This is the kind of UF I want to read

Zoo City ebook

This is not your average urban fantasy. It's set in Johannesburg, South Africa, in a world where murderers and other criminals acquire magical animals that are mystically bonded to them. "Zoos" are discriminated against, but with their animal also comes a magical talent, unique to each Zoo.

Zinzi December is an addict whose drug habit got her brother killed, and thus burdened her with her Sloth companion and a magical talent for finding lost things. She's a very flawed protagonist, but very believable, a woman who's not a bad person but has made some really bad choices and is now swimming with sharks as a result. Beukes's world is interesting, both the animal companions with their mashavi talents coexisting with the modern world, and her dark, gritty portrayal of South Africa, with all of its poverty, homelessness, refugees, sex trafficking, drugs, and AIDS. Definitely worth reading for something outside the usual North American/Western European setting.

The story gets a little bit choppy towards the end, and while I liked the fake magazine articles and academic essays describing the nature and history of the "animalled," it felt a bit like filler in places. Still, a good read that's a little outside the mainstream. I give it 4.5 stars, which I'm rounding up to 5 because I'd like to see more books like this in the "Urban Fantasy" aisle and fewer tattooed vampire-boinkers.

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Excellent Router and very easy to configure and to customize

Linksys EA4500 App Enabled Dual Band Wireless N

I bought this router to replace a Netgear DSL router so I could utilize the faster Time Warner Roadrunner service. Right off the bat, I can say this thing was a piece of cake to set up and the Wi-Fi coverage is the best I've ever seen. It easily outperforms the Netgear on that front. Other positives--the Cisco Connect software makes it easy to perform basic router functions (check for new firmware, renew IP address, reboot the router, etc), add new devices, access and set Parental Controls and more, right from my Kindle Fire or other mobile devices. Another nice little bonus: the ability to modify friendly device names.

Throughput on this thing is great... via Speakeasy Speed test and the integrated speed test in the Cisco Connect software--I'm consistently getting around 20Mbps... even higher in some cases. Nice to see I'm getting what I paid for.

Only thing I can't weigh in on are third-party apps and the Cloud Connect software that's due out later this summer. Those future capabilities are something I was willing to pay more for. But even without those, I can easily say I highly recommend it based on my experience in the last several days with this router.

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Sinners and the Sea

Sinners Sea Untold Story Noahs

Rebecca Kanner's debut novel 'Sinners and the Sea' provides an intriguing glimpse into the mythos of the ancient world. The choice of Noah's wife as the protagonist is a bold one, as the reader is carried away from the first page on a journey of epic proportions through the dark and brutal world of pre-flood chaos. The heroine breathes humility and hope into a story which has caught the imagination of millions of people across the ages. Her bravery and stoic fortitude become the foundation for a new world, and it is a thrill to see her character receive the recognition she deserves. In a violent and scary pre-flood world, she embodies perhaps what 'The God of Adam' had in mind when he chose only a few souls to escape his wrath. Kanner's writing is vivid and intense and brings to life a truly mythical era which is difficult to imagine, but which she handles with talent and great vigor. I look forward to what this talented writer has to offer the reader in the future.

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love it!

Carhartt Womens Sandstone Flannel XX Large

Molly Melching will be counted as one of those important world women whose life and work made a great difference in improving the living conditions and future of millions of people. She is comparable to Mary Curie, Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, etc. Her commitment, dedication, determination, and relentlessness allowed her to face and over come various sorts of odds and obstacles in order to secure better life and health to Senegalese girls and women, then extend the target to other African girls and women. Hers, is not only a success story of commitment and courage, but also of love for her fellow-humans. It is because of her care for Senegal and its population, a country and a people she immediately fell in love with on her arrival, that she dedicated her life to serve them.
Aimee Molloy's book succeeds remarkably in conveying the outstanding personality and character of Molly Melching, along with her sensitive feelings, ambitions, effervescence, wit, humor, courage, determination, and fearlessness!
As mentioned in the review by the Publishers Weekly, the book reads like an engaging novel, thanks to the very clever reconstruction by Molloy of thoughts and conversations among the main 'protagonists' of Meclhing's 'journey', and the events which took place during her young years as a child then a teenager, and after her arrival in Senegal in the 70s.
Another remarkable feature of the book is Molloy's amazingly clear understanding of Senegalese culture, traditions, sensitivities, and taboos. It didn't take her more than a year to reach such clear vision of a country and a society so drastically different from her own. Obviously, Melching must have been the one who helped to introduce her to the complexity and subtlety of African/Senegalese culture.
When most of world news and information - particularly those coming from developing countries - tend to throw one into depressing and dark moods, Molloy's touching and engaging book is uplifting and full of hope. By reading it we become hopeful and confident that the courage and hard work of just few key people at the right time could change the world into a better place.
Fortunately, for several years now Molly Melching's work, as well as that of "Tostan", the NGO she created, have been receiving the recognition they deserve in various forms. Aimee Molloy's book is the latest manifestation of this wide recognition, and I am sure, will be followed by others.
Finally, in addition to its substance, the book has an attractive and alluring front and back covers, with elegant design and wonderful photographs.

Get your Carhartt Womens Sandstone Flannel XX Large Now!

Very Handy!

Saddlemen BR4100 Dresser Back Seat

Molly Melching will be counted as one of those important world women whose life and work made a great difference in improving the living conditions and future of millions of people. She is comparable to Mary Curie, Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, etc. Her commitment, dedication, determination, and relentlessness allowed her to face and over come various sorts of odds and obstacles in order to secure better life and health to Senegalese girls and women, then extend the target to other African girls and women. Hers, is not only a success story of commitment and courage, but also of love for her fellow-humans. It is because of her care for Senegal and its population, a country and a people she immediately fell in love with on her arrival, that she dedicated her life to serve them.
Aimee Molloy's book succeeds remarkably in conveying the outstanding personality and character of Molly Melching, along with her sensitive feelings, ambitions, effervescence, wit, humor, courage, determination, and fearlessness!
As mentioned in the review by the Publishers Weekly, the book reads like an engaging novel, thanks to the very clever reconstruction by Molloy of thoughts and conversations among the main 'protagonists' of Meclhing's 'journey', and the events which took place during her young years as a child then a teenager, and after her arrival in Senegal in the 70s.
Another remarkable feature of the book is Molloy's amazingly clear understanding of Senegalese culture, traditions, sensitivities, and taboos. It didn't take her more than a year to reach such clear vision of a country and a society so drastically different from her own. Obviously, Melching must have been the one who helped to introduce her to the complexity and subtlety of African/Senegalese culture.
When most of world news and information - particularly those coming from developing countries - tend to throw one into depressing and dark moods, Molloy's touching and engaging book is uplifting and full of hope. By reading it we become hopeful and confident that the courage and hard work of just few key people at the right time could change the world into a better place.
Fortunately, for several years now Molly Melching's work, as well as that of "Tostan", the NGO she created, have been receiving the recognition they deserve in various forms. Aimee Molloy's book is the latest manifestation of this wide recognition, and I am sure, will be followed by others.
Finally, in addition to its substance, the book has an attractive and alluring front and back covers, with elegant design and wonderful photographs.

Get your Saddlemen BR4100 Dresser Back Seat Now!

Can't go to bed without...

Good Night Warrior Favorite Princess

Molly Melching will be counted as one of those important world women whose life and work made a great difference in improving the living conditions and future of millions of people. She is comparable to Mary Curie, Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, etc. Her commitment, dedication, determination, and relentlessness allowed her to face and over come various sorts of odds and obstacles in order to secure better life and health to Senegalese girls and women, then extend the target to other African girls and women. Hers, is not only a success story of commitment and courage, but also of love for her fellow-humans. It is because of her care for Senegal and its population, a country and a people she immediately fell in love with on her arrival, that she dedicated her life to serve them.
Aimee Molloy's book succeeds remarkably in conveying the outstanding personality and character of Molly Melching, along with her sensitive feelings, ambitions, effervescence, wit, humor, courage, determination, and fearlessness!
As mentioned in the review by the Publishers Weekly, the book reads like an engaging novel, thanks to the very clever reconstruction by Molloy of thoughts and conversations among the main 'protagonists' of Meclhing's 'journey', and the events which took place during her young years as a child then a teenager, and after her arrival in Senegal in the 70s.
Another remarkable feature of the book is Molloy's amazingly clear understanding of Senegalese culture, traditions, sensitivities, and taboos. It didn't take her more than a year to reach such clear vision of a country and a society so drastically different from her own. Obviously, Melching must have been the one who helped to introduce her to the complexity and subtlety of African/Senegalese culture.
When most of world news and information - particularly those coming from developing countries - tend to throw one into depressing and dark moods, Molloy's touching and engaging book is uplifting and full of hope. By reading it we become hopeful and confident that the courage and hard work of just few key people at the right time could change the world into a better place.
Fortunately, for several years now Molly Melching's work, as well as that of "Tostan", the NGO she created, have been receiving the recognition they deserve in various forms. Aimee Molloy's book is the latest manifestation of this wide recognition, and I am sure, will be followed by others.
Finally, in addition to its substance, the book has an attractive and alluring front and back covers, with elegant design and wonderful photographs.

Get your Good Night Warrior Favorite Princess Now!

Moving and Inspiring Novel on an Oft-Ignored Subject

However Long Night Melchings Millions

Molly Melching will be counted as one of those important world women whose life and work made a great difference in improving the living conditions and future of millions of people. She is comparable to Mary Curie, Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, etc. Her commitment, dedication, determination, and relentlessness allowed her to face and over come various sorts of odds and obstacles in order to secure better life and health to Senegalese girls and women, then extend the target to other African girls and women. Hers, is not only a success story of commitment and courage, but also of love for her fellow-humans. It is because of her care for Senegal and its population, a country and a people she immediately fell in love with on her arrival, that she dedicated her life to serve them.
Aimee Molloy's book succeeds remarkably in conveying the outstanding personality and character of Molly Melching, along with her sensitive feelings, ambitions, effervescence, wit, humor, courage, determination, and fearlessness!
As mentioned in the review by the Publishers Weekly, the book reads like an engaging novel, thanks to the very clever reconstruction by Molloy of thoughts and conversations among the main 'protagonists' of Meclhing's 'journey', and the events which took place during her young years as a child then a teenager, and after her arrival in Senegal in the 70s.
Another remarkable feature of the book is Molloy's amazingly clear understanding of Senegalese culture, traditions, sensitivities, and taboos. It didn't take her more than a year to reach such clear vision of a country and a society so drastically different from her own. Obviously, Melching must have been the one who helped to introduce her to the complexity and subtlety of African/Senegalese culture.
When most of world news and information - particularly those coming from developing countries - tend to throw one into depressing and dark moods, Molloy's touching and engaging book is uplifting and full of hope. By reading it we become hopeful and confident that the courage and hard work of just few key people at the right time could change the world into a better place.
Fortunately, for several years now Molly Melching's work, as well as that of "Tostan", the NGO she created, have been receiving the recognition they deserve in various forms. Aimee Molloy's book is the latest manifestation of this wide recognition, and I am sure, will be followed by others.
Finally, in addition to its substance, the book has an attractive and alluring front and back covers, with elegant design and wonderful photographs.

Get your However Long Night Melchings Millions Now!

Great jacket

Columbia Womens Fleece Intense X Large

Love this jacket. It's warm enough to stand alone, and compact enough to serve as a layering piece. It does run a bit small (fitted), but that's what adds to the beautiful silhouette. I did size up. I usually wear a medium, but ordered a large, as I wanted to be able to where it over some bulkier tops. It's more fitted through the waist and a little more generous in the shoulders/back. There's no tugging or binding feeling whatsoever. It's long enough that it stays down and has long sleeves. For all you gals out there with long arms like me, you'll love this! There's no cinching at cuffs, so if your arms aren't long, you can cuff the sleeves. The sleeve hits me mid hand, which I love. The zippers are smooth and work well. The fabric is very soft and when zipped fully doesn't rub under your chin. It's a great jacket!

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Love It!

Port Authority Full Zip chocolate XXXX Large

6 Stars! And a new FAVORITE!

My Thoughts: WOW, I could relate to this book! You see I am 44 and have just celebrated my 20th wedding anniversary. I only have one child, a son, who is slightly older than Alice's son. My husband and I have recently hit some potholes in our marriage. I felt like Melanie Gideon was spying on my circumstances!

I loved how the author used the internet, google, facebook, etc to emphasize where Alice was coming from. I could relate so totally to Alice on just about every level...and I suspect I am not alone. Technology is an amazing thing and it can bring people together but this story reiterates that it can also have an opposite effect. Alice and her husband William have drifted apart and the technology initially used to communicate has become a shield to hide behind. Something I find myself doing as well. And their marriage is suffering from a breakdown in communication.

William is mostly, only seen through Alice's eyes, which isn't great to start out with. But through the survey questions (in the kindle version, I didn't realize the questions were listed at the very end of the book, just before the acknowledgements), we see how the relationship started, grew, and changed...all through Alice's memories. I only read the answers to the questions, which was part of the fun...trying to figure out what the questions were Alice was answering. Some were obvious, others not so obvious. I'm going to have to reread her answers with the questions in front of me.
This book was a wake-up call for me, in that I saw a lot of myself in Melanie. Gave me a lot to think about in terms of my relationships with those around me.

Just loved "Wife 22", Gideon has an engaging and imaginative story telling style that completely captured me. The writing was laugh out loud funny, without being mean or snarky. She can turn a witty phrase I tell ya! I am so looking forward to more from Melanie Gideon.

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Witty, fun and entertaining

Wife 22 Novel Melanie Gideon

6 Stars! And a new FAVORITE!

My Thoughts: WOW, I could relate to this book! You see I am 44 and have just celebrated my 20th wedding anniversary. I only have one child, a son, who is slightly older than Alice's son. My husband and I have recently hit some potholes in our marriage. I felt like Melanie Gideon was spying on my circumstances!

I loved how the author used the internet, google, facebook, etc to emphasize where Alice was coming from. I could relate so totally to Alice on just about every level...and I suspect I am not alone. Technology is an amazing thing and it can bring people together but this story reiterates that it can also have an opposite effect. Alice and her husband William have drifted apart and the technology initially used to communicate has become a shield to hide behind. Something I find myself doing as well. And their marriage is suffering from a breakdown in communication.

William is mostly, only seen through Alice's eyes, which isn't great to start out with. But through the survey questions (in the kindle version, I didn't realize the questions were listed at the very end of the book, just before the acknowledgements), we see how the relationship started, grew, and changed...all through Alice's memories. I only read the answers to the questions, which was part of the fun...trying to figure out what the questions were Alice was answering. Some were obvious, others not so obvious. I'm going to have to reread her answers with the questions in front of me.
This book was a wake-up call for me, in that I saw a lot of myself in Melanie. Gave me a lot to think about in terms of my relationships with those around me.

Just loved "Wife 22", Gideon has an engaging and imaginative story telling style that completely captured me. The writing was laugh out loud funny, without being mean or snarky. She can turn a witty phrase I tell ya! I am so looking forward to more from Melanie Gideon.

Get your Wife 22 Novel Melanie Gideon Now!

Story of a Young Boy

How Filthy Rich Rising Asia

I'm admittedly an Indophile-I love books dealing with everything with the subcontinent. I tried the case the of exploding mangoes and I gave up on Pakistani writers. I saw this book at my local library-I've seen and ignored the Reluctant Fundamentalist-and I decided to give 'these guys' another try. Thank God I'm so gullible (or bored). This is probably the best book I've read in ages. Hamid writes powerfully-on more than one occasion, I've had to turn back to the cover to reread the Author's, decidedly Muslim name. Mohsin Hamid.No, not Hemmingway or JD Salinger or the likes. He's able to distill the essence of Asia (predominantly Pakistan, but could easily have been any part of the Indian subcontinent)and let it fill your veins. On more than one occasion, I've kept the book down, overwhelmed, swept into the strong currents of culture and country he brings back. What more can I say about this book, a book that I have been carefully rationing and unfortunately, or fortunately on this scotch soaked evening, I have finished. a beautiful tribute to a land and culture, born so different from what it is now.
I look forward to this brilliant writer's next book and I wish I could take him out for a dinner and scotch.
a wonderful book.
10 stars out of 5.

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it is a very good book

The Favored Daughter Womans Afghanistan

As a Muslim I am grateful to Fawzia Koofi to have expressed the strength and ease I find in Islam in a book that is relevant and accessible to readers beyond those who read religious texts. Describing the kindness of others in extreme adversity, she writes, "Even though they didn't have much for themselves they still gave what little they could. This is what it means to be a true Muslim." Clarifying the essence of Islamic modesty, regardless of cultural or governmental dictates, she writes, "Covering the hair with a head scarf and wearing a long loose tunic that covers one's arms, chest and bottom is enough to satisfy the Islamic rule of being modest before God." Her vivid and horrifying stories of Taliban rule support my opinion of "how much the Taliban had damaged Islam." Above all, Fawzia Koofi gives voice to the dignity and respect Muslim girls and women are due within the tenets of the religion. Yes, many people will credit Islam with allowing the father to beat the wife, and I think the author makes it clear that her father's actions were a cultural practice well beyond what the Qur'an condones. May God bless her and keep Fawzia Koofi strong in her faith and good health. She is a voice of moderation in Islam and a sensible interpreter of living a productive, active life in the modern world as an observant Muslim.

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Collin Kelley's Render

Render Collin Kelley

Collin Kelley's latest collection, Render, is a masterful stroke of both political and socially relevant poems, where the poet uses his own life as a pop-culture touchstone for his generation's most meaningful, shared experiences. Among the plethora of significant events hit upon in this book are: First love, parents, infidelity, nostalgia, the movies, sexual icons of puberty, post-puberty, and the inherent confusion which lies within. And while I would say most people will find something to love within these pages, this book speaks directly to anyone who is part of the generation born between the late 1960's up through 1974. One poem after another breaks through the barrier of fuzzy memory and brings the reader immediately into the world of the poet. Each poem strengthens its grip upon the reader and will not let go. These poems will stay with you long after you have finished the book.

Collin Kelley is a genius when it comes to confession. He teases you with brilliant titles and amazing opening lines. Once he has you hooked, he delivers sucker punches and body blows like a prize fighter. What is amazing is even after you are dumbstruck by a series of poems, your first instinct will be to read another poem, and another.

Using the disillusion (and seeming dissolution) of the American Family, Collin Kelly presents a world so many of us from his generation know all too well. We are the Post Atomic Age children, born of parents who participated or did not participate in the counter-culture of the 1960's. We are the first artificial, non-organic generation, and Kelley drives that point home by exposing the hidden narrative of his own family in some strange quiet crisis.

It's difficult for me to choose any one poem to demonstrate the building of this narrative. I can tell you there are no weak poems here, no filler. Each and every poem is essential and I cannot imagine the book any other way than how Collin has constructed it. Each poem captures with exacting precision not only the poet's memory, the thing he must share, but the details of the world at large, making each accessible in the best way possible. I do not mean accessible as in simple, because there will never be anything simple about Collin's poetry. No, accessible in the way everyone can relate to the stories he tells, because we all have memories tied to the events Collin ties his memories to.

When Collin talks about his summer at the movies while his mother is having an affair, I immediately remember my adolescent movie experiences, but also the dysfunction of my own parents' marriage. When he talks about the Bicentennial in his poem, "Freedom Train," it's his details which jar a thousand memories loose from my past, causing me to wonder why I have lost so many. When Collin talks about his early sexual encounters, especially with those boys who feel shame for their behavior, I am reminded of my own fumbled experiences early in my adolescence.

Collin Kelley succeeds with his poems because he is willing to face the truth of his past, confront the seeds which were sewn, resulting in the person he is today. He succeeds because he does this when so many of us are too afraid to do these things for ourselves. But even more so, Render is a tremendous book because it does not condemn in its confession. It lays out the reality of the world without trying to make anyone feel guilty for their past. It allows us to take from it and only wants us to share.

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James Patterson's breakthrough into the romance genre

Suzannes Diary Nicholas James Patterson

When I met James Patterson at a recent book signing for this book, he told us that when he was in his early 30's he fell in love with a girl named Jane. One day they were in the post office and she just keeled over. It turned out she had a brain tumor and lived only two more years, but instead of being sad they said each day how lucky they were to see the sun rise, to share a walk on the beach, etc. After Jane's death, he knew that he would one day write a book for all those who have loved and lost and learned to love again. This book is not only an outstanding tribute to his love for Jane, but one of the most engrossing page-turners I have come across. I started it yesterday afternoon and literally could not stop until I finished. Finally, in the wee hours of the morning, I closed the book and cried uncontrollably. I knew it was going to be sad, but a most unexpected shocker near the end left me stunned.

Everyone who reads this book will come away with not only a great story, but a great piece of advice about five balls that we must all balance in life.

The story of Matt, his wife Suzanne, his son Nicholas, and the diary he leaves for Katie to read will literally break your heart. Patterson writes with a genuine understanding of what love is and how it survives tragedy. Just reading it will hopefully make each of us appreciate the gift each day is. Happy Reading!

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Now HERE'S a woman's woman!

Woodswoman Living Alone Adirondack Wilderness

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars

I have read and can relate to so much of what she says, June 14, 1999

By A Customer

I too have a camp in the Adirondacks and I find her writing very interesting as I can relate to so many things. The fresh air and surroundings are so addictive. I have passed her books on to others and they too would love to meet with her. I am hoping to meet her in August for her book signing. I sense a sadness on her broken relationships and I feel that many of those men were intimidated by a strong woman, but a vulnerable one as well. I felt the pain of losing her beloved dogs and I feel as though I know her from all of her books. I am in the process of reading her newest book.

I too long for the northwoods as there is peace and serenity that many have never have known. The air is the freshest, the scenery the most beautiful. I need to be there every week or every other week or I go into a withdrawal.

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Hurricane Tested!

Columbia Watertight Jacket Grill Large

Jacket is a very small form factor, with thin material, so that it can be easily folded or stuffed into a very small space. Great for backpacking or world travel.

The jacket material is very thin yet very water repellent. The hood is large and has a really good draw chord for tightening the inner hood around your face.

It's a fairly warm jacket.

The only minor complaints I'd have would be:
- no hand warmer pocket, you can put your hands into the zippered lower pockets.
- fit only half covers your bum, more like a jacket fit than a parka fit (also makes it smaller to pack away more easily)
- the buttons up the front are oddly spaced, the jacket is either tightly buttoned up to your neck, or if you open that button, open wide 3 or 4 inches down the chest.

Having said all the above, this is a great deal at $60 if you're looking for a waterproof, packable, light functional jacket / parka (half way between a jacket and a parka).

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Vroom Vroom!

Blind Curves Unusual Journey Reinvent

Blind Curves is an excellent travel memoir. It reminds me not to be afraid of the unknown and to attack challenges in life. Motorcycle riders can experience extreme joy and sudden sorrow as well. Linda Crill went on a ten day 2500 mile road trip through the Pacific Northwest with three other people. I really enjoyed the friendship that develops between these people. I admire her accomplishment because of how difficult it is. Crill is very honest in explaining how difficult is to do things like shifting gears and braking on a motorcycle. I really admire the coordination it takes to operate a motorcycle. Motorcycle riding requires mental and physical concentration. This is a theme that Crill communicates well. This road trip helps Linda rediscover happiness after her husband passes away from cancer. She experiences ten days of mostly pure happiness. A sense of prolonged happiness is something I am always trying to achieve.

I like reading about things like riding through snow and up hills and mountains. This is because I have a physical disability. I will probably never get to do these things by myself. There is a visual quality in Linda Crill's writing. She makes me feel like I am riding a motorcycle with her. I would love to see and do some of things that she describes in this book. I would love to visit the town of Leavenworth in Washington State just to eat some German food. I would love to see the giant redwood trees in Eureka and the beautiful Crater Lake in Oregon. This book is beautifully illustrated by an artist named Kevin Miller. I love his illustrations of a biker woman with long flowing hair on a motorcycle. There is another illustration of a computer blowing up. I like the caption under the illustration that failures facilitate change. This is a saying I will remember the next time I fail at something. The illustrations in the book really compliment the text well. Blind Curves is an excellent read.

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Don't wait another minute thinking about it, BUY THIS PRODUCT!

SweatBlock Antiperspirant Rachael Reduce Packets

Like most people doing this review I thought "this has to cause cancer.... but I don't care, I've tried everything." Day 1..... Wet, and I mean soaked (as always) But it said it may take 2-3 days so I apply night two. Day 2: Wet. Day 3: Wet. Day 4: just damp... for the first half, then soaked again. However - Day 6 (I got two boxes to start) - I felt so confidently dry that I wore a light colored shirt and didn't even take a sweater with me to cover up. I used it every night for about a week and a half, then cut down to every other day. Now it's been almost three weeks and I just started using it once every three days.

I'm a nervous sweater and it doesn't take much to trigger a waterfall that takes hours to recover from. I had a mile panic attack at work a few days ago and although I got really warm, I stayed dry.

Let's talk about the irritation: LADIES! DO NOT APPLY AFTER HAVING JUST SHAVED! There should have been a warning for that. That was the only time I had "irritation." It does itch though - very badly. A strange tingly itch. But it's worth it and only last until you can block it out long enough to fall asleep.

Back to the cancer. It says to use non-aluminum deodorant with it if needed. I accompany it at night with Certain Dry (and on off nights) and regular deodorant in the morning. I'm sure eventually I'll ween off of it, but the Certain Dry with it at night helps kill the itch - a little.

The few who wrote reviews saying it didn't work, gave up after 3-4 days. It took almost a week for me, and I kept going because well, I had 16 pads to start with, might as well give it a shot.

Good luck.

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Another Keeper from Lori Foster!

Bare All Hqn Lori Foster

Lori Foster's latest novel, Bare It All, was so good that I had to try hard not to read the whole book in one sitting. It was packed full of fast paced action, lots of steamy, romantic scenes, and it included Lori's classic brand of hunky, sexy, heroes. After reading the first book in this series, Run the Risk, last year, I was waiting with bated breath for this next installment. I must say that Lori more than delivered with this one. I loved the fact that Bare It All picked up at the precise point where Run the Risk ended, so any lingering questions that I had from the last book were all answered in this one.

Honorable, job focused, and protective Detective Reese Bareden was the perfect counterpart to the ever elusive and a little bit strange Alice Appleton (whom we first met in Trace of Fever). I could feel their chemistry from the first page of the book. Despite the suspense and intrigue resulting from the very serious situation they found themselves in, it was the steamy and sometimes funny interaction between Alice and Reese that made this story great. I also enjoyed the interactions with the supporting cast, especially Rowdy!

This book provided something for everyone. For first time Lori Foster readers, it was a great introduction to the sexy, fun-filled, fast paced romps that define Lori's core style. For long time Lori Foster fans, it also was a real treat to get to know even better some very familiar characters that we already loved from Run the Risk (like Logan, Pepper, Rowdy and Dash!), as well as get a surprise visit from a favorite character from a different Lori Foster series. All in all, it was a great read, and I highly recommend it if you are looking for something fun and sexy.

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Deerhunter deftly avoids a one track state of mind on Monomania

Monomania Deerhunter

It's been a while since I've read any horror, and I'm glad I returned to it via Joe Hill's NOS4A2.

It's kind of hard to put together a coherent review when I just want to go total fangirl. Also hard not to draw comparisons with Hill's famous father, when their styles are so very similar. But I'll do my best.

Where I really feel this book excelled--and I first learned of this talent of Hill's when he ripped my heart out in Horns--is in the FEELS. Horror story characters are often strictly two--dimensional, despite their writer's best efforts. Not this writer, and not this book. Prepare yourself--for the duration, their emotions are your emotions. They'll creep into your bloodstream and populate your dreams for days.

Of course, all the elements of a great, modern-classic horror story are here--the evil, seemingly indestructable bad guy who preys upon children, the child with a gift who escapes him, only to be forced to face him once more as an adult--but Hill makes these tropes fresh enough that you don't much notice.

(On a completely personal note--our neighborhood has the creepiest ice cream truck ever. In addition to church hymns and cheery classics like "Darling Clementine," it also plays Christmas music in the middle of the summer. Now when I hear it, I'll always have to wonder if it's the ice cream truck, or a Rolls Royce Wraith creeping slowly past my house...)

I was already a fan of Joe Hill after "Heart Shaped Box," and "Horns," but three times is the charm, as they say, and my fan status is now written in stone. Read it. You won't be sorry.

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Perfection

NOS4A2 A Novel Joe Hill

It's been a while since I've read any horror, and I'm glad I returned to it via Joe Hill's NOS4A2.

It's kind of hard to put together a coherent review when I just want to go total fangirl. Also hard not to draw comparisons with Hill's famous father, when their styles are so very similar. But I'll do my best.

Where I really feel this book excelled--and I first learned of this talent of Hill's when he ripped my heart out in Horns--is in the FEELS. Horror story characters are often strictly two--dimensional, despite their writer's best efforts. Not this writer, and not this book. Prepare yourself--for the duration, their emotions are your emotions. They'll creep into your bloodstream and populate your dreams for days.

Of course, all the elements of a great, modern-classic horror story are here--the evil, seemingly indestructable bad guy who preys upon children, the child with a gift who escapes him, only to be forced to face him once more as an adult--but Hill makes these tropes fresh enough that you don't much notice.

(On a completely personal note--our neighborhood has the creepiest ice cream truck ever. In addition to church hymns and cheery classics like "Darling Clementine," it also plays Christmas music in the middle of the summer. Now when I hear it, I'll always have to wonder if it's the ice cream truck, or a Rolls Royce Wraith creeping slowly past my house...)

I was already a fan of Joe Hill after "Heart Shaped Box," and "Horns," but three times is the charm, as they say, and my fan status is now written in stone. Read it. You won't be sorry.

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great fit

Peacock Print Harem Pants Jumpsuit

The Story
Cicely Waters is a powerful witch and wind talker, she finally comes home to New Forest. Her home town has severely changed. Witches are disappearing including her aunt. Others are disappearing as well and the forest behind her house has been turned evil. Her cousin, Rhiannon, and Cicely work together to figure out what evil lives in the forest and work to get back the stolen witches. Cicely meets back up with the only man she has ever loved, Grieve. Their love is unbreakable, but Grieve Is enslaved in the enemy's court. With the Crimson Court and the Indigo Court waging war and using Cicely as a pawn everyone is in danger.

Thoughts
I liked this story. Yasmine writing style is unique. She weaves several different characters and plots together simultaneously. The pace was okay paced, slow in some spots, fast in other areas, but always intriguing. I read it all in one sitting. All the characters are unique and likeable. I enjoyed all the different plots and look forward to the next one Night Veil, summer 2011. All the details in this book made it memorable and unique!

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Fabulous Debut!

Night Myst Indigo Court Book

The Story
Cicely Waters is a powerful witch and wind talker, she finally comes home to New Forest. Her home town has severely changed. Witches are disappearing including her aunt. Others are disappearing as well and the forest behind her house has been turned evil. Her cousin, Rhiannon, and Cicely work together to figure out what evil lives in the forest and work to get back the stolen witches. Cicely meets back up with the only man she has ever loved, Grieve. Their love is unbreakable, but Grieve Is enslaved in the enemy's court. With the Crimson Court and the Indigo Court waging war and using Cicely as a pawn everyone is in danger.

Thoughts
I liked this story. Yasmine writing style is unique. She weaves several different characters and plots together simultaneously. The pace was okay paced, slow in some spots, fast in other areas, but always intriguing. I read it all in one sitting. All the characters are unique and likeable. I enjoyed all the different plots and look forward to the next one Night Veil, summer 2011. All the details in this book made it memorable and unique!

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Surprisingly good action film...

Jack Reacher

We just rented this movie and I was very impressed with the storyline. My wife has read all the Lee Child books and she didn't like the movie because she couldn't get over the fact that Tom Cruise wasn't the same height as the character in the book. I have read the first one and could very easily get over this.

When I watch a movie, one of my main requirements will be if the movie is entertaining. This movie was very entertaining. The characters were very believable and I was more impressed by the imperfections that were allowed in the characters rather than how perfect they were. The women weren't perfect 10s and the men weren't all hunks. They came across as real.

Cruse plays this part to perfection. I admire him for his ability to maintain his level of physical fitness for so many years. He is not that much younger than me and I have never seen him less than a perfect specimen. I know he probably has a team of servants to assist him in that and he has to pay for it, but his reward is years of employment as a leading man. His ability to play a character who can master hand to hand combat, which is used in this movie multiple times, is very believable.

Robert Duvall rounds out the superstar cast as an old retired gunny running a rifle range. He is great in the movie and its easy to see why he is one of the best character actors in history.

Overall a very good movie. Not a family movie mind you, but a good action packed adventure that is going to set Cruise up for for 2 or 3 more sequels to go along with all the other sequels he keeps going like a wizard.

In this era of the movie industry, there seems to be a great emphasis on horror movies. I guess they are cheap to make and you get inexpensive actors to play the parts. Movies like Jack Reacher don't come along everyday and I am very happy that this character gets to come to life and give me a couple hours of entertainment.

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I loved this book!

The Thirteenth Tale Diane Setterfield

Oh my goodness! This book has multiple stories going on all at the same time, but they are all related and easy to follow. It was hard to put the book down! The story stayed with me and had me thinking about it constantly. I stayed up late reading it thinking I could figure out where the story was headed and how all the different stories were going to somehow be brought together in the end. I was very surprised, and satisfied, with the ending. I do recommend this book, and plan to read it again (something I usually do NOT do since my wish list is so long). I read the hardcover version, which I picked up in a second-hand shop. The book jacket describes the book perfectly:

"'All children mythologize their birth'...So begins the prologue of reclusive author Vida Winter's collection of stories, which are as famous for the mystery of the missing thirteenth tale as they are for the delight and enchantment of the twelve that do exist. The enigmatic Winter has spent six decades creating various outlandish life histories for herself--all of them inventions that have brought her fame and fortune but have kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she at last wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary life. She summons biographer Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth, hidden by those who loved her most, remains an ever-present pain. Struck by a curious parallel between Miss Winter's story and her own, Margaret takes on the commission. As Vida disinters the life she meant to bury for good, Margaret is mesmerized. It is a tale of gothic strangeness featuring the Angelfield family, including the beautiful and willful Isabelle, the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess, a topiary garden and a devastating fire. Margaret succumbs to the power of Vida's storytelling but remains suspicious of the author's sincerity. She demands the truth from Vida, and together they confront the ghosts that have haunted them while becoming, finally, transformed by the truth themselves. "The Thirteenth Tale' is a love letter to reading, a book for the feral reader in all of us, a return to that rich vein of storytelling that our parents loved and that we loved as children. Diane Setterfield will keep you guessing, make you wonder, move you to tears and laughter and, in the end, deposit you breathless yet satisfied back upon the shore of your everyday life."

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A Cop with a Heart of Gold Finds his True Love

Crime Passion Chantel Rhondeau

Talk about bad luck and Madeline Scott has had her fair share of it, maybe more. Reeling from a canceled wedding where her groom and maid of honor were found together, Madeline Scott moves to a small coastal town only to find a body on the beach, as in dead body.

The responding officer is Donovan Andrews, the local playboy who's cycled through all of the women in town, some several times, from the police chief's daughter to Madeline's boss, Lindsay.

Sparks fly as suspicions revolve around the town that Donovan was the killer. Madeline believes Donovan is innocent, and reluctantly join forces with him to find the real killer--all the while fending off his romantic overtures.

The plot thickens with a second murder, but when Madeline is injured by a maniac, Donovan stays at her side and wins over her parents. After several twists, both romantic and suspenseful, Madeline has to trust Donovan or lose her life.

This story was exciting and dramatic. I could understand how distrustful Madeline was of Donovan, but I loved the way Donovan persisted on winning her over. He was sweet and thoughtful, and always made sure to consider her feelings about her self image and her past. Even though he had a reputation, once he fell in love with Madeline, he did everything he could to reassure her and put up with her snarky remarks and putdowns.

I was really happy that Madeline finally understood why Donovan was the way he was and accepted his past, and I loved the ending and the plans they have for their future together.

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When I grow up I want to be Spooky Bonsai

Monster Skin Melancton Hawks

Where do you start to review this thing, firstly you're either gonna love it or hate it, there is no middle ground!!! Personally I loved it, its what book are meant to be, its fun, passionate, fast paced, off the wall. Its like taking a walk through NY and just stopping to watch the characters pass by, or its like turning a corner in a Frank Miller comic, with characters out of Dylan's Tarantula just flowing off the page all larger than life. The lead characters are so stereotypical they're perfect from Spooky the high school kid with attitude, the nerd, the computer geeks, the porn star, even a nice cameo by the author all enlighten the pages. I would love to see the characters given the chance to ride again, which reminds me its nota book for puritan relatives, grandmothers or the young, it can in places be a bit explicit. Hey lifes too short give the book a try its well worth the effort.

I received this book free from the author in a Goodreads "firstreads" giveaway.

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"Anything was better than no magic at all."

Doll Bones Holly Black

Since this is a middle grade, I bought this more out of author loyalty than any sincere interest. I'm very glad I did. Even from an adult reader's perspective, Doll Bones has a lot to offer.
What most impressed me is Black's perfect recall. She remembers EXACTLY what it's like to be that age, not a kid, but not a teenager, either, in that moment of life when things are just starting to get really complicated. Be prepared for some fierce nostalgia.
The scares aren't off the kiddie menu, either, and I would caution parents to be aware of that. I've been reading Stephen King since I was twelve (I'm in my 30s now) and I had very unsettling dreams while reading Doll Bones.
I almost gave this four stars because of the ending. I found it to be very abrupt--but then again, that could have more to do with the styling of the genre than the author's plan. Middle grade doesn't usually linger long after the climax.
I'd highly recommend this for older tweens/young teens who can handle a good scare.

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Simply brillant

Why She Buys Strategy Consumers

This is a must read text. I had the privilege of attending one of Bridget's speaking engagements at my company and Bridget just blew the audience away. Funny but also very informative and in a way that everyone could relate to the "truths" about gender differences. So I just had to read the book when I saw it featured on ABC television. I picked it up 2 days ago and I just couldn't put it down. Fast read, very accessibly written. Bridget puts the science and art behind effectively understanding and marketing to the real economic force in the USA - the female consumer.

I have to admit that even as a Chief Marketing Officer at a Fortune 50 company, there is a lot that as a marketer I just had never fully understood about the physical, mental and emotional differences in gender that lead to very real, as revealed by Bridget, behaviorial realities. So much that can be immediately implemented to up the game of the marketer, as illustrated by examples that will make you laugh, but also really hit home important lessons.

I highly recommend the book. And if you ever have the opportunity to secure BRidget as a guest speaker, or get to one of her speaking engagements, you won't regret it.

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Fabulous

The Wine Solitude Irene Nemirovsky

The Wine of Solitude is, as the book jacket explains, the most autobiographical of all of Irene Nemirovsky's books. It is heartbreaking to read the life of a child in a totally dysfunctional family during the time of the Russian Revolution as they are constantly on the move across Russia to Finland and then on to Paris. The child Helene's only stability is with her governess as her father, Boris, chases after money (millions and millions) and her mother, Bella, needs the constant reassurance of her beauty and sexuality, from whatever man she can snag. Angry at her mother's neglect, as a strong, young and developing woman, Helene devises a plan of revenge for her mother.
I found this book to be fascinating, especially since it is loosely based on the life of the author, and I could not put it down until I was finished with it. It is written in a classy way and, though Bella's life is not reputable, the author clearly gets the point of her sexuality across without being trashy or graphic. This novel was published more than 60 years after the author died in Auschwitz at a young age. I thought it was a great read!

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Exceeded my expectations

Statistical Probability First Sight ebook

I read this book after a friend recommended it. Ummm, I have no words. This book made me laugh, cry, groan, and awww. I absolutely loved it! It was so sweet. Hadley was so amazing. She was strong and stubborn and scared. She was so caught up in her situation she misses obvious details and you're just like, "HELLO! OPEN YOUR EYES GIRLIE!" She has a stable home life but she still feels like it's falling apart. Oliver helps her see again. Oh and Oliver. Oliver, Oliver, Oliver. I already have a thing for accents, and Oliver's British, gorgeous, and just a nice guy! He is dealing with his own stuff but he still helps Hadley through hers. Totally lovable and even though the book takes place over 24 hours, it doesn't have the Twilightesque insta-love feel. It's a great read, especially on a rainy day :)

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Perfect for tours when traveling

Soft Leather Passport Wallet Holder

This book is totally a huge history lesson written with a velvet hand. I was absolutely immersed in it almost from the first chapter. I am not normally a history buff but part of my reasons for loving this book are a). I have been a horsewoman all my life. b). I grew up in Maryland only a short time after this all took place. c). All the hunting, point to points and steeple chases mentioned, I knew about and often had seen some of them. d). My father, as a young man, worked for the duPont's on their "plantation" in New York and I remember being taken to see the glorious gardens there as a youngster. So I was already highly invested in reading about the history I came from.
The book also transcends being a history in that not only are the characters real but the author seems to know them inside and out. Amazing really when she did not live in their time frame and finding all that intimate and detailed knowledge must have been hard indeed. She wrote about them as if she had lived beside them. A beautiful job. All the facts, all the horse language being so right on and explained to the less knowledgeable. The whole narrative flows. It involves several main characters that surrounded Marion duPont. Spanning coast to coast when she eventually married Randolph Scott after he became an actor of some repute and then across to England where she brought a well known trainer, Roy Hobbs and his son Bruce into working with her "little horse that could" to make him ready to do the famous and frighting Grand National steeplechase.
If your looking for a pool side book, this ain't it friends. There is a LOT of horse talk and I think that might bore some people but the history surrounding it all is really fascinating and I really was happy to revisit it in Dorothy's extremely well written book. This is a book that I will always have handy because to me, its like visiting my home town in Maryland and walking the walk and talking the talk as a young woman who fox hunted, showed hunters and jumpers and was "horsey" from head to toe.

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What a ride.

Battleship Daring Heiress Teenage Americas

This book is totally a huge history lesson written with a velvet hand. I was absolutely immersed in it almost from the first chapter. I am not normally a history buff but part of my reasons for loving this book are a). I have been a horsewoman all my life. b). I grew up in Maryland only a short time after this all took place. c). All the hunting, point to points and steeple chases mentioned, I knew about and often had seen some of them. d). My father, as a young man, worked for the duPont's on their "plantation" in New York and I remember being taken to see the glorious gardens there as a youngster. So I was already highly invested in reading about the history I came from.
The book also transcends being a history in that not only are the characters real but the author seems to know them inside and out. Amazing really when she did not live in their time frame and finding all that intimate and detailed knowledge must have been hard indeed. She wrote about them as if she had lived beside them. A beautiful job. All the facts, all the horse language being so right on and explained to the less knowledgeable. The whole narrative flows. It involves several main characters that surrounded Marion duPont. Spanning coast to coast when she eventually married Randolph Scott after he became an actor of some repute and then across to England where she brought a well known trainer, Roy Hobbs and his son Bruce into working with her "little horse that could" to make him ready to do the famous and frighting Grand National steeplechase.
If your looking for a pool side book, this ain't it friends. There is a LOT of horse talk and I think that might bore some people but the history surrounding it all is really fascinating and I really was happy to revisit it in Dorothy's extremely well written book. This is a book that I will always have handy because to me, its like visiting my home town in Maryland and walking the walk and talking the talk as a young woman who fox hunted, showed hunters and jumpers and was "horsey" from head to toe.

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She got even and she got everything!

Beverly Heels Kathryn Leigh Scott

Down and Out In Beverly Heels is an awesome book! Written by actress Kathryn Leigh Scott (Josette duPres on the original Dark Shadows), it chronicles the exploits of down-on-her-luck Meg Barnes, an actress who starred in her own TV detective series, and who seemingly had it all: handsome husband, Amex Centurion card, and a shoe collection to rival Imelda Marcos. But when her husband is supposedly kidnapped, Meg finds herself sleeping in her Volvo and being stalked by a mother/son couple who are going after Meg's husband for reasons of their own. Taken in by the kindly Donna, a ditzy woman who she volunteers with at the local Meals on Wheels, Meg begins, with the help of FBI agent Jack, to piece together exactly what happened, and it's most definitely not what she thought.

The reason I enjoyed this book so much is because there was a good blend of mystery, romance, and action that kept me on my toes the entire time I was reading, and which had me rooting for Meg and her friends. As an actress herself, Ms. Scott appeared to know whereof she spoke with regards to the story, and it flowed along rather nicely.

All in all, this book is a roller-coaster ride of fun, danger, and romance that I would recommend to anyone.

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"A book is more than the sum of its materials. It is an artifact of the human mind and hand."

People Book Novel Geraldine Brooks

The most profound effect that this book had on me was to make me realize just how much is tied to inanimate objects. I dearly love going to museums and though I occasionally do wonder what life was like for the person who fashioned that ancient goblet or who wore that suit of armor, I have never found myself reflecting on it as profoundly as I did after reading this book. Brooks did a wonderful job of instilling in me, as a reader, a sense of how a seemingly innocuous object as an ancient, illuminated book can bear witness to centuries of human drama. The book masterfully recreated the sense of urgency that exists in everyday life while showing that everyday life is so fleeting and that one's time on the planet is so short as to be merely a thread in the tapestry that history has woven.

The book opens in 1996, with Hanna, a book restorer and expert on ancient manuscripts who has been asked to examine and make repairs to the Sarajevo haggadah, an ancient book that is something akin to a Jewish book of hours. While restoring the book, Hanna finds an insect wing, a dark stain, some salt crystals, and a white hair. She uses these objects in an attempt to trace the history of the book.

It is at this point that People of the Book really becomes a wonder. Brooks does a masterful job of creating a contemporary drama--that of Hanna's quest and events in her own personal life--that is interwoven with a series of historical dramas. This book is a story within a story within a story and it serves as a reminder of how history tends to loop back on itself. Tied to each of the four pieces of evidence that Hanna has found in the book is a story that tells one small part of the tale of the haggadah's creation and journey and each of these stories takes us further back in time.

This is a book so vivid and rich that I find it difficult to describe. Brooks has a mastery of words and though the locations and the eras she describes are all vastly different, what stands out is her depictions of humanity in all its greatness and flaws. Hanna's own journey could have made for a good novel in and of itself but Brooks gives it more impact by casting it against the tales of all those who have been touched by the book long before Hanna.

What is really remarkable about the novel is how it highlights the sameness of the struggles of its Jewish protagonists. As the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same and this is certainly the argument that this novel makes. Brooks charts a course of history that shows how, time and again, people of the Jewish faith have been made victims because of that faith, how one day Jews live peacefully alongside Christians and Muslims and how they next they are being persecuted by those very neighbors. Though the novel suggests that the survival of the book itself is extraordinary, what is truly extraordinary is the actions of those who ensure the survival of the book. While the chance to behold such an ancient text is certainly a marvel, what is even more marvelous is to try to imagine the lives of those who saw to it that we could, one day, view that ancient text in a museum or in a library. This novel just proves how wonderful is Brooks's mind, that her experiences with an ancient text allowed her thoughts to take flight and to produce this sterling work of literature.

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