Les Miserables will be a tough read for some. Victor Hugo, in typical Nineteenth Century prose, is exceedingly verbose. His character introductions go on literally page after page, covering minute details that some modern readers will find tedious. Not only are they long, but they break the modern writing rule of "show rather than tell." When he presents new characters, we don't hear them converse or see their actions to form our own opinions. Hugo simply regurgitates a ten or twenty-page biography on them.

But this was how books were written then, and he did it as well as it could be done. The language is marvelous and rich, the characters interesting and complete, and the story sweeping and classic.

Jean Valjean, freshly released from a French prison, is caught stealing silver from an extraordinarily pious Bishop. Amazingly, this Bishop denies the silver is stolen, allowing Valjean to go free. Valjean, brutalized by nineteen years of life in "the galleys" and suffering poverty and maltreatment as an ex-convict, is so affected by this merciful act that he vows to reform. Seven years later he has changed his name and transformed himself into a righteous and contributing member of society, now a prominent factory owner and town Mayor. Life is good as he shares his profits and kind heart with the poor and unfortunate--until his past catches up with him. Valjean is then faced with an incredible predicament whose genius and complexity can be appreciated only by plowing through the full text.

Historically, this is an important literary work. Much of its political and religious sub-text may be lost, however, on those unfamiliar with the basics of the French Revolution. Like Valjean, readers will be better people for making the journey through this book. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.

I love the film adaptions and musical of Les Miserables, but they can't even compare to the greatness of this piece of literature. It's such an epic story, covering such topics as justice vs. the law, and ultimate love and self-sacrifice. Everyone can find something to relate to, something to learn from, and something to enjoy in this novel. The characters truly do come alive in this novel, from the center and hero of the story, Jean Valjean, to the minor characters. I particularly was touched by the story of Fantine, a "minor" character but easily my favourite. This character falls from innocence, and eventually makes an ultimate self-sacrifice for her daughter. I found myself unable to put the book down on many a late night, but especially so on the chapters concerning Fantine. Of course, perhaps my love for "classics" and "epics" and "historical romance" may have helped me enjoy the book so, as I know many people who could barely get through the first 20 pages of the 1400 + page novel. Some people may not have the patience to go through the Waterloo part, etc. It is a quite detailed book, and it does go very much "off-topic" a few times. But I still enjoyed every single word. I hope the size of the book won't make people think twice about reading it, it really is best unabridged. I have read the abridged version and it is quite confusing, and you miss several moving scenes. In my own opinion, everyone should read this book, unabridged...and prepare to be amazed!

Les Miserables is one of the greatest novels of all time. It doesn't just have an intriguing story-it has a dozen intriguing stories! That's one of the great things about Les Miz--it has something for everyone. It starts out with the reformation of the saintly convict Valjean and his moral battle with the fanatical policeman, Inspector Javert, but the books picks up many more characters along the way. First comes Fantine, a down-on-her-luck single mother, and her sweet young daughter Cosette, later adopted by Valjean. There's the godlike young revolutionary leader Enjolras, and his quirky band of followers, Les Amis de l'ABC. The villain (contrary to popular belief) is not Inspector Javert, but a greedy con artist named Thenardier. Two other main characters are Thenardier's children, (thankfully nothing like himself) the snarky, golden-hearted street urchin Gavroche, and the lovelorn waif Eponine. And my personal favorite, "Baron" Marius Pontmercy, Cosette's brave-but-confused young suitor/stalker.

The novel is packed with everything a reader could ask for--suspense, drama, romance, action, and plenty of crazy twists and turns to keep you on your toes. In addition to being a moving work of fiction, it teaches a good lesson (well, several good lessons, actually). For example, Les Miz does a great job of showing how some "bad guys" are victims of society (Javert) and some are just natural scum-buckets (Thenardier). It also shows how people can get past the circumstances they were born into and become wonderful people (Gavroche). I could go on for hours, but you probably don't want that...

It teaches a lot of history as well. A lot of readers have complained about the long tangents, and I tend to agree on some points. I recommmend skipping "The Intestine of the Levithan" and just skimming the Waterloo section for first-time readers. However, there is a lot of info on nineteenth century France mixed right in with the plot. You get to learn about the severity of the justice system (Valjean), and how politics could divide families (Marius), and how tough life was for Gypsies (Javert). Not only that, but the Paris Uprising of 1832 was a real event, and most of the characters were based on real people. Valjean and Javert were both based on Inspector Vidocq, Marius was based on Victor Hugo himself, and Enjolras was based on the real leader of the uprising. Hugo really manages to bring the time alive for you.

In short, this is a great book all around. And I'm not just saying that because it's my Bible (hehe). The book isn't nearly as difficult to read as it looks. If you're like me, you'll get so into it that you won't even notice the length. I strongly recommend Les Miserables to every literate person out there.

I found Anthony Burgess's book to be very strange. The complex Russian slang (Nasdat) that was used in the book was very annoying at some parts but was also a very interesting technique used by the author to keep you very interested and locked in to what you are reading. Alex, the main character, and his droog friends were wreaking havoc during the night, also drinking milk that was spiked with hallucinogenic drugs. Eventually the cops caught up with the boy and he was the focus in an experimental punishment used by the government. He was sat down and forced to watch many horrible things in history. The hope was that after seeing all this horror, Alex would be so incredibly sickened that his crime days would be put to an end and he would be a much better citizen. Burgess really keeps you interested through out the entire book with some very clever language.
There is an extremely high level of violence used through out the book. In my mind the violence is used for an extremely important reason. The way Burgess pounds the violence in to you, describing every detail, you begin to get a great idea of what this book exactly means. All of his ideas and points in the story are bashed into you when you hear about these nasty minor things that many other authors would leave out. The more you read, the more intrigued you are to find out why these boys could do such sick and disgusting things and just what punishment will be laid on them if any punishment will. All in all I was extremely pleased with what I got out of A Clockwork Orange. I would highly recommend the book to anyone with an interest in sci-fi.

Anthony Burgess originally wrote this novel when he was told by a doctor that he had a year to live. After this was found to be false he re-edited his manuscript. Perhaps though, the urgency and pace of his writing reflects his own brushes with mortality. The book is incredibly rich right from the start. Burgess writes using a patois slang called 'nadsat' which is the books voice of youth. The first person narrator Alex (Russian for Outside-the-Law) is an uncontrollable delinquent, but don't write him off yet as he has a refined taste in classical music, a large vocabulary, an ironic sense of humour and dollops of charm. When he steps over the line once too often the state reform him, but in doing so turn him into a 'clockwork orange' a fruit that has lost it's goodness and beauty because it is simply a mechanical object. The heart of the book is the classic moral dilemma- is it better for someone to choose to be bad or be forced to be good. Burgess clearly chooses the former. The end chapter of the book, which was omitted from Stanley Kubricks masterful film shows Alex reforming himself, and from this perspective the book can be seen as a rites of passage, we all learn by our badly intended mistakes after all. The book is less than 250 pages but contains enough for a book twice that length. Burgess has created a fascinating dystopia and a warmly moral tale, once you get used to the graphic descriptions of ultraviolence. Although not on a par with some of his other work, including the brilliant 'earthly powers' this is still an essential novel.

I don't wish to repeat other's already well-articulated praise on style and language and brilliance. The narrative flow and the story itself are confoundedly magnificent. Yes, I too love A Clockwork Orange.

Here is a story of free will versus society; a devastating critique onindividual human nature and an even harsher attack on the ultimately Fascist attitude of any organized system of justice.

In a mildly Science-Fiction-style plot we go forward to the parallel near future where politics have taken over ever aspect of human life. Even thoughts can be controlled and the punishment shall always fit the crime. We, the reader, are forced to choose sides between a violent, anarchist, sociopthic rapist-murder, and the oppressive State Government that will force the mind to suppress thoughts, to suppress all human desire in an effort to make certain that everyone will be safe in their homes, out-of-sight--

The arguments are beautifully placed and here, ten years after I've read it, the passion and power of the debate still lingers, fresh. (On a brief side-note in relation to Kubrick's wonderful film adaptation: I love Stanley Kubrick and A Clockwork Orange is, depending on my mood at the time, perhaps my favorite of his flicks; but the book diverges into even more decadent and intense realms, and forces one to actually experience the events in your mind, not transposed on a visual plate, and you experience the horror even more viscerally than the romanticized extravagence of the film)

These Russians really know how to tackle the big issues in literature. I started with Solzenitsyn's Day in the Life, then did War and Peace, then Crime and Punishment, and most recently, The Brothers Karamazov, and I have to say that I am much the better for reading these books.

Phew, I thought War and Peace was good (and it was), but the Brothers Karamazov locks horns with the problems we face as human beings, wrestles them to the ground, exposes us for the weak, sinful things that we are, then gives us hope.

Principally (to me, anyhow), the novel was about the problem of overthrown authority. God and the church were starting to be questioned as the ultimate authority, and the air in Russia at the time was begining to move towards reform, begining to become modern. Its themes are just as relevant today as they were for Dostoyevsky's time, and there are several passages in "The Russian Monk" chapter that were profoundly prophetic of the problems of modern society- if you replace some words with modern equivelents you have a very good picture of the USA today. Isolation of the individual, invented needs, the problem of freedom- these are some of the things Dostoyevsky tries to tackle.

Several chapters are masterpieces enclosed within the work itself, 'Pro and Contra,' 'A Little Demon,' 'The Russian Monk' the chapter where Mrs Kholaklova (spelling) professes her lack of faith to the Elder Zosima, the chapter that focuses on the relationship between Snegiyrov and Illyushin, his son, showing how children lose their innocence and become indoctrinated into this harsh adult world- with bad consequences when violence is present. And of course, there is the 'Grand Inquisitor' chapter. Wow. WOW. Had to read that three times before I think I got everything in it, but I think if every human being on Earth read 'The Grand Inquisitor' 'The Russian Monk' and then 'The Speech at the Stone' we would all be very much the better for it. eh, just read the whole thing while you're at it.

Dostoyevsky's conclusion seems to be that faith will be the ultimate healing salve for all humanity- once everybody realizes the stupidity of everything other then selfless, active love, we shall all move forward and life shall be paradise. We've had 120 years or so more progress towards it since Dostoyevsky wrote it, but it looks like we're still not doing very well (thank you very much Ms Ayn Rand). Dostoyevsky provides enough sustenence for people with less ardent faith to continue on- one of the characters, Rakitin, says 'Man kind will find the strength to live for virtue wether or not he believes in the immortality of the soul.' The Devil, in the chapter where he has a conversational duel with Ivan, mocks this idea as 'most charming.'

Each of the primary characters- Alyosha, Ivan, Dmitry, and Fyodor Pavlovich, is a guide to a certain way of living. Alyosha the christ-man, Ivan the intellectual skeptic (Raskolnikov mk II), Dmitry the noble savage, and Fyodor Pavlovich as the great sinner. Each character has his own climax in the book, and everybody should be able to identify with at least one of the characters, or find that they may be 10% Dmitry, 50% Ivan, and 40% Alyosha.

This should be an exceptional book for any young person trying to figure out what the heck life is all about. There's some good stuff between those covers- Dostoyevsky has a very deep understanding of human nature.

So in closing, whatever your beliefs are, don't eat the pineapple compote, and don't take the earthly loaves.

The Brothers Karamazov becomes more ironic and comedic with multiple readings and age, i.e. mine. It is also, for me, the novel of the Russian soul/landscape, the ungovernable, mystic and irrational. Traces of Rasputin can be gleaned in Fyodor Karamazov, the patriarch whose decadent life and death is the magnetic core of this masterpiece. Dostoevsky, in his last novel spares few but least of all the lesser landowners, moneylenders and petitbourgoise whose treachery and self-absorption is the essence of the drunken Karamazov. From 3 women, come the brothers and the bastard and it is within their various souls, the archetypal Russian nature and its conflict, comes the plot. In all, the span of the story is but 4 days.

Karamazov is the comedy as well as the nature of the murderous avenging of devils that lightens and lifts, to the degree that is possible in this notoriously dense read. In one scene glaring with "a broad, drunken half-witted leer." he manages to speak some of the author's tormented inner debates about religion, God and the progressive, radical elements that would choose violent change and destruction. Despite his tyranny to servants, children and women, Karamazov is a yellow bellied coward. Confronted by Dmitri, his son, Fyodor squeals and runs around the table, "He's going to hurt me, stop him stop him" grabbing desperately to another son's coattails.

Dostoyevsky's final work of the obsessions that consumed him as well as his age is no where more labrynthine than in his depiction of the Russian church. He indicts the overly powerful clergy of the Holy Mother Church of the Tsar- while remaining fanatically Christian. He has contempt for the court system and the repressive penal codes, but a greater contempt for the radicals and assassins who assert that blood is the path to reform and the end of crime. Here, he enlarged on the theme of Crime and Punishment where destabilization and rampant appetites and excess were condemned. Karamazov is less a sermon or a catharsis for its delightful comedy, the burlesque of dreamers, rebels, the pious and the rogues who are part of the great folly, the foolishness and perhaps unredeemable condition of mankind. Dostoevsky was a Christian who could only love a suffering Christ- Ivan, his son intellectualizes religion yet it does nothing but infect his mind and bring nightmares, one of which is the famous chapter of "The Grand Inquisitor." There is an attack upon the deification of the uneducated Russian countrymen when after a verdict came through someone yelled, "Hooray, Trust our Russian peasants, Trust the peasants." Yet they had just convicted an innocent man.

Dostoeyvski speaks in the preface as author and creator, in particular in regard to his hero, tells us in the preface that the Aleksi, (Aloysha). The Christlike youngest brother is superior in thought alone, but in his action, he fails to inspire.

In no area is Dostoeyevski's own uncertainty more brilliantly depicted than in the question of the nature of the holy man on earth- the monks, the starets and the saintly. Fyodor insults the monks where Aloysha has gone to prepare for the priesthood. He shouts in a mad frenzy to the monks, "why shouldn't I act the fool? ....every single one of you is worse than me. That's why I'm a buffoon- a buffon of shame..Master (falling to knees) what must I do to earn eternal life?" Was he in jest?
It has been said that all the characters are insane, and then rebuffed with, we are just seeing them, in so much vivid light, but they are, like ourselves, just ordinary. This is an event, a necessary ingredient to any reading life.

THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV may indeed be the greatest novel yet written. The Russian master's tumultuous epic concerning ultimate questions of good and evil; faith and rationalism; love and passion, are profoundly dramatized in a murder mystery that astonishes and disturbs by its refusal to stereotype any of its characters or trivialize any of its themes. Hence the book...like a well-lived life...is a struggle that requires much of the reader. However, if the effort is made in good faith, one never forgets the experience of journey and the lessons taught. The Constance Garnett translation is to The Karamazov as the King James Version is to the Bible. At the center of the story is "The Legend of the Grand Inquisitor". Some readers may observe that its inclusion in the novel is a "mechanical" contrivance and a technical flaw that does not naturally flow into the narrative. This may be true; but Ivan Karamazov's "poem" (as Dostoyevsky's proud, intellectual nihilist proposes) is...in effect...a spiritual history of humanity and its battle for dignity under the weight of its own Sins. When the Inquisitor/anti- Christ figure of the tale asserts that man's greatest curse is his own freedom and that he will "worship" anyone who takes this burden from him (from Supreme Court Justices who declare abortion is not murder...to talk show hosts who celebrate divorce and homosexuality)most readers suddenly realize that they are not merely reading a book but...like The Brothers Karamazov themselves... are on trial for their beliefs. Or lack of them. It is a novel which rivals parts of The Bible itself in wisdom and startling insights. Yet Dostoyevsky was "only" a man and this book... perhaps the greatest novel ever written...is a wonderful testimony to great literature's affirmation of life and the "adventure" of living.

To put it simply, this is the best book in the Star Wars series of Novels. Zahn follows on with the Thrawn storyline that any avid Star Wars fan would love, and brings that story to a (finally) logical conclusion.

While many of the other authors who have delved into the star wars universe appear to have had no other goal that to provide us with constant contradictions, Zahn once again returns with a brilliant plot.

In a story that involves many of the major characters from past star wars novels, the New Republic is threatened both from within and without. The emergence of a certain document pushes the New Republic to the brink of civil war. At the same time, the 'reappearance' of Grand Admiral Thrawn worries the New Republic.

With Mara Jade lost on an unexplored world, and Luke Skywalker hot on her trail in a daring rescue attempt, we see the reunion of these two stars of the Thrawn trilogy.

This book brings back everyones favourite characters, and FINALLY ties up all those annoying loose ends... along with a few surprises along the way. VISION goes a long way to repairing the damage done by previous novels, and proves their is life, and a storyline, left in the star wars universe yet.

This book was truly amazing. It was beautifully written and portrayed the Empire as more than the one sided villain it has so easily become in the other books. It also shows Luke as less than perfect - something that pleased me no end, because I have always felt uncomfortable with his 'I can do no wrong, and falling to the dark side will never affect me again' status.

I also thought that the Mara/Luke relationship was dealt with well - it was a great plot twist at the end, but Zahn had so carefully laid the background that it was utterly believable. I also liked the suddeness of it, it made a difference from the slow saga of the Callista books (Children of the Jedi, Darksaber, Planet of Twilight).

I also feel compelled to point out what a stunning character Mara Jade is. She beats Callista any day (who although I enjoyed her, was obviously created specifically to be Luke's girl...if you ask me the fact that Mara wasn't only that plotline better!)

It's an amazing book. Read it. Zahn has managed to redeem my faith that truly amazing SW books can be written. Ones which deal with the flaws in the good guys and the redeeming features of the bad ones...books that go beyond a new superweapon appearing in every new Trilogy, and the ageing super heroes going off to save the day. This book rocks!

If you enjoyed Timothy Zahn's HEIR TO THE EMPIRE trilogy, you're in for a real treat with VISION OF THE FUTURE! This book is the brilliant, exciting, astonishing conclusion to the story that was begun in SPECTER OF THE PAST. Tim Zahn is a masterful storyteller! He takes his multi-dimensional characters and his rich plots and subplots through many unexpected twists and turns before he finally weaves them all together in his stunning finish. The characterizations are excellent and on-target. The author has truly captured the essence of all of our engaging, beloved, resourceful old friends from that Galaxy Far, Far Away, and introduces us to some interesting and compelling new ones. The reader truly connects with these characters who are very REAL, as they face countless dangers and tremendous obstacles. The villains are intelligent, cunning, and surprising; worthy opponents for our favorite heroes and heroines. There is something for everyone in this novel: action, adventure, intrigue, mystery, sacrifice, friendship, humor, politics, heroics, shocking revelations, and valuable lessons learned, all wrapped together in the wonderful surprise package that is this book. VISION OF THE FUTURE is a novel that no "Star Wars" fan should miss! This was without a doubt, the best "Star Wars" book of all, and my personal favorite. I strongly encourage you to resist the powerful temptation to jump ahead or to take a peek at the ending when reading this book. Many things happen all at once at the end and there are some very startling developments. You will be confused and much of the impact will be lost if you give in to the overwhelming desire to read ahead. Trust me: If you read VISION OF THE FUTURE cover to cover without skipping forward, you'll be very glad that you did! Someone shared that advice with me and I was very grateful that she did!

I very much enjoyed this book because it was full of pure fun reading. Some books drag from the very beginning, but this children's story didn't. There were surprises from the start. This book is an all original example of using your imagination. Lewis Carrol was gifted enough to let his imagination go wild, and to write it down on paper. This book inspires me to write any sort of crazy thing that is worth writing. This book is about Alices adventures from the time she saw the peculiar White Rabbit with a waistcoat and watch. She meets thrilling but very arguementive creatures and charectors such as the caterpiller who smokes, the Duchess and her baby which turns into a pig, a Mock Turtle, a gryphon, and the most famous the Chesire cat and the Queen of Hearts. This book is a bit different than the Disney movie. There are other charecters in the book that are not mentioned in the animated movie. and I think the book is more bizarre.

'Alice in Wonderland', by Lewis Carroll, is an excellent book for both adults and children. It details a little girl's wild adventure through a make believe world. The writing was clever. And so were the characters and situations created by Carroll. Everyone is familiar with the principal idea of the book, but reading the book forces you to remember all the particulars. It it clear why children love this book, which it's fantastic situations.

Being a software developer and a computer science major, it was also interesting to pick up on concepts such as reasoning and logic skattered within the book (Carroll was a mathematician). Of course these concepts are skewed in Wonderland.

If you've never read this book before, put it on your "must read" list. It's a short book and a fast read. If you you're read it already, why not read it again?

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is one of the most clever and entertaining books yet written. The author's use of language is extremely appealing to the younger readers. These young readers are attracted to this book because of the author's use of many songs. For instance the lullaby sung by the duchess to her child. The Mock Turtle also sang to Alice and the Gryphon a song about the Lobster Quadrille. The author also uses poems that are entertaining and fun to listen to. "You are Old Father William" is one of the many poems. Not only does the author use poems but she also uses commonly known poems and changes the words to fit the character saying them. For instance the Mad-Hatter sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in different words saying "Up above the world you fly, Like a tea-tray in the sky." If this isn't a unique way of writing I dont know what is. Another style of her writingthat is appealing is when she creates a picture, using words in a poem, about the poem. Yhis is used on page 37. The words in the book are nbot hard so the book can be enjoyable when it is being read, not stressful. The author brings animals to life which is an interesting style of writing. This is Lewis Carroll's style of writing. The main character in this book is a little girl with blonde hair named Alice. This child is full of fantasies and dreams, which is what the book is about. Alice is very curious and likes to know every little detail. She thinks she is very smart. For example, when Alice is listening to the Dormouse's story she asks questions like "What did they live on," and makes smart comments such as "They could'nt have done that you know, they'd have been ill." She is also a little bit bratty, especially to the Dormouse when she says: "Nobody asked your opinion." These characteristics pull together to make an interesting main character and to create a fabulous story. The theme of the story is sometimes you need to take a break out of every day life and dream of fantasize. This makes your life more interesting even if you dream about things that will never come true. Alice does this when she dreams about changing sizes and listening to talking animals. Dreaming doesn't hurt anyone except the people who don't do it. If nobody ever had dreams life would be extremely stressful and boring. The plot of the story is all about Alice trying to find the white rabbit, which of course is in her dream. Following the white rabbit takes ALice to interesting places, such as the Courtroom filled with animals, and the Duchess' house, along with meeting interestingpeople such as the Cheshire-Cat and the Queen. This amazing cat hes the ability to disappear whenever it wants to and it always smiles. In the end Alice finds the white rabbit and then wakes up from her dream. This is the plot of the story. The story is effective to the reader. This is so because after listening to such acreative dream and fantasy, it inspires people to take a little time out of the day and be creative and dream once in a while. All the parts of this five star story; the writer's style, the main character, the theme, and the plot; come together to create the overall effectiveness of the story. This is why I rated this book five stars.

I had no idea that cake mixes could be doctored until I picked up Anne Byrn's amazing cookbook. The recipes are very easy to follow and I am able to whip up an impressive doctored up cake mix in 5 to 10 minutes! Anne Byrn has included wonderful baking tips and tricks, as well as the history of cake mixes. She incorporated a terrific index in the back. For instance, if you have a box of white pudding cake in the pantry, you can look under white pudding cake and find a list of recipes to make with that mix. Or, you can look up a specific recipe name. She's got color photos of the luscious cakes in the front of the book! I plan to buy several copies to give away as gifts. The price is right, too! Thank you Anne!

I'm a terrible baker, or so I thought...

This book is wonderful for the person who is short on time and baking talent, as it combines quick recipes with easy-to-follow directions.

So far, I've tried 2 recipes -- the Kahlua cake and chocolate birthday cone cupcakes. I was barely able so test them out before my boyfriend, family, and co-workers chowed down. (Needless to say, they were a hit!)

Excellent features: 1.) At the beginning of the book is a photograph of *every cake, cookie, brownie, etc.* with its name and page number underneath. You can save time by looking at finished products, then flipping back to find the recipe. (Excellent feature! I wish all cookbooks were organized like this.)

2.) I can't stress the simplicity enough. You can literally put together a dessert in less than 10 minutes. (Note: That time estimate refers to *prep* time, not *baking* time, as the desserts will then have to go in the oven for between 20-30 minutes.)

Overall: I would have a hard time discerning a "from-scratch" cake from a "Cake Doctor" cake. The author adds an interesting feature or ingredient which makes the cakes taste very un-like a mix. (For example, in the chocolate cupccake recipe, the author says to use cinnamon -- an ingredient I wouldn't think to combine with chocolate. However, it made a difference. The cake was excellent!)

For easy, A+ desserts, this cookbook is a "must have." Enjoy!

I have enjoyed this cookbook which has a picture for every recipe. I have been baking cakes for years and once believed from scratch was the only way. But, I believe cake mixes have come a long way, indeed, which is why I feel this cookbook is a good choice, especially for those who are inexperienced cooks or on a busy schedule. Most of the recipes I have tried are good. Some of the cakes are a little heavy-textured, however. Make sure you use the right kind of cake mix as the author firmly directs and don't add extra oil! The plain cheesecake, chocolate devil's food layer, and finger licking good cake turned out well. The book also has other recipes for cookies, bars, etc. which make it interesting also. A good cookbook for a fairly small price. Go for it!

This was one of the best Steele books I have read in a while. I was interested from cover to cover and it did indeed touch my heart. ! If you want to read a book that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift! This book was edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latest information on that disease. ..A perfect gift for someone who started college late in life, fell in love too late in life, is living with any illness, or trying to understand a loved one who is. . .A gift to be cherished forever.

The Long Road Home,was an outstanding book to read. I didn't understand how the parents of this little girl could not love her. It showed me that not all people are made out to be parents. I thought the little girl was a strong person for putting up with her parents. When she was sent to live at the church with the nuns,it was good for her to get out of the situation she was in. She was still very quite and was into writing her novels. I thought what she did when she got pregnant by the priest, was an excuise for somebody to love her.When she had lost the baby,she found hope in finding her parents.She found out her mother had died and her father was living only a block away.I think this book is a great book for almost everyone to read.

The Long Road Home is a wonderful book. All of DS books are good with the exception of one or two, but this one was one of my favorites. Gabriella is a beautiful child who is beaten repeatedly by her mother while her father watches. He father leaves her mother, and her mother decides to remarry. She sends Gabrielle to a convent to be taken care of. Gabrielle decides that being a nun is her calling until a young priest captures her heart. This book is so good. Make sure you have a lot of time to read when you start it, because you'll never put it down. DS deserves a ten for this one and also The Ranch.

I normally don't like Dean Koontz, but I have to admit that this one was a pretty good read.

The flashbacks really drew me into this book at first and kept my curiosity alive through the whole book, otherwise I might not have made it.

The characters were above average by Koontz standards, although they still occasionally do some amazingly stupid things (which seems to be a Koontz trademark). In the very beginning of the book, the girl doesn't show up for the second date so Spencer decides to go break into her house??? Come on!!

Koontz doesn't hold back at all on trying to make the government look bad. When talking about rebel groups that oppose the "Evil" US government, I couldn't help but think of those militia groups and cults that seem to be so popular these days.

For anyone who knows a bit about computers, the technology and "hacking" in this book is not realistic at all, but then again it is a fiction book so I am not going to fault Koontz too much.

The ending was very unrealistic. That would have really bothered me, but the flashbacks kept the book from fizzling out.

Overall, a pretty enjoyable read.

I'd have to say this is one of the best of Koontz's books that I've read. It's not as quick paced as some of the others, but it is still a page-turner.

Spencer is haunted by memories of his adolescence and even more by memories he can't quite remember. He's drawn to a woman he met one night, although he can't quite say why; he just wants to find a life. So, when he discovers this woman has disappeared, he finds himself suddenly on the run from her enemies: a goverment agency that technically doesn't exist. While on the run, he is led through many terrifying discovers - about the government, the group that's chasing them, and about his own past.

Meanwhile, Roy, the leader of this group, is trying to figure out how Spencer fits in with this woman. Roy sees utopia as a possibility and desires to help achieve utopia by having "compassion" for all who are imperfect. His idea of compassion is killing them.

Typical of Koontz's novels, you have the man and woman who have bad pasts, and a villain who is downright despicable. But it's still a great book. The writing is superb, and although things don't happen as quickly as I would've liked, it still keeps you on the edge of you seat, waiting to find out what's next.

If you like Koontz's other books, you'll most definitely like this one. If you haven't read Koontz, this is a good book to start with to get a taste of his style. The Door to December was the first Koontz book I read, and it got me hooked. I'd have to say this book is just as good as that one.

Some people make it a point to read the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy once a year. I read this.

Simply put, this is the best book I have ever read. It quickly drops you into the action, but leaves enough hidden to make you guess all the way through the book.

I loved the character development between the main character and his dog, as well of course the supporting cast.

I did think that one of the most interesting aspects of this book was in that the hero and his nemesis never did meet once through the entire book until the end. This is the type of thing that Koontz (and everyone else) traditionally prefers to stay away from, feeling that there needs to be interaction in order to build suspense.

I can't recommend this book enough, and would highly recommend giving it a look.

Jorge Cruise's Book and Tapes, "8 Minutes in the Morning" I found was simple enough weight loss program that you could actually have hope that you could follow through with the exercises and food plans.

I lost 7 lbs. my first week and 1.5 lbs. the second week and this program made be a believer, that I can go the distance and reach my goal weight.

He makes it so simple and so easy, that with just a little effort and a few minutes each day you can succeed.

My biggest problem has always been no motivation for exercise and every diet became my last meal. So each year, I just became heavier and heavier. I have learned through Jorge's book how to look at food and how to deal with food. There are no bad foods according to Jorge, so now I have no need for those last meal diets...I just need to choose quality and quanity. He has also made exercise so attainable that I have no excuse not to do it.

In just 2 weeks I feel so confident with Jorge's exercise and food outline that it has already become part of my daily life.

I recommend you not only read this book, but do the exercises, follow the food plan and do his assignments. The gain you will have from this is the reward of knowing you finally found something you can stay with and succeed with for the rest of your life...the loss is your body fat and getting to your ideal body weight.

I started this program four weeks ago. I lost 12 pounds in the first 28 days, my clothes are looser, I feel better, my asthma is much better (using much less medication) and people are telling me I look like I am losing weight.

This is an easy-to-understand program which is clearly written about in the book. Doing the exercises first thing in the morning and taking the flaxseed oil at every meal are key. Another amazing thing about this is that I have pretty much lost my cravings and am so satisfied eating so much less. I have stopped obsessing about food and I feel so much more positive about my lfe.

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I have struggled with excessive weight for 19 years and found Jorge and this book through my mother's e-mail to me. I curiously checked it out purchased the book which i carry with me 24/7. I have tried fads, weight watchers, herbs, carb diets, protein diets, starvation ...you name it ...and 19 years later...i am heavier each year.....do the math. I have lost 6lbs in one week on this program!!!!!! My single-parenting job along with part-time teaching and running my art and photography studio keeps me high-stressed with little or no time to myself. This 8 Minutes in the Morning fits my crazy lifestyle perfectly!
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Based upon Michiavelli's first hand experience as an emissary of the Florentine Republic to the courts of Europe The Prince analyzes the often violent means by which political power is seized and retained, and the circumstance in which it is lost. Because The Prince is a political commentary, and not a work of fiction, Michiavelli does not use "characters" in the sense of a novel or a short story. Instead he draws his examples from the current political and social events, as well as from history. His characters are the political leaders of his time. The book is a declaration in plain language the conduct of great men and the principles of princely governments. The book can be divided into four sections.

1. The types of principalities. Michiavelli lists four types of principalities.

* Hereditary principalities, which are inherited by the ruler.

* Mixed principalities, territories that are annexed to the rulers existing territories.

* New principalities which may be acquired by several methods: by own power, by the power of others by criminal acts or extreme cruelty, or by the will of the people

* Ecclesiastical principalities, namely the papal states belonging to the catholic churches.

2. The character and behavior of the prince. Michiavelli recommends the following character and behavior for princes:

* It is better to be miserly than generous.

* It is better to be cruel than merciful.

* It is better to break promises if keeping than would be against ones interest.

* Princes must avoid making them hated and despised; the goodwill of the people is a better defense than any fortress.

* Princes should undertake great projects to enhance their reputation.

* Princes should choose wise advisors to confide and consult with

3. The types of armies A prince must always pay close attention to military affairs if he wants to remain in power. A prince must lay good foundation and those foundations include good laws and good armies. There cannot be good laws without good armies, and where there are good laws there must be good armies. The study of war should be a prince's main goal, for war is a rulers only art.If princes become too refined to study this art they loose their state. The types of armies are:

* Mercenaries or Auxiliaries (loaned to you by another ruler) are both dangerous and unreliable, as they will maintain their interests preceding yours.

* Native troops composed of ones own citizens or subjects are by far the most desirable kind.

4. Italy's political situation Michiavelli outlines and recommends the following

* The rulers of Italy have lost their states by ignoring the political and military principles.

* Fortune controls half of human affairs, but free will controls the rest, leaving the prince free to act. However, the few princes can adopt their actions to times

I just had an interesting discussion with a young man who was convinced that Machiavelli was evil. I found out he'd never even tried to read "The Prince", which is the quintessential guide to Machiavelli's political mind. This young man's preconception is a very common one, alas.

In this book, presented in short chapters, one finds a guidebook to taking power and ruling a small country. Nowhere does it suggest using excessive force, nor does it suggest gratuitous violence. It is straightforward and pragmatic. Machiavelli suggests keeping one's goal, political power, in mind all the time, and is not afraid to discuss unpleasant ways of getting and keeping that power. It is the essence of ruthlessness, but what politician doesn't do this every day? In every competitive, demanding occupation, participants must keep goals in mind constantly and work completely toward those goals. Machiavelli was just one of the first to codify how to do it. And codify he does -- the book is filled with suggestions on how to handle everything from whether to hire mercenary troops to how to make the commoners love you.

Though Machiavelli's writing is somewhat archaic and definitely rich in idea density, it is worth the read. I think everybody, from students to politicos to housekeepers to entrepreneurs, would benefit from the information contained herein. I do suggest getting a decent grounding in Italian history before the attempt.

This small yet informative book is the heart of power politics. It was Machiavelli's resume, written to help save both his country and his reputation. The book is often said to present a plan of leadership that is calculating and heartless. That is precisely the point; Machiavelli is a true historian who sets down the hard realities of what it is to be a leader and ignores lofty political ideals (making it obvious how few world leaders have actually studied it). As well as giving the modern reader a much needed history lesson, Machiavelli has a nearly prophetic knack for summing up the root causes of events from the 1st World War to Vietnam in a few sentences. It never fails to amaze me that leaders today would rather look at world events through hindsight than act on them by foresight.

In addition to Donno's excellent translation, this particular edition includes key points from The Discourses, which are guaranteed to astonish the reader with their obvious truth. After reading this numerous times, I found myself highlighting Machiavelli's major points throughout the book. It is not only political instruction but words of wisdom to live by.