one of these Scrappy books for my sister, who just started her freshman year in college... hopefully she'll love it as much as I did.

As an avid scrapbooker (you name it and I've probably made a scrapbook about it), I think this is a great book. Unlike some of the other people who reviewed this scrapbook -- who make a very valid point, by the way, to stay away if you're looking for something traditional -- I loved the fact that it is completely different from the other products out there. This is a must-own if you like Cameron Tuttle's "Bad Girls Guides." As with Vicki Iovine in her "Girlfriend's Guides", Tuttle's sense of humor is not for everyone. She espouses getting written up at work, earning speeding tickets, and coming up with aliases as part of the fun of being a woman -- not everyone finds things like that funny.

I particularly loved the lipstick page, where I could put on my favorite shades of lipstick and kiss the page to record the shades for posterity. I was amazed how the "bad fashion" page filled up more quickly than the "Beautiful me" page (1996 was a particularly bad year for me, apparently!). Most of all, I liked the irreverent, disorganized feel to the book. Like life, as you turn each page, you're never quite sure what's going to come next. Anyone can make a boring scrapbook chronicling a year in their lives (I've made plenty of those), but this one forces you to be creative and encourages you to find little ways to make the day more interesting, like collecting business cards from unsuspecting men, then pasting them into the section called "People I want to forget" or "People I don't remember".

Buy this scrapbook and have fun with it. I'm turning 30 this year and I've had a lot of fun selecting pictures from the last decade to include in it. There should be more products like The Bad Girl's Scrappy Book.

This book is like a page by page scrapbooking template printed on pink patterned paper. The illustrations and designs are scrawly and gorgeous and the book is what it says it is: a perfect book for those who have lived a... full life. In some ways that's one of the drawbacks... to fill in every page of this book it seems you need to have a lot of bitchiness and hatred in you. One thing that might be useful for customers to know which isn't clear from the Amazon pic is that the scrapbook's cover is transparent matte plastic, which kind of cheapifies the book - but the book is spiral bound so the addition of stubs, papers and the link won't warp the spine of the book.

It's five stars when you live a five-star life! If you've ever looked for a scrap book that lets you to celebrate your single (bad) girl days, this is it! I laughed just flipping through the pages and imagining what I'll be pasting in (ridiculous notes on cocktail napkins, embarrassingly low balances on ATM receipts, found objects, souvenirs from late-night mischief, etc.). It's honest *and* hilarious. I never thought I'd want to scrap book before I found this! Great gift too.

My older sister and I (both in our 20s) both bought a Scrappy Book upon finding them on-sale at a hip clothing store and we LOVE them! We are both also crazy into scrapbooking (in crafting terms), but we both are thoroughly enjoying these Scrappy Books still! True, they are different from what we crafters know as "Scrapbooking", but different is GOOD, especially considering that the very complicated and crafty art that we now know as "Scrapbooking" was originally spurred from "scrapbooking" in layman's terms, which is a much less complicated but fun way of recording memories, storing momentos, and journaling your experiences.
The Bad Girl's Scrappy Book is a rare treasure that is a blast both to work on completing and also to look back at later. Our personal favorites have been Personal Best and Worst, Worst Haircuts, Big Hair, and the People We Will Never Call sections. This Scrappy Book is the perfect edition to the Bad Girl series and any true-blue Bad Girl will love this Book. If nothing else, it aids a Bad Girl in effectively organizing a book in which to record and remember her Bad Girl memories and encounters and could be viewed as actual evidential proof of living a Bad Girl Lifestyle upon which to reflect and look back and laugh.
For the not-so-uptight Bad Girls that are avid fans of scrapbooking in crafting terms, you can always add in specialty papers, stickers, and the like for a very unique touch if you want to. My sister and I have done this and we have a blast combining the bad girl pages with additional Bad Girl-type specialty papers and stickers to embellish what is already there. This book is also a perfect addition to the Me and My Bad Girls Photo Album for those who have too many Bad Girl pictures for the book! :)

Rondo Cameron certainly explains the hold economic history of the world. Rondo takes you from the ages before Christ to the twenthieth century. Why did the Roman Empire went down?, Why Spain was not able to achieve higher levels of economical well-being despite their big colonies overseas?: Questions like these are answered in Rondo's excellent book. If a man wants to forsee the future, he has to go back and learn where he comes from. Economics and History were successfully married in the book, so historians, economists and financiers will find it helpfull.

The title of this book should read "An Economic History of Europe," because 90% of the material focuses on the economic development of Europe. This is understandable considering that the industrial revolution first occured in Europe, and pulsated outwards. However, the amount of time given towards explaining the economies of the middle east, Asia, Oceania, Australasia, Africa, Latin America, and even the USA are so minute that the title is decieving and for all intensive purposes incorrect.

Nevertheless, the book is quite interesting, as it progresses from the dawn of human civilization with very concise and brief summaries well in to the twentieth century becoming more desciptive and detailed. If you are interested in how the world economy arrived to its current level, then I would suggest that this book is a good read and worth your while. Since this edition was published in 1997, it is excusable for the author to omit the economic consequences of the Euro, the rise of China and the rest of Asia, and the economic implications of Septemer 11. The author also refuses to offer his speculative view on the future of the world economies, thereby leaving the reader to do his or her on guess work. Although the introduction of the book, on the current inequality of world economies, is quite interesting, it is not elaborated upon towards the end of the book, and causes a lack of continuity. If you wish to understand better the world economy, you would be better off reading the encyclopedia, Lonely Planet travel guides, or perhaps even better, (what I have done) which is to travel and see these countries for yourself with your own eyes.

This book is too elementary, in terms of economic history, for even an intro level undergraduate book on the subject. For a better introduction see Braudel's "Wheels of Commerce". In addition, it lacks any discussion of theory(ies) or presentations thereof as to what drives growth and why it has occured in some areas and not others. After all, is this not the purpose of studying economic history?

If one looks to today's world he overarching political and economic structure is that of westernized globalization. It seems that most political movements are either for globalization who to varying degrees either against or promoting the slowing of its effects. How does this relate to the world we have seen previously in the world?

Cameron and Neal hope to give a complete history of the trends and stages of the world economy from the first humans to today's world (circa 2001) and cram it into fewer than 500 pages. In this fourth edition of their 1989 original, they have produced an adequate work. They take surprising stands on certain issues, like the Industrial Revolution while not accounting for some recent scholarship on effects of neo-liberal globalization.

Their thesis of the logistic (the S shaped growth curve of biology) to help explain periods of European growth may help to enlighten some trends in world economic history. The first logistic happens in the early fourteenth century; while the second takes place in the seventeenth century. After the logistic the "life for ordinary men and women were becoming increasingly difficult in the decelerating phases" (p. 17). Cameron and Neal place the third logistic in the first part of the nineteenth century.

As the nineteenth century is considered the beginning of "modern industry," the effects of the "industrial revolution" have become a major determinant of modern growth. Yet, Cameron and Neal call this a misnomer. The growth of population and agricultural efficiency in the period can help to explain the third logistic. Therefore for Cameron and Neal the Industrial Revolution was no revolution. One can look to Marx' description of what we think of as revolution: it is only the big bang at the end of real social revolution. Is it not possible that the industrial revolution was a revolution; just due to a dearth of ready capital there was no big bang but a steady growth of investment into the world of iron and coal?

The spend time discussing the revolutions of 1989 as the prelude to the more modern era of both economics and politics. The year 2001 is declared a watershed, as we will view the successes and failures of globalization. Here they follow neo-liberal party line. Let's quote Adam Smith about growth but ignore his portions of the Wealth of Nations regarding equality.

At no point in the work do I recall the terms "equality," "inequality," "Gini coefficient," or "Lorenz Curve;" and, none of these terms appear in the index. (Stolper-Samuelson and Hecksher-Ohlin are equally shirked). The fact is they turn blinders to the growing inequality found at stages of globalization of the economy, neither mentioning the scholarship nor even attempting to excuse the matter.

While the actual trends of inequality in today's globalization may not have been readily available in 2001, there were those who had not drank the neo-liberal Kool Aid and were already challenging some of the assumptions. Jefferey Williamson's 1997 paper "Globalization and Inequality, Past and Present" shows that while there was overall growth in the world economy's first major globalization from 1890-1914, the fruits were seldom shared by the working class. This is the dirty little secret of globalization, which is invariably ignored by Cameron and Neal. Perhaps they can use the excuse they only had 500 pages to tell the history of the economic world.

I am going to give this book two stars. I see no reason to read it if it were not assigned for a class. Yet, if it assigned it will be one of the easier economic textbooks to read which you'll ever be assigned.

This is one of the best works by Neal. While yes it is heavy on Europe, the explanations of Egypt and China are exceptional.

A sure buy is you want to study the topic better.

I've been looking for all three books in this series for years and now I have all three. It's a very quick read, I finished it in a day and I can see why they printed Love Me, Love Me Not first; both of the other two books are alright, but you can see the bad guy a mile away in Blue Moon and Heart's Desire. The story for both is more or less the same. Girl sees guy suspended between life and death, he comes back and meets her, and they defeat the bad guy and end up falling in love. At least in the first book it was Death itself that fell in love with the girl.

In this book Jeannie has found an antique pendent in the shape of a lotus blossom with a red stone in it called a heart stone. The stone is called so because it is made with the maker's own blood, said to gift its owner with whatever their heart truly desired. The pendent was made by an ancient Egyptian prince named Amenheris to give to the woman he loved so they could be together forever. But instead of wishing for their love to live forever, she wished to live forever, to be forever young. Amenheris wound up being buried alive and stuck in his coffin waiting for the pendent to get back to him to be let out.

This is an amazing book that I've read over and over. It's a wonderful story acented by intrigue, mystery, and love. I recommend this book to anyone who can get their hands on it like I did.

THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER! CAMERON DOKEY DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF

LETTIG YOU KNOWTHE PEOPLE! YOU WELL LOVE THIS BOOK

Cameron Dokey has written excellent romantic novels. Although, this hasn't been one of her best novels. The beginning of the story was good although it lacks in the end. The story could have been excellent if she had worked more on the conflict and the characters involving in the novel. I would have liked if Cameron had to portrayed the antagonist more realistic in the novel. Yet, I think this novel is similar to the other novel she did called THE TALISMAN.

Heart's Desire was another great book by Cameron Dokey. It combined romance, suspense, and a bit of horror. Jeanine is an ordinary teenage girl who buys an Egyptian pendant at a second hand store one rainy day. On a class trip to the museum, the pendant awakens a young Egyptian man, who during the time of the Middle Kingdom, was cursed by an unfaithful lover. Jeanine is determined to deal with this situation practically - until she finds herself falling in love with him. I highly reccomend this book to teens who like horror and romance stories.

A finely and convincingly crafted debut novel from Cameron Rogers, the world of The Music of Razors is alternately disturbing, dark, beautiful and familiar. It spans several centuries, and tells the story of Walter, a normal suburban kid, who at 4 made a choice that would affect him and his unborn sister and family, and involve him with Henry, a 150 year old man who made a demonic deal and lost, and now needs Walter or Hope, Walter's younger sister to extricate himself from the mess that he created. A great read, I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever believed in the closet monster.

I'll give the author points for having an inventive and wild imagination, but this book didn't make much sense. All the strange and unique ideas never added up to anything coherent or interesting, and by the time the narrative focus shifted onto Suni and Hope and Walter I was bored and a bit lost. Mostly there seemed a lot of random ideas that the author made up as he went along without bothering to tie everything together, or at least well; overall, the story felt arbitrary and trivial. Rogers promised a lot with this book but didn't really delivering on anything.

Sadly, this GREAT piece of literature has not gotten the recognition it rightfully deserves. A lot of reviewers have compared "Music of Razors" by Cameron Rogers to the works of Neil Gaiman . . . there are, indeed, similarities in tone and style, but frankly this is better than anything Gaiman has ever written (and I really like Gaiman's novels). How can I spew such blasphemy? Well, try as I might, I could never fully immerse myself in Gaiman's books -- they read like modern day fairy tales and his protagonists are mildly annoying and only somewhat sympathetic. When something dreadful happens to one of them, I find it difficult to care. Conversely, I actually lost myself in "Music of Razors" . . . absolutely brilliant characterization and an amazing story. I genuinely felt for these characters -- even the "constructs" -- and actually wept over several scenes (that is a first for me -- only two other books, "Straydog" and "Blood Meridian" have brought me to tears: and only for one scene in each). The fate of the Closet Monster and the White Tiger are heartrending and profoundly moving.

"Music of Razors" by Cameron Rogers is the BEST novel ever written in the "Dark Urban Fantasy" genre. Deep, dark, literary, and profound. An obscure gem. Read it and weep.

A student of medicine meets a group of "exceptional" youths, intent on contacting a certain spirit through their seances; a doctor, running from the law, meets a mutilated man and a friend from his youth; a young boy, consumed by his own childhood monster, becomes his sister's monster to save her from a shadowed man that wants her to take his place, living an eternal life and wielding magical tools made from the bones of an angel. In this debut novel, Rogers unites these three stories into one narrative that traces tools of extraordinary power down to a young boy and girl from our own era as they discover and create their identities. Delicately plotted, heavily atmospheric is a way that is both magical and haunting, this is a readable, richly conceived story. Music of Razors is not without its faults--the mythos is arbitrary, and the ending is rushed and lacks the art of the rest of the book--but on the whole this is a promising debut novel and I recommend it, if with some caveats.

The Music of Razors has two primary strengths: a delicate plot, and exceptional visuals. At first, the plot seems complex--too complex, certainly, for the book's length. But as it grows, it combines three stories, three timelines, into one coherent narrative. Rogers does this with skill, such as the independent introduction of each plotline naturally introduces all of the characters, making them both human and complete, and the combination of the plot lines is logical, uniting the storylines and simplifying the storytelling to manageable complexity without ever over-simplifying it. The plot shows careful planning and real artistry, and Rogers excels at both. The second strength are the images, and these are exceptional: exceptionally haunting, exceptionally pervasive, exceptionally conceived. The dim magical atmosphere and the unsettling, haunting images illustrate each aspect of the story but, to say it better, they do more: they draw the reader in and create the dense, mysterious landscape that he explores. Sometimes, these images are overdrawn or excessive, but on the whole they are the delight of the book. Fans of retold fairy tales, of authors such as Neil Gaiman, of dark fantasy will be drawn to and enjoy this text on the images, the atmosphere alone.

For these strengths, the novel has failing as well: an arbitrary mythos, and an increasingly rushed and incoherent conclusion. The mythos that the story is based on--the bones of an angel, murdered by another angel, which were turned into tools of semi-divine power--does not reference back to any real mythology, and only obliquely connects to Christianity. It is seems arbitrary because it indeed is, and this fact weakens the supposed instinctual connection between the "extraordinary" students that draw together and removes the story from the religious and mythological plain that it claims to inhabit. However, even if the angel bones mythos is accepted at face value, its role in the book plays out in strange ways--at the beginning, it gradually leads the characters together and directs the key points of the plot; at the end, it directs every moment of the plot in actions that are little more than plot twists, and so are unjustified and unexplored and even strip away all intent and free will. This, combined with the increasingly fragmented narration of the book's last chapters, makes for an ending that feels both arbitrary and rushed. The book suffers for it: The plotting falters, as does the pacing and the storytelling itself; the skill of the book dissolves into a conclusion that feels hasty, unexplored, unsatisfying.

(I should also note that the text could use some editing--both to remove the fragmentary passages at the conclusion, or at least to unify them with the rest of the text, and to correct a few accidental shifts from past into present tense.)

I enjoyed this book, on the whole. I picked it up because of the Neil Gaiman blurb/recommendation, and was pleased to find an equivalent atmosphere--not a copy, not by a long shot, but rather an atmosphere and rich scheme of images that is equally enticing, dark, and atmospheric, and also magical but within our own mundane realm. Between this well-conceived atmosphere and the careful plot, The Music of Razors is an enjoyable read and a very strong first novel. I wish that the mythos had some sort of historical connection, and more than that I wish that the end of the book had shown the same care in plotting and in storytelling as is present in the rest. As a result, I do consider this a faulted book, and so I recommend with caveats: this is an atmospheric and enjoyable read, but it is far from perfect and feels a bit unfinished. I look forward to more from Cameron Rogers--I believe he does show great promise as an author.

The best writing convinces you that what you have believed is totally wrong. Writers like Rogers take your neatly ordered world and reshuffle the deck til you're not sure of the values or reality.

In the case of "Music of Razors", the reason the monster under the bed is so fiercely ugly is to protect the child--and there is a place that's not Heaven or Hell--and far worse than anyone ever thought.

Rogers' writing is like good chocolate: strong, bitter, and dark. Especially fascinating is the counterpoint between the child Walter, stuck in his body and forced to combine with a former foe to save his sister, and Dorian, wanting to wield the power of immortality.

I deducted half a star from the book's review because I did get lost more than once in time and place and had to re-read to pick up the thread. Overall, this is a very good dark mystery that will leave you haunted and wondering for days.

This book provides a unique perspective to a great city. Some similar "picture books" just provide photos of major buildings or important places but it's hard to determine how they all tie together. With this book you can clearly see how the pieces come together. It also does a nice job of showing Washington's beautiful open and green spaces - which is unique among major American cities. Adding a few historical photos is a nice touch.

I end up looking through these pictures on a regular basis.

I sell books on Amamzon and I was listing this book and double checking it's conditon when I became drawn into the book.

This is an excellent book for the history buff,school library,or for anyone who has never been to Washingtton CD.

The before and after pictures are especially interesting.

If you are planing a trip to the capitol this would be a good book to read and reread first. Then you could compare the views when you return .

This would give you an excellent "feel" for the changing "life" of the capitol.

I have always had a major appreciation of Robert Carmeron's work and this is one of his best. Granted it's hard to make Washington look bad, it's is so wonderfully laid out, but in this book she never looked better. Though the pictures are from the early 80's, most of the momuments are present and the city is timeless anyway. Mr. Carmeron is such a talent and the angles he gets are just amazing. If you love Washington, or just like great photography quite frankly, you will love this book.

Robert Cameron is undoubtedly one of the best urban aerial photographers in the country. However, the landscape of Washington has changed so dramatically in the twenty years since this book was released that anyone with a lot of knowledge about the area will be disappointed by what's missing.
It does contain a wide breadth of pictures, some which are definitely extraordinary. However, the book needs to be updated in order to capture the modernization in architecture and planning that has proliferated in Washington D.C. and the surrounding area since its initial publication.

Washington, DC is an unique capital city and Robert Cameron shares his birdeye's view with us in this marvelous volume. For residents and vistors alike, this is extraordinary record of the city, particularly the juxtaposition of old and contemporary photographs. Others try to emulate Cameron in this genre, but he is the master who makes it look easy.

If you looking for a lax chick book, here it is! Easy read and holds your interest

This book is a page turner -- I loved it as much as Mary Carter's other book "She'll Take It!"

This book is cute, but the characters and storyline are QUITE annoying. Mary Carter uses hyperbolic and wordy phrases as filler. There are major holes in the storyline and the pace is slower than molasses. I like the main characters, Clair Ivers and Jack Heron (there is a metaphor in the beginning that will make your eyes roll in the back of your head). Still, the corny and fragmented dialogue failed to keep me involved in this book (I kept reading the far superior, "Half Blood Prince", the Harry Potter book).

Borrow book from the library (if you are able) and save your money.

This book was a very nice surprise for me. A lot of chick-lit-type novels try too hard to blend humor, mystery and romance, resulting in a book that's never truly witty, with characters that seem much more like caricatures than people you might actually know or be. But "Accidentally Engaged" is definitely an exception, deftly blending wit that makes you laugh out loud (I'm still laughing over a cute paragraph of internal dialogue after Jack asks Clair "What up?"), with an appealing, original lead character and a bit of supernatural suspense that never feels hokey.

Clair Ivers is a real psychic, and it's definitely to the author's credit that this ends up being completely believable. Clair reads Tarot cards (in the beginning we get a very clear and funny explanation of the meanings of the different cards) and occasionally does private readings. She both appreciates and loathes her gift, which she inherited from her grandmother. One day she is forced to do a reading for Rachel, a woman who is about to marry Jack, a wealthy business owner who manufactures vodka under the family name. Rachel comes with her Jack's sister, Susan and each woman has an agenda: Rachel wants a reading that warns her in absolute terms NOT to marry Jack, while Susan wants a reading that convinces Rachel that marrying Jack is the right thing to do. In the end, Clair ends up giving in to Rachel. There's only one problem: when Rachel exits the reading, she leaves behind her engagement ring.

Now feeling guilty and determined to confront Jack with the ring and with the truth of the reading, Clair sets off to Jack's estate. She also sees a picture of Jack and feels an undeniable attraction and connection to him. Yet before she can meet him in person, she experiences a car crash, runs into a bunch of men she thinks are the estate gardeners (and shares a mind-blowing kiss with one of them), and finds herself mistaken for Rachel by Jack's grandmother.

It's hard to summarize the plot because there's truly so much going on at any given point. But the main drama concerns Clair grappling with her attraction to the man she kissed, as well as her feelings for Jack. The supporting characters are well drawn, with the exception of Jack and Rachel, both of whom I never quite got. By the end, there are all sorts of intriguing threads-- who is Clair fated to be with? Was there ever really a car accident? What was Rachel really up to when she went to have her cards read? What is the deal with Madeleine, Jack's mother, and Anderson, the butler? Mary Carter makes sure to give satisfying answers as she ties up all loose ends. There's also a great ending.

This novel deserves a lot of attention, in my opinion. It's very well crafted and engaging; the writing is also definitely more assured than your average chick lit novel. The style reminded me of a mix of Beth Kendrick and Jennifer Crusie, and if you like those authors, I think you'll enjoy Mary Carter, too.

I've really enjoyed reading this book. It wasn't anything like I expected it to be. From reading the back description I didn't realize Clair, the main character, was a psychic. I just assumed she was a little intuitive and read tarot cards. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how psychi Calir really is and it mae me enjoy it so much more! That spin on this book made it much better than your average chick lit book.

I will definitely read more of Mary Carter's books in the future.