Axel of Evil (Berkley Prime Crime Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

score 9s and 10s for this superb figure skating murder mystery

Axel of Evil (Berkley Prime Crime Mysteries)
Alina Adams
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0425206858

Book Description

When a Russian figure skating coach collapses during a practice and is pronounced dead, reporter Bex Levy has a hunch it's cold-blooded murder--on ice.

Customer Reviews:

score 9s and 10s for this superb figure skating murder mystery.......2006-01-03

In 1977 Moscow, fourteen years old Russian figure skating superstar Igor Marchenko defects to America. A few years later, he wins the only American gold figure skating medal at the 1982 Winter Olympics. After he retired Igor became a coach, but never returned to his homeland until now at forty-two years old, as coach of the 2005 U.S. Ladies' Silver Medalist, Jordan Ares competing in the "U.S. vs. Russia: A Figure Skating Challenge" event.

On the first day of practice in Moscow Igor collapses and dies in the Natzionalnaya Arena. 24/7 Sports Network researcher Rebecca "Bex" Levy agrees with officials MURDER ON ICE occurred. The evidence points towards Igor's long time American rival Gary Gold, coach of Jordan's prime U.S. challenger Lian Reilly. However, Bex thinks that is hometown judging so she makes inquiries of the Russian skating team and the facility management and staff. As Bex skates closer to the truth, she finds herself ON THIN ICE from an unknown assailant.

The third Bex Levy figure skating cozy is a terrific tale that highlights the changes since the late 1970s between Russian and American relations subtly displayed by two New York Times headlines (in the novel that is): 1977's "Defection" and 2005's "Murder". The first showcases the glee and despair of the Cold War adversaries while the second represents the western media's present ability to investigate what happened to Igor. As the evidence piles up making Gary the golden suspect, only Bex has doubts as she looks at who else would have motive; anyone in the facility had means and opportunity. Fans will score Alina Adams with 9s and 10s for her superb figure skating murder mystery.

Harriet Klausner

Book Description

This magical tale "will not be easy to put down," raved Booklist. "The Great Hunt suggests that [The Wheel of Time] will be the definitive exploration of Tolkien's territory for many years to come. Jordan can spin as rich a world and as event-filled a tale as the master."Since they were boys, Rand and his friends have heard the tales of the Great Hunt of the Horn. Fabulous tales of hunters and of a legendary horn that can raise the dead heroes of the ages.But no sooner is the horn found then it is stolen.And Rand begins a quest to find the horn. It's "a grippping story," according to VOYA. "Recommended."

Customer Reviews:

amazing book.......2006-07-22

i think this series is amazing and the illustrations really explain alot. i recomend this for readers of all ages. you'll love it

Relax People!.......2005-11-12

I'm getting tired of hearing everyone whine and complain about this series. Put simply the Wheel of Time books are amazing. If you have the time and are interested in reading them, you should.

That said, this book is the first half of the second novel. While some people may see this as a huge corrupt money-making scheme, this is actually a good idea. Many people turn away in horror when they see a novel that is longer than a couple hundred pages. Printing the books like this makes it easier for the story to spread and gain popularity because more people will be willing to read it. And everyone who read the second novel already and was foolish enough to buy this because they got excited when they saw another Wheel of Time product, stop whining, it was your own fault.

I understand why people are frustrated that RJ has not yet completed the series, however, everyone just has to relax. RJ has written 11 novels of this series already as well as a prequel. Hopefully he will finish the series sometime but everyone should stop complaining and realize that RJ has already given us a great gift and he'll finish it when he has nothing left to say. Be thankful for the long novels you've gotten already. I've been happy with every one.

Thank you,
Maxximus

Not-so-great "Hunt".......2005-01-26

Sometimes a hit isn't as good as the second time around. Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series debuted in the slow, ponderous "Eye of the World." The follow up is "The Great Hunt," with a slightly better plot and some Machievellian intrigues, but the first half "The Hunt Begins: The Great Hunt, Part 1" only illuminates Jordan's many writing flaws.

Rand and company have arrived at the home of the Aes Sedai, the female sorceresses who now hold his fate in their collective hands -- because he can do magic, albeit by accident, they might "gentle" him. What he doesn't know is that Moraine and the Aes Sedai leader, the Amyrlin, are secretly plotting to keep him safe -- because they suspect he is the Dragon Reborn.

All the Aes Sedai intrigues are interrupted when the stronghold is invaded by trollocs and a Myrdraal -- and a message for Rand is scrawled on the wall in blood. Turns out that they were stealing the legendary Horn of Valere, which can raise dead heroes. So Rand and his friends -- including Mat, whose life is bound to a stolen dagger -- go out in search of the horn.

Robert Jordan's books are slow. Really slow. Incredibly slow -- the hero, Rand, spends a hundred pages fretting about something that never happens. He spends an entire chapter getting dressed. Long books -- Dosteyevsky, Thackeray, Tolkien -- are often good things, richly nuanced and full of intricate plotting. But Jordan just seems to be describing everything in detail.

The plot itself has promise -- the action scenes tend to be swift, gritty and tense; the idea of a stolen horn that can raise the dead is an intriguing one. But between it is endless pages of quibbling and personal tics, as well as dozens of minor characters who have no bearing on the plot. For example, Jordan introduces countless Aes Sedai, but only two other than Moraine have any plot purpose.

Sadly, Jordan's writing isn't up to the challenge -- he reads like a second-rate pulp writer. The force of ultimate evil is called Shai'tan (can't he come up with a better name?), and just stops short of cackling out loud. The characters all interact by flirting or bickering, usually with women expressing disdain for the men. Jordan devotes a great deal of attention to the jewelry and clothing of the characters, even devoting a paragraph to a piece of Moraine's jewelry.

The characters are more like a collection of tics and personality flaws than actual people -- Rand spends all his time worrying, but breaks out long enough to be a hero. Nynaeve and Egwene pull their hair and snipe, while Perrin feels inferior and Mat flirts. Of all the characters, Moraine is the only one who comes across as a person, especially since she keeps most of her plans to herself.

"The Great Hunt" is one of those fantasy books that could have been quite good if about three hundred pages had been whittled out of it. As for "The Hunt Begins: The Great Hunt, Part 1," it's half of a bloated fantasy sprawl.

The Great Hunt is still classic.......2005-01-12

Okay, so this is NOT a new addition to the WOT series. It's the 1st half of the 2nd book in the Wheel of Time series.

As a parent who has enjoyed (at least up through Book 6), the Wheel of Time series, I have been pleased that the publishers have broken up the books-- otherwise, my teenage son would not even dream of tackling 700 or 800 pages. I purchased "From the Two Rivers" for him. He devoured that and moved onto "Into the Blight." Now it's time for "The Hunt Begins." Truthfully, I could never have gotten him to read "The Eye of the World" because of its girth.

To the other reviewers and prospective buyers-- you should be aware of what you are purchasing-- the title clearly states that this is Book 2, Part 1-- if you already have read Book 2 then you don't need to but this!

Can You Spell: RIP-OFF?!!.......2004-10-20

If you can, then retitle this book as the biggest money grabbing RIP OFF i have ever come across. I have been anxiously waiting for closure to TEN THICK NOVELS i have lived with, dreamt with and toiled with the characters within. Is the end of this series on the horizon??? Can't tell for sure since the author is too busy repackaging in small bites a cash grab from his once loyal fans. I understand he may be hoping to pull in the ages 9-12 youth readers, but why not FINISH THE SERIES first!!!
Please Goggle his fan page or website and LET HIM KNOW you are NOT WELL PLEASED.
Signed, Horribly Disappointed

Book Description

Surviving an Eating Disorder became an instant success when it was first published in 1988, not just because it was among the first books to alert America to the serious dangers of a silent but widespread disease, but because it offered effective solutions and support for family and friends of those with eating disorders. Eight years after its publication, the book continues to sell briskly and generate continuing interest from readers.

This new edition has been revised to address the cutting-edge advances made in the field of eating disorders, discuss how the changes in health care have affected treatment and provide additional strategies for dealing with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. It also includes updated readings and a list of support organizations. Without a doubt the best book on the subject, it is required reading for those suffering from eating disorders, their families and professionals.

Customer Reviews:

Target audience: the ED uneducated.......2007-06-29

I was surprised to read the reviews for this book. It is actually effective at what it is designed to do: teach friends and family of those who have an ED about the condition. It is not for those who have had a college course in body image disorders or those who are currently seeking treatment - there are much better resources available that will be of a much higher interest to you and will have more in depth info.

I mailed this book to my mother, mother-in law, and college friend when I decided to go into recovery. It is small and unassuming. It is easy to read. It isn't threatening or verbose. I think its a good start in the right direction.

Very informative.......2007-01-09

This was recommended by my daughter's physician and I found it to be the most informative of the very many books on ED that I have read.

Definitely not for sufferers.......2002-02-08

I got this book without reading the subtitle (Strategies for Family and Friends). I thought it might help me with Binge-Eating problems. It didn't. In fact, I got very bored. It was sickeningly boring and only discussed how to handle things if you weren't really all that involved.

First of all, it's my experience with any kind of mental health problem that you can't give a person help if they don't want the help. They have to make a conscious effort to choose to get help. This book somewhat bypasses this whole thing.

Second, it states what you typically see in an Anorexic -- loss of weight, not eating, etc. Okay, who doesn't know this? If you didn't know this, then you probably wouldn't be picking up the book in the first place.

I really don't think this book would be helpful if I had a friend or family member with an eating disorder. It's very unhelpful in my personal opinion.

Skip this book!

written specifically for family and friends.......2001-12-16

This is a good book designed for the friends and family of eating disorder sufferers. Before I gave this book to my familiy, I read it myself. I liked that the authors suggested therapy/counseling for friends and family, who can sometimes feel helpless watching their loved one suffer with an eating disorder. There was also a lot of focus on parents. That's good for many, but my family is not a problem in my case. When I gave this book to my family, I told them to ignore that chapter since it did not pertain to us. The information provided within the book helped my family understand what I'm going through, and for that I am thankful. I didn't know how to get the words out to explain the eating disorder. This book helped me tell my family of my disorder.

A powerful book with outstanding perspective.......2001-11-25

The quality and truth of this book shocked me. It talked of experiences in the exact way that I myself would explain them, except with a professional yet warm perspective. I could not put it down from the moment I started it. I would recommend this book to people going through such trauma as well as people looking for inspirational and enlightening reading material.

My Naked Truth: Surviving Depression and Bulimia

Average customer rating:

Refreshingly honest!
Severely Disappointing
The worst I've read
It touched my soul
Dissapointed.

My Naked Truth: Surviving Depression and Bulimia
Ximena Veliz
Manufacturer: Franklin Street Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Depression | Mental Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 159299010X

Book Description

Writing from the heart, Ximena opens up with her most intimate struggles of depression and bulimia. She chronicles the daily and nightly battles she faced year after year until she found peace. As a friend, Ximena encourages those who find themselves facing their own hurdles with the simple message, "The only thing I will not stop repeating over and over again is, don't give up. Keep going, keep on fighting. You're worth every effort. You deserve it and somehow you know it."

Customer Reviews:

Refreshingly honest!.......2006-09-24

I read this book without any expectancies whatsoever, and found it to be refreshingly honest! While the writer's uninhibited style may shock, her lifestory is inspiring and heart warming. It was written as is, with no artificial ingredients. A must read for anyone who is interested in human beings and human feelings.

Severely Disappointing.......2006-04-29

An avid reader of books of all types, including ones such as this, I was originally thrilled to come across this book. But once I picked it up, I had to force myself to the very end, which is not usually the case. In a word, awful; and I hope that it may have been due to translation. Where was the editor? Choppy and simple, it is not worth picking up because there are so many other more poignant novels of the same genre out there.

The worst I've read.......2004-10-10

I've read a lot of books on eating disorders and this one is by far the worst one I've read. I'm assuming English is not the author's first language because a lot of the book didn't seem to make sense. I was really excited to read this book, since I struggle with bulimia and depression, but I was really disappointed.

It touched my soul.......2004-03-19

There are so many self-help books, this is one with a big difference: it will touch your soul. By baring her own struggles, Veliz shows us all how to cope with our own shortcomings and how to be true to one's self and listen to our own inner voice. It is only then that we can celebrate our own special talents. Her journeys and triumphs make for fascinating reading.

Dissapointed........2003-11-25

I got this book because I struggle with bulimia myself but found it to be more about her relationships with her family, her son, and her ex-husband than about her relationship with her bulimia. The writing style was hard to follow and confusing, which made the plot hard to follow as well and dissapointing. While it is a story of strength and courage, it isn't as focused on bulimia as it leads itself to be.

Average customer rating:

Surviving an Eating Disorder Strategies
Michelle Siegel
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OF16XG

Average customer rating:

SURVIVING AN EATING DISORDER
SIEGEL
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEVGM8

Average customer rating:

Great cookbook

Amazing book!!!!

Excellent cookbook

Some fundamentals are still missing...

New Wife

Taste of Romania: Its Cookery and Glimpses of Its History, Folklore, Art, Literature, and Poetry (New Hippocrene Original Cookbooks)
Nicolae Klepper
Manufacturer: Hippocrene Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
European | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Mythology | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Culture | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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The Art of Romanian Cooking

Romania: An Illustrated History (Illustrated Histories)

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ASIN: 0781807662

Customer Reviews:

Great cookbook.......2007-10-03

This is a fantastic book. So many of the recipes I remember from my mother's and grandmother's cooking. It's also nice to get a little bit of a history lesson, along with Romanian poems and folktales. I purchased it for my daughter and sons. Since I left Romania at 15 (over 18 years ago), it's nice to remember some of the Romanian cooking I grew up with.
Now, if I could only get my American husband to try some of the recipes, that would be a victory indeed. :o)

Amazing book!!!!.......2007-01-10

I am Romanian and have lived in the US for just a short time. I got this book as a Christmas gift for my mother in law who is American. She loved it and wants to try cooking some of the recipes in there!!! It has great traditional recipes and some history lessons to help a novice understand Romanian culture. I was so happy to find the book on amazon and I recommend it to anyone who wants to explore Romanian culture.

Excellent cookbook.......2002-09-22

This book is an all-around great cookbook. To be honest, I had never heard of Romanian cuisine before and picked up the book on a whim. I'm glad I did because the book introduced me to a delicious culture that I had never sampled before. The recipes in the book are grouped into the following chapters: appetizers, salads, egg dishes, soups, polenta, fish dishes, meat dishes, poultry dishes, vegetable dishes, dumplings, sauces, desserts, wines, preserves, and Jewish dishes. I found good recipes in each chapter, some fancy, and some that can be whipped up in minutes. Interspersed throughout the book are short history lessons about Romania, fairy tales, and poetry, as well as Klepper's comments explaining the cooking culture. The book also includes a bibliography, a place and personal name index, and English recipe index, a Romanian recipe index, a brief pronunciation guide, an English-Romanian-French food dictionary, and even an American-British food dictionary (surprisingly useful!). If you're looking for a Romanian cookbook, this is a great one. And if you're just looking for some interesting and tasty new recipes, you'll find some here.

Some fundamentals are still missing..........2001-09-05

Somehow, everyone in Romania seems to believe that their heaviest food is also the tastiest. In Romanian restaurants both in Romania and accross the US, in cookbooks -- all I'm finding are the stuffed grape or cabbage leaves, the pork products, the mamaliga. What happened to all those seasonal (in Romania) meals centered around the great vegetables that abound in Spring, stuff that a family would actually eat everyday at home? The light and flavorful zuchinni with yoghurt, the spinach puree, all the many ways to prepare mushrooms, celery roots, even the lowly potatoe? The great sour soups that wake one up with their taste? What about some of the staples, like bors (not to be confused with Russiona borscht), the sour grain vinegar that is so good in those soups? Or all the pickled vegetables that spice up ones winter meal? Also, there are all the holiday preparations, such as a stuffed goose, duck on sourkraut, and, for the kids, the "sweet bites", sort of like a gingerbread cracker, but thicker and with a soft, molasse-like consistency (turta dulce for those of you out there who know :-)...
I'm not a great Romanian cook myself and I bought this book hoping to fill in some of my childhood favorites. It does do a good job of the recipes it presents. I handed the stuffed grape leaves recipe to the chef in charge at my wedding and it ended up being a favorite with my (mostly non-Romanian) guests!
The other complain I have is that some of the ingredients have been "adapted" to suit most American supermarkets. I won't complain about getting some of the fat out (although most of it stayed...) but what about the tarragon, the lovage, dill --they're all available here, with a bit of effort. Why not do what many asian cookbooks do and require the original ingredient, with an easy-to-find alternative where in doubt? And what about those simple salads that "parsley-up" and liven up any Romanian family's dinner?
Maybe it depends on the region -- Transylvania does have its share of heavier food, and with no outlets to the Black Sea, people there don't really enjoy eating fish. But Romanian cuisine has so many other flavors that I constantly see neglected, yet they are the easiest to include in a balanced diet...
And a final word of praise: the romanian wine list at the end is worth the price of the book -- and brings the stars rating to 4. I've been looking for something similar for a while, and I was really glad to find it in this book.

New Wife.......2001-06-08

I just married a Romanian while he was on tour in the U.S. for six months. Having only been here for a year he was terribly homesick. After ordering the book I was able to surprise him with a full Romanian meal, and it was so easy! Highly, highly recommended!

Book Description

Princess Royal Island--an uninhabited spot of land off the coast of British Columbia--is the home of the rare Kermode bear, a variety of grizzly bear. Also called the white, ghost or spirit bear, it has long been the subject of myth, curiousity and fascination to humans. Until recently, these animals had never been exposed to civilization. Now reissued with an introduction by the author, Spirit Bear is the story of Charles Russell's quest to forge a unique relationship of mutual trust with the rare spirit bear of Princess Royal Island. Russell was on the island to help Jeff and Sue Turner with their film, Island of the Ghost Bear. During the course of the shoot, he became intrigued with, and eventually befriended the shy young Spirit Bear who was the subject of the film. Russell has spent many years studying bears in their natural habitat. In this book he describes his early encounters with bears in the Rockies and Alaska, shared with his father, well-known writer Andy Russell, and his encounters with grizzlies in British Columbia's Khutzeymateen Valley. This wonderful book, which is illustrated with 100 breathtaking colour photographs, is part of an ongoing effort by conservationists to save Princess Royal Island as a sanctuary for the Kermode bear.

Customer Reviews:

Spirit Bear:Encounters with White Bear of the Western Rainforest.......2007-10-02

amazing photographs and experiences by author. I did not know the Spirit Bear existed until read this book. L'Ohanna

Wow! Great for any bear lover.......1999-07-15

This is a fascinating story of rare and beautiful animals and the crew of research photographers who became intimately associated with them. It offers some startling revelations into the life and behavior of bears. The Spirit Bear, or Kermode Bear, is a white genetic variety of black bear, found only on Princess Royal Island off British Columbia. The region is also home to black bears and grizzly bears which are included in the book as well. What is most remarkable here is how the bears on the island, which had very little prior human contact, accepted the crew with an open gentleness allowing many close encounters to be documented. The book is written in an engaging first person style and beautifully photographed with close ups of bears in various activities. It will surely be a favorite addition to the library of any nature lover.

great content, credible author, fascinating photos.......1999-06-04

Spirit Bear is the best combination of a well-conceived book design, telling photography, and an exceptional storyline. The author's credibility is supported by a three-generation family history in grizzly bear country. His true experience, though, is reflected in his down-to-earth sincerity and simplicity of reporting. Reverence, balanced with pragmatic humor, sets a very ageeable tone for this fascinating book. With only one very moderately bloody-nosed bear photo, you could quite readily share this book with children. I grew up in bear country and now live in the heart of tree-hugging country and I found this book to be true to the core of both. And a darn fine read.

Fantastic!!!.......1999-03-29

This book will give you the chills! A mystical yet true story on the nature of "wild animals" and the mystical and spiritual link between "us" and "them".Gorgeous full color photography. The book ends with the impending destruction of the Spirit Bears habitat by logging and a plea to save this unique island ecosystem.

Studying the white bears of Princess Royal Island.......1998-05-14

Eyeing you from the dust jacket of Spirit Bear is a very relaxed, improbable looking white bear with a benign, even friendly, air. It is the embodiment of the main subject of the book.

The author begins by summarizing his own and his family's long history and experience with black and grizzly bears. In so doing he establishes his credibility before describing his encounters with' the Kermode bear, a rare white variant of the black bear that inhabits some of the largely undisturbed west coast islands. Russell was wise to open in this manner as the story that follows truly stretches the reader's credulity.

After recounting how he came to be on Princess Royal Island to film the white bears with Sue and Jeff Turner, we learn how they got to know the Spirit Bear, and how they developed an extraordinary relationship with him. The Spirit Bear not only "enjoyed" human company, but he fished with people, slept beside them, and allowed the author to scratch and even tickle him between his toes! Perhaps most incredible is the incident when men and bear play tug-of-war, with the bear attempting to initiate a wrestling match without harming his human friends.

After these amazing adventures, the last chapter is somewhat disappointing. We read about how the author and the Turners, after several months' absence from Princess Royal Island during the winter, returned and spent their last summer finishing their film. However, only one brief paragraph is devoted to their meeting with the Spirit Bear and the renewal of their extraordinary friendship.

Despite this disappointment, the book is well worth the price. Although not always technically perfect, the amazing photographs are generally very good and document some of the incredible events described in the narrative. The text not only provides fascinating insights into bear behaviour, but give? plenty of reasons to change preconceived notions about bear aggression. Underlying the story is a message about the importance of keeping an open mind when dealing ! with animals. But don't expect the next bear you meet to treat you as a long lost friend. THERESA ANISKOWICZ

Average customer rating:
Spirit Bear: Encounters With the White Bear of the Western Rainforest
Charles; Russell, Andy Russell
Manufacturer: Key Porter Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KWMRFO

Average customer rating:
Summer Cottages & Castles Scenes from the Good Life
Fotos Ted Hardin Patricia Corbin
Manufacturer: Dutton,NY,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JD00SU

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful research for the 1800's.......2000-08-08

Every engraving Daumier has ever done, what is not to like? It's amazing how much I saw which tied into history, costume design and the beginnings of the political cartoonist. Daumier's style of caricature is my favorite thing about him. These characters are in some ways more real than if they were rendered in the realistic style.

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