DC Washington Books

I bought this book so we could plan for our first trip to DC this summer. I have a ten year old son. I have really enjoyed this book. It lets me know what thing he will like and possibly dislike. It has been helpful as there is so much to do and we only have 4 days. We want to make the most of our visit and this is letting us do that by helping us choose the best things for us to do.

I bought this new book because it was the most recently published and sounded great. It is not great for a number of reasons. First, it is heavily weighted toward trips with tweens and teens rather than younger children. I was planning a trip with children 6-8 years old. Most of the recommended places are recommended for tweens and teens. In fact, had I not known better from friends, I would have skipped the International Spy Museum altogether, because the guide recommends it for "older tweens and teens" and makes it sound beyond the understanding of a younger child. Having now been to the museum, I can see that tweens would be able to take advantage of many things they have there that younger kids can't really do, but it is a GREAT spot for younger kids. There is PLENTY there that they can enjoy. It is very fun for the whole family, actually, and was my husband's favorite spot we visited.
Another reason the book is not great is that it includes paragraphs on virtually every page of "Smart Stuff" for kids (mainly addressed to tweens and teens again), which is little tidbits of info or quizes that may be interesting. I think that may be helpful for a family with super bored kids or a family that is super boring and cannot otherwise provide information to their children, but it is (a) mostly for older kids, (b)not all that interesting, (c) really bulks up the book to the point that it's a pain to carry around with you and (d) apparently takes up so much space that important basic information is omitted.
This leads me to my next complaint: When planning our visit to the Air and Space Museum, I consulted the book. It gives very little information but says that the museum is so large that you need to plan your visit in advance because you simply cannot see it all in one day. Hello!!!!! That's why I bought this guide book - - to plan my visit! The entry on Air and Space doesn't even list all the galleries/exhibits in the museum or highlight the "greatest hits". They could have done that in two short paragraphs, and that would have been the most useful information. Instead, they include more "Smart Stuff" and a list of kids books to supplement learning on the subject. Great to have that, but not at the expense of the information I need to actually plan a visit to the museum.
In sum, this book frustrated me. It was somewhat helpful, yes, but unless you are going with older kids or have taken your kids before, it's not exactly what you need. I'm not sure there is a better guide that is up to date, but this one needs major improvement.

Ms. Kinkade has done a great job with her overview guide of Washington D.C. (and its surroundings), Maryland and Delaware. From Alexandria to Annapolis to the Delaware mansions, she gives thorough, pithy reviews of sights, food and lodging throughout the region. The guide is very logically laid out, with useful road maps and -- a unique touch -- a paragraph on a "perfect day" in each of the regions reviewed. As an experienced weekend wanderer in the region, I can strongly endorse the book.

The book is titled Travel Smart Maryland/Delaware with the subtitle of Includes Washington D.C. It would have been better named Travel Smart Maryland/Washington D. C. with a subtitle of Barely includes Delaware. Out of some 240 pages, a mere 30 are concerned with Delaware. I have found more information on a couple of web sites than were included in this book. This was a big disappointment to me since I was primarily interested in Delaware. Almost equal time was given to Washington and Maryland. (If I was going to Washington, I'd recommend either the Access or Eyewitness guides over this thing.)

Beside the fact that it didn't really cover the place I wanted information on, what it did provide, I found rather lacking when compared to other guide books. On the cover, it states that the author only lists "the best places to eat, stay and visit." Well, that turns out to be pretty limiting. I know just from a quick Expedia search that there are many more accommodation choices in Wilmington than the author listed. I'd rather have a list, with an indicator of the price range and the service level and let me decide what the "best place" is. I have no problem with the author indicating his/her favorites. The same treatment was given to restaurant selections. Again, I prefer the list of restaurants, the type of cuisine, the price range and some indication or the food quality and let me pick where I want to eat.

The back cover claims that the author lists scenic routes. Well, he/she does, but only 3 and they are pretty much a start here, drive to here, end up here. There is absolutely no suggestions as to neat places to stop, see, eat, stay, etc.

Again the back of the book says it lists itineraries for special interests. Well, it does, but it's just a list of things like "Historic homes in Brandywine valley, Historic home in Washington D.C., etc.", and a total time to accomplish seeing the entire list. Again, no idea of how long it might take to see each of the "suggestions", no indication of a town to stay in that's convenient to the "suggestions", no real effort put in at all.

I don't remember if the author lists opening times, prices of admission, directions to sites or not. I guess I was getting pretty disgusted by that point.

And if you like photographs, you won't find many here. Photos are few, black and white and mostly from the tourist bureau.

The only saving thing about this book is that the maps are plentiful and adequate.

I'll continue looking for a decent guide to Delaware, and if you're looking for a guidebook to Delaware, I can assure you, this isn't it.

My star ratings:

One star - couldn't finish the book
Two stars - read the book, but did a lot of skipping or scanning. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection or search out other books by the author
Three stars - enjoyable read. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection. Would judge other books by the author individually.
Four stars - Liked the book. Would keep the book or would look for others by the same author.
Five start - One of my all time favorites. Will get a copy in hardback to keep and will actively search out others by the same author.

I think Grisham has lost his edge. If this was supposed to be a thriller,comparable to his early work, it fell short. I kept thinking that any moment there would be a surprise twist or something to make it a Grisham worthy read. There is no depth to the characters, the plot was predictable and kind of boring. As others have mentioned, greedy lawyers are kind of a given in tort law, no? I am glad I borrowed this from a friend instead of purchasing it. I have really enjoyed The Firm, The Pelican Brief, Backstreet Lawyer, even the Summons and the Testament. This one - not so much.

This was a great, classic Grisham novel. But what I liked most is the insight into the class action law suits that now seem to be so prevelant in today's society, whether its the tobacco suits or the suits against drug companies. Grisham does a fantasic job of getting you into the mind of the character and feeling his struggle between making a buck and the ethical delimmas that go along with it.

I think I was expecting something different when I first read this novel. However, in the vain of "The Firm," this book is way above average. It has similar elements: the young atty who has nothing, wo is immediately tempted by all the riches in the world. It even has the fun element of "revenge" against the arrogant girlfriend who dumped him and snide competitors. Also a huge education on our country's broken tort class-action system. Highly recommended; educational and fun.

I loved it. I read book after book on the train to work and I can't stop thinking about this one. It was a really fun read. A total roller coaster. Three people I work with read the book as well and thought it was great. Surprised to find that it is reviewed so low here. I've not read a Grisham novel since the Client many years ago, but I want to read more now!!

Mass tort lawyers are the men who win billion-dollar class-action settlements from corporations selling bad products, then rake fantastic fees off the top, with far smaller payouts going to the people harmed by the products. Clay Carter is a burning-out lawyer at the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) in Washington, D.C., when he catches the case of a teen who, for no apparent reason, has gunned down an acquaintance. Clay is approached by a mysterious stranger, who says he represents a megacorporation whose bad drug caused the teen--and others--to kill. Thus begins the life of a tort lawyer. It's been a while since I have read a "great" Grisham, but this one was pretty good.

This book has a little bit of everything. It's a mystery, suspense, and romance all rolled into one. This is a mystery first and foremost with a little romance thrown in. The romance is nice and easy without being corny or superficial. This book is a great way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon on the beach or curled up in front of the fireplace with a comfy blanket and a good drink. I highly reccomend buying this book, you will not be disappointed in this one at all. Enjoy!

I have read several of Baldacci's later books and enjoyed them, so I went back one of his earlier novels I had missed. I agree with other reviewers that this is not Baldacci's best work, but it is still a compelling story. Saving Faith doesn't show the polish of his more recent books nor the plot ingenuity of his first few novels, but it does prove that Baldacci has excellent storytelling skills, even when pushed against what must have been a tough deadline. I enjoyed the book. I just rode the story and pushed aside the implausible motivations and light characterization. Adjust your expectations for a Baldacci novel and I believe you'll enjoy this quick read.
The Shut Mouth Society
The Shopkeeper

Good story, although a bit slow in places. Faith Lockhart has information that will allow the FBI to put away quite a few Congressmen. Problem is that CIA has been using her boss to gather intelligence on these same Congressmen for their own purposes.

I'm surprised that the average rating is only 3 stars. I've read every Baldacci Novel published through 2007 and Saving Faith is still my favorite. Everything - the story, characters, and settings - were all appealing and interesting to me. Last Man Standing is a close second favorite.

I thought this was right on par with David Baldacci's other books. It kept my interest and was fast paced. I liked the characterization of Faith and made me root for her. I would recommend this to people who like political thrillers!

Sure, it's fun to get a peek into someone else's life--especially when that person does and says things that you would never do.

But I never once found myself liking any "character" (let's face it, if you know anything about the story behind it, you realize that this is not really a novel) in this book.

I was sad to realize that I just didn't care what happened to the main character or the people she scandalized. They all deserved what they got.

It was a quick, interesting read, but it left me feeling empty.

Entertaining from beginning to end. Very funny, candid and sexual. A fast paced story that holds your attention. An enjoyable read!

This is a terrible, terrible, book, about a terrible, terrible person. I read all sorts of books and don't expect everyone to have my same morals, but I don't think this author has any concept of what morals even are. I kept on thinking that in the end she would learn a lesson and become a better person, but no, didn't happen. I only continued to listen (I had the audiobook) with that hope.

Run the other way, don't bother with this book!

Thought this book was pretty funny but in the end it left me with a bad feeling in my stomach. Jackie may not have learned too much from her mistakes but I learned that people are capable of anything. I have friends who live a similar (but not as dishonorable)life as this chick and I can only imagine the stories I am not hearing about!!
I finished the book in a few hours and it was trashy, funny, and all around entertaining. If you can take trash talk or hearing about some horific sexual acts then stay away from this book but if you have an open mind and can laugh at other peoples insane stories ... get it ... it's entertaining!!

While the character of this book is seeemingly depraved, heartless, and generally an all around nasty person, the book was highly entertaining. There were moments when her vulnerability shone through, usually after some drug induced bender, and although I do agree it is absolutely an publication of self prostitution, what memoir isn't?

According to Patterson, 20% of US citizens like guns, 20% dislike guns, and 60% are somewhere in the middle, providing the "balance of power". The 20% that like guns will dislike this book, and the 20% that dislike guns will like this book. The other 60% are likely to move a bit closer to disliking guns by reading this book. But the reader should be mindful of the fact that Patterson is controlling both sides of the gun debate inside the covers of his book. Clearly, he is anti-gun and believes that the Second Second protects only the rights of state militias, not individuals. If you're looking for a well written, emotionally compelling, fictional story to buttress your belief that guns are bad, this book is for you. On the other hand, if you'd like to explore a balanced debate, check out "Opposing Viewpoints Series - Gun Control (Opposing Viewpoints Series)" by Helen Cothran (Editor).

This was an all-time snoozer. I listened to the first 3 cds of 5 on a long car trip and it's a wonder I didn't pass out and crash. Cardboard characters, convoluted (and silly) plot-even the abridged audiobook was too much.

Here's my take on Balance of Power: it's a political fantasy for liberals. It's designed to take liberals to an imaginary land where they can cheer a heroic president who triumphs over evil. In this case, the good president fights to pass new gun-control laws that will magically stop crazed killers with big guns from shooting innocent children, while armies of evil goblins -- I mean, bad conservatives and the wicked gun lobby -- try to stop him.

Now, there's nothing wrong with a good fantasy. The problem with this book is that it's so laughingly inept.

Let's start with the characters. They're cartoonish. Liberals are handsome and virtuous. Conservatives are gaunt and malicious. But author Richard North Patterson is so ham-fisted he goes further: he gives evil characters evil names so you'll instantly KNOW they're evil. One nasty Republican is named "Harshman." (Harsh man. Get it?) A turncoat Democrat is named "Slezack." (Rhymes with sleaze-hack. Get it?) I'm surprised he didn't name the main Republican politician Caligula Puppycrusher, but that might have been too subtle for his fans.

Second, Patterson has withering contempt for people who own guns, so gun-owners are frequently called "gun nuts." But, again, that's not enough. Patterson explains that many Americans own guns because they have a "fear of minorities." (They're racists. Get it?) Patterson does everything except play the theme from Deliverance when a pro-gun character makes an appearance.

Finally, because gun-owners are so wicked, Patterson has no compunctions about fudging the truth to "prove" his points. He packs Balance of Power with dozens of inaccuracies about firearms and the Second Amendment. For example, he pretends that more guns cause more killing. Yet, since 1974, the number of guns in America doubled -- but murder rates have declined by a third. Curiously, that fact is never mentioned in the book.

Yes, I know Balance of Power is fantasy -- er, fiction. However, Patterson intends it to be an "expose" of guns and the gun lobby, so he has an obligation to be truthful about what he opposes. He isn't. Which means you'll only enjoy Balance of Power if you want your dislike of guns confirmed, unsullied by facts, spoon-fed to you in the form of a simplistic good-versus-evil fantasy. The rest of us -- those who live in the real world -- will find it disappointing.

Full disclosure here: I am an unabashed champion of the Second Amendment who views guns as our most important right.

That said, my problem is not that Patterson wrote a novel to promote an antigun agenda--after all, I did the same thing for the other side (the novel "Unintended Consequences".)

My complaint with Balance Of Power is that Patterson needed to use physical impossibilities to make his case. In his story, the "evil" gun in question that he wants banned is obviously a handgun, yet it holds 30 or more rounds of ammo, and the ammo it uses is repeatedly described as "too powerful for hunting--there wouldn't be any animal left."

That dog won't hunt. Typical semiauto handgun calibers such as 9mm Luger or .45 ACP are much LESS powerful than typical hunting rifle calibers, to the point that many Fish and Game departments around the country prohibit their use for hunting BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO WEAK and cannot be relied upon to humanely kill game.

Balance Of Power invents some mythical superduper round that is "too powerful for hunting" but small enough that you can fit 30 of them in a concealable handgun. Riiiiight.

Without this impossible fabrication, Patterson would have had to make the case in his story for banning ALL handguns, and although I suspect that's what he'd like, he didn't have the intellectual honesty to admit it.

Many novels take a political stance of one type or another. Authors of these stories should make their point without resorting to impossibilities and lies.

This is an insider's account of politics in Washington, with the most realistic dialogue and scenes I've ever encountered in a novel. Not a thriller, but an easy read that kept me intrigued and turning the pages (nearly 800 of them!).

Author Patterson deserves a lot of credit for writing a novel so well researched that he never has to fall back on artistic license to keep the plot moving; that is, there are no "yeah, sure" moments (John Grisham, take note!). He has a detailed knowledge of law that he effortlessly weaves into the plot while making it edifying and interesting for the reader.

Those frustrated with the slow pace of reform in Washington will come away with an understanding of all the forces at play in making legislation. What's best for the nation may ignite the process but soon gets lost amidst the requisite trade-offs, payoffs and paybacks (and, when there's much at stake, sabotage). Money rules, and until we reform the way we finance campaigns, special interests will continue to trump good policy.

The next time you catch yourself scratching your head trying to explain to a foreigner (or your child) why we stand by and allow children and other innocents to be slaughtered regularly, don't even bother, just direct them to this book.

I'm giving him an extra star for conscientiousness and integrity; this is a quality output on a matter of life and...deaths, an obscene surfeit of them. If you're interested in the "hard underbelly" of the gun control debate and other Washington problems that don't even get addressed much less solved, you'll be a better citizen for reading it.

This is a little different from the other Alex Kava books I've read & enjoyed. It's almost a little too close to the truth at times, rather than straight fiction!!

It's a little slow going, getting really absorbed in the story, but once you remember that this is a new set of characters, the story itself takes hold and Alex Kava has done it again!!!

I have enjoyed Alex Kava's other books and this one was a bargain - but after two CD's I realized not only didn't I get what was going on, I just didn't care. Too many characters, too much "set up", no action, nothing tied anything together. I couldn't figure out what the point was. I gave up.

I only gave this four stars because it was a quick read, the author does have a way with making you want to keep reading. The story line was a little out there, and I thought a lot of it got confusing at the end. If you need something to read while on vacation or traveling this is a good option.

This is the first Alex Kava book that I have read. After finishing it, I really feel no need to read another. The story was decent, though it never really got on its feet and started rolling.

The story itself was mainly about Sabrina Galloway. Sabrina is a scientist working at a plant that created fuel out of waste matter. In the opening chapter, the head scientist get knocked off and the story takes off from there. I grew a little frustrated due to the fact that around half of the book, Sabrina tries to find out what happened to her boss. This is always tough for an author to pull off. When the reader knows what happened and the main character is searching for clues we know about before hand. I think that this took a lot of the tension away from the story.

Other aspects that dragged this story down a little in my opinion were the half dozen first person accounts (it was pointed out to me that this book contains no first person accounts... I am sorry, I meant only to say that the story jumps around from one character to another in a difficult to follow fashion). Every time Kava did this, jump from one character to the next, it took away from Sabrina and her search.

I could go on, three stars might be a little generous for WhiteWash. If I were you, I'd skip this one.

I couldn't make head or tail out of this book. I guess it tried to be a political thriller, corporate conspiracy & terrorist thriller all in one & ended up being a muddled mess around a trivial storyline with vapid characters.

This was the first book I'd read by this author; it will not be the last.

This book was a delight, absorbing and moving. The writing of Jhabvala is so fine, and the thematic device of returning again and again to different memories of one's past is so metaphysically transcendent, that it proves again the mastery of one of the finest writers of our age. Why she has not been more honored and awarded for the body of her work is beyond me. The only reason I give it four stars instead of five is because I'm still so in love with "Heat and Dust."

I must admit, I'm at a bit of a loss to see how so many people can sing the praises of this book. I found nothing overly deep in it, and the repeated theme felt like the author didn't trust the reader to get it on his own. I felt like nothing beyond the names and circumstances changed each chapter - the characters stayed the same. I didn't feel that any of the narrators presented really did all that much (beyond, of course, throwing away goals and family for the sake of loves which never lasted). I get the feeling that the author wants you to feel sorry for the narrators (indeed, I don't remember any of them describing herself in any truly positive way), but I simply cannot do that. It was a struggle for me to read, especially when I felt that the author tried (and not consistently) to make her writing an artsy endeavor. Other than that, it was (mostly) well-written, but the story telling, and even the subject matter, left something to be desired. An intriguing idea, just not, in my opinion, handled well.

The nine chapters in this book represent nine different imagined lives that the author might have had. You have to be told this in the preface, since you would not guess it. In each chapter the narrator and her parents have different names and are different people. Each story is plot-wise completely self-contained and could be read separately; but as we have been told that they are one person's fantasies of a life she could have led, we are more aware than we otherwise might have been that there is a similarity of tone and of feeling in all these stories, and that the themes that recur - a continental refugee background, experiences in India and in the United States, triangular relationships, artists of tempestuous personalities, and a kind of dependency by the central character on other people in the story - draw on genuine autobiographical material. It is all most beautifully done, and the author writes so well. The different personalities in the stories come magnificently alive - indeed some of them, especially the artists, are almost bigger than life. Melancholia is offset with humorous observation. The settings are evocative: the ones in India may be familiar from other novels about that country; but I have never yet read a better descriptions of life in the London boarding houses where so many German or Austrian refugees started their lives in Britain.

I was spellbound by this book and couldn't put it down until I reached the last page. For me this is always a sure sign that I hit gold at the bookstore.

I loved the variations of themes and Jhabvala's writing in these stories. The book's a bit like jazz. If you love listening to the same tune over and over again with different takes, different players, different scenarios and moments in time you'll be mesmerized by these nine stories.

If you want a basic idea of what you need to do to get your kid into a school and some basics, this is not a bad book. The first 33 pages has some good information but its only 33 pages. This information is likely available elsewhere on the internet. I give this 4 stars for the first 33 pages and 2 stars for the rest.

The rest of the book is a listing of schools and information on them. There is nothing in the listing that will give you rankings of the school nor recommendation so its just a reference and a list of all the schools. Most if not all the info you can get of the net but it is nice to have it all in one place so finding all the school online becomes easier. Worth $5-7 so get it used.

This book is much better than the 13th ed of Independant school guide. The format is much better and easier to read and the front pages are better.

Indispensable guide for Washington area parents considering public & private schools. Practical, Thoughtful & User Friendly.

Trolling the school web sites gave me more information than this book. It's very factual and really doesn't get into school character, etc.

This book is just fine if all you want is the private school closest to you, or want very cut and dry facts which you can find for free at the schools websites or in their prospectus. If you are looking for insider information, or anything to tell you what the school is really like, look elsewhere. I recommend saving your money for your kid's education.

On returning to live in the DC area with two small children after having lived in another part of the country, I picked up this book and found a wealth of useful information about schools. The book not only gives practical information, but provides thoughtful and rare insight into the various strengths and weaknesses of each school, as well as valuable guidance on how to pick the best school for a particular child. I recommend this book highly.

Regardless of whether you were a fan of Bob Levey's Washington Post column, you will find this book to be an excellent overview of the history of the nation's capital. Washington was sometimes a backwater or sometimes a laboratory where Congress tested out ideas of how to organize a city or a society. The icing on the cake is the pictures, unusual and interesting photos, paintings, drawings, and more that reveal daily life in a very American place.

Bob Levey claims to care deeply about good writing. But he ignores Strunk and White's admonition that the writer should always keep himself in the background. Indeed, Flaubert once said that the writer "must be like God on the page, present everywhere yet visible nowhere." Unfortunately, Levey inserts himself into nearly every one of the chapters (as he does in his insipid Washington Post columns), when it is clear the book would have been decent if he had stayed out of it.

This book does have some scarce nuggets. The history of Washington is indeed riveting, but not because of any pedestrian rendering by Levey. Unfortunately, Levey is not qualified to handle the material, and the reader is left only to speculate about how good this book could have been in the hands of a more talented writer.

The great thing about this book is the community background Bob Levey brings to it. So often Washington DC is thought of as "The Nation's Capital". But we're also a city - with our own interests, our own sources of pride, our own traditions, our own history. That fact comes through in this book! I definitely recommend it.

The information and pictures in this book are offered randomly and leave readers with a number of unanswered questions. The book is neither a coffee table pictorial nor a well-researched account on the nation's capital. Even though it presents some scattered information, nothing is systematic. When someone picks a book on the history of a certain city, she or he would like to learn about where the name of the city and its areas came from, what landmarks still stand today, what the stories behind them are and so on. Instead, this book pastes some random pictures and comments on them. At times, it does not even offer such commentary. I learnt a lot more about the history of Washington DC from Wikepedia than from this book. I certainly do not recommend it.