I am a big fan of Beethoven and classical music in general. One of my favorite films is "Immortal Beloved". I have come across some good biographies, too. I was thrilled when I read about a new fictionalized biography of the composer--I knew I had to check it out. There were some interesting and familiar aspects to it, but overall the writing was rather flat. It was dull and repetitive, and there was no sense that the author really tried to perk up his prose. Yes, it is based on Beethoven's life (hence the interesting aspect) but the author tends to drift into the more boring realm. Plus, he adds some unnecessarily explicit sex scenes, of the type that should certainly warrant a warning label on the cover.

To write a biography without having met the person is difficult enough. To write about a genius is that much harder. First what this book will not do for you. It will not draw you in by flowery writing. It will not make you cry with laughter due to the cleverness or wit of the author. And that is just about it. Now what it will do for you. It will thrill you to live within the mind of a genius. It will teach you more about his music then any other paper - speech - university course - you name it. I started this book (or three as they were then) and finished them in a week. The next time you go see the 9th you will either cry or rise shouting Beethoven's name. You will - you will - be a richer person for having read this book. My hearty congratulations to John Suchet and my eternal gratitude.

I was very happy to learn that this book was on sale. But what a disappointment when I've read the review. Indeed, the original book has 270 pages and this one has only 176 pages. My assumption is that this book is a review. That's why, to the "real" book entitled "The Masters' Book of Ikebana", I would give 5 stars. But for this misleading offer I would rate a big "0".

I believe you have got the title and the author of this book wrong. March-Penney's book is titled "Masters of Ikebana" (I think), and "The Masters' Book of Ikebana" by Donald Richie, is a whole other thing.

"Nightrunners of Bengal" is an exciting and masterfully written gathering of lies and half-truths written from an obvious pro-colonialist viewpoint. It is also a classic of the genre. A telling example of the author's bias is that Indians refer to the, so called, Mutiny of 1857 (the central event of the novel) as the First War of Independence. John Masters considers it to be no more than a Sepoy Rebellion made incoherent by religious fanaticism. His take on the Rani of Jhanci who was a prime mover in the war is of a hysterical nymphomaniac rather than a woman with deep self interest in the preservation of her successor and a patriot. This is not to say that every historical instance is corrupted, but enough to sway opinion away from the Indians. Inaccuracy and bias beside, the author does provide an interesting study of the nature of loyalty. Is it to God, king, country, or contract? His final take focuses on the Bengal Lancers refusal to join the war on the side of their countrymen because they had willingly agreed to serve the Crown (or its surrogate, the East India Company). The Lancers are his heroes precisely because they honor the contract. A man does what he promises to do. My Indian friends find this to be a bit disingenous. I admit, though, prior to learning a few facts I was quite taken by this novel. It is a page turner and a thriller. The sad fact is the truth would have been every bit as compelling as the author's fabrications.

This book reminds me the masterpiece of Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter". Pushkin wrote about the greatest Russian peasant's mutiny, so calles "Pougatchevschina". Masters wrote about the Indian mutiny. The problem is just the same - the price of justice. You can be absolutely politically correct and think that Pougatchev and Rani Sumitra were the greatest patriots possible. You may be absolutely sure that Russian serfdom & British raj are abominable. But the fact is that the victory of Russian peasants or Indian sepoys will be the beginning of chaos. Pushkin wrote about "meaningless and merciless Russian riot". Masters understands what does it mean. As an Anglo-Indian he lived through the downfall of his world and he write about his own hard earned experience . Rodney Savage, the hero, lived through the destruction and death of everything he thought true: his family, his regiment, his faith and his spiritual innocence. This book is about the acquisition of humanity by the man who has to start all over again. "Nightrunners" is a bit old-fashioned. Of cource, Kipling's influence is very strong, but I recommend it to everybody who want to read about the real mutiny & not about the much praised "fight for freedom and independence".

P.S. English is not my native language, so excuse me for my mistakes.

The synopsis for this book reads, "What was it like when men and dinosaurs lived side by side?"

Any idiot knows that these two species were not contemporaneous. It's a wonder this volume hasn't entered the school system already.

I haven't read this book, but if this is the kind of garbage it contains, RUN the other way!

Several people would resist the idea that Noah's ark indeed did happen. They claim to believe in Bible and in the Noah's ark. But they have no idea what it was like before the Flood. The life and enivornment was totally different changed after Flood. A must for diligent Bible students, also a challegne to the skeptics of Bible.

Dr. Demetrios Demopoulos, a scientist from the US circa. 1950's, has created what turns out to be an inter-planetary travel craft...and lands in what turns out to be an inter-galactic war. 'Fish out of water' is a term that applies here.

Dr. Dimension is a collaborative effort between John DeChancie and David Bischoff that works fairly well on many levels but comes up short on other ones.

On a whole, it's a very amusing and well written novel. Part Buck Rogers, part The Nutty Professor and part 80's Sitcom.

The execution of the book is very well done but it seems like you can tell which parts were written by which writer, or another way to say it is it doesn't feel fully homogenized. Whether it's the reader's imagination or reality, it does detract from the novel slightly.

However, on a whole, the book is a wonderful story. Dr. Demopoulos is a lecherous old scientist who is like a cross between Albert Einstein and Danny Devito in Taxi...an all around great character.

I'd reccomend both this book and it's sequal Dr. Dimesion: Masters of Spacetime to anyone who enjoys a good sci-fi book and particularly to anyone who is partial to old radio serials as the story passes an, obviously, intentional likeness to them.

The late Preston attempted several things in these novels: to describe, with love and enthusiasm, his world of gay male S & M, to turn the reader on, to foster self-respect among the many participants, and to promote in a very sensible way the use of condoms. He succeeds in all of the above. There isn't much real character development, but that likely wasn't one of Preston's goals. You get to know the guys about as well as you would if you'd spent a bit of time (and no more) together. A slightly disguised Anne Rice, in real life a beloved friend of the author, appears in one of the novels as "Adrienne."

I was impressed with the depth of this book. Although I haven't had the opportunity to read the whole book, I have been very pleased with the information supplied thus far. This book can be a valuable resource to anyone contemplating entering the publishing field.

If you really enjoy dolphins, you should check this book out. One thing is I like to put my name in the book. It does not give information about the dolphins names though. Read this book and go to the lake.

An OK book, but I've seen better. It sounds like Mr. Phillips is telling other people's successes and none of his own. His only experiences seem to be making mistakes. Yes it is great to learn from other people's mistakes but I also want to hear about their successes. Buy at your own risk.

Of all of the Tiger Woods books that have been written this one is the worst I have encountered. Why? Instead of giving a thought provoking analysis of Tiger Woods as a player and his personal impact upon the sporting world, you end up reading a personal vendetta that the author has against Team Tiger.

John Feinstein starts out with the question of who is Tiger Woods and then proceeds to break the myths surrounding the personality. There isn't anything wrong with breaking myths except Feinstein has nothing good to say about Tiger (except for his game). He accuses Earl Woods of exploiting his famous son, he castigates IMG for being Tiger's management agency, and shows his hatred for Tiger's agent, Hughes Norton. He paints a portrait of Tiger being immature, greedy and totally insensitive to his fans. If that is the case, why bother slapping together a work dealing with the greatest player in the golf world?

In all fairness to the author, he does expose Tiger for what he was at the time; a young immature player who makes mistakes. He also shows the myths that the media have perpetuated about the young man. He also points out how greedy sponsors and management agencies can ruin the careers of young players. That is good information in understanding Tiger Woods the icon but says little about him as a person.

What is lacking in the book is Feinstein not really knowing Tiger personally. His diatribes against the player and his cohorts have prevented him from getting to know the other side of the young man who will make a great contribution to golf. Feinstein is caught up in an axe to grind against Tiger's handlers and misses the champion. You don't gain any insight from his musings. If you are a Tiger fan and want to collect books about him regardless of what is said about Tiger by all means pick up a copy. Otherwise leave it on the shelf.

If Mr. Feinstein thought this deliberately self-serving effort to drag Tiger's name (and his family's) through the mud would gain favor throughout the sporting world, and throw Tiger off his game, he thought dead-wrong. Tiger's string of top-10 finishes in 1998 (his worst year, when this book was released), his $7-million 1999 season, and now the biggest blowout in majors history (winning by 15 strokes at the 2000 U.S. Open, the only one under par), is an absolutely fitting response, by Tiger, to Feinstein's effort to manufacture scandal from almost nothing. One guy said it best when he said that there are other golfers on tour who are no different, if not worse. Amazing, it seems, that we haven't heard from Feinstein since Tiger's 1999 PGA Championship win. His crow is getting cold.

I submit Feinstein would be better served to consider Woods' family dynamics, rather than skewer them. And no, you can not consider them by skewering them.