Book Description
What if a fascinating stranger knew you better than you know yourself?
When her husband comes home with a farfetched story about eating dinner with someone he believes to be Jesus, Mattie Cominsky thinks this may signal the end of her shaky marriage. Convinced that Nick is, at best, turning into a religious nut, the self-described agnostic hopes that a quick business trip will give her time to think things through.
On board the plane, Mattie strikes up a conversation with a fellow passenger. When she discovers their shared scorn for religion, she confides her frustration over her husband’s recent conversion. The stranger suggests that perhaps her husband isn’t seeking religion but true spiritual connection, an idea that prompts her to reflect on her own search for fulfillment.
As their conversation turns to issues of spiritual longing and deeper questions about the nature of God, Mattie finds herself increasingly drawn to this insightful stranger. But when the discussion unexpectedly turns personal, touching on things she’s never told anyone, Mattie is startled and disturbed. Who is this man who seems to peer straight into her soul?
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-09-17
This book is the sequel to "Dinner with a Perfect Stranger." Whereas the first book involves Jesus speaking with a man, this one is Jesus' witnessing to the man's wife. Like him, she's not a Christian. Jesus slowly leads her where he wants her to go, always dealing with her in love. Jesus meets the woman on an airplane, where he also entertains the child ahead of him by making faces. Yes, I think Jesus would do that! Another wonderful book that shows witnessing done God's way. It's a book you'll want to keep.
Excellent follow-up.......2007-09-10
I thought this book was an excellent follow-up/sequel to Dinner with a Perfect Stranger. As in the original...it is easy to read, thought-provoking, not bogged down or time consuming. Really, if you've read the first one...THIS is a MUST read as well!
A good book.......2007-07-14
I enjoyed this book but not as much as Dinner With a Perfect Stranger. I wished God would have revealed Himself sooner.
They're both books I will suggest to others.
God at work in every way.......2007-05-24
My wife and I read this after reading _Dinner with a Perfect stranger_ and they both compliment each other. These books give some terrific insight into life's 'workings' and provide another viewpoint about love, life, religion that can be intimately identified with for each of us, although in a different manner for each.
It was a thouroughy enjoyable read.
Day With a Perfect Stranger.......2007-05-13
I found this book to be so very awesome in it's presentation, purpose and perspective. I got lost in the book and when I was finished it I felt a sense of loss; I would not have this literary "friend" to read each night before retiring.
David Gregory presented some very thought provoking ideas.
I passed it on to a friend who also gives this book a rave review.
Book Description
In Past Perfect, Susan Isaacs gives us one of her most glorious characters ever: bright, buoyant, and borderline luscious Katie Schottland. Katie seems to have the ideal life: a great husband, a precocious and winning ten-year-old son, and a dream job -- writer for the long-running TV series Spy Guys. But all is not as splendid as it should be because writing about the espionage business isn't nearly as satisfying as working in it.
Fifteen years earlier, Katie was in the CIA. She loved her job (to say nothing of her boss, the mysterious Benton Mattingly). Yet just as she was sensing she was in line for a promotion, she was fired -- escorted off the premises by two extremely hulking security types. Why? No one would tell her: when you're expelled from the Agency, warm friends immediately become icy ex-colleagues who won't risk their security clearances by talking to you.
Until that day, Katie was where she wanted to be. Coming from a family of Manhattan superachievers, she too had a job she not only adored but a job that made her, in the family tradition, a Someone. Fifteen years later, Katie is still stuck on her firing. Was she set up? Or did she make some terrible mistake that cost lives? She believes that if she could discover why they threw her out, she might be at peace.
On the day she's rushing to get her son off to summer camp, Katie gets a surprise call from former Agency colleague Lisa Golding. "A matter of national importance," says Lisa, who promises to reveal the truth about the firing -- if Katie will help her. Lisa was never very good at truth-telling, though she swears she's changed her ways. Katie agrees to speak with her, but before she can, Lisa vanishes.
Maturity and common sense should keep Katie in the bright, normal world of her present life, away from the dark intrigues of the past. But she needs to know. As she takes just a few steps to find out, one ex-spy who might have the answers dies under suspicious circumstances. Another former agent is murdered. Could it be there's a list? If so, is Katie now on it? And who will be the next to go?
Customer Reviews:
Past Caring.......2007-10-09
I've enjoyed other Susan Isaacs books very much and this looked to be another winner - what a great plot! I couldn't wait to dive in. I still can't quite figure out how a book with such a promising premise could be such a snooze fest. It seemed to take forever to read a chapter, and then I would put the book down and forget about it for days at a time, reluctantly pick it up again and not remember anything that I had read. I popped on to Amazon to read some reviews, hoping that would encourage me to finish, but instead it confirmed my suspicion that, no, it never does get better. This book is just a clunker. But I've gotten so much enjoyment out of Ms. Isaacs other books that I am still looking forward to and wish her better luck with her next effort.
Almost threw it into the ocean.......2007-08-11
Brought this book to the beach, and it was so bad I contemplated throwing it into the ocean, but I decided burning it might be more satisfying. I kept hoping the plot would pick up and get exciting, or maybe the main character would stop being so pathetic, but this book proved to be a waste of $4.98. I'm surprised that "a strong drink" isn't listed as one of the items customers buy immediately after viewing Past Perfect, because that's what I was wishing for after reading 2/3 of this novel.
One star is generous.......2007-06-20
I'm jumping on the "Bleah" bandwagon with this one. I forced myself, literally forced myself, to finish the darn thing. The last thirty pages were excrutiating.
Katie, the main character, is an unapologetic New York snob. The only time I came close to forgiving Ms. Isaacs for this annoying creation was when Katie turned up her nose at livermush in the Carolinas after craving liverwurst in New York. No way an author writes this without irony. If you must read the book, look for this almost throwaway liverwurst/mush vignette and see if it doesn't make you at least snicker.
I, too, love Susan Isaacs, and deeply regret that I bought this hardback.
Get over it!.......2007-06-14
I have to finish a Susan Isaacs book - but as I approached the end of "Past Perfect", I almost wished I hadn't. The single stream of consciousness I have for the heroint, Katie Schottland is "get over it already!". Katie, like most of Isaac's heroines, is interesting, has found her way into a great career in television, and has a strong marriage and great kid.
But she cannot forget the fact that she was fired from the CIA for no apparent reason....a call from a former colleague (that she didn't even like) promises to shed some light on her release, and Katie begins to dig and dig, in a way I can only describe as paranoid.
2 stars instead of 1 for the great character that is Katie's father! I like the fact that Isaacs takes time between her novels (instead of producing one a year) so that she can develop a great story and a sassy heroine. This time, she failed.
A journey with dangerous consequences........2007-06-10
Susan Isaacs' PAST PERFECT receives Randy Kaye's fine actress background and broadcasting strengths are it tells of Katie's ideal life working as a TV series writer. But despite her warm home life and job, Katie misses the excitement and thrills of her former CIA job - so when she gets a call to return, she embarks on a journey with dangerous consequences.
Book Description
Born into poverty and raised in a brothel, Nell Gwynne sells oranges in the pit at London’s King’s Theater, newly reopened after the plague and the Great Fire devastated the city. Soon, her quick sense of humor and natural charm get her noticed by those who have the means to make her life easier. But the street-smart Nell knows a woman doesn’t get ahead by selling her body. Through talent, charm, intelligence, and sheer determination—as well as a keen understanding of how the world operates—Nell works her way out of the pit and onto the stage to become the leading comedic actress of the day. Her skills and beauty quickly win the attention of all of London—eventually even catching the eye of King Charles II. Their attraction is as real as it is unlikely, and the scrappy orange girl with the pretty face and the quick wit soon finds herself plunged into the confusing and dangerous world of the court, where she learns there are few she can trust—and many whom she cannot turn her back on.
From the gritty streets of seventeenth-century London, to the backstage glamour of its theaters, to the glittering court of Charles II,
The Perfect Royal Mistress is a love story for the ages, the rags-to-riches tale of a truly remarkable heroine.
Customer Reviews:
Easy Breezy Read, 3.5 stars.......2007-09-06
This is the rags to riches story of Nell Gwynne, a one time orange girl and then actress of The King's Theatre who captured the heart of Charles II, The Merry Monarch. Since two other reviewers have done such a fine job of recapping the story, I needn't rehash it again.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I felt the characters could have been better defined. Maybe it's because I've read Forever Amber and Dark Angels and I kept wishing for more like that. The author did a nice job of defining the Reformation society and the court, but it just wasn't enough for me. Buckingham's intrigues came off as too lighthearted, Queen Catherine a non-existent sap, and Louise a whiny immature child. I could never figure out how Lord Bockhurst started out as a worthless hellion that Nell dumped to being one of her greatest friends and supporters, along with Buckingham. Like another reviewer, I found the "h" dropping didn't quite do the dialect justice and I found at least one instance where Nell "forgot" to drop the "h".
All in all an enjoyable entertaining read, just not something to write home and friends about, one of those books that will go right back to the library and probably soon forgotten. 3.5 stars.
Perfect Royal Read.......2007-08-05
I read THE RUBY RING when it came out and wasn't that impressed with the depth of the characters or even the plot of Hager's first novel. However, I thought I'd give her books another try and I'm really glad I did. The Perfect Royal Mistress is a huge step above her previous work, and the story of King Charles II and his mistress Nell reads like some of the best historical fiction around. The pair of them drive this tale of jealousy, love and politics, and anyone who's a fan of English history will enjoy this romp through Charles's life, complete with affairs, mistresses, and illegitimate children!
THE PERFECT ROYAL MISTRESS.......2007-07-17
I had heard of Nell Gwynne in reading history, but I knew little about her except that she was an actress who became a King's mistress. This book really brought her to life. I couldn't put it down. The author Diane Haegar really brought Nell and the other people who surrounded her to life. I love historical novels, historical romances and anything that is historical. I shall continue to read other books by Diane Haegar, and I recommand this book to anyone who enjoys historical novels as much as I do.
Passion from England.......2007-06-28
This book brought front and center the traggic existance of a woman loving a king. This woman showed spirit and a true appreciation for her position. This novel very closely followed historical notes on the romance between Nell Gwynne and the king of England. It was a pleasure to read, written by a great author.
Love it!.......2007-06-28
This was my first Diane Haeger novel and I must say I can't wait to read more from her. I thought it was wonderfully written and an intriguing look into a woman's life in England in a time where nothing was certain.
Average customer rating:
- Good and bad.
- Don't Waste Your Time
- Got under my skin a little...
- The Package Deal
- Not for me
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Perfect Match: A Novel
Jodi Picoult
Manufacturer: Washington Square Press
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Picture Perfect
ASIN: 0743418735 |
Book Description
What does it mean to be a good mother?
How far would you go in the name of love -- and justice?
Perfect Match
In the course of her everyday work, career-driven assistant district attorney Nina Frost prosecutes child molesters and works determinedly to ensure that a legal system with too many loopholes keeps these criminals behind bars. But when her own five-year-old son, Nathaniel, is traumatized by a sexual assault, Nina and her husband, Caleb, a quiet and methodical stone mason, are shattered, ripped apart by an enraging sense of helplessness in the face of a futile justice system that Nina knows all too well. In a heartbeat, Nina's absolute truths and convictions are turned upside down, and she hurtles toward a plan to exact her own justice for her son -- no matter the consequence, whatever the sacrifice.
Download Description
"Career-driven assistant district attorney Nina Frost knows the guilt familiar to all parents torn by the demands of home and office. But whereas most parents imagine the dangers that can befall their children, Nina witnesses them firsthand. She prosecutes child molesters -- and she has seen too many criminals slip through the system and walk free. Nina's husband, Caleb, is a stonemason, a methodical man who glories in his ability to construct physical barriers. But even the strongest walls cannot guard Nina and Caleb from the shattering discovery that their own beloved son has been sexually abused. Five-year-old Nathaniel is the only one who knows the identity of his assailant -- but the trauma has left him mute. Knowing the futility of trusting the courts to exact justice for Nathaniel, Nina finds herself in a grip of rage she can't deny -- no matter the consequence, whatever the sacrifice. What does it take to be a good mother? How far can a person go?
Customer Reviews:
Good and bad. .......2007-09-21
I read reviews of the book here before I started it, so in the back of my mind I had the negative comments swimming around. I don't know if that affected how I felt about the story personally, but I do agree with the consensus that Nina is very hard to like as a protagonist and the outcome of her trial is more than a little ridiculous.
One thing that bothered me was the stereotype of the Louisiana characters. I am a native of south Louisiana, from a town about 20 miles south of New Orleans. I am familiar with Belle Chasse and it is not a redneck city - people one might stereotypically consider a redneck are found more in north Louisiana. Sorry, but it's true. Her description of the 'my neck is red' deputy annoyed me so much because it's inaccurate for the southern city she I guess randomly decided to pick. I mean, come on, even a bayou stereotype would have been closer to the truth. It was a tired stereotype, and an incorrect one at that. Ms. Picoult is from the north, and so while I wouldn't expect her to be an expert on the different accents and cultures you find in the south, I also wouldn't expect her to just assume she knows. OK, I'm done with my rant about that.
Overall, Picoult knows how to write a page-turner - but she probably could have done it in a lot less pages. Then at least some of those who felt let down by the ending would have wasted a little less time.
Don't Waste Your Time.......2007-09-07
This book is probably the worst I have read in several years. The characters are unappealing and the child (Nathaniel) is unbelievable. In fact, I'm really not sure how this book was approved for publication.
There are two major flaws in Perfect Match. The first is the underlying "morality" of killing someone in retaliation for harming one's child and knowing that as a lawyer you have a good chance of finding a way to get away with it. It doesn't matter if the alleged (and this is a key word here) molester is guilty or not; it is enough that one thinks he is. Nowhere in the book does the author make her protagonist truly sorry for what she did. Evidently the end justifies the means and it's icing on the cake if you happen to get away without punishment.
The second major flaw is the character of Nathaniel. It's evident that the author has no clue regarding the mental and emotional capabilities of a five-year-old child. If she is too lazy to really research this area indepth before writing another novel that includes a child, she should stick to adult characters. It did not appear that the author consulted any type of child development journals or books before developing the character of Nathaniel. Consequently, the character is unbelievable.
I'll give the author one star, but only because she is able to string words together to make a coherent sentence. Evidently she listened in Junior High English Comp class. However, that's as far as her abilities extend in this book. I wouldn't pay a dime for it and if someone wants to loan it to you you'd do better to spend your time on something far more deserving.
Got under my skin a little..........2007-08-22
I've been reading all of Picoult's books because I loved "Nineteen Minutes" so much, and I wanted to see what else she'd written. But the more I'm reading, the more I'm starting to see a common pattern: a speech about DNA, a tall black person which readers are constantly reminded is black but the race of the other characters are barely mentioned if at all, someone who answers questions by saying "Ayuh," and a trial. I like when writers leave their signature marks although I'm not too crazy about the CONSTANT need to bring up the black folks in her book as if we need the post-it every once in awhile, and for the life of me, I don't understand how the lone black folks in predominantly white towns manage to be so behind the scenes. I've been in small, white towns before and a brotha or a sista sticks out like an eagle, so how there are characters who manage to do hidden research and nobody knows who they are or where they are is so far-fetched to me.
But that's not what got me. This book rubbed me the wrong way for several other reasons. #1 I couldn't sympathize with the main character, especially when the DNA situation was resolved. #2 If I were on the jury and the ending hadn't been the way it did, I'd have voted the EXACT opposite of the final verdict! When I heard the results, I rolled my eyes and curled my lip. #3 Picoult has a habit of trying to talk like a child in those scenes with kids, but then going into too much grown-up vocabulary. There's a scene when Nathaniel is talking about a bird, but instead of just calling it a bird, he calls it the proper name for it. That's tedious, but it seemed a little odd to me considering his vocabulary throughout the rest of the book. Also, I wondered how Nathaniel immediately knew the bailiff was not a police officer considering the demeanor of both. To an adult, this would be fair, but to a five-year-old, it seemed too mature. #4 Throughout the whole book and as many times as the topic of the rape was brought up, I don't recall ONE scene where either of the parents, the babysitters, and even the psychiatrist told the boy it wasn't his fault. That was really aggravating me, especially when he vocally said he did something bad. I really wanted someone to sit down and talk to him and tell him he did nothing wrong and that never happened. #5 I almost took the book back when I read the line about Johnnie Cochran. Whenever people want to talk about defense attorneys who got their clients off, it always goes back to Cochran and usually hints at O.J. Nobody ever brings up how Emmitt Till's killers got off, trials like the ones the Jena 6 are going through, and so many other trials in small towns where people have gotten off scotfree. But Cochran is forever getting picked on, and I respect him (R.I.P.) a great deal. When I read that line about Cochran probably has nightmares about defending guilty people, I glared at the page, thinking of how many trials that Cochran has tried that meant so much to the Black community. I believe he slept well knowing the sacrifices he made to fight against racial profiling and so forth. That comment was my own personal hang-up, but considering Picoult felt the need to mention him in the book, I feel the need to mention it in my review.
However, there was one strong part of Picoult's book that kept me pushing through it. Without telling the story, there is a scene where Nathanial jumps up and Nina thinks he's going to run to Caleb, but instead he runs to Nina. My eyes immediately watered and I choked up, trying not to cry on a public, crowded train and look really crazy to other riders. That was the most memorable scene that I've read in all of her books because it was so raw, so open, so realistic, and very touching. Although I never want one, I think children are entertaining and enjoy watching them interact in stories and real life, and I'd become so smitten with Nathaniel (I wasn't buying that window/bathroom interruption at all--that whole scene should've been deleted because it did nothing for the plot). But as usual, I think Picoult is a fascinating writer. I'm going to give her books a rest for a minute to get over my grudge with the Cochran comment because that still bothers me, but I'll be back.
The Package Deal.......2007-08-11
It's rare in the world of publishing these days to find a book that not only provides you with a quality story, but with exceptional writing as well. Picoult offers us just that with "Perfect Match." She shifts perspectives throughout the novel to allow us into the hearts and minds of all of her primary characters and it is a unique reading experience that makes you feel so deeply involved in the story that you'll feel as if you could climb right into the book. You will find yourself sympathizing with even the most difficult of characters, and considering for yourself the true capabilities that we all quietly possess at the hands of love and despair. This book is about a struggle for justice in a world where right and wrong is a thousand shades of gray. Do not miss out on this precious read.
Not for me.......2007-06-17
This book convinced me that I'm no longer a Jodi Picoult reader. I get why some people would like it--the flowery imagery and heart-wrenching subject matter pulls at the heart; but I found the book to be overwritten and sensational. Besides, I couldn't identify with the main character who would add trauma to her already traumatized son by taking the law into her own hands. Picoult is known for her ability to end the story with an unforeseen twist and to effectively use various points of views; I guessed every twist in the book well in advance and I felt like each character had the same emotive voice, even the construction-worker husband. I like women's fiction, but this was a bit too much.
Average customer rating:
- The Perfect Read!!!
- Unrealistic.
- definitely perfect!
- Ok Book, Great Message
- perfect is deffinitally unperfect....
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Perfect: A Novel
Natasha Friend
Manufacturer: Milkweed Editions
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ASIN: 1571316515 |
Book Description
Isabelle Lee has a problem, and it's not just Ape Face, her sister, or group therapy for an eating disorder, or even that her father died and her mother is depressed and in denial. It's that Ashley, the most popular girl in school, is inviting Isabelle to join her at lunch and at sleepovers at her house, and this is presenting Isabelle with a dilemma. Pretty Ashley has moved Isabelle up the social ladder, but is it worth keeping the secret they share?
Caught in the orbit of popularity and appearances, Isabelle must navigate a world with mixed messages, false hopes, and potentially harmful turns, while coping with her own flailing family and emotions. The author brings a depth of characterization, humor, and a real adolescent's voice to this multileveled story about the desire to be perfect in an imperfect world.
Customer Reviews:
The Perfect Read!!!.......2007-09-08
I absolutely loved reading this book.Throughout the whole story you feel like you're actually there,like the story is very real.I recommend this book for teen girls and moms.I was at the bookstore one day looking for a book and when I saw perfect I knew I just had to read it!You will love it!
Unrealistic........2007-07-14
This book was very unrealistic.
It annoyed me from the very beginning. It is simple to tell that the author knows nothing about eating disorders.
An eating disorder is something someone has for life. Yes, they can control it, but by the end, this girl was suddenly "cured" of her bulimia.
Also, overused events. Average girl vs. popular girl, then becoming friends, as well as the whole "Perfect, prettiest girl in school". Dead parent. Annoying siblings, ratting on you. No creativity.
And, if anyone is curious, I do have an eating disorder.
definitely perfect!.......2007-06-04
I really loved this book! Its about a thirteen year old girl named Isabelle Lee. Her father died about two years ago, and nothing has been okay since then. She has a depressed mother who cries herself to sleep and an annoying, lonely little sister. The thing is, nobody ever talks about the problems they have. Isabelle and her family try to pretend everything's always perfect, even when it's not. Sadness about her father leads Isabelle into binging and purging. When her little sister catches her making herself throw up, her mom makes her go to an eating disorder therapy group for teen girls. isabelle is shocked to see ashley, the most popular, "perfect" girl in school there. the two become good friends and they binge and purge together. Isabelle learns that Ashley's life is far from perfect. Even though Ashley seems so "together" on the outside, she struggles with body image, family issues, and schoolwork. I won't spoil the ending for you, but let's just say that Isabelle learns a lot of things. One, she learns that just because someone looks perfect on the outside, it doesn't always mean everything's okay for that person (like Ashley.) She also learns that saying everything is "fine" is just a coverup, and it's important to talk about things and not keep feelings bottled up. The author, Natalie Friend, is an incredible writer who seems to know exactly how teens think. Her words will make you laugh, cry, and pray for Natalie's family. I recommend this book for anyone in middle or high school. It's a really fantastic book!
Ok Book, Great Message.......2007-05-24
Perfect by Natasha Friend is about the eight grader Isabelle Lee. She and her family are still recovering from the death of their beloved father. Nothing has been the same since the funeral; his pictures stripped from the walls and a mother who cries herself to sleep every night. Then there is "Group", which Isabelle attends after her sister, April (or known as Ape Face) tells on Isabelle when she is caught making herself throw up. Unhappily she goes to "Group" and is quite surprised when the most popular girl in her grade, Ashley Barnum, goes with the same problem. The two quickly become good friends as Isabelle fights her addiction and tries to make things right at home.
I think this book was ok, really gross, but ok. I never understood why people would make themselves sick like that but this book has shown me that people who believe their lives are too messed up; they turn to something that distracts them from the things that go bad in their life. I saw how addicting it was and how hard it is for people to stop, even when they know they are hurting themselves and those they love. I am happy with the ending and I think this would be a good book for teenage girls to read.
perfect is deffinitally unperfect...........2007-05-15
umm this book is horrible..this book has hints for having an eating disorder if you want your kid having problems like isabelles then get your kid this book.. but if you dont want your kid having to deal with balemia and almost getting raped then dont let our child read this bookk...
Book Description
After being paralyzed by the Joker, former Batgirl BarbaraGordon became Oracle and formed a crime-fighting team with other femaleheroes including the martial artist with a devastating sonic scream, BlackCanary, the vigilante known as the Huntress and the mysterious LadyBlackhawk!In this volume, the Secret Society of Super- Villains takes one of theBirds of Prey hostage and demands their leader's secret identity as ransom. The Birds will have to save their friend and battle the superhumanmercenary known as Deathstroke in order to defend the security of theirleader.
Customer Reviews:
Consistently good.......2007-10-08
I first started to like this book with Chuck Dixon. No disrespect to him but Gail Simone is very good. I recommend all the Birds of Prey titles with her writing. Too bad she has moved on to Wonder Woman. The art is also very good.
Gail Simone does it again!.......2007-08-04
Although I disliked previous TPB , I must admit this one has plot, humor and everything that made me start collecting Birds of Prey! Not many people can write like this, and art is good or great, like always.
"Perfect Pitch" review.......2007-05-13
This book collects yet more of writer Gail Simone's run on DC Comics' Birds of Prey series. Collects issues #86-90 & 92-95. Issue #91 was omitted,but doesn't hurt the collected storyline(as #91 was just a 'standalone' story).
review of "Perfect Pitch".......2007-03-29
(since some have apparently not found my review helpful, I have re-written it...!)
I have read and enjoyed all the previous BOP graphic novels. The art and writing have been consistently entertaining. Especially appealing was the penciling of Ed Benes. I was eagerly awaiting the current compilation, and pre-ordered it...
The cover features work by one of my favorite artists, Terry Dodson, so I was looking forward to his work inside. Unfortunately, I couldn't even manage to finish reading this book. The artwork is not by Benes, or Dodson, it's by Paulo Siqueira, a gentleman who seems to have no business penciling comic books at all. The artwork is amateur at best. The compositions and layouts are lifeless, and the rendering of the human form is crude. I am sorry to say this is a real fall from grace for a book that has enjoyed a several years as one of the best in the DC lineup. It is a shame that Ms. Simone's skillful writing has to be interpreted by this low-rent hack of a artist.
Product Description
For generations, the pin-up has been a staple of Americana, often with a staple somewhere along the navel of the young lady s portrait! From the golden age of Vargas and Elvgren in the 30's and 40's to the present day, a photo just can t capture the ephemeral quality of a guy's fantasy female. The painting leaves just enough for the imagination to fill in those most important blanks! To this end, we proudly present the second volume of Flirt! The Art of Naughty! Featured throughout is a full color gallery of today s most accomplished practitioners in the science of seduction! See paintings from around the world celebrating the female form in all its majestic curves, hills, and valleys! Naughty? To be sure! Worth the price of admission? Absolutely! Curvaceous cover painting by Michal Dutkeiwicz.
Customer Reviews:
the covers the best picture.......2006-12-18
I was disappointed in this book. The quality of so many of the paintings seemed rushed or sloppy. The cover is by far the best painting.
Book Description
Meet Cassie Ellis—a young college graduate with the world on a string, a yen for screenwriting, and a need for fast cash to pay off her student loans. Eager to avoid the lucrative snooze-fest of a reliable consulting job, she shocks everyone she knows by opting for a sexier, more flexible job: mixing drinks. Never mind that she doesn’t know single-malt whiskey from Jack Daniel’s: she’s eager to learn. And under the tutelage of a sexy Soho bar owner, she’s soon cranking out three-olive martinis with the city’s glitterati fifteen-deep at the bar—all while angling for tips, fielding bad pick-up lines, and trying to keep up with the other bartenders who party as hard as their stylish clientele.
When Cassie accepts a summer gig bartending in the Hamptons, New York’s most elite summer destination, she finds herself catapulted into a whirlwind of dazzling celebrity and over-the-top wealth unlike anything she’s ever seen. Life behind the velvet rope is hard to resist, especially when she finds herself falling for a Hamptons hottie named James. But as the summer progresses, and she finds herself surrounded by playboys, moguls, spoiled rich kids, and Paris Hilton clones in strappy stilettos, she soon wonders if playing the ersatz socialite—while actually trying to make a living—is more than she bargained for.
Drawn from the authors’ own experiences as bartenders in the thick of New York’s party scene, The Perfect Manhattan is a perfect mix of sparkling social satire, romance, comedy, and scandal that provides a fast-paced, enormously entertaining look inside the life on the chichi side of the tracks.
Customer Reviews:
A Great Summer Read.......2007-09-05
Cassie Ellis just graduated from Columbia University. She needs income to pay off her hefty student loans and credit bills. She does not want to get an entry level job where she will only earn a small income, so she decides to explore other options. She hears of a bartending school that offers job placement guaranteeing hundreds of dollars per night in tips. She takes the class, but it she ends up on a dead road.
After some time, she attains a job at an Irish pub in downtown Manhattan. Then, she is offered an open call (audition) for a bartending position in the elitist Hamptons where heiresses and socialites swarm around in their Jimmy Choos, Hermes Handbags, and Range Rovers. Cassie then meets the perfect and prominent James Edmonton. We witness the intense romance and harsh heart-break, as the authors captivate the reader.
The authors take the reader through the exciting but harsh world of New York's Old Money world of the ivy league educated social circles, charities, fundraisers, clambakes, and country clubs. I urge all of you to read this book as it is an entertaining story that all twenty something females should know.
Kristin Marquet
Author of "How Can a Woman Survive Dating in a World Full of Players, Losers, Liars, Scumbags, and Mama's Boys? A Single Women's Guide to Online Dating in a World full of..." and "The Ultimate Women's Guide to Modern Dating.
Drink It Up.......2007-07-26
This fun bit of chick lit follows a recent college grad of Columbia who is saddled with debt (ok, sounds familiar so far...) and a slightly useless creative writing degree named Cassie, who decides to enroll in bartending school, ultimately fails, but manages to lie and smile her way to the 'top' of the bartending scene, and indirectly, the social scene of Hampton's once she lands a gig at a hot club.
Of course she deals with a romantic relationship with an extremely well-to-do Hamptonite, and it's quite obvious throughout the book how things will turn out in Cassie's love life...but I have to give the writers credit for the romantic conclusions they draw between Cassie and her boy James' love lives....they handled the relationship between them in a fairly realistic manner throughout, not the least of which was found in the end of the book.
But forget the love story or the 'thrill' of getting an insider's guide to Hampton's bar life - the thing I found most interesting about this book was the extremely graphic and somewhat digusting description of what it means to be a bartender. From the opposite side of the counter, suddenly all of the things Cassie internally dwells on rung true, whether exploring misogyny, sex, or wealth I always found Cassie to be exceptionally insightful - which gave this book the depth it needed in an otherwise frivolous setting!
I recognized the trappings of what I've heard from bartending (and waitressing) friends. I found the lifestyles of the main characters in this book so insanely bizarre (getting home at 7 am and being up and at em a few hours later? hungover? ICK!) that it just drew me in regardless of the somewhat 'flat' characters throughout. As I said, the insights of Cassie probably came more from the two girls who wrote this book, former bartenders and likely aspiring writers at the time, and as such I found this a very valuable book in learning to tip and be a bit more polite at bars! A good read for anyone interested in a fun story that more than makes up for its lack of concrete plot in its insider look at the service industry.
Couldn't put it down!.......2007-03-22
This book was fabulous. It was a fun read and being a bartender and a college student I could totally relate to it. I think it would be a great book for just about anyone though. Read it, you won't be sorry.
Good effort, but lacking substance. (3.5 stars) .......2006-12-13
"The Perfect Manhattan" is a fun, indulgent novel, filled with authentic details of a wild life of bartending. Cassie Ellis, the main character, is loveable and relatable, and the adventures she witnesses throughout the book are interesting and page-turning. However, after reading about a fourth of the book I was already tired of the constant drinking and hangovers, and felt a bit bedraggled myself, but I stuck it out for the rest of novel, constantly shaking my head at the messes Cassie got herself into. The ending was refreshing, and not as predictable as I had thought it would be.
While the novel was entertaining and had great character development and setting, the plot lacked a bit. The story seemed to drag, and not have much true direction; other than the first and last 50 pages, the rest of the novel is nothing but late-night partying and the resulting exhaustion. The two real-life bartenders-turned-novelists that wrote this book obviously have talent for writing a good story, plenty of great material from their line of work, and I look forward to any future novels penned by them - but I do hope they will take some classes on plot development and learn the craft a little more.
Grade: B
Perfectly Fun.......2006-11-21
Just graduated from Columbia, uncertain about the future and burdened by student loans, Cassie Ellis decides to become a bartender in the Village, thinking it will be the perfect job to earn a lot of money and keep her days free to work on her writing.
But the new job proves not to be as lucrative as Cassie expected and soon she's seduced by the promised riches of the Hamptons. Working at the exclusive Spark, Cassie meets who seems to be the man of her dreams, sees plenty of snow in the summer, and finds herself completely unprepared for the new, rich world she's just entered, where pedigree trumps education, and even the trust funds come with strings attached. Overall, a very fun read.
Product Description
In life you never really know when you might meet someone who will change your life. And more importantly you never know when your influence might change another. This book is about influence. It is about a man who lived in a simple place but had extraordinary insight. He also had something else on his side. He had time; time to invest himself in the life of another who was lost on his journey. This story is based on the thousands of athletes I have counseled and the great mentors and teachers from whom I have learned. I have brought my twenty plus years of peak performance coaching together and compressed them into a story of two fictitious characters; a rancher with a passion for teaching truth and a young golf professional at the end of his rope. They represent each of us in the various stages of growth. For in life we must be willing to coach and be coached, either one alone will leave us empty.
Customer Reviews:
This Book Is A Life Changer.......2007-09-27
I've loved reading from a very youg age. I'm now 60 years old. I have read comic books, text books, even read most of the World Book Encyclopedia one summer while I was in junior high. I have read junk and some of the classics. I have read self-help books and most of all, I have read much of the Bible, but I have never read a book that has made such an impact on my life as Golf's Sacred Journey. (And it even helped my golf game.)
This book transformed my game........2007-06-16
Life is NOT a game. There are things way more important than golf, like my relationship with God through Christ. And the opportunity to use this great game and this great book to share my faith in Christ. As I often say on the course, "I love this game!" and I love Jesus more than ever.
Greatest Golf Book Ever.......2007-05-15
I have read a number of golf psychology books. This is by far the best. I would recommend it to my golfing buddies, but I don't want them to learn the lessons of this book. I need the income from our $2 bets.
Average customer rating:
- The most fun I've had reading a book, this year
- Talking is Good
- Refreshing change of pace
- I laughed, I cried
- Mildly entertaining
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Perfect Skin: A Novel
Nick Earls
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Contemporary
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| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
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Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
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Psychological & Suspense
| Thrillers
| Mystery & Thrillers
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Similar Items:
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After Summer
ASIN: 0312280564 |
Book Description
Jon Marshall, a thirty-something doctor, has come a long way since his bachelor days. He's a partner in his own medical practice, owns a nice house in a nice suburb, and cruises around town in a BMW. And he has a six-month-old daughter, Lily, affectionately known as the Bean, with whom he's learning the joys of being a single dad. But Jon's life hasn't taken the path that he thought it would back in his twenties. Newly single, he awaits the challenges of many dating misadventures. His computer has been seized by surly software. He's absurdly clumsy with domestic pets, and his sexy new running buddy, Ashley, has his mind running in circles. A major bestseller in Australia, Nick Earls's Perfect Skin is a touching, frank, and laugh-out-loud funny look at single fatherhood and dating in a post Duran-Duran age.AUTHORBIO: NICK EARLS is the author of two previous novels, Zigzag Street and Bachelor Kisses, two collections of short stories, and two novels for young adults. His work has also been published in England, Italy, and Germany. He lives in Brisbane, Australia.
Customer Reviews:
The most fun I've had reading a book, this year.......2005-06-29
Jon Marshall is a successful laser surgeon with a nice house and a baby named Lily, whom he affectionately refers to as "the Bean". So, what's wrong with Jon's world and why has everything turned out so completely different from what he'd anticipated life would be like in his 30's? Is his new friend Ashley really just a "running buddy" or could there be more to the friendship? Friends George, Oscar and Wendy help Jon face the challenges as he attempts to make sense of a world that has taken a sharp and unexpected turn.
It's too bad I'm such a slow reader because yesterday was totally shot, thanks to this book. The story of Jon Marshall is gripping because Earls blends intelligence, realism and humor with madcap situations, dangling unanswered questions that the protagonist convincingly sidesteps as he tells his story in first person. Where, for example, is the mother of his child Lily? Well, another reviewer has answered that, but try to forget before you read this book.
Apart from a few angst-ridden reflections that dragged on a bit too long, this was one of the best books I've read all year. The dialogue was witty, its hero incredibly easy to love and relate to in spite of (or maybe because of) his many insecurities and imperfections, and every character was well-defined. I particularly loved the fact that Jon's friends were the kind you can call at 3:00 a.m., knowing they'll be there for you in an emergency--but don't let them get wind of the stupid thing you did last night or they'll never let you live it down. In other words, they were true to life. Highly recommended, particularly for those who enjoy contemporary fiction.
Talking is Good.......2003-03-07
Two of my favourite literary characters are Louis Ironson - from Angels from America - who polemicizes, intellectualizes, pontificates and basically just talks and talks - and Mo, from the very funny comic strip "Dykes to Watch Out For" who basically does the same. In the face of fear, pain or jealousy, they talk against the world, and yeah, it's blathering, but I find it charming. Probably because I do the same, which is maybe a reason why I'm a writer.
The main character in Perfect Skin does an awful lot of talking which biases me towards both liking him and liking the book.
Another reason why I like the book: I like books that are about people and relationships, that don't necessarily need big events to drive the story. Perfect Skin is a page-turner because you want to know what happens to the characters. It's about how we live our daily lives, how we relate to each other, and how we reach out to people.
A lot seems to be made about the humour in this book - and it's true, it's very very funny and enjoyable because of it - but perhaps it works all the better because of what lies underneath - weighty gusts of loss and hurt, recovery and survival.
I found it affecting and beautiful: a perfect little gem of a book that let me under the skin of some characters I was glad to meet and get to know.
Refreshing change of pace.......2002-03-22
I am a self-proclaimed British Chick books lover and when I saw this one in the library, I was intrigued by the cover jacket ~~ it looks like something I would read and the fact that it was written by an Aussie and a male at that, I just had to pick it up. It's wonderful! It's cute and pardon the pun ~~ it's adorable. (I don't think the author would like that term applied to his book!)
Jon, a single dad and doctor, is attempting to go back into the world after his wife's death in childbirth and what ensues is a series of misfortunate and hilarious accidents. (I have to say that Nick Earls sure knows his cats! I am almost tempted to ask him if my cat was the basis of Flag, the cat hero in this book!) Anyhow, one day he was just dad to Lily and a dermatologist in a busy practice then the next day, he's juggling between two women. Katie is the woman trapped in the 80s with the 80s hairdo that Jon and his office mates secretly joke about. Ash is the jogging partner that makes his mind go around in circles. Jon is left juggling his feelings for Ash while trying to let Katie down gently. That is where Flagg comes in. Flagg decides that he likes Jon ~~ and Jon seems to be extremely clumsy where the cat is concerned. (My husband laughed and laughed over choice parts of the book.)
I really can't go into too much details about this book because if I do, I will ruin it for the next person to read this review. All I can say is buy this book and see for yourself. Earls writes with humor and grace about a single dad slowly feeling his way back into the world after his wife's death. He also writes with feeling about Jon's coming to grips with his wife's death and becoming a father. Jon may be bewildered and confused at times, but what father wouldn't be? And it is just one of the best short reads I've read this year.
If Earls has more books out in the States, I'll be sure to pick them up. He is a talent to watch out for.
...
I laughed, I cried.......2002-03-13
Where else could you find a story about a recently widowed father who pees on his date's cat?
Mildly entertaining.......2001-10-27
"Perfect Skin" is another addition to the modern breed of popular novel: aimed squarely at the 20- or 30-something yuppie women's demographic, with perhaps a sideline in selling to the SNAG market. Published in a nice large size, with an eye-catching picture and a sleek new millennium font (wouldn't want to risk being confused with the Danielle Steele genre), these novels have become disappointingly homogeneous. Unusually among its shelf companions, however, "Perfect Skin" is written by a man. Nick Earls' no-nonsense prose and willingness to grapple with some deeper life issues makes a refreshing change from the giggly bimbo style of other similar novels.
The topic of this venture into pop publishing is single parenting - more specifically, single fatherhood. Jon seems to have his life all under control: there's him, the Bean (6 months old), his gaggle of similarly single friends and his dermatology practice. As we begin to delve deeper into Jon's life, the strands come apart to reveal some unexpected truths about putting a life back together. Along the way, there's a semi-deranged cat woman with eighties hair, an unfortunate incident in the bathroom involving her cat, several sleep-deprived nights with baby Bean and an interesting new female acquaintance...
"Perfect Skin" kept me entertained for a few hours without really leaving a permanent impression. It stands out somewhat from other novels of the same type for the reasons above, but ultimately doesn't amount to much more than that. The style is easy, the characters are amusing, the plot isn't too saccharine. A good 'girly' book to read in the bath with a block of chocolate and a glass of something nice; or buy it as a present for that friend you always buy the latest yuppie book for.
6 stars out of 10
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- A-List #8, The: Heart of Glass: An A-List Novel (A-List)
- A Trick Of The Eye: Trompe L'oeil Masterpieces
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- Art Heals: How Creativity Cures the Soul
- As Good As Dead
- Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying the Works of Shakespeare
- Batman: Blind Justice
- Betraying Spinoza: The Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity
- Breach of Promise
- Breach of Promise
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