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This turned out to be rather drier than I anticipated but still I enjoyed the topics she pondered and my reading co-incided with an increase in my own walking which gave me something to think about. I particularly liked the little running quotes she had at in the footnotes.

** spoiler alert ** I don't know if I've mentioned it before but I love Rachel Gibson. LOVE. Despite loving her, I didn't read Rescue Me because the story didn't seem like one I really wanted to dig into. There's an excerpt at the end of Run to You, which I skimmed, but it still didn't tickle my fancy. Yet and still, I was excited to read Run to You, sight unseen. It's rare these days that I get a book and read the entire thing in one day. For one it has to be a shortish book and for two it has to be just that engrossing. Stella Leon is a the second heroine penned as a bartender who ran away from home, especially when home tends to be the place where the money is. I guess the running theme right now is women can be and are completely self sufficient-- that message is coming through loud and clear. Beau Junger is an ex military, current Security/Private Detective/Guy You Hire To Do Stuff Like Find a Long Lost Relative. Oh, also he has a little personal issue that he's dealing with, in that he wants to stop having meaningless sex with women. So when Beau (who is a meaty hunky twin to Blake), meets the gorgeous dark haired, blue eyed Stella, the fight with himself is on. Beau's job is to find Stella. That's it. Of course things don't end up that easily. After Beau gets a little hot headed and starts a fight with Stella's boss (bar owner Ricky, who just happens to be a member of the Mob), therefore getting Stella fired (or quitting... whatever, details) he ends up spending six days with her, taking her from Miami to visit the sister she's never met but always knew about. Stella not only doesn't want to go to Lovett, she's also afraid her rich, much more loved by her father sister won't like her or accept her or think she's good enough to be a Hollowell. There are a few mini stories woven into this book, all of which added to the tension between major and minor characters (Beau and his dad, Beau and his brother, Beau and his mom; Stella and her mom, Stella and her father, Stella and the sister she's never met who hired a hunky hottie to come find her and deliver her to Lovett, TX). I really enjoy when a book is HOT, but the sex isn't the main theme, it just accentuates the relationship that is building. Insert my usual complaint about romances, then override that with a well written, engrossing, fun story, complete with a nice arc for our hero and you get Run to You. Absolutely enjoyed. On a side note, I do wish we could have resolved a bit more between Stella and Sadie, and talked a little more about Stella/her mother and the money that her father left for her. I felt like that part of the plot was incomplete and kind of left hanging... unless there's more coming in another book. Plus, what happens to Beau and Stella after the last flashbang?!

As a fan of Allie Brosh and Hyperbole and a Half, I (rather predictably) enjoyed this book which includes a few of the posts from her original blog, but also many more that are new. Her humor is sharp, at times biting and self-deprecating, but also extremely relatable and honest. For me, it's that honesty, that willingness to pull back the curtain and expose even the ugly, indigestible parts of herself (the parts many of us either haven't realized we have or are too scared to inspect too closely) that really raises this book to a 5-star rating. Yes, it's hilarious, but it's more than that. It's life stripped down and paraded in all its naked and ridiculous glory. Highly recommended.

Takakannen vaittaman mukaan erittain hyva ja ilmestymisaikanaan vuoden dekkari, mutta mielestani huono. Tarina ei ollut kummoinen, kerronta oli omituisen tunteetonta ja havainnoivaa, henkilot jaivat ohuiksi. Suomennoksen kieli oli myos jarkyttavan huonoa, lukuisia kirjoitusvirheita joka sivulla. Jotain suomennoksen huolimattomuudesta kertoo myos se, etta jopa takakansitekstissa oli virhe. Ainoa hyva puoli kirjassa oli, etta juoni ei ollut aivan niin heikko kuin ensinakemalta vaikutti, vaan siina oli huijauksen huijaus. Aika kulunut keino tosin sekin... Janet Evanovichin Stephanie Plumiin verrattavissa on Kinsey Millhone, Stephanie vaan on kymmenen kertaa hauskempi ja toimivampi hahmo.

I groaned inwardly when I saw that this book had been written by a journalist rather than a historian. My experience has been that history books by journalists are generally about as good as science books by preachers. But there was no help for it; I'm too far into this series to stop now. To my surprise, this ended up being one of the best ones in the series that I've read so far. I only wish it had been longer; its 125 pages of text makes it the shortest book in the series that I've read so far.

This cute story is historical fiction for children set in 1600s Korea. The story focuses on a 12 year old girl who's father is a counselor to the king. Girls and women in this class of society were not allowed outside the inner courts of their homes, except for the weddings of male relatives (female relatives were married in their family home), and on their wedding day, when they would be taken to their husband's family home, and become part of his family, never to see their own family again. Jade blossom longs to see the mountains, and life outside the walls of her family home. The story teaches about life and values in 1600s Korea, and also weaves in the story of Dutch sailors who were shipwrecked on Jejudo Island, and taken as prisoners to Seoul. My 12 year old daughter didn't enjoy the story, it was a little too simple for her level.

Not much happens in this one, but it lays the grounds for what could be a good series. A tad too "Harry Potter"ish for my taste; loving Catarina Loss though.

Great read with many adventures.

So good, I need to write a proper review, and I will in time.

It's terrific to get back to the incursions plotline, and Hickman has a lot of fun with it here. The insight into alternate Marvel Earths is interesting, and helps to underscore how hopeless things are for our own heroes, however the true beauty of this volume is its expanding view of the multiverse, with its Black Priests, Mapmakers, Swans, and Library. There's more to the Marvel Universe than just duplicate heroes, and I hope to see more of it in the years going forward, even after Hickman has moved on.

First Line: "Autocare Direct Motor Insurance." Mina - Wilhemina - is a young, single mother who works at the Sheffield call center for car insurance. Peter is a Cambridge geography professor who's just crashed his car into a tree stump. They're both single, both parents. In America, this would be a definite One Fine Day type of hit. But they're not in America; they're in England. And the class difference between them is palpable, pronounced. Throw in Peter's colorful next door neighbors, Mina's deadbeat little sister, and three of the most fun children in literature, and you've got a full-on MIAM (Make It A Movie). I almost hate to recommend Crossed Wires as a MIAM, so read it first before Thornton sells a screenplay. Thornton's writing is so cozy - the written equivalent of a roaring fire and the perfect pot of tea. She's speaks directly to those of us who grew up and/or raised children during Harry Potter. She makes Dr. Seuss references. She speaks directly to so many experiences - male couples who have lived together their whole lives but never clarified their relationship; parenting twins; scraping by on just enough money; reading in a university library. Your feeling is that she must have snuck into your brain and shared your experiences, so keen are her portrayals. I waited to review this novel until the leaves started changing here in Colorado. Crossed Wires involves bonfires and New Year's and coats and boots, so it's not the best summertime read. As a fall read, it's excellent. Buy it if you're a romance (but not erotic romance) fan, or check it out if you're not - though you'll probably end up buying it anyway.

Lexi never thought they'd come for her, she'd seen others been taken but didn't think it would be her turn, so trying to take her own life she gets distracted by her ring that her father gave her so she flees but she doesn't stand a chance. She is taken to The Hole where everyone is branded depending on what sin they have committed, Lexi is branded blue for Lust so not off to a good start when this brings unwanted attention her way. But she is assigned Cole which from the start is just like any other guard but as time goes on she gets to see his caring side when Lexi is taking care of her dying friend, a thirteen year old girl in the hospital where she works as there relationship develops. After they witness the horrific deaths of a guard and a sinner who have fallen in love they do not want this to happen to them so a relationship is strictly off the cards. I have to admit I was torn between the relationship with Cole and Lexi, as it was forbidden to have a relationship with a guard you feared for their lives and wanted them to end it but aahhh Cole how could she? I just loved Zeus, Cole's crazy dog who also turns out to be Lexi's protector, he stole the show for me with his whackiness. Overall I absolutely loved this book and I'm so pleased that I got the chance to read it. I could not put it down and would definitely recommend this book to everyone. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long for the next book.

Wow. Never would I have thought I could be so engaged in the French and Indian War. This book spans the years of a family in New York State that finds themselves trying to keep one foot on both sides of the war. I was fascinated finding out about Native American/English settler history. What I really appreciated about this book was the fact it didn't pretty up either side of the war. Both the Native Americans and whites did some pretty atrocious things. Our history seems to have swung like a pendulum from demonizing the Native Americans, to making them the innocent victims and the whites the massacre-ists, and hopefully now it will be acceptable to just tell the truth. I would not have wanted to have been a settler on the edge of the "border" so to speak. A rough time. The Native American culture was both beautiful, fascinating and violent and terrifying at the same time. Loved finding out so much about their culture, as well as their relations between tribes. Amazing how their views on honor and death were so different from the whites. Post-edit: I think the novel would have been a little better if he would have dropped some of the tangents and sub-plots. He tried to cover a few too many bases. FYI: Novel contains some pretty graphic, realistic violence and war. The Indians were pretty blunt and nonchalant about sex, so it's pretty much the same way in a few scenes.

"In The Garden Of Beasts" I found to be less engaging than some of Larson's other works. I rate this at or a little below "Thunderstruck", and still hold "Devil In the White City" to be the best of his recent books. One main reason I didn't care for this work is that I didn't get a real sense of change or development on the part of the subjects of the story. Martha, I suppose, does undergo a change as she turns from being somewhat pro-Nazi at the beginning of the book to anti-Nazi at the end. But her string of marriages and affairs, from capitalists to Nazis to communists, wasn't engaging. William Dodd was presented as being too intellectual to be a good ambassador, and comes across as ineffectual. Even though one might sympathize with his position, and even admire the disapproving stance he took towards the Nazis, in the context of the story it made him a weak character. Overall I found little reason to care about either William or Martha Dodd. That weakness of William and Martha, as characters, might have been overlooked if the other half of the story was stronger. Not that the rise of Nazi Germany is uncompelling. Rather, we know from history that the time this book covers is such a small slice of a larger story. We know that World War II and the final solution are coming in the years ahead, so the entire presentation of the rise of the Nazi regime feels like an extended exercise in foreshadowing, with no pay-off. I also found the book to be somewhat ill-paced towards the end. The natural climax of the book is the Night of the Long Knives, when Hitler and Goering purged the SA. But after that, when the author started discussing Dodd's eventual dismissal as ambassador, the pace of the book changed. It went from the dense action of the purge in one chapter to leaping several years in a single paragraph in the next chapter. It seemed very discontinuous. It felt like a stumble. I think if Larson had simply put a section break after the purge, leaving Dodd's growing frustration and ineffectiveness, his dismissal, and return to civilian life in the final section, the book would have had a more natural ending. As it stands, the ending felt weak. Despite all that, I think Larson is a great writer. So while I can't heartily recommend this book, neither can I give it a full thumbs-down. In short, if you are already a fan of Larson's work, or if you are *really* interested in that era in history, give this a read. Otherwise, start with "Devil In The White City".

FABOLOUS. I have loved Roz Chast for a while, and this book was just amazing. It took me two sittings to finish, if only because I stopped to eat somewhere in there.

** spoiler alert ** I thoroughly enjoyed this read from Sandra Brown. I was hooked from page one and felt the story got underway right away. No prologue, no wasted introductory scenes. I like when I feel like I've stepped into a huge mess and I get to ride along on the journey to sort things out. As usual, Brown takes us on a eventful trip through the plot as the story dives deeper. Everyone that Honor Gillette trusted the day before can no longer be trusted. Her husband, decorated fallen policeman, may have been murdered and Lee Coburn thinks she holds the key to the reason why. After rescuing Honor from what might have been a deadly situation, he has no choice but to drag her along while he solves the mystery. Oh, and while he's running for his life. There are some great characters here and a little twist that I honestly didn't see coming. Lee Coburn is a gruff, rough and tumble former marine turned deep undercover FBI agent. Under that rugged exterior beats the heart of a man who's never had anyone, so he doesn't realize that he needs Honor. And Emily, her daughter. The BookKeeper is frighteningly menacing, ruling the cartel and dirty cop operation with a iron fist. Diego is a ruthless murderer with a secret to keep. Local FBI Director Van Allen is in a marriage so broken it's on life support. Brown keeps us wondering, thinking, mentally investigating each character, because we don't know which ones are clean and which ones are out to get Honor and keep her from helping Coburn uncover her husband's secret. Sandra Brown is great at romantic suspense and as usual, she places a few tasteful love scenes and the pacing toward characters feeling for each other is gradual. There is no declaration of love entirely too soon. It really irks me to see that in so many romance novels. Maybe it's less romantic but its more believable. I waffled as to give this book four or five stars. I ultimately decided on five stars because I have so few complaints and I was thoroughly entertained. Bring on more Sandra Brown!

Eva Tramell has just moved to New York to start a new job in advertising and by chance meets dark, dangerous, handsome Gideon Cross. Its passion and lust at first sight and then were taken on the journey of them getting together. They both have troubled and traumatic pasts which makes them both high maintenance when it comes to their relationship. I overall really enjoyed this read and red it in one sitting on a lazy day off from work. It has strong comparisons to Fifty Shades of Grey, in that Gideon Cross is very similar in character to Christian Grey. Cross is a billionaire business man with a mysterious past who is also a sexual dominant and an overall control freak. The separation for me was the female lead, Eva is no Anna Steel. Eva to has a traumatic past but she has come through it strong minded and confident, she's not a shy and retiring wall flower, which I really liked. While the book focuses on Gideon being a sexual dominant it doesn't go down the BDSM route, which I liked. I think this made the sex more realistic for me. My problem with this book is that it left me with to many questions. What has happened in Gideon's past ? What's his brothers problem ? and most importantly, Where is this story going ? As I understand this is the first part in a trilogy of books, (*cough* fifty shades *cough*) and to be honest I will be reading on as it has my interest peaked !! My one major complaint and the reason it only got 4stars in the use of the 'C' word, to be honest it's the only word that makes me cringe and I don't think it has any place in a sex scene and it's a word Gideon uses a lot, very unsexy !!

** spoiler alert ** Now we're catching up with Julie and Marcus a few weeks later. They've just gotten un-grounded following capers from the last story and are dating. Julie's mom is as protective as ever, urging Julie in ways subtle and not-at-all-subtle to break things off with Marcus. Ultimately it comes down to a simple principle: Marcus isn't magical. Which means, despite his knowledge and his love for Julie, he's defenseless against other magic practicioners. Julie, of course, rebels against the thought. But when she sees the raw effects of dark magic on several of her classmates, she knows Mom's...right (Don't we all hate when that happens?!) Marcus isn't pleased but he respects Julie's pleas to simply stay out of danger. Good thing Julie has a new sidekick in this story! Or, should I say partner? Because anyone who can summon a spirit Grizzly to kick tail? Yeah, that's some fierce magic, my friends. First Nation mages, Twyla Standingready and her grandfather, are formidable allies in this quest against dark magic. The climax is heavy--and more than one white witch sacrifices everything to save Julie's schoolmates from death. Kind of a kick in the ass when Marcus is corrupted by the very evil Julie is hunting, though. I was so shocked at Marcus in the end. I mean, sure, it's no fun having a dark spirit turn your thoughts evil, but...but...come on, man! True love? Ring a freakin' bell?? STUDENT BODIES wraps completely, so no cliffhangers...(except for that one part, where the kids nearly pull a lemming)...but anywho, only the emotional ties remain to be re-woven in a possible third installment. Again, this novel has a yellow light for cussing, but, hey, it ain't no thing but a chicken wing, baby. Kids cuss. Strong themes of tolerance and anti-bullying plot elements outweigh a stray F-bomb, IMHO. I'd recommend STUDENT BODIES to any reader who enjoys YA paranormal adventure or romance fiction.

shidotoziyatsukuhaTong zikoinnoLi Biao dearu. to, Mou Tou niatsutasonoLi You gawakarimasu. Er Ren tomo, aruShi Dian karaJian rebatotemoE iRen nanodakeredo, iiNan Da . totemoMei Li De desu. Er Ren noZhou riwoGu meruXie Yi Zhen monakanakaGe Xing Pai . Yi Zhe Jian ide, sorezorenokiyaragaLi tsuteimasu. tonikaku, kono, Zui Zhong Zhang niBei remashita. shido, Da Hao ki. sonoTian madeJie kukuraiGao kuteJian Lao naBi noXiang kouniiru, Rou rakakuteShang tsukiyasuiFu Za naJun wo, Jun noSheng noZi wo, ziyatsukunookagedeJian setemoraetaQi gasuru. sutsugoiLi Ye dene. Xiao

oh, shit.

My children and I enjoyed reading this together. It is a sweet and thought-provoking story full of beautiful themes about our relationships with others.

Along for the Ride was the first book I read by Sarah Dessen, and I suddenly realized that I had been missing out on a lot. I thought this book was amazing! I loved it! First of all, I immediately fell in love with Eli. He just seemed like a very awesome guy. I just wanted to put that out there. Also, I found the story very enjoyable, and it seemed very easy to get lost in it. But, and this may just be me, I thought that there were some points where the story just seemed to drag on. Most of the story, though, was amazing and exciting and I am officially a major fan of Sarah Dessen!

I loved this as a kid.

I've read every book in the Harry Hole series. Most all of them refer at some point to Harry's case in Australia. The first book in the series. But never available in English. So this was a real treat. Like finally getting a glimpse of some rare mythological creature. Plus I got to meet the young Harry Hole and gain some insight into how he got to be who he is now. Also very well written. Never guess it was a debut effort. And now I know what happened in Australia.

The h - wonderful, the H - an ass...the story itself was great, but not the romance I thought it was going to be.

What girl doesn't like a book involving fairies! Only this little fairy is anything but the fluff and stuff that people think. She's tough and carries a dagger! Very nice story and the pictures add to the reading experience. The only thing I didn't like was that the little fairy was a tiny bit violent. She seemed a rely on her dagger a lot, I wasn't expecting that in this book. Also the one scene describing the bug that could eat her was a bit descriptive. I think if I was a kid I"d be afraid of the bug eating my head off :(. Other then this it was a great magical book!

m byn l'msi w nbDti lywm n`ysh `l~ Zhri mlHm@in `Zym@in w frdwsi mn frdysi l'db . f'~ `Zm@in hdhhi w'~ Trbin hdh . m f`lh shykhn `mlun `Zym 'n ysuda m f~ lqSyd@i l'Sly@ mn fjwt ftnbn~ qS@an kml@a lbunyn , ry'`@a lbyn , shmkh@an mbny@an `l~ lqSyd@ lzy'y@ llshmkh krsl@in l " shfyq mtry " ltGwSa f~ '`mqi lnfsi lbshry@ w ltqna l`mly . f'bd`a f~ wSfhi w Tlbhi w 'bd` f~ Tlbi lbd` lmTlwb . fTyb llh thr~ shykhn w qds rwHh wsrh

outstanding very good book

The finale to the first arc of the Fables story. A nice conclusion.

Akin to Rappaccini's daughter, and a quick read. Still, I'd save yourself some time and just read Hawthorne.

Initially, I was inclined to be dismissive of this post-modern redrafting of the 1960s to fit the conceits of Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, now reduced to three - the sex-shifting Orlando, a dull and uninteresting Allan Quatermain and the real heroine of the story, Mina. Fortunately, the clever-cleverness of the references to everything from the Krays and 'Get Carter' via the Rolling Stones and Jerry Cornelius to every possible literary reincarnation (you'll get that when you read it) of Crowley is redeemed with what turns out to be quite a good story. Nevertheless, this is Moore coasting with a product that is entertaining enough but which he and O'Neill are offering us without much apparent conviction. Perhaps all that might be said about it to tempt the jaded palate is that Moore continues his campaign of sexual awakening for the great unwashed that started with Promethea and reached its notorious zenith in 'Alice in Wonderland'. Sexuality is presented as varied, and normal in its variety, in a way that you will rarely see on the comic book shelves of WH Smith. If it livens up and liberates a few adolescents, then he will have done some anarchic service to humanity - certainly one or two scenes are a definite turn-on. But it is a pretty pot-boiler and not up to the usual standard we have come to expect from the great Anarch.

I really liked His Eyes by Renee Carter This book definietely put a smile on my dial :) I was really looking forward to how the author would work with the great ideas that she had come upwith and I wasn't at all dissappointed. Although I think there may be parts which could be better or that there are scenes that could have worked with the story it wasn't my book to write. His eyes gaeve me the break I needed from other romances as i've been reading all these soppy love stories about love at first sight and extremely handsome vampires... Overall this book atracted me because it seemed so realistic the characters were down-to-earth and believable , not extremely feminist and chivalrous and the romance actually grew unlike the stories where love comes too easily.

An easy read,but heavy On the corny side

it the poems that always get me.

2.5

At this point, there's not even one likeable character in Black Science. Remender has to seriously make things slower, give everybody that much yearned breather. I can neither root for nor relate to any character. Their individual decisions felt rushed and done only to conveniently advance the story and give Black Science more action sequences. The characters are inconsistent and have ever-changing personalities, shallow assholes IMO who deserve to be trapped in some reality of the onion. Black Science is supposed to be rich and deep, considering the main premise is to explore new worlds and go deeper in the onion. Like the characters themselves, the worlds seem to be just alternate realities of our own, not offering something more deep and unique. Fix it please.

im emosh

When the wolves come out of the walls, IT'S ALL OVER!

What's to say? That Shakespeare guy really knew how to write....

The Ballad of Reading Gaol is my fave poem!!! i really really love it! Wilde was a genius excerpt: The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde Yet each man kills the thing he loves By each let this be heard, Some do it with a bitter look, Some with a flattering word, The coward does it with a kiss, The brave man with a sword! Some kill their love when they are young, And some when they are old; Some strangle with the hands of Lust, Some with the hands of Gold: The kindest use a knife, because The dead so soon grow cold. Some love too little, some too long, Some sell, and others buy; Some do the deed with many tears, And some without a sigh: For each man kills the thing he loves, Yet each man does not die.

This was my first introduction to Thurber, and I thought it was hilarious. I did think he should have ended it after his last fable. I didn't really need to read other poet's poems that he did illustrations too ... if they were original, that'd be another story.

Great stories of the near future, wonderful adapted with good art too.

This explains so much.

Garry Wills, who has been described as "a sort of intellectual outlaw" by the New York Times, has written many books related to politics, including Reagan's America, Nixon Agonistes, Lincoln at Gettysburg (for which he won the Pulitzer Prize), and The Kennedy Imprisonment, originally published in 1982. This 2017 edition of The Kennedy Imprisonment includes an updated preface, but is still essentially Wills taking on the myths surrounding the Kennedy clan and disabusing people of the popular vision of the Kennedy image as viewed through the lens of Camelot. For Kennedy fans who haven't done much reading about the reality, this book may be unsettling as it pulls back the curtain and reveals a corrupt and opportunistic political family who valued image over reality, flattering myths and stories over truth, and a world of "almost-Kennedys" and hangers-on who gave up their own integrity for the privilege of basking in the reflected glory of the Kennedy clan. Wills covers the PT-109 story and the expert manipulation of it in print and film, the question of actual authorship of Profiles in Courage, the story that was presented as historical fact about the handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the notorious womanizing of Joe Sr., John, and Teddy (with Bobby allegedly being the faithful one). The book is divided into five sections, each devoted to a particular aspect of the Kennedy family: Sex, Family, Image, Charisma, and Power. But even before we get to these, the prologue tells us the particular slant of the author: "Because of privilege of various sorts, bad behavior does not have consequences, which means that it continues and becomes more pronounced." The heavy weight on each of the brothers following the deaths of their siblings culminates in Teddy's sad comment: "After Robert was killed, he told his aide Dun Gifford: "I can't let go. We have a job to do. If I let go, Ethel will let go, and my mother will let go, and all my sisters."" Yikes, what a heavy load he carried...and his dysfunctional, doomed campaign for the Presidency in 1980 is covered in depth, including a good look at poor Joan, who never really made it into the insular inner circle of the clan. Wills says there was a palpable energy between and among the Kennedys that excluded all outsiders: "When the nurse took the Kennedy children swimming at Taggert's Pier, back in the thirties, they all wore the same color bathing hats, so they could be distinguished from the other children...Ever since they have been wearing invisible caps that signal to each other on a radio frequency no one else can use." I have vivid memories of JFK's inauguration (when a TV was wheeled into my elementary school classroom so we could watch and hear his speech) and the assassinations, including the televised coverage of the aftermath each time another tragedy unfolded. I admit it was a bit disconcerting to learn the level to which coverage and myth protection was managed and manipulated, but I was still pleased to have the opportunity to read a copy of this edition (thanks to Open Road Integrated Media and NetGalley). For me, the problem is that this book, written as it was in the early 1980s, assumed a familiarity with many of the people and events that was likely appropriate 30+ years ago, but for many of us, memories fade - and for others, there is complete cluelessness about who these people are and what their significance was to the Kennedy story of the 1960s-80s. In addition to needing to figure out the characters and their roles, the author's writing became annoying. I appreciate a strong vocabulary, but in several instances, it seemed like a simpler word might have served the purpose: for example, "jansenist," "circumnambient, ""orotundities,""thurible," and "perdured' seem a bit over the top (while the less puzzling "circumlocutious," panegyric," and "simulacra" seem to adequately demonstrate the author's fine vocabulary). Or maybe it's just me, and everyone else is completely familiar with the over-the-top examples listed above? In any case, that detracted from my appreciation of the book. (And spellcheck was equally puzzled by 7 of the 8 words listed above!) In any case, it is a fine history of the clan and their impact on U.S. history and, while it may provoke a certain level of disappointment for readers to learn about both the human frailties and downright corrupt actions of their heroes, it is hugely entertaining. Political junkies in particular will love this. Four stars.

While Shlomo Sand's "Invention of the Jewish People" has attracted endless accolades from partisans with an axe to grind - though not always exactly the same axe as the author - any close scrutiny reveals the book to be little more than a collection of strawmen arguments forming a feeble foundation for a weak argument. Time and again, Sand rails against a scholarly consensus which seems to exist only in his mind and ignores the considerable primary source evidence that undermines his case. Consider for example, his "bold" assertions about the lack of historicity of the Hebrew Bible or successful proselytization by Jews in the ancient world. The former is of course particularly amusing to anyone with even a passing familiarity with Jewish history. One could make good money betting that Sand could walk the length and breath of Tel Aviv's history department and not find a single faculty member who would make a claim that the Hebrew Bible could be read as a history book (I might even go further, and say he could probably jump on the bus and do the same at Orthodox Bar-Ilan University's history department and still come up empty handed). The same could be said about claims with the subject of large scale conversion, a topic attested to by diverse ancient sources and widely written about by modern scholars. For those readers interested in this topic, I would heartily recommend Seth Schwartz's provocative and well researched "Imperialism and Jewish Society." Unlike Sand, Schwartz is both familiar with the relevant ancient sources and reads the languages necessary to work directly from the original source texts. Of course, where Sand really goes off the intellectual rails is where he goes further afield from the scholarly consensus. No where is this clearer than in his assertions of Eastern European Jewry originating with the refugees from the central Asian Khazar Kingdom - I used the term "assertion" intentionally, for the claim lacks even sufficient evidence to bring it to the level of a theory. Nor can Sand even bring himself to deal with the substantial evidence against this notion which has it origin with the late 19th century racist Ernest Renan, instead resorting to invective and hyperbole for lack of a rational argument. Instead, for example, in engaging in the genetic data which has appeared in numerous peer reviewed journals, Sand scorns the entire exercise by invoking the ghastly horrors of Nazi psudo-science. As with much of Sand's method in this book, one must assume that this rejection is selective to the Jewish case. Genetic comparison is widely used in the historical analysis of migration patterns. One can hardly imagine Professor Sand, for example, at a conference on the Norman roots of the northern French castigating some presenter of genetic data as a Nazi. No, one suspects for Sand this epithet's use is limited primarily in an attempt to silence Jewish critics. As with his treatment of conversion in the ancient world, on the Khazars as well, Sand makes odd claims that his writing is somehow revelatory. Putting aside anecdotal data, such as my own memory of Jewish Khazaria being well known and widely discussed in my own youth, Pulitzer prize winner, Michael Chabon recently wrote an adventure novel which took place almost entirely in that ancient Jewish Kingdom. And, should any wishing to leap to Sand's defense want to claim that this novel, "Gentleman of the Road," is somehow obscure, it was actually serialized in that rarely read journal, The NY Times Sunday Magazine.

Este libro lo compre en 2007, luego por un descuido de 5 minutos me lo robaron en un Oxxo. Hace unos meses decidi volver a comprarlo (como por cuarta vez) ya que la edicion de Malpaso es bilingue y el diseno de portada realmente es hermoso. De entre todas las versiones en espanol que han existido de Tarantula esta es la mejor que pueden conseguir. El libro por si mismo sigue siendo turbodenso, y es indispensable leerlo en su idioma original para medio entender la marana de ritmos que vomita Dylan. Una joya.

Okay i was a fan after the first book, But now I am BEYOND sold... I am head of heels, IN LOVE with Quinn Loftis's books~ In 2 books she has easily become on of my favorite authors! This had everything you cuold want out of a book (okay maybe a little more on the "Love scene would have been nice, but since its a YA book I wont complain) ANYWAYS, I feel like a giddy little school girl who cant wipe the freaking grin off my face. I even started bouncing up and down to my husband as I giggled how much I loved this book. I know SAD, but truly I loved it!!!

I love my slow-cooker and use it several times a week. I got this book at the library, but it's on my "to-buy" list. Every recipe is super easy and everything that I tried turned out. It's food the kids will actually eat. Every recipe has a picture and a nice spiral binding...

As if I hadn't already expressed enough love for John Green, I finally get a chance to read his back list and find Will Grayson, Will Grayson. Now for sure I love him. Every high school student needs to read this book to see things from another's perspective, to see how small action or words make a big difference, and finally to see how humanity can build each other up instead of tearing each other down. I laughed, I cried, I exclaimed out loud in the car driving across Nebraska. I cheered for the characters and I questioned their thoughts and actions. I ended the book loving each one and their experience which they happily will share with any reader. Which is why every HS kid needs to read it. Dare I say I loved this one more than FIOS and Looking for Alaska? I think I do.

Gage doesn't have the skill of Slott, and too much of this volume is spent setting up the next thing, but nonetheless this is a fun continuation of the series.

Beautiful graphic images by Young but it's still Twilight.

3.5 stars. Took me forever to read this because of college. I don't know if that affected me or not but once I started reading again after a month things seemed kind of dragged. It picked up again for a bit. Some of the decisions that Jacob and Emma made were so annoying and I felt like the ending "battle" was a bit of a cheap exit.

5 stars to Father Mine I ABSOLUTELY ADORED this novella. Nalla is born beautiful and healthy with Bella also doing well. The only hiccup in this lovely picture is the absence of Zsadist being a father to his baby girl. His lack of participation also drove a wedge between him and Bella. But Zsadist is scared that his past will have too much effects on his girl's growth, which is why he hasn't even picked up Nalla yet. So either he steps up or Bella is stepping out, taking their girl with her. I love Zsadist and Bella together and this little glimpse into their relationship makes me love them more. Marriage is work and they definitely put their share into it here, talking things out with their fears, their hopes, and most of all, their focus on their new gift. This interlude was definitely needed after Phury's book for me. It was emotional and heartfelt, and there was oodles of gushiness on my part. That moment when Zsadist picked up his little daughter for the first time... GAHHHHH. MY HEART SIMPLY MELTED. There's no doubt that he would make a wonderful father and Nalla would always be protected. I mean, hello, look at who she has for a dad and the number of uncles around her! I'd be scared for the male coming to knock on that door to date Nalla! I can read this novella over and over again and the lingering effects would still be the same... Me in a swoon puddle. 4 stars for the rest of the book There were some parts I skipped since I wanted to focus mostly on the behind the scenes with the Brothers. I like seeing the process Miss Ward had with each book and how each Brother spoke to her to tell their story. She explained her reasoning for Jane and Vishous and yes, I would have loved to see another 10 pages after their book. That would sit better with me. The one thing that bothered and confused me with V and JR Ward is the animosity between them. What is this "lie" that V spoke of? Is it about Jane? His mother? Has he seen visions about his sister? This insider guide answered some questions but also raised others for me. Overall, an enjoyable read!

Elly Swartz has filled a void for middle grade readers dealing with OCD. They finally have a book to share their story. I notice so much anxiety & OCD tendencies in my fifth graders striving for perfect. I already know a list of readers who will benefit from this book! Can't wait to own a copy or two next year to share with my future fifth graders as well! Molly's character is relatable & lovable. My heart ached to help Molly throughout her journey. Molly even helped me face a few of my own compulsions & reflect on my own need for control and order. You do not want to miss this book when it comes out in October!

I loved this book. While i disagreed with some of Arthurs views, the work he did before and after being diagnosed with AIDS is astounding. To be sentenced to death with not long to live and to want to dedicate that time to others he felt less fortunate (or as unfurtunate) as himself is nothing short of inspiring. He covers a bit of tennis in the book but if anything this shows that Arthur was much more than a grand slam champion, the person he was off the court was so much more inspiring than anything he could have done on one. A true old fashioned gentleman, and an inspiration, epsecially in times like these

3.5 stars. I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and Larson did a good job for a debut author. However, there were still faults with the book that can't be ignored. The beginning was pretty rough. We're introduced to Alexa and Marcel right after their parents are killed and she pretends to be a boy to join the army and avoid the "breeding" house. Oh that breeding house. The idea of it is appalling to say the least, where girls are thrown in to be constantly raped so that they may birth more sons to be trained for the army. It's not only appalling, but unnecessary. True, there had to be a way to make Alexa pretending to be a boy a logical move, but there were plenty of other ways to make that happen. It could have been something as simple as her not wanting to be separated from Marcel, her only living relative, and so she chose to join the army with him so they wouldn't be separated. Not only that she had the fighting skills for it already so that would have made it even more unconvincing. Yeah, the breeding house brings some angst, but that's as far as it goes. As for Alexa herself, wow what a piece of work. In the beginning she couldn't seem to make up her mind on whether or not she was a boy or a girl what with the whole "Oh I'm the manliest of mans I never lose I will kick your butts" and then the "Oh Prince Damian you have a wonderful torso it's so lean and sculpted." Seriously, it was pretty annoying and wow that attitude after Marcel died. All everyone was doing was try to help her and she just snapped at them. Talk about ungrateful. However, I did come to find her less annoying when she figured out who she really was and I do appreciate that she's a strong female character who bests basically all of the men in the novel. And now, the love triangle. For the first half of the book the triangle was beyond annoying because she couldn't figure out whether Damian or Rylan was more beautiful looking and when she finally picked Damian it gets even more cliche with Rylan professing his undying love even if she doesn't love him. However, the moments between her and Damian were kinda touching and it was sweet while it lasted for such an impossible love. I think her decision to end it with him was smart because he has a duty, and so does she. The plot itself was interesting. The assassins and the bits of sorcery all of it was great. I would like some more detail on the sorcerers though. What are the different ranks, how did they come about, etc. Overall it was really well thought out with the rebellion and the attack. Alexa's abilities weren't just explained away with the sole reason being that she was the main character, but because she had an innate ability for sensing magic and that was a nice touch on Larson's part. However, I was hoping for better world-building. Yeah, I get that they are surrounded by a jungle but is that really it? What about the colors of the jungle, the animals, the hardships of it, the beautiful descriptions I'm expecting when you have the ability to write about a lush rainforest? All I really got was that they have access to tropical fruit and a lot of dangerous creatures lurking about. If Larson wants this to be an incredible epic fantasy she needs more world building. The ending was as expected and was a good way to ease into the next book in the series. Overall, a pretty decent book for Larson but I sure hope their characters develop. I would like to see how Alexa's relationships change with Rylan and Damian, Damian's hardships as a new king, and where Antion will go from here.

it's a love-hate thing.

The uncertainty of 'new adulthood' is as energizing and rapturous as it is bittersweet. And that's how I felt about PRECIOUS THINGS by Stephanie Parent. Isabelle is an excellent student. She's been accepted to Johns Hopkins and Georgetown and her freshman year should be one of excitement and adventure, but it's not. Dad's business is in the toilet and her college fund? Poof. And, mom? She poofed years ago leaving Isabelle to help raise her younger brother, Corey. Having not considered this possibility, Isabelle neglected to apply to a safety school that she could afford--so she's wandering about Hartford Community College lamenting her extremely bad fortune and despairing over her ridiculous courses--not the least of which is Electronic Music Production which she abhors--that she only took because they were still open. If life wasn't bad enough, her Music TA Evan Strauss is hot, but runs hot-and-cold, and Isabelle, hoping against hope for financial aid from her real colleges so she can leave at the end of term, doesn't want to reach out. She must however, because she's clueless in Music and knows a failing grade will strand her in Community Collegeville. FOREVER. She develops a friendship with Lily, a beautiful dance major and fellow Music classmate, and warms to her English prof finding that there is more to college than a GIANT DEBT, I mean, name. Especially when she doesn't just, ahem, warm to Evan... Flames, people. Get the extinguisher. And, of course there is conflict. Corey's hanging with all new kids and his disrespectful attitude is stronger than teen-boy-foot odor. Dad's poor business sense weighs on Isabelle, as does her resentment over high school friends finding their brighter futures. And Evan, delicious Evan, seems to be the next one to let her down. Through it all, Isabelle develops an appreciation for being exactly where she is. Oh, and Depeche Mode. (Who doesn't, BTW?) What I loved? It gets real. There are millions of kids out there living Isabelle's disappointment right now--albeit without the hot TA who knows how to swing his hammer. It's an important life lesson. To borrow from The Stones: You Can't Always Get What You Want in this life. And, yet, you must go on and do the best you can. And sometimes, if you're lucky like Isabelle, you get what you need. And that is very precious, indeed. Let me know if you pick up PRECIOUS THINGS in the comments. I'd love your take on it, or any New Adult title you've recently enjoyed.

A good book for self contemplation.

Olipahan melkoinen urakka saada luetuksi, mutta tuli luettua. Niin ylevaa tekstia etta! Uupui vain se, etta olisin jaksanut seurata, mita tassa tapahtuu, tai edes valittanyt siita patkan vertaa. Naita klassikoita lukiessa tulee aina vaistamatta miettineeksi, kuinka luokattoman huonoja tekeleita ne aikansa unohduksiin jaaneet kirjat ovat olleet, kun nama parhaiten muistetut ja ylistetyt hengentuotteetkin toimivat lahinna unilaakkeena.

What can I say about Stephen King except he is DAMN GOOD! No one writes twisted, jacked up stories like the master! His latest collection of short stories is just, well--classic King!

This review was written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/12/review... Julian Gibson is a transgender high school freshman. He's always felt that he was a boy, though his body and birth name, Julia, are female. Julian has a dear childhood friend, Aiden, who's been bullied mercilessly on social media for his perceived homosexuality. Aiden's turned away from Julian, because Julian's tomboy appearance makes people think he might be a butch dyke, and that's unacceptable for Aidan. The loss of Aidan's friendship is deeply upsetting for Julian. Julian makes new friends with Maria, a beautiful bisexual girl, and her cousin. Maria's got a cadre of misfit-type friends and they draw Julian in because Maria's attracted to Julia(n). As much as Julian would like to date Maria, he feels it would be dishonest to do so without confessing that he's really a boy--even if it means losing Maria and his new friends. Julian decides that he needs to come out as trans because he wants to be seen as he is, but also because physiology is getting in the way. He's developing breasts and having his period, and he really can't handle it anymore. He has a really great relationship with his father, a city councilman for Toronto, and fears coming out will change everything. Thing is, Julian's life is already changing and he recognizes that he's got to speak soon, or lose more time in a body that's betraying him. He vows to tell three people before Christmas--in a convoluted scheme to link these revelations to a series of Secret Santa parties. Along the way, he and Maria get closer, he messes up big time in school, and he's under extreme pressure to come out to his parents before the new year. I like this story for teens and questioning persons. For myself, and I've read a few trans kids coming out stories this year, I felt the pace was slow and the plan to come out overly complicated. The metaphor of the myth of Santa versus being honest about one's self seemed stretch I wasn't able to follow, but the slightly jaded teen characters read as real and had age-appropriate conversations and activities. It's mostly innocent with one drug reference and one scene where Julian and Maria briefly have the opportunity to explore one another physically, though it's not too graphic. I felt a strong connection to Julian, and understood that he never felt that he was a girl. Nor did he feel he was a lesbian. He felt he was a (mostly) straight boy attracted (mostly) to girls--despite having a female body. This was a really interesting viewpoint, and I appreciated Julian's difficulties with expressing this to his peers, parents, and teachers. Some guess. Some don't. Julian's new friends, including Maria, are especially generous. They give great advice and are extremely supportive. The book is affirming, with positive moments that will be appreciated by queer/trans readers. There's also a lot of references to authors and musicians that produce queer-friendly/trans-friendly works, especially sci-fi stories, which is a valuable resource for interested people to explore. I did like the book, even though I felt it was unnecessarily long and the plot overly complicated. Julian is a good character to grow with, and the resolution of his coming out dilemma took more good than bad turns. The book felt very thorough in scope. Julian's experiences might be more "true" in Canadian society than the US or UK, as there are likely to be regional differences in the reality of trans treatment from a society/institutions standpoint. Organically and emotionally, however, Julian felt very approachable. This is a book written for a YA audience, and it hit all those marks for me.

Won on First Reads...looking forward to reading these! ETA - These were the first books I had read in the Love Inspired Historical series, and I have to say they won't be my last! It has been a long time since I read a lot of historical romance, although I used to enjoy it very much. These were great examples of historical fiction without veering into romance overkill. They also had a basis in faith, although it was not overpowering. I loved that they were quick, easy reads, yet they were entertaining and carried a message. I am a sucker for a good romance, and both stories in this book were just that. I can't wait to read more by these authors!

Started in the middle. Currently pretty interesting. Reminds me of a cross between Angela Knight and someone else (i forget who. so sue me!). update: i like this author and the story, but have too many to read right now. The fact that I put it down and forgot about it means she goes back in the stack! And I might be reminded of Sherrilyn Kenyon on this book. Re-read: Reads like the usual paranormal-gang-of-hot-guys-saving-the-world book, except marginally more interesting in that the hero falls for the girl who's from the bloodline that cursed him. Easy read.

3.95 stars! The ending blew my mind. Blame Aeolus. (excuse the bad pun). Finally I got to finish it this time. Took me half a year to be into this one. So, I just love the fact that all the main characters have their own shares of POVs so I can really know what they're thinking thus I feel more connected to them. This switching of POV thing should have happened to some Percabeth moments back in PJO. If they rescued Percy (which I'm pretty sure will happen), I hope Rick gives Percy and/or Annabeth a POV - even a short one. I'd do anything for a Percabeth moment. 3 Anyway, I'm still a bit skeptical with Jason. I know it's not his fault, but I'm still reluctant to trust him wholly. Is that weird?

I really wanted to like this book. I love Paris and wanted to wander the Marais with the detective and figure out the "who dun-nit" along the way. The one positive thing I have to say, is that you do get to rush around in Paris with some nice descriptions along the way. I didn't like the main character, she wasn't believable. When she questioned people, neither the questions, nor the answers she managed to get made much sense. She seemed to senselessly get herself into stupid and dangerous situations and miraculously survive. I find it difficult to believe there are 12 more of these even though the reviews really haven't improved along the way....

Little Cloud was curious about the world. When the other clouds drifted up and away from the earth, Little Cloud drifted down and towards it. He keeps changing his shape from one thing to another until he gathers with the other clouds to create rain. Good for preschool or toddler storytimes.

I know that you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover - or its title - but what else can you do when you find a book called _"There Are Rocks in My Socks!" said the Ox to the Fox"_? It only takes a smidgen of intelligence to realize that you have found an excellent children's book with some highly enjoyable rhymes, and Patricia Thomas' story does not disappoint! The story line is very simple - the poor ox has rocks in his socks (bet you wouldn't have guessed that!) and can't figure out how to get rid of them. His friend, the fox, makes several rather ludicrous (which equals insanely humorous) suggestions, starting with doing a summersault and shaking the rocks loose. This leads to a worse situation...and things just go downhill from there. Finally, the woebegone ox is rescued from his friend's crazy suggestions by the arrival of a bird, whose final solution for relief is far simpler. Mordicai Gerstein's illustrations are equally amusing. The pictures of the characters are interesting when they are having a discussion, but as he portrays the ox following the fox's ideas, the drawings become even funnier. My three year old had quite a lot of fun laughing at the pictures before I even started reading! This is also an excellent book for engaging children and providing opportunities for critical thinking. "How do you think the ox should get the rocks out?" I asked my son early on. He thought it was awesome when the bird later suggested his idea. "What do you think will happen when he does this?" I asked. The story also gave him some opportunities to identify rhyming words - in addition to the rock/sock conundrum, there is also the tack/back problem, the rail/tail challenge, and of course, the bee/knee difficulty. These all made my son laugh, but they also made him yell out, "Hey, those rhyme!" Like all good children's books, Patricia Thomas' uses repetition throughout, adding to the growing list of oxen trauma. This gave my son a chance to chant them with me, and to enjoy the fact that he can "read" - which, of course, made him want to re-read. And re-read. Although Thomas' book, _"There Are Rocks in My Socks!" Said the Ox to the Fox"_, is more than a mouthful to say, it is a lot of fun to read. Parents and children alike will giggle over this hilarious bit of storytime.

mmmm lmHtwyt lyst syy'@ bdan , bl jyd@ w Hynan tlms lqlb lknh tSlH lqSyd@ w nS wHd fqT .. l ymknny n Tlq sm ktb `l~ hdh l`ml , f lfkr mnHSr@ btfSyl qlyl@ w rGm lfrGt byn lsTwr wbyn lSfHt flm ttjwz l 80 SfH@ , w ymkn khtSrh b 50 SfH@ fqT SGyr@ .. l`ml jmyl lkn ynqSh lkthyr . nhyth khll ql mn s`@

I didn't like this book as much as the others in the series or Maya's other books. THe story was relatively boring, the characters flat and the dialogue between characters was stilted. Wes was not a particularly strong lead man.

Ugh. I really hate reviewing the books I wasn't impressed by but I figured it must be done. I can't always be giving out 4 or 5 star ratings you know? This unfortunately did not impress me. I know the ratings for this series are impeccably good but for me, it just didn't do it. I found this version of the 'Angel genre' to be kind of cheap and way too fantasy like. Writing wise, it was great, Scott Spear did a great job writing it, grammatically, but the whole concept was just bogus. It didn't sell me, it made Angels seem cheap and almost laughed at. Sure, for a light reading this could've been alright for a stand-alone but for a series, I'm sure that Spear wants, it was just too dragged out and the fact that Angel's make you pay for their services... yikes, no thank you. I definitely did not finish this. I read up to just after half-way and couldn't find myself to care about how it ended. I didn't like the whole thing about how popular and celebrity-like these Angels were. They even have endorsements and I'm sure if I read on I'd probably learn that they even act or some crazy concept. I just didn't like the whole idea and the plot line, which is a shame because I'm sure I'd like Spear's other novels and I always feel mean writing a bad review but people want to know what I think so... That's really all I have to say, just a reminder that this is solely my opinion. You may like it, heck, you may love it and it could be your favourite book and I just insulted you. I'm sorry but these are my opinions. I hope Spear comes out with another novel because I would like to read what he can offer. IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genre books! http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca

Yes, much like "We Need to Talk About Kevin," not a bad thing. It was literally a one night stand.,,raced through it so may have lost some of the emotional depth that others have commented on...but got the 4th star for how it grabbed me and held my attention.

A really great send off for Bryce Courtenay with his last book. I enjoyed reading a Canadian version of history for a change and greatly enjoyed his rendering of Cabbagetown. I thank him for adding a short follow up to the book at the end as he knew he was sick and would never finish a proper trilogy.

Not the most stylistically beautiful of readings, but a necessary and stirring one; as far as journalism goes, this can't be faulted.

4 Stars for this historical M/M romance set in Victorian-era London. This is the first book in a series that promises mystery and romance. Clem Tallyfer, bastard son of his Grace, the (late) Earl of Moreton, manages a lodging house, as part of his consideration from his half-brother, Edmund Talliefer, the current earl. He is half-Indian, and attractive, but fussy and prone to fits of nerves when his schedule is off or he's in the company of too many people at once. He's a master at propriety, which is why he's unable to make any overtures to his lodger, Rowley Green, despite some long acquaintance. Rowley is a quiet, genial man who really finds Clem attractive. He's sure Clem thinks little of him, for as many nights as they 've shared tea and Clem never made any overtures. It takes months, but Rowley begins to see that Clem is merely incapable of considering that another might fancy him, and once their desires are made plain, these men find ways to make a surreptitious liaison happen. Clem's life is complicated nearly daily by one lodger, the constantly inebriated Lugtrout, a former minister, and a person Edmund insists Clem manage. It's all Clem can do to maintain his composure around the blowhard, but it soon won't be his problem--when Lugtrout is gruesomely murdered. This kicks off the mystery portion of the book, and it is a slower evolving story than I expected. That said, there's a LOT happening, in terms of the murder and mayhem, and I didn't feel it was developed enough--mainly leaving the mystery to be solved in the books going forward. I wasn't prepared for that, which left me feeling a little frustrated, but I did like the Rowley and Clem bits, because I thought they were a sweet pair. The next book is set to feature two other characters finding love, and finding the murderer(s), perhaps, but Rowley and Clem find their happiness in this first story of the series. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

OK. Where to start? It was effective in one way, as it reminds us that we live among the strangest and most dangerous people. It also reminds us that, like it or not, we need to be careful and not take stupid risks, like sitting outside in an urban parking lot after a night of clubbing, which is where the unfortunate couple were when they were carjacked and murdered. Don't recall who the publisher was, but they need to do better with editing. Too many errors of the type that grate on the nerves of English majors :) I found myself wondering how this was put together. Did the detective talk to the co-author who then wrote a story? How much was from research on printed material? Who did the author actually interview and how much? It also made me think "this book will solidfy the view of anyone who thinks the justice system is a mess" A sad cautionary tale, made me really happy I don't live in that city (even though I rationally know that things like this can happen anywhere).

My fiance got this book because of the R. A. Salvatore novelette. I thought it would be a great way for me to kind of get a feel for the other worlds. All the stories have to do with dragons in a setting that is familiar to the author (Forgotten Realms, Magic, or Dragonlance). Of course I sped through some stories faster then others. And more stories caught my eye but overall I was pleased with the book. Every story was different, and brought a different element of dragons. I won't go into too much detail so I don't spoil the book but it wasn't just the dragon comes and breaths fire. The only thing I wish there were was more pictures. From the cover of the book I thought there would be some pictures and such but there was a huge picture before the story and then little tiny pictures every 5-8 pages.

See full review for The Atlantis Complex at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... So just in case time travel, demons, Opal clones, and Mrs. Fowl finding out everything her dear son has been up to for the last six years wasn't enough, Eoin Colfer throws a new curve ball for the readers. Artemis Fowl, the criminal mastermind at fifteen years old, has finally gone mad. He has OCD, multiple personality disorder, and numerous other psychoses that all add up to the rare fairy disease - The Atlantis Complex. This shouldn't be too much of a problem, because as he's presenting his new idea to save the world to his friends - Foaly and Holly - they realize what's going on with him and are going to try to fix him. The only problem? There's another plan going on that Artemis and the gang get caught up in, and his Atlantis Complex has to take a back seat as they try a figure out who is behind this plot and what the endgame ultimately is.

I LOVED it. It ain't high brow lit people. It's not for everybody. It's simply a story that reminded ME of what falling head over heels in love FEELS like.

It's a great story but I do wish there are more conversation rather than just Mia perspective. But overall is a heart warming book. Can't wait to see the movie and read the next book.

Graphic novel was the right genre for this topic. The pictures tell what words cannot. The author does a good job describing the chaos and havoc caused by Hurricane Katrina in a way that younger readers will understand.

Fantastic read! I can't wait to start the next!

Wasn't sure about this book at first, but I just went with it and I'm glad that I did. It was a lot of fun and very different. Albert Einstein plays a role as a "Neither Here Not There" Supervisor, ABBA music is used as the perfect cosmic scrambler, and God is a She. This is chock full of lighthearted fun. The "hero" was my favorite character. Julian is totally bad- but highly amusing and perfect. Come to think of it, I could really use a raunchy, bad-ass, no holds barred evil angel on my side- wonder where I can pick one up? ;)

This is a short read but what a fun read it is. Skylar will have you laughing and giggling. Join Skylar and Levi as they solve the mystery. This book will definitely leave you wanting more Skylar. Would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read.

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Truly one of my favorite books ever.

Revolutions of Terror (1-3). A pretty meh start to the new Doctor Who. The new companion, Gabby, is an extremely generic nuWho Companion: independent girl with family issues. Yep, seen it before. The plot is also entirely generic, with baddies trying to do bad things for no reason and the Doctor stopping them. The only saving grace of this story is a tiny bit of time spent on the origins of the baddies. [4/10]. The Apprentice (4-5). Unfortunately the follow-up isn't much better. It's another boring plot, full of being chased by dangers. Worse, Gabby writes about it in a diary which is in an obnoxious cursive font that's occasionally unreadable without deep scrutiny. (A pity, as when she illustrates the diary, it's great.) The only saving grace of the adventure is hints at Gabby's future [4/10].

I loved this fictional account of the women of the Old Testament. I found their unity and celebrated roles in this polygamist family to be almost refreshing. There is much more to this story, but I am left with the feeling of acceptance and harmony of the women.

Little Red Riding Hood by Gennadii Spirin (2010)-Folklore Spirin's version is based on Grimm's version and the Russian versions from his childhood. The paintings are based on Dutch master work and are ornate. This version is different from Grimms' because there are two hunters and when they cut Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother from the wolf's stomach they do not fill it with stones. I chose this version over Grimm's because of the detailed illustrations. Themes:Overcoming obstacles, learning from mistakes, trickery Teaching options: Teachers or Librarians this book and other versions of Little Red Riding Hood to compare art from other countries, talk about morals, show cause and effect, and discuss other cultures.

A tale of hurt.

Enthralling stories of the lives of several families are the backdrop for this novel. The hook that catches you is the envelope found by Cecilia in her husband's handwriting that simple reads, "Only to be opened after my death." Now, of course, you know she is going to open it but when and so I could not stop reading until she did---Wow a pretty important secret!. The neighbors in this suburb of Sydney, Australia, seem to be so different but there lives and connected in numerous ways. Failed marriages, adultery, bicycle accidents, and even accidental death or perhaps murder are present in this novel. It is an engaging and exciting read. There are short chapters so you think well just one more chapter and before you know it you are halfway through the book. Well defined and interesting characters are included and the interplay of emotions and actions never subsides. Moreover, at the end the author has an epilogue and "what might have happened" if the husband's actions (which led to his secret) had not occurred. Great read and intellectually stimulating.

4.5 Stars. Shay Benson served three years after taking money form the bank where she worked to help her younger brother, Caden, pay off his drug supplier--and save his life. It's time she never wanted to spend, but she didn't have anyone left in her life to keep her or Caden out of harm's way. Now freed, she has $100 and some hand-me-down clothes with which to begin again. Tired and cold in the December weather, Shay stops into a church to find a little warmth. She also find Pastor Drew Douglas, a man still fighting his grief over the passing of his beloved wife three years prior. Pastor Drew makes it his mission to help Shay find shelter, and his connection with a womens' center gets Shay not just a place to stay, but also counseling and job training. Over the course of a year, Shay and Drew see each other sporadically. His friend runs her jobs program, and she sometimes watches his daughter in a center-sponsored childcare. Both his children, surprisingly, gravitate toward Shay and want to include her in family dinners and special moments.It's not long before Drew acknowledges his own attraction to Shay's gentle nature and abundant kindness. Though, it's not all easy. Drew's parishoners aren't keen on him marrying an ex-con--not when there are so many "decent" women to marry. And, Drew's bombarded by offers on many side before he recognizes that Shay is the gal for him. Naturally, there are some crises, and Shay falls under suspicion of wrong-doing--only to have things turn out sunny in the end. I'll be honest, I'm not a fan of religious romance, but I really appreciate the delicate position of a minister looking for love. It brings an interesting gravitas to a romance. There's no steam here, but there are plenty of feels. Drew's plagued by doubt and guilt--in his faith and his love. Shay's a good woman who had a bad start in life, and she's paid her dues more than twice. I was glad she found a good stable man to love her, but she's not going to take any guff from him either. I sure liked the 'atta girl moments, and had a few times where I shook the bed holding in my laughter. Poor Pastor! Those eligible ladies sure had high hopes, and he's called tot he carpet a few times defending Shay from some nasty allegations. Expect a hefty helping of redemption in this one, and all the folks who initially cast a gimlet eye on Shay ended up being smitten with her in the end. Its a sweet read, and I enjoyed it. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

Simone Muench's Wolf Centos is a collection stitched together of dense, fugue-like poems that manage to steal maintain a concise and vivid language. This would be a feat in and of itself, but Muench does this without her own words. These poems being Centos, they are composed of lines maintained by motifs of mourning, loss, and, of course, wolves. The sources for her quilts of very come from Dylan Thomas, William Shakespeare, Anna Akhmatova, W.B. Yeats, and one would expect lines that were very familiar. Yet Muench's real generative gift is in making what should be familiar even more muscular, more strange. These poems are not mere pastiches or homages, but uniquely their own: frankenstein's wolves. Muench does not hide her sources either though, each scrap can be made distinct. The wolf motif functions both as a point of coherence for the collection but also a figure of dark transformation. Muench then summons her wolves to contrast the wild and domestic, the remembered and the real. When a poem's narrator says: I have lost my being in so many beings: travelers passing by night, the great wolf who goes wounded & bleeding through the snows. One sees somewhat clearly how the wolf functions: both apparition and wounded animal. The dissolution of singular narrative voice as well as the embodiment of a unitary vision behind such a polyphonic voice. These poems imply a narrative development but do not articulate one. One feels like this is more than a limitation of the Cento, but a thematic conceit to the collection. A truly haunting book in its own way.

See full review for The End of Oz at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... After the way the third book in this series ended, I have to admit I was a little miffed. Here was a series that I thought was only supposed to be three books that got split into four and it showed. Personally, I think that book 2, 3 and 4 probably could have been combined to make one novel and this series could have ended up as a duology. But alas... Anyway, The End of Oz was okay. It wasn't as crazy as book 3 and Amy is a little bit more herself than in previous books. I'm still not a big fan of the whole Amy/Nox relationship, however it felt more natural than it had in the previous books.

Good children's story. I listened to the audio book and I liked the sound effects added and the reader. I think it would keep kids attention pretty well.

I understand that this was a "slice of life" story. I can appreciate that about this work. The cast of characters were interesting enough to make me continue reading but I wanted SOMETHING to happen. It was very generic and "in the life of". It was set in an interesting time period, about the transition from the 70s to the 80s but still...I wanted more out of it that I never got.

When I first read this as a young college student I didn't understand any of what I read. After reading it again 20 plus years later I can appreciate what I believe the message is. My interpretation of this book is all about strategy and how to maintain control at all cost. Some points even had me chuckle a time or two. I tried to slowly read it to get a clear understanding of what I read. I don't necessarily agree with his theory but it makes for interesting conversation.

This volume really blew me away. There are a few moments of Hazel's narration that really spoke to me and allowed me to relate to or understand how the characters are feeling. For what seems like the first time, I feel like I've connected to the characters and it is for that reason volume 7 gets 5 stars.

Ich bin ehrlich, ich hatte Null Erwartungen. Ich wusste nur: - Genre: Bildungsroman Heidi lernt lesen und beten. Und als eingefleischte Atheistin war mir zweiteres suspekt. Trotzdem wollte ich es lesen, gerade weil ich so warmherzige Erinnerungen an den im KiKa laufenden Heidi-Trickfilm habe und die Buchvorlage kennenlernen wollte. Und... es war so schon. Klar, die Sprache ist altertumlich. Und ja, Heidi lernt beten. Aber das Wie und Warum hatte mir fast das Herz aus der Brust gerissen. Dieses Buch schneidet so ganz beilaufig Dinge an, als gleich zu Beginn erzahlt wird, wie der Alm-Ohi uberhaupt zum Alm-Ohi geworden ist. Die ganze Grausamkeit der Geschichte, das Echo eines fernen Kriegs im Hintergrund, die Geschichte eines Liebespaares und die bittere Realitat fur Waisenkinder in der Schweiz und die Perspektivlosigkeit junger Frauen, die sich als Dienstmadchen in der Ferne verdingen. Seltsame Vorurteile (Fraulein Rottenmeier wollte als Gespielin fur Klara unbedingt eine zwolfjahrige, idealistische Schweizerin, wie ein Windhauch - und war uberrascht uber ein wildes Kind der Berge) und was passiert, wenn alle Parteien aneinander vorbeireden. Schwarze Padagogik und deren Auswirkungen auf eine Kinderseele. Und gleichzeitig die eine oder andere Szene, die ich einfach nur urkomisch fand. Das alles in einer bisweilen fast schon zu niedlich anmutenden Sprache, durch die aber gerade die ernsten Zwischentone der Geschichte umso mehr beruhrt haben. Klar, man merkt dem Buch an, dass es alt ist. Aber ich finde, es sollte auch heute noch gelesen werden. Und zwar vor allem von Erwachsenen und Padagogen.

A little predictable but it was a very gripping read. It caused my stomach to turn and my heart to race at moments, so I feel that means it's a successful story! I feel that it was not extremely realistic in some facets such as a man being allowed to just take in a child from the streets without mention of social services involvement and people just accepting this. This is something I've noticed lately about the mystery/fiction genre that applies to this book. Sometimes too much disturbing detail was offered. I find the subject of child abuse needs to be handled sensitively. Tragically, this is something that occurs far too commonly in "real life". The average person is not educated on how to handle the details of such a tragic occurrence (as someone involved in social work or police work may be, for example) and I feel it could be upsetting to many readers, even those who may have experienced it. Of course, reading a book with this subject matter is "reader beware" but I feel as though it could be included in a less graphic manner.