This should have been an illustrated novel (bande desinee). (Pennac is an illustrator of Tardi BDs.) Vivid, memorable characterization, but marred by a kludgy, repetitive translation; misses wry and hits cute too often. The plot thrums along though suffers at the end from the same thing that marred "Smilla's Sense of Snow", a desperate sprint for the finish line. Writer blinded by science and hoping you'll believe the implausible ending. Still, fresh, barbed and imaginative.

If you're looking for a witty, breathtaking and original story, with deep things in it but which doesn't cry out loud "hey look I'm deep", with that little surreal touch that breaks into the reality, go for the Malaussène stories. This is the 3rd one. Start with the first "the scapegoat".(I read those in french, hope the translation is good).

The book text to me is rather boring explaining the obvious in the wonderful pictures it does include. However, I feel the book could have made even more use of photographs. The book does have wonderful pictures, but really didn't leave me with any ideas I could use. My partially biased opinion is based on the fact that I was looking for remodeling ideas for powerboats, and this book does tend to focus more on sailing yachts. My boating library could do with or without this one.

This is a gem of book, more devoted to the art of designing beautiful details and accomodations in yachts, than to aspects of naval design. It deals mostly with relatively large sailing boats. Offers very interesting insights into what is appropriate in interior design and decoration of a sailing yacht and what is not, i.e. the type of textile designs used in furniture that would make you sick with movement while underway. Full of photos the book covers details in almost every area of the deck and accomodations of top-of-the-line yachts. An interesting and artful addition to a design and decoration library. Full of beautiful ideas. Well worth the price.

Yes you can! is written by a Weight Watchers leader to give you tips and pointers to manage your weight. Rosalie shares her thoughts on how you can achieve your objectives. I found the book to be nicely written, and enjoyed her insights. However, I felt for the dollars Rosalie should have shared more thoughts! (The book is only 196 pages). In addition though the book was published in 1999 Rosalie gives examples using the old WW selection system, not the new 123 Success points system. Since it was so recently published I feel this should have been updated. On the other hand regardless of the system used her inspiration as a WW leader for 22 years is very valuable.

I agree with the reviewer above about the program information being outdated. However, the other advice and motivation is worth every penny! I could relate so much to this book, I could have laughed and cried at the same time! It's given me hope that trying to lose weight by going back to Weight Watchers is not hopeless! In the age of no-diet, and all the other programs that promise that you won't have to 'count anything' ever again, Weight Watchers is the only thing that will work for me! There is more to weight control than just counting points, it's also about creating new and healthier habits! Please do yourself a favor and pick up this book. You won't be sorry!

I found this book to be alot of fun. It gives ideas about lots of new things to try. The tips are each on their own page, and numbered. In addition to better brewing tips and tips on ingredients, there are ideas for fun things to do at homebrew club meetings, ideas for competitions, and even a story or two.

I really liked this book. The key word is fun.

Farber takes the first amendment and in an easy to understand fashion explains how the Supreme Court interprets laws regarding our free speech as American Citizens.

This text offers the reader an excellent overview of basic microcomputer concepts, and unlike many other books, it guides the reader through the actual construction of a microcomputer. It's packed with both theory and construction details. - Electrical Engineering Student UTK

I see there are many books at this site about the IRS and I haven't read the others, but I have read three of Pilla's books (when I had my own wee problem with some tax bills) and I find his writing style very understandable and helpful.

In the end, I did not use his advice because I was able to obtain the money I needed to pay the IRS, but I found his reassurances very comforting - that there were solutions to this problem of owing big money to Uncle Sam.

I also made a point to hear him (dan pilla) lecture (on the radio) and this guy just makes so much sense. His information is not theoretical but so very practical. Like - "okay, here's the deal...here's the first thing you need to do."

I would recommend this book to my friends. In fact, I loaned out a copy to someone who was having some problems. He said he wished he'd read it *before* the IRS garnisheed his wages for several years.

This book is a font of information -- everything you need to know about hiking in New Hampshire! The hiking trails have been well-researched, and the author evaluates the difficulty of each trail. Makes a great gift for the adventurer in your family!

For an impartial review of this book check:

K. Chibale, Synthesis, 2000, 10:1498

Although not the definitive volume on Adolf Wolfli, this is the most comprehensive and satisfying compilation of his work to date, including 186 illustrations and a collection of essays. As the title suggests, the book gives a well rounded view of his accomplishments as a draftsman, composer, writer, and poet. Wolfli, who is considered to be an artistic genius, is examined in the context of art history and as a psychological phenomenon.

The artist spent most of his life in Switzerland's Waldeau Asylum. The mystery surrounding his work is that he did not begin producing art until 4 years after being committed. Although he had no formal training as an artist and no previous interest in drawing, he spent his 35 years at Waldeau producing a prolific (almost unbelievable) amount of work. He created more than twenty five thousand pages of drawings, prose, and musical scores depicting imaginary travels, poetry, landscapes, intricate maps, philosophies, personal mythologies, scientific theories, complex mathematical systems, and cosmic battles. Wolfli worked in pencil on simple newsprint paper and then meticulously bound the pages into books. The quality of the work is impressive considering the inferior materials available in a hospital environment. He also seems to have predicted many of the ideas that have become popular in contemporary art, immortalizing Campbell's soup advertisement thirty years before Andy Warhol's infamous silk screen.

The work itself is rich with ornament and symbolism. It is as beautiful as it is compulsive and strange. The consistent theme in his paintings appears to be an autobiographical account with alternating realities. His crimes and other actual events are depicted along with a fantastic and exaggerated version of himself as the hero of an epic adventure. The essays speculate on the meaning of his illness in relationship to his art and seem to raise more questions than they answer. It is fascinating to read, and through these reproductions and insights, we are assured that understanding is not a requirement for appreciating Wolfli as an artist.