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M Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

M
The Fire at Mary Anne's House (Baby-Sitters Club)
Published in Paperback by Apple (1999-06)
Author: Ann M. Martin
List price: $4.50
Used price: $3.73

Average review score:

A sad but good book
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-24
I thought this book was so sad. Mary Anne loses everything- only a few things survied. Mary Anne is woke up in the middle of the night by her cat Tigger. She didn't even cry about it. Finally at the very end, she decides to cry. I would have to say, if you are like Mary Anne, and you cry allot. Don't read this book.

Poor Mary Anne
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-13
I cannot believe Mary Anne's house burned down! She and Dawn were VERY upset. But I can't figure out why Mary Anne could not cry. She normally cries right when she SEES something sad or cute. Or even HEARS about it. Finally one night she is able to cry. Dawn cried when she got one look at the house. I was glad they got to save A FEW things even if they weren't worth very much. I an VERY glad Tigger woke Mary Anne up. She might not have gotten out in time if he hadn't. I loved the book.

Realistic
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2004-10-18
I know just how Mary-Anne feels. Our house burned down a year ago. I lost everything-including old letters (I'm like Mary-Anne and, the worst, pictures and things of my older brother, whom died when I was 7. So I know it was really hard for Mary-Anne. I cry when I read this book and I feel like Mary-Anne and I are crying together.But life goes on and changes happen-to Mary-Anne and the whole BSC (And We Love Kids Club too!)

Excellent Book! A Tearjerker!
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2004-06-18
In this book, Mary Anne's house burned down due to faulty kitchen wiring. She's very upset and in total shock. She loved the colonial farmhouse she moved to with her father after his marriage to Dawn's mother. Mary Anne loses almost everything during the fire. Her clothes, books, diaries, letters, pictures, etc. are gone, but she found some jewelry, her mom's picture, and her recent diary. Even though I've never liked Dawn, I'm glad she came to CT to comfort her family. Dawn was pretty upset about the fire. Even though she mostly hated CT, she loved the old farmhouse, the barn, and the secret passage. (the barn didn't burn down, but the secret passage from her room is gone!) I'm glad that Mary Anne finally cried about the fire, after her long shellshocked spell and she's hoping for some positive changes in her future. She doesn't want to move to Philidelpia, where her dad was offered a new job there. It's great that Kristy and her family took in Mary Anne and her parents and that the club and other neighbors comforted and donated lost items from the fire. It was a great book, but I cried my eyes out when Mary Anne lost her house and felt lost. I think she's a strong, brave girl who dealt with a lot of tough events in her life. I'm glad that Mary Anne, her dad, her stepmom, and her cat Tigger got out of the house safely. During a house fire, the number one thing is to get people out of the house and not try to save possessions. I give this book a 10.

Shocking!
Helpful Votes: 9 out of 13 total.
Review Date: 2005-02-26
Mary Anne's house burned bacause of wiring. Mary Anne almost loses everything like clothes, books.... Dawn was pretty upset when she heard that Mary Anne's house burned. Where Will Mary Anne live?. Will the Baby Sitters help her?

M
Peanuts: The Art of Charles M. Schulz
Published in Paperback by Pantheon (2003-10-28)
Author: Charles M. Schulz
List price: $17.95
New price: $7.96
Used price: $3.13
Collectible price: $29.95

Average review score:

Good Grief
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-15
I great book, over looking Schulz's body of work, as well as bits about his life and quotes from the man himself. Kidd's design is the perfect showcase for the art. This is a book you never really finish reading, cause you always come back to it again and again.

JAM PACKED w/ PEANUTS!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-20
What more could a Peanuts lover ask for?! If you're not yet a Peanuts lover, you will be if you get this book:) Definite multi-gen bridge-gapper!

Muy lindo
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-03
Muy lindo, sobre todo el formato!
Además de las historietas contiene fotos de los primeros muñecos que se hicieron en su momento.

In a word, this book is FUN.
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-19
This is my first Peanuts hardback, and it's already taken a special spot in my heart. I've been a Peanuts fan from my childhood, and this book gives a glimpse not just into the history of the strip, but also into the history of the creator of the strip. As I understand it, in this book are never-before-seen examples of Mr. Schulz's sketchpads. Some that were never published before in their raw, unfinished form.

Throughout this beautifully bound book are pages that chronicle "Sparky's" life and career -- childhood photos of his family, his page in his high school yearbook, his sketchpad from his time in the Army, various pictures of his first strip "Li'l Folks"... the list goes on. There are also pages here and there showing some of the Peanuts collectibles such as slateboards, games, comic books, ViewMaster reels, and figurines etc. And of course, this 336 page book is full of Peanuts strips --in black & white and in color-- taking you through the years in your memories.

Also included is a touching introduction written by his wife, Jean Schulz, and his 'signature' on the inside cover. If you are a Peanuts fan, you won't be disappointed with this book.

Good 'Ol Charles Schulz
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2006-10-14
The Peanuts are pretty much everywhere you go. It is kind of sad in a way that their creator, Charles Schulz, is not. Makes you kind of appreciate the fact that our creations go on long after we have departed. Like the Chinese Philospher Lao Tzu said, "We will never know the results of our actions..." Contemplate this for awhile and it will really begin to blow your mind. We don't really know who we will affect in life with our thoughts, with our words, and with our deeds. We all have an inward duty to be the best that we can be, because the world is just a bunch of individuals and if each one of us decides to think better and do better with the gifts we've been given, then the world will be an even better place to live.

Charles Schulz and his comic strip, The Peanuts, bettered my world and it continues to do so. He has been gone almost six years now and I still miss him. Isn't that strange? I never met the man. I never heard him speak. The only thing I really know about him and his life is through his comic strip.

I was introduced to the Peanuts when I was four or five years old. My dad used to read me his comic strips and do the voices of Charlie Brown, Linus, Schroder, and Lucy...his impression of Lucy still makes me crack up when I dip into my fondue pot of memories.

I got this book because I wanted to really know more about Charles Schulz. What kind of man was he really? What drove him? What inspired him? Turns out that he, himself, was baffled by the Creation Process just like all "true" artists are. True artists are very humble beings. They know deep inside that they are not responsible for their creations, they are merely the channels through which the power of creation takes place. Being an artist and a writer myself, I know that sometimes I'm in this zone where the process of creation is moving through me so powerfully that all I need do is surrender to It and everything is all taken care of. Not to be preachy, but that's Spirit, that's Love, that's the Light we were all created in and out of. And because all of us are made in the Image and Likeness of Light, of Spirit, of Love, we are all creative and we are all creators. The question then becomes, "What am I willing to create?"

This book makes me cry. Not in a sad way, but in a way that just makes me miss my friend. And although I see evidence of his being here all around me, I know that this world is never going to be the same without him.

Peace & Blessings, Mr. Schulz.

M
What the Bible Says About Healthy Living: Three Biblical Principles That Will Change Your Diet and Improve Your Health
Published in Hardcover by Fleming H. Revell Company (1999-09)
Author: Rex, M.D. Russell
List price: $16.99
New price: $16.98
Used price: $7.83
Collectible price: $45.00

Average review score:

Very good book!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-22
I really enjoyed reading this book, it is very informative, and accurate. we just started to apply these principals to our diets, and we have been eating healthy and feeling great.

A course in Logic and Biblical Interpretation would've helped...
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-15
Dr. Russell writes in a way that, to be consistent, one would have to become a 7th Day Adventist. He takes extinct Old Testament references regarding what Jews were supposed to eat and what they weren't supposed to eat, and acts as if they compose God's universal, timeless law. Poor exegesis. If he stuck to the scientific pros and cons of food I would have received him better (even though much of his data is controversial/speculative). There have to be better written books out there (I know Richard Foster does a much more thorough analysis of health and fasting).

the best of its genre
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-21
The title of the book really says it all. God created us and gave us specific instructions on what to eat. We would be wise to follow them. I've given copies of this book to my whole family.

A Gem of Books
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-15
I have found this book to be very insightful about my eating habits. Putting biblical boundaries around my eating choices actually gives me the freedom I've been needing to say no to all types of junk food. It has also helped me learn to trust God's guideance in other areas of life. God knows His creation and wants the best for us.

What the Bible says about healthy living;three Biblical principles that will improve your health
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-08
This is the best book I have read with clear, easy to follow advice that will show you Bible references for all of it's tips. It has a page of foods with Bible verses to look up where the food is eaten. There are references for the unhealthy foods, too. If you want a straight forward book without a lot of the authors own "reasons why", you will be very happy. You will come away with the answers you were seeking.

M
Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life
Published in Hardcover by Thomas Dunne Books (2007-06-26)
Author: Elizabeth M. Hodgkins
List price: $29.95
New price: $17.61
Used price: $20.40

Average review score:

Best Cat Book Ever!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-18
I originally borrowed this book from the library after my cat was diagnosed with diabetes. I was in search of information on how to help him and discovered this wonderful book. I had to buy it.

I started the diabetes protocol feeding him only meat based food without fillers like grains, glutens, and vegetables, and it turned him around completely! He's never had any insulin injections, and despite the vet's diagnoses that he may never walk normally again, he regained normal walking completely from walking on his forelegs in pain due to the diabetes.

Without Dr. Hodgkins book, we would have never known that feline diabetes is a man-made disease that comes from a poor diet. The book was well written and very easy to read. I think every cat parent should have a copy of this book. It was a true life saver for us!

Review of Your Cat
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-17
Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life is an excellent book outlining all aspects of cat care from proper diet to the vaccine debate. She debunks the common misconceptions about "prescription" diets and other dry food. It contains concise up-to-date advice and information on many of the common feline ailments, such as diabetes and hyperthroidism. A must have for every one who has a cat or is thinking of getting one. Also a great gift idea for the cat lover in your life.

Another triumph for common sense!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-30
I only gave the book four stars rather than five because it's pretty repetitive and does not exactly read well. The message is presented on almost every page: "If this is what's wrong with your cat, feed it meat." But I suppose if the book is used as a reference book rather than something to be read in one sitting, it's an excellent resource.

A few years ago I adopted a street kitty who must have starved for much of his life because his "hungry button" was broken. He could not get enough of the crunchies. He gained a bunch of weight and then we noticed that he had become a water-drinking maniac: he would drink for 15 minutes in a row. His vet suggested that he was pre-diabetic and that I switch him to diabetic cat food. He didn't like it. I stopped the crunchies thinking that he could do without the carbs and switched to non-grocery hippie dippie canned food, the stuff with the cranberries, etc.

It didn't take very long for the weight to drop and for his coat to become very silky and smooth. And he hardly ever drank water again. I mean never! It was amazing. His good health was obvious.

About a year after I changed his diet, the pet food contaminations occurred and we all started to learn what's really in those crunchies: sawdust and other non-nutritious dust pressed into shapes then sprayed with rancid aerolized grease. Gross.

And now I think I will switch to frozen raw stuff only and cut out the cranberries altogether. When left on their own, cats won't touch cranberries!

This book contains great information that's based on a careful look at how and what cats really are and that questions the "facts" forced upon us by Big Pet Food, Incorporated. I recommend it to anyone, especially to anyone who has a cat that drinks a lot of water or has chronic health problems.

A must read for cat owners
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-01
This book represents a step-change in the cat care paradigm for me and I wish that I had encountered sooner. Despite huge investments in expensive premium dry cat food bought at my vet over the years, one cat developed diabetes and another was unable to keep his food down. Reading this book provided me with the knowledge to consider an informed (Dr Hodgkins is not alone in her views) alternative to what I was being told. I considered this a valuable second opinion and so I chose to follow this alternative as the conventional advice was so blatant in its failure to address the issues I faced with my cats. The diabetic cat reached remission after a 7 week treatment on Dr Hodgkins' protocol and the vomiting stopped almost immediately when I stopped feeding dry food. The general condition of the cats is impressive: even my new vet (who also advocates raw feeding) is impressed at their condition, their dental condition and their muscle tone. The knowledge about diet that I have gained from this book far outweighs the price I paid for it. Two human and four feline thumbs up.

Finally....the real truth
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-16
I would highly recommend this book to anyone that wants the best for their cat. The pet food philosphy that Dr. Hodgkins writes about makes total sense. It is my new 'cat bible' and I refer to it often.

M
The Spirituality of Success: Getting Rich With Integrity
Published in Paperback by Namaste Publishing (2001-12-20)
Author: Vincent M. Roazzi
List price: $16.95
New price: $8.49
Used price: $0.23

Average review score:

Excellent Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-13
Covers many aspects of success. Lots of good thoughts in this book that you will find from other great authors on the topic of success.

You will find the role of emotional intelligence in making decisions and why there needs to be both rational and emotional intelligence in order to be successful. Some tend to lean in either direction but it's hard to be balanced in both.

There are several topics explored that could have used greater narration but the overall book is good.

It leaves you to explore things like the scientific value of positive energy and it's role in succcess through quantum physics.

Vinny is the REAL deal - LISTEN to him . . .
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-05
One year ago, in Feb 2006, I took a big step on my journey. Sometime before that, I had already begun to understand that in order for my life to change, it would have to begin with my taking responsibility... for EVERYTHING in my life.

A few months earlier, I had lost what I loved most in this world - my parents. I was richer than royalty for having had them in my life. They taught me the true meaning of what it means to be loving and selfless. But, without them, I felt there was nothing left for me here in NYC. I was ready to move away... but it didn't feel right yet.

I responded to an employment ad in the NY Times; the word "Mentor" attracted me as few, if any employers, ever use that word. Within a few days, I was sitting across the table from two men who were interviewing me for a position - one of them was Vincent Roazzi.

I'd go on for pages here if I told you everything I'd like to share with you about Vinny. From the moment I started reading his book that same day, I knew I wanted to spend as much time as possible with this person and learn from him. Sometimes, I'd linger at the office just to sit at a desk beside him, hoping that I'd get to chat with him on some evenings. Vinny answers you with questions; admittedly, a bit frustrating at times, but it leads you to the right answers for YOU.

You'll never find any huge fanfare and blinking neon lights pointing Vinny out from a crowd. He doesn't do much (anything?) at all to promote his book. Yet he knows very well some of the greats such as Bob Proctor and Joe Vitale. And I'm sure they are not surprised to see the word "Integrity" in the title of his book.

Read his book...you'll be glad you did. And while you're reading it, remember this: He didn't become rich telling people how to do what he has never done, which seems to be an easy way to fame and fortune for a lot of people. Vinny scraped bottom at a time when he had a wife and five children to support at home. He learned a formula for success, and has been teaching others that same formula for over 15 years. But you will also learn from his book that although people want change... ironically, they don't want to change.

If YOU are at the lowest point of your life, or ready to make things HAPPEN rather than feeling like you're a victim of HAPPENSTANCE, Vinny's story will inspire you and, hopefully, move you to take action. Or if you're using a formula for success that just doesn't seem to be working, stop for a moment and learn Vinny's way... it's a little different from what you've probably learned in the last 5, 10, 20+ years.

Thank you, Vinny, for your generosity in so many ways. May the Universe keep and bless you and your family for many years to come.

~Denise Michelle 02/04/07
[...]

Simply the clearest book on the market
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-10-04
For many years I have been studying and practising 'manifestation' and wondering why my results were so limited. I found the answer in this book, along with many other answers. This book differs from other books in the same genre in that it is absolutely clear and solid, marrying spiritual wisdom with practical insight. I can't recommend this book too highly, and will be applying its principles to my own life.

More than chicken soup for the soul
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2003-08-04
To say that Spirituality of Success is chicken soup for the soul would be too cliche`, yet that's exactly what it is. If you're willing to be brutally honest with yourself, I'd recommend Roazzi's book because it can make an improvement in your life as it did in mine. All my friends to whom I've recommended it have thanked me. One of the encouraging things I learned from reading this book is that if you're one of those people who have always felt like the "odd man/woman out", take heart. We're the ones who are right! The rest of the world is screwed up.

a life-changer!
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2003-09-23
I'm very selective about what I read and not easily impressed. When I heard Vinny on NPR I knew I had to buy this book. I have recommended it numerous times already as one of the most important and helpful books I have ever read. This book shows how to be a successful person - not just businessman. It's principles are simple and timeless - and what is particularly great - really gleaned from what the author learned in recovery (a 12-step program). A reviewer said it was a good book, but without much practical help. That couldn't be further from the truth. This book was worth a $1000. seminar. It guided me and motivated me, and truly saved me when everything in my life was changing - including work. Thank you Vinny! You're da man!

M
Why Do Dogs Drink Out of the Toilet?: 101 of the Most Perplexing Questions Answered About Canine Conundrums, Medical Mysteries and Befuddling Behaviors
Published in Paperback by HCI (2006-09-15)
Authors: Marty Becker D.V.M. and Gina Spadafori
List price: $12.95
New price: $1.98
Used price: $1.01

Average review score:

funny and true
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-09
Very humorous account of our dogs less than civilized behavior. Great little gift for the novice dog owner.

Loved it
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-29
This is a great book for animal lovers. If you have a dog you may not miss Why Do Dogs Drink Out of the Toilet. You can lern so much about dogs behaviour, etc. Very much recommended reading. I also liked
The Dog Who Rescues Cats: True Story of Ginny, The

A dog is not just a dog...
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-23

This book not only taught us things about our dog, it did it with a laugh. There were so many different things stated in the book that my husband and I were suprised. Where I live sometimes there is a lot of thunder. The book explained to make the noise of the thunder game time so our dog does not get scared. We do that now. It is great. Whe does not get scared and we do not lose that much sleep. If it was not for the book, she would still be a little freaky about thunder type noises. We appreciate the humor of the book and the education it offers.

Now my DOG makes sense!
Helpful Votes: 12 out of 12 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-23
This book has helped me understand my dog, and I think he is happier too!

An informative and sometimes funny look at dogs.
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-09
Marty Becker, DVM, combines his encyclopedic knowledge of dogs and a great sense of humor into a book that is both funny and useful in informing us of why dogs do and don't do certain things. The reasons for their different behaviors are explained in simple and easy to understand terms, but in a way that amuses us while it informs us. This book makes a great gift or Christmas present for yourself and the dog lovers in your life.

M
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death
Published in Poster by Robinson Publishing (2006-05-18)
Author: M.C. Beaton
List price:

Average review score:

Very Cozy...
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-01
If you looking for a light hearted & easy read then Agatha Raisin is your girl.
I love the way she is written and can not wait to continue to read the series.
A cozy kind of mystery. Not to deep. No blood or gore. Just a cozy little mystery read.

Love Agatha Raisin mysteries!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-27
And Quiche was a great kick-off to start this series. Great characters, good mysteries, fun protag. Just a good read all the way 'round.

Agatha Raisin Breaks a Few Eggs with Her Store-Bought Quiche
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-24
As a devoted fan of M. C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series, I was intrigued to keep reading reviews of Hamish Macbeth books by people who claimed they liked the Agatha Raisin series better. But every time I contemplated the title, Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death, it just seemed too tongue in cheek to be possibly any good. Well, I was wrong. Although the book couldn't be any more satirical and much punnier than it is, the book works very well both as a straight story and as a satire. It's like getting two books for the price of one.

Since the Hamish Macbeth series started first, let me address Hamish Macbeth fans first: Think of Agatha Raisin as being one of the optimistic incomers to Lochdubh who hope for peace and tranquility without realizing what village life in Sutherland is really like. But Agatha has mostly good intentions (except towards the women in the area who drive her batty) instead of being an incipient homicidal maniac like the incomers in Sutherland. Agatha is also her own woman, and not about to take any prisoners she doesn't have to. Like Hamish, she has a crime-solving partner, Bill Wong (of the local detectives), who helps her in ways she doesn't always appreciate (like Priscilla Halburton-Smythe does for Hamish). Agatha is based, however, in the gentle Cotswolds so there won't be too many stories about brutal winter blizzards in this series. You won't miss hearing about Strathbane.

In this inaugural book, Agatha has just sold her PR firm in London (where she succeeded by being a blunt instrument in plying journalists with meals and drink and then shaking them down for stories) and decided to retire to a cottage in the Cotswolds, an area she had once visited as a child. Naturally, she has a romanticized view of what life there will be like. Having been a busy businesswoman, she now finds herself not quite sure how to fill her time. Although she had made no friends in London, she expects to make many in rural Carsely. People nod and are friendly, but it goes no further. Agatha soon makes an enemy of her next door neighbor by stealing her housekeeper. While catching up on her reading of Agatha Christie mysteries, Agatha decides she needs to get everyone's attention. Why not win a prize for baking?

Plotting her strategy, Agatha invites the quiche competition judge, Reginald Cummings-Browne, and his wife, Vera, to an expensive dinner (expecting to curry favor as it were in the quiche wars). Agatha instead ends up with a very large bill and a not very high opinion of the Cummings-Brownes. Agatha makes a quick foray to London to buy a wonderful spinach quiche that she enters as her own.

But her plot is soon foiled when the woman who always wins the quiche competition once again triumphs. Agatha leaves her quiche behind in disgust, and Vera Cummings-Browne takes it home as a snack for her husband. That night, he eats the quiche and dies of poison! Naturally, there's a police investigation and Agatha has to confess that she cheated.

Feeling like she will never make it in Carsely after such a large faux pas, Agatha begins to think she should move out and go back to London. Soon, she's between two islands of discord and not sure what to do.

The police decide that the poisoning was an accidental death, but Agatha's not so sure. Before long, she starts acting on her urge to detect . . . with consequences that definitely heat up the story.

Where most detective stories are mostly about a crime and the process of uncovering the criminal, that element retreats into the background in this book. Instead, Agatha's search for happiness is the main focus of the story. The crime and its solution are merely incidents along the way. I liked that element. In fact, this would have been a very entertaining story even if it hadn't contained a mystery.

Any time your attention threatens to flag, you can just sit there and chuckle over the outrageous satirical elements. Although you know they are overdone, you can't help but laugh . . . as you might at good burlesque sketches with imaginative pie throwing.

Although I haven't read past this book in the Agatha Raisin series, I would have to say that Agatha could displace Hamish as number one in my affections for M. C. Beaton characters.

Enjoy!

An Incomer from London Breaks a Few Eggs with Her Store-Bought Quiche
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-24
As a devoted fan of M. C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series, I was intrigued to keep reading reviews of Hamish Macbeth books by people who claimed they liked the Agatha Raisin series better. But every time I contemplated the title, Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death, it just seemed too tongue in cheek to be possibly any good. Well, I was wrong. Although the book couldn't be any more satirical and much punnier than it is, the book works very well both as a straight story and as a satire. It's like getting two books for the price of one.

Since the Hamish Macbeth series started first, let me address Hamish Macbeth fans first: Think of Agatha Raisin as being one of the optimistic incomers to Lochdubh who hope for peace and tranquility without realizing what village life in Sutherland is really like. But Agatha has mostly good intentions (except towards the women in the area who drive her batty) instead of being an incipient homicidal maniac like the incomers in Sutherland. Agatha is also her own woman, and not about to take any prisoners she doesn't have to. Like Hamish, she has a crime-solving partner, Bill Wong (of the local detectives), who helps her in ways she doesn't always appreciate (like Priscilla Halburton-Smythe does for Hamish). Agatha is based, however, in the gentle Cotswolds so there won't be too many stories about brutal winter blizzards in this series. You won't miss hearing about Strathbane.

In this inaugural book, Agatha has just sold her PR firm in London (where she succeeded by being a blunt instrument in plying journalists with meals and drink and then shaking them down for stories) and decided to retire to a cottage in the Cotswolds, an area she had once visited as a child. Naturally, she has a romanticized view of what life there will be like. Having been a busy businesswoman, she now finds herself not quite sure how to fill her time. Although she had made no friends in London, she expects to make many in rural Carsely. People nod and are friendly, but it goes no further. Agatha soon makes an enemy of her next door neighbor by stealing her housekeeper. While catching up on her reading of Agatha Christie mysteries, Agatha decides she needs to get everyone's attention. Why not win a prize for baking?

Plotting her strategy, Agatha invites the quiche competition judge, Reginald Cummings-Browne, and his wife, Vera, to an expensive dinner (expecting to curry favor as it were in the quiche wars). Agatha instead ends up with a very large bill and a not very high opinion of the Cummings-Brownes. Agatha makes a quick foray to London to buy a wonderful spinach quiche that she enters as her own.

But her plot is soon foiled when the woman who always wins the quiche competition once again triumphs. Agatha leaves her quiche behind in disgust, and Vera Cummings-Browne takes it home as a snack for her husband. That night, he eats the quiche and dies of poison! Naturally, there's a police investigation and Agatha has to confess that she cheated.

Feeling like she will never make it in Carsely after such a large faux pas, Agatha begins to think she should move out and go back to London. Soon, she's between two islands of discord and not sure what to do.

The police decide that the poisoning was an accidental death, but Agatha's not so sure. Before long, she starts acting on her urge to detect . . . with consequences that definitely heat up the story.

Where most detective stories are mostly about a crime and the process of uncovering the criminal, that element retreats into the background in this book. Instead, Agatha's search for happiness is the main focus of the story. The crime and its solution are merely incidents along the way. I liked that element. In fact, this would have been a very entertaining story even if it hadn't contained a mystery.

Any time your attention threatens to flag, you can just sit there and chuckle over the outrageous satirical elements. Although you know they are overdone, you can't help but laugh . . . as you might at good burlesque sketches with imaginative pie throwing.

Although I haven't read past this book in the Agatha Raisin series, I would have to say that Agatha could displace Hamish as number one in my affections for M. C. Beaton characters.

Enjoy!

British asocial Jessica Fletcher type.....
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-11
...And great fun to read! Agatha first comes across as hard to take, but pretty soon we begin to appreciate her vulnerability. Set in the Cotswold villages of Britain, Agatha's adventures are closely tied in with her inability to safely navigate normal social life amongst the village. The supporting cast is wonderfully diverse, and the humor that is liberally sprinkled throughout Agatha's observations and experiences kept me thoroughly entertained chapter to chapter. I don't much care for series, but look forward to reading more in this one. I appreciated that it was PG rated, and that the main emphasis was on characterization and solving the mystery. No blood and guts.

M
Flesh Tones
Published in Paperback by Ballantine Books (2003-04-29)
Author: M.J. Rose
List price: $13.95
New price: $4.74
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

An insider's look at the art world
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-16
One of the most engaging aspects of M.J. Rose's writing is that she gives the reader an "insider's look" into a possibly unfamiliar venue. "Flesh tones" is set in the art world, and both the process of painting and the business end were depicted in an interesting and convincing way. The characters were attractive and made you care about them.

Way more than a beach read!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2003-04-17
M.J. Rose knows writing! I finished Flesh Tones last night and have to say how much I admire her work. Her characters and the situation are finestkind, but I am most impressed with the way she tells the tale. What superb timing, and how nicely she spins a chapter strand into transition. With a tease here and a glimpse there, M.J. Rose gives us just enough to move the story along, like oars move a shell over the water: allowing us to glide between strokes, never losing momentum, accelerating smoothly to a stunning finish.

A superb study of love and obsession
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2003-07-07
What is the dividing line between deep love and obsession? Who should be allowed to judge when a relationship crosses from one to the other?

Genny Haviland met artist Slade Gabriel in her father's gallery when she was 17. They became lovers, an affair that lasted for only weeks in reality but survived for the rest of Genny's life in her heart and soul. They meet again twenty years later, only to have Gabriel learn he has fallen victim to rapidly advancing Alzheimer's. Knowing he could not bear to live without his art, Genny agrees to help him commit suicide.

But a missing letter results in her arrest for murder, and a grief-stricken Genny has no inclination to fight the charge. Instead, as the trial proceeds, she reviews the past, the present and the relationship that has defined her emotional life, looking for an answer that may defy explanation.

In her latest novel, M.J. Rose explores yet another aspect of the relationships between men and women and how those relationships can define us even more than we define them. Child of a distant mother and a father whose love carries strange, twisted undertones, the young Genny is ripe for the kind of intense, all-encompassing passion she finds with Slade Gabriel. She is at once sympathetic and irritating, stubbornly clinging to the loss of her lover as if it will somehow compensate her for the greater loss of the emotional connections she never had -- or allowed herself to have.

FLESH TONES, however, is more than simply a study of one woman's overwhelming need for enduring love. It is also about creativity, and how the truly great artist will always have one small part of his or her soul they cannot share no matter how deeply they love another. Written with powerful emotional intensity and a clear, discerning eye for both the glories and the agonies of both love and passion, Flesh Tones will resonate with anyone who has ever loved what they can never completely have, but it will also provoke tough questions in those who have not.

A sexy and suspenseful novel
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2003-05-30
I have learned that if a book doesn't grab you within the first 50 pages or so to foget about it and move onto something else. This book had me hooked within the first 20 pages. This book does a wonderful job at exploring that very fine line between love and obsession at times I felt like I was reading Genny's personal diary, but this book is much more than a smutty beach read. Did Genny Haviland kill her lover or did she save him from a terrible disease that would rob him of everything he knows and holds dear? M.J. Rose's writing style is efortless and smooth. Half the story is told in the present tense during the murder trial and half the story is told through the use of flashbacks, which normally can be hard for the reader to follow, but in this instance they are used to define very important elements in the story. Ms. Rose's writing style is masterful, the reader becomes totally absorbed in the tapestry of the story, there are passages that read like poetry that force the reader to go back and read them again. It was impossible for me not to turn the pages, I was transfixed and I will definetly be on the lookout for more by M.J. Rose!!

Searing, and semi-erotic...
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2003-08-19
MJ Rose paints a portrait of an amazing bond between a man and woman. Genny and Slade, both products of the art world, meet when she is far too young to fall in love with him, or to share his passion. She misrepresents her age and background to be with him, and Rose skips forward, after laying the foundation, to Genny's immeasureable sacrifice for the man she loves. Rose is equally at home writing about art, death, the courtroom and the bedroom. She's one author I'll not soon forget!

Enjoy!

M
Robert's Rules Of Order Newly Revised In Brief
Published in Kindle Edition by Perseus Publishing (2004-04-13)
Authors: Henry M. III Robert, William J. Evans, Daniel H. Honemann, and Thomas J. Balch
List price: $6.95
New price: $5.56

Average review score:

Extremely helpful
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-08
An extremely helpful short book on the important concepts and specific details of Robert's Rules. Authoritative, yet easy to understand. Points you in the direction of the 600 plus full edition if you need more info. We've bought it for all our committee chairs.

Robert's Rules of Order
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-03
Concise and clear which is the purpose of Robert's Rules of Order. Meetings conducted in this format are much more productive with less turmoil and emotional distraction.

Excellent guide
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-20
Perfect brief overview for anyone running meetings or participating in them. Unlike the reputation they sometimes have, Robert's rules are designed to facilitate discussion and decision-making, not to tie the group down to a set of rules. Give this a read, and you will see how cleverly and comprehensibly it sets out the entire process. Perfect for any organization, large or small. Highly recommended.

Many nuggets
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-06
This brief is a great introduction to Robert' Rules. Easy reading. Many nuggets that I did not even find in the full edition. I recommend it to all those who are on boards and commissions and associations.

Robert's Rules
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-27
Well written summary -- this is the abbreviated version and it is very useful. Helps to have the full-up version as well, for details, but this one is a super guide.

M
The Weighty Word Book
Published in Hardcover by Manuscripts Ltd (1990-11)
Author: Paul M. Levitt
List price: $17.95
Used price: $39.97

Average review score:

15 years later...
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-20
It's been 15 years since I first encountered this book - part of a vocabulary challenge in the sixth grade. I still remember most of the stories, and I must have infuriated my parents using each word incessantly as I learned it. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Great for Learning
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-06
This animated book gives children a new way to learn the definitions of words. It was highly recomended to me, and I loved it!

weighty words
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-02
I love this book.This book is one of the best books ever.The reason why I gave this book five stars because its funny and senstive. My favorite word was laxcity.Laxcity means that you dont even care about whats gioing on.I think that this book is good for all ages. I hope that you read this fantastic book.

Third Grade
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-27
I use this book with my third grade students. We read a story per week. Many of their parents tell me it becomes a topic of conversation each week as the child teaches Mom and Dad a new word. It is fantastic.

weighty words
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-02
This book is one of the best books I had ever read in my life.I would recommend this book to every one because its funny and great.


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