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Suite Francaise
YUCK
Moving
Excellent Depiction of the German Occupation
Tell me about Life in France during the War(II)...

Suite Française
Irene Nemirovsky
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1400044731
Release Date: 2006-04-11

Book Description

By the early l940s, when Ukrainian-born Irène Némirovsky began working on what would become Suite Française—the first two parts of a planned five-part novel—she was already a highly successful writer living in Paris. But she was also a Jew, and in 1942 she was arrested and deported to Auschwitz: a month later she was dead at the age of thirty-nine. Two years earlier, living in a small village in central France—where she, her husband, and their two small daughters had fled in a vain attempt to elude the Nazis —she’d begun her novel, a luminous portrayal of a human drama in which she herself would become a victim. When she was arrested, she had completed two parts of the epic, the handwritten manuscripts of which were hidden in a suitcase that her daughters would take with them into hiding and eventually into freedom. Sixty-four years later, at long last, we can read Némirovsky’s literary masterpiece

The first part, “A Storm in June,” opens in the chaos of the massive 1940 exodus from Paris on the eve of the Nazi invasion during which several families and individuals are thrown together under circumstances beyond their control. They share nothing but the harsh demands of survival—some trying to maintain lives of privilege, others struggling simply to preserve their lives—but soon, all together, they will be forced to face the awful exigencies of physical and emotional displacement, and the annihilation of the world they know. In the second part, “Dolce,” we enter the increasingly complex life of a German-occupied provincial village. Coexisting uneasily with the soldiers billeted among them, the villagers—from aristocrats to shopkeepers to peasants—cope as best they can. Some choose resistance, others collaboration, and as their community is transformed by these acts, the lives of these these men and women reveal nothing less than the very essence of humanity.

Suite Française is a singularly piercing evocation—at once subtle and severe, deeply compassionate and fiercely ironic—of life and death in occupied France, and a brilliant, profoundly moving work of art.

Download Description

Irène Némirovsky was born in Kiev in 1903 into a wealthy banking family and emigrated to France during the Russian Revolution. After attending the Sorbonne, she began to write and swiftly achieved success with her first novel, David Golder, which was followed by The Ball, The Flies of Autumn, Dogs and Wolves and The Courilof Affair. She died in 1942.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Suite Francaise.......2007-06-27

The book was interesting, but a bit confusing with so many charachters to keep track of. I thought the appendices were more interesting than the story.

YUCK.......2007-06-23

Sorry, but I can't believe anyone enjoyed this book. It was our book club pick for the month and halfway through I sent out an email asking for ANYONE to give me some hope to continue. No one could do it. It was difficult to keep track of the characters, and I didn't "care" about any of them, they just weren't developed enough.

Moving.......2007-06-16

Russian/Jewish author, Irene Nemirovsky set out to write a 4 or 5 part epic in 1939, just prior to WW2. She achieved only two of the books which were to make up her epic before being captured by the Germans and killed in Auschwitz concentration camp. Her surviving work, which was scribbled in tiny writing in notebooks, was somehow saved by her daughters and remained lost for over 50 years. This book is the first two sections of her work, unedited and without a final polish, nevertheless it is a masterpiece of simple yet superb writing, detailing the lives of various classes of Frenchmen, and how they all coped with bombing, evacuation, lack of food and amenities and the things which make up everyday life. Some of the so called upper classes do not come out of it smelling like roses, while the so called "noble peasants" appear brutish and ugly with selfish and animal like behaviour. When I started this book, I was expecting to read about acts of unspeakable cruelty, committed by the Gestapo but the author did not live long enough to write about these future events. The world has surely lost by not being able to read this lady's thoughts over the years of late 1941 and into 1942, as her writing is masterly yet simple and without any of the so called "clever tricks" that some writers aspire to in order to appear more brilliant. M/s Neminovsky writes without pretension and from the heart.

Excellent Depiction of the German Occupation.......2007-06-15

I was in a bookstore, and a woman was showing her friend this book and supplying him with some background information. She said, rather loudly, "I thought the book could have used an editor." Yes, well if that's her biggest criticism ...

Lack of editing or not, I couldn't put this book down until I finished it. "Suite Francaise" is extraordinary, not just because of the weighty story behind its birth but because of the way it was written. This is no story of the unsullied French pitched in territorial battle against the demonic Germans. That would have been too easy. Nemirovsky's characters and situations are complex, illustrated by how easily alliances can shift in the interest of self-preservation. (Nemirovsky does, however, prove herself to be a bit of a moralist.) I especially loved the first novella, "Storm in June." The descriptions of the people fleeing Paris a classic nailbiter. I'm also grateful for the appendices which outline some of Nemirovsky's ideas for the latter, unrealized sections of the book.

In a perfect world, Irene Nemirovsky would have lived and completed the novel; but in a perfect world, the events that led her to write this book wouldn't have occurred. I'm glad this book was found and is a testament to Nemirovsky's writing abilities as well as an addition to her legacy.

Tell me about Life in France during the War(II)..........2007-06-14

As an American living and traveling in Europe
for the past 25 years,
I often wondered.....

"What was it like to live in Paris
when the Germans arrived?
What did real people do to survive,
physically and emotionally?"

Irene Nemirovsky answers these questions vividly,
personally, in this "can't put it down" novel.

The Last Tycoons: The Secret History of Lazard Frères & Co.

Average customer rating:

A great book for "warped" people (like myself)!
Long but worth it
Destined to be a Classic
barbarians at the gates of central park
Thorough and Completely Entertaining

The Last Tycoons: The Secret History of Lazard Frères & Co.
William D. Cohan
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Mergers & Acquisitions
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A Demon of Our Own Design: Markets, Hedge Funds, and the Perils of Financial Innovation

ASIN: 0385514514
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Book Description

A grand and revelatory portrait of Wall Street’s most storied investment bank

Wall Street investment banks move trillions of dollars a year, make billions in fees, pay their executives in the tens of millions of dollars. But even among the most powerful firms, Lazard Frères & Co. stood apart. Discretion, secrecy, and subtle strategy were its weapons of choice. For more than a century, the mystique and reputation of the "Great Men" who worked there allowed the firm to garner unimaginable profits, social cachet, and outsized influence in the halls of power. But in the mid-1980s, their titanic egos started getting in the way, and the Great Men of Lazard jeopardized all they had built.

William D. Cohan, himself a former high-level Wall Street banker, takes the reader into the mysterious and secretive world of Lazard and presents a compelling portrait of Wall Street through the tumultuous history of this exalted and fascinating company. Cohan deconstructs the explosive feuds between Felix Rohatyn and Steve Rattner, superstar investment bankers and pillars of New York society, and between the man who controlled Lazard, the inscrutable French billionaire Michel David-Weill, and his chosen successor, Bruce Wasserstein.

Cohan follows Felix, the consummate adviser, as he reshapes corporate America in the 1970s and 1980s, saves New York City from bankruptcy, and positions himself in New York society and in Washington. Felix’s dreams are dashed after the arrival of Steve, a formidable and ambitious former newspaper reporter. By the mid-1990s, as Lazard neared its 150th anniversary, Steve and Felix were feuding openly.

The internal strife caused by their arguments could not be solved by the imperious Michel, whose manipulative tendencies served only to exacerbate the trouble within the firm. Increasingly desperate, Michel took the unprecedented step of relinquishing operational control of Lazard to one of the few Great Men still around, Bruce Wasserstein, then fresh from selling his own M&A boutique, for $1.4 billion. Bruce’s take: more than $600 million. But it turned out Great Man Bruce had snookered Great Man Michel when the Frenchman was at his most vulnerable.

The LastTycoons is a tale of vaulting ambitions, whispered advice, worldly mistresses, fabulous art collections, and enormous wealth—a story of high drama in the world of high finance.

Customer Reviews:

A great book for "warped" people (like myself)!.......2007-06-11

660+ pages about the 150+ year history of Lazard Feres might put most people to sleep. Not me! As someone who actually likes this stuff, I found this book fascinating. The history of big money and finance is actually one of big personalties, and this book gives an inside look at several of the major players. Although tedious at times to read, I made it through the entire book in a couple of days. The most fascinating part of the entire story is simply that money at the levels discussed in this book doesn't seem real--most people could never fathom how corporate finance is conducted. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject of investment banking, especially those considering a career in that arena.

Long but worth it.......2007-05-30

extremely long, but it gives you a great description of how an organization rises and falls with the times and the great men who are at the wheel.

Destined to be a Classic.......2007-05-24

Cohan has brought to life a vivid and spellbinding tale of the legendary giants in the investment banking field (Meyer, Rohatyn, David-Weill, Rattner, and Wasserstein) at Lazard, offering a compelling and revealing portrait of the relentless personalities that invented, dominated and defined the last few decades of M&A banking. At the same time, The Last Tycoons is, at its core, a saga of ambition, egotism, greed, vanity and pride of Shakespearean proportions played out on the grand stage of corporate takeovers and national politics.

What emerges is not a noble picture of what these ostensibly "Great Men" purported themselves to be. Instead, it is apparent that at Lazard, the black arts of power and greed were the currency used to exhort and extort men of high ambition and intellect to achieve stature and enormous fees. The long shadow of Andre Meyer (unquestionably a Sith Lord) looms over the Lazard partnership and his protégés and successors, Felix Rohatyn and Michel David-Weill. Meyer was a brilliant financier with no peer with the exception of Bruce Wasserstein and it's fitting and deserving that the story of Lazard begins and ends with these two men. In between, Michel and Felix weave a complex and fascinating legacy of fear and loathing in the intervening decades.

For bankers and professionals in the field, Cohan's detail and emotional and psychological nuances will be tantalizing and relevant. For those aspiring to enter the field, it's a cautionary tale - it's very hard to play on the big stage on Wall St without darkening your soul. This story is destined to be a Classic amongst Barbarians and Den of Thieves

barbarians at the gates of central park .......2007-05-19

maybe the first casualty of wealth is self-knowledge. that is the takeaway from William Cohan's fine history of the fabled lazard freres banking house. in these pages we watch titans of finance gloat and preen while their castle crumbles from corruption and mismanagement.

Its a terrific story peopled with fascinating characters. who wouldn't, after reading this book, want to dine with the formidable felix rohatyn. He fled the Nazis as a boy, rescued New York from financial ruin and ditched Lazard at just the right moment to serve the nation as Bill Clinton's Ambassador to France. His intellect and achievement dominate the book, just as Felix dominated wall street for a generation. His departure from the firm caps the end of "the great man" era in investment banking. In Rohatyn's day only a select handful of wise men could be trusted to guide transactions. Nowadays all you need is armani and a spread sheet.

Even as he maps the tectonic movement in investment banking, Cohan keeps it light with plenty of well-researched dish on criminal investigations, love affairs, fabulous art collections, New Yorkana and the occasional drop to earth by some of Lazard's wax-winged partners. I closed the book -- a whopping 750 pp's -- edified and thoroughly entertained.

Thorough and Completely Entertaining.......2007-05-12

When Bill, an old friend, told me he was writing a book about Lazard, I thought, "Who will care?" I was ignorant. My only obligation was to buy the book, not to read it. Even if I had not known the author, I would not have been able to put this book down. Writing is a lonely pursuit, and the endless thought and organization, the hundreds of interviews on both sides of the Atlantic, the researching and re-drafting, all make the author's dedication, and the reader's, worthwhile.
Lazard was truly the first global Wall Street firm. Andre Meyer, the brilliant global pioneer, comes to life. Felix Rohatyn, away from the deserved platitudes, is complex; Michel David-Weill Machiavellian. Bruce Wasserstein, prototypically capitalist, can exist only on Wall Street. Steve Rattner alone comes across as someone for whom an investment banker would want to work. The rudderless leadership for decades, the infighting among the partners, the lack of organizational cohesion all bar the firm from the top tier. The extraordinary access Cohan had to the principals and many others suggest there was much to tell. Cohan's natural wit and cynicism spice the story.
Some have criticized the author for using secondary sources. As one who did not read many of those articles, I was delighted he included them. That Wasserstein alone did not cooperate further excuses Cohan from consulting secondary sources to complete the tale.

Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies (with Nutrition Connections CD-ROM and InfoTrac)

Average customer rating:

Great Read
Excellent Condition-Brand New

Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies (with Nutrition Connections CD-ROM and InfoTrac)
Frances Sizer , and Ellie Whitney
Manufacturer: Brooks Cole
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0534645062

Book Description

NUTRITION: CONCEPTS AND CONTROVERIES, TENTH EDITION focuses on nutrition principles and their application while offering outstanding coverage of the biological foundations of nutrition without assuming previous knowledge of them. With its new design, contemporary coverage, and engaging writing style, it remains the leading Nutrition text for the non-majors or mixed majors/non-majors introductory course. Drawing readers into the study of nutrition, the authors have created a number of learning tools that are both appealing and accessible. From the chapter content and new "Do You Ever?" sections to the "Food Feature" boxes and end-of-chapter "Controversies," students find the information they need to better understand important nutrition concepts and to make informed and responsible decisions about their own nutrition. Additionally, the "Do It" activities, now available online, on the student CD-ROM, and in a free booklet that can be packaged with the text, students can practice applying their nutrition knowledge. There is also the accompanying NUTRITION CONNECTIONS CD-ROM, a unique resource that includes animations, chapter quizzes, a comprehensive glossary, "Do It!" activities, and Web links. For instructors, we offer a newly redesigned Multimedia Manager that includes PowerPoint® slides, animations, videos, and test questions. We also offer a new JoinIn? on TurningPoint®, a classroom resource to assess students' knowledge, take attendance, and more. So, whether looking for a text full of up-to-date information, a text that students enjoy reading, a text that offers a robust supplements package, or a text that can engage students and get them excited about studying, NUTRITION CONCEPTS AND CONTROVERSIES is the text for you!

Customer Reviews:

Great Read.......2007-04-04

This book was required text for a nutrition class I had taken for my Bachelor's degree. I found the book to be a very easy read with lots of interesting information on health and nutrition. The book explained things in simple terms that were easy to grasp. I highly recommend this book not only as a textbook, but also for anyone wanting to have a basic understanding of nutrition.

Excellent Condition-Brand New.......2006-08-15

Text includes study guide, CD, access code and unopened Diet Analysis CD.

DietMinder Personal Food & Fitness Journal (A Food and Exercise Diary)

Average customer rating:

Great Journal
I LOVE THIS JOURNAL!!!
Keep track to succeed!
FITNESS JOURNAL REVIEW
Easy To Use

DietMinder Personal Food & Fitness Journal (A Food and Exercise Diary)
Frances E. Wilkins
Manufacturer: MemoryMinder Journals, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

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MemoryMinder Personal Health Journal (A Wellness Diary & Symptoms Log)

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0963796836
Release Date: 2007-01-01

Book Description

The DietMinder is a deluxe food diary with plenty of room to record quantities and food counts (calories, fat, carbs, protein, etc.) of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. A special area for daily totals makes it easy to see at a glance how you are doing. Each "day" consists of two pages with space for exercise details, too. There are other helpful sections in the book such as the Favorite Foods listing which provides food counts on over 100 common foods and has space to add your own favorite food information. The Goals section of the DietMinder is also important. Here you can list your starting statistics, state your goals, and even paste a "before" picture. This is a great way to stay motivated! The DietMinder can be used with virtually any food or fitness program. It has been proven that keeping a food journal helps people focus and stay more committed to improving their eating habits. It really works!

Customer Reviews:

Great Journal.......2007-06-27

Wonderful Journal! I track my Weight Watchers Points along with my fat and carbohydrates intake everyday with this journal. I also track my workouts. There is plenty of room for personal add-ins. It has stood up to numerous rides in my purse, diaper bag, and gym bag. I can take it with me anywhere I go. If you aren't serious about tracking details of your diet everyday then it isn't for you.

I LOVE THIS JOURNAL!!!.......2007-06-27

I love this Journal!! I didn't get it to go on a diet. I got it so I could keep track of what I was eating. So I could safely breastfeed my son. In the beginning of the journal it tells you how to fill it out it's so easy! This journal also has pages to write down all your goals... including B/P, cholesterol even your goals for measurements. When I finished my first page I couldn't believe that I ate 4,000 calories in one day! And 97 grams of fat!!! My nutritionist told me everything that I should be eating, so I wrote those numbers on the first page for daily food goals. I now have what I eat under control and if my son gets gas I know where to turn. And very happily now that I have what I eat written down in front of me I have lost 10 lbs in one month and my son gained 2 lbs!! Once all my pages are full I will definately purchase another one.

One more thing before I go. I suffered from IBS. My doc told me to write a food log. So I brought him this journal. He couldn't believe how well informed he was about what I was eating. He found the problem immediatley. I no longer suffer from IBS.

If you have the courage to write down everything you eat, right down to the icing you licked off your finger while decorating cupcakes, then I highly recommend this journal. You will be surprised at the numbers.

I am now using the exercise parts of this book too. At the end of the day if I see that I forgot to exercise I write down in the notes that I need to exercise tomorrow so I don't forget.

Did I mention I love this journal!!

Keep track to succeed!.......2007-05-11

April 14, 2007

I got this handy, spiral bound book for my wife awhile back who is trying to lose a few pounds. She's been struggling to lose those last few pounds and with the help of this book, writing things down made her much more aware of exactly what she was eating- and guess what? It did the trick! Also recommend The Sixty-Second Motivator if you have trouble sticking to a diet or exercise program.

FITNESS JOURNAL REVIEW.......2007-05-08

RECEIVED AS EXPECTED AN ONTIME. GOOD DEAL. WOULD ORDER AGAIN AND DEFINITELY GOOD FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO KEEP TRACK OF THIER FOOD INTAKE, EXERCISE, AND SO MUCH MORE.

Easy To Use.......2007-04-23

This journal is really user friendly. I would have given it 5 stars had it been designed with more space to keep track of your inches in weight loss and if the menu in the back were more complete.

Counting calories has never been easier and the little thing had enough space to write information and still fit in my purse. It's kept me organized enough to lose 40 lbs. and if you stop recording, it allows for you to just pick up where you left off without being confused.

I love it!

BodyMinder Workout and Exercise Journal (A Fitness Diary)

Average customer rating:

Great starter book!
Great Journal
Great overall Journal.
Body Minder-Workout and Exercise Journal
Excellent diet/fitness journal

BodyMinder Workout and Exercise Journal (A Fitness Diary)
Frances E. Wilkins
Manufacturer: MemoryMinder Journals, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

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Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0963796844
Release Date: 2007-01-01

Book Description

The BODYMINDER is the ultimate physical fitness diary. With a focus on workouts, it can also be used to keep track of any and all other exercise.

Each "day" consists of two pages with an organized, easy-to-use layout for recording workout details...from equipment & settings, to reps & sets, to difficulty level, to heart rate, to muscle groups, and more. There is also space for listing the details of other (non-gym) exercise...from walking the dog, to playing a sport, to dancing up a storm! In addition, each day's meals can be recorded as well as any vitamins or supplements taken.

The 224-page book is spiral bound with a durable leatherette cover. There are 91 days' worth of daily records and thirteen Weekly Schedule forms to help you keep on track. Other sections include food counts on over 100 common foods, heart and blood pressure range charts, progress charts, personal game scores, fitness expenses, and more. In the back there is a vinyl pocket for holding photos, notes, cards, etc.

The BODYMINDER is compatible with virtually all popular exercise and fitness plans and can, indeed, be your key to reaching and maintaining your fitness goals.

Customer Reviews:

Great starter book!.......2007-06-13

You can keep track of all your exercise, nutrition, measurements. It even gives you a calorie index.

If you're organized (or want to be) - this is great.

Great Journal.......2007-06-11

Prior to getting this journal, I had been useing 2 sperate journals for food and excerise. This combines both. I was doing a running exercise from a amgazine and it even has a plastic holder in the back for the work out.

On my personal Training day's I just hand it to my trailer to complete. She like it to and recomend it to her clients.

Great overall Journal........2007-06-11

Covers just about everything and arrived in 2 days.

The only think i dislike is that it gives too much space for logging cardio and not enough space for logging weight lifting.

Obviously, you wouldnt expect to fill 15 lines worth of cardio in a day. But, the 20 lines of weight lifting, well i run over almost every single time, because it only allows 4 sets per line. With many of my workouts being 6 sets or more, i find myself logging other reps and sets in the notes area. :(

Body Minder-Workout and Exercise Journal.......2007-05-21

I liked this spiral bound book because it had everthing in it and it's a handy size for keeping out on my counter so that I'll use it.

Excellent diet/fitness journal.......2007-05-14

This has everything you could ever want to track on a two-page spread. You fill in the dates yourself so pages are never wasted. And it has a very sturdy binding and a discreet black, durable cover. I particularly like the section for medications and vitamins. No other fitness journal I've seen can even compare.

Average customer rating:

I LOVE this book!
You'll laugh out loud
The Best of Sedaris
Laugh out Loud FUNNY!
If you need to laugh, buy this book!

Me Talk Pretty One Day
David Sedaris
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316776963

Amazon.com

David Sedaris became a star autobiographer on public radio, onstage in New York, and on bestseller lists, mostly on the strength of "SantaLand Diaries," a scathing, hilarious account of his stint as a Christmas elf at Macy's. (It's in two separate collections, both worth owning, Barrel Fever and the Christmas-themed Holidays on Ice.) Sedaris's caustic gift has not deserted him in his fourth book, which mines poignant comedy from his peculiar childhood in North Carolina, his bizarre career path, and his move with his lover to France. Though his anarchic inclination to digress is his glory, Sedaris does have a theme in these reminiscences: the inability of humans to communicate. The title is his rendition in transliterated English of how he and his fellow students of French in Paris mangle the Gallic language. In the essay "Jesus Shaves," he and his classmates from many nations try to convey the concept of Easter to a Moroccan Muslim. "It is a party for the little boy of God," says one. "Then he be die one day on two... morsels of... lumber," says another. Sedaris muses on the disputes between his Protestant mother and his father, a Greek Orthodox guy whose Easter fell on a different day. Other essays explicate his deep kinship with his eccentric mom and absurd alienation from his IBM-exec dad: "To me, the greatest mystery of science continues to be that a man could father six children who shared absolutely none of his interests."

Every glimpse we get of Sedaris's family and acquaintances delivers laughs and insights. He thwarts his North Carolina speech therapist ("for whom the word pen had two syllables") by cleverly avoiding all words with s sounds, which reveal the lisp she sought to correct. His midget guitar teacher, Mister Mancini, is unaware that Sedaris doesn't share his obsession with breasts, and sings "Light My Fire" all wrong--"as if he were a Webelo scout demanding a match." As a remarkably unqualified teacher at the Art Institute of Chicago, Sedaris had his class watch soap operas and assign "guessays" on what would happen in the next day's episode.

It all adds up to the most distinctively skewed autobiography since Spalding Gray's Swimming to Cambodia. The only possible reason not to read this book is if you'd rather hear the author's intrinsically funny speaking voice narrating his story. In that case, get Me Talk Pretty One Day on audio. --Tim Appelo

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

"It's a pretty grim world when I can't even feel superior to a toddler." Welcome to the curious mind of David Sedaris, where dogs outrank children, guitars have breasts, and French toddlers unmask the inadequacies of the American male. Sedaris inhabits this world as a misanthrope chronicling all things petty and small. In Me Talk Pretty One Day Sedaris is as determined as ever to be nobody's hero--he never triumphs, he never conquers--and somehow, with each failure, he inadvertently becomes everybody's favorite underdog. The world's most eloquent malcontent, Sedaris has turned self-deprecation into a celebrated art form--one that is perhaps best experienced in audio. "Go Carolina," his account of "the first battle of my war against the letter s" is particularly poignant. Unable to disguise the lisp that has become his trademark, Sedaris highlights (to hilarious extent) the frustration of reading "childish s-laden texts recounting the adventures of seals or settlers named Sassy or Samuel." Including 23 of the book version's 28 stories, two live performances complete with involuntary laughter, and an uncannily accurate Billie Holiday impersonation, the audio is more than a companion to the text; it stands alone as a performance piece--only without the sock monkeys. (Running time: 5 hours, 4 cassettes) --Daphne Durham

Book Description

A new collection from David Sedaris is cause for jubilation. His recent move to Paris has inspired hilarious pieces, including Me Talk Pretty One Day, about his attempts to learn French. His family is another inspiration. You Cant Kill the Rooster is a portrait of his brother who talks incessant hip-hop slang to his bewildered father. And no one hones a finer fury in response to such modern annoyances as restaurant meals presented in ludicrous towers and cashiers with 6-inch fingernails. Compared by The New Yorker to Twain and Hawthorne, Sedaris has become one of our best-loved authors.

Customer Reviews:

I LOVE this book!.......2007-06-12

Me Talk Pretty One Day is a riot! It's taking me forever to read it because I've been laughing so hard that I'm crying and can't focus my eyes on the page! If you don't like drawing attention to yourself, DON'T READ THIS IN A PUBLIC PLACE! LOL!

You'll laugh out loud.......2007-06-07

So be careful if you are reading it in public! This is the first book by Sedaris that I've read, and now I want to read them all. The series of short stories made me laugh so hard I had to put it down and take a moment. I most loved the ones about his family, sister Amy and brother aka "The Rooster." Sedaris sometimes paints himself in the book to be such an unintelligent outsider/slacker, it's almost hard to believe he crafted such a well-written book.

The Best of Sedaris.......2007-05-27

Sedaris's work is original, humorous and poignant. This is the best of his writing and a great place for a reader to begin his love affair with Sedaris. Sedaris is an extremely prominent figure in the world of the memoir. If this is a type of literature that generally interest you, this will be a treat.

Laugh out Loud FUNNY!.......2007-05-25

I bought this book several years ago on a whim. I was about to board an international flight and was at the airport bookstore with limited time. The title looked interesting, so I tried it. I have since read it two more times. It makes me laugh out loud every time! The Rooster story made me double over with laughter. I can hear his brother's voice in my head. My husband kept looking at me during our flight like I was nuts. I also enjoyed the language breakdowns in his french class. Loved it!

If you need to laugh, buy this book!.......2007-05-18

Hearing David Sedaris sing television jingle lyrics in the voice of Billy Holiday is priceless, and sheer satirical genius. Sedaris' fourth book of short stories will once again make you laugh out loud with glee. Many of the stories center around the theme of "speech". Sedaris swears off the letter S as a child tortured by his Southern speech therapist. He struggles with the inability to speak as an adult when he moves to France and attends language school. His self deprecating humor is a delight and Sedaris continues to find humor and poignancy amidst his quirky family and the banal moments of life. If you have never heard Sedaris read his own writing than you are missing a whole other dimension to his humor. Check out the audiobook, you won't be disappointed!

Average customer rating:

Good guidebook
Great guide to Paris
A Preview of Paris and Travel Guide
Must Have This!
Very Good Guide

Paris (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
DK Publishing
Manufacturer: DK Travel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Streetwise Paris (Streetwise)
London (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
France (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
London (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
Rome (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

ASIN: 075661547X

Book Description

The Eyewitness Travel Guide helps you to get the most out of your trip with minimum difficulties. The opening section Introducing Paris locates the city geographically, sets modern Parisian its historical context and explains how Parisian life changes through the years. Paris At a Glance is an overview of the city's specialties. The main sightseeing section of the book is Paris Area by Area. It describes all the main sights with maps, photographs and detailed illustrations. Get to know Paris with The Eyewitness Travel Guide.

Customer Reviews:

Good guidebook.......2007-05-14

This guidebook really helped me on my trip to Paris. There's lots of good, up to date info and maps.

Great guide to Paris.......2007-04-23

This book gives a little history and insight into Paris. This is the second Eyewitness I have purchased and LOVE IT! It not was invaluable while we were there but a great memory book of the places we saw.

A Preview of Paris and Travel Guide.......2007-04-04

If you are planning a trip to Paris or enjoy remembering your trips through travel guides, the Eyewitness Travel Paris Guide has a lot to offer. While planning a trip you can read all the detailed descriptions and then later also gain perspective on where you are in Paris through the detailed maps.

If you plan to take a river tour or want to know what it feels like to have the Mona Lisa follow you around the Louvre (really she seems to see you no matter where you are standing by her portrait), then this book gives you an idea of where you will be at any point in time on a tour. A tour is an excellent choice, but this book will give you all the details you need to truly appreciate your Paris experience.

Full-color illustrations show details of the Seine and all the essential places to visit including the Musee du Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral and Eiffel Tower. Details are given on how to take a Seine Cruise and with this book you will be able to identify the buildings along the river as you cruise by them on a pleasure-cruise boat. Some of the highlights include information on:

Place du Tertre - highest point in Paris, also see the Street-by-Street map of Montmartre
Champs-Elysses
The Louvre Collection - Venus de Milo, Mona Lisa and a Gallery Guide
The History of Paris
The Palace and Gardens of Versailles
Eight Guided Walks - Choose from a variety of 90 minute walks around Paris
Restaurants
Where to Stay

If you love the travel guide for Paris, you may also want to look for the Eyewitness Travel Provence & The Cote D'Azur.

~The Rebecca Review

Must Have This!.......2007-03-29

Even if you don't venture to the city of lights you'll enjoy this beautiful little gem of a guide. We found it to be imperative on our recent trip to Europe and they offer a condensed "Top 10" version as well.
Priceless!

Very Good Guide.......2007-02-28

Used these books before in both Paris & Italy in conjunction with the Rick Steve's Guides.

I especially like the DETAILED street maps & easy open Paris Metro Map.

With the two books, you can't go wrong.

Average customer rating:

Dazzled...not quite
This book would even make the Sun King proud
NEWEST EDITION BETTER BOUND!!!!
Really deserves 10 stars! However, I must warn you...
Absolute perfection!

Versailles
Jean-Marie Perouse De Montclos
Manufacturer: Abbeville Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Paris, City of Art
Walks Through Marie Antoinette's Paris
The Splendor of France: Great Chateaux, Mansions, and Country Houses
Italian Splendor
The Private Realm of Marie Antoinette

ASIN: 1558592288

Customer Reviews:

Dazzled...not quite.......2007-05-17

Truth be told, and I am a hard-core Versailles-o-phile, this book left much to be desired in the history department. What, no reproductions of the Enfants de France? And where's Marie Therese? The binding was superior to what I'd been lead to believe by other reviews. Overall, an adequate addition to a casual collection of the Chateau de Versailles.

This book would even make the Sun King proud.......2005-04-15

What an amazing book, it is nothing short of spectacular. The pictures are vivid and the book quality is of the highest caliber. The other reviewer was correct in noting that the reader has to been careful with this book, the pages are so heavy that it will pull from the binding if you are not careful when positioning the book. I have always had a facination with Versailles and this book really captures the chateaux, it makes you feel like you are stolling the gardens and taking in the sumptuous wonders of the palace. Unlike other books on Versailles this one is complete, it covers everything and in striking detail. I urge anyone with any interest in Versailles to buy this book, even used at 200 U.S., it is a bargain. I assure you you will not be disappointed in this book.

NEWEST EDITION BETTER BOUND!!!!.......2004-08-11

Five stars PLUS! I have a new edition and it is very well bound - no need to worry about it falling apart! If you've ever been to Versailles this book will mist you up! If you're planning a return trip this book will be your bible... It is amazing how inexpensive this book is when you consider the spectacular colour photos.

Really deserves 10 stars! However, I must warn you..........2001-11-15

This is THE BEST book there is on Versailles (which is probably why its normally a hundred bucks!) There is only one problem I have ever had with the book and that is the poor physical quality. I had to order it twice because my first copy fell completely apart within a few weeks. Needless to say I was not happy at all when that happened. Every copy that I have seen (in libraries, other bookstores) has the same problem. Normally, I would not have tried again after that, but I HAD to have this book. My second one has also begun to separate from the binding, so I rarely read it... but when I do, I use **EXTREME** care. I think the main reason for this is the size and weight of the book, so if you decide to purchase it, keep that in mind. I recommend turning the pages *slowly* and not leaving it completely flat and/or open for any long period of time. Also, store it horizontally, NOT vertically... the pages are so heavy, they will end up tearing themselves out!

Absolute perfection!.......2001-09-12

Without a doubt, the most beautiful and informative book ever on the Palace of Versailles. Architectural history , decorative wonders, sumptuous furniture, this book explores it all! THE BOOK for all lovers of Versailles or eighteenth century French art.

Average customer rating:

Love these maps
helpful map
A Handy Pocket Map of Paris
Great help in Paris
The ONLY map you need to get around!

Streetwise Paris (Streetwise)
Michael Brown
Manufacturer: Streetwise Maps
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Map

Maps | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Rick Steves' French Phrase Book and Dictionary
Paris (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
Rick Steves' Paris 2007 (Rick Steves)
Rick Steves' Paris 2006 (Rick Steves)
Eating & Drinking in Paris: French Menu Translator and Restaurant Guide, 3rd Edition (Open Road Travel Guides)

ASIN: 0935039252

Book Description

Revised yearly, STREETWISE is the best-selling map of PARIS, with coverage from Boulevard de Port Royal to Boulevard Haussmann. Points of interest such as museums, parks, and popular sites are highlighted and fully indexed. The Metro stops are clearly indicated on the main map, while a separate map of the Metro is also included. Laminated for durability, accordion folded to fit in your pocket or purse, STREETWISE gives you PARIS in a clear, concise, and convenient format.

Customer Reviews:

Love these maps.......2007-06-08

Not really sure how much more good I can say about these maps.
I have one for most of the cities I travel too and really like the amount of Paris covered on this map.

The cartography is very easy to read and the street indexing is very helpful.
Buy!

helpful map.......2007-05-29

Not the best map of the city, but good. It's better than nothing thats for sure.

A Handy Pocket Map of Paris.......2007-05-17

This clearly printed, sturdy little map saves you from carrying a heavy guidebook everywhere. You can stash it easily in a pocket and refer to it in a flash. It covers only central Paris which is mainly where you'll be if you are only there for a few days. If you go out to the Bois de Boulogne or Pere La Chaise you'll have to bring the guidebook or do what Parisians do and pick up a copy of Paris Pratique at the local book store.

Great help in Paris.......2007-04-23

I mutilated the metro map from the hotel desk. This laminated map was a great help in locating where we were and where we were going. Love it.

The ONLY map you need to get around!.......2007-04-09

I bought this because of the rave reviews and they proved to be true! This is the only map you need to get around Paris and the metro. Convenient and the coating makes it nice so it doesn't get that worn, fall-apart feel of paper maps. We used this to get everywhere by foot and metro. BEST buy for the trip!

Chez Jacques: Traditions and Rituals of a Cook

Average customer rating:

A lovely coffee table book, but...
Like a conversation with Monsieur Pepin
Pleasure to read
top of the line
Chez Jacques - a delight!

Chez Jacques: Traditions and Rituals of a Cook
Jacques Pepin
Manufacturer: Stewart, Tabori & Chang
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Lidia's Italy: 140 Simple and Delicious Recipes from the Ten Places in Italy Lidia Loves Most
Vegetable Harvest: Vegetables at the Center of the Plate
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Chocolate and Zucchini: Daily Adventures in a Parisian Kitchen
Alice Waters and Chez Panisse: The Romantic, Impractical, Often Eccentric, Ultimately Brilliant Making of a Food Revolution

ASIN: 1584795719

Book Description

Of the 20-plus cookbooks Jacques Pépin has written, Chez Jacques is his most personal and engaging. Now starring in his tenth PBS series, Pépin ranks among America's most beloved cooking teachers, and this book shows us why.

The book's 100 recipes—for soups and appetizers, main courses, side dishes, and desserts—are Pépin's own favorites among the thousands he has created over a lifetime of cooking. Using readily available ingredients and relying upon familiar techniques, these are the dishes he makes when preparing food at his Connecticut home. But Chez Jacques is more than a collection of well-liked recipes; it's also a captivating sentimental journey. Each dish is introduced by a recollection—of picking dandelion greens for a spring salad, of buying fresh eggs from the local farmer—that invites readers to share in the traditions and rituals of Pépin's most intimate circle.

This treasury of great food, lore, and memory is exquisitely illustrated with a sampling of Pépin's paintings, as well as hundreds of color photographs of the finished dishes and of Pépin in all his “natural habitats”—pitching boules with a group of friends, savoring a glass of chilled rosé in the afternoon sun, painting landscapes, designing menus, and, of course, working in his kitchen.

Customer Reviews:

A lovely coffee table book, but..........2007-06-20

Lots of pretty photos and some pleasant chit chat from Pepin, but not a great cookbook. The recipes are pretty basic and I'm guessing you've seen them elsewhere. This book is really geared towards fans.
Pepin is great and he deserves all the praise he gets but I regret buying this particular book.

Like a conversation with Monsieur Pepin.......2007-05-25

Leafing through this book is like sitting down and having a long conversation with Monsieur Pepin. His knowledge and charm are in every delightful story about how and why he loves a particular dish, from fried chicken to escargot, and the photography by Tom Hopkins is superb. Together they have created a coffee table book that you will want to have on your lap more than on your table... preferably with a glass of rose on the side. I highly, highly recommend this book.

Pleasure to read.......2007-05-16

More than a collection of recipes and description of techniques this book explains the creativity and personal history behind each recipe in entertaining and captivating vignettes. Useful as a traditional cookbook in recreating the dishes described, this book is also a pleasure to sit and read as a journal or personal history of one man's cooking career. The stories readily bring you into personal experiences and thoughts allowing you to enjoy the pleasure of the author existentially.

top of the line.......2007-05-14

My wife is a fine cook, and loves good cook books...this one is tops in her opinion..it has everything..story line, color photos, imaginative recipies and lots of love.

Chez Jacques - a delight!.......2007-05-13

This is a beautiful book, with lovely photographs and charming narrative and captivating sketches by Jacques and of course many of his must-cook recipes. I love this book and find myself immersed in it often. It confirms for me that Jacques Pépin, apart from being a marvelous chef and quintessential Frenchman, is an American treasure.

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