This book was reprinted in 1991 and was a bit dated even then, as it contained little new information (the first edition was published in 1984.) Still, in her profiles of three very different women and the gangs they associate with, Campbell draws a clear picture of the limited choices available to inner-city women. Should be read in tandem with Gini Sikes's "8-Ball Chicks" for an updated view of contemporary gang girls.

Paris is bursting with modern architecture, from grand projets of successive Presidents, Mayors and other public authorities, to smaller, more intimate and local projects.

This book is a lovely exposition of some of the most interesting (if not always beautiful, or welcomed) architecture of the past couple of decades.

The black and white photograps enhance the text and add great mood. The text is interesting, sometimes very opinionated (you probably won't agree with all the opinions - but it will perhaps challenge some of your assumptions).

Discover how, after heavy criticism of the then proposed glass pyramid and massive underground entrance to the Louvre, critics came to be won over when a fullscale model was erected. The daring of Parisian projects has brought us the sublime - the aforementioned Louvre entrance, and the vile - Les Halles, for example.

The book is written so that you need have no background in architecture to find it thought-provoking, interesting and very, very readable.

I left it at home when I recently visited Paris (well you can't take everything), but enjoyed delving into it again as soon as I returned. If you can fit it in your luggage, it would be a great companion.

"so many gifts" is a wonderful story of Santa. It makes the transition from "believing" to "not believing" smooth and joyous. The story instills the spirit of Santa, Christmas and giving using a beautiful series of illustrating and words. It is truly a wonderful story to be read by adults and children alike.

Dr. Campbell's text is an interesting read with an abundance of "eye candy" which keeps its appeal broad - from the high school student or college undergrad researching the male/female interaction to the psychologist looking to add an additional patient reading option to her bookshelf. Although the book was last published in 1989, and is currently out of print, the information contained is rather simplistic and relatively timeless, which also makes it a fine addition to a personal library.

Being a resident of St. Louis, I was thrilled at the prospect of learning more about the nearby New Madrid Fault. Peter Hernon has distinguished himself as a first-rate researcher. His non-fiction history of the Anhueser-Busch dynasty is a terrific read. On a technical level, I thought 8.4 was interesting and well researched - as I expected it would be. Although I found the crazy nuclear bomb scenario, starring the President of the United States, strange, I could accept it. After all, this is a techno-thriller. I can suspend my disbelief on many levels. However, the one thing I will not accept is a cliche romantic subplot. I may be naive about the publishing industry, but I just don't understand why every techno-thriller must have a love story. Why the embarrasing, endless dribble about how Atkins looks into Holleran's eyes and sees "intelligence and beauty?" Here's an alternative and more appropriate love story for 8.4: Neutron, the robot - a sensitive and misunderstood soul, falls in love with the nuclear bomb he cradles in arms during the harrowing descent to 1,800 feet below the surface of the Earth. He refuses to allow the scientists to explode the bomb - a bomb he has grown to love for its beauty and (artificial) intelligence. Their love triggers a thrilling battle between man and machine - a battle that will seal the fate of the entire nation... What do you think? Yeah, that would be pretty bad too. Maybe the best solution would be to avoid writing sappy romance. Seriously, great science, the plot was silly, but fun - like a Dean Koontz novel.

I'd never heard of author Peter Hernon, but when I saw the subject matter of "8.4", and that it was on the clearance shelf for practically pennies, I gave the book a try. And, while I can't say that this is one of the top 500 books that I've read, it passes the mark. As one would guess from the title, this is a story about earthquakes. It particular, the "Mother of All Earthquakes" that being the one that seismologists have been predicting for years, the quake along the New Madrid Fault.

I've been somewhat interested in this topic for some time now since I live in an area that might be affected by such a quake. And as people in this area know, the New Madrid Quake may be even more devastating that the San Francisco and Alaskan quakes that created such widespread damage in the last 100 years. And, if you too live along this faultline, you may not want to read this book because if Hernon is right about "the big one" you might choose to find a new address.

Hernon has done a good job for the most part with his research and in some cases, the book reads like something out of Michael Crichton. Seriously limited though, is Hernon's character development and any "connection" that the reader might have with these characters. They're just not very interesting. I don't know if that flaw is by design or not, because the real star of the story, of course, is the quake or quakes.

The book has suspenseful moments and even includes a little sabotage and deceit along the way. It's a very quick read and good for passing the time. In reality, though, this book will probably have only limited appeal to those readers who don't live in this area.

For better books about the New Madrid faultline and the coming quake, I'd suggest "The Rift" by Walter Williams and "The New Madrid Run" by Michael Reisig (a superior, yet too short book, from an outstanding storyteller).

I just read 8.4, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. I like earth science- earthquakes in particular - , and have always enjoyed learning more. I learned a great deal with this book - mainly, the scary picture of what would happen to the entire United States the NMSZ goes off as it did almost two hundred years ago. I currently live in a moderate damage area, but I have close family in the direct hit area. It is disturbing to contemplate. I recommend this book, as well as The Rift, by Walter J. Williams.

This epistolary novel tells the tale of how twoinsensitive, superficial men reform themselves under the influence of the extremely ugly heiressOlivia Campbell and her beautiful friend. Plot does indeed avoid the cliched ending, but it isn'tenough to save the story from some tedium, especially if you're familiar with common themes of the time. Strong echoes of Richardson's classic novel,Clarissa, run throughthe book, but Plumtree's novel fails to rise to the moral glory and sadistic depths that Richardson hits. Onthe other hand, it isn't a million words long either ... The use of cliched subplots (for 1801) was one of the book's biggest weaknesses: the ghost that isn't a ghost; the persecuted, beautiful cottager; the mysteriousorphan, the contrast of the faithful old retainer and the money-grubbing, self-aggrandizing,ladder-climbing modern servant, etc. If these plots aren't familiar to you, you will enjoy this introduction to some of the common plots of the period.