..;-I Books

I still cannot pick which one is my favorite - this one or the Order of the Phoenix - but I just love to reread these books. It was in great shape and would order again

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is a great book - and Jim Dale is unsurpassed in his characterizations, dynamics, and presentation. This audio book is highly recommended to those whom wish to listen to a good book on that long drive to work or a vacation spot!

So it is obvious that I am completely tardy to the whole Harry Potter trend.

My wife and I last November began making an effort to read the series and watch the movies as we finished each book. So far, just finishing GoF, each book is better than the last... and I thought Prisoner of Azkaban was amazing.

This book I feel is where I really connected and appreciated the series, where the whole world of HP takes a dark turn and jumps out of it's "kid's book" skin. The ending floored me completely, though I should have seen it coming, but I'll say no more so not to spoil the book for anybody (though, I do feel like the last person on Earth to read it).

There are the typical Harry Potter plot twists throughout the book, but the world of wizards and goblins and elves and hippogryphs etc. is still very fresh.

If for some reason you haven't read this book, do so now, and if you have yet to dive into the HP series you are extremely fortunate because you're in for some great reading.

I have read every book in this series multiple times. Goblet of Fire is one of my favorites. I think this book is the one where Harry starts to become an adult. Not only is he thrown into the Tri-wizard Tournament, he also starts to notice girls and experience jealousy. Awww, adolescence.

The book starts out with Harry spending the usual summer at the Dursley's, but we are quickly taken to the Quidditch World Cup. I love the comedy Rowling throws in here, with the tents and the different ways wizards avoid Muggles. However, Harry is soon back at Hogwarts and he faces his usual trials and tribulations, but he (along with the reader) faces horrors he never dreamed about. We finally learn about other schools in the wizarding world, which is great information for lovers of the series.

Following in suit of the other Harry Potter books, Goblet of Fire is full of action and spells and all the things the fans love. Unlike the other books, the book is fairly dark. However, any fan of the series will like this book. It has all the ingredients a good reader loves.

This is my favorite book of the series. It has the most action while still being a fairly upbeat book. Some of the later ones, especially book 5, take a much darker, woe is me kind of tone that took some struggling to get through.

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire takes place in Harry Potter's fourth year at Hogwartz. This is not an ordinary year though, this year the Triwizard Tournament is being held at the school. Delegations from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons visit the school to compete in the Tournament. It's an age old tournament where each school has a champion that has to complete three tasks. The champion who completes the three tasks the best, receives the most points, and becomes Triwizard Champion. This year, however, is a bit different. Someone it seems is out to get Harry and has put his name in the goblet of fire. They've ensured he becomes a champion and has to undertake the tasks set forth in the Tournament. Harry must watch his back because someone is out to get him. Voldemort's most loyal servant is at Hogwartz and has his eye on Harry.

Yes, my life was sadly lacking this story for quite a while, and I didn't even know it!

Crown Duel is completely awesome. There's a strong, yet imperfect heroine (the story wouldn't be as good if she were perfect. She has a quick temper and often jumps to conclusions. She is also rather tactless), a mysterious, handsome, intelligent, yet irritating, marquis (whose name is the only real downside of the book. Shevraeth is a totally awful name, if you ask me), and nonstop adventure and suspense.

The characters are all very believable-I always have to put the book down and have a good cringe every time poor Mel runs into another huge embarrassment or problem.

Further more, this book made me laugh out loud several times, mostly during Mel's ironic conversations with (ugh) Shevraeth. Me laughing out loud over a book is not at all common -more evidence that this is one special book.

By the way, this is a "Clean" book, for those intelligent and discerning people who care about that sort of thing.

One little note: if you are in the habit of or are tempted to read the end before you get to it: DO NOT! It spoils a lot of the story. Thank you!

I am a well read, college educated adult. That being said this is one of my all time favorite books and probably the most reread of all that grace my overflowing bookshelves.

I love that it is an easy read. Part II is my favorite, I love the court intrigue. The main character reminds me of myself not so long ago, and her bad habit of making assumptions and prematurely judging people are pretty familiar too.

Try it.

This book was so bad that I actually keep it on the shelf so that I wont forget the author's name or the writing style. Nothing seemed coherent in this novel and the dialogue was awful.

A great fantasy story of Meliara. She swears to her father on his deathbed that she will reclaim the kingdom, which was once her mothers, and she will reclaim it from the greedy King Galdran. This leads her village to a war against the king and will threaten the lives of the people and their homes. This is a great book for fantasy lovers and people who love stories about court life.

I have to agree with the editorial reviews above; this book is somewhat predictable and the plot is a bit trite (when a male & a female character bicker throughout the whole book, we all know what's going to happen at the end, right?). However, the characters are well-developed and the world is richly detailed, with a unique culture and customs.

As a 20-year-old English major and a connoisseur of young adult lit (it being the only section of the university library I can find my way around in), I'd recommend it for fans of YA girl-oriented fantasy. Anyone who likes Tamora Pierce, Donna Jo Napoli, Gail Carson Levine, or Robin McKinley should be satisfied with this series.

While this book has more action, I preferred the sequel, Court Duel. It's a bit hard to find unless you know what you're looking for - it's very hard to find on its own, but can be found bundled with Crown Duel in one volume, confusingly titled Crown Duel. It appears Amazon has finally cleverly changed it to "Crown Duel (Originally Published as the Two Books Crown Duel and Court Duel) (Firebird) (Paperback)," which clarifies things. It provides a satisfying conclusion to the story.

If this were a movie, it'd get two thumbs up. Assuming the reviewer had two thumbs. If the reviewer had lost one of their thumbs in a tragic nose-picking accident, then this would still be a two thumbs up book -- it's just that one of the thumbs would be all decayed and probably smell.

Arguably the most read and entertaining book I have ever read. I find myself revisiting this one often for it is the most entertaining and real books around. I've been a fan of Lloyd and his films and have supported Troma since I was teen. I'm 32 years old now and have had many opportunities to meet my most cherished idol. Lloyd is one of the most caring and appreciative people to his fans and like them or not this book has it all. LONG LIVE TROMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just started reading this book a few days ago and have had a hard time putting it down. It's very informative on the inner workings of making an independent film. Also very funny.

I love reading books about independent film making but most of them wind up getting a little dry at some point. It's hard to find a book about the filmmaking process that's interesting and entertaining but this book certainly accomplishes that. You don't even need to be a troma fan to enjoy this book. As long as you're intersted in the creative process (even if what is being creative is really weird)then this book is worth reading.

A well written great paced autobiography heartfelt and funny at the same time. Full of great jokes and moments that will make you laugh out loud and others that will shock the most inner part of your soul. A must own for Troma fans, and a good introduction for Troma for newcomers. I would also suggest that you also purchase Lloyd Kaufman's novel The Toxic Avenger: The Novel

Having read this book previously I bought it so I could display it proudly on my bookshelf.
It is now sitting in the front row position looking marvelous!

The story is magnificent, the presentation is breath taking, and the book keeps popping up in conversations all over the place.
I just keep recommending this book as a great read what ever age!

Definitely worth a look!

This book teaches us to celebrate our uniqueness! Great for teachers who deal with bullies or low self esteem issues with their students. I also love the illustrations.

I bought this book first for a friend's daughter, a second-grader who was having some trouble feeling like she "fit in" with the other girls in her class. Worried that she might be "too big" for a picture book, but she LOVED the story and was able to relate to it and find the deeper meaning, with her mom's guidance. Now I have bought more to give away to other friends and family!!!!

It's just a great book with beautiful illustrations and a beautiful, important message. I ordered the hard cover/paper book for my son's first birthday. He received the board book from his aunt/uncle/cousins for the same birthday. He loves it! Flips the pages and just stares at the pictures.

I first heard about this book at a Women's Retreat in 2008. Even though this was written for children, a woman's husband bought it for his wife, who seemed very insecure. I absolutely loved it and before going home, bought it for my 17 year old daughter. Since then I have written a Play along with music to match for our women to do in raising money for the next Womens Retreat. I totally, 100% recommend this book! Hats off to Max Lucado on a well written book!

Livia Bitton-Jackson tells her story as a young teenage child and how she survived the brutality of the Holocaust and the horrors of Auschwitz.Born Livia (Ellie) Friedmann in 1931 in the picturesque and sleepy town of Somorja between the Carpathians and the Danube, in a fairly religious Jewish home.
At the age of 13 Ellie witnessed the invading Nazis sweeping into her town and the life of the family was turned upside down. Ellie as particularly upset at her brand new bicycle being taken way by the Nazis, together with all of the families positions as happened to all Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe before they were deported.

She describes the heart wrenching scene where she sees her father for the last time before he is deported by the Nazis to Auschwitz. Ellie and her mother are later deported to Theresienstadt ghetto where they face starvation and extreme deprivation and then to the horrors of Auschwitz which she describes in horrific detail, in this factual and at the same time human and sensitive account.
She describes the great suffering of the Jews in Auschwitz and the unbelievable brutality of the Nazis.
She survived because a Nazi officer was intrigued by her blond hair and passed her onto the section of those who would be set to work rather than be sent straight away to be exterminated in the gas chambers.
She describes her sadness, through her own starvation and suffering of seeing a consignment of small Jewish children, still pretty and fresh faced, having been newly arrived in Auschwitz and sent straight to their deaths in the gas chambers.
Through her determination and series of miracles Ellie and her mother (who she took great care of and rescued) survived the Holocaust, as did her brother Bubi.
but not before an ambush of the survivors by retreating Nazi forces after it became clear that Nazi Germany had lost the war.
After surviving Auschwitz Elie looked sixty years old, according to a German women from a nearby village, who met the survivors The woman was shocked to discover that Elie was only 14 years old.

After the war Elie desperately wanted to go to the Land of Israel which she knew was the only true home of the Jewish people , and that even in the USA they would really always be foreigners. Millions of Jewish survivors waited for certification that they would be allowed into what was then still British ruled 'Palestine'.

But as she did not want to be separated from her family she went with them to New York instead in 1951. Even as the Jewish refugees arrived in New york the all sand Hatikvah, the Zionist anthem. Sung by so many thousands of Holocaust survivors.
Livia dedicated this book the the children of Israel today who 'unclaimed and unsung risk their lives everyday, just by travelling to school in Judea, Samaria and Gaza for the sake of a secure peace in Israel-the only guarantee that a holocaust will never happen again"

Brings to life a first hand account of the atrocities and inhuman conditions the Jewish people endured under Hitlers dictatorship. Stories such as this should be required reading for students.

It has been a lifelong interest for me to read the touching and heart wrenching stories of Holocaust survivors and what they were forced to endure at the torturous hands of the Nazis. Each story would always give me pause, make me feel the authors fear and pain. This story even goes beyond that and enters the realm of near miraculous. How this young girl and her Mother and brother ever lived through the starvation and thirst, outrageous work tasks put upon them, the terror of what they saw and heard up close on a relentless course of intimidation is nearly supernatural. All through these plagues, it was Livia, herself, who wanted to live no matter what was occuring. She is a beautiful survivor of all the external and internal inhumanities that evil can pour on a young girl. Thank God she wrote this all down so that the rest of the world can emulate her love of being alive.

This is such a heart touching story. I have yet to have read a book that touches me as much as this one has. Amazing!

I used this memoir is a high school English class as the students' nonfiction piece. Many students have read Anne Frank and they enjoyed reading her diary, but felt like they missed something (i.e. life in the camps). The students loved reading a real-life book about growing up in the camps. The book is told in detail, with not only dialogue and events catalogued, but emotions are noted. Some seasons were graphic, but not to the point where students felt uncomfortable. The story, unlike some other memoirs, gives the students hope. Many students said this was the best Holocaust memoir they had read to date. I agree. I cried, I laughed, I was angry, but above all we as a class learned so much about history.

Excellent read. Very well written; even if I had never been to Hawaii, I could envision what it was like. Also very historically accurate and informative. Truly shows how the human spirit can persevere and even thrive in the most adverse circumstances. Wonderful characters.

to me, this was the book of a lifetime.i rarely re-read a book but this one is in that stack.
this is a story that the bones of have been told for centuries in Hawaiian and Christian lore. Molaka'i is the island of lepers,the island of the unclean,the island of Father Damien and the nuns.

you will cry...you will smile and yes, one or two times you will laugh. this author makes his characters seem alive. their story is so horrible,taken from their families at all ages and left to"rot" on a far out Hawaiian island.
after a period of time you will see that no matter what love conquors all. it may not be how you wanted it to be but you will find a new way to cope,a new way to love and a new way to restore faith of all kinds.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Would totally recommend it for a book club because there are so many areas open for discussion. Social policy, discrimination, medical research. All in a very interesting read.

This book is very informantive and has a heart warming story line. I could not put it down. It was so good I bought an extra copy and mailed it to my sister and she is reading as we speak. She is recommending it for her book club. Of course she calls every day and that is the main topic of discussion. We both agree that it is a sad, but wonderful story.

Pros: One thing I thought the author did a great job on was describing in detail the magnificent beauty of the Hawaiian islands, the conflict between native and introduced religion, and just the historical aspects in general. The book was well researched and well written in general, and the words chosen were often quite poetic. The author also would sometimes do a great job of getting into the character's feelings (later in the novel when Rachel is older), but would often miss out (i.e. the young Rachel's thoughts and feelings).

Cons: A major problem I thought the novel had was that the author spent way to much time in Rachel's childhood, but didn't even explore into her conflicts. Although I found Rachel to be a realistic and well made character, during this time, he tries to introduce other characters that seem to just float in and out of the novel without really trying to delve into most of these people. I found the most annoying one to be Sister Catherine. I usually find troubled characters the most interesting, but Brennert really missed the mark with this one. Although it seems like the author was trying to show an emotional struggle for this woman, the surface is only skimmed which leaves you simply wondering about this character; she comes to a conclusion from this internal conflict seemingly out of nowhere with no real reasons.

What could have been a very gripping and fascinating novel left me feeling empty. I really didn't learn much more than when I had googled "Moloka'i" before reading this book, nor get much insight either into how someone might have lived and felt in that time until the end of the book. I hardly ever struggle to get through a novel, but this one would often get very boring and simply tedious.

My only issue with Baby Catcher was that it was too long and a bit rambling (and I could have done without the Bible quotes that preceded each section). Other than that, it's a lovely memoir of a midwife's life in the (sometimes supportive) (sometimes horrifyingly not) Bay Area.

I think it would be a great book for mothers to read, so that the black box of labour and birth can be demystified a bit (from the sheer number of diverse births she describes), and also presented in a light that isn't clinical or or gross or horrible or dangerous or like an illness or condition -- in the same way that the fabulous documentary "The Business of Being Born" should be required viewing for all moms and those who love them.

I also think it's fascinating (and depressing) to learn about the history and state of midwifery in the US and the challenges that both hospitals and midwives face today.

It didn't make me want to have an epidural free home birth, but it certainly made the possibility of a more natural birth (maybe in a birthing centre attached to a hospital) more appealing. And I'm definitely all for midwives. Every pregnant woman should have one. They're phenomenal human beings.

Peggy Vincent is a licensed midwife who specializes in home births. In "Baby Catcher" she shares some of her most memorable experiences as a midwife. This is the second book about midwifery that I have read -the first one being "Labor of Love" by Cara Muhlhahn. And this one was even better than the first.

Peggy writes in a very entertaining and honest way. The chapters give glimpses into her daily midwifery practice, and help you realize what kind of dedication and compassion it takes to be successful in the business of home births. Some of her stories made me laugh out loud and some brought tears to my eyes. Vincent manages to relay the importance of seeing giving birth as something normal and not a disease that necessarily needs to be medically treated. Nevertheless she doesn't pass any judgement on women that choose to go the medical route. But she does shed some light on how doctors and hospitals view giving birth and how their interventions can negatively affect women.
I also found it very interesting to read about her experience with malpractice insurance and how one unjust settlement ended her private practice.

In the final pages Vincent included a summary with some words of wisdom, an overview of the contents of a well stocked home birth kit, a recommended reading list, as well as midwifery economics and safety studies.

I loved every page of this book and it certainly got me motivated to pursue this career path some more!

I loved this book. It should be required reading for all pregnant women when they are making decisions about their care and the ultimate delivery of their child.

Midwives have been villainized by society and the medical establishment. I hope books like this one and others by such authors as Ina May Gaskin, Henci Goer, Pam England, Rob Horowitz, Sheri L. Menelli, Breck Hawk become common reading for all couples planning on having children.

I've experienced an out of hospital, midwife delivery and it was life changing for me as a woman and mother.

Peggy Vincent is a wonderful author and this book will entertain and educate you as you are drawn into Peggy's experiences and life lessons. I highly, highly recommend it.

What I love about this book is that she favors natural childbirth. I have had two babies with no epidural and I don't personally know anyone else that has done that with a difficult labor like mine. It was nice to hear about other woman's stories. It is full of many different birth stories. It is amazing how many different ways there are to labor and give birth. This is a real page turner!

I started this book when I was pregnant with my second child, ended up miscarrying, but continued to read and finish it because of the respect and insight Peggy Vincent ignited in me for my own body. The learning and playful love I felt as I turned the pages outweighed my pangs of hurt and loss - I am so happy I stumbled upon this great book. Highly recommended, and although I'd wished I had found it before my first pregnancy, some women (and men) may want to wait until they have one birth under their belt as the images Ms. Vincent creates will definitly churn the emotions. Turned my western-culture hospital attitude on its head.

You won't find a clearer spirit of realization than that expreseed by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj throughout this book. Even though it's just words on a page, his intuitive spirit, cutting through the mind's sublest attempts to create duality where there is none, can't help but be a profound inspiration to serious students of the Way.

I Am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj is a contemporary spiritual classic with a very direct, no-nonsense style. You may want to read one page at a time and contemplate the meaning of the pearls of wisdom. For instance on page (346) you find this passage - "In awareness you seek not what pleases, but what is true". On page (520) you come across this passage, "True knowledge is ever fresh, new, unexpected. It wells up from within. When you know what you are, you also are what you know. Between knowing and being there is no gap". Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj is a teacher who will help you come to a better understanding of yourself. He was a simple man who lived a humble life in Bombay until the age of 84. Many people have sought him out while he was alive.
If you are interested in a down to earth book about your soul, the miracles of God, who exactly He is, and what you will do in the after-life I suggest you read my book entitled "The Enlightenment, What God Told Me After One Million Prayers: A Message For Everyone." It also deals with Jesus' Passion. I think if you liked Maharaj's book you will love this book. If you are searching for HOPE in a seemingly hopeless world, look no further.

The Amazon reviewer, Stephen Wingate (Boston, MA USA), wrote -

"Nisargadatta Maharaj's "I AM THAT" is the last spiritual book you'll ever need to read. Congratulations, you've reached the end of your search!"

No doubt there are other such blindly enthusiastic reviews for this book on here, but this one was the first that caught my eye.

I must disagree with the man and say that unless you would like a book wherein idiotic questioners (some of whom are also naive Westerners) play verbal tennis with an Indian guru and do nothing but march in circles of stupidity, this will certainly not be the 'end of your search'.

I have the book, and while Nisargadatta Maharaj has some interesting things to say in accordance with his particular system of self-realization, the questioners ruin the entire thing by constantly asking the dumbest of questions and Maharaj, possibly for his own entertainment, allows it. The entire thing reads like a sort of Three Stooges routine. Here's an example:

Q: Yoga helps in the search for and the finding of the self.
M: You can find what you have lost. But you cannot find what you have not lost.

Background: the questioner here mentioned that he rebelled against Christianity and Christians and took up an interest in Yoga, in which he includes the entire arena of Indian thought. He also learned Hatha Yoga from and Indian teacher in America and began teaching it for his own livelihood. This is a familiar story: get bored with Western religion and turn to the groovy East for a replacement. The questioner is on a very, very basic level in his 'spiritual' development. He mentions that, although he has not stopped his seeking, hatha yoga gives him peace of mind. Maharaj shatters this delusion by saying that seeking is restlessness and that his alleged peace of mind is really only the temporary absence of tension. The problem is that, unless you are also in the very early stages in your understanding of these things, the book reads like children asking dopey questions, receiving complex answers, and then asking more dopey questions which voice their confusion over the answers. Over and over and over again for close to four-hundred pages.

Perhaps I'm biased on this issue because I dislike question and answer scenarios on these topics. The questions are universal and have probably occurred to most people treading the territory, but to get caught up in questions, and their answers, and then the questions related to those answers, and the answers answering the questions about the answers, is a tiring and meaningless process. There's simply no need to go on this big head trip like this if you have a real urge for the so-called self-realization. At the most, the words in any book on the subject can only lead you to the point where you feel it is entirely unnecessary to read anymore about it. A point comes when reading is seen as actually moving away from the goal. Just a mind play. Feeding the mind more questions - other peoples' questions that were previously non-existent for you! - and then rattling around more answers in your head. This is getting trapped in a maze.

Perhaps the book is good after all, you will feel so exhausted reading all the stupid question and answer games that you'll throw it down and dive inwards inquiring into who the "I" is that is disgusted with the book and to whom or what that sensation of "I"-ness occurs.

When you understand Sri Nisargadatta speaks as a Self realized human being, these dialogues makes sense. He has abolished the ego and speaks as one with God. His devotees ask the usual questions about how to seek God, and how to worship, but the answer is always the same. Recognize Who you are. There is nothing unusual here, as Sri Nisargadatta is consistent with Ramana Maharshi. There is no dualism. The message is clear.

It took me a good two years to read this book. I am an avid reader, so I usually have 6 or 7 books going at once. I read this book in small doses: a page or two a day. But as time progressed I found myself so deeply and profoundly affected that no other book could compare to it. I survived off of this book, page by page, for months. I would read a short section and just bask in what I had learned for hours on end. It is difficult now to put into words how profoundly amazing this book is. It is literally light years beyond anything I have ever read before (or since).

There were two things I loved most about this book. First, I loved that the "technique" for realization that Nisgadatta proposes is so easy to do. I have done exactly what he said and noticed situations in my life clearing up in ways I never imagined. Secondly, I Am That clears up a lot of spiritual inconsistencies and contradictions I have been confused by over the years. How does one disassociate from the physical world, while at the same time worry about meditation postures, right action, and world peace (Yes, I know there are many answers to this). But Nisgadatta answers them in a way that makes sense.

Most importantly is the huge boost these books receive form David R. Hawkins (Power vs. Force). He holds these books in very high regard and I trust his research.

This book had a completly unoriginal plot. A nuclear explosion, the meteor that killed the dinosaurs, blah blah blah. Do NOT buy this book.

I never did truly see the point of this novel, but hey, it was fun and everyone loves dinosaurs. I think it's a good project for writing, and I like the admittely contrived concept of looking at everyone's thoughts. But aside from that, why?

While the bonus installments of Animorphs are K.A. Applegate's chance to shine (a.k.a. Visser, Megamorphs #1) they can also spell disaster. And this book spells every letter. It's as though Applegate rubbed her hands and said, "Here's my chance to put in every random idea I've ever had along with ten hours of research on dinosaurs. No, make that five hours." And she does.

The adventure in the book starts with some of the Animorphs stuck in a dinosaur. Yep, that's right. Inside a dinosaur. It is as ridiculous as it sounds. From there, they venture into the land of dinosaurs trying to find one another. The dinosaurs range from huge deadly raptors who are conveniently acquired, to Stegasaurus who are being zapped by evil ant aliens.

To try to divert attention from the convenient ways all six Animorphs can come away unscratched by a massive T-Rex, Applegate puts in big crabs with about twenty eyes. Oh, and they invented broccoli. They're named Mercora. Their enemies are lots and lots of evil ants called the Nesk, which are the pitifully two dimensional race who tries and fails to be as interesting as Yeerks.

Are these elements not ridiculous enough for you? There's more. They make dinosaur sandals. They steal nuclear weapons that happen to be invented back in that time. And somehow they all survive when a massive meteor hits the world and kills everything.

Sometimes Applegate goes a step too far in the absurd (though occassionally enjoyable) ideas throughout her Animorph series. Time of the Dinosaurs goes an entire staircase. Only die hard Animorphs fans should read this. And even then, remember that this is a bonus installment not part of the main series essential to understand the plot line... thankfully.

Sorry, but this book is definately only three stars. It all starts out when Marco hears about a sunk sub and the Animmorphs go to investigate. Something goes wrong and suddenly they find themselves in preostoric times!

I don't like this book because: a)It has the whole Sario Rip thing that was already put in another book. b)When they find themselves stuck in the Creostastes(sorry, don't know how to spell it) Period, there's another alien speices. I don't like that whole thing, along with The Mutation #36, and c)How it ended was very, very predictable. I don't know about you, but I knew that the comet was going to blow them back to their own time sooner or later.

Sorry Applegate, but you couldn't give us another winner like THe Andalite Chronicles (I have a review there, too)

This book starts out with a kid seeing a submarine crashing at the bottom of the ocean. His name is Marco and he is the prankster of this group of special humans. They are Andalites,which have the power
to gather animal d.n.a. and they change into animals.Jake is the leader
then there is Cassie,Ax,and Rachel. Well they go to save the people in
the sub,While they are saving the day nuclear sub blows up and they get blown back to in time with the dinosaurs.While they are there they

encounter two alien species one friendly one not so friendly. So they create another explosion and they go home

Camryn gives a very entertaining glimpse into her tribulations and growth at the hands of the entertainment business. I especially enjoyed the chapter telling how Tony Kushner cast her as the ingénue. I'm so glad actorjourneys.com recommended this book; you're sure to cheer for the underdog triumph.

This was both an intertaining a introspective read. Camryn Manheim is funny, smart, human, and beautiful. This book made me look at the excuses I make for my failures and the things I allow to stand in the way of my success. I was able to relate to Camryn much more than I could relate to Oprah when I read her book. It is a book for all women, all mothers, and a book I would want my boyfriend to read. Thank you Camryn, I wish we could meet some day.

I just happened into a copy of the book when I had a little time to kill, then I could hardly put it down. I enjoyed the book and the many reviews that have been written here. I normally write reviews on obscure books where there are only a few, if any, reviews so this is different for me and I doubt if i have too much to add. Beyond the self acceptance theme that has been much reviewed (I have fat issues and support Camryn's views (mostly)), I liked the book on many other levels. Of course I liked the humor and human interest of growing up in America. The struggle for success story is good too. I especially liked the unconventional approach to the book itself. Frnakly, I did not much the Cammy--fat dialogs, but I liked many of the other, unusual things like asides and notes to herself and others throughout. There were other quirky approaches that I really liked too. I really like the book and recommend it highly.

I love Camryn Mannheim and her book. I'd give this a 4.5 if I could, because since she wrote the book, she's lost quite a bit of weight and puts the reasoning for it on being a mother.

I hated it when Carnie Wilson went from being a NAAFA member and spokesperson for loving yourself at any size to being obsessed with being thin. She's admitted to lying about why she had WLS and has made a snootful of money pimping it to others. She has been a major factor in the deaths of hundreds of (mostly) women who didn't make it after the surgery and her recommendation of it.

And I am very saddened by Mannheim's abandonment of her principals of fat-acceptance and the people who have supported her and her book.

Isn't there anyone out there who will stay committed to the cause and not cave in when someone runs some cash under their noses or threatens their career if they don't lose weight?

Ack. Love the book. Disappointed in Mannheim today.

Camryn Manheim is an sassy, award-winning actress and laugh-out-loud funny. This book is a personal account of her experiences of fat-ism and her journey to self-acceptance.

Manheim is a natural storyteller and, being overweight myself, there was a lot here to relate to, but although I enjoyed the book, there were no groundbreaking revelations for me here ... though it does make a pretty strong case against society's obsession with being thin, this book is in no way a "self-help" book (to be fair, it doesn't claim to be) and it didn't help me to "make peace" with my fat. It did however make me laugh a lot and that's reason enough to encourage others to read it!

Thank you Camryn, for speaking out for big women everywhere.