A Writer's Guide to Fiction (Writer's Compass) Review

A Writer's Guide to Fiction (Writer's Compass)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I used Elizabeth Lyons' book, The Sell-your-Novel Toolkit, after I'd finished my first novel. Her samples of query letters and synopses helped me sell my first (and second) novels. Now I recommend it to students when I teach fiction writing. Her new book, A Writer's Guide to Fiction, is loaded with practical tips and strategies for new writers. It takes the mystery out of writing fiction, and has lots of good examples, lists and suggestions for would-be short story novelists and short story writers. I'll recommend this one as well.

Click Here to see more reviews about: A Writer's Guide to Fiction (Writer's Compass)



Buy NowGet 32% OFF

Click here for more information about A Writer's Guide to Fiction (Writer's Compass)

Read More...

The Greatest Movies Ever: The Ultimate Ranked List of the 101 Best Films of All Time Review

The Greatest Movies Ever: The Ultimate Ranked List of the 101 Best Films of All Time
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I am something of a collector of "Best movie ever" type books, so believe me when I say that in many regards this is one of the best. The amount of information presented for each entry is very impressive, the color photographs well-chosen, and the writing of a high caliber. The book passed the ultimate test: it made me want to watch the movies listed that I hadn't seen so I could read the articles about them. However, the amount of factual material that is incorrect is somewhat staggering. A previous reviewer already mentioned a point about Natalie Wood; let me simply list the ones I saw off the top of my head.
-The authors say that The Graduate was Mike Nichols' directorial debut, when in fact he directed the (hardly obscure) Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf the year before
-The authors talk about how the characters in The African Queen are worried about alligators. Alligators live in America and China, Crocodiles live in Africa.
-The authors say that Jean Renoir made Rules of the Game "having grown disturbed by France's complacency over the German occupation." Obviously untrue if you consider the fact that the movie was released in 1939 and the occupation didn't begin until 1940
-In the entry for Chinatown the authors state that Rosemary's Baby was released in 1963, a full five years away from its actual 1968 release date. Additionally, they attribute the famous "Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown" quote to Lt. Escobar when in fact Walsh says it.
-The authors state that The Last Picture show was released in 1968, when in fact it was released in 1971
-For some reason the authors write that Elia Kazan "made a comeback, after years of inactivity" with Reversal of Fortune when he did absolutely no such thing--Barbet Schroeder directed that film.
I watch a ton of movies, but I'm not getting paid to write about them--Gail Kinn and Jim Piazza are. Most of these errors are incredibly easy to avoid (just by plugging them into IMDB you can get your release year). I mean, anyone who knows the slightest detail about WWII would realize that a movie released in 1939 couldnt possibly be made to describe the French occupation by Germany. These authors' job is to write about movies; they should not be making half a dozen errors that I easily notice in the SECOND EDITION of their work. Other that that, though, as I mentioned before, it's a worthy read.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Greatest Movies Ever: The Ultimate Ranked List of the 101 Best Films of All Time

The 101 best movies ever made—from around the world and across a century—unfold here in order, along with critical commentary, behind-the-scenes information, and hundreds of lush photographs. Movie ranking has become an annual sport, and this global, all-encompassing list features the best of all time. It is sure to be a must-have for every dedicated filmgoer eager to watch the greats that he or she has not yet seen and to recall favorite films from every era. Completely revised since its hardcover publication, it features movies from as recently as 2007, plus a new foreword. Full-color, three-page sections celebrate each film on the list, which has been carefully compiled by two expert critics to include films from every decade, every genre, and a wide variety of cultures. Classics include Citizen Kane, Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, and Star Wars; international films include Rules of the Game, The 400 Blows, and Rashomon; additions to the list since publication of the hardcover include The Lives of Others, City Lights, Pan's Labyrinth, and Groundhog Day. Each section includes cast lists, plot synopses, biographies of the director and key actors, Oscar nominations and wins, "behind-the-screen" anecdotes, and more.

Buy NowGet 30% OFF

Click here for more information about The Greatest Movies Ever: The Ultimate Ranked List of the 101 Best Films of All Time

Read More...

The Doctors: Who's Who: The Story Behind Every Face of the Iconic Time Lord Review

The Doctors: Who's Who: The Story Behind Every Face of the Iconic Time Lord
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Nice biographies on all the men to play the Doctor, However the truth remains..."Tom Baker" will always be the best and definitive Doctor. He was/is the best representative of the character. He was the complete package and had all the key ingredients that made the character memorable and popular with people of all ages. Him and Philip Hinchcliffe are the ones that made "Doctor Who" a Worldwide success. Plus, the modern series is just a special effect-laden, visual soap opera. Whereas, the classic series had substance. Well-written stories and fine characterization just to name two aspects. At least before John Nathan-Turner took over as producer. If you're just getting into "Doctor Who", I recommend checking out the "Tom Baker era 1974 - 1981" first and foremost, then go from there.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Doctors: Who's Who: The Story Behind Every Face of the Iconic Time Lord



Buy Now

Click here for more information about The Doctors: Who's Who: The Story Behind Every Face of the Iconic Time Lord

Read More...

A Picture Book Primer: Understanding and Using Picture Books Review

A Picture Book Primer: Understanding and Using Picture Books
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This book arrived just in time for my class. It was in great condition and it was cost efficient. Chapters are about 20 to 25 pages long, so it was great to be able to read one chapter and move on to the next. Chapters gave great examples of the books that were being discussed.

Click Here to see more reviews about: A Picture Book Primer: Understanding and Using Picture Books



Buy Now

Click here for more information about A Picture Book Primer: Understanding and Using Picture Books

Read More...

Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Value Guide, Second Edition: 1973-2006 Review

Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Value Guide, Second Edition: 1973-2006
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
My wife and I do have quite a few Keepsake Ornaments that we've bought over the years for each other to be placed on our Christmas Tree but we're not collectors in the true sense. But I found out full well the value of Hallmark ornaments when I found five pieces in the Frosty Friends collection at a garage sale a couple of years ago for a few bucks. These were numbers 3 through 7 in the series and those few dollars resulted in quite a tidy profit when sold at eBay. Since then we've made it a point to look out for Hallmark ornaments at garage sales and flea markets but the problem was that we really didn't know which ones were really valuable. That all changed when I got this fantastic book by Bangzoom. I have owned a lot of collectible price guides in my life and this is easily one of the best. Their fantastic original price guide has now been updated with a second edition that goes through 2006.
What makes it so great? Simple...how about a picture of every Keepsake ornament from 1973 through 2006...in full color, with the ornament name, retail price, item number, and current value. Add to that the pictures are color coded if they happen to be series or club/event releases. Add to that are outstanding articles on the history of Hallmark, special issue ornaments, protecting and insuring your collection, and an excellent article called "Hallmark Collecting 101" which is a valuable resource whether you are a veteran or novice collector. There's even a list of Hallmark related websites that provide even more resource material.

While the bulk of the book is dedicated to Keepsake ornaments, Bangzoom doesn't stop there. You'll also find sections on the Miniature ornaments introduced in 1988, ornaments for other holidays like Easter and Halloween, special issue ornaments such as the Ambassador Holiday House Collection, and Tree Toppers. There's also a comprehensive, alphabetical index that can double as a collector's checklist, and finally profiles of the Hallmark artists and sculptors. It's truly a complete package and one-stop source for Hallmark collectors. I had a lot of fun thumbing through the book and finding out just how much all of our ornaments were worth. Of course, my wife won't let me sell any of the ones we bought for each other, but now when we hit the garage sales, we'll have the perfect, take-along resource. My highest recommendation!
Reviewed by Tim Janson


Click Here to see more reviews about: Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Value Guide, Second Edition: 1973-2006

This second edition value guide for Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments is the most comprehensive guide to secondary market prices ever produced. It is printed in a larger, 8.5"x11" format and contains over 6,000 full-color entries, which include Christmas Ornaments, Easter/Spring Ornaments, Special Issue Ornaments, Miniatures, and Other Special Items. Three popular categories have been added to this edition: Merry Miniatures, Kiddie Car Classics, and Legends In Flight. Editorials cover the history of Christmas Ornaments and everything Hallmark has done to promote ornament collectibility since it began producing Christmas Ornaments,plus "The Ornaments that Never Were" and "Collecting Hallmark With Passion" which profiles 3 prominent collectors.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Value Guide, Second Edition: 1973-2006

Read More...

Tagged for Murder: A Molly Doyle Mystery Review

Tagged for Murder: A Molly Doyle Mystery
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Elaine Flinn's second book in her antique mystery series is even better than the first! "Tagged for Murder" (love the title) again features antique dealer, Molly Doyle, as she continues to rebuild her reputation in the posh community of affluent Carmel, CA.
Mayhem erupts when local antique dealer, Trudy Collins, abruptly dies from an apparent heart attack at the Carmel Antiques Show. When Molly's sister, Carrie, suddenly arrives that day with her daughter after a 15-year estrangement, Molly once again fears her sister is being deceitful. Carrie swiftly and unceremoniously leaves her daughter, Emma, with Molly and takes off to pursue a "legal career" overseas.
As fake antiques and additional murders begin to surface, Molly attempts to piece together who is behind these acts - against her better judgment and certainly against the wishes of Police Chief Randall. The result is a great mystery and terrific development of wonderful characters.
Flinn has a wonderful series going! The dialogue is written in a realistic manner as to the verbiage that individuals actually use. Any "dangling participles" are included to make the conversations realistic and engrossing as, let's face it, most speech patterns and dialogues are not always in complete grammatical sentences. To change this would change the whole rhythm of the characters.
The addition of Emma was absolutely brilliant! This kid brings such a new dimension to Molly and others. I thought that Flinn VERY ACCURATELY AND REALISTICALLY did not have Emma enrolled in school. Only about 2-3 weeks have elapsed (not months!) and Molly has started the legal process to have Em remain with her. She has arranged for a tutor, but for Molly to enroll Em in school, only days after being abandoned by her mother and before any decisions were made by the State, WOULD have been unrealistic.
Likewise, Molly's relationship with Chief Randall is currently being defined. Randall cares greatly for Molly, but sternly masks his fear as he is trying to rein Molly in when she insists on putting her life in jeopardy. From the first book, "Dealing With Murder," we have learned that Randall is often jaded and rather acerbic in nature- as is Molly at times. Randall gives Molly a difficult time as she KNOWINGLY hides evidence that she wants to look over. Good grief - the argument that she gives Randall about "forgetting about certain evidence" is an excuse that they both realize is fabricated. However, she can't very well say, "Randall, here is the evidence that I deliberately withheld from you while I attempted to discern how involved my sister is in this matter!"
And finally, Molly's sister has not been arrested because she is out of the country. They have just that night discovered the extent of her involvement. Although the next book may indicate that she may be extradited back to the States for trial, law and customs officials may "have bigger fish to fry" and not pursue it.
"Tagged for Murder" is a wonderful new series and I greatly anticipate the next book by Elaine Flinn!


Click Here to see more reviews about: Tagged for Murder: A Molly Doyle Mystery

The second page-turning instalment in the acclaimed mystery series featuring striking, sarcastic antique dealer Molly Doyle, set in picturesque Carmel, California. Molly Doyle crossed a continent to escape trouble, but it's becoming increasingly dangerous to be in the antique business in her small adopted corner of California. The murder of a friend and fellow antiques dealer has shaken Molly to the core. And matters aren't helped any by the arrival of her deceitful, long-estranged sister-who sticks around only long enough to dump Molly's twelve-year-old niece before vanishing to parts unknown. Actually, young Emma is a bright spot in these dark days, since she's clever, endearing, and shows a natural aptitude for antiques work. But the very unnatural death of yet another dealer-a rather shady one this time with possible ties to Molly's family-has the intrepid Ms. Doyle acting as sleuth once again.before a killer decides she's the next item to be taken out of circulation permanently.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Tagged for Murder: A Molly Doyle Mystery

Read More...

Glazes from Natural Sources Review

Glazes from Natural Sources
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I am a self taught potter who is still very much a student when it comes to the craft. I have read a great many books on the subject and this one is very well done. It is packed with solid and useful information. It is a great technical book on any form of glaze testing, it only focuses on natural sources.
I gave it 4 of 5 stars for a few reasons.
It was a little difficult to understand in places and I wanted more examples. It does a good job of spelling things out for the reader, but it could have gone further I think.
Also, I wish the examples were in metric units, (ml instead of pints) because I find those easier to understand, but that could just be me.
I wanted many more photos of line blend tests! I'd have loved to see what kinds of things to expect and what the outcome is likely to be. Some rocks and common blends are bound to be fairly typical. I wanted to see pictures of those. Some more insight on what to blend with what when testing would have been good as well. Do I mix my rock with clay or whiting? I know I can try it and see, but some expert suggestions are always nice.
Some of the more complex blending patterns seemed to be a bit silly, like the author was showing off somewhat and I found them difficult to understand.
I have always mixed my glazes dry, but the author suggests it is better do mix them wet, having each material suspended in water to start with. I had many questions about this method that were not addressed in the book, but many that were. It was informative enough to prompt me to try it.
Over all, this is a great book on the subject and a great book for anyone interested in glaze development. It doesn't have much needless text, which is nice. Short and too the point.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Glazes from Natural Sources


Any real education in ceramics must involve, from the outset, an appreciation of the source materials—the rocks around us. While good, throwable clay may be a regional commodity, there is no part of the world that will not yield potential glaze materials in abundance. Potters therefore need to know how to exploit the special properties of local rocks quickly, reliably, and methodically. This new revised and updated version of Brian Sutherland's classic book on making glazes from natural sources explains how to locate glaze material and construct, test, and use the glazes created.Glazes from Natural Sources discusses rock types and other likely sources of supply, the making of test pieces, and the use of blend systems and constructions. The author also clarifies the Seger system of glaze presentation for those who, like himself, have found it difficult to grasp and apply. He covers, and supplies, formulae for glazes for all temperatures—from raku to stoneware and porcelain—and includes sample recipes. The book emphasizes careful planning and control to ensure results that are repeatable. This makes the science behind making glazes from natural sources both understandable and feasible.Glazes from Natural Sources is fully illustrated, with diagrams of techniques demonstrated as well as images of the finished works of potters to show the results of these natural glazes. First published in 1987, this book is considered a classic by ceramicists. This edition includes a new chapter by glaze expert Nigel Wood.


Buy NowGet 36% OFF

Click here for more information about Glazes from Natural Sources

Read More...

Outsmart the MBA Clones: The Alternative Guide to Competitive Strategy, Marketing and Branding Review

Outsmart the MBA Clones: The Alternative Guide to Competitive Strategy, Marketing and Branding
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Masters degrees in Business Administration (MBA) are not only being taught in elite schools, but in nearly every university, college, and diploma mill that can find some way to get accreditation. Most of the programs teach their students similar concepts in the core subjects of Financial and Management Accounting, Finance, Economics, Statistics, Operations, Organizational Behavior, Information Systems, Marketing and Corporate Strategy. If everyone has the same tools and book of tactics, including how to differentiate your company and create a competitive advantage, how can you actually compete and win in the real world? Worse, these kinds of programs train these managers to work, think, and fit in to the large companies that hire MBAs by the campusfull. That is why this book refers to MBA Clones and provides an approach that takes a different tack than standard MBA thinking would see.
It isn't that what you learn as an MBA isn't valuable, it's that learning the core of a business program provides you with only a basic toolset. You still need to learn to apply them. However, if you apply them like everyone else (the problem with `best practices') you aren't creating a compelling advantage. The best business folks are artists and use their toolsets in powerfully creative ways to win in the marketplace.
Dan Herman is a Ph.D. and CEO (and co-owner) of Competitive Advantages Ltd. Through which he and his team serve companies all around the world. Their goal is to help their clients identify growth opportunities and creating `unfair' competitive advantages. Along with this Advantagizing they help create powerful and compelling brands and profitable business models.
In part 1 of this book provides a look at what Herman's views on some common myths of Competitive Advantage (that you have to be better than your competitors, that you have to endear yourself to as many customers as possible, and that your competitive edge is to be found on a parameter that is important in your business category. He then provides a secret to Differentiation and uses examples from Virgin, Google, Starbucks and others to show you what he is after.
Part 2 explains their O-Scan (opportunity scan) method. It is about identifying insights about customers and what they are GOING to want (rather than what they are demanding today). You also learn to use a customers 15 stage consumption process to find points of pain and opportunity, to provide more consumer benefits, and seeing the hidden rules your competitors are using to win.
Part 3 is provides Herman's views of Branding. First you have to understand the consumer's mind. I found this discussion of how the consumer experiences things, what they are trying to do, and how they for their beliefs to be quite interesting. Herman also rejects the idea that Branding creates brands. He says that it is the real success factors that you have identified previously that will provide substance and power to your brand. He provides the ABCDE of Brand Success: Attribution of benefit, Believability, Craving, Differentiation, and Ease of acting upon their desire.
For Herman, brands are more about expectations, anticipations, and dreams that take them out of their hum-drum reality. It is about adventure, temptations, testing limits, nostalgia, and much more. The goal is to make your marketing electrifying to your customers. He also provides interesting chapters on developing marketing hits and how you can drive your consumers crazy about your brand.
Is all this absolutely original and unique? Look, I have an MBA from the University of Michigan Business School and what he says here is consistent with what I learned there. The expectation I had upon graduation was to use what I learned creatively. What Herman does is help those interested in turning the toolkit you were given into a weapons system. And I think that is very worthwhile.
Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI


Click Here to see more reviews about: Outsmart the MBA Clones: The Alternative Guide to Competitive Strategy, Marketing and Branding

How can you be immensely successful for many years, and yet not be imitated by competitors? Impossible, you say. Not so. Virgin Atlantic, the Body Shop, Apple Computers, and Birkenstock they all achieved this status, and there are ample additional examples. They cracked the secret of successful differentiation that is not imitated and are adored by customers who think that they are incomparable. Dr. Dan Herman calls it an Unfair Competitive Advantage.It's not at all unethical. Everyone has a fair chance of attaining such an advantage including, every reader of this book. There is a secret to successful differentiation that is not imitated. It is a psychological secret that has to do with the way your competitors think. Most marketers today are MBA graduates who tend to think and operate in typical and predictable ways - you might call them MBA Clones. You can take advantage of their biases and outsmart them. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Dan Herman not only reveals the secret of successful differentiation that is not imitated but also supplies you with a comprehensive set of practical rules and tools that will enable you to make an unfair advantage your reality. Dr. Herman, a competitive strategy consultant with vast global experience, a seasoned CMO in a large corporation, a branding professional and a businessman, does not tell you to 'think out of the box' as so many do he provides you with a new and comprehensive toolbox for success.You'll learn: -- The secret of successful differentiation that is not imitated -- How to scan methodically for both strategic and tactical opportunities for success -- How to integrate a business model, a competitive strategy and a brand concept to create a unitary 'unique success formula' for your company -- How to create marketing hits short meteoric successes -- How to use electrifying marketing, just-on-desire branding and the brand drama approach to build emotionally powerful brands, and many other useful additions to your profit-generating arsenal of concepts and methods.Using a plethora of examples from top businesses around the world, Dr. Herman offers a business oriented-point of view that is fresh and different, and even humorous at times. Even though this book will turn your thinking inside out, everything in it is practical and easily applicable in any kind of business.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Outsmart the MBA Clones: The Alternative Guide to Competitive Strategy, Marketing and Branding

Read More...

Owl (Reaktion Books - Animal) Review

Owl (Reaktion Books - Animal)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
If you, like me, are intrigued by owls and want to know more about them; if you think you like owls, but don't know much about them; if you are a bird lover, including but not limited to, owls--whatever your level of interest---you may want to look further, as this book is bound to disappoint.
One can easily imagine why Desmond Morris was asked by the editors of the Reaktion Book series (each book dealing with a different animal or insect) to write about owls. After all, back in 1967 Mr. Morris achieved fame with "The Naked Ape" (which I read and enjoyed 30 years ago). Now 72 years old, Mr. Morris, a British zoologist and ethnologist, appears to have published extensively on animals and their behavior since his breakthrough publication.
Unfortunately, one can also just as easily get the impression that Mr. Morris waited until the last moment before the submission deadline for his manuscript, and then, in a panic, Googled "owls" to gather various and sundry facts which he quickly cobbled together with no real unifying theme or approach. The result is a superficial survey, a pastiche that is neither particularly informative nor interesting. For example, we learn that certain cultures revered the owl (Greece), while others did not (Rome); certain Indian tribes appreciate the owl (Pawnee); others fear it (Hopi); some harbor both feelings (Aborigines). These facile descriptions go on for pages (the Index, which is quite brief, nevertheless lists 30 different Native American tribes, each of which merits a sentence or two on their view of owls).
In fact the only kernel of useful information this reviewer picked up dealt with the myth of the owls as "wise" and possessed of superior intelligence. Morris points out (based no doubt on his evolutionary background) that many other types of birds (such as the crow) have to live much more opportunistically, by their wits, since they have developed no special survival techniques. As a result, they are much more intelligent than the owl, which has evolved such highly specialized sense organs and physical attributes (soft feathers) that it simply doesn't face the same survival challenges as the generalist does. Beyond that, Mr. Morris could have done us all a favor by reducing the book to its pictures (which are quite good), leaving out his shallow text. At least for North American residents, a far more informative work is "Owls of the United States and Canada: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior."

Bottom line: save your money and time for a better book than this; you won't regret it.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Owl (Reaktion Books - Animal)

From Edward Lear's "The Owl and the Pussycat" to David Lynch's Twin Peaks, owls have been woven into the fabric of popular culture. At times they are depicted as dignified, wise old scholars and at other times as foreboding voyeurs who see all and interrogate with an accusatory, "Who? Who?" In Owl best-selling author Desmond Morris explores the natural and cultural history of these predators of the night who embody both good and evil in turn. In this fascinating book, Morris describes the evolution, the many species, and the wide spread of owls across the globe. Owls are found on every land mass around the world, with the exception of Antarctica; and as a result of their wide distribution, owls appear in the folktales, myths, and legends of many native peoples—in addition to popular art, film, and literature worldwide. Featuring over 100 telling illustrations from nature and culture, Owl will appeal to the numerous fans of this enigmatic bird, from the friendly Mr. Owls to silent, sinister, hunters of the dark.

Buy NowGet 25% OFF

Click here for more information about Owl (Reaktion Books - Animal)

Read More...

Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (The Children of the Red King, Book 2) Review

Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (The Children of the Red King, Book 2)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Hello everyone, i am a book fanatic. I read the first book in the red king series, Midnight for Charlie Bone, in June 2003. And even though 3 months isn't as long a time as i will be waiting for the next abarat book and the next unicorn chronicles, it was hard to wait. As soon i heard it was out i went to the store and bought it. It took me a few more days to read this one than the first, but i blame that on lack of time. It is great, thanks Jenny.i finished this on sept. 2nd, but i have been so busy with school i just wrote the review now.
There is a lot more dealing with Gabriel, Tancred, and Lysander (who you have to love). As well as Benjamin, Paton,Charlie, Olivia, Emma, and Fidelio. They are great characters.
THis book is number 1. you have to read it. I can't wait for Charlie bone adn the invisible boy to come out.
Thanks, Jenny! Can't wait for charlie's new adventure!
It's GREEEEAAAAT!!!!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (The Children of the Red King, Book 2)



Buy NowGet 23% OFF

Click here for more information about Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (The Children of the Red King, Book 2)

Read More...

Rising Force: The Magic of Magnetic Levitation Review

Rising Force: The Magic of Magnetic Levitation
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is a really delightful book that covers every aspect of magnetic levitation -- and then some. It is written in a clear direct and engaging style with a number of charming personal references. It is clear that the author has decades of experience in the field and still delights in the Magic. If you want to gain a complete overview of anything and everything related to magnetic levitation this is a very pleasant book to read.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Rising Force: The Magic of Magnetic Levitation



Buy NowGet 37% OFF

Click here for more information about Rising Force: The Magic of Magnetic Levitation

Read More...

England For Dummies Review

England For Dummies
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I just have to say this book was amazing! I have been thinking and dreaming about going to England for ages. This book explained so much that I absolutely would NOT have known! Thinking about if I would have went without reading this book is scary! There is so much information in here you NEED to know before you go. Everything was explained so clear and wonderfully easy to learn.I ABSOLUTELY recommend anyone thinking about going to England to read this book!

Click Here to see more reviews about: England For Dummies



Buy Now

Click here for more information about England For Dummies

Read More...

Bad Baby Names: The Worst True Names Parents Saddled Their Kids With, and You Can Too Review

Bad Baby Names: The Worst True Names Parents Saddled Their Kids With, and You Can Too
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I've read a number of baby name books, but it never occurred to me that among them would be one dedicated to the WORST names possible.
Some of the names in here defy description. It's amazing to think of people actually being named things like Evil Blessing! And they're all from the U.S. Census!
I had a great time reading this with my kids on a recent roadtrip. Highly recommended to all parents: think of the names you could have saddled your kids with!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Bad Baby Names: The Worst True Names Parents Saddled Their Kids With, and You Can Too

Throughout history, people have named their children truly terrible things, and this book has the proof. Michael Sherrod and Matthew Rayback combed through U.S. federal census records to find the absolute worst names parents have given their children. The result is this hysterical new take on the baby name book. Here are some samples of the hilarious names inside: Fanny Pack, Fanny Whiffer, Post Office, Warren Peace, Rubella Graves, Nice Carr, and Hell Hellickson. And then there are the names we thought Bart Simpson was making up as he prank called Moe's Tavern: Hugh Jass, Al Caholic, Anita Bath, Amanda Hugginkiss, and Maya Buttreeks. This book is also filled with original illustrations and great photos that take a stab at what some of these babies may have looked like. Bad Baby Names is truly a one-of-a-kind book that makes a great gift for a friend, family member, or just yourself. Either way, Bad Baby Names is sure to make you laugh.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Bad Baby Names: The Worst True Names Parents Saddled Their Kids With, and You Can Too

Read More...

Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries (Omnibus Press) Review

Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries (Omnibus Press)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I really enjoyed this book. While I have no specific insight as to how the author really chose the subjects for inclusion in this book, he certainly appears to have extracted a lively (though dead) group of celebrities from all strata of the movie industry.
This book was well-researched and provided lots of juicy tidbits about the lives and deaths of the celebrity dead contained within. Unlike many books which promised but failed to deliver the goods, this book was well worth the purchase price. I consider this a worthy sucessor to the out-of-print Hollywood Album I & II which were compilations of NY Times obituaries. And best of all, you finally do find out exactly what happened to many of your favorite actors and actresses. Can it get much better!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries (Omnibus Press)

Fade to Black chronicles the lives and deaths of more than 1,200 movie personalities, Included are not just the big stars but a wealth of important characters from the history of film. Some achieved world fame or great power. Some were consigned to obscurity after one scandal too many. Other hid dark secrets that would only emerge after their deaths.

Buy NowGet 24% OFF

Click here for more information about Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries (Omnibus Press)

Read More...

The New Testament as Literature: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Review

The New Testament as Literature: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
My first encounter with the Bible came in my early teens. I always enjoyed reading, and more I read of the authors of broadly European provenance, more I came across allusions and references to the Bible. I became curious about this book that was overarching much of the Western art for the better part of the last two millennia. So my first encounter with the Bible, and the New Testament in particular, was driven by primarily literary and historical concerns. Since then I had become a Christian, and those concerns have somewhat faded into the background. In the light of that, coming across and reading "The New Testament as Literature: A Very Short Introduction" was a trip back in time. The book gave me an opportunity to look at the very familiar material from a newfound angle. By paying attention to the genre and the literary devices that the authors employed, I was able to read the New Testament stories with a deepened sense of their richness. What particularly appealed to me as a believer was the fact that the literary reading did not come at the expense of theological understanding of the texts, but was in fact complementing it and enriching it. This is far from being the predominant attitude by many of the today's critiques of the New Testament. In the age when "deconstructing" texts in terms of the purported ulterior motives of the authors, it is refreshing to come across a book where the author is content to let the text speak for itself.
The book is also a very useful introduction to the New Testament for anyone who wants to know more about it but is weary of having to be subjected to heavy-handed religious proselytizing. Even thought the book is not opposed to the theological points of view, and uses them for fuller understanding of New Testament, it is also not imposing theology on its readers. If you are just curious and would like to know more about what one of the most read books of all time is all about, this is as good of an introduction as it gets.
The book divides the material thematically and stylistically into Gospels, St. Paul's letters, the Revelations, other letters, and the Letter to the Hebrews. It pays attention to the peculiarities of each one of those general genres, and takes a closer look at some familiar and not too familiar passages. It also helps the reader understand how all those 27 books that comprise the New Testament canon fit together, and how to read them jointly as a part of a whole. This is important because precisely as a part of a unifying whole they have been read for the most of the history.
Overall, this is an excellent book, clearly written and accessible. It would be very useful and informative, whether you've read the New Testament a hundred times or are completely new to it. I strongly recommend it.


Click Here to see more reviews about: The New Testament as Literature: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

The words, phrases, and stories of the New Testament permeate the English language. Indeed, this relatively small group of twenty-seven works, written during the height of the Roman Empire, not only helped create and sustain a vast world religion, but also have been integral to the larger cultural dynamics of the West, above and beyond particular religious expressions. Looking at the New Testament through the lens of literary study, Kyle Keefer offers an engrossing exploration of this revered religious text as a work of literature, but also keeps in focus its theological ramifications. Unique among books that examine the Bible as literature, this brilliantly compact introduction offers an intriguing double-edged look at this universal text--a religiously informed literary analysis. The book first explores the major sections of the New Testament--the gospels, Paul's letters, and Revelation--as individual literary documents. Keefer shows how, in such familiar stories as the parable of the Good Samaritan, a literary analysis can uncover an unexpected complexity to what seems a simple, straightforward tale. At the conclusion of the book, Keefer steps back and asks questions about the New Testament as a whole. He reveals that whether read as a single document or as a collection of works, the New Testament presents readers with a wide variety of forms and viewpoints, and a literary exploration helps bring this richness to light. A fascinating investigation of the New Testament as a classic literary work, this Very Short Introduction uses a literary framework--plot, character, narrative arc, genre--to illuminate the language, structure, and the crafting of this venerable text.

Buy NowGet 15% OFF

Click here for more information about The New Testament as Literature: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

Read More...

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Elves and Fairies Review

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Elves and Fairies
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I found this to be comprehensive book with an amazing amount of information on elves and faeries. I liked that it combined modern popular culture with mythology and folk tales. I loved the section where J.R.R Tolkien gives his views on the Faerie Realm and the stories that arise from it. Also stuff on Harry Potter, Joseph Campbell, and the fairy tales of W. B. Yeats and Charles Perrault. Includes information on fairy gardens, magic, and rituals.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Elves and Fairies

The most complete book on these powerful magical beings.Elves and fairies provide a magical mirror into the human psyche and can help people better understand themselves. In The Complete Idiots Guide to Elves and Fairies, readers encounter and learn from an array of magical creatures, and discover how they can positively influence their lives. Key topics include fairy magic in the 21st century, how to recognize an elf and what to do when you meet one, how to attract good elves and fairies, and how to protect yourself from bad ones.• The Lord of the Rings trilogy, on film and DVD, have increased people's interest in elves and their ways• Brian Froud's The Faerie Oracle, Good Fairies Bad Faeries, and Lady Cottington's Faerie Album have kept fairy lore and fairy images in the public eye for more than 25 years• This book explores fairy tales, folklore, and mythology, including modern fairy tales like the Harry Potter series

Buy Now

Click here for more information about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Elves and Fairies

Read More...

Joyful Mother of Children: The Magic and Mayhem of Motherhood Review

Joyful Mother of Children: The Magic and Mayhem of Motherhood
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I loved this book. It made me laugh and made me feel like I was a little less alone in the crazy world of motherhood! The book is full of stories, making it a fun and quick read. But it's also full of real wisdom and wonderful ideas that have made a real difference in my family. I've given it to several friends and they've LOVED it and given it to their friends to read. I highly recommend this book to any mother. I think that the other review on this site must refer to a different edition of this book. The current edition (the one pictured here) has no specific religious references that I noticed. Get this book!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Joyful Mother of Children: The Magic and Mayhem of Motherhood



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Joyful Mother of Children: The Magic and Mayhem of Motherhood

Read More...