List price: $14.95 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $6.50
Collectible price: $12.71
Buy one from zShops for: $7.19
Most importantly, the book doesn't skimp on the reversals. Most tarot books for beginners seldom put emphasis on reversals and tell you to neglect it. This one doesn't. The explanation of every card's reversal is as detailed as the upright meaning, and right to the point. I am really impressed.
Five stars, no doubt.
Used price: $95.29
Perhaps this comparison is off-base, but this collection makes me think of JS Bach's "inventions": brilliantly written, innovative little morsels that you must take sensitively and savor long after you are done with them.
The only criticism I sometimes hear about these short stories is that there are no genuinely human, fleshed out characters (besides perhaps the narrator), and the plots tend to be about abstract ideas and individual conflictedness, rather than the more conventional plots about human interactions. What can I say? That's just how Borges is. I think he's a great (and underrated/underappreciated!) storyteller and literary craftsman, but maybe if you like a lot of character realism and musings about interpersonal relationships in your stories, Borges isn't for you.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable collection, especially if you like "magical realism" and short stories that read like clever inventions.
List price: $13.85 (that's 20% off!)
Used price: $10.51
Buy one from zShops for: $10.51
Gloha is a half goblin and half harpy. She wonders if she'll find a half goblin half harpy man to love. So she goes to ask the Great Magician. Instead of giving her an answer the Magician sends her on a wild quest. She meets new friends and adventure is magically weaved throughout the pages! In the end she found friendship ... but could it be love? No, how could it possibly be love if he's her kind of creature???
A fun read, full of puns and adventure!!! Recommended to anyone who likes or loves a nice book to smile about in the end! Have fun! :-)
Used price: $3.00
Collectible price: $6.00
This book, however, was wonderfully mind stimulating. It probably would classify as a sci-fi book, which accounts for the futuristic Earth setting, but Anthony draws on his fantasy expertise to add flavor and gusto to this novel. It really is in a league of its own. I haven't even heard of a book or series that portrays the Incarnations (Death, Fate, Time, etc.) in such a special way, let alone have them as characters. The main reason I picked this book up in the first place was because of its unusual cover portraying Death in a yellow car (which we later learn is his Death Steed named Mortis.)
The story itself is riviting, drawing on many of the author's own feelings and thoughts to create an allegory (a work that can be read on two levels, in a literal way and then usually a deeper, more thought out way.) It has great action (sword fights, or actually scythe fights, damsels in destress, magicians, ect.) But what really got me was, the arch enemy of Death, the protagonist who is actually a human who assumed the post of Death after killing the previous Death, is Satan himself! What better foe could there be?
On a Pale Horse is a truly uncommon and unique book. It is fast paced and extremely interesting. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
List price: $11.95 (that's 20% off!)
Used price: $7.95
Buy one from zShops for: $7.89
Through many adventures at sea and during ports of call, Eustace makes the rather predictable transformation into an alright chap, but don't mistake the predictability of this end for cheap or sloppy story telling on Lewis's part. Eustace's transformation can be interpreted as the transformation of the unbeliever to a Christian, and the symbolism of his physical change is rich and compelling for adults and engaging and magical for children.
Our dear, brave friend Reepacheep is back, too, and shows his continuing bravery in a heartwarming ending that causes readers to feel great admiration for the little mouse with big courage.
The richest part of the novel is the well described climax in which the story takes on a mythical nature and our friends come close to the line between heaven and earth.
It's a lovely book, and as usual for the series, can be enjoyed on theological levels, but it loses nothing if the reader picks it up as pure fantasy for someone looking for a great tale!
The main characters that readers will recognize are King Caspian, Edmund, Lucy, and Reepicheep. Sadly, Peter and Susan have since become too old to reenter Narnia; but the story does amazingly well even without them. Here, Eustace, who will reappear in "The Silver Chair", is introduced for the first time. They are an interesting bunch, all providing something essential to the story, especially Reepicheep (whose character and personal history are developed further) and Eustace (who experiences a wonderful kind of redemption).
The Dawn Treader is a ship King Caspian built in order to fulfil an oath made on his coronation day to find the seven lords and friends of his father that his uncle Miraz had sent to explore the Eastern Seas. Every two chapters or so, the Dawn Treader stops at an island, where its crew and passengers have a small adventure-within-the-larger-adventure, discover the fate of each of the seven lords, and learn good moral lessons. For instance, one island, called the Dark Island, is a place where dreams come true. It may sound wonderful, until you realize that the dreams that come true are not the pleasant daydreams, but the nightmares. After the last island, the passengers even reach, or very nearly reach, the End of the World.
Though I compared this book to Homer's "Odyssey" in the title of this review, I must add that it can also be likened to John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress". This voyage is not guided by fate and devoid of reason, but is blessed by Aslan (who symbolizes Jesus) and is full of meaning and purpose. It does not merely represent the passage through life, but the passage through life _as a Christian_. That may be why one reviewer complained that this novel is overly preachy. Yet we readers are human, after all, and in need of being preached to now and then. Another thing that may surprise readers is the chivalry with which Lucy, the only girl on the ship, is treated by the men. Though it not "politically correct," as Eustace himself points out at the beginning, it has a certain rightness to it.
Remembering how the March girls in Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" played at being good in imitation of the character Christian in "The Pilgrim's Progress", only to realize that their game was really a way of life, I can say that it would be wonderful if children today could apply the allegories in "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" in the same way. Parents, take note: it is easier to ask a child, "What would Edmund tell you about forgiving someone who has done wrong, like Eustace?" than to launch into a weary sermon about forgiveness that they may not remember anyway. There are more archetypes in this book, and in all stories about Narnia, than C.S. Lewis himself must have realized: and children can only benefit from knowing them as they grow up.
Used price: $6.25
Collectible price: $14.69
This diary book tells us of the frustrations and nightmares of making his debut feature film "El Mariachi". He also tells us of his interesting and amusing stories of entry into Hollywood: like getting representation from a major Hollywood agent at one International Creative Management (the biggest talent agency in the world). And he tells of his adventures and misadventures in a such a friendly style, you'd swear you were speaking to your best friend.
This is the only book I've ever read that can genuinely constitute as inspiring. I'm dead serious. I'm 17 years old and an aspiring filmmaker. Before I read his book, I was trying to make movies and was more than a little discouraged at how things turned out. But, that all changed when I heard what this book was about. I requested it for Christmas and couldn't believe my eyes. If Rodriguez, for some reason, decides that he doesn't want to make movies anymore, he should seriously consider being a motivational speaker. In this book, he tells of his filmmaking experience -- all the trials and tribulations and encourages and inspires people by telling them how easy and straightforward the filmmaking process, always known to be daunting, really is.
And as an added incentive -- frosting on the cake, really -- Rodriguez includes his "10 Minute Film School", telling how you can make a movie in a few easy steps. Again, this guy speaks to you on an equal level -- he doesn't patronize, which is what makes the book even better.
Robert Rodriguez does an excellent job of entertaining and inspiring us in this book on how easy, sometimes challenging, and rewarding the filmmaking process can be.
Take a bow, Mr. Rodriguez.
This is one of the most inspiring books on filmmaking I've ever read--it depicts, in detail, all the ups and downs that went into making and selling EL MARIACHI, the $7000 sensation that opened doors for Rodriguez.
A lot of filmmakers argue that EL MARIACHI isn't a great film, that the story's kind of silly, that the version that most of us saw had $500,000 worth of post-production work added, and on and on.
But they're talking about it. It's 2003 and people are still talking about the amazing feat Rodriguez pulled off with this film. For $7000 of his own money, plus a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears, he got himself noticed and made a career out of his hobby. "Do what you love, then find someone who will pay you to do it."
This is a how-to manual for the basement movie-maker, written by a man who is excited about using movies to tell his stories: in this book, in the commentary tracks for his movies, in his Ten-Minute Film School installments, I have never once felt like Robert Rodriguez was bored with either his work or his achievements. The guy has fun, and his personality gets its fingerprints all over his work--if you can't enjoy yourself while watching a Rodriguez movie, you're expecting too much and thinking too hard.
This guy is not changing the face of American cinema: he wants all of US to change the face of American cinema, and this book is an open invitation to do just that.
Devour Rodriguez. Consume this book and engorge yourself on his DVDs. Chow down on special features on how he did it that also show YOU how to do it. If, after a week-long diet of Robert Rodriguez, you DON'T want to make your own movie IMMEDIATELY, seek a different destiny: making movies is not for you.
Used price: $0.40
Collectible price: $1.79
Buy one from zShops for: $3.00
One rainy night in Chelsea, England, at the residence of Ian Rider and his nephew Alex, two Bobbies, British policeman, rapped sharply at the door. It was three a.m. Ian was away on a supposed business trip for the bank that he supposedly worked for. Alex was the only one home. The Bobbies told Alex that his uncle had gotten into a car accident and had died because he wasn't wearing his seat belt. Alex automatically knew that they were lying, so he started to investigate his death. Along the way, the bank that Ian had allegedly worked for called Alex and said they wanted to meet him. They wanted to send him into Port Tallon and take out a top-secret terrorist act taking place at a world-renowned computer company. Alex took it, went to Port Tallon, and went through with the mission.
As Alex went along in his mission, he encounters countless dangers and has almost died. Will Alex complete the mission and save all of England? You'll have to read the book to find out.
We give Stormbreaker five stars out of five. It was one of the best books that we've ever read. The action of Tom Clancy is mixed with the suspense and mystery of Dean Koontz, to form a brilliant masterpiece that hooks you right away. This is a great book and we recommend it to anybody and everybody. Anybody who likes action is sure to love this book.
...
List price: $12.95 (that's 20% off!)
Used price: $5.99
Collectible price: $7.93
Buy one from zShops for: $8.59
One of the reasons that I believe that this book was had such an impact is that it addressed a point in my life where I had become disillusioned and doubful of the ideas of the afterlife and a personal God as taught in Christianity. If this is you, this book is definitely for you. However, if you are a person who is happy and content in your ideas in a personal God, and you're certain of a personal afterlife, I'd actually discourage you from reading this book. It will likely only upset you.
Used price: $31.95
Buy one from zShops for: $45.00
Naturally, the book is very well illustrated. However, it is also well written. Description of the art as well as the time, artist's life, history, motivation, etc. are included in the text. The book also has some very helpful and detailed time lines between each period. These time lines help the reader be able to visualize the framework in which the art was produced.
Since the book is a history of art, merely thumbing through it allows the reader to visually see the changes which have occurred over the various centuries. These changes included the trends which were followed, the rogue artists who followed no trend, and the stylistic changes which occurred, especially in the postmodern "chaotic" period.
While the history of philosophy is revealing about the changes (good or bad) in people's thinking, the history of art is revealing about the changes (good and bad) in societies lifestyles and tastes (amongst other things) which reflect that thinking. This book is a telling text with respect to how art has changed, been molded, and publicly demonstrated from its beginnings to the present day. It is well worth the sticker price if for no other reason than it contains some of the greatest works of art ever produced.
List price: $18.95 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $3.87
Buy one from zShops for: $4.75
What I think you guys will love about this book is that the women do get cheated on but they get back! They are not stupid enough to take some things like that.