Books

Blind Eye: The Terrifying Story Of A Doctor Who Got Away With Murder

Average customer rating:

Black Eye for the Medical Profession
Great Book
Required reading for anyone who receives medical care
terrific read....uh, except for.....
SERIAL KILLER DOCTOR...!!!!

Blind Eye: The Terrifying Story Of A Doctor Who Got Away With Murder
James B. Stewart
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0684865637

Amazon.com

From the moment he entered medical school in the late 1970s, people around Michael Swango thought he was a little odd. But even though he expounded upon his obsessions with violent death and serial killings to anybody within earshot, almost nobody connected him to the string of deaths among patients under his care. When an investigation finally took place at the Ohio State medical center, hospital administrators sympathized with Swango--against the direct testimony of patients and nurses--and seemed more concerned with how revelations of a murderous doctor might affect their public image than with the safety of their clients. And, remarkably, even after being released from prison in Illinois, where he had been convicted of (nonfatally) poisoning several of his coworkers, Swango was able to obtain positions at hospitals in South Dakota and New York. When American authorities finally started to pursue his case, he fled the country and began plying his trade in Zimbabwe. In June 1998, after being captured during an attempt to reenter the United States, he was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison--on fraud charges related to his employment in New York.

The truly frightening aspect of Blind Eye is not the relentless chain of murders, but the ease with which Swango was able to repeatedly slip through the cracks in the medical system, simply by lying about the nature of his felony conviction. James B. Stewart methodically traces every step of Swango's career, laying out a straightforward narrative with all the suspense of a well-crafted thriller. Although attempts to "explain" Swango's behavior through psychopathology and a historical rise in the incidences of serial killing derail the ending somewhat, Blind Eye is still a must-read for true crime buffs--or anyone who enjoys good journalism. --Ron Hogan

Book Description

No one could believe the handsome young doctor might be a serial killer. Wherever he was hired -- in Ohio, Illinois, New York, South Dakota -- Michael Swango at first seemed the model physician. Then his patients began dying under suspicious circumstances.

At once a gripping read and a hard-hitting look at the inner workings of the American medical system, Blind Eye describes a professional hierarchy where doctors repeatedly accept the word of fellow physicians over that of nurses, hospital employees, and patients -- even as horrible truths begin to emerge. With the prodigious investigative reporting that has defined his Pulitzer Prize-winning career, James B. Stewart has tracked down survivors, relatives of victims, and shaken coworkers to unearth the evidence that may finally lead to Swango's conviction.

Combining meticulous research with spellbinding prose, Stewart has written a shocking chronicle of a psychopathic doctor and of the medical establishment that chose to turn a blind eye on his criminal activities.

Customer Reviews:

Black Eye for the Medical Profession.......2007-01-29

This is a fascinating story about how the medical establishment did not detect a psycopath in their midst. Even after detection, they allowed him to continue as a doctor.

Even more upsetting was the failure of the faculty of the college of medicine at Southern Illinois University to detect and fail incompetent students. These students, including Michael Swango, were allowed to continue; even after episodes of total incompetence. If these policies are common at other medical schools, it offers an explanation for the large number of substandard physicians.

Great Book.......2007-01-09

Not only was this book a great read, it also displays the significant truth about the world of medicine. This type of behavior (ignoring what's in front of you) happens everyday in medicine. All credentialing personnel should be required to read this book.

Required reading for anyone who receives medical care.......2006-11-29

I was given "Blind Eye" when I first began working at a physician monitoring program as a clinician. At the time, I was under the impression that because physicians have so much responsibility to "do no harm," they would automatically report themselves or fellow physicians if they believed they were impaired mentally, physically or emotionally. How wrong I was!

"Blind Eye" represents the epitome of how our medical system supports physicians, even when they are dangerous to themselves and others. Through a painstaking and exhaustive review of the life and career of Dr. Michael Swango, James B. Stewart illustrates how easy it was for a medical doctor to manipulate nurses, colleagues, administrators, patients, and even his own family into believing that he was a competent physician. Stewart further demonstrates how the "good old boy" system is alive and well in America, in which doctors look the other way when something seems wrong, even when evidence to the contrary is right in front of them.

If I had not read this book, knowing it is a true story, I probably would not have believed that a physician could truly get away with murder; now I am truly convinced that this is, unfortunatly, the case. "Blind Eye" should be required reading for every person who works with or sees a personal physician.

terrific read....uh, except for............2006-08-29

Stewart's coverage of the l'affaire Swango is exemplary--one of the best true crime reads in the last ten years, this one....except...except for what I've found to be a common occurrence in books of this genre, namely, in this instance, that Michael Swango, not once, not twice, but probably 20 times, is described as "handsome": what's up with that? Swango looks like a cartoon horse, and in no sense of the word "handsome" is he, well, even slightly better than subpar in the looks department. Several b/w pix here document this guy's oversized choppers, narrow head, and so on. So why is this the case? Possibly to lure name actors into vying for the lead in a filming of this, and thus make the project more attractive in order to secure a better deal? That's the only thing I can think of and, as I say, this is a common problem in the true crime genre. SO: it's a five-star read, but docked a notch because, if the author continually overstates a major fact regarding the book's main character's appearance, the reader HAS to wonder, Hey, what other liberties are taken with the truth here? Be that as it may--a tip o' the hat to Stewart for his page-turning prose. Possibly the best book I've ever read about a poisoner, including the great works covering the infamous 19th and early 20th century cases, when poison was much in vogue.

SERIAL KILLER DOCTOR...!!!!.......2006-08-21

THIS BOOK IS A GREAT POWER PACKED STORY OF HOW A SERIAL KILLER DOCTOR COULD GET AWAY WITH HIS MURDERS FOR SO LONG, AND BE COVERED UP BY THE "DOCTORS PROFESSIONAL PROTECT EACH OTHER RULES" AGAIN AND AGAIN. IT IS VERY SCARY HOW U CAN NOT EVEN TRUST A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WHEN IN THE HOSPITAL. IT CERTAINLY WILL MAKE ME QUESTION ANYTHING I AM GIVEN OR INJECTED WITH NEXT TIME I AM IN THE HOSPITAL. A MUST READ IF U HAVE WONDERED HOW MEDICAL "ACCIDENTS" HAPPEN!!

Average customer rating:

I would give it a million stars if I could
Story of a struggling family grappling with their demons
The Bluest Eye
A Story of Self-Hate
Self-Loathing, Self-Doubt, How Can A Child Love Herself?

The Bluest Eye
Toni Morrison
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Song of Solomon
Beloved
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Paradise (Oprah's Book Club)
The Bluest Eye and Sula (Cliffs Notes)

ASIN: 0452287065
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Amazon.com

Oprah Book Club® Selection, April 2000: Originally published in 1970, The Bluest Eye is Toni Morrison's first novel. In an afterword written more than two decades later, the author expressed her dissatisfaction with the book's language and structure: "It required a sophistication unavailable to me." Perhaps we can chalk up this verdict to modesty, or to the Nobel laureate's impossibly high standards of quality control. In any case, her debut is nothing if not sophisticated, in terms of both narrative ingenuity and rhetorical sweep. It also shows the young author drawing a bead on the subjects that would dominate much of her career: racial hatred, historical memory, and the dazzling or degrading power of language itself.

Set in Lorain, Ohio, in 1941, The Bluest Eye is something of an ensemble piece. The point of view is passed like a baton from one character to the next, with Morrison's own voice functioning as a kind of gold standard throughout. The focus, though, is on an 11-year-old black girl named Pecola Breedlove, whose entire family has been given a cosmetic cross to bear:

You looked at them and wondered why they were so ugly; you looked closely and could not find the source. Then you realized that it came from conviction, their conviction. It was as though some mysterious all-knowing master had given each one a cloak of ugliness to wear, and they had each accepted it without question.... And they took the ugliness in their hands, threw it as a mantle over them, and went about the world with it.

There are far uglier things in the world than, well, ugliness, and poor Pecola is subjected to most of them. She's spat upon, ridiculed, and ultimately raped and impregnated by her own father. No wonder she yearns to be the very opposite of what she is--yearns, in other words, to be a white child, possessed of the blondest hair and the bluest eye.

This vein of self-hatred is exactly what keeps Morrison's novel from devolving into a cut-and-dried scenario of victimization. She may in fact pin too much of the blame on the beauty myth: "Along with the idea of romantic love, she was introduced to another--physical beauty. Probably the most destructive ideas in the history of human thought. Both originated in envy, thrived in insecurity, and ended in disillusion." Yet the destructive power of these ideas is essentially colorblind, which gives The Bluest Eye the sort of universal reach that Morrison's imitators can only dream of. And that, combined with the novel's modulated pathos and musical, fine-grained language, makes for not merely a sophisticated debut but a permanent one. --James Marcus

Book Description

The Bluest Eye, published in 1970, is the first novel written by Toni Morrison, winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature.

It is the story of eleven-year-old Pecola Breedlove--a black girl in an America whose love for its blond, blue-eyed children can devastate all others--who prays for her eyes to turn blue: so that she will be beautiful, so that people will look at her, so that her world will be different. This is the story of the nightmare at the heart of her yearning and the tragedy of its fulfillment.

Download Description

The Bluest Eye is the story of eleven-year-old Pecola Breedlove - a black girl in an America whose love for its blond, blue-eyed children can devastate all others - who prays for her eyes to turn blue: so that she will be beautiful, so that people will look at her, so that her world will be different.

Customer Reviews:

I would give it a million stars if I could.......2007-06-12

Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, I can safely say, is my favorite novel of all time. It's depressing, complex, and downright tragic as an innocent little girl is destroyed by a vicious society set on convincing her that she is both ugly and worthless. Through a brutal rape by her own father, Pecola's life is ruined as her childhood is permanently destroyed and the one pathetic hope that keeps her alive is her strong desire for blue eyes.

Morrison refuses to depict this story in chronological order, as the narrator explains that it is not the "why" that we are able to answer but rather the "how." With that in mind, Morrison quickly summarizes the story and then dives in to the analysis of how this little girl's tragedy was made possible. We, as readers, are then opened up to a broader explanation of not merely this girl's tragedy on an isolated, individual level. Rather, she is the physical manifestation of the psychological problems faced by African-Americans living in a hostile society that told them they were inferior. Pecola's problems are slightly mirrored from those considered at the high ranks of black society (Geraldine), all the way to black society's most tragic victims (the Breedloves). Morrison refuses to allow the reader to simply pity Pecola's mindset. Instead, she forces us, no matter the background or race, to feel guilty. We, a society that has not yet completely embraced people from all portions of our community, are completely responsible for her downfall. Because, Morrison argues, in a world that continually controls us into believing that all minorities are inferior, we have left her to suffer.

But Toni Morrison doesn't stop there, a point that would already label The Bluest Eye as an amazing novel. Morrison expands the picture from psychological racism into a rarely considered topic of psychological sexism. All of the main female characters in this story are in some shape or form sexually assaulted by the dominant male figures. Morrison brilliantly expands the picture to fearlessly explore sexism and how it has damaged the psyche of our nation's society.

I won't lie, I was initially disgusted by several of the scenes in this novel, the main one being a brutal rape described in great detail. But I realized that this book was meant to horrify me and open my eyes to what Morrison was exposing. The book is incredibly complex, so it deserves your utmost attention. I can not overrate this book; you must read it.

Story of a struggling family grappling with their demons.......2007-06-06

The Bluest Eye touches a nerve deep inside the reader. The young heroine is one of several strong, compelling characters-but she is the person to whom my heart reached out the most. Focusing the chapters on the different members of the Breedlove family really helps us see all of them are growing as products of their own experiences and dreams. This is an important, and very intense, book.

The Bluest Eye.......2007-04-23

I was interested in reading The Bluest Eye because in English class we had read Beloved, another book by Toni Morrison. Overall I really enjoyed it and I was interested in reading another book by her. The Bluest Eye was her first book published and received much critical acclaim. I really enjoyed reading this novel. It was very graphic and very intense which added to the greatness of it. Ms. Morrison is a wonderful writer and the imagery and the symbolism that she uses is amazing. The Bluest Eye was an emotional rollercoaster ride. At points I was laughing and amused and at other points I was depressed. The most overwhelming emotion that I felt was sympathy for Pecola. I felt for her and it was very sad to hear about how she was treated and how she was raped by her father, Cholly. I thought that Claudia was a great narrator, and that she was very reliable. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in a great read, despite it not being an overly happy read. I am now a fan of Ms. Morrison's and I look forward to reading more of her work.

A Story of Self-Hate.......2007-04-04

This story takes place before the civil rights movement, and although it's centered around an African American girl, the story is more about her battle with her self-image.

Self-Loathing, Self-Doubt, How Can A Child Love Herself?.......2007-01-18

This was the first book I've read by Toni Morrison, and it did not disappoint. The story takes place in Ohio in the early 1940s - before the Civil Rights era, before Martin Luther King, Jr., and before Rosa Parks ever stayed seated on the bus. The story is told mainly from the focus from a young black girl about another young black in the neighborhood. The other black girl, Pecola Breedlove, comes from a family that is poor with a father who is an alcoholic. Pecola is considered ugly and her greatest wish is to have blue eyes, as she firmly believes this will make her beautiful.

Naturally, the story involves much more than this, and Toni Morrison weaves a story that catches the reader up from the very first words and doesn't release them until the final page is turned. Ultimately, the idea of self-loathing is plainly seen - not just within Pecola, but within an entire community, an entire race. Pecola's story is not a pleasant read, yet it is difficult not feel a tenderness for this child. She begs to be nurtured.

Many people who saw me reading this book told me it was a "black" book, but I disagree. The idea of self-loathing - either within oneself or within a community - is not specific to any one group of people, to my way of thinking. However, Toni Morrison has so captured the feelings and forced the reader to face them, that this book speaks to any and all who opens the pages. No child should be made to feel they are less simply because of who they are.

A very moving book, highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Thought provoking, brilliant and grotesque ...
Brilliant,,,
Only the French Can Match Erotic Literature with Philosophy
Filth and philosophy as only the French can serve it up
Grotesque and Disturbing...A Classic

Story of the Eye
Georges Bataille
Manufacturer: City Lights Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0872862097

Amazon.com

Only Georges Bataille could write, of an eyeball removed from a corpse, that "the caress of the eye over the skin is so utterly, so extraordinarily gentle, and the sensation is so bizarre that it has something of a rooster's horrible crowing." Bataille has been called a "metaphysician of evil," specializing in blasphemy, profanation, and horror. Story of the Eye, written in 1928, is his best-known work; it is unashamedly surrealistic, both disgusting and fascinating, and packed with seemingly endless violations. It's something of an underground classic, rediscovered by each new generation. Most recently, the Icelandic pop singer Björk Guðdmundsdóttir cites Story of the Eye as a major inspiration: she made a music video that alludes to Bataille's erotic uses of eggs, and she plans to read an excerpt for an album. Warning: Story of the Eye is graphically sexual, and is only for adults who are not easily offended.

Book Description

In 1928, Georges Bataille published this first novel under a pseudonym, a legendary shocker that uncovers the dark side of the erotic by means of forbidden obsessive fantasies of excess and sexual extremes. A classic of pornographic literature, Story of the Eye finds the parallels in Sade and Nietzsche and in the investigations of contemporary psychology; it also forecasts Bataille's own theories of ecstasy, death and transgression which he developed in later work.

Customer Reviews:

Thought provoking, brilliant and grotesque ..........2007-05-08

What causes a mind to embrace gross sexual abstractions? When does a moment of teenage reckless abandon turn into a debauched nightmare? What causes a young mind to lean towards fetishism? Professionals have grappled with those questions for decades, and many of these and similar questions will remain forever unanswered in The Story of the Eye. And yet, even with the horrific, gruesome imagery, one cannot help but desire to know the answers. Don't fret, the author does not leave us empty. In part two of this edition, he offers some clarity as he mulls over a few of the aberrations of his childhood -- how he came to understand their relationship to events and images within the story itself.

While The Story of the Eye chronicles the deviant sexual escapades of two young lovers, this is not what I would consider a pornographic novel. Yes, the erotic scenes are quite intense - intense enough to make the faint hearted put the book down in order to vomit, but that is not the true bite of the story. The deep emotional, psychological, and pathological attachment between the two main characters is what drives this story. The narration slips in and out of conscious thought and action so fluidly it's like sinking into quicksand -- struggle against it and drown or remain still and experience this work as the true artistic endeavor that it is. If you dare to remain still, you certainly will not be disappointed.

Brilliant,,,.......2007-02-03

I decided to read this book out of curiosity when I read that Bjork had recommended everyone to read it. I knew that i was in for a shocking treat. Is it shocking? Yes, indeed. I personally wasn't too shocked by the erotic acts itself in the book, since none of it was new to me. I found it more shocking by how beautifully and yet frightful the narrative was...its such a page turner and definitely worth reading!

Only the French Can Match Erotic Literature with Philosophy.......2007-01-15

In "Story of the Eye", George Bataille combines the philosophy of the day (1928 France) - Surrealism - and weaves it into the tale of sexual depravity. This book has brings all of the forbidden sins to the table, including soft-boiled eggs! (You'll have to read it as I am not giving up the ghost on that one.)

I read this book fresh out of college while working a Generation X job in a bookstore; I found it on the shelf while shelving more mundane faire. It was stuck between two larger books and the gap caught my eye. Now, fifteen years later it is time for a new generation to discover this nifty AND disgusting psycho-sexual, philosophical novella.

Filth and philosophy as only the French can serve it up.......2007-01-05

Published nearly 80 years ago, *Story of the Eye* may still be the wildest ((and weirdest)) pornographic novel ever written. Sadomasochism, underage orgies, golden showers, homicide, necrophilia, soft-boiled eggs--and all of it in a story less than one hundred pages in length. Outstanding!

Couched in a super-lucid prose of hyperbolic surreality, *Story of the Eye* is a record of the x-rated exploits of two young lovers--the narrator and the lovely Simone, who he meets on a family vacation. Equally inexperienced and perfectly matched in their precocious perversity, they set about discovering their sexuality through a series of escalating debaucheries, sucking into their erotic vortex a mentally fragile blonde, a rich English psychopath, and a priest. Bataille seems determined to out-Sade deSade and he largely succeeds in outdoing the divine Marquis, spicing up the lewd proceedings with liberal doses of libertine philosophy and poetically-fueled descriptions of the most ordinarily unpoetic and sordid of acts.

Still, when all is said and done, *Story of the Eye* is truly a work of literature. You can tell because you're never once tempted to read with one hand! Complete with what amounts to a short "making of *Story of the Eye*" author's note, which traces the autobiographical links between Bataille's early life and the events of the novel, here is a fascinating take on the perverse imagination by one of its greatest theorists.

Grotesque and Disturbing...A Classic.......2007-01-04

What more can you say about Bataille's great contribution to surrealism? Read it, and be wrenched from your complacency. Surrender your prejudices, shatter your preconceptions, get sick, be healed.

I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! (Beginner Books(R))

Average customer rating:

I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
One of the lesser Dr. Seuss books
Against the go to sleep club
Pretty cute book
What Can YOU do with your eyes shut?

I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! (Beginner Books(R))

Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0394839129
Release Date: 1978-10-12

Book Description

Illus. in full color. "In Seuss's familiar rhymed couplets and illustrations, the Cat in the Hat shows Young Cat some wonderful stuff about reading with both eyes open."--School Library Journal.

Customer Reviews:

I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!.......2006-11-20

The thing I like about the book is that it encourages parent/child reading and conversation, and encourages the child to use his/her imagination. "Reading with eyes shut;" my child attempted it and then began to ask a million questions: How does the Cat in the Hat read anything with his eyes shut? Why can't i see the words with my eyes shut? Can YOU read with your eyes shut?

One of the lesser Dr. Seuss books.......2006-04-17

I'm a huge Dr. Seuss fan -- he taught me to read -- but this is, in all honesty, not one of his better books. The message is great (reading, yay!) but the delivery is weak. The artwork and the text are both a bit flat, and he seems to be straining to emulate the vibrant wackiness of his earlier work. There's nothing "wrong" with this book, but you may find yourself reading it, wondering why it just isn't as fun as it ought to be. It's okay, but there are better books out there, including a LOT of great ones he's written.

Against the go to sleep club.......2005-07-30

I'm way too old for beginner books but I read "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!" anyway. It's good for young readers, but against the go to sleep club. It focuses on "Keep your eyes open so you can READ!" soooo much that it fights going to sleep. And what sense does "Reading with my eyes shut is bad for my hat and makes my eyebrows red hot!" make? They should say it's bad for your eyes but no, they say it's bad for your eyebrows and hat. And it would be terrible for Russian Blue Witch because she LOVES books toooooo much to pay attention to the world around her and help people. It would be better teaching going to sleep because I never let my sisters sleep, chattering stories all night. Signed, StoryMaker. "Gotta trust the kid's review!"

Pretty cute book.......2005-05-03

This book is probably good if you have a young reader wanting to read a simple book. But if you're reading it to a child before bedtime, it doesn't really tell much of a story. I know that sounds weird, but it just kinda gets annoying after awhile to some children and it doesn't really spark too much imagination. Yes, it does create conversation about why the cat goes through trying to read with his eyes shut, but really, it just isn't all that much fun for a child to read. I'd try something else first like Go Dog Go, or just check this one out of the library first before buying it. You may like it but my family didn't. It just was boring to them. They couldn't wait until I put it down and picked up another book!

What Can YOU do with your eyes shut?.......2004-01-09

What I appreciate about this book is it encourages reading and conversation between parents (or adult) and child who I think would be great to read this one together. It also stretches the imagination: "reading with eyes shut? How does the Cat in the Hat read `Mississippi' with his eyes shut? Can YOU read with your eyes shut?"

...

Book Description

Even film diehards have a tough time resisting the instant gratification of the digital camera. Today's digital cameras are more affordable then ever before, and they deliver high quality images that are a snap to share. Plus, you can take risks with a digital camera you never would with a film camera. You waste nothing; there's no film required, and because you only print the pictures you need, digital photography is cost effective and environmentally friendly.

But to take full advantage of a digital camera, you need to be an experienced photographer and an expert at digital photography too. With more than 15 years of experience as a photojournalist, author Derrick Story brings you Digital Photography Pocket Guide, 3rd Edition. For everyone who owns or will own a digital camera (and that pretty much means everyone!), this is the perfect on-the-go guide for taking top-notch digital photos.

In this third edition of the bestselling pocket guide, Story expands on the basic photography techniques that he introduced in earlier editions, including an explanation of each camera component and what it does, tips for choosing just the right settings for your needs, and much more. This indispensable guide covers everything from how to shoot sports action, close ups, and night shots, to dealing with image resolution, archiving, and memory cards.

Affordable and portable, Digital Photography Pocket Guide, 3rd Edition offers full-color photographs, screen shots, and line art illustrating all the topics in the guide's three main sections ("Digital Camera Components," "Standard Camera Functions," and "How Do I?"). Contents are labeled A to Z for quick reference. There's also a comprehensive table of contents and index so you'll waste no time flipping to the specific information you need--whether you want to transfer images, make a QuickTime movie, or just figure out what purpose that mystery setting on your camera serves. There's even a section of easy-to-read reference tables for quick look-up of white balance settings, exposure compensation, camera mode explanations, and plenty more.

Customer Reviews:

Happy with this purchase........2007-04-02

I feel this is a perfect little guide for beginning digital photographers. I've been taking photos with my digital for about 3 years now and this little pocket guide still comes in handy and is very useful. It's size is perfect for carrying it with you in your camera case and it gets right to those frequent questions that come up.

A good little book to own!

Book was okay.......2007-03-22

The book I orderd that I thought was going to be better than his 2nd edition fell short. But it was a good book.

Good Introduciton.......2007-03-11

This book is a good introduction in Digital Photography; it shows the hardware specifications and features of most digital cameras, and also techniques on how to take snapshots. It is easy to take it wherever you go; I'm putting it with my camera's equipments.

It was a good help in understanding the basics, especially when I started PADI's Digital Underwater Photography course.

Good book for Beginners.......2007-02-13

This is a good book for beginners. It covers a lot of basic material regarding photography. I was expecting it to be a bit more like all the other O'Reilly Pocket Guides that I normally use in IT but it didn't quite live up to that standard.

Digital Photography Pocket Guide.......2007-02-12

Thie volume is an excellent introduction for one wanting to get the most from their new digital camera ... non-technical in presentation and easy to understand ... a REAL 'pocket guide' ....

Average customer rating:

One of his best novels
Me Likey
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King Review by BH
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King Review by BH
One of the greatest reading experiences of my life!

The Eyes of the Dragon
Stephen King
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0451166582
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A kingdom is in turmoil as the old king dies and his successor must do battle for the throne. Pitted against an evil wizard and a would-be rival, Prince Peter makes a daring escape and rallies the forces of Good to fight for what is rightfully his. This is a masterpiece of classic dragons-and-magic fantasy that only Stephen King could have written!

Book Description

THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER-THE PRELUDE TO THE CLASSIC DARK TOWER SERIES.

A tale of archetypal heroes and sweeping adventures, of dragons and princes and evil wizards, here is epic fantasy as only Stephen King could envision it.

Customer Reviews:

One of his best novels.......2007-06-14

I read this as a teenager some time ago and had fond memories of it being one of my favorite books of all time. I recently decided to read it again prior to re-reading the first three Gunslinger novels. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I enjoyed it just as much the second time around. I strongly recommend this book to Dark Tower fans.

Me Likey.......2007-06-04

Not being a huge King fan--don't get me wrong, I don't dislike him, I just don't care for horror novels, I'm a sissy--I love this book. It's a departure from the aforementioned genre and the content delves into a more fantastic realm. I heard it was intended for his daughter at the time. I love all the details and descriptions--this is a great book for children/preteens, though I still love it (and I'm quite a bit older than a preteen...)Give it a read, it's a nice change from killer dogs and creepy sewer clowns.

The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King Review by BH.......2007-05-25

I think The Eyes of the Dragon is a very good book because it is not a very long book, which people usually like and the plot is very good. It's about two princes named Peter and Thomas who are on different sides because their dad the king spent more time and attention to Peter the older one than Thomas. Then Thomas gets mad and joins an evil plot. Peter has to convince his younger brother to stop and join his side with his allies to solve a mystery.

The author Stephen King is a really good writer because all of his stories are good, and they usually make movies about them. All of the books have good plots but some are very long, so if you like reading and you don't care how long it is, you have found a good book. Some of my favorites by Stephen Kings are Cujo and Tommyknockers. Also Stephen King's books are very interesting and very addicting. It's like potato chips, once you start you can't stop.
I rate The Eyes of the Dragon an 8 out of 10 because of the quality of the book and the adventure in the book.

The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King Review by BH.......2007-05-25

One of the greatest reading experiences of my life!.......2007-05-17

I have terrific memories of reading this book. As my brother and I left our sisters house one summer afternoon, she shoved this book into my hands and told me I'd like it. On the forty-five minute drive back to our house I started reading it out loud to my brother. By the time we got home we were both hooked. We took turns reading out loud to each other, doing voices for the different characters and the narator until we finnished it. The experience was almost like that of William Goldman, when his Florentine father read him S. Morgenstern's The Princes Bride as a boy. Not a bad way to spend a weekend with your brother, eh?

I didn't know it as I began reading in the car to my brother that the language is that of it being spoken, not written, and thus demands to be read aloud. King tells a vibrant story filled with invention, more so than in his other works. He uses trophy heads, doll houses, butlers and napkins in surprising ways. His characters are a diverse set of good and decent people from peasants to royalty that always try to do the right thing, but still find themselves manipulated by a magician's evil schemes. King is a master of tone. The imagery shifts between the creepy, the comic and back to the horrific so fluidly, that it's like a meal where each bite is a new tase, and each one as delicious as the last. King has also raised the use of forshadowing to high art, turning the literary device from what's usually fleeting and vague passages into bold narative flourishes that always keeps you on your toes.

The Eyes of the Dragon is one of the few books I've read that I can't praise highly enough. It may not strike the same chord with everyone as it did with me, but it's still one of those books that reminds us why we read and tell each other stories in the first place.

Average customer rating:

1st Graphic Novel ever read
Bone
Eyes of the Storm
Bone, Books 1 through 4
You must read it!!!!!!

Bone Volume 3: Eyes of the Storm
Jeff Smith
Manufacturer: GRAPHIX
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Bone Volume 2: The Great Cow Race
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ASIN: 0439706386

Amazon.com

As the first Bone trilogy comes to a conclusion, questions are answered, mysteries are revealed, and the stage is set for the brewing conflict in the valley. Jeff Smith is in top form in Bone: Eyes of the Storm. His artful balancing of humor, suspense, and pathos makes for an unforgettable reading experience. The dream sequences in this volume are inspired pieces of comics storytelling, especially the six-page "Moby Bone" sequence: the pacing, illustration, symbolism, and panel layout are close to perfect. A special addition to this collection is a set of more than 40 pages that have been retouched from the already near-perfect original comics. There are also 5 never-before-seen story pages and 9 new illustrations.

Book Description

In "Eyes of the Storm," volume three of the nine-book BONE saga, Lucius, Smiley, and Phoney survive an attack by the rat creatures and return safely to Lucius' tavern in Barrelhaven. Phoney, desperate to win a bet with Lucius, stokes the townspeople's fear of dragons and boasts that he is a professional dragonslayer. Back at the farm, Fone Bone and Thorn are troubled by strange dreams, and Gran'ma Ben's reaction to them is stranger still: She reveals long-kept secrets and warns of great danger. Thorn, Fone Bone, and Gran'ma Ben may have to leave the farm forever.

Customer Reviews:

1st Graphic Novel ever read.......2007-05-25

This is my 1st Graphic Novel that I have read. Jeff Smith is a great author and illustrator. The words along with the pictures tell a great story. Jeff uses many story elements in his book Eyes of the storm. His plot has several conflicts in it. He uses mainly person-against-person, with it being the Bone cousins and village people against the rat creatures. Jeff Smith uses flashbacks and foreshadowing in dreams to let Thorn know what her past was like. He uses cliff hangers to make the story more suspenseful. Amongst all of this, Jeff Smith knows how to lighten the atmosphere by putting humor in the right places. This book kept me wanting more. I can't wait to get a hold of the next volume. This will not be my last graphic novel that I read.

Bone.......2007-03-16

The Bone books are the gratest comics I have Ever read

check em' out ;)

Eyes of the Storm.......2007-02-17

This book I just read is about a boy named Bone. Bone's friend started a cow race, and convinced everyone to bet on a cow that didn't even exist. So now they have to wash dishes at a bar to pay back what they destroyed. They have weird dreams about their past. So they spend days trying to figure out what their dreams were about. There are furry creatures in the woods trying to kill them.
Bone was the main character in the story he is the coolest and funniest in the book. There grandma reminds me of my grandma from when I was 3. She told me that there as no such thing as ghosts. I figured out that there was such thing as ghosts when I was 5. My favorite part in the story is when Bone realized that their dreams where real. If you like comic books then you will like the Bone series. This book was made to be read by kids 11 and older.

Bone, Books 1 through 4.......2007-01-28

These books are fantastic! I have two 7yr old boys that cry if I don't read this book to them at night.

Parents:
Imagine using, I won't read to you tonight if you don't stop right now, and it works...that's how good this series is. At first I thought the book might be a little too scary for them but they were hooked and it wasn't until book 4 that I had to consider sensoring some of the language (things like "idiot"). Any book that brings kids back to the well again and again is worth purchasing.

You must read it!!!!!!.......2007-01-13

This is an amazing book with several cliff-hangers. It's just a great book!

Max the Minnow Picture Book (Wiggle Eyes)

Average customer rating:

Kids Love It!
Great little book
Great fun and illustrations to die for
the adentures of Max the Minnow
What a delight!

Max the Minnow Picture Book (Wiggle Eyes)
William Boniface
Manufacturer: Accord, a division of Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0939251957

Book Description

The third in Accord Publishing's irresistible Eyeball Animation® series of books takes us deep below the sea for a fish-eyed view of the ocean unlike any seen before.

A wild pair of eyeballs built into this high quality hardcover picture book bounce up and down and all around like a dinghy in rough waters. A glossary of the diverse sea life showcased throughout the story makes it a great teaching tool, as well!

William Boniface relays the tale of Max the Minnow in charming and witty verse that is as much of a treat for adults to read as for children to hear. Through his bold and colorful style, Don Sullivan's wildly humorous illustrations bring the underwater world of Max and his friends to vivid life.

Customer Reviews:

Kids Love It!.......2007-01-10

I bought this book for my 2 grandsons, age 3 and 1, and they both love it. The book is a very well made board book for the little one and the moving "eyes" fascinate them both. I first saw the book in a doctor's office and laughed, I thought it was so funny. I wrote down the publisher and ordered it on-line with another companion book.

Great little book.......2007-01-04

Our grandchildren ages 4 & 2 are coming to visit & this will be a fun book to read with them.

Great fun and illustrations to die for.......2004-08-12

To start off, though, I have to say that you just can't read these books lying down in bed with your child. The eyes roll up (they're weighted) and all you get is the "whites" of the eyes.
Having said that, if you sit up with your kid and read, this is a great series of books to get into. I like to barely wiggle the book while reading so the eyes move about in silly ways.
The rhymes are great and engaging. The storyline is always cute. In this book in particular the storyline has a redeeming moral value to it.
Brightly illustrated, the drawings do a great job of illustrating the action in the story AND finding a way to deal with the backsides of the holes the eyes go through.
Cute, Clever, Witty, and Worth it.

the adentures of Max the Minnow.......2003-10-03

The book was a good book it was about this minnow named Max. He was smaller then all the other fish and wanted to know how to get big. he asked everyone and he had one more person to ask. He went to the Shark's Place. ...
The age level is about 4-6.
The lesson i think is that even if your smaller then everything you can still be just as good as everyone else.
I really liked the lesson in this book and the wording...

What a delight!.......2001-09-25

My parents bought this book for my two year old. Not only is it attention-getting with big bug eyes on every page, but the story is delightfully clever, interesting & educational. The back of the book even has a two page "encyclopedia" with pictures and descriptions of all the sea creatures introduced in the book. This is the first children's book that has kept my attention and interest as long as my son's. I highly recommend this book.

Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther than the Eye Can See: My Story

Average customer rating:

Believe the Unbelievable
Great Book - Highly Recommended
One of My New Favorite Books
Soar to New Heights
Touch the Top of the World

Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther than the Eye Can See: My Story
Erik Weihenmayer
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0452282942
Release Date: 2002-03-26

Book Description

"A vivid and compelling book." ( Time magazine)

Erik Weihenmayer was born with retinoscheses, a degenerative eye disorder that would leave him blind by the age of thirteen. But Erik was determined to rise above this devastating disability and lead a fulfilling and exciting life.

In this poignant and inspiring memoir, he shares his struggle to push past the limits imposed on him by his visual impairment-and by a seeing world. He speaks movingly of the role his family played in his battle to break through the barriers of blindness: the mother who prayed for the miracle that would restore her son's sight and the father who encouraged him to strive for that distant mountaintop. And he tells the story of his dream to climb the world's Seven Summits, and how he is turning that dream into astonishing reality (something fewer than a hundred mountaineers have done).

From the snow-capped summit of McKinley to the towering peaks of Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro to the ultimate challenge, Mount Everest, this is a story about daring to dream in the face of impossible odds. It is about finding the courage to reach for that ultimate summit, and transforming your life into something truly miraculous.

"I admire you immensely. You are an inspiration to other blind people and plenty of folks who can see just fine." (Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air)

Customer Reviews:

Believe the Unbelievable .......2007-03-29

This was a terrific book that I could not put down. The story was easy to concentrate on and I learned a lot when reading it. I learned that blind people are a lot more capable than people say, what the visually impaired go through, and mountain climbing. Though the story is true, it is unbelievable that Erik Weihenmayer could climb the seven summits, especially Mount Everest. Even though I don't really read autobiographies or biographies, this book appealed to me. Erik is an incredible writer, and it is easy to connect with the characters in the book. I would definitely recommend this book to others because you learn to believe the unbelievable.

Great Book - Highly Recommended.......2007-02-10

My company had Erik speak to us and as part of a day long meeting. At the end, we all got signed copies of the book for free. I am not an avid reader but grabbed the book on the way to the airport for a flight. Very quickly I found that I couldn't put the book down which doesn't happen that often. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I found myself more fascinated by his life growing up and his experiences outside of climbing. The climbing part was good too but I probably didn't appreciate it nearly as much as a climber that understands the true challenges a person faces on the mountains they summited.

I was very impressed with his overall writing style. He was very descriptive in each story which gave you a feel of being there. Erik also does a good job of making the reader laugh throughout each story. I got several strange looks in the airport as I laughed while reading some of his antics.

It was great listening to Erik speak, also. I wish I had read the book before he talked with us so I could have better appreciated his visit. He was a fun guy to listen to and very friendly.

One of My New Favorite Books.......2006-05-22

Before beginning this review, I read the reviews of others; good and bad. I'm shocked at the venom spewed by people who called Erik Weihenmayer an arrogant jerk based on what they read. I had the opposite impression, but grant that the essence of an individual cannot be captured in the pages of a book. Many, many biographies have been written, yet, all fall short of completely describing the individual. Erik displayed unabashed love for his family, his wife, his friends, even his guide dog. He spent equal time describing his failures and his triumphs. He exposes his frailties by describing the trial and error involved in learning to effectively teach sighted children. He points out that the road to his successes were not his alone, but his, his family's, his wife's, his climbing partners', even his young students who were insightful and helpful when it came to his teaching. I especially liked that he described the antics, the pranks and the everyday 'slice of life' moments. I thouroughly enjoyed this book, so much that I can't imagine how anyone could NOT like it. But, there are all kinds people in this world and we all make it go 'round. I'd give it a perfect five, but it stops short of telling about climbing all seven summits. I'd prefer he'd waited until then to write his bio.

Soar to New Heights.......2006-05-14

I just finished reading the most wonderful book I have ever read. It's personal, it's a journey, it's an inspiration. And I don't even know how to make a tribute to the author. He seems like one of the more wonderful people in this world. The fact that he did what most of us couldn't is phenomenal; the fact that he enjoyed it is more. I was absorbed with this book from beginning to end.
The book is Touch the Top of the World by Erik Weihenmayer. I think it's the book of the year, a must-read, an inspiring journey. Regardless of who you are as a person, you'll want to read this. Imagine a young boy who loses his eyesight totally by the time he's 13, a boy who journeys farther than the eye can see. And a gentleman who wants, no, I think "desires" is a better word, to reach success with humility and a whole bunch of hard work.
When he was young, Erik didn't want to admit to his blindness to himself or anyone else. It took some effort for him to accept this dilemma, which he tells the reading audience about, but it never ever held him back from accomplishing his goals. Admittedly, he had a wonderful family support system that wouldn't let him give into this perceived handicap. In the book, he tells how his family played an important role to help him break through the barriers of his blindness.
Erik climbed Denali, Uhuru, Everest, El Capitan, among a host of other mountains, and reached the summit of each. To Erik, "a summit is less of a physical place and more of a metaphor for the meaning of your life. You can make your life what you want it to be." In his own words: "I don't climb mountains to prove to anyone that blind people can to this or that. I climb for the same reason an artist paints a picture: because it brings me great joy."
Here is a story that could also become your favorite. Erik's life focuses on people understanding their potential rather than making apologies for their limitations. If there is a message in this book (and I believe there is and there's more than just one), it's this:

Whatever you decide to do in this life, don't quit. Don't ever quit. Even when you are at the lowest point in your life and everything seems to be crumbling around you. That's when you should pull yourself, with all your strength and more, up off the floor, sort to speak, and move on with your life.

I highly recommend this book. Yes, he climbs mountains but that's not all he does. He taught middle school and was a wrestling coach, he is a world athlete, and is now a motivational speaker. He is a marvelous person, full of fortitude, tenacity, and extraordinary vision. This is a must-read.

Touch the Top of the World.......2006-05-09

I met Erik years ago and remember admiring his job. He was a blind man, on his own, teaching children. He cracked up over my high pitched voice. I could go on, but years later, we got in touch and I read his book. You see, this guy never complained or showed what he had been through. He was confident, independent...yet searching.
As a teacher, now...he has been an inspiration to me and my students and close friends.
His book brought tears to my eyes. His strength brought everyone of my students a hero to admire. You think you have problems...read this book. He is really a person that you would love to meet and his work has been a true gift.
With his busy schedule, he still wrote a note to every one of my students.
He is an inspirational, wonderful guy.
Read this book.
It will enhance your life every day!

Average customer rating:

This was another great Woods' book
Disappointed But Not Ready to Give Up
Don't miss this book. Trust me.
Not So Good for Woods...
Dead Eyes - Dead in the Water

Dead Eyes
Stuart Woods
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Book Description

Blind Obsession

First there were roses and the notes in her mailbox signed simply, "Admirer." Then, the accident. One minute Chris Callaway was one of Hollywood's brightest rising stars, starting a new picture that could send her career skyrocketing; the next, she was falling from the unfinished deck of her beautiful new Malibu beach house...waking up blind, uncertain whether she would ever see again.

An optimist and a fighter, Chris is determined not to let anyone know she can barely see. But neither Danny Devere, her hairdresser and confidant, nor Jon Larsen, the handsome young detective form LAPD's special stalker squad, can stop the notes that escalate into a chilling obsession. And as Stuart Woods's mesmerizing new page-turner races to its shocking climax, only a clever trap can stop the madman from stalking her--with beautiful Chris Callaway as the deadly bait.

Customer Reviews:

This was another great Woods' book.......2006-07-29

I listen to most of Stuart Woods' books on tape and really enjoy them. This one was a particularly good one and carried you along from the first page to the last. Obviously, the suspected villain may not be the true culprit, but then when are they? It was a great story of stalking a celebrity and it was chilling. I thought the book was great, but then I've become a Woods' fan because none of his books are ever boring.

Disappointed But Not Ready to Give Up.......2004-04-05

(...) unfortunately I started with Dead Eyes. I felt as though I was reading a suspense story from a beginner romance novelist. The dialogue at times was laughable and I agree with another reviewer that the ending was thrown together. The few sex scenes were like something from Barbara Cartland. My biggest complaint was the portrayal of the cop Jon Larsen - he came off as an incompetent dolt. Through the entire book, the stalker was one step ahead of him to the very end. However, this writer gets such high praise from other reviewers that I'm not quite ready to quit and plan on checking out the Stone Barrington series.

Don't miss this book. Trust me........2003-10-20

This is the 15th Stuart Woods book I have read. I can't believe that anybody who is even a semi-Stuart Woods fan could have put this book down. It is the first Woods book that I read from noon to midnight and could not stop reading it. I grant you, this is not your typical Stuart Woods, but almost a combination of King and Woods. He went all out on this one. And I loved every word of it. Read it and you'll see. This is not for the faint of heart. It kept me riveted. P.S. You might want to check the locks on your doors and windows before reading this.

Not So Good for Woods..........2003-01-30

I am so glad that this was not the first Stuart Woods book that I had read, because I probably would not have continued on. Stuart Woods is a superb writer, however, this book is not some of his finest work. The story is set around an actress who is about to make it big, her gay hairdresser, her stalker, and the police detective who is helping her with the stalker. All of the characters seem very flat and are never fully developed. I would have never guessed the ending to the book only because Woods never steered the story toward the ending that occurred. It was almost as if he thought to himself, I need an ending and he just shoved it in without making sure that it flowed or made any sense. Kind of a disappointment after reading the whole book. If this is your first time reading Woods, I would suggest one of his Stone Barrington series novels which starts with "New York Dead". One of the best in this series is "Worst Fears Realized" or "Swimming to Catalina." After reading some of his other books, you will realize that this one was just a miss for him.

Dead Eyes - Dead in the Water.......2002-05-25

Certainly not up to standard for this established writer. Shallow plot; little character development; unimaginative, amateurish - almost laughable - dialogue. Mr. Woods runs the risk of losing new readers if this book was their first exposure to his work. Dead Eyes left tears in mine.

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