Books

Average customer rating:

A nice summertime read...
A definite page turner
Good Follow Up To Alone
Plot a bit contrived
Excellent - another good one for Gardner!

Hide
Lisa Gardner
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0553804324
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Book Description

You have good reason to be afraid. . . .

It was a case that haunts Bobby Dodge to this day—the case that nearly killed him and changed his life forever. Now, in an underground chamber on the grounds of an abandoned Massachusetts mental hospital, the gruesome discovery of six mummified corpses resurrects his worst nightmare: the return of a killer he thought dead and buried. There’s no place to run. . . . Bobby’s only lead is wrapped around a dead woman’s neck. Annabelle Granger has been in hiding for as long as she can remember. Her childhood was a blur of new cities and assumed identities. But what—or who—her family was running from, she never knew. Now a body is unearthed from a grave, wearing a necklace bearing Annabelle’s name, and the danger is too close to escape. This time, she’s not going to run. You know he will find you. . . .

The new threat could be the dead psychopath’s copycat, his protégé—or something far more terrifying. Dodge knows the only way to find him is to solve the mystery of Annabelle Granger, and to do that he must team up with his former lover, partner, and friend D. D. Warren from the Boston P.D. But the trail leads back to a woman from Bobby’s past who may be every bit as dangerous as the new killer—a beautiful survivor-turned-avenger with an eerie link to Annabelle. From its tense opening pages to its shocking climax, Hide is a thriller that delves into our deepest, darkest fears. Where there is no one to trust. Where there is no place left to hide.

Customer Reviews:

A nice summertime read..........2007-06-20

Even though I've been swamped with work and other activities lately, I can't stand not having a recreational read going on in my book piles. I picked up Lisa Gardner's Hide before I left on a trip, and it was an enjoyable diversion. It started a bit slow, but the longer I read the less I put it down...

Annabelle Granger is a young woman who has spent all of her life on the run. From what, she doesn't know. Her father was convinced that someone was after them, and as such Granger lived in many different places under a variety of names. Even now, after her family is all gone, she's still secretive and cautious about everything. She finally decides that she has to figure out what happened in her childhood when a murder case mistakenly identifies her as one of the victims. The real victim was her best friend growing up, and the only clue to her identity was a locket with Granger's name on it. Granger turns to the police and Bobby Dodge to start sorting through the meager clues as to who might have killed her friend, and whether that is somehow related to one of her many relocations. As the investigation continues, Granger starts getting anonymous contacts from a stalker. That means that her past (which she still doesn't understand) is catching up with her, and she's not sure who can be trusted. It's a race to see whether the killer(s?) can be found before they carry out their final obsession with Annabelle...

The book started off (for me, at least) a little on the slow side. You're immediately thrown into one of her childhood relocations where she has to leave nearly everything behind. Then when you jump to the present, you're somewhat unsure as to how all that relates. Even once you figure out the basic reasons why they moved so often, it's still unclear as to why the father was so obsessed with the secrecy. But once the police accept her story as one of the few leads they have, things start picking up nicely. There's a lot of interplay between Granger, Dodge, and a couple of other characters from a prior novel (Alone). Hide stands alone fairly well, but knowing the history of the players makes for a deeper level of understanding. And if you like plot twists and red herrings, then you'll love this story. You pretty much have to get to the end to figure out everything...

A nice summertime read when you just want to disengage from anything requiring effort or work...

A definite page turner.......2007-06-12

First Sentence: My father explained it to me the first time when I was seven years old.

Massachusetts state police detective Bobby Dodge is called to a Boston PD crime scene. Sergeant D.D. Warren and her team are on the grounds of the closed and crumbling Boston State Mental Hospital. There has been found an underground room containing the bodies of six young girls. One thing they release to the press is the name of one of the young girl's based on a locket they found. Since she was seven years old, Annabelle's father has moved their family from place to place, always taking new identities but with Annabelle never knowing why. Now, with both her parents dead, Annabelle has come back to Boston, where she started. When she reads the story in the news, she realizes the locket was hers and one of the bodies was the best friend she's given it to.

Lisa Gardner is an author who deserves much more notice than she receives. The lady knows how to write suspense with a human touch. Her characters are strong and fully dimensional, down to the members of the team; one of which as a new baby and another whose mother is dying. Her writing is atmospheric; you see the people on the train, and feel the closeness of the underground room. The story flows and builds taking the reader along on the investigation. You think you know where it's going and who the villain is, but you're not certain and then Gardner reveals a new element to keep you off balance. The ending does rather come at you out of no where but it always explains the reason for the family's moves. To introduce it sooner would have completely spoiled the suspense. "Hide" was a very good, fast read.

Good Follow Up To Alone.......2007-06-07

As a follow up to Alone, this book does not disappoint. It picks up with now Detective Bobby Dodge, two years after the last book. In Alone, Bobby was a sniper and forced to use deadly force. This book continues with his feelings in the aftermath of that shooting in the background of his new job as a detective. His first case involves the discovery of 6 mummified bodies underground on the grounds of a former state mental hospital. This book has you guessing from the beginning and has many twists and turns. The whodunit and the ending to me seemed a bit contrived, but it was still good. Gardner doesn't miss when it comes to mystery and suspense!

Plot a bit contrived.......2007-05-26

This was a good story, but---- Here's how I think the plot could have been better: I expected Christopher Eola to be Annabelle's mother's brother. I thought she was the sister that Christopher did something "inappropriate" to, therefore getting himself consigned to a mental institution. When "Tommy", Annabelle's father's sociopath brother, showed up, it just seemed contrived, with too many sociopaths in the story to make it realistic.

Excellent - another good one for Gardner!.......2007-05-20

Gardner is a truly talented writer. There are two requirements for a good book - great idea/plot - good writing. Gardner has both. Her use of first person is excellent, not an easy style to do well. The story itself is original and she built the plot well. It was hard to put the book down. I was sorry when it was over. Keep them coming!

Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era

Average customer rating:

Thank You!
Got to have it!
This book should be in every woman's home
Incredibly useful
Excellent resource.

Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era
Boston Women's Health Book Collective
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743256115

Book Description

America's best-selling book on all aspects of women's health

With more than four million copies sold, Our Bodies, Ourselves is the classic resource that women of all ages can turn to for information about every aspect of their well-being. Completely revised for the first time in a decade, these pages give women everything they need for making key decisions about their health -- from definitive information from today's leading experts to personal stories from other women just like them. This updated edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves includes the latest on:

• Nutrition and exercise

• Relationships, sexuality, and sexual health

• Complementary health practices

• Reproductive choices, pregnancy, and childbearing

• Growing older

• Medical testing and procedures

Together with its companion website (www.ourbodiesourselves.org), Our Bodies, Ourselves is a one-stop resource for women of all generations.

Plus: The rearranged food pyramid, a chapter about sexual orientation and gender identity, advice for making safer sex more fun, the latest on breast-feeding, support for women experiencing pregnancy loss, and a section devoted to getting the best care in today's complicated health care system.

Customer Reviews:

Thank You!.......2007-03-11

Thank you for writing this book! Every woman should own their own copy. Any home with adolescents should have it to read. This books covers being a woman from A-Z and it does so in a way that makes you feel proud.

Got to have it!.......2007-03-08

I just bought this this book to send to my daughter who is a freshman in college. My mom bought an early edition for me when I went to college, and I bought an inbetween edition as a 30 year old. This is an essential reference for women of all ages. I love that it has informed intelligent women about their bodies since its first publication.

This book should be in every woman's home.......2007-02-17

I just got this book and wished I'd had it in my teens, twenties, thirties, but thankfully now in my 40's I do. I bought two copies used. The 1984 edition and the 1998 edition. Now after reading the reviews for the 2005 edition I am going to get that new. The 2005 edition is the 8th edition and in 35 years has never gone out of print.

Truly a wealth of information and a treasure to have found. This is the kind of book you can flip thorough and start reading on any page and find something of interest. They even have their own internet site containing information about this book and related books.

The book is lavishly illustrated with drawings and photographs (including in the 1984 & 1998 editions an iconic one by Tee A. Corinne of a disabled person making love in a wheel chair).

The subjects cover every issue that a woman can encounter -

Taking Care of Ourselves
Relationships and Sexuality
Sexual Health
Reproductive Choices
Child-Bearing
Growing Older
Medical Problems and Procedures
Knowledge is Power

1: Body Image
2: Eating Well
3: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Mood-Altering Drugs
4: Our Bodies in Motion
5: Complementary Health Practices
6: Emotional Well-Being
7: Environmental and Occupational Health
8: Violence and Abuse
9: Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
10: Relationships with Men
11: Relationships with Women
12: Sexuality
13: Sexual Anatomy, Reproduction, and the Menstrual Cycle
14: Safer Sex
15: Sexually Transmitted Infections
16: HIV and AIDS
17: Considering Parenting
18: Birth Control
19: Unexpected Pregnancy
20: Abortion
21: Pregnancy
22: Childbirth
23: The First Year of Parenting
24: Child-Bearing Loss
25: Infertility and Assisted Reproduction
26: Midlife and Menopause
27: Our Later Years
28: Unique to Women
29: Special Concerns for Women
30: Navigating the Health Care System
31: The Politics of Women's Health
32: Organizing for Change

From the publisher's website: 2005 - Thirty-five years after Women and Their Bodies revolutionized women's health, a substantially revised Our Bodies, Ourselves is published for a new generation of women.

THE BOOK'S NEW LOOK
Almost all new photographs
More compact size that makes it easier to carry and read
Fresh, modern design
A new, reader-friendly layout with lots of sidebars and bulleted points

NEW CHAPTERS
Navigating the Health Care System
Safer Sex
Considering Parenting
Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

HOT TOPICS
The debate over "female sexual dysfunction"
Direct-to-consumer advertising by pharmaceutical companies
Cosmetic surgery and breast implants
Fad diets
Microbicides, which stop sexually transmitted infections
The menstrual suppression debate
Breastfeeding
Anti-depressants

Incredibly useful.......2007-01-16

I love this book and I sent it out to all my family and friends as holiday gifts this year. I love that it shows many taboo issues as normal, because they are.

The only thing that upset me was that they never explicitly suggested that the reader use at least two methods of birth control. They almost implied that if your one method didn't work, you could just get an abortion. I felt that they should have been adamant about the two-or-more method particularly after reading how often a method would fail in every one hundred uses.

Excellent resource........2007-01-12

Provides a comprehensive, straight-forward, open-minded approach to all issues of women. Purchased to update my former copy, which I used as a resource when I taught high school students.

Average customer rating:

Boston

Boston: A Pictorial Souvenir
Carol Highsmith , and Ted Landphair
Manufacturer: Crescent
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0517201437
Release Date: 1997-08-19

Book Description

Boston, that historical center of colonial charm, splendid parklands, superior universities, and technological development, is an endlessly fascinating place. It is the cauldron, not just of American freedom, but also, arguably, of modern democracy itself. The great names of Boston—Revere, Hancock, Adams, Kennedy, Lodge, O'Neill—are American legends. The stops along the Freedom and the Black Freedom trails are cornerstones of Early American life. Luckily for visitors, this old port city is compact, easily walkable, and eminently photogenic.
Gleaming skyscrapers have asserted their place in the skyline, but Boston seems little changed from the days when Henry David Thoreau dropped in on the Old Corner Bookstore. In this stunning new collection of full-color portraits, renowned photographer Carol M. Highsmith captures the principal historic landmarks from the African Meeting House to John F. Kennedy's birthplace in Brookline; neighborhoods from tony Beacon Hill to the eclectic South End; thriving downtown shops and restaurants; the major universities and celebrated museums; and the "Emerald Necklace" of parklands. A lively, information-packed introduction and captions by award-winning writer Ted Landphair offer the perfect complement to Highsmith's outstanding images.
Boston: A Pictorial Souvenir celebrates the enduring elegance of New England's hub city. It is the perfect souvenir of a memorable visit, and the ideal gift for anyone who savors history, unforgettable architecture, cultural vitality, and high-tech innovation—the diversity that is truly Boston.

Customer Reviews:

Boston.......2002-09-01

This is a good book as a souvenir and after having visited Boston six times, I know many of the places photographed and can vividly recall the moments I spent there. There's a detailed introduction looking at all aspects of Bostonian life, including some fabulous old photographs. The rest of the book presents the modern-day town, from the architecture to its people, traditional and contemporary. A lot of the photographs focus on detail, with some good camera angles, but I feel some more general views could have been used to get a better impression of this fantastic town.

Average customer rating:

I Love Spenser and Hawk
Bought it twice
Audio CD Review; Always Good
April Kile is back in Spenser's life and going down for the third time
okay to read along but not quite exciting

Hundred-Dollar Baby
Robert B. Parker
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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High Profile
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Echo Park (Harry Bosch)
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Short Straw

ASIN: 0399153764
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Book Description

A client from a decades-old case reaches out to Boston PI Spenser-but can he rescue troubled April Kyle once more?

Longtime Spenser fans will remember that once upon a time, though not so long ago, there was a girl named April Kyle-a beautiful teenage runaway who turned to prostitution to escape her terrible family life. The book was 1982's Ceremony, and, thanks to Spenser, April escaped Boston's "Combat Zone" for the relative safety of a high-class New York City bordello. April resurfaced in Taming a Sea-Horse, again in dire need of Spenser's rescue-this time from the clutches of a controlling lover. But April Kyle's return in Hundred-Dollar Baby is nothing short of shocking.

When a mature, beautiful, and composed April strides into Spenser's office, the Boston PI barely hesitates before recognizing his once and future client. Now a well-established madam herself, April oversees an upscale call-girl operation in Boston's Back Bay. Still looking for Spenser's approval, it takes her a moment before she can ask him, again, for his assistance. Her business is a success; what's more, it's an all-female enterprise. Now that some men are trying to take it away from her, she needs Spenser.

April claims to be in the dark about who it is that's trying to shake her down, but with a bit of legwork and a bit more muscle, Spenser and Hawk find ties to organized crime and local kingpin Tony Marcus, as well as a scheme to franchise the operation across the country. As Spenser again plays the gallant knight, it becomes clear that April's not as innocent as she seems. In fact, she may be her own worst enemy.

Customer Reviews:

I Love Spenser and Hawk.......2007-06-15

I've loved every one of Parker's Spenser books (I'm not as wild about the Jesse Stone books ....) and this is no exception. What a delight it is to settle down with one of these books. For those who know Spenser, this is another comfortable pleasure of a book. Usual witty repartee (best line this time -- Spenser's "The game is afoot," said to, um, Hawk). God love Spenser and Hawk. Long may they wave.

Bought it twice.......2007-06-08

I first bought when it was titled "Dream Girl". When I ordered Hundred-Dollar Baby from Amazon, I later found it to be the same book, just a different title

Audio CD Review; Always Good.......2007-05-16

I have yet to read any of the Spenser series (or any of Robert B. Parker's books) in print; I listen to the audio CDs. Joe Mantegna IS Spenser, and can deliver his lines with perfection. His performance is polished and very enjoyable.

The story is solid, predictable as some have said; I think that's one of the things I enjoy about this series, and this narrator. It's like meeting up with old friends and catching up on what's been happening lately. It's a pleasure to hear their voices again and be in their company even if their latest adventures aren't as exciting as they've been in the past. You know further adventures are ahead.

And yes, I think the ending will give one pause. It's not the usual knock-down, drag out excitement we've seen before. All-in-all, a good story.

April Kile is back in Spenser's life and going down for the third time.......2007-05-07

"Hundred-Dollar Baby" is the 34th Spenser novel and the good news is that everything you expect from one of these novels by Robert B. Parker is here. However, that would also be the bad news in that everything you have come to expect from the most recent Spenser novels is here. After all, we are up to almost three dozen of these stories and for a while there is a decided sense that Parker is doing these by the numbers. To put it another way, these stories now smack of style more than substance. That being said, "Hundred-Dollar Baby" is the most enjoyable Spenser novel I have read for a while. It is not a great Spenser novel, but when I was a bit more than halfway through this 2006 story I got to the following paragraph: "Susan nibbled on her donut. I'd never seen anyone else nibble a donut. Sometimes she bought a single donut hole and nibbled on it." From that point on I had decided the glass was half full rather than half empty, because while I might lament the absence of substance, I love Parker's style, especially when he is making a concerted effort to be engaging. .

The best Spenser novels have been the ones where things have been the most personal, which is a relative consideration because part of Spenser's ethos is that he makes things personal when he takes a case, which is why his payment so often consists of non-monetary remuneration. "Hundred-Dollar Baby" has a leg up on things getting personal because back for the third time is April Kyle, the beautiful teenage who ran away from a brutal family situation and turned to prostitution back in 1982's "Ceremony." Spenser got April off of the streets of Boston by hooking her up with Patricia Utley and her elegant escort service in New York City. In "Taming a Sea-Horse" April returned, needing Spenser's help when she feel in love with the wrong man. Now April is suddenly back in Boston, the madam at her own high-class call girl operation in the Back Bay. Her all-female business is dong well, but now some men are trying to take it away from her and once again she needs Spenser's help, which happens to be his particular forte.

At this point I read the Spenser novels more for Parker's dialogue than for the action, which is just as well because there is relatively little action in "Hundred-Dollar Baby" (this one ends with a bang, but it is one that has the sense of a whimper about it). You will probably figure out the "who" part long before the "what" is explained in this one, but there are additional constraints on our hero this time around that simply finding out what everybody is lying about (Spenser is not as cynical as Dr. Gregory House when it comes to the assumption that everyone is always lying, but he is simpatico with the notion). Hawk and Susan are both around in almost equal measure (Susan says more, but when has that not been the case?), and there is some involvement by some other familiar faces. Still, this one comes down to Spenser and April, and those who think the third time is the charm are being overly optimistic. As always, Parker writes a novel well suited to the commuter lifestyle, with each chapter a mini-break from your vocation, education, or whatever (which is why you may well feel you are getting a better deal if you read this one in paperback form rather than the hardback).

okay to read along but not quite exciting.......2007-04-11

this one, like all the other spenser series, readable but not very exciting and always so predictable, like watching ants crawling along an abstract path. the edge of this series has long gone. the structure of this one is just like the others, a very formulaic storyline with overly pretentious coolness of spenser and his peers with wisecracking dialogs, sometimes throwing in some spelling bee contest uncommon and rarely used difficult words. again, every chapter with susan is like a quick summary of all the chapters's development after the last chapter when spenser talked to susan to summarize what the most pretentious woman on earth happened in between. actually, all the chapters with susan, like always, could be omitted to speed up the tempo a little bit.

Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions

Average customer rating:

Great Story, If Only It Were True
Son of "Beat the Dealer"
Very entertaining
Very easy, entertaining read
The double-life of a blackjack card counter/MIT student

Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions
Ben Mezrich
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743249992

Book Description

#1 National Bestseller!

The amazing inside story about a gambling ring of M.I.T.

students who beat the system in Vegas -- and lived to tell how.

Robin Hood meets the Rat Pack when the best and the brightest of M.I.T.'s math students and engineers take up blackjack under the guidance of an eccentric mastermind. Their small blackjack club develops from an experiment in counting cards on M.I.T.'s campus into a ring of card savants with a system for playing large and winning big. In less than two years they take some of the world's most sophisticated casinos for more than three million dollars. But their success also brings with it the formidable ire of casino owners and launches them into the seedy underworld of corporate Vegas with its private investigators and other violent heavies.

Filled with tense action, high stakes, and incredibly close calls, Bringing Down the House is a nail-biting read that chronicles a real-life Ocean's Eleven. It's one story that Vegas does not want you to read.

Download Description

"It's Friday night and you're on a red-eye to the city of sin. Strapped to your chest is half a million dollars; in your overnight bag is another twenty-five thousand in blackjack chips; and your wallet holds ten fake IDs. As soon as you land in Las Vegas, you are positive you are being investigated and followed. To top it all off, the IRS is auditing you, someone has been going through your mail -- and you have a multivariable calculus exam on Monday morning. Welcome to the world of an exclusive group of audacious MIT math geniuses who legally took the casinos for over three million dollars -- while still finding time for college keg parties, football games, and final exams. In the midst of the go-go eighties and nineties, a group of overachieving, anarchistic MIT students joined a decades-old underground blackjack club dedicated to counting cards and beating the system at major casinos around the world. While their classmates were working long hours in labs and libraries, the blackjack team traveled weekly to Las Vegas and other glamorous gambling locales, with hundreds of thousands of dollars duct-taped to their bodies. Underwritten by shady investors they would never meet, these kids bet fifty thousand dollars a hand, enjoyed VIP suites and other upscale treats, and partied with showgirls and celebrities. Handpicked by an eccentric mastermind -- a former MIT professor and an obsessive player who had developed a unique system of verbal cues, body signals, and role-playing -- this one ring of card savants earned more than three million dollars from corporate Vegas, making them the object of the casinos' wrath and eventually targets of revenge. Here is their inside story, revealing their secrets for the first time.

Customer Reviews:

Great Story, If Only It Were True.......2007-06-07

Bringing Down the House is a great story of math geeks who scammed the casinos out of millions of dollars. The math works out, but I still think only 80% of this stuff actually happened. The rest was an embellishment, probably to add drama, and make the book actually sell. This book should be reclassified as "based on a true story," or just plain "fiction."

There are two things SEVERELY WRONG with this book. After I noticed them, I was completely unable to enjoy it as a work of non-fiction.

Firstly, there's the gray man who was stalking them... who's actions were described in surprising detail. Come on! The only way the author could supply such detail was if the MIT team KNEW they were being stalked by him, and kept an eye out... however a lot of his appearances were from BEFORE the MIT team knew to look for him.

Second, there's the fight scene in the Virgin Islands. Two tough guys who may or may not have worked at the casino beat up one of the MIT team members in the bathroom. Again, I don't believe it. After that fight, those team leaders decided to split up the team, and stop communication with the other half. Now, since it was the jilted half that Mezrich interviewed for this book, how did he get that information? None of the people he interviewed could possibly have known that. At best it was a rumor, included in the book for effect.

Am I the only one to notice these things?

I'm curious to know what REALLY happened.

Son of "Beat the Dealer".......2007-05-17

This book has it all: a terrific story, fascinating characters, and contrasting settings of seedy and glamorous, great narrative prose, money, fun, brilliance, and danger. This and Edward Thorp's "Beat the Dealer" are mandatory for those who aspire to modern card counting techniques, or just for the math curious.

Very entertaining.......2007-05-14

I loved this book. I'm not a big reader but I liked this book so much I bought it as a gift for my uncle, who also really enjoyed it. Kept me on the edge of my seat, very exciting.

Very easy, entertaining read.......2007-03-05

You don't have to be into gambling to appreciate this fun and easy to read book. Besides being a good story, it also sheds light onto the seedy side of Vegas and the intense greed that drives casino and gambler alike. Probably not a literary tour de force but sure was a lot of fun to read. I wish I hadn't finished it so quickly.

The double-life of a blackjack card counter/MIT student.......2007-02-27

Taking us inside the oftentimes seedy world of card counting and high stakes gambling in Las Vegas, Ben Mezrich has written a gem with his first excursion into non-fiction, Bringing Down the House. No matter who you are or what your personal history in gambling is, this book will exhilarate, enthrall, and captivate you from the start.

Mezrich tells the story of Kevin Lewis, an MIT student who lived a double life for nearly five years - one as a respected student and graduate of MIT, the other as a high stakes blackjack player with several aliases and loads of cash at his disposal. It all begins with a relatively innocent weekend in Atlantic City with two friends, and from there Mezrich takes you down a suspenseful path from casino backrooms to IRS audits.

One of the best non-fiction books I have ever read, Bringing Down the House will run the gamut of your emotions. Sometimes you will envy the high-flying life a blackjack team as they party like rock stars, get comped front-row seats to the biggest boxing matches, and make a better living than most of us ever will in the job we work now. At other times, however, you will feel like their lives are empty and meaningless, for most of these people make card-counting their life. They see it as what they are supposed to do here on earth.

Perhaps dangerously, Kevin Lewis's story tells us all that Vegas can be beat. But at the expense of what, is the question? Decide for yourself when you pick up the page-turning true story by Ben Mezrich, Bringing Down the House.

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom (Caldecott Honor Book)

Average customer rating:

Great Book
super good book
Beautiful!
Moses Review
Beautiful story

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom (Caldecott Honor Book)
Carole Boston Weatherford
Manufacturer: Jump At The Sun
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Gone Wild (Caldecott Honor Book)
Flotsam (Caldecott Medal Book)
The Higher Power of Lucky
Rules (Newbery Honor Book)
Penny from Heaven (Newbery Honor Book)

ASIN: 0786851759

Customer Reviews:

Great Book .......2007-06-08

I am an elementary school teacher, mom of three and children's book lover. This book is visually enticing and a wonderful read. All of my children as well as my students loved it!

super good book .......2007-06-08

The cover says it all...and thanks to a great seller for fast shipping and smooth transaction!

Beautiful!.......2007-05-08

What I most appreciate about this book is the way it incorporates the role faith played in Harriet's life into the story of her leading daring escapes from slavery to freedom. Most of the history we learn in school attempts to secularize the truth about the people and events that we hold so dear, but this book does a phenomenal job in telling a more accurate, unbiased story of a remarkable woman. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson (who is GIFTED!!!!!), this is a welcome addition to any children's (or adult's, for that matter) library. I know am already collecting a slew of books

Moses Review.......2007-03-26

I teach children's literature at a major university and this text is an ecellent source for mulitcultural literature, as well as a beatifully illustrated text. A sure winner!

Beautiful story.......2007-03-08

Love this book! What a beautiful story, told in lyrical form, about Harriet Tubman. My daugher (kindergartner) enjoyed it as well. We got it from the library first but we both agreed it should be part of our home library.

Average customer rating:

Get this book for your kids -- then keep it
Yawn- #1 Most boring book ever
Horrible
Horrible
Ripping good yarn for all ages

Johnny Tremain
Esther Forbes , and Lynd Ward
Manufacturer: Yearling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Witch of Blackbird Pond (Collins Modern Classics)
The Sign of the Beaver
Across Five Aprils
Where the Red Fern Grows
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Puffin Modern Classics) (Puffin Modern Classics)

ASIN: 0440442508
Release Date: 1980-04-15

Amazon.com

This story of a tragically injured young silversmith who ends up hip-deep in the American Revolution is inspiring, exciting, and sad. Winner of the prestigious Newbery Award in 1944, Esther Forbes's story has lasted these 50-plus years by including adventure, loss, courage, and history in a wonderfully written, very dramatic package. It's probably not great for little guys but mature 11-year-olds or older will find it a great adventure.

Book Description

Johnny Tremain, a young apprentice silversmith, is caught up in the danger and excitement of 1775 Boston, just before the Revolutionary War. But even more gripping than living through the drama of Revolutionary Boston is the important discovery Johnny makes in his own life.

Customer Reviews:

Get this book for your kids -- then keep it.......2007-06-08

It makes me so sad to see how many kids find this book boring. I remember reading it to death as a kid, and loving it even more when I read it to my then-11-year-old daughter (though I have to admit that I loved it more than she did). The prose is crisp and vivid, the plot incredibly exciting, and the characters leap off the page. Johnny and Rab are hot! Come to think of it, that's why I kept rereading it as a kid.

This is a book for anyone who loves to read, and maybe that's why so many kids didn't like it. From my adult perspective, I was struck by how witty and nuanced Esther Forbes' observations of life in colonial Boston were -- perhaps beyond the grasp of most kids. I came away thinking about how ambivalent most characters were about the constraints placed on their lives by the mandates of Puritan belief, yet how fundamental faith was to them. I also admired the way Forbes contrasted Johnny's two crushes, the rich and snobbish Lavinia and the honest and loyal Cilla. The scene in which Johnny finally confronts Lavinia, revealing her to be a vulnerable human being rather than a goddess -- and thus letting the air out of his crush -- is masterful.

I would categorize this book as young adult rather than children's literature. I find I really like many young adult books because they're not afraid to be about something, and they leave your head full of ideas. Of course, that's like giving your kids tofu when they want a cheeseburger. (I like tofu, too.) But Johnny Tremain is way better than tofu. Read it for your own enjoyment, and if your kids are very good, let them borrow it.

Yawn- #1 Most boring book ever.......2007-04-24

I was forced to read this book for school and literally fell asleep a few times reading it. There is no excitement or adventure in the storyline and reading it just makes you feel more drowsy with every page turn. Who wants to read about a self-centered jerk who barely gets any better throughout the course of the book? Not me! If there was a list of the worst books ever written this would remain the chart-topper for eternity!!!!!!

Horrible.......2007-03-30

I think this book was the boringest, and dumbest book ever!
But I have to say that the movie was pretty good and funny so you have to give that credit!

Horrible.......2007-03-30

I think this book was the boringest, and dumbest book ever!
But I have to say that the movie was pretty good and funny so you have to give that credit!

Ripping good yarn for all ages.......2007-03-27

This is a very interesting book set at the beginning of the American Revolution. It's told from the viewpoint of an apprentice silversmith who lives in Boston. It's a coming of age story that the whole family can enjoy. Good character development and realistic scenes make for a great read.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction
Provocative, appealing and controversial
pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored
Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory
Forbidden History: Prehistoric Technologies, Extraterrestrial Intervention, and the Suppressed Origins of Civilization
They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies

ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Provocative, appealing and controversial.......2006-08-02

Fomenko has succeeded to convincingly demonstrate the misconception about what "history" factually is... It is fiction and -like we can read and judge for ourselves- no science. It indeed is "make belief" only. I "discovered" Fomenko while studying the "old" history of Al Andaluz, Spain. Having found too many contradictions in available data, having seen too many forgeries as to pretend the importance of christianity for its decline, I ventured out to find Fomenko, who convinced me that we know little if anything for sure of the epoch before the XI-century. However, the integration of the Arabic-Islamic cultural history into the heavily distorted Western fails... There are some attempts to fit "the budding new religion" (Islam) into Fomenko's scheme, but they are too weak to be taken seriously and too often focussing on Turkey as the region where things started to influence the West, which is untrue at all.
Islam certainly was no "new religion" in the X-century. That the highly cultivated Al Andaluz ruler Mohammed-I could have been "mirrored" down in time into some myth about the "illiterate" founder of Islam itself is highly speculative. Nevertheless, Fomenko convinces me about the processes that were involved in forging a christian history. Intriguing and controversial as his books are, I recommend them as to rethink our current position in time and space and simply verify what was claimed. It is a "good" book, but not for bedtime reading... Mundus vult decipi, the world wants to be cheated. Fomenko's readers will understand why.

pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD.......2006-02-16

Traces of white wine were found in Tutankhamen's tomb however there were no record of white wine in Egypt until the 3rd century AD, 1600 years after the young pharaoh died according to the traditional chronology. http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/mg18925395.400
It can be interpreted as a contribution towards New Chronology theory that pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD.

Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes

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Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats`
Excellent service.
Things to do with children
Easy Multiculturism
A delightful book well illustrated

Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes
Nina Simonds , Leslie Swartz , and Boston The Children's Museum
Manufacturer: Gulliver Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0152019839

Book Description

Filled with delectable recipes, hands-on family activities, and traditional tales to read aloud, this extraordinary collection will inspire families everywhere to re-create the magic of Chinese holidays in their own homes. They can feast on golden New Year's dumplings and tasty moon cakes, build a miniature boat for the Dragon Boat Festival and a kite at Qing Ming, or share the story of the greedy Kitchen God or the valiant warrior Hou Yi.
This stunning compilation from bestselling cookbook author Nina Simonds and Leslie Swartz of the Children's Museum, Boston, is the perfect gift for families that have embraced Chinese holidays for generations--and for those just beginning new traditions.

Customer Reviews:

Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats`.......2006-11-10

This book is full of activities; stories and recipes--we will be using this book a lot in keeping the some of the traditions of China alive for our adopted daughter.

Excellent service........2006-08-13

The book arrived in a timely manner and in excellent condition as promised. Thank you.

Things to do with children.......2006-02-28

A nice book full of pictures and stories about the various festivals. There are craft items to make and food to cook. A good idea for those who are trying to incorporate chinese culture into their family life.

Easy Multiculturism.......2006-02-25

Very pretty book for those of us visual learners. Concrete and abstract examples of Chinese culture, good for children of different ages.

A delightful book well illustrated.......2005-12-19

I found this book on Amazon while writing my children's book. "Moonbeams" is a delightful children's book. Combining the legends, activities and recipes for each Chinese festival is a clever and useful idea that is carried out very well in this book.

A friend borrowed my copy a few months ago and it looks like the book's not coming back!

Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob

Average customer rating:

Perfect
The First Book
Frightening account of corruption
Incredible Book
More to come??

Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob
Dick Lehr , and Gerard O'Neill
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

The Brothers Bulger: How They Terrorized and Corrupted Boston for a Quarter Century
Brutal: The Untold Story of My Life Inside Whitey Bulger's Irish Mob
Street Soldier: My Life as an Enforcer for Whitey Bulger and the Boston Irish Mob
All Souls: A Family Story from Southie (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
Paddy Whacked: The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster

ASIN: 0060959258
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Amazon.com

In the spring of 1988, Boston Globe reporters Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill set out to write the story of two infamous brothers from the insular Irish enclave of South Boston: Jim "Whitey" Bulger and his younger brother Billy. Whitey was the city's most powerful gangster and a living legend--tough, cunning, without conscience, and above all, smart. Billy, president of the state Senate, was a political heavyweight in Massachusetts. These facts alone make for an intriguing story, but as Lehr and O'Neill found out, this was only the beginning.

John Connolly, a rising FBI agent and fellow "Southie," had known the Bulgers since boyhood when Whitey rescued him from a playground fight. After investigating organized crime in New York, Connolly was reassigned to the bureau's Boston office in 1975, and was determined to make a name for himself by relying on his old connections. He succeeded in a big way by lining up Whitey as an FBI informant in an effort to bring down the Italian Mafia--a major coup for both the FBI and Connolly. In exchange, Bulger received protection. Though heavily involved in extortion, intimidation, assassination, and drug trafficking, Connolly's "good bad guy" did not receive so much as a traffic infraction for over 20 years. In time, however, the deal changed, and information began flowing the other direction, with Bulger manipulating Connolly and a small group of corrupt FBI agents to further his nefarious network. The criminals and the lawmen eventually became virtually indistinguishable.

Black Mass expertly details the twists and turns of this complex story, painting a vivid portrait of Boston's underbelly and its inclusive political machine, as well as exposing one of the worst scandals in FBI history. It's also an examination of loyalty--to family, home, and heritage--and "a cautionary tale about the abuse of power that goes unchecked." As a final favor, Connolly tipped off Bulger that he was to be indicted on racketeering charges in 1995, allowing him time to go on the lam (he's reported to have access to secret bank accounts across the country). He was added to the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted List" in 1999. --Sharon M. Brown

Book Description

John Connoly and James "Whitey" Bulger grew up together on the streets of South Boston. Decades later, in the mid 1970's, they would meet again. By then, Connolly was a major figure in the FBI's Boston office and Whitey had become godfather of the Irish Mob. What happened next -- a dirty deal to being down the Italian mob in exchange for protection for Bulger -- would spiral out of control, leading to murders, drug dealing, racketeering indictments, and, ultimately, the biggest informant scandal in the history of the FBI.

Compellingly told by two Boston Globe reporters who were on the case from the beginning, Black Mass is at once a riveting crime story, a cautionary tale about the abuse of power, and a penetrating look at Boston and its Irish population.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect.......2007-03-14

This item was exactly what i ordered in the exact condition that i ordered it in. Would definitly do business with seller again! Thank you

The First Book.......2007-02-23

This book was the first book to be written on the Bulger/FBI scandal. For those who don't know; James "Whitey" Bulger ran Bostons Irish mafia for almost 20 years. He also was a Top Echelon Informant for the FBI. As such, they let him get away with all types of crimes, including murder. Making matters worse, his younger brother Billy was the Senate president of the Mass. state Senate. Another brother, Jackie, was a juvenile court judge. This family took corruption to new heights. Eventually they fell. Whitey is now one of the top 10 fugitives. This book by two Boston Globe reporters, details the Bulger brothers, their history, Boston politics, and how they all came together. This is a good book. The only problems are because it was written in 1998-1999, some things have changed ( For example, Bulgers partner in crime, Steven Flemi, has pleaded guilty to several murders, and is doing life without parole ). Also, there wasn't enough written about the Top Echelon Informant program and all the problems with it. I'd recomend getting 2 other books along with this to get a complete picture. 1 is Dangerous Alliances by Ralph Ranelli; the other is The Brothers Bulger by Howie Carr. All 3 books should give you a complete view of this scandal.

Frightening account of corruption.......2006-10-20

Black Mass is an unbelievable account of the illicit relationship between two Irish mobsters from South Boston (Whitey Bulger and Stevie Flemmi) and their FBI handlers (John Connolly and John Morris).

The book begins with background on South Boston and the "us against them" mentality of the residents. As a young boy, John Connolly looked up to and admired Whitey Bulger, a local gangster, and left an indelible impression on Connolly one day when Bulger rescued Connolly from a fight. Years later, when Connolly was assigned to the Boston FBI office, he sought out Bulger to turn him into an informant, hoping to make a name for himself. Bulger's younger brother was president of the state senate and Whitey by this time was head of the Irish mob in Boston, both highly regarded in their own circles.

Though Connolly may have begun the relationship with good intentions, it very quickly turned corrupt, and the information Bulger supplied Connolly was self-serving, and Connolly, never having grown out of his idolization of Bulger, did all he could to keep Whitey's record clean. The Irish and Italian mafias had a tenuous relationship, so for Bulgur, informing on his competition got them out of his way, and as long as he worked with the FBI, he was untouchable. Bulger's partner in crime, Stevie Flemmi, as it turned out, had been an informant for several years before Bulger. Rather than the FBI handling them, Bulger and Flemmi cultivated a bond with Connolly and Morris to ensure that they could do anything without fear of punishment. Reports were made up, lost, or taken; phone calls from other law enforcement agencies were ignored; Bulger and Flemmi's importance was inflated; and they were always one step ahead of a sting. Under the protection of the FBI, Bulger and Flemmi were involved in racketeering, gun running, drugs, and over a dozen murders - and got away with it.

What amazes me is that supposedly Connolly and Morris only benefited by $7000 during the two decades that Bulger and Flemmi were informants. Initially I believe that Connolly just wanted notoriety, but he is also flamboyant and likes living the high life, which it appears he did.

Eventually Morris' conscience bothered him enough to start talking, but it still took several years before Bulger, Flemmi, Connolly and Morris were indicted. Connolly warned Bulger, enabling him to escape. Flemmi, on the other hand, still thought that Morris would tell the court that this was all a mistake, and get Flemmi off as he had done for so many years.

As far as I know, Bulger is still a fugative and on the 10 Most Wanted List. I hope that regulations are now being followed to ensure FBI handlers are accountable for their action or inaction, and that the chain of command is aware of what the agents are doing. This was a well-written and engrossing story.

Incredible Book.......2006-08-19

I've had an interest in Boston and the organized crime around Boston for a while. I've actually had a big interest in the mafia in general. This is a great book with a lot of information that is very useful in understanding how corruption in the system allows organized crime to become more powerful and almost unstoppable.

More to come??.......2006-08-05

One might ask after reading this excellent book whether 2 kids,say brothers, were groomed to follow in the Bulger's footsteps but perhaps something went awry??

I know of 2 brothers from Massachusetts. Both were raised in state care during Bulger's reign. The older brother went into the army and a couple years later the younger was being harassed by activities a man who bore the same name in the same town, as if the younger brother had another identity created and which was made to look bad to hurt him in the identity confusion following. It is speculated the older brother set up the younger brother, both from Woburn,Mass and that the older brother after a name change went into FBI service at his younger brother's constant expense.Wherever the younger brother went the older followed and bad thingsalways happened to the younger as a result. There is a lot that went on but it looks as a duplicate of the Bulger's good guy/bad guy pairing for controlling different levels of influence was going on.

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