Vacations Books

Everyone has their theory of The Matrix, and everyone seems to have a "philosophy," so I'll just throw mine in...

If you think the Matrix is "real", that is, while your life is going on around you, your brain is sitting in a glass jar in some alien harvest crop, it either a) doesn't matter, or b) if it were true, it still doesn't matter.

First of all, your brain is stuck in a container, while your life goes on around you. It's called your skull. Much like a jar, it's a container, and it's opaque, so no direct sunlight gets in. And it just stays in the same relative spot for the rest of your life. Wether it's a jar, a skull, or a high-tech French contraption, it makes no difference. It's the cavity that holds your organ that processes what is real for the rest of your life. So, for me, to find out that my brain is in a "dark, isolated, material, cavity" as such, makes no difference, and is in no way a startling existential revelation.

Secondly, the great flaw with the alien captor theory, is that even if there were a race of aliens who have all our brains in jars, lined up in rows on some freaky farm, whom or what is to say that some other alien isn't doing the same to them? and then that race gets the jump on that race, and on, and on, and on. So, while we're trying to escape from their jars, maybe they're trying to get their alien brains out of their captors' jars?

You know, galactic growing pains meets James at 15?

It's like walking into a hair salon and looking into the infinite mirror reflections, and eventually it's too dark and blurry to distinguish anything of practical value (infinite regress). So, what you end up doing is going through the life you can understand and function in, anyways. You're not really given any other options.

There's also some fuzzy logic that comes along with aliens who put our brains in a jar and spend all sorts of time "fooling silly humans". If their so advanced, and have such unlimited technology and resources, and have their run of the universe, it does beg the question - don't you have anything better to do with your time, than to sit around and pull the legs off humans?

Other than that, the book is a good intro to philosophy and existential thought, but you should proceed with the idea that as interesting as some of the essays are, like Matrix III, some of the essays can be deleted, are repetitive, more fluffy than some of the other reviews you may read. And I will say, of all the "Philosophy of..." books that came out after this one, The Philosophy of The Matrix is one of the better ones.

One more thing. If aliens we can't see manipulated movie studios into writing The Matrix, why couldn't they find better alien writers for matrix III? After all, they can trick any brain into doing something, whenever they feel like it. Why would they make a bad movie so that people become suspicious? That makes no philisophical sense.

I ordered the book for a friend, another professor, but Amazon shipped it UPS with signature required. UPS left two stickers on my door while I was at work and I never got the book.

Why not USP--the US Post? A paperback book with value of $17 does not need to be shipped and handled like opium or gold. If UPS, why signature?

Bottom line, it was returned to Amazon, I ate the shipping charges, and bought the book at my local Barnes & Noble. End of review.

Great book, BTW. I'm teaching it next term. But the university will do a brokered order through Bowker and students will pay a 40% mark-up, I suppose. Who's getting rich on this racket?

--Dan Bentley-Baker

If you are looking for a book that details the Philosophy of The Matrix movie, this book isn't for you. I thought that The Matrix raised some unique and interesting philosphical questions that I wanted to see expanded, so I bought this book. While parts of this book are interesting and well-written, most of it relates to how The Matrix interacts with other philosphical models that we are already familiar with. Each chapter is written by a different author, with a different perspective on the movie. Particularly irritating was an essay that should have been entitled "Why eXistenZ is a better movie than The Matrix."
As I said, parts of this book were interesting, but much of it wasn't. Also, it seemed like each contributor had to reference the scene where Cyber decides to betray his friends to Agent Smith as part of their contract, because it comes up many, many times.

This is an excellent book where some great minded philosophers tackle the issues presented in the Matrix. Solipsism, Buddhism, and Christian themes are explored, placing the beloved movie into schemes that all can enjoy.

Primarily asking "If the matrix could be real?" was the main reason why I was interested in this book. Solipsism has always been fascinating to me, and even in my deepest philosophical moments I do consider myself a solipsist. However, I was disappointed with the articles on this subject. Rotten with axiomatic contradictions, I felt that some of the authors were too shallow in their approach to ascertain if our observable world is true.

However, I still greatly recommend this book to philosophically minded people.

This book is not philosophy. It is a bunch of esays that could never have been published even in a mediocre journal. But put the word "matrix" with the word "philosophy" and som epeople will by anything.

You might think that this book will have something about motorcycle travel. Or, failing that, you might think it would have a funny story about some motorcycle being used to carry a sheep. Right??? That's on the cover!

The stories range from mildly disturbing revelations (tapir ticks on, well, you can imagine the various appendages) to tales of frustration (bus ticket workers who pretend to not know how to speak English) to pearls of wisdom (watch where you step in desert sands).

Make no mistake, it's a funny book. However, it doesn't have any stories to appeal to a motorcycle traveler. Deceptive cover photos dilute the flavor of any book, and this is no exception.

"Humor is not a trick. Humor is a presence in the world--like grace--and shines on everbody."--Garrison Keillor

Lansky compiles humorous and strange trails from numerous writers. Each tale is unique. A collection of experiences from around the world. Some will hit home, while others are totally off the wall. Fun read.

Wish you well
Scott

I don't know what I was expecting, but the level of humor in these stories varied fairly dramatically. Maybe the "if you don't find our stories funny, it's you not us" line in the introduction should have been a warning. Some were laugh out loud funny (I have to say A Simian in the Cinema was the most memorable, and the two Bill Bryson stories didn't disappoint) and some were able to coax a smile out of me. But many others just weren't that funny. Some just weren't funny to begin with (An Irishman in Vurjinny and The Duck of Peace come to mind) and many others ended just as they seemed to be getting into a groove. In general, this collection seemed to be going for quantity over quality. Fewer, longer, and better stories would have been more effective.

The title is deceiving as well ... the "road less traveled" apparently includes places like Disney World, Virginia, and Caribbean cruises. Some stories do not disappoint, in terms of exotic locales at least, but the vast majority of the stories rely on slapstick/situational humor of relatively low sophistication or physical humor that is disappointingly context-free. I suppose this book would make for fairly decent light-reading in an airport or on an airplane, but the quality of the promised "best of travel humor and misadventure" is a bit lacking. Heck, even I have had funnier and better "misadventures" on the road than most of these stories. This was a collection that I really wanted to like ... but I have a hard time giving it more than 3~3.5 stars.

You won't get caught with your pants down without any good travel humor to read if you pick up Doug Lansky's laugh-filled collection There's No Toilet Paper On The Road Less Traveled: it provides a hilarious set of stories from wacky, strange adventures of travel gone wrong around the world. From a dead 'peace duck' attached to a car which brings attention and respect where ever it roams to a journey to Disney World which proves less than magical, here's the perfect light-hearted take- along tote for vacation.

This collection of travel stories and essays by established writers is exactly what you would expect. A handful of the stories are real gems, but I found too many of them to be a little boring, and I'm not sure that the common thread of adventurous travel really comes through in some of the selections.

Highlights include two stories by the incomparable Bill Bryson, who has written several well-received books of his own, a story by editor Doug Lansky, and a bizarre story by Nigel Barley entitled "A Simian in the Cinema," which is about exactly that.

Other famous people whose writings were either less entertaining, or just didn't fit as well with the overall theme of the book, include Dave Barry, Steve Martin, P.J. O'Rourke, Margo Kaufman, Dennis Miller, and David Letterman. It should be noted that while all of these people and many more are cited on the back cover, the contribution of many of them is in the form of quotes and quips rather than actual stories.

As a big Bryson fan, I would say that his writings alone are worth the price of this paperback, but if you're looking for a consistent level of quality that truly represents the best in this genre, look elsewhere.

The lonely planet helped as as always to plan our vacation. We spend only one week in this interesting country, but managed to plan an interesting and packed two day trip. Instead of booking through the hotel and spending at least $250 per person we took all the information out of the book. Besides saving some money, we had a lot of information and explored the country a lot better than with a pre booked trip. As the book is from 2006 some of the prices have already increased. I can highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to plan his trip on his own and/or wants background information on history, culture and people.

The detailed city maps are not very good, outdated with businesses that have gone away, etc. Moon guide books have way better maps than Lonely Planet. The hotel reviews I thought were way off base, and don't include some major hotels. All in all, let me just say this: Lonely Planet isn't the Bible. Check out other guide books and go with any of the major ones. If you buy Lonely Planet, also buy a map, because their city maps are wrong!

I generally find Lonely Planet Guides quite helpful. This volume, sadly, was written by a couple of Ugly American Backpackers.

Their coverage of San Jose was positively absurd. The author's overstate crime dangers by a comical margin, and come off sounding like the snide "Ugly American" of bygone decades, looking down their noses at the sad, dirty third world. They also fail to comprehend the obvious: if you want to see what life is like for Costa Rica's citizens, you might want to spend some time in the city where most of them actually live.

If nothing else, Lonely Planet would do well to hire a third author that isn't allergic to cities; especially third world cities.

The editors might also simply practice the lost art of editing. Much good information is lost here, in a sea of snide.

If you want to enjoy traveling to Costa Rica I would recommend another book. If you want to spend your time lamenting about how Costa Rica has changed, how Americans are annoying, and be afraid to take your valuables out of your hotel safe than I recommend you check this book out. I would often read passages out loud to different people I was traveling with. You would think that Jaco is similar to Jersey but with more crack and lots of prostitutes from reading this book. In fact, when I went it was mostly families, a little sketch, but man get a grip. I read the chapter on San Jose and was to afraid to take my camera to the central market and downtown. What a regret! The people everywhere in Costa Rica were so nice. Downtown was crawling with tourists with their cameras and police. It wasn't even remotely sketchy. We could only get reservations in Tamarindo for Christmas day and I was terrified that it was going to be like Myrtle Beach on Spring Break. Yes there were lots of condos but it was still Costa Rica! Dirt Roads. you could walk from one end of town to the other in less then 10 minutes, everyone was nice, the beach was pretty. I just couldn't understand why the authors seemed to hate travel so much and be so hateful towards places where we were going.

Also, the book didn't give a lot of key information about how to get around without a car. We wasted so much time in La Fortuna trying to figure out how to get to the different places we wanted to go. It turns out there isn't a bus, there are only guided tours. They are all expensive. We finally hitchhiked which worked out well but I never go to go on the hanging bridges. I loved Cahuita (it wasn't dangerous) and Dominical. I loved Costa Rica. I am ready to go back.

I just wanted to warn people to stay away from this book. I love guidebooks. I am the kind of psycho that gets them from the library and reads through them even when I am not going anywhere. This one was the worst.

I'm an LP loyalist for all my travels, but of all the countries I've visited before, this LP guide seems to have the least accurate information. I only traveled to a small section of CR, flying into Liberia and staying in Playa Grande. Even in that narrow scope, I found listed restaurants that no longer existed and hotel descriptions that were quite off the mark. For example, I chose Hotel El Punto in Liberia as a staging place before flying out on my final night based on this description:

s/d/tr/q US$21/41/48/53 This converted elementary school is now one of the chicest hotels in Liberia, though it would definitely feel more at home in NYC than humble Guanacaste. Rooms here are ultramodern loft apartments with private showers, small kitchens, Japanese minimalist accents and plenty of MOMA worthy art. This spot is recommended as the rooms are severely underpriced.

The decor is more IKEA than Japanese or MOMA, but the room is decent and one of the nicer places in town. It cost $90 per night for 2 people, however. In Liberia, that is far from "severely underpriced" and more than double what was noted in LP. The staff said that they have been trying to tell LP for a long time that the prices are incorrect, as it doesn't suit them to have travelers becoming immediately disappointed upon their arrival.

LP was right in recommending Hotel Las Tortugas in Playa Grande, however. The value for what you get is incredible - right on the beach, great food, great staff, great price.

I did notice the negative tone that other reviewers mentioned, but being a person that typically wants to avoid tourist traps and exploitation of land or locals, it did not bother me that much.

Max Rubin is pathetic. I can't believe I bought this book. He would likely pull gum off the bottom of park bench and be proud of himself for finding a way to get free candy.

First of all, he is way wrong with his numbers. He must play at the dingiest casinos because he thinks betting $200 per hand makes you a high roller. It doesn't, it makes you perhaps a premium player but you'll be fairly limited as to what you can get comped at the nicer hotels.

Second, do you want to spend your vacation hustling a few dollars like a common beggar?

I used to visit Vegas alot but two kids later, i find the visits few and far in between. This book is great to read and re-read before you even start to plan your trip(s)to SIN CITY. It'll give you a good heads up on how to get the best bang for you buck and live like the high rollers...well,.....kinda. The info in the book works!!! Good Luck to all

in light of an upcoming casino vacation, i figured, "what the heck, I'd might as well try to get as much free stuff out of the casinos if they're gonna take my hard earned money." So I ended up buying this book. I mean, who doesn't like free stuff?? Well after reading the book several times, and applying the tips Max Rubin tells you to do while playing table games, I ended up getting more in comps than I have ever did. and that was my first time using Max's comp counting techniques. I'd imagine that it would take a bit of practice to get higher-end comps and nicer accomadations. But after the first meal comp, this book had paid for itself. To think after all these years of getting beat by the casinos and getting nothing for my $25 to $200 bets. Thanks Max!!

The reviewers who said Rubin is a cheat and a thief don't know what they are talking about, nor do the ones who say this is only for $100 and up players. He gives numerous ways for players of EVERY bankroll level to maximize their return in comps. If the casino doesn't want to give it, they don't. If they do, why not take it? Would you turn down buying a car that costs $18k normally for $15k just because you know other people are paying $18k for it, but you got the better price because you knew invoice on it? OF course not. Applied properly, this is the best edge any average player will EVER have versus the casinos, bar none, and all it takes is learning basic blackjack strategy and asking to be treated as you deserve. Some people just don't understand it, and I am thankful for that, as that is what keeps Las Vegas profitable for people like me. Trust me; this book is brilliant, well writen, well thought out, and anyone who loses sleep over getting extra comp value out of a casino is not of sound mind anyways. And as far as selling boxing tickets you got as a comp when you don;t like boxing? Why not? They're yours.

First, let me say that Rubin doesn't tell you to grovel before the pit bosses to get a comp, nor does he advocate stealing. He does say that it pays to ask, and at worst, they'll say no, but often they say yes, or at least make some kind of offer. He tells hilarious stories about Vegas characters, some of whom were thieves, but he doesn't favor copying their example.
What he does want to teach is his ACES method of gathering comps, which is based on blackjack played with the black chips. But you don't have to lay down a C-note to use his methods. Even a low roller like me can get good comps, (particularly with the rise of the California tribal casinos creating wonderful competion for the gaming public) if I use his methods.

I used this book and from what I've read it mentions stuff that I might not have or didn't think of. Disney is and will always be expensive. The title itself is not to be taken literally. We took our lunches in and not a word was said..I did this without a second thought. Believe me,they got plenty of money out of me when it was all said and done. So I feel no guilt about saving a few bucks for lunch. If you can save some money while at "The World" do it. This is a guide and an informative one at that. 263 days and counting!!

This book was really basic in offering tips for budget conscious disney travellers. It didn't help me much. A lot of the information I already knew. I was looking for something more and I didn't find it here.

You can't do Disney on a dime. And if you could, you'd have a miserable time. Most of the tips in this book are either ridiculous or downright hilarious. Did you really come to Disney to fill your pockets with free food and condiments from a topping bar? That's one of the tips for saving money at the park. Or how about bringing your own food into the park after driving there from your off-site motel room and telling the kids that they can't buy any souvenirs? What a vacation.

There are a few good tips in the book, but you probably know about them already or can easily find them for free on-line.

I'm a big fan of saving money at Disney. It is possible to save money there without ruining your vacation by cutting every corner. A good Disney vacation is expensive. All the penny jars (another tip from the book) in the world won't help with that. Do your own research and don't expect miracles. And don't be misled by authors whose next tip might involve panhandling outside Cinderella's Castle.

I had to respond to some of the nay-sayers that have reviewed this book. We go to Disney a few times a year, and it is by far one of the least vacations that we can take. This book hits the nail on the head!

You can DEFINITELY bring in a cooler with your food, and not only will it save you money, but is healthier and better tasting than the burger and fries that you will find at the park.

Staying in a rented house is not only less expensive, but infinitely more comfortable for a large group. Most people don't even realize that this is an option.

Going to Disney doesn't have to be an all-out spending fest! You can still give your kids the world without paying for it for months on end and spoiling them in the process. Set up limits on when/where to buy souvenirs, bring your own food, find budget accommodations. Once you get to the park it is the same magic for everyone, whether you've spend $1000 to get there or $5000.

After thoroughly reading "Disney on a Dime: Money-Saving Secrets for Your Walt Disney World Vacation", all I can say is save your money and the time you would spend reading this book. Not only is there nothing earth shattering revealed in this book, there is easily better information available online for free. There are many Disney based web sites out there, and I'd venture to say that 99% or more offer better information than this book does.

The first myth of the book to dispell is bringing your own food to the park and storing it in a cooler in a locker. Not only does Disney not allow outside food, they surely do not allow a cooler! Apparently the author has never been through the outside security checkpoints or bag check that has been implemented since 9/11/01. Secondly, the author advocates stealing condiments, cups, and just about any foodservice item you can fit in your pocket/purse. While this can be done, it's absolutely ludicrous to think anyone WOULD do this. Is this really saving money, when everything you are taking is provided free of charge in the park? I think not. I can go on and on, but I think anyone with a brain gets the idea here.

In closing, I think the average person understands that a Disney vacation is by no means inexpensive. The published statistic is that the average family of four will save for seven years to take a 1 week Disney vacation. With many of the offers Disney has had the past few years (discounted 7 days vacation promotions, free dining plan, etc.) it is now even easier to take that vacation AND stay on Disney property. Do your homework online for free, and avoid this book at all costs. That'll be your fist step in saving for your Disney vacation. It's a shame that I actually had to give the book 1 star to write the review, as it's not even deserving of that.

I was not disappointed with this second in a series. Not sure why some of the reviews are so brutal, bad day perhaps? I found it to be a light, fast read.

I have read all three in the series, with this one being the last. I am glad I read the other two before reading The Duke Next Door, or I would never have picked up the other two in the series. The character turn-around was weak and banal. Where as the other two books in the series seemed more plausible (as plausible as you can get in a romance novel--not that I am complaining) and the characters more likeable, this seemed compulsory. All that being said, I do like this author, this book just wasn't her best attempt.

Dierdre Cantor is the most beautiful of her cousins. The same cousins she is vying against to win her grandfather's fortune. Dierdre is determined to be the first to marry a duke. When Calder, the Marquis of Brookhaven and future Duke of Brookmoor, is left without a bride, Dierdre makes her move.

Before her wedding day is over, Dierdre's hope of a fantastic new life is crushed when she learns that Calder has kept a devastating secret from her. Hurt and let down, Dierdre resolves to make Calder pay for his transgression. Whereas Calder is just as single-minded in his desire to make Dierdre his true wife in every way.

Fans of the historical romance genre must try Celeste Bradley. The Heiress trilogy is a great place to start. The Duke Next Door is filled with sexual tension, sharp dialogue and heart scalding romance. You'll love Dierdre's stubborn resolve and Calder's sensual persuasion. The Duke Next Door is delicious!

Annmarie
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

It's an entertaining book, with sparks of humor, although it's not great in the romance department.

After Rafe's and Phoebe's wedding in Desperately Seeking a Duke, Deirdre proposes to Calder and he accepts. The book covers the relationship between the new couple, intertwined with the continuous schemes of the solicitors, the romance between the butler and the maid, and the beginnings of a friendship between cousin Sophie and Graham, Lady Tessa's cousin.

Calder is a character difficult to warm up to. He's very obtuse and clumsy with his feelings, somewhat cold, almost like a robot sometimes. In some moments it's very frustrating, comparing Deirdre with his first wife, but at least his behaviour is somewhat coherent with his character. I didn't love him, but he made a better impression than in the last book, especially towards the end.
Deirdre, or Dee, it's a more interesting character, although sometimes tiresome. She'd fell in love with Calder years ago, something not very understandable, so their relationship loses spark. It's interesting to see her planning how things are going to be in their marriage, to have them fall apart when she begins to really know her husband and discovers he has a daughter.

Their relationship isn't great, it seems forced and doesn't have much chemistry. It's more interesting and real the relationship between Dee and Calder's daughter, first with acceptance and uncertainty, and finally with care and love.

The book left me wanting Sophie and Graham story, which has the potential to be the best of the trilogy. I give it 3 stars, but like the first book, it would be better 2 ½.

I liked The Duke Next Door better than Desperately Seeking a Duke. Mostly because I liked the two main characters - Calder and Deirdre. They both had some baggage and worked their way through it. I didn't like Phoebe at all in the first book so I had a hard time finishing it. I thought Calder and Deirdre's story followed a nice progression and parts made me laugh and cry. I also thought the end was very satisfying. I mostly want to read the third book just to find out more about Calder and Deidre's continuing life.

I've read dozens of decorating and vacation home books and this was worth every penny...I totally enjoyed reading it!

Getaways provides 224 pages of large, gorgeous, color pictures. There are antiques, piles of books, bedcoverings, lamps, gardens, accents, and fixtures... there are a variety of styles displayed and too much to mention. Each picture creates its own feeling and it is easy to pick & choose to make your own perfect 'getaway'. We used some basic ideas for wallcoverings, flooring, curtains, and lighting to make our perfect little escape!

This book allows one to dive into the lives of the rich and famous and see first hand the enviromment where those such as celebirites go to relax. This book is creative and one of a kind!!!

Ms. Madden captured the essence of getting away, and right in your own home!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it gave me several ideas that I could apply to my own living situation. It's fun to just step into the homes of people that we'll never meet. The photos and text were just great. Keep on writing Chris we love it!!!

I saw this book in an expensive little shop in Gatlinburg, Tennessee last August, and later bought it cheaper over the internet. After reading several negative reviews here, and knowing the quality of this volume, I can't understand why people would not love this book. Contrary to what two reviewers state here, it is not a small volume and the photographs are extremely well done. They range from a picturesque dock out over a body of water to sunrooms, bedrooms, libraries, old desks, etc, with associated text, and most here can be done by people with any decent and modest budget.

I just wish I had this book last year when we had a house built, but it is useful now anyway. It is a treasure worthy of more than five stars.

It's a Buffy the Vampire Slayer tie-in book. And the first one I've read. I don't know how it compares to the others, but it was a rather interesting experience. I counted one mention of Cordelia in the entire book - I thought she'd deserve more mention than that?

The book is made up of six short stories, and the first story confounded me at first, but as it went on, it seemed to have a storyline that was present, but by the fifth story it had disappeared.

I, on a whole, would not recommend this book unless you are a die-hard Buffy fan that has to read the novels too. I think I'll just stick to the tv show from now on, unless I get really bored.

"How I survived my summer vacation" is a collection of six short stories authored by various writers including Nancy Holder and Cameron Dokey. Set between seasons one and two immediately following Buffy's defeat of The Master, the action divides itself between LA and Sunnydale. Two of the stories feature the vampire slayer herself as she spends the summer with her father and attempts to overcome the events surrounding her `death'. The remaining tales take place back in Sunnydale and feature Giles, Jenny, Angel, Xander and Willow battling the forces of evil, including a plot to revive The Master himself.

In "Dust" by Michelle West, Buffy travels to her father's LA home while struggling with intense visions of the deaths of her friends and family. This was probably the darkest of the six stories and is also a little confusing for the first few pages. "Absolom Rising" by Nancy Holder deals with a sorcerer's plan to gather the Master's followers with the intent of stealing their leader's bones. Cameron Dokey's "Looks could kill" is about a shape-shifter who decides to capture Buffy by targeting her friends. "No Place Like..." is by the same author and once again focuses on Buffy in LA as she attempts to free the trapped spirits of children. For "Uncle Dead and the Fourth of July" we return to Sunnydale as a group of zombies attempt to take over the town. In the final story, "The Show Must Go On..." by Paul Ruditis, Giles and the others must save a theatre audience from a vampire crew intent on re-enacting famous death scenes.

This is a perfect read for any summer vacation. The stories are lighter in tone and less scary than most existing Buffy novels. Characters such as Jenny Calendar are given a chance to shine in their own right. My only complaint is the lack of Willow and Xander in any of these stories. I hope this won't be the last volume of Buffy and friends' summer vacation stories. I recommend this book to all fans of the series.

~Jenna~

I enjoyed the book but it had said that it grappled with Angel becoming a permanent member of the gang but I didn't feel like they really did that. I loved how they made Buffy's vision and why she may have changed after killing the Master. All in all it was pretty good though.

I actually liked this book because it brought back memories of the Buffy of old. I know the tv series is in its fifth season but this book fills in some of the gaps. It is interesting to see Buffy hanging out at her Dad's house, the Buffy and Angel angst, the relationship with Giles and Jenny Calendar, all the Buffy gang of old before so and so left and so and so died, etc. I have a pretty extensive "Buffy" library and I am glad that I added this one to the pile.

I made of point of finally reading "How I Survived My Summer Vacation, Volume 1" after watching the first season from of "Buffy the Vampire Season" in chronological order, so I could appreciate the attempt of this collection of short stories to answer the question "What REALLY happened that summer after sophomore year?" But it soon became clear that what is involved her is less filling in the gap and more foreshadowing what is to come. It is impossible to read about Giles and Jenny without thinking she is half a year way from having her neck broken by Angelus. The six stories here begin with some notion of continuity, as a demon mage named Absalom has shown up to help the Anointed One after the death of the Master. But that only holds up for half the book. The first story, "Dust" by Michelle West, is the best of the bunch, focusing on Buffy, who is suddenly having visions of the death of everybody she touches, which makes going to live with her father for the summer more difficult than she expected. Nancy Holder's "Absalom Rising" tells of how the Master's minions and Giles, Angel and the Scoobys fought over the Master's bones. Cameron Dokey gets two bites of the apple: "Looks Can Kill" is the second best story in the bunch, focusing on Giles and Angel trying to get along with each other without Buffy to mediate. "No Place Like..." takes us back to Buffy in L.A., where she becomes involved in a nice little ghost story. The last pair of stories try to go for the comedy a bit too much and are hardly worth the effort. "Uncle Dead and the Fourth of July" by Yvonne Navarro finds Jenny dragging Giles to the 4th of July picnic where a group of zombie soldiers show up to have some fun. Then in "The Show Must Go One" by Paul Ruditis has Giles and Jenny going to see a production of "MacBeth" because five of the stage crew are vampires and the other two are Willow and Xander. At the end of this there is but one burning question: Where's Cordelia? Time always stands still between seasons on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," so I am sure we can look forward to future collections of short stories detailing what happened each summer, from the summer Buffy ran away to L.A. to the one she spent in her grave. I am also sure we can look forward to equally mixed bags of good and not so good short stories.

California Holiday
By: Kate Cann
Review by: Dana

In the book California Holiday by Kate Cann , Rowan like any other sister gets frustrated with her younger brother. He already has a career and future plans, unlike Rowan. This angers her. One day Rowan becomes so upset with her brother she hurts him, and unlike all of the other injuries she has caused him, this one requires medical attention. Rowan's family soon comes to believe she has become a psycho. Rowan decides it's time to slightly break away from her home in England. She receives a job as a nanny in America. At first Rowan is upset with her new job. This may be because of the "nut job" mother, the father who hit on her, and sadly, the pressured, stressed-out, little girl she cares for. Soon enough Rowan befriends two normal beings: Iggy, an abandoned iguana owned by her boss, and Grandma. Unfortunately Iggy is going to be given away and Grandma will be returning to her home shortly. Therefore Rowan hops on a bus with Iggy to a new, unexplored destination. On the bus Rowan meets a guy who she develops a crush on. He tells her about his destination, which is a resort located in the woods that he works at. This young man helps her and gets her a job and a place to stay at the resort. Rowan is very happy with her decision of joining the gentleman. The daycare center is where Rowan works; she is not a huge fan of her career but loves the resort and the guy. One day an attractive woman appears, and Rowan discovers it's the guy she met on the buses ex girlfriend. Rowan's man leaves her for his ex. Yet her ex's new relationship is on the rocks and Iggy is becoming restless. Rowan is concerned that he needs a permanent home. She is also concerned about her love life3. Now if you want to find out who gets the guy, and if Iggy will find a permanent home, READ THE BOOK!!
My opinion of this novel is that it is just good. Nothing special, nothing climactic, it was not up to my personal standards. I also viewed the book as extremely predictable and revealing. The story was interesting enough to continue reading, but not complex enough to be put on a "Best Books" list. Also, the characters didn't' have very complicated personalities. I would recommend this book, but only to people who are looking for a very easy, leisurely read.

I was appalled as I read this book!

It is pure trash! The amount of four letter swear words, violence, disrespect for authority, excessive drinking, liberal use of marijuana, and casual sex left me nauseated.

It was a struggle to read through the book and I kept hoping that it got better as I read along. It never did. It was very slow paced and boring for the first 250 pages until Rowan, the main character, meets up with her would be lover, a Southern guy named Landon.
He turns out to be a marijuana addict and drunkard, yet, after they spend no more than a week together, she falls madly in love with him. Only to have him suddenly run off with his abusive ex-girlfriend, Coco.

Rowan mopes around for a month as she deals with work and having to look at Coco fight, abuse, and prance around showing off and making out with Landon. After fighting for the millionth time, Coco finally leaves and Landon comes crying back to Rowan.
Rowan accepts him back they live together for a month and she grows preoccupied when he doesn't want to speak of his feelings. He was never open about his feelings, why she expects him to change all of the sudden I've no idea.
Landon gets another letter from Coco and disappears. Rowan can't take it anymore and leaves Landon to release her pet Iguana in Cancun, Mex. He finds her halfway there, and they make up and drive off to Cancun together. It couldn't get any more idiotic or stupid! It was a waste of money!

Calafornia holloday is not at all what i expected. It looked good but i was mistaking. The Main Character Roanne meets this guy and he is a drug adict. She falls in love with him. I mean come on, you know someone has serious problems so you go out of your way to spend as much time with him as possible? It makes no sence. It is a mindless half hearted novel that could have been way better if Cann didnt ruin it with a really stupid main charater, drugs, the characters constantly trying to get into other characters pants!!! It has a crummy ending too! This is really a book i would not recomend. This is not a good book at all. It is mediocre to the last degree.

Rowan is a British teenager from England. She's like any ordinary girl, just making her way through life and enjoying the experiences along the way. On the other hand, one experience is not so pleasant. Living with her brother is a drag. He annoys Rowan all the time and is a little pest. Rowan can't be in England anymore with her family and just has to get away. She decides to become a nanny and go to America. She has never been to America and she hasn't been a real nanny before. Rowan finds a job in Seattle for a family with a little girl. Nothing is going right with this family and the only friend she really has at this point is a pet iguana, who is being trapped upstairs in a cage of this Seattle family's apartment. Rowan decides she can't take it anymore and she has to protect the iguana because the family wants to get rid of it. Her next adventure is to San Francisco, California. She meets a boy, Landon, after her first bus ride and he takes her with him to Truckee, California. Rowan is starting to really like Landon, even though he is kind of a jerk. Will her time at Truckee be the greatest thing that has ever happened to her? Will she finally meet her true love?

I really enjoyed this book. It had a lot of meaning to it that was completely real. This girl is trying to truly find herself and where she belongs. Where will she be in life? That is what really makes this book complete. This is an enjoyable and fun book to read. I recommend it to anybody who loves some romance and humor all mixed together. Kate Cann is an extraordinary author with a way of bringing books to life.

Rowan wants to get away from her parents and her brother who is good at everything. She decides to quit college and become a nanny. Rowan gets a nanny job in the United States for a family with one little girl, Flossy. At first she thinks this is going to go really well, and she is going ot become really good friends with Sha, the mother. Rowan can't take all of the fighting, she thinks Flossy should be able to do what she wants and not go to dance class, have a nature diary. Now that Flossy's parents are fighting all of the time and she has to do so much more than just take care of Flossy she is thinking about quiting. When Flossy's grandmother comes to visit she talks to her a lot about leaving and her grandmother tells her to go for it, but she doesn't want to leave Flossy. Will she go find another job or will she stay for Flossy?
Some things I liked about California Holiday is all of the drama after Rowan goes to California and all of the suspence of what was going ot happen next. I would recommend this book to people who also like the other holiday books from Kat Cann.

I liked this book. The list of things to bring, etc. was a good start.

I purchased this book and two others. Quite frankly the others were rubbish. One of the other giudes suggested hints to save money on food, "don' eat", hardly a good guide.

Steve or Uncle Steve as we called him after a week of using his book knows his way around Disneyworld. His schedules whilst not perfect will allow you to see as much as humanly possible in the time you have allocated.

Here is the only problem, can you and your family keep up with his pace? I found that after four days of his schedules we were just about shot. If you are going to go "hardcore" and use his schedule then plan in a rest day somewhere in the middle. You can also just take a time out and miss a ride in the middle. Good ones to do this on are the little kiddy rides. On a rest day just go to the pool and maybe catch dinner and a Disney firework show, then get an early night for the next day.

Last year I went to Disney on 4 separate occasions, one 5 day, 2 3 days and a 2 day. Having Steves book made sure I got value for money. I have been on EVERY ride (except Dumbo) at least once, and my favourite rides 3-5 times in this period.

I truly feel sorry for people who don't use a guide and go to Disneyworld and wander aimlessly through the park. They may get 4 rides in a day, if they are lucky. If you are spending up to $1000 or more on tickets for your family to visit then get your moneys worth.

Buy the guide, read it, read it again and take it with you. It will be one of the cheapest things you buy related to Disney anyway.

As a "no stars" rating is not available, I am giving this the lowest rating possible, 1 star.

There are lots of good guidebooks out there, this cannot be counted among them. This guide seems more cobbled together than anything else. I would recommend the Passporter guide or the Unofficial Guide over this. Both would be money better spent.

I was disappointed in this guide. There is nothing here that you can't find in more depth and with more objectivity in the Unofficial Guides.

While this may be an OK guide, please note that it was reprinted in 2006 withOUT being updated. Much of the information here is no longer true -- there are tips for attractions that don't exist anymore! Particularly troubling are inaccuracies related to ticketing, park hours, special events, on-site amenities, and dining/recreation/reservation policies. Some hints are still applicable and therefore helpful, but unknowing first-timers (or anyone who selects this guide as his/her sole source of information) will be misled in significant ways.