I'm a big fan of the show (I guess that means I'm a Buffyholic) and this book sums up why. The writers are so playful with language, and by incoporating youth culture slang and morphing it into Buffyspeak they bring an authenticity to the show. A sense of the real. And that's saying something for a show about vampires. I love how serious the glossary is too. Makes me want to become a professor of Buffy studies. I love this dictionary. It's so much fun!

I am not a huge Buffy fan (I've just seen the last couple of seasons) but I got this as a present and it's GREAT. You really get a feel for how English is changing and how tv shows like Buffy are pushing the boundaries of our language.

There's a lot of information here but it's not hard to read. I read a lot of it straight through. I thought I was pretty strict about "correct grammar" but this guy makes some really good points about how language changes. He really won me over.

The words from the show are so funny! I'm going to use a lot of them, especially "much," like "lame much?" or "late much?"

I recommend this for anyone who likes Buffy, or for anyone who just likes words.

I've been looking for the book since viewing the movie My Live So Far. I agree that there must be a reprinting to satisfy the renewed interest. If you haven't seen the movie, do.

Haven't read the book, but the movie was so good, I would think a renewed interest in the printed book would occur.

The 5 star rating is for the movie.....

Absolutely excellent book that (refreshingly) covers the more than just the technique but gives you the brutal honest truth that a lot of success is tied to the "blocking and tackling." In other words, you can have the best technique in the world but if you don't sit down and make the calls, it really doesn't matter.

Stephen Schiffman, one of the most renowned sales trainers, discusses how to assess your current performance and then increase your sales. If you've read Getting to Closed, skip the first section or just consider it a useful review. From Getting to Closed, you already know his techniques for tracking your numbers and understanding your ratios. He offers insight on how to move from initial contacts to prospects to sales and how to continually delve for new customers while working with your most promising leads. What really makes this book sing are the short, bite-sized chapters and concluding action items that help you implement and practice each axiom. Schiffman's succinct, breezy style makes this a quick, easy read. You'll also find his examples of phone conversations and responses helpful as a guide to adapt to your own situation. We from getAbstract leave this message: call Shiffman into action to increase your sales as you put these steps to work.

Each time I go back and read one of Stephen's poems I am reminded of the joy, wonder, love and hope that surrounds us every day. This young man was truly a gift of pure love. For every family who has a special needs child, I recommend this book. For every family that would like to help their children understand the person inside "the package" and see the heart, mind and soul of a special needs child, I recommend this book. For every person who has known that physical limitations cannot measure the depth of a soul, I recommend this book. For every person who has doubted and questioned if a mind, heart and soul exists inside a body wracked with physical limitations, I recommend this book. Read this book in conjunction with his mother's "Eagle Doctor: Stories of Stephen, My Child With Special Needs" to understand their path together and the miracle of their lives.

The beautiful poetry of Stephen Michael Nelson will capture your heart and enrich your faith. His words reflect a young man's dreams and aspirations unaffected by his lifelong contest against the physical ailments of cerebral palsy, epilepsy, asthma, and heart disease. Stephen reaches out to all of us with an offering of love, and a never ending amount of energy to fulfill life's dreams. It is obvious that he had no obstacles or limitations, and that we should not either. This book is a must read... as it is a glorious celebration of life and love.

Stern is perhaps the funniest book i have ever read. it has incredible depth and, at the same time, has remained true to the humerous aspect of the story.

Bruce Jay Friedman wrote the screenplay for several movies including "Splash". His book, "Stern" is the story of a man named Stern who has forsaken New York City for a home in the suburbs with his family. Things in paradise quickly collapse when a neighbor yells a slur at Stern's wife and knocks her down. Stern is overcome with a mixture of guilt, fear, anger and dementia. His attempts to confront the neighbor (as well as his own fears) lead to an endless paranoid mind-game and Stern's eventual physical collapse. Yeah - I guess this sounds sort of sad - BUT I guarantee you this book is HILARIOUS!! As in all of Friedman's books - the world of "Stern" is seemingly normal but filled with ridiculous and comic elements. Stern's attempts to face his neighbor, to convince himself that he can "take him" are really funny. I can not recommend this book highly enough. If you have ever felt persecuted or if you are neurotic AT ALL - this is the book for you.

This is undoubtedly my favourite book of all time. Pretty big call I know and particularly considering the fact that it took me about three goes before I actually could finish the first chapter. Why? It is initially quite a difficult read, breaking nearly every writing convention I had learnt. Few sentence breaks, no 'new paragraph for a new thought' philosophy here. I found it quite frustrating at first, having not previously been exposed to stream-of-consciousness writing.

If you persevere, and allow yourself to be immersed in the flow of the character's thoughts, you will be richly rewarded with an extremely humourous and very, very clever piece of writing. I read this book about 2 years ago and even now, some of the 'scenes' remain so beautifully clear and funny in my mind. Particularly when I'm sucking on M&Ms....

I cannot commend this book highly enough. I urge anyone out there to read it and allow yourself to be swept away with the words and the wit.

it's thick as the London phone book, god, and every line stream of consciousness what's that oh a fly it's in the airplane you wonder if they know they're flying in the plane i mean anyway it's about Ricky Thornby who never was, he never was anything much but a down at heel producer of industrials well maybe the Eisenstein of industrials, but still... fan as i am of adam thorpe, and acquainted with ricky from Clive's Seasons, you know, the little dreary Beeb thing at the end of ulverton the part with the skeleton and all, anyway, fan as i am, this book still scared the hell out of me i mean 600 pages or so and all like this only more tough sledding sledding would it be citizen kane or ulysses or some Blooming other thing, well, it was Ricky, ricky and his secrets revealed a word and a word until my word it takes your breath away and you will never forget it

The Success in Reading and Writing series are great books to utilize with children who are developing skills in reading, writing and study skills. Every child participates with success. I enjoy using their methods of presenting new skills, taking what the child knows and building a strong reading and writing foundation from there.

I checked the ISBN - this is the book for Kindergarten.

As a new teacher, I have found this book to be quite helpful as an alternative or supplement to the basal. While our basal is literature-based, it's themes don't go along with normal themes I would be doing. Success is structured enough to provide guidance for a new or inexperienced teacher like me, but allows you the freedom to choose your own theme and literature selections. This program also provides opportunities for kids to be involved in the learning process so it is more fun and meaningful.

The program has 4 parts - Pictures & Words, Storytime, Writing, and Alphabet.

Pictures & Words - Very helpful in developing writing skills, while some teachers choose to leave it out due to lack of time. (I use Daily News.)

Storytime - Each day has a suggested book and discussion focus that may or may not go along with the theme or alphabet concept. (Each concept is developed for several days, and at least one book from those days relates to the concept. However, it is very easy to substitue your own selections, if you wish.)

Writing - 5 days - A theme is introduced on day 1, then days 2-4 the teacher meets with small groups to help w/ writing, then day 5 is a culminating activity of the theme.

Alphabet - Each letter is focused on for 3 days (upper & lowercase together), next is rhyming words, object labeling (deals w/ beginning consonants), then finally blends.

The book itself has a beginning section that thoroughly describes the program and how to do it, and the rest of the book has: Daily Lessons (clear layout, can be personalized by teacher); Lists of suggested pictures, themes, and books; and Alphabet module lessons.

I have found this textbook to be quite helpful in developing a reading program based on the children's interests and needs. Even if you have to use your school's basal program, this is a GREAT supplement, especially if you are lacking active participation of the students.

The primus independence of many of the African countries was betrayed again by those who colonized her. Setting up the governments with African officials who were only cover-ups for their European masters. The time which Kourouma writes about in "THE SUNS OF INDEPENDENCE" is Neo-colonial for this reason, to refer to it as post-colonial implys that it is no longer colonized and it obviously is in the novel.
The protagonist in his first novel, like that of his second (Monnew), is somewhat of an anti-hero of royalty. He curses the French and the recent indepence even moreso claiming that he would rather have existed in colonial times (13). By showing us the absurdities of both the colonizers and some of the kings they deprived Kourouma points to the more humane way of running a country.
Like in "Monnew" Kourouma captures the African female in all of her glory with the female protagonist Salimata. The strength of her character is incredible and inspiring to examine. By dealing with the idea of female oppression (in terms of genital mutilation and many other forms) Kourouma points out that they are the true heroes of Africa growing in fertility among the oppression of the colonizers as well as the men they loved and cared for.
"THE SUNS OF INDEPENDENCE" comes highly recommended as a literary masterpiece. A novel, unfortunately like many of the African greats, that is highly under read by incredibly valuable as a work of art ready for consumption.

This is an excellent novel that poses some tough questions. What future awaits African nations? Are African peoples doomed to corruption and oblivion by their unfortunate encounters with European colonization? Is it possible for ancient tradition to coexist with modern values?

The answers, according to Kourouma, appear none too optimistic. His hero, Fama Dumbuya, stubbornly resists corruption of his personal mores by the new ideas that have transformed his society. Although he is usually cantankerous and disagreable, he is also devout, often funny, and always tries to do the right thing. But he can never reconcile his past and his upbringing with the modern world, and in the end he fails to find an equilibrium; he even fails to leave behind any offspring that might bring hope for the future.

Kourouma's narrative is especially powerful when he deals with Fama's wife Salimata, whose past is a psychological minefield of female genital mutilation, exploitation and abuse. Salimata is one of the most memorable characters in African literature. Like her husband, she struggles admirably to negotiate a way in the world, but also like him she can't rise above the muck that's holding her down. Things have fallen apart; the center did not hold.

As discouraging as it might be, "The Suns of Independence" is still an expertly crafted novel which forces its readers to examine the pitfalls facing modern African societies. You might disagree with the author's pessimism, but you can only credit his storytelling ability.

This book is like all the other Wodehouse books, Galahad trying to bring a couple together. It is a wonderful satire on all the earls, lords, dukes etc. etc. This one is about a lover who is posing as a person who is going to paint a pig, the Empress. Wodehouse never finished the book (because he died while writing it), but that makes it even more interesting. But be careful, once you start reading his books, most likely you will not stop. Everybody will be able to enjoy it a little bit, for his books make you laugh until tears come rolling down your cheeks. Cheers! :)

It was a bitter-sweet experience to read this book years ago, knowing it was P.G.'s last, and unfinished to boot. However, the editor (a Wodehouse biographer) included manuscripts and early drafts, showing marginal notes and erasures, Wodehouse's outline of his plot, and false starts of plot lines, and the editor's own analysis. A fascinating look into the process of writing.

Ok, Ok, so I'm going into psychiatry and don't like surgery and didn't do well in my rotation. This book got me ready for Surgery, Step 2 style, with as little pain as possible. Author has a way of explaining things that makes sense and all the high-yield stuff seems to be covered (at least, all of the surgery stuff that was on my exam). Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed using this series to review for step 2. It kept me focused on the "big picture" and forced me to realize which subjects I did and didn't know, allowing to focus my limited study time on areas I was weak in. Well-written cases with great explanations. Definitely a 5-star review source.