Vacations Books

This book contains almost nothing about working in Japan. Half of the website links they provide don't even work anymore. The living in Japan part is quite helpful though.

I lived in Japan for one year as an exchange student, and plan to go back after graduating college. That's why I picked up this book.

This book is loaded with information, and references to other places to find information as well. The book has tons of weblinks, and email addresses of organizations to help you out once you get abroad.

The book is very real, and is NOT a tourist book. It covers topics such as taxes, how to rent apartments, how to get your car overseas, why NOT to bring your car overseas, marriage issues, employement issues, and everything.

This is a good book for the person who intends to spend an extended amount of time in Japan.

My mom bought "Pikachu's Vacation" for part of my birthday present and it is awesome. I read the book for part of my SOAR project in Mrs. Garrett's third grade class at Powell Elementary, The Woodlands, Texas.

Most of the story takes place at Pokemon Playground. Ash, Misty and Brock, all Pokemon trainers, take little Pikachu for some fun. Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Togepi plan to have a blast with their cute yellow friend. It isn't long before the Pokemon realize how important friendship is.

Soon a group of Pokemon bullies (Snubble, Raichu, Marril and Cubone)try to fight Pikachu and his friends. Bad things start to happen and Pikachu falls in the river while trying to rescue baby Togepi. Will Pikachu and Togepi be saved? Will they get the bullies to become their friends? You will have to read the book to find out.

If you are a Pokemon fan, read this book today. it's so good you'll have a blast reading it.

Formulaic series book, but a favourite of Pokemaniacs wherever they may be. I don't find the Pokemon phenomenon all that offensive. Like most fads and fashions that have preceded it (Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers et al) no doubt it too will pass. All the huff and puff and moralising doesn't change the fact that Disney has retained a grip on child (and older) culture for decades, and that can be as nauseating in its own way as any other mass cultural fad. This book cashes in on the movie, and will be read alone by the competent sub-teen reader, or by parents aloud. There isn't any killing in Pokemon - there are battles, and competition between 'trainers' and their captive Pokemon. The writing is hardly inspiring, but then kids' taste are as eclectic as any one else's - one minute the original Winnie the Pooh, or Alice, the next Pokemon.

Useful but not as comprehensive or up to date as others.

It's a good book, but some data about cruise lines and ships are out of date. The info about cruise ships are poor (it could be more complete and organized as in Berlitz guide). This guide is better for passenger asking for info about destinations (but the info on Brazil is also poor - there's no reference to important destinations as Búzios, Ilhabela, Florianopolis, Fortaleza, Recife, Natal and the paradise islands of Fernando de Noronha).
Daniel R.Carneiro
Cruising On Line
Editor
http://www.cruising.com.br

If you are looking for an academic treatise on nice houses of this time and place, or want to get a little history on specific houses in the area, I suspect this is a marvelous book. The basic pattern is one or two exterior pictures, often somewhat small, and a couple of pages of text, for each of a hundred lovely old getaway homes for the wealthy of the time. I buy a lot of books in the general vein of beautiful old homes/camps/cottages/cabins in beautiful recreational areas such as Maine and other Coastal New England and like most of them. This one just wasn't good fodder for the fantasy of what it would be to own one of these houses. There were only a handful of interior photos in the whole book, and many/most of the exterior photos are small black and whites from old magazines from the area. I appreciate being educated a little while I dream, but this one was order's of magnitudes too dry for me.

This book is a well researched and, to my personal knowledge, an accurate historical account of these houses. The description of the house that my great grandfather had built for our family was biographically accurate and architectually detailed. Beautifully illustrated. Having personal details of the lives of the people who built these houses adds depth and interest. A wonderful reading experience for people with N.H. roots and interest in turn of the century architecture.

I've hated this book. It makes fun of the poor downtrodden souls,it laughs at the helpless struggle of poor unfortunate men and women waiting hopelessly to exhale. Cruel and uncharming.

Connolly disects the British class system with a hilarious examination of snobbery, greed and jealousy wrapped into a farcial summer holiday. This is laugh out loud funny made all the better because I read it on a beach in Tahitit - about as far removed from the British coastal holiday described in the book as you can get.

I have no trouble determining what kind of climate or what size town I would like to retire to - this book offers the kind of information that REALLY helps me make decisions about relocation for retirement - the tax consequences of relocation and specific, state-by-state information about the tax burdens placed on retirees (or anyone else who is thinking about relocation)! The book includes information about the tax structures of several cities within each state so you can get great info on local taxes, too. The tax info is broken down into each kind of tax; income tax, property tax, sales tax, auto taxes, & other special taxes. States & cities are ranked according to tax burdens for several different income levels. In other books I've read that rank cities, the rankings are pretty subjective - I don't need or want a city that's ranked higher because it has an opera house or a sports stadium! The rankings in this book are based on taxes - plain & simple! State & Local taxes work out to be around 40% of the total taxes paid by each of us, so savings on state and local taxes can make a big difference in comfort and quality of life. Recent studies have shown that states with lower taxes actually provide better services, in other words; schools, parks, roads and other state funded amenities are as good or better in low-tax states. Ever wonder why all the movie stars buy ranches in Wyoming? This book explains it!!!! I hope the authors will update this book every few years! It's a perfect resource!

There are numerous retirement magazines which do better job. This book provides a very basic look at information for planners of the general location for a retirement. It assumes only couples (this may dramatically change if one of marital partners dies) and does not explicitely describe anywhere in the publication the exact meaning of the headings in the aptly worked out tables of taxation accordingly to income level for typical 150 cities,of real estate property taxation, and assumed automobile ownership. It also assumes average statistical consumer goods expenditures of a typical shopping profile for sales tax computing.

It does not clearly state whether posted tabulated taxes are prorated for a year, or for a month. My check up of the state taxes calculated for the states I am familiar with, or lived in, came with much bigger amounts, sometimes of an order of magnitude. The authors possibly include very large medical expenses typical for seniors, which are deducatble in all states.
The authors totally omitted to rate cost of auto insurance which varies greatly, and is in some "inexpensive" states very high, while in some expensive places average to modest.

The retirement advisory publications are of such poor quality that when I retire I plan to write my own book for those who are neither proletarians, nor really wealthy people, non of those either needing or being able to relocate. Other "advisory" publication are concerned about golf courses and bingo clubs assuming that people past age 65 turn into morons drooling obove pictures of their great offsprings and have no other interest.

I was brought up on the "Rules".Mom explained to be "nice", but certainly NOT a "doormat".She told me that there were two types of women men dated, women for "fun". ie:sex, and women for marriage. I knew at an early age which of the two I wanted to be! I dated alot of great guys, and married at 24. Well,the marriage ended almost ten years later,and in my hurt and anger over the end of my marriage, I did a BRILLIANT{NOT}thing, and ditched the Rules I was raised on,and did a 360 degree turn!I made myself totally available, called guys,paid dutch on dates,you name it!I figured I grew up on the Rules, only to end up divorced, so who needs 'em? Too bad I failed to see that the end of my marriage had to do with my ex's fidelity problems. Did the abdication of the Rules work for me? NO!!NO!!NO!! After a few years of dating without the Rules,with no serious commitments,let alone marriage,I decided to pick up this book,and see what all the fuss was about!It was amazing...it basically was all the tidbits I had learned as a child from my Mother! I started immediatly, and it did not take long for me to meet and marry my wonderful husband. We just celebrated 6 years together! So.....I can see that some would be offended by this way of thinking and acting, but TRUST ME,NOT doing the Rules, or a facsimile of them,will only set you up for pain, and heartache.Also, ask your Aunts,and Grandmothers THEIR take on the Rules.My Grandma was married for almost 51years,when she passed on...A Rules girl, for sure. Also,my Aunt's are in their 80's and have been married for almost 60 years! They did the Rules too!

Manipulative? Deceitful? Cynical? Yes, I would have to agree. But I have NEVER been so motivated by my girlfriend. I prefer the last part of the story. I always say this of my favourite books, but this is just REVOLUTIONARY.

I lived by this book when I was single. My best friend and I actually made a pact that we were going to follow the 'rules'. We both met our husbands while following The Rules. They seem a little old-fashioned, but I think they are valid.

First and foremost, I would like to thank the authors, Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider for writing such a wonderful book for women! Their advice really worked for me and I know that it will work for many women. This book is not about playing games at all!!! In the past I did The Rules without even knowing about it and I got more proposals than anything else but at the time I was not ready for marriage. I never called a guy not that I was playing a game or anything but I just thought that it was his job to call me. I always loved to be pursued because it makes me feel special as a woman. I never acted cheap or slept with a man before commitment ie., engagement. This was before I even knew about The Rules. Ever since I slacked off, I noticed that guys got lazy on me. Now I know why. Now Iam currently dating someone who said that they love me and want to marry me within two months!!! I would like to add something.... REMEMBER you are also weeding out the WRONG guys too... so don't be surprised if a guy suddenly stops calling..he might not be for you! NEXT!! :-)... Ladies we have all the power in the world!! *Before the rules can be applied correctly you have to love yourself and be busy with your own hobbies. Don't just stay at home and wait for a phone call because that will make you fraustrated. One more important thing, DATE other guys until he proposes; you will have fun in the process.

This book is the best relationship book you'll ever invest in. I always had dead end relationships. I felt like all the guys were using me. When I read this book, I saw all the mistakes that I made with men. I called too much, I was available for last minute dates, I returned phone calls within mintues etc. I did the opposite of every rule in the book!! All my relationships never worked. I almost gave up on love altogether until oneday I went to the bookstore. I was checking on the relationship section and that's where I saw this book. This book is a life saver. Girls, this book is not about game playing it is human nature and we must act accordingly. If you want a satifying relationships that leads to marriage then this is your book.

There are very few books that I have enjoyed (or would even bother picking up) in this new Jane Austen kick that seems to be sweeping people away. Don't get me wrong. I'm a huge Austen fanatic! And this is one of the few books where I felt like I could just sit and relax with a fellow Austen fan. You can't be expecting a great piece of literature from this book...but as chick lit goes, the character was endearing (and not over the top like a lot of chick lit main characters tend to be) and the plot was cute enough to make you continually smile and turn the page. I absolutely recommend!

I am a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice - I have read the book every summer since it was on my summer reading list in high school and I own both the BBC and Keira Knightley DVDs. No one can ever compare to Jane Austen! That being said, I thought Alexandra Potter's book was thoroughly entertaining and perfect for summer reading - it's fast, it's funny and I really liked Emily. As far as some reviewers comments about why Darcy would like her - he's apparently somewhat of a figment of her imagination - she wouldn't dream up someone who doesn't like her!
I thought the other characters were also engaging - in a fluffy summer-reading sort of way. Stella, Freddy, Rose, Maeve. Miss Steane was a quirky addition, too. There were portions of the book that I was laughing out loud - much to the annoyance of my daughters!
I wasn't reading this book expecting "GREAT LITERATURE" like Pride and Prejudice, and found a humorous, engaging story that I will recommend to my friends.

I've always loved Jane Austen, but she only wrote six novels and I can only read them so many times. So what's a gal to do? Pick up a novel related to Jane Austen. Still waiting for the next Jane Austen mystery novel by Stephanie Barron to be published, I picked this book up on a whim. It seems to be a cross between chick lit and magical realism.

The other reviewers on Amazon made some good detailed points about the novel's weaknesses regarding the characters: Emily is rather sarcastic and the third leg of the love triology is a foul-mouthed, slovenly journalist. However, these characters are in line with the theme of the novel.

Emily discovers that romantic characters are fun to dream about but real people have real flaws, whereas, imaginary characters belong to an imaginary world. It was fun seeing the author's vision of Mr. Darcy transported into the modern world and how his romanticized faults may not play out so well in the real world. (I won't detail them and spoil the read.)

There is some rough language in this novel and modern-style romantic relationships, which may offend some readers who prefer the chaste behavior of the Jane Austen novels. But if you want a fun beach read, a book which could take a little sand or suntan lotion spilled onto it, you might find this a different perspective on Mr. Darcy to consider. And it might cause some single women to consider whether they are looking for a real man to have a relationship with--or an unachievable illusion.

This book is mostly fluff, but it's a fun and a quick read. It does deal with at least one major issue: women in relationships and why they choose who they do. I haven't decided yet if the book ends in a copout. Suffice it to say, the book takes what could be construed as an anti-feminist take on relationships. Think My Fair Lady or (obviously) Pride and Prejudice. However, it's a love story and as we all know, life and love rarely turn out like a treatise on the perfection of the female psyche. Take it for what it is and you won't be disappointed.

There is apparently no end to the Jane Austen craze. We have had prequels and sequels to 'Pride and Prejudice' to say nothing of Bridget Jones and her ilk. It seems that any aspiring author can find an audience and make a couple of bucks by trading on the Austen name, the Austen characters and the Austen plots. All that is lacking is the Austen talent.
Following on the success of 'The Jane Austen Book Club,' now comes Alexandra Potter with her modern "chick lit" take on P&P. I bought this book at Washington National Airport for a flight to Fort Lauderdale and had finished it well before the pilot told us to switch off all electronic devices for landing. Did it make me laugh? Not really (maybe a half smile on a couple of occasions). Did it make me cry? No. Did it make me feel anything at all -- sad, happy, amused, diverted, stimulated? No, none of the above. Did it prevent me from falling asleep? Barely.
Feisty New York bookstore manager Emily albright, who thinks she's plain but will discover she is really beautiful, takes a Jane Austen tour of England with a group of older women and one dashing British reporter called Spike (yes Spike!)Among his attractive traits, he smokes and has a beer belly. But he has a lovely British accent. (So do I, where are you Emily?)
Oh those lovable Brits driving on the wrong side of the road with their quaint language and their villages and weird food! Much merriment is to be had from observing their strange customs. I laughed and laughed.
Emily soon finds herself reliving the plot of Pride and Prejudice, a witty conceit. At the same time, she has occasional weird flashbacks to the year 1813 where none other than Mr. Darcy himself is waiting to woo her. Who will she choose? The adorable Spike in our own times or the stiff but devastatingly attractive Darcy back in the Napoleonic era, who we discover to our horror is a sexist who disapproves of women working outside the home? The suspense is killing and far be it from me to spoil the tense climax for any reader who picks up this book.
The more people try to copy Austen, the greater her genius seems and the paler each imitation is by comparison. The particular example seems to me an especially cynical and exploitative effort. It's writing by numbers. It's predictable and pedestrian -- but I could forgive that if it were even mildly amusing or romantic. But it's not. Sorry!

The book arrived in great shape and in a timely manner. Thank you.

I may be mistaken but my order was for an Audio book with the same title.

I don't know what some of the people reviewing this book are hoping for here - Chaucer? Danielle Steel provides in this book a good storyline and some believable and very entertaining characters. I listened to the audiobook version (unabridged) and loved it. It is good entertainment while driving, and it's one I own and listen to over and over again. As far as light literature goes, Ms. Steel delivers.

I agree that the book is rather truncated. It was definitely a delight to read though. Agathe is priceless!!!

Get ready to be entertained by this sad, but funny story of 3 couples who set out to vacation in their dream house, only to find out it's not so dreamy after all.

Having read the book, as well as knowing Lisa, I can assure you Lisa was not a good salesperson, therefore neither is the book. The question at hand really is......Do I want to vacation and is it important to yourself and family. If you want to vacation, it can be a good deal, if u use it, as an owner for over 20 years. On the other hand if u need to subsidize the cost of your vacations by taking tours for a gift, ownership is not within your realm. Simply don't take a tour, easy solution. People in the timeshare business are like any business, most are a good lot, if u have an open mind and can afford the product, look at it. If u can't supply those conditions stay away and save yourself the aggravation. Like any informed buyer, determine what you need, condos, hotels, length of stay, location etc. Be an informed buyer.

Fantastic resource for anyone interested in purchasing a timeshare. Good information (although a bit dated) and excellent resources are listed for more up-to-date info.

I've read several For Dummies books in the past and found them useful, but I think the editors got "taken in" by the author of this very misleading book. What purports to be a book benefiting the consumer is, in fact, a thinly veiled advancement of the very worst self-interested ideas of resort developers and retail timeshare salespeople (of which the author of this book is one). Her conflict of interest jumps out all over the place. Let me give you two specific examples to show why this book must be avoided by anyone thinking of buying a timeshare intelligently.

First, savvy timeshare owners know that you should virtually never buy a timeshare new, as they trade at discounts of 60 per cent or more in the (large) resale market. Nowhere in the book does the author mention that as much as 60 per cent of the cost of a "new" timeshare interval is the developer's marketing costs (all those free theme park tickets, etc.), so if you sell your timeshare you stand to lose a lot of money. Whenever this author mentions resales, it's usually to say something negative. Instead, she offers this howler from page 181: "Timeshares can and do increase in value," she writes, "however, but inflation may negate any gains you make."

Second (and this is not an innocent mistake on the part of the author), on page 135 she tells readers that if they buy at a "standard" resort they can't ever exchange into a more upscale (five-star, gold crown, etc.) resort. "You can always trade down," she writes, "but you cannot trade up." Say what? That is a complete falsehood, and is just what sleazy salespeople say to get people to overpay for fancy timeshares. I own two weeks at "standard" resorts and exchange them all the time into top-rated 5-star places like Sheraton's Vistana or the Star Island resort in Orlando.

The For Dummies people have accomplished nothing with this book other than to allow this timeshare salesperson and consultant to appear more credible by becoming a published author. Readers should run, not walk, from this misleading effort.

This is a very good reference, although it is biased in favor of timeshares because the author sells timeshares. If anyone wants to learn about timeshares outside of a sales presentation, this is a good way to do it.

It always fascinates me to see how interpretations of the same literature can vary so radically. I too have purchase and read this "Dummies" book. I must emphasize "Dummies" book. In my opinion, Ms Schreier has done exactly what you might expect. She has offered a basic, statistical observation of timeshare that is easily understood by the novice. Lots of information and a thorough explanation of pros and cons of the industry. In fact, I might also add that in my opinion, she has spoken from both sides of the table.....from the salesperson's perspective and equally so from the purchaser's perspective. Hats off to Lisa Anne....a job well done.....nothing boring or dry, just an honest quick reading piece of research that all should benefit from.

For those that are looking for a more in depth study on the subject, this may not be for you however for the rest of us this is a great read.

As for the fellow that seems to be promoting himself and boasting his 25 years of experience in the business....what can be said? Rather than telling publishers of your greatness and using this book as your platform as how not to do it, perhaps you should find a better source of promotion like direct contact and aggressiveness in that direction.