Try harder next time. 10 people, no character development, plainfully terrible. ... I wish that beautiful people would just stay being beautiful and not try to show the world that they're more than just beauty.

10 characters. And that is all.
Characters that any true person can relate to. Characters who have dreams, who have hopes, who win and lose tiny little battles every day. Characters who likely have dropped toast to land freshly-buttered side down. Characters like all of us.
Characters about to share one event.
Yes, it takes place in New York City. Yes, it quickly becomes clear that September 11th is about to wipe the morning's toast disaster from each of their minds. Yes it's another 9-11 inspired piece of "art."
But it's done well.
This is not another ignorant country song to rally the nation against the bad-guys. This is a small and wonderful collection of normal moments, carefully crafted like a spider-web about to be blown away by an unseen force.
Included in this collection is an epilogue where Katharine herself becomes one of the characters and openly shares her account of the event without pretense or preachy opinions.
An enjoyable read.

We all have those moments when we sit back and think to ourselves, "Why am I not anywhere near where I thought I would be at this stage in my life". Then we try to think of what it was that went wrong. We attempt to pinpoint this life changing decision we made somewhere along the line that put us where we are today. Why do we do this? We are looking for someone to blame. The book Glimpses by Katharine Leis is a wonderful reminder that we are in control of our own lives even when it feels out of control. There is nobody to blame, but ourselves, if we are not headed in the direction of where we want to be. Life is too short to not be doing what we truly desire to do. We are reminded of this as we read about the daily lives of the ten different characters Ms. Leis descriptively describes and revealing their inner thoughts. Glimpses is not a book that I will keep lined up on my bookshelf with the rest. I have decided to pack it away with my Christmas/New Year's Eve decorations. This way I know I will start every year by rereading it and bringing back the revitalizing feeling that comes at the end of this book. Hopefully the feeling will last throughout the year.

What the author failed to address in her book when she touches upon the issue of "America's love affair with things british" is the "type" of person in America, who, in fact, is an anglophile. In America, only those who are hard line left and eltitist (socialist) express anglophilia tendencies; this group is often well-represented in the media and Hollywood which may be the reason why the author assumes it's a "national" obsession. The truth is, few Americans are concerned with the "culture" and happenings of a tiny island that has long lost any of its world importance. Besides, england has successfully latched onto the United States in many ways, one of which is to virtually claim all successes of America's as its own. Thererore, "things british" are in most cases "things American."

Contrary to Mr. Spinelli's assertion, not all Anglophiles are leftists; that's simply a ridiculous propostion. I, for instance, am VERY conservative and I admire England and aspects of the English charater GREATLY. To the extent America is a successful nations it is because of our ties to England (compare former English colonies to those of Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, etc.) it is to them that we owe our concept of a government of checks and balances, of juries, of civil rights, etc. Further, all REALLY good dog breeds come from England or were perfected there (e.g., the Labrador Retriever) and most of the worlds most widely played sports are English or of English origin (e.g., soccer, football, rugby, baseball, cricket) etc. Mr. Spinelli needs to lighten up. I regret to see that England, and the UK more generally, is leftward leaning and seems to have sucumbed in some measure to the same PC idiocy that infects the US and therefore even they seem to attack the wonder of their own histopry. Nevertheless, it' difficult to know something of English history and not be somewhat of an Anglophile, IMHO.

The age description is the reason I only gave this puzzle box set 3 stars. The puzzles are beautiful and would be wonderful for 2-4 year olds. I purchased this set for my 5 year old and it just "too pre-school" for a child this age. I do highly recommend it for your pre-schooler Angelina fan!

My three year old is in love with Angelina and puzzles. I gave this a shot despite it being listed for much older children. Because the pieces can be matched to pictures in the tray, with a little help, she is truly enjoying doing the puzzles. The only reason for not giving it 5 stars is that the pieces fit a little bit too snugly together -- the main source of frustration for her. Don't be scared off by the the listed age range if your littler one loves Angelina.

I am a beginner in learning the art of quilting and found this book exciting, inspiring and easy to follow with simple instructions. The patterns were inspiring and made me start on a project at once. The patterns are exciting in their beauty and limitless options and inspiring as they make you want to start immediately.

You will enjoy and treasure this book whether you are a beginner or an expert in the art of quilt making

A must for all lovers of quilting, this book by Katharine Guerrier has a number of beautiful designs which offer limitless possibilities of variations. The suggestions by the authour for interesting variations is both exciting and inspiring. The many possibilities presented based on the orginal Amish & Mennonite designs are beautiful to the eye in their presentation of colour and patterns, exciting for the quilter in the many possibilities presented and inspiring as the designs are with clear and easy guidelines. This book is sure to be of much value to any person interested in the art of quilting. It definetly is to me !

Katherine Merlin has written a handy small book about the psychology of the birthchart. I can hardly find anything psychological in her book and find her interpretations superficial and not indepth. Everything you can find in this book you will find it in another book too. If you are looking for real insightful astrology you should not read this book.

The author's premise is that astrology can give an understanding of the inner self.With this knowledge people can develop more control over their lives, and not be victims of fate, the past, or other influences.She offers a good outline of personal astrology, including planets in signs and aspects between planets.Her approach is positive, showing how hard aspects can be used for self development.This book, and Isabel Hickey's "Astrology a Cosmic Science", are the two books that have influenced me most in chart interpretation.

The pictures of the quilts in this book are great, but my problem is with the directions - there are too few of them!

The book assumes a lot on the part of the reader, so if you don't have at least 3 or 4 quilts under your belt, pass on this book. Its directions are confusing and it neglects to tell you how much fabric is needed for each project (something that's handy and useful to know when going to the fabric store).

Simply a delightful little book ideal for coffee-table or sewing room. It's bulging with all kinds of quilts-from traditional to modern for quilters of all levels of skills and tastes. There are many shortcuts and innovative ideas and methods, well-explained and illustrated. Almost all diagrams and all photographs are in colour which makes it a pleasure to read or browse through, making it especially excellent for readily and easily achievable projects for quilters frustrated by a hectic schedule. I love just looking through it!

This book relies on innuendo and loose causality to "prove" itself. Most of the sordid material relates to Ben Bradlee and Phil Graham, not to Katharine herself. One of the worst conspiracy theories ever constructed. Not edifying in any way. Read Katharine Graham's autobiography "Personal History," instead of this [garbage].

I have read this book and find it to be both entertaiining and informative.It works on the both the level of biography and media criitique. What Davis has done is to record the history of the Graham family fortune along with the liberal ideological adornments that almost makes the familiy and Katharine Graham somewhat sympathic personages. Almost is good choice with respect to this bunch. Because, as the author does so well in outlining the byzsantine grap for political influence of the Post and its owner, we become aware that the Graham liberalism follows the same path as described by J.S. Mill and smowhat more. Classic liberalism seeks power just as the conservative money class does but with a singular difference that ,it is the message not the methods that makes the difference between the two. The classic liberal, and Graham was cetainly cut from that cloth, wants to promote the cut of fairness, individual rights and the rule of law. In other words the liberal wants everyone to feel equal and that the game of capitalism is a fair game. Thus we have the Washington Post , guardian of fairness, publishing the Pentagon Papers, exposing America's shameful war. Or so goes the myth. But Davis puts the lie to this myth and exposes the CIA links and other covert operative connections in the Post. She exposes the CIA connection with Ben Bradlee, editor of the Post. As we now know, the media in America is far from free( and this applies so much so to the money class who own the media) but as Davis shows the media is infiltrated by government operatives ( especially at the national level) . So as anyone who reads this book will see the media and press must be taken with a grain of doubt.

A pretty good title, when you think of it. The Two Kates. Both German (or in Katharine's case, half- German), both with husbands who couldn't cut it and who died leaving power in their hands. Both loving secrecy and both believing that the full story wasn't necessary for the masses to hear. Is it outrageous that the first edition of this book was killed? Yes. After all, Ms. Davis wasn't one of Graham's reporters, to be brought to heel by an editor like Bradlee. Independent thought - how threatening to major media? Of course it is embarrassing to have someone question your motives in Watergate, the Post's most astounding triumph. Of course it is embarrassing to have your husband's suicide and prior mental illness discussed openly, along with his grandiose gaffs during the course of it. All very painful. And then to have your crusading editor, Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee described as an Old Boy with CIA/USAID ties, who helped ease the Rosenberg's into their electric chairs by conducting counter-intelligence in France in the 50's. The French were suspicious of our motives in executing these spies. The campaign of rhetoric which our secret government agencies conducted was to show that these were not political murders, but the normal workings of a democracy, not a totalitarian state. This is an appendix to the main work, but its purpose is to show Bradlee's access to something perhaps more powerful than the Nixon White House in its darkest, most paranoid hours. The thesis presented is that Nixon did not go because of the Watergate cover-up, but possibly because he (like the late Mr. Graham) was nuts and thus a security threat. Deep Throat is advanced as being known not just by Woodward (former Office of Naval Intelligence), but by Bradlee. In other words, the People still don't know the deeper story. Graham's family background is done deftly and intelligently. Her family had been able to connect with wealth and power from its first days in America, but also (through her mother, Agnes)with cutting-edge stylists and image-makers. Agnes seems to have fallen in love in late middle age with the emigre writer Thomas Mann, and to have exercised great psychological power over him. Agnes seems to have given the blessing to her daughter, and to have encouraged her to take over the Washington Post. The underlying mother-daughter story is of deep interest. In fact, Agnes almost seems to reach for power through her daughter, after resigning in alcoholic frustration from important affairs herself. This book is worth a few re-readings. It works on so many levels.It will have you questioning the Hollywood version of crusading reporters who work for well-entrenched media giants.

Herblock is old and in the way. His cartoons are not funny, are of low professional skill and epitomize the cheap shot of politics. Katherine Graham thought they were funny, I'm sure there are people who agree with Herblock's cartoons. This goes to show it takes all kinds and that poor taste will always be with us. Probably the poorest (best) example of Herblock's "art" was his memorial cartoon to Katherine Graham. It was the most mawkish cartoon I've ever seen and definitely shows how much he deeply appreciated her lack of control of him. The Washington Post would be a far better newspaper and journalistic institution if these two had never existed.

The single finest political cartoon image of a politician and the winner of our national "gut feeling" awareness award goes to Herblock's Richard Nixon rising from a casket with his dracula cape, fangs and 5 o'clock shadow just below the hands holding the wooden stake and mallet.

No, Nixon was still alive and kicking when Herblock did that commentary. He was trying to become an "elder statesman" and given his political history of rising from oblivion -- Herblock had him and us dead square.

Walt Kelly (Pogo) and Herblock were the seminal political cartoonists of the middle of the century. They are missed.

This -- all too short -- book covers the only a few highlights out of a 50 year career. Buy the book. Herblock is gone, but his insights will not fade.

GRO

The fact that Herblock's cartoons give conservative Republicans indigestion every time they're published should be one reason to buy this book. The fact that Herblock can be equally scathing of Democrats who wimp out on their responsibilities is another. Contrary to the assessment of the overly-partisan reviewer below, I maintain that Herblock is an equal-opportunity gadfly and, as this autobiography shows, one who has led an interesting life both at the Washington Post and away from it. Buy this book and piss off a conservative!

Despite an intriguing premise, Snare was ultimately a disappointment. Katherine Kerr is an accomplished writer and I've enjoyed both her Deverry fantasy series and her occasional forays in science fiction such as Polar City Blues. What's even more frustrating about Snare is that it's hard to identify just what didn't work. The plot about various factions of humans who end up stranded on an alien world is an intriguing one. How those various cultures have survived, i.e. Islamic, scientist, and "comnee" or specially designed humans, and interacted with each other and the alien ChaMeech seems like it would make for compelling reading. There are a number of interesting and sympathetic characters such as Zayn, Ammi, Loy, Jerzo, the Sibyl, etc. Yet as much as I cared about them, the story just dragged along.

One of the reasons things dragged was the split story. The reader follows two main groups of people as they both race to locate Jerzo Khan, a potential ruler in exile. Along the way the two groups occasionally interact but they are kept so conveniently seperated that it's hard to generate much conflict to drive the story. The one group is hoping to stop (they think) a deadly assassin and yet as we follow the assassin's tale, you realize that he isn't this bad person after all. You know he'll never kill the Khan, so the worries of the other group seem trival.

The plot is further stewed by the arrival of the alien ChaMeech who add more complications to the plot but never any real danger. They supposedly slaughtered a whole community of humans ages ago hich everyone knows about and resents, yet the characters are so noble they never have any doubts about hooking up with the aliens to hammer out their difference. Admirable? Certainly. Interesting? Not so much.

Ultimately the lack of real danger for most of the characters makes for boring reading. And the fact that they were almost all too good and noble for them to be interesting either. The crazy sorcerer doesn't seem to serve any purpose. He's sort of 'bad' without any motivations. I was also troubled by the haphazard feminist message that was once in a while tacked onto the plot. The culture Zayn was raised in is a patriarchal one, the woman kept secluded for the most part or relagated to minor roles, yet he doesn't have any problem with being the Spirit Rider's servant - I find that hard to believe. I find it also hard to believe that the Khanate would be so tolerant of the Tribes and their ways, yet they are. The reason the crazy sorcerer is 'bad' is because he not only does he attract followers and lead them on with false hopes for the future, he also rapes little girls too. At the beginning of the book there is a flashback to a woman saying the horses are freedom, a point that is dropped for the next 500 + pages, only to reappear at the very end as a point that the horses had made the women of the Comnee free. What!? I'd buy it if that had played a significant role in the story, but it doesn't really, so why was it included in the first place? As with the plot, potential cultutal conflicts ripe for drama end up coming to nothing.

So why, you're probably asking yourself, did I finish it? Mostly because I was intrigued by Zayn. He had actually done some bad things and in a way was trying to find himself, or maybe reinvent himself is a better desscription. The other stories felt incidental to his journey of self-discovery. He was the character with the most hang-ups, the most past, the most problems, therefore his story was worth readng about. An extremely flawed novel that could have been much, much more.

Entertaining book, good and original story line. After finishing the book I got the feeling that something was missing, though I still reckon its worth 2.5-3 stars. I think there probably wasn't enough focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the main characters and when the last "lock fire" command was sent I didn't feel that the suspense was built up enough. Also as another reviewer has mentioned, the inter-racial conflict seemed to dissipate too easily. Overall though I enjoyed it and would recommend it as a good winter (or summer if you're in the North) read.

Former Kazrak cavalry Captain Idres Warkannan and "high tech sorcerer" Yarl Soutan seek Jezro Khan, the exiled brother of the corrupt ruler of Kazrajistan, to lead a revolt to overthrow the worthless dangerous regime of his sibling. At about the same time, the fanatical Muslim sect The Chosen sends assassin Zayn Hassan to stop Jezro's rumored return.

To reach the isolated region where Jezro resides, the two enemy groups cross a grassy wilderness inhabited by the alien Cha'Meech and by human nomads. On his trek Zayn meets Ammadin, the Spirit Rider healer of a nomadic tribe. Not long afterward, he begins to wonder if his chosen profession and his current assignment are justified. Meanwhile the "magician" Soutan learns of the Hassan mission and his allies send out their assassins to kill their competitor. Soon the Cha'Meech encounter Ammadin, the first step towards the quartet of rivals confronting one another, but where this global conflict will lead to when the events unfold is anyone guess.

The key to this science fiction novel is that the four major societies are complex, feel genuine, and their rivalry definitely feels real. To achieve such a deep objective, segments of the plot slow down in order to introduce and develop the cast. Still the contrast between the groups and the varying ethic stands of the key players on each side of the square make for a meandering yet delightful world building tale that SNAREs the reader and never lets go until the final page.

Harriet Klausner

Upon reading this book, one gets the unmistakable impression that Edwards has gone a lot further than just trying to demystify Hepburn with "objective" opinions. While it never explicitly ridicules Hepburn, I think the tone is subtly anti-Hepburn. Indeed, praise for the great actress comes almost reluctantly, and often after the author has already expressed her own negative opinion, which permanently detracts from the Hepburn persona. (For eg, (1) The author's reasoning for Hepburn's defiance of contemporary fashion, (2) The strange correlation of the presence of (girlish?) stuffed toys in Hepburn's house with the idea that Hepburn might not have thought of herself as a strong woman.

It is quite clear that Hepburn has not been interviewed for this book. The title "A Remarkable Woman" itself seems contrived and shallow, when we read the last paragraph of the book, where the title is (unsatisfactorily) explained. I fear that a reader with no prior information about Hepburn, will come away with an incorrect picture of Hepburn as just another Hollywood actress, (with some redeeming quirks) who had her share of ups and downs. In my opinion, Andrew Britton's work (Katharine Hepburn, Star as Feminist), though not biographical, is the best critical appreciation of Hepburn's film roles and, by extension, of Hepburn, who was often described as transferring her own qualities to her roles, rather than completely adapting herself to them.

I found this book to be quite an in-depth view into the life of Katherine Hepburn, an elusive star. It offers a back-stage view of the life of an icon and the struggles and triumphs that are associated with that responsibility. I would definitly recommend this book to those interested in the genre.