This little book provides a nice, quick glance at the myriad of "swamp" areas around the globe. It could serve as a good introduction to a wetlands unit for a lower elementary science teacher to read to his/her class or for individual reading by upper elementary students. Caitlin's descriptions, augmented by Watling's watercolors, offer children a basic knowledge of wetlands as well as an appreciation of their variety.

It's your average suspense/action story. In this day and age, that just doesn't support a book anymore.

The characters seem as though they were ripped straight from "Die Hard". There's the widowed New York cop with a drinking problem and a bad attitude. He has a friend/tutor (the only other man who still believes in him). And then there's the bad guy- an ex-military colonel set on revenge and wealth. You can't get any more redundant.

Even so, the author doesn't seem to understand who his creations really are. He doesn't describe them, he explains them- looking at them from a third-person point of view.

While reading the book, it seems as though Patterson was so focused on his idea of the bombing of Wall Street, he forsake all other elements. He often writes himself into corners, making the bad guys too good at what they do, so that the good guys can only find them through MANY strokes of luck.

The hows and whys are not explained. It is still unclear as to why New York was bombed and how the stolen money was used. Details throughout the book are lacking, so that I'm not even sure how the money was stolen in the first place!

The conclusion only blurs the picture more. What happens to our hero cop? DO the bad guys succeed? You sure can't tell from the way it was written. The chief bad guy isn't mentioned again until the Epilogue, almost as an afterthought.

The guns and explosions were put in great detail, but everything else is only as clear as a paper bag. Stereotyped New Yorkers and B-grade movie lines add to the pain. It's a crowded genre, go find a better book to read.

This was a great read of "classic" James Patterson. Originally released as "Black Market", Patterson's main character Arch Carroll might be eerilly reminiscient of the later Alex Cross, but if you ignore that than the book gets a whole lot easier to get through. The dating on the book is evident throughout. Not only in the ages of the characters, but the dates and pop culture references. Star Wars enthusiasts will guffaw at the line about "Revenge of the Jedi", which was the original title of Episode Six. A great book with enough of Patterson's patented twists and turns near the end to keep you turning those pages.

I saw that there was a "new" James Patterson paperback on the best seller list, so I rushed to the book store and purchased it. That night, I put aside the novel by another writer and anxiously opened Black Friday. "Whoa! This sounds familiar", I thought. "Ah, maybe this will be a book related to Black Market, an older book by Patterson. A new story that develops some of the characters we last saw in Black Market." But, alas, it is the same book with a new name and almost new cover. Boy, do I feel dumb and taken in.

Actually, it was a very good book with lots of great action when it was called Black Market. Why did the publishers think they needed to issue a slightly reworked issue under a new name? Now, I see from the write-ups at Amazon that his next "newest" is a rewrite of another old book. I'm sorry if James Patterson has writers block or something, or perhaps he died and I didn't hear about it. But don't fool us with new names for the same old good stuff we've read before.

If you haven't read Black Market, then get Black Friday. It's certainly worth the cover price.

Don't be seduced by this book's lavish cover or large-format, its 60-page color section or the considerable writing experience of the three authors. This book's potentially timely and valuable information is crippled by the publisher's decision to get this book on the shelves without benefit of the least editorial proofing.

Page after page of obvious problems completely undermine your confidence in the technical content. Statements like "The Times font is probably the most commonly used font written in languages using Arabic letters." (p114) surely won't convince you that the authors have something to teach you in the way of fontfaces.

Poorly thought-out and unimaginative illustrations have only a tenuous relation to text. Sometimes they have no relation. On p105, the authors "illustrate" the block nature of a list-item with a picture of Felix the Cat in a non-browser window labelled "Animated Gifs". Another example shows us Lotus Notes instead of Netscape.

It is clear that technical facts have not been thoroughly checked. This is very important in an area where published standards are not completely implemented and there are wide variations in the type of implementation across browsers and platforms. We are told that "font size (sic) and font weight (tsk tsk) are abbreviated using the slash (12pt/14pt)." No, font-size and line-height are abbreviated that way.

The book is poorly indexed, but that is normal for computer books. What is abnormal is that the color section, about one-third of the book, has not been indexed at all! Especially amusing was the 5 full-color pages gushing about Time Magazine's exemplary use of style sheets *without one line* of code to back up the authors' esteem.

No, this is one beautiful book best admired from afar.

With the introduction of the Microsoft and Netscape 4.0 series Web browsers new and exciting Web development design options have arrived on the scene. Touted as a method of quickly designing and updating HTML documents, Style Sheets programming promises an easier and quicker way to produce cutting-edge results!

The authors demonstrate throughout this book some really innovative approaches to designing Websites. Readers will learn how to creatively add color to their Web pages, how to set margins as never before, how to prescisely control element positioning. how to indent text, how to manage font properties, and more. Readers will learn how to graduate from basic HTML to this higher level of programming challenge! Actual Websites and sample Web pages are provided to demonstrate this latest concept in Web design.

The book features plenty of sample exercises readers can work through. They provide a variety of layout options and illustrations of style and structure. The CD that accompanies the book is loaded with all of the sample style sheets source code from the book as well as software programs allowing immediate implementation of Style Sheets programming.

Coriolis rates this book for intermediate through advanced users. I concur. Beginners will have a difficult finding their way through this book but the rewards can be great for those who can master this Web development programming tool!

While I know what Web Services are and how they could help me, the code examples in the book are really bad. For one, it feels that some of the code was written by one person and explained by another. Also, the lack of continuity in code style decreases after each chapter (obviously from all the different people that wrote this thing). Some of the introduction chapters were well written, only because they didn't talk about code so much. This book's major failure was the lack of case studies. So Wrox.. with no case studies or quality examples, why should we buy your cheap book?

I think it's a nice book, good job! It introduces wide range about the relationship between PHP and the web services, it's a good base to start. However I have to tell, that there are some bugs (or the descriptions are not clear, don't know) in the example sources, for example I've found one in the chapter about security (Chapter 6).

This is a problem, but with it, I still could recommend this book for everybody not familiar with Web Services, and would like to learn all the related technologies. As it is true at other books, too: you can learn all these things from the web, but you can just find these together in this (or other) book, and you can read it conveniently at your bed with your girlfriend. :)

The content in this book simply rawks - all the latest information on how you can do web services using PHP.There is a wealth on information on how you can use PHP and SOAP (using popular libraries such as NuSOAP, PEAR::SOAP and ezSOAP), PHP and SOAP's front-runner (XML-RPC), how you can discover web services using UDDI. Infact, there is a quality library for PHP::UDDI, that was created for the book, and which the authors have very kindly hosted on sourceforge (phpuddi.sourceforge.net/).

This is *the* book on the subject. Check it out today.

I'm not sure exactly how this guy came up with his criteria for what to include in this book and what to leave out. There is no Kurt Vonnegut, no Toni Morrison, no Saul Bellow, and no J.D. Salinger. Morrison and Bellow are both Nobel laureates in "20th century fiction"! And Salinger's first edition of Catcher in the Rye is probably one of the most sought-after books in this category. On top of this, the book is full of editorial errors. Not worth the trouble.

a very shoddy and error-filled attempt at a reference manual for modern firsts. has peter benchley, but not james ellroy, dean koontz, but not dennis lehane, micheal dorris, but not robert crais. a waste of money.

Some useful info but it's absurd that this is a "2000 edition" and covers books up to about 1993! What did he do when he updated this book, close his door and stay inside from 1993 to 1999 writing this book, ignoring any books written after 1993? Weird.

What boggles my mind is how few books there are on pricing and grading first edition books, and the ones that do exist are not very good, including Aherns. Why can't someone come out with a decent one like they do for comic books (Overstreet, etc)?

This being about the only Dakota-English dictionary still in print makes it good enough. But there are a lot of words you will not find in here, and forget about help for which tenses to use. It is limited, often frustrating, but it is the only one. I also had to purchase the English-Dakota dictionary, because for some ridiculous reason (most dictionaries provide both (Forgein Language)-English & English-(Forgein Language)translations in ONE book) this dictionary only goes one way, so you have to buy another one to get the rest! Annoying & Expensive!

You may find some of these essays interesting because of the historical material (i.e., quotes from GA's and other church teachings and historical details), but, in general, the essays cover topics far too obtuse to be of interest to the general reader. However, if you are interested in 'deep theological questions,' you may find the discusssions interesting.

I received the scrapbook a week before christmas and I was so excited. I thought it would of showed pictures of how they made the mummy... maybe a couple of pictures and about the CGI and everything but it only did a resume about the movie "The Mummy" and say a couple of egyptian facts here and there. Also, I only found 1 quote from an actors point of view (from Arnold Vosloo) in this VERY THIN scrapbook of 48 pages and they didn't even write his name right! His pictures were sexy but they could of embellish this book with a bit more information and quotes from the actors themselves...

About three years ago, I wrote a review of James Patterson's When the Wind Blows. Honestly, I thought the book was horrible. The story was not captivating like his Alex Cross works and I considered his venture into fantasy unredeemable.

Regardless, I bought The Lake House knowing it was the sequel to this dismal affair. Upon opening the cover, I read Patterson's preface which indicated that When the Wind Blows is his most popular book. He notes that those who did not like it probably just didn't understand fantasy blah blah blah. I assume he read my review and concoted this foreward of sorts in response.

But I digress. . . . The Lake House is markedly better than When the Wind Blows but still not Patterson's best work by far. The story picks up with the custody trial of the six bird-kids - Icarus, Oz, Max, Peter, Wendy and Matthew. Frannie(the veterninarian and narrator) and Kit (the FBI agent/former beau) are asserting their rights to custody against the natural parents. Before we are twenty pages into the book, the trial goes south and so do the birds - with their natural parents. Meanwhile we also learn of a strange institution obliquely called "The Hospital" where Dr. Ethan Kane is running some mysterious experiments on humans. We also learn that he is after the bird kids.

Part Two (Flying Lessons)describes the birdies efforts to fit in with normal kids. We learn that either Max is clearly much older than her 12 human years in bird years. It is not clear how old she is but she has obviously "matured." Strangely, she somehow has knowledge of The Hospital which only becomes clear later.

Eventually, in Part Three (House Calls), Dr. Kane's men make their efforts to get the bird kids. I won't reveal what happens but let's just say it is not exactly clear what happens. We continue to learn more vague details about the experiments but it is never clear exactly how the experiments (called The Resurrection) work. Even in the end of the book, you are not sure whether the experiment involves cloning, organ replacement or what. It should be more clear - I mean the President of the U.S. is a participant! It is very disappointing. Patterson's efforts to create a potential for yet another sequel (and obviously more money if this is his most popular storyline) are so transparent and take away from what could have been an excellent story. When the dust settles, not suprisingly, one bird is down and so is a clone or two. There is not enough detail to really make the reader care.

In summary, I feel like Patterson is just churning em out as quick as he can to ensure that he has two or three books a year. This was better than When the Wind Blows and for that reason and that reason alone, I give it two stars. In my opinion, its time for Alex Cross to die, the Murder Club to disband and the bird kids to fly south. I really enjoyed The Jester and would like to see some new directions from the author who wrote the original and classic Along Came a Spider. I hope we see more quality works in the future.

The flying children are back in a non-stop thriller.

Max, and her group of winged pals have escaped the horrors of government experimentation at a place called "the school." Now, living among the civilized world for the first time, Max and crew long to be reunited with Kit Brennan and Frannie O'Neill, the couple that rescued them, and at long last return to the lake house, the cabin of safety for the winged children. Unfortunately things will not go smoothly and the children will battle for their lives.

As a legal battle ensues over the custody of the children, Max realizes her worst nightmare is about to become reality as a survivor from the destroyed "school" has re-surfaced with a sinister plot.

Max, Matthew, Icarus, Oz, Peter, and Wendy, with the help of Kit and Frannie must fight for their lives while staying one step ahead of a monster set out to destroy the future of human existence.

'The Lake House' is the thrilling sequel to 'When The Wind Blows.' From the prologue to the last page you are held captive by science, action, interesting characters and surprising plot twists in this fantastic thriller that stretches the imagination. Only at the hands of James Patterson can a story of winged children be an entertaining page-turner. Trademark short chapters, and shocks at every turn keep things cooking as you race to the satisfying climax.

Once again, James Patterson scores a bulls-eye with a novel that's sure to please his fans, and land at the number one spot on all the bestseller lists.

Nick Gonnella

The children from When the Wind Blows are back. In the sequel, we catch up with the children as they're part of a bitter custody battle.

Frannie and Kit aren't their real parents but know the children aren't your typical kids. They're special. Different. But the biological parents want their kids back.

Maximum, Ozymandias, Matthew, Icarus, Peter and Wendy aren't just your average kids. They can fly. And they're really part human, part bird as the result of torturous experiments they suffered at the School.

But when their flock is broken up, Frannie slips into a deep depression. Kit attempts to move on with his life, without Frannie and the children. The children struggle to fit in even though they're so awkwardly out of place that it hurts.

Pretty soon some old habits of the evil kind come into play and the kids are running, or flying, for their lives. There's only one place they truly feel safe and it's far away. Almost out of reach. The Lake House.

As they fight just to stay alive, they learn there's a bigger reason they're being pursued. It's not just because they're scientific phenomenons. They're needed to carry on a much bigger role. One that extends to everyone from past presidents to geniuses.

If you're expecting an Alex Cross novel, this isn't it. Readers coming to the book looking for the fiction that drives our favorite James Patterson character are going to be disappointed. But if you can look at the novel itself, with none of those stereotyped expectations that this is going to be the type of Patterson novel you're used to, then you're in for a good read. If you haven't read When the Wind Blows, you'll want to pick up a copy before you dive into The Lake House.

As a amateur historian specializing in ancient cultures such as the Romans, I found this book to be nothing but pure fiction. While the authors do make it seem as though these events could be true, a little common sense tells the intelligent reader that they are not. What I found even more incredulous was that the authors give absolutely no sources for their information. On the other hand, this piece does work as a pornographic salute to the Romans. Hilarious but not true at all would best describe this book. If you are a fan of murder, sodomy, beastiality, and lurid female conduct then buy this book. If you are more interested in the facts of the ancient Romans, then avoid it like a Lybian lion going for the anus of a young slave.

Caligula: Divine Carnage capitalizes on our enduring fascination with the excesses and perversities of the "bad" Roman emperors. The Foreword promises that this book "eschews the mind-numbing minutiae of politico-military history and instead brings the glorious, often shocking decadence of Ancient Rome to bloody, pulsating life." Indeed, drawing from the usual contemporary sources and biographies as well as from "newly-excavated documents," authors Stephan Barber and Jeremy Reed attempt to reconstruct the lives of a few of the more notorious Caesars in a graphic and direct manner.

The fundamental problem with Caligula: Divine Carnage is that it doesn't seem to fit into any useful literary category. The book never makes its intentions clear; it is neither pure history nor straight entertainment, and as such, it is difficult to identify an audience that it will fully satisfy.

As history, it certainly presents some interesting facts, but since it lacks footnotes or even a bibliography, it is impossible to follow up on most of its novel claims or even to verify whether they are true. The book definitely poses as a work of non-fiction, but some of the claims are so outrageous, that even to readers who are not especially well versed in Roman history might seem suspect. If any of the "facts" are indeed unfounded, then this book does the supreme disservice of misleading naive readers in the guise of a credible history. At the very least, the authors should explain themselves when they venture far from the consensus of the standard sources.

As entertainment, the book is actually quite successful. Barber's vivid treatment of Caligula and the arena would make enthralling fiction and the thought that it is true makes it all the more fascinating. With the possible exception of the final chapter, there is never a dull moment in the text. Some of the qualities that make the book fail as history are actually beneficial to its entertainment value. Dates and detailed historical background are included only when necessary to the context of the book's theme. It is definitely an easy read.

One aspect of the text that limits its appeal to either serious historians or casual readers is its excruciatingly colorful language. There are many examples, which I will not repeat here, of language that borders on offensive and which definitely disqualifies the text from being used in the classroom setting. Sensitive readers are advised to stay away. Especially problematic is the fact that the book is neither marketed nor jacketed in a way that indicates the rawness if its language. There are many readers who are interested in learning about the subject matter promised by the cover, but it is not until a few pages into the text that the reality of the portrayal is revealed. On a scale of offensiveness, I would place this publication near the un-edited Caligula of the Bob Guccione variety.

Another weakness of the book is the dramatic shift in tone that occurs in the last chapter. Jeremy Reed, who authors this single chapter, discards the abrasive language found in the rest of the book. Instead, he descends into indecipherable psychobabble in search of the true motivations for the young emperor Heliogabalus's ridiculous behavior. This chapter really would be best published elsewhere, for readers who appreciate it will probably not enjoy the others and vice versa.

In summary, I would most recommend this book only to casual enthusiasts of Roman history who have a healthy sense of skepticism and a strong stomach, and for whom Seutonius is too restrained. Even for these readers, there are doubtlessly more reputable sources to visit first, and doing so would probably be prudent. Caligula: Divine Carnage is an interesting and thoroughly entertaining work, but suffers some substantial weaknesses that limit its usefulness in most conventional categories.

THIS BOOK IS HILARIOUS!!!

Especially if you know anything about the subject, because it is so tragically inacurate. This is thinly disguised pornography written by two [individuals] whose only resources were an encyclopedia article and a copy of the Bob Guccione movie. This book is also Exhibit A in the case against ever allowing an Englishman anywhere near a word processor.

So much of this book is brazen [material] ' ... ' but in a sick way that's part of the charm.

This book HAS to be a joke ' just check out the description of how to capture a lion on p. 78: 'Armies of slaves were expended to capture those majestic beasts ' they were impervious to tranquilizer arrows, and the only way to subdue them was for a particularly handsome slave to present his [body] to the lion's mighty sexual apparatus; then, once the act of copulation (which invariably proved terminal for the unfortunate slave, due to unsustainable blood loss) reached its critical point and the lion was momentarily distracted, a gang of a hundred or more whooping slaves would wrestle the lion to the ground and throw a net over it.'

Whew!

I'll be generous and say that 5% of this book is historically accurate. But sometimes the guys weren't even trying to be real. We are presented with page upon page describing Caligula at various Coluseum events, but unfortunately in their 5 minutes of research the authors missed the fact that Caligula died in 41 and the Coluseum wasn't built until 80!

To an extent, that is what is so purplexing about this: given the vast wealth of dirt and absurdity that are amply documented about Rome's nuttiest Emperor, it is a mystery why these two buffoons would chose to go into uncharted territory and brazenly make up lurid fiction. The only solution I can fathom is that this is a straight-faced joke.

If you know nothing about Caligula and actually want to learn, avoid this book like the plague and get a *real* book. But for a good laugh, check it out.

I have also discovered it is possible to make a drinking game out of it. Get a case of beer, and a copy of this book. Take a sip every time some historical 'fact' is presented that is obviously wrong. Take a swig every time a sex act is referenced, and pound the rest of the can upon the use of the term 'plebeian scum.'

You'll be wasted before you finish a chapter.